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Singapore Scientists Lead in 3D Mapping of Human Genome to Help Understand Human Diseases

Singapore Scientists Lead in 3D Mapping of Human Genome to Help Understand Human Diseases

Singapore, Feb 1, 2012 - (ACN Newswire) - Genome Institute of Singapore's (GIS) Associate Director of Genomic Technologies, Dr Yijun RUAN, led a continuing study on the human genome spatial/structural configuration, revealing how genes interact/communicate and influence each other, even when they are located far away from each other. This discovery is crucial in understanding how human genes work together, and will re-write textbooks on how transcription regulation and coordination takes place in human cells.

The discovery was published in Cell, on 19 January 2012. The GIS is a research institute under the umbrella of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR).

Using a genomic technology invented by Dr Ruan and his team, called ChIA-PET, the Singapore-led international group, which is part of the ENCODE (ENCyclopedia Of DNA Elements) consortium, uncovered some of the fundamental mechanisms that regulate the gene expression in human cells.

"Scientists have always tried to understand how the large number of genes in an organism is regulated and coordinated to carry out the genetic programs encoded in the genome for cellular functions in our cells. It had been viewed that genes in higher organisms were individually expressed, while multiple related genes in low organisms like bacteria were arranged linearly together as operon and transcribed in single unit," Dr Ruan explained.

"The new findings in this study revealed that although genes in human genomes are located far away from each other, related genes are in fact organised through long-range chromatin interactions and higher-order chromosomal conformations. This suggests a topological basis akin to the bacteria operon* system for coordinated transcription regulation. This topological mechanism for transcription regulation and coordination also provides insights to understand genetic elements that are involved in human diseases."

GIS' executive director Prof Huck Hui NG said: "This is an important study that sheds light on the complex regulation of gene expression. Yijun's team continues to use the novel method of Chromatin Interaction Analysis with Paired-End-Tag sequencing to probe the higher order interactions of chromatin to discover new regulatory interactions between genes."

"This publication describes ground-breaking work by Dr Yijun Ruan and his team at Genome Institute of Singapore," added Dr Edward Rubin, Director of the Joint Genome Institute in US. "They address the fundamental question of how communication occurs between genes and their on and off switches in the human genome. Using a long range DNA mapping technology called ChIA-PET, the study reveals in three dimensional space that genes separated linearly by enormous distances in the human genome can come to lie next to each other in the cell when it is time for them to become active.

"I expect this study to move rapidly from primary scientific literature to textbooks describing for future students the operating principles of the human genome. The ChIA-PET technology, that is the telescope used in this exploration of the human genome, is an innovative and powerful molecular technology invented by Dr Ruan and his collaborators."

The ENCODE is an ongoing project which was awarded to Dr Ruan's team by the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), an institute belonging to the National Institutes of Health (NIH, USA). The project was set up in 2003 with the aim of discovering all functional elements in the human genome to gain a deeper understanding of human biology and develop new strategies for preventing and treating diseases. So far Dr Ruan's team has received over US$2 million towards this project.

*In genetics, an operon is a functioning unit of genomic DNA containing a cluster of genes under the control of a single regulatory signal or promoter.

Notes to the Editor:

Research publication:
The research findings described in the press release can be found in the 19 January 2011 advanced online issue of Cell under the title "Extensive Promoter-Centered Chromatin Interactions Provide a Topological Basis for Transcription Regulation".

Authors:
Guoliang Li (1,10), Xiaoan Ruan (1,10), Raymond K. Auerbach (2,10), Kuljeet Singh Sandhu (1,10), Meizhen Zheng (1), Ping Wang (1), Huay Mei Poh (1), Yufen Goh (1), Joanne Lim (1), Jingyao Zhang (1), Hui Shan Sim (1), Su Qin Peh (1), Fabianus Hendriyan Mulawadi (1), Chin Thing Ong (1), Yuriy L. Orlov (1), Shuzhen Hong (1), Zhizhuo Zhang (3), Steve Landt (4), Debasish Raha (4), Ghia Euskirchen (4), Chia-Lin Wei (1), Weihong Ge (5), Huaien Wang (6), Carrie Davis (6), Katherine Fisher (7), Ali Mortazavi (7), Mark Gerstein (2), Thomas Gingeras (6), Barbara Wold (7), Yi Sun (5), Melissa J. Fullwood (1), Edwin Cheung (1,8), Edison Liu (1), Wing-Kin Sung (1,3), Michael Snyder (4,*), and Yijun Ruan (1,9,*).

1. Genome Institute of Singapore, 138672, Singapore
2. Program in Computational Biology and Departments of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
3. Department of Computer Science, School of Computing, National University of Singapore, 117417, Singapore
4. Center for Genomics and Personalized Medicine, Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
5. Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
6. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11797, USA
7. Division of Biology, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
8. School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551
9. College of Life Sciences, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
10. These authors contributed equally to this work
*Correspondence: mpsnyder@stanford.edu (M.S.), ruanyj@gis.a-star.edu.sg (Y.R.)

About the Genome Institute of Singapore

The Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) is an institute of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR). It has a global vision that seeks to use genomic sciences to improve public health and public prosperity. Established in 2001 as a centre for genomic discovery, the GIS will pursue the integration of technology, genetics and biology towards the goal of individualized medicine. The key research areas at the GIS include Systems Biology, Stem Cell & Developmental Biology, Cancer Biology & Pharmacology, Human Genetics, Infectious Diseases, Genomic Technologies, and Computational & Mathematical Biology. The genomics infrastructure at the GIS is utilized to train new scientific talent, to function as a bridge for academic and industrial research, and to explore scientific questions of high impact. www.gis.a-star.edu.sg .

About A*STAR

The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) is the lead agency for fostering world-class scientific research and talent for a vibrant knowledge-based and innovation-driven Singapore. A*STAR oversees 14 biomedical sciences and physical sciences and engineering research institutes, and six consortia & centres, located in Biopolis and Fusionopolis as well as their immediate vicinity. A*STAR supports Singapore's key economic clusters by providing intellectual, human and industrial capital to its partners in industry. It also supports extramural research in the universities, and with other local and international partners. For more information about A*STAR, please visit www.a-star.edu.sg .

Contact: Winnie Lim
Genome Institute of Singapore
Office of Corporate Communications
Tel: +65 6808 8013
Email: limcp2@gis.a-star.edu.sg

2012-02-01 18:00
Source: A*STAR

http://www.a-star.edu.org

Copyright (c) 2012ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

20 Countries Confirm Participation in the 2nd Asia-Arab Sustainable Energy Forum

20 Countries Confirm Participation in the 2nd Asia-Arab Sustainable Energy Forum

Tokyo and Oran, Algeria, Feb 1, 2012 - (ACN Newswire) - Twenty countries have confirmed their participation for the second edition of the Asia-Arab Sustainable Energy Forum (2AASEF), scheduled for May 15 - 16 in Oran, Algeria.

Mr. Amine Boudghene Stambouli, AASEF President, said that a dozen Arab countries and much of Asia have reaffirmed their interest in the next forum, dedicated to energy development, environmental protection and regional cooperation for sustainable development.

The forum, initiated by the University of Science and Technology "Boudiaf" Oran (USTO), also includes the 4th international workshop on the "Sahara Solar Breeder" (SSB), an Algerian-Japanese project for the development of photovoltaic solar technologies.

Mr. Stambouli, professor at the USTO Electrical Engineering Faculty, is the scientific manager (Algerian side) of a project launched in January 2011 in partnership with a consortium of six universities and two Japanese agencies (JICA and JST).

He states that the call for papers has been launched for the forum, attracting interest from a dozen Japanese and Algerian experts and researchers from different universities, while other papers are expected by February 15, the deadline for submission of full-length papers.

Japan's participation will be marked by the presence of representatives specializing in the development of silicon from the sand and desalination technologies.

The Algerian solar industry will be represented by large companies including Sonatrach and Sonelgaz, along with specialized organizations like the Center for Renewable Energy Development (CDER), Unit Development of solar technologies (UDTS) and the Development Unit of Solar Equipment (UDES).

The "Sahara Solar Breeder" (SSB) workshop is scheduled at the University of Saida. SSB is an experimental solar farm platform which should allow, in 2015, the flow of solar energy from the South to regions in the north of the country to power the desalination of sea water.

Towards this goal, USTO is creating a center for research on solar technologies, while the Centre for Research on solar in Adrar is developing a technology platform for the construction of photovoltaic cells and the use of its energy.

The 2AASEF has officially been placed under the patronage of the President of the Algerian Republic, Mr. Abdelaziz Bouteflika.

The first edition Asia-Arab Sustainable Energy Forum took place in Nagoya, Japan on August 23 - 25, 2011 with 120 people from 10 countries, along with research groups from Chubu University, the University of Tokyo and the Tokyo Institute of Technology.

About Asia-Arab Energy Forum

As the world's energy system must radically change in the next decades, research into materials and processes is currently seen as a critical aspect in the development of cleaner and more efficient energy. The Asia-Arab Forum of Sustainable Energy, including the International Workshop on Sahara Solar Breeder (SSB), brings together, in a truly interdisciplinary atmosphere, researchers from different academic backgrounds and professionals from a broad set of science and engineering disciplines with the aim of sharing the latest developments and advances in materials and processes involved in the solar energy generation, transmission-distribution and storage.

The forum also brings together project developers, technology manufacturers and investors, approving the SSB project, with a unique interest in contributing to the global energy and environmental challenges. Focal themes covered include: Energy & Development; Environment & Sustainability; Regional cooperation for sustainable development of energy systems and special session and workshop on the Sahara Solar Breeder project directed towards a global clean energy superhighway. For more information, please visit http://www.univ-usto.dz/solar/2AASEF1-Oran-final.doc and http://www.ssb-foundation.com .

Contact: 2AASEF@ssb-foundation.com

2012-02-01 15:20

http://www.ssb-foundation.com

Copyright (c) 2012ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

The Asia Pacific Enterprise Leadership Awards (APELA), the Sole Corporate Awards Platform in Asia Centred on Academic Evaluation, Takes Shapes in China

The Asia Pacific Enterprise Leadership Awards (APELA), the Sole Corporate Awards Platform in Asia Centred on Academic Evaluation, Takes Shapes in China

Singapore, Feb 1, 2012 - (ACN Newswire) - The Asia Pacific Enterprise Leadership Awards (APELA), a regional awards platform, is devoted to honoring the outstanding achievements and exceptional resolve of business leaders elevating the ideal of corporate social responsibility across the region. The Asia Pacific Enterprise Leadership Awards will be held from May 23 - May 24, 2012 in Singapore, concurrent with the APELA gala dinner and enterprise round-panel discussion series. APELA 2012 award nominees originate from across Asia, including: South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, Greater China (including the regions of Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan), Singapore, Australia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Cambodia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, and beyond.

APELA 2012, one of the leading regional awards devoted to corporate social responsibility, is being held by Asia-Pacific Enterprise Cooperation (APEC) in conjunction with the support of local governments and enterprise. APEC is devoted to gathering together trend setting corporate executives and CEO level enterprise leaders, to facilitate greater innovation, communication, and the popularization of ethical business practices into corporate culture. Through the establishment of APELA, APEC will influence future trends in leadership training and advance the ethos of sustainable economic growth in the region. Award winners will have the opportunity to not only receive prestige and recognition for their charitable and ethical business practices, but have the opportunity to take part in the APELA 2012 round-table discussion panel, awards ceremony, and cocktail banquet that offer a variety of opportunities for dialogue.

The APELA 2012 roundtable panel, put forward by APEC as a core vehicle for the discussion of cutting edge business trends across Asia, is designed to uphold the spiritual and ethical development of enterprise and enterprise leaders. The APELA 2012 summit will feature business leaders from a vast swathe of diverse sectors focused on the Asia-Pacific market all under the same roof. A regional jury panel, composed of industrial experts, researchers and academics from over 10 countries in the Asia-Pacific, will be an integral part of the APEC 2012 two day event. Advance preparations for the Asia Pacific Enterprise Leadership Awards have already attracted the attention of both nominees and affiliated organizations across the region.

Last year, APEC headquarters in Singapore successfully established the APEC China Secretariat Office, based in Shanghai, China. At present, APEC China is immersed in the final preparatory stages of announcing award nominees. More than 2,000 renowned enterprise leaders from across the region, including publicly listed company CEOs and general managers, have been surveyed to receive one of ten APELA 2012 awards across regional zones of competition. After undergoing a process of rigorous assessment, evaluation, and site visits, APELA 2012 winners are set to be announced in April of 2012. Award winners will gather together in Singapore in May of 2012 to take part in the official APELA award festivities.

- The First Annual Asia Pacific Enterprise Leadership Awards, a Window of Opportunity for Chinese Business Elite -

As the Asia Pacific Enterprise Leadership Awards prepare to launch in Singapore, APELA is paying special attention to encouraging exceptional moral leadership among business leaders in the region of China, providing all categories of enterprise in China the opportunity to network and share in the commercial opportunities available at APELA 2012. In this way, China will be able to share in the knowledge and better business practices of developed markets to ameliorate some of the growing pains associated with recent, rapid economic growth and expansion domestically.

Participation in APELA is not only an acknowledgement of distinguished ethical and moral conduct, but an opportunity to share the best of better business practices and growth strategies to the benefit of regional development. The APELA 2012 roundtable discussion panel will offer both speakers and audience members alike the opportunity to learn about future industry trends and share practical insights in both business growth, and responsible corporate stewardship. The cooperative platform offered by the Asia-Pacific Enterprise Cooperation via APELA is not only an ideal opportunity to push forward new business initiatives and explore expansion into more than a dozen new markets across the Asia-Pacific, but also the ideal bridge to build trust across industry and sector.

Entrepreneurs fortunate enough to receive the APELA 2012 prize will lay claim not only to the respect and credibility that such distinction lends, but also be rewarded with unprecedented media exposure for their corporate brands. Additionally, award winners will have the opportunity to take part in future regional APEC events across the greater Asia-Pacific region as specially invited dignitaries. APELA, considered to be one of the most prestigious award giving bodies focused on corporate social responsibility and sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific, invites the participation of like-minded business leaders devoted to building a more ethical, better business climate today.

Asia-Pacific Enterprise Cooperation (HQ)
T: +65 6749 7040
F: +65 6749 2040

China Secretariat Office
T: +86 21 6280 0710
F: +86 21 3230 0773

Steven Paul Bielinski
Media Liaison
Steven@ap-ec.org

http://www.ap-ec.org/

2012-02-01 13:30

Copyright (c) 2012ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

U. of Tokyo Professor Uses a New Supercomputer Model to Accurately Predict 2012 Seasonal Climate Patterns

U. of Tokyo Professor Uses a New Supercomputer Model to Accurately Predict 2012 Seasonal Climate Patterns

Tokyo, Jan 31, 2012 - (ACN Newswire) - Professor Toshio Yamagata, Dean of University of Tokyo Graduate School of Science and Head of the Application Laboratory of Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), has announced seasonal climate predictions for 2012 which are strongly influenced by only recently understood climate variations in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

Prof. Yamagata's predictions not only have enormous importance in terms of oceanic as well as atmospheric temperature variations, but also directly impact a wide range of economic and security issues for nations bordering the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

His supercomputer-driven models show a direct link between recently discovered climate variation phenomena in the Pacific and Indian Oceans and weather patterns in those vast areas. Industrial applications of these long-term weather and ocean forecasts are expected soon.

2012 Forecasts (Seasons refer to northern hemisphere unless otherwise specified)

1) El Nino Forecast: A La Nina condition will continue in the winter and spring, and begin to dissipate in the summer.

2) Indian Ocean Forecast: A weak Indian Ocean dipole mode will develop in the early summer and peak in the autumn. Warmer-than-normal sea surface temperatures will persist west of Australia in subsequent seasons.

3) Regional Forecast: Colder-than-normal temperatures, which are associated with the La Nina condition, will continue over many parts of the world in coming seasons. In contrast, however, the northern part of Eurasia and the US will experience a warmer-than-normal climate in the spring. Japan may also experience warmer-than-normal conditions in the spring. This seems to be due to influences from the high pressure anomaly over the northern North Pacific in response to La Nina. Eastern China and southern Japan will likely experience less rain during their annual rainy seasons in mid-summer. In conjunction with the negative IOD, the southern hemisphere winter rains over Indonesia and Australia are expected to be above normal. However, the Indian sub-continent will experience a weaker summer monsoon.

Prof. Yamagata used the JAMSTEC giant Earth Simulator supercomputer - one of the largest and fastest computers on the planet - to develop his new model of climate change, one that combines meteorology and oceanography. Supported by his own version of a complex atmosphere-and-ocean-based model (the SINTEX-F1 coupled general circulation model), he discovered and confirmed the new phenomenon in the Indian Ocean that is similar to the El Nino and La Nina phenomena in the Pacific Ocean. Because the newly discovered phenomenon oscillates between "positive" and "negative" sea surface temperature patterns, he named it "Indian Ocean Dipole". By using the Earth Simulator to run his new model of climate variations, the group, led by Prof. Yamagata, succeeded in making the world's first prediction of the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) event in 2006.

Based on this research, Professor Yamagata predicted the massive flooding in Thailand last year. "In 2011, we observed both the IOD in the Indian Ocean and La Nina in the Pacific Ocean. When we see the IOD pattern, we can expect heavy rain over Indo-China. And La Nina also brings heavy rain in this region, so it was likely that the region would receive a double punch of torrential rain. Actually, our model predicted that," according to the professor.

As the flooding in Thailand illustrated, unusual weather can have a disastrous impact on surrounding countries, producing heavy rain, typhoons, or droughts. These extreme weather patterns have far-reaching effects on individuals, businesses, societies, even entire national economies. Prof. Yamagata's approach can now predict such calamitous weather phenomena quickly and more accurately than other models.

With the support of SATREPS, he is conducting joint research together with the Republic of South Africa-based Applied Centre for Climate & Earth System Science (ACCESS) on "Prediction of Climate Variations and its Application in the Southern African Region." Southern Africa is particularly vulnerable to the risk of climate variations because its production depends heavily on nature. The research collaboration aims to reveal both the appearance of specific climatic variations, such as the subtropical dipole mode that influences southern Africa, and the mechanism behind the ongoing long-term change.

The overall goal is to contribute to the sustainable growth and well-being of southern African society. By analyzing the results of prediction experiments, the researchers can evaluate the accuracy of climate predictions in this subtropical area, and by verifying prediction results, refine the physics such as cloud formation and precipitation processes of the model.

After further improving the accuracy of the prediction model, the Professor and his team hope to develop a new model that can accurately predict unusual weather patterns and extreme events all over the world. "My goal is for the finished model to benefit all businesses and industries and to help people's well-being in all regions of the world," noted Professor Yamagata.

About The Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD)

In 1999, Yamagata, then Program Director at Japan's Frontier Research Center for Global Change, and Hameed Saji, a researcher at the same institution (now an Associate Prof. at the University of Aizu), discovered this phenomenon and published their findings in the journal Nature.

The IOD phenomenon is quite similar to El Nino, which occurs in the tropical region of the Pacific Ocean. In the IOD, the surface temperature of the ocean begins to drop in the eastern Indian Ocean (off the coast of Java), while it rises from the central to the western Indian Ocean (extending to the coast of Kenya). In response to these oceanic temperature changes, the easterly wind at the equator becomes stronger. This IOD phenomenon usually develops in May or June, reaches a peak in October, and fades away in December.

It is now clear that this phenomenon can lead to droughts in Indonesia or Australia while producing massive flooding in parts of east Africa such as Kenya. In addition, it has a significant impact on summer monsoons, leading to heavy rain from northern India to the Indochinese peninsula and southern China, and also produces exceptionally hot weather in eastern Asia and western Japan, including the area around Okinawa. It has also been reported that this phenomenon is closely linked to severe hot weather patterns in the European Mediterranean.

About SATREPS

The Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development Program (SATREPS) is a Japanese government program in which scientists from Japan and developing countries work together to solve global issues. Global challenges such as environmental problems, energy issues, disaster prevention, infectious diseases, food shortages and so on cannot be met by a single country or region acting on its own, so engagement by the international community is essential.

To address these issues, SATREPS works through three- to five-year projects involving partnerships between researchers in Japan and developing countries. The program is a collaboration between two government agencies: the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Contact:

JAMSTEC Application Laboratory
Ms. Naoko MIYAMOTO
miyamoton@jamstec.go.jp

Related sites:

- SATREPS:

http://www.jst.go.jp/global/english/index.html

- DIGINFO NEWS

- Seasonal Prediction by SINTEX-F1 CGCM

http://www.jamstec.go.jp/frcgc/research/d1/iod/

- Yamagata laboratory at the University of Tokyo:

http://www-aos.eps.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp/~yamagata/index.html

- JAMSTEC Application Laboratory

http://www.jamstec.go.jp/apl/e/

- JST

http://www.jst.go.jp/EN/index.html

2012-01-31 17:00

Copyright (c) 2012ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Cambridge Team First to Grow Smooth Muscle Cells from Patient Skin Cells

Cambridge Team First to Grow Smooth Muscle Cells from Patient Skin Cells
A*STAR scholar Ms Christine Cheung first author of team paper published this month in Nature Biotechnology*

Singapore, Jan 26, 2012 - (ACN Newswire) - A Cambridge University research team has for the first time discovered a method of generating different types of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) - the cells which make up the walls of blood vessels - using cells from patients' skin. This work could lead to new treatments and better screening for cardiovascular disease.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the world**. These deaths are mainly caused by the hardening and subsequent blockage of blood vessels due to the accumulation of fatty materials, a condition called atherosclerosis. As not all patients are suitable for conventional stenting or bypass treatment, an option in the future may be to grow new blood vessels to bypass their own blocked vessels.

The team from Cambridge worked with embryonic stem cells and reprogrammed skin cells, collectively known as human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs), which have the potential to form any cell type in the body. They discovered a method of creating all the major vascular smooth muscle cells in high purity using hPSCs which can also be easily scaled up for production of clinical-grade SMCs. This is the first time that such a system has been developed and will open the door for comparative studies on different subtypes of SMCs to be carried out, which are otherwise extremely difficult to obtain from patients.

The scientists created three subtypes of SMCs from different embryonic tissues which they reproduced in the culture dish and showed that the various SMC subtypes responded differently when exposed to substances that cause vascular diseases. They concluded that differences in the embryonic origin play a role in their susceptibility to diseases and may play a part in determining where and when common vascular diseases such as aortic aneurysms or atherosclerosis develop.

Dr Alan Colman, Principle Investigator of the Institute of Medical Biology under A*STAR and Executive Director of the Singapore Stem Cell Consortium, said, "This is a major advance in vascular disease modelling using patient-derived stem cells. The development of robust methods to make multiple, distinct smooth muscle subtypes provides tools for scientists to model and understand a greater range of vascular diseases in a culture dish than was previously available. It is a significant stride forward in being able to construct new blood vessels which will benefit a whole range of patients including those with cardiovascular diseases, renal failure and genetic disorders such as Marfans Syndrome that affect the normal function of their blood vessels."

Dr Lim Khiang Wee, Executive Director of the A*STAR Graduate Academy (A*GA), said, "Christine's work reflects the calibre of our scholars - they do excellent research and grow into scientists who will contribute to Singapore when they return."

Ms Christine Cheung is a National Science Scholarship (NSS) scholar and is doing her final year PhD studies at Cambridge University (UK). The NSS scholarship is one of the programmes offered by A*GA, to attract and develop outstanding young talent passionate about research who will spearhead Singapore's drive to becoming Asian's Innovation Capital.

* The paper "Generation of human vascular smooth muscle subtypes provides insight into embryological origin-dependent disease susceptibility" was published on Nature Biotechnology's website on 15 January. Ms Christine Cheung is funded by a National Science Scholarship from the A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore). The other authors are Dr Andreia S Bernardo, Dr Matthew W B Trotter, Prof Roger A Pedersen & Dr Sanjay Sinha (Christine's PhD supervisor). Additional funding was provided by the Wellcome Trust and the Medical Research Council. http://www.nature.com/nbt/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nbt.2107.html

** http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs317/en/index.html

About A*STAR

The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) is the lead agency for fostering world-class scientific research and talent for a vibrant knowledge-based and innovation-driven Singapore. A*STAR oversees 14 biomedical sciences and physical sciences and engineering research institutes, and six consortia & centres, located in Biopolis and Fusionopolis as well as their immediate vicinity. A*STAR supports Singapore's key economic clusters by providing intellectual, human and industrial capital to its partners in industry. It also supports extramural research in the universities, and with other local and international partners. For more information about A*STAR, please visit www.a-star.edu.sg .

Contact: Ms Ong Siok Ming
Senior Officer, Corporate Communications
Agency for Science, Technology and Research
Tel: +65 6826 6254
Email: ong_siok_ming@a-star.edu.sg

2012-01-26 15:00
Source: A*STAR

http://www.a-star.edu.org

Copyright (c) 2012ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Dubai Lynx Announces 2012 Jury Line-Up

Dubai Lynx Announces 2012 Jury Line-Up

Dubai, Jan 25, 2012 - (ACN Newswire) - The Dubai International Advertising Festival, the leading Festival and Awards for creative excellence in the Middle East and North Africa, is pleased to announce the members of the juries responsible for judging and awarding entries into the 6th Dubai Lynx Awards.

A total of 35 international, industry experts will come together in Dubai to judge and debate over the best of the region's work. Divided into six juries, each led by their own jury president, jury members will this year see entries from 14 categories: Film, Print, Outdoor, Radio, Media, Direct, Promo & Activation, Interactive, Print & Poster Craft, Film Craft, Design, Integrated and new for this year, PR and Mobile.

"We are delighted to be bringing these international juries to Dubai. As individuals they are knowledgeable and passionate within their fields and together will bring fresh ideas and perspectives in judging the creativity currently coming out of the MENA region. We look forward to welcoming them and seeing which entries they will choose to take home the coveted Lynx trophies," said Emma Lancaster, Festival Director, Dubai Lynx.

The 2012 jury members are:

Film, Print, Outdoor, Radio and Craft Jury

- Ted Royer, Partner, Executive Creative Director, Droga5, USA - Jury President
- Scott Lambert, Creative Director, Innocean, Australia
- Doerte Spengler-Ahrens, Chief Creative Officer, Jung von Matt/Fleet, Germany
- Abhijit Avasthi, National Creative Director, Ogilvy & Mather, India
- Ivan Johnson, Executive Creative Director, 140 BBDO, South Africa
- Carla Romeu, Creative Director, El Laboratorio, Spain
- John Pallant, Regional Creative Director, EMEA, Saatchi & Saatchi, UK

Direct, Promo & Activation, Interactive and Mobile

- Gaston Bigio, Regional Creative Director, Ogilvy Latina and Founder, David, Argentina - Jury President
- Nancy Hartley, Executive Creative Director, SapientNitro, Australia
- Erik Backes, Executive Creative Director, Wunderman, Germany
- Odile Creze, Executive Creative Director, DraftFCB, France
- Chris Baylis, Executive Creative Director, Tribal DDB, The Netherlands
- Theo Ferreira, Executive Creative Director/Co-Founder, Hello World, South Africa
- Nick Darken, Partner/Executive Creative Director, Albion, UK

Media Jury

- Jacki Kelley, Global Chief Executive Officer, UM, Global - Jury President
- John Sintras, Chief Executive Officer, Starcom MediaVest, Australia
- Gino Baeck, Chief Executive Officer, Mindshare, Belgium
- Jens Erichsen, Managing Director, Carat, Germany
- Jasmin Sohrabji, Chief Executive Officer, Omnicom Media Group, India
- Niclas Froberg, Chief Executive Officer/Founder, Tre Kronor Media & Advertising, Sweden
- Hugh Cameron, Chief Strategy Officer, PHD Media, UK

Design Jury

- Jonathan Ford, Creative Partner, Pearlfisher, UK - Jury President
- Tristan Macherel, Executive Creative Director, The Brand Union, France
- Alok Nanda, Chief Executive Officer, Alok Nanda & Company, India
- Bruno Stucchi, Owner/Creative Director, Dinamomilano, Italy
- Rita Baltazar, Partner, Co-Founder and Creative Director, By, Portugal
- Jennifer Ehlers, Creative Director, King James RSVP, South Africa
- Catrin Vagnemark, Creative Director, BVD Design Bureau, Sweden

PR Jury

- Richard Millar, Chief Executive Officer, Hill & Knowlton, UK - Jury President
- Cyrille Arcamone, Senior Vice President & Senior Partner, Fleishman-Hillard, France
- Tobias Schlosser, Chief Operating Officer, EMEA, Ledavi, Germany
- Sunil Gautam, Director, Hanmer MSL Communications, India
- Giorgio Cattaneo, President, Chief Executive Officer, MY PR, Italy
- Catarina Vasconcelos, Managing Director, LPM, Portugal
- Christina Saliba, Chief Executive Officer, Weber Shandwick, Sweden

Integrated Jury

- Ted Royer, Partner, Executive Creative Director, Droga5, USA - Jury President
- Gaston Bigio, Regional Creative Director, Ogilvy Latina and Founder, David, Argentina
- Jonathan Ford, Creative Partner, Pearlfisher, UK
- Ivan Johnson, Executive Creative Director, 140BBDO, South Africa
- Jacki Kelley, Global CEO, UM, Global
- Richard Millar, Chief Executive Officer, Hill & Knowlton, UK
- John Pallant, Regional Creative Director, EMEA, Saatchi & Saatchi, UK

There's still time to enter the Dubai Lynx awards. Entries can be submitted through the website at http://www.dubailynx.com/awards/index.cfm where further information, entry tips and details about the Festival and Awards can also be found.

The Dubai International Advertising Festival takes place from 4-6 March with the Dubai Lynx Awards drawing the Festival to a close on 7 March. Anyone wishing to attend should visit http://www.dubailynx.com/registration/ for details of delegate packages and to take advantage of the special Early Bird Discount, available until 2 February.

Key Dates:

Delegate Registration: Now Open. Early Bird Discount available until 2 February 2012
Entries Open: Now Open
Entries Close: 2 February 2012
Festival Dates: 4-6 March 2012, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, UAE
Dubai Lynx Awards: 7 March 2012, Madinat Arena, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, UAE

Find Dubai Lynx on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube.

About Dubai International Advertising Festival

The Dubai International Advertising Festival is the leading competition and awards for advertising creative excellence in the Middle East and Africa. Presented by Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity together with their regional partner, Motivate Publishing, the Dubai International Advertising Festival is held with the support of Dubai Media City (DMC) and in association with the UAE Chapter of the International Advertising Association (IAA). The 5th Dubai International Advertising Festival will bring to the Middle East and Africa a series of high-profile seminars, workshops, exhibitions and screenings aimed at giving creative inspiration, learning and networking opportunities to the advertising and allied industries in the region. The Lynx Academy, The Young Lynx Integrated Competition and Networking evenings are additional events enjoyed by participants. The Dubai Lynx advertising awards, which are part of the Festival, will honour creative excellence in Film, Print, Outdoor, Radio, Direct, Promo & Activation, Media, Interactive, Film Craft, Print & Poster Craft, Design, Mobile, PR and Integrated advertising and communications. High-profile international jurors will award the coveted Dubai Lynx trophy to establish the definitive standard for creative excellence in the Middle East and Africa region. For more information, please visit http://www.dubailynx.com/ .

Contact: Amanda Benfell, PR & Press Manager
Dubai International Advertising Festival
Greater London House, London, UK

www.dubailynx.com

Tel: +44 20 7728 4040
Fax: +44 20 7728 4044
E-mail: amandab@canneslions.com

Emma Lancaster, Festival Director
Dubai International Advertising Festival
PO Box 2331, Dubai, UAE

www.dubailynx.com

Tel: + 971 50 518 2368
Email: emmal@dubailynx.com

2012-01-25 22:30
Source: Dubai International Advertising Festival

http://www.dubailynx.com

Copyright (c) 2012ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

A*STAR, GE Global Research Join Forces to Develop Integrated Advanced Medical Imaging Technologies for Imporved Clinical Diagnosis

A*STAR, GE Global Research Join Forces to Develop Integrated Advanced Medical Imaging Technologies for Imporved Clinical Diagnosis

Singapore, Jan 21, 2012 - (ACN Newswire) - GE Global Research, the central technology development arm for GE Healthcare and all of GE's businesses, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Singapore's Agency of Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR). This agreement will focus on advancing current medical imaging technologies and diagnostics to enable more accurate, earlier and faster clinical diagnoses of cancer and other diseases. The partnership between A*STAR and GE Global Research brings together two world-class research institutions, integrating their deep domain expertise in biomedical, science, and engineering capabilities to support this effort.

This MOU expands upon a productive collaboration between GE and A*STAR's Singapore Bioimaging Consortium (SBIC) using Hyperpolarized Carbon-13 technology. Early results exploring sub second bio-chemical imaging in Oncology applications helped pave the way for a broader scientific collaboration on projects in medical diagnostics and medical imaging. The goal is to improve diagnosis and tissue characterization in diseases that are prevalent in the Asian population, such as liver, lung, and gastric cancers.

Michael Idelchik, Vice President of Advanced Technology Programs at GE Global Research, said, "To more effectively combat cancer and other deadly diseases, more advanced diagnostic tools will be needed to help doctors become more prescriptive in their diagnoses and treatment regimens. Combining A*STAR's world-class biomedical and clinical expertise with GE's strengths in diagnostic and molecular imaging, we have an exciting opportunity to take medical diagnosis to this next level. Specifically, A*STAR will help us address cancers and other diseases more common in Asia and where pathology and outcomes are different as compared to the rest of the world."

Professor Low Teck Seng, Managing Director of A*STAR, said, "This win-win public-private partnership between A*STAR and GE comes at an opportune time with the increasing research interest in diseases affecting the Asian population. I am confident that A*STAR's cross-disciplinary capabilities in both the biomedical, and physical sciences & engineering research will complement GE's expertise in diagnostic and molecular imaging to meet today's complex healthcare challenges and enhance lives."

As part of the MOU, A*STAR and GE Global Research will collaborate to enhance medical imaging technologies in imaging modalities, ranging from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) to computed tomography (CT).

In a Frost & Sullivan global market analysis report, the medical imaging sector was valued at about US$25 billion as of 2008, with MRI and CT scanners accounting for a combined 40% of the total global device medical imaging market. In one project, scientists from A*STAR's Institute of Microelectronics (IME) and GE scientists will explore the development of new imaging technologies to improve the speed and accuracy of clinical cancer diagnosis. Leveraging IME's network and partnerships with the microelectronics industry, this project could result in the development of a new local industry for Singapore in the healthcare technologies area.

In another project, A*STAR's Singapore Bioimaging Consortium (SBIC) and GE plan to develop novel imaging markers for hepatic cellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common type of liver cancer in Asia. This project will integrate biomedical imaging and pre-clinical model development expertise from SBIC with GE's molecular diagnostics technology to develop innovative, proprietary platforms to help advance the unique characterization of HCC in each patient. In this manner, the goal is that a specific type of cancer would be identified and the therapy tailored to each patient. This project encompasses a range of medical diagnostic technologies from imaging to molecular pathology biomarkers appropriate to HCC, relevant to the Asian population. Building on a close partnership with local hospitals, success in this project may lead to accelerated and accurate cancer diagnosis that enables more prescriptive and effective cancer treatments for patients. This will support A*STAR's efforts to develop Singapore as a Center for Oncology and Molecular Pathology.

About GE Global Research

GE Global Research is one of the world's most diversified industrial research labs, providing innovative technology for all of GE's businesses. Global Research has been the cornerstone of GE technology for more than 100 years, developing breakthrough innovations in areas such as medical imaging, energy generation technology, jet engines and lighting. GE Global Research is headquartered in Niskayuna, New York and has facilities in Bangalore, India, Shanghai, China and Munich, Germany. Visit GE Global Research at www.ge.com/research .

About A*STAR

The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) is the lead agency for fostering world-class scientific research and talent for a vibrant knowledge-based and innovation-driven Singapore. A*STAR oversees 14 biomedical sciences and physical sciences and engineering research institutes, and six consortia & centres, located in Biopolis and Fusionopolis as well as their immediate vicinity. A*STAR supports Singapore's key economic clusters by providing intellectual, human and industrial capital to its partners in industry. It also supports extramural research in the universities, and with other local and international partners. For more information about A*STAR, please visit www.a-star.edu.sg .

Contact: GE Media Contact
Todd Alhart
GE Global Research
Tel: +1 518 387 7914
Email: Todd.alhart@ge.com

A*STAR Media Contact
Dr. Sarah Chang KC
Corporate Communications
Agency for Science, Technology and Research
Tel: +65 6826 6442
Email: chang_kai_chen@a-star.edu.sg

2012-01-21 12:00
Source: A*STAR

http://www.a-star.edu.org

Copyright (c) 2012ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

MotomoTechWon Develops World's First Smart PC with Zero Watt of Standby Power

MotomoTechWon Develops World's First Smart PC with Zero Watt of Standby Power

Ilsan Gyeonggido, South Korea, Jan 18, 2012 - (ACN Newswire) - MotomoTechWon (President: Jeon Yeong-suk, www.motomo1.com ), an energy and environmental device company in Korea, developed a new eco-friendly computer 'SAVE PC' adopting green technology, the first of its kind in the world.

The 'SAVE PC' adopted a core technology that can prevent leakage of standby power by 100% to zero watt.

The standby power refers to electric power that is consumed by an electric appliance while its power is turned off. Standby power continuously leaks from PCs, electric rice cookers, TVs, gas stoves, washing machines and refrigerators as long as they don't pull their plugs out of the wall at home. For instance, when a family has a PC at home, it consumes 142KWh of standby power, emitting 65Kg of CO2 and paying 17,000 won of additional power charges annually.

Installed with the innovative 'Standby Power Cutoff Apparatus for Computer'(SPCAC) chip, 'SAVE PC' can block leakage of standby power by 100%, reducing power charges by 10% and emission of CO2 by 3Kg a year.

Key technology of the SPCAC chip is designed in such a way that its circuits will be broken if it is removed from the circuit board of PCs (desktop PCs and multi-function printers) or is disassembled for duplication.

Unlike products of other companies that are installed with an auxiliary battery, SPCAC chip can completely block standby power by turning off its power switch, which is equivalent to pulling plug of the PC out of the wall.

President Jeon Yeong-suk of MotomoTechWon said, "The amount of money wasted by leaking power through plugs of standby electronic appliances is enormous. Our innovative technology that incurs no standby power charge satisfies rigorous carbon reduction standards of the climate change convention and is expected to attract attention from fastidious customers in the United States and EU as it cuts consumption of energy."

President Jeon continued, "Existing standby power-related products in Korea and other countries pretended to be green products. But our core chip technology that makes zero of standby power is a unique invention in the world that cannot be imitated by others."

MotomoTechWon plans to launch SAVE PC in March 2012.

Contact:
Kim Jeong-hoon
Chairman of MotomoTechWon
+82-31-907-5191
+82-10-3130-9093
ak452008@hanmail.net

2012-01-18 11:16

Copyright (c) 2012ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Hong Kong Fashion Week, World Boutique Open this Month

Hong Kong Fashion Week, World Boutique Open this Month
Fashion Extravaganza, Fashion Design Contest, Among Highlights

Hong Kong, Jan 3, 2012 - (ACN Newswire) - Some 1,900 exhibitors from 25 countries and regions will take part in the HKTDC Hong Kong Fashion Week for Fall/Winter, and HKTDC World Boutique, Hong Kong, 16-19 January, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

"Hong Kong Fashion Week for Fall/Winter and World Boutique, Hong Kong, are premier events for the Asian fashion scene," said Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) Deputy Executive Director Benjamin Chau at a pre-fair press conference. "The fairs have again received great support from global fashion designers and brands, cementing Hong Kong's status as Asia's trendsetting hub."

Also on hand at today's press conference were a number of well-known local fashion designers including Dodo Leung, Gary Tsang, Himkala Limbu, Hidy Ng and IKA BUTONI. The designers offered previews of their latest work.

Hong Kong Fashion Week for Fall/Winter, the largest event of its kind in Asia will introduce three new product zones - Denim Arcade, Handbags Select and Salon of Scarves & Shawls. Combined with World Boutique, the two fairs will welcome more than 110 buying missions comprising more than 4,700 buyers from 40 countries and regions.

Fashion Extravaganza

World Boutique, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, will include the Hong Kong Fashion Extravaganza. The event on the evening of 16 January will feature four internationally acclaimed designers - Hong Kong's Hidy Ng, London's Craig Lawrence, Paris' Risto Bimbiloski and Shanghai's Qi Gang.

Hong Kong supermodel Grace Yu, the first Asian face of Dior, will be on the catwalk for Hidy Ng's collection. Bonnie Chen, Mikki Yao, Ana R, Xiao Yi, Emma Xie and Jia Jing will also model designs on catwalk. Video interviews with the Fashion Extravaganza designers are available on the HKTDC webcast service, at http://goo.gl/pUKbS .

Judging Fashion

The Hong Kong Young Fashion Designers Contest 2012, 17 January, will showcase a new generation of Hong Kong design talent, with Japanese designer Atsuro Tayama as the VIP judge. Local celebrity model, Janice Man, will wear the finalists' designs on stage and Wing Shya will be art director for photography. The contest will honour winners for Casual & Jeans-wear, Contemporary Day-wear, Party & Evening-wear as well as a winner in the overall category. Winning designs will be on display at the Hall 1D Concourse during the fair.

Hong Kong Fashion Extravaganza and Hong Kong Young Fashion Designers Contest 2012 welcome M.A.C. and HAIR as the make-up and hair sponsors. Romero Jennings, senior artist from the M.A.C. Pro Team, will be on hand at the events.

Seminars and Shows

The twin fairs will also offer a full programme of seminars focusing on trend forecasting and design directions. Speakers will include representatives of WGSN, Fashion Snoop, Peclers Paris, WWD and Stylesight.

Hong Kong exports of clothing and related accessories were worth US$22.4 billion in the first 11 months of 2011, up two per cent over the same period in 2010. Major destinations for the exports included the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Japan and the Chinese mainland.

Fair Websites

Fashion Week: http://hktdc.com/hkfashionweekfw/

World Boutique: http://hktdc.com/worldboutiquehk/

About HKTDC

A statutory body established in 1966, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is the international marketing arm for Hong Kong-based traders, manufacturers and service providers. With more than 40 global offices, including 11 on the Chinese mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a platform for doing business with China and throughout Asia. The HKTDC also organises trade fairs and business missions to connect companies with opportunities in Hong Kong and on the mainland, while providing information via trade publications, research reports and online. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com .

Follow us on Twitter @HKTDC

Contact: HKTDC
Corporate Communication Department
Joe Kainz
Tel: +852 2584 4216
Email: joe.kainz@hktdc.org

2012-01-03 20:13
Source: HKTDC

http://www.hktdc.com

Copyright (c) 2012ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

MDA Allocates New Station FM92.0 to SPH Unionworks

MDA Allocates New Station FM92.0 to SPH Unionworks
Latest Station to Inject Greater Diversity into Singapore's Radio Industry

Singapore, Dec 21, 2011 - (ACN Newswire) - The Media Development Authority (MDA) has awarded the FM92.0 radio frequency to SPH Unionworks, paving the way for the launch of a new commercial free-to-air women and family radio station for local listeners.

The award follows a public tender launched by MDA on 29 March 2011 for the allocation of two vacant FM frequencies - FM89.3 and FM92.0 - to be operated as either commercial or not-for-profit (public interest) radio stations. To attract the widest variety of proposals possible, MDA had adopted an open tender approach with no restrictions on language or genre for the new stations.

At the close of the tender on 12 July 2011, MDA received a total of 11 valid bids from five companies: CMS Media Pte Ltd, MediaCorp Pte Ltd, Singapore Austar Media Group Pte Ltd, SPH Unionworks Pte Ltd and StarHub Ltd.

After careful evaluation by a Tender Evaluation Committee comprising MDA representatives and members of the Programming Advisory Committees, SPH Unionworks has been awarded the FM92.0 frequency to operate a round-the-clock women and family radio station in English.

The Committee believes SPH Unionworks' proposal caters to an underserved, niche segment of the population. Existing local radio stations do provide some women and family-related content but none of them are positioned as stations which cater solely to this audience segment.

As the other proposals were deemed to be less unique and compelling, MDA will tender the remaining FM89.3 frequency at a later date. This is to give industry players time to develop fresh and innovative concepts that can add further vibrancy to our local radio scene.

The addition of a new radio station on FM92.0 will bring the total number of local FM stations to 19. Together, they provide a wide array of multilingual music and infotainment choices for consumers.

The new station by SPH Unionworks is expected to be launched within the next nine months.

About MDA

Formed in 2003, the Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA) plays a vital role in transforming Singapore into a Global Media City and positioning it at the forefront of the digital media age. MDA spearheads initiatives that promote developments in film, video, television, radio, publishing, music, games, animation, media services and Interactive Digital Media. At the same time, in ensuring clear and consistent regulatory policies and guidelines, MDA helps to foster a pro-business environment for industry players and increase media choices for consumers. For more information, visit www.mda.gov.sg and www.smf.sg .

Contact: Media Development Authority
Dawn Tay
Assistant Manager (Regulatory Communications)
Communications
Tel: +65 9726 3128
Email: dawn_tay@mda.gov.sg

Winston Chai
Assistant Director (Regulatory Communications)
Communications
Tel: +65 9726 3029
Email: winston_chai@mda.gov.sg

2011-12-21 18:30
Source: MDA

http://www.mda.gov.sg

Copyright (c) 2011ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com