Spotlight on Research

Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the joints in the body. Some common symptoms include stiffness, swelling, and pain in the joints, particularly of the fingers, knees, ankles, wrists, elbows, hips, and shoulders. As the disease progresses, patients can experience…

Tackling the Challenges of Global Urbanisation

Most cities are growing rapidly and by 2050, two-thirds of the world’s population—about 6.5 billion people—are expected to live in urban centres. This rapid growth is particularly acute in developing countries in Africa and Asia. For many, a move to the city brings greater opportunities for…

The Power of Deep Reinforcement Learning

When IBM’s “Deep Blue” beat Garry Kasparov in the mid 90’s, it was the first time in history that a computer had defeated the World chess champion. Then in 2016, Google’s DeepMind AlphaGo defeated Lee Sedol, one of the best players of the strategy board game, Go, as well as a host of other Go world…

Student Consumption and Debt in Victorian Oxford

In 1877, then student at Magdalen College, Oscar Wilde was twice summoned by the University of Oxford proctors to appear before the University Court concerning a £30 debt involving fashionable goods. Wilde had ordered a felt hat, a superior suit and silk scarves from Joseph Muir, tailor and…

Does Corporate Internationalisation Improve Firm Performance?

Many managers understand the importance of international strategy, which refers to a firm’s international diversification. In my recent study, I found that for publicly listed firms in the United Kingdom, the proportion of firms with foreign assets grew from 4% in 1990 to 36% in 2016. Likewise, the…

Islamic Finance: The Way Forward

Islamic finance, in its simplest terms, can be defined as finance with ethical considerations in the way financial transactions are conducted.

Could Low-Dose Radiation Be Beneficial for Us?

Nuclear power plants and incidences like Chernobyl and Fukushima have resulted in radiation phobia (radiophobia) — the fear that even the smallest dose of radiation is harmful. Ironically, radiation is everywhere. We are surrounded by naturally-occurring background radiation caused by cosmic…

Detecting HFMD: A Virologist’s Race Against Time

The year was 2000 when an unprecedented outbreak of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in Singapore claimed the lives of five children. Professor Poh Chit Laa, then a researcher at National University of Singapore, felt herself grieving with a mother who lost two children to the disease. She…

The Power of Music

In 1994, I was playing the trombone on the main stage in a cruise ship somewhere on the Caribbean Sea. I was playing with the 5th Dimension, a pop/soul/R…

Nanotechnology in Harnessing Solar Energy

We use solar energy to power our heaters, electronic devices and even vehicles. The idea of using solar energy is hardly new as attempts at developing solar technologies began as early as the late 19th century. The solar energy industry however is beset with issues concerning its efficiency as a…

The Economic Voting Puzzle of Malaysia

Economic voting behaviour, whereby voters reward the incumbent ruling party for delivering economic prosperity, is pervasive across countries. The influence of economic factors on voter behaviour has been extensively studied since the rational choice theory was applied in the 1950s to understand…

Getting the Bear Facts

Few species evoke as much fascination, amusement and attraction as do bears. Through much of our history, bears have held a special significance—from the comforting presence of a child’s teddy bear to symbols of power, protection and untamed nature in modern societies and countless indigenous…