Japan

Machine learning helps find advantageous combination of salts and organic solvents

A new material developed by researchers at Tohoku University may be the key to quickly flag damaged infrastructure. This material offers a way to reduce the manpower required to regularly monitor structures that undergo daily use such as bridges. Compared to previous methods, this environmentally friendly material boasts the ability to operate without a power supply, and store information about previous incidents of mechanical stress. The application of this mechanoluminescent material is expected to make it easier and less costly to assess the safety of structures we may use in our everyday lives.

Rapidus and Hokkaido University Sign Comprehensive Collaboration Agreement aiming to enhance scientific and technological capabilities and develop human resources through the semiconductor industry.

Osaka University researchers discovered a correlation between high GDF15 levels in steatotic liver patients and increased liver cancer risk. Steatotic liver disease cases, fueled by lifestyle-related issues, have surged globally, with Japan reporting a significant prevalence. Elevated GDF15 levels also signify complication risks associated with liver cirrhosis. Combining GDF15 levels and FIB-4 index aids efficient liver cancer detection, potentially improving prognosis through early intervention.

Experimental investigations on partition coefficients of first-transition row elements between olivine and silicate melt

Fifteen years after Japan initiated efforts to attract younger people to rural areas, researchers assess its impact and the lessons it offers for global rural revitalization policies.

Online group discussions, active learning help sustain healthy habits among countryside residents

A research group at Osaka University developed a mixed reality (MR) system to intuitively share flooding forecasts, which can be visualized on mobile devices via server rendering. This system addresses the challenge of displaying detailed flood risks, enhancing understanding among both experts and the public. By offloading computational tasks to servers, the system allows for real-time MR visualization over large city areas, potentially integrating advanced features like deep learning to improve disaster resilience and public safety.

A research group at Osaka University has developed an innovative positioning system that enhances the versatility and accuracy of drone-viewpoint mixed reality (MR) applications by aligning real and virtual world coordinates without predefined routes. By integrating visual positioning systems and natural feature-based tracking, this technology is expected to be applied to urban landscape simulation, maintenance, and inspection work.

Research collaboration between Osaka University and Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. revealed that deletion of mRNA endonuclease Regnase-1 promoted NK cell anti-tumor activity via OCT2-dependent transcriptional up-regulation of Ifng mRNA. Associated with the deletion of Regnase-1 in NK cells, NK cells showed a high expression of OCT2 and CXCR6 in those that escaped from mRNA decay from Regnase-1, and they contributed to the transcriptional regulation of Ifng and NK cell persistence inside the tumor microenvironment, respectively. The loss-of-function strategy targeting Regnase-1 potentially enhances the production of cytotoxic proteins such as IFN-γ, granzymes, and perforin. This approach also promotes NK cell infiltration and persistence within the tumor, thereby facilitating the development of effective anti-tumor immunotherapy against solid tumors.

Researchers from Osaka University probed the transit of cations across a nanopore membrane for the generation of osmotic energy. The team controlled the passage of cations across the membrane using a voltage applied to a gate electrode. This control allowed the cation-selective transport to be tuned from essentially zero to complete cation selectivity. The findings are expected to support the application of blue energy solutions for sustainable energy alternatives worldwide.

Researchers from Osaka University combined computer simulations and transmission electron microscopy experiments to better understand the ordering mobility and formation of microstructure domains in Fe3Al alloy. They were able to correlate structural changes with heat treatment to understand how particular mechanical behavior can be achieved. This is expected to allow the superelastic properties of Fe3Al to harnessed for the 3D printing of construction materials for absorbing seismic activity.

Osaka University is starting a Phase I clinical trial (first in human) for refractory prostate cancer using an astatine-labeled drug ([At-211]PSMA-5). This trial aims to evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetics, and efficacy of the new alpha therapy. Previous trials for thyroid cancer have been successful. The trial addresses the high unmet needs of prostate cancer patients and leverages Japan's ability to manufacture astatine. This innovative therapy promises fewer side effects and no need for hospitalization, potentially benefiting patients globally.

Springer Nature’s latest survey, focused on Japan, shows a high proportion of Japanese researchers have access to research integrity training and builds on results from previous surveys that highlight data training as the greatest unmet need.

Novel real-time PCR method might become diagnostic tool targeting emerging bacterium responsible for food poisoning outbreaks

Researchers from Osaka University have found that a specific pattern of brain activity, known as “sharp-wave ripples,” is associated with thoughts that wander from the present situation. This activity begins in the hippocampus, a crucial brain region for memory formation and recall, and is linked to more vivid and less desirable thoughts. A better understanding of the relationship between sharp-wave ripples and these kinds of thoughts might be helpful for treating related conditions.

Researchers at Osaka University analyzed data from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study and found that socioeconomic status (SES) transitions affect dementia risk. Specifically, upward SES mobility is greater associated with reduced dementia risk and extended healthy aging with dementia-free lifespan, while downward mobility increases risk. The study of 9,186 participants found that lifestyle, comorbidities, and social factors mediate this relationship, highlighting the importance of SES in cognitive health and preventing dementia.

Achievement of stereoselective up-conversion processes using a chiral donor/acceptor pair in the presence of synthetic saponite

Promising results of helium plasma jet therapy on rats after surgery widen scope of method’s medical applications

Calculations consider how a dozen metals such as titanium combine with nitrogen or carbon to form bonds

Researchers from Osaka University found that the tyrosine kinase Csk plays a crucial role in regulating germinal center B cell signaling. Csk deletion in a mouse model led to increased ROS production and apoptosis, thereby inhibiting B cell affinity maturation.

Genome editing is making inroads into biomedical research and medicine. By employing biomolecule modeling tools, a Japanese research team is accelerating the pace and cutting the cost of zinc finger nuclease (ZFN) technology, a primary gene editing tool.

Naturally derived antioxidants improve growth of yeast strain in presence of ethanol

Researchers at the Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, enhance land surface maps to identify sloping landscapes in which vegetation changes are associated with slight elevation and water gradients.

New research employs shutter speed analogies to validate 55-year-old theory about chemical reaction rates.

Time series data and causal impact algorithm reveal the effectiveness of a new transit station over a four-year period

In a recent study published in the multidisciplinary academic journal Science Bulletin, a semi-monthly high-caliber peer-reviewed research outlet covering a broad range of natural sciences and high-tech fields, researchers from the Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI) at Kanazawa University utilized hopping probe scanning ion conductance microscopy (HPICM) and highly sensitive platinum-functionalized nanoelectrodes to conduct an in-depth investigation of the dynamic response of individual living colorectal cancer Caco-2 cells to changes in intracellular and extracellular hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) gradients, specifically focusing on eustress, at the single-cell level and in real-time. Their findings hold promise for innovative therapies against cancer and H2O2-related inflammatory diseases.

Researchers from Osaka University have used a novel combination of short-read and long-read RNA sequencing to identify the different isoforms of genes expressed in the crustacean Daphnia magna. Males and females are genetically identical, but using this technique the team revealed genes that switch the predominant isoform in a sex-dependent manner. This study contributes to our understanding of Daphnia’s sexual dimorphism and helps further advance technologies in crustacean aquaculture.

Researchers at Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI), Kanazawa University report in Nano Letters how the use of high-speed atomic force microscopy helps to understand the crucial role played by certain biomolecules in DNA wrapping dynamics.

Researchers at The University of Tokyo demonstrate enhanced radiative heat transfer across a gap between two micro-sized silicon plates by coating them with a layer of silicon dioxide, which may significantly improve heat management of computers.