Press Release
Source: Kanagawa University, Japan, Organization of Frontier Science and Innovation
For immediate release: 25 February 2013
Kanazawa University, Japan publishes the February issue of its online newsletter, Kanazawa University Research Bulletin: http://www.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/research_bulletin/index
Kanazawa University Research Bulletin highlights the latest research from one of Japan's leading comprehensive universities with its three colleges and 16 schools offering courses in subjects that include medicine, computer engineering, and humanities.
(Kanazawa, Japan, 25 February 2013) From uncovering maternal to paternal communications in mice; obesity-induced diabetes linked to enzyme deficiencies; ‘cool’ organic solar cell fabrication; producing large quantities of titanium oxide nanoparticles; links of asthma to gender, obesity and aspirin intolerance; toxic responses and micro RNAs; and understanding antibody memory— Kanazawa University Research Bulletin offers an up to date overview of the unique research being conducted at Kanazawa University.
Research highlights published in the February 2013 issue of Kanazawa University Research Bulletin include:
Uncovering maternal to paternal communications in mice
Researchers at Japan’s Kanazawa University have proven the existence of communicative signalling from female mice that induces male parental behavior.
http://www.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/research_bulletin/highlights201302H015.html
Obesity-induced diabetes linked to enzyme deficiencies
New research led by scientists at Kanazawa University shows how insulin resistance and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is triggered by enzyme deficiencies in obese patients.
http://www.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/research_bulletin/highlights201302H016.html
Organic solar cell fabrication: Keeping it cool for best results
Organic solar cells are cheap and flexible, so there is great interest in optimising their power conversion efficiency further by improving the material properties of the electrodes, such as crystallinity. However Takayuki Kuwabara and colleagues at Kanazawa University and the Japan Science and Technology Agency have now demonstrated that in simulated sunlight with UV omitted, photoconductivity is actually decreased when ZnO crystalline quality is improved.
http://www.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/research_bulletin/highlights201302H017.html
New synthesis method produces titanium nanoparticles in high quantities
TiO2 nanoparticles are in increasingly high demand for a range of applications, including photocatalysts, photonic crystals, photovoltaic cells, gas sensors, fuel cells, pigments and cosmetics. Now researchers in Japan have demonstrated a new method for synthesis of TiO2 nanoparticles in large amounts.
http://www.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/research_bulletin/highlights201302H018.html
Severe asthma linked to gender, obesity and aspirin intolerance
Clinical factors such as gender and obesity may lead to the development of difficult-to-treat asthma, according to researchers at Japan’s Kanazawa University.
http://www.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/research_bulletin/highlights201302H019.html
Toxic responses: a big role for micro RNAs
The regulation of gene expression for a range of processes relies on micro RNAs. These small non-coding RNAs, 21–23 nucleotides in length, influence cell development, differentiation, and signalling, as well as disease development and drug and immune responses. Now Tsuyoshi Yokoi and Miki Nakajima at Kanazawa University in Japan provide an overview of the current knowledge of miRNAs, how they can be harnessed for use as indicators of biological conditions and their role in treatments.
http://www.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/research_bulletin/highlights201302H020.html
AID for acquired immunity: understanding antibody memory
Antibody memory allows people to develop acquired immunity and is critical for vaccinations to be effective. There are two different hypotheses for the process behind antibody memory but so far both have been lacking evidence of crucial aspects of the proposed mechanisms. A collaboration of researchers at Kyoto University and Kanazawa University in Japan, and the Center of Laboratory Technology and Experimental Medicine in China, have confirmed the activity of an enzyme called activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) that may provide the missing link.
http://www.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/research_bulletin/highlights201302H021.html
Further information:
Organization of Frontier Science and Innovation
Kanazawa University
Kakuma, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-1192, Japan
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: http://www.o-fsi.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/en
About Kanazawa University
As the leading comprehensive university on the Sea of Japan coast, Kanazawa University has contributed greatly to higher education and academic research in Japan since it was founded in 1949. The University has three colleges and 16 schools offering courses in subjects that include medicine, computer engineering, and humanities.
The University is located on the coast of the Sea of Japan in Kanazawa—a city rich in history and culture. The city of Kanazawa has cultivated a highly respected intellectual profile since the time of the Kaga fiefdom (1598–1867). Kanazawa University is divided into two main campuses: Kakuma and Takaramachi for its approximately 12,200 students including 500 from overseas.
Kanazawa University website: http://www.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/e/index.html
