Osaka Metropolitan University researchers have discovered that the combination of green algae and yeast enhances the efficiency of wastewater treatment.

A collaborative research team, including Institute of Science Tokyo (formerly Tokyo Institute of Technology), has developed wide-incident-angle radio-wave absorbers for millimeter-wave and terahertz applications. These absorbers demonstrate wideband frequency absorption up to an incident angle of 60 degrees, made possible through the use of frequency selective surface (FSS) patterns. This innovation greatly improves the absorbers' efficiency in advanced communication systems, such as 5G and Beyond 5G networks. Notably, the absorbers also allow low-frequency signals, like Wi-Fi, to pass through, distinguishing them from conventional absorbers. This dual functionality makes them highly versatile and suitable for modern communication systems that demand both high-frequency signal absorption and low-frequency transmission.

A research group led by Dr. Toru Ube at Chuo University enabled 3D-selective deformation of “photomobile polymer materials” with the aid of two-photon absorption processes. Spatial selectivity of previous photomobile polymer materials has been limited in two dimensions. By applying two-photon absorption processes, the group succeeded in inducing deformation at any selective depth of a sample, which led to the versatile deformations and motions with an enhanced degree of freedom.

An Osaka Metropolitan University-led team has developed a plastic surgical field expansion plate that can help surgeons during robot-assisted heart surgery.

Researchers at Kumamoto University have made a significant breakthrough in the fight against COVID-19 with the development of Intelli-OVI, a cutting-edge diagnostic tool capable of rapidly identifying emerging variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This new system combines advanced DNA detection technology with computational algorithms to offer a quicker and more cost-effective method of monitoring viral mutations, which could play a crucial role in managing future pandemics.

A recent nationwide study conducted in Japan has revealed a substantial increase in overweight and obesity prevalence among the patients of the incident end-stage kidney disease (ESKD)  over a 14-year study period. Additionally, the study indicated that underweight individuals also constitutes a notable proportion of this patient population.

Maintaining good health and well-being is crucial for how well patients respond to cancer treatments. Unfortunately, cachexia, or involuntary weight loss, is a major concern for many individuals with advanced cancer. A new study from Japan has revealed that lower cachexia rates, particularly with prevalence less than 40–50%, are linked to shorter overall survival (OS) rates. The study also showed that the diagnostic criteria used for cachexia detection can affect the reported cachexia prevalence.

Why do mice have tails?

The answer to this is not as simple as you might think. New research from the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) has shown that there’s more to the humble mouse tail than previously assumed. Using a novel experimental setup involving a tilting platform, high-speed videography and mathematical modelling, scientists have demonstrated how mice swing their tails like a whip to maintain balance – and these findings can help us better understand balance issues in humans, paving the way for spotting and treating neurodegenerative diseases like multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease at earlier stages.