Researchers have created a microcrystal that utilizes self-continuous reciprocating motion for propulsion, enabling the microrobot to move itself sustainably in water. The microrobots exhibited different styles of propulsion and were affected by fin length, ratio, and elevation angle.
Researchers developed a simpler, greener method for producing Grignard reagents using environment-friendly paste-based technology. This new process drastically cuts down on the use of hazardous organic solvents and could lead to reduced production costs and environmental benefits.
A study by Hokkaido University researchers found that Japanese customers prefer traditional restaurants displaying an older year of establishment, leading to improved evaluations and intentions to visit. This effect was observed specifically for traditional foods like soba noodles.
A study published in Conservation Biology found that forests surrounding rivers flowing into the sea increase the diversity of threatened fish species in Japan's estuaries. In contrast, waters surrounded by agricultural land show a decrease in fish populations.
A research team led by Associate Professor Akira Kakugo of Hokkaido University has provided direct evidence that microtubules function as mechanosensors, slowing down kinesin movement when bent. This phenomenon is attributed to enhanced interaction energy between kinesin and deformed microtubule structural units.
A novel nairovirus, Yezo virus, has been identified in Japan causing a disease characterized by fever and reduced blood platelets and leucocytes. The virus is transmitted through tick bites and has been linked to at least seven human infections since 2014.
Scientists at Hokkaido University have developed a lipid nanoparticle that delivers immune-signaling molecules into liver macrophage cells to overcome resistance to anti-tumor immunotherapy. This approach has shown promise in mice experiments and could lead to the development of an adjuvant treatment for cancer patients.
Researchers have successfully formed rings made of three pyrroles for the first time, which could be used to produce compounds with unique properties. The discovery explains why tripyrrolic macrocycles were not observed before due to strain issues.
A study by Hokkaido University researchers found that seagrass ecosystems are more vulnerable to loss and degradation than mangrove ecosystems. Communities with greater reliance on fisheries and tourism income have higher socio-economic sensitivity due to low adaptive capacity, leading to limited alternatives to fishing. Improving acce...
A novel CT scan-based approach detects changes in lung tissue indicating emphysema and airway constriction in patients with asthma. This finding may explain why conventional anti-inflammatory treatments are ineffective in some asthmatics, paving the way for personalized management of the disease.
Scientists have developed a novel technique to analyze magnetites in meteorites, providing a historical record of the early Solar System's dynamics. By studying the Tagish Lake meteorite, researchers infer that the parent body formed in the Kuiper Belt and moved to the asteroid belt after Jupiter's formation.
Researchers at Hokkaido University created a lipid polymer that can carry genetic code into lung cells, potentially treating diseases such as acute respiratory distress syndrome and lung cancers. The delivery method bypasses the liver and targets specific lung cells without targeting ligands.
Researchers at Hokkaido University have designed a highly stable platinum-gallium catalyst that can support propylene production at very high temperatures, making it suitable for a month. The 'doubly decorated' catalyst is alloyed with lead and calcium, which blocks side reactions and improves stability.
Research found a shift in how facemasks affect facial attractiveness among Japanese population, with reduced unhealthiness and increased neutral effects reported after pandemic onset. Mask color had no effect on perceptions.
A rapid method to quantify antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 has been developed by scientists at Hokkaido University. The test is highly accurate, quick, and easy to perform, requiring only 20 minutes to complete.
A team of scientists from Hokkaido University used an ocean-bottom seismometer to detect continuous seismic radiation from a glacier sliding in Greenland. The study revealed that glacial basal motion can be monitored using underwater sensors, offering new opportunities for studying ice flow and calving processes.
Researchers from Japan and Zambia have found a significant negative correlation between chronic lead poisoning in children and the health-related quality of life of their mothers. The study, which included 40 households in Kabwe, Zambia, showed that maternal vitality and mental health were particularly impacted by child lead exposure.
Researchers discovered that hair follicle stem cells play a key role in healing skin blisters, which delays the growth of hair follicles in regenerated skin tissue. This balance between wound healing and development has implications for treating epidermolysis bullosa, pemphigoid diseases and other blistering conditions.
Researchers have successfully developed a new method to give luminescent properties to generic polymers like polystyrene and polyethylene. The technique makes it possible to easily prepare luminescent polymers without complicated organic synthetic methods.
Researchers found that global warming is causing changes to the Arabian Sea upwelling, which could impact commercial fishing, regional climate, and socioeconomics. The study used coral fossils to analyze seawater temperature and salinity changes over a 1,000-year period.
Scientists have discovered a climate pattern in the Arctic that drives co-occurrences of European heatwaves and large-scale wildfires with air pollution. The circum-Arctic wave (CAW) pattern is linked to exceptionally high PM2.5 levels and organic carbon aerosol concentrations.
The Yakushima sika deer population has been declining since 2014, with an estimated annual decrease of 15%. The decline is attributed to natural factors, with only 3.5% of the population migrating outside the Hanyama district. Natural regulation may hold the key to managing sika deer populations in Japan.
Researchers from Hokkaido University revealed a molecular mechanism for plant flowering under low-nitrogen conditions. The FBH4 protein, regulated by SnRK1 activity, controls gene expression essential for flowering and nitrogen recycling.
Researchers at Hokkaido University have identified a unique defense mechanism against SARS-CoV-2, involving the viral pattern recognition receptor RIG-I. Upregulating RIG-I expression may help predict COVID-19 patient outcomes and could be a potential strategy to control SARS-CoV-2 infection.
A rapid antigen test for SARS-CoV-2 in saliva has been developed, showing high accuracy and efficiency for mass-screening. The test uses chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay (CLEIA) and can detect the virus within an hour.
A team of four scientists from Hokkaido University developed a rapid and efficient protocol for cross-coupling reactions using ball milling, expanding the pool of chemicals usable in organic synthesis. They successfully applied this method to mostly-insoluble aryl halides, yielding desired products.
Scientists have identified two marine biodiversity refugia in the Eastern Bering Sea, where species richness and community stability are high. These regions, covering less than 10% of the study area, harbor 91% of analyzed species and support commercially important fish and crab populations.
The presence of trace quantities of organic matter in modern concrete structures and asphalt pavements accelerates their deterioration. Key findings include the identification of phthalates, diesel exhaust particulates, surfactants, and windshield washer fluids as major contributors to deterioration.
Researchers uncovered evidence of women's football in pre-war Japan through historical records and photographs. They found that football was a popular sport among girls, particularly during the Taisho era, with casual play and competitions involving throwing and kicking the ball.
Scientists have discovered a potential new therapy target for canine cancer, specifically oral malignant melanoma in dogs. The treatment targets the PD-L1 molecule, which has shown promise in human cancer treatments, and significantly increased survival time for dogs with pulmonary metastatic OMM.
Hokkaido University researchers have developed a model that explains the causes of past glacial river floods in northern Greenland and predicts future flooding risks. The study reveals that torrential rainfall was the primary driver of the 2016 flood, while warm temperatures were responsible for the 2015 event.
Scientists at Hokkaido University developed a novel probiotic formulation to control severe diarrhea in calves, reducing mortality and economic loss. The probiotic supplement was tested on newborn calves and found to be effective in preventing bovine diarrhea caused by BRV and cryptosporidiosis.
Research finds that urban squirrels' success rates increase with repeated solving of a novel food-extraction task, suggesting adaptability to urban stressors. The study also reveals that direct human disturbance is a major stressor, while green coverage and squirrel population size have less impact on problem-solving performance.
Researchers at Hokkaido University developed a hydrogel that rapidly reprograms differentiated cancer cells into cancer stem cells within 24 hours. The study has significant implications for developing targeted anti-cancer therapies and personalized medicines by targeting cancer stem cells, which are resistant to current treatments.
Researchers at Hokkaido University have developed a technique to manipulate nanodiamonds with fluorescent centers using opposing lasers. This breakthrough enables the independent control of resonant and non-resonant nanodiamonds, which can be sorted based on their optical properties.
Researchers have successfully monitored a subglacial discharge plume for the first time, providing new insights into the dynamics of glaciers and their role in climate change. The study reveals that plumes are intermittent and influenced by various factors, including tides and wind.
A high-velocity atmospheric wave was generated by Beirut's 2020 ammonium nitrate explosion, rivalling those from volcanic eruptions. The blast caused electron disturbances in Earth's upper atmosphere, including changes in total electron content in the ionosphere.
Researchers found migratory birds from Europe introduced the HPAIV H5N8 virus to Japan. The team also investigated two human anti-influenza drugs, baloxavir marboxil and peramivir, which improved survival rates in infected chickens and reduced viral amounts.
A team of scientists has identified landfalls of tropical cyclones in Japan for the period from 1877 to 2019, providing valuable knowledge for disaster preparedness. The analysis shows that TC landfall locations tend to shift and annual numbers have been increasing in recent years.
Researchers from Hokkaido University have found that ultraviolet light reacts with nitrophenol to produce atmospheric nitrous acid, a key component of photochemical smog. This decomposition process occurs in real-time and involves the distortion of the nitrophenol molecule's shape under extreme UV light.
A study by Hokkaido University reveals that tick saliva contains prostaglandin E2, which suppresses the immune response of helper T cells in cattle. This finding could lead to better protection for cattle against tick-borne diseases.
Researchers at Hokkaido University have developed a method to prevent gold nanoparticles from clumping, which could improve their effectiveness as anti-cancer therapy. Attaching ring-shaped synthetic compounds to gold nanoparticles retains their light-absorbing properties and maintains dispersion in solution.
Scientists at Hokkaido University have achieved a record-setting thermoelectric figure of merit for metal oxides, which can be used to enhance thermoelectric power generation. The material exhibits a high ZT value and stability across a range of operating temperatures.
The electronic amoeba, an analog computer inspired by a single-celled organism, has been developed to find approximate solutions to the traveling salesman problem in linear time. The device uses resistance values to represent constraints and requests, allowing for efficient and dynamic optimization.
Researchers from Hokkaido University and the USA confirm the presence of hexamethylenetetramine (HMT) in three carbon-rich meteorites, supporting models that propose HMT as a key molecule in organic compound formation. The discovery validates theories on extraterrestrial origin of life and provides new insights into prebiotic chemistry.
Researchers from Hokkaido University discovered that marimo develop their characteristic spherical shape due to the rare formation of reproductive cells. The study found low levels of zoospore production, particularly in aggregative forms, which maintains the marimo's shape.
Researchers have successfully visualized how carbon dioxide behaves in an ionic liquid that selectively absorbs CO2. The findings are expected to help develop more efficient methods to capture CO2, a major factor causing global warming.
Scientists have discovered an extremely rare species of cymothoid, Elthusa splendida, from a museum shark specimen in the East China Sea. The find expands the species' range to almost opposite sides of the globe, with only five previously documented specimens.
Researchers at Hokkaido University have discovered a possible 1,000-kilometer-long river running deep beneath Greenland's ice sheet. The study suggests that if the valley is open and melting increases, water could flow freely through it, potentially altering future climate change predictions.
Residents of Kabwe Town, Zambia, exhibit high blood levels of lead and cadmium, leading to clinical symptoms of toxicity. The study found significant correlations between metal exposure and health effects, particularly in adults.