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Kyoto University


Turbulence is good for the blood

A Kyoto University study reveals that turbulence enhances platelet generation in the blood, potentially resolving global shortages of these cells. The discovery could enable mass production of platelets using iPS cell technology.

SourceKyoto University·JournalCell·DateJul 12, 2018

New gears in your sleep clock

Researchers find two opposing kinases regulating circadian clock, one stabilizing key protein PER2 and the other promoting its degradation. This discovery provides new targets for treating circadian disorders.

SourceKyoto University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 11, 2018

A sense of disgust in bonobos?

Researchers at Kyoto University found that bonobos show a strong aversion to food contaminated with feces or soil, indicating an adaptive system of disgust. This instinctual response helps protect against parasites and pathogens in the environment.

SourceKyoto University·JournalPhilosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London (B )·DateJun 3, 2018

What do animals want?

Researchers at Kyoto University used machine learning to study the behavior of worms searching for food on surfaces with different temperature zones. The findings showed that the worms combined sensory information from environmental temperature and change in temperature to make decisions, similar to rational decision-making in humans. ...

SourceKyoto University·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateMay 28, 2018

Programming synthetic molecular codes to turn genes 'on'

Researchers at Kyoto University developed a synthetic molecular code that can script gene activation, targeting histones and emulating the natural histone acetylation process. The code, called Bi-PIP, successfully activated a specific gene associated with central nervous system disorders in living cells.

SourceKyoto University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateMay 24, 2018

A shape to remember

Kyoto University scientists have developed a shape-memory effect in porous materials, which can change and retain their shapes. The new material, with a porosity of 46%, has been shown to adsorb carbon dioxide and retain its shape after multiple cycles.

SourceKyoto University·JournalScience Advances·DateApr 27, 2018

Human impact on sea urchin abundance

Researchers found that changing water temperature and algal blooms affected sea urchin populations, leading to abnormal development of their larvae. The study provides valuable insights into the importance of long-term monitoring for detecting ecological changes and understanding their causes.

SourceKyoto University·JournalEcological Indicators·DateApr 25, 2018

The fewer the deadlier

Researchers discovered that HTLV-1 survives by evading immune surveillance through transient Tax expression in infected cells. This unique strategy allows the virus to maintain a population of infected leukemic cells, making it a potential target for new therapies.

SourceKyoto University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 12, 2018

Flipping lipids for cell transport-tubules

Researchers developed a process to observe lipid-flipping enzymes' activity in conjunction with membrane deformation. They found that ATP10A enzyme flips phosphatidylcholine lipids, causing curvature changes that trigger tubule formation, enhancing endocytosis and membrane dynamics.

SourceKyoto University·JournalThe EMBO Journal·DateMar 29, 2018

Twisting graphene into spirals

Kansai researchers successfully synthesized hexa-peri-hexabenzo[7]helicene, the first helically twisted chiral graphene. The discovery offers promising applications in nanomechanics and has unique electronic structure properties.

SourceKyoto University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateMar 29, 2018

Stem cell 'twins' to study disease

Researchers at Kyoto University developed a gene editing method called MhAX, which creates genetically matched stem cell 'twins' for studying disease-related mutations. The technique guides the cell's own repair mechanisms and allows for precise removal of reporter genes, leaving only the modified SNP behind.

SourceKyoto University·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 5, 2018

Culturing cheaper stem cells

Kyoto University scientists have created a more cost-effective culture system for human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs), which can support their long-term renewal without expensive growth factors. The new 'AKIT' culture, using three chemical compounds, is five to ten times cheaper than existing methods.

SourceKyoto University·JournalNature Biomedical Engineering·DateMar 5, 2018

Capturing the balance of nature

A study spanning twelve years reveals that natural ecological communities are dynamic and influenced by species diversity and interactions. The researchers developed a method to calculate the fluctuating stability of a natural ecological community in Maizuru Bay, providing new methodologies for ecological and population research.

SourceKyoto University·JournalNature·DateMar 2, 2018

What a handsome schnoz!

Research at Kyoto University found that larger noses are correlated with physical strength, reproductive ability, and the number of harem females. The study suggests that nasal enlargement modifies male vocalizations, making them more attractive to females.

SourceKyoto University·JournalScience Advances·DateFeb 21, 2018

Electro-mechano-optical NMR detection

Researchers at Kyoto University and University of Tokyo have developed a new method for light detection in nuclear magnetic resonance, promising higher sensitivity for MRI. The 'up-convertion' technology converts radio-frequency signals into optical ones using an elastic membrane and optics.

SourceKyoto University·JournalOptica·DateFeb 1, 2018

Cells rockin' in their DNA

A study by Kyoto University has found that certain 'mechanosensitive' genes are suppressed when exposed to audible sound. The effects vary depending on the cell type, with some cells showing significant suppression while others show little response.

SourceKyoto University·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJan 31, 2018

Visualizing danger from songbird warning calls

A new study reveals that songbirds can 'see' reference to certain vocalizations, enabling them to perceive an inanimate object as a real snake. This cognitive ability allows birds to efficiently search out a predator regardless of its spatial position.

SourceKyoto University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 29, 2018

Black hole pair born inside a dying star?

Researchers at Kyoto University have proposed a new theory on the formation of binary black holes within collapsing stars. Their study suggests that these black holes could form through dynamical fragmentation of the star's inner core, leading to two fragments becoming black holes and orbiting each other.

SourceKyoto University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateDec 18, 2017

Lightning, with a chance of antimatter

A team of Japanese researchers from Kyoto University used gamma-ray detectors to study the effects of lightning on atmospheric elements. They found that lightning emits positrons, a form of antimatter equivalent to electrons, through interactions with nitrogen and other elements in the atmosphere.

SourceKyoto University·JournalNature·DateNov 22, 2017

What grosses out a chimpanzee?

Researchers found that chimpanzees delay eating food placed on replica feces, recoil from soft and moist substrates, and hesitate after touching them. These reactions suggest that chimpanzees have an adaptive system of disgust, similar to humans, which helps protect them from pathogens and parasites.

SourceKyoto University·JournalRoyal Society Open Science·DateNov 17, 2017

Winds blowing off a dying star

Researchers have observed the formation of aluminum oxide dust around an AGB star, providing insight into wind acceleration. The team discovered that AlO was distributed within three stellar radii, while SiO remained gaseous beyond five stellar radii.

SourceKyoto University·JournalScience Advances·DateNov 10, 2017

How far did you fall from the tree?

Researchers at Kyoto University used a chimpanzee parent-offspring trio to estimate direct mutation rates, finding higher rates than in humans. The study also revealed a strong male-biased mutation spectrum and new structural alterations.

SourceKyoto University·JournalScientific Reports·DateNov 7, 2017

Coloring the heartbeat

Researchers at Kyoto University have developed a device that uses structural color to measure the beating of heart cells, enabling high-throughput testing for pharmaceuticals. This innovation aims to speed up the process of finding good drugs for heart patients and is a significant step towards improving treatment outcomes.

SourceKyoto University·JournalRSC Advances·DateNov 5, 2017

The secret lives of ancient land plants

The study of Marchantia polymorpha's genome sheds light on land plant evolution, showing liverworts possess ancestral characteristics. The findings have significant implications for molecular and genetic studies, providing insights into future agricultural applications.

SourceKyoto University·JournalCell·DateNov 2, 2017

Mending hearts in three dimensions

A Kyoto-Osaka team uses hiPSCs to develop biodegradable aligned nanofibers as a scaffold for culturing cardiomyocytes, forming robust and functional cardiac tissue-like constructs. These CTLCs show excellent operability leading to favorable heart function recovery in injured rat hearts.

SourceKyoto University·JournalStem Cell Reports·DateOct 26, 2017

How am I feeling? Ask my house

Researchers at Kyoto University have developed a more advanced radar-based device that can accurately measure the body's vital signals without attaching cumbersome wires. This technology has great promise for remote health monitoring and could potentially be integrated into household appliances to monitor residents' vitals.

Next-generation drug testing on chips

Researchers at Kyoto University developed a tiny 'body-on-a-chip' device to test the side effects of anti-cancer drugs on human cells. The device revealed that a metabolite of the drug caused toxicity in heart cells, leading to improved pre-clinical testing for these medications.

SourceKyoto University·JournalRSC Advances·DateAug 25, 2017

Shh! Proven security for your secrets

Researchers from Kyoto University have demonstrated the strength of their 128-bit key Vector Stream Cipher, proving its provable security. The study highlights the cipher's low memory usage and structural simplicity, making it suitable for high-density data transmission applications like 5G networks and 4K television broadcasts.

Accessing DNA in the cell's powerhouse to treat disease

A team from Kyoto University developed a synthetic compound that can bind to mitochondrial DNA, suppressing a gene associated with nerve and muscle disease. The compound, MITO-PIP, caused a 60% to 90% reduction in the expression of a key gene involved in mitochondrial metabolism.

SourceKyoto University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateJul 11, 2017

Killing cancer in the heat of the moment

Researchers from Kyoto University developed a new method to transfer genes into cancer cells using gold nanorods coated with oleate and DOTAP. The nanorods are activated by near-infrared laser heat, inducing cell death in surrounding cancer cells.

SourceKyoto University·JournalScientific Reports·DateJul 8, 2017

Nicking in new nucleotides

A Kyoto University team developed a genome-wide base-editing technology using the CRISPR Nickase system, which reduces inaccurate edits and improves editing accuracy. The system combines a guide RNA and Cas9 nickase to 'nick' the DNA double helix, resulting in faster generation of yeast mutants and increased precision.

SourceKyoto University·JournalScientific Reports·DateJul 4, 2017

Take a look, and you'll see, into your imagination

A team of Kyoto University researchers has successfully used neural network-based artificial intelligence to decode and predict visual content in the human brain. The technology, known as Deep Neural Network (DNN), shows promise for improving brain-machine interfaces and potentially even understanding consciousness.

SourceKyoto University·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 31, 2017

Cells pumping iron to prevent anemia

Researchers at Kyoto University identified a key gene that regulates iron uptake, revealing a functional defect in the duodenum and potentially leading to new treatment methods for anemia. The study found that Regnase-1 degrades iron-controlling genes, such as TfR1, which can help prevent debilitating disorders like hemochromatosis.

SourceKyoto University·JournalCell Reports·DateMay 29, 2017

Previously, on Arctic warming

Scientists from Kyoto University and UC San Diego discovered that early 20th century sea surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific and North Atlantic warmed more than previously thought. The researchers found that rising Pacific-Atlantic temperatures were the major driver of rapid Arctic warming during this period.

SourceKyoto University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 29, 2017

You don't see what I see?

A recent study found that cultural differences in visual processing affect the ability to discern simple differences between geometric figures. North Americans took longer to identify a straight line among tilted ones compared to Japanese volunteers.

SourceKyoto University·JournalCognitive Science·DateMay 23, 2017

Crazy for ant eggs

Scientists at Kyoto University discovered that yellow crazy ant workers produce two types of egg: reproductive and nutritional. The latter variety is fed to larvae and also used as a supplement for queens and other castes.

SourceKyoto University·JournalFrontiers in Zoology·DateMay 23, 2017

Untangling the knots in cell stress

Researchers from Kyoto University have made a breakthrough in understanding the role of unfolded protein response (UPR) transducers in coping with ER stress. They found that different UPR transducers are activated selectively, depending on the developmental stage of the cell and type of stress, to orchestrate various biological processes.

SourceKyoto University·JournalJournal of Cell Biology·DateMay 12, 2017

Disentangling chloroplast genetics

Japanese researchers isolated a protein essential for chloroplast nucleoid segregation, improving understanding of chloroplast DNA dynamics. The moc1 gene functions as a 'Holliday junction resolvase', untangling DNA structures crucial for cell health.

SourceKyoto University·JournalScience·DateMay 11, 2017