Scientists at Tohoku University have discovered a compound that can reversibly store and release large amounts of low-grade heat. The birnessite-type layered manganese dioxide with crystal water compound has shown better performance compared to other compounds for heat storage purposes.
Researchers investigated physiological changes in Japanese Black cattle during feeding, uncovering metabolic and nutritional conditions. They found increased blood triglycerides, insulin levels, and fat metabolism during fattening phases.
Researchers from Tohoku University used agent-based simulation to visualize consensus building around geothermal power plant development in Japan. The model demonstrated how diverse opinions of stakeholders converge to a consensus, with factors such as stakeholder attributes, locations, and influential individuals affecting opinion for...
Researchers at Tohoku University create a novel method to quantify transcription factor activity in live organisms using viruses. This breakthrough enables scientists to understand how diseases develop and potentially treat them.
A study by Tohoku University researchers found that adolescent carers in the UK reported higher psychological distress and lower mental well-being scores during the pandemic. The study highlights the urgent need for better psychosocial support for young carers, including psychoeducational sessions to build resilience.
A new study by Japanese researchers at Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine found a correlation between maternal lead exposure and an increase in male births. The research suggests that even low levels of lead can affect the sex ratio of offspring, potentially contributing to Japan's declining proportion of male births.
A new study finds that cell phone GNSS networks can accurately track crustal deformation, offering a more comprehensive view of seismic activity. By combining private and public sector networks, researchers aim to improve fault models and enhance disaster prevention.
Researchers have identified key molecular mechanisms driving coral metamorphosis, a radical transformation from free-swimming larvae to sedentary adult reef-builders. Alterations in gene expression and receptor signaling regulate the irreversibility of this process, enabling corals to adapt to their environment.
Researchers at Tohoku University developed a new lab-based system to grow human muscle cells that contract vigorously. They found that muscle cells from patients with sporadic inclusion body mitosis (sIBM) have similar muscular properties to healthy humans but exhibit altered responses to exercise.
Researchers at Tohoku University discovered that visual processing is facilitated by spaces near the hand, revealing a process independent of top-down attention. The study found differences in hand proximity attention between left-handers and right-handers, suggesting a possible link to handedness variation.
Researchers from Tohoku University developed a new approach to treating intractable diarrhea in calves by harnessing the power of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). The study identified key factors, including Selenomonas and Sporobacter, that facilitate successful FMT treatment.
A new study on nematode worms reveals that physical contact can help prevent neuromuscular decline in simulated microgravity. Researchers found that administering dopamine restored normal movement and body length in space-grown worms.
A new study by Tohoku University researchers found that brain training with neurofeedback enhances cognitive functions, particularly episodic memory and working memory. The study, published in Brain Sciences, suggests that increased brain activity during training is key to unlocking its benefits.
Researchers have discovered a potential new diagnostic marker for ulcerative colitis, identifying high levels of antibodies targeted at endothelial protein C receptors in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. The discovery could lead to the development of non-invasive blood tests to diagnose and track the progression of the disease.
Researchers from Tohoku University have developed a sustainable alternative to rare metals for metal-air battery catalysts, utilizing sea pineapple shells and blood waste. The new method produces high-quality carbon with electrical performances similar to that of rare metals.
A new radiocarbon dating method has been developed to accurately date tsunami deposits, offering insights into past disasters and their frequency. Researchers have found that giant tsunamis have occurred at intervals of 100-200 years since the 1611 Keicho Oshu Tsunami.
Researchers found that low volcanic temperatures caused high sulfur dioxide emissions, leading to short-term cooling and contributing to the fourth mass extinction. The study suggests that this cooling enabled small-bodied dinosaurs to grow and prosper, ultimately thriving during the Jurassic period.
The team used high pressure and synchrotron X-ray experiments to analyze the crystal's structure, finding a unique ladder-like pattern of vanadium-vanadium dimers at temperatures below 500K. This arrangement may enable the creation of new magnetic or electrical functions in similar materials.
A study by Professor Kazumichi Matsumiya from Tohoku University's Graduate School of Information Sciences has discovered separate body maps for different motor systems. This finding can contribute to the development of new diagnostic techniques and rehabilitation strategies for patients with motor dysfunctions.
Researchers at Tohoku University have discovered a stimulation paradigm that can induce epilepsy resistance in experimental animals. Repeated stimulation resulted in a dramatic decrease in seizure response to the stimulus, suggesting a potential therapeutic strategy for managing epilepsy.
A study from Tohoku University reveals that ion size in electrolyte affects response time scale, enabling tuning for effective control. This discovery provides rational design guidelines for neuromorphic devices, paving the way for applications in artificial neural networks.
A research group at Tohoku University has successfully engineered relaxation time to achieve fast switching in sub-five-nm magnetic tunnel junctions, reaching 3.5 ns. This breakthrough enables the development of STT-MRAM-based semiconductor ICs with improved performance and power consumption.
Researchers at Tohoku University successfully fabricated n-type conductive SnS thin films without toxic elements, paving the way for higher-conversion-efficiency solar cells. The achievement could lead to more environmentally friendly solar cell panels with improved performance.
Researchers at Tohoku University have successfully created capsule-like DNA structures using two different types of nanostructures that can stick together. These structures can form water-in-oil droplets with patch-like patterns depending on the concentration of each type, and can be used to carry substances to specific target organs o...
A research group from Tohoku University discovered that melatonin, a sleep hormone, exacerbates asthma by potentiating bronchoconstriction. Melatonin weakens the relaxing effect of bronchodilators through the activation of the melatonin MT2 receptor.
Researchers discovered yeast cells cause granular fluctuations at waterbodies' floors, moving buried materials by 1 billion times their size. This phenomenon, dubbed the 'microbial Brazil nut effect,' has implications for understanding dormant microorganisms and unknown pathogens.
Researchers at Tohoku University have discovered a novel two-step nucleation process in the development of 2D monolayer transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD). This breakthrough allows for improved quality control and higher growth rates, enabling the synthesis of ultra-high quality TMD.
Researchers at Tohoku University and the University of Gothenburg have developed a new spintronic technology that integrates a memristor-controlled oscillator array, allowing for efficient brain-inspired computing. This breakthrough enables sophisticated cognitive tasks like image recognition with reduced energy consumption.
Researchers found that tumors with few micro-blood vessels are associated with defective perfusion, impacting the efficiency of systemic chemotherapy. This study highlights the importance of improving diagnostic imaging equipment to better detect lymph node metastasis and curb cancer-related mortality.
Researchers at Tohoku University developed a smart chair with pressure sensors that detect workers' movements to predict low back pain progression. By analyzing small body motions, they identified a common motif that can be used to forecast worsening LBP throughout the day.
A team of researchers from Tohoku University discovered a unique, purely two-dimensional Mott insulator phase that is extremely robust against various perturbations such as heating. This breakthrough has significant implications for realizing monolayer charge-density wave-Mott insulator-based devices operating at room temperatures.
Scientists have discovered the working mechanism of an important class of drug target receptor proteins, shedding light on their role in the body's immune response. The study highlights a novel approach to targeting these receptors and blocking excessive cytokine release, which could lead to new treatments for COVID-19.
A recent cohort study found that couples from Japan and the Netherlands share similar lifestyle habits, body shape, blood pressure, and disease incidences. This suggests that healthy choices and mutual encouragement can help prevent cardiometabolic risks.
Researchers propose that low-activity supermassive black holes are major factories of high-energy cosmic particles. They can generate gamma rays in the megaelectron volt range through plasma heating and accelerate protons to energies thousands of times higher than the Large Hadron Collider.
A research group employed ultra-small testing technologies to measure the interfacial bonding strength of coated materials. The study successfully measured the shear strength of a tungsten coating on ferritic steel, contributing to the safe application of multi-material technology in industrial components.
A Tohoku University research group discovered that Peyer's patches and specific bacteria facilitate the transfer of maternal IgA to breastmilk, boosting newborn immunity. This finding has significant implications for developing probiotics to improve breastfeeding quality.
A team of researchers identified the genes required for carthamin biosynthesis, a historic red colorant in safflowers. The discovery could lead to large-scale production of carthamin through metabolic engineering.
Researchers discovered a new material, h-BN, that induces interfacial perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (IPMA) with a high tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) ratio of up to 1,000%, enabling flexible design in ferromagnetic tunnel junctions.
Researchers from Tohoku University uncovered possible photosynthetic activity during the Marinoan glaciation, a period of extreme cold in Earth's history. The study suggests that bacteria and early eukaryotes experienced low productivity before the Ediacaran period, when complex multicellular life emerged.
Researchers at Tohoku University have developed liquid-sulfur/sulfide composite cathodes enabling high-rate magnesium batteries. The material shows high capacity, potential, cyclability, and rate capability, with a discharge capacity of ~900 mAh/g and stable performance for over 50 cycles.
A new spontaneous mouse model, McH-lpr-RA1, has been developed to study Sjögren's syndrome, an autoimmune disease affecting the tear system and salivary glands. The model exhibits autoimmune inflammation in the salivary gland tissue and blood vessels, destruction of the salivary gland structure, and inhibited salivary secretomotor system.
Researchers at Tohoku University developed a new analytical method that utilizes scanning probe microscopy to visualize cell functions in microphysiological systems. The tool provides spatial information about cell functions rapidly, overcoming limitations of traditional electrochemical sensors.
A study published in Scientific Reports has developed a neural network model that explains how individuals with autism spectrum disorder recognize facial expressions. The model, based on predictive processing theory, demonstrates that abnormalities in brain activity lead to difficulties in identifying emotions from facial cues.
Researchers at Tohoku University and Swiss Federal Institute of Technology have decoded salamanders' body-limb coordination mechanisms. Their findings provide insights into adaptive locomotion and could aid the development of agile robots.
A study published in Community Dentistry And Oral Epidemiology found that children with mothers suffering from postpartum depression or bonding disorders brush their teeth less often. In contrast, mothers showing strong affection towards their children increase the frequency of their child's toothbrushing.
Scientists at Tohoku University have developed a new mathematical model to predict the properties of carbon-based materials. The Standard Realization with Repulsive Interaction (SRRI) model abstracts key effects and reveals relationships between changes and resulting properties.
Research from Tohoku University and Johns Hopkins University sheds new light on the glass transition in metallic glasses, influenced by high configuration entropy. The study introduces a novel glass-forming system with unprecedented thermodynamic and dynamic characteristics.
Researchers from Tohoku University discovered that preventing oxygen release in lithium-ion batteries can prevent thermal runaway, a critical issue in high-energy-density batteries. The study found that stabilizing transition metals reduces oxygen release, leading to safer battery performance.
Scientists found that Mercury's large iron core is linked to the early sun's strong magnetic field, which pulled metal grains inward. This discovery sheds light on the formation of rocky planets' cores and their elemental distribution.
Researchers at Tohoku University have identified a novel disease-modifying therapeutic candidate SAK3 that rescues neurons in most protein-misfolding neurodegenerative diseases. SAK3 administration significantly prevented progression of neurodegenerative behaviors, including cognitive impairment and motor dysfunction.