Tokyo, Japan – Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have devised a way to measure both the temperature and velocity profiles of fluid in a convective plume at millimeter length scales in 3D. They combined near-infrared absorption imaging and image processing to separate the motion of tracer particles from snapshots of how light is absorbed, producing both a smooth velocity and temperature map. The technology promises new insights into optimizing the design of micro-heating and cooling devices.

Urinary infections by Escherichia coli are a frequent issue among postmenopausal women, often recurring due to persistent bacteria. Dr. Takanori Sekito and his team at Okayama University discovered that E. coli strains isolated from both urine and vaginal samples in patients with recurrent infections were genetically identical and showed similar drug sensitivity. This highlights the crucial need to target vaginal infections alongside urinary treatments to fully eradicate these resilient pathogens.

Legumes thrive in low-nitrogen environments by partnering with rhizobia, soil bacteria that convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonium, a usable form for the plants. These beneficial bacteria are housed in root nodules formed on legume roots. However, the uncontrolled formation of numerous root nodules can impede root function. To prevent this, legumes need to regulate the distribution and number of root nodules, but the precise mechanisms were previously unclear.

Recent research on Lotus japonicus, a model leguminous plant, has unveiled that the interaction between legume roots and rhizobia is characterized by periodic gene expression with a six-hour rhythm. This rhythmic gene expression influences the regions of the root susceptible to rhizobial infection and the distribution of nodules. It was also discovered that the plant hormone cytokinin is crucial for maintaining this gene expression rhythm. This groundbreaking study, published in Science, is a collaborative effort conducted by the National Institute for Basic Biology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Hokkaido University, Kwansei Gakuin University, RIKEN, and Aichi University of Education.

Okinawa’s mangrove forests are home to many animal species, from crabs to kingfishers; they host a diverse ecosystem teeming with life. Among the quirkier residents living there is “Minami-Tobihaze” — the barred mudskipper. “They are fish, but they can walk and live partly on land,” says Dr. Fabienne Ziadi-Künzli from the Nonlinear and Non-equilibrium Physics Unit, who is the first author of a study on mudskipper anatomy, which was recently published in the Journal of Anatomy.

An Osaka Metropolitan University research team has found that titanium-48 changes from a shell model structure to an α-cluster structure depending on the distance from the center of the nucleus. The results upend the conventional understanding of nuclear structure and are expected to provide clues to the Gamow theory on the α-decay process that occurs in heavy nuclei, which has not been solved for nearly 100 years.

Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution from water is a key technology for achieving sustainable hydrogen production. However, the direct impact of the microscopic structure of interfacial water molecules on photocatalytic reactivity remains unexplored. In this study, the crucial roles of interfacial hydrogen bond structure and dynamics, as well as the optimal interfacial water environment for promoting H₂ evolution were uncovered. These findings provide molecular-level insights that can guide the design of interfacial water conditions to enhance photocatalytic performance.

Application of the “Double-decker Technique” for Scimitar Syndrome Can Reduce the Risk of Postoperative Pulmonary Venous Obstruction, Leading to Better Surgical Outcomes for This Disease.

Electronics have evolved over the years to supersede simply enhancing day-to-day life to becoming almost seamlessly integrated with daily life. People have become accustomed to wearable electronics, but what about stretchable ones? There is a growing demand for this type of technology, but the current methods are not easily scalable for mass production to make these devices available to the public. However, mass development may be possible using the roll-to-roll (R2R) process, which prints various layers on a flexible rolled substrate, cutting out the manual nature of the process. By rolling this type of electronic out into the market, the possibility for stretchable electronics and even smart packaging can become commonplace.

Researchers published their results in Advanced Materials Technologies on June 9.

On 17 July 2024, the British Academy held its Annual General Meeting, where Koji Mizoguchi, Professor of Archaeology at Kyushu University's Faculty of Social and Cultural Studies, was elected as an International Fellow. He is the first Japanese archaeologist and the first researcher from Kyushu University to receive this honor.

An Osaka Metropolitan University team has conducted a study detailing how a new drug combination might be an effective therapy to increase the survival of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who relapse after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation.