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A research team led by Professor Kazuaki Sawada and Project Assistant Professor Hideo Doi of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Information Engineering, Toyohashi University of Technology has developed a semiconductor sensor enabling the real-time observation of two types of biomolecule dynamics in solutions. By using semiconductor technology to pattern a thin metal film functioning as a neurotransmitter-sensitive membrane on sensor pixels arranged two-dimensionally in a 2 µm pitch, the sensor captures the movement of hydrogen ions and lactate (neurotransmitters) in a solution as image data. A time resolution of milliseconds and a spatial resolution of several microns (approximately 1/17 the size of a strand of hair) were achieved, and it is expected that the measurement of relation for neurotransmitters and ions distribution which changes temporally and spatially between cells with high spatiotemporal resolution.

Precise calculations of binding free energy are pivotal in reducing the high costs and inefficiencies of drug discovery. A recent study presents PairMap, an innovative computational tool that introduces intermediates for complex compound transformations. This improves the accuracy of energy predictions, with a higher impact in reducing drug discovery costs.

Medical implants and biomedical devices often cause inflammatory responses due to poor biocompatibility. Apatite coatings offer a potential solution but limited cell adhesion is often a challenge. To address this, scientists  developed advanced apatite nanoparticles for implant coatings with superior cell adhesion. By adjusting pH during synthesis of  nanoparticles, they enhanced the surface properties of these nanoparticles, achieving improved water interactions and greater structural stability, paving the way for more effective and biocompatible medical implants.

Graying hair is a hallmark of aging, often considered an inevitable part of growing older. However, recent research from Nagoya University in Japan suggests that luteolin, an antioxidant found in vegetables including celery, broccoli, carrots, onions, and peppers, might suppress this process. Their findings pave the way for potential applications in human hair care.

International collaborative research led by Aakash Project^* researchers at the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (RIHN) show an unequivocal contribution of crop residue burning (CRB) to air pollution in the rural/semi-urban regions of Punjab and Haryana, and a relatively lower contribution than previously thought to the Delhi national capital region (NCR). We have installed 30 units of compact and useful PM_2.5^** in situ instrument with gas sensors (CUPI-Gs) and have continuously recorded air pollutants in 2022 and 2023. New analytical methods have been developed to assess and predict the formation and transport of air pollutants due to emissions from CRB.

Researchers at the RIKEN Center for Brain Science (CBS) in Japan have uncovered how perceptual memories linked to positive emotions, such as joy or happiness, are strengthened during sleep. The study could help scientists understand the neurological basis for overcoming conditions like drug or sexual addiction.

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A research group from the Institute for Research on Next-generation Semiconductor and Sensing Science (IRES²) at Toyohashi University of Technology developed an innovative in vivo electrophysiological neural recording technology that minimizes neuronal death and allows stable recordings for over a year.

This breakthrough involves a 5-µm-diameter microneedle electrode fabricated on a flexible film using silicon-growth technology. Through experiments using mice, the team demonstrated significantly reduced neuronal death and stable neuronal activity recordings compared with traditional electrode technologies, overcoming long-standing challenges in neural recording.

Ammonium nitrate (NH₄NO₃, AN), is an excellent oxidizer, or a chemical that enhances a material’s ability to combust and release energy, that could be employed as a more environmentally friendly blasting agent, propellant or component of explosives because of its lack of metal atoms. However, due to the hygroscopicity and phase transitions of the compound, AN wasn’t considered a suitable oxidizer. Researchers recently cocrystallized AN with the amino acid glycine (Gly) to stabilize the molecules, eliminating temperature-induced phase transitions and decreasing hygroscopicity, making AN/Gly a safe, suitable and more environmentally friendly oxidizer alternative.

Thioxanthones are versatile but complex compounds used in several industrial fields, including printing, pharmaceuticals, and electronics. Now, researchers from Japan have developed an innovative synthesis method involving double aryne insertion, which streamlines the production of these chemicals. This approach has the potential to reduce complexity, lower costs, and minimize environmental impact, opening the door to advanced applications of thioxanthones in drug development, materials science, nanotechnology, and electronics.