Structures of met-hemoCD-P and met-hemoCD-I
These compounds can act as powerful antidotes to treat carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, and hydrogen sulfide poisoning without any risk of side effects.※
.

Professor Hiroaki Kitagishi, Department of Molecular Chemistry and Biochemistry, and his colleagues have developed a synthetic, nontoxic antidote to treat hydrogen sulfide poisoning safely.

Hydrogen sulfide binds strongly to heme-containing enzymes in the cell and blocks the process of respiration, causing rapid death at higher concentrations. Now, Kitagishi and his team have developed an artificial heme-model compound that has a high affinity for hydrogen sulfide and binds to it much faster than human met-hemoglobin. This compound, met-hemoCD-I, successfully treated hydrogen sulfide-induced toxicity in mice, indicating its potential as an antidote.

Reference
Atsuki Nakagami, Qiyue Mao, Masaki Horitani, Masahito Kodera & Hiroaki Kitagishi. Detoxification of hydrogen sulfide by synthetic heme model compounds. (2024) Scientific Reports.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-80511-1

For more details, please see the website of Organization for Research Initiatives and Development, Doshisha University.
A Novel Heme-Model Compound that Treats Lethal Gas Poisoning

This achievement has also been featured in the “EurekAlert!.”NEWS RELEASE 11-DEC-2024, 
[Research News] A Novel Heme-Model Compound that Treats Lethal Gas Poisoning

※
Credit: The authors
License type: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Usage restriction:Cannot be used without permission
Image license: Original content

Overview of the experimental setup for ultrasonication-directed myoblast orientation.
Using a simple yet effective technique, researchers from Doshisha University could harness ultrasound vibrations generated by a piezoelectric transducer to control the orientation of cultured myoblasts. After optimizing different timing, frequency, and intensity configurations, they developed a method to induce myoblasts to differentiate into circumferentially aligned myotubes.※
.

Professor Daisuke Koyama, Faculty of Science and Engineering, and his students develop ultrasound-based techniques to control myoblast (cultured muscle cell) orientation, advancing tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

Developing reliable methods to replace damaged tissue remains a central goal in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Koyama and students have created an ultrasound-based technique to control the orientation of cultured myoblasts—precursor cells to skeletal muscle. This innovative method could enable the production of aligned cell sheets suitable for direct transplantation, offering new possibilities for therapeutic applications in regenerative medicine and muscle tissue engineering.

Reference
Hashiguchi, Ryohei; Ichikawa, Hidetaka; Kumeta, Masahiro; Koyama, Daisuke. Control of myotube orientation using ultrasonication. (2024) Scientific Reports, 14 (1), art. no. 25737.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-77277-x

For more details, please see the website of Organization for Research Initiatives and Development, Doshisha University.
Ultrasonication as a Tool for Directing Cell Growth and Orientation.

This achievement has also been featured in the “EurekAlert!.”NEWS RELEASE 5-DEC-2024, 
[Research News] Ultrasonication as a Tool for Directing Cell Growth and Orientation.

※
Credit: Daisuke Koyama from Doshisha University, Japan
License type: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Usage restriction: Credit must be given to the creator. Only noncommercial uses of the work are permitted. No derivatives or adaptations of the work are permitted.

The late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s immigration reforms laid the groundwork for changing Japan’s immigration landscape
Though the government denies having a formal immigration policy, the number of foreign workers increased during Abe’s second term from 2012 to 2020. Post-Abe governments continue using Abe’s immigration framework, with the possibility of shifting from restrictive ‘side-door’ policies to more inclusive ‘front-door’ policies to recruit workers of all skill levels. Japan’s evolving immigration landscape reflects its struggle to address the labor gap caused by low birth rates and an aging population.※
.

New study by Mr. Maximilien Xavier Rehm, a PhD candidate at the Graduate School of Global Studies, Doshisha University, explores how the late Prime Minister’s reforms set the stage for a potential transformation of Japan's immigration landscape.

Japan’s immigration policies underwent numerous changes during late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s second term from 2012 to 2020. Yet, the government denies having a formal immigration policy. A study by Rehm suggests that despite the government’s denial, Abe’s reforms laid the groundwork for bringing a fundamental change in Japan’s immigration regime. However, this change is yet to occur, highlighting the far-reaching implications for policymakers and foreigners in Japan.

Reference
Rehm, M. X. (2024). Abe’s incrementalism: an institutionalist analysis of immigration policy reform during the second Abe administration. Japan Forum, 1–26.
https://doi.org/10.1080/09555803.2024.2411005

For more details, please see the website of Organization for Research Initiatives and Development, Doshisha University.
Opening borders for workers: Abe’s profound influence on Japan’s immigration regime

This achievement has also been featured in the “EurekAlert!.”NEWS RELEASE 15-NOV-2024, 
Research News Opening borders for workers: Abe’s profound influence on Japan’s immigration regime

※
Credit: "Prime Minister Abe Shinzo at Opening Ceremony of the Tokyo International Film Festival 2016" by Dick Thomas Johnson.https://openverse.org/image/e99895de-5299-48f8-a0ae-b7fa9a4873a2?q=Prime+Minister+Abe+Shinzo
License type: CC BY
Usage restriction: Credit must be given to the creator.

Surface-energy ratchet mechanism
The proposed ratchet mechanism utilizes the asymmetry in surface wettability between the smooth and rough faces of the teeth of a geometrically symmetric gear to achieve ratcheting motion. .

The research team, including Dr. Dai Matsuda, a former doctoral student, Jiro Senda and Eriko Matsumura, professors at the Faculty of Science and Engineering, revealed the mechanisms behind wall film formation, which is a crucial contributor to particulate matter emissions under cold fuel conditions.

Particulate matter emissions from direct injection engines are a major environmental issue. Matsuda and his colleagues studied how wall films, which form when fuel sprays onto engine walls, contribute to these emissions in cold conditions. They found that cold fuel creates thicker wall films, producing more particulate emissions. This finding will help develop improved fuel injection methods, making engines cleaner and helping to attain the upcoming Euro 7 emission standards.

Reference
Dai MATSUDA, Akira ADACHI, Akari SHIMONO, Eriko MATSUMURA, Jiro SENDA, Experimental analysis of spray impingement wall film at cold temperatures for Direct-Injection spark ignition engines, Fuel, Volume 374, 2024,132407.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2024.132407

For more details, please see the website of Organization for Research Initiatives and Development, Doshisha University.
https://research.doshisha.ac.jp/news/news-detail-59/


This achievement has also been featured in the “EurekAlert!.”
NEWS RELEASE 27-AUG-2024, Analysis of Spray Impingement and Wall Film Formation in Direct Injection Engines.

Credit: "Car exhaust" by eutrophication&hypoxia 
License type: CC BY 2.0
Usage restrictions: You are free to share and adapt the material. Attribution is required.

Surface-energy ratchet mechanism
The proposed ratchet mechanism utilizes the asymmetry in surface wettability between the smooth and rough faces of the teeth of a geometrically symmetric gear to achieve ratcheting motion. .

Researchers, including Miku Hatatani, a Ph.D. student in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, have developed a novel ratchet mechanism that utilizes asymmetry in surface wettability and resembles the biological Brownian ratchets

Conventional ratchet mechanisms involve a geometrically asymmetric gear for realizing the ratcheting mechanism. In a new study, researchers have now developed a novel ratcheting mechanism based on the asymmetry of surface wettability and it uses a geometrically symmetric gear. This innovative mechanism resembles the Brownian ratchets, which have been proposed for understanding the motion of molecular motors in biological systems and can pave the way for novel energy-harvesting technologies.

Reference
Hatatani, M., Yamamoto, D. & Shioi, A. Surface-energy ratchet motor with geometrical symmetry driven by biased random walk. Sci Rep 14, 16619 (2024).
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-67383-1

For more details, please see the website of Organization for Research Initiatives and Development, Doshisha University.
https://research.doshisha.ac.jp/news/news-detail-58/


This achievement has also been featured in the “EurekAlert!.”
NEWS RELEASE 20-AUG-2024, Novel Ratchet with Geometrically Symmetric Gear Driven by Asymmetric Surface Wettability

Image Credit: Miku Hatatani from Doshisha University
License type: Original content
Usage restrictions: Cannot be reused without permission

Comparison of the wet-bulb globe temperature (WGBT) among different surfaces
The on-site WGBT values are significantly higher than those measured by the Japan Meteorological Agency weather station, particularly for hard and sand-filled artificial grass courts, highlighting the need for appropriate countermeasures. .

Researchers, including Hiroki Yamaguchi, a PhD student at the Graduate School of Health and Sports Science, investigate the thermal environments of different tennis court surfaces, offering key insights for effective heat countermeasures

Tennis players are exposed to high-heat environments during matches. Different tennis court surfaces can have different thermal environments, necessitating suitable countermeasures. In a new study, researchers investigated the thermal environment of different tennis court surfaces using on-site measurements and compared the results with the established guideline levels. Their findings can lead to enhanced countermeasures, thus improving the safety of athletes, coaches, referees, and spectators.

Reference
Hiroki Yamaguchi, Takaaki Mori, Hiromi Hanano, Kan Oishi, Kentaro Ikeue, Yuiko Yamamoto & Kojiro Ishii. Using wet-bulb globe temperature meters to examine the effect of heat on various tennis court surfaces. Sci Rep 14, 15548 (2024).
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-66518-8

This achievement has also been featured in the “EurekAlert!.”
NEWS RELEASE 6-AUG-2024, Preventing Heat Stroke in Tennis: Insights into the Heat Environments of Tennis Courts

Image Credit: Hiroki Yamaguchi from Doshisha University
License type: CC-BY 4.0

Effects of eccentric-only resistance training on hamstring muscle stiffness, size, and strength
Eccentric-only resistance training at long muscle lengths and with a long contraction duration can chronically decrease the passive stiffness of a specific muscle while simultaneously increasing its size and strength.

Raki Kawama, an Assistant Professor at the Organization for Research Initiatives and Development/Faculty of Health and Sports Science, and his colleagues suggest that resistance training boosts muscle size and strength while reducing passive muscle stiffness.

It is commonly believed that resistance training, widely recommended for building muscle strength and size, may increase passive muscle stiffness. However, they have demonstrated that eccentric-only resistance training, particularly when performed at long muscle lengths with prolonged contraction durations at high weekly frequencies, can significantly reduce passive muscle stiffness in specific muscles while simultaneously increasing strength and size. This innovative training method can significantly benefit athletes and patients in sports and rehabilitation settings.

Reference
Kawama, Raki, Takahashi, Katsuki, Ikifune, Haruki, Tozawa, Hironoshin, Obata, Takafumi, Ito, Ryo, Hojo, Tatsuya, Wakahara, Taku. Can Eccentric-only Resistance Training Decrease Passive Muscle Stiffness while Increasing Size and Strength of Hamstrings?. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise ():10.1249/MSS.0000000000003516, July 16, 2024.
https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000003516

This achievement has also been featured in the “EurekAlert!.”
NEWS RELEASE 1-AUG-2024, Eccentric-only Resistance Training Can Lower Passive Muscle Stiffness

Image Credit:Raki Kawama from Doshisha University
License type: Original content

Generating adversarial images for image cropping models
Many commercial image cropping models utilize saliency maps (also known as gaze estimation) to identify the most critical areas within an image. In this study, researchers developed innovative techniques to introduce imperceptible noisy perturbations into images, thus influencing the output of cropping models. This approach aims to prevent essential parts of images, such as copyright information or watermarks, from being inadvertently cropped, thus promoting fairness in AI models. .

Researchers, including Masatomo Yoshida, a Ph.D. student at the Graduate School of Science and Engineering, techniques to create perturbations in images that can deceive cropping models, helping identify and address their weaknesses.

Models that automatically crop images, like those used in social media to create thumbnails, can sometimes make mistakes, leading to misrepresentation. To study and address these models' weaknesses, they have developed novel methods for creating adversarial examples. By efficiently generating adversarial images that modify actual images to 'trick' models into cropping different regions, these techniques aim to make image cropping AI systems more reliable and fair.

Reference
M. Yoshida, H. Namura and M. Okuda, "Adversarial Examples for Image Cropping: Gradient-Based and Bayesian-Optimized Approaches for Effective Adversarial Attack," in IEEE Access, vol. 12, pp. 86541-86552, 2024.
https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2024.3415356

This achievement has also been featured in the “EurekAlert!.”
NEWS RELEASE 1-AUG-2024, Enhancing Automatic Image Cropping Models with Advanced Adversarial Techniques

Image Credit: Masatomo Yoshida from Doshisha University
License type: Original content

Proposed ultrasonic liquid crystal light diffuser
Schematics of the LC molecular orientation and the transmitted light in the absence (left) and in the presence (right) of the ultrasound excitation. Red and blue curves represent the light and the ultrasound vibration, respectively .

Professor Daisuke Koyama and graduate students, Yuma Kuroda and Ryoya Mizuno, from the Faculty of Science and Engineering developed a novel tunable ultrasonic liquid crystal light diffuser that allows changing the diffusion direction.

In conventional light diffusers, optical characteristics such as diffusion angle and direction can only be tailored during fabrication and not after installation. Light diffusers that allow such changes can save energy and provide better indoor lighting aesthetics, but such devices are rare. In a new study, they have developed a novel tunable ultrasonic liquid crystal diffuser, that allows changing the diffusion direction using electrical inputs, while having a compact structure with no moving parts.

Reference
Kuroda, Y., Mizuno, R. & Koyama, D. Ultrasonic liquid crystal tunable light diffuser. Sci Rep 14, 15445 (2024).
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-66413-2

This achievement has also been featured in the “EurekAlert!.”
NEWS RELEASE 26-JUL-2024, Towards Next-Gen Indoor Lighting: Novel Tunable Ultrasonic Liquid Crystal Light Diffuser

Image Credit: Daisuke Koyama from Doshisha University
License type: Original content

Concept of the highly efficient acetylene synthesis process from CO2 using two-step electrolysis
The innovative process, which does not require fossil fuels, can pave the way for a sustainable acetylene-based industry.

Researchers, including Yuta Suzuki, Assistant Professor at the Harris Science Research Institute, have developed a novel method for synthesizing acetylene from carbon dioxide without using fossil fuels.

Conventional acetylene synthesis methods rely on fossil fuels. A new process is required for its sustainable synthesis to reduce its carbon footprint. In a new study, researchers from Doshisha University and Daikin Industries Ltd developed a novel method for synthesizing acetylene from carbon dioxide via calcium carbide without using fossil fuels. This innovative process can contribute to realizing a sustainable acetylene-based industry.

Reference
Yuta Suzuki, Seiya Tanaka, Takashi Watanabe, Takane Tsuchii, Tomohiro Isogai, Akiyoshi Yamauchi, Yosuke Kishikawa, Takuya Goto. High-efficient acetylene synthesis by selective electrochemical formation of CO₂-derived CaC₂. Chemical Engineering Journal, Volume 494, 2024, 153013
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2024.153013.

For more details, please see the website of Organization for Research Initiatives and Development, Doshisha University.  
[Research News] A New Method for Sustainable Synthesis of Acetylene from Carbon Dioxide

This achievement has also been featured in the “EurekAlert!.”
NEWS RELEASE 15-JUL-2024, A New Method for Sustainable Synthesis of Acetylene from Carbon Dioxide

Image Credit: Yuta Suzuki and Takuya Goto from Doshisha University
License type: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

A Japanese greater horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus nippon) chasing a moth in an experiment chamber
 

A research team* from the National Institute for Basic Biology of Japan and Doshisha University used free-moving bats chasing moths as a realistic model of target tracking. They found that bats used the four key tactics and organized them effectively to track prey accurately. The team also proposed a possible operational rule enabling bats to exercise this strategy efficiently.

The ability to "target track" is essential for various activities and has improved in animals and machines through the evolution of life and technology. Because most sensing systems are inevitably subject to a certain degree of delay caused by information processing, many studies have addressed the challenge of overcoming this delay constraint for more accurate target tracking. Studying animals' sophisticated tracking behavior would bring a significant breakthrough in this fundamental problem.

*
Nozomi Nishiumi: National Institute for Basic Biology, National Institutes of Natural Science
Emyo Fujioka: Organization for Research Initiatives and Development, Doshisha University
Shizuko Hiryu: Faculty of Life and Medical Sciences, Doshisha Universityn.

Reference
Nozomi Nishiumi, Emyo Fujioka, Shizuko Hiryu, Bats integrate multiple echolocation and flight tactics to track prey, Current Biology, 2024.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2024.05.062

For more details, please see the website of Organization for Research Initiatives and Development, Doshisha University.  
[Research News]  Target tracking strategy in bats: Integration of echolocation and flight tactics

This achievement has also been featured in the “EurekAlert!.”
NEWS RELEASE 28-JUNE-2024, Target tracking strategy in bats: Integration of echolocation and flight tactics

Image Credit: Doshisha University
License type: For use in stories about this research, must credit "Doshisha Univ"

The CO₂ conversion process at the interface between DEME-BF₄ electrolytes containing Ca(OH)₂ aqueous solution and silver electrodes
  The production of hydrocarbons occurs through two intermediates formed on the surface of the silver electrode to produce useful hydrocarbons like ethylene, ethane, propylene, and propane.

The research team, led by Professor Takuya Goto and including Ms. Saya Nozaki from the Graduate School of Science and Engineering and Dr. Yuta Suzuki from the Harris Science Research Institute, discovered that combining ionic liquids electrolytes with metal hydroxides enables efficient electrochemical conversion of CO₂ to hydrocarbons.

The electrochemical conversion of captured carbon dioxide into fuels and chemicals offers a sustainable approach to reduce emissions. However, traditional methods rely on complex electrode designs. Goto and his team demonstrated a cost-effective approach using an ionic liquid combined with metal hydroxides as an electrolyte, enabling efficient conversion even on basic metal electrodes. With this electrolyte, they successfully produced propane and ethylene directly from CO₂ and H₂O, offering a cost-effective method for emissions reduction.

Reference
Saya Nozaki, Yuta Suzuki, Takuya Goto, Electrochemical synthesis of C₂ and C₃ hydrocarbons from CO₂ on an Ag electrode in DEME-BF₄ containing H₂O and metal hydroxides, Electrochimica Acta, Volume 493, 2024,144431.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2024.144431

For more details, please see the website of Organization for Research Initiatives and Development, Doshisha University.  
Research News: Efficient CO₂ Conversion to Fuels and Chemicals Using Ionic Liquid Electrolyte

This achievement has also been featured in the “EurekAlert!.”
NEWS RELEASE 3-JUNE-2024, Efficient CO2 Conversion to Fuels and Chemicals Using Ionic Liquid Electrolyte

Image Credit:Takuya Goto from Doshisha University
License type: CC BY 4.0 DEED