Using a recombinant DNA-binding protein (ferritin superfamily) adsorbed to carbon nanotubes in a TiO2-layer, a nano complex was achieved which improved photoelectric conversion by reducing 30% of the electrode resistance JSBBA lecture 4D03a08, March 30, 2014
A public-private team from RIKEN and Kaneka develops PHA production process based on lignin
Using Ralstonia eutropha H16 as a test organism, PHA was produced in a 2-step fermentation. In the first step, the organism was grown in a mineral medium containing vanillic acid, 4 – hydroxy benzoic acid (4-HBA), 2,5 – dihydroxybenzoic acid (2,5-DHBA) and other aromatic lignin degradation products. After shifting to richer culture conditions, the strain […]
Kirin and University of Tokyo develop fluorescence-based technology for a simple measurement of intracellular temperature in vitro
The temperature is determined with high precision by introducing a temperature-sensitive fluorescent probe into the cells by simple mixing (a cationic fluorescent polymeric thermometer, CFPT)” JSBBA lecture 2C01p05, March 28
Hoshizaki Electrics develops tea machine which extracts higher amounts of theanine and catechol from tea leaves
In collaboration with NARO’s National Institute of Vegetable and Tea Science, the tea machine “Rich plus” was developed and will be introduced from April 2014. Hoshizaki Electric press release, March 28, 2014
RIKEN embarks on Exascale Supercomputer project
The program, financed by MEXT and led by Dr Yutaka ISHIKAWA of RIKEN’s Advanced Institute for Computational Science, is planned to be finished by 2020 and have 100 times the performance of RIKEN’s K-Computer (1 exaflop = 1018 flops per sec) RIKEN news release, March 28, 2014
Japan Air Filter Co. develops 99,995 % removal PM2.5 nanofilter, NEDO contract
The development relates to the Energy Conservation Law of 2010 and leads to 25 % reduction in energy consumption. The filter design is based on an improved fiber diameter with long fiber 10 to several hundred nanometers long which leads to larger micropores, improving exhaust air velocity. The filters will be marketed for the iron […]
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation develops better performing and less expensive radiation detector
In collaboration with a team from Kyushu University, Mitsubishi Electric has developed a counter for the separate measurement of Cs-134 and Cs-137 based on a novel signal restoration technology for the sodium iodide scintillator. A 2kg food sample can be measured in one minute with a detection limit of 25Bq/kg, one tenth compared to the […]
International FANTOM 5 consortium reports on a comprehensive map of promotors and enhancers of human and mouse blood cells
The comprehensive database which was elaborated by 261 researchers in 114 institutions from 20 nations and in Japan is centered at RIKEN Yokohama hopes to find new disease-associated genomic regions and helps cellular reprogramming, e. g., in iPS cells RIKEN news release, March 27, 2014
Shimadzu Corporation aims at sales of 5,7 billion Yen for molecular diagnostics by 2017
Major targets are cell analysis (2 billion) and molecular diagnostics (3,3 billion) Nikkei Biotech, March 27, 2014
Public-private consortium led by Tsukuba University starts algal biofuel test production facility
The plant is based on studies by Professor Makoto WATANABE on Botryococcus braunii algae and will produce 1,4 tons per year. Company members are Toyota, Kosan and others. China Bio news, March 27, 2014