https://www.jst.go.jp/pr/announce/20230126-3/pdf/20230126-3.pdf A research team around Kinji Fukuda at Keio University has found that Bacteroides uniformis was abundant in the intestines of Japanese long-distance runners and was associated with their running times. Bacteroides uniformis produces short-chain fatty acids such as acetic acid and propionic acid in the intestine, which may contribute to endogenous glucose production in the liver, […]
A 1 µm green microalgae, Medakamo hakoo, holds promise for synthetic biology
https://www.jst.go.jp/pr/announce/20230127/pdf/20230127.pdf https://www.nature.com/articles/s42003-022-04367-9 A team from the University of Tokyo and the Tokyo University of Science has cultured a new type of microalgae from the water in a tank where goldfish and killifish were kept, and identified its genome sequence. The photosynthetic microalgae has only 7629 genes, the lowest number of genes among all freshwater green […]
FAST thermoelectric materials may offer an environmental friendly option for roadside sensors in autonomous driving: NEDO
https://www.nedo.go.jp/news/press/AA5_101604.html Meti’s project house Nedo is sponsoring a collaborative project to improve the performance and reduce the cost of thermoelectric modules made of iron (Fe), aluminum (AI) and silicon (Si) (FAST materials) that do not use rare and toxic metals. The consortium has now unveiled a 2 cm2 ceramic thermoelectric module that harvests enough power […]
IDDK Spacelab develops biotech test formats for space
https://bio.nikkeibp.co.jp/atcl/news/p1/22/12/21/10284/ https://iddk.co.jp/app-def/S-102/iddk_wp/?page_id=3846&lang=en The Tokyo-based startup IDDK has developed and commercialized a new microscope that combines optical and semiconductor technologies. A sample is placed on the black part in the center for observation. In the back is the base for controlling the microscope including peripheral devices. With a resolution of 1.2 µm, it is said to […]
Japan Renesas Electronics Corporation develops power-efficient AI chip
https://www.nedo.go.jp/news/press/AA5_101596.html Under a contract from NEDO, Renesas has developed an AI chip with a dynamic reconfiguration processor (DRP) that handles complex tasks in real time. The power efficiency is 10 trillion operations per second (TOPS) per Watt consumed. This makes it possible to install the chip in a variety of devices such as security cameras, […]
Kyoto Prefectural University startup to sell “short rice” suitable for plant factories
Kyoto Prefectural University has begun offering a strain of “short rice” that is easy to use for plant-based material production and other applications. It is suitable for cultivation in plant factories because it can significantly reduce the cultivation space. A university start-up Miraishoku Research and Development Center will be established, where it will be marketed […]
Japanese team wins first prize in European competition on artificial photosynthesis
https://www.nedo.go.jp/news/press/AA5_101598.html The University of Tokyo and INPEX Co., partners in NEDO’s project “Technology Development for the Production of Key Chemicals Using Carbon Dioxide as Raw Material” and with the support of the Research Association for Artificial Photosynthetic Chemistry Process Technology (ARPChem) have won the first place out of 22 teams in the competition “Fuel from […]
Cultured Meat Industry submits proposal for legislation on “cellular foods”
https://bio.nikkeibp.co.jp/atcl/news/p1/22/12/01/10210/ “Proposal on Rules for the Sale of Cellular Foods and Legislation to be Developed in Japan” The The scope of the proposal covers meat, eggs, milk, and seafood produced by cell culture, collectively referred to as “cellular foods”. The report emphasizesthat these foods have fewer disadvantages, such as environmental impact, than conventional livestock-derived products, […]
Reconstructed intestinal flora of 787 Japanese shows relationship to diet and disease
https://www.riken.jp/press/2022/20221201_1/index.html A research group led by Yoshihiko Tomofuji, Ph.D. (Genetic Statistics), Osaka University , and Zuzo Okada, Ph.D. (Genetic Statistics / Team Leader, Systems Genetics Team, RIKEN Center for Biomedical Research has identified the intestinal microflora and reconstructed bacterial and viral genome sequences of 787 Japanese. Through integrated analysis of the newly developed database and […]
Nagase and Hitachi collaborate for commercialization of ergothioneine
https://bio.nikkeibp.co.jp/atcl/news/p1/22/11/04/10118/ Ergothioneine has antioxidant activity and is believed to improve brain function, thus of interest for applications in functional foods, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. Ergothioneine is produced only in very small amounts by mushrooms and microorganisms. In the joint project, Nagase produces ergothioneine from highly genetically modified Escherichia coli. Hitachi Plant Services uses computing and machine learning to […]