A research group led by Dr. Keisuke Obara, Dr. Kento Yoshioka, and Professor Yoshio Tanaka from the Department of Chemical Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Toho University, has uncovered important details about how platelet-activating factor (PAF)—a powerful molecule involved in inflammation and allergic reactions—triggers contractions in the smooth muscles of the esophagus. Their findings could pave the way for new treatments targeting gastrointestinal symptoms associated with allergies, asthma, and anaphylaxis.

Forecasting electricity demand in buildings is now more accurate with Group Encoding (GE), a new method that uses only existing device operation data. Developed by researchers at the Institute of Science Tokyo, the method improved prediction accuracy by 74% in real-world tests. By simplifying high-dimensional binary data, GE supports efficient energy device management, cost reduction, and seamless integration of renewable energy in distributed systems, making it a practical tool for smart energy operation.

A recent study reports (Al,Ga,Sc)N thin films with record-high scandium levels, with exciting potential for ultra-low-power memory devices, as reported by researchers from Institute of Science Tokyo (Science Tokyo). Using reactive magnetron sputtering, they fine-tuned the composition of ternary alloys to overcome previous stability limits. Beyond enabling efficient data storage, these films also show promise for noise filters for 6G communications and optical computing, thanks to attractive piezoelectric and optoelectric properties.

Osaka Metropolitan University researchers discovered why chemical reactions slow down under high-power ultrasound. Excessive ultrasonic output distorts waveforms, reducing active bubble formation and reaction rates. The study classifies three reaction regions, offering guidance for optimizing sonochemistry in applications like nanoparticle synthesis and PFAS degradation.