Osaka University
Research Profile

2019
A Collection of Twelve Impactful Articles
from Osaka University

Published by: Osaka University
Edited by: Center for Global Initiatives
Osaka University

1-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871 Japan
www.osaka-u.ac.jp

Osaka University was founded in 1931 as one of the seven national
universities of Japan and now has expanded to one of Japanʼs leading
comprehensive universities. The University has embarked on an open
research revolution with its vision of openness for 2021 from its positionas Japanʼs most innovative university and one of the most innovative
institutions in the world according to the Nature Index 2017 Innovation.
The universityʼs ability to innovate from the stage of fundamental researchthrough the creation of useful technology with economic impact stems fromits broad disciplinary spectrum.

Facts andFiguresFaculty and Staff *female staff

Students(as of May 1, 2019)(as of May 1, 2019)

BudgetFY 2019, in millions of yen

Government Grants, etc.

3,261

3,447

15,285*587*2,263

Academic Staff

Researchers,
Administrative Staff,
Medical Staff, etc.

8,031

4,062

Grant Program
Management Expenses

OthersManagement
Expenses Grant

Funds for Facilities

Long-Term Debt
Reimbursement

4,062

1,410

Facilities Expenses

9,076

8,878

8,878

Undergraduate
Students

Graduate
Students

Tuition and Fees

Industry-University
Collaboration Research
Expenses, etc.

50,962
12,529

Revenues

30,585

Expenses
68,33530,585International Researchers
Europe265

MiddleEast

157,952

Industry-University
Collaboration Research
Revenues and Donations(Inbound) April 1, 2018 - March 31, 2019

Asia

157,952

North
America591

100

Education andResearch Operating
Expenses

44,682

41,860
Hospital Revenues

Hospital Expenses

35
The Number of Invention Disclosures

License Agreements and Income

External Funding(including licensing, assignment and MTA)
(thousands of yen）

500

Africa33

400(number）

800,000

400

600,000

300

400,000

200

26

200,000

100

Others19

21

Total 1,090

0

4000

2000

200
100

Central andSouth America

5000

3000

300

Oceania(10 millions of yen）

'09 '10 '11 '12 '13 '14 '15 '16 '17 '18

0'09 '10 '11 '12 '13 '14 '15 '16 '17 '18

0

1000
0

'09 '10 '11 '12 '13 '14 '15 '16 '17 '18

AmountGrants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (KAKENHI)

Agreements

Commissioned Research, Donations for Research,
Joint Research Funding01

Life Sciences & MedicineR

esearchers have found that the structure ofis a group of rare diseases caused by abnormal

Parkinsonʼs disease-associated protein

protein accumulation.

Hideki
Mochizuki
Department of Neurology,
Graduate School of Medicine“Our work follows on from in vitro findings

large-scale synchrotron radiation facility, SPring-8,

that aggregates of α-synuclein that can propagate

and used microbeam X-ray diffraction to visualize

findings indicate that Parkinsonʼs disease is a kindthrough the brain have a cross-β structure,” says

the ultrastructure of Lewy bodies in the post mortemof amyloidosis, which has implications for its

lead author of the study Dr Hideki Mochizuki. “Ourbrain slices of three patients with Parkinsonʼs disease.

diagnosis and treatment.

study is the first to find that aggregates in Parkin-

Some of the α-syn aggregates did indeed havesonʼs disease brains also have this cross-β structure.

a cross- β structure, but there was quite a bit ofproteins (α-syn), are the neuropathological hall-This could mean that Parkinsonʼs disease is a kindvariety in the state of amyloid proteins.

mark of Parkinsonʼs disease. However, we donʼtof amyloidosis that features the accumulation of

yet fully understand how or why they appear in theamyloid fibrils of α-synuclein.”indicate the different maturity stages of Lewy

While immunostaining can tell us about thebodies,” says Dr Katsuya Araki, first author of theresearchers at Osaka University have found that

localization of a protein of interest, it doesnʼt tellpaper. “This has obvious implications in the diag-

Lewy bodies in Parkinsonʼs disease brains containus about its conformation. Electron microscopy

nosis of Parkinsonʼs disease, and could also have

α-syn protein aggregates (called amyloid fibrils)

can tell us about morphological features, but nottherapeutic implications in the long run.”that can propagate through the brain. These find-about protein structure. Similarly, Fourier-trans-

The researchers suggest that Parkinsonʼsings, published in PNAS, support the new idea thatform infrared spectroscopy can tell us about thedisease is a systemic (whole-body) amyloidosis

Parkinsonʼs disease is a kind of amyloidosis, which

secondary structure of proteins, but not about theirrather than one that is localized to one part of the

The red specks in this fluorescent micrograph of a section through a brain
affected by Parkinsonʼs disease are the protein α-synuclein,
which is thought to cause the progressive degeneration of the neurons
that leads to the symptoms of the disease.

brain. This fits with the non-motor symptoms thatthrough the brain before developing into Lewy bodies, the hallmark of Parkinsonʼs diseaseThe gut has a population of organisms that live

ally not only a genetic but also a microbial disease,”

within in it, called the gut microbiome, which

patients experience before the onset of motor
dysfunction and the multiple organ involvementof α-syn pathology. The findings from this work
are highly applicable to the development of new
diagnostic and therapeutic tools for the treatmentof Parkinsonʼs disease.

says one of the studyʼs corresponding authors,linked to an increase in certain factors in the gut

Shinichi Yachida. “Our results show that changes

microbiome, as well as the presence of cancer-as-studies have shown that assessing the genetic

in the gut microbiome are present at the very earlysociated organisms,” says the second corresponding

changes in fecal samples can accurately reflect thestages of colorectal cancer development, whichauthor, Takuji Yamada. “Future studies will focus

status of the gut microbiome, and may be useful for

could potentially provide vital diagnostic and caus-

on the relationship between the gut microbiome

the early diagnosis of diseases.

ative clues for this disease.”and tumor characteristics in individual patients

Colorectal cancer, the third most prevalent can-with colorectal cancer. This will help us understandhave reported increases in specific microbiome

cer globally, is a relatively slow-moving disease̶

the roles of the microbiome in the development oforganisms that are linked to the neoplasms associ-meaning it takes a long period of time before

colorectal cancer.”ated with colorectal cancer, such as intramucosal

reaching its final, fatal stages. Therefore, early

carcinomas and polypoid adenomas. Their results,

detection is crucial to ensuring effective treatment.

published in Nature Medicine, reveal that these

The researchers used fecal samples from a little

specific markers could help distinguish cases ofover 600 patients who underwent colonoscopy tocolorectal cancer from healthy samples.

assess the characteristics of their gut microbiota“We believe that colorectal cancer is fundament-

and how they relate to colorectal cancer.

[reference]
Araki K. et al. (2019) Parkinsonʼs disease is a type of amyloidosis featuring
accumulation of amyloid fibrils of α-synuclein. Proceedings of the National
Academy of Sciences 116:36, 17963-17969. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1906124116
https://resou.osaka-u.ac.jp/en/research/2019/20190820_1“Our results revealed that colorectal cancer was

are linked to human health and disease. Recent

A group of researchers from Osaka University

Shinichi
Yachida“One possibility is that this variability could

brain. Using state-of-the-art imaging techniques,

Using X-ray diffraction of post mortem brains, researchers find α -synuclein aggregates that can moveLife Sciences & Medicine

The researchers therefore teamed up with thetheir movement through the brain. These new“The seeds of Parkinson’s disease:		
Amyloid fibrils that move through the brain”

02

fibrillary organization.

aggregates can tell us, for the first time, about

Lewy bodies, primarily composed of α-synucleinLife Sciences & Medicine

01

Atopobium parvulum
Actinomyces odontolyticus
Amino acids

Bile acids

Adenoma with
Stage 0low-grade dysplasia (intramucosal carcinoma)

Stage I/II

Isovalerate

Stage III/IV

Microbial dynamics during multistep colorectal cancer progression:
Graphic representation of major microbial and metabolomic alterations duringmultistep colorectal cancer progression

Department of Cancer Genome
Informatics,
Graduate School of Medicine“A gut feeling: Microbiome changes may mean				 early detection of colorectal cancer”
Researchers reveal specific changes in the gut microbiota at different stages of colorectal cancer that
may lead to important detection methods or further understanding of colorectal cancer development

02[reference]
Yachida S. et al. (2019) Metagenomic and metabolomic analyses reveal
distinct stage-specific phenotypes of the gut microbiota in colorectal cancer.
Nature Medicine 25, 968–976. DOI: 10.1038/s41591-019-0458-7
https://resou.osaka-u.ac.jp/en/research/2019/20190607_1

03

Masahiro
Ueda
Department of Biological Sciences,
Graduate School of Sciencesignals gradually disappeared during migration of
the multicellular slugs.

inspire shudders in readers who have encounteredimportant for processes ranging from wound

their animal namesake, cells within the slugs seem

“We found that the cAMP propagation waves

healing to tumor metastasis. Migrating cells respondto like getting up-close and personal: the researchers

thought to control mass cellular movement during

to a combination of physical cues elicited by cell-to-found that while free-living cells respond to waves

all stages of Dictyostelium development actuallycell contact and waves of chemical signals sent outof chemical stimuli, slug cells require physicaldisappeared once the cells aggregated into multi-

by local cells to attract others to their location.

interaction to induce migration.

cellular slugs,” explains co-author Masahiro Ueda.

However, a team led by researchers from

Hidenori Hashimura, lead author of the study,

Osaka University have found that this combined

explained how they used changes in the intensity of“Although cell movement within the slugs wasequal to that of cells in the early aggregation stage,

approach may not be the case for cells at all stages

chemical signals to deduce the importance of thisthe absence of cAMP signal waves suggested anof development.

type of signalling at different developmental stages.

alternative cue for collective cell migration.”In the study published in Communications“Cyclic adenosine 3ʼ,5ʼ-monophosphate (cAMP) is

Biology, the researchers used model organism

the only chemical guidance cue for cell aggregation.

where physical contact between cells allows them

Dictyostelium iscoideum to better understand theUsing live cell imaging, we clearly observed waves

to follow each other, is likely to be responsible forcues controlling collective cell migration duringof cAMP, which can be visualized using a green

collective cell migration during the slug phase ofdevelopment. Referred to as social amoebae, unice-fluorescent probe, during the initial stages of cell

Dictyostelium development.

llular D. discoideum cluster together in times ofaggregation,” says corresponding author Yusuke V.

stress to form a multicellular aggregate called a slug.

Morimoto. However, it was revealed that the cAMP

The researchers proposed that “contact following”,

Researchers find that unlike their unicellular counterparts, aggregated social amoebae need physicalstanding collective cell migration cues is a vital stepin developing methods to prevent metastatic cancer
and promote wound healing.

radiomic features of the MR images, such as size,

brain or spine. The work may help glioma patientsare especially important; these are changes in the

shape, and intensity.

to receive more suitable treatment faster, giving

gene for the enzyme isocitrate dehydrogenase

better outcomes. The research was published in(IDH) or the promoter region of telomerase (T ERT).

a convolutional neural network to extract features

Scientific Reports.

Identifying these mutations can help direct thefrom the MR images. Then, using a machine-

proper course of treatment. The researchers

learning method called support vector machines,

in recent years. Spurred by recognition that

produced a machine-learning algorithm that canthey classified the patients into groups based oneach cancer case is unique, the specific genetic

predict which mutations are present using only thethe presence or absence of mutations. “We hopemutations tumor cells carry are now sequenced to

MR images of the tumors.

to expand this approach to other types of cancer,

04

delay treatment.
Glioma is a type of cancer that originates in the“Machine learning is increasingly used to

0.9

0.88
0.86
0.84

0

30

60

90

120

150

180

210 240
Time (min)

270

300

330

360

390

420

Top, fluorescence images of cAMP signals in aggregating cells. Bottom, changes
in cAMP signal levels in cell populations during development.

[reference]
Hashimura H. et al. (2019) Collective cell migration of Dictyostelium withoutcAMP oscillations at multicellular stages. Communications Biology 2:34.
DOI:10.1038/s42003-018-0273-6

was found to be significantly better at predicting

Poor Prognosis
IDH+/TERT+

IDH+/TERT-

IDH-

the mutations compared with conventionally used

MR images of low-grade glioma

Pretrained AlexNet (BVLC Reference CaffeNet)

To construct the algorithm, the researchers used
Input data

conv1

conv2

conv3

13x13x384
55x55x96

conv4

conv5

fc6

fc7

13x13x384 13x13x256

fc8

1000

Texture featuresfrom MR images

27x27x256

227x227x3

4096 4096

Prediction ofgenetic mutation

so we can take advantage of the large cancer gene

MR images of gliomas were fed into a pre-trained deep neural network that can

However, certain types of cancer, especially brain

diagnose medical images. But our work is one of thedatabases already collected” senior author Haruhikoclassify natural images. The activities of neurons in each layer of the network weretumors, are less accessible for genetic testing. The

first to even attempt to classify something as hidden

Kishima says.

used to characterize the textures of the MR images. These texture features weretumorʼs genotype canʼt be found until a sample isas the genotype based on image data alone,” study“Peering into the genome of brain tumor”
Osaka University-led research introduces a machine-learning algorithm for predicting genetic

Institute for Advanced Co-Creation
Studies

0.92

first author Ryohei Fukuma explains. The algorithm

The end result could remove the need for surgicaltissue sampling. Even more, it could lead to better(right)0.94

https://resou.osaka-u.ac.jp/en/research/2019/20190206_e1

brainʼs supporting cells. Two types of mutations

discover which chemotherapy drugs will work best.

Takufumi
Yanagisawa

Multicellularbody

stages of development. More importantly, under-

mutations in glioma tumors, which occur in thethat uses magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Graduate School of Medicine

Mound

0.96

importance of examining cellular processes at allRand machine learning to rapidly forecast genetic(left)

Aggregation

1

0.98

This is the first time researchers have examinedtaken during surgery, and this can significantly

esearchers have developed a computer method

Cancer treatment has undergone a revolution

ManabuKinoshita

7.5 hrcAMP signal dynamics in the multicellular phase

contact rather than chemical signals to get them going

Life Sciences & Medicine

1.02

6 hr

of Dictyostelium development and highlights the“More physical than chemical:
		 Researchers show what really gets cells going”

04

Development 4 hr

Changes in cAMP signal

Life Sciences & Medicine

Though their less-than-enticing name may

move together with a common purpose, islevels in cell populations

ollective cell migration, where groups of cells

Life Sciences & Medicine

C03

mutations of malignant brain tumor types based only on MRI, offering promise for noninvasive
diagnosis and faster treatment

used to infer three key molecular subtypes of gliomas. The obtained algorithm
was able to predict these molecular subtypes with an accuracy of 63.1%.

clinical outcomes for patients as the process ofdelivering personalized medicine becomes easierand faster.

[reference]
Fukuma R. et al. (2019) Prediction of IDH and T ERT promoter mutations in
low-grade glioma from magnetic resonance images using a convolutional
neural network. Scientific Reports 9:20311.
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-56767-3
https://resou.osaka-u.ac.jp/en/research/2020/20200106_1

05

Life Sciences & MedicineTo successfully infect their hosts, bacteria needglobally. The team used molecular evolutionary

and led to the mutant being eliminated from theto evade the host immune system in order toanalysis of gene sequences to identify a gene that

population.”

reproduce and spread. Over the course of evolution,

has been largely prevented from mutating into

hosts ̶ such as humans ̶ develop increasingly

other variant forms, suggesting that it is essential

sophisticated defenses against bacterial infection,
while bacteria in turn develop new strategies to

Department of Oral and Molecular
Microbiology,
Graduate School of Dentistry

GGA

TTG

ATT

TCC

K G L I S

Strain 2

AAG

GGA

TTG

ATC

ACC

K G L I T

effects. They found that when mice were intra-

Strain 3

AAT

GGA

TTG

ATC

TCG

for the infection and/or reproduction of thisN G L I S

nasally infected with wild-type or cbpJ-deficient S.

Strain 4

AAA

GCA

TTG

TTT

TCC

K A L F S

bacterium.

pneumoniae, those with the mutant bacteria were

Strain 5

AGA

GCA

TTG

TTT

TCC

R A L F S

more likely to survive and had fewer bacteria in

Strain 6

AAG

GGC

CTG

ATT

TCC

K G L I SThis competition has led to the development of

cations Biology, the team focused on genes encoding

antibiotic-resistant bacteria, for which few or noproteins called choline-binding proteins (CBPs),

medical treatments are effective. Hence, there iswhich are present on the bacterial cell surface andan increasingly urgent need for novel drugs for use

interact with the hostʼs immune system.
“We analyzed all the codons in genes encoding

Strain 1

AAA

GGA

TTG

ATT

TCC

K G L I S

that the mutant bacteria were generally less able

Strain 2

AAG

GGA

TTG

ATC

ACC

K G L I T

to survive; however, when neutrophils were absent

Strain 4

AAA

GCA

TTG

TTT

TCC

K A L F S

Strain 6

AAG

GGC

CTG

ATT

TCC

K G L I S

wild-type bacteria,” lead author Masaya Yamaguchi

revealing a genetic factor that is important for the

Shigetada Kawabata says. “We found that, in thesays. “This suggests that cbpJ helps bacteria tovirulence of Streptococcus pneumoniae. This

gene cbpJ, over 13% of codons were under negativeevade detection and clearance by neutrophils.”

bacterium causes sepsis, pneumonia, andselection, meaning that if mutations had occurred

The fact that the cbpJ gene is under strict

meningitis and is a major threat to public healthin these regions, they reduced bacterial survival

negative selective pressure makes it a particularly

subjected to selective pressures. B. As a result of natural selection, synonymous

attractive target for drugs, as this pressure would

substitutions are concentrated in important genes. Phylogenetic and molecularemerging. This study also shows the value ofmolecular evolutionary analysis to identify new drug
targets, including among pneumococcal virulence
factors, especially when combined with traditional
molecular microbiological approaches.

doing so, the researchers experimentally verified

amounts of nitrogen fertilizer to soils to help

the large amount of plankton resulting from thistheoretical calculations of the enzymeʼs structure.

feed the world; however, this leads to eutrophi-

excess will lead to water environmental problems,

cation, an imbalance in the nitrogen cycle, one ofsuch as toxicity and odor, as well as various

long-standing, frustrating mismatch between lab

the factors which causes destruction of the ozone

environmental problems, such as acid rain andwork and calculations. “We confirmed details oflayer. But now, researchers from Japan haveozone decomposition.

copper binding and hydrogen bond dynamics that

“Humanity needs to understand how natureof an enzyme that may help to improve the environ-performs this reaction so we can design an artificial

were obscured by experiments in the lab,” explainsmental sustainability of this chemical reaction.

reaction and perform it more efficiently,” explains

Yohta Fukuda, senior author.

equal probability. However, nonsynonymous mutations in essential regions are

evolutionary analyses can detect significant accumulation of the substitutions.
(©2019 Yamaguchi M. et al., Communications Biology)[reference]
Yamaguchi M. et al. (2019) Identification of evolutionarily conserved
virulence factor by selective pressure analysis of Streptococcus pneumoniae.
Communications Biology 2: 96. DOI: 10.1038/s42003-019-0340-7

Heavy
Water

Y180

W63

Overall Structure

nitrogen pollution, the research teamʼs findings

diffraction crystallography to image the atom-

nor have they been able to avoid damaging thesenitrogen cycle. Inoue says: “Neutron diffraction

by-atom architecture of an enzyme that belongs

enzymes while imaging them. The Osaka University

crystallography may improve our understanding

to a class known by the acronym CuNIR. If

research teamʼs imaging technique overcomesof enzymes that we can use to degrade

eutrophication progresses and excess nitrogenthese limitations by using neutron diffraction. In

nitrogen-containing pollutants throughout theHydroxide ion

may also be useful toward normalizing theenvironment.”

nitrogen cycling in nature

Scheme for intraspecies molecular evolutionary analysis.

In addition to minimizing a global source of

all of the atomic-scale detail of CuNIR enzymes,

Researchers use neutron structure analysis to understand an enzyme that may help equilibrate

Site as unfavorable mutation

A. Random genetic drift induces synonymous and nonsynonymous mutations with

were predicted by theoretical calculations, but

Osaka University used a technique called neutron“It’s crystal-clear: Neutron beam uncovers		 reaction of the denitrification process in nature”

Non-Synonymous substitution

These new experimental results clarified aexperimentally verified the atomic-scale structure

Previously, researchers havenʼt been able to see

Synonymous substitution

https://resou.osaka-u.ac.jp/en/research/2019/20190311_1

is present in the water and surrounding area,

Tsuyoshi Inoue, a co-lead author of the study.

Selection

Natural SciencesF

limit the likelihood of drug-resistant mutantsor over 100 years, chemists have applied

National Academy of Sciences, researchers from

06

B. Real population resulting from natural selection

reflecting how tolerant to mutation each gene is,”In a study published in Proceedings of theAdvanced Pharmaco-science,
Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Science“We then cultured the cbpJ-deficient S.
pneumoniae with neutrophils in medium and foundbattle against antibiotic-resistant bacteria bypotentially providing a novel target for drugs that could minimize the incidence of bacterial resistanceTsuyoshiInoue

their lungs.

from the medium, they actually did better than the

Researchers use molecular-level analyses of evolution to identify a key gene in bacterial infection,

Natural Sciences

This finding led the team to investigate cbpJʼs

CBPs and compared their levels of diversity,“Winning the arms race:
		 Analysis reveals key gene for bacterial infection”

06

Amino acid sequencesAAA

In this work, reported in the journal Communi-

A research team has provided new hope in the

MasayaYamaguchi

Nucleotide sequences

Strain 1

overcome these defenses in a biological arms race.

against such bacteria.

A. Phylogenetic relationship before natural selection
Phylogenetic tree

Life Sciences & Medicine

05

Neutron crystal structure of CuNIR. Because neutron crystallography canvisualize detailed protein structures including hydrogen, the smallest atom in thisworld, one can distinguish a hydroxide ion, a key intermediate of the chemical
reaction, from a water molecule.

[reference]
Fukuda Y. et al. (2019) High-resolution neutron crystallography visualizes an
OH-bound resting state of a copper containing nitrite reductase. Proceedingsof the National Academy of Sciences 117:8, 4071-4077. DOI: 10.1073/
pnas.1918125117
https://resou.osaka-u.ac.jp/en/research/2020/20200211_2

07YouheiTakedaDepartment of Applied Chemistry,
Graduate School of EngineeringA

configuration allows electrons to become highly

much better efficiencies compared with linear

University has produced a new molecularmobile because they are effectively “delocalized”

molecular emitters (which act like open forms of theemitter for organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs).

over large regions of the molecules, which tend

macrocycles), due to the fact that the macrocycles

Using rational chemical design with U-shaped

to be long linear chains. When a molecule iscan more efficiently harvest ambient heat energy

synthetic building blocks, the scientists were able

electronically excited by external energy and thenin a process called “thermally activated delayed

to arrange the electron donors and acceptors into arelaxes to the original state, the excess energy canfluorescence.”large ring called a “macrocycle.” The wheel-shaped

be converted directly into light. By adding the right“Linear π -conjugated oligomers and polymers

molecule could potentially be used not only inchemical functional groups to the molecule, a wholealready play crucial roles in materials science, but

OLEDs but also in tiny, energy-efficient chemical

range of properties, such as emission colors andwe found ring-shaped macrocycles to be even better

sensors in the future.

energy conversion efficiencies, can be fine-tuned.

for many applications,” says first author Saika
Izumi. The team was able to create two different

Many modern televisions and smartphones use

Now, a research team led by Professor Youhei

OLEDs to display pictures and videos. These devices

Takeda has designed and synthesized an efficientconformations, “saddle” and “helical”, with different

can efficiently convert electricity into light because

macrocyclic OLED emitter in which donor andpacking arrangements and emission colors. The

they are made from carbon-based molecules

acceptor regions alternate in a permanently bonded

nanoscale cavities inside the rings can be designed

containing alternating single and double chemicalring structure. They found that OLED devices

to interact with target molecules to create efficientbonds, an arrangement called π -conjugation. Thisfabricated with the new macrocyclic emitter show

and selective chemical sensors.

“Light-up wheels: Unique organic				 light-emitting molecular emitters”

N

N
N
N

The macrocycle forms two porous polymorphs showing
different conformations, packings, and emission colors.

helicalconformation

packing
structureemissioncolor

saddleconformation

packing
structureemissioncolor

External quantum efficiency of the OLEDs fabricated with the macrocyclic TADF
material acheived much higher value (11.6%) than those with conventional fluorescent materials.

Schematic explanation for the developed TADF-active macrocyclic material

explains senior author Youhei Takeda.
Possible future applications include theemitters by linking the donor and acceptor modules into a ring, potentially paving the way for extremely

light emitted when the target substance is present

sensitive nanoscale chemical detectors

inside the cavity.

A

research team from Osaka University, Nihon

Unfortunately, our understanding of black holes

University and Chuo University has proposed

remains incomplete, because the theory of generaldimensional holographic plate that holds all thea novel theoretical framework whose experiment

relativity̶which is used to describe the laws of

information of a 3D-object.

could be performed in a laboratory to better

nature at the scale of stars and galaxies̶is nothttps://resou.osaka-u.ac.jp/en/research/2020/20200108_2

θ obs =0°

θ obs =30°

θ obs =60°

θ obs =90°

Koji Hashimoto (Osaka University), Keiju Murata(Nihon University) and Shunichiro Kinoshita (Chuo

the cosmos on both unimaginably small and vastly

small scales. Since black holes, by definition, have

University) apply this concept to show how thelarge scales.

a huge mass compressed into a tiny space, reconci-

surface of a sphere, which has two dimensions, canling these wildly successful but thus far conflicting

be used in a tabletop experiment to model a blackting from a source at one point of the sphere is

the pictures showed the bright circle, called an

drum is called string theory, which holds that allmeasured at another, which should show the black

Einstein ring, made by the light that just barely

matter is made of very tiny vibrating strings. One

hole if the spherical material allows holography.

escaped the grasp of the black holeʼs immense

version of this theory predicts a correspondence“The holographic image of a simulated black hole,gravity. This ring of light was due to fact that,between the laws of physics we perceive in our

if observed by this tabletop experiment, may serve

according the theory of general relativity, the fabricfamiliar four dimensions (three dimensions ofas an entrance to the world of quantum gravity”

of spacetime itself becomes so contorted by the

space plus time) and strings in a space with an extra

says the author Hashimoto. The researchers alsomass of the black hole that it acts like a huge lens.

dimension. This is sometimes called a “holographic

calculated the radius of the Einstein ring that would1

0.5

r h =0.1

hole in three dimensions. In this setup, light emana-r h =0.3

currently compatible with quantum mechanics, ourbest theory of how the Universe operates on very

One possible approach for solving this conun-

Izumi S. et al. (2020) Thermally activated delayed fluorescent donor–
acceptor–donor–acceptor π -conjugated macrocycle for organic lightemitting diodes. Journal of the American Chemical Society 142:3, 1482-1491.
DOI:10.1021/jacs.9b11578

In the newly published research, the authors,

can shed light on the fundamental laws that govern

theories is necessary to understand them.

[reference]

duality,” because it is reminiscent of a two-

understand the physics of black holes. This project

the Event Horizon Telescope. Or, to be more precise,

0

-0.5

-1
-1

-0.5

0

𝜒 s/ f0.5

1

Theoretical prediction of the image of the black hole from the table-top
experiment. The radius of the ring depends on the temperature. The image of theblack hole is deformed as the observation point θobs is varied.

be observed if this theory is correct.
“Our hope is that this project shows the way“Black hole holograms”

forward towards a better understanding of how ourResearchers propose a new holographic method to simulate black holes with a tabletop experiment. Thissays the author Keiju Murata.

work may be crucial for solving one of the biggest mysteries in science - reconciling quantum mechanics
and general relativity
08N

p-phenylenediamine( = electron-donor )much more difficult to achieve with linear analogs,”

molecules or gases, based on the modulation of

first ever images of a black hole were released by

Department of Physics,
Graduate School of ScienceNN

ordered 2D- and 3D-molecular assemblies that are

Researchers design and synthesize highly efficient carbon-based 3rd-generation OLED molecular

Recently, the world was transfixed when the

Koji
HashimotoNr h =0.6

Natural Sciences

dibenzophenazine( = electron-acceptor )“Macrocycles can be arranged into highly-

detection of chemical substances, such as water08

U-shape structure was utilized for making macrocyclic structure.

ys/ fNatural Sciences

team including researchers from Osaka

Natural Sciences

07

Universe truly operates on a fundamental level,”[reference]
Hashimoto K. et al. (2019) Einstein rings in holography. Physical Review
Letters 123:031602. DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.123.031602
https://resou.osaka-u.ac.jp/en/research/2019/20190730_1

09Engineering

Hirotaka
Koga
Department of Functionalized
Natural Materials,
The Institute of Scientific andIndustrial ResearchThe “Internet of Things” concept of interconnec-

and environmental impact are some of the criteria

author Hirotaka Koga explains. “The zinc oxideting devices to streamline the experiencesthat must be addressed alongside the sensing

nanowires offer a very large surface area for gasof the global population is reliant on sensors to

performance when considering detection on such amolecules to attach to, and the cellulose paper

acquire the real-world data. The extent of this reli-large scale.

support is robust and can be cut very small̶to justance is illustrated by the dauntingly named “tril-

To fulfill these requirements, the researchersa few millimeters̶with ordinary scissors. Thelion sensors universe” initiative that was started

have developed a zinc oxide molecular sensor madesensors are prepared in a simple 2-step process,to support the project. Optimizing the properties

from very fine nanowires that is supported by awhich makes them appropriate for widespread use.”of sensor devices to achieve this abundance isbiodegradable cellulose nanofiber backing and has

therefore critical to establishing viable networks.

graphite electrodes that can be drawn on with asensor they adsorb to the surface of the nanowires

Researchers at Osaka University have developed

pencil. The sensor was used to detect NO2 gas̶and the resistance increases as the gas molecules

a paper-based disposable gas sensor that caters to

an important component of many industrial

affect the electrons that carry current between thewidespread sensing. Their findings are publishedprocesses̶and showed a performance comparable

electrodes. The resistance increase is greater forin ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces.

to that of available electrodes.

more concentrated gas.

Issues such as the cost and sustainability of“Our design ticks many boxes for delivering

When NO2 molecules are present around the“We expect the many advantages of our device

the raw materials used, the robustness andeconomical and environmentally conscious

to make a significant contribution, particularly toconsistency of the devices, and their disposability

molecular sensing on a large scale,” study leadmolecular detection,” Associate Professor Koga
explains. “The accurate measurement of gas“New molecular sensor ticks the				 “trillion sensor universe” boxes”
Researchers report a robust lightweight low-cost molecular sensor based on paper for efficient

Engineering

09

concentrations is important in many fields including
healthcare, environmental protection, chemical

A paper-based molecular sensor device, which is constructed from a wood-derived
cellulose nanofiber paper substrate, a zinc oxide nanowire sensor, and a pencildrawn graphite electrode, demonstrates not only efficient molecular sensing but
also cut-and-paste usability and easy disposability for future IoT society.

production, and health and safety.”
The researchers hope that the simple 2-stepprocess can be extended for the detection of othergas molecules.

gas detection[reference]
Koga H. et al. (2019) Paper-based disposable molecular sensor constructedfrom oxide nanowires, cellulose nanofibers, and pencil-drawn electrodes.
ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces 11:16, 15044-15050. DOI: 10.1021/
acsami.9b01287
https://resou.osaka-u.ac.jp/en/research/2020/20200318_e1

10EngineeringOver millions of years of evolution, insects

Laboratory, Osaka University together with hishave developed a wide array of impressive

colleagues at Swiss Federal Institute of Technology

tasks using division of labor. For example, one

adaptations, some of which that they can wield in

Lausanne took inspiration from the trap-jaw ants

Tribot designated as the leader can command two

new and surprising ways. For example, trap-jaw

to construct cooperative origami millirobots.

others to move a box. This technology can be usedants have powerful, spring-loaded mouthparts that

Called “Tribots,” these insect-sized, upside-down

to build scalable “colonies” of autonomous robots

can snap shut at over 200 kph. This makes the“Y”-shaped machines can crawl, leap, and eventhat might explore the surfaces of new planets.

mandibles among the fastest moving body parts insummersault over obstructions. The “muscles” of“The ability to move over diverse terrain while

nature. Besides their fearsome chomping ability,

the Tribots are spring-like linear shape-memory

accomplishing coordinated tasks sets these robots

trap-jaw ants have discovered that, by pushingalloy actuators. The hinge mechanism allows theapart from currently available rovers,” say thewith their hind legs while simultaneously “biting”

robots to jump over previously impassible areas.

authors. “Here on Earth, Tribots might be deployed

the ground, an ant can send itself hurtling throughthe air to escape a predator or a deep pit. This

Koh
HosodaAdaptive Robotics Laboratory,
Graduate School of Engineering
Science“The integrated design of the actuators andfor search-and-rescue missions in the wake ofsurface-mounted electronics enables us to minia-

natural disasters like floods or earthquakes.”

innovative form of locomotion turns out to be

turize the robots,” emphasize the authors. Thevery energy efficient, even when compared withteam measured the mechanical power and energy

sophisticated human-designed machines.

“cost of transport,” and found that Tribots surpassed

Now, Koh Hosoda at the Adaptive Robotics

An international research team constructed insect-size millirobots with the ability to fling themselves

10

Multi-locomotion millirobots inspired from trap-jaw ants ©Ahenishbek Zhakypovthe heavier jumping robots currently available.

“Designing minimal and scalable insect-inspired					 multi-locomotion millirobots”
into the air like trap-jaw ants

Groups of Tribots can coordinate to accomplish[reference]
Zhakypov Z. et al. (2019) Designing minimal and scalable insect-inspired
multi-locomotion millirobots. Nature 571, 381-386. DOI: 10.1038/s41586-0191388-8
https://resou.osaka-u.ac.jp/en/research/2020/20200318_e2

11Humanities and Social Science

Asako
Miura
Social Psychology,
Graduate School of Human
SciencesIn an Internet-driven world, social media has

how these false rumors spread.”retweeted particular tweets̶specifically the
number of followers, followees, and mutual

become the go-to source of all kinds of infor-

The scientists focused on Twitter, a popular sitemation. This is especially relevant in crisis-likewhere users can disseminate or share information

situations, when warnings and risk-related

through the “retweet” feature. Conventional models

information are actively circulated on social media.

of information diffusion fail to adequately explain

tend to spread information arbitrarily, possibly

But currently, there is no way of determining thethe exact transmission route on social media, as

owing to a lack of experience or awareness. But,

accuracy of the information. This has occasionallythey do not take into account individual user

users with a high number of mutual connections

resulted in the spread of misinformation, withcharacteristics. Therefore, to study these character-were more emotionally driven̶they were moresome readers often bearing the brunt. In a study

istics, the scientists first selected 10 highly

likely to spread dreadful information, possibly

published in Japanese Psychological Research,

retweeted (more than 50 times) risk-related

intending to share their reactions with the public.

scientists at Osaka University, including Prof

tweets. Based on Slovicʼs well-known definition ofProf Miura explains, “Our study showed the

Asako Miura, found a pattern through whichrisk perception, a cognitive model used to assess

existence of an information diffusion mechanism

information spreads on social media̶which could

how people perceive certain risks, they assessedon social media that cannot be explained byhelp prevent the spread of fake news. Prof Miura

whether users perceived these risks as “dreadful”

conventional theoretical models. We showed thatsays, “Dissemination of information through social(related to large-scale events with potentially direrisk perception has a significant impact on the

media is often associated with false rumors. In

consequences) or “unknown” (when the impactʻretweetabilityʼ of tweets.”

order to prevent this, we wanted to unravel theof the event is unknown). They then analyzed

underlying mechanisms by digging deeper into

the personal networks of the users who tweeted/connections.
They found that users with fewer connections

on Twitter, this study potentially offers a solution
characteristics can be leveraged to maximize thespread of accurate information, ensuring thatappropriate measures are taken. Prof Miura
concludes, “Our research provides an opportunity
for people to rethink how false information is spread

Scientists uncover how information related to potential dangers can spread on social media and how

and to deliver accurate information via social media.”this can be prevented

Humanities and Social ScienceGovernments use special economic zones

of development zones between 2005 and 2008.

(SEZs) to incentivize firms to enter a region

They reported their findings in American Economic

and form industrial clusters. This collective

SEZs on targeted areas, the SEZsʼ overall costs andfirms in capital-intensive industries benefitted fromtechnological advances, and price impacts. SEZs

benefits, and how zonesʼ specific features affected

SEZs more than firms in labor-intensive industries,

have been around since the mid-20th century andoutcomes. Key among the findings was that thelikely owing to the zonesʼ various subsidies forare a popular strategy worldwide, but there have

SEZ initiative yielded around US$15.26 billion incapital investment.

been few studies of their true success or failure, or

net benefit over three years. The greatest positive

looking at them over time.

effects were on capital investment, employment,

underscore the importance of considering firmsʼ

output, productivity, and wages.

particular circumstances. In China, SEZs offeredbenefitted less. The researchers also found that

They additionally noted that Chinaʼs SEZ policies

a level playing field with better regulations andideal subject of study. A trio of Chinese researchers

economic census data with comprehensive data on

infrastructure, while maintaining advantages forcentered at Osaka University set out to intensively

these SEZs,” says study senior author Lianming

large-sized companies. This heterodox approachanalyze the effects of these SEZs. Using data on

Zhu. “We could see firmsʼ ages, sectors, addresses,

may differ from Western approaches.

over three million firms, they conducted a study

investment, employment, and output. We saw

focusing on a Chinese initiative to add hundreds

evidence of agglomeration economies and we also©primeimages/Getty Images“Among economists, thereʼs skepticism about
SEZs,” Zhu says. “Our study should help dispel that.
This is the first strong evidence about SEZsʼ local“China’s special economic zones
found to reap billions of dollars in net benefits”
Study of a mid-2000s wave of new special economic zones in China finds net economic benefits of over
US$15 billion thanks to capital investment, employment, business entries, and other factors

12https://resou.osaka-u.ac.jp/en/research/2020/20200110_1

the positive outcomes. Existing firms in the regions

benefits such as greater productivity and wages,“We built a novel dataset that combined geocoded

Komori M. et al. (2021) Spread of risk information through microblogs:
Twitter users with more mutual connections relay news that is more
dreadful. Japanese Psychological Research 63:1. DOI: 10.1111/jpr.12272

Net entry of firms seemed to play a major role in

The researchers examined the local effects of

In China, SEZs have been prominent in economic

International Economics,
Institute of Social and Economic
Research

Journal: Economic Policy.

[reference]found factors behind them.”

force, called an agglomeration economy, brings

policy since 1979, which makes Chinese SEZs an

Lianming
Zhu©AlonzoDesign/Getty Images

By identifying the user network characteristics
to prevent fake news dissemination. These“How dangerous news spreads:
What makes Twitter users retweet risk-related information”

12

Humanities and Social Science

11

economic effects and their benefits and costs. We
also found factors that make them effective.
Considering developing countries are seeking to
attract domestic and foreign investment with SEZs,
these are valuable findings that can be of global use.”[reference]
Lu Y. et al. (2019) Place-based policies, creation, and agglomeration
economies: Evidence from Chinaʼs economic zone program. American
Economic Journal: Economic Policy 11:3, 325-360. DOI: 10.1257/
pol.20160272
https://resou.osaka-u.ac.jp/en/research/2020/20200318_e3

13