{"result":true,"data":"{\"articles\":[{\"id\":3935,\"title\":\"Improved Omnidirectional Small Moving Object Detection with an Enhanced YOLO Model\",\"category\":[{\"basename\":\"news-13\",\"label\":\"Research\"}],\"output\":[{\"basename\":\"press_en\",\"label\":\"NEWS-PRESS RELEASE\"}],\"thumbnail_image_url\":\"/assets/Image_8.jpg\",\"thumbnail_image_alt\":\"\",\"link_division\":\"text\",\"meta_description\":\"\",\"text\":\"

A new enhanced YOLO framework improves the detection accuracy of distant and small moving objects in omnidirectional videos

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While omnidirectional cameras can provide a 360-degree field of view, they often struggle to detect small moving objects, as important visual details are lost due to distortion and low resolution, even when distortion reduction methods are applied. A new study addresses this problem by building an annotated training dataset and refining a You Only Look Once (YOLO)-based detection model through transfer learning. The method substantially outperformed standard YOLO models, especially for small and distant objects.

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\\\"Image\\\"Title:A newly trained YOLO model with improved small moving object detection can enhance road safety
Caption:Researchers from Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan, developed a newly trained You Only Look Once (YOLO) model using transfer learning that can detect small moving objects with improved accuracy compared to standard models. The proposed method maintains high accuracy even at 50 meters, whereas standard YOLO models showed a steep drop in accuracy beyond 40 meters. The graph in the figure shows the accuracy comparison with respect to distance.
Credit:Professor Chinthaka Premachandra from Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan
Source Link:N/A
License Type: Original content
Usage restrictions: Credit must be given to the creator. 

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Omnidirectional cameras are widely popular as they capture a full 360-degree view. They are often utilized for surveillance, traffic analysis, and autonomous systems. But the same wide-angle vision also leads to a technical problem. Objects far from the camera often appear distorted and tiny, making it difficult for computer vision systems to accurately recognize them. The challenge is especially serious for moving objects such as pedestrians, bicycles, motorcycles, and cars in outdoor scenes like road intersections.  

You Only Look Once (YOLO) is a popular, high-speed, and accurate real-time object detection algorithm. Although YOLO is known for speed and strong general performance, it struggles with small object detection/classification in omnidirectional videos, as it divides an image into grid cells. When several tiny objects fall within the same grid, some of their visual information can be lost. In omnidirectional footage, this weakness becomes even more pronounced because distant objects already suffer from low resolution.    

To address this issue, a team of researchers led by Professor Chinthaka Premachandra from Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan, designed an enhanced framework that combined a custom-built training dataset with transfer learning. “In many countries, including Japan, road intersections are extremely accident-prone areas due to the complex interactions of vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists moving from multiple directions. Some of these road users may suddenly appear from blind spots at intersections, further increasing the likelihood of accidents. Our research was initiated to solve this particular issue,” mentions Dr. Premachandra, while talking about the motivation behind this study. The paper was published in Volume 7 of the journal IEEE Open Journal of Intelligent Transportation Systems on March 4, 2026.

For developing the model, a dataset of about 4,000 annotated images was created, covering four categories—humans, cars, bicycles, and motorcycles. Importantly, the annotations were not generic. Omnidirectional cameras exhibit a rapid decrease in resolution as the distance between the camera and the object increases, and the objects are often misidentified. To mitigate this issue, the team defined characteristic features for each moving object class to help the model learn what to look for under difficult conditions. For example, a human needed at least one arm or leg to be visible, a car needed two or more tires to be visible, and bicycles and motorcycles needed both front and rear wheels to be visible.

The research team also strengthened the dataset by cropping images and including objects viewed from multiple angles so that small and less frequent targets would be better represented. The dataset was used for training via transfer learning, a method that adapts the knowledge of an existing model to a new domain. Finally, the trained model was compared against conventional models for accuracy. 

In direct comparisons, the proposed model reached an overall accuracy of 90%, while YOLOv5 achieved 46% and YOLOv8 achieved 53% for objects larger than 8 × 8 pixels. For small moving objects specifically, ranging from 8 × 8 to 32 × 32 pixels, the proposed model achieved an accuracy of 0.81, which is significantly higher compared to 0.39 for YOLOv5 and 0.42 for YOLOv8. The study also found that while standard YOLO models showed a steep drop in accuracy beyond 40 meters, the new model maintained useful performance up to 50 meters.  

This research addresses a critical limitation in current perception systems by improving the detection of small and distant objects across a full 360° field of view. “This approach can be effectively applied to intelligent transportation systems, autonomous driving, and robotic navigation, where reliable omnidirectional perception is essential. Specifically, it is well-suited for intersection monitoring and safety assistance, where vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists may approach from multiple directions simultaneously,” explains Dr. Premachandra, while talking about the application of this research.

Let us hope the research progresses quickly to develop models with enhanced detection accuracy for objects smaller than 8 × 8 pixels, which can further reduce the risks of accidents and improve road safety.

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Reference

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Title of original paper:

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E-YOLO to OMOD: An Enhanced YOLO Framework for Small Moving Object Detection in Omnidirectional Videos

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Journal:

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IEEE Open Journal of Intelligent Transportation Systems

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DOI:

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10.1109/OJITS.2026.3670217

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Authors

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About Professor Chinthaka Premachandra from SIT, Japan

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Dr. Chinthaka Premachandra is a Professor at the College of Engineering and Graduate School of Engineering and Science, Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan. He is also currently the Director of the Image Processing and Robotics Laboratory. Prof. Premachandra received his Ph.D. degree from Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan, in 2011. His research interests include AI, UAVs, image processing, audio processing, intelligent transport systems (ITS), and mobile robotics. He has published over 200 articles over the years, which have been cited more than 1,500 times. He is currently also serving as an Associate Editor for IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters and IEEE Sensors Journal.

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Funding Information

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Not applicable

\",\"new_window\":\"0\",\"link_url\":\"\",\"pdf_url\":\"\",\"publish_date\":\"2026/5/22 12:00:00\",\"modified_date\":\"2026/5/22 12:00:08\",\"permalink\":\"/en/headline/detail/20260522_7070_727.html\"},{\"id\":3918,\"title\":\"Millimeter-Scale Resolution in Fiber-Optic Sensing: Single-Ended Technique Advances Infrastructure Monitoring\",\"category\":[{\"basename\":\"news-13\",\"label\":\"Research\"}],\"output\":[{\"basename\":\"press_en\",\"label\":\"NEWS-PRESS RELEASE\"}],\"thumbnail_image_url\":\"/assets/Press_Release_Image_4.jpg\",\"thumbnail_image_alt\":\"\",\"link_division\":\"text\",\"meta_description\":\"\",\"text\":\"

Researchers demonstrate that overcoming signal distortions enables record-breaking spatial resolution in single-access distributed fiber-optic sensing

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Distributed fiber-optic sensors are widely used to monitor temperature and strain in infrastructure, but their spatial resolution has long been limited. In a new study, researchers from Shibaura Institute of Technology and Yokohama National University, Japan, have demonstrated that operating near a previously avoided frequency regime and suppressing signal distortions allows reflection-based sensing to achieve a world-record spatial resolution of 6 mm among single-end-access configurations. This enables precise monitoring of temperature and strain in infrastructure.

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\\\"Press_Release_Image\\\"Title: Conceptual configuration and operating principle of Brillouin optical correlation-domain reflectometry (BOCDR)
Caption: Researchers demonstrate that operating at modulation frequencies close to Brillouin bandwidth and suppressing signal distortions allows BOCDR to achieve a world-record spatial resolution of 6 mm.
Credit: Prof. Yosuke Mizuno from Yokohama National University, Japan
Source Link:https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/11278604
License Type: CC BY 4.0
Usage restrictions: Credit must be given to the creator. 

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Distributed fiber-optic sensing technologies play a crucial role in monitoring temperature and strain across large structures such as bridges, tunnels, pipelines, and buildings. Unlike conventional point sensors, distributed fiber-optic sensors provide continuous measurements along their entire length, allowing early detection of damage or abnormal conditions. However, one persistent challenge has been spatial resolution—the ability to pinpoint exactly where a change occurs. Improving resolution without complicating system design has remained a central goal in fiber-optic sensing research.

One promising technique, known as Brillouin optical correlation-domain reflectometry (BOCDR), enables distributed sensing using light injected from only one end of the fiber. This reflection-based configuration simplifies installation and allows measurements even if the fiber is damaged. BOCDR also offers higher spatial resolution than many other Brillouin-based methods. Yet, its performance has been constrained by a widely accepted assumption: operating near or beyond the Brillouin bandwidth, a frequency range intrinsic to the fiber, was believed to cause unstable signals and unreliable measurements. As a result, this operating regime has largely been avoided, limiting achievable resolution.

In a new study, a team of researchers led by Prof. Heeyoung Lee from Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan, along with Prof. Yosuke Mizuno from Yokohama National University, Japan, and Mr. Keita Kikuchi from Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan, experimentally investigated BOCDR operation at modulation frequencies close to the Brillouin bandwidth. Their findings were published in the Journal of Lightwave Technology on April 1, 2026.

“To verify whether the Brillouin bandwidth limitation was truly fundamental or simply not well understood, we examined the origin of the signal distortions and explored ways to control them. Notably, we discovered that this forbidden operating region can be used to significantly enhance spatial resolution,” says Prof. Lee.
The researchers observed that at higher modulation frequencies, periodic distortions appeared in the Brillouin gain spectrum, interfering with the accurate extraction of temperature and strain information. These distortions degrade the linear relationship between temperature/strain and the Brillouin frequency shift, particularly at high spatial resolution.

Rather than treating these distortions as unavoidable, the team carefully analyzed their physical origin and developed a signal-processing method to suppress them. By mapping the measured spectra into the frequency domain and selectively removing the modulation-induced components, they restored the stability and linearity of the Brillouin signal. This approach allowed BOCDR to operate reliably in a frequency regime that had previously been considered impractical.

Using this strategy, the researchers achieved distributed temperature and strain measurements with a spatial resolution of 6 mm—the highest ever reported for single-ended Brillouin sensing. In experimental demonstrations, the system successfully detected temperature changes confined to millimeter-scale fiber sections and resolved abrupt strain-like transitions introduced by short fiber segments with different optical properties.

The implications of this work extend beyond laboratory demonstrations. Aging infrastructure and increasing exposure to natural disasters demand sensing technologies capable of detecting subtle, highly localized changes before they escalate into serious damage to public safety and maintenance efficiency. Achieving millimeter-scale resolution using a simple, single-end-access fiber configuration makes practical deployment of fiber-optic sensors more feasible across civil engineering, energy, transportation, and robotics-related industries.

“Our study addresses the limitations of conventional sensors that miss the detection of subtle changes and proposes an approach that can be used for monitoring the integrity of optical waveguides, sensing the shape of flexible structures, and future robotic systems,” says Prof. Lee.

By overcoming a long-standing performance barrier, this study opens new pathways for distributed sensing systems that function like a “nerve network,” continuously monitoring the health of critical structures.

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Reference

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Title of original paper:

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BOCDR achieving 6-mm spatial resolution at modulation frequencies close to Brillouin bandwidth

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Journal:

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Journal of Lightwave Technology

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DOI:

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10.1109/JLT.2025.3640608

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Authors

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About Professor Heeyoung Lee from SIT, Japan

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Dr. Heeyoung Lee is a Professor at the Graduate School of Engineering and Science, Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan. She received a Ph.D. in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the Institute of Science Tokyo, Japan, in 2019. Her research interests include fiber-optic sensing, polymer optics, and optoelectronics. She has been honored with multiple awards, including the NF Foundation R&D Encouragement Award 2019, the Kashiko Kodate Promotion and Nurturing of Female Researchers Contribution Award 2021, and the SCAT President’s Award 2025.

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Funding Information

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This work was supported in part by JSPS KAKENHI under Grant 21H04555 and Grant 22K14272 and by research grants from the Telecommunications Advancement Foundation, and in part by Asahipen Hikari Foundation.

\",\"new_window\":\"0\",\"link_url\":\"\",\"pdf_url\":\"\",\"publish_date\":\"2026/4/20 7:30:00\",\"modified_date\":\"2026/4/21 9:18:21\",\"permalink\":\"/en/headline/detail/20260402_7070_727.html\"},{\"id\":3922,\"title\":\"Simple Synthetic Strategy Converts Blue-Emissive Molecules into Multicolor Luminescent Materials\",\"category\":[{\"basename\":\"news-13\",\"label\":\"Research\"}],\"output\":[{\"basename\":\"press_en\",\"label\":\"NEWS-PRESS RELEASE\"}],\"thumbnail_image_url\":\"/assets/SITNG_133_3.jpg\",\"thumbnail_image_alt\":\"\",\"link_division\":\"text\",\"meta_description\":\"\",\"text\":\"
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Researchers demonstrate stimuli-responsive luminescence in dumbbell-shaped Zn(II) complexes with extended terminals

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 Researchers have demonstrated that bridging π-conjugated emissive chromophores with an aromatic fluorinated Zn(II) paddlewheel framework facilitates wide-ranging and reversible luminescence color modulation in the solid state in the presence of mechanical stress and hydrostatic pressure. This step converts a blue-emissive small organic molecule into a multicolor luminescent material. In solution, it behaves as a blue emitter, whereas in the solid state, its emission color changes reversibly over a wide range in response to the environment.

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 Chemistry involves the fundamental interplay between the structures and properties of molecules. Notably, subtle changes in molecular structure and crystal packing can be amplified into macroscopic phenomena such as optical responses.

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 Zn(II) is an earth-abundant and low-toxicity metal, and paddlewheel-type Zn(II) dimers are well-established structural motifs. They are traditionally regarded as electronically silent structural units. Recently, a study led by Professor Akiko Hori from the Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan, including Mr. Yuta Takeuchi from the same institute, and Prof. Yoshiki Ozawa and Prof. Masaaki Abe from the University of Hyogo, Japan, hypothesized that combining this flexible metal-carboxylate scaffold with π-extended emissive ligands and aromatic fluorination could unlock new, adaptive excited-state behavior under external stimuli. Advancing this work, they observed a striking contrast between the fluorinated and non-fluorinated crystals—particularly the much larger and smoother color shifts observed under mechanical grinding and hydrostatic pressure. This motivated them to conduct a deeper exploration of how structural flexibility, intermolecular interactions, and external forces cooperate to control luminescence.

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This curiosity ultimately led to the discovery of wide-range, reversible color modulation in a simple molecular crystal system. The novel findings of the research group were published in the Inorganic Chemistry Frontiers journal as a Front Cover article on January 19, 2026.

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 Prof. Hori highlights the central message of their study: “A key point of this study is that a small blue-emissive molecule can be converted into a multicolor luminescent material in a one-step reaction. The resulting material shows reversible color changes over a wide range, from blue in solution to green and red in the solid state, depending on the environment.”

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 By introducing pentafluorobenzoate bridges into a dumbbell-shaped Zn(II) dimer, the researchers created a molecular crystal that exhibits continuous and nearly reversible emission color changes, spanning from green to orange-red upon gentle grinding or compression. Notably, these changes occur without obvious chemical degradation and are instead attributed to pressure-induced structural flexibility and adaptive intermolecular interactions within a simple Zn₂(μ-carboxylate)₄ framework.

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 The reversible and visually distinct luminescence changes observed in this study demonstrate how mechanical stress and pressure can be directly translated into optical responses in molecular crystals. In particular, the continuous color modulation in the solid state provides insight into how structural flexibility and intermolecular interactions govern stimulus-responsive luminescence. Because the emission color changes in response to mechanical force, pressure, and the surrounding molecular environment, the material may help visualize changes that are otherwise difficult to see. In the future, this concept may lead to luminescent materials that indicate pressure, strain, or molecular interactions through color changes.

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 “This research addresses a fundamental challenge in materials chemistry: how to achieve broad, reversible, and controllable color modulation in solid-state luminescent materials using simple and chemically robust molecular components. By demonstrating that aromatic fluorination markedly enhances structural flexibility and pressure adaptability, this study reveals how subtle modifications to a Zn(II)-based framework can strongly influence excited-state behavior in molecular crystals. These findings deepen our understanding of stimulus-responsive luminescence and structure–property relationships, and may help guide the design of adaptive optical materials,” says Mr. Takeuchi.

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 Overall, this study presents a simple design concept for converting blue-emissive molecules into multicolor luminescent materials and may contribute to the development of new optical materials that communicate environmental and structural changes through light.

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Reference

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Title of original paper:

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Multicolor and reversible stimuli-responsive luminescence of dumbbell-shaped Zn(II) complexes with extended triphenylamine-attached ethynylpyridine terminals

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Journal:

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Inorganic Chemistry Frontiers

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DOI:

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10.1039/D5QI02451J

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 Additional information for EurekAlert

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Latest Article Publication Date:19 January 2026 
Method of Research:Experimental study 
Subject of Research:Not applicable 
Conflicts of Interest Statement:There are no conflicts to declare.
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Authors

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About Shibaura Institute of Technology (SIT), Japan

\\n Shibaura Institute of Technology (SIT) is a private university with campuses in Tokyo and Saitama. Since the establishment of its predecessor, Tokyo Higher School of Industry and Commerce, in 1927, it has maintained “learning through practice” as its philosophy in the education of engineers. SIT was the only private science and engineering university selected for the Top Global University Project sponsored by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and had received support from the ministry for 10 years starting from the 2014 academic year. Its motto, “Nurturing engineers who learn from society and contribute to society,” reflects its mission of fostering scientists and engineers who can contribute to the sustainable growth of the world by exposing their over 9,500 students to culturally diverse environments, where they learn to cope, collaborate, and relate with fellow students from around the world.\\n

 

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Website: https://www.shibaura-it.ac.jp/en/

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About Professor Akiko Hori from SIT, Japan

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Dr. Akiko Hori is a Professor at the Graduate School of Engineering and Science and the Undergraduate School of Engineering, both at Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan. She leads the Laboratory of Molecular Assemblies, which aims to manipulate intermolecular forces to create highly tunable crystal space groups. Specifically, her group explores the creation of dynamic crystal fields using fluorine-substituted metal complexes, the synthesis and functional characterization of molecular nanowire variants with different metals, and the synthesis and investigation of the luminescence behavior of bipyridine derivatives.

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Funding information

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This work was supported by S-SPIRE project of Shibaura Institute of Technology (Akiko Hori). Masaaki Abe acknowledges financial support from Special Research Projects Grant, University of Hyogo (FY2025). Yoshiki Ozawa acknowledges financial support for Grant-in-Aids for Scientific Research C, 22K05147, of JSPS KAKENHI.

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Title: Dumbbell-shaped Zn(II) complexes with extended triphenylamine-attached ethynylpyridine terminals
Caption: Researchers explore the multicolor and reversible stimuli-responsive luminescence behavior of these exciting molecules. 
Credit: Professor Akiko Hori from Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan
Source link: https://pubs.rsc.org/en/Content/ArticleLanding/2026/QI/D5QI02451J
License type: CC BY 3.0
Usage restrictions: Credit must be given to the creator. 

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Media contact: Kohei Tsuchiya

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E-mail: koho@ow.shibaura-it.ac.jp 　

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Web: https://www.shibaura-it.ac.jp/en/

\\n  \",\"new_window\":\"0\",\"link_url\":\"\",\"pdf_url\":\"\",\"publish_date\":\"2026/4/17 11:30:00\",\"modified_date\":\"2026/4/17 11:30:04\",\"permalink\":\"/en/headline/detail/20260418-7985-001.html\"},{\"id\":3884,\"title\":\"SIT Matriculation Ceremony for the academic year 2026\",\"category\":[{\"basename\":\"news-1\",\"label\":\"Information\"}],\"output\":[{\"basename\":\"press_en\",\"label\":\"NEWS-PRESS RELEASE\"}],\"thumbnail_image_url\":\"/assets/DSC_8686.png\",\"thumbnail_image_alt\":\"\",\"link_division\":\"text\",\"meta_description\":\"\",\"text\":\"The matriculation ceremony for the academic year 2026 will be held as follows. Parents and family members are welcome to attend; however, please note that due to limited seating capacity, you may be directed to a satellite venue within the Tokyo International Forum. Prior registration is not required.
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It will be broadcast live; the URL and more details will be sent to the email address you specify after you complete the form below.

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Live Broadcast Link Request Form

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Dates   Thursday, April 2, 2026
●Time schedule
11:30　Doors open
12:30　Opening ceremony
15:15　Closing ceremony (planned)
Venue Tokyo International Forum, Hall A
Access: Access | Tokyo International Forum Co., Ltd.
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For students enrolling in the Master's and Doctor's programs, the enrollment procedures will be conducted on Wednesday, March 25 and Thursday, March 26.
For undergraduate students, the enrollment procedures will be conducted on Tuesday, March 31.
*Please note that attendance is mandatory for all students.
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◆For enquiries, please contact.
Academic Affairs Section　 tgakuji@ow.shibaura-it.ac.jp
\\\"DSC_8686\\\"\",\"new_window\":\"0\",\"link_url\":\"\",\"pdf_url\":\"\",\"publish_date\":\"2026/3/19 14:00:00\",\"modified_date\":\"2026/3/19 14:00:05\",\"permalink\":\"/en/headline/detail/2026Mat_en.html\"},{\"id\":3879,\"title\":\"SIT Commencement for the year 2025\",\"category\":[{\"basename\":\"news-1\",\"label\":\"Information\"}],\"output\":[{\"basename\":\"press_en\",\"label\":\"NEWS-PRESS RELEASE\"}],\"thumbnail_image_url\":\"/assets/thumbnail_7.jpg\",\"thumbnail_image_alt\":\"\",\"link_division\":\"text\",\"meta_description\":\"\",\"text\":\"

The commencement for the academic year 2025 will be held as follows. Parents and family members are welcome to attend; however, attendance is limited to up to two family members per graduate. Please note that prior registration is not required.
It will be broadcast live; the URL and more details will be sent to the email address you specify after you complete the form below.

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Live Broadcast Link Request Form

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Dates   Tuesday, 17 March 2026
●Time schedule
12:30　Doors open
13:30　Opening ceremony
15:15　Closing ceremony (planned)
VenueTokyo International Forum, Hall A
Access: Access | Tokyo International Forum Co., Ltd.
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Master's degree graduates and undergraduate graduates will receive their degree certificates at a location designated by their department or faculty after the ceremony. Further details will be available later on the ScombZ.
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◆For enquiries, please contact.
Academic Affairs Section　 tgakuji@ow.shibaura-it.ac.jp

\\\"DSC02070.JPG\\\"\",\"new_window\":\"0\",\"link_url\":\"\",\"pdf_url\":\"\",\"publish_date\":\"2026/3/9 16:00:00\",\"modified_date\":\"2026/3/9 16:58:19\",\"permalink\":\"/en/headline/detail/2025Com_en.html\"},{\"id\":3892,\"title\":\"MambaAlign Fusion Framework for Detecting Defects Missed by Inspection Systems \",\"category\":[{\"basename\":\"news-13\",\"label\":\"Research\"}],\"output\":[{\"basename\":\"press_en\",\"label\":\"NEWS-PRESS RELEASE\"}],\"thumbnail_image_url\":\"/assets/Press_Release_Image_3.jpg\",\"thumbnail_image_alt\":\"\",\"link_division\":\"text\",\"meta_description\":\"\",\"text\":\"

Researchers develop an efficient system that detects subtle defects missed by existing industrial visual inspection systems

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Industrial inspection systems often miss subtle defects or fail when sensors are slightly misaligned. To address this, researchers have developed MambaAlign, a new multimodal framework that efficiently fuses Red, Green, Blue images with auxiliary sensors such as thermal or depth data. It captures long-range, orientation-aware features, and is more robust to modest misalignment. It significantly improves localization accuracy while sustaining real-time performance, making it suitable for practical, high-throughput inspection environments.

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Industrial quality inspection plays a critical role in manufacturing, from ensuring the reliability of electronics and vehicles to preventing costly failures in aerospace and energy systems. Traditional vision-based inspection systems typically rely on Red, Green, Blue (RGB) cameras, which are fast and inexpensive but often miss defects related to geometry (scratches or dents), material structure, or heat dissipation. While additional sensors, such as thermal cameras or depth scanners, can reveal these hidden anomalies, effectively combining information from multiple sensors remains a major technical challenge. Many existing fusion approaches either lose fine spatial detail, require heavy computation, or fail when sensors are not perfectly aligned—common issues in factory settings.

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To address these, a research team led by Associate Professor Phan Xuan Tan from the Innovative Global Program, College of Engineering, Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan, along with Dr. Dinh-Cuong Hoang from the FPT University, Vietnam, has proposed a new framework, termed MambaAlign, which enables computationally efficient fusion of multimodal sensor data while remaining robust to modest sensor misregistration. The study was made available online on December 27, 2025, and was published in Volume 13, Issue 1 of the Journal of Computational Design and Engineering  on January 01, 2026.

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“Existing systems miss geometric and material/thermal defects, amplify sensor artifacts, lose localization, or are brittle to modest misregistration. In addition, efficiently capturing long-range, orientation-sensitive context (important for thin/oblique defects) without the quadratic cost of dense attention remained unresolved. These challenges of existing systems motivated us to develop a fusion approach that is alignment aware, uses state-space recurrences to collect long-range directional context, and exchanges semantic guidance at deep stages via lightweight cross-recurrence (Cross Mamba Interaction), and then reconstitutes low-level channels top-down to preserve precise localization,” says Dr. Tan.

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MambaAlign introduces an alignment-aware state-space fusion framework for multimodal industrial anomaly detection. The method captures long-range and orientation-aware context using state-space refinement, which is particularly effective for detecting thin or oblique defects such as scratches and cracks. Instead of relying on computationally expensive global attention, MambaAlign exchanges semantic guidance between sensors only at high-level feature stages, keeping the computational cost close to linear. A top-down reconstruction mechanism then reconstitutes low-level feature channels, allowing the system to tolerate modest sensor misalignment while preserving precise pixel-level localization.

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Extensive experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of the approach. Averaged across three RGB-plus-auxiliary-modality (RGB-X) datasets, MambaAlign improves image-level area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) by approximately 4.8%, pixel-level AUROC by about 5.0%, and area under the per-region overlap curve by roughly 6.5% compared with prior methods. Importantly, these gains come without excessive computational overhead. The model sustains close to 30 frames per second at moderate resolutions, with controlled memory usage, making it practical for deployment in real production lines.

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“MambaAlign achieves state-of-the-art localization with parameters and runtime suitable for real-time inspection. It not only provides higher detection accuracy but also tighter and less fragmented anomaly maps. This translates directly into fewer false alarms, fewer missed defects, and more actionable outputs for engineers on the factory floor,” says Dr. Tan.

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Overall, the study highlights wide-ranging industrial relevance. In electronics and printed circuit board inspection, MambaAlign can detect micro-cracks or missing components that subtly alter thermal or geometric patterns. In aerospace and composite manufacturing, fusing RGB and thermal data helps reveal subsurface delamination invisible to standard cameras. Automotive body inspection benefits from improved detection of dents, scratches, and seam defects, while the system’s real-time performance enables inline inspection on conveyor belts or robotic vision stations. By reducing manual inspection effort, minimizing scrap, and improving reliability under realistic sensor conditions, MambaAlign addresses a long-standing bottleneck in industrial quality assurance.
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Reference

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Title of original paper:

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MambaAlign: Alignment-aware state-space fusion for RGB-X industrial anomaly detection

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Journal:

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Journal of Computational Design and Engineering

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DOI:

\\n		10.1093/jcde/qwaf143
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Additional infotmation for EurekAlert

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Latest Article Publication Date:01 January 2026
Method of Research:\\n

Computational simulation/modeling

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Subject of Research:Not Applicable
Conflicts of Interest Statement:All the authors declare that there is no actual or potential conflict of interest including any financial, personal or other relationships with other people or organizations.
 
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Authors

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About Shibaura Institute of Technology (SIT), Japan

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Shibaura Institute of Technology (SIT) is a private university with campuses in Tokyo and Saitama. Since the establishment of its predecessor, Tokyo Higher School of Industry and Commerce, in 1927, it has maintained “learning through practice” as its philosophy in the education of engineers. SIT was the only private science and engineering university selected for the Top Global University Project sponsored by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and had received support from the ministry for 10 years starting from the 2014 academic year. Its motto, “Nurturing engineers who learn from society and contribute to society,” reflects its mission of fostering scientists and engineers who can contribute to the sustainable growth of the world by exposing their over 9,500 students to culturally diverse environments, where they learn to cope, collaborate, and relate with fellow students from around the world.

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Website: https://www.shibaura-it.ac.jp/en/

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About Associate Professor Phan Xuan Tan from SIT, Japan

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Dr. Phan Xuan Tan is an Associate Professor in the Innovative Global Program, College of Engineering, Shibaura Institute of Technology (SIT), Japan. He earned a B.E. in Electrical-Electronic Engineering from Le Quy Don Technical University, and an M.S. in Computer and Communication Engineering from Hanoi University of Science & Technology, Vietnam. He received his Ph.D. in Functional Control Systems from SIT in 2018. His academic work bridges engineering and artificial intelligence (AI), with research centered on computer vision, image processing, generative AI, and AI safety.

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Title: MambaAlign framework for multimodal industrial anomaly detection
Caption: Researchers propose a new alignment-aware state-space fusion framework called 
MambaAlign that produces tighter, less fragmented anomaly maps, and is substantially more robust to modest misalignment than prior fusion or attention-heavy approaches.
Credit: Dr. Phan Xuan Tan from Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan, and Dr. Dinh-Cuong Hoang from FPT University, Vietnam
Source link: https://academic.oup.com/jcde/article/13/1/514/8405688 
License type: CC BY 4.0
Usage restrictions: Credit must be given to the creator.

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\\n Media Contact: Kohei Tsuchiya
E-mail: koho@ow.shibaura-it.ac.jp 　
Web: https://www.shibaura-it.ac.jp/en/\",\"new_window\":\"0\",\"link_url\":\"\",\"pdf_url\":\"\",\"publish_date\":\"2026/2/25 12:00:00\",\"modified_date\":\"2026/2/25 12:00:04\",\"permalink\":\"/en/headline/detail/20260218_7070_001.html\"},{\"id\":3904,\"title\":\"Vote3D-AD: A Novel Framework for Unsupervised Point Cloud Anomaly Localization \",\"category\":[{\"basename\":\"news-13\",\"label\":\"Research\"}],\"output\":[{\"basename\":\"press_en\",\"label\":\"NEWS-PRESS RELEASE\"}],\"thumbnail_image_url\":\"/assets/20260227_002.jpg\",\"thumbnail_image_alt\":\"\",\"link_division\":\"text\",\"meta_description\":\"\",\"text\":\"

The proposed technology leverages varied defect synthesis and differentiable vote clustering to achieve remarkable performance 

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Current 3D anomaly detection techniques often prove insufficient for noisy industrial scans. In a new study, researchers from Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan, and FPT University, Vietnam, have developed Vote3D-AD as an innovative solution. The single-pass framework trains exclusively on defect-free data and utilizes the Varied Defect Synthesis pseudo-anomaly generator and a vote-and-cluster architecture to outperform state-of-the-art alternatives on various benchmarks. It is expected to further streamline inspection pipelines. 

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The automatic detection of surface-level irregularities—defects or anomalies—in 3D data is of significant interest for various real-world purposes, such as industrial quality inspection, infrastructure monitoring, robotics, and autonomous systems. However, collecting annotated defect examples at a large scale is costly, and existing 3D anomaly detection methods either require templates or heavy memory, multiple inference passes, and brittle heuristic clustering. These shortcomings limit real-life deployment.

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In a novel research work, a team of researchers from Japan and Vietnam, led by Associate Professor Phan Xuan Tan, affiliated with the Innovative Global Program, College of Engineering, Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan, and including Dr. Dinh-Cuong Hoang from FPT University, Vietnam, has proposed Vote3D-AD as a new single-pass framework for 3D anomaly localization. Their novel findings were made available online on January 20, 2026, and have been published in Volume 137 of the Alexandria Engineering Journal  on February 1, 2026.

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Vote3D-AD combines a realistic pseudo-anomaly generator (Varied Defect Synthesis, or VDS), with a learned vote-and-differentiable clustering architecture to localize defects in point clouds, while training only on defect-free data. It demonstrates stronger and more reliable localization than prior works. Across both synthetic and real industrial benchmarks, Vote3D-AD improves point-level AUROC by ~6.7%, and point-AUPR by ~10.1%, and point-F1 by ~11.2% over the strongest baselines. Notably, object-level metrics also rise substantially.

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The proposed framework exhibits practical speed for real inspection pipelines. The full pipeline runs at approximately 9.05 FPS on an RTX-3090 and supports higher-throughput variants, demonstrating a balance of high accuracy and practical inference speed for production inspection. Vote3D-AD turns sparse, noisy point-level signals into coherent region proposals without hand-tuned clustering, reducing the engineering burden and improving localization precision, which is critical for making automated 3D inspection actionable on factory floors.

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Its real-world applications include automated industrial quality inspection of sheet metal, machined parts, and plastic housings, where it detects dents, bulges, holes, missing components, and surface roughness from depth scans, especially in situations where RGB or 2D images miss geometric faults. Vote3D-AD is also expected to be useful for infrastructure and asset monitoring. It can localize cracks, holes, and surface degradation in scanned components, such as pipes, panels, and connectors, where early geometric anomalies predict failure. Moreover, it may enable robots to verify assembly quality or to detect damage on manipulated objects using onboard depth sensors, even when only defect-free examples are available during training. Furthermore, the framework can combine multi-view or streamed point clouds to detect thermal or structural anomalies—with potential future multi-modal fusion—improving predictive maintenance decisions.

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According to Dr. Tan, “Tighter and more coherent anomaly masks present in Vote3D-AD—thanks to learned clustering and boundary refinement—reduce false alarms and ambiguous detections, lowering unneeded rework and downtime in manufacturing lines. In addition, since Vote3D-AD trains on normal examples only and uses learned vote clustering instead of template matching or big feature stores, it is easier to deploy across different product families and manufacturers. This reduces engineering and data collection costs.”
 
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“Furthermore, our technology utilizes VDS that generates diverse, physically plausible pseudo-defects such as bulges, dents, holes, cracks, and surface roughness, and simulates sensor artifacts such as noise and dropout, which substantially narrows the gap between simulated training signals and real defects, improving generalization,” highlights Dr. Tan.
 
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Lastly, by producing coherent region proposals rather than scattered point outliers, the proposed system supports downstream actions such as automatic rejection, targeted repair, and prioritization for human review, making inspection pipelines more efficient and safer.
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Title of original paper:

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Vote3D-AD: Unsupervised point cloud anomaly localization via varied defect synthesis and differentiable vote-clustering 

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Journal:

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Alexandria Engineering Journal

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DOI:

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Additional infotmation for EurekAlert

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Latest Article Publication Date:1 February 2026
Method of Research:\\n

Computational simulation/modeling 

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Subject of Research:Not Applicable 
Conflicts of Interest Statement:The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
 
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Authors

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About Shibaura Institute of Technology (SIT), Japan

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Shibaura Institute of Technology (SIT) is a private university with campuses in Tokyo and Saitama. Since the establishment of its predecessor, Tokyo Higher School of Industry and Commerce, in 1927, it has maintained “learning through practice” as its philosophy in the education of engineers. SIT was the only private science and engineering university selected for the Top Global University Project sponsored by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and had received support from the ministry for 10 years starting from the 2014 academic year. Its motto, “Nurturing engineers who learn from society and contribute to society,” reflects its mission of fostering scientists and engineers who can contribute to the sustainable growth of the world by exposing their over 9,500 students to culturally diverse environments, where they learn to cope, collaborate, and relate with fellow students from around the world.

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Website: https://www.shibaura-it.ac.jp/en/

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About Associate Professor Phan Xuan Tan from SIT, Japan

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Dr. Phan Xuan Tan is an Associate Professor in the Innovative Global Program, College of Engineering, Shibaura Institute of Technology (SIT), Japan. He earned a B.E. in Electrical–Electronic Engineering from Le Quy Don Technical University and an M.S. in Computer and Communication Engineering from Hanoi University of Science and Technology, Vietnam. He received his Ph.D. in Functional Control Systems from SIT in 2018. His academic work bridges engineering and artificial intelligence, with research centered on computer vision, image processing, generative AI, and AI safety.

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Title: Vote3D-AD framework
Caption: The proposed framework consists of Varied Defect Synthesis (VDS) pseudo-anomaly generator, transformer-based backbone, voting network, and differentiable clustering module, enabling precise point- and object-level anomaly scoring. 
Credit: Associate Professor Phan Xuan Tan from Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan
Source Link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1110016826000438 
License Type: CC BY 4.0
Usage restrictions: Credit must be given to the creator. 

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\\n Media Contact: Kohei Tsuchiya
E-mail: koho@ow.shibaura-it.ac.jp 　
Web: https://www.shibaura-it.ac.jp/en/\",\"new_window\":\"0\",\"link_url\":\"\",\"pdf_url\":\"\",\"publish_date\":\"2026/2/25 12:00:00\",\"modified_date\":\"2026/2/25 12:00:05\",\"permalink\":\"/en/headline/detail/20260227_7070_002.html\"},{\"id\":3870,\"title\":\"Tackling Uplift Resistance in Tall Infrastructures Sustainably \",\"category\":[{\"basename\":\"news-13\",\"label\":\"Research\"}],\"output\":[{\"basename\":\"press_en\",\"label\":\"NEWS-PRESS RELEASE\"}],\"thumbnail_image_url\":\"/assets/SITNG_134.jpg\",\"thumbnail_image_alt\":\"\",\"link_division\":\"text\",\"meta_description\":\"\",\"text\":\"

How winged composite piles improve wind-induced uplift resistance with sustainable reuse of surplus construction soil

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Tall structures face the challenge of uplift forces from the wind. At the same time, constructions projects continue to generate large volumes of surplus soil. A team of Japanese researchers, led by Professor Shinya Inazumi investigated a winged composite pile foundation that emerges as a potential solution to both of these challenges. Model-scale experiments and numerical analyses demonstrate that some critical factors that influence the performance include wing size, soil density, and corrugated steel surfaces. 

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Title: Winged composite piles improve wind-induced uplift resistance with sustainable reuse of surplus construction soil
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Caption: The winged composite pile consists of a steel pipe with expanded base wings, surrounded by steel structural components with the annular space filled with surplus soil generated on site to improve wind-induced uplift resistance with sustainable reuse of surplus construction soil.  
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Credit : Professor Shinya Inazumi from Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan
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Source Link : https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123026004445?via%3Dihub#coi0001
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License Type : CC BY-4.0
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Usage restrictions: Credit must be given to the creator. 
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Tall structures like radio towers experience high wind loads that generate uplift forces at their foundations, a challenge that is increasing burden, as natural occurrences like typhoons and tornadoes become more frequent and severe. Transmission towers, telecommunication masts, and solar power installations are especially susceptible because uplift forces, rather than compressive forces, influence the foundational stability. On the other hand, the construction industry faces obstacles managing surplus excavated soil, a part of which is used on-site while the rest is usually transported elsewhere for disposal, which increases costs and environmental risks. The combined effects of these pressures have highlighted the need for foundation systems that simultaneously enhance wind resistance and allow more effective on-site soil utilization.

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To tackle these challenges, a group of researchers led by Professor Shinya Inazumi from Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan, investigated a winged composite pile foundation system engineered to provide uplift resistance along with the structural reuse of construction surplus soil. The study, made available online on February 1, 2026, and will be published in Results in Engineering journal on March 1, 2026, evaluates whether foundations combining the use of excavated soil can achieve uplift capacities comparable to conventional steel piles while reducing reliance on imported backfill materials. Prof. Inazumi says, “We observed projects where wind demands were increasing, yet large volumes of potentially usable soil were being treated as waste. That gap in understanding motivated us to explore a foundation system that could address both issues together.”

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The winged composite pile consists of a steel pipe with expanded base wings, surrounded by steel structural components such as liner plates. The annular space between the steel pipe and the surrounding structural members is filled with surplus soil generated on site. To understand uplift behavior, the researchers conducted a series of 35 model-scale uplift tests covering seven pile configurations. These experiments examined the influence of expanded base wing diameter, soil density, the surface characteristics of the steel components, and the presence or absence of liner plates on uplift resistance. In addition to the physical tests, finite element method (FEM) analyses were performed for selected cases to assess whether numerical simulations could replicate the trends observed experimentally.

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The results showed a consistent increase in uplift resistance with larger expanded base wing diameters across all configurations. This relationship was observed regardless of soil density or pile type, indicating that wing geometry plays a dominant role in uplift capacity. In certain conditions, the winged composite pile achieved uplift resistance comparable to, or even exceeding, that of conventional steel pipe piles, demonstrating the effectiveness of surplus soil when used as a part of the load-resisting system. Prof. Inazumi explains, “Winged composite piles filled with surplus construction soil can provide uplift resistance comparable to or greater than that of conventional steel pipe piles. These piles allow the large-volume, on-site reuse of excavated soil, contributing to structural safety and environmental sustainability in wind-resistant foundations. Our tests revealed that uplift capacity increased with an expanded base wing diameter across all configurations.”

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An important finding was that soil density was identified as a critical factor influencing uplift resistance. A reduction in soil density of approximately 20% resulted in an average decrease in uplift resistance of about 50%. This significant reduction emphasizes the importance of compaction control when surplus soil is used as a structural material.

Additionally, the study also demonstrated that the surface characteristics of the surrounding steel components affect uplift resistance. Corrugated liner plates provided an increase in uplift capacity of approximately 12%–13% compared to smooth steel components. This was attributed to enhanced frictional resistance and mechanical interlocking between the soil and the steel components. FEM analysis was also carried out to examine whether numerical simulations could reproduce experimental trends.

Explaining the applications of the winged composite pile system, Prof. Inazumi explained, “Our findings can be directly applied to the foundations of infrastructures that must withstand strong wind uplift such as transmission towers, radio towers, telecommunication masts, and solar power facilities built on sandy ground. Our system provides an alternative for these structures, offering uplift capacities comparable to or higher than those of conventional steel pipe piles while reducing the need for imported, high-quality backfill materials.”

By integrating experimental findings from FEM analyses, the researchers proposed design guidelines associating uplift resistance to expanded base wing diameter and soil density. The study establishes winged composite piles as a foundation system that combines uplift resistance with large-volume, on-site reuse of construction surplus soil, addressing both structural requirements and surplus oil utilization requirements.

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Reference

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Title of original paper:

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Uplift resistance of winged composite piles with surplus soil backfill: Model experiments and numerical validation

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Journal:

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Results in Engineering

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DOI:

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10.1016/j.rineng.2026.109404 

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Latest Article Publication Date:01 March 2026
Method of Research:\\n

Experimental study 
 

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Subject of Research:Not applicable 
 
Conflicts of Interest Statement:The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
 
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Authors

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About Professor Shinya Inazumi from SIT, Japan

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Dr. Shinya Inazumi is a Professor in the College of Engineering at Shibaura Institute of Technology (SIT), Japan, and leads the Geotechnical Engineering Laboratory, where research focuses on sustainable ground and infrastructure solutions. He received his Ph.D. in Engineering from Kyoto University. His research interests span civil and geotechnical engineering, geo-disaster mitigation, and AI-applications in infrastructure planning. As an established author with hundreds of publications, he has also been recognized with prestigious awards for research excellence in geotechnical and environmental engineering.

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Funding Information

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N/A

\",\"new_window\":\"0\",\"link_url\":\"\",\"pdf_url\":\"\",\"publish_date\":\"2026/2/20 12:00:00\",\"modified_date\":\"2026/2/20 12:00:05\",\"permalink\":\"/en/headline/detail/20260220_7070_51.html\"},{\"id\":3890,\"title\":\"Novel Wireless Origami-Inspired Smart Cushioning Device for Safer Logistics\",\"category\":[{\"basename\":\"news-13\",\"label\":\"Research\"}],\"output\":[{\"basename\":\"press_en\",\"label\":\"NEWS-PRESS RELEASE\"}],\"thumbnail_image_url\":\"/assets/Image_7.jpg\",\"thumbnail_image_alt\":\"\",\"link_division\":\"text\",\"meta_description\":\"\",\"text\":\"

Researchers develop a new smart cushioning material that can wirelessly detect and provide information on damage to transported goods.

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Smart cushioning materials with sensing features can enable real-time detection of damage to transport goods. However, current sensing technologies require wired connections for power and data transmission, limiting applicability. In a new study, researchers have developed a novel origami-inspired wireless, battery-free smart cushioning material that can accurately detect and provide measurement of damage to transported goods. This material holds strong potential for improving logistics and transport traceability.

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Title: Working of the smart cushioning device
Caption: The proposed origami-inpsired smart cushioning device enables wirless, battery-free damage detection of transported goods, offering a practical solution for improving safety and traceability in logistics and transport.
Credit: Hiroki Shigemune from Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan
Source Link:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41528-025-00527-z
License Type: tCC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Usage restrictions: Credit must be given to the creator. Only noncommercial uses of the work are permitted. No derivatives or adaptations of the work are permitted.

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Origami, the traditional Japanese art of paper folding, has received considerable attention in engineering. By applying paper-folding principles, researchers have created compact structures that are flexible, lightweight, and reconfigurable across aerospace, medicine, and robotics. Moreover, origami-inspired designs have been explored at many scales, from microscopic structures such as DNA origami to large deployable systems for space applications. More recently, integrating electronics into origami structures has enabled the development of smart sensors that combine mechanical strength, flexibility, and energy absorption.

One promising application of smart origami electronics is in cushioning materials used for transporting goods. Integrating sensing features into cushioning materials could allow real-time monitoring of pressure, weight, or impact during shipping, improving traceability and reducing damage. Although a variety of sensing technologies have been examined for such “self-diagnosing” smart cushioning materials, these technologies rely on wired connections for power and data transfer. Making such systems wireless and battery-free could significantly reduce maintenance needs, simplify integration, and expand their use across diverse environments.

To achieve this goal, a research team led by Associate Professor Hiroki Shigemune, along with Mr. Hiroaki Minamide and Mr. Satoshi Motoyama from the Shibaura Institute of Technology in Japan, has developed an origami-inspired smart cushioning material capable of wirelessly monitoring deformation. “We have developed a self-folded origami honeycomb device, integrated with passive wireless inductor-capacitor (LC) sensors directly into the load-bearing structure,” explains Dr. Shigemune. “In this design, the mechanical deformation of the structure is transduced into a sensing signal.” Their study was published online in npj Flexible Electronics journal on January 09, 2026.

The proposed smart cushioning material, called a self-folded origami honeycomb device (SHD), is fabricated using a simple process. The honeycomb structure is formed by printing predefined patterns onto the paper, causing it to fold automatically into a three-dimensional structure composed of multiple cells connected by hinge-like joints. When external force is applied, these hinges buckle in a predictable manner, allowing the structure to absorb energy.

In the initial design, the researchers embedded both the inductor and capacitor within the SHD. Copper electrodes placed at the hinges formed capacitors, with the air gap between them acting as the dielectric. The inductor was positioned on the flat regions of the cells. During compression, the cells buckle, reducing the distance between the capacitor electrodes. This change shifts the resonant frequency of the LC circuit, which can be detected wirelessly using a readout coil and a vector network analyzer. However, because the inductor was also deformed during compression, its response introduced variability, which reduced measurement reproducibility.

To resolve this issue, the team created a new design where capacitor plates were embedded on the side wall of the cells within the SHD and connected to an external inductor. Using this improved design, they conducted compression tests on six different SHDs with varying capacitor electrode arrangements. By analyzing how the structures buckled under load, the team optimized the electrode placement for stability. The most stable configuration was found to have an electrode gap of 3 millimeters with an electrode gap angle of 0 degrees. To enhance sensitivity, they also applied a thick PVC tape to the electrode surface.

The final design was evaluated using finite element simulations and validated through experiments. Designs both with and without PVC tape showed close agreement between simulations and experiments. The researchers then demonstrated the practical usefulness of the device in two scenarios: measuring the weight of an applied load and detecting damage caused by a falling object. In both cases, the SHD successfully detected deformation wirelessly and provided accurate measurements, highlighting its potential for real-world use.

“Our smart cushioning device can be applied in the transportation and logistics industries to monitor load conditions, detect impact or damage, and improve traceability during shipping,” notes Dr. Shigemune. “It will be particularly valuable in agriculture, where delicate products require careful handling, but it can also benefit everyday delivery services by helping protect goods and ensure safer distribution.”
Overall, this origami-inspired smart cushioning material represents a scalable and maintenance-free approach to wireless damage detection, offering a practical solution for improving safety and traceability in logistics and transport.

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Reference

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Title of original paper:

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Smart cushioning device integrating self-folding origami honeycomb structure and inductor-capacitor passive wireless sensor

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npj Flexible Electronics

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DOI:

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10.1038/s41528-025-00527-z

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Authors

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About Associate Professor Hiroki Shigemune from SIT, Japan

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Dr. Hiroki Shigemune is an Associate Professor at the School of Engineering at Shibaura Institute of Technology (SIT), Japan. He is also associated with the International Research Center for Green Electronics at SIT. He received his B.S. and M.S. in Applied Physics, and Doctor of Engineering degrees in Modern Mechanical Engineering from Waseda University, Japan, in 2014, 2016, and 2018, respectively. His research interests include self-assembly systems, morphological computation, printing methods, and soft-bodied robotics. As the Director of the Active Functional Devices Lab, he has published over 90 research papers that have been cited more than 800 times.

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Funding Information

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This research was partially supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Numbers JP22K14226, Adaptable and Seamless Technology Transfer Program through Target-driven R&D (A-STEP) from the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) Grant Numbers JPMJTM20CK, Fuji Seal Foundation, and International Research Center for Green Electronics.

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Researchers observe beneficial structural changes in polyethylene following exposure to high-energy-focused electron beam irradiation

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Despite their widespread use in various applications, synthetic polymers such as polyethylene (PE) remain susceptible to structural deformation when exposed to stress. In a new study, scientists from Japan have utilized focused electron beam (FEB) irradiation to precisely induce microvoids and nanoscale fibrils to improve the mechanical strength of PE. Following irradiation with FEB, PE demonstrated minimal crack opening and prevented further crack propagation. This study can fuel the development of superior polymer-based materials.

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Title: Scanning electron microscopy images showing a wide crack opening (image A) in non-irradiated polyethylene (PE) and minimal crack propagation in PE irradiated with a focused electron beam
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Caption: Polyethylene (PE) is susceptible to crack initiation and propagation when exposed to stress. In a new study, researchers from Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan, have employed focused electron beams to precisely induce microvoids and nanoscale fibrils to improve the mechanical strength and prevent crack propagation in PE.  
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Credit : Masayuki Shimojo from Shibaura Institute of Technology
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Source Link : https://advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/admt.202501197
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License Type : CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
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Usage restrictions: Credit must be given to the creator. Only noncommercial uses of the work are permitted. No derivatives or adaptations of the work are permitted. 
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Advancements in fabrication technologies have revolutionized the field of materials science. In recent years, innovative materials for applications in electrical, energy storage, and catalysis have been developed. Among novel materials, polymers such as polyethylene (PE) are remarkable for their chemical inertness, lightweight nature, and flexibility. However, PE is increasingly susceptible to crack initiation and propagation—a process where a microcracks forms and spreads across the material surface when exposed to high stress—limiting its widespread use.

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Scientists around the globe have employed crazing, a phenomenon where microvoids and fibrils are intentionally introduced into a material to improve the structural and mechanical properties of polymers. Several reports indicate that crazing can enhance the material properties of polymers while also preventing crack initiation and propagation. However, one major drawback limiting the use of conventional approaches to crazing is the lack of controllability.

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In this light, a research team comprising Postdoctoral Fellow Dr. Sirorat Toocharoen and Professor Masayuki Shimojo, both from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan, has utilized focused electron beam (FEB) irradiation to precisely control crazing in PE polymer. Additionally, they investigated the irradiation parameters that affect crazing and verified whether FEB irradiation can arrest crack propagation. Their research findings were published online in the journal Advanced Materials Technologies on July 24, 2025.

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Explaining the motivation behind the present study, Dr. Toocharoen says, “It is well-known that polymers are inherently sensitive to electron beam exposure, even during conventional imaging techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM). However, FEB irradiation has the ability to induce structural changes at micro- to nanoscale levels with high spatial precision. This realization led us to explore how FEB could be utilized not only as a diagnostic tool but also as a method for purposeful structural modification in polymers.” 

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Initially, the researchers observed structural changes in the PE polymer following FEB irradiation. SEM analysis further confirmed the presence of nanovoids and nanofibrils in PE, which were characteristic of crazing. Thereafter, they evaluated the effects of irradiation parameters such as accelerating voltage, beam current, and irradiation time on crazing. Through Monte Carlo simulations, they found that high-to-moderate energy FEB beams were ideal for inducing craze formation in deeper areas of PE, while lower-energy beams caused crazing close to the surface.

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To further validate if crazing could arrest crack propagation, the scientists introduced pre-cracks into PE, followed by exposure to FEB irradiation. Post-irradiation tensile strength analysis revealed that the pre-crack widened considerably in non-irradiated PE. Remarkably, PE irradiated with FEB showed minimal crack opening and prevented crack propagation.

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“The ability to precisely induce crazing and control crack-arrest behavior in PE demonstrates the strong potential of FEB for future applications,” comments Dr. Toocharoen. “Our findings are particularly relevant for industries requiring lightweight, flexible, and mechanically reliable polymer components in compact forms, such as flexible electronics, biomedical devices, aerospace, and micro/nanoelectromechanical systems. Moreover, this study provides valuable insights for nano-fabrication processes and is important for guiding further in-depth research in this area.”

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In summary, this study demonstrates the advantages of using FEB irradiation for modifying the structural and mechanical properties of polymers. By enabling the precise control of inducing microvoids and fibrils, FEB can fuel the development of innovative materials with superior material properties.

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Nanomodification of Polyethylene via Focused Electron Beam Irradiation: Controlled Crazing and Application to Crack Arresting

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Journal:

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Advanced Materials Technologies

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DOI:

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10.1002/admt.202501197

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Latest Article Publication Date:24 July 2025
Method of Research:\\n

Experimental study
 

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Subject of Research:Not Applicable
 
Conflicts of Interest Statement:The authors declare no conflict of interest.
 
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Authors

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About Postdoctoral Fellow Sirorat Toocharoen from SIT, Japan

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Dr. Sirorat Toocharoen is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan, where she has been a member of Professor Masayuki Shimojo’s laboratory since her doctoral studies. Her current research focuses on material characterization, nanotechnology, and the use of focused electron beam (FEB) irradiation for polymer and material modification. She has published several research papers in peer-reviewed journals on materials science and FEB-based nanomodification.

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Funding Information

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NA

\",\"new_window\":\"0\",\"link_url\":\"\",\"pdf_url\":\"\",\"publish_date\":\"2026/2/18 12:00:00\",\"modified_date\":\"2026/2/18 12:00:04\",\"permalink\":\"/en/headline/detail/20260218_7070_51.html\"},{\"id\":3847,\"title\":\"Seeing the Unseen: Scientists Demonstrate Dual-Mode Color Generation from Invisible Light\",\"category\":[{\"basename\":\"news-13\",\"label\":\"Research\"}],\"output\":[{\"basename\":\"press_en\",\"label\":\"NEWS-PRESS RELEASE\"}],\"thumbnail_image_url\":\"/assets/Image1.jpg\",\"thumbnail_image_alt\":\"\",\"link_division\":\"text\",\"meta_description\":\"\",\"text\":\"
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Researchers from Japan develop an organic crystal that turns invisible light into visible red and green signals

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Ultraviolet and near-infrared light are widely used in modern technologies but are invisible to the human eye. Researchers from Japan have developed an organic crystal that converts these invisible wavelengths into visible red and green light. Remarkably, the two colors arise from different physical processes coexisting within a single crystal. This dual-mode optical response provides a better understanding of molecular design and crystal packing, opening new possibilities for optical sensing and photonic technologies.

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Invisible light beyond the range of human vision plays a vital role in communication technologies, medical diagnostics, and optical sensing. Ultraviolet and near-infrared wavelengths are routinely used in these fields, yet detecting them directly often requires complex instrumentation. Developing materials that can convert invisible light into visible signals could serve as essential components for measurement technologies and sensors, and play a major role in understanding the fundamental photophysical processes. However, developing those materials remains a key challenge in photonics and materials science.

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Organic luminescent materials are attractive candidates for addressing this challenge because of their lightweight nature, chemical tunability, and structural flexibility. However, their optical efficiency is frequently limited by energy losses arising from molecular motion and nonradiative decay. To overcome these issues, researchers have focused on rigid molecular frameworks and controlled crystal packing, where intermolecular interactions can give rise to collective optical properties not observed in solution.

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Against this backdrop, a team of researchers led by Prof. Akiko Hori from the Graduate School of Engineering and Science, Shibaura Institute of Technology (SIT), Japan, along with Prof. Ayumi Ishii from Waseda University, Japan, and Prof. Hiroko Yokota from the Institute of Science Tokyo, Japan, explored whether a single organic crystal could produce multiple optical responses to different forms of invisible light. This study was made available online on December 09, 2025, and published in Volume 62, Issue 6 of the journal Chemical Communications on January 22, 2026, and was featured on the journal’s front cover.

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The team designed and synthesized a rigid, π-conjugated organic compound incorporating a 1,2,5-thiadiazole-substituted pyrazine unit and succeeded in growing high-quality single crystals. Although the crystal appears yellow under ambient conditions, its optical behavior proved highly unusual. When irradiated with ultraviolet light, the crystal emitted red light with an exceptionally large Stokes shift—the emitted light had much lower energy than the absorbed light. Detailed analysis revealed that this red emission originates from an excimer state formed through close intermolecular interactions within the crystal lattice.

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Surprisingly, the same crystal displayed a second, entirely different optical response under near-infrared irradiation. When exposed to near-infrared radiation, it generated green visible light through second harmonic generation (SHG), a nonlinear optical process that converts two low-energy photons into a single higher-energy photon. Importantly, the two optical responses—red fluorescence from excimer formation and green light from SHG—coexisted within the same crystal without interfering with one another.

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“What is remarkable about this crystal is that two fundamentally different physical phenomena operate independently within a single organic crystal,” explains Prof. Hori. “By carefully controlling molecular structure and crystal packing, we were able to visualize different kinds of invisible light using distinct optical mechanisms.”

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The inspiration for this research arose from the team’s long-standing interest in how molecular arrangement influences optical behavior. “When we noticed that a yellow crystal emitted red light, it made us wonder whether other colors could also be produced,” says Prof. Hori. “That simple curiosity—sparked by everyday observations—motivated us to explore whether crystal packing and molecular arrangements could generate multiple optical responses.”

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This dual-mode optical behavior has important implications for future technologies. Materials that convert ultraviolet and near-infrared light into visible signals could serve as key components in optical sensors, imaging systems, and measurement devices. Traditionally, optical wavelength conversion has relied on inorganic crystals, which are often heavy, rigid, and difficult to process. This study highlights that similar functions can be realized via molecular design and crystal packing in organic crystals.

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By demonstrating comparable functionality in an organic crystal, this study broadens material design strategies for next-generation photonic devices, and highlights the untapped potential of molecular crystals for visualizing invisible light.

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Title: Dual-mode emission from an organic crystal under ultraviolet and near-infrared light

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Caption: Researchers from Japan showed that a single organic crystal converts invisible light into visible colors, emitting red light under ultraviolet irradiation and green light under near-infrared excitation through two distinct optical mechanisms.

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Credit: Professor Akiko Hori from Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan

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Source Link: https://doi.org/10.1039/D5CC05735C

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License Type: CC BY 3.0

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Usage restrictions: Credit must be given to the creator.

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Reference

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Title of original paper:

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ll1,2,5-thiadiazole derivaRed-fluorescence under UV and green-SHG under NIR dual-mode emission in a yellow crystal of a 1,2,5-thiadiazole derivativetive

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Journal:

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Chemical Communications

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DOI:

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 10.1039/D5CC05735C

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Additional infotmation for EurekAlert

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Latest Article Publication Date:\\n

January 22, 2026

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Method of Research:\\n

Experimental study;

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Subject of Research: AnimalsNot Applicable
Conflicts of Interest Statement:There are no conflicts to declare.
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Authors

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About Shibaura Institute of Technology (SIT), Japan

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Shibaura Institute of Technology (SIT) is a private university with campuses in Tokyo and Saitama. Since the establishment of its predecessor, Tokyo Higher School of Industry and Commerce, in 1927, it has maintained “learning through practice” as its philosophy in the education of engineers. SIT was the only private science and engineering university selected for the Top Global University Project sponsored by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and had received support from the ministry for 10 years starting from the 2014 academic year. Its motto, “Nurturing engineers who learn from society and contribute to society,” reflects its mission of fostering scientists and engineers who can contribute to the sustainable growth of the world by exposing their over 9,500 students to culturally diverse environments, where they learn to cope, collaborate, and relate with fellow students from around the world.

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Website: https://www.shibaura-it.ac.jp/en/

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About Professor Akiko Hori from SIT, Japan 
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Dr. Akiko Hori is a Professor in the Department of Applied Chemistry at the Graduate School of Engineering and Science, Shibaura Institute of Technology (SIT), Japan. She heads the Laboratory of Molecular Assemblies. Her research focuses on supramolecular chemistry, materials chemistry, and inorganic chemistry, with a particular emphasis on crystal structures and molecular interactions. She possesses extensive expertise in coordination complexes, crystallography, molecular recognition, organic synthesis, and host–guest chemistry.

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Funding Information

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This work was supported by Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research B, 23K21122, of JSPS KAKENHI and S-SPIRE project of Shibaura Institute of Technology (Akiko Hori). Hiroko Yokota acknowledges financial support for JPMJFR213Z of JST FOREST and Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research B, 24K00554, of JSPS KAKENHI.

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Media Contact: Kohei Tsuchiya
E-mail: koho@ow.shibaura-it.ac.jp 　
Web: https://www.shibaura-it.ac.jp/en/ 

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        \",\"new_window\":\"0\",\"link_url\":\"\",\"pdf_url\":\"\",\"publish_date\":\"2026/2/6 8:00:00\",\"modified_date\":\"2026/2/6 8:51:16\",\"permalink\":\"/en/headline/detail/20260204-7070-001.html\"},{\"id\":3838,\"title\":\"Seeing Farther: A New Camera-Based Technique Detects Distant Vehicles for Safer Roads\",\"category\":[{\"basename\":\"news-13\",\"label\":\"Research\"}],\"output\":[{\"basename\":\"press_en\",\"label\":\"NEWS-PRESS RELEASE\"}],\"thumbnail_image_url\":\"/assets/Image_2_1.jpg\",\"thumbnail_image_alt\":\"\",\"link_division\":\"text\",\"meta_description\":\"\",\"text\":\"

Researchers develop a simple, accurate method to detect distant vehicles by analyzing nearby motion, providing a new tool to reduce intersection accidents

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Road accidents often stem from failing to notice vehicles. A recent study introduced a method for detecting distant vehicles with over twice the accuracy of existing systems. Instead of using road markings, it analyzes the motion of nearby vehicles to estimate the road’s trajectory and vanishing point, capturing distant road areas. By enlarging distant regions, the system can more accurately detect faraway vehicles, thereby enhancing safety by providing distant-vehicle information to drivers and pedestrians.

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Title: Detecting Distant Vehicles Through Near-Motion Analysis
Caption: The proposed system identifies the far-road region by analyzing the motion of nearby vehicles. This region is then enlarged, allowing the system to detect distant vehicles and improve intersection safety for both drivers and pedestrians.
Credit: Professor Chinthaka Premachandra from Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan
License Type: Original content
Usage restrictions: Cannot be used without permission.

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Intersections are among the most unpredictable spots on city roads. Drivers may struggle to notice approaching vehicles, and pedestrians often misjudge when it is safe to cross. In Japan, nearly half of all road accidents occur at intersections, highlighting an urgent need for smarter systems that can improve visibility and safety.
Now, a team of researchers led by Professor Chinthaka Premachandra from the Advanced Electronic Engineering Course, the School of Engineering and the Graduate School of Engineering and Science at the Shibaura Institute of Technology (SIT), Tokyo, Japan, and Eigo Ito from the Department of Electronic Engineering, School of Engineering, SIT, Japan, has developed a new technique for accurately identifying distant vehicles. This research was published in Volume 6 of the journal IEEE Open Journal of Intelligent Transportation Systems, on September 26, 2025.
Most current vehicle detection methods depend on deep learning algorithms that require powerful computing systems. However, these methods often struggle when vehicles appear small or unclear in the distance. The newly developed method takes a simpler, more practical approach—it examines the movement of nearby vehicles to predict where the road extends far ahead.
“Most detection systems work well for vehicles close to the camera, but their accuracy drops sharply for those farther away,” explains Prof. Premachandra. “We wanted to overcome this limitation with a lightweight approach that doesn’t require large datasets or complex neural networks.”
The system analyzes continuous video footage of the road and tracks the motion of nearby vehicles from frame to frame. By mapping these movements—called trajectories—it estimates the road’s vanishing point, or the area where the road appears to narrow toward the horizon. Once this region is identified, the system digitally enlarges it, making distant vehicles more visible.
Next, the system uses a mathematical model known as a Gaussian Mixture Model to detect moving vehicles in the magnified image. This process helps identify even tiny, faraway vehicles that might otherwise go unnoticed—all while using a standard camera and modest computing power.
In tests conducted under both day and night conditions, the method achieved more than twice the detection accuracy of conventional systems. It even outperformed some deep learning-based techniques while running smoothly at 30 frames per second on small, low-cost devices, such as the Raspberry Pi and Jetson Nano.
“Detecting faraway vehicles earlier can significantly reduce intersection-related accidents,” says Prof. Premachandra. “Imagine a system that warns pedestrians before they step onto the crosswalk or alerts drivers to vehicles still hundreds of meters away—it could make daily commuting much safer.”
Prof. Premachandra believes that this innovation could form the foundation of next-generation guidance systems that communicate real-time traffic information to both drivers and pedestrians. For example, cameras installed at intersections could detect vehicles approaching from a distance in all directions and issue alerts to drivers and pedestrians near the intersection via connected devices or traffic signals.
Beyond safety, the technology could contribute to the development of intelligent transportation systems (ITS)—which are networks that integrate vehicles, sensors, and infrastructure to create safer and more efficient roads. Because the system operates without heavy computational resources, it can be easily deployed in urban and rural areas alike.
While the initial results are promising, Prof. Premachandra notes that further improvements are planned. The team aims to test the system under different weather conditions, such as fog, rain, and snow, since these conditions often obscure visibility. They also intend to expand the system’s capability to classify different vehicle types and integrate it into broader ITS frameworks.
“Our goal is to make roads safer for everyone,” says Prof. Premachandra. “Even a few extra seconds of early warning can make the difference between a safe journey and a serious accident.”
By combining smart observation with simple computation, this study demonstrates that innovation in traffic safety doesn’t always require complex artificial intelligence—sometimes, it just takes a sharper look at the road ahead.

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Title: Smarter Eyes on the Road
Caption: A busy road intersection where vehicles approach from multiple directions. The new camera-based method helps detect distant vehicles earlier, reducing the risk of accidents for both drivers and pedestrians.
Credit: University Ave., Berkeley from Openverse
Source Link: https://openverse.org/image/ffb34e0d-a4b7-429c-b148-717449d257bb?q=road+intersection+traffic&p=11
License Type: CC BY-NC 2.0
Usage restrictions: Credit must be given to the creator. Only non-commercial uses of the work are permitted.

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Reference

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Title of original paper:

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Recognizing Distant Vehicles on GMM by Extracting Far Road Area Based on Analyzing Trajectories of Nearby Vehicles

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Journal:

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IEEE Open Journal of Intelligent Transportation Systems

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DOI:

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10.1109/OJITS.2025.3614862 

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Authors

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About Professor Chinthaka Premachandra from Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan

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Dr. Chinthaka Premachandra (Senior Member, IEEE) earned his BSc and MSc degrees from Mie University and his PhD in Engineering from Nagoya University, Japan. He is currently a Professor at the Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan, where he heads the Image Processing & Robotics Laboratory. Over more than 15 years of academic experience, he has published extensively on AI, UAVs, image/audio processing, intelligent transport systems, and mobile robotics. His honors include the IEEE Sensors Letters Best Paper Award, the IEEE Japan Medal, and awards from IEICE/IPSJ. He also serves as Associate Editor for major IEEE journals.

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Funding Information

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No funding information.

\\n  \",\"new_window\":\"0\",\"link_url\":\"\",\"pdf_url\":\"\",\"publish_date\":\"2025/12/15 12:00:00\",\"modified_date\":\"2025/12/15 12:00:03\",\"permalink\":\"/en/headline/detail/20251215_7070_127.html\"},{\"id\":3842,\"title\":\"Event Report on GTI Consortium Symposium 2025\",\"category\":[{\"basename\":\"news-3\",\"label\":\"Education\"},{\"basename\":\"news-4\",\"label\":\"Global\"},{\"basename\":\"news-13\",\"label\":\"Research\"}],\"output\":[{\"basename\":\"press_en\",\"label\":\"NEWS-PRESS RELEASE\"}],\"thumbnail_image_url\":\"/assets/0_%25E5%2585%25A8%25E4%25BD%2593.JPG.jpg\",\"thumbnail_image_alt\":\"\",\"link_division\":\"text\",\"meta_description\":\"\",\"text\":\"

On December 12,　GTI Consortium Symposium 2025 was held at Toyosu campus of Shibaura Institute of Technology (SIT) .

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In recent years, Japan has been promoting the development of an environment in which international students can play active roles in Japanese companies and local communities, in response to labor shortages caused by the declining birthrate and aging population, as well as to foster innovation.

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With this context in mind, the GTI Consortium Symposium 2025 was held under the theme “Employment of International Students in Japanese Companies.” Through presentations by universities in ASEAN countries, Japanese companies engaged in recruiting international talent, and international graduates currently working in Japanese companies, the symposium deepened discussions on the current situation, challenges, and future possibilities.

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The symposium opened with remarks from Dr. Jun Yamada, President of SIT and Representative of the GTI Consortium. This was followed by a guest address from Mr. Yoshiho Yukita, Associate Director Office for Technical Cooperation and Talent Partnership
Trade Policy Bureau Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).

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In the case study session, Assoc. Prof. Unggul Wasiwitono  Director of ITS Global Engagement at Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS), Indonesia, introduced the current employment situation of international students in Indonesia and the university’s career support initiatives.

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Next, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Thanh Huyen, Directorof Student Affairs Department at Hanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST), Vietnam, shared examples of collaborative activities with Japanese companies.

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From the perspective of Japanese industry, Mr. Yasutake Kojima, Manager, Planning & International Relations Department International Affairs Headquarters, East Japan Railway Company (JR East), presented the company’s international expansion and initiatives related to global career positions.

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In addition, Mr. Jeremia Pungus, a graduate of the Master’s Program at SIT’s Graduate School of Engineering and Science, spoke from the viewpoint of an international student about his job-hunting experiences in Japan and the insights he gained through the process.

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The symposium was held in a hybrid format, both on-site and online, and welcomed a large number of participants.

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\\\"学長挨拶.JPG\\\"
【Opening Remarks】Professor Jun Yamada, President of SIT, Representative of the GTI Consortium

\\\"経済産業省.JPG\\\"

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【Guest Speech】Mr. Yoshiho Yukita, Associate Director Office for Technical Cooperation and Talent Partnership Trade Policy Bureau
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).

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【Case Report 1】Assoc. Prof. Unggul Wasiwitono, Director, ITS Global Engagement
Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology (ITS)

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【Case Report 2】Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Thanh Huyen​, Director, Student Affairs Department​
Hanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST)

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【Case Report 3】Mr. Yasutake Kojima, Manager, Planning & International Relations Department International Affairs Headquarters
East Japan Railway Company

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【Case Report 4】Mr. Jeremia Imanuel Gesha Pungus, Planning & International Relations Department International Affairs Headquarters
East Japan Railway Company

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【Closing Remarks】Professor Hitoshi Nakamura, Vice President of SIT

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【Group Photo】Guest, Speakers, Steering Committee

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\",\"new_window\":\"0\",\"link_url\":\"\",\"pdf_url\":\"\",\"publish_date\":\"2025/12/12 17:12:31\",\"modified_date\":\"2025/12/12 18:49:23\",\"permalink\":\"/en/headline/detail/Event_Report_on_GTI_Consortium_Symposi_1.html\"},{\"id\":3835,\"title\":\"Masakazu Kimura, Member of the Board, Shibaura Institute of Technology Attends the 65th Anniversary Ceremony of Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember in Indonesia\",\"category\":[{\"basename\":\"news-2\",\"label\":\"Cooperation/contribution\"},{\"basename\":\"news-4\",\"label\":\"Global\"}],\"output\":[{\"basename\":\"press_en\",\"label\":\"NEWS-PRESS RELEASE\"}],\"thumbnail_image_url\":\"/assets/%25E3%2582%25B9%25E3%2583%25A9%25E3%2583%2590%25E3%2583%25A4%25E5%25B7%25A5%25E7%25A7%2591%25E5%25A4%25A7%25E5%25AD%25A6%25E5%2589%25B5%25E7%25AB%258B65%25E5%2591%25A8%25E5%25B9%25B4%25E8%25A8%2598%25E5%25BF%25B5%25E5%25BC%258F%25E5%2585%25B8.png\",\"thumbnail_image_alt\":\"\",\"link_division\":\"text\",\"meta_description\":\"\",\"text\":\"

On 11 November 2025, Masakazu Kimura, Member of the Board in charge of International Affairs, Shibaura Institute of Technology(hereafter SIT) attended the commemoration of the 65th Anniversary and Lustrum XIII of the Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology (hereafter ITS), held at the Grha Sepuluh Nopember Auditorium on the ITS campus in Surabaya, Indonesia. The ceremony was attended by approximately 2,000 participants, including distinguished guests, ITS faculty and staff members, students and shareholders. The program featured a report by ITS Chancellor Prof. Dr. (HC) Ir Bambang Pramujati ST MSc Eng PhD on the ITS’s key initiatives, including DX promotion, safety measures, and social contribution activities, the conferment of the “the Ten November Award” on the 6th President of the Republic of Indonesia, General TNI (Ret.) Prof. Dr. H Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, MA GCB AC and his keynote speech, as well as orchestra and performing arts such as drama and dance, and various award presentations.

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At this ceremony, SIT received the “Mitra Mancanegara Award 2025,” an award presented to international partner institutions, in recognition of SIT’s long-standing achievements in student exchanges, joint education, and collaborative research with ITS. Candidates for this award are recommended by the ITS International Office based on the record of collaboration, and the final decision is made by the ITS Secretary of the Institute. This year, two universities were selected: Shibaura Institute of Technology in Japan and HSE University in Russia.

\\\"スラバヤ工科大学創立65周年記念式典\\\"

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From left: Chancellor Prof. Dr. (HC) Ir Bambang Pramujati ST MSc Eng PhD,ITS and Masakazu Kimura, Member of the Board in charge of International Affairs, SIT

About Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology (ITS)
Founded in 1957, ITS is a national public science and technology university in Indonesia. It comprises the Faculty of Science and Data Analytics, Faculty of Marine Technology, Faculty of Industrial Technology And Systems Engineering, Faculty of Intelligent Electrical and Informatics Technology, Faculty of Civil, Planning, and Geo Engineering, Faculty of Creative Design and Digital Business, Faculty of Vocational, Interdisciplinary School of Management and Technology, and Faculty of Medicine and Health and is home to approximately 24,000 students. SIT has been working with ITS through a variety of international programs, including Global Project-Based Learning (Global PBL).

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News on the 65th Anniversary and Lustrum XIII of the ITS:
https://www.its.ac.id/news/2025/11/11/peringati-dies-natalis-ke-65-its-beri-penghargaan-tertinggi-kepada-sby/

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Video of the 65th Anniversary and Lustrum XIII of the ITS:
https://www.youtube.com/live/eFDMT8oUb3Q?si=Cc0gwmikTD76AMMW

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ITS News Website:
https://www.its.ac.id/news/

\",\"new_window\":\"0\",\"link_url\":\"\",\"pdf_url\":\"\",\"publish_date\":\"2025/11/18 16:26:39\",\"modified_date\":\"2025/11/18 16:31:48\",\"permalink\":\"/en/headline/detail/20251118-7150-002.html\"},{\"id\":3804,\"title\":\"Urban Infrastructure Renewal: Sustainable Circulating Mixing for Urban Pile Removal \",\"category\":[{\"basename\":\"news-13\",\"label\":\"Research\"}],\"output\":[{\"basename\":\"press_en\",\"label\":\"NEWS-PRESS RELEASE\"}],\"thumbnail_image_url\":\"/assets/SITNG_129.jpg\",\"thumbnail_image_alt\":\"\",\"link_division\":\"text\",\"meta_description\":\"\",\"text\":\"

Researchers propose an approach that pumps backfill material from the borehole bottom, showcasing remarkable uniformity throughout the entire depth

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Conventional borehole backfilling suffers from various technical limitations, making infrastructure demolition and renewal difficult. In an innovative development, researchers from Shibaura Institute of Technology have proposed a novel circulating mixing method that pumps backfill material from the bottom of boreholes with unprecedented uniformity throughout the entire depth. This technology can revolutionize urban construction and renewal projects, and disaster prevention and mitigation.

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Title: Construction procedure for the circulating mixture method
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Caption: Researchers propose a sustainable approach for urban pile removal via innovative circulating mixing evaluation. 
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Credit : Professor Shinya Inazumi from Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan
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Source Link : https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666790825002265?via%3Dihub
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License Type : CC BY 4.0
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Usage restrictions: Credit must be given to the creator. 
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Many developed nations are facing the simultaneous aging of infrastructure built during periods of rapid economic growth. Japan has reached a critical turning point where numerous buildings and structures constructed in the post-war boom era now require demolition and renewal. The catalyst intensified dramatically after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, which exposed vulnerabilities in structures failing to meet modern disaster prevention standards, leading to sharply increased demolition activity in urban areas.

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When structures are demolished, the foundation piles must be removed and classified as industrial waste, yet conventional backfilling methods consistently produce an uneven distribution of material throughout the borehole depth. This technical limitation creates serious risks, including ground settlement, structural tilting of adjacent buildings, and misalignment of newly installed foundations. As a result, the critical backfilling process lacks scientific rigor and quality control mechanisms.

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In a recent breakthrough, a team of researchers led by Professor Shinya Inazumi from Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan, has developed a novel method that can ensure uniform backfilling throughout the entire borehole depth, addressing both immediate safety concerns and long-term infrastructure sustainability. Their innovative findings were made available online on October 15, 2025 and have been published in Volume 29 of the journal Cleaner Engineering and Technology on December 1, 2025.

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The proposed circulating mixing method was validated through model tests, field experiments, and advanced numerical simulations using the moving particle semi-implicit (MPS) method within a computer-aided engineering (CAE) framework. These tests demonstrated exceptional uniformity with a coefficient of variation of only 0.036, approximately ten times better than conventional soil improvement methods that typically range from 0.3 to 0.5. In addition, the field tests on 15-meter-deep boreholes confirmed that all samples exceeded the target strength of 1,500 kN/m² with no detection of structurally inadequate weak zones.

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“Most significantly, our approach allows engineers to optimize process parameters and improve quality control by employing advanced MPS-CAE computer simulations to predict mixing behavior before construction. Moreover, it addresses Japan's urgent infrastructure renewal needs while promoting sustainability by preventing soil degradation, reducing construction waste, and minimizing the carbon footprint of urban projects,” says Prof. Inazumi.

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The findings reveal that this method is especially valuable when constructing high-rise buildings on sites with existing pile foundations, where improperly backfilled boreholes could compromise the stability of new structures worth millions of dollars. Notably, the proposed method prevents ground settlement and structural tilting that could lead to catastrophic failures during seismic events, addressing critical safety concerns in earthquake-prone regions.

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“Our study establishes a new standard for geotechnical engineering in urban redevelopment with potential worldwide applications, particularly in cities facing aging infrastructure challenges. In densely populated metropolitan areas like Tokyo, New York, or London, where numerous buildings constructed during post-war economic boom periods now require demolition and reconstruction, this technology ensures safe and efficient site preparation,” says Prof. Inazumi.

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The amalgamation of engineering techniques with numerical simulation in the proposed method enables the industry to shift from reactive quality assessment to proactive process optimization, improving the efficiency, safety, durability, and sustainability of urban redevelopment projects, especially in disaster-prone regions.

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The paradigm shift in geotechnical engineering practice can help engineering consultancies and construction companies to reassure their clients of construction quality through pre-construction numerical analysis, enhancing transparency and accountability in urban infrastructure projects.

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“Our innovative method supports sustainable urban development by minimizing construction waste and reducing the carbon footprint associated with material transportation and disposal. It further offers a pathway to improved geotechnical performance in urban infrastructure development, contributing to disaster resilience, protecting lives and property investments,” concludes Prof. Inazumi.

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Reference

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Title of original paper:

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Sustainable approach to urban pile removal through evaluation of innovative circulating mixing for urban infrastructure renewal

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Journal:

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Cleaner Engineering and Technology

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DOI:

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10.1016/j.clet.2025.101103

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Additional infotmation for EurekAlert

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Latest Article Publication Date:1 December 2025
Method of Research:\\n

Computational simulation/modeling
 

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Subject of Research:Not Applicable
 
Conflicts of Interest Statement:The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
 
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Authors

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About Professor Shinya Inazumi from SIT, Japan

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Dr. Shinya Inazumi is a Professor at the College of Engineering, Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan. He has expertise in civil and environmental engineering, with a strong focus on geotechnical engineering. With over 300 scholarly publications on topics, such as particle-method simulations, sustainable geopolymer materials, and AI-driven urban-resilience mapping, he is recognized as a leading geotechnical researcher. He has been honored with multiple awards, including the MEXT Young Scientists’ Prize (2015), ICE Publishing Environmental Geotechnics Prize (2020), ISSN Outstanding Researcher & Golden Research Awards (2020), and a Best Paper Award at the 14th International Conference on Geotechnique, Construction Materials and Environment (2024).

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Funding Information

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NA

\",\"new_window\":\"0\",\"link_url\":\"\",\"pdf_url\":\"\",\"publish_date\":\"2025/11/17 12:00:00\",\"modified_date\":\"2025/11/17 12:00:03\",\"permalink\":\"/en/headline/detail/20251117_7070_51.html\"},{\"id\":3812,\"title\":\"Revolutionizing Catalyst Synthesis for Metal–Air Batteries\",\"category\":[{\"basename\":\"news-13\",\"label\":\"Research\"}],\"output\":[{\"basename\":\"press_en\",\"label\":\"NEWS-PRESS RELEASE\"}],\"thumbnail_image_url\":\"/assets/SITNG_112_2_Image_for_Press_Release.jpg\",\"thumbnail_image_alt\":\"\",\"link_division\":\"text\",\"meta_description\":\"\",\"text\":\"

Researchers develop a novel solution plasma approach for the facile production of highly efficient, low-cost catalysts for clean energy applications 

Addressing the urgent demand for clean energy, Japanese researchers utilized a single-step solution plasma process to synthesize high-performing, cost-effective, bifunctional catalysts for metal–air batteries. Their cobalt-tin hydroxide/carbon composites rival traditional platinum- and ruthenium-based materials in both performance and long-term stability. This breakthrough significantly lowers manufacturing costs and enhances the scalability of next-generation batteries, poised to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels. 

Due to the intense global impact of fossil fuel overuse on air quality and climate, the search for advanced clean energy solutions has become critical. Metal–air batteries offer a game-changing alternative, holding the potential to replace combustion engines in various applications. By electrochemically converting oxygen from the air into power, these batteries achieve theoretical energy densities up to twelve times higher than lithium-ion cells, delivering unprecedented efficiency with zero operational emissions.

Despite their theoretical advantages, metal–air batteries have yet to achieve widespread commercial viability due to several critical obstacles. Current high-performance catalysts primarily depend on expensive precious metals, such as platinum and ruthenium, rendering them economically unfeasible for mass production and large-scale deployment. Furthermore, most existing catalyst materials are monofunctional, efficiently driving only one of the two essential electrochemical processes—the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) or the oxygen evolution reaction (OER)—but not both. Compounding these issues, the complex, multi-step synthesis processes required for these catalysts inflate manufacturing costs and severely restrict scalability.

Against this backdrop, a research team led by Professor Takahiro Ishizaki from the College of Engineering at Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan, and Assistant Professor Sangwoo Chae from Nagoya University, Japan, has been working hard to find appropriate solutions for these issues. In their latest study, published in Sustainable Energy & Fuels on May 29, 2025, they report a revolutionary single-step method for creating highly effective bifunctional catalysts using abundant, low-cost materials.

The researchers utilized the recently pioneered solution plasma process (SPP) for the synthesis, successfully creating cobalt-tin hydroxide (CoSn(OH)6) composites anchored to various carbon supports. This is a critical distinction from conventional catalyst synthesis: unlike traditional, multi-step methods that require surfactants and extensive post-processing, SPP enables rapid, single-step synthesis at room temperature under ambient atmospheric conditions. This plasma-based approach not only confers unique surface properties that significantly boost catalytic activity but also dramatically slashes manufacturing complexity and production costs.

The research team systematically produced catalysts with varied compositions and carbon structures, rigorously testing their bifunctional performance in both the oxygen reduction (ORR) and oxygen evolution (OER) reactions—the two pivotal processes determining overall battery efficiency. Their best-performing catalyst, combining CoSn(OH)6 with Ketjen Black carbon, achieved remarkable results. For oxygen evolution, it outperformed the industry-standard ruthenium oxide catalyst, requiring lower voltages to achieve the same current densities. In oxygen reduction, it exhibited performance comparable to much more expensive platinum-based catalysts while relying solely on abundant materials.

Moreover, this new catalyst proved to be quite durable, as Prof. Ishizaki remarks: “Our advanced CoSn(OH)6–Ketjen Black composite exhibited exceptional long-term stability, maintaining its superior oxygen evolution performance for over 12 hours without degradation, a crucial factor for real-world battery applications.” 

Notably, the catalyst’s ability to efficiently catalyze both required reactions represents a significant advancement in the field. The researchers measured a potential gap of just 0.835 V between the two reactions, thus enabling highly efficient energy conversion. This dual functionality eliminates the need for separate catalysts, further reducing system complexity and costs.

Detailed analysis confirms that the superior catalytic performance stems from powerful synergistic interactions between the (CoSn(OH)6) nanoparticles and the carbon support. The researchers discovered that the SPP synthesis process is key: it ensures a uniform distribution of active nanoparticles across the carbon surface, which maximizes the exposure of catalytic sites while simultaneously guaranteeing excellent electrical conductivity. Furthermore, the method offers precise control over particle size and crucial surface properties, allowing for systematic optimization of catalytic activity. “This breakthrough holds profound potential to customize and manufacture high-performance, durable, and low-cost bifunctional electrocatalysts for critical energy conversion systems,” highlights Prof. Ishizaki. “It offers a truly sustainable material alternative to commercially used precious metal-based catalysts.”

The implications of this work are far-reaching, promising a revolution across the energy sector.
Metal–air batteries powered by these newly developed catalysts could fundamentally transform energy storage for electric vehicles, offering a significantly longer range and faster charging capabilities while simultaneously reducing overall costs. Furthermore, the technology holds immense potential for grid-scale energy storage, which is crucial for the efficient integration of intermittent renewable sources like solar and wind power into electrical networks. The proposed single-step synthesis method offers equally profound industrial advantages. By eliminating complex, multi-step processing and reliance on expensive raw materials, manufacturers can produce these high-performing catalysts at a fraction of the current cost. Moreover, the ability to synthesize these materials under ambient conditions drastically reduces energy consumption and environmental impact compared to conventional high-temperature, high-pressure methods currently used in battery and catalyst production.

Overall, this research represents a crucial and transformative step toward achieving economically viable clean energy storage on a global scale, poised to significantly accelerate the essential transition away from fossil fuels in the transportation and energy sectors.
 

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Title: Towards sustainable and scalable catalysts for metal–air batteries
Caption: In this study, researchers developed a straightforward plasma-based process to produce a composite of carbon and cobalt-tin hydroxide. Under the right synthesis conditions, the resulting material exhibits exceptional properties for metal–air batteries, paving the way to more sustainable and efficient energy storage for transportation.
Credit: Professor Takahiro Ishizaki from Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan
Source Link: https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2025/se/d5se00370a 
License Type: CC BY-NC 3.0
Usage restrictions: You are free to share and adapt the material. Attribution is required.

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Reference

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Title of original paper:

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Single-step solution plasma synthesis of bifunctional CoSn(OH)6–carbon composite electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution and oxygen reduction reactions

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Journal:

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Sustainable Energy & Fuels

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DOI:

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10.1039/D5SE00370A

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Additional infotmation for EurekAlert

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Latest Article Publication Date:

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29 May 2025

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Method of Research:

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Experimental study

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Subject of Research:  

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Not applicable

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Conflicts of Interest Statement:

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There are no conflicts of interest to declare.

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Authors

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About Shibaura Institute of Technology (SIT), Japan

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Shibaura Institute of Technology (SIT) is a private university with campuses in Tokyo and Saitama. Since the establishment of its predecessor, Tokyo Higher School of Industry and Commerce, in 1927, it has maintained “learning through practice” as its philosophy in the education of engineers. SIT was the only private science and engineering university selected for the Top Global University Project sponsored by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and had received support from the ministry for 10 years starting from the 2014 academic year. Its motto, “Nurturing engineers who learn from society and contribute to society,” reflects its mission of fostering scientists and engineers who can contribute to the sustainable growth of the world by exposing their over 9,500 students to culturally diverse environments, where they learn to cope, collaborate, and relate with fellow students from around the world.

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Website: https://www.shibaura-it.ac.jp/en/

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About Professor Takahiro Ishizaki from SIT, Japan

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Professor Takahiro Ishizaki received his Ph.D. from Waseda University in 2004. He currently serves as Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, College of Engineering, Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan. His main research interests are surface engineering and the fabrication of functional energy materials. He has over 100 scientific publications to his credit.

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Funding Information

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This work was supported by the Strategic International Collaborative Research Program (SICORP) (grant number JPMJSC18H1) from the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B) (No. 24K01182), and Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists (No. 23K13565) from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)

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\\n      \",\"new_window\":\"0\",\"link_url\":\"\",\"pdf_url\":\"\",\"publish_date\":\"2025/11/17 11:00:00\",\"modified_date\":\"2025/11/17 11:00:03\",\"permalink\":\"/en/headline/detail/20251118_7985_001.html\"},{\"id\":3796,\"title\":\"Beyond Rent: Shared Houses in Tokyo Offer Lifestyle, Safety, and Community\",\"category\":[{\"basename\":\"news-13\",\"label\":\"Research\"}],\"output\":[{\"basename\":\"press_en\",\"label\":\"NEWS-PRESS RELEASE\"}],\"thumbnail_image_url\":\"/assets/SITNG_128.jpg\",\"thumbnail_image_alt\":\"\",\"link_division\":\"text\",\"meta_description\":\"\",\"text\":\"

Text-mining 1,374 property listings reveals that Tokyo’s shared houses are marketed as lifestyle-driven homes prioritizing comfort and connection over affordability

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Shared houses are redefining urban living in Tokyo. By analyzing 1,374 supplier-written property listings through text-mining, researchers identified 11 key promotional themes highlighting safety, community, and convenience as the main selling points. The study uncovers how shared houses are promoted not as low-cost options but as lifestyle-oriented spaces that foster social connection and urban comfort, reflecting Japan’s shifting housing values and evolving notions of city living.

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Title: Distribution of Shared Houses and Rental Prices Across Tokyo
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Caption: The maps illustrate differences in rental market prices (a) and the number of shared houses (b) across Tokyo’s municipalities. While rents are highest within the 23 central wards, shared houses are also concentrated in these areas, indicating that accessibility and lifestyle appeal outweigh cost in shaping their distribution.
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Credit : Professor Yuno Tanaka from Shibaura Institute of Technology, Tokyo
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Source Link : https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264275125008455
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License type : CC BY 4.0
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Usage restrictions: Credit must be given to the creator.
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Rapid social and demographic change has reshaped how people live and connect in cities. In Tokyo, where urban density meets growing individualization, a new form of collective housing—shared houses—is redefining what home means. To understand how these spaces are marketed and perceived, researchers analyzed the descriptions of 1,374 shared houses listed by property suppliers on a major real estate website, uncovering how shared living is framed as a lifestyle choice rather than a cost-saving one.

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The study, conducted by Associate Professor Yuno Tanaka from the Shibaura Institute of Technology, Tokyo, in collaboration with Dr. Kashin Sugishita from the Institute of Science Tokyo, applies large-scale text-mining analysis to explore the narratives used by property suppliers. Their findings, published in Volume 169 of the journal Cities, on October 8, 2025, reveal how the language of marketing reflects the evolving social values of urban life.

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“We text-mined supplier descriptions for 1,374 properties in Tokyo—identifying 11 promotional themes—and found that shared houses are marketed as lifestyle products that emphasize safety, community, and convenience rather than cheap rent,” says Prof. Tanaka

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The researchers extracted descriptive texts from Hitsuji Real Estate, a major website featuring shared houses, and used a combination of topic modeling, co-occurrence network analysis, and correspondence analysis to detect patterns across property listings. Eleven thematic clusters emerged, including “enjoyment of shared living,” “female-only and safety,” “convenience of the surrounding area,” and “common spaces.”

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The results painted a diverse and nuanced picture of Tokyo’s shared housing market. Roughly half of the listed properties were mixed-sex, while nearly half were female-only—indicating both inclusivity and gender-specific considerations in housing demand. The analysis further revealed that properties near train stations frequently emphasized accessibility and neighborhood convenience, whereas those located farther away highlighted natural surroundings, interior comfort, and social interaction.

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Interestingly, rental affordability was rarely mentioned, contradicting common assumptions that shared housing primarily appeals to those seeking cheaper rent. Instead, suppliers promoted experiential and emotional benefits—such as comfort, connection, and personal growth—suggesting a shift toward what economists call an “experience economy” in the housing sector.

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“As individualization advances, shared houses offer community, safety, and move-in ease rather than only price relief,” explains Prof. Tanaka.  “Our study shows how these values are strategically constructed by suppliers, expanding diverse living options in dense cities.”

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The study’s implications extend beyond Tokyo. By analyzing how property descriptions shape perceptions of shared housing, the research demonstrates how text-mining approaches can support smarter, data-driven housing recommendations.

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“In addition to conventional home searches that filter by price or location, analyzing supplier-written listing descriptions can help match properties with seekers’ preferences and reduce mismatches in property selection,” says Prof. Tanaka.

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Such analyses could also inform urban regeneration strategies. The authors suggest that promoting underused properties through lifestyle-oriented narratives can bring new life to buildings in less accessible areas, potentially contributing to the revitalization of local communities.

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“By enabling flexible choice among a diverse range of housing options, homes that have until now stood vacant due to disadvantages—such as poor accessibility—can be brought back into use,” notes Prof. Tanaka. “This could help rejuvenate neighborhoods and promote more inclusive urban living.”

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Overall, the study highlights a subtle yet powerful transformation in how housing is conceived and communicated. As Tokyo—and other global cities—grapples with aging populations, rising single-person households, and urban crowding, shared houses are emerging as a symbol of balance between privacy and community, convenience, and character. By bridging data science and urban sociology, this research underscores that the future of city living may depend as much on how homes are described as on how they are designed.

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Reference

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Title of original paper:

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Shared houses in Tokyo: Property characteristics and supplier promotions

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Journal:

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Cities

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DOI:

\\n		10.1016/j.cities.2025.106542 
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Additional infotmation for EurekAlert

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Latest Article Publication Date:8 October 2025
Method of Research:\\n

Content analysis
 

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Subject of Research:Not applicable
 
Conflicts of Interest Statement:No conflicts of interest to declare.
 
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Authors

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About Associate Professor Yuno Tanaka from SIT, Japan

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Yuno Tanaka is an Associate Professor at the Department of Civil Engineering, Shibaura Institute of Technology, Tokyo, Japan. She holds a Ph.D. in Architecture from Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University. With over eight years of teaching experience, she has published 14 peer-reviewed papers and received five major awards, including the 2022 Tokyo Institute of Technology Engineering Education Award. Her research focuses on social infrastructure, urban and architectural planning, and community-based housing design, exploring how spatial formation and shared living models contribute to sustainable urban development.

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Funding Information

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This work was supported by JSPS, Japan KAKENHI Grant Number 20K14900.

\",\"new_window\":\"0\",\"link_url\":\"\",\"pdf_url\":\"\",\"publish_date\":\"2025/11/14 12:00:00\",\"modified_date\":\"2025/11/14 12:00:04\",\"permalink\":\"/en/headline/detail/20251114_7070_51.html\"},{\"id\":3766,\"title\":\"Astringent, Sharper Mind: Flavanols Trigger Brain Activity for Memory and Stress Response\",\"category\":[{\"basename\":\"news-13\",\"label\":\"Research\"}],\"output\":[{\"basename\":\"press_en\",\"label\":\"NEWS-PRESS RELEASE\"}],\"thumbnail_image_url\":\"/assets/thumbnail_2.png\",\"thumbnail_image_alt\":\"\",\"link_division\":\"text\",\"meta_description\":\"\",\"text\":\"

The beneficial effects of dietary flavanols can be attributed to their ability to activate brain and stress responses 

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Flavanols are plant-derived compounds known for their astringent taste , exhibiting pro- or antioxidant properties depending on the environment. Due to poor bioavailability, the mechanism of their health promotion activity remains unclear. A new study has determined  the mechanism of action of dietary flavanols via the brain-gut axis.  A single oral intake of flavanols stimulated brain regions involved in memory and sleep-wake regulation, and increased sympathetic nervous activity, a stress response. These findings may lead to future applications, such as the development of next-generation foods.

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Title: Physiological effects of astringent flavanols (FLs).
Caption:A single oral administration of astringent FLs stimulated the central nervous system, activating the hypothalamic coricotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) neurons. The secreted CRH activated the noradrenaline (NA) neural network in the locus coeruleus (LC). The projection of NA from LC to the hypothalamus preoptic area suppresses sleep and promotes wakefulness. The projection of NA and dopamine (DA) from LC and DA from the ventral tegmental area to the hippocampus enhances memory. The projection of NA from LC to the brainstem activates sympathetic nerve activity, augmenting circulation and metabolism.
Credit: Dr. Yasuyuki Fujii from Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan
Source Link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2665927125002266 
License Type: CC BY 4.0
Usage restrictions: Credit must be given to the creator.

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Astringency is a dry, puckering, rough, or sandpapery sensation in the mouth causedplant-derived polyphenols. Polyphenols, including flavanols, are well known for risk reduction in cardiovascular diseases. Flavanols, found abundantly in cocoa, red wine, and berries, are associated with improved memory and cognition, as well as protection against neuronal damage. Despite these benefits, flavanols have poor bioavailability—the fraction that actually enters the bloodstream after ingestion. This has left an important knowledge gap: how can flavanols influence brain function and the nervous system when so little of them is absorbed? 

In response to this challenge, a research team led by Dr. Yasuyuki Fujii and Professor Naomi Osakabe from Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan, investigated how flavanols affect the nervous system through sensory stimulation. The study, made available online on September 11, 2025, and published in Volume 11 of the journal Current Research in Food Science, tested the hypothesis that the astringent taste of flavanols may act as a direct signal to the brain. “Flavanols exhibit an astringent taste. We hypothesized that this taste serves as a stimulus, transmitting signals directly to the central nervous system (comprising the brain and spinal cord). As a result, it is thought that flavanol stimulation is transmitted via sensory nerves to activate the brain, subsequently inducing physiological responses in the periphery through the sympathetic nervous system. ” explains Dr. Fujii. 

The researchers conducted experiments in 10-week-old mice, administering flavanols orally at doses of 25 mg/kg or 50 mg/kg body weight, while control mice received only distilled water. Behavioral tests showed that flavanol-fed mice exhibited greater motor activity, exploratory behavior, and improved learning and memory compared to controls. Flavanols enhanced neurotransmitter activity across several brain regions. Dopamine and its precursor levodopa, norepinephrine and its metabolite normetanephrine were elevated in the locus coeruleus–noradrenaline network immediately after the administration. These chemicals regulate motivation, attention, stress response, and arousal. Furthermore, enzymes critical for noradrenaline synthesis (tyrosine hydroxylase and dopamine-β-hydroxylase) and transport (vesicular monoamine transporter 2) were upregulated, strengthening the signaling capacity of the noradrenergic system.

In addition, biochemical analysis revealed higher urinary levels of catecholamines—hormones released during stress—as well as increased activity in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN), a brain region central to stress regulation. Flavanol administration also boosted the expression of c-Fos (a key transcription factor) and corticotropin-releasing hormone in the PVN. 

Taken together, these results demonstrate that flavanol intake can trigger wide-ranging physiological responses resembling those induced by exercise—functioning as a moderate stressor that activates the central nervous system and enhances attention, arousal, and memory. “Stress responses elicited by flavanols in this study are similar to those elicited by physical exercise. Thus, moderate intake of flavanols, despite their poor bioavailability, can improve the health and quality of life,” remarks Dr. Fujii.

These findings have potential implications in the field of sensory nutrition. In particular, next-generation foods can be developed based on the sensory properties, physiological effects, and palatability of foods. 

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Title of original paper:

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Astringent flavanol fires the locus-noradrenergic system, regulating neurobehavior and autonomic nerves

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Journal:

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Current Research in Food Science

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DOI:

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10.1016/j.crfs.2025.101195

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Additional infotmation for EurekAlert

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Latest Article Publication Date:

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11 September 2025

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Method of Research:

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Experimental study

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Subject of Research:  

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Animals

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Conflicts of Interest Statement:

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The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

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Authors

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About Dr. Yasuyuki Fujii from SIT, Japan

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Dr. Yasuyuki Fujii is a researcher at the Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan. He is a postdoctoral researcher in the SIT Research Laboratories, working under the supervision of Professor Naomi Osakabe at the Department of Bioscience and Engineering. His research focuses on the biological and physiological effects of flavanols. He is the recipient of several awards, including the Arimoto Prize from SIT and the Ikushi Award from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. He has published his studies in several peer-reviewed journals, including Biomolecules, Neuroscience Letter, , and Food Bioscience.

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Funding Information

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This work was supported by JSPS KAKENHI (Grant Number 23H02166).

\",\"new_window\":\"0\",\"link_url\":\"\",\"pdf_url\":\"\",\"publish_date\":\"2025/10/31 12:00:00\",\"modified_date\":\"2025/10/31 12:00:03\",\"permalink\":\"/en/headline/detail/20251031_7070_1.html\"},{\"id\":3768,\"title\":\"Distributor-Type Membrane Reactor for Carbon Dioxide Methanation\",\"category\":[{\"basename\":\"news-13\",\"label\":\"Research\"}],\"output\":[{\"basename\":\"press_en\",\"label\":\"NEWS-PRESS RELEASE\"}],\"thumbnail_image_url\":\"/assets/SITNG_126_3_Image.jpg\",\"thumbnail_image_alt\":\"\",\"link_division\":\"text\",\"meta_description\":\"\",\"text\":\"

Researchers investigate the effect of membrane properties on the methanation reaction to promote carbon neutrality

Distribution-type membrane reactors are expected to be highly promising for carbon dioxide methanation reaction. In a recent breakthrough, a group of scientists from Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan, has demonstrated the efficacy of these reactors and also examined the effect of membrane properties on reaction parameters. The present findings are a significant step towards a greener, cleaner, and more sustainable future. 

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Climate change, expedited by anthropogenic activities, has become a major environmental concern in this century. Governments and organizations worldwide are gradually making substantial efforts to mitigate this challenge. A concrete step in this direction is to develop novel technologies that capture and convert low-concentration carbon dioxide into useful products. Recently, scientists have proposed carbon dioxide methanation in a membrane reactor as a promising approach. Specifically, distribution-type membrane reactors are appealing owing to high catalyst activity through hotspot formation mitigation.

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 Although the effectiveness of membrane reactors has been confirmed, the efficiency of membrane properties and heat transfer characteristics of membrane materials remain unclear.

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 In a new study, a team of researchers led by Professor Mikihiro Nomura from Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan, and including Yuka Shimizu from the same institute and Marcin Moździerz, Grzegorz Brus, and Elzbieta Fornalik-Wajs from AGH University of Krakow, Poland, has demonstrated the novelty of distribution-type membrane reactor for carbon dioxide utilization. Their findings were made available online on 17 September 2025 and have been published in Volume 462 of the journal Catalysis Today on 1 February 2026.

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“Through a double degree program between Shibaura Institute of Technology and AGH University of Krakow, we evaluated heat transfer in membrane components, which enabled us to demonstrate the specific advantages of the membrane reactors addressed in our research,” explains Prof. Nomura.

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 Following this, the team controlled the reaction rate inside the reactor by distributed reactant feeding through the membrane. They subsequently conducted accurate thermal conductivity evaluation of the porous alumina (Al2O3) membrane with minute physical and chemical structural features via laser flash analysis measurements. The thermal conductivity in the solid part of this sample was measured to be 36.4% lower than that of non-porous alumina.

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 The researchers then utilized a catalytic membrane with a silica separation layer—with a hydrogen gas permeance of 1.4 × 10⁻⁶ mol m−2 s−1 Pa−1 and a hydrogen-to-carbon dioxide selectivity of 35.9—in the distributor-type membrane reactor test. They obtained a high carbon dioxide conversion of 92.3% at 350 ℃.

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 Built on these results, the team carried out Ansys Fluent software-based simulations to examine the impact of membrane thermal conductivity and permselectivity. The team set carbon dioxide permeance of the membrane to 3.91 × 10−8 mol m−2 s−1 Pa−1 for all situations, finding that the carbon dioxide permselective membrane with a high selectivity of 35.9 produces about 1.4 times more methane than the hydrogen permselective membrane with a low selectivity of 0.10. Furthermore, higher thermal conductivity of the membrane suppresses the temperature rise in the reactor.

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“Membrane reactors enable spatially distributed reactant feeding within the reactor, providing enhanced control over reaction rates and temperature profiles in both the axial (flow) and the radial (membrane surface) directions. This unique capability and membrane shape make them well-suited for application in small-scale facilities. Therefore, applying membrane reactors to small-scale carbon dioxide emission sources—which are commonly owned by many small- and medium-sized enterprises with limited funding—will accelerate the realization of a carbon-neutral society. In particular, we anticipate their use in small combustion devices such as boilers, an area that has received little attention in efforts to combat global warming,” concludes Prof. Nomura.

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 These results can also guide other exothermic processes such as hydrocarbon partial oxidation in membrane reactor systems, boosting sustainable technologies.

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Title of original paper:

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Effect of membrane properties on CO2 methanation reaction by using distributor type membrane reactor

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Journal:

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Catalysis Today

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DOI:

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10.1016/j.cattod.2025.115569

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Additional infotmation for EurekAlert

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Latest Article Publication Date:

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1 February 2026

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Method of Research:

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Experimental study

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Subject of Research:  

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Not applicable 

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Conflicts of Interest Statement:

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The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

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Authors

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About Shibaura Institute of Technology (SIT), Japan

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Shibaura Institute of Technology (SIT) is a private university with campuses in Tokyo and Saitama. Since the establishment of its predecessor, Tokyo Higher School of Industry and Commerce, in 1927, it has maintained “learning through practice” as its philosophy in the education of engineers. SIT was the only private science and engineering university selected for the Top Global University Project sponsored by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and had received support from the ministry for 10 years starting from the 2014 academic year. Its motto, “Nurturing engineers who learn from society and contribute to society,” reflects its mission of fostering scientists and engineers who can contribute to the sustainable growth of the world by exposing their over 9,500 students to culturally diverse environments, where they learn to cope, collaborate, and relate with fellow students from around the world.

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Website: https://www.shibaura-it.ac.jp/en/

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About Professor Mikihiro Nomura from SIT, Japan

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Professor Mikihiro Nomura leads the Separation Systems Engineering Laboratory at Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan. With a focus on ceramic membrane separation technology, Prof. Nomura aims to advance efficient separation processes for hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and wastewater, contributing to the realization of a carbon-neutral society. Through innovative approaches and a commitment to sustainability, he and his team strive to address pressing environmental challenges with cutting-edge engineering solutions.

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\\n  \",\"new_window\":\"0\",\"link_url\":\"\",\"pdf_url\":\"\",\"publish_date\":\"2025/10/30 11:40:00\",\"modified_date\":\"2025/10/30 11:42:38\",\"permalink\":\"/en/headline/detail/20251031_7070_001.html\"},{\"id\":3773,\"title\":\"Researchers Develop a Power-Free Acoustic Testing System Using Bubble Wrap Bursts\",\"category\":[{\"basename\":\"news-13\",\"label\":\"Research\"}],\"output\":[{\"basename\":\"press_en\",\"label\":\"NEWS-PRESS RELEASE\"}],\"thumbnail_image_url\":\"/assets/20251027.jpg\",\"thumbnail_image_alt\":\"\",\"link_division\":\"text\",\"meta_description\":\"\",\"text\":\"

A novel method harnesses bubble wrap bursting sounds as an impulse source for safe, affordable, and non-destructive testing

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Scientists from Shibaura Institute of Technology have developed a power-free acoustic testing system that uses the sound of bursting bubble wrap as an impulse source. The system can detect foreign objects in pipes with a 2% error margin using wavelet-based sound analysis. This eco-friendly, low-cost approach eliminates the need for specialist equipment, making on-site inspections safer and easier, even in flammable environments. 

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Title: Close-up view of bubble wrap used for acoustic testing
Caption: A close-up of burstable bubble wrap, the material used to generate impulse sound waves for non-destructive testing.

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Credit: Hey Paul from Flickr

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Source Link: https://openverse.org/image/63c31bcf-1003-4d8f-936f-99e84570a10e?q=bubble+wrap&p=3

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License Type: CC BY 2.0

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Usage restrictions: Credit must be given to the creator.

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Non-destructive testing allows engineers to evaluate the integrity of structures such as pipelines, tanks, bridges, and machinery without dismantling them. Conventional approaches rely on loudspeakers, lasers, or electric sparks. While effective, these systems can be difficult or dangerous to use in flammable or confined areas and require considerable power to function effectively.

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Now, a new study from Japan, available online in Measurement on October 8, 2025, shows how a common packaging material can replace power-hungry devices in non-destructive testing. The team, led by Professor Naoki Hosoya, along with Shuichi Yahagi from Tokyo City University, Toshiki Shimizu and Seiya Inadera from the Shibaura Institute of Technology, and Itsuro Kajiwara of Hokkaido University, found a simple way to test pipes for hidden flaws by using bubble wrap. The researchers discovered that the sharp crack of a bubble burst can be a viable substitute for the expensive, energy-dependent tools usually employed in non-destructive testing. The researchers claim the method can detect objects inside a pipe within a 2% error margin, without requiring electricity or heavy equipment.

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The team and I sought a simpler solution: a sound source that is small, inexpensive, and safe to operate in almost any setting,” Professor Hosoya said. “Bubble wrap is a small, inexpensive, and mass-produced product that does not require a power supply, so it is useful in the field, such as under construction.”

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The researchers tested several types of bubble wrap and measured their acoustic characteristics, including peak sound pressure, pulse width, and frequency range. To their surprise, the bursts produced frequencies of up to 40 kilohertz, sufficient for precise acoustic testing. The team then built a system using bubble wrap as the sound source, a microphone for signal collection, and a computer running wavelet-based sound analysis to track how sound waves reflected inside a pipe.

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Compared with traditional impulse sources such as loudspeakers, firecrackers, or laser-induced plasma, the bubble-wrap system eliminates complex wiring and potential hazards. It can also be safely used in flammable environments where electrical devices might pose a risk. By analyzing how the echoes changed when a foreign object was present, the researchers were able to identify the object’s position with a high degree of accuracy.

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 Bubble wrap, long considered a disposable packaging material, gained a new scientific role in this study. By adjusting bubble size and film thickness, the team could alter the strength and direction of the generated sound, turning a common material into a controllable tool for acoustic testing. The system proved both accurate and portable. With only a sheet of bubble wrap and a microphone, the team could identify small variations in reflected sound that revealed the position of internal obstructions. The accuracy of these measurements was comparable to results obtained using far more complex devices.

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The technique’s flexibility also allows it to be adapted to different situations. Changing bubble size or internal pressure shifts the sound frequency, enabling the method to be applied to various pipe diameters and materials. The simplicity of the setup means that one operator can perform inspections with minimal training. “This system may be used in NDT to detect foreign objects in pipework on-site, such as in the construction of buildings, because these sound sources have sufficient acoustic performance, such as an almost impulsive, omnidirectional radiation pattern, repeatability, cost-efficiency, portability, and no power supply in practical use, compared to conventional acoustic excitation devices,” explained Prof Hosoya. 

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What began as a moment of curiosity, an observation made while casually popping bubble wrap, became a practical acoustic measurement tool. The study demonstrates how familiar materials can yield precise scientific applications when examined systematically. Instead of relying on large or specialized instruments, the researchers used a burst of compressed air from the plastic to perform the same function. The group plans to further test the system under varying temperature and pressure conditions and to explore ways to develop a compact, handheld version suitable for field inspections. Continued refinement may improve sensitivity, allowing the detection of deeper or more complex structures.

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This research illustrates that meaningful innovation does not always depend on complex materials or large budgets. Sometimes, it emerges from ordinary experiences. In this case, a sheet of bubble wrap, simple, inexpensive, and widely available, has become a new tool for examining structures without causing damage.

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Reference

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Title of original paper:

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Electric-power free impulse point sound source generation system with bubble wrap bursting phenomena for simplified non-destructive testing

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Journal:

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Measurement

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DOI:

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10.1016/j.measurement.2025.119192

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Additional infotmation for EurekAlert

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Latest Article Publication Date:

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8 October 2025

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Method of Research:

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Experimental study

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Subject of Research:  

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Not applicable

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Conflicts of Interest Statement:

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The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

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Authors

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About Shibaura Institute of Technology (SIT), Japan

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Shibaura Institute of Technology (SIT) is a private university with campuses in Tokyo and Saitama. Since the establishment of its predecessor, Tokyo Higher School of Industry and Commerce, in 1927, it has maintained “learning through practice” as its philosophy in the education of engineers. SIT was the only private science and engineering university selected for the Top Global University Project sponsored by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and had received support from the ministry for 10 years starting from the 2014 academic year. Its motto, “Nurturing engineers who learn from society and contribute to society,” reflects its mission of fostering scientists and engineers who can contribute to the sustainable growth of the world by exposing their over 9,500 students to culturally diverse environments, where they learn to cope, collaborate, and relate with fellow students from around the world.

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Website: https://www.shibaura-it.ac.jp/en/

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About Professor Naoki Hosoya from SIT, Japan

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Professor Naoki Hosoya is a faculty member at the Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, College of Engineering, Shibaura Institute of Technology, Tokyo. He heads the Mechanical Dynamics Laboratory, where his research focuses on acoustic testing, vibration measurement, and non-destructive evaluation of structures. With over 80 academic publications, he is an active member of the Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers and the Acoustical Society of Japan, and is known for developing innovative and sustainable testing methods that enhance structural safety and diagnostic efficiency.

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Funding Information

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The study was financially supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science under the Fostering Joint International Research (B) (Grant No. JP22KK0053) and the Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B) (Grant No. JP24K00838).

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