Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences
Tohoku University

A research group led by Dr. Yuanyuan Guo of the Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences (FRIS) has developed a neural device that detects specific neurotransmitters in the brain with high sensitivity and selectivity by combining multifunctional fibers and DNA molecular probes.   Details of their research were published in the journal Analytical Chemistry on April 24, 2023. Figure: The aptamer-coupled microelectrode fiber sensors (apta-μFS) for neurochemical sensing. (Credit: T. Saizaki et al.) It is estimated that over a billion people suffer from brain disorders worldwide. Current therapeutic techniques use electrical modalities to establish an interface with the brain. This typically involves electrodes being used to read electrical potential or deliver electrical currents to specific tissues of organs in the body.   However, cells inside the brain communicate with each other via chemical signals, and thus researchers have been looking for ways to measure and manipulate both the electrical and chemical signals.   One such breakthrough in this regard has been microscopic, thermally-drawn microelectronic fiber-based neural probes that can act as an interface with the brain across electrical, chemical, optical, and mechanical modalities. Still, the capabilities of this technology for studying intrinsic in-brain chemistry have yet to be explored, and few attempts have studied how it could be integrated with multi-modal and multi-level brain studies.   “We expanded the capabilities of the fibers to include neurochemical sensing,” says Dr. Yuanyuan Guo, associate professor at Tohoku University's Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences (FRIS), and leader of the research group. “We coupled aptamers, a new type of biosensor comprising a single strand of synthetic DNA with customizable sequences, on the microelectronic fibers. These defined aptamers sense neurochemicals with high sensitivity and high selectivity.”   Aptamers can be thought of as keys that specifically unlock the locks of certain target molecules. Like a key fits into a specific lock and opens it, an aptamer can bind to a specific molecule and interact with it in a selective manner.   In the study, the defined aptamer sequences bound to specific molecules with a high affinity, inducing a reversible three-dimensional conformational change from a relatively simple chain structure into a complex structure wrapping around targets. Aptamers were tagged with ferrocene as an electrochemical readout for target molecule and aptamer binding.   The research group focused on dopamine due to its physiological significance in mediating learning behavior and motivation. But Guo points out that this sensing mechanism is applicable to other molecules regardless of their charge or electrochemical profile. “Our discovery provides a universal method for fiber surface modification, to monitor wide-range molecules of interest.”   Ultimately, the breakthrough will hopefully enable the development of new brain research and methods for the prevention and treatment of diseases of the brain and organs that have not been elucidated to date. Publication Details Title: The development of aptamer-coupled microelectrode fiber sensors (apta-μFS) for highly selective neurochemical sensing Authors: Tomoki Saizaki, Mahiro Kubo, Yuichi Sato, Hiroya Abe, Tomokazu Ohshiro, Hajime Mushiake, Fabien Sorin and Yuanyuan Guo* (*corresponding author) Journal: Analytical Chemistry DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.2c05046 Press Release: Tohoku University https://www.tohoku.ac.jp/en/press/reading_chemicals_inside_brain_aptamer_microelectronic_fiber_combination.html School of Engineering, Tohoku University https://www.eng.tohoku.ac.jp/english/news/detail-,-id,2528.html School of Medicine, Tohoku University https://www.med.tohoku.ac.jp/english/news/press/912/

The Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Tohoku University, plans to recruit approximately seven assistant professors beginning in 2024. For details, please refer to the Call for Applications to be posted on the Institute's website on Tuesday, May 30, 2023.   An information session for this recruitment will be held online in the afternoon of Monday, June 19, 2023 (Japan Standard Time). Registration for the information session will also be announced in the Call for Applications.   Outline of Recruitment (tentative) ※ Please be sure to check the Call for Applications before applying. Number of Positions Approximately Seven Assistant Professors Research Field and Job Description Six research categories (1. Material and Energy, 2. Life and Environment, 3. Information and System, 4. Device and Technology, 5. Human and Society, 6. Advanced Basic Science). Successful applicants will be required to promote interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary sciences as a principal investigator (PI) Required Qualifications PhD degree at the time of appointment Term 5 years (May continue to be hired as a tenured assistant professor or a fixed-term associate professor upon review.) Starting Date April 1, 2024 (subject to negotiation) Application Deadline Late July 2023 Requested Documents The following are planned, but please be sure to check the Call for Applications. Curriculum Vitae (in our provided format) List of research achievements Brief statement detailing your research achievements Research proposal (in our provided format) One letter of recommendation Brief introduction of up to 5 major papers or up to 5 major achievements

The 2022 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to Alain Aspect, John Clauser, and Anton Zeilinger for their works on "quantum nonlocality" in quantum mechanics. Quantum nonlocality is a phenomenon where connected particles can affect each other instantly, regardless of the distance separated.   Imagine you owned a pair of gloves. These gloves are a pair and therefore correlated in some way, no matter how far apart they are. One day, you place one of the gloves into your backpack and hop on a flight to travel to another country, while the other glove remains at home. According to quantum nonlocality, if you changed the color of the glove you brought with you, the color of the glove back home would instantaneously change too, despite being separated by a large distance.   Nonlocality violates many of the concepts predicted by classical physics, where particles' properties are predetermined and change occurs only through direct physical interaction or fields propagated at a finite speed. Nonlocality has a wide array of implications for understanding the future of reality, quantum mechanics, and the development of quantum technologies.   There exist several ways to define and interpret nonlocality. For instance, a set of mathematical expressions called the Bell and CHSH inequalities demonstrates nonlocality by violating inequalities. Meanwhile, Lucien Hardy proposed an alternative interpretation of quantum nonlocality in 1992 when he developed the Hardy Paradox.   Suppose there are three quantities A, B, and C, where A is greater than B and B is greater than C. Intuitively, and according to a fundamental mathematical property known as the transitive property (or local hidden variable theories in physics), this would render A greater than C. However, Hardy noted that there is still room for a situation where C is greater than A. This violates the transitive property, and such violations are possible in the quantum world when particles are entangled with each other. In other words, this is nonlocality.   We can use "rock-paper-scissors" to imagine this. While it is evident that rock beats scissors and scissors beat paper, it is impossible for the rock to beat paper. Paper beating rock does not align with any mathematical reasoning, hence why it is a paradox.   Figure 1: The Hardy nonlocality can be interpreted as a rock-paper-scissors game: while rock beats scissors and scissors beat paper, it is impossible for the rock to beat the paper; instead, the paper beats the rock, which causes a paradox, i.e., nonlocality. ©Tohoku University A recent study, published in the journal American Physical Review A, has made interesting revelations about the Hardy nonlocality. The study was co-authored by Dr. Le Bin Ho from Tohoku University's Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences (FRIS).   "The Hardy nonlocality has significant implications for understanding fundamental quantum mechanics, and it is vital for strengthening the probability of nonlocal," said Le. "We used quantum computers and methods to investigate the measurement of Hardy nonlocality to improve its probability."   Le and his colleagues did this by proposing a theoretical framework for attaining a higher nonlocal probability. They verified this by using a theoretical model and a quantum simulation. Despite previous studies showing the opposite, they discovered that nonlocal probability increases as the number of particles grows. This suggests that quantum effects persist even at larger scales, further challenging classical theories of physics.   Le says these findings have important ramifications for understanding quantum mechanics and its potential applications in communications. "Understanding quantum nonlocality can lead to groundbreaking technological advancements, such as the secure transmission of information through quantum communication via nonlocality resources."   Figure 2: The nonlocal probability increases as the number of particles grows, which differs from previous studies. ©Tohoku University Publication Details: Title: Increased success probability in Hardy's nonlocality: Theory and demonstration Authors: Duc Minh Tran, Van-Duy Nguyen, Le Bin Ho, Hung Q. Nguyen Journal: Physical Review A DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevA.107.042210 Press Release: Tohoku University https://www.tohoku.ac.jp/en/press/searching_for_stronger_nonlocality_using_quantum_computers.html

Schrodinger's cat is a thought experiment in quantum mechanics that explores the idea of superposition, where an object can exist in two states at the same time. In the experiment, a hypothetical cat is placed in a box, and its state remains unknown until the box is opened and the cat is observed. However, watching the cat also alters its state, potentially leading to a different outcome than if the box had not been opened at all. This paradox highlights the strange and counterintuitive nature of quantum mechanics.   Dr. Le Bin Ho of FRIS, Tohoku University, and his colleague have discovered a new way to peek inside Schrödinger's box using quantum computers without altering what is inside. They use a technique called quantum compilation, which transforms the system's state into a special type of computer program called a quantum circuit. This quantum circuit then reflects the cat's state in the box, much like a mirror reflecting an object, so we can observe its status without harming it. This breakthrough opens up new possibilities for quantum computing and helps us better understand the mysteries of quantum mechanics.   The method is precious for quantum state tomography, a technique used in quantum mechanics to determine a system's state. It uses quantum compilation to transform the state into a quantum circuit. Once the state is represented in this way, it can be utilized across various fields such as quantum computing, quantum cryptography, and quantum simulation.   This discovery was published in Scientific Reports on March 6, 2023. Figure: Quantum compilation is like a mirror that reflects the image of a cat inside a box from the real space to the computational space, allowing us to observe the cat's status without causing any harm to it. Publication Details: Vu Tuan Hai and Le Bin Ho Scientific Reports "Universal compilation for quantum state tomography" DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-30983-4 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-30983-4

Outline We invite proposals for interdisciplinary themes and subjects by young researchers for “FRIS Creative Interdisciplinary Collaboration Program”. Submitted proposals are to be reviewed by FRIS committee. We appreciate your application based on original ideas and new points of view.   Research budget 1,000,000 yen for each fiscal year.   Eligible research group for application A research group should consist of at least two members. Assistant professor in FRIS must apply this program as a principal researcher.   Eligibility and How to apply Principal researcher (Research representative) should be an assistant professor in FRIS. Applicants should fill in the application form (A4 2 pages) and follow directions. Upload the PDF file through the following URL: URL: https://forms.gle/upTihhJFFNoQJdkj8  Deadline April 14th 2023, 17:00.   For details please see the application guidelines.   Guidelines（PDF） Application（word） Contact Prof. Saida, (call extension 92-5752 or e-mail to @ ) Specially assigned associate professor Suzuki, (call extension 92-4353 or e-mail to @).

Outline One of the objectives of Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences (FRIS) is adoption and promotion for basic research themes beyond the typical disciplines. FRIS has basic experiment facilities and devices to meet the demand of interdisciplinary studies. We invite proposals for interdisciplinary themes and subjects in order to support the seminal studies of 6 domains of (1) Materials and Energy, (2) Life and Environmental science, (3) Information and Systems, (4) Device technology, (5) Human and Society, (6) Advanced basic science for “FRIS Creative Interdisciplinary Research Program”. Submitted proposals are to be reviewed by FRIS committee.We encourage application from young researchers such as assistant prof., lecturer, associate prof. We appreciate your application based on new original ideas and new points of view.   Research budget 1,000,000 yen for each fiscal year.   Qualification requirements Principal researcher (Research representative) should be a member of Tohoku University except FRIS as assistant professor, lecturer and associate professor. Especially, we encourage application from young researchers. Eligibility and How to apply Principal researcher (Research representative) should be a member of Tohoku University except FRIS as assistant professor, lecturer and associate professor. Especially, we encourage application from young researchers. Applicants should fill in the application form (A4 2 pages) and follow directions. Upload the PDF file through the following URL: URL: https://forms.gle/pkFBzaLFZnW6uZx48  Deadline April 14th 2023, 17:00.   For details please see the application guidelines.   Guidelines（PDF） Application（word） Contact Prof. Saida, (call extension 92-5752 or e-mail to @ ) Specially assigned associate professor Suzuki, (call extension 92-4353 or e-mail to @).

The Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) has selected and announced Principal Investigators (PIs) and research proposals for the FY2022 FOREST (Fusion Oriented REsearch for disruptive Science and Technology) program.   The total number of applications was 2,790, of which 263 were selected, and Dr. Weng's project "Design-Centered Governance for Human-Robot Co-Existence: From the Ethical Design Perspective" was among the selected proposals.   Dr. Weng comments "From IEEE's international standardization promotion activities, I would like to try the methodology and demonstration experiment of intelligent robot ethical design and realize a new artificial intelligence ethical standard called legal machine language."   Including those selected in FY2020 and FY2021, eight young researchers from FRIS became PIs of the FOREST program. List of PIs of FOREST Program (Tohoku University) https://www.tohoku.ac.jp/japanese/newimg/newsimg/news20230130_jst.pdf FOREST Program (JST) https://www.jst.go.jp/souhatsu/en/index.html List of PIs of FOREST Program (JST) https://www.jst.go.jp/souhatsu/document/res2022.pdf

Imagine if a t-shirt could analyze sweat, potentially alerting the wearer to any health abnormalities. Well, this is now closer to reality thanks to a research group's recent innovation.   Fibers and fabrics are ever-present in our daily lives, and their origins are intertwined with the history of human civilization. Although centuries of human progression have unfolded, much remains unchanged for fibers and fabrics.   Yet recent advancements in the multi-material fiber drawing process have ushered in a new era of multifunctional, fiber-based smart fabrics.   Smart fabrics allow for the seamless integration of electronics, optics, biosensors, and mechanics into a thin strand of fiber that is intrinsically flexible and as thin as a human hair. These fabrics can then be used to monitor vital physiological signals related to our mental and physical health status.   Dr. Yuanyuan Guo, assistant professor at Tohoku University's Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences, led a team of researchers to develop a microelectronic fiber with microscopic parameters that is capable of analyzing electrolytes and metabolites in sweat. Its micrometer scale allows it to be woven into clothes for healthcare applications.   To produce the fiber, the group leveraged the versatile thermal drawing process, where heat is applied to draw out micro-structured fiber from its macroscopic preform. The team also patterned on two sensing electrodes for sodium and uric acid on the longitudinal surface of the fiber.   Figure: The microelectronic fibers fabricated by the thermal drawing process and its fabrics for sweat sensing. (Credit: Jingxuan Wu et al.)   "Our breakthrough is the first successful attempt at using thermally drawn fiber in wearable bioelectronics for monitoring biochemical signatures," says Guo.   Although mainstream photolithography and printing technology have enabled wearable electronics, doing so often entails attaching fairly rigid electronic patches to existing fabrics or directly on the skin, leading to only a small area of the body being covered.   "Since most developments so far could not be considered clothes, we devoted our effort to transforming fiber, to make truly wearable smart fabric," adds Guo.   The fiber could lead to fiber-based smart clothes that provide greater versatility in functions, larger sensing areas, and greater comfort. The team believes that their developed smart fabric could revolutionize the textile and healthcare industries, benefiting human society at large.     Graduate student Jingxuan Wu was the leading author of the research work, and it was published in Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry on January 9, 2023.   Publication Details: Jingxuan Wu, Yuichi Sato, Yuanyuan Guo Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry “Microelectronic fibers for multiplexed sweat sensing” DOI: 10.1007/s00216-022-04510-9 https://doi.org/s00216-022-04510-9 Press Release: Tohoku University https://www.tohoku.ac.jp/en/press/analyzing_sweat_via_microelectronic_fibers.html

Gamma-ray bursts are the most luminous explosions in the universe, allowing astrophysicists to observe intense gamma rays in short durations. Gamma-ray bursts are classified as either short or long, with long gamma-ray bursts being the result of massive stars dying out. Hence why they provide hidden clues about the evolution of the universe.   Gamma-ray bursts emit gamma rays as well as radio waves, optical lights, and X-rays. When the conversion of explosion energy to emitted energy, i.e., the conversion efficiency, is high, the total explosion energy can be calculated by simply adding all the emitted energy. But when the conversion efficiency is low or unknown, measuring the emitted energy alone is not enough.   Now, a team of astrophysicists has succeeded in measuring a gamma-ray burst's hidden energy by utilizing light polarization. The team was led by Dr. Yuji Urata from the National Central University in Taiwan and MITOS Science CO., LTD and Professor Kenji Toma from Tohoku University's Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences (FRIS).   Details of their findings were published in the journal Nature Astronomy on December 8, 2022.   When an electromagnetic wave is polarized, it means that the oscillation of that wave flows in one direction. While light emitted from stars is not polarized, the reflection of that light is. Many everyday items such as sunglasses and light shields utilize polarization to block out the glare of lights traveling in a uniform direction.   Measuring the degree of polarization is referred to as polarimetry. In astrophysical observations, measuring a celestial object's polarimetry is not as easy as measuring its brightness. But it offers valuable information on the physical conditions of objects.   The team looked at a gamma-ray burst which occurred on December 21, 2019 (GRB191221B). Using the Very Large Telescope of the European Southern Observatory and Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array - some of the world's most advanced optical and radio telescopes - they calculated the polarimetry of fast-fading emissions from GRB191221B. They then successfully measured the optical and radio polarizations simultaneously, finding the radio polarization degree to be significantly lower than the optical one.   "This difference in polarization at the two wavelengths reveals detailed physical conditions of the gamma-ray burst's emission region," said Toma. "In particular, it allowed us to measure the previously unmeasurable hidden energy."   When accounting for the hidden energy, the team revealed that the total energy was about 3.5 times bigger than previous estimates.   With the explosion energy representing the gravitational energy of the progenitor star, being able to measure this figure has important ramifications for determining stars' masses. "Knowing the measurements of the progenitor star's true masses will help in understanding the evolutionary history of the universe," added Toma. "The first stars in the universe could be discovered if we can detect their long gamma-ray bursts." Artist's impression of the gamma-ray burst GRB191221B (left) and images of GRB191221B observed with normal and polarized light (lower right inset). The energy of the explosion converted to light (afterglow) is observed, but the observations of the polarized light allow an accurate estimate of the explosion energy. (Credit: Urata et al./Yu-Sin Huang/MITOS Science CO., LTD.) Publication Details Yuji Urata, Kenji Toma, Stefano Covino, Klaas Wiersema, Kuiyun Huang, Jiro Shimoda, Asuka Kuwata, Sota Nagao, Keiichi Asada, Hiroshi Nagai, Satoko Takahashi, Chao-En Chung, Glen Petitpas, Kazutaka Yamaoka, Luca Izzo, Johan Fynbo, Antonio de Ugarte Postigo, Maryam Arabsalmani, Makoto Tashiro Nature Astronomy "Simultaneous Radio and Optical Polarimetry of GRB 191221B Afterglow" DOI: 10.1038/s41550-022-01832-7 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-022-01832-7 Press Release: Tohoku University https://www.tohoku.ac.jp/en/press/measuring_gamma_ray_bursts_hidden_energy.html Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University https://www.sci.tohoku.ac.jp/english/news/20221219-12419.html ALMA Project, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan https://alma-telescope.jp/en/news/grb191221b-202212

Hybrid event Language: Japanese   Date and Time: Wednesday, January 11, 2022, 13:30 to 16:00   Venue: Online (Zoom) and seminar room at FRIS (on-site participants are limited to the lecturer, TI-FRIS Fellows, FRIS faculty members, and Tohoku University members). However, depending on the situation, it may be an online meeting only.   Subject: Designing Effective Scientific Presentations Lecturer: Associate Professor Yuma Takahashi, Chiba University Topic: At the 28th FRIS Seminar, you can learn design techniques to improve the appeal of your paper or presentation slides. This lecture will introduce design rules that anyone can do and use now for font selection, text layout, chart creation, color schemes, and more.   Language: Japanese   Host: Tohoku Initiative for Fostering Global Researchers for Interdisciplinary Sciences (TI-FRIS) Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Tohoku University   Eligible Participants: Faculty and staff members and students belonging to TI-FRIS participating universities (Hirosaki University, Iwate University, Tohoku University, Akita University, Yamagata University, Fukushima University, Miyagi University of Education)   Registration: Please register using the participation application form here. https://forms.gle/v5a7d4eF5rHvDGJj8   Registration Deadline: Thursday, January 5, 2023 (for on-site participation) Tuesday, January 10, 2023 (for online participation)