Find out about Yoshiki Kondo, a scholar who worked in Hiroshima in the Edo Period, through his own words. Professor Kubota Keiichi’s latest research uses Yoshiki Kondo’s letters and diaries to deduce the man’s character. Read about it on our Featured Research in Arts and Humanities page: https://www.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/…/HU_resea…/bungaku/bungaku006
Every generation has a tendency to despair at the next one’s perceived shortcomings, and Chinese society is no different in this regard. The “Little Emperor” generation – those born during China’s strict one-child policy, have been judged by many weary elders as spoilt and tantrum prone due to the overwhelming attention bestowed on them by doting families. However, new research from Hiroshima University’s Associate Professor Yoshihiko Kadoya suggests that – in the workplace at least – the one-child generation is just as cooperative as preceding generations of Chinese workers. The study, the first to compare workplace cooperativeness between those born before 1979 when the one-child policy was implemented, and the… Read more
Beneficial for our ancestors; potential cause of obesity pandemic NPGL, a recently discovered protein involved in brain signalling, has been found to increase fat storage by the body – even when on a low-calorie diet. In addition, NPGL was shown to increase appetite in response to high caloric food intake, suggesting that perhaps we shouldn’t feel so guilty about gorging on junk food from time to time. This latest discovery by Hiroshima University’s Professor Kazuyoshi Ukena, along with collaborators from Japan and UC Berkeley, adds to our understanding of how the brain regulates energy usage and feeding habits – the control mechanisms of which are not yet fully understood. … Read more
Estrogen-mediated brain protection directly linked to intake of fatty acids found in oils Scientists are increasingly appreciating estrogen’s role in brain health. Now for the first time, production of estrogen in the brain has been directly linked to the presence of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). DHA is found in abundance in fish oils and is also synthesized from alpha-linolenic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid found in some vegetable-based oils. The latest research from Hiroshima University connecting DHA synthesis to estrogen production, and consequentially brain health, backs up further the old adage that a daily intake of fish oil is good for you. Assistant Professor Yasuhiro Ishihara, from HU’s Laboratory… Read more
Could lead to greater understanding of cancer and aging Over a century since scientists first observed that cells and their nucleus grow at a constant ratio to each other, we are now closer to finding out how. The cell cycle, the process of cell growth and division that sees “daughter” cells enlarge before dividing again, includes the nucleus – the cell’s condensed genetic control center – simultaneously dividing and enlarging hand-in-hand with their cell. The mechanism involved in this in-tandem augmentation has proven one of the great-unanswered questions of cell biology; the bigger the cell the bigger the nucleus, but what controls this proportional enlargement? Assistant Professor Kazunori… Read more
Hiroshima University researchers believe their simple phosphite-based control method will convince legislators to get with the times Use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) – microorganisms not found in the natural world but developed in labs for their beneficial characteristics – is a contentious issue. For while GMOs could greatly improve society in numerous ways – e.g. attacking diseased cells, digesting pollution, or increasing food production – their use is heavily restricted by decades-old legislation, for fear of what might happen should they escape into the environment. For researchers, aware of their potential, it is important to develop safety strategies to convince legislators they are safe for release. For this reason… Read more