Tohoku Techno Arch Co., Ltd. List of Products and Services

Filamentous fungi represented by Aspergillus oryzae have higher production capacity of proteins and complex low-molecular compounds than bacteria and yeast, and are utilized for industrial production of a wide variety of useful substances by fermentation. However, in liquid culture, hyphae entangle and clump together, and there is a limit to high-density culture and increased production of useful substances by maximizing the space of the culture tank. Highly dispersible filamentous fungi (AGΔ-GAGΔ, see Related Inventions and Documents), which drastically reduce the viscosity of the culture solution and the formation of clumps, is a technology to solve these problems. On the other hand, even in the case of AGΔ-GAGΔ, the adhesion of the fungus to the inner structure of the culture tank, such as the inner wall of the culture tank and the agitation blade/shaft, is observed as in the case of the wild strain, and it remains to be solved in order to achieve further improvement of the productivity. The present invention relates to a new highly dispersible filamentous fungus AGΔ-GAGΔ-ΔrolA strain, in which a deletion mutation of the rolA gene encoding the surface-active protein is additionally introduced into AGΔ-GAGΔ strain. Compared with the AGΔ-GAGΔ strain, the adhesion to the inner structure of the culture tank is suppressed, and the productivity is also improved. In addition, the reduction of the agitation power and the cultivation time are also obtained by the reduction of the viscosity of the culture solution in a large-scale real machine (tank).

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In the treatment of bipolar disorder, which is characterized by recurrent manic and depressive episodes, it is essential for the affected person to be aware of the ups and downs of their mood and to maintain their regular lifestyle. Monitoring mood states by patients and clinicians is essential for preventing and timely intervention of relapses. However, differentiating mild hypomanic episodes from normal mood variations remains challenging for both patients and clinicians. Especially recognition of hypomanic status is difficult for patients. In addition, clinicians see outpatients once a couple of weeks or months in regular clinical settings and, therefore, may potentially look over patients’ mood swings during the intervals. This invention is a program consisting of machine learning algorithms integrated into a smartphone application for evaluating the affected person's current mood and mood within a few weeks based on objective information, such as body motion, heart rate variability, and voice collected through a wearable device and the application. The present invention enables accurate evaluation and prediction of the mood while reducing the burden on the affected person. It enables the maintenance of appropriate treatment of bipolar disorder and the prevention of relapses. Since this patent has not been disclosed, disclosure of the specification will be possible after the conclusion of the intellectual property agreement.

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・ Electronic holography for displaying three-dimensional (3D) information is required for entertainment, industrial design, measurement, and head-up display for automobiles. ・3D information is displayed by reconstructing an image through a spatial light modulator(SLM). SLM cannot narrow the pixel pitchbecause the electric field leaks out to adjacent pixels, resulting in a narrow viewing-zone angles. ・Therefore, the invention introduces a liquid crystal driving system in a lateral electric field by a continuous potential difference and fine ground electrodes into the SLM. ・As a result, the electric field leakage is reduced, the pixel pitch of less than 1 μm is achieved for the first time. ・Using the pixel pitch of 1μm, it is possible to achieve practical viewing-zone angels of 30°. invention is expected to enlarge electronic holography application field.

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Introduction to Tohoku University Technologies (T21-112_T21-284_T20-030) ■Spherical gear mechanism with high stiffness and 3 degrees of freedom of rotation A spherical gear mechanism realizes 3 degrees of freedom of rotation while reducing high rigidity and number of parts. (IP No. ：JP2021-145050,Admin No. ：T21-112) ■Self-healing robot Self-healing robot technology considering readiness. (IP No. ：JP2020-090978,Admin No. ： T20-030) ■Sprocket adjusts slack in caterpillars etc. A sprocket for adjusting and solving sagging of a caterpillar or the like. (IP No. ：JP2022-031799,Admin No. ：T21-284)

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・ At millimeter wave communication, there is a concern about increasing coverage hole which is area where the communication becomes impossible.　 ・ Therefore, installing the reflect array for all over city that can control the direction of electromagnetic wave is proposed. ・ A conventional reflect array composed of liquid crystal (LC) has problem of slow response. ・ In the invention, reduction of response time is achieved by forming a stripe electrode on　substrate which can be applied vertical and horizonal electric field. ・ The invention is not only expected to apply for reflect arrays, but also phase modulators and phased array antennas.

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Conventionally, a hard disk drive using a magnetic recording medium is widely used as an information recording and reproducing device capable of random access with high density and large capacity. To further increase the capacity of a hard disk drive, it is required to improve the recording density, but there is a problem that the recording information is disturbed by thermal disturbance of the magnetic medium. Therefore, a dielectric recording and reproducing device using a dielectric material has been proposed as one which can be expected to increase the density than magnetic recording. However, there is a problem that the reproduction speed of recorded data is in the order of Mbps, and it is necessary to improve the reproduction speed for practical application. The present invention has made it possible to provide a dielectric reproducing device and a dielectric recording and reproducing device capable of improving the reproduction speed. The present invention is characterized in that, when detecting the polarization state of each bit formed in a data recording layer composed of a dielectric material, the temperature of the bit detected by a heating means can be increased. As a result, since the nonlinear dielectric constant of each bit increases, it is possible to detect a reproduced signal having a large S/N ratio between the reproduced signal and the noise, thereby improving the reproduction speed of the data.

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Garden asparagus is a dioecious species, with male [XY] and female [XX] individuals. Since male individuals are preferred over females for agricultural production, all-male cultivars have agronomic advantages over mixed-sex cultivars. 　To produce an all-male cultivar, it is important to obtain a supermale [YY]. Given their morphological similarities, males and supermales are usually distinguished by genetic analysis. Although two sex-linked codominant markers (Asp2-SP6 and RM17) have been reported previously, their ability to distinguish the sex in A. officinalis and other dioecious Asparagus species was limited. 　We developed a new CAPS marker (SSM01). SSM01 is applicable for discrimination between X- and Y-specific sequences in various A. officinalis and purple asparagus cultivars, also in three dioecious Asparagus species.

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In recent years, deformable image registration (DIR) has been used to create radiotherapy treatment plans in medical practice. The accuracy of DIR is evaluated by the small difference between the image after deformation by DIR and the image obtained by imaging. To evaluate this, the common point (landmark point) between two images is found and compared. However, since the deformation by DIR is a non-rigid deformation, the relative positional relationship of each position such as the distance between the vertices of the image to be mapped to the image and the angle of the vertices is not necessarily preserved. Therefore, it is necessary for the coordinator to make a judgment based on his/her experience, and there is a problem that the burden on the coordinator is large.　 　To solve this problem, the inventors developed a phantom in which a rod simulating a tumor and an organ can be inserted, and an algorithm for verifying the accuracy of DIR using this phantom, and completed the present invention. 　In addition to being able to reproduce various shape changes easily by replacing the rod, the phantom of the present invention can automatically set thousands of landmark points by applying position information at the time of medical image acquisition, and can automate all DIR accuracy evaluations.

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　In recent years, the development of irradiation equipment capable of pinpoint irradiation by accurately grasping the position of the cancer affected area has advanced, making it possible to perform highly accurate treatment. Deformable image registration (DIR), which is the alignment using images obtained by 4D-CT, etc. is often used to prepare the treatment plan. Although the use of DIR is expected to expand in the future, the accuracy of images obtained as a result of DIR and the accuracy of the calculated combined dose remain controversial.　 　To solve the above problem, the inventors devised a Dynamic deformable phantom that can perform complex movements as if it were a patient's organ, and can insert acrylic markers and dosimeters. 　The present invention makes it possible to evaluate the combined dose distribution using image deformation techniques. It is possible to accurately evaluate the dose distribution in cases where a treatment plan is to be reformulated or where some irradiation fields overlap between past and present treatments. These effects are expected to improve treatment outcomes and reduce side effects.

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　Robots that explore extreme environments such as planets, caves, and volcanoes are being developed. In such environments, it is difficult to survey topography in advance, so robots that can move on unknown surfaces are required. In addition, due to the recent labor shortage, there is a great demand for mechanizing operations in factories and warehouses. In order to mechanize operations performed by human hands, robot hands capable of grasping various objects by one mechanism are required. As described above, if a gripper capable of grasping unknown shapes can be realized, there will be a great demand. 　The present invention relates to a gripper that can grasp unknown shapes by fitting and deforming with the shape of the object. The ordinary grippers usually cannot grasp the concave shapes, but the present mechanism can grasp by fitting them. In addition, it is advantageous that both convex and concave shapes can be grasped by the same operation using only one actuator. 　In the Related Works No.2, it is possible to view a video (Japanese).

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Robots that search for planets and collect damage information on disaster-stricken areas need to be able to cope with both rough terrain, such as steep slopes and uneven surfaces, and flat terrain. However, it is difficult to improve the mobility efficiency of both rough and flat terrain. For example, a robot that can climb by grasping steep slopes has poor mobility efficiency on flat terrain, and a robot that can move by wheels on flat terrain is not suitable for moving steep slopes and uneven surfaces. 　The present invention relates to an end effector that acts as a gripper when traveling on rough terrain and a wheel when traveling on flat terrain. By applying the end effector to a robot, a robot with high moving efficiency can be realized on both rough and flat terrain.

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- Transporting device capable of moving even object difficult to grasp　 　To provide a mechanism capable of moving even an object having a shape difficult to be gripped, and capable of moving the object without applying force to the object during movement. (IP No. ：JP2021-201325, Admin No. ：T21-217) - Highly rigid hand while remaining thin　 Hand and grip mechanism utilizing deformation mechanism which can enhance rigidity while remaining thin. (IP No. ：JP2021-082469、 Admin No. ： T20-3132)

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- Composite type wheel having high running performance in step and groove　 Composite type wheel with high running performance in steps and grooves and capable of moving in multiple directions.　 (IP No. ：JP2022-085688、 Admin No. ：T22-014) - Small, high stiffness, low backlash wheels A 2-way drive wheel that achieves small size, high rigidity, and low backlash. (IP No. ：JP2021-144398、 Admin No. ：T21-111) - High maintenance, moving mechanism capable of moving in multiple directions High maintainability, moving mechanism capable of moving in multiple directions. (IP No. ：JP2022-085565、 Admin No. ：T22-013)

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　The limited number of drugs available for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease(IBD) and their severe side effects, including immunosuppression, have led to calls for research into drugs without side effects.　 　The inventors focused on the role of xCT, a cystine/glutamate antiporter, in IBD. Their research suggests that xCT inhibitors or glutamine synthetase inhibitors may be therapeutic/preventive agents for inflammatory diseases. [RESULTS] ・Mice with intestinal epithelium-specific xCT deficiency showed anti-inflammatory effects on dextran sulfate sodium(DSS) colitis(Fig.1). ・Glutamine synthetase inhibitor (MSO：Methionine sulfoximine) showed anti-inflammatory effects on DSS colitis(Fig.2).

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The measurement of pH is critical in environmental analysis. This invention introduces an advanced pH sensor with an outer diameter of just 1 mm, designed for precise measurements in confined spaces. The core of this invention is a pH sensor probe, integrating a 1-mm square semiconductor chip, known as a Light-addressable Potentiometric Sensor (LAPS). This LAPS is attached to the tip of a uniquely structured fiber with an optical fiber, a conductor, and a hollow flow path. A unique feature of LAPS is its light addressability. Upon exposure to alternating light via the optical fiber, LAPS generates a photocurrent. The amplitude of this photocurrent is directly influenced by localized surface potentials, thereby indicating the localized pH levels. This enables it to perform real-time pH distribution imaging via illumination with multiple lights, each modulated at distinct frequencies. Furthermore, this sensor is not limited to liquid environments. It is equally adept at measuring the pH on dry surfaces, such as metal and concrete. This capability is facilitated by the introduction of an electrolytic solution through the sensor's hollow channel. The lower right panel of the application illustrates the sensor’s performance in measuring the pH within a rat's deep brain with a high spatial resolution of 250 µm and a rapid frame rate of 33ms.

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Vasohibin-2 (referred to as VASH2) knockdown significantly reduced metastasis of pancreatic cancer cells (Fig. 1) and prolonged survival period after orthotopic transplantation (Fig.2). The mechanisms of action are;　 (1)VASH2 knockdown reduces cancer cell invasion through suppressing of tubulin carboxypeptidase activity within the cell. (2) VASH2 secreted by cancer cells stimulates tumor angiogenesis, so when VASH2 was knocked down, tumor angiogenesis was prevented. (3) VASH2 regulates the production of inflammatory chemokines and cytokines in cancer cells, which in turn, accelerates the recruitment of MDSC and TAM and prevents the infiltration of cytotoxic T lymphocytes. The inhibition of VASH2 eliminates immune suppression in pancreatic cancer.

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While NK cells have been expected to be used in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases, their limitations in medical applications have been pointed out because they can not recognize cancer cells or infected cells having MHC class I molecules expressed therein. The present invention is about the use of chimeric proteins comprising a variable region of a T-cell receptor and an Fc region of an immunoglobulin, which can make NK cells easily recognize target cells. 　It was found that by using the chimeric proteins of the present invention, in addition to the previously reported T-cell receptor chimeric protein-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (TDCC) activity, down-modulation of MHC complexes on the target cells: the expression of MHC class I molecules can be reduced and converted into the target of NK cells' intrinsic cytotoxic activity (see the right figure). 　The combination of T-cell receptor repertoire analysis (see WO 2016/136716) enables rapid chimeric protein development and the design of NK cell-based therapies tailored to individual cancers, viral infections, autoimmune diseases, allergies and other clinical manifestations.

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Anti-EGFR treatment for colorectal cancer is effective for patients without RAS mutation. However, response rate of the treatment is no more than 30%. This inventor analyzed the DNA methylation status of tissue samples from patients treated by anti-EGFR antibody. The result showed that highly methylated colorectal cancer (HMCC) has higher drug resistance than low methylated colorectal cancer (LMCC).

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In conventional systems, processing must be performed on the user's computer in order to understand the user's viewing status, resulting in the fatal problem of being interrupted by a malicious user. In this system, it is possible to understand the viewing status on the network under the control of the distribution side, and since the contents of the communication data are not directly referenced, it is a safe method for the user.　 　Specifically, it is a method to determine the degree of similarity by the correlation coefficient between a specific video or audio pattern and a previously recorded pattern based on the change in the output pattern of traffic data provided as standard equipment in the router.

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Recent large-scale genomic and postmortem brain analyses have indicated that synaptic dysgenesis may be involved in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia, but the detailed mechanisms remain unclear. Drugs mainly blocking dopamine D2 receptors have been used for the treatment of schizophrenia, but they are mainly used for symptomatic treatment and have insufficient effects on negative symptoms and cognitive dysfunction. Therefore, it is desirable to develop new drugs based on new molecular mechanisms.　 　The inventors have discovered that the decreased function of the PPARA gene, which encodes the nuclear receptor PPARα, is involved in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia [1]. Since PPARα is a transcription factor that can be activated by its ligand, they considered the possibility that activation of PPARA might lead to the improvement of schizophrenia, and found that fenofibrate, a PPARa agonist, is actually effective in improving synaptic function [2]. In this study, they found that pemafibrate, a PPARa agonist, helps to improve cognitive function at the same time as restoring spine density in mice. The invention could lead to the discovery of novel mechanisms for schizophrenia. Furthermore, since decreased spine density and cognitive decline are similar symptoms in other psychiatric disorders such as Alzheimer's, it could also be a therapeutic agent for these disorders.

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The inventors found that Liphagal and its analog Siphonodictyal B inhibited multiple kinase activities in addition to PI3K.　　 　The inhibitors can be used as inhibitors of CDK7, CDK4, CDK6, PIM2, TSSK3, MST4, NEK6, MAP3K, MST3, DDR1, SPHK1, CaMK1, AurA, BRK, CaMK4 and PIM1 kinases. 　Studies using human colorectal cancer cells revealed that Siphonodictyal B induces expression of pro-apoptotic proteins by activation of the P38 MAPK pathway following an increase in intracellular reactive oxygen species, leading to apoptosis. 　In addition, Siphonodictyal B showed anti-tumor effects in a human colorectal cancer cell line tumor-transplanted mouse model.

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In a 3D concrete printer (3DCP), discontinuous layers are formed between layers of laminated mortar, so it is weak to shear force in the layer direction. Therefore, a measure to increase the strength and toughness has been taken by vertically inserting metal reinforcing materials so as to penetrate the layers. However, the conventional reinforcing method is a method of directly inserting reinforcing materials, and if the cementitious material starts to harden over time, it becomes difficult to insert reinforcing materials as desired. In addition, since conventional reinforcement is carried out only in a specific direction, it is not possible to freely reinforce molding without anisotropy. 　The present invention enables reinforcement of molding without anisotropy by a mechanism capable of automatically inserting screws from multiple directions. The screw can be inserted at a desired angle while suppressing displacement by releasing the holding when the screw is driven to a predetermined depth in the object to be driven while maintaining the attitude of the screw. Moreover, the screw can be efficiently driven by providing a cartridge capable of loading the screw.

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There are known compounds that exhibit phase separation when solutes dissolved in solvents exceed a certain temperature (LCST). Poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAm) has been studied as a representative of these compounds, and applications to temperature-responsive smart windows have been reported. However, since the LCST of PNIPAm is constant at 31°C, a compound that can flexibly respond to the LCST depending on ambient temperature has been desired in industry. 　The inventors succeeded in synthesizing a new compound. This compound is characterized by the ability to control the LCST within the range of about 25~55°C by modifying a part of its structure. When applying to smart windows, most of them require a power supply because they switch between transmission and non-transmission by turning the voltage on and off. On the other hand, smart windows using this compound can be used in places without a power supply because they switch between transmission and non-transmission spontaneously according to changes in the outside temperature. Furthermore, by controlling the heat according to the degree of light transmission, it is expected to be effective against heat.

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　Solid wastes, including industrial wastes, rocks, and polluted soils, contain various elements such as hazardous heavy metals and rare earth metals. Conventionally, strong acids have been used as extractants to enhance the leaching of these metal ions, which are subsequently recovered using electrochemical methods. However, these methods have environmental and economic problems because they consume a large amount of chemicals and electricity. The inventors have successfully developed a process that uses a recyclable solution containing an environmentally friendly chelating agent as the extractant for metal ions and anions extraction from solid wastes, which are efficiently recovered from the extractant, enabling the regeneration and reuse of the extraction solution. 　The present invention is expected to be applied to the removal of toxic ions from polluted soil. It is also expected to be used for the collection of resources such as rare earths from minerals. Furthermore, it can be combined with CO2 mineralization technology using solid wastes. (E.G., Patent No. 7345791)

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　Helium is difficult to obtain and expensive, so cooling systems that use helium are expected to be difficult to continue using. 　 The invention enables rapid cooling without helium by continuously spraying a two-phase flow of cryogenic gaseous N2 and solid N2 (SN2 ). Specifically, it is characterized by continuously generating slush N2 by spraying at transonic speed using a Laval nozzle. 　In an example of cell freezing, a 23% improvement in cell survival rate during thawing was achieved compared to liquid nitrogen immersion. This invention has the potential for application in various cooling systems beyond this specific example. Additionally, its application for resist removal in semiconductor cleaning without harmful chemicals is also under consideration.

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Aluminum borate whiskers have excellent mechanical strength and heat resistance, and are mainly used as reinforcing materials for metal materials. For example, a flux method using a melting agent is used as a manufacturing method. However, at the end of the manufacturing process, it is necessary to separate the melting agent from the whisker, which requires time and effort.　 The present invention solves the problems of the conventional method by constructing a reaction process using a liquid solvent, and demonstrates the simple and large-scale production of aluminum borate whiskers. More specifically, the process involves dissolving metallic aluminum in alcohol by adding halide ions and adjusting the pH, mixing the boron compound with water, and calcining the precipitated precipitate by adjusting the pH. The aluminum borate whiskers produced in this way have a high affinity for light metals such as aluminum and magnesium, and are expected to be used in automobile engine parts and semiconductor manufacturing.

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　In recent years, there has been a demand for mass culture of cells in fields such as pharmaceutical manufacturing. Ammonia accumulating in the culture medium must be removed in order for cells to grow stably during culture. Ammonia is known as a typical waste product that adversely affects cells. Until now, waste products were removed from the culture using the principle of dialysis. However, in order to remove waste products sufficiently, the volume of the component preparation liquid tank was set to be more than 10 times the volume of the cell culture tank, so there was a problem that the required volume of liquid was enormous and costly.　 　The present invention made it possible to provide a new ammonia removal technology. Embodiments of the present invention are an ammonia adsorbent and an ammonia removal method. The ammonia adsorbent of the present invention comprises at least one substance among L-type zeolite, ferrierite, ZSM-5 type zeolite, a strong acid cation exchange resin and a Prussian blue type complex. Thus, cells can be cultured more efficiently.

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Some semiconducting ferroelectric ceramics exhibit positive temperature coefficient (PTC) thermistor behavior, in which their electrical resistivity increases drastically above the Curie temperature. Materials based on perovskite-type barium titanate (BaTiO₃) are widely used as circuit protection devices under conditions of high temperature or large current surges.　 　Conventional methods to change originally insulating BaTiO₃ powders to semiconductor require highly reducing atmospheres and high sintering temperatures near 1400 ℃. 　This invention proposes a low-temperature and cost-effective fabrication method for BaTiO₃-based semiconducting ceramics using sodium (Na) vapor. Grain size control in ceramic products is also possible upon sintering using the present technique.

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Radiomics, a technique for calculating quantitative features, is used to diagnose tumors in medical images. However, this technique requires preparation of a mask image from which the outline of the affected area is extracted, which places a heavy burden on physicians. In addition, since the target of the calculation is limited to the area surrounded by the mask image, the relationship between the tumor and the surrounding tissue cannot be evaluated. 　This technology relates to a tumor image diagnosis method and program that calculates the image frequency included in the transition of the correlation coefficient by enclosing the area including the tissue surrounding the tumor in a square and performing Fourier analysis on the correlation coefficient of the area. Features： 1. No mask image required, just specify the user interested area by drawing a square 2. The relationship between tumor and surrounding tissue can be analyzed 3. Fast calculation (a few seconds per case)

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Endoscopic surgery in otology has been rapidly developing in recent years. However, otologic surgical procedures—such as suction, grasping, traction, dissection, cutting, facial nerve stimulation, and electrocautery for hemostasis to remove lesions and reconstruct the tympanic membrane or ossicular chain—are not easy to perform single-handedly. Conventionally, there is a two-handed operation using an endoscope fixing device, but the endoscope cannot be moved freely, and the patient's field of view becomes blurred when he moves. Another conventional method is three-hand surgery, in which an assistant holds the endoscope and the operator performs two-handed operation, but it is difficult to learn and cannot be applied to all procedures because of hand interference in the stenotic region.　 　The endoscope assembly of the present invention enables the endoscope and surgical instrument to be stably held with one hand and freely operated. The endoscope and surgical instrument are connected by a movable connection, and the position of the endoscope can be easily adjusted with the fingers of the same hand while holding the surgical instrument. In addition, it is possible to operate the surgical instrument with one hand and simultaneously perform operations such as suction, grasping, pulling, peeling, and cutting with the other hand while securing the field of view.

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Bonding between components is a critical step in semiconductor packaging, especially as devices become more complex and sensitive. Traditional bump structures like pyramids or cones rely on stress concentration to achieve strong joints. However, this often results in damage to the device or substrate. 　Our novel hollow bump technology addresses this issue by allowing the bump to deform plastically under low loads. This exposes fresh metal surfaces, low-temperature bonding with minimal stress. This approach reduces the risk of mechanical damage while maintaining strong interconnect performance, offering a promising solution for semiconductor assembly.

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　The average cancer recurrence rate is approximately 20%. For aggressive cancers, the recurrence rate within five years can be as high as 70%. Cancer stem cells, known for their resistance to radiation and drug therapies, are considered a key cause of recurrence. Recently, drug discovery research targeting cancer stem cells has attracted significant attention. However, the extremely low abundance of these cells within tumor tissues presents a major challenge for research. Several methods have been proposed to induce cancer stem cells from cancer cells. However, all require high culture costs and long induction times, making them impractical for clinical application. 　The present invention relates to a method of inducing cancer stem cells within 24 hours by culturing cancer cells on a double-network hydrogel (DN gel) without the use of drugs or genetic manipulation. Cancer stem cells induced by this method show increased expression of stem cell marker genes and exhibit tumor-forming ability even when injected in small numbers into mice. 　By enabling simple and rapid production of cancer stem cells, this method is expected to accelerate the development of cancer therapies. These therapies aim to achieve fundamental cures by preventing recurrence and metastasis.

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In recent years, CO₂ geological storage using mafic and ultramafic rocks—such as basalt and peridotite, which are rich in calcium and other metal elements that react with CO₂ to form carbonate minerals—has garnered global attention as a means of reducing atmospheric CO₂, a major contributor to global warming. However, subsurface environments for CO₂ storage are typically low in temperature and therefore have limited reactivity. Additionally, the amount and connectivity of pores as well as permeability of the subsurface rocks are not always sufficient, presenting significant challenges that require innovative technological solutions. 　In storage methods that involve dissolving CO₂ in water, the use of seawater is preferable. However, during the storage process, it is also necessary to temporarily suppress the reaction between metal ions in seawater and CO₂ until the CO₂ is securely stored. 　This invention promotes CO₂ geological storage and mineralization by using biobased, biodegradable chelating agents that enhance mineral dissolution and capture metal ions. By dissolving minerals in subsurface rocks using the chelating agents, the amount and connectivity of pores (CO₂ storage capacity) increase, and the permeability (CO₂ injectivity) is also improved. Furthermore, when CO₂-charged seawater containing the chelating agents is injected into subsurface rocks, it becomes possible to simultaneously store both CO₂ and the metal ions required for carbonate mineral formation with creating additional rock porosity.

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In the development of subsurface energy infrastructures—such as geothermal power generation, geological storages of carbon dioxide (CCS) and renewable- energy-based hydrogen—it is essential to artificially create highly permeable fractures in rocks at depths of 1,000 to 5,000 meters and temperatures ranging from approximately 30°C to 300°C, in order to secure fluid pathways. In recent years, there has been a growing demand for the development of safer, more efficient, and environmentally friendlier technologies. Conventional hydraulic fracturing is a purely mechanical technique that fractures rock by injecting high-pressure fluid through a wellbore. However, this method faces several technical and environmental limitations, including concerns over induced seismicity from high-pressure injections, and difficulty in maintaining fracture openings and fluid loss especially in moderately permeable rocks. These challenges have highlighted the need for innovative chemical-based approaches—particularly those grounded in green chemistry principles. This invention introduces an innovative fracturing technique that utilizes biobased reactive fluid having high viscosity. This method chemically weakens the rock while forming and propagating fractures at relatively low pressures. Furthermore, by dissolving and roughened the fracture surfaces, the method helps maintain fracture openings and improves permeability over time.

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With the advancement of the information society, there is increasing demand for devices with lower power consumption, higher speed, and smaller size. However, conventional semiconductor integrated circuits (CMOS) are approaching physical and technological limits in scaling and integration density. This is mainly because charge-based devices inevitably suffer from heat generation and signal delay due to electron transport. 　To overcome this, researchers have successfully demonstrated the proof-of-concept of information transmission technologies and logic devices that utilize spin waves—specifically magnons propagating in a magnetic insulator such as yttrium iron garnet (YIG)—as information carriers, thereby eliminating the need for electron transport. 　This invention relates to an address encoder/decoder circuit that employs magnons and uses a ring-shaped interference region to convert complex input signals into corresponding output addresses.

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To simulate quantum annealing on classical computers, Simulated Quantum Annealing (SQA) based on the Ising model has gained attention. The inventors have developed a parallel algorithm that enables multi-level parallel processing of SQA with a fully connected Ising model, implemented on a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) (related work [1]). 　This invention supports sparse coupling models and proposes an algorithm that allows for faster analysis of classical spin systems based on the Ising model. This makes it possible to execute SQA at practical speeds using FPGA acceleration.

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The electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) process, in which CO2 is electrochemically converted, is attracting attention as a promising CO2 reduction method. However, the conventional method has a problem of low energy efficiency. The inventor has found that it is possible to improve the efficiency of the CO2RR process by utilizing a high-temperature high-pressure water environment called a hydrothermal conditions. When electrolysis is carried out in high-temperature high-pressure water at 150℃ and 100 atm pressurized with CO2, the high diffusion coefficient and solubility of CO2 in the water facilitating efficient CO2 supply to the electrode, and the energy efficiency is significantly enhanced. Additional assessment has shown that it is possible to synthesize "carbon-negative" basic chemical product (methanol), in which the amount of CO2 absorbed exceeds the amount of CO2 emitted, by leveraging low-temperature waste heat from industrial sources and renewable electricity.

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