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University of Electro-Communications Research and Innovation: Applied mathematics for optimization of society

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TOKYO, Jan. 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The University of Electro-Communications (UEC) proudly announces the release of the January 2025 issue of its Research and Innovation newsletter.

This edition highlights cutting-edge research and innovation, featuring a video profile of UEC faculty Satoshi Takahashi on applied mathematics for optimization of society (Innovation), and the Research Highlights section describes research by Yuichi Sei (Innovation) on “face recognition”, and Keisuke Hosokawa (Research) on “gigantic auroras”. The News section covers the signing of a memorandum of understanding for student exchange with Roskilde University (Denmark) and the visit of the New Zealand Chair of the Japan–New Zealand business committee and Aurecon representatives to UEC.

January 2024 issue of UEC Research and Innovation 
http://www.ru.uec.ac.jp/randi/

Video Profiles (Innovation)

Applied mathematics for optimization of society

Satoshi Takahashi
Associate Professor, Department of Computer and Network Engineering.

http://www.ru.uec.ac.jp/randi/video/innovation/202501.html

Satoshi Takahashi is using his expertise in mathematical optimization and game theory to address practical social issues including optimizing transportation timetables, factory work schedules, economic problems like price determination, and stock trading.

Research Highlights (Research)

Space science: Gigantic auroras revealed: Unveiling solar dynamics during rare solar wind disappearance

http://www.ru.uec.ac.jp/randi/research-highlights/research/202501.html

An international research team led by Keisuke Hosokawa and including Takuo Tsuda of the University of Electro-Communications, in collaboration with Kyoto University and the National Institute of Polar Research has captured a rare and strikingly large aurora spanning the Arctic region. This unprecedented observation occurred during an unusual solar phenomenon where the solar wind, a stream of charged particles that typically interacts with the Earth’s magnetosphere to create auroras, almost completely vanished. The study, published in Science Advances provides new insights into how auroras can form in the absence of normal solar wind conditions and reveals unexpected complexity in auroral behavior under these rare circumstances.

K. Hosokawa, R. Kataoka, T. T. Tsuda, Y. Ogawa, S. Taguchi, Y. Zhang and L. Paxton, Exceptionally gigantic aurora in the polar cap on a day when the solar wind almost disappeared. Sci. Adv. 10, eadn5276 (2024).

URL: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adn5276
DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adn5276

Research Highlights (Innovation)

Face recognition: Voice coming into the picture

http://www.ru.uec.ac.jp/randi/research-highlights/innovation/202501.html

During the COVID-19 pandemic, requiring people to wear facemasks in public places and shops was an important measure taken by governments all over the world. The requirement is no longer in place, but in Japan and elsewhere, many people still choose to wear a facemask as a precaution, and it is expected that facemasks will remain commonplace. This poses a problem to security and identification systems, as it is difficult to correctly automatically identify a person who’s half face is covered by a mask. To address this situation, computational methods capable of ‘inpainting’ masked face images have been developed, with some degree of success. Now, Yuichi Sei and colleagues from The University of Electro-Communications, Tokyo, have created a method that not only uses visual information, but also audio — the person’s voice — to reconstruct a masked face. The approach enables face shape restoration with improved quality.

Tetsumaru Akatsuka , Ryohei Orihara , Yuichi Sei ,Yasuyuki Tahara , and Akihiko Ohsuga, Estimation of Unmasked Face Images Based on Voice and 3DMM, In: Liu, T., Webb, G., Yue, L., Wang, D. (eds) AI 2023: Advances in Artificial Intelligence. AI 2023. Lecture Notes in Computer Science (LNCS), volume 14471. Springer, Singapore.
URL: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-8388-9_20
DOI: 10.1007/978-981-99-8388-9_20

Sei Lab Home Page
http://www.sei.lab.uec.ac.jp/~sei/en/

News and Events

UEC Signs Memorandum of Understanding for Student Exchange with Denmark’s Roskilde University

http://www.ru.uec.ac.jp/randi/news/202501_1.html

On Thursday, November 21, 2024, UEC and Roskilde University signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for student exchange. This milestone builds on the comprehensive agreement signed on January 1, 2023, which has fostered active research collaborations. Notably, Visiting Associate Professor Go Yuasa (Office for International Strategy) has been working with Roskilde University on integrating and visualizing traffic volume and air quality data to advance smart city initiatives.

New Zealand Chair of the Japan-New Zealand Business Committee and Aurecon Representatives Visit UEC

http://www.ru.uec.ac.jp/randi/news/202501_2.html

On Friday, November 15, 2024, Ian Kennedy, Chair of the New Zealand side of the Japan-New Zealand Business Cooperation Committee, along with Rebecca Mehrtens of Aurecon New Zealand and Kanji Kuwata of Aurecon Australia, visited UEC. They held discussions with UEC President Shunichi Tano and Board of Directors (International and Public Relations Strategy) Kazuaki Oya, responsible for international and public relations strategy.

Further information

International Affairs Section
The University of Electro-Communications
1-5-1 Chofugaoka, Chofu, Tokyo 182-8585, Japan
Telephone: +81(0) -42-443-5000
EMAIL: kokusai-k@office.uec.ac.jp
Website: http://www.uec.ac.jp/

About the University of Electro-Communications

The University of Electro-Communications (UEC) in Tokyo is a small, luminous university at the forefront of pure and applied sciences, engineering, and technology research. Its roots trace back to 1918, with a mission to train maritime communication engineers. UEC was officially established as a national university in 1949 and continues to lead innovation in wireless communications, laser science, robotics, informatics, and material science.

With approximately 4,000 students and 350 faculty members, UEC remains a hub for cutting-edge research and collaboration.

 

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Crab2B Makes AsiaWorld-Expo Debut, Connecting Hong Kong’s Mobile Wholesalers with Global Buyers

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HONG KONG, Oct. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Crab2B, a pioneering B2B trading platform dedicated to mobile devices and digital products, will make its debut at the HKICEC Global Mobile Exchange Pavilion during the Global Sources Hong Kong Shows, opening at AsiaWorld-Expo on October 18, 2026.

Hong Kong has long been a major hub for electronics wholesale trade, but buyers still often rely on fragmented channels to identify suppliers. Crab2B was created to bridge this gap, bringing Hong Kong-based mobile and digital product wholesalers together on one dedicated B2B platform. Headquartered in Hong Kong, Crab2B combines the manufacturing strength of mainland China and the Greater Bay Area’s extensive supply chain capabilities with Hong Kong’s established global trading network. Together, these strengths enable Crab2B to simplify cross-border sourcing, connect buyers directly with suppliers and make international trade more accessible and efficient.

For its first appearance at a major industry trade show, Crab2B is bringing together more than 200 merchants already registered on the platform, marking a significant milestone in its development. The Crab2B booth is expected to attract electronics traders from Southeast Asia, Europe, the Middle East and beyond. Visitors will be able to discover the app’s capabilities through live demonstrations, register on the platform and connect directly with participating merchants to explore business opportunities.

A buyer who experienced the Crab2B app shared: “With Crab2B, we no longer have to search far and wide for reliable suppliers. The platform brings Hong Kong’s mobile phone wholesalers together in one place, giving us greater visibility into available products and sourcing opportunities. Whether I’m at my desk or on the move, I can find products and connect with suppliers whenever I need to. For businesses like ours that source across borders, that kind of access makes a real difference. It saves time, reduces transaction costs and helps us do business more efficiently.”

Crab2B CEO Luo Yaohong said, “We want to be pioneers in cross-border B2B trading for digital products, creating new opportunities for Hong Kong’s wholesale industry. As Hong Kong places greater emphasis on developing digital trade, we’re addressing a longstanding gap in the market with a dedicated digital platform that connects Hong Kong’s electronics suppliers directly with buyers around the world. Our ambition is to make cross-border trading easier, faster and more accessible, while helping Hong Kong businesses reach new markets.”

The platform’s trade show debut is also attracting attention from international merchants, with exhibitors expressing interest in joining Crab2B to expand their reach into overseas markets. Meanwhile, merchants already registered on the platform are looking forward to the launch of its planned online marketplace, which will create further opportunities for sustained collaboration and business growth.

Building on this debut, Crab2B will remain firmly rooted in Hong Kong while expanding its connections with businesses around the world. The company will continue to enhance its platform with smarter sourcing tools, more comprehensive trading capabilities and an increasingly connected network of suppliers and buyers. By making it easier to discover products, establish business relationships and conduct cross-border transactions, Crab2B aims to open new opportunities for merchants of all sizes and help shape the next chapter of Hong Kong’s digital trade industry.

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SOURCE Crab2B

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Canton Fair Buyers Alliance Launched as the 140th Edition Opens

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GUANGZHOU, China, Oct. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — On October 15, the Canton Fair Buyers Alliance was officially launched at the Canton Fair Complex, marking a significant milestone as the fair celebrates the 70th anniversary of its founding.

More than 140 overseas buyers attended the launch ceremony, highlighting the fair’s enduring role as a bridge connecting global commerce with China’s export sector.

Speaking at the ceremony, Luís Vilariça, CEO of Joinco, Import & Export, Ltd., discussed his company’s long-standing relationship with the Canton Fair. Drawing on years of participation, he reflected on the growth opportunities created through cooperation with Chinese suppliers and highlighted the fair’s role in supporting international business development and global trade exchanges.

The ceremony also featured a joint declaration by alliance members. Representatives from five member companies read the statement in their respective native languages, underscoring the international character of the new organization. Additional members sent video congratulatory messages, joining the celebration and witnessing the official launch of the alliance.

The Canton Fair Buyers Alliance represents one of the fair’s key service innovations. Designed primarily for Fortune Global 500 companies, buyers from the world’s top 250 retailers and leading sourcing enterprises across a diverse range of markets, the alliance aims to offer members a platform for information sharing and resource coordination. The first cohort of alliance members includes 58 companies from 32 countries and regions across 5 continents. Through the alliance, members will gain access to a range of priority benefits spanning four major areas: services, events, resources and information.

 For more convenient attendance, please click here for pre-registration:

https://buyer.cantonfair.org.cn/register/buyer/email?source_type=16

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SOURCE Canton Fair

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Bioethanol from human hair – Indian start-up’s solution to rising prices of grains and sugar

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GUJARAT, India, Oct. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — In what could be called the beginning of the 5G (fifth-generation) of bioethanol or non-cellulosic bioethanol or non-sugar-based biofuels, an Indian start-up, Techofest Global, based out of Gujarat, has developed its own, indigenous, and patented technology for the production of bioethanol from waste human hair. Such processes would significantly reduce the employment of sugars, grains, and agricultural residues, which form the classical first- and second-generation bioethanol feedstocks. As a result, the rising fuel-vs.-food/fodder debate is anticipated to reduce, and instead, ethanol produced from municipal/industrial waste, after trials, can supplement the current supply being used as blends with presently retailed fossil fuels (E20, E27, etc.). 

As stated by Dr. Ravi, the founder-CEO of Techofest Global, the strategic priority and the USP of the start-up is industrial symbiosis, which, typically, involves an ecosystem of up-cycling/valorising the effluents of an industry, thereby creating a value-chain for residues often lacking an end-of-life. With more than three decades of experience in designing customized nuclear fusion reactors for international programmes, such as ITER, JET/UKAEA and SST-1, Dr. Ravi, a seasoned mechanical engineer, spearheads the start-up’s patented technologies’ scale-up and commercialization.

Two biochemical engineers, Dr. Navnit – the former CTO, and Dr. Kabilan – the former CEO of Biomakerz, Chennai, are the brains behind the current technology/process portfolio of the joint-venture between Techofest Global and Biomakerz. They have been working on biorefineries’ process intensification for more than a decade. “Having foreseen the fuel-vs-fodder/food competition as early as the year 2015, we began developing techno-economically feasible and viable in-vitro metabolically-engineered bioprocesses for scaling-up ethanol production from municipal waste streams between 2019–2021”, says Navnit. After developing operational technologies for international biofuel organizations, serving process engineer roles with certain biorefineries-related OMC R&D’s of India, Dr. Navnit, presently works for a premier academic institution.

An on-going fermentation trial at the Techofest Global-Biomakerz JV’s R&D facility

Techofest Global has developed and tested, in its R&D JV’s pilot-facility of ~100-L, 3 innovative and cost-effective technologies, such as 5G ethanol production using human hair, used cooking oil (UCO), and enriched bio-methane production from disposed sanitary napkins.

“With massive CapEx and OpEx, 2G ethanol technology is facing a major commercialization bottleneck, owing to competition with food/livestock fodder, requirement of a cost-intensive pre-treatment procedure, and the requirement of cellulolytic cocktails, which have a poor recycle efficiency. The proprietary 5G SAFE process developed for the start-up circumvents the mentioned constraints, and instead, utilizes a single-stage saccharification followed by fermentation, and records over 85–90% biocatalyst recovery. Likewise, the proprietary SIM process for bio-methane production, exclusively developed for the start-up, is 2x faster with improved intermittent feeding cycles and continuous gas harvest”, says Navnit.

“With on-going pre-commercialization trials, the proprietary ethanol and bio-methane processes of ours are soon being commercialized”, says Ms. Bhumika, the co-founder and the corporate advisor of the start-up. Furthermore, Mr. Ronak pilots the organization’s global market entry and commercialization frontier.

Techofest Global’s veteran Principal Technology Advisors include: Dr VS Tripathi, former Joint Director, DRDE Gwalior, Dr B S Munjal, former Director, Structures and Thermal group, SAC/ISRO, Academician and Advisor CIKS-Dharohar, GTU, and Dr AV Santhanababu, former Scientist at Satish Dhawan Space Centre. With on-going R&D activities, Dr. Munjal says, “the start-up is striving to provide a unique solution along the lines of the Atmanirbhar and Viksit Bharat Vision 2047”.

Media Contact: www.techofestglobal.com; e-mail: info@techofestglobal.com; contact person: The PR team of Techofest Global.

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