Tohoku University. Research Profiles

LANGUAGE

"D" Keywords - 75 Result(s)

D

 D

[Digital signal processsing]

Analysis of Biological Signals and Visualization

NEXT
PREV
Features

Recent development of sensor technology and ICT have enabled collection and acculumation of huge amount and wide variety of biological data. We have been investigating analysis and processing methods of the biological data for supporting clinical diagnosis and health care. For example, development of extraction algorithm of fetal electrocardiogram from maternal abdominal siglnals, and estimation and visualization algorithms of status of autonomic functions based on diverse biological signals.

Targeted Application(s)/Industry

System development of biosignal anaysis, visualization, and diagnosis.
Development of monitoring and evaluation methods of alertness and sleepiness of traffic driver and workers.
Shift work scheduling based on circadian clock.

Graduate School of Information Sciences
NAKAO Mitsuyuki, Professor Doctor of Engineering

[Digital Teaching/Learning Materials]

ICT Use by Teachers and Students in the Classrooms of Elementary and Secondary Schools

NEXT
PREV
Features

My research focuses on ICT use in the classrooms of elementary and secondary schools in Japan.
When we consider introducing technologies to the classrooms, particularly for the compulsory education in public schools, there are "inevitable issues" around consistency with the educational mission of academic development of school students, practicability and sustainability of the use of technologies for busy teachers, cost economy, and equity in the public education.
My research is characterized by its direction toward empirical approach to the ICT use in consideration of these issues.
In the past, I have been engaged in (1) a research that found the most accepted ICT among teachers was a document camera and the way teachers use it was dependent on each teacher's teaching style, (2) a research on the technology that takes fewer man-hours to develop digital textbooks and other contents, and (3) a development of e-learning materials with which elementary school students can learn key board typing.

Targeted Application(s)/Industry

My research can be applied to a development of teaching support tools for elementary and secondary school teachers which can be used in the classroom and a consulting service to assist development of digital teaching materials for school students.

Graduate School of Information Sciences
HORITA Tatsuya, Professor

[dimensional metrology]

Development of Sensors and Measuring Systems for Ultra-Precision Manufacturing and Nanomanufacturing

NEXT
PREV
Features

The research is being focused on measurement of surface forms of precision workpieces and stage motions of precision machines, which are important items for ultra-precision manufacturing and nanomanufacturing. Optical sensors are being developed for measurement of angle and displacement, which are fundamental quantities for manufacturing. Technologies for improvement of the sensor sensitivity and bandwidth, reduction of the sensor size as well as new multi-axis sensing methods are being The research is being focused on measurement of surface forms of precision workpieces and stage motions of precision machines. Optical sensors are being developed for measurement of angle and displacement. A number of scanning-type measuring systems for precision measurement of surface forms and stage motions are also being developed. Error separation algorithms and systems for straightness and roundness, which are the most fundamental geometries treated in ultra-precision manufacturing, are being investigated. Novel systems based on scanning probe microscopy are under development for micro- and nano-structures as well as freeform optics in responding to new and important challenges from ultra-precision manufacturing and nanomanufacturing.

Targeted Application(s)/Industry

The multi-axis optical displacement and angle sensors developed in the laboratory are expected to measure motions of semiconductor/IC manufacturing and inspection equipment, precision machine tools, ultra-precision measuring instrument. The surface profile measurement systems are expected t play an important role in ultra-precision manufacturing and nanomanufacturing industries.

Department of Nanomechanics, Graduate School of Engineering
GAO Wei, Professor PhD

[Dinophysistoxin]

Development of a Novel Quantification Method for Diarrhetic Schell Fish Poisoning

Features

We have investigated isolation and structure determination of natural products and evaluated mode of their actions. We have especially focused on marine natural products causative for a food poisoning, diarrheic shellfish poisoning (DSP), which has spread worldwide and threatened regional fishery industry. Dinophysistoxin produced by the dinoflagellate Dinophysis spp. and okadaic acid, are thought to be responsible for DSP. Acute toxicity test using mice has been the primary method for detection of DSP in the fish market, though an alternative method to quantify DSP without sacrificing mice has been requested. We isolated OABP2, a novel okadaic acid binding protein, from the marine sponge Halichondria okadai and succeeded in expression of the recombinant OABP2 in E. coli, which eventually showed high affinity to the DSP toxins.

Targeted Application(s)/Industry

We are now working on visualization of OA by utilizing OABP2 in order to provide an easy and quick quantification method for DSP.

Graduate School of Agricultural Science
KONOKI Keiichi, Associate Professor PhD

[diol]

Development of catalytic reaction system for direct synthesis from CO2 and diols

Features

We found an effective catalyst system composed of CeO2 and 2-cyanopyridine for direct and catalytic polycarbonate formation reaction from CO2 and diols. CeO2 acted as an activator for CO2 and diols, and 2-cyanopyridine shifted the equilibrium in favor of the product side by hydration of 2-cyanopyridine, promoting the reaction. Green polycarbonates can be synthesized by combination of the catalyst system with a technique of diol syntheses from biomass.

Targeted Application(s)/Industry

This catalyst system is effective for direct transformation of CO2, contributing to the effective utilization and emission reduction of CO2. Combination of the catalyst system with a concentration technique of CO2 will bring about much advantage.

Graduate School of Engineering / Research Center for Rare Metal and Green Innovation
TOMISHIGE Keiichi, Professor Doctor of Science

[disaster management of companies]

Business Continuity Management (BCM)

NEXT
PREV
Features

Business continuity management (BCM) is a strategy of a company or a public organization to continue critical operations or recover them early even when they suffer serious damage from disasters, major accidents, terrorism, infectious diseases and so on. The plans for BCM is called BCPs. Japanese government and industry organizations actively promote introduction and improvement of BCM. My laboratory have studied how to spread and improve BCM. I participate in development of governmental guidelines for BCM. I also operate a BCM study group consist of companies, governmental organizations and research institutes in Sendai City.

Targeted Application(s)/Industry

I would be able to give an advice to companies or organizations which are going to introduce or improve their BCM and BCP at the request of them. In addition, collaboration with corporate groups can be assumed to promote or improve BCM practically.

International Research Institute of Disaster Science
MARUYA Hiroaki, Professor Doctor(Economics)

[Disaster prevention]

[Disaster Response]

Research and Development of Space Exploration Robots

NEXT
PREV
Features

We study and develop mobile robotics technology for lunar and planetary exploration. Our technology is featured by rich experience in locomotion mechanisms for highly rough terrain and advanced slippage control in loose soil environment. Also by 3D map building technology using a laser scanner for autonomous collision avoidance and for operator assistance in remote control/tele-operation. We also contributed to the design and development of Hayabusa and Hayabusa-2, which are sample-return probes developed and operated by Japanese space agency JAXA.

Targeted Application(s)/Industry

These technologies are also applied to terrestrial robots for such as surveillance or disaster response.

Department of Aerospace Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering
YOSHIDA Kazuya, Professor Doctor of Engineering

[disaster science]

Forecasting eruption transition through geologic and petrologic approaches

Features

1) In addition to geophysical observations, recent advances in volcanic stratigraphy and petrology would make us possible to forecast the transition of volcanic eruptions. We have been developing near-real-time volcanology based on the erupted materials in an early eruption stage.
2) Automation of textural analyses of erupted materials, Risk assessment of volcanic eruption based on eruption stratigraphy

Targeted Application(s)/Industry

Department of Earth Science, Graduate school of Science
NAKAMURA Michihiko, Professor Doctor of Science

[Disaster-relief]

Robot Technology for Achieving Secure Society

NEXT
PREV
Features

Tadokoro Laboratory developed ‘Active Scope Camera,' a world-unique rescue robot that can search deep in rubble piles of collapsed structures through a gap of a few cm wide. It also developed ‘Quince,' a world-unique unmanned ground vehicle that could survey the second to fifth floors of Nuclear Reactor Buildings of Fukushima-Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. Its technologies was applied industries, including unmanned transfer vehicle for outdoors under ice and snow environment being actually used in a factory of Toyota Motor East Japan, and ‘Robo-Scope' for debris inspection in collaboration with Shimizu Corporation.

Targeted Application(s)/Industry

We have a policy of education through and research for solution to actual problems. Current nearly ten collaborative researches focuses on outdoor investigation, infrastructure/plant inspection, and remote/autonomous task execution by robots.

Graduate School of Information Sciences
TADOKORO Satoshi, Professor Doctor of Engineering

[Disease modifying therapy]

Biomarker Development and Preemptive Therapy of Alzheimer's Disease

NEXT
PREV
Features

Over the past 20 years, our understanding of molecular pathology of dementia and AD has dramatically deepened, and new biomarkers including amyloid PET and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) amyloid42/tau as well as therapeutic strategies have been developed. However, clinical trials of disease-modifying drugs in mild to moderate AD were unsuccessful or were halted due to serious adverse drug effects.

Targeted Application(s)/Industry

These results strongly suggest that disease-modifying therapies should be started much earlier before a widespread neuron death will occur. We hope that early detection and prevention with preemptive therapy may lead to a success of fighting AD.

Department of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer
ARAI Hiroyuki, Professor MD, PhD

[Disease resistance]

Study on Molecular Mechanism for Plant Immune System

NEXT
PREV
Features

Plants have immune system against pathogen infection. In our research group, isolation of disease resistance genes, analysis of signal transduction pathways for disease resistance and characterization of defense-related proteins have been performed so far. In addition, we produced transgenic plants expressing green fluorescent protein under the control of defense-inducible promoter, which will be useful to visualize the induction of defense system.

Targeted Application(s)/Industry

Our knowledge obtained from the study on the mechanism(s) for plant immune system and the reporter transgenic plants will be available for screening chemical compounds activating plant immune system (so-called "plant activator").

Plant Pathology, Division of Life Sciences, Graduate School of Agricultural Science
TAKAHASHI Hideki, Professor Doctor of Agriculture

[disinfectants]

Development and evaluation of various inhibitors and disinfectants for SARS-CoV-2

NEXT
PREV
Features

Using the infectious SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2), we are evaluating and developing new therapeutic drug candidates as well as evaluating disinfectants. Further analyses such as mechanism of action and resistance may be applicable. Other pathogens, including influenza virus and drug-resistant bacteria, will be examined upon request and discussion. Through joint and collaborative research with domestic and overseas pharmaceutical companies and related companies, we have experience of their clinical application including basic research.

Targeted Application(s)/Industry

We support development and evaluation of various inhibitors and disinfectants for variants of SARS-CoV-2 as well as wild type.

International Research Institute of Disaster Science
KODAMA Eiichi, Professor MD, PhD

[Dissimilar materials]

Design and control of new weld interface during welding of dissimilar materials

NEXT
PREV
Features

Welding of dissimilar materials is an important process to manufacture the future structures and devices, but it is hard to produce the high-performance welds because the excessive reaction at the weld interface deteriorates the weld properties. Our group attempts to develop the new dissimilar welding process to yield the new interface with the aimed properties through design and control of interfacial reaction as well as usage of solid-state welding processes, such as friction stir welding and ultrasonic welding.

Targeted Application(s)/Industry

We hope to have collaborative researches with willing companies for practical application of welding of dissimilar materials, including metal/metal and metal/thermoplastic composite, in transportation, infrastructure, and energy industries.

Department of Materials Processing, Graduate School of Engineering
SATO Yutaka, Professor Ph.D.

[Distal myopathy with rimmed vacuoles (DMRV)]

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS),Muscular dystrophy,Distal myopathy with rimmed vacuoles (DMRV)/ hereditary inclusion body myopathy (hIBM)

NEXT
PREV
Features

Distal myopathy with rimmed vaculoles (DMRV) / hereditary inclusion body myopathy (hIBM) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized clinically by the preferential involvement of the tibialis anterior muscle. It is known that the disease gene underlying DMRV is GNE, encoding glucosamine (UDP-N-acetyl)-2- epimerase and N-acetylmannosamine kinase, two essential enzymes in sialic acid biosynthesis. Decreased sialic acid production causes muscle degeneration. Muscle atrophy and weakness are completely prevented in a mouse model of DMRV after treatment with sialic acid metabolites orally.
The aim of this study is to investigate pharmacokinetics and safety of N-acetylneuraminic acid (figure) in patients with DMRV. N-acetylneuraminic acid and N-glycolylneuraminic acid in serum and urine are measured before and after oral administration of N-acetylneuraminic acid. We are prepared to provide academic consultations to companies interested in our research.

Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine
AOKI Masashi, Professor Doctor of Medicine

[distance education]

Advanced Educational Environment with Interactive Instruction System IMPRESSION

NEXT
PREV
Features

IMPRESSION is an interactive instruction system for both face-to-face lesson and distance education.
It was designed to facilitate teachers to plan and perform effective and attractive lessons with various multimedia materials, and help to evaluate performed lessons and improve them based on the double loop instructional design process, which is focusing on interaction between a teacher and students.

Targeted Application(s)/Industry

It could be used to perform advanced education with multimedia materials in schools, and also to design and implement training for employees at branch offices.

Center for Information Technology in Education
MITSUISHI Takashi, Associate Professor PhD

[DNA analysis]

Construction of Monitoring Systems for Genetic Diversity in Aquatic Organisms

NEXT
PREV
Features

Maintaining genetic diversity within a species is a major issue to conserve biodiversity and sustainable use. To monitor genetic diversity in natural and captive populations using adequate genetic markers is the most important step. We have focused aquatic organisms and studied the genetic diversity using an array of DNA analyses. Our research interest includes 1) genetic structure and phylogeography of natural populations in marine and freshwater organisms and 2) genetic management of commercially important species to contribute the stock enhancement programs.

Targeted Application(s)/Industry

Our skill can be applied to environmental assessment and fish resource management. We are collaborating with national institutes and giving advice to private environmental assessment companies.

Graduate School of Agricultural Science
IKEDA Minoru, Professor Doctor of Agricultural Sicence

[DNA methylation]

New High-Throughput, High Resolution DNA Methylation Analysis Method, PCR-Luminex for the Diagnosis of Genomic Imprinting Disorders in ART Babies

NEXT
PREV
Features

The parent-of–origin specific expression of the imprinted genes relies on DNA methylation acquired during gametogenesis. Recent studies indicate the possibility of excess imprinting disease occurrence in babies conceived by assisted reproductive technologies (ART). PCR-Luminex method is powerful tool for the methylation analyses, suitable for the use at the clinical diagnosis level because of taking much time and multistep procedures.

Targeted Application(s)/Industry

We have developed a new high-throughput, high resolution DNA methylation analysis method. PCT international patent was performed.

Environment and Genome Research Center, Graduate School of Medicine
ARIMA Takahiro, Professor Medical Doctor

[Domestic Students]

Multicultural collaboration and Human Rights Education

NEXT
PREV
Features

In this research, students from various backgrounds study human rights together to see whether human rights could be the universal topic for students to start and developing their discussions. Thus, this research is trying to observe students' behavior and check their study outcome.

Targeted Application(s)/Industry

It would be great if I could collaborate with any researchers or associations to do comparative research under the topics of human rights or creating collaborative relationships among students from various backgrounds.

Institute for Excellence in Higher Education
TAKAHASHI Mino, Associate Professor PhD

[Dopaminergic neurons]

Induction of Neural Cells from Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells and their Application to Neurodegenerations

NEXT
PREV
Features

Bone marrow stromal cells have great advantages since they are already applied to patients either by auto- or allo-transplantations, can be harvested in large numbers (10 million cells within several weeks) as adherent cells from bone marrow aspirates, and are with low risk of tumorigenesis. We have established a system to induce neural precursor cells from human bone marrow stromal cells by introducing cells with Notch intracellular domain gene plasmid followed by culturing in neurosphere method. This induction system successfully generates neural precursors which were effective for stroke (J. Neuropathol. Exp. Neurol. , 2005; J Cereb Blood Flow Metab, 2009). They could be further developed into dopamine producing neurons by treating them with cytokines including GDNF (J. Clin. Invest, 2004). The efficiency and safety of induced dopamine neurons were confirmed by rat and monkey model of Parkinson's disease. Importantly, long-term survival of auto-transplanted induced dopamine neurons were verified by 11C-CFT PET scan (J. Clin. Invest, 2013).

Targeted Application(s)/Industry

We hope to collaborate with companies and research groups who are willing to utilize our system.

Graduate School of Medicine
DEZAWA Mari, Professor Doctor of Medicine