Tohoku University. Research Profiles

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"D" Keywords - 75 Result(s)

D

 D

[Drone]

Hardware Development of Brain Computer and its Application to Visual Information Processing

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Toward realizing a high-performance neuromorphic vision processing system, our research involves a neural network model of spatial perception based on motion-stereo vision and its implementation on a very large scale integrated circuit (VLSI). Important parameters for spatial perception such as time-to-contact, orientation, and the shortest distance to plane surfaces of a target object are recognized by using the model without knowing moving direction and velocity of the object. We have developed a VLSI capable of performing visual perception based on the model with low power consumption, reduced less than 1/100 compared with a commercial CPU.

Targeted Application(s)/Industry

Targeted applications include a drone flying autonomously equipped with collision avoidance system by visual perception. Targeted industry includes infrastructure inspection, agriculture, logistics, and so on.

Research Institute of Electrical Communication
SATO Shigeo, Professor Ph.D (Information Science)

Prediction and evaluation of future thermal and wind environments based on CFD, and planning of urban environments adaptable to future climate

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Numerical simulations of the physical environment of urban outdoor spaces are conducted to predict the physical environment, such as temperature, humidity, wind, and pollutant concentration, and field measurements are conducted to understand the actual physical environment. In addition, the future outdoor environments and heat stroke risks due to global warming are predicted and evaluated.
Furthermore, the impacts of urban morphology (building shape and layout, street trees, etc.) on the adaptation to severe heat in summer and rare typhoons and floods are evaluated quantitatively.

Targeted Application(s)/Industry

Numerical analysis is used to quantitatively evaluate the "merits and demerits" of designing buildings, planning city blocks and urban areas, and introducing various heat control technologies on the wider thermal environment and the formation of wind ventilation paths, as well as the adverse effects of typhoons and other disasters. The materials for making decisions on whether or not to introduce these technologies are provided.

Dept. of Architecture & Building Science Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University
ISHIDA Yasuyuki, Assistant Professor Doctor of Engineering, Ph. D.

[drug]

Innovative anemia therapy: Development of new anemia drugs targeting the novel mechanism of erythropoiesis

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Strong points
Anemia is a very prevalent disease. Nevertheless, an effective therapy is yet to be discovered. Erythropoietin is effective only for those with renal dysfunction. We have found that inhibition of an enzyme for epigenetic regulation results in a prominent increase of erythropoiesis, pointing to a new target for anemia therapy. We have also generated a new, cell-based assay system for the enzymatic activity and carried out small molecule screening.

Collaboration with industry partners
We are seeking a collaboration to accelerate the development of new anemia drugs based on these findings. Together we will advance the development of the candidate molecules currently identified as well as conduct further screening of larger chemical space for better candidates and/or for drug repositioning.

Targeted Application(s)/Industry

Department of Biochemistry, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine
IGARASHI Kazuhiko, Professor Doctor of Medicine

[drug delivery]

Clinical application of sustained-release device

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We have developed a device that allows long-term sustained release of drugs regardless of their molecular weight. The initial purpose of the development was to target intractable retinal diseases. Since it is a subconjunctival (superscleral) operation, it is highly safe and can be removed immediately if a problem occurs. Currently, a doctor-initiated clinical trial is being conducted for patients with retinitis pigmentosa. There is an advantage that it can be used for various retinal diseases and eye diseases as long as there is an appropriate drug. Although the patent is open to the public, we believe that it can be applied to other than retinal diseases.

Targeted Application(s)/Industry

Due to the possibility of sustained release of various drugs and aptamers, it may be applicable to diseases in which topical drug administration is considered. Joint research with related parties is possible.

Division of Clinical Cell Therapy, Graduate School of Medicine
ABE Toshiaki, Professor MD

[Drug delivery system]

Image Guided Local Drug Delivery for Central Nervous System Disorders

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Effective drug delivery to central nervous system is promising as a new therapeutic strategy against various central nervous system disorders. However, it represents a challenge because systemic delivery is always hindered by blood brain barrier, and local delivery cannot be effective because of the restricted distribution. Recently, local drug delivery system that can achieve robust distribution of the infusates by maintaining a pressure gradient at the tip of the infusion catheter during infusion has developed. Although this method is promising, there still exist several problems as loss of infusates by backflow through catheter tract or inconsistent distribution. We recently developed a method to deliver agents with this method under MRI guidance, and now performing clinical trial to treat recurrent gliomas.

Targeted Application(s)/Industry

Focal central nervous system disorders such as tumor, epilepsy, and parkinson's disease can be the target for application of this technique. Developments of the new catheters and pre-infusional similation systems are on their way. We are searching for effective collaborative research in this field.

Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medicine
TOMINAGA Teiji, Professor Doctor of Medicine

Drug Delivery System for Retinal Protection

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Intravitreal injection of some drugs to treat retinal diseases has been successfully reported. However, there is a possibility of severe side effects, such as infection. So we have developed a transscleral drug delivery system by using non-biodegradable device, which enabled sustained drug delivery to the retina. Because of the nature of the device, we can deliver the multi-drug independently. We have performed our work in collaboration with Department of Bioengineering and Robotics.

Targeted Application(s)/Industry

Using this drug delivery device, we may be able to apply our system not only to the retinal diseases but also to other diseases.
For clinical application, we hope the collaboration with companies and organizations from the points of materials and original drug delivery to the focal regions.

Division of Clinical Cell Therapy, Graduate School of Medicine
ABE Toshiaki, Professor MD

[Drug design]

MEDICINE DETERMINATION SUPPORT SYSTEM AND MEDICINE DETERMINATION SUPPORT PROGRAM

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AIMS: This invention is to support the doctor’s prescription for diabetes and metabolic syndrome, especially in Japanese Clinic (Patent: JP 4176438).
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform a further efficient preparation by providing information for original medicine and generic medicine in the preparation.
SOLUTION: The medicine price, pharmacologic effect and the like of each of original medicine and generic medicine are preliminarily recorded in a medicine database, and a generic medicine corresponding to the original medicine inputted by a doctor is automatically retrieved and displayed on a display. When the total number of the inputted medicine exceeds a number determined by insurance medical care, the generic medicine is retrieved so that the drug price of the group of the same usage is a prescribed amount or less. Welcome to your investment or co-operation.

Department of Diabetes Technology, Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering
NONOGAKI Katsunori, Professor MD, PhD

[Drug Discovery]

Development of PHD-Targeted Drug for Ischemic Injury

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All the living organisms generate energy from molecular oxygen to maintain their own lives. Once the concentration of oxygen falls down, life activity gets severely hampered and it could sometimes cause death. Typical examples that are related to local hypoxia are ischemic heart disease, stroke and kidney disease.
We focus on the function of prolyl hydroxylase (PHD) as a sensor to detect the hypoxia, and we are developing drugs to treat ischemic injury by controlling hypoxia.

Targeted Application(s)/Industry

Currently, we have several compounds that inhibit the PHD. We want to commercialize in conjunction with pharmaceutical companies in Japan and overseas, advancing our non-clinical studies for clinical development.

Division of Molecular Medicine and Therapy, United Centers for Advanced Research and Translational Medicine (ART), Graduate School of Medicine
MIYATA Toshio, Professor M.D., PhD

[Drug Screen]

Exercising "Cultured" Myotubes!

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We succeeded in generating highly developed cultured C2C12 myotubes by manipulating intracellular Ca2+ transients with electric pulse stimulation (EPS), that are endowed with similar properties to in vivo skeletal muscle in terms of (1) excitation-induced contractile activity as a result of de novo sarcomere formation, (2) higher energy expenditure (as assessed by AMPK activation), and (3) improved insulin responsiveness (as assessed by exofacial myc-GLUT4 translocation assay).

Targeted Application(s)/Industry

Taking advantage of our “in vitro Exercise Model", our innovation will be an excellent alternative for the animal experimentation that can be applicable for a wide array of skeletal muscle research including drug screen.

Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering
KANZAKI Makoto, Professor PhD

[drug-resistant]

The Novel Ultrasound Irradiation Device

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Dr. Katsunori Nonogaki has developed the novel ultrasound irradiation device, which can improve the autonomic nervous system activity and peripheral circulation. In addition, the ultrasoud device can improve hypertension and hyperglycemia within 20 min in subjects with drug-resistant hypertension and diabetes. Our initial device was approved in Japan (226AIBZX00028000). This device will be avaliable for the treatment of 1) muscle pain, 2) the autonomic neural dysfunction and stress-related disorders, 3) hypertention, and 4) diabetes. Moreover, the device will be usefull for your healthy life and aging care.

Targeted Application(s)/Industry

Our aims are to export the device internationally. We seek the investment and international business partners.

Department of Diabetes Technology, Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering
NONOGAKI Katsunori, Professor MD, PhD

[Dry]

Dry-Contact Ultrasonic Technique

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A new dry-contact technique for transduction of broadband, high-frequency ultrasound via a solid layer inserted between water and the sample, whereat the pressure of about 0.1 MPa is applied at the layer/sample interface by evacuating air between them, has been developed. Based on the technique, acoustic imaging of an electronic package is realized under the dry environment (Fig. 1). Typically, the polymer films are used as the intermediate layer for water protection of the sample, and by utilizing the acoustic resonance phenomenon among water, film and the sample, higher quality acoustic image of the testing sample than that for the water immersion case can be recorded without getting the sample wet (Fig. 2). Moreover, thin materials, e.g., polymer film (Fig. 3), etc. can be characterized by analyzing the acoustic resonance phenomenon among the three media. We hope to conduct collaborative research with a willing company for a practical application of this technology in industry.

Graduate School of Engineering
TOHMYOH Hironori, Professor Doctor of Engineering

[ductility]

Advanced Control of Microstructure and Property of Structural Metallic Materials

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Microstructure represents various kinds of heterogeneities in the metallic materials, i.e., grains, component phase, lattice defects and chemical inhomogeneity such as impurity/alloying elements. It can be modified through control of phase transformation/precipitation and deformation/recrystallization by adjusting compositions of materials and/or through processing routes (heat treatment, deformation). Such expertise in micro/nanostructure control is very important in production of current materials from viewpoints of energy saving and recycling in structural materials such as steels and titanium alloys.
We attempt to apply more advanced control of micro/nanostructures, such as atomic structures of crystalline interfaces, chemistory in an atomic scale (e.g., segregation) and so on. Fundamentals of microstructure formation (thermodynamics, kinetics, crystallography) are examined both theoretically and experimentally to clarify key factors for microstructure control. Another important aspect in our research is the improvement of mechanical property by microstructure manipulation.

Targeted Application(s)/Industry

Possibilities to establish new functions (e.g., superplasticity, shape memory/superelasticity) as well as superior mechanical properties (e.g., ultrahigh strength with high toughness/ductility) is also explored.

Institute for Materials Research
FURUHARA Tadashi, Professor PhD

[durability]

[Dynamic Cardiac Property]

Noninvasive Ultrasonic Measurement of Dynamic Properties of Heart and Arteries

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Complexity of the cardiac contraction sequence is still not fully understood because the dynamic mechanical excitation process, which directly correlates with contraction, cannot be accurately measured by CT, MRI, SPECT, or conventional ultrasound. By developing a noninvasive novel imaging modality with high temporal and spatial resolutions (US patent 5840028), we have detected the minute mechanical response (velocity component) to the propagation of the action potential in the human heart or to detect the propagation of the vibrations along the heart wall caused by the valve closure (Fig. 2).
By applying the same procedure to the human arteries, the regional change in wall thickness caused during one cardiac cycle can be measured with high spatial resolution (Fig. 1). From the measurement, the regional elasticity of tissue surrounding atherosclerotic plaque can be determined. By comparing the pathological findings with the distribution of elasticity, elasticity of lipid and that of fibrous tissue were determined. Thus, each point inside the plaque is classified into lipid or fibrous tissue using transcutaneous ultrasound (Fig. 3).

Targeted Application(s)/Industry

This novel method offers potential as a diagnostic technique for detection of plaque vulnerability with high spatial resolution.
We are prepared to provide academic consultations to companies interested in our research.

Department of Electronic Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering
KANAI Hiroshi, Professor PhD

[dysprosium]

Magnetic Materials (Permanent Magnets, High Frequency Materials, Microwave Absorbers)

Features

The objectives of my researches are the development of high performance magnets and improvement of their magnetic properties. I have already developed following high performance magnets, such as Nd-Fe-B magnets using didymium, Sm-Fe-N high coercive powders prepared by HDDR and Fe-Cr-Co magnets. Recently, I have studied about the reduction of Dy content in Nd-Fe-B magnets for the use of HEV and have succeeded to develop high coercive Dy-free Nd-Fe-B sintered magnets by decreasing the grain size. I have also developed new kinds of microwave absorbers for the use in the frequencies of GHz range using permanent magnetic materials or nanoparticles.

Targeted Application(s)/Industry

High performance magnetic materials can be used in many applications in automobile, home electronics, IT and medical industries. We hope to conduct collaborative researches with companies producing magnetic materials for the use in these applications, which aims to improve magnetic properties or to develop new magnetic materials.

Department of Materials Science, Graduate School of Engineering
SUGIMOTO Satoshi, Professor Doctor of Engineering