Tohoku University. Research Profiles

LANGUAGE

"F" Keywords - 46 Result(s)

F

 F

[floods]

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

NEXT
PREV
Features

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.

[Fluid-structure interaction]

[fluorescence microscopy]

Imaging and photoregulation of biological functions

Features

To properly understand the functions of biomolecules, it is essential to observe them under physiological conditions where the interactions with other biomolecules are preserved. Therefore, we are developing new functional molecules using both organic chemistry and protein science approaches, and working on the visualization and optical control of biomolecules and their functions. Especially, we have developed fluorescent probes that quantitate the concentration of biomolecules or ions in subcellular regions such as organelles and caged compounds and photoswitches that optically manipulate the biomolecular functions.

Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials
MIZUKAMI Shin, Professor Ph.D.

[fluorescence moire alignment]

Photo-Functional Advanced Materials for Nanofabrication by Nanoimprint Lithography

NEXT
PREV
Features

Nakagawa group has dedicated to pursue scientific principles for molecular control of interface function occurring at polymer/other material interfaces and to put them into practice in nanoimprint lithography promising as a next generation nanofabrication tool. We are developing advanced photo-functional materials such as sticking molecular layers for "fix by light", UV-curable resins and antisticking molecular layers for "preparation by light", fluorescent resist materials for "inspection by light", and hybrid optical materials "available to light" and new research tools such as mechanical measurement systems to evaluate release property of UV-curable resins.

Targeted Application(s)/Industry

Our research aims at creating new devices to control photon, electron, and magnetism.

Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials
NAKAGAWA Masaru, Professor Doctor of Engineering

[fluorescent probes]

Imaging and photoregulation of biological functions

Features

To properly understand the functions of biomolecules, it is essential to observe them under physiological conditions where the interactions with other biomolecules are preserved. Therefore, we are developing new functional molecules using both organic chemistry and protein science approaches, and working on the visualization and optical control of biomolecules and their functions. Especially, we have developed fluorescent probes that quantitate the concentration of biomolecules or ions in subcellular regions such as organelles and caged compounds and photoswitches that optically manipulate the biomolecular functions.

Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials
MIZUKAMI Shin, Professor Ph.D.

[fMRI]

Food Palatability, Product Usability, and Preference; An Approach from Psychology and Neuroscience.

NEXT
PREV
Features

My research interest is peoples' perception of external stimulus. Based on these researches and our knowledge, I can offer you an idea of the products that give consumers satisfaction. Also on the basis of psychological and neuro-scientifc experiences and knowledges, I can offer you a transdisciplinary approaches on human perception, cognition, emotion and decision making.

Targeted Application(s)/Industry

Marketing and developing of the products such as foods, beverages, fabric softeners, perfumes, body deodorants etc. The knowledges and research tools are also useful in regulating the malodor in the air pollution, in developing the public services and in elevating public quality of life.

Department of Psychology, Graduate School of Arts and Letters
SAKAI Nobuyuki, Professor PhD of Human Sciences

Brain Mechanism Realizing Human Mind

Features

I am investigating the brain mechanism of human mind. Specifically, my target is the internal schema that dissociate the self and other in the following three layers: physical, interpersonal, and social domains.

Targeted Application(s)/Industry

  • Improvement of the interface of the system
  • Clarifying the neuro-cognitive mechanism of the effect on the customer
  • New concept of the customer satisfaction
  • Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer
    SUGIURA Motoaki, Professor MD PhD

[Focused metabolomics]

Discovery of diagnostic markers by metabolomics

NEXT
PREV
Features

Losing cholesterol homeostasis with inborn errors of metabolisms or hepatobiliary diseases makes a change to in vivo cholesterol metabolism profile and causes the emergence of increased metabolites as conjugates in blood and urine. We have developed an LC/ESI-MS/MS method using fragment patterns characteristic of conjugation types for group-specific and comprehensive analysis of conjugated cholesterol metabolites. This method can contribute for an efficient discovery of diagnostic marker candidates toward various diseases.

Targeted Application(s)/Industry

After availability verification of candidates as diagnostic markers, it will be required screening tests. We have potential to collaborate with company for development of bioassay systems using antibodies or enzymes.

Tohoku University Hospital
MANO Nariyasu, Professor Doctor of Pharmaceutical Sciences

[food components]

Analysis of Function of Functional Food Components Preventing Atherosclerosis

NEXT
PREV
Features

We have much experience on basic studies including experimental animal research on improvement of lipid metabolism and prevention of obesity by functional food components. Causes of obesity and abnormality of lipid metabolism are complex, and measurement of enzyme activity and gene expression does not necessarily give us the precise information on mechanisms of improvement of lipid metabolism and prevention of obesity by food components.

Targeted Application(s)/Industry

Based on our experience, we are prepared to provide academic consultations to companies interested in our research. In some situations, we can conduct effective collaborative research in this field.

Food Function and Health, Graduate School of Agricultural Science
IKEDA Ikuo, Professor Doctor of Agriculture

[food palatability]

Food Palatability, Product Usability, and Preference; An Approach from Psychology and Neuroscience.

NEXT
PREV
Features

My research interest is peoples' perception of external stimulus. Based on these researches and our knowledge, I can offer you an idea of the products that give consumers satisfaction. Also on the basis of psychological and neuro-scientifc experiences and knowledges, I can offer you a transdisciplinary approaches on human perception, cognition, emotion and decision making.

Targeted Application(s)/Industry

Marketing and developing of the products such as foods, beverages, fabric softeners, perfumes, body deodorants etc. The knowledges and research tools are also useful in regulating the malodor in the air pollution, in developing the public services and in elevating public quality of life.

Department of Psychology, Graduate School of Arts and Letters
SAKAI Nobuyuki, Professor PhD of Human Sciences

[Food Poisoning]

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

[FPD]

Development of Interconnect Materials and Processes for High Performance and High Reliability Electric Devices

NEXT
PREV
Features

Electronic products can be operated not only by semiconductors but also by metal interconnections attached to the semiconductors. Required properties for the metal interconnections are ohmic contact, diffusion barrier property, adhesion with semiconductors, and low resistivity, corrosion resistance, process reliability. Our group has committed ourselves to develop new metals and processes to meet the needs of wide-ranged device producers with consideration of cost performance. Topics of our research include (1) Cu alloys to self-form a diffusion barrier layer in multilayer interconnection of Si devices, (2) Cu alloys to form a reaction-doping layer in IGZO oxide semiconductors, (3) Nb alloys to achieve mechanical and thermal reliability with good ohmic property for SiC power devices, (4) Cu alloys for transparent conductive oxide such as ITO, (5) screen-printable Cu paste lines for solar cells, etc..

Targeted Application(s)/Industry

Our research efforts are targeted at metallization and interconnections for advanced LSI, flat panel displays, touch panels, power modules, solar cells, and other electronic devices. Collaborators include material producers, equipment vendors, and device producers in the entire value chain of electronic products.

Department of Materials Science, Graduate School of Engineering
KOIKE Junichi, Professor PhD

[Fracture mechanics]

Development of integrated safety management technology for hydrogen energy systems

NEXT
PREV
Features

To investigate the diffusion and combustion phenomena of reactive hydrogen gas leakage when a high-pressure hydrogen tank fails due to crack propagation caused by an initial defect, we have developed a coupled analysis method that simultaneously analyzes the material structure and reactive turbulent multiphase flow through an interdisciplinary research approach. Furthermore, we have developed a new numerical prediction method related to the diffusion flow characteristics and combustion limits of hydrogen leaking due to crack propagation failure of high-pressure tank bulkheads.

Targeted Application(s)/Industry

We contribute to the design of hydrogen storage containers for various types of transportation equipment and the development of safety guidelines and risk management for hydrogen station configurations.

Institute of Fluid Science
ISHIMOTO Jun, Professor Ph.D

[FRCC]

[fuel cell]

“HYDRIDE" Researches for Energy Applications

NEXT
PREV
Features

This group is engaged in basic and applied researches of "hydrides" for practical use in hydrogen energy system. The main subject is the exploration of advanced hydrogen storage materials which support hydrogen energy technologies such as fuel cells. Currently, we synthesize a wide variety of novel hydrides composed of lightweight metals with specific nano-structures using advanced techniques for crystal and electronic structure analyses. In addition to the hydrogen storage, we develop the wide research fields related to hydrides, such as fast lithium ionic conductors.

Targeted Application(s)/Industry

Besides the contributions in industrial progress through the material development for future hydrogen energy system and next-generation secondary battery, we positively provide technical assistance to organizations and companies concerned about our findings.

WPI Advanced Institute for Materials Research /Institute for Materials Research
ORIMO Shin-ichi, Professor

Quantum and Molecular Dynamic Simulations of Transport Phenomena in Fuel Cell

NEXT
PREV
Features

It is necessary to grasp nanoscale transport phenomena of materials in polymer electrolyte fuel cell to improve its performance. In our laboratory, nanoscale transport phenomena are analyzed by large scale molecular dynamics simulations using a supercomputer system. As the present theme, the dependence of the materials or structures of polymer electrolyte membrane on the ability of proton transfer(Fig. 1), the ability of proton transfer or oxygen permeability of ionomer in catalyst layer(Fig. 2), and the mechanism of transport phenomena of a water droplet in a nano pore in gas diffusion layer or micro porous layer(Fig. 3), are analyzed in detail.

Targeted Application(s)/Industry

These research can be applied to the analysis of flow field in devices which have nanoscale structure, for instance, fabrication process of semiconductor, friction phenomena of such nanoscale devices or next generation batteries, as well as the field of fuel cell.

Quantum Nanoscale Flow Systems Laboratory, Institute of Fluid Science
TOKUMASU Takashi, Professor Doctor of Engineering

Development of Solid-State-Ionics Materials for Energy Conversion, Storage and Utilization

NEXT
PREV
Features

Our focus is on the development of solid-state-ionics materials to be used for a variety of energy conversion systems. To further improve the performance of fuel cells and lithium batteries, novel ionic conductors and mixed conductors with high ionic conductivity and chemical stability are highly demanded. We have been developing such the materials based on defect chemistry and thermodynamics of ceramics, and trying to apply those materials to actual energy conversion devices.

Targeted Application(s)/Industry

To date, a hydrogen production system utilizing oxygen permeable membranes and an all-solid-state battery have been prepared.

Department of Materials Science, Graduate School of Engineering
TAKAMURA Hitoshi, Professor Doctor of Engineering

Fuel Cell and Energy Storage Using Ion Conduction in Ceramics

NEXT
PREV
Features

Solid oxide fuel cell is a highly efficient power generation system operating at high temperatures using ion conducting ceramics. We conduct basic and multi-aspect research on the electrochemical and mechanical behaviors of the materials for further improving the efficiency, cost, and reliability of solid oxide fuel cells. We are also interested in the reverse operation of fuel cells which enables the storage of the electricity from renewable sources into hydrogen or methane, etc.

Targeted Application(s)/Industry

Graduate School of Environmental Studies
KAWADA Tatsuya, Professor Doctor of Engineering

Metal complex catalysts for energy devices

NEXT
PREV
Features

We have developed a new catalyst for fuel cells and metal-air batteries with using metal azaphthalocyanine unimolecular layer (AZUL) adsorbed on carbon materials. We applied it to variety of applications in the field of energy conversion and next generation energy devices.

Targeted Application(s)/Industry

Industries relating with energy and mobilities.

WPI-AIMR
YABU Hiroshi, Associate Professor Doctor of Science

Bio-inspired engineering for energy and biological applications

NEXT
PREV
Features

Our goal is "bio-inspired engineering" to create new functions that exhibit functions beyond the nature systems by learning from their superior functions and incorporating them into creating materials and devices. For example, the development of surface treatment and adhesives learned from mussels, the development of anti-biofouling substrates learned from pitcher plants, the design of non-platinum catalysts for highly active fuel cells (hydrogen, enzymes, microbes, etc.) learned from hemoglobin, and needle-type biosensors learned from biological needles.

Targeted Application(s)/Industry

Based on electrochemistry and polymer chemistry, I provide technologies and expertise in the energy, biotechnology, and electrical and electronic fields, including metal-air batteries, fuel cells, surface treatment, adhesion, biosensors, etc.

Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences
ABE Hiroya, Assistant Professor Ph. D. in Electrochemistry