Research Profiles

JP

"S" Keywords - 148 Result(s)

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[Sustainability]

Developing plastic waste sorter using Terahertz waves and social implementation of sustainable recycling technology

 
 
 
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概要

This research utilizes the characteristics of terahertz waves, used in next-generation communications and autonomous driving, to identify the materials of plastic waste. It improves existing recycling technologies and can be applied to evaluate the quality of recycled plastics, ensuring stable production of high-quality recycled plastics. It enables easy development of devices to solve various issues in containers and packaging and automobile recycling, contributing to the realization of decarbonization and a circular economy.

従来技術との比較

Conventional plastic waste identification and sorting technologies use specific gravity sorting or near-infrared devices. Particularly, near-infrared sorting technology has accumulated an enormous amount of data and serves as the primary sorting technology in plastic recycling plants. However, near-infrared devices struggle with identifying black plastics, additives, and degradation. This technology uses terahertz waves to measure and evaluate transmission and absorption characteristics, allowing for identification of black plastics, additives, and degradation.

特徴・独自性
  • In recent years, there has been increasing global attention on plastic waste issues, such as marine pollution from drifting garbage and microplastics, the overseas export of plastic waste resources, and the increase in disposable containers like plastic bags and straws, especially due to the impact of COVID-19. There is growing demand for advanced identification and recycling of plastic waste materials, especially in the context of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and realizing a circular economy.
  • The research group from Tohoku University, Shibaura Institute of Technology, and Shizuoka University has conducted research on the commercialization of advanced sorting devices for plastic packaging waste. We have successfully identified mixed plastics containing black plastics, additives, and flame retardants, which were difficult to identify with existing devices, by utilizing the characteristics of terahertz waves. We have also confirmed the ability of terahertz waves in assessing degradation caused by UV or long-term use. Furthermore, the method has been shown to be effective for distinguishing bioplastics, which is expected to see increasing demand in the future, in addition to plastic waste from container packaging, automobiles, and home appliances.
  • These identification technologies can be applied to properly sort plastic waste generated by the “The Plastic Resource Circulation Act,” enacted in 2022, contributing greatly to securing high-quality recycled resources through plastic waste resource recycling.
  • Our research group conducts interdisciplinary research with experts in various fields: social engineering, resource circulation (Professor Jeongsoo YU), optical engineering (Professor Tadao TANABE of Shibaura Institute of Technology and Professor Tetsuo SASAKI of Shizuoka University), information science and big data analysis (Associate Professor Kazuaki OKUBO), data collection and analysis, international cooperation (Specially Appointed Lecturer Gaku MANAGO), social experiments, and behavioral economics (Assistant Professor Xiaoyue LIU). We address the needs from social, economic, and environmental issues both domestically and internationally, working from diverse perspectives to solve challenges and contribute to the creation of a sustainable society. Collaboration and networking with private companies, government agencies, research institutions, and civic organizations are also expected.
実用化イメージ

This technology can be applied to the development of plastic waste identification and sorting devices from processes such as containers and packaging recycling, automobile recycling, and home appliance recycling, as well as the production and quality evaluation of recycled plastics.

Researchers

Graduate School of International Cultural Studies Graduate School of Environmental Studies Green Goal's Initiative, Tohoku University

Jeongsoo Yu

[Swine]

Development of Immunobiotic Evaluation System for Functional Feeds as a Livestock Animal Model

 
 
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特徴・独自性
  • Pattern recognition receptor (PRR) family plays an important role in the defense through recognition of pathogen-associated molecular patterns or microorganisms-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs/MAMPs).
  • Some functional feed materials are thought to regulate intestinal immunity by contact and stimulation of epithelial cells and immunocompetent cells via PRRs in the gastrointestinal tract and induction of cytokine production. In this "new world" of feed immunology, however, much remains unknown about the underlying mechanisms of intestinal immunity because of lack of appropriate intestinal immunoassay system for livestock animals.
  • We have advanced application of originally established porcine and bovine intestinal epitheliocytes (PIE, BIE) cell lines (see photo) for evaluation of immunobiotics and immunogenics exerting anti-inflammatory responses both in PIE cell monolayer and co-culture system with porcine peyer's patch immune cells as a peyer's patch culture model (see illustration).
実用化イメージ

This evaluation system may also contribute to elucidate immunoregulatory mechanism of immunobiotics and immunogenics mediated by pattern recognition receptors essential to future development of not only immunobiotic feeds but also vaccines using immunobiotics to prevent specific diseases. This can benefit mankind by offering immunobiotic feeds as a safer alternative to conventional antibiotic drug therapy.

Researchers

Graduate School of Agricultural Science

Haruki Kitazawa

[synchrotron radiation]

High-speed X-ray phase tomography with a millisecond-order temporal resolution

 
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特徴・独自性
  • We successfully realized millisecond-order X-ray phase tomography using a fringe-scanning method in grating-based X-ray interferometry. We obtained phase tomograms with a measurement time of 4.43 ms using a white synchrotron X-ray beam. The use of a fringe-scanning method enables us to achieve not only a higher spatial resolution but also a higher signal-to-noise ratio than that attained by the Fourier transform method. In addition, our approach can be applied to realize four-dimensional or high-throughput X-ray tomography for samples that can be rotated at a high speed.
実用化イメージ

Researchers

International Center for Synchrotron Radiation Innovation Smart

Wataru Yashiro

[Synthetic Medicines]

Advanced Molecular Transformations by Organocatalysts

 
 
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特徴・独自性
  • The development of organic molecules which function as a catalyst has been extensively investigated to achieve selective and efficient transformation of organic molecules. Brønsted acids and bases are commonly employed as the catalyst in synthetic organic chemistry. To aim at their functionalization, axially chiral phosphoric acids and axially chiral guanidine bases have been developed as chiral Brønsted acid and base catalysts, respectively. A variety of optically active compounds has been synthesized through the development of highly stereoselective reactions using these catalysts.
実用化イメージ

The development of chiral Brønsted acid and base catalysts has been accomplished as recoverable and reusable organocatalysts and highly stereoselective molecular transformations have been established using these catalysts. The present methodology is applicable to process chemistry in preparing medicines and relevant compounds on the basis of the selective and efficient molecular transformations thus developed with reduction of the waste material.

Researchers

Graduate School of Science

Masahiro Terada

[Synthetic Organic Chemistry]

Development of New Reactions Using Organocatalyst

 
 
 
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特徴・独自性
  • Organocatalyst is a synthetically useful catalyst in synthetic organic chemistry, because of the several merits. We have been investigating the development of new and efficient organocatalysts derived from proline. We have already reported the diphenylprolinol silyl ether, which is called as a Jorgensen-Hayashi catalyst, and siloxyproline, which is effective in the presence of water. We have also developed several practical asymmetric catalytic reactions based on the organocatalysts. We also applied these reactions to the total synthesis of natural products and drugs. We have already synthesized Tamiflu in one-pot reaction, and prostaglandin E1 methyl ester via three one-pot procedure.
実用化イメージ

Our newly developed reactions using organocatalysis can be widely used for synthesis of medicines, agrichemicals, and chemical products.

Researchers

Graduate School of Science

Yujiro Hayashi

[system design]

Theory and practice of energy design to drive decarbonization

概要

An indispensable function for decarbonized driving is energy data analysis, an energy car navigation system with both high spatial and temporal resolution. Higher spatial resolution facilitates the recharging and discharging of electric cars and inter-regional energy exchange. With the addition of up-to-the-minute energy data with high temporal resolution, it is possible to rationally and optimally combine the fluctuating output of renewable energy with the consumers. Data analysis, system design, and operation will lead to a carbon-neutral society.

従来技術との比較

Japan's first regional energy supply and demand database has been developed, allowing for detailed design of sustainable and resilient regional energy infrastructure layout and operation based on analysis of the current energy status of cities, towns, and villages nationwide.

特徴・独自性
  • Research experience as a Fulbright Scholar in the U.S. and familiarity with examples of social implementation in Europe.
  • Data-driven innovation research approach based on a vast regional energy supply and demand database.
  • Emphasis on regional fieldwork as a social entrepreneur solving social issues.
実用化イメージ

Putting Theory into Practice. Helping to build sustainable energy systems for new community development. Including the background of the local community, listening to the opinions of the residents, and guiding them to discussions that are relevant to today's issues. Thinking globally and acting within the community.

Researchers

Graduate School of Engineering

Toshihiko Nakata

[systemic chemotherapy]

Development of an intranodal administration method

 
 
 
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概要

The response rate of systemic chemotherapy for metastatic lymph nodes is low. This invention presents the optimal values for solvent properties, especially viscosity, in a method for directly administering drugs to lymph nodes (lymphatic drug delivery system). In 2024, a specified clinical study (jRCTs021230040) on lymph node metastasis was started at the Iwate Medical University Hospital Head and Neck Cancer Center.

従来技術との比較

In systemic chemotherapy for metastatic lymph nodes, the amount of drug delivered to the metastatic lymph nodes is small. This is due to the increase in internal pressure caused by tumor growth in the lymph nodes and the disappearance of microvessels caused by the formation of tumor mass. In this invention, we clarified the optimal viscosity range of the solvent for the lymphatic drug delivery system, which directly administers drugs to lymph nodes.

特徴・独自性
  • The amount of anticancer drug required to treat one metastatic lymph node is 1/100 to 1/1000 of the systemic dose.
  • The drug can be administered into the lymph node under ultrasound guidance.
  • An international patent has been filed for the solvent of the administered drug.
実用化イメージ

1. Treatment and prophylactic therapy of affiliated lymph nodes in head and neck cancer, breast cancer, etc.
2. Pharmaceutical companies aiming to develop drugs by drug repositioning and generics
3. Medical device manufacturers aiming to develop a dosing system

Researchers

Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering

Tetsuya Kodama

[Systems Biology]

The intersection between the skeleton and metabolism

 
 
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概要

Beyond the classic function of bone, bone cells have been shown to regulate whole energy metabolism through bone-derived factors (osteokines). However, much of the research done to elucidate the pathophysiology of metabolic dysfuntion uses the classical approach of studying organs obviously implicated in energy metabolism. When Looking at the importance of skeletal integrity through the lens of evolution, we find that bone served a survival function. Humans had to consistently be mobile to look for food and shelter. Furthering this logic reveals that bone and energy metabolism are entwined. Therefore, this project aims to 1. identify bone factors that are associated with metabolic conditions and 2. to bridge our knowledge of the skeletal system represented by its cell types and our understanding of energy metabolism of the organism into one integrated subject.

従来技術との比較

Our research project offers a transformative advantage over conventional approaches by thinking with the end in mind (i.e translational potential) . We employ a multi-omics approach that goes beyond the conventional focus on single layers of biological information that will deepen our understanding of metbaolic diseases and accelerates identifying novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

特徴・独自性
  • Interdisciplinary approach
  • Multi-omics integration
  • Translatioal potential
実用化イメージ

Our research offers potential for early diagnostics, novel biomarkers, and personalized therapeutic approaches for conditions like diabetes, osteoporosis, and diabetic osteoporosis. Our work fosters interdisciplinary collaboration and inspires future translational research and RnD with industrial partners.
This work promotes public awareness of the importance of bone health and ultimately aims to deliver tangible societal benefits.

Researchers

Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences

Aseel Marahleh

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