Recently, ε-Fe2O3 has attracted interest because of its magnetic potentiality, but there are some difficulties to straightforwardly obtain the pure/single ε-Fe2O3 phase. We have found that ε-Fe2O3 crystallizes epitaxially on crystals of mullite in our study on a Japanese traditional stoneware called “Bizen” . Since the particle morphology of ε-Fe2O3 and the relative ε-Fe2O3-to-mullite crystallographic orientation strongly depend on the oxygen partial pressure during firing and the temperature range, the formation conditions is very complicated. We believe that elucidating the formation mechanism of ε-Fe2O3 will contribute to the development of novel magnetic materials.
We are also working on the development of Al-B-C high-temperature structural materials. Ternary metal borocarbides, Al3BC3, have been considered as promising candidates for lightweight structural components. We have succeeded in synthesizing hexagonal plate-like Al3BC3 particles by a simple synthesis method, and the sintered sample exhibited anisotropic mechanical properties and higher bending strength due to particle orientation. Currently, we are proceeding with various physical property measurements.

In the design of public cultural facilities, there are an increasing number of examples of design methods that incorporate the users’ ideas at the architectural design stage in order to promote active use.
Our laboratory has collected 70 cases of participatory design from all over Japan. The following participatory design practices were implemented in our laboratory, and the effectiveness of participatory design was verified through analysis of user opinions and post-completion evaluations of these practices.
・Kudamatsu City Community Exchange Center (2013)
・Okayama Prefectural Doctor’s Hall (2015)
・Sanagouchi Village Office (2017)
・Kashiwa City Southern Neighborhood Center (2018)　

In order to ensure safety during construction and to assure quality and performance of buildings, I am conducting research on methods to predict and to evaluate deformation of ground and structures accurately.
Also, to reduce cost, period, and environmental load of re-building, I am researching survey or evaluation methods of existing piles and foundation design reusing them.
In case of disasters such as earthquakes or heavy rains, I quickly survey on site, analyse the cause of damage, and utilise the results for subsequent disaster prevention and mitigation.

My spetial field of study is earthquake resistant structure. The way of my study is at first understanding of destruction mode and strength of structure by experiment , and next establishing design method by simulating the experimental results by analysis.
In 2015 I took up my new post of professor of Okayama University of Science, I was beginning of study of Tublar truss structure in steel with locally company. And in 2016 I was beginning study of Base isolation structure and Seismic controle structure by using the small vibration table.
I am planning to study of new structure of minimizing damage under large eathquake expected in the near future.

Even if you think you understand it, if you look at it from a different perspective, you may find some unclear points.
We are researching the construction of an easy-to-understand learning system that makes difficult-to-understand teaching materials easier to handle, encourages confirmation from multiple perspectives, and is easy to understand.
Based on conventional CAI and e-learning methods, we aim to build and release learning support systems such as algorithms and programming.
We are also researching a system that presents answers to simple puzzles in order to cultivate logical thinking.

(Numerical analysis)In scientific computing most computational time is spent in solving systems of linear equations. It is necessary to study an algorithm for solving the large linear system fast and stably. We have proposed several new iterative algorithms and preconditioning techniques.

Vertical axis is the number of iterations, horizontal axis is the index of residual vector, and we display the magnitude of the residual vector in the color. When this becomes black beyond the red, the error becomes large and when this becomes white beyond the yellow, the error becomes small.
(ICT)Distance learning is a way of learning remotely without being in regular face-to-face contact with a teacher in the classroom. We study the support system for the programming lecture in distance learning.

Water hydraulic systems which use tap-water as working fluid are called aqua drive systems and they can realize novel green drive sources with 100% oil-free characteristics. In our laboratory, we study to realize a clean and safe system for rehabilitation, power assist, and life support. In addition, we have developed pure aqua drive systems, which can be driven without any power source, by controlling fluidic flow and have applied such systems to emergency drive sources and disaster prevention systems. We have also developed support systems to play musical instruments by only one hand.

In this study, various mechatronics devices and control systems with pneumatic and electric actuators such as non-wearing type power assist devices, electric motorcycles, and mobile robots were developed based on MPU (embedded controller) and RTAI. The tested power assist device was attached a subject and the muscle burden was evaluated by using myoelectric sensors and a musculoskeletal simulator. In addition, in the study of electric motorcycles and mobile robots, these control systems were designed based on the analytical simulation. Through these studies, I’m going to submit papers and give presentations in domestic/international conferences.

We have been working on the mechanism of inactivation of the plant hormone auxin. In one of our research projects, we have discovered potent plant growth regulator, designated as KAKEIMIDE, which is a potent inhibitor of the GH3 enzyme that inactivate auxin. Auxin degradation inhibitor in plants can regulate auxin levels in various plant species, including crops, and thus promote rooting of cuttings and fruit set and enlargement of fruits.

We have demonstrated an inexpensive and easy-to-handle device for monitoring mammalian sperm motility made by patterning a piece of paper and measuring the activity of a specific enzyme. After applying semen to the hydrophilic center circle of the patterned paper, a tetrazolium-based colorimetric assay data can be used to help estimate the percentage of motile human sperm (sperm motility) in semen based on the character that motile human sperm moved in and on the paper.
(Matsuura et al. 2014, 2017, 2019)

・Peptide-based drug design and synthesis:
Design and synthesis of bioactive small molecules from peptide hormons and proteins based on structure activity relationships.

・Chemical Biology Research:
Development of a method for discovery of novel drug target protein using small bioactive compounds as the probes.

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) utilize complex cellular systems to respond to diverse ligand concentration. Our recent work elucidated that this system functions through the phosphorylation status. Thus, we have been studing on the potential roles of this modification for the GPCR signaling. In addition, we are developping the novel ligands for desease-reated GPCRs to regulate. We hope that our studies provide an expanding conceptual view of the drug development for the regulation of GPCRs.

In our laboratory, we explore the untapped potential of microorganisms that play important roles in agriculture, food processing, and human health, both inside and outside our bodies. Our goal is to discover useful microorganisms with novel abilities and develop technologies to enrich our lives sustainably.

Our group is interested in developing new synthetic methodologies to enable synthesis of biologically active natural compounds and their derivatives in environmental friendly manner. As such manners, we have developed metal-free regioselective cycloaddition of highly reactive o-quinone to form 1,4-benzodioxane and a procedure for construction of benzene ring from o-quinone and terminal alkynes through cycloaddition and photo-decarboxylation. We have also reported concise synthetic route to KDO, a kind of carbohydrate, including elimination of cyclic sulfite as a key step. By collaborative research with a company, functional monomers for dental adhesive resin cements have been developed. 　

Denatired protein forms insoluble aggrigate. Chemical cationization of decatured protein s them water soluble. Based on this protein cationization method, we have studied two theme as described later. Left panel shows the outline of cationized protein transduction for living mammalian cells。Cationized protein efficiently adosorbed to negatively charged cell surface and uptaked by endocytosis. Right panel shows application of cationized protein for adosorbent of autoantibody. Denatured and cationized whole antigen immobilized on adsorber would be possible to capture antibodies with various epitope.

We have to evaluate the occurrence prediction and disaster occurrence risk of landslides from inspection data. We analyze the trend of the past of the disaster, to assess whether the “when” “where” landslide disaster occurs, we are working to hazard maps.
These results are considered useful in a safe life.

Our laboratory conducts petrological research on granites widely distributed in southwestern Japan, using fieldwork as the main means of study. In addition to granite, we also reserch to tuffs and basic igneous rocks. Informatics technics, such as GIS are used in study. In addition, granite weathering, landform formation, stone material utilization, etc. are being studied.

How the earth and planets are formed ?
I’m trying to answer this question by observing protoplanetary disks, which is the on-going planet forming site around young stars. Current large telescopes such as Subaru telescope allow us to reaveal the detailed signature of the planet formation process in the protoplanetary disks.
In addition, I’m also involved with the new development of the astronomical instrument and methed.

(Left) Artist’s illustration of the protoplanetary disk around HD142527 star
(Right) Detection of olivine and pyroxene crystals around Hen3-600A star

The radius of Earth is 6371 km, whereas the deepest borehole ever drilled reached only 12 km (0.2% of Earth radius) into Earth. It can be said that Earth’s deep interior is the place further than the universe. We analyze the seismic wave and explore the deep interior of the earth which can’t be seen directly. By analyzing propagation of the seismic wave, we investigate the temperature and the existence of magma and/or fluid, and we consider the dynamics of the Earth.

In recent marketing research, the concept of value co-creation, in which different actors such as companies and customers collaborate to create value, has become mainstream. From the perspective of value co-creation, this laboratory studies how customers’ perceived experiences influence their well-being and how the experiences of frontline employees, who are service providers, influence customer experiences.
Recently, we have also been working on the interaction between service robots and customer experience, considering that service robots, such as catering robots, have been becoming an indispensable part of our lives and workplaces.