Special Issue "State-of-the-Art Sensors Technology in Japan"

Editorial Advisor
Prof. Dr. Yoshiteru Ishida
Toyohashi University of Technology, Department of Knowledge-Based Information, Engineering, Tempaku, Toyohashi 441-8580 Japan
Website: http://www.tut.ac.jp/english/instruction/staff/573855KH.html
E-mail:

Biosensors, Chemical Sensors, Physical Sensors, Remote Sensing Sensors

Submitted Papers

Title: Human Senses as Indispensable Sensors for Gaining a Deeper Understanding of Humans and Human Behavior
Authors: Yoshiaki Sugawara 1,*, Chie Sugimoto 1, Sachiko Minabe 1, Yoshie Iura 1, Mai Okazaki 1, Natuki Nakagawa 1, Miwa Seto 1, Saki Maruyama 1, Miki Hirano 1 and Ichiro Kitayama 2
1 Department of Health Science, Prefectural University of Hiroshima, Hiroshima 734-8558, Japan
2 Division of Titanium Oxide Products, Ohno Sekiyu Co. Ltd., Hiroshima 730-0005, Japan
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed: sugawara@pu-hiroshima.ac.jp
Abstract: This paper is an overview of our recent findings obtained by the use of human senses as sensors. On the basis of semantic responses by the participants, two studies deserve emphasis. One was a study to assess the efficacy of the photocatalytic elimination of stains or bio-aerosols from an air environment using TiO2; the other study evaluated the changes in perception of a given aroma while inhaling the fragrance of essential oils. In the former study, one of the sliding doors of a storeroom placed in open air was coated with a TiO2 emulsion and left for two years, while the other door was not coated. The subject’s impressions of both doors were assessed on an 11-point scale using 13 contrasting pairs of adjectives, for example, “bright – dark,” and “clear – heavy.” This type of inquiry assessment was conducted twice, once for the TiO2 coated door and once for the uncoated door. The mean of the impression difference between the score of the first inquiry for the coated door and the second inquiry for the uncoated door was plotted against the descriptors. The obtained bar graph (sensory evaluation spectrum) showed an upward tendency with a positive value against the descriptors. This suggests that the coated door was superior to the uncoated one related to the setting semantic variables. In the latter, we also employed a sensory test for evaluating changes in perception of a given aroma. Sensory tests were conducted twice, when the subject was undergoing the Kraepelin mental performance test (mental arithmetic) or an auditory task (listening to environmental natural sounds), once before the task (pre-task) and once after the task (post-task). The perception of fragrance was assessed by 13 contrasting pairs of adjectives as a function of the task assigned to subjects. The obtained findings illustrate subtle nuances not only as to how essential oils manifest their potency but also how olfactory discrimination and responses occur in humans. This suggests that human senses appear to be indispensable sensors not only for practical uses but also for gaining a deeper understanding of humans and their behavior.
Keywords: human senses, sensory evaluation, photocatalytic efficacy of TiO2, potency of essential oils

Planned Papers

Title: Self-organizing Technologies for Wireless Sensor Networks
Author: Naoki Wakamiya and Masayuki Murata, Osaka University, Japan
Abstract: Due to the large number and heterogeneity of wireless sensor nodes and dynamic environment, technologies for wireless sensor networks must be fully distributed, autonomous, and self-organizing. In this paper, we propose self-organizing technologies for scalable, adaptive, and robust communication in wirelss sensor networks.

Title: Microwave-Photonic Sensors Used in Antenna and Devise Measurements
Author: Masanobu Hirose and Satoru Kurokawa; AIST, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
Abstract: We review the devices using microwave-photonic sensors for antenna and device measurements. The devices include electro-optic sensors or electroabsorption sensors. Characteristics and applications of the devices are shown.

Title: Recent Advancement in Sensing Oropharyngeal Swallow Function in Japan
Author: Takahiro Ono, D.D.S.&Ph.D., Kazuhiro Hori, D.D.S.&Ph.D., Division of Oromaxillofacial Regeneration, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry
Abstract: Dysphagia (swallowing disorder) is one of the important issues in the elderly because it causes aspiration pneumonia, which is the second biggest cause of death in the elderly, as well as the decline of activity of daily living and quality of life. Up to now, an absence of adequate protocols or devices has caused a lack of attention to oral phase of swallowing in the evaluation of dysphagia despite its importance. Recent advancement of sensing technology enables the handy and non-invasive measurement of movement of lips, tongue and cheeks as well as pharynx, which are useful for evaluating swallowing function. In this article, present state and clinical significance of these system developed in Japan will be reported.

Title: Implantable CMOS biomedical devices
Author: Jun Ohta
Abstract: We review our recent results of implantable CMOS biomedical devices. The topics includes retinal prosthesis devices and deep-brain implantation devices for small animals. Fundamental device structures and characteristics are presented as well as some in vivo experiments.

Title: Chalcogenide glass optical waveguides for infrared biosensing
Authors: Marie-Laure Anne ¹, Bruno Bureau ¹, Virginie Nazabal ¹, Koji Hyodo ², Satoru Inoue ³, Catherine Boussard-Pledel ¹, Hervé Lhermite ⁴, Joël Charrier ⁵, Kiyoyuki Yanakata ⁶,Olivier Loreal ⁷
Affiliations: ¹ Sciences Chimiques de Rennes, UMR 6226, Equipe Verres & Céramiques, Université Rennes 1, 35042 Rennes, France
² Biomedical sensing and Imaging Group, Inst. for Human Science and Biomedical Engineering, Nat. Inst. of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Japan
³ National Institute for Materials Science, 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba, 305-0041, Japan
⁴ Institut d’Electronique et de Télécommunications de Rennes-Microelectronic, Université Rennes 1, 35042 Rennes, France
⁵ FOTON-CCLO, UMR 6082-ENSSAT, Université Rennes 1, 22305 Lannion, France
⁶ Dept. of Neurosurgery, Inst. of Clinical Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan.
⁷ INSERM U522 ; IFR 140; University of Rennes 1, Rennes
Abstract : Due to remarkable properties of the chalcogenide (Chg) glasses, Chg optical waveguide should play a motivating role in the development of optical biosensor. This paper describes the fabrication and properties of chalcogenide fiber and planar waveguide. To complete the knowledge on the effect of a transient focal ischemia on cerebral metabolism, we developed a biosensor which can collect information on the whole metabolism alterations, rapidly and in situ. This sensor is made of optical fibre transparent in the mid-infrared spectral range. So, thanks to this sensor it is possible to collect infrared spectra by remote spectroscopy, by a simple contact with the sample. In this way, we try to determine spectral modifications due to metabolism alterations caused by, on one hand, ischemia on the rat brain and, in the other hand, starvation on the mouse liver. We also applied microdialysis method, a well known technique for in vivo brain metabolism study, as reference. In the field of integrated microsensor, reactive ion etching was used to pattern rib waveguides between 2 and 300 µm wide. This technique was used to fabricate Y optical junctions for optical interconnections on chalcogenide amorphous films which can potentialy increase the sensitivity and stability of an optical micro-sensor. First tests were also carried out to functionalise the Chg planar waveguide with the aim of using them as (bio)sensor.