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Research Highlights
 In vivo bioimaging: technology to elucidate sex-dependent differences in skeletal muscle function
 MEMS technology for fabricating plasmonic near-infrared spectrometers

Researcher Video Profiles
 Yutaka Kano Professor, Department of Engineering Science, University of Electro-Communications
 Tetsuo Kan Associate Professor Department of Mechanical and Intelligent Systems Engineering

Topics Self-regulated learning: English for students of science and engineering

News and Events
 UEC signs general agreement with UNS
 Industry-UCB-UEC-Keio Workshop 2019
 UEC signs general agreement with Hanoi Medical University

The University of Electro-Communications 1-5-1 Chofugaoka, Chofu, Tokyo 182-8585© 2020 The University of Electro-Communications.

In vivo bioimaging: technology to elucidate sex-dependent differences in skeletal
muscle function
It is widely accepted that there is a sex-dependent difference in physical performance. Specifically, it has beenshown that females show superior fatigue resistance compared to males.
However, the relationship between sex differences in skeletal muscle function and mitochondrial
ability—known as fatigue resistance—is still not clear.
Now, Yutaka Kano and colleagues at University Electro-communications and Kansas State University
focused on calcium ion (Ca2+) dynamics that regulate muscle contraction and mitochondrial function.

Left: Sex-dependent difference in ultrastructure of intermyofibrillar mitochondria. Right: Effects of Ca 2+ uptake inhibition of
sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). The red color area has high Ca2+ concentration (Male). Green color indicates low Ca2+ area
(Female). These images show the difference in mitochondrial Ca2+ buffering capacity.

Using in vivo bioimaging system for experimental animal models, they measured changes in cytoplasmic Ca2+
concentration after Ca2+ uptake inhibition of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) in male and female mice.
The results suggest that (a) mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake ability is greater in female than male myocytes; and (b)this superior Ca2+ uptake ability of female myocytes is due, partly, to the higher intermyofibrillar
mitochondrial content.
If this observation is true for human muscles, as well as helping to explain sex-specific exercise adaptations
this observation may also open the way for the development of new therapeutic strategies for patient
populations characterized by muscle dysfunction and exercise intolerance.

The University of Electro-Communications 1-5-1 Chofugaoka, Chofu, Tokyo 182-8585© 2020 The University of Electro-Communications.

References
・Authors: Daiki Watanabe, Koji Hatakeyama, Ryo Ikegami, Hiroaki Eshima,
Kazuyoshi Yagishita, David C. Poole, and Yutaka Kano.
・Title of original paper: Sex differences in mitochondrial Ca2+ handling in mousefast-twitch skeletal muscle in vivo.
・Journal, volume, pages and year: Journal of Applied Physiology 128, 241-251(2020).
・Digital Object Identifier (DOI): 10.1152/japplphysiol.00230.2019.
・Affiliations: Center for Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, University ofElectro-Communications. Clinical Center for Sports Medicine and Sports
Dentistry, Tokyo Medical and Dental University. Departments of Anatomy &Physiology, Kansas State University.

The University of Electro-Communications 1-5-1 Chofugaoka, Chofu, Tokyo 182-8585© 2020 The University of Electro-Communications.

MEMS technology for fabricating plasmonic near-infrared spectrometers
Near-infrared spectroscopy provides absorption spectrum unique to substances so that discrimination of gas
species becomes possible. Miniaturization of spectrometers is thus required to realize compact gas sensors formonitoring air quality in living spaces.
However, conventional near-infrared spectrometers have gratings to disperse incident light into different
wavelengths, so long optical path lengths are required for spectroscopy, which is an obstacle forminiaturization these devices.
Now, Oshita Masaaki and Kan Tetsuo at the University of Electro-Communications and collaborators havedeveloped a gold diffraction-grating-type plasmonic photodetector on a MEMS—Micro Electro Mechanical
Systems—deformable cantilever.

A gold diffraction-grating on a MEMS cantilever.

The device was fabricated using a bulk-micromachining technology using n-type silicon. A gold diffraction
grating served the purpose as surface plasmon (SP) excitation. When the light is incident on the device,mechanical vibration of the cantilever dynamically changes the angle of incidence of the light, thereby
alternating the SP coupling condition. Coupled to SPR, the light energy is transduced to photocurrent on thedevice.
Using an angular change of the cantilever over −21-21 degrees, optical spectrum in the near-infrared light wasnumerically retrieved by analyzing the time-varying photocurrent.
Higly miniaturized near-infrared spectrometers were realized, and are expected to lead to new small sized IoT
sensors.

The University of Electro-Communications 1-5-1 Chofugaoka, Chofu, Tokyo 182-8585© 2020 The University of Electro-Communications.

References
・Authors: Masaaki Oshita, Hidetoshi Takahashi, Yoshiharu Ajiki, Tetsuo Kan
・Title of original paper: Reconfigurable Surface Plasmon Resonance Photodetector
with a MEMS Deformable Cantilever.
・Journal, volume, pages and year: ACS Photonics (in press).
・Digital Object Identifier (DOI): 10.1021/acsphotonics.9b01510
・Affiliations: Department of Mechanical Engineering and Intelligent Systems,
Graduate School of Informatics and Engineering, The University ofElectro-Communications.

The University of Electro-Communications 1-5-1 Chofugaoka, Chofu, Tokyo 182-8585© 2020 The University of Electro-Communications.

Yutaka Kano Professor, Department of Engineering Science, University ofElectro-Communications
Molecular mechanisms controlling muscle contraction in the body
Muscle contraction is controlled by changes in various
molecules in the body. In cells, the contraction and relaxationof calcium ions in a short time are regulated. To-date, many
biological studies have revealed the changes at the molecularlevel by morphological observation and biochemical analysis by collecting cells.
However, these methods lack spatial and temporal information in the living body, that is,
information on the dynamics in the living body. Yutaka Kano is working on bioimaging research
to visualize in vivo molecules in living animal bodies. "To date, many fluorescent proteins andcompounds have been made to visualize the inside of living organisms, but we have developed
bioimaging technology to introduce these into living organisms," says Kano.
This video includes visualizations of the dynamics of calcium ions in muscle cells and examplesof research using this observation method.
In skeletal muscle, there is a channel called TRPV1, which senses heat and allows calcium ionsto flow into cells. In the video the fluorescence image shows that the more reddish the color, thehigher the intracellular calcium ion concentration. In the middle heat-loaded group, heatincreased the intracellular calcium ion concentration by heat, and inhibition of TRPV1 inhibitedthe increase in intracellular calcium ion concentration by heat.
"Hence, in this study, we succeeded in visualizing the dynamics of intracellular calcium ion
concentration under thermal stimulation in an vivo environment," says Ryo Ikegami a graduate
student in the Kano Laboratory.
Ayaka Tabuchi, a grad-student in the Kano Lab also appears in the video.
"I am focused on the change in intracellular calcium ion concentration due to exercise," says
Tabuchi. "Changes in intracellular calcium ion concentration during exercise can be visualized
by in vivo bioimaging."
In this study, the Kano Lab clarified the pathway of calcium ion influx into cells by exercise andthe existence of a mechanism that homogenizes the accumulated information on intracellular
calcium ion concentration in cells.

The University of Electro-Communications 1-5-1 Chofugaoka, Chofu, Tokyo 182-8585© 2020The University of Electro-Communications.

They are also working on visualization of vascular networks using two-photon microscopy andmitochondrial networks using photothermographic microscopy.
The goal is to elucidate physiological systems by applying the latest technology by developing
fluorescent molecular probes and optical systems to bioimaging research and visualizing
molecular dynamics in vivo.
Further information
Research Highlight: In vivo bioimaging: technology to elucidate sex-dependent differences inskeletal muscle function
Department website: http://blsc.xsrv.jp/en/

The University of Electro-Communications 1-5-1 Chofugaoka, Chofu, Tokyo 182-8585© 2020The University of Electro-Communications.

Tetsuo Kan Associate Professor Department of Mechanical and Intelligent
Systems Engineering
MEMS technology for fabricating plasmonic devices
Tetsuo Kan is developing new MEMS devices or sensors, thatis microelectromechanical systems which are based on
semiconductor fabrication techniques.
"MEMS technology provides us with very small size sensors such as force sensors or inertial
sensors or photodetectors and so on," says Kan. "We are focusing on new optical devices bycombining MEMS and plasmonics."
Plasmonics is optical oscillation of metal nano or microstructures. So, if meal nano or
microstructures are illuminated with light, then oscillation occurs on the surfaces of the metals.
But conventional methods for detecting these resonances use huge optical microscopes, andsince such plasmonics is very sensitive to the external environment, and is a fascinating
phenomenon for sensing.
"If we put such nanostructures on top of semiconductors such as MEMS, we can electricallydetect oscillations as electrical signals," explains Kan. "So, we no longer require huge opticalsetups, so we can minimize plasmonic sensors within a very small chip size.So, we are applying
this basic technology for developing new cost-effective photodetectors, or new spectrometers or
new chemical sensors and so on."The structures are made using microfabrication facilities at UEC Tokyo located in clean rooms
build for nanolithography or photolithography.
In addition to microfabrication, optical simulation is also indispensable and in order to get very
good resonant structures, Kan and his team carry out optical simulations to design highresonance structures and the fabrication process required. Kan refers to this as their "recipe forthe microfabrication".
Recently, Kan has succeeded in making a new and very small spectrometer, based on a
combination of the MEMS cantilever structures and a gold grating on the surface of a cantilever.

The University of Electro-Communications 1-5-1 Chofugaoka, Chofu, Tokyo 182-8585© 2020The University of Electro-Communications.

In this structure, gold gratings generate plasmonic resonance when the structure is illuminatedby the light, and the plasmonic response is measured as a photocurrent on the surface of thecantilever.
Kan and his colleagues found that when the cantilever is vibrated and light is incident on thegold surface, they could retrieve spectrum information by calculating the relationship between
the vibration angle and the photocurrent at each angle.
"We think that this is very small or one of the smallest spectrometers ever made," says Kan. "We
are now applying this very small spectrometer to gas sensing, for example, in a room or in
automotive environment, as new IoT sensor. I think the combination of MEMS and plasmonics
is a novel approach to fabricate high performance and versatile sensors. So, I we will continue
explore MEMS and plasmonics fields."
Further information
Research Highlight: MEMS technology for fabricating plasmonic near-infrared spectrometers
Department website: http://www.ms.mi.uec.ac.jp

The University of Electro-Communications 1-5-1 Chofugaoka, Chofu, Tokyo 182-8585© 2020The University of Electro-Communications.

Self-regulated learning: English for students of science and engineering
Suwako Uehara
Associate Professor
Graduate School of Informatics and Engineering
Faculty of Informatics and Engineering Division of General Education"My approach to teaching English to students majoring in science and technology is based on the so-called'self-regulated learning,'" says Suwako Uehara, an associate professor at the Graduate School of Informatics
and Engineering, Faculty of Informatics and Engineering Division of General Education, UEC Tokyo.
"Amongst other things, this requires emphasizing motivation, awareness, setting goals, developing skill sets
and technology for the mutual benefit of both students and their teachers. Teaching STEM students is achallenging and continuously evolving process of education."

Self-Access ParkThe UEC Self-Access Park (UECSAP) was established by Uehara and her colleagues to support language
learning outside of the classroom. "The UECSAP is our version of a SALC, "self-access learning center,"
explains Uehara. "It has been running for over five years and is managed by members of the English faculty
and students. Activities include peer support on writing papers and presentations in English, organizing
seminars and lectures on culture as well as giving talks on research to local high school students."
Uehara continuously assesses the degree of satisfaction of the students with the UECSAP program and shares
the results at conferences and seminars. Recent results of a survey showed an above average user satisfaction
for the level of support.
Uehara found that the development of the program depends on the needs of individual institutions and theirstakeholders, and that it is imperative to share information about the program with relevant sections within
institutes.
"The survey highlighted a need for discussion on the level of autonomy or forced autonomy each institution
requires to have an active SALC," says Uehara. "More emphasis should be made on raising awareness ofstudies related to language learning to users, language educators, and student staff via research reports andpapers. Additionally, there are benefits in organizing motivational talks by peer role models to foster
autonomous learning based on internal motivation studies."

Teaching methods for graduate school technical English: English for specific purposes (ESP)and flipped learning
Uehara is also conducting research on developing methods to teach science and technology graduates how tomake presentations at conferences. At UEC, Uehara and her colleagues work with faculty members
The University of Electro-Communications 1-5-1 Chofugaoka, Chofu, Tokyo 182-8585© 2020 The University of Electro-Communications.

specializing in science and engineering to run a 15-week course focused on teaching approximately 120 firstyear graduate students how to make presentations at international conferences. As part of the course, each
student gives a short two-minute presentation about their undergraduate thesis in English. "This course isspecial because experts in English teaching and scientists and engineers work together to compliment theirskill sets to motivate students to learn the art of presentations at international conferences. It's a unique course
yielding encouraging results."
Surveys show that students are highly attentive with 97% attendance and 98% homework submission rate.
Furthermore, questionnaires show that in the context of presentations, students want to improve their speaking
strategies, level of English for writing slides, and delivery of the slides. Regarding writing, the demands arefor preparing whole research manuscripts with emphasis on abstracts, grammar and style, and expressing
technical terms. For reading, it is speed reading, skills to summarize papers in their own words, and criticalanalysis.
"We found that the vast majority of students were satisfied with the course," says Uehara. "However, thefeedback showed that the more than 60% of students found it difficult to give the two-minute talk."
To circumvent the lack of time for longer talks during lectures, Uehara is planning to introduce 'flipped
learning", a pedagogical approach in which classroom lectures are recorded on video for students watch forhomework, and this gives more time for discussion and practical work in class. "According to studies in thefield, the benefits of flipped learning include that students can take control of their learning, there is acollaboration between teachers and students, and there is an increased responsibility for both parties to makethe course a success," says Uehara.

References
Uehara, S. (2019 May). Developing a self-access in a STEM University. PanSIG2019 Conference, 18-19 May
2019, Konan University, CUBE Campus, Hyogo, Japan.
Uehara, S., Terashima, S., & Shi, J. (2019 November). Needs analysis for graduate school technical English
course design and materials development. The 3rd Annual Conference of Asia ESP & the 8th Chinese
National Conference on ESP, 15-17 November 2019, Chongquing University China.

The University of Electro-Communications 1-5-1 Chofugaoka, Chofu, Tokyo 182-8585© 2020 The University of Electro-Communications.

Further information
Suwako Uehara, Associate Professor
Graduate School of Informatics and Engineering, Faculty of Informatics
and Engineering Division of General Education
http://kjk.office.uec.ac.jp/Profiles/66/0006520/prof_e.html
UECSAP Website: http://uec-selfaccesspark.wixsite.com/uecselfaccesspark

The University of Electro-Communications 1-5-1 Chofugaoka, Chofu, Tokyo 182-8585© 2020 The University of Electro-Communications.

UEC signs general agreement with Hanoi Medical University
January 21, 2020
As of 6 January, 2020, the University of Electro-Communications (UEC) singed general agreement with
Hanoi Medical University, Vietnam, to promote further international collaboration between the two
universities.
Hanoi Medical University was established in 1902, and is the oldest medical school in Vietnam. It is aleading-edge medical school and has produced number of highly qualified medical doctors.
This agreement will enhance the tie between Hanoi Medical University and UEC and promote research andeducation exchange.

The University of Electro-Communications 1-5-1 Chofugaoka, Chofu, Tokyo 182-8585© 2020 The University of Electro-Communications.

Industry-UCB-UEC-Keio Workshop 2019
January 17, 2020
https://www.uec.ac.jp/eng/news/announcement/2020/20200117_2335.html
From December 10 to 11, 2019, Industry-UCB-UEC-Keio Workshop
2019 (IUUKWS 2019) took place at Keio University (Keio). An
interdisciplinary group of corporate executive officers, experts, andresearchers from various industries, the University of California,
Berkeley (UCB), Keio, and the University of Electro-Communications(UEC) came together for the workshop.
The workshop was originally co-organized by UCB and UEC in 2017.

Opening Remarks by UEC
President Fukuda.

IUUKWS 2019 is held to discuss the details of "Collaborative Construction of Service Infrastructure
Technology/Platform" to realize a super smart society through industry-academia collaboration. To devise
effective strategies to realize the Intelligence Service Infrastructure Technology/Platform, it is essential topromote close cooperation between industries, UCB, Keio, and UEC. The participation of Keio's Faculty of
Science and Technology has greatly contributed to the further development of the workshop.
The workshop started with an opening address by UEC President Fukuda and a welcome speech from Dr.
Nakano. Afterward, 5 sessions covered the fields of control systems, bioengineering, quantum information,materials science 1, and material science 2. Keio and UEC students held a poster session. Mr. Peter Fitzgerald,
the president of Google Japan LLC, delivered a planerary lecture, and Mr. Sato Koji, the president of Hitachi
Metals, Ltd., concluded the closing session. The workshop was successful thanks to the participation of many
researchers and students.
The upcoming IUUKWS 2020 is scheduled to be held at UCB and aims to advance future international
research collaboration and industry-academia collaboration.

The University of Electro-Communications 1-5-1 Chofugaoka, Chofu, Tokyo 182-8585© 2020 The University of Electro-Communications.

UEC signs general agreement with UNS
January 21, 2020
https://www.uec.ac.jp/eng/news/announcement/2020/20200121_2348.html
On January 9, 2020, the University of Electro-Communications (UEC)
has singed general agreement with Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS),
Indonesia, to promote further international collaboration.
5 UEC members including UEC president Fukuda, and Dr. Nakano,the member of Board of Directors visited UNS campus to attend thesigning ceremony. The meeting at UNS was initiated by the welcome
speech from Prof. Dr. Wiwoho, the president of UNS. Followed byGroup photopresident Fukuda's speech and presentations on overview of theuniversities, President Wiwoho and Presidnet Fukuda put their signatures on the general agreement.
After the signing ceremony, members of UNS and UEC exchanged ideas for further research and student
exchange, and the UEC delegation members was taken on a tour of the campus including Center for JapaneseStudies at UNS.
This agreement will further promote research and educational collaboration between UNS and UEC.

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The University of Electro-Communications (UEC) in Tokyo
is a small, luminous university at the forefront of pure and applied sciences, engineering, andtechnology research. Its roots go back to the Technical Institute for Wireless Commutations,which was established in 1918 by the Wireless Association to train so-called wireless engineers
in maritime communications in response to the Titanic disaster in 1912. In 1949, the UEC wasestablished as a national university by the Japanese Ministry of Education, and moved in 1957
from Meguro to its current Chofu campus Tokyo.
With approximately 4,000 students and 350 faculty, UEC is regarded as a small university, butwith particular expertise in wireless communications, laser science, robotics, informatics, andmaterial science, to name just a few areas of research.
The UEC was selected for the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)
Program for Promoting the Enhancement of Research Universities as a result of its strengths inthree main areas: optics and photonics research, where we are number one for the numberof joint publications with foreign researchers; wireless communications, which reflects ourroots; and materials-based research, particularly on fuel cells.
International Public Relations
The University of Electro-Communications
1-5-1 Chofugaoka, Chofu, Tokyo 182-8585
E-mail : kokusai-k@office.uec.ac.jp
Website : http://www.uec.ac.jp/eng/

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182-8585 © 2020 The University of Electro-Communications.