News | TOHOKU UNIVERSITY

Associate Professor Tsuyoshi Tsuduki receives Young Investigator Award from ICoFF

2011-11-25T02:51:36Z

Tsuyoshi Tsuduki (Associate Professor, Graduate School of Agricultural Science) was chosen to receive the Young Investigator Award.

He discovered that 1-deoxynojirimycin extracted from mulberry suppresses lipid accumulation in white adipose tissue and liver.

Therefore, 1-deoxynojirimycin may be useful as a medicine and health food supplement.

More Information(ICoFF 2011)

Appearance of award lecture

Contact :
Tsuyoshi Tsuduki (Associate Professor)
Laboratory of Food and Biomolecular Science,
Graduate School of Agricultural Science,
Tohoku University
TEL: +81-22-717-8799

New excited state of Carbon-12 nucleus -A clue to the mystery of the origin of life-

2011-11-21T06:26:44Z

A research group led by Cyclotron and Radioisotope Center, Tohoku University, Research Center for Nuclear Physics, Osaka University, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Konan University, University of Notre Dame and some other institutions has discovered a new excited state of Carbon-12 nucleus which plays a crucial role in the nucleosynthesis in the Universe, through the high-precision measurement of nuclear scattering by using a ring-cyclotron accelerator. This discovery is expected to advance the understanding of the elemental abundance in the Universe and provides insights in resolving the mystery of the origin of life.

This result has been published in "Physical Review C" on November 14, 2011 and has been introduced in “Physics Viewpoint.”

Article in Physics Viewpoint

http://physics.aps.org/articles/v4/94

More information (Japanese)

[Contact]

Assistant Professor Masatoshi Itoh

Cyclotron and Radioisotope Center, Tohoku University

TEL: +81-22-795-7796

E-mail: itoh*cyric.tohoku.ac.jp (Replace * with @)

Associate Professor Mamoru Fujiwara

Research Center for Nuclear Physics, Osaka University

TEL: +81-6-6879-8914

E-mail: fujiwara*rcnp.osaka-u.ac.jp (Replace * with @)

Associate Professor Takahiro Kawabata

Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University

TEL: +81-75-753-3832

E-mail:kawabata*scphys.kyoto-u.ac.jp (Replace * with @)

Blood pressure elevation sustained during 4 weeks after the Great East Japan Earthquake -Proposal for countermeasures to chronic diseases of disaster-afflicted people-

2011-11-18T00:46:52Z

A research group led by Professor Yutaka Imai at Tohoku University Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences has revealed that hypertensive patients steeply increased their blood pressure and had kept it higher than as usual during 4 weeks after The Great East Japan Earthquake had occurred.

This achievement has been published online in Hypertension (doi: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.111.184077). The paper's title is "Acute and Subacute Effects of the Great East Japan Earthquake on Home Blood Pressure Values."

In addition, we have proposed how to deal with such acute blood pressure elevation at the 34th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Japanese Society of Hypertension held on October 20, 2011.

More information (Japanese)

[Contact]

Professor Yutaka Imai

Department of Planning for Drug Development and Clinical Evaluation

Tohoku University Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Address: 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8575 Japan

Tel +81-22-717-7770

Fax +81-22-717-7776

Direct observation of ultra-diluted impurities in ceramics -Discovery of an unexpected superstructure arising from an interaction between impurities and defects segregated at grain boundary-

2011-11-17T00:36:48Z

A research group led by Professor Yuichi Ikuhara at WPI Advanced Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University (concurrently serving as Professor at School of Engineering, University of Tokyo and Senior Researcher at Japan Fine Ceramic Center (JFCC)), and Assistant Professor Zhongchang Wang at WPI Advanced Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University has discovered that very small amount of impurities on grain boundaries of ceramics (magnesium oxide) form an unexpected superstructure at the atomic level, through the observation with an atom-resolved aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscope and the supercomputing calculation. That is, they have revealed that impurities inside of a ceramic crystal accumulate at grain boundaries and form ordered three-dimensional structure (superstructure). Since even a very small amount (at ppm-level) of impurities may change characteristics of ceramics and enhance fluctuation of product properties, it had been difficult to extend the commercial uses of ceramics. This study has found that an origin resulting in fluctuation of the properties is significant transformation of atomic structures by segregation of ultra-diluted impurities at/near grain boundaries. In other words, this research has visualized the position of impurities which is too small amount to detect, and has elucidated the role of impurities for changing the properties. This study will be expected to greatly improve performance and reliability of ceramics by controlling impurities to significantly contribute to inhibit fluctuations of the properties, and develop unprecedented materials which superstructures are controlled by applying intentionally impurities.

This research result will be published online in Nature on November 16, 2011. The paper’s title is “Atom-resolved imaging of ordered defect superstructures at individual grain boundaries”. This research has been conducted with the aid of Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Priority Areas, ”Atomic Scale Modification (474)”, from Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.

More information (Japanese)

[Contact]

Professor Yuichi Ikuhara

Institute of Engineering Innovation,

School of Engineering, University of Tokyo

Address: 2-11-16 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan

TEL: +81-3-5841-7688

E-mail：ikuhara*sigma.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp (Replace * with @)

Assistant Professor Zhongchang Wang

WPI Advanced Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University

Address: 2-1-1 Katahira, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8577, Japan

TEL: +81-22-217-5934

E-mail：zcwang*wpi-aimr.tohoku.ac.jp (Replace * with @)

Report on "5th Stanford and Tohoku Universities Joint Open Workshop on 3D Transistor and its Applications"

2011-11-16T00:45:32Z

On November 10, 2011, the "5th Stanford and Tohoku Universities Joint Open Workshop on 3D Transistor and its Applications," which discusses 3D devices for next generation integrated circuit technology, was held at the Tohoku University Tokyo Branch. This workshop was co-chaired by Professor Endoh of Center for Interdisciplinary Research (CIR), Tohoku University and Professor Nishi of Center for Integrated Systems (CIS), Stanford University.

The workshop is aimed to further advance the collaborative research activity on the advanced 3D semiconductor integrated circuit technology between Professor Endoh of Tohoku University and Professor Nishi of Stanford University. The scope of this workshop was 3D-Devices, 3D Integrated Circuit (IC) Technology, Material and Process Technology for 3D-IC Technology, and 3D Interconnect Technology etc. Furthermore, the long year collaborative research, including this workshop, between Professor Endoh and Professor Nishi has resulted in a reciprocal department agreement between CIR of Tohoku University and CIS of Stanford University in April 2009.

This time, six internationally distinguished researchers of 3D integrated technology like FinFET, BiCS, memory cell stack and Cu metallization were invited as speakers, as well as over 130 participants who attended the workshop. Each speaker presented hot and cutting edge topics on 3D integrated technology and lively discussions took place between the participants. This year again, the 5th annual workshop finished with great success.

This workshop was a part of the Interdisciplinary Research for International Collaborative Research from CIR, Tohoku University.

	Invited Speakers
Opening Remarks by Professor Endoh of Tohoku University	Workshop Floor (Tohoku University Tokyo Branch)

Inquiry :
Endoh Lab, Center for Interdisciplinary Research
TEL 81-22-795-5260

Eighth International Conference on Flow Dynamics (ICFD2011) was over as scheduled with a great success.

2011-11-15T02:36:53Z

The Eighth International Conference on Flow Dynamics (ICFD2011) was held on Nov. 9 - 11, 2011 at Hotel Metropolitan Sendai. This conference held this year was an unexpectedly great success with 649 participants including 206 foreigners from 18 countries.

Detail(More information)

Contact :
Global COE office, Institute of Fluid Science
http://www.ifs.tohoku.ac.jp/gcoe/index-e.html
TEL：022-217-5301
mail: office*gcoe.ifs.tohoku.ac.jp(Replace * to @)

Professor Emeritus Tokiyasu Fujita received the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun

2011-11-11T07:23:44Z

Professor Emeritus Tokiyasu Fujita at Graduate School of Law, Tohoku University has received the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun in autumn 2011. The medal is awarded to people who have greatly contributed to Japanese society. Recipients were announced on November 3, 2011.

Other recipients associated with Tohoku University are the following:

The Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon is awarded to:

Professor Emeritus Kinya Maruyama (Specialized in Experimental Psychology)

Professor Emeritus Nobuo Miyamoto (The former Director of Research Institute of Electrical Communication, Tohoku University)

Professor Emeritus Hiroshi Oya (Specialized in Space Plasma Physics)

The Order of the Sacred Treasure, Silver Rays is awarded to:

Hideko Ono (The former Chief Nurse of Tohoku University Hospital)

Professor Mitsumasa Koyanagi at New Industry Creation Hatchery Center, Tohoku University has received 2011 Medal with Purple Ribbon in academic researches, art, culture and sports

2011-11-04T00:03:52Z

Professor Mitsumasa Koyanagi at New Industry Creation Hatchery Center, Tohoku University has received 2011 Medal with Purple Ribbon in academic researches, art, culture and sports.

Professor Mitsumasa Koyanagi has developed a stacked capacitor memory cell, which is a basic device of Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) in the field of semiconductor engineering, and has greatly contributed to developing semiconductor industries in Japan and all over the world. In addition, he proposed three-dimensional IC in 1989 and successfully developed its prototype in 1995. Since then, he has been leading the world in this field.

Besides, aiming to apply semiconductor technology to various fields, he has positively worked in the field of biodevice engineering, which involves semiconductor technology, nanotechnology and biotechnology, and he has made great efforts to train many scientists and engineers through his education and direction.

More information (Japanese)

[Contact]

New Industry Creation Hatchery Center, Tohoku University

Address: 6-6-10 Aza-Aoba Aramaki Aoba-ku Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8579, Japan

TEL: +81-22-795-6906

Campus Bus Time Schedule is revised on Oct 31

2011-10-19T01:59:50Z

The Campus Bus Time Schedule is revised on Monday, October 31.

Please see the details on the Campus Bus Web Page.

The buses may delay due to bad weather conditions.

Please allow enough time for your plan.

◇Supplement

1.One more charter bus which departs from Sanjo at9:50 on weekdays to Aobayama is running.

2.The Bus Stop “School of Engineering West” is moving on October 29.

3.The Bus Stop “Katahira” has been temporary moved in front of Sakura Hall due to the construction around North Gate.

That work is scheduled to continue until November 17.

After the completion of the work, the bus stop will be returned to the front of Extended Education & Research Building.

Detail(More information)

Contact :

Property and Procurement Management Division, Finance Department

Tel：022-217-4916

e-mail：shisankanri1*bureau.tohoku.ac.jp (Replace *to @)

Semiconductor Cleaning harmless to humans -A new technology using solid nitrogen-

2011-10-11T00:00:46Z

A research group organized by Associate Professor Jun Ishimoto and Professor Seiji Samukawa at Institute of Fluid Science, Tohoku University has developed a new cleaning technology for semiconductor wafers without the use of harmful substances.

We have successfully replaced conventional two stage operation of semiconductor cleaning, which is composed of plasma irradiation and cleaning with harmful agents, with single stage operation. We developed the new semiconductor cleaning method making use of particulate solid nitrogen spray. Since this technique can prevent damage to the wiring from plasma irradiation in the cleaning process and it is available for cleaning devices susceptible to oxygen radicals, this technology is focused as eco-friendly semiconductor cleaning technology.

More information (Japanese)

[Contact]

Associate Professor Jun Ishimoto

Reality-Coupled Computation Laboratory,

Transdisciplinary Fluid Integration Research Center

Institute of Fluid Science, Tohoku University

TEL: +81-22-217-5271

E-mail: ishimotojun*ieee.org (Replace * with @)

URL: http://alba.ifs.tohoku.ac.jp/

Tohoku University Summer Programs2011(TSSP, TASP, TESP)

2011-09-30T04:02:07Z

Dates: Late July to early August 2011

Venue: Center for International Exchange:http://www.insc.tohoku.ac.jp/cms/index.cgi

Division of International Education and Exchange, School of Engineering:http://www.ied.eng.tohoku.ac.jp/

Videos have been completed regarding the two main summer programs held by the Center for International Exchange for undergraduate students (TSSP: Tohoku University Science Summer Program, TASP: Tohoku University Arts and Letters Summer Program), and the one graduate student program (TESP: Tohoku University Engineering Summer Program) held from late July to early August, 2011.

http://www.fgl.tohoku.ac.jp/movie/index.shtml

The videos can be found on the Videos page under Events; there are three videos, one each for TSSP, TASP and TESP.

Inquiries:

Tohoku University Student Exchange Division TEL: 022-795-4818

The origin of life: Chemical evolution occurred under the seafloor! -Amino acid oligomerization at high temperatures and pressures-

2011-09-27T00:10:23Z

A research group led by Assistant Professor Tsubasa Otake and Professor Takeshi Kakegawa at Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University, in collaboration with a research group led by Group Leader Takashi Taniguchi and Emeritus Fellow Hiromoto Nakazawa at National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), has conducted amino acid oligomerization experiments under high temperature and pressure conditions, and has revealed that peptides, which constitute proteins, are produced from simple aminoacids (glycine or alanine).

Through synthetic organic experiments examining the origin of life, the formation mechanisms of simple organic materials have been gradually elucidated so far. However, the evolutionary process of these organic materials on the primitive Earth has remained to be explained. In the present experiments, we have successfully produced more complex polymer molecules than ever in the absence of a catalyst. The results of the experiments also indicate that high concentrations of ammonia in high pressure environments play an important role for stabilizing amino acids and peptides.

These results suggest that the materials which may be precursors of proteins were produced under the seafloor of the primitive Earth. The present study supports a theory that, after the ocean appeared on the early earth, simple organic materials concentrated in the sub-seafloor sediments and evolved into more complex organic materials in the process of lithification and dehydration of marine sediments.

The research result will be published online in Astrobiology soon. The paper's title is "Stability of amino acids and their oligomerization under high-pressure conditions: implications for prebiotic chemistry".

More information (Japanese)

[Contact]

(About the research)

Department of Earth Science

Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University

Professor Takeshi Kakegawa

E-mail: kakegawa*m.tohoku.ac.jp (Replace * with @)

TEL: +81-22-795-6660

Assistant Professor Tsubasa Otake

E-mail: totake*m.tohoku.ac.jp, tsubasa283otake*gmail.com (Replace * with @)

TEL: +81-22-795-3453

Ultra-High Pressure Processes Group

Material Processing Unit, Advanced Key Technologies Division

National Institute for Materials Science

Group Leader Takashi Taniguchi

E-mail: TANIGUCHI.Takashi@nims.go.jp (Replace * with @) 　

TEL: +81-29-860-4413

Emeritus Fellow Hiromoto Nakazawa

E-mail: NAKAZAWA.Hiromoto*nims.go.jp (Replace * with @)

TEL: +81-29-860-4302

[Public Relations]

Public Relations office of Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University

TEL: +81-22-795-6708　

E-mail: sci-koho*mail.sci.tohoku.ac.jp (Replace * with @)

Public Relations office, National Institute for Materials Science

TEL: +81-29-859-2026　

E-mail: pr*nims.go.jp (Replace * with @)

Inoue Plan 2007 (Tohoku University Action Plan Revised for 2011)

2011-09-26T02:40:23Z

Inoue Plan 2007 (Tohoku University Action Plan Revised for 2011) is posted on the Web.

Inoue Plan 2007(Tohoku University Action Plan Revised for 2011)(PDF 2.08MB)

Elderly Welfare Index of each prefecture in Japan

2011-09-16T00:11:03Z

A research group of Tohoku University Global COE Program led by Professor Hiroshi Yoshida at Graduate School of Economics and Management, Tohoku University has presented Elderly Welfare Index of each prefecture in Japan. Elderly Welfare Index is calculated using 15 statistical items of the 5 domains (Physical and Mental Health, Economic Life, Social Life, Personal Life, and Safety and Security), in order to figure out the present situation of Well-Being of the elderly in Japan, where elderly people and young people live together.

According to the research, the scores of prefectures facing the Sea of Japan, such as Shimane, Fukui and Ishikawa Prefecture are equal to or higher than 0.80 points. On the other hand, Aomori, Wakayama, Fukuoka and Okinawa Prefecture have low score. Miyagi Prefecture ranks the 14th among 47 prefectures. The research result will be presented at GCOE Hagi Seminar on Katahira Campus, Tohoku University on October 16, 2011.

More information (Japanese)

[Contact]

Professor Hiroshi Yoshida

Graduate School of Economics and Management, Tohoku University

TEL:+81-50-5806-5164 (Before October 1, 2011)

　　　+81-22-795-6292 (On and after October 1, 2011)

E-mail: hyoshida*econ.tohoku.ac.jp

Tohoku University Global COE Program

TEL: +81-22-795-3740, +81-22-795-3163

http://www.law.tohoku.ac.jp/gcoe/

Development of a prototype Microminiature Near-Infrared Spectroscopy for brain imaging

2011-09-14T00:47:45Z

A research group led by Professor Ryuta Kawashima at Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, and Hitachi, Ltd. have developed a prototype Microminiature Near-Infrared Spectroscopy for measuring changes in blood flow in the frontal lobe associated with brain activities, as part of the JST program. This achievement is expected to be applied to cutting-edge research areas, such as "Interdisciplinary Brain Science", which aims at the elucidation of how the human brain interacts in the community various people live in.

More information (Japanese)

[Contact]

Professor Ryuta Kawashima

E-mail: fbi*idac.tohoku.ac.jp (Replace * with @)

An article about Tohoku University was published in Foreign Affairs

2011-09-02T00:49:02Z

An article about Tohoku University has been published in Foreign Affairs, July/August 2011, Volume 90, Number 4.

Article

[Contact]

Public Relations Division, Tohoku University

TEL: +81-22-217-4816

Lightsource Illuminates the Puzzle of Asteroid Itokawa

2011-08-26T04:14:52Z

Researchers led by Associate Professor Tomoki Nakamura at the Department of Earth and Planetary Materials Science, Tohoku University, have uncovered the dramatic early history of the small asteroid Itokawa by analyzing tiny granular samples returned to Earth by JAXA's Asteroid Explorer Hayabusa.

"We concluded that the parent body of Itokawa was initially about 20 km in diameter," says Nakamura. "The temperature at the core of the parent asteroid reached 800 deg. C, then slowly cooled down. But then another asteroid struck and smashed the original Itokawa. What we see as Itokawa now is a remnant, just a small fraction of the original, consisting of the fragments that were brought back together and recombined by their small gravity."

The team analyzed 38 tiny grains of Itokawa samples brought back to Earth by Hayabusa, using X-ray diffraction and high-resolution electron microscopy. "The KEK Photon Factory has an ideal lightsource beam line to analyze the composition of minerals in small samples, ranging from 30 to 150 micrometers," explains Nakamura. "We also used a high-resolution electron microscope to examine the structure and chemical composition of various minerals inside the samples. We found that some samples had experienced significant thermal metamorphism, indicating that they came from the high-temperature environment of the interior of the parent asteroid. We also used the other lightsource facility SPring-8 to further examine some samples containing plagioclase."

Major minerals identified in Itokawa samples are: olivine, low-Ca pyroxene, high-Ca pyroxene, and plagioclase. Less abundant but common minerals are: troilite, taenite, and chromite. This suggests that Itokawa is similar in mineral composition to chondrite meteorites, the oldest and most primitive material in the solar system.

These results, combined with other analyses of Itokawa samples, appear in the special Hayabusa issue of Science (August 25, 2011).

More information (Japanese)

Science paper by Tomoki Nakamura

[Media Contact]

Tomoki Nakamura

Department of Earth and Planetary Materials Science, Tohoku University

Tel: +81-22-795-6651

E-mail: tomoki*m.tohoku.ac.jp (Replace * with @)

Hironori Nakao

High Energy Accelerator Research Organization, Japan

Tel: +81-29-879-6025

E-mail: hironori.nakao*kek.jp (Replace * with @)

Kanako Suyama

Media Office, Graduate School of Science and Faculty of Science, Tohoku University

Tel: +81-22-795-6708

E-mail: suyama*mail.sci.tohoku.ac.jp (Replace * with @)

Youhei Morita

Public Relations Office,

High Energy Accelerator Research Organization, Japan

Tel: +81-29-879-6047, Fax: +81-29-879-6049

E-mail: press*kek.jp (Replace * with @)

Campus Bus Time Schedule during 2nd Semester

2011-08-25T04:36:28Z

The Campus Bus Time Schedule during 2nd Semester are released.

Please see the details on the Campus Bus Web Page.

Katahira Campus Bus Stop has been temporary moved to the in front of Sakura Hall during the construction around North Gate.

(Estimated date of completion：the end of October)

More Information: http://www.bureau.tohoku.ac.jp/keiyaku/campusbus/campusbuse.html

Contact :

Property and Procurement Management Division, Finance Department

Tel：022-217-4916

e-mail：shisankanri1*bureau.tohoku.ac.jp (Replace *to @)

Campus Bus Special Time Schedule

2011-07-18T23:34:40Z

Campus Bus runs according to the special time schedule for several days as follows because some events are held.

You can read and print the time tables from the clickable link “News” on Campus Bus website. The bus services will finish on Friday, Aug 12. It is going to be restarted on Monday, 5 Sep.

Please allow us to inform you the details after our decision will be made.

1. Jul 27 - 28 (Open Campus)

2. Aug 5(Sendai Tanabata Fire Works Festival)

More Information:http://www.bureau.tohoku.ac.jp/keiyaku/campusbus/campusbuse.html

Contact :

Property and Procurement Management Division, Finance Department

Tel：022-217-4916

e-mail：shisankanri1*bureau.tohoku.ac.jp (Replace *to @)

Should we also swim in formation?

2011-07-11T04:38:32Z

It is a well known fact that in nature many animals exhibit collective behaviours to move more efficiently and save energy. For example, birds fly in flocks when they migrate, fish swim together when they feed, and cyclists ride in a close group during a race to dramatically reduce drag. However, little is known about what happens when we consider collective behaviour in the microscopic world of bacteria. In particular, whether collective swimming is also the most efficient way of moving at the micro-scales, where viscous effects are dominant, is a question that until recently had no answer.

The mystery has been solved by Dr. Ishikawa and his group, who investigated the collective swimming of bacteria. By measuring the three-dimensional velocity field, they discovered that by moving together bacteria can swim three times as fast, and that the mass transport in the suspension can be considerably improved.

Surprisingly, to achieve this enormous increase in speed, the bacteria used only a tiny amount of additional energy. The study was the first to discover that also for microorganisms collective swimming is the most energy-efficient way of moving and of absorbing oxygen and nutrients in nature.

More information (Japanese)

[Contact]

Associate Professor Takuji Ishikawa

Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University

Address: 6-6-11 Aoba Aramaki Aoba-ku Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8579, Japan

Phone: +81-22-795-4009 Fax: +81-22-795-6959

E-mail: ishikawa*pfsl.mech.tohoku.ac.jp (Replace * with @)

Public Relations Office

Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University

Address: 6-6-04 Aoba Aramaki Aoba-ku Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8579, Japan

TEL: +81-22-795-5898, Fax: +81-22-795-5898

E-mail: eng-pr*eng.tohoku.ac.jp (Replace * with @)