What's New | TOHOKU UNIVERSITY

Recruitment of Three Assistant Professors and Five Post Doctoral Researchers, WPI Advanced Institute for Materials Research (Deadline is February 29, 2012)

2012-02-06T04:57:07Z

WPI Advanced Institute for Materials Research (http://www.wpi-aimr.tohoku.ac.jp/en/index.php) is seeking to appoint suitable applicants to the positions: three assistant professors and five post doctoral researchers.

More Information (http://www.wpi-aimr.tohoku.ac.jp/en/modules/staff/index.php?cat_id=1)

Professor Kengo Kinoshita receiving the 8th JSPS Prize

2012-02-02T01:33:43Z

Professor Kengo Kinoshita at Graduate School of Information Sciences, Tohoku University was chosen to receive the 8th JSPS Prize from Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS).

The prize is given to future academic research leaders who are expected to be Nobel nominees in order to promote their studies to lead breakthroughs.

The presentation ceremony will be held at Japan Academy Hall on February 27, 2011.

More information

[Contact]

Administration Division

Graduate School of Information Sciences, Tohoku University

TEL: +81-22-795-5813

Discovery of the retrograde melanosome transport complex in melanocytes - Expected molecular target for preventing gray hairs? -

2012-01-30T00:01:48Z

Tohoku University has elucidated a mechanism for "microtubule-dependent retrograde melanosome transport", that is, reversed transport of melanin pigments along the microtubules. This research result has been acquired by Assistant Professor Norihiko Ohbayashi and Professor Mitsunori Fukuda at Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University.

Melanin pigments, sources of our skin color and hair color, are synthesized by melanogenic enzymes in melanocytes, and are stored in specialized organelles called melanosomes. Mature melanosomes are transported to the plasma membrane, along two kinds of cytoskeletal networks, microtubules and actin filaments. First, melanosomes are delivered to the peripheral area in the cell by long-distance and bidirectional (anterograde and retrograde) microtubule-dependent transport. Next, melanosomes are conveyed close to the plasma membrane by short-distance one-way actin-dependent transport. Melanosomes are eventually transferred to neighboring keratinocytes and hair matrix cells, which produce skin and hairs, respectively. This process makes skin and hairs black. Although the mechanism of actin-dependent melanosome transport by small GTPase Rab27A had been revealed, long-distance microtubule-dependent melanosome transport has not been elucidated at all.

In this study, the research group has uncovered that a transport complex including melanoregulin (Mreg) is involved in the process of microtubule-dependent retrograde melanosome transport, by using cultured mouse melanocytes. It has been revealed that Mreg on mature melanosomes forms a complex with dynein, a kind of motor protein, via Rab interacting lysosomal protein (RILP) and transports melanosomes in a retrograde fashion, that is, from near the plasma membrane to the perinuclear area in the cell.

This study has revealed that Mreg deficiency nearly restores melanosome distribution from perinuclear melanosome aggregation in Rab27A-deficient melanocytes. Hence, screening of medical agents inhibiting Mreg functions will lead to prevent our hairs from becoming gray.

The research result has been published online in The Journal of Cell Science. The paper's title is "Melanoregulin regulates retrograde melanosome transport through interaction with the RILP•p150^Glued complex in melanocytes".

More information (Japanese)

[Contact]

(About the research)

Professor Mitsunori Fukuda

Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University

TEL: +81-22-795-7731

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

(Public Relations)

Associate professor Fuji Nagami

Tohoku Neuroscience Global COE

Tel: +81-22-717-7908 Fax: +81-22-717-7923

E-mail: f-nagami*med.tohoku.ac.jp (Replace * with @)

Dr. Masato Sagawa was chosen to receive 2012 Japan Prize

2012-01-27T04:49:00Z

Dr. Masato Sagawa at Intermetallics Co., Ltd., who invested Nd-Fe-B type permanent magnet, was chosen to receive 2012 Japan prize. He graduated the doctoral program at Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University. He has been conducting researches on decreasing use of rare-earth in Nd-Fe-B type permanent magnet and developing alternative materials of Nd-Fe-B type permanent magnet, in collaboration with a research group led by Professor Sugimoto at Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University.

Japan Prize Website (English)

[Contact]

Public Relations Office

Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University

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

"The 2012 WPI-AIMR Annual Workshop" will be held on February 20 through 23 in Sendai.

2012-01-26T00:19:05Z

The scientific scope of our workshop is "Cutting-edge Functional Materials for Green Innovation". We will have plenary sessions and parallel sessions by world premier researchers. For encouraging younger researchers and further discussing the fusion research we have a poster session.

We would appreciate very much if you would join the Workshop.

"The 2012 WPI-AIMR Annual Workshop" website

[Contact]

WPI-AIMR Administrative Office

workshop2012*wpi-aimr.tohoku.ac.jp (Please replace * to @)

Spin/charge currents conversion in silicon using relativistic effects -The significant progress for development of next-generation super energy-saving devices-

2012-01-18T04:48:38Z

A research group led by Assistant Professor Kazuya Ando and Professor Eiji Saitoh at Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University has achieved the conversion between spin and charge currents in silicon, by using relativistic effects.

Silicon is one of the most fundamental semiconductors included in latest electronic devices, such as computers and cell-phones. Since silicon has outstanding material properties, it is expected to play a crucial role in Spintronics, which is drawing attention as an energy-saving electronic device technology. Spintronics utilizes spin currents of electrons instead of charge currents. One of the highest-priority issues for realizing new-generation spintronics devices such as silicon-based quantum computers and ultra-low power consumption information processing device is establishment of spin/charge currents conversion in silicon in order to retrieve computational results by spin current and stored spin information.

In this study, the research group has successfully retrieved spin currents in silicon as charge currents through the spin-orbit interaction from relativistic effects. The research results is expected to pave the way to silicon spintronics, which is highly consistent with latest electronics device production processing technology, and to greatly advance to development of environmentally-friendly next generation energy-saving devices.

More information (Japanese)

[Contact]

(About the research)

Assistant Professor Kazuya Ando

Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University

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

Tel: +81-22-215-2023

E-mail: ando*imr.tohoku.ac.jp (Replace * with @)

Professor Eiji Saitoh

Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University

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

Tel: +81-22-215-2021

E-mail: eizi*imr.tohoku.ac.jp (Replace * with @)

(Public Relations)

Administrative staff Keisuke Mito

Administration Division Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University

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

TEL: +81-22-215-2181, FAX: +81-22-215-2184

E-mail: imr-som*imr.tohoku.ac.jp (Replace * with @)

Joint Symposium on Human Security in Disasters:Tohoku University & United Nations University (UNU-EHS) (February 1)

2012-01-18T00:24:23Z

Date: Wednesday, February 1, 10:15-17:30

Place: 6F of Multimedia Education and Research Complex, Kawauchi-kita Campus, Tohoku University

(URL) http://human-security.jp/modules/bulletin/article.php?storyid=101

More information

[Contact]

Michiko Kohama

Program Secretary

International Post-Graduate Program in Human Security

Graduate School of International Cultural Studies

E-mail: mikohama*bureau.tohoku.ac.jp (Replace * with @)

Tel: 022-795-7674

The Fifth International Symposium and the Fourth Student Organizing International Mini-Conference on Information Electronics Systems (February 22-24, 2012)

2012-01-16T00:21:38Z

The Fifth International Symposium and the Fourth Student Organizing International Mini-Conference will take place at The Westin Sendai on February 22nd (WED) to 24th (FRI), 2012 sponsored by “Center of Education and Research for Information Electronics Systems” of Tohoku University Electro-Related Department Global COE Program (Leader: Prof. Fumiyuki Adachi). This time, this symposium is one of final events and the 22 members will publicize their research outcomes for five years and future plans as well as research assistants will also present their outcomes in the poster session. Furthermore, we will invite famous and distinguished researchers in the worldwide who will give us talks in the wide fields like optical communications, multimedia signal processing, quantum computation, semiconductor device, filter theory, music composition and analysis, and robotics. Especially, Dr. Tingye Li will give a special talk entitled “Strategic Research and Innovation in Optical Communications: An Excited-State Lifetime of Forty Years at AT&T Bell Labs”. The detail of this symposium is shown in the following website. Please visit:

(URL) http://www.ecei.tohoku.ac.jp/gcoe/en/sympo/2011.html

Date: February 22 – 24, 2012

Place: The Westin Sendai Contact to: Electro-Related Global COE Program in Graduate School of Engineering

E-mail: gcoe-kikaku(at)ecei.tohoku.ac.jp

Tel/Fax: 81-22-795-7138

Masachika Harada (Designated Professor, Planning Manager, COE Fellow)

harada(at)ecei.tohoku.ac.jp

Professor Eimei Sato receives the 61st Kahoku Culture Award

2012-01-09T23:35:45Z

Professor Eimei Sato at the Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University was selected to receive the 61st Kahoku Culture Award for his contribution to the development of the utilization technology of animal ovarian oocytes. The prize has been given to individuals or groups who have contributed to cultural improvement and industry development in the Tohoku district every year from Kahoku Cultural Foundation since 1951.

Professor Masayuki Yamamoto received the 2011 Uehara Prize

2011-12-20T05:22:33Z

Professor Masayuki Yamamoto at Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine has received the 2011 Uehara prize from the Uehara Memorial Foundation. The Uehara prize is awarded to active scientists for their outstanding achievements in Life Sciences, especially studies for health promotion, disease prevention and treatment. The reason to be awarded is “Clarification of Response Mechanism against Toxicity in Oxygen and Foods”.

More information (Japanese):

The Uehara Memorial Foundation Website

Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine Website

Discovery of a new function of Varp molecules -Varp promotes dendrite formation-

2011-12-15T00:20:05Z

Tohoku University has revealed that Varp, known as a molecule essential for transport of melanogenic enzymes, promotes dendrite formation of melanocytes. This research result has been acquired by Assistant Professor Norihiko Ohbayashi and Professor Mitsunori Fukuda at Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University.

Melanin pigments, sources of our skin color and hair color, are synthesized by melanogenic enzymes in melanocytes, and are stored in specialized organelles called melanosomes. Mature melanosomes are transported within melanocytes and are eventually transferred from dendrites of melanocytes to neighboring keratinocytes and hair matrix cells. This process makes skin and hairs black. For efficient transfer of melanosomes from melanocytes to keratinocytes, dendrite formation had been considered to be important. However, the mechanism of dendrite formation has remained to be fully elucidated.

In this study, the research group has revealed that the activation of Rab21 by Varp is required for dendrite formation, by using cultured mouse melanocytes. Varp was known to be required for transport of melanogenic enzymes to melanosomes in melanocytes by the Rab38 effector function. In addition, this study has found that melanocytes in which the Rab21 activation by Varp was specifically impaired markedly lost their ability to form dendrites. Thus, it is elucidated that the Rab21 activation by Varp is involved in supplying new membranes and/or proteins to the tips of dendrites for dendrite outgrowth.

Since Varp is related to the two important processes for darkening skin and hairs, that is, transport of melanogenic enzymes and dendrite formation, screening of medical agents inhibiting or stabilizing Varp functions will lead to keep our skin white and prevent our hairs from becoming gray.

The research result has been published online in Molecular Biology of the Cell. The paper's title is "the Rab21-GEF activity of Varp, but not its Rab32/38 effector function, is required for dendrite formation in melanocytes".

More information (Japanese)

[Contact] (About the research)

Professor Mitsunori Fukuda

Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University

TEL: +81-22-795-7731

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

(Public relations)

Associate professor Fuji Nagami

Tohoku Neuroscience Global COE

Tel: +81-22-717-7908 Fax: +81-22-717-7923

E-mail: f-nagami*med.tohoku.ac.jp (Replace * with @)

Recalculation of the total fertility rate among 47 prefectures -Marked decrease in 2005 and V-shaped recovery in 2006-

2011-12-08T00:33:12Z

Yoshida Laboratory, Graduate School of Economics and Management, Tohoku University has recalculated and released the total fertility rate (2000-2010) among 47 prefectures to determine it more accurately. The total fertility rate published by Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has been pointed out that we cannot compare the figures of the years in which national census was carried out and not carried out. According to the recalculation, the total fertility rate has turned out to greatly decrease in 2005 among all prefectures, but showed V-shaped recovery in 2006.

More information (Japanese)

[Contact]

Professor Hiroshi Yoshida

Graduate School of Economics and Management, Tohoku University

E-mail: hyoshida*econ.tohoku.ac.jp (Replace * with @)

TEL: +81-22-795-6292

Doctoral Student Norio Ishii

Graduate School of Economics and Management, Tohoku University

E-mail: a9em1003*student.econ.tohoku.ac.jp (Replace * with @)

TEL: +81-90-7799-2091

The paper award from Japan Society of Thermophysical Properties

2011-12-01T02:08:17Z

Professor Taku Ohara and Senior Assistant Professor Gota Kikukawa have received the paper award from Japan Society of Thermophysical Properties.

More information (Japanese)

[Contact]

Professor Taku Ohara

Molecular Heat Transfer Laboratory

Institute of Fluid Science, Tohoku University

TEL: +81-22-217-5277

E-mail: ohara*ifs.tohoku.ac.jp (Replace * with @)

Fabrication of nanocomposite thin films with high refractive index and thermal stability -Homogeneous incorporation of nanoparticles into polyimide with high nanoparticle contents-

2011-11-28T00:25:49Z

A research group led by Professor Mikio Konno and Associate Professor Daisuke Nagao at Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University has successfully fabricated nanocomposite thin films with high refractive index (RI), which are not pyrolyzed at high temperatures below 400°C. The technique previously press-released on September 25 (also published in Polym. International, 60, 1180-1184 (2011)) was applied to the present fabrication of nanocomposite thin film.

In applications to photoelectric devices such as flat panel displays, it is important to suppress scatterings and refractions at interfaces between different materials in the devices. Especially, for the multilayered device in which both high and low RI materials are employed, it is strongly required to decrease the index gap between the materials for efficient light extraction from the light source. Transparent polymer films incorporating nanoparticles with different contents were a promising candidate to decrease the index gap between adjacent layers.

Since nanocomposite films can adjust RI with the content of nanoparticles homogeneously dispersed in polymer matrix, they are drawing attention as coordination layers to suppress the light loss at the interfaces. However, acrylic polymers employed as the matrix incorporating nanoparticles are pyrolyzed over 300°C in the device production process.

From this background, the research group has produced nanocomposite transparent thin films with high thermal stability and RI index. Barium titanate nanoparticles as high RI materials were homogeneously incorporated into polyimide with thermal stability.

More information (Japanese)

[Contact]

Associate Professor Daisuke Nagao

Department of Materials Processing

Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University

Address: 6-6-7 Aoba Aramaki Aoba-ku Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8579, Japan

Tel: +81-22-795-7242, Fax: +81-22-795-7293

E-mail: nagao*mickey.che.tohoku.ac.jp (Replace * with @)

The 1st "Social Science and Humanities Forum between Japan and Russia: For the Possibility of Academic Exchange between Japan and Russia in the Age of Globalization " (December 8-9, 2011)

2011-11-25T04:57:55Z

Tohoku University and Moscow State University are holding the 1st "Social Science and Humanities Forum between Japan and Russia: For the Possibility of Academic Exchange between Japan and Russia in the Age of Globalization" from December 8th to 9th at the Fundamental Library in Moscow State University (December 8th: 9:30am to 6:15pm, December 9th:10:00am to 1:30pm)Japan-Russia interpreter available, No entrance fee, no prior registration needed.

To promote academic exchange, Japanese and Russian researchers will present papers on the results of their studies in Economics, Higher Education, Traffic Issues, Literature, Philosophy, Foreign Language, Psychology, Art (Music), and so on. We hope to welcome many participants.

Date and Time : December 8th, 2011: 9:30am to 6:15pm, December 9th, 2011: 10:00am to 1:30pm
Vanue : The Fundamental Library in Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia

[For more information, contact]
Tohoku University,
Northeast Asian Studies,
Masachika Shiotani (Mr.),
Phone: +81-(0)22-795-6082,
E-mail: shiotani*cneas.tohoku.ac.jp(Replace * with @)

The Japan-Russia University Fair (December 8, 2011)

2011-11-25T04:43:40Z

Date and Time : December 8, 2011 10:00～15:30
Vanue : ANO "The Japan Center" at Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia

More Information

Tohoku University established the Japanese Inter-University Russia Office in Moscow State University as a part of the project for the Japanese government's "Global 30 Program". We are dedicated to international exchange, promoting international research and nurturing students who will be active on a global scale.

The Japan-Russia University Fair will be held in ANO "The Japan Center"at Moscow State University from 10:00 am to 3:30pm on December 8, 2011 (no entrance fee). We welcome students and researchers who are interested in studying, and implementing research projects in Japan.

Anyone with questions about participating in the Fair, should contact us.

※Participating institutions（tentative）13institutions

	Hokkaido University / Tohoku University / University of Tsukuba / Nagoya University / Kyoto University / Hiroshima University / Kyushu University / Soka University / Meiji University / Doshisha University / Tohoku Foreign Language & Tourism College / Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO)
	Higher School of Economics

[Contact]
Tohoku University,
International Exchange Division,
Sasagu Yamaguchi (Mr.) / Kanako Tanno (Ms.),
Phone : +81-(0)22-217-6019/6020,
E-mail : kokusai-s*bureau.tohoku.ac.jp(Replace * with @)

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

Discovery of Ag2O3 with strong antimicrobial activity -Breakthrough by Miyagi Prefectural Sendai Daini Senior High School students supported by Tohoku University-

2011-11-25T00:55:41Z

Since silver compounds and silver ions have been known to have antimicrobial activity, they are used in various products such as medical appliances and living ware.

Supported by the Tohoku University Exploring Germination and Growth Program for Young Scientists, Miyagi Prefectural Sendai Daini Senior High School Chemistry Club members Saaya Ando, Tomosato Hioki, and Takamichi Yamada analyzed shiny black crystals precipitated on a cathode in the process of producing pure silver dendrites by electrolysis of silver nitrate. They discovered that shiny black crystals consist of Ag2O3 crystal structures. In addition, they have revealed that the crystal is Ag2O3 clathrate which has stronger antimicrobial activity, higher oxidative activity and higher conductivity than Ag2O, and can elute ten times more silver ions than Ag2O. This Ag2O3 clathrate is expected to be applied to various fields as a new silver oxide with strong antimicrobial activity. This achievement was published online in the Journal of Materials Science on November 23, 2011. The paper's title is "Ag2O3 clathrate is a novel and effective antimicrobial agent."

Note: The Tohoku University Exploring Germination and Growth Program for Young Scientists is sponsored by the Fostering Next-Generation Scientists program of the Japan Science and Technology Agency.

More information (Japanese)

[Contact]

Naoshi Watanabe (Teacher)

Miyagi Prefectural Sendai Daini Senior High School

E-mail: n-watanabe*sen2-h.myswan.ne.jp (Replace * with @)

Atsushi Higashitani (Professor)

Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University

E-mail: ahigashi*ige.tohoku.ac.jp (Replace * with @)

TEL: +81-22-217-5715 Fax: +81-22-217-5745

High-purity hydrogen production from sewage sludge - Over 90% yield can be attained by addition of inorganics and heating at 600°C -

2011-11-24T00:17:32Z

A research group led by Associate Professor Zhang Qiwu and Professor Fumio Saito at Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials has developed a method for generating pure hydrogen with high efficiency from sewage sludge (water content ratio: 80%).

Hydrogen is expected to be widely used as feed gas in fuel-cell besides fuel gas. So far, the research group had created the method for generating high-purity hydrogen (98%) from woody biomass in the yield of 97% in cellulose standard. In this study, they have devised the method, enabling to generate successfully high-purity hydrogen from sewage sludge (provided by the Hirose-gawa River Purification Center in Sendai) in good yield, without grinding and drying processes.

More information (Japanese)

[Contact]

Professor Fumio Saito

Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials

E-mail: saito*tagen.tohoku.ac.jp (Replace * with @)

TEL: +81-22-217-5135

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 @)