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- [Yonsei Research In Media] A Homegrown Yonsei Graduate Hired by a Prestigious University Overseas
- ■ Yonsei Research in Media / A Homegrown Yonsei Graduate Hired by a Prestigious University Overseas A Yonsei graduate with no overseas educational experience starts his new life as a professor at the University of Glasgow, Scotland, UK. A Yonsei graduate with absolutely no overseas educational experience was hired as a professor by one of Scotland’s most prestigious universities. Donghyu Kim, who received his Ph. D. from our Graduate School of International Studies, began his new life on September 1st, 2017 as a professor at the University of Glasgow. Kim, who will be teaching international business at the Adam Smith Business School, is a “purely homegrown Ph. D.” with absolutely no education abroad. He is, however, the product of a multidisciplinary education, having graduated from the Department of Electrical Engineering before receiving his master’s and doctoral degrees from our Graduate School of International Studies. Kim informed us that “I originally had a lot of interest in technology, but I wanted to broaden my vision and so became interested in international relations. This led me to ponder which fields might allow me to connect the two,” and continued, “In the future as well I plan to research the connections between things like technological development and human relationships, as well as those between corporate environment and government policy.” Kim also relayed that, despite his lack of international education, he was completely confident that the education he received at Yonsei was more than sufficient to make him competitive on the international stage, as well as expressing his sincere gratitude to Professor Heejin Lee for recognizing and developing his potential. For his juniors at Yonsei, he offered the following: “Whatever the circumstances you are given, if you believe in yourself and work extremely hard, you will definitely succeed.” Updated in Jan 2018
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- [Yonsei Research In Media] Newly Opened Yonsei Frontier Lab Casts International Research Net
- ■ Yonsei Research in Media / Newly Opened Yonsei Frontier Lab Casts International Research Net Collaborative hub connects Yonsei to world renowned researchers. Last June, Yonsei University founded Yonsei Frontier Lab (YFL) and tasked Moon-Gun Choi as managing director with the mission to elevate Yonsei's internationalization. The YFL is intended to not only connect Yonsei researchers with world renowned counterparts in collaborative work, but also to offer a new international model for education and research at Yonsei. The lab's promotion of international joint research is expected to increase the quality and quantity of research at Yonsei as well as boost public awareness of those affairs. The establishment of the Young Researcher Supporting Program in the fall semester of 2017 marked the beginning of the YFL's march toward achieving that goal by providing assistance to outstanding researchers. The program offers post-doctoral students at Yonsei University from Korea and abroad financial support, incentives, and administrative guidance to enable students to focus their attention on research and realize remarkable achievements through their work. Additional support programs will provide international students with visa and residential assistance in order to ensure a smooth transition to life in Korea and at Yonsei University. YFL is planning to run a customized support service for invited researchers in order to empower university-affiliated organizations and professors to attract qualified and distinguished researchers from overseas. The program has successfully held special events to encourage research collaboration, including joint workshops with foreign universities and international conferences featuring prestigious research institutes. On November 1 – 2, 2017, Yonsei University hosted the Yonsei-UCPH (University of Copenhagen) workshop on its Sinchon Campus. Over fifty scholars participated to present on diverse studies currently in progress, such as smart cities, social welfare, the Arctic, and plant science. The two universities were enthusiastic to explore further opportunities for institutional partnerships. Next summer, YFL and Elsevier will hold the 2018 Asia Pacific Research Intelligence Conference June 20 - 21 at Yonsei University. Elsevier is a highly respected global institution specializing in academic review, indexing and analysis. Director Moon-Gun Choi added, “YFL may in the future become a networking platform that also serves disadvantaged domestic universities that aspire to strengthen their international collaboration. As far as administration and financial support, we plan to be openhanded in this regard.” For more information about the Yonsei Frontier Lab, including application and workshop news, visit the YFL homepage at http://yfl.yonsei.ac.kr or send an email to ysfrontierlab@yonsei.ac.kr. Updated in Jan 2018
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- [Medicine] The tracer 18F-AV-1451 may help diagnose progressive supranuclear palsy
- Professor Chul Hyoung Lyoo Yonsei University College of Medicine ■ Medicine / The tracer 18F-AV-1451 may help diagnose progressive supranuclear palsy The subcortical binding patterns of 18F-AV-1451 can distinguish patients with progressive supranuclear palsy from healthy individuals and patients with Parkinson’s disease. Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is an uncommon brain disorder that causes serious movement and balance problems. This condition involves abnormal accumulation of the tau protein in the brain, and its various clinical manifestations reflect the precise distribution of this accumulation. Research into these distributions has been impeded by the lack of a tracer that selectively targets pathologic tau proteins in living patients, but the radioactive tracer 18F-AV-1451 has recently been shown to strongly bind pathologic tau proteins in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. A group of Yonsei University researchers, led by Prof. Chul Hyoung Lyoo, therefore decided “to investigate cortical and subcortical 18F-AV-1451 binding patterns in patients with PSP” using positron emission tomography (PET). Prof. Lyoo’s team found that patients with PSP generally exhibited stronger 18F-AV-1451 binding than healthy control participants in the subcortical regions of the brain. Similar differences in 18F-AV-1451 binding were also observed between patients with PSP and those with Parkinson’s disease, which could be attributed to the abnormally weak 18F-AV-1451 binding in the substantia nigra, another region in the brain, in patients with Parkinson’s disease. The differences in 18F-AV-1451 binding in the globus pallidus could be used to distinguish patients with PSP from healthy controls and patients with Parkinson’s disease. Based on this, Prof. Lyoo’s team notes that “18F-AV-1451 PET may be useful for the differential diagnosis of PSP by aiming for highly increased pallidal uptake.” Averaged 18F-AV-1451 PET images of three diagnostic groups PSP patients show markedly increased 18F-AV-1451 binding in the globus pallidus and substantia nigra compared to healthy controls and patients with Parkinson’s disease. However, unlike the differences in binding in the subcortical regions, there were no unusual 18F-AV-1451 binding patterns within the cortical regions in patients with PSP. The researchers also did not find any correlations between regional 18F-AV-1451 binding patterns and disease duration or severity, as measured based on either motor symptoms or mental state evaluations. The lack of cortical binding or any correlation with disease severity suggests that 18F-AV-1451 PET “may be less than ideal for assessing tau pathology” in patients with PSP. The lack of cortical binding is particularly disappointing, as postmortem studies have shown that pathologic tau protein is found within the patients’ frontal and parietal cortices. Nevertheless, this study has shown that 18F-AV-1451 has distinctive binding patterns within the brains of patients with PSP. Further research is needed to validate the clinical correlations of 18F-AV-1451 binding and the potential utility of 18F-AV-1451 PET in patients with PSP, but this study’s findings can serve as a starting point for such research. Updated in Jan 2018 Find Out More Title of original article: Subcortical 18F-AV-1451 binding patterns in progressive supranuclear palsy Journal: Movement Disorders DOI: 10.1002/mds.26844 Contact corresponding author: Chul Hyoung Lyoo ( lyoochel@yuhs.ac )
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- [Medicine] Pharmacotherapy Guidelines for Korean Atrial Fibrillation Patients Developed
- Professor Boyoung Joung (center) & Assistant Professor Tae-Hoon Kim (2nd from left) Yonsei University Severance Hospital ■ Medicine / Pharmacotherapy Guidelines for Korean Atrial Fibrillation Patients Developed The new guideline, developed by researchers at Yonsei University Severance Hospital, will help prevent the risk of stroke with Korean-customized treatment. Korean guidelines have been developed for pharmacotherapy that can help prevent the risk of ischemic cerebrovascular diseases in Korea’s atrial fibrillation patients due to arrhythmia. On June 23, 2017, Yonsei University Severance Hospital announced that a research team led by Professors Boyoung Joung and Tae-Hoon Kim succeeded in developing draft guidelines on pharmacotherapy for Korea’s atrial fibrillation patients through joint research with a team led by “Gregory Lip” at the University of Birmingham in the UK. Atrial fibrillation is an arrhythmia in which the atria of the heart, which send blood to the whole body, only beat irregularly without performing regular contractions and relaxations. This irregular beating of the heart raises the possibility of the onset of “thrombus” (blood clots) in the blood that becomes stagnant in the heart due to the symptom, which subsequently increases the incidence of ischemic cerebrovascular diseases. In fact, atrial fibrillation is reported to account for approximately one third of the causes of stroke and increase the risk of stroke by five times. The administration of anticoagulants that suppress the formation of blood clots is a standard treatment method for reducing the risk of ischemic cerebrovascular diseases in atrial fibrillation patients who live holding a so-called time bomb of cerebral infarction in their chests However, since few Korean studies have dealt with the starting time of this important pharmacotherapy, Korean doctors have either referred to the evaluation tools used in Europe or the U.S. or decided the time to start the administration of anticoagulants based on their own judgments. As a result, the treatment of atrial fibrillation patients remains largely inadequate. The research team produced the annual risks of stroke (the rates of disease onsets in 100 individuals per year) by tracking 5,855 patients aged 20 or above who were diagnosed with atrial fibrillation and not under treatment with anticoagulants between 2002 and 2008. The tracking was based on the data from the National Health Insurance Corporation and lasted until the end of December 2013. The team also evaluated potential risk factors that can increase the annual incidence of stroke in the atrial fibrillation patients groups, including various comorbidities, age, and gender. These risk factors were evaluated through the process of quantifying them on a scale of 0 to 10 points using an authorized international index and applying weights to them. As a result, they reconfirmed the fact that an older age results in a corresponding higher risk of stroke. In specific, the occurrences of stroke began to increase in the researched group of patients aged 65 or above with an annual risk of 2.11%, and the risk jumped to 3.11% in the patients aged 75 or above. The annual risk of atrial fibrillation patients who had already experienced a stroke or a “transient ischemic attack (TIA)”, which is called a mini-stroke, was also high at 2.58%. Atrial fibrillation patients who were undergoing kidney dialysis also exhibited a high annual risk of stroke at 2.03%. Besides, the research team found statistically significant increase in the risk of stroke in atrial fibrillation patients with high blood pressure, diabetes, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). According to the existing European and U.S. research reports, female atrial fibrillation patients have a higher risk of stroke than male patients. However, the present research revealed negligible difference between the Korean female and male patients unlike the Westerners. It is essential to take anticoagulants to reduce such risks. The problem is that individuals are instructed to apply different times to start the administration of anticoagulants and different doses without consistent standards. The patients are also largely burdened with checking whether they maintain proper levels of anticoagulation in the blood by undergoing regular blood tests to experience the effects of anticoagulants. This is because a lower level of anticoagulation results in a corresponding higher incidence of thrombus. On other hand, an excessive level of anticoagulation could cause a complication of intracerebral hemorrhage. “Warfarin”, which is widely used as a leading anticoagulant, is characterized by decreases in its effects when combined with vitamin K. This had led atrial fibrillation patients to refrain from intake of foods containing vitamin K, such as tofu, beans, spinach, and garlic. Moreover, they have been highly concerned about its unexpected risky interactions with other additional medicines taken as well as smoking and drinking. Professor Joung emphasized the need to take caution on an increased risk of stroke following the long-term use of warfarin. The study’s results were published in a recent issue of “Stroke”, a major international journal in the field of stroke. Updated in Jan 2018 Find Out More Title of original article: CHA2DS2-VASc Score (Congestive Heart Failure, Hypertension, Age ≥75 [Doubled], Diabetes Mellitus, Prior Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack [Doubled], Vascular Disease, Age 65-74, Female) for Stroke in Asian Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: A Korean Nationwide Sample Cohort Study. Journal: Stroke DOI: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.117.016926 Contact corresponding author: Boyoung Joung ( cby6908@yuhs.ac ) Title of original article: CHA2DS2-VASc Score for Identifying Truly Low-Risk Atrial Fibrillation for Stroke: A Korean Nationwide Cohort Study. Journal: Stroke DOI: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.117.018551 Contact corresponding author: Boyoung Joung ( cby6908@yuhs.ac )
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- [Engineering/Technology] How a titanium crystal-deficient overlayer improves the efficiency of solar energy to hydrogen conversion
- Associate Professor Jong Hyeok Park Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Yonsei University ■ Engineering & Technology / How a titanium crystal-deficient overlayer improves the efficiency of solar energy to hydrogen conversion New study unveils the role of a titanium crystal-deficient overlayer in improving the properties and efficiency of solar energy conversion to hydrogen. Conventionally used photocatalysts and photoelectrochemical cells suffer from poor conductivity and can only store limited amounts of separated charge carriers. In order to circumvent this drawback, a new semiconductor electrode or photocatalyst made of a thin “crystal-deficient” titanium oxide (TiO2) overlayer surrounded by anatase crystal, a variant of TiO2, had been proposed earlier. This ingenious structure triggered many follow-up studies and is considered a universal approach that can further overcome the limitations of solar energy conversion. Numerous researchers have tried to understand the chemical structure of this “crystal-deficient” overlayer, as well as its electronic structure and the origin of photocatalytic activity using various reductive methods under different conditions. However, the chemical structure and the reason for the superior photocatalytic activity of such an overlayer could not be explained satisfactorily. “Bulk and surface charge separation of photoelectrodes are two key processes that significantly hinder solar-to- hydrogen conversion,” says Prof. Park, who along with his colleagues, worked on the function of “crystal-deficient” TiO2 layer. He also believes that, “Another key fundamental question regarding water splitting at the solid/liquid interface (crystal-deficient TiO2/electrolyte) remains completely unaddressed in recent studies.” Schematic of TiO2 photoelectrode with crystal-deficient overlayer and flow diagram of charge carriers.Image courtesty Prof. Jong Hyeok Park and his colleagues set out to systematically investigate the role of this overlayer in both photoelectrodes and photocatalysts. They reported that using only a ~2.5-nm-thick “crystal-deficient” TiO2 layer increased the light absorption property of photoelectrodes and enhanced their conductivity 50 times. They were also successful in performing water splitting reactions at a voltage lower than that used in conventional photoelectrochemical cells. They also investigated phase-selective disorder engineering in TiO2 photocatalyst and have proven that the formation of crystal-deficient overlayer exhibited a broader light absorption range and a 150-fold-higher hydrogen production rate compared to the conventional pristine TiO2 photocatalyst (P25), without any co-catalyst. The results of this study have shown that the enhanced efficiencies of photocatalysts and photoelectrodes are a direct result of the “crystal-deficient” overlayer. Although this overlayer displayed properties similar to the conventional ones, it showed far superior light-harvesting and surface reactive properties. Updated in Jan 2018 Find Out More Title of original article1: Overcoming Charge Collection Limitation at Solid/Liquid Interface by a Controllable Crystal Deficient Overlayer Journal: Advanced Energy Materials DOI: 10.1002/aenm.201600923 Title of original article2: An Order/disorder/water Junction System for Highly Efficient Co-catalyst-free Photocatalytic Hydrogen Generation Journal: Energy and Environment Science DOI: 10.1039/c5ee03100a
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- [Engineering/Technology] A van der Waals Heterostructure Device Platform Opens a New Chapter for 2D Semiconductors
- Associate Professor Gwan-Hyoung Lee Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Yonsei University ■ Engineering & Technology / A van der Waals Heterostructure Device Platform Opens a New Chapter for 2D Semiconductors A joint research team led by Professor Gwan-Hyoung Lee successfully observed quantum transport in a 2D semiconductor for the first time in the world. A joint research team of Yonsei University and Columbia University successfully observed the movement of electric charges and quantum transport in the thinnest semiconductor in the world using a novel van der Waals heterostructure device platform. Professor Gwan-Hyoung Lee, who has been leading this research, developed the new device structure that has a thin and smooth interface with a thickness of a few atomic layers, by stacking molybdenum disulfide (MoS2, a future-generation semiconductor material that is gaining increasing attention), graphene (electrical contacts), and hexagonal boron nitride (hBN, dielectric). Through this development, he proved the possibility of creating a high-performance, low-power-consumption, and high-speed quantum device of super-thin semiconductors. This research is expected to contribute to strengthening the competitiveness of the semiconductor and information and communication technology (ICT) industries. Since two scientists at Manchester University won a Nobel Prize for their discovery of graphene in 2010, there have been active efforts globally to study 2D semiconductor materials. Against this backdrop, more studies have been made in recent days that show the possible applications of 2D semiconductor materials in various devices. However, the characteristics of the devices have often failed to fulfill their theoretical performance. Recognizing this problem, Professor Lee began the research by developing a standard material structure that can evaluate the intrinsic nature of 2D semiconductor materials in order to assess their performance limit, and to ultimately develop new devices. A van der Waals heterostructure of hBN-encapsulated MoS2 with graphene electrodes (Copyright: Prof. Gwan-Hyoung Lee) “As the silicon-based semiconductor industry keeps growing, there have been increasing calls for flexible and transparent devices. That is how graphene was developed, followed by active research efforts in relevant fields. But graphene has a shortcoming; it does not have a bandgap. For the continuous growth of the semiconductor industry, there should be a graphene-like material with a bandgap. Such a material is MoS2, reported in 2011. I focused on these 2D semiconductor materials as I began this research, because I thought new devices could be developed by utilizing unique characteristics of these materials and applying a multi-layered structure.” This study developed a standard device structure that dramatically enhances the charge carrier mobility in the thinnest semiconductor in the world. This study is significant compared to existing studies in that it lays foundations for the development of high-performance electronic devices and innovative quantum devices. Professor Lee conducted a joint project with Professor James Hone’s team at Columbia University and Professor Chul-ho Lee at Korea University, and developed a new device structure with a thin, smooth interface using the multi-layered van der Waals heterostructure. They observed the highest carrier mobility that have ever been measured and succeeded in observing quantum transport in a 2D semiconductor for the first time in the world. The research, which was conducted jointly with a Columbia team led by Professor James Hone and Professor Chul-ho Lee at Korea University, was published on the online issue of Nature Nanotechnology, a world-renowned academic paper in the field of nanoscience, on April 27th 2015. Updated in Jan 2018 Find Out More Title of original article: Multi-terminal transport measurements of MoS2 using a van der Waals heterostructure device platform Journal: Nature Nanotechnology DOI: 10.1038/nnano.2015.70 Contact corresponding author: Gwan-Hyoung Lee ( gwanlee@yonsei.ac.kr) & James Hone ( jh2228@columbia.edu)
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- [Engineering/Technology] Ubiquitous Communication Possible Only with LED Light
- Professor Sang-kook Han (right) School of Electrical & Electronic Engineering, Yonsei University ■ Engineering & Technology / Ubiquitous Communication Possible Only with LED Light Professor Sang-kook Han’s research team successfully enables communication using LED and an image sensor of a camera at the fastest speed in the world. It will be soon available to communicate without an additional network if you have the light and an active pixel camera sensor (CMOS). Location-based service (LBS) and Internet of Things (IoT) will be available using smartphones wherever there is LED light. Yonsei research team led by Professor Sang-kook Han announced that they developed “optical camera communication” that allows data transaction at the speed of 9kbps, using the LED light and the camera image sensor. This marks the fastest speed in the world. A number of institutes in other countries including the U.K. only succeeded in communication at 2 to 3kbps. Optical camera communication is similar to the LiFi technique, which utilizes LED light for communication. LiFi sends and receives data using the visible light contained in LED light. Even though LED light is perceived continuous to human eyes, it actually blinks at an interval of one millionth second. This blinking can be interpreted as “0” and “1” as in digital signals, allowing things to communicate through waves instead of frequency. In theoretical terms, this technique can send data 100 times more rapidly than WiFi. LiFi networks require devices like photodiodes (PDs) for transmission and reception. A telecommunication infrastructure should be equipped with receptors for optical communications additional to LED. Professor Han points out that not only these devices are pricey, but inappropriate for smartphones as they are not suitable in mobile environments. The optical camera communication developed by Professor Han’s team utilizes an image sensor of the camera as the transmitting and receiving device without any additional apparatus. The system allows communications in IT devices, which are often small and light. Recently, the team has successfully performed an experiment for Samsung Galaxy smartphones, where the data were sent and received using the embedded image sensor. The team is conducting research on increasing the speed of telecommunication using the “algorithm for rapid data reception obtained from image sensor,” for which they recently applied for a patent. Professor Han said “considering the current technological development, we would be able to see the commercialization of services at an Mbps-level speed by 2018.” Now the technology is no more than sending over text data, but the implementation of the Mbps-level speed will enable telecommunication of images and small video files based on image sensors. If this technology is commercialized, LBS will be available in places where LED lighting is installed. If the technique is applied in other devices such as the image sensor in the black box within a vehicle, one may enjoy a “connected car,” which can communicate with LED street lights or send and receive data using the car’s LED rear lights. “We are also developing an AR service based on image sensors by using the blinking of various visible lights,” said Professor Han, adding that “we are exploring more applications.” The results of his research were submitted to two SCI journals. In addition, he gave a presentation about the technology at 2016 OptoElectronics and Communications Conference (OECC) held in Japan. Updated in Jan 2018 Find Out More Title of original article: Optical Pulse Width Modulated Multilevel Transmission in CIS-Based VLC Journal: IEEE Photonics Technology Letters DOI: 10.1109/LPT.2017.2716941 Contact corresponding author: Sang-kook Han (skhan@yonsei.ac.kr )
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- [Natural Sciences] Smarter MRI Diagnosis with Nano MRI Lamp
- Professor Jinwoo Cheon Department of Chemistry, Yonsei University ■ Natural Sciences / Smarter MRI Diagnosis with Nano MRI Lamp IBS scientists devise a new platform to overcome the limits of MRI contrast agents. A research team led by Jinwoo Cheon (Department of Chemistry, Yonsei University) at the Center for Nanomedicine, within the Institute for Basic Science (IBS), developed the Nano MRI Lamp: a new technology platform that tunes the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signals “ON” only in the presence of the disease target. Published in Nature Materials, this study can overcome the limitations of existing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents. MRI is an increasingly popular non-invasive technique for diagnosis, which does not use harmful radiation. Some tissues show a natural contrast on MRI, but for some specific types of imaging, patients are administered an MRI contrast agent, to enhance the difference between the target area and the rest of the body. “Typical MRI contrast agents, like the most commonly used one, gadolinium, are injected in “ON” state and distributed across the whole biological system with relatively large background signal. Cheon explains, “We found a new principle to switch the MRI contrast agent “ON” only in the location of the target”. IBS scientists discovered how to switch the signal ON/OFF by using the Nano MRI Lamp. The Nano MRI Lamp consists of two magnetic materials: a quencher (magnetic nanoparticle) and an enhancer (MRI contrast agent). The switch is due to the distance between the two. When the two materials are at farther than a critical distance, 7 nanometers, the MRI signal is “ON”, whereas when they are placed closer than 7 nanometers, the MRI signal is “OFF”. The researchers named this phenomenon Magnetic REsonance Tuning (MRET), which is analogous to the powerful optical sensing technique called Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET). The Nano MRI Lamp consists of two magnetic materials: a quencher (magnetic nanoparticle) and an enhancer (MRI contrast agent). The MRI signal depends on the distance between the two materials. The enhancer produces a bright MRI signal only when it is at least 7 nanometers away from the quencher. The signal is due to the rapid fluctuations of the electron spins of the enhancer. A fast flipping of the electron spins influences the water molecule, whose energy emission is detected as MRI signals The researchers tested the Nano MRI Lamp for cancer diagnosis. They could detect the presence of an enzyme that can induce tumor metastasis, MMP-2 (matrix metalloproteinase-2) in mice with cancer. They connected the two magnetic materials with a linker that is naturally cleaved by MMP-2. Since the linker keeps the two materials close to each other, the MRI signal is “OFF”. However, in the presence of the cancer, the linker is cleaved by MMP-2, which cause the two materials to be separated and the MRI signal turns “ON”. Therefore, the MRI signal indicates the location of MMP-2, and so of the tumor. The scientists also found that the brightness of the MRI signal correlates with the concentration of MMP-2 in the cancerous tissue. Detection of cancer metastasis using Nano MRI Lamp. (a) MMP-2 represented by little scissors is an enzyme that cleaves the extracellular matrix and allows cancer to metastasize to other tissues. (b) The MRI signal is turned “ON” when the linker between the two magnetic materials is cleaved by MMP-2. (c) MRI image of a mouse cancer model, showing strong MRI signals (orange color) appearing only in the cancerous region. Most importantly, the Nano MRI Lamp is off until it meets a biomarker associated with a specific disease, allowing higher sensitivity. “The current contrast agent is like using a flashlight during a sunny day: its effect is limited. This new technology, instead, is like using a flash light in the night: it’s more useful,” exemplifies Cheon. Differences between Nano MRI Lamp and the conventional MRI contrast agent. (Left) Nano MRI Lamp is turned “ON” only when it encounters the disease-related molecule. Therefore, the lesion is clearly distinguished from the other tissues in the MRI image. (Right) The existing MRI contrast agents are always turned “ON”, regardless of the presence of the target molecule, making it difficult to differentiate between the lesion and the surrounding tissues. Beyond cancer diagnosis, in principle, the Nano MRI Lamp can be applied to investigate a variety of biological events, such as enzymolysis, pH variation, and protein-protein interactions, and so on. IBS scientists expect that it would be useful for both in vitro and in vivo diagnostics. “Although we still have a long way to go, we established the principle and believe that the MRET and Nano MRI Lamp can serve as a novel sensing principle to augment the exploration of a wide range of biological systems,” concludes Cheon. The research group is now working on developing safer and smarter multitasking contrast agents, which can simultaneously record and interpret multiple biological targets, and eventually allow a better understanding of biological processes and accurate diagnosis of diseases. Updated in Jan 2018
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- [Natural Sciences] New Catalyst to Advance the Commercialization of Hydrogen Energy
- Professor Dongil Lee (right) Department of Chemistry, Yonsei University ■ Natural Sciences / New Catalyst to Advance the Commercialization of Hydrogen Energy Yonsei research team led by Professor Dongil Lee develops a hydrogen-generating catalyst that can process 15-fold volume 2.3 times faster than conventional technology. Yonsei University announced in last March that one of its research teams successfully developed a catalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction, by synthesizing optimized superatomic particles of an alloy that have optimum hydrogen-adsorption energy, using a controlled superatomic particle generation technique. Since hydrogen energy does not have restrictions of depletion or an imbalance in geographical distribution, and is economically friendly, it is a promising future energy source. In recent years, increasingly more attention has been paid to the development of catalysts that can effectively generate hydrogen by decomposing water. Platinum, which is a noble metal, has been commonly used as the catalyst, but its high price and low stability have been pointed out as its shortcomings. In order to overcome these limitations, there have been many research efforts for development of good catalysts. Nonetheless, there have been a lot of challenges as regards the commercialization of catalysts due to their complex structures and synthesizing process, a high overvoltage required for the reaction, and the low efficiency of hydrogen generation. Against this backdrop, the research team led by Professor Dongil Lee at Yonsei University focused on superatomic particles whose composition can be controlled at the atomic level in order to create a new catalyst that can outperform the conventional catalysts. Superatomic particles are composed of a small central metal that is combined with several to hundreds of metal atoms, and a metal-ligand film that stabilizes the core metal. Each element participates in determining the properties of the particle, behaving like a large-sized atom. Its size ranges from that of a single atom to a nanoparticle. The electromagnetic, optical and electrochemical properties of superatomic particles depend sensitively on the type, number, composition, and structure of the elements, making them a new form of functional material whose characteristics can be controlled at the atomic level. The technique can be an innovative material for catalysts as tailored designs and manufacturing is available at the atomic level, depending on the reaction of each catalyst. Professor Dongil Lee at Yonsei University says “the newly developed catalyst using the reaction-tailored superatomic particle is expected to contribute to commercialization of hydrogen energy.” He highlighted the significance of the research by mentioning that “the control technique of superatomic particles that was applied in this study will be applied in the development of customized catalyst in various fields besides hydrogen generation, including energy and environment. Updated in Jan 2018 Find Out More Title of original article: A molecule-like PtAu24 (SC6H13)18 nanocluster as an electrocatalyst for hydrogen production Journal: Nature Communications DOI: 10.1038/ncomms14723 Contact Corresponding author: Dongil Lee (dongil@yonsei.ac.kr)
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- [Social Sciences/Business] Yonsei Becomes Source and Connection for Converged Studies for Aging
- ■ Social Sciences & Business / Yonsei Becomes Source and Connection for Converged Studies for Aging Center for Interdisciplinary Approaches on Aging shows social networks provide the answer to successful aging in a super-aged society. This past April, Yonsei University celebrated the 132nd anniversary of its foundation and 60 years since Yonhui College and Severance Union Medical College merged to create Yonsei University. In fact, Yonsei inherited its name as it is today from that 1957 consolidation. Its parent institutions shared a long history that continues on in the full and thriving Yonsei University of today. Research capacity drawn from Yonsei’s past has paved the way for the university to actively contribute to integrated research across disciplines, notably in biomedicine. As of 2017, Yonsei's interdisciplinary research hub, the Institute of Convergence Science (ICONS), supports 45 interdisciplinary and joint research centers within the university. We interviewed Department of Sociology Professor Yoosik Youm, the researcher in charge of the Center for Interdisciplinary Approaches on Aging, an interdisciplinary biomedical research center and quintessential example of the institutes found at ICONS. Q. What led to the establishment of the Center for Interdisciplinary Approaches on Aging? Youm. Korea is currently witnessing the world's lowest birthrate and fastest aging society. By 2026, one in five citizens will be over the age of 65. This future is certain, and in order to prepare society for that future, an integrated vision and study of longevity, aging, and geriatric quality of life must serve as a solid foundation to brace for a never-before experienced elderly society. The researchers here are all devoted to that purpose. Q. Briefly, what does the Center do? Youm. First and foremost, we examine the elderly's experience in health and quality of life in the context of social networks as part of an overall social safety net. Studies in geriatric health have a tendency to put too much weight on either health or quality of life, or to subjectively discuss health within the boundaries of health science. Our research aims to integrate both aspects of health by developing measurable indicators, such as biomarkers for physical health and methods that address subjective wellbeing and quality of life. Rather than simply examining what effects social networks have on the health of the elderly, our research analyzes how social environments affect biomarkers, which in turn reveals an overall mechanism. For example, researchers have recently been using fMRI of the brain to draw connections between geriatric cognitive function and social networks. These integrated indicators could give insight to successful degrees of aging and provide pathways toward effective policymaking for the future. Q. Have you seen any results yet? Youm. The Korean Social Life, Health and Aging Project (KSHAP) which I am leading has had the privilege to receive ₩2.7 billion (approximately $2.5 million) from the National Research Foundation for the past ten years. With that, we are in our seventh year studying the relationship between social networks of Korean elderly and their health. The KSHAP has also secured matching funds over the years from Korea and abroad, including from Yale University Human Nature Lab, Columbia University Interdisciplinary Center for Innovative Theory and Empirics (INCITE), and Gangnam Severance Hospital. Professor Hyeon Chang Kim is a coresearcher heading the Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases Etiology Research Center (CMERC), which was awarded a five-year grant for ₩10 billion (approximately $9.2 million) from the Ministry of Health & Welfare. CMERC is developing exposure assessment tools and methodologies for research in the epidemiology of metabolic syndrome and heart diseases. By establishing a general population and high-risk cohort, CMERC aims to use multidimensional methods to parse through the social, environmental, hereditary, and biological preventative factors that can lead to disease. Q. Are there any other plans in the near future at the Center? Youm. Seven years of purposeful convergent research has repeatedly shown us that disease and health are as much social processes as they are biological. Two examples of our success have been published in prestigious journals. Scientific Reports published a paper describing that brain connectivity, an indicator of cognitive health, varies according to social networks. Another emblematic paper in Plos One draws a connection between osteoporosis in women and the size of their social networks. The Center developed a curriculum open to graduate students since the 2017 spring semester called, "Interdisciplinary Approaches to Medico-Social Issues." We also have small-group mentoring for team projects, led by professors at the Center. Looking forward, we hope to continue to develop and grow at this pace well into the future. Updated in Jan 2018 Center for Interdisciplinary Approaches on Aging Researchers Research Fellow: Yoosik Youm, Department of Sociology (yoosik@yonsei.ac.kr ) Staff: Yumie Rhee, College of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine; Yong-chan Kim, College of Communication; Justin Y. Jeon, Sport and Leisure Studies; Hyeon Chang Kim, College of Medicine Department of Preventive Medicine & Public Health; Chang Oh Kim, College of Medicine Department of Internal Medicine (Geriatrics) Related Articles Lee, S., Seo, D. H., Kim, K. M., Lee, E. Y., Kim, H. C., Kim, C. O., Youm,Y*., & Rhee, Y. (2017). Contingent association between the size of the social support network and osteoporosis among Korean elderly women. PloS one, 12(7), e0180017 Joo, W. T., Kwak, S., Youm, Y*., & Chey, J. (2017). Brain functional connectivity difference in the complete network of an entire village: the role of social network size and embeddedness. Scientific Reports, 7 Sohn, S. Y., Joo, W. T., Kim, W. J., Kim, S. J., Youm, Y., Kim, H. C., … & Lee, E. (2017). Social network types among older Korean adults: Associations with subjective health. Social Science & Medicine, 173, 88-95
- 통합관리자 2018.01.07
