Qdai-mail Tsushin #080
The e-mail magazine "Qdai-mail Tsushin" delivers campus news every month.
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Friday, September 27, 2024
Kyushu U's CONNECT Issue 5: Our annual English university magazine is available from the link below!
https://www.kyushu-u.ac.jp/en/university/publicity/publications/connect
Kyushu U Connect: Keep up to date on how Kyushu U is engaging with society.
https://www.kyushu-u.ac.jp/en/university/connect/
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**Topics
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*Kyushu U student Mitsuya Tanaka competes in Para Taekwondo at Paris 2024
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Mitsuya Tanaka, a second-year master's student at Kyushu University, was set to represent Japan in Para taekwondo (Men's K44-58kg) at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. His match took place on August 29, 2024, at 5 p.m. Japan Standard Time (10 a.m. Central European Summer Time). Tanaka is currently studying at the Health and Sport Sciences Course in the Department of Behavioral and Health Sciences of the Graduate School of Human-Environment Studies.
https://www.kyushu-u.ac.jp/en/topics/view/588
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*Faculty Development held on enhancing collaborative online international learning
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On August 7, 2024, a Faculty Development (FD) session titled "COIL in ISI (kyoso) and U of Glasgow" was held at the Ito Guest House. Kyushu University's School of Interdisciplinary Science and Innovation (ISI) and the Strategic International Advisory Group (SIAG) co-hosted this session.
https://www.kyushu-u.ac.jp/en/topics/view/589
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*Kyushu University holds Kyushu U 3MT Competition 2024 Award Ceremony
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On Monday, August 26, 2024, the award ceremony for the Kyushu U Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition 2024 was held at Shiiki Hall, Ito Campus. In addition to the two award winners, each of their supervisors, Professor Iwata (Executive Vice President), Professor Konomi (Vice President) and Mr. Minami (Director of the International Affairs Department) attended the ceremony.
https://www.kyushu-u.ac.jp/en/topics/view/590
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*Kyushu University's research team visits He University in Liaoning, China
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From July 22 to 24, 2024, a research team from Kyushu University, led by President Tatsuro Ishibashi and Vice President Shuji Shimizu, visited He University and affiliated hospitals and research facilities in Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China. Kyushu U and He University established a university-level academic exchange agreement in 2015. This visit facilitated discussions on concrete joint research and cooperative projects, with expectations for future developments.
https://www.kyushu-u.ac.jp/en/topics/view/592
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*Kyushu University engineering students participate in semiconductor program in U.S.
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From August 10–23, 2024, twelve students from the School of Engineering and five from the Graduate School of Information Science and Electrical Engineering participated in a two-week semiconductor education program at the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York State, U.S. The program was conducted as part of the Japan-U.S. University Partnership for Workforce Advancement and Research & Development in Semiconductors (UPWARDS).
https://www.kyushu-u.ac.jp/en/topics/view/593
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**Discover the Research
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*Going beyond photochemistry to drive innovations in energy and medicine
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Light—whether from the sun or a manmade power source, we hardly notice the many different kinds of light around us. Associate Professor Nobuhiro Yanai of the Faculty of Engineering focuses on the power of light in his research, studying how to apply it in energy, medicine, quantum science, and other fields. We asked Yanai what he loves about photochemistry and how it can be applied in other fields.
*The interview was held in March 2024. His title and other information are current as of the time of the interview.
https://www.kyushu-u.ac.jp/en/research/information/discover-research/005_yanai
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**Research
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*Microwaving waste cooking oil into useful chemicals
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Researchers from Kyushu University have revealed that a zeolite material called Na-ZSM-5 is effective in improving the chemical conversion of biomass into olefins—a precursor chemical that makes everything from plastics to pharmaceuticals—using microwaves. Publishing their work in Chemical Engineering Journal, the team explains that microwave heating of Na-ZSM-5 could open doors to a more energy-efficient and sustainable chemical industry.
https://www.kyushu-u.ac.jp/en/researches/view/297
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*Most detailed study yet of seismic activity links fault strength to likelihood of large earthquakes
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Located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, Japan is one of the most earthquake-prone countries in the world, with over 100,000 small earthquakes occurring each year, and the continuous threat of a "big one". Currently, predicting when major earthquakes will occur isn't possible, but by studying the numerous small earthquakes that occur, seismologists in Japan hope to understand more about the processes in the Earth's crust that lead to major quakes.
https://www.kyushu-u.ac.jp/en/researches/view/298
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*CIRCULATE-Japan GALAXY confirms effectiveness of liquid biopsy in predicting recurrence risk and post-operative treatment efficacy in colorectal cancer
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A research group led by Dr. Takayuki Yoshino, Deputy Director, and Dr. Yoshiaki Nakamura, Chief of the International Research Promotion Office at National Cancer Center Hospital East of the National Cancer Center, along with Associate Professor Eiji Oki from Kyushu University, investigated the relationship between liquid biopsy results and cancer recurrence risk and survival time for 2,240 patients with colorectal cancer participating in the CIRCULATE-Japan GALAXY trial.
https://www.kyushu-u.ac.jp/en/researches/view/300
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*A new forecasting model based on gene activity predicts when Japan's cherry buds awake from dormancy
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Japan in spring is famous for its cherry blossoms, or sakura, which begin flowering in the southern region of Kyushu and blaze upwards to the remote north of Hokkaido. The most abundant cherry tree cultivar, Somei Yoshino, is the iconic symbol of spring, as the cloned trees flower simultaneously at each site, creating a fleeting explosion of white-pink blossom that enraptures locals and tourists alike. The flowering forecasts of Somei Yoshino are poured over for months before flowering, as visitors plan their trips and locals organize festivals and celebrations. However, due to climate change, the flowering times of these cherry trees are shifting and becoming harder to predict.
https://www.kyushu-u.ac.jp/en/researches/view/301
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*New organic thermoelectric device that can harvest energy at room temperature
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Researchers have developed a new organic thermoelectric device that can harvest energy from ambient temperature. While thermoelectric devices have several uses today, hurdles still exist to their full utilization. By combining the unique abilities of organic materials, the team succeeded in developing a framework for thermoelectric power generation at room temperature without any temperature gradient. Their findings were published in the journal Nature Communications.
https://www.kyushu-u.ac.jp/en/researches/view/299
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*Microplastics found in coral skeletons
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Researchers from Japan and Thailand investigating microplastics in coral have found that all three parts of the coral anatomy—surface mucus, tissue, and skeleton—contain microplastics. The findings were made possible thanks to a new microplastic detection technique developed by the team and applied to coral for the first time.
https://www.kyushu-u.ac.jp/en/researches/view/302
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*New study reveals a countdown to save oceans from plastic pollution
In a report published in Marine Pollution Bulletin, researchers from Kyushu University have for the first time, provided a clear numerical target for global efforts to tackle marine plastic pollution. By mapping the flow and fate of plastic waste in the oceans, the team found that at a minimum there must be a 32% reduction in plastic littering by 2035 to prevent further marine damage.
https://www.kyushu-u.ac.jp/en/researches/view/303
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