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- SKKU Placed 87th by CWTS Leiden Ranking 2018
- The CWTS (Dutch: Centrum voor Wetenschap en Technologische Studies, CWTS) at Leiden University in the Netherlands assessed the ‘2018 Leiden Rankings’ based on the scientific performances of 938 major universities worldwide. SKKU placed 87th, demonstrated an improvement of 9 places higher on the list compared to the previous year. The Leiden Ranking is based on Web of Science data. All universities worldwide with more than 1000 fractionally counted Web of Science indexed core publications in the period 2013–2016 are included in the ranking. This year, SKKU was placed on 87th with 7,920 research publications. In particular, the fields in Medicine and Natural Science/Engineering were recognized its excellent research performances and placed on 86th and 76th, respectively. Harvard University with 33,045 publications, University of Toronto with 22,151 publications, and Zhejiang University with 20,876 publications are three top leading universities worldwide.
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- 작성일 2018-05-31
- 조회수 5964
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- Identification of epigenetic gene regulation in the genome of marine seaweed by Prof. Hwan Su YOON
- After completing the first human draft genome by the Human Genome Project (HGP) in 2003, many genome projects were initiated in the field of medicine and natural science. A genome is the total of genetic information including all the genes of a living organism, therefore, if it is completely decoded, it will provide a lot of information about the function of the gene as well as the evolutionary relationship of living organisms. Recently, "the Collaborative Genome Projects" has been launched by multiple ministries, and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries aims to decode genomes from 100 marine organisms. Professor Hwan Su Yoon and his research group in the Department of Biological Sciences are leading the analysis of 30 marine algal genomes including diverse seaweeds. As the first product, they completed the whole genome of Gracilariopsis chorda and published in "Molecular Biology and Evolution" (5 years IF 14.558). It is the second complete nuclear genome among ca. 7,000 red algal seaweed species. G. chorda is one of the popular eatable seaweeds for diet foods and salads and it is also used in agar production industry. From this paper, they generated a high-quality 92.1 Mb draft genome assembly from the red seaweed G. chorda, including methylation and small (s)RNA data. They analyzed these as well as other Archaeplastida genomes to address three questions: 1) What is the role of repeats and transposable elements (TEs) in the genome size variation of red algae, 2) what is the history of genome duplication and gene family expansion/reduction in these taxa, and 3) is there any evidence for TE suppression in the genome of red algae? See the detail in MBE journal website (https://doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msy081). Furthermore, Yoon’s group has utilized the genome information to the application field. For example, the carbonic anhydrase of G. chorda shows extremely higher activities than that of human. The carbonic anhydrase catalyzes the rapid interconversion of carbon dioxide and water to bicarbonate and protons (or vice versa), therefore it could be used to remove carbon dioxide from polluted gases (collaborative research with Prof. Inhwan Hwang in POSTECH). In addition, with Prof. Jong Hwan Kwak in department of Pharmacology, they found highly effective metabolic compounds for alleviating diabetes and arteriosclerosis from G. chorda. In this manner, the genomic information from marine algae is an valuable resources not only academic but also industrial purpose. See other Yoon’s research activities (http://bio.skku.edu/glter/wiki/Hwan%20Su%20Yoon)
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- 작성일 2018-05-31
- 조회수 5890
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- Prof. Yong Taik LIM Develops Implantation of Synthetic Immune Niche that Prevents Tumor Recurrance
- Cancer vaccines are an attractive option for improving disease-free survival following surgical resection of solid tumors. However, several clinical studies have shown that while cancer vaccines can routinely induce protection in a prophylactic model, the same vaccines often show only limited therapeutic efficacy. The tumor immunosuppressive network, formed by interactions between cancer cells and host immune cells, is a major obstacle to achieving complete tumor eradication. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) can be considered critical players in tumor-induced immunosuppression in both animal models and cancer patients, which they have a remarkable ability to suppress the activation and proliferation of T cells. Therefore, the depletion of MDSCs would strengthen immunity of tumor-bearing mice. Recently, Prof. Yong Taik LIM’s group of Sungkyunkwan University reported a novel implantable, engineered 3-dimensional porous scaffolds which were designed to generate synergistic action between MDSC-depleting agents and cancer vaccines consisting of whole tumor lysates and nanogel-based adjuvants. The local peritumoral implantation of the synthetic immune niche (termed immuneCare-DISC, iCD) as a post-surgical treatment in an advanced-stage primary 4T1 breast tumor model generated systemic anti-tumor immunity and prevented tumor recurrence at the surgical site as well as the migration of residual tumor cells into the lungs, resulting in 100% survival. These therapeutic outcomes were achieved through the inhibition of immunosuppressive MDSCs in tumors and spleens by releasing gemcitabine and recruitment/activation of dendritic cells, enhanced population of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, and increased IFN-γ production by cancer vaccines from the iCD. This combined spatiotemporal modulation of tumor-derived immunosuppression and vaccine-induced immune stimulation through the iCD is expected to provide an immune niche for preventing of postoperative tumor recurrence and metastasis. Figure 1. Schematic diagram showing the design of the immuneCare-DISC
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- 작성일 2018-04-30
- 조회수 5871
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- Direct Imaging of Two Dimensional Electron Gas by Electron Holography
- Atomically controlled interfaces of complex oxides provide new opportunities for materials design and synthesis. They have been the origin of a wide variety of new physical phenomena and properties, arising primarily from the natural quantum confinement of electrons at these interfaces, involving a strong correlation between the electronic and atomic structure. One notable example is the electronic reconstruction of the interface between insulating perovskite oxides that leads to the formation of an interfacial two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG). The 2DEG is known to be formed from the occupied 3d-orbitals of cations within a few nanometers of the interface and often involve an interplay of electronic states with distinct orbital character and symmetry. Different 2DEGs and the related properties are expected by the orbital-selective quantum confinement which is strongly correlated with the crystallographic orientation. Prof. Sang Ho OH of Department of Energy Science demonstrated that 2DEGs at oxide interfaces can be spatially mapped at subnanometer resolution using in-line electron holography and illustrated the power of this method by looking at the 2DEGs formed at (001) and (111) oriented LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interfaces and showing distinctly different spatial extent and charge density profiles across them. Prof. Sang Ho Oh and his Ph.D. student, Dr. Kyung Song now at KIMS, have successfully calibrated all variables affecting the 2DEG distribution, for example, the sample thickness, the mean inner potential and permittivity (ε), and thereby extracted intrinsic properties of 2DEG. Especially, taking account of the nonlinearity of the permittivity of oxide with electric field is essential, as the presence of the 2DEG leads to strong electric fields near the interface where the 2DEG is confined. The field-dependent permittivity has been calculated via analytical approach based on Landau theory and also directly through DFT calculation. These results provide the first direct evidence of the control of 2DEG properties through the interface orbital configuration and reveal the unprecedented capability of in-line holography to probe oxide heterostructures. According to Prof. OH, the electron holography technique developed in the present work will play an important role in development of future oxide-based electronic devices as it is a unique tool bridging various emergent properties arising from quantized electrons at interfaces, such as ferromagnetism, superconductivity and metal-insulator transition, with the function and performance of devices. The work has been conducted through international collaboration with Prof. Chang-Beom EOM, Prof. Christoph KOCH, Prof. Mark RZCHOWSKI and Prof. Evgeny TSYMBAL, Prof. Young-Min KIM and Prof. Si-Young CHOI and published recently in the March issue of Nature Nanotechnology. A companion paper has been published back to back in Nature Materials, demonstrating the formation of two-dimensional hole gas (2DHG) at the p-type LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interface. The work has been supported by National Research Foundation (NRF) of Korea and AFOSR Asian Office of Aerospace Research and Development (AOARD).
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- 작성일 2018-04-30
- 조회수 5844
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- The old Mr. Kim Sun-Mun donated 1 billion Won for Scholarship
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Donation Ceremony, 1 billion won was held at 1st meeting room on 2nd Engineering Building, on April 13th, 2018, For the ceremony, President Chung Kyu-Sang, Prof. Kim Jae-Hoon(Son of The old Kim Sun-Mun), Prof Chung Eun-Hwa from Dankuk University(wife of Prof. Kim Jae-Hoon), Vice President Hyun Sun-Hae, Yoo Ji-Beom, Dean of College of Engineering Lee Jun-Young, Vice Dean Yoo Chung-Sik, Hwang Sung-Ho, Ko Han-Seo, Chair of Mechanical Engineering, Lee Nae-Eung, Chair of Advanced Materials Science & Engineering, 5 professor in College of Engineering and Staff were attended to give sense of gratitude for donation. After donation ceremony, The Signboard "김순문 강의실" unveiling ceremony was held at 23217 classroom on 1st Engineering building. -
- 작성일 2018-04-30
- 조회수 5948
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- Visiting SKKU form Embassy of Denmark
- Eske Bo Rosenberg and Jennifer Jun Hee Maeng who were Research & Innovation Officer in Innovation Centre Denmark visited College of Engineering on March 13rd. Prof. Lee Jun Young, Dean, / Prof. Yoo Chung Sik, Vice Dean, / Prof. Choi Hyouk Ryeol and Hugo Rodrigue in Mechinical Engineering were attened for that meeting and had an dicussion for short-term student exchange program between Southern Denmark University and SKKU After dicussion, they had a lab tour and luncheon meeting.
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- 작성일 2018-03-22
- 조회수 5937
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- Dept. of Human ICT Convergence H-Lab is developing a platform for enhancing empathetic communication
- Dr. Carl Benedikt Frey and Michael A. Osborne from Oxford University, UK mentioned that ‘creativity’ and ‘empathy’ are the two most important abilities for the 4th Industrial Revolution. Recently, many research activities to enhance ‘creativity and ‘empathy’ by applying AI are receiving great attention due to increased interest in these abilities. H-Lab at the Department of Human ICT Convergence of SKKU (Advising professor: Jun Dong CHO) is working on developing a platform for enhancing empathy that helps to improve motivation of self-actualization. Throughout the convergence research activities on humanities and science, they are analyzing how ‘empathy’ helps to strengthen people’s social intelligence. Also, the center is developing a communication platform and smart appliances by using tangible/physical avatars, and virtual avatars. “This is very original research which is difficult to find nationally and internationally. Our center will do our best to promote our research competence all over the world and to improve quality of life by enhancing empathic communication skills,” said Prof. CHO who established the ‘Human ICT Convergence’ department at SKKU.
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- 작성일 2018-03-22
- 조회수 5946
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- Samsung SDI and SKKU Academic-Industrial Agreement Ceremony
- Sungkyunkwan University and Samsung SDI held an academic-industrial agreement ceremony on February 2nd, 2018 at the Engineering Building 2 conference room. The signing ceremony was attended by the President of SKKU, Dr. Kyu Sang CHUNG, and the CEO of Samsung SDI, Young Hyun JUN. From SKKU the Dean of the Research & Business Foundation and Vice President Ji Beom YOO, Prof. Young June KIM (Representative Professor of the Research & Business Foundation, SAINT), Prof. Chil Gee LEE (Department of Semiconductor Systems Engineering), Prof. Won Sub YOON (Department of Energy Science),Prof. Ji Man KIM (Department of Chemistry), Prof. Pil Jin YOO (Department of Chemical Engineering), Prof. Jin Kyu LEE (Department of Computer Science and Engineering), and Prof. Eui Hwan SONG (SAINT) participated in the ceremony. From Samsung SDI, Vice President Hyuk JANG (Director of Research), Vice President Yoo Mi KIM (Manager of Small Battery Development Division), Executive Director Gi Ho KIM (Director of Medium and Large Battery Cell Development), Executive Director Jeong Soon SHIN (Group Leader of Medium and Large Battery Model Development), Director Tae Kyung LEE (Group Leader of Medium and Large System-Based Technology), Executive Director Kwang Sung KIM (Director of Human Resources), Director Ho Joon SONG (Director of Planning), and Director Tae Il YOON (Group Leader of Technology Planning) participated in the ceremony. Samsung SDI, a global leader in secondary batteries, has set up a joint research center for lithium-ion battery and BMS research for electric vehicles, and will support research funding of 2 billion won for 4 years. Both organizations have agreed to expand cooperation through research and personnel exchanges. An executive from SDI will give a guest lecture at the joint research project briefing (scheduled for April 30th), and the Human Resources team plans to hold a separate recruitment fair.
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- 작성일 2018-03-22
- 조회수 6056
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- Prof. Won Sub YOON develops high-performance battery that can travel up to 400km with one charge
- A research team led by Prof. Won-Sub YOON, Department of Energy Science (DOES) at Sungkyunkwan University, has lifted the fundamental restriction on the breaking point of the lattice and unraveled the enigma of nickel effect on layered cathode materials that has existed for decades in the battery field. Consequently, they discovered the possibility of developing a high-performance battery which can travel up to 400km by one charge. While the technology of lithium ion batteries has been greatly successful since its advent in powering portable electronic devices, further advancements are insatiably demanding for wider applications such as in electric vehicles and grid-power storages. One of the key areas in these efforts is development of new positive electrode ‘cathode’ materials with higher energy densities to replace the lithium cobalt oxide that is currently prevailing as the cathode material. The research is very focused on increasing the amount of Li-ions ‘inserted’ in the electrode material, which affects the charge storage capacity, the speed of Li-ion movement within the crystal lattice of the electrode material, which affects the battery power, and the structural stability of the material upon in-and-out transport of Li-ion, which affects the battery life. Compared to other material families, the ‘layered’ materials are the most attractive in the sense of the three attributes listed above, and layered lithium transition metal oxides containing nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co) and manganese (Mn) have recently emerged as a promising family of cathode materials. Aside from lithium ions, other elements play a role as building blocks forming a host structure for Li-ions (guests) to be inserted or extracted. Depending on the properties of the host structure, its electrochemical performance as a battery material is determined. For these multi-component layered systems, the current trend moves toward increasing the content of Ni in layered systems (known as Ni-rich layered materials) since Ni is capable of uptaking and delivering twice the charge, i.e., Li-ions of the other two. As Ni atoms occupy a large part of the transition metal layer in the host structure, it becomes a major factor in determining the overall properties of the host structure. Therefore, understanding the effect of increasing Ni content on the layered structure is important to designing high-energy electrode materials. This series of materials containing Ni and other elements appear to inevitably have so-called ‘cation disorder,’ a phenomenon in which some of the Li-ions and Ni atoms switch positions from their own layers. This happens due to the fact that some of the Ni atoms exist in the valence state 2+ lower than Co or Mn as synthesized. The presence of Ni atoms in the Li-ion layer adversely affects the Li-ion movement in the Li-ion layer. In contrast to such a general perception, the study finds that the degree of cation disorders is mitigated upon increasing the Ni content in the lattice up to a certain concentration, and also reports that the oxidation state of Ni in the pristine compounds contributes significantly to cation disorder. Moreover, it is demonstrated that the extent of cation disorder critically affects the phase transition behavior during charging or discharging, and as a result, the phase transition becomes smoother with increasing Ni content. This smooth phase transition reduces the strain on structural behavior during cycling; consequently, it enhances the cycle performance of the electrode material. In addition to the relationship between the Ni content and the phase transition, it was discovered that the actual environment in which Li-ions are situated is not directly linked to the total height, a sum of the Li-ion layer and the transition metal layer (c-axis). The height of the lithium layer becomes larger with increasing Ni content, even though the c-axis decreases. More importantly, it is shown that the lithium ion channel retains the environment where lithium ions can visit or leave, even if the c-axis shrinks from the initial dimension. The results for the Ni-rich layered materials that are counter-intuitive account for the superior electrochemical performance, and address the misconception of Ni element in Ni-rich layered systems. Furthermore, this article provides a new perspective on the role of Ni in layered systems and disputes the conventional view concerning the c-axis parameter that has been considered a key factor in interpreting the behavior of Li-ion movement and the corresponding electrochemical performance. Hence, these results may suggest some aspects to consider in the design of high-energy electrode materials for next-generation batteries.
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- 작성일 2018-03-22
- 조회수 5995