Latest news with #YonseiUniversity
Time of India
2 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Your job might be quietly changing your brain structure and you don't even know yet: Study
Study Focused on Healthcare Workers Structural Brain Changes Detected Experts Call for Workplace Reforms As longer workweeks become the norm in many professions, concerns about their impact on health are growing. Beyond fatigue and burnout, new research suggests that consistently working extended hours could be reshaping the brain itself. A recent study by South Korean researchers has found that individuals putting in 52 or more hours a week may experience structural changes in regions of the brain linked to memory, emotional control, and decision-making—raising serious questions about the long-term effects of overwork on mental and cognitive study, published in the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine, was conducted by researchers from Chung-Ang University and Yonsei University in South Korea. It analysed data from 110 healthcare professionals as part of the Gachon Regional Occupational Cohort Study (GROCS). Participants were split into two groups: those who worked standard hours and those who worked at least 52 hours a week—the maximum legal weekly limit in South group logging longer hours was generally younger, more highly educated, and had less work experience than those with regular schedules. To explore how extended work hours may affect the brain, researchers performed MRI scans and used voxel-based morphometry (VBM), a method that examines changes in brain brain scans revealed notable differences. Individuals working long hours showed a 19% increase in volume in the left caudal middle frontal gyrus—a region involved in attention, memory, and language processing. Additionally, researchers observed peak volume increases in 17 brain areas, including the superior frontal gyrus and the insula. These regions are known to support functions such as emotional regulation, decision-making, self-awareness, and sensory to the researchers, these volume increases may indicate a neuroadaptive response to chronic workplace stress. While the precise mechanisms remain unclear, the findings point to a possible biological basis for common complaints among overworked individuals, such as emotional imbalance, mental fatigue, and difficulty Yul Choi, a co-author of the study and professor at Yonsei University, noted that while these changes might be reversible if environmental stressors are reduced, the brain may not immediately return to its original state. He emphasised that overwork should be treated as a serious occupational health Pega from the World Health Organization, who previously led research into the health risks of overwork, described the new findings as important evidence. He said the study supports broader research showing how long working hours significantly impact physical and mental health . However, he also pointed out the study's limitations, including its small sample size and narrow demographic of South Korean healthcare workers. He called for more research across different sectors and Gifford, a principal research fellow at the Institute for Employment Studies in the UK, added that this study offers physiological proof of what many already observe—working excessively can affect mental wellbeing. He said the use of brain scans gives a clearer picture of how overwork may be structurally altering the the study is still in its early stages and calls for more comprehensive research, it brings to light a critical issue: long working hours may do more than exhaust the body—they might be reshaping the brain. As evidence continues to grow, experts stress the need for workplace policies that prioritise employee health and set firm limits on working hours to prevent long-term cognitive and emotional harm.
Kyodo News
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Kyodo News
FEATURE: Celebrated Korean poet Yun still resonates 80 years on
FUKUOKA - This year marks the 80th anniversary of Korean poet Yun Dong Ju's death in a Japanese prison following his involvement in the Korean independence movement during World War II. Celebrated as a national poet in South Korea and by fans worldwide, Yun is renowned for his childlike introspection and critical poetic resistance against Japanese colonial rule. A poetry society in Fukuoka, southwestern Japan -- where Yun died in prison at age 27 while serving a two-year sentence for violating a wartime security law -- has held monthly gatherings in his honor for over three decades. "There is much to be learned from his hope for peace and his hard work during the difficult period of colonial rule, transcending times and countries. His work is a source of support for us today," said Mikiko Managi, the 61-year-old leader of the Yun Dong Ju Poetry Society. Managi addressed around a dozen members who gathered to read Yun's poetry in April. Yun's poems were not published during his lifetime, but they became powerful symbols of national identity and resistance after his death. "He has the gaze of a children's poet, and you feel no hatred in him," Managi said. The society, established in 1994, selects one of Yun's poems each month and discusses their impressions. Its members, ranging in age from their 30s to 70s, include Korean residents of Japan and Japanese learners of the Korean language. The poem selected for discussion in April was "Until Dawn Comes." A verse translated into Japanese by Go Ibuki and published by Shoshikankanbou in Fukuoka reads: "...If they all shed tears, let them suckle milk. And when the dawn comes, they will hear the sound of the trumpet." There are many translations of Yun's poems, including "Sky, Wind and Stars by Yun Dong-ju," the first English translation of Yun's complete works, published in the United States in 2003. In 2020, Korean-American poet Byun Man Sik translated Yun's most notable poems into English for a book titled "Yoon Dong-ju: Selected Poems." Each member of the Fukuoka poetry group has their own interpretation. "I think 'Dawn' may mean the liberation of the Korean people," said first-time participant Takashi Tanabe. "Yun compares crying people to babies. It is so sweet," said Managi. Managi came across Yun's work while studying abroad at Yonsei University in South Korea, the successor to Yun's alma mater, Yonhi College. After returning to Japan, a colleague invited her to join the club in 1997. She says Yun's work appeals to her because of its nuance, which she experiences differently each time she reads his poetry. Yun was born in Manchuria (now northeastern China) in 1917. In 1942, he moved to Japan and enrolled in the English Literature Department at Rikkyo University in Tokyo. Later that year, he transferred to the same department at Doshisha University in Kyoto. While studying at Doshisha in 1943, Yun was arrested by the secret police and, the following year, sentenced to two years' imprisonment for violating the Public Order and Safety Act. He is believed to have been punished for writing poems in his native Korean language despite facing immense pressure to use Japanese during the Japanese colonial period. Yun died in prison on Feb. 16, 1945, but the circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear. His poetry mainly focused on the internal struggles and moral conflicts faced by a young Korean intellectual under Japanese imperialism. Japan's colonial rule of Korea lasted from 1910 to 1945, ending with Japan's defeat in the war. Initially involving direct military rule, it was followed by efforts to assimilate Korea into Japan through cultural suppression and economic controls. Yun's poems often used nature as a backdrop to explore themes of national identity, personal guilt, and the search for purity during a time of oppression. His poems are also characterized by glimpses of the folk spirit and Christianity -- Yun himself was Christian. After his death, his family and friends published a collection of his poems in South Korea in 1948. These poems were later translated into more than eight languages and compiled in the book "Sky, Wind and Stars and Poem," published in Japanese in 1984. This year, a Japanese-Korean bilingual book of poems with the same title was published in Japan. Doshisha University also awarded Yun a posthumous honorary doctorate in culture. Yun's work has had a significant impact in South Korea, where his poems appear in middle and high school textbooks. He was the subject of the South Korean film "Dongju: The Portrait of a Poet," released in February 2016. In February, Yun In Seok, Yun's 68-year-old nephew who supervised the bilingual Japanese-Korean edition, toured the site of the former Fukuoka Prison with Managi as his guide. Yun said, "He makes you think deeply about how he tried to live out his youth amid Japanese militarism. After peace came, his poetry came to be loved like crystal." Yuki Tsujino, an associate professor of Korean language at Kyushu University, said, "It would be good if more people read his poetry and interpreted it as they wish," noting the importance of freely sharing thoughts on Yun's work. "As long as people continue to read Yun, he will live on," Tsujino said. "There is no other Korean-language poet in the Japanese-speaking world like him."
Associated Press
23-07-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
NEO Battery Materials Receives Notice of Allowance for Patents on Silicon Battery for Drone and Defence-Tech Applications
TORONTO, July 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NEO Battery Materials Ltd. ('NEO' or the 'Company') (TSXV: NBM) (OTC: NBMFF), a low-cost silicon anode materials developer that enables longer-running, rapid-charging lithium-ion batteries, is pleased to announce that the Korean Intellectual Property Office ('KIPO') has issued Notice of Allowances for two patents regarding the P-100 and P-200 silicon battery materials. NEO is in efforts to integrate the P-200 series for short-duration, high-capacity drone and defence-tech applications. With applications submitted in June 2023, KIPO has granted the Notice of Allowance to the Company regarding patents named Silicon-Based Active Anode Material for Lithium Secondary Battery and Manufacturing Method Thereof I (Silicon Patent I) and Silicon-Based Active Anode Material for Lithium Secondary Battery and Manufacturing Method Thereof II (Silicon Patent II). The patents will be duly issued and registered upon the completion of post-filing documentation. The two patents are the first intellectual property rights independently developed by NEO aside from the existing patents licensed and developed in tandem with the Yonsei University-Industry Foundation. Both Silicon Patent I and Silicon Patent II protect the material properties and proprietary manufacturing process of the P-100 and P-200 products, respectively: P-200 Series: Targeting Integration for Drone and Defence-Tech Battery Applications In addition to ongoing efforts with the P-300N line for high cycle life, the Company is directing technical resources toward integrating the P-200 series for short-duration, high-capacity electronics. Offering an industry-leading capacity of 2,500 mAh/g, compared to the average pf 1,300 mAh/g, the P-200 is suitable for use in batteries for drones, defence technology systems, remote-controlled devices, and similar electronics. 'Due to lower validation barriers for electronics compared to larger applications like electric vehicles, NEO expects that the P-200 series to have an expedited adoption timeline in existing electronics battery systems,' commented Dr. J.S. Jeoung, SVP of Cell Development. 'Targeting the electronics sector provides a strategic entry point with reduced commercialization friction, potentially enabling earlier revenue generation. NEO can also further access additional commercialization channels while continuing to advance long-cycle life products like the P-300N.' About NEO Battery Materials Ltd. NEO Battery Materials is a Canadian battery materials technology company focused on developing silicon anode materials for lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles, electronics, and energy storage systems. With a patent-protected, low-cost manufacturing process, NEO Battery enables longer-running and ultra-fast charging batteries compared to existing state-of-the-art technologies. The Company aims to be a globally-leading producer of silicon anode materials for the electric vehicle and energy storage industries. For more information, please visit the Company's website at: On Behalf of the Board of Directors Spencer Huh Director, President, and CEO For Investor Relations, PR & More Information: [email protected] T: +1 (437) 451-7678 This news release includes certain forward-looking statements as well as management's objectives, strategies, beliefs and intentions. All information contained herein that is not clearly historical in nature may constitute forward-looking information. Generally, such forward-looking information can be identified notably by the use of forward-looking terminology such as 'plans', 'expects' or 'does not expect', 'is expected', 'budget', 'scheduled', 'estimates', 'forecasts', 'intends', 'anticipates' or 'does not anticipate', or 'believes', or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results 'may', 'could', 'would', 'might' or 'will be taken', 'occur' or 'be achieved'. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: volatile stock prices; the general global markets and economic conditions; the possibility of write-downs and impairments; the risk associated with the research and development of advanced and battery-related technologies; the risk associated with the effectiveness and feasibility of technologies that have not yet been tested or proven on commercial scale; manufacturing process scale-up risks, including maintaining consistent material quality, production yields, and process reproducibility at a pilot or commercial scale; compatibility issues with existing battery chemistries and unforeseen the risks associated with entering into and maintaining collaborations, joint ventures, or partnerships with battery cell manufacturers, original equipment manufacturers, and various companies in the global battery supply chain; the risks associated with the construction, completion, and financing of commercial facilities including the Windsor and South Korean facilities; the risks associated with supply chain disruptions or cost fluctuations in raw materials, processing chemicals, and additive prices, impacting production costs and commercial viability; the risks associated with uninsurable risks arising during the course of research, development and production; competition faced by the Company in securing experienced personnel and financing; access to adequate infrastructure and resources to support battery materials research and development activities; the risks associated with changes in the technology regulatory regime governing the Company; the risks associated with the timely execution of the Company's strategies and business plans; the risks associated with the lithium-ion battery industry's demand and adoption of the Company's silicon anode technology; market adoption and integration challenges, including the difficulty of incorporating silicon anodes within battery manufacturers and OEMs systems; the risks associated with the various environmental and political regulations the Company is subject to; risks related to regulatory and permitting delays; the reliance on key personnel; liquidity risks; the risk of litigation; risk management; and other risk factors as identified in the Company's recent Financial Statements and MD&A and in recent securities filings for the Company which are available on Forward-looking information is based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable at the time such statements are made, including but not limited to, continued R&D and commercialization activities, no material adverse change in precursor prices, development and commercialization plans to proceed in accordance with plans and such plans to achieve their stated expected outcomes, receipt of required regulatory approvals, and such other assumptions and factors as set out herein. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. Such forward-looking information has been provided for the purpose of assisting investors in understanding the Company's business, operations, research and development, and commercialization plans and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is made as of the date of this presentation, and the Company does not undertake to update such forward-looking information except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
AllAfrica
22-07-2025
- Politics
- AllAfrica
Confucian peace myth: East Asia minus US risks disaster
Skip to content History shows the notion of a 'Confucian peace' in East Asia is a myth. Image: X Screengrab Recently, several arguments have emerged suggesting that Korea, Japan and China could peacefully coexist without the US's presence in Northeast Asia. Columbia University economist Jeffrey Sachs recently argued that China has never invaded Japan in its entire history – aside from two failed attempts – and characterized Japan's incursions into China as anomalies. Citing Harvard sociologist Ezra Vogel, he claimed the two Confucian civilizations enjoyed nearly 2,000 years of relative peace – a striking contrast, he noted, to the near-constant wars between Britain and France. Yonsei University professor Jeffrey Robertson added that, as 'US attention drifts away from East Asia, the unthinkable becomes thinkable' – a region where Europe, Russia, India, and China balance each other imperfectly, but none dominates. Political scientist John Mearsheimer also weighed in: 'If I were the national security adviser to Deng Xiaoping – or Xi Jinping – and they asked me what I thought about the US military presence in East Asia, I'd say, 'I want the Americans out. I don't want them in our backyard.'' This vision of a self-balancing Asia – shared by economists, sociologists, strategists and realists alike – assumes that history, culture and trust can fill the vacuum left by American power. But can it? Sachs's notion of a historical 'Confucian peace' collapses under scrutiny. In his speech, he conveniently omits Korea – arguably the most Confucian state in East Asia – which has frequently been at war with both China and Japan. Consider Goguryeo, one of Korea's ancient kingdoms. Confucianism had already been influential in the region for 400–500 years when Goguryeo emerged. Yet Goguryeo fought multiple wars against various Chinese dynasties: Han, Liaodong, Wei, Lelang, Yan, Sui and Tang. While modern Chinese narratives frame Goguryeo as a tributary, historical records – marked by repeated wars and political stalemates – depict it as a rival power that directly contributed to the collapse of multiple Chinese dynasties. As for Japan, the fact that typhoons thwarted China's attempts to conquer it doesn't mean those efforts lacked seriousness. On the contrary, China was determined. After its initial invasion in 1274 – involving 900 ships and 40,000 troops – ended in failure, it doubled down. In 1281, it returned with 4,400 ships and 140,000 troops – the largest seaborne invasion force in world history before D-Day. To claim that China 'never invaded' simply because these attempts failed is nonsense. These were not theoretical plans – they were full-scale invasions, launched with overwhelming force and clear intent. Typhoons may have stopped them, but they do not erase the historical fact of the invasions themselves. Robertson's claim that the US is 'drifting away' from East Asia is inaccurate. Washington isn't pulling back – it's doubling down. The goal is clear: contain China. This has been official US policy since Hillary Clinton's 2011 article, 'America's Pacific Century,' which outlined a strategic pivot to Asia as the cornerstone of US foreign policy. The US may be distracted by Ukraine and Gaza, but its top strategic priority remains unchanged – and is, in fact, becoming more focused. Washington has bolstered its Indo-Pacific posture through large-scale multinational exercises, such as the 40,000-strong Talisman Sabre in Australia, and expanded military deployments under AUKUS, rotations through Guam and greater access to bases in the Philippines through the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement. Mearsheimer says China wants the US out of East Asia. That may seem true on the surface – but the reality is more complicated. After World War II, China initially viewed US security treaties with Japan, Korea and Taiwan as part of a broader strategy to contain its rise. In an October 1971 meeting with US National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger, Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai accused Washington of using Taiwan and Korea as 'two wings of outward expansion by Japanese expansionist policies.' Zhou Enlai and Henry Kissinger in Beijing in 1971. Photo: Henry Kissinger Archives / Library of Congress In response, Kissinger offered a candid and far-reaching explanation of why the US maintained its military presence in Japan. 'China,' he said, 'has a universal outlook; Japan's has had a tribal outlook.' More than cultural commentary, this was a strategic warning. He argued that 'the Japanese are capable of sudden and explosive changes. They went from feudalism to emperor worship in two to three years, and from emperor worship to democracy in three months.' Such volatility, in Kissinger's view, made a self-armed Japan a latent threat – not because of intent, but because of potential. 'A Japan that defends itself with its own resources will be an objective danger to the region. The US alliance actually restrains it.' He acknowledged the cynical alternative: 'We could cut Japan loose and let it stand on its own. That would trigger tension with China and let us play the middleman.' But he dismissed that option as dangerously shortsighted: 'Either you or we would end up the victim.' Kissinger warned against romanticizing US withdrawal. 'We didn't fight World War II to stop Japan's domination of Asia only to enable it 25 years later. If Japan truly wants us out, we'll leave – but I don't think you should rejoice when that day happens, because some day you may regret it,' he said. The shift in Chinese thinking was so significant that Zhou began to question whether the US could truly restrain what he called the 'wild horse' of Japan. Chairman Mao even encouraged Kissinger to maintain good relations with Japan. 'When you pass through Japan, you should perhaps talk a bit more with them.' On Kissinger's most recent visit, Mao remarked, 'You only talked with them for one day, and that isn't very good for their face.' The conversation took place in 1971, seven years after China had become a nuclear power and while Japan remained non-nuclear. Yet Beijing was still deeply uneasy about what a remilitarized Japan might do without US oversight. That fear lingers to this day – not just in China, but across all the nations that clashed with Japan in the first half of the 20th century. Historian Kenneth Pyle distills Kissinger's view in contemporary terms: The real issue is trust. 'Part of the answer' regarding the continued US presence in Japan, says Pyle, 'lies in a fundamental, often unspoken question in the minds of US policymakers: Can Japan be trusted to participate responsibly in international security affairs?' He continues, 'This Japanese question is at the core of American thinking about its alliance with Japan and beclouds the issue of how Japan should contribute to the maintenance of the international order. Mindful of Japanese nationalism and militarism, world leaders are intensely ambivalent as to whether Japan should enlarge its security role.' 'Prompted by a fear of revived Japanese nationalism, US leaders are extremely circumspect toward Japan. This feeling recurs throughout Asia, in the Soviet Union, and in Europe – indeed, in Japan itself.' 'This concern must be resolved, for it is fundamental to the continued relationship between the United States and Japan and to the potential role of Japan in the changing pattern of international relations in East Asia.' Perhaps the most surprising endorsement of US presence in East Asia comes from an extremely unlikely source – North Korea's Kim Jong Un. In 2022, Mike Pompeo, who had been US secretary of state during Donald Trump's first presidential term, revealed: 'As we developed our relationship more fully, what became very clear is he [Kim Jong Un] views the United States of America on the Korean Peninsula as a bulwark against his real threat, which came from Xi Jinping.' Kim Jong Un rules over what was once the heartland of Goguryeo – and he knows who the real enemy is. He has reportedly told his aides in the past: 'Japan is the 100-year enemy, but China is the 1,000-year enemy.' The real question isn't whether China becomes a hegemon in Asia. It's what comes next. That's what most commentators overlook – yet it carries the gravest consequences. Once a regional power secures dominance, it no longer has to watch its flank – it becomes 'free to roam.' When China eventually pushes into the Western Hemisphere, it will challenge the Monroe Doctrine – Washington's historical red line – for the first time since the Cuban Missile Crisis. The resulting showdown could rival, or even surpass, that Cold War standoff. In comparison, current and potential proxy wars in Ukraine, the Middle East, Taiwan and Korea would look like child's play. Calls for an 'Asia without America' might sound like peace. But remove the US and the ghosts of history come rushing in – from Goguryeo's defiance to kamikaze invasions, from Japanese militarism to Cold War paranoia. In Northeast Asia, peace without the US isn't just unlikely – it's historically unprecedented, strategically reckless and potentially catastrophic. Hanjin Lew is a political commentator specializing in East Asian affairs.
Associated Press
21-07-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Ubitus Joins Partnership with Yonsei University and Trident Zoetic to Build Asia's First Quantum-GPU Hybrid Research Platform
SEOUL, South Korea--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul 21, 2025-- Ubitus K.K., a global leader in AI and cloud streaming, announced that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) led by Yonsei University and Trident Zoetic to establish Asia's first hybrid research platform integrating quantum computing. Bringing together leading technology partners from South Korea, France, Canada, and Japan, the project aims to accelerate the real-world application of high-performance hybrid computing powered by quantum systems and NVIDIA B200 GPUs. Global Partnership to Advance Hybrid Quantum-AI Infrastructure Led by Yonsei University and Trident Zoetic, the initiative brings together Pasqal (France), D-Wave (Canada), and Ubitus (Japan), with institutional support from the Incheon Metropolitan City and Incheon Free Economic Zone (IFEZ). The facility will be based at Yonsei's International Campus and aims to accelerate scientific breakthroughs in drug discovery, biotechnology, and advanced materials. Yonsei contributes its academic expertise and infrastructure, while Trident Zoetic serves as project lead and investor, coordinating a global research network. Quantum and GPU: Complementary Technologies for Future Science The platform will integrate three quantum computing systems—the IBM 127-qubit superconducting quantum computer, Pasqal's neutral atom platform, and D-Wave's quantum annealing system—alongside a high-performance GPU cluster, forming a unified hybrid computing environment. Quantum systems excel at combinatorial optimization and complex simulations, while GPUs deliver scalable performance for deep learning and AI inference. Together, these complementary technologies enhance algorithmic efficiency and accelerate the path from academic research to real-world applications. Ubitus Delivers AI Infrastructure and Hybrid Orchestration Ubitus will supply and integrate a 512-node, 4,096-GPU NVIDIA B200 cluster, delivering the platform's core AI computing power. The system will operate under a GPU-as-a-Service (GPUaaS) model and support hybrid orchestration between AI and quantum workloads for use cases such as quantum-enhanced learning, drug modeling, and materials simulation. Ubitus will also manage deployment, architecture, and long-term operations. Strategic Milestone for East Asia's Quantum-AI Ecosystem This collaboration represents a critical step toward hybrid quantum computing in East Asia, bridging the performance of quantum processors with the flexibility of GPU infrastructure. It underscores the region's growing leadership in next-generation computing. ' This partnership reflects our commitment to next-generation infrastructure,' said Wesley Kuo, CEO of Ubitus. 'We are proud to support the foundation of a new hybrid computing ecosystem that will drive scientific and industrial innovation across Asia.' About Ubitus As a member of the NVIDIA Connect program, Ubitus leverages NVIDIA's support and cutting-edge GPU technology to accelerate AI innovation. The company delivers advanced AI solutions, including UbiGPT (a large language model), UbiONE (an AI-powered avatar creation platform), and UbiArt (an image generation tool), providing customized solutions to meet the diverse needs of various industries. As a cloud gaming pioneer, Ubitus enables Nintendo and other game companies to establish cloud gaming services and supports the global streaming of multimedia content, including interactive and virtual reality experiences. View source version on CONTACT: TEL: +886-2-2717-6123 (Taipei) +81-3-6435-3295 (Tokyo) Media contact:[email protected] Business inquiry:[email protected] Website: KEYWORD: SOUTH KOREA TAIWAN ASIA PACIFIC INDUSTRY KEYWORD: APPS/APPLICATIONS TECHNOLOGY SOFTWARE NETWORKS HARDWARE UNIVERSITY DATA MANAGEMENT EDUCATION ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE SOURCE: Ubitus K.K. Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 07/21/2025 02:10 AM/DISC: 07/21/2025 02:10 AM
