Colloquium

Year 2025

The 4th, Year 2025 ZC Colloquium
" From Advanced Positronium Imaging with J-PET to Clinical Validation"
Lecturer： Prof. Powel Moskal and Prof. Ewa Stępień
Belongings： Jagiellonian University (Poland)
Date： 13:30-16:00, June 11, 2025
Place： N2 6F Conf. Room
Abstract： Positronium imaging is a newly invented method for visualizing the properties of positronium in living organisms. This seminar will present the first-ever images of positronium properties in humans, the first multi-photon images of positronium decays into three photons, and, furthermore, the first observation of non-maximal entanglement of photons from positronium annihilation in matter.
The 2nd, Year 2025 ZC Colloquium　
"Exploring DLR’s initiatives for low-carbon industrial processes"
Lecturer： Dr. Seon Tae Kim
Belongings： German Aerospace Center (DLR)
Date： 13:30-15:00, May 19, 2025
Place： N1 Conf. Room
Abstract： The Institute of Low-Carbon Industrial Processes at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) was established in 2019 to conduct R&D supporting the energy transition in industry. The seminar will present the institute’s structure and main research activities, offering insight into our efforts and providing a platform for exchanging ideas and exploring collaboration.

 

Year 2024

The 4th, Year 2024 ZC Colloquium　
"Bloom syndrome helicase is required for survival of BRCA1/BARD1-deficient cancer"
Lecturer： Kaima Tsukada
Belongings： Oxford University / Tokyo Institute of Technology
Date： 16:30-17:30, July 29, 2024
Place： N2 6F Conf. Room
Abstract： The Bloom syndrome helicase (BLM) interacts with topoisomerase IIIα (TOP3A), RMI1 and RMI2 to form the BTR complex, which dissolves double Holliday junctions and DNA replication intermediates to promote sister chromatid disjunction prior to cell division. In this colloquium, he will introduce a recent finding of a synthetic lethal interaction between loss of BLM and deficiency in the BRCA1-BARD1 tumour suppressor complex.

Year 2023

The 10th, Year 2023 ZC Colloquium　
"Double strand breaks form in DNA when alkylation repair intermediates collide."
Lecturer： Robert P Fuchs
Belongings： CNRS, SAS bioHalosis, France
Date： 14:00-15:30, March 18, 2024
Place： N2 6F Conf. Room
Abstract： With novel DNA pull-down approach, we have demonstrated that DSBs may result from the fortuitous encounter between MMR-induced repair intermediate initiated at O6-mG:C sites and BER-induced nick at N-alkylation adducts located in close proximity in the opposite strand. We refer to this model as the Repair Accident model which differs from the futile-cycling model as it does not involve replication. We will discuss strategies to improve the clinical use of TMZ based on the Repair Accident model.With novel DNA pull-down approach, we have demonstrated that DSBs may result from the fortuitous encounter between MMR-induced repair intermediate initiated at O6-mG:C sites and BER-induced nick at N-alkylation adducts located in close proximity in the opposite strand. We refer to this model as the Repair Accident model which differs from the futile-cycling model as it does not involve replication. We will discuss strategies to improve the clinical use of TMZ based on the Repair Accident model.

The 4th, Year 2023 ZC Colloquium　
"Computational and Experimental Methods to Estimate Burnup, Cooling Time, and Reactor-type of Irradiated Nuclear Fuel for Nuclear Forensics Applications"
Lecturer： Prof. Sunil S. Chirayath
Belongings： ZC
Date： 16:00-17:20, July 31, 2023
Place： N2 6F Conf. Room
Abstract： Technical nuclear forensics is one of the tools that can be used to deter nuclear terrorism and proliferation threats. Nuclear forensics techniques developed at Texas A&M University showed that ten intra-element nuclide ratios: 137Cs/133Cs, 154Eu/153Eu, 134Cs/137Cs, 135Cs/137Cs, 136Ba/138Ba, 150Sm/149Sm, 152Sm/149Sm, 240Pu/239Pu, 241Pu/239Pu, and 242Pu/239Pu can be utilized to estimate nuclear fuel burnup, cooling time, and rector-type of irradiation for the attribution of plutonium produced. Monte Carlo N-Particle code, MCNP6.2 was used to perform the neutronics simulations, which included fuel burnup simulations to build a database containing concentration of the aforementioned nuclides of interest that can be used to identify the characteristics of irradiated fuel. The isotopic information was stored as a function of fuel burnup and time since irradiation for each reactor-type simulated. The database was point validated using experimental neutron irradiations of uranium of various enrichments in research reactors. The point validations were possible by subjecting the irradiated uranium samples to radiochemical separations and performing nondestructive and destructive assays of nuclides. Using this point validated database, we were able to predict the characteristics of unknown irradiated nuclear reactor fuel samples in two different ways; one using a maximum likelihood statistical method and another using a combination of machine learning methods.

The 2nd, Year 2023 ZC Colloquium　
The 2nd, Year 2023 GXI seminar
"Wild KUUKAI - WhyBuddhist monk was a civil engineer"
Lecturer： Prof. Takeshi Nakajima
Belongings： Institute for Liberal Arts, Tokyo Institute of Technology
Date： 16:00-17:20, May 29, 2023
Place： Bld. N1, 1F Conf. Room + Zoom (HyFlex)
Abstract： “KUUKAI”, a Buddhist monk lived in early Heian period of Japan, who is known as the founder of Shingon Sect, was also a civil engineer who directed the repairs of Manno Lake. Why was the Buddhist monk related to the base layer in the history of civil engineering in Japan? Why was it possible for him to complete such difficult construction project? We can get a hint for its answer in the philosophy of Lévi-Strauss, a cultural anthropologist who advocated the structuralism. He showed in his representative writing, “Wild Thinking”, the horizon where the knowledge structure of primitive society that is different from the modern rationalism merges with the latest advanced science. Today, which is called as “Anthropocene”, I will consider the methods of knowledge how people should manage the nature on the basis of the esoteric Buddhism provided by KUUKAI.

The 1st, Year 2023 ZC Colloquium　
The 1st, Year 2023 GXI seminar
"Outlook for the world energy market and the challenges for Japan"
Lecturer： Prof. Ken Koyama
Belongings： ZC
Date： 16:00-17:20, April 18, 2023
Place： N1 Conf. Room + Zoom (HyFlex)
Abstract： Outlook for the world energy market was overviewed and the challenges for Japan was discussed.

Year 2022

The 13th, Year 2022 ZC Colloquium　
The 8th GXI seminar
"Regional Research Coalition Action Toward Decarbonized Society System Implementation "
Lecturer： Prof. Tsuyoshi Fujita
Belongings： ZC
Date： 16:00-17:20, February 27, 2023
Place： N1 Conf. Room + Zoom (HyFlex)
Abstract： Discussions on the transition to a decarbonized society are becoming more serious globally and in Japan. While dynamic development green energy systems are important to achieve decarbonization, strategic goals setting for the regional future both from socio-economic, transportation and industrial stakeholders to achieve both regional revitalization and decarbonization. The research reports the evaluation and planning system for regional revitalization scenarios from the perspectives of both current situation assessment and future estimation. Industrial and energy scenarios that promote regional economic cycles and decarbonization that are consistent with current assessments will be developed by identifying industries with high economic benefits when introduced and calculating the introduction potential of renewable energy through an inter-industry analysis. As electricity supply from renewable energy sources fluctuates greatly over time, the hourly fluctuations in electricity supply and demand will be quantified, and future assessments of CO2 emissions and electricity supply and demand will be also conducted.

 

Year 2019


The 22th, Year 2019 LANE Colloquium　
"Nuclear Engineering Research in MEPhI, Russia"
Lecturer： M. Panin, A.Tenishev, A.Semenov, K.Kutsenko, V.Dmitrenko
Affiliation： Nuclear Research National University MEPhI
Date： 2020.2.18 (Tue) 10:00-12:00
Location： North Bldg. #1, 1st Floor Meeting Room
Language： English
Outline： The current research activities in Nuclear Research National University MEPhI, Russia will be presented by the professors. The talks are:
M. Panin, Assessment and forecast of radiation situation based on simulating the consequences of radiation accidents
A.Tenishev, Nuclear materials science in NRNU MEPhI
A.Semenov, Prospects for the development of high-speed neutron-physical codes.
K.Kutsenko, Transient heat transfer processes and boiling crisies
V.Dmitrenko, Noble gas gamma spectrometer

The 16th, Year 2019 LANE Colloquium　
"Current status and trend of nuclear technologies in Mongolia"
Lecturer： Munkhbat Byambajav
Affiliation： National University of Mongolia
Date： 2019.12.11(Wed) 15:00-16:30
Location： North Bldg. #2, 6th Floor Meeting Room
Language： English
Outline： First speaker will talk about current structure of nuclear institutions in Mongolia, and briefly introduce role of each one. Nuclear Energy Commission of Mongolia is a main organization to oversee all nuclear activity including international relations. Then HRD activities are to be presented such as IAEA and JAEA supported ones. Lastly, speaker will provide brief information related to some of the expected nuclear projects in Mongolia.

The 14th, Year 2019 LANE Colloquium　
"Creation and Application of Hybrid Nanomaterials"
Lecturer： Sugahara Yoshiyuki, Idota Naokazu
Affiliation： Waseda University, Hosei University
Date： 2019.11.19(Tue) 13:00-15:00
Location： EEI
Language： English

The 13th, Year 2019 Colloquium　
"Multiplicity of Scission Neutrons from Density Functional Scission Dynamics"
Lecturer： Nicolae Carjan
Affiliation： National Institute for Physics and Nuclear Engineering ’Horia Hulubei ’ , Bucharest, Romania
Date： 2019.10.30(Wed) 15:00-16:30
Location： North Bldg. #2, 6th Floor Meeting Room
Language： English
Outline： The time evolution of the nuclear density of the fissioning system 240Pu during the scission process is obtained from the time-dependent superfluid local-density approximation (TDSLDA) to the density functional theory and a phenomenological dynamical scission model (DSM).
We find that multiplicity of scission neutron =1.347, i.e. half of the prompt fission neutrons measured in the reaction 239Pu(nth,f) are released at scission.

The 11st, Year 2019 Colloquium　
"Accident Tolerant Fuel?"
Lecturer： Ronald G. Ballinger
Affiliation： Dept. of Nuclear Science and Engineering, MIT
Date： 2019.10.10(Thu) 17:00-18:30
Location： North Bldg. #2, 6th Floor Meeting Room
Language： English
Outline： The Fukushima accident has prompted the development of several advanced LWR fuel designs. The goal of these “Accident Tolerant Fuel” (ATF) designs is to provide improved robustness during a beyond design basis accident. In the US accident in question is a station blackout (SBO) event. However, the Fukushima accident has also resulted in mandatory plant modifications to mitigate against a SBO. Plant modifications-termed Diverse and Flexible Coping Strategies (FLEX) have been implemented at all US plants. In this talk the various ATF designs will be discussed considering : (1) margin gained during an SBO, (2) margin gained during abnormal and accident events, and (3) cost/benefit considerations related to implementation.

The 7th, Year 2019 Colloquium　
"Nuclear Structure Studies based on Total Absorption Spectroscopy"
Lecturer： Prof. Alejandro Algora
Affiliation： Instituto de Fisica Corpuscular (Valencia, Spain) and RIKEN Nishina Center (Wako, Japan)）
Date： 2019.8.6(Tue) 15:00-16:30
Location： North Bldg. #2, 6th Floor Meeting Room
Language： English
Outline： Total absorption spectroscopy can provide beta decay data free from the systematic error called the Pandemonium effect. Applying this technique can be relevant for nuclear structure studies that require a proper determination of the distribution of the beta strength in the daughter nucleus. In this presentation, the study of the beta decay of the very exotic 100Sn decay at the RIBF facility at RIKEN will be presented. Additionally the study of the beta decay of 186Hg will also be shown.

The 6th, Year 2019 Colloquium
"Challenges and Answers in Nuclear Security"
Lecturer： Kristof Horvath
Affiliation： International Atomic Energy Agency
Date： 2019.7.29(Mon) 16:45-18:00
Location： North Bldg. #1, 1st Floor Meeting Room
Language： English
Outline： He will explain about the overview of nuclear security in the world,and also introduce the coordinated research projects with member state countries.

The 4th, Year 2019 Colloquium　
"Cyber, Inside Nuclear Security in the Context of 3S(Safety, Security, and Safeguards)"
Lecturer： Jor-Shan Choi
Affiliation： Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Date： 2019.5.27(Mon) 10:30-12:00
Location： North Bldg. #2, 6th Floor Meeting Room
Language： English
Outline： Cyber threats are increasingly one of the major threats facing all countries. In nuclear facilities, a cyber attack could knock out digital control systems vital to ensuring the security of plants and materials, to an extent causing physical damages or losing human lives. In this talk, an assessment of the cyber risks, within nuclear security, will be explored and discussed in the context of 3S (Safety, Security, and Safeguards).

The 1st, Year 2019 Colloquium　
"Research on adsorption heat storage and transformation at the Boreskov Institute of Catalysis"
Lecturer： Yuriy Arisotv, WRHI Special Appointed Prof.
Affiliation： Laboratory for Advanced Nuclear Energy, Institute of Innovative  Research, Tokyo Tech, Boreskov Institute of Catalysis
Date： 2019.4.4日(Mon) 16:00-17:00
Location： North Bldg. #1, 1st Floor Meeting Room
Language： English
Outline： This presentation addresses the research activity on adsorption heat storage and transformation developed at the Boreskov Institute of Catalysis. The main attention will be focused on a) recently synthesized composite sorbents "salt in porous matrix" for long-term storage of low temperature heat, and b) a new adsorptive approach for heat amplification (the so-called "Heat from Cold" cycle).

H30


The 15th, H30 Colloquium　
"TENDL and Bayesian Monte Carlo: how far can we go ?"
Lecturer： Dimitri Alexandre Rochman
Affiliation： LRT, NES, PSI, Switzerland
Date： 2018.12.4(Tue) 10:00-12:00
Location： North Bldg. #2, 6th Floor Meeting Room
Language： English
Outline： In this presentation, I will introduce the TENDL library and the underlying code system used to produce it, called T6. Based on this powerful tool, the Total Monte Carlo idea (TMC) and Bayesian Monte Carlo (BMC) will be presented with two examples on cross-isotope correlations and fission yield covariance matrices.

The 11st, H30 Colloquium　
"Impact of pear-shaped fission fragments on mass-asymmetric fission"
Lecturer： Guillaume Scamps
Affiliation： Center for Computational Sciences, University of Tsukuba
Date： 2018.11.5(Mon) 13:00-14:30
Location： North Bldg. #2, 6th Floor Meeting Room
Language： English
Outline： The fission of most of the actinide results in an asymmetric splitting with a heavy fragment with a charge around Z=54. We used the Time-dependent Hartree-Fock (TDHF) with the BCS approximation to simulate the fission of 7 actinides nuclei. For all of them, we found the correct charge splitting with a heavy fragment produced predominantly with 52-56 protons. Using the nucleon localisation function, we show that the pre-fragments acquired quickly a strong octupole shape.

The 5th, H30 Colloquium　
"Mathematical modelling of mass transfer during liquid-liquid plug flow in small scale channels"
Lecturer： Miguel Arnaldo Pineda Rodriguez
Affiliation： University College of London
Date： 2018.7.26(Thu) 15:00-16:00
Location： North Bldg. #2, 6th Floor Meeting Room
Language： English
Outline： Analysis of radioactive nuclides has been essential for realizing efficient and safe treatment and disposal of radioactive wastes from nuclear power plants. Herein, I will discuss two mathematical modelling frameworks to study the extraction of radionuclides in two-phase systems during plug flow in a single microchannel. Possible extensions of these mathematical approaches are also discussed for multiple separations of individual metals contained in the waste.

The 3rd, H30 Colloquium　
"IAEA inspection activities at Rokkasho and Fukushima, and its future"
Lecturer： Bruno Chesnay
Affiliation： IAEA
Date： 2018.6.27(Wed) 10:00-11:30
Location： North Bldg. #1, 1st Floor Meeting Room
Language： English
Outline： Mr. Bruno Chesnay, a Senior Nuclear Safeguards Inspector at the Tokyo Regional Office of the International Atomic Energy Agency, will give a talk of the current situation of IAEA inspection activities at Rokkasho nuclear fuel cycle facilities and Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, and he also discuss the future view in his talk.

The 1st, H30 Colloquium　
"Fission in new regions of the Nuclear Chart"
Lecturer： Andrei Andreyev
Affiliation： York University/JAEA
Date： 2018.4.2(Mon) 13:30-15:00
Location： North Bldg. #2, 6th Floor Meeting Room (N2-Build. 6F Meeting Room)
Language： English
Outline： Three complementary methods of fission studies in new regions of nuclei will be discussed: low-energy beta-delayed fission, Coulex-induced fission, and higher-energy fusion-fission reactions induced by charged particles. Recent theoretical efforts in respect of low-energy fission calculations in this region of nuclei will also be reviewed.