Facile Preparation of an Enzyme‐Immobilized Microreactor using a Cross‐Linking Enzyme Membrane on a Microchannel Surface

The enzyme microreactor has considerable potential for use in biotechnological syntheses and analytical studies. Simplifying the procedure of enzyme immobilization in a microreactor is attractive, and it is achievable by utilizing enzyme immobilization techniques and taking advantage of the characteristics of microfluidics. We previously developed a facile and inexpensive preparation method for an enzyme‐immobilized microreactor. The immobilization of enzymes can be achieved by the formation of an enzyme‐polymeric membrane on the inner wall of the microchannel through cross‐linking polymerization in a laminar flow. However, this method is unsuitable for use in conjunction with electronegative enzymes. Therefore, a novel preparation method using poly‐L ‐lysine [poly(Lys)] as a booster and an adjunct for the effective polymerization of electronegative enzymes was developed in this study. Using aminoacylase as a model for an electronegative enzyme, the reaction conditions for the enzyme‐cross‐linked aggregation were optimized. On the basis of the determined conditions, an acylase‐immobilized tubing microreactor was successfully prepared by cross‐linking polymerization in a concentric laminar flow. The resulting microreactor showed a higher stability against heat and organic solvents compared to those of the free enzyme. The developed method using poly(Lys) was applicable to various enzymes with low isoelectric points, suggesting that this microreactor preparation utilizing a cross‐linked enzyme in a laminar flow could be expanded to microreactors in which a broad range of functional proteins are employed.     

Changes in Toyota Motors’ operations management

A key driver behind Toyota Motors’ rise to prominence has been the Toyota Production System (TPS). This pillar of the firm's competitive strength was developed over several decades. As of the late 1980s, various changes were introduced into the TPS. Some of these, such as line segmentation, the use of inter-segment buffers and high-tech automation, have been portrayed as breaks with TPS foundations. With virtually no exception published accounts on these changes stop with the situation in the mid-1990s. Based on general literature and three factory visits, this article aims to provide an update on the situation in April 2001.     

13 years’ operational experience of SPring-8 vacuum system

The first electron beam was stored in SPring-8 storage ring in March 1997. An overview of the 13 years’ operational experience concerning the vacuum system of the SPring-8 storage ring is presented. The evolution of the vacuum system and their performance are summarized. Moreover, the main vacuum failures and their impact on accelerator operation are described in detail. We analyze the relationship between the difference types of vacuum failure and downtime of user experiment.     

Bending fatigue strength of case-carburized helical gears with large helix angles up to 40 degrees

Case-carburizing of helical gears with large helix angles may form too large hardened layers near the tooth width end on the acute angle side (ACUTE-END), and adversely affect the bending fatigue strength. We investigated the bending fatigue strength of casecarburized helical gears with large helix angles up to approximately 40° through a bending fatigue test, hardness test, and residual stress measurement. We found that the case-carburizing formed large hardened layers near ACUTE-END, reduced the compressive residual stress near ACUTE-END, and restricted the improvement of the bending fatigue strength in a meshing state where tooth root stress became large near ACUTE-END. Based on the obtained bending fatigue limits, we revealed that ISO 6336-3:2006 overestimated the rate of increase of the permissible circumferential loads for helix angles exceeding approximately 30°, and ISO/DIS 6336-3:2018 underestimated this rate for helix angles near 30°.

     

Sol–Gel‐Derived High‐Performance Stacked Transparent Conductive Oxide Thin Films

Single‐ and multi‐layer transparent conductive oxide (TCO) thin films exhibiting high performance, good packing density and low surface/interface roughness are deposited on silica glass substrates by the sol–gel method. The crystal and microstructural properties of the TCO thin films are evaluated as an alternate to films prepared by ultra‐high vacuum deposition. Tin‐doped indium oxide (ITO) thin films produced using a two‐step drying process showed low surface roughness because of dense packing structure not only horizontal but also vertical directions. As a result, electrical conductivity, carrier concentration, carrier mobility, and optical transmittance of 2.3 × 10³ S/cm, 8 × 10²⁰ cm^?3, 18 cm²/Vs, and over 98% at 500 nm, respectively, were achieved. A multilayer ZnO/ITO stacked structure was also fabricated using the sol–gel process. Our findings suggest that solution‐based methods show promise as an alternative to existing ultra‐high vacuum methods to fabricate TCO thin films.     

Photocatalytic oxidation of CO with various oxidants by Mo oxide species highly dispersed on SiO2 at 293 K

The photocatalytic oxidation of CO into CO₂ with oxidants such as NO, N₂O and O₂ proceeded efficiently on a Mo/SiO₂ with high Mo dispersion under UV light irradiation. It was found that the reaction rate greatly depended on the kind and concentration of the oxidant. Photoluminescence investigations reveal the close relationship between the reaction rate and the relative concentration of the photo-excited Mo⁶⁺-oxide species, i.e. charge transfer–excited–triplet state (Mo⁵⁺–O⁻)^*, under steady-state reaction conditions. Moreover, the photocatalytic oxidation of CO with O₂ in excess H₂ was carried out to test suitability for applications to supplying pure H₂. This reaction was seen to proceed efficiently on Mo/SiO₂ with a high CO conversion of 100% and CO selectivity of 99% after 180 min under UV light irradiation, showing higher photocatalytic performance than TiO₂ (P-25) photocatalyst. UV–vis, XAFS, photoluminescence and FT-IR investigations revealed that the high reactivity of the charge transfer–excited–triplet state (Mo⁵⁺–O⁻)^*, with CO as well as the high reactivity of the photoreduced Mo-oxide species (Mo⁴⁺-species) with O₂ to produce the original Mo-oxide species (Mo⁶⁺O²⁻), played a crucial role in the reactions.     

COLOURING OF PURE IRON AFTER Ti~＋-O~＋ DUAL ION IMPLANTATION

用电化学的方法对经Ｔｉ~＋－Ｏ~＋二重离子注入后的钝铁表面进行处理，可呈现出深蓝、海蓝、褐、紫、金黄、淡黄等颜色用Ｘ射线光电子能谱（ＸＰＳ）对着色表面进行分析，发现表层有ＴｉＯ＿２富集，证明存在钛的氧化物是着色的必要条件．同时着色后的表面存在Ｔｉ的浓化层，着色的深浅程度与钛的浓度有关     

Development of a liquid tin microjet target for an efficient laser-produced plasma extreme ultraviolet source

A regenerative tin liquid microjet target was developed for a high average power extreme ultraviolet (EUV) source. The diameter of the target was smaller than 160 microm and good vacuum lower than 0.5 Pa was maintained during the operation. A maximum EUV conversion efficiency of 1.8% at the Nd:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser intensity of around 2 x 10(11) Wcm(2) with a spot diameter of 175 microm (full width at half maximum) was observed. The angular distribution of the EUV emission remained almost isotropic, whereas suprathermal ions mainly emerged toward the target normal.     

Nanofabrication of cylindrical STEM specimen of InGaAs/GaAs quantum dots for 3D-STEM observation

We demonstrate the multiazimuth observation (360 degrees in principle) of InGaAs/GaAs quantum dots (QDs) by means of a 300 kV scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM), where both cross-sectional and plan-view observations are performed on a single STEM specimen for the first time. A cylindrical specimen with a diameter of 200-300 nm including the QD layer inside along the rotation axis was fabricated by the focused ion beam (FIB) technique, with the application of a newly developed mesa-cutting method to adjust the position and angle of the QD layer precisely. The 360 degrees STEM observation is realized by mounting the cylindrical specimen on a holder equipped with a specimen-rotation mechanism. High potential of 3D-STEM observation is briefly presented by showing high contrast images of QDs, dark field images, and moire fringes with various incident angles.     

Performance of plastic gear made of carbon fiber reinforced poly-ether-ether-ketone: Part 2

Five kinds of PEEK/CF composites, made by blending poly-ether-ether-ketone (PEEK) with three kinds of PAN type carbon fibers (CFs) and two kinds of pitch type CFs respectively, were injection-molded into gears. Their gear performance such as the load capability and the wear of tooth were evaluated. The wear properties of PEEK/CF gears extremely varied depending on the kinds of CFs, when the same type gears were combined and grease was initially applied. Also, the load capabilities were significantly influenced by the affinity between PEEK and CF. A composite gear reinforced with CF of the highest density indicated the highest load capability irrespective of the test conditions, due to the lowest abrasive property of the CF as well as the excellent affinity between PEEK and CF. Its load capability under a high temperature running condition was found to be superior to that of polyamideimide (PAI) composite gear or polyphenylenesulphide (PPS) composite gear.