Advanced Industrial Technology Research Articles

Evolution of Pharmaceuticals using 3D and 4D Printing

This overview examines the latest developments and applications of 3D and 4D printing in the health care and pharmaceutical field. The technique of creating a 3D object from a 3D model in the required size and shape is known as 3D printing. Whereas, 4D printing is the establishment of intricate three-dimensional formations that can change form in response to various external inputs. Applying 3D printing technology 3D printing, the healthcare industry has produced significant strides toward a patient-centred approach. The future of biomedical science and patient-centered care could be completely transformed by 3D printing with further advancements in research and development. 3D, 4D Technology used in printing is one of the most advanced industrial technologies available worldwide. The 3D and 4D printing pharmaceutical enterprises have completed the shift from centralised to distributed systems for the purpose of creating dosage forms. The goal of the study is to support the research goal of determining the degree to which patient-specific treatment is enhanced and healthcare outcomes are improved through the use of printing technologies in pharmaceuticals. Beyond this thorough analysis, the study highlights potential and problems from several angles and comparative aspects between 3D and 4D printing.

Investigation on Fuel Properties of Synthetic Gasoline-like Fuels

Article Investigation on Fuel Properties of Synthetic Gasoline-like Fuels Weidi Huang 1,2, Koichi Kinoshita 1,*, Yohko Abe 1, Mitsuharu Oguma 1, and Kotaro Tanaka 2,3 1 Research Institute for Energy Conservation, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, 1-2-1 Namiki, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8564, Japan 2 Carbon Recycling Energy Research Centre, Ibaraki University, 4-12-1 Nakanarusawa, Hitachi, Ibaraki 316-8511, Japan 3 Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Ibaraki University, 4-12-1 Nakanarusawa, Hitachi, Ibaraki 316-8511, Japan * Correspondence: koichi-kinoshita@aist.go.jp Received: 8 November 2023 Accepted: 25 March 2024 Published: 27 March 2024 Abstract: Synthetic fuels have gained considerable attention due to their promising characteristics. A comprehensive survey was undertaken to assess the availability of synthetic fuels in the global market, followed by an investigation to evaluate their potential in engines. This report presents the initial findings regarding the physical and chemical properties of synthetic gasoline-like fuels, specifically DMC (dimethyl carbonate), bioethanol, EtG (ethanol-to-gasoline), G40, and bio-naphtha. A comparison was conducted between these synthetic fuels and conventional gasoline. Furthermore, discussions were provided to enhance the understanding of the potential influence of fuel properties on spray and combustion characteristics. EtG and G40 are specifically designed to emulate conventional gasoline. Results indicate that EtG and gasoline should be directly interchangeable in the engine or blended in any proportion because they have almost identical Research Octane Number (RON)/Motor Octane Number (MON), fuel density, and higher heating value (HHV). G40 has a higher RON (105) compared with that of gasoline (92.2), likely resulting from the high content of iso-paraffin in G40. Bio-naphtha exhibits the high fraction of paraffin and naphthene content relative to other fuels. The feature of chemical compositions results in a lower RON (55.9), lower HHV and smaller fuel density compared to other fuels. DMC and bioethanol blends in gasoline were investigated. Regardless of whether DMC or bioethanol is incorporated, under a 60% blend ratio, gasoline distillation accelerates initially, until DMC or bioethanol completely evaporates, after which gasoline distillation returns to its normal rate. With increasing the volumetric fraction of the ethanol in the blends, either chemical compositions or the RON/HHV basically change linearly.

Recent Research Trends for Metal Oxide Nanostructures Based Chemoresistive Gas Sensors

In the modern era, advanced industrial and process technologies in various fields are known to produce harmful gases. These gases typically leak at low concentrations, but continuous exposure can cause serious harm to health and safety. Since human sensory organs cannot detect these risks or leaking hazardous gases, there has been significant interest in developing high-performance gas sensors capable of rapidly detecting harmful and hazardous gas leaks. Metal oxides possess several advantages for such applications, including ease of manufacturing, affordability, and high sensitivity to harmful gases. In this review, we highlight recent progress in the field of chemo-resistive gas sensors based on metal-oxide nanostructures. It begins by discussing the features of various nanostructure morphologies such as 0-dimensional nanospheres to nanocomposites of nanowires. It then describes methods for fabricating metal-oxide nanostructures. Finally, we describe recent advances in the design and fabrication of nanostructures for metal-oxide gas sensors using four different morphologies: 0-dimensional (0 D, nanosphere and nanoparticle), 1-dimensional (1 D, nanowire and nanorod), 3-dimensional (3 D, nanoflower and nanocomposite), and heterojunctions. Based on their morphology-dependent sensing properties, there are various fields of application for gas sensors, with different target gases. This review can serve as an overview of recent research trends and offer insights into the future development of next-generation high-performance gas sensors.

The parasitic capacitance considerations of metal interconnects in sub 10 nm era

With the development of the integrated circuit industry and semiconductor technology, we have entered the sub-10 nanometers era, which means the distance between adjacent components in a device is less than 10 nm. This is a situation where the parasitic capacitance of metal interconnects must be considered. Parasitic capacitance can act as a significant influence in different ways on disparate devices. Fin field-effect transistors and microelectromechanical systems are typical devices and deserve further detailed explanation on their parasitic capacitance. There are many ways to reduce parasitic capacitance and its attendant effects, including using materials with low dielectric constants and optimizing the structure of the layout. Some others are newly brought out in recent years due to advanced industrial technology and new materials, including carbon nanotubes, oxide-free spacer layers, and tunneling hybrid technology. All these methods are of great significance and practicability to producing and applying semiconductor devices and structures. Knowing more about this expertise about parasitic capacitance can help us better understand its nature and specialties.

Research on the coal saving and emission reduction potential of advanced technologies in China's iron and steel industry

The coal-based energy consumption structure has led to high coal consumption and carbon emissions in China's iron and steel industry, and the task of coal saving and carbon reduction in the steel industry is difficult and urgent. The economic viability of various coal-saving and emission-reduction technologies, the extent of their coal-saving and emission-reduction potential, and the guidance on the adoption of advanced technologies are crucial issues that need to be addressed in the Chinese steel industry. This article employs the Energy-Production (E-P) analysis method and the Conservation Supply Curve (CSC) model incorporating coal consumption ratio coefficients to systematically analyze coal consumption and carbon dioxide emissions in the overall iron and steel industry and its sub-processes under different scenarios. It calculates the coal-saving emission reduction costs of 32 technologies, evaluates them comprehensively based on their coal-saving and emission-reduction potentials and cost-effectiveness, and categorizes them accordingly. According to the cost of coal saving and emission reduction as the demarcation point, a total of 19 technologies are cost-effective; according to the coal-saving emission reduction potential and cost division, 32 technologies are divided into 6 categories, among which 6 technologies such as sintering waste heat recovery technology can be used as key technologies for popularization and application. Seven technologies, such as efficient preheating technology of ladle, have high cost and low potential, which can be gradually eliminated or improved and upgraded. After the comprehensive promotion of the 32 technologies, the maximum coal saving potential is about 3.453 billion GJ, the CO2 emission reduction potential is 395 million tons, the total coal consumption of the steel industry can be reduced to about 13.904 billion GJ, and the carbon dioxide emissions can be reduced to 1.179 billion tons.

Strategic Planning of Reconfigurable Industrial Systems and Value Chains: A life cycle conceptual model

Strategic planning of industrial systems has become increasingly challenging for decision makers at different production levels, due to everal aspects, such as global competition, market uncertainty and volatility, and changing regulations. These evolving aspects often lead to unplanned and high-effort reconfigurations of systems. Additionally, high-paced innovation in industrial technologies and the diffusion of software, data analytics, and big data technologies in industrial systems, while potentially supporting ever smarter, safer, and greener decisions, also challenge decision makers, as often multi-disciplinary knowledge is required to successfully plan and operate increasingly complex systems. Existing literature provides little guidance on how strategic planning of industrial systems is expected to evolve in order to fully exploit advanced industrial technologies to responsively and cost effectively respond to global challenges. To fill this gap, this paper reviews existing literature on industrial systems’ planning and reconfigurability and derivesmulti-sectorial requirements. Based on the findings, a life cycle conceptualmodel for strategic planning of reconfigurable industrial systems and value chains is provided. Moreover, the concepts of hierarchical interfaces, functional interfaces, and reconfigurability bottleneck are introduced and directions for future research are accordingly outlined.

The impact of digital economy on industrial carbon emission efficiency at the city level in China: Gravity movement trajectories and driving mechanisms

Can the digital economy be a key driver of China's industrial green and low-carbon transformation, promoting the growth of urban industrial economy and reducing carbon emissions to achieve a "win-win" development? The study measured industrial carbon emission efficiency (ICEE), analyzed the spatiotemporal center of gravity movement, and investigated the nonlinear and spatial spillover effects of digital economy on ICEE using panel data based on 270 cities from 2005 to 2020 through the super-efficient model, threshold effects and spatial econometric model. The results were as follows: The ICEE of Chinese cities has generally improved over time, with its center of gravity shifting from west to east, contrary to the trajectory of industrial carbon emissions. The effect of digital economy on ICEE presented an "N" shape of increasing (0.240), decreasing (–0.037), then increasing (0.145), rather than a simple inverted "U" shape. When green technology innovation was the threshold variable, the effect on ICEE exhibited a "U" shape of inhibition followed by promotion (–0.185 to 0.345) rather than a direct positive effect. The digital economy enhanced the ICEE of local cities (0.118) and generated positive spatial spillover effects (0.179) in neighboring cities. However, the impact of digital economy exhibited regional heterogeneity, with a radiating effect (0.117) on neighboring cities in the eastern region and an opposite "siphon effect" (–0.330, –0.174) on neighboring cities in the central and western regions. It is crucial to utilize digital technology sharing advanced industrial technology and low-carbon concepts to transcend geographical boundaries and establish industrial carbon reduction synergy from the eastern to the central and western regions.

Comparison between noise annoyance and noise sensitivity

This study examined the relationship between noise sensitivity and noise annoyance. As part of a collaboration between the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology in Japan and the National Research Council Canada related to the acoustic requirements for dwellings intended for aging in place, a pilot subjective study of noise annoyance was conducted. Sixty participants in the subjective study were asked to also complete a shortened Weinstein Noise Sensitivity Scale. The results were divided into two groups based on their hyper- or hypo-sensitivity to noise. The results showed that the noise annoyance of impact sound was perceived differently by the hyper-sensitivity group and the hypo-sensitivity group.

Carbonate Associated Sulfate Extraction Method Using Weakly Acidic Cation Exchange Resins

The sulfur (S) mass fraction of carbonate minerals can be used to reconstruct the environmental conditions and S sources at the time of precipitation. As S is present in a wide range of host materials, there is an urgent need to develop a method to extract S from a single mineral phase. We have developed a method to extract structurally substituted sulfate, termed carbonate‐associated sulfate (CAS), from geological and biogenic carbonate minerals using weakly acidic cation exchange resins. Two types of weakly acidic cation exchange resin (methacrylic acid and acrylic acid types) were tested to minimise the blank S contents and decompose carbonate. After repeated cleaning of the resins with high‐purity water or HCl, the blank S contents were reduced to < 0.1 μg, which is < 0.1% of the CAS in the samples. The cleaned resin was used to dissolve 10 and 25 mg of the JCp‐1 carbonate certified reference material (CRM; Japanese National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, AIST). Samples and resin were added to 8 ml of high‐purity water at resin/sample ratios of 2, 5, 10 and 20, set on a shaking table, and reacted. The supernatant solutions were sampled sequentially from 0.5 h to 87 h after the start of experiments. The results show that the optimal conditions for decomposing 10 mg of carbonate is a resin/sample ratio of ≥ 10 with a reaction time of ≥ 40 h. Carbonate‐associated S mass fractions were measured for six geological and biogenic carbonate CRMs. The coefficient of variation in carbonate‐associated S mass fractions was ≤ 7%, regardless of the type of resins used. The mass fractions determined with this method recover 74–94% of the total S mass fractions reported in previous studies, suggesting that this method dissolved carbonate, and did not leach other S‐bearing fractions that are not resistant to weak acids. Another benefit of this method is that the decomposed solution can be introduced directly into the ion chromatograph, allowing for more sensitive analyses. We emphasise that this method can also be used for S isotopic measurements, as S contamination from other S‐bearing mineral phases is low.

Toward a Prosperous Future Where Humans and Robots Cooperate

Based on the roadmap formulated by “Consortium for Human-Centric Manufacturing Innovation” (here-in after referred to as HCMI Consortium) of National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, an industry-academia-government collaborative platform launched on April 10, 2019, this paper introduces initiatives and future prospects for human-centric robotics that collaborate with humans and human-in-the-loop cyber-physical system to support future industrial infrastructure for a sustainable and prosperous society. In particular, in cooperation with humans, it is important to understand the behavior of workers. For this purpose, it is important to have a fundamental technology that can represent models of human in cyber-physical systems and simulate the relationship between human and machines. Based on this fundamental technology, we are proceeding with demonstrations in various use cases.

Promotion of the Diversity in the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology

Promotion of the Diversity in the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology

Execution of stored programs by a rapid single-flux-quantum random-access-memory-embedded bit-serial microprocessor using 50-GHz clock frequency

We have demonstrated the execution of several programs stored in an instruction memory by a rapid single-flux-quantum bit-serial 8-bit microprocessor named CORE e2h. We employed a minimal instruction set architecture composed of 13 instructions based on the reduced instruction set computer. We integrated a 128-bit instruction memory and a 128-bit data memory with an arithmetic logic unit, two registers, a program counter, an instruction register, and a controller unit on a single chip. The bit-serial operation was performed by an on-chip clock generator, while the system clocks are provided from room-temperature electronics. The CORE e2h was made up of 11 000 Nb/AlOx/Nb Josephson junctions and fabricated with the Advanced Industrial Science and Technology 10-kA/cm2, 9-Nb-layer process. We obtained the correct results for all the executed programs, including the integer division, the two kinds of summation algorithms, the Euclidean algorithm, and finding the greatest divisor. These test programs contained a single or nested double loop, and the maximum number of executed instructions was 205. We confirmed the stable operation with the DC bias margins of around 10% at 50-GHz for different test programs. The measured electric power consumption was 2.5 mW at 4.2 K, and the estimated computing power was 500 × 106 instructions/s.

Single-flux-quantum signal processors monolithically integrated with a superconducting nanostrip single-photon detector array

We developed a monolithic integration process for a superconducting nanostrip single-photon detector (SNSPD) and a cryogenic signal processor based on a single-flux-quantum (SFQ) circuit. Sixteen-pixel SNSPDs consisting of a 10-nm-thick and 100-nm-wide NbTiN nanowire were fabricated on a 3-in. Si wafer with an SFQ merger fabricated by the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology Nb 2.5 kA/cm2 standard process 2. Subsequently, we illuminated the photons on the 16-pixel SNSPD array through an optical fiber and obtained a similar bias-current dependence of the detection efficiency with a single-pixel SNSPD without the SFQ merger. This indicates that the SFQ merger works correctly, and that the power dissipation of the SFQ circuit, which is estimated to be 200 μW, does not deteriorate the photon detection of SNSPD fabricated on the same chip with a size of 5 × 5 mm2. Furthermore, we measured timing jitter using a pulsed laser as the photon source. Owing to the careful tuning of the wiring length between each pixel of the 16-pixel SNSPD and each input port of the SFQ merger, the obtained timing jitter was 41.4 ps, which is approximately equal to or less than that of the single-pixel SNSPD.

Direct observations of π-leaps of superconducting phase differences in π-junction-based SQUIDs

We directly observed π-leaps of superconducting phase differences in π-junction-based superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs). The SQUIDs studied here are formed by introducing a π-junction to a conventional-junction (0-junction)-based direct current (DC)-SQUID, which is referred to as the 0-0-π SQUID. Either clockwise or counter-clockwise-circulating currents flow spontaneously in the 0-0-π SQUID because of a π-phase shift of the π-junction. In other words, the 0-0-π SQUID has a bistable state corresponding to the directions of circulating currents. π-leaps are generated by transiting between the two states of the bistable state. π-leaps are an ultra-fast phenomenon and are difficult to observe as they are. We prepared a half-flux quantum (HFQ)-SQUID that comprised two 0-0-π SQUIDs. π-leaps are reflected in a static characteristic, that is, a modulation pattern of the critical current in the HFQ-SQUID. We formed π-junctions with the PdNi layer on 0-junction-based circuits supplied by the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology. The modulation pattern of the HFQ-SQUID had a period corresponding to π-leaps as expected, although some microstructures were observed. We demonstrated that the microstructures originated from the asymmetry inside each 0-0-π SQUID by analyzing the relationship between the phase change of 0-0-π SQUIDs and the modulation patterns.

Construction of a Database of Pi-SAR2 Observation Data by Calibration and Scattering Power Decomposition Using the ABCI

Pi-SAR2 is an airborne polarimetric synthetic aperture radar operated by the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology. The polarimetric observation data of Pi-SAR2 are very valuable because of its high resolution, but it cannot be used effectively because the data are not well calibrated with respect to elevation. Therefore, we have calibrated the data according to the observation conditions. The Pi-SAR2 observation data are very large due to its high resolution and require sufficient computational resources to be calibrated. We utilized the AI Bridging Cloud Infrastructure (ABCI), constructed and operated by the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, to calculate them. This paper reports on the calibration, scattering power decomposition, and orthorectification of the Pi-SAR2 observation data using the ABCI.

Analisis Kekasaran Permukaan Pada Pengaruh Kecepatan Spindel Dan Feeding Terhadap Material Baja AISI 1045 Pada Mesin Bubut CNC

In this era of increasingly advanced industrial technology development, of course, everyone wants the best results in making a product. For example in the machining process, one of which is CNC lathe machining, the level of roughness of a product really needs to be reviewed. The minimum surface roughness shows that the quality of a CNC machining process is very good, because the smaller the surface roughness value, the greater the quality value of a product, therefore in order to achieve this goal it is necessary to set the right parameters. Parameters varied were spindle speed (Rpm) and feeding. In this study the method used is the experimental method, with a combination of parameters to obtain surface roughness values. The material used is AISI 1045 steel, with the results of the data being analyzed using the Taguchi Smaller the Better method in Minitab 21.3 software. From the results of the calculation of the mean factor, the percent contribution to the spindle speed was obtained at 56.28%, while at feeding it was obtained at 38.14%. The optimal roughness value is obtained from the combination of parameters in the CNC lathe process on AISI 1045 steel which can make the optimal response value obtained at a spindle speed of 1645 rpm and a feeding of 0.18 mm/rev.

A Non‐Destructive Electrical Assay of Stem Cell Differentiation Based on Semiconductor Biosensing

AbstractInvited for this month′s cover is the collaborating groups of Prof. Sho Hideshima at Tokyo City University, Prof. Tetsuya Osaka at Waseda University, and Prof. Hiroaki Tateno at National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Japan. The cover picture shows a semiconductor‐based biosensor with potential to detect the presence of a specific biomarker of human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSCs) in a culture medium. More information can be found in the Research Article by S. Hideshima, T. Osaka, and co‐workers.

Principle, application and development trend of dry ice cleaning hub fixture

As an engineering technology, industrial cleaning plays an increasingly important role in industrial production; The development of the cleaning industry not only provides effective technical services for the whole society, but also has become an important symbol of today’s social civilization. With the industrialization process of the country and the needs of social production and life, the application field of the cleaning industry is becoming more and more extensive. As an emerging technology, dry ice cleaning has the characteristics of high efficiency, wide application range and no pollution, and is widely used in mold, power electronics, petrochemical and automotive industries. Dry ice cleaning is an advanced and efficient industrial cleaning technology, which has advantages over other cleaning methods in terms of cleaning effect, cleaning applicability, and environmental protection.

Econometric estimation of the Influence of Innovative environment on the sustainable development in the Volga Federal District

In conditions of the emerging economy of a new type, the process of innovation becomes a crucial factor that ensures competitiveness and sustainable development in a wide range of fields. The latter includes scientific and technological sectors as well as the spheres of management and social transformation. Sustainable economic development sets sharp growth as its objective alongside the innovative capacity building and its later realization, bringing local and national economies in line with the market standards, and the improvement of performance through the introduction of innovations. The paper identifies and quantifies the most important factors of an innovative environment that affect sustainable development in the regions of the Volga Federal District [VFD]. We used the research methods of correlation and regression analysis. The established concept of the positive effects of innovative factors on the development of regions receives further confirmation and complementation from regression models for separate regions and the VFD in general compiled by us. Upon assessing the influence of innovations on the gross regional product in the regions of the VFD, we identified the introduction of advanced industrial technologies to the subjects of the VFD as the most influential factor. The research results can be implemented into the development of regional strategies for innovative development and its prognosis.

Transient Nozzle-Exit Velocity Profile in Diesel Spray and Its Influencing Parameters

Article Transient Nozzle-Exit Velocity Profile in Diesel Spray and Its Influencing Parameters Ya Gao 1, Weidi Huang 2,*, Raditya Hendra Pratama 2, and Jin Wang 1 1 Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 S Cass Ave, Lemont, IL 60439, United States 2 Research Institute for Energy Conservation, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Ibaraki 305-8564, Japan * Correspondence: wd.huang@aist.go.jp Received: 24 September 2022 Accepted: 10 November 2022 Published: 25 December 2022 Abstract: The primary breakup in the diesel spray relies closely on the initial dynamics at the nozzle exit. However, solid experimental results are still missing due to the great difficulties in measuring the near-nozzle spray dynamics. This study proposed an investigation focusing on the transient nozzle-exit spray dynamics by taking advantage of the X-ray phase contrast imaging technique. The in-nozzle needle motion, spray morphology, and dynamics at a commercial diesel nozzle exit were obtained. Experimental results were then examined, linking with the needle motion to understand the transient spray dynamics. The effect of the initial conditions (i.e., the injection pressure and ambient density) on the resulting trends were also considered. It is found that the nozzle-exit spray morphology and velocity profile highly relate to the in-nozzle needle lift. Once the needle sufficiently opens, the spray reaches steady status, and the nozzle-exit velocity becomes almost constant. The spray width slightly increases with the increasing ambient gas density or the decreasing injection pressure. Injection pressure significantly affects the spray velocity amplitude, whereas the ambient gas density alters the spray-velocity profiles mainly in the periphery of the spray. Finally, an analytic analysis was conducted to further examine the transient spray axial velocity with the changing radial locations. It is found the nozzle-exit spray velocity can be predicted in the Gaussian-type formula. This feature likely relates to in-nozzle flow characteristics.