Abstract: An application mechanism applies a liquid material on an application surface. The application mechanism includes: an application needle holder fixing unit; an application needle holder detachably attached to the application needle holder fixing unit; an application needle held at the application needle holder; and a cushioning mechanism. The cushioning mechanism is capable of cushioning an impact when the application needle is brought into contact with the application surface.

Abstract: The objects of the present invention are to provide a novel PVA-degrading enzyme that the entity of which is revealed at the amino acid sequence level, a process for producing the same, a DNA encoding the enzyme, a recombinant DNA comprising the DNA, and a transformant having the recombinant DNA. The present invention solves the above objects by providing a polyvinyl alcohol-degrading enzyme having the following characteristics (1) to (3), a process for producing the same, a DNA encoding the enzyme, a recombinant DNA comprising the DNA, and a transformant having the recombinant DNA: (1) having an activity of oxidizing polyvinyl alcohol and forming hydrogen peroxide; (2) having an activity of hydrolyzing ?-diketone; and (3) exhibiting a molecular weight of 100,000±20,000 in SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

Abstract: An application mechanism according to one embodiment of the present invention serves as an application mechanism that applies an application material onto a substrate using an application needle. The application mechanism according to one embodiment of the present invention includes: a holder base; a slide mechanism attached to an inside of the holder base; an application needle fixing member, to which the application needle is attached, the application needle fixing member being supported by the slide mechanism so as to be slidable in an extending direction of the application needle; and a position holding mechanism that holds a relative position of the application needle fixing member with respect to the slide mechanism.

Abstract: A liquid application unit and a liquid application apparatus are provided, for which a liquid material can be readily resupplied or replaced. A liquid application unit includes: a plurality of application needle units each including an application needle and a liquid material container in which the liquid material is stored and from which the liquid material is supplied to the application needle; and a first driving unit configured to move the application needle relative to a target and the liquid material container in a first direction. The plurality of application needle units are integrally attachable to and detachable from the first driving unit.

Abstract: A wearable device attached to a subject includes an accelerometer that measures acceleration information, and a biological sensor that measures biological signal information of the subject. From the measured acceleration information and biological signal information, first feature data corresponding to a first predetermined period and second feature data corresponding to a second predetermined period are extracted. By machine learning based on the first feature data, a dynamic/static activity identification model, a dynamic-activity identification model, and a static-activity identification model, for the subject, are generated. By combination of results of determination based on each of the identification models, a posture and an activity of the subject are identified, and correspondence information, which associates the identified posture and activity with the biological signal information of the subject, is generated.

Abstract: A coating apparatus applies a liquid material to a surface of a target object using a coating needle. The coating apparatus includes a coating unit having a coating needle and a container to hold a liquid material, a driving device configured to move the coating needle up and down, a Z-axis table configured to move the coating unit up and down, and a controller configured to drive the driving device and the Z-axis table to perform a coating operation. The controller adjusts the coating amount of the liquid material by controlling the driving device and the Z-axis table in accordance with an operation parameter set corresponding to the coating unit attached.

Abstract: The objects of the present invention are to provide a novel PVA-degrading enzyme that the entity of which is revealed at the amino acid sequence level, a process for producing the same, a DNA encoding the enzyme, a recombinant DNA comprising the DNA, and a transformant having the recombinant DNA. The present invention solves the above objects by providing a polyvinyl alcohol-degrading enzyme having the following characteristics (1) to (3), a process for producing the same, a DNA encoding the enzyme, a recombinant DNA comprising the DNA, and a transformant having the recombinant DNA: (1) having an activity of oxidizing polyvinyl alcohol and forming hydrogen peroxide; (2) having an activity of hydrolyzing ?-diketone; and (3) exhibiting a molecular weight of 100,000±20,000 in SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

Abstract: A wearable device attached to a subject includes an accelerometer that measures acceleration information, and a biological sensor that measures biological signal information of the subject. From the measured acceleration information and biological signal information, first feature data corresponding to a first predetermined period and second feature data corresponding to a second predetermined period are extracted. By machine learning based on the first feature data, a dynamic/static activity identification model, a dynamic-activity identification model, and a static-activity identification model, for the subject, are generated. By combination of results of determination based on each of the identification models, a posture and an activity of the subject are identified and correspondence information, which associates the identified posture and activity with the biological signal information of the subject, is generated.

Abstract: The objects of the present invention are to provide a novel PVA-degrading enzyme that the entity of which is revealed at the amino acid sequence level, a process for producing the same, a DNA encoding the enzyme, a recombinant DNA comprising the DNA, and a transformant having the recombinant DNA. The present invention solves the above objects by providing a polyvinyl alcohol-degrading enzyme having the following characteristics (1) to (3), a process for producing the same, a DNA encoding the enzyme, a recombinant DNA comprising the DNA, and a transformant having the recombinant DNA: (1) having an activity of oxidizing polyvinyl alcohol and forming hydrogen peroxide; (2) having an activity of hydrolyzing ?-diketone, and (3) exhibiting a molecular weight of 100,000±20,000 in SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

Abstract: Provided is a die casting machine and die casting machine control method that are able to change the operation of a plunger at an appropriate timing. A die casting machine operates a plunger such that the plunger moves forward, detects that molten metal extruded from a sleeve by the forward movement of the plunger has arrived at a cavity, determines a deceleration starting position and a intensification starting position for changing the operation of the plunger, using, as a reference (reference position Ls), the position of the plunger 15 at the time when it is detected that molten metal has arrived at the cavity, and, when the plunger moves to the deceleration starting position and intensification starting position, changes the operation of the plunger to operations corresponding to the respective positions.

Abstract: An application material container has a fixed portion and a container portion. The fixed portion is configured to be fixable to a fixing member included in an application mechanism. The container portion is provided with, in upper and lower portions thereof, a hole and a hole through which an application needle passes. A side surface of the container portion has a first flange. A lower surface of the first flange is in contact with an upper surface of the fixed portion. A gap is provided between a portion lower than the first flange on the side surface of the container portion and a side surface of the fixed portion. The container portion is horizontally movable within a range of the gap.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide a cell chip and a three-dimensional tissue chip and a production method therefor such that even when a highly viscous cell-containing solution is a material, the highly safe and reproducible cell chip or three-dimensional tissue chip with a desired application volume can be produced within a short time and in a large quantity so as to have a desired cell density and exhibit high cell viability.

Abstract: An application mechanism according to one embodiment of the present invention serves as an application mechanism that applies an application material onto a substrate using an application needle. The application mechanism according to one embodiment of the present invention includes: a holder base; a slide mechanism attached to an inside of the holder base; an application needle fixing member, to which the application needle is attached, the application needle fixing member being supported by the slide mechanism so as to be slidable in an extending direction of the application needle; and a position holding mechanism that holds a relative position of the application needle fixing member with respect to the slide mechanism.

Abstract: Provided is a die casting machine and die casting machine control method that are able to change the operation of a plunger at an appropriate timing. A die casting machine operates a plunger such that the plunger moves forward, detects that molten metal extruded from a sleeve by the forward movement of the plunger has arrived at a cavity, determines a deceleration starting position and a intensification starting position for changing the operation of the plunger, using, as a reference (reference position Ls), the position of the plunger 15 at the time when it is detected that molten metal has arrived at the cavity, and, when the plunger moves to the deceleration starting position and intensification starting position, changes the operation of the plunger to operations corresponding to the respective positions.

Abstract: A liquid application unit and a liquid application apparatus are provided, for which a liquid material can be readily resupplied or replaced. A liquid application unit includes: a plurality of application needle units each including an application needle and a liquid material container in which the liquid material is stored and from which the liquid material is supplied to the application needle; and a first driving unit configured to move the application needle relative to a target and the liquid material container in a first direction. The plurality of application needle units are integrally attachable to and detachable from the first driving unit.

Abstract: A coating apparatus applies a liquid material to a surface of a target object using a coating needle. The coating apparatus includes a coating unit having a coating needle and a container to hold a liquid material, a driving device configured to move the coating needle up and down, a Z-axis table configured to move the coating unit up and down, and a controller configured to drive the driving device and the Z-axis table to perform a coating operation. The controller adjusts the coating amount of the liquid material by controlling the driving device and the Z-axis table in accordance with an operation parameter set corresponding to the coating unit attached.

Abstract: An application material container has a fixed portion and a container portion. The fixed portion is configured to be fixable to a fixing member included in an application mechanism. The container portion is provided with, in upper and lower portions thereof, a hole and a hole through which an application needle passes. A side surface of the container portion has a first flange. A lower surface of the first flange is in contact with an upper surface of the fixed portion. A gap is provided between a portion lower than the first flange on the side surface of the container portion and a side surface of the fixed portion. The container portion is horizontally movable within a range of the gap.

Abstract: A primary object of this invention is to provide a continuous casting method by which a slab of excellent internal quality can be obtained even if the casting speed is changed. In this invention, upon continuous casting with two pairs of the reduction rolls arranged along a casting direction and support rolls arranged between the reduction rolls, when a casting speed is reduced compared to a state where combination of reduction with reduction rolls at a first stage on an unsolidified portion of the slab and reduction with reduction rolls at a second stage on a solidified portion thereof is employed, the combination is switched to combination of reduction with the reduction rolls at the first stage on a portion of the slab at an end of solidification and the reduction with the reduction rolls at the second stage on the solidified portion thereof.

Abstract: A primary object of this invention is to provide a continuous casting method by which a slab of excellent internal quality can be obtained even if the casting speed is changed. In this invention, upon continuous casting with two pairs of the reduction rolls arranged along a casting direction and support rolls arranged between the reduction rolls, when a casting speed is reduced compared to a state where combination of reduction with reduction rolls at a first stage on an unsolidified portion of the slab and reduction with reduction rolls at a second stage on a solidified portion thereof is employed, the combination is switched to combination of reduction with the reduction rolls at the first stage on a portion of the slab at an end of solidification and the reduction with the reduction rolls at the second stage on the solidified portion thereof.