Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a method for efficiently producing a polyester copolymer consisting of 3-hydroxybutyrate and lactate via microbial fermentation with the use of a sugar as a starting material. The method may comprise culturing a recombinant microorganism expressing: a protein capable of catalyzing the transfer of CoA to propionic acid and/or lactate; a protein capable of catalyzing the formation of acetoacetyl-CoA from two acetyl-CoA molecules; a protein capable of catalyzing acetoacetyl-CoA reduction; and a protein capable of catalyzing polyhydroxyalkanoate synthesis. According to the production method, a polyester copolymer consisting of 3-hydroxybutyrate and lactate can be efficiently produced using an inexpensive carbon source as a starting material, and thus the production cost of a biodegradable plastic can be reduced.

Abstract: The present invention provides an artificial scaffolding material for retaining proteins suitable for placing contiguously one species or two or more species of proteins such as enzymes. To this end, the artificial scaffolding material for retaining proteins is provided with a cell and scaffolding proteins heterologous to the cell and placed on the surface layer side of the cell at an extent that allows aggregation properties to be conferred to the cell, and provided with a plurality of non-covalently binding protein-binding domains arranged in tandem.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a method for efficiently producing a polyester copolymer consisting of 3HB and LA via microbial fermentation with the use of a sugar as a starting material.

Abstract: The present invention provides an artificial scaffolding material for retaining proteins suitable for placing contiguously one species or two or more species of proteins such as enzymes. To this end, the artificial scaffolding material for retaining proteins is provided with a cell and scaffolding proteins heterologous to the cell and placed on the surface layer side of the cell at an extent that allows aggregation properties to be conferred to the cell, and provided with a plurality of non-covalently binding protein-binding domains arranged in tandem.

Abstract: An ion implantation device includes: an ion source for retrieving an ion beam; a passage for passing the ion beam therethrough; a mass analysis magnet for selecting a predetermined ion species from the ion beam, the mass analysis magnet disposed in the passage; an implantation chamber for implanting the predetermined ion species in a target with the ion beam output from the mass analysis magnet; and an inner pressure controller for introducing an gas into the passage and for controlling an inner pressure of the passage. Since the above device includes the inner pressure controller, a concentration profile of the implanted ions in the target is appropriately controlled.

Abstract: A high-performance filter for an intake air for a gas turbine according to the present invention includes a low-efficiency filter media and a high-efficiency filter media superposed closely on each other in the named order from an upstream side in a direction of an air flow. Each of the filter media is formed with a filtering area of 20 to 35 m2. The filter media having a filtration efficiency of 40 to 70% for particles having a particle size of 0.3 &mgr;m is disposed as a layer upstream in the air flow direction, and the filter media having a filtration efficiency of 90 to 99.99% for particles having a particle size of 0.3 &mgr;m is disposed as a downstream layer. In addition, a filter unit according to the present invention is made using the above filter, Thus, even when the filter unit is used for atmospheric dusts including a high concentration of dusts having a particle size of 0.3 to 0.

Abstract: A high-performance filter for an intake air for a gas turbine according to the present invention includes a low-efficiency filter media and a high-efficiency filter media superposed closely on each other in the named order from an upstream side in a direction of an air flow. Each of the filter media is formed with a filtering area of 20 to 35 m2. The filter media having a filtration efficiency of 40 to 70% for particles having a particle size of 0.3 &mgr;m is disposed as a layer upstream in the air flow direction, and the filter media having a filtration efficiency of 90 to 99.99% for particles having a particle size of 0.3 &mgr;m is disposed as a downstream layer. In addition, a filter unit according to the present invention is made using the above filter, Thus, even when the filter unit is used for atmospheric dusts including a high concentration of dusts having a particle size of 0.3 to 0.

Abstract: An infrared radiation detector so adapted as to prevent the image signals from deteriorating due to the short length of leads extending within the cryogenic container with the infrared radiation sensing element accommodated within and to correspond to the increasing number of the leads and terminals, associated with a high density of elements. The infrared radiation detector is composed of an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder. The outer cylinder is disposed so as to lie in the same plane as the sub-package on which the multi-layered ceramic lead plate composed of a plurality of bonding pads for wire bonding, internally embedded lead layers, and plug-in terminals for fetching signals is mounted. The bonding pad of the sub-package is bonded to the bonding pad of the ceramic lead plate through a wire bonding.

Abstract: An infrared detector wherein an infrared detecting device can be cooled efficiently without increasing thermal stresses generated in the device body owing to cooling during the operation of the detector, and intrusion of ambient light can be prevented. A container for the infrared detecting device, which includes a bottom plate having a projection formed in the center thereof, is provided on an inner end portion of an inner cylinder constituting a dewar, and the infrared detecting device is placed on and secured to the projection of the bottom plate. The container bottom plate is made of an Invar, while the end portion of the inner cylinder is made of a Kovar or an Invar.

Abstract: A composite magnetic head tip has a pair of head cores (2,3) facing each other and each having a center core (5,7) and a side core (4,6) which are separated by a magnetic gap (8,9) and are glass welded together at an apex portion (32). Each head core has a set of notches (14,14') which define a track width in the magnetic gap. Each notch is formed so that it begins at a confronting surface (29) where the center cores face each other, crosses through the magnetic gap, and ends on a sliding surface (28) for slidably contacting a magnetic medium. The notches end at a point which is directly above the welded position (19) provided at the apex portion of each head core.

Abstract: An infrared detector wherein an infrared detecting device can be cooled efficiently without increasing thermal stresses generated in the device body owing to cooling during the operation of the detector, and intrusion of ambient light can be prevented. A container for the infrared detecting device, which includes a bottom plate having a projection formed in the center thereof, is provided on an inner end portion of an inner cylinder constituting a dewar, and the infrared detecting device is placed on and secured to the projection of the bottom plate. The container bottom plate is made of an Invar, while the end portion of the inner cylinder is made of a Kovar or an Invar.