As DX in R&D for material manufacturers, there are methods of materials development using AI and machine learning, such as MI. AI and machine learning are not only for finding raw material conditions for materials, but also for performance evaluation, intellectual property, etc. It is also important to improve the development efficiency of the entire development process, which leads to DX. This presentation will introduce examples of MI implementation within the company, as well as human resource development and the creation of a framework for this.

Cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) derived from woody biomass have recently been expected as a key natural nanomaterial to establish a sustainable carbon-free society; however, we still have a long way to go. Current challenges to expand the possibilities of CNFs have focused on manufacturing high-strength, lightweight composites using CNFs as an alternative to conventional fillers, eventually resulting in serious competition going forward. CNFs have a diverse array of structural characteristics at the nanoscale that can never be artificially reconstructed, and we have to find out the unrivaled functions of CNFs both from tangible and intangible aspects. This article introduces the organocatalysis and biomedical applications of wood-derived CNFs based on the unique nanoarchitectures to provide a new insight into creating new values of CNFs toward the Sustainable Development Goals.

Both full-scale production of paper and printing technology in Japan have progressed. Increased paper production and improved printing technology have reduced the relative value of paper. Due to the subsequent economic crisis and the shift to IT, the value of paper began to be further lost. In order to increase the value of paper, there is an urgent need to propose not only paper but also printing and processing. We are promoting the potential of paper through promotional tools. We strive to increase the value of paper by continuing to question the potential of paper.

We developed a CNF continuous sheeting equipment. We have improved the dewatering efficiency by adding the "surface pressure dewatering mechanism" and "pressure dewatering mechanism" to the CNF continuous dewatering equipment. By using this equipment to dehydrate CNF in stages, it is possible to continuously produce high-quality CNF wet sheets. By heating and drying the CNF wet sheets, it is possible to produce CNF dry sheets continuously. In the tests using mechanically defibrillated CNF stock, there was no significant leakage of CNF in these manufacturing processes. This report introduces the CNF continuous dewatering system, the new mechanism we added, and the CNF continuous sheeting system.

Technologies to fold large-sized structures into compact shapes are required in a variety of engineering applications with multiple scales and purposes, such as space-deployable structures represented by solar array paddles and antenna reflectors of satellites, medical devices, and many articles of daily use like funs and umbrellas. Insects have addressed the same issue for hundreds of millions of years as they acquired flight wings and developed several interesting solutions. This study reveals the folding principle of hindwings in beetles and earwigs by using origami geometry. The proposed methods and the design software enable to use these excellent natural deployable structures in design of products with foldable/deployable functions.

Palm oil mill effluent (POME), the by-product at the crude palm oil (CPO) production is released to large Lagoons and treated in acidic ponds, oxidizing ponds and anaerobic ponds. Over the last decades, POME has become a critical environmental issue due to the insufficient conventional treatment process of POME where substantial amounts of greenhouse gases (GHGs) including methane are emitted. Considering the dependency and enormous demand on palm oil globally, urgent action is required to solve this source of methane generation that accounts for 10% of greenhouse gas emissions in Indonesia. The DHA-rich heterotrohic microalga, Aurantichytrium limacinum has been recently employed as sustainable solution to this problem. A. limacinum grew well in fresh POME (also called ByLPO or heavy phase) and produced high amount of DHA. DHA has been reported to have at least 13 kinds of efficacies for human health and therefore sold as health supplement in the market. Our recent findings were summarized as follows; 1) ethanol extract of Aurantiochytrium shows anti-stress effect, 2) fisheries and hen’s feeds containing dry material of Auratiochitrium increased DHA content in Kuruma prawn, sea bream, and egg of hens. This manuscript will introduce the current status of process verification by using a demo plant at 10 metric-ton-scale which has been installed in North-Sumatra, Indonesia.

This paper introduces printing technology, printable materials, and various flexible printing sensors in this field, focusing on the research and development that the authors are advancing. The specific sensors we describe include temperature sensors, pressure sensors, strain sensors, and humidity sensors, showing each sensor's construction and characteristics. In addition, we will introduce an emerging new trend in Flexible Hybrid Electronics (FHE) that utilizes existing silicon technology and is employed in wireless sensors for healthcare applications.

In this study, paper coated with polyamide film containing molecularly imprinted polymers (MIP) of benzalkonium chloride (BKC) was prepared and dimethyldistearylammonium bromide (DDB) was then coated over the polyamide film. The sustained release of BKC and the temperature-responsive function at set temperature were investigated. To prepare the polyamide film, filter paper was impregnated with oil-in-water water emulsion of ethylenediamine and chemicals for formation of the MIP of BKC. The impregnated filter paper was left in a beaker containing cyclohexane solution of terephthaloyl chloride, and the polyamide film containing the BKC-MIP was formed on the paper surface. The intelligent functional paper with the BKC-MIP and DDB coating showed sustained release of BKC, and this function was obtained in response to a certain temperature. Additionally, this paper containing BKC-MIP could effectively and selectively remove BKC from aquatic environments.