In this paper, our struggle to realize a high-speed digital processed microscopic observational system for tele-micro-operation with a dynamic focusing system and a high-speed digital-processing system using the "depth from focus" criteria is reported. To realize the system, each functional element and its system configuration had been deeply discussed not only in the academic society but also with several companies, and the final product system had been developed after several trials.

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The iodine stabilized He-Ne laser at 633 nm is widely used as the national length (wavelength) standards in many countries. Since the wavelength emitted by the laser is directly proportional to the cavity length of the laser, extremely high mechanical stability is necessary for the cavity of the iodine stabilized He-Ne laser. Many special parts as well as special materials are adopted to achieve a sufficiently high stability in the conventional iodine stabilized He-Ne lasers while the adoption of such special parts and materials brings difficulty in the maintenance of the lasers. I developed and constructed a new iodine stabilized He-Ne laser with a special mechanical design. The assembly and adjustment of the laser is quite easy. Although most parts and materials of the laser are commercially available, it showed better stability especially against the ambient temperature variation. The new iodine stabilized He-Ne lasers were used for a long time as the national length standards of Japan.

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To ensure the reliable results in acoustic measurement such as environmental noise measurement, NMIJ/AIST has developed essential calibration techniques and established a traceability system based on the Japanese Measurement Law with acoustic standards at the highest level of accuracy. A new calibration service for reliable acoustic measurements under this system realized a minimum uncertainty in the environmental noise measurements, indispensable to sustain high quality of our daily life.

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Bioethanol production from woody biomass by enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulosic components and fermentation has attracted much attention. In this process, pretreatment is important to improve enzymatic degradability of cellulose. A milling process is one of the most effective methods for pretreatment, but its high cost has been a problem. Recently we have developed the economically-feasible wet-mechanochemical process as milling pretreatment, which can unravel cellulosic components into nanoscale fibers. Thus-obtained nanofibrous product showed a high enzymatic accessibility, while keeping the cellulose crystalline structure and the lignin content. This process is based on the understanding of the nanoscopic structural characteristics of wood and cellulose.

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The Engineering Academy of Japan with its abundant knowledge and experience discusses and issues statements on a variety of topics in engineering. The "Study Group for the Restoration of Engineering" reconsiders the meaning of engineering in the modern world from different perspectives. Since the significance of engineering is closely related to the mission of Synthesiology, Akira Ono, Chairman of the Editorial Board of Synthesiology interviewed Dr. Kotobu Nagai, a member of the study group, to hear his thoughts on the "restoration of engineering," and discussed its relationship to Synthesiology.

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