Abstract: A process and a device are provided for monitoring the hydrogen concentration in a gas with at least one device, which comprises an electrochemical gas sensor and a bipotentiostat, e.g., for use in internal combustion engines with hydrogen, in fuel cells and in the petrochemical industry. The electrochemical gas sensor used has two working electrodes (3) and (4), with which the hydrogen and oxygen concentrations are determined in the gas in different steps due to the application of a voltage by a bipotentiostat (5-18). In an additional, optional step, a voltage in the range of ?1,100 mV to ?800 mV is applied to a working electrode (4), so that hydrogen is formed at the working electrode (4) and the functional surface of the working electrode (4) as well as the sensitivity of the working electrode (3) to hydrogen can be checked.

Abstract: A solar co-generator for producing both heat energy and electricity is disclosed. A solar concentrator directs sunlight into a container lined with solar cells and filled with a thermal transfer fluid. The fluid is transparent with respect to certain wavelengths of light that may be converted to electricity by the solar cell, but is opaque with respect to longer wavelengths, particular the infrared band. The infrared portion of the sunlight heats the thermal transfer fluid, which then transfer that heat through a storage facility using a heat exchange mechanism. The thermal transfer fluid increases the efficiency of photovoltaic generation by preventing heating of the solar cells due to infrared radiation. The thermal transfer fluid may be a mixture containing barium sulfate and a suspension of zinc sulfide phosphors. A fluorescing anti-reflective coating may be applied to the solar cells to further increase efficiency.

Abstract: In devices used for the direct conversion of heat into electricity, or vice versa, known in the art as thermoelectric power generators, thermoelectric refrigerators and thermoelectric heat pumps, the efficiency of energy conversion and/or coefficient of performance have been considerably lower than those of conventional reciprocating or rotary, heat engines and/or vapor-compression systems, employing certain refrigerants. The energy conversion efficiency of power generating devices, for example, aside from the hot and cold junction temperatures, also depends on a parameter known in the art as the thermoelectric figure of merit Z=S2?/k, where S is the thermoelectric power, ? is the electrical conductivity and k is the thermal conductivity, of the material that constitutes the p-type, and/or n-type, thermoelements, or branches, of the said devices. In order to achieve a considerable increase in the energy conversion efficiency, a thermoelectric figure of merit of the order of 10?2 K?1, or more, is needed.

Abstract: This invention relates to the field of thermophotovoltaic (TPV) direct energy conversion. In particular, TPV systems use filters to minimize parasitic absorption of below bandgap energy. This invention constitutes a novel combination of front surface filters to increase TPV conversion efficiency by reflecting useless below bandgap energy while transmitting a very high percentage of the useful above bandgap energy. In particular, a frequency selective surface is used in combination with an interference filter. The frequency selective surface provides high transmission of above bandgap energy and high reflection of long wavelength below bandgap energy. The interference filter maintains high transmission of above bandgap energy and provides high reflection of short wavelength below bandgap energy and a sharp transition from high transmission to high reflection.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an organic dye-sensitized semiconductor device and to a solar cell using it and, particularly, to a photoelectric conversion device using semiconductor fine particles sensitized with a dye having an acrylic acid part and a solar cell using it. According to the present invention, a low-cost photoelectric conversion device having favorable conversion efficiency and a solar cell can be obtained.

Abstract: A roof cover type solar cell module includes a roof cover base member and a power generating unit. The roof cover base member has a mounting surface to which the power generating unit is mounted, and an underlap that can mate with an adjacent roof cover. The power generating unit is mounted to the mounting surface, leaving a part of the mounting surface uncovered. Thus, a roof cover type solar cell module for which a variety of materials can be used for the roof cover base member, which can be produced at low cost, and which is excellent in stability when placed on the roof surface, and also excellent in workability, weather resistance and design property, is provided.

Abstract: A plating apparatus can form a bump having a flat top or can form a metal film having a good in-plane uniformity even when the plating of a plating object (substrate) is carried out under high-current density conditions. The plating apparatus includes a plating tank for holding a plating solution; an anode to be immersed in the plating solution in the plating tank; a holder for holding a plating object and disposing the plating object at a position opposite the anode; a paddle, disposed between the anode and the plating object held by the holder, which reciprocates parallel to the plating object to stir the plating solution; and a control section for controlling a paddle drive section which drives the paddle. The control section controls the paddle drive section so that the paddle moves at a velocity whose average absolute value is 70 cm/sec to 100 cm/sec.

Abstract: A composition includes at least one organic compound of a first type of the general formula I and at least one organic compound of a second type of the general structural formula II, wherein Core in formula I is a conjugated organic unit capable of forming a rigid rod-like macromolecule, Gk is a set of ionogenic side-groups providing solubility of the organic compound of the first type in a solvent and give rigidity to the rod-like macromolecule; and wherein Sys in formula II is an at least partially conjugated substantially planar polycyclic molecular system capable of forming board-like supramolecules via ?-?-interaction, and X, Y, Z and Q are substituents. The composition is capable of forming a lyotropic liquid crystal solution, which can form a solid retardation layer of biaxial type substantially transparent to electromagnetic radiation in the visible spectral range.

Abstract: In a photovoltaic cell, an i-type amorphous silicon film and an n-type amorphous silicon film are formed in a region excluding a predetermined width of an outer periphery on a main surface of an n-type single crystalline silicon substrate. A front electrode is formed so as to cover the i-type amorphous silicon film and the n-type amorphous silicon film on a main surface of the n-type single crystalline silicon substrate. An i-type amorphous silicon film and a p-type amorphous silicon film are formed on the entire area of a back surface of the n-type single crystalline silicon substrate. A back electrode is formed in a region excluding a predetermined width of an outer periphery on the p-type amorphous silicon film. A surface, on the side of the front electrode, of the photovoltaic cell is a primary light incidence surface.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a composition comprising an inorganic scintillator comprising a lanthanide-doped strontium barium mixed halide useful for detecting nuclear material.

Abstract: An adhesive which comprises aqueous and nonaqueous polymers suitable for holding an lipophilic drug, etc., and has tackiness and cohesiveness which are sufficient for the plaster of a patch; and a patch employing the adhesive. The adhesive contains a polymer which comprises one or more kinds of acrylic or methacrylic monomer units, at least one kind of the monomer units having a hydroxy group, and which has been crosslinked with a boron compound.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of pretreating a sample containing a glycated amine as an analyte, thereby enabling highly reliable measurement of a glycated amine. A glycated amino acid in the sample is degraded by causing a fructosyl amino acid oxidase (FAOD) to act thereon, and thereafter, a FAOD further is caused to act on the glycated amine as the analyte in the sample to cause a redox reaction. The amount of the glycated amine is determined by measuring the redox reaction. The substrate specificity of the FAOD caused to act on the glycated amino acid may be either the same as or different from that of the FAOD caused to act on the glycated amine. When using the same FAOD, a FAOD is caused to act on the glycated amino acid to degrade it, and thereafter, the sample is treated with a protease to inactivate the FAOD and also to degrade the glycated amine.

Abstract: Provided are: a uniformly, highly dispersed metal catalyst including a catalyst carrier and a catalyst metal being loaded thereon dispersed throughout the carrier, the uniformly, highly dispersed metal catalyst having excellent performances with respect to catalytic activity, selectivity, life, etc.; and a method of producing the same. The uniformly, highly dispersed metal catalyst includes a catalyst carrier made of a metal oxide and a catalyst metal having catalytic activity, the catalyst metal being loaded on the catalyst carrier, in which the catalyst carrier is a sulfur-containing catalyst carrier having sulfur or a sulfur compound almost evenly distributed throughout the carrier and the catalyst metal is loaded on the sulfur-containing catalyst carrier in a substantially evenly dispersed manner over the entire carrier substantially according to the distribution of the sulfur or the sulfur compound.

Abstract: The invention provides a positive electrode material and a battery using the same which can achieve a higher discharge voltage and which can obtain excellent charge-and-discharge properties, without reducing the capacity. A positive electrode (12) and a negative electrode (14) are configured through a separator (15) in between. The positive electrode (12) contains a compound expressed by a general formula Li1+xMnyFezPO4 (wherein x, y and z are values within ranges of 0<x<0.1, 0.5<y<0.95, and 0.9<y+z?1, respectively). According to the compound, the higher discharge voltage can be obtained due to Mn, the Jahn Teller effect of Mn3+ can be attenuated and furthermore distortion of the crystal structure and the reduction of the capacity can be inhibited due to Fe and the excess Li.

Abstract: Triazolo[4,5-d]pyrimidine compounds, their use as medicaments, compositions containing them and processes for their preparation. The compounds of the invention have the formula (I) as follows: wherein R, X and R1 through R3 are as defined in the specification.

Abstract: A method and system of forming large-diameter SiC single crystals suitable for fabricating high crystal quality SiC substrates of 100, 125, 150 and 200 mm in diameter are described. The SiC single crystals are grown by a seeded sublimation technique in the presence of a shallow radial temperature gradient. During SiC sublimation growth, a flux of SiC bearing vapors filtered from carbon particulates is substantially restricted to a central area of the surface of the seed crystal by a separation plate disposed between the seed crystal and a source of the SiC bearing vapors. The separation plate includes a first, substantially vapor-permeable part surrounded by a second, substantially non vapor-permeable part. The grown crystals have a flat or slightly convex growth interface. Large-diameter SiC wafers fabricated from the grown crystals exhibit low lattice curvature and low densities of crystal defects, such as stacking faults, inclusions, micropipes and dislocations.

Abstract: A novel compound which is useful as an agent for treating and/or preventing emesis, vomiting and/or constipation. A compound represented by the formula (I): wherein R1 and R2 are each independently hydrogen, optionally substituted lower alkyl, optionally substituted lower alkenyl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, optionally substituted aryl etc., R3 is hydrogen, hydroxy, optionally substituted lower alkyl, optionally substituted lower alkenyl, optionally substituted lower alkynyl, optionally substituted lower alkoxy etc., R4 is hydrogen or lower alkyl, R5 is hydrogen, lower alkyl, cycloalkyl lower alkyl or lower alkenyl, or a pharmaceutically acceptably salt, or a solvate thereof is provided.

Abstract: A novel compound which is useful as an agent for treating and/or preventing emesis, vomiting and/or constipation. A compound represented by the formula (I): wherein R1 and R2 are each independently hydrogen, optionally substituted lower alkyl, optionally substituted lower alkenyl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, optionally substituted aryl etc., R3 is hydrogen, hydroxy, optionally substituted lower alkyl, optionally substituted lower alkenyl, optionally substituted lower alkynyl, optionally substituted lower alkoxy etc., R4 is hydrogen or lower alkyl, R5 is hydrogen, lower alkyl, cycloalkyl lower alkyl or lower alkenyl, or a pharmaceutically acceptably acceptable salt, or a solvate thereof is provided.

Abstract: A compound according to formula (I) wherein: © is a phenyl ring, a C4 to C9 heteroaromatic compound containing one or more heteroatoms, or a naphthalenyl, 5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthalenyl or biphenyl group; which shows high affinity for muscarinic M3 receptors (Hm3).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel fused pyrimidine derivative having an inhibitory activity for tyrosine kinases, and a pharmaceutical composition for preventing or treating cancers, tumors, inflammatory diseases, autoimmune diseases, or immunologically mediated diseases comprising same as an active ingredient.