Abstract: A photographic developer composition for use in the development of a black and white silver halide photographic element said composition comprises at least one developing agent and, in an amount sufficient to inhibit sludge deposition, one or more compounds selected from compounds having the formula X—R1—CONH—A—S—S—B—NHCO—R2—Y  (I) wherein A and B are each independently a substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic, alicyclic, aromatic or heterocyclic group; R1 and R2 are each independently a substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic, alicyclic, aromatic or heterocyclic group; X and Y are each independently a solubilising group; and compounds having the formula X—R1—CONH—A—S—M  (II) wherein A, R1 and X are as defined above, and M is either a hydrogen atom or a cationic species if the sulfur atom is in its ionized form.

Abstract: An operational cycle for a fuel processor capable of reforming a fuel, the operational cycle is disclosed. The operational cycle includes: an off state; a manager check state entered into from the off state, and in which the operational readiness of the fuel processor is checked; a preheat state entered into from the manager check state, and in which the fuel processor preheats gases, including the fuel, for mixing into a process feed stream; a startup state entered into from the preheat state, and in which the fuel processor begins operating under start-up conditions; a run state entered into from the startup state, and in which the fuel processor reforms the process feed stream into a reformate under steady-state conditions; and a shutdown state entered into any one of the manager check state, preheat state, startup state, and run state. The operational cycle may be employed in a fuel processor for a fuel cell or a fuel cell power plant.

Abstract: Stacking porous and non-porous material layers involves applying vacuum to a first porous layer to stabilize same relative to a support structure. The support structure and/or a non-porous layer are moved to establish contact between the non-porous layer and the first porous layer. The first porous and non-porous layers define a sub-assembly. While applying vacuum to the sub-assembly, one or both of the support structure and a second layer are moved to establish contact between the second layer and the non-porous layer. Vacuum applied to the sub-assembly maintains positional stability of the sub-assembly layers relative to the support structure while the second layer is moved into contact with the non-porous layer. Vacuum is subsequently removed to facilitate transporting of the material layer stack. Material layers of a fuel cell, including first and second fluid transport layers and a membrane, are well suited for automated stacking.

Abstract: A method for preparing a lithographic printing plate comprising the steps of imagewise exposing, to light, a presensitized plate for use in making a lithographic printing plate, which comprises a grained and anodized substrate provided thereon with a photopolymerizable light-sensitive layer containing a compound having at least one addition-polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated double bond and a titanocene type initiator; and then developing the light-exposed presensitized plate using a developer which comprises a surfactant and a weak acid or a salt thereof having a dissociation constant pka ranging from 10 to 13, and has a pH value ranging from 11.5 to 12.8. The method exhibits excellent development performance, and gives good results to the resultant printing plate in terms of printing durability and scumming. In addition, the change in pH value of the developer is so small that the stable development can be ensured for a long period of time.

Abstract: A draining device including a threaded portion, the threaded portion depending outwardly from an annular portion and having an inner opening in fluid communication with a pair of openings in the annular portion, where said pair of openings provides a pathway for draining.

Abstract: A processing composition for silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials, comprises a bis[2,6-diaminotriazin-4-yl]arylenediamine derivative having at least one of a sulfonic acid group, a carboxylic group and a hydroxyl group within the molecule. This processing composition can be applied to a color developer, a bleaching agent, a fixing agent, a bleach-fixing agent and a stabilizing agent and also to a processing agent in a concentration on use, a concentrated processing agent and a solid processing agent.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a radiation-sensitive silver halide emulsion comprised of high bromide cubical silver halide grains is described, the process comprising: (a) providing in a stirred reaction vessel a dispersing medium and high bromide silver halide seed grains, the seed grains comprising at least 5 mole % of the final emulsion silver, and (b) precipitating a silver halide shell which comprises at least 5 mole % of the final emulsion silver onto the seed grains by introducing at least a silver salt solution into the dispersing medium at a rate such that the normalized shell molar addition rate, Rs, is above 1.

Abstract: A silver halide emulsion which exhibits high sensitivity, high contrast, little sensitivity variation with humidity conditions at the time of exposure, and excellent reciprocity law properties at high illumination intensities. Also, a method of preparing the emulsion in a stable manner, and a silver halide color photographic photosensitive material and an image forming method that use the emulsion. The emulsion includes a mesoionic compound having a thiolate structure or a protonated thiolate structure, and the emulsion is sensitized by an Au (III) compound. The emulsion preferably contains an oxidatively dimerized form of a mesoionic compound having a thiolate structure, and a silver chloride content of at least 90 mol %.

Abstract: A color image forming method is disclosed, comprising exposing a silver halide color photographic material and developing the exposed photographic material at 43 to 180° C. to form a color image, wherein at least one light-sensitive layer comprising a silver halide emulsion comprising tabular silver halide grains having an average aspect ratio of at least 8. There is also disclosed a digital image forming process, wherein image recording information of the photographic material which was formed by use of the color image forming method is coverted to digital image information through an image sensor.

Abstract: A color image forming method that includes subjecting a silver halide color photosensitive material to an exposure, and then processing it with a processing solution, wherein at least one silver halide emulsion in the silver halide layers has silver halide grains of AgClBr, AgCeI, or AgClIBr grains, having a AgCl content of 95 mol % or more, and having at least one region where a AgBr and/or AgI content is higher than the other region; the exposure is performed based on digital image data for area modulation; and the processing solution contains at least one compound represented by formula (I) or (II):

Abstract: A method of producing concentration cells applicable to generating electricity. An external field is used to cause a translational displacement of small-volumed concentration differences that are existent within a heterogeneous fluid, to create a concentration cell between various electrodes in contact with the fluid. The field can be gravitational, magnetic, electric, or a combination. In some embodiments, field sources are preset to focus the displacement of the small volumes near localized regions surrounding preselected electrodes.

Abstract: A method for processing a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material which comprises a support, a silver halide emulsion layer provided on the support and a hydrophilic colloid layer adjacent to the silver halide emulsion layer, comprising a step of developing the photographic light-sensitive material with a developing solution containing an ascorbic acid compound as a developing agent, wherein the photographic material contains an amine compound in at least one of the silver halide emulsion layer and the hydrophilic colloid layer and an nucleating agent within a range of 0 to 20 mg per 1 m2 of the photographic light-sensitive material, and wherein the amine compound has a distribution coefficient (log P) of 1 or more in a n-octanol/water system.

Abstract: To generate mechanical energy and electrical energy efficiently, by combining a Stirling engine and a fuel cell. A solid electrolyte type fuel cell FC is disposed between an air passage for supplying air to a heater of a Stirling engine E and a fuel passage for supplying fuel. Air and the fuel react with each other in the solid electrolyte type fuel cell FC to generate electrical energy, an off gas containing the unreacted fuel discharged from the solid electrolyte type fuel cell FC is supplied to the heater of the Stirling engine E and subjected to catalytic combustion. The resulting heat is used to operate the Stirling engine E to generate mechanical energy. The solid electrolyte type fuel cell FC is arranged in an annular-shape and so disposed as to surround the heater. The heat of reaction generated in the solid electrolyte type fuel cell FC acts on the heater, thereby contributing to elevation of the temperature of the heater.

Abstract: A silver halide photographic processing solution comprising at least one polymeric compound inhibiting sludge formation and preventing “pi-line” artefact, more particularly in radiographic non-destructive testing applications, wherein said polymeric compound comprises at least one monomer unit having a silver complexing moiety and at least one monomer unit having a solubilizing group, and wherein both said silver ion complexing moiety and said solubilizing group are comprised in same or different monomer units.

Abstract: This relates to a method of rendering a used photographic processing solution less corrosive to low carbon steel comprising: taking at least a used photographic processing solution containing a color developing agent and a used photographic processing solution containing a bleaching agent; delivering the used photographic processing solutions to a collection vessel to form a used photographic processing composition; and adjusting the pH of the used photographic processing composition to 6.5 to 11.

Abstract: A reversal photographic element comprising a support and, coated on said support, at least one image recording emulsion layer comprised of: a) a light sensitive silver halide imaging emulsion; and b) a non-image forming silver halide emulsion having an average grain size less than 0.3 &mgr;m and which comprises at least 13 percent of the total silver in the image recording layer, wherein the non-image forming silver halide emulsion comprises at least 1 mole percent iodide, and the iodide mole percentage of the non-image forming silver halide emulsion is equal to or higher than that of the imaging emulsion. The combination of the imaging emulsion and a higher iodide concentration non-imaging emulsion in an imaging layer gives an increase in interlayer interimage effects, increasing the color of the film.

Abstract: A method for forming a radiation-sensitive high chloride silver halide emulsion is described comprising growing cubical silver halide grains having a central portion accounting for up to 98 percent of total silver of the grains which central portion contains an iridium coordination complex dopant, and chemically sensitizing the surface of the emulsion grains at a pH of at least 5.75. Localized addition of the known in the art reciprocity-controlling iridium dopants to an internal portion of the emulsion grains and chemical finishing of such an emulsion at elevated pH conditions improves reciprocity and latent image stability of the formed high chloride emulsions.

Abstract: An aqueous developer solution for use in digital film processing. The developer solution includes a developing agent and at least one surfactant or thickener. A method of processing a photographic film is also provided, and includes the steps of coating an aqueous developer solution containing at least one surfactant or thickener onto the film, thereby developing the film, and scanning the film through the coating of developer solution.

Abstract: This invention includes a spacer for a rechargeable battery pack. The spacer is hermaphroditic in that it may be rotated by 180 degrees and attached to itself. The spacer sits between two rechargeable battery cells and includes means for accommodating a circuit board. The spacer facilitates connections between the cells and circuit board by way of welding flexible metal tabs. The spacer allows assembly of a battery pack without the need for hand soldering.

Abstract: A gas diffusion backing for fuel cells wherein a porous carbonaceous paper or fabric, impregnated with a first fluorinated polymer, bears a microporous coating of a second fluorinated polymer admixed with carbon particles. Also, a process for making the composite wherein the fluorinated polymers are coalesced by heating above their glass transition temperature or melting point is described. A membrane electrode assembly prepared using these gas diffusion backing and a fuel are also provided.