Abstract: A fuel cell diffusion layer providing a preferential path by which liquid reactants or byproducts may be supplied to or removed from a direct oxidation fuel cell is described. The modified diffusion layer will be typically on the cathode side of the fuel cell and its use is to eliminate or minimize flooding of the cathode diffusion layer area, which is a performance limiting condition in direct methanol fuel cells. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the diffusion layer includes a substrate that is coated with a microporous layer. A pattern may be embossed into the diffusion layer, to create preferential flow paths by which water will travel and thereby be removed from the cathode catalyst area. This avoids cathode flooding and avoids build up of potentially destructive pressure by possible cathodic water accumulation.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for providing a portable disposable fuel-battery unit, a portable disposable fuel-battery unit for a fuel cell system having at least one fuel cell, a fuel cell stack, and a handheld device having a fuel cell system with a portable disposable fuel-battery unit. In one embodiment, the portable disposable fuel-battery unit provides a fuel compartment, for providing fuel for the at least one fuel cell and a disposable power battery, affixed to the fuel compartment, for providing start-up energy for the at least one fuel cell.

Abstract: A photoresist polymer remover composition for removing photoresist residuals generated from etching or ashing sub-processes. The disclosed photoresist polymer remover composition includes: (a) 5% to 15% of sulfuric acid based on the total weight of said composition, (b) 1% to 5% of hydrogen peroxide or 0.0001% to 0.05% of ozone based on the total weight of said composition, (c) 0.1% to 5% of acetic acid based on the total weight of said composition, (d) 0.0001% to 0.5% of ammonium fluoride based on the total weight of said composition and (e) remaining amount of water.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrochemical cell having a catalytic electrode and an electrically conductive contact element facing the electrode. The electrically conductive contact element conducts electrical current from the electrode and has a surface comprising a plurality of passivated regions, and a plurality of non-passivated regions dispersed among the passivated regions. The surface further is coated with an electrically conductive, corrosion resistant coating. Other preferred aspects of the present invention include methods of treating the electrically conductive contact element by passivation to resist corrosion while still maintaining electrical conductivity.

Abstract: A method of mammography imaging includes exposing a patient to a peak voltage greater than 29 kVp using X-radiation generating equipment comprising rhodium or tungsten anodes. The film used in this method comprises a cubic grain silver halide emulsion layer on one side of the support and a tabular grain silver halide emulsion layer on the other side. The cubic grain silver halide emulsion layer comprises a combination of first and second spectral sensitizing dyes that provides a combined maximum J-aggregate absorption on the cubic silver halide grains of from about 540 to about 560 nm. The first spectral sensitizing dye is an anionic benzimidazole-benzoxazole carbocyanine, the second spectral sensitizing dye is an anionic oxycarbocyanine. The cubic grain silver halide emulsion layer also includes a mixture of gelatin or a gelatin derivative and a second hydrophilic binder other than gelatin or a gelatin derivative.

Abstract: A microvalve (10) for controlling fluid flow, including a body portion (14) having at least one opening (18) formed therein, a shutter (12) located adjacent to and substantially parallel with the body portion, and a drive mechanism (20, 22) for causing the shutter to pivot with resect to the body portion so that the shutter is brought into and out of alignment with the opening of the body portion, wherein the microvalve is in a closed position and an open position, respectively.

Abstract: A concentrated color developer composition packed in a container which is comprised of material exhibiting an oxygen permeability of not more than 50 ml/(m2·day·atm), and the concentrated color developer composition comprising a hydroxyalkyl-substituted p-phenediamine type color developing agent of not less than 0.05 mol/l, a sulfite and a hydroxylamine salt. The processing method by use of the concentrated composition is also disclosed.

Abstract: The mass flow of hydrogen fuel in the anode loop of a hydrogen fuel cell is measured using a rotating flow meter. The flow meter includes a bladed rotor mounted for rotation within a tube disposed in the stream of hydrogen fuel flowing through the anode loop. A magnetic sensor senses changing magnetic field caused by the rotation of the rotor and produces an alternating signal having a frequency related to the rotational rate of the rotor, and thus of the mass flow rate of the hydrogen fuel. A fuel purity sensor increases the accuracy of the mass flow measurement by determining the concentration of foreign substances contained in the fuel.

Abstract: A method of processing, with a developer in which a solution physical development arises, a silver halide photosensitive material containing a compound capable of undergoing a one-electron oxidation to thereby form a one-electron oxidation product thereof which belongs to the following types 1 to 4: Type 1: the one-electron oxidation product being capable of releasing further two or more electrons accompanying a subsequent bond cleavage reaction; Type 2: the one-electron oxidation product being capable of releasing further one electron accompanying a subsequent bond cleavage reaction, and the compound having, in its molecule, two or more groups adsorptive to silver halide; Type 3: the one-electron oxidation product being capable of releasing further one or more electrons after going through a subsequent bond forming reaction; and Type 4: the one-electron oxidation product being capable of releasing further one or more electrons after going through a subsequent intramolecular ring cleavage reaction.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for the removal of patterned photodefinable materials, such as photoresists and/or photoimageable dielectric materials, from substrates are provided. Such compositions and methods are useful in the manufacture of electronic devices. Methods of reworking electronic device substrates by removing patterned photodefinable material from an underlying organic film are also provided.

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell for oxidation of hydrogen, coal gas or methane, and comprising a solid oxide electrolyte which is preferably formed by YSZ, and where a thin layer of anode material is attached to the electrolyte, and where a fluid flow-controlling coupling layer furthermore is placed on both the anode and the cathode side. The fluid flow-controlling coupling layer is according to the invention formed by a number of mutually separated columns 13. Such a embodiment of the coupling layer ensures a material saving. Furthermore, the height of each cell can be reduced and thereby increase the power density.

Abstract: A proton-conducting membrane, excellent in resistance to heat, durability, dimensional stability and fuel barrier characteristics, and showing excellent proton conductivity at high temperature and a method for producing the same. A proton-conducting membrane includes a carbon-containing compound and inorganic acid, characterized by a phase-separated structure containing a carbon-containing phase containing at least 80% by volume of the carbon-containing compound and inorganic phase containing at least 80% by volume of the inorganic acid, the inorganic phase forming the continuous ion-conducting paths.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a resist remover composition for removing resists during manufacturing processes of semiconductor devices such as integrated circuits, large scale integrated circuits and very large scale integrated circuits. The composition comprises a) 10 to 40 wt. % of water-soluble organic amine compound, b) 10 to 60 wt. % of water-soluble polar organic solvent, c) 10 to 30 wt. % of water, and d) 0.1 to 10 wt. % of organic phenol compound containing two or more hydroxyl groups, and it is characterized in that the water-soluble polar organic solvent is 2-hydroxyisobutyric acid methylester (HBM).

Abstract: An electrochemical battery cell comprising a metal container with an open end closed with a metal cover. The top portion of the container side wall has a torus above an inward necked area, and the cover has a flange shaped around the outside of the torus and extending into the necked area. The inside diameter of the cover flange is smaller than the outside diameter of the torus, so that the cover is locked onto the top of the can. The components sealing the top of the cell require a small volume so that the internal volume for active materials and electrolyte is large. The cell can be closed and sealed with little downward force on the can side wall below the neck, allowing use of a thinner can.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for the refreshment and reuse of loaded developers used in lithographic printing are disclosed. The pH of an aqueous, essentially silicate-free loaded developer is reduced to below about 11. Insoluble material is separated, and the pH increased to about 12.0 to 14.0 to produce a refreshed developer. The refreshed developer may be used to develop additional exposed printing plate precursors.

Abstract: An image forming method including a step of imagewise exposing a silver halide color photographic photosensitive material having, on a support, photographic constituent layers including at least one blue sensitive silver halide emulsion layer, at least one green sensitive silver halide emulsion layer, at least one red sensitive silver halide emulsion layer, and at least one non-photosensitive hydrophilic colloid layer, a color developing step, a bleach-fixing step and a rinsing step. At least one of the at least one red sensitive silver halide emulsion layer contains at least one compound represented by the following general formula (IA) and/or at least one coupler represented by the following general formulae (PTA-I) and (PTA-II).

Abstract: A composition for photographic bleaching contains a peracid bleaching agent such as a peroxide, persulfate, or periodate, and a cyclicaminomethanediphosphonic acid or a salt thereof as a stabilizing compound. This bleaching composition can also include a fixing agent, and can be used to provide color photographic images in various color photographic materials.

Abstract: Stabilizing an aqueous solution of an alkali metal salt of partial alkyl esters of phosphoric acid by adding 1 to 10 weight percent of C3-12 polyhydric alcohol having three or more of hydroxyl groups to an alkali metal salt of partial alkyl esters of phosphoric acid having linear of branched-chain alkyl groups of 16 to 22 average carbon number, 0.6 to 1.0 degree of phosphorylation and 60 to 100% of neutralization degree, and providing a fiber finish containing the stabilized aqueous solution as a major component.

Abstract: A method for processing a silver halide color photographic material comprising subjecting the color photographic material to processing which comprises the steps of color developing, fixing, rinsing and drying after the rinsing, wherein a rinsing solution used in the rinsing step comprises at least one compound represented by the following formula (I) and is a processing solution comprising none of an aldehyde compound, an aldehyde releasing compound and a hexamethylenetetramine derivative; and in the drying step, the drying temperature is 70° C. or more, and the drying time is 70 seconds or less: R—(OC2H4)n—OH??(I) wherein R represents an alkyl group having from 8 to 12 carbon atoms, n is an integer of from 10 to 30, and n/(the carbon number of R) is from 1.2 to 4.0.

Abstract: Various imaging members including lithographic imaging members (such as printing plates) have an aqueous-based imaging layer applied to a support. Directly over the imaging layer is a protective layer that is applied as a non-aqueous inverse emulsion comprising highly hydrophilic, water-swellable microgel particles dispersed in a water-immiscible organic solvent. This protective layer provides physical durability but it is still readily removed during or after imaging with water or fountain solutions.