Abstract: An electrode group is constructed by disposing a positive electrode current collector exposed portion on one end side and a negative electrode current collector exposed portion on the other end side. A positive electrode current collector terminal plate and a negative electrode current collector terminal plate are connected to the positive and negative electrode current collector exposed portions, respectively. A conductive coned disc spring is disposed compressed between the positive electrode current collector terminal plate and a sealing plate. The coned disc spring has a dead zone in which the elastic force does not change according to the amount of deformation, and urges the negative electrode current collector terminal plate toward a bottom portion of a battery case with a defined elastic force.

Abstract: A composition is provided that includes a ternary electrolyte having a melting point greater than about 150 degree Celsius. The ternary electrolyte includes an alkali metal halide, an aluminum halide and a zinc halide. The amount of the zinc halide present in the ternary electrolyte is greater than about 20 mole percent relative to an amount of the aluminum halide. An energy storage device including the composition is provided. A system and a method are also provided.

Abstract: A lead sealant film and a non-aqueous electrolyte battery are provided. The lead sealant film includes a laminated structure composed of an inner layer, an intermediate layer, and an outer layer. The intermediate layer includes a first acid-modified polypropylene having a high melting-point, and each of the inner layer and the outer layer includes a second acid-modified polypropylene having a low melting-point. A difference between the melting point of the first acid-modified polypropylene and the melting point of the second acid-modified polypropylene is from 20° C. to 25° C.

Abstract: A fuel cell system capable of performing activation for stabilizing electrical characteristics of a fuel cell with suppressing generation of polarity inversion associated with drying of a polymer electrolyte membrane and excess power consumption. An activation method for a fuel cell, the fuel cell system including a fuel cell having a fuel electrode and an oxidizer electrode that are provided on both sides of a polymer electrolyte membrane; a resistance detector for detecting an internal resistance of the fuel cell; a load connection portion having a mechanism for connecting a resistor between the fuel electrode and the oxidizer electrode; and a control unit for controlling the load connection portion. The control unit controls the operation of the load connection portion based on a value of the inner resistance of the fuel cell, which is detected by the resistance detector.

Abstract: A secondary battery includes an electrode group 5 formed by winding a positive electrode plate 1 and a negative electrode plate 2 with a separator 3 interposed therebetween. Each of the positive and negative electrode plates 1 and 2 includes a current collector 1 and mixture layers 8 and 9 each containing an active material and formed on the surface of the current collector 1. A plurality of trenches 30 are formed in the surfaces of the mixture layers 8 and 9 of at least one of the positive electrode plate 1 and the negative electrode plate 2. The trenches 30 have curvature portions at side edges 30b and bottom centers 30a thereof.

Abstract: A method of measuring an ion-concentration characterized by a sample absorbed in an easily absorbing solution material and the absorbing material is brought into contact with a measuring portion to measure an ion-concentration 10/90 in the sample so that a highly accurate measurement can be achieved even though a quantity of the sample is small. In addition, the desired measurement can be carried out without using any instruments for sampling and needing any complicated pretreatments. A sheet for use in the calibration of an ion-concentration 10/90 measuring device characterized by a calibrating buffer solution absorbed in a chemically stabilized, hygroscopic, water-absorbing sheet eluting no ions and then the water-absorbing sheet is dried.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for analyzing particles based on different depolarizing structure associated with the different particle types. Cells in a flow cytometer are illuminated with a linearly polarized light, producing scattered depolarized light whose intensity range, at a selected measuring angle, and in a suitable discriminating space, is used to analyze different particle types.

Abstract: An apparatus, which may be embodied in a disposable field test kit, and a test method serves to measure the halogen (bromine, chlorine, iodine) content, especially the chlorine content, of hydrocarbon liquids. The apparatus includes a sampling device in which a quantity of the hydrocarbon liquid, such as a used oil, is suctioned into a frangible collector such as a capillary tube to control sample size, and the tube is deposited into a flexible container which also contains frangible ampules holding pre-measured quantities of reagents, including a solvent for the sample. The container is squeezed to break the tube and ampules to release their contents in prescribed order. The sample is first solvated, then reacted with an alkali metal reagent which will form halides from halogen material present, extracted into an aqueous phase, titrated, and contacted with a color change indicator which acquires a characteristic color dependent upon the halogen material content.

Abstract: In a perifusion apparatus for culturing living cells, the culture medium and the gas in the culture chamber are separated from one another by a gas-permeable wall, the liquid area being entirely filled with the culture medium. Gassing takes place through the gas-permeable wall. Several culture chambers can be interconnected as plug-in modules in such a way that common means can be used for liquid circulation, gassing and optionally thermizing.

Abstract: Lysable, blood platelet controls are prepared by treating animal red blood cells larger than or within the size range of human blood platelets with a fixing agent for red blood cells for a time sufficient to partially rigidify the red blood cell membrane enabling shrinking to a permanently shrunk condition, subjecting distinct groups of said partially fixed red blood cells to hemolysis wiht a hemolytic agent to partially remove hemoglobin therefrom, the hemolysis of each distinct group of cells removing a different amount of hemoglobin, subjecting the resulting red blood cells to centrifugation to collapse the red blood cell membrane around the hemoglobin remaining in said cells, said distinct group of cells and the extent of hemolysis being selected so as to provide after said centrifugation a mixture of permanently shrunken lysable cells that simulate in number, size and volume distribution the platelets present in human whole blood.

Abstract: A polyaphron is formed having a continuous phase and a disperse phase. A drug is carried in the dispersed phase. The polyaphron is placed in contact with a medium and the drug is transferred from the disperse phase into the medium.

Abstract: An analysis process is provided for the determination of a complete material balance of a chemical reaction, especially useful in the studies of catalyst activity. A complete material balance is obtained by determining the output flow from a reactor at the temperature and pressure conditions of the chemical reaction. The reactor output flow is determined by first analyzing the effluent volume composition at the temperature and pressure conditions of the reaction. Subsequently, the effluent is expanded and the volume composition and flow rate of the expanded effluent are measured. From these measurements and the volume composition at the reactor output, the output flow from the reactor is determined. A strict material balance is then possible by comparing the input flow rate and volume composition to the output volume composition and flow rate, thereby establishing a complete material balance at the reaction temperature and pressure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel method for stabilizing aqueous solutions of serum complement for extended periods of time and the resultant stabilized complement solutions. More particularly, morphilino buffering compounds and tris-hydroxymethyl buffering compounds have been used to make aqueous buffers with a pH between about 6.5 and 8.5 and a concentration of greater than 0.01M. These buffers have been found to extend the normal life of complement solutions to unexpectedly longer periods.

Abstract: A target ring for a conventional eye dropper bottle having an upper conical nozzle received in a neck portion of the bottle and having an central orifice extending through the nozzle to be in communication with the interior of the bottle; comprising a contrasting target ring applied to a portion of the nozzle wherein the contrasting ring is outwardly concentric to the orifice thereby positioning the orifice in the center of the target.

Abstract: A thermoelectric converter includes a heat source having a mating face and a heat sink also having a mating face. The converter also includes a thermoelectric conversion module positioned between these faces. The module includes an electrically insulative holder having a first side positioned adjacent the heat source and a second side disposed adjacent the heat sink. The holder includes spaced parallel first walls and spaced parallel second walls extending normal to the first wall so that these first and second walls define an array of compartments with each compartment containing a thermoelectric element. The module further includes a compressed resilient, thermally conductive pad positioned in each compartment.

Abstract: A pyroelectric detector comprising a functional portion in which opposed electrodes 111 to 118 are formed on both surfaces of a pyroelectric type substrate 101 and four light receiving electrode portions a, b, c and d are structured by the opposed electrodes 111 to 118. Among the light receiving electrode portions a, b, c and d, the light receiving electrode portions a and c in odd-numbered positions constitute one light receiving electrode group A and the light receiving electrode portions b and d in even-numbered positions constitute the other light receiving electrode group B. The light receiving electrode portions a and c and the light receiving electrode portions b and d are electrically connected alternately and in series, and the light receiving electrode group A and the other light receiving electrode group B are connected to have opposite polarities.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel, 2 component Giemsa stain. The stain comprises a first component which is an aqueous solution of methylene blue, Azure B and a preservative and a second component which is an acetone/dimethyl formamide/water solvent system containing the sodium salt of eosin Y and a buffer. The Giemsa stain effect is obtained by first fixing a blood slide with methanol and then applying the freshly mixed first and second components of the stain. The slide is then rinsed and dried to prepare it for examination.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a process for preparing substituted and unsubstituted benzotrichlorides. The process generally involves reacting the starting compound with a perchloroalkane with presence of base and a phase transfer catalyst.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a glucose-free glycosylated hemoglobin standard in which hemoglobin with a known content of glycosylated hemoglobin HbA.sub.Ia+b+c is converted to cyanmethemoglobin by means of a K.sub.3 (FeCN).sub.6 /KCN solution, stabilized with a sodium phosphate-cyanide buffer and preserved by lyophilizing at -40.degree. C. with a subsequent increase in temperature to -20.degree. C. under a high vacuum and stored at this temperature with the exclusion of light, whereupon the glucose-free glycosylated hemoglobin standard may be reconstituted by the addition of an aqueous medium.

Abstract: In a means for supporting an elongated heavy thermocouple assembly the weight of the assembly is carried by a rigid support at an intermediate point along its length instead of by a long lever arm exerting a substantial torque at the point of attachment to the reactor vessel shell as in the conventional design.