Abstract: A backing material for an ultrasonic probe according to the present invention comprises a carbonaceous matrix that has communicating holes distributed in the matrix, and a resin with which the communicating holes are filled.

Abstract: A glassy carbon compact according to the present invention has a maximum inscribed sphere diameter of 5 mm or greater, comprises pores having diameters of 500 nm or less dispersed throughout the glassy carbon compact, and has a density of 1.1 g/cm3 or greater.

Abstract: This backing material for ultrasonic probes substantially comprises porous amorphous carbon.

Abstract: A fuel cell equipped with at least an air electrode side power collector layer, an air electrode catalyst layer, a polymer electrolyte membrane, a fuel electrode catalyst layer and a fuel electrode side power collector layer and provided with a porous body layer having a porous body at a liquid fuel side of the fuel electrode side power collector layer assumes a structure in which the porous body layer is provided with a gas flow velocity (superficial velocity in the layer) of 10 to 5000 cm/s at a differential pressure of 100 kPa. The porous body layer is a diffusion medium of a fuel into the fuel electrode catalyst layer and a discharge resistor of gases comprising carbon dioxide and steam which are electrode reaction products and a vapor of the liquid fuel in progress of electrode reaction. An interface of the gases and a gases layer are also provided.

Abstract: The fuel reservoir for a fuel cell is a fuel reservoir detachably connected with a fuel cell main body, and it is equipped with a fuel-storing vessel of a tube type for storing a liquid fuel and a fuel discharge part; the fuel discharge part is provided with a valve for sealing communication between the inside and the outside of the above fuel-storing vessel; and a follower which seals the liquid fuel and moves as the liquid fuel is consumed is disposed in the rear end part of the liquid fuel stored. The valve assumes a structure in which a slit is formed in an elastic material and a structure in which a valve member is pressed by a resilient body.

Abstract: The invention provides a substrate suitable for cell culture observation and a method of observation using the same. Crystalline carbon such as a graphite powder is mixed into a thermosetting resin such as a furan resin, and the mixture is molded in the shape of a sheet and carbonized to produce a carbon substrate; then, a cell is made to adhere to the carbon substrate, and the cell is caused to proliferate on the carbon substrate and observed using a microscope.

Abstract: A fuel cell is equipped with a fuel cell main body, a liquid fuel-storing tank for storing a liquid fuel and a fuel-supplying member which has a penetrating structure and is connected with the liquid fuel-storing tank and which supplies the liquid fuel to the liquid fuel main body, wherein the liquid fuel-storing tank is provided with a liquid fuel reservoir comprising a cylindrical fuel-storing vessel for storing the liquid fuel, a fuel discharge part provided at a lower part of the fuel-storing vessel and having a fuel discharge valve and a follower which is disposed at a rear end of the liquid fuel stored in the fuel-storing vessel and which moves as the liquid fuel is consumed, a housing box member which encompasses at least a part of the liquid fuel reservoir via a space part in the periphery of the liquid fuel reservoir and whose rear end part is closed and pressurized gas which is filled in the space part.

Abstract: A fuel cell equipped with at least an air electrode side power collector layer, an air electrode catalyst layer, a polymer electrolyte membrane, a fuel electrode catalyst layer and a fuel electrode side power collector layer and provided with a porous body layer having a porous body at a liquid fuel side of the fuel electrode side power collector layer assumes a structure in which the porous body layer is provided with a gas flow velocity (superficial velocity in the layer) of 10 to 5000 cm/s at a differential pressure of 100 kPa. The porous body layer is a diffusion medium of a fuel into the fuel electrode catalyst layer and a discharge resistor of gases comprising carbon dioxide and steam which are electrode reaction products and a vapor of the liquid fuel in progress of electrode reaction. An interface of the gases and a gases layer are also provided.

Abstract: The fuel reservoir for a fuel cell is a fuel reservoir detachably connected with a fuel cell main body, and it is equipped with a fuel-storing vessel of a tube type for storing a liquid fuel and a fuel discharge part; the fuel discharge part is provided with a valve for sealing communication between the inside and the outside of the above fuel-storing vessel. The valve assumes a structure in which a slit is formed in an elastic material and a structure in which a valve member is pressed by a resilient body, and is opened by inserting a fuel-supplying member.

Abstract: A direct methanol fuel cell comprises a multiple number of connected unit cells, each composed of a fuel electrode element of a microporous carbon material, an electrolyte layer formed on the outer surface of the fuel electrode element, an air electrode layer formed on the outer surface of the electrolyte layer, wherein each unit cell is supplied with fuel from a fuel reservoir through a fuel feeder having an infiltration structure coupled therebetween.

Abstract: In order to provide a fuel reservoir for a small-sized fuel cell which is suitably used as an electric power source for portable electronic appliances such as cellular phones, note type personal computers and PDA, assumed is a structure in which a fuel reservoir for a fuel cell detachably connected with a fuel cell main body is equipped with a fuel-storing vessel for storing a liquid fuel, a fuel discharge part and a follower which seals the liquid fuel and moves as the liquid fuel is consumed and into which a follower auxiliary member is inserted at a rear end of the liquid fuel, wherein the follower auxiliary member has no fluidity and is insoluble in the liquid fuel, and it has a cross-sectional area of 50% or more based on a cross-sectional area of the fuel-storing vessel in a diameter direction.

Abstract: The fuel reservoir for a fuel cell is a fuel reservoir detachably connected with a fuel cell main body, and it is equipped with a fuel-storing vessel of a tube type for storing a liquid fuel and a fuel discharge part; the fuel discharge part is provided with a valve for sealing communication between the inside and the outside of the above fuel-storing vessel. The valve assumes a structure in which a slit is formed in an elastic material and a structure in which a valve member is pressed by a resilient body, and is opened by inserting a fuel-supplying member.

Abstract: A direct methanol fuel cell comprises a multiple number of connected unit cells, each composed of a fuel electrode element of a microporous carbon material, an electrolyte layer formed on the outer surface of the fuel electrode element, an air electrode layer formed on the outer surface of the electrolyte layer, wherein each unit cell is supplied with fuel from a fuel reservoir through a fuel feeder having an infiltration structure coupled therebetween.

Abstract: The fuel reservoir for a fuel cell is a fuel reservoir detachably connected with a fuel cell main body, and it is equipped with a fuel-storing vessel of a tube type for storing a liquid fuel and a fuel discharge part; the fuel discharge part is provided with a valve for sealing communication between the inside and the outside of the above fuel-storing vessel. The valve assumes a structure in which a slit is formed in an elastic material and a structure in which a valve member is pressed by a resilient body, and is opened by inserting a fuel-supplying member.

Abstract: A direct methanol fuel cell comprises a multiple number of connected unit cells, each composed of a fuel electrode element of a microporous carbon material, an electrolyte layer formed on the outer surface of the fuel electrode element, an air electrode layer formed on the outer surface of the electrolyte layer, wherein each unit cell is supplied with fuel from a fuel reservoir through a fuel feeder having an infiltration structure coupled therebetween.

Abstract: The fuel reservoir for a fuel cell is a fuel reservoir detachably connected with a fuel cell main body, and it is equipped with a fuel-storing vessel of a tube type for storing a liquid fuel and a fuel discharge part; the fuel discharge part is provided with a valve for sealing communication between the inside and the outside of the above fuel-storing vessel. The valve assumes a structure in which a slit is formed in an elastic material and a structure in which a valve member is pressed by a resilient body, and is opened by inserting a fuel-supplying member.

Abstract: In order to provide a fuel reservoir for a small sized fuel cell which is suitably used as an electric power source for portable electronic appliances such as cellular phones, note type personal computers and PDA, assumed is a structure in which a fuel reservoir for a fuel cell detachably connected with a fuel cell main body is equipped with a fuel-storing vessel for storing a liquid fuel, a fuel discharge part and a follower which seals the liquid fuel and moves as the liquid fuel is consumed and into which a follower auxiliary member is inserted at a rear end of the liquid fuel, wherein the follower auxiliary member has no fluidity and is insoluble in the liquid fuel, and it has a cross-sectional area of 50% or more based on a cross-sectional area of the fuel-storing vessel in a diameter direction.

Abstract: The fuel reservoir for a fuel cell is a fuel reservoir detachably connected with a fuel cell main body, and it is equipped with a fuel-storing vessel of a tube type for storing a liquid fuel and a fuel discharge part; the fuel discharge part is provided with a valve for sealing communication between the inside and the outside of the above fuel-storing vessel; and a follower which seals the liquid fuel and moves as the liquid fuel is consumed is disposed in the rear end part of the liquid fuel stored. The valve assumes a structure in which a slit is formed in an elastic material and a structure in which a valve member is pressed by a resilient body.

Abstract: The invention provides at a relatively low cost a carbon substrate that is formed from an opaque material and that has an extremely flat surface so that optical measurements can be made on the substrate. Graphite powder with a particle size of 10 ?m or less is mixed in a thermosetting resin such as a furan resin, and the mixture is molded into a sheet and calcined at 1400° C. in an inert atmosphere to produce a carbon substrate whose surface is then ground flat.

Abstract: In order to provide a small-sized fuel cell suitably used as an electric power source for portable electronic appliances such as cellular phones, note type personal computers and PDA, assumed is a structure in which connected are plural unit cells each of which is formed by constructing an electrolyte layer on a fuel electrode body and constructing an air electrode layer on the electrolyte layer and in which a fuel supplying member connected with a fuel storing tank for storing a liquid fuel and having a penetrating structure or the fuel electrode body is connected with the respective unit cells to supply the liquid fuel, wherein a liquid fuel occlusion body comprising a porous body and/or a fiber bundle having capillary force is accommodated in the liquid fuel storing tank.