Abstract: A pouch-type battery case includes a cup portion, which accommodates therein an electrode assembly formed by stacking an electrode and a separator, and a plurality of die edges connecting an outer wall of the cup portion to a side extending from the outer wall. The die edges include a first region, which is rounded at a first radius (r1) of curvature and at which an electrode tab extending from the electrode is positioned, and a second region which is other than the first region and rounded at one or more second radii (r2, r3, r4) of curvature less than or equal to the first radius (r1) of curvature. The second region is divided into an inner region and an outer region with respect to the first region, and the radius (r2) of curvature in the inner region differs from the radii (r3, r4) of curvature in the outer region.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a structure for microbe detection comprises the steps of: reacting nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) and an acid anhydride to prepare a first compound; chelation of metal ions to the first compound to prepare a second compound; binding the second compound and a microbe detector to prepare a third compound; and mixing an exfoliated transition metal-dichalcogenide (TMD) compound and the third compound to prepare a structure for microbe detection, in which the metal ions of the third compound are bound with the transition metal-dichalcogenide compound.

Abstract: Biodegradable dextran based hydrogel suitable for biomedical application is produced by subjecting polysaccharide substituted with unsaturated moiety, e.g. dextran methacrylate, in aqueous medium to UV or visible light irradiation in the precense of riboflavin/L-arginine or riboflavin/chitosan to cause photocrosslinking of polysaccharide substituted with unsaturated moiety.

Abstract: Biodegradable hydrogels are formed by photocrosslinking dextran-maleic acid monoesters in which the average degree of substitution of each glucose unit of each &agr;-D-glucopyranosyl of dextran by maleic acid ranges from 0.60 to 1.6 and which have a weight average molecular weight ranging from 40,000 to 80,000 on a dextran basis. The hydrogels at pH 7 have maximum swelling ratios ranging from 500 to 1,500 percent. The hydrogels are characterized by increase in swelling ratio as average degree of substitution increases. The hydrogels are useful, for example, for drug delivery and solubility enhancers of drugs, as protective encapsulators of viruses used in gene therapy, and for conventional uses of hydrogels.

Abstract: A controlled release doxorubicin containing composition comprises doxorubicin physically entrapped in a dextran-methacrylate biodegradable hydrogel. The composition provides a rapid initial release of doxorubicin over a period of 5 to 7 hours followed by slow release. Increased degree of substitution in the dextran methacrylate decreases cumulative doxorubicin release. The composition provides higher cumulative release in acid pH (e.g., the stomach) than at physiological pH at lower degrees of substitution. The composition allows administration alternatives to the bolus intravenous and continuous intravenous methods of administration now used for doxorubicin. The composition can be prepared without the use of heat (which can result in heat destruction of doxorubicin) and is prepared without chemical cross-linker such as glutaraldehyde and the toxicity associated therewith.