Abstract: A centrifugal pump for use with a liquid forms one aspect of the invention. This pump comprises a housing and a rotor. The housing has an interior surface defining an interior cavity, an axis intersecting the cavity, an intake port for receiving liquid and communicating same to said cavity, and a discharge port in communication with said cavity. The rotor has an impeller, is positioned in said cavity and is rotatable in said cavity about said axis in spaced relation to the interior surface. The impeller is adapted to force said liquid to flow through said discharge port upon said rotation in use. The pump further comprises means for balancing the pressure in said cavity, adapted so as to avoid the creation of pressure differentials in said cavity that would otherwise in use tend to cause translation of said rotor in said cavity. The pump further comprises a rotating magnetic field generation device adapted to drive rotation of said rotor about said axis in use.

Abstract: A centrifugal blower comprising a cooling air path having an inlet communicating with a blower space and an outlet communicating with the inlet of the motor airflow path, the cooling air path having an upstream portion that extends axially in the direction from the opposite end of the motor toward the drive end of the motor, and the cooling air path having a downstream portion that extends axially in the direction from the drive end of the motor toward the opposite end of the motor.

Abstract: A multilayered impedance pump is formed by an inner tube and an outer tube which have different mechanical characteristics. The outer tube is relatively stiff, and can be used for a structural material. The inner tube is excitable, and a gel is placed between the inner and outer tube. The actuator actuates the gel to cause pressure waves along the inner tube.

Abstract: A liquid chemical supply system includes a liquid chemical pump having a pump chamber for supplying a liquid chemical and a volume variation member that will vary the volume of the pump chamber, and will intake or discharge the liquid chemical based upon a change in the volume of the pump chamber in accordance with the volume variation member. The system also comprises an operation means for causing the volume variation member to operate, an operation amount detection means for detecting the operation amount of the volume variation member, a displacement control means for performing displacement control so that the volume variation member will be displaced by the operation means when liquid chemical ports that lead to the pump chamber are in the closed state, and a determination means for determining the presence or absence of gas inside the pump chamber based upon the operation amount detection results from the operation amount detection means during displacement control.

Abstract: An electric pump for supplying a hydrogen gas to a fuel cell includes a rotary shaft rotatably inserted through an electric motor, a transmitting member provided on one of an outer peripheral surface of the rotary shaft and an inner peripheral surface of the electric motor so as to be rotatable therewith, and a groove formed in the other of the outer peripheral surface of the rotary shaft and the inner peripheral surface of the electric motor for the transmitting member to be inserted therein. The groove transmits a rotary torque of the electric motor to the rotary shaft by contacting an inner surface of the groove and the transmitting member and has an opening width along a rotary direction of the rotary shaft which is larger than the width of the transmitting member. The groove and the transmitting member produce an impact torque when the electric pump is started.

Abstract: A plunger pump including an airtight bellows surrounding a portion of a drive shaft to protect the drive shaft and associated seals and/or bearings from harmful fluids that are being pumped. No counter-pressure fluid exists inside the bellows, other than air, and the bellows is sufficiently rigid to withstand the pressure of the pumped fluid without collapsing. The interior of the bellows is in fluid communication with the atmosphere, negating the need for a reservoir to accommodate varying quantities of counter-pressure fluid as the pump operates.

Abstract: In a scroll fluid machine, a driving shaft extends axially to allow an orbiting scroll to revolve with respect to a fixed scroll thereby compressing a gas introduced from the outer circumference of the fixed scroll in a compressing chamber formed between the orbiting and fixed scrolls. From one end of the driving shaft, external air is introduced in a cooling hole extending axially of the driving shaft to cool the driving shaft. A cooling fan is rotatably secured at one end of the driving shaft to rotate by the driving shaft to cool the fixed scroll. The cooling fan comprises a base plate having a main fin on one side surface facing the side of the fixed scroll and a plurality of auxiliary fins on the other side surface to prevent cooling-finished air from invading into the cooling hole of the driving shaft.

Abstract: a First gap 15 in a thrust direction between teeth bottoms of a fixed mirror plate 2b and teeth tips of an orbiting lap 4a, and a second gap 16 in the thrust direction between teeth bottoms of an orbiting mirror plate 4b and teeth tips of a fixed lap 2a are formed such as to gradually increase from an outer peripheral side to an inner peripheral side of a scroll compressor, the first gap 15 is made greater than the second gap 16. Contact surface pressures of the laps 2a and 4a are kept low with respect to pressure deformation, contact pressure of the teeth tips of the fixed scroll part 2 and the teeth bottoms of the orbiting scroll part 4 are equally maintained. With this loads applied to the scroll parts 2 and 4 are equally received by a thrust surface.

Abstract: A gear pump comprising a gear chamber having opposite side walls; a pair of gears disposed within the gear chamber with teeth thereof meshed with one another, the meshed teeth forming a trap region in which fluid becomes entrapped during rotation of the gears; inlet and outlet chambers on opposite sides of the meshed teeth of the gears and separated from one another by the meshed teeth of the gears; a ripple chamber; and a first passage connecting the ripple chamber to the trap region, whereby the trapped high pressure fluid will flow from the trap region to the ripple chamber to dampen the otherwise generated high pressure pulse.

Abstract: The invention relates to a electrically conductive steel-ceramic connection comprising a steel interconnector and an electrically conductive ceramic joining layer arranged thereon. The interconnector comprises a ferritic steel containing Cr in a quantity ranging from 18 to 24% by weight. The ceramic layer contains perovskite of a formula Ln1-xSrxMn1-yCoyO3-? or Ln1-xSrxFe1-yCOyO3-?, wherein 0.1?x?0.4, 0.1?y?0.6, 0???x/2 and Ln=La—Lu. The inventive steel-ceramic connection is usable for a high-temperature fuel cell and regularly exhibits good adhesive properties and a low transition resistance (initial transition resistance R approximately equal to 0.01 ?cm2). Said steel-ceramic connection makes it possible to advantageously introduce a ferritic steel into high-temperature fuel cells. The inventive method for producing said steel-ceramic connection consists in pre-treating an inserted ceramic powder exhibiting good sinterability during an assembly process and during the fuel cell operation.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method of making a metal injection molded article and the metal injection molded article. The method includes mixing metal powders and a binder to form a mixture. The metal powders include a bulk material and at least one radiopaque material. The mixture is injected into a mold and processed into a green part. The green part is debound to form a brown part. The brown part is sintered to create a completed article. The completed article includes a metal alloy that includes the bulk material and a dispersion of the at least one radiopaque material substantially independent of the metal alloy.

Abstract: A magnesium alloy containing aluminum, manganese and calcium includes 6˜12% by weight of aluminum, 0.1˜1.5% by weight of manganese, a calcium/aluminum mass ratio being 0.55˜1.0, and balance being magnesium and inevitable impurities.

Abstract: This invention provides lead-free solders that have excellent oxidation resistance and can be plastically worked easily and well. The lead-free solders and molded products of the lead-free solders can provide solder joint products, particularly electronic components, which are highly reliable, for example, in mechanical strength and joint strength. The lead-free solders, solder joint product, and electronic component are as follows. A lead-free solder comprising a tin (Sn)-base alloy having a tantalum (Ta) content of not less than 0.005% by weight and not more than 2.0% by weight. A lead-free solder comprising a tin (Sn)-base alloy comprising not less than 0.005% by weight and not more than 2.0% by weight of tantalum (Ta) and not less than 0.1% by weight and not more than 10.0% by weight of zinc (Zn) with the balance consisting of tin (Sn) and unavoidable impurities. A lead-free solder comprising a tin (Sn)-base alloy comprising not less than 0.005% by weight and not more than 2.

Abstract: The present invention provides an effective method of inhibiting corrosion on metallic surfaces in contact with a fluid contained in a closed loop industrial fluid system, which comprises adding to such fluid an effective corrosion controlling amount of a combination of an organic diacid, a triamine and a phosphonate compound.

Abstract: An analysis element for use in a blood test method enabling easy and simple operations that are performed quickly up to measurement, an analysis element for use in a blood test method that operations up to the measurement for many components can be quickly performed, and that is safe and has a sufficient measurement accuracy thereof, and an analysis element for use in a test method using body fluids and urines of humans and animals, plain water, seawater, soil extract, agricultural products, marine products, processed-food extracts, and liquid for use in scientific research as specimens, are provided, the present invention relates to a multi-component measurement dry analysis element for use in a method for testing a specimen, the method using an area sensor as a detector to obtain a result of measurement according to information represented by 1000 pixels or more per one component, and to perform simultaneous measurements of plural components.

Abstract: A fluid content monitor including a cuvette, a calorimeter adapted to generate a signal indicative of contents of a fluid sample contained in the cuvette, a container for holding a reagent, and a pump assembly for delivering reagent from the container to the cuvette. The pump assembly includes a tube extending from the container to the cuvette, check valves preventing reverse flow in the tube, and a hammer driven by a solenoid for repetitively compressing the tube to pump reagent to the cuvette. The cuvette can be removed for cleaning and replacement.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided to measure isotopic characteristics of a number of sample types. Embodiments of the invention combine novel and existing components to produce more accurate isotopic information. Further, embodiments of the invention allow for isotopic readings to be taken and analyzed outside of a laboratory. An example of such an embodiment is an apparatus comprising a combustion furnace; a reactant tube passing through the combustion furnace; an injector coupled to one, or a combination of, the combustion furnace, and reactant tube, to introduce a sample; a laser isotopic measurement device coupled to the reactant tube on the exit end; and a processor electrically coupled to one, or a combination of, the injector, the combustion furnace, the reactant tube, and the isotopic measurement device, in which a carrier gas transports the sample through the apparatus.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for imaging a sample using a microwell array are provided. The methods and apparatus allow side view imaging of a sample to acquire fluorescence or bright field images.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods for measurement of B22 values of proteins in aqueous solutions in flow-mode utilize a dual-detector cell are provided. Simultaneous measurement of protein concentration and scattered light intensity is facilitated as the protein elutes from a size-exclusion column. Each data point on the resulting chromatograms is converted to Rayleigh's ratio, R?, and to concentration c, respectively. The B22 value is calculated from the slope of the Debye plot (Kc/R? versus c) generated from a range of the concentrations obtained from these chromatograms for a single protein injection. Measurements may be analyzed using modeling data derived from a predetermined modeling equation to quantify self-association of molecules. The apparatus and method provide a reliable means for determining B22 values for such proteins as lysozyme, chymotrypsinogen, and chymotrypsin in various solution conditions.

Abstract: A microcontact printing pin for depositing a liquid on a substrate includes a printing tip at a first end and a reservoir, which holds a supply of a printing fluid, communicating with the printing tip. A fluid delivery channel extends between the reservoir and the printing tip and the channel has a tapered shape decreasing in width from the reservoir to the printing tip. This tapered shape ensures that the delivery of the printing fluid to the printing tip is smooth, accurate and controllable. The printing tip portion may also be thinned so that the printing tip portion is thinner than the portion provided with the reservoir and a stepped portion between the reservoir and the thinned printing tip portion that eliminates prespotting.

Abstract: A calibration gas generation method and apparatus for generating a selectively humidified calibration gas to a measurement probe includes a delivery conduit having a conduit inlet adapted to receive a carrier gas stream and a conduit outlet for delivering a calibration gas stream. The apparatus is provided with a first injection unit having a first intake in fluid communication with a first reservoir and a first outlet in fluid communication with the delivery conduit, the first reservoir being adapted to hold a first analyte in liquid form, and a second injection unit having a second intake in fluid communication with a second reservoir and a second outlet in fluid communication with the delivery conduit, the second reservoir being adapted to hold a humidificant in liquid form.

Abstract: A device (1) for transporting or examining liquids in a system (3) for working with liquid specimens (4) that comprises an essentially horizontal working field (5) extending in an X orientation and in a Y orientation at right angles to the latter. The device (1) comprises at least one functional element (2) with at least one functional end (22), whereby said functional elements (2) are aligned essentially at right angles to the working field (5) in a Z orientation. The device (1) also comprises at least one tilting unit (8) for tiltable retention of the at least one functional element (2).

Abstract: In a pretreatment apparatus for transferring and mixing a specimen liquid and a reagent in a reagent reservoir, comprising containers for holding the specimen liquid and the reagent, flow paths connecting the containers in series, and a dialysis flow path including a dialysis membrane facing to the flow path, the mixing is brought about by transferring the liquid from the containers to the flow paths and a return by stoppage of transferring the liquid, and subsequently the liquid is made flow into the dialysis flow path.

Abstract: A disposable container for centrifuging and treating a fluid biological material. The container includes an open top end and a closed bottom end, the top end including a lid having: a) a first opening passed through by a first cannula that can be connected operationally to the external environment to control entry and exit of air in conjunction with the transfer of a fluid biological material into or from the container; b) a second opening passed through by a second cannula that can be accessed by a hollow needle to transfer a fluid biological material into or from the container through the hollow needle; and c) a third opening passed through by a third cannula operationally connected to an attachment able to receive and accommodate one end of a syringe to transfer a fluid biological material into or from the container through the third cannula.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and methods for conducting ball milling operations in a high throughput manner. Also provided are devices and methods for high throughput screening of alloys and other materials to identify those that have desired gas storage properties.

Abstract: An apparatus for use with a process liquid for controlling the temperature of a semiconductor-processing target comprises first and second tanks adapted for holding process liquid, at least one fluid level sensor carried by the first tank for monitoring the amount of process liquid in the first tank, and a valve coupled to one of the at least one fluid level sensor and configured to increases the flow of process liquid from the second tank to the target when the amount of process liquid in the first tank drops to a first predetermined amount. The first tank may include first and second compartments partially separated by a divider with a top whereby process liquid in the first compartment flows over the top of the divider into the second compartment.

Abstract: Gaseous mixture of chlorine dioxide and chlorine produced by reacting an inorganic acid with an aqueous solution of an alkali metal chlorate by controlled introduction of the inorganic acid into the aqueous solution of alkali metal chlorate. Inorganic acid passed through a volume of alkali metal chlorate flowing through a horizontal reactor in a plug flow regime results in an enhanced gaseous mixture of chlorine dioxide, chlorine and steam that can be withdrawn as a product stream.

Abstract: An improved analyte system where a temperature sensor and heater element combination are placed within a protective sheath. The sheath, temperature sensor, and heater element are placed within a reaction vessel so as to provide an internal heating source for reactive materials contained within the reaction vessel. The sheath extends through the reaction vessel into a reaction volume area of the vessel where an analytes-reagent reaction takes place. Further, the sheath is coated with a catalytic material, preferably platinum. The heater and sheath assembly may be introduced to any number of reaction schemes where reaction rate and detection acceleration is desired. The heater and sheath assembly works in conjunction with software to tune heating rates, optimum temperature, cooling rates, and detection analysis.

Abstract: Methods for forming chemical and/or biological products in reactors, and/or analyzing chemical and/or biological interactions in reactors are provided. The methods relate, more specifically, to forming such products and/or carrying out such analyses in small volume reactors with control over overall fluid volume in the reactors. The methods can be used to mimic processes in large scale reactors and/or to obtain reaction or interaction information relevant to large scale reactors (e.g., to adjust/optimize large-scale reactor processes). Advantageously, the methods can allow parameters of small scale reactors to be correlated with those of large scale reactors, where desired.

Abstract: An exhaust pipe includes a thin metal tube having a wall thickness of less than 1 mm and, over at least a portion of its length, a peripheral sheath formed from a thermally expandable material.

Abstract: An exhaust treatment system of a power source includes a filter fluidly connected to an exhaust outlet of the power source. The filter includes a housing and a substrate disposed within the housing. A catalyst material is disposed on the substrate. The exhaust treatment system also includes a reactant assembly including a reactant supply controllably fluidly connectable to the catalyst material. The exhaust treatment system further includes a clean-up catalyst downstream of the catalyst material and a recirculation line configured to direct a portion of a filtered exhaust flow to an intake of the power source.

Abstract: An exhaust treatment device, comprising: a shell portion defining an inlet opening and an outlet opening; at least one catalyst brick being inserted within the shell portion; an insulative material disposed between the shell portion and the at least one catalyst brick; and a sensor receiving area formed in at least one catalyst brick.

Abstract: An organic material decomposition and treatment apparatus using a magnetic wave is provided, in which organic materials can be well decomposed without creating or producing harmful materials. The apparatus comprises a body; a first input port which is provided at an upper side of the body at a certain inclination angle and is opened and closed, with a lid being installed at the first input port; a discharge port which is provided at a front side of the body and is opened and closed, with a lid being installed at the discharge port; an exhaust tube which is installed at a back side of the body; and a magnetic wave generator which is installed at both sides of the body, wherein the organic material is decomposed and treated by the magnetic waves induced from the magnetic wave generator into the interior of the body.

Abstract: Porous plate 13 is disposed between wind box 11 of dispersion board B and cylindrical vessel wall 12. Filling layer 14 of a structure packed with ceramic particles such as those of fused silica is disposed on the porous plate 13 so as to fill the inside of the cylindrical vessel wall. The filling layer 14 is composed of ceramic particles, so that the corrosion wear by chlorine gas can be inhibited and the durability thereof enhanced. Furthermore, a chlorine resistant member is disposed in a form so as to adhere to the internal surface of the cylindrical vessel wall 12, so that the corrosion wear by chlorine gas of the cylindrical vessel wall 12 can also be effectively inhibited. As a result, damage to the internal wall of the chlorination furnace can be minimized, and the state of allowing chlorine gas to be uniformly dispersed and supplied to fluidized bed 4 containing titanium ore and coke can be maintained for prolonged periods.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for the continuous preparation of a chemical compound in at least one reactor, where at least one of the reactors is a shell-and-tube reactor which has a shell and at least one internal tube located within the shell, wherein at least one of the internal tubes has, at least in part, a noncircular cross section and a helical configuration in the region in which it is surrounded by the shell.

Abstract: An expandable housing generator configured to occupy a small volume in a primed or standby mode, and a larger volume after the commencement of a chemical reaction to generate a gas comprising oxygen. The expandable housing generator may comprise a base housing, a top housing, a first chamber, a second chamber, and a third chamber. The three chambers may separately store components of a catalytic reaction generating the gas. The three chambers may be joined together upon actuation of an activating device. The top housing and at least one of the three chambers may extend along a vertical direction. The extension may accommodate a foam head produced during the reaction. Additionally, the extension may provide a small form factor and consequently better portability and manageability, while also providing sufficient volume to perform the chemical reactions safely and effectively.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a process for upgrading an ore or concentrate that contains metal sulphur minerals and gangue material. The process includes the stages of: a) selectively leaching the ore or concentrate using an ammoniacal solution containing ammonium carbonate that forms soluble metal ammine complexes; b) separating the solid and liquid phases formed in stage a) with the liquid phase forming a solution including soluble metal ammine complexes and the solid phase including at least in part the gangue material; c) removing ammonia and carbon dioxide from the liquid phase formed in step b) under conditions so as to selectively precipitate the valuable metal(s); and d) separating the solid and liquid phases formed in stage c) with the solid phase forming a more-concentrated source of valuable metal.

Abstract: A single-crystal transparent ferromagnetic compound that transmits light and has significant ferromagnetic properties is selected from the group consisting of alkaline earth chalcogenides, alkali chalcogenides, I-VII compounds, II-VI compounds, III-V compounds, IV-VI2 compounds, IV-IV compounds, and II-VII2 compounds. At least one element having an incomplete outermost p-electron shell, such as B, C, N, O, F, Si, or Ge, is dissolved in the compound so that the compound has a ferromagnetic transition temperature of room temperature or higher. The ferromagnetic properties of the compound are controlled by adjustment of the concentration of the element having an incomplete outermost p-electron shell and valence electron control through, for example, the addition of an acceptor and a donor.

Abstract: Hydrogen sulfide is oxidized to sulfur by means of treatment with an aqueous acid solution containing trivalent iron and a hetero polyacid having formula (I): HnXVyM(12-y)O40; or a sole hetero polyacid having formula (II): HnMeM12O40; wherein the symbols X, M Me n and y are specified in the text. At the end of the oxidation, the solution is treated with gas containing oxygen to re-oxidize the reduced metal.

Abstract: Process for the removal of organic and/or inorganic sulfur from an ammonia stream by passing said stream through a fixed bed of sulfur absorbent in a sulfur absorber and withdrawing a sulfur-free ammonia stream, wherein said sulfur absorbent is a catalyst having a total nickel content in reduced form in the range 10 wt % to 70 wt % with the balance being a carrier material selected from the group of alumina, magnesium alumina spinel, silica, titania, magnesia, zirconia and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: Hydrogen (H2) gas and crude carbon dioxide (CO2) gas are separated from a gaseous mixture thereof. Combustible gas(es) in the crude CO2 gas are combusted to produce heat, at least a portion of which is recovered by indirect heat exchange with at least a portion of the separated H2 gas or a gas derived therefrom. The invention may be integrated with coal-fired power stations to reduce or eliminate emission of harmful components into the atmosphere.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a feedstock liquid, from which fuel kernels with good quality can be produced, and a method of preparing the feedstock liquid. The present invention provides a feedstock liquid with a viscosity from 4.0×10?2 to 6.5×10?2 Pa·s at 15° C., for the production of ammonium diuranate particles. The present invention also provides a method of preparing a feedstock liquid used for the production of ammonium diuranate particles, which includes mixing a uranyl nitrate solution and tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol to produce a uranyl nitrate mixture, dissolving polyvinyl alcohol in water to produce an aqueous polyvinyl alcohol solution, mixing the aqueous polyvinyl alcohol solution with tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol to produce a polyvinyl alcohol solution, and mixing the uranyl nitrate mixture with the polyvinyl alcohol solution.

Abstract: A process for producing sodium hydrogencarbonate crystals, which comprise subjecting sodium hydrogencarbonate crystal powder having an average particle size of from 50 to 500 ?m based on the mass to heat treatment at a temperature of from 70 to 95° C. by a heating gas having a carbon dioxide gas concentration of at most the concentration calculated by the following formula (1): Carbon dioxide gas concentration=0.07l×e(0.1×T)×R(?0.0005×T?0.9574)??(1) (wherein T is the temperature (%) of sodium hydrogencarbonate crystals, and R is the relative humidity (%), provided that the upper limit of the carbon dioxide gas concentration is 100 vol %) with reference to the graph of FIG. 1 wherein the horizontal axis (X-axis) represents the relative humidity and the vertical axis (Y-axis) represents the carbon dioxide gas concentration, to form anhydrous sodium carbonate on the surface of the sodium hydrogencarbonate crystal particles with a content of anhydrous sodium carbonate of from 0.03 to 0.

Abstract: Hafnium containing preceramic polymer is made through the reaction of hafnium halide compound with any of the following compounds: ethylene diamine, dimethyl ethylene diamine, piperazine, allylamine and or polyethylene-imine.

Abstract: A method for a growing solid-state, spectrometer grade II-VI crystal using a high-pressure hydrothermal process including the following steps: positioning seed crystals in a growth zone of a reactor chamber; positioning crystal nutrient material in the nutrient zone of the chamber; filling the reactor with a solvent fluid; heating and pressuring the chamber until at least a portion of the nutrient material dissolves in the solvent and the solvent becomes supercritical in the nutrient zone; transporting supercritical from the nutrient zone to the growth zone, and growing the seed crystals as nutrients from the supercritical fluid deposit on the crystals.

Abstract: A method for preparing tantalum oxide and/or niobium oxide, characterized in that it comprises adding a basic aqueous solution to an aqueous solution of tantalum fluoride salt and/or niobium fluoride salt, to form tantalum hydroxide and/or niobium hydroxide, and then firing said tantalum hydroxide and/or niobium hydroxide. The above method allows the preparation of the tantalum oxide and/or niobium oxide in the state of a needle crystal or columnar crystal, not of a spherical crystal or an assemblage form.

Abstract: Bayer process, comprising grinding (L, B) and then digestion (N2, A) of a bauxite by bringing it into contact with a sodium aluminate liquor (20b, 120b). Digestion consists of forming a slurry (3a, 103) that is then treated to separate insoluble residues (5a, 105a) from the sodium aluminate liquor. The liquor is then crystallized (D) and recycled back to green liquor (20, 120) after having been separated from the alumina trihydrate (11, 111) precipitated during crystallization. The process comprises a predesilication treatment (P) during which the ground bauxite is brought before digestion into contact with an aqueous sodic solution that has a content of carbonates, sulphates and possibly chlorides which, expressed as a percentage related to the caustic concentration, is less than half the corresponding impurities content of the spent liquor (8, 108).

Abstract: A hydrogen storage material based on sodium alanate contains aluminum in excess of the stoichiometric aluminum content of sodium aluminum tetrahydride. A particulate mixture of sodium alanates, aluminum, and a suitable metal-containing catalyst readily yields, upon heating of the mixture, its hydrogen content for delivery to a hydrogen-using device. The excess aluminum facilitates the sorption of hydrogen, minimizes the amount of necessary catalyst, and improves packing of the particulate mixture and heat transfer to and from the mixture.

Abstract: The sliding material of the present invention has hexagonal crystals that form a layer structure and ball-shaped molecules inserted in interlayers of the hexagonal crystals. This sliding material can be used in machines/devices of various sizes ranging from heavy machinery such as automobiles to nanomachines without restrictions on the environment it can be used, can minimize friction compared to conventional types, and has superior durability.

Abstract: A method for detecting DNA damage in a tissue sample involves contacting an immobilized biological sample with a labeled ligand which binds to human 53Bp1, and examining the immobilized sample for the presence of a label generated-detectable signal concentrated in foci in said sample. The presence of concentrated foci is indicative of DNA damage and the presence of diffuse signal is indicative of a normal sample. Diagnostic reagents contain a ligand that binds to human 53Bp1 associated with a detectable label. Diagnostic kits for detecting DNA damage in a biological sample contain such diagnostic reagents and signal detection components. Compositions that inhibit or antagonize the biological activity of 53Bp1 are identified by suitable assays, and are employed in methods of retarding the growth of a cancer cell.