Abstract: Fuel cells and methods of operating same are provided. In an embodiment, fuel cells include cylinders each provided with a spiral form groove portion in the surface thereof and disposed in air supply or exhaust pipes are rotated, wherein the amount of air supplied to power generation cells can be sequentially increased on a cell-by-cell basis, and water formed at the power generation cells can be discharged by sequentially raising the pressure of air. In this regard, each power generation cell is constantly supplied with not less than a fixed quantity of air, thus stable power generation can be achieved.

Abstract: A nonaqueous secondary electrolytic battery comprising an electricity-generating element formed by spirally winding a laminate of a positive electrode plate, a separating material and a negative electrode plate, and an electrolytic solution with which the separating material, if it is a separator, is impregnated. The electricity-generating element is sealed in a battery case formed by a resin-laminated sheet comprising a metal layer as a barrier layer. Only a pair of lead terminals are drawn to the exterior of the battery case. The resin sheet comprises an oriented resin layer laminated on both surfaces of the metal layer. The inner heat-fused layers are opposed and heat-fused to each other. A molten and solidified resin mass is formed protruding from the inner end of the welded portion toward the inner space of the battery by 0.1 mm or more. Alternatively, the welded portion is formed thinner at the outer end thereof than at the inner end thereof.

Abstract: An adhesive closure for sealing closed the open end of an electrochemical cell container. The electrochemical cell comprises a can having an open end and a side wall, and positive and negative electrodes disposed in the can. The cell also has a cover disposed on the open end of the can and having a peripheral wall radially outside of the side wall of the can. One or more adhesives are disposed between the outer side wall of the can and the peripheral wall of the cover for adhering the cover to the can.

Abstract: A film-covered electric device has an electric device element and casing films. The casing films include a sealing area formed by thermally fusing the facing surfaces of the casing films together around the periphery of the electric device element, an electric device element receiving part encapsulating the electric device element inside the sealing area, and unfused portions formed in the shape of cove communicating with the electric device element receiving part. The casing films further include a stress concentrating portion touching the unfused portions for concentrating thereon the peeling stress of the casing films generated at the sealing area by the expansion of the electric device element receiving part, and a pressure releasing part is formed in the stress concentrating portion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrode for a rechargeable lithium battery comprising an emulsion binder, and a lithium secondary battery including the same. The electrode comprises a current collector coated with an active material layer including active material powders and a cellulose-based polymer binder having an esterification degree greater than or equal to 1.3 and a weight average molecular weight greater than or equal to 100,000. Batteries including electrodes with an active material that includes such a cellulose-based polymer exhibit improved energy density and high reversible capacity.

Abstract: An example battery according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an electrolyte. The positive electrode comprises a positive active material, and has a positive electrode area and a positive electrode capacity. The negative electrode comprises a negative active material, and has a negative electrode area and a negative electrode capacity. The battery has an electrode area ratio equal to the positive electrode area divided by the negative electrode area, and an electrode capacity ratio equal to the positive electrode capacity divided by the negative electrode capacity. In an example battery, the electrode area ratio is at least approximately one, and/or the electrode capacity ratio is at least approximately one.

Abstract: A battery separator having a thermal shutdown mechanism and exhibiting excellent mechanical properties and low electrical resistance includes a water-scavenging and/or acid-scavenging material having reactive functional groups that chemically react with water or acid in the battery to remove the water or acid and thereby improve battery performance. The battery separator preferably includes a first polyolefin providing mechanical integrity and a second polyolefin including the water-scavenging or acid-scavenging reactive functional groups. The battery separator is preferably a microporous film including a polymer matrix throughout which the water-scavenging or acid-scavenging material is dispersed.

Abstract: A chemical battery, comprising a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a gel electrolyte containing a crosslinked body and an electrolyte, the crosslinked body being obtained by crosslinking at least one compound selected from the group consisting of an epoxy compound having an alicyclic structure and at least one epoxy group in a single molecule and an alicyclic epoxy resin.

Abstract: A stencil mask has a silicon thin film in which an opening pattern is formed, a silicon oxide film, and a support part. The silicon thin film has a two-layer structure of a first silicon thin film and a second silicon thin film stacked one on top of the other. The first and second silicon thin films enable microscopic openings to be made in them. Stacking the first and second silicon thin films one on top of the other makes it possible to achieve the necessary strength and increase the strength of the stencil mask.

Abstract: An exposure mask which is capable of reducing non-uniformity in a display such as a liquid crystal display device. A first mask pattern having pattern-forming portions and shield portions mosaically arranged therein is formed in one end portion of an exposure mask, and a second mask pattern having pattern-forming portions and shield portions arranged in a manner complementary to the first mask pattern is formed at the other end portion of the exposure mask. The exposure mask is formed such that areas between vertically or laterally adjacent ones of the shield portions, in mosaic areas where pattern-forming portions and the shield portions are mosaically arranged, are also shielded.

Abstract: An image forming method is disclosed, comprising (a) imagewise exposing a recording material comprising on a support an image forming layer containing colored electrophoretic particles and a photopolymerizable compositon to light to perform photocuring and (b) applying an electric field to the recording material to migrate the electrophoretic particles.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photoconductor, including an electrically conductive substrate, an undercoat layer containing a filler and a binder resin and provided on the substrate, and a photoconductive layer provided on the undercoat layer and containing a binder resin. At least one compound selected from crown ethers, polyalkyleneglycol ethers, polyethyleneglycol monocarboxylic acid esters, polyethyleneglycol dicarboxylic acid esters, and hydroxy-terminated random or block copolymers containing oxypropylene and oxyethylene groups is incorporated into (a) the undercoat layer or (b) into a charge generating layer of the photoconductive layer. In the case of (a), the photoconductive layer is a dried coating of a composition containing at least one solvent selected from cyclic ethers, ketones and aromatic hydrocarbons.

Abstract: This invention relates to electrophotography and to amorphous condensation polymers comprising a polyester-co-imide, polyester-co-imide, polyesterionomer-co-imide, or polyamide-co-imide as a polymeric electrical charge barrier layer.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor including an electroconductive substrate and a photosensitive layer located overlying the electroconductive substrate, wherein an outermost layer of the electrophotographic photoreceptor includes a particulate fluorine-containing resin, and wherein a primary particle of the particulate fluorine-containing resin and a secondary particle formed of agglomerated primary particles thereof, which are projected from a surface of the outermost layer and have an average particle diameter of from 0.15 to 3 ?m, are present in an area ratio not less than 10% based on total surface area of the outermost layer.

Abstract: A charge transport layer composition for a photoreceptor includes at least a binder, at least one arylamine charge transport material, e.g., N,N?-diphenyl-N,N?-bis(3-methylphenyl)-(1,1?-biphenyl)-4,4?-diamine, and at least one polymer containing carboxylic acid groups or groups capable of forming carboxylic acid groups. The charge transport layer forms a layer of photoreceptor, which also includes an optional anti-curl layer, a substrate, an optional hole blocking layer, an optional adhesive layer, a charge generating layer, and optionally one or more overcoat or protective layers.

Abstract: Cross-linked type organic fine particles are used as organic fine particles having a core-shell structure to be attached to a base particle, and the cross-linking degree of the core part is made higher than that of the shell part. A toner is manufactured by mixing cross-linked type organic fine particles having a core-shell structure with a solution containing a neutralizer, dispersing a composition for forming a base particle, which contains a releasing agent and a colorant, into the solution in which the organic fine particles are mixed, and separating the composition from the solution.

Abstract: A toner of the present invention comprises at least a binder resin comprising as a main component a polyester resin, a wax, and a colorant, in which in case of measuring a wettability of the toner with respect to a mixed solvent of methanol and water in terms of an optical transimittance at an optical wavelength of 780 nm, a methanol concentration of the mixed solvent is in a range of 45 to 65% by volume when an optical transmittance is 80% and 10%, respectively; a melt index (MI) is of 0.1 to 10 g/10 min at a temperature of 125° C.

Abstract: The present invention provides a toner for developing an electrostatic latent image comprising of: toner particles containing at least a binder resin, a colorant and a releasing agent; wherein a volume-average particle diameter of the toner particles is in a range of about 5 to 8 ?m; an average of shape factor SF1 of the toner particles is in a range of about 125 to 140; and an arithmetical mean undulation height of the surface of the toner particles at the 90% point on the cumulative distribution curve is in a range of about 0.15 to 0.25 ?m. Further, the present invention provides an electrostatic latent image developer containing the toner. The invention also provides a method for producing the toner.

Abstract: A process for preparing toner compositions using a dry pigment is provided. The process comprises combining a base toner resin composition, a dry pigment, and dispersion agent in a one step process, without the need any pre-processing of the pigments such as by, for example, flushing. The process includes combining the base toner resin, dry pigment and dispersion agent in a processing apparatus such as an extruder. The process may also comprise preparing the toners via an extrusion process utilizing a screw having a configuration designated herein as a Type C screw.

Abstract: A method is provided for preparing a particulate phase toner for use in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The method uses fractional dissolution rather than pulverization and chemical preparation. Accordingly, it is easy to control the size and the shape of toner particles. The fluidity of the toner particles according to the invention is improved. The method of the invention also reduces or eliminate the environmental pollution. A particulate phase toner prepared by the method is also provided.

Abstract: Resist compositions comprising as the base resin a polymer having alkoxyisobutoxy as a reactive group which is decomposable under the action of an acid to increase solubility in alkali have advantages including a significantly enhanced contrast of alkali dissolution rate before and after exposure, a high sensitivity, and a high resolution in fine feature size regions. The compositions are best suited as a chemically amplified resist material for micropatterning in the manufacture of VLSI.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a top anti-reflective coating polymer used in a photolithography process, which is one of the fabrication processes for a semiconductor device, a method for preparing the anti-reflective coating polymer, and an anti-reflective coating composition comprising the anti-reflective coating polymer. Specifically, the top anti-reflective coating polymer is used in immersion lithography for the fabrication of a sub-50 nm semiconductor device. The top anti-reflective coating polymer is represented by Formula 1 below: wherein R1, R2 and R3 are independently hydrogen or a methyl group; and a, b and c represent the mole fraction of each monomer, and are in the range between about 0.05 and about 0.9. Since a top anti-reflective coating formed using the above anti-reflective coating polymer is not soluble in water, it can be applied to immersion lithography using water as the medium for a light source.

Abstract: A photosensitive composition containing: a sensitizing dye represented by the formula (1) as defined herein; an initiator compound capable of generating a radical, an acid, or a base; and a compound whose physical or chemical characteristic irreversibly changes by at least one of a radical, an acid, and a base.

Abstract: There are disclosed; an active energy beam curing type conductive paste, containing a conductive substance, and an active energy beam polymerizable compound, wherein a cured matter, obtained when a composition of the paste excluding the conductive substance is cured with an electron beam having an acceleration voltage of 150 kV and an irradiated dose of 40 kGy, has an internal stress of 5 to 50 Mpa; a production method and a device for a conductor circuit substrate using the active energy beam curing type conductive paste; and a non-contact ID using the active energy beam curing type conductive paste and a production method for the ID.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device and an equipment for fabricating the semiconductor device are described. According to the method and the equipment, a semiconductor substrate is irradiated with a particle beam through an opening formed in a thin film portion of a stencil mask having the thin film portion and a supporting portion supporting the thin film portion. The method and the equipment are controlled so that the supporting portion of the stencil mask can be irradiated with the fringe of the particle beam. As a result, the method and the equipment provide suppressing deterioration such as deformation or breakage of the stencil mask.

Abstract: Disclosed is a printing plate material comprising a support and provided thereon, a hydrophilic layer and a thermosensitive image formation layer containing a blocked isocyanate compound, which is a reaction product of an isocyanate compound, a polyol, and an isocyanate group-blocking material, wherein the thermosensitive image formation layer is formed by coating on the support an aqueous thermosensitive image formation layer coating liquid containing the blocked isocyanate compound.

Abstract: A negative photosensitive resin composition comprising an alkali-soluble photosensitive resin (A) having acidic groups and having at least three ethylenic double bonds per molecule, an ink repellent (B) made of a polymer having polymerized units (b1) having a C20 or lower alkyl group in which at least one of its hydrogen atoms is substituted by a fluorine atom (provided that the alkyl group may contain etheric oxygen), and polymerized units (b2) having an ethylenic double bond, and a photopolymerization initiator (C), wherein the fluorine content in the ink repellent (B) is from 5 to 25 mass %, and the proportion of the ink repellent (B) is from 0.01 to 20 mass %, based on the total solid content of the negative photosensitive resin composition. The negative photosensitive resin composition of the present invention is excellent in adhesion to a substrate, ink repellency and durability thereof and further excellent in alkali solubility and developability.

Abstract: Optical transmission structures include a waveguide and an optical lens wherein the optical lens has a sufficiently large thickness to allow the formation of a curved front lens surface that collimates transmitted light rays so that they travel within a plane that is coplanar to a working surface. The present invention also relates to a technique for manufacturing the optical transmission structure, which involves the use of a photopolymer material. The optical transmission structure can be implemented in various systems such as a system for optical data input.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing an optical waveguide, comprising the steps of: continuously applying a fluorene derivative layer onto a continuous substrate and curing the layer to thereby form a lower cladding layer; continuously applying a photosensitive fluorene derivative layer onto the lower cladding layer; continuously exposing the applied photosensitive fluorene derivative layer to a light through a photomask having a predetermined pattern; continuously subjecting the exposed photosensitive fluorene derivative layer to post-exposure heating; continuously developing the heated photosensitive fluorene derivative layer to remove the unexposed areas therein, thereby forming into the predetermined pattern; curing the developed photosensitive fluorene derivative layer to thereby form a core layer having the predetermined pattern on the lower cladding layer; and continuously applying a fluorene derivative layer over the lower cladding layer so as to cover the core layer and curing the f

Abstract: A method for nano-scale high resolution patterning of self-assembled monolayer using soft X-rays is provided.

Abstract: An image forming method using a photothermographic material including, on at least one surface of a support, at least a photosensitive silver halide, a non-photosensitive organic silver salt, a reducing agent for silver ions, and a binder, in which (1) the photothermographic material is exposed and thermally developed during transportation at a transportation speed of 23 mm/sec or faster, (2) the non-photosensitive organic silver salt contains 30 mol % to 85 mol % of silver behenate and an amount of the time until a leading end of the photothermographic material reaches a thermal development station after a power source for ae thermal developing apparatus is turned on is 15 minutes or less, or (3) a coating amount of silver inf the photothermographic material is 1.9 g/m2 or less and a thermal development time is 12 sec or less.

Abstract: A method of forming an image comprising the steps of: (a) exposing a photothermographic material comprising a support having thereon an image forming layer comprising organic silver salt grains, silver halide grains, a reducing agent, a development accelerator and a binder, the image forming layer being formed by application of a coating composition comprising more than 30% water as a solvent of the coating composition, and (b) conducting thermal development of the exposed photothermographic material employing a thermal developing device at a distance of 0 to 50 cm between an exposing section and a developing section to obtain a maximum density of 3.8 to 5.0 of the photothermographic material after the thermal development.

Abstract: Incorporating a crown ether-alkali metal complex cation of an enolate anion of an aldehyde having at least one electron withdrawing group in the alpha (?) position, provides thermally developable materials with imaging properties that have little change with changes in humidity. Both photothermographic and thermographic materials are provided, and particularly photothermographic materials having lower silver coverage.

Abstract: The invention provides a photographic element, comprising a support, a photographic emulsion layer and, an antihalation underlayer and/or a pelloid layer, the antihalation underlayer and/or pelloid layer being present in an amount of 1 g/m2 or less and comprises a vehicle and a solid particle dye.

Abstract: Significantly low circulating S-adenosylmethionine levels were found to be diagnostic for human Pneumocystis carinii infection, and rise in levels towards normal correlated with successful treatment. Diagnosis of P. carinii injection and monitoring of progress of treatment based thereon are described.

Abstract: The present invention describes improved microfluidic systems and procedures for fabricating improved microfluidic systems, which contain one or more levels of microfluidic channels. The methods for fabrication the systems disclosed can provide a convenient route to topologically complex and improved microfluidic systems. The microfluidic systems can include three-dimensionally arrayed networks of fluid flow paths therein including channels that cross over or under other channels of the network without physical intersection at the points of cross over. The microfluidic networks can be fabricated via replica molding processes utilizing mold masters including surfaces having topological features formed by photolithography. The present invention also involves microfluidic systems and methods for fabricating complex patterns of materials, such as biological materials and cells, on surfaces utilizing the microfluidic systems.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel methods and compositions for the detection of analytes using the nuclear reorganization energy, ?, of an electron transfer process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to peptides that are derived from HSV-2 glycoprotein G2 and represent HSV-2 type-specific epitopes. The present invention also provides for compositions comprising these peptides for type-specific serological diagnosis of HSV-2 infection. Methods of using these peptides for type-specific detection of HSV-2 antibodies and differentiation of HSV-2 viral infection from HSV-1 and other herpes family viral infections are further provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides variants of cyanovirin-N and water-soluble polymer conjugates thereof. The cyanovirin-N of the invention are particularly suited for site-selective covalent attachment of one or more water soluble polymers, to provide polymer conjugates of cyanovirin-N variants exhibiting antiviral activity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a diagnostic assay for the virus causing Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in humans (“hSARS virus”). In particular, the invention relates to a real-time quantitative PCR assay for the detection of hSARS virus using reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction. Specifically, the quantitative assay is a TaqMan® assay using the primers and probes constructed based on the genome of the hSARS virus. The invention further relates to a diagnostic kit that comprises nucleic acid molecules for the detection of the hSARS virus.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and assays for detecting bacteriophage MS2 in a sample.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for producing and screening combinatorial libraries of multimeric proteins. The present invention relies on the use of filamentous fungal heterokaryons that are produced using two or more parent strains into which a population of DNA molecules encoding variants of a multimeric protein have been introduced.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and kits for determining the presence of polynucleotides in samples. According to certain embodiments, the invention provides methods for determining the presence of target polynucleotides by amplifying the target polynucleotides in the sample, detecting amplification products, and determining the sequence of the amplification products.

Abstract: The present invention demonstrates that mitochondrial DNA damage occurs prior to, or simultaneous with, atherosclerotic lesion development, that aortic mitochondrial DNA damage increases with age, and that genotype and diet both influence the level of mitochondrial DNA damage. Hence, the present invention demonstrates that mitochondrial DNA damage occurs early in atherosclerosis, and may be an initiating event in atherogenesis, and provides methods to predict coronary atherosclerotic heart disease based upon the amount of mitochondrial DNA damage.

Abstract: The present invention relates to DNA sequences from regions of copy number change on chromosome 20. The sequences can be used in hybridization methods for the identification of chromosomal abnormalities associated with various diseases.

Abstract: A Raman integrated sensor system for the detection of targets including biotargets includes at least one sampling platform, at least one receptor probe disposed on the sampling platform, and an integrated circuit detector system communicably connected to the receptor. The sampling platform is preferably a Raman active surface-enhanced scattering (SERS) platform, wherein the Raman sensor is a SERS sensor. The receptors can include at least one protein receptor and at least one nucleic acid receptor.

Abstract: A process of treating a subject that is undergoing methylphenidate therapy and concomitant therapy with another drug undergoes or interferes with P450 metabolism, wherein the methylphenidate is d-threo-methylphenidate.

Abstract: A method of extracting RNA from biological systems (cells, cell fragments, organelles, tissues, organs, or organisms) is presented in which a solution containing RNA is contacted with a substrate to which RNA can bind. RNA is withdrawn from the substrate by applying negative pressure. No centrifugation step exceeds thirty seconds. Preferably, the RNA is diluted prior to filtration and one or more wash steps can be used to remove interferents. In one such method, except for DNA shearing and drying steps, centrifugation is not undertaken during the extraction step.

Abstract: A tissue or biopsy sample is evaluated to determine if the sample is early-stage melanoma by determining the level of inhibitor of DNA-binding protein 1 (Id1) expression in cells of the sample; and comparing the determined amount of Id1 to a reference level. The presence of levels of Id1 in cells of the sample in excess of the reference level indicates that the sample is early-stage melanoma.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of extracting virus genes, which is excellent in quickness and convenience and can be automated, and this invention also provides an apparatus for such extraction of virus genes. A conductive hollow fiber membrane (module) 12 is immersed in a virus suspension 20 and thus viral particles suspended in the virus suspension 20 are captured in the conductive hollow fiber membrane (module) 12. The coating of the thus captured virus is lysed and the virus genes are released. Next, the virus genes are collected by subjecting the conductive hollow fiber membrane (module) 12 to at least one of an electrical treatment and a physical treatment.