Abstract: A fuel cell includes at least one electrode operatively disposed in the fuel cell, and having a catalytically active surface. The present invention further includes a mechanism for maintaining a substantially uniform maximum catalytic activity over the surface of the electrode.

Abstract: A method for elevating a temperature within a fuel cell having a cathode, an electrolyte and an anode, includes, prior to the electrolyte reaching a minimum temperature at which oxygen ions cross the electrolyte, conducting an exothermic reaction at the cathode or the anode to elevate the temperature within the fuel cell.

Abstract: A technique for fabricating an MEA for a fuel cell that is prepared as a catalyst-coated diffusion media (CCDM). The MEA includes a diffusion media layer having a microporous layer. A catalyst layer is deposited on the microporous layer so that it covers its entire surface. An ionomer layer is sprayed on the catalyst layer. A perfluorinated membrane is sandwiched between one CCDM at the anode side of the MEA and another CCDM at the cathode side of the MEA where the ionomer spray layers face the membrane.

Abstract: A heat exchanger structure for a plurality of electrochemical storage cells has at least one duct component through which thermal control medium flows. The duct component has two material strips which are arranged parallel to one another and between which a heat exchanger duct is formed. The material strips have shaped portions adapted to the storage cells. The heat exchanger structure is useable, for example, for a motor vehicle battery.

Abstract: A battery module is constructed of an integral battery case which is constituted by forming a plurality of prismatic cell cases into a unitized body, wherein positive electrode plates and negative electrode plates laminated alternately upon one another with intervening separators are respectively accommodated in each of the cell cases, thereby constituting a plurality of cells, these cells being electrically connected in series. A plurality of such battery modules are arranged in a direction in which the electrode plates within each cell are laminated in a condition with coolant passages formed between the battery modules, and bound tightly together with end plates arranged at both ends in the direction of adjacent arrangement of the battery modules.

Abstract: A battery is provided with a plurality of unit cells stacked in a stack direction, a plurality of conductive members each having an electric conductivity, and a plurality of insulation members each having an insulation property. The plurality of conductive members and the plurality of insulation members are alternately disposed in the stack direction with the plurality of unit cells having respective output terminals being sandwiched such that the plurality of unit cells are electrically connected in the stack direction.

Abstract: A prismatic sealed battery has a prismatic battery case (3) which includes a plurality of prismatic containers (4) coupled in a row via partitions (5), electrode plate assemblies (8), and collectors (10) which are joined to lead portions on both sides of the electrode plate assemblies (8). Each container (4) contains the electrode plate assembly (8) to which said collectors 10 are joined. An opening (21) is formed in at least one side wall (20) of the prismatic battery case (3) and in a position where each partition (5) is disposed, in such a manner as to face the containers (4) on both sides, and a conductive connection member (23) disposed in the opening (21) is connected to the collectors (10, 10) on both sides of the partition (5). Since the current-carrying path between the electrode plate assemblies (8) becomes short, internal resistance decreases, and hence internal resistance per cell (2) is reduced. Even and full use of the whole electrode plate assembly (8) achieves higher power output.

Abstract: A positive electrode for a lithium-sulfur battery includes a positive active material, a binder, a conductive agent, and a surfactant.

Abstract: The invention includes, for example, a radiation patterning tool which can be utilized to form relatively circular contacts in situations in which an array of contacts has a different pitch along a row of the array than along a column of the array. An alternating phase shift can give a well-defined contact in the small pitch (dense) direction. Rim shifters are added in the larger pitch direction to force the circular form of the contact openings. In further aspects of the invention, side-lobe-suppressing patterns can be added between adjacent rims. The invention also includes methods of forming radiation patterning tools.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of a color filter is capable of achieving improvement in efficiency of use of materials and simplification in process, and forming highly accurate colored patterns.

Abstract: A surface graft material including a substrate and a surface graft polymer chain, wherein the surface graft polymer chain includes a photocleavable moiety at one of its terminals, and the surface graft polymer chain is directly bonded to a surface of the substrate by a covalent bond between the photocleavable moiety and the substrate. A graft pattern formation method comprising exposing the graft material to cleave the photocleavable moiety in the exposed area, and removing the graft polymer chain from the exposed are to form a surface graft polymer chain pattern. A conductive pattern material and a metal particle pattern material using the graft pattern.

Abstract: An electrophotographic imaging member having a charge generating layer and a charge transport layer overlayed thereon is provided. The charge transport layer has a lower surface and an upper surface, wherein the lower surface is in contiguous contact with the charge generating layer. The charge transport layer comprises a film forming polymer binder and a charge transport compound molecularly dispersed or dissolved therein to form a solid solution. The concentration of the charge transport compound in the charge transport layer decreases from the lower surface to the upper surface. In such a construction, the resulting charge transport layer exhibits enhanced cracking suppression, improved wear resistance, excellent imaging member electrical performance, and improved copy print out quality.

Abstract: Naphthalenetetracarboxylic acid diimide derivatives and an electrophotographic photoconductive material containing the naphthalenetetracarboxylic acid diimide derivatives. The naphthalenetetracarboxylic acid diimide derivatives have a structure represented by the following formula: in which, R1 and R2 are each independently selected from the group consisting of a substituted or non-substituted C1-C20 alkyl group; a substituted or non-substituted C1-C20 alkoxy group; a substituted or non-substituted C6-C30 aryl group; and a substituted or non-substituted C7-C30 aralkyl group; and halogen. The electrophotographic photoconductive material includes the naphthalenetetracarboxylic acid diimide derivatives as an electron transferring material.

Abstract: A member including for example, a substrate, a charge blocking layer, an optional adhesive layer, a charge generating layer comprising particles comprising a photogenerating layer of for example, chlorogallium phthalocyanine dispersed in a matrix comprising a charge transport molecule, an electron transport molecule which functions to sensitize the chlorogallium phthalocyanine pigment in the charge generating layer and mixtures thereof, and a film forming binder.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel organophotoreceptor that comprises an electrically conductive substrate and photoconductive element on the electrically conductive substrate, the photoconductive element having a) a novel charge transport compound having the formula where X is a divalent hydrocarbon group of 1 to 30 carbon atoms, or a divalent hydrocarbon group of 1 to 30 carbon atoms where there is at least one substitution of a carbon atom by a heteroatom provided that no two heteroatoms may be adjacent within the backbone of an aliphatic divalent hydrocarbon radical, R1 is an aryl group or a heterocyclic group, R2 is a (N,N-disubstituted)arylamine group, and R3 is an epoxy group; and (b) a charge generating compound. The epoxy group can be reacted with a functional group within the polymer to form a polymeric charge transport compound either directly or through a crosslinking agent.

Abstract: A photoconductive imaging member with linear and proportional collection efficiencies and substantially constant photoinduced characteristics comprised of a supporting substrate, and thereover in, for example, certain weight ratios, a single layer comprised of a mixture of a photogenerator component, a charge transport component, an electron transport component, and a polymer binder, and wherein the photogenerating component is a pigment.

Abstract: An improved organophotoreceptor comprises an electrically conductive substrate and a photoconductive element on the electrically conductive substrate, the photoconductive element comprising: (a) a charge transport material comprising a polymer having the formula where X1 and X2 are, each independently, a bond or a linking group; Y comprises a bond or an arylamine group; Z comprises a bond, O, S, or NR4; R1 and R4 comprise, each independently, H, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, an aromatic group, or a heterocyclic group; R2 and R3 comprise, each independently, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, an aromatic group, or a heterocyclic group; and n is a distribution of integers between 1 and 100,000 with an average value of greater than one; and (b) a charge generating compound. Corresponding electrophotographic apparatuses, imaging methods, and methods of forming the charge transport material are described.

Abstract: The present invention provides a toner for electrostatically charged image development comprising at least a binder resin, a colorant and a releasing agent. The releasing agent satisfies the following equations (1) and (2): 0.1??*a?1.0??(1) 1.1??*b/?*a?3.5??(2) wherein ?*a represents a complex viscosity (Pa·s) determined from a first dynamic viscoelasticity measurement at a measuring frequency of the releasing agent of 6.28 rad/s, ?*b represents a complex viscosity (Pa·s) determined from a second dynamic viscoelasticity measurement at a measuring frequency of the releasing agent of 62.8 rad/s, and each of the first and second dynamic viscoelasticities is measured in a temperature range from a temperature that is 15° C. lower than the melting point of the releasing agent to a temperature that is 15° C. higher than the melting point of the releasing agent.

Abstract: The present invention provides a toner binder for electrophotography which comprises a polyester resin constituted of an alcohol component containing a polyoxyalkylene ether (A) of a bisphenol and an acid component, and the content of unreacted bisphenols in said polyester resin is 15 ppm or less.

Abstract: An electrophotographic toner having a core-shell structure including a crystalline resin in its core region or a sea-island structure including a crystalline resin in its island region, wherein the toner has 1) a resistance of 5.0×1012 ?·cm or higher, 2) a dynamic viscosity coefficient of 3×103 Pa·s or higher at a temperature which is 50° C. higher than a melting point of the crystalline resin, and 3) a dynamic viscosity coefficient of 1×105 Pa·s or lower at a temperature which is 10° C. higher than the melting point of the crystalline resin.

Abstract: A toner process comprising mixing a colorant dispersion with a latex, a wax dispersion, and a coagulant, and wherein the polymer latex selected possesses a weight average molecular weight of from about 20,000 to about 55,000, a number average molecular weight of from about 5,000 to about 18,000, an onset glass transition temperature Tg of from about 40° C. to about 80° C., and a particle size distribution PSD of from about 50 to about 500 nanometers.

Abstract: There are provided a negative-working photosensitive composition which can be cured by infrared rays and is less likely to suffer polymerization inhibition by oxygen during radical polymerization, and also exhibits high adhesion with a metal, and a negative-working photosensitive lithographic printing plate which is capable of directly forming images by irradiation with infrared rays from a solid or semiconductor laser based on digital signals, and also has high sensitivity and excellent printing durability. The negative-working photosensitive composition contains an infrared absorber (A), an organoboron compound (B) which functions as a polymerization initiator by using in combination with the infrared absorber (A), a compound having a polymerizable unsaturated group (C) and a diazo resin (D), and the negative-working photosensitive lithographic printing plate comprises a support, and a photosensitive layer containing the negative-working photosensitive composition formed on the support.

Abstract: A photoresist composition, a method for forming a film pattern using the photoresist composition, and a method for manufacturing a thin film transistor array panel using the photoresist composition are provided. In one embodiment, a photoresist composition includes an alkali-soluble resin, a photosensitive compound, and an additive, for advantageously providing a uniform photoresist in a channel region.

Abstract: Thermally imageable multilayer imageable elements useful as lithographic printing plate precursors that have good solvent resistance are disclosed. The underlayer of the imageable element comprises an acidic copolymer that comprises, in polymerized form, about 10 mol % to about 75 mol % of one or more monomers of the formula: CH2?CH(R1)-Z-X—NH—CO—NH—C6H3—(R2)(CO2H); in which: R1 is H or CH3; R2 is H or OH; Z is —C6H4— or —C(O) —Y—; Y is —O— or —NH—; and X is selected from —C(CH3)2—, —CH(CH3)— and —(CH2)n—, in which n is an integer from 1 to 12.

Abstract: A positive resist composition comprising: a resin that comprises a repeating unit including a specific norbornane lactone structure and a repeating unit including a specific alicyclic hydrocarbon structure, and that increases a solubility of the resin in an alkaline developer by an action of an acid; and a compound that generates an acid upon treatment with one of an actinic ray and radiation, and a pattern forming method utilizing the same.

Abstract: Image formation via photoinduced fluorescence changes in a polymeric medium with two-photon fluorescence readout of a multi-layer structure. Fluorophore-containing polymers, possessing one or more basic functional groups, underwent protonation in the presence of a photoinduced acid generator upon exposure to a broad-band UV light source or fast-pulsed red to near-IR laser irradiation. Solution studies demonstrated formation of monoprotonated and diprotonated species upon irradiation, each resulting in distinctly different absorption and fluorescence properties. The fluorescence of the original, neutral, fluorophore was reduced upon monoprotonation, leading to a concomitant increase in fluorescence at longer wavelengths due to the monoprotonated form, the basis for multichannel data readout.

Abstract: A polymerizable composition contains (A) a dye which is soluble in an organic solvent and in an alkaline aqueous solution and has an absorption in 700 to 1200 nm, (B) a radical polymerization initiator, (C) a compound having an ethylenically unsaturated bond, and (D) a binder polymer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a photosensitive ceramic composite and a method for manufacturing a multilayer substrate using the composite. The photosensitive ceramic composite and manufacturing method of the present invention are applicable to circuit members and components for ceramic multilayer substrates for high-frequency wireless communication. The photosensitive ceramic composite contain inorganic particles and a photo sensitive organic components. The inorganic particles have at least surface sections containing an inorganic material having a refractive index less than that of inner sections of the inorganic particles.

Abstract: A single manufacturing pass for manufacturing a multilayered self-organized coating onto a substrate to provide all of the functions usually provided in multiple-pass coatings for manufacturing an infrared imageable offset lithographic printing plate; and a process whereby two or more polymeric materials that cannot usually co-exist in solution may be dissolved in suitably dilute solvent mixtures which, when coated onto a substrate and the solvents evaporated, deposit a continuous graduation of polymeric mixtures vertical to the substrate, caused by the self-assembly process.

Abstract: During pattern transfer to a film stack, the hard mask layer, such as a tunable etch resistant antireflective coating (TERA), is consumed when etching the underling layer(s), leading to reduced etch performance and potential damage to the underlying layer(s), such as lack of profile control. A method of and system for preparing a structure on a substrate is described comprising: preparing a film stack comprising a thin film, a hard mask formed on the thin film, and a layer of light-sensitive material formed on the hardmask; forming a pattern in the layer of light-sensitive material; transferring the pattern to the hard mask; removing the layer of light-sensitive material; treating the surface layer of the hard mask in order to modify the surface; and transferring the pattern to the thin film.

Abstract: A print medium includes a planar film. A rib-like structure is arranged on one side of the film to define a series of columns that extend a length of the film to facilitate rolling of the print medium in one direction as opposed to an opposite direction.

Abstract: A photothermographic material having, on at least one side of a support, an image forming layer including at least a photosensitive silver halide, a non-photosensitive organic silver salt, a reducing agent, and a binder, and at least one non-photosensitive layer, wherein the photothermographic material contains a water-insoluble azomethine dye and a metal phthalocyanine dye represented by formula (PC-1): wherein M represents a metal atom; R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, and R8 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent; and at least one of them is an electron-attracting group. The invention provides a photothermographic material which exhibits preferable image tone and excellent image storability.

Abstract: Disclosed is a silver halide photographic material which comprises at least one methine dye represented by the following formula (I): wherein Y represents a furan ring or a pyrrole ring, and Y may further be condensed with other 5- or 6-membered carbocyclic ring or heterocyclic ring, or may have a substituent; the bond between two carbon atoms in which Y is condensed may be a single bond or a double bond; Z represents an atomic group necessary to form a 5- or 6-membered nitrogen-containing heterocyclic ring, and Z may further be condensed with other 5- or 6-membered carbocyclic ring or heterocyclic ring; R represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, aryl group, or heterocyclic group; D represents a group necessary to form a methine dye; L1 and L2 each represents a methine group; p represents 0 or 1; M represents a counter ion; and m represents a number of 0 or higher necessary to neutralize the charge in the molecule.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods and compositions regarding the preparation of an cell concentrate, such as, for example, an osteogenic cell concentrate, from a physiological solution, such as bone marrow aspirate, blood, or a mixture thereof. In specific embodiments, the invention provides methods and compositions utilizing two physiological solution-processing techniques, particularly in a point of care environment, wherein centrifugation is not employed.

Abstract: Methods and materials for modulating pericyte and epithelial cell proliferation relating to BPI protein products or inhibitors thereof are provided.

Abstract: The invention concerns nucleic acids derived from human V9 erythrovirus, fragments thereof, encoded polypeptides, and applications as diagnostic reagents and as immunogenic agents.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to viral variants exhibiting reduced sensitivity to particular agents and/or reduced interactivity with immunological reagents. More particularly, the present invention is directed to hepatitis B virus variants exhibiting complete or partial resistance to nucleoside analogues and/or reduced interactivity with antibodies to viral surface components including reduced sensitivity. The present invention further contemplates assays for detecting such viral variants which assays are useful in monitoring anti-viral therapeutic regimes and in developing new or modified vaccines directed against viral agents and in particular hepatitis B virus variants.

Abstract: Disclosed are transgenic animals and transfected cell lines expressing a protein associated with Alzheimer's Disease, neuroectodermal tumors, malignant astrocytomas, and glioblastomas. Also disclosed is the use of such transgenic animals and transfected cell lines to screen potential drug candidates for treating or preventing Alzheimer's disease, neuroectodermal tumors, malignant astrocytomas, and glioblastomas. The invention also relates to new antisense oligonucleotides, ribozymes, triplex forming DNA and external guide sequences that can be used to treat or prevent Alzheimer's disease, neuroectodermal tumors, malignant astrocytomas, and glioblastomas.

Abstract: This invention provides novel methods for assessing HPV infection. Gene expression levels are used to assess the progression of HPV infection from benign to malignant growth. Also provided are kits for carrying out the methods of this invention.

Abstract: The invention includes a method for determining the differences between the molecular interactions of two different mixtures of molecules and identifying ligands specific for molecules in one mixture. The method utilizes a combinatorial library to compare the molecular interactions of the two mixtures and eliminates those interactions that are common to both mixtures and those that are unique to the first mixture, such that interactions essentially unique to the target mixture are identified. Ligands specific for molecules in the target mixture can then be identified. The invention also includes a method of screening a combinatorial library to distinguish between true positive beads and false positive beads and to provide for the identification of ligands specific for target molecules.

Abstract: A method and system for specifically detecting perfectly matched probe-target hybrids by annealing a hairpin-based probe to a nucleic acid target under conditions favoring the formation of perfectly matched targets over mismatched targets, and electrochemically detecting the annealed probe. Sensitivity of detection can be enhanced by catalyzed reporter deposition of probe signal prior to electrochemical detection. Specificity can be enhanced by including hairpin-based competitor probes in the annealing step. The detection assay is particularly applicable to typing single nucleotide polymorphisms by DNA sandwich hybridization.

Abstract: Methods of activating a signaling cascade comprising, introducing leptin and/or a cytokine to a receptor complex comprising gp 130, optionally in combination with a compound acting on adenylate cyclase or acting on one or more downstream targets of adenylate cyclase, thereby inducing genes in neuro-endocrine cells or cells of neuro-endocrine origin. Two distinct gene-sets are induced, immediate early response genes (STAT-3, SOCS-3, Metallothionein-II, the serine/threonine kinase Fnk and the rat homologue of MRF-1), and late induced target genes (Pancreatitis Associated Protein I, Squalene Epoxidase, Uridinediphosphate Glucuronyl Transferase and Annexin VIII). Strong co-stimulation with the adenylate cyclase activator forskolin was shown with respect to late induced target genes. Transcripts encoding Leptin Induced Protein I (LIP-I) and Leptin Induced Protein II (LIP-II) were identified; however, no forskolin co-stimulatory effect was observed.

Abstract: A nucleic acid detector and a method of using the detector are disclosed for detecting the presence of target nucleic acid sequences within a sample. The nucleic acid detector comprises a substrate-bound, hairpin-shaped nucleic acid captor in conjunction with a labeled universal nucleic acid detector probe. The captor has a segment that is complementary to at least a portion of the target nucleic acid and is denatured and hybridized to the target under test conditions. Hybridization of the captor to the target maintains the captor in an open conformation which exposes an end portion of the captor to the universal detector probe. The detector probe is able to hybridize with the exposed end portion of the captor if the captor has hybridized with a target. The labeled detector probe is detectable by external detection methods. Detector probes having identical universal detector probe sequences may be used to identify the presence of multiple targets having various target sequences within a sample.

Abstract: Methods for the sequencing of polynucleotides are provided. Also provided are multiplex systems for sequencing polynucleotides using the disclosed methods, kits for use with the disclosed methods and methods for diagnosing diseases and adverse drug reactions using the disclosed methods.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for identifying compounds that modulate premature translation termination and/or nonsense-mediated mRNA decay by screening and identifying compounds that modulate the post-transcriptional expression of any gene with a premature translation stop codon. The invention particularly relates to using any gene encoding a premature stop codon to identify compounds that modulate premature translation termination and/or nonsense-mediated mRNA decay. A compound that modulates premature translation termination and/or nonsense-mediated mRNA decay of a target gene is identified using standard methods known in the art to measure changes in translation or mRNA stability of the gene product or mRNA of the gene with the premature stop codon. The methods of the present invention provide a simple, sensitive assay for high-throughput screening of libraries of compounds to identify pharmaceutical leads.

Abstract: The present invention provides DNA encoding a TADG-15 protein as well as a TADG-15 protein. Also provided is a vector capable of expressing the DNA of the present invention adapted for expression in a recombinant cell and regulatory elements necessary for expression of the DNA in the cell. The present invention further provides for methods of inhibiting TADG-15 expression and/or protease activity, methods of detecting TADG-15 mRNA and/or protein and methods of screening for TADG-15 inhibitors. Additionally, the present invention provides for cell-specific targeting via TADG-15 and methods of vaccinating an individual against TADG-15. The methods described are useful in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of cancer, particularly breast and ovarian cancer.

Abstract: A method for converting a pseudoisocytidine base having the formula: to a pseudoisocytidine molecule having the formula: is disclosed. Such compounds are useful as nucleic acid labeling compounds.

Abstract: The present invention provides compounds and methods for the detection of protein-protein interactions wherein said interactions are dependent on the presence or absence of post-translational modifications (PTMs) of at least one of the proteins.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and diagnostic kit for directly detecting the presence of a specific species of mold/fungi in a sample, particularly a species which is toxic to humans or animals including pets and livestock. The method involves releasing any fungal DNA from the sample and subjecting it to PCR amplification without the need for purifying the DNA.

Abstract: The present methods and apparatus concern the detection and/or identification of target analytes using probe molecules. In various embodiments of the invention, the probes or analytes are attached to one or more cantilevers. Binding of a probe to an analyte results in deflection of the cantilever, detected by a detection unit. A counterbalancing force may be applied to restore the cantilever to its original position. The counterbalancing force may be magnetic, electrical or radiative. The detection unit and the mechanism generating the counterbalancing force may be operably coupled to an information processing and control unit, such as a computer. The computer may regulate a feedback loop that maintains the cantilever in a fixed position by balancing the deflecting force and the counterbalancing force. The concentration of analytes in a sample may be determined from the magnitude of the counterbalancing force required to maintain the cantilever in a fixed position.