Abstract: A bipolar plate for fuel cells includes a flow plate having a first surface for the introduction of hydrogen fuel gas and water vapor and a second surface for the introduction of an oxygen containing gas, wherein at least a portion of the first and/or second surface comprises a nanostructured carbon material (NCM) coating deposited thereon, said coating having a thickness of 1 nm to 5 ?m.

Abstract: A spray module for depositing an electro-active material over a flexible conductive substrate is provided. The spray module comprises a first heated roller for heating and transferring the flexible conductive substrate, a second heated roller for heating and transferring the flexible conductive substrate, a first spray dispenser positioned adjacent to the first heated roller for depositing electro-active material onto the flexible conductive substrate as the flexible conductive substrate is heated by the first heated roller, and a second spray dispenser positioned adjacent to the second heated roller for depositing electro-active material over the flexible conductive substrate as the flexible conductive substrate is heated by the second heated roller.

Abstract: An ink composition for inkjet recording is provided. The ink composition contains (a) a monomer containing a fluorinated alkylene group and two or more polymerizable groups, (b) a photo initiator, and (c) a polymerizable monomer.

Abstract: A method of fabricating nanowires or microwires employs a robust conductive surface whose edges define electrodes for promoting electrochemical deposition of nanowire material at those edges. Controlled deposition times and thin conductive layers allow extremely small diameter wires to be created and then removed without destruction of the pattern and the wires to be applied to a second substrate or used for composite materials.

Abstract: The invention discloses a security element having a coating layer which appears transparent at certain angles of view, giving visual access to underlying information, whilst staying opaque at other angles of view. Documents of value, right, identity, security labels or branded goods comprising said security element, as well as a method for producing said security element, are also disclosed. Using appropriate substrate surfaces, optically variable and otherwise angle-dependent visual effects can be realized.

Abstract: A thin film deposition apparatus and an organic light-emitting display device by using the same. The thin film deposition apparatus includes an electrostatic chuck, a plurality of chambers; at least one thin film deposition assembly; a carrier; a first power source plug; and a second power source plug. The electrostatic chuck includes a body having a supporting surface that contacts a substrate to support the substrate, wherein the substrate is a deposition target; an electrode embedded into the body and applying an electrostatic force to the supporting surface; and a plurality of power source holes formed to expose the electrode and formed at different locations on the body.

Abstract: A monolithically integrated thin-film solid-state lithium battery device to supply energy to a mobile communication device. The device includes a plurality of layers ranging from greater than 100 layers to less than 20,000 layers of lithium electrochemical cells, which may be connected in parallel or in series to conform to a spatial volume. The device also includes a polymer based coating characterized by a thickness to house the plurality of layers and configured as an exterior region for the battery device, the polymer based coating having a resistivity of 1012 ?.cm and higher. The device further includes a hermetic seal provided by the polymer-based coating to enclose and house the plurality of layers.

Abstract: Organic-inorganic composite particles includes inorganic oxide particles each of which has a cationic charge on the particle surface and polymer gel molecules which are derived from a natural substance, have an anionic functional group and one or more hydroxyl groups in a molecule and have both a shrinking and a swelling property, the polymer gel molecules are electrostatically bonded to surfaces of the inorganic oxide particles; a process for producing the particles; a dispersion containing the particles; and a cosmetic containing the particles. These organic-inorganic composite particles have good dispersibility not only in aqueous solvents such as water but also in non-aqueous solvents and further have characteristics that aggregation of the particles scarcely occurs.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a component is provided. The method includes depositing a fugitive coating on a surface of a substrate, where the substrate has at least one hollow interior space. The method further includes machining the substrate through the fugitive coating to form one or more grooves in the surface of the substrate. Each of the one or more grooves has a base and extends at least partially along the surface of the substrate. The method further includes forming one or more access holes through the base of a respective one of the one or more grooves to connect the respective groove in fluid communication with the respective hollow interior space. The method further includes filling the one or more grooves with a filler, removing the fugitive coating, disposing a coating over at least a portion of the surface of the substrate, and removing the filler from the one or more grooves, such that the one or more grooves and the coating together define a number of channels for cooling the component.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to yellow-to-transmissive conjugated polymers, a method to prepare the yellow conjugated polymers, the use of the yellow conjugated polymers in an electrochromic and/or electroluminescent device comprising neutral state primary subtractive colored conjugated polymers, and a method to prepare the device comprising the yellow conjugated polymer. The yellow conjugated polymers comprise a sequence of dioxythiophene units alternating with aromatic units, thiophene units, furan units, and/or pyrrole units. The yellow conjugated polymers are prepared by cross-condensation reactions. The yellow conjugated polymers can be soluble and preparation of the device involves deposition of the yellow conjugated polymer from solution onto a surface.

Abstract: A method includes providing a voltage switchable dielectric material having a characteristic voltage, exposing the voltage switchable dielectric material to a source of ions associated with an electrically conductive material, and creating a voltage difference between the source and the voltage switchable dielectric material that is greater than the characteristic voltage. Electrical current is allowed to flow from the voltage switchable dielectric material, and the electrically conductive material is deposited on the voltage switchable dielectric material. A body comprises a voltage switchable dielectric material and a conductive material deposited on the voltage switchable dielectric material using an electrochemical process. In some cases, the conductive material is deposited using electroplating.

Abstract: A self bonding floor tile includes a main body and a self bonding layer connected with the main body. The self bonding layer includes an absorbate, a first adhesive and a second adhesive. The first adhesive connects the main body with the self bonding layer. At least a portion of the absorbate extends into the first adhesive, and at least a portion of the second adhesive penetrates into the absorbate for connecting the self bonding layer with a body to be decorated. A method for manufacturing the self bonding floor tile includes: providing a main body; spreading a first adhesive over the main body; providing an absorbate with porous or wick structure, and adding the absorbate to the first adhesive; spreading a second adhesive over the absorbate. The present self bonding floor tile can be quickly installed, easily and partly replaced with low installation and replacement cost.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of drug delivery nanosystems. More precisely, the present invention concerns a copolymer with advantageous properties for the outer coating of various nanoparticles. Said copolymer comprises at least three types of monomers with stealthy, coupling and therapeutic properties respectively, as well as an optional fourth type of monomers with targeting properties. The present invention also relates to core-shell or hollow shell nanoparticles coated by an external layer of the copolymer according to the invention. Several types of core-shell nanoparticles are envisaged. The invention also concerns methods for preparing said nanoparticles, as well as pharmaceutical compositions or medicaments comprising them.

Abstract: A carbon nanotube (CNT) attraction material is deposited on a substrate in the gap region between two electrodes on the substrate. An electric potential is applied to the two electrodes. The CNT attraction material is wetted with a solution defined by a carrier liquid having carbon nanotubes (CNTs) suspended therein. A portion of the CNTs align with the electric field and adhere to the CNT attraction material. The carrier liquid and any CNTs not adhered to the CNT attraction material are then removed.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to medical devices with therapy eluting components and methods for making same. More specifically, the invention relates to implantable medical devices having at least one porous layer, and methods for making such devices, and loading such devices with therapeutic agents. A mixture or alloy is placed on the surface of a medical device, then one component of the mixture or alloy is generally removed without generally removing the other components of the mixture or alloy. In some embodiments, a porous layer is adapted for bonding non-metallic coating, including drug eluting polymeric coatings. A porous layer may have a random pore structure or an oriented or directional grain porous structure. One embodiment of the invention relates to medical devices, including vascular stents, having at least one porous layer adapted to resist stenosis or cellular proliferation without requiring elution of therapeutic agents.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a dendrimer, in which metallocene, which is an oxidation-reduction material, is located at a core, and a conjugated dendron is connected to the metallocene core by a linker compound, an organic active layer having the dendrimer, an organic memory device having the organic active layer and a method of manufacturing the organic active layer and the organic memory device. The organic memory device manufactured using a dendrimer having a metallocene core of example embodiments may have a shorter switching time, decreased operation voltage, decreased manufacturing cost and increased reliability, thereby realizing a highly-integrated large-capacity memory device.

Abstract: A surface treatment process for an implantable medical device including a surface dielectric insulating layer, the process comprising the application of ions onto said dielectric insulating layer, the ions being capable of forming an electrostatic charge and locally creating an electric field associated with at least part of the surface of said implantable medical device upon application of a liquid to said surface.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods, processes, and systems for coating portions of a workpiece as well as to workpieces that have themselves been coated in accord with the invention. Under these methods and processes of the invention, a means to repel may be positioned on a mandrel prior to applying a coating to the workpiece. The means to repel may prevent the coating of a target surface of the workpiece.

Abstract: A plasma generation process that is more optimized for vapor deposition processes in general, and particularly for directed vapor deposition processing. The features of such an approach enables a robust and reliable coaxial plasma capability in which the plasma jet is coaxial with the vapor plume, rather than the orthogonal configuration creating the previous disadvantages. In this way, the previous deformation of the vapor gas jet by the work gas stream of the hollow cathode pipe can be avoided and the carrier gas consumption needed for shaping the vapor plume can be significantly decreased.

Abstract: This invention is comprised of the following innovations: various devices/instruments which may be used in the preparation of a compact monolayer [made up of a suitable organic material (or organic compound)] as well as the carbonization of the latter; efficient methods for preparing a compact monolayer which is free from all “other” materials that were used in the various processes involved in the said preparation of the said compact monolayer; various methods for carbonizing a compact monolayer by means of a suitable “heat source” (which allows the application of a sudden searing “heat” extremely quickly) in order to produce a graphene layer, where the said heat source may be a “hot surface” or a suitable “radiation type beam” such as a suitable laser beam, or a suitable maser beam, or a suitable electron beam; and finally, various methods to provide a protective layer for a graphene layer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a thermal barrier coating system (90) in communication with at least a portion of at least one substrate (92). The method includes: depositing a first bond coat (94) on at least a portion of at least one substrate (92); depositing a first thermal barrier coat (96) disposed on the bond coat (94); whereby the deposition occurs in one or more chambers to form the thermal barrier coating system (90); and wherein the deposition of the first bond coat (94) (or subsequent bond coats) and the deposition of the first thermal barrier coat (96) (or subsequent thermal barrier coats) is performed without out-of-chamber handling of the thermal barrier coating system (90).

Abstract: The invention allows for the contacting of preferably microcomponents using electrical wires. By growing metallic microdepositions on cut surfaces of microcables, a contact region is generated which simplifies the dosing and application of a contact auxiliary and allows ultrasonic bonding, comprising a defined size of the electrically conductive area and allowing the contacting of very stably insulated wires. The application of this method in a panelized manner and in series is inexpensive.

Abstract: Techniques for forming metal catalyst particles on a metal tip, and nanostructures on a metal tip are provided.

Abstract: A method of discharging droplets includes discharging a liquid material from a droplet discharge head and causing the droplet discharge head and a substrate as a landing target for the liquid material to move relative to each other to thereby deposit the liquid material on the substrate, feeding and removing the substrate to and from a droplet discharge apparatus provided with the droplet discharge head, performing a weight measurement discharge from the droplet discharge head substantially concurrent to the feeding and removing of the substrate to and from the droplet discharge apparatus, and measuring the weight of the liquid material discharged in the weight measurement discharge.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of coating metal articles with a flexible, chemical-resistant, corrosion-resistant, and abrasion-resistant coating that can be optionally formed and optionally electroplated. In some examples, the articles are metal motor vehicle bumpers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for coating nanoparticles with graphene, comprising the steps of (a) providing a suspension comprising a suspension medium and nanoparticles with positive surface charge, (b) adding graphene oxide particles to the suspension from step (a), the graphene oxide particles accumulating on the nanoparticles, and (c) converting the graphene oxide particles accumulated on the nanoparticles to graphene, to graphene-coated nanoparticles comprising at least one metal, a semimetal, a metal compound and/or a semimetal compound, and to the use of these graphene-coated nanoparticles in electrochemical cells and supercapacitors, and to supercapacitors and electrochemical cells comprising these nanoparticles.

Abstract: The invention relates to supports consisting of nanoscalar polymer fibres, polymer tubes or hollow fibres for the application and targeted and/or delayed release of ingredients, in particular, agricultural active ingredients. The invention also relates to a method and a device for the production of supports of this type in a charged or empty state. The method and device use electrospinning technology.

Abstract: A gas barrier film comprising a resin substrate provided thereon at least one layer of a ceramic film, wherein the density ratio Y (=?f/?b) satisfies 1?Y?0.95 and the ceramic film has a residual stress being a compression stress of 0.01 MPa or more and 100 Mpa or less, wherein ?f is the density of the ceramic film and ?b is the density of a comparative ceramic film being formed by thermal oxidation or thermal nitridation of a metal as a mother material of the ceramic film so as to being the same composition ratio of the ceramic film.

Abstract: The invention is directed to novel compositions comprising an electroprocessed material and a substance, their formation and use. The electroprocessed material can, for example, be one or more natural materials, one or more synthetic materials, or a combination thereof. The substance can be one or more therapeutic or cosmetic substances or other compounds, molecules, cells, vesicles. The compositions can be used in substance delivery, including drug delivery within an organism by, for example, releasing substances or containing cells that release substances. The compositions can be used for other purposes, such as prostheses or similar implants.

Abstract: An ultrafine continuous fibrous ceramic filter, which comprises a filtering layer of a fibrous porous body, wherein the fibrous porous body comprises continuous ultrafine fibers of metal oxide which are randomly arranged and layered, and powdery nano-alumina incorporated into the ultrafine fibers or coated thereon, the ultrafine fibers being obtained by electrospinning a spinning solution comprising a metal oxide precursor sol-gel solution, and optionally, a polymer resin, and sintering the electrospun fibers, in which the ultrafine fibers have an average diameter of 10˜500 nm, and the fibrous porous body has a pore size of maximum frequency ranging from 0.05 to 2 ?m, exhibits high filtration efficiency at a high flow rate, and can be regenerated.

Abstract: A latent curing agent (30) of the present invention includes a core member (31) and a capsule (37) covering up the surface of the core member (31). The core member (31) includes a secondary particle (32) and a curing agent (35) retained in a gap (38) of the secondary particle (32). The curing agent (35) is liquid at ambient temperature. When the capsule (37) is destructed so that the curing agent (35) is emitted into an adhesive, the curing agent (35) is mixed with other ingredients in the adhesive. A metal alcoholate which is liquid at ambient temperature or a metal chelate which is liquid at ambient temperature is used as the curing agent (35), while a silane coupling agent is added to the adhesive. A reaction takes place between the curing agent (35) and the silane coupling agent to yield cations. By these cations, the epoxy resin undergoes cation in polymerization.

Abstract: The present invention is direct to a nano-probe corona tool and uses thereof. A nano-probe corona tool is disclosed having a tip with a diameter in the nano-scale, typically around 100 nm. The nano-probe corona tool is constructed of electrically conductive material. On the other end of the tool, a pulsed voltage source outputs a pulsed voltage to generated a pulsed electrical potential at the tip. The pulsed electrical potential at the tip causes a plasma discharge corona to occur. Uses of the corona discharge include, but are not limited to, optical emission spectroscopy, in the enhancement of deposition of coatings and nanoscale welding, e.g., nanotube or nanowires to a contact pad and welding two nanowires together, and in nanoscale surgery. For example, a nano-probe comprising CNTs may be inserted into cell membranes. The resulting corona discharge may be used to destroy tumors within the cell.

Abstract: Techniques for fabricating a structure from nanoparticles are generally described. Some example techniques are methods for fabricating an apparatus from nanoparticles. Example methods may include providing nanoparticles that are electrically charged with a first polarity and collecting the nanoparticles on a particle collection device having a second polarity opposite the first polarity. The nanoparticles can then be transferred onto a base structure from the particle collection device.

Abstract: Workpieces, which are conveyed by a conveying device along a conveying path, are heated by a heating and degreasing coil. Then, resin powder is downwardly sprayed from a nozzle of a coating device to each corresponding one of the workpieces, which are conveyed by the conveying device. The workpieces are thereafter heated by a heating and curing coil. At each of the heating coils, a dummy member, which is made of an electrically conductive material, is displaced from a retracted position to a forward position, which is located between the corresponding heating coil and a corresponding adjacent part of the conveying path of the conveying device, when an empty one of mount locations of the conveying device reaches the forward position of the dummy member.

Abstract: A via hole forming method and a multilayered board manufacturing method improve manufacturing yield by reducing the required processes. The via hole forming method includes a first step of forming a toner image by attaching toner particles, containing a conductive material and having a protruding portion, onto the surface of a first photosensitive member so that the protruding portion is directed to the outside; and a second step of opposing the surface of the first photosensitive member to one principal surface of a green sheet containing an insulating material and transferring the toner image to the one principal surface of the green sheet so that the protruding portions of the toner particles protrude into the green sheet so as to reach the other principal surface of the green sheet and the toner particles are buried in the green sheet. The via holes are formed using an electrophotographic printing method.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for static-biasing a pre-metalized non-conductive substrate within a process chamber. A substrate holder that holds a pre-metalized non-conductive substrate is engaged by a lift mechanism that provides movement of the substrate in a first, upward direction to a contact position within the process chamber and in a second direction to a non-contact position. When the substrate holder is moved to the contact position, the substrate electrically engages a conductive spring-loaded compliance mechanism that is mounted in a fixed position within the process chamber. The spring-loaded compliance mechanism is connected to a bias-voltage feed-through for the process chamber that applies a bias voltage to the substrate via the spring-loaded compliance mechanism.

Abstract: An electrostatic coating method in which a coating material cartridge is used. When a coating material feeding path (68, 88) is cleaned by a liquid fed from a coating material feeding unit (20), the liquid is fed from the coating material feeding unit to a storage part (13) and stored. The liquid in the storage part is then fed to a fluid chamber (83) inside a coating material cartridge (19) via a fluid circuit (10A). The liquid in the fluid chamber pushes out the electrically conductive coating material inside a coating material chamber (84) via a free piston (82), and the electrically conductive coating material is fed to a coating gun (14).

Abstract: A method of electrostatic spraying of a polymer surface involves oxidation and treating the oxidised surface with a polyamine and an electroconductivity modifying agent which contains a mono-carboxylic acid of from one to 12 carbon atoms.

Abstract: Particles for display media are constructed as spherical resin fine particles, in which functional groups indicating positively-charging properties are existent on their surfaces, which are obtained by polymerizing monomer by utilizing initiator having functional groups indicating positively-charging properties produced by reacting organic alkyl sulfonates and both terminal ends of azo initiator having cationic functional group including nitrogen-containing heterocycle or nitrogen-containing fatty series, or, are constructed as spherical resin fine particles, in which functional group indicating charging properties or ionic properties are existent on their surfaces, which are obtained by polymerizing monomer by utilizing initiator having functional groups indicating charging properties or ionic properties at its both terminal ends.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for bonding, onto a carrier, active molecules having an activity either against undesirable organisms or phenomena, or promoting a desired phenomenon. The method comprises: preparing a chemical composition containing at least cationic micelles each including at least one active molecule; impregnating the carrier with the cationic micelle chemical composition; bonding the active molecules onto the carrier by creating at least one electrostatic bond between the cationic micelles and the carrier. The invention also relates to an active element including a carrier and active molecules bonded onto said carrier and having an activity either against undesired organisms or phenomena, or promoting a desired phenomenon. The active element includes cationic micelles bonded onto said carrier by at least one electrostatic bond and each including at least one active molecule.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing Pt thin films using electrospray deposition, more specifically a method for preparing platinum thin film using electrospray deposition, including dissolving a platinum (Pt) precursor in ethanol to prepare a precursor solution for spraying (Step 1); applying a DC voltage between a substrate holder and a nozzle of an electrospraying device and then spraying the precursor solution prepared in Step 1 on a substrate which is maintained at about 100° C. to about 180° C. to form a platinum thin film (Step 2); and subjecting the platinum thin film formed in Step 2 to a heat treatment (Step 3).

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an electret filter element includes preparing fibers and producing, by a spray device, a spray mist of fluid droplets which include an electrical charge formed by an electric field between detaching fluid droplets and a counter-electrode. The fibers are passed through the spray mist so as to wet the fibers with the fluid droplets. The fibers are laid down to form a fibrous layer.

Abstract: A process for producing an article, including: forming an article from a composition comprising a polyamide matrix, wherein the composition comprises: 2 to 10% by weight of carbon black as an electrically conductive filler, with respect to the total weight of the composition, and 1% to 30% by weight of an antistatic agent comprising a polyetheramide, with respect to the total weight of the composition; and applying paint to the article by electrostatic deposition.

Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a tray, a mask and a rotary stage. The tray includes a substrate support configured to support an outer edge portion of a substrate, a mask support provided on an outer periphery side of the substrate support and projected above the substrate support, and a recess provided between the substrate support and the mask support. The mask covers the recess and the substrate support of the tray. The rotary stage includes an electrostatic adsorption surface and a tray mounting portion provided on an outer periphery side of the electrostatic adsorption surface and below the electrostatic adsorption surface. The outer edge portion of the substrate is projected toward the tray mounting portion side from the electrostatic adsorption surface. The substrate support is spaced below the outer edge portion of the substrate. The mask is spaced above the outer edge portion of the substrate.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes a first electrically conductive plate and a first gas diffusion layer. The first gas diffusion layer is disposed over the first electrically conductive plate. Characteristically, the first gas diffusion layer comprises a first fibrous sheet having fibers coated with an electrically conductive layer. A first catalyst layer is disposed over the first gas diffusion layer and an ion conducting membrane is disposed over the first catalyst layer. The fuel cell also includes a second catalyst layer disposed over the ion conducting membrane with a second gas diffusion layer disposed over the second catalyst layer. A second electrically conductive plate is disposed over the second gas diffusion layer. Methods for forming the gas diffusion layers and the fuel cell are also provided.

Abstract: An electrosurgical device including a reinforcing underlayment having a non-stick, anti-microbial coating. In one embodiment, the coating includes a non-stick material having anti-microbial particles interspersed in the non-stick material. This coating is applied to the surfaces of the electrode to minimize the build-up of charred tissue on the surfaces of the electrode. Also, the coating tends to kill harmful organisms residing on the surfaces of the electrode. In another embodiment, a primer coating is initially applied to the surfaces of the electrode. A plurality of anti-microbial particles are then applied to the primer coating layer and engage and are embedded in the primer coating layer. A top coat including a non-stick material is applied to the anti-microbial particle layer. In either embodiment, the coating layers applied to the surfaces of the electrode are cured to harden and adhere the layers to the electrode.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein provides for methods and apparatuses that yield electrodes having at least one functional gradient therein. In many embodiments, the electrodes comprise an electrode matrix having a plurality of layers, where at least two of the layers differs functionally, in composition, structure, or, organization. High-throughput electrode screening apparatuses are disclosed that include array formers and testers. Electrodes and battery cells arising from the methods and apparatuses disclosed herein are likewise disclosed. The methods, apparatuses, and resulting electrode and cell devices are, in some embodiments, ideally suited for use in lithium-ion batteries.

Abstract: A purpose is to provide a solid electrolyte battery including a low-resistance solid electrolyte layer, a vehicle mounting this solid electrolyte battery, a battery-mounting device, and a manufacturing method of the solid electrolyte battery. A solid electrolyte battery 1 includes a positive active material layer 21 containing positive active material particles 22, a negative active material layer 31 containing negative active material particles 32, and a solid electrolyte layer 40 interposed therebetween. The solid electrolyte layer contains a sulfide solid electrolyte SE but no resin binder and self-maintains its shape by a bonding force of the sulfide solid electrolyte. The solid electrolyte layer has a layer thickness 40T of 50 ?m or less and an area 40S of 100 cm2 or more.

Abstract: To minimize contamination and improve cleanability of an apparatus for electrostatically coating workpieces, the external surfaces of the apparatus are coated with a hydrophobic and hard coating.

Abstract: Compositions, methods, apparatuses, kits, and combinations are described for applying a colorant to a surface. The compositions useful in the present disclosure include a composition that is formulated to be applied and affixed to a surface. If desired, the composition may be substantially removed from the surface to remove a portion or substantially all of the stain before being affixed to the surface. If a user desires to remove the composition from the surface, the composition is formulated to be removed by a number of methods including, for example, vacuuming, wet extraction, chemical application, and the like. If the user desires to affix the composition to the surface in a permanent or semi-permanent manner, the composition may be affixed to the surface by applying energy thereto in the form of, for example, heat, pressure, emitted waves, an emitted electrical field, a magnetic field, and/or a chemical.