Abstract: A multiport diffuser for discharging condenser cooling water from thermal power plants and the like, the diffuser being adapted for installation at the bottom of a large body of water and being operable to discharge the condenser cooling water at that submerged location. The diffuser consists of a main pipe disposed along the bottom of the large body of water and a large number of nozzles oriented at predetermined variable angles to the axis of the main pipe, the angle of orientation being a function of the distance of a particular nozzle away from the longitudinal center of the main pipe and also a function of the half-length of the main pipe.

Abstract: A process wherein a solution is allowed to fall from the end of a capillary tube in the presence of a gradient field of an applied force field (magnetic or electric). If the fluid contains ions that are susceptible to the applied field, then the content of those ions can be correlated to the change in the specific characteristics of the capillary drop (i.e., the drop weight or equivalently the drop volume). This finds use as an assay technique for those susceptible ions, and it further can be used to give information as to the degree of susceptibility that the ions show to the applied force field.

Abstract: A laser featuring, in one aspect, a volume of gas having a lasing constituent, a light source arranged to emit light having ionizing photons for ionizing the gas, the effective photon energy spectrum of the ionizing photons lying below the ionization potential of the lasing constituent and below the level of photon absorption bands of the gas, the spectrum being selected to provide an average penetration depth of the ionizing photons into the gas of at least 1 cm. and to photoionize the gas predominantly by a multiple step process involving absorption of successive photons at least the first of which has a photon energy less than the ionization potential of said lasing constituent, and an electric field source for applying to the gas a voltage sufficient to produce an avalanche breakdown in the gas to effectively raise the lasing constituent to its lasing level; and in another aspect a seed gas comprising an amine having the structure ##EQU1## where R.sub.1, R.sub.2, and R.sub.

Abstract: Polyenes are synthesized from unsaturated materials having allylic hydroxyl groups, which react with imidosulfides to produce sulfones. Removal of the sulfone group, e.g. by reaction with alkyllithium and iodine, results in compounds in which the allylic carbons are joined by a double bond. The reactions take place easily over wide temperature ranges. The method is particularly advantageous in the synthesis of carotenoids from polyene alcohols, being much simpler and easier to use than previous carotenoid syntheses.

Abstract: A process for preparing cathodochromic materials whereby coloration properties of the materials are enhanced by a low-temperature re-crystallization process. Crystalline powders formed using either hydrothermal or sintering growth techniques are hydrothermally re-crystallized at a temperature sufficiently high and for a time sufficiently long to effect re-crystallization. The temperature range for hydrothermal re-crystallization is 60.degree.C to 300.degree.C and the re-crystallization growth time is at least the order of 12 hours and, more typically, the order of three days. There is shown a cathode ray tube employing said materials.