Abstract: The formation of spontaneous, thermodynamically stable vesicles from surfactant solutions is described. The vesicles comprise at least one single-chain, anionic surfactant and at least one single-chain cationic surfactant. Use of the vesicles in ultrafiltration treatment of water is disclosed.

Abstract: The body composition of poultry is improved by a hormonal strategy that includes the steps of(a) increasing plasma levels of thyroid hormone to at least about 150% (normal endogenous T.sub.3 hormone level=100%) during essentially the finishing phase (e.g., for chickens, 3 to 6 or 7 weeks-of-age) by administering (preferably orally) a metabolically-active thyroid hormone of the formula: ##STR1## wherein X is O, S, or CH.sub.2. Z is C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 alkylene or amino-substituted C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 alkylene,M.sup.+ is a physiologically acceptable cation,R.sub.3 and R.sub.5 are H or iodo, at least one of them being iodo,R.sub.3 ' and R.sub.5 ' are iodo, or hydrogen or --A--COO--M.sup.+, where A is C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 alkylene and M.sup.+ is a physiologically acceptable cation,provided, that when R.sub.3 ', R.sub.5 ', R.sub.3 and R.sub.

Abstract: A high-speed heterojunction light-emitting diode is formed by providing a dielectric layer on a heavily doped semiconductor substrate having short minority carrier lifetime. A semiconductor layer of opposite conductivity to the substrate is epitaxially grown through vias in the dielectric layer. This results in a junction area equal to the useful light-emitting area. An electrical contact is formed on the laterally overgrown area of the epitaxially grown material. The diode manufacture is compatible with planar processing techniques commonly used in integrated circuit manufacture.

Abstract: R.F. sputtered nickel in silica films containing 64 to 70 atomic percent nickel are employed as electrical resistance elements in a resistance thermometer for measuring temperatures of 50.degree. K and less.

Abstract: A differential laser Doppler biospectrometer for monitoring microbiota movement in a medium, which, preferably is quiescent. One of the laser beams is shifted in frequency to enable monitoring of small movement data velocity and/or direction). Average size of individuals and growth rate of the total number of organisms in suspension can be obtained. Exogenous stimuli, such as electric and magnetic fields, trace chemical additions or EM radiation are provided at selected times in the natural rhythm circadian cycle of the microbiota, and several such stimuli can be applied simultaneously. The measurement system is so sensitive that it can detect movement changes due to very weak energy stimuli transmitted to microbiota free to move in an established zone. In addition, holographic recordings of the microbiota can be made.

Abstract: A novel method for detecting phase transitions depends on an observed sharp drop in the amplitude of vibration of a vibrating tube containing test material when phase transitions occur. Combining phase equilibria detection with conventional density measurement permits the exploration of pressure, volume, temperature and composition at phase boundaries. The method is especially useful at high temperatures and pressures.

Abstract: The invention relates to a semiconductor diode capable of performing the dual functions of emission and detection of optical signals. The diode can be used in a bidirectional optical communication link alternating between transmitting and receiving optical signals. In particular, the structure is of a light emitting diode for emission and a photodiode for detection. The invention is a semiconductor p-n junction single heterostructure diode which can operate efficiently as a light emitting diode (LED) when a forward bias voltage is applied and as a light detecting photodiode when a zero or a small reverse bias voltage is applied.

Abstract: Stain of fabrics containing terminal amine groups by foodstuffs and other liquid or moist products that contain a dye having sulfonic acid moieties can be prevented or minimized by also including in the product a sulfonated naphthol- or sulfonated phenol-formaldehyde condensation product in non-toxic quantities.

Abstract: A beam or flow of a reactive or metastable precursor such as a hydride or organometallic compound is created, and this beam or flow is used to treat (e.g. dope or coat or otherwise modify) a substrate, e.g. an advanced material such as a semiconductor layer, a photovoltaic cell, or a solar cell. The beam or flow can also be directed into a storage zone so that the precursor or precursors can be collected for future use. The beam or flow is created in an apparatus comprising at least three zones. Zone 1 is irradiated with microwave energy to generate a reactive gas rich in free radicals (e.g. rich in H.sup.., CH.sub.3.sup.., etc.) zone 2 (downstream from zone 1) is substantially free of microwave energy and contains a target which is impinged upon by the free radicals and becomes a source of the precursor; zone 3 (downstream from zone 2) is where the precursors are either collected for storage or are used to treat the substrate. In a typical apparatus of this invention, a feed gas such as H.sub.2 or CH.sub.

Abstract: Chitosan is converted to dry, free-flowing, water-soluble chitosan salts by heterogeneous reaction between particulate chitosan suspended in about 5 to about 50 parts by weight of a C.sub.1 to C.sub.3 monohydric alcohol containing an amount of water sufficient to raise the dielectric constant of the alcohol to at least about 30 and not more than about 40. Operable acids are slected from defined aliphatic and aromatic carboxylic, aromatic sulphonic, and inorganic acids having a first hydrogen pKa in water at room temperature of less than about 5.

Abstract: A relatively low first cost process for cooling a warm liquid usually water, with a gas, usually air, comprises inflating a fabric dome through which inflating gas passes, while warm liquid is passed over the dome thus causing intimate mixing of liquid and gas in and on the fabric and consequent efficient cooling.

Abstract: It has been found that strongly basic molecular sieves can be used to make stable, relatively selective catalysts for reactions between carbon- and hydrogen-containing species if the strongly basic molecular sieve is combined with a volatile transition metal carbonyl compound. Although the volatile transition metal compound preferably contains initially only a single transition metal atom, clusterification can convert this compound to a compound or ion of the formulaH.sub.a M.sub.b (CO).sub.c (I)where a, b, and c are nubers greater than zero but no more than about 15, 1 to 2 being typical for a and 3 to 4 being typical for b. The polynuclear (i.e. poly-metal atom) compounds of formula (I) are believed to be trapped within "supercages" of the molecular sieve structure. To obtain the strongly basic molecular sieve used as a starting material for making the catalyst, the molecular sieve is treated with an alkali metal azide and the azide is then decomposed.

Abstract: The process of this invention will remove from acid rain essentially all of both the sulfur oxides (SOX) and nitrogen oxides (NOX) by catalytically reducing the NOX to water and elemental nitrogen and the SOX to either H.sub.2 S or elemental sulfur as desired. The process employs specific catalysts in the heteropoly acid or salt group and the spinel or inverse spinel group. The process conditions achieve an oxygen-free environment and reduction is effected with stoichiometric to 100% excess above stoichiometric H.sub.2 or H.sub.2 and CO as reducing gas. Temperatures can be 200.degree. to 900.degree. C. with the lower temperature range being favored; space velocity can be 2000 to 20,000 and still achieve 95+% abatement. The only product of the reaction which must be disposed of is saleable elemental sulfur.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing compound semiconductor thin films on substrates includes a reaction chamber wherein one or more constituents of semiconductor thin film is supplied as a gaseous species in a closed loop system. The apparatus includes hot and cold traps for isolating source materials from the reaction chamber and to provide for controlled delivery of the species. The hot and cold traps communicate with the reaction chamber through hot and cold legs to establish a closed loop recirculating flow. In a preferred embodiment, a thermosiphon provides the flow of gaseous species for formation of copper indium diselenide semiconductor thin films in a closed loop process.

Abstract: A high pressure, positive displacement piston pump for pumping a corrosive fluid is disclosed. The pump includes a pump body having a plurality of cylinders therein, each provided with an inlet and an outlet. A suitable one-way valve device is disposed in a connection between the inlet and the cylinder, and another oppositely directed one way-valve device is disposed in a connection betweenn the outlet and each cylinder. A piston is disposed in each cylinder for reciprocal movement therein in order to pump the fluuid from the inlet to the outlet. A cam device moves each piston reciprocally and includes a rotating member having a first camming surface which is cylically rotated adjacent an end of each piston. At the end of each piston, a second camming surface is provided which engages the first camming surface. A cooling system is also provided for cooling and lubricating the first and second camming surfaces with a coolant liquid in contact with the bearing surfaces within the pump.

Abstract: This application describes a process for the production of a growth medium or cultch for mollusca, particularly oysters, comprising contacting preformed cultch made from coal ash wastes with larvae of the mollusca and permitting the larvae to settle thereupon.

Abstract: In an ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer, ion cyclotron resonance signals at higher harmonics of cyclotron frequency are employed to increase the resolution of ICR mass spectrometer without increasing the magnetic field. The detection electrodes consist of M (where M is an integer) identical electrodes arranged in M-fold symmetry about the axis of the coherent cyclotron motion of the observed ions. In an ion cyclotron having four points of voltage in space, the cyclotron electrodes are set up in clockwise symmetric fashion. To increase the resolution in signal detection resulting from the potential induced by ions moving in orbits in the specrometer, the first and third voltages are added and the second and fourth voltages are subtracted from the sum of the first and third voltages.

Abstract: Described and claimed is a changing apparatus for an infant or young child comprising an elevated table with means for stimulating the interest of the child in changing or helping to change himself. The means for stimulating interest include steps or a ladder which the child can use by himself to reach the top of the table, an adjustable mirror in which the child can see his reflection and assist in changing himself, and compartments for storing individual items for individual children.

Abstract: Polyamide bodies, e.g., foils or sheets, are welding together or laminated by forming methylene bridges between nitrogen atoms in the separate bodies by pressing them together in the presence of a alkaline paraformaldehyde/methanol solution containing a catalytic amount of oxalic acid.

Abstract: A simple braiding machine readily adaptable to a variety of braiding tasks comprises self-propelled bobbin carriers guided by a track consisting of interchangeable units similar to the interchangeable track units of a toy train. Also disclosed is a simple yarn tensioner capable of maintaining constant tension in the braiding yarn and capable of taking up slack yarn.