Abstract: Mammalian hair is depilated by pulsing a laser source emitting radiation in the range 600 to 1500 nm, each pulse having a duration of 1 &mgr;sec to 200 msec, and a radiation exposure dose of 2 to 25 J/cm2, so as to irradiate successive zones of a treatment area of a patient's skin and thereby destroy subdermal biological material associated with hair growth.

Abstract: Vascular blemishes are reduced by directing pulsed laser radiation to converge toward the blemishes in a plurality of directions, each beam of radiation being derived from a primary radiation source or from a separate radiation source, thereby to cause selective thermolysis of blood vessels in the blemishes.

Abstract: The invention can relate to essentially lead-free optical glasses having a refractive index nd of from about 1.65 to about 1.87 and an Abbe number &ngr;d of from about 27 to about 43 and a composition (in % by weight, based on oxide) of SiO2 about 10-about 25, B2O3>about 10-about 25, Na2O about 2.5-about 10, K2O 0-about 3, CaO about 0.5-about 5, BaO about 15-about 30, ZnO about 5-about 15, TiO2 about 6-about 15, ZrO2 about 0.5-about 8, Y2O3 about 0.1-about 2, La2O3 about 0.5-about 8, Nb2O5 about 6-about 12, with La2O3+Nb2O5≦about 17,Ta2O5 0-about 1, and Gd2O3 0-about 1.

Abstract: Mammalian hair is depilated using a laser source capable of emitting pulse radiation, each pulse having a duration of 1 microsecond to 1 millisecond, and having a wavelength in the range of 600 to 1500 nanometers. The radiation exposure dose is preferably between 2 and 25 J/cm2. A selected area of a subject's skin is irradiated by the pulsed radiation, the area having a plurality of irradiation zones. The laser source is successively pulsed so as to irradiate successive zones of the treatment area with the radiation, so as to destroy subdermal biological material associated with hair growth.

Abstract: Wrinkles are cosmetically removed from a superficial area of mammalian skin tissue having an epidermal layer, a basal layer, and a dermal layer, by irradiating the dermal layer through the basal layer, the irradiation being selected to be absorbed by a chromphore in the dermal layer such that collagen present in the dermal layer is heated, while the basal layer remains intact so as to substantially inhibit contact of the dermal layer with ambient air.

Abstract: Wrinkles are cosmetically removed from a superficial area of mammalian skin tissue having an epidermal layer, a basal layer, and a dermal layer, by irradiating the dermal layer through the basal layer, the irradiation being selected to be absorbed by a chromophore in the dermal layer such that collagen present in the dermal layer is heated, while the basal layer remains intact so as to substantially inhibit contact of the dermal layer with ambient air.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for fabricating monocrystalline castings are disced in which molten metal is poured into a mold having vertically arranged, individual mold cavities, the solidification front is controlled to progress vertically upwardly from the bottom, and a single crystal grain is selected by a selection device placed in the lower part of the mold. The invention consists in directly superposing a multiplicity of individual mold cavities one above the other in a string, several such strings capable of being placed in parallel between a common metal sprue cup and a chilled plate to increase production capacities.

Abstract: A method of providing a body of material (14), having a thermal conductivity approximately equal to that of glass, with a sub-surface mark. A beam of laser radiation (12) to which the material (14) is substantially opaque is directed to surface of the body, so as to cause beam energy to be aborbed at the surface of the material in an amount sufficient to produce localised stresses within the body (14) at a location spaced from the surface without any detectable change at the surface, the localised stresses thus produced being normally invisible to the naked eye but capable of being rendered visible under polarised light.

Abstract: Substantially spherical particles of lithium silicates with improved mechanical properties and improved surface quality are provided, which are particularly suited for use as breeding material for tritium. The particles are characterised in that they contain additions of tellurium and/or tellurium compounds.

Abstract: Unauthorized removal of articles e.g. from a retail store, each article carrying a read/write tag, is detected by a security system having at least one point-of-sale apparatus (30) arranged to write specific data into (or erase specific data from) the tag to indicate that the article has been paid for, and a detector apparatus (40) for the or each exit of the store and arranged to read each tag to determine if the specific data has been written into (or erased from) the tag, and otherwise to initiate an alarm. The system also includes a refunds/returns detector apparatus (50) to read the tag of each article presented to it, to determine if the specific data has been written into (or erased from) the tag, and to erase (or write in) that data so that the article can be returned to stock.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for making a moving body of material (26). The method includes the steps of directing at the moving body a high energy density beam (46,58), concentrating the beam so as to produce an illuminated spot at a location on or within the moving body, and moving the spot in accordance with the resultant of two components of movement, the first component being equal to the velocity of the moving body and the second component being relative to the moving body, so as to create a mark of a predetermined shape. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes at least one movable galvanometer mirror (68,70) capable of moving the spot in accordance with the resultant of the two components.

Abstract: Disclosed is a barium-free glass of good x-ray absorption, which has a composition (in wt.-% on the oxide basis) of SiO.sub.2 50-75; ZrO.sub.2 5-30; Li.sub.2 O 0-5; Na.sub.2 O 0-25; K.sub.2 O 0-25; .SIGMA. alkali oxides 0-25. Preferred is a dental glass of the composition of SiO.sub.2 55-70; ZrO.sub.2 10-25; Li.sub.2 O 0-15; Na.sub.2 O 10-25; K.sub.2 O 0-15; .SIGMA. alkaloids 15-25. The glass can furthermore contain also up to 3 wt.-% of fluorine, up to 5 wt.-% of MgO, up to 5 wt.-% of TiO.sub.2, and in each case up to 10 wt.-% of the oxides Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, GeO.sub.2, P.sub.2 O.sub.5, La.sub.2 O.sub.3, Y.sub.2 O.sub.3, Ta.sub.2 O.sub.3, Gd.sub.2 O.sub.3, ZnO and Nb.sub.2 O.sub.5. The glass finds its use in powder form with an average particle size of .ltoreq.10 .mu.m as filler for dental composites for filling teeth.

Abstract: Substantially spherical particles of lithium silicates with improved mechanical properties and improved surface quality are provided, which are particularly suited for use as breeding material for tritium. The particles are characterized in that they contain additions of tellurium and/or tellurium compounds.

Abstract: Lead- and barium-free crystal glass for the production of high-quality glasses and domestic articles, having high optical transmission, a refractive index n.sub.D of greater than 1.52, a density of at least 2.45 g/cm.sup.3, high hydrolytic resistance, good solarization resistance, and a K.sub.2 O+ZnO content of greater than 10% by weight, the glass system being based on an alkali-lime-silicate glass containing TiO.sub.2, ZrO.sub.2, Nb.sub.2 O.sub.3 and possibly Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5 and/or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A chemically resistant glass which can be produced at relatively low melting temperatures and has anomalous negative partial dispersion P.sub.g,F, a refractive index n.sub.d of from 1.73 to 1.83 and an Abbe coefficient v.sub.d of from 31 to 38 preferably contains (in % by weight, based on oxides):______________________________________ 0-4 SiO.sub.2 + GeO.sub.2 0-2 GeO.sub.2 0-10 MgO 26-33 B.sub.2 O.sub.3 0-1 Li.sub.2 O 0-16 CaO 19-50 PbO 0-1 Na.sub.2 O 0-16 BaO 1-6 ZrO.sub.2 0-1 K.sub.2 O 0-16 SrO 4-16 Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5 0-2 .SIGMA. alkaline earth 0-6 Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 metal oxides 0-16 ZnO 0-4 TiO.sub.2 1.5-20 .SIGMA. alkaline earth metal oxides + ZnO 0-1 WO.sub.3 0-11 La.sub.2 O.sub.3 0-7 Nb.sub.2 O.sub.5 0-5.5 Y.sub.2 O.sub.3 0-5.5 Gd.sub.2 O.sub.3 4-11 .SIGMA. La.sub.2 O.sub.3 + Y.sub.2 O.sub.3 + Gd.sub.2 O.sub.3 ______________________________________with the proviso that the .SIGMA.(SiO.sub.2 +GeO.sub.2 +B.sub.2 O.sub.3)/.SIGMA.(ta.sub.2 O.sub.5 +ZrO.sub.2 +HfO.sub.2) ratio is less than 5 and the PbO/.

Abstract: Silicate glasses are provided which when exposed to a silver ion exchange surface treatment are writable with electron beams. These glasses contain OD agents and do not require elements having 1-4 d-electrons in the atomic state.

Abstract: A glass having a negative anomalous partial dispersion .DELTA.P.sub.g,F, an index of refraction of n.sub.d .gtoreq.1.67 and an Abbe number of .nu..sub.d >36 has the following composition, in % by weight, 3-11 of SiO.sub.2, 0-3 of GeO.sub.2, .SIGMA. SiO.sub.2 +GeO.sub.2, 4.5-11; B.sub.2 O.sub.3, 29-35; 5-13 of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 ; 1-3 of ZrO.sub.2 ; 0.2-3 of TiO.sub.2 ; 0.2-1.5 of Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5 ; 30-45 of PbO; 0-3 each of Li.sub.2 O, Na.sub.2 O, K.sub.2 O, Rb.sub.2 O, Cs.sub.2 O, .SIGMA. alkali metal oxide 0-3; 0-3.5 each of MgO, CaO, BaO, SrO, .SIGMA. alkaline-earth oxide 0-6, if .SIGMA. SiO.sub.2 and GeO.sub.2 .gtoreq.9; .SIGMA. alkaline-earth oxide 0-3.5, if .SIGMA. SiO.sub.2 and GeO.sub.2 <9; 0-14 of ZnO, 0-3 of La.sub.2 O.sub.3 ; 0-7 of Nb.sub.2 O.sub.3 ; 0-1 of Sb.sub.2 O.sub.3 ; 0-0.3 of As.sub.2 O.sub.3 ; 0-1.5 of WO.sub.3 ; 0-1 of F. This glass is inexpensive and can be produced in high quality, and has a high crystalization stability and good transmission values.