def quant(val, u=Ellipsis):
    '''
    quant(scalar) yields a dimensionless quantity with the magnitude given by scalar.
    quant(q) yields q for any quantity q; if q is not part of the pimms units registry, then a
      version of q registered to pimms.units is yielded. Note that q is a quantity if
      pimms.is_quantity(q) is True.
    quant(x, u) yields the given scalar or quantity x converted to the given unit u; if x is a
      scalar or a dimensionless quantity, then the unit u is given to the new quantity with no
      conversion; otherwise, x must be a quantity whose unit can be converted into the unit u.
    '''
    if is_quantity(val):
        if isinstance(val, tuple) or val._REGISTRY is not units:
            val = units.Quantity(mag(val), unit(val))
        return val if u is Ellipsis or u is None else val.to(unit(u))
    else:
        return units.Quantity(val, units.dimensionless if u is Ellipsis or u is None else unit(u))
quant(scalar) yields a dimensionless quantity with the magnitude given by scalar.
    quant(q) yields q for any quantity q; if q is not part of the pimms units registry, then a
      version of q registered to pimms.units is yielded. Note that q is a quantity if
      pimms.is_quantity(q) is True.
    quant(x, u) yields the given scalar or quantity x converted to the given unit u; if x is a
      scalar or a dimensionless quantity, then the unit u is given to the new quantity with no
      conversion; otherwise, x must be a quantity whose unit can be converted into the unit u.