Abstract: A chiral .alpha.-amino acid having a hydrogen substituent in a position alpha to the carboxylic function thereof is prepared by subjecting a corresponding optical antipode with a chiral amino acid to a strong base whereby the proton in a position alpha to the carboxylic function is removed and thereafter reacting the resulting product with a chiral protonation agent.

Abstract: A converter and method of converting thermal images into secondary images, e.g. visible images. The infrared radiation emitted by an object is focused by an optical system to form a thermal image on the free surface of a thermal radiation absorbing layer to one side of a liquid-liquid interface which has low surface tension and is a mixture of two liquid partially miscible at operating temperature and pressure. To convert the thermal image to a visible a parallel beam of light or a beam of light from a point source in the visible range is directed to the other side of the interface and, depending on the selected indices of the interface liquids and whether a prism is used or not; is either transmitted or reflected. The emerging transmitted or reflected beam is then received on a screen or in a detection system where variations of the optical properties of the emerging beam are observed.

Abstract: Apparatus for stacking and storing a plurality of flat objects, such as letters. The apparatus includes at least one storage box and a loading device designed to transport the flat objects from a source and to project them into the interior of the box. The box and loading device are respectively positioned so that the flat objects are projected into the box at an incline with respect to its bottom and a portion of each object's leading edge impacts a stopping surface formed in one of the side walls of the box. This impact imparts a rotational couple to the object which brings the lower edge of the object into firm engagement with the box bottom. The object is then moved onto the stack of similar objects being formed in the box, either by gravity or an auxiliary device. In one preferred embodiment, relative movement is provided between the box and loading device so that the objects can be projected into the box at a point close to the top of the stack.

Abstract: Comprising a plurality of assembled solar energy collector elements. Cold liquid is supplied at one end and water heated by the solar energy is drawn off at the other end of the device. The liquid circulates through the device in contact with an absorbent mat of intermingled fibers of dark color which is exposed to the solar radiation through at least one translucent sheet which creates a glasshouse effect. The mat guides the flow of liquid by the effect of capillarity and gravity during the heating of the liquid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a new method for increasing the resistance of the organism to pathogenic germs and to compositions to carry out said method.In this method, one administers an effective dose of N-acetyl-muramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine or analogs responding to the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is OH or NH.sub.2, R.sub.2 is OH, NH.sub.2 or a peptidic residue containing from 1 to 6 aminoacids,with the proviso that R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are not simultaneously NH.sub.2.

Abstract: An installation for storing and recovering heat energy having a principal application in solar power stations.The heat produced is stored in a storage reservoir when the converted energy demanded is less than the heat energy produced, and recovered in the opposite case, these operations being carried out entirely automatically. The heat transfers are effected through a thermofluid able to flow by streaming over containers of any shape, enclosing a heat storage substance, and disposed loosely or methodically in said storage reservoir.

Abstract: A method of automatically cutting longitudinally animal carcasses for food. A mobile holder is horizontally moved transversely in one direction with respect to a conveyor chain until a first bearing element is brought opposite the inner surface of the animal's vertebral column, a second bearing element is pivoted and pressed against the outer surface of the vertebral column, cutting means is actuated, the mobile holder is moved vertically downwards until the cutting means reaches a predetermined position with respect to the carcass. The mobile holder is then moved horizontally and transversely in the other direction with respect to the conveyor chain, after which the mobile holder is moved vertically upwards to a predetermined position.

Abstract: A digital advance control system of the type including a digital computer which receives input data of various engine operating parameters including the number of pulses corresponding to the ignition angle from a tachometer device in which the data from the tachometer device is to be interpolated. The data to be interpolated is applied to an attenuator circuit which includes a subtracter which receives the higher order bits of the data and a reversible counter whose higher order bits are also applied to the subtracter. The output of the subtracter is applied to a preselection counter or a binary rate multiplier which controls the application of clock pulses to the reversible counter.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel water-soluble compounds, process for their preparation, methods of therapeutic treatment therewith and pharmaceutical compositions containing them. The compounds correspond to the formulae (III) and (IV) below or their mixtures in molar proportions of about 4/1, in which formulae X represents a RCO radical and Y represents a hydrogen atom or a RCO radical, or again in which Y represents a RCO radical and X represents a hydrogen atom or a RCO radical, R being an alkyl or alkenyl radical containing 11 to 19 carbon atoms in a straight or branched chain. ##STR1## The compounds are useful as immunological adjuvants.

Abstract: Skin diseases such as psoriasis, namely: psoriasis punctata, herpes simplex and mycosis fungoides are treated by administering (either topically or orally) to an afflicted subject an effective amount of monofunctional derivative of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is --COOR.sub.3 or --CN; R.sub.2 is --H or --CH.sub.3 ; and R.sub.3 is --H, --CH.sub.3 or --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.3.

Abstract: The invention relates to the storing of hydrogen in hydrides of metallic alloys.These alloys include besides magnesium an element chosen from the lanthanides and/or element of group IIa of the periodic classification of elements. The magnesium may be, furthermore, possibly substituted among others by a transition metal. These alloys allow the reactivity of the magnesium to be increased in relation to the hydrogen during the hydrogen absorption process as shown by the curves of FIG. 1.Application: supplying hydrogen engines or other hydrogen energy receiving or transforming means with hydrogen.

Abstract: The invention provides a microwave feeder or applicator, that is to say a resonant chamber for coupling to a source of microwaves, arranged for the microwave treatment of a sample of material, comprising two main conductive walls extending parallel to a common axial direction and each having two projections and a central part joining the two projections, the projections of the two walls facing one another in pairs whereas the central parts of the two walls likewise face one another and define a region in which there is a local increase in the distance between the two main walls; a first conductive end wall forming a short-circuit and extending in a plane forming a cross-section of the main walls; a second conductive end wall forming a second short-circuit extending in a plane forming a cross-section of the main walls, and a coupling means for supplying microwave energy to the feeder, the dimensions of the cavity formed by the main end walls being arranged so that the cavity resonates almost exclusively in the

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and a device for high-speed production of aromatic essential oils from perfume-generating plants. The device comprises at least one enclosure 1 provided with means 2 for crushing said plants into a slurry, heating means 5, means 6 for feeding said plants thereto, means 7 for drawing off said slurry, a distillation column 9 and at least a condensing apparatus 15, 20 to form at least one condensate of essential oils. This device is applicable for industrially recovering essential oils from perfume-generating plants such as jasmine, orange flower, mint, ginger, aniseed, etc.

Abstract: The invention relates to a carburettor comprising a conduit with an air-intake and a fuel-introduction device in this conduit, the latter being intended to supply a carburetted fuel mixture to at least one combustion chamber of an explosion engine, and a throttle-valve means mounted in the conduit for controlling the supply flow-rate of carburetted mixture to the combustion chamber, the conduit further comprising a device with surfaces distributed over the transverse section of the conduit, this device being located in the conduit between the fuel-introduction device and the throttle-valve and providing a means of complete or almost complete vaporization of the fuel, thus avoiding inequalities of distribution of the richness of the mixture over the transverse section of the conduit, on the downstream side of the throttle-valve.

Abstract: High current ion implanter of the type comprising, in a vacuum enclosure, an ion source, means for extracting these ions, scanning means and a sample-carrying target, wherein the scanning means are of the electrostatic type and comprise deflecting plates connected to a sawtooth-variable voltage source and wherein a regulatable magnetic refocussing means are disposed in the vicinity of said plates.A particular application of the invention is to the construction of ion implanters intended for use in the manufacture of semiconductors.

Abstract: The method and apparatus determines the moment when, in the course of an operation of freezing a biological body of predetermined contour, the freezing becomes complete. At the periphery of the body are implanted at least two electrodes for monitoring the impedance of the body between said electrodes. The electrodes are connected to the terminals of an impedance measuring head and of an alternating current generator. The variations of this impedance are a function of the state of freezing said body. The moment when this impedance becomes very high corresponds to complete freezing of the body between the electrodes.

Abstract: The method consists of subjecting said muds to a particle size grading to concentrate the lead and zinc contained notably in the fines, and recovering said fraction containing the lead and the zinc, the other fraction being recyclable to the blast furnaces. The invention is useful in the preparation of feed materials for Waelz-Berzelius furnaces.

Abstract: A process for depositing a layer of a semiconductor composition comprising elements M(III) and M'(V) selected from group III and group V elements, respectively onto a substrate. The process comprises: contacting the substrate with a coordination compound in the gaseous phase, the compound having the formula: ##STR1## wherein M(III) and M'(V) are bonded to one another by a donor/acceptor bond and wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, R.sub.5, and R.sub.6 are chemical radicals other than hydrogen with at least one of the radicals R.sub.1, R.sub.2, and R.sub.3 being an electron donor serving to stabilize the donor/acceptor bond between elements M(III) and M'(V). The process further comprises decomposing the coordination compound so as to break the chemical bonds between the radicals and the elements M(III) and M'(V) without breaking the donor/acceptor bond, so as to cause the semi-conductor composition to deposit onto the substrate.

Abstract: This invention relates to compounds having the formula ##STR1## in which R.sub.F is a perfluoro radical C.sub.n F.sub.2n+1 with n=1-20, and R is a C.sub.1-20 alkyl radical, a C.sub.4-15 cycloalkyl radical, a C.sub.5-20 cycloalkyl-alkyl radical, or a C.sub.6-20 aromatic radical.Said compounds constitute valuable intermediates for the synthesis of surface-active agents.

Abstract: Each spinning ring of a ring-frame spinning device is carried by a fluid bearing supplied with compressed air for centering and lifting the ring. The flow of compressed air is selectively interrupted or at least reduced by means of an automatic or hand-operated valve or cock in order to reduce or suppress the ring-lifting action. A braking action is thus produced on the ring as it is brought into frictional contact with a top horizontal radial surface of a ring carrier or stator. The braking action can be applied selectively to one or a number or all the rings of any ring spinning frame employed in the textile industry.