Abstract: The invention relates to novel compounds of the muramyl-peptide type and to their uses. The muramyl-peptides according to the invention comprise at least two aminoacyl residues in the peptide chain, the second of these aminoacyl residues being D-glutamyl, and they are characterized in that the nitrogen of the first amino-acyl, and forming part of the pepetide linkage connecting the muramyl group to the peptide residue, is substituted by an alkyl group. These compounds are useful notably for the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions, in particular by reason of their regulatory properties on the immune responses of the organism.

Abstract: The transparent material is constituted by a thin film of a substoichiometric amorphous oxide of molybdenum or tungsten, the electrical conductivity of the material being dependent on the dose of optical radiation which it has received. The potential applications of the material include the fabrication of memory devices and image converter devices.

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: A polymer of peptidic type formed by a chain formed from aminoacyl residues preferably derived of at least one of the amino-acid residues selected from the class consisting of .alpha.,.gamma.-diaminobutyric acid, ornithine, lysine, homo-lysine, of which the lateral amino functions portionally carry peptide branches of which the aminoacyl residues are preferably derived of those selected from the class consisting of alanine, glycine, .alpha.-aminobutyric acid, valine, leucine and proline, the above-said peptide polymer having an average molecular weight comprised between about 50,000 and 250,000, and to which are bound covalently, muramyl-peptide units of which the two first aminoacid residues bound to the muramyl group are stereoisomers of the D series, the second aminoacid residue having the structure of the glutamic acid.This product is useful as anti-infectious agent.

Abstract: In a homopolar dynamoelectric machine in which a magnetic flux moves across a generally cylindrical clearance space between the stator and rotor, counterproductive magnetic fields produced by axial electric currents are avoided by providing, on the mutually confronting surfaces of the stator and rotor, nonmagnetic electrical conductors which are electrically insulated from the magnetic portions of the stator and rotor. The conductors are connected together electrically by contacts, providing an electrically conductive loop which encloses no magnetic members. Leads from the electrically conductive loop may be connected to an external circuit.The electrical conductors in one embodiment are of solid cylindrical shape, and in other embodiments are formed of spaced bars as in a squirrel cage. When spaced bars are used, the bars on one member are axially oriented and the bars on the other member are arranged in two sets which are equally but oppositely inclined to the machine axis.

Abstract: The invention relates to bis(substituted phenoxyacetates) of N-alkyl-dialkanolamines.These compounds are of the formula: ##STR1## wherein: X is chlorine, fluorine or trifluoromethyle,n is in the range from 1 to 3 and is preferably 2,R is a lower alkyl group, such as methyl or ethyl group, and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts of said compounds.Application: prevention and treatment of cerebral disorders.

Abstract: The anchor comprises a shank and a rocker which is mounted in the vicinity of one end of the shank to pivot about an axis perpendicular to the shank and to the rocker and which has two equal branches constituting the arms of the anchor. Each arm carries at its free end a ploughshare whose convergent end portion faces the other end of the shank. The convex faces of the two ploughshares are disposed in confronting relation. In operation, the anchor operates in the same way as conventional so-called "plough" anchors in hard grounds, whereas the two ploughshares sink into and simultaneously operate in very soft grounds.

Abstract: The invention relates to new compounds useful notably as regulator of immune responses and which are derivatives of muramyl peptides substituted at the end of the peptide chain by a group containing at least four carbon atoms.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a method for the study of the behaviour or detection of cells, organites or cellular fractions, possibly present in a medium.It comprises providing said medium with the essential nutrients to promote the activity of the said cells, organites or cellular fractions, if any, as well as with an "electron transporter" such as lipoic acid which is liable of forming a redox system and of intervening in one of the metabolic routes involved by the above said activity, particularly growth of cells.The method of the invention then further comprises measuring and detecting a possible modification of the relative proportions of the oxidized and reduced form of the "electron transporter". The time required for such modification to possibly take place, as well as other parameters of the reaction can then be correlated to the presence in the medium concerned of a cellular activity or analogous.

Abstract: A hybrid plasmid comprising at least the DNA of a bacterial plasmid, all or part of the DNA of the 2.mu. plasmid of yeast and a segment of DNA including the gene URA.sub.3.sup.+ of yeast. These plasmids are useful as vectors of exogenous DNA in yeasts.

Abstract: A method and a digital computer for providing the result of a calculation performed upon data having a floating point representation, with the number of exact significant figures in this result. With every mantissa of initial data is associated an item of error information having a floating point representation and which has a value of zero when the real value of the initial data and the value thereof in its digital representation coincide and which does not have a value of zero when the real value of the initial data and the value thereof in its digital representation do not coincide. The first operation is carried out by employing the digital representation and the item of error information of the mantissa in order to calculate a mean value of the mantissa of the result and the item of error information associated with the mean value.

Abstract: The invention relates to a selector device for the remote control of the position of a member 4 relative to a support 3 through a control means 8 acting at one end of a flexible traction coupling, particularly a cable 11, whose other end is connected, through connection means L, to said member 4. The connection means L comprise:a piece p provided with notches c whose number is at least equal to the number of positions to be given to said member 4;and means E, G, for moving the piece p, adapted to cooperate with the notches of this latter in response to the movements of the control means.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device sensitive to a temperature gradient or to a heat flow comprising at least one elementary cell formed by a thin layer made from a first electric conductor or semiconductor, such as constantan, coated with a very thin electrolytic layer of a second electric conductor or semiconductor, such as copper.It has been discovered that induced electric currents flow through the surface separating the conductors, the electric voltages observed in each of the conducting or semiconducting layers being proportional to the instantaneous spatial mean of the surface thermal gradient.The invention also relates to the application of such cells for measuring temperature gradients and heat flows and for converting heat energy into electric energy.

Abstract: An internal combustion apparatus is disclosed having a linear output. A metered quantity of gas fuel is transferred between a cylinder head and the disc of a plunger reciprocable in a principal chamber between top and bottom end of stroke positions. In the displacement of the plunger to its bottom end of stroke position air and fuel are intimately mixed in a one-way flow path around the disc including nonparallel and/or burred orifices in a perforate plate attached to the plunger. The fuel may be liquefied gas fuel in which case it may be vaporized by the combustion gases exhausted from the principal chamber to the surroundings through an annular exhaust zone coaxial of throttle passageways for carrying fuel from the metering piston to the principal chamber. Alternatively, a pressurized gas fuel may be used in which case the pressurized gas is utilized in the operation of the plunger.

Abstract: A gas scintillation proportional counter, with a photosensitive layer, is coupled, through a UV transparent window, to a multi-anode proportional chamber filled with a gas mixture (for instance an argon triethylamine-methane mixture) having a large quantum efficiency for the UV photons. When detecting incident photons, there is obtained the good efficency of photosensitive layers and the satisfactory two-dimensional coordinate localization of multiwire proportional chambers.

Abstract: The same assembly is used to first record the homodyne spectrum from the light diffused from a single beam FL.sub.2, with a mask D.sub.1 masking the beam FL.sub.1. On the passage of a critical frequency f.sub.c, mask D.sub.1 is removed, the aperture of a diaphragm D.sub.2 is reduced, and the heterodyne spectrum produced by FL.sub.1 and FL.sub.2 is recorded as received by a photomultiplier PM and a spectrum analyzer AS.

Abstract: Method for molding articles from agglomerated particles utilizes a press and a plurality of molds mounted to circulate in a closed path. After the pressing step a mold is aligned at one end of a row of molds, the row is placed under pressure and the articles therewithin caused to set. Simultaneously a mold is withdrawn from the other end of the row. The latter mold is then emptied, and the emptied mold returned to the press. The aligned molds are fastened together during the setting step. The invention includes apparatus for carrying out this process.

Abstract: This process for preparing L .alpha.-amino-acid is characterized in that the corresponding racemic .alpha.-amino-acid is hydrolysed in liquid phase in a free form or in the form of a salt, by an agent containing an L-stereospecific amidase and in that the L .alpha.-amino-acid obtained is separated from the D .alpha.-amino-amid unhydrolysed. This process is appropriate for the preparation of optically active natural amino-acids.

Abstract: A process for artificially modifying atmospheric precipitation wherein a liquid composition containing dimethyl sulfoxide as the principal ingredient is dispersed into the atmosphere from a container in microdroplet form having an average diameter ranging from 1 to 10 microns.

Abstract: A biodegradable bone prosthesis or implant is made of a coherent material comprising calcium carbonate in crystalline form. The prosthesis or implant is in the form of a filler or replacement part for bone substance. It can also be in the form of a pin or screw.