Abstract: System for transmitting information between at least two units of a drilling assembly by means of an electrical link along the drill string. The system of the invention provides for multidirectional transmission between the units.

Abstract: The invention relates to the manufacture of methyl mercaptan by catalytic hydrogenation of dimethyl disulphide on a catalyst based on sulphide(s) of at least one transition metal.The selectivity with respect to methyl mercaptan is considerably improved by working in the presence of water and/or hydrogen sulphide.

Abstract: A refrigerating and heating apparatus using a solid sorbent includes at least one compartmentalized reactor having solid sorbents able to fix at least one refrigerating fluid and in contact with a heat exchanger, a mechanism for the alternate circulation of a heat transfer fluid between hot and cold sources, by use of the exchanger, in order to create in the sorbent a temperature front passing through the compartments, a condenser and an evaporator. The thermal conductivity and permeability of the sorbent are lower parallel to the displacement of the heat transfer fluid in the exchanger than perpendicular thereto. Gaseous refrigerating fluid circulating means create a pressure front passing through the compartments with the temperature front.

Abstract: Method for evaluating the damage to the structure of rock surrounding a well, comprising the following steps: injection into the rock, which is already saturated with a first fluid having a first viscosity, of an oil with higher viscosity than the first viscosity; recording the pressure of the injected oil as a function of time; and analysis of the change in the pressure of the injected oil in order to deduce the different-permeability regions present in the rock.

Abstract: Process for using reactions of gas/solid type in which the solid reactant contains an at least partially hydrated salt.The process makes it possible to shift the position of the equilibrium line of the reaction under consideration and to reduce its slope in a Clapeyron diagram so as to cover a wider temperature region for a limited pressure range.

Abstract: The invention provides a protein, isolated from soybean, having .beta.-1,3-glucanase activity and comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No: 1. DNA constructs encoding said protein, and transformed plants expressing the protein, are also provided.

Abstract: Catalyst comprising at least one zirconium oxide, characterized in that it consists, for at least 85% of its weight, of a thermally stable support with a specific surface greater than or equal to 150 m.sup.2 /g containing from 60 to 99 weight % of at least one zirconium oxide and from 40 to 1 weight % of at least one metal oxide of at least one metal chosen from the group consisting of metals from Groups V, VI and VII, noble metals such as ruthenium, osmium, rhodium, iridium and uranium, and the elements phosphorus, arsenic and sulphur, the support being obtained by the molten salts technique by introduction of a mixture of salts into a eutectic mixture of alkali metal nitrates or sulphates which, after dehydration, is maintained between 250.degree. and 550.degree. C., from 30 minutes to 5 hours.

Abstract: A method for obtaining a model of a surface including the steps of obtaining measurements of geometrical data concerning specific points on the surface, making a grid of the surface, with the grid passing through said points, memorizing, at an address which is specific to each node of the grid, the coordinates of the node, the number of satellites of the node, information for access to the addresses of said satellites and thereafter to information which relates to them, and geometrical data which may be associated with said node; for each node, defining a local roughness index obtained from a weighted sum of the current coordinates of the node and its satellites, defining the sum of an overall roughness index representing the sum of all the local roughness indices, and of an overall index of the infringement of said geometrical data, iteratively adjusting the coordinates of indefinite nodes, by using at each adjustment the sum of a weighted combination of current node neighbor coordinates and of a combination

Abstract: The invention relates to recovery of an aprotic polar solvent from a saline aqueous solution of this solvent, by a process which consists in desalting the said solution by electrodialysis then in distilling the desalted solution.To avoid precipitation of metal hydroxides during the electrodialysis, the brine is kept at an acidic pH.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of a crystalline aluminosilicate enriched in silica, having the structure of mazzite, by hydrothermal crystallization of a gel containing sources of silicon, aluminum and alkali metal ions, in the presence of an organic structuring agent, characterized in that the source of aluminum is a zeolite Y in the form of spheres. The mazzite obtained does not contain any silicoalumina debris out of the lattice. It is employed as catalyst for the conversion of hydrocarbons or as molecular sieve.

Abstract: Device for the measurement of viscoelasticity of products, and in particular those with low viscosity. It is of a type including a male cupel equipped with a cylindrical separating partition which can be introduced into an annular chamber arranged in a body of a female cupel and receiving the product to be measured, and a drive mechanism for movement around an axis of rotation of one of the cupels in relation to the other, and characterized in that it has, in addition, the means to close in an impervious manner the annular chamber.

Abstract: Process for the synthesis of faujasite, having a Si/Al ratio greater than 1 and which can exceed 3, in the presence of a structuring agent consisting of at least one carbonaceous macrocycle having 10 to 24 atoms per ring and containing heteroatoms chosen from oxygen, nitrogen, sulphur or silicon, the macrocycle being introduced into the reaction medium in the form of a crude synthetic sodium complex.

Abstract: A cooling and heating device using a chemical reaction comprising at least four reactors, each containing a salt capable of chemically reacting with a gas, an enclosure for receiving gas from the reactors and an enclosure for conveying gas to the reactors. The device is arranged so that, during the chemical reaction, two reactors are at the same higher pressure level, while two reactors are at the same lower pressure level. According to the invention, the device also comprises a heat-transporting fluid circuit for transferring heat between the reactors, operating at the same presure level.

Abstract: Recombinant DNA which codes for a protein with endochitinase activity or for a precursor thereof, comprising the sequence (a1) (SEQ ID NO. 1).

Abstract: The present invention relates, by way of novel industrial products, to the phosphinite-borane compounds of the general formula ##STR1## in which R.sup.1 and R.sup.2, which are identical or different, are each a C.sub.1 -C.sub.18 -alkyl group, a C.sub.5 -C.sub.18 -cycloalkyl group, a C.sub.7 -C.sub.18 -aralkyl group or a C.sub.6 -C.sub.14 -aryl group, it being possible for each of these groups to carry functional groups, and F is a silicon containing bridging group.These products are useful in the syntheses of chiral compounds.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the hydrogenation of ethylenically unsaturated organic compounds. This process is carried out in a homogeneous medium containing a hydrogenation catalyst formed by a complex of ruthenium with a phosphine, which comprises two allylic groups as ligands on the Ru.

Abstract: A method of preparing manganous enolates by the treatment of alkali metal or alkaline earth metal enolates with manganous compounds in a solvent for the Mn enolate to be prepared.

Abstract: The invention is a process for the denitrogization of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) comprising methane and at least 2 Mols. of nitrogen. The process is distinguished in that the LNG is introduced into the process as a liquid and is subject to an indirect heat exchange to cool the liquid and a further decompression before introduction into fractionation of column. A portion of the liquid flowing in the fractionation column is withdrawn and utilized to cool the LNG feedstock and is returned to the fractionation column at a level lower than the level from which it was withdrawn. The decompression of LNG feedstock comprises at least one dynamic decompression and at least one static decompression.

Abstract: A method for improving the paintability of a shaped object of which at least the outer portion is made of a polyamide/polyolefin alloy, wherein an electrical discharge is made to act on a gas in order to create a cold plasma type reactive gas stream, and the shaped object is brought into contact with the reactive gas stream thereby produced and with an oxygen source in order to oxidize the surface of the shaped object. The method is particularly useful for treating trim for motor vehicles as well as items of garden furniture prior to painting.

Abstract: The present invention relates toa mutant strain of Xanthomonas campestris;a method of preparing xanthan by fermentation of said strain; anda non-viscous xanthan capable of being obtained by said method.