Abstract: An amorphous, micro/mesoporous silica-alumina gel with controlled pore size, having a surface area of at least 500 m.sup.2 /g and with a molar ratio of SiO.sub.2 :Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 of at least 30:1, is prepared by hydrolysing and causing a tetra-alkyl ammonium hydroxide, an aluminum trialkoxide, and a tetra-alkyl orthosilicate to gelate, by operating at a temperature equal to, or higher than, the boiling temperature, under atmospheric pressure, of any alcohols which are developed as a by-product from said hydrolysis reaction, without said alcohols being removed, or being substantially removed, from the reaction media; and the so produced gel being dried and fired.

Abstract: The present invention relates to thermostable mutants of D-N-.alpha.-carbamoylase and means and methods for their preparation. The thermostable mutants have an unaltered or improved activity with respect to the wild-type enzyme and are particularly useful in the preparation of D-.alpha.-amino acids.

Abstract: The present invention relates to thermostable mutants of Agrobacterium radiobacter D-N-.alpha.-carbamoylase and means and methods for their preparation. The thermostable mutants have an unaltered or improved activity with respect to the wild-type enzyme and are particularly useful in the preparation of D-.alpha.-amino acids.

Abstract: The invention relates to a strain of Arthrobacter sp. CBS 208.96 capable of selectively effecting the opening of the C-S bond of sulfurated organic molecules present in carbonaceous materials and its use in a process for the selective removal of organic sulfur from fossil fuels contained therein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to mutants of D-N-.alpha.-carbamylase wherein at least one of the cysteines in position 243, 250 and 279 of the amino acid sequence of the wild type enzyme is substituted with a different residue selected from natural amino acids; a recombinant plasmid comprising a nucleotidic sequence which encodes for at least one of the mutants of D-N-.alpha.-carbamylase, host microorganisms transformed with said plasmid and a process for the preparation of these mutants by the culture of said microorganisms. The mutants of D-N-.alpha.-carbamylase have a higher enzymatic stability than that of the wild type enzyme and are particularly useful in the preparation of D-.alpha.-amino acids providing an improvement in the production yields.

Abstract: Mature Human Growth Hormone is prepared by enzymatic hydrolysis of a soluble precursor with immobilized Factor Xa. The soluble precursor contains a cleavage recognition sequence, Ile--Glu--Gly--Arg, for Factor Xa. The Factor Xa is preferably immobilized on CNBr activated Sepharose Cl-4B containing cyclic imido carbonate groups. Immobilization is carried out by reaction of amine groups on Factor X with the cyclic imido carbonate groups of the CNBr activated Sepharose Cl-4B to form covalently immobilized Factor X, which is then activated to Factor Xa with a protein contained in Russell's viper venom (RVV) in the presence of Ca.sup.++ ions.

Abstract: In an improved process for the preparation of D-.alpha.-amino acids by the stereoselective conversion of racemic mixtures of 5-substituted hydantoins with an enzymatic system produced by a microorganism, the improvement consists in the fact that a microorganism is used which is transformed with the plasmid pSM700 cultivated at a temperature of between 20.degree. C. and 28.degree. C. The use of this microorganism allows an improvement in the expression of the enzymatic system and an increase in the conversion rate of the racemic hydantoin to D-.alpha.-amino acid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to mutants of D-N-.alpha.-carbamylase wherein at least one of the cysteines in position 243, 250 and 279 of the amino acid sequence of the wild type enzyme is substituted with a different residue selected from natural amino acids; a recombinant plasmid comprising a nucleotidic sequence which encodes for at least one of the mutants of D-N-.alpha.-carbamylase, host microorganisms transformed with said plasmid and a process for the preparation of these mutants by the culture of said microorganisms. The mutants of D-N-.alpha.-carbamoylase have a higher enzymatic stability than that of the wild type enzyme and are particularly useful in the preparation of D-.alpha.-amino acids providing an improvement in the production yields.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of a current collector in contact with the cathode material in light rechargeable solid state batteries, characterized by the fact that it includes the deposition on a nickel layer having a rugosity R.sub.a from 1 to 3 microns of a cathode paste comprising1) a powder of active cathode material;2) an electronic conductor;3) a polymeric composition comprising:3a) a polymer deriving from the polymerization of a mixture of a vinyl ether and a divinyl ether;3b) lithium salts, selected from LiBF.sub.4 alone or in a mixture with other salts;3c) optionally, a plasticizer selected from dipolar aprotic solvents and polyethers with a low molecular weight and their relevant mixtures.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the construction of functional engineered peptide synthetases capable of displaying a correct activity and their use for the non-ribosomal production of modified peptides.

Abstract: Process for the conversion of a hydrocarbon material having a high molecular weight, in particular petroleum residues or heavy crude oils or reduced crude oils, comprising the following steps:impregnating or mixing the hydrocarbon material with a catalyst;pyrolyzing the impregnated residue in a suitable zone at a temperature of between 450.degree. and 650.degree. C.

Abstract: Micro-mesoporous gel consisting of a silica matrix possibly wherein one or more metal oxides selected from transition metals or metals belonging to groups IIIA, IVA and VA are uniformly dispersed, characterized by a monomodal porosity distribution.

Abstract: Disclosed is an active catalyst in the hydroisomerization of waxes (paraffins), which catalyst is constituted by a carrier of acidic nature, of silica-alumina gel, and one or more metals belonging to Group VIIIA. Also a process for preparing said catalyst is disclosed.

Abstract: Composite cathode comprising:(A) a powder of active cathode material;(B) an electronic conductor;(C) an electrolyte essentially constituted by a polymer composition comprising:(C.sub.1) a polymer deriving from the polymerisation of a vinyl ether and a divinyl ether;(C.sub.2) litium tetrafluoroborate alone or in a mixture with other lithium salts.The above-mentioned composite cathode can be employed in solid electrolytic cells.

Abstract: A flexible, composite, thermoplastic filament, which contains continuous fibers, and which filament contains a flexible sheath of a thermoplastic polymer which coats a fiber bundle of fibers, which fiber bundle is impregnated with a thermoplastic powder, which is made of the same thermoplastic polymer coating the fiber bundle, wherein the filament has a substantially elliptical cross-section.

Abstract: Electrolytic membrane for light rechargeable batteries essentially consisting of:1) polymer deriving from the photopolymerization of a mixture essentially consisting of a vinyl ether having the general formula (I) R--?--O--CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --!.sub.n --O--CH.dbd.CH.sub.2, and a divinyl ether having the general formula (II) CH.sub.2 .dbd.CH--?--O--CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --!.sub.m O--CH.dbd.CH.sub.2, in a quantity of between 15 and 60% by weight;2) plasticizer in a quantity of between 35 and 75% by weight;3) Lithium salt in a quantity of between 5 and 20% by weight;4) photopolymerization initiator in such a quantity as to photopolymerize (I) and (II);5) zeolite in a quantity of between 3 and 30% by weight;the percentage sum of components (1) to (5) being equal to 100.

Abstract: A new plasmid vector is described which can replicate in B. subtilis and which can express and secrete, in the culture medium, human beta interleukin-1 (beta IL-1) without amino acid sequences extraneous to the natural molecule, a strain of B. subtilis transformed by the vector and a method for the expression and secretion of mature human beta interleukin-1. The human beta interleukin-1 thus obtained shows a specific acitvity of 1.times.10.sup.9 U/mg of protein and is particularly suitable as a stimulant for the immune system, as an adjuvant in vaccines for the activation of the repair mechanism in cases of tissue damage, and for the treatment of auto-immune diseases in man.

Abstract: A new plasmid vector operable in Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis, comprising a synthetic promoter capable of directing with great efficiency the expression of the heterologous gene under its control is described. This vector which has a high stability in transformed strains is particularly useful for the production of heterologous proteins in Escherichia coli and/or Bacillus subtilis.

Abstract: Procedure and relative equipment for determining the presence of toxic substances in water destined for drinking and/or in water effluents, based on the inhibition of the production of biogas (methane) on the part of anaerobic bacterial aggregates.

Abstract: A recombinant vector for the expression and secretion of antibodies in single molecule form (scFv) from B. subtilis, where said vector comprises the promoter of the gene for neutral protease, a new secretion sequence (I) and a DNA sequence coding a scFv antibody of interest, a strain of B. subtilis transformed with said recombinant vector, and a process for the exocellular production of scFv antibodies by culturing said strain of B. subtilis are described. The recombinant vector allows the expression of scFv in a completely soluble form and its secretion in high yields.