Abstract: The invention relates to controlling the temperature in a tunnel (1) including heating or cooling means (4) disposed along its side walls and means (5) for blowing in a gaseous fluid at a given temperature along a direction essentially perpendicular to the direction which objects are conveyed along the tunnel. The temperature is detected in the zone of the tunnel into which the gaseous fluid is blown, and the blower means (5) are displaced in a direction essentially parallel to the direction in which the objects (3) are conveyed by means of a servo-control system for ensuring that the blower means move automatically when the sensed temperature differs from a predetermined temperature, thereby permanently providing a constant temperature environment for the, or each, object in said zone of the tunnel. The invention is particularly applicable to shrinking heat shrink sleeves onto flasks for decorative and/or protective purposes, and also to cooling down receptacles made of glass.

Abstract: Free chlorine values are removed by radical chlorination from uncombined admixtures thereof, notably admixtures of free chlorine and at least one halogenated organic compound that is not completely chloro-substituted.

Abstract: When a hydrocarbon liquid is pumped (11) for retail delivery, it is degassed by means of a vortex device (13). A control valve (21) shuts off delivery if the gas content in the degassed liquid being delivered via a main duct (16) is too high. Unlike prior systems which sense gas content only in the liquid being delivered, the present invention senses the greater gas content in the recycled gas-enriched fraction from the vortex separator device (13). This is done by means of a venturi system (19) controlling a servo-valve (25) which in turn controls the control valve (21). By using a magnified image of the gas content, the system is made more sensitive and more reliable.

Abstract: A controlled CSMA packet switching system of a non-persistent carrier type in which in the event of a channel being sensed busy, a new sensing point is scheduled at random in a dynamically determined time interval TS.sub.n where ##EQU1## where TS.sub.u is the scheduling time interval that maximizes the expected throughput when all the stations compete for the channel access, TS.sub.1 is the scheduling time interval that maximizes the expected throughput when two stations complete for the channel access, TS.sub.n-1 is a scheduling time interval determined in a preceding (n-1)th observation interval, G.sub.n-1 is the average offered load in the (n-1)th observation interval, and G.sub.o is a nominal average offered load. An estimation of the average offered load G.sub.n-1 is derived from an estimation of the average idle period length in the (n-1) observation interval.

Abstract: The present invention concerns the use of fructosyl oligosaccharides as low-calorie sweeteners, and the foods, dietetic products and drinks containing them.

Abstract: A bush (M) is initially fixed inside a tube (T) which is fixed in a perforated plate (P) of a steam generator in a pressurized water nuclear power station, lining a damaged portion of the tube. A welding light beam is provided by a YAG laser and is conveyed by an optical fiber (F) to an optical cell (30, 37) which focuses the beam on the bush in order to weld it, the cell rotating about the fiber in order to form a circular weld fillet. The fiber is free to slide axially in order to improve focusing which is done to slide axially in order to improve focusing which is done by means of an adjustment beam provided by a hellium-neon laser, the beam running along the fiber in both directions.

Abstract: An optical switching array includes a body of a semiconductor material having opposed surfaces. A plurality of spaced bodies of a semiconductor material are on one of the surfaces of the substrate. Each body includes four superimposed regions extending thereacross with the regions being of alternating opposite conductivity type to form PN junctions between adjacent regions. The bodies are capable of emitting light in response to an optical input when an electrical bias is applied thereacross. A fifth region extends across each body and forms a Zener diode with one of the outer region of the body. The Zener diode is adapted to limit the voltage drop across the bodies when one of the bodies is biased to emit light so as to permit more than one body to be turned to its light emitting condition at any one time.

Abstract: The process comprises putting the must or wort in contact with a side of a membrane permeable to oxygen and putting the other side of this membrane in contact with a gas containing oxygen under partial pressure higher than the partial pressure in oxygen of the liquid. Application in vinification.

Abstract: A device for the continuous determination of a surface state index for a ing sheet, creped in the form of undulations, comprising a light source, a first optical system, a cell intended to receive the back-scattered beam and a system for processing the beam, wherein: the light source is a laser source; the first optical system is an astigmatic system, intended to adapt the size of the laser beam at the point where it meets the sheet to the average pitch of the said undulations in the moving creped sheet; the cell is an optoelectronic cell whose sensitive surface receives at least part of the back-scattered light, concentrated by a second convergent optical system; and the processing system comprises a means for determining a surface state index for the sheet from the electrical signals.

Abstract: The invention relates to a quantization process in an encoding by transformation for transmission on a low rate link of an image signal, said image signal being processed in the form of blocks, each containing a set of digital data, each block being transformed to produce a transformed block of coefficients (Ci) representing the frequency components of the block, each transformed coefficients of a block being quantified during a scan by comparison with quantization levels, the first being called the threshold, the process being characterized in that the quantization is performed with a threshold (T) able to vary between one transfored coefficient (Ci) and the next (Ci+1) in the scan, depending on whether the transformed coefficient does or does not fulfil the conditions -T<Ci<+T.

Abstract: Formulations of additives for engine fuels comprising at least one constituent (A) and one constituent (B) resulting from the reaction of at least one alkenyl or polyalkenyl-succinic derivative with at least one polyamine to form constituent (A) and with at least one 1-(2-hydroethyl) imidazoline substituted in the 2-position by a linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl radical with 1 to 25 atoms of carbon to form constituent (B). The preferred formulations also contain a constituent (C) consisting of at least one polyglycol soluble in said fuel, with an average molecular mass ranging from 480 to 2,100. The (A)/(B) and (A)+(B)/(C) molar ratios preferably are respectively 0.2/1 to 5/1 and 0.05/1 and 20/1.

Abstract: A resilient support with anisotropic stiffnesses is provided particularly for bodywork suspensions, comprising as main resilient element at least one beam (1) extending in a transverse direction (y), the ends (3) of this beam (1) being secured to a first frame (6) adapted to be fixed to one of said assemblies and its middle part to a second frame (11) adapted to be fixed to the other assembly, and in that the cross section of this beam (1) has a shape such that at the level of the second beam (11) it has the desired stiffnesses, particularly in the longitudinal direction (x axis) and in the direction of the main load (z axis).

Abstract: An optoelectronic device having an optical switch which can be turned on and off optically by a beam of light. The device includes the optical switch having a first optically variable resistance device connected in series with the switch and one side of a source of current, and a second optically variable resist device connected in series with the switch and one side of a source of current, and a second optically variable resistance device connected in series with the switch and the other side of the current source. The switch is capable of emitting light when a voltage above a threshold is applied thereto. By directing a light into the first optically variable resistance device the voltage applied across the switch is increased to a level just below the threshold and is raised to at least the threshold by directing a light into the switch so as to turn on the switch.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel tricyclic derivatives which are agonists of cholinergic receptors and to drugs containing them.These derivatives have the following formula: ##STR1## in which: X represents a group (CH.sub.2).sub.n, n representing an integer equal to 2, 3 or 4, or alternatively a vinylene group or a methylvinylene group;R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, considered independently, represent hydrogen or a substituent occupying one of the free positions of the benzene ring and selected from the group comprising halogens, a lower alkyl group, a lower alkoxy group, a hydroxyl group, a thiol group, a nitro group and an optionally substituted amino group;Y represents oxygen, sulfur or a group --NH--; andR.sub.3 is an amino groupApplication: agonists of the cholinergic receptors.

Abstract: A ferromagnetic measuring apparatus comprising a shaft on which is fixed a needle displaceable over a dial, and a first metallic plate. The shaft is pivotally mounted at its ends, in bearings, within the housing of a coil body, for displacement relative to a second metallic plate fixed within the housing. One of the end bearings is provided at one of the ends of the housing of the coil body while the other bearing is provided in a cap positioned on the housing of the coil body, at the other end thereof. A spiral spring is also provided, which is connected with the needle shaft. The spiral spring is fixed at its inner end to the cap and at its outer end to the needle which is rigid with the shaft.

Abstract: A compound which is a pyrido[3,4-b]derivative of formula (I) ##STR1## in which R is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl carbonyl, arylalkylcarbonyl or arylcarbonyl group of formula COR.sub.1 wherein R.sub.1 is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl group, a benzyl group or a phenyl group unsubstituted or substituted with 1 to 3 substituents chosen from halogen atoms and trifluoromethyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl and C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkoxy groups or R is an alkoxycarbonyl or benzyloxycarbonyl group of formula COOR.sub.2 wherein R.sub.2 is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl group or a benzyl group, or R is a substituted aminocarbonyl group of formula CONHR.sub.3 wherein R.sub.3 is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl group or a phenyl group, or R is an arylsulphonyl group of formula SO.sub.2 R.sub.4 wherein R.sub.4 is a phenyl group, or a pharmacologically acceptable acid addition salt thereof useful for treating hypertension, depressive state or anxiety state.

Abstract: An associative data processor including a spin glass type amorphous magnetic film has input areas, output areas, and "hidden" or associative areas. A coil provides selective magnetic biasing, and lasers provide selective digital input to the input and output areas, which are intercoupled by the associative areas. Following input of a number of digital patterns to the processor, and "learning" by heating the associative areas, an incomplete input pattern may be applied, and the complete pattern read by sensing the polarization of reflected polarized light from the output areas.

Abstract: A process for producing reinforced cementitious compositions in which the following constituents are mixed in the aqueous phase in the following order: about 35-55 parts by weight of water mixed with about 3-12 parts of a polymer, by weight of dry polymer; up to about 5 parts of a water-reducing auxiliary agent and/or a liquifying agent; from about 15-30 parts of metakaolin; from about 50-120 parts of silica sand; and about 100 parts of cement. Continuous mixing is maintained until a homogeneous, thixotropic paste is obtained. Then between 2 and 15% by weight of alkaline-resistant glass fibers, relative to the weight of the paste, is introduced into the paste. The product produced by this method is particularly suitable for use as a mortar or paste which may be easily sprayed upon vertical surfaces and as hydraulic concretes, resistant to the effects of weather and aging.

Abstract: Process for treating an aqueous solution of acrylamide resin, characterized in that an emulsifier which is preferably nonionic or anionic, a solution of initiator comprising an organic peroxide, preferably a diperoxide, and optionally a solution of a retarder preferably consisting of a phenol derivative or an alkali metal inorganic derivative are added slowly and with stirring, preferably in the form of a pre-emulsion, to an aqueous solution of acrylamide resin monomer.

Abstract: In this elastic strut incorporating a hydromechanical resonator having a weight/spring system of the type providing a hydraulic amplification of the displacement of the beating weight (7), the weight mounted between two opposed return springs constitutes a double-sided hollow piston slidably mounted on two coaxial opposed cylinders (6) in a closed chamber filled with a liquid (10) in an inner tubular element (1) disposed in an outer tubular element (2) with which it defines, at each end, a chamber (18, 26) filled with liquid onto which opens one of the cylinders (6), the elements (1, 2) constituting the body of the strut being coaxially movable relative to each other and fixed together at each of their ends in a sealed and elastic manner by bearings composed of an elastomer material.