Abstract: Unsaturated alcohols are prepared by the hydrogenation of an unsaturated carbonyl compound in a two-phase liquid medium and in the presence of a catalyst consisting of a ruthenium derivative associated with a water-soluble ligand or a complex of ruthenium with a water-soluble ligand.

Abstract: Aromatic esters and thioesters have the formula ##STR1## wherein X represents oxygen or sulfur,R.sub.1 represents --CH.sub.2 OH, --CH(OH)--CH.sub.3, --COOR.sub.5 or ##STR2## R.sub.5 represents hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkenyl, monohydroxyalkyl or polyhydroxyalkyl,r' and r" represent hydrogen, lower alkyl, monohydroxyalkyl, polyhydroxyalkyl, aryl or benzyl optionally substituted, the residue of an amino acid or aminated sugar, or taken together form a heterocycle,R.sub.2 represents .alpha.,.alpha.'-disubstituted alkyl having 4-12 carbon atoms or mono- or polycyclic cycloalkyl having 5-12 carbon atoms whose carbon linking carbon is trisubstituted,R.sub.3 represents hydrogen, lower alkyl, or --Si(CH.sub.3).sub.2 R'.sub.3 wherein R'.sub.3 represents lower alkyl, andR.sub.4 represents hydrogen or lower alkyl, andthe salts of these aromatic esters and thioesters of formula (I) when R.sub.5 represents hydrogen.

Abstract: A piloted pneumatic valve for controlling pressure at a distance. The valve includes a cavity divided into two chambers by a membrane. One chamber is the pilot chamber, and the other the escape chamber, connected to a pressurization and depressurization circuit, connected to the controlled pressurized volume through an orifice, and to the outside air through at least one escape hole. The system also includes a piloted valve pressing the membrane against the orifice to close it, and an opening, communicating with the circuit leading to the pressurized volume, and fitted with a check valve poppet prohibiting flow back from the capacity to the circuit. For application to automotive vehicles.

Abstract: A variable attenuator for controlling scanning beam intensity having a twisted nematic liquid crystal for rotating the beam, a polarization analyzer for detecting the degree of alteration in the polarization of the beam by the crystal comprising a polarizing beam splitting plate separating the beam into primary and secondary beams, a photocell providing a signal reflecting the intensity of the secondary beam, a control for adjusting power to the crystal in response to the signal, a glass plate at an angle of incidence equal to but opposite from that of the beam splitting plate for correcting aberrations to the primary beam, and an anti-reflective coating on the optical surfaces of the crystal.In a second embodiment, the plates are replaced by a polarizing cube. In a third embodiment, to obviate fluctuations in the attenuator output, the glass plate instead serves as the source of the beam component to the photocell.

Abstract: Aromatic heterocyclic derivatives have the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 represents (i)--CH.sub.3, (ii)--CH.sub.2 OH or (iii) ##STR2## wherein R.sub.3 represents hydrogen, --OR.sub.4 wherein R.sub.4 represents hydrogen, alkyl having 1-20 carbon atoms or mono- or polyhydroxyalkyl or R.sub.3 represents ##STR3## wherein r' and r" represent hydrogen, lower alkyl or together form a heterocycle, R.sub.2 represents hydrogen or --CH.sub.3 and Ar represents ##STR4## wherein R.sub.6 is hydrogen or alkyl having 1-10 carbon atoms and R.sub.7 represents alkyl having 4-12 carbon atoms or cycloalkyl, Y is CH or a nitrogen atom and X represents oxygen, sulfur or --N--R.sub.8 when R.sub.8 represents hydrogen, lower alkyl or lower alkoxycarbonyl, with the proviso that (i) when Y is CH and X is oxygen or sulfur Ar is other than C and (ii) when Y is nitrogen and X is oxygen, Ar is other than (C) or (D) in which R.sub.6 is alkyl having 1-4 carbon atoms and R.sub.7 is branched alkyl having 4-12 atoms.

Abstract: A carbon dioxide snow nozzle for in particular rendering a molten metal inert. The nozzle comprises a supply pipe supplying liquid carbon dioxide under pressure for connection to a source of liquid carbon dioxide under pressure, a T-shaped element having one end connected to the pipe and the other two ends connected to liquid carbon dioxide conveying line which each have and to a controlled valve the outlets of the valves being interconnected by a V-shaped connecting element which opens onto a pipe for discharging the snow.

Abstract: An endless belt comprising a longitudinal reinforcement formed by a tension resistant member or a plurality of such members, such as cables, made more particularly from metal, glass fibers or any other synthetic material having high tensile resistance, transverse elements of a general trapezoidal form having a base and two lateral fins inclined with respect to the base which is made from metal or any other material having good compression resistance, with an elastomer mass which joins said transverse elements solidly together and with the longitudinal reinforcement, wherein the transverse elements are formed such that, during operation, the resultant of the bearing reaction forces of the cheeks of the pulley on said transverse elements is very close to the mean force transmission line of the longitudinal reinforcement which forms substantially the neutral axis of the belt.

Abstract: Ionically conductive macromolecular material constituted by a salt in solution in a polymer, the said salt comprising an anion present in the form of a polyether chain one end of which carries an anionic function and which can be applied to the obtention of electrochemical accumulators.

Abstract: Apparatus including a magnet (10) having at least one degree of freedom w respect to a first member, tangent to the direction of measurement and cooperating with a magnetic portion associated with a second member, and a sensor (11) for picking up the position of the magnet relative to the first member. Such apparatus is employed in steerable railway vehicles.

Abstract: A bipolar power switch (4) in series with the primary of an ignition coil (2) and a detection resistor (R1) associated with a voltage divider (R2, R3) supplying a voltage V.sub.D ; a controlled amplifier-comparator (9), the first input of which receives the measured voltage and the second input receives a reference voltage (8), and the output of which is connected with the base of the switch (4), this amplifier-comparator acting for limiting the base current when the measured voltage is approaching the reference voltage; a series resistor (R10) between the output of the amplifier-comparator (9) and the base of the switch (4); and a differential amplifier (11), the inputs of which are connected with the terminals of the series resistor and the output of which is connected with the first input of the amplifier-comparator.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for dispatching at least one predetermined secret key, in order to make the implementation of a provision of service secure, characterized in that it comprises transmitting a predetermined implementation key in encoded form from a security module (MSCl) having a predetermined rank to a security module (MSTl) or card (U) of a rank lower than the predetermined rank, this encoding comprises using an encoding algorithm and introducing the predetermined implementation key, as well as least one diversified key, this diversified key, necessary for the encoding, being obtained by a diversification algorithm by introducing both a basic key of this diversified key and diversification data originating from the module of lower rank, the predetermined encoded implementation key being decoded by the use, in a module of lower rank than the predetermined rank, of a decoding algorithm which is the inverse of the encoding algorithm.

Abstract: A process for heating by dielectric hysteresis a product (11) containing at least a proportion of ice enabling to heat and/or at least to form molecules of liquid water in said product practically without heating the liquid water obtained, consisting in subjecting the product to an electric field created between two electrodes (5, 6) to which is applied an alternating voltage of a frequency having a value in the range from one kilohertz to six megahertz.

Abstract: Disclosed is a rotating joint used in radars to transmit electrical signals on several channels between a rotating antenna and a fixed support. The pass-band of the matched and coupled circuits of each channel is substantially improved by making these circuits on concentric, circular rings which have metallic ground strips deposited on both faces, said strips being connected by metallized holes, and metallic strips of coils connected by the facing sections of the rings.

Abstract: Vitamin A containing practically no 2-cis or 6-cis isomer is prepared by hydrogenation of the aldehyde of vitamin A, optionally in the form of a complex with hydroquinone, in the presence of a ruthenium hydride catalyst.

Abstract: An emission device includes a first electro optical converter for converting electrical energy from a supply source into optical energy. A second electrical converter is provided to convert the electrical energy into digital information which is converted into digital optical information by a second electro optical converter. A reception device includes two optoelectrical converters connected to the electro optical converters by an optical path, and an electrical power accumulator capable of storing said electric power delivered by said optoelectric converter. The power accumulator is capable of supplying the reception device with electric power.

Abstract: The subject of the invention is a process for the preparation of capsular polysaccharides characteristic of Staphylococcus aureus, comprising the use of coagulase-negative strains of staphylococci for the preparation of these polysaccharides.The capsular polysaccharides obtained can be used for the preparation of vaccines against Staphylococcus aureus and diagnostic agents.

Abstract: The invention provides a hydrometallurgical process for recovering lead in essentially pure form from a sulphurized compound containing at least lead as a non-ferrous metal. The process involves treating the sulphurized compound with an aqueous lixiviating solution containing at least one chloride of a metal selected from the group consisting of copper, bismuth, antimony, arsenic, and silver, preferably cupric chloride, the quantity of said at least one chloride being less than or equal to that which is stoichiometrically required for the complete dissolution of the lead contained in the sulphurized compound, thereby to obtain a solution containing lead chloride and the chlorides of metals nobler than lead as impurities if originally present in the sulphurized lead compound, and an insoluble residue containing the sulphide of the metal of said at least one chloride, the sulphides of the non-ferrous metals originally present in the sulphurized compound, and free sulphur.

Abstract: Disclosed is an obturator ring for valves of the butterfly valve type which has, mounted in a groove made on the periphery of the flap, a split ring-shaped seal working with a first elastic member applying the seal against the valve body and a second elastic member applying the seal against the groove, the elastic members being made of a refractory material.

Abstract: An encoder delivers a pulse input signal in phase with equal angular steps of a rotary component, such as a toothed wheel driven by the crankshaft of an internal combustion engine. A missing tooth defines a reference position at which a synchronizing signal is also delivered. A counter is incremented by the pulse input signal and is reset by the synchronizing signal. A comparator compares the count in the counter with a number in a memory circuit to deliver a signal for triggering an event when the count in the counter coincides with the number in the memory circuit. The counter comprises a first counting circuit providing the least significant outputs of the counter and a second counting circuit providing the most significant outputs. The first counting circuit is reset by the input signal, and the second counting circuit by the synchronizing signal.

Abstract: Metallic force-introducing elements are fastened to the two ends of a fiber-reinforced synthetic resin material tube. These elements consist each of an inner and an outer part which are screw-connected with one another. The inner part comprises a bushing-shaped thread-bearing shaft having an external threading and being screwed into the respective tube end. The outer part comprises a supporting sleeve which surrounds the tube end and absorbs radial forces generated by the thread-bearing shaft. This type of connection of a synthetic resin tube with force-introducing elements is not critical with respect to temperature changes and is particularly simple to assemble in the manufacture of a novel tension-compression stay.