Abstract: The invention disclosed relates to an electrochemical process for decreasing high levels of organic contaminants in metal plating baths. The process involves breaking down the organic contaminants in an electrochemical cell by electrochemical oxidation. The electrochemical cell includes an anode comprising an active material which is stable at low (acid) pH and at the high electrical potential required to break down the organic contaminants by oxidation. Typical examples of such anodes include a valve metal substrate coated with doped tin dioxide, lead dioxide, or platinum-based materials, the latter in some instances being coated on a high surface area valve metal substrate.

Abstract: Memory sense amplifier unit for amplifying a data signal read from a memory via bit lines (2, 3), having a precharge circuit (4) comprising PMOS transistors (5, 6) and serving for rapidly precharging the bit lines (2, 3) to a supply voltage potential (VDD) of the sense amplifier unit (1); a first amplifier stage (43) comprising feedback NMOS transistors (21, 22, 24, 26) and serving for voltage level shifting and for amplifying the data signal present on the bit lines (2, 3); and having a second amplifier stage (66) for amplifying further the signal output by the first amplifier stage (43), in which case the first amplifier stage (43) can be initialized to the supply voltage potential (VDD) and the second amplifier stage (43) can be initialized to ground potential (VSS).

Abstract: Disclosed is A flow-through electrochemical reactor comprising a body having an internal chamber, and an inlet port and an outlet port in communication with said internal chamber to permit flow of wastewater therethrough, at least one porous anode arranged in said internal chamber such that the wastewater flowing between said inlet port and said outlet port flows through the pores of said at least one porous anode, said at least one porous anode having activity for the destruction of a target substance, and at least one cathode disposed in the internal chamber to permit an electric current to be established between said at least one cathode and said at least one anode, said electric current reducing the concentration of said target substance in the wastewater flowing through the chamber.

Abstract: A contact support suitable for mounting on a cycle brake control cable, the support comprising: a first portion which is fixed relative to the cycle frame, said fixed portion having a first contact surface; a second portion which is movable relative to the cycle frame, and suitable for being secured to the cable, said moving portion presenting a second contact surface; the support comprising connection means between the fixed portion and the moving portion, said connection means being suitable for being deformed elastically between: an extreme relaxed state for the support in which the contact surfaces are spaced apart from each other; and a tensioned state for the support in which the contact surfaces press against each other, the connection means then being elastically deformed.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement and method for testing the differential non-linearity (DNL) of a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) determines whether the digital-to-analog converter has an analog output that is monotonic, and thus the DAC is functional The design is appropriate for being implemented on an integrated circuit containing a digital-to-analog converter, creating an efficient self-test circuit arrangement. A counter generates a monotonic sequence of digital input codes for a digital input of the digital-to-analog converter. A monotonicity comparator, such as a one-stage or multistage sample and hold circuit arrangement, detects any non-monotonic transition in the analog output of the digital-to-analog converter, generating an error signal as an output. An output switch, such as a digital flip-flop, may be set by the error signal, for monitoring by other devices. A clock signal synchronizes the counter and the monotonicity comparator.

Abstract: The present invention lies in the field of the manufacture of phenol from cumene. The subject of the invention is a process for the continuous preparation of cumene hydroperoxide by oxidation, in the liquid phase, of cumene in the presence of oxygen. The process according to the invention is carried out in the presence of at least one agent chosen from the hydroxide or the carbonate of an alkali metal and/or alkaline-earth metal; the said agent being used in an amount of between 2 and 10 ppb (expressed as sodium hydroxide) with respect to the amount of cumene introduced. The invention likewise relates to the use of the hydroperoxide thus obtained for preparing phenol.

Abstract: The invention relates to radio-pharmaceutical compositions that include an inclusion complex of a cyclodextrin and a radio-halogenated fatty acid.These complexes include a cyclodextrin such as .beta.-cyclodextrin, .gamma.-cyclodextrin and their derivatives, and a radio-halogenated fatty acid, in particular a fatty acid labelled with radioactive iodine such as 16-iodo 3-methyl hexadecanoic acid suitable for the examination of the myocardium by scintigraphy.The cyclodextrin allows the fatty acid to dissolve in aqueous solution without any addition of human blood albumin, while further improving the biodistribution of the fatty acid and its stability to heat.

Abstract: The invention concerns a skin substitute composed of a dermis equivalent covered with an epidermis equivalent. The dermis equivalent is a film formed from a type I collagen gel containing fibroblasts. The epidermis equivalent incorporates a basal membrane equivalent, basal layer cells, in a palisade arrangement attached to the membrane equivalent by hemidesmosomes, cells of the suprabasal layers, granular cells, and flat, keratinized cells arranged near the free surface.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses techniques for reducing digital noise in integrated circuits and circuit assemblies, particularly dense mixed-signal integrated circuits, based upon shaping the noise from the digital circuit and concentrating it in a single, or a small number, of parts of the frequency spectrum. Generally, the presence of noise in the analog circuit is less important at certain frequencies, and therefore the spectral peak or peaks from the digital circuit can be carefully placed to result in little or no interference. As an example, a radio receiver might be designed such that the peaks of the digital noise lie between received channels, outside the band edges of each.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process for obtaining a skin substitute and the skin substitute itself. According to this process, a dermis substitute is prepared by mixing contractile cells, a nutritive medium, and collagen, in order to form a contracting gel; this dermis substitute is used as a substrate for an epidermis substitute obtained by culturing, using keratinocytes from an animal or human skin sample. According to the invention, the substrate is implanted with at least one section of a hair follicle retaining at least partially its cellular sheath, this section being implanted perpendicularly to the free surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A tuning circuit for tuning an integrated circuit filter, such as a continuous-time MOSFET-C filter, is disclosed. The tuning circuit includes a switched-capacitor network having a capacitor which matches the capacitor used in the filter to be tuned. Also included is a transistor which matches the transistor used in the filter. The switched-capacitor network has a effective resistance which is a function of the switching rate of the network. Feedback circuitry is included which produces a control signal used to vary the small signal resistance of the transistor to match the effective resistance of the switched-capacitor network. The filter is tuned by varying the rate of which the switched capacitor network is clocked thereby changing to effective network resistance. The control voltage responds by forcing the transistor resistance to match the new effective resistance of the switched-capacitor network.

Abstract: A solution to the problem of analog decision making in a "mixed-signal" integrated circuit removes pulses of the local clock from the analog decision trigger whenever chip select is active, thereby freezing the mixed-signal circuit while it is accessed.

Abstract: Compounds of general formula I: ##STR1## in which: Ar represents a phenyl radical optionally containing one to five identical or different substituents, representing a halogen atom, an alkoxy radical containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an alkylthio radical containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a trihalomethyl radical or a methylenedioxy radical,Y, Z, Y.sub.1, Z.sub.1, W, V, U, m, n, R.sub.1, R.sub.2 are as defined in the specification. The compounds are used as calcium modulators.

Abstract: A switched capacitor amplifier circuit using a pair of switched capacitors to replace each resistor element of an inverting operational amplifier circuit, with the capacitors operating on opposite halves of the switching cycle to provide reduced sampling distortion.

Abstract: 5-aminopentanenitrile compounds of the formula: ##STR1## in which: Ar represents ##STR2## in which: R.sub.1 is hydrogen, halogen trifluoromethyl or C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 -alkoxy, andR.sub.2 and R.sub.3, which are identical or different, each are hydrogen or C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 -alkoxy or together form --O--CH.dbd.CH--O-- or --O--CH.sub.2 --O--; or together form with the phenyl ring to which they are bound a benzoxazolyl, benzothiazolyl, benzothiadiazolyl or quinolyl radical;R is C.sub.3 -C.sub.15 -alkyl or ##STR3## in which: X is S or SO.sub.2 and Z is hydrogen, chlorine or C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 -alkyl or C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 -alkoxy;R' is C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 -alkyl, andAr' represents ##STR4## in which: R'.sub.1 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 -alkyl andR'.sub.2 is hydrogen or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl; and moreover when R is ##STR5## Ar' may be ##STR6## in which Y is C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 alkoxy andY' is hydrogen or C.sub.1 -C.sub.

Abstract: The invention relates to 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran derivatives of the general formula: ##STR1## in which: each of X.sub.1 and X.sub.2, which are identical or different, represents a hydrogen or halogen atom or an alkoxy radical containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms,X.sub.3 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl radical having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms,Y represents a hydrogen atom or a hydroxy radical, each of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, which are identical or different, represents an alkyl radical having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms,or R.sub.1 represents a methyl radical and R.sub.2 represents a phenylalkyl grouping or a 2-indanyl grouping, each of which may be substituted or unsubstituted,or R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 together form, with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached, a piperazinyl radical, a tetrahydroisoquinolyl radical, a morpholinyl radical or a tetrahydrothienopyridinyl radical.

Abstract: The invention relates to 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran derivatives of the general formula: ##STR1## in which: each of X.sub.1 and X.sub.2, which are identical or different, represents a hydrogen or halogen atom or an alkoxy radical containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms,X.sub.3 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl radical having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms,Y represents a hydrogen atom or a hydroxy radical, each of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, which are identical or different, represents an alkyl radical having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms,or R.sub.1 represents a methyl radical and R.sub.2 represents a phenylalkyl grouping or a 2-indanyl grouping, each of which may be substituted or unsubstituted,or R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 together form, with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached, a piperazinyl radical, a tetrahydroisoquinolyl radical, a morpholinyl radical or a tetrahydrothienopyridinyl radical. The compounds are useful in the treatment of hypertension.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process and means for rapid microwave imaging using UHF waves transmitted by an antenna toward a body to be scanned. According to the invention, body O to be scanned is placed in front of a transmitting antenna A and various signals forming the various points of the image are analyzed in a collector-unit RC consisting of a diode-conductor panel 1 and a wave-guide stack 2 and are then transmitted to a receiver R.

Abstract: Low attenuation, high strength optical fiber is made by drawing a silica filament core at a temperature from 2040.degree. C. to 2140.degree. C. and melt coating onto it cladding polymer having an index of refraction lower than that of the silica core by extrusion at a draw-down ratio from 1.2 to 2.0.