Telecommunications and sustainable development 1

Abstract

This paper explores the linkages between the rapidly‐evolving and expanding multi‐faceted sector of telecommunications and the concept of sustainable development. It illustrates how the achievement of more sustainable, equitable forms of human development relies increasingly upon the acquisition of information and knowledge. Modern telecommunications, encompassing a converging spectrum of technologies, makes possible the generation of knowledge and the transfer, uptake and adaptation of know‐how ‐ by providing access to essential information and giving people the means to manage and manipulate it. The role of the International Telecommunication Union in telecommunications development is reviewed and a number of priorities are suggested with a view to the fuller integration of telecommunications in the development process.     

Urban wastewater treatment by a nutrient film technique system with a valuable commercial plant species (Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium Trev.)

Urban wastewater causes rapid eutrophication of natural waters and requires treatment before discharge. This is expensive and produces huge quantities of sludge. In the European Community, it will no longer be lawful to dispose of this sludge as landfill after 2005 (European Directive 91/271/CEE of May 21, 1991). Wastewater treatment by the Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium plants in horizontal flow was investigated using the nutrient film technique (NFT), a widely used hydroponic system in the commercial greenhouse industry. After a 48 h plant treatment, the purification efficiency was 95%, 91%, and 99% with respect to suspended solids (SS), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), and chemical oxygen demand (COD), and the elimination of nutrients (total nitrogen and total phosphorus) varied between 40% and 80%. SS and thus indirectly BOD5 and COD were removed by filtration and adsorption; the solids trapped in the root systems were then decomposed and mineralized. The system with 25 plants purified 30 L of wastewater in 48 h. One-hundred people communities wastewater could be treated with a 6 m2 area of production. Pyrethrin contents and chlorophyll a fluorescence of plants grown on raw urban waters were not significantly different from those grown on a standard nutrient solution.     

Hydrolysis of intralipid by pancreatic lipase and phospholipase A2-gel filtration studies

Intralipid was incubated with pancreatic lipase (EC 3.1.1.3) and/or phospholipase A₂ (EC 3.1.1.4) at two bile salts/phosphatidylcholine molar ratios and at two different triglyceride hydrolysis rates using various amounts of lipase. Incubations were studied by gel filtration. Results show: (i) During lipase action, three phases of lipids coexist: an emulsified phase, a micellar phase and an intermediate heavy phase sized between the two others. The equilibrium between each phase is dependent upon the bile salts concentration. (ii) Under these conditions, pancreatic lipase was at 60% bound to the emulsified phase, whereas pancreatic phospholipase A₂ was bound at 94% to the micellar phase.     

Combined effects of postharvest heat treatment and chitosan coating on quality of fresh‐cut mangoes (Mangifera indica L.)

The influence of heat treatment combined with coating on sensory quality, physico‐chemicals characteristics (firmness, colour, pH, titratable acidity, total soluble solids and total carotenoids content) and microbiological quality of fresh‐cut mangoes were studied. Whole mangoes (Mangifera indica cv ‘Tommy Atkins’) were subjected to hot water dipping (HWD) at 50 °C for 30 min and cooled for 15 min. Heated and unheated fruits were minimally processed and mango cubes were coated with chitosan solution (0.25% w/v) dissolved in 0.5% (w/v) citric acid, and stored for 9 days at 6 °C under ambient atmosphere. This study showed that both HWD 50 °C for 30 min and chitosan coating, either alone or combined, did not affect the taste and the flavour of mangoes slices. The chitosan coating combined with HWD or not inhibited the microbial growth for 9 days at 6 °C. Indeed chitosan coating was used for his antimicrobial proprieties. HWD 50 °C for 30 min was the beneficial treatment to maintain firmness and colour during 9 days at 6 °C.     

Design and Synthesis of Functionalized Oxaziridines as Topological Analogs of Penicillins

Oxaziridines were examined as potential alkylating inhibitors of bacterial serine D,D-peptidases. Structures were designed to mimic known β-lactam antibiotics taking into account stereoelectronic requirements for a nucleophilic attack on a three-membered ring. Novel oxaziridines equipped with functionalized side chains were prepared. They showed poor antibacterial activities in vitro, perhaps as a result of their low chemical stability.     

Genetic factors and acute carbon monoxide intoxication

LD_12:12 (L = 100 lux) synchronized, 5–10 grouped small laboratory vertebrates, were during part of the L period (0900–1130) exposed to an acute carbon monoxide intoxication, resulting in an overall 50 % mortality. Interspecific and interstrain differences were found in outbred and inbred mice (CBA, C57B1, OF₁), outbred rats (Sprague-Dawley, Wistar), guinea-pigs, chicks (R+, R-), and Japanese quails. In this last bird species, a genetic selection produced two genotypes, one sensitive and one resistant to a carbon monoxide acute intoxication.     

Treatment of domestic wastewater using the nutrient film technique (NFT) to produce horticultural roses

Removal of organic matter, nitrogen and phosphorus was investigated in a pilot based on the nutrient film technique system used for horticultural production. Rosebushes producing commercial roses were set on an inclined impermeable surface over which a thin film of domestic wastewater flowed directly through the root matrix. The roses produced with wastewater as nutrient solution were qualitatively and quantitatively similar to those produced traditionally and can be marketable. In the presence of the rosebushes, the lowering of chemical oxygen demand (COD), biological oxygen demand (BOD5) and suspended solids (SS) increased with their influent strengths in a linear fashion correlation. Whatever the pollutant load of the influent, within the range studied, the level of organic pollution required to allow the discharge of the effluent into water courses was reached after 24 h of treatment. At this time, the COD reached 39 +/- 13 mg L(-1), the BOD5 7 +/- 4 mg L(-1) and the SS 8 +/- 6 mg L(-1). The removal percentages were 89, 95 and 94, respectively, whereas without plants they were 55, 33 and 53, respectively. The rosebushes had a beneficial effect on the removal of phosphorus from 20% to 23% greater in their presence than without. In presence of plants, the nitrate was the principal form of nitrogen from 48 h of treatment whereas without rosebushes, nitrite represent more than 20% of initial nitrogen whatever the treatment duration. The root matrix served not only as a filter for the organic matter, but also provided a microhabitat suitable for nitrifying bacteria and heterotrophic micro-organisms, which responded rapidly to the pollutant load.     

A new recombinant procoagulant protein derived from the cDNA encoding human factor VIII

We have constructed new B domain deletion derivatives of humanfactor Vm (FVm) by manipulating the cDNA using recombinant DNAtechniques. One of these new derivatives, FVIII II, in whichamino acids 771(pro)–1666(asp) have been deleted, no longercontains the protease cleavage site at amino acid position 1648(arg)–1649(glu) known to be involved in the initial step ofFVin processing. We have expressed this molecule in both babyhamster kidney (BHK) 21 cells using the vaccinia virus (VV)expression system and have established Chinese hamster ovary(CHO) derived permanent cell lines expressing either recombinant(r)FVIII or FVIII II AD. The characteristics of FVIII II ADhave been compared to those of rFVIII and/or plasma derived(pd) FVIII. FVIII II All has the following properties: (i) itexhibits FVDI procoagulant activity; (ii) it is expressed at5-fold higher levels than is the complete molecule in comparablesystems; (iii) it migrates for the most part as a single majorband on SDS-PAGE, hi contrast to the complete molecule; (iv)it is activated to a greater extent by thrombin than is eitherrFVm or pdFVIII; and (v) it retains the ability to bind vonWillebrand factor (vWf).