Desalination by distillation and by reverse osmosis — trends towards the future

As the requirement for fresh water increases worldwide, there is a need for more and more plants that are able to treat non-conventional water sources. Sea water has become an important source of fresh water in many arid regions. This feature provides an overview of recent process improvements in sea water desalination using reverse osmosis, multi-stage flash, multi-effect distillation and electrodialysis. Areas discussed include the use of alternative energy sources (wind energy, solar energy and nuclear energy) for reverse osmosis or distillation processes, and the impact of the different desalination process on the environment. Also covered are the implementation of hybrid processes in sea water desalination, and the pretreatment of desalination plants by pressure-driven membrane processes.     

Dimer interface of glutathione S-transferase from Arabidopsis thaliana: influence of the G-site architecture on the dimer interface and implications for classification

The three-dimensional structure of glutathione S-transferase from Arabidopsis thaliana has been solved at 2.2 A resolution (Reinemer et al., 1996). The enzyme forms a dimer of two identical subunits. The structure shows a new G-site architecture and a novel and unique dimer interface. Each monomer of the protein forms a separate G-site. Therefore, the requirements on the dimer interface are reduced. As a consequence, the interactions between the monomers are weaker and residues at the dimer interface are more variable. Thus, the dimer interface looses its relevance for a classification of plant glutathione S-transferases and the formation of heterodimers becomes even more difficult to predict.     

Insertional re-activation of a chloramphenicol acetyltransferase misfolding mutant protein

The deletion of nine residues from the C-terminus of the bacterialchloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) results in depositionof the mutant protein in cytoplasmic inclusion bodies and lossof chloramphenicol resistance in Escherichia coli. This foldingdefect is relieved by C-terminal fusion of the polypeptide withas few as two residues. Based on these observations, efficientpositive selection for the cloning of DNA fragments has beendemonstrated. The cloning vector encodes a C-terminally truncatedCAT protein. Restriction sites in front of the stop codon allowthe insertion of target DNA, resulting in the production ofproperly folded CAT fusion proteins and regained chloramphenicolresistance. The positive selection of recombinants is accomplishedby growth of transformants on chloramphenicol-containing agarplates. The method appears particularly convenient for the cloningof DNA fragments amplified by the PCR because minimal informationto restore CAT folding can be included in the primers. The cloningof random sequences shows that the folding defect can be relievedby fusion to a wide variety of peptides, providing great flexibilityto the positive selection system. This vector may also contributeto the determination of the role of the C-terminus in CAT folding.     

HPMBP与伯胺N_(1923)对希土元素(Ⅲ)的协同萃取

本文研究了HPMBP与伯胺N_(1923)的二甲苯溶液,从盐酸介质中协同萃取希土(Ⅲ)的机理。用斜率法、恒摩尔法确定了协萃配合物的组成为:RNH_3Ln(PMBP)_4。求得关于Pr(Ⅲ)协萃反应的平衡常数及协萃配合物的生成常数分别为:logK_(12)=-1.95;logβ_(12)=3.94。实验发现,协萃系数(R)随希土元素的原子序数(Z)递变而呈现“双峰效应”。还研究了协萃配合物的IR,NMR谱。     

生态平衡的伦理学意蕴解读

20世纪以来，人类采用技术工程治理、法律制裁和经济惩罚等措施，一定意义上改善了局部的生态环境，但是未能遏制住全球环境问题的恶化态势。生态危机的根本解决，关键在于人类自身必须进行深刻的利益观念和价值观念的变革。重新审视人与自然界的关系，对自然进行伦理关怀，寻求和建立以保护地球环境和人类生存与可持续发展的生态平衡理念。     

Diameter NASREQ协议在卫星移动通信系统中的应用研究

如何对接入网络的用户进行身份认证、授予相应权限并进行计费,是卫星移动通信系统网络管理需解决的重要问题。简要介绍认证、授权、计费(AAA)的基本概念,分析Diameter协议框架、协议原理以及协议应用于网络接入的特点。阐述协议中包含的各种应用,给出Diameter NASREQ应用的一种系统模型。重点研究Diameter NASREQ协议在卫星移动通信系统中的应用,详述应用中客户机和服务器中各模块的功能和工作原理。通过分析,说明该应用的可行性及有效性。     

Stability studies on methyl and ethyl fatty acid esters of sunflowerseed oil

Fatty acid esters, high in linoleic acid, were prepared and stored for long-term engine tests. Storage tests with these esters were undertaken to obtain more information on optimal storage requirements and general stability characteristics. Samples were kept at three temperature levels (20 C, 30 C and fluctuating around 50 C) for a 90-day period and were removed at regular intervals for chemical and physical analysis. The influence of air, temperature, light, TBHQ and contact with mild steel was evaluated by comparing the free fatty acid, peroxide, anisidine, ultraviolet absorption, viscosity and induction periods. A statistical model was used to evaluate the data and to reduce the large number of data points to comparable curves. Storage of esters in contact with air, especially at a temperature above 30 C, resulted in significant increases in peroxide, ultraviolet absorption, free fatty acid, viscosity and anisidine values. Exclusion of air retarded oxidation at all temperature levels. A direct relationship between viscosity increases and oxidation parameters was evident. Exposure to light caused a small increase in the oxidation parameters of esters stored at the highest temperature level. Addition of TBHQ prevented oxidation of samples stored under moderate conditions. Under unfavorable storage conditions the anti-oxidant was no longer effective. Mild steel had very little effect on the oxidation parameters. Only the anisidine values of samples stored at the highest temperature level were slightly increased. Methyl esters performed slightly better than ethyl esters during the storage test. The following practical guidelines for storage of fatty acid ester fuels are: (i) airtight containers should be used; (ii) the storage temperature should be <30 C; (iii) mild steel (rust free) containers may be used, and (iv) TBHQ has a beneficial effect on oxidation stability.