Assessment of the Performance of Osmotically Driven Polymeric Membrane Processes

The universal water scarceness and the extensive ordeals with energy cost in conjunction with the undesirable ecological effects have advanced the improvement of novel osmotically driven membrane processes. Membrane processes which are osmotically driven are developing type of membrane separation procedures that apply concentrated brines to separate liquid streams. They are adaptable in various applications; hence, allow them to be an attractive substitute for drug release, wastewater treatment and the production and recovery of energy. Although, internal concentration polarization (ICP) occurs in membrane practises which are osmotically driven as a consequence of hindered diffusion of solute in a porous stratum, their interest has even increased. Here we review two natural membrane processes that are osmotically driven; Forward osmosis (FO) and Pressure retarded osmosis (PRO). Thus, the major points are as follows: 1) it was highlighted in this review, that the major developments in FO process, important for the process efficiency is to choose a suitable membrane and draw solution. 2) The recent evaluation, understanding and optimizing the activities of fouling throughout the osmotic dilution of seawater employing FO was discussed. 3) Recent advancements of FO in the application of food processing was reviewed. 4) It was highlighted that the main concept of PRO for power generation is the energy of mixing that offers great assessment of the nonexpansion work which could be generated from mixing; nonetheless, the development of effective membranes with appropriate arrangement and performance is needed for the advancement of PRO process for power generation. 5) One major challenge of osmotically driven membrane processes, most recent developments and model development to predict their performances were discussed

Avant-propos/Foreword

La réalisation de cet ouvrage est née de l’initiative d’un groupe de chercheurs de l’ORSTOM, appartenant à des disciplines très variées, et directement concernés par les processus d’élaboration de la production agricole, l’activité des agriculteurs et les conditions dans lesquelles elle s’exerce. À l’origine de ce projet, une constatation : l’idée de risque est permanente, mais demeure largement implicite dans la plupart des travaux portant sur la production agricole, même si certains domaine..

Effects of novobiocin on adenovirus DNA synthesis and encapsidation.

Novobiocin, an inhibitor of DNA gyrase implicated in bacterial and likely mammalian, chromosome replication, inhibited the initiation, but not the elongation of human adenovirus DNA replicative synthesis. The inhibition was partially reversible, even in the presence of protein synthesis inhibitor. Novobiocin inhibited also the encapsidation of viral DNA, and this effect was independent of the block in DNA replication. It was suggested that novobiocin acted on two different functions, one involved in viral DNA replication initiation, the other in DNA encapsidation

Localization of the sodium-potassium-chloride cotransporter (SLc12A2) during zebrafish embryogenesis and myogenesis and a screen for additional antibodies to study zebrafish myogenesis

The objective of the current study was to screen a series of commercially avaliable antibodies in order to determine if they would bind specifically to target proteins in zebrafish musculature for use in fluorscence confocal microscopy. Many of these antibodies were not developed specifically for use in zebrafish; but because of the near universality of many basic muscle proteins among species these antibodies could potentially bind to homologus proteins in zebrafish. Of these, T4, for the protein Slc12a, has not been well described. We reviewed antibody expression in the muscle and evaluated the protein localization of Slc12a in zebrafish development. T4 was visualized within the skeletal muscle, where it may play an important role in ion regulation during muscle activity. Overall, the use of these antibodies will allow researchers access to tools known to work within the zebrafish and enable more studies using this organism as a model system for muscle development

Sociétés paysannes, transitions agraires et dynamiques écologiques dans le sud-ouest de Madagascar

National audienceLa région sud-ouest de Madagascar fait l'objet de mutations agraires, rapides et de grande ampleur, dans lesquelles interfèrent des phénomènes démographiques, sociaux, techniques et écologiques. La culture pionnière du maïs sur abattis-brûlis constitue depuis une vingtaine d'années la cause principale d'une déforestation spectaculaire, et sans doute irréversible, qui s'accélère au cours du temps. Avec l'installation de populations migrantes et la réduction des terres agricoles disponibles, de profondes recompositions affectent les relations sociales, les systèmes de production et l'organisation de l'espace rural. Dans un tel contexte, les questions de développement et d'environnement sont étroitement liées, et se posent avec acuité. Cet ouvrage rend compte des principaux résultats obtenus, dans le cadre de deux programmes conjoints, par des équipes de chercheurs du CNRE et de l'IRD, relevant de différentes disciplines : écologie, agronomie, géographie, anthropologie, économie. Il constitue les actes d'un atelier organisé en novembre 1999 à Antananarive, au cours duquel ces travaux ont été présentés et discutés, tant sur le plan scientifique qu'en terme de valorisation pour le développement