ALBERT

Notes: AbstractThe research question in the present article can be phrased in the following way: what are the elements which influence the perception of the utility of information received from another function? A field study research has been conducted in 40 Belgian companies. In each company, we have studied two on-going innovation projects (one planning project, one development project). Crossfunctional communication behaviours at the R&D/marketing interface have been measured by means of mailed structured questionnaires. Three-hundred and eighty-six questionnaires have been returned. The data analyses show that there are four underlying information dimensions, i.e. the perceived relevance, the perceived comprehensibility, the perceived novelty and the perceived credibility of information. We also discuss some contingency variables (function of the message receiver, stage in the innovation process) that might moderate the impact of these dimensions. It will be shown that the interaction between source and receiver has a significant impact on the perceived credibility, the perceived comprehensibility and the perceived novelty of the received information.

Notes: AbstractA major issue for organizations planning for technological turnaround concerns the question of how to internalize the new technology. This article reports the findings of an exploratory research that addressed this problem. A multiple case study approach has been used to study and analyze the different strategies and organizational approaches to absorb alien technologies (in-house development, intercompany co-operation, purchase of technology, contract research, joint-venture, acquisition). On the basis of the results, a propositional framework has been developed which offers managers a perspective to develop a strategy with respect to the appropriate organizational design to ‘de-mature’ technologically mature business units.

Notes: Shortening design cycle times, without increasing design costs or sacrificing quality has become an important management goal. In this paper, we will provide a short overview of the literature on shortening design cycle times. Building on this, we want to establish how manufacturing and the manufacturing/R&D interface can contribute to shorter development cycle times. The European Manufacturing Futures database will be used to test some of the literature findings on a sample of large European Manufacturers.

Notes: SYNOPSIS. Merozoites from Plasmodiunz gallinaceum (exoerythrocytic forms) have been observed with the electron microscope in thin sections of infected tissue cultures. When still in segmenter formation, at the end of the intracellular cycle, a small canaliculum can be observed in their proximal part which runs from the nuclear region down into the cytoplasmic core of the segmenter, where, in some sections, it continues directly into the endoplasmic reticulum of the core.Large, vacuole-like empty spaces in the merozoites recall swollen mitochondria. They show short villi at the periphery, instead of the typical cristae; they resemble the mitochondria of starved tissue cells.In the distal pole of the merozoites, one or two oval bodies of great electron density are present, among several smaller granules, both structures still being of unknown significance. The rest of the cytoplasm is of great electron density and shows a fine granulation.In the young trophozoites the oval bodies and the smaller granules disappear. Also, mitochondria are not found just after parasites enter a cell. These, however, reappear soon.The contact of the trophozoites with the cytoplasm of the host is intimate. Both surface membranes of the parasite are visible, mostly intact, but showing also openings which are considered artifacts, since no images have been obtained which indicate a passage of material through them from the host to the parasite. It is believed, however, that the parasite takes up material from the host through the membranes by an osmotic process. The fading of the electron density and the greater distance between the particles of its cytoplasm in the growing parasite seem to prove this. The particles which are responsible for the electron density of the merozoites, and of the young trophozoites, do not differ in their aspect from the RNA particles of the host cells.The nucleus, which in the merozoites and in the very first intracellular stages shows a homogenous fine and dense granulation, develops a darker region later, of irregular shape, which is located eccentrically, and is considered the nucleolus of these forms.

Notes: Whole cell DNA from Leishmania tropica has 2 peaks when banded by CsCl equilibrium density centrifugation. The main band has a buoyant density of 1.721 and the satellite band a buoyant density of 1.705, with Clostridium perfringens DNA (ρ= 1.6915) used as a reference. The satellite band has been identified as the kinetoplast DNA by purifying DNA from isolated kinetoplasts. L. tropica has the highest G + C content of both nuclear and kinetoplastic DNA thus far reported for trypanosomatids. The effects of ethidium bromide, acriflavin, proflavin, and 5-aminoacridine on the kinetoplast of L. tropica have been compared. Ethidium bromide and acriflavin, but not proflavin or 5-aminoacridine, induce dyskinetoplasty. L. tropica is one of the most sensitive trypanosomatids to ethidium bromide and acriflavin. Examination of the DNA from drug-treated cells in CsCl gradients revealed a loss of the satellite band after ethidium bromide or acriflavin treatment, but not after proflavin or 5-aminoacridine treatment. Cell division was required to produce these effects on the kinetoplast.

Notes: Trypanosoma cruzi has been cultured in pigment epithelial cells of the iris from the chick embryo. Melanin granules, identical with those of the host cells were found in the intracellular, amastigote (leishmania) forms. In many of the intracellular forms cytostome-like structures were seen, often in intimate contact with the pigment granules of the host cells, which suggests the uptake of melanin granules through the cytostomes by the process of intracellular phagotrophy.

Notes: The 1356 Basel earthquake was the strongest event to have shaken NW Europe in the last thousand years. The peculiar location of this historical event makes it possible to relate it to normal faulting along the edges of the Rhine Graben, as well as to reverse faulting along the Jura frontal thrust or to fault reactivation within the Hercynian basement. Alternate hypotheses are discussed and their implications compared taking into account available structural data and results of the morphotectonic study performed in the epicentral area. This study combines field observations with the analysis of SPOT satellite imagery, aerial photographs, and detailed topography. It is concluded that the Basel earthquake most probably reactivated a basement fault (reverse or wrench fault) beneath the shallow-depth aseismic detachment that underlies the Jura Mountains.

Notes: Leaf spot of tobacco caused by Rhizoctonia solani isreported forthe first time from South Africa. All the leaf spot isolates anastomosed with the AG-3 tester strain.

Notes: 1. The Ogeechee River, in south-eastern Georgia, U.S.A, is a blackwater river with an extensive floodplain that is inundated regularly during winter months. Previous studies have shown that low to moderate bacterial production rates cannot support the relatively high suspended bacteria concentrations observed (107−-108 cells ml−1), suggesting an allochthonous source of bacteria. We report the results of a combination of field and flume experiments which demonstrate that river sediments and floodplain soils are significant sources of suspended bacteria during seasonal flooding. Benthic bacteria are also entrained by normal discharges. There are sizeable fluxes of POC and DOC from river sediments and floodplain soils.2. Bacterial, POC and DOC fluxes (14, 250, and 790 mg Cm−2 h−1, respectively) were substantial when water was percolated upward through floodplain soils.3. Simulation of overland flow using a flume demonstrated further fluxes of bacteria and POC from floodplain soils (up to 61 and 10700 mg Cm−2h−1, respectively) and river sediments, but did not yield additional DOC from floodplain soils.4. These laboratory results are supported by experiments in which we measured significant increases in concentrations of bacteria and DOC in a downstream direction in (i) the main river channel during a winter flood in 1986, and (ii) a floodplain slough (channel side-arm) which re-entered the main channel 800m from its initial divergence. Inputs of bacteria and DOC from the surrounding floodplain were estimated to be up to 3500 kg DOC h−1, and 4000 kg bacteria Ch−1 over a 50-km reach.5. These previously unmeasured fluxes of organic carbon help to explain the high concentrations of suspended bacteria in the Ogeechee River.