ALBERT

Notes: Here we present a direct observation of the Gouy effect through THz impulse scattering from cylindrical and spherical targets. A π/2 Gouy phase shift through a one-axis focus compared to the more common π phase shift of the two-axis focus is required to interpret the scattering results using a physical optics model. © 2000 American Institute of Physics.

Notes: Waveguide propagation of sub-ps terahertz pulses in single-crystal sapphire fibers is reported. An incident THz pulse of approximately 0.6 ps duration undergoes considerable reshaping due to the absorptive and dispersive waveguide propagation, resulting in transmitted chirped pulse durations of 10–30 ps. Good agreement between theory and experiment is obtained by analyzing the propagation in terms of the single HE11 waveguide mode. The dominance of the single HE11 mode, despite the fiber dimensions allowing for multimode propagation, is attributed to the free-space to waveguide coupling. © 2000 American Institute of Physics.

Notes: Although the last decade has seen an increased interest from political science in many aspects of EU competition policy the issue of cartelbusting has been almost totally neglected. This is a curious situation given that this remains by far the major aspect of the European Commission’s activities in the competition arena. By merging the available, albeit extremely limited, public administration and policy studies literature with the legal literature the article endeavours to begin to redress the balance by examining the EU’s restrictive practices policy. It pays particular attention to the European Commission and its Directorate General responsible for com-petition policy (DGIV) and their activities in their enduring war against cartels. At its core this article analyses the Commission’s quasi-judicial authority in relation to cartel arrangements, identifies the extent to which the decision-making process is open to substantial degrees of administrative discretion within DGIV and makes specific reference to its policy on fining infringements.

Notes: 1. The area around Kangerlussuaq (Søndre Strømfjord; West Greenland, 67°N 51°W) contains thousands of lakes ranging from coastal, dilute (conductivity 〈 30 μS cm–1) oligotrophic systems to subsaline (∼4000 μS cm–1), closed basin lakes close to the ice sheet margin. In closed basins, salinity (or conductivity) is often a proxy for effective moisture, and thus palaeorecords of lake conductivity can provide valuable palaeoclimatic data. Little or nothing is known about the recent history of these lakes and hence it is difficult to evaluate how they will respond to effects of future changes.2. Over 100 lakes have been sampled (1996–2000) between the ice sheet and the outer coast for a variety of water chemical and limnological variables. Surface sediments were taken from a subset of 40 lakes and analysed for diatoms. Diatom responses to 28 environmental variables were analysed by multivariate ordination techniques and indicate that the main gradient is highly correlated to conductivity (explaining ∼12% of species variance). Despite the relatively short gradient (24–4072 μS cm–1), diatom assemblages exhibit a clear response to conductivity. The most saline lakes do not contain a true saline flora.3. We developed a range of weighted averaging (WA) and weighted-averaging partial least squares (WA-PLS) models from this training data set and found two component WA-PLS models performed best. The effects of data transformation and omission of dissolution susceptible species (Diatoma spp.) on model performance were also examined. The error statistics for the preferred WA-PLS (2) model (r2jack=0.88, root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP)=0.217 log μS cm–1) compare well with other published models.4. A 210Pb-dated short core from a meromictic, subsaline lake (Braya Sø; location 67°N, 51°W, max. depth 23 m; conductivity 2600 μS cm–1) was analysed for diatoms. Diatom preservation is poor and some taxa (e.g. Diatoma spp.) are badly corroded. Lake water conductivity was reconstructed using WA-PLS models. Diatom-inferred conductivity ranges from 1800 to 4400 μS cm–1 over the last 600 years (extrapolated 210Pb chronology).5. The Kangerlussuaq area of West Greenland is an important area for palaeoclimatic research, located as it is between the Greenland ice sheet (ice core records) and the Davis Straits to the west. The development of a statistically robust transfer function for diatoms and conductivity will enable the reconstruction of conductivity from the many subsaline lakes around the head of the fjord and, hence, regional estimates of changing palaeoprecipitation.

Notes: Abstract The 1990s saw a resurgence in the windpower industry, with installed grid-connected capacity expanding more than five-fold between 1990 and 2000. Most of this increase occurred in Europe, where governmental policies aimed at developing domestic energy supplies and reducing pollutant emissions provided a sheltered market for renewable energy generation. The 1990s were also marked by a return to large, megawatt-sized wind turbines, a reduction and consolidation of wind turbine manufacturers, and increased interest in offshore windpower. This article reviews recent trends in the windpower industry, including some of the fundamental engineering principles of wind turbine design. Technological impediments and advances are discussed in the context of changes in the global electricity markets and environmental performance.

Notes: Serratia sp. ATCC 39006 produces the carbapenem antibiotic, carbapen-2-em-3-carboxylic acid and the red pigment, prodigiosin. We have previously reported the characterization of a gene, carR, controlling production of carbapenem in this strain. We now describe further characterization of the carR locus to locate the genes encoding carbapenem biosynthetic and resistance functions. A novel family of diverse proteins showing sequence similarity to the C-terminal domain of CarF (required for carbapenem resistance) is described. We also report the isolation of the locus involved in the biosynthesis of the red pigment, prodigiosin. A cosmid containing ≈ 35 kb of the Serratia chromosome encodes synthesis of the pigment in the heterologous host, Erwinia carotovora, demonstrating, for the first time, that the complete prodigiosin biosynthetic gene cluster had been cloned and functionally expressed. We report the isolation of a third locus in Serratia, containing convergently transcribed genes, smaI and smaR, encoding LuxI and LuxR homologues respectively. SmaI directs the synthesis of N-acyl homoserine lactones involved in the quorum sensing process. We demonstrate that biosynthesis of the two secondary metabolites, carbapenem antibiotic and prodigiosin pigment, is under pheromone-mediated transcriptional regulation in this bacterium. Finally, we describe a new prodigiosin-based bioassay for detection of some N-acyl homoserine lactones.

Notes: To identify Helicobacter pylori genes with expression that is enhanced under low pH conditions, we used subtractive hybridization methodology. We identified 28 acid-induced genes, of which 18 have known or putative functions. Six pairs of genes were co-transcribed. Primer extension analysis identified single or multiple transcriptional start points (tsp) for 14 of the 22 loci. Sequence analysis of the −10 regions upstream of the tsps revealed consensus motifs for multiple RNA polymerase sigma factors present in H. pylori (σ80, σ54 and σ28). No sequences resembling the −35 Escherichia coli consensus sequence (TTGACA) were present upstream of any of the genes. Both increased gene transcription and decreased mRNA decay contribute to the observed increase in H. pylori transcript abundance at acid pH. These studies document the complex response of H. pylori to environmental pH changes, and provide insight into mechanisms used for intragastric survival.

Notes: As the markets of Eastern Europe continue to liberalize, they are becoming increasingly important to Western retailers who seek international market opportunities. The current research compares consumer perceptions of price as a marketplace cue in Polish and US cultures. A hierarchical structural equation model (SEM) is used to assess the metric equivalence of price cue measures across a matched sample of Polish (N = 335) and US (N = 342) consumers. Results indicate a great deal of similarity between the two groups' perceptions of price. Findings from the study suggest practical directions for strategy formulation as well as guidance in measuring perceptions of price cross-culturally.

Notes: [Auszug] Neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) composed of the microtubule-associated protein tau are prominent in Alzheimer disease (AD), Pick disease, progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and corticobasal degeneration (CBD). Mutations in the gene (Mtapt) encoding tau protein cause frontotemporal dementia ...

Notes: [Auszug] A Massachusetts dot-com has taken on the role of Indiana Jones in the jungles of high-tech patent law. BountyQuest, a new Internet site that trades hard-to-find intellectual property information for quick rewards has set up an online “most wanted” board that has attracted a worldwide ...