Universities, regional policy and the knowledge economy

This article focuses on the spatial clustering dimension of new information and communications technology (ICT)-driven economic activity based on knowledge industries and especially the tacit knowledge synergies to be achieved through networking in geographical space. The article first details the new knowledge economy, reviewing claims made for its distinctiveness and its role in raising levels of productivity before turning to a brief study of the clustering effects of new ICT-driven economic activity and the development of policies designed to enhance regional development. The remainder of the article details a case study – Univercities: the Manchester Knowledge Capital Initiative – in the North-west of the United Kingdom based on recent research into the attempt to create a ‘Knowledge Capital’ within the Greater Manchester conurbation, which is designed to position Manchester at the heart of the knowledge economy

Bystander B cells rapidly acquire antigen receptors from activated B cells by membrane transfer: a novel mechanism for enhancing specific antigen presentation

The B cell antigen receptor (BCR) efficiently facilitates the capture and processing of a specific antigen for presentation on MHC class II molecules to antigen specific CD4+ T cells (1). Despite this, the majority of B cells are only thought to play a limited role in CD4+ T cell activation since BCRs are clonotypically expressed. Here we show, however, that activated B cells can, both in vitro and in vivo, rapidly donate their BCR to bystander B cells, a process that is mediated by direct membrane transfer between adjacent B cells and is amplified by the interaction of the BCR with specific antigen. This results in a dramatic expansion in the number of antigen-binding B cells in vivo, with the transferred BCR endowing recipient B cells with the ability to present specific antigen to antigen-specific CD4+ T cells

Modelling and forecasting the UK tourism growth cycle in Algarve

Over the past three decades, Portugal has developed a strong economic dependence on tourism, which has several implications for the country's overall economic development. Tourism is an activity that is interrelated strongly with the economic system since Portugal as a whole and specific regions in particular rely on the performance of tourism for their economic activity. Moreover, because economic cycles affect tourism development, it is highly vulnerable to economic fluctuations. Most tourists who visit Portugal are from the European Union, especially Western Europe. Statistics are based on the number of overnight stays in hotel accommodation and other similar establishments. In 2005, the main source markets were the UK (30.7%), Germany (16.5%), Spain (11.5%), the Netherlands (6.8%), France (4.7%), Ireland (3.6%) and Italy (3.1%). These values show that the UK has the greatest share of visitors to Algarve. The purpose of this paper is to propose a modelling approach that best fits the tourism flow pattern in order to support forecasting. The paper contributes to our understanding of the relationship between economic cycles and tourism flows to Portugal (Algarve) and explores the potential of applying the diffusion index model proposed by Stock and Watson (1999, 2002) for tourism demand forecasting

N-[(E)-4-Chloro­benzyl­idene]-2,4-dimethyl­aniline

The title mol­ecule, C15H14ClN, exists in a trans configuration with respect to the C=N bond [1.2813 (16) Å]. The dihedral angle between the benzene rings is 52.91 (6)°. The crystal structure is stabilized by weak inter­molecular C—H⋯π inter­actions

Nonlinear Models of Convergence

A sufficient issue in studies of economic development is whether economies (countries, regions of a country, etc.) converge to one another in terms of per capita income. In this paper, nonlinear asymptotically subsiding trends of income gap in a pair of economies model the convergence process. A few specific forms of such trends are proposed: log-exponential trend, exponential trend, and fractional trend. A pair of economies is deemed converging if time series of their income gap is stationary about any of these trends. To test for stationarity, standard unit root tests are applied with non-standard test statistics that are estimated for each kind of the trends

2-[(E)-(2,4,6-Trichloro­phen­yl)imino­meth­yl]phenol

The title mol­ecule, C13H8Cl3NO, exists in a trans configuration with respect to the C=N bond [1.278 (2) Å]. The benzene rings form a dihedral angle of 24.64 (11)°. The mol­ecular structure is stabilized by an intra­molecular O—H⋯N hydrogen bond, which generates an S(6) ring motif. In the crystal, π–π stacking inter­actions [centroid–centroid distances = 3.6893 (14) Å] are observed

2-[(E)-(2,4-Dimethyl­phen­yl)imino­meth­yl]phenol

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C15H15NO, contains two independent mol­ecules, both of which exist in trans configurations with respect to the C=N bonds [1.278 (2) and 1.279 (2) Å]. In each mol­ecule, intra­molecular O—H⋯N hydrogen bonds generate S(6) ring motifs. In one mol­ecule, the benzene rings form a dihedral angle of 13.38 (9)°, while in the other mol­ecule the dihedral angle is 30.60 (10)°. In the crystal, the two independent mol­ecules are linked via weak inter­molecular C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds

Cluster Performance reconsidered: Structure, Linkages and Paths in the German Biotechnology Industry, 1996-2003

This paper addresses the evolution of biotechnology clusters in Germany between 1996 and 2003, paying particular attention to their respective composition in terms of venture capital, basic science institutions and biotechnology firms. Drawing upon the significance of co-location of "money and ideas", the literature stressing the importance of a cluster's openness and external linkages, and the path dependency debate, the paper aims to analyse how certain cluster characteristics correspond with its overall performance. After identifying different cluster types, we investigate their internal and external interconnectivity in comparative manner and draw on changes in cluster composition. Our results indicate that the structure, i.e. to which group the cluster belongs, and the openness towards external knowledge flows deliver merely unsystematic indications with regard to a cluster's overall success. Its ability to change composition towards a more balanced ratio of science and capital over time, on the other hand, turns out as a key explanatory factor. Hence, the dynamic perspective proves effective illuminating cluster growth and performance, where our explorative findings provide a promising avenue for further evolutionary research