The Citation Field of Evolutionary Economics

Evolutionary economics has developed into an academic field of its own, institutionalized around, amongst others, the Journal of Evolutionary Economics (JEE). This paper analyzes the way and extent to which evolutionary economics has become an interdisciplinary journal, as its aim was: a journal that is indispensable in the exchange of expert knowledge on topics and using approaches that relate naturally with it. Analyzing citation data for the relevant academic field for the Journal of Evolutionary Economics, we use insights from scientometrics and social network analysis to find that, indeed, the JEE is a central player in this interdisciplinary field aiming mostly at understanding technological and regional dynamics. It does not, however, link firmly with the natural sciences (including biology) nor to management sciences, entrepreneurship, and organization studies. Another journal that could be perceived to have evolutionary acumen, the Journal of Economic Issues, does relate to heterodox economics journals and is relatively more involved in discussing issues of firm and industry organization. The JEE seems most keen to develop theoretical insights

Controls on amorphous organic matter type and sulphurization in a Mississippian black shale

Paleoredox proxies (Fe speciation, trace element and δ34Spy) integrated with sedimentological and palynological observations link the distribution and type of particulate organic matter (OM) preserved to hydrocarbon source rock potential. In the Mississippian Bowland Shale Formation (Lancashire, UK), particulate OM is dominated by “heterogeneous” amorphous OM (AOM), primarily “sharp-edged, pellet-like” (AOMpel) and “heterogeneous, granular” (AOMgr) types. AOMpel is abundant in muds deposited under anoxic and moderately to highly sulphidic conditions and most likely represents the fecal minipellets of zooplankton and/or pellets of macro-zooplankters. We recognize two intervals, “A” and “B,” which exhibit Sorg/TOC > 0.04, suggesting a bulk Type II-S kerogen composition. The Interval A palynofacies is typified by pyritized AOMpel (AOMpyr) particles that contain high-relief organic spheres surrounding individual pyrite framboids, within each AOMpyr particle. These textures are interpreted as sulphurized OM local to pyrite framboids (Sorg-PF). Sorg-PF is rarely observed in Interval B, and absent in all other samples. Redox oscillation between ferruginous and euxinic conditions during early diagenesis of Interval A likely promoted S cycling in microenvironments surrounding pyrite framboids, which generated reactive S species and reactive OM required for sulphurization. Early diagenetic redox oscillation processes were apparently triggered by relative sea level fall, associated with an increased supply of FeHR from adjacent shelves into the basin. Interval B represents deposition during the late stages of basin infill and transition from anoxic to (sub)oxic bottom waters, where AOMpel is replaced by AOMgr as the dominant type of AOM. A large particle diameter at the limit of the mesh size (500 μm), sheet-like, fragmented character, and presence of candidate organic sheaths suggests AOMgr at least partially represent fragments of benthic microbial mats, probably as sulphide-oxidizers. A ternary plot of AOMpel + AOMpyr versus AOMgr versus spores + phytoclasts links the observed palynofacies to bottom and pore water redox conditions, water column productivity and proximity to fluvial (deltaic) supply of spores and phytoclasts. These variables were moderated by changing basin accommodation, driven primarily by eustatic sea level fluctuation. A sequence-stratigraphic control on AOM type and sulphurization is important for understanding the link between source rock heterogeneity and the timing of hydrocarbon generation and expulsion from this source rock

Participation of the Cell Polarity Protein PALS1 to T-Cell Receptor-Mediated NF-κB Activation

BACKGROUND: Beside their established function in shaping cell architecture, some cell polarity proteins were proposed to participate to lymphocyte migration, homing, scanning, as well as activation following antigen receptor stimulation. Although PALS1 is a central component of the cell polarity network, its expression and function in lymphocytes remains unknown. Here we investigated whether PALS1 is present in T cells and whether it contributes to T Cell-Receptor (TCR)-mediated activation. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: By combining RT-PCR and immunoblot assays, we found that PALS1 is constitutively expressed in human T lymphocytes as well as in Jurkat T cells. siRNA-based knockdown of PALS1 hampered TCR-induced activation and optimal proliferation of lymphocyte. We further provide evidence that PALS1 depletion selectively hindered TCR-driven activation of the transcription factor NF-κB. CONCLUSIONS: The cell polarity protein PALS1 is expressed in T lymphocytes and participates to the optimal activation of NF-κB following TCR stimulation

Marine Biodiversity in South Africa: An Evaluation of Current States of Knowledge

Continental South Africa has a coastline of some 3,650 km and an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of just over 1 million km2. Waters in the EEZ extend to a depth of 5,700 m, with more than 65% deeper than 2,000 m. Despite its status as a developing nation, South Africa has a relatively strong history of marine taxonomic research and maintains comprehensive and well-curated museum collections totaling over 291,000 records. Over 3 million locality records from more than 23,000 species have been lodged in the regional AfrOBIS (African Ocean Biogeographic Information System) data center (which stores data from a wider African region). A large number of regional guides to the marine fauna and flora are also available and are listed

The HY5-PIF regulatory module coordinates light and temperature control of photosynthetic gene transcription

The ability to interpret daily and seasonal alterations in light and temperature signals is essential for plant survival. This is particularly important during seedling establishment when the phytochrome photoreceptors activate photosynthetic pigment production for photoautotrophic growth. Phytochromes accomplish this partly through the suppression of phytochrome interacting factors (PIFs), negative regulators of chlorophyll and carotenoid biosynthesis. While the bZIP transcription factor long hypocotyl 5 (HY5), a potent PIF antagonist, promotes photosynthetic pigment accumulation in response to light. Here we demonstrate that by directly targeting a common promoter cis-element (G-box), HY5 and PIFs form a dynamic activation-suppression transcriptional module responsive to light and temperature cues. This antagonistic regulatory module provides a simple, direct mechanism through which environmental change can redirect transcriptional control of genes required for photosynthesis and photoprotection. In the regulation of photopigment biosynthesis genes, HY5 and PIFs do not operate alone, but with the circadian clock. However, sudden changes in light or temperature conditions can trigger changes in HY5 and PIFs abundance that adjust the expression of common target genes to optimise photosynthetic performance and growth

Influenza H5 Hemagglutinin DNA Primes the Antibody Response Elicited by the Live Attenuated Influenza A/Vietnam/1203/2004 Vaccine in Ferrets

Priming immunization plays a key role in protecting individuals or populations to influenza viruses that are novel to humans. To identify the most promising vaccine priming strategy, we have evaluated different prime-boost regimens using inactivated, DNA and live attenuated vaccines in ferrets. Live attenuated influenza A/Vietnam/1203/2004 (H5N1) candidate vaccine (LAIV, VN04 ca) primed ferrets efficiently while inactivated H5N1 vaccine could not prime the immune response in seronegative ferrets unless an adjuvant was used. However, the H5 HA DNA vaccine alone was as successful as an adjuvanted inactivated VN04 vaccine in priming the immune response to VN04 ca virus. The serum antibody titers of ferrets primed with H5 HA DNA followed by intranasal vaccination of VN04 ca virus were comparable to that induced by two doses of VN04 ca virus. Both LAIV-LAIV and DNA-LAIV vaccine regimens could induce antibody responses that cross-neutralized antigenically distinct H5N1 virus isolates including A/HongKong/213/2003 (HK03) and prevented nasal infection of HK03 vaccine virus. Thus, H5 HA DNA vaccination may offer an alternative option for pandemic preparedness