bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Approach trajectory and solar position affect host plant attractiveness to the small white butterfly
Authors: Blake Adam J. , Couture Samuel , Go Matthew C. , Gries Gerhard
Published: October 2020

While it is well documented that insects exploit polarized sky light for navigation, their use of reflected polarized light for object detection has been less well studied. Recently, we have shown that the small white butterfly,Pieris rapae, distinguishes between host and non-host plants based on the degree of linear polarization (DoLP) of light reflected from their leaves. To determine how polarized light cues affect host plant foraging by femaleP. rapaeacross their entire visual range including the ultraviolet (300-650 nm), we applied photo polarimetry demonstrating large differences in theDoLPof leaf-reflected light among plant species generally and between host and non-host plants specifically. As polarized light cues are directionally dependent, we also tested, and modelled, the effect of approach trajectory on the polarization of plant-reflected light and the resulting attractiveness toP. rapae. Using photo polarimetry measurements of plants under a range of light source and observer positions, we reveal several distinct effects when polarized reflections are examined on a whole-plant basis rather than at the scale of pixels or of entire plant canopies. Most notably from our modeling, certain approach trajectories are optimal for foraging butterflies, or insects generally, to discriminate between plant species on the basis of theDoLPof leaf-reflected light.
CancerMIRNome: an interactive analysis and visualization database for miRNome profiles of human cancer
Authors: Li Ruidong , Qu Han , Wang Shibo , Chater John M. , Wang Xuesong , Cui Yanru , Yu Lei , Zhou Rui , Jia Qiong , Traband Ryan , Wang Meiyue , Xie Weibo , Yuan Dongbo , Zhu Jianguo , Zhong Wei-De , Jia Zhenyu
Published: October 2020

MicroRNAs (miRNAs), which play critical roles in gene regulatory networks, have emerged as promising diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for human cancer. In particular, circulating miRNAs that are secreted into circulation exist in remarkably stable forms, and have enormous potential to be leveraged as non-invasive biomarkers for early cancer detection. Novel and user-friendly tools are desperately needed to facilitate data mining of the vast amount of miRNA expression data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and large-scale circulating miRNA profiling studies. To fill this void, we developed CancerMIRNome, a comprehensive database for the interactive analysis and visualization of miRNA expression profiles based on 10,998 samples from 33 TCGA projects and 21,993 samples from 40 public circulating miRNome datasets. A series of cutting-edge bioinformatics tools and machine learning algorithms have been packaged in CancerMIRNome, allowing for the pan-cancer analysis of a miRNA of interest across multiple cancer types and the comprehensive analysis of miRNome profiles to identify dysregulated miRNAs and develop diagnostic or prognostic signatures. The data analysis and visualization modules will greatly facilitate the exploit of the valuable resources and promote translational application of miRNA biomarkers in cancer. The CancerMIRNome database is publicly available athttp://bioinfo.jialab-ucr.org/CancerMIRNome.
β-Amyloid peptides tailor switching behaviors of Donor-Acceptor Stenhouse Adducts
Authors: Zheng Chao , Yu Yue , Shi Kuang , Zhu Biyue , Zhou Heng , Zhang Shao-Qing , Yang Jing , Shi Liang , Ran Chongzhao
Published: October 2020

Molecular switching plays a critical role in biological and displaying systems. Here we demonstrate the first use of peptides to operate molecular switches of donor-acceptor Stenhouse adducts (DASAs), a series of negative photochromes that are highly promising for applications ranging from smart material to biological systems. Fluorescence imaging proved Aβ40 species could make SHA-2 more stable in the linear configuration than without peptide and decrease the rate of molecular switching. According to molecular dynamics simulation, SHA-2 bound to protein resulted in substantial changes in the tertiary structure of Aβ40 monomer with the region of Glu22-Ala30 partially unfolded and being more exposed to water. This structural change is likely to impede the aggregation of Aβ40, as evidenced by fluorescence and ProteoStat®aggresome detection experiments. SHA-2 is able to inhibit the aggregation of Aβ40 by producing the off-pathway structures. These results open ample opportunities for optically addressable potential widely apply DASAs in the biological system based on this peptides-tailor process.
A brief glimpse at a haptic target is sufficient for multisensory integration in reaching movements
Authors: Camponogara Ivan , Volcic Robert
Published: October 2020

Goal-directed aiming movements toward visuo-haptic targets (i.e., seen and handheld targets) are generally more precise than those toward visual only or haptic only targets. This multisensory advantage stems from a continuous inflow of haptic and visual target information during the movement planning and execution phases. However, in everyday life, multisensory movements often occur without the support of continuous visual information. Here we investigated whether and to what extent limiting visual information to the initial stage of the action still leads to a multisensory advantage. Participants were asked to reach a handheld target while vision was briefly provided during the movement planning phase (50 ms, 100 ms, 200 ms of vision before movement onset), or during the planning and early execution phases (400 ms of vision), or during the entire movement. Additional conditions were performed in which only haptic target information was provided, or, only vision was provided either briefly (50 ms, 100 ms, 200 ms, 400 ms) or throughout the entire movement. Results showed that 50 ms of vision before movement onset were sufficient to trigger a direction-specific visuo-haptic integration process that increased endpoint precision. We conclude that, when a continuous support of vision is not available, endpoint precision is determined by the less recent, but most reliable multisensory information rather than by the latest unisensory (haptic) inputs.
Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in human post-mortem ocular tissues
Authors: Sawant Onkar B. , Singh Sneha , Wright Robert Emery , Jones Kayla M. , Titus Michael S. , Dennis Eugene , Hicks Eric , Majmudar Parag A. , Kumar Ashok , Mian Shahzad I.
Published: October 2020

Background

SARS-CoV-2 is found in conjunctival swabs and tears of COVID-19 patients. However, the presence of SARS-CoV-2 has not been detected in the human eye to date. We undertook this study to analyze the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in human post-mortem ocular tissues.

Methods

The expression of SARS-CoV-2 RNA was assessed by RT-PCR in corneal and scleral tissues from 33 surgical-intended donors who were eliminated from a surgical use per Eye Bank Association of America (EBAA) donor screening guidelines or medical director review or positive COVID-19 test. Ocular levels of SARS-CoV-2 RNA (RT-PCR), Envelope and Spike proteins (immunohistochemistry) and anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG and IgM antibodies (ELISA) in blood were evaluated in 10 COVID-19 donors.

Findings

Of 132 ocular tissues from 33 surgical-intended donors, the positivity rate for SARS-CoV-2 RNA was ∼13% (17/132). Of 10 COVID-19 donors, six had PCR positive post-mortem nasopharyngeal swabs whereas eight exhibited positive post-mortem anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG levels. Among 20 eyes recovered from 10 COVID-19 donors: three conjunctival, one anterior corneal, five posterior corneal, and three vitreous swabs tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA. SARS-CoV-2 spike and envelope proteins were detected in epithelial layer of the corneas that were procured without Povidone-Iodine (PVP-I) disinfection.

Interpretations

Our study showed a small but noteworthy prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in ocular tissues from COVID-19 donors. These findings underscore the criticality of donor screening guidelines, post-mortem nasopharyngeal PCR testing and PVP-I disinfection protocol to eliminate any tissue harboring SARS-CoV-2 being used for corneal transplantation.

Funding

Research grant from EBAA and National Institutes of Health.
A Numerical Study of the Current COVID-19 Spread Patterns in India, the USA and the World
Authors: Baruah Hemanta K.
Published: October 2020

In this article, we are going to study the current COVID-19 spread patterns in India and the United States. We are interested to show how the daily increase in the total number of cases in these two countries is affecting the COVID-19 spread pattern in the World. For the study, we have considered the cumulative total numbers of cases in India, the United States and the World. We have found that the situation in the United States is already on the threshold of a change towards retardation. In the World as a whole also we have observed that a similar conclusion can be made. In India, the situation can be expected to move towards betterment soon, and once that happens the situation in the World as a whole would start improving. We shall demonstrate that as long as the rate of change of the logarithm of the cumulative total number of cases with respect to time in a pandemic continues to reduce, the pattern of growth would continue to remain nearly exponential, and as soon as it is seen that the rate of change starts to become nearly constant the growth can be expected to start to change towards a nearly logarithmic pattern.
Hepatic FGF21 mediates tissue tolerance during bacterial inflammation by preserving cardiac function
Authors: Huen Sarah C. , Wang Andrew , Feola Kyle , Desrouleaux Reina , Luan Harding H. , Hogg Richard , Zhang Cuiling , Zhang Qing-Jun , Liu Zhi-Ping , Medzhitov Ruslan
Published: October 2020

Sickness behaviors, including anorexia, are evolutionarily conserved responses to acute infections. Inflammation-induced anorexia causes dramatic metabolic changes, of which components critical to survival are unique depending on the type of inflammation. Glucose supplementation during the anorectic period induced by bacterial inflammation suppresses adaptive fasting metabolic pathways, including fibroblast growth factor-21 (FGF21), and decreases survival. Consistent with this observation, FGF21 deficient mice are more susceptible to mortality from endotoxemia and poly-bacterial peritonitis, but not viral infection. Here we report that increased circulating FGF21 during bacterial inflammation is hepatic-derived, promotes cardiac function, and is required for survival. FGF21 signaling downstream of its obligate co-receptor beta-Klotho (KLB) is required. However, mice with central nervous system or adipose-specific deletion ofKlbdo not demonstrate any difference in response to bacterial inflammation, suggesting that multiple tissues and/or a novel FGF21 target tissue are required for the full protective effect of FGF21. These data suggest that hepatic FGF21 is a novel cardioprotective factor in bacterial sepsis.

eTOC Summary

In response to bacterial inflammation, hepatic fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), an endocrine hormone that mediates adaptive responses to metabolic stresses such as starvation, promotes survival by supporting heart function.
Cargo-specific recruitment in clathrin and dynamin-independent endocytosis
Authors: Moreno-Layseca Paulina , Jäntti Niklas Z. , Godbole Rashmi , Sommer Christian , Jacquemet Guillaume , Al-Akhrass Hussein , Kronqvist Pauliina , Kallionpää Roosa E. , Oliveira-Ferrer Leticia , Cervero Pasquale , Linder Stefan , Aepfelbacher Martin , Rae James , Parton Robert G. , Disanza Andrea , Scita Giorgio , Mayor Satyajit , Selbach Matthias , Veltel Stefan , Ivaska Johanna
Published: October 2020

Spatially controlled, cargo-specific endocytosis is essential for development, tissue homeostasis, and cancer invasion and is often hijacked by viral infections1. Unlike clathrin-mediated endocytosis, which exploits cargo-specific adaptors for selective protein internalization, the clathrin and dynamin-independent endocytic pathway (CLIC-GEEC, CG-pathway) has until now been considered a bulk internalization route for the fluid phase, glycosylated membrane proteins and lipids2,3. Although the core molecular players of CG endocytosis have been recently defined, no cargo-specific adaptors are known and evidence of selective protein uptake into the pathway is lacking3. Here, we identify the first cargo-specific adaptor for CG-endocytosis and demonstrate its clinical relevance in breast cancer progression. By combining unbiased molecular characterization and super-resolution imaging, we identified the actin-binding protein swiprosin-1 (EFHD2) as a cargo-specific adaptor regulating integrin internalization via the CG-pathway. Swiprosin-1 couples active Rab21-associated integrins with key components of the CG-endocytic machinery, IRSp53 and actin. Swiprosin-1 is critical for integrin endocytosis, but not for other CG-cargo and supports integrin-dependent cancer cell migration and invasion, with clinically relevant implications for breast cancer. Our results demonstrate a previously unknown cargo selectivity for the CG-pathway and opens the possibility to discover more adaptors regulating it.
Opportunities and limits of combining microbiome and genome data for complex trait prediction
Authors: Pérez-Enciso Miguel , Zingaretti Laura M. , Ramayo-Caldas Yuliaxis , de los Campos Gustavo
Published: October 2020

The analysis and prediction of complex traits using microbiome data combined with host genomic information is a topic of utmost interest. However, numerous questions remain to be answered: How useful can the microbiome be for complex trait prediction? Are microbiability estimates reliable? Can the underlying biological links between the host’s genome, microbiome, and the phenome be recovered? Here, we address these issues by (i) developing a novel simulation strategy that uses real microbiome and genotype data as input, and (ii) proposing a variance-component approach which, in the spirit of mediation analyses, quantifies the proportion of phenotypic variance explained by genome and microbiome, and dissects it into direct and indirect effects. The proposed simulation approach can mimic a genetic link between the microbiome and SNP data via a permutation procedure that retains the distributional properties of the data. Results suggest that microbiome data could significantly improve phenotype prediction accuracy, irrespective of whether some abundances are under direct genetic control by the host or not. Overall, random-effects linear methods appear robust for variance components estimation, despite the highly leptokurtic distribution of microbiota abundances. Nevertheless, we observed that accuracy depends in part on the number of microorganisms’ taxa influencing the trait of interest. While we conclude that overall genome-microbiome-links can be characterized via variance components, we are less optimistic about the possibility of identifying the causative effects, i.e., individual SNPs affecting abundances; power at this level would require much larger sample sizes than the ones typically available for genome-microbiome-phenome data.

Author summary

The microbiome consists of the microorganisms that live in a particular environment, including those in our organism. There is consistent evidence that these communities play an important role in numerous traits of relevance, including disease susceptibility or feed efficiency. Moreover, it has been shown that the microbiome can be relatively stable throughout an individual’s life and that is affected by the host genome. These reasons have prompted numerous studies to determine whether and how the microbiome can be used for prediction of complex phenotypes, either using microbiome alone or in combination with host’s genome data. However, numerous questions remain to be answered such as the reliability of parameter estimates, or which is the underlying relationship between microbiome, genome, and phenotype. The few available empirical studies do not provide a clear answer to these problems. Here we address these issues by developing a novel simulation strategy and we show that, although the microbiome can significantly help in prediction, it will be difficult to retrieve the actual biological basis of interactions between the microbiome and the trait.
Chromosomes distribute randomly to, but not within, human neutrophil nuclear lobes
Authors: Keenan Christine R , Mlodzianoski Michael J , Coughlan Hannah D , Bediaga Naiara G , Naselli Gaetano , Lucas Erin C , Wang Qike , de Graaf Carolyn A , Hilton Douglas J , Harrison Leonard C , Smyth Gordon K , Rogers Kelly L , Boudier Thomas , Allan Rhys S , Johanson Timothy M
Published: October 2020

The proximity pattern and radial distribution of chromosome territories within spherical nuclei are well understood to be random and non-random, respectively. Whether this distribution pattern is conserved in the partitioned or lobed nuclei of polymorphonuclear cells is unclear. Here we use chromosome paint technology and a novel high-throughput imaging analysis pipeline to examine the chromosome territories of all 46 chromosomes in hundreds of single human neutrophils – an abundant and famously polymorphonuclear immune cell.

By comparing the distribution of chromosomes to randomly shuffled controls, and validating with orthogonal chromosome conformation capture technology, we show for the first time that all human chromosomes randomly distribute to neutrophil nuclear lobes, while maintaining a non-random radial distribution within these lobes. Furthermore, by leveraging the power of this vast dataset, we are able to reveal characteristics of chromosome territories not detected previously. For example, we demonstrate that chromosome length correlates with three-dimensional volume not only in neutrophils but other human immune cells.

This work demonstrates that chromosomes are largely passive passengers during the neutrophil lobing process, but are able to maintain their macro-level organisation within lobes. Furthermore, the random distribution of chromosomes to the naturally partitioned nuclear lobes suggests that specific transchromosomal interactions are unimportant in mature neutrophils.
An experimental-mathematical approach to predict tumor cell growth as a function of glucose availability in breast cancer cell lines
Authors: Yang Jianchen , Virostko Jack , Hormuth David A. , Liu Junyan , Brock Amy , Kowalski Jeanne , Yankeelov Thomas E.
Published: October 2020

We present the development and validation of a mathematical model that predicts how glucose dynamics influence metabolism and therefore tumor cell growth. Glucose, the starting material for glycolysis, has a fundamental influence on tumor cell growth. We employed time-resolved microscopy to track the temporal change of the number of live and dead tumor cells under different initial glucose concentrations and seeding densities. We then constructed a family of mathematical models (where cell death was accounted for differently in each member of the family) to describe overall tumor cell growth in response to the initial glucose and confluence conditions. The Akaikie Information Criteria was then employed to identify the most parsimonious model. The selected model was then trained on 75% of the data to calibrate the system and identify trends in model parameters as a function of initial glucose concentration and confluence. The calibrated parameters were applied to the remaining 25% of the data to predict the temporal dynamics given the known initial glucose concentration and confluence, and tested against the corresponding experimental measurements. With the selected model, we achieved an accuracy (defined as the fraction of measured data that fell within the 95% confidence intervals of the predicted growth curves) of 77.2 ± 6.3% and 87.2 ± 5.1% for live BT-474 and MDA-MB-231 cells, respectively.
Correlative fluorescence microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and secondary ion mass spectrometry (CLEM-SIMS) for cellular imaging
Authors: Lange Felix , Agüi-Gonzalez Paola , Riedel Dietmar , Phan Nhu T.N. , Jakobs Stefan , Rizzoli Silvio O.
Published: October 2020

Electron microscopy (EM) has been employed for decades to analyze cell structure. To also analyze the positions and functions of specific proteins, one typically relies on immuno-EM or on a correlation with fluorescence microscopy, in the form of correlated light and electron microscopy (CLEM). Nevertheless, neither of these procedures is able to also address the isotopic composition of cells. To solve this, a correlation with secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) would be necessary. SIMS has been correlated in the past to EM or to fluorescence microscopy in biological samples, but not to CLEM. We achieved this here, using a protocol based on transmission EM, conventional epifluorescence microscopy and nanoSIMS. The protocol is easily applied, and enables the use of all three technologies at high performance parameters. We suggest that CLEM-SIMS will provide substantial information that is currently beyond the scope of conventional correlative approaches.
Blood clot fracture properties are dependent on red blood cell and fibrin content
Authors: Fereidoonnezhad Behrooz , Dwivedi Anushree , Johnson Sarah , McCarthy Ray , McGarry Patrick
Published: October 2020

Thrombus fragmentation during endovascular stroke treatment, such as mechanical thrombectomy, leads to downstream emboli, resulting in poor clinical outcomes. Clinical studies suggest that fragmentation risk is dependent on clot composition. This current study presents the first experimental characterization of the fracture properties of blood clots, in addition to the development of a predictive model for blood clot fragmentation. A bespoke experimental test-rig and compact tension specimen fabrication has been developed to measure fracture toughness of thrombus material. Fracture tests are performed on three physiologically relevant clot compositions: a high fibrin 5% H clot, a medium fibrin 20% H clot, a low-fibrin 40% H clot. Fracture toughness is observed to significantly increase with increasing fibrin content, i.e. red blood cell-rich clots are more prone to tear during loading compared to the fibrin-rich clots. Results also reveal that the mechanical behaviour of clot analogues is significantly different in compression and tension. Finite element cohesive zone modelling of clot fracture experiments show that fibrin fibres become highly aligned in the direction perpendicular to crack propagation, providing a significant toughening mechanism. The results presented in this study provide the first characterization of the fracture behaviour of blood clots and are of key importance for development of next-generation thrombectomy devices and clinical strategies.
A novel subset of follicular helper-like MAIT cells has capacity for B cell help and antibody production in the mucosa
Authors: Jensen Owen , Trivedi Shubhanshi , Meier Jeremy D. , Fairfax Keke , Hale J. Scott , Leung Daniel T.
Published: October 2020

Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are innate-like T lymphocytes that aid in protection against bacterial pathogens at mucosal surfaces via release of inflammatory cytokines and cytotoxic molecules. Recent evidence suggests MAIT cells are capable of providing B cell help. In this study, we describe a previously unreported population of CXCR5+T follicular helper (Tfh)-like MAIT cells, MAITfh, that have the capacity to provide B cell help within mucosal lymphoid organs. MAITfh cells are preferentially located near germinal centers in human tonsils and express the classical Tfh-associated transcription factor, B-cell lymphoma 6 (BCL-6), co-stimulatory markers, inducible T cell costimulatory (ICOS) and programmed death receptor 1 (PD-1), and cytokines, interleukin (IL)-21. Furthermore, we demonstrate the ability of MAIT cells to provide B cell helpin vivofollowing mucosal challenge withVibrio cholerae. Specifically, we show that adoptive transfer of MAIT cells intoαβT cell-deficient mice promoted B cell differentiation and increased serumV. cholerae-specific IgA responses. Our data demonstrate the capacity of MAIT cells to participate in adaptive immune responses, and suggest that MAIT cells may be potential targets for mucosal vaccines.

One Sentence Summary

We identified and characterized a novel subset of T follicular helper-like MAIT (MAITfh) cells that has the capacity to provide B cell help, and show the sufficiency of MAIT cells to promote production of pathogen-specific IgA antibodies and B cell differentiation in mucosal challenge.
Enhancing biological signals and detection rates in single-cell RNA-seq experiments with cDNA library equalization
Authors: Bacher Rhonda , Chu Li-Fang , Argus Cara , Bolin Jennifer M. , Knight Parker , Thomson James A. , Stewart Ron , Kendziorski Christina
Published: October 2020

Considerable effort has been devoted to refining experimental protocols having reduced levels of technical variability and artifacts in single-cell RNA-sequencing data (scRNA-seq). We here present evidence that equalizing the concentration of cDNA libraries prior to pooling, a step not consistently performed in single-cell experiments, improves gene detection rates, enhances biological signals, and reduces technical artifacts in scRNA-seq data. To evaluate the effect of equalization on various protocols, we developed Scaffold, a simulation framework that models each step of an scRNA-seq experiment. Numerical experiments demonstrate that equalization reduces variation in sequencing depth and gene-specific expression variability. We then performed a set of experiments in vitro with and without the equalization step and found that equalization increases the number of genes that are detected in every cell by 17-31%, improves discovery of biologically relevant genes, and reduces nuisance signals associated with cell cycle. Further support is provided in an analysis of publicly available data.
Auto-inhibition of Cnn binding to γ-TuRCs prevents ectopic microtubule nucleation and cell division defects
Authors: Tovey Corinne A. , Tsuji Chisato , Egerton Alice , Bernard Fred , Guichet Antoine , de la Roche Marc , Conduit Paul T.
Published: October 2020

γ-tubulin ring complexes (γ-TuRCs) nucleate microtubules. They are recruited to centrosomes in dividing cells via binding to N-terminal CM1 domains within γ-TuRC-tethering proteins, includingDrosophilaCnn. Binding promotes microtubule nucleation and is restricted to centrosomes in dividing cells, but the mechanism regulating binding remains unknown. Here we identify an extreme N-terminal “CM1 auto-inhibition” (CAI) domain found specifically within the centrosomal isoform of Cnn (Cnn-C) that inhibits γ-TuRC binding. Robust binding occurs after removal of the CAI domain or with the addition of phospho-mimetic mutations, suggesting that phosphorylation helps relieve inhibition. We show that regulation of Cnn binding to γ-TuRCs is isoform-specific and that mis-regulation of binding can result in ectopic cytosolic microtubules and major defects during cell division. We also find that human CDK5RAP2 is auto-inhibited from binding γ-TuRCs, suggesting conservation across species. Overall, our results shed light on how and why CM1 domain binding to γ-TuRCs is regulated.

Summary (for the online JCB table of contents and alerts)

We show that auto-inhibition regulates the binding between microtubule nucleating complexes and proteins that tether them to sites of microtubule nucleation. Failure to properly regulate this binding can lead to ectopic cytosolic microtubule nucleation and major defects during cell division.
Hsf1 is SUMOylated in the activated trimeric state
Authors: Kmiecik Szymon W. , Drzewicka Katarzyna , Melchior Frauke , Mayer Matthias P.
Published: October 2020

The heat shock response (HSR) is a transcriptional program of organisms to counteract an imbalance in protein homeostasis. It is orchestrated in all eukaryotic cells by heat shock factor 1 (Hsf1). Despite very intensive research, the intricacies of the Hsf1 activation-attenuation cycle remain elusive at a molecular level. Posttranslational modifications belong to one of the key mechanisms proposed to adapt the Hsf1 activity to the needs of individual cells and phosphorylation of Hsf1 at multiple sites has attracted much attention. According to cell biological and proteomics data, Hsf1 is also modified by SUMO (small ubiquitin-like modifier) at several sites. How SUMOylation affects Hsf1 activity at a molecular level is still unclear. Here, we analyzed Hsf1 SUMOylationin vitrowith purified components to address questions that could not be answered in cell culture models.In vitroHsf1 is primarily conjugated at lysine 298 with a single SUMO, though we did detect low level SUMOylation at other sites. None of the tested E3 SUMO ligases increased SUMOylation efficacy as compared to the level in the presence of high concentrations of the E2 Ubc9. We provide evidence that Hsf1 trimerization and phosphorylation at serines 303 and 307 increases SUMOylation efficiency, suggesting that Hsf1 is SUMOylated in its activated state. Hsf1 can be SUMOylated when DNA-bound, and SUMOylation of Hsf1 does neither alter DNA binding affinity nor does it affect Hsc70 and DnaJB1-mediated monomerization of Hsf1 trimers and concomitant dislocation from DNA. We propose that SUMOylation acts at the transcription level of the HSR.
Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India : Fair Rate of Return for Airports
Authors: Sinha Sidharth
Published: October 2020

An estimate of the fair rate of return on capital is a critical input into tariff regulation. A too high estimate will lead to high tariffs for consumers; a too low estimate will not provide adequate incentives for investment. The Airport Economic Regulatory Authority of India has issued a consultation paper for finalizing the norms and procedure for estimating the fair rate of return. It now needs to reconcile the differing view and approaches of different stakeholders.
Toyota Model AA Class Shares
Authors: Sinha Sidharth
Published: October 2020

In 2015, Toyota proposed to issue a separate class of shares to attract long term individual Japanese shareholders aligned with the company's long-term R&D programmes. The distinguishing feature of these shares was the exit option with no loss of capital. The proposal was not received well by US based institutional shareholders of the company and proxy. A major proxy adviser recommended voting against the proposal. The case provides an opportunity to discuss security design issues and their implications for corporate governance.
The Paradox of Training Metrics
Authors: Sinha Anamika , Varkkey Biju
Published: October 2020

The case discusses issues in the process of professionalising a family-owned manufacturing firm in the steel tubes and pipes industry. Set during 2008-2012, the case highlights the increased competition and the consequent growth in the sector that drives the need for professionalisation. In order to remain competitively relevant, the owners, who were followers of Jainism, had realised that in their business, all other things being equal, a company with trained and engaged manpower had an advantage in the market and over competition. With this thought, the firm initiated a blended training program. While mapping the activities related to employee training with outcomes at different levels, it found that though the reported Return on Training Investment (ROTI) was good, the company was losing out on intangible factors such as employee engagement and the belief system that had traditionally held employees together. Current practices had to change, thereby leading existing members to lose the belief they held in the company. The turn of events put both the owners and the HR department in a dilemma over the entire transformation initiative.
Transformation of Indian Automobile Industry through Inter-Organization IT initiative: AutoDX (A)
Authors: Verma Sanjay
Published: October 2020

AutoDx Case narrates an exciting story of how organizations in one industry (buyers, suppliers, and suppliers of suppliers), who fiercely compete with each other in the marketplace, collaborated to develop an online platform which would bring in significant efficiency in the system and benefit all the players. The case shows that first attempt to develop such a platform failed in the late 90s. However, similar attempt, later on, was inching towards success. That shows the impact of timing of technology and Shared Beliefs. While Case A narrates the problems faced by a few managers and needs for autoDx, Case B details how the project became successful and was under the process of adoption by various organizations.
CavinKare Private Limited (A): Challenges of Sustaining Growth and Expanding Business
Authors: Jaiswal Anand Kumar
Published: October 2020

CavinKare Private Limited has emerged as an important player in the Indian fast moving consumer goods market. It has not only survived cut-throat competition from formidable multinational companies, but also has recorded sustained high growth over the years. Its business model has included converting important consumer insights into superior products, innovation and experimentation, value pricing, and extending distribution access. The case discusses the challenge before the top management to put in place a strategy to translate the vision of making CavinKare a billion-dollar entity (Rs 52,000 million) by 2012 into reality.
Proposed resilience index of water lifeline systems
Authors: Carandang Abraham Matthew Sagum , Garciano Lessandro Estelito O. , Maruyama Osamu , De Jesus Richard
Published: October 2020

Purpose

Water distribution networks (WDNs) must deliver water to its customers 24/7. Disruption of this important service after a strong seismic event impedes post-disaster activities and poses health and sanitation problems. Hence, WDNs must be able to quickly restore services after the occurrence of a major seismic event. This ability to return the water service can be a metric for resilience. The purpose of this paper is to quantify the resilience by developing a framework that translates various restoration strategies into an improved resilience measure for a multisource WDN.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper used a quantitative risk assessment method in developing the framework for the resilience quantification of WDN. Prim’s algorithm, Horn’s algorithm and maximum slope method are used for the restoration analysis conducted in this study.

Findings

This paper provides resilience indices of the WDN for each repair scenarios. Then, the resilience indices are used to determine the most efficient and optimized repair scenario to restore the hypothetically damaged WDN owing to Level 1 and Level 2 seismic events.

Research limitations/implications

The developed framework of this study only focuses on the robustness, rapidity and resourcefulness properties of resilience.

Practical implications

This study aims to help the water district in the maintenance, repair and evaluation of WDN against seismic events. The results from the study can be used in preparing the disaster management plan of the local water district to repair possible pipelines. This study also serves as a starting point to more complex and comprehensive research about the resilience quantification of WDNs with the consideration of optimal restoration sequence in the future.

Originality/value

The developed framework in the resilience quantification of WDN is original, as it uses optimal restoration strategies to represent the rapidity property of resilience.
Caching strategy for Web application – a systematic literature review
Authors: Zulfa Mulki Indana , Hartanto Rudy , Permanasari Adhistya Erna
Published: October 2020

Purpose

Internet users and Web-based applications continue to grow every day. The response time on a Web application really determines the convenience of its users. Caching Web content is one strategy that can be used to speed up response time. This strategy is divided into three main techniques, namely, Web caching, Web prefetching and application-level caching. The purpose of this paper is to put forward a literature review of caching strategy research that can be used in Web-based applications.

Design/methodology/approach

The methods used in this paper were as follows: determined the review method, conducted a review process, pros and cons analysis and explained conclusions. The review method is carried out by searching literature from leading journals and conferences. The first search process starts by determining keywords related to caching strategies. To limit the latest literature in accordance with current developments in website technology, search results are limited to the past 10 years, in English only and related to computer science only.

Findings

Note in advance that Web caching and Web prefetching are slightly overlapping techniques because they have the same goal of reducing latency on the user’s side. But actually, the two techniques are motivated by different basic mechanisms. Web caching uses the basic mechanism of cache replacement or the algorithm to change cache objects in memory when the cache capacity is full, whereas Web prefetching uses the basic mechanism of predicting cache objects that can be accessed in the future. This paper also contributes practical guidelines for choosing the appropriate caching strategy for Web-based applications.

Originality/value

This paper conducts a state-of-the art review of caching strategies that can be used in Web applications. Exclusively, this paper presents taxonomy, pros and cons of selected research and discusses data sets that are often used in caching strategy research. This paper also provides another contribution, namely, practical instructions for Web developers to decide the caching strategy.
The changing returns on IT investment
Authors: Fang Jing , Liu Xiaowei , Qu Wen Guang
Published: October 2020

Purpose

Prior IT productivity research usually assumes constant returns on IT investment. This study suggests that the impact of IT investment on productivity may not be constant but may change with the IT investment scale and over time. Specifically, we divide IT investment into commercial IT and in-house IT and investigate their changing impacts on industry labor productivity.

Design/methodology/approach

A model of the productivity impacts of commercial IT and in-house IT with changing effects of scale and over time is developed and empirically tested based on industry-level panel data from the US. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA).

Findings

The returns on commercial IT investment increase with scale but decrease over time, while the returns on in-house IT increase over time.

Originality/value

This study provides a new perspective for IT productivity research by investigating the changing productivity impacts of IT investment. It also suggests that commercial IT and in-house IT should be distinguished, as they have different impacts on productivity.
Budgetary responses to a global pandemic in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Authors: Poljašević Jelena , Grbavac Josipa , Mikerević Dragan
Published: October 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to show the impact of the pandemic on the budget of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) as a developing country. It also aims to give an answer as to how BiH politicians used budgetary measures to respond to the pandemic and what key economic factors influenced the design of those measures.

Design/methodology/approach

The study conducted detailed analyses of budgets at level of central government, as well as other publicly available documents of relevant governments bodies, international statistics and media reports up to the end of June 2020.

Findings

Decline of economic activity and a number of budgetary measures adopted by central BiH authorities under the influence of characteristics of BiH economy, characteristics of public finance and available source of funding, resulted in less government revenues and sizable government expenditures to assist the economy and public health system. The fiscal stability achieved over the past years and low level of debt allowed BiH authorities to build a deficit into the rebalanced budget. Most of the deficit was covered with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) assistance and in part also through internal borrowing and with surpluses/ deferral revenues from the previous year.

Research limitations/implications

At this point, it is impossible to predict what kind of impact the pandemic-related crisis will have on BiH public finances and whether further economic interventions will be needed.

Originality/value

This paper shows the measures that developing country governments dependent on external funding sources can take in times of crisis and what their impact is on the budget.
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in edible oils: An overview on sample preparation, determination strategies, and relative abundance of prevalent compounds
Authors: Sánchez‐Arévalo Carmen M. , Olmo‐García Lucía , Fernández‐Sánchez Jorge F. , Carrasco‐Pancorbo Alegría
Published: October 2020

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are food contaminants whose presence in foodstuffs is especially alarming due to their carcinogenic character. These substances are highly lipophilic and thus, unsafe levels of these compounds have been found in edible fats and oils. Efficient methodologies to determine such molecules in lipidic matrixes are therefore essential. In this review, a detailed description of the analytical methods for the determination of PAHs in vegetable oils from the last 15 years has been provided. Particular emphasis has been placed on innovative sample treatments, which facilitate and shorten the pretreatment of the oils. Finally, results from recent investigations have been reviewed and studied in depth, in order to elucidate which PAHs are most commonly found in vegetable oils.
The making of a city campus
Authors: Freestone Robert , Pullan Nicola , Saniga Andrew
Published: October 2020

Campus spatial development has attracted relatively little scholarly research, yet through time major moves reflect and interact with broader policy, design, and societal trends. The city campus as a high‐density, mixed‐use knowledge precinct has emerged as a distinctive type. Its growing prominence points to the convergence of interdependent trends in urban life, higher education, and economic growth. This article describes, contextualises, and reflects upon the physical evolution of the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) in central Sydney. The narrative identifies several distinct development phases: from the urban renewal of a rundown inner‐city precinct through comprehensive replanning following the tenets of high modernism, then adaptive reuse and heritage conservation, to architectural design excellence. In the process, it has become an Australian exemplar of a “tech transformed” contemporary city campus.
Mutualism between antagonists: its ecological and evolutionary implications
Authors: ZHANG Zhibin , YAN Chuan , ZHANG Hongmao
Published: October 2020

Mutualism or antagonism between species is often investigated within the framework of monotonic interactions of either mutualism or antagonism, but studies on transition from mutualism to antagonism (within the context of nonmonotonic interactions) have been largely ignored. In this paper, through a brief review and synthesis, we highlighted the role of mutualism between antagonists in regulating the ecological and evolutionary processes, as well as maintaining the stability and complexity of ecosystems. Mutualism between antagonistic species represents the density‐dependent transition between mutualism and antagonism, which is beneficial to species coexistence and stability of complex ecosystems; thus, it should be favored by natural selection. Species may face selection of conflicting pressure on functional traits in co‐balancing mutualism and antagonism, which may result in evolution of the dual character of species with moderate mutualistic or antagonistic traits. Coevolution and co‐balance of these traits are driving forces in shaping mutualism–antagonism systems. Rewards for mutualists, punishment for exploiters, and competition of meta‐communities are essential in stabilizing mutualism between antagonists. We appeal for more studies on mutualism between antagonists and its ecological and evolutionary implications by expanding the conventional ecological studies from monotonic to nonmonotonic regimes.
The effects of reporting frameworks and a company’s financial position on managers’ willingness to invest in corporate social responsibility projects
Authors: Chen Yasheng , Jermias Johnny , Nazari Jamal A.
Published: October 2020

This study examines how companies’ voluntary adoption of a particular CSR framework affects their managers’ decision‐making, especially when they are faced with a dilemma whereby maximising environmental benefits means a reduction in financial returns. The results show that investment in CSR projects is significantly higher when companies report under a stand‐alone CSR reporting framework, as this framework provides the opportunity to highlight the benefits of CSR investment. In contrast, an integrated reporting framework encourages disclosure of benefits and costs, whereas the financial statement framework limits disclosure of CSR activities, and both result in lower investment in CSR projects.
Adolescent income and binge drinking initiation: prospective evidence from the MyLife study
Authors: Brunborg Geir Scott , von Soest Tilmann , Burdzovic Andreas Jasmina
Published: October 2020

Background and aims

No previous studies have examined the prospective association between disposable income and binge‐drinking initiation among adolescents. We aimed to examine whether there is such an association and, if so, whether it is robust to confounders, uniform across individual characteristics and linear versus non‐linear.

Design

Prospective study of adolescents from 32 middle schools, stratified according to geographic location, urban and rural locations and standard of living. Adolescents were assessed in 2017 (T1) and 1 year later (T2).

Setting

Norway.

Participants

A nation‐wide sample of 1845 adolescents (mean age 13.5 years, 44% boys) with no binge‐drinking experience at T1.

Measurements

Data were collected on binge drinking at T1 and T2. Data on disposable income and on a range of demographic, individual and family factors were collected at T1.

Findings

Overall, 7.2% initiated binge drinking between T1 and T2. Logistic regression showed that the crude linear effect of disposable income on binge drinking initiation was substantial, and only slightly attenuated in the fully adjusted model including all putative confounders [odds ratio (OR) = 1.19, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.08, 1.31, P < 0.001]. However, interaction analyses showed disposable income to be negatively related to binge drinking initiation for adolescents who had experienced light drinking at T1 (OR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.49, 0.89, P = 0.006) or who had seen their mothers intoxicated [OR = 0.62, 95% CI = 0.39, 0.99, P = 0.043).

Conclusion

Norwegian adolescents with higher disposable income have a greater risk of subsequent binge drinking initiation than those with lower disposable income. Each additional 100 NOK (≈ €10) of weekly income increased the risk of binge drinking initiation in the following year by approximately 20%.