bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Deep sequencing of 3 cancer cell lines on 2 sequencing platforms
Authors: Arora Kanika , Shah Minita , Johnson Molly , Sanghvi Rashesh , Shelton Jennifer , Nagulapalli Kshithija , Oschwald Dayna M. , Zody Michael C. , Germer Soren , Jobanputra Vaidehi , Carter Jade , Robine Nicolas
Published: May 2019

To test the performance of a new sequencing platform, develop an updated somatic calling pipeline and establish a reference for future benchmarking experiments, we sequenced 3 common cancer cell lines along with their matched normal cell lines to great sequencing depths (up to 278X coverage) on both Illumina HiSeqX and NovaSeq sequencing instruments. Somatic calling was generally consistent between the two platforms despite minor differences at the read level. We designed and implemented a novel pipeline for the analysis of tumor-normal samples, using multiple variant callers. We show that coupled with a high-confidence filtering strategy, it improves the accuracy of somatic calls. We also demonstrate the utility of the dataset by creating an artificial purity ladder to evaluate the somatic pipeline and benchmark methods for estimating purity and ploidy from tumor-normal pairs. The data and results of the pipeline are made accessible to the cancer genomics community.
Low centrosome numbers correlate with higher aggressivity in ovarian cancer
Authors: Morretton Jean-Philippe , Simon Anthony , Herbette Aurélie , Barbazan Jorge , Pérez-González Carlos , Cosson Camille , Mboup Bassirou , Latouche Aurélien , Popova Tatiana , Kieffer Yann , Gestraud Pierre , Bataillon Guillaume , Becette Véronique , Meseure Didier , Nicolas André , Mariani Odette , Vincent-Salomon Anne , Stern Marc-Henri , Mechta-Grigoriou Fatima , Roman Sergio Roman , Vignjevic Danijela Matic , Rouzier Roman , Sastre-Garau Xavier , Goundiam Oumou , Basto Renata
Published: May 2019

Centrosome amplification, the presence of more than two centrosomes in a cell is a common feature of most human cancer cell lines. However, little is known about centrosome numbers of human cancers and whether amplification or other numerical aberrations are frequently present. To address this question, we have analyzed a large cohort of human epithelial ovarian cancers (EOCs) from 100 patients. Using state-of-the-art microscopy, we have determined the Centrosome-Nucleus Index (CNI) of each tumor. We found that EOCs show infrequent centrosome amplifications. Strikingly, the large majority of these tumors presented low CNIs. We show that low CNI tumors are enriched in the mesenchymal subgroup and correlate with poor patient survival. Our findings highlight a novel paradigm linking low centrosome number with highly aggressive behavior in ovarian cancers and show that the CNI signature may be used to stratify ovarian cancers.
Altered actin filament dynamics in theDrosophilamushroom bodies lead to fast acquisition of alcohol consumption preference
Authors: Butts Andrew R. , Ojelade Shamsideen A. , Seguin Alexandra , Merrill Collin B. , Rodan Aylin R. , Rothenfluh Adrian
Published: May 2019

Alcohol use is highly prevalent in the United States and across the world, and every year millions of people suffer from alcohol use disorders (AUDs). While the genetic contribution to developing AUDs is estimated to be 50-60%, many of the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Previous studies from our lab revealed thatDrosophilalacking RhoGAP18B and Ras Suppressor 1 (Rsu1) display reduced sensitivity to ethanol-induced sedation. Both Rsu1 and RhoGAP18B are negative regulators of the small Rho-family GTPase, Rac1, a modulator of actin dynamics. Here we investigate the role of Rac1 and its downstream target, the actin-severing protein cofilin, in alcohol consumption preference. We show that these two regulators of actin dynamics can alter experience-dependent alcohol preference in a bidirectional manner: expressing either activated Rac1 or dominant-negative cofilin in the mushroom bodies (MB) abolishes experience-dependent alcohol preference. Conversely, dominant-negative Rac1 or activated cofilin MB expression lead to faster acquisition of alcohol preference. Our data show that Rac1 and cofilin activity are key to determining the rate of acquisition of alcohol preference, revealing a critical role of actin dynamics regulation in the development of voluntary self-administration inDrosophila.

Significance Statement

The risks for developing an alcohol use disorder (AUD) are strongly determined by genetic factors. Understanding the genes and molecular mechanisms that contribute to that risk is therefore a necessary first step for the development of targeted therapeutic intervention. Here we show that regulators of actin cytoskeleton dynamics can bidirectionally determine the acquisition rate of alcohol self-administration, highlighting this process as a key mechanism contributing to the risk of AUD development.
Behavioural responses to video and live presentations of females reveal a dissociation between performance and motivational aspects of birdsong
Authors: James Logan S. , Fan R. , Sakata J.T.
Published: May 2019

Understanding the regulation of social behavioural expression requires insight into motivational and performance aspects of social behaviours. While a number of studies have independently investigated motivational or performance aspects of social behaviours, few have examined how these aspects relate to each other. By comparing behavioural variation in response to live or video presentations of conspecific females, we analysed how variation in the motivation to produce courtship song covaries with variation in performance aspects of courtship song in male zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata). Consistent with previous reports, we observed that male zebra finches were less motivated to produce courtship songs to videos of females than to live presentations of females. However, we found that acoustic features that reflect song performance were indistinguishable between songs produced to videos of females and songs produced to live presentations of females. For example, songs directed at video presentations of females were just as fast and stereotyped as songs directed at live females. These experimental manipulations and correlational analyses reveal a dissociation between motivational and performance aspects of birdsong and suggest a refinement of neural models of song production and control. In addition, they support the efficacy of videos to study both motivational and performance aspects of social behaviours.
JASPer controls interphase histone H3S10 phosphorylation by chromosomal kinase JIL-1 in Drosophila
Authors: Albig Christian , Wang Chao , Dann Geoffrey P. , Wojcik Felix , Schauer Tamás , Krause Silke , Maenner Sylvain , Cai Weili , Li Yeran , Girton Jack , Muir Tom W. , Johansen Jørgen , Johansen Kristen M. , Becker Peter B. , Regnard Catherine
Published: May 2019

In flies, the chromosomal kinase JIL-1 is responsible for most interphase histone H3S10 phosphorylation and has been proposed to protect active chromatin from acquiring heterochromatic marks, like dimethylated histone H3K9 (H3K9me2) and HP1. Here, we show that JIL-1’s targeting to chromatin depends on a new PWWP domain-containing protein JASPer (JIL-1 Anchoring and Stabilizing Protein). The JASPer-JIL-1 (JJ)-complex is the major form of the kinase in vivo and is targeted to active genes and telomeric transposons via binding of the PWWP domain of JASPer to H3K36me3 nucleosomes. Put in place, the complex modulates the transcriptional output. JIL-1 and JJ-complex depletion in cycling cells lead to small changes in H3K9me2 distribution at active genes and telomeric transposons. Finally, we identified many new interactors of the endogenous JJ-complex and propose that JIL-1 not only prevents heterochromatin formation, but also coordinates chromatin-based regulation in the transcribed part of the genome.
Kinesin-1 and dynein use distinct mechanisms to bypass obstacles
Authors: Ferro Luke S. , Can Sinan , Turner Meghan A. , Elshenawy Mohamed M. , Yildiz Ahmet
Published: May 2019

Kinesin-1 and cytoplasmic dynein are microtubule (MT) motors that transport intracellular cargos. It remains unclear how these motors move along MTs densely coated with obstacles of various sizes in the cytoplasm. Here, we tested the ability of single and multiple motors to bypass synthetic obstacles on MTs in vitro. Contrary to previous reports, we found that mammalian dynein is highly capable of bypassing obstacles. Unlike dynein, single kinesin motors stall in the presence of obstacles, consistent with their inability to take sideways steps to neighboring protofilaments. Kinesins overcome this limitation when working in teams, bypassing obstacles as effectively as multiple dyneins. Cargos driven by multiple kinesin or dyneins are also capable of rotating around the MT to bypass large obstacles. These results suggest that multiplicity of motors is required not only for transporting cargos over long distances and generating higher forces, but also for maneuvering of the cargos on obstacle-coated MT surfaces.
Mutations that improve the efficiency of a weak-link enzyme are rare compared to adaptive mutations elsewhere in the genome
Authors: Morgenthaler Andrew B. , Kinney Wallis R. , Ebmeier Christopher C. , Walsh Corinne M. , Snyder Daniel J. , Cooper Vaughn S. , Old William M. , Copley Shelley D.
Published: May 2019

New enzymes often evolve by amplification and divergence of genes encoding enzymes with a weak ability to provide a new function. Experimental studies to date have followed the evolutionary trajectory of an amplified gene, but have not addressed other mutations in the genome when fitness is limited by an evolving gene. We have adaptedEscherichia coliin which an enzyme’s weak secondary activity has been recruited to serve an essential function. While the gene encoding the “weak-link” enzyme amplified in all eight populations, mutations improving the new activity occurred in only one. This beneficial allele quickly swept the amplified array, displacing the parental allele. Most adaptive mutations, however, occurred elsewhere in the genome. We have identified the mechanisms by which three of the classes of mutations increase fitness. These mutations may be detrimental once a new enzyme has evolved, and require reversion or compensation, leading to permanent changes in the genome.
Synaptic mechanisms of context-dependent sensory responses in the hippocampus
Authors: Zhao Xinyu , Wang Yingxue , Spruston Nelson , Magee Jeffrey C.
Published: May 2019

As animals navigate, they must identify features in context. The hippocampus-a structure critical for navigation-exhibits a different code for each environment, uniquely representing locations and objects within each environment in the firing rates of its neurons. It is unknown how or where these context-specific codes emerge. For example, it is unknown whether pyramidal neurons in the CA1 subregion produce these codes (by combining separate inputs from local sensory cues and the environmental context) or inherit conjunctive codes from upstream brain areas. We performed electrical recordings in the hippocampus as mice navigated in two distinct virtual environments. In CA1, subthreshold synaptic responses to a visual cue in one environment were absent when the same cue occurred in the second environment. In CA3, cue-driven spiking also strongly depended on environmental context. These results indicate that context-dependent sensory coding in CA1 is inherited from its CA3 input.
Attenuated amiloride-sensitive current and augmented calcium-activated chloride current in marsh rice rat (Oryzomys palustris) airways
Authors: Kuan Shin-Ping , Liao Yan-Shin J. , Davis Katelyn M. , Messer Jonathan G. , Zubcevic Jasenka , Aguirre J. Ignacio , Reznikov Leah R.
Published: May 2019

Prolonged heat and sea salt aerosols pose a challenge for the mammalian airway, placing the protective airway surface liquid (ASL) at risk for desiccation. Thus, mammals inhabiting salt marshes might have acquired adaptations for ASL regulation. We studied the airways of the rice rat, a rodent that inhabits salt marshes. We discovered negligible Na+transport through the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC). In contrast, carbachol induced a large Cl−secretory current that was blocked by the calcium-activated chloride channel (CaCC) inhibitor CaCCinh-A01. Decreased mRNA expression of α, β, and γ ENaC, and increased mRNA expression of the CaCC transmembrane member 16A distinguished the rice rat airway. Rice rat airway cultures also secreted fluid in response to carbachol and displayed an exaggerated expansion of the ASL volume when challenged with 3.5% NaCl. These data suggest that the rice rat airway might possess unique ion transport adaptations to facilitate survival in the salt marsh environment.
Impact ofItga2-Gp6-double collagen receptor deficient mice for bone marrow megakaryocytes and platelets
Authors: Semeniak Daniela , Faber Kristina , Öftering Patricia , Manukjan Georgi , Schulze Harald
Published: May 2019

The two main collagen receptors on platelets, GPVI and integrin α2β1, play an important role for the recognition of exposed collagen at sites of vessel injury, which leads to platelet activation and subsequently stable thrombus formation. Both receptors are already expressed on megakaryocytes, the platelet forming cells within the bone marrow. Megakaryocytes are in permanent contact with collagen filaments in the marrow cavity and at the basal lamina of sinusoids without obvious preactivation. The role of both collagen receptors for megakaryocyte maturation and thrombopoiesis is still poorly understood. To investigate the function of both collagen receptors, we generated mice that are double deficient forGp6andItga2. Flow cytometric analyses revealed that the deficiency of both receptors had no impact on platelet number and the expected lack in GPVI responsiveness. Integrin activation and degranulation ability was comparable to wildtype mice. By immunofluorescence microscopy, we could demonstrate that double-deficient megakaryocytes were overall normally distributed within the bone marrow. We found megakaryocyte count and size to be normal, the localization within the bone marrow, the degree of maturation, as well as their association to sinusoids were also unaltered. However, the contact of megakaryocytes to collagen type I filaments was decreased at sinusoids compared to wildtype mice, while the interaction to type IV collagen was unaffected. Our results imply that GPVI and α2β1 have no influence on the localization of megakaryocytes within the bone marrow, their association to the sinusoids or their maturation. The decreased contact of megakaryocytes to collagen type I might at least partially explain the unaltered platelet phenotype in these mice, since proplatelet formation is mediated by these receptors and their interaction to collagen. It is rather likely that other compensatory signaling pathways and receptors play a role that needs to be elucidated.
Purification and characterization of fat body lipase from the Greater Wax MothGalleria mellonella(Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)
Authors: Mahdy Rahma R.Z. , Mo’men Shaimaa A. , Abd El-Bar Marah M. , Barakat Emad M.S.
Published: May 2019

Lipid mobilization and transport in insects is under investigation, especially lipases and lipophorin because of their roles in energy production and transport of lipids at flying activity. The present study has been conducted to purify intracellular fat body lipase for the first time, from last larval instar ofGalleria mellonella. Purification methods by combination of ammonium sulfate precipitation and gel filtration using Sephadex G-100 demonstrated that the amount of protein and the specific activity of fat body lipase were 0.008633±0.000551 mg/ml and 1.5754±0.1042 μmol/min/mg protein, respectively, with a 98.9 fold purity and recovery of 50.81%. Hence, the sephadex G-100 step was more effective in purification process. SDS-PAGE and zymogram revealed that fat body lipase showed two monomers with molecular weights of 178.8 and 62.6 kDa. Furthermore biochemical characterization of fat body lipase was carried out through testing its activities against several factors such as; different temperatures, pH ranges, metal ions and inhibitors ending by determination of their kinetic parameters with the use ofp-Nitrophenyl butyrate (PNPB) as a substrate. The highest activities of enzyme were determined at the temperature ranges of 35-37°C and 37-40°C and pH ranges of 7-9 and 7–10. The partially purified enzyme showed significant stimulation by Ca2+, K+and Na+metal ions indicating that fat body lipase is metalloproteinase. Additionally, lipase activity was strongly inhibited by some inhibitors; phenylmethylsulfony fluoride (PMSF), ethylene-diaminetetractic acid (EDTA) and ethylene glycoltetraacetic acid (EGTA) providing an evidence of presence of serine residue and activation of enzymes by metal ions. Kinetic parameters were 301.95mM Kmand 0.316 Umg−1Vmax. By considering the purification of fat body lipase from larvae and using some inhibitors especially ion chelating agents, it is suggested to develop this study by using lipase inhibitors to reach a successful control ofGalleria mellonellain the near future.
Selection of appropriate reference genes for quantitative real-time PCR in Clerodendrum trichotomum
Authors: Hua Yajie , Yue Yuanzheng , Chen Gongwei , Yan Taotao , Ding Wenjie , Shi Tingting , Hu Die , Wang Lianggui , Yang Xiulian
Published: May 2019

Abstrsct

Clerodendrum trichotomum, an important medicinal plant, has excellent salt tolerance and beautiful ornamental character. However, reliable reference genes for quantitative real-time PCR data (qRT-PCR) in C. trichotomum have not been investigated. Using our previous transcriptome data, 17 reference genes were selected in different tissues (leaves, flowers, fruits, stems, and roots) and under various abiotic stresses (salt, drought, flood, and heat) for C. trichotomum, using four different reference gene analysis software types: GeNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper and ReFinder. The results identified RPL, ACT and HSP70 as the three most suitable reference genes for tissues. Genes ACT and AP-2 were most stably expressed under drought stress; MDH and UBCE2 were stable under flooding stress; RPL and UBCE2 were most stable under salt stress; and MDH and EF-1A were most appropriate under heat stress. For abiotic treatments, RPL, MDH and AP-2 were the most stable reference genes; and AP-2, RPL and ACT were stably expressed in all examined samples. The expression profile of the genes for Na+/H+ Exchanger1 (ClNHX1) and laccase (ClLAC) were selected to validate the stability of the determined reference genes. Our study provided reliable normalization for gene expression analysis and ensured more accurate data for further molecular mechanism research in C. trichotomum.
The Ras family members follow the blood progesterone level during formation and regression in bovine corpus luteum
Authors: Lee Sang-Hee , Lee Seunghyung
Published: May 2019

Ras family members regulate cellular differentiation, proliferation and survival. CL formation and regression are regulated by the blood P4 level. This study investigated the association between changes in Ras family members and the serum P4 level and determined protein interactions among Ras family members, hormone receptors, and angiogenetic and apoptotic factors during formation and regression of the bovine CL. RASAL3 and RASA3 were found using proteomics in CL and were significantly increased in the SPCL compared to the PPCL, whereas RasGEF1B was decreased in the PPCL. Hormone receptors and angiogenetic proteins expression was lower in the PPCL and SPCL than that in the RPCL, but apoptotic proteins were increased in the RPCL. The P4 and estrogen receptors positive correlated with RasGEF1B, R-Ras, and H-Ras through VEGFA, VEGFR2 and Tie2 in STRING database. RasGAP, H-Ras and R-Ras protein expression was increased in the PPCL compared to that in the SPCL, whereas RasGEF expression was decreased. In summary, Ras activation and angiogenesis in the CL were positively correlated with the blood P4 during estrous cylce. These results may increase understanding of Ras biological functions following stimulation of hormones and their receptors during tissue proliferation and degeneration.
Convergent recombination cessation between mating-type genes and centromeres in selfing anther-smut fungi
Authors: Carpentier Fantin , Rodríguez de la Vega Ricardo C. , Branco Sara , Snirc Alodie , Coelho Marco A. , Hood Michael E. , Giraud Tatiana
Published: May 2019

The degree of selfing has major impacts on adaptability and is often controlled by molecular mechanisms determining mating compatibility. Changes in compatibility systems are therefore important evolutionary events, but their underlying genomic mechanisms are often poorly understood. Fungi display frequent shifts in compatibility systems, and their small genomes facilitate elucidation of the mechanisms involved. In particular, linkage between the pre- and postmating compatibility loci has evolved repeatedly, increasing the odds of gamete compatibility under selfing. Here, we studied the mating-type chromosomes of two anther-smut fungi with unlinked mating-type loci despite a self-fertilization mating system. Segregation analyses and comparisons of high-quality genome assemblies revealed that these two species displayed linkage between mating-type loci and their respective centromeres. This arrangement renders the same improved odds of gamete compatibility as direct linkage of the two mating-type loci under the automictic mating (intratetrad selfing) of anther-smut fungi. Recombination cessation was found associated with a large inversion in only one of the four linkage events. The lack of trans-specific polymorphism at genes located in nonrecombining regions and linkage date estimates indicated that the events of recombination cessation occurred independently in the two sister species. Our study shows that natural selection can repeatedly lead to similar genomic patterns and phenotypes, and that different evolutionary paths can lead to distinct yet equally beneficial responses to selection. Our study further highlights that automixis and gene linkage to centromeres have important genetic and evolutionary consequences, while being poorly recognized despite being present in a broad range of taxa.
Rapid Amplification of Sequences from the 5′ Ends of mRNAs: 5′-RACE
Authors: Green Michael R. , Sambrook Joseph
Published: May 2019

Isolating a full-length clone of cDNA provides certainty that the entire protein-coding sequence of the mRNA has been identified and allows the 5′ end of the mRNA to be precisely mapped onto the genomic DNA sequence. Unfortunately, partial clones that lack sequences corresponding to the 5′ end of the target mRNA occur commonly in cDNA libraries. Rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) provides a means to overcome this obstacle by amplifying the 5′-terminal sequences of cDNA. This technique differs from conventional polymerase chain reaction in that it only requires knowledge of a small region of sequence within either the target RNA or in a partial clone of cDNA. In the first step of 5′-RACE, extension of the primer by reverse transcriptase yields single-stranded cDNAs complementary to the 5′ regions of the mRNA. In the second step, a homopolymeric tail or a primer–adaptor is added to the 3′ ends of the cDNAs. This generates a primer-binding site upstream of the unknown 5′-sequence of the target mRNA. Finally, synthesis of the second cDNA strand and amplification of the resulting double-stranded cDNAs is performed using the gene-specific primer and the upstream primer. The double-stranded products of the final stage are purified and cloned into a vector for sequencing analysis and subsequent manipulation.
Release of the Cloned Recombinant Adenovirus Genome for Rescue and Expansion
Authors: Su Qin , Sena-Esteves Miguel , Gao Guangping
Published: May 2019

After generating the recombinant adenovirus plasmid by direct cloning, the viral genome must be released from the plasmid for virus rescue and expansion in corresponding packaging cell lines. This protocol describes how to process and rescue a recombinant adenovirus and grow the rescued virus to large scale.
Generating a Three-Dimensional Genome from Xenopus with Hi-C
Authors: Quigley Ian K. , Heinz Sven
Published: May 2019

Hi-C is a sequencing-based method that captures three-dimensional (3-D) genome interactions by counting the interaction frequencies of pairs of genomic loci. This protocol describes the application of in situ Hi-C to the Xenopus embryo. Briefly, after fixing embryos with formaldehyde, nuclei are isolated and chromatin is digested with a restriction enzyme. Restriction sites are filled in with a biotinylated nucleotide and the blunted ends are re-ligated in place, all while still contained in the nuclei (i.e., in situ). Subsequently, the re-ligated genomic DNA is isolated and fragmented by sonication. Biotinylated ligation junctions are captured with streptavidin-coated beads, and DNA fragments are amplified by ligation-mediated polymerase chain reaction (LM-PCR). The PCR product is isolated and sequenced from both ends (paired-end), and informatics methods are then applied to align the two sides of the ligation junctions to the reference genome. Because ligation occurs much more frequently intra- than interchromosomally, and with generally decreasing frequency the further away DNA loci are from each other on the linear chromosome, interaction frequency information can be used to assist in assembling genomes and to phase haplotypes, which is especially useful in the case of a tetraploid organism such as X. laevis. Our streamlined version of in situ Hi-C was optimized for high throughput and low cost, and enables generation of high-quality Hi-C libraries from small cell numbers (down to ∼10,000 cells) in 2 d.
Conjugation of Peptides to Thiol-Reactive Gel for Affinity Purification of Antibodies
Authors: Fishman Jordan B. , Berg Eric A.
Published: May 2019

Thiol-reactive linkers, such as iodoacetyl or maleimide, bound to cross-linked agarose are used to attach cysteine-containing peptides covalently to this resin for use in affinity-purification protocols. It is critical to confirm that the peptide contains a reduced cysteine so that the thiol is available for conjugation to the thiol-reactive linker. The column should be sized appropriately for the amount of peptide to be used and the volume of serum to be processed. Excess binding sites on the column must be blocked with free cysteine before use.
Skin Grafting in Xenopus laevis: A Technique for Assessing Development and Immunological Disparity
Authors: Izutsu Yumi
Published: May 2019

Skin grafting in the amphibian Xenopus laevis has been used to detect not only allogeneic antigens that differ by minor H antigens or by one MHC haplotype, but also to detect ontogeny-specific antigens (including both emerging adult- and disappearing larval-specific) during metamorphosis. To understand the mechanisms underlying allogeneic tolerance or immune responses against larval- and/or adult-specific antigens, a complete MHC homozygous, inbred strain is the most appropriate experimental model. The inbred J strain established in Japan is used here. Owing to complete histocompatibility, the inbred J strain shows no grafted skin rejection among the same strain of adult frogs, and its genuine homozygosity was reconfirmed by genomic sequence analysis in 2016. Therefore, the J strain enables immunologists and embryologists to understand evolutionary processes as well as immunological events and tissue remodeling mechanisms present during development. Furthermore, an F1 hybrid between the J strain and a GFP-labeled transgenic line is available from our laboratory and can be used as a model for long-term cell tracking. This protocol explains the methodology for skin grafting in X. laevis to determine immunological discrepancies between the host and donor. It is also possible to trace cell and tissue fates in the hosts during early embryogenesis and during complete development from larvae to adults, which is extremely difficult to perform using other species.
Antibody Purification and Storage
Authors: Fishman Jordan B. , Berg Eric A.
Published: May 2019

Antibodies have become a common and necessary tool in biochemistry, cell biology, and immunology laboratories. There are many different types of antibodies and antibody fragments being used for a myriad of applications. As a result, many different purification protocols have been developed to obtain antibodies of the desired specificity and sensitivity. Here, we introduce the options for small- to large-scale antibody purification and isolation of polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies (and fragments generated from these) that target-specific proteins, as well as methods to properly purify antibodies that recognize posttranslational modifications. Optimal conditions for the long-term storage of antibodies are also discussed.
Vision and laser fused SLAM in indoor environments with multi-robot system
Authors: Chen Haoyao , Huang Hailin , Qin Ye , Li Yanjie , Liu Yunhui
Published: May 2019

Purpose

Multi-robot laser-based simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) in large-scale environments is an essential but challenging issue in mobile robotics, especially in situations wherein no prior knowledge is available between robots. Moreover, the cumulative errors of every individual robot exert a serious negative effect on loop detection and map fusion. To address these problems, this paper aims to propose an efficient approach that combines laser and vision measurements.

Design/methodology/approach

A multi-robot visual laser-SLAM is developed to realize robust and efficient SLAM in large-scale environments; both vision and laser loop detections are integrated to detect robust loops. A method based on oriented brief (ORB) feature detection and bag of words (BoW) is developed, to ensure the robustness and computational effectiveness of the multi-robot SLAM system. A robust and efficient graph fusion algorithm is proposed to merge pose graphs from different robots.

Findings

The proposed method can detect loops more quickly and accurately than the laser-only SLAM, and it can fuse the submaps of each single robot to promote the efficiency, accuracy and robustness of the system.

Originality/value

Compared with the state of art of multi-robot SLAM approaches, the paper proposed a novel and more sophisticated approach. The vision-based and laser-based loops are integrated to realize a robust loop detection. The ORB features and BoW technologies are further utilized to gain real-time performance. Finally, random sample consensus and least-square methodologies are used to remove the outlier loops among robots.
Parental experiences with an adolescent female and male with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in India
Authors: Bhullar Naureen
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to compare experiences of two parents of adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) differing in gender, including their daily routines at school and at home, challenging behaviour, social support and future plans for their children.

Design/methodology/approach

The parents of the two adolescents with ASD were interviewed with open-ended questions related to their children as well as their personal experiences, along with getting their individual responses for the established Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS).

Findings

There were similarities and differences in the parents’ experiences with their adolescent children with ASD. Similarities included a limited social support outside their families, hopes for the future of their children, where in they emphasised the need for some “normality” for their child, and a lack of plan in terms of legal guardianship and written wills after their own time. Some of the differences were also noted in the parents’ description of symptoms of their children, with the father of the female adolescent reporting more negative experiences both with his child, as well as with his spouse, a lack of social support and, subsequently, more “dissatisfaction” on the SWLS than the mother of the male adolescent.

Research limitations/implications

One of the major limitations of this study is the absence of feedback from the other parent besides the one being interviewed, due to which only one parental perspective was provided here.

Social implications

There are vital social implications of this study. Both parents reported a limited social support due to which they expressed the need for increasing awareness for ASD in the general society. These findings illustrate the need for a focus on designing interventions for improving outcomes for both parent and child in similar situations.

Originality/value

This study compared the experiences of two parents of adolescents with ASD, differing in gender and symptomology, but similar in other respects, including the family demographic characteristics and cultural context.
Financial inclusion, shocks and coping strategies: survey evidence from Uganda
Authors: Mawejje Joseph
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the roles that access formal and informal finance as well as mobile money play in facilitating the choice of coping strategies that households adopt.

Design/methodology/approach

The research methodology considers the estimation of binary outcome maximum likelihood probit models for each coping strategy on a vector of covariates that include measures of financial inclusion, household characteristics and community variables.

Findings

The author finds that financial inclusion is associated with a higher likelihood of adopting market-oriented strategies such as selling assets or borrowing and lower likelihood for non-market strategies such as reliance on informal networks and reducing consumption.

Originality/value

To the best of the author’s knowledge, this paper provides the first empirical attempt examining the pathways through which financial inclusion may facilitate the choice of coping strategies using nuanced household data.
Training gaps in the adoption of building information modelling by Nigerian construction professionals
Authors: Oyewole Elijah Oluwatosin , Dada Joshua Oluwasuji
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The opportunities that the building information modeling (BIM) mode of project delivery presents warrant the need for the construction professionals to be adequately trained on BIM technology and processes. The purpose of this paper is to assess the training gaps that exist between the perceived and expected knowledge of BIM practice among construction professionals in Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was carried out through a structured questionnaire survey administered on identifying training gaps among registered Nigerian construction professionals toward BIM adoption. Relevant information on the perceived and expected BIM mode of practices was systematically collected from 212 participants who are familiar with BIM concepts. The data generated were analyzed using descriptive statistics and gap analysis.

Findings

Gap analysis was employed in determining the significance of BIM training gap for various practices among the construction professionals. The most significant gaps in BIM practice with gap analysis value>1 are the project review technique and clash detection for architectural practice. Among quantity surveyors, cost estimating, preparation of bills of quantities and project budgeting are the practice areas where there are significant training gaps in adopting BIM. For engineering practices, the gap analysis reveals a significant training gap in design creation and coordination, as-built-modeling, clash detection and space management.

Research limitations/implications

The research is limited to the perception of the respondents on actual and ideal BIM practices, not considering the process workflow, facility requirements and other issues that revolve round BIM adoption and implementation. It is also limited to professionals in the industry, and further studies will be appropriate to address these limitations.

Practical implications

The study reveals that there is a great need to meet the training gaps for BIM adoption in ensuring efficiency of construction project delivery.

Originality/value

The gaps that exist between the actual and expected BIM training were statistically established.
Empirical analysis of integration practices among agribusiness firms
Authors: Kwamega Michael , Li Dongmei , Abrokwah Eugene
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the mediating effect of information sharing (IS) on the link between supply chain integration (SCI) practices (internal, customer and supplier) and internal process performance (IPP) by using selected agribusiness firms from an emerging economy, Ghana.

Design/methodology/approach

To determine the effect of IS on the nexus between SCI practices and IPP, a research framework was developed and tested using data amassed from 156 agribusiness firms for the study. The data set was assessed and hypotheses were tested using structural equation modelling.

Findings

The outcomes revealed that both INI and CI positively and significantly influenced IS. However, the results disclosed that SI has no significant positive effect on IS among the Ghanaian agribusiness firms. The findings of the study further discovered that IS fully mediates the relationship between INI, CI and IPP, whereas SI has a direct interaction with IPP.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the existing supply chain management research by empirically authenticating IS as the mediator between SCI practices and IPP. From the viewpoint of a developing economy, this paper identifies the significant connection that exists between SCI practices, IS and IPP. The outcomes recommend that IS is a core driving facilitator to reinforce the correlation between SCI practices and IPP.
Bridging diversity management and CSR in online external communication
Authors: Maier Carmen Daniela , Ravazzani Silvia
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to address the need to reconsider online external communication that integrates diversity management (DM) and corporate social responsibility (CSR) by examining the multimodal discursive strategies purposefully employed by organizations to reflect the symbiotic relationship between these two areas of management practice and to communicatively emphasize their corporate commitment.

Design/methodology/approach

Building on the recently emerged stream of literature linking DM and CSR, and adopting a critical perspective on discourse analysis, this study delves into the multimodal discursive strategies that help bridge DM and CSR in online external communication. The analytical approach proposed is used for the qualitative analysis of 43 web pages selected from Microsoft company’s “Global Diversity and Inclusion” website.

Findings

Findings highlight the discursive efforts made by the organization to strategically integrate DM and CSR communication into one single framework. The analysis reveals how the coordinates of social practices (social actors and social actions) are purposefully and multimodally recontextualized in the corporate discourse when communicating this integration.

Originality/value

This study extends the focus of critical discourse analysis from exclusively language to the interplay of different semiotic modes, offering a fine-grained exploration of the multimodal meaning construction performed by organizations in the context of online external communication.
Exploring the effects of social media features on the publics’ responses to decreased usage CSR messages
Authors: Kim Hyejin , Xu Hao
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the way the message source and presence of positive social cues influence the evaluations (attitude toward the corporate social responsibility (CSR) message and company, and word-of-mouth intention to support the campaign) of the decreased use CSR messages on Facebook.

Design/methodology/approach

In the context of Facebook, this study adopted 2 (message source: a CSR message in a sponsored ad format vs a CSR message posted by another Facebook user) × 2 (social cue: highly salient, positive social cues vs no social cues) factorial experimental design.

Findings

The main effects of message source types and presence of positive social cues on decreased usage CSR campaigns proved to be effective in generating better consumer responses to the company and campaign.

Research limitations/implications

The findings are expected to advance the CSR literature by offering a detailed understanding of CSR campaigns that discourage consumption of the company’s own product to support a social cause. It is suggested to test the effects with other CSR examples to increase the ability to generalize the results further.

Practical implications

The results suggest campaign strategies on social media for public relations practitioners and corporate managers who work for companies conducting social responsibility campaigns that discourage consumption of their own products.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the CSR literature by examining the concept of CSR campaigns that advocate decreased usage, which has received scant scholarly attention to date.
The impact of teaching specialized terminology on translation performance
Authors: Vasheghani Farahani Mehrdad , Amiri Zeinab
Published: May 2019

Purpose

In an effort to bridge the gap between applying translation corpora, specialized terminology teaching and translation performance of undergraduate students, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the possible impacts of teaching specialized terminology of law as a specific area of inquiry on translation performance of Iranian undergraduate translation student (English–Persian language pairs). The null hypothesis of this study is that using specialized terminology does not have statistically significant impacts on the translation performance of the translation students.

Design/methodology/approach

The design of this research was experimental in that there was pretest, treatment, posttest and random sampling. In other words, this research was pre-experimental one-group pretest-posttest design. This design was used in this research as the number of subjects who participated in the research was limited. Apart from being experimental, this research enjoyed a corpus-based perspective. As Mcenery and Hardie (2012) claim, corpus-based research uses the “corpus data in order to explore a theory or hypothesis, typically one established in the current literature, in order to validate it, refute it or refine it” (p. 6). Table I shows the design of this research.

Findings

The results of this research indicated that on the whole, the posttest results had statistically significant differences with that of the pretest. In this regard, the quality of students’ translation enhanced after using the specialized terminology in the form of three types of corpora. Indeed, there was a general trend in the improved quality of the novice translators in translating specialized and subject-field terminologies in an English–Persian context.

Originality/value

This paper is original in that it probes into one of the less researched areas of Translation Studies Research and employs corpora methodology.
Normalizing mistreatment? Investigating Dark Triad, LMX, and abuse
Authors: Lyons Brian D. , Moorman Robert H. , Mercado Brittany K.
Published: May 2019

Purpose

Given that many subordinates work for leaders who mistreat them, the purpose of this paper is to examine whether leader–member exchange (LMX) influences the relationship between leaders’ dark triad (DT) traits and follower perceptions of abusive supervision. Drawing on theories of idiosyncratic and deviance credits, the authors posit that high LMX weakens the positive relationship between leaders’ DT traits and the perception of abusive supervision.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 326 full-time employees. A moderated regression was performed to determine whether high LMX weakened the relationships between each DT trait (Machiavellianism, narcissism and psychopathy) and the perception of abusive supervision.

Findings

Results suggested that high LMX indeed weakened the positive relationships between two leader DT traits – narcissism and psychopathy – and the occurrence of abusive supervision. Hence, employees who perceived their LMX relationship to be high were less likely to report the occurrence of abusive supervision when their leader was also perceived to be high in narcissism or psychopathy. Apost hocanalysis suggested different results for mixed-sex dyads.

Practical implications

The present study suggests a potential strategy for reducing the detrimental effects of a DT leader, namely, forming a high-quality relationship between leader and follower.

Originality/value

This study addresses the call for more research into the boundary conditions under which leader characteristics may affect followers. Drawing on past research that treats LMX as a boundary condition, the authors frame LMX as an important buffer between DT leader characteristics and the perception of abusive supervision. Results suggest a potential exchange of deviance credits in cases where LMX is high rather than low.
Melamine-urea-formaldehyde resins with low formaldehyde emission and resistance to boiling water
Authors: Wang Bo , Zhang Yanhua , Tan Haiyan , Gu Jiyou
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The purpose of the study was to prepare melamine-urea-formaldehyde (MUF) resin that would be resistant to boiling water and high temperature and exhibit low formaldehyde emission.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors prepared MUF resin with different F/(M + U) and changed the amount of melamine added, through the analysis of MUF resin properties to get the best reaction parameters, and used different amino acid cure systems including NH4Cl cured the resin.

Findings

Resin’s heat resistance and water resistance are mainly determined by the amount of melamine added, and formaldehyde emission of the plywood can be changed by adjusting F/(M + U). The peak temperature of the curing agent-cured resin increases as compared with the self-curing resin. Stronger the acidity of curing agent, faster the viscosity increased in probation period and lower the bonding strength and heat resistance of the resin.

Research limitations/implications

Melamine improves the heat resistance and water resistance of the resin. When the amount of melamine is more than a certain value, water resistance of the resin decreased.

Practical implications

MUF resin that is resistant to boiling water and exhibits low formaldehyde emission can be used in high temperature, high humidity and strict formaldehyde emission environment and can also be combined with other materials.

Social implications

It was helpful to reduce the effect of formaldehyde emission on people’s health and environmental pollution and is also beneficial for the expansion of the application range of aldehyde resin.

Originality/value

The originality is twofold: the influence of the acid strength of curing agent on the bonding strength of the resin adhesive and the method for preparing high performance MUF resin by following the traditional process.