System Analysis of the Sequencing Quality of Human Whole Exome Samples on Bgi Ngs Platform

Human whole exome sequencing (WES) is now the standard for most medical genetics applications worldwide. The leaders are manufacturers of enrichment kits that base their protocols on a hybridization approach using cRNA or cDNA biotinylated samples specific to regions of interest in the genome. Recently, platforms from the Chinese company MGI Tech have been successfully promoted in the markets of many countries in Europe and Asia. There is no longer any question about their reliability and the quality of the data obtained. However, very few task-specific kits for WES, in particular, are presented for these sequencers. We have developed our solution for library pre-capture pooling and exome enrichment using Agilent probes. In this work, we demonstrate on a set of standard benchmark samples from the Platinum Genome Collection that our protocol, called “RSMU_exome”, is superior to the kit from MGI Tech in qualitative and quantitative terms. It allows detecting more SNVs and CNVs with superior sensitivity and specificity values, generates fewer PCR duplicates, allows more samples to be pooled in a single enrichment, and requires less raw data to produce results comparable to the MGI Tech solution. Also, our protocol is significantly cheaper than the kit from the Chinese manufacturer.

Chinese auto firms’ presence in ASEAN will grow slowly

Subject ASEAN automobile sector update. Significance Geely Automobile is expected to use ASEAN as a springboard into global markets having formally completed the deal on June 23 to acquire a 49.9% minority stake in Malaysia’s ailing Proton car brand from DRB-Hicom, the Malaysian conglomerate that retains the remaining 51%. The Chinese manufacturer said in early June that Proton plants would produce 500,000 vehicles by 2020, up from 72,000 in 2016. Impacts Chinese technology transfers will add value to ASEAN’s auto industry, which needs to move beyond basic assembly. Malaysia will stay an important producer, but will play a secondary role to regional hubs Thailand and Indonesia. China automakers will need to invest in marketing to make their brands better known in South-east Asia.

Determinants and consequences of price-leadership strategy: Evidence from Chinese manufacturer exporters

This research investigates the antecedents of the price-leadership strategy (PLS), and its impacts on export performance with the moderating role of export target markets. Drawing from the contingency theory and strategy management framework, the authors adopt structural equation modeling (SEM) to analyze the survey data collected from 155 Chinese manufacturer exporters. The empirical results suggest that the PLS negatively affects export performance. Firms are more likely to adopt the PLS when competitive intensity and technological intensity are high but less likely to adopt the PLS when product popularity is high. The negative impact of the PLS on export performance is stronger when firms export to other emerging (vs. developed) markets. With the unique perspective from emerging markets, the authors theoretically discuss and empirically examine the antecedents-PLS-performance link. This research suggests that emerging-market firms rationally adopt the PLS and actively cultivate technology and innovation capability, product popularity and international marketing competence on export businesses.

Creating a Chinese “Miele”?

This paper analyzes the country-of-origin effects of Chinese brands going international. To approach this topic, the author uses a comparative case study, in which a Chinese manufacturer of white goods, Haier, and a German manufacturer, Miele, serve as examples. Fueled by “China trash” reports in EU and US media, the image of China as country of origin still has a negative connotation. The Chinese government and Chinese companies are working to change this image, since they both regard branding as important means for corporate internationalization. This paper argues that Chinese brands could achieve a similar development as did Japanese and Korean brands in the second half of the last century.

Creating a Chinese “Miele”? Asymmetries in the Consumer Perception of Chinese and German Brands

This paper analyzes the country-of-origin effects of Chinese brands going international. To approach this topic, the author uses a comparative case study, in which a Chinese manufacturer of white goods, Haier, and a German manufacturer, Miele, serve as examples. Fueled by “China trash” reports in EU and US media, the image of China as country of origin still has a negative connotation. The Chinese government and Chinese companies are working to change this image, since they both regard branding as important means for corporate internationalization. This paper argues that Chinese brands could achieve a similar development as did Japanese and Korean brands in the second half of the last century.