bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impaired B-Cell Maturation Contributes to Reduced B Cell Numbers and Poor Prognosis in Sepsis
Authors: Duan Shaoxia , Jiao Yingfu , Wang Jiemin , Tang Dan , Xu Saihong , Wang Ruoxi , Jiang Tao , Shao Jianlin , He Zhenzhou , Yu Weifeng 
Published: November 2019

ABSTRACT

Background:
Reduced B cell numbers play a critical role in sepsis immunosuppression. The role of B-cell maturation regulated by T follicular helper (Tfh) cells in reduced B cell numbers during sepsis remains unclear. We tested the hypothesis that impaired B-cell maturation contributes to reduced B cell numbers.

Design:
Retrospective study and observational prospective cohort study.

Settings:
Critical care units.

Methods:
To identify the exact lymphocyte counts that affect the prognosis of sepsis, we first conducted a retrospective study. Then in the prospective cohort study, differences in B-cell maturation, B cell death, and numbers of circulating Tfh (cTfh) cell were compared between 28-day survivors and 28-day non-survivors, mainly by flow cytometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Main Results:
In retrospective study (n = 123), we found patients with lymphocyte counts less than 0.4 × 109 cells/L had higher mortality than patients with lymphocyte counts above 0.4 × 109 cells/L. In observational prospective cohort study (n = 40), compared with survivors, non-survivors had fewer numbers of mature B cell and circulating Tfh (cTfh) cell (sepsis onset: memory B cells: 3.44% vs. 4.48%, antibody-secreting cells: 4.53% vs. 6.30%, cTfh cells: 3.57% vs. 4.49%; 24 h after sepsis onset: memory B cells: 4.05% vs. 7.20%, antibody-secreting cells: 5.25% vs. 8.78%, cTfh cells: 3.98% vs. 6.15%), while there were no differences in cell death of mature B cells between them. We further noticed the numbers of cTfh cell positively correlated with the numbers of mature B cell and immunoglobulin concentrations.

Conclusions:
Impaired B-cell maturation contributes to reduced B cell numbers, while the numbers of cTfh cell, acting as a warning indicator for sepsis prognosis, may be a new therapeutic target for treating sepsis.
Neutrophil Elastase Inhibition Ameliorates Endotoxin-induced Myocardial Injury Accompanying Degradation of Cardiac Capillary Glycocalyx
Authors: Fukuta Tetsuya , Okada Hideshi , Takemura Genzou , Suzuki Kodai , Takada Chihiro , Tomita Hiroyuki , Suzuki Akio , Oda Kazumasa , Uchida Akihiro , Matsuo Saori , Fukuda Hirotsugu , Yano Hirohisa , Muraki Isamu , Zaikokuji Ryogen , Kuroda Ayumi , Nishio Ayane , Sampei So , Miyazaki Nagisa , Hotta Yasuaki , Yamada Noriaki , Watanabe Takatomo , Morishita Kentaro , Doi Tomoaki , Yoshida Takahiro , Ushikoshi Hiroaki , Yoshida Shozo , Maekawa Yoichi , Ogura Shinji 
Published: November 2019

ABSTRACT
Myocardial injury in sepsis may be caused by a burst of several inflammatory mediators, leading to vascular endothelial injuries. However, the contribution of neutrophil elastase (NE) to myocardial injury in sepsis is still unknown. We aimed to evaluate whether endotoxemia-induced myocardial injury is associated with NE. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was injected intraperitoneally at a dose of 20 mg/kg into granulocyte-colony-stimulating-factor knockout mice (G-CSF-KO), which have few neutrophils, and littermate control mice. The survival rate of G-CSF-KO mice 48 hours after LPS injection was significantly greater than that of control mice. The serum level of troponin I in G-CSF-KO mice was significantly lower than that in control mice. In addition, the concentration of inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) was significantly decreased 6 and 12 hours after LPS administration compared with that in control mice. Ultrastructural analysis revealed that vascular endothelial structures and the endothelial glycocalyx in G-CSF-KO mice were clearly preserved. Next, mice were injected with 0.2 mg/kg sivelestat (an NE inhibitor) after LPS administration. The survival rate was significantly higher and the serum level of troponin I was lower in sivelestat-injected mice than in control mice, respectively. Furthermore, IL-6 levels were significantly decreased 6 and 12 hours after LPS administration compared with those in control mice. Vascular endothelial structures and the endothelial glycocalyx in sivelestat-treated mice were clearly preserved at the ultrastructural level. In conclusion, NE is significantly associated with myocardial injury in endotoxemia. Inhibition of NE may be a useful tool for the management of endotoxemia.
Mitochondrial Dysfunction is Associated With an Immune Paralysis Phenotype in Pediatric Sepsis
Authors: Weiss Scott L. , Zhang Donglan , Bush Jenny , Graham Kathryn , Starr Jonathan , Murray Jennifer , Tuluc Florin , Henrickson Sarah , Deutschman Clifford S. , Becker Lance , McGowan Francis X. , Wallace Douglas C. 
Published: November 2019

ABSTRACT

Objective:
Immune dysregulation is a defining feature of sepsis, but the role for mitochondria in the development of immunoparalysis in pediatric sepsis is not known. We sought to determine if mitochondrial dysfunction measured in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) is associated with immunoparalysis and systemic inflammation in children with sepsis.

Design:
Prospective observational study.

Setting:
Single-academic pediatric intensive care unit (PICU).

Patients:
One hundred sixty-one children with sepsis/septic shock and 18 noninfected PICU controls.

Measurements and Main Results:
Mitochondrial respiration in PBMCs, markers of immune function, and plasma cytokines were measured on days 1 to 2 (T1), 3 to 5 (T2), and 8 to 14 (T3) after sepsis recognition, and once for controls. Immunoparalysis was defined as whole-blood ex vivo lipopolysaccharide-induced tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) ≤200 pg/mL or monocyte human leukocyte antigen-DR ≤30%. Mitochondrial respiration was lower in children with versus without immunoparalysis measured at the same timepoint. Mitochondrial respiration measured early (at T1 and T2) was also lower in those with immunoparalysis at T2 and T3, respectively. Although most patients with immunoparalysis exhibited low mitochondrial respiration, this metabolic finding was not specific to the immunoparalysis phenotype. Plasma cytokines, including IL-8, IL-10, TNF-α, and MCP-1, were highest in the subset of sepsis patients with immune paralysis or low mitochondrial respiration at T1.

Conclusions:
Children with sepsis had lower PBMC mitochondrial respiration when immunoparalysis was present compared with those without immunoparalysis. The subsets with immune paralysis and low mitochondrial respiration exhibited the highest levels of systemic inflammation.
Activation of HMGB1–TLR4 Pathway and Inflammasome Contribute to Enhanced Inflammatory Response in Extended Criteria and Kidneys With KDPI ≥85%
Authors: Florim Greiciane M.S. , Caldas Heloisa C. , Gonçalves Naiane N. , Bueno Giovanna O.B.E. , Baptista Maria A.S.F. , Fernandes-Charpiot Ida M.M. , Abbud-Filho Mario 
Published: November 2019

Background.
Metrics for evaluating low-quality kidneys have failed to predict outcomes or reduce the kidney refusal and discard rates. Kidneys from extended-criteria donors (ECDs) and kidneys with ≥85% kidney donor profile indexes (KDPIs) might have different sensitivities to the proinflammatory milieu generated by brain death. We aimed to identify gene expression profile differences in innate immunity pathways between low-quality and ideal kidneys.

Methods.
Preimplantation kidney biopsies from ECD (n = 41) and standard-criteria donor (n = 39) were evaluated for real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction gene expression using the TaqMan Gene Expression Array Plates system for genes Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4), high-mobility group box 1, nuclear factor kappa beta, myeloid differentiation primary response 88, interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (IL)1-β, tumor necrosis factor alpha, caspase-1 (CASP1), intercellular adhesion molecule 1, IL-10, heme oxygenase 1 hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1), monocyte chemotactic protein 1, transforming growth factor beta 1, TIR-domain containing adapter inducing interferon-β (TRIF), TRIF-related adaptor molecule, interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF-3), receptor-interacting protein 1, IFNβ-1, and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain, leucine-rich repeat, and pyrin protein 3 complex. Gene expression was also evaluated in kidneys with KDPI ≥85.

Results.
ECD biopsies showed significantly higher expression of IL-10, TLR4, high-mobility group box 1, IFN-γ, TRIF-related adapter molecule, IRF-3, HIF-1, nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain, leucine-rich repeat, and pyrin protein 3 complex, CASP1, and IL-1β (P < 0.05) compared with standard-criteria donor biopsies. IRF-3, HIF-1, and CASP1 were exclusively upregulated in ECD kidneys. Compared with kidneys with KDPIs <85%, kidneys with KDPIs ≥85% had very similar gene transcripts as those observed in ECD kidneys, except that tumor necrosis factor alpha and monocyte chemotactic protein 1 expression was only elevated in kidneys with KDPIs ≥85%. Significant positive correlations were found between the different genes upregulated and the increase in KDPIs.

Conclusions.
Our results showed that TLR4 and inflammasome pathways are enhanced in low-quality kidneys and suggest that blocking of some targets might improve transplant outcomes and reduce discard rates.
An Integrative Network-based Analysis Reveals Gene Networks, Biological Mechanisms, and Novel Drug Targets in Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Gerring Zachary F , Gamazon Eric R , White Anthony , Derks Eske M 
Published: November 2019

AbstractAlzheimer’s disease is a highly heritable and severe neuropsychiatric condition. Genome-wide association studies have identified multiple genetic risk factors underlying susceptibility to Alzheimer’s disease, however their functional impact remains poorly understood. To overcome this shortcoming, we integrated genome-wide association summary statistics (71,880 cases, 338,378 controls) with tissue-specific gene co-expression networks derived from GTEx to identify functional gene co-expression networks underlying the disease. We found genetic variants associated with Alzheimer’s disease are enriched in gene co-expression networks involved in immune response-related biological processes. The implicated gene co-expression networks are preserved across multiple brain and peripheral tissues, highlighting the potential utility of peripheral tissues in genetic studies of Alzheimer’s disease. We also performed a computational drug repositioning analysis by integrating gene expression changes within Alzheimer’s disease modules with drug-gene signatures from the Connectivity Map, and show disease implicated networks retrieve known Alzheimer’s disease drugs and novel drug repurposing candidates for follow-up functional studies. Our results improve the biological interpretation of recent genetic data for Alzheimer’s disease and provide a list of potential anti-dementia drug repositioning candidates of which the efficacy should be investigated in functional validation studies.
Structure of the Fanconi Anemia Core–UBE2T complex poised to ubiquitinate bound FANCI–FANCD2
Authors: Wang Shengliu , Wang Renjing , Peralta Christopher , Yaseen Ayat , Pavletich Nikola P. 
Published: November 2019

ABSTRACTThe Fanconi Anemia (FA) pathway is essential for the repair of DNA interstrand crosslinks (ICLs). The pathway is activated when a replication fork stalls because of an ICL or other replication stress. A central event in pathway activation is the mono-ubiquitination of the FANCI-FANCD2 (ID) complex by the FA Core complex, a ubiquitin ligase of nine subunits. Here we describe the cryo-EM structures of the 1.1 MDa FA Core at 3.1 angstroms, except for the FANCA subunit at 3.4, and of the complex containing Core, ID and the UBE2T ubiquitin conjugating enzyme at 4.2 angstroms. The Core has unusual stoichiometry with two copies of FANCB, FAAP100, FANCA, FAAP20, FANCG, FANCL, but only a single copy of FANCC, FANCE and FANCF. This is due to homodimers of FANCA and FANCB having incompatible 2-fold symmetry, resulting in an overall asymmetric assembly of the other subunits. The asymmetry is crucial, as it prevents the binding of a second FANC-C-E-F sub-complex that inhibits UBE2T recruitment by FANCL, and instead creates an ID binding site. The single active FANCL-UBE2T binds next to the FANCD2 ubiquitination site, prying open the FANCI-FANCD2 interface within which the ubiquitination sites are buried. These structures and biochemical data indicate a single active site ubiquitinates FANCD2 and FANCI sequentially, shedding light on a central event in the FA pathway.
Understanding consumers’ intentions to purchase green products in the social media marketing context
Authors: Sun Ying , Wang Shanyong 
Published: November 2019

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to observe consumers’ attitudes toward and intentions to purchase green products on social media and to explore the relationships among social media marketing, perceived consumer effectiveness (PCE), product knowledge, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, price consciousness and attitudes toward and intentions to purchase green products. In addition, this research attempts to further understand these relationships in different consumer groups.

Design/methodology/approach
A questionnaire survey method was used to collect data from consumers in China. The Amos 22.0 software package was used to conduct the data analysis.

Findings
The empirical results suggest that attitude, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control positively affect purchase intentions, while price consciousness negatively affects purchase intentions. Product knowledge positively affects consumers’ attitudes and purchase intentions, and PCE positively affects consumers’ attitudes. As expected, social media marketing positively affects subjective norms, product knowledge and PCE and negatively affects price consciousness. However, there is no significant relationship between PCE and purchase intentions. According to the results of multigroup structural equation modeling analysis, the effects differ significantly among different consumer groups.

Originality/value
This study enriches the research about the factors that influence consumers’ purchases of green products in emerging countries in the social media marketing context.
Corporate governance mechanisms and firm performance: evidence from the emerging market following the revised CG code
Authors: Wang Yan , Abbasi Kaleemullah , Babajide Bola , Yekini Kemi C. 
Published: November 2019

PurposeThis study aims to examine the extent to which board characteristics and ownership structure affect firm performance with specific focus on providing new empirical insights following the revised corporate governance (CG) code 2012.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses a sample of non-financial firms listed on Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX)-100 index for the years 2011-2014. Firm performance is measured by accounting-based performance indicators (ROA and ROE) and market-based performance indicators (Tobin’s Q and MTB). This study uses multivariate regression techniques including fixed effects model and two-stage least squares (2SLS).FindingsThe findings show that board diversity increases over the two periods (pre-2012 and post-2012), whereas there are cases that companies have not fully complied with the revised CG code 2012 in terms of board independence. In addition, the multiple regression results show that firm performance is negatively and significantly associated with institutional ownership. Nevertheless, the results show that board size, board independent, board diversity and board meetings do not have significant impact on firm performance. The findings are fairly consistent and robust across two periods (pre-2012 and post 2012) and a number of econometric models that sufficiently address the potential endogeneity problems.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first empirical study which investigates the impact of the compliance and implementation of 2012 CG code on firm performance in Pakistan. This study is different from the most prior studies in that they use independent non-executive directors rather than conventional non-executive directors to measure board independence.
Is air moisture relevant on radiative heat exchange inside built environments?
Authors: Serra Nuno , Semiao Viriato 
Published: November 2019

Purpose
This paper aims to clarify the necessity of taking into account the commonly neglected radiation in built environments. Ignoring radiation within acclimatized spaces with moist air, which is a participating medium, can yield inaccurate values of the relevant variables, endangering the Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning design accuracy and leading to energy inefficiencies and discomfort.

Design/methodology/approach
The paper uses computational fluid dynamics to predict non-isothermal flows with radiation, for both mixing and displacement ventilation strategies. The tool is applied to a lab-scale model (scale 1:30), and the results are compared with experimental data and predictions without radiation. Furthermore, the radiation influence is also assessed at real-scale level, including a parametric study on the effect of the air relative humidity on radiation.

Findings
The paper demonstrates the unequivocal impact of radiation on the flows thermal-kinematics at real-scale: ignoring radiation yields average air temperature differences of 2ºC. This becomes more evident for larger air optical thicknesses (larger relative humidity): changing it from 20 per cent to 50 per cent and 70 per cent yields maximum relative differences of 100 per cent for the velocity components and 0.4ºC for the air temperature. Nevertheless, the results for the lab-scale case are not so conclusive about the effect of moist air radiation on the thermal flow characteristics, but they evidence its impact on the flow kinematics (maximum relative differences of velocity components of 35 per cent).

Originality/value
The paper fulfills an identified need to clarify the relevant effects of air moisture on radiation and on the flow turbulence and thermal-kinematic characteristics for forced convective flows inside built environments.
On the effects of straight extremities on low-density lipoprotein transport in the concentration boundary layer of curved arteries
Authors: Tamim Hossein , Abbassi Abbas , Fatouraee Nasser 
Published: November 2019

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to analyze the influence of curvature on the transport of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) through a curved artery and concentration boundary layer characteristics numerically.

Design/methodology/approach
By using a projection method based on the second-order central difference discretization, the authors solve the set of governing equations, which consists of Navier–Stokes, continuity and species transport. The effects of initial straight length, as well as the curvature and wall shear stress (WSS) on LDL transport in a curved artery are established in this paper.

Findings
The obtained numerical results imply that the LDL concentration boundary layer thickness decreases in the outer part of the curved artery and increases in the inner part for both with or without initial straight length. The effect of Reynolds number on the concentration distribution in a curved artery with initial straight length is more pronounced than that on a fully curved artery, although an opposite trend was seen for the curvature ratio. The maximum surface LDL concentration is related to the regions with minimum WSS in the inner part of the curved artery, which has more potential the formation of atherosclerosis.

Originality/value
The authors present a comprehensive concentration distribution of LDL in the concentration boundary layer of the curved artery. The authors also characterize and predict the influence of curvature on the formation and development of atherosclerosis within the arterial wall.
Understanding the preferences of males at different ages for plaid shirts
Authors: Zhou Xiaoxi , Xu Hang 
Published: November 2019

Purpose
Except the physiological comfort, the design aesthetic of plaid shirts is the decisive factor affecting the purchase decision making of consumers. However, as there is subjectivity and indeterminacy in evaluation of the aesthetic, current research in the literature has little information about the appearance design of checks. The purpose of this paper is to extract the check design features, which influence consumer evaluation, and determine the preferences of men of different ages for the check designs, and the preference differences between them.

Design/methodology/approach
Through cluster and preference experiments, the perception and evaluation of the subjects were gained. By cluster analysis, typical classifications of check designs were fixed. With Multidimensional Scaling (MDS) algorithm, users’ perceptual space was revealed as to the plaid samples. In the PREFMAP analysis, results of the ideal vectors of men of different ages were drawn.

Findings
The study results revealed four typical classifications of check designs, identified three design dimensions that had effects on users’ evaluation, and built the relationship between design features of checks and consumer evaluation. Besides, in the study, the differences in preference for check designs between men of different ages were also explored. It was found that young men liked modern check designs, but disliked “small and complex” check patterns. Middle aged men preferred dark and cool colors, with dislike for “youthful vigor style.” While they cared more about check colors, young men attached more importance to the design style.

Originality/value
Currently, there is little information in the literature about the evaluation of pattern design. In this study, the use of MDS and PREFMAP analysis reveals visualized complex statistical results. The visualization approach is also applicable to design and positioning of other apparel, and can help designers better understand and position design styles and effects, given their consumer groups and design samples.
Social media brand engagement practices
Authors: Osei-Frimpong Kofi , McLean Graeme , Famiyeh Samuel 
Published: November 2019

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to deepen the understanding on social media brand engagement (SMBE) practices by exploring the impact of consumer brand knowledge, perceived social pressure, perceived social relatedness (PSR) and the role of brand trust.

Design/methodology/approach
A model is proposed to suggest the influence of consumer-level antecedents and moderators of SMBE. Following a survey design approach, data collected from 687 respondents on Facebook are examined through structural equation modelling using AMOS 23.0.

Findings
The findings reveal significant relationship between the examined antecedents (brand knowledge, perceived social pressure and brand trust) and SMBE. Examination of the moderation role of PSR revealed significant interaction effects on the relationship between brand knowledge and SMBE, as well as perceived social pressure and SMBE. The findings also suggest a lack of interaction effect of PSR on the relationship between brand trust and SMBE.

Research limitations/implications
This research provides empirical evidence in support of understanding SMBE practices by testing theoretically grounded hypotheses. The study focussed on technologically savvy respondents and only Facebook users in Ghana, which could limit the generalisation of the findings reported.

Practical implications
This study illustrates a need for managers to integrate multi-communication channels to enhance brand interactions and engagements. Firms must also adopt strategies that would enhance the sharing of interesting information about their brands on their social media platforms to attract others through customer networks.

Originality/value
The conceptualization of SMBE in this study zooms out our understanding of online SMBE by examining pertinent variables that drive or moderate consumer participation in SMBE activities. The integration of these variables brings out new empirical understanding and extends our knowledge on SMBE.