bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pyroptotic MAITs link microbial translocation with severity of alcohol-associated liver disease
Authors: Zhang Li-Ping , Wang Hui-Fang , Zhai Xing-Ran , Zhou Chun-Bao , Yuan Jin-Hong , Ma Ye-Nv , Yao Zeng-Tao , Huang Shuo , Li Wei-Zhe , Jiao Yan-Mei , Wang Fu-Sheng , Zou Zheng-Sheng , Zhang Ji-Yuan , Zeng Qing-Lei 
Published: May 2023

Background:
Mucosal-associated invariant T cells (MAITs) are markedly reduced in patients with alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD); however, the potential mechanism underlying MAITs’ loss remains elusive. Hence, we aimed to explore what induced MAITs’ loss and its clinical significance.

Methods:
The characteristics of pyroptotic MAITs were evaluated in a cohort of patients with ALD, including 41 patients with alcohol-associated liver cirrhosis (ALC) and 21 patients with ALC complicated with severe alcoholic hepatitis (ALC + SAH).

Results:
In patients with ALD, blood MAITs were significantly decreased, hyperactivated, and displayed enhanced cell death through pyroptosis. The frequencies of pyroptotic MAITs increased with disease severity in patients with ALC and patients with ALC + SAH. These frequencies were negatively associated with the frequencies of MAITs and positively correlated with the levels of MAITs’ activation, plasma levels of intestinal fatty acid-binding protein (a marker of intestinal enterocyte damage), soluble CD14, lipopolysaccharide-binding protein, and peptidoglycan recognition proteins (surrogate markers of microbial translocation). Pyroptotic MAITs were also found in the liver of patients with ALD. Interestingly, MAITs underwent further activation and pyroptosis in vitro under stimulation by Escherichia coli or direct bilirubin. Notably, blocking IL-18 signaling reduced the activation and frequencies of pyroptotic MAITs.

Conclusions:
The loss of MAITs in patients with ALD is, at least in part, due to cell death from pyroptosis and is associated with the severity of ALD. Such increased pyroptosis may be affected by dysregulated inflammatory responses to intestinal microbial translocation or direct bilirubin.
Recurrent Tuberculosis Treatment Episodes in Children Presenting With Presumptive Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Cape Town, South Africa
Authors: Mckenzie Carla , Schaaf H. Simon , Croucamp Rolanda , Palmer Megan , Bosch Corné , Goussard Pierre , Rabie Helena , Whitelaw Andrew , Hesseling Anneke C. , van Niekerk Margaret , van der Zalm Marieke M. , Ghimenton-Walters Elisabetta 
Published: May 2023

Background:
Limited data are available on tuberculosis (TB) recurrence in children. The aim of this study was to explore the burden of and risk factors for recurrent TB treatment in children.

Methods:
A prospective, observational cohort study of children (0–13 years) presenting with presumptive pulmonary TB in Cape Town, South Africa from March 2012 to March 2017. Recurrent TB was defined as more than 1 episode of TB treatment (microbiologically confirmed and unconfirmed).

Results:
Of 620 children enrolled with presumptive pulmonary TB, data of 608 children were reviewed for TB recurrence after exclusions. The median age was 16.7 [interquartile range (IQR) 9.5–33.3] months, 324 (53.3%) were male and 72 (11.8%) children living with HIV (CLHIV). TB was diagnosed in 297 of 608 (48.8%), of whom 26 had previously received TB treatment, giving a prevalence of 8.8% recurrence: 22 (84.6%) had 1 and 4 (15.4%) had 2 prior TB treatment episodes. The median age of children with recurrent TB was 47.5 (IQR: 20.8–82.5) months at the current episode: 19 of 26 (73.1%) were CLHIV, of whom 12 of 19 (63.2%) were on antiretroviral therapy for a median 43.1 months and all 12 for longer than 6 months. None of the 9 children on antiretroviral treatment with available viral load (VL) data were virally suppressed (median VL, 22,983 copies/ml). Three of 26 (11.6%) children had documented microbiologically confirmed TB at 2 episodes. Four children (15.4%) received drug-resistant TB treatment at recurrence.

Conclusions:
There was a high rate of recurrent treatment for TB in this cohort of young children, with CLHIV at the highest risk.
Improvement or Worsening of Disease Activity After Switch to Sarilumab in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis With a Partial Response to Adalimumab
Authors: Curtis Jeffrey R. , Aletaha Daniel , Burmester Gerd , Ford Kerri , van Hoogstraten Hubert , Praestgaard Amy , Bykerk Vivian P. ,   on Behalf of the MONARCH Investigators
Published: May 2023

Objective
The aim of this study was to assess the effect of switching from adalimumab to sarilumab monotherapy in partial responders with rheumatoid arthritis from the MONARCH randomized trial and its open-label extension (OLE).

Methods
Partial response was defined as improvement in Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) of 12 or 6 units (baseline score: >22 or >10 and ≤22, respectively). Proportions of adalimumab partial responders with meaningful worsening or improvement at OLE weeks 12 and 24 were evaluated using 2 CDAI thresholds (≥6 and ≥12 points), 28-joint Disease Activity Score using erythrocyte sedimentation rate (≥0.6 and ≥1.2 points), Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (≥0.22 and ≥0.30 points), Simple Disease Activity Index (≥7 and ≥13 points), physician and patient global assessments (≥10 and ≥20), and 28-joint swollen and tender joint counts (≥1 and ≥2 joints). Outcomes were analyzed using mixed-effect models with repeated measures for observed cases. The p values were produced using Wilcoxon tests.

Results
Of 369 enrolled patients, 320 (87%) entered the OLE and 155 switched from adalimumab to sarilumab; 59% (91/155) were partial responders. At week 24, 4%–17% and 2%–12% of partial responders experienced a worsening using the lower and higher thresholds, respectively, whereas 47%–78% and 27%–66% experienced improvement.

Conclusions
Partial responders to adalimumab who switched to sarilumab had a low likelihood of experiencing meaningful worsening, with most patients showing meaningful improvement or no change in disease activity. This may help alleviate patients' fears of worsening when considering switching to a treatment with a different mechanism of action.
Longevity-associated SMAD3 non-coding centenarian variant impairs a cell-type specific enhancer to reduce inflammation
Authors: Yang Jiping , Tare Archana , Zhang Lei , Kim Seungsoo , Ryu Seungjin , Guo Qinghua , Zhu Yizhou , Wang Xizhe , Wang Xifan , Hudgins Adam , Guan Di , Jin Chen , Chang Hyun-Kyung , Atzmon Gil , Milman Sofiya , Barzilai Nir , Vijg Jan , Niedernhofer Laura , Robbins Paul D. , Suh Yousin 
Published: May 2023

AbstractGiven the pro and anti-geronic roles of the TGF-β superfamily in aging, we hypothesized that human longevity involves genetic variation in TGF-β signaling genes. Here we utilized a candidate functional genomic approach to identify and characterize functional variants in TGF- β signaling associated with human longevity. Targeted sequencing of 113 genes involved in aging- associated TGF- β signaling in an Ashkenazi Jewish centenarian cohort identified genetic variants robustly associated with human longevity. In particular, a centenarian-enriched intronic variant residing in a cell-type specific enhancer in SMAD3, a critical receptor-regulated TGF- β signal transducer, was identified. This non-coding SMAD3 variant (rs8040709) altered binding of ELK1, a member of the ETS family of transcription factor important for enhancer activity in certain cell types, resulting in reduced SMAD3 expression. Analysis of the variant in cell types derived from gene edited iPSCs demonstrated the variant reduced SMAD3 expression, senescence and inflammation in endothelial cells. In addition, heterozygosity in SMAD3 improved healthspan and reduced senescence in theErcc1-/Δprogeroid mouse model of accelerated aging. Taken together, these experiments demonstrate that variants in a cell type specific enhancer of SMAD3 resulted in reduced expression, senescence and inflammation and contributes to human longevity. Thus, SMAD3 represents a validated targeted for drug development for extending human healthspan.
Cognitive change over one year among older adults with HIV and a low nadir CD4 cell count
Authors: Brouillette Marie-Josée , Forcellino Laurence , Goulet-Stock Sybil , Fellows Lesley K , Koski Lisa , Klein Marina B. , Mayo Nancy E. 
Published: May 2023

AbstractBackgroundEvidence regarding the risk of cognitive decline conferred by a low nadir CD4 cell count and increasing age in people living with HIV is mixed. The objective of this study was to assess the change in cognition over one year among older adults with well-controlled HIV infection and a history of low nadir CD4 cell count compared with the change in a matched non-HIV sample.MethodsWe recruited 50 HIV+ aviremic individuals 40 years or older, on stable antiretroviral treatment and with a nadir CD4 < 200 cells/μL, and seventeen matched HIV-negative individuals. Neuropsychological testing was performed twice, one year apart; an NPZ was computed by averaging all z-scores and five existing algorithms for a diagnosis of HAND were applied. Change was defined as making a reliable change on the NPZ or a change in HAND category (impaired vs not).ResultsChange in NPZ over one year was more often in the direction of an improvement, and not different between HIV+ and HIV-individuals. Among the HIV+, the proportion meeting criteria for HAND at baseline ranged from 34-80% depending on the classification algorithm. A reliable change in NPZ was demonstrated in a single HIV+ participant. In contrast, a transition between HAND category at one year was common.ConclusionAmong aviremic HIV+ older adults with a history of low nadir CD4 cell count, change in NPZ over 1 year was comparable to that seen among demographically matched HIV-individuals and did not represent a reliable change while transition across HAND category was common. Rates of HAND were very dependent on the classification algorithm applied. These findings provide some explanation for the inconsistent findings from existing studies and highlight the importance of exercising caution when pooling results in the field of neuroHIV.
Maximum Likelihood Estimators For Colony Forming Units
Authors: Martini K. Michael , Boddu Satya Spandana , Nemenman Ilya , Vega Nic 
Published: May 2023

AbstractThere is a recognized need to measure the abundance of microbes in hospital environments, in the sanitation industry, and in food preparation. Doctors, microbiologists, and food safety experts have been addressing this need by using serial dilution methods to grow bacterial colonies in small enough numbers to count and, from these counts, to infer bacterial concentrations measured in Colony Forming Units (CFUs). There are two primary types of such methods: plating bacteria on a growth medium and counting their resulting colonies or counting the number of tubes at a given dilution that have growth. Traditionally, these types of data have been analyzed separately using different analytic methods. Here we build a direct correspondence between these approaches, which allows one to extend the use of the Most Probable Number (MPN) method from the liquid tubes experiments, for which it was developed, to the growth plates. We also discuss how to combine measurements taken at different dilutions, and we review several ways of analyzing colony counts, including the Poison and truncated Poison methods. For all methods, we discuss their relevant error bounds, assumptions, strengths, and weaknesses. We provide an online calculator for these estimators.
Lactylation-driven FTO-mediated m6A modification of CDK2 aggravates diabetic microvascular anomalies
Authors: Chen Xue , Sun Ru-Xu , Wang Jia-Nan , Zhang Ye-Ran , Qin Bing , Zhang Yi-Chen , Dai Yuan-Xin , Zhu Hong-Jing , Wang Ying , Zhao Jin-Xiang , Zhang Wei-Wei , Ji Jiang-Dong , Yuan Song-Tao , Shen Qun-Dong , Liu Qing-Huai 
Published: May 2023

AbstractDiabetic retinopathy (DR) is a leading cause of irreversible vision loss in working-age populations. FTO is an N6-methyladenosine (m6A) demethylase that participates in various biological events, while its role in DR remains elusive. Herein, we detected elevated FTO expression in retinal proliferative membranes of DR patients. FTO promoted endothelial cell (EC) cell cycle progression and tip cell formation to facilitate angiogenesisin vitro, in mice and in zebrafish. FTO also regulated EC-pericyte crosstalk to trigger diabetic microvascular leakage, and mediated EC-microglia interactions to induce retinal inflammation and neurodegenerationin vivoandin vitro. Mechanistically, FTO affected EC features via modulatingCDK2mRNA stability in an m6A-YTHDF2-dependent manner. FTO up-regulation under diabetic conditions was driven by lactate mediated histone lactylation. FB23-2, an inhibitor to FTO’s m6A demethylase activity, suppressed angiogenic phenotypesin vivoandin vitro. Noteworthy, we developed a nanoplatform encapsulating FB23-2 for systemic administration, and confirmed its targeting and therapeutic efficiencies in mice. Collectively, our study demonstrated that FTO coordinates EC biology and retinal homeostasis in DR, providing a promising nanotherapeutic approach for DR.
Consumers’ innovativeness and acceptance towards use of financial technology in Pakistan: extension of the UTAUT model
Authors: Shaikh Imran Mehboob , Amin Hanudin 
Published: May 2023

Purpose
This paper aims to examine the factors that influence bank customers’ acceptance towards FinTech using the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) model.

Design/methodology/approach
A survey was carried out, and a judgemental sampling method was used. Moreover, over 200 responses were gathered from individuals that were bank account holders. Besides, the literature on the factors that influence an individual acceptance towards FinTech using the UTAUT model was also reviewed as an effort to contribute towards the factors that are significant in predicting the acceptance of FinTech services.

Findings
The results of the study revealed that performance expectancy and effort expectancy are the main factors in determining the acceptance of FinTech services. Moreover, consumer innovativeness plays an important role in the acceptance of FinTech by bank users. In contrast, social influence and facilitating conditions were not the determinants of FinTech acceptance in Pakistan.

Research limitations/implications
This study not only contributed to the theoretical extensions but also to practical implications, which would benefit the community of FinTech service providers in Pakistan.

Practical implications
The limitations of this study were two but are not limited to, firstly, the respondents which were taken among bank customers in Pakistan, confining its contribution to the narrowed perspective of Pakistan. Besides, this study also considers its contributions towards the use of the UTAUT in which the factors examined were specific, which may elucidate that the generalization of the findings only includes FinTech, where the UTAUT comes into play. This study is an eye-opener for the merging perspective of both the UTAUT and FinTech.

Originality/value
UTAUT is extended in the context of FinTech. Consumer innovativeness is incorporated in the context of the UTAUT model. Consumer innovativeness is yet to be tested and for that this study is a useful reference for academicians, policymakers and future researchers.
How to generate loyalty in mobile payment services? An integrative dual SEM-ANN analysis
Authors: Dang Tri-Quan , Tan Garry Wei-Han , Aw Eugene Cheng-Xi , Ooi Keng-Boon , Metri Bhimaraya , Dwivedi Yogesh K. 
Published: May 2023

PurposeThe surging entrance of new mobile payment merchants into the growing market has prompted the need for an in-depth understanding of loyalty formation to retain customers. This study examines customers' loyalty generation process in mobile payment services by exploring the serial effect of cognitive drivers (i.e. brand awareness, perceived quality, brand image, perceived value and layout) on affective response, satisfaction and loyalty.Design/methodology/approachA survey using self-administered questionnaires was conducted. The data was collected from 370 consumers who have experience using mobile payment services in Vietnam. The data were submitted to partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and artificial neural networks (ANN) analysis.FindingsThe results indicated that all the proposed cognitive drivers show significant impacts on affective response, which, in turn, translates into satisfaction and loyalty. The post-hoc analysis revealed enjoyment as the vital affective response in determining satisfaction. Moreover, the multigroup analysis indicated that the relationship between affective response and satisfaction is stronger for the female group. In addition, the ANN's nonlinear result revealed complementary insight into the importance of cognitive drivers.OriginalityThe current study revealed both linear and nonlinear mechanisms that explicate the roles of cognitive drivers and affective responses in fostering loyalty toward mobile payment merchants. The findings add to the existing literature that emphasizes consumers' initial mobile payment adoption.
Objective and subjective evaluations of quilted mattress ticking fabrics for their thermal comfort performances
Authors: Kaplan Sibel , Tokgoz Havva 
Published: May 2023

PurposeSleep quality, a crucial parameter for health and life performance, is affected by mattress components; particularly mechanical and thermal comfort management ability of the upper layers. The aim of this study is to investigate effects of quilted mattress ticking fabric material (polyester, polypropylene, viscose, lyocell and their blends) on thermal comfort of the bedding system by objective and subjective measurements.Design/methodology/approachThe permeability (air and water vapour), heat transfer, water absorption, transfer and drying behaviours of knitted quilted fabrics which influence the thermal comfort of the bedding system were investigated. Subjective coolness and dampness evaluations were gathered by forearm and hand-palm tests to provide more realistic discussion in light of fabric characteristics.FindingsAccording to the results, polypropylene can be suggested for winter use with its higher air and water vapour permeabilities, lower thermal absorption and conductivities and warmer evaluation results. Lyocell can be suggested for summer use with also high permeabilities, higher thermal absorption and conductivities and cooler evaluation results. Polyester and viscose may also be considered for winter and summer in turn as a result of thermal feelings they create.Originality/valueIn addition to fabric thermal, permeability, liquid absorption and transfer properties, this study also includes subjective coolness and dampness evaluations which can provide realistic results regarding the coolness-to-touch and liquid transfer performances of mattress ticking fabrics. The relationships among objective and subjective data were investigated and the proposed subjective evaluation techniques can be used for different products.
Is OCIO superior in asset allocation performance?
Authors: Kang Myungjoo , Song Inwook , Kim Seiwan 
Published: May 2023

This study aims to empirically analyze the asset allocation capabilities of Outsourced Chief Investment Officers (OCIOs) in Korea. The empirical analysis used data from 35 funds that were evaluated by the Ministry of Strategy and Finance from 2012 to 2020. The results of the analysis are summarized as follows. First, this study found that funds that adopted OCIO improved their asset allocation performance. Second, the sensitivity between risk-taking and performance decreased for funds that adopted OCIO. Third, it is found that OCIO adoption improves a fund's asset management execution (tactical capabilities). This study has methodological limitations in which the methodology used in this study is not based on theoretical prior research, but on practical applications. However, considering the need to clearly analyze the capabilities of OCIO and the timeliness of the topic, this study is valuable and can provide meaningful information to funders who are considering adopting OCIO in the future.
Do firms that perform well report differently compared to those that perform badly? Impression management in integrated reporting
Authors: Nandram P.K. , Brouwer A.J. , Langendijk H.P.A.J. 
Published: May 2023

Purpose
This paper aims to investigate whether managers use impression management through the presentation of non-financial information in an integrated reporting setting.

Design/methodology/approach
The authors performed an experiment with experienced professional controllers and part-time students enrolled in the executive master’s degree in finance and control at universities in the Netherlands. In this experiment, we manipulated the financial performance to test if managers present non-financial information differently based on the firm’s financial performance.

Findings
This study found that impression management is not applied by including or excluding non-financial key performance indicators (KPIs) in the integrated report, but by using more prominent presentation forms for positive non-financial performance and non-prominent ones for negative non-financial performance. However, the use of impression management through the presentation form decreased when the firms’ financial performance was positive. In that instance, this study noted that managers statistically significantly more often decided to present poor non-financial performance in a prominent presentation format in comparison to managers who were not aware of the financial performance.

Research limitations/implications
A limitation of this paper is that the authors focused on only two impression management strategies: opportunistic/under-reporting and the presentation form. This analysis shows that the use of impression management mainly seems to occur through the presentation format. Future research could investigate other impression management strategies in an integrated reporting setting.

Practical implications
The results of this study are of importance for users of integrated reports, because it will provide more insight into whether firms are truly transparent in their integrated reports. Furthermore, the theoretical implication of this study is relevant to regulatory authorities, because it sheds light on the different forms of impression management used in integrated reporting and the influence of positively or negatively performing KPIs on the decisions of preparers of integrated reports.

Originality/value
Therefore, in this study, the authors add to prior literature by investigating the concept of impression management in an integrated reporting setting. More specifically, the authors perform an experiment and focus on different forms of impression management (the presentation format and under-reporting) through non-financial KPIs in an integrated reporting setting and link it to firm financial performance.