OBJECTIVE— The implication of innate immunity in type 1 diabetes development has long been proposed. High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), an evolutionarily conserved chromosomal protein, was recently recognized to be a potent innate inflammatory mediator when released extracellularly. We sought to test the hypothesis that HMGB1 acts as an innate immune mediator implicated in type 1 diabetes pathogenesis. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS— Eight- and 12-week-old NOD mice were treated with an HMGB1 neutralizing antibody once a week until 25 weeks of age and monitored for insulitis progression and diabetes onset. The underlying mechanisms of HMGB1 regulation of autoimmune response were further explored. RESULTS— During autoimmunity, HMGB1 can be passively released from damaged pancreatic β-cells and actively secreted by islet infiltrated immune cells. Extracellular HMGB1 is potent in inducing NOD dendritic cell maturation and stimulating macrophage activation. Blockade of HMGB1 significantly inhibited insulitis progression and diabetes development in both 8- and 12-week-old NOD mice. HMGB1 antibody treatment decreased the number and maturation of pancreatic lymph node (PLN) CD11c ++ CD11b + dendritic cells, a subset of dendritic cells probably associated with autoantigen presentation to naïve T-cells, but increased the number for PLN CD4 + Foxp3 + regulatory T-cells. Blockade of HMGB1 also decreased splenic dendritic cell allo-stimulatory capability associated with increased tolergenic CD11c + CD8a + dendritic cells. Interestingly, the number of CD8 + interferon-γ + (Tc1) T-cells was increased in the PLNs and spleen after blockade of HMGB1, which could be associated with retarded migration of activated autoreactive T-cells into the pancreatic islets. CONCLUSIONS— Extracellular HMGB1 functions as a potent innate immune mediator contributing to insulitis progression and diabetes onset.

Purpose This paper aims to focus on supply chain quality (SCQ) in the hospitality industry in China, and to stress the importance of the synergy of quality management (QM) and supply chain management (SCM). The authors have investigated the relationship among QM practices, SCM practices, SCQ and hotel performance, and examined the effect of contextual variables. Design/methodology/approach This study mainly uses a questionnaire survey to collect data relating to the research hypotheses. Structural equation model technique is suited for our research purposes, and the LISREL software is implemented to test the conceptual model. Findings The results show that QM practices and SCM practices are significantly correlated. QM practices/SCM practices are positively related to SCQ, and consequently influence hotel performance. SCQ has the mediating effect between QM/SCM practices and hotel performance. Contextual variables truly play a moderator between QM/SCM practices and SCQ. Research limitations/implications Hotel managers should look beyond their own hotels into supply chain to manage quality, highlight the importance of interdepartmental or external (i.e. customers or suppliers) connectedness, such as building close and long-term relationships with well-chosen suppliers, encouraging customer involvement and establishing an effective interface for accumulating information regarding customers’ needs and feedback. Hotel managers are also able to realize the influence of contextual variables (e.g. the new normal state of the Chinese economy), and further to gain chance of hotel’s survival. Originality/value This study focuses on SCQ and tries to fill a gap in the exiting literature on SCQ management in hospitality industry.

The purpose of this study is to determine appropriate innovative strategies for the renewable energy investments. For this purpose, a hybrid multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) model is proposed based on interval type-2 (IT2) fuzzy sets and alpha cut levels. Within this context, hesitant IT2 fuzzy DEMATEL-Based Analytic Network Process (DANP) with alpha cut levels is applied for weighting the customer requirements. Moreover, hesitant IT2 fuzzy technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) with alpha cut levels is used for ranking the TRIZ-based strategies priorities of renewable energy investments based on house of quality technique. These strategies are also ranked with hesitant IT2 fuzzy Vise Kriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje (VIKOR) approach to make a comparative evaluation. The results illustrate that ease of access and security are among the most prominent factors of customer requirements for renewable energy investments. It is also identified that innovative technical requirement entitled cushion in advance has the best choice for the sustainable renewable energy projects. Furthermore, the results of proposed model using hesitant IT2 fuzzy DANP and hesitant IT2 fuzzy TOPSIS are identical for the different levels of alpha cut. In addition, it is also defined that the results of hesitant IT2 fuzzy TOPSIS and hesitant IT2 fuzzy VIKOR are quite coherent. This is a clear evidence that the proposed model is coherent and could provide comprehensive results for the future studies. It is strongly recommended that a detailed analysis is required to identify the risks in renewable energy investment projects. Hence, necessary actions can be taken appropriately so that it can be possible to prevent problems before they grow.

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