<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> The lateral parabrachial nucleus (LPBN) is considered to be a brain site of the pyrogenic action of prostaglandin (PG) E₂ outside of the preoptic area. Yet, the role of the LPBN in fever following a systemic immune challenge remains poorly understood. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> We examined the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and microsomal PGE synthase-1 (mPGES-1) in the LPBN after the intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). We investigated the effects of LPBN NS-398 (COX-2 inhibitor) on LPS-induced fever, the effects of direct LPBN PGE₂ administration on the energy expenditure (EE), brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenesis, neck muscle electromyographic activity and tail temperature, and the effects of PGE₂ on the spontaneous firing activity and thermosensitivity of in vitro LPBN neurons in a brain slice. <b><i>Results:</i></b> The COX-2 and mPGES-1 enzymes were upregulated at both mRNA and protein levels. The microinjection of NS-398 in the LPBN attenuated the LPS-induced fever. Direct PGE₂ administration in the LPBN resulted in a febrile response by a coordinated response of increased EE, BAT thermogenesis, shivering, and possibly decreased heat loss through the tail. The LPBN neurons showed a clear anatomical distinction in the firing rate response to PGE₂, with the majority of PGE₂-excited or -inhibited neurons being located in the external lateral or dorsal subnucleus of the LPBN, respectively. However, neither the firing rate nor the thermal coefficient response to PGE₂ showed any difference between warm-sensitive, cold-sensitive, and temperature-insensitive neurons in the LPBN. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> PGE₂ synthesized in the LPBN was at least partially involved in LPS-induced fever via its different modulations of the firing rate of neurons in different LPBN subnuclei.

Although corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities may facilitate firms to meet stakeholders' demands and gain legitimacy, there is little understanding of whether and how they may bring in harmful consequences such as chief executive officer (CEO) wrongdoing. We developed a framework to explore how CSR activities lead to CEO wrongdoing based on the fraud triangle of pressure, opportunity, and rationalization. Using a sample of 530 listed firms in China that issued CSR reports between 2011 and 2018, we found a positive relationship between CSR participation and CEO wrongdoing. We also found that this positive relationship is strengthened by firms' internal capability to gain profit and their risk orientation. Our study contributes to the CSR literature by examining the potential dark side of CSR activities, and by bridging stakeholder theory and CEO wrongdoing literature.

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