bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mandated Sick Pay: Coverage, Utilization, and Crowding-In
Authors: Maclean Johanna Catherine , Pichler Stefan , Ziebarth Nicolas R
Published: February 2025

Using the National Compensation Survey from 2009 to 2022 and difference-in-differences methods, we find that state-level sick pay mandates are effective in broadening access for U.S. workers. Increases in coverage reach 30ppt from a 63% baseline five years post-mandate. Mandates have more bite in jobs with low pre-mandate coverage. Further, mandates reduce inequality in access to paid sick leave substantially, both across and within firms. Covid-19 reinforced existing positive trends in coverage and take-up. Sick leave use increases linearly, whereas costs plateau after five years. Finally, we find crowding-in of non-mandated benefits which we label “job upscaling” by firms to differentiate jobs and attract labor.
Complexity and Time
Authors: Enke Benjamin , Graeber Thomas , Oprea Ryan
Published: February 2025

A large literature shows that people’s valuation of delayed financial rewards violates exponential discounting, exhibiting a hyperbolic pattern: high short-run impatience that strongly decreases in the length of the delay. We test the hypothesis that the hyperbolic pattern in measured discount rates reflects mistakes driven by the complexity of evaluating delayed payoffs. We document that hyperbolicity (i) is strongly associated with choice inconsistency and cognitive uncertainty, (ii) increases in overt complexity manipulations and (iii) arises nearly identically in computationally similar tasks that involve no actual payoff delays. Our results suggest that even if people had exponential discount functions, complexity-driven mistakes would cause them to make hyperbolic choices. We examine which experimental techniques to estimate present bias are (not) confounded by information-processing constraints.
MyD88 determines T cell fate through BCAP-PI3K signaling
Authors: Bayer Abraham L , Magri Zoie , Muendlein Hayley , Poltorak Alexander , Alcaide Pilar
Published: February 2025

The life cycle of effector T cells is determined by signals downstream of the T cell receptor (TCR) that induce activation and proinflammatory activity, or death as part of the process to resolve inflammation. We recently reported that T cell myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MyD88) tunes down TCR activation and limits T cell survival in the cardiac and tumor inflammatory environments, in contrast to its proinflammatory role in myeloid cells upon toll-like receptor (TLR) recognition of pathogen- and damage-associated molecular patterns. However, the molecular mechanism remains unknown. Here, we report a central regulatory role for MyD88 in T cell apoptosis after TCR activation and Fas ligation through an association with the B cell adaptor for phosphoinositide 3-kinase (B cell activating protein [BCAP]). We show that TCR engagement upregulates MyD88 and BCAP and promotes their interaction, thereby limiting availability of BCAP for downstream TCR-BCAP-PI3K-AKT signaling required for T cell activation and survival, which are enhanced in MyD88−/− activated T cells. Further, MyD88 and BCAP association and localization to the TCR was prevented by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) activation of TLR4 and restored T cell survival in wild-type cells. The enhanced T cell activation markers, proinflammatory signals, and survival advantage observed in MyD88−/− T cells was fully eliminated upon BCAP knockdown in T cells. Our data demonstrate that MyD88 acts downstream of the TCR to regulate T cell fate through its association with BCAP and elucidate a novel molecular mechanism for MyD88 in T cell biology that could be targeted to fine-tune T cell effector function and survival therapeutically.
Differential shaping of T cell responses elicited by heterologous ChAd68/self-amplifying mRNA SIV vaccine in macaques in combination with αCTLA4, αPD-1, or FLT3R agonist
Authors: Rappaport Amy R , Bekerman Elena , Boucher Gregory R , Sung Janette , Carr Brian , Corzo Cesar A , Larson Heather , Kachura Melissa A , Scallan Ciaran D , Geleziunas Romas , SenGupta Devi , Jooss Karin
Published: February 2025

While therapeutic vaccines are a promising strategy for inducing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) control, HIV vaccines tested to date have offered limited benefit to people living with HIV. The barriers to success may include the use of vaccine platforms and/or immunogens that drive weak or suboptimal immune responses, immune escape and/or immune dysfunction associated with chronic infection despite effective antiretroviral therapy. Combining vaccines with immune modulators in a safe manner may address some of the challenges and thus increase the efficacy of therapeutic HIV vaccines. We evaluated the immunogenicity of a ChAd68/samRNA-based simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) vaccine regimen alone and in combination with a series of immune modulators in a preclinical rhesus macaque (M. mulatta) model. The vaccine was co-delivered with the checkpoint inhibitors αPD-1 or αCTLA-4, or with a FLT3 receptor agonist (FLT3Ra) shown to differentiate and expand dendritic cells and improve T cell priming. We demonstrate that the magnitude, breadth and functionality of SIV-specific vaccine-elicited CD8+ T cell responses were enhanced by combination with either αPD-1, αCTLA-4, or FLT3Ra. Combination with FLT3Ra also expanded polyfunctional CD4+ T cell responses. Our data demonstrate enhanced and distinct shaping of vaccine-elicited immune responses by immune modulators with implications for developing a functional HIV cure.
Domain Stabilization for Model-Free Option Implied Moment Estimation
Authors: Lee Geul , Ryu Doojin , Yang Li
Published: February 2025

We propose a new method, domain stabilization (DStab), to enhance the return predictive and forecasting ability of model-free option-implied moment estimators. Analyzing S&P 500 options data from January 2015 to December 2021, we show that DStab improves moment estimation consistency by stabilizing the integration domain, leading to better predictive and forecasting performance. When the options data characteristics are appropriately considered, DStab enhances both in-sample predictive and out-of-sample forecasting abilities of implied moments. DStab’s out-of-sample forecasting ability surpasses other treatment methods.
Preparation protocol for epifluorescence microscopy when working close to the detection limit
Authors: McCerery R , Hall L , Omanakuttan J , Chai H Z , Lawrence J , Woodward J , Pearce D A
Published: February 2025

Working with low density, low biomass material can be challenging, especially when working near the detection limit. Although background contamination is a universal consideration in microbiological research, its impact is increased when the cells under assessment approach the same concentration as the background contamination. The aim of this work was to identify and remove laboratory sources of background contamination in the cell mounting process for epifluorescence microscopy to improve the reliability of cell counting for low biomass samples. Microscope slides and coverslips were assessed before and after autoclaving, washing with detergent and rinsing with ethanol solution. The solutions used in sample mounting; 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole, phosphate buffered saline and immersion oil, were tested before and after autoclaving as well as both single and triple filtering with a 0.2 µm membrane filter. Using a combination of detergent and ethanol rinses of glassware and triple filtering of all solutions, we were able to reduce the background contamination by almost two orders of magnitude, down from 1×104(±4.3×103) cells to 302(±312) cells per filter paper. This method was then validated with low biomass glacial sediment samples from Renardbreen, Svalbard with cell concentrations of 1.8×105(±2.9×104) cells g−1, close to the reported detection limit of epifluorescence microscopy.
Observed Dispersive Properties of the Slow Magnetoacoustic Waves Propagating in Coronal Fan Loops above Sunspots
Authors: Zhao Junwei , Wang Tongjiang , Chen Ruizhu
Published: February 2025

Recurrent and propagating intensity perturbations are frequently observed in extreme ultraviolet (EUV) channels along coronal fan loops above sunspots, and these perturbations are suggested to be slow magnetoacoustic waves. Numerous studies have been conducted to investigate their propagation speeds, damping, and excitation sources; however, there have been limited observational analyses on whether these waves are dispersive despite some theoretical studies. In this study, we apply cross-correlation analysis in the Fourier domain on slow magnetoacoustic waves using three different datasets: EUV intensity observed by SDO/AIA, differential emission measure (DEM) temperature maps, and Doppler velocities from Hinode/EIS spectrometer observations. The apparent phase velocities of the waves, which are the plane-of-sky component of the waves’ phase velocities, are derived as functions of frequency for all the three datasets. It is found that the phase velocities show clear frequency dependency, with a general trend of increase with frequency, ranging from approximately 30 km s−1 around 3 mHz to about 80 km s−1 around 10 mHz. The frequency dependency of the phase velocities demonstrates that the slow magnetoacoustic waves in the coronal loops are dispersive. The dispersiveness of these waves can provide a useful tool for the diagnosis of physical conditions inside the coronal loops along which these waves travel.
Effects of Superradiance in Active Galactic Nuclei
Authors: Sarmah Priyanka , Verma Himanshu , Cheung Kingman , Silk Joseph
Published: February 2025

A supermassive black hole (SMBH) at the core of an active galactic nucleus (AGN) provides room for the elusive ultra-light scalar particles (ULSP) to be produced through a phenomenon called superradiance. This phenomenon produces a cloud of scalar particles around the black hole by draining its spin angular momentum. In this work, we present a study of the superradiant instability due to a scalar field in the vicinity of the central SMBH in an AGN. We begin by showing that the time-evolution of the gravitational coupling α in a realistic ambiance created by the accretion disk around the SMBH in AGN leads to interesting consequences such as the amplified growth of the scalar cloud, enhancement of the gravitational wave emission rate, and appearance of higher modes of superradiance within the age of the Universe. We then explore the consequence of superradiance on the characteristics of the AGN. Using the Novikov-Thorne model for an accretion disk, we divide the full spectrum into three wavelength bands- X-ray (10−4 − 10−2 μm), UV (0.010-0.4 μm), and Vis-IR (0.4-100 μm) and observe sudden drops in the time-variations of the luminosities across these bands and Eddington ratio (fEdd) with a characteristic timescale of superradiance. Using a uniform distribution of spin and mass of the SMBHs in AGNs, we demonstrate the appearance of depleted regions and accumulations along the boundaries of these regions in the planes of different band-luminosities and fEdd. Finally, we discuss some possible signatures of superradiance that can be drawn from the observed time-variation of the AGN luminosities.
Corrosion-resistant single-atom catalysts for direct seawater electrolysis
Authors: Zhang Yue , Wan Weikang , Peng Yudi , Guo Yujun , Zhou Jialing , Wang Shengchen , Yuan Jiayao , Liao Yuru , Liu Linsheng , Zhang Yifan , Liu Suli , Wang Dingsheng , Dai Zhihui
Published: February 2025

Direct seawater electrolysis (DSE) for hydrogen production is an appealing method for renewable energy storage. However, DSE faces challenges such as slow reaction kinetics, impurities, the competing chlorine evolution reaction (CER) at the anode, and membrane fouling, making it more complex than freshwater electrolysis. Therefore, developing catalysts with excellent stability under corrosion and fulfilling activity is vital to the advancement of DSE. Single-atom catalysts (SACs) with excellent tunability, high selectivity, and high active sites demonstrate considerable potential for use in the electrolysis of seawater. In this review, we present the anodic and cathodic reaction mechanisms that occur during seawater cracking. Subsequently, to meet the challenges of DSE, rational strategies for modulating SACs are explored, including axial ligand engineering, carrier effects, and protective layer coverage. Then, the applications of in situ characterization techniques and theoretical calculations to SACs are discussed with the aim of elucidating the intrinsic factors responsible for their efficient electrocatalysis. Finally, the process of scaling up monatomic catalysts for the electrolysis of seawater is described, and some prospective insights are provided.
AI-accelerated Discovery of Altermagnetic Materials
Authors: Gao Ze-Feng , Qu Shuai , Zeng Bocheng , Liu Yang , Wen Ji-Rong , Sun Hao , Guo Peng-Jie , Lu Zhong-Yi
Published: February 2025

Altermagnetism, a new magnetic phase, has been theoretically proposed and experimentally verified to be distinct from ferromagnetism and antiferromagnetism. Although altermagnets have been found to possess many exotic physical properties, the limited availability of known altermagnetic materials hinders the study of such properties. Hence, discovering more types of altermagnetic materials with different properties is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of altermagnetism and thus facilitating new applications in the next generation of information technologies, e.g., storage devices and high-sensitivity sensors. Since each altermagnetic material has a unique crystal structure, we propose an automated discovery approach empowered by an AI search engine that employs a pre-trained graph neural network to learn the intrinsic features of the material crystal structure, followed by fine-tuning a classifier with limited positive samples to predict the altermagnetism probability of a given material candidate. Finally, we successfully discovered 50 new altermagnetic materials that cover metals, semiconductors, and insulators confirmed by the first-principles electronic structure calculations. The wide range of electronic structural characteristics reveals that various novel physical properties manifest in these newly discovered altermagnetic materials, e.g., anomalous Hall effect, anomalous Kerr effect, and topological property. Noteworthy, we discovered 4 i-wave altermagnetic materials for the first time. Overall, the AI search engine performs much better than human experts and suggests a set of new altermagnetic materials with unique properties, outlining its potential for accelerated discovery of the materials with targeted properties.
Two new compsognathid-like theropods show diversified predation strategies in theropod dinosaurs
Authors: Qiu Rui , Wang Xiaolin , Jiang Shunxing , Meng Jin , Zhou Zhonghe
Published: February 2025

The Compsognathidae was originally considered an early-diverging clade of coelurosaur theropods. However, recent study suggests that Compsognathidae is not monophyletic. Here, we describe two new compsognathid-like species, Sinosauropteryx lingyuanensis sp. nov. and Huadanosaurus sinensis gen. et sp. nov. from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation of Dawangzhangzi (Lingyuan, western Liaoning, China). The phylogenetic results indicate that all compsognathid-like theropods from the Early Cretaceous Jehol Biota form a monophyletic group Sinosauropterygidae nested among early-diverging coelurosaurs. Morphological comparison between various species of sinosauropterygids from the Early Cretaceous of Northeast China, combined with the phylogenetic results, suggests that at least three distinct hunting strategies were present among coeval species. The diversification of theropods should be attributed to the landscape caused by the North China craton destruction.
China's greenhouse gas budget during 2000-2023
Authors: Yuan Wenping , Liang Minqi , Gao Yuanyi , Huang Ling , Dan Li , Duan Hongtao , Hong Songbai , Jiang Fei , Ju Weimin , Li Tingting , Lou Ziyang , Luan Shilong , Lu Xiao , Qin Zhangcai , Ran Lishan , Shen Lulu , Teng Fei , Tian Xiangjun , Wang Yilong , Wei Jing , Xia Jiangzhou , Xia Xiaosheng , Yu Lijun , Yue Xu , Zhang Haicheng , Zhang Wen , Zhang Yuzhong , Zhao Xu , Zhu Qiuan , Piao Shilong , Wang Xuhui
Published: February 2025

National greenhouse gas (GHG) budget, including CO2, CH4 and N2O has increasingly become a topic of concern in international climate governance. China is paying increasing attention to reducing GHG emissions and increasing land sinks to effectively mitigate climate change. Accurate estimates of GHG fluxes are crucial for monitoring progress toward mitigating GHG emissions in China. This study used comprehensive methods, including emission factor methods, process-based models, atmospheric inversions, and data-driven models, to estimate the long-term trends of GHG sources and sinks from all anthropogenic and natural sectors in mainland China during 2000–2023, and produced an up-to-date China GHG Budget dataset (CNGHG). The total gross emissions of the three GHGs show a 3-fold increase from 5.0 (95% CI: 4.9∼5.1) Gt CO2-eq yr−1 (in 2000) to 14.3 (95% CI: 13.8∼14.8) Gt CO2-eq yr−1 (in 2023). CO2 emissions represented 81.8% of the GHG emissions in 2023, while 12.7% and 5.5% for CH4 and N2O, respectively. As the largest CO2 source, energy sector contributed 87.4% CO2 emissions. In contrast, the agriculture, forestry and other land use sector was the largest sector of CH4 and N2O, representing 50.1% and 66.3% emissions, respectively. Moreover, China's terrestrial ecosystems serve as a net CO2 sink (1.0 Gt CO2 yr−1, 95% CI: 0.2∼1.9 Gt CO2 yr−1) during 2012 to 2021, equivalent to an average of 14.3% of fossil CO2 emissions. Our GHG emission estimates showed a general consistency with national GHG inventories, with gridded and sector-specific estimates of GHG fluxes over China, providing the basis for curtailing GHG emissions for each region and sector.
Unravelling the Risk of Poisoning From Nicotine-Containing Tobacco Products in Children Less Than Five Years of Age
Authors: Crosby Lynn M
Published: February 2025

For decades, young children in the United States have been accidentally poisoned by traditional tobacco products and the yearly incidence has slowly increased. More poisonings have accompanied the introduction of new products such as e-cigarettes and dissolvable tobacco, with renewed public attention. Using toxicological principles of human health risk assessment, published data from prior exposures, and information about the content and characteristics of specific products, I estimated the acute toxicological risk from exposure to various types and quantities of tobacco products for children <5 years old. Approximate reference levels for a non-lethal oral dose of nicotine were derived: A higher level potentially requiring medical care (0.2 mg per kg) and a lower level not potentially requiring medical care (0.04 mg per kg). A weight-based oral lowest lethal dose (LDLO) of 1–14 mg per kg in children <5 years old is estimated from the cited LDLOs in adults. I provide tables relating e-liquid concentration and volume to the oral LDLO in children <5 years old by weight and describing the amount of other tobacco products expected to result in lethality. Communications about safe storage practices should focus on the benefits of keeping any nicotine-containing product out of the reach of young children, and adults can be reminded to always reengage child-resistant closures on packages and call a poison center for accidental exposures. Healthcare providers, families, or any member of the public can also make reports about unexpected health or safety concerns related to tobacco products to the FDA using its online Safety Reporting Portal at https://www.fda.gov/TobaccoProducts/PublicHealthScienceResearch/ucm377563.htm. Tobacco products, particularly electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) liquids are highly toxic to children <5 years old in small amounts. Given that the concentration of nicotine in ENDS is 3 to 72 mg per mL, the lethal dose (LDLO) is expected to be 13–40 mL in a bottle containing a solution of 3 mg per mL liquid nicotine but may be as low as ½–2 mL in a bottle containing a highly concentrated solution of 72 mg per mL liquid nicotine. Features such as flow restrictors, child-resistant closures, and communication of safe storage practices to parents can help to lessen the morbidity and mortality from poisoning.
Precision Medication Based on the Evaluation of Drug Metabolizing Enzyme and Transporter Functions
Authors: Ma Yanrong , Mu Jing , Gou Xueyan , Wu Xinan
Published: February 2025

Pharmacogenomics, therapeutic drug monitoring, and the assessments of hepatic and renal function have made significant contributions to the advancement of individualized medicine. However, their lack of direct correlation with protein abundance/non-genetic factors, target drug concentration, and drug metabolism/excretion significantly limits their application in precision drug therapy. The primary task of precision medicine is to accurately determine drug dosage, which depends on a precise assessment of the ability to handle drugs in vivo, and drug metabolizing enzymes and transporters are critical determinants of drug disposition in the body. Therefore, accurately evaluating the functions of these enzymes and transporters is key to assessing the capacity to handle drugs and predicting drug concentrations in target organs. Recent advancements in the evaluation of enzyme and transporter functions using exogenous probes and endogenous biomarkers show promise in advancing personalized medicine. This article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the latest research on markers used for the functional evaluation of drug-metabolizing enzymes and transporters. It also explores the application of marker omics in systematically assessing their functions, thereby laying a foundation for advancing precision pharmacotherapy.
Prediction of the CP Phase δCP in the Neutrino Oscillation and an Axion-less Solution to the Strong CP Problem
Authors: Tanimoto Morimitsu , Yanagida Tsutomu T
Published: February 2025

A model of the axion-less solution to the strong CP problem has been recently constructed based on the $\bf T^2/\mathbb {Z}_3$ orbifold in the six dimensional space-time. We extend, in this paper, the model to include the lepton sector with three right-handed neutrinos. A crucial point in the extended model is that we have only one CP-violating phase and thus the CP phase in the neutrino oscillation can be predicted by the CP phase in the CKM matrix. The CP phase δCP in the PMNS matrix is predicted as δCP ≃ 192○ − 195○ which can be tested in the near future experiments. We also discuss the effective mass mββ responsible for the neutrino-less double beta decay of nucleus, which is predicted as mββ ≃ 8 − 11 meV. We consider the leptogenesis and confirm that our model generates the right sign of the baryon asymmetry if the first family right-handed neutrino is the lightest among the heavy right-handed neutrinos.
The shift to stock-based compensation and gender inequality in wealth in the United States
Authors: Grigoryeva Angelina
Published: February 2025

This study identifies a novel explanation for gender inequality in wealth in the USA; namely, the important role of stock-based compensation. Since the financialization of the US economy, American firms increasingly offered workers compensation based in part on company stock, and 23 per cent of private-sector employees now have stock-based compensation. Analysis of the Survey of Consumer Finances data suggests that stock-based compensation promotes greater wealth accumulation than regular wages, but its wealth benefits are higher among men than women, especially at the top of the wealth distribution. Also, this study finds that men, on average, receive more stock-based compensation than women, and the gender gap is explained by job characteristics and sociodemographic attributes. Finally, analysis of the National Bureau of Economic Research survey of employees with stock-based compensation shows that men are more likely to utilize its wealth-building potential than women, thus contributing to gender inequality in wealth.
The religion of White identity politics: Christian nationalism and White racial solidarity
Authors: Perry Samuel L , Grubbs Joshua B
Published: February 2025

Though recent research on White racial solidarity has advanced our understanding of White identity politics in the United States, the religious underpinnings of White identity politics remain understudied. Building on the documented conflation of religious, racial, and national identities among White Americans, we propose American Christian nationalism is best thought of as the religion of White identity politics. Drawing on nationally representative data with a strong, novel measure of Christian nationalism and tested measures of racial solidarity, we find Christian nationalism is among the leading predictors of racial solidarity but solely among White Americans. Specifically, Christian nationalism among (only) White Americans predicts greater racial identity salience, believing their racial group has a lot to be proud of, that their racial group members share much in common, and that it is important for their racial group members to work together to change laws unfair to their racial group. The result is that while Black and Hispanic Americans on average score higher on indicators of racial consciousness and solidarity than White Americans, at higher levels of Christian nationalism, White Americans become indistinguishable from their Black and Hispanic counterparts. Moreover, among Black Americans, Christian nationalism is negatively associated with the belief that Black people should work together to change laws unfair to Black people, suggesting that while Christian nationalism increases or reflects White racial solidarity motivating White identity politics, it may weaken Black Americans’ motivation to advocate for Black Americans in politics.
An overview on Sjögren’s syndrome and systemic lupus erythematosus’ genetics
Authors: Ates Ilker , Terzi Ulku , Suzen Sinan , Irham Lalu Muhammad
Published: February 2025

Major autoimmune rheumatic disorders, such as systemic lupus erythematosus and Sjögren’s syndrome, are defined by the presence of autoantibodies. These diseases are brought on by immune system dysregulation, which can present clinically in a wide range of ways. The etiologies of these illnesses are complex and heavily impacted by a variety of genetic and environmental variables. The most powerful susceptibility element for each of these disorders is still the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) area, that was the initial locus found to be associated. This region is primarily responsible for the HLA class II genes, such as DQA1, DQB1, and DRB1, however class I genes have also been linked. Numerous genetic variants that do not pose a risk to HLA have been found as a result of intensive research into the genetic component of these diseases conducted over the last 20 years. Furthermore, it is generally acknowledged that autoimmune rheumatic illnesses have similar genetic backgrounds and share molecular pathways of disease, including the interferon (IFN) type I routes. Pleiotropic sites for autoimmune rheumatic illnesses comprise TNIP1, DNASEL13, IRF5, the HLA region, and others. It remains a challenge to determine the causative biological mechanisms beneath the genetic connections. Nonetheless, functional analyses of the loci and mouse models have produced recent advancements. With an emphasis on the HLA region, we present an updated summary of the structure of genes underpinning both of these autoimmune rheumatic illnesses here.
Acute anxiogenic effect of lisdexamphetamine dimesylate in zebrafish: implications of off-label cognitive enhancement use
Authors: Berton Nicole , da Silva do Prado Luciane Dellazari , Nardi Jessica , Biazus Inara Carbonera , Mattiollo Laíse , de Souza dos Santos Karen Julia , da Rosa Amaral Nicoli , Siqueira Lisiane , Cole Varela Amanda Carolina , Rutikoski Gabriéla Witkowski , Barcellos Leonardo José Gil , Rossato-Grando Luciana Grazziotin
Published: February 2025

The off-label use of lisdexamphetamine dimesylate (LDX), a prodrug of dextroamphetamine, for cognitive enhancement has raised concerns due to its potential risk effects in neurotypical individuals. This study investigates the acute toxic effects of LDX exposure in zebrafish (Danio rerio), used here as a translational model. Zebrafish were exposed to 70, 100, and 140 mg/L−1 of LDX to assess changes in anxiety-related, social-related and exploratory behaviors and cognitive function through novel tank test, social preference test, spatial memory test, and light–dark test, respectively. We also evaluated the occurrence of lipid peroxidation and changes in the total protein content after LDX treatments. Our findings reveal that acute LDX exposure significantly increases anxiety-like behaviors, as evidenced by increased bottom-dwelling and decreased top-dwelling times in novel tank tests, without enhancing cognitive function. The concentrations also cause increases in lipid peroxidation and total protein content, making this finding likely to be directed at the fish’s inflammatory response. Our results highlight that acute use of LDX does not improve cognition, but causes an anxiogenic effect, and showed oxidative damage by increasing total proteins, highlighting potential health risks associated with non-medical use of LDX, particularly among neurotypical individuals seeking cognitive benefits.
Effect of nutritional supplementation with lipid-based therapeutic food on body composition of non-severely malnourished African children aged 6–59 months hospitalized with severe pneumonia
Authors: Nalwanga Damalie , Musiime Victor , Kiguli Sarah , Olupot-Olupot Peter , Alaroker Florence , Opoka Robert , Tagoola Abner , Mnjala Hellen , Mogaka Christabel , Nabawanuka Eva , Giallongo Elisa , Karamagi Charles , Briend André , Maitland Kathryn
Published: February 2025

Pneumonia remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality among children in low- and middle-income countries. Poor outcomes are associated with undernutrition. Nutritional supplementation may be beneficial. We examined the effect of supplementation with lipid-based ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) on the body composition of children with severe pneumonia. Non-severely malnourished children (6–59 months) with severe pneumonia enrolled into the Children’s Oxygen Administration Strategies and Nutrition trial in Uganda and Kenya, and randomized to receive a diet supplemented with RUTF (500 Kcal/day) for 56 days versus usual diet alone (control) were included. We assessed arm anthropometry and bioimpedance analysis at admission and days 28, 90, and 180 of follow-up. We used mixed effects linear regression to compare body composition between groups. We included 737 participants (369 in intervention; 368 in control group). The median age was 16 months (IQR; 9, 26), and 58.1% were male. Overall, baseline mean arm fat area (AFA), arm muscle area, and arm muscle circumference were 5.8 ± 1.8 cm2, 11.6 ± 2.3 cm2, and 12.3 ± 1.2 cm2, respectively. The mean fat mass and fat-free mass calculated in 116 participants were 5.5 ± 1.5 kg and 5.5 ± 1.5 kg, respectively. There were modest increases in most body composition parameters. RUTF significantly increased AFA at days 28 and 90 but not at day 180 (P-value = .03, .02, and .99, respectively). RUTF did not change other body composition parameters. Despite initial increases in AFA, RUTF did not change the body composition of children with severe pneumonia.
Keepers of the Academic Mission: Calling All Faculty
Authors: Pellegrini Vincent D. , Babbott Stewart
Published: February 2025

Academic medical centers expand their patient care mission through mergers often with nonacademic health care organizations to create more clinical revenue and a larger financial margin with the intent of cross-subsidizing the academic mission. Ironically, an unintended consequence of governance changes implicit in such mergers is the marginalization of the academic mission. Historically, the education and research missions have been effectively cross-subsidized by the medical school dean from the margin derived from the faculty clinical practice plan. Yet, in many merged entities the faculty practice is subsumed under the health system, where its margin no longer directly accrues to the school. Concurrent shifts in health system governance have removed clinical enterprise oversight from the dean and chairs, effectively assigning financial support of education and research to the health system where it competes with a strong appetite to grow the clinical enterprise. Likewise, faculty are conscripted to more clinical service rather than encouraged to engage in academic endeavors. Consequently, the vigor of the education and research missions has been compromised in academic health system mergers. This circumstance invites critical review of the fundamental concept of academic medical center mergers and their resulting unintended consequences for the academic mission and faculty well-being to inform the wisdom of continuing this trend. A unified cadre of university leaders, deans, and faculty are needed to advocate for greater reinvestment of the margin in teaching and research efforts. Concurrently, academic medicine must develop more academic physicians committed to the academic mission as leaders of health systems. Taken together, these actions can reinforce that funding the academic mission must be an obligation rather than an option for academic health systems. Nothing less than the future of academic medicine, the well-being of faculty and learners, and the health of the nation depend on it.
Hypophosphatemia as a Predictor of Pancreatic Necrosis in Acute Alcohol Induced Pancreatitis
Authors: Nasir Syed Alishan , Pandya Deep , Chambers Ethan , Zubair Sarah , Kanneganti Sri Prathima , Hopkins Reid , Mangla Rakhee , Anand Naveen
Published: February 2025

Objective:

Pancreatic necrosis is a catastrophic complication of acute pancreatitis and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. While there is no objective means to predict pancreatic necrosis, recent studies have identified serum phosphate levels as a contributor in the disease process with worse outcomes noted in patients with low serum phosphates. We aimed to determine if there was a relationship between low serum phosphate levels and the risk of developing pancreatic necrosis in patients with acute alcoholic pancreatitis (AAP).

Methods:

Health care records from patients admitted between January 2017 to December 2022 for acute alcoholic pancreatitis were retrospectively reviewed. These patients were categorized based on their phosphate levels within 48 hours of admission: normal phosphate levels (2.8-4.5 mg/dL) and hypophosphatemia (<2.8 mg/dL). Imaging findings from hospital stays were examined to identify cases of pancreatic necrosis. These cases were then compared across patients with normal and low phosphate levels.

Results:

Among the 207 patients admitted for acute alcoholic pancreatitis, 67 met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Of these, 37 patients exhibited serum phosphate levels below 2.8 mg/dL, while 30 maintained levels between 2.8 and 4.5 mg/dL within the first 48 hours of admission. Of the patients in the hypophosphatemia group 27.02% were noted to develop pancreatic necrosis during hospital stay compared to only 6.66% in the normal phosphate group (P-value: 0.029). Additionally, those that developed necrosis had an overall lower mean phosphate level of 2.13 mg/dL compared to the mean phosphate level of 2.60 mg/dL (P-value: 0.0521) in patients without necrosis. The median duration of hospital stay (P-value: 0.65) and rate of intensive care unit (ICU) admission (P-value: 0.41) were similar in both groups.

Conclusion:

Early hypophosphatemia during admission for AAP was associated with increased risk of developing pancreatic necrosis, however it may not affect overall length of hospital stay or rate of ICU admission.
Promoting Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis to Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men who Have Sex with Men in the US Deep South: A Qualitative Exploration of Promotion Perceptions and Preferences
Authors: Gravett Ronnie M. , Tucker Joseph D. , Matthews Lynn T. , Van Der Pol Barbara , McCollum Greer , Ong Jason J. , Marrazzo Jeanne , Elopre Latesha
Published: February 2025

Background

Effective HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) promotion is critical to mitigate PrEP disparities, yet there are gaps in understanding how gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBM) respond to and prefer PrEP promotion. The Deep South of the United States, a region with high HIV rates and low PrEP uptake, has unique contextual factors that stifle effective PrEP provision and uptake, which could be overcome with effective PrEP promotional messaging.

Methods

We conducted an exploratory qualitative study grounded in Andersen’s Behavioral Model for Healthcare Utilization. We recruited HIV-negative GBM, aged 18-39 years, from social media, dating apps, and community outreach to complete semi-structured interviews to explore perceptions of and preferences for PrEP promotion. Interview transcripts were inductively and deductively coded for thematic analysis.

Results

40 participants completed interviews (median age 28 years, 68% Black, 48% current PrEP users). Three themes emerged: 1) the role of different identities with sub-themes emphasizing diversity to reduce stigma and improve relatability, 2) interpersonal relationships, i.e., friends, partners, and family, affect PrEP promotion, and 3) reduced emphasis on HIV risk in promotions.

Conclusion

To see behavior change for seeking PrEP knowledge and PrEP uptake, PrEP promotions must evolve to improve diversity to foster relatability and reduce stigma, harness social networks to efficiently transmit messaging, and tactfully discuss risk behaviors without compounding stigma.
Machine-learning random forest algorithms predict post-cycloplegic myopic corrections from noncycloplegic clinical data
Authors: Hao Yansong , Wang Xianjiang , Sun Bin , Li Jinyu , Zhang Yuexin , Jiang Shanhao
Published: February 2025

SIGNIFICANCE

Machine learning random forest algorithms were used to predict objective refractive outcomes after cycloplegic refraction using noncycloplegic clinical data. A classification model predicted post-cycloplegic myopia and could be useful in screening, and a second regression model predicted post-cycloplegic refractive and could provide a useful objective starting point in noncycloplegic subjective refractions.

PURPOSE

A classification model sought to predict post-cycloplegic myopia using noncycloplegic clinical data to enhance myopia screening accuracy, whereas the regression model looked to predict objective refraction outcomes after cycloplegia for use as a starting point for noncycloplegic subjective refraction.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study included data from 2483 eyes. Pre-refraction measurements, such as uncorrected visual acuity, axial length, and corneal curvature radius, were recorded. After cycloplegia, the spherical equivalent was measured. Random forest–based classification and regression models were established with input variables including age, gender, axial length, corneal curvature radius, axial length–to–corneal curvature radius ratio, spherical equivalent, and uncorrected visual acuity. Model performance was assessed using various metrics.

RESULTS

The random forest classification model achieved high out-of-bag validation accuracy (92%), cross-validation accuracy (93%), external validation accuracy (94%), and precision (95%). The external validation sensitivity was 93%, and specificity was 95%. The regression model internal validation showed an out-of-bag validation R
2 of 0.86, root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.66, and mean absolute error of 0.49. The 10-fold cross-validation R
2 was 0.87, the RMSE was 0.64, and the mean absolute error was 0.48. In the external validation, R
2 was 0.88, the RMSE was 0.63, and the mean absolute error was 0.48.

CONCLUSIONS

By analyzing noncycloplegic clinical data, the classification model enables earlier detection of myopia, supporting timely intervention and management. The regression model aims to accurately predict post-cycloplegia myopic corrections, providing reliable initial data for subjective refraction. This could help optometrists perform noncycloplegic subjective refraction more efficiently and is particularly relevant in China, where retinoscopy is not yet fully popularized and many school students decline cycloplegic refraction due to academic pressures and limited free time, primarily because it requires a follow-up the next day.
Social Impacts of Multi-City HIV Research Participation Among Sexual and Gender Expansive Individuals in Kazakhstan
Authors: Vinogradov Vitaliy , Lee Yong Gun , Zhakupova Gulnara , Mergenova Gaukhar , Davis Alissa , Paine Emily Allen , Reeder Kelsey G. , Laughney Caitlin I. , Sung Jimin , Primbetova Sholpan , Terlikbayeva Assel , Sugarman Jeremy , Wu Elwin
Published: February 2025

Background:

Sexual and gender expansive (SGE) individuals in Kazakhstan are disproportionately affected by HIV yet stigma and discrimination pose ethical and practical challenges for HIV prevention research involving them. Although researchers are tasked with ensuring that risks of research participation are reasonable in relation to its benefits, participant-reported risks and benefits of research participation—including negative (NSIs) and positive social impacts (PSIs) on personal relationships, social status, health, and other life domains—among SGE populations have received little attention.

Methods:

We examined NSIs and PSIs of research participation among SGE individuals in a three-city HIV prevention study in Kazakhstan at the trial’s follow-up visits. We analyzed responses from 579 unique participants who completed a total of 2648 follow-up visits over the 36-month study period (2019–2022).

Results:

Overall, NSIs were rare: 9 (2%) participants reported NSIs during the study; nearly no NSIs (

=0.0037, SD=0.03) were reported at follow-up visits. These few NSIs included ‘trouble with friends, family, or acquaintances’ and ‘other’. By contrast, PSIs were extensive: 515 (89%) participants reported PSIs during the study; an average of almost five PSIs (

=4.8, SD=3.4) were reported at follow-up visits. The most frequently reported PSIs were ‘gained knowledge’, ‘improvement in HIV-related issues’, and ‘improvement in mental health’.

Conclusions:

Our findings demonstrate the potential for HIV prevention research to be associated with PSIs for SGE individuals experiencing stigmatization and discrimination. Future research should address NSIs, particularly confidentiality breaches and interpersonal challenges, within HIV prevention research to minimize risks and burdens of participation.
Eyelid and Parotid Gland Metastasis of Colorectal Cancer Demonstrated by 18F-FDG PET/CT
Authors: Samsum Mehmet , Aydinbelge Dizdar Nur , Cinar Alev , Ozmen Ozlem
Published: February 2025

A 67-year-old man underwent a sigmoid colectomy and received 4 cycles of capecitabine and oxaliplatin. 18F-FDG was performed for the treatment response evaluation. It revealed increased radiotracer uptake both in the nodular lesion of the left parotid gland and in the subcutaneous density of the left eyelid. These lesions were reported as colorectal carcinoma metastasis in immunohistochemical evaluation. Herein, we present an extremely rare case of simultaneous metastasis of both the eyelid and the left parotid gland in a patient who underwent surgery for colorectal cancer.
Clinical Application of 68Ga-Pentixafor PET/CT for the Detection of Thymoma: A Pilot Study
Authors: Wang Rongxi , Gao Xuehan , Peng Xingtong , Wang Jiarou , Xiang Jialin , Li Linlin , Jia Chenhao , Chen Jingci , Du Xin , Guo Chao , Zhou Xiaoyun , Zheng Yumin , Zhu Zhaohui , Chen Yeye , Li Shanqing
Published: February 2025

Purpose:

This study was designed to evaluate 68Ga-pentixafor, which targets C-X-C chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4), in the noninvasive diagnosis of thymomas.

Patients and Methods:

With institutional review board approval and signed informed consent, 32 patients with thymic masses were enrolled in this study, and all patients underwent 68Ga-pentixafor PET/CT scans.

Results:

Among the 28 patients included in the analysis, 13 patients were diagnosed with thymomas, 9 patients with cysts, and 6 patients with other anterior mediastinal masses. 68Ga-pentixafor identified all patients with thymomas (13/13, 100%), and the mean SUVmax in all 13 thymomas lesions was 13.96±8.20, which was significantly higher than that in patients with cysts (1.54±0.88) and other anterior mediastinal masses (2.59±1.68), respectively (P<0.001).

Conclusions:

The preliminary study indicates the diagnostic utility of 68Ga-pentixafor in thymomas and the differential diagnostic ability of 68Ga-pentixafor in thymomas, thymic cysts and other benign anterior mediastinal masses.
Herpes Zoster–induced Ganglioneuritis With Corresponding Shingles Dermatome and Its Regression Within 10 Weeks Following 6 Cycles of BEACOPP Chemotherapy
Authors: Hilliger Stephan , Schön Felix , Winzer Robert , Trautmann-Grill Karolin , Hoberück Sebastian
Published: February 2025

A 28-year-old man underwent FDG-PET/CT for Hodgkin lymphoma restaging after 6 cycles of BEACOPP chemotherapy. He had recently been diagnosed with herpes zoster, treated with antivirals, presenting with a painful rash on the right lower flank. The FDG PET scan revealed high focal FDG uptake in the right 11th spinal nerve ganglion and moderate diffuse uptake in the rash area. A follow-up scan after 10 weeks showed a complete regression of both findings. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of marked FDG-avid spinal ganglion indicating active ganglioneuritis and dermal herpes zoster, with complete regression on follow-up.
ScatTR: Estimating the Size of Long Tandem Repeat Expansions from Short-Reads
Authors: Al-Abri Rashid , Gürsoy Gamze
Published: February 2025

Tandem repeats (TRs) are sequences of DNA where two or more base pairs are repeated back-to-back at specific locations in the genome. The expansions of TRs are implicated in over 50 conditions, including Friedreich’s ataxia, autism, and cancer. However, accurately measuring the copy number of TRs is challenging, especially when their expansions are larger than the fragment sizes used in standard short-read genome sequencing. Here we introduce ScatTR, a novel computational method that leverages a maximum likelihood framework to estimate the copy number of large TR expansions from short-read sequencing data. ScatTR calculates the likelihood of different alignments between sequencing reads and reference sequences that represent various TR lengths and employs a Monte Carlo technique to find the best match. In simulated data, ScatTR outperforms state-of-the-art methods, particularly for TRs with longer motifs and those with lengths that greatly exceed typical sequencing fragment sizes. When applied to data from the 1000 Genomes Project, ScatTR detected potential large TR expansions that other methods missed, highlighting its ability to better identify genome-wide characterization of TR variation. ScatTR can be accessed via:https://github.com/g2lab/scattr.