bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Decomposing changes in subnational income inequality in the United States, 1980–2019
Authors: Thiede Brian C , Brown David L , Jayasekera Deshamithra H W , Jensen Leif , Butler Jaclyn L W 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
The rapid growth of income inequality in the United States has unfolded unevenly across the country. Levels of, and changes in, income inequality within local economies have been spatially and temporally heterogeneous. While previous research has identified correlates of subnational inequality, it has given less attention to the contribution of compositional changes. Drawing on commuting zone (CZ)-level estimates produced from U.S. Census and American Community Survey data, we extend the literature on subnational income inequality by addressing four main objectives. First, we track changes in the prevalence of five sets of inequality risk factors. Second, we measure the associations between these factors and within-CZ income inequality in 1980 and 2019 and describe changes in these relationships over time. Third, we decompose changes in within-CZ income inequality (1980–2019) into components attributable to changes in composition and coefficients. Fourth, we compare the South to other regions to explore relevant patterns of socioeconomic change unique to the former. We find substantively large shifts in the prevalence of all five sets of risk factors and significant changes in the effects of many factors, especially the age and industrial structures of CZs. Coefficient effects explain the largest overall share of changing inequality between 1980 and 2019, but these overall effects mask considerable heterogeneity in the strength and direction of both composition and coefficient effects of individual blocks of variables. We also find significant regional variation in the size of coefficient effects and the relative contributions of composition and coefficient effects.
Heterogeneous effects of telework on job satisfaction across gender and employment precarity: evidence from postpandemic Japan
Authors: Araki Satoshi 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
Scholars have long investigated the impact of flexible work arrangements (FWA) on job satisfaction. However, in recent years, many workplaces have abruptly introduced telework as a form of FWA in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, only to later call workers back to offices as the pandemic subsides. This trend is particularly prevalent in societies with inflexible work cultures like Japan. Nevertheless, we know little about how telework affects job satisfaction unequally among workers during and after the pandemic. Using the nationwide survey dataset collected by the Government of Japan’s Cabinet Office from 2020 to 2023, this study examines heterogeneous associations between telework and job satisfaction. Propensity score matching analyses based on the counterfactual framework show that the average effect of telework is substantially positive in both 2020 and 2023, but its magnitude decreases by over two-thirds during this period. Nonetheless, female nonregular workers experienced a larger psychological return on telework in 2023 despite its null effect in 2020. Male nonregular workers also see a high telework effect on job satisfaction in 2020 and 2023, whereas the effect size among their regular counterparts declines to near zero. These findings suggest that, in postpandemic Japan, (1) regular workers, particularly men, do not gain psychological benefits from telework under the traditional work culture requiring them to be present in the office, but (2) telework underpins job satisfaction of relatively precarious workers with less job security and benefits; and thus (3) the expanded usage of telework may help mitigate labor stratification in worker well-being.
Exploring the protective role of Heracleum persicum L. extract in testicular toxicity induced by mercuric chloride: insights into hormonal modulation and cell survival pathways
Authors: Zhao Ronghui , Xu Shijuan , Jia Chao , Zhu Shufang , Ma Lianshun , Chen Yalan , Chen Dalei 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
The study investigated the effects of Heracleum persicum L. extract (HPE) on oxidative damage caused by mercuric chloride (HgCl₂) in rat testes. Sixty male Wistar rats were divided into six groups: a sham group, a HgCl₂ group, three groups receiving HgCl₂ with HPE at doses of 250, 500, and 750 mg/kg, and a control group treated with 750 mg/kg HPE alone over 50 days. HgCl₂ was administered intraperitoneally for the first 10 days, followed by HPE gavage for 40 days. On day 51, hormone levels (testosterone, FSH, LH), nitric oxide levels, antioxidant enzyme activity, and pro-inflammatory cytokines were measured. Testicular tissue was analyzed for thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, ferric reducing capacity, thiol levels, and stereological indicators of seminiferous tubules. The study also examined the p53/Cas-3/Bax/Bcl-2 apoptotic pathway. LC-ESI/MS and SEM-EDS analysis detected 25 substances and 14 mineral elements. HgCl₂ exposure significantly reduced LH, T, and FSH levels, while HPE improved these hormones, especially at higher doses. Inflammatory cytokines were elevated due to HgCl₂, but HPE reduced (P &lt; 0.05) these levels and enhanced (P &lt; 0.05) antioxidant enzyme activity, indicating protective effects against oxidative stress. Testicular analysis showed significant (P &lt; 0.05) damage from HgCl₂, but HPE preserved tissue integrity and improved parameters. Weight measurements indicated that HgCl₂ reduced (P &lt; 0.05) body and reproductive weights, while HPE restored these weights. HPE also counteracted apoptotic changes, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic agent against HgCl₂-induced damage.
Wearing Hearing Protection Makes Me Worse at My Job: Impacts of Hearing Protection Use on Sensorimotor Tracking Performance
Authors: Wisniewski Matthew G. , Chuwonganant C. Shane 
Published: January 2025

Objectives:
Occupational hearing loss is a significant problem worldwide despite the fact that it can be mitigated by the wearing of hearing protection devices (HPDs). When surveyed, workers frequently report that worsened work performance while wearing HPDs is one reason why they choose not to wear them. However, there have been few studies to supplement these subjective reports with objective measures. Where they do exist, assessed performance measures have mostly characterized auditory situational awareness in gross terms (e.g., average speech comprehension scores over an entire session). The temporal dynamics of performance and HPD impacts on nonauditory aspects of work performance are largely unknown. In the present study, we aimed to fill this gap in the literature by measuring how HPD usage impacted sensorimotor tracking performance in relation to ongoing auditory events.

Design:
In two experiments, listeners heard commands sourced from the coordinate response measure (CRM) corpus (i.e., sentences of the form “Ready <call sign> go to <color> <number> now”). These commands informed listeners of which of nine moving on-screen objects to track with a computer mouse (e.g., “blue four” refers the listener to a blue square). The commands were presented in background street noise and were heard under either “No HPD” or “HPD” conditions. In experiment 1, HPD wearing was simulated with a digital filter designed to mimic the attenuation profile of a passive HPD. In experiment 2, actual HPDs were worn by listeners. Continuous recording of tracking error allowed us to simultaneously examine how HPD wearing impacted speech comprehension, the accuracy of tracking, and how tracking accuracy varied as a function of time on task and ongoing auditory events (e.g., the presentation of a critical CRM sentence).

Results:
In both experiments, listeners spent less time tracking the correct object in the HPD condition. After trimming data to those time points in which the target object was known, worse performance was exhibited by the HPD condition than the No HPD condition. In the examination of the temporal dynamics of tracking error, it was apparent that differences arose strongly during the presentation of CRM sentences.

Conclusions:
Workers’ complaints of poorer performance while wearing HPDs are justified and extend beyond just diminished auditory situational awareness. The negative impact on nonauditory aspects of work performance may be strongest around critical listening periods. Addressing these aspects of performance will be an important part of addressing HPD nonuse in occupational settings.
Recurrent uncomplicated lower urinary tract infections in women
Authors: Liu Jiaxin , Xu Kaiyun , Hu Jiajie , Wang Lei , Liu Zhiyong 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
Recurrent uncomplicated lower urinary tract infections (RULUTIs) are common among women without anatomical or physiological abnormalities and affect women of all age groups, races, and ethnicities. Herein, we summarized the sources of epidemiology, etiology, diagnosis, treatment, prophylaxis, and follow-up evaluations in cases of RULUTIs. Patients' medical histories, symptoms, and signs were recorded. The review showed that urinalysis, culture, and sensitivity should be tested before empiric treatment. A first-line therapeutic strategy should be applied based on the results of the urine culture and sensitivity tests. Therefore, estrogen should be used as an ancillary therapy. After the successful treatment of acute infections, intermittent or continuous prophylaxis can be administered. Patients may benefit from follow-up evaluations to avoid recurrent infections. We expect that clinicians will pay more attention to RULUTIs.
Identification of glycogen synthase kinase 3alpha/beta as a host factor required for HBV transcription using high-throughput screening
Authors: Nishitsuji Hironori , Naito Yui , Murakami Yuuna , Sugiyama Masaya , Mizokami Masashi , Shoji Ikuo , Murata Takayuki , Shimotohno Kunitada 
Published: January 2025

Background and Aims:
HBV leads to severe liver diseases, such as cirrhosis and HCC. Identification of host factors that regulate HBV replication can provide new therapeutic targets. The discovery of sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP) as an HBV entry receptor has enabled the establishment of hepatic cell lines for analyzing HBV infection and propagation. Using this new system, studies aimed at identifying host factors that regulate HBV propagation have increased.

Approach and Results:
We established an HBV-based-reporter gene expression system that mimics HBV replication from transcription to virus egress. Using this approach, we screened 1827 Food and Drug Administration–approved compounds and identified glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3)alpha/beta inhibitors, including AZD1080, CHIR-98014, CHIR-98021, BIO, and AZD2858, as anti-HBV compounds. These compounds suppressed HBeAg and HBsAg production in HBV-infected human primary hepatocytes. Proteome analysis revealed that GSK3alpha/beta phosphorylated forkhead box K1/2 (FOXK1/2)s. A double-knockout of FOXK1/2 in HBV-infected HepG2-NTCP cells reduced HBeAg and HBsAg production. The rescue of FOXK2 expression, but not FOXK1 expression, in FOXK1/2-double-knockout cells restored HBeAg and HBsAg production. Importantly, phosphorylation of FOXK2 at Ser 424 is required for GSK3alpha/beta-mediated HBeAg and HBsAg production. We observed the binding of FOXK2 to HBV DNA in HepG2-NTCP cells.

Conclusions:
Our recombinant HBV-based screening system enables the discovery of new targets. Using our approach, we identified GSK3 inhibitors as potential anti-HBV agents.
Therapeutic Advances in Drug-Resistant Epilepsy
Authors: Hodelin Maynard Edwin Humberto , Diana Ţînț  , González Judith González , Morales Chacón Lilia María 
Published: January 2025

Background:
Drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) is a condition that affects up to 40% of the total population of patients with epilepsy. Advancements in the pharmaceutical field over recent decades have facilitated a significant expansion in the range of available drug options. Nevertheless, the prevalence of DRE has remained unaltered in recent years.

Areas of Uncertainty:
It is not completely understood how the new antiseizure medications and therapeutic strategies will impact the current burden of patients with DRE.

Data Sources:
A bibliographic search was made in MEDLINE to make a content analysis of the identified studies on the management of DRE.

Therapeutic Advances:
The elucidation of different underlying mechanisms of DRE has helped to create therapeutic alternatives for DRE. Some current drugs under clinical studies are cenobamate (100% and ≥90% of sustained seizure reduction), padsevonil (50% of seizure reduction), radiprodil, and NRTX-1001 (good tolerability, safety, and pharmacokinetic profiles), and BL-001 (favorable safety profile and good tolerability). Preclinical studies have also shown promising results of LRP-661, a cannabidiol derivative with superior bioavailability compared with the actual formulation of cannabidiol available in the market. In addition, gene therapies such as CAMK2A-EKC have achieved good effects in the control of focal cortical dysplasia type II in animal models. However, the combination of epilepsy surgery with novel ways of antiseizure medications administration, such as intraventricular delivery of valproate, increases the possibility of therapeutic success for patients with DRE.

Conclusions:
The promising therapeutic advances in the pharmacologic field have still not made great changes in the prevalence of DRE. Utilizing established and widely recognized antiseizure medications continues to be a viable treatment approach, particularly when complemented by additional therapeutic modalities such as physical exercise, ketogenic diet, interventional procedures, and epilepsy surgery.
The role of germline and somatic mutations in predicting cancer-associated thrombosis: a narrative review
Authors: Lanting Vincent , Oskam Merel , Wilmink Hanneke , Kamphuisen Pieter W. , van Es Nick 
Published: January 2025

Purpose of review
Patients with cancer have an increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Guidelines suggest to use risk assessment tools to guide decisions about thromboprophylaxis, but current tools have modest discriminatory ability. Genetic information from the germline or tumor has the potential to improve VTE prediction. Here, we provide a clinical overview of the current role of genetics in cancer-associated VTE.

Recent findings
Germline mutations, such as factor V Leiden and prothrombin G20210A, are associated with a 2- to 2.5-fold increased VTE risk in patients with cancer. Tumor-specific somatic mutations also contribute to VTE risk, such as ALK rearrangements increasing the risk in nonsmall cell lung cancer and IDH1 mutations decreasing the risk in gliomas. Other somatic mutations associated with VTE independent of tumor type include KRAS, STK11, MET, KEAP1, CTNNB1, and CDKN2B. Incorporating data on germline or somatic mutations in risk scores improves discriminatory ability compared with the Khorana score.

Summary
Specific germline and somatic mutations are associated with an increased VTE risk in patients with cancer and potentially improve performance of clinical risk scores. The increasing and widespread use of genetic testing in cancer care provides an opportunity for further development of prediction models incorporating genetic predictors.
Safety and Tolerability of Interval Compressed Chemotherapy Schedule in Children Receiving Treatment for Ewing Sarcoma: A Real-world Experience From India
Authors: Pal Somdipa , Krishnan Yamini , Parameswaran Krishnan V. , Sainulabdin Gazel 
Published: January 2025

Background and Aims:
Chemotherapy with alternating cycles of vincristine-doxorubicin-cyclophosphamide and ifosfamide-etoposide, along with primary tumor treatment with surgery or radiotherapy or both, constitute the usual treatment of Ewing sarcoma. The AEWS0031 study demonstrated survival benefits after interval-compressed chemotherapy without significant toxicity. The aim of this study was to assess the tolerability of dose-intensified chemotherapy in developing countries like India.

Methods:
This was a retrospective analysis of children younger than 18 years of age with newly diagnosed Ewing sarcoma who came for treatment from December 2017 to December 2022. Children received vincristine (2 mg/m2), doxorubicin (75 mg/m2), and cyclophosphamide (1.2 g/m2) alternating with ifosfamide (9 g/m2), etoposide (500 mg/m2) for 17 cycles, with filgrastim (5 µg/kg; maximum 300 µg) between cycles. Primary tumor treatment was provided with surgery or radiotherapy or both. Local treatment was given between weeks 12 to 16. Toxicity was assessed using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) Version 3.0. Radiologic response assessment was carried out with restaging CT or MRI scans after 6 to 8 cycles of chemotherapy in nonmetastatic and metastatic settings, respectively.

Results:
Thirty-one children were enrolled. Twenty-three children received all 17 cycles of chemotherapy. The median cycle interval was 18 days and 41% of children received chemotherapy at the 2-week interval. Grade 4 febrile neutropenia was observed in 32% of cycles but no treatment-related mortality was reported. Anemia and thrombocytopenia requiring transfusion support were recorded in 28 (5.6%) and 69 cycles (13.9%) of chemotherapy, respectively. There were 2 events of grade 4 cardiac toxicities in the form of cardiomyopathy and arrhythmia requiring intensive care management. After surgery, good necrosis was achieved in 61% of cases. Three children had a relapse with an event-free survival (EFS) of 87%.

Conclusion:
Intensified chemotherapy administered every 2 weeks intervals in Ewing sarcoma, is tolerable with adequate supportive care in resource-constrained settings.
Role of [68Ga]FAPI PET/CT in Diagnosing Thymoma and Its Implications
Authors: Dahlke Paul Martin , Senger Carolin , Rückert Jens-Carsten , Neudecker Jens , Furth Christian 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
We report the case of a 71-year-old woman with recurrence of type B3 thymoma in which the diagnostic accuracy has benefited considerably from the additional use of [68Ga]FAPI PET/CT when compared with the standard [18F]FDG PET. [68Ga]FAPI PET/CT confirmed the known lesions with higher lesion-to-background ratio and additionally identified a previously undetected lesion near the FDG-avid apex of the heart. This case demonstrates a potential superiority of [68Ga]FAPI PET/CT in patients suffering from thymoma as detection of local recurrence close to metabolically active organs (ie, liver, heart) is improved. An improved planning of subsequent treatments (ie, lesion delineation for radiotherapy) appears possible.
Walthard Cell Nests Leading to 18F-FDG Increased Uptake of Fallopian Tube
Authors: Xu Shufan , Ou Lei , Chen Xiaoliang 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
We present 18F-FDG PET/CT findings of fallopian tube with Walthard cell nests. The images revealed a thickening of the bilateral fallopian tubes with increased FDG uptake. Malignant tumor or tuberculosis of the fallopian tube was suspected. Histopathology suggested fallopian tube with Walthard cell nests.
Individual associations of self-reported sleep duration, sleep quality, chronotype and social jet lag with infectious disease risk
Authors: Martínez-Albert Estefanía , Bless Josef J. , Besedovsky Luciana 
Published: January 2025

Sleep deficiency is associated with infectious disease risk. However, little is known about the individual roles of different aspects of sleep, including sleep duration, sleep quality, sleep timing (assessed by chronotype) and sleep regularity (in the form of social jet lag) in this context. Here, we examined associations of the probability of reporting a cold or other infections with self-reported sleep duration, sleep quality and chronotype in a sample of 642 adults, and with social jet lag in a subsample of 274 adults. We found that short (≤ 6 h) and long sleepers (≥ 9 h) were more likely to report a cold in the past 30 days than average sleepers (7–8 h). Also, individuals with a definite evening chronotype were more likely to report a cold in the past 30 days than those with an intermediate chronotype, even when controlling for sleep duration. Finally, social jet lag was dose-dependently associated with the risk of reporting a cold in the past 12 months, independently of sleep duration, sleep quality and chronotype. No associations were found with sleep quality or with infections other than colds. The findings show that different aspects of sleep are independently associated with incidence of reported colds.
This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue ‘Circadian rhythms in infection and immunity’.
Automatically Defining Protein Words for Diverse Functional Predictions Based on Attention Analysis of a Protein Language Model
Authors: Chen Hedi , Zhong Jingrui , Zhang Xiaochun , Chen Jingke , Guo Lin , Xiong Xiaoliang , Zhang Xiaonan , Liu Xiangyu , Xiao Bailong , Tian Boxue 
Published: January 2025

AbstractUnderstanding the relationship between protein sequence and function remains a longstanding challenge in bioinformatics, and to date the lion’s share of related tools parse proteins at the domain or motif levels. Here, we define “protein words” as an alternative to “motif” for studying proteins and functional prediction applications. We first developed an unsupervised tool we term Protein Wordwise, which parses analyte protein sequences into protein words by analyzing attention matrices from a protein language model (PLM) through a community detection algorithm. We then developed a supervised sequence-function prediction model called Word2Function, for mapping protein words to GO terms through feature importance analysis. We compared the prediction performance of our protein word-based toolkit with a motif-based method (PROSITE) for multiple protein function datasets. We also assembled a functionally diverse data resource we term PWNet to support evaluation of protein words for predicting functional residues across 10 tasks (e.g., diverse biomolecular binding, catalysis, and ion-channel activity). Our toolkit outperforms PROSITE in all the examined datasets and tasks. By abandoning domains and instead using attention matrices from a PLM for automatic, systematic, and annotation-agnostic parsing of proteins, our toolkit both outperforms currently available tools for functional annotations at the residue and whole-protein levels and suggests innovative forms of protein analysis well-suited to the post-AlphaFold era of biochemistry.