bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Oscillations in Wave Map Systems and Homogenization of the Einstein Equations in Symmetry
Authors: Guerra André , Teixeira da Costa Rita 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
In 1989, Burnett conjectured that, under appropriate assumptions, the limit of highly oscillatory solutions to the Einstein vacuum equations is a solution of the Einstein–massless Vlasov system. In a recent breakthrough, Huneau–Luk (Ann Sci l’ENS, 2024) gave a proof of the conjecture in U(1)-symmetry and elliptic gauge. They also require control on up to fourth order derivatives of the metric components. In this paper, we give a streamlined proof of a stronger result and, in the spirit of Burnett’s original conjecture, we remove the need for control on higher derivatives. Our methods also apply to general wave map equations.
Feels Like Home: A Biobased and Biodegradable Plastic Offers a Novel Habitat for Diverse Plant Pathogenic Fungi in Temperate Forest Ecosystems
Authors: Nonthijun Paradha , Tanunchai Benjawan , Schroeter Simon Andreas , Wahdan Sara Fareed Mohamed , Alves Eliane Gomes , Hilke Ines , Buscot François , Schulze Ernst-Detlef , Disayathanoowat Terd , Purahong Witoon , Noll Matthias 
Published: December 2024

AbstractPoly(butylene succinate-co-adipate) (PBSA), a biodegradable plastic, is significantly colonized and degraded by soil microbes under natural field conditions, especially by fungal plant pathogens, raising concerns about potential economic losses. This study hypothesizes that the degradation of biodegradable plastics may increase the presence and abundance of plant pathogens by serving as an additional carbon source, ultimately posing a risk to forest ecosystems. We investigated (i) fungal plant pathogens during the exposure of PBSA in European broadleaved and coniferous forests (two forest types), with a specific focus on potential risk to tree health, and (ii) the response of such fungi to environmental factors, including tree species, soil pH, nutrient availability, moisture content, and the physicochemical properties of leaf litter layer. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) revealed that PBSA harbored a total of 318 fungal plant pathogenic amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) belonging to 108 genera. Among the identified genera (Alternaria, Nectria, Phoma, Lophodermium, and Phacidium), some species have been reported as causative agents of tree diseases. Plenodomus was present in high relative abundances on PBSA, which have not previously been associated with disease in broadleaved and coniferous forests. Furthermore, the highest number of fungal plant pathogens were detected at 200 days of PBSA exposure (112 and 99 fungal plant pathogenic ASV on PBSA degraded under Q. robur and F. sylvatic-dominated forest, respectively), which was double compared mature leaves and needles from the same forest sites. These findings suggest that PBSA attracts fungal plant pathogens in forests as an additional carbon source, potentially leading to increased disease outbreaks and disrupting the stability of forest ecosystems. The fungal plant pathogenic community compositions were mainly shaped by forest type, PBSA exposure time, site locations, leaf litter layer water content, and N:P ratio from leaf litter layer in both forest types. This study provides valuable insights into the potential risks posed by biodegradable plastic degradation in forests after 200 and 400 days of exposure, respectively. Further comprehensive evaluations of their effects on tree health and ecosystems, ideally on a long-term basis, are needed. These evaluations should include integrating microbial investigation, soil health monitoring, and ecosystem interaction assessments. Nevertheless, it should be noted that our interpretation of plant pathogens is solely based on high-throughput sequencing, bioinformatics, and annotation tools.
Bat Cutaneous Microbial Assemblage Functional Redundancy Across a Host-Mediated Disturbance
Authors: Grisnik Matthew , Walker Donald M. 
Published: December 2024

AbstractUnderstanding the processes and factors that influence the structure of host-associated microbial assemblages has been a major area of research as these assemblages play a role in host defense against pathogens. Previous work has found that bacterial taxa within bat cutaneous microbial assemblages have antifungal capabilities against the emerging fungal pathogen, Pseudogymnoascus destructans. However, our understanding of natural fluctuations in these cutaneous microbial assemblages over time due to shifts in host habitat is lacking. The objective of this work was to understand how the taxonomic and functional bat cutaneous microbial assemblage responds to seasonal shifts in host habitat. We hypothesized that at the community level, there will be turnover in taxonomic structure but functional redundancy across seasons. On a finer scale, we hypothesized that there will be differences in the relative abundance of functional genes that code for select pathways across seasons. Results showed that, on a broad scale, the bat cutaneous microbial assemblage is seasonally taxonomically dynamic but functionally redundant. Additionally, although there was almost complete taxonomic turnover between winter and summer bat microbial assemblages, there was no difference in assemblage structure across winters. This functional redundancy was also observed at finer scales, with no differences in the abundance of genes within pathways of hypothesized importance across seasons or winters. Taken together, results suggest species sorting mechanisms correlated with shifts in host habitat use, drive taxonomic but not functional host-associated cutaneous microbial community assembly.
Integration of bulk and single-cell RNA-seq reveals prognostic gene signatures in patients with bladder cancer treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors
Authors: Cho Mina , Chang Hyun , Kim Ju Han 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors have significantly advanced research in oncology and are used to successfully treat patients with bladder cancer (BC). However, as the benefits of programmed death-1/ programmed death-ligand-1 blockade immunotherapy do not extend to all patients with BC, biomarkers are required to improve prognostic stratification. This study aims to identify reliable biomarkers to enhance the prediction of treatment outcomes. Bulk RNA expression data from a BC cohort (GSE176307) receiving ICI and single-cell sequencing data from patients with BC (GSE135337) were collected. We identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) within cells that were associated with favorable survival outcomes and developed a predictive bladder cancer gene signature (BC-GS). Subsequently, we performed pathway enrichment analysis using the Reactome database. We used two independent datasets to validate the BC-GS. Patients with low BC-GS had a significantly shorter overall survival (OS) than those with high BC-GS (p < 0.05, p < 0.001, respectively). Additionally, patients with a concurrently low BC-GS score and low tumor mutation burden (TMB) in GSE176307 and the two validation datasets exhibited an increased risk of death. Genes in the BC-GS were predominantly involved in CD8+ T cell activation, antigen presentation, and immune checkpoint pathways. CIBERSORT analysis revealed differences in CD4+ T cells and macrophages between the high and low BC-GS groups. This study demonstrated the prognostic significance of the BC-GS in patients with BC treated with ICI. The combined assessment of the BC-GS and TMB may provide a sophisticated prognostic approach to enhance patient stratification for ICI treatment in BC.
Target trial emulation to evaluate the effect of immune-related adverse events on outcomes in metastatic urothelial cancer
Authors: Pichler Renate , Fritz Josef , Maier Sarah , Hassler Melanie R. , Krauter Johanna , D`Andrea David , Laukhtina Ekaterina , Gust Kilian , Mori Keiichiro , Tully Karl H. , Niedersuess-Beke Dora , Korber Lea , Spiegelberg Jasmin Alija , Bauernhofer Thomas , Subiela José D. , Mayr Roman , Kronbichler Andreas , Moschini Marco , Teoh Jeremy , Pradere Benjamin , Shariat Shahrokh F. , Ulmer Hanno , Mertens Laura S. ,   European Association of Urology–Young Academic Urologists (EAU-YAU): Urothelial Carcinoma Working Group
Published: December 2024

Abstract

Background
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are an important therapeutic pillar in metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC). The occurrence of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) appears to be associated with improved outcomes in observational studies. However, these associations are likely affected by immortal time bias and do not represent causal effects. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of irAEs on outcomes while correcting for immortal time bias, using target trial emulation (TTE).

Methods
TTE was contrasted to adjusted naïve and time-updated Cox models. We performed a multi-institutional retrospective study involving mUC patients under ICI. The primary objective was to assess the impact of irAEs on progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Secondary endpoints included the influence of irAEs on objective response rates (ORRs) to ICI and the influence of systemic corticosteroids on outcomes.

Results
Among 335 patients (median age: 69 yrs), 69.6% received ICI in the second line or further lines. During a median follow-up of 21.1 months, 122 (36.4%) patients developed irAEs of any grade (grade ≥ 3: 14.9%). Hazard ratios (HRs) for PFS ranged from 0.37 for naïve adjusted Cox model to 0.88 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.59–1.30) with time-updated covariates, and from 0.41 to 1.10 (95% CI, 0.69–1.75) for OS. TTE accounting for immortal time bias yielded a HR of 1.02 (95% CI, 0.72–1.44) for PFS, and 0.90 (95% CI, 0.62–1.30) for OS. In contrast to the naïve Cox model (HR = 2.26, 95% CI 1.26–4.05), the presence of irAEs was no longer a predictive factor for improved ORR in time-updated Cox models (HR = 1.27, 95% CI 0.68–2.36) and TTE (HR = 1.43, 95% CI 0.89–2.29). In patients with irAEs, systemic corticosteroids did not negatively impact survival.

Conclusion
Using TTE, we were able to show that the occurrence of irAEs is no longer associated with better survival or improved response rates to ICI in mUC patients, in contrast to the naïve analysis. These findings demonstrate that TTE is a suitable formal framework to avoid immortal time bias in studies with time-dependent non-interventional exposures.

Graphical abstract
COVID-19–sensitive tumour response: 2-year assessment of the SARS-CoV-2 humoral response in cancer patients in oncology hospital in Poland
Authors: Kosiorek Piotr , Mikołuć Bożena , Stróż Samuel , Hryniewicz Anna , Kazberuk Dorota E. , Milewski Robert , Grzeszczuk Anna , Borkowska Magdalena J. , Stasiak‐Barmuta Anna 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Vaccination has been considered the most crucial defence against viral infections, including SARS-CoV-2. Numerous reports have demonstrated the effectiveness of the above vaccines in oncological patients. It has also been proven that, apart from vaccinations and oncological therapy, the course of the cancer process itself influences the magnitude of the humoral response, especially in people after infection with SARS-CoV-2. The phenomenon we observe seems to confirm the presence of a "natural" defence potential in a cancer patient's body, in this case, directed against infection with a viral pathogen. A "stronger" antiviral response also explains the asymptomatic course of SARS-CoV-2 infection in some of the above patients. To what extent the SARS-CoV-2 infection weakened the "natural" potential of the anticancer response in these patients remains an open question.

Objective
This study aimed to answer the question about the impact of the cancer process on the humoral response in oncological patients vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 infection and in patients after COVID-19.

Material and methods
One thousand six hundred and sixty-eight people were observed. Over 2 years, 5,082 SARS-CoV-2 IgG and IgM antibody samples were determined. The concentration of antibodies was assessed in groups of oncological patients: those undergoing anticancer therapy after contracting COVID-19 and those after vaccination against the SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Results
The obtained results indicate a naturally more significant humoral response in oncological patients who have not been vaccinated and have not undergone anticancer therapy, such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or surgical intervention. The above observation applies to patients with breast, lung, colon, kidney, and testicular cancer, although the response varies significantly depending on the type of cancer.

Graphical abstract
Subtrochanteric shortening osteotomy in adult sickle cell disease patients with cemented total hip arthroplasty for hip deformities secondary to childhood osteonecrosis: is healing a challenge?
Authors: Hernigou Philippe , Homma Yasuhiro , Bastard Claire , Yoon Byoung-Chol , Lachaniette Charles-Henri Flouzat 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

Purpose
Hip deformity is frequent after childhood osteonecrosis in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). When they are adults, they present a challenge as candidates for total hip arthroplasty (THA) because of abnormal bone development, their relative youth, and also because of their disease. Performing subtrochanteric osteotomy associated with THA is technically challenging, and healing of osteotomies has never been reported in this population with frequent osteonecrotic bone, whether using cemented or uncemented arthroplasties.

Methods
We retrospectively analyzed 59 cemented THA with femoral corrective osteotomies (subtrochanteric shortening and transverse derotational osteotomy) performed on hip deformities between 1984 and 2018 in 59 sickle cell adult patients. The patient’s age at the onset of osteonecrosis was an average of 8.4 years (6 to 10 years), and at the time of the THA was 28.6 years (19 to 41 years). All the patients had a minimum followup period of six years. Endocrinopathy was frequently associated to SCD Data and consequences were evaluated on bone union. The mechanical variables, such as the length of the resected femur, limb lengthening, the location of the osteotomy site, the size of the stem bridging the osteotomy, and any complications, were also analyzed.

Results
The average length of the resected femoral segment was 38.4 mm. The length of the femoral stem (bridging the osteotomy) was average 13 cm. The mean osteotomy union time was 10.6 months. Twenty-four osteotomies healed in six months, six in nine months, and 29 in twelve months, while five required bone grafts at nine months. The union time of the osteotomy was average 10.6 months. Complications included four cases of transient nerve palsy, and five intraoperative femur perforations. No statistically significant relationship was found between osteotomy union time and mechanical variables. The severity of endocrinopathy associated with sickle cell disease prolonged the healing time. In three cases, cement leakage into the osteotomy gap occurred without resulting in non-healing.

Conclusion
Cemented THA, combined with a subtrochanteric femoral shortening with transverse derotational osteotomy, has a long union time but is effective for adult hip deformities of patients with sickle cell patients.
Combined PCL and anatomic posterolateral corner reconstruction: A tibial slope under 8 degrees and a persisting dorsal instability of 4 mm or more have a negative effect on the clinical outcome
Authors: Fahlbusch H. , Weiß S. , Korthaus A. , Akoto R. , Krause M. , Frosch K. H. 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Purpose
The failure rate following posterolateral corner reconstruction (PLC) remains high. Previous research indicates that in posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) reconstruction the laxity is affected by the tibial slope (TS). However, there is currently no literature evaluating the impact of TS on surgical outcome in combined reconstruction of PLC/PCL.

Methods
This study analyzed 47 patients in a retrospective cohort study who underwent PCL and anatomical PLC reconstruction according to techniques described by Arciero or LaPrade. TS was measured, and patients were divided into two groups: Group A (n = 16) with TS < 8° and Group B (n = 31) with TS ≥ 8°. After a minimum follow-up of 12 months, the side-to-side difference (SSD) of posterior tibial translation (PTT) was assessed using instrumented stability testing (Rolimeter), and various patient-reported outcome measures (IKDC, Lysholm) were collected and compared.

Results
At a mean follow-up of 17.7 ± 4.7 months, group A exhibited a higher SSD of PTT (A 3.9 mm ± 2.1 vs. B: 2.8 mm ± 1.5; p < 0.05). A negative correlation was observed between SSD of PTT and both TS (r = − 0.43; R2 = 0.18; p < 0.01) and the Lysholm Score (r = − 0.41; R2 = 0.17; p < 0.01) in the overall cohort. Subgroup analysis revealed a higher Lysholm Score in patients with a postoperative SSD of PTT less than 4 mm (85.7 ± 10.1 vs. 79.2 ± 6.6; p = 0.0006).

Conclusion
In combined PCL and anatomic PLC reconstruction a TS < 8° results in elevated SSD of PTT. A flattened TS is linked to higher remaining SSD of PTT, while lower SSD of PTT is associated with improved clinical outcomes.

Level of evidence
Retrospective Cohort Study, IV.
Naturalistic multimodal emotion data with deep learning can advance the theoretical understanding of emotion
Authors: Angkasirisan Thanakorn 
Published: December 2024

AbstractWhat are emotions? Despite being a century-old question, emotion scientists have yet to agree on what emotions exactly are. Emotions are diversely conceptualised as innate responses (evolutionary view), mental constructs (constructivist view), cognitive evaluations (appraisal view), or self-organising states (dynamical systems view). This enduring fragmentation likely stems from the limitations of traditional research methods, which often adopt narrow methodological approaches. Methods from artificial intelligence (AI), particularly those leveraging big data and deep learning, offer promising approaches for overcoming these limitations. By integrating data from multimodal markers of emotion, including subjective experiences, contextual factors, brain-bodily physiological signals and expressive behaviours, deep learning algorithms can uncover and map their complex relationships within multidimensional spaces. This multimodal emotion framework has the potential to provide novel, nuanced insights into long-standing questions, such as whether emotion categories are innate or learned and whether emotions exhibit coherence or degeneracy, thereby refining emotion theories. Significant challenges remain, particularly in obtaining comprehensive naturalistic multimodal emotion data, highlighting the need for advances in synchronous measurement of naturalistic multimodal emotion.
Association between FTO gene polymorphism and obesity in down syndrome children
Authors: Mourad Shereen A. , El-Farahaty Reham M , Atwa Mohamed A. , Yahia Sohier , El-Gilany Abdel-Hady , Elzeiny Ahmed A. , Elhennawy Eman S. 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Children with Down syndrome (DS) have a higher incidence of overweight and obesity compared to typically developing peers. The fat mass and obesity-associated gene (FTO) is one of the early identified genes linked to obesity in various populations. To date, the FTO rs17817449 gene polymorphism has not been investigated in overweight/obese-DS (ODS) individuals. The current study aimed to explore the potential association between the FTO rs17817449 gene polymorphism and obesity-related markers, and to evaluate the ability of this polymorphism in the prediction of overweight/obesity in DS children and adolescents. This case-control study included 100 DS children under the age of 18, classified into three groups according to BMI-percentile; 50 non-obese DS (NODS), 24 overweight DS, and 26 ODS. Genotyping of FTO gene rs17817449 polymorphism was performed using the restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP-PCR) method. Serum lipid and thyroid profiles were also assessed. The results revealed significant increase in the frequency of the FTO rs17817449 T allele among overweight /ODS children compared to NODS children (p=0.0099). Overweight/ODS children exhibited significantly higher frequencies of the FTO rs17817449 GT and TT genotypes compared to NODS children.

Conclusion:There is an association between FTO rs17817449 genetic variant and overweight/obesity among the studied DS groups. The FTO rs17817449 GT and TT genotypes, as well as TGs level, were identified as independent risk factors for predicting overweight and obesity in DS children.

What is Known:

• Overweight and obese-DS (ODS) children displayed higher BMI and atherogenic lipid profile than non-obese DS children (NODS). FTO gene polymorphism rs17817449 contributes to obesity development in general population, but there is conflicting information about the risk allele.

What is New:

• FTO rs17817449 TT genotype and T allele were considered as independent risk factors for overweight and obesity development in DS children, so they could be used for obesity prediction in DS children.
Post-coronavirus disease 2019–associated symptoms among children and adolescents in the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron era
Authors: Schlegtendal Anne , Maier Christoph , Stein Julien , Höpner Jakob , Petersmann Astrid , Drinka Denisa , Berner Reinhard , Lücke Thomas , Toepfner Nicole , Brinkmann Folke 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Purpose
Lack of a control group(s) and selection bias were the main criticisms of previous studies investigating the prevalence of post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) syndrome (PCS). There are insufficient data regarding paediatric PCS, particularly in the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron era. As such, our study investigated PCS-associated symptoms in a representative control-matched cohort.

Methods
This multicentre, cross-sectional, cohort study within the “Immunebridge” project of the German Network University Medicine (NUM) recruited children and adolescents (five to 17 years old) between July and October 2022. Children with polymerase chain reaction-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection in 2022 (COVID-19 group) were compared with those without history of SARS-CoV-2 infection and negative for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Queries included vaccinations, quality of life (QoL), and mental and physical symptoms potentially associated with PCS in the previous three months. An additional composite item, “physical performance”, was created from the responses.

Results
The number of children with ≥ 1 PCS symptom(s) was comparable between the COVID-19 (n = 114 [62.1%]) and control (n = 66 [64.9%]) groups. Concentration disorders were reported more frequently in the COVID-19 group (12.3% versus 1.5%; p = 0.012) and “physical performance” was significantly impaired (p = 0.016) regardless of age, sex, and SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. The frequencies of other symptoms were similar in both groups. The COVID-19 group rated their fitness as worse, with otherwise equal QoL ratings regarding general and mental health.
Conclusion Children with and without previous infections did not differ in most PCS-associated symptoms. Exceptions
included physical performance and cognitive problems, which appeared to be more impaired after Omicron infection than
in controls.

What is Known:• Mainly due to too few controlled studies, knowledge about the prevalence of individual symptoms in paediatric post-COVID-19 syndrome (PCS) for the Omicron era is poor.

What is New:• In a representative control-matched cohort most parent-reported PCS-associated symptoms and quality of life scores in children and adolescents with PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection did not differ from those without infection.• Exceptions were physical performance and cognitive problems, which were apparently more severely impaired after SARS-CoV-2-Omicron infection than in the control subjects.