bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Preventability of Hospital Deaths in Patients With Non-Ventilator Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia
Authors: Tatara Alexander M , Apostolopoulou Anna , Agan Anna A , DelloStritto Laura , Rhee Chanu , Klompas Michael 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

Background
Crude and adjusted mortality rates for patients with non-ventilator hospital-acquired pneumonia (NV-HAP) are among the highest of all healthcare-associated infections, leading to calls for greater prevention. Patients prone to NV-HAP, however, tend to be severely ill at baseline, making it unclear whether their high mortality rates are due to NV-HAP, their underlying conditions, or both.

Methods
Two infectious disease physicians conducted detailed medical record reviews on 150 randomly selected adults from 4 hospitals who died in-hospital following an NV-HAP event between April 2016 and May 2021. Reviewers abstracted risk factors, estimated the preventability of NV-HAP, identified causes of death, and adjudicated the preventability of death.

Results
The patients’ median age was 69.3 (IQR, 60.7–77.4) years and 43.3% were female. Comorbidities were common: 57% had cancer, 30% chronic kidney disease, 29% chronic lung disease, and 27% had heart failure. At least 1 hospice-eligible condition was present before NV-HAP in 54% and “Do Not Resuscitate” orders in 24%. Most (99%) had difficult-to-modify NV-HAP risk factors: 76% altered mental status, 35% dysphagia, and 27% nasogastric/orogastric tubes. NV-HAP was deemed possibly or probably preventable in 21% and hospital death likely or very likely preventable in 8.6%.

Conclusions
Most patients who die following NV-HAP have multiple, severe underlying comorbidities and difficult-to-modify risk factors for NV-HAP. Only 1 in 5 NV-HAPs that culminated in death and 1 in 12 deaths following NV-HAP were judged potentially preventable. This does not diminish the importance of NV-HAP prevention programs but informs expectations about the potential magnitude of their impact on hospital deaths.
Pitavastatin Is Well-Tolerated With no Detrimental Effects on Physical Function
Authors: Erlandson Kristine M , Umbleja Triin , Ribaudo Heather J , Schrack Jennifer A , Overton Edgar T , Fichtenbaum Carl J , Fitch Kathleen V , Roa Jhoanna C , Diggs Marissa R , Wood Kenneth , Zanni Markella V , Bloomfield Gerald S , Malvestutto Carlos , Aberg Judith A , Rodriguez-Barradas Maria C , Morones Rosalba Gomez , Breaux Katherine , Douglas Pamela S , Grinspoon Steven K , Brown Todd T 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

Background
Little is known about the potential benefits or harms of statins on physical function among people with human immunodeficiency virus (PWH).

Methods
REPRIEVE was a double-blind randomized controlled trial evaluating pitavastatin for primary prevention of major adverse cardiovascular events in PWH. Time to complete 10 chair rises, 4-m gait speed, grip strength, and a modified short physical performance test were assessed annually for up to 5 years in the ancillary study PREPARE and analyzed using linear mixed models.

Findings
Of 602 PWH, 52% were randomized to pitavastatin and 48% to placebo. Median age was 51 years; 18% were female at birth; 2% transgender; and 40% Black, and 18% Hispanic. Median PREPARE follow-up was 4.7 (4.3–5.0) years. Muscle symptoms (grade ≥3 or treatment-limiting) occurred in 5% of both groups. There was no evidence of decline in chair rise rate in either treatment group and no difference in the pitavastatin group compared to placebo (estimated difference −0.10 [95% confidence interval, −.30 to 0.10] rises/min/year; P = .31). Small declines over time were observed in other physical function tests in both treatment groups, with no apparent differences between groups.

Interpretation
We observed minimal declines in physical function over 5 years of follow-up among middle-aged PWH, with no differences among PWH randomized to pitavastatin compared to placebo. This finding, combined with low prevalence of myalgias, supports the long-term safety of statin therapy on physical function, when used for primary prevention of major adverse cardiovascular events among PWH.
Effect of targeted education of patients with atrial fibrillation on unplanned cardiovascular outcomes: results of the multicentre randomized AF-EduCare trial
Authors: Desteghe Lien , Delesie Michiel , Knaepen Lieselotte , Önder Rana , Verbeeck Johan , Dendale Paul , Phlips Thomas , Haemers Peter , Saenen Johan , Ector Joris , Vijgen Johan , Heidbuchel Hein 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

Aims
Trials on integrated care for atrial fibrillation (AF) showed mixed results in different AF populations using various approaches. The multicentre, randomized AF-EduCare trial evaluated the effect of targeted patient education on unplanned cardiovascular outcomes.

Methods and results
Patients willing to participate were randomly assigned to in-person education, online education, or standard care (SC) and followed for minimum 18 months. Education focused on four aspects of integrated AF care: (i) knowledge on AF and oral anticoagulation; (ii) reinforcement of medication adherence; (iii) awareness about risk factors; and (iv) reachability for AF-related questions. The primary endpoint was the composite of cumulative events of unplanned cardiovascular hospitalizations and consultations, emergency department visits for cardiovascular reasons, and cardiovascular death. A total of 1038 patients (69.8 ± 9.2 years) were followed up for 26.9 ± 9.4 months. Education (both in-person and online) significantly improved AF-related knowledge compared to SC (P &lt; 0.001), increased patient awareness about risk factors, led to high medication adherence, and encouraged patients to ask health-related questions. However, in-person education did not show an effect on the primary outcome compared to SC [HR 1.02 (0.91–1.14); P = 0.80] that was also not the case when comparing online education vs. SC [HR 1.18 (0.95–1.46), P = 0.65]. Exploratory subgroup analyses showed a heterogeneous effect over the centres, but a positive impact of in-person education in patients with asymptomatic AF, being 70 years old or younger, and without a history of heart failure.

Conclusion
AF-EduCare showed that intensive targeted patient education did not lead to less unplanned cardiovascular events in the AF patient population as a whole, although subgroups might benefit.
‘The nation does not even know what a jury is’: trust, fear and judicial reconstruction in the French Revolution, 1789–91
Authors: Andress David 
Published: August 2024

Abstract
The long and turbulent debates in the French National Constituent Assembly of 1789–91 over the creation of a jury system offer a window into the problematic nature of political trust in the French Revolution. The corruption of French mœurs, and the uncertain and contradictory place of the jury in their regeneration, preoccupied Assembly deputies. While courtroom juries were initially taken for granted as a vital pillar of the new constitution, debate repeatedly disparaged the mental and moral capacity of the French to actually weigh evidence and deliver fair verdicts, in the face of potentially intimidatory criminals and a ‘public opinion’ depicted in increasingly untrustworthy terms. The structure eventually erected sought to constrain jurors’ decision-making to an ‘infallible’ emotive response to sensory stimuli, and to ban them from rationally reviewing written evidence. This reflected deeper problems with revolutionary elites’ willingness to grant autonomy and legitimacy to the wider population: to trust the people.
Entomophthovirus: an insect-derived iflavirus that infects a behavior-manipulating fungal pathogen of dipterans
Authors: Coyle Maxwell C , Elya Carolyn N , Bronski Michael J , Eisen Michael B 
Published: August 2024

Abstract
We report a virus infecting Entomophthora muscae, a behavior-manipulating fungal pathogen of dipterans. The virus, which we name Berkeley Entomophthovirus, is a positive-strand RNA virus in the iflaviridae family of capsid-forming viruses, which are mostly known to infect insects. The viral RNA is expressed at high levels in fungal cells in vitro and during in vivo infections of Drosophila melanogaster, and virus particles can be seen intracellularly in E. muscae. This virus, of which we find two closely related variants in our culture of E. muscae, is also closely related to three different viruses reported from metagenomic surveys, two of which were isolated from wild dipterans, and a third isolated from wild ticks. By analyzing sequencing data from these earlier reports, we find abundant reads aligning to E. muscae specifically in the samples from which viral reads were sequenced. These data establish a wide and perhaps obligate association with E. muscae in the wild, consistent with our laboratory data that E. muscae is the host for these closely related viruses. Because of this, we propose the name Entomophthovirus (EV) for this group of highly related virus variants. As other members of the iflaviridae have been reported to cause behavioral changes in insects, we speculate on the possibility that EV plays a role in the behavioral manipulation of flies infected with E. muscae.
PyBrOpS: a Python package for breeding program simulation and optimization for multi-objective breeding
Authors: Shrote Robert Z , Thompson Addie M 
Published: August 2024

Abstract
Plant breeding is a complex endeavor that is almost always multi-objective in nature. In recent years, stochastic breeding simulations have been used by breeders to assess the merits of alternative breeding strategies and assist in decision-making. In addition to simulations, visualization of a Pareto frontier for multiple competing breeding objectives can assist breeders in decision-making. This paper introduces Python Breeding Optimizer and Simulator (PyBrOpS), a Python package capable of performing multi-objective optimization of breeding objectives and stochastic simulations of breeding pipelines. PyBrOpS is unique among other simulation platforms in that it can perform multi-objective optimizations and incorporate these results into breeding simulations. PyBrOpS is built to be highly modular and has a script-based philosophy, making it highly extensible and customizable. In this paper, we describe some of the main features of PyBrOpS and demonstrate its ability to map Pareto frontiers for breeding possibilities and perform multi-objective selection in a simulated breeding pipeline.
Dietary Live Microbes Intake Associated With Biological Aging and Mortality
Authors: Zhu Xu , Chen Wenhang , Xue Jing , Dai Wenjie , Maimaitituerxun Rehanguli , Liu Yamin , Xu Hui , Zhou Qiaoling , Zhou Quan , Chen Chunyuan , Wang Zhenxing , Xie Hui 
Published: August 2024

Abstract
This observational study aimed to investigate associations between dietary live microbe intake and mortality, as well as biological aging. Adults from the 1999–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were categorized into low, medium, and high dietary live microbe groups. Foods with medium and high live microbe content were aggregated into a medium-high consumption category. The outcomes included all-cause, cardiovascular, and cancer mortality, along with biological age (BA) acceleration assessed by the Klemera–Doubal method (KDM) and PhenoAge. Multiple regression analyses and mediation analyses were conducted to assess associations, adjusting for potential confounders. A total of 34 133 adults were included in our analyses. Over an average follow-up period of 9.92 years, 5 462 deaths occurred. In multivariate adjusted models, every 100 g of medium-high group foods consumed was associated with reduced all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 0.94, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.91 to 0.97, p &lt; .001) and cardiovascular mortality (HR 0.91, 95% CI 0.86 to 0.96, p &lt; .001), but not with cancer mortality (HR 1.01, 95% CI 0.95 to 1.07, p = .768). Every 100 g medium-high group foods consumption was associated with decreased KDM-BA acceleration (fully adjusted regression coefficient −0.09, 95% CI −0.15 to −0.04, p = .001) and PhenoAge acceleration (fully adjusted regression coefficient −0.07, 95% CI −0.11 to −0.03, p &lt; .001). Mediation analysis showed that BA acceleration partially mediated live microbes-mortality associations. Our results suggest that higher dietary live microbe intake is associated with lower mortality risk and slower biological aging. However, further research is needed to verify these findings.
An increasing number of states filled Conrad 30 waivers for recruiting international medical graduates
Authors: Ramesh Tarun , Brotherton Sarah E , Wozniak Gregory D , Yu Hao 
Published: August 2024

Abstract
To address physician shortages in the United States, Congress created the Conrad 30 visa waiver program allowing non-citizen international medical graduates to obtain visas to practice medicine in underserved areas. There is little information on whether states have effectively used the program. To fill the gap, we examined the growth and distribution of Conrad physicians between 2001 and 2020. We found that the number of states filling all of their annual allocated Conrad slots increased over the last two decades, yet one-half of the states still did not fill their allowed slots in 2020. Our analysis also revealed substantial variations across states in the number of Conrad physicians by specialty (eg, primary care physicians and psychiatrists), geography (eg, rural vs urban areas and physician shortage vs non-shortage areas). Our findings suggest that states can better use the Conrad program to meet healthcare needs across specialties and geographic areas.
A “third camp” in Israel’s constitutional upheaval: The voice of the silent Palestinian-Arab minority
Authors: Karayanni Michael 
Published: August 2024

Abstract
The Israeli government’s controversial initiative to instigate sweeping judicial reforms, conceived in early 2023, gave rise to an unprecedented opposition movement. So intense was the public pushback that the initiative sharpened existing conflicts, bringing old and new schisms to the surface. One primary stakeholder in the judicial reform initiative, had it proved even partially successful, was the Palestinian-Arab minority. However, this minority was virtually absent from the protests and the deliberations that took place to work out a compromise between the two camps. Referencing the theory and practice of “democratic deficit,” this article explains this striking absence by drawing attention to the fact that the “democratic deficit” that so concerns the Palestinian-Arabs is endemic in the constitutional order that the pro-reform camp wanted to see strengthened, and one that the anti-reform camp would have settled for maintaining. Being against the proposed reforms but simultaneously unwilling to join forces with the public anti-reform pushback, the Palestinian-Arabs thus constituted a “third camp” in Israel’s constitutional upheaval. The article traces the consolidation of this “third camp” and highlights why its positioning as such has constituted the Palestinian-Arab minority as a distinct group that, in contexts predating the constitutional upheaval of 2023, has mounted, and continues to mount, unique challenges to Israel’s constitutional order.
Implementation and impact of an electronic patient reported outcomes system in a phase II multi-site adaptive platform clinical trial for early-stage breast cancer
Authors: Northrop Anna , Christofferson Anika , Umashankar Saumya , Melisko Michelle , Castillo Paolo , Brown Thelma , Heditsian Diane , Brain Susie , Simmons Carol , Hieken Tina , Ruddy Kathryn J , Mainor Candace , Afghahi Anosheh , Tevis Sarah , Blaes Anne , Kang Irene , Asare Adam , Esserman Laura , Hershman Dawn L , Basu Amrita 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

Objectives
We describe the development and implementation of a system for monitoring patient-reported adverse events and quality of life using electronic Patient Reported Outcome (ePRO) instruments in the I-SPY2 Trial, a phase II clinical trial for locally advanced breast cancer. We describe the administration of technological, workflow, and behavior change interventions and their associated impact on questionnaire completion.

Materials and Methods
Using the OpenClinica electronic data capture system, we developed rules-based logic to build automated ePRO surveys, customized to the I-SPY2 treatment schedule. We piloted ePROs at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) to optimize workflow in the context of trial treatment scenarios and staggered rollout of the ePRO system to 26 sites to ensure effective implementation of the technology.

Results
Increasing ePRO completion requires workflow solutions and research staff engagement. Over two years, we increased baseline survey completion from 25% to 80%. The majority of patients completed between 30% and 75% of the questionnaires they received, with no statistically significant variation in survey completion by age, race or ethnicity. Patients who completed the screening timepoint questionnaire were significantly more likely to complete more of the surveys they received at later timepoints (mean completion of 74.1% vs 35.5%, P &lt; .0001). Baseline PROMIS social functioning and grade 2 or more PRO-CTCAE interference of Abdominal Pain, Decreased Appetite, Dizziness and Shortness of Breath was associated with lower survey completion rates.

Discussion and Conclusion
By implementing ePROs, we have the potential to increase efficiency and accuracy of patient-reported clinical trial data collection, while improving quality of care, patient safety, and health outcomes. Our method is accessible across demographics and facilitates an ease of data collection and sharing across nationwide sites. We identify predictors of decreased completion that can optimize resource allocation by better targeting efforts such as in-person outreach, staff engagement, a robust technical workflow, and increased monitoring to improve overall completion rates.

Trial Registration
https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT01042379.
Effects of wheat-based fermented liquid feed on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, gut microbiota, intestinal morphology, and barrier function in grower–finisher pigs
Authors: Zhang Aoran , Yang Yanyi , Li Yong , Zheng Yunfan , Wang Hongmei , Cui Hongxiao , Yin Wang , Lv Mei , Liang Yunxiang , Chen Wenli 
Published: August 2024

Abstract
Fermented liquid feed (FLF) can improve dietary nutrient absorption levels, degrade antinutrient factors in diets, and increase beneficial bacteria abundance in animal guts. However, few systematic studies have been conducted on wheat-based fermented liquid feed (WFLF) in pigs. The present study evaluates the effects of WFLF on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, gastric volume, intestinal morphology, intestinal health, intestinal barrier function, serum biochemical immunity, gut microbiota, and intestinal microbial diversity of grower–finisher pigs. In total, 80 weaned pigs were randomly allocated to two treatment groups based on their initial body weight: a basal diet with pellet dry feeding (CON) and a basal diet with WFLF, with four replicate pens per group. The experiment lasted 82 d. Compared with CON pigs, those fed WFLF were significantly heavier at 60 to 82 d and had significantly higher average daily feed intake, average daily gain, and gain: feed ratio at 60 to 82 d and 1 to 82 d. WFLF pigs had significantly greater jejunum, total tract, and ileal digestibility for all nutrients and amino acids, excluding arginine, than CON pigs. WFLF intake influenced villus height, villus height:crypt depth ratio of the anterior segment of the jejunum (A-jejunum), crypt depth, and redox potential of the posterior segment of the jejunum (P-jejunum) while significantly affecting body weight. Additionally, FLF improved gastric capacity significantly. Furthermore, mRNA expression of occludin and claudin-1 in the mucosa of the ileum and jejunum was significantly higher in WFLF pigs than in CON pigs. WFLF increased serum concentrations of alanine transaminase and reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol, and total bile acid content. The alpha diversity (Shannon and Simpson indices) in the stomachs of WFLF pigs was significantly higher than in CON pigs. Microbial diversity in the stomach, ileum, and cecum, as well as the abundance of lactic acid bacteria, were increased in WFLF pigs compared to CON pigs. In conclusion, WFLF intake may positively influence intestinal ecology by improving digestive tract structure, upregulating intestinal barrier-related genes, and improving intestinal morphology to enhance intestinal digestive function and health. Collectively, the present study shows that WFLF intake can increase growth performance while maintaining beneficial nutrient digestibility in grower–finisher pigs.
Dose effects of encapsulated butyric acid and zinc on beef feedlot steer growth performance, dietary net energy utilization, rumen morphometrics, small intestine histology, and carcass characteristics
Authors: Francis Forest L , Rusche Warren C , LaFleur Doug , Hergenreder Jerilyn E , Smith Zachary K 
Published: August 2024

Abstract
The objective of this study was to determine the effects that increasing doses of encapsulated butyric acid and zinc (BZ) have on feedlot steer growth performance, rumen morphometrics and small intestine histology (data not statistically analyzed), dietary net energy utilization, and carcass characteristics. Steers [n = 272; shrunk body weight (BW) = 360 kg ± 74 kg] were assigned to dietary treatments [0 (CON), 1, 2, or 3 g BZ/kg diet dry matter] in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with pen (n = 32 total; n = 8 per treatment) as experimental unit. Pens were blocked by cattle source and location within the feedyard. Cattle were fed until visually assessed to have 1.27 cm rib-fat and were shipped for harvest at a commercial beef abattoir. Carcass and liver health data were recorded. A subset of steers (n = 8 total; n = 2 per treatment) was harvested at the SDSU Meat Laboratory to collect empty body measurements, rumen samples for morphometric analysis, and duodenal and ileal samples for histological analysis to provide context to feeding trial outcomes. Feedlot growth performance data was calculated on a carcass-adjusted basis: hot carcass weight (HCW)/0.625. Data were analyzed as a RCBD with fixed effects of BZ inclusion level and block was considered a random effect; pre-planned contrasts for CON vs. BZ, plus linear, and quadratic responses were tested. No differences (P ≥ 0.11) were observed for final BW, dry matter intake, average daily gain (ADG), feed conversion efficiency (G:F), performance calculated dietary net energy, HCW, ribeye area, rib-fat thickness, marbling score, estimated empty body fat, or distribution of USDA yield grade (YG) 1, 3, 4, 5, and USDA quality grade among treatments. A tendency (P = 0.10) was observed for CON vs. BZ for calculated YG. Tendencies were detected for USDA YG 2 carcass distribution (linear; P = 0.07) and for normal and abscessed liver prevalence (quadratic; P = 0.08). Dressed yield tended to be greater (P = 0.08) for BZ vs. CON and increased with dose (linear; P = 0.05). Receiving period shrunk BW, ADG, and G:F was improved (P ≤ 0.02) for BZ-supplemented steers compared to CON. Data from this study suggests that the addition of BZ to feedlot finishing diets to improve receiving period growth performance and decreasing the prevalence of abscessed livers should be further investigated.