bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Enhancing Weather Index Insurance through Surrogate Models: Leveraging Machine Learning Techniques and Remote Sensing Data
Authors: Wijesena Sachini Rukshima , Pradhan Biswajeet 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
The agricultural industry’s crop yield production is highly vulnerable to extreme weather events, heightened by the impacts of climate change. Weather Index Insurance (WII) presents an innovative solution for insurers to protect farmers from significant yield losses. The objective of this study is to develop an index that is highly correlated with crop yield while ensuring transparency for policyholders. WII products often rely on a single weather index, which fails to encompass the complex nature of weather events. While machine learning models offer the potential to model the multifaceted nature of factors influencing crop growth, their adoption in WII products has been limited due to their lack of transparency, often perceived as "black box models". This research examines soybean yield in the Corn Belt region of the USA. This study proposes a novel framework to develop a highly predictive multi-weather index based on a neural network model, and then applying a surrogate model to ensure transparency whilst maintaining predictive power. A generalised linear model (GLM) is implemented as the surrogate model in this study. The GLM achieved a mean absolute error (MAE) of 8.2%, which is comparable to the neural network model’s MAE of 7.6%. The weather index derived from the simplified approximation of the surrogate model incorporates multiple remote sensing indexes and weather variables: Potential Evapotranspiration (PET), Evapotranspiration (ET), Land Surface Temperature (LST), Vegetation Condition Index (VCI) and minimum temperature. The proposed methodology achieved a substantial hedging efficiency of 21% downside risk reduction, thereby demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed WII product. The development of an index that closely aligns with crop yield losses is crucial for the financial viability of WII.
Rethinking Metaphysics
Authors: Thomasson Amie L 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
This book aims to change how we think about what metaphysics can do, and why it matters. Traditionally, metaphysics has been presented as aiming to discover deep truths about the world. But this leads to a rivalry with science, mysteries about how we could gain this knowledge, and a despairing skepticism about our ability to gain knowledge in metaphysics. Rethinking Metaphysics diagnoses the problems with traditional and many recent approaches to metaphysics as arising from a problematic assumption that all discourse functions in the same way. By drawing on work in linguistics, it shows how to develop a richer view of linguistic functions that enables us to see why this assumption leads us astray. A better understanding of the plurality of linguistic functions also enables us to disentangle ourselves from many old metaphysical problems. In place of the traditional model, we should think of metaphysics as work in conceptual engineering—including both reverse-engineering projects aimed at understanding how various parts of our language and conceptual scheme work and what functions they serve, and constructive-engineering projects that investigate what concepts and language we should use. Rethinking metaphysics as conceptual engineering in this way enables us to avoid the problems of traditional views of metaphysics, while also demonstrating the perennial importance of metaphysics to human life. For how we think and talk is centrally important to how we live and to how we organize our societies and our investigations. And our ways of thinking and speaking must constantly be rethought in situations of new knowledge, new technology, and evolving needs.
The Explanatory Conception of Metaphysics
Authors: Thomasson Amie L 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
After Quine, it has been common to see metaphysics as continuous with the natural sciences, in aiming to develop a best total explanatory theory, and as confirmable with our best total theory. This chapter argues, however, that we have reason to doubt that the ontological content of a theory shares in its confirmation. As a result, the explanatory conception of metaphysics falls prey to the familiar problems of a rivalry with science and epistemological mystery. This chapter also aims to diagnose the underlying mistake as relying on the functional monist assumption that all the relevant terms serve an explanatory function. Once we recognize the many functions our terms serve both within and outside of our scientific theories, we can see why it is wrong to accept an across-the-board explanatory power criterion for accepting entities. We can also see why we should reject the explanatory conception of metaphysics.
Reverse Engineering
Authors: Thomasson Amie L 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
The analyses of linguistic functions that have emerged from systemic functional linguistics are used here to show why past approaches to metaphysics went astray, and to show how we can unravel old metaphysical problems, such as problems about abstract objects and modality. Understanding the introduction rules and functions of grammatical metaphors gives us reason to accept “easy” arguments for the existence of properties and numbers, and shows that many of the problems supposed to arise for accepting abstracta arise from metalinguistic category mistakes. Attention to the functions and entry rules of modal discourse of various forms likewise enables us to re-evaluate many traditional problems about the existence of modal facts, properties, and possible worlds, and our knowledge of them. These provide examples of the ways that “reverse engineering” to understand linguistic functions can enable us to make better decisions about what to do with discourse long seen as metaphysically “problematic.”
Mental stress-induced myocardial ischemia in a middle-aged woman with nonobstructive coronary artery disease: case report
Authors: Kong Bo , Ma Huan , Fei Hongwen , Wang Haochen , Geng Qingshan 
Published: February 2025

Abstract

Background
Psychosocial stress could contribute to cardiovascular disease including mental stress-induced myocardial ischemia (MSIMI), especially in young and midlife women. Diagnosis of MSIMI remains still enigma for physicians, and is rarely reported in patients with symptoms but nonobstructive coronary arteries.

Case summary
A 40-year-old female bus driver suffered from refractory angina despite medical treatment over the past six months. Invasive angiography showed merely 40% stenosis in the middle segment of the left anterior descending artery while coronary spasm was also suspected. Mental stress assessment was conducted given her psychosocial adversities in the past few years and high scores during the psychological scale evaluation. The patient reported aggravated chest pain during mental stress testing. Apical perfusion delay (about 4 seconds) in replenishment following high-mechanical index flash impulses were simultaneously observed on myocardial contrast echocardiography, along with hypokinetic apical wall motion. A reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (42%) compared to admission (62%) was also noted, and left ventricular global longitudinal strain was - 17.1% (normal value &lt;-20%). Reactive hyperemia index reflecting peripheral microvascular function showed mild decline. The patient was diagnosed with MSIMI on positron emission tomography (PET) and effectively treated with Escitalopram.

Discussion
MSIMI could coexist with nonobstructive coronary artery disease due to their similar pathological basis of coronary microcirculation. The crucial role of echocardiography with contrast agent in MSIMI diagnosis was emphasized in the present case and confirmed on PET. Comprehensive management including pharmacotherapy specific for psychosocial disorders was proved effective that significantly improved the patient prognosis.
Siamese neural network-enhanced electrocardiography can re-identify anonymised healthcare data
Authors: Macierzanka Krzysztof , Sau Arunashis , Patlatzoglou Konstantinos , Pastika Libor , Sieliwonczyk Ewa , Gurnani Mehak , Peters Nicholas S , Waks Jonathan W , Kramer Daniel B , Ng Fu Siong 
Published: February 2025

Abstract

Aims
Many research databases with anonymised patient data contain electrocardiograms (ECGs) from which traditional identifiers have been removed. We evaluated the ability of artificial intelligence (AI) methods to determine the similarity between ECGs and assessed whether they have the potential to be misused to re-identify individuals from anonymised datasets.

Methods and results
We utilised a convolutional Siamese neural network (SNN) architecture, which derives a Euclidean distance similarity metric between two input ECGs. A secondary care dataset of 864,283 ECGs (72,455 subjects) was used. SNN-ECG achieves an accuracy of 91.68% when classifying between 2,689,124 same-subject pairs and 2,689,124 different-subject pairs. This performance increases to 93.61% and 95.97% in outpatient and normal ECG subsets. In a simulated ‘motivated intruder’ test, SNN-ECG can identify individuals from large datasets. In datasets of 100, 1,000, 10,000 and 20,000 ECGs, where only one ECG is also from the reference individual, it achieves success rates of 79.2%, 62.6%, 45.0% and 40.0%, respectively. If this was random, the success would be 1%, 0.1%, 0.01% and 0.005%, respectively. Additional basic information, like subject sex or age-range, enhances performance further. We also found that, on the subject level, ECG pair similarity is clinically relevant; greater ECG dissimilarity associates with all-cause mortality (hazard ratio, 1.22 (1.21-1.23), p &lt; 0.0001) and is additive to an AI-ECG model trained for mortality prediction.

Conclusion
Anonymised ECGs retain information that may facilitate subject re-identification, raising privacy and data protection concerns. However, SNN-ECG models also have positive uses and can enhance risk prediction of cardiovascular disease.
Nature-based welfare in older adulthood: An Eco-Appreciation perspective
Authors: Nevo Mali , Levin Lia 
Published: February 2025

Abstract

Objectives
This study examined the reciprocal relationship between older adults’ well-being and their accounts of human-nature relations (HNR). Guided by the tenets of the Eco-Appreciation Perspective, the question addressed was: What can be learned from older adults’ relations with nature about reciprocal nature-based welfare in older adulthood?

Methods
In-depth interviews were conducted with 60 participants over the age of 65 in Israel, followed by a sequential deductive-inductive analysis of the data.

Results
Four major themes were yielded: HNR as presence and being; HNR as connection; HNR as past, present, and future; and HNR as benevolence. Participants’ experiences revealed an interaction between gratitude and awareness toward HNR and an enhanced sense of well-being, purpose, meaning, and belonging. The analysis also exposed novel insights into how HNR in older adulthood can prompt mutual nature-based welfare and provide an ongoing source of comfort and resilience, both through current activities and by accessing childhood memories.

Discussion
The findings are discussed in the context of eco-centric viewpoints on contemporary aging, and highlight the active role that older adults can play in deepening their connection with nature while calling on professionals in health, gerontology, social work, and community care to recognize and harness the mutual benefits of this bond.
Clinical characteristics, therapy and outcome of bloodstream infections caused by vancomycin-resistant enterococci: a multicentre clinical experience
Authors: Serapide Francesca , Serraino Riccardo , Spadafora Luigi , Bernardi Marco , Brucci Giorgia , Cattardico Greta , Corcione Silvia , De Benedetto Ilaria , Del Monte Martina , Limongelli Alessandro , Giacobbe Daniele Roberto , Graziano Elena , Meschiari Marianna , Pinna Simone Mornese , Peghin Maddalena , Tiseo Giusy , Vena Antonio , Romeo Francesco , Sarto Gianmarco , Bassetti Matteo , Biondi-Zoccai Giuseppe , De Rosa Francesco Giuseppe , Falcone Marco , Grossi Paolo Antonio , Mussini Cristina , Russo Alessandro 
Published: February 2025

Abstract

Objectives
Bloodstream infections (BSIs) due to vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus spp. (VRE) are considered a predictor of mortality among frail patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk factors associated with 30 day mortality and relapse of infection in enterococcal BSI caused by VRE and to evaluate the impact of antibiotic regimens in targeted therapy.

Methods
We conducted a retrospective study of consecutive hospitalized patients in six teaching hospitals from August 2016 to August 2022 in Italy. All adult patients with a documented VRE BSI were included.

Results
We enrolled 517 consecutive hospitalized patients with VRE BSI; of these BSIs 496 (96.5%) were caused by Enterococcus faecium and 26 (5.1%) by Enterococcus faecalis. The most frequently used antibiotics as backbone were linezolid (48.1%) and daptomycin (43.7%). Overall, the 30 day mortality was 32.1%. Upon Cox regression analysis, the risk factor independently associated with 30 day mortality was Charlson comorbidity index &gt;3 points (P &lt; 0.001), whereas a Pitt score &lt;4 points (P = 0.031), surgery for source control of infection (P = 0.016) and time to targeted therapy &lt;24 h (P = 0.006) were associated with survival. After propensity score adjustment, a daptomycin-based regimen (P = 0.003) was associated with 30 day survival.

Conclusions
VRE BSI is an important cause of mortality in frail/critically ill patients. Our data highlighted the role of daptomycin as backbone agent for the treatment of enterococcal BSI caused by vancomycin-resistant strains.
Reparations before the Special Criminal Court in the Central African Republic
Authors: Moffett Luke 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Reparations for international crimes remain complex and pose a challenge for international criminal justice bodies. These challenges stem from the large victim population, set against the limited convictions that are usually entered (both in terms of the number of perpetrators and the charges) and the lack of resources dedicated to redress for victims. In its first case, the Central African Republic’s Special Criminal Court (SCC) stepped into this beleaguered area by ordering reparations for two massacres. Cognisant of its limitations and the needs of victims, the SCC built on the established jurisprudence of the International Criminal Court and the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, seeking to expound a more feasible vision of reparations for international crimes. This case note reflects on the SCC’s initial determinations around eligibility and the appropriate forms of reparations. These speak to the broader vision of the SCC in light of its capacity and jurisdiction. At the same time, they place an increased burden on victims to sufficiently justify the requested measures. Ultimately, despite efforts to make reparations for international crimes work, the SCC cannot escape the vortex of the criminal trial and the priority on funding lawyers rather than remedying victims’ harm.
Finding radio transients with anomaly detection and active learning based on volunteer classifications
Authors: Andersson Alex , Lintott Chris , Fender Rob , Lochner Michelle , Woudt Patrick , van den Eijnden Jakob , van der Horst Alexander , Horesh Assaf , Saikia Payaswini , Sivakoff Gregory R , Tremou Lilia , Vaccari Mattia 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
In this work we explore the applicability of unsupervised machine learning algorithms to finding radio transients. Facilities such as the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) will provide huge volumes of data in which to detect rare transients; the challenge for astronomers is how to find them. We demonstrate the effectiveness of anomaly detection algorithms using 1.3 GHz light curves from the SKA precursor MeerKAT. We make use of three sets of descriptive parameters (‘feature sets’) as applied to two anomaly detection techniques in the Astronomaly package and analyse our performance by comparison with citizen science labels on the same dataset. Using transients found by volunteers as our ground truth, we demonstrate that anomaly detection techniques can recall over half of the radio transients in the 10percnt of the data with the highest anomaly scores. We find that the choice of anomaly detection algorithm makes a minor difference, but that feature set choice is crucial, especially when considering available resources for human inspection and/or follow-up. Active learning, where human labels are given for just 2 per cent of the data, improves recall by up to 20 percentage points, depending on the combination of features and model used. The best performing results produce a factor of 5 times fewer sources requiring vetting by experts. This is the first effort to apply anomaly detection techniques to finding radio transients and shows great promise for application to other datasets, and as a real-time transient detection system for upcoming large surveys.
The lncRNA DUBR is regulated by CTCF and coordinates chromatin landscape and gene expression in hematopoietic cells
Authors: Núñez-Martínez Hober Nelson , Tapia-Urzúa Gustavo , Cerecedo-Castillo Ángel Josué , Peralta-Alvarez Carlos Alberto , Guerrero Georgina , Huarte Maite , Recillas-Targa Félix 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Master hematopoietic transcription factors (TFs) and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) coordinate shaping lineage-specific gene expression programs during hematopoietic differentiation. The architectural protein CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) has emerged as a pivotal regulator of gene expression in cell differentiation. However, the relationship and its regulatory effect of CTCF on lncRNA genes in hematopoiesis remain elusive. We demonstrated that CTCF constrains the lncRNA DUBRtranscription throughout erythroid differentiation. DUBR is highly expressed in human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) but depleted in erythroblasts. DUBR perturbation dysregulates hematopoietic-erythroid cell differentiation genes and facilitates genome-wide activation of regulatory elements. A genomic map of RNA occupancy revealed that DUBR associates with a set of genes involved in regulating hematopoietic differentiation, including the erythroid repressor HES1, which targets a subset of regulatory elements of DUBR-dysregulated genes. Our results support the role of DUBR as a regulator of a hematopoietic differentiation gene program by coordinating the expression of genes and influencing their chromatin regulatory landscape.
Sequence-dependent and -independent effects of intron-mediated enhancement learned from thousands of random introns
Authors: Kowal Emma J K , Sakai Yuta , McGurk Michael P , Pasetsky Zoe J , Burge Christopher B 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Spliceosomal introns are a ubiquitous feature of eukaryotic genes, whose presence often boosts the expression of their host gene, a phenomenon known as intron-mediated enhancement (IME). IME has been noted across diverse genes and organisms but remains mysterious in many respects. For example, how does intron sequence affect the magnitude of IME? In this study, we performed a massively parallel reporter assay (MPRA) to assess the effect of varying intron sequence on gene expression in a high-throughput manner, in human cells, using tens of thousands of synthetic introns with natural splice sites and randomized internal sequence. We observe that most random introns splice efficiently and enhance gene expression as well as or better than fully natural introns. Nearly all introns stimulate gene expression ∼eight-fold above an intronless control, at both mRNA and protein levels, suggesting that the primary mechanism acts to increase mRNA levels. IME strength is positively associated with splicing efficiency and with the intronic content of poly-uridine stretches, which we confirm using reporter experiments. In sum, this work assesses the IME of a diverse library of introns and uncovers sequence-dependent aspects, but suggests that enhancement of gene expression is a general property of splicing, largely independent of intron sequence.
The transcription factor CitPH4 regulates plant defense-related metabolite biosynthesis in citrus
Authors: Lu Zhihao , Hu Bin , He Jiaxian , Yuan Tao , Wu Qinchun , Yang Kun , Zheng Weikang , Huang Yue , Xu Yuantao , Wang Xia , Xu Qiang 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Wild citrus (Citrus L.) exhibits high disease resistance accompanied by high-acidity fruit, whereas cultivated citrus produces tastier fruit but is more susceptible to disease. This is a common phenomenon, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unknown. Citrus PH4 (CitPH4) is a key transcription factor promoting citric acid accumulation in fruits. Accordingly, CitPH4 expression decreased during citrus domestication, along with a reduction in citric acid levels. Here, we demonstrate that a CitPH4-knockout mutant exhibits an acidless phenotype and displays substantially lower resistance to citrus diseases. Metabolome and transcriptome analyses of CitPH4-overexpressing citrus callus, Arabidopsis, and CitPH4-knockout citrus fruits revealed that quercetin, pipecolic acid (Pip), and N-hydroxypipecolic acid (NHP) are pivotal defense-related metabolites. Application of quercetin and Pip inhibited the growth of Xcc and Penicillium italicum, while NHP inhibited the growth of P. italicum and Huanglongbing. Biochemical experiments demonstrated that CitPH4 enhances the expression of quercetin and NHP biosynthesis genes by binding to their promoters. Moreover, Pip and quercetin contents were positively associated with citric acid content in the pulp of fruits from natural citrus populations. Finally, the heterologous expression of CitPH4 in Arabidopsis promoted the expression of stress response genes and enhanced its resistance to the fungal pathogen Botrytis cinerea. The overexpression of CitPH4 in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) enhanced disease resistance. This study reveals the mechanism by which CitPH4 regulates disease resistance and fruit acidity, providing a conceptual strategy to control fruit acidity and resistance to devastating diseases.
Assessment of environmental impact from radioactive effluents discharged by the Hanbit nuclear power plants in Korea: analyzing annual reports from nuclear power plants and radioactivity data from environmental monitoring organizations
Authors: Lee Na Young , Kong Tae Young 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
The aim of this comprehensive study was to analyze the annual effective doses to the public due to radioactive effluents discharged from the Hanbit nuclear power plants (NPPs) in Korea and identify potential improvements for the current environmental radiation monitoring system. We meticulously analyzed the amount of radioactive effluents discharged from the Hanbit NPPs and their resulting doses to the public for a decade (2014–23). Carbon-14, which accounted for only 1.90% of the total activity in radioactive effluents, contributed 88.53% of the annual effective doses to the public. This impact was significantly larger than that of tritium, which constituted most of the radioactive effluents. We propose potential improvements for the environmental monitoring system, including an increase in monitoring points and cycles of the seawater and seabed sediments to consider the characteristics of oceanic dispersion and the implementation of a radioactivity analysis of carbon-14 in ingestion and respiration-related environmental samples.