bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Insights into the use of GRESB as an ESG benchmarking tool
Authors: Anders Gregory , Wiejak-Roy Grazyna Aleksandra , Horry Rosemary E. , Squires Graham , Booth Colin A. 
Published: February 2025

PurposeSustainability practices and reporting have consistently evolved over the years with trends towards more holistic approaches with respect to environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG). In the real estate sector over the last decade, GRESB (formerly known as Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark) has become the leading global ESG benchmarking tool for real asset investments. However, it has attracted limited research, and this underpins this works’ motivation for the exploration of the perspectives of real estate stakeholders relating to the uptake and use of GRESB.Design/methodology/approachThe approach used in this study is qualitative in nature, adopting a phenomenological research design to capture the essence of the lived experiences of purposely sampled participants. This is done through an interpretative phenomenological analysis of semi-structured interviews.FindingsLegislation, regulation and risk management are the main motivations for engaging with ESG-related issues. The main benefit of GRESB is benchmarking, while the main weaknesses lie in the data collection and the undeveloped social component. Within data, the major challenges are observed for the transparency of performance data and overreliance on policies instead of performance. GRESB would benefit from the inclusion of (1) more detailed sustainability benchmarks relating to social and governance components, and (2) social value metrics in their overall assessment.Practical implicationsPolicymakers need to develop or support globally recognised reporting standards to increase the quality, accuracy and comparability of ESG information.Originality/valueThis is the first study on ESG reporting using a phenomenological research design.
Performance optimization of Ag/ATO thick film resistor pastes
Authors: Ren Qian , Tang Guohui , Li Xu , Chen Zheng , Duan Lei , Sun Aihua , Xu Gaojie 
Published: February 2025

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to study and report the effects of silver (Ag) content, glass phase particle size and Ag/antimony-doped tin oxide (ATO) particle size on the properties of ATO thick film resistor pastes, especially on the microstructure, square resistance, temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR), resistance temperature curve and other properties of the pastes.

Design/methodology/approach
Thick film resistor pastes with different Ag content, glass phase particle size and ATO particle size were printed on stainless steel substrates by screen printing technology, and a series of Ag/ATO thick film resistors (TFRs) were obtained after high-temperature sintering. The electrical properties of TFRs were evaluated. The microstructure development, square resistance, TCR and other properties of the developed TFRs were evaluated with the change in Ag content and the particle size.

Findings
The results show that with the increase of Ag content, the square resistance of the pastes decreases and the TCR increases. The change rate of resistance after resintering is less than 4%, and the pastes show excellent antiaging properties. Meanwhile, with the increase of the particle size of the glass phase, the square resistance decreases first and then increases, and the TCR increases first and then decreases, which has little effect on the conductive behavior. The increase in ATO particle size leads to an increase in the square resistance of TFRs and a decrease in the TCR.

Originality/value
This paper provides a useful evaluation of the square resistance, TCR and other properties of Ag/ATO thick film resistor pastes, which are related to the Ag content, glass phase particle size and ATO particle size of the developed TFRs. The thick film resistor pastes with zero TCR can be obtained using Ag/ATO as the functional phase without Pd or Pt.
Computer‐Based Answer‐Until‐Correct and Elaborated Feedback: Effects on Affective‐Motivational and Performance Outcomes
Authors: Mertens Ute , Lindner Marlit A. 
Published: February 2025

ABSTRACTBackgroundEducational assessments increasingly shift towards computer‐based formats. Many studies have explored how different types of automated feedback affect learning. However, few studies have investigated how digital performance feedback affects test takers' ratings of affective‐motivational reactions during a testing session.MethodIn this within‐subject experiment, 97 university students completed a multiple‐choice treatment test including 36 challenging fact‐based science tasks (biology, chemistry, and physics). The test items were presented with different types of computer‐based feedback (i.e., elaborated feedback [EF] and multiple‐try feedback, i.e., Answer‐Until‐Correct [AUC]) and compared to a no‐feedback control condition. Outcome measures were students' self‐reported affective‐motivational responses and their performance in the treatment and in a recall posttest.ResultsFeedback positively affected performance. EF enhanced students' recall performance in a posttest more than AUC feedback. Yet, error correction, as measured by the number of corrected responses in the posttest, did not differ between the two feedback conditions. Regarding affective‐motivational outcomes, both EF and AUC feedback affected students similarly and were more beneficial than no feedback. This effect was further moderated by the item‐level response correctness. Following correct responses, the affective‐motivational impact of feedback was substantial and positive. In contrast to earlier findings, automated feedback did not have detrimental affective‐motivational effects after incorrect responses. Although the emotional benefit of AUC and EF feedback was reduced after incorrect responses, students' affect remained more positive compared to when they received no feedback.ConclusionFeedback effects on emotions and motivation varied by feedback type and the correctness of test‐takers' responses.
Increasing syphilis cases in Japan: A risk posed to blood services
Authors: Suzuki H. , Tsuno N. H. , Kitsukawa K. , Miyagi T. , Sakamoto K. , Matsubayashi K. , Satake M. , Muroi K. 
Published: February 2025

AbstractBackground and ObjectivesSyphilis cases surged in Japan, exceeding 10,000 in 2022, primarily through heterosexual transmission. The Japanese Red Cross Blood Services (JRCBS) screens donated blood for syphilis, disqualifying positive donors. This study explores syphilis infection among blood donors to understand its impact on blood collection and supply.Materials and MethodsData from blood donors (2015–2022) at JRCBS were analysed. Treponema pallidum (TP) antibody was tested by chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay or chemiluminescent immunoassay. A total of 39,199,047 donations were scrutinized. Reactive samples were further tested by rapid plasma reagin (RPR).ResultsThe number of TP and RPR positives (referred as syphilis positives) in 2022 compared with 2015 increased by 1.7 times in blood donors and 4.9 times in the general population. High syphilis‐positive rate in 2022 was mainly observed among male first‐time/reactivated donors and females in their 20s and 30s. Although syphilis cases in general population declined during the Corona pandemic, no significant decrease occurred in syphilis‐positive donors.ConclusionAlthough the increase in syphilis positives among blood donors may be a reflection of the increase in the general population, the rate of increase was less pronounced among blood donors. Although the increase in the syphilis‐positive rate may not affect blood product safety, it would have a significant impact on the number of potential blood donors in the future because the increase was more frequently observed in young donors and new donors, and currently, syphilis‐positive individuals are permanently deferred from blood donation. The implementation of effective measures to prevent transmission in the general population is required.
Characterization of a cytokinin-binding protein locus in
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Yoo Jin Hee , Santarossa Cristina , Thomas Audrey , Ekiert Damian , Darwin K. Heran 
Published: February 2025

ABSTRACT

Cytokinins are adenine-based hormones that have been well-characterized in plants but are also made by bacteria, including the human-exclusive pathogen
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
. Like plants,
M. tuberculosis
uses cytokinins to regulate gene expression. We previously established that cytokinin overaccumulation in
M. tuberculosis
results in a buildup of aldehydes produced during cytokinin breakdown. In plants, dedicated enzymes called cytokinin oxidases convert cytokinins into adenine and various aldehydes. Proteasome degradation-deficient
M. tuberculosis
, which cannot degrade the cytokinin-producing enzyme Log, accumulates several cytokinins and at least one cytokinin-associated aldehyde, resulting in increased sensitivity to nitric oxide and copper. We therefore hypothesized that
M. tuberculosis
encodes one or more cytokinin oxidases, and disruption of this enzyme might restore resistance to nitric oxide and copper in a proteasome-defective strain. Using a homology-based search, we identified Rv3719 as a protein with high similarity to a plant cytokinin oxidase. Deletion of this gene, however, did not restore nitric oxide or copper resistance to a degradation-defective mutant. Instead, we observed increased copper sensitivity when Rv3719 was deleted from either wild-type or proteasome-defective strains. Finally, we characterized Rv3718c, a protein encoded adjacent to Rv3719, and found that it bound a cytokinin with high specificity. Collectively, these data support a role for cytokinin activity in
M. tuberculosis
physiology that remains to be further elucidated.

IMPORTANCE
Numerous bacterial species encode cytokinin-producing enzymes, the functions of which are almost completely unknown. This work contributes new knowledge to the cytokinin field for bacteria and reveals further conservation of cytokinin-associated proteins between plants and prokaryotes.
The
Salmonella
pathogenicity island 1-encoded small RNA InvR mediates post-transcriptional feedback control of the activator HilA in
Salmonella
Authors: Hou Yutong , Kim Kyungsub , Cakar Fatih , Golubeva Yekaterina A. , Slauch James M. , Vanderpool Carin K. 
Published: February 2025

ABSTRACT

Salmonella
Pathogenicity Island 1 (SPI1) encodes a Type-3 secretion system (T3SS) essential for
Salmonella
invasion of intestinal epithelial cells. Many environmental and regulatory signals control SPI1 gene expression, but in most cases, the molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Many regulatory signals control SPI1 at a post-transcriptional level, and we have identified a number of small RNAs (sRNAs) that control the SPI1 regulatory circuit. The transcriptional regulator HilA activates the expression of the genes encoding the SPI1 T3SS structural and primary effector proteins. Transcription of
hilA
is controlled by the AraC-like proteins HilD, HilC, and RtsA. The
hilA
mRNA 5′ untranslated region (UTR) is ~350 nucleotides in length and binds the RNA chaperone Hfq, suggesting it is a likely target for sRNA-mediated regulation. We used rGRIL-seq (reverse global sRNA target identification by ligation and sequencing) to identify sRNAs that bind to the
hilA
5′ UTR. The rGRIL-seq data, along with genetic analyses, demonstrate the SPI1-encoded sRNA
inv
asion gene-associated
R
NA (InvR) base pairs at a site overlapping the
hilA
ribosome binding site. HilD and HilC activate both
invR
and
hilA
. InvR, in turn, negatively regulates the translation of the
hilA
mRNA. Thus, the SPI1-encoded sRNA InvR acts as a negative feedback regulator of SPI1 expression. Our results suggest that InvR acts to fine-tune SPI1 expression and prevents overactivation of
hilA
expression, highlighting the complexity of sRNA regulatory inputs controlling SPI1 and
Salmonella
virulence.

IMPORTANCE

Salmonella
Typhimurium infections pose a significant public health concern, leading to illnesses that range from mild gastroenteritis to severe systemic infection. Infection requires a complex apparatus that the bacterium uses to invade the intestinal epithelium. Understanding how
Salmonella
regulates this system is essential for addressing these infections effectively. Here, we show that the small RNA (sRNA) InvR imposes a negative feedback regulation on the expression of the invasion system. This work underscores the role of sRNAs in
Salmonella
's complex regulatory network, offering new insights into how these molecules contribute to bacterial adaptation and pathogenesis.
Inspiring young minds: the Microbiology Kids Club in Mozambique
Authors: Chambal Chilengue Aureliana , Namburete Marília , Inlamea Osvaldo , Melchior Bibiana , Pereira Sádia , Nhavoto Emídio , Inguana Pedro , Simbine Dolorte , Nandza Júlio , Sevene Esperança 
Published: February 2025

ABSTRACT

The Microbiology Kids Club is an initiative designed to foster early interest in microbiology among children aged 5 to 16 years in Mozambique. Through hands-on activities such as microscopy, pipetting and artistic exploration, the program introduces participants to key microbiological concepts, sparking curiosity and promoting an understanding of microbiology’s role in our daily lives. The first edition of the club successfully engaged 100 children from Maputo City, while the second involved 60 children from Marracuene District, resulting in improved comprehension of microbial sciences. Positive feedback from participants, teachers, and community members emphasized the program’s importance in children’s education. These outcomes highlight the program's potential to promote scientific literacy in Mozambique, with plans to expand into rural areas to broaden access to microbiology education.
Pandemic risk stemming from the bovine H5N1 outbreak: an account of the knowns and unknowns
Authors: Lowen Anice C. , Baker Amy L. , Bowman Andrew S. , García-Sastre Adolfo , Hensley Scott E. , Lakdawala Seema S. , Moncla Louise H. , Nelson Martha I. , Pekosz Andrew , Poulson Rebecca L. , Puryear Wendy B. , Runstadler Jonathan A. , Sutton Troy C. , Tompkins S. Mark , Webby Richard J. ,   The Risk Assessment Pipeline working group of the NIAID Centers of Excellence for Influenza Research and Response (CEIRR) Network
Published: February 2025

ABSTRACT

H5N1 subtype influenza A viruses represent a long-standing pandemic concern. Owing to their global occurrence in poultry, humans are routinely exposed to these viruses, and hundreds of human cases have been documented worldwide since 2003. The relevant viral lineages are not static, however, and have recently undergone a massive expansion of host range and geographic distribution. Within this expansion, the introduction of H5N1 viruses into dairy cattle in the United States has spawned a novel animal-human interface. In response, public health agencies have sought to evaluate the risk of an H5N1 pandemic stemming from the bovine outbreak. These assessments draw on evidence from the field and the laboratory to score a series of recognized risk factors. As such, their utility hinges on fundamental understanding of the processes that drive pandemic emergence and the availability of relevant data. Advancing this understanding and gathering data prior to and during an outbreak are primary missions of the NIAID Centers of Excellence for Influenza Research and Response (CEIRR) Network. To further these goals and highlight the need for an invigorated response across US agencies, here, we review gaps in understanding of the dairy cattle outbreak and identify constraints on efforts to close these gaps.
The complete and circular genome of nitrogen-fixing
Mesorhizobium
sp. AaZ17, isolated from the root nodule of
Astragalus armatus
growing in a lead- and zinc-abandoned mine in Morocco
Authors: Alami Soufiane , Chaddad Zohra , Lamrabet Mouad , Kaddouri Kaoutar , Abdelmoumen Hanaa , Missbah El Idrissi Mustapha 
Published: February 2025

ABSTRACT

In this study, we sequenced the genome of
Mesorhizobium
sp. strain AaZ16, a nitrogen-fixing rhizobial species isolated from the root nodules of
Astragalus armatus
growing wild in a lead- and zinc-rich mine tailings in the High Atlas, Morocco. This study reveals the genomic characteristics of the root microsymbiont.
Genome sequence of
Bacillus
sp. strain BAU-SS-2023, isolated from nasal swab of cattle in Bangladesh
Authors: Rahman Md. Abdur , Alam Jahangir , Zereen Farah , Hossain Md. Golzar , Saha Sukumar 
Published: February 2025

ABSTRACT

We report the genome sequence of the
Bacillus
sp. strain BAU-SS-2023, isolated from nasal swabs of cattle in Bangladesh. The strain was isolated using brain heart infusion (BHI) broth and blood agar media. The genome was 9,162,285 bp, 32.4% G+C content, 9,145 coding sequences, 6 rRNAs, 73 tRNAs, and 9 noncoding RNAs.
Fecal bacterial biomarkers and blood biochemical indicators as potential key factors in the development of colorectal cancer
Authors: Cai Ping , Yang Qingzhen , Lu Jiaqi , Dai Xiaoyu , Xiong Jinbo 
Published: February 2025

ABSTRACT

The incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) has been increasing in recent decades. Current methods for CRC screening have their own drawbacks, thus there is an urgent need to identify the key microbes that drive the development of CRC for wider application in the early detection and prevention of CRC. To address this issue, we performed fecal microbiome analysis by high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA gene combined with blood biochemical indicators in patients with CRC stages I, II, III, and IV, healthy people, and patients with polyps. Fecal microbiota of patients with CRC was disturbed, as evidenced by significantly reduced α-diversity in patients with CRC stage IV and markedly different β-diversity. The random forest model identified the top 25 genera from 174 training data, resulting in a diagnostic accuracy of 87.95%. Further, by combining with differential genera analysis, we screened out 11 biomarkers that significantly changed in different groups.
Peptostreptococcus
,
Parvimonas
,
Shewanella
,
Oscillibacter
,
Eggerthella
, and
Gemella
associated with the development of CRC were significantly enriched, while
Fenollaria
,
Staphylococcus
,
Ezakiella
,
Finegoldia,
and
Neisseria
associated with the remission of CRC were significantly suppressed in patients with CRC. Importantly, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was significantly correlated with these 11 microbial biomarkers, and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) was markedly correlated with
Oscillibacter
. Notably, co-occurrence network analysis at the genus level exhibited that the microbial co-occurrence network of CRC IV was the most complex and stable. These results suggested that CEA, CA 19-9 and 11 microbial biomarkers may be co-biomarkers for the disease occurrence and development, and non-invasive diagnosis of CRC.

IMPORTANCE
Identifying the key microbes that drive the development of colorectal cancer (CRC) has been important in this field. We delved into the research on the association between CRC and fecal microbiota in this study, providing a detailed analysis of the characteristics of fecal microbiota during the transition from normal intestine to polyps to cancer. Fecal bacterial biomarkers and blood biochemical indicators may be co-biomarkers in the development of CRC.
The flavonoid-sensing regulator AefR is involved in modulating quorum sensing through repressing the MexEF-OprN efflux pump in
Pseudomonas fluorescens
Authors: Xiao-Quan Yu , Jian-Ting Han , Han-Zhong Feng , Jun Hou , Zhi-Ping Wang , He Yong-Xing 
Published: February 2025

ABSTRACT

Flavonoids, a major component of plant root exudates, play a crucial role in mediating plant-microbe interactions. However, the mechanisms by which flavonoids are perceived and trigger downstream signaling events in microbes remain largely unknown. In this study, we characterized AefR, a flavonoid-sensing transcriptional regulator from
Pseudomonas fluorescens
2P24, a plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium (PGPR) known for its biocontrol properties. AefR was found to repress the expression of the mexEF-oprN efflux pump, which putatively exports N-acylhomoserine lactones (AHLs). This repression attenuates the PcoR/PcoI quorum-sensing system, leading to decreased production of the antibiotic mupirocin in
P. fluorescens
2P24. Furthermore, quantitative proteomic analysis revealed that the PcoR/PcoI quorum-sensing system regulates a diverse range of physiological processes, including mupirocin production and denitrification. Collectively, these findings demonstrate a quorum-quenching role of flavonoids in a PGPR strain, establishing that flavonoids can disrupt quorum-sensing by enhancing the efflux of quorum-sensing signaling molecules. These findings have practical implications for the development of sustainable biocontrol strategies, where leveraging natural plant-microbe interactions could enhance the suppression of plant pathogens without the use of synthetic chemicals.

IMPORTANCE

Flavonoids are key mediators of plant-microbe interactions; however, their role in regulating microbial signaling remains poorly understood. This study identifies AefR as a flavonoid-sensing regulator in
Pseudomonas fluorescens
2P24, revealing a novel quorum-quenching mechanism where flavonoids enhance the efflux of quorum-sensing signals. These findings shed light on the molecular basis of flavonoid-mediated microbial regulation and offer new strategies for sustainable plant health management.
Emerging
Clostridioides difficile
ribotypes have divergent metabolic phenotypes
Authors: Midani Firas S. , Danhof Heather A. , Mathew Nathanael , Ardis Colleen K. , Garey Kevin W. , Spinler Jennifer K. , Britton Robert A. 
Published: February 2025

ABSTRACT

Clostridioides difficile
is a gram-positive spore-forming pathogen that commonly causes diarrheal infections in the developed world. Although
C. difficile
is a genetically diverse species, certain ribotypes are overrepresented in human infections, and it is unclear if metabolic adaptations are essential for the emergence of these epidemic ribotypes. To identify ribotype-specific metabolic differences, we therefore tested carbon substrate utilization by 88
C
.
difficile
isolates and looked for differences in growth between 22 ribotypes. As expected,
C. difficile
was capable of growing on a variety of carbon substrates. Further,
C. difficile
strains clustered by phylogenetic relationship and displayed ribotype-specific and clade-specific metabolic capabilities. Surprisingly, we observed that two emerging lineages, ribotypes 023 and 255, have divergent metabolic phenotypes. In addition, although
C. difficile
Clade 5 is the most evolutionary distant clade and often detected in animals, it displayed robust growth on simple sugars similar to Clades 1–4. Altogether, our results corroborate the generalist metabolic strategy of
C. difficile
but also demonstrate lineage-specific metabolic capabilities.

IMPORTANCE

The gut pathogen
Clostridioides difficile
utilizes a wide range of carbon sources. Microbial communities can be rationally designed to combat
C. difficile
by depleting its preferred nutrients in the gut. However,
C. difficile
is genetically diverse with hundreds of identified ribotypes, and most of its metabolic studies were performed with lab-adapted strains. To identify ribotype-specific metabolic differences, we profiled carbon metabolism by a myriad of
C. difficile
clinical isolates. While the metabolic capabilities of these isolates clustered by their genetic lineage, we observed surprising metabolic divergence between two emerging lineages. We also found that genetically newer and older clades grew to a similar level on simple sugars, which contrasts with recent findings that newer clades experienced positive selection on genes involved in simple sugar metabolism. Altogether, our results underscore the importance of considering the metabolic diversity of pathogens in the study of their evolution and the rational design of therapeutic interventions.