bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
RESISTANCE TO HEAVY METALS OF ACTINOBACTERIA ISOLATED FROM THE BIOLOGICAL FOULING OF SHELLFISH AND MUSSELS OF THE ODESA GULF OF THE BLACK SEA
Authors: Strashnova I. V. , Potapenko K. S. , Vasylieva N. Yu. , Korotaeva N. V. , Metelitsyna I. P. 
Published: February 2023

SummaryEnvironmental pollution with heavy metals/metalloids is one of the most important environmental problems, which leads to the development of bioremediation strategies and the search for biomarkers to assess its condition. Aim. To determine the sensitivity to heavy metals of actinobacteria isolated from the biological fouling of natural shell rock and mussels of the Odesa gulf of the Black Sea. Methods. Thirty-four strains of actinobacteria isolated from fouling of shell rock and mussels of the Odesa gulf were used in the investigation. The sensitivity of the studied bacteria to heavy metal cations was determined on starch-casein agar by the disk diffusion method. Discs impregnated with salts solutions of Cu2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Cd2+, Zn2+ in concentrations of 0.001 mol/l, 0.01 mol/l, 0.05 mol/l, 0.1 mol/l, 0.5 mol/l and 1.0 mol/l were used. Results. The investigated actinobacteria showed variable sensitivity to heavy metals, which depended on the source of isolation, strain, type of metal and its concentration. All tested bacteria were most sensitive to Cd2+ (MIC was 0.001 mol/l), the most resistant to Zn2+ (MIC was higher than 1.0 mol/l for the vast majority of bacteria). At concentrations lower than the MIC, zinc stimulated the formation of aerial mycelium of almost all strains, and pigment formation increased in some of them. The sensitivity to heavy metals of actinobacteria isolated from shellfish decreased in the following sequence: Cd2+>Cu2+>Co2+>Ni2+>Zn2+, and in actinobacteria isolated from mussels – Cd2+>Cu2+>Ni2+>Co2+>Zn2+. Conclusions. Actinobacteria isolated from mussels are more sensitive to cadmium, cuprum, cobalt, nickel and zinc, compared with actinobacteria from shell rock. All studied strains were highly sensitive to Cd2+ (MIC Cd2+ for almost all strains was 0.001 mol/l) and resistant to Zn2+ in the concentration range of 0.001 mol/l – 0.5 mol/l.
ISOLATION AND CHARACTERISTICS OF BACTERIA CITROBACTER SP. SR35 FROM A COAL MINE WASTE DUMP
Authors: Komplikevych S. Y. , Maslovska O. D. , Meniv N. P. , Kulishko N. M. , Ishchak O. R. , Hnatush S. O. 
Published: February 2023

SummaryBacteria of the genus Citrobacter are found in soil, water, the intestinal tract of animals, human clinical samples (urine, sputum, blood, wound drainage, etc.), also in wastewaters and waste dumps of mines. Gram-negative bacteria SR35, capable of reducing sulfur and sulfate ions, were isolated from the waste dump of the Nadiya coal mine, Chervonograd Mining and Industrial district (Lviv region, Ukraine). The work aimed to identify and study morphological, physical and chemical properties (cell shape, size, Gram staining, sporulation, motility, oxygen requirements, ability to form H2S, utilization of carbon sources, catalase activity, oxidase activity) of isolate SR35. Methods. We used standard microbiological and biochemical research methods (microbial culture, microscopy methods, determination of amilase, lipase activity). Chromosomal DNA was isolated by the method of soft lysis. The 16S rRNA gene was amplified using universal primers 27F and 1492R. It was sequenced by the Sanger method. Phylogenetic reconstruction was performed using the MEGA X program. Identification of isolates was carried out based on both the sequence of the 16S rRNA gene and physiological and biochemical properties. Results. The studied bacteria are rods (0.5–0.8×1.5–2.0μm), which form chains and are capable of reducing nitrate and sulfate ions and assimilating several carbon sources. Glucose, lactose, mannose, mannitol, and inositol are fermented with the formation of acid. Motile. Catalase positive, oxidase negative. Form H2S during growth in Kligler’s medium. According to the results of pairwise alignment of the isolate’s 16S rRNA gene sequence, the highest percentage of identity with representatives of the genus Citrobacter was established (99.23–99.86% identity, coverage 98%) and it was confirmed by phylogenetic reconstruction. Citrobacter sp. SR35 is resistant to 2 μM cadmium (II), 5 mM iron (II), 0.25 mM cobalt (II), 10 mM manganese (II), 0.5 mM copper (II), and 0.1 mM chromium (VI). Conclusions. According to the results of sequencing of the 16S rRNA (accession number GenBank OP279754) gene, and physiological, and biochemical characteristics (oxidase, catalase, metabolism of carbon sources, production of H2S, etc.), it was established that isolate SR35 belongs to the genus Citrobacter.
Validation of the competences for the 21st-century skill scale in higher education students
Authors: Castanheira Carlos Augusto , Jardim Jacinto , Oliveira Carlos 
Published: February 2023

In a global society, the importance of knowledge and assessment of transversal competences emerges to cope with the challenges of contemporary society, from a perspective of development and lifelong learning. Therefore, it is a priority to use assessment tools adapted to different cultures. The main objective of this study is to validate the instrument ‘Multidimensional 21st Century Skills Scale’ for the Portuguese population. The sample was composed of 413 participants of both genders, with a mean age of 24.30 years (standard deviation = 8.69), aged between 18 and 64 years, attending Higher and Vocational Education. The translation and back-translation of the instrument were carried out by experts (researchers and university professors in the areas of psychology, management, and entrepreneurship). The final version of the scale was composed of 30 items and the exploratory analysis identified three dimensions: Knowledge and Entrepreneurial Skills, Career Awareness and Innovation, and Critical Thinking and Problem Solving. These factors were validated by confirmatory analysis. The authors suggest that the difference found in relation to the original version is related to cultural reasons, the age range of the respondents, as well as their academic level.
Keywords: 21st century, skill scale, entrepreneurial skills, higher education innovation
Animation with Problem-Based Learning to Improve Student High Level Thinking Skills
Authors: Sari Yunita , Marini Arita , Rahmawati Yuli 
Published: February 2023

The aim of this research is to find out the effectiveness of using interactive media based on 3D animation integrated with problem-based learning to improve high-level thinking skills in fifth-grade elementary school students. This research used quantitative method. This quasi-experimental design research used test instruments to collect the data of students' higher-order thinking skills. We conduct data analysis to analyze the differences in the experimental and control classes' learning outcomes. The hypothesis test used is the average difference test, with the t-test formula. The results show that learning effectiveness with 3D animation-based learning media with a value of sig = 0.00, which is smaller than = 0.05 meaning that the results of the posttest of the experimental class are different from the control class. It can be highlighted that the conclusion is problem-based learning integrated with interactive media effectively enhancing elementary school students' high-level thinking skills.
Ajustement d’un système d’équations de volumes marchands pour le chêne zéen (Quercus canariensis Willd.) en Tunisie
Authors: SGHAIER Tahar , YOUSSEF Ammari 
Published: February 2023

Des tarifs de cubage globaux et des équations de volumes à diamètre et longueur variables ont été ajustés à l’aide d’un système d’équations simultanées pour le chêne zéen (Quercus canariensis Willd.), en Tunisie. Les données utilisées proviennent de 75 arbres échantillonnés dans la forêt de chêne zéen localisée dans la région d’Ain Sallem au Nord-Ouest du pays. La méthode d’ajustement adoptée est celle de régression non linéaire sans corrélation apparente (NSUR : Nonlinear Seemingly Unrelated Regression equations), basée sur les moindres carrés généralisés. Vu le caractère longitudinal des données utilisées qui engendre une autocorrélation entre les erreurs successives issues des observations en provenance d’une même tige, un processus autorégressif d’ordre 2 sur ces erreurs a été incorporé dans le modèle d’ajustement des paramètres des différentes équations étudiées. Le système d’équations obtenu permet d’estimer avec des degrés de précision qui varient de 97 à 99 % : le volume total du bois fort des arbres entiers et des grumes jusqu’à une découpe quelconque ; le volume entre deux niveaux de la grume ; le diamètre à une hauteur donnée ainsi que la hauteur à un diamètre de découpe donné de la grume. Grâce à ces équations, des tables de cubage d’estimation des volumes globaux et marchands des arbres et des grumes de chêne zéen ont été générées, ce qui représente un outil flexible, précis et pratique pour la gestion adéquate de la forêt de chêne zéen en Tunisie et dans les autres pays de la Méditerranée.
Effets du stress hydrique sur la physiologie et la morphologie de plants du robinier, Robinia pseudoacacia, d’Algérie
Authors: TOUMI Mohamed , BARRIS Selma , BERKA Souhila , AID Fatiha 
Published: February 2023

L’irrégularité des pluies ainsi que les fortes températures sont des facteurs limitant la croissance des espèces végétales qui vivent dans les zones arides en Algérie, ce qui a pour conséquence une réduction du couvert végétale, favorisant ainsi la désertification. La plantation d’espèces résistantes à la sécheresse présente un avantage certain dans le repeuplement de ces zones et la lutte contre l’érosion des terres. Le robinier, Robinia pseudoacacia L., fait partie de la famille des légumineuses fixatrices d’azote, ce qui lui confère une aptitude à coloniser des sols pauvres en minéraux. Grâce à sa multiplication végétative rapide, le robinier permettrait de recoloniser des zones menacées par la sécheresse. L’étude du comportement physiologique des jeunes plants de R. pseudoacacia L., en conditions de stress hydrique est importante afin d’évaluer la résistance de cette espèce, ainsi que sa capacité à vivre dans des zones exposées à de faibles précipitations. Après dix semaines de croissance, un arrêt d’arrosage de quatre semaines est appliqué sur de jeunes plants de R. pseudoacacia. Cette contrainte induit une diminution significative de la croissance après deux semaines d’arrêt d’arrosage. Cette réduction s’accompagne d’un arrêt de formation de nouvelles feuilles. La teneur relative en eau des feuilles (TRE), diminue progressivement durant cette même période pour atteindre 78 %, puis chute après quatre semaines d’arrêt d’arrosage. Une diminution significative de la conductance stomatique est observée à partir de la deuxième semaine d’arrêt d’arrosage afin de réduire la quantité d’eau perdue par transpiration stomatique. Une reprise de la croissance ainsi qu’une augmentation de la teneur en eau et de la conductance stomatique des feuilles sont observées chez les plants stressés après une semaine de réarrosage. Le robinier présenterait donc une bonne capacité à reprendre une activité physiologique normale après un arrêt d’arrosage de quatre semaines.
Cinquante ans de dynamique de la végétation ligneuse dans le Sahel sénégalais (Ferlo) : bases pour une approche de la diversité fonctionnelle
Authors: DENDONCKER Morgane 
Published: February 2023

La persistance de la végétation ligneuse sahélienne est régulièrement questionnée depuis la grande sécheresse de 1970-1980, vu son influence sur le fonctionnement de l’écosystème et les services écosystémiques. Il reste crucial de pouvoir appréhender la capacité de réponse de cette végétation face à différentes pressions (pâturage, feu et sécheresse).
Pour comprendre comment cette végétation résiste à ces pressions dans la zone sylvopastorale sahélienne du Sénégal, nous avons adopté une approche de diversité fonctionnelle. À partir de plusieurs jeux de données (inventaires de terrain, télédétection, traits fonctionnels), des indicateurs ont été construits à différentes échelles spatiales. Dans un premier temps, nous avons étudié l’évolution des communautés de 1965 à 2018. Nous avons ensuite classé les espèces en groupes fonctionnels selon leurs traits d’effets liés à la productivité primaire et aux cycles biogéochimiques. L’évolution de la diversité de réponse de ces groupes a été analysée depuis les années 1970.
Les données de télédétection montrent une diminution dans la densité des ligneux jusqu’en 2008, suivie d’une stabilisation (2008-2018). Les inventaires historiques révèlent un changement dans la composition spécifique, une augmentation de la proportion de buissons et une diminution de la fréquence pour 25 % des espèces. La topographie locale influence fortement les communautés, qui sont dominées par une minorité d’espèces. En effet, la richesse taxonomique et fonctionnelle, la densité des adultes et régénérations ainsi que le recouvrement sont plus élevés dans les dépressions. Néanmoins, l’absence de régénérations de nombreuses espèces rend leur futur incertain.
Les espèces présentant une abondance stable entre 1970 et 2015 montrent une réponse à la sécheresse différente de celles en diminution. La grande sécheresse a sélectionné des combinaisons de traits comprenant une plus longue période de feuillaison, des vaisseaux conducteurs de plus petite surface, et des espèces arbustives. En outre, la diversité de réponse de la majorité des groupes fonctionnels a diminué, indiquant une perte de résilience des communautés.
En croisant les données d’abondance des espèces, leur régénération et leur appartenance à un groupe fonctionnel, nous avons déterminé quelques espèces clés à protéger pour assurer la persistance des fonctions écosystémiques rendues par la végétation ligneuse dans le système sylvopastoral.
Traumatic Bifocal Luxatio Erecta Femoris and Ipsilateral Posterior Knee Dislocation
Authors: LaRoque Michael C. , Zeni Ferras , Cole Peter A. 
Published: February 2023

Update
This article was updated on July 7, 2023, because of a previous error. The title was incorrect. The correct title is “Traumatic Bifocal Luxatio Erecta Femoris and Ipsilateral Posterior Knee Dislocation: A Case Report.”
An erratum (JBJS Case Connect. 2023;13[3]:e22.00408ER) has been published for this article.

Case:
A 19-year-old man sustained combined, ipsilateral inferior hip and posterior knee fracture-dislocations secondary to a motor vehicle collision. He underwent immediate closed reduction of the knee and delayed open reduction internal fixation but required emergent open hip reduction for an irreducible femoral head incarcerated on a pubic root fracture. At the 1-year follow-up, he demonstrated excellent functional outcome with painless and full hip and knee range of motion.

Conclusion:
Irreducible inferior femoral head dislocation in combination with a knee dislocation requires thoughtful staging and treatment but can result in satisfactory outcomes.
Effect of Faculty Diversity on Minority Student Populations Matching into Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Programs
Authors: Levy Kenneth H. , Gupta Arjun , Murdock Christopher J. , Marrache Majd , Beebe Kathleen S. , Laporte Dawn M. , Oni Julius K. , Aiyer Amiethab A. 
Published: February 2023

Background:
Greater faculty diversity within orthopaedic residency programs has been associated with an increased application rate from students of similarly diverse demographic backgrounds. It is unknown whether these underrepresented student populations have an equitable likelihood of being highly ranked and matching at these programs. Thus, we sought to evaluate the relationship between faculty and resident diversity, with a specific focus on sex, racial/ethnic groups that are underrepresented in medicine (URiM), and international medical graduates (IMGs).

Methods:
The American Orthopaedic Association's Orthopaedic Residency Information Network database was used to collect demographic data on 172 US residency programs. Linear regression analyses were performed to determine the relationship between the proportion of female or URiM attendings at a program and the proportion of female, URiM, or IMG residents or top-ranked applicants (≥25 rank). URiM was defined as “racial and ethnic populations that are underrepresented in the medical profession relative to their numbers in the general population.”

Results:
A mean of 13.55% of attendings were female and 14.14% were URiM. A larger fraction of female attendings was a positive predictor of female residents (p < 0.001). Similarly, a larger percentage of URiM attendings was a positive predictor of URiM residents (p < 0.001), as well as of URiM (p < 0.001) and IMG (p < 0.01) students being ranked highly. There was no significant association between URiM attendings and female residents/overall top-ranked applicants, or vice versa.

Conclusions:
Residency programs with more female attendings were more likely to match female residents, and programs with more URiM attendings were more likely to highly rank URiM and IMG applicants as well as match URiM residents. Our findings indicate that orthopaedic surgery residencies may be more likely to rank and match female or URiM students at similar proportions to that of their faculty. This may reflect minority students preferentially applying to programs with more diverse faculty because they feel a better sense of fit and are likely to benefit from a stronger support system.

Level of Evidence:
III.
Insights on enhancing affordability and profit in a global non-cooperative coordinated pediatric vaccine market
Authors: Alves-Maciel Bruno , Proano Ruben A 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
This study considers a hypothetical global pediatric vaccine market where multiple coordinating entities make optimal procurement decisions on behalf of countries with different purchasing power. Each entity aims to improve affordability for its countries while maintaining a profitable market for vaccine producers. This study analyzes the effect of several factors on affordability and profitability: the number of non-cooperative coordinating entities making procuring decisions, the number of market segments in which countries are grouped for tiered pricing purposes, how producers recover fixed production costs, and the procuring order of the coordinating entities.

The study relies on a framework where entities negotiate sequentially with vaccine producers using a three-stage optimization process that solves an MIP and two LP problems to determine the optimal procurement plans and prices per dose that maximize savings for the entities' countries and profit for the vaccine producers. The study's results challenge current vaccine market dynamics and contribute with novel alternative strategies to orchestrate the interaction of buyers, producers, and coordinating entities for enhancing affordability in a non-cooperative market. Key results show that the order in which the coordinating entities negotiate with vaccine producers and how the latter recuperate their fixed cost investments can significantly affect profitability and affordability. Furthermore, low-income countries can procure vaccines more affordably while satisfying their demand by negotiating through entities handling a higher number of market segments, each with a smaller group of countries. In contrast, upper-middle and high-income countries increase their affordability by procuring through entities with fewer and more extensive market segments. A procurement order that follows entities based on the descending income level of their countries offers higher opportunities to increase affordability and profit if producers offer volume discounts.
Mitochondrial genome of ‘spotted numbfish’ Narcine timlei (Bloch &amp; Schneider, 1801) and phylogenetic relationships among order Torpediniformes
Authors: Kumar Amit , Prakash S. 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
In this study, we report, for the first time, mitochondrial genome of Narcine timlei (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) and its phylogenetic relationships within the order Torpediniformes. Narcine timlei is a medium-sized ray that occurs in nearshore waters of the Indo-Pacific, classified as a ‘vulnerable’ category on the IUCN Red List. The mitogenome is assembled from short Illumina reads (150 bp paired-end reads). It is 17,964 bp long and includes 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 tRNA genes, and 2 rRNA genes. The gene order, size, and nucleotide composition are largely consistent with mitogenomic characteristics of previously reported other Narcine spp. The slightly larger mitogenome length of N. timlei than other Narcine spp. may be due to the presence of a putative control region of 1,916 bp with three tandem repeats. Phylogenetic reconstruction using concatenated PCGs (n=13) of 9 Torpediniformes based on maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analysis revealed identical topologies. The tree showed two main clades, one clade containing members of the family Narcinidae, and the second sister clade consisting of the families Narkidae and Torpedinidae. Our result supports the monophyletic nature of Narcinidae based on mtDNA. The information obtained in this study will contribute to a better understanding of the population genetics, phylogenetic analysis, conservation, and evolutionary biology research of N. timlei.
Photometric Search for variable stars in the field of two Northern open clusters, DOLIDGE 14 and NGC 1960
Authors: Joshi Gireesh C. 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
The aim of present work is extract and analyses the light curves of the stars in the fields of two clusters, NGC 1960 and DOLIDZE 14. The photometric extraction is performed by comprehensive methodology of SSM via standard transformation and differential photometry using two comparison stars per candidate variable target. The resultant light curves for each possible variable star are displayed and their period analysis are performed via two different methods. The period and classification of 18 discovered short periodic type variable stars of NGC 1960 are discussed, which consist of four known variable stars and fourteen new variable stars. In the case of DOLIDZE 14, four discovered variables consist of one miscellaneous, one rotational, two binary type variable stars. In the case of NGC 1960, the 12 selected comparison stars seems to be possible candidate for long periodic variability and 4 stars may be standard stars. The variation in brightness of other twenty comparison stars is non-pulsating with irregular pattern. Membership analysis of variable stars are performed by using their distance, kinematic probability and location in (U−B) vs (B−V ) TCD. C-M diagrams were constructed to confirm the evolutionary state of the new variable stars.
An Oddity in the Human Development Index
Authors: Urzúa Carlos , Vilbert Jean 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
The Human Development Index is a summary measure of a country’s achievement in key dimensions of human progress. It is estimated using three indicators: life expectancy at birth, average years of schooling, and national income per capita. The aggregate index is calculated, after certain transformations, using their geometric mean to decrease the level of substitutability among those three dimensions. However, the indicator of education is estimated by simply averaging the mean of years of schooling received by adults and the expected years of education for children entering school. This paper shows that the latter variable is often overestimated and fluctuates widely across countries that are similar otherwise. This may distort the HDI by unintendedly magnifying the index in numerous instances, and by making countries with comparable levels of development to be ranked away from each other due to different schooling expectations. To ameliorate that distortion, we propose to estimate the indicator for education using 20-year windows to build a weighted geometric mean that captures countries’ factual advances in schooling two decades later. This paper shows that such a methodological improvement enhances the HDI’s consistency in identifying the levels of human development across countries.
JEL codes: I25, I28, I31, O15