BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access titles in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences published by nonprofit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and presses.

No abstract

Background and objectivesAn increasing number of research studies point toward the importance and prevalence of long-term neurocognitive symptoms following infection with COVID-19. Our objectives were to capture the prevalence of cognitive impairments from 1 to 16 months post-COVID-19 infection, assess the changes in neuropsychological functions over time, and identify factors that can predict long-term deficits in cognition.MethodologyA cross-sectional research design was adopted to compare four sub-samples recruited over a 16-month timeframe (1–4, 5–8, 9–12, and 13–16 months). Phone interviews were conducted at least 6 weeks after being infected by COVID-19. Sociodemographic and clinical questionnaires were administered followed by standardized neurocognitive and psychological tests and health questionnaires screening cognitive symptoms, anxiety, depression, fatigue, and autonomy.ResultsRegarding general health questionnaires, 55.2% of the 134 participants had symptoms of psychiatric illness, while 21.6% of patients had moderate-to-severe anxiety or depression. Cognitive efficiency was diminished in 19.4% of our population. Executive dysfunction was screened in 56% of patients, and an impairment of cognitive flexibility and inhibition was revealed in 38.8%. Depression, hospital or intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and the duration of hospital or ICU stay were associated with an inhibition deficit. The duration elapsed from the initial infection, and the neurocognitive assessment was not associated with a decrease in inhibition deficit. The prevalence of cognitive impairments, other than inhibition deficit, tended to decrease during the study period.DiscussionThis study supports the extensive literature on the cognitive and neuropsychiatric sequelae of COVID-19 and highlights long-lasting inhibition deficits, while other cognitive functions seemed to improve over time. The severity of infection could interact as a catalyst in the complex interplay between depression and executive functions. The absence of a relation between inhibition deficits and sociodemographic or medical factors reinforces the need for cognitive screening in all COVID-19 patients. Future research should focus on inhibition deficits longitudinally to assess the progression of this impairment.

No abstract

Two brief biodiversity surveys were conducted near Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, in May 2014 and February 2016, and to the Day Forest (Forêt du Day) in February 2016. Our complete avian checklist of 143 species, with 96 species preserved as museum specimens is presented here. We document nesting for Spur-winged Lapwing Vanellus spinosus (Linnaeus, 1758), the occurrence of Crimson-rumped Waxbill Estrilda rhodopyga Sundevall, 1850, and confirm Little Tern Sternula albifrons (Pallas, 1764) in Djibouti. We comment on observations for the Critically Endangered Djibouti Spurfowl Pternistis ochropectus (Dorst & Jouanin 1952), and the Endangered Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus (Linnaeus, 1758), and a previously noted Fringillidae (Crithagra sp.) Swainson, 1827 from the Day Forest. Hybridization between Somali Sparrow Passer castanopterus Blythi,1885 and House Sparrow Passer domesticus (Linnaeus, 1758) is documented with voucher specimens. Although these surveys and taxa lists represent brief inventories for the areas visited, they provide a foundation and reference for future work in this understudied region in the Horn of Africa.