bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Age structure and grouping behaviour of elephants in Serengeti and Mikumi National Parks in Tanzania.
Authors: MRAMBA ROSEMARY PETER 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
African elephants, Loxodonta africana, are mega-herbivores that utilise a variety of forage. Their large body size make them tolerant to diets of low nutritional quality. Subsequently, they mostly occur in moist-dystrophic savannas but also arid-eutrophic savannas. The arid-eutrophic savannas are characterised by nutrient-rich soils and small biomass of high quality forage while the moist-dystrophic savannas are characterised by nutrient-poor soils and large biomass of low quality forage. Female elephants are social, forming family groups consisting of genetically related individuals and young animals of both sexes. The social behaviour is influenced by forage availability which determine competition between group members. The differences in forage quantity between the savannas are expected to influence elephants grouping and reproduction. I predicted the elephants to form larger groups and to have higher reproductive efficiency in dystrophic savannas. I studied grouping behaviour and age structure of elephants in eutrophic Serengeti and dystrophic Mikumi National Parks in Tanzania during the dry season. I used park roads as transects, and when elephants were sighted, the car was stopped for data recording. Group size, group type (bachelor or family), and age composition of elephants were determined through direct observations. The Serengeti and Mikumi elephant populations differed in grouping behaviour and age structure, but opposite to my predictions. Serengeti had larger family groups and a larger proportion of young elephants 0–15 years old than Mikumi. The size of family groups differed between the parks while bachelor groups were similar. Further studies are recommended to compare elephant populations in contrasting savannas.
Assessing the Accuracy of Early COVID-19 Case and Fatality Model Projections in Africa
Authors: Mabuka Thabo , Craig Jessica , Schueller Emily , Yiga Thabo 
Published: September 2022

Abstract

ObjectiveWe compared reported COVID-19 case, fatality, and peak date data for Africa Union (AU) member states with estimates and projections produced by various mathematical models to assess their accuracy in the context of an ongoing pandemic and identify key gaps to improve the utility of models in the future.MethodsWe conducted a systematic literature review to identify studies published in any language between January and December 2020 that reported results of COVID-19 modeling analyses for any AU member state. Reported COVID-19 case, fatality, peak date, and testing rate data were obtained. Descriptive, bivariate, and meta-analyses were conducted to compare reported data to model-generated estimates. FindingsFor included countries in the respective model simulation periods, model-predicted cumulative cases ranged from 2 to 76,213,155 while model-predicted cumulative deaths ranged from 8 to 700,000. The difference between reported and predicted cumulative COVID-19 cases was between -99.3 % to 1.44×106 % with most values being above 24.7%, and the difference between reported and predicted cumulative COVID-19 deaths for models reviewed was between -2.0 % to 2.73×105 % with most values being above 50.0%. The difference in the predicted and reported dates for the first epidemic wave peak was between -242 Days to 249 Days.ConclusionFor the first COVID-19 epidemic wave, epidemiological model results were observed to have high precision but low accuracy when compared to reported peak case date and cumulative cases and deaths indicating that these data were either under-reported or model-overestimated.
Reading comprehension in undergraduates during the COVID-19 pandemic. Associations with executive function difficulties, reading habits and screen times.
Authors: tabullo angel javier Javier , Chiófalo María Florencia , Wainselboim Alejandro Javier 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic and its concomitant restriction measures drastically altered the routines and learning formats of students from all levels. In addition, it has been shown that pandemic-related stress negatively impacted their mental health and cognitive functioning. Undergraduates have been signaled out as one of the populations most vulnerable to pandemic-related stressors. The following work examined the link between executive functions, perceived stress and reading comprehension among Argentinean university students during lockdown measures. In addition, potential effects of reading habits and screen exposure were considred. An executive function behavioral rating scale (ADEXI), a reading comprehension test and the PSS-10 stress questionnaire were administered to two-hundred social science students through an online survey. Executive difficulties increased with perceived stress, while lower inhibition was associated with longer TV times and being male. Stress and executive function associations can be interpreted as a detrimental effect, reverse or bidirectional causation. In turn, working memory issues led to worse comprehension (mediating the impact of perceived stress) while distal factors such as print exposure and mother education were positive predictors of reading outcomes (as expected). This finding suggests that undergraduates’ difficulties to manipulate online information interfered with expository text processing, resulting in poorer comprehension performance.
Diversity and bioactive profile of endophytic mycoflora in mangroves
Authors: R Revathy M , Mohan Anjali S , Kesavan Dhanya , S Manomi , Philip Rosamma 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
The present study deals with the mangrove associated endophytic fungi and their bioactivity profile. The fungal endophytes were isolated from the leaves of three mangrove species (Aegiceras corniculatum, Lumnitzera racemosa and Ceriops tagal) and identified by morphological and molecular methods (Internal Transcribed Spacer and β-tubulin (Ben A) sequencing). The isolates mainly belonged to Ascomycota (95%) and the Basidiomycota comprised only 5%. They come under 5 classes, 11 orders, 16 genera and 25 species. Under Ascomycota, four classes, viz., Sordariomycetes (44.5%), Eurotiomycetes (32.46%), Dothideomycetes (17.28%) and Saccharomycetes (1.83%) comprising 10 orders were recorded. Under Basidiomycota a single class viz., Agaricomycetes (3.93%) comprising 1 order (Agaricales) was observed. Colletotrichum (30.2%) was the dominant genus followed by Aspergillus (17.8%), Penicillium (14.1%), Phyllosticta (9.1%) etc. Penicillium citrinum was the dominant fungus (22%) in A. corniculatum; Colletotrichum siamense (31%) in L. racemosa and Aspergillus sydowii (35%) in C. tagal (Fig. 3). Among the isolates, the Colonization frequency (CF%) was maximum for Colletotrichum siamense (18%) followed by Phyllosticta capitalensis (11.6%). Penicillium citrinum was found in all the three plant species. Isolates from Ceriops tagal were found to exhibit higher antibacterial as well as hydrolytic enzyme production potential. Aspergillus montevidensis EF 30, Cladosporium oxysporum EF 316, Colletotrichum siamense EF 272, Penicillium chrysogenum EF 362, Colletotrichum fruticola EF 22, Ascotricha chartarum EF 374, Aspergillus sydowii EF 239, Talaromyces purpurogenus EF 313, Meyerozyma caribbica EF 347 and Schizophyllum commune EF 309 were segregated as potential strains for hydrolytic enzyme production. A. aculeatus EF 10, T. purpurogenus EF 313, C. oxysporum EF 316, C. fruticola EF 74, P. capitalensis EF 187, A. sydowi EF 226 and P. chrysogenum EF 363 showed notable antimicrobial property. T purprogenus EF 313 endowed with pigment (red) production has potential for application in dyeing industry. During the current study, 25 different species of endophytic fungal species could be recovered from three host mangrove plants and some of them were having high bioactive potential for possible commercial applications with respect to bioremediation and as antimicrobials in medicine and aquaculture.
Homocysteine serum levels correlate with the number of failed IVF cycles even when within normal range
Authors: Frenkel-Manzur Nofar , Gluska Hadar , Feferkorn Ido , Skvirsky Sivan , Ben-Shlomo Izhar , Megnazi Zofnat Wiener 
Published: September 2022

Abstract

Introduction: Repeated implantation failure is a common challenge in daily practice. Homocysteine and vitamin B12 have been associated with reproductive processes among patients undergoing in vitro fertilization; however, their involvement in repeated implantation failure has not been assessed. We explored possible associations of serum homocysteine and vitamin B12 with repeated implantation failure.
Material and Methods: A retrospective analysis of 127 women who underwent ≥ 3 unsuccessful embryo transfers during 2005-2016, at the Fertility and In Vitro Fertilization Unit at Carmel Medical Center. After at least 3 IVF failures serum levels of homocysteine and vitamin B12 were measured.
Results: The mean patient age was 33.5 ± 5.2 years. The mean number of embryo transfers was 4.6 ± 1.5. The mean total cumulative number of embryos transferred was 10.4 ± 5.2. Mean serum levels of homocysteine were 8.6 ± 3.7µM/L, and of vitamin B12 and 302.5 ± 155.3 pg/ml. Homocysteine levels were within the normal range (< 14 µM/L) in 95.8% of the patients. Yet, the levels of homocysteine correlated with both the number of failed embryo transfers (r=0.34, p=0.004) and the total cumulative number of transferred embryos (r=0.36, p=0.002).
Conclusions: Our findings suggest an association between serum homocysteine levels and the occurrence of repeated implantation failure, even when homocystein levels were within the normal range. It should be studied whether nutritional supplementation to modulate serum homocysteine levels may improve treatment outcome.
Numerical simulation and parameter optimization of earth auger in hilly area using EDEM software
Authors: Wang Guofu , Zhang Wei , Ji Min , Miao Hu , Jin Zheng 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
Digging in hilly regions is an important measure to promote afforestation on difficult sites. In view of the working conditions to build fish-scale pit on slope, the auger mechanism of soil lifting and throwing was investigated in this study. This study utilized EDEM software to establish the operation model of the earth auger and conduct DEM (Discrete Element Method) virtual simulation experiments. A quadratic rotating orthogonal center combination test was implemented by setting the efficiency of conveying-soil (Y1) and the distance of throwing-soil (Y2) as the evaluation indices. Variance analysis and response surface optimization were performed on the virtual experimental data. The results indicated that the weight of the factors affecting the Y1 and Y2, were feeding speed > helix angle > rotating speed > slope angle, and slope auger > rotating speed > feeding speed > helix angle. The optimal parameter combination of each influencing factor was obtained. Among them, when the slope preparation was required, the optimal operating parameter combination of the auger was: Slope of 26.467°, Helix angle of 21.567°, Feeding speed of 0.1 m/s, Rotating speed of 67.408 r/min. This research provides theoretical references for the design optimization of the earth auger in hilly regions.
An investigation of spatially-temporal hydro-climatic data trends and patterns in the Iraqi Diyala River Basin
Authors: Mohammed Ruqayah Kadhim , Bandar Ammer Kadhim 
Published: September 2022

Abstract

Climate variability linked to anthropogenic intervention can be considered the main factor affecting the water cycle and hydrological system. Such factors have been considered as the chief distress for water resources engineers and managers, especially in semi-arid and arid regions. This research investigates the spatiotemporal trends and extent patterns of the hydro-climate variables during the past thirty years, comprising yearly and monthly rainfall, temperature, evapotranspiration, and excess rainfall, to estimate the possible effect of such alterations at a local level. The Diyala River catchment, in the central region of Iraq, has been considered an example area. Accordingly, the Mann–Kendall and Pittet methods and the double mass curve process, were used for analysis of the hydro-climatic variables from 1979 to 2012 in the studied catchment. Outcomes of the study designated that excess rainfall alteration during the rainy and dry periods after 1967 had significant corresponding declining trends at a 0.05 confidence level owing to dam building. Annual runoff variations were primarily caused by an anthropogenic intervention involving dam construction to meet water use requirements for agricultural consumption. The rainfall-runoff relationship in the basin has been altered due to weather inconsistency and increasingly intensified human activities. The sudden alterations in the hydro-climatic variables and the key causing influences of the variations in the considered basin have been investigated. The study's findings would help policymakers and water resource engineers identify the risks and vulnerabilities associated with environmental change.
An integrative approach to assess non-native iguana presence on Saba and Montserrat: are we losing all native Iguana populations in the Lesser Antilles?
Authors: Burg Matthijs P. van den , Goetz Matt , Brannon Luke , Weekes Tavis S. , Ryan Kaysie V. , Debrot Adolphe O. 
Published: September 2022

Abstract

Invasive alien species are among the main drivers of the ongoing sixth mass extinction wave, especially affecting island populations. Although the Caribbean is well-known for its high species richness and endemism, also for reptiles, equally important is the regional contribution of non-native species to island biodiversity. The Lesser Antilles encompass high genetic diversity in Iguana, though most native populations either have gone extinct or are declining following competitive hybridization with invasive non-native iguanas. Here we assessed non-native presence in two poorly-studied native melanistic Iguana iguana populations using available genetic tools, and explored utilizing size-dependent body measurements to discriminate between native and non-native iguanas. Genetic samples from Saba and Montserrat were genotyped across 17 microsatellite loci with STRUCTURE and multivariate analyses indicating non-native iguanas presence only on Saba. This was corroborated by mtDNA and nDNA sequences, highlighting a non-native origin in Central America and the ABC islands. We identified preliminary evidence suggestive of hybridization. Morphological variation among size-dependent characteristics showed that non-native iguanas have significantly larger subtympanic plates than native iguanas. Non-native individuals also differed in scalation and coloration patterns. Overall, our findings demonstrate the need for continuous monitoring for non-native iguanas within remaining native Iguana populations in the Lesser Antilles, with those not directly threatened by non-native iguanas restricted to only 8.7% of the historic range. Although genetic data allows for identification of non-native or hybrid iguana presence, this field-to-lab workflow is time consuming. Rapid in-situ identification of non-native individuals is crucial for conservation management, and besides scale and coloration patterns, we have highlighted the utility of size-dependent variables for rapid diagnosis. We urge regional partners to build morphometric databases for native Iguana populations that will help to quickly detect future incursions of non-native iguanas and allow the rapid implementation of effective countermeasures during the early phase of invasion.
A study on simulation the coastal flow in Soc Trang, Vietnam using the hydraulic model on curvilinear coordinates
Authors: Tran Kim Thi , Bay Nguyen Thi , Nguyen Huy Dam Quoc , Nguyen Phuoc Van , Ky Phung Nguyen 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
Coastal flow plays an important role in near-shore sediment transport, affecting the grain size distribution, as well as the shoreline changes. This study focuses on analysing near-shore coastal flow under the influence of wave, wind and tidal combinations along the Soc Trang province coast, Vietnam using the model on a curvilinear coordinate system. The hydraulic model applied is a two-dimensional numerical model based on depth-averaged Reynolds equations in curvilinear coordinates with the advantage of minimizing boundary errors in an area with complex coastline changes. The model was calibrated and validated with data measured at the stations, showing consistency between the observation and simulation. The direction of coastal flow under the conditions of waves and winds depends on the monsoon season. The influence of the Northeast monsoon on the flow velocity is more than the Southwest monsoon. The coastal flow is mainly influenced by tidal currents, in which, the difference in velocity at spring tide is smaller than that at neap tide. On the contrary, wind-affected flow and wave-influenced flow are negligible.
Polyacrylonitrile/cellulose nanofibers supported gold nanoparticles for liquid-phase aerobic oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde
Authors: Yang Zixuan , Zhu Junjiang , Xiao Ping , Wang Xungai 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
Polyacrylonitrile-cellulose (PC) nanofibers with average diameters of 195 - 327 nm were prepared by an electrospinning method and used as support of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) for liquid-phase aerobic oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde. AuNPs with an average particle size of 6.5 nm were finely formed and dispersed on the surface of PC nanofibers, and their presence was essential to promote the oxidation reaction. The AuNPs/PC_3-1 sample, with a PC blend ratio of 3:1, resulted in 70.2 % benzyl alcohol conversion and 100 % benzaldehyde selectivity within 3 h. The catalyst could be recycled and reused up to four times with a relatively small reduction in catalytic activity. A mechanism for the reaction was proposed, in which the AuNPs and the -OH groups of cellulose were supposed to be the active sites of O2 and benzyl alcohol, respectively.
Exploring the factors contributing to low vaccination demand for nationally recommended routine childhood and adolescent vaccines in Kenya
Authors: Essoh Tene-Alima , Adeyanju Gbadebo Collins , Adamu Abdu A. , Tall Haoua , Aplogan Aristide , Tabu Collins 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
Background
Vaccination remains the most effective means of reducing the burden of infectious disease among children. It is estimated to prevent between two to three million child deaths annually. However, despite being a successful intervention, basic vaccination coverage remains below the target. About 20 million infants are either under or not fully vaccinated, most of whom are in Sub-Saharan Africa region. In Kenya, the coverage is even lower at 83% than the global average of 86%. The objective of this study is to explore the factors that contribute to low demand or vaccine hesitancy for childhood and adolescent vaccines in Kenya.
Methods
The study used qualitative research design. Key Informant Interviews (KII) was used to obtain information from national and county-level key stakeholders. In-depth Interviews (IDI) was done to collect opinions of caregivers of children 0–23 months and adolescent girls eligible for immunization, and Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine respectively. The data was collected at the national level and counties such as Kilifi, Turkana, Nairobi and Kitui. The data was analyzed using thematic content approach. A total of 41 national and county-level immunization officials and caregivers formed the sample.
Results
Insufficient knowledge about vaccines, vaccine supply issues, frequent healthcare worker’s industrial action, poverty, religious beliefs, inadequate vaccination campaigns, distance to vaccination centers, were identified as factors driving low demand or vaccine hesitancy against routine childhood immunization. While factors driving low uptake of the newly introduced HPV vaccine were reported to include misinformation about the vaccine, rumors that the vaccine is a form of female contraception, the suspicion that the vaccine is free and available only to girls, poor knowledge of cervical cancer and benefits of HPV vaccine.
Conclusions
Rural community sensitization on both routine childhood immunization and HPV vaccine should be key activities post COVID-19 pandemic. Likewise, the use of mainstream and social media outreaches, and vaccine champions could help reduce vaccine hesitancy. The findings are invaluable for informing design of context-specific interventions by national and county-level immunization stakeholders. Further studies on the relationship between attitude towards new vaccines and connection to vaccine hesitancy is necessary.
Morphological and molecular updates of Corynosoma bullosum (Linstow, 1892) Raulliet &amp; Henry, 1907 parasitizing southern elephant seals from the Antarctic Peninsula
Authors: Soto Florencia A. , Rodríguez Sara M. , Leonardi María S. , Negrete Javier , Cremonte Florencia 
Published: September 2022

Abstract

Background: Previous descriptions of Corynosoma bullosum (Linstow, 1892) Railliet & Henry, 1907 show that the specimens vary greatly for the proportions of the different structures of the body, measurements of females and males, number of rows of hooks, egg measurements, among others. Here, we redescribe this species from specimens found in the southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) feces, from 25 de Mayo/King George Island. We also provide a molecular characterization, in addition to 5.8s and ITS existing sequences.Results: We examined feces collected from 41 elephants in 2016 and 2018. We found 30 adult acanthocephalans in 15 of them (19 females and 11 males). The specimens were identified as belonging to the genus Corynosoma due to the tubular body with an inflated anterior part forming a thorny disk and the posterior part bearing somatic spines on the ventral surface, and genital spines surrounding the genital pore. The morphology of the individuals corresponded to C. bullosum: large size, marked sexual dimorphism (females 13.7-20.0mm and males 9.5-13.6mm in length), and proboscis with 16-18 rows of spines with 11-15 spines per row (8-12 apical and 3-4 basal). The molecular profile of two specimens of C. bullosum was analysed using cytochrome oxidase 1 (COI). Finally, we inferred phylogenetic relationships of the family Polymorphidae using maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI).Conclusions: We provided an updated morphological redescription for C. bullosum including electron microscopy photographs and molecular data. We also present a summary table showing the great morphological variation of the species. The COI gene sequences revealed that C. bullosum has low genetic variation and that this species is more closely related to Andracantha sigma than to the genus Corynosoma. Our analyses show that it is necessary to perform a phylogenetic study of the family Polymorphidae including all the species.