Cerebral blood flow measurements with arterial spin labelling in a tri-ethnic population cohort: associations of cardiovascular risk factors and MR imaging markers of brain ageing

Differences in cerebral blood flow (CBF) have been identified between older individuals in good cognitive health and those experiencing cognitive decline and dementia. Previous studies have shown that the aetiology of dementia includes a substantial vascular component and there is evidence that CBF decline in old age may be linked to cardiovascular disease. Although the incidence, prevalence and impact of vascular risk varies by ethnicity and gender, many previous studies have focused on participants of white European origin or have pooled ethnically diverse samples, while differences between sexes have been under-investigated. This thesis used arterial spin labelling (ASL) to measure cortical CBF in an elderly tri-ethnic population cohort and examined its relationship with vascular risk and the brain ageing markers of cortical volume and white matter hyperintensity (WMH) volume from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Chapter 4 showed that use of the currently recommended mean haematocrit (Hct) value in equations that calculate CBF from ASL underestimated CBF in women and non-European ethnicities. The alternative method of substituting individually measured Hct into the equation was implemented in the following chapters. Results from Chapter 5 indicated that increased vascular risk factors were associated with lower CBF, but these relationships varied by ethnicity and sex. Ethnicity and sex also modified the strength of associations of increased vascular risk with decreased cortical tissue volume and increased volume of WMHs examined in Chapter 6. However, there was no evidence of any association of CBF with the MRI markers of brain ageing

Colleagues in collaboration:The story behind Newbolt's Committee

This chapter focuses on the work and publications of the members of Newbolt's Committee. Through an exploration of their roles (variously as teachers, members of His Majesty’ Inspectorate, university lecturers, authors, etc.) and their writing, the chapter demonstrates that there was a broad consensus across the field of English education (maintained public elementary schools; grammar and independent schools) about both the role of English in education and of what the subject should consist. Using intertextual analysis, it examines English Association pamphlets and other publications produced by Fowler, Dover Wilson, Quiller-Couch and George Sampson. The chapter particularly highlights the similarities between these texts and The Newbolt Report, suggesting that The Committee members drew on existing funds of knowledge in developing their humane, child-centred view of English teaching, reflecting acknowledged good practice of the time

Sharing a Class Reader

Performance in International Student Assessment (PISA) data suggests reading for pleasure declines amongst secondary pupils. One explanation could be that pupils are not sharing stories in the same way as in their earlier schooling. When the dialogic practice of reading – talking about books and sharing them orally – is limited or absent, can pupils experience the same levels of engagement? Or, could a ‘classroom community’ fostered on shared reading prevent ‘readicide’ (the ‘killing’ of reading by schools)? These big questions cannot be answered within the parameters of this chapter; however, the popularity of adult book groups appears to demonstrate a desire to return to a shared reading experience as members of a reading community, one that is a ‘fully social activity’ involving friends, family and pupils

Sharing a Class Reader

Performance in International Student Assessment (PISA) data suggests reading for pleasure declines amongst secondary pupils. One explanation could be that pupils are not sharing stories in the same way as in their earlier schooling. When the dialogic practice of reading – talking about books and sharing them orally – is limited or absent, can pupils experience the same levels of engagement? Or, could a ‘classroom community’ fostered on shared reading prevent ‘readicide’ (the ‘killing’ of reading by schools)? These big questions cannot be answered within the parameters of this chapter; however, the popularity of adult book groups appears to demonstrate a desire to return to a shared reading experience as members of a reading community, one that is a ‘fully social activity’ involving friends, family and pupils

Inhibition of listeriolypin O and phosphatidylcholine - specific phospholipase C production in Listeria monocytogeres by subinhibitory concentrations of plant essential oils

Successful infection by Listeria monocytogenes is dependent upon a range of bacterial extracellular proteins including a cytolysin termed listeriolysin O and phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C. Five plant essential oils--bay, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg and thyme--significantly reduced the production of listeriolysin O by L. monocytogenes. The greatest change was observed after culture with oil of thyme, which reduced haemolysis to 52.1 haemolytic units (HU)/ml compared with 99.8 HU/ml observed with the control. Oil of clove was the only oil that also significantly reduced phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C activity. These changes were observed despite the oils causing no change to the final bacterial concentration or total extracellular protein concentration.sch_die51pub2932pub

Influence of sub-inhibitory concentrations of plant essential oils on the production of enterotoxins A and B and alpha toxin by Staphylococcus aureus

The data presented show the ability of subinhibitory concentrations of plant essential oils to influence the production of enterotoxins A and B and alpha-toxin by Staphylococcus aureus. Subinhibitory concentrations of the oils of bay, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg and thyme had no significant effect on the overall quantity of extracellular protein produced. Haemolysis due to alpha-toxin was significantly reduced after culture with all five plant essential oils. This reduction was greatest with the oils of bay, cinnamon and clove. These three oils also significantly decreased the production of enterotoxin A; the oils of clove and cinnamon also significantly decreased the production of enterotoxin B.Paper adds to the growing body of evidence that children can acquire phonological systems before they are able to master the phonetic skills needed to convey the contrasts in that systemsch_die53pub2931pub1