Molecular epidemiology of Trichomonas gallinae in European Turtle Doves (Streptopelia turtur)

Disease is usually ignored as a potential driver of species decline. This is concerning since disease could have a greater impact on a species as it becomes vulnerable to other extinction risks. This thesis investigated Trichomonas gallinae infection in the UK’s fastest declining farmland bird, the European Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur. It employed molecular techniques to acquire data on parasite prevalence and identify strains, and trialled the application of Next Generation Sequencing technology to disease surveillance. Overall, 50 adult Turtle Dove samples from 2011-2015 were analysed and temporal variation in strain frequency was revealed. A degree of population structure in T. gallinae infecting different Turtle Dove populations (France 2014, n=40; Senegal, n=28) was apparent, along with some evidence of wide-ranging parasite dispersal, indirectly through their host. The potential risk of shared resources as a transmission route of T. gallinae was investigated with 226 food and 117 water samples screened for its presence. Evidence suggested T. gallinae was regularly present in both food and water resources. This has important implications for supplementary feeding being a conservation management tool. The reservoir of T. gallinae in the UK was reviewed by sampling potential hosts of Columbidae (n=166), Galliformes (n=13) and Passeriformes (n=90). The detection of strains other than the finch epidemic strain in free-ranging Passerines revealed a greater level of genetic heterogeneity than previously shown in other studies. There were no significant associations between T. gallinae strain infection or coinfection with haemosporidians and measures of reproduction, body condition or post-fledging survival in Turtle Doves however, sample sizes were small. Overall, this study increases our understanding of the epidemiology of T. gallinae both in the wider bird population and a species of Vulnerable conservation status. It demonstrates how T. gallinae infecting wild birds is a useful model for investigating aspects of host- parasite ecology and encourages further research with this system

Multi-technique equation of state for Fe_(2)SiO_4 melt and the density of Fe-bearing silicate melts from 0 to 161 GPa

We have conducted new equation of state measurements on liquid Fe_(2)SiO_4 in a collaborative, multi-technique study. The liquid density (ρ), the bulk modulus (K), and its pressure derivative (K′) were measured from 1 atm to 161 GPa using 1-atm double-bob Archimedean, multi-anvil sink/float, and shock wave techniques. Shock compression results on initially molten Fe_(2)SiO_4 (1573 K) fitted with previous work and the ultrasonically measured bulk sound speed (C_o) in shock velocity (U_S)-particle velocity (u_p) space yields the Hugoniot: U_S = 1.58(0.03) u_p + 2.438(0.005) km/s. Sink/float results are in agreement with shock wave and ultrasonic data, consistent with an isothermal K_T = 19.4 GPa and K′ = 5.33 at 1500°C. Shock melting of initially solid Fe_(2)SiO_4 (300 K) confirms that the Grüneisen parameter (γ) of this liquid increases upon compression where γ = γ_o(ρ_(o)/ρ)^q yields a q value of –1.45. Constraints on the liquid fayalite EOS permit the calculation of isentropes for silicate liquids of general composition in the multicomponent system CaO-MgO-Al_(2)O_3-SiO_2-FeO at elevated temperatures and pressures. In our model a whole mantle magma ocean would first crystallize in the mid-lower mantle or at the base of the mantle were it composed of either peridotite or simplified “chondrite” liquid, respectively. In regards to the partial melt hypothesis to explain the occurrence and characteristics of ultra-low velocity zones, neither of these candidate liquids would be dense enough to remain at the core mantle boundary on geologic timescales, but our model defines a compositional range of liquids that would be gravitationally stable

Multi‐technique equation of state for Fe 2 SiO 4 melt and the density of Fe‐bearing silicate melts from 0 to 161 GPa

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/95366/1/jgrb17308.pd

The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children:Generation 2 questionnaire data capture May-July 2020 [version 2; peer review: 3 approved]

The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) is a prospective population-based cohort study which recruited pregnant women in 1990-1992 from the Bristol area (UK). ALSPAC has followed these women, their partners (Generation 0; G0) and their offspring (Generation 1; G1) ever since. From 2012, ALSPAC has identified G1 participants who were pregnant (or their partner was) or had become parents, and enrolled them, their partners, and children in the ALSPAC-Generation 2 (ALSPAC-G2) study, providing a unique multigenerational cohort. At present, approximately 1,100 G2 children (excluding those in utero) from 810 G1 participants have been enrolled. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, ALSPAC rapidly deployed two online questionnaires; one during the initial lockdown phase in 2020 (9th April-15th May), and another when national lockdown restrictions were eased (26th May-5th July). As part of this second questionnaire, G1 parents completed a questionnaire about each of their G2 children. This covered: parental reports of children’s feelings and behaviour since lockdown, school attendance, contact patterns, and health. A total of 289 G1 participants completed this questionnaire on behalf of 411 G2 children. This COVID-19 G2 questionnaire data can be combined with prepandemic ALSPAC-G2 data, plus ALSPAC-G1 and -G0 data, to understand how children’s health and behaviour has been affected by the pandemic and its management. Data from this questionnaire will be complemented with linkage to health records and results of biological testing as they become available. Prospective studies are necessary to understand the impact of this pandemic on children’s health and development, yet few relevant studies exist; this resource will aid these efforts. Data has been released as: 1) a freely-available dataset containing participant responses with key sociodemographic variables; and 2) an ALSPAC-held dataset which can be combined with existing ALSPAC data, enabling bespoke research across all areas supported by the study

DREEm: Modelling and Supporting Recovery of the UK’s Experience Economy

Digital Regeneration of Experience Economy modelling (DREEm), funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (2020-22), was led by Professor Jane Harris, University of the Arts London, in partnership with the University of the West England, RHP Ltd, and Joe Pine, Co-founder, Strategic Horizons LLP, US, and co-author of ‘The Experience Economy’, which coined the concept (1999), and recently republished (2020). Working with over 100 industry stakeholders from across the UK (listed pp20-24 of the Appendices) research outputs generated by the project overall may be accessed via the website and DREEm: Resources, including a jointly authored paper; DREEm: Reports & Appendices; a DREEm: Compendium of over 100 digital experiences, and 9 DREEm: Production Case Studies

An experimental human blood stage model for studying Plasmodium malariae infection

Background: Plasmodium malariae is considered a ‘minor’ malaria parasite, although its global disease burden is underappreciated. The aim of this study was to develop an induced blood stage malaria (IBSM) model of P. malariae to study parasite biology, diagnostics, and treatment. Methods: This clinical trial involved two healthy subjects who were intravenously inoculated with cryopreserved P. malariae-infected erythrocytes. Subjects were treated with artemether-lumefantrine following development of clinical symptoms. Prior to antimalarial therapy, mosquito feeding assays were performed to investigate transmission, and blood samples were collected for rapid diagnostic testing and parasite transcription profiling. Serial blood samples were collected for biomarker analysis. Results: Both subjects experienced symptoms and signs typical of early malaria. Parasitaemia was detected 7 days post-inoculation and increased until antimalarial treatment was initiated 25 and 21 days post-inoculation for Subject 1 and 2 respectively (peak parasitaemia levels were 174,182 and 50,291 parasites/mL respectively). The parasite clearance half-life following artemether-lumefantrine treatment was 6.7 hours. Mosquito transmission was observed for one subject, while in vivo parasite transcription and biomarkers were successfully profiled. Conclusions: An IBSM model of P. malariae has been successfully developed and may be used to study the biology, diagnostics, and treatment of this neglected malaria species