Monitoring and modelling of nitrogen dioxide in urban areas.

Imperial Users onl

Whole Child Development Mapping Project in Western Europe and North America: The UK (1)

Visualization 1 Originally published in Optics Express on 28 November 2016 (oe-24-24-27785

A preliminary investigation into the endoparasite load of the European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) in Ireland

The European hedgehog is strictly protected in the Republic of Ireland but has been little studied. Carcasses, such as road kill casualties, can provide valuable information on population demographics, parasite load and general body condition. This study aimed to examine the species of endoparasites present in hedgehogs, their prevalence and intensities and whether differences occurred depending on the age and sex of the hedgehog. Carcasses were collected and examined from around Ireland, over a 3-year period. In 21 of the 23 hedgehogs examined, endoparasites were identified. The nematode species, Crenosoma triatum and Capillaria erinacei were both positively identified. C. striatium was confined to the lungs, whereas C. erinacei was the most prevalent (87%) endoparasite and occurred in the stomach and intestines. There was a significantly higher load of Crenosoma striatum observed in male hedgehogs compared to females, but no significant difference was observed in the intensity of C. erinacei between the sexes. In all tissues, a greater mean endoparasite load was observed in male hedgehogs. Sex differences in exposure or immunity to parasitism could be related to the males’ larger home range and the effects of oestrogen levels on immunity

Different Life Cycle Stages of Plasmodium falciparum Induce Contrasting Responses in Dendritic Cells

Dendritic cells are key linkers of innate and adaptive immunity. Efficient dendritic cell activation is central to the acquisition of immunity and the efficacy of vaccines. Understanding how dendritic cells are affected by Plasmodium falciparum blood-stage parasites will help to understand how immunity is acquired and maintained, and how vaccine responses may be impacted by malaria infection or exposure. This study investigates the response of dendritic cells to two different life stages of the malaria parasite, parasitized red blood cells and merozoites, using a murine model. We demonstrate that the dendritic cell responses to merozoites are robust whereas dendritic cell activation, particularly CD40 and pro-inflammatory cytokine expression, is compromised in the presence of freshly isolated parasitized red blood cells. The mechanism of dendritic cell suppression by parasitized red blood cells is host red cell membrane-independent. Furthermore, we show that cryopreserved parasitized red blood cells have a substantially reduced capacity for dendritic cell activation

A Phase 3 randomized controlled trial of a vocabulary program in elementary schools in England: Protocol

Vocabulary development is important for successful reading comprehension. Given the global challenges facing children’s reading standards, there is an urgency to enable school children to improve their reading including their vocabulary. This protocol presents a randomized controlled trial to test a vocabulary program in English elementary schools. The trial will establish whether the positive findings from a smaller trial undertaken in England are generalizable at greater scale, and whether there are mediating effects of vocabulary for reading comprehension. The Vocabulary for Reading program is a workforce development program that supports school staff to deliver targeted vocabulary instruction to children aged 7–10. The protocol outlines a research design to assess whether the program improves vocabulary and reading outcomes in a sample of 400 children from 50 English schools. Outcome measures include two digital reading standardized tests from an independently designed provider. A process evaluation assesses fidelity and potential for scale-up