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Question of the Week / Re: QotW - 21.11.28 - Why do ant bites hurt so much?

« on: 24/11/2021 15:18:41 »

Latin name for an ant is formica - from which we get formic acid HCOOH. Different species inject various amounts when attacked or to kill their prey. Some people are allergic but even if you have no secondary reaction, it's a powerful acid and causes tissue damage.

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The Environment / Re: Should we conserve for a Single Species or Habitat

« on: 18/11/2021 06:30:54 »

I help look after a Trust reserve where Hazel Dormice have been reintroduced. There is Hazel coppice, that is degrading as time goes on.

Which group is running this reintroduction? I assume PTES who have been releasing. They ought to be aware of the importance of habitat management for dormice.
Have you spoken to the mammal society? https://www.mammal.org.uk/species-hub/full-species-hub/discover-mammals/species-hazel-dormouse/
It might be worth contacting researchers in this field eg https://www.researchgate.net/publication/326126680_Habitat_preferences_of_hazel_dormice_Muscardinus_avellanarius_and_the_effects_of_tree-felling_on_their_movement
Who are part of this team https://wildlifescience.org/portfolio/dormouse-conservation/
This document outlines the importance of hazel coppicing and tree cover management https://ptes.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Dormouse-Conservation-Handbook.pdf

I can’t give specific advice as this isn’t my field, but if you have problems finding the right people I have a personal interest in conservation and can ask around my contacts.

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COVID-19 / Re: Would an extended dosage interval work for the Oxford vaccine?

« on: 13/01/2021 00:41:03 »

I think the single astra zenica is similar the published 2 dose efficacy of 70%. Probably one of the reasons the government opted for one dose.

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COVID-19 / Re: Would an extended dosage interval work for the Oxford vaccine?

« on: 12/01/2021 23:54:54 »

A longer interval between first vaccination and booster virtually always gives a better immune response.

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COVID-19 / Re: Would an extended dosage interval work for the Oxford vaccine?

« on: 12/01/2021 23:43:46 »

The Pfizer vaccine trials did not compare different dose spacing or compare one with two doses. So there is no evidence for the wider spacing between doses.
The Oxford-AstraZeneca trials did include different spacing between doses. It showed that a longer gap of two to three months led to a greater immune response, but the overall participant numbers were small.
They found that vaccine efficacy 14 days after a second dose was higher in the group that had more than six weeks between the two doses (65.4%) than in the group that had less than six weeks between doses (53.4%).
Press reports have focussed more on the relative size of the doses rather than the spacing. Given the shortage of vaccine the decision has been made to go with the wider spacing and give as many people as possible their first dose.
Because max immunity doesn’t occur until after the second dose it is important that those vaccinated with the first dose, and those in contact with them, should continue to take mask and distancing precautions.