Language Barriers in Health Care Settings: An Annotated Bibliography of Research Literature

Provides an overview of resources related to the prevalence, role, and effects of language barriers and access in health care

Translating the complexities of flood risk science using KEEPER - a knowledge exchange exploratory tool for professionals in emergency response

Within flood risk management (FRM) decision making, there is a growing interest in participatory approaches to engage and integrate stakeholder expertise. Decision support tools are becoming common features in the FRM ‘toolkit’, yet there is a limited application of participatory methodologies in the construction of such tools. This paper reports on completed FRMRC research (Flood Risk Management Research Consortium, UK http://www.floodrisk.org.uk/) and the construction of a geographic information system-based flood risk assessment tool, KEEPER – a Knowledge Exchange Exploratory tool for Professionals in Emergency Response. An iterative methodology was used to engage emergency professionals throughout the research process, allowing a mixing of scientific and professional expertise in the co-production of KEEPER. KEEPER was both instrumental in facilitating participation and knowledge exchange, and informing recommendations for future tools in practice. This paper argues that participation is both essential for supporting pragmatic flood research and as a means of enhancing communication across traditionally divided communities

Adventitious shoot regeneration from in vitro stem explants of Phellodendron amurense

An efficient in vitro plant regeneration system from stem explants was established in Phellodendron amurense. Factors influencing shoot regeneration from stems including culture medium type, combinations of plant growth regulators and carbon source in the medium were investigated. Adventitious shoot regeneration was significantly influenced by the type of medium. Murashige and Skoog medium (MS) was the best for promoting shoot regeneration, followed by Gamborg medium (B5) and woody plant medium (WPM). The combination of 6-benzyladenine (BA) and naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) produced better results for shoot regeneration. The optimum shoot regeneration frequency (74.5%) and number of shoots per explant (12.3) was achieved using MS medium supplemented with 29.7 M BA and 5.8 M NAA. High concentrations of BA and NAA in the medium inhibited shoot formation. Among the three sugars tested, 20 g dm-3 glucose was the optimum for shoot regeneration. Rooting of regenerated shoots was successful on 1/4-strength MS medium with the addition of 15.4 M IBA. Almost 100% plantlets survived acclimatization after transferred to soil.Key words: Phellodendron amurense, callus, shoot regeneration, stem explants

A simple colorimetric sensor for biologically important anions based on intramolecular charge transfer (ICT)

A sensitive colorimetric sensor (1) based on 4,5-dinitrobenzene-1,2-diamine was designed and synthesized. Binding of anions such as AcO(-), F(-) and H(2)PO(4)(-) results in a notable change in the visible region of spectrum (an approximately 90 nm red shift), which can be detected by the 'naked-eye'. Furthermore, the binding ability was evaluated by UV-vis titration experiments as following: AcO(-) > F(-) > H(2)PO(4) >> Cl(-), Br(-), I(-). The nature of the color change of I induced by AcO(-) was due to the intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) which was confirmed by X-ray crystal structure and (1)H NMR titration spectra. (c) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Decentralized P2P power trading mechanism for dynamic multi-energy microgrid groups based on priority matching

In order to promote the interaction among interconnected microgrids (MGs) with multiply distributed energy resources (DERs) to local energy utilization, a decentralized peer-to-peer (P2P) power trading mechanism based on priority matching is proposed. The priority indices are calculated based on scheduling results and quotations by an independent MG operator (IMO), which protect effectively the privacy and represent the bargaining willingness of MGs. According to the supply-demand ratio within a matching pair, each MG is permitted to update its quotation multi-times until the convergence or updated number limitation is reached. The clearing price of each pair is calculated by the mid-market rate (MMR) method. Because the imbalanced power is different with the autonomous scheduling in a MG at different dispatching time, the different power requirements of MGs results in the formation of the dynamic MG groups. The simulation results in an interconnected multi-microgrid system (IMMGS) with 4 MGs show the proposed decentralized P2P mechanism is reasonable and effective. (C) 2022 Published by Elsevier Ltd

Colorimetric and fluorogenic anion sensors of 2 '-(p-nitrophenyl)-imidazol[4 ',5 '-f]-1, 10-phenanthroline[5,6-f] and its complex of Ru(bipy)(2)(2+)

2'-(p-nitrophenyl)-imidazol[4',5'-f]-1,10-phenanthroline[5,6-f] (1) and its [image omitted] complex (2) were synthesised and studied for the anion sensing by UV-vis, fluorescence and H-1 NMR titration experiments. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited obviously different changes between reactions with AcO-, F-, H2PO4- and with other halogens, i.e. Cl-, Br-, I-, in any of the UV-vis, fluorescence and H-1 NMR titration spectra in DMSO experiments. With an 89nm red shift, 1 was convenient to be employed to detect anions with the naked eye. Complexed with the electron withdrawing metal ion, 2 had the stronger interaction with anions to be detected than 1 had

SCIB2, an antibody DNA vaccine encoding NY-ESO-1 epitopes, induces potent antitumor immunity which is further enhanced by checkpoint blockade

Checkpoint blockade has demonstrated promising antitumor responses in approximately 10-40% of patients. However, the majority of patients do not make a productive immune response to their tumors and do not respond to checkpoint blockade. These patients may benefit from an effective vaccine that stimulates high-avidity T cell responses in combination with checkpoint blockade. We have previously shown that incorporating TRP-2 and gp100 epitopes into the CDR regions of a human IgG1 DNA (ImmunoBody®: IB) results in significant tumor regression both in animal models and patients. This vaccination strategy is superior to others as it targets antigen to antigen-presenting cells and stimulates high-avidity T cell responses. To broaden the application of this vaccination strategy, 16 NY-ESO-1 epitopes, covering over 80% of HLA phenotypes, were incorporated into the IB (SCIB2). They produced higher frequency and avidity T cell responses than peptide vaccination. These T cells were of sufficient avidity to kill NY-ESO-1-expressing tumor cells, and in vivo controlled the growth of established B16-NY-ESO-1 tumors, resulting in long-term survival (35%). When SCIB2 was given in combination with Treg depletion, CTLA-4 blockade or PD-1 blockade, long-term survival from established tumors was significantly enhanced to 56, 67 and 100%, respectively. Translating these responses into the clinic by using a combination of SCIB2 vaccination and checkpoint blockade can only further improve clinical responses

MicroRNA-21 promotes survival but not functional maturation of human embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hESC-CMs)

published_or_final_versionThe 16th Medical Resarch Conference (MRC), The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China, 22 January 2011. In Hong Kong Medical Journal, 2011, v. 17, suppl. 1, p. 35, abstract no. 5

Molecular epidemiology and phylogenetic analysis of minor HIV-1 subtypes in Hong Kong: Emergence and spread of CRF07_BC and subtype C

Paper Poster Session 3 - HIV/AIDS: PO552OBJECTIVES: HIV-1 subtype B and CRF01_AE are the pre-dominant strains in Hong Kong. A noticeable increase in non-B and non-AE infections has been observed in recent years. This study aimed to conduct a molecular epidemiological and phylogenetic analysis on CRF07_BC and subtype C to illustrate their transmission and spread in our locality. METHODS: HIV-1 partial pol sequences were available from a routine antiretroviral ...postprin