How accessible are interpreter services to dialysis patients of Non-English Speaking Background?

Background. Benefits of utilising professional interpreters in clinical settings have been well documented. However, not many studies have focused on use of professional interpreters by dialysis patients of Non-English Speaking Background (NESB) who are in the clinical settings every second day of their lives. The underlying question for this research was to determine the level of interpreter utilisation by dialysis patients of NESB at a major urban teaching hospital. Method. A multi-method approach was used involving (a) in-depth interviews of health care professionals working with dialysis patients to elicit their views regarding interpreter access and use by dialysis patients of NESB, (b) observations of interactions between staff and dialysis patients of NESB and (c) review of medical records belonging to dialysis patients of NESB who were admitted 24 months prior to the study.Results. Interviews revealed that only 50% of Health Care Workers (HCWs) had accessed an interpreter for dialysis patients of NESB over a period of six months. Observations of staff/NESB patient interactions showed that professional interpreters were used in only 25% of the observed occasions. There view of medical records revealed that there was no evidence of interpreter use in 32% of the records belonging to dialysis patients of NESB. The study also showed that non-compliance with dialysis treatment regime was more likely to occur among patients who had limited access to interpreters. Conclusion. The study demonstrated a suboptimal utilisation of interpreter services by dialysis patients of NESB. Several barriers to inaccessibility and underutilisation of professional interpreters were identified. Recommendations to improve communication between HCWs and dialysis patients of NESB are suggested

Amaranth Productivity and Nutrient Composition in Central Georgia

Amaranth (Amaranthus spp.) may have potential as a forage for summer grazing in the southeastern United States (US). Six accessions of amaranth were harvested at bud stage in two successive growing seasons to evaluate growth characteristics, yield, and forage quality parameters. The accessions, three genotypes of A. tricolor (Hinchoy VL, RRC-701, RRC-1186) and one each of A. hybridus (RRC-843), A. cruentus (RRC-1034), and A. dubius (RRC-1186) were evaluated in 1994 and 1995 on a Dothan sandy loam (fine loamy, siliceous, thermic, Plinthic Paleudult) soil at the Fort Valley State University Research Station, Fort Valley, Georgia. The plots were planted in mid- June in each year as a randomized complete block with four replications. Plants were harvested approximately 40 d after germination. Plant height and total dry matter (DM) yield determinations were made at harvest. Percentage leaf and stem were determined by hand separation of 5 randomly selected plants from each plot. Leaf material for the 1994 growing season was analyzed for neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and crude protein (CP) content. Protein content ranged from 240-260 g/kg, while NDF and ADF ranged from 523-587 g/kg and 187-293 g/kg, respectively. The accessions ranged in height from 41-74 cm and total DM and leaf DM yield from 0.83-1.30 Mg/ha and 0.52-0.79 Mg/ha, respectively. All the accessions were over 50% leaf. With adequate yields and high leaf protein, amaranth has potential as a summer forage crop for livestock grazing in the southeastern US

Past, present and future—sample environments for materials research studies in scattering and spectroscopy; a UK perspective

Small angle x-ray scattering and x-ray absorption fine structure are two techniques that have been employed at synchrotron sources ever since their inception. Over the course of the development of the techniques, the introduction of sample environments for added value experiments has grown dramatically. This article reviews past successes, current developments and an exploration of future possibilities for these two x-ray techniques with an emphasis on the developments in the United Kingdom between 1980–2020

Minutes 1873

https://place.asburyseminary.edu/freemethodistminutesyearbooks/1011/thumbnail.jp

Concentration and Bioactivity of Condensed Tannins and Total Phenolics of \u3cem\u3eLespedeza\u3c/em\u3e Species From a Germplasm Collection

Interest in ‘AU-Grazer’ sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata) as an anti-parasitic bioactive forage has been growing in the United States, but the concentration and bioactivity of tannins and other phenolics from additional accessions of L. cuneata, as well as other Lespedeza species, have not been evaluated. A study was completed to determine the concentration of extractable condensed tannins (ECT), total CT (TCT), total phenolics (TP), and protein-precipitable phenolics (PPP) of 32 accessions of L. cuneata and 16 additional Lespedeza species from a germplasm collection. The plants were established in small pots in a greenhouse and then transplanted into small field plots at the Fort Valley State University Agricultural Research Station in Georgia. Once established in the field, samples from each plot were collected, freeze-dried, and ground for analysis. The ECT and TCT for L. cuneata accessions averaged 6.6 ± 1.4% and 9.1 ± 1.8%, respectively, while TP were 114.8 ± 33.2 mg/g plant material and PPP averaged 81.5 ± 25.3 mg binding CT/g plant material. For other Lespedeza species, ECT ranged from 3.7 ± 1.3 (L. striate) to 8.8 ± 1.3 (L. frutescens) and TCT from 6.0 ± 0.5 (L. japonica) to 10.8 ± 1.3 (L. frutescens). Total phenolics ranged from 45.3 ± 24.0 (L. striate) to 185.8 ± 43.9 (L. virgata), and PPP from 22.1 ± 71 (L. tomentosa) to 89.0 ± 23.6 (L. virginica). All Lespedeza species evaluated in this study had relatively high levels of CT, with several species as high or higher in TP and PPP (bioactivity) than L. cuneata, suggesting potential increased use of these plants as nutraceutical forages for animals

Preference of Goats for Cool-Season Annual Clovers in the Southern United States

In the southern U.S.A., annual clovers provide high-quality winter and spring grazing for beef cattle and sheep. New Zealand data on white clover (Trifolium repens L.) suggests that goats do not prefer this plant as much as sheep (Clark et al., 1982) but little data are available on willingness of goats to consume different clover types in the USA

Nitrogen and Fiber Digestion in Sheep Fed Fresh-Frozen and Field-Dried High and Low Tannin Sericea Lespedeza

Field-drying reduces extractable condensed tannin (CT) of sericea lespedeza [Lespedeza cuneata (Dum-Cours) G. Don], but effects on specific bound and unbound forms of CT and the relationship to protein and fiber digestion in ruminants are unclear. Intake and digestibility of fresh-frozen and field-dried high- and low-tannin sericea were investigated in a feeding trial with sheep (Ovis spp.). Field-drying had no effect on crude protein (CP) and fiber content of sericea, but shifted CT from extractable to bound forms. Digestion coefficients for CP, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF) were lower for high-tannin sericea than the low-tannin type. Field-drying had no effect on fiber digestibility but increased CP digestibility and N retention in sheep fed high-tannin forage. Apparent digestion of CT was high for all treatments, but this is likely due to difficulty in analyzing CT in fecal material. Nutritional effects of CT in sericea lespedeza are related to both total CT and proportion of bound and unbound CT in the forage

Australian human research ethics committee members' confidence in reviewing genomic research applications.

Human research ethics committees (HRECs) are evaluating increasing quantities of genomic research applications with complex ethical considerations. Genomic confidence is reportedly low amongst many non-genetics-experts; however, no studies have evaluated genomic confidence levels in HREC members specifically. This study used online surveys to explore genomic confidence levels, predictors of confidence, and genomics resource needs of members from 185 HRECs across Australia. Surveys were fully or partially completed by 145 members. All reported having postgraduate 94 (86%) and/or bachelor 15 (14%) degrees. Participants consisted mainly of researchers (n = 45, 33%) and lay members (n = 41, 30%), affiliated with either public health services (n = 73, 51%) or public universities (n = 31, 22%). Over half had served their HREC [Formula: see text]3 years. Fifty (44%) reviewed genomic studies [Formula: see text]3 times annually. Seventy (60%) had undertaken some form of genomic education. While most (94/103, 91%) had high genomic literacy based on familiarity with genomic terms, average genomic confidence scores (GCS) were moderate (5.7/10, n = 119). Simple linear regression showed that GCS was positively associated with years of HREC service, frequency of reviewing genomic applications, undertaking self-reported genomic education, and familiarity with genomic terms (p < 0.05 for all). Conversely, lay members and/or those relying on others when reviewing genomic studies had lower GCSs (p < 0.05 for both). Most members (n = 83, 76%) agreed further resources would be valuable when reviewing genomic research applications, and online courses and printed materials were preferred. In conclusion, even well-educated HREC members familiar with genomic terms lack genomic confidence, which could be enhanced with additional genomic education and/or resources