An Evaluation of a Train-the-Trainer Workshop for Social Service Workers to Develop Community-Based Family Interventions.

Introduction: Evaluation studies on train-the-trainer workshops (TTTs) to develop family well-being interventions are limited in the literature. The Logic Model offers a framework to place some important concepts and tools of intervention science in the hands of frontline service providers. This paper reports on the evaluation of a TTT for a large community-based program to enhance family well-being in Hong Kong.

Perceived task complexity of trunk stability exercises.

Background: Perceived task complexity can impact participation in an exercise programme and the level of skill acquisition resulting from participation. Although trunk stability exercises are commonly included in the management of people with low back pain, potential differences in perceived task complexity between those exercises have not been investigated previously.

Objective: To investigate the perceived task complexity following first time instruction of two common stability exercises: the abdominal brace and abdominal hollow.

Health App Possession Among Smartphone or Tablet Owners in Hong Kong: Population-Based Survey.

Background: Health apps are increasingly used with important implications for health. Hong Kong is one of the most technologically advanced and connected cities-smartphone ownership and Internet access rates are among the highest in the world.

Objective: We investigated the prevalence of health app possession and related sociodemographic factors and health behaviors among smartphone or tablet owners in Hong Kong.

Exploring Community Stakeholders' Perceptions of the Enhancing Family Well-being Project in Hong Kong: A Qualitative Study.

Background: Community engagement is a powerful tool in bringing about positive social and community change. Community stakeholders possess critical experience and knowledge that are needed to inform the development of community-based projects. However, limited literature is available on the practical experience involved with planning and implementing community-based family programs.

The chimeric monoclonal antibody MHCSZ-123 against human von Willebrand factor A3 domain inhibits high-shear arterial thrombosis in a Rhesus monkey model.

Background: SZ-123, a murine monoclonal antibody that targets the human von Willebrand factor (VWF) A3 domain and blocks the binding of collagen, is a powerful antithrombotic. In a Rhesus monkey model of thrombosis, SZ-123 had no side effects, such as bleeding or thrombocytopenia.

Methods: The mouse/human chimeric version of SZ-123, MHCSZ-123, was developed and maintained inhibitory capacities in vitro and ex vivo after injection into monkeys.

Management of neonatal jaundice in primary care.

The Clinical Practice Guidelines on Management of Neonatal Jaundice 2003 was updated by a multidisciplinary development group and approved by the Ministry of Health Malaysia in 2014. A systematic review of 13 clinical questions was conducted using evidence retrieved mainly from Medline and Cochrane databases. Critical appraisal was done using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme checklist.

Genomic consequences of aberrant DNA repair mechanisms stratify ovarian cancer histotypes.

We studied the whole-genome point mutation and structural variation patterns of 133 tumors (59 high-grade serous (HGSC), 35 clear cell (CCOC), 29 endometrioid (ENOC), and 10 adult granulosa cell (GCT)) as a substrate for class discovery in ovarian cancer. Ab initio clustering of integrated point mutation and structural variation signatures identified seven subgroups both between and within histotypes. Prevalence of foldback inversions identified a prognostically significant HGSC group associated with inferior survival.

Engineering a functional three-dimensional human cardiac tissue model for drug toxicity screening.

Cardiotoxicity is one of the major reasons for clinical drug attrition. In vitro tissue models that can provide efficient and accurate drug toxicity screening are highly desired for preclinical drug development and personalized therapy. Here, we report the fabrication and characterization of a human cardiac tissue model for high throughput drug toxicity studies.

Loss of VEGFB and its signaling in the diabetic heart is associated with increased cell death signaling.

Vascular endothelial growth factor B (VEGFB) is highly expressed in metabolically active tissues, such as the heart and skeletal muscle, suggesting a function in maintaining oxidative metabolic and contractile function in these tissues. Multiple models of heart failure have indicated a significant drop in VEGFB. However, whether there is a role for decreased VEGFB in diabetic cardiomyopathy is currently unknown.

Efficient expression of stable recombinant human insulin-like growth factor-1 fusion with human serum albumin in Chinese hamster ovary cells.

Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) plays a crucial role in cell development, differentiation, and metabolism, and has been a potential therapeutic agent for many diseases. Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells are widely used for production of recombinant therapeutic proteins, but the expression level of IGF-1 in CHO cells is very low (1,500 µg/L) and the half-life of IGF-1 in blood circulation is only 4.5 min according to previous studies.

Binding and biologic characterization of recombinant human serum albumin-eTGFBR2 fusion protein expressed in CHO cells.

Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) signaling is involved in cell metabolism, growth, differentiation, carcinoma invasion and fibrosis development, which suggests TGF-β1 can be treated as a therapeutic target extensively. Because TGF-β1 receptor type α(TGFBR2) is the directed and essential mediator for TGF-β1 signals, the extracellular domain of TGFBR2 (eTGFBR2), binding partner for TGF-β1, has been produced in a series of expression systems to inhibit TGF-β1 signaling. However, eTGFBR2 is unstable with a short half-life predominantly because of enzymatic degradation and kidney clearance.

Development and Evaluation of a Train-the-Trainer Workshop for Hong Kong Community Social Service Agency Staff.

Introduction: Capacity building approaches are useful in large-scale community-based health promotion interventions. However, models to guide and evaluate capacity building among social service agency staff in community settings are rare in the literature. This paper describes the development and evaluation of a 1-day (7 h) train-the-trainer (TTT) workshop for the "Enhancing Family Well-Being Project".

CLK-dependent exon recognition and conjoined gene formation revealed with a novel small molecule inhibitor.

CDC-like kinase phosphorylation of serine/arginine-rich proteins is central to RNA splicing reactions. Yet, the genomic network of CDC-like kinase-dependent RNA processing events remains poorly defined. Here, we explore the connectivity of genomic CDC-like kinase splicing functions by applying graduated, short-exposure, pharmacological CDC-like kinase inhibition using a novel small molecule (T3) with very high potency, selectivity, and cell-based stability.

Solvent Bonding for Fabrication of PMMA and COP Microfluidic Devices.

Thermoplastic microfluidic devices offer many advantages over those made from silicone elastomers, but bonding procedures must be developed for each thermoplastic of interest. Solvent bonding is a simple and versatile method that can be used to fabricate devices from a variety of plastics. An appropriate solvent is added between two device layers to be bonded, and heat and pressure are applied to the device to facilitate the bonding.

Psychiatric symptoms mediate the effects of neurological soft signs on functional outcomes in patients with chronic schizophrenia: A longitudinal path-analytic study.

Neurological soft signs (NSS) in motor coordination and sequencing occur in schizophrenia patients and are an intrinsic sign of the underlying neural dysfunctions. The present longitudinal study explored the relationships among NSS, psychiatric symptoms, and functional outcomes in 151 Chinese patients with chronic schizophrenia across a 6-month period. The participants completed neurological assessments at baseline (Time 1), psychiatric interviews at Time 1 and 3-month follow-up (Time 2), and self-report measures on daily functioning at 6-month follow-up (Time 3).

Assessment and Characterisation of Ireland's Green Tides (Ulva Species).

Enrichment of nutrients and metals in seawater associated with anthropogenic activities can threaten aquatic ecosystems. Consequently, nutrient and metal concentrations are parameters used to define water quality. The European Union's Water Framework Directive (WFD) goes further than a contaminant-based approach and utilises indices to assess the Ecological Status (ES) of transitional water bodies (e.

Production of human mutant biologically active hepatocyte growth factor in Chinese hamster ovary cells.

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a potent multifunctional cytokine that affects proliferation, migration, and morphogenesis of various cells. HGF is secreted as an inactive single-chain precursor protein and activated by the cleavage of serine proteases to form heterodimers. In our current study, the cleavage site of HGF was blocked by replaced Arg 494 of Glu (R494E) that resulted in the single-chain HGF (R494E) unable to be cleaved by serine proteases.

Virulence Characterization of Wheat Stripe Rust Fungus Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici in Ethiopia and Evaluation of Ethiopian Wheat Germplasm for Resistance to Races of the Pathogen from Ethiopia and the United States.

Stripe rust, caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici, is one of the most important diseases of wheat in Ethiopia.

Heparanase Overexpression Induces Glucagon Resistance and Protects Animals From Chemically Induced Diabetes.

Heparanase, a protein with enzymatic and nonenzymatic properties, contributes toward disease progression and prevention. In the current study, a fortuitous observation in transgenic mice globally overexpressing heparanase (hep-tg) was the discovery of improved glucose homeostasis. We examined the mechanisms that contribute toward this improved glucose metabolism.

High glucose facilitated endothelial heparanase transfer to the cardiomyocyte modifies its cell death signature.

Aims: The secretion of enzymatically active heparanase (Hep) has been implicated as an essential metabolic adaptation in the heart following diabetes. However, the regulation and function of the enzymatically inactive heparanase (Hep) remain poorly understood. We hypothesized that in response to high glucose (HG) and secretion of Hep from the endothelial cell (EC), Hep uptake and function can protect the cardiomyocyte by modifying its cell death signature.

The mechanism and application of the protein-stabilized gold nanocluster sensing system.

Protein-stabilized gold nanoclusters (protein-Au NCs) have been an attractive frontier of nanoparticle research. Due to their unique fluorescence properties, high stability, environmentally friendly synthetic routes and nontoxicity, protein-Au NCs could find applications in highly sensitive and selective detection of metal ions, inorganic ions and biomolecules in food, soil, water and biological samples. The past few years have witnessed the development of many successful strategies for the preparation of numerous protein-Au NC-based sensing systems.

Comprehensive Gait Analysis of Healthy Older Adults Who Have Undergone Long-Distance Walking.

Many older adults do not adhere to the recommended physical activity levels. This study examines the gait changes upon long-distance walking among healthy older adults. Gait tests of 24 adults aged 65 or more were conducted at baseline and at the end of 30 and 60 min of treadmill walking.

An unusual diaphragmatic hernia with gastric perforation and sub-acute presentation.

Gastric perforation into the thoracic cavity through a diaphragmatic hernia is rare but, when it occurs, patients present in severe distress, with mortality approaching 50%. We present a unique case in which a fibrotic reaction between the stomach and the parietal pleura led to a subacute presentation upon perforation. The extra time that this afforded led to more effective multidisciplinary team management and ultimately an excellent outcome for the patient.

Preparation of Au Nanoclusters-Modified Polylactic Acid Fiber with Bright Red Fluorescence and its Use as Sensing Probe.

In present work, the Au nanoclusters-modified polylactic acid fiber (PLA-Au NCs) with bright red fluorescence were fabricated by the encapsulation of Au nanoclusters (Au NCs) in the PLA fiber treated with HO. The Au nanoclusters stabilized by bovine serum albumin (BSA-Au NCs) were prepared via an improved "green" synthetic routine. With pretreatment of the PLA fiber in HO concentration of 12 and 18 %, the as-prepared PLA-Au NCs exhibited brighter red emission with a strong peak centered at ~640 nm than BSA-Au NCs.

Virulence and Molecular Characterization of Experimental Isolates of the Stripe Rust Pathogen (Puccinia striiformis) Indicate Somatic Recombination.

Puccinia striiformis causes stripe rust on wheat, barley, and grasses. Natural population studies have indicated that somatic recombination plays a possible role in P. striiformis variation.