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Ann Gray

Publications and source records attributed to Ann Gray.

4 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Investigation of the glidant properties of compacted colloidal silicon dioxide by angle of repose and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.

The optimal flow-enhancing effect of a new compacted, hydrophilic colloidal silicon dioxide (AEROSIL 200 VV Pharma) on microcrystalline cellulose (Avicel PH 101) and pregelatinized starch (Starch 1500) was found to be 0.25% under gentle and 0.125% under strong mixing conditions, as measured by the angle of repose. The effect could be explained by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) investigations. The Si 2p signals of the silicon dioxide indicated that the coverage of the excipient surface with AEROSIL was greater for all mixtures produced under strong mixing conditions and corresponded to a higher degree of de-agglomeration of the AEROSIL aggregates. The more extensive surface coverage of Avicel PH 101 as compared to Starch 1500 could be explained by the particle morphology on the one hand and by the XPS C 1s signals on the other. Due to the different conformation of the two excipients, Avicel PH 101 offers a higher density of hydroxyl groups on its surface which are available for hydrogen bonding with the surface hydroxyl groups of hydrophilic colloidal silicon dioxide.

Cellulose↗
PubMed2006

Female street sex workers in Hong Kong: moving beyond sexual health.

BACKGROUND: For many years, the sex industry in Hong Kong has appeared to be an integral and ever-expanding component of the city's sociocultural and economic structure. Accordingly, the physical and psychological health of sex workers is becoming an increasing concern for the workers themselves, the public, and government policy. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey on the quality of life (World Health Organization Quality of Life [WHOQOL]) of female sex workers (FSWs) in Hong Kong was used to investigate the physical and psychological well-being of street FSWs, and the results were compared with those of non-sex-working Hong Kong women after adjusting for age, educational level, marital status, and health status. RESULTS: The 89 FSWs surveyed scored significantly lower on QOL--WHOQOL-BREF (HK)--measures compared with the non-sex-working women. One common aspect among these sex workers was their negative view of themselves and of life. Many sex workers were at risk of being abused while at work, and many women worked without legal protection. Most of the women surveyed engaged in sex work to support their families. Because their income was often insufficient, some of their needs, especially those concerning health, were often neglected. CONCLUSIONS: The low WHOQOL-BREF (HK) scores in FSWs indicate feelings of helplessness and entrapment, which may well result in detrimental effects on sex workers' health, self-esteem, and confidence when asserting their basic rights, such as access to healthcare and safety. The conclusion highlights the vulnerability of this population to apparent weaknesses in Hong Kong's current healthcare system.

Adult↗