The global impact of scaling up HIV/AIDS prevention programs in low- and middle-income countries

A strong, global commitment to expanded prevention programs targeted at sexual transmission and transmission among injecting drug users, started now, could avert 28 million new HIV infections between 2005 and 2015. This figure is more than half of the new infections that might otherwise occur during that period in 125 low- and middle-income countries. Although preventing these new infections would require investing about U.S.$122 billion over this period, it would reduce future needs for treatment and care. Our analysis suggests that it will cost about U.S.$3900 to prevent each new infection, but that this will produce a savings of U.S.$4700 in forgone treatment and care costs. Thus, greater spending on prevention now would not only prevent more than half the new infections that would occur from 2005 to 2015 but would actually produce a net financial saving as future costs for treatment and care are averted.     

A stretchable form of single-crystal silicon for high-performance electronics on rubber substrates

We have produced a stretchable form of silicon that consists of submicrometer single-crystal elements structured into shapes with microscale, periodic, wavelike geometries. When supported by an elastomeric substrate, this "wavy" silicon can be reversibly stretched and compressed to large levels of strain without damaging the silicon. The amplitudes and periods of the waves change to accommodate these deformations, thereby avoiding substantial strains in the silicon itself. Dielectrics, patterns of dopants, electrodes, and other elements directly integrated with the silicon yield fully formed, high-performance "wavy" metal oxide semiconductor field-effect transistors, p-n diodes, and other devices for electronic circuits that can be stretched or compressed to similarly large levels of strain.     

Identification of new morphological and life-cycle stages of Cochlosoma anatis and experimental transmission using pseudocyst

Cochlosoma anatis is a flagellated intestinal parasite that infects a variety of avian species. C. anatis infections have been associated with decreased weight gain and increased morbidity and mortality. Conditions favoring the growth of this organism in birds are current pathogenic intestinal infections and/or young age. There is little data describing the life cycle of this parasite. In this study, electron microscopy images are presented that document longitudinal binary fission of the trophozoite stage and outline the events of pseudocyst formation, which includes a rounding stage. Evidence provided here indicates that the pseudocyst stage may be a mechanism for transmission of this organism. The observations reported here provide additional evidence of homology between Cochlosoma and members of the trichomonad order.     

Racing prognosis of horses following surgically repaired olecranon fractures

Olecranon fracture is a common orthopedic problem in juvenile horses. Prognosis for complete fracture healing when various methods of internal fixation are used is good; however, the impact of olecranon fracture stabilization on the likelihood that foals will start on a racecourse is unknown. Medical records of foals undergoing internal fixation for an olecranon fracture were reviewed. The dam's foaling records were obtained and lifetime racing records were then retrieved for both the affected foals and 1 of their siblings. Twenty-two of 24 repaired fractures healed completely, subsequently, 16 of the foals started in at least 1 race. Statistical calculations suggest that when compared with their siblings, the occurrence of olecranon factures requiring internal fixation in juvenile racehorses will not significantly reduce the likelihood that they will race; however, the siblings had significantly more lifetime race starts and higher career earnings.     

Seroprevalence of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis, Neospora caninum, Bovine leukemia virus, and Bovine viral diarrhea virus infection among dairy cattle and herds in Alberta and agroecological risk factors associated with seropositivity

A province-wide, cross-sectional seroprevalence and agroecological risk factor study of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP), Neospora caninum (NC), Bovine leukemia virus (BLV), and Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDv) genotypes 1 and 2 (BVDv1 and BVDv2) infection in dairy cattle herds in Alberta was conducted. Among adults, the seroprevalence of MAP, NC, and BLV was 9.1%, 18.5%, and 26.9%, respectively. For MAP, based on a herd test cutpoint of 2 or more seropositive cows, 58.8% of herds were infected. Herd-level seroprevalence for NC and BLV was 98.7% and 86.7%, respectively, based on a herd-test cutpoint of 1 seropositive cow. Among unvaccinated dairy heifers, the seroprevalence for BVDv1 and BVDv2 infection was 28.4% and 8.9%, respectively, while herd-level infection was 53.4% and 19.7%. Seroprevalence for MAP varied moderately by agroecological region, whereas that for NC, BLV, and BVDv1 and BVDv2 did not. For MAP, aridity and soil pH (correlated features of the region) were also important.     

Biocatalytic synthesis of butein and sulfuretin by Aspergillus alliaceus

Aspergillus alliaceus UI315 was examined for its potential to catalyze biotransformation reactions of chalcones that mimic plant biosynthetic processes. 3-(4' '-Hydroxyphenyl)-1-(2',4'-dihydroxyphenyl)propenone (4,2',4'-trihydroxychalcone, isoliquiritigein) (1) was efficiently transformed to two major metabolites that were isolated chromatographically and identified by spectroscopic methods as 3-(3' ',4' '-dihydroxyphenyl)-1-(2',4'-dihydroxyphenyl)propenone (butein) (7) and 2-[(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)methylene]-6-hydroxy-3(2H)benzofuranone (7,3',4'-trihydroxyaurone, sulfuretin) (10). Inhibition experiments suggested that initial C-3 hydroxylation of 1 to 7 was catalyzed by a cytochrome P450 enzyme system. A second A. alliaceus enzyme, partially purified and identified as a catechol oxidase, catalyzed the oxidation of the catechol butein (7) likely through an ortho-quinone (8) that cyclized to the aurone product 10. This work showed that A. alliaceus UI315 contains oxidative enzyme systems capable of converting phenolic chalcones such as 1 into aurones such as 10 in a process that mimics plant biosynthetic pathways.     

Putative role of pith cell wall phenylpropanoids in Sesamia nonagrioides (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) resistance

The stem borer Sesamia nonagrioides (Lefèbvre) is the most important insect pest that attacks maize, Zea mays L., in northwestern Spain. Host plant resistance to this borer was investigated in relation to the cell wall phenylpropanoids content in the pith. Eight inbred lines that differ in resistance were analyzed. Three major simple phenolic acids, p-coumaric, trans-ferulic, and cis-ferulic acids, and three isomers of diferulic acid, 8-5', 8-O-4', and 8-5'b (benzofuran form), were identified. The amount of all these compounds was correlated with the resistance level in the genotypes, with the resistant inbreds having the highest concentrations. The role of these compounds in cell wall fortification and lignification is well-documented, suggesting their possible intervention in S. nonagrioides resistance. Future studies that focus on these compounds could be useful to enhance S. nonagroides resistance.     

A simple high-performance liquid chromatography method for the determination of throat-burning oleocanthal with probated antiinflammatory activity in extra virgin olive oils

A high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was developed to quantitatively analyze oleocanthal in extra virgin olive oils. Oleocanthal, a deacetoxy ligstroside aglycone, is known to be responsible for the back of the throat irritation of olive oils and to have probated antiinflamatory activity. Oleocanthal was isolated from small amounts of olive oil sample (1 g) by liquid-liquid extraction. Hexane-acetonitrile was found to be the best solvent system to extract oleocanthal from the oil matrix. The solvent extract was analyzed by reversed-phase HPLC with UV detection at 278 nm. Chromatogaphic separation of oleocanthal from other extracted compounds and of the two geometric isomers of oleocanthal was achieved by an elution gradient with acetonitrile and water. Both the external standard calibration curve and the internal standard calibration curve were established, and quantitation using both calibration curves gave essentially the same result. The reproducibility (RSD = 4.7%), recovery (> 95%), and limit of quantitation (< 1 microg/g) were also determined. Concentrations of oleacanthal in 10 selected throat-burning extra virgin olive oils were determined using the method (ranged from 22 to 190 microg/g) with external standard calibration.     

Determination of usnic acid in lichen toxic to elk by liquid chromatography with ultraviolet and tandem mass spectrometry detection

Usnic acid is unambiguously confirmed by tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) in tumbleweed shield lichen, Xanthoparmelia chlorochroa. The lichen contains 2% usnic acid by liquid chromatography with UV quantification at 282 nm. The UV linear range for usnic acid quantification is from its 4 ng limit of detection to 2 microg injected. UV signal saturation is recognized by distortion of the usnic acid UV spectrum. Positive ion electrospray-tandem mass spectrometry offers no similar means to recognize quantification data recorded above the linear range of electrospray. Electrospray ionization capacity and matrix effects limit the reliability of tandem mass spectrometry quantification. The combination of UV quantification and MS confirmation provides a reliable analytical method for measuring usnic acid levels in plant material.