Natural aging of expanded shale, clay, and slate (ESCS) amendment with heavy metals in stormwater increases its antibacterial properties: Implications on biofilter design.

Aging is often expected to decrease the pathogen removal capacity of media because of exhaustion of attachment sites by adsorption of co-contaminants and dissolved organics. In contrast, the adsorption of metals naturally present in stormwater during aging could have a positive impact on pathogen removal. To examine the effect of adsorbed metals on pathogen removal, biofilter media amended with expanded clay, shale, and slate (ESCS) aggregates, a lightweight aggregate, were exposed to metals by intermittently injecting natural stormwater spiked with Cu, Pb, and Zn, and the capacity of aged and unaged media to remove Escherichia coli (E.

Impact of the 16th International Conference on AIDS: can these conferences lead to policy change?

This Commentary reflects on the success of the XVI International Conference on AIDS, that was held in Toronto between August 13-18, 2006. Not only was the Conference judged to have been a scientific success, it will probably also be recognized over time as having had important political impact. It is vital that scientists and policy-makers continue to be able to interact at these meetings as part of global efforts to combat the HIV epidemic.

Age-related factors affecting the postyield energy dissipation of human cortical bone.

The risk of bone fracture depends in part on tissue quality, not just the size and mass. This study assessed the postyield energy dissipation of cortical bone in tension as a function of age and composition. Specimens were prepared from tibiae of human cadavers in which male and female donors were divided into two age groups: middle aged (51 to 56 years, n = 9) and elderly (72 to 90 years, n = 8).

Age-related effect on the concentration of collagen crosslinks in human osteonal and interstitial bone tissue.

Collagen crosslinks are important to the quality of bone and may be contributors to the age-related increase in bone fracture. This study was performed to investigate whether age and gender effects on collagen crosslinks are similar in osteonal and interstitial bone tissues. Forty human cadaveric femurs were collected and divided into two age groups: middle-aged (42-63 years of age) and elderly (69-90 years of age) with ten males and ten females in each group (n = 10).

Containing HIV/AIDS in India: the unfinished agenda.

India's HIV epidemic is not yet contained and prevention in populations most at risk (high-risk groups) needs to be enhanced and expanded. HIV prevalence as measured through surveillance of antenatal and sexually transmitted disease clinics is the chief source of information on HIV in India, but these data cannot provide real insight into where transmission is occurring or guide programme strategy. The factors that influence the Indian epidemic are the size, behaviours, and disease burdens of high-risk groups, their interaction with bridge populations and general population sexual networks, and migration and mobility of both bridge populations and high-risk groups.

Partner reduction is crucial for balanced "ABC" approach to HIV prevention.

Behaviour change programmes to prevent HIV have mainly promoted condom use or abstinence, while partner reduction remains the neglected component of ABC

Medicine. The need for a global HIV vaccine enterprise.

A new collaborative model of research is needed to increase resources, to prioritize the R (ii) to increase the pace, reduce the overlap, and more systematically explore the elements of and delivery systems for vaccines; (iii) to use common standards for the prompt comparative testing of vaccine candidates; (iv) to expand resources for manufacturing vaccine candidates to speed their use in human trials; and (v) to increase the capacity for international clinical trials and to focus this effort toward quickly measuring the effectiveness of vaccine protection as prototype vaccine candidates are identified.

CDC's 5-year prevention plan: ambitious but feasible.

Cautiously citing the need for increased domestic spending, AIDS groups say they believe the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention could achieve its ambitious goals presented in a 5-year plan announced in June.

The Serostatus Approach to Fighting the HIV Epidemic: prevention strategies for infected individuals.

In the United States, HIV prevention programs have historically tailored activities for specific groups primarily on the basis of behavioral risk factors and demographic characteristics. Through the Serostatus Approach to Fighting the Epidemic (SAFE), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is now expanding prevention programs, especially for individuals with HIV, to reduce the risk of transmission as a supplement to current programs that primarily focus on reducing the risk of acquisition of the virus. For individuals with HIV, SAFE comprises action steps that focus on diagnosing all HIV-infected persons, linking them to appropriate high-quality care and prevention services, helping them adhere to treatment regimens, and supporting them in adopting and sustaining HIV risk reduction behavior.