Capillary zone electrophoretic studies of ion association between inorganic anions and tetraalkylammonium ions in aqueous-dioxane media

Ion association between inorganic anions and symmetrical tetraalkylammonium ions, R4N+ (R = Me, Et, Pr, n-Bu, n-Am, and 2-methyl butyl {isoamyl = iAm}) was investigated using ordinary silica capillary by capillary zone electrophoresis. An improved version of the Williams-Vigh method was used for the first time to measure the mobilities of the inorganic anions. Plots of log K-ass against log dielectric constant in various media, revealed a smaller change in K-ass compared to dielectric constant. These plots suggest that the Bjerrum's equation is inadequate in accounting for the associations of ions in a CZE setup. </p

What Does Soil-Transmitted Helminth Elimination Look Like? Results From a Targeted Molecular Detection Survey in Japan

Background: Japan is one of the few countries believed to have eliminated soil-transmitted helminths (STHs). In 1949, the national prevalence of Ascaris lumbricoides was 62.9%, which decreased to 0.6% in 1973 due to improvements in infrastructure, socioeconomic status, and the implementation of national STH control measures. The Parasitosis Prevention Law ended in 1994 and population-level screening ceased in Japan; therefore, current transmission status of STH in Japan is not well characterized. Sporadic cases of STH infections continue to be reported, raising the possibility of a larger-scale recrudescence of STH infections. Given that traditional microscopic detection methods are not sensitive to low-intensity STH infections, we conducted targeted prevalence surveys using sensitive PCR-based assays to evaluate the current STH-transmission status and to describe epidemiological characteristics of areas of Japan believed to have achieved historical elimination of STHs. Methods: Stool samples were collected from 682 preschool- and school-aged children from six localities of Japan with previously high prevalence of STH. Caregivers of participants completed a questionnaire to ascertain access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), and potential exposures to environmental contamination. For fecal testing, multi-parallel real-time PCR assays were used to detect infections of Ascaris lumbricoides, Necator americanus, Ancylostoma duodenale and Trichuris trichiura. Results: Among the 682 children, no positive samples were identified, and participants reported high standards of WASH. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first STH-surveillance study in Japan to use sensitive molecular techniques for STH detection. The results suggest that recrudescence of STH infections has not occurred, and that declines in prevalence have been sustained in the sampled areas. These findings suggest that reductions in prevalence below the elimination thresholds, suggestive of transmission interruption, are possible. Additionally, this study provides circumstantial evidence that multi-parallel real-time PCR methods are applicable for evaluating elimination status in areas where STH prevalence is extremely low.[Figure not available: see fulltext.

What does soil-transmitted helminth elimination look like? Results from a targeted molecular detection survey in Japan

Background: Japan is one of the few countries believed to have eliminated soil-transmitted helminths (STHs). In 1949, the national prevalence of Ascaris lumbricoides was 62.9%, which decreased to 0.6% in 1973 due to improvements in infrastructure, socioeconomic status, and the implementation of national STH control measures. The Parasitosis Prevention Law ended in 1994 and population-level screening ceased in Japan; therefore, current transmission status of STH in Japan is not well characterized. Sporadic cases of STH infections continue to be reported, raising the possibility of a larger-scale recrudescence of STH infections. Given that traditional microscopic detection methods are not sensitive to low-intensity STH infections, we conducted targeted prevalence surveys using sensitive PCR-based assays to evaluate the current STH-transmission status and to describe epidemiological characteristics of areas of Japan believed to have achieved historical elimination of STHs. Methods: Stool samples were collected from 682 preschool- and school-aged children from six localities of Japan with previously high prevalence of STH. Caregivers of participants completed a questionnaire to ascertain access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), and potential exposures to environmental contamination. For fecal testing, multi-parallel real-time PCR assays were used to detect infections of Ascaris lumbricoides, Necator americanus, Ancylostoma duodenale and Trichuris trichiura. Results: Among the 682 children, no positive samples were identified, and participants reported high standards of WASH. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first STH-surveillance study in Japan to use sensitive molecular techniques for STH detection. The results suggest that recrudescence of STH infections has not occurred, and that declines in prevalence have been sustained in the sampled areas. These findings suggest that reductions in prevalence below the elimination thresholds, suggestive of transmission interruption, are possible. Additionally, this study provides circumstantial evidence that multi-parallel real-time PCR methods are applicable for evaluating elimination status in areas where STH prevalence is extremely low.[Figure not available: see fulltext.

Managing the grey literature in veterinary medicine: challenges and opportunities

Bayer Danmark A/S, NOVARTIS Animal Health, EBSCO Information Services, Compact Dat

Twinning as a route to resource sharing

This paper describes the resource sharing activities between the veterinary libraries at Makerere University (MU), Kampala, Uganda and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), Urbana, Illinois, U.S.A. The impact of often well-intended donation programs on a library in [a] developing country setting is examined through the approaches each party took to participate in the twinning arrangement. In this particular program, UIUC veterinary library puts a heavy emphasis on the supply of excess journals and books selected under a well-defined and coordinated collection development plan. Another focused area is the training of librarians at MU, especially on the management and utilization of library resources. Technical training of the library staff in basic computer operations as well as electronic information access and management is denoted as being particularly vital to the recovery of the veterinary library at MU. A review of literature reveals a number of assistance programs particularly targeted to facilitate worldwide availability of scientific information. As aid is sought and received from various sources, the challenge is how to coordinate these activities so that redundancy and waste will be avoided by both parties. It is hoped that the experience shared through this paper [will] be helpful in bringing about other twinning arrangements among the veterinary libraries in the world

Plants Toxic to Animals

This item is a zipped archive of html files and images that constitute the toxic plants database. To use these files, download the zipped file and unzip it. In a web browser, open the "index.html" file found in the top level, "toxic," directory. The rest of the site should then be accessible from the index page. This database was created in order to assist the University of Illinois veterinary students in identifying common plants that are toxic to animals. This database brings together information available in library books, plants grown in the Poisonous Plant Garden, mounted specimens of plants, and the reference notes for a toxicology course (VB320) which is taught during the fall semester each year. Although the VB320 notes address toxic plants found in all regions of the U.S., only the species most commonly found in the midwestern states are covered in this database. Common house plants are also included as opportunities arise. All of the books employed were found in the University of Illinois Library system. In particular, the booklet, Illinois plants poisonous to livestock by L.R. Tehon, C. C. Morrill, and Robert Graham provided the basis for the database structure as well as additional text information for food animals. This database will be revised or updated as time and resources permit. Photographs, unless noted otherwise, are originals taken in the Poisonous Plant Garden for this project. The plant lists represent the entries which we hope to complete sometime in the future. Plant entries can be selected from either the common name list or the scientific name list of plants. A description of the database structure and the entries is also available. The initial funding for this project was received from the University of Illinois Educational Technology Board and the University of Illinois Library Research and Publications Committee. Additional funding was received from Dr. Florence Dunbar. Many thanks are due to Dr. Val Beasley for the use of his reference notes, to Zhenguo Zhang and Mary Shultz, Graduate Assistants for the project, and to Bryan McGoldrick, veterinary student and 1995-96 Curator of the Poisonous Plant Garden. Comments and suggestions are appreciated. Please address them to Veterinary Medicine Librarian, University of Illinois

A History of the International Conference of Animal Health Information Specialists (ICAHIS) and its Partnership in One Health

This article chronicles the International Conference of Animal Health Information Specialists' (ICAHIS) beginning in 1992 to the present and describes other groups and conferences formed from the international animal health information conference idea. Throughout its history, ICAHIS has been a forum for colleagues worldwide to discuss, share, and promote animal health information access. This article is a brief history of ICAHIS's origins and the movement it fostered. The 7th ICAHIS, the first in the United States, will occur in Boston, May 3-8, 2013. Previous conferences were held on three continents: Europe, Africa, and Australia

What does soil-transmitted helminth elimination look like? Results from a targeted molecular detection survey in Japan

Background: Japan is one of the few countries believed to have eliminated soil-transmitted helminths (STHs). In 1949, the national prevalence of Ascaris lumbricoides was 62.9%, which decreased to 0.6% in 1973 due to improvements in infrastructure, socioeconomic status, and the implementation of national STH control measures. The Parasitosis Prevention Law ended in 1994 and population-level screening ceased in Japan; therefore, current transmission status of STH in Japan is not well characterized. Sporadic cases of STH infections continue to be reported, raising the possibility of a larger-scale recrudescence of STH infections. Given that traditional microscopic detection methods are not sensitive to low-intensity STH infections, we conducted targeted prevalence surveys using sensitive PCR-based assays to evaluate the current STH-transmission status and to describe epidemiological characteristics of areas of Japan believed to have achieved historical elimination of STHs. Methods: Stool samples were collected from 682 preschool- and school-aged children from six localities of Japan with previously high prevalence of STH. Caregivers of participants completed a questionnaire to ascertain access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), and potential exposures to environmental contamination. For fecal testing, multi-parallel real-time PCR assays were used to detect infections of Ascaris lumbricoides, Necator americanus, Ancylostoma duodenale and Trichuris trichiura. Results: Among the 682 children, no positive samples were identified, and participants reported high standards of WASH. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first STH-surveillance study in Japan to use sensitive molecular techniques for STH detection. The results suggest that recrudescence of STH infections has not occurred, and that declines in prevalence have been sustained in the sampled areas. These findings suggest that reductions in prevalence below the elimination thresholds, suggestive of transmission interruption, are possible. Additionally, this study provides circumstantial evidence that multi-parallel real-time PCR methods are applicable for evaluating elimination status in areas where STH prevalence is extremely low.[Figure not available: see fulltext.