Reducing HIV Risk among Transgender Women in Thailand: A Quasi-Experimental Evaluation of the Sisters Program

Transgender women are particularly at risk of HIV infection, but little evidence exists on effective HIV prevention strategies with this population. We evaluated whether Sisters, a peer-led program for transgender women, could reduce HIV risks in Pattaya, Thailand. The study used time-location sampling to recruit 308 transgender women in Pattaya into a behavioral survey in 2011. Coarsened exact matching was used to create statistically equivalent groups of program participants and non-participants, based on factors influencing likelihood of program participation. Using multivariable logistic regression, we estimated effects of any program participation and participation by delivery channel on: condom use at last sex; consistent condom and condom/water-based lubricant use in the past 3 months with commercial, casual, and regular partners; and receipt of HIV testing in the past 6 months. Program coverage reached 75% of the population. In a matched sub-sample (n = 238), participation in outreach was associated with consistent condom/water-based lubricant use with commercial partners (AOR 3.22, 95% CI 1.64–6.31). Attendance at the Sisters drop-in center was associated with receiving an HIV test (AOR 2.58, 95% CI 1.47–4.52). Dedicated transgender-friendly programs are effective at reducing HIV risks and require expansion to better serve this key population and improve HIV prevention strategies.     

Biodiesel preparation from microalgae lipid by two-step lipase catalysis

To overcome the high energy-consuming process of microalgae drying, a two-step lipase catalysis technique for the preparation of biodiesel from microalgae lipid of Chlorella spp. was developed. In the first step, free fatty acids (FAAs) and triacylglycerols (TAGs) are released after cell disruption and extracted, while the TAGs were hydrolysed by free lipase in aqueous phase. In the second step, FAAs were esterified with ethanol in the catalysis of free suspended lipase. The maximum rate of hydrolysis and esterification was 93.6% and 91.3%, respectively. The effects of reaction parameters, such as reaction time, enzyme amount, water content and molar ratio of lipid to ethanol on hydrolysis or esterification, were investigated. The results indicated that two-step reaction process (hydrolyse esterify) for biodiesel production were feasible.