DNA Amplification and Nucleotide Sequence Determination of a Region of Mitochondrial DNA in the Sea Snake, Laticauda Semifasciata

We determined the nucleotide sequence of a region of the 12S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene in the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of the sea snake, Laticauda semifasciata, using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We synthesized oligonucleotide primers according to the nucleotide sequence of human mt DNA 12S rRNA gene and found that the target sequence (386bp) of the sea snake mtDNA could be amplified with these primers. The nucleotide sequence of the amplified region of the sea snake mt DNA was determined on six separate plasmid clones for each individual snake DNA and matched completely among the DNA samples of three sea snakes. The sequence homology in the region of the mtDNA 12S rRNA gene between L. semifasciata and human is 69.1%

Molecular Analysis of Common Types ofﾎｱ-Thalassemia Associated with(ﾎｲ-Thalassemia in Northern Thailand

We applied PCR strategies to detect the common types of ﾎｱ- thalassemia determinants which were associated with ﾎｲ- thalassemia in northern Thailand. Two types of deletions in the ﾎｱ-globin gene locus;the 18 kb deletion of Southeast Asian type(-ﾎｱSEA)and the 3.7 kb rightward deletion(-ﾎｱ3.7), and the most prevalent non-deletion mutation, Hb Constant Spring(ﾎｱC8, TAA to CAA at the codon 141)were investigated in 22 cases of ﾎｲ-thalassemia. Nine ﾎｲ-thalassemia patients were found to be associated with one or two of these defective ﾎｱ-globin gene determinants and the mean hemoglobin concentration in these patients was 6.3 ﾂｱ 1.1 g/dl whereas it was 5.6ﾂｱ.0.8 g/dl in 12 ﾎｲ-thalassemia patients without ﾎｱ- globin gene abnormalities ; the difference is statistically insignificant (p = 0.08). The level of anemia was severe in the ﾎｲ-thalassemia patients carrying a single ﾎｱ-globin gene abnormality in the heterozygous compounds ; whereas the (ﾎｲ-thalassemias withﾎｱ-globin gene defects in both alleles showed less severe anemia. A patient carrying the ﾎｱ ・｣8 determinant in homozygous compound showed the highest hemoglobin level among these ﾎｲ-thalassemia patients

Status Quo and Issues on Student Guidance in High Schools in Okinawa : Based on the Results of Questionnaires

Purpose of the Study: The main purpose of this study is to report the status quo and issues on School Guidance in high schools in Okinawa based on the result of questionnaire survey. Design and Methods: The authors carried out the questionnaire survey on student guidance in high schools in Okinawa. Fifty-nine high schools completed the questionnaire and respond rate was 85.5％．Questions of each question were considered to find relationships and the results were considered to find suggestions for high schools. Results: The problems on SNS, the violation of discipline such as manner and morale in schools, developmental disorders such as ADHD and LDs, motivation toward subjects are found as issues teachers face in schools. Of which, the issues on SNS are related to other problems teachers guessed. Implications: It is the best time that high school teachers and guardians teach students how to use SNS and smartphones at schools and homes to keep time for study to keep the good relationships with their friends

Ruthenium complexes of sterically-hindered pentaarylcyclopentadienyl ligands

International audienceThe synthesis of ruthenium complexes incorporating an overcrowded pentaarylcyclopentadienyl ligand has been investigated, and higher efficiency has been reached using chlorine-functionalised precursors when compared with their brominated counterparts. A new methodology for the preparation of chlorocyclopentadienes has been developed which is well adapted for highly sterically hindered compounds and works with either electron rich or poor systems