Improved method for measuring low-concentration radium and its application to the Super-Kamiokande Gadolinium project

Chemical extraction using a molecular recognition resin named "Empore Radium Rad Disk" was developed to improve sensitivity for the low concentration of radium (Ra). Compared with the previous method, the extraction process speed was improved by a factor of three and the recovery rate for Ra-226 was also improved from 81 +/- 4% to > 99.9%. The sensitivity on the 10(-1) mBq level was achieved using a high-purity germanium detector. This improved method was applied to determine Ra-226 in Gd-2(SO4)(3)center dot 8H(2)O which will be used in the Super-Kamiokande Gadolinium project. The improvement and measurement results are reported in this paper

Animal models for clinical and gestational diabetes: maternal and fetal outcomes

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Diabetes in pregnant women is associated with an increased risk of maternal and neonatal morbidity and remains a significant medical challenge. Diabetes during pregnancy may be divided into clinical diabetes and gestational diabetes. Experimental models are developed with the purpose of enhancing understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms of diseases that affect humans. With regard to diabetes in pregnancy, experimental findings from models will lead to the development of treatment strategies to maintain a normal metabolic intrauterine milieu, improving perinatal development by preventing fetal growth restriction or macrosomia. Based on animal models of diabetes during pregnancy previously reported in the medical literature, the present study aimed to compare the impact of streptozotocin-induced severe (glycemia >300 mg/dl) and mild diabetes (glycemia between 120 and 300 mg/dl) on glycemia and maternal reproductive and fetal outcomes of <it>Wistar </it>rats to evaluate whether the animal model reproduces the maternal and perinatal results of clinical and gestational diabetes in humans.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>On day 5 of life, 96 female <it>Wistar </it>rats were assigned to three experimental groups: control (n = 16), severe (n = 50) and mild diabetes (n = 30). At day 90 of life, rats were mated. On day 21 of pregnancy, rats were killed and their uterine horns were exposed to count implantation and fetus numbers to determine pre- and post-implantation loss rates. The fetuses were classified according to their birth weight.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Severe and mild diabetic dams showed different glycemic responses during pregnancy, impairing fetal glycemia and weight, confirming that maternal glycemia is directly associated with fetal development. Newborns from severe diabetic mothers presented growth restriction, but mild diabetic mothers were not associated with an increased rate of macrosomic fetuses.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Experimental models of severe diabetes during pregnancy reproduced maternal and fetal outcomes of pregnant women presenting uncontrolled clinical diabetes. On the other hand, the mild diabetes model caused mild hyperglycemia during pregnancy, although it was not enough to reproduce the increased rate of macrosomic fetuses seen in women with gestational diabetes.</p

Single-stranded DNA catenation mediated by human EVL and a type I topoisomerase

The human Ena/Vasp-like (EVL) protein is considered to be a bifunctional protein, involved in both actin remodeling and homologous recombination. In the present study, we found that human EVL forms heat-stable multimers of circular single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) molecules in the presence of a type I topoisomerase in vitro. An electron microscopic analysis revealed that the heat-stable ssDNA multimers formed by EVL and topoisomerase were ssDNA catemers. The ssDNA catenation did not occur when either EVL or topoisomerase was omitted from the reaction mixture. A deletion analysis revealed that the ssDNA catenation completely depended on the annealing activity of EVL. Human EVL was captured from a human cell extract by TOPO IIIα-conjugated beads, and the interaction between EVL and TOPO IIIα was confirmed by a surface plasmon resonance analysis. Purified TOPO IIIα catalyzed the ssDNA catenation with EVL as efficiently as the Escherichia coli topoisomerase I. Since the ssDNA cutting and rejoining reactions, which are the sub-steps of ssDNA catenation, may be an essential process in homologous recombination, EVL and TOPO IIIα may function in the processing of DNA intermediates formed during homologous recombination

Defining forgiveness: Christian clergy and general population perspectives.

The lack of any consensual definition of forgiveness is a serious weakness in the research literature (McCullough, Pargament &amp; Thoresen, 2000). As forgiveness is at the core of Christianity, this study returns to the Christian source of the concept to explore the meaning of forgiveness for practicing Christian clergy. Comparisons are made with a general population sample and social science definitions of forgiveness to ensure that a shared meaning of forgiveness is articulated. Anglican and Roman Catholic clergy (N = 209) and a general population sample (N = 159) completed a postal questionnaire about forgiveness. There is agreement on the existence of individual differences in forgiveness. Clergy and the general population perceive reconciliation as necessary for forgiveness while there is no consensus within psychology. The clergy suggests that forgiveness is limitless and that repentance is unnecessary while the general population suggests that there are limits and that repentance is necessary. Psychological definitions do not conceptualize repentance as necessary for forgiveness and the question of limits has not been addressed although within therapy the implicit assumption is that forgiveness is limitless.</p