Study of Gross Alpha and Gross Beta Activities in Rock Samples of Western Ghats in Kanyakumari District

<div><p><em>The present study was carried out to examine the gross alpha and gross beta activities in rock samples in Kanyakumari district. Twenty Four samples were collected from different locations in Western Ghats. The gross alpha and gross beta activities were measured by using zinc sulphide scintillation detector and low beta counter. In this present study the gross alpha activity was maximum at L22 (1397.85 Bq/Kg) and minimum at L7 (</em><em>53.76 Bq/Kg</em><em>) with an average of 582.44Bq/Kg and the gross beta activity was maximum at L2 (3815.79 Bq/Kg) minimum at L7 (833.33 Bq/kg) with an average of 2081.51Bq/Kg. </em></p></div>

PENGARUH ESCHERICHIA COLI DAN GRANULOSIT TERHADAP KADAR REACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES SECARA IN VITRO

In humans, male genital tract infection has been recognized as one of the causes of infertility. Indicators of the occurrence of genital tract infection are the presence of bacteria during semen culture (bacteriospermia) and the finding of leucocyte of more than 1 million/ml semen (leucotytospermia). Escherichia coli (E. coli) is the most common cause of prostatitis and epididymitis. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of E. coli and granulocytes on Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) level in vitro. This study comprised of two experiments. In the experiment 1, sperm was incubated with E. coli, and the experiment 2, the sperm was incubated with granulocyte. In those experiments, ROS levels were observed. Spermatozoa were obtained from donor with normal spermatozoa according to WHO (1999). Escherichia coli was obtained by culturing the semen of infertile males. Granulocytes were obtained from donors’ blood. Sperm preparation was made by using Percoll gradient column method. Granulocyte isolation used Histopaque 1077 and 1119. ROS level was detected by means of chemiluminescence method with beta counter device. The result of this study showed that in vitro E. coli had the effect on ROS level, both stimulated by peroxidase (p = 0.000) and PMA (p = 0.006). Granulocyte had effect on ROS level. In peroxidase-stimulated ROS level, there was the effect between spermatozoa and granulocyte-incubated sperm (p = 0.000), granulocyte-incubated sperm and granulocyte (p = 0.002), and sperm and granulocyte (p = 0.000). In PMA-stimulated ROS level, there was effect between sperm and granulocyte-incubated sperm (p = 0.000), sperm and granulocyte (p = 0.000), granulocyte-incubated sperm and granulocyte (p = 0.000). In conclusion, under in vitro experiment, sperm incubated with E. coli and sperm incubated with granulocyte had the effect on the level of the ROS.

Laboratory Organization

Laboratory organization involves both the physical establishment and its operation. It is perhaps simplest to divide the laboratory into its component sections and discuss each separately. The areas may physically overlap for a small facility, and depending on the operation specialty, some sections, such as tissue culture or probe amplification, may not be required. Unless the operation is large, dark room and cold room facilities and expensive equipment such as an ultracentrifuge and beta counter are best shared, if feasible. The setup of a DNA analysis facility is a relatively simple process if it is incorporated into an established biochemistry program; it is considerably more involved if no such base exists. The outline presented in this chapter is only a guide; individuals contemplating the development of a new facility should visit as many established centers as possible. Discussions with sales representatives and attendance at relevant trade shows and DNA conferences are invaluable. Office requirements for a DNA program are no different in principle from those of any other biochemistry program. At least one separate office is required, usually for the program director and, as space permits, offices for a clerk-secretary and senior technologist are useful. Everyone working in the laboratory must have at least a small partitioned desk space in a quiet location. Lockable fire-resistant cabinets are required to store sensitive records; these cabinets should be accessible, preferably located in the clerical area. Analysis results are worthless without proper documentation of a specimen’s chain of custody (continuity). Information, including time and conditions of specimen procurement, conditions of storage and shipment, date received by the laboratory, and reason for the analysis request is also required. These data can be manually recorded; however, entry into a computer program capable of sorting and maintaining records for long-term retrieval is almost mandatory. Storage of unprocessed specimens may be necessary, and if at all possible, DNA should be isolated when received.

Simultaneous measurements of 22Na and 36Cl in aqueous samples: a comparison of three different methods

We have critically analyzed three methods that measure the combined presence of 36Cl and 22Na in aqueous samples. These were a sequential method, a dual-label spectral analysis method (Beckman 1983), and a AgNO3 precipitation method (Thompson 1983). The former requires the use of both a gamma counter and a beta liquid scintillation counter, whereas the latter two require access to a beta counter only. Our analysis suggests that investigators who have access to both a liquid scintillation counter and a gamma spectrometer would find the sequential method relatively simple to use and reasonably reliable. Those with access to only a liquid scintillation counter would be best advised to use the AgNO3 method described by Thompson.

Determination of Radium-228 in Foods and Water

A procedure was developed for the rapid determination of 228Ra by measuring its decay product 228Ac. The method is applicable to a variety of types of samples such as food and water. Food samples can be prepared by dry- or wet-ashing techniques. The 228Ac is precipitated with lanthanum carrier, dissolved, purified by solvent extraction, and finally decontaminated on anion and cation exchange resins. The 228Ac is counted in a thin-window, low-level gas flow beta counter. It may be necessary to count the sample several times to follow the 6 h half-life of 228Ac so that its purity is ensured. The method is sensitive to 1 pCi/sample of food ash and to 1 pCi/L of water.