Showing papers by "University of Alabama published in 1968"

Studies of Testosterone Binding Globulin

Abstract: Normal and pregnancy plasma contains testosterone binding substances. Binding activity is essentially abolished by heating plasma to 60 C or lowering pH to <5. Albumin has low affinity but high capacity for testosterone while testosterone binding of whole plasma or albumin-free plasma has high affinity and relatively low capacity. Studies of pregnancy plasma with 3H-testosterone using Sephadex G-200 chromatography, immunoelectrophoresis and plasma electrophoresis on paper, indicate that the high affinity binding substance has characteristics of a beta globulin. Testosterone binding globulin (TBG) activity tested by dextran coated charcoal particle adsorption of free labeled testosterone is increased in pregnancy or estrogen administration and appears slightly more active in normal female than male plasma Studies based upon displacement of 3H-testosterone from pregnancy plasma TBG indicate a high degree of stereospecificity for binding which differs completely from the characteristics of cortisol ...

Ultrastructural features of host-parasite relationship in oral candidiasis.

Abstract: In oral candidiasis, many keratinized epithelial cells and cells of Candida albicans are shed. Scales from patients with oral candidiasis were used for electron microscopic study of the epithelial-fungal relationship. Scales, scraped from the tongue and oral mucosa, were fixed for fungi. Electron microscopic observations showed cells of C. albicans outside, penetrating, or within the epithelial cells. Extracellular fungi possessed a floccular material adherent to the outer surface of the cell wall. Intracellular fungi lacked the floccular material which appeared to detach as fungi invaded the epithelial cells. Large vacuoles, which sometimes contained myelin figures, occupied the cytoplasm of fungal cells. Epithelial cells frequently contained several fungi. Discontinuous plasma membranes marked sites of fungal entry. Cytoplasmic areas devoid of fungi showed many tonofibrils, but the cytoplasm adjacent to fungi often lacked tonofibrils. Micrographs suggested that fungal cells lysed the tonofibrils. Bacteria were abundant in the scrapings, but always occupied an extracellular position.

Bioelectrodes for tissue metabolism.

Abstract: The application of electrochemical analytical methods to the analysis of living tissue is in its infancy. The rapidly expanding science of electrochemistry is providing new concepts and techniques which will be useful in gaining information not only concerning oxygen and carbon dioxide metabolism but measurement of tensions of foreign gases and the metabolism of nongaseous substances. Until now, direct current polarography has been the most widely used, but there is a future for square wave and oscillographic polarographic methods, for potentiometric procedures and for nonpolarographic methods such as those involved in the power-generating “fuel cell” systems. This paper will discuss the measurement of oxygen consumption by tissue in vitro, present a new form of the membrane-covered oxygen electrode, describe certain aspects of the use of exposed solid electrodes in living tissue, and finally, because of the importance of measuring blood flow in tissues as related to their metabolism, indicate some of the factors involved in measuring hydrogen gas in blood and tissue. Our purpose is to highlight certain problems and possibilities for using electrodes to perform chemical measurements in the blood and tissues of living animals. The large number of applications of polarography in biology,’ the increasing relative influence of electrochemistry in chemistry? and the expansion of polarography in science and industry3.4 precludes the possibility of this presentation even touching upon many of the relevant papers in this field.

Reaction Time and Mental Retardation

Abstract: Publisher Summary This chapter describes the reaction time (RT) in case of mental retardation. The swiftness, with which an organism perceives and responds to its environment frequently, is taken as an index of adaptability. Individuals, who can process information rapidly and respond appropriately, obviously have a distinct adaptive advantage over slower individuals. In most ways, the RT adjustment of mental retardates to changing environmental exigencies is essentially the same as that of normal individuals. Enough evidence has been presented to lead to the tentative conclusion that retardates suffer a prestimulus arousal deficiency or attentional lag. There are some marked individual differences as a group; however, they appear to function under an impoverished preparatory set, both with respect to the initial levels and in maintaining the set over lengthy warning intervals. Intelligence is functionally related to RT within the defective population. Within the mental age (MA) and chronological age (CA) ranges sampled, the function is best described as approximately linear. The intensity of the reaction signal (RS) influences the retardates' response speed more than that of normals. As the intensity of the signal to respond increases, RT correspondingly decreases. However, at RS values near threshold, normals, and retardates are similarly affected.

An induced bactericidin in the spiny lobster, Panulirus argus.

Abstract: SummarySpiny lobsters, P. argus, immunized with living or killed bacteria, have been shown to synthesize a nondialyzable bactericidin. This substance was present in the hemolymph and was usually detectable within 12 hours. In the primary response, it reached a peak within 24-48 hours. The most effective antigen was a gram-negative bacillus, EMB-1, isolated from the normal intestinal flora of healthy P. argus. Varying results were obtained when specificity was tested with heterologous bacteria, but the bactericidin was less specific than mammalian antibody. Heating at 65°C for 20 min was required for complete inactivation. EDTA, dialysis, carrageenin, and freezing failed to inactivate this substance. It could be adsorbed by homologous and heterologous bacteria.

Finite element solution to dynamic stability of bars.

Abstract: treated in Ref. 1. Note that for this low-frequency mode, \I/N = 1 in (6), and the correcting series is proportional to the Mach number Mb. The series converges rather slowly, but since Mb ~ 0(10~), the deviation from spatial uniformity is indeed quite small. Thus, as Oberg emphasized, the nonacoustic instability is, in fact, a special form of acoustic oscillation. The main point of the remarks here is simply that by means of a thorough analysis giving Eq. (7), one obtains the useful results for frequency and growth constant, valid for any grain configuration and subject only to the weak constraint that the meanflow Mach number is small. Similar formulas can be obtained also for gas and liquid rockets. The principal difference from the solid rocket arises from the influence of combustion within the chamber and not merely at the boundary.

Repetition, order of presentation, and timing of arguments and measures as determinants of opinion change.

Abstract: A model of order effects developed by Miller and Campbell (1959) predicts more recency with intervals between arguments and less recency with a delay of the posttest. To test the model, this study used 320 undergraduates as Ss, periods of 1 wk. as intervals and delays, and jury-trial excerpts as materials. Retention data supported the model completely. Opinion data showed less recency with delay (p<.01), as predicted, but did not show more recency with intervals—a striking nonconfirmation. Repeating an argument (1 vs. 3 times) increased opinion change slightly (p < .OS) and retention markedly (p < .01). Both retention and opinion showed strong overall recency (p < .01).

The duplicability of arrow-point tracings in dentulous subjects

Abstract: A n investigation into the duplicability of the apex of arrow-point ~Sneedlepoint j tracings was initiated because of conflicting opinions regarding the proper position at which to occlude teeth in dentures and in reconstructed dentitions. Prior to 1910. dentures were constructed on articulators which were designed to imitate only the slopes of the condyles. These instruments were otherwise contrived upon various theories of mandibular motion. Followin g a series of experiments b) Gysi’ and Needles:” the concepts of the fundamentals of denture construction were greatly changed. Gysi demonstrated that a lateral path of movement which had a definite angular configuration could be shown with the use of a recording device. We designated thk angular configuration the “Gothic arch tracing.” Its apex (representing the most rctruded unstrained position of the mandible) was considered the starting point from \\,hich anterior and lateral jaw movements were made. This mandibular reference point, termed “centric relation,” has been defined as “the most rrtruded UIIstrained positional relation of the mandible to the maxillae at a given degrer, of jaw opening.” Popular opinion supports the theory that centric relation is the most important jaw relation record in treatment involving occlusion, because this point, and this point alone, can be reproduced for the purpose of establishing or ,guiding other registrations. Centric relation is a starting point.

Bacteriophage Clearance in the Oyster (Crassostrea virginica)

Abstract: Since relatively few quantitative immunological studies had been conducted with invertebrates, this study was designed to learn more about the immune potential of the oyster, a molluscan representative Experiments measured the primary and secondary clearance rates of T2 coliphage in the oyster The fate of phage injected intracardially or intramuscularly was traced by measuring serum and tissue fluid plaque-forming unit levels at various times postinjection Phage-neutralizing activity was also measured Although circulating T2-neutralizing antibody was not induced in the oyster, secondary injections of T2 were cleared more rapidly than primary injections The difference in clearance rates between primary and secondary groups was not as pronounced in the oyster as in the lemon shark, an animal capable of producing high levels of serum antibody to T2

Tooth brush for interproximal areas

Abstract: A TOOTH BRUSH FOR INTERPROXIMAL AREAS HAVING ELONGATED WIRE MEMBERS TWISTED ON EACH OTHER WITH RADIALLY EXTENDING BRISTLES FIXEDLY SECURED IN PLACE THEREBETWEEN. A LATERALLY OPENING PASSAGEWAY IS PROVIDED IN AN ELONGATED HANDLE FOR RECEIVING ENDS OF THE TWISTED WIRE MEMBERS WHICH ARE SECURED IN PLACE BY AN ADJUSTABLE RETAINING MEMBER, THE HANDLE BEING BENT TO POSITION THE WIRE MEMBERS AT AN OBTUSE ANGLE RELATIVE TO THE REMAINDER OF THE HANDLE.

Some Effects of Quantization of Internal Rotation on Spin-Lattice Relaxation and Hyperfine Structure.

Abstract: The temperature dependence of the spin-lattice relaxation time of the oriented ${\mathrm{H}}_{3}$C-$\stackrel{\ifmmode \dot{}\else \.{}\fi{}}{\mathrm{C}}{R}_{1}{R}_{2}$ radical in x-irradiated single crystals of acetyl-($d, l$)-alanine has been observed to be dominated by "spin-flip" transitions between the rotational states of the methyl group. The energy separation of these levels has been confirmed by an analysis of the ESR spectra of the radical. The low-temperature ESR spectra show quantum effects also not previously observed.

Contribution of solid-phase heat release to AP composite-propellant burning rate.

Abstract: Experimental and analytical approaches were applied to deduce the solid-phase surface temperature of ammonium perchlorate (AP) and to evaluate the effect of AP solid-phase decomposition rate on burning rate. Several batches of AP, of various particle sizes, were modified by irradiation with 9.8 X 10 rad of Co and by thermal shock in liquid N2. Under slow heating rates, both types of modified AP decompose several times faster than conventional AP. However, propellants containing the modified AP burned at the same rate as propellants containing conventional AP. A mathematical model was developed to re-examine Beckstead and Hightower's observations of the crystallographic phase transition from orthorhombic to cubic structure in burning AP. By considering the effects of both conductive heat transfer and subsurface heat release, along with transients after AP extinguishment, a calculated solidphase surface temperature of approximately 442°C was obtained. No change in surface temperature was calculated when upper limit values of subsurface heat-generation rates were considered. Since subsurface heat generation did not affect calculated surface temperature and since AP modified to have higher decomposition rates did not affect propellant burning rate, it is concluded that AP subsurface reactions are not a factor in controlling propellant burning rate at pressures above 500 psi.

The availability of food folate.

Abstract: Man appears to be totally unable to synthesize the pteridine ring structure and is dependent, therefore, upon dietary sources for his natural supply of the pteroylglutamates, or folate vitamins. The importance of folic acid to the nutritionist is emphasized by its role in the transport of single carbon units necessary for growth (Luhby and Cooperman, 1964; Stokstad and Koch, 1967) and in the synthesis of N-formylmethionine, which is thought to becssential for the initiation of polypeptide chain formation in bacteria (Adams and Capecchi, 1966). The clinician is also vitally concerned with folic acid because of its relationship to the megaloblastic anaemias and because a number of drugs, such as anti-malarials and anticonvulsants, are also folate antagonists.

Behavioural effects of some 4-substituted amphetamines.

Abstract: IN previous studies, Smythies et al.1 have developed a behavioural test for animals, predictive of psychotomimetic activity in man. This test is based on a Sidman avoidance schedule and the results are presented in the form of a modified Bovet-Gatti profile. Using this test,. Smythies et al.2 tested a series of tri, di and mono-methoxy phenylisopropylamines (amphetamines). Their results indicated that the essential feature of the “hallucinogenic” molecule in the series of compounds tested was the para-methoxy group. All compounds lacking this were inactive and compounds with additional groups were variously weaker. Para-methoxy amphetamine (PMA) proved to be the most potent hallucinogen tested. With a low dose a typical “low dose hallucinogenic” profile was obtained. With double this dose, bizarre behaviour was induced in both rats tested, and both rats died within a week of being injected with PMA.

Mechanical input impedance of human teeth in vivo.

Abstract: The mechanical input impedance of teethin vivo has been measured over the frequency range of 60–5000 c/s. A generator was used which delivered a sinusoidal force of variable frequency and constant peak-to-peak amplitude of 4·4×104 dyn. Our data plus those of others indicate that the suspensory apparatus of the tooth consists of several equivalent springs and dampers. The purpose of the initial study is to establish a correlation between some aspect of mechanical impedance and ‘clinical mobility’ or ‘looseness’ of teeth. An increase in tooth mobility has long been regarded as a cardinal finding in periodontal disease and a key consideration in determining the feasibility and mode of restoring lost dental function. Finally, we hope to develop a suitable clinical instrument for measuring tooth mobility objectively.