A delayed-coincidence spectrometer system was used to measure nuclear lifetimes in the picosecond region by the centroid-shift method. Timing signals were derived from two plastic scintillators; each plastic scintillator was located within a specially constructed NaI(Tl) detector. Each NaI(Tl) detector was used to detect the gamma ray which Compton scattered from an associated plastic scintillator. Energy identification was achieved by summing the signals from the plastic and the NaI(Tl) detectors to give full energy gamma-ray photopeaks. To test the effectiveness of the system, the half-lives of the first excited state of 134Ba and the first and second excited states of 144Nd were measured. The half life of the first excited state of 134Ba was measured as 4.4 - 1.3 psec; this result is in agreement with a previously reported value of 5.0 t 1.5 psec. The half-life for the first excited state of 144Nd was determined to be 1.5 ± 1.0 psec while the half-life for the second excited. state of 144Nd was determined to be 5.1 ± 0.5 psec. The half-life value for the second excited state of 144Nd is in disagreement with previously reported values of 21 ± 2 psec and 100 ± 30 psec which were also determined by delayed-coincidence methods. Although the result of 1.5 ± 1.0 psec for the first excited state lifetime differed from a previous result of 3.4 * 0.1 psec obtained by Coulomb excitation, this difference was due to the inability of the present spectrometer system to resolve the 618- and 696-keV gamma rays of 144Nd. It is concluded that a lower lifetime limit measurable with the system described in this study is about one picosecond, provided that the gamma rays can be resolved in the sum energy spectrum of the plastic and NaI(T1) detectors.Ball State UniversityMuncie, IN 47306

Cotton rats, Sigmodon hispidus, were trapped and studied in Belize District, Belize, Central America from June 14, 1973 to July 13, 1973. Vegetation in the area was surveyed to determine height, extent of matting, and species composition. Comparisons were then made between vegetation and S. hispidus captures. A total of 48 S. hispidus,were captured, primarily in areas of tall and matted grass. S. hispidus appeared to be absent from areas of short grass.Reproduction, body size, sex ratio, parasites, and behavior of S. hispidus are discussed. Other mammals taken during the study included two specimens of Or_yzomys, fulvescens,, a species which had not previously been collected in Belize.Ball State UniversityMuncie, IN 47306

The changes in plasma osmolality and percentage change in mean corpuscular volume accompanying dehydration (2~ and 4of body weight loss) were studied to assess the use of the venous hematocrit as a gauge of the percentage change in plasma volume. In vitro experiments were also conducted to verify the relationship between plasma osmolality and mean corpuscular volume.By utilizing the mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, calculation of the percentage change in mean corpuscular volume following dehydration showed a marked shrinkage of the red cells that was significantly related to the increase in plasma osmolality (r = - 0.99). Consequently, it was concluded that calculations of the percentage change in plasma volume during dehydration based on the change in venous hematocrit are subject to error unless corrections are made for alterations in mean corpuscular volume.Ball State UniversityMuncie, IN 47306

The adsorption of dicquat dibromide as affected by available soil moisture and concentration of diquat was studied on Blount silt loam soil in east central Indiana. The diquat under varying concentrations and soil moisture conditions was topically applied to twenty-seven, 1/2 meter square sample plots with the surface vegetation removed to expose bare soil.The soil texture of the research site was determined using the Bouyoucos hydrometer method. From the texture analysis, the highly adsorptive montmorillonite clay was determined to be the major adsorptive surfaces available to the diquat radical. With the montmorillonite clays being the major adsorptive surfaces, it was concluded that the applied diquat was completely adsorbed by the soil colloids.Using a modified Langlois-Stemp-Liska procedure for pesticide extraction and clean-up, the major effect of the herbicide concentrations and the soil moisture conditions on the adsorptive capacity of the soil colloids for the diquat radical was determined to be at the level of degrees of adsorption.Ball State UniversityMuncie, IN 47306

The purpose of this research was to examine the attitudes of currently practicing registered nurses to the concept of primary care nursing. The sub-problems analyzed were the reactions of the nurses toward society and toward the profession of nursing.The study utilized the responses to a questionnaire completed by the registered nurses at Fordham Hospital, New York City, and at Ft. Wayne Visiting Nurse Association, Ft. Wayne, Indiana. The participation mean of both agencies was 0.755.The respondents were identified as feeling favorably toward the concept of primary care nursing. Eighty-six per cent of the respondents favored additional preparation for nurses who were to embark on a career as primary carepractitioners.Alienation to society and to the profession of nursing was most obvious in the staff nurse group. Clinicians represented the extreme opposite by displaying strongly positive feelings toward society and toward the profession.The study revealed great discrepancy between the attitudes of the nurses at the two agencies studied. This suggests the need for more research at the agency level, prior to attempting any research with a more diverse sampling. The problem of alienation among staff nurses must be dealt with in order to insure a professional committment to excellence.Ball State UniversityMuncie, IN 47306

Benzylpenicilloyl-poly-L-cysteine is prepared by reacting benzylpenicillenic acid with poly-L-cysteine at 370° in water at pH 8.3 or buffer at pH 7.98. The preparations of penicilloyl-cysteine, S-acetamidomethyl-polycysteine, and S-acetamidomethyl-penicilloyl-polycysteine are also described. C14-labeling and penamaldate assays are used to determine penicilloyl content. The iodoacetic acid method is used to ascertain thiol content.The ultraviolet spectra for penicilloyl-polycysteine, pencilloyl-cysteine, poly-L-cysteine, poly-S-carbobenzoxy-L-cysteine, S-acetamidomethyl-polycysteine and S-acetamidomethyl-penicilloyl-polycysteine are reported. The infrared spectra of penicilloyl-polycysteine, penicilloyl-cysteine, poly-S-carbobenzoxy-L-cysteine, S-acetamidomethyl-polycysteine, and S-acetamidomethyl-penicilloyl-polycysteine are reported. The nmr spectra of poly-L-cysteine, penicilloyl-cysteine, S-acetamidomethyl-polycysteine, and S-acetamidomethyl-penicilloyl-polycysteine are discussed.The kinetic rates of reaction of benzylpenicillenic acid at 37.5 ± 0.50 in buffer, cysteine, N, S-di-CBZ L-cysteine, poly-L-cysteine, poly-S-CBZ L-cysteine andβ-mercaptoethylamine are compared.Ball State UniversityMuncie, IN 47306

The finite element stress analysis method was utilized to determine the effects of thermal expansion in small scale crystal deformation with the entire study conducted within the elastic limits of failure. A 5 by 25 km model was simulated, with accepted physical properties of rock and heated to an average geothermal gradient 30° C/km. Parameters independently examined included 1) variance of the coefficient of thermal expansion; 2) variance of temperature magnitude; and 3) variance of temperature geometry.The variations in coefficient of thermal expansion, studied here produced slight alterations in stress patterns produced by body weight and the normal geothermal gradient. It was suggested that general ranges of coefficients were sufficient to predict the behavior of the body. Temperature magnitudes have also resulted in small changes in displacements and stress patterns.Displacements due to thermal expansion were of minimal geologic significance. However, the stress could alter stress patterns generated by other tectonic forces. This may dictate the time and location of the initial failure of the body; in turn controling any subsequent tectonic activity.Ball State UniversityMuncie, IN 47306

This thesis has outlined a reliable and practical method for auditory screening in the newborn. Validation of the assumption that the Denver test kit bell could be used as a standardized stimulus was accomplished by electronic analysis. The experimental stimulus, then, was matched against a standardized commercial device for auditory screening with the hypothesis that there would be no differences in response patterns elicited by the two instruments. Newborns in a hospital nursery served as subjects.No significant differences existed between the two groups with respect to the number judged as hearing infants. However, there was a significant difference between the two groups with respect to the number judged as nonhearing infants.In addition, a discussion is presented to illustrate the meaning of the findings, the usefulness of this study, and a method for continuing the auditory evaluation of newborns.Ball State UniversityMuncie, IN 47306

In this investigation an analytical study of the distribution and characteristics of the lipids and fatty acids of Aspergillus niger and Penicillium chrysogenum was made utilizing gas-liquid chromatography, thin-layer chromatography, and periodate-permanganate degradation.Triglycerides and free fatty acids were the most abundant lipid classes in 32 hour cultures of both species. In A. niger, total lipid of dry weight varied from 2.7% to 6,1% while P. chrysogenum ranged from 1.1% to 2,2%. The per cent water in the wet mycelium varied from 97.1% to 97.7i% for A. niger and ranged from 94.4% to 95,1% in P. chrysogenum.In A. niger, saturated fatty acids from octanoic (C8) to behenic (C22) were found with palmitic (C16) being the most abundant. No cyclopropane structures were found on the saturated acids present, Monoenoic acids from dodecenoic acid (C12:1) through oleic acid (C18:1) were found. Linoleic and linolenic acids were the only dienoic and trienoic acids present. Similar patterns were found in h. chrysogenum. In all cultures linoleic (Cl8:2) was more abundant than either oleic (C18:1) or linolenic (C18:3)Periodate-permanganate oxidation of oleic acid extracted from A. niger gave products indicating that the double bond was in the 9 position, Linoleic acid appeared to have double bonds in the 9 and 12 positions while double bonds in linolenic acid occupied the 6, 9 and 12 positions.Ball State UniversityMuncie, IN 47306

Extensive research has been compiled on mycotoxin production by mesophilic fungi. However, toxin production by the thermophilic fungi has only slightly been explored. In 1970 Sister Donovan of this laboratory hinted at the possibility of mycotoxin production in thermophiles when she demonstrated that extracts of Fenicillium duponti were toxic towards brine shrimp (Artemia,salina).Thermophilic fungi from natural composting substrates and from existing laboratory stock cultures were investigated to determine the possibility of mycotoxin production by thermophilic fungi. Three bioassay organisms were used to test the toxicity of the thermophilic fungi extracts.Sixteen of the 16 thermophiles reduced brine shrimp viability by more than 25% over controls. Ten of the 16 thermophiles produced toxic substances at each of three fungal incubation temperatures.Germinating Bacillus megatherium spores were found sensitive to extracts of 9 of the 16 thermophiles. Five of the nine thermophiles produced bacterial toxic substances at each of three fungal incubation temperatures.All embryos exposed to the thermophilic extracts lived and developed normally showing no sign of somatic deformities upon opening the eggs. One-day-old hatched chicks were then investigated. Sixteen of the 48 chicks injected with thermophilic extracts manifested viscerallesions of the heart, liver and stomach on autopsy seven days after injection.Results of three bioassays indicate that the toxic secondary metabolites were found to be present in crude extracts of 16 thermophilic fungi. Data indicated that many of the thermophiles produced toxic substances at each of three incubation temperatures.Ball State UniversityMuncie, IN 47306