Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison. / Typescript. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 37-41).

Typescript, etc. / Digitized by Kansas State University Libraries

Recently, [³H]nitrendipine ([³H]NTD), a substituted 1,4-dihydropyridine calcium channel antagonist, has been used to label in vitro dihydropyridine calcium channel receptor sites in cardiac and smooth muscle, in the brain, and in other peripheral tissues. We have demonstrated the in vivo labeling of [³H]NTD to brain and peripheral tissues. This specific binding is decreased in a dose dependent manner by pretreatment with increasing doses of nifedipine. Thin layer chromatography demonstrates that the bound tritium species is predominantly the unmetabolized, parent [³H]NTD for the cerebral cortex and the left ventricle, whereas in the liver, the main species are metabolites of NTD. The regional distribution of [³H]NTD specific binding parallels that of in vitro studies. Notable exceptions include the aorta, skeletal muscle, and the ileum. The complex hemodynamic effects of NTD may explain differences noted in these in vivo studies as compared to in vitro studies. A highly sensitive assay for dihydropyridine receptors in cerebral cortical and cardiac homogenates using [³H](+)PN 200-110 ([³H]PN), is described. [³H]PN shows 10-12 fold higher affinity for its binding site than [³H]NTD at physiologic temperatures, and exhibits lower nonspecific binding. D-cis diltiazem and verapamil interact with [³H]PN in an allosteric manner. D-cis diltiazem and verapamil decrease and increase, respectively, the K(d) of the [³H]PN-receptor complex without significantly altering the B(max) in both cerebral cortex and heart. The [³H]PN assay is a distinct improvement over the [³H]NTD assay, and should be a valuable tool in the further study of the dihydropyridine receptor binding site. A radioreceptor assay was developed to measure the free (unbound) and total NTD levels in serum. Standard curves are reproducible and linear from 4 x 10⁻¹¹ to 4 x 10⁻⁹ M NTD. The limits of sensitivity of the assay are 0.1-0.2 picomoles/ml. Using equilibrium dialysis, NTD was found to be 93-98 per cent protein bound in human serum. There was no concentration dependency for protein binding from 1 to 100 ng/ml. A pharmacokinetic study in hypertensive patients revealed a peak total NTD serum level at 90-100 minutes. Preliminary studies suggest a possible dose-dependent accumulation of NTD during chronic drug therapy. The in vitro binding of [³H]NTD was studied in deoxycorticosterone-NaCl hypertensive rats and matched control rats. The hypertensive rats showed a significant decrease in brainstem [³H]NTD receptor density as compared to controls after 6 weeks of treatment. There were no receptor alterations in other selected brain regions and the heart. In light of the role of the brainstem in the development of various forms of experimental hypertension, this study provides evidence of selective alterations in the [³H]NTD sites which may be involved in the development of hypertension. Also, this study provides evidence that dihydropyridine binding sites may be under dynamic regulation.

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Police officers and other personnel in the UK routinely wear body armour that provides protection from specific threats. Typically, 'soft' armours, usually formed from multiple layers of fabric, can protect wearers from fragmentation and low velocity (handgun) ballistic threats, while ‘hard’ armours, formed from ceramic and composite plates, offer protection from high velocity (rifle) threats. Protection from stab and/or slash attack is predominantly provided by utilising chain mail and laminated solutions. The question has been raised however, of what would happen when armour is overmatched with a greater threat than it is designed to protect against. A limited number of studies have been published in the open source literature regarding the overmatching of soft body armour. This research aims to increase the understanding of overmatching, by investigating the effect of both i) soft fabric body armour designed to protect from handgun ammunition being challenged by high velocity rifle projectiles and ii) knife and spike resistant armour protecting against low velocity handgun projectiles. A subsection of the research considered three tissue simulants in order to find the most suitable for investigating the effects of overmatching armour. A method for recording the damage produced in the simulants was also developed; from which comparison of damage to different targets was possible. Following the tissue simulant investigation, gelatine blocks 10% in concentration were selected and used to investigate the overmatching of two types of UK police body armour. Three different arrangements were setup, namely 10% gelatine blocks 500mm, 10% gelatine blocks 250mm in length, and porcine thoracic walls arranged to simulate a thorax. Testing blocks 500mm in length was a set-up typical to ballistic investigations; the blocks were capable of capturing the majority of the projectiles’ damage, with the damage produced in both unprotected and protected (on the front face only) targets compared. Based on anthropometric measurements, testing 10% gelatine blocks 250mm in size was more representative of a torso sized target. With the blocks smaller, armour was placed on both the front and back face of targets. This is more representative of how armour would be worn in a real life scenario; patrolling UK police officer wearing armour that protects both the front and back of their torso. Finally, the use of porcine samples arranged to simulate both protected and unprotected thoraxes enabled comparisons of the damage seen in homogenous tissue simulants to damage in non-homogenous material typical to those found in the human torso. The outcomes from testing three different targets with two ammunition and armour combinations revealed the effect of overmatching armour is not one that can be generalised and predicted for all overmatching scenarios. The presence of armour on the rear face of targets based on typical measurements of human chest depth, increased the chances of the projectiles tested remaining within the targets. / EPSRC

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Includes bibliographical references. / 2 v. : ill. ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Describes the purification and characterization of human polyamine oxidases found in rectoplacental serum. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Paediatrics and Women's and Children's Hospital Dept. of Immunopathology, 1998

Accurate determinations of body composition, fat mass (FM) and fat-free mass (FFM) are of interest to scientists as well as many individuals who serve as health and fitness practitioners. Currently, researchers and practitioners use a variety of indirect methods to determine body composition. Traditional methods of estimating percent body fat include hydrostatic weighing, skinfold anthropometry and bioelectrical impedance. Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), utilized most commonly to determine bone mineral content, has recently been proposed to be an accurate measure in the assessment of body composition. Hologic Inc., manufacturers of the QDR-1000/W bone densitometer, have recently developed tissue composition software which can be used to estimate percent body fat in humans. Although the Hologic QDR-1000/W has been extensively evaluated for its accuracy in measuring tissue composition in "vitro", "in vivo" validation studies of body composition have been few. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of the Hologic QDR-1000/W in determining human body composition by comparing values for percent fat from DEXA to values derived using a multicomponent criterion measure of body composition in a group of 51 women and 50 men aged 19-82 years. Additionally, it was of interest to make comparisons of percent body fat determinations between the multicomponent criterion model and hydrostatic weighing, skinfold measures and bioelectrical impedance. All subjects completed the various body composition procedures used to estimate percent body fat: DEXA, hydrostatic weighing (2-component model), skinfold anthropometry and bioelectrical impedance. The multicomponent (4-component) criterion model procedures induded hydrostatic weighing (body density), DEXA whole body scanning (bone mineral content), and deuterium oxide (D���0) dilution in respiratory water (total body water). Results of this study failed to reveal statistically significant mean percent body fat differences between hydrostatic weighing (2-component model) and the 4-component criterion model (25.2 �� 9.4 vs. 26.7 �� 8.4%, p > 0.05) for all 101 subjects. However, differences in percent body fat were found between the 4-component model (26.7 �� 8.4%) and dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (23.2 �� 7.9%), skinfold anthropometry (24.0 �� 8.5%) and bioelectrical impedance (23.4 �� 7.5%). Among women, hydrostatic weighing (2-component model), DEXA, skinfold anthropometry, and bioelectrical impedance all provided accurate estimates of percent body fat. However, each of the various indirect methods used to predict body composition underestimated percent body fat in men. / Graduation date: 1995

A time-independent finite-difference numerical scheme is developed to study the dynamic responses of both submerged , floating breakwater and composite floating breakwaters under wave force . The composite floating breakwaters is based on a moored floating bodies and submerged obstacle. The fully nonlinear kinematic free surface conditions and dynamic conditions are considered in the analysis .The numerical results were validated by several bench mark studies and existing reporting results. The wave reducing effect of both submerged, floating breakwaters and composite floating breakwaters were analysis and discussed¡C