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Biomedical subjects

T W Barrett

Publications and source records attributed to T W Barrett.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1990

Suicide bereavement and recovery patterns compared with nonsuicide bereavement patterns.

This study compared bereavement experiences of suicide survivors with those of other survivors. The primary focus of investigation was upon grief reactions suggested to be unique to suicide bereavement and upon quality of grief resolution 2-4 years after death. Fifty-seven women and men, between the ages of 24 and 48, who had experienced the death of a marital partner were interviewed. Subjects were assigned to one of four groups by mode of death (suicide, accident, unanticipated natural, and expected natural). Analyses of variance and Scheffe procedures indicated no significant differences among survivors on frequencies of grief reactions considered common to all bereavements. The suicide survivors were significantly different from all others on certain grief measures, including rejection and unique grief reactions. On various other grief measures, significant differences were indicated among the groups of survivors. Four primary conclusions, implications of the findings, and limitations of the study are discussed.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1989

Development of the Grief Experience Questionnaire.

The development of the Grief Experience Questionnaire (GEQ) is reported. This questionnaire is an instrument for measuring various components of grief, including somatic reactions, general grief reactions, search for explanation, loss of social support, stigmatization, guilt, responsibility, shame, rejection, self-destructive behavior, and reactions to a unique form of death. Initial results with the GEQ suggest its potential to differentiate grief reactions experienced by suicide survivors from those experienced by survivors of accidental death, unexpected natural death, and expected natural death. Conclusions support its use in redressing common methodological criticisms of suicide survivor research. Six additional benefits derived from use of this instrument are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

A theory of cancer induction by parametric excitation.

The theory of cancer induction of ultimate carcinogens by parametric excitation is presented. Attention is drawn to the requirement of an energy transfer in perturbing DNA. The concept of energy transfer by resonance is rejected in favor of energy transfer by parametric excitation of which resonance is a special case. The result, reported here, is a remarkable agreement between the Raman vibrational bands of these ultimate carcinogens, various hypochromic bands of DNA and the predictions of parametric excitation theory. This result suggests that the peculiar relation of an ultimate carcinogen and DNA results in parametrically induced energy transfer in the vibrational mode. The problem, then, of cancer induction becomes one of analytical mechanics.

Carcinogens↗
PubMed1978

Laser Raman light-scattering observations of conformational changes in myosin induced by inorganic salts.

The Raman spectra of aqueous solutions of myosin and mixtures of myosin in solutions of the salts CaCl(2), MgCl(2), and LiBr have been taken. The spectrum of the solvent background has been subtracted by means of a computer, leaving only the Raman peaks of the protein. From an analysis of the Raman bands in the regions at 900, 940, 1,240-1,300, and 1,650-1,670 cm(-1), it seems likely that CaCl(2) effects an alpha-to beta-transition in myosin, probably owing to the interaction of the Ca(2+) ion, LiBr appears to denature the protein leading to increased random coil structure, and MgCl(2) appears to have an effect intermediate between the two other salts. These results are reported for concentrations as low as 10(-5) M of CaCl(2) and MgCl(2).This investigation indicates the usefulness of the Raman light-scattering technique for the study of protein conformational changes.

Calcium Chloride↗
PubMed1976

The molecular dynamics of hyaluronates in solution.

The dynamic properties of hyaluronate solutions are discussed with relevance to some problems in sensory physiology (mechanoelectrical transduction), renal physiology, interstitial fluid regulation, and especially to the causes of open-angle glaucoma. With respect to the last problem: as recent biochemical evidence indicates that the hyaloid membrane does not exist, it now seems worthwhile to consider the increase in intraocular pressure present in the eye with glaucoma to be due--at least in the open-angle case--to a change in the specific gravity and hydrophilic nature of the hyaluronic acid in the vitreous body in particular, as well as in the trabecular meshwork. Densimetric experimental evidence indicates that the hyaluronate system could, indeed, produce the pressure changes seen in glaucoma, if intraocular pH changed but slightly. A hypothesis concerning the effect of acetazol amide on intraocular pressure is also presented.

Body Fluids↗
PubMed1976

On the Comorosan effect.

A possible explanation for the necessary and sufficient irradiation to produce the controversial Comorosan effect is discussed. Using a modified quantum theory requiring a definition of the relation of four parameters of a light signal instead of the usual two, the lack of superposition of irradiating sources is accounted for as well as the ineffectiveness of all parts of the total visible spectrum. The most effective average wavelength for obtaining the effect is unique merely because of the appropriateness of the bandwidth of the filter. Changing the filter bandwidth in a way related to a change in the average wavelength should produce the effect at other average wavelengths. The storage of energy within the irradiated substance is considered to be due to either a resonance effect with photon annihilation or a Raman effect with photon scattering.

Enzymes↗
PubMed1976

Mechanoelectrical transduction in hyaluronic acid salt solution is an entropy-driven process.

An electrical potential develops between the ends of a column of hyaluronic salt solution displaced from a resting position by gentle pressure. A previous study demonstrated that such displacement changes the optical rotary dispersion properties of the salt, either increasing the rotation in the direction already shown by the salt before displacement or changing and increasing the rotation in the opposite direction, depending on the direction of the displacement. The present investigation demonstrates that the loss of bound water component across a membrane separating the solution and water is corelated with the extent of the column displacement. In addition, a return of the column to the position before displacement is correlated with a return of the water component across the membrane-but not at the same rate as the exodus. The data seem consistent with the hypothesis that the hyaluronic acid salt, when strained, adopts a less entropic configuration, releasing bound water and thus increasing the entropy of water component. This change in the distribution of entropy is reversible; i.e., Eddington's "time's arrow" is reversible with respect to the water component of the solution.

Female↗
PubMed1975

Hyaluronic acid salt--a mechanoelectrical transducer.

Hyaluronic acid transduces a very gentle pressure into an electrical potential. Such pressure, depending on its direction, changes the optical rotary dispersion properties of the salt, either increasing the rotation in the direction already shown by the unpressured salt or changing and increasing the rotation in the opposite direction. These finding have implications for understanding the function of the cochlear and vestibular fluids, renal function, and the approximation to frictionless motion of normal joints.

Chlorides↗
PubMed1975

Structural information theory based on electronic configurations.

The topic of this paper is how different forms of acoustical information may be measured. The specific problem addressed is how information is transferred from a three-dimensional source of longitudinal waves to a one-dimensional vibrating membrane. In previous papers1,12, the author has demonstrated through the derivation of different forms on informational 'quanta' that the modulating envelopes for the wave packets representing these quanta are functional solutions to the Weber equation (the Helmholtz equation in parabolic cylinder coordinates). The geometrical structure described by the Weber equation suggests a resonance effect existing between an 'angular momentum' involving an 'azimuthal quantum number' and one involving a 'magnetic quantum number' in analogy with structural chemistry formulations12. In the present paper, the geometrical formulation is carried further. A sound source is commonly spherical, therefore solutions are found for the wave equation in spherical coordinates, giving a precise meaning to the 'azimuthal' and 'magnetic quantum number' analogy. These informational wave packets are then translated into a one-dimensional representation because of the nature of the receiver (the tympanic membrane). The difference between descriptions of electromagnetic and acoustical forms of energy is presented as consisting in the number of variables remaining constant in the acoustical formulation (as compared with the electromagnetic) but not in the basic geometrical formulations, which are primary.

Hearing↗