In order to obtain control data on the temperature sense (warm and cool threshold values) of fingertips, the relationships between room temperature and either skin temperature, warm threshold or cool threshold of the middle fingertips were investigated in healthy subjects (6 males), using our thermo-esthesiometer. The skin temperature changes in a sigmoidal response with the variation of room temperature. A point of inflection for this response was observed at the room temperature of 15 degrees C, at which the greatest standard deviation of skin temperature occurred. The warm and cool thresholds, on the other hand, were also affected by variations of room temperature. Warm threshold and skin temperature or cool threshold and skin temperature bore a linear relation to each other, and the correlation coefficient was 0.854 in the former, and 0.925 in the latter, respectively. The disorder of temperature sensitivity (warm and cool thresholds) must always be considered together with the room temperature or skin temperature. On the other hand, the width of the neutral zone between warm and cool thresholds was affected by neither the changes of room temperature nor the changes of skin temperature. Hence, the width of the neutral zone was approximately constant, especially, at the room temperatures in the vicinity of 15 degrees C to 25 degrees C.

By using the STAI developed by Spielberger et al. we have investigated the validity and reliability of two scales, that is, State Anxiety (A-State) and Trait Anxiety (A-Trait), and at the same time have examined them under various conditions. The results obtained are as follows :1) As a result of factor analysis concerning 40 items of the STAI used in this research, we have confirmed that both A-State and A-Trait have independent factor structures of their own, and that the items of the scales also carry their own validity.2) After due consideration of the test-retest reliability of the two scales, we have found that A-Trait has rather high stability.Moreover, we have noticed that Cronbach's alpha coefficients, which show the reliability of the two scales, are high. In consequence, we have confirmed the high reliability of the two scales.3) In comparing the scores of A-State and A-Trait obtained from young healthy people with those from healthy aged people, we have noticed that the aged get low scores on each of the two scales, and that each score distribution shows an excellent fit to the normal one. 4) We have found that A-State scores go up significantly when people are in a condition of emotional stress, but that there is not any change of A-Trait scores. 5) We have observed a significant increase of A-State scores at each noise level over 75 dB (A). From the above-mentioned results, we have reached the conclusion that the STAI is very valid and reliable, and that the A-State scale, especially, is a very good indicator of men's psychological states under conditions of temporary stress.

Abstract:The effects of melanogenesis-interrupting syhthetic detergents on the active sites of mushroom tyrosinase were investigated.

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