Little
Miss Muffffet C.C. Bowling Results
University Park, Pa. Black
widow spiders and cockroaches
are helping scientists at The
Pennsylvania State University to
untangle the web of mystery
surrounding nerve membrane
operations.
Using the adult female
spider’s venom, Dr. Thomas
Smyth, Jr,, associate professor
of entomology, and his former
graduate student, Dr. David
Griffiths, have demonstrated
that the venom’s action is similar
in cockroaches and higher
animals.
Dr. Smyth explains that in
previous studies conducted by
other scientists with frogs and
cats, the spider venom
selectively destroyed specific
parts of the animals’ nerve
endings. In experiments with
cockroaches, Dr. Smyth and Dr.
Griffiths obtained similar results
even though that insect’s nerves
are chemically and functionally
different from those of the
higher animals.
The experiments with
cockroaches indicate that the
venom’s action on nerve
membrane is similar in widely
disparate parts of the animal
kingdom.
The Smyth-Griffiths study is
detailed in a paper, “Action of
Black Widow Spider Venom at
Insect Neuromuscular
Junctions,” published recently
in the journal, Toxicon.
Currently, Dr. Smyth and
Richard Ornberg, a graduate
student in biophysics, are trying
to separate the venom, a
complex mixture of proteins,
into its individual parts or
fractions.
Dr. Smyth says, “Having the
purified venom fractions should
help us to find out what it is
about the nerve endings that
makes them different from other
membranes.”
Ornberg has worked out the
prodecure for separating the
venom in collaboration with Dr.
Allen W. Benton, associate
professor of agriculture at Penn
State. The procedure, an
electrophoretic separation of the
venom, has never been done
before.
Dr. Smyth emphasizes that
black widow spider venom is
“mainly a tool” in the study.
The venom is gathered by
freezing spiders reared in the
laboratory and then removing
the venom glands after the
spiders thaw. Ornberg points out
that they are “very careful with
the spiders” which are never
allowed out of their plastic
containers.
Dr. Smyth, who has been
studying the black widow for
over three years, says the spiders
are rare but are sometimes found
in places such as old stone walls.
He explains that the spiders bite
and inject their venom with their
mouth parts. Although the
victim may be very sick for
several days, he adds, the bites
are seldom fatal.
“Fatalities are usually
attributable to hypersensitivity
or an allergic reaction,” he says.
In order to avoid being
bitten, Dr. Smyth advises, “Stay
out of the spider’s favorite spots,
dark corners, outhouses.” If you
get bitten, he says, "Put on a
constrictor bandage and
immediately seek medical
attention.”
Although an antidote to the
venom is available, Dr. Smyth
sees improved methods of
treatment for black widow
spider poisoning as additional
fallout from the research.
November 8,1973
TEAM
1. No Names
2. Keglers
3. Beta Chi
.4. “I -l”
5. XGl’s
6. Spoilers
7. Dinkledorfs
8. Kozak
9. New Names
10. Strike Outs
11. ITE
12. Alleycats
(500 CLUB)
1. Ed Houser (Keglers) - 561
2. John Yee ( No Names) - 552
3. Jim Herbst (Keglers) - 523
4. Paul Heintzmann (XGl’s) - 522
5. Mike Vitale (Spoilers) - 512
6. John Pruzinsky ( No Names) - 510
7. Dave Kurowski ("IT!”) - 509
No Names (4) - New Names (0)
Dinkledorfs (4) - ITE (0)
Strike Outs (4) - Alleycats (0)
XGl’s (4) - Kozak (0(
Keglers (3) - Beta Chi (1)
“IT!LL (2)-Spoilers (2)
MEN’S INDIVIDIALS
H.A. Ed Houser (Keglers) - 184
H.S. Mike Vitale (Spoilers) - 575
H. Paul Heintzman (XGI’S) - 215
(200 CLUB)
I. Mike Citale (Spoilers) - 208
2. John Yee ( No Names) - 206
3. Dave Kurowski (“IT!”) - 200
WOMEN’S INDIVIDUALS
H.A. Barb Keeler (Dinkledorfs) - 125
H.S. Phyllis Mashman (Dinkledorfs) - 416
H.G. Dee Hribovsky (Alleycats) - 157
Remember, last day for make up week is November 14, 1973.
TEAM
1. No Names
2. Keglers
3. “IT!”
4. Spoilers
5. Beta Chi
5. XGl’s
7. New Names
8. Dinkledorfs
9. Strike Outs
10. Kozak
11. ITE
12. Alleycats
Mike Citale (Spoilers) 550
John Pruzinsky (No Names) 534
Ed Houser ( Keglers) 521
Murray Sharp (No Names (504)
Paul Heintzman (XGl’s) 502
No Names (4) - Beta Chi (0)
New Names (4) - Kozak (0)
Keglers (4) - Dinkledorfs (0)
Spoilers (3) • Strike Outs (1)
“IT!” (3) - XGl’s (1)
ITE (3) - Alleycats (1)
Ed Houser (Keglers) 207
Dave Kuroqsky ( “IT!”) 203
Mike Vitale (Spoilers) 200
H.A. Phyllis Mashman (Dinkledorfs) 123
H.S. Barb Keeler Dinkeldorfs) 430
H.G. Dee Hribovsky (Alleycats) 157,156
Last day for make-up week is November 14, 1973!!!
** * *
Graduate Record Exam
(GRE)
Law School Admission
Test (LSAT)
Admissions Test for
Graduate Study in
Business (ATGSB) Jan. 26, ‘74
National Teachers
Exam (NTE)
College of Podiatry
Admissions test
(CPAT)
October 24, 1973
Won Lost Percentage
13 3 0.813
11 5 0.688
10 6 -.625
9 7 0.563
8 8 0.500
6 10 0.375
6 10 0.375
5 11 0.313
5 11 0.313
2 14 0.125
1 15 0.063
** * *
October 31, 1973
WON
20
17
13
11
11
10
(500 CLUB)
MEN’S INDIVIDUALS
H.A. Ed. Houser (Keglers) 181
H.S. Mike Vitale (Spoilers) 575
H.G. Paul Heintzman (XGl’s) 215
(200 CLUB)
WOMEN’S INDIVIDUALS
Test Dates To Remember
Dec. 8, ‘73
Jan. 19, ‘74
Dec. 15,‘73
Jan. 26, ‘74
Feb. 16, ‘74
The Students’ Voice
Recreation Athletic News
LOST PERCENTAGE
0 1.000
3 .850
7 .650
9 .550
9 .550
10 .500
11 .450
14 .300
14 .300
14 .300
15 .250
18 .100
Nov. 13,
Dec. 27,
Nov. 20, ‘73 Test of English as a
Jan. 2, ‘74 Foreign Language
(TOEFL)
Nov. 23, ‘73 Dental Admission
Testing Program
(DATP)
Jan. 4, ‘74
Jan. 3, ‘74
Applications for these examinations, as well as study guides for some
of these tests are available on a two week loan basis, in the Counseling
Jan. 30,‘74 Office, Wll7.
FLAG FOOTBALL:
Standings as of Wed., Oct. 24
Schaffer
Rag Time
REO Speed Wagon
Loose Ends
Brotherhood
NADS
X.G.l.’s
Bender Bros.
Alpha Omega
Foul Balls
P.S.E.A.
FLAG FOOTBALL SCORES
Thursday, Oct. 18
Rag Time - 25
Foul Balls - 0
Monday, Oct. 22:
Loose Ends - 21
P.S.E.A. - 0
REO Speed Wagon
Schaffer - 0
Brotherhood - 24
Foul Balls - 0
Alpha Omega - 20
NADS - 6
Tuesday, Oct. 23:
X.G.l.’s - 20
Bender Bros. - 13
Wednesday, Oct. 24
Foul Balls - 18
Loose Ends - 13
NADS - 20
Bender Bros. - 14
Alpha Omega - 26
Brotherhood - 0
REO Speed Wagon -
P.S.E.A. - 6
Thursday, Oct. 25
Rag Time - 34
Schaffer - 8
All the flag football games scheduled for Monday, October 29th
were cancelled due to the weather. The team captains of each game
that was rained out should check with Mr. Smitley for a
re-scheduling time.
*. v--rvja-
WHIRLPOOL
Whirlpool hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday thru
Friday. The whirlpool CANNOT BE operated without an attendant
on duty. In cases of emergency during off hours, check with the
campus nurse!! ALSO: The whirlpool cannot be used for any
purpose unless the person / persons have had prior approval from the
doctor or nurse.
BASE GYM:
Any faculty and/or staff who have free time around 4:00 p.m.
each day are invited to the Base Gym for an “open gym” period.
VARSITY BASKETBALL
All basketball members are reminded that physicals must be
completed at the earliest possible time in order to be on the team.
Miller Analogy Tests (MAT’s) are administered, by appointment, in
the Counseling Office, Wll7.
RBge7
Football
Jan 5, ‘74
Jan. 12, ‘74
Nov. 29,‘73
Dec. 17,‘73