The human pathogen group A Streptococcus (GAS) produces many secreted proteins that play important roles in GAS pathogenesis, including hydrolases that degrade proteins and nucleic acids. This study targets another kind of hydrolase, carboxylic esterase, with the objectives of identifying GAS esterase and determining whether it is a protective antigen. The putative esterase gene SPy1718 was clo...

A sunspot equilibrium (SSE) is based on some extrinsic randomizing device (RD). We analyze the robustness of SSE. (1) We say that an SSE allocation is robust to refinements if it is also an SSE allocation based on any refinement of its RD. (2) We introduce two core concepts for analyzing the robustness of SSE in the face of cooperative-coalition formation. In the first, the blocking allocations...

AIM Segmental stabilizing exercises (SSE) for specific dysfunction of local muscles (m. transversus abdominis, m. multifidus, pelvic floor muscles and diaphragm pelvis) have been advocated in patients with low back pain (LBP). The specific aims of this study were to examine: 1) whether participants of a group program learn SSE; 2) whether they respond to SSE with a reduction in present LBP and ...

BACKGROUND Skin self-examination (SSE) training interventions can increase understanding of melanoma early detection criteria and promote SSE. However, there remains a need to evaluate whether intervention participants can apply such early detection skills to accurately identify concerning, or potentially malignant, pigmented lesions during full body SSE. METHODS We assessed SSE accuracy usin...

This article describes the secondary syringe exchange (SSE) practices of injection drug users (IDUs) attending 23 syringe exchange programs (SEPs) in the state of California during 2002 (n=539). The sample was primarily heroin injecting, about two thirds male, half White and half other racial/ethnic groups. Participants were interviewed with a structured questionnaire that included items on soc...

BACKGROUND Emotional events are followed by recurrent talking about the event (Social Sharing of Emotion, SSE). Several factors that can account for variations in beliefs about SSE were examined: alexithymia, age and sex among two sample groups, Spanish (n = 388) and Uruguayan (n = 537). METHOD Both samples completed the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) and the Beliefs about Social ...

Group A Streptococcus (GAS) can cause life-threatening invasive infections, including necrotizing fasciitis. There are no effective treatments for severe invasive GAS infections. The platelet-activating factor (PAF) acetylhydrolase SsE produced by GAS is required for invasive GAS to evade innate immune responses and to invade soft tissues. This study determined whether the enzymatic activity of...

Six lighthorse stallions with previous sexual experience were used to determine the short-term effects of sexual stimulation (SS; 5 min exposure to an estrous mare), SS plus ejaculation (SSE), and no stimulation (control) on serum concentrations of LH, FSH, testosterone, cortisol and prolactin. Stallions received one treatment per day on d 1, 4 and 7. Treatments were assigned such that each sta...

Resumen Background: Emotional events are followed by recurrent talking about the event (Social Sharing of Emotion, SSE). Several factors that can account for variations in beliefs about SSE were examined: alexithymia, age and sex among two sample groups, Spanish (n= 388) and Uruguayan (n= 537). Method: Both samples completed the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) and the Beliefs about S...