Derogation of student female athletes who consult a sport psychologist: an alternative perspective on the negative halo effect.

This study attempts to further research female student athletes' perceptions of the sport psychologist and other sport and mental health professionals. 90 British student athletes from 17 different sports completed a two-part questionnaire to examine the potential derogation effect as a result of consulting one of three identified professionals and to explore the perceived definition and role of the sport psychologist. A fictitious selection report of a female field hockey player was presented to subjects with coach, sport psychologist and psychotherapist as the three professionals. It was hypothesised that subjects' recommendations regarding selection would differ depending on the consultant used. No differences were found which suggests the absence of a negative halo effect and that derogation would not occur within this sample group. Definitions and perceived role of the sport psychologist varied with the subjective tone of the responses from participants being mainly positive (74%). These results indicate that this female student athlete sample has a moderated, even a positive, perception of the sport psychologist. A general acceptance of the sport psychologist falls in line with the suggestions of Murstein and Fontaine (1993) concerning a reported increase in acceptance of mental health professionals.

Ghost of the past: capturing history and the history of nursing.

Historians of nursing are presented with the formidable task of attempting to decipher the history of a group about whom the documents are scarce, and who have rarely, if ever, written about themselves. It can be rather like a lottery searching through archives for documentary evidence, the task is hardly more tractable when the archival material does not exist. It is hard enough to decipher the ideas of our predecessors, virtually impossible when these ideas were written by some other than to whom they refer. This, it could be argued, prevents historians of nursing from undertaking the sort of history expounded by the followers of the positivist tradition, including Geoffrey Elton. For Elton, the documents were everything, and that they above all else should be the point of focus, if they do not exist how can a history of nursing be attempted at all. In 1961 Edward Hallett Carr's, What is History? was published. Richard Evans 36 years later argues that the question is not so much 'What is history?', but 'Is it possible to do history at all?'. In this paper the aim is to identify the difficulties in doing historical research, and also ask a third question, 'What or whom is history for?'

The yeast proteome database (YPD) and Caenorhabditis elegans proteome database (WormPD): comprehensive resources for the organization and comparison of model organism protein information.

The Yeast Proteome Database (YPDtrade mark) has been for several years a resource for organized and accessible information about the proteins of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We have now extended the YPD format to create a database containing complete proteome information about the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans (WormPDtrade mark). YPD and WormPD are designed for use not only by their respective research communities but also by the broader scientific community. In both databases, information gleaned from the literature is presented in a consistent, user-friendly Protein Report format: a single Web page presenting all available knowledge about a particular protein. Each Protein Report begins with a Title Line, a concise description of the function of that protein that is continually updated as curators review new literature. Properties and functions of the protein are presented in tabular form in the upper part of the Report, and free-text annotations organized by topic are presented in the lower part. Each Protein Report ends with a comprehensive reference list whose entries are linked to their MEDLINE s. YPD and WormPD are seamlessly integrated, with extensive links between the species. They are freely accessible to academic users on the WWW at http://www. proteome.com/databases/index.html, and are available by subscription to corporate users.

Perceptions of the sport psychologist by female university athletes.

In this study we explored the existence of a favourable attitude towards sport psychologists by female athletes in relation to other sport-oriented and mental health professionals. Ninety female student athletes made judgements of similarity between 11 practitioner terms using the triad method. A rank-order task was also completed, where the 11 professionals were ranked on three expertise variables in sporting, mental and physical issues. The results were analysed using (1) the metric scaling procedure of correspondence analysis, (2) cultural consensus analysis and (3) PROperty FITting analysis. A two-dimensional solution provided the best interpretation of the similarity judgements. The correspondence analysis configuration positioned the sport psychologist centrally between a sport-oriented pair and the cluster of mental health professionals. Participants reported adequate consensus on all three expertise variables, which is consistent with the assumptions of Cultural Consensus Theory. Consistent with earlier research, the three variables were salient in the participants' similarity judgements of sport and mental health professionals. Our results suggest the existence of a more favourable perception of the sport psychologist and a distancing from a direct association with mental health practitioners. However, the centrality of the term may indicate a more cloudy distinction as to where the sport psychologist exists in relation to other professionals.

An ergonomics investigation into human thermal comfort using an automobile seat heated with encapsulated carbonized fabric (ECF).

This report presents the results of an ergonomics investigation into human thermal comfort using an automobile seat heated with an encapsulated carbonized fabric (ECF). Subjective and objective thermal comfort data were recorded while participants sat for 90 min in a heated and a non-heated automobile seat in an environmental chamber. Eight male participants each completed eight experimental sessions in a balanced order repeated measures experimental design. The conditions in the chamber were representative of a range of cool vehicle thermal environments (5, 10, 15 and 20 degrees C; in the 20 degrees C trial participants sat beside a 5 degrees C 'cold wall'). Participants in the heated seat condition used the heating controller with separate temperature control over the back of the seat (squab) and bottom of the seat (cushion) in an effort to maintain their thermal comfort while wearing the provided clothing, which had an estimated insulation value of 0.9 Clo. The trials showed that participants' overall sensations remained higher than 'slightly cool' in the heated seat at all temperatures. Participants' overall discomfort remained lower (i.e. more comfortable) than 'slightly uncomfortable' at temperatures ranging down to nearly 5 degrees C in the heated seat. Hand and foot comfort, sensation and temperature were similar in both seats. Asymmetric torso and thigh skin temperatures were higher in the heated seat although no significant discomfort was found in the front and back of the torso and thigh in either seat. Participants reported no significant difference in alertness between the control and heated seat.

Quantitation of pyrethrum residues in brown tree snakes.

A reversed-phase solid-phase extraction-gas chromatography (SPE-GC)-electron capture detection method is developed to quantitate individual rethrin residues in pyrethrum-exposed brown tree snakes. Aliquots (6 g) of homogenized snake tissue are extracted with 10 mL acetonitrile. The rethrins are recovered from the acetonitrile extract and concentrated using C8 SPE. The rethrins are eluted from the SPE column with pentane, evaporated to near dryness, and reconstituted to 1 mL with 1-propanol. Individual rethrins are quantitated using GC analysis of the 1-propanol solution. Method limits of detection for rethrins range from 0.63 to 6.51 ng/g. The mean recovery for all rethrins is 70.8% with a standard deviation of 5.7%. This method is used to successfully quantitate incurred rethrin residues in pyrethrum-exposed brown tree snakes.

Cloning and characterization of the Bg/II restriction-modification system reveals a possible evolutionary footprint.

Bg/II, a type II restriction-modification (R-M) system from Bacillus globigii, recognizes the sequence 5'-AGATCT-3'. The system has been cloned into E. coli in multiple steps: first the methyltransferase (MTase) gene, bglIIM, was cloned from B. globigii RUB561, a variant containing an inactivated endonuclease (ENase) gene (bglIIR). Next the ENase protein (R.BglII) was purified to homogeneity from RUB562, a strain expressing the complete R-M system. Oligonucleotide probes specific for the 5' end of the gene were then synthesized and used to locate bglIIR, and the gene was isolated and cloned in a subsequent step. The nucleotide sequence of the system has been determined, and several interesting features have been found. The genes are tandemly arranged, with bglIIR preceding bglIIM. The amino acid sequence of M.BglII is compared to those of other known MTases. A third gene encoding a protein with sequence similarity to known C elements of other R-M systems is found upstream of bglIIR. This is the first instance of a C gene being associated with an R-M system where the R and M genes are collinear. In addition, open reading frames (ORFs) resembling genes involved with DNA mobility are found in close association with BglII. These may shed light on the evolution of the R-M system.

Cloning, expression and sequence analysis of the SphI restriction-modification system.

SphI, a type II restriction-modification (R-M) system from the bacterium Streptomyces phaeochromogenes, recognizes the sequence 5'-GCATGC. The SphI methyltransferase (MTase)-encoding gene, sphIM, was cloned into Escherichia coli using MTase selection to isolate the clone. However, none of these clones contained the restriction endonuclease (ENase) gene. Repeated attempts to clone the complete ENase gene along with sphIM in one step failed, presumably due to expression of SphI ENase gene, sphIR, in the presence of inadequate expression of sphIM. The complete sphIR was finally cloned using a two-step process. PCR was used to isolate the 3' end of sphIR from a library. The intact sphIR, reconstructed under control of an inducible promoter, was introduced into an E. coli strain containing a plasmid with the NlaIII MTase-encoding gene (nlaIIIM). The nucleotide sequence of the SphI system was determined, analyzed and compared to previously sequenced R-M systems. The sequence was also examined for features which would help explain why sphIR unlike other actinomycete ENase genes seemed to be expressed in E. coli.

Comparative analysis of expression of the SalI restriction-modification system in Escherichia coli and Streptomyces.

The salIR and salIM genes encode the endonuclease and methyltransferase components of the SalI restriction-modification system from Streptomyces albus G. Expression of the salI genes in Escherichia coli was investigated and major differences with Streptomyces were found. In E. coli there is no detectable expression of the salI R gene due to inactivity of the sal-pR promoter region. In the natural host of the system this region directs transcription of the salI genes as a bicistronic message. In contrast to salIR, salIM is transcribed in the heterologous host from a promoter within the salI DNA. Since sal-pR is not active, the gene cannot be expressed as part of the salI operon. It is probably transcribed from sal-pM, a promoter internal to the operon which allows independent expression of the modification gene in Streptomyces. Replacement of sal-pR by the strong pLac promoter allows expression of salIR in E. coli and enhances expression of salIM. The resulting strain produces about 10 times more endonuclease than a Streptomyces clone containing the SalI system under the control of sal-pR.

Non-compliance to treatment: can professionals ethically refuse to treat?

Professionals who work in health care have long been aware of patients who continually fail to adhere to treatment regimes recommended to them by their nurses, doctors and dieticians. This is no less a problem within the field of renal medicine. In the current climate where who to treat often causes more of a dilemma than how to treat, professionals in renal care frequently deliberate the fairness of treating those who persistently "non-comply".

The regulatory C proteins from different restriction-modification systems can cross-complement.

The BamHI restriction-modification system contains a third gene, bamHIC, which positively regulates bamHIR. Similar small genes from other systems were tested in vivo for their ability to cross-complement. C.BamHI protein was identified, purified, and used to raise polyclonal antibodies. Attempts to detect other C proteins in cell extracts by cross-reactivity with C.BamHI antibodies proved unsuccessful.

Purification and characterization of C.BamHI, a regulator of the BamHI restriction-modification system.

The bamHIC gene, controlling the BamHI restriction-modification (R-M) system can functionally be replaced by providing pvuIIC or smaIC in trans. C.BamHI, the protein product encoded by bamHIC, has been purified and shown to bind a 345-bp DNA fragment within the BamHI R-M system.

Sequence conservation of an avian centromeric repeated DNA component.

The approximately 190-bp centromeric repeat monomers of the spur-winged lapwing (Vanellus spinosus, Charadriidae), the Chilean flamingo (Phoenicopterus chilensis, Phoenicopteridae), the sarus crane (Grus antigone, Gruidae), parrots (Psittacidae), waterfowl (Anatidae), and the merlin (Falco columbarius, Falconidae) contain elements that are interspecifically highly variable, as well as elements (trinucleotides and higher order oligonucleotides) that are highly conserved in sequence and relative location within the repeat. Such conservation suggests that the centromeric repeats of these avian species have evolved from a common ancestral sequence that may date from very early stages of avian radiation.

Regulation of the BamHI restriction-modification system by a small intergenic open reading frame, bamHIC, in both Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis.

BamHI, from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens H, is a type II restriction-modification system recognizing and cleaving the sequence G--GATCC. The BamHI restriction-modification system contains divergently transcribed endonuclease and methylase genes along with a small open reading frame oriented in the direction of the endonuclease gene. The small open reading frame has been designated bamHIC (for BamHI controlling element). It acts as both a positive activator of endonuclease expression and a negative repressor of methylase expression of BamHI clones in Escherichia coli. Methylase activity increased 15-fold and endonuclease activity decreased 100-fold when bamHIC was inactivated. The normal levels of activity for both methylase and endonuclease were restored by supplying bamHIC in trans. The BamHI restriction-modification system was transferred into Bacillus subtilis, where bamHIC also regulated endonuclease expression when present on multicopy plasmid vectors or integrated into the chromosome. In B. subtilis, disruption of bamHIC caused at least a 1,000-fold decrease in endonuclease activity; activity was partially restored by supplying bamHIC in trans.

Highly repeated DNA sequences in birds: the structure and evolution of an abundant, tandemly repeated 190-bp DNA fragment in parrots.

Up to 6.8% of the parrot (Psittaciformes) genome consists of a tandemly repeated, 190-bp sequence (P1) located in the centromere of many if not all chromosomes. Monomer repeats from 10 different psittacine species representing four subfamilies were isolated and cloned. The intraspecific sequence variation ranged from 1.5 to 7%. The interspecific sequence variation ranged from less than 3% between two species of cockatoos to approximately 45% between cockatoos and other parrots. The monomer sequences of all 10 parrot species contained several conserved (> 90%) sequence elements at identical locations within the repeat. A comparison with tandemly repeated DNA sequences in other avian species showed that several of these conserved elements were also present at similar locations within the 184-bp repeat of the Chilean flamingo (Phoenicopterus chilensis), suggesting a great antiquity of the repeat. One of the elements was also found in the tandemly repeated sequences of the crane (Gruidae) and falcon (Falconidae) families. The data were used for the construction of a partial most parsimonious relationship that supports a regional subdivision of the Psittaciformes.

Characterization of the cloned BamHI restriction modification system: its nucleotide sequence, properties of the methylase, and expression in heterologous hosts.

The BamHI restriction modification system was previously cloned into E. coli and maintained with an extra copy of the methylase gene on a high copy vector (Brooks et al., (1989) Nucl. Acids Res. 17, 979-997). The nucleotide sequence of a 3014 bp region containing the endonuclease (R) and methylase (M) genes has now been determined. The sequence predicts a methylase protein of 423 amino acids, Mr 49,527, and an endonuclease protein of 213 amino acids, Mr 24,570. Between the two genes is a small open reading frame capable of encoding a 102 amino acid protein, Mr 13,351. The M. BamHI enzyme has been purified from a high expression clone, its amino terminal sequence determined, and the nature of its substrate modification studied. The BamHI methylase modifies the internal C within its recognition sequence at the N4 position. Comparisons of the deduced amino acid sequence of M. BamHI have been made with those available for other DNA methylases: among them, several contain five distinct regions, 12 to 22 amino acids in length, of pronounced sequence similarity. Finally, stability and expression of the BamHI system in both E. coli and B. subtilis have been studied. The results suggest R and M expression are carefully regulated in a 'natural' host like B. subtilis.

Cloning the BamHI restriction modification system.

BamHI, a Type II restriction modification system from Bacillus amyloliquefaciensH recognizes the sequence GGATCC. The methylase and endonuclease genes have been cloned into E. coli in separate steps; the clone is able to restrict unmodified phage. Although within the clone the methylase and endonuclease genes are present on the same pACYC184 vector, the system can be maintained in E. coli only with an additional copy of the methylase gene present on a separate vector. The initial selection for BamHI methylase activity also yielded a second BamHI methylase gene which is not homologous in DNA sequence and hybridizes to different genomic restriction fragments than does the endonuclease-linked methylase gene. Finally, the interaction of the BamHI system with the E. coli Dam and the Mcr A and B functions, have been studied and are reported here.