The taxonomie status of Apogon enigmaticus Smith, 1961 (Teleostei, Apogonidae)

The validity of the cardinal fish species Apogon enigmaticus,described by Smith (1961) from a single specimen, is reassessed in view of a recent discovery of a second specimen of this species, collected by Smith, in the J.L.B. Smith Institute of Ichthyology. Both fish were re-identified as specimens of A. apogonides (Bleeker, 1856) on the basis of dentition, pigmentation, and counts of pectoral-fin rays, gill rakers and predorsal scales. A. enigmaticas is therefore regarded as a junior synonym of A. apogonides

Deletion Mutant Library for Investigation of Functional Outputs of Cyclic Diguanylate Metabolism in Pseudomonas Aeruginosa PA14

We constructed a library of in-frame deletion mutants targeting each gene in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA14 predicted to participate in cyclic di-GMP (c-di-GMP) metabolism (biosynthesis or degradation) to provide a toolkit to assist investigators studying c-di-GMP-mediated regulation by this microbe. We present phenotypic assessments of each mutant, including biofilm formation, exopolysaccharide (EPS) production, swimming motility, swarming motility, and twitch motility, as a means to initially characterize these mutants and to demonstrate the potential utility of this library

Studies on Prevalence and Risk Factors for Hepatitis B Surface Antigen among Secondary School Students in North-central, Nigeria

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) Infection is one of the major global public health problems, with its attendant risks especially among the young adults. This study was therefore carried out to assess the sero-prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and associated risk factors among students of a secondary school in Jagindi Tasha, Kaduna State, Nigeria. One hundred and ninety (190) apparently healthy students were screened and sera samples obtained were separated and analysed for HBsAg using a commercially available Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA)-based kit (Dialab). Information was obtained for risk factors using structured questionnaire. Out of the 190 samples screened, 35 (18.4%) were sero-positive. Subjects aged 13-15 years recorded 6.8% positivity (x2 = 1.084; p>0.05) and male subjects had 25.5% positivity compared to 10.9% positivity for females (x2 = 6.768; p<0.05). Risk factors such as blood transfusion was 32.0% among male subjects compared to 30.0% in females (x2 =18.07; p-value = 0.113). Furthermore, alcoholic consumption, the predominant lifestyle of the youths in this community was 20.0% among male subjects as compared to none in females. Unfortunately, the prevalence of HBV appears high among the studied population. This suggests that public awareness on the virus be accorded urgent attention, while vaccination programme should be improved in the community

Effects of bodyweight neuromuscular training with and without instability on balance control in active universitarians

The purpose of this study was to analyse the effects of a nine-week unstable vs stable bodyweight neuromuscular training programme on balance control. Seventy-seven physically active universitarians were randomly distributed into an unstable training group (UTG), a stable training group (STG), and a control group (CG). The intervention was conducted three times a week for nine weeks. Pre- and post-intervention assessments included static balance control under an unstable surface (eyes open (EOFS), eyes closed (ECFS), challenging visual-vestibular system (CVVS)), assessed as centre-of pressure fluctuations with a force plate. A mixed ANOVA was performed to test the within- and between-subjects factors. After the intervention, no significant differences were found between groups. All groups presented significant improvements in balance measurements in EOFS (p = 0.01), ECFS (p = 0.01; p = 0.02), and CVVS (p = 0.01) conditions. The training groups tended to have significantly better balance control (antero-posterior) than the CG on EOFS. In the CVVS condition, the UTG tended to have better balance control than the CG. There was no overall significant train ing advantage gained by using unstable or stable surfaces in terms of the improvement in static balance control in active universitar ians. Both training groups exhibited similar training adaptations.D915-7373-ED16 | Cesar LeaoN/

Effect of instability and bodyweight neuromuscular training on dynamic balance control in active young adults

The aims of this study were to analyse the effects of unstable and stable bodyweight neuromuscular training on dynamic balance control and to analyse the between-group differences after the training period. Seventy-seven physically active young adults (48 males, 29 females, 19.1 ? 1.1 years, 170.2 ? 9.2 cm, 64.1 ? 10.7 kg) were distributed into an unstable training group (UTG), a stable training group (STG), and a control group (CG). Training was conducted three times a week for nine weeks. Pre-intervention and post-intervention measures included dynamic balance control using a Y Balance Test (YBT), anterior (A), posteromedial (PM), and posterolateral (PL) reach direction. A mixed ANOVA was executed to test the within-subjects factor and the between-subjects factor. Statistically significant differences were found for all YBT measures within groups (p = 0.01) and between groups (p = 0.01). After the intervention, UTG and STG presented meaningfully improved results in all YBT measures (A: 7%, p = 0.01; 4%, p = 0.02, PM: 8%, p = 0.01; 5%, p = 0.01, PL: 8%, p = 0.01; 4%, p = 0.04, respectively). No statistical changes were found for any of the measures in the CG. After the intervention, significant differences were observed between the UTG and CG for the YBTA and PM (p = 0.03; p = 0.01). The results suggest that neuromuscular training using an unstable surface had similar effects on dynamic balance control as training using a stable surface. When compared to CG, UTG showed better performance in YBTA and PM.D915-7373-ED16 | Cesar LeaoN/

The relationship between static and dynamic balance in active young adults

Purpose. The objectives were to analyse differences of static and dynamic balance between sexes and test the correlations between static and dynamic balance measures. Methods. The study involved 77 physically active adults, university students (age: 19.1 ? 1.1 years; height: 170.2 ? 9.2 cm; body mass: 64.1 ? 10.7 kg). Static balance was assessed with a force platform under Romberg conditions: a foam surface, eyes open (EOFS); eyes closed (ECFS); challenging the visual-vestibular system (CVVS). The Y Balance Test (YBT) evaluated dynamic balance in anterior, posteromedial, and posterolateral directions. One-way ANOVA examined potential differences between sexes, and the Pearson product-moment test verified the correlations between YBT and static balance measures. Results. Sex differences were found for all conditions in static balance variables: ellipse area (EA), centre of pressure displacement anteroposterior (DAP) and mediolateral (DML), mean velocity anteroposterior (VAP) and mediolateral (VML), total mean velocity (TV). Females presented a better stability index than males for EOFS (25% DAP, 20% DML, 30% VAP, 21% VML, 19% TV), ECFS (26% DAP, 32% DML, 28% VAP, 32% VML, 32% TV), and CVVS (27% EA, 26% DAP, 19% DML, 17% VAP, 20% VML, 18% TV). Males demonstrated 6% better performance on YBT posterolateral. Correlation tests revealed small to moderate correlations between static and dynamic balance, except for a large positive correlation between YBT anterior and sway area under the CVVS condition [r = 0.54 (0.19; 0.77)] for women. Conclusions. The findings indicate a weak relationship between static and dynamic balance in controlling posture.D915-7373-ED16 | Cesar LeaoN/

Formal Verification of Security Model Using SPR Tool

In this paper, formal verification methodologies and the SPR (Safety Problem Resolver) model checking tool are used for verifying a security model's safety. The SPR tool makes it possible to analyze security issues on security systems based on the access control model. To illustrate this approach, a case study of the Simple Access Control Model (SACM) is used and specific safety problems of the security model are analyzed using the SPR tool

PilZ Domain Protein FlgZ Mediates Cyclic Di-GMP-Dependent Swarming Motility Control in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The second messenger cyclic diguanylate (c-di-GMP) is an important regulator of motility in many bacterial species. In Pseudomonas aeruginosa, elevated levels of c-di-GMP promote biofilm formation and repress flagellum-driven swarming motility. The rotation of P. aeruginosa\u27s polar flagellum is controlled by two distinct stator complexes, MotAB, which cannot support swarming motility, and MotCD, which promotes swarming motility. Here we show that when c-di-GMP levels are elevated, swarming motility is repressed by the PilZ domain-containing protein FlgZ and by Pel polysaccharide production. We demonstrate that FlgZ interacts specifically with the motility-promoting stator protein MotC in a c-di-GMP-dependent manner and that a functional green fluorescent protein (GFP)-FlgZ fusion protein shows significantly reduced polar localization in a strain lacking the MotCD stator. Our results establish FlgZ as a c-di-GMP receptor affecting swarming motility by P. aeruginosa and support a model wherein c-di-GMP-bound FlgZ impedes motility via its interaction with the MotCD stator