TIGER Capacity Building Facility - Phase 1, lessons learnt

The TIGER Capacity Building Facility focused on closing the technological gap between the users and the earth observation community within the TIGER programme. Thirteen projects participated in different aspects of the capacity building facility: 1. - Basic education, provided via distance learning. 2. - Tailored short courses, selected according to the research interest and technical background of the participants. 3. - Research topic oriented supervision, provided by specialists of the research fields of the participants. 4. - Advanced short courses focusing on selected earth observation techniques. Distance education turned to be efficient and cost effective in the programme - but only for those, who followed the courses completely. There was a relatively large percentage that could not complete the studies. The second and the third type of education were carried out in ITC, in the Netherlands. The participants evaluated the courses and the supervision very effective and adequate. Nevertheless, the follow-up was not always possible. Two advanced short courses were held in Africa (Cape Town and Nairobi). One of them addressed the 'scientific elite' of the EO community, whilst the second focused on the users of this technology

Characterization and antigenic activity of Echinococcus granulosus germinal layer proteins

Proteínas presentes en un extracto de membrana germinal de Echinococcus granulosus fueron separadas en una fase acuosa y en una fase detergente mediante el tratamiento con Triton X-114. La caracterización mediante electroforesis en gel de poliacrilamida en presencia de dodecil sulfato de sodio, mostró que proteínas con pesos moleculares aproximados de 102, 45, 28.5-28 y 15.5-15 kDa se presentaron en el extracto y en la fase acuosa (proteínas hidrofílicas). La caracterización inmunológica de proteínas del extracto mediante inmunotransferencia frente a suero ovino no inmunizado, frente a suero ovino inmunizado con antígenos de E. granulosus y frente a suero anti-inmunoglobulina ovina, mostró patrones de reactividad similares. El ensayo inmunodetección en un punto, de proteínas del extracto previamente tratadas con Triton X-114 frente a sueros humanos incubados con el detergente iónico dodecil sulfato de sodio, mostró reactividad frente a sueros humanos con equinococosis quística y no mostró reactividad frente a sueros humanos sin equinococosis quística ni frente a un suero humano infectado con la filaria Mansonella ozzardi.Proteins present in an extract of Echinococcus granulosus germinal layer were separated in hydrophobic and hydrophilic phases using Triton X-114. The characterization carried out by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that proteins of apparent molecular weights of 102, 45, 28.5-28 and 15.5-15 kDa were present in the extract and in the aqueous phase (hydrophilic proteins). The immunological characterization of extract proteins performed by immunoblotting against to no immunized sheep serum, against to immunized with E. granulosus antigens sheep serum and against to anti-sheep immunoglobulin serum, showed similar reaction patterns. The dot immunobinding assay of extract proteins after Triton X-114 treatment against to human sera incubated in the presence of sodium dodecil sulphate ionic detergent, showed a positive reaction to cystic echinococcosis human sera. On the other hand, no reaction was observed to human sera without cystic echinococcosis and Mansonella ozzardi human infection serum.Fil: Prieto, Luciano Hernan. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia "San Juan Bosco"; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Nacional Patagónico; ArgentinaFil: Fernandez, E. D.. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia "San Juan Bosco"; Argentin

"Earth observation for land-atmosphere interaction science", Preface

Non peer reviewe

Mars Sulfate Formation Sourced in Sulfide-Enriched Subsurface Fluids: The Rio Tinto Model

The extensive evidence for sulfate deposits on Mars provided by analyses of MER and Mars Express data shows that the sulfur played an essential role in the geochemical cycles of the planet, including reservoirs in the atmosphere, hydro-sphere and geosphere. Overall the data are consistent with a fluvial/lacustrine-evaporative origin of at least some of the sulfate deposits, with mineral precipitation through oversaturation of salty acidic fluids enriched in sulfates. This scenario requires reservoirs of sulfur and associated cations, as well as an acidic and oxidizing hydrochemistry which could be provided by surface and subsurface catching of meteoric waters resulting in the presence of sulfur-bearing gases and steam photochemistry. In this work we suggest a new scenario for the extensive generation of sulfates in Mars based on the observation of seasonal changes in the redox and pH of subsurface waters enriched in sulfur that supply the acidic Mars process analog of Rio Tinto. This model considers the long-term subsurface storage of sulfur during most of Noachian and its release from the late Noachian to Hesperian time through weathering by meteoric fluids that would acidify and oxidize the sulfur bearing compounds stored in the subsurface