The Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS)

The Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) small explorer spacecraft provides simultaneous spectra and images of the photosphere, chromosphere, transition region, and corona with 0.33-0.4 arcsec spatial resolution, 2 s temporal resolution and 1 km/s velocity resolution over a field-of-view of up to 175 arcsec x 175 arcsec. IRIS was launched into a Sun-synchronous orbit on 27 June 2013 using a Pegasus-XL rocket and consists of a 19-cm UV telescope that feeds a slit-based dual-bandpass imaging spectrograph. IRIS obtains spectra in passbands from 1332-1358, 1389-1407 and 2783-2834 Angstrom including bright spectral lines formed in the chromosphere (Mg II h 2803 Angstrom and Mg II k 2796 Angstrom) and transition region (C II 1334/1335 Angstrom and Si IV 1394/1403 Angstrom). Slit-jaw images in four different passbands (C II 1330, Si IV 1400, Mg II k 2796 and Mg II wing 2830 Angstrom) can be taken simultaneously with spectral rasters that sample regions up to 130 arcsec x 175 arcsec at a variety of spatial samplings (from 0.33 arcsec and up). IRIS is sensitive to emission from plasma at temperatures between 5000 K and 10 MK and will advance our understanding of the flow of mass and energy through an interface region, formed by the chromosphere and transition region, between the photosphere and corona. This highly structured and dynamic region not only acts as the conduit of all mass and energy feeding into the corona and solar wind, it also requires an order of magnitude more energy to heat than the corona and solar wind combined. The IRIS investigation includes a strong numerical modeling component based on advanced radiative-MHD codes to facilitate interpretation of observations of this complex region. Approximately eight Gbytes of data (after compression) are acquired by IRIS each day and made available for unrestricted use within a few days of the observation.Comment: 53 pages, 15 figure

The Syk Kinase SmTK4 of Schistosoma mansoni Is Involved in the Regulation of Spermatogenesis and Oogenesis

The signal transduction protein SmTK4 from Schistosoma mansoni belongs to the family of Syk kinases. In vertebrates, Syk kinases are known to play specialized roles in signaling pathways in cells of the hematopoietic system. Although Syk kinases were identified in some invertebrates, their role in this group of animals has not yet been elucidated. Since SmTK4 is the first Syk kinase from a parasitic helminth, shown to be predominantly expressed in the testes and ovary of adult worms, we investigated its function. To unravel signaling cascades in which SmTK4 is involved, yeast two-/three-hybrid library screenings were performed with either the tandem SH2-domain, or with the linker region including the tyrosine kinase domain of SmTK4. Besides the Src kinase SmTK3 we identified a new Src kinase (SmTK6) acting upstream of SmTK4 and a MAPK-activating protein, as well as mapmodulin acting downstream. Their identities and colocalization studies pointed to a role of SmTK4 in a signaling cascade regulating the proliferation and/or differentiation of cells in the gonads of schistosomes. To confirm this decisive role we performed biochemical and molecular approaches to knock down SmTK4 combined with a novel protocol for confocal laser scanning microscopy for morphological analyses. Using the Syk kinase-specific inhibitor Piceatannol or by RNAi treatment of adult schistosomes in vitro, corresponding phenotypes were detected in the testes and ovary. In the Xenopus oocyte system it was finally confirmed that Piceatannol suppressed the activity of the catalytic kinase domain of SmTK4. Our findings demonstrate a pivotal role of SmTK4 in gametogenesis, a new function for Syk kinases in eukaryotes

A Review of the Benefits and the Hindrances to the Sustainable Conservation of Heritage Buildings in Malaysia

Malaysia has an array of Heritage Building’s (HB’s) most of which have been standing for centuries that are exceptionally valued from the point of view of Architecture and History. Valuable as they are, these HB’s are thus assets legally declared to be strictly protected (otherwise termed conservation) according to statutory guidelines. The National Heritage Act among others is a statutory document guiding conservation of HB’s in Malaysia superintended by The Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage. This study reviewed the benefits and hindrances to the sustainable conservation of HB’s in Malaysia. This study shows that while there are enormous benefits reaped from conservation of HB’s, there also exist hindrances to the conservation process that could be attributed to planning and implementation at a policy, program and project level. These hindrances ultimately poses challenges to conservation of HB’s thereby making conservation of HB’s in Malaysia unsustainable. A way forward lies in the need for immediate action to addressing such challenges through sustainable processes, principles and policies. One that strives to strike a balance between environmental, economic, social cultural benefits for all generations. One that is sustainable. As such, a prompt need for Malaysia to benchmark world’s best practices in the conservation of HB’s that will address notable challenges was recommended. Furthermore, owners of HB’s (public and private) must make continuous implementation of the results on such best practices a core priority thus making the conservation process sustainable.International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction (CIB

Perception of professionals in the Nigerian building industry on specifications for sanitary appliances - a case study of Kaduna State

No Abstrac

Actin in spermatids and spermatozoa of

Trichostrongyle nematodes provide valuable models for the study of nematode sperm, because their male germ cells are large and elongate, allowing easy identification of cell organelles. A previous study led to the unexpected result that actin co-localizes with MSP (Major Sperm Protein) in spermatids and spermatozoa of Heligmosomoides polygyrus. Actin expression in male germ cells of Teladorsagia circumcincta and Trichostrongylus colubriformis was studied using a monoclonal anti-actin antibody. Actin was demonstrated in the « fibrous bodies » in spermatids and in an anterior cap in spermatozoa. The actin labelling pattern in the two species studied was similar to that found in H. polygyrus, suggesting that this distribution of actin might be general for nematode male germ cells

Structure, development, and evolutive patterns of spermatozoa in rhabditid nematodes (Nematoda: Rhabditida)

Spermatogenesis of five rhabditid nematodes was studied using transmission electron microscopy and is described herein. Structure and development of nematode sperm in all available representatives of the extensive order Rhabditida have been analysed and the main characteristics of each infraorder are discussed. The ancestral sperm of the order Rhabditida was reconstructed using maximum likelihood and Bayesian methods based on 44 ultrastructural sperm characters. The hypothetical ancestral spermatogenesis of the order Rhabditida agrees with the previously suggested "rhabditid" pattern and appears to be conserved throughout the order Rhabditida. Despite the enormous variation of rhabditid nematodes, few groups deviate from the ancestral pattern. This conserved pattern can be informative within the phylum Nematoda at order level, but poses limitations when used in taxonomic and phylogenetic analysis within Rhabditida