3,471 research outputs found
Ischnopoda congoensis PA–NIK 2006, comb. n.
No full textIschnopodacongoensis (Cameron, 1950), comb. n. (Figs. 84–85) Amanota congoensis Cameron, 1950: 52. Type material. Holotype: ♂: Congo Belge [Democratic Republic of the Congo]: P. N. A. [Parc Nat. Albert], Shamuhuru (volc. Nyamuragira), 1843 m, 15.VI.1935, G. F. de Witte (MRAC). Paratypes: ♂: same data as holotype (BMNH); ♂: Congo Belge [Zaire]: P. N. A. Kitondo (près Gandjo), 2000 m, 7–23.I.1935, G. F. de Witte (BMNH); ♂: Congo Belge [Democratic Republic of the Congo]: P. N. A. Kitondo (près Gandjo), 2000 m, 7– 23.I.1935, G. F. de Witte (MRAC); ♂: Congo Belge [Democratic Republic of the Congo]: P. N. A. Mushumangabo (volc. Nyamuragira), 2075 m, 14.VI.1935, G. F. de Witte (MRAC). Redescription. Body. Length 2.6 mm, convex, parallelsided, glossy; body colour brown; elytra reddish brown, abdominal tergites 7–8 black, legs and antennae pitchy brown, antennomeres 1–2 and 10–11 red. Head quadrate in outline, moderately convex, broadly and moderately deeply impressed medially; eyes large, moderately protruding from lateral contours of head, length of each seen from above subequal to that of postocular region; surface of head without microsculpture; puncturation coarse and dense. Antennae long, clearly increased in width apically, antennomeres 2 and 3 subequal in length, antennomeres 4–10 longer than wide, decreasing in length, antennomere 11 nearly conical. Pronotum subquadrate, moderately convex, broadly and deeply impressed medially, lateral sides concavely narrowed to obtuse hind angles; before base with small transverse impression; surface without microsculpture, puncturation coarse and dense; pubescence at midline directed posteriorly in apical half and anteriorly in basal half. Elytra transverse, at suture slightly shorter than pronotum at midline; surface without microsculpture; puncturation fine and dense. Abdomen parallel sided, bases of tergites 3–5 each with deep transverse impression, first two tergal impressions coarsely and densely punctuate, third impression smooth, tergal puncturation fine and dense, surface lacking microsculpture. Male. Aedeagus as in Figs. 84–85. Female unknown. Remarks. Ischnopoda congoensis is closely related to I. basalis, from which it can be distinguished by the convex head, not flattened dorsally, the smaller eyes, subequal in length to that of postocular region and by antennomere 10 as long as wide. Distribution. The species is known only from a few localities in Democratic Republic of the Congo.Published as part of PA – NIK, GRZEGORZ, 2006, Taxonomy and phylogeny of the World species of the genus Ischnopoda Stephens, 1837 (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae), pp. 1-96 in Zootaxa 1179 (1) on pages 75-77, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.1179.1.
Nik Nur Madihah: a rising literary star in the Malay world
Get PDFIn a globalized and fast-developing world, where the internet and social media play a vital role in our daily lives, people of all ages are increasingly sharing their views and opinions in writing. This is particularly true for young people, who are computer- and smartphone-savvy and often communicate through written means. As a result of this shift, new writers are emerging in Malaysia every day, much like stars on the horizon. Many of these budding writers are interested in creating novels that reflect the social climate of the country. In this article, I would like to highlight some of the interesting aspects of the life and achievements of a young Malaysian author named Nik Nur Madihah
Ischnopoda metallica PA–NIK 2006, comb. n.
No full textIschnopodametallica (Cameron, 1950) comb. n. (Figs. 105–107) Amanota metallica Cameron, 1950: 54. Type material. Holotype: ♀: Congo Belge: P. N. A. [Parc National Albert], riv. BishakishakiKamatembe (plaine lave), 2100 m, 7–23.I.1935, G. F. de Witte (MRAC). Paratypes: ♂ and ♀: Congo belge: P. N. A., près Mt. Kamatembe (Foret) 2200 m, 12.IV.1934, G. F. de Witte (MRAC); ♂: Congo Belge: Ruanda, Lac N'Gando (pied volc. Karisimbi), 2400 m, 8.III.1935, G. F. de Witte (BMNH); ♂: Congo Belge: P. N. A. Bishakishaki (riv. Kamatembe) (Plaine de lave), 2100 m, 7–23.I.1935, G. F. Witte (BMNH). Redescription. Body. Length 2.2–2.5 mm, convex, parallelsided, glossy; body colour brown, head black, abdominal tergites 3–4 brownish red, legs red, antennae brown with antennomeres 1–2 and 11 red. Head circular in outline, convex, moderately broadly and shallowly impressed medially, much distinctly in male than in female; eyes large, moderately protruding from lateral contours of head, length of each seen from above longer than postocular region; surface of head without microsculpture; puncturation relatively coarse and dense. Antennae long, clearly increased in width apically, antennomere 3 shorter than 2, antennomere 4 longer than wide, antennomeres 5–8 as long as wide, antennomeres 9–10 wider than long, antennomere 11 nearly conical. Pronotum quadrate, lateral sides concavely narrowed to obtuse hind angles; before base with moderately small transverse impression, broadly and deeply impressed medially in male and narrowly and shallowly in female; surface without microsculpture; puncturation coarse and dense; pubescence at midline directed entirely anteriorly. Elytra transverse, at suture as long as pronotum at midline; surface without microsculpture; puncturation very fine, pinpricklike and moderately dense, much finer and sparser than that on pronotum. Abdomen parallelsided, bases of tergites 3–5 each with deep transverse impression, impressions coarsely and densely punctuate, tergal puncturation fine and moderately dense; surface without microsculpture. Male. Aedeagus as in Figs. 105–106. Female. Spermatheca as in Fig. 107. Remarks. Ischnopoda metallica is closely related to I. proxima and I. submetallica but it can be distinguished from both these species by the elytral puncturation very fine, pinpricklike, much finer than that on pronotum, the antennomere 3 shorter than 2, the pronotal surface without microsculpture and by the shape of the aedeagus. Distribution. Ischnopoda metallica is known only from Rwanda and Democratic Republic of the Congo.Published as part of PA – NIK, GRZEGORZ, 2006, Taxonomy and phylogeny of the World species of the genus Ischnopoda Stephens, 1837 (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae), pp. 1-96 in Zootaxa 1179 (1) on page 90, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.1179.1.
Thendelecrotona natalica Nik, 2007, sp. n.
No full text<i>Thendelecrotona natalica</i> sp. n. <p>(Figs. 1–9)</p> <p> <b>Type material.</b> Holotype: ɗ: Republic of South Africa, Royal Natal National Park, Thendele, 1550 m, 10.XII.2004, leg. G. Paśnik (TMSA). Paratypes: 8ɗɗand 11ΨΨ: same data as holotype (ISEA); 8ɗɗand 11ΨΨ: same data as holotype (TMSA).</p> <p> <b>Description.</b> Body. Length 2.2–2.4 mm, convex, moderately glossy; body colour black, legs brown with yellow tarsi, antennae brown with antennomeres 1–3 yellow.</p> <p>Head circular in outline, convex, widest across eyes; eyes large, strongly protruding from lateral contours of head, seen from above longer than postocular region; temples gradually arcuately narrowed to neck, surface of head with obsolete transversely stretched microsculpture; puncturation fine and very dense, interstices between punctures equal to their diameter, pubescence short and dense, directed mediad. Antennae short, strongly increasing in width apically, antennomere 3 shorter than 2, antennomere 4 as long as wide, antennomeres 5–10 transverse, increasing in width, antennomere 10 about 2 times wider than long.</p> <p>Pronotum transverse, 1.35–1.45 times wider than long, convex, widest at middle, lateral sides arcuate, more strongly narrowed to apex than to base; before base without transverse impression, surface lacking microsculpture; puncturation fine and very dense; interstices between punctures equal to their diameter; pubescence at midline directed posteriad.</p> <p>Elytra transverse, slightly wider than pronotum, lateral sides straight, at suture as long as pronotal length at midline; surface without microsculpture; puncturation fine and dense.</p> <p>Abdomen acuminate, bases of tergites III–IV each with shallow transverse impression, impressions smooth, impunctuate, tergal puncturation fine and very dense, interstices between punctures subequal to their diameter, surface of tergites lacking microsculpture, pubescence relatively short and dense, directed straight posteriad.</p> <p>Male. Median lobe of aedeagus as in Fig. 7.</p> <p>Female. Spermatheca as in Fig. 8.</p> <p> <b>Bionomics.</b> All types were collected in the Royal Natal National Park in South Africa at an altitude of approximately 1550 m (Fig. 9). The specimens were collected from flowers of <i>Protea</i> sp., together with numerous other species of Staphylinidae. The beetles were observed in the flowers every day in the morning. Presumably, the beetles were feeding on pollen.</p>Published as part of <i>Nik, Grzegorz Pa Ś, 2007, A new genus and species of the aleocharine tribe Thamiaraeini (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae) from South Africa, pp. 31-38 in Zootaxa 1527</i> on pages 36-37, DOI: <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/177568">10.5281/zenodo.177568</a>
Ischnopoda basalis PA–NIK 2006, comb. n.
No full textIschnopodabasalis (Cameron, 1926), comb. n. (Figs. 86–88) Myrmecopora basalis Cameron, 1926: 87. Amanota bimarginata Pace, 1996: 236, syn. n. Type material. Myrmecopora basalis Cameron. Holotype: ♀: Lundu, 23.III.1925, A. Collart, Myrmecopora basalis Cam. Type (BMNH). Paratype: ♂: Ganda – Buku, 4.IV.1925, A. Collart, Myrmecopora basalis Cam. (BMNH). Amanota bimarginata Pace. Holotype: ♂: Burundi, Kigwena–Res., 17.II.1992, fc. Arndt (NMEG). Paratype: ♀: same data as holotype (NMEG). Additional material. Ethiopia: Iludabor by Didessa River, 1500 m, X.1972, R. Clark, 1 ex (BMNH); 1 ex (ISEA). Kenya: Kakamega Rain Forest Reserve, ca. 1450 m, Udos Camp site, 12.II.1999, J. Deckert, 1 ex (ISEA); 4 exx (ZMHB). Redescription. Body. Length 2.9–3.1 mm, convex, parallelsided, glossy; body colour black; abdominal tergites 3–4 brown, legs black, antennae black with antennomeres 1–2 and 9–11 yellowish red. Head transverse, flattened dorsally, broadly and moderately deeply impressed medially; eyes large, moderately protruding from lateral contours of head, length of each seen from above longer than postocular region; surface of head without microsculpture; puncturation relatively coarse and dense. Antennae long, weakly increased in width apically, antennomere 3 longer than 2, antennomeres 4–8 longer than wide, antennomeres 9–10 as long as wide, antennomere 11 nearly conical. Pronotum subquadrate, moderately convex, moderately broadly and moderately deeply impressed medially, lateral sides concavely narrowed to obtuse hind angles; before base with small transverse impression; surface lacking microsculpture, puncturation coarse and dense; pubescence at midline directed posteriorly in apical half and anteriorly in basal half. Elytra transverse, at suture shorter than pronotum at midline; surface without microsculpture; puncturation coarse and dense. Abdomen parallelsided, bases of tergites 3–5 each with deep transverse impression, first two tergal impressions coarsely punctuate, third impressions smooth, impunctuate; tergal puncturation fine and moderately dense, surface lacking microsculpture. Male. Aedeagus as in Figs. 86–87. Female. Spermatheca as in Fig. 88. Taxonomic notes. My examination of the types listed above, particularly their genitalia, revealed that Amanota bimarginata is conspecific with Myrmecopora basalis. Therefore, Amanota bimarginata Pace is here synonymized with Myrmecopora basalis Cameron, the oldest name available. Remarks. See under I. congoensis and I. pseudobasalis. Distribution. Ischnopoda basalis is known from Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya and Democratic Republic of the Congo.Published as part of PA – NIK, GRZEGORZ, 2006, Taxonomy and phylogeny of the World species of the genus Ischnopoda Stephens, 1837 (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae), pp. 1-96 in Zootaxa 1179 (1) on pages 77-78, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.1179.1.
Ischnopoda rudicollis PA–NIK 2006, comb. n.
No full textIschnopodarudicollis (Bernhauer, 1934), comb. n. (Figs. 102–104) Tachyusa (Ischnopoda) rudicollis Bernhauer, 1934: 213. Amanota wittei Cameron, 1950: 51, syn. n. Amanota purpurascens Tottenham, 1957: 121, syn. n. Type material. Tachyusa rudicollis Bernhauer. Lectotype (here designated): ♀: W. Ruwenzori: Kalonge, 8.VIII.1932, L. Burgeon. R. DET. R 2556 (MRAC). Paralectotype: ♀: same data as the lectotype (FMNH). Amanota purpurascens Tottenham. Holotype: ♀: Kivu: Terr. Uvira, Itombwe, Mte. Kambekulu, 2450 m, VI.1955, N. Leleup (MRAC). Paratypes: 5♂♂: same data as the holotype (MRAC). Amanota wittei Cameron. Holotype: ♀: Ruanda [Rwanda], Lac N'Qando (pied volc. Karisimbi), 2400 m, 8.III.1935, G. F. de Witte (MRAC). Paratypes: ♂ and ♀: Congo belge: Ruanda, Lac N'Gando (pied volc. Karisimbi), 2400 m, 8.III.1935, G. F. de Witte (BMNH); ♂: Congo Belge [Democratic Republic of the Congo]: P. N. A. [Parc National Albert], Kanyabayongo (Kabasha), 1760 m, 7.XII.1934, G. F. de Witte (MRAC); ♂: Congo Belge [Democratic Republic of the Congo]: P. N. A., vers Rweru, volc. Mikeno (Bambous), 2400 m, 3.VII.1934, G. F. de Witte (MRAC). Additional material. Burundi: Rutovu, foręt du Rugege, 2350 m, 20–23.I.1953, P. Basilewsky, 3 exx (MRAC). Tanzania: Karisimbi volcano, 2700 m, XI.1907, 1 ex (ZMHB). Democratic Republic of the Congo: Kivu: Terr. Kalehe, SE Kahusi, 2200 m, VII.1951, N. Leleup, 2 exx (MRAC); Kivu: Terr. Uvira, Itombwe, Mt. Kambekulu, 2450 m, VI.1955, N. Leleup, 1 ex (MRAC). Redescription. Body. Length 3.5–3.6 mm, convex, parallelsided, glossy; body colour testaceous, head brown, abdominal tergites 6–7 black, legs red, antennae brown with antennomeres 1–3 yellow. Head circular in outline, convex, broadly and shallowly impressed medially in male and without impressions in female; eyes large, moderately protruding from lateral contours of head, length of each seen from above subequal to that of postocular region; surface of head without microsculpture; puncturation relatively coarse and dense. Antennae long, clearly increased in width apically, antennomeres 2 and 3 subequal in length, antennomeres 4–7 longer than wide, antennomeres 8–10 quadrate, antennomere 11 nearly conical. Pronotum quadrate, lateral sides concavely narrowed to obtuse hind angles; before base with moderately small and shallow transverse impression, broadly and shallowly impressed medially in male and without impression in female; surface without microsculpture; puncturation relatively coarse and dense; pubescence at midline directed entirely anteriorly. Elytra transverse, at suture as long as pronotum at midline; surface without microsculpture; puncturation very fine and dense, much finer than that on pronotum. Abdomen parallelsided, bases of tergites 3–5 each with deep transverse impression, impressions coarsely and densely punctuate, tergal puncturation fine and dense; surface without microsculpture. Male. Aedeagus as in Figs. 102–103. Female. Spermatheca as in Fig. 104. Taxonomic notes. An examination of the types listed above, particularly their genitalia, revealed that all the types are conspecific. Therefore, Amanota purpurascens Tottenham and Amanota wittei Cameron are here synonymized with Ischnopoda rudicollis Bernhauer, the oldest name available. Remarks. See under I. abyssina. Distribution. Ischnopoda rudicollis is known from Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania and Democratic Republic of the Congo.Published as part of PA – NIK, GRZEGORZ, 2006, Taxonomy and phylogeny of the World species of the genus Ischnopoda Stephens, 1837 (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae), pp. 1-96 in Zootaxa 1179 (1) on pages 87-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.1179.1.
Ischnopoda submetallica PA–NIK 2006, comb. n.
No full text<p> <b> <i>Ischnopodasubmetallica</i> (Cameron, 1950), comb. n.</b> (Figs. 111–113)</p> <p> <i>Amanota submetallica</i> Cameron, 1950: 52.</p> <p> <b>Type material.</b> Holotype: ♀: [Democratic Republic of the Congo]: Kivu: Rutshuru, 23– 30.XI.1933, G. F. de Witte, Parc Nat. Albert (MRAC). Paratypes: ♀: same data as holotype (MRAC); ♀: Congo Belge [Democratic Republic of the Congo]: P. N. A., Escarpem de Kabasha, 1500 m, 12.XII.1934, G. F. de Witte (MRAC); 2♂♂ and ♀: Congo Belge [Democratic Republic of the Congo]: P. N. A., Kanyabayongo (Kabasha) 1760 m, 7.XII.1934, G. F. de Witte (MRAC); ♂: [Democratic Republic of the Congo]: Kivu: Rutshuru, 23–30.XI.1933, G. F. de Witte (BMNH); 3♂♂: Congo Belge [Democratic Republic of the Congo]: P. N. A. Kanyabayongo (Kabasha), 1760 m, 7.XII.1934, G. F. de Witte (BMNH); ♀: Congo Belge [Democratic Republic of the Congo]: Kivu, Rutshuru (riv. Kanzarue), 1200 m, 15.VII.1935, G. F. de Witte (BMNH).</p> <p> <b>Additional material.</b> <b>Angola:</b> 5 mls. NE Negola, 25.III.1972, 1 ex (BMNH); Tundavala, 8–10 mls. NW Sa da Bandeira, 27–29.III.1972, 1 ex (ISEA).</p> <p> <b>Redescription.</b> Body. Length 2.1–2.3 mm, convex, parallel­sided, glossy; body colour brown, elytra brownish red, abdominal tergites 7–8 black, legs red, antennae brown with antennomeres 1–2 and 11 red.</p> <p>Head quadrate in outline, convex, moderately broadly and moderately deeply impressed medially in male and without impression in female; eyes large, moderately protruding from lateral contours of head, length of each seen from above longer than postocular region; surface of head with fine isodiametric mesh microsculpture in male and without microsculpture in female; puncturation coarse and dense. Antennae long, clearly increased in width apically, antennomeres 2 and 3 subequal in length, antennomeres 4–8 as long as wide, antennomeres 9–10 wider than long, antennomere 11 nearly conical.</p> <p>Pronotum slightly transverse, lateral sides concavely narrowed to obtuse hind angles; before base with moderately small transverse impression, broadly and deeply impressed medially in male and without impression in female; surface with fine isodiametric mesh microsculpture in male and without microsculpture in female; puncturation coarse and dense; pubescence at midline directed entirely anteriorly.</p> <p>Elytra transverse, at suture as long as pronotum at midline; surface without microsculpture; puncturation relatively coarse and moderately dense.</p> <p>Abdomen parallel­sided, bases of tergites 3–5 each with deep transverse impression, impressions coarsely and densely punctuate, tergal puncturation fine and moderately dense; surface without microsculpture.</p> <p>Male. Aedeagus as in Figs. 111–112.</p> <p>Female. Spermatheca as in Fig. 113.</p> <p> <b>Remarks.</b> See under <i>I. metallica.</i></p> <p> <b>Distribution.</b> <i>Ischnopodasubmetallica</i> is known from Angola and Democratic Republic of the Congo.</p>Published as part of <i>PA – NIK, GRZEGORZ, 2006, Taxonomy and phylogeny of the World species of the genus Ischnopoda Stephens, 1837 (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae), pp. 1-96 in Zootaxa 1179 (1)</i> on pages 92-94, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.1179.1.1, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/10087166">http://zenodo.org/record/10087166</a>
NF-kB Inducing Kinase (NIK) Drives Metabolic Reprogramming of Myeloid Cells in Immunity and Cancer
No full textMyeloid cells, part of the innate immune system, are front line host defense cells that play critical roles in inflammation and tissue repair. This functional plasticity is driven by metabolic changes that occur during activation and is hijacked in disease states, such as cancer. Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the deadliest neurological tumor with bleak survival statistics. Unlike other tumors, new therapeutics have not been successfully developed against Glioblastoma due to factors such as the blood brain barrier, late-stage diagnosis, severe immunosuppression, and an extremely invasive phenotype. Recent work has shown that NF-��B Inducing Kinase (NIK) can be a potential therapeutic target against GBM due to multiple tumor intrinsic roles of NIK but the full extent of tumor extrinsic roles of NIK remains unknown. This dissertation investigates the role of NIK in myeloid cells as macrophages and microglia are known to compromise up to 50% of the mass of GBM tumors and play critical roles in immune recruitment and modulation in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Both NIK deficient (NIK^KO) macrophages and microglia have altered metabolic profiles consisting of decreased oxidative metabolism, which prevents the proper activation of a pro-repair/pro-tumor phenotype by decreasing typical pro-repair gene expression and functional readouts such as cellular adhesion and migration. Loss of NIK in the TME confers a survival benefit driven mainly by a conditional loss of NIK in microglia (NIK^cKO), as opposed to macrophages, with a sex specific survival increase observed in NIK^cKO males lacking. Multiple syngeneic orthotopically implanted tumor models, such as mouse SB28 and GL261 cells, resulted in decreased myeloid recruitment to the TME caused by a reduction of secreted monocytic chemoattractants present in the TME in the NIK^KO mouse brain compared to NIK^WT. Overall, this work strengthens the rationale for developing a therapeutic against NIK for the treatment of GBM due to the combination of tumor intrinsic and extrinsic roles NIK plays in the TME
Expression of TRAF2, NIK and NIK activity in human samples for pancreatic cancer.
No full text<p><b>A:</b> Tissue microarrays (TMAs) including 10 normal pancreatic tissue samples and 55 pancreatic ductal adenocarinoma were H&E stained or analyzed for the expression of TRAF2 (anti-TRAF2), NIK (anti-NIK) or active NIK (anti-pT559-NIK). Representative pictures of tumor tissues are depicted. Numbers indicate the position of the tissue on the TMA. The bar indicates 50 µm. <b>B:</b> Analysis of correlation of TRAF2, NIK, and pT559-NIK in n = 55 human samples for pancreatic addnocarcinoma. Top pie graph shows percentage of cells with low TRAF2 expression and high expression of NIK and pT559-NIK in red, percentage of cells with high TRAF2 and NIK expression and low expression of pT559-NIK in green, and percentage of cells with high TRAF2, NIK and pT559-NIK expression in blue. Bottom bar graphs show percentage of these groups in grade1, grade 2, and grade 3 tumors.</p
International Activity of NIK in the European Union – New Article 12a of the Act on NIK
No full textIn his article, the author presents: (1) the participation of NIK in international audits (interpretation of new Article 12a of the Act on NIK that clearly sets out the right to conduct such audits; types and examples of such audits; advantages of international auditing); (2) the cooperation of NIK with the European Court of Auditors – ECA (participation of NIK auditors in ECA missions in Poland; NIK’s attempts to initiate collaboration with the ECA in conducting audits of the use of EU funds; cooperation with the Polish member of the ECA); (3) the activity of NIK in the forum of the Contact Committee of the Heads of the EU SAIs. In conclusions, the article emphasises that NIK should, as best as possible, perform its tasks related to a Supreme Audit Institution of an EU Member State
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