Larval description and phylogenetic placement of the Australian endemic genus Barretthydrus Lea, 1927 (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae: Hydroporinae: Hydroporini: Sternopriscina)

The larvae of the Australian endemic species Barretthydrus tibialis Lea, 1927 and Barretthydrus geminatus Lea, 1927 are described and illustrated for the first time, with detailed morphometric and chaetotaxic analyses of the cephalic capsule, head appendages, legs, last abdominal segment, and urogomphi. A parsimony analysis based on 118 informative larval characteristics of 34 species in all 10 tribes of the subfamily Hydroporinae was conducted using the program TNT. No clear larval morphological synapomorphies support the monophyletic origin of the tribe Hydroporini. Compared to other known larvae of Hydroporini, Barretthydrus Lea is postulated to share a closer phylogenetic relationship with Antiporus Sharp, which reinforces their inclusion in the subtribe Sternopriscina.Fil: Alarie, Yves. Laurentian University. Department of Biology; CanadáFil: Michat, Mariano Cruz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental y Aplicada. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental y Aplicada; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental. Laboratorio de Entomología; ArgentinaFil: Hendrich, L.. Zoologische Staatssammlung Munchen; AlemaniaFil: Watts, Chris H. S.. South Australian Museum; Australi

Phylogenetic relationships and comparative larval morphology of epigean and stygobitic species of Limbodessus Guignot, 1939 (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae: Bidessini), with a key of identification

The larvae of five epigean and 25 stygobitic species of the diving beetle genus Limbodessus Guignot, 1939 are described and illustrated for the first time, with special emphasis on morphometry and chaetotaxy of the cephalic capsule, head appendages, legs, last abdominal segment and urogomphi. Those of the following five epigean species are described: L. amabilis (Clark, 1862), L. compactus (Clark, 1862), L. inornatus (Sharp, 1882), L. praelargus (Lea, 1899), L. shuckardii(Clark, 1862). The 25 stygobitic larvae described are: L. barwidgeeensis Watts & Humphreys, 2006, L. bigbellensis(Watts & Humphreys, 2000), L. challaensis (Watts & Humphreys, 2001), L. cooperi Watts & Humphreys, 2006, L. eberhardi (Watts & Humphreys, 1999), L. exilis Watts & Humphreys, 2006, L. fridaywellensis (Watts & Humphreys, 2001), L. hillviewensis (Watts & Humphreys, 2004), L. hinkleri (Watts & Humphreys, 2000), L. leysi Watts & Humphreys, 2006, L. macrohinkleri Watts & Humphreys, 2006, L. masonensis (Watts & Humphreys, 2001), L. millbilliensis Watts & Humphreys, 2006, L. mirandaae Watts & Humphreys, 2006, L. morgani (Watts & Humphreys, 2000), L. nambiensisWatts & Humphreys, 2006, L. ordinarius Watts & Humphreys, 2009, L. palmulaoides Watts & Humphreys, 2006, L. pulpa (Watts & Humphreys, 1999), L. raeae Watts & Humphreys, 2006, L. raesideensis (Watts & Humphreys, 2001), L. windarraensis (Watts & Humphreys, 1999), L. yandalensis Watts & Humphreys, 2006, L. yarrabubbaensis Watts & Humphreys, 2009, L. yuinmeryensis (Watts & Humphreys, 2003). The morphology and chaetotaxy of epigean vs. stygobitic species are compared, and a key for the identification of the species is presented. Contrary to their epigean counterparts, larvae of stygobitic Limbodessus have turned out to be very divergent morphologically. In addition to the common characteristics associated with an underground living (i.e., absence of stemmata, reduced pigmentation, and thin or soft exoskeleton), larvae of these species have undergone a variable modification of the frontoclypeus and have evolved relatively shorter tarsal claws. Two morphological groups of stygobitic species are evident, one including species less deviated from the ancestral (epigean) condition and another group comprising more modified species that typically have a larger size, a more or less pyriform head with a digitiform nasale, and a strongly reduced occipital foramen. Primary chaetotaxy of the species has remained a very conservative expression of the phenotype. Secondary chaetotaxy shows variation among the species, the most obvious being the variable number of lamellae clypeales and the presence or absence of secondary setae on the urogomphus. The phylogenetic relationships of Limbodessus are analyzed cladistically. Larvae of this genus lack the primary pore ABc, which is a synapomorphy of the tribe Bidessini. As presently defined, Limbodessus is probably paraphyletic with respect to Allodessus Guignot, 1953.Fil: Michat, Mariano Cruz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental. Laboratorio de Entomología; ArgentinaFil: Alarie, Yves. Laurentian University. Department of Biology; CanadáFil: Watts, Chris H. S.. South Australian Museum; Australi

Dealing with a hairy beast-larval morphology and chaetotaxy of the Australian endemic diving beetle genus Spencerhydrus (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae, Cybistrini)

In this contribution, the larval morphology of Spencerhydrus Sharp, 1882 was studied, an Australian endemic genus in the diving beetle tribe Cybistrini. All instars of the only two species included in the genus (S. latecinctus Sharp, 1882 and S. pulchellus Sharp, 1882) are described and illustrated with the exception of the third instar of S. latecinctus. Detailed morphometric and primary chaetotaxic analyses were performed to discover useful characters for generic diagnosis and species distinction. Spencerhydrus can be distinguished from other Cybistrini genera by the medial projection of frontoclypeus slightly indented apically, with lamellae clypeales directed forward in a characteristic V-shaped pattern, the median process of prementum strongly developed, the presence of a single ventral sclerite on prothorax, the presence of basoventral spinulae on claws, and the reduced sclerotization of the abdominal segment VII which covers only the anterior half. Larvae of the two species of Spencerhydrus can readily be distinguished by the shape of the median process of prementum, which is visibly broader in S. pulchellus than in S. latecinctus.Fil: Michat, Mariano Cruz. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental. Laboratorio de Entomología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental y Aplicada. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental y Aplicada; ArgentinaFil: Alarie, Yves. Laurentian University. Department of Biology; CanadáFil: Watts, Chris H. S.. South Australian Museum; Australi

Beamsplitting using self-imaging

The production of a variable array of optical point sources from a single point source can be achieved through the self-imaging properties inherent in a rectangular waveguide. Two prototype devices, based upon this concept, were designed and constructed. The resulting output patterns are discussed along with future design considerations and applications

Risk-stratified approach to breast cancer screening in canada: Women’s knowledge of the legislative context and concerns about discrimination from genetic and other predictive health data

The success of risk-stratified approaches in improving population-based breast cancer screening programs depends in no small part on women’s buy-in. Fear of genetic discrimination (GD) could be a potential barrier to genetic testing uptake as part of risk assessment. Thus, the objective of this study was twofold. First, to evaluate Canadian women’s knowledge of the legislative context governing GD. Second, to assess their concerns about the possible use of breast cancer risk levels by insurance companies or employers. We use a cross-sectional survey of 4293 (age: 30–69) women, conducted in four Canadian provinces (Alberta, British Colombia, Ontario and Québec). Canadian women’s knowledge of the regulatory framework for GD is relatively limited, with some gaps and misconceptions noted. About a third (34.7%) of the participants had a lot of concerns about the use of their health information by employers or insurers; another third had some concerns (31.9%), while 20% had no concerns. There is a need to further educate and inform the Canadian public about GD and the legal protections that exist to prevent it. Enhanced knowledge could facilitate the implementation and uptake of risk prediction informed by genetic factors, such as the risk-stratified approach to breast cancer screening that includes risk levels

SIGNALS: I. Survey description

SIGNALS, the Star formation, Ionized Gas, and Nebular Abundances Legacy Survey, is a large observing programme designed to investigate massive star formation and H II regions in a sample of local extended galaxies. The programme will use the imaging Fourier transform spectrograph SITELLE at the Canada–France–Hawaii Telescope. Over 355 h (54.7 nights) have been allocated beginning in fall 2018 for eight consecutive semesters. Once completed, SIGNALS will provide a statistically reliable laboratory to investigate massive star formation, including over 50 000 resolved H II regions: the largest, most complete, and homogeneous data base of spectroscopically and spatially resolved extragalactic H II regions ever assembled. For each field observed, three datacubes covering the spectral bands of the filters SN1 (363– 386 nm), SN2 (482–513 nm), and SN3 (647–685 nm) are gathered. The spectral resolution selected for each spectral band is 1000, 1000, and 5000, respectively. As defined, the project sample will facilitate the study of small-scale nebular physics and many other phenomena linked to star formation at a mean spatial resolution of ∼20 pc. This survey also has considerable legacy value for additional topics, including planetary nebulae, diffuse ionized gas, and supernova remnants. The purpose of this paper is to present a general outlook of the survey, notably the observing strategy, galaxy sample, and science requirementsThis research was based on observations obtained at the CFHT, which is operated from the summit of Mauna Kea by the National Research Council of Canada, the Institut National des Sciences de l’Univers of the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique of France, and the University of Hawaii

Signals: I. Survey description

SIGNALS, the Star formation, Ionized Gas, and Nebular Abundances Legacy Survey, is a large observing programme designed to investigate massive star formation and H II regions in a sample of local extended galaxies. The programme will use the imaging Fourier transform spectrograph SITELLE at the Canada–France–Hawaii Telescope. Over 355 h (54.7 nights) have been allocated beginning in fall 2018 for eight consecutive semesters. Once completed, SIGNALS will provide a statistically reliable laboratory to investigate massive star formation, including over 50 000 resolved H II regions: the largest, most complete, and homogeneous data base of spectroscopically and spatially resolved extragalactic H II regions ever assembled. For each field observed, three datacubes covering the spectral bands of the filters SN1 (363–386 nm), SN2 (482–513 nm), and SN3 (647–685 nm) are gathered. The spectral resolution selected for each spectral band is 1000, 1000, and 5000, respectively. As defined, the project sample will facilitate the study of small-scale nebular physics and many other phenomena linked to star formation at a mean spatial resolution of ∼20 pc. This survey also has considerable legacy value for additional topics, including planetary nebulae, diffuse ionized gas, and supernova remnants. The purpose of this paper is to present a general outlook of the survey, notably the observing strategy, galaxy sample, and science requirements