A basis theorem for the degenerate affine oriented Brauer-Clifford supercategory

We introduce the oriented Brauer-Clifford and degenerate affine oriented Brauer-Clifford supercategories. These are diagrammatically defined monoidal supercategories which provide combinatorial models for certain natural monoidal supercategories of supermodules and endosuperfunctors, respectively, for the Lie superalgebras of type Q. Our main results are basis theorems for these diagram supercategories. We also discuss connections and applications to the representation theory of the Lie superalgebra of type Q.Comment: 37 pages, many figures. Version 3 replaces the partial results from the previous versions with a proof by the first author of a basis theorem for cyclotomic quotients at all levels. Various other minor corrections and revisions were mad

A new key to the species of the genus Cradytes Casey (Insecta: Coleoptera: Melyridae)

A new key is presented to separate adults of the four currently-recognized species of the genus Cradytes Casey (Insecta: Coleoptera: Melyridae): C. longicollis Casey, C. serricollis (LeConte), C. serrulatus . (LeConte), and C. ursinus Blaisdell. The inaccurate statements in an earlier key to species of Cradytes are discussed

Forcing Mutual Coherence in Diode Laser Stacks

This paper will discuss both theoretical and experimental attempts to improve the spatial beam quality of diode laser stacks using an external optical system. An overview and derivation of the mathematics of both the optical system and diode lasers will be discussed. The experimental setup will be presented, as well as the fundamental theoretical and experimental results that suggest the external optical system used for this thesis fails to improve the beam quality of a diode laser stack

Taxonomy, phylogeny, and biogeography of the genus Asydates Casey (Insecta: Coleoptera: Melyridae)

The genus Asydates Casey (Coleoptera: Melyridae) is revised, containing three species from Arizona and California: A. explanatus Casey; A. inyoensis (Blaisdell), new combination; and A. rufiuentris Casey. The monotypic genus Pseudasydates Blaisdell is placed in synonymy with Asydates Casey, syn. nov., and Asydates puncticeps Blaisdell is placed in synonymy with Asydates explanatus Casey, syn. nov. A key separating adults of Asydates species is provided, and the results of a computerized cladistic analysis of Asydates species are presented. GIS mapping of Asydates species distributions indicates that these species are nearly allopatric, with A. explanatus found in the lower Colorado River basin and adjacent deserts, A. inyoensis restricted to the Inyo and White Mountains, and A. rufiuentris found in the coastal plain and coastal mountains near Santa Barbara. Geographic hypotheses of character evolution within Asydates are developed by combining the results of cladistic analysis and GIS mapping

Glowing Seashells: Diversity of Fossilized Coloration Patterns on Coral Reef-Associated Cone Snail (Gastropoda: Conidae) Shells from the Neogene of the Dominican Republic

The biology of modern Conidae (cone snails)—which includes the hyperdiverse genus Conus—has been intensively studied, but the fossil record of the clade remains poorly understood, particularly within an evolutionary framework. Here, ultraviolet light is used to reveal and characterize the original shell coloration patterns of 28 species of cone snails from three Neogene coral reef-associated deposits from the Cibao Valley, northern Dominican Republic. These fossils come from the upper Miocene Cercado Fm. and lower Pliocene Gurabo Fm., and range in age from about 6.6-4.8 Ma. Comparison of the revealed coloration patterns with those of extant species allow the taxa to be assigned to three genera of cone snails (Profundiconus, Conasprella, and Conus) and at least nine subgenera. Thirteen members of these phylogenetically diverse reef faunas are described as new species. These include: Profundiconus? hennigi, Conasprella (Ximeniconus) ageri, Conus anningae, Conus lyelli, Conus (Atlanticonus?) franklinae, Conus (Stephanoconus) gouldi, Conus (Stephanoconus) bellacoensis, Conus (Ductoconus) cashi, Conus (Dauciconus) garrisoni, Conus (Dauciconus?) zambaensis, Conus (Spuriconus?) kaesleri, Conus (Spuriconus?) lombardii, and Conus (Lautoconus?) carlottae. Each of the three reef deposits contain a minimum of 14–16 cone snail species, levels of diversity that are similar to modern Indo-Pacific reef systems. Finally, most of the 28 species can be assigned to modern clades and thus have important implications for understanding the biogeographic and temporal histories of these clades in tropical America

New Records and Biological Notes On Species of Cleridae (Coleoptera) From the Adirondack Park, New York

Eleven species of Cleridae (Coleoptera) have been previously recorded from the Adirondack Park in the state of New York. Three additional species (Placopterus thoracicus, Enoclerus muttkowskii, and Enoclerus nigrifrons) are recorded from the Adirondacks for the first time. Biological notes and collecting records are provided for all species. Characters are given for separating adults and larvae of Enoclerus muttkowskii from those of the superficially similar species Enoclerus ichneumoneus. The relationships of these two species are discussed

Ecological Notes on Species of Cleridae (Insecta: Coleoptera) Associated With the Prairie Flora of Central North America

The association of eighteen species of Cleridae (Coleoptera) with tallgrass and shortgrass prairie ecosystems in central North America is reported for the first time. New flower visitation, habitat association, distribution, and/or rearing records are reported for Enoclerus analis (LeConte), E. coccineus coccineus (Schenkling), E. cordifer (LeConte), E. rosmarus (Say), E. zonatus (Klug), Placopterus thoracicus pallipes (Wolcott), Trichodes bibalteatus LeConte, T. bicinctus Green, T. nutalli (Kirby), Phyllobaenus dubius (Wolcott), P. knausii (Wickham), P. pubescens (LeConte), P. subfasciatus (LeConte), Isohydnocera albocincta (Horn), I. brunnea (Horn), I. curtipennis (Newman), I. tricondylae (LeConte) and Wolcottia pedalis (LeConte). Diagnostic characters are presented to separate adults of P. dubius, a species endemic to the northern shortgrass prairie region, from the common and widespread P. pubescens