Bombardier control box recovered during second dive to a World War 2 bomber at the bottom of Gander Lake.

Kate MacEachern is a Canadian veteran from Ballantynes Cove, N.S., but her service years are far from over. She has spent about two years living in Ukraine, delivering humanitarian aid to communities across the country.

Laboratory study of field-collected mosquitoes can allow researchers to better understand the ways variation within and among mosquito populations shapes burdens of mosquito-borne disease. The Anopheles gambiae complex comprises the most important vectors of malaria, but it can be challenging to keep in the laboratory. For some species of mosquitoes, especially An. gambiae, it is very difficult to bring viable eggs into the laboratory. Instead, it is preferable to collect larvae or pupae and then transport them as carefully as possible back to the laboratory. This simple protocol allows a researcher to start new laboratory colonies from larvae or pupae collected from natural breeding sites or proceed directly to their planned experiments. The use of natural breeding sites provides additional reassurance that the resulting colonies are representative of natural populations.

Mosquitoes take blood meals from a diverse range of host animals and their host associations vary by species. Characterizing these associations is an important element of the transmission dynamics of mosquito-vectored pathogens. To characterize mosquito host associations, various molecular techniques have been developed, which are collectively referred to as blood meal analysis. DNA barcoding has diverse biological applications and is well-suited to mosquito blood meal analysis. The standard DNA barcoding marker for animals is a 5' fragment of the cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene. A major advantage of this marker is its taxonomic coverage in DNA sequence reference databases, making it feasible to identify a wider range of mosquito host species than with any other gene. However, the COI gene contains high sequence variation at potential priming sites between vertebrate orders. Coupled with the need for primer sequences to be mismatched with mosquito priming sites so that annealing to mosquito DNA is inhibited, it can be difficult to design primers suitable for blood meal analysis applications. Several primers are available that perform well in mosquito blood meal analysis, annealing to priming sites for most vertebrate host taxa, but not to those of mosquitoes. Because priming site sequence variation among vertebrate taxa can cause amplification to fail, a hierarchical approach to DNA barcoding-based blood meal analysis can be applied. In such an approach, no single primer set is expected to be effective for 100% of potential host species. If amplification fails in the initial reaction, a subsequent reaction is attempted with primers that anneal to different priming sites, and so on, until amplification is successful.

Mosquito species vary in their host associations. Although some species are relative generalists, most specialize, to varying extents, on particular types of host animals. Mosquito host associations are among the most important factors that influence the transmission dynamics of mosquito-vectored pathogens, and understanding these associations can provide insight on how such pathogens move within ecosystems. Characterization of the host associations of mosquito species requires applying blood meal analysis to the largest possible sample size of mosquito blood meals. Processing large samples of mosquito blood meals can be time-consuming, especially when chain-termination sequencing is used, necessitating individual processing of each specimen. Various methods and commercially available kits and products are available for extracting DNA from mosquito blood meals. The hot sodium hydroxide and Tris (HotSHOT) method is a rapid and inexpensive method of DNA extraction that is compatible with the recovery of DNA from mosquito blood meals preserved on QIAcard Flinders Technology Associates (FTA) Classic Cards (FTA cards). FTA cards allow nucleic acids found in blood meals to be preserved easily, even in field conditions. DNA prepared using this method is suitable for polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based blood meal analysis.

The insect eggshell is a multifunctional structure with several important roles, including generating an entry point for sperm via the micropyle before oviposition, serving as an oviposition substrate attachment surface, and functioning as a protective layer during embryo development. Eggshell proteins play major roles in eggshell tanning and hardening following oviposition and provide molecular cues that define dorsal–ventral axis formation. Precise eggshell formation during ovarian follicle maturation is critical for normal embryo development and the synthesis of a defective eggshell often gives rise to inviable embryos. Therefore, simple and accurate methods for identifying eggshell proteins will facilitate our understanding of the molecular pathways regulating eggshell formation and the mechanisms underlying normal embryo development. This protocol describes how to isolate and enrich eggshells from mature oocytes of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes and how to extract their eggshell proteins for liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) proteomic analysis. Although this methodology was developed for studying mosquito eggshells, it may be applicable to eggs from a variety of insects. Mosquitoes are ideal model organisms for this study as their ovarian follicle development and eggshell formation are meticulously regulated by blood feeding and their follicles develop synchronously throughout oogenesis in a time-dependent manner.

Stephanie Yuill spent five weeks visiting First World War sites across Europe on a bike she bought from the grocery store. 

A group of volunteers have been providing emergency services to West Dawson residents during the periods of freeze up and break up, when there is no reliable access across the Yukon River to town.

Out-of-the-can branding helped transform World War II's rations into a beloved household staple

An opioid replacement program in downtown Fredericton will continue to operate at the River Stone Recovery Centre until March 2025 after it got a one-year extension from Health Canada, despite increased opposition to the clinic.

Henry Luyombya became a changemaker at a young age in Uganda after his father died of HIV-related illness. His work in HIV education brought him to Canada, and eventually to P.E.I. where he's a clinical social worker and the founder of New African Canadians. He is one of CBC Atlantic's Black Changemakers for 2024.

Juanita Migwans of M'Chigeeng First Nation on Manitoulin Island has been missing for over a month, but her aunt says she’s not giving up on the search.

While people gather around the Gore Park Cenotaph in his hometown of Hamilton, Tyrell will be one of nine Canadians serving as a peacekeeper in the United Nations mission in South Sudan.

Inter Milan winger Tajon Buchanan, recovered from a broken leg suffered in training at this summer's Copa America, is back in Jesse Marsch's Canada squad for the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Suriname.

These two Indigenous women veterans from Saskatchewan were able to serve in the U.S. Navy and Airforce because of the Jay Treaty, a 1794 agreement that allows some First Nations people to travel freely across the Canada-U.S. border for employment, study, retirement, investing and immigration.

A seed company based in Regina names all new plant varieties after veterans —something a 102-year-old Second World War veteran says is "a great honour."

We've heard what the candidates want to do about community safety in Saskatoon. Here's what the people already doing the work say the new mayor and council should do after the civic election.

A heartfelt initiative is taking root in some small towns across eastern Ontario where light and hydro poles are being adorned with banners that pay tribute to local veterans.

With hundreds of vessels passing through Windsor's waterways every year, the company that fuels many of them will receive nearly $5 million in new funding to improve their infrastructure for the distribution of lower-carbon fuels — making the shipping industry more sustainable and lower emission. 

The office of Kamloops Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson is being relocated to the basement of city hall.

Canadian swingman RJ Barrett was upgraded to day-to-day and engaged in non-contact practise on Monday, two days before Toronto hosts the Cleveland Cavaliers at Scotiabank Arena.

A box found in a Saskatchewan attic, potentially holding millions of dollars worth of hockey cards, is going back up for auction after the original winning bidder never paid up, according to the auction company.

A researcher may have many reasons for wanting to establish new laboratory colonies from field-collected mosquitoes. In particular, the ability to study the diversity found within and among natural populations in a controlled laboratory environment opens up a wide range of possibilities for understanding how and why burdens of vector-borne disease vary over space and time. However, field-collected mosquitoes are often more difficult to work with than established laboratory strains, and considerable logistical challenges are involved in safely transporting field-collected mosquitoes into the laboratory. Here, we provide advice for researchers working with Aedes aegypti, Anopheles gambiae, and Culex pipiens, as well as notes on other closely related species. We provide guidance on each stage of the life cycle and highlight the life stages for which it is easiest to initiate new laboratory colonies for each species. In accompanying protocols, we provide methods detailing Ae. aegypti egg collection and hatching as well as how to transport larvae and pupae from the field.

With the help of two Scottish special-needs teachers, OM Montenegro passionately improves the lives of children with autism and the lives of their families.

Switch to SolidWorks 3D CAD and Simulation Software Delivers Productivity Increase over AutoCAD

Zero-Gravity Arm Reduces Injuries, Saves Money, and Improves Product Quality

Intuitive Software Fosters Rapid Engagement with Engineering Challenges

Island Sky invents green humanitarian solution using SolidWorks 3D CAD and Simulation software

Pneumatic product manufacturer sees more than 80 percent increase in 3D model downloads in first two months

COSMOS analysis predicts results to estimated 95 percent accuracy of final-stage testing, validating designs most likely to succeed under real-world conditions

Customers highlight ability to see flow of gasses, liquids, and heat helps designers anticipate and correct flaws early in the design process

Customers will be able to pick a flavor and a mix-in and walk off with fresh dessert in less than a minute

Gasabo 3D Design, Ltd. to help companies around the world streamline product development, cut costs, reuse design data

3D CAD models are faster to create and easier to comprehend

NTE-SENER Uses SolidWorks Software to Design Sophisticated Research and Exercise System for NASA

With elections looming in Japan and the U.S., what impact will these events have on global equity markets? We explore an effective hedging approach.

While political uncertainties grip global headlines, Inspirante Trading Solutions, in its latest report, turns spotlight on the Nikkei 225 index and the often-undervalued silver market for those who hope to look beyond market noise. Would the political instability in Japan cloud the outlook for Japanese equity? How would silver perform post the U.S. presidential election?

Researchers from the Departments of Nutritional Sciences and Food Science at Penn State have recently received $420,000 in funding from the McCormick Science Institute to study the use of herbs and spices in school lunch recipes over the next two years.

The lowest prices of the year are here well before Black Friday, with MacBook Air models with 16GB RAM dropping to as low as $749.99.

The developer of an app dropped from the App Store in China has filed a lawsuit that challenges Apple's overall practices, as well as damages of $420,000.

Caitlin, a student from the U.S. interning with OM Madagascar, shares what it’s like to leave home for the mission field.

Caitlin, an intern with OM, participates in African and communications orientation in South Africa before flying to Madagascar.

Caitlin (USA) is humbled that joining the OM team in Madagascar has encouraged them in their work to carry the name of Jesus to others.

Caitlin, an intern, reflects on the lives touched by God during the OM outreach to Sainte Marie Island off the coast of Madagascar.

Affected by the dark reality of hopelessness she’s encountered in Madagascar, Caitlin Red prays that God will do miraculous things amongst the Malagasy people.

Caitlin Red returns home after interning with OM Madagascar since August. Says Caitlin, “In Madagascar, I learnt enough lessons to last me a lifetime.”

Australia's prime minister on Thursday vowed to ban children under 16 from social media, saying the pervasive influence of platforms like Facebook and TikTok was "doing real harm to our kids".

What seeds are needed to plant a church? In central Moldova bringing practical help to poor villages results in two church plants taking root.

A puppet show brings the Easter story alive for vulnerable children, who are especially touched by discovering that pain can turn to joy.

Moldovan OM worker Petru Castraveț talks about his church planting ministry after God’s call reached him in a Romanian prison cell.