Notes on the Nests of \u3ci\u3eAugochloropsis metallica fulgida\u3c/i\u3e and \u3ci\u3eMegachile mucida\u3c/i\u3e in Central Michigan (Hymenoptera: Halictidae, Megachilidae)

Notes on the nesting biology of two ground-nesting species are provided from Central Michigan. A single nest of Augochloropsis metallica fulgida was excavated on 12 July 2014 in Shiawassee County. There were two female nest inhabitants. Examination of mandibular wear, wing wear and ovarial development suggests one female was acting as a worker caste. Also, a nesting aggregation of Megachile mucida was observed in Ingham County. Information on nest architecture and cell construction is based on excavations of several nests during 7–15 June 2014. Megachile mucida is recorded as a new host species for the cleptoparasite Coelioxys sodalis. This is the first record of M. mucida in Michigan, additional collection records of this species in Michigan are also reported

A new species, Lasioglossum (Eickwortia) hienae, from Mexico (Apoidea: Halictidae)

A new species from Colima, Mexico, Lasioglossum (Eickwortia) hienae Gibbs & Dumesh, new species, is described and illustrated.  Lasioglossum hienae is distinguished from related species based on a combination of morphological, geographical, and molecular evidence.  A species distribution model is used to predict the potential distribution of the known species of L. (Eickwortia).  An identification key is provided

Hylaeus (Hylaeana) dominicalis, a new species and the first colletid bee recorded from Dominica, Lesser Antilles

A new species of colletid bee, Hylaeus (Hylaeana) dominicalis Gibbs, new species, is described and figured from the Commonwealth of Dominica. The new species can be distinguished from consubgeneric species in the Caribbean Islands based on the integumental coloration, facial fovea, and pubescence. A list of all known Hylaeus from the Caribbean Islands is provided

Capalictus, a new subgenus of Lasioglossum Curtis, 1833 from South Africa, with description of three new species (Hymenoptera, Apoidea, Halictidae)

Capalictus, a new subgenus of Lasioglossum Curtis, 1833 (Hymenoptera, Apoidea, Halictidae), endemic to the South African Cape Province, is described. The type species is Halictus mosselinus Cockerell, 1945. Evylaeus (Sellalictus) fynbosensis (Pauly et al., 2008) is a new junior synonym of L. (C.) mosselinum. Three new species are described: Lasioglossum (Capalictus) hantamense sp. nov., L. (C.) tigrinum sp. nov. and L. (C.) timmermanni sp. nov. DNA sequence data from three nuclear genes support morphologically-determined species limits. Capalictus is a basal clade of the Hemihalictus series of Lasioglossum

Epeoloides pilosulus (Cresson) Rediscovered in Michigan, with Notes on the Distribution and Status of its Macropis hosts.

Epeoloides pilosulus (Cresson 1878) is one of the rarest bees in North America with only a handful of records since 1960. The last collection in Michigan was made in 1944. Epeoloides pilosulus is a brood parasite of Macropis bees, which until recently had not been collected in Michigan for several decades. Bee surveys in Midland County, Michigan have led to the rediscovery of E. pilosulus in this state – the first record in 74 years. Michigan becomes the fourth state where E. pilosulus has been rediscovered after Connecticut in 2006, New York in 2014 and Maine in 2016, and the sixth region in North America after Nova Scotia in 2002 and Alberta in 2010. State-wide bee surveys have also shown that the principal host, Macropis nuda (Provancher 1882), remains widespread in Michigan, and that Macropis patellata Patton 1880 is newly recorded for the state

Halictus hedini hedini (Hymenoptera: Halictidae) newly recorded from Japan, revealed by DNA barcoding and morphology

Halictus hedini hedini Blüthgen is newly recorded from Japan. The species had been previously mistaken for the Holarctic species H. rubicundus (Christ), which is removed from the Japanese fauna. Halictus hedini hedini was previously known from Eastern and Central Asia. Halictus hedini hedini is similar to H. rubicundus, but is separated by the first metasomal tergum with coarse and deep punctures in both sexes and the male flagellum ventrally with a fringe of short hairs. A key to Japanese species of Halictus is provided. DNA barcodes, phenology, and floral records from Japan are reported

Adaptations to iron deficiency: cardiac functional responsiveness to norepinephrine, arterial remodeling, and the effect of beta-blockade on cardiac hypertrophy.

BackgroundIron deficiency (ID) results in ventricular hypertrophy, believed to involve sympathetic stimulation. We hypothesized that with ID 1) intravenous norepinephrine would alter heart rate (HR) and contractility, 2) abdominal aorta would be larger and more distensible, and 3) the beta-blocker propanolol would reduce hypertrophy.Methods1) 30 CD rats were fed an ID or replete diet for 1 week or 1 month. Norepinephrine was infused via jugular vein; pressure was monitored at carotid artery. Saline infusions were used as a control. The pressure trace was analyzed for HR, contractility, systolic and diastolic pressures. 2) Abdominal aorta catheters inflated the aorta, while digital microscopic images were recorded at stepwise pressures to measure arterial diameter and distensibility. 3) An additional 10 rats (5 ID, 5 control) were given a daily injection of propanolol or saline. After 1 month, the hearts were excised and weighed.ResultsEnhanced contractility, but not HR, was associated with ID hypertrophic hearts. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were consistent with an increase in arterial diameter associated with ID. Aortic diameter at 100 mmHg and distensibility were increased with ID. Propanolol was associated with an increase in heart to body mass ratio.ConclusionsID cardiac hypertrophy results in an increased inotropic, but not chronotropic response to the sympathetic neurotransmitter, norepinephrine. Increased aortic diameter is consistent with a flow-dependent vascular remodeling; increased distensibility may reflect decreased vascular collagen content. The failure of propanolol to prevent hypertrophy suggests that ID hypertrophy is not mediated via beta-adrenergic neurotransmission

VCU-UNITE: Identifying Recognition Mechanisms for University-Community Engagement

The aims of the project were to determine what process would be appropriate to recognize significant contributions of university and community partners to joint community engagement projects. Our view was that several different award ceremonies exist in VCU, none of which are well attended and suggesting that this form of recognition may not be a high priority for participants. Thus, we sought to determine the awareness and extent of involvement of VCU faculty, staff and students in community engagement projects, and to find out what format of recognition process would be appealing to both university and community participants. We gathered this information through surveys and focus groups, analyzed the data and determined that university and community partners had differing views on what types of recognition would be desirous. Next, we designed a web portal through which nominations could be made by members of the university and by the community. We propose a streamlined nomination and online review process, leading to a quarterly award consisting of a letter of thanks from the Division of Community Engagement, and a photograph and narrative placed on the VCU website. Recipients of quarterly awards would automatically compete for an annual award, such as P&T credit or additional community leave time (university), or a scholarship, a plaque, or recognition at a VCU event (community)

Integration Through Affordability - Exploring inclusionary housing strategies in New York City and Gothenburg, Sweden

Many Americans view Sweden as a model of equality, with a system of universal welfare that provides for the well-being of all citizens. However, Sweden is in the midst of a housing crisis, and residents with lower incomes are especially impacted by the effects of the market turn taken in recent years. Yet still the ideal of a universal system holds tremendous power, and stakeholder options are limited for targeting housing to residents with lower incomes. Many low-income residents of the United States also have difficulty accessing adequate and affordable housing, but the U.S. has a long history of a dual housing system, with private market-driven housing supplemented by selective programs for those in need. In recent decades localities in many countries have adopted inclusionary housing policies as a way to combat segregation and incentivize the private sector to create housing that is affordable for residents with lower incomes. Inclusionary housing policies generally imply a selective, means-tested approach, as the low-rent dwelling units created are typically reserved for residents with low incomes. The Swedish system historically has not had this type of selective housing, but in Gothenburg the municipality is experimenting with using the land allocation process to spur the creation of low- and mixed-income housing. This thesis project explores the housing regimes of Gothenburg and New York City through the perspective of housing for people who have low incomes, examines the structure of inclusionary housing policies in New York City, and investigates Gothenburg’s recent experiments with inclusionary housing

The Dopamine Agonist Bromocriptine Differentially Affects Fronto-Striatal Functional Connectivity During Working Memory

We investigated the effect of bromocriptine, a dopamine agonist, on individual differences in behavior as well as frontal-striatal connectivity during a working memory task. After dopaminergic augmentation, frontal-striatal connectivity in low working memory capacity individuals increases, corresponding with behavioral improvement whereas decreases in connectivity in high working memory capacity individuals are associated with poorer behavioral performance. These findings corroborate an inverted U-shape response of dopamine function in behavioral performance and provide insight on the corresponding neural mechanisms