Light Trap Records of \u3ci\u3ePhyllophaga\u3c/i\u3e (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in Wisconsin, 1984-1987

Phyllophaga adults (June beetles) were surveyed from 1984 through 1987 at five locations in Wisconsin using black light traps. Data were collected at each location for three consecutive years. A total of 9,259 specimens representing 13 species were collected during the survey. Species captured, sex ratios, and flight periods for abundant species were recorded for each location. Species abundance differed from previous surveys of Phyllophaga in Wisconsin. Possible reasons for observed shifts in species abundance are discussed

Enhancing crowdsourcing success: the role of creative and deliberate problem-solving styles

A growing number of firms are using crowdsourcing platforms to actively solicit the skills of external entities to help them solve innovation-related problems. Despite its increasing popularity, crowdsourcing has produced mixed success, because few external experts provide helpful solutions. The current research examines this issue by exploring why some external solvers are more successful than others. Grounded in dual-processing theory, this study combines survey and archival data to assess the impact of creative versus deliberate problem-solving styles on solving success. The results indicate that both styles can be effective, but their relative success depends on the amount of time a solver invests in a solution and his or her degree of contextual familiarity with the problem. Specifically, creative (deliberate) styles are more effective under conditions of high (low) contextual familiarity and shorter (longer) time investments. When solvers employ both styles, overall problem-solving success declines. Data source: surve

Regaining power: How feelings of exclusion during COVID-19 are associated with radicalism among critics of containment policies

Past experimental research has shown that social exclusion can be linked with radicalism. During the COVID-19 pandemic, feelings of social isolation and loneliness rose, just like protests and violence against national anti-COVID-19 measures did. Based on these observations, we hypothesized that feelings of exclusion induced by measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 were associated with radicalism intentions to illegally and violently fight COVID-19-related regulations among critics of the containment policies (Hypothesis 1). Moreover, we expected that radicalism intentions against COVID-19-related regulations fortified needs deprived by social exclusion (Hypothesis 2). Studying a sample of individuals who opposed the measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 (N = 171), we found evidence for both hypotheses: Results revealed that feelings of social exclusion induced by COVID-19 containment measures predicted radicalism intentions. Moreover, the relationship between exclusion and radicalism was associated with fortifying power issues. Political opinion did not moderate these effects. These data replicate the exclusion-radicalism link in the COVID-19 crisis and add one more factor that may have promoted radical developments during that time. Fortifying feelings of power, radicalism appeared to foster well-being, though at a high political price

Synthesis of bioactive quinazolin-4(3H)-one derivatives via microwave activation tailored by phase-transfer catalysis

A series of nine new 2,3-disubstituted 4(3H)-quinazolin-4-one derivatives was furnished starting from the 2-propyl-4(3H)-quinazoline-4-one (2). The reinvestigation of the key starting quinazolinone 2 was performed under microwave irradiation (MW) and solvent-free conditions. Combination of MW and phase-transfer catalysis using tetrabutylammonium benzoate (TBAB) as a novel neutral ionic catalyst was used for carrying out N-alkylation and condensation reactions of compound 2 as a simple, efficient and eco-friendly technique. The structure of the synthesized compounds was elucidated using different spectral and chemical analyses. In vitro antimicrobial activity of the compounds was investigated against four bacterial and two fungal strains; very modest activity was achieved. Some of the synthesized compounds were screened for their antitumor activity against different human tumor cell lines. The screened compounds exhibited a significant antitumor activity on some of the cancer cell lines, melanoma (SK-MEL-2), ovarian cancer (IGROV1), renal cancer (TK-10), prostate cancer (PC-3), breast cancer (MCF7) and colon cancer (HT29). The most active, even more active than the reference 5-fluorouracil, were found to be ethyl 4-[(4-oxo-2-propylquinazolin-3(4H)-yl)methyl]benzoate (3c), 3-{2-[6-(pyrrolidin-1-yl-sulfonyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline]-2-oxoethyl}-2-propylquinazolin-4(3H)-one (3e), N’-[(E)-(2H-1,3-benzodioxo-5-yl)methylidene]-2-(4-oxo-2-propylquinazolin-3(4H)-yl)acetohydrazide (10a), N’-[(E)-(4-hydroxyphenyl)methylidene]-2-(4-oxo-2-propylquinazo-lin-3(4H)-yl)acetohydrazide (10b) and N’-[(E)-(4-nitrophenyl)methylidene]-2-(4-oxo-2-propylquinazolin-3(4H)-yl)acetohydrazide (10c)

Super-lattice, rhombus, square, and hexagonal standing waves in magnetically driven ferrofluid surface

Standing wave patterns that arise on the surface of ferrofluids by (single frequency) parametric forcing with an ac magnetic field are investigated experimentally. Depending on the frequency and amplitude of the forcing, the system exhibits various patterns including a superlattice and subharmonic rhombuses as well as conventional harmonic hexagons and subharmonic squares. The superlattice arises in a bicritical situation where harmonic and subharmonic modes collide. The rhombic pattern arises due to the non-monotonic dispersion relation of a ferrofluid

Assessing the Benefits of NASA Category 3, Low Cost Class C/D Missions

Category 3, Class C/D missions have the benefit of delivering worthwhile science at minimal cost which is increasingly important in NASA's constrained budget environment. Although higher cost Category 1 and 2 missions are necessary to achieve NASA's science objectives, Category 3 missions are shown to be an effective way to provide significant science return at a low cost. Category 3 missions, however, are often reviewed the same as the more risk averse Category 1 and 2 missions. Acknowledging that reviews are not the only aspect of a total engineering effort, reviews are still a significant concern for NASA programs. This can unnecessarily increase the cost and schedule of Category 3 missions. This paper quantifies the benefit and performance of Category 3 missions by looking at the cost vs. capability relative to Category 1 and 2 missions. Lessons learned from successful organizations that develop low cost Category 3, Class C/D missions are also investigated to help provide the basis for suggestions to streamline the review of NASA Category 3 missions

A Document Analysis of PESP II: UK aid Programme For Education In Pakistan

UK aid is the leading agency that contributes the most in the education sector of Pakistan. Its Department for International Development (DFID) is a bilateral aid agency that invests the tax payer money of the people of the UK in social development causes across developing countries. Punjab education Sector Programme (PESP) phase II is the largest aid support programme by UK aid anywhere in the world. The purpose of this research is to evaluate this programme in terms of its effectiveness and influence it has made in the education system of Pakistan. A qualitative document analysis technique was used to critically review the documents and formal reports on an exclusively developed and validated framework. The findings and interventions are analyzed in the context of educational indicators in Pakistan. Distinct discussion points are raised and recommendations are given to further enhance the effectiveness of the aid programs. The study is significant for all aid agencies, the education system of Pakistan, and recipient institutions. Keywords: PESP II, dfid, evaluation, document analysis, education system of Pakistan

The Region Coding for the Helix Termination Motif and the Adjacent Intron 6 of the Human Type I Hair Keratin Gene hHa2 Contains Three Natural, Closely Spaced Polymorphic Sites

Mutations in distinct sites of epidermal keratins, in particular in the helix initiation and termination regions, cause human genodermatoses due to faulty intermediate filament formation. Extension of this observation to human hereditary hair and nail diseases includes population analyses of human hair keratin genes for natural sequence variations in the corresponding sites. Here we report on a large-scale genotyping of the short helix termination region (HTR) of the human type I cortical hair keratins hHa1, a3-I, and a3-II, and the cuticular hair keratin hHa2. We describe two polymorphic loci, P1 and P2, exclusively in the cuticular hHa2 gene, both creating dimorphic protein variants. P1 is due to a C→T mutation in a CpG element leading to a threonine→methionine substitution; P2 concerns a serine codon AGT that also occurs as an asparagine coding variant AAC. A third polymorphism, P3, is linked with a C→T point mutation located at the very beginning of intron 6. The three polymorphic sites are clustered in a 39-nucleotide sequence of the hHa2 gene. Both allelic frequency calculations in individuals of different races and pedigree studies indicate that the two-allelic hHa2 variants resulting from P1 and P2 occur ubiquitously in a ratio of about 1:1 (P1) and 2:1 (P2) respectively in our survey, and are clearly inherited as Mendelian traits. A genotype carrying both mutations simultaneously on one allele could not be detected in our sampling, and there was no association of a distinct allelic hHa2 variant with the known ethnic form variations of hairs. Sequence comparisons of the HTR of hHa2 with those of other type I hair keratins including the hHa2-ortholog from chimpanzee provide evidence that the P1- and P2-linked mutations must have occurred very early in human evolution and that the two P2-associated codon variations may be the result of two independent point mutations in an ancestral AGC serine codon. These data describe natural polymorphisms in the HTR of a member of the keratin multigene family