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Habitat Distribution of Carabid Beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in Northern Hardwood Forests of Michigan
Get PDFWe compared carabid beetle communities in northern hardwood forests and divided these forests into three categories based on overstory composition and geographic location: Northern red oak-American beech (Quercus rubra L.-Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.) in the Lower Peninsula (OBLP), sugar maple- American beech (Acer saccharum Marsh.) in the Lower Peninsula (MBLP), and sugar maple- American beech in the Upper Peninsula (MBUP). Carabid beetles were collected using pitfall traps in 36 stands in 2003-2004. We found that carabid composition changed throughout the collection periods. Pterostichus pensylvanicus LeConte and Sphaeroderus lecontei Dejean comprised 76% of the trap catches in May while Synuchus impunctatus (Say) dominated 67% of the total August catches and the two May-dominant species made up less than 1% of the catch in August. Carabid activity-density was also significantly greater in MBLP forests compared to the other forest types in both years. Within the three northern hardwood forest types, five carabid species were significantly more abundant in one forest type: Carabus goryi Dejean (MBLP), Calathus gregarius Say (OBLP), Pterostichus adstrictus Eschscholtz, Pterostichus coracinus (Newman) and Psterostichus melanarius Illiger (MBUP). We found that stand-level differences within the same broadly-defined forest type (northern hardwood forests) support different carabid assemblages both temporally and spatially. Seasonal and habitat information about carabid beetles may be useful in determining optimal sampling periods for biodiversity sampling, using carabids as biological control agents against invasive pests, and evaluating potential impacts of non-native fauna on native carabids and other invertebrates. Carabid diversity and abundance data may help forest managers adopt sustainable management strategies that increase ecosystem biodiversity and resiliency at a time when invasives are threatening many ecosystems
The “Chains” Of Command: Confronting The Role Of Gender In Perceptions Of Female Service Members’ Professionalism
Get PDFThis research investigates whether there is a connection between gender and perceptions of military professionalism. The military is a highly-masculinized workplace which women have not occupied for long; as such, this research aims to discover whether military members perceive women in the military as professional. To do so, the researcher used a survey with both quantitative and qualitative questions to discover what a sample of Army National Guard soldiers\u27 self-perceptions reveal about their views of women in the military. The researcher also covertly observed two weeks of Army National Guard training to learn whether the sample\u27s behavior toward women in the military aligned with their self-perceptions. Quantitative survey results suggested that soldiers\u27 self-perceptions do not demonstrate gendered views of professionalism, but qualitative results from the survey and participant observation demonstrated remaining stereotypes and structural issues which undermine views of women\u27s military professionalism. The researcher concludes that while conscious perceptions of women\u27s professionalism in the military may be improving, symptoms of the military\u27s highly-masculine culture seem to subconsciously affect these perceptions
Golf, God, and The Hunger Games: The Usage and Social Implications of the ‘Magical Negro’ Trope in Film
No full textFilms over the last 25 years such as The Legend of Bagger Vance and The Hunger Games have paired black characters along with the movie\u27s white lead in an attempt to promote better representation of African Americans in cinema. While these films make small strides toward more positive representations, their use of a black character to advance the growth of a white protagonist classifies them as \u27Magical Negro\u27 (MN) films. The MN trope within cinema is problematic because it testifies to society\u27s perception of unbalanced power between black and white Americans. This paper aims to critique the tolerance of semi-positive and seemingly harmless portrayals of African Americans in film through an analysis of the MN trope. After investigating the common elements and patterns within MN films, the paper argues that these stereotypes negatively impact the audience. This relationship between harmful characterizations and real-world impact as demonstrated with MN films warrants attention because cinema is an influential tool for enforcing racial attitudes that should be held accountable
An Iron Oxide Mediated Solar Decoupled Electrolysis Cycle
No full textWe present a proof of concept demonstration of solar thermochemical energy storage. The James Markiewicz Solar Energy Research Facility (SERF) at Valparaiso University uses concentrated sunlight to reduce hematite at 1500 ℃, evolving oxygen and producing magnetite. Magnetite can then be dissolved in water at pH 5 using hydroxyethylidene diphosphonic acid (HEDP). Aqueous Fe2+ serves as the anode for the reduction of water to hydrogen, as demonstrated by a visual H2 detection assay. Finally, alkaline solutions of Fe3+ + HEDP upon concentration produce a precipitate characterized as goethite α-FeOOH by Raman spectroscopy, completing the cycle
A List of the Prey Species of Podisus Maculiventris (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)
Get PDFA referenced list of the prey species of Podislrs maculicentris is presented
An Alternate Foodplant for \u3ci\u3eEuphydryas Phaeton\u3c/i\u3e Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)
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Mindfulness in the Military: A Weaponization of Buddhism
No full textBuddhism has long been linked to peace, mindfulness, and self-awareness, yet its philosophies have increasingly been used in military settings. This paper explores the weaponization of Buddhist practices in psychotherapy, particularly in the military, where militarized forms of mindfulness-based stress reduction therapy (MBSR) are used to strengthen soldiers\u27 mental resilience and combat readiness. While MBSR has been recognized for its therapeutic benefits, its use in the military raises ethical concerns about whether religious practices are being repurposed in secular settings that go against their original purpose. Through a review of existing research, this paper examines how Buddhist principles—traditionally meant to thrive through the acceptance of suffering—are instead used to help soldiers handle stress, stay focused, and perform better under pressure during active duty. This paper outlines the basic principles of Buddhism, the differences between psychotherapy mindfulness and Buddhist mindfulness, and the ethical concerns of using a secularized form of mindfulness in settings like the military. The discussion draws from Buddhist ethics, military psychology, and modern critiques of mindfulness. Ultimately, this review aims to reveal the reconfiguration of spiritual traditions in psychotherapy and military environments and questions whether these adaptations stay true to Buddhism’s core values or simply become tools for improving military strategy. Future use of secular mindfulness, especially in military settings, should be approached with greater cultural awareness and ethical consideration, ensuring that these practices are not stripped of their historical and moral contexts but are instead applied in ways that respect their origins and support mental wellbeing
The Things that Connect Us: Fiber Arts with an Artistic Lens
No full textFiber art is a medium that stretches across generations of people and continues to connect the past to the present. My project is called The Things that Connect Us: Fiber Arts with an Artistic Lens. Crochet has been part of my life since I was 10 years old and is still a big part of who I am as an artist. This technique is unique because it can only be done by hand. With my piece, I wanted to use this medium and put it on a canvas like how paint is traditionally applied. I took a lot of inspiration from Miriam Schapiro and the femmage movement. This movement wanted to highlight the importance of art traditionally done by women who were given less respect by other fine artists and to give them a platform to create. I want people to see crochet as more than just being done for utility without any artistic purpose and for it to not be dismissed by people who feel that it can\u27t and shouldn\u27t be fine art
Reflections of the People
No full textReflections of the People explores the concept of human connection, empathy, and how people perceive themselves. Through the colored mirrors, viewers can see themselves in a different individual and see that as people we have something in common with every person we meet. The audience should take a moment to look deep within themselves and recognize their own characteristics, which can be broken down into fragments and correlate them with other people. The symbolism of the colors is that they are associated with various emotions and personality traits that make up an individual. As you can see some of the fragments are not transparent, just like there are aspects about others that will never be uncovered. As humans, we have the emotional power to connect with each other and build relationships
Corporate Taxation and Income Inequality: Implications for Labor, Capital, and the Distribution of Benefits
Get PDFSince the 1980s, the United States has seen income increasingly accrue to firm and capital owners. Business productivity has grown 2.7 times as much as worker pay, indicating a growing percentage of profits that go to firm owners and shareholders – those who own capital in the economy. This trend is coupled with growing income inequality: the top 1% of earners, who own 54 percent of public equity markets, have seen their share of overall income double from 10% to 20%. The United States economy has gradually shifted away from labor during this period, with the labor share of income falling to 56% in 2019, down 7% from 1980. Given businesses’ role in these phenomena, investigating the impacts of corporate taxation is relevant. Corporate taxes have nominally declined from 46% to 21%, and significantly as a percentage of GDP, from 2.6% to 1%. Naturally, questions arise regarding corporate tax cuts’ contributions to rising income inequality. This paper first examines the literature on corporate taxes’ effects on inequality and welfare. It explores potential mechanisms behind this relationship: the share of labor and capital income, firm investment response, firm behavioral response, and tax incidence theory. Using data across 24 countries from the World Inequality Database and OECD from 1994-2023, it empirically investigates the relationship between corporate taxes and income inequality, with the expectation that lower corporate taxes increase income inequality. It finally discusses where corporate taxes may fall short as a mechanism to address income inequality, and policy gaps for future research