Six Signs of Scientism

As the English word “scientism” is currently used, it is a trivial verbal truth that scientism—an inappropriately deferential attitude to science—should be avoided. But it is a substantial question when, and why, deference to the sciences is inappropriate or exaggerated. This paper tries to answer that question by articulating “six signs of scientism”: the honorific use of “science” and its cognates; using scientific trappings purely decoratively; preoccupation with demarcation; preoccupation with “scientific method”; looking to the sciences for answers beyond their scope; denying the legitimacy or worth of non-scientific (e.g., legal or literary) inquiry, or of writing poetry or making art

Buprestidae, Cerambycidae, and Scolytidae Associated with Successive Stages of \u3ci\u3eAgrilus Bilineatus\u3c/i\u3e (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) Infestation of Oaks in Wisconsin

The species of Buprestidae, Cerambycidae, and Scolytidae found in association with Agrilus bilineatus (Weber) in declining oaks, Quercus spp., in Wisconsin, were Chrysobothris femorata (Olivier) and Dicerca sp. (Buprestidae); Amniscus macula (Say),Cyrtaphorus verrucosus (Olivier), Euderces picipes (Fabricius), Graphisurus fasciatus (DeGeer), Neodytus acuminatus (Fabricius), Sarosesthes fulminans (Fabricius), and Xylotrechus colonus (Fabricius) (Cerambycidae); and Monarthrum fasciatum (Say), Monarthrum mali (Fitch), Pseudopityophthorus minutissimus (Zimmerman), and Xylaterinus politus (Say) (Scolytidae). In general, weakened oaks were first attacked by A. bilineatus. and at times that same year by C. femorata. G. fasdalus, and P. minutissimus. Infestation by M.fasciatum, M. mali, and X. politus began the season following first attack by A. bilineatus. With the exception of A. bilineatus, the above mentioned Buprestidae and Cerambycidae appeared to preferentially infest dead wood, often those portions that had died the previous season

Relationship Quality among Married Couples

Having a high quality relationship is a key part of a marriage. In this project, I performed an econometric analysis to determine what impacts a couple\u27s relationship quality. Using a survey of Married and Cohabiting Couples created by the National Center for Family and Marriage Research, a regression model was estimated. The conclusions of this study were that listening, communicating well, showing love and affection, and encouragement are all important factors in determining relationship quality among married couples

Resource Usage Protocols for Iterators

We discuss usage protocols for iterator objects that prevent concurrent modifications of the underlying collection while iterators are in progress. We formalize these protocols in Java-like object interfaces, enriched with separation logic contracts. We present examples of iterator clients and proofs that they adhere to the iterator protocol, as well as examples of iterator implementations and proofs that they implement the iterator interface

Historical Population Increases and Related Inciting Factors of Agrilus anxius, Agrilus bilineatus, and Agrilus granulatus liragus (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) in the Lake States (Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin)

Three native species of tree-infesting Agrilus have regularly reached outbreak levels in the Lake States (Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin), including A. anxius Gory (bronze birch borer), A. bilineatus (Weber) (twolined chestnut borer), and A. granulatus liragus Barter & Brown (bronze poplar borer). The main host trees for these Agrilus are species of Betula for A. anxius, Castanea and Quercus for A. bilineatus, and Populus for A. granulatus liragus. Based on 197 annual forest health reports for Michigan (1950–2017, 66 years), Minnesota (1950–2017, 64 years), and Wisconsin (1951–2017, 67 years), A. bilineatus was the most often reported Agrilus species in all three states (mentioned in 90 annual reports), with A. anxius second (71 reports) and A. granulatus liragus third (21 reports). Drought was the most commonly reported inciting factor for outbreaks of all three Agrilus species, with defoliation events ranking second. The top two defoliators reported as inciting outbreaks of each species were, in decreasing order, Fenusa pumila Leach (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae; birch leafminer) tied with Malacosoma disstria Hübner (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae; forest tent caterpillar) for A. anxius; M. disstria and Alsophila pometaria (Harris) (Lepidoptera: Geometridae; fall cankerworm) for A. bilineatus; and M. disstria and Choristoneura conflictana (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae; large aspen tortrix) for A. granulatus liragus. Other environmental factors occasionally listed as inciting Agrilus outbreaks included late spring frosts, ice storms, and strong wind events

Axion Decay in a Constant Electromagnetic Background Field and at Finite Temperature using World-line Methods

We investigate the radiative decay of the axion into two photons in an external electromagnetic field to one loop order. Our approach is based on the world-line formalism, which is very suitable to take into account the external field to all orders. Afterwards we discuss how the calculation could be generalized to finite temperature.Comment: 27 pages, 4 figures, corrected and added some references and added some remarks to appendix

Efficacy of Three Insecticides Applied to Bark to Control \u3ci\u3eAgrilus Planipennis\u3c/i\u3e (Coleoptera: Buprestidae)

Emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), is a serious exotic pest of ash (Fraxinus) trees in North America. In 2003 and 2004, we tested the efficacy of different insecticides sprayed on the bark of cut ash logs for killing emerging EAB adults. Logs (means: length = 30 cm; diam. = 16 cm) were cut from infested ash trees and treated prior to adult emergence. In 2003, we applied imidacloprid at 2 times its label rate to logs 5 days before adults began emerging from logs stored indoors. No adults successfully emerged from the imidacloprid treated logs, while an average of 108 adults per m2 emerged from untreated control logs. In 2004, we tested perme- thrin and bifenthrin at their label rates, and imidacloprid at its label rate and at 2 times its label rate. Logs (means: length = 25 cm; diam. = 12 cm) infested with EAB and stored outdoors were sprayed once or twice 4-5 wk prior to adult emergence; or once or twice 1-2 wk prior to adult emergence. Overall, mean percent adult mortality was higher for treated logs (90% mortality) compared to control logs (17%). Logs that received two applications had significantly higher mean percent mortality compared with logs that received one application. There was no significant difference in percent adult mortality among the three chemicals tested or between timing of application. In conclusion, permethrin, imidacloprid and bifenthrin were very effective at killing adult EAB emerging from cut logs, and were most effective when applied twice 1-5 wk prior to initial adult emergence