cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Poster: On the Safety and Efficiency of Virtual Firewall Elasticity Control

Firewalls have been typically used to enforce network access control. Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) envisions to implement firewall function as software instance (a.k.a virtual firewall). Virtual firewall provides great flexibility and elasticity, which are necessary to protect virtualized environments. In this poster, we propose an innovative virtual firewall controller, VFW Controller, which enables safe, efficient and cost-effective virtual firewall elasticity control. In addition, we implement the core components of VFW Controller on top of NFV and SDN environments. Our experimental results demonstrate that VFW Controller is efficient to provide safe elasticity control of virtual firewalls.
Proficiency Testing for Pressure Calibration at the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP)

Abstract:The National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) has initiated a proficiency testing program for calibration laboratories accredited for pressure, designated as NVLAP code 20/T05. This program involves measurements by the laboratory on NVLAP-provided test artifacts at specific pressure points in gas, and then comparisons of the results to similar measurements by the NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) Thermodynamic Metrology Group. The statistical test of the value of the En parameter is used to determine whether or not the laboratory shows proficiency at each pressure point, and the entire set of En values determines whether or not the laboratory demonstrates proficiency for their declared scope in pressure. This proficiency test can evaluate both laboratories that primarily calibrate effective area of piston gauges, and laboratories that calibrate electronic pressure instruments. The test protocol, methods of data analysis, and some results to date are presented...
Fahrzeugkonzept e-Co-Motion – der emissionsfreie Stadtlieferwagen der Zukunft

Der weltweite Trend zu immer groseren Stadten zieht einen immer groser werdenden Bedarf an innerstadtischen Transportlosungen nach sich. Gleichzeitig fordert der Gesetzgeber eine deutliche Reduzierung von Treibhausgasen und Emissionen sowie die Einhaltung sich weiter verscharfender CO2-Grenzwerte. Zudem werden immer mehr Grosstadte mit Einfahrbeschrankungen belegt, um der Smog- und Feinstaubbelastung entgegenzuwirken.
Computational Modeling Applications

In this chapter, several different computational methods are demonstrated as they apply to modeling asphalt mixtures and flexible pavements. Specifically, the following computational methodologies are deployed herein: (1) micromechanics; (2) expanding multi-scaling; (3) contracting multi-scaling; and (4) two-way coupled multi-scaling. As demonstrated herein, each of these approaches has its place in the modeling of flexible pavements.
Nutrition II: Minerals

The gastrointestinal anatomic changes associated with bariatric surgical procedures result in altered absorptive capability for minerals such as Iron, Zinc, and Copper, which are normally absorbed in the duodenum. Mineral deficiencies are now being recognized with increasing frequency in patients following bariatric surgery. For prevention and management of deficiency, specialized nutritional follow-up by individuals familiar with the assessment of mineral nutrition and the recognition of deficiency states is an essential component of multidisciplinary management. Improved protocols for nutritional follow-up are essential for improving the value of bariatric surgery and expanding patient access to this treatment.
Domesticating Romantic Love during the High Qing Classical Revival: The Poetic Exchanges between Wang Zhaoyuan (1763-1851) and Her Husband Hao Yixing (1757-1829)

This study examines the Heming ji (Collection of singing in harmony), which comprises the sometimes surprisingly intimate poetic exchanges between the woman intellectual Wang Zhaoyuan (1763-1851) and her husband Hao Yixing (1757-1829), both renowned in their lifetimes as classical “evidential research” (kaozheng) scholars. The paper seeks to demonstrate the transformation of the cult of qing (romantic love) in the High Qing period. It argues that, as the centrality of courtesans in literati culture died out with the Ming-Qing dynastic transition, gentry women came to represent the positive cultural values of qing through the increasingly fashionable idea and practice of companionate marriage. In this process, the cult of qing that characterized the subversive late Ming literati culture, of which courtesan culture was an important part, was not obliterated by the High Qing classical revival as is often assumed; rather, it was domesticated, ritualized, transformed into conjugal love, and arguably, integrated into the High Qing “familistic moralism.” The paper also explores how the concept of qing, in the narrow sense of love between man and woman, was expanded into this couple’s shared passion and ambition to serve the state and empire.
Anomalous mantle transition zone beneath the Yellowstone hotspot track

The origin of the Yellowstone and Snake River Plain volcanism has been strongly debated. The mantle plume model successfully explains the age-progressive volcanic track, but a deep plume structure has been absent in seismic imaging. Here I apply diffractional tomography to receiver functions recorded at USArray stations to map high-resolution topography of mantle transition-zone discontinuities. The images reveal a trail of anomalies that closely follow the surface hotspot track and correlate well with a seismic wave-speed gap in the subducting Farallon slab. This observation contradicts the plume model, which requires anomalies in the mid mantle to be confined in a narrow region directly beneath the present-day Yellowstone caldera. I propose an alternative interpretation of the Yellowstone volcanism. About 16 million years ago, a section of young slab that had broken off from a subducted spreading centre in the mantle first penetrated the 660 km discontinuity beneath Oregon and Idaho, and pulled down older stagnant slab. Slab tearing occurred along pre-existing fracture zones and propagated northeastward. This reversed-polarity subduction generated passive upwellings from the lower mantle, which ascended through a water-rich mantle transition zone to produce melting and age-progressive volcanism. The mantle transition zone in the western United States is perturbed along a path that mirrors the line of the Yellowstone hotspot track at the surface, according to analysis of tomographic data.
Three-stage voltage stability contingency screening and ranking

Mid-long term voltage instability is an important category of voltage instability, but mid-long term analysis has difficulty dealing with large number of contingencies. To address this problem, a systemic approach of three-stage voltage stability contingency screening and ranking is proposed. Contingencies are screened through three stages of static, transient, and mid-long term analysis. Static and transient analysis methods are first used to shortlist a number of probably critical contingencies form a large list of credible contingencies; mid-long term analysis method is then used to identify contingencies that cause mid-long term voltage instability from the shortlist. Testing on a practical power system shows that the proposed approach can identify the contingencies causing mid-long term voltage instability, while mid-long term analysis deals with only a short list of contingencies. Under voltage instability causing contingencies, control strategies are made on critical nodes and are able to mitigate voltage instability.
SourceTrac: tracing data sources within spreadsheets

Analyzing data from multiple sources is a common task in scientific research. In particular, spreadsheet data is often aggregated from a variety of sources to identify patterns and synthesize reports. Yet, techniques are lacking for automatically capturing the provenance of such data within spreadsheet environments like Excel. We present a novel approach for fine-grained tracing of tabular data that may have been obtained from files, databases, or the Web. Our approach provides relevant provenance information at both the micro-level (per cell) and the macro-level (per sheet). Initial results suggest that our approach is scalable and beneficial to data analysts.
Combinatorial chemistry methods for coating development: V. The importance of understanding process capability

A combinatorial method for the development of organic clear coatings for plastic substrates has been developed. The combinatorial process possesses all the aspects of a conventional combinatorial process such as automated sample preparation, miniaturized samples configured in an array format, high throughput screening (HTS) of the properties of interest, and computer software developed for data management, storage, and analysis. The combinatorial factory has greatly enhanced the rate of organic clear coat development. A very important activity involved in the development of the combinatorial factory was the determination of process capability for each component of the factory. A good understanding of process capability and sources of variability was required to obtain high quality, reliable data.
Photonic Network Architectures III: Advanced Photonic Architectures

Circuit-switching is a natural use of the photonic transmission medium because it is a simple solution that abstracts many of the physical layer implementation details in network design. However, it can suffer from severe network congestion and starvation when long-lived communication patterns occur. This chapter explores some architectural variations on circuit-switched networks to alleviate some of these issues
Micromechanics of Failure in Composites

An analysis of fracture resistance mechanisms in several composite systems is presented. A description of the basics of the analytical method developed specifically for the analysis of fracture development in composites is presented as a unified approach to different composite systems. The method was applied to several composite systems, including composites formed from a brittle matrix reinforced by unidirectional fibers, composites consisting of a brittle matrix reinforced by ductile particles, and a metal matrix reinforced by ceramic fibers. The reinforcement mechanisms in these composites are based on the formation of a system of restrictive forces imposed on the crack surfaces by reinforcing components. The region where these restrictive forces are activated is represented as a line process zone. A classical fracture mechanics modeling technique was employed, using the process zone concept and small or large-scale analysis. The distinctive characteristic of the described method is an explicit consideration in the analysis of the discrete distribution of the reinforcing components within the composite. The developed methodology allows one to obtain analytical solutions to the representative elasticity problems and to investigate detailed micromechanical aspects of the process.
Biliary Stents for Common Bile Duct Stones

This article focuses on the use of stents in the treatment of oversized or otherwise unextractable bile duct stones. Data are provided in regard to long-term effectiveness. The simplicity of this approach is compared to other techniques for management of residual stone disease, especially in elderly patients.
Global Visual Localization

This chapter introduces the proposed method for matching visually perceived 3D geometric-primitives with the world model representation while optimally estimation form solution for robot pose estimation is presented.
Exact Bohr-Sommerfeld Conditions for the Quantum Periodic Benjamin-Ono Equation

In this paper we describe the spectrum of the quantum periodic Benjamin-Ono equation in terms of the multi-phase solutions of the underlying classical system (the periodic multi-solitons). To do so, we show that the semi-classical quantization of this system given by Abanov-Wiegmann is exact and equivalent to the geometric quantization by Nazarov-Sklyanin. First, for the Liouville integrable subsystems defined from the multi-phase solutions, we use a result of Gerard-Kappeler to prove that if one neglects the infinitely-many transverse directions in phase space, the regular Bohr-Sommerfeld conditions on the actions are equivalent to the condition that the singularities of the Dobrokhotov-Krichever multi-phase spectral curves define an anisotropic partition (Young diagram). Next, we locate the renormalization of the classical dispersion coefficient by Abanov-Wiegmann in the realization of Jack functions as quantum periodic Benjamin-Ono stationary states. Finally, we show that the classical energies of Bohr-Sommerfeld multi-phase solutions in the renormalized theory give the exact quantum spectrum found by Nazarov-Sklyanin without any Maslov index correction.
Comparison of various sensors in the potentiometric microdetermination of nitroform and perchlorate with cetylpyridinium chloride

Various organic coatings on spectroscopic graphite as well as several types of uncoated graphite materials were examined as sensors in the precipitation titration of nitroform and perchlorate vs. cetylpyridinium chloride. The polymer used in the coatings was poly(vinyl chloride). The plasticizer of choice was di(ethylhexyl) phthalate (dioctylphthalate) because of its low toxicity and large endpoint breaks. Other plasticizers such as nitrobenzene, tricresyl-phosphate, and phthalates with an alkyl chain length between 4 and 8 carbon atoms are also suitable. The plastic-coated sensors yielded larger breaks than any of the uncoated graphite sensors. Of the latter materials, Poco AXF-9Q graphite yielded the largest breaks for both anions examined. Coated and uncoated graphite electrodes can be used as sensors in a variety of potentiometric titrations. While these electrodes are not selective per se, selectivity is governed by the analyte/titrant interaction.
The Effect of Vocabulary Intervention on Text Comprehension: Who Benefits?.

Purpose Vocabulary intervention can improve comprehension of texts containing taught words, but it is unclear if all middle school readers get this benefit. This study tests 2 hypotheses about vari...
The Resilience of Sensation in Urban Planning

This article examines how sensation and affect make different kinds of resilience meaningful to communities. Through a case study, we analyze public deliberation about a proposal to expand interstates in Tampa, Florida. We describe how evidence introduced by opposing sides foregrounded conflicting sensory experiences. The resulting sensoriums upheld different aspects of the city’s identity as worth maintaining. Drawing from recent scholarship defining resilience as something that can always be done otherwise, we suggest that resilience is better understood as entangled with public affect. We argue that a key point for rhetorical intervention in city planning is considering which futures and visions of resilience are being imagined for publics.
Classifying Imaginary Vowels from Frontal Lobe EEG via Deep Learning

Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) is a promising technology for individuals who suffer from motor or speech disabilities due to the process of decoding brain signals. This paper uses a dataset for imagined speech to classify vowels based on the neurological areas of the brain. The normalized cross-correlation matrices between two electrodes are used as features. We demonstrate that by using the EEG from the frontal region of the brain, we obtain higher than 85 percent accuracy for correct vowel decoding by using two types of neural networks: convolutional neural network (CNN) and long short-term memory (LSTM). This accuracy is higher than previous studies that have classified the dataset using the entire brain region. This work shows great promise for task decoding where the physiological regions of the brain associated with specific tasks are exploited. The proposed approach has the potential to be deployed in future BCI applications.
On Becoming “A Teacher or Something”: An Autobiographical Review

This autobiographical review reflects on how I came to attend college, go to graduate school, and become a professor of sociology specializing in criminology. My story is about an African-American ...
Massively parallel and time-resolved RNA sequencing in single cells with scNT-seq

Single-cell RNA sequencing offers snapshots of whole transcriptomes but obscures the temporal RNA dynamics. Here we present single-cell metabolically labeled new RNA tagging sequencing (scNT-seq), a method for massively parallel analysis of newly transcribed and pre-existing mRNAs from the same cell. This droplet microfluidics-based method enables high-throughput chemical conversion on barcoded beads, efficiently marking newly transcribed mRNAs with T-to-C substitutions. Using scNT-seq, we jointly profiled new and old transcriptomes in ~55,000 single cells. These data revealed time-resolved transcription factor activities and cell-state trajectories at the single-cell level in response to neuronal activation. We further determined rates of RNA biogenesis and decay to uncover RNA regulatory strategies during stepwise conversion between pluripotent and rare totipotent two-cell embryo (2C)-like stem cell states. Finally, integrating scNT-seq with genetic perturbation identifies DNA methylcytosine dioxygenase as an epigenetic barrier into the 2C-like cell state. Time-resolved single-cell transcriptomic analysis thus opens new lines of inquiry regarding cell-type-specific RNA regulatory mechanisms.
Abstract P127: Sex-differences In The Association Of TMEM27 Variants With Hypertension Traits

Introduction: The global deletion of collectrin encoded by the TMEM27 gene leads to endothelial dysfunction, salt sensitivity and hypertension. To translate experimental findings to population stud...
Sensitivity of Phytophthora capsici From Tennessee to Mefenoxam, Fluopicolide, Oxathiapiprolin, Dimethomorph, Mandipropamid, and Cyazofamid.

Phytophthora blight is a destructive disease caused by the oomycete Phytophthora capsici, which affects vegetable production throughout the state of Tennessee and worldwide. Fungicides are a primar...
Ultrasound assessment of glenohumeral dysplasia in infants

Brachial plexus birth injury can lead to irreversible neuromuscular dysfunction and skeletal deformity of the upper extremity and shoulder girdle, ultimately resulting in glenohumeral dysplasia. Diagnosis and treatment of affected infants requires a multi-disciplinary approach in which imaging plays a vital role. While MRI is excellent for assessing both the shoulder and spine of these children, it is costly and requires sedation and is thus typically reserved for preoperative planning. US, however, is inexpensive, dynamic and readily available and provides excellent visualization of the largely cartilaginous glenohumeral joint. As such, it has become a highly useful modality during early diagnosis and follow-up of children with brachial plexus birth injuries. In this review, we describe the relevant anatomy of the glenohumeral joint, outlining the normal sonographic appearance as well as providing tips and tricks for identifying and characterizing pathology.
The CD22-IGF2R interaction is a therapeutic target for microglial lysosome dysfunction in Niemann-Pick type C.

Lysosome dysfunction is a shared feature of rare lysosomal storage diseases and common age-related neurodegenerative diseases. Microglia, the brain-resident macrophages, are particularly vulnerable...
Where has the trust gone

For at-risk children and adolescents, having close interpersonal connections with adults at school has been implicated as a powerful protective factor. It is unclear, however, which aspects of these supportive relationships are responsible for the ameliorative effects. The construct of generalized interpersonal trust has been suggested as one potential factor associated with the beneficial effects of supportive relationships. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationships between interpersonal trust, connections with adults, and a variety of academic and school climate factors. Results of a MANCOVA analysis indicated significant main effects for level of interpersonal trust and number of adult connections. Post-hoc univariate tests revealed that students with higher interpersonal trust reported significantly more positive perceptions of school climate, personal safety on campus, dangerous activities on campus, hostile attitudes and beliefs, and violence victimization. Students with more adult connections reported significantly more positive perceptions of school climate and regard for school. These findings indicate that school climate issues are critical factors impacting students’ outcomes. As such, considering a strategic plan that focuses on (a) implementing programs to address the developing sense of interpersonal relationships (e.g., respect and trust) between students and all adults and (b) increasing the number of positive student-adult relationships in schools is suggested.
Physiological responses to cola ingestion.

Abstract On four separate occasions resting, fasted adults ingested 10 oz of a cola-flavored soft drink containing either 0, 22.5, 35, or 150 mg caffeine. Heart rate, blood pressure, and plasma free fatty acid (FFA) and glucose values were obtained before and at 15, 30, 60, 90, 120, 180 and 360 min after the feeding. All urine was collected during the 6 hr following ingestion and was later assayed for total catecholamine (CA) content. Urine volume and total CA excretion increased as the amount of caffeine ingested increased. Only the 150 mg solution resulted in significant increases (over control) in 6 hr CA output, or FFA concentration and mean arterial pressure early after the feeding. The 150 mg drink also maintained blood glucose at pre–ingestion levels for the entire course of the experiment. The moderate increase in circulating FFA following ingestion of a commercially available cola (22 to 35 mg caffeine/bottle) is similar to the change seen in resting, nonfed subjects. These data suggest that inge...
Queering Creole Spiritual Traditions: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Participation in African-Inspired Traditions in the Americas

Reviewed Medium: book Authors: Randy P. Conner Year: 2004 Pages: 390 Publisher: Harrington Park Press ISBN: 1560233516 Prices: $59.95(hard cover).
Heroes of the Age: Moral Fault Lines on the Afghan Frontier

Heroes of the Age: Moral Fault Lines on the Afghan Frontier. David B. Edwards. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1996. 307 pp.
Block input-output modelling and control methods for nonlinear discrete-time systems

In this paper, a block input-output control technique is developed for nonlinear discrete-time systems. The state-space model of the system is assumed to have well-defined relative degree, to be locally observable, and to be minimum phase. The technique is applied to a class of pulse-width modulated systems that includes switching amplifiers.
In situ detection of cytochrome c adsorption with single walled carbon nanotube device

We report on the in situ detection of cytochrome c adsorption onto individual SWNT transistors via the changes in the electron transport properties of the transistors.
Autoanti-thyroglobulin production in obese chickens: influence of age and sex as measured by ELISA.

The kinetics of serum autoantibody production against thyroglobulin (Tg) was examined in two strains of chicken using an enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA). Both strains are homozygous for the B13 haplotype. The OS strain develops spontaneous autoimmune thyroiditis at several weeks of age while the Sp. C strain, which serves as the control for the OS strain, has virtually undetectable autoantibody levels as determined by hemagglutination assay (HA). Serum autoantibody levels in both strains were monitored bi-weekly from 6 through 14 weeks of age post-hatching, using both the ELISA and HA techniques. With the more sensitive ELISA, absolute serum autoantibody concentrations were determined and both the Sp. C and OS strains were found to have readily detectable serum autoantibodies against Tg; however, the OS did have significantly higher autoantibody levels than the Sp. C strain. In the latter strain, autoantibodies increased significantly with age while the pattern was somewhat reversed in the OS strain. The ELISA revealed that the decline of Tg autoantibodies with age in the OS strain was restricted primarily to males, with females maintaining constant levels of autoantibodies. In contrast, the HA detected only differences in autoantibody levels between the OS and Sp. C strains.
Gamma-linolenic and stearidonic acids are required for basal immunity in Caenorhabditis elegans through their effects on p38 MAP kinase activity.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) form a class of essential micronutrients that play a vital role in development, cardiovascular health, and immunity. The influence of lipids on the immune response is both complex and diverse, with multiple studies pointing to the beneficial effects of long-chain fatty acids in immunity. However, the mechanisms through which PUFAs modulate innate immunity and the effects of PUFA deficiencies on innate immune functions remain to be clarified. Using the Caenorhabditis elegans–Pseudomonas aeruginosa host–pathogen system, we present genetic evidence that a Δ6-desaturase FAT-3, through its two 18-carbon products—gamma-linolenic acid (GLA, 18:3n6) and stearidonic acid (SDA, 18:4n3), but not the 20-carbon PUFAs arachidonic acid (AA, 20:4n6) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n3)—is required for basal innate immunity in vivo. Deficiencies in GLA and SDA result in increased susceptibility to bacterial infection, which is associated with reduced basal expression of a number of immune-specific genes—including spp-1, lys-7, and lys-2—that encode antimicrobial peptides. GLA and SDA are required to maintain basal activity of the p38 MAP kinase pathway, which plays important roles in protecting metazoan animals from infections and oxidative stress. Transcriptional and functional analyses of fat-3–regulated genes revealed that fat-3 is required in the intestine to regulate the expression of infection- and stress-response genes, and that distinct sets of genes are specifically required for immune function and oxidative stress response. Our study thus uncovers a mechanism by which these 18-carbon PUFAs affect basal innate immune function and, consequently, the ability of an organism to defend itself against bacterial infections. The conservation of p38 MAP kinase signaling in both stress and immune responses further encourages exploring the function of GLA and SDA in humans.
Accumulating assets, debts in young adulthood: Children as potential future investors

Abstract Child Development Accounts (CDA) aim to open savings accounts in childhood as a way to lay a foundation for building assets in young adulthood and beyond. Mainstream banks may be key partners in opening the accounts in which children can build assets. While children may have limited savings to invest initially, they may increasingly invest over time by accumulating assets and debts through mainstream banks. Mainstream banks may benefit from children's increasing investments. This paper uses propensity score weighted, longitudinal data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics and its supplements to examine savings, assets, debt, and net worth accumulation of young adults and whether or not they accumulate more when they have savings accounts as children. Young adults accumulate a median of $1000 in savings accounts, $4600 in total assets, $965 in debt (excluding student loans), and $4000 in net worth (excluding student loans). Young adults accumulate more savings and total assets when they have savings accounts as children. They accumulate less debt and more net worth when their households accumulate high net worth.
Some hormone-like properties of Allium Cepa L. (onion)

Onion juice fed to rats produced a testosterone-like effect as it increased the seminal weight in castrated and non-castrated animals, an insulin-like action as it reduced blood sugar level in animals made hyperglycemic experimentally, and a growth hormone-like activity as it increased the growth rate in young rats. It, moreover, possessed an oxytocic action when tested, in vitro, on the rat uterus at various stages of sex cycle.
A Review Essay on the Books of bell hooks: Organizational Diversity Lessons from a Thoughtful Race and Gender Heretic

The article presents a literary criticism of the body of work of bell hooks. The article discusses hooks' theories about white supremacist, capitalist and patriarchal values in society in the context of diversity, multiculturalism, identity politics and contemporary management theory. Books discussed include "Feminist Theory: From Margin to Center," "Ain"t I a Woman: Black Women and Feminism," and "Talking Back: Thinking Feminist, Thinking Black."
The Metabolic Degradation of Methoxyflurane in Man

The metabolism and excretion of methoxyflurane were studied in 12 human subjects, five of whom were exposed to methoxyflurane labeled with 14C in the methoxy position. Biodegradation of methoxyflurane began immediately after the onset of exposure and continued for nine to 12 days, after which storag
Cross-Linking of Cotton Cellulose with Ethylene Urea Derivatives Having Varying Hydrogen-Bonding Capabilities : Part I : Effects on the Physical Properties and the Hydrogen-Bonded Structure

Cotton print cloth was reacted with 1, 3-bis (hydroxymethyl)-2-imidazolidinone (dimethylol ethylene urea) and with several modifications of this compound which had varying hydrogen-bonding capabili...
Personal Digital Assistants, Wireless Computing, Smart Cards, and Biometrics: A Hardware Update for Clinical Practice

This paper introduces current and future information technology tools for health care with a focus on perinatal and women's health areas of nursing. The technologies include personal digital assistants, wireless computing, smart cards, biometrics, and storage cards. Strategies to incorporate these applications into practice are discussed.
Shifting agrifood systems: a comment

Call me a grouch. But as much as I admire the energy, creativity, and insight of the work represented in this special issue, I am irritated by a word common to all these papers: system, and its plural form, systems. Somewhere along the line, agrifood studies (or agrofood studies, as we used to call it in the US before we finally started reading, and became captivated by, the excellent European literature) became the study of agrifood "systems." I have been part of this linguistic tide myself, along with my irreplaceable colleague at Madison, the late Fred Buttel. Back in 2003, we renamed our local weekly seminar on the topic SociETAS, for Sociology of Environment, Technology, and Agrifood Systems. Societas is Latin for fellowship, community, and society clever, we thought, certainly in comparison with the old name STARE, for Sociology of Technology, Agriculture, Resources, and Environment. We also liked having an S-word on the end to complete our acronym, I must admit. But we were also trying to update our seminar with the current lingo. And if this special issue is any measure, the word system is very much in vogue in agrifood research. It not only appears in the name of the issue but also in
Politics of Evaluation: The Competition for Control of Educational Policy

Evaluation is a technical, scientific matter. It is also a matter of intense political interest.
Folk medicine practices: women as keepers and carriers of knowledge.

Abstract Historically, women have played crucial roles in the care of sick family members, and this pattern continues today. Women's involvement in folk medicine is particularly noteworthy, yet there has been very little study of this topic. Discussions of folk medicine frequently overlook and/or downplay women's contributions. Only recently have researchers focused on women and examined the complexity and extensiveness of female healers' knowledge and practices. Studies of three areas in the United States where folk medicine has flourished—the Ozarks, Appalachia, and the South—provide valuable insights about the major roles women have played as midwives, herbalists and spiritual healers. Intergenerational networking by women, especially within kin groups, has proven to be the most important mechanism for transmission of folk healing knowledge and beliefs in these locales. Information from studies in the U.S. highlights both the limitations and the horizons existing in the exploration of women's roles as keepers and carriers of folk medicine traditions.
Robust regulation of a chain of power integrators perturbed by a lower‐triangular vector field

A new technique called adding a power integrator is used, in a unified manner, to solve a number of control problems including global robust stabilization, asymptotic tracking, and adaptive regulation, for a class of uncertain nonlinear systems that are globally diffeomorphic to a chain of power integrators perturbed by an uncertain lower-triangular vector field. Sufficient conditions are presented under which a globally stabilizing smooth adaptive controller and/or robust state feedback control law can be constructed explicitly, via a Lyapunov-based inductive argument. The systematic use of the adding a power integrator technique allows us to remove two common hypotheses of the existing robust and adaptive control results in the literature, that is, the controlled plant must be feedback linearizable and linear in the control input. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Spatio-temporal population sampling of a fire ant parasitoid.

The spatial and temporal population structure of Pseudacteon tricuspis Borgmeier (Diptera: Phoridae), an introduced parasitoid of the invasive red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), was investigated at three locations in Louisiana, USA, during the fall of 2005. Georeferenced disturbed fire ant mounds that attracted adult P. tricuspis were analyzed using Spatial Analysis by Distance IndicEs to model the population structure of this parasitoid on a local spatial scale, and relate spatial abundance to host colony social form and infection with the fire ant pathogen, Thelohania solenopsae Knell, Allen and Hazard (Microsporidia: Thelohaniidae). Spatial associations between P. tricuspis counts and host S . invicta colonies infected with T. solenopsae were not detected. Overall, spatio-temporal count patterns of P. tricuspis were largely random. However, high P. tricuspis counts were significantly associated with areas of polygyne host colonies. Occasional aggregations of P. tricuspis populations into discrete spatial patches and gaps were also found. The implications of this study are that population surveys of P. tricuspis should be conducted in several areas at a location to account for local patchiness in fly populations and/or varying densities and social form of host ant colonies.
Thermal transitions in hydrated layer-by-layer assemblies observed using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.

Layer-by-layer (LbL) assemblies have been of great interest due to their versatile functionality and ease of fabrication, but their response to temperature is not completely understood. It has been recently shown that hydrated LbL assemblies of poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDAC) and poly(styrene sulfonate) (PSS) under go a thermal transition much like a “glass-melt” transition. This thermal transition is of great interest because many LbL applications are found in water. Here, we report upon the nature of this thermal transition as probed using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) as a function of assembly salt concentration, film thickness, and outermost layer. EIS reveals that the transition is signified by a structural rearrangement of virtual pores, resulting in increased conductivity and decreased surface coverage of the electrode. Two separate thermal transitions are obtained from changes in the film resistance (Ttr,Rf) and the charge transfer resistance (Ttr,Rct). Only Ttr,Rct is strongly dependent on film thickness, salt concentration, and outermost layer, for which values ranging from 50 to 64 °C were observed. As the assembly salt concentration increases from 0.5 M to 1.0 M NaCl, Ttr,Rct increases by about 10 °C. Below 20 layers, deviations of Ttr,Rct with respect to outermost layer appear, in which PSS-capped LbL films tend to show elevated Ttr,Rct values. These results suggest that extrinsic charge compensation plays a large role in the value of Ttr,Rct in which a large degree of extrinsic charge compensation drives Ttr,Rct towards higher values. On the other hand, Ttr,Rf is largely unaffected by assembly parameters, and closer in value to prior reports via calorimetry and quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation.
Quantitative analysis of longitudinal response to aerosolized granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor in two adolescents with autoimmune pulmonary alveolar proteinosis.

Background Autoimmune pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (APAP) is characterized by autoantibodies against granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in blood and tissues, resulting in alveolar surfactant protein accumulation. Patients with APAP present with ground-glass opacities (GGOs) and interlobular septal thickening on thin-slice chest CT scans. Aerosolized GM-CSF therapy (aeroGM-SCF) has qualitatively improved the clinical condition of patients with APAP. This report details quantitative chest CT responses to aeroGM-CSF. Methods Two adolescent patients (aged 16 and 19 years) with APAP were treated with aeroGM-CSF. Clinical parameters, including pulmonary function tests and chest CT scans, were obtained before and after aeroGM-CSF therapy. To evaluate the effect of the therapy, serial chest CT scans were analyzed using a novel approach permitting quantitative assessment of improvement in GGOs, lung weight, and gas volume. Results In association with GM-CSF treatment, nutritional status and pulmonary function improved. Quantitative analysis of the CT scans demonstrated reduction in GGOs and lung weight, concomitant with an increase in airspace volume and lung inflation. The findings were consistent with a qualitative reduction in GGOs on chest CT imaging. Conclusions Quantitative analysis of CT holds promise as a sensitive diagnostic tool permitting longitudinal and objective analysis of the therapeutic response to aeroGM-CSF in patients with APAP.
Patterns and psychological correlates of material support within a religious setting: The bidirectional support hypothesis

The patterns and psychological correlates of material support (the providing and receiving of goods, services and money) among members of a religious setting were studied over a 9-month period. A 7-day activity log, completed monthly, and a questionnaire completed bimonthly, were used to assess material support and psychological variables, respectively. As predicted, bidirectional supporters (i. e., individuals who both provided and received material support over time) experienced greater life satisfaction and reported more positive attitudes to providing and receiving than unidirectional supporters (i.e., those who primarily provided or primarily received). Only perceived economic need distinguished a provider from a receiver. Bidirectional and unidirectional supporters reported greater levels of setting involvement and community than nonsupporters. Finally, individuals in general indicated a greater willingness to provide than to receive material support. Discussion o f findings centers on a balance theory interpretation of support directionality.
Control of COX-2 and iNOS gene expressions by aspirin and salicylate.

Aspirin is an ‘‘old’’ drug with a number of new pharmacological actions. When it was synthesized over a century ago based on the action of salicylate, it was used in treating symptoms (fever and pain) associated with inflammation. Its mechanism of action was unknown until several decades later when Professor Sir John Vane discovered that its action is mediated by inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis [1]. This monumental discovery has provided a fundamental understanding of how aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) work. Aspirin use was known to be associated with a mild bleeding problem but the cause was unclear. Sir John’s work coupled with the discovery of thromboxane (TX) A2 as an active mediator of platelet aggregation by Professor Bengt Samuelsson led to the discovery that aspirin caused platelet dysfunction by inhibiting TXA2 synthesis. These clinical observations lay the foundation for the use of aspirin in preventing myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke. Aspirin and its parental compound, salicylic acid (aspirin and salicylate compounds will be collectively called salicylates), are recently shown to have other potential therapeutic actions such as control of colon cancer growth [2,3]. The anti-inflammatory action as well as anti-cancer and anti-neurodegenerative actions of aspirin are generally attributed to its inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX) activity. However, results from recent studies cast doubts about this explanation. There is strong evidence that the inducible COX, i.e., COX-2 but not the housekeeping COX-1, is responsible for inflammation and tumorigenesis [4,5]. Aspirin exhibits weaker inhibition of COX-2 than COX-1 catalytic activity. It is two to three orders of magnitude
On the structure of the equilibrium manifold

Abstract An elementary proof is given of Y. Balasko's theorem that the equilibrium manifold is diffeomorphic to Rlm. Our proof includes the case (l,m)=(2,2), which the original proof does not cover.
MEN'S AND WOMEN'S BELIEFS ABOUT GENDER AND SEXUALITY:

Feminist scholarship highlighting the importance of sexuality suggests the utility of studying beliefs about gender and sexuality, but the public opinion literature on gender-related attitudes has paid almost no attention to this issue. This research report addresses U.S. men's and women's beliefs about several aspects of sexuality: gender differences in sexual drives, gender inequalities in sexual power, and sexual orientation. The results suggest that men and women tend to share similar beliefs about sexual drives and sexual orientation but disagree notably on issues of sexual power. In addition, naturalization of sexuality is associated with greater acceptance of the sexual status quo, suggesting that naturalizing beliefs play a role in maintaining sexual inequality.
Early Detection of Psychosis: Recent Updates from Clinical High-Risk Research

The debilitating nature of schizophrenia necessitates early detection of individuals at clinical high-risk (CHR) in order to facilitate early intervention. In particular, comparisons between those who develop fully psychotic features (CHR+) and those who do not (CHR−) offer the opportunity to reveal distinct risk factors for psychosis, as well as possible intervention target points. Recent studies have investigated baseline clinical, neurocognitive, neuroanatomic, neurohormonal, and psychophysiological predictors of outcome; premorbid social dysfunction, deficits in neurocognitive performance, neuroanatomic changes, and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysfunction have been implicated in psychosis emergence. However, several challenges within CHR research remain: heterogeneity in long-term diagnostic outcome, the variability of research tools and definitions utilized, and limited longitudinal follow-up. Future work in the field should focus on replication via extended longitudinal designs, aim to explore the trajectories and inter-relationships of hypothesized biomarkers, and continue to investigate interventions that seek to prevent psychosis emergence through symptom reduction.
The organization of the outer plexiform layer in the retina of the cat: electron microscopic observations.

The outer plexiform layer of the cat retina has been examined by electron microscopy of random and serial ultrathin sections in order that neural profiles might be positively identified and their synaptic relationships studied. Photoreceptors are interconnected by means of gap junctions as are the A horizontal cells. B horizontal cells and axon terminals do not appear to be engaged in any synapses apart from those with photoreceptors, while A horizontal cells make rare ‘junctions’ with cone bipolars only. Interplexiform cell processes probably account for all the conventional chemical synapses in the outer plexiform layer of cat retina.
The structure and dissociation energetics of low-lying states of the chloroformyl radical, ClCO

Abstract Essential features of the potential surface for the lowest 2A′, 2Σ+ and 2Π A″ electronic states of the chloroformyl radical, ClCO, have been characterized. The 2A′ is found to be the lowest state and it is distinctly bent. The structures and vibrational frequencies are presented for the low-lying electronic states of ClCO. UMP2/6-31G* vibrational frequencies and intensities for the 2A′ state are in reasonable agreement with the vibrational spectrum given by Jacox and Milligan, with the exception of the ν3, mode, which is re-interpreted in the light of the present calculations. The reaction CO(1Σ+)+Cl(2P) leading to ClCO( X 2A′), and the reaction CO(3Π)+Cl(2P), leading to ClCO( B 2Π A″), are all barrierless processes.
Semantic image retrieval based on probabilistic latent semantic analysis

Content-based image retrieval (CBIR) systems combine computer vision techniques and learning methodologies to find images in the database similar to the query images. Relevance feedback methods are introduced to the CBIR area as a tool to help the user to guide the retrieval system during the search process. Search history of the retrieval system, which is the accumulated feedbacks from past retrievals, has been recently used as a prior knowledge to improve the image retrieval performance. In this paper, we introduce an image retrieval model based on probabilistic latent semantic analysis (PLSA) that utilizes the system's search history to find hidden image semantics of the database. Image features are integrated to the model as well. The model is capable of detecting images and image features that efficiently represent semantic classes in the database. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach by comparing to previous work in this area.
Lysimeter For Measuring Arid-Zone Evapotranspiration

Abstract This paper describes the detailed design and construction phases of the original monolith hydraulic weighing system lysimeter, the inherent difficulties encountered, and the modification and conversion of the lysimeter to the electronic transducer assembly. Accompanying test data with respect to sensitivity, response time and differential loading characteristics support the premise that the electronic load-cell design has inherent maintenance and operational advantages over the hydraulic transducer lysimeter. In the desert environment, comparison of the yearly evapotranspiration rate of the creosote plot in the lysimeter to the water-balance measurements also support the accuracy and reliability of an electronic load-cell design.
Extremal Systems with Upper-Bounded Odd Intersections

In this paper we determine the maximum cardinality m of a family A= {A 1,..., A m} of subsets of a set of n elements with the property that for each A i there are at most s A j such that |A i ? A j | is odd (even). A tight upper bound is given in the case s < c(2 n,2/n). In the remaining cases we give an asymptotically tight upper bound. As an application we give a tight upper-bound for the cardinality of a family with even multi-intersection. Both results generalize a result of Berlekamp and Graver.