cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Classifying and Comparing Attribute-Based and Relationship-Based Access Control

Attribute-based access control (ABAC) expresses authorization policy via attributes while relationship-based access control (ReBAC) does so via relationships. While ABAC concepts have been around for a long time, ReBAC is relatively recent emerging with its essential application in online social networks. Even as ABAC and ReBAC continue to evolve, there are conflicting claims in the literature regarding their comparison. It has been argued that ABAC can subsume ReBAC since attributes can encode relationships. Conversely there are claims that the multilevel (or indirect) relations of ReBAC bring fundamentally new capabilities. So far there is no rigorous comparative study of ABAC vis a vis ReBAC. This paper presents a comparative analysis of ABAC and ReBAC, and shows how various ReBAC features can be realized with different types of ABAC. We first identify several attribute types such as entity/non-entity and structured attributes that significantly influence ABAC or ReBAC expressiveness. We then develop a family of ReBAC models and a separate family of ABAC models based on the identified attribute types, with the goal of comparing the expressive power of these two model families. Further, we identify different dynamics of the models that are crucial for model comparison. We also consider different solutions for representing multilevel relationships with attributes. Finally, the ABAC and ReBAC model families are compared in terms of relative expressiveness and performance implications.
Biologische Grundlagen von Geschlechtsunterschieden

Wir gehen von der Annahme aus, dass es zwei Geschlechter gibt. Fur viele Menschen scheint diese Tatsache auf der Hand zu liegen. Die Angelegenheit ist jedoch komplizierter, als man meinen konnte. Wenn man mannlich und weiblich anhand der sozialen Rollen des Individuums definieren musste, konnte man zu der Ansicht gelangen, dass man mannlich und weiblich kaum als klare Dichotomie sehen kann. Man kann Individuen begegnen (und das sind moglicherweise viele), die in ihrer sozialen Rolle in der Mitte zwischen dem typischen Mann und der typischen Frau liegen. Die meisten Menschen zeigen im Sozialverhalten eine Mischung aus maskulinen und femininen Merkmalen. Wenn man dieser Auffassung folgt, kann man »Mann« und »Frau« lediglich als die zwei Endpunkte eines Kontinuums betrachten, nicht aber als getrennt.
Neuroimaging in contact sports: Determining brain fitness before and after a bout

Background: Professional boxing and mixed martial arts (MMA) are popular contact sports with high risk for both acute and chronic traumatic brain injury (TBI). Although rare, combatants have died in the ring/cage or soon after the completion of the bout. The cause of death in these cases is usually acute subdural hematoma, acute epidural hematoma, subarachnoid haemorrhage, intracranial haemorrhage, or second-impact syndrome (SIS). Neuroimaging or brain imaging is currently included in the process of registering for a license to fight in a combat sport in most states in the United States and around the world. However, the required imaging specifics and frequency vary.Discussion: Neuroimaging serves two distinct roles in the individualised care of a combatant, representing a step towards personalised medicine and individual risk stratification. Neuroimaging prior to licensure helps to identify and/or exclude coincidental or clinically suspected brain lesions which may pose a risk for rupture, bleeding or other catastrophic and important brain injury. Neuroimaging in the immediate aftermath of a bout primarily serves to rule out acute traumatic brain injury. Neuroimaging may also be carried out to assess for evidence of structural brain injury which may make a combatant more likely to express late-life neuropsychiatric sequelae of brain injury, such as chronic traumatic encephalopathy. As such, neuroimaging plays a prognostic role and aids in the determination of whether the combatant should be allowed to continue to participate in future bouts or not.Conclusion: Currently there are no established neuroimaging guidelines for contact sports. Standardising neuroimaging guidelines both for licensure as well as neuroimaging modality, and protocols to assess for both acute and chronic traumatic brain injury. This will assist in protecting the combatant’s health and safety, both in the ring/cage, and after their professional careers have ended. Some suggested guidelines are provided based on currently available medical literature. It is recommended that these guidelines be debated vigorously by the scientific community and that evidence-based guidelines be developed by the medical community in conjunction with professional boxing and MMA governing bodies.
Real-time control and management of roaming wideband SATCOM terminals

Wideband SATCOM provides essential beyond line-of-sight communications services. At this time, however, no widely adopted protocols exist to facilitate roaming between access domains. In addition, most commercial SATCOM networks rely on proprietary network management systems. This paper addresses use of a Manager of Manager architecture, supported by local intelligent agents, for managing a global “mixture of media” SATCOM network with multiple access domains. Emphasis is on managing cross-domain roaming, where challenges include terminal mobility, waveform switching, adaptive modulation/coding, antenna beam handover, terminal reconfiguration, service transfer, along with associated management and control of multiple service providers in realtime. Policy planning and enforcement coordination between subsidiary network managers and element managers is discussed.
Evaluating long-term economic and ecological consequences of continuous and multi-paddock grazing - a modeling approach

Abstract Aside from overstocking, inappropriate grazing management strategies may cause rangeland degradation in commercial scale ranches. In this paper we construct a dynamic model to study the economic and ecological consequences of continuous and multi-paddock (MP) grazing. Simulations on long-term economic profitability and ecological indices were carried out for continuous vs. MP grazing management strategies under different grass growth rates, grass dormant periods, initial ecological conditions and various installation costs for MP grazing. Results show that compared to continuous grazing, MP grazing on large commercial ranches greatly increases the optimal 30-year net present value (NPV) by sustaining much higher stocking rates. At realistic stocking rates, MP grazing both increases long-term economic profit and improves ecological conditions. The advantage of MP grazing is more pronounced under xeric conditions, longer grass dormancy period, and initial prevalence of less palatable grasses and weeds. However, ranch managers for smaller ranches and/or ranches under short-term leases are less likely to adopt MP grazing due to its diminished economic advantages on those ranches.
Host Inflammatory Response to Infection

This chapter talks about some of the challenges from the various layers of the host response to which Helicobacter pylori must adapt in order to survive in the gastric niche. The outcome of a persistent infection interacting with a chronic inflammatory response is discussed in the context of the survival of the organism and the impact this may have on the host. An infection introduced into the digestive tract must immediately deal with antimicrobial factors that exist in the mucous secretions of the oral cavity and stomach. The mucus overlaying the gastric epithelium provides an "antiseptic paint" containing antibodies and antimicrobial factors such as lactoferrin and lysozyme that protect mucosal tissues. Gastric antibodies may be ineffective at limiting the infection for several reasons that are more obvious when one considers how antibodies usually confer protection. Helper T-cell (Th) responses have been viewed as primarily belonging to one of two major subsets, Th1 or Th2, on the basis of their cytokine profile. The presence of an ineffective T-cell response suggests that the selection of a very limited T-cell subset facilitates persistent infection by H. pylori. Th1 cells and the associated cell-mediated immunity may be tolerable when kept under control, but an overwhelming Th1 response, in combination with host genetics, specific strains of bacteria, and other environmental factors, could contribute to epithelial cell damage and ulcerogenesis. Since humans are believed to be a major reservoir for H. pylori, the continued survival of the bacterial species depends largely on human-to-human transmission.
Experimental cytoxan cystitis and prevention by acetylcysteine.

Abstract Cytoxan (cyclophosphamide) given to rats intraperitoneally produced a severe cystitis within four hours with marked inflammatory edema and hemorrhagic ulcerations of the mucosa. An in vivo staining test with ethylene blue showed deep staining of the urothelium as has been demonstrated with other types of urothelial injuries; uninjured urothelium does not stain. The cytoxan cystitis is probably not due to cytoxan itself, but to a breakdown product acrolein, an aldehyde appearing in the urine. Rat experiments demonstrated that acrolein instilled intravesically produced a cystitis similar to that found with cytoxan injected intraperitoneally. The cystitis due either to cytoxan or acrolein was prevented by simultaneous intravesical administration of an aldehyde inactivating agent, acetylcysteine (mucomyst).
In vitro production and screening of DNA polymerase eta mutants for catalytic diversity.

Mutant DNA polymerases have become an increasingly important tool in biotechnology. The ability to examine the activity and specific properties of enzymes has a crucial role in the characterization of the enzyme. We have developed several systems for characterizing DNA polymerases that combine random mutagenesis with in vivo selection systems. However, in vivo screening systems for specific properties are sometimes unavailable. The ability to quickly screen for polymerase activity has many applications, including the identification of compounds that can inhibit polymerase activity, identifying the properties of newly discovered polymerases, and engineering new biological properties into existing polymerases. These applications can both expand the knowledge of the basic science of polymerases and can further industrial efforts to identify new drugs that specifically target polymerase activity. Here we present a high-throughput in vitro assay to select for active polymerases. We show the applicability of th...
Increasing Numbers of Pre-operative Shoulder Injections are Associated with a Higher Rate of Subsequent Revision Rotator Cuff Surgery.

Objectives:Subacromial steroid injections are frequently used in the initial conservative management of rotator cuff (RC) tears, however, the long-term effect of this treatment in patients who even...
Mechanism and Regulation of Swelling-Activated Inositol Efflux in Brain Glial Cells

Rat C6 glioma cells chronically acclimated to hypertonic media accumulate large quantities of inositol. When returned to isotonic conditions, the cells swell and lose inositol slowly via a four- to...
Using a RE-AIM framework to identify promising practices in National Diabetes Prevention Program implementation

The National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP) is rapidly expanding in an effort to help those at high risk of type 2 diabetes prevent or delay the disease. In 2012, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention funded six national organizations to scale and sustain multistate delivery of the National DPP lifestyle change intervention (LCI). This study aims to describe reach, adoption, and maintenance during the 4-year funding period and to assess associations between site-level factors and program effectiveness regarding participant attendance and participation duration. The Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework was used to guide the evaluation from October 2012 to September 2016. Multilevel linear regressions were used to examine associations between participant-level demographics and site-level strategies and number of sessions attended, attendance in months 7–12, and duration of participation. The six funded national organizations increased the number of participating sites from 68 in 2012 to 164 by 2016 across 38 states and enrolled 14,876 eligible participants. By September 2016, coverage for the National DPP LCI was secured for 42 private insurers and 7 public payers. Nearly 200 employers were recruited to offer the LCI on site to their employees. Site-level strategies significantly associated with higher overall attendance, attendance in months 7–12, and longer participation duration included using self-referral or word of mouth as a recruitment strategy, providing non-monetary incentives for participation, and using cultural adaptations to address participants’ needs. Sites receiving referrals from healthcare providers or health systems also had higher attendance in months 7–12 and longer participation duration. At the participant level, better outcomes were achieved among those aged 65+ (vs. 18–44 or 45–64), those who were overweight (vs. obesity), those who were non-Hispanic white (vs. non-Hispanic black or multiracial/other races), and those eligible based on a blood test or history of gestational diabetes mellitus (vs. screening positive on a risk test). In a time of rapid dissemination of the National DPP LCI the findings of this evaluation can be used to enhance program implementation and translate lessons learned to similar organizations and settings.
Augmentation of Antidepressant Treatment Offers Little Benefit.

The available evidence that treatment-resistant depression (depression that is unresponsive to two different treatments of adequate dose and length) responds well to augmentation treatment (i.e., adding psychotherapy, lithium, or aripiprazole [Abilify] to current treatment) is weak.
Horizontal and Vertical Integration of Health Care Providers: A Framework for Understanding Various Provider Organizational Structures.

Introduction: Current U.S. policy and payment initiatives aim to encourage health care provider accountability for population health and higher value care, resulting in efforts to integrate providers along the continuum. Providers work together through diverse organizational structures, yet evidence is limited regarding how to best organize the delivery system to achieve higher value care. Methods: In 2016, we conducted a narrative review of 10 years of literature to identify definitional components of key organizational structures in the United States. A clear accounting of common organizational structures is foundational for understanding the system attributes that are associated with higher value care. Results: We distinguish between structures characterized by the horizontal integration of providers delivering similar services and the vertical integration of providers fulfilling different functions along the care continuum. We characterize these structures in terms of their origins, included providers and services, care management functions, and governance. Conclusions and discussion: Increasingly, U.S. policymakers seek to promote provider integration and coordination. Emerging evidence suggests that organizational structures, composition, and other characteristics influence cost and quality performance. Given current efforts to reform the U.S. delivery system, future research should seek to systematically examine the role of organizational structure in cost and quality outcomes.
Retrospective 15-Year Review of Anal Cytology Screening in Women at Mayo Clinic Rochester, Minnesota.

Objectives Anal cytology is a modality for anal cancer screening in high-risk women. In this retrospective study, we review risk factors associated with abnormal anal cytology and unsatisfactory anal cytology rates, and correlate findings of cytology with histological results. Methods A retrospective cohort study of anal cytology screening in women at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota from 2002 to 2018 was conducted. Results Three hundred fifty-seven women had a total of 592 anal cytologies performed. Three hundred seventeen women had screening anal cytology, whereas 40 women had anal cytology for surveillance given a history of anal intraepithelial neoplasia (AIN) or anal cancer. An unsatisfactory anal cytology result was found in 14.7%. Risk factors, type of follow-up, and correlation with histologic specimens were also reviewed. Histologic finding of AIN 2/3 correlated with abnormal anal cytology 84% of the time in this cohort. Conclusions High-risk women should be screened on a periodic basis for anal cancer. Anal cytology is one possible modality that can be used. Further insight into AIN progression, regression, recurrence, and outcome after treatment will help direct future screening recommendations.
Community violence and African American male health outcomes: An integrative review of literature.

Community violence exposure is essential when considering African American male adult health outcomes. This integrative review of literature is guided by the research questions: (a) How has community violence been measured in African American male adults? and (b) What impact does community violence have on African America male health outcomes? This study synthesises eight current articles identified by the search terms-community violence, impact, African Americans, care, and men. Of the eight identified articles, there were quantitative (n = 5), qualitative (n = 1) and mixed methods (n = 2). Findings indicate a wide array of screening tools for violent experiences and highlight the potential negative impacts of violence in communities; however, literature regarding strategies for identification and treatment of psychosocial and physical health status of African American male adults experiencing direct and indirect community violence remains limited. Further work in clinical care and community health settings related to violence is warranted.
Addressing sexually transmitted infections in the sociocultural context of black heterosexual relationships in the United States.

Abstract Rationale Black girls and women are disproportionately affected by sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS). Research shows sexual networks, sexual concurrency, and assortative mixing impacting racial disparities in STI/HIV. However, the underlying sociocultural conditions of these phenomenon have yet to be fully explored within a framework of Black girls' and women's sexual development. Objective This grounded theory study investigated the sociocultural conditions and processes of becoming a sexual Black woman in order to understand the sociocultural drivers of STI/HIV rates among this group. Method We used theoretical sampling to select and interview 20 Black women aged 19–62 years old from a Midwestern community. Results This study revealed sociocultural conditions related to Black heterosexual relationships and STI/HIV risk. Protecting Black men, silencing Black girls and women, cultural norms and messaging about sexuality, and gendered societal expectations and sexual stereotypes contribute to STI/HIV risk in Black girls and women. Conclusions Our findings demonstrate how the intersection of social and systemic structures (i.e.,history, incarceration, unemployment) shape the context of Black heterosexual relationships. We suggest STI/HIV prevention efforts address these systemic, cultural, and societal factors in order to effectively reduce racial disparities in STI/HIV risk.
Improved properties and thermal stability of a titanium-stainless steel solid-state weld with a niobium interlayer

Abstract Stainless steel (SS) and titanium alloys can be welded in the solid-state by high speed oblique impact. Here, the effect of a niobium (Nb) interlayer on weld strength and thermal stability is evaluated. Both Ti/SS and Ti/Nb/SS welds were subjected to thermal exposure ranging from 300 °C to 950 °C for 1.5 h. Thermal exposure monotonically decreases the strength and toughness of the Ti/SS pair with a dramatic falloff in strength and change in failure mode from partial pullout failure to full interfacial fracture at 600 °C. With the interlayer, toughness was increased versus baseline up to 700 °C thermal exposure and then intermetallic formation again caused falloff in properties. Guidelines for the production, properties and applications of these classes of welds are provided.
A Responsive-Pricing Retailer Sourcing From Competing Independent and Correlated Suppliers Facing Disruptions

Problem definition: We study a problem of a retailer that orders from competing strategic suppliers subject to independent or correlated disruptions and responds by setting the retail price on delivery, called responsive pricing. The suppliers set their wholesale prices in a Nash game. Academic/practical relevance: Supplier disruption correlation exists for reasons such as product and service designs, geographic proximity, and common tier 2 suppliers. In practice, many retailers are able to set the product price after knowing the delivered quantity. Methodology: We model this problem as a Stackelberg–Nash game with the suppliers as the leaders and the retailer as the follower and obtain its equilibrium explicitly. We perform sensitivity analyses with respect to suppliers’ production costs, reliabilities, and their correlation. Results: We find, surprisingly, that an increase in the reliability of a supplier may, counter to our intuition, hurt it because of the competition between the suppliers selling to a responsive-pricing retailer. Furthermore, in contrast to the literature, we find that under responsive pricing, a high disruption correlation may benefit a supplier that has a cost advantage, and the total order quantity may increase in that correlation because of supplier competition. Managerial implications: This paper has important implications for unreliable suppliers because the way reliability and correlation influence their profits depends on the retailer’s pricing power and the competition intensity between the suppliers. With a responsive-pricing retailer, a supplier may not benefit from higher reliability but may benefit from a higher correlation. This suggests that a low-cost supplier serving a responsive-pricing retailer could add to its decision-making tools a new incentive of creating a positively correlated supply network by building plants in the geographic location of its competitor or sourcing from the same tier 2 supplier to obtain an increased correlation strategically.
Behavioral Nudges Increase COVID-19 Vaccinations

Enhancing vaccine uptake is a critical public health challenge. Overcoming vaccine hesitancy and failure to follow through on vaccination intentions requires effective communication strategies. Here we present two sequential randomized controlled trials to test the effect of behavioural interventions on the uptake of COVID-19 vaccines. We designed text-based reminders that make vaccination salient and easy, and delivered them to participants drawn from a healthcare system one day (first randomized controlled trial) (n = 93,354 participants; clinicaltrials number NCT04800965) and eight days (second randomized controlled trial) (n = 67,092 individuals; clinicaltrials number NCT04801524) after they received a notification of vaccine eligibility. The first reminder boosted appointment and vaccination rates within the healthcare system by 6.07 (84%) and 3.57 (26%) percentage points, respectively; the second reminder increased those outcomes by 1.65 and 1.06 percentage points, respectively. The first reminder had a greater effect when it was designed to make participants feel ownership of the vaccine dose. However, we found no evidence that combining the first reminder with a video-based information intervention designed to address vaccine hesitancy heightened its effect. We performed online studies (n = 3,181 participants) to examine vaccination intentions, which revealed patterns that diverged from those of the first randomized controlled trial; this underscores the importance of pilot-testing interventions in the field. Our findings inform the design of behavioural nudges for promoting health decisions, and highlight the value of making vaccination easy and inducing feelings of ownership over vaccines.
iDEP-assisted isolation of insulin secretory vesicles

Organelle heterogeneity and inter-organelle associations within a single cell contribute to the limited sensitivity of current organelle separation techniques, thus hindering organelle subpopulation characterization. Here we use direct current insulator-based dielectrophoresis (DC-iDEP) as an unbiased separation method and demonstrate its capability by identifying distinct distribution patterns of insulin vesicles from pancreatic {beta}-cells. A multiple voltage DC-iDEP strategy with increased range and sensitivity has been applied, and a differentiation factor (ratio of electrokinetic to dielectrophoretic mobility) has been used to characterize features of insulin vesicle distribution patterns. We observed a significant difference in the distribution pattern of insulin vesicles isolated from glucose-stimulated cells relative to unstimulated cells, in accordance with functional maturation of vesicles upon glucose stimulation, and interpret this to be indicative of high-resolution separation of vesicle subpopulation. DC-iDEP provides a path for future characterization of subtle biochemical differences of organelle subpopulations within any biological system.
Stellar Evolution Physics

Volume 1: Part I. Introduction and Overview: 1. Qualitative description of single and binary star evolution 2. Quantitative foundations of stellar evolution theory Part II. Basic Physical Processes in Stellar Interiors: 3. Properties of and physical processes in the interiors of main sequence stars - order of magnitude estimates 4. Statistical physics, thermodynamics, and equations of state 5. Polytropes and single zone models: elementary tools for understanding some aspects of stellar structure and evolution 6. Hydrogen-burning nuclear reactions and energy-generation rates 7. Photon-matter interactions and opacity 8. Equations of stellar evolution and methods of solution Part III. Pre-Main Sequence, Main Sequence, and Shell Hydrogen Burning Evolution of Single Stars: 9. Star formation and evolution to the main-sequence 10. Solar structure and neutrino physics 11. Evolution during core hydrogen-burning phases up to the onset of helium burning Volume 2: Part IV. Transport Processes, Weak Interaction Processes and Helium-Burning Reactions: 12. Diffusion and gravitational settling 13. Heat conduction by electrons 14. Beta decay and electron capture at high densities in stars 15. The current-current weak interaction and the production of neutrino-antineutrino pairs 16. Helium-burning nuclear reactions and energy-generation rates Part V. Evolution during Helium-Burning Phases: 17. Evolution of a low mass model burning helium and hydrogen 18. Evolution of an intermediate mass model burning helium and hydrogen 19. Neutron production and neutron capture in a thermally pulsing asymptotic giant branch star of intermediate mass 20. Evolution of a massive population I model during helium- and carbon-burning stages Part VI. Terminal Evolution of Low and Intermediate Mass Stars: 21. Wind mass loss on the AGB and formation of a circumstellar envelope, evolution of the remnant as the central star of a planetary nebula, and white dwarf evolution Index.
Imperfect Reasons and Rational Options

Agents often face a choice of what to do. And it seems that, in most of these choice situations, the relevant reasons do not require performing some particular act, but instead permit performing any of numerous act alternatives. This is known as the basic belief. Below, I argue that the best explanation for the basic belief is not that the relevant reasons are incommensurable (Raz) or that their justifying strength exceeds the requiring strength of opposing reasons (Gert), but that they are imperfect reasons—reasons that do not support performing any particular act, but instead support choosing any of the numerous alternatives that would each achieve the same worthy end. In the process, I develop and defend a novel theory of objective rationality, arguing that it is superior to its two most notable rivals.
Lightweight Database Wrapper for Unstructured Data

We propose an approach to interpreting a structured query language over unstructured data. We define partial records on heterogeneous relations as a means to bridge the gap between structured and unstructured data, as well as an algebra that merges relationa l operations with Information Extraction operations. This algebra provides support to our Lightweight SQL (L-SQL) language. As part of this effort we define an interface between a relational eng ine and an Information Extraction module. We have implemented a system based on these ideas and describe the system, including optimization efforts and early experiments.
Synchronization in virtual realities

Interactive graphics, and especially virtual reality systems, require synchronization of sight, sound, and user motion if they are to be convincing and natural. We present a solution to the synchronization problem that is based on optimal estimation methods.
Our Children: Parental Decisions — How Much to Invest in Your Offspring

Reproduction is the most fundamental of evolutionary behaviors, yet hu- man parents face especially complex tradeoffs when deciding how many children to have and how much to invest in each of them. This chapter reviews parental in- vestment theory, including both the key concepts and some important questions to which they have been applied in humans. Written primarily from the perspective of human behavioral ecology, this chapter also discusses how evolutionary social scientists have approached cross-cultural variation in parenting behavior. The chap- ter begins with an overview of life history theory and the concept of reproductive tradeoffs, focusing especially on the tradeoffs between current vs. future reproduc- tion and quantity vs. quality of offspring. Discussing the critical question of who invests in offspring, I next compare motivations for investment between mothers and fathers, and explore the roles of many types of kin in investment, while consi- dering whether humans can be viewed as cooperative breeders. I then explore the role of parent-offspring conflict and sibling conflict in parental investment and in- heritance systems, followed by an exploration of sex biases in investment, including the Trivers-Willard effect local resource competition, and local resource enhance- ment. In conclusion, I argue that parental investment has been one of the most active areas of enquiry among evolutionary researchers over the last twenty years, and is likely to remain one of the mainstays of the field during the coming decades.
Deseos de la disciplina: viaje etnológico al latinoamericanismo estadounidense

The traditional model in literary history -characterized by its desire to nullify the differences, locate a triumphant centre over the peripheral and naturalize the notion of unity-, seems to have been replaced by a more modern paradigm, defined by the integration of the multiracial, multiethnic and multicultural in its proposal. Reading from the field of English literary studies, Stephen Greenblatt has observed that this change came as a result of both the critical-ideological examination of the matter and the effect of global capitalism on symbolic production. Nevertheless, says Greenblatt, the traditional-national model seems to have migrated "from the centre to what was once called the periphery". To examine this matter from the perspective of the Latin-American studies that take place in the United States, responsible for one of the largest academic productions in the field, may help understand the real range of the material conditions of the cultural paradigm present in diverse "Latin-American literary histories". This article examines the presence and meaning of these conditions within the recent cycles that renew Latin-American literary criticism produced in the United States, paying particular attention to the pragmatic influence posed by their specific curricular demands, as well as to how the market pressures shape the investigator's place and even the theorical course of his investigations.
Fabricating interlocking support walls, with an adjustable backshort, in a TES bolometer array for far-infrared astronomy

Abstract We report a fabrication process for deep etching silicon to different depths with a single masking layer, using standard masking and exposure techniques. Using this technique, we have incorporated a deep notch in the support walls of a transition-edge-sensor (TES) bolometer array during the detector back-etch, while simultaneously creating a cavity behind the detector. The notches serve to receive the support beams of a separate component, the Backshort-Under-Grid (BUG), an array of adjustable height quarter-wave backshorts that fill the cavities behind each pixel in the detector array. The backshort spacing, set prior to securing to the detector array, can be controlled from 25 to 300 μm by adjusting only a few process steps. In addition to backshort spacing, the interlocking beams and notches provide positioning and structural support for the ∼1 mm pitch, 8×8 array. This process is being incorporated into developing a TES bolometer array with an adjustable backshort for use in far-infrared astronomy. The masking technique and machining process used to fabricate the interlocking walls will be discussed.
Aspergillus Species Colonization and Invasive Disease in Patients with AIDS

Invasive aspergillosis is an uncommon infectious complication in patients with AIDS. Of the 972 patients with AIDS who were observed at our institution over a 10-year period, Aspergillus species were isolated from the respiratory sites of 45 patients before death. Invasive aspergillosis was documented at autopsy in four of these patients and was strongly suspected in an additional patient on whom an autopsy was not performed. A fifth case was documented at autopsy (no antemortem respiratory sample was obtained from this patient). Traditional risk factors for the development of invasive disease (neutropenia, hematologic malignancy, and/or corticosteroid use) were present in all of our patients with invasive aspergillosis. A review of the literature revealed reports of an additional 13 cases of invasive aspergillosis in patients with AIDS. Therapy with amphotericin B should be considered for neutropenic patients with AIDS who have pneumonia of uncertain etiology and from whom Aspergillus species have been isolated from a respiratory specimen.
RNAi-directed inhibition of DC-SIGN by dendritic cells: prospects for HIV-1 therapy.

Drug-resistant human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections are increasing globally, especially in North America. Therefore, it is logical to develop new therapies directed against HIV binding molecules on susceptible host cells in addition to current treatment modalities against virus functions. Inhibition of the viral genome can be achieved by degrading or silencing posttranslational genes using small interfering (si) ribonucleic acids (RNAs) consisting of double-stranded forms of RNA. These siRNAs usually contain 21–23 base pairs (bp) and are highly specific for the nucleotide sequence of the target messenger RNA (mRNA). These siRNAs form a complex with helicase and nuclease enzymes known as “RNA-induced silencing complex” (RISC) that leads to target RNA degradation. Thus, siRNA has become a method of selective destruction of HIV now used by various investigators around the globe. However, given the sequence divesity of the HIV genomes of infected subjects, it is difficult to target a specific HIV sequence. Therefore, targeting nonvariable HIV binding receptors on susceptible cells or other molecules of host cells that are directly or indirectly involved in HIV infections may be an interesting alternative to targeting the virus itself. Thus, the simultaneous use of siRNAs specific for HIV and host cells may be a unique, new approach to the therapy that siRNA directed at the CD4 independent attachment receptor (DC-SIGN) significantly inhibits HIV infection of dendritic cells (DCs). This effect may be mediated by modulation of p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK).
Carrier Recombination Dynamics Investigations of Strain-Compensated InGaAsN Quantum Wells

The time evolution of the photoluminescence (PL) of 1300-nm emitting InGaAsN/ GaAs/GaAsP strain-compensated single quantum well (QW) in the temperature range of T 1/4 10 K - 300 K is investigated. The PL spectra observed at the early stages of carrier recombination is dominated by two transitions. These two transitions are identified as the first quantized electron state to heavy-hole state (e1-hh1) and electron to light-hole state (e1-lh1) from the analysis of polarized photocurrent measurements in combination with k · p simulation of the band structure. At longer time delays, the dilute-nitride QW exhibits carrier localization at low temperatures and faster recombination time at higher temperatures. The PL dynamics characteristics observed in the InGaAsN QW are different from those measured from the InGaAs QW.
A synchrotron radiation x-ray microdiffraction study on orientation relationships between a Cu6 Sn5 and Cu substrate in solder joints

The orientation distribution of Cu6Sn5 scallops and its relationship with the orientation of copper substrate was studied using synchrotron-radiation-based micro-x-ray diffraction. Laue spots were obtained both from the Cu6Sn5 and copper at the same time. From the Laue patterns, orientation distribution maps of the Cu6Sn5 and copper were obtained. The orientation of the Cu6Sn5 scallops had a strong dependence on that of copper. The [001] direction of Cu6Sn5 is always parallel to the [110] of copper, and either the (110) or the (010) plane of Cu6Sn5 is parallel to the (001) plane of copper. It was also found that the scallops of Cu6Sn5 gradually gain texture in the early stage of reflow, but lose the texture after a long reflow.
Highly Usable and Accurate Iris Segmentation

Iris segmentation is driven by three different quality factors: accuracy, usability and speed. Unfortunately the deeply analysis of the literature shows that the greatest efforts of the researchers mainly focus on accuracy and speed. Proposed solutions, in fact, do not meet the usability requirement since they are based on specific optimizations related to the operating context and they impose binding conditions on the sensors to be used for the acquisition of periocular images. This paper tries to fill this gap by introducing an innovative iris segmentation technique that can be used in unconstrained environments, under non-ideal imaging conditions and, above all, that does not require any interaction for adaptation to different operating conditions. Experimental results, carried out on challenging databases, demonstrate that the high usability of the proposed solution does not penalize segmentation accuracy which, in some respects, outperforms that of the leading approaches in the literature.
Demonstration of a Multiscale Biaxial Tensile Testing Device: Simultaneous Mechanical and Microstructural Response of Porcine Coronary Artery

It has been shown that the mechanical properties of tissue change significantly with age and under different disease states [1]. Specifically, blood vessels have shown that modified mechanical properties can be a predictor of impending disease such as advanced atherosclerosis or aneurysm [2].Copyright © 2010 by ASME
The hmuQ and hmuD Genes from Bradyrhizobium japonicum Encode Heme-Degrading Enzymes

Utilization of heme by bacteria as a nutritional iron source involves the transport of exogenous heme, followed by cleavage of the heme macrocycle to release iron. Bradyrhizobium japonicum can use heme as an iron source, but no heme-degrading oxygenase has been described. Here, bioinformatics analyses of the B. japonicum genome identified two paralogous genes renamed hmuQ (bll7075) and hmuD (bll7423) that encode proteins with weak similarity to the heme-degrading monooxygenase IsdG from Staphylococcus aureus. The hmuQ gene is clustered with known heme transport genes in the genome. Recombinant HmuQ bound heme with a Kd value of 0.8 μM and showed spectral properties consistent with a heme oxygenase. In the presence of a reductant, HmuQ catalyzed the degradation of heme and the formation of biliverdin. The hmuQ and hmuD genes complemented a Corynebacterium ulcerans heme oxygenase mutant in trans for utilization of heme as the sole iron source for growth. Furthermore, homologs of hmuQ and hmuD were identified in many bacterial genera, and the recombinant homolog from Brucella melitensis bound heme and catalyzed its degradation. The findings show that hmuQ and hmuD encode heme oxygenases and indicate that the IsdG family of heme-degrading monooxygenases is not restricted to gram-positive pathogenic bacteria.
What Is Happening When the Blue Bottle Bleaches: An Investigation of the Methylene Blue-Catalyzed Air Oxidation of Glucose

An investigation of the Blue Bottle Experiment, a well-known lecture demonstration reaction involving the dye-catalyzed air oxidation of a reducing sugar in alkaline solution, has delineated the sequence of reactions leading to the bleaching of the dye, the regeneration of color, and so forth. Enolization of the sugar is proposed as a key step in the sequence. The first-order rate constant for this step was found to be ∼2.3 × 10–3 min–1 with respect to total sugar concentration under the conditions used (0.184 M glucose, pH 13.3, 25 °C). Measurements with an oxygen-sensing electrode on Blue-Bottle mixtures containing varying quantities of methylene blue indicated that in a usual demonstration the rate of O2 consumption is ∼60% of the enolization rate. Small samples of the organic oxidation product were isolated and found by chromatographic and NMR-spectroscopic examination to consist primarily of the 5-carbon sugar acid arabinonic acid.
Degradation of I125-labelled serum low density lipoprotein in normal and estrogen-treated male rats

Summary Experiments were performed to determine the site of degradation of radioiodinated serum low density lipoprotein (I125-LDL). Estrogen treatment, which was found to result in near absence of LDL in adult male rats, was employed for comparison with the normal catabolic system. Differences were noted between normal and estrogen-treated rats regarding kinetics of disappearance of I125-LDL from the serum. In situ perfused livers from normal rats were found to take up and degrade I125-LDL; both processes were accelerated in perfused livers from estrogen-treated rats. The liver is proposed as a major site of I125-LDL uptake and degradation.
Studies on milk secretion. The influence of inanition.

In this paper data are presented on cows receiving no food but having access to all of the water which they wished. The yield and composition of the milk were determined at various times during the periods of starvation. The composition of the milk showed changes which were progressive in the sense that they followed a definite course. They were characterized by a marked lowering in the amount of milk produced, by an increase in the total solids (chiefly an increase in the percentage of fat and ash, with a slight increase in proteins), and by a pronounced decrease in the lactose. The decrease in lactose corresponded with a decrease in the dextrose content of the blood, thereby supporting the conclusion that the lactose of milk has as its precursor dextrose of the blood. All the changes in milk composition during starvation can be directly related to the simultaneous changes in the blood. The following companion paper on insulin and phloridzin as they affect milk secretion further develops these hypotheses.
Toward machine-assisted participation in eRulemaking: an argumentation model of evaluability

eRulemaking is an ongoing effort to use online tools to foster broader and better public participation in rulemaking --- the multi-step process that federal agencies use to develop new health, safety, and economic regulations. The increasing participation of non-expert citizens, however, has led to a growth in the amount of arguments whose validity or strength are difficult to evaluate, both by the government agencies and fellow citizens. Such arguments typically neglect to provide the reasons for the conclusions and objective evidence for factual claims upon which the arguments are based. In this paper, we propose a novel argumentation model for capturing the evaluability of user comments in eRulemaking. This model is intended to be used for implementing automated systems to assist users in constructing evaluable arguments under online commenting environment for the benefit of quick feedback at a low cost.
Approximate real polynomial division via approximate inversion of real triangular Toeplitz matrices

Abstract We first modify the known FFT based algorithm for approximate polynomial division (which is equivalent to inversion of triangular Toeplitz matrices) by replacing FFT by DST, Discrete Sine Transform. The algorithm remains as fast as before but avoids involving nonreal numbers where the input is real. Then in similar modification we replace FFT by DCT, Discrete Cosine Transform.
Effects of filter internal reflection coefficient on light absorption measurements made using the integrating plate method

Optical properties of Nuclepore filter media, as used in the integrating plate (IP) method for determination of aerosol light absorption, have been examined. It has been shown that the internal reflectance is high for the Nuclepore filters typically used and that changes in this value result in spurious contributions to absorption measurements. It has been found that aerosol particles on the filter surface can substantially alter the internal reflection coefficient of this material for a wide variety of aerosol types. The amount and nature of this change are found to vary with optical and physical properties of the aerosol in contact with the filter surface. A simple mathematical model of the optical system is described that allows for variations in Nuclepore internal reflectance. Implications of this model and data suggest that light absorption measurements as determined via the IP method may be systematically overestimated for certain samples by as much as 30%. Estimates of the magnitude of this inaccuracy for a given IP absorption measurement are presented based on the model and supplementary back reflectance measurements.
Diffusion dipole source

A method of solution of some diffusion-optics problems is presented, which yields analytic solutions in cases that previously could be solved only numerically. Diffusion dipoles are defined and their linearity and symmetry are exploited.
High pressure study of flexible fluorescent dye molecules in solid polymeric media. III. p-N,N′-dimethylaminobenzilidenemalononitrile (DMABMN) — reanalyzed

Abstract In this paper we reanalyze previously published luminescence data as a function of pressure for a molecule (DMABNM) which, at one atmosphere, has a luminescence intensity largely quenched by a change in excited state geometry. As for PY, discussed in the preceding paper, two twists are possible; in this case either a malonitrile group or a dimethylamino group. From our reanalysis of these data we are able to characterize the two twists separately in terms of the relative pressure dependence of k′ nr which is a function of the rate constants for transfer to and from the twisted and the rate constant for nonradiative dissipation of energy from the twisted state.