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5G Network Slice Vulnerabilities and Exploit Chaining through Enablers
No full textNetwork slicing provides fundamental support for the enhanced features of 5G. Network slicing enablers, such as software-defined networking and network function virtualization facilitate the separation of the physical distributed infrastructures and the functions that create isolated slices. With this framework, the network slice is no longer under the control of a single entity. Multiple infrastructure providers share responsibility for the slice. The 5G architecture derives from multiple services, distributed over great distances, and managed by multiple parties. Each enabler and provider adds vulnerability to network slicing. We examine the interweaving of these enablers to identify vulnerabilities, discuss potential mitigation, and address gaps in existing research related to the merging of these diverse enablers. Our approach incorporates a novel cyber kill chain model, taking the perspective of a threat actor and examining the stages the actor employs. Through this insight, we identify mitigation strategies that existing research overlooks
Pretty Vivisections: The Poeticization of Women\u27s Suffering in Renaissance Literature
No full textMuch attention in Renaissance-era works of poetry and drama is paid to the bodies of women: line after line of flowery language devoted to describing each feature of a woman, often comparing her to the natural world or to classical mythological beauties. These winding studies of ladies’ bodies came to be known as “anatomical blazons” – or, in French, the blason anatomique, also very simply summarized by Ann Rosalind Jones in her book “Distant Voices Still Heard” as a “love poem written in praise of a woman’s body.” While plenty of these blazons are, at most, tasteless, a disturbing number of these blazons examine the female body under conditions of extreme distress or violence, with emphasis on the preservation of the subject’s beauty through the horrors she endures, whether it’s bloodless peril or complete mutilation. Through analyzing the compositional and narrative treatment of Orlando Furioso’s Angelica, The Faerie Queene’s Amoret, and Titus Andronicus’s Lavinia through their perils in their respective texts, this research seeks to not only define a new concept of the blazon– the blason macabre– but examine how it has survived and adapted to new forms, specifically that of modern horror cinema
Redeemed: A Dance Composition and Analysis on Transformation
No full textI have created a film entitled Redeemed which utilizes the medium of dance to explore emotional devastation and restoration present throughout life. My experience as a kinesiology major with an exercise science concentration, dance minor, and fine and performing arts student at East Tennessee State University from 2021-2025 has ignited my desire to connect kinesthetic awareness, somatic movement, dance choreography, and improvisation in a way that is cathartic for both me as the choreographer/performer and the audience. My goal is to touch viewers on a soul level by embodying how it feels to truly and fully exist. This film consists of six scenes, each depicting a pair of opposing words that describe emotion I’ve felt in my own life. The first word is shown at the beginning of each scene, and with honesty and vulnerability I express my experiences through dance. Each word’s antithesis is shown at the end of its scene, reflecting the ways I have encountered transformation. My hope is that viewers are moved and inspired to reflect on redemptive moments in their own lives
The Downfall of Richard III In Context
No full textRichard III’s downfall and lasting reputation as a ruthless usurper was a direct consequence of his lust for power and self-interest. This study examines how the contemporary accounts from Richard’s reign contrast from later historical revisionism. Primary sources from Richard’s time were shaped by shifting alliances and craft a bleak picture of Richard’s reign. A compelling piece of evidence lies within an October 1483 correspondence from the Plumpton Letters written to Robert Plumpton by his brother Edward. This letter appears to hold self-censorship, with Edward lamenting the “bad state” of England during Richard’s rule; in the same letter, Edward hopes the Earl of Buckingham’s rebellion will be “withstanded”. The ambiguous wording of the correspondence suggests a climate of fear and political instability, underscoring the insecure nature of Richard’s rule. By analyzing these sources, this paper highlights how Richard’s political maneuvering not only hastened his downfall but led to a complex and contested historical legacy. This analysis ultimately reveals the cooperation between historical fact and political narrative in creating Richard III’s reputation
An ecological study of campylobacteriosis risk factors in Tennessee
No full textBackground: Data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that about 1.5 million cases of campylobacteriosis occurs annually in the U.S. In Tennessee, campylobacteriosis incidence increased gradually from about 9 per 100,000 people in 2020 to about 13 per 100,000 people in 2022. Ecological studies are useful when exposure data are available at the aggregate level rather than individual-case level. Therefore, this study examined the relationships between campylobacteriosis cases and ecological risk factors in Tennessee. Methods: The study was based on CDC FoodNet data in Tennessee with 7876 sporadic cases. Frequency distribution of the sociodemographic characteristics and yearly incidence of the disease were determined. The data were then aggregated at the zip code level for the ecological analysis. Bivariate and multivariate negative binomial regressions were used to determine factors associated with number of cases. Results: The majority of cases were male (52.85%). The median age was 44 years and 83% of the cases were racially white. About 62% of the persons infected with campylobacteriosis were hospitalized. The disease incidence in 2022 was the highest (18.44/100,000) and lowest in 2014 (13.35/100,000). The risk factors for campylobacteriosis include increasing percentage of whites in a zip code (IRR=1.0146; 95% CI: 1.0081–1.0211), increasing population density (IRR=1.0006; 95% CI: 1.0002–1.0009), the presence of chicken operation (IRR=1.2895; 95% CI: 1.0232–1.6150) and number of well water in a zip code area (IRR=1.0002; 95% CI: 1.0001–1.0004). Conclusion: The increase in the disease incidence from the least incidence in 2014 to the highest in 2022 suggest that intensified public health interventions will be required to lower the incidence trend. Furthermore, measures must be implemented to mitigate the risk associated with private well water safety and contaminated of water sources by chicken operation run-off. Hence, mitigation strategies aiming at reducing the pathogen transmission routes are needed
The Terror State
No full textIsrael’s most recent war against Gaza was an act of state terrorism masqueraded as an act of self-defense. This paper examines the deep connections between the State of Israel and terrorism, when this relationship began, and how it defines state policy to this day. The origins of the modern State of Israel trace back to the Zionist Movement of 19th century Europe and the terroristic pogroms Jews faced across the continent. How did these people respond to the very real threats facing them? Many sought to colonize British Mandatory Palestine to build a new nation-state for Jews. During the 1920s and 30s, groups like the Haganah, Irgun, and Stern Gang waged terror campaigns against the British Mandatory Government. This along with the revelations of the Holocaust ultimately led to the creation of the state of Israel in 1948. What is the significance of this connection between paramilitary terror groups and the State of Israel? These terror groups formed the core of the Israeli military overnight, bringing their tactics and lived experience. How did this change from nonstate to state actors affect their operations? These forces used the legitimation of international recognition to dispossess, displace, and kill Palestinian people who had been living there for millennia. The Nakba of 1948, as well as numerous waves of war and colonization in the intervening decades, have all been informed by terrorism from both Israel and Palestinians, at times real and at others exaggerated for political purposes. Why does this connection matter? In the wake of the genocide of the Palestinians and the uncertain future in Palestine, now more than ever it is vital to recognize Israeli terrorism\u27s role in how and why these events have transpired
Social Control Experiences Among Individuals With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
No full textPolycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is the most commonly occurring endocrine disorder among those with ovaries during reproductive age. Those with PCOS often face a wide range of stigma, including from their loved ones, due to the visible symptoms of PCOS (i.e., excess body weight and facial/body hair than typically expected for bodies of those assigned female at birth; Williams, 2023). Research on social control states that often family and close others may encourage healthier behaviors but are likely viewed as stigma as well (Rook, 2011). The present investigation, which was part of a larger online survey study entitled “PCOS Stories Study” and was approved by the ETSU IRB, examined social control experiences in 77 individuals with PCOS. Close-ended survey items using Likert scaling gauged how often particular social control efforts by loved ones occurred (Lewis & Rook, 1999). Additionally, participants responded to an open-ended item asking them to recall a time when a loved one urged them to change health behaviors (e.g., to lose weight). Three undergraduate research assistants, with supervision by the Primary Investigator, used reflexive thematic analysis (Braun & Clark, 2022) to qualitatively code responses to the open-ended question. Thematic analysis resulted in three central themes Behavioral Manipulation, Psychological Offense, and Healthism. Participants were also asked to share the way they felt about being on the receiving end of social control behaviors. Responses were largely negative emotions. The most commonly reported emotions were shame and sadness, followed by guilt and anger. These findings further support the idea that though social control behaviors by loved ones may be intended to help those with PCOS, individuals receiving that help respond negatively
Investigating The Multiple Enzyme Complex In Carotenoid Biosynthesis Pathway
No full textIn nature, plant carotenoids are 40-carbon isoprenoids with polyene chains that may have double bonds. They are vital components of all photosynthetic organisms. Carotenoids play several roles in the plant cell, including photosynthesis, pigmentation, phytohormone synthesis, signaling and photoprotection. They also give many fruits, flowers, and roots their vivid orange, yellow, or red colors. These pigments serve as precursors to the manufacture of vitamin A in humans, which supports healthy vision, strengthens immunity, and nourishes the skin. Additionally, they operate as dietary antioxidants to help prevent the development of long-term conditions like cancer, macular degeneration, UV-induced skin damage, infectious and cardiovascular diseases. The carotenoid biosynthesis pathway involving the enzymatic processes has been thoroughly characterized. It is uncertain how these enzymes are physically arranged in the carotenoid metabolic pathway within the plant cells. Therefore, to understand how these proteins interact with one another at the molecular level, it is essential to investigate the subcellular architecture of these enzymes. This will make it easier to comprehend the post-translational regulation mechanism of carotenoid metabolism
Biochemical and Functional Analysis of Carotenoid Biosynthetic Enzyme Complexes in Tomato Fruits
No full textAffiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, USA Abstract: Carotenoids are essential pigments in plants, playing critical roles in photosynthesis, photoprotection, and human nutrition. While the biosynthetic pathway of carotenoids is well characterized, the spatial organization and dynamic assembly of biosynthetic enzyme complexes within chromoplasts remain poorly understood. This study investigates the structural and functional organization of carotenoid biosynthetic enzymes in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) fruits, focusing on the impact of enzyme complex compositions on metabolic flux and carotenoid composition. To explore these dynamics, we employed CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing to generate a Zeta-carotene isomerase (Z-ISO) knockout mutant, which will be analyzed alongside tomato mutants yellow flesh (r), tangerine (t), beta, and delta, which have distinct carotenoid compositions compared with wild-type (Ailsa Craig) fruits. To examine the native enzyme complexes responsible for carotenoid biosynthesis, chromoplast isolation, ultracentrifugation, and size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) were conducted. Mass spectrometry (MS) is being employed to identify and characterize protein complexes in each fraction. Protein-protein interaction assays in vivo are being used to study enzyme interaction and localization. Additionally, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is being used to analyze metabolic flux and carotenoid accumulation. By integrating genetics with biochemical and proteomic approaches, this study aims to advance our understanding of enzyme organization and metabolic channeling in chromoplasts. These findings have important implications for crop biofortification, metabolic engineering, and the development of nutritionally enhanced crops to address vitamin A deficiency. Keywords: Carotenoids, Chromoplast, CRISPR Knockout, Z-ISO, Mass Spectrometry, Tomato, Metabolic Flux, Biofortificatio