Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Strong PUF Security Metrics: Sensitivity of Responses to Single Challenge Bit Flips

—This paper belongs to a sequence of manuscripts that discuss generic and easy-to-apply security metrics for Strong Physical Unclonable Functions (PUFs). These metrics cannot and shall not fully replace in-depth machine learning (ML) studies in the security assessment of Strong PUF candidates. But they can complement the latter, serve in initial complexity analyses, and allow simple iterative design optimization. Moreover, they are computationally more efficient and far easier to standardize than typical ML-studies. This manuscript treats one very natural, but also very impactful metric, and investigates the effects that the alteration of single challenge bits has on the associated PUF-responses. We define several concrete metric scores based on this idea, and demonstrate their predictive power by applying them to various popular Strong PUF design families as test cases. This includes XOR Arbiter PUFs, XOR Bistable Ring PUFs, and Feed-Forward Arbiter PUFs, whose practical security is particularly well known after two decades of intense research. In passing, our manuscript also suggests techniques for representing our metric scores graphically, and for interpreting them in a meaningful manner. Our work demonstrates that if comparable methods had existed earlier, various Strong PUF candidates deemed secure and broken later could have been recognized and winnowed early on.
An observation of sea‐spray microphysics by airborne Doppler radar

This paper describes observations and analysis of Doppler radar data from a down‐looking 94 GHz (W‐Band) system operated from a NOAA WP‐3 Orion research aircraft in Tropical Storm (TS) Karen. The flight took place on 5 October 2013; Karen had weakened with maximum winds around 20 m s−1. Doppler spectral moments from the radar were processed to retrieve sea‐spray microphysical properties (drop size and liquid water mass concentration) profiles in the height range 75–300 m above the sea surface. In the high wind speed regions of TS Karen (U10 > 15 m s−1), sea spray was observed with a nominal mass‐mode radius of about 40 µm, a radar‐weighted gravitational fall velocity of about 1 m s−1, and a mass concentration of about 10−3 gm−3 at 75 m. Spray‐drop mass concentration declined with height to values of about 10−4 gm−3 at 300 m. Drop mass decreased slightly more slowly with increasing height than predicted by surface‐layer similarity theory for a balance of turbulent diffusion vs fall velocity.
Near zero replenishment of the Arctic multiyear sea ice cover at the end of 2005 summer

The remarkably low Arctic multiyear (MY) sea ice coverage following the summer of 2005 is placed in the context of its variability over the past seven years (2000–2006). Annual cycles of MY ice coverage, from QuikSCAT and satellite passive ice motion, show that the replenishment of MY ice area at the end of this summer is near zero (0.1 × 106 km2) compared to the previous five summers of 1.0, 1.2, 0.4, 0.4, and 0.9 × 106 km2. This is examined in terms of anomalies in ice export and the record of freezing (FDD) and melting degree‐days (MDD). The 2005 summer (Jun–Sep) saw the highest Fram Strait ice export (>0.25 × 106 km2) compared to the 7‐year mean of 0.14 × 106 km2. This directly explains ∼40% of the decrease in MY coverage of 0.6 × 106 km2 between Jan 2005 and Jan 2006. The cumulative effects of the recent warmer winters and summers, relative to the longer‐term record since 1958, explain the balance. For this short record, the combination of spatially averaged FDD and MDD anomalies of the preceding year explain ∼63% of the variance in the replenishment areas.
Characterization of Fracture Properties of Asphalt Mixtures Based on Cohesive Zone Modeling and Digital Image Correlation Technique

This study presents an integrated approach combining experimental tests and computational modeling to characterize fracture properties of asphalt mixtures subjected to a wide range of loading rates at intermediate temperature conditions. A simple experimental protocol is developed using the semi-circular bending (SCB) test geometry of fine aggregate matrix mixtures. The local fracture behaviors at the initial notch tip of the SCB specimens are monitored using a high-speed camera with a digital image correlation system. The digital image correlation results of the SCB fracture tests are then simulated using a finite element method that is incorporated with material viscoelasticity and cohesive zone fracture. Fracture properties are obtained locally at the notch tip by identifying two cohesive zone fracture parameters (cohesive strength and fracture energy) that result in a good match between experimental and numerical results. The results clearly demonstrate the rate-dependent fracture characteristics of asphalt mixtures at intermediate temperatures. Fracture properties obtained from the integrated approach presented in this paper provide fundamental material characteristics for understanding and predicting fracture-related pavement distresses such as fatigue cracking.
Outcomes of “Over the Top” Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Associated with a Lateral Extra-Articular Tenodesis in Children

(1) Purpose: The incidence of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures in children and adolescents has considerably increased during the last decades due to higher levels of competitive athletic activity, and early sport specialization and professionalization. Contemporary ACL reconstruction techniques have recently been subject to renewed interest in this population. The objective of this study is to report the short- and mid-term results of our physis-sparing ACL reconstruction technique using an “over the top” technique associated with a modified Lemaire procedure. (2) Methods: A retrospective series of 12 junior soccer players who presented to our clinic with a torn ACL between January 2019 and September 2021 was reviewed. The inclusion criteria were patients under 15 years with open tibial and femoral physes, with a stable contralateral knee, a minimum follow-up of 6 months, and a time frame from injury to surgery of <3 months. Patients with previous knee surgery, structural concomitant injuries, muscular, neurological, or vascular abnormalities, or hypersensitivity to metal alloys were excluded. The functional evaluation was performed using the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) rating, Lysholm score, and Tegner activity level. Moreover, clinical and radiological assessments were also performed, including KT-1000 and knee X-rays. (3) Results: We identified 1 female and 11 male patients with ACL tears, with a mean age of 13.17 ± 0.9 months. Concomitant injuries include isolated vertical and bucket-handle tears of the medial meniscus, lateral meniscus tears, bilateral tear of both menisci. The mean follow-up time was 26 ± 12.6 months. The average IKDC, Lysholm and Tegner scores were 93.29 ± 11.04, 95.08 ± 13.2 and 9 ± 0.0 points, respectively. The average KT-1000 score of the participants was 0.96 ± 1.6 points. None of the included patients reported post-surgical complications or required additional surgeries. (4) Conclusions: Our novel ACL reconstruction with LET technique is a safe procedure that resulted in good clinical outcomes, lower failure rate and return to sports in skeletally immature patients.
Size dependent antipredator responses in a fish–shrimp mutualism

For prey, taking refuge from predators has obvious fitness benefits but may also be costly by impinging on time and effort available for feeding or attracting mates. The antipredator responses of refuge-seeking animals are therefore predicted to vary strategically depending on how threatening they perceive the risk. To test this, we studied the impacts of a simulated predatory threat on the antipredator responses of wild sandy prawn-gobies (Ctenogobiops feroculus) that co-inhabit burrows with Alpheus shrimp (family Alpheidae) in a mutualistic relationship. We exposed goby–shrimp pairs, repeatedly on three separate occasions, to an approaching threat and measured the antipredator behaviours of both partners. We found that re-emerging from the burrow took longer in large compared to small fish. Moreover, quicker re-emergence by small—but not medium or large-sized gobies—was associated with an earlier flight from the approaching threat (i.e. when the threat was still further away). Finally, the goby and shrimp sharing a burrow were matched in body size and their risk-taking behaviour was highly dependent on one another. The findings contribute to our understanding of how an individual's phenotype and perception of danger relates to its risk-taking strategy, and how mutualistic partners can have similar risk sensitivities.
Pollen chemical and mechanical defences restrict host-plant use by bees

Plants produce an array of chemical and mechanical defences that provide protection against many herbivores and pathogens. Putatively defensive compounds and structures can even occur in floral rewards: for example, the pollen of some plant taxa contains toxic compounds or possesses conspicuous spines. Yet little is known about whether pollen defences restrict host-plant use by bees. In other words, do bees, like other insect herbivores, tolerate the defences of their specific host plants while being harmed by non-host defences? To answer this question, we compared the effects of a chemical defence from Lupinus (Fabaceae) pollen and a putative mechanical defence (pollen spines) from Asteraceae pollen on larval survival of nine bee species in the tribe Osmiini (Megachilidae) varying in their pollen-host use. We found that both types of pollen defences reduce larval survival rate in some bee species. These detrimental effects were, however, mediated by host-plant associations, with bees being more tolerant of the pollen defences of their hosts, relative to the defences of plant taxa exploited by other species. This pattern strongly suggests that bees are adapted to the pollen defences of their hosts, and that host-plant use by bees is constrained by their ability to tolerate such defences.
Shock indices are associated with in-hospital mortality among patients with septic shock and normal left ventricular ejection fraction

Background The understanding of shock indices in patients with septic shock is limited, and their values may vary depending on cardiac function. Methods This prospective cohort study was conducted across 20 university-affiliated hospitals (21 intensive care units [ICUs]). Adult patients (≥19 years) with septic shock admitted to the ICUs during a 29-month period were included. The shock index (SI), diastolic shock index (DSI), modified shock index (MSI), and age shock index (Age-SI) were calculated at sepsis recognition (time zero) and ICU admission. Left ventricular (LV) function was categorized as either normal LV ejection fraction (LVEF ≥ 50%) or decreased LVEF (<50%). Results Among the 1,194 patients with septic shock, 392 (32.8%) who underwent echocardiography within 24 h of time zero were included in the final analysis (normal LVEF: n = 246; decreased LVEF: n = 146). In patients with normal LVEF, only survivors demonstrated significant improvement in SI, DSI, MSI, and Age-SI values from time zero to ICU admission; however, no notable improvements were found in all patients with decreased LVEF. The completion of vasopressor or fluid bundle components was significantly associated with improved indices in patients with normal LVEF, but not in those with decreased LVEF. In multivariable analysis, each of the four indices at ICU admission was significantly associated with in-hospital mortality (P < 0.05) among patients with normal LVEF; however, discrimination power was better in the indices for patients with lower lactate levels (≤ 4.0 mmol/L), compared to those with higher lactate levels. Conclusions The SI, DSI, MSI, and Age-SI at ICU admission were significantly associated with in-hospital mortality in patients with septic shock and normal LVEF, which was not found in those with decreased LVEF. Our study emphasizes the importance of interpreting shock indices in the context of LV function in septic shock.
Social network shrinking is explained by active and passive effects but not increasing selectivity with age in wild macaques

Evidence of social disengagement, network narrowing and social selectivity with advancing age in several non-human animals challenges our understanding of the causes of social ageing. Natural animal populations are needed to test whether social ageing and selectivity occur under natural predation and extrinsic mortality pressures, and longitudinal studies are particularly valuable to disentangle the contribution of within-individual ageing from the demographic processes that shape social ageing at the population level. Data on wild Assamese macaques (Macaca assamensis) were collected between 2013 and 2020 at the Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand. We investigated the social behaviour of 61 adult females observed for 13 270 h to test several mechanistic hypotheses of social ageing and evaluated the consistency between patterns from mixed-longitudinal and within-individual analyses. With advancing age, females reduced the size of their social network, which could not be explained by an overall increase in the time spent alone, but by an age-related decline in mostly active, but also passive, behaviour, best demonstrated by within-individual analyses. A selective tendency to approach preferred partners was maintained into old age but did not increase. Our results contribute to our understanding of the driver of social ageing in natural animal populations and suggest that social disengagement and selectivity follow independent trajectories during ageing.
Microbial-Transferred Metabolites and Improvement of Biological Activities of Green Tea Catechins by Human Gut Microbiota

Green tea catechins (GTCs) are dietary polyphenols with broad bioactivities that undergo extensive microbial metabolism in the human gut. However, microbial-transferred metabolites and their health benefits are not fully understood. Herein, the microbial metabolism of GTCs by human fecal microbiota and dynamic alteration of the microbiota were integrally investigated via in vitro anaerobic fermentation. The results showed that the human gut microbiota exhibited a strong metabolic effect on GTCs via UHPLC-MS/MS analysis. A total of 35 microbial-transferred metabolites were identified, far more than were identified in previous studies. Among them, five metabolites, namely EGCG quinone, EGC quinone, ECG quinone, EC quinone, and mono-oxygenated EGCG, were identified for the first time in fermented GTCs with the human gut microbiota. Consequently, corresponding metabolic pathways were proposed. Notably, the antioxidant, α-amylase, and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities of the GTCs sample increased after fermentation compared to those of the initial unfermented sample. The results of the 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that the GTCs significantly altered gut microbial diversity and enriched the abundancy of Eubacterium, Flavonifractor, etc., which may be further involved in the metabolisms of GTCs. Thus, these findings contribute to a better understanding of the interactions between GTCs and gut microbiota, as well as the health benefits of green tea consumption.
Establishing age and gender-specific serum creatinine reference ranges for Thai pediatric population

Accurate assessment of kidney function in children requires age and gender-specific reference ranges for serum creatinine. Traditional reference values, often derived from adult populations and different ethnic backgrounds, may not be suitable for children. This study aims to establish specific reference ranges for serum creatinine in the Thai pediatric population, addressing the gap in localized and age-appropriate diagnostic criteria. This retrospective study analyzed serum creatinine levels from Thai children aged newborn to 18 years, collected from the Laboratory Information System of the Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health from January 2017 to December 2021. The Bhattacharya method was employed to establish reference ranges, considering different age groups and genders. The study compared these newly established reference values with international studies, including those of Schlebusch H. , Pottel H. , and Chuang GT. , to validate their relevance and accuracy. A total of 27,642 data entries (15,396 males and 12,246 females) were analyzed. The study established distinct reference ranges for serum creatinine, which varied significantly across different age groups and between genders. These ranges were found to gradually increase with age from 2 months to 18 years. The study also highlighted notable differences in reference values when compared with other ethnic populations. The study successfully establishes tailored reference ranges for serum creatinine in Thai children, providing a valuable tool for more accurate diagnosis and monitoring of kidney health in this demographic. This initiative marks a significant advancement in pediatric nephrology in Thailand and suggests a need for continuous refinement of these ranges and further research in this area.
Genome-Wide Association Analysis of Effective Tillers in Rice under Different Nitrogen Gradients

Nitrogen is a crucial element that impacts rice yields, and effective tillering is a significant agronomic characteristic that can influence rice yields. The way that reduced nitrogen affects effective tillering is a complex quantitative trait that is controlled by multiple genes, and its genetic basis requires further exploration. In this study, 469 germplasm varieties were used for a genome-wide association analysis aiming to detect quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with effective tillering at low (60 kg/hm2) and high (180 kg/hm2) nitrogen levels. QTLs detected over multiple years or under different treatments were scrutinized in this study, and candidate genes were identified through haplotype analysis and spatio-temporal expression patterns. A total of seven genes (NAL1, OsCKX9, Os01g0690800, Os02g0550300, Os02g0550700, Os04g0615700, and Os04g06163000) were pinpointed in these QTL regions, and were considered the most likely candidate genes. These results provide favorable information for the use of auxiliary marker selection in controlling effective tillering in rice for improved yields.
Cirrus Cloud Optical Thickness and Effective Diameter Retrieved by MODIS: Impacts of Single Habit Assumption, 3‐D Radiative Effects, and Cloud Inhomogeneity

For inhomogeneous cirrus clouds, cloud optical thickness (COT) and effective diameter (De) provided by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS) Collection 6 cloud products are associated with errors due to the single habit assumption (SHA), independent pixel assumption (IPA), photon absorption effect (PAE), and plane‐parallel assumption (PPA). SHA means that every cirrus cloud is assumed to have the same shape habit of ice crystals. IPA errors are caused by three‐dimensional (3D) radiative effects. PPA and PAE errors are caused by cloud inhomogeneity. We proposed a method to single out these different errors. These errors were examined using the Spherical Harmonics Discrete Ordinate Method simulations done for the MODIS 0.86 μm and 2.13 μm bands. Four midlatitude and tropical cirrus cases were studied. For the COT retrieval, the impacts of SHA and IPA were especially large for optically thick cirrus cases. SHA errors in COT varied distinctly with scattering angles. For the De retrieval, SHA decreased De under most circumstances. PAE decreased De for optically thick cirrus cases. For the COT and De retrievals, the dominant error source was SHA for overhead sun whereas for oblique sun, it could be any of SHA, IPA, and PAE, varying with cirrus cases and sun‐satellite viewing geometries. On the domain average, the SHA errors in COT (De) were within −16.1%–42.6% (−38.7%–2.0%), whereas the 3‐D radiative effects‐ and cloud inhomogeneity‐induced errors in COT (De) were within −5.6%–19.6% (−2.9%–8.0%) and −2.6%–0% (−3.7%–9.8%), respectively.
Poly(Propylene Carbonate)-Based Biodegradable and Environment-Friendly Materials for Biomedical Applications

Poly(propylene carbonate) (PPC) is an emerging “carbon fixation” polymer that holds the potential to become a “biomaterial of choice” in healthcare owing to its good biocompatibility, tunable biodegradability and safe degradation products. However, the commercialization and wide application of PPC as a biomedical material are still hindered by its narrow processing temperature range, poor mechanical properties and hydrophobic nature. Over recent decades, several physical, chemical and biological modifications of PPC have been achieved by introducing biocompatible polymers, inorganic ions or small molecules, which can endow PPC with better cytocompatibility and desirable biodegradability, and thus enable various applications. Indeed, a variety of PPC-based degradable materials have been used in medical applications including medical masks, surgical gowns, drug carriers, wound dressings, implants and scaffolds. In this review, the molecular structure, catalysts for synthesis, properties and modifications of PPC are discussed. Recent biomedical applications of PPC-based biomaterials are highlighted and summarized.
Do Gene Polymorphisms Play a Role in Newborn Hyperbilirubinemia?

Abstract Objectives Polymorphisms of the uridine-diphospho-glucuronosyltransferase 1A1 (UGT1A1) gene, hepatic solute carrier organic anion transporter 1B1/B3 (SLCO1B1/3) gene, and glutathione S-transferase (GST) gene have been associated with significant hyperbilirubinemia in some populations. This study aims to determine whether the variation of UGT1A1, SLCO1B1/3 and GST genes play an important role in neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in Turkish newborn infants. Methods The study included 61 idiopathic hyperbilirubinemia cases, 28 prolonged jaundice cases, and 41 controls. Ten common polymorphisms in four genes involved in bilirubin metabolism were examined. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method was used to detect variants of those genes. Results No association was found between the variants of UGT1A1 at nt 211, the SLCO1B1 gene at nt 388, 463, 521, 1463, the SLCO1B3 gene at nt 334, 727+118, 1865+19721, and the GST gene at nt 313, 341, and neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. There was no difference between the case and control groups in terms of allele frequencies of these genes (except SLCO1B3 at nt 334) (p>0.05 in all comparisons). The presence of the G allele of the SLCO1B3 at nt 334 variant gene seemed to protect from jaundice in infants with idiopathic hyperbilirubinemia. Conclusion These gene polymorphisms currently studied do not seem to modulate the risk of hyperbilirubinemia in Turkish newborn infants.