cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Robust Physical Unclonable Function With Enhanced Challenge-Response Set

A Physical Unclonable Function (PUF) is a promising solution to many security issues due its ability to generate a die unique identifier that can resist cloning attempts as well as physical tampering. However, the efficiency of a PUF depends on its implementation cost, its reliability, its resiliency to attacks, and the amount of entropy in it. PUF entropy is used to construct crypto graphic keys, chip identifiers, or challenge-response pairs (CRPs) in a chip authentication mechanism. The amount of entropy in a PUF is limited by the circuit resources available to build a PUF. As a result, generating longer keys or larger sets of CRPs may increase PUF circuit cost. We address this limitation in a PUF by proposing an identity-mapping function that expands the set of CRPs of a ring-oscillator PUF (RO-PUF) with low area cost. The CRPs generated through this function exhibit strong PUF qualities in terms of uniqueness and reliability. To introduce the identity-mapping function, we formulate a novel PUF system model that uncouples PUF measurement from PUF identifier formation. We show the enhanced CRP generation capability of the new function using a statistical hypothesis test. An implementation of our technique on a low-cost FPGA platform shows at least 2 times savings in area compared to the traditional RO-PUF. The proposed technique is validated using a population of 125 chips, and its reliability over varying environmental conditions is shown.
The Importance of Inclusion Policies for the Promotion of Development in Brazil and Colombia

This article argues that investment in social inclusion policies is an economically efficient option for developing countries. It analyzes different social inclusion policies, particularly those practiced in Brazil and Colombia, as they demonstrate, among other things, the racial dimension of exclusion and the corresponding economic contribution of race-based social inclusion policies to sustained economic growth and development. These cases also demonstrate that educational policies are central to social inclusion programs, because they render the highest economic medium and long-term return. Evidence supporting this argument comes from Conditional Cash Transfers (CCTs), a Brazilian social policy that has become a landmark in social policy, as well as from Brazil’s Affirmative Action (AA) policies.
Chiral-invariant regularization of fermions on the lattice

Abstract We propose a non-local formulation of lattice fermions, which preserves chiral symmetry for vanishing mass and is quite convenient for numerical calculations. We also show that the chiral current exhibits the correct anomalous divergence in the continuum limit.
Multicriteria models for the allocation of design parameter targets

The allocation of process mean locations for design parameters is important in establishing the mean of a performance characteristic within performance limits. This is an especially difficult problem when there is a multivariate set of performance measures that are all functions of a common set of design parameters. We propose multicriteria models for the allocation of design parameters that either (1) attempt to minimize the deviation of performance measures from prespecified nominal values, or (2) attempt to place performance measure means well within tolerance ranges. Empirical comparisons with established procedures, via case studies and examples, are used to illustrate both the effectiveness of the proposed procedures as well as the degree of flexibility that these procedures possess for modeling a wide range of product/process design decision environments.
Growth hormone treatment of idiopathic short stature : Clinical studies

The selection of short-statured children for growth hormone (GH) treatment has long been complicated by the requirement for provocative testing that is unphysiologic, difficult to administer, and potentially dangerous. The recent FDA approval of GH for the treatment of children with idiopathic short stature allows treatment decisions to be based more on the degree of short stature and the potential for attaining a normal adult height. Several studies conducted in children have shown that GH therapy can effectively and safely produce height outcomes within a normal adult range. The observed variability in height response associated with GH use in some of these studies has left the clinician with a difficult decision. Still, the availability of GH for this patient population provides a rational treatment option for patients who fail arbitrary and inaccurate assessments.
Quality assurance of beam accuracy for Leksell Gamma Unit.

For the acceptance test and annual quality assurance of the Leksell Gamma Unit, measurement of the beam accuracy, defined as a distance between mechanical and radiological isocenters, poses a challenge to medical physicists. The specification for the beam accuracy is within 0.5 mm for the 4-mm collimator helmet. In this report, we introduce a simple technique to analyze the beam accuracy by using a conventional film densitometer plus mathematical modeling. A small piece of film was placed inside the film cassette containing a sharp needle. The needle is located such that its tip is exactly positioned at the mechanical isocenter. Before exposure, the film was pierced by the needle. Density profile was measured by using a densitometer with a spatial resolution of 0.8 mm. The profile was then fitted to a model of the two Gaussian functions. One is for the radiation field profile, the other for a dip caused by the narrow hole. The difference between the centers of the two Gaussian functions defines the deviation of the beam accuracy from the mechanical center of the unit. The deviations for x, y, and z directions from one of our annual measurements are 0.032, 0.054, and 0.195 mm, respectively. The combined deviation is 0.20 mm, which is well within the specification and in excellent agreement with the results from the manufactures laser measurement. This technique provides a simple, accurate and practical tool for measurement of the beam accuracy in the acceptance test and annual quality assurance of the Leksell Gamma Unit. 2000 American College of Medical Physics.
Building information modeling for sustainable design and LEED® rating analysis

Abstract Today, there is a high level of demand for sustainable buildings. The most important decisions regarding a building's sustainable features are made during the design and preconstruction stages. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED ® ) is the most widely adopted sustainable building rating system in the United States. For projects pursuing LEED ® certification, designers have to conduct in-depth sustainability analyses based on a building's form, materials, context, and mechanical–electrical–plumbing (MEP) systems. Since Building Information Modeling (BIM) allows for multi-disciplinary information to be superimposed within one model, it creates an opportunity to conduct these analyses accurately and efficiently as compared to the traditional methods. In this exploratory research, a case study was conducted on Salisbury University's Perdue School of Business building to demonstrate the use of BIM for sustainable design and the LEED ® certification process. First, a conceptual framework was developed to establish the relationship between BIM-based sustainability analyses and the LEED ® certification process. Next, the framework was validated via this case study. The results of this study indicate that documentation supporting LEED ® credits may be directly or indirectly prepared using the results of BIM-based sustainability analyses software. This process could streamline the LEED ® certification process and save substantial time and resources which would otherwise be required using traditional methods.
Soft matter, slow dynamics and art

Artists have always tried to embrace new materials and new technology. But today, few artists seem aware of the latest developments in materials science, which may help them to understand and exploit the dynamic nature of the media they work with.
Updated invasion risk assessment for Ponto-Caspian fishes to the Great Lakes.

Majority of invasive species discovered in the Great Lakes since 1985 are native to the Ponto-Caspian region, including species that have had strong negative impacts in the Great Lakes (for example, dreissenid mussels and the round goby). The rich biota of the Ponto-Caspian region coupled with a high volume of commercial shipping traffic strongly suggests that this region will continue to be a major source of invasive species to the Great Lakes. To assess invasion risk by Ponto-Caspian fishes that have not been included in previous studies, we reviewed English-language publications and untranslated European literature (published primarily in Russian), focusing on physiological and ecological traits that have proven useful in previous risk assessments. We then used discriminant analysis to identify fishes that had a high probability of becoming established, spreading, and having significant negative impacts in the Great Lakes. Our updated listing of high-risk Ponto-Caspian fishes includes five species identified previously (the Black and Caspian Sea sprat, Eurasian minnow, big-scale sand smelt, European perch, and monkey goby) and five additional species (the Black sea shad, Caspian tyulka, Volga dwarf goby, Caspian bighead goby, and black-striped pipefish). Of these ten species, four (the monkey goby, big-scale sand smelt, Caspian tyulka, and black-striped pipefish) are likely to survive ballast water exchange as eggs, larvae, or adults based on salinity tolerances. Our results can be used to focus ongoing surveillance and rapid response efforts by highlighting Ponto-Caspian fishes that pose the greatest risk of becoming established and having significant negative impacts in the Great Lakes.
An analysis of OWL-based semantic mediation approaches to enhance manufacturing service capability models

The exchange of accurate, computer-interpretable information is critical in today’s dynamic supply chains in which manufacturers come and go as needed. This exchange begins when manufacturers, who hope to join the supply chain, provide the OEM (original equipment manufacturer) with information regarding their production capabilities. These capabilities are represented electronically in what are called manufacturing service capability (MSC) models. These models are frequently proprietary, which makes them difficult to access, and imprecise, which makes them difficult to use. Web Ontology Language (OWL) is a powerful language for capturing the semantics of such models. OWL can enhance both precision and accessibility, but it requires semantic mediation to resolve semantic conflicts and more importantly to enhance model semantics. Semantic-mediation approaches can generally be classified into two approaches mapping-based and reference-ontology-based. This paper characterises and compares the two approaches. ...
Where grasps are made reveals how grasps are planned: generation and recall of motor plans

The end-state comfort effect (Rosenbaum et al. 1990, 1992, 1993, 1996) predicts that people will grasp an object for transport in a way that allows joints to be in mid-range at the end of the transport. When participants in the present study took hold of a vertical cylinder to move it to a new position, grasp heights on the cylinder were inversely related to the height of the target position, as predicted by the end-state comfort effect. This demonstrates that where people grasp objects can give insight into the planning of movement. In the computational model of motor planning developed by Rosenbaum et al. (1995, 2001) it is assumed that goal postures are planned by a two-stage process of recall and generation. The distinction between recall and generation had not so far been tested. In the present study, the pattern of grasp heights in successive transports was consistent with the view that participants generated a plan the first time they moved the cylinder between two points, and that they subsequently recalled what they had done before, making small adjustments to that recalled plan. This outcome provides evidence for distinct effects of recall and generation on movement planning.
The autopsy incidence of acute pulmonary embolism in critically ill surgical patients

Critically ill patients should be susceptible to pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE). To determine the incidence of acute PTE in this patient population, we reviewed hospital charts and autopsy findings of all Class IV critically ill patients admitted to our hospital's Recovery Room—Acute Care Unit, between 1972 and 1982. Massive PTE either contributed to or was the sole cause of death in only two of the 152 patients studied (1.3%). Small single or scattered PTE were an incidental finding not contributing to morbidity or mortality in 13 patients. No gross evidence of PTE was found in the remaining 137 patients. There was no relationship between the occurrence of PTE and obesity, polycythemia, platelet count, PT or PTT, ventilatory support, level of PEEP, fluid balance, intravascular catheter days, pulmonary artery pressure, or pulmonary vascular resistance. Twelve patients did not have PTE at autopsy though it was seriously considered during ICU management. Unlike many other types of hospitalized patients, Class IV critically ill surgical patients are highly unlikely to suffer from PTE. When acute cardiorespiratory decompensation occurs, other more common causes should be given primary consideration.
Employment experience of cancer survivors 2 years post-diagnosis in the Study of Cancer Survivors-I

Introduction A large percentage of cancer survivors are in the workforce and it is important to understand their experiences and challenges in the workplace and work status changes.
Can a space-perception conflict be solved with three sense modalities?

A cross-modal conflict over location was resolved in an unexpected way. When vision and proprioception provide conflicting information, which modality should dominate is ambiguous. A visual – proprioceptive conflict was created with a prism and, to logically disambiguate the problem, auditory information was added that either agreed with vision (group 1), agreed with proprioception (group 2), or was absent (group 3). While a scarcity of research addresses the interaction of three modalities, I predicted error should be attributed to the modality in the minority. Instead, the opposite was found: adaptation consisted of a large change in arm proprioception and a small change affecting vision in group 2, and the reverse in group 1. Group 1 was not different than group 3. Findings suggested adaptation to separate two-way conflicts, possibly influenced by direction of attention, rather than a direct solution to a three-way modality problem.
Combined effects of interferon-α and acyclovir on herpes simplex virus type 1 DNA polymerase and alkaline DNase

Abstract Treatment of cells with combinations of human interferon- α (IFN- α ) and the nucleoside analog, acyclovir (ACV), leads to the synergistic inhibition of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) replication. We have examined the effect of these agents on the replication of HSV-1 DNA and the synthesis of early viral enzymes to understand the mechanism(s) responsible for this synergistic activity. Combination treatment with 100 IU/ml IFN- α and 5 μ M ACV led to HSV-1 DNA levels more than 8-fold lower than in cells treated with ACV alone, while IFN- α treatment alone had no detectable effect on viral DNA synthesis. Steady state levels of DNA polymerase were reduced approximately 50% by IFN- α and 25% by ACV, but combination treatment did not decrease enzyme levels to an extent greater than the sum of these effects. In contrast, the activity of another early viral enzyme, alkaline DNase, was reduced less than 20% by IFN- α alone or combination treatment and was unaffected by ACV treatment. No decrease in the level of mRNA encoding either enzyme was detected in IFN- α -treated cells although ACV treatment reduced polymerase mRNA levels. These studies suggest that the synergistic anti-HSV activities of IFN- α with ACV could be mediated, in part, through some post-transcriptional mechanism induced by IFN- α treatment, leading to the reduction in production of viral early enzymes, especially DNA polymerase.
Factors Associated with National Council Licensure Examination-Registered Nurse Success.

Identification of factors associated with National Council Licensure Examination-Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN) success is critical at public colleges of nursing with diverse student populations. This issue was the purpose of this research study. A descriptive correlational research design was used. Seventy-nine generic senior students enrolled in an urban public university participated in the study. Several internal and external blocks to success were described by the students, including family responsibilities, emotional distress, fatigue, and financial and work burdens. Significant correlations were found between success in the NCLEX-RN and cumulative undergraduate nursing program grade point average, English as the primary language spoken at home, lack of family responsibilities or demands, lack of emotional distress, and sense of competency in critical thinking. Establishment of a comprehensive data base—including factors associated with success in the NCLEX-RN and programs of advisement, tutoring, and stress management as well as classes in study skills, test taking, and NCLEX preparation—are recommended for public colleges of nursing with diverse student populations.
Altered prefronto-striato-parietal network response to mental rotation in HIV

The present study used functional magnetic resonance imaging to examine the neural substrates of mental rotation in 11 individuals with HIV infection and 13 demographically similar HIV seronegative volunteers. Individuals with HIV showed increased brain response to mental rotation in prefrontal and posterior parietal cortices, striatum, and thalamus, with significant HIV by angle interactions emerging in the prefrontal cortex and caudate. Results indicate that HIV infection is associated with altered brain response to mental rotation in fronto-striato-parietal pathways, which may reflect compensatory strategies, recruitment of additional brain regions, and/or increased neuroenergetic demands during mental rotation needed to offset underlying HIV-associated neural injury.
DISCUSSION OF Do Auditor-Provided Tax Services Enhance or Impair the Value Relevance of Earnings?

K rishnan, Visvanathan, and Yu (2013) (hereafter, KVY) fill a relevant gap in the burgeoning auditor-provided tax services (ATS) literature by examining investor perception of the costs and benefits of ATS. Prior and contemporaneous studies have investigated the influence of ATS on tax avoidance, financial statement quality, and creditor perception, but a study of the influence of ATS on value relevance was missing from the literature until now. KVY provide evidence that the value relevance of earnings is positively associated with the ratio of tax fees to total fees paid to auditors.
Charge Pumping At Cryogenic Temperatures

The charge pumping technique is demonstrated and verified to be feasible down to very low temperatures in scaled VLSI MOSFET's. It is shown that the technique can be successfully applied to evaluate the the interface damage due to radiation effects, hot carrier stress and other voltage stress in scaled MOSFET's provided the substrate doping is sufficiently high. A revised model for charge pumping which does not include the process of emission of trapped charge into the substrate is proposed. For comparison results of measurements on devices with lower substrate doping are also presented.
A standardized approach to the Fugl-Meyer assessment and its implications for clinical trials.

Background. Standardizing scoring reduces variability and increases accuracy. A detailed scoring and training method for the Fugl-Meyer motor assessment (FMA) is described and assessed, and implications for clinical trials considered. Methods. A standardized FMA scoring approach and training materials were assembled, including a manual, scoring sheets, and instructional video plus patient videos. Performance of this approach was evaluated for the upper extremity portion. Results. Inter- and intrarater reliability in 31 patients were excellent (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.98-0.99), validity was excellent (r = 0.74-0.93, P < .0001), and minimal detectable change was low (3.2 points). Training required 1.5 hours and significantly reduced error and variance among 50 students, with arm FMA scores deviating from the answer key by 3.8 ± 6.2 points pretraining versus 0.9 ± 4.9 points posttraining. The current approach was implemented without incident into training for a phase II trial. Among 66 patient...
Effects of Store Music on Shopping Behavior

Describes an experiment conducted comparing the effects of background and foreground music on clothing store shoppers. Concludes that choosing to play store music solely to satisfy customers′ preferences may not be the optimal approach; instead music should be varied across areas of a store that appeal to different‐aged customers.
Effects of Different Leader Behaviors under Different Levels of Task Interdependence

Three hypotheses were developed and tested relating the moderating effects of interdependence between leader behaviors and satisfaction and performance. Results from a survey of 419 participants on 22 teams in eight sports revealed strong support for the performance hypotheses, but not for the satisfaction hypotheses. Winning coaches of high interdependence sports teams were described as exhibiting significantly greater leader-initiating structure than losing high interdependence coaches. Also, winning coaches of high interdependence teams exhibited significantly more leader-initiating structure and significantly less leader consideration than winning coaches of low interdependence teams.
Noise Analysis of Two-Beam Coupling in a Photorefractive Material

We use a perturbative technique to investigate the output intensity signal-to-noise ratio during two-beam coupling in a photorefractive material in the presence of thermal noise. This procedure may readily be applied to different sources of noise in the material.
A clonal analysis reveals early developmental restrictions in the Drosophila head.

Abstract Head development of Drosophila melanogaster was studied by forming, in a background of Minute ( M ) cells, clones whose cell division rate was higher ( M + ). By studying such clones true developmental restrictions on clonal growth may be revealed, and not restrictions on clones which are just the result of interactions between neighboring cells. Pigment, bristle, and trichome markers allowed clone detection in both the compound eye and in much of the head cuticle. Clones were formed by X-ray-induced mitotic recombination at three stages in the first and second instar. Initial experiments determined some parameters of cell division in the compound eye and verified the differential division rate of M + cells growing in an M background, and vice versa. The earliest and most striking developmental restriction on clonal growth divides the head into a dorsal and a ventral compartment. No evidence for anterior-posterior compartmentalization was found. By 75 hr of development in Minute flies, several lines of developmental restriction are formed which subdivide these two compartments. Evidence is presented which supports these conclusions: One subdivision may contain cells of different clonal origin, cells derived from the same progenitor blastoderm cell may be in different subdivisions, and each subdivision is formed from a group of contiguous cells.
Evidence-Based, Multidisciplinary Approach to the Development of a Crotalidae Polyvalent Antivenin (CroFab) Protocol at a University Hospital

Background:Several thousand people are bitten annually by venomous snakes in the US. While the development of ovine Crotalidae polyvalent immune Fab antivenin (FabAV) for Crotalinae snakebite envenomations has greatly changed the way this clinical presentation is treated, multiple issues complicate its use. From patient assessment and evaluation, to medication preparation and administration, to the management of adverse drug reactions, the use of this antidote carries with it multiple points of possible medication variances. The inappropriate use of this agent can result in adverse patient consequences and a significant financial burden for both the hospital and the patient.Objective:To describe an evidence-based, multidisciplinary approach that was taken to ensure optimal, safe, and cost-effective treatment of patients with FabAV.Methods:Following an analysis of the available literature, a multidisciplinary committee was formed to construct a protocol for use of FabAV. This group included clinical pharma...
Process design and costing of bioethanol technology: A tool for determining the status and direction of research and development

Bioethanol is a fuel-grade ethanol made from trees, grasses, and waste materials. It represents a sustainable substitute for gasoline in today's passenger cars. Modeling and design of processes for making bioethanol are critical tools used in the U.S. Department of Energy's bioethanol research and development program. We use such analysis to guide new directions for research and to help us understand the level at which and the time when bioethanol will achieve commercial success. This paper provides an update on our latest estimates for current and projected costs of bioethanol. These estimates are the result of very sophisticated modeling and costing efforts undertaken in the program over the past few years. Bioethanol could cost anywhere from $1.16 to $1.44 per gallon, depending on the technology and the availability of low cost feedstocks for conversion to ethanol. While this cost range opens the door to fuel blending opportunities, in which ethanol can be used, for example, to improve the octane rating of gasoline, it is not currently competitive with gasoline as a bulk fuel. Research strategies and goals described in this paper have been translated into cost savings for ethanol. Our analysis of these goals shows that the cost of ethanol could drop by 40 cents per gallon over the next ten years by taking advantage of exciting new tools in biotechnology that will improve yield and performance in the conversion process.
The Politics of Appeasement?: Politics and Federal Financial Disbursements: The Case of Ethiopia

This article tests three different hypotheses regarding the political motivations for federal financial disbursements (the “swing” hypothesis, the “reward” hypothesis, and the “appeasement” hypothesis) using the case of Ethiopia following the 2005 parliamentary elections. Using an original data set on financial disbursements, election results, and social, economic, and demographic data from the level of the administrative districts and the election constituencies in Ethiopia, it is found that the appeasement hypothesis best explains federal disbursements. Further, it is suggested that these disbursement patterns directly affected the outcome of the subsequent 2010 parliamentary election.
Reduced expression of progesterone receptor-B in the endometrium of women with endometriosis and in cocultures of endometrial cells exposed to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin.

Objective To analyze endometrial progesterone receptor (PR) expression in women with endometriosis compared with disease-free women and to assess the impact of in vitro 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo- p -dioxin (TCDD) exposure on PR isotype expression. Design Controlled laboratory study. Setting University medical center. Patient(s) Healthy volunteers and women with surgically diagnosed endometriosis. Intervention(s) None. Main Outcome Measure(s) Analysis of in vivo PR-A and PR-B expression in endometrium from women with and without endometriosis. The impact of in vitro TCDD exposure on PR-B/PR-A ratio and cell-specific matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) expression was also determined. Result(s) The PR-B/PR-A ratio was lower in endometrial tissues from women with endometriosis compared with normal tissues. A similar ratio was induced in normal stromal cells cocultured with epithelial cells and exposed to TCDD. Disruption of stromal PR expression following TCDD exposure was associated with a failure of P-mediated down-regulation of both stromal-specific pro-MMP-3 and epithelial-specific pro-MMP-7. Conclusion(s) Our data suggest that reduced progesterone (P) sensitivity in the endometrium of women with endometriosis may be related to an altered pattern of PR expression. The ability of TCDD to selectively down-regulate stromal PR-B expression and increase MMP expression in both stromal and epithelial cells suggests that exposure to this toxin may negatively impact P-mediated cell-cell communication in the human endometrium.
An Emergent System for Self-Aligning and Self-Organizing Shape Primitives

Motivated by the natural phenomenon of living cells self-organizing into specific shapes and structures, we present an emergent system that utilizes evolutionary computing methods for designing and simulating self-aligning and self-organizing shape primitives.Given the complexity of the emergent behavior, genetic programming is employed to control the evolution of our emergent system. The system has two levels of description. At the macroscopic level, a user-specified, pre-defined shape is given as input to the system. The system outputs local interaction rules that direct morphogenetic primitives (MP) to aggregate into the shape. At the microscopic level, MPs follow interaction rules based only on local interactions. All MPs are identical and do not know the final shape to be formed. The aggregate is then evaluated at the macroscopic level for its similarity to the user-defined shape. In this paper, we present (1) an emergent system that discovers local interaction rules that direct MPs to form user-defined shapes, (2) the simulation system that implements these rules and causes MPs to self-align and self-organize into a user-defined shape, and (3) the robustness and scalability qualities of the overall approach.
A Flexible Intelligent QoS Unicast Routing Scheme in NGI

QoS (Quality of Service) routing is essential in NGI (Next Generation Internet). Due to difficulty on the exact expression of the user QoS requirements, the flexible QoS should be supported. In addition, with gradual commercialization of network operation, the benefit conflict between the network provider and the user ask the so called win-win to be supported. Thus, the knowledge of the fuzzy mathematics, game theory and artificial life computing method is introduced to design a flexible QoS unicast routing scheme in this paper. Based on the QGA (Quantum Genetic Algorithm), it searches for a QoS unicast path with Pareto-optimum under Nash equilibrium between the provider utility and the user utility achieved or approached. Simulation results have shown that the proposed scheme is both feasible and effective with better performance.
A brief analysis of the field effect diode and breakdown transistor

The carrier densities of a field effect diode are calculated for the limit of a thin intrinsic silicon layer. The resulting current-voltage relation and the application of this device as a transistor are discussed. In forward bias, carrier densities can be modulated without the complications of the hot-electron effects present in regular field effect transistors. In reverse bias, it can be utilized as a transistor in which the breakdown voltage is modulated by the gate voltages.
Treatment and Outcomes of Precocious Puberty: An Update

Precocious puberty is a common problem affecting up to 29 per 100 000 girls per year. The earliest identified neuroendocrine change in early puberty thus far is increased kisspeptin secretion from the arcuate nucleus and the anteroventral paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus. The regulation of kisspeptin secretion is not well understood, but neurokinin B and dynorphin provide autocrine regulation. The etiologies of precocious puberty may be subdivided into GnRH-dependent and GnRH-independent causes. GnRH-dependent precocious puberty, often called central precocious puberty (CPP), is usually treated with GnRH analogs. Newer developments in the treatment of CPP include expanded data on the safety and efficacy of the subdermal histrelin implant, which is useful for long-term treatment, although removal may be difficult in some cases. Preliminary data suggest that the implant may be left in place for up to 2 years without loss of biochemical suppression. In the last 2 years, more data have been publish...
Identifying psychosocial variables in patients with acute work-related low back pain: the importance of fear-avoidance beliefs.

Background and Purpose. Psychosocial factors are known to affect recovery from acute low back pain. The factors with the greatest influence and the optimal methods of measurement and interpretation have not been established. The purpose of this study was to examine baseline psychosocial variables and their ability to predict prolonged work restrictions. Subjects. The subjects were 78 people with work-related low back pain who were participating in a clinical trial (mean age=37.4 years, SD=10.4, range=18–58; mean duration of pain=5.5 days, SD=4.6, range=0–19). Methods. A baseline examination including measures of impairment, disability, and psychosocial variables was performed. All subjects had physical therapy interventions. Work status was assessed after 4 weeks. Sensitivity, specificity, and likelihood ratios were calculated for the prediction of work status by the use of psychosocial variables. Receiver operator characteristic curves and logistic regression were used to identify the variables that were most predictive of work status. Results. Twenty-two subjects (29%) had persistent work restrictions. The work subscale of the Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire was the strongest predictor of work status (negative likelihood ratio of 0.08 for scores less than 30, positive likelihood ratio of 3.33 for scores greater than 34). Discussion and Conclusion. Fear-avoidance beliefs about work was the psychosocial factor that could best be used to predict return to work in patients with acute work-related low back pain. Examination of fear-avoidance beliefs may serve as a useful screening tool for identifying patients who are at risk for prolonged work restrictions.
Myelodysplastic Syndromes and Acute Myeloid Leukemia in the Elderly

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are hematologic diseases that frequently affect older adults. Treatment is challenging. Management of older adults with MDS and AML needs to be individualized, accounting for both the heterogeneity of disease biology and patient characteristics, which can influence life expectancy and treatment tolerance. Clinical trials accounting for the heterogeneity of tumor biology and physiologic changes of aging are needed to define optimal standards of care. This article highlights key evidence related to the management of older adults with MDS and AML and highlights future directions for research.
Real Risk, Inßation Risk, and the Term Structure

I develop and estimate a general equilibrium model for the term structures of nominal and real interest rates in the UK that incorporates Markov-switching. The model allows for nonneutralities, nonlinear dynamics, and sexibility in the dynamics of the risk premia - features that are all present in the data. I use the model to assess how accurately the term structure resects changing expectations of future yields and insation. This analysis shows that the presence of time-varying risk premia make it very hard to accurately track changes in the expected path of real or nominal yields over horizons of less than Þve years. By contrast, variations in insation expected over the next two to three years are very accurately resected by changes in spread between real and nominal yields, or by changes in nominal yields alone. Over longer horizons, the term structures closely track changing expectations regarding future nominal and real yields but not future insation.
Developing natural aesthetics with direct composite restorations.

Contemporary direct restorations have significantly evolved since their initial development, allowing clinicians to develop natural-looking restorations. Composite resins can be applied for restoration of cavities, anterior tooth reconstruction, core preparation for crowns, splinting, provisionalization, placement of orthodontic brackets, and cementation. The development of hybrid and microfilled composite materials has further improved the clinician’s ability to deliver minimally invasive treatment options. This article demonstrates a stratification process in the interproximal and incisal edge reconstruction of maxillary right and left central incisors using a small particle hybrid composite resin to develop an optimal aesthetic result. Learning Objectives: This article addresses a direct composite resin technique for development of predictable aesthetics. Upon reading this article, the reader should: • Comprehend the classification of composite resins by filler particle size. • Identify the variety of stratification techniques that have evolved to allow development of predictable aesthetics.
Kinetics and Mechanism of Paraffin Cracking with Zeolite Catalysts

Acid catalyzed cracking of simple paraffins at high temperature and low partial pressure does not occur by the classical bimolecular carbenium chain reaction, but by protonation of the paraffins to produce penta-coordinated carbonium ion intermediates. Under limiting conditions, the kinetics of the two reaction paths both follow a first order rate law, although with very different activation energies. In the intermediate regime, the kinetics is quite complex. Hexane cracking offers several advantages as a means to characterize acid catalysts, and is best carried out at high temperature and low partial pressure.
Seasonalities in Anomalies

I investigate seasonalities in a set of well-known anomalies in the cross-section of U.S. stock returns. A January seasonality goes beyond a size effect and strongly affects most anomalies, which can even switch sign in January. Return seasonality exists outside of January depending on the month of the quarter. Small stocks earn abnormally high average returns on the last day of each quarter, which significantly affects size, idiosyncratic volatility, and illiquidity portfolios. The results have strong implications for the interpretation and analysis of many anomalies, such as asset growth and momentum.
Serum Response Factor Is Essential for Prenatal Gastrointestinal Smooth Muscle Development and Maintenance of Differentiated Phenotype.

Background/Aims Smooth muscle cells (SMCs) characteristically express serum response factor (SRF), which regulates their development. The role of SRF in SMC plasticity in the pathophysiological conditions of gastrointestinal (GI) tract is less characterized.
ANF-C-receptor-mediated inhibition of aortic smooth muscle cell proliferation and thymidine kinase activity

We have investigated the inhibition of DNA synthesis and cell proliferation by rat atrial natriuretic factor [rANF-(99-126)] and several synthetic peptides that bind selectively to the ANF-C-type clearance receptors in subcultured aortic smooth muscle cells. These peptides decreased serum-induced 1) [3H]thymidine incorporation, 2) cell proliferation, and 3) thymidine kinase activity without altering basal or elevated cAMP or cGMP levels. In contrast, another ANF-C-receptor-binding peptide, des[Gln116,Ser117,Gly118,Leu119,Gly120] rANF-(102-121)-NH2 (cANF), failed to decrease serum-induced mitogenesis, yet 100 nM cANF reversed the inhibition of DNA synthesis and cell proliferation and the decrease of thymidine kinase activity elicited by other C receptor-binding peptides, including rANF-(99-126), rANF-(103-125), and porcine C-type natriuretic peptide [pCNP-(1-22)]. Delayed addition experiments indicated that atrial peptides influence a relatively late event (or events) during the G1 phase of the cell cycle. The inhibition of DNA synthesis by C-receptor-binding atrial peptides appeared to be selective for aortic smooth muscle cells, inasmuch as a potent inhibitory agonist peptide, Cys116-rANF-(102-116), was without significant influence on the incorporation of thymidine in cultured rat mesangial cells or bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells. These results indicate that atrial natriuretic peptide analogues decrease vascular smooth muscle cell mitogenesis and proliferation by a cyclic nucleotide-independent mechanism involving the C-type receptor. Moreover the inhibition of DNA synthesis by rANF-(99-126) and the neuropeptide pCNP-(1-22) appears to be mediated by the ANF-C-type receptor and is associated with inhibition of thymidine kinase activity.
Diffuse cholangiocarcinoma presenting with hepatic failure and extensive portal and mesenteric vein thrombosis

A 64-year-old previously healthy man presented with a 4-week history of vague right upper quadrant abdominal pain. Imaging studies revealed extensive portal, splenic, superior and inferior mesenteric vein thrombosis with mosaic perfusion and wedge-shaped areas of liver perfusion abnormalities. An extensive thrombophilia workup including tests for factor V Leiden, prothrombin G20210A, lupus anticoagulant, paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria, protein C and S, homocysteine and antinuclear antibody titres were all negative. Other laboratory testing revealed an elevated alkaline phosphatase (340 IU/L). Surgical exploration and catheter-directed thrombolysis were not felt to be feasible given the extensive clot burden. He was started on anticoagulation therapy. Over the next 10 days, he required intensive care unit admission due to progressive hepatic encephalopathy and fulminant liver failure. He continued to decline and eventually died of multiorgan failure. Autopsy revealed extensive, diffuse intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma that had almost entirely replaced his normal liver parenchyma.
Hummingbird Foraging at Experimental Patches of Flowers: Evidence for Weak Risk-Aversion

Hummingbirds foraging for nectar in mountains of the western USA encounter spatially-variable rewards under energetically-demanding environmental conditions. Previous workers have found that hummingbirds respond quickly to the average quantity and quality of reward; in addition, one might expect a response to reward variance. To explore this possibility we observed free-flying hummingbirds visiting two arrays of the native plant Ipomopsis aggregata. All flowers in one array received a 1 lI aliquot of artificial nectar whereas every fifth flower in the other array received 5 stl. This yielded a mean nectar standing crop similar to that found in nature, and variances in standing crop that were only slightly more extreme than those in nature. Over 12 days we recorded 362 foraging bouts by male and female Broad-tailed Selasphorus platycercus and Rufous S. rufus Hummingbirds. The "high-variance" (HV) array received 8.9% fewer foraging bouts than the "low-variance" (LV) array, and this difference was significant statistically at the ao = 5.4% level. Bout frequency varied among periods of the day, but not differentially by nectar treatment. Foraging bouts tended to be longer in the LV array, though not significantly so, and hummingbirds visiting both arrays in sequence were significantly more likely to visit the LV array first. These results suggest weak risk-aversion under natural conditions. Lack of a stronger response may derive from the fact that hummingbirds sample thousands of flowers a day, so that the total profit realized over a day is not strongly influenced by flower-to-flower variation.
The protective function of personal growth initiative among a genocide-affected population in Rwanda

The aim of the current study was to investigate the extent to which individual differences in personal growth initiative (PGI) were associated with lower reports of functional impairment of daily activities among a genocide-affected population in Rwanda. PGI measures an individual’s motivation to develop as a person and the extent to which he or she is active in setting goals that work toward achieving self-improvement. We found that PGI was negatively associated with functional impairment when controlling for depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and other demographic factors. Our results suggest that PGI may constitute an important mindset for facilitating adaptive functioning in the aftermath of adversity and in the midst of psychological distress, and as such they might have practical applications for the development of intervention programs.
Le Défi belge: Bringing politics in

Jean Boddewyn has pioneered research on the political dimensions of corporate strategy. Beginning his academic career during a time when research indicated that most firms gave little organizational priority to government relations (Schollhammer 1975), Boddewyn found a rich context for his investigations of market and political strategies in the study of international business and the multinational corporation. We explicate three main positions that Boddewyn has advocated and sought to empirically support in this work: (1) The state can behave as an actor in business affairs; (2) all of a firm's behavior has political dimensions; and (3) effective organization for political action requires legitimacy and internal value infusion. We consider how Boddewyn's scholarly perspectives may have been conditioned by a personal, integrative framing of European social democracy, continental political discourse, and U. S.- style democratic pluralism.
The National Weather Service Implements New Science into Operational Forecasts

Increased demands for our Nation's finite water supply call for an expanded use of coupled National Weather Service (NWS) climate, weather and hydrologic analyses and information. To meet this need, the NWS is building upon National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) investments in remote sensing; data automation; and advanced weather, climate and hydroscience modeling. The NWS Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service (AHPS) meets this objective. AHPS applies new science to provide more accurate forecast information depicting the magnitude and certainty of occurrence for hydrologic events, ranging from droughts to floods. AHPS information can be posted on the internet, including flood-forecast maps. New model calibration strategies, distributed modeling approaches, ensemble forecasting and data assimilation techniques, enhanced data analysis procedures, flood-forecast inundation maps, advanced hydraulic routing models, and improved precipitation estimation techniques will be introduced. This paper describes these techniques, the new forecasting services and their implementation status.
A simple variable step size method for maximum power point tracking using commercial current mode control DC-DC regulators

This paper proposes a method to achieve maximum power point tracking (MPPT) function by “tricking” inexpensive commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) current mode control regulators. In the commercial market, there are many such inexpensive regulators, but they are designed for the output voltage control. The proposed method utilizes a voltage signal from an additional external microcontroller to regulate the compensation pin of the DC-DC regulator to achieve the MPPT function by using perturb and observe (P&O) with variable step size. A prototype is designed, built, and tested. Because the COTS hardware is simple to implement, MPPT can be achieved without complete system design, making MPPT accessible to hobbyists and non-experts in power supplies.
Core Biopsy of Mediastinal Lesion

This section provides a comprehensive procedural report for core biopsy of mediastinal lesion procedure with up-to-date explanatory notes, synopsis of the indications and contraindications, and potential complications in an organized and practical format.