Report on the Development of the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES).

In 1997, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) initiated a process to select a symmetric-key encryption algorithm to be used to protect sensitive (unclassified) Federal information in furtherance of NIST's statutory responsibilities. In 1998, NIST announced the acceptance of 15 candidate algorithms and requested the assistance of the cryptographic research community in analyzing the candidates. This analysis included an initial examination of the security and efficiency characteristics for each algorithm. NIST reviewed the results of this preliminary research and selected MARS, RC™, Rijndael, Serpent and Twofish as finalists. Having reviewed further public analysis of the finalists, NIST has decided to propose Rijndael as the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES). The research results and rationale for this selection are documented in this report.

An infant with deletion of the distal long arm of chromosome 15 (q26.1----qter) and loss of insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor gene.

We report on an infant with a previously undescribed chromosome 15 deletion (q26.1----qter) and compare the clinical findings with those of 7 reported patients with deletions of distal 15q, as well as ring chromosome 15 syndrome patients. Most of the patients with deletions of distal 15q, including our patient, have intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), microcephaly, abnormal face and ears, micrognathia, highly arched palate, renal abnormalities, lung hypoplasia, failure to thrive, and developmental delay/mental retardation. Several genes have been assigned to the 15q25----qter region, including insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R). DNA analysis from our patient documented the loss of one IGF1R gene copy. Our study further localizes the IGF1R gene distal to the 15q26.1 band. It is interesting to speculate that the severe IUGR and postnatal growth deficiency of our patient and other patients with similar chromosome 15 deletions are related to the loss of an IGF1R gene copy which may lead to an abnormal number and/or structure of the receptors.

Epidemic grieving at a birthday party: a case of mass hysteria.

In modern Western culture, "mass hysteria" has typically taken the form of an outbreak of a mysterious physical disorder among adolescent girls in whom no organic etiology or precipitant can be identified. If properly managed (i.e., diagnosis confirmed and publicly announced), the illness is usually of relatively short duration. This is a report of an incident of contagious hysteria among preadolescent girls, manifested as grieving reactions during what should have been a happy event--a birthday party. The complex relation between situational, developmental, physical, and personality factors in mass hysteria are discussed.

Physical self-concept changes in a mildly, facially disfigured neurofibromatosis patient following communication skill training.

The authors discuss the case of a mildly disfigured patient with Neurofibromatosis from the perspectives of his distorted body image, need to attribute problems in his social and work lives to unrealistic assessment of his disfigurement, changes in his self-concept following communication training, and the need for physicians and others working with these persons to treat their emotional, as well as physical, pain.