Cryptanalysis via algebraic spans

We introduce a method for obtaining provable polynomial time solutions of problems in nonabelian algebraic cryptography. This method is widely applicable, easier to apply, and more efficient than earlier methods. After demonstrating its applicability to the major classic nonabelian protocols, we use this method to cryptanalyze the Triple Decomposition key exchange protocol, the only classic group theory based key exchange protocol that could not be cryptanalyzed by earlier methods

PaLM: Scaling Language Modeling with Pathways

Large language models have been shown to achieve remarkable performance across a variety of natural language tasks using few-shot learning, which drastically reduces the number of task-specific training examples needed to adapt the model to a particular application. To further our understanding of the impact of scale on few-shot learning, we trained a 540-billion parameter, densely activated, Transformer language model, which we call Pathways Language Model PaLM. We trained PaLM on 6144 TPU v4 chips using Pathways, a new ML system which enables highly efficient training across multiple TPU Pods. We demonstrate continued benefits of scaling by achieving state-of-the-art few-shot learning results on hundreds of language understanding and generation benchmarks. On a number of these tasks, PaLM 540B achieves breakthrough performance, outperforming the finetuned state-of-the-art on a suite of multi-step reasoning tasks, and outperforming average human performance on the recently released BIG-bench benchmark. A significant number of BIG-bench tasks showed discontinuous improvements from model scale, meaning that performance steeply increased as we scaled to our largest model. PaLM also has strong capabilities in multilingual tasks and source code generation, which we demonstrate on a wide array of benchmarks. We additionally provide a comprehensive analysis on bias and toxicity, and study the extent of training data memorization with respect to model scale. Finally, we discuss the ethical considerations related to large language models and discuss potential mitigation strategies

Factors Associated with Revision Surgery after Internal Fixation of Hip Fractures

Background: Femoral neck fractures are associated with high rates of revision surgery after management with internal fixation. Using data from the Fixation using Alternative Implants for the Treatment of Hip fractures (FAITH) trial evaluating methods of internal fixation in patients with femoral neck fractures, we investigated associations between baseline and surgical factors and the need for revision surgery to promote healing, relieve pain, treat infection or improve function over 24 months postsurgery. Additionally, we investigated factors associated with (1) hardware removal and (2) implant exchange from cancellous screws (CS) or sliding hip screw (SHS) to total hip arthroplasty, hemiarthroplasty, or another internal fixation device. Methods: We identified 15 potential factors a priori that may be associated with revision surgery, 7 with hardware removal, and 14 with implant exchange. We used multivariable Cox proportional hazards analyses in our investigation. Results: Factors associated with increased risk of revision surgery included: female sex, [hazard ratio (HR) 1.79, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.25-2.50; P = 0.001], higher body mass index (fo

Frontiers, regimes and learning from history

The complex relationship between capitalist development and rural transformation requires a global historical-comparative approach that takes into account both historical variations and spatial divergencies. We propose the analytical devices of commodity regimes and commodity frontiers to link structural changes with local resistance and accommodation. The concept of the commodity frontier explains how place-specific commodity production shapes and is shaped by the socio-spatial expansion, as well as the deepening and widening, of capitalism’s social division of labour

Dietary Intakes of Adults in the Netherlands by Childhood and Adulthood Socioeconomic Position

Objective: To examine the influence of individual- and area-level socioeconomic characteristics on food choice behaviour and dietary intake. Setting: The city of Eindhoven in the south-eastern Netherlands. Design: 1339 men and women aged 25-79 years were sampled from 85 areas (mean number of participants per area n = 18.4, range 2-49). Information on socioeconomic position (SEP) and diet was collected by structured face-to-face interviews (response rate 79.3%). Individual-level SEP was measured by education and household income, and area-level deprivation was measured using a composite index that included residents' education, occupation and employment status. Diet was measured on the basis of (i) a grocery food index that captured compliance with dietary guidelines, (ii) breakfast consumption, and (iii) intakes of fruit, total fat and saturated fat. Multi-level analyses were performed to examine the independent effects of individual and area-level socioeconomic characteristics on the dietary outcome variables. Main results: After adjusting for individual-level SEP, few trends or significant effects of area deprivation were found for the dietary outcomes. Significant associations were found between individual-level SEP and food choice, breakfast consumption and fruit intake, with participants from disadvantaged backgrounds being less likely to report food behaviours or nutrient intakes consistent with dietary recommendations. Conclusions: The findings suggest that an individual's socioeconomic characteristics play a more important role in shaping diet than the socioeconomic characteristics of the area in which they live. In this Dutch study, no independent influence of area-level socioeconomic characteristics on diet was detected, which contrasts with findings from the USA, the UK and Finland