(Ab)using Images and Sounds for Indirect Instruction Injection in Multi-Modal LLMs

We demonstrate how images and sounds can be used for indirect prompt and instruction injection in multi-modal LLMs. An attacker generates an adversarial perturbation corresponding to the prompt and blends it into an image or audio recording. When the user asks the (unmodified, benign) model about the perturbed image or audio, the perturbation steers the model to output the attacker-chosen text and/or make the subsequent dialog follow the attacker's instruction. We illustrate this attack with several proof-of-concept examples targeting LLaVa and PandaGPT

Three-dimensional ultrasonography measurement of fetal nasal bone length during the midtrimester in Taiwanese women

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate the normal range of the fetal nasal bone length (NBL) in Taiwanese women using three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound, and compare the NBL of normal fetuses with Down syndrome to determine its significance in screening for trisomy 21.Materials and MethodsA total of 102 consecutive fetuses and another 7 fetuses with trisomy 21, determined by karyotyping at 15–22 weeks' gestation, were evaluated with 3D ultrasound before amniocentesis at Changhua Christian Hospital between November 2003 and April 2004.ResultsThe normal range for NBL in the second trimester in the Taiwanese population was investigated, and a linear relationship with gestational age was noted. The NBL increased with advancing gestational age (NBL in cm=0.0264×gestational age in weeks –0.042 (R2=0.2416). The median of the biparietal diameter/nasal bone length ratio had a stable value which tended to change minimally between 15 and 22 weeks of gestation. Chromosomally normal fetuses had statistically longer nasal bones than fetuses with Down syndrome (p=0.014).ConclusionWe present a reference range for 3D ultrasound measurement of the fetal NBL. A short nasal bone at 15 to 22 weeks is associated with a high risk of trisomy 21

Influenza Pandemics: Past, Present and Future

Influenza A virus is well known for its capability for genetic changes either through antigen drift or antigen shift. Antigen shift is derived from reassortment of gene segments between viruses, and may result in an antigenically novel virus that is capable of causing a worldwide pandemic. As we trace backwards through the history of influenza pandemics, a repeating pattern can be observed, namely, a limited wave in the first year followed by global spread in the following year. In the 20th century alone, there were three overwhelming pandemics, in 1918, 1957 and 1968, caused by H1N1 (Spanish flu), H2N2 (Asian flu) and H3N2 (Hong Kong flu), respectively. In 1957 and 1968, excess mortality was noted in infants, the elderly and persons with chronic diseases, similar to what occurred during interpandemic periods. In 1918, there was one distinct peak of excess death in young adults aged between 20 and 40 years old; leukopenia and hemorrhage were prominent features. Acute pulmonary edema and hemorrhagic pneumonia contributed to rapidly lethal outcome in young adults. Autopsies disclosed multiple-organ involvement, including pericarditis, myocarditis, hepatitis and splenomegaly. These findings are, in part, consistent with clinical manifestations of human infection with avian influenza A H5N1 virus, in which reactive hemophagocytic syndrome was a characteristic pathologic finding that accounted for pancytopenia, abnormal liver function and multiple organ failure. All the elements of an impending pandemic are in place. Unless effective measures are implemented, we will likely observe a pandemic in the coming seasons. Host immune response plays a crucial role in disease caused by newly emerged influenza virus, such as the 1918 pandemic strain and the recent avian H5N1 strain. Sustained activation of lymphocytes and macrophages after infection results in massive cytokine response, thus leading to severe systemic inflammation. Further investigations into how the virus interacts with the host's immune system will be helpful in guiding future therapeutic strategies in facing influenza pandemics

Pyogenic Liver Abscess as Endemic Disease, Taiwan

Increasing incidence and microbiologic shift might have changed the manifestation of this condition

Prenatal diagnosis of radial ray defects by ultrasound: A report of 6 cases

Objective: All of the medical records of fetuses with the sonographic finding of radial ray defects (RRDs) between 2008 and 2015 were retrieved. The associated sonographic findings, cytogenetic results, and necropsy findings were correlated. Case report: There were 6 cases of RRD. Three cases were bilateral and the other 3 cases were unilateral. The gestational ages at diagnosis were between 12 and 24 weeks gestation. All women carrying fetuses with RRDs opted to terminate the pregnancy. There were 2 cases of trisomy 18, one case of thrombocytopenia-absent radius syndrome, and 2 cases of isolated RRD. Both cases of trisomy 18 had other sonographic abnormalities. Conclusion: RRD should be considered if a short radius and abnormal angulation of the wrist or thumb is noted. The use of 3-D ultrasound facilitates the diagnosis of RRD, even at early gestation, by providing a better surface appearance, panoramic views, and spatial orientation

Analyst’s Target Price Revision and Dealer’s Trading Behavior Analysis: Evidence from Taiwanese Stock Market

This work utilizes the Taiwanese data primarily focused on retailing investor behavior to examine whether Taiwanese brokerage analysts issue target price revisions, whether implicit information connotation exists and whether their own brokerages use the market reaction brought about by target price revisions to conduct conflict of interest operations. The event study is used to verify whether the above results exist. The empirical results show that analysts may publish information that includes investment recommendations, earnings forecasts, or price target forecasts. Whether investors with immediate and post-event media coverage revise their relevant investment strategies and avoid serious losses caused by this news is established. The research results show that the target price revision has implicit information content no matter the target price being revised. In addition, a conflict of interest between dealers’ trading behavior and analysts’ target price revisions exists. The major contribution of this work is to fill the research gaps concerning which retail investors are easily influenced by social media and herding behavior, as well as target price forecasting. The most efficient use of resources relates to the satisfaction of everyone’s interests on a fair basis, and thus greater contribution. The governance mechanism and check and balance function can help maximize the value of the company, not only by enhancing the competitiveness of the enterprise, but also by increasing the value of shareholders’ rights and interests and better fulfilling corporate social responsibility

Evaluation of the thermal conductance of flip-chip bonding structure utilizing the measurement based on Fourier’s law of heat conduction at steady-state

Fourier’s law of heat conduction at steady-state was adopted to establish a measurement method utilizing platinum (Pt) thin-film electrodes as the heater and the temperature sensor. The thermal conductivities (κ’s) of Pyrex glass, an epoxy resin and a commercial underfill for flip-chip devices were measured and a good agreement with previously reported values was obtained. The thermal boundary resistances (RTBR’s) of Pt/sample interfaces were also extracted for discussing their influence on the thermal conduction of samples. Afterward, the flip-chip samples with 2×2 solder joint array utilizing Si wafers as the die and the substrate, without and with the underfills, were prepared and their thermal conductance were measured. For the sample without underfill, the air presenting in the gap of die and the substrate led to the poor thermal conductance of sample. With the insertion of underfills, the thermal conductance of flip-chip samples improved. The resistance to heat transfer across Si/underfill interfaces was also suppressed and to promote the thermal conductance of samples. The thermal properties of underfill and RTBR at Si/underfill interface were further implanted in the calculation of thermal conductance of flip-chip samples containing various solder joint arrays. The increasing number of solder joints diminished the influence of thermal conduction of underfill and RTBR of Si/underfill interface on the thermal conductance of samples. The insertion of underfill with high-κ value might promote the heat conductance of samples containing low-density solder joint arrays; however, it became insignificant in improving the heat conductance of samples containing high-density solder joint arrays

Nonlinear Generation of Long Waves and the Reversal of Eddy Momentum Fluxes in a Two-Layer Quasigeostrophic Model

Although classical theories of midlatitude momentum fluxes focus on the wave-mean flow interaction, wave-wave interactions may be important for generating long waves. It is shown in this study that this nonlinear generation has implications for eddy momentum fluxes in some regimes. Using a two-layer quasigeostrophic model of a baroclinic jet on a beta plane, statistically steady states are explored in which the vertically integrated eddy momentumflux is divergent at the center of the jet, rather than convergent as in Earthlike climates. One moves toward this less familiar climate from more Earthlike settings by reducing either b, frictional drag, or the width of the baroclinic zone, or by increasing the upper bound of resolvable wavelengths by lengthening the zonal channel. Even in Earthlike settings, long waves diverge momentumfrom the jet, but they are too weak to compete with short unstable waves that converge momentum. Weargue that long waves are generated by breaking of short unstable waves near their critical latitudes, where long waves converge momentum while diverging momentum at the center of the jet. Quasi-linear models with no wave-wave interaction can qualitatively capture the Earthlike regime but not the regime with momentum flux divergence at the center of the jet, because the nonlinear wave breaking and long-wave generation processes are missing. Therefore, a more comprehensive theory of atmospheric eddy momentum fluxes should take into account the nonlinear dynamics of long waves

A Conceptual Atomic Force Microscope using LEGO for Nanoscience Education

A lack of effective educational materials is limited general public awareness of, and interest in, nanoscience. This paper presents a conceptual atomic force microscope (AFM) model built by using the LEGO® MINDSTORMS series. AFMs are perhaps one of the most fundamental and widely-used instruments in nanoscience and nanotechnology, thus the introduction of this LEGO® AFM should be beneficial to nanoscience education. Programmed in LabVIEW, this LEGO® model has the ability to scan the samples and construct a three-dimensional (3D) surface graphs of the sample, based on the mechanism used for AFM. With this LEGO® AFM, the students can directly access nanoscience concepts through hands-on experience constructing an AFM model. This interaction will lead to a better understanding of nanoscience principles, and motivate learners to further explore both the theoretical and experimental aspects of the domain