Model Extraction Warning in MLaaS Paradigm

Cloud vendors are increasingly offering machine learning services as part of their platform and services portfolios. These services enable the deployment of machine learning models on the cloud that are offered on a pay-per-query basis to application developers and end users. However recent work has shown that the hosted models are susceptible to extraction attacks. Adversaries may launch queries to steal the model and compromise future query payments or privacy of the training data. In this work, we present a cloud-based extraction monitor that can quantify the extraction status of models by observing the query and response streams of both individual and colluding adversarial users. We present a novel technique that uses information gain to measure the model learning rate by users with increasing number of queries. Additionally, we present an alternate technique that maintains intelligent query summaries to measure the learning rate relative to the coverage of the input feature space in the presence of collusion. Both these approaches have low computational overhead and can easily be offered as services to model owners to warn them of possible extraction attacks from adversaries. We present performance results for these approaches for decision tree models deployed on BigML MLaaS platform, using open source datasets and different adversarial attack strategies

Continuous loading of an electrostatic trap for polar molecules

A continuously operated electrostatic trap for polar molecules is demonstrated. The trap has a volume of ~0.6 cm^3 and holds molecules with a positive Stark shift. With deuterated ammonia from a quadrupole velocity filter, a trap density of ~10^8/cm^3 is achieved with an average lifetime of 130 ms and a motional temperature of ~300 mK. The trap offers good starting conditions for high-precision measurements, and can be used as a first stage in cooling schemes for molecules and as a "reaction vessel" in cold chemistry.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures v2: several small improvements, new intr

The structure, organization and radiation of Sadhu non-long terminal repeat retroelements in Arabidopsis species

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Sadhu </it>elements are non-autonomous retroposons first recognized in <it>Arabidopsis thaliana</it>. There is a wide degree of divergence among different elements, suggesting that these sequences are ancient in origin. Here we report the results of several lines of investigation into the genomic organization and evolutionary history of this element family.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We present a classification scheme for <it>Sadhu </it>elements in <it>A. thaliana</it>, describing derivative elements related to the full-length elements we reported previously. We characterized <it>Sadhu5 </it>elements in a set of <it>A. thaliana </it>strains in order to trace the history of radiation in this subfamily. Sequences surrounding the target sites of different <it>Sadhu </it>insertions are consistent with mobilization by LINE retroelements. Finally, we identified <it>Sadhu </it>elements grouping into distinct subfamilies in two related species, <it>Arabidopsis arenosa </it>and <it>Arabidopsis lyrata</it>.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our analyses suggest that the <it>Sadhu </it>retroelement family has undergone target primed reverse transcription-driven retrotransposition during the divergence of different <it>A. thaliana </it>strains. In addition, <it>Sadhu </it>elements can be found at moderate copy number in three distinct <it>Arabidopsis </it>species, indicating that the evolutionary history of these sequences can be traced back at least several millions of years.</p

Trapping of Neutral Rubidium with a Macroscopic Three-Phase Electric Trap

We trap neutral ground-state rubidium atoms in a macroscopic trap based on purely electric fields. For this, three electrostatic field configurations are alternated in a periodic manner. The rubidium is precooled in a magneto-optical trap, transferred into a magnetic trap and then translated into the electric trap. The electric trap consists of six rod-shaped electrodes in cubic arrangement, giving ample optical access. Up to 10^5 atoms have been trapped with an initial temperature of around 20 microkelvin in the three-phase electric trap. The observations are in good agreement with detailed numerical simulations.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Water vapor at a translational temperature of one kelvin

We report the creation of a confined slow beam of heavy-water (D2O) molecules with a translational temperature around 1 kelvin. This is achieved by filtering slow D2O from a thermal ensemble with inhomogeneous static electric fields exploiting the quadratic Stark shift of D2O. All previous demonstrations of electric field manipulation of cold dipolar molecules rely on a predominantly linear Stark shift. Further, on the basis of elementary molecular properties and our filtering technique we argue that our D2O beam contains molecules in only a few ro-vibrational states.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, 1 tabl

FISTULA-IN-ANO: KSHARSUTRA A MINIMAL INVASIVE TREATMENT MODALITY

Fistula-in-ano is troublesome problem encountered in general practice. It consists of 1.6% of all surgical admissions and leads to physical, psychological and social problems. The management consists of multiple modalities with varied results. Present study evaluates medicated seton (Ksharsutra) as a minimal invasive modality of treatment. Methodology: The study was randomized control trial carried out at tertiary care hospital with an aim to assess the efficacy of Ksharsutra Vs fistulectomy. The subjects were clinically diagnosed and MRI confirmed cases of low fistula-in-ano. They were block randomized into two interventional groups. Study group were subjected to introduction of Ksharsutra under local anesthesia while control group under saddle block had a formal fistulectomy done. The outcome measures were wound healing time, hospital stay and recurrence. Results: A total of 63 patients were evaluated of which 33 were allocated to Ksharsutra group and 30 patients underwent fistulectomy. The male: female ratio was 8:1 and mean age of the patients was 38.4 years SD ± 11.03. Perianal sinus with or without pain and discharge was presenting complaints in all patients.1/3rd patient gave history of past incision and drainage while 2/3rd patients had spontaneous rupture. Majority (76%) fistulae were intersphincteric and rest were transsphincteric. The mean healing duration was 5.5 weeks in fistulectomy and 6 weeks in Ksharsutra (p&gt;0.1 [NS]). Recurrence rate and incontinence rates were also significantly not different. Conclusion: The equivalence of results of Ksharsutra with traditional fistulectomy made it an alternative minimal invasive modality of treatment which can be offered on outpatient basis

FIR/submm spectroscopy with Herschel: first results from the VNGS and H-ATLAS surveys

The FIR/submm window is one of the least-studied regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, yet this wavelength range is absolutely crucial for understanding the physical processes and properties of the ISM in galaxies. The advent of the Herschel Space Observatory has opened up the entire FIR/submm window for spectroscopic studies. We present the first FIR/submm spectroscopic results on both nearby and distant galaxies obtained in the frame of two Herschel key programs: the Very Nearby Galaxies Survey and the Herschel ATLAS

An Active Role for the Ribosome in Determining the Fate of Oxidized mRNA

Chemical damage to RNA affects its functional properties and thus may pose a significant hurdle to the translational apparatus; however, the effects of damaged mRNA on the speed and accuracy of the decoding process and their interplay with quality-control processes are not known. Here, we systematically explore the effects of oxidative damage on the decoding process using a well-defined bacterial in vitro translation system. We find that the oxidative lesion 8-oxoguanosine (8-oxoG) reduces the rate of peptide-bond formation by more than three orders of magnitude independent of its position within the codon. Interestingly, 8-oxoG had little effect on the fidelity of the selection process, suggesting that the modification stalls the translational machinery. Consistent with these findings, 8-oxoG mRNAs were observed to accumulate and associate with polyribosomes in yeast strains in which no-go decay is compromised. Our data provide compelling evidence that mRNA-surveillance mechanisms have evolved to cope with damaged mRNA

Self-medication amongst pregnant women in a tertiary care teaching hospital in India

Background: Self-medication is a popular practice in developing countries where there is no strict regulation of drugs sold in local pharmacies. General public is usually unaware of the adverse effects of drugs used for common illness and continue using them without prescription during pregnancy. This study was carried out to know the extent of self-medication practised by pregnant women and various factors associated with it.Methods: A questionnaire based, cross-sectional study of pregnant women visiting the OB GYN-OPD of a tertiary care teaching hospital was conducted. 303 eligible subjects were questioned and statistical analysis was carried out.Results: Total 16.5% women were found to be self-medicating during pregnancy for common conditions like headache (26%), fever (23%) and common cold (19%). Odds Ratio between the self-medicating and non-self-medicating groups for variables like age (<25 years; ≥25 years), education (illiterate; literate) and gestational age (<20 weeks; ≥20 weeks) are 1.6, 2 and 1.73 respectively. Women with a history of self-medicating before pregnancy were significantly more likely to continue doing so during pregnancy (p value <0.00001).Conclusions: A significant proportion of pregnant women have been found to self-medicate without knowing the adverse effects of the drug used. Thus, spreading awareness against this health-predicament is necessary

A continuous source of translationally cold dipolar molecules

The Stark interaction of polar molecules with an inhomogeneous electric field is exploited to select slow molecules from a room-temperature reservoir and guide them into an ultrahigh vacuum chamber. A linear electrostatic quadrupole with a curved section selects molecules with small transverse and longitudinal velocities. The source is tested with formaldehyde (H2CO) and deuterated ammonia (ND3). With H2CO a continuous flux is measured of approximately 10^9/s and a longitudinal temperature of a few K. The data are compared with the result of a Monte Carlo simulation.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures v2: small changes in the abstract, text and references. Figures 1 & 2 regenerated to prevent errors in the pd