Shape Evasion: Preventing Body Shape Inference of Multi-Stage Approaches

Modern approaches to pose and body shape estimation have recently achieved strong performance even under challenging real-world conditions. Even from a single image of a clothed person, a realistic looking body shape can be inferred that captures a users' weight group and body shape type well. This opens up a whole spectrum of applications -- in particular in fashion -- where virtual try-on and recommendation systems can make use of these new and automatized cues. However, a realistic depiction of the undressed body is regarded highly private and therefore might not be consented by most people. Hence, we ask if the automatic extraction of such information can be effectively evaded. While adversarial perturbations have been shown to be effective for manipulating the output of machine learning models -- in particular, end-to-end deep learning approaches -- state of the art shape estimation methods are composed of multiple stages. We perform the first investigation of different strategies that can be used to effectively manipulate the automatic shape estimation while preserving the overall appearance of the original image

Redefining the Approach to Cybersecurity

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A semi-automated security advisory system to resist cyber-attack in social networks

Social networking sites often witness various types of social engineering (SE) attacks. Yet, limited research has addressed the most severe types of social engineering in social networks (SNs). The present study investigates the extent to which people respond differently to different types of attack in a social network context and how we can segment users based on their vulnerability. In turn, this leads to the prospect of a personalised security advisory system. 316 participants have completed an online-questionnaire that includes a scenario-based experiment. The study result reveals that people respond to cyber-attacks differently based on their demographics. Furthermore, people’s competence, social network experience, and their limited connections with strangers in social networks can decrease their likelihood of falling victim to some types of attacks more than others

Maternal and offspring intelligence in relation to BMI across childhood and adolescence

Objective: The present study tested the association between both mothers’ and offspring’s intelligence and offspring’s body mass index (BMI) in youth. Method: Participants were members of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 (NLSY-79) Children and Young Adults cohort (n = 11,512) and their biological mothers who were members of the NLSY-79 (n = 4932). Offspring’s IQ was measured with the Peabody Individual Achievement Test (PIAT). Mothers’ IQ was measured with the Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT). A series of regression analyses tested the association between IQ and offspring’s BMI by age group, while adjusting for pre-pregnancy BMI and family SES. The analyses were stratified by sex and ethnicity (non-Black and non-Hispanic, Black, and Hispanic). Results: The following associations were observed in the fully adjusted analyses. For the non-Blacks and non-Hispanics, a SD increment in mothers’ IQ was negatively associated with daughters’ BMI across all age-groups, ranging from β = −0.12 (95% CI −0.22 to −0.02, p = 0.021) in late childhood, to β = −0.17 (95% C.I. −0.27 to −0.07, p = 0001), in early adolescence and a SD increment in boys’ IQ was positively associated with their BMI in early adolescence β = 0.09 (95% CI 0.01–0.18, p = 0.031). For Blacks, there was a non-linear relationship between mothers’ IQ and daughters’ BMI across childhood and between girls’ IQ and BMI across adolescence. There was a positive association between mothers’ IQ and sons’ BMI in early adolescence (β = 0.17, 95% CI 0.02–0.32, p = 0.030). For Hispanic boys, there was a positive IQ-BMI association in late childhood (β = 0.19, 95% CI 0.05–0.33, p = 0.008) and early adolescence (β = 0.17, 95% CI 0.04–0.31, p = 0.014). Conclusion: Mothers’ IQ and offspring’s IQ were associated with offspring’s BMI. The relationships varied in direction and strength across ethnicity, age group and sex. Obesity interventions may benefit from acknowledging the heterogeneous influence that intelligence has on childhood BMI

Lebensdauer von Bauteilen - Langzeitverhalten und bruchmechanische Aspekte

In der Praxis werden oft Standzeiten von Produkten aus technischen Kunststoffen verlangt, die nach Jahrzehnten bemessen werden. Dies betrifft Gas- und Wasserrohre z. B. aus Polyethylen genauso wie Bauteile in Kraftfahrzeugen wie z. B. aus Polyamiden oder auch Teile in Pumpen für Dauereinsätze. Die Prüfung von Bauteilen und Materialien kann daher sehr zeitaufwendig sein. Zur Verkürzung von Prüfzeiten von Zeitstandsexperimenten bei gleichzeitig verbesserter Vorhersagbarkeit der Lebensdauern von Kunststoffbauteilen wurde ein Prüfverfahren entwickelt und validiert

Subjektives Erleben nach einer Organtransplantation – eine qualitative Studie mit 120 Herz-, Lungen-, Leber und Nierenempfängern

Objectives: The communication with patients who have undergoned transplantation is greatly influenced by their subjective experience. This paper deals with this subjective transplant-specific experience six months after surgery. Methods: Following their heart, lung, liver, or kidney transplantation, 120 patients were questioned concerning their experiences regarding the transplantation, the organ itself, and changes in their personal life. Their statements were investigated by qualitative content analysis. Results: Generally, the statements concerning the transplantation were positive. Interpersonal contact with the medical staff and or family members was perceived as very helpful.Two-thirds of the patients spoke openly about their organ. For the most part, their statements about changes in their personal life were positive, expressed in the sense of personal growth. Fears and insecurities occurred as negative changes. Conclusions: On the whole, the majority of the patients expressed positive experiences regarding their transplantation. Interpersonal and supportive relationships played a significant role