Privacy-Preserving Facial Recognition Using Biometric-Capsules

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)In recent years, developers have used the proliferation of biometric sensors in smart devices, along with recent advances in deep learning, to implement an array of biometrics-based recognition systems. Though these systems demonstrate remarkable performance and have seen wide acceptance, they present unique and pressing security and privacy concerns. One proposed method which addresses these concerns is the elegant, fusion-based Biometric-Capsule (BC) scheme. The BC scheme is provably secure, privacy-preserving, cancellable and interoperable in its secure feature fusion design. In this work, we demonstrate that the BC scheme is uniquely fit to secure state-of-the-art facial verification, authentication and identification systems. We compare the performance of unsecured, underlying biometrics systems to the performance of the BC-embedded systems in order to directly demonstrate the minimal effects of the privacy-preserving BC scheme on underlying system performance. Notably, we demonstrate that, when seamlessly embedded into a state-of-the-art FaceNet and ArcFace verification systems which achieve accuracies of 97.18% and 99.75% on the benchmark LFW dataset, the BC-embedded systems are able to achieve accuracies of 95.13% and 99.13% respectively. Furthermore, we also demonstrate that the BC scheme outperforms or performs as well as several other proposed secure biometric methods

Dialogical Selves: Exploring “Sameness and Difference” in “Queer” Identification

“The LGBTQIA+ community”, like all social groupings, is moulded by dialectical forces: inclusivity/exclusivity, belonging/non-belonging, sameness/difference. Literature on it is riddled with dichotomous conflicts over (dis)identification and (anti)relationality in theory, lived experiences, and political mobilisation. Dominant discourses tend to overlook intersectional complexities therein, focus on labels over interactions, and reiterate a framing of the LGBTQIA+ as inherently vulnerable. The gaps point to a need for a more open and reparative investigation that creates space for exploring and (re)negotiating the assumed coalition. This study investigated what diverse groups of queer-identified individuals experienced when sharing their lived accounts of “sameness and difference” with others. Twenty-one people each participated in one of four focus groups and in a follow-up interview were invited to reflect on their experience. Decolonial Intersectional Narrative Analysis (Boonzaier, 2019) and a Bakhtinian-dialogical analysis (Grossen & Salazar Orvig, 2011) were used to inspect the “what” and the “how” of the group dialogues, respectively. Participants recounted significant experiences of sameness and difference that both foregrounded and transcended their particular intersectional identities. Moments/relationships of being treated as more an object than a full subject, due to divergence from certain monoglossic gendered/sexed/sexual norms (both intra- and extra-communally), were conarrated as keys to ongoing queer abjection. Participants expressed that dialoguing in this particular setting was an experience of coming-out-of-isolation, intersubjective learning, and strengthening senses of self and community. Future research and activism are encouraged to invest in accessible open dialogue as a site itself for LGBTQIA+ community-building in South Africa and beyond

Dynamic Rating of Overhead Transmission Lines over Complex Terrain Using a Large-Eddy Simulation Paradigm

Dynamic Line Rating (DLR) enables rating of power line conductors using real-time weather conditions. Conductors are typically operated based on a conservative static rating that assumes worst case weather conditions to avoid line sagging to unsafe levels. Static ratings can cause unnecessary congestion on transmission lines. To address this potential issue, a simulation-based dynamic line rating approach is applied to an area with moderately complex terrain. A micro-scale wind solver — accelerated on multiple graphics processing units (GPUs) — is deployed to compute wind speed and direction in the vicinity of powerlines. The wind solver adopts the large-eddy simulation technique and the immersed boundary method with fine spatial resolutions to improve the accuracy of wind field predictions. Statistical analysis of simulated winds compare favorably against wind data collected at multiple weather stations across the testbed area. The simulation data is then used to compute excess transmission capacity that may not be utilized because of a static rating practice. Our results show that the present multi-GPU accelerated simulation-based approach — supported with transient calculation of conductor temperature with high-order schemes — could be used as a non-intrusive smart-grid technology to increase transmission capacity on existing lines

Expanding Universe Illusion

We present a new induced movement illusion from global expansion or contraction in a triangular region filled with rising or falling textures. Objective global expansion or contraction induces lateral movement in the oblique edges of the triangle. The effects may be due to common and relative movements operating within a single texture

Dynamic Rating of Transmission Lines for Improved Wind Energy Integration in Complex Terrain

Transmission congestion is a growing concern that could limit integration on new renewable energy projects to the electricity grid. Because construction of new transmission lines is a long and expensive process, transmission service providers are investigating dynamic line rating (DLR) mehtods that could potentially increase capacity of existing transmission lines. DLR is a smart-grid technology that enables rating of power lines based on real-time conductor temperature that is dependent on local weather conditions. whereas conventional practice relies on a static rating, which is based on conservative local weather assumptions to limit transmission line sag. With todays improved wind and weather models, communication systems, and computing hardware, a computational approach to DLR is a possibility. Current thesis research investigates year-long wind patterns over a large test bed area in southern Idaho, in collaboration with Idaho National Laboratory and Idaho Power Company. To instil further confidence in the DLR approach, as proposed in IEEE Standard 738, the ordinary differential equation model that governs conductor temperature change in time, has been first validated by coupled computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and heat transfer analysis. Both steady-state and transient thermal rating assumptions have been evaluated using field measurements and high order numerical methods. Under low-wind conditions it is found that the steady-state thermal-rating assumption can cause unnecessary curtailments of power. To better model the variation of temperature along the path of a transmission line, a large-eddy simulation (LES) of winds over the moderately complex terrain of the test bed area has been performed using clusters of graphics processing units (GPU). LES results indicate that wind speed as well as direction relative to the transmission line is a critical factor in determining the conductor temperature, which implies that numerical wind models need to provide accurate estimates of wind speed and direction in regions of complex terrain

Services and Support for Georgia Families of Children with Special Needs: Findings from a Community Outreach Effort

This report details the results of a mixed-method community outreach effort conducted by the Georgia Health Policy Center as part of The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta's Champions for Children with Exceptional Needs Initiative (Champions)

UC-12 Comprehensive Security Solution for small E-commerce Business

Project Description: Create an e-commerce server and a comprehensive security program to protect a web server for a simulated small business. This server will include security tools such as intrusion detection, firewall, and network monitoring. The installation and maintenance of this solution will be documented as part of the final documentation package. The server will be reviewed for exploitation from other teams while we attempt the exploitation of their server(s). Research/Motivation: How to research, install, configure, and integrate various open-source software packages for information security, e-commerce, web hosting, and database. Our motivation for this project was to create and secure an e-commerce website that allows the team to explore, learn, and gain knowledge to become better real world IT professionals. Materials/Methods Our team leveraged the use of their own virtual machines and online documentation to test various software packages on the Ubuntu operating system. We leveraged the NIST cybersecurity framework to integrate industry standards and best practices to create risk assessment and information security documents. Preliminary Results: We have created a secure Internet facing e-commerce solution with supporting documentation. We are currently awaiting other teams to begin penetration testing and results from of our server. Intellectual or business merits of our project: Our team gained real world knowledge and skills during the research and implementation of the server and security project. Our documentation details the steps taken throughout the implementation of the project and allows us to hand off the ongoing maintenance to an e-commerce business. Actions that we\u27ll take to enhance the potential of the project to benefit society: Our documentation of the project could be published to allow e-commerce businesses to create a low cost, secure e-commerce store.Advisors(s): Project Sponsor: Dr. Lei Li Professor: Dr. Ying XieTopic(s): SecurityIT 498

Effects of Label-Dose Permethrin Administration on Reproductive Function and Embryo Quality on Superovulated Beef Heifers

Commercial pyrethroid pour-ons are commonly appliedin cow-calf operations to eliminate the potential for insectborne diseases and to improve productivity. However,recent literature has focused on potential negativereproductive effects in the bull after exposure to pyrethroids.While the female bovine has been primarily neglected fromthe debated pyrethroid concern on reproduction, literature inmice and rats have reported potential endocrine disruptionof sex steroids resulting from pyrethroid exposure, withpotential detrimental effects on female fertility. Theobjective was to study the effects of a commercialpyrethroid-based pour-on product, permethrin, onreproductive performance in superovulated beef heifers byassessing steroid biosynthesis and embryo quality. It washypothesized that exposure to pyrethroid pour-on at labeldose would cause minimal effects on embryoquantity/quality and steroidogenesis in the female bovine.Results from this study revealed pyrethroid-treated heifershad a tendency for reduced progesterone, but embryoquantity and quality were not affected compared to control