Learning Location from Shared Elevation Profiles in Fitness Apps: A Privacy Perspective

The extensive use of smartphones and wearable devices has facilitated many useful applications. For example, with Global Positioning System (GPS)-equipped smart and wearable devices, many applications can gather, process, and share rich metadata, such as geolocation, trajectories, elevation, and time. For example, fitness applications, such as Runkeeper and Strava, utilize the information for activity tracking and have recently witnessed a boom in popularity. Those fitness tracker applications have their own web platforms and allow users to share activities on such platforms or even with other social network platforms. To preserve the privacy of users while allowing sharing, several of those platforms may allow users to disclose partial information, such as the elevation profile for an activity, which supposedly would not leak the location of the users. In this work, and as a cautionary tale, we create a proof of concept where we examine the extent to which elevation profiles can be used to predict the location of users. To tackle this problem, we devise three plausible threat settings under which the city or borough of the targets can be predicted. Those threat settings define the amount of information available to the adversary to launch the prediction attacks. Establishing that simple features of elevation profiles, e.g., spectral features, are insufficient, we devise both natural language processing (NLP)-inspired text-like representation and computer vision-inspired image-like representation of elevation profiles, and we convert the problem at hand into text and image classification problem. We use both traditional machine learning- and deep learning-based techniques and achieve a prediction success rate ranging from 59.59\% to 99.80\%. The findings are alarming, highlighting that sharing elevation information may have significant location privacy risks.Comment: 16 pages, 12 figures, 10 tables; accepted for publication in IEEE Transactions on Mobile Computing (October 2022). arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:1910.0904

Cryptotool: A secure data storage software

Confidentiality and personal information security has always been a big problem in the world of cyberspace. There exist a number of solutions which are based on encryption methods, however such tools are typically file-format specific and/or do not give sufficient control to the user to choose the cryptographic algorithm. In this study, a private key encryption software is presented; it supports two main security features. The first is encryption that supports all file formats and several encryption algorithms such as AES, 3DES and RC2. The second feature is integrity using Hash functions, the latter ensures that unauthorised modifications of stored files can be detected. In addition, the tool has an easy-to-use interface which allows the user to choose from several encryption algorithms and define the encryption key. The software also allows the user to combine a number of cryptographic algorithms to build stronger ciphers for more enhanced security. In addition, the Crypto Tool can be used as an education tool as it supprts a number of classic ciphers and provides opportunity to compare different cryptographic encrypting techniques

The Failure of Price Competition In The Turkish Credit Card Market

The failure of competition and the consequent high and sticky interest rates in credit card markets have been the subject of a considerable amount of debate and research lately. This paper presents the first regression testing for the existence of price competition in a credit card market to be estimated free of dynamic panel bias using recent quarterly data from Turkey. The estimation reveals that even though the effect of the cost of funds on credit card rates is statistically significant, it is very weak. The paper thus provides empirical evidence for the failure of price competition in the Turkish credit card market.Credit Cards, Price Competition, System GMM, Banking

Non-price competition in credit card markets through bundling and bank level benefits

The attempts to explain the high and sticky credit card rates have given rise to a vast literature on credit card markets. This paper endeavors to explain the rates in the Turkish market using measures of non-price competition. In this market, issuers compete monopolistically by differentiating their credit card products. The fact that credit cards and all other banking services are perceived as a bundle by consumers allows banks to deploy also bank level characteristics to differentiate their credit cards. Thus, credit card rates are expected to be affected by the features and service quality of banks. Panel data estimations also control for various costs associated with credit card lending. The results show significant and robust effects of the non-price competition variables on credit card rates.Credit Cards, Monopolistic Competition, Product Differentiation, Bundling, Bank Pricing Behavior, Regulation

Shunt Active Power Filters Based On Diode Clamped Multilevel Inverter and Hysteresis Band Current Controller

This work focused to design and implementing the three phase shunt Active Power Filter (SAPF) based in instantaneous reactive power theory which we used to generate the reference current and measure the power and reactive power and power factor and using Hysteresis Band Current Controller to obtain the gating signals for 11-steps diode clamped multilevel inverter (DCMLI). The proposed system represent two inverter Shunt Active filters  is less total  harmonic distortion (THD) and reduced semiconductor  ratings compared with conventional inverter. The current drawn by the non- linear load and improve the source side power factor by compensate the reactive power. Also, the shunt Active Power Filter (SAPF) system response has been tested under steady state and transient conditions for real time current compensation harmonics. A study of its performance through simulation results will be investigated through MATLAB Simulink. Keywords: Shunt Active power filter (SHAPF), diode clamped Multilevel Inverter (DCMLI), Hysteresis band controller

Assessment of Turkish junior male physicians’ exposure to mobbing behavior

Aim To determine the extent of Turkish junior male physicians’ exposure to mobbing behavior and its correlation with physicians’ characteristics. Methods The study included physicians recruited for compulsory military service in April 2009. No sampling method was used, questionnaires were delivered to all physicians, and 278 of 292 (95%) questionnaires were returned. We used Leymann Inventory of Psychological Terror including 45 items for data collection and structural equation model for data analysis. Results A total of 87.7% of physicians experienced mobbing behavior. Physicians who worked more than 40 hours a week, single physicians, physicians working in university hospitals and private hospitals, and physicians who did not have occupational commitment were more exposed to mobbing (P < 0.05). Mobbing was not associated with specialty status, service period, age, and personality variables (P > 0.05). All goodness-of- fit indices of the model were acceptable (χ2 = 1.449, normed fit index = 0.955, Tucker Lewis index = 0.980, comparative fit index = 0.985, and root mean square error of approximation = 0.040). Conclusions Workplace mobbing is a critical problem for junior male physicians in Turkey. We suggest an introduction of a reporting system and education activities for physicians in high-risk groups

Hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus seroprevalence in rural areas of the southwestern region of Turkey

SummaryObjectivesMost previous studies on the frequency of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) have analyzed data obtained from blood donors and risk groups. Few studies have been conducted in the field in rural and urban areas of Turkey. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of HBV and HCV and to investigate the association with risk factors.MethodsBetween January 2006 and March 2007, 2852 people aged 18 years and over were chosen in three districts using simple random sampling, and blood samples were drawn from them. The card test technique, which is highly sensitive, was applied to blood samples for the qualitative assessment of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), anti-hepatitis B surface antigen antibodies (anti-HBs), and anti-hepatitis C virus antibodies (anti-HCV). The ELISA technique was then applied only to positive samples for confirmation. In addition, participants answered survey questions on risk factors for infection with HBV and HCV.ResultsOur results showed that 71 (2.5%) were HBsAg-positive, 462 (16.2%) were anti-HBs-positive, and 29 (1.0%) were anti-HCV-positive. Further survey results showed that seropositivity increased with some of the risk factors.ConclusionsStudies on seropositivity that depend on field analyses reflect the true population more accurately. We conclude that such field studies and public education activities for hepatitis B and C are essential

¿La adherencia a la Dieta Mediterránea está asociada con el Comportamiento Alimentario y el Apetito Emocional en Mujeres Jóvenes?

Introduction: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MD) on eating attitudes and emotional appetite in young females aged 18-24. Methodology: A cross-sectional study (n=306) was conducted on young females. A questionnaire including demographic characteristics, Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26), Emotional Eating Questionnaire (EMAQ), and International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was applied. Daily food consumption was obtained from the 24-hour- food records and used to calculate the Mediterranean Diet Quality Index (MAI). The researchers measured the body weight (kg) and height (cm). Results: Half of the participants (50.7%) have low adherence to the MD, moderate in 25.2%, and high in 24.2%. There is no statistical difference in MAI scores between EAT-26 groups (p&gt;0.05). The dieting status was higher (28.2%) in the disordered eating tendencies group compared to the group without disordered eating tendencies (11.1%) (χ2 =12.490, p&lt;0.001). The scores of the negative total scores were higher in the group with disordered eating risk (p=0.004). Conclusions: Young females’ low adherence to Mediterranean Diet might be associated with future health problems. No effect of MAI on disordered eating behavior was determined but EMAQ-negative sub and total scores were determined as a component of EAT-26. Early detection of diet quality and conditions associated with emotional eating disorders is thought to be important in preventing future health problems.Introducción: Este estudio tuvo como objetivo evaluar los efectos de la adherencia a la Dieta Mediterránea (DM) sobre las actitudes alimentarias y el apetito emocional en mujeres jóvenes de 18 a 24 años. Metodología: Se realizó un estudio transversal (n=306) en mujeres jóvenes. Se aplicó un cuestionario que preguntaba sobre características demográficas, Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26), Emotional Eating Questionnaire (EMAQ) y el International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). El consumo diario de alimentos se obtuvo de la encuesta de 24 horas. método de registro de alimentos, y se utiliza para calcular el Índice de Calidad de la Dieta Mediterránea (MAI). Los investigadores midieron el peso corporal (kg) y la altura (cm). Resultados: La mitad de las participantes (50,7%) tiene baja adherencia a la DM, moderada en 25,2% y alta en 24,2%. No existe diferencia estadística en el Índice de Calidad de la Dieta Mediterránea entre los grupos del EAT-26 (p&gt;0,05). El estado de dieta fue mayor (28,2%) en el grupo de tendencias alimentarias desordenadas en comparación con el grupo sin tendencias alimentarias desordenadas (11,1%) (χ2 =12,490, p&lt;0,001). Las puntuaciones del total negativo fueron mayores en el grupo con riesgo a trastornos alimentarios (p=0,004). Conclusiones: La baja adherencia a la Dieta Mediterránea en mujeres jóvenes podría estar asociada a futuros problemas de salud. No se determinó ningún efecto de MAI sobre el comportamiento alimentario desordenado, pero se determinaron puntuaciones parciales y totales negativas de EMAQ como un componente de EAT-26. La detección temprana de la calidad de la dieta y las condiciones asociadas con los trastornos alimentarios emocionales son importante para prevenir futuros problemas de salud

KİŞİLİK TİPLERİ İLE BİREYSEL GİRİŞİMCİLİK YÖNELİMİ İLİŞKİSİ ÜZERİNDE GİRİŞİMCİLİK EĞİTİMİNİN ETKİSİ

ÖZ: Araştırmada meslek yüksekokulu öğrencilerinin kişilik tipleri ile bireysel girişimcilik yönelimi ilişkisi üzerinde girişimcilik eğitiminin etkisi saptanmaya çalışılmıştır. Araştırmanın özgünlüğü, analizlerin girişimcilik eğitim öncesi ve sonrası şeklinde gerçekleştirilmiş ve meslek yüksekokulu öğrencilerine uygulanmış olmasıdır. Bu araştırma sayesinde girişimcilik eğitiminin etkisi hakkında bilginin elde edilmesi ile alana katkı sağlanacağı düşünülmektedir. Araştırmada girişimcilik dersi alan 194 öğrenciden hem yarıyıl başında hem de yarıyıl sonunda olmak üzere “tek grup ilk test ve son test tekniği” ile veri toplanmıştır. Kişilik tiplerini ölçmek için Rammstedt ve John (2007) tarafından geliştirilen beş faktör kişilik tipleri ölçeği ve bireysel girişimcilik yönelimini ölçmek için ise Bolton ve Lane (2012) tarafından geliştirilen ölçek kullanılmıştır. Araştırmada frekans, korelasyon ve regresyon analiz yöntemlerinden yararlanılmıştır. Analizler sonucunda beş faktör kişilik tipleri ile bireysel girişimcilik yönelimi arasında -bazı alt boyutlar hariç olmak üzere- anlamlı bir ilişki olduğu görülmüştür. Ek olarak ön test ve son test sonuçları karşılaştırıldığında girişimcilik eğitiminin kişilik tipleri ile bireysel girişimcilik yönelimi ilişkisini -bazı alt boyutlar hariç olmak üzere- etkilemediği görülmüştür. Araştırma sonucunda meslek yüksekokullarında okutulan girişimcilik ders içeriklerinin, öğrencilerin girişimcilik yeteneklerini geliştirmeye ve yönelimlerini arttırmaya yönelik hazırlanmasına ve uygulamalı metotlara daha fazla ağırlık verilmesine gereklilik olduğu sonucuna ulaşılmıştır. ABSTRACT: In the research, it was tried to determine the effect of entrepreneurship education on the relationship between personality types and individual entrepreneurial orientation of vocational school students. The originality of the research is that the analyzes were carried out before and after entrepreneurship education and applied to vocational school students. It is thought that this research will contribute to the field by obtaining information about the effect of entrepreneurship education. In the research, data were collected from 194 students who took entrepreneurship courses, both at the beginning of the semester and at the end of the semester, using the “single group pre-test and post-test technique”. The five-factor personality types scale developed by Rammstedt and John (2007) was used to measure personality types, and the scale developed by Bolton and Lane (2012) was used to measure individual entrepreneurial orientation. Frequency, correlation and regression analysis methods were used in the research. As a result of the analyses, it was seen that there was a significant relationship between five factor personality types and individual entrepreneurial orientation, except for some sub-dimensions. In addition, when the pre-test and post-test results were compared, it was seen that entrepreneurship training did not affect the relationship between personality types and individual entrepreneurial orientation, except for some sub-dimensions. As a result of the research, it was concluded that entrepreneurship course contents should be prepared to develop students’ entrepreneurial skills and increase their orientation, and that more emphasis should be given to applied methods

Mali Kriz Dönemlerinde Kamu Borç Göstergeleri Üzerinden Mali Sürdürülebilirliğin Görünümü: Gelişen Ülke Ekonomilerde Kamu Borçlanmasının Değerlendirilmesi (2000-2015)

2008 Küresel Finans Krizinden sonra artan kamu borçlarının mali sürdürülebilirlik tartışmaları artmıştır. Bu çalışma, kamu borçlanmasının mali sürdürülebilirliğini gelişen ekonomilerin verileri üzerinden analiz etmektedir. Çalışmada, 2000-2015 yılları arasında 30 ülkenin 16 yıllık kamu borçlanma gereği, kamu borç stoku, kamu dış borç stoku, kamu harcamaları ve kamu gelirlerinin GSYH’ye oranları göstergeleri üzerinden incelenmektedir. Elde edilen bulgular, kamu borçlanma gereğinin yükseldiğini, kamu borç stokunda yükseliş trendinin başladığını ve özel kesimin kamu dış borç stoku içindeki payının yükseldiğini göstermektedir. Sonuç olarak, 30 gelişen ülkede krizden sonra kamu borçlanmanın sürdürülebilirlik sorunu görünmese de kamu borçlanma gereğinin artması ve özel kesim dış borçlanmasının dış borç stoku içindeki oranın yükselmesi mali sürdürülebilirlik açısından dikkat edilmesi gereken husustur