Voice Recording System Research Articles

Effects of Brief Training Plus Electronic Feedback on Increasing Quantity and Intonation of Behavior Specific Praise Among Preschool Teachers

The primary purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a brief training plus e-mail-specific performance feedback (ESPF) on increasing preschool teacher’s use of behavior-specific praise (BSP) statements. Quantity of BSP was measured using a frequency count, while voice intonation of BSP statements was measured using a voice recording system. A multiple probe design across four preschool teachers who taught in inclusive preschool classrooms was used to evaluate the effectiveness of ESPF on BSP delivery. As an outcome measure, researchers examined whether changes to the teacher’s BSP affected children’s task engagement during class activities. Results indicated a functional relation between ESPF and an increase in the quantity of BSP statements. Voice intonation of BSP statements increased for three participants following ESPF; however, a clear functional relation was not present in the data. Results also indicated that increased quantity and intonation of BSP statements resulted in a tendency for increased mean task engagement across all children; this finding may warrant further investigation. Limitations and future research directions are discussed.

Desain dan Implementasi Sistem Pencatatan Pemungutan Suara dengan Teknologi Blockchain pada Jaringan Peer-to-Peer

Proses voting (pemungutan suara) merupakan salah satu bagian penting dalam sistem demokrasi, yang sampai saat ini masih banyak dilakukan secara konvensional menggunakan kertas. Pelaksanaan kegiatan voting yang dikelola oleh satu pihak atau organisasi membuat data hasil voting rentan manipulasi. Blockchain sebagai sebuah teknologi yang mampu menjaga keamanan data dapat dijadikan sebagai salah satu solusi untuk mengatasi kecurangan dalam proses voting. Data hasil voting dicatat di dalam blockchain, kemudian data tersebut didistribusikan ke banyak pihak. Data yang terdistribusi ini juga menghilangkan ketergantungan pada satu pihak mengenai data hasil voting. Makalah ini membahas penerapan sistem pencatatan voting menggunakan teknologi blockchain dan proses pendistribusian data tersebut dalam jaringan peer-to-peer. Pada sistem ini, TPS merupakan node pada jaringan yang akan mencatat, menandatangani, dan menyebarkan data voting di tempatnya ke node lain yang saling terhubung dalam jaringan peer-to-peer. Dengan begitu, salinan data hasil voting tiap node akan disimpan di semua node. Selain itu, hasil voting dapat dilihat secara real-time dan membuat proses penghitungan hasil voting menjadi lebih cepat.

A simulation-based evaluation of sea sampling design for American lobster in the Gulf of Maine

Fishery-dependent monitoring programs provide valuable information for the assessment and management of fishery stocks. The quality of the data and subsequent stock assessment are largely influenced by sampling design and sample size. The Lobster Sea Sampling Program in the Gulf of Maine yields critical information for the assessment of American lobster (Homarus americanus). To facilitate the use of an on-boat tablet-based data entry system, which will replace the current voice recording system, the sampling program requires development of a subsampling procedure to account for a decrease in the data recording speed after the new data entry system is implemented. We evaluated the performance of four potential subsampling strategies, including possible combinations of simple random vs. systematic subsampling with fixed subsample size vs. subsample size in proportion to reference data. Proportional subsampling showed lower relative estimation error and relative bias compared to subsampling with fixed subsample size. Within the two proportional subsampling strategies, systematic subsampling showed similar precision and accuracy compared to random subsampling, but systematic subsampling is more feasible to be conducted onboard. We concluded that the systematic subsampling of 50% of reference data could reduce current sampling effort but still capture the temporal trend of reference data. The simulation approach developed in this study can also be applied to optimize other fisheries-dependent monitoring programs.

Android API-based voice recording system in emergency situations

Smartphones are evolving in various ways, recording technology has also developed. However, most of research is the study of the Call Record and high quality. This paper focuses on prepare to emergency rather than to quality. The system uses the Android API-based recording technology. Voice upload system can save the voice recording by running application. And upload to the web server after encrypted. Upload data includes location information together with status information. Location information refers to information received from the GPS. The state information is a input value when pressing shortcut button. In the case of an emergency situation, a message is sent to the pre-registered PC or smart phone. This may reduce the risk situation. After the accident there can be help to resolve the incident by analysis of the accident’s last recording with LBS information. Audio files and location information was guaranteed confidentiality using the LEA algorithm. And ensure the integrity by using the HASH algorithm and SALT.

What do firefighters desire from the next generation of personal protective equipment? Outcomes from an international survey.

The purpose of this study was to investigate smart features required for the next generation of personal protective equipment (PPE) for firefighters in Australia, Korea, Japan, and the USA. Questionnaire responses were obtained from 167 Australian, 351 Japanese, 413 Korean, and 763 U.S. firefighters (1,611 males and 61 females). Preferences concerning smart features varied among countries, with 27% of Korean and 30% of U.S. firefighters identifying ‘a location monitoring system’ as the most important element. On the other hand, 43% of Japanese firefighters preferred ‘an automatic body cooling system’ while 21% of the Australian firefighters selected equally ‘an automatic body cooling system’ and ‘a wireless communication system’. When asked to rank these elements in descending priority, responses across these countries were very similar with the following items ranked highest: ‘a location monitoring system’, ‘an automatic body cooling system’, ‘a wireless communication system’, and ‘a vision support system’. The least preferred elements were ‘an automatic body warming system’ and ‘a voice recording system’. No preferential relationship was apparent for age, work experience, gender or anthropometric characteristics. These results have implications for the development of the next generation of PPE along with the international standardisation of the smart PPE.

Profiles of confidence and commitment to change as predictors of moderated drinking: a person-centered approach.

Identifying who, among problem drinkers, is best suited for moderation and has the greatest likelihood to control drinking has important public health implications. The current study aimed to identify profiles of problem drinkers who may be more or less successful in moderating drinking within the context of a randomized clinical trial of a brief treatment for alcohol use disorder. A person-centered approach was implemented, utilizing composite, baseline daily diary values of confidence and commitment to reduce drinking. Problem drinkers (N = 89) were assessed, provided feedback about their drinking, and randomly assigned to 1 of 3 conditions: 2 brief alcohol use disorder treatments or a third group asked to change on their own. Global self-report assessments were administered at baseline and Week 8 (end of treatment). Daily diary composites were created from data collected via an interactive voice recording system during the week prior to baseline. A K-means cluster analysis identified 3 groups: high, moderate, and low confidence and commitment to change drinking. Group differences were explored, and then group membership was entered into generalized estimating equations to predict drinking trajectories over time. Findings revealed that the groups differentially reduced their drinking, such that the high group had greater reduction in drinking and a faster rate of reduction than the other 2 groups, and the moderate group had greater reduction than the low group. Findings suggest that baseline motivation and self-efficacy are important for predicting prognoses related to successful moderated drinking. Limitations and arenas for future research are discussed.

Motivation and self-efficacy in the context of moderated drinking: global self-report and ecological momentary assessment.

Despite ample research demonstrating the role of motivation and self-efficacy in predicting drinking in the context of abstinence, little research explicitly explores their role in the context of moderation, and none have utilized daily diary methods. The purpose of this study was to (a) explore the concordance between global self-report and daily diary composite measures of motivation and self-efficacy and (b) compare the ability of each in predicting drinking outcomes in the context of a study of brief AUD treatments focused on controlled drinking. Problem drinkers (N = 89) were assessed, provided feedback about their drinking, and randomly assigned to one of three conditions: two brief AUD treatments or a third group asked to change on their own. Global self-report (GSR) measures were administered at baseline and Week 8 (end of treatment). Daily diary composites (DDC) were created from data collected via an Interactive Voice Recording system during the week prior to baseline and the week prior to Week 8. Findings revealed some concordance between GSR and DDC at both baseline and Week 8, indicating the two methods capture some of the same construct; however, their respective relationships to drinking differed. DDC for both baseline and Week 8 significantly predicted Week 8 drinking outcomes, whereas only change in GSR significantly predicted drinking outcomes. Findings suggest that motivation and self-efficacy are important to moderated drinking, and that both GSR and daily diary methods are useful in understanding mechanisms of change in the context of moderation. Daily diary methods may provide significant advantages. Limitations and arenas for future research are discussed.

Frequency-modulated electromagnetic neural stimulation (FREMS) as a treatment for symptomatic diabetic neuropathy: results from a double-blind, randomised, multicentre, long-term, placebo-controlled clinical trial

Aims/hypothesisThe aim was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of transcutaneous frequency-modulated electromagnetic neural stimulation (frequency rhythmic electrical modulation system, FREMS) as a treatment for symptomatic peripheral neuropathy in patients with diabetes mellitus.MethodsThis was a double-blind, randomised, multicentre, parallel-group study of three series, each of ten treatment sessions of FREMS or placebo administered within 3 weeks, 3 months apart, with an overall follow-up of about 51 weeks. The primary endpoint was the change in nerve conduction velocity (NCV) of deep peroneal, tibial and sural nerves. Secondary endpoints included the effects of treatment on pain, tactile, thermal and vibration sensations. Patients eligible to participate were aged 18–75 years with diabetes for ≥1 year, HbA1c <11.0% (97 mmol/mol), with symptomatic diabetic polyneuropathy at the lower extremities (i.e. abnormal amplitude, latency or NCV of either tibial, deep peroneal or sural nerve, but with an evocable potential and measurable NCV of the sural nerve), a Michigan Diabetes Neuropathy Score ≥7 and on a stable dose of medications for diabetic neuropathy in the month prior to enrolment. Data were collected in an outpatient setting. Participants were allocated to the FREMS or placebo arm (1:1 ratio) according to a sequence generated by a computer random number generator, without block or stratification factors. Investigators digitised patients’ date of birth and site number into an interactive voice recording system to obtain the assigned treatment. Participants, investigators conducting the trial, or people assessing the outcomes were blinded to group assignment.ResultsPatients (n = 110) with symptomatic neuropathy were randomised to FREMS (n = 54) or placebo (n = 56). In the intention-to-treat population (50 FREMS, 51 placebo), changes in NCV of the three examined nerves were not different between FREMS and placebo (deep peroneal [means ± SE]: 0.74 ± 0.71 vs 0.06 ± 1.38 m/s; tibial: 2.08 ± 0.84 vs 0.61 ± 0.43 m/s; and sural: 0.80 ± 1.08 vs −0.91 ± 1.13 m/s; FREMS vs placebo, respectively). FREMS induced a significant reduction in day and night pain as measured by a visual analogue scale immediately after each treatment session, although this beneficial effect was no longer measurable 3 months after treatment. Compared with the placebo group, in the FREMS group the cold sensation threshold was significantly improved, while non-significant differences were observed in the vibration and warm sensation thresholds. No relevant side effects were recorded during the study.Conclusions/interpretationFREMS proved to be a safe treatment for symptomatic diabetic neuropathy, with immediate, although transient, reduction in pain, and no effect on NCV.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT01628627FundingThe clinical trial was sponsored by Lorenz Biotech (Medolla, Italy), lately Lorenz Lifetech (Ozzano dell’Emilia, Italy).Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00125-012-2795-7) contains peer-reviewed but unedited supplementary material, which is available to authorised users.

A validation analysis of two self‐reported HAM‐D6 versions

The six items of the clinician-administrated Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-D(6)) cover the core items of depressive states reflecting the antidepressive effect of medication. In this study, the two self-reported versions of the HAM-D(6) have been psychometrically validated to ensure the unidimensionality of this administration form in patients with mild-to-moderate depression. The item response theory analysis of Mokken was used to test the unidimensionality of both the Interactive Voice Recording System (IVRS) version of the HAM-D(6) and a paper-and-pencil self-reported version (S-HAM-D(6)). Patients with typical major depression and with seasonal affective disorder were included. The Mokken analysis showed that the two self-reported versions of the HAM-D(6) obtained coefficients of homogeneity above 0.40, similar to the clinician-rated HAM-D(6) and thus implying unidimensionality. By contrast, the full HAM-D(17) versions (self-reported as well as clinician-rated) obtained coefficients of homogeneity below 0.40, implying that the HAM-D(17) is a multidimensional scale. The analysis show that both the IVRS version and the S-HAM-D(6) version are unidimensional self-rating scales for the measurement of depressive states.

Remote capture of human voice acoustical data by telephone: A methods study

In this pilot study we sought to determine the reliability and validity of collecting speech and voice acoustical data via telephone transmission for possible future use in large clinical trials. Simultaneous recordings of each participant's speech and voice were made at the point of participation, the local recording (LR), and over a telephone line using a dedicated in‐line computerized interactive voice recording system, the remote recording (RR). All voice recordings were made from our laboratory telephone located in Groton, Connecticut to the RR system located in Madison, Wisconsin. All data points were compared on a measure‐by‐measure basis between the LR and RR recordings. The results suggest that both measures of frequency excursion and of speech motor timing are reliably captured over the telephone. Results are discussed in terms of specific acoustic measures that may be useful and accurately measured via telephone transmission, for examining disease severity and pharmacological intervention for use in a large‐scale clinical trial.

Wristwatch Equipped with Voice Recording System

Wristwatch Equipped with Voice Recording System