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Audio analysis of cough sounds can provide objective measures of respiratory clinical features such as cough frequency. Audio-based 24-hour ambulatory cough monitoring systems currently lead the way in providing these objective measures across a range of respiratory diseases. However, to preserve data privacy in cough audio recordings, there is interest to remove any identifiable information contained within patient and third-party speech. In this study we employed real-life patient audio recordings from the VitaloJAK 24-hour ambulatory cough monitoring device. We developed an audio-based speech obfuscation system that specifically detects and obfuscates intelligible speech while retaining cough events. An algorithm was developed to detect vowel sounds since most intelligible information is contained here. The detection algorithm employed audio features including energy, spectral centroid and an adaptive voiced speech feature. The detected vowel sounds were obfuscated by replacing the original audio signal with a synthetic version generated using the original energy and pitch but without formants information. The system was designed using seven hours of audio recordings from seven different patients with respiratory disease. The system was then evaluated on five 24-hour real-life patient audio recordings (120 hours in total) which consisted of 21.6 hours of intelligible speech along with 3,376 coughs. The system obfuscated 99.3% (21.5 hours) of intelligible speech while retaining 99.6% (3,362) of coughs. This speech obfuscation system can preserve data privacy while using 24-hour ambulatory cough monitors. Furthermore, it can retain cough events and other aspects of 24-hour cough recordings which may be of clinical interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physical education teachers need to be able to provide help and guidance to students, to assist them in resolving personal problems, and to help them perform up to program standards. Three effective counseling methods are: directive (counselor-centered), nondirective (student-centered), and eclectic. (JN)

The assumption of the leadership role in teaching is an area of inquiry often overlooked in research, behavior analysis, and professional preparation. The vertical dyad approach proposed in this paper represents a method of carefully structuring teacher student associations from a developmental perspective. The theoretical framework used is from a social psychology perspective and will permit the physical educator to maximally develop leadership relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five types of teaching models intended to facilitate a mutually beneficial relationship between teacher preparation institutions and public schools are presented. (LH)

Rationale: Poor adherence to inhaler use can be due to poor temporal and/or technique adherence. Up until now there has been no way of reliably tracking both these factors in everyday inhaler use. Objectives: This paper introduces a device developed to create time stamped acoustic recordings of an individual's inhaler use, in which empirical evidence of temporal and technique adherence in inhaler use can be monitored over time. The correlation between clinical outcomes and adherence, as determined by this device, was compared for temporal adherence alone and combined temporal and technique adherence. Findings: The technology was validated by showing that the doses taken matched the number of audio recordings (r2 = 0.94, p<0.01). To demonstrate that audio analysis of inhaler use gives objective information, in vitro studies were performed. These showed that acoustic profiles of inhalations correlated with the peak inspiratory flow rate (r2 = 0.97, p<0.01), and that the acoustic energy of exhalations into the inhaler was related to the amount of drug removed. Despite training, 16% of participants exhaled into the mouthpiece after priming, in >20% of their inhaler events. Repeated training reduced this to 7% of participants (p = 0.03). When time of use was considered, there was no evidence of a relationship between adherence and changes in AQLQ (r2 = 0.2) or PEFR (r2 = 0.2). Combining time and technique the rate of adherence was related to changes in AQLQ (r2 = 0.53, p = 0.01) and PEFR (r2 = 0.29, p = 0.01). Conclusions: This study presents a novel method to objectively assess how errors in both time and technique of inhaler use impact on clinical outcomes. Trial Registration: EudraCT 2011-004149-42 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Securities loans collateralized by cash are by far the most popular form of securities-lending transaction. But when the cash collateral associated with these transactions is actively reinvested by a lender's agent, potential risks emerge. This study argues that the standard compensation scheme for securities-lending agents, which typically provides for agents to share in gains but not losses, creates incentives for them to take excessive risk. It also highlights the need for greater scrutiny and understanding of cash reinvestment practices- especially in light of the AIG experience, which showed that risks related to cash reinvestment, by even a single participant, could have destabilizing effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhanced recovery programmes (ERPs) have demonstrated reduced morbidity and length of hospital stay in patients undergoing open elective colorectal resections. The application of laparoscopic techniques to colorectal surgery is associated with shorter length of stay and morbidity compared to open resections. In the setting of laparoscopic surgery, it is unclear whether there is an additive effect on length of stay and morbidity by combining these. The current study addresses the benefit of an ERP (RAPID protocol) in a cohort of matched patients undergoing laparoscopic sigmoid colon resection Consecutive patients over a 40-month period who underwent laparoscopic sigmoid colon resection were assigned either to the RAPID protocol (group 1) or traditional post operative care (group 2) in a non-randomised manner. Analysis was on an “intention to treat” basis. Primary and secondary endpoints were identified; primary endpoints included length of hospital stay and readmission rate. Secondary endpoints included morbidity and mortality rate. Seventy-three consecutive patients were included. Group 1 included 37 patients. Group 2 included 36 patients. Median length of hospital stay in groups 1 and 2 was 5 and 8 days, respectively ( p = 0.01). Readmission rate in groups 1 and 2 was 8.1% and 8.3%, respectively ( p = 0.98). Morbidity rate in groups 1 and 2 was 30% and 22%, respectively ( p = 0.61); there was one mortality in each group. The application of the ERP (RAPID) to patients undergoing laparoscopic sigmoid colon resection results in a significant improvement in length of hospital stay, with comparable morbidity and readmission rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on the Term Securities Lending Facility (TSLF) launched by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. It cites that TSLF, which was launched in March 2008, promotes liquidity in the funding markets and improve the broader financial markets' operation. It discusses the importance of secured funding markets and the first ten auctions for early evidence of the use and effectiveness of such program.

Examines why mortgage refinancings responded to lower interest rates in 1998. Effects of mortgage refinancing; Factor driving refinancing activity; Details on the changing distribution of existing mortgage rates; Conclusion.

Reports on the probable magnified increases in long-term interest rates of the use of Treasury securities to hedge mortgage-backed security extension risk. Factors for high interest rates; Treasury yield curve; Mortgage prepayments; Shift in monetary policy.

Analyzes the repo rate patterns data for 1992 to 1995 on issue Treasury notes in the United States. Situations where repurchase agreements are essentially collateralized loans; Examination of the correlation between repo specialness and the Treasury auction cycle; Four major findings resulting from the analysis of repo specialness for the 1992-1995 period. INSET: Using the repo market to cover short sales..