Towards Device Independent Eavesdropping on Telephone Conversations with Built-in Accelerometer

Motion sensors in modern smartphones have been exploited for audio eavesdropping in loudspeaker mode due to their sensitivity to vibrations. In this paper, we further move one step forward to explore the feasibility of using built-in accelerometer to eavesdrop on the telephone conversation of caller/callee who takes the phone against cheek-ear and design our attack Vibphone. The inspiration behind Vibphone is that the speech-induced vibrations (SIV) can be transmitted through the physical contact of phone-cheek to accelerometer with the traces of voice content. To this end, Vibphone faces three main challenges: i) Accurately detecting SIV signals from miscellaneous disturbance; ii) Combating the impact of device diversity to work with a variety of attack scenarios; and iii) Enhancing feature-agnostic recognition model to generalize to newly issued devices and reduce training overhead. To address these challenges, we first conduct an in-depth investigation on SIV features to figure out the root cause of device diversity impacts and identify a set of critical features that are highly relevant to the voice content retained in SIV signals and independent of specific devices. On top of these pivotal observations, we propose a combo method that is the integration of extracted critical features and deep neural network to recognize speech information from the spectrogram representation of acceleration signals. We implement the attack using commodity smartphones and the results show it is highly effective. Our work brings to light a fundamental design vulnerability in the vast majority of currently deployed smartphones, which may put people's speech privacy at risk during phone calls. We also propose a practical and effective defense solution. We validate that it is feasible to prevent audio eavesdropping by using random variation of sampling rate.

Modeling the phased implementation of headhunting as a way to fill vacancies

The object of research is a set of stages of processes, used in the application of hunting as a method of closing vacancies. Such stages include: sources of search for candidates, ways of their interest formation, telephone conversation as an interview, negotiations and compilation of statistics with direct transfer of information to the director of the company. In the course of the study, such general scientific and specific research methods as analysis and synthesis, induction, deduction, as well as methods of comparison, observation and a systematic approach, were used. These methods are to determine the results and dynamics when recruiting strategies are changed or when they are combined. With the help of comparison methods and a systematic approach, it was possible to determine the optimal strategy for closing the required number of vacancies in the future. Using the observation method, it was possible to consider the dynamics of indicators from each selection method separately or in different combinations with each other. Among the complex methods, an analysis was used, which allowed to understand the dynamics of indicators and draw conclusions based on them on each of the options for implementing the methods. With the help of induction on the basis of a set of conclusions about each of the options separately, a generalized conclusion was made about the further rationality of the method of hunting as effective for businesses. The simulation allowed us to develop a strategy for the phased implementation of hunting based on direct search and understanding of its difference with the latter. With regard to theoretical methods, in the process of research the transition was made from the definitions and general provisions of the hunt to a specific consideration of the method in the enterprise and its direct implementation. The result of all studies was: – summary of theoretical aspects of headhunting as an effective method of attracting staff; – effective change of dynamics of indicators at the enterprise during introduction of hunting and its combination with direct search; – a developed strategy for the phased implementation of the hunt to increase the effectiveness of the method.

TELEDENTISTRY: A GRACE TO THE HUMANITY IN COVID 19 SCENARIO

The rapid spread of COVID-19 virus all over the world has a devastating effect on the dental practices. As the COVID-19 virus wreaks havoc with the health care system, teledentistry is stepping up into the spot light and helps in bridging the gap between the people and the dentists. Thus many oral health related problems can be solved virtually via video conferencing or by simple telephone conversation.

1544 The Doctor Will Call You Now – Patients’ Perspective of The Implementation of Telephone Clinics in the COVID-19 Era

Aim During the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, clinical guidelines advised the implementation of remote consultations with the aim of preventing viral transmission. Guidance included the introduction of telephone clinics and in March 2020, these were initiated for General Surgery at our rural DGH. The aim of this study was to review patients’ perspectives of these remote consultations. Method Using telephone clinic schedules, the first 100 patients of the telephone clinics were retrospectively identified. A survey was created using Google forms and questions covered patient demographics, as well as patients’ opinions on the organisation and efficacy of the clinic. The survey was completed via a telephone conversation with each patient between June to August 2020. Results 72 patients consented to participate (age range: 24-80 years; 65% female). 44% of consultations were follow up, with 23% of patients having their initial appointment remotely. Although 82% of patients were able to discuss all concerns, nearly half of patients (43%) felt not having a face-to-face appointment affected their consultation. 78% of patients preferred remote consultations during the pandemic, but beyond this specific situation, 53% felt that in the future they would still prefer a face-to-face consultation. 57.6% of patients rated the newly implemented telephone consultations as 10/10. Conclusions The majority of patient feedback was positive. However, outside of the COVID-19 pandemic, our patients would prefer the traditional face-to-face consultation format. This outcome has been demonstrated in other similar studies worldwide, as it enables patients to be examined by and meet their surgeon prior to potential surgery.

Our skin is trouble: Racial discourse in Athol Fugard’s Sizwe Bansi is Dead, Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness and Wole Soyinka’s ‘Telephone Conversation’

The recent incident in Minneapolis, United States, where George Floyd, an African-American man, was manhandled by a police officer has brought about the resurgence of racial awareness as championed by the Black Lives Matter Movement. The concept of race has shaped the lives of so many generations and continues to do so in the 21st century. Racial segregation as well as the public hysteria on racism has had so much influence on societies and has led to discrimination and racial slurs across races. Using Critical Race Theory, this study examines racial discourse in Athol Fugard’s Sizwe Bansi is Dead, Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness and Wole Soyinka’s ‘Telephone Conversation’. The analysis of the discourse reveals racial tendencies in the description of the black race through white-black (Self/Other) binary (racial segregation), race-based discrimination and animal metaphors. The paper contributes to scholarship on racial discourses and foregrounds the function of language in depicting the racial orientation of characters in literary texts.

Koodinvaihdot ja prosodia

Koodinvaihdolla tarkoitetaan kielen tai kielimuodon vaihtumista toiseksi samassa puhetilanteessa tai tekstissä. Koodinvaihtoja on tutkittu paljon, mutta niiden prosodisten piirteiden käsittely on jäänyt lähinnä maininnan tasolle. Tämä artikkeli tarkastelee lähemmin koodinvaihtojen prosodiaa. Tavoitteena on koodinvaihtoja sisältävää keskusteluaineistoa analysoimalla valottaa prosodian osuutta koodinvaihtojen merkitysten tulkinnassa. Tutkimuksen aineistona on puolen tunnin puhelinkeskustelu, jossa Suomessa syntynyt mutta pitkään Kanadassa asunut nainen keskustelee Suomessa asuvan siskonpoikansa kanssa. Aineistossa on yhteensä 73 koodinvaihtoesiintymää, joissa keskustelun kieli vaihtuu hetkellisesti suomesta englanniksi. Menetelmällisesti tutkimus nojautuu keskustelunanalyysiin. Tutkimuksen tulokset osoittavat, että useimmiten koodinvaihtoihin liittyy sävelkorkeuden ja intensiteetin nousu. Tyypillisiä koodinvaihtotapauksia, joissa sävelkorkeus ja intensiteetti nousevat, ovat lainasanat ja referointi. Lainasanoissa nousulla ohjataan vastaanottajan huomiota ja haetaan hänen reaktiotaan sanoihin, jotka ovat olennaisia vuoron sisällön tai kertomuksen kannalta mutta joiden tunnistamisessa saattaisi olla ongelmia. Referoinnissa sen sijaan prosodiset muutokset auttavat luomaan ”toisen äänen”. Tällöin sävelkorkeuden ja intensiteetin nousemiseen voi liittyä myös värittynyt äänenlaatu. Molemmissa tapauksissa prosodinen kohosteisuus koodinvaihdossa kutsuu vastaanottajaa terästämään huomiotaan kyseisiin sanoihin tai ilmauksiin. Nousevan sävelkorkeuden lisäksi aineistossa esiintyy myös jonkin verran ympäristöä matalammalta sävelkorkeudelta ja hiljaisemmalla äänellä lausuttuja koodinvaihtoilmauksia. Tällöin koodinvaihdot ovat pikemmin vuorovaikutusta jäsentäviä ilmauksia kuin kertomuksen kannalta olennaisia sisältösanoja ja enemmän puhujalle itselleen kuin vastaanottajalle suunnattua puhetta. Prosodian vaihtelulla voidaan siis säädellä vastaanottajuuden astetta ja merkitä käytössä olevien kielten suhdetta toisiinsa. Code-switching and prosody: A case study of the speech of an expatriate Finn living in Canada Code-switching occurs when a speaker alternates between two or more languages or language varieties in the same conversation or text. As a phenomenon, code-switching has been investigated fairly extensively, but the prosodic features that characterise many of the switches have not gained much attention in previous studies. This article examines the prosody of code-switching instances in more detail. By analysing naturally occurring conversational data, the article sheds light on the role that prosody plays in the interpretation of code-switching instances. The data consists of a 30-minute telephone conversation in which a lady, who was born in Finland but has lived in Canada for a long time, talks with her nephew, who lives in Finland. The conversation features 73 occurrences of code-switching in which the language of the conversation changes momentarily from Finnish to English. The method of our study is that of Conversation Analysis. The results of the study show that the instances of code-switching are usually produced with raised levels of pitch and intensity. Speakers typically use higher pitch and intensity when uttering loanwords or reported speech. As for loanwords, such prosodic marking invites the recipient to pay attention to the word that carries the rise in order to elicit a reaction to words whose recognition might be problematic. In the case of reported speech, however, prosodic features help to create a “second voice”. In addition to changes of pitch and intensity, the quality of voice can be marked in reported speech. In both these cases the prosodic marking carried by the code-switching invites the recipient to pay attention to the words or expressions in question. In addition to raised pitch and intensity, the data also includes several instances in which the code-switching is marked with lowered levels of pitch and intensity. In these cases, the code-switching typically consists of expressions that structure the interaction rather than constitute important content words as regards the ongoing narration. Furthermore, these instances are also more directed towards the speaker herself than to the recipient. Thus, prosodic changes can be used to regulate the degree of recipiency and to indicate the relationship between the languages being used.

Comprehensive management of acute pulmonary embolism in primary care using telemedicine in the COVID-era

A healthy, active woman in her 70s reported intermittent exertional dyspnoea for 2 months, notable during frequent open-water swimming. Symptoms were similar to an episode of travel-provoked pulmonary embolism 3 years prior. She denied chest pain, cough, fever, extremity complaints and symptoms at rest. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, her healthcare system was using secure telemedicine to evaluate non-critical complaints. During the initial video visit, she appeared well, conversing normally without laboured breathing. An elevated serum D-dimer prompted CT pulmonary angiography, which identified acute lobar pulmonary embolism. After haematology consultation and telephone conversation with the patient, her physician prescribed rivaroxaban. Her symptoms rapidly improved. She had an uneventful course and is continuing anticoagulation indefinitely. The pandemic has increased the application of telemedicine for acute care complaints. This case illustrates its safe and effective use for comprehensive management of acute pulmonary embolism in the primary care setting.

About the approach to the formation of the model of the pedagogical culture of the officer

В настоящее время внимание к проблемам формирования системы профессионально–важных качеств командного состава получило широкое распространение во всем мире, в том числе и в Российской Федерации. Формирование современного офицера – как самодостаточного педагога задача сложная и многогранная, и решение ее возможно путем моделирования педагогической культуры офицера, для формирования актуальных квалификационных требований к его подготовке. Эффективное формирование профессиональной культуры офицеров в условиях служебной деятельности дало возможность предложить комплекс методических рекомендаций, направленных на повышение качества профессиональной культуры офицеров–пограничников в современных условиях и на перспективу относительно культуры служебного общения, культуры телефонного разговора, руководителю занятия, который выступает в роли ведущего, проведение дискуссии. Их реализация предполагает характер тактических и стратегических мероприятий. Решение сложных задач интеграции отечественного образования в мировое образовательное пространство требует обоснования теоретико–методологических и организационных концепций, систем и технологий обучения, ведущее место среди которых в современных реалиях занимают педагогические технологии, которые должны обеспечивать личностное развитие и саморазвитие учителя, его профессиональную и социальную мобильность, конкурентоспособность на рынке труда, адаптационную гибкость. В статье приведен один из подходов к формированию модели педагогической культуры современного офицера. At present, attention to the problems of forming a system of professionally important qualities of the command staff has become widespread all over the world, including in the Russian Federation. The formation of a modern officer as a self-sufficient teacher is a complex and multifaceted task, and its solution is possible by modeling the pedagogical culture of an officer, for the formation of actual qualification requirements for his training. Effective formation of professional culture of officers in the conditions of official activity made it possible to offer a set of methodological recommendations aimed at improving the quality of professional culture of border guards officers in modern conditions and for the future regarding the culture of official communication, the culture of telephone conversation, to the head of the class, who acts as a moderator, holding a discussion. Their implementation assumes the nature of tactical and strategic measures. The solution of complex problems of integration of domestic education into the world educational space requires the substantiation of theoretical, methodological and organizational concepts, systems and technologies of training, the leading place among which in modern realities is occupied by pedagogical technologies that should ensure the personal development and self-development of the teacher, his professional and social mobility, competitiveness in the labor market, adaptive flexibility. The article presents one of the approaches to the formation of a model of pedagogical culture of a modern officer.

Nasal Rhinosporidiosis: Clinical Presentation, Clinical Findings, and Outcome in Dogs

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical presentation, imaging findings, and outcome in 10 dogs diagnosed with Rhinosporidium seeberi infections. Histopathology and cytology records were searched at a veterinary teaching hospital and a veterinary diagnostic laboratory to identify dogs with rhinosporidiosis. Medical records were reviewed for clinical, imaging, endoscopic, and surgical findings. Outcome was determined via evaluation of records and, where possible, telephone conversation with the primary care veterinarian and/or owner. Young to middle-aged large-breed dogs with an approximately equal sex distribution were represented. Unilateral signs predominated. Diagnosis was confirmed by histopathology in 9 cases, and cytology was diagnostic in only 1 of 3 cases. Histopathology was superior to cytology. Masses were soft tissue and contrast enhancing with no evidence of bony lysis on computed tomography (2 dogs). Direct or rhinoscopic (2 dogs) visualization revealed white to yellow pinpoint foci. Surgical resection (4 dogs) can result in long-term disease-free periods (up to 2659 days), although repeat surgery can be required. Dapsone was well tolerated in 1 dog, and relapse was not noted despite incomplete surgical resection (follow-up 749 days). Visualization of pale foci on a rostral intranasal mass in an endemic region should prompt consideration of rhinosporidiosis.