HUMAN EXPERIENCE IS enriched by our ability to distinguish a remarkable range of sounds—from the complexity of a symphony, to the warmth of a conversation, to the dull roar of the stadium. This ability depends upon the almost miraculous feats of hair cells, the receptors of the internal ear. Similar hair cells are also responsible for our sense of equilibrium. Human hearing commences when the c...

For the last several years I have made the daily newspaper the pedagogical center piece of my philosophy seminar. This essay begins by describing the variations, themes, and logistics of this approach. The essay then offers several arguments in support of the value of this approach. The first argument references measurable indicators of success for this approach. A second argument contends that...

For this study temporal and pitch characteristics in live football commentaries broadcast on television and the radio were studied with the focus on the situation after a goal where the speakers show the highest level of excitement. The most prominent feature of the ‘goal roar’ from the (usually male) commentators is the extremely high pitch of 400 Hz or more. The ‘triumphalese’ style is additi...

New cross-country evidence for 1965 to 1995 is presented on the link that runs from population change to economic growth. The estimates indicate that demographic change is a powerful determinant of income growth, operating mainly via the effect of changes in age structure. The estimates also indicate that the benefits of demographic change can be greatly magnified by a favourable policy environ...

In a memorable story about his friend Alypius, Augustine presents a portrait of both the strong appeal of viewing violence and our ineffectual struggle to resist it. Alypius, who “had been carried away by an incredible passion for gladiatorial shows,” became deeply ashamed of his fascination with the gruesome contests and vowed never to return to the “games.” Then one evening some of Alypius’s ...

In this paper, potential synthesis techniques for mammalian vocalisation sound effects are analysed. Physically-inspired synthesis models are devised based on human speech synthesis techniques and research into the biology of a mammalian vocal system. The benefits and challenges of physically-inspired synthesis models are assessed alongside a signal-based alternative which recreates the percept...

It is not known whether the instincts of wild horses have remained strong during their centuries of domestication. Knowledge of this matter would give riders the opportunity to know more about the behavior of horses and consequently about safety for both horses and riders. In this current research, we studied the behavior of fifteen Caspian miniature horses of different ages and sexes using sti...