Free speech takes a beating

Speech perception takes precedence over nonspeech perception.

Some components of a speech signal, when made more intense, are heard simultaneously as speech and nonspeech--a form of duplex perception. At lower intensities, the speech alone is heard. Such intensity-dependent duplexity implies the existence of a phonetic mode of perception that takes precedence over auditory modes.

Speex: A Free Codec For Free Speech

The Speex project has been started in 2002 to address the need for a free, open-source speech codec. Speex is based on the Code Excited Linear Prediction (CELP) algorithm and, unlike the previously existing Vorbis codec, is optimised for transmitting speech for low latency communication over an unreliable packet network. This paper presents an overview of Speex, the technology involved in it an...

Free Speech in China

Death takes a holiday

control may kick in even before a kinetochore is assembled. The mitotic checkpoint— controlled by Mad1, Mad2, Bub1, BubR1, and Bub3— delays anaphase by inhibiting APC until all kinetochores are properly attached to the spindle. Because inhibition of Mad2 leads to an accelerated mitosis and a precocious anaphase, it has been assumed that the checkpoint itself also regulates mitotic timing. But M...

Mycoplasma takes a walk.

T he mechanism of movement of individual cells shows extensive diversity. In the Eukarya, ATP is the driving force for cell motility (1). In contrast, in the Bacteria and Archaea, the chemiosmotic pathway of energy transduction powers flagellar rotation. Depending on the species, either hydrogen or sodium ion flux results in cell movement. ATP does not directly participate in providing the ener...