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JCI early table of contents for Oct. 15, 2013

Researchers developed a sound preconditioning protocol that protected mice from drug-induced hearing loss and increased expression of heat shock proteins in the inner ear. This finding suggests that sound therapy may protect hearing in patients requiring treatment with ototoxic drugs.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateOct 15, 2013

Brain development differs in children who stutter

A study by University of Alberta researcher Deryk Beal found that children who stutter have less grey matter in brain regions responsible for speech production. This discovery highlights the importance of early treatment approaches like those pioneered by the Institute for Stuttering Treatment and Research.

SourceUniversity of Alberta·JournalCortex·DateOct 10, 2013

Why blame feels hard to take

Research reveals that people experience a lower sense of agency for actions associated with negative outcomes, making blame harder to accept. The discovery sheds light on notions about personal responsibility and emotional experiences., People tend to take credit for good outcomes but struggle with accepting responsibility for bad ones.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateOct 3, 2013

Piano fingers

Researchers found that piano players' hand muscle contractions differ depending on the sequence of notes played, indicating coarticulation. This phenomenon is similar to coarticulation in speech and American Sign Language, suggesting a complex neural connection between finger movements and keystrokes.

SourceAmerican Physiological Society·JournalJournal of Neurophysiology·DateAug 9, 2013

Music to a gambler's ears

Researchers found that winning sounds on slot machines make gambling more exciting and cause players to overestimate their number of wins. Sounds also contribute to the 'disguise' in losses disguised as wins, causing players to think they have won more often than they actually have.

SourceSpringer·JournalJournal of Gambling Studies·DateJul 2, 2013

Pneumonia revealed in a cough

A new technique uses cough sound analysis to diagnose pneumonia in children, with over 90% sensitivity and a low false positive rate. This method has the potential to revolutionize childhood pneumonia diagnosis in resource-poor regions.

SourceSpringer·JournalAnnals of Biomedical Engineering·DateJun 27, 2013

Perfect pitch may not be absolute after all

Researchers discovered that people with absolute pitch can be misled by gradual changes in pitch while listening to music. The study, led by Stephen Hedger and Howard Nusbaum, found that exposure to detuned music affects how individuals identify notes as being in or out of tune.

SourceUniversity of Chicago·JournalPsychological Science·DateJun 11, 2013

Philadelphia shifts to a Northern accent

A recent study published in Language journal reveals that Philadelphia's traditional Southern accent is being replaced by Northern influences. The research analyzed neighborhood speech patterns over a century, finding two major patterns of change and their possible causes related to geographic neighbors.

SourceLinguistic Society of America·JournalLanguage·DateMar 26, 2013

PeerJ publishes its first articles

PeerJ, founded on principles of affordability, innovation, and Open Access, publishes its first 30 peer-reviewed articles, offering a rapid, peer-reviewed journal with a Creative Commons license. The organization assembles an Editorial Board of 800 esteemed academics to ensure rigorous peer review and high standards in publication.

SourcePeerJ·JournalPeerJ·DateFeb 12, 2013

Perfecting email security

Researchers have defined perfect forward secrecy for email, which prevents decryption even if a sender's private key is compromised. The new protocol uses a technique that creates a unique session hash for each message, ensuring that emails remain confidential and secure.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Security and Networks·DateSep 10, 2012

Courtship in the cricket world

A new study by the University of Bristol reveals that male tree crickets can change the frequency of their songs with temperature, allowing them to adjust their size. This allows males to increase sound power, which may be linked to attracting mates and disguising their true size.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 30, 2012

Scientists decode brain waves to eavesdrop on what we hear

Researchers have successfully decoded electrical activity in a human auditory system region, reconstructing words from normal conversation. This breakthrough could help patients with speech damage due to strokes or diseases like Lou Gehrig's, enabling them to communicate again.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateJan 31, 2012

Archivist in the sound library

Scientists at LMU Munich developed a mathematical model that accurately mimics human sound recognition, showing the brain compares stored and perceived sounds efficiently. The new library-based model predicts the flow of information from cerebrum to thalamus, enabling highly efficient real-time implementation.

Leaders in field analyze proposed National Criminal Justice Commission

The article discusses the key issues of the proposed National Criminal Justice Commission and offers recommendations from experts in the field. The commission aims to address the growing number of Americans incarcerated or on parole, which has increased by 290% since 1980, affecting government programs such as education and public health.

SourceSAGE·JournalThe Prison Journal·DateSep 8, 2011