Self-Supervised Learning for Speech Enhancement through Synthesis

Modern speech enhancement (SE) networks typically implement noise suppression through time-frequency masking, latent representation masking, or discriminative signal prediction. In contrast, some recent works explore SE via generative speech synthesis, where the system's output is synthesized by a neural vocoder after an inherently lossy feature-denoising step. In this paper, we propose a denoising vocoder (DeVo) approach, where a vocoder accepts noisy representations and learns to directly synthesize clean speech. We leverage rich representations from self-supervised learning (SSL) speech models to discover relevant features. We conduct a candidate search across 15 potential SSL front-ends and subsequently train our vocoder adversarially with the best SSL configuration. Additionally, we demonstrate a causal version capable of running on streaming audio with 10ms latency and minimal performance degradation. Finally, we conduct both objective evaluations and subjective listening studies to show our system improves objective metrics and outperforms an existing state-of-the-art SE model subjectively

Inscuteable and Staufen Mediate Asymmetric Localization and Segregation of prosperoRNA during Drosophila Neuroblast Cell Divisions

AbstractWhen neuroblasts divide, inscuteable acts to coordinate protein localization and mitotic spindle orientation, ensuring that asymmetrically localized determinants like Prospero partition into one progeny. staufen encodes a dsRNA-binding protein implicated in mRNA transport in oocytes. We demonstrate that prospero RNA is also asymmetrically localized and partitioned during neuroblast cell divisions, a process requiring both inscuteable and staufen. Inscuteable and Staufen interact and colocalize with prospero RNA on the apical cortex of interphase neuroblasts. Staufen binds prospero RNA in its 3′UTR. Our findings suggest that Inscuteable nucleates an apical complex and is required for protein localization, spindle orientation, and RNA localization. Stau, as one component of this complex, is required only for RNA localization. Hence staufen also acts zygotically, downstream of inscuteable, to effect aspects of neuroblast asymmetry

BIOMECHANICAL ANALYSIS DURING COUNTERMOVEMENT JUMP IN CHILDREN AND ADULTS

This study was to examine the biomechanical characteristics of children and adults during countermovement jump. Seven children and seven adult males were recruited to the study. A Peak high-speed camera (120Hz) synchronized with a force plate (600Hz) were used to record vertical jumping action. The kinetic parameters were calculated by using inverse dynamic method. Results showed that the children had both immature joint function prior to propulsion and inadequate knee and ankle joints function during propulsion. It is concluded that a lack of form in jumping strategy was performed during vertical jumpings in the children's group in terms of the kinetic methods was performed. This information may be used in following studies about countermovement jump, avoiding some important information needed only by kinematic analysis, it will be more complete to apply kinetic analysis for children movement researches

Doping and temperature dependence of electron spectrum and quasiparticle dispersion in doped bilayer cuprates

Within the t-t'-J model, the electron spectrum and quasiparticle dispersion in doped bilayer cuprates in the normal state are discussed by considering the bilayer interaction. It is shown that the bilayer interaction splits the electron spectrum of doped bilayer cuprates into the bonding and antibonding components around the $(\pi,0)$ point. The differentiation between the bonding and antibonding components is essential, which leads to two main flat bands around the $(\pi,0)$ point below the Fermi energy. In analogy to the doped single layer cuprates, the lowest energy states in doped bilayer cuprates are located at the $(\pi/2,\pi/2)$ point. Our results also show that the striking behavior of the electronic structure in doped bilayer cuprates is intriguingly related to the bilayer interaction together with strong coupling between the electron quasiparticles and collective magnetic excitations.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures, updated references, added figures and discussions, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.

Anti-Hyperglycemic Properties of Crude Extract and Triterpenes from Poria cocos

Poria cocos, Bai Fu Ling in Chinese, is used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat diabetes. However, its claimed benefits and mechanism are not fully understood. This study aimed to investigate the effect and action of P. cocos on type 2 diabetes. We first performed phytochemical analysis on the crude extract and factions of P. cocos. P. cocos crude extract at 50 mg/kg body weight or more significantly decreased blood glucose levels in db/db mice. Based on a bioactivity-directed fractionation and isolation (BDFI) strategy, chloroform fraction and subfractions 4 and 6 of the P. cocos crude extract possessed a blood glucose-lowering effect. Dehydrotumulosic acid, dehydrotrametenolic acid, and pachymic acid were identified from the chloroform sub-fractions 4, 3, and 2, respectively. Dehydrotumulosic acid had anti-hyperglycemic effect to a greater extent than dehydrotrametenolic acid and pachymic acid. Mechanistic study on streptozocin- (STZ-) treated mice showed that the crude extract, dehydrotumulosic acid, dehydrotrametenolic acid, and pachymic acid of P. cocos exhibited different levels of insulin sensitizer activity. However, the P. cocos crude extract and triterpenes appeared not to activate PPAR-γ pathway. Overall, the data suggest that the P. cocos extract and its triterpenes reduce postprandial blood glucose levels in db/db mice via enhanced insulin sensitivity irrespective of PPAR-γ