Tacotron: Towards End-to-End Speech Synthesis

A text-to-speech synthesis system typically consists of multiple stages, such as a text analysis frontend, an acoustic model and an audio synthesis module. Building these components often requires extensive domain expertise and may contain brittle design choices. In this paper, we present Tacotron, an end-to-end generative text-to-speech model that synthesizes speech directly from characters. Given pairs, the model can be trained completely from scratch with random initialization. We present several key techniques to make the sequence-to-sequence framework perform well for this challenging task. Tacotron achieves a 3.82 subjective 5-scale mean opinion score on US English, outperforming a production parametric system in terms of naturalness. In addition, since Tacotron generates speech at the frame level, it's substantially faster than sample-level autoregressive methods.Comment: Submitted to Interspeech 2017. v2 changed paper title to be consistent with our conference submission (no content change other than typo fixes

Quantum-dash mode-locked laser source for wavelength-tunable 56 Gbit/s DQPSK

Présentation oraleInternational audienceWe investigate wavelength tunable 56 Gbit/s DQPSK systems using comb generation in a quantum-dash mode-locked laser. Relative intensity noise and bit error rate is measured for each mode. Error-free operation is obtained over 9 WDM channels with 100 GHz spacing

Mobile colistin resistance: Prevalence, mechanisms, and current detection methods

Colistin is considered the last-line antibiotic against multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections. The global dissemination of Mobile colistin resistance mcr-harboring bacteria is threatening public health. Such isolates have been detected in various reservoirs including animals, food products, the environment, and humans. From these reservoirs, the isolates are approximate: 53% from animals; 39% from humans; 5% from the environment; and 3% from food. Bacterial distributions were: E.coli 91%; Salmonella 7%; and Klebsiella 2%. Among the 10 mcr variants, mcr-1 and mcr-9 are the most prevalent (up to 95% and 64.53%, respectively, in different studies) while other variants account for 5%. The coexistence of mcr and other antibiotic resistance genes in single isolates is a significant concern; mcr variants carried by different plasmid types increase antibiotic resistance and transfer of mcr genes to other bacteria. The hypothesis that the food chain is intimately involved in mcr gene transfer is supported by the presence of mcr-harboring isolates in animals and foods relative to humans. Cheaper, quicker, and more effective diagnostic tools for detecting colistin-resistant bacterial phenotypes and genotypes are essential and urgent. Currently, high quality tests include RPNP (99.3% specificity, 96.7% sensitivity) and MRPNP (95.4% specificity, ~100% sensitivity). LBJMR, CHROM agar, COL-APSE, and Super Polymyxin are now the best media to screen the bacteria, with near 100% selectivity. Multiplex PCR is a suitable method to quickly and accurately detect mcr genes in E. coli and Salmonella . Multi-drug resistant Gram-negative bacteria remain a global burden and need to have continuous and effective surveillance

Quantum-Dash Mode-Locked Laser as a Source for 56-Gb/s DQPSK Modulation in WDM Multicast Applications

International audienceWe investigate wavelength tunable 56-Gb/s differential quaternary phase-shift keying (DQPSK) systems using comb generation in a quantum-dash mode-locked laser for wavelength-division-multiple access (WDM)-based broadcast application. We present relative intensity noise and bit-error-rate measurements for each mode. We demonstrate error-free operation over nine WDM channels with 100-GHz spacing

Harmonic Sums and Mellin Transforms up to two-loop Order

A systematic study is performed on the finite harmonic sums up to level four. These sums form the general basis for the Mellin transforms of all individual functions $f_i(x)$ of the momentum fraction $x$ emerging in the quantities of massless QED and QCD up to two--loop order, as the unpolarized and polarized splitting functions, coefficient functions, and hard scattering cross sections for space and time-like momentum transfer. The finite harmonic sums are calculated explicitly in the linear representation. Algebraic relations connecting these sums are derived to obtain representations based on a reduced set of basic functions. The Mellin transforms of all the corresponding Nielsen functions are calculated.Comment: 44 pages Latex, contract number adde

Mapping for engagement: setting up a community based participatory research project to reach underserved communities at risk for Hepatitis C in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Background: Approximately 1. 07 million people in Vietnam are infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). To address this epidemic, the South East Asian Research Collaborative in Hepatitis (SEARCH) launched a 600-patient cohort study and two clinical trials, both investigating shortened treatment strategies for chronic HCV infection with direct-acting antiviral drugs. We conducted ethnographic research with a subset of trial participants and found that the majority were aware of HCV infection and its implications and were motivated to seek treatment. However, people who inject drugs (PWID), and other groups at risk for HCV were under-represented, although injecting drug use is associated with high rates of HCV. Material and Methods: We designed a community-based participatory research (CBPR) study to engage in dialogues surrounding HCV and other community-prioritized health issues with underserved groups at risk for HCV in Ho Chi Minh City. The project consists of three phases: situation analysis, CBPR implementation, and dissemination. In this paper, we describe the results of the first phase (i.e., the situation analysis) in which we conducted desk research and organized stakeholder mapping meetings with representatives from local non-government and community-based organizations where we used participatory research methods to identify and analyze key stakeholders working with underserved populations. Results: Twenty six institutions or groups working with the key underserved populations were identified. Insights about the challenges and dynamics of underserved communities were also gathered. Two working groups made up of representatives from the NGO and CBO level were formed. Discussion: Using the information provided by local key stakeholders to shape the project has helped us to build solid relationships, give the groups a sense of ownership from the early stages, and made the project more context specific. These steps are not only important preliminary steps for participatory studies but also for other research that takes place within the communities

Characterizing Ligand-Gated Ion Channel Receptors with Genetically Encoded Ca++ Sensors

We present a cell based system and experimental approach to characterize agonist and antagonist selectivity for ligand-gated ion channels (LGIC) by developing sensor cells stably expressing a Ca2+ permeable LGIC and a genetically encoded Förster (or fluorescence) resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based calcium sensor. In particular, we describe separate lines with human α7 and human α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, mouse 5-HT3A serotonin receptors and a chimera of human α7/mouse 5-HT3A receptors. Complete concentration-response curves for agonists and Schild plots of antagonists were generated from these sensors and the results validate known pharmacology of the receptors tested. Concentration-response relations can be generated from either the initial rate or maximal amplitudes of FRET-signal. Although assaying at a medium throughput level, this pharmacological fluorescence detection technique employs a clonal line for stability and has versatility for screening laboratory generated congeners as agonists or antagonists on multiple subtypes of ligand-gated ion channels. The clonal sensor lines are also compatible with in vivo usage to measure indirectly receptor activation by endogenous neurotransmitters