71,075 research outputs found
Synthesis using speaker adaptation from speech recognition DB
This paper deals with the creation of multiple voices from a Hidden Markov Model based speech synthesis system (HTS). More than 150 Catalan synthetic voices were built using Hidden Markov Models (HMM) and speaker adaptation techniques. Training data for building a Speaker-Independent (SI) model were selected from both a general purpose speech synthesis database (FestCat;) and a database design
ed for training Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) systems
(Catalan SpeeCon database). The SpeeCon database was also
used to adapt the SI model to different speakers. Using an ASR designed database for TTS purposes provided many different amateur voices, with few minutes of recordings not performed in studio conditions. This paper shows how speaker adaptation techniques provide the right tools to generate multiple voices with very few adaptation data. A subjective evaluation was carried out to assess the intelligibility and naturalness of the generated voices as well as the similarity of the adapted voices to both the original speaker and the
average voice from the SI model.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version
The physics of twisted magnetic tubes rising in a stratified medium: two dimensional results
The physics of a twisted magnetic flux tube rising in a stratified medium is
studied using a numerical MHD code. The problem considered is fully
compressible (no Boussinesq approximation), includes ohmic resistivity, and is
two dimensional, i.e., there is no variation of the variables in the direction
of the tube axis. We study a high plasma beta case with small ratio of radius
to external pressure scaleheight. The results obtained can therefore be of
relevance to understand the transport of magnetic flux across the solar
convection zone.Comment: To be published in ApJ, Vol. 492, Jan 10th, 1998; 25 pages, 16
figures. NEW VERSION: THE PREVIOUS ONE DIDN'T PRINT CORRECTLY. The style file
overrulehere.sty is include
GRAMPAL: A Morphological Processor for Spanish implemented in Prolog
A model for the full treatment of Spanish inflection for verbs, nouns and
adjectives is presented. This model is based on feature unification and it
relies upon a lexicon of allomorphs both for stems and morphemes. Word forms
are built by the concatenation of allomorphs by means of special contextual
features. We make use of standard Definite Clause Grammars (DCG) included in
most Prolog implementations, instead of the typical finite-state approach. This
allows us to take advantage of the declarativity and bidirectionality of Logic
Programming for NLP.
The most salient feature of this approach is simplicity: A really
straightforward rule and lexical components. We have developed a very simple
model for complex phenomena.
Declarativity, bidirectionality, consistency and completeness of the model
are discussed: all and only correct word forms are analysed or generated, even
alternative ones and gaps in paradigms are preserved. A Prolog implementation
has been developed for both analysis and generation of Spanish word forms. It
consists of only six DCG rules, because our {\em lexicalist\/} approach --i.e.
most information is in the dictionary. Although it is quite efficient, the
current implementation could be improved for analysis by using the non logical
features of Prolog, especially in word segmentation and dictionary access.Comment: 11 page
Offering behavioral assistance to Latino students demonstrating challenging behaviors
Challenging behaviors can significantly alter the learning environment of any classroom.
Traditionally, schools have implemented practices that remove the offending student
from the classroom, deliver punitive disciplinary actions, or refer the student to special
education evaluation. Unfortunately, such practices have demonstrated little longitudinal
effectiveness, with detrimental outcomes for the referred student, particularly students
from Latino backgrounds. With enrollment projections indicating Latinos will become
the majority in U.S. schools, educators are presented with the opportunity to shift away
from past practices and implement evidence-based practices that concurrently assist
students while addressing challenging behaviors. In this paper, the authors discuss past
disciplinary practices, the adverse effects on Latino students, and offer recommendations
on implementing functional behavioral assessment as a means to better meet the needs of Latino students demonstrating challenging behaviors.peer-reviewe
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