Environmental sound synthesis from vocal imitations and sound event labels

One way of expressing an environmental sound is using vocal imitations, which involve the process of replicating or mimicking the rhythm and pitch of sounds by voice. We can effectively express the features of environmental sounds, such as rhythm and pitch, using vocal imitations, which cannot be expressed by conventional input information, such as sound event labels, images, or texts, in an environmental sound synthesis model. In this paper, we propose a framework for environmental sound synthesis from vocal imitations and sound event labels based on a framework of a vector quantized encoder and the Tacotron2 decoder. Using vocal imitations is expected to control the pitch and rhythm of the synthesized sound, which only sound event labels cannot control. Our objective and subjective experimental results show that vocal imitations effectively control the pitch and rhythm of synthesized sounds.Comment: Submitted to ICASSP202

Follistatin-like 5 is expressed in restricted areas of the adult mouse brain: Implications for its function in the olfactory system

Follistatin‐like 5 (Fstl5), a member of the follistatin family of genes, encodes a secretory glycoprotein. Previous studies revealed that other members of this family including Fstl1 and Fstl3 play an essential role in development, homeostasis, and congenital disorders. However, the in vivo function of Fstl5 is poorly understood. To gain insight into the function of Fstl5 in the mouse central nervous system, we examined the Fstl5 expression pattern in the adult mouse brain. The results of in situ hybridization analysis showed a highly restricted pattern of Fstl5, namely, with localization in the olfactory system, hippocampal CA3 area and granular cell layer of the cerebellum. Restricted expression in the olfactory system suggests a possible role for Fstl5 in maintaining odor perception

Structural basis for PPARγ transactivation by endocrine-disrupting organotin compounds

Harada, S., Hiromori, Y., Nakamura, S. et al. Structural basis for PPARγ transactivation by endocrine-disrupting organotin compounds. Sci Rep 5, 8520 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/srep08520

Microscopic Raman Mapping of Epitaxial Graphene on 4H-SiC(0001)

We propose a quality control method for wafer-scale epitaxial graphene grown on SiC substrates. The peak position of Raman spectra of epitaxial graphene is an excellent indicator of film quality and reveals irregularities, such as graphene thickness inhomogeneity and SiC substrate defects. A comparison of microscopic Raman maps and scanning probe microscopy images of the same position of the sample revealed that wave numbers of Raman peaks (G and 2D band peaks) were strongly correlated with the strain in the graphene film. The increase in number of graphene layers (2 to 3–4 layers) induced phonon softening (~6 cm-1) and broadening (~6 cm-1) of the 2D band peak. Significant phonon softening and abnormal broadening of the Raman peaks were observed at residual scratches on the SiC substrate. The quantitative layer number distribution of graphene on SiC is successfully estimated from the wave number distribution of the 2D band peak

KAT7/HBO1/MYST2 Regulates CENP-A Chromatin Assembly by Antagonizing Suv39h1-Mediated Centromere Inactivation

SummaryCentromere chromatin containing histone H3 variant CENP-A is required for accurate chromosome segregation as a foundation for kinetochore assembly. Human centromere chromatin assembles on a part of the long α-satellite (alphoid) DNA array, where it is flanked by pericentric heterochromatin. Heterochromatin spreads into adjacent chromatin and represses gene expression, and it can antagonize centromere function or CENP-A assembly. Here, we demonstrate an interaction between CENP-A assembly factor M18BP1 and acetyltransferase KAT7/HBO1/MYST2. Knocking out KAT7 in HeLa cells reduced centromeric CENP-A assembly. Mitotic chromosome misalignment and micronuclei formation increased in the knockout cells and were enhanced when the histone H3-K9 trimethylase Suv39h1 was overproduced. Tethering KAT7 to an ectopic alphoid DNA integration site removed heterochromatic H3K9me3 modification and was sufficient to stimulate new CENP-A or histone H3.3 assembly. Thus, KAT7-containing acetyltransferases associating with the Mis18 complex provides competence for histone turnover/exchange activity on alphoid DNA and prevents Suv39h1-mediated heterochromatin invasion into centromeres