On Using Backpropagation for Speech Texture Generation and Voice Conversion

Inspired by recent work on neural network image generation which rely on backpropagation towards the network inputs, we present a proof-of-concept system for speech texture synthesis and voice conversion based on two mechanisms: approximate inversion of the representation learned by a speech recognition neural network, and on matching statistics of neuron activations between different source and target utterances. Similar to image texture synthesis and neural style transfer, the system works by optimizing a cost function with respect to the input waveform samples. To this end we use a differentiable mel-filterbank feature extraction pipeline and train a convolutional CTC speech recognition network. Our system is able to extract speaker characteristics from very limited amounts of target speaker data, as little as a few seconds, and can be used to generate realistic speech babble or reconstruct an utterance in a different voice.Comment: Accepted to ICASSP 201

Penggunaan Media Animasi dalam Meningkatkan Aktivitas Belajar Matematika Siswa Kelas VIII SMP Negeri 3 Galing

This study aims to determine the increase in activity of the class VIII student learning through the use of animation media in SMP Negeri 3 Galing. The method used in this research is a classroom action research method. The subjects were eighth grade students of SMP Negeri 3 Galing, amounting to 24 students. Activity indicators studied were listening to the teacher\u27s explanation, ask the teacher, answering questions from the teacher, responding to friend answers, present work and do every test given. Analysts of the observations show an increase in students\u27 learning activities through the use of animation media in learning mathematics. This study demonstrated increased activity with percentage value of learning activities of 80% (very active)

GAMBARAN PERSEPSI IBU TENTANG PERUBAHAN FISIK MENOPAUSE DI RT.01 RW.02 DESA TEMU PRAMBON SIDOARJO

Pandangan dan penilaian wanita tentang menopause banyak dipengaruhi oleh mitos atau keyakinan yang tidak rasional yang berkembang di masyarakat yang begitu diyakininya. Menurut hasil wawancara dari 10 orang ibu menopause didapatkan data sebanyak 6 orang (60%) mempunyai persepsi masa menopause sangat tidak menyenangkan. Sedangakan 4 orang (40%) lainnya berpendapat bahwa menopause adalah suatu masa yang tidak perlu ditakutkan. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui persepsi ibu tentang perubahan fisik menopause. Desain penelitian ini adalah deskriptif. Sampel pada penelitian ini adalah seluruh ibu menopause yang berjumlah 22 orang. Besar sampel adalah 22 responden. Cara pengambilan sampel yang digunakan adalah non probability sampling, dengan teknik total sampling. Variabel penelitian ini adalah persepsi ibu tentang perubahan fisik menopause. Instrumen penelitian menggunakan kuesioner. Data diolah dengan mengunakan editing, skoring, coding, dan tabulating dan dianalisis dengan analisis deskriptif dalam bentuk tabel distribusi frekuensi. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan sebagian besar (54,5%) responden memiliki persepsi positif dan hampir setengahnya (45,5%) memiliki persepsi negatif. Simpulan dari penelitian ini adalah sebagian besar ibu memiliki persepsi positif. diharapkan petugas kesehatan untuk tetap mampu menjembatani masyarakat dan selalu memberikan informasi mengenai masa menopause untuk mengatasi gangguan fisik dan mental yang terjadi saat menopause

The Effect of Acute and Chronic Ethanol on Dopamine Turnover in the Caudate Nucleus of the Rat

It is generally believed that acute and chronic ethanol (EtOH) administration alters the activity of catecholamines in the brain, however, the specific effects of EtOH on the dopaminergic system are disputed (I). Acute EtOH administration has been variously reported to decrease (2,3), increase (4,5), and cause no change (6 ,7) in dopamine (DA) synthesis and turnover. Likewise, chronic EtOH treatments have been reported to decrease (2,8) and increase (9, 10) DA synthesis and turnover. Many of these apparently conflicting results are explained by the use of different animal models (rat (2, 3,6,7,10), rabbit (6), and mouse (4,5,9)), different methods of EtOH administration (intraperitoneal (3 ,4,6,7), oral (2,5) , and inhalation (9)), and no assurance of alcoholic dependence with chronic exposure (2, I0). Further, the majority of these studies were carried out prior to the development of a very sensitive high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) technique which can detect minute amounts of DA, dihyroxyphenylalanine (DO PA), and dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) (11 ,12)

The Effectivenessof E-Learning in Comprehending English Reading Text in MA Al-Karimiyyah

Abstract: This article is aimed at knowing the Effectivenessof E-Learning in Comprehending English Reading Text in MA Al-Karimiyyah. The     research design in this research is experimental research design. The subject of this research is the second class of senior high school n MA Al-Karmyyah. The instruments of this research are test administration and giving questionnaire. The result showed that there is no significant difference between control class and experimental class in using e-learning, but there is a difference between pre-test and post-test students score,  means that using e-learning at MA Al-Karimiyyah is not effective but shared reading method can increase students reading comprehension. It can be seen from the comparing the score of control class and try out class. From the data in the test which is using Independent sample T-test showed that the significant value 0.222 > 0.05, so the hypothesis is rejected. It also has the same result with the questionnaire which has the significant value 0.483 > 0.05.Key words: E-learning, offline learning, reading comprehension, google classroo

The curious case of the missing face: Death of California sea lion by Dungeness crab trap

Marine mammals frequently interact with human detritus due to their proximity to shores and shared target foods. Sea lions have been known to attempt to obtain bait inside crab traps. A case is described in which the pattern of decomposition of a California Sea Lion, Zalophus californianus, suggests that it likely became entangled and drowned while attempting to get Dungeness crab trap bait. This represents the first case of California Sea Lion death related to interaction with a crab trap