Performance Evaluation of The Speaker-Independent HMM-based Speech Synthesis System "HTS-2007" for the Blizzard Challenge 2007

This paper describes a speaker-independent/adaptive HMM-based speech synthesis system developed for the Blizzard Challenge 2007. The new system, named HTS-2007, employs speaker adaptation (CSMAPLR+MAP), feature-space adaptive training, mixed-gender modeling, and full-covariance modeling using CSMAPLR transforms, in addition to several other techniques that have proved effective in our previous systems. Subjective evaluation results show that the new system generates significantly better quality synthetic speech than that of speaker-dependent approaches with realistic amounts of speech data, and that it bears comparison with speaker-dependent approaches even when large amounts of speech data are available

Pylorus preserving pancreatoduodenectomy in a 6-year-old girl with recurrent pancreatitis due to an annular pancreas

AbstractThe pancreatitis caused by an annular pancreas rarely needs a surgical management in children. Here, we report a case of a 6-year old girl in whom pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy (PPPD) was performed for the pancreatitis caused by an annular pancreas. As she had previous operations for duodenal atresia and pancreaticobiliary maljunction, PPPD was chosen as a definitive surgical treatment of annular pancreas. She has been free from symptoms for 2 years after the operation

Recent development of the HMM-based speech synthesis system (HTS)

A statistical parametric approach to speech synthesis based on hidden Markov models (HMMs) has grown in popularity over the last few years. In this approach, spectrum, excitation, and duration of speech are simultaneously modeled by context-dependent HMMs, and speech waveforms are generate from the HMMs themselves. Since December 2002, we have publicly released an open-source software toolkit named “HMM-based speech synthesis system (HTS)” to provide a research and development toolkit for statistical parametric speech synthesis. This paper describes recent developments of HTS in detail, as well as future release plans

Preparation of a CuGaSe2 single crystal and its photocathodic properties

Chalcopyrite CuGaSe2 single crystals were successfully synthesized by the flux method using a home-made Bridgman-type furnace. The grown crystals were nearly stoichiometric with a Se-poor composition. Although a wafer form of the thus-obtained single crystal showed poor p-type electrical properties due to such unfavorable off-stoichiometry, these properties were found to be improved by applying a post-annealing treatment under Se vapor conditions. As a result, an electrode derived from the Se-treated single crystalline wafer showed appreciable p-type photocurrents. After deposition of a CdS ultrathin layer and a nanoparticulate Pt catalyst on the surface of the electrode, appreciable photoelectrochemical H2 evolution was observed over the modified electrode under photoirradiation by simulated sunlight with application of a bias potential of 0 VRHE

Robust Speaker-Adaptive HMM-based Text-to-Speech Synthesis

This paper describes a speaker-adaptive HMM-based speech synthesis system. The new system, called ``HTS-2007,'' employs speaker adaptation (CSMAPLR+MAP), feature-space adaptive training, mixed-gender modeling, and full-covariance modeling using CSMAPLR transforms, in addition to several other techniques that have proved effective in our previous systems. Subjective evaluation results show that the new system generates significantly better quality synthetic speech than speaker-dependent approaches with realistic amounts of speech data, and that it bears comparison with speaker-dependent approaches even when large amounts of speech data are available. In addition, a comparison study with several speech synthesis techniques shows the new system is very robust: It is able to build voices from less-than-ideal speech data and synthesize good-quality speech even for out-of-domain sentences

Early Spectroscopy of the 2010 Outburst of U Scorpii

We present early spectroscopy of the recurrent nova U~Sco during the outburst in 2010. We successfully obtained time-series spectra at $t_{\rm d}=$0.37--0.44~d, where $t_{\rm d}$ denotes the time from the discovery of the present outburst. This is the first time-resolved spectroscopy on the first night of U Sco outbursts. At $t_{\rm d}\sim 0.4$~d the H$\alpha$ line consists of a blue-shifted ($-5000$ km s$^{-1}$) narrow absorption component and a wide emission component having triple peaks, a blue ($\sim -3000$ km s$^{-1}$), a central ($\sim 0$ km s$^{-1}$) and a red ($\sim +3000$ km s$^{-1}$) ones. The blue and red peaks developed more rapidly than the central one during the first night. This rapid variation would be caused by the growth of aspherical wind produced during the earliest stage of the outburst. At $t_{\rm d}=1.4$~d the H$\alpha$ line has a nearly flat-topped profile with weak blue and red peaks at $\sim \pm 3000$ km s$^{-1}$. This profile can be attributed to a nearly spherical shell, while the asphericity growing on the first night still remains. The wind asphericity is less significant after $t_{\rm d}=9$ d.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, Accepted for publication of PASJ Letter

Prospective longitudinal comparative study of health-related quality of life in patients treated with radical prostatectomy or permanent brachytherapy for prostate cancer

To determine health-related quality of life (HRQOL) after radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) or permanent prostate brachytherapy (BT), third party-conducted QOL surveys were prospectively compared. Between 2004 and 2005, 37 patients underwent RRP and 36 were treated with BT. A QOL survey consisting of the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form (SF-36), the University of California, Los Angeles, Prostate Cancer Index (UCLA-PCI) and the International Prostate Symptoms Score (IPSS) was completed prospectively by a research coordinator at baseline, and at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after treatment. The RRP patients scored well in general QOL except at 1 month after surgery, with their mental health better than at baseline by 6 months after surgery. Disease-specific QOL in RRP patients received a low score at 1 month for both urinary and sexual function, though urinary function rapidly recovered to baseline levels. BT patient QOL was not affected by the therapy except in the IPSS score. However, general and mental health scores in BT patients were inferior to those in RRP patients. This prospective study revealed differences in QOL after RRP and BT. These results will be helpful in making treatment decisions.</p