A Unified Framework for Multilingual Text-to-Speech Synthesis with SSML Specification as Interface

This paper describes the design of a unified framework for a multilingual text-to-speech (TTS) synthesis engine – Crystal. The unified framework defines the common TTS modules for different languages and/or dialects. The interfaces between consecutive modules conform to the speech synthesis markup language (SSML) specification for standardization, interoperability, multilinguality, and extensibility. Detailed module divisions and implementation technologies for the unified framework are introduced, together with possible extensions for the algorithm research and evaluation of the TTS synthesis. Implementation of a mixed-language TTS system for Chinese Putonghua, Chinese Cantonese, and English demonstrates the feasibility of the proposed unified framework.     

Effect of Si on austenite stabilization,martensite morphology,and magnetic properties in Fe-26%Ni-x%Si alloys

The effect of Si on the austenite stabilization, martensite morphology, and magnetic properties in Fe-26%Ni-x%Si (x=3.5, 5, and 6) alloys have been studied by means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and M?ssbauer spectroscopy techniques. TEM observations reveal that the martensite morphology is closely dependent on the Si content. The volume fraction changes of martensite and austenite phases, the hyperfine magnetic field, and isomer shift values have been determined by Mssbauer spectroscopy. The M?ssbauer study reveals that the hyperfine magnetic field, the isomer shift values and the volume fraction of martensite decrease with increasing Si content.     

Mars' volatile and climate history.

There is substantial evidence that the martian volatile inventory and climate have changed markedly throughout the planet's history. Clues come from areas as disparate as the history and properties of the deep interior, the composition of the crust and regolith, the morphology of the surface, composition of the present-day atmosphere, and the nature of the interactions between the upper atmosphere and the solar wind. We piece together the relevant observations into a coherent view of the evolution of the martian climate, focusing in particular on the observations that provide the strongest constraints.     

A massive cloud of cold atomic hydrogen in the outer Galaxy.

A large fraction of the mass of the interstellar medium in our Galaxy is in the form of warm (103-104 K) and cool (50-100 K) atomic hydrogen (H i) gas. Cold (10-30 K) regions are thought to be dominated by dense clouds of molecular hydrogen. Cold H i is difficult to observe, and therefore our knowledge of its abundance and distribution in the interstellar medium is poor. The few known clouds of cold H i are much smaller in size and mass than typical molecular clouds. Here we report the discovery that the H i supershell GSH139-03-69 is very cold (10 K). It is about 2 kiloparsecs in size and as massive as the largest molecular complexes. The existence of such an immense structure composed of cold atomic hydrogen in the interstellar medium runs counter to the prevailing view that cold gas resides almost exclusively in clouds dominated by molecular hydrogen.     

考虑轴颈偏斜时滑动轴承的动力特性

本文建立了同时考虑轴颈径向位移和歪斜时的滑动轴承动力学模型.对于这种模型,油膜力将扩展为四个广义力分量.文章将相应的动力系数矩阵分解为对称和反对称两部分并讨论其物理性质.然后,本文推导得出该模型的正交变换矩阵,在此基础上导得各向同性的动力系数矩阵表达式,并讨论了诸元素的物理意义.文章最后引入动力系数椭圆的概念以分析非对称动力系数矩阵的变换性质.     

Zr(0001)-(2×2)-O表面结构的分析

LEED强度的多重散射分析,进一步确定Zr与氧作用在低覆盖量下(<1ML),形成(2×2)-O结构,是氧吸附后进入Zr表面原子层下,占据八面体空位,形成有两层氧的under layer结构,Zr表面原子层有Fcc重构。分析得到的Zt-O键距为0.232nm,而Zr-Zr间距增大为0.268nm,比原来的距离增大约4.3％,这是由于氧插入的结果。     

香港室内氡水平及其与建筑物表面氡析出率的关系

本文报导用活性炭盒吸附方法对香港室内氡浓度的测量结果及其浓度分布规律。对室内氡浓度与建筑物表面氡析出率的关系进行了分析研究。证实室内空气中的氡主要来源于建材中的镭,而氡浓度水平只决定于室内建筑物表面氡的析出率及通风状况。     

Acceleration of activation and inactivation by the beta subunit of the skeletal muscle calcium channel.

The L-type voltage-dependent calcium channel is an important link in excitation-contraction coupling of muscle cells (reviewed in refs 2 and 3). The channel has two functional characteristics: calcium permeation and receptor sites for calcium antagonists. In skeletal muscle the channel is a complex of five subunits, alpha 1, alpha 2, beta, gamma and delta. Complementary DNAs to these subunits have been cloned and their amino-acid sequences deduced. The skeletal muscle alpha 1 subunit cDNA expressed in L cells manifests as specific calcium-ion permeation, as well as sensitivity to the three classes of organic calcium-channel blockers. We report here that coexpression of the alpha 1 subunit with other subunits results in significant changes in dihydropyridine binding and gating properties. The available number of drug receptor sites increases 10-fold with an alpha 1 beta combination, whereas the affinity of the dihydropyridine binding site remains unchanged. Also, the presence of the beta subunit accelerates activation and inactivation kinetics of the calcium-channel current.