Biomarkers of Nutrition for Development (BOND)—Iron Review

This is the fifth in the series of reviews developed as part of the Biomarkers of Nutrition for Development (BOND) program. The BOND Iron Expert Panel (I-EP) reviewed the extant knowledge regarding iron biology, public health implications, and the relative usefulness of currently available biomarkers of iron status from deficiency to overload. Approaches to assessing intake, including bioavailability, are also covered. The report also covers technical and laboratory considerations for the use of available biomarkers of iron status, and concludes with a description of research priorities along with a brief discussion of new biomarkers with potential for use across the spectrum of activities related to the study of iron in human health. The I-EP concluded that current iron biomarkers are reliable for accurately assessing many aspects of iron nutrition. However, a clear distinction is made between the relative strengths of biomarkers to assess hematological consequences of iron deficiency versus other putative functional outcomes, particularly the relationship between maternal and fetal iron status during pregnancy, birth outcomes, and infant cognitive, motor and emotional development. The I-EP also highlighted the importance of considering the confounding effects of inflammation and infection on the interpretation of iron biomarker results, as well as the impact of life stage. Finally, alternative approaches to the evaluation of the risk for nutritional iron overload at the population level are presented, because the currently designated upper limits for the biomarker generally employed (serum ferritin) may not differentiate between true iron overload and the effects of subclinical inflammation

Associations with baseline visual acuity in 12,414 eyes starting treatment for neovascular AMD

Aims To determine baseline visual acuity before the start of treatment for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD), compare median and visual acuity states between treatment sites and investigate the association of socio-demographic and clinical characteristics with baseline acuity. Methods Anonymised demographic and clinical data, collected as part of routine clinical care, were extracted from electronic medical records at treating National Health Service (NHS) Trusts. Analyses were restricted to eyes with baseline visual acuity recorded at treatment initiation. Associations with baseline acuity were investigated using multivariate linear regression. Results Analysis included 12,414 eyes of 9116 patients at 13 NHS Trusts. Median baseline acuity was LogMAR 0.46 (interquartile range = 0.26–0.80) and 34.5% of eyes had good acuity, defined as LogMAR ≤0.3. Baseline acuity was positively associated with second-treated eye status, younger age, lower socio-economic deprivation, independent living, and female sex. There was little evidence of association between baseline acuity and distance to the nearest treatment centre, systemic or ocular co-morbidity. Despite case-mix adjustments, there was evidence of significant variation of baseline visual acuity between sites. Conclusions Despite access to publicly funded treatment within the NHS, variation in visual acuity at the start of neovascular AMD treatment persists. Identifying the characteristics associated with poor baseline acuity, targeted health awareness campaigns, professional education, and pathway re-design may help to improve baseline acuity, the first eye gap, and visual acuity outcomes

Associations with visual acuity outcomes after 12 months of treatment in 9401 eyes with neovascular AMD

Abstract Objective To record visual acuity outcomes after 12 months of treatment for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (NvAMD), investigate variation between sites and explore associations with baseline characteristics and care processes. Methods and analysis Anonymised demographic and clinical data were extracted from electronic medical records at treating National Health Service (NHS) Trusts. Associations with acuity outcomes were investigated using multivariate linear and logistic regression. Results Analysis included 9401 eyes (7686 patients) treated at 13 NHS Trusts. From baseline to month 12, median acuity improved from LogMAR 0.50 (IQR 0.30–0.80) to 0.40 (0.22–0.74) and the proportion of eyes with LogMAR ≥0.3 increased from 34.5% to 39.8%. Baseline visual acuity was the strongest predictor of visual acuity outcomes. For each LogMAR 0.1 worsening of baseline acuity, the acuity at 12 months was improved by LogMAR 0.074 (95% CI 0.073 to 0.074) and the odds of a ‘poor’ acuity outcome was multiplied by 1.66 (95% CI 1.61 to 1.70). Younger age, independent living status, lower socioeconomic deprivation, timely loading phase completion and higher number of injections were associated with better acuity outcomes. Despite case-mix adjustments, there was evidence of significant variation in acuity outcomes between sites. Conclusions Even after adjustment for other variables, variation in acuity outcomes after NvAMD treatment within the NHS remains. Meaningful comparison of outcomes between different providers requires adjustment for a range of baseline characteristics, not visual acuity alone. Identifying best practice at sites with better outcomes and adapting local care processes are required to tackle this health inequality

RWCP 実環境音声・音響データベース（RWCP-SSD）

・非音声音のドライソース - 非音声音の無響室測定データ(ドライソース) - 各種の部屋における再現データ(インパルス応答との畳み込み)・マイクロホンアレーによるインパルス応答と音声データ - 固定音源のインパルス応答 - 固定音源(音声)の測定データ - 移動音源のインパルス応答 - 移動音源(音声)の測定データ - 拡散音源、背景雑音の測定データ・マイクロホンアレーによる近傍音場でのインパルス応答・対話ロボットの頭部伝達関数・測定に関わるアルゴリズムの解説，使用したソフトウェア・上記測定データを用いた研究事例の紹介Vol.1: "RWCP Sound Scene Database in Real Acoustical Environments"Vol.2: Speech data of fixed sound sources measured by microphone-arrayVol.3: Speech data of moving sound sources measured by microphone-arra

The impact of center volume on the utilization and outcomes of machine perfusion technology in liver transplantation : an international survey

Introduction Machine perfusion (MP) was developed to expand the donor pool and improve liver transplantation (LT) outcomes. Despite optimal results in clinical trials, the real-world MP benefit in centers with low-/mid-volume activity (LVCs) is still being determined.Methods Online survey on MP for LT, distributed to worldwide LT-centers representatives. Variables of interest included logistics, technicalities, and outcomes. Responders were grouped into high-volume centers (HVCs) (>60 LTs/year) and LVCs and results compared.Results Sixty-seven centers were included, 36 HVCs and 31 LVCs. Significant differences in MP regarded: (I) existence of an established program (80.6% vs. 41.9%; p = 0.02), (II) presence of a dedicated perfusionist (58.3% vs. 22.6%; p = 0.006), (III) duration (>4 h: 47.2% vs. 16.1%; p = 0.01), (IV) routine use (20%-40% vs. 5%-20%; p = 0.002), (V) graft utilization (>50%: 75% vs. 51.6%; p = 0.009), (VI) 90-day patient-survival (90%-100% vs. 50%-90%; p = 0.001) and (VII) subjectively perceived benefit (always vs. only in selected ECD; p = 0.009). Concordance was found for indications, type, viability tests, graft-salvage, 90-day graft-loss, and major-complications.Conclusions This study captured a picture of MP in real-world LT-practice. Significant disparities have surfaced between LVCs and HVCs regarding logistics, utilization, and results. To close this gap, efforts should be made to more efficiently deliver dedicated support, training and mentoring to LVC teams adopting MP technology

RWCP 検索・要約用ニュース音声データベース（RWCP-SP99）

ニュース放送用の原稿をプロのアナウンサが読み上げたもの．原稿は専門の放送記者に依頼し，実際の出来事を基に模擬的に作成．アナウンサは下読み後，生放送をイメージして一度だけ読み上げ．各話者につき，ニュース原稿 約40件（全話者共通原稿10件＋個別原稿30件，約60分），ATR音韻バランス文503文Aセット 50文Professional announcers read broadcast news articles.A professional broadcast reporter wrote the draft based on the actual event. The announcer read to himself once and then he read the draft once imaging the actual broadcasting. - 40 news articles (30 independent articles + 10 articles common to all speakers) - Set A (50 sentences) of 503 ATR phonetically balanced sentence