Abstract: The technology described herein is directed to compositions and cell culture media for increasing the lifespan of neutrophils. Also described are methods and kits for culturing neutrophils using the compositions or cell culture media. Such cultured neutrophils can be used to treat disorders such as neutropenia or microbial infections.

Abstract: There is provided a polymerizable composition, by which discoloration or alignment defects are less likely to occur when a filmy polymer, which is obtained by adding a polymerizable compound to the polymerizable composition and polymerizing this composition, is irradiated with ultraviolet light. There are also provided a polymer obtained by polymerizing the polymerizable composition, and an optically anisotropic body using the polymer. The present invention provides a polymerizable low-wavelength dispersive or polymerizable reverse-wavelength dispersive compound having a partial structure represented by Formula (Z-0). Further, the present invention provides a composition containing the compound; a polymer obtained by polymerizing the composition; and an optically anisotropic body obtained by using the polymer.

Abstract: There is provided a polymerizable composition, by which discoloration or alignment defects are less likely to occur when a filmy polymer, which is obtained by adding a polymerizable compound to the polymerizable composition and polymerizing this composition, is irradiated with ultraviolet light. There are also provided a polymer obtained by polymerizing the polymerizable composition, and an optically anisotropic body using the polymer. The present invention provides a polymerizable low-wavelength dispersive or polymerizable reverse-wavelength dispersive compound having a partial structure represented by Formula (Z-0). Further, the present invention provides a composition containing the compound; a polymer obtained by polymerizing the composition; and an optically anisotropic body obtained by using the polymer.

Abstract: Instead of relying on humans to subjectively evaluate speech intelligibility of a subject, a system objectively evaluates the speech intelligibility. The system receives speech input and calculates confidence scores at multiple different levels using a Template Constrained Generalized Posterior Probability algorithm. One or multiple intelligibility classifiers are utilized to classify the desired entities on an intelligibility scale. A specific intelligibility classifier utilizes features such as the various confidence scores. The scale of the intelligibility classification can be adjusted to suit the application scenario. Based on the confidence score distributions and the intelligibility classification results at multiple levels an overall objective intelligibility score is calculated. The objective intelligibility scores can be used to rank different subjects or systems being assessed according to their intelligibility levels. The speech that is below a predetermined intelligibility (e.g.