Medical benefits for workmen under social insurance in Japan

Japan was the first Asian country to introduce social insurance measures and she has expanded them during the last few decades. The first social insurance law was passed in 1922 dealing with worker's health insurance in general. It was followed by many schemes of social insurance. National Health Insurance in 1938, Seamen's Insurance in 1939, Employees' Pension Insurance in 1941 and so forth. After World War II the new Constitution was enacted by which the Japanese Government was made responsible for the provision of medical care services for the whole nation. At present approximately the whole population is covered by either one or more of the various social insurance schemes. The main social insurance programs are shown in Figure 1 and Table 1. Most of these insurance schemes are compulsory under Japanese law. Since it would be too difficult and complicated to explain all of these forms of social insurance in detail, we will discuss only about two schemes directly related to medical care services for the workers; namely, the Health Insurance Scheme for non. occupational diseases and disorders (sickness or injury off the job) and Workmen's Compensation Insurance for occupational diseases and disorders (sickness or injury on the job).</p

Measurements of Vegetation Distribution Using Various Local Remote Sensing Techniques

Source: ICHE Conference Archive - https://mdi-de.baw.de/icheArchiv

Experimental Study on Flow and Bank Erosion in Steep and Curved Trapezoidal Channels

Source: ICHE Conference Archive - https://mdi-de.baw.de/icheArchiv

Immature-like molecular expression patterns in the hippocampus of a mouse model of dementia with Lewy body-linked mutant β-synuclein

Abstract Aim Maturation abnormalities of the brain cells have been suggested in several neuropsychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, autism spectrum disorders, and epilepsy. In this study, we examined the expression patterns of neuronal maturation markers in the brain of a mouse model of dementia with Lewy body-linked mutant β-synuclein (βS), especially in the hippocampus, to explore whether such brain abnormalities occur in neurodegenerative disorders as well. Methods Quantitative PCR (qPCR) and immunohistochemical analyses were performed using the hippocampus of 14-month-old P123H βS transgenic (Tg) mice to evaluate the expression of molecular markers for maturation of dentate granule cells. Results Based on qPCR results, expression of Tdo2 and Dsp (markers of mature granule cells) was decreased and that of Drd1a (a marker of immature granule cells) was increased in the hippocampus of P123H βS Tg mice compared to that in wild-type controls. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed decreased expression of mature granule cell markers Calb1 and Gria1, along with increased expression of the microglial marker Iba1, in the hippocampal dentate gyrus region of P123H βS Tg mice. P123H βS Tg mice exhibited immature-like neuronal molecular expression patterns and microgliosis in the hippocampus. Pseudo-immaturity of dentate granule cells, associated with neuroinflammation, may be a shared endophenotype in the brains of at least a subgroup of patients with neuropsychiatric disorders and neurodegenerative diseases

The leech excitatory peptide, a member of the GGNG peptide family: isolation and comparison with the earthworm GGNG peptides

AbstractA member of the GGNG peptide family was isolated from Hirudo nipponia (leech). GGNG peptides had only been isolated previously from earthworms. The C-terminus structure of the leech peptide, LEP (leech excitatory peptide), was –Gly–Gly–Asn–amide, while that of the earthworm peptides, EEP (earthworm excitatory peptide), was –Gly–Gly–Asn–Gly. LEP exerted 1000-fold more potent activities on leech gut than did EEP-2. On the other hand, EEP-2 was 1000-fold more potent than LEP on the crop-gizzard of the earthworm. Analog peptides of LEP and EEP-2 were synthesized, and the myoactive potency of each analog on the leech and earthworm tissues was compared

Introduction of Low-Carbon Community Energy Systems by Combining Information Networks and Cogeneration-Type District Heating and Cooling Systems

Achievement of a low-carbon society is becoming extremely important. In this report, we introduce an example of carbon dioxide (CO2) emission reductions and energy savings, using a local energy-control system. Our research is focused on the town of Shinchi in the Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. Shinchi is pursuing initiatives to create a low-carbon, energy-efficient society and a disaster-resilient community. The National Institute for Environmental Studies provides academic support for the design and planning of low-carbon community energy systems by the local government of Shinchi, based on the Basic Cooperation Agreement. For the redevelopment of the Japan Railway (JR) Shinchi Station district that is being carried out, construction of a cogeneration-type district heating and cooling system is currently in progress. CO2 reductions of about 20% can be expected by introducing this community energy system. To support these initiatives, we have developed an information and communication technology (ICT) system that shares a wide range of local information to support energy conservation. By analyzing electricity consumption data from the ICT, we evaluated the pattern of residential power consumption and confirmed that the project supports energy-saving behavior within the community. Additionally, the community energy project in the JR Shinchi Station district enables adjustment of the supply and demand balance