Lifespan of information service firms in Japan: a survival analysis

The purpose of this paper is an analysis of survival in the Japanese information service industry. Information service firms are generally classified into two typical patterns. One is the group of independent firms such as software vendors, and the other is the group of non-independent such as subsidiaries established by spinning off and so on. We used a sample of 334 firms in Japan and analyzed by Kaplan-Meier estimator method and Cox proportional hazard regression model in order to investigate the difference of survival between these two groups and/or among other attributes. As a result, the lifespan of the information service firms significantly depends on the degree of system integration sales ratio, software development sales ratio, and entrusted processing sales ratio. On the contrary, property of non-independence and high sales ratio with main customers have a negative influence on their survival rates, i.e. lifespan. The paper discusses these results and offers some managerial implications, and future research opportunities are provided

Lifespan of information service firms in Japan: a survival analysis

The purpose of this paper is an analysis of survival in the Japanese information service industry. Information service firms are generally classified into two typical patterns. One is the group of independent firms such as software vendors, and the other is the group of non-independent such as subsidiaries established by spinning off and so on. We used a sample of 334 firms in Japan and analyzed by Kaplan-Meier estimator method and Cox proportional hazard regression model in order to investigate the difference of survival between these two groups and/or among other attributes. As a result, the lifespan of the information service firms significantly depends on the degree of system integration sales ratio, software development sales ratio, and entrusted processing sales ratio. On the contrary, property of non-independence and high sales ratio with main customers have a negative influence on their survival rates, i.e. lifespan. The paper discusses these results and offers some managerial implications, and future research opportunities are provided

Upper Lumbar Pedicle Screw Insertion Using Three-Dimensional Fluoroscopy Navigation:Assessment of Clinical Accuracy

We used a navigation system to insert 128 pedicle screws into 69 vertebrae (L1 to L3) of 49 consecutive patients. We assessed the pedicle isthmic width and the permission angle for pedicle screw insertion. The permission angle is the angle defined by the greatest medial and lateral trajectories allowable when placing the screw through the center of the pedicle. The rate of narrow-width pedicles (isthmic width less than 5mm) was 5 of 60 pedicles (8%) at L1, 4 of 60 pedicles (7%) at L2, and none (0%) at L3, L4 and L5. The rate of narrow-angle pedicles (a permission angle less than 15 degrees) was 21 of 60 pedicles (35%) at L1, 7 of 60 (12%) at L2, 3 of 60 (5%) at L3, and none (0%) at L4 and L5. Of 128 pedicle screws inserted into 69 vertebrae from L1 to L3, 125 (97.7%) were classified as Grade 1 (no pedicle perforation). In general, the upper lumbar vertebrae have more narrow-width and -angle pedicles. However, we could reduce the rate of pedicle screw misplacement in upper lumbar vertebra using a three-dimensional fluoroscopy and navigation system

Myeloperoxidase (MPO) Gene Polymorphisms are not Associated with Japanese Patients with COPD

Article信州医学雑誌 68(1): 41-48(2020)journal articl

Minimally Invasive Surgery for Unstable Pelvic Ring Fractures: Transiliac Rod and Screw Fixation

Pelvic fractures occur with high-energy trauma, and the patient’s clinical status is unstable. Although a number of surgical methods for unstable pelvic fractures are available, none can achieve strong fixation with minimal invasiveness. We describe a surgical transiliac rod and screw fixation (TIF) procedure that provides minimally invasive fixation using a spinal implant for unstable pelvic ring fractures, and we retrospectively analyzed the procedure’s outcomes in 27 patients with type B or C1 fractures (based on the AO/ATO classification system). Small skin incisions are made above the posterior superior iliac spines on both sides. The ilium is partially resected, and two iliac screws are inserted on each side. The spinous process of the sacral spine is then shaved, and the iliac screws are connected to 2 rods, one placed caudal to the other. Corrective manipulation is performed at the fracture site, and the rods are connected with connectors. Favorable fracture reduction, defined as a rating of ‘excellent’ or ‘good,’ was achieved in 77.8% of the patients. Transiliac rod and screw fixation (TIF) will be a useful therapeutic option for unstable pelvic ring fractures

Venous Thromboembolism in Patients with Acute Thoracolumbar Spinal Cord Injury

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a major complication in patients with acute spinal cord injury. There are few reports of VTE with acute thoracolumbar spinal cord injury (TLSCI). We assessed the incidence of VTE with acute TLSCI using color Doppler ultrasonography. We retrospectively assessed 75 patients with acute TLSCI (T1 to L1). All patients were surgically treated. VTE of the lower extremity and pelvis was assessed using color Doppler ultrasound regardless of whether symptoms were present. This retrospective study included patients who were assessed between 6 and 10 days (mean 8.1 days) after injury. VTE was detected in 27 of the 75 patients (35.7%) with or without paralysis. Of the 13 patients who had complete motor paralysis, 8 (62%) had VTE; of the 31 patients with incomplete motor paralysis, 10 (32%) had VTE, and of the 31 patients without motor paralysis, 9 (29%) had VTE. Among the patients with TLSCI, those with VTE had a significantly higher mean age than those without. The incidence of VTE in TLSCI patients is not related to the severity of paralysis in a Japanese population. The incidence appears to be related primarily to age

Sur les tenebres de l\u27ame chez Malebranche

研究論文(Article

Mechanisms of the action of povidone-iodine against human and avian influenza A viruses: its effects on hemagglutination and sialidase activities

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Influenza virus infection causes significant morbidity and mortality and has marked social and economic impacts throughout the world. The influenza surface glycoproteins, hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA), act cooperatively to support efficient influenza A virus replication and provide the most important targets for anti-influenza chemotherapy. In this study, povidone-iodine (PVP-I), which has a broad-spectrum microbicidal property, was examined for its inhibitory effects against influenza virus infection in MDCK cells and the mechanisms of PVP-I action on HA and NA were revealed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Results obtained using a novel fluorescence- and chromogenic-based plaque inhibition assay showed that 1.56 mg/ml PVP-I inhibited infections in MDCK cells of human (8 strains) and avian (5 strains) influenza A viruses, including H1N1, H3N2, H5N3 and H9N2, from 23.0–97.5%. A sialidase inhibition assay revealed that PVP-I inhibited N1, N2 and N3 neuraminidases with IC₅₀values of 9.5–212.1 μg/ml by a mixed-type inhibition mechanism. Receptor binding inhibition and hemagglutinin inhibition assays indicated that PVP-I affected viral hemagglutinin rather than host-specific sialic acid receptors.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Mechanisms of reduction of viral growth in MDCK cells by PVP-I involve blockade of viral attachment to cellular receptors and inhibition of viral release and spread from infected cells. Therefore, PVP-I is useful to prevent infection and limit spread of human and avian influenza viruses.</p