Introducing a Quasi-judicial Party to Dispute Resolution in Construction Contracts (Special Section for the GSIS Workshop on Game Theoretic Analyses of Social Institutions)

In this paper, a model is proposed to analyze how a dispute resolution process can be controlled by third parties\u27 adjudications in construction projects. We analyze the effects of introducting two alternatives, Dispute Adjudication Board (DAB) and Dispute Review Board (DRB) into the dispute resolution process under the FIDIC standard conditions of construction contract. The model explains how the differences between DAB and DRB affect the efficiency of the dispute resolution process. Differences between dispute resolution processes in FIDIC and GCW, the standard conditions of construction contract in Japan, are also analyzed. The following conclusions are obtained. 1) DAB and DRB are efficient in settling disputes by agreement if the possibility of their errors is sufficiently small. 2) DAB is more likely to cause arbitration than DRB. 3) The GCW does not provide less efficient dispute resolution procedure than the old FIDIC. When the Japanese construction market becomes completely open to foreign contractors disputes may be followed by arbitration more often under the GCW model than under the FIDIC with no third parties\u27 adjudication

Detection of sentinel lymph node using contrast-enhanced agent, Sonazoid ™ , and evaluation of its metastasis with superb microvascular imaging in oral and oropharyngeal cancers: a preliminary clinical study

金沢大学医薬保健研究域医学系Background: In sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy for head and neck cancers, the radioisotope method has been the gold standard. However, this method has several problems, such as unavoidable radiation exposure and requirements of expensive equipment. Aims/Objectives: To overcome these problems, we evaluated the contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS)-guided SLN-detection method, and predicted the SLN metastatic status using novel ultrasound technology, superb microvascular imaging (SMI). Methods: Ten patients (6 with oral and 4 with oropharyngeal cancers) without neck lymph node metastasis were enrolled in this study. Ultrasound contrast agent, Sonazoid ™ , was infiltrated into the mucosa at the primary site to observe the lymphatic ducts and SLNs in the neck field. The detected SLNs were examined for blood flow using SMI to categorize the SLNs metastases-positive or negative. Results: SLNs were successfully detected in 8 out of 10 cases. In 7 out of the 8 cases, in whom SLNs were successfully detected, the metastatic status of SLNs was correctly diagnosed with SMI. Conclusions and significance: Although more clinical data are needed based on a larger cohort, establishing the CEUS-guided SLN-detection and criteria for the accurate diagnosis of SLN-metastases using SMI would be valuable as an alternative to radioisotope method, in oral and oropharyngeal cancers. © 2019, © 2019 Acta Oto-Laryngologica AB (Ltd).Embargo Period 12 months# This study was approved by the Bioethics Committee of Kanazawa University (Nos.2016-037 and 2017-015). The clinical study protocol was explained in detail to patients eligible for the study. Written consent was obtained from all patients who agreed to participate.# This work was supported by a grant-in-aid from The Public Trust Fund For Clinical Cancer Research