The legacy of the Kamon in the Japanese management

Japan in itself but especially after the so-called “Japanese miracle” generated a frenzy of questions that searched for the hidden secret recipe for economic growth. Japan has limited land and natural resources, but something special must have led to their economic ascension. Long series of works and studies were aimed at deciphering the inner workings of this amazing culture. Since Japanese culture is so unique and hermetic, it must also be the core reason for its economic successes after the Second World War. Indeed, their culture forged their peculiar type of management that seems to be the key to success. But what exactly did trigger their particular type of management that led to such high economic standpoint? This paper aims to elaborate an explanation of the basis of the Japanese management and underline the reasons for its extraordinary results.Japanese miracle, Japanese culture, Japanese management, economic success

Tabacarie Lake – a model of urban pollution

Abstract. Tabacarie coastal lake has been surrounded, during the past century, by the fast developing city of Constanta. Consequently, the lake has directly suffered from human interventions, such as dredging, embankments and heavy pollution. The lake surface sediments are generally fine grained: clayey silts and silts, with sands appearing only on dredged bottoms. The review of the chemical composition of upper sediments pointed out the presence of large quantities of certain heavy metals, in particular: Zn, Ba, Cu and Pb, dispersed, mainly, near the discharge points of rainwater pipes

APRÈS LE DÉLUGE : ÉVOLUTION GÉOMORPHOLOGIQUE DU DELTA DU DANUBE APRÈS LA RECONNEXION MER NOIRE - MÉDITERRANÉE ET SES IMPLICATIONS SUR LE PEUPLEMENT ÉNÉOLITHIQUE / CHALCOLITHIQUE

International audienceIn this work, we document the evolution of the upper Danube delta (i.e. blocked delta) using archaeological, geomorphological and geoarchaeological approaches, after the discovery, in the 90's, of the oldest human settlement (Eneolithic/Chalcolithic) close to Mila 23 district. In-site and out-site fieldwork allows us to refine the Danube delta early evolution from 5,600 to 4,000 cal. yr BC. During this period, it functions like a fresh bayhead delta, flowing into a huge lagoon isolated from the open sea by the Letea-Caraorman spit. Then, lagoon water level rose rapidly due to an eustatic rise, and possibly from an unusual highstand of sealevel resulting from wet conditions. The settlement was then partially flooded and abandoned around 4,450 cal. yr BC.Dans ce travail, l'évolution de la zone interne du delta du Danube est appréhendée à partir de travaux géoarchéologiques et géomorphologiques réalisés dans le district de Mila 23, suite à la découverte de la plus vieille occupation humaine (énéolithique/ chalcolithique) du delta dans les années 90. Les travaux sur site et hors site ont permis de préciser les stades précoces de l'évolution du delta entre 5 600 et 4 000 ans cal. av. J.-C. Celui-ci évolue comme un delta lagunaire en eau douce, s'épandant dans un large lagon séparé de la mer par la ride de Letea-Caraorman. La remontée rapide du niveau lagunaire, sous l'effet de la remontée eustatique et peut-être d'une sur cote liée à un événement humide, ont conduit à une submersion partielle du site et probablement à son abandon vers 4 450 ans cal. av. J.-C

Aftermath of the flooding : geomorphological evolution of the Danube delta after the black sea-mediterranean reconnection and its implications on eneolithic settlements

International audienceIn this article we document the evolution of the internal area of the Danube Delta (i.e. the blocked delta) starting from the geo-archaeological and geomorphological investigations performed at Mila 23 district, following the discovery of the oldest human settlement in the Delta. The in-site and out-site field work and coring allowed us to specify the delta's early stages of evolution from 5600 to 4000 CAL BC. During this period, the site evolves as a freshwater bay-head delta flowing into a huge lagoon isolated from the open sea by Letea-Caraorman spits. The rapid sedimentation rate in the lagoon is interpreted as a response to base-level rise and overflooding as a result of humid conditions during 6-5 ky RCC, leading to the partial submersion of the site and probably to its abandonment around 4450 CAL BC

Mucocele of the appendix presenting as an exacerbated chronic tubo-ovarian abscess: A case report and comprehensive review of the literature.

Appendiceal mucocele is a rare entity of mucinous cystic dilatation of the appendix. It has no typical clinical presentation and is considered a potentially premalignant condition. We present a case of accidental intraoperative finding of an appendiceal mucocele in a 54-year old woman that clinically presented with an exacerbated chronic tubo-ovarian abscess. Trans-vaginal ultrasonography showed an encapsulated, oval, unilocular mass above the uterus with a heteroechogenic structure, homogeneous fluid content, and smooth regular walls without inner proliferation. The histopathologic diagnosis was consistent with an appendiceal cystadenoma. The patient underwent a simple appendectomy. There were no clinical, biochemical or imaging signs of the disease recurrence at 6 months follow up. To our knowledge, this is the only well-documented case of appendiceal mucocele mimicking exacerbated chronic tubo-ovarian abscess reported in the literature. Awareness of a rare entity such as an appendiceal mucocele, which is frequently misdiagnosed as a potential cause of acute abdomen, is necessary for the appropriate management strategy in order to prevent complications

Remodeling of Retinal Fatty Acids in an Animal Model of Diabetes: A Decrease in Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Is Associated With a Decrease in Fatty Acid Elongases Elovl2 and Elovl4

OBJECTIVE: The results of the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial/Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications cohort study revealed a strong association between dyslipidemia and the development of diabetic retinopathy. However, there are no experimental data on retinal fatty acid metabolism in diabetes. This study determined retinal-specific fatty acid metabolism in control and diabetic animals. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Tissue gene and protein expression profiles were determined by quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot in control and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats at 3-6 weeks of diabetes. Fatty acid profiles were assessed by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, and phospholipid analysis was performed by nano-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. RESULTS: We found a dramatic difference between retinal and liver elongase and desaturase profiles with high elongase and low desaturase gene expression in the retina compared with liver. Elovl4, an elongase expressed in the retina but not in the liver, showed the greatest expression level among retinal elongases, followed by Elovl2, Elovl1, and Elovl6. Importantly, early-stage diabetes induced a marked decrease in retinal expression levels of Elovl4, Elovl2, and Elovl6. Diabetes-induced downregulation of retinal elongases translated into a significant decrease in total retinal docosahexaenoic acid, as well as decreased incorporation of very-long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), particularly 32:6n3, into retinal phosphatidylcholine. This decrease in n3 PUFAs was coupled with inflammatory status in diabetic retina, reflected by an increase in gene expression of proinflammatory markers interleukin-6, vascular endothelial growth factor, and intercellular adhesion molecule-1. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first comprehensive study demonstrating diabetes-induced changes in retinal fatty acid metabolism. Normalization of retinal fatty acid levels by dietary means or/and modulating expression of elongases could represent a potential therapeutic target for diabetes-induced retinal inflammation

A new model for health care delivery

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The health care delivery system in the United States is facing cost and quality pressures that will require fundamental changes to remain viable. The optimal structures of the relationships between the hospital, medical school, and physicians have not been determined but are likely to have a large impact on the future of healthcare delivery. Because it is generally agreed that academic medical centers will play a role in the sustainability of this future system, a fundamental understanding of the relative contributions of the stakeholders is important as well as creativity in developing novel strategies to achieve a shared vision.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>Core competencies of each of the stakeholders (the hospital, the medical school and the physicians) must complement the others and should act synergistically. At the same time, the stakeholders should determine the common core values and should be able to make a meaningful contribution to the delivery of health care.</p> <p>Summary</p> <p>Health care needs to achieve higher quality and lower cost. Therefore, in order for physicians, medical schools, and hospitals to serve the needs of society in a gratifying way, there will need to be change. There needs to be more scientific and social advances. It is obvious that there is a real and urgent need for relationship building among the professionals whose duty it is to provide these services.</p

Sphingolipids as critical players in retinal physiology and pathology

Sphingolipids have emerged as bioactive lipids involved in the regulation of many physiological and pathological processes. In the retina, they have been established toparticipate in numerousprocesses, suchas neuronal survival and death, proliferation and migration of neuronal and vascular cells, inflammation, and neovascularization. Dysregulation of sphingolipids is therefore crucial in the onset and progression of retinal diseases. This review examines the involvement of sphingolipids in retinal physiology and diseases. Ceramide (Cer) has emerged as a common mediator of inflammation and death of neuronal and retinal pigment epithelium cells in animal models of retinopathies such as glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and retinitis pigmentosa. Sphingosine- 1-phosphate (S1P) has opposite roles, preventing photoreceptor and ganglion cell degeneration but also promoting inflammation, fibrosis, and neovascularization in AMD, glaucoma, and pro-fibrotic disorders. Alterations in Cer, S1P, and ceramide 1- phosphate may also contribute to uveitis. Notably, use of inhibitors that either prevent Cer increase or modulate S1P signaling, such as Myriocin, desipramine, and Fingolimod (FTY720), preserves neuronal viability and retinal function. These findings underscore the relevance of alterations in the sphingolipid metabolic network in the etiology of multiple retinopathies and highlight the potential of modulating their metabolism for the design of novel therapeutic approaches.Fil: Simon, Maria Victoria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia; ArgentinaFil: Basu, Sandip K.. University of Tennessee; Estados UnidosFil: Qaladize, Bano. University of Tennessee; Estados UnidosFil: Grambergs, Richards. University of Tennessee; Estados UnidosFil: Rotstein, Nora Patricia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia; ArgentinaFil: Mandal, Nawajes .A.. University of Tennessee; Estados Unido

Contribution to the Knowledge of Recent Ostracod Fauna from Some Danube Delta Lakes

The limnic ostracod fauna from some Danube Delta lakes was investigated. Eighteen species were recorded, and a brief description including information on the ecology and the geographical distribution of the main species was provided. Cypria ophthalmica was the most frequent and abundant species, followed closely by Darwinula stevensoni. A brackish water assemblage, represented by Cyprideis littoralis, Tyrrhenocythere amnicola donetziensis and Cytheromorpha fuscata was identified only in the Razelm-Sinoe lagoon