Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP): The Better Sibling of PCR?

In 1998, when the PCR technique was already popular, a Japanese company called Eiken Chemical Co., Ltd. designed a method known as the loop-mediated isothermal amplification of DNA (LAMP). The method can produce up to 109 copies of the amplified DNA within less than an hour. It is also highly specific due to the use of two to three pairs of primers (internal, external, and loop), which recognise up to eight specific locations on the DNA or RNA targets. Furthermore, the Bst DNA polymerase most used in LAMP shows a high strand displacement activity, which eliminates the DNA denaturation stage. One of the most significant advantages of LAMP is that it can be conducted at a stable temperature, for instance, in a dry block heater or an incubator. The products of LAMP can be detected much faster than in standard techniques, sometimes only requiring analysis with the naked eye. The following overview highlights the usefulness of LAMP and its effectiveness in various fields; it also considers the superiority of LAMP over PCR and presents RT-LAMP as a rapid diagnostic tool for SARS-CoV-2.

Diaper dermatitis: differential diagnosis and prevention issues

The skin of newborns and infants is characterized by structural and functional immaturity. Diaper dermatitis is one of the most common skin conditions in this age period. This condition has a complex and multifactorial etiology. The interaction of several causes, including high humidity under the diaper, skin maceration, and prolonged contact with irritants, leads to destruction of the immature epidermal barrier, microbial invasion, and inflammation. Diaper dermatitis should be differentiated from allergic contact dermatitis, candidiasis, atopic dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis. Effective measures to prevent diaper dermatitis are to keep the skin dry, reduce friction, limit the time of contact with urine and feces, as well as the topical application of protective products. Today, of all the disposable diapers on the market, the high quality disposable diapers developed and produced by the Japanese company KAO Corporation are proven effective in preventing diaper dermatitis.

Referential and non-referential (im)politeness

Honorifics are non-referential indices that are generally understood as polite linguistic forms. Why do speakers use honorifics when they express a face-attacking referential message? Brown and Levinson’s politeness theory (1987) explains that the use of honorifics is a negative politeness strategy that mitigates an FTA (face-threatening act). However, the reason why honorifics co-occur with a face-attack probably involves more than mitigating an FTA. This article deals with a case of institutional impoliteness by examining a Japanese company’s new employee orientation discourse. This is a context in which impoliteness is ideologically legitimised and often deployed. At the same time, the goal of the orientation is to train new employees to behave in an extremely polite manner. By qualitatively analysing the speech of the trainer of a new employee orientation, this article concludes that the trainer’s use of honorifics while attacking the positive face of the new employees is a way of resolving the conflicting demands of a Japanese company. This article contributes to (im)politeness research in that it points to the importance of distinguishing referential and non-referential (im)politeness.

How are Kawaii (Cute) Fictional Characters Used in Japanese Advertising

This article aims to explain the use and role of cute, adora- ble characters in Japanese advertising. Kawaii culture or the “culture of cute” has become known worldwide mainly because of Hello Kitty, the cat which led the “pink globalization”, as Yano (2013) states. In this paper we have attempted to reveal the symbolism of these apparent meaning- less cute signs and characters. Starting from Hofstede’s theory of cultural dimensions (2001, 2003, 2010), which shows how a society’s culture influ- ences the values of its members, we intended to show how are these kawaii characters used in Japanese advertising and how they fit cultural specif- ics. Used either in non-commercial, educational or commercial advertising, cute personae can make the target audience feel more comfortable, secure and cooperating (Murakami, 2005). In this paper we have discussed the role of three iconic characters: the emblematic Hello Kitty, Kumamon, the lovely bear created by the government of Kumamoto Prefecture (Japan) and Gudetama, a lazy egg yolk produced by the Japanese company Sanrio in 2014. The selected characters reflect different types and personalities and each of them serves a specific purpose, but via the analysis conveyed we conclude that perhaps their main aim is to persuade and create a long-term relationship with the public.

Welfare Economics

Welfare Economics (WE) is an important scientific subject because can be a goal of the socio-economic policy of modern states. Although the relation between business successes and social development is not always obvious but can be similar to the process of seeking a balance between challenges and opportunities. An increasing number of enterprises understand the importance of socially responsible activities and their role in building a common WE based state. The result of such an approach is the fact that enterprises take into account all stakeholders’ interests and this became a permanent element of their strategies. This paper presents the literature review of fundamental concepts for the WE. Then two ideas the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Creating Shared Values (CSV) as the key elements of WE are presented and compared. Finally, scientific consideration is supported by an illustrative case study of a Japanese company operating in Poland, which leads towards conclusions. The main finding of this paper is a recommendation for companies to treat CSV as the next stage of development after they implemented CSR oriented strategies.

MULTINATIONAL CORPORATE RELATIONS IN JAPANESE COMPANY TOYOTA WITH OVERLOOK ON COOPERATION WITH PHILIPPINES

This paper aims to consider the issue of the special management and production model developed at Toyota, and its contribution to the development of other economies in the world, with special reference to production in the Philippines. Japan was the first country in Asia to embark on a path of modernization and as such, became a model for the surrounding countries. The Philippines is one of the countries in the Asia-Pacific region that followed the path of change and adopted the Kaizen philosophy. Japan has influenced more widely, globally, all companies in the world that strive to conduct this way of doing business in their own environment. Toyota's business philosophy and the application of kaizen as a new model of corporate governance has become synonymous with quality corporate governance around the world and has influenced the establishment of new laws in the field of economy, culture and society, in a global context.

Los títulos nobiliarios y el mundo anime: el caso Pokémon y Bastión Batalla | Titles of nobility and the anime world: the case of Pokémon and Battle Bastion

En el año 2013 la empresa japonesa Game Freak lanza al mercado la sexta generación del videojuego Pokémon bajo el título X e Y. En esta edición por primera vez, y única hasta la actualidad, los jugadores obtienen tras sus victorias de combate la recompensa de obtener un título nobiliario. Junto al videojuego, los títulos nobiliarios también son objeto de un capítulo de la serie anime Pokémon y son referenciados en el cómic manga de la saga.La investigación exploratoria nos lleva a conocer cuáles son los requisitos para conseguir los diferentes títulos nobiliarios en el juego anime y la precedencia que se establece entre ellos. Asimismo, comprobamos cómo a través de los diferentes productos del mundo Pokémon (videojuego, serie y cómic) se favorece el conocimiento de los títulos nobiliarios a sus seguidores.A su vez, vamos a acercarnos al significado actual de título nobiliario, materia que es estudiada en los diferentes grados universitarios existentes en España en relación al protocolo y la organización de eventos.En definitiva, esta investigación pone en relación la disciplina del protocolo con el mundo de los videojuegos y de esta manera destacar como el protocolo forma parte de cualquier realidad._____________________In 2013 the Japanese company Game Freak launched onto the market the sixth series of the videogame Pokémon under the title X and Y. In this edition, for the first -and only- time so far, gamers are rewarded their victories with a title of nobility. Along with the videogame, titles of nobility are also the topic of a chapter in Pokémon´s anime series and are also referenced in the saga´s manga.The exploratory research leads us to know what the requirements are in order to get the different titles of nobility in the anime game and the precedent established between them. Likewise, we can verify how knowledge about titles of nobility is promoted to its followers through the different products of Pokémon world (videogame, animated series and comic).At the same time, we are going to make an approach to the current meaning of a title of nobility, a subject studied in different university degrees currently developed in Spain related to protocol and events organization.In conclusion, this research object is to relate the discipline of protocol with the world of videogames and this way highlight how protocol takes part of any reality.

Szervezeti relációk a japán ipari vállalkozási kultúrában

The present article develops a practical operational view of Ruth Benedict’s shame and guilt culture concept as one of the attributes which might characterize the structure and operation of Japanese social groups. After giving a short overview of critical approaches to this concept, several norm-forming, normoperating and sanctioning practices are examined in relation to the aspect of shame and guilt reactions from the everyday lives of intercultural industrial organizations (companies) located in Hungary, featuring Japanese company cultural elements in their operation. The evaluation and analysis of several related phenomena are conducted on the basis of fieldwork, involving further sociological concepts such as relational subjectivism, kanjin 閑人, shikaku 資格 and ba 場, chū 忠 and kō 孝, giri 義理 and ninjō 人情, wa 和, amae 甘えand others.

Dynamic Change of COVID-19 Seroprevalence among Asymptomatic Population in Tokyo during the Second Wave

Importance: Fatality rates related to COVID-19 in Japan have been low compared to Western Countries and have decreased despite the absence of lockdown. Serological tests monitored across the course of the second wave can provide insights into the population-level prevalence and dynamic patterns of COVID-19 infection. Objective: To assess changes in COVID-19 seroprevalence among asymptomatic employees working in Tokyo during the second wave. Design: We conducted an observational cohort study. Healthy volunteers working for a Japanese company in Tokyo were enrolled from disparate locations to determine seropositivity against COVID19 from May 26 to August 25, 2020. COVID-19 IgM and IgG antibodies were determined by a rapid COVID19 IgM/IgG test kit using fingertip blood. Across the company, tests were performed and acquired weekly. For each participant, serology tests were offered twice, separated by approximately a month, to provide self-reference of test results and to assess for seroconversion and seroreversion. Setting: Workplace setting within a large company. Participants: Healthy volunteers from 1877 employees of a large Japanese company were recruited to the study from 11 disparate locations across Tokyo. Participants having fever, cough, or shortness of breath at the time of testing were excluded. Main Outcome(s) and Measure(s): Seropositivity rate (SPR) was calculated by pooled data from each two-weeks window across the cohort. Either IgM or IgG positivity was defined as seropositive. Changes in immunological status against SARS-CoV-2 were determined by comparing results between two tests obtained from the same individual. Results: Six hundred fifteen healthy volunteers (mean + SD 40.8 + 10.0; range 19-69; 45.7 % female) received at least one test. Seroprevalence increased from 5.8 % to 46.8 % over the course of the summer. The most dramatic increase in SPR occurred in late June and early July, paralleling the rise in daily confirmed cases within Tokyo, which peaked on August 4. Out of the 350 individuals (mean + SD 42.5 + 10.0; range 19-69; 46.0 % female) who completed both offered tests, 21.4 % of those individuals who tested seronegative became seropositive and seroreversion was found in 12.2 % of initially seropositive participants. 81.1% of IgM positive cases at first testing became IgM negative in approximately one month. Conclusions and Relevance: COVID-19 infection may have spread widely across the general population of Tokyo despite the very low fatality rate. Given the temporal correlation between the rise in seropositivity and the decrease in reported COVID-19 cases that occurred without a shut-down, herd immunity may be implicated. Sequential testing for serological response against COVID-19 is useful for understanding the dynamics of COVID-19 infection at the population-level.