2015/06/28: Babies below age one already use gadgets

I'll give a small summary of the article.
 Here, I'm going to make a criticism on the article. In the fourth paragraph, there is only one reason why parents expose their children to gadgets and electronics. The article said that the result found some reason why they do so. Therefore, the number of reasons written in the article is too small than the article should introduce.

... Here it was my opinion, but I read the article again, this criticism is not proper.
The article mentioned about a study that searched how many parents let their children use gadgets and electronics.. The study introduced showed that the parents give electronics to children under age one because they want to run errands and household chores. Gadgets distract and calm children, and is used to get children sleep.

See the original article.

2015/06/23: Canada's House of Commons Approves Anti-Terrorism Act

Canada's House of Commons has approved the Anti-Terrorism Act in early May.

The Act or Bill C-51 would enable Canadian Security Intelligence Service to prevent a criminal in advance. The Bill C-51 was developed after last year's terrorism attacks in Canada. In the attacks, a gunman killed a soldier stationed at the National War Memorial in Ottawa. The gunman attacked nearby parliament buildings. In the same month, a man who was a recent convert to Islam killed one soldier and injured another at a car park in Quebec.

The problem of this action is that many Canadian people opposite this Act, although Bill C-51 intends to address Canada's issues on terrorism. A poll by the Forum Research Inc. revealed that 56% out of 1,239 Canadians were against the bill. Furthermore, only a quarter of the respondents thought the bill would have positive effects on their lives, while 42% thought otherwise.

 This kind of an act is being discussed in Japan. This movement is very common in the whole world because of escalating violence by Islamic States. This may cause fascism in some countries.

See the original paper.

2015/06/27: Paris plans to invest cycling

Paris government announced that they plan to invest cycling in the city aiming at enhancing tourism.
700 km roads are going to be added to the whole Paris cycling road over all. The road to construct is built separately from the traffic on the main road.

See the original text.

アステラス製薬が競争優位となるための知財戦略

日本の製薬業界で第2位のアステラス製薬についてdigって、考察を書いたのでメモとして残します。
製薬業界のお金の回り方を学習することができました。
なお、下記は授業レポートとして提出したものと同一です。

• 本論

製薬企業であるアステラス製薬は、知財に関してクローズ戦略を用いている。自社で特許を取得した薬について独占的に販売することで研究開発費用を回収する。そのため、特許侵害が行われればクローズ戦略が成り立たなくなってしまうので、告訴するなど厳しく対応している[1]。主力商品である医薬品についてはパテントクリフを超えるとジェネリック医薬品が登場して大きく減収することとなってしまう。そこで、特にアステラス製薬では新薬開発およびその販売に重点を絞った経営を行っている[2]。アステラス製薬は2005年にヨーロッパへの販路を持っていて合成医薬に強い山之内製薬と、アメリカに販路を持ち発酵創薬に強い藤沢薬品工業とが合併してできた会社であるが、中企業であるためにジェネリック医薬品の販売などはやめ、現在はがん領域に絞った新薬開発を行っている[3]。しかし、新薬の開発はとても難しく、様々な大学や研究機関、特定技術を有する製薬ベンチャー企業と連携もしくは買収する必要がある。研究所や大学では新薬を開発して特許を取っても販路を持たず使い道がないので、企業と共同で創薬研究を行いたいというニーズが存在する。
　一般的な日本の製造業においてはオープン&クローズ戦略によって、自社技術が不可欠な分野についてオープンにしていき、発展途上国の企業がオープンな分野に参入するやクローズにしている技術と絡めた契約を結ぶことで比較優位なエコシステムが形成される[4]。しかし、医薬品はそのまま最終製品となるので製造業のようなエコシステムを作るのが難しいのが現状である。他方、研究開発の成果である特許が収入を支えているので、製薬分野はオープンイノベーションとの親和性が高いといえる。
　上記のような背景と、製薬業界の性質から、アステラス製薬の取りうる知的財産戦略は従来通り新薬の特許のみを用いたクローズ戦略となると考えられる。製薬会社が最も力を入れる部分である新薬の開発にあたっては、自社リソースのみを用いたのでは限界があるためオープンイノベーションを推進する必要がある。その取り組みとしてa3(エーキューブ)[5]という共同研究を募集するサイトを2011年から立ち上げている。
　オープンイノベーションを促進する方法として様々な方法が検討されているが、その中でもリサーチツール(RT)[6]を安く共有することが必要であると考えられる。RTとは、困難を極める創薬研究を支援するための様々な材料や手法のことを指しており、従来はRTの高額な対価請求により広くは使われていなかった。そこで、RTも活用してアステラス製薬が競争優位となる共同研究の契約を結ぶことを以下に検討する。まず、アステラス製薬と共同研究の契約を結んだ研究機関にアステラス製薬のRTを利用してもらい、その際に得られたノウハウやデータはアステラス製薬も得ることができるように契約を結ぶ。これによりノウハウやデータ自体はアステラス製薬内に蓄積されてゆく。共同研究においては別の共同研究にて蓄積されたデータを用いてアステラス製薬内で解析などを行うことで新薬開発の成功率を上げることが期待できる。研究機関にとってはアステラス製薬との共同研究で新薬発見の確率が高いことおよび研究費を提供してもらえることがメリットとなる。創薬
に関わる実験データを自社の競争優位性として蓄積しながら、複数の研究機関と連携を図ることが重要であると結論づけられる。
　この他に、オープンイノベーションだけでなく、生産能力と販路を持たない大学の研究室へライセンス料を支払う特許流通ビジネス[7]の活用も検討できる[8]が、会社の競争優位性にはあまり寄与しないと考えられるので、リソースの集中投下を行っているアステラス製薬では実施しないと予想される。

• 参考文献

[1] 「相次ぐ特許侵害招くアステラス製薬の弱み」, 『集中CONFIDENTIAL』, 2009, http://medicalconfidential.
com/confidential/2009/11/post-33.html
[2] 「【企業特集】アステラス製薬「武田超え」の好業績でも研究部門削減を急ぐ危機感」, 『DIAMOND
online』, 2013, http://diamond.jp/articles/-/39500
[3] 「7期連続増配の公算大きいアステラス製薬の強みとは」, 『ZUU online』,
http://zuuonline.com/archives/14681/2
[4] K. Ogawa, 「東京大学知的資産経営研究講座」研究報告書, 145-189, 2015
[5] a3(a・cube), アステラス製薬 , http://www.astellas.com/jp/a-cube/about/
[6] 渡辺裕二, 特許研究, 32-40, 48, 2009
[7] 鳥居稔, 特許庁技術懇話会, 61-74, 254, 2009
[8] JPMA News Letter, 20-25, 136, 2010

2015/06/22: major egg producer in US agrees to lessen water discharges

 Cal-Maine Foods Inc., a major egg producer in the United States, has agreed to reduce its water pollution discharge in response to its Clean Water Act violations.

The agreement is part of a settlement with the US Department of Justice and the Environment Protection Agency. The settlement asks Cal-Maine to comply with Mississippi's water discharge permit.

The company released excessively nitrogen-rich waste water on fields during winter.
Its farms stoer animal wastes in huge tanks that usually leak during days with heavy rain. When these tanks leak, they release antibiotic residues and harmful bacteria that can contaminate water supplies.


See the original.

2015/06/20: Using clean fuels in buses may lessen the number of school absences among students

A recent study reported that using clean fuel could lessen the number of school absence among students.

The study from the University of Michigan and the University Washington involved 275 elementary students.
The researchers measured the relation between air pollution in buses and the number of school absence. Results showed that using cleaner fuels lessened the number by 8%.

They discussed about the cause that the existing diesels use the fuel with much sulfur. Burning fuels which contain sulfur causes soot and the black exhaust fumes. Children who inhale these the exhaust fumes may be suffered from irritations to the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs.

Therefore, the report concluded that diesel fuels make students unhealthy and sometimes absence, so the fuel should be replaced by cleaner fuels.

 Words:

1. particulates: micro particles
2. soot: black substance made of carbon
3. the black exhaust fumes: a gas emitted from the exhaust pipe of a car
4. irritation: an inflammatory reaction in a body part that got exposed to something
   ex)The dust caused irritation in his eye.

See the original article.

2015/06/21： a possible alternative of workout protein?!

Researchers of Cornell University found that a new alternative of protein shakes after a workout.

The researcher team created the modified chocolate milk called the Big Red Refuel, which was come up with after many computer simulation. The Big Red Refuel has enough water to replenish and 16 grams of protein for muscle replenishment. (A person weighing 150 to 160 pounds needs around 20 grams of protein for muscle replenishment.)

The modified chocolate is also focused on by researchers from the Harvard Medical School because the chocolate can help reduce lower the risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.


Check the original material.

2015/06/19：Malaria vaccine now on its final testing stages

 A mararia vaccine called RTS, S is about to be published.

Though it is the fact that the vaccine is more effective to young children than to infants, the vaccine is populated by the World Health Organization.

Vaccines for malaria is licensed nowhere, however, anti-maria medications are prescribed to people who are going to countries where malaria is common.

See the original.

v. t. prescribe a medication to a person.

2015/06/15: A Possible Reason of Rebellious Attitude

 A study delivered by researchers from the University of Southern California reported a possible reason why teenagers develop a rebellious attitude.

In the study, MRI images of 22 teenagers were recorded after seeing specific videos.
The participants who saw other teenagers instead of their parents show rebellious attitude.
The researchers concluded that teenagers who are away from their parents tend to become violent as a defense mechanism.

See the original article.

Sustainable Program, Cardborigami

Hovsepian, a graduate from the University of Southern California, has invented a personal origami-inspired shelter that the homeless can use.

Cardborigami, the shelter, is delivered by Hovsepian's non-profit organization.
The product was provided to aim to alleviate homelessness.


Many people have tried tackling poverty problems, but to solve those problems, it is required to make the solution sustainable.

Hovsepian and her organization are engaged in this obstacle, they developed a four-step path out of homelessness.
Cardborigami is the first step of the path. The first step ensure the participants of the program are in a safe and private environment with Cardborigami. Then, second is helping integrate homeless people back into society by giving the necessary training, job placement, and social services.
The thrid step entails finding permanent housing for the homeless.
The last step is hiring the participants of the program to help in creating Cardborigami.
The article says that therefore, the program can be sustained.









see the original article.