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The article examines the management of Toyota Motor Corp. in relationship to the manufacturing defects which led to a 2010 product recall of hundreds of thousands of Toyota automobiles for safety reasons. The company's strong emphasis on cost controls, along with an ambitious business plan for rapid international growth, are considered as possible causes of the quality control problems leading to the defects. INSET: PUTTING THE PEDAL TO THE METAL.

The article discusses whether two former members of the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have helped Toyota Motor Corp. close four NHTSA investigations into reports of unintended acceleration by Toyota automobiles since 2004. Toyota claims neither Christopher Tinto nor Christopher Santucci did anything improper. INSET: U.S. REGULATORS HIRED BY TOYOTA HAVE HELPED DEFLECT....

Top ten works of nonfiction, as of April 2005, based on sales data compiled by Nippon Shuppan Hanbai Inc. (Nippan), Japan's largest book and magazine distributor. 1. How Smart and […]

The article examines the decision made by the automobile firm Toyota to remain largely headquartered in Japan. Following the Sendai Earthquake and subsequent tsunami that hit Japan in March 2011, as well as other economic challenges that have impacted the nation, the author discusses the wisdom of remaining localized in a globalized world. Toyota’s history is provided, and its financial outlook is examined.

The article reviews the architectural design of the testing facility of toilet manufacturer Toto in Kitakyushu, Japan, which was designed by Yakusiji + Associates Co.

ABSTRACTThe mammalian Ror family of receptor tyrosine kinases consists of two structurally related proteins, Ror1 and Ror2. We have shown that mRor2-deficient mice exhibit widespread skeletal abnormalities, ventricular septal defects in the heart, and respiratory dysfunction, leading to neonatal lethality (S. Takeuchi, K. Takeda, I. Oishi, M. Nomi, M. Ikeya, K. Itoh, S. Tamura, T. Ueda, T. Hatta, H. Otani, T. Terashima, S. Takada, H. Yamamura, S. Akira, and Y. Minami, Genes Cells 5:71–78, 2000). Here we show thatmRor1-deficient mice have no apparent skeletal or cardiac abnormalities, yet they also die soon after birth due to respiratory dysfunction. Interestingly,mRor1/mRor2double mutant mice show markedly enhanced skeletal abnormalities compared withmRor2mutant mice. Furthermore, double mutant mice also exhibit defects not observed in mRor2mutant mice, including a sternal defect, dysplasia of the symphysis of the pubic bone, and complete transposition of the great arteries. These results indicate that mRor1and mRor2interact genetically in skeletal and cardiac development.

A highly sensitive and specific chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA) was developed for quantification of growth hormone (GH) in salmonid species. The CLIA for salmon GH was performed using the sandwich method with anti-GH IgG as the first antibody and chemiluminescent acridinium ester-labelled specific anti-GH F(ab')2 as the second antibody. The measurable range of salmon GH in the CLIA was 39–1250 pg/mL using a short assay (1 day) protocol and 3.9–125 pg/mL in a longer (2-day) assay. The dilution curve in the CLIA of serum from masu salmon (Oncorhynchus masou) was parallel to the standard curve of recombinant chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) GH. Seasonal changes of serum GH levels were measured in 1 year-old masu salmon cultivated in a pond from March to November. Their serum GH levels increased during smoltification from March to April, achieved a maximum level of 21 ng/mL in August, and then declined gradually to 11 ng/mL in October. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The article reports on increased interest which automobile manufacturers from across the globe have expressed in learning about and becoming involved with the technology and sales networks of Mazda Motor Corp., Mitsubishi Corp. and Suzuki GB PLC. A discussion of potential partnerships which are being considered by Mazda, Mitsubishi and Suzuki is presented.

The article focuses on the funding raised by GW Pharmaceuticals to develop a cannabis-based treatment for epilepsy. Topics covered include the market value generated by the firm, the support given by venture capitalists to European biotech startups and the launch by biotechs of initial public offerings (IPOs) to raise money while staying independent. Also mentioned are the increase in the Nasdaq Biotechnology Index and the growth opportunity for European biotech companies.

The article focuses on the pharmaceutical company Novartis and the patent expiration of its heart medication Diovan in September of 2012. Topics include Indian pharmaceutical company Ranbaxy Laboratories' exclusive right to create Diovan in India and U.S. regulators decision to prevent the distribution of Diovan in India due to concerns over unsafe working conditions in Ranbaxy factories.

The article focuses on the electronic cigarette (e-cig) market in the U.S. in 2013 and how large tobacco companies are entering the market. Topics include the predicted growth of the e-cig market between 2013 and 2017, the lack of regulation on e-cigs by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and why e-cigs are considered disruptive technology by some.

The article focuses on biosimilar drugs, which are generic versions of biologics, the name for medicine produced using the body's own cells rather than through chemical reactions in a laboratory. Topics include the loss of patent protections for biologics between 2013 and 2019 and why biosimilar drugs may not contain all of the ingredients of biologics.

The article presents information on efforts by European regulators to lobby drugmakers to increase regulation of the sale of compounds used in lethal injections. Topics include law and legislation related to lethal injection and capital punishment in the U.S.; the pharmaceutical industry in Europe which supplies U.S. states with prescription drugs; and export controls of drugs shipped from Europe to U.S. prisons.

Th article reports on the Abiliti, an implanted device by medical tool manufacturer IntraPace, which combats obesity by sending electrical waves that suppress appetite. According to the author, it was created with investments from manufacturers Boston Scientific and Johnson & Johnson. It requires laparoscopic surgery for insertion and the results are comparable to gastric banding surgery.

The article discusses the poor sales in China of Toyota Motor's Lexus brand of automobiles, and what the company is doing to improve them. Among luxury cars Lexus trails behind several other brands in China. Toyota is working to improve Lexus' customer service in China, and is also building cars that are tailored to Chinese tastes.

The article discusses consternation among politicians and exporters in Japan over the rising Japanese yen. Although steps have been taken to stem the yen's strength, they have been unavailing. In the author's view what Japan really needs to do in order to bolster its economy is raise productivity, rid banks of bad loans, promote pro-growth tax policies, and maintain more political stability at the national level.

Italy is signing more such contracts as growing numbers of medications receive regulatory approval after mid-stage trials of fewer than 100 patients rather than awaiting final-stage assessments involving thousands. While the U.K. has tested outcomes-based pricing, its last such contract was in 2007, when Johnson and Johnson agreed to a full refund if its Velcade blood cancer drug didn't help prolong the life of patients. [Extracted from the article]

Roche says it plans to study role of microbiome in cancer The sheer number of bacteria, some of which could actually switch off an immune response, and the question of how much bacteria is needed, make it a complex area of research, Roche's Chen said. [Extracted from the article]

Victoza reduced deaths from heart attacks, strokes in study Novo Nordisk A/S's blockbuster medicine Victoza was effective in protecting diabetics from heart attacks and strokes in a key study that may propel sales of the injectable drug and allow it to take market-share from oral alternatives. [Extracted from the article]

55 healthcare executives sign letter opposing exit from EU Britain leaving the European Union would threaten key pillars that underpin the health-care sector, one of the engines of the U.K. economy, a trade group warned in a letter endorsed by 55 industry executives. To contact the reporter on this story:Makiko Kitamura in London at mkitamura1@bloomberg.netTo contact the editors responsible for this story:Chitra Somayaji at csomayaji@bloomberg.netMarthe Fourcade. [Extracted from the article]

Shire Plc, the drugmaker that agreed to buy Baxalta Inc. for $32 billion last month, posted fourth-quarter earnings that beat analysts' estimates as it sold more drugs for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and rare diseases. Sales of several rare disease drugs -- including Elaprase, Cinryze, Replagal and Vpriv -- missed analysts' estimates last quarter. [Extracted from the article]

To contact the reporter on this story:Makiko Kitamura in London at mkitamura1@bloomberg.netTo contact the editors responsible for this story:Chitra Somayaji at csomayaji@bloomberg.netMarthe Fourcade, Kristen Hallam Attribution Kristen Hallam: editor Makiko Kitamura: by reporter Chitra Somayaji: editor responsible Marthe Fourcade: editor. [Extracted from the article]

Lilly's rival drug Trulicity dented Victoza's market share Novo Nordisk A/S reported fourth-quarter earnings that missed analysts' estimates as the diabetes drug Victoza, the company's no. 2 product, saw its growth checked by a rival medicine. [Extracted from the article]

FDA is reviewing Oxitec's application for trial in Florida The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is in the final stages of reviewing an application from Intrexon Corp.'s Oxitec unit to conduct a field trial in the Florida Keys, Oxitec Chief Executive Officer Hadyn Parry said in a phone interview. [Extracted from the article]

Merck to provide 300,000 doses of vaccine starting in May Merck & Co. has signed an agreement with Gavi, the world's biggest funder of vaccines for developing countries, to submit its experimental Ebola vaccine for regulatory approval by the end of 2017. [Extracted from the article]

Three of 90 people in trial may suffer irrepairable harm Attribution Kristen Hallam: assist editor Phil Serafino: assist Makiko Kitamura: by reporter Chitra Somayaji: editor responsible Angeline Benoit: by reporter Joao Lima: assist. [Extracted from the article]