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AT A GLANCE, OBESITY IS RARELY SEEN IN SPAIN, and I wondered whether it was due to portion sizes. No, large restaurant portions are not at all uncommon. We have all heard about the Mediterranean diet, but it misses part of the point: meals are slow and social events. A rushed lunch is one and a half hours, a leisurely one perhaps three or four. Never is a meal taken behind a steering wheel or a coffee drunk on the run. Rarely are sodas consumed, and wine is always accompanied by water. In this family-centric culture, they surely are doing something right: a stress reduced lifestyle. http://lnkd.in/jTrR7h View in LinkedIn

ANAPHYLAXIS FROM FOOD ALLERGIES is a rare but serious and life-threatening condition, treated by IM epinephrine injection. In reality, a large proportion of diagnosed (at risk) patients either do not fill the script for an auto-injector, or do not use it in an emergency. Many believe they can simply avoid the allergen, which is harder than it may appear, or do not know how to use the device, or are squeamish about needles. These patients are treated in the Emergency Department. This study of food allergens is long overdue, as are alternatives to EpiPen. http://www.foodproductdesign.com/news/2013/03/largest-study-on-food-allergies-begins.aspx?goback=%2Egde_2541_member_225705292 View in LinkedIn

BURN-OUT IS REAL IN STARTUPS, and the consequences can be truly devastating. A very driven individual risks severe overwork, that results in chronic exhaustion, sleep disturbance, irritability, poor judgement, illness, nervous breakdowns, and depression. Early signs include lack of humor, a short temper, and unrealistic expectations. In the worst cases, this can destroy a business, as well as relationships. It is critical for mentors, colleagues, and board members to watch for symptoms and step in to break the cycle before it gets out of control. View in LinkedIn

AN ARTICLE SUGGESTING THAT DIFFERENT THINKING IN PHARMA would be valuable, and engaging teams like those inside companies like Google could yield good results. It is true that the typical corporate strategy in Pharma is old hat, and that the tasks at hand are hard: it would be interesting to see fresh thinking, but this is only likely to come from smaller and younger ventures. http://lnkd.in/yNdSA9 View in LinkedIn

A VERY INFORMATIVE ARTICLE ABOUT RAISING CAPITAL, by a veteran. Read, understand, and use this if you are out there raising money. http://lnkd.in/saGh6w View in LinkedIn

CATALUNYA HAS ABOUT 46,000 R&D staff and Barcelona has a worldwide ranking of No 12 in terms of scientific production, making it No 5 in Europe. By contrast, Boston ranks No 6 worldwide in scientific production. Catalunya boasts world class facilities including a brand new Synchrotron, two Supercomputing centers, and a Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Lab among others. View in LinkedIn

ERRATUM!! WORLDWIDE B SCHOOL RANKINGS: Barcelona's IESE No 9; Oxford University's Said B School No 20; Cambridge University's Judge B School No 26; Barcelona's ESADE B School No 33. Previous posting confounded EC and World rankings. My apologies. View in LinkedIn

CATALUNYA HAS 247,500 STUDENTS IN UNIVERSITIES, and boasts two top business schools. Barcelona's IESE Business School ranked No 9, and ESADE Business School No 33, worldwide in 2012. By comparison, Oxford University's Said Business School ranked No 7, and Cambridge University's Judge Business School ranked No 8 worldwide in the sane year. These sources of bright young talent have significantly contributed to the entrepreneurial spirit in the Catalan region. View in LinkedIn

CATALUNYA GENERATES ONE FIFTH OF SPAIN's GDP (Catalan Government 2012). This includes 18.4% os Spain's SMEs, which are entrepreneurial in nature, and about the same percent of Spanish companies headquartered in Catalunya. This has been achieved with a population a little smaller than Israel (7.5 M) or only 15% of Spain's population. With a world-class university system, top rated hospitals, and an infrastructure of tech parks, it is no surprise it is a hotbed of entrepreneurial spirit. Come to Barcelona on business first, leisure second! View in LinkedIn

ISRAEL, THE START UP NATION with a tiny population of 8 M, is number 1 in device patents, and reportedly has a staggering 29,000 medical trials in progress in stem cells according to this article. These statistics prove what can be done with a smart and motivated population, that punches far beyond its weight. http://www.nzweek.com/world/israeli-bio-tech-and-medical-devices-industries-one-of-worlds-most-innovative-52712/ View in LinkedIn