Is the ASEAN-Korea Free Trade Area (AKFTA) an Optimal Free Trade Area?

The 1997/98 Asian currency crisis has led a once high-flying East Asia to realize its vulnerability to external shocks. This realization has given strong impetus to greater economic integration among East Asian economies, with the ASEAN-Korea Free Trade Area (AKFTA) a case in point. This paper qualitatively and quantitatively examines the economic feasibility of AKFTA: qualitatively using the theory of economic integration, and quantitatively by applying a CGE model. Our two-dimensional analysis provides some, but not overwhelming, support for AKFTA's prospects as an effective means of promoting trade between ASEAN and the Republic of Korea.ASEAN; Korea; trade; free trade area; economic integration

Incidence Of And Risk Factors For Anthracycline- And Trastuzumab-Associated Cardiotoxicity

A major limitation of some of the most effective breast cancer (BC) therapies is the development of heart failure or left ventricular dysfunction. However, knowledge of the risk factors for development of cardiotoxicity from use of current standard BC therapies is incomplete. This study aimed to determine the incidence and predictors of cardiotoxicity associated with anthracycline and trastuzumab treatment. We retrospectively identified patients in the Yale Nuclear Cardiology database who were diagnosed with BC between 2003 and 2013. The patients were grouped into cohorts based on whether they had received an anthracycline or trastuzumab as a part of their treatment regimen. As some patients had received both of these agents, the cohorts were not mutually exclusive. The independent variables of interest were baseline patient characteristics and comorbidities, baseline cardiac imaging parameters, and treatment factors (radiotherapy, cumulative anthracycline dose, and treatment with other agents). The endpoint was development of cardiotoxicity, as defined by a new diagnosis of congestive heart failure (CHF), admission for an acute CHF exacerbation, or a significant pre-defined decline in left ventricular ejection fraction. We identified 571 women with BC. In the anthracycline cohort, patients were 50.84 years old on average (SD: 9.65, n = 496). The 3-year cumulative incidences of cardiotoxicity in the anthracycline and trastuzumab cohorts were 12.70 and 42.54 cardiac events per 100 people, respectively. The results of a multivariate Cox proportional-hazards regression analysis suggested that receipt of bevacizumab or trastuzumab independently increased the risk of cardiotoxicity in patients treated with an anthracycline (HR: 4.70, 95% CI for HR: 1.78-12.44, p-value: 0.002 or HR: 10.51, 95% CI for HR: 5.83-18.93, p-value: \u3c 0.001, respectively). In the trastuzumab cohort, the mean age was 52.01 (SD: 10.66, n = 134). In a similar multivariate analysis, anthracycline was not shown to increase the incidence of cardiotoxicity in patients who received trastuzumab, regardless of the cumulative anthracycline dose level (≤ 240 mg/m2 or \u3e 240 mg/m2). However, dyslipidemia was a significant risk factor (HR: 3.66, 95% CI for HR: 1.80-7.42, p-value: \u3c 0.001). Interestingly, use of radiotherapy was associated with a lower incidence of developing cardiotoxicity in the anthracycline and trastuzumab cohorts, irrespective of the laterality of radiotherapy. A positive smoking history was related to a shorter time to cardiotoxicity for both the anthracycline and trastuzumab cohorts (HR: 2.82, 95% CI for HR: 1.39-5.71, p-value: 0.0039 and HR: 3.01, 95% CI for HR: 1.42-6.39, p-value: 0.0040, respectively). In the anthracycline cohort, an abnormal baseline left ventricular end-diastolic volume and an abnormal baseline peak filling rate were not significantly associated with cardiotoxicity. In conclusion, trastuzumab and bevacizumab significantly increase risk of cardiotoxicity in patients who receive an anthracycline. Smoking and dyslipidemia are potential targets for risk reduction. The lack of a significant cardiotoxic effect associated with radiotherapy suggests that previously accepted beliefs regarding radiotherapy\u27s harmful cardiac effects when used for BC treatment may be outdated, although further analysis in larger groups and accounting for additional confounding variables is necessary. Future studies are necessary to re-evaluate modern radiotherapy\u27s cardiac effects

Predictors of medical students’ research degree pursuit: a convenience poll pilot study

Aim: The evidence about factors predicting the desire of medical graduates for pursuing research careers are inconsistent. Identification of factors which influence decision for pursuing research career would be important information to medical schools to improve research environment for students. For that reason, we performed an international survey of medical students to analyze the factors predicting research careers in medicine. Methods: An international online survey of undergraduate and graduate medical students was performed, using the using the data from Res Medica student journal database, about their research activities, future interests and plans and desire to pursue research careers. Results: In total, 486 students took the survey. Logistic regression revealed a single significant factor influencing medical students’ desire to pursue a research degree: increased motivation for participation in research in future (R2=0.33). Conclusion: In order to encourage students and training doctors to more readily engage in research, exposure to research and research participation could have an incremental value to existing research education in medical schools

Aphorismen, Capriccio, and Heptameron for Piano Solo By Jürg Baur: a Performer's Guide

The purpose of this dissertation is to give instruction regarding the performance of three important piano works by Jürg Baur (1918-2010). Aphorismen, Capriccio, and Heptameron stand out as his most significant piano works both because of their length and because of their pianistic complexity. Since Baur had a successful career as both teacher and composer during his lifetime, his acclaimed works received many honors in Germany. His works can be performed by intermediate to advanced students. Intermediate students can easily offer simpler pieces like Aphorismen in competitions, while pieces like Capriccio and Heptameron better are suited to a more advanced level. Although some of his compositions are difficult to perform compared with other modern German works, Baur's music is more accessible. In the article, "Auf der Spuren der alten Zeit" Baur is quoted to state that Paul Hindemith and Bela Bartok's music influenced his own compositional ideas. However, although Baur is a modern composer, he didn't write in a totally atonal style, but rather attempted to broaden tonality. While Heptameron is atonal, Aphorismen and Capriccio give the impression of tonality, thus they are more accessible to the audience. I was fortunate enough to study Aphorismen with Baur as well as receiving advice for performance of Capriccio and some movements of Heptameron. Therefore, I gained a primary source of instruction, particularly in regards to pedal markings, rhythmic indications, voice balancing, finger suggestions, articulation markings, and tone of musical expression. In this dissertation, I include my own instructions (accepted by the composer) along with the composer's intentions

The Mechanisms of Ribosome Rescue in Bacillus Subtilis

Stalled ribosomes are rescued by pathways that recycle the ribosome and target the nascent polypeptide for degradation. In E. coli, these pathways are triggered by ribosome collisions through the recruitment of SmrB, a nuclease that cleaves the mRNA. In B. subtilis, the related protein MutS2 was recently implicated in ribosome rescue. Here we show that MutS2 is recruited to collisions by its SMR and KOW domains, and we reveal the interaction of these domains with collided ribosomes by cryo-EM. Using a combination of in vivo and in vitro approaches, we show that MutS2 uses its ABC ATPase activity to split ribosomes, targeting the nascent peptide for degradation through the ribosome quality control pathway. However, unlike SmrB, which cleaves mRNA in E. coli, we see no evidence that MutS2 mediates mRNA cleavage or promotes ribosome rescue by tmRNA. These findings clarify the biochemical and cellular roles of MutS2 in ribosome rescue in B. subtilis and raise questions about how these pathways function differently in diverse bacteria

Redshift clustering in the Hubble Deep Field

We present initial results from a redshift survey carried out with the Low Resolution Imaging Spectrograph on the 10~m W. M. Keck Telescope in the Hubble Deep Field. In the redshift distribution of the 140 extragalactic objects in this sample we find 6 strong peaks, with velocity dispersions of ${\sim}400${\kms}. The areal density of objects within a particular peak, while it may be non-uniform, does not show evidence for strong central concentration. These peaks have characteristics (velocity dispersions, density enhancements, spacing, and spatial extent) similar to those seen in a comparable redshift survey in a different high galactic latitude field (Cohen et al 1996), confirming that the structures are generic. They are probably the high redshift counterparts of huge galaxy structures (``walls'') observed locally.Comment: 14 pages, including 2 figures, to appear in ApJ Letter