The Economic Concept of Exploitation and Economic Justice

This paper explores the concept of exploitation — how it has been interpreted and used in different schools of thought in economics and what it means to abolish exploitation in our contemporary capitalist market economies

A Multi-Stage SEIR(D) Model of the COVID-19 Epidemic in Korea

Background: This paper uses a SEIR(D) model to analyse the time-varying transmission dynamics of the COVID-19 epidemic in Korea throughout its multiple stages of development. This multi-stage estimation of the model parameters offers a better model fit compared to the whole period analysis and shows how the COVID-19\u27s infection patterns change over time, primarily depending on the effectiveness of the public health authority\u27s non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs). Methods: This paper uses the SEIR(D) compartment model to simulate and estimate the parameters for three distinctive stages of the COVID-19 epidemic in Korea, using a manually compiled COVID-19 epidemic dataset for the period between 18 February 2020 and 08 February 2021. The paper identifies three major stages of the COVID-19 epidemic, conducts multi-stage estimations of the SEIR(D) model parameters, and carefully infers context-dependent meaning of the estimation results to help better understand the unique patterns of the transmission of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) in each stage. Results: The original SIR compartment model may produce a poor and even misleading estimation result if it is used to cover the entire period of the epidemic. However, if we use the model carefully in distinctive stages of the COVID-19 epidemic, we can find useful insights into the nature of the transmission of the novel coronavirus and the relative effectiveness of the government\u27s non-pharmaceutical interventions over time.Key messagesIdentifies three distinctive waves of the COVID-19 epidemic in Korea.Conducts multi-stage estimations of the COVID-19 transmission dynamics using SEIR(D) epidemic models.The transmission dynamics of the COVID-19 vary over time, primarily depending on the relative effectiveness of the government\u27s non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs).The SEIR(D) epidemic model is useful and informative, but only when it is used carefully to account for the presence of multiple waves and context-dependent infection patterns in each wave

Two Cases of Lichen Planus Pigmentosus Presenting with a Linear Pattern

We report two cases of lichen planus pigmentosus (LPP) that developed in a unilateral linear pattern. The patients presented with unilateral linear brown macules on the extremities. Skin biopsy showed orthokeratosis, basal hydropic degeneration with scarce lymphohistiocytic infiltrates, and numerous melanophages in both patients. These patients, to the best of our knowledge, are the first cases of LPP presenting with a linear pattern. LPP should be considered in the differential diagnosis of linear hyperpigmented skin lesions

Advancements in the treatment of pediatric acute leukemia and brain tumor - continuous efforts for 100% cure

Treatment outcomes of pediatric cancers have improved greatly with the development of improved treatment protocols, new drugs, and better supportive measures, resulting in overall survival rates greater than 70%. Survival rates are highest in acute lymphoblastic leukemia, reaching more than 90%, owing to risk-based treatment through multicenter clinical trials and protocols developed to prevent central nervous system relapse and testicular relapse in boys. New drugs including clofarabine and nelarabine are currently being evaluated in clinical trials, and other targeted agents are continuously being developed. Chimeric antigen receptor-modified T cells are now attracting interest for the treatment of recurrent or refractory disease. Stem cell transplantation is still the most effective treatment for pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, in order to reduce treatment-related death after stem cell transplantation, there is need for improved treatments. New drugs and targeted agents are also needed for improved outcome of AML. Surgery and radiation therapy have been the mainstay for brain tumor treatment. However, chemotherapy is becoming more important for patients who are not eligible for radiotherapy owing to age. Stem cell transplant as a means of high dose chemotherapy and stem cell rescue is a new treatment modality and is often repeated for improved survival. Drugs such as temozolomide are new chemotherapeutic options. In order to achieve 100% cure in children with pediatric cancer, every possible treatment modality and effort should be considered

Ciliated muconodular papillary tumor of the lung: The risk of false-positive diagnosis in frozen section

AbstractCiliated muconodular papillary tumor (CMPT) is newly-defined low-grade malignant tumor, characterized as papillary tumor consisting of ciliated columnar, goblet, and basal cells. We present one case of pulmonary peripheral neoplasm misdiagnosed as mucinous adenocarcinoma. Pathologic findings showed, centrally, cystic papillary growth consisting of ciliated columnar, goblet, and basal cells, and peripherally, some tumor cells spread along the adjacent alveolar walls, in a lepidic fashion, and floating in pool of mucin. Tumor cells had bland nuclei, and no mitotic activity was observed. This had been initially misdiagnosed as mucinous adenocarcinoma in frozen section. We reviewed previous articles as well as permanent and frozen slides. In conclusion, in order to reduce the possibility of false positives, it is important to be aware that CMPT is a rare form of peripheral mucin-producing tumor with characteristic histologic findings

The lipoxygenase gene family: a genomic fossil of shared polyploidy between Glycine max and Medicago truncatula

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Soybean lipoxygenases (<it>Lxs</it>) play important roles in plant resistance and in conferring the distinct bean flavor. <it>Lxs </it>comprise a multi-gene family that includes <it>GmLx1</it>, <it>GmLx2 </it>and <it>GmLx3</it>, and many of these genes have been characterized. We were interested in investigating the relationship between the soybean lipoxygenase isozymes from an evolutionary perspective, since soybean has undergone two rounds of polyploidy. Here we report the tetrad genome structure of soybean <it>Lx </it>regions produced by ancient and recent polyploidy. Also, comparative genomics with <it>Medicago truncatula </it>was performed to estimate <it>Lxs </it>in the common ancestor of soybean and <it>Medicago</it>.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Two <it>Lx </it>regions in <it>Medicago truncatula </it>showing synteny with soybean were analyzed. Differential evolutionary rates between soybean and <it>Medicago </it>were observed and the median Ks values of Mt-Mt, Gm-Mt, and Gm-Gm paralogs were determined to be 0.75, 0.62, and 0.46, respectively. Thus the comparison of Gm-Mt paralogs (Ks = 0.62) and Gm-Mt orthologs (Ks = 0.45) supports the ancient duplication of <it>Lx </it>regions in the common ancestor prior to the <it>Medicago</it>-<it>Glycine </it>split. After speciation, no <it>Lx </it>regions generated by another polyploidy were identified in <it>Medicago</it>. Instead tandem duplication of <it>Lx </it>genes was observed. On the other hand, a lineage-specific duplication occurred in soybean resulting in two pairs of <it>Lx </it>regions. Each pair of soybean regions was co-orthologous to one <it>Lx </it>region in <it>Medicago</it>. A total of 34 <it>Lx </it>genes (15 <it>MtLxs </it>and 19 <it>GmLxs) </it>were divided into two groups by phylogenetic analysis. Our study shows that the <it>Lx </it>gene family evolved from two distinct <it>Lx </it>genes in the most recent common ancestor.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study analyzed two pairs of <it>Lx </it>regions generated by two rounds of polyploidy in soybean. Each pair of soybean homeologous regions is co-orthologous to one region of <it>Medicago</it>, demonstrating the quartet structure of the soybean genome. Differential evolutionary rates between soybean and <it>Medicago </it>were observed; thus optimized rates of Ks per year should be applied for accurate estimation of coalescence times to each case of comparison: soybean-soybean, soybean-<it>Medicago</it>, or <it>Medicago</it>-<it>Medicago</it>. In conclusion, the soybean <it>Lx </it>gene family expanded by ancient polyploidy prior to taxon divergence, followed by a soybean- specific duplication and tandem duplications, respectively.</p