Re-visioning Ideological Assemblages Through De-punctualizing and Activist Science, Mathematics and Technology Education.

It seems clear to many analysts that there are several existential and many 'normalized' threats to wellbeing of individuals, societies and environments-such as disruption from climate change, diseases from manufactured foods and species losses linked to habitat destruction-that have been associated with fields of science, mathematics and technology (and, likely, engineering). Culpability for such threats, while perhaps engaging much of humanity, seems most likely attributable to pro-capitalist individuals (e.g., financiers) and groups (e.g., corporations and transnational trade organizations)-which appear to have relatively successfully influenced most living and nonliving entities to form assemblages (dispositifs) that serve their self-interested ideologies. Given harms associated with such assemblages, it seems clear to many analysts that they need to be severely disrupted or, perhaps, replaced with alliances of entities that are based on ideological perspectives that may contribute to comprehensive wellbeing. Although pro-capitalist assemblages have been extremely resilient, it seems that current sociopolitical instability and, moreover, considerable disruption from the CoViD-19 pandemic may provide unprecedented opportunities for dramatic changes. In this article, after consideration of characteristics and extents of harms linked to fields of science, mathematics and technology/engineering, possibilities are described and critically defended for uses of a particular curriculum and pedagogical framework for helping students to imagine and, perhaps, realize new assemblages of entities that are held together by ideologies that they consider appropriate.

Il semble clair pour de nombreux analystes qu'il existe plusieurs menaces existentielles et de nombreuses menaces « normalisées ¼ au bien-être des individus, des sociétés et des environnements, telles que les perturbations dues au changement climatique, les maladies provenant des aliments manufacturés et la perte d'espèces liée à la destruction de l'habitat, qui ont été associées à des domaines des sciences, des mathématiques et de la technologie (et, probablement, de l'ingénierie). La culpabilité de telles menaces, même si elle engage peut-être une grande partie de l'humanité, semble très probablement attribuable aux individus procapitalistes (par exemple, les financiers) et aux groupes (par exemple, les sociétés et les organisations commerciales transnationales) - qui semblent avoir influencé avec un succès relatif la plupart des entités vivantes, non vivantes et symboliques pour former des assemblages (dispositifs) au service de leurs idéologies intéressées. Compte tenu des préjudices associés à de tels assemblages, il semble clair pour de nombreux analystes qu'ils doivent être gravement perturbés ou, peut-être, remplacés par des alliances d'entités fondées sur des perspectives idéologiques susceptibles de contribuer au bien-être global. Bien que les assemblages pro-capitalistes aient été extrêmement résilients, il semble que l'instabilité sociopolitique actuelle, à laquelle s'ajoutent les perturbations considérables dues à la pandémie de COVID-19, peut offrir des occasions de changements profonds sans précédent. Dans cet article, après avoir examiné les caractéristiques et l'étendue des préjudices liés aux domaines des sciences, des mathématiques et de la technologie / ingénierie, les possibilités sont décrites et défendues de manière critique pour l'utilisation d'un programme et d'un cadre pédagogique particuliers pour aider les élèves à imaginer et, peut-être, à réaliser de nouveaux assemblages d'entités maintenues ensemble par des idéologies qu'ils jugent appropriées.

Assessment of candidate immunohistochemical prognostic markers of meningioma recurrence.

Although tumour recurrence is an important and not infrequent event in meningiomas, predictive immunohistochemical markers have not been identified yet. The aim of this study was to address this clinically relevant problem by systematic retrospective analysis of surgically completely resected meningiomas with and without recurrence, including tumour samples from patients who underwent repeat surgeries. Three established immunohistochemical markers of routine pathological meningioma work-up have been assessed: the proliferative marker Ki-67 (clone Mib1), the tumour suppressor gene p53 and progesterone receptor (PR). All these proteins correlate with the tumour WHO grade, however the predictive value regarding recurrence and progression in tumour grade is unknown. One hundred and fourteen surgical specimens of 70 meningioma patients (16 male and 54 female) in a 16 years' interval have been studied. All tumours had apparently complete surgical removal. On Mib1, PR and p53 immunostained sections, the percentage of labelled tumour cells, the staining intensity and the multiplied values of these parameters (the histoscore) was calculated. Results were statistically correlated with tumour WHO grade, (sub)type, recurrence and progression in WHO grade at subsequent biopsies. Our results confirmed previous findings that the WHO grade is directly proportional to Mib1 and p53 and is inversely proportional to the PR immunostain. We have demonstrated that Mib1 and p53 have a significant correlation with and predictive value of relapse/recurrence irrespective of the histological subtype of the same WHO grade. As a quantitative marker, Mib1 has the best correlation with a percentage of labelled cells, whereas p53 with intensity and histoscore. In conclusion, the immunohistochemical panel of PR, p53, Mib1 in parallel with applying standard diagnostic criteria based on H and E stained sections is sufficient and reliable to predict meningioma recurrence in surgically completely resected tumours.

Circulating endothelial cell count, plasma vWF and soluble ICAM-1 levels following primary or elective percutaneous coronary intervention.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is an important therapeutic strategy in patients with ischaemic heart disease. Our aim was to clarify the extent of endothelial injury induced by PCI in stable angina (SA) or in acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). METHODS: Circulating endothelial cell (CEC) count, von Willebrand factor (vWF) and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) levels were determined pre-, post-, 24 and 96h after PCI in patients with SA (n=23) and with STEMI (n=28). To provide control data regarding the effect of angiography itself stable angina patients with coronarography only (n=23) were enrolled. RESULTS: PCI and coronarography in stable angina patients caused measurable, but only non-significant elevation of CEC count and plasma vWF (p=NS). In STEMI, significantly higher baseline CEC count (p=0.019) and vWF plasma levels (p=0.046) were found compared to SA with PCI/or coronarography. After PCI, explicit increase in CEC count was observed (significant peak at 24h) (p=0.036). Positive correlation was found between baseline CKMB and CEC count at 24h (r=0.51, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Both coronary angiography and elective PCI cause only mild endothelial injury. However, in patients with STEMI, not only the procedure itself but myocardial ischemia and the ongoing atherothrombotic process might be responsible for the prolonged and more pronounced endothelial damage.

[Theoretical principles of "contactless" tonometry]. / Die theoretischen Grundlagen der "Contactless"--Tonometrie.

The authors present a short recapitulation of the capabilities of modern applanation tonometry and point out its limitations. They discuss the two methods, "non-contact" and "contactless" tonometry. The latter, which has been recently developed in Hungary, differs from Grolman's in that it employs an electonic system to measure the applanation, which is induced by an air jet. With this method the accuracy of the recording enables events lasting only fractions of a second to be studied in a variety of ways while measurements are being made.

The morphology of normal and denatured polytene chromosomes from Drosophila melanogaster.

Normal and denatured polytene chromosomes from Drosophila were compared by light, transmission (TEM) and scanning (SEM) electron microscopy, under different conditions of pretreatment, fixation and specimen preparation. Apart from variations in contrast, acid-alcohol squashes of normal chromosomes were quite comparable in terms of resolution and image quality, regardless of mode of visualization, i.e. stained, unstained, phase contrast, etc. These chromosomes do not appear markedly different from the unfixed or "native" chromosomes isolated by other workers. Thus at the light microscope level at least, any soluble components extracted by acid-alcohol fixation seem to play minor structural roles only. SEM examination of similar squash preparations provided useful topographic views of selected chromosome regions, particularly in favourable spreads where metal coating and tilt angles were optimized. Information on the internal organization of polytene chromosomes was sought by subjecting isolated preparations to alkali-urea denaturation. Under these conditions, chromosomes gradually extend laterally to give rise to lampbrush-like structures, remarkably similar to the meiotic chromosomes of amphibian oocytes. This effect is at least partially reversed by return of alkali-urea treated preparations to physiological Ringer solution, where chromosomes contract again and near-normal banding patterns are re-established. It is suggested that apart from bulk differences due to polyteny, the basic structure of polytene chromosomes and true lampbrush chromosomes may be rather similar.

[The possibility to test stereognosis in the juvenile mouth]. / Die Prüfbarkeit der Stereognose im Mund beim Kind

The stereognostic capacity of the mouth was studied in 6 groups of 10 children each, the respective age ranges being 3.5-4, 4-4.5, 4.5-5, 5-5.5, 5.5-6 and 6.5 years. This capacity is fully developed only if the 5th year of life is reached. The stereognostic performance of the mouth which is attained at this age seems (according to data from the literature) to remain unchanged until the age of 40 years.