Wigs, disguises and child's play : solidarity in teacher education

It is generally acknowledged that much contemporary education takes place within a dominant audit culture, in which accountability becomes a powerful driver of educational practices. In this culture both pupils and teachers risk being configured as a means to an assessment and target-driven end: pupils are schooled within a particular paradigm of education. The article discusses some ethical issues raised by such schooling, particularly the tensions arising for teachers, and by implication, teacher educators who prepare and support teachers for work in situations where vocational aims and beliefs may be in in conflict with instrumentalist aims. The article offers De Certeau’s concept of ‘la perruque’ to suggest an opening to playful engagement for human ends in education, as a way of contending with and managing the tensions generated. I use the concept to recover a concept of solidarity for teacher educators and teachers to enable ethical teaching in difficult times

Survival after Resection of Multiple Tumor Foci of Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma

Background: Multiple tumor foci of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) are often considered a contra-indication for resection. We sought to define long-term outcomes after resection of ICC in patients with multiple foci. Methods: Patients who underwent resection for ICC between 1990 and 2017 were identified from 12 major HPB centers. Outcomes of patients with solitary lesions, multiple lesions (ML), and oligometastases (OM) were compared. OM were defined as extrahepatic metastases spread to a single organ. Results: One thousand thirteen patients underwent resection of ICC. On final pathology, 185 patients (18.4%) had ML and 27 (2.7%) had OM. Median survival of patients with a solitary tumor was 43.2 months, while the median survival of patients with 2 tumors was 21.2 months; the median survival of patients with 3 or more tumors was 15.3 months (p < 0.001). Five-year survival was 43.3%, 28.0%, and 8.6%, respectively. The median survival of patients without OM was 37.8 months versus 14.9 months among patients with OM (p < 0.001); estimated 5-year survival was 39.3% and 10.6%, respectively. In multivariable analysis, the presence of two lesions was not an independent poor prognostic factor for OS (HR 1.19; 95%CI 0.90-1.57; p = 0.229). However, the presence of three or more tumors was an independent poor prognostic factor for OS (HR 1.97; 95%CI 1.48-2.64; p < 0.001). Conclusion: Resection of multiple liver tumors for patients with ICC did not preclude 5-year survival: in particular, estimated 5-year OS for resection of two tumors was 28.0%.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The Role of Liver-Directed Surgery in Patients With Hepatic Metastasis From Primary Breast Cancer: a Multi-Institutional Analysis

BACKGROUND: Data on surgical management of breast liver metastasis are limited. We sought to determine the safety and long-term outcome of patients undergoing hepatic resection of breast cancer liver metastases (BCLM). METHODS: Using a multi-institutional, international database, 131 patients who underwent surgery for BCLM between 1980 and 2014 were identified. Clinicopathologic and outcome data were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: Median tumor size of the primary breast cancer was 2.5 cm (IQR: 2.0-3.2); 58 (59.8%) patients had primary tumor nodal metastasis. The median time from diagnosis of breast cancer to metastasectomy was 34 months (IQR: 16.8-61.3). The mean size of the largest liver lesion was 3.0 cm (2.0-5.0); half of patients (52.0%) had a solitary metastasis. An R0 resection was achieved in most cases (90.8%). Postoperative morbidity and mortality were 22.8% and 0%, respectively. Median and 3-year overall-survival was 53.4 months and 75.2%, respectively. On multivariable analysis, positive surgical margin (HR 3.57, 95% CI 1.40-9.16; p = 0.008) and diameter of the BCLM (HR 1.03, 95% CI 1.01-1.06; p = 0.002) remained associated with worse OS. DISCUSSION: In selected patients, resection of breast cancer liver metastases can be done safely and a subset of patients may derive a relatively long survival, especially from a margin negative resection.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A new least squares adjustment approach for the determination of linear meteor trajectories

Context. Precise astrometric measurements performed on meteor images are required to derive the dynamical parameters of a mete-oroid. As a consequence, the measurements carried out in this initial step will have a strong impact on the dynamical solution of an orbiting meteoroid. These measurements relate to the position of the meteor defined by the positions of pixels along its path, as well as by their uncertainties. Therefore, the use of all available information is of great importance for the subsequent processing steps. Aims. This paper examines a new geometrical approach for computing the trajectory of a meteor from multi-station observations. The model considers a more general weighting scheme based on existing stochastic information from the measurements, including the geometry between each station and the observed meteor. Methods. We present a novel mathematical model for least squares adjustment of the linear meteor trajectories within the Gauss-Helmert model, which allows the use of stochastic information from the measured direction vectors from multiple stations. Additionally, an extended stochastic model is presented that takes into account the geometric relationship between each station and the observed meteor as a weight component for each group of observations. Results. The solution of the new approach is demonstrated on a synthetic meteor example, with observations generated from multiple stations with differing precision. The geometric configuration of the stations has been chosen in such a way that it creates the necessity to include stochastic information for the observed direction vectors for a realistic solution. The results of the newly developed approach are compared with those from established methods in the literature. Future investigations and optimisations for developing an even more improved meteor trajectory model are being addressed

Observations of the Perseids 2015 using the SPOSH cameras

We will organize a meteor campaign in Greece focusing on the observation of the meteor activity during this year’s maximum of the Perseids meteor shower. Double-station observations will be carried out from 10th until 14th of August using SPOSH cameras. During this period, we anticipate rates up to 100 Perseids per hour. The participation of graduate students during the observations and the data reduction will strengthen the educational aspect of the campaign

Reevaluating the prognostic role of BRAF mutation in colorectal cancer liver metastases

Introduction: Mutations in the BRAF proto-oncogene have been shown to predict poor patient survival following curative-intent liver surgery for metastatic colorectal cancer. The aim of the present systematic review and meta-analysis is to evaluate the effect of mutated BRAF status (mutBRAF) on the overall (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) in these patients. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was performed for studies reporting outcomes of patients undergoing curative-intent surgery stratified by BRAF mutation status. Subgroup analysis was performed to evaluate whether inclusion of KRAS mutation status significantly influenced the results. Results: Six studies incorporating 1857 patients with known BRAF status were identified. Pooled results revealed significantly worse OS (Hazard Ratio 2.8, 95% C.I. 2.09 to 3.77) and DFS (Hazard Ratio 2.29, 95% C.I. 2.09 to 3.77) in mutBRAF patients. Subgroup analysis revealed no statistically significant impact of including KRAS status testing on the obtained results. Conclusions: Patients with metastatic colorectal cancer carrying BRAF mutations have significantly worse oncologic outcomes following surgery and more aggressive disease phenotype overall. © 2021 Elsevier Inc