On Dialectics and Human Decency: Education in the Dock

Set against the backdrop of the contemporary crisis of capitalism and world-historical events, this article examines the advance of globalized imperialism from the perspective of a Marxist-humanist approach to pedagogy known as ‘revolutionary critical pedagogy’ enriched by liberation theology. It is written as an epistolic manifesto to the transnational capitalist class, demanding that those who willingly serve its interests reconsider their allegiance and calling for a planetary revolution in the way that we both think about capitalism and how education and religion serves to reproduce it at the peril of both students and humanity as a whole

Distribution of Salmonella contamination in two pig abattoirs

The distribution of Salmonella contamination on pig carcasses in relation to intestinal carriage was studied in one small pig abattoir(A) and in another high throughput abattoir(B). In abattoir A Salmonellas (S.typhimuriwn DTs 104,104B, 193,208, RDNC, untypables, S.panama, S.derby. S.go/dcoast, S.kedougou) were found in large intestinal contents of 22% of pigs after slaughter and on 25.7% of carcasses. Eleven of the 14 (78%) fann batches examined showed evidence of infection and S.typhimurium DT104 was found in 4 of these. In abattoir B 2211 pigs were examined during 8 visits. A wider range of Salmonella serotypes and phage types was found and the organism was isolated from 11.6% oflarge intestinal contents and 7JY:fo of carcasses. Seventy-two (48.6%) of 148 fann batches showed evidence of infection and S.typhimurium DTs 104 or 104B were present in 25 (16.9%) of these. In a separate study of contamination at various points in the slaughter process 85-100% of carcasses in both abattoirs were found to be contaminated by Salmonella immediately after slaughter, with measurable levels of up to IO\u27cfu/O.lm2 carcass. Salmonella was frequently isolated following scalding in abattoir A but this was uncommon in B. Survival of Salmonellas in the scald tank occurred when the water temperature fell below 60-61 C. Salmonella levels on carcasses increased during hair removal but was virtually eliminated by singeing in abattoir B. In abattoir A the effectiveness of singeing was reduced by an immediate post-singe wash. Further increases in Salmonella contamination occurred during evisceration and dressing and in both abattoirs. When the level of Salmonella carriage in pigs was low good slaughter practices were able to restrict carcass contamination but when a highly infected batch of pigs was processed the carcass contamination rate of that batch and one or two subsequent batches was also high. The relative importance of control of Salmonella at the fann compared with attempted control by hygienic slaughter is discussed

Cross-talk between signalling pathways and the multidrug resistant protein MDR-1

The multidrug resistant protein MDR-1 has been associated with the resistance to a wide range of anti-cancer drugs. Taxol is a substrate for this transporter system and is used in the treatment of a wide range of human malignancies including lung, breast and ovarian cancer. We have generated a series of ovarian cell lines resistant to this compound, all of which overexpress MDR-1 through gene amplification. We present novel evidence that a constitutive activation of the ERK1/2 MAP kinase pathway was also observed although the level of active JNK and p38 remained unchanged. Inhibition of the ERK1/2 MAP kinase pathway using UO126 or PD098059 re-sensitised the Taxol resistant cells at least 20-fold. Importantly, when Mdr-1 cDNA was stably expressed in the wild-type cell line to generate a highly Taxol-resistant sub-line, 1847/MDR5, ERK1/2 MAP kinases again became activated. This result demonstrated that the increased activity of the signalling pathway in the Taxol-resistant lines was directly attributable to MDR-1 overexpression and was not due to the effects of Taxol itself. Additionally, we demonstrated that inhibition of the P13K pathway with LY294002 sensitised the MDR-1-expressing 1847/TX0.5 cells and 1847/MDR5 cells at least 10-fold but had no effect in the wild-type cells. This finding suggests a possible role for this pathway, also, in the generation of resistance to Taxol. © 2001 Cancer Research Campaign  http://www.bjcancer.co

A Six Year Study of the Persistence of Salmonella Typhimurium DTI04 on a Farrow to Finish Pig Farm

A 400 sow farrow to finish farm was sampled for 6 consecutive years to determine the distribution and persistence of Salmonella Typhimurium DT104 and other serovars. 25g bulked faeces samples were taken from every separate pen on the farm and a range of samples from the environment and wildlife were also collected resulting in 300-400 samples per visit. At the first visit 4 different plasmid profile types of DT104 and DT104B were found in breeding stock and in weaner and finishing pigs. Most isolates were resistant to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, streptomycin, sulphonamide, neomycin and trimethroprim. Some isolates were also resistant to ampramycin. S. Livingstone, S. Derby and S. Anatum were also found in breeding stock. By the second year of sampling DT104 was not found and DTI 04B with a different plasmid profile was present. The farmer had also introduced an improved cleaning and disinfection regime and the proportion of positive finishing pens fell from 80% to 9%. In the third year of the study S. Typhimurium U302 and DTI93 appeared to add to the DTI04B. S.Panama also appeared in breeding stock but was not found in pigs after weaning. In the fourth year of the study the farm was totally depopulated, cleaned and disinfected then left empty for 6 months. Salmonella was found in the soil of dry sow and gilt paddocks 6 months after depopulation and in mice after cleaning and disinfection had been completed. S. Typhimurium DT104 and S. Derby was also found in replacement breeding stock on arrival at the farm. In the early period after repopulation the level of Salmonella in pigs after weaning remained low but after a further year S.Typhimurium DTI04 was widespread in breeding stock, growers and mice

Amino acid variation in HLA class II proteins is a major determinant of humoral response to common viruses

The magnitude of the human antibody response to viral antigens is highly variable. To explore the human genetic contribution to this variability, we performed genome-wide association studies of the immunoglobulin G response to 14 pathogenic viruses in 2,363 immunocompetent adults. Significant associations were observed in the major histocompatibility complex region on chromosome 6 for influenza A virus, Epstein-Barr virus, JC polyomavirus, and Merkel cell polyomavirus. Using local imputation and fine mapping, we identified specific amino acid residues in human leucocyte antigen (HLA) class II proteins as the most probable causal variants underlying these association signals. Common HLA-DRβ1 haplotypes showed virus-specific patterns of humoral-response regulation. We observed an overlap between variants affecting the humoral response to influenza A and EBV and variants previously associated with autoimmune diseases related to these viruses. The results of this study emphasize the central and pathogen-specific role of HLA class II variation in the modulation of humoral immune response to viral antigens in humans

Antonio Gramsci’s impact on critical pedagogy

This paper provides an account of Antonio Gramsci’s impact on the area of critical pedagogy. It indicates the Gramscian influence on the thinking of major exponents of the field. It foregrounds Gramsci's ideas and then indicates how they have been taken up by a selection of critical pedagogy exponents who were chosen on the strength of their identification and engagement with Gramsci's ideas, some of them even having written entire essays on Gramsci. The essay concludes with a discussion concerning an aspect of Gramsci's concerns, the question of powerful knowledge, which, in the present author's view, provides a formidable challenge to critical pedagogues.peer-reviewe

Hurst's Rescaled Range Statistical Analysis for Pseudorandom Number Generators used in Physical Simulations

The rescaled range statistical analysis (R/S) is proposed as a new method to detect correlations in pseudorandom number generators used in Monte Carlo simulations. In an extensive test it is demonstrated that the RS analysis provides a very sensitive method to reveal hidden long run and short run correlations. Several widely used and also some recently proposed pseudorandom number generators are subjected to this test. In many generators correlations are detected and quantified.Comment: 12 pages, 12 figures, 6 tables. Replaces previous version to correct citation [19

A Nationally Representative Analysis of Trends in Socioeconomic Inequities in Diet Quality Between 2004 and 2015 Among Adults Living in Canada

This is a pre-copyedited, author-produced version of an article accepted for publication in Current Developments in Nutrition following peer review. The version of record [Olstad, D., Nejatinamini, S., Victorino, C., Kirkpatrick, S., Minaker, L., & McLaren, L. (2021). A Nationally Representative Analysis of Trends in Socioeconomic Inequities in Diet Quality Between 2004 and 2015 Among Adults Living in Canada. Current Developments in Nutrition, 5(Supplement_2), 1074. https://doi.org/10.1093/cdn/nzab053_067 ] is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1093/cdn/nzab053_067Diet quality is a key determinant of chronic disease and shares a similar socioeconomic patterning. Inequities in diet quality are stable or widening in the US, however these trends have not been examined in other nations. Moreover, prior US studies only examined differences in diet quality between the most and least disadvantaged groups in absolute terms. Quantifying trends in relative terms and along the full socioeconomic gradient according to multiple indicators of socioeconomic position (SEP) can provide a more comprehensive perspective to inform optimal points of intervention. The purpose of this study was to quantify nationally representative trends in absolute and relative gaps and gradients in diet quality between 2004 and 2015 according to three indicators of SEP among adults living in Canada