The Bee and the Architect. Scientific Paradigms and Historical Materialism

The Bee and the Architect can be regarded as a manifesto and an important document of the Italian radical science movement of the 1970s and 1980s. First published in 1976, it was written by a group of physicists from the University of Rome – La Sapienza who were not content with producing important works in their discipline, but wanted to reflect their role as scientists and the role of science in society. In particular they focused on the critique of models and paradigms, which obscured the socio-economic and political motivations as well as contexts of science. The authors claimed that the objectives implicit in scientific abstractions are thus made invisible and as consequence abstractions become mystified and perceived as inescapable forces. This focus also gave the book its title, referring to the famous quote by Marx: ... a bee puts to shame many an architect in the construction of her cells. But what distinguishes the worst architect from the best of bees is this, that the architect raises his structure in imagination before he erects it in reality. At the end of every labour-process, we get a result that already existed in the imagination of the labourer at its commencement. He not only effects a change of form in the material on which he works, but he also realises a purpose of his own that gives the law to his modus operandi, and to which he must subordinate his will. From these premises the authors analysed how fact and value, as well as knowledge and ideology, intersect in the tasks of scientific labour. In this way they debunked the myth of neutrality in science. Informatio

Clinical implications, safety, efficacy of Recombinant Human Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factors and Pegylated Equivalent

A wide use of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factors (G-CSFs) and their pegylated equivalent is a significant step forward in the treatment of both solid tumors and hematological malignancies. Evidence-based use of these molecules resulted in more intensive treatments, safely extended to frail and elderly patients, and development of response- and comorbidity-tailored approaches. The available G-CSFs are filgrastim, and the long-acting PegFilgrastim, which are produced in E. Coli cells, and are chemically different from native human G-CSF, and lenograstim, a molecule produced in mammalian cells, with a chemical structure identical to native human G-CSF. These chemical differences produce a diverse interaction with receptors and stimulated neutrophils. For instance, lenograstim binds to receptors in the same way of endogenous ligand, and neutrophils obtained from stimulation with this G-CSF have a physiological activity profile similar to neutrophils normally generated in humans. Conversely, the different interaction between filgrastim and G-CSF receptor is more frequently associated with morphological abnormalities, reduced motility and chemotaxis and a reduced response to bacterial stimuli in induced neutrophils. On this background, we reviewed available evidence in order to analyze the impact of these chemical and pharmacodynamic differences among G-CSF molecules on safety, particularly in healthy peripheral-blood stem-cells donors, functional qualities of inducted neutrophils, and mobilization of hematopoietic stem cells.&nbsp

Biological flora of Central Europe: Cyperus esculentus L

This paper presents information on all aspects of the biology of Cyperus esculentus L. (yellow nutsedge) and deals with its taxonomy, morphology, genetic diversity, distribution, habitat requirements, ecology and life cycle, with special emphasis on uses and cultivation, history of introduction, impact and management in Europe. C. esculentus is a tuber geophyte and most likely originates from the Mediterranean and Southwest Asia. It is a variable plant and four wild-type varieties are presently recognized, in addition to a cultivated form. C. esculentus reproduces primarily by its underground tubers, although abundant seeds are produced. In temperate climates, tubers usually sprout in late spring and the plant withers at the beginning of the winter. C. esculentus is only cultivated in the València region in Spain. Invasion foci emerged across Europe at the beginning of the 1980s and at present, C. esculentus is most abundant on arable land and in ruderal habitats, followed by riverine vegetation. In heavily infested regions of Europe, C. esculentus causes substantial yield losses in field crops and although different management strategies are available, C. esculentus remains difficult to control.Follak, S.; Belz, R.; Bohren, C.; Castro, OD.; Guacchio, ED.; Pascual-Seva, N.; Schwarz, M.... (2016). Biological flora of Central Europe: Cyperus esculentus L. Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics. 23:33-51. doi:10.1016/j.ppees.2016.09.003S33512

Physicochemical properties of some underexploited and nonconventional oilseeds

Six nonconventional oilseeds, Bauhinia monandra, Bauhinia refescens, Caesalpinia pulcherrima, Cyperus esculentus, Hildergadia bateri, and Garcenia kola, were analyzed for their proximate composition, minerals, fatty acids, iodine values, acid values, saponification values, viscosities, refractive indexes, and specific gravity values. Their moisture content ranged from 3.8 to 9.8%. The crude protein values varied between 0.2% in G. kola and 26.6% in C. pulcherrima. The crude oil content ranged from 0.2% in G. kola to 30.8% in C. rufescense. The oilseeds were generally high in potassium (265 f 2.1 to 1050 f 4.2%) and sodium (100 f 1.4 to 260 f 1.4%). The fatty acid composition ranged from to Clg, including unsaturated Clg:~, C~W, and c18:3. The unsaturated fatty acids were predominant. Iodine values varied between 82.4 f 3.04 in H. bateri and 123.0 f 3.55 in C. pulcherrima. The saponification values ranged from 165.8 f 0.05 in H. bateri to 246.8 k 0.47 in C. pulcherrima. Acid values varied between 2.3 f 0.01 and 6.5 f 0.02 in the oilseeds. The viscosity values were low and, at 30 "C, values ranged from 13.18 f 0.03 cSt in B. monandra to 27.54 f 0.04 cSt in B. rufescens. The refractive indices and specific gravity values show littlevariation in the samples

Assessment of the effects of air pollution using road-side roasted meats (Suya) as indicators

The Suya meat samples sold in the open market, roadsides and motor parks were collected from four towns in Southwestern Nigeria. The meat was investigated as a potential bioindicator of metal exposure to humans in an urban environment. These were pulverized, digested then analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) technique to determine the concentrations of five elements (Fe, Zn, Pb, Mn, and Cu). Iron has the highest concentrations in the range of 102 and 406 mg/kg while Mn has the least values: 4.80-15.4 mg/kg. The results show that even though meat is a rich source of essential and beneficial minerals required for healthy growth, excesses of these metals may be ingested from Suya; sources which include wood smoke, street dusts, and vehicular emissions and debris from automobile break parts are the identified origins of some of these excesses. Analysis of certified standard reference material IAEA-V-10 Hay (powder) was carried out to assure accuracy and precision of the technique. Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC