The Liberal Playground: Susan Isaacs, Psychoanalysis and Progressive Education in the Interwar Era

The Cambridge Malting House, an experimental school, serves here as a case study for investigating the tensions within 1920s liberal elites between their desire to abandon some Victorian and Edwardian sets of values in favour of more democratic ones, and at the same time their insistence on preserving themselves as an integral part of the English upper class. Susan Isaacs, the manager of the Malting House, provided the parents – some of whom were the most famous scientists and intellectuals of their age – with an opportunity to fulfil their ‘fantasy’ of bringing up children in total freedom. In retrospect, however, she deeply criticized those from their milieu for not fully understanding the real socio-cultural implications of their ideological decision to make independence and freedom the core values in their children’s education. Thus, 1920s progressive education is a paradigmatic case study of the cultural and ideological inner contradictions within liberal thought in the interwar era. The article also shows how psychoanalysis – which attracted many progressive educators – played a crucial role in providing liberals of all sorts with a new language to articulate their political visions, but, at the same time, explored the limits of the liberal discourse as a whole

Genetic Background of Prop1df Mutants Provides Remarkable Protection Against Hypothyroidism-Induced Hearing Impairment

Hypothyroidism is a cause of genetic and environmentally induced deafness. The sensitivity of cochlear development and function to thyroid hormone (TH) mandates understanding TH action in this sensory organ. Prop1df and Pou1f1dw mutant mice carry mutations in different pituitary transcription factors, each resulting in pituitary thyrotropin deficiency. Despite the same lack of detectable serum TH, these mutants have very different hearing abilities: Prop1df mutants are mildly affected, while Pou1f1dw mutants are completely deaf. Genetic studies show that this difference is attributable to the genetic backgrounds. Using embryo transfer, we discovered that factors intrinsic to the fetus are the major contributor to this difference, not maternal effects. We analyzed Prop1df mutants to identify processes in cochlear development that are disrupted in other hypothyroid animal models but protected in Prop1df mutants by the genetic background. The development of outer hair cell (OHC) function is delayed, but Prestin and KCNQ4 immunostaining appear normal in mature Prop1df mutants. The endocochlear potential and KCNJ10 immunostaining in the stria vascularis are indistinguishable from wild type, and no differences in neurofilament or synaptophysin staining are evident in Prop1df mutants. The synaptic vesicle protein otoferlin normally shifts expression from OHC to IHC as temporary afferent fibers beneath the OHC regress postnatally. Prop1df mutants exhibit persistent, abnormal expression of otoferlin in apical OHC, suggesting delayed maturation of synaptic function. Thus, the genetic background of Prop1df mutants is remarkably protective for most functions affected in other hypothyroid mice. The Prop1df mutant is an attractive model for identifying the genes that protect against deafness

The role of tenascin-C in tissue injury and tumorigenesis

The extracellular matrix molecule tenascin-C is highly expressed during embryonic development, tissue repair and in pathological situations such as chronic inflammation and cancer. Tenascin-C interacts with several other extracellular matrix molecules and cell-surface receptors, thus affecting tissue architecture, tissue resilience and cell responses. Tenascin-C modulates cell migration, proliferation and cellular signaling through induction of pro-inflammatory cytokines and oncogenic signaling molecules amongst other mechanisms. Given the causal role of inflammation in cancer progression, common mechanisms might be controlled by tenascin-C during both events. Drugs targeting the expression or function of tenascin-C or the tenascin-C protein itself are currently being developed and some drugs have already reached advanced clinical trials. This generates hope that increased knowledge about tenascin-C will further improve management of diseases with high tenascin-C expression such as chronic inflammation, heart failure, artheriosclerosis and cancer

Managing evaluation

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre- DSC:94/03445 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

Quality of life in survivors with a Van Ness-Borggreve rotationplasty after bone tumour resection

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: In large malignancies of the distal femur, limb salvage may not be feasible. Amputation is often the treatment of choice. A Van Ness-Borggreve rotationplasty is an alternative when the sciatic nerve is free of tumour. The appearance of the rotated lower leg is poor, which justifies a general concern about the psychosocial functioning of these patients. The aim of the study was to assess the medium- and long-term effects on quality of life (QOL) after rotationplasty. METHODS: A self-report questionnaire included the SF-36, the Social Support List, and selected items from the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) questionnaires as well as study-specific questions. The questionnaire was mailed to 34 patients at once. All patients were older than 16 years and at least 1 year postsurgery (mean 6.3 years). The response rate was 96%. RESULTS: Patients' physical functioning was poorer than that of healthy peers but better in comparison to chronically ill patients. Levels of psychosocial functioning, general QOL, and social support were highly comparable with those of healthy peers. One-third to one-half of the patients reported negative effects of the surgery on initiating social and/or intimate contacts, body image, and sexuality. With respect to physical functioning, two-thirds of patients engaged actively in sports. Patients reported wearing the prosthesis continuously and were, in general, satisfied with its fit. CONCLUSIONS: Given the relatively high levels of QOL and psychosocial functioning of these patients, these results indicate that rotationplasty is a good alternative in the treatment of patients with a large malignancy of the distal femu

Finding out An informal guide to self-evaluation for Family Centres

Includes leaflets in folder at backAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre-DSC:q97/18080 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreSIGLEGBUnited Kingdo

Home-Start A four year evaluation

SIGLELD:GPB-2479 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo