Heeding the stains: Lacan and organizational change

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to add to current discussions on the use of Lacanian psychoanalysis in organizational change. Specifically, It argues that critiques of Lacan's work must be acknowledged and incorporated into these discussions. To date, there remains a silence surrounding these critiques within organization studies.
Design/methodology/approach: The paper presents the existing studies that draw upon Lacan's work in the context of organizational change initiatives. It highlights the value of this theory. Next, it outlines critiques of Lacan's concepts of phallus and incest taboo, and show how these concepts can be exclusionary.
Findings: The paper finds that there remains little debate within organization studies around such critiques. Lacan tends to be employed in ways that risk reproducing particular, exclusionary aspects of his theory. A homophobic and patriarchal legacy persists in appropriations of his writing. It outlines alternative ways of reading Lacan, which aim to avoid such exclusions. It shows how introducing such alternatives is a difficult project, first, given the silence surrounding critiques of Lacan in the organizational change literature. Second, following Foucault, It argues that language has power: a patriarchal schema is self-reinforcing in its persistence within a particular discipline, and thus difficult to dislodge.
Research limitations/implications: Given these findings, the paper concludes that organization theorists and practitioners ought to engage with critiques of Lacan's work, when employing it in their own. The silence surrounding such legacies is dangerous. It argues that the first step in engaging with Lacan's work should be to give voice to such critiques, if his writing is to be employed in the practice and study of organizational change.
Originality/value: This paper provides a unique engagement with Lacan's work in the context of the study and practice of organizational change interventions. It presents an evaluation of well-known critiques and useful recommendations for theorists and practitioners considering a Lacanian approach to this area of management studies. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited.

An Immunohistochemical Study of the Distribution of the Measles Virus Receptors, CD46 and SLAM, In Normal Human Tissues and Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis

We have compared the expression of the known measles virus (MV) receptors, membrane cofactor protein (CD46) and the signaling lymphocyte-activation molecule (SLAM), using immunohistochemistry, in a range of normal peripheral tissues (known to be infected by MV) as well as in normal and subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) brain. To increase our understanding of how these receptors could be utilized by wild-type or vaccine strains in vivo, the results have been considered with regard to the known route of infection and systemic spread of MV. Strong staining for CD46 was observed in endothelial cells lining blood vessels and in epithelial cells and tissue macrophages in a wide range of peripheral tissues, as well as in Langerhans' and squamous cells in the skin. In lymphoid tissues and blood, subsets of cells were positive for SLAM, in comparison to CD46, which stained all nucleated cell types. Strong CD46 staining was observed on cerebral endothelium throughout the brain and also on ependymal cells lining the ventricles and choroid plexus. Comparatively weaker CD46 staining was observed on subsets of neurons and oligodendrocytes. In SSPE brain sections, the areas distant from lesion sites and negative for MV by immunocytochemistry showed the same distribution for CD46 as in normal brain. However, cells in lesions, positive for MV, were negative for CD46. Normal brain showed no staining for SLAM, and in SSPE brain only subsets of leukocytes in inflammatory infiltrates were positive. None of the cell types most commonly infected by MV show detectable expression of SLAM, whereas CD46 is much more widely expressed and could fulfill a receptor function for some wild-type strains. In the case of wild-type stains, which are unable to use CD46, a further as yet unknown receptor(s) would be necessary to fully explain the pathology of MV infection.

A new monoclonal antibody, P2A8(6), that specifically recognizes a novel epitope on the multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 (MRP1), but not on MRP2 nor MRP3

Multidrug resistance (NIDR) is a major problem in the chemotherapeutic treatment of cancer. Overexpression of the multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 (MRP1), is associated with NIDR in certain tumors. A number of MRP1-specific MAbs, which facilitate both clinical and experimental investigations of this protein, are available. To add to this panel of existing antibodies, we have now generated an additional MRP1-specific monoclonal antibody (MAb), P2A8(6), which detects a unique heat stable epitope on the MRP1 molecule. Female Wistar rats were immunized via footpad injections with a combination of two short synthetic peptides corresponding to amino acids 235-246 (peptide A) and 246-260 (peptide B) of the MRP1 protein. Immune reactive B cells were then isolated from the popliteal lymph nodes for fusion with SP2/O-Ag14 myeloma cells. Resultant hybridoma supernatants were screened for MRP1-specific antibody production. Antibody P2A8(6) was characterized by Western blotting and immunocytochemistry on paired multidrug resistant (MRP1 overexpressing) and sensitive parental cell lines. The antibody detects a protein of 190 kDa in MRP1-expressing cell lines but not in MRP2- or MRP3-transfected cell lines. P2A8(6) stains drug-selected and MRP1-transfected cell lines homogeneously by immunocytochemistry and recognizes MRP1 by immunohistochemistry on formalin-fixed paraffin wax-embedded tissue sections. Peptide inhibition studies confirm that P2AS(6) reacts with peptide B (amino acids 246-260), therefore recognizing a different epitope from that of all currently available MRP1 MAbs. This new MAb, chosen for its specificity to the MRP1 protein, may be a useful addition to the currently available range of MRP1-specific MAbs.

Reliability of tissue microarrays in detecting protein expression and gene amplification in breast cancer

Tissue microarrays allow high throughput molecular profiling of diagnostic or predictive markers in cancer specimens and rapid validation of novel potential candidates identified from genomic and proteomic analyses in a large number of tumor samples. To validate the use of tissue microarray technology for all the main biomarkers routinely used to decide breast cancer prognostication and postsurgical adjuvant therapy, we constructed a tissue microarray from 97 breast tumors, with a single 0.6 mm core per specimen. Inummostaining; of tissue microarray sections and conventional full sections of each tumor were performed using well-characterized prognostic markers (estrogen receptor ER, progesterone receptor PR and c-erbB2). The full section versus tissue microarray concordance for these stains was 97% for ER, 98% for PR, and 97% for c-erbB2, respectively, with a strong statistical association (kappa value more than 0.90). Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis for HER-2/neu gene amplification from the single-core tissue microarray was technically successful in about 90% (87/97) of the cases, with a concordance of 95% compared with parallel analyses with the full sections. The correlation with other pathological parameters was not significantly different between full-section and array-based results. It is concluded that the constructed tissue microarray with a single core per specimen ensures full biological representativeness to identify the associations between biomarkers and clinicopathological parameters, with no significant associated sampling bias.

NUCLEAR STAINING IN ALGAL HERBARIUM MATERIAL - A REAPPRAISAL OF THE HOLOTYPE OF CALLITHAMNION-DECOMPOSITUM AGARDH,J. (RHODOPHYTA)

The taxonomic importance of uninucleate vs. multinucleate vegetative cells in the Ceramiaceae is emphasized. It has been possible to make visible nuclei in old material, including type specimens, using aceto-carmine and aceto-iron-haematoxylin stains. The holotypes of Ceramium roseum and Callithamnion fasciculatum (currently known as Callithamnion roseum and Pleonosporium borreri var. fasciculatum) have uninucleate cells and belong to Aglaothamnion. In contrast, the holotype of Callithamnion decompositum, a name that has been applied to collections of at least two uninucleate taxa, has multinucleate cells; its morphological and cytological details agree with those of specimens collected in France and Ireland that were previously thought to represent an undescribed species. Female reproductive morphology (described from a thallus with gametangia in addition to tetrasporangia), in conjunction with habit and vegetative features, indicates that this species belongs to Compsothamnion (Compsothamnieae), as a third species, being distinguished from C. thuyoides and C. gracillimum by its sessile, lateral tetrasporangia. The required new combinations under Aglaothamnion and Compsothamnion are made.

Wild-type Measles Virus Infection Upregulates Poliovirus Receptor-Related 4 and Causes Apoptosis in Brain Endothelial Cells by Induction of Tumor Necrosis Factor-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand

Small numbers of brain endothelial cells (BECs) are infected in children with neurologic complications of measles virus (MV) infection. This may provide a mechanism for virus entry into the central nervous system, but the mechanisms are unclear. Both in vitro culture systems and animal models are required to elucidate events in the endothelium. We compared the ability of wild-type (WT), vaccine, and rodent-adapted MV strains to infect, replicate, and induce apoptosis in human and murine brain endothelial cells (HBECs and MBECs, respectively). Mice also were infected intracerebrally. All MV stains productively infected HBECs and induced the MV receptor PVRL4. Efficient WT MV production also occurred in MBECs. Extensive monolayer destruction associated with activated caspase 3 staining was observed in HBECs and MBECs, most markedly with WT MV. Tumor necrosis factor–related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), but not Fas ligand, was induced by MV infection. Treatment of MBECs with supernatants from MV-infected MBEC cultures with an anti-TRAIL antibody blocked caspase 3 expression and monolayer destruction. TRAIL was also expressed in the endothelium and other cell types in infected murine brains. This is the first demonstration that infection of low numbers of BECs with WT MV allows efficient virus production, induction of TRAIL, and subsequent widespread apoptosis.

Cyanoacrylate glue versus suture in peripheral nerve reanastomosis

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate glue compared with microsuturing technique in peripheral nerve reanastomosis in rats.

STUDY DESIGN: Fourteen young adult white rats were used. Bilateral sciatic neurotomies were performed in 12 of them and then reanastomosed with 3 epineural microsutures in the right side (study group G1) and with n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate glue in the left side (study group G2). On the remaining 2 rats (control group G3), sham surgery was done on both sides. Biopsies were harvested 12 weeks after surgery and examined under light microscope using Osmic acid stains. The number of nerve fibers was counted in the distal and proximal nerve segments, and the results were analyzed and compared in all groups.

RESULTS: Adequate regeneration with no anastomotic ruptures was seen 12 weeks after surgery in G1 and G2. The histomorphometric assessment showed no statistically significant difference (P = .960) in the neurotization index of G1 (89.01%) compared with G2 (88.97%). There was a significant (P = .001) reduction in the mean number of axon counts distal to the repair in G1 (271.3) and G2 (272.8) compared with that of the proximal segments of each study group (304.6 and 303, respectively, as well as to that of G3 (348.5).

CONCLUSION: Both n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate adhesive and 3-microsuture techniques showed comparable neurotization indices and were equally adequate to stabilize the nerve during regeneration period.

Control of biofilm growth through photodynamic treatments combined with chemical inhibitors: in vitro evaluation methods

The rock/atmosphere interface is inhabited by a complex microbial community including bacteria, algae and fungi. These communities are prominent biodeterioration agents and remarkably influence the status of stone monuments and buildings. Deeper comprehension of natural biodeterioration processes on stone surfaces has brought about a concept of complex microbial communities referred to as "subaerial biofilms". The practical implications of biofilm formation are that control strategies must be devised both for testing the susceptibility of the organisms within the biofilm and treating the established biofilm. Model multi-species biofilms associated with mineral surfaces that are frequently refractory to conventional treatment have been used as test targets. A combination of scanning microscopy with image analysis was applied along with traditional cultivation methods and fluorescent activity stains. Such a polyphasic approach allowed a comprehensive quantitative evaluation of the biofilm status and development. Effective treatment strategies incorporating chemical and physical agents have been demonstrated to prevent biofilm growth in vitro. Model biofilm growth on inorganic support was significantly reduced by a combination of PDT and biocides