bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of saffron supplementation on oxidative/antioxidant status and severity of disease in ulcerative colitis patients: A randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study
Authors: Tahvilian Negin , Masoodi Mohsen , Faghihi Kashani Amirhossein , Vafa Mohammadreza , Aryaeian Naheed , Heydarian Azadeh , Hosseini AghaFateme , Moradi Nariman , Farsi Farnaz
Published: October 2020

Supplementation with saffron helps improve antioxidant status. Oxidative stress plays an important role in ulcerative colitis (UC). The present study aimed to investigate the effect of saffron supplementation on disease severity and Oxidative/Antioxidant factors in patients with UC. This randomized double‐blinded study was conducted on 80 mild to moderate UC patients. Participants were randomly divided into intervention (100 mg saffron/daily) and placebo (100 mg maltodextrin/daily) groups. Of all the participants, 75 completed the study. After 8 weeks, there were significantly increased in the mean score of simple clinical colitis activity index questionnaire (3.83 ± 1.78 to 3 ± 1.60, p = .004), the serum levels of total antioxidant capacity (2.68 ± 0.90 to 2.79 ± 0.87, p = .016), superoxide dismutase (60.69 ± 9.59 to 66.30 ± 10.79, p = .009) and glutathione peroxidase (22.05 ± 14.27 to 29.67 ± 17.97, p = .011) in patients received saffron compared to the placebo group. Whereas, there was no significant difference in serum levels of malondialdehyde between the two groups. Finally, dietary saffron as an alternative therapy may effective in improving antioxidant factors and reducing the severity of disease in UC patients.
Preventing contrast‐induced nephropathy (CIN) with herbal medicines: A review
Authors: Boozari Motahareh , Hosseinzadeh Hossein
Published: October 2020

Objectives

Currently, the use of iodinated contrast media in diagnostic imaging has been increased in clinical medicine. Contrast‐induced nephropathy (CIN) is an important adverse effect of contrast media injection. According to the significant role of oxidative stress in the pathophysiology of CIN, different herbal antioxidants have been used for the prevention of nephropathy in different studies. In this review, we discussed the preventive effects of herbal medicine and natural products against CIN.

Methods

We searched the electronic databases or search engines including PubMed, Scopus, ISI, Google Scholar with search terms such as “Contrast‐induced nephropathy” and “Herbal medicine,” “Contrast acute kidney injury” AND “natural products” and similar headings such as plant and extract.

Results

Known medicinal plants and active ingredients such as green tea, ginger, garlic, silymarin, curcumin, resveratrol, and thymoquinone have been examined for prophylactic effects or treatment of contrast media nephropathy.

Conclusion

Herbal medicines have promising effects in the laboratory‐based studies for the prevention and/or treatment of CIN. However, more practical and completed clinical trials are needed to investigate the clinical benefits of natural products against CIN.
Baroclinicity and directional shear explain departures from the logarithmic wind profile
Authors: Ghannam Khaled , Bou‐Zeid Elie
Published: October 2020

Similarity and scaling arguments underlying the existence of a logarithmic wind profile in the atmospheric surface layer (ASL) rest on the restrictive assumptions of negligible Coriolis effects (no wind turning in the ASL) and vertically‐uniform pressure gradients (barotropic atmospheric boundary layer, ABL). This paper alleviates these asymptotic arguments to provide a realistic representation of the ASL where the common occurrence of baroclinicity (height‐dependent pressure gradients) and wind turning, traditionally treated as outer‐layer attributes, take part in modulating the ASL. The approximation of a constant‐stress ASL is first replaced by a refined model for the Reynolds stress derived from the mean momentum equations to incorporate the cross‐isobaric angle (directional shear) and a dimensionless baroclinicity parameter (geostrophic shear). A model for the wind profile is then obtained from first‐order closure principles, correcting the log‐law with an additive term that is linear in height and accounts for the combined effects of wind turning and baroclinicity. Both the stress and wind models agree well with a suite of large‐eddy simulations in the barotropic and baroclinic ABL. The findings provide a methodology for the extrapolation of near‐surface winds to some 200 m in the near‐neutral ABL for wind energy applications, the validation of the surface cross‐isobaric angle in weather and climate models, and the interpretation of wind turning in field measurements and numerical experiments of the Ekman boundary layer.
Advancing Equity in Public Administration: Prioritizing Equality of Outcomes in the COVID‐19 Crisis
Authors: Gadson Danielle N.
Published: October 2020

The destructive and ubiquitous nature of the COVID‐19 pandemic presents a unique and important backdrop upon which to consider the practicality of an equitable approach to contemporary public administration. To minimize or ignore the specialized needs of marginalized populations in the time of COVID‐19 is to prolong the spread of the disease, social restrictions, and the ultimate recovery of the American economy, as those disproportionally impacted are often public‐facing essential workers who cannot stay home and effectively social distance. This commentary discusses the advancement of social equity as an essential component of policy planning in the current pandemic and offers practical administrative strategies for achievement, including heeding the data, dialoguing with community, partners, and taking courageous action.
Assessing the performance of population adjustment methods for anchored indirect comparisons: A simulation study
Authors: Phillippo David M. , Dias Sofia , Ades A. E. , Welton Nicky J.
Published: October 2020

Standard network meta‐analysis and indirect comparisons combine aggregate data from multiple studies on treatments of interest, assuming that any factors that interact with treatment effects (effect modifiers) are balanced across populations. Population adjustment methods such as multilevel network meta‐regression (ML‐NMR), matching‐adjusted indirect comparison (MAIC), and simulated treatment comparison (STC) relax this assumption using individual patient data from one or more studies, and are becoming increasingly prevalent in health technology appraisals and the applied literature. Motivated by an applied example and two recent reviews of applications, we undertook an extensive simulation study to assess the performance of these methods in a range of scenarios under various failures of assumptions. We investigated the impact of varying sample size, missing effect modifiers, strength of effect modification and validity of the shared effect modifier assumption, validity of extrapolation and varying between‐study overlap, and different covariate distributions and correlations. ML‐NMR and STC performed similarly, eliminating bias when the requisite assumptions were met. Serious concerns are raised for MAIC, which performed poorly in nearly all simulation scenarios and may even increase bias compared with standard indirect comparisons. All methods incur bias when an effect modifier is missing, highlighting the necessity of careful selection of potential effect modifiers prior to analysis. When all effect modifiers are included, ML‐NMR and STC are robust techniques for population adjustment. ML‐NMR offers additional advantages over MAIC and STC, including extending to larger treatment networks and producing estimates in any target population, making this an attractive choice in a variety of scenarios.
A practical introduction to Bayesian estimation of causal effects: Parametric and nonparametric approaches
Authors: Oganisian Arman , Roy Jason A.
Published: October 2020

Substantial advances in Bayesian methods for causal inference have been made in recent years. We provide an introduction to Bayesian inference for causal effects for practicing statisticians who have some familiarity with Bayesian models and would like an overview of what it can add to causal estimation in practical settings. In the paper, we demonstrate how priors can induce shrinkage and sparsity in parametric models and be used to perform probabilistic sensitivity analyses around causal assumptions. We provide an overview of nonparametric Bayesian estimation and survey their applications in the causal inference literature. Inference in the point‐treatment and time‐varying treatment settings are considered. For the latter, we explore both static and dynamic treatment regimes. Throughout, we illustrate implementation using off‐the‐shelf open source software. We hope to leave the reader with implementation‐level knowledge of Bayesian causal inference using both parametric and nonparametric models. All synthetic examples and code used in the paper are publicly available on a companion GitHub repository.
Anisotropic Etching of Pyramidal Silica Reliefs with Metal Masks and Hydrofluoric Acid
Authors: Kirchner Robert , Neumann Volker , Winkler Felix , Strobel Carsten , Völkel Sandra , Hiess André , Kazazis Dimitrios , Künzelmann Ulrich , Bartha Johann Wolfgang
Published: October 2020

This work describes the fabrication of anisotropically etched, faceted pyramidal structures in amorphous layers of silicon dioxide or glass. Anisotropic and crystal‐oriented etching of silicon is well known. Anisotropic etching behavior in completely amorphous layers of silicon dioxide in combination with purely isotropic hydrofluoric acid as etchant is an unexpected phenomenon. The work presents practical exploitations of this new process for self‐perfecting pyramidal structures. It can be used for textured silica or glass surfaces. The reason for the observed anisotropy, leading to enhanced lateral etch rates, is the presence of thin metal layers. The lateral etch rate under the metal significantly exceeds the vertical etch rate of the non‐metallized area by a factor of about 6–43 for liquid and 59 for vapor‐based processes. The ratio between lateral and vertical etch rate, thus the sidewall inclination, can be controlled by etchant concentration and selected metal. The described process allows for direct fabrication of shallow angle pyramids, which for example can enhance the coupling efficiency of light emitting diodes or solar cells, can be exploited for producing dedicated silicon dioxide atomic force microscopy tips with a radius in the 50 nm range, or can potentially be used for surface plasmonics.
Targeted Delivery of Cell Softening Micelles to Schlemm's Canal Endothelial Cells for Treatment of Glaucoma
Authors: Stack Trevor , Vincent Michael , Vahabikashi Amir , Li Guorong , Perkumas Kristin M. , Stamer W. Daniel , Johnson Mark , Scott Evan
Published: October 2020

Increased stiffness of the Schlemm's canal (SC) endothelium in the aqueous humor outflow pathways has been associated with elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) in glaucoma. Novel treatments that relax this endothelium, such as actin depolymerizers and rho kinase inhibitors, are in development. Unfortunately, these treatments have undesirable off‐target effects and a lower than desired potency. To address these issues, a targeted PEG‐b‐PPS micelle loaded with actin depolymerizer latrunculin A (tLatA‐MC) is developed. Targeting of SC cells is achieved by modifying the micelle surface with a high affinity peptide that binds the VEGFR3/FLT4 receptor, a lymphatic lineage marker found to be highly expressed by SC cells relative to other ocular cells. During in vitro optimization, increasing the peptide surface density increased micellar uptake in SC cells while unexpectedly decreasing uptake by human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). The functional efficacy of tLatA‐MC, as measured by decreased SC cell stiffness compared to non‐targeted micelles (ntLatA‐MC) or targeted blank micelles (tBL‐MC), is verified using atomic force microscopy. tLatA‐MC reduced IOP in an in vivo mouse model by 30–50%. The results validate the use of a cell‐softening nanotherapy to selectively modulate stiffness of SC cells for therapeutic reduction of IOP and treatment of glaucoma.
The effects of medical malpractice tort reform on physician supply an analysis of legislative changes from 2009 to 2016
Authors: Baum Charles L.
Published: October 2020

Advocates of tort reform blame medical malpractice lawsuits for rising healthcare costs, prompting politicians in some states to pass tort reform capping noneconomic damages. In this analysis, I examine the effects of caps on noneconomic damages between 2009 and 2016 on the supply of physicians. I use multiple model specifications, examine physicians in high‐risk specialties, young physicians, and physicians in state‐border counties, and explore the potential for asymmetric effects using instances where tort reform has been declared unconstitutional and removed. I find few statistically significant effects. Supplemental analyses show that this may be because the noneconomic damage caps do not significantly affect malpractice insurance premiums, payouts, or claims in the first place.
Functional test generation from UI test scenarios using reinforcement learning for android applications
Authors: Koroglu Yavuz , Sen Alper
Published: October 2020

With the ever‐growing Android graphical user interface (GUI) application market, there have been many studies on automated test generation for Android GUI applications. These studies successfully demonstrate how to detect fatal exceptions and achieve high coverage with fully automated test generation engines. However, it is unclear how many GUI functions these engines manage to test. The current best practice for the functional testing of Android GUI applications is to design user interface (UI) test scenarios with a non‐technical and human‐readable language such as Gherkin and implement Java/Kotlin methods for every statement of all the UI test scenarios. Writing tests for UI test scenarios is hard, especially when some scenario statements are high‐level and declarative, so it is not clear what actions should the generated test perform. We propose the Fully Automated Reinforcement LEArning‐Driven specification‐based test generator for Android (FARLEAD‐Android). FARLEAD‐Android first translates the UI test scenario to a GUI‐level formal specification as a linear‐time temporal logic (LTL) formula. The LTL formula guides the test generation and acts as a specified test oracle. By dynamically executing the application under test (AUT), and monitoring the LTL formula, FARLEAD‐Android learns how to produce a witness for the UI test scenario, using reinforcement learning (RL). Our evaluation shows that FARLEAD‐Android is more effective and achieves higher performance in generating tests for UI test scenarios than three known engines: Random, Monkey and QBEa. To the best of our knowledge, FARLEAD‐Android is the first fully automated mobile GUI testing engine that uses formal specifications.
Literacy Leadership From the Classroom: Learning From Teacher Leaders
Authors: Fountas Irene C. , Pinnell Gay Su
Published: October 2020

Teaching is a profession that requires ongoing professional development and learning. This ongoing learning can take place in professional learning communities, in structured professional development settings, and in literacy coaching contexts. This department highlights the ongoing professional development of literacy teachers.
Combining SCADA and vibration data into a single anomaly detection model to predict wind turbine component failure
Authors: Turnbull Alan , Carroll James , McDonald Alasdair
Published: October 2020

Reducing downtime through predictive or condition‐based maintenance is a promising strategy to help reduce costs associated with wind farm operation and maintenance. To help effectively monitor wind turbine condition, operators now rely on multiply sources of data to make informed operational decisions which can minimise downtime, increasing availability and profitability of any given site. Two of such approaches are SCADA temperature and vibration monitoring, which are typically performed in isolation and compared over time for both fault diagnostics and reliability analysis. Presenting two separate case studies, this paper describes a methodology to bring multiple data sources together to diagnose faults by using a single‐class support vector machine classifier to assess normal behaviour model error, with results showing that anomalies can be detected more consistently when compared to more standard approaches of analysing each data source in isolation.
Deuteration and Vibrational Spectra of Dimethylammonium Paratungstate‐B Hydrates
Authors: Majzik Eszter , Franguelli Fernanda Paiva , Lendvay György , Trif László , Németh Csaba , Farkas Attila , Klébert Szilvia , Bereczki Laura , Szilágyi Imre Miklós , Kótai László
Published: October 2020

Infrared and Raman spectra of two solvatomorphs of a new dimethylammonium polytungstate decakis(dimethylammonium) dihydrogendodecatungstate, (Me2NH2)(H2W12O42)·nH2O (n = 10 or 11), were evaluated and discussed. The assignment of bands corresponding to the cationic and anionic components as well as the water of crystallization is presented. Deuteration has been used in the interpretation of the spectra. The dimethylammonium cation and the molecules of water of crystallization form a network of regular and multifurcated hydrogen bonds, thus a fraction of the N–H hydrogen atoms are so strongly bound to the anion, that the compound can only be deuterated with an aggressive procedure. The method for deuteration is described in detail. The deuterated undecahydrate can be obtained from both solvatomorphs.
[M2(μ‐OH)2(DHBQ)3] (M = Zr, Hf) ‐ Two New Isostructural Coordination Polymers based on the Unique M2O14 Inorganic Building Unit and 2,5‐Dioxido‐p‐benzoquinone as Linker Molecule
Authors: Poschmann Mirjam P. M. , Reinsch Helge , Stock Norbert
Published: October 2020

Two new isostructural porous coordination polymers (CPs) were obtained under solvothermal reaction conditions using 2,5‐dihydroxy‐p‐benzoquinone (H2DHBQ) or 1,2,4,5‐tetrahydroxybenzene (H4THB) as linker molecule and Zr4+ or Hf4+ salts. Highly crystalline compounds with composition [M2(μ‐OH)2(DHBQ)3]·xH2O (M = Zr4+ or Hf4+, x = 0–3.6/3.3) were found in a wide temperature range (120–200 °C) and a reaction time of 70 h. The crystal structures were determined ab initio from powder X‐ray diffraction data and the oxidation state of the linker was confirmed spectroscopically. The dinuclear inorganic building unit M2O14 is new for Zr‐ and Hf‐CPs. For both compounds a full characterization was carried out, i.e. crystal structure determination, spectroscopic measurements, elemental‐ and thermogravimetric analyses. [M2(OH)2(DHBQ)3] (M = Zr4+ or Hf4+) is stable up to 250 and 220 °C, respectively. Water sorption measurements proofed an uptake of 3.6 mol H2O per mol and 3.3 mol H2O per mol, respectively.
Male, National, and Religious Collective Narcissism Predict Sexism
Authors: de Zavala Agnieszka Golec , Bierwiaczonek Kinga
Published: October 2020

Results of three cross-sectional studies indicate that sexism in Poland is associated with collective narcissism—a belief that one’s own group’s (the in-group’s) exaggerated exceptionality is not sufficiently recognized by others—with reference to three social identities: male, religious, and national. In Study 1 (n = 329), male collective narcissism was associated with sexism. This relationship was sequentially mediated by precarious manhood and traditional gender beliefs. In Study 2 (n = 877), Catholic collective narcissism predicted tolerance of violence against women (among men and women) over and above religious fundamentalism and in contrast to intrinsic religiosity. In Study 3 (n = 1070), national collective narcissism was associated with hostile sexism among men and women and with benevolent sexism more strongly among women than among men. In contrast, national in-group satisfaction—a belief that the nation is of a high value—predicted rejection of benevolent and hostile sexism among women but was positively associated with hostile and benevolent sexism among men. Among men and women collective narcissism was associated with tolerance of domestic violence against women, whereas national in-group satisfaction was associated with rejection of violence against women.
Explaining human altruism
Authors: Vlerick Michael
Published: October 2020

Humans often behave altruistically towards strangers with no chance of reciprocation. From an evolutionary perspective, this is puzzling. The evolution of altruistic cooperative behavior—in which an organism’s action reduces its fitness and increases the fitness of another organism (e.g. by sharing food)—only makes sense when it is directed at genetically related organisms (kin selection) or when one can expect the favor to be returned (reciprocal altruism). Therefore, evolutionary theorists such as Sober and Wilson have argued that we should revise Neo-Darwininian evolutionary theory. They argue that human altruism evolved through group selection in which groups of altruists were naturally selected because they had a comparative advantage over other groups. Wilson and Sober’s hypothesis attracted followers but is rejected by most of their peers. The heated debate between advocates and critics of group selection often suffers from a lack of conceptual clarity. In response, I set out to clearly distinguish ‘genetic’ from ‘cultural’ group selection (developed by Boyd, Richerson & Henrich) and argue that the latter does not face the potentially debilitating problems plaguing the former. I defend the claim that human altruistic dispositions evolved through cultural group selection and gene-culture coevolution and offer empirical evidence in support. I also argue that actual altruistic behavior often goes beyond the kind of behavior humans have evolved to display. Conscious and voluntary reasoning processes, I show, have an important role in altruistic behavior. This is often overlooked in the scientific literature on human altruism.
Responsible AI and moral responsibility: a common appreciation
Authors: Tigard Daniel W.
Published: October 2020

Responsibility is among the most widespread buzzwords in the ethics of artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics. Yet, the term often remains unsubstantiated when employed in these important technological domains. Indeed, notions like ‘responsible AI’ and ‘responsible robotics’ may sound appealing, for they seem to convey a sense of moral goodness or ethical approval, thereby inciting psychological connections to self-regulation, social acceptance, or political correctness. For AI and ethics to come together in truly harmonious ways, we will need to work toward establishing a common appreciation. In this commentary, I breakdown three varieties of the term and invoke insights from the analytic ethics literature as a means of offering a robust understanding of moral responsibility in emerging technology. While I do not wish to accuse any parties of incorrect usage, my hope is that together researchers in AI and ethics can be better positioned to appreciate and to develop notions of responsibility for technological domains.
Explainable deep convolutional learning for intuitive model development by non–machine learning domain experts
Authors: Singaravel Sundaravelpandian , Suykens Johan , Janssen Hans , Geyer Philipp
Published: October 2020

During the design stage, quick and accurate predictions are required for effective design decisions. Model developers prefer simple interpretable models for high computation speed. Given that deep learning (DL) has high computational speed and accuracy, it will be beneficial if these models are explainable. Furthermore, current DL development tools simplify the model development process. The article proposes a method to make the learning of the DL model explainable to enable non–machine learning (ML) experts to infer on model generalization and reusability. The proposed method utilizes dimensionality reduction (t-Distribution Stochastic Neighbour Embedding) and mutual information (MI). Results indicate that the convolutional layers capture design-related interpretations, and the fully connected layer captures performance-related interpretations. Furthermore, the global geometric structure within a model that generalized well and poorly is similar. The key difference indicating poor generalization is smoothness in the low-dimensional embedding. MI enables quantifying the reason for good and poor generalization. Such interpretation adds more information on model behaviour to a non-ML expert.
Greater than 2 kW all-passive fiber Raman amplifier with good beam quality
Authors: Chen Yizhu , Yao Tianfu , Xiao Hu , Leng Jinyong , Zhou Pu
Published: October 2020

We report a 2 kW all-fiberized Raman fiber amplifier with efficient brightness enhancement based on the graded-index fiber. The maximum power output reaches up to 2.034 kW centered at 1130 nm, with a conversion efficiency of 79.35% with respect to the injected pump power. To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest conversion efficiency obtained for any Raman laser system using graded-index fiber. An optimized fiber combiner adopting graded-index fiber as the pigtail fiber was fabricated, enabling the preservation of the seeding brightness in the core-pumped Raman fiber amplifier, and further enhancing the ultimate brightness of the output laser after amplification. At the maximum power output, the beam quality parameter M2 is 2.8, corresponding to a signal-to-pump brightness enhancement factor of 11.2. As far as we know, we obtain the highest brightness enhancement among Raman fiber lasers of over 100 W, and the best beam quality for graded-index Raman fiber lasers of over 150 W.
Evaluation of the pilot phase of a Student Support Strategy to improve retention and completion rates of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students
Authors: Hearn Shane , Funnell Sarah
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Increasing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participation in higher education can play a critical role in transforming lives and is the trajectory to closing the gap and reducing disadvantage. Despite recent progress, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples remain significantly under-represented in higher education. Poor retention and high attrition rates of these students come at significant financial cost for the individual, community, university and government. Wirltu Yarlu, the Indigenous Education Unit at the University of Adelaide has reviewed the role student support services play in improving retention and completion rates, with an aim to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student retention and completion. The newly developed Student Success Strategy is an innovative approach to student support that aims to identify and respond to individual student needs in a more effective and efficient manner. The model encompasses a self-assessment tool designed to measure progress across several domains. Self-assessments are used to inform student specific support needs which in turn enable support staff to personalise future interventions for each student and respond accordingly in an attempt to reduce and prevent student attrition.
Historians as Activists: History Writing in Times of War. The Case of Ukraine in 2014–2018
Authors: Yurchuk Yuliya
Published: October 2020

This article elucidates the role of historians in times of war and the peculiarities of popular history narratives written by historians who became activists. The article focuses on historians who call themselves “Likbez. Historical Front.” This cohort gave rise to a new professional species—activist historians—who are different from so called memorians or propagandists, who work in service of authorities. Likbez historians tried to use their power to influence and promote their activist agenda not only in the realm of memory and history but also in reformation of state institutions. I argue that for Likbez historians, securitization of the past is the main strategy employed for producing historical knowledge. Historians’ work is a part of postcolonizing process observed in Ukrainian society since the Maidan protests. As the analysis shows, popular history narratives written with an open activist agenda are a result of many compromises made by scholars in the intersection of several factors: professional ambitions, political and civic aims, social and political context, popular expectations, and market environment. In line with the increased attention to agency in memory studies, this article demonstrates that historians have a much more nuanced relation to power than straightforward opposition or co-option.
HAROLD-AS-AENEAS? THE INFLUENCE OF THE AENEID ON A RESCUE SCENE IN THE BAYEUX TAPESTRY
Authors: Rollason Nikki K. , Lewis Michael J.
Published: October 2020

A scene in the Bayeux Tapestry (c. 1072–7 ce) shows Earl Harold ‘Godwinson’ of Wessex (c. 1022–66), future king of the English (r. 1066), rescuing two Normans from drowning in the quicksand of the River Couesnon as they cross into Brittany on military campaign (see figure 1; Bayeux Tapestry Scene 17). Harold (Bayeux Tapestry Figure 152) is depicted standing more or less upright, upon embroidered lines that represent the waters of the Couesnon. As is typical for the representation of Anglo-Saxons in this, the earlier part of the embroidery, he has a ‘pudding-bowl’ haircut and is moustached. These features distinguish Harold from the Normans he saves, who have the backs of their heads shaven and are without facial hair. Harold carries one of the men ‘piggyback’ and drags the other, who has almost fallen on his back, up by his right hand. The Latin inscription above this scene is brief, but nonetheless tells us most of what we need to know to understand the imagery beneath: hIC VVILLEM DVX ET EXERCITVS EIVS VENERVNT AD MONTE[M] MIChAELIS ET hIC TRANSIERVNT FLVMEN COSNONIS. hIC hARLOLD DVX TRAhEBAT EOS DE ARENA (‘Here Duke William and his army came to Mont St Michel, and here they crossed the River Couesnon. Here Duke Harold pulled them out of the sand’).
DOGS OF WAR, OR DOGS IN WAR? THE USE OF DOGS IN CLASSICAL GREEK WARFARE
Authors: Rees Owen
Published: October 2020

In 1941, E. S. Forster wrote a short article, published in this journal, which compiled all of the instances he could identify in the ancient source material that described dogs being used in a military capacity. G. B. A. Fletcher, who had identified a few obscure references that Forster had not cited, responded to Forster's paper later that same year. The purpose of both papers was simply the compiling of a list, a purpose that had been inspired by Forster's interest in the French army's recruitment of dogs on the outbreak of the Second World War. The result was a thorough catalogue of known examples, showing the ancient dog being used for a variety of purposes such as patrol work or observation duties, or being used as combatants or despatch couriers. The primary aim, according to Forster was to ‘make a comparison with modern practice’ – that is, the French practice he had read about; the only exception for which he could find no ancient evidence was what he called ‘Red Cross’ work.
Art and Archaeology
Authors: Squire Michael
Published: October 2020

Mosaics have not fared well in the hands of classical archaeologists. Modern viewers have traditionally treated them as panel-paintings laid out on the floor: consider how mosaics are frequently displayed on museum walls, for example, or how book reproductions perpetuate the ideal of a ‘vertical’ bird's-eye view. Scholars, too, have been quick to identify mythological subjects, homing in on ‘figurative’ motifs. But we still lack an adequate framework for approaching more ‘ornamental’ components – or for challenging that segregation in the first place.
Viral Reflections: Placing China in Global Health Histories
Authors: Brazelton Mary Augusta
Published: October 2020

Public health in China has become a global concern as a consequence of the outbreak and worldwide spread of COVID-19. This article examines the historical place of China in international and global health. Contrary to prevalent narratives in the history of medicine, China and Chinese historical actors played key roles in this field throughout the twentieth century. Several episodes illustrate this argument: the Qing organization of the International Plague Conference in 1911; the role of China in the work of the interwar League of Nations Health Organization and postwar establishment of the World Health Organization; Cold War medical diplomacy; and Chinese models of primary health care during the 1970s. These case studies together show that Chinese physicians and administrators helped shape concepts and practices of “global health” even before that term rose to prominence in the 1990s, and current events are best understood in the context of this history.
“Responding to an Epidemic Requires a Compassionate State”: How Has the Indian State Been Doing in the Time of COVID-19?
Authors: Harriss John
Published: October 2020

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Indian government, led by Narendra Modi, imposed a stringent lockdown with only four hours notice. It paid no attention to the millions of migrants who work on a temporary basis in Indian cities. Most lost their livelihoods as a result of the lockdown, and millions sought to return to their native villages. At the same time, the rural economy confronted its own difficulties caused by the lockdown. The relief that the Modi government offered to the large numbers of poor people who had been adversely affected by its response to COVID-19 was limited and poorly delivered. The episode showed the lack of responsiveness of Indian democracy to the needs of working people and the failures of development. Yet Modi's particular brand of authoritarian populism worked so well that a government displaying very little compassion retained strong popular support.
Chronic suppurative otitis media in Zimbabwean school children: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Pedersen C K , Zimani P , Frendø M , Spindler N J , Chidziva C , von Buchwald C , Jensen R G
Published: October 2020

Objective

Chronic suppurative otitis media is a major cause of disabling childhood hearing loss, especially in low-income countries. Estimates on its prevalence in sub-Saharan Africa range from the lowest to the highest in the world (less than one per cent to more than five per cent). However, the prevalence of chronic suppurative otitis media in Zimbabwe is largely unknown. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of paediatric chronic suppurative otitis media and other middle-ear pathology in rural Zimbabwe.

Method

A cross-sectional study was performed in primary school children aged 4–13 years from the rural province of Mashonaland East. Participants underwent video otoscopy and tympanometry.

Results

Out of 451 examined children, two (0.4 per cent) had chronic suppurative otitis media. Acute otitis media was present in one (0.2 per cent), otitis media with effusion was present in five (1.1 per cent) and scarring was present in 69 (15.3 per cent).

Conclusion

Chronic suppurative otitis media and otitis media sequelae were surprisingly uncommon in this sample of rural primary school children in Zimbabwe. More studies, preferably population-based, are needed to enable more precise estimates of chronic suppurative otitis media prevalence in Zimbabwe.
Platelet function testing in patients with post-operative tonsillectomy bleeding may be a useful early identifier of inherited platelet function disorders
Authors: James T W , Thomson B J , Naumann D N , Stevenson D S
Published: October 2020

Background

Post-tonsillectomy bleeding is the most frequent complication of tonsillectomy. Inherited platelet function disorders have an estimated prevalence of 1 per cent. Any association between post-tonsillectomy bleeds and undiagnosed inherited platelet function disorders has not been investigated before.

Objectives

To assess the prevalence of inherited platelet function disorders in a cohort of post-tonsillectomy bleed patients.

Methods

An observational cohort study was conducted using hospital digital records. Platelet function analyser 100 (‘PFA-100’) closure time was tested on post-tonsillectomy bleed patients who presented to hospital.

Results

Between 2013 and 2017, 9 of 91 post-tonsillectomy bleed patients who underwent platelet function analyser 100 testing (9.89 per cent) had positive results. Five patients (5.49 per cent) had undiagnosed inherited platelet function disorders. Four patients had false positive results secondary to a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug effect (specificity of 95.3 per cent) proven by repeat testing six weeks later, off medication. The false negative rate was 0 per cent.

Conclusion

The prevalence of inherited platelet function disorders in our post-tonsillectomy bleed cohort is five-fold higher than in the general population. Platelet function analyser 100 testing when patients present with a post-tonsillectomy bleed allows management of their inherited platelet function disorder.
Domain-general auditory processing determines success in second language pronunciation learning in adulthood: A longitudinal study
Authors: Saito Kazuya , Sun Hui , Tierney Adam
Published: October 2020

In this study, we propose a hypothesis that domain-general auditory processing, a perceptual–cognitive anchor of first language (L1) acquisition, can serve as an important deciding factor for successful postpubertal second language (L2) pronunciation learning. To examine this hypothesis, samples of spontaneous speech were elicited from a total of 30 L1 Chinese L2 English learners at two points (outset and endpoint) during an 8-month study-abroad period in the United Kingdom. The participants were tested on three different components of auditory processing ability (formant, pitch, and duration discrimination) using behavioral instruments. The auditory processing scores were then linked to the segmental, prosodic, and fluency dimensions of their L2 pronunciation proficiency development throughout the project. Overall, most learners’ speech became smoother, faster, and more fluent (fewer pauses, faster articulation rate, and more optimal perceived tempo). Certain learners with high-level auditory processing ability (more precise formant discrimination) appeared to further attain more correct pronunciation of individual sounds and words (greater segmental and word stress accuracy), leading to more advanced L2 phonological skills (fluentandaccurate). The findings suggest that auditory processing abilities can be a root of language learning throughout the life span and may apply to the initial- to midphase of naturalistic L2 pronunciation learning in adulthood.
Practitioners respond to Icy Lee's ‘Teacher written corrective feedback: Less is more’
Authors: Li Yingying , Han Ye
Published: October 2020

In her position article, Lee (2019) compellingly argues for focused written corrective feedback (FWCF) and offers clear guidelines for teachers to shift their feedback approach. As English language teaching practitioners in Chinese universities, we share Lee's view against any unthinking adherence to comprehensive written corrective feedback (CWCF) and advocate principled feedback practice. Our response begins by presenting the common ground between Lee's and our stance, followed by problematizing her ‘less-is-more’ argument. Finally, following Lee's guidelines, we propose a few context-specific suggestions to help university teachers in mainland China and other contexts better implement FWCF.
Distribution of Nominal Word-Patterns and Roots in Palestinian Arabic: A Developmental Perspective in Early Childhood
Authors: SHALHOUB-AWWAD Yasmin , KHAMIS-JUBRAN Maram
Published: October 2020

This study investigated the acquisition of word-patterns and roots in the nominal system of the spoken language of Palestinian Arabic (PA) and its distance from Standard Arabic (StA). It described, analyzed, and quantified the nominal system (roots and word-patterns) as reflected in the language corpus of Palestinian-Arab kindergarteners 3 to 6 years old. The results showed that non-linear derived nouns (deverbal nouns) are the most frequently used category (49.5%). Primitive nouns comprise 43.1% of the nouns, whereas linear derived nouns barely exist before children start school (0.3%). Additionally, the results showed that half of the nouns were built from common word-patterns and roots between PA and StA, whereas 30% of the nouns were constructed from different word-patterns with common roots. Although PA and StA have much in common morphologically, there exists a significant degree of divergence.
Conservation and Heritage As Creative Processes of Future-Making
Authors: Holtorf Cornelius
Published: October 2020

According to the logic of the conservation ethics, the heritage sector has the duty to conserve cultural heritage because it has inherent value and constitutes a non-renewable resource that once destroyed cannot be substituted and, therefore, must be preserved for the benefit of future generations. In this article, I argue, however, that the cultural heritage of the past is not a comprehensive legacy that theoretically, at any point, might have been considered complete but, rather, that it can be understood as frequently updated manifestations of changing perceptions of the past over time. The most important question for conservation and heritage management, thus, is not how much heritage of any one period may or may not survive intact into the future but, instead, which heritage, as our legacy to the generations to come, will benefit future societies the most. In particular, I am calling for more research into the possible significance of heritage in addressing some of the social consequences of climate change.
Notes on Authenticity and Development of Cultural Heritage in Syria
Authors: Soufan Anas
Published: October 2020

According to the Syrian philosopher T. Tizini (1934–2019), the dilemma of authenticity heritage in the Arab world has lost its factual conceptualization. While its societal and ideological issues have been rightly discussed, its technical aspects have been handled only superficially. In this article, I review the deep interconnectivities between the societal and technical aspects of the term “authenticity” and the reconstruction of the damaged architectural heritage in Syria after years of a devastating war. I suggest that any postwar reconstruction raises a central contradiction: rebuilding an element from the past in the present. While the destroyed physical fabrics might be reconstituted, the setting that gave them value and meaning can never be reestablished. For that reason, preserving the “authenticity” in the wide significance of the term seems unrealistic in the context of reconstructed heritage. Nevertheless, what several Syrian scholars and politicians describe as “authenticity by creativity” might be a possible outcome.
Renewed work at the Roman camps at Renieblas near Numantia (2nd-1st c. B.C.)
Authors: Jiménez Alicia , Bermejo Jesús , Valdés Pau , Moreno Fernando , Tardio Katie
Published: October 2020

Iberia was one of the first overseas territories to fall under Roman control when the provinces of Hispania Citerior and Ulterior were established in 197 B.C., preceded only by Sicilia (241) and Sardinia et Corsica (227).1 Renieblas and the sites surrounding Numantia are among the first camps of Rome‘s earliest overseas expansion to be confidently identified archaeologically. They are central in analyses of the Republican army and Roman siegeworks,2 the conquest of Hispania,3 and the effects of the war on local communities.4
Constructing the archaeology of the Roman conquest of Hispania: new evidence, perspectives and challenges
Authors: Morillo Ángel , Adroher Andrés M. , Dobson Mike , Martín Hernández Esperanza
Published: October 2020

The first meeting of specialists from different fields relating to research on the Roman army in Hispania took place in Segovia in 1998 under the title “Roman Military Archaeology in Hispania”. Its aim was to gather within one forum different experts working in this field.1 The term “military archaeology” was provocative in the Spanish academic world of the late 1990s, as military studies were viewed with slight suspicion in some quarters, both by those researching indigenous contexts and by those who remained anchored in a classical concept of Romanisation which rather neglected the contribution of the army to the process of assimilating Hispania into the Roman world. In Anglo-Saxon scholarship other terms with more historiographic tradition (e.g., “Roman army studies” or “Roman frontier studies”) were preferred. The goal in choosing the title of the 1998 congress was to create debate around a topic on which research efforts were becoming increasingly focused. Despite its limitations,2 the term “military archaeology” since then has become for many Spanish scholars the methodological basis for material-based and topographic studies of the military world and of war in its widest sense. As archaeology in the Iberian peninsula becomes increasingly open to new methodologies and practices being adopted elsewhere (especially in the Anglo-Saxon world), similar terms such as “conflict archaeology” or “battlefield archaeology” are appearing, which all form part of the conceptual frame of reference of military archaeology. In the last 15-20 years, research in this field has increased exponentially in the Iberian peninsula, particularly in the north and northwest where the Roman army had a much longer-lasting presence. This has allowed scholars, for example, to begin interpreting episodes such as the Cantabrian Wars, practically unknown from an archaeological perspective until very recently. In the last few years, progress has extended to earlier periods, affecting other regions such as the peninsula‘s northeast, southeast and E coast, where military topics are starting to be differentiated into Republican and indigenous contexts. A new generation of congresses and their resulting proceedings have generated some of the most significant contributions. The Segovia congress of 1998, its follow-up at León in 2004,3 the Roman Frontier Congress held at León in 2006,4 thematic French-Spanish congresses such as the meetings of the project “La guerre et ses traces dans la péninsule Ibérique” (2007, 2009 and 2010),5 and recent colloquia on the Republican period6 and on the Cantabrian Wars,7 have all become reference works. Coinciding with the first occasion upon which the Roman Frontier Congress was held in Spain, the first monograph — still an essential reference work — on the archaeological evidence for the Roman army in the peninsula was published.8