bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
THE PRESENCE OFLEGIO XXIN ILLYRICUM: A RECONSIDERATION
Authors: Cesarik Nikola
Published: April 2019

Since Sir Ronald Syme wrote a paper on the legions under Augustus, there has not been much development on the movement of legions in Illyricum beforea.d.9. The basic reference work on the matter is still J.J. Wilkes'sDalmatia; and the last considerable upgrade was made in this very journal—in the paper by Stephen Mitchell, who showed thatlegio VIIwas most probably one of the legions that Marcus Silvanus brought from Galatia to fight the Pannonians at the Volcaean marches ina.d.7. Since the presence and the movements of the legions in Illyricum during the Augustan era is clouded by the lack of new discoveries of inscriptions, I find it suitable to quote L. Keppie's note from the preface of the second edition ofThe Making of the Roman Army: ‘The pace of epigraphic discovery has not slackened, though the number of military inscriptions which can confidently be dated to beforea.d.14 remains disappointingly small.’
Discovery of mutations in Chenopodium quinoa Willd through EMS mutagenesis and mutation screening using pre-selection phenotypic data and next-generation sequencing
Authors: Mestanza Camilo , Riegel Ricardo , Vásquez Santiago C. , Veliz Diana , Cruz-Rosero Nicolás , Canchignia Hayron , Silva Herman
Published: April 2019

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoaWilld) is a dicotyledonous annual species belonging to the family Amaranthaceae, which is nutritionally well balanced in terms of its oil, protein and carbohydrate content. Targeting-induced local lesions in genomes (the TILLING strategy) was employed to find mutations in acetolactate synthase (AHAS) genes in a mutant quinoa population. TheAHASgenes were targeted because they are common enzyme target sites for five herbicide groups. Ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS) was used to induce mutations in theAHASgenes; it was found that 2% EMS allowed a mutation frequency of one mutation every 203 kilobases to be established. In the mutant population created, a screening strategy using pre-selection phenotypic data and next-generation sequencing (NGS) allowed identification of a mutation that alters the amino acid composition of this species (nucleotide 1231 codon GTT→ATT, Val→Ile); however, this mutation did not result in herbicide resistance. The current work shows that TILLING combined with the high-throughput of NGS technologies and an overlapping pool design provides an efficient and economical method for detecting induced mutations in pools of individuals.
Detection of quantitative trait loci for wheat (Triticum aestivumL.) heading and flowering date
Authors: Zhao C. H. , Sun H. , Liu C. , Yang G. M. , Liu X. J. , Wang Y. P. , Lv F. X. , Wu C. Y. , Xu J. W. , Wu Y. Z. , Cui F.
Published: April 2019

Heading date (HD) and flowering date (FD) are critical for yield potential and stability, so understanding their genetic foundation is of great significance in wheat breeding. Three related recombinant inbred line populations with a common female parent were developed to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) for HD and FD in four environments. In total, 25 putative additive QTL and 20 pairwise epistatic effect QTL were detected in four environments. The additive QTL were distributed across 17 wheat chromosomes. Of these,QHd-1A,QHd-1D,QHd-2B,QHd-3B,QHd-4A,QHd-4BandQHd-6Dwere major and stable QTL for HD.QFd-1A,QFd-2B,QFd-4AandQFd-4Bwere major and stable QTL for FD. In addition, an epistatic interaction test showed that epistasis played important roles in controlling wheat HD and FD. Genetic relationships between HD/FD and five yield-related traits (YRTs) were characterized and ten QTL clusters (C1–C10) simultaneously controlling YRTs and HD/FD were identified. The present work laid a genetic foundation for improving yield potential in wheat molecular breeding programmes.
Foreign Investment, Regulatory Arbitrage, and the Risk of U.S. Banking Organizations
Authors: Frame W. Scott , Mihov Atanas , Sanz Leandro
Published: April 2019

This study investigates the implications of cross-country differences in banking regulation and supervision for the international subsidiary locations and risk of U.S. bank holding companies (BHCs). We find that BHCs are more likely to operate subsidiaries in countries with weaker regulation and supervision and that such location decisions are associated with elevated BHC risk and higher contribution to systemic risk. The quality of BHCs’ internal controls and risk management plays an important role in these location choices and risk outcomes. Overall, our study suggests that U.S. banking organizations engage in cross-country regulatory arbitrage, with potentially adverse consequences.
The accuracy of the modified Evan's blue dye test in detecting aspiration in tracheostomised patients
Authors: Linhares Filho T A , Arcanjo F P N , Zanin L H , Portela H A , Braga J M , da Luz Pereira V
Published: April 2019

Objectives

To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the modified Evans blue dye test compared to the fibre-optic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing to detect aspiration in tracheostomised patients.

Methods

This observational accuracy study included 17 patients hospitalised for respiratory complications, subjected to prolonged intubation, and for this reason, tracheostomised.

Results

Mean patient age was 60.2 ± 21.0 years. Aspiration was identified in 10 patients when assessed by fibre-optic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing; of these, 1 had aspiration when evaluated by modified Evans blue dye test. The dye test had a sensitivity of 10.0 per cent and specificity of 100.0 per cent for detecting aspiration. Fibre-optic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing revealed no statistically significant associations between aspiration presence and: speech and language therapy duration, intubation time, or tracheostomy plus mechanical ventilation duration.

Conclusion

The modified Evans blue dye test is simple and inexpensive, and does not require prior knowledge in endoscopy; it may be used as an initial screening test in all tracheostomised patients for evaluating aspiration. However, fibre-optic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing should be used for a more comprehensive diagnosis of tracheostomy patients, especially for those at high risk for aspiration.
Palliative intent treatment for head and neck cancer: an analysis of practice and outcomes
Authors: Begbie F D , Douglas C M , Finlay F , Montgomery J
Published: April 2019

Background

There is little consensus on how best to manage head and neck cancer with palliative intent. Predicting outcome is difficult and reported survival varies. The present study sought to delineate local practice and outcomes in patients treated with palliative intent.

Methods

The clinical records of all head and neck cancer patients treated with palliative intent presenting between 2015 and 2016 to our multidisciplinary team were reviewed.

Results

Eighty-four patients (21.5 per cent) were treated with palliative intent. All had squamous cell carcinoma. Mean survival time was 151 days (standard deviation = 121.1; range, 8–536 days). Of the patients, 83.3 per cent had a palliative care referral; 74.1 per cent had a hospice referral. Patients received a variety of interventions, and there was an associated complication in 8.2 per cent. The mean number of days spent in hospital for interventions was 11.9 days (standard deviation = 12.5; range, 0–41 days).

Conclusion

Different interventions are used to manage head and neck cancer patients with palliative intent, and these may be associated with significant morbidity. Survival time is variable, often several months; thus, any treatment must take into account morbidity in conjunction with the patient's wishes.
The Vindolanda Calendrical Clepsydra: Time-Keeping and Healing Waters
Authors: Meyer Alexander
Published: April 2019

An unusual copper-alloy fragment was recovered during excavations at Vindolanda in 2008. It has been identified as part of a calendar or water clock. A very similar fragment was found near Hambledon in Hampshire in 2017. Further investigation of the Vindolanda and Hambledon fragments and of similar objects from Frankfurt, Salzburg and Grand reveals that the Vindolanda and Hambledon fragments were once attached to clepsydrae to form time-keeping devices that are unattested in ancient sources, but that might be called ‘calendrical clepsydrae’.1 The links between similar artefacts and deities associated with water and healing are explored and evidence for a shrine located near sulphur springs in the Allen Valley is also discussed. The Vindolanda calendrical clepsydra is placed within this social and religious context.
The Beverly (Massachusetts) Historical Society
Authors: Tagney Ronald
Published: April 2019

During the American Revolution, the British blockade succeeded in destroying virtually all of the Massachusetts navy, a considerable amount of the state's privateers and fishing vessels, and most of New Bedford's whaling fleet. At the end of the war, England closed her own ports, as well as those of her West Indian possessions, to American trade France and Spain similarly forbade American commerce with their West Indian colonies. In addition, the former American colonies themselves imposed state tariffs that discouraged coastwise trade.
Artificial intelligence-based Monte-Carlo numerical simulation of aerodynamics of tire grooves using computational fluid dynamics
Authors: Uddin Ghulam Moeen , Arafat Syed Muhammad , Kazim Ali Hussain , Farhan Muhammad , Niazi Sajawal Gul , Hayat Nasir , Zeid Ibrahim , Kamarthi Sagar
Published: April 2019

In the current work, the effects of design (groove depth and groove width) and operational (temperature and velocity) parameters on aerodynamic performance parameters (coefficient of drag and coefficient of lift) of an isolated passenger car tire have been investigated. The study is conducted by using neural network-based Monte-Carlo analysis on computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The computer experiments are designed to obtain the causal relationship between tire design, operational, and aerodynamic performance parameters. The Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations-based RealizableK-εmodel has been employed to analyze the variations in flow patterns around an isolated tire. The design parameters are varied over wide range and full factorial design, while considering temperature and velocity is completely explored to draw conclusive results. The multi-layer perceptron type neural network with the back-propagation algorithm is trained to map any non-linearity in causal relationships. The sensitivity analysis is performed to find the relationship between control variables and performance indicators. The importance of control variable is determined by both sensitivity and significance analyses and the paired interaction analysis is performed between selected control variables to find the interactive behavior of corresponding variables. The design parameter of groove width with 6.8% and 41% reduction in drag and lift coefficient, respectively, and conventionally overlooked operational parameter of velocity with 4% and 35% impact on drag and lift coefficient, respectively, are found to be the most significant variables. The air trapped between the longitudinal grooves and the road is found to follow the beam theory. The interaction of the groove depth and width is found to be significant with respect to coefficient of lift based on the air beam concept. The interaction of groove width and velocity is found to be significant with respect to both coefficients of lifts and drag.
Interactions of Care and Control: Human–animal Relationships in Hunter-gatherer Communities in Near-contemporary Eastern Siberia and the Mesolithic of Northwest Europe
Authors: Pasarić Maja , Warren Graeme
Published: April 2019

This contribution explores modes of human–animal interactions in hunter-gatherer communities in near-contemporary eastern Siberia and the Mesolithic of northwest Europe. By discussing notions of care and control and drawing on syntheses of Russian-language ethnographic data from eastern Siberia, this paper explores the diversity and nuances of hunter-gatherers’ interactions with animals. While some contexts may reveal respectful yet diverse treatments of the hunted animals, others suggest that hunter-gatherers also might have interacted with animals kept as pets, captives or companions, thus implicating relations in which notions of care and control seem to be tightly bound.
AN UPDATED CHECKLIST AND A NEW SPECIES OF BEGONIA (B. RHEOPHYTICA) FROM MYANMAR
Authors: Hughes M. , Aung M. M. , Armstrong K.
Published: April 2019

A new species, Begonia rheophytica (§ Platycentrum), is described from northern Myanmar; it was initially confused with B. rhoephila, which is confined to Peninsular Malaysia. Comparison with other species with a rheophytic leaf shape is made. This new addition brings the number of currently recognised Begonia species in Myanmar to 73. An updated checklist of Myanmar Begonia species is also included.
Determination of dynamic thiol/disulphide homeostasis in children with tetralogy of Fallot and ventricular septal defect
Authors: Temel Münevver T. , Demiryürek Seniz , Saracaloglu Ahmet , Ozer Celal H. , Kahraman Hale N. , Coskun Mehmet E. , Başpınar Osman , Demiryürek Abdullah T.
Published: April 2019

Oxidative stress may contribute to the pathogenesis of congenital heart defects, but the role of dynamic thiol/disulphide homeostasis has not been evaluated. The objective of this study was to assess whether there are changes in thiol/disulphide homeostasis and nitric oxide levels in children with tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) and ventricular septal defect (VSD). A total of 47 children with congenital heart defects (24 TOF and 23 VSD) and 47 healthy age- and sex-matched controls were included in this study. Serum total thiol and native thiol levels were measured using a novel automatic spectrophotometric method. The amount of dynamic disulphide bonds and related ratios were calculated from these values. Serum nitric oxide levels were detected using a chemiluminescence assay. We found that the average native thiol, total thiol, and disulphide levels were decreased in patients with VSD when compared with healthy individuals (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p < 0.01, respectively). While native thiol levels were decreased (p < 0.01), disulphide levels were elevated in the TOF group (p < 0.05). We observed marked augmentation of disulphide/native thiol (p < 0.001) and disulphide/total thiol ratios (p < 0.01) in the TOF group. However, there was a significant decrease in native thiol/total thiol ratio in patients with TOF. No significant changes in these ratios were noted in the VSD group. We detected significant elevations in serum nitric oxide levels in children with TOF and VSD (p < 0.001 for all). These results are the first to demonstrate that thiol/disulphide homeostasis and nitric oxide are associated with TOF and VSD in children.
Diet quality of adolescents in rural Sri Lanka based on the Diet Quality Index–International: findings from the ‘Integrating Nutrition Promotion and Rural Development’ project
Authors: Williams Julianne , Townsend Nick , Rayner Mike , Jayawardena Ranil , Katulanda Prasad , Manoharan Seenithamby , Wickramasinghe Kremlin
Published: April 2019

Objective

The current paper describes methods of evaluating dietary habits of Sri Lankan adolescents based on the Diet Quality Index–International (DQI-I), which has been used in multiple international studies to describe dietary variety, moderation, adequacy and balance. The paper describes the method for calculating DQI-I scores and examines associations between DQI-I scores and dietary intake, and between DQI-I scores and sociodemographic factors.

Design

The study followed a three-stage cluster randomised sampling method. Dietary intake was collected using a validated FFQ. Estimated micronutrient intakes and number of servings consumed were described according to DQI-I quartiles. DQI-I scores were tabulated according to sociodemographic characteristics. Multilevel modelling was used to examine associations between sociodemographic characteristics and DQI-I scores.

Setting

Secondary schools in rural Sri Lanka.

Participants

Adolescents (n 1300) aged 12–18 years attending secondary school in rural Sri Lanka.

Results

DQI-I scores increased with consumption of fat (% energy), cholesterol (mg/d), energy (kJ/d), protein (% energy), Na (mg), dietary fibre (g), Fe (mg) and Ca (mg), but decreased according to percentage of energy coming from carbohydrates. DQI-I scores were significantly lower among females and students with lower levels of maternal education.

Conclusions

Policies are needed to increase the availability and affordability of nutrient-rich foods such as fruits, vegetables and high-protein foods, particularly to students from lower socio-economic backgrounds. Significant differences in diet quality according to sex, socio-economic status and district suggest there is potential for targeted interventions that aim to increase access to affordable, nutrient-rich foods among these groups.
TALKING ABOUT TRUTH
Authors: CMIEL KENNETH
Published: April 2019

Malachi Haim Hacohen, Karl Popper – The Formative Years, 1902–1945: Politics and Philosophy in Interwar Vienna (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000)

John Kadvany, Imre Lakatos and the Guises of Reason (Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 2001)

Steve Fuller, Thomas Kuhn: A Philosophical History for our Times (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000)
RETHINKING THE “CHICAGO SMITH” PROBLEM: ADAM SMITH AND THE CHICAGO SCHOOL, 1929–1980
Authors: LIU GLORY M.
Published: April 2019

This article traces the origins and evolution of a popular interpretation of Adam Smith as a “Chicago-style” economist, and it challenges the idea that the “Chicago Smith” is simply a misinterpretation of Smith's ideas. To that end, it reexamines the role that the Chicago school of economics played in developing and propounding a distinct vision of Adam Smith, not only within the profession of economics, but also for the broader American public in the twentieth century. I argue that the readings, teachings, and interpretations of Smith from Chicago economists across different generations are more than just superficial symbolism, claims of intellectual authority, or rhetorical window dressing. Chicago’s engagement with Smith’s ideas constitute important interpretive and substantive arguments about the essence of Smith’s contribution to economics and the role that Smith’s ideas could play in shaping public policy.
1Mx2.1, a novel high-molecular-weight glutenin subunit from Aegilops comosa and its relationship to high-quality dough
Authors: Du Xuye , Xia Biya , He Fang , Ren Mingjian
Published: April 2019

High-molecular-weight glutenin subunit (HMW-GS) of endosperm is mainly correlated with dough quality of bread wheat. In wheat cultivars, the HMW-GS genes with good processing quality are limited. However, there are an amount of excellent HMW-GS genes presenting in wheat-related species. In this work, two novel HMW-GS genes located on 1 M chromosome from Aegilops comosa have been cloned, designated as 1Mx2.1 and 1My12.1, respectively. The molecular structure of 1Mx2.1 and 1My12.1 showed high similarity with the published HMW-GS, but containing unique structures. 1Mx2.1 contained an extra cysteine residue in the repetitive domain, and 1My12.1 lost the conservative cysteine residue in the C-terminal domain. In vitro mixing test has indicated that 1Mx2.1 contributes excellent dough quality. The Ae. comosa can be used as an important genetic resource for wheat quality improvement.
100 Years of Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology
Authors: Longair Malcolm
Published: April 2019

Astronomy, astrophysics and cosmology have changed out of all recognition over the last 100 years. The IAU has provided an essential means of fostering international collaboration in these disciplines including times of international tension. Developments will be highlighted which have profoundly changed our understanding and insight into the workings of our Universe.
The IAU in the 21st Century
Authors: Williams Robert
Published: April 2019

Beginning in year 2000 the IAU undertook a number of initiatives that changed the Union from being primarily an inward-focused organization whose emphasis was the world of professional astronomy, to being more outward looking in engaging with the public. These initiatives included proposing to the United Nations and then leading the International Year of Astronomy IYA 2009, and the formulation of a Strategic Plan that included creation of the Office of Astronomy for Development. Additional programs are being undertaken by the Union that continue to broaden IAU engagement with the public.
IAU’s Interaction with Young Astronomers
Authors: Engvold Oddbjorn
Published: April 2019

The IAU promotes astronomy as a tool to strengthen science education of young people in developing regions through its International Schools for Young Astronomers (ISYA) and a Teaching for Astronomy Development (TAD) programme. This article describes briefly the strategy, organization and development of these programmes. The contents of the courses, tutorials and aims for longer-term effects of these programmes are described with focus on the ISYAs.
IAU General Secretary 1967–1970
Authors: Perek Luboš
Published: April 2019

This paper discusses my time as IAU General Secretary, 1967–70 and the General Assemblies in Prague in 1967 and in Brighton in 1970. I cover my work with Jean-Claude Pecker, whom I succeeded as General Secretary and with Donald Sadler, who was General Secretary 1958–64. The work of J. Kleczek for the International Schools for Young Astronomers is discussed.
Meghnad Saha: work, life and times
Authors: Kochhar Rajesh
Published: April 2019

It is no coincidence that IAU and Saha’s ionization formula are about the same age. Both events are related to World War 1 and connected with Germany though in entirely different ways.

Once sufficiently large number of stellar spectra had been obtained and empirically classified according to the Harvard scheme, it was inevitable that theoretical explanation would be forthcoming. The only surprise was that the breakthrough came from the far-off Calcutta which was nowhere on the world research map.

History chose the hour; the hour produced an unlikely hero: Meghnad Saha. Calcutta University had just become a research centre under Indian auspices. By a fortuitous combination of circumstances immediately after the war, the latest German language physics publications arrived in Calcutta as a personal library. While Europe needed time to resume scientific exchanges and activity, India seized the opportunity and produced two outstanding pieces of theoretical work: Saha’s ionization formula (1920), and Bose statistics (1926). It is to the credit of The Royal Society that it elected Saha as a member (1927) in spite of the government’s objections arising from Saha’s anti-British stance. Saha however was unable to carry out further observational and experimental work suggested by the theory.

Saha was a multi-faceted personality with strong views on political ideology, the role of science in a new nation and other topics. India’s charismatic Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, during 1947-1964 had a soft corner for sophisticated, suave, upper-crust people. Impatient and angry, confrontational rather than persuasive, Saha did not qualify.

Saha is justly regarded as one of the founders of theoretical astrophysics. Examination of his life and work is a rewarding exercise from various points of view: development of modern astronomy; Western science and the non-West; and political and social activism of a leading scientist and educator.
The Astronomer Nicolae Donitch, a Pioneer of the International Astronomical Union
Authors: Stavinschi Magda
Published: April 2019

Nicolae Donitch gave a special role to Romania’s membership of the IAU, even though it had basically adhered to it in 1922, but only on the 12th of July 1928 was Romania’s membership in the IAU recognized. He was a passionate observer of eclipses, of the zodiacal light, and a good instrument builder. His tortuous destiny was somehow similar to the destiny of many Romanians from Eastern Moldova: he was born in Chişinău, the capital of Bessarabia at that time; he studied in Odessa; after the first revolution in February 1917 he left Russia and remained in Odessa until the arrival of the Bolsheviks in 1920, who would completely destroy his laboratory. He then moved to his private Astrophysics Observatory in Dubăsarii Vechi, which he had set up in 1908, and stayed until 1940, when Bessarabia was once again torn away from Romania. He relocated to Bucharest, but soon after, when communists came to power, he had to leave the country on a permanent basis. As he severed all the ties with people from the country that had fallen into the red zone of communism, we completely lost track of him. It was only recently that, after thorough research, we could discover his traces, and learn of his last years of life.
Institutionalizing an astronomical internationalism in the long run
Authors: Saint-Martin Arnaud
Published: April 2019

A century of existence: it may seem short on the time-scale of the evolution of the universe, but very consequential to that of a scientific association. The fact that the IAU may be able to celebrate such a milestone is in itself a meritorious collective achievement, for it was not obvious at the very beginning that this organization was going to last more than a decade. Drawing on the historical sociology of scientific institutions, my paper will discuss the moral economy through which the IAU – and its dated but persistent form of scientific internationalism – has stabilized and maintained its identity since its creation in 1919, under the unifying auspices of a global scientific object to be known as: Under One Sky.
František Nušl, Vice-President of the IAU 1928–1935, and inventor of the circumzenithal telescope
Authors: Hyklová Petra , Šolc Martin
Published: April 2019

The Czech astronomer František Nušl (1867–1951) was professor of mathematics, practical astronomy and geometrical optics at Prague Charles University. His scientific contribution to astronomy consisted mainly of inventing and constructing of new astronomical and geodetical instruments. Together with his friend Josef Jan Frič, founder of the Ondřejov Observatory, he developed and improved the circumzenithal telescope (1899–1903–1906–1922–1932), a portable instrument with a mercury horizon for determining the geodetic position using the Gauss method of equal altitudes. This instrument won the gold medal at theExposition Internationale des Arts et Techniques dans la Vie Modernein Paris in 1937. Nušl, independently of Ernst Öpik, invented the wobbling mirror for determining the velocity of meteors by visual observation, and constructed an unique guiding system for the Ondrejov astrograph etc. The organizational activities of Frantisek Nušl were considerably rich, too: He was one of the founders of the Czech Astronomical Society in 1917, in the years 1922–1948 he served as its president. From 1918 until his retirement in 1937 he was the director of the Ondrejov Observatory, 40 km south of capital city of Prague, lectured astronomy at the Prague university and held many popular lectures including regular courses in radio broadcasting. František Nušl was member of several commisions of international scientific unions; he organized the 3rdGeneral Assembly of IUGG (International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics) in Prague 1927, and in IAU (International Astronomical Union) he was elected as Vice-President in the years 1928–1935. One can conclude that he was the main person who formed the Czech astronomy in the interwar period.
India’s participation in IAU over the years
Authors: Mallik D. C. V.
Published: April 2019

India was still a British colony when the International Astronomical Union was born in 1919. India did not have a national science academy nor a national research council at the time. The Royal Society, London, which was the adhering body of Great Britain to IAU, handled matters of the colony too. India formally joined the IAU in 1948 as an independent nation through an initiative taken by the Government of India. In 1968, the National Institute of Sciences of India (NISI) became the adhering organisation to the IAU, as did the other affiliate Unions of ICSU. Soon after, its name was changed to Indian National Science Academy (INSA).

Till the nineteen-sixties, individual Indian membership in the IAU grew rather tardily but the situation changed with the rapid growth of astronomical activities in the country. In 1967, M.K. Vainu Bappu, the then Director of the Kodaikanal Observatory, was elected a Vice-President of the Union. In 1979, he was elected the President of IAU for the triennium 1979–1982, and during the same period, V. Radhakrishnan and Govind Swarup were elected Presidents respectively of the Commisions 34 and 40. In 1985, the General Assembly of the Union was held in New Delhi. It was dedicated to the memory of Vainu Bappu who had initiated the process of inviting the Union to hold its GA in India. A few years later the Sixth Asian-Pacific Regional IAU Meeting was held in Pune. A number of IAU symposia and colloquia have also been held in the country. During the last three decades, the engagement of the Indian astronomers with IAU has increased a great deal with a large number of them taking on important official roles in the IAU. Currently, India has close to 300 individual members.
The China crisis
Authors: Liu Xiaowei
Published: April 2019

The so-called China crisis, well documented in History of the IAU by Adriaan Blaauw and in Under the Same Starry Sky: History of the IAU by Chengqi Fu and Shuhua Ye, refers to the withdrawal in 1960 of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) from the Union. The crisis stemmed from the admission by the IAU, amidst strong protest from PRC and some other member countries, of the Republic of China (ROC) to the Union, creating the so-called “Two Chinas” – or “One China, one Taiwan” problem. The crisis directly led to the absence of mainland Chinese astronomers from the stage of international collaborations and exchanges, and was only solved two decades later. The solution, accepted by all the parties involved, is that China is to have two adhering organizations, with mainland China astronomers represented by the Chinese Astronomical Society located in Nanjing (China Nanjing) and China Taiwan astronomers represented by the Academia Sinica located in Taipei (China Taipei). The denominations “China Nanjing” and “China Taipei” represent the IAU official resolution and should be used in all IAU events.

The China crisis, probably the most serious one in IAU history, was a painful lesson in the 100-year development of the Union. Yet, with its eventual solution, the Union has emerged stronger, upholding its spirit of promoting astronomical development through international collaboration of astronomers from all regions and countries, regardless of the political systems, religion, ethnicity, gender or level of astronomical development.
Look Back and Look Forward: The Growth of Astronomy in Japan
Authors: Hayashi Saeko S.
Published: April 2019

Astronomy in Japan has long history and has its own “light”. The foresight of leaders in the early 20th century helped Japan to become a founding member of the International Astronomical Union. In this paper, a brief description will show the growth in its more recent history with particular emphasis on two important issues: large research facilities and women participation. On the ground or above, the large observational facilities are nowadays outside of the land of Japan, not only in terms of physical presence but also the community they serve. Domestic membership of the Astronomical Society of Japan at the same time is expanding, thanks to the increased opportunities for women. Continuing global cooperation with more diverse composition of members are the keys for sustaining the growth to carry the astronomy in Japan with IAU into the next century, and hopefully to another planet.
The Role of the IAU Gleaned From Oral Histories of Individuals Involved in Astronomy in South Africa
Authors: Leeuw Lerothodi L. , Holbrook Jarita
Published: April 2019

The South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO), formerly known as the Royal Observatory, Cape of Good Hope, will be 200 years old in 2020. Also, South Africa (SA), formerly a British colony known as the Cape of Good Hope, will celebrate her 100-year anniversary as an International Astronomical Union (IAU) member in 2020, following the IAU centenary in 2019 that this IAU Symposium 349 celebrates. In light of all this, particularly in anticipation of the 200-year anniversary of SAAO in 2020, the SA National Research Foundation (NRF) has developed a Roadmap for the History of Astronomy in South Africa. As part of this we are conducting an oral history of astronomers to complement the historical celebrations of the institutions and science relating to astronomy in SA, supported by the SA NRF. Primarily drawing on literature and setting the scene for this work, here we present a snippet of the on-going oral histories, to glean the role of the IAU in astronomy in South Africa and show the potential of the oral histories to inform and complement written history.
Astronomy in Mexico during the first years of the IAU
Authors: Schuster William J. , Moreno-Corral Marco Arturo
Published: April 2019

In 1918 the only Mexican institution dedicated professionally to astronomical work was the National Astronomical Observatory, which had begun operations in 1878. In that year of the 20th century, Mexico was immersed in the armed movement known as the Mexican Revolution, which strongly affected the social and economic structure of the country. The Mexican astronomers saw their group drastically reduced and their infrastructure limited; however, they made great efforts to continue their participation in the international project of the Carte du Ciel, since they were part of the 18 observatories that originally participated in it. Despite the limitations they suffered, they soon joined the group of seven nations that in 1919 formed the IAU, and two members of that observatory actively participated in the first general assembly held in Rome in May 1922.
Relativistic Astrophysics in Uzbekistan
Authors: Ahmedov Bobomurat
Published: April 2019

During the last twenty years, due to the extensive help and assistance of the international scientific community, there has been a great success in the development and establishment of new well-functioning and competitive scientific groups specialized in general relativity and relativistic astrophysics in Uzbekistan (Tashkent), Kazakhstan (Astana and Almaty), Kyrgyzstan (Bishkek) and great achievements have been made on the study in Central Asia in relativistic cosmology and astrophysics of compact gravitational objects.
The IAU, from Commissions to Divisions… to Commissions
Authors: Montmerle Thierry
Published: April 2019

This paper tells the story behind the succession of reforms that, for the last twenty years, progressively brought the IAU in line with the fast developments of astronomy and the public awareness of the sky worldwide. One major difficulty was how to organize the scientific activities of an exponentially growing population of astronomers, from 200 at its creation in 1919, in the aftermath of WW I, to over 13 500 a century later. The first attempts at “restructuring the IAU”, as the expression went, can be dated back to the 1988–1991 triennium. As shown by the Minutes of the successive meetings of the Executive Committee, the attempted strategy was to encourage and even propose Commission mergers, but this policy met with strong opposition, even though a need for change was felt increasingly necessary. The new approach proposed by L. Woltjer, then incoming IAU President, during the 1994 General Assembly at The Hague, was to retain the existing Commissions (along with their Working Groups) but grouping them, more or less topically, into a dozen Divisions. Putting an end to the Commission merger deadlock, this new structure was adopted very quickly, and confirmed at the following GA in Kyoto (1997). But even after this restructuring, there was little evolution of the Commissions, and in some areas the scientific classification and breakdown of the IAU activities reflected by Divisions became questionable. As a result, a new reform was undertaken in 2009, based on a more global approach, but keeping the Division/Commission/Working Group three-tier structure as the backbone of the reforming efforts. Thanks to a close collaboration between the Executive Committee and the Division Presidents, the Divisions were first redefined and approved at the Beijing GA in 2012, followed by a historic, full-fledged “Commission reset”, itself approved at the Honolulu GA in 2015. This marked the end of a structure created almost a century before, at the foundation of the IAU: the Standing Committees, precursors to the Commissions. But in response to a Call for Proposals issued by the Executive Committee, the “reset” gave birth to a whole new Commission structure, conceived by the community itself.
The IAU C41 Working Groups and their contribution to international history of astronomy research
Authors: Orchiston Wayne
Published: April 2019

IAU Commission 41 (History of Astronomy) was founded in 1948, and between 1991 and its termination in 2015 this Commission hosted seven different Working Groups (one of which was shared with Commission 40 (Radio Astronomy). In this paper we list the objectives of these seven Working Groups and track their progress. We conclude by evaluating the role that each C41 Working Group played in furthering research on the history of astronomy.
Publication Changes during the IAU History
Authors: Abt Helmut A.
Published: April 2019

During the 100 years of the International Astronomical Union, the worldwide astronomical publications have grown exponentially, converted almost entirely to English, and changed format from observatory publications to journals to online publications. Observatory publications, conference proceedings, and individual theses have nearly disappeared in usefulness for research.
International School for Young Astronomers (ISYA) since the 1960s: Participants and Host Institutions
Authors: Gerbaldi Michèle
Published: April 2019

This paper discusses the main outcomes of the International School for Young Astronomers (ISYA), an IAU programme developed since 1967 under the auspices of Commission 46 Astronomy Education & Development, at present Commission C1. An assessment of the impact of the ISYA is given from various surveys and communications with the participants and organizers of the past ISYAs.
Historical Telescopes and Astronomy Outreach
Authors: Spinelli Patrícia Figueiró , Ribeiro Alice
Published: April 2019

The Night-Sky Observation Program (POC, acronym in Portuguese for Programa de Observação do Céu) is the most traditional education activity run by the Museum of Astronomy and Related Sciences (MAST), located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The activity starts with a brief talk about the astronomical objects available for visibility and is followed by the sky observation with MAST’s telescopes, one of them being over a century old. A study conducted in 2015 pointed out that its participants perceive the historical value of the old refractor and declare that the activity brings them feelings of wonderment. These perceptions and declarations have motivated us to conduct a new study to identify and exchange experiences with institutions worldwide that also use historically valuable telescopes in their night-sky observation activities with the public. With the goal of gathering information from these institutions and making it into a guide, an online survey with open and close-ended questions was launched in late 2017. Nearly eighty institutions from all continents answered our questionnaire. The data collected are vast and rich and not only tell about the passion of those mediating such activities, but also the history of astronomy itself.
The Carte du Ciel and the Latin American Observatories
Authors: Paolantonio Santiago , García Beatriz
Published: April 2019

2017 marked the 130th anniversary of the start of the Carte du Ciel project, an ambitious proposal by the Paris Observatory to map the entire sky using photographiy, which required the joint work of numerous observatories in the world. For this endeavour, an impressive organization was designed that included congresses, commissions and publications, which lasted through many years. The Carte du Ciel finally became one of the immediate antecedents of the International Astronomical Union, which in 2019 celebrates its first century. In Latin America, the observatories of Santiago de Chile, La Plata and Rio de Janeiro, the Argentine National Observatory and the Tacubaya Observatory, in Mexico, were involved in the project. In this presentation, we present part of the history of the failures and successes of one of the most important collaborative astronomical projects on the planet.
Uranometría Argentina and the constellation boundaries
Authors: Paolantonio Santiago , Garcia Beatriz
Published: April 2019

The astronomical community accepts the division of the celestial sphere into 88 constellations, according to what was established by the IAU. In the first Assembly of 1922 the use of Latin names for constellations and their abbreviations was resolved. The pending issue of the limits of the constellations was discussed in the next meeting and Eugène Delporte had the responsibility for the complete theoretical demarcation. For his work, Delporte took into account what was done half a century earlier in the famous work Uranometría Argentina, published in 1877 and 1879, under the supervition of Benjamin Gould. In ths presentation we discusse the situation at the moment when the constellation boundaries were proposed using arcs of RA circles and parallels of declination, choosing them in such a way that they did not deviate too much from those used in the most important celestial atlas of the time, and minimizing the changes of which constellations stars would belong to.
Making Tycho Brahe’s Sky Accessible to Future Astronomers
Authors: Dorch Bertil Fabricius , Holck Jakob Povl , Rasmussen Kaare Lund , Christensen Majken Brahe Ellegaard
Published: April 2019

Can we make a copy of Tycho’s “De Nova Stella” that can in fact survive a nova? At first, this may seem at best a nerdish, if not distinctly foolish question. However, it is also both a technological and a philosophical question: in fact, answering questions like this is linked to both technical, physical and sociological problems related to the long-term preservation and curation of objects from current and past civilizations.

The undertaking presented here is two-fold: Firstly, we report on the results from a state-of the art short-term project, in which we have digitized and analysed three well-known rare books Pertain ing to astronomical observations by Tycho Brahe on the island of Hven. The project led to the creation of free e-books, enabling open access to the sky as recorded by Tycho.

Secondly, we discuss some long-term issues related to the digital and physical preservation of scientific knowledge and heritage in general, exemplified by e.g. the works by Tycho.

Future work includes further physical analysis of the books and fragments, a systematic extraction and digitization of the astronomical observations, digital curation and dissemination, as well as research into the possibility of creating representations and replicas of the works, durable on extremely long time-scales.
An environment conducive to mistakes? Lessons learnt from the attack on the Médecins Sans Frontières hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan
Authors: Bouchet-Saulnier Françoise , Whittall Jonathan
Published: April 2019

On 3 October 2015, the Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Trauma Centre in Kunduz, Afghanistan was bombed during a US–Afghan joint military operation to retake the city. Even before that night, attacks on health-care facilities in war zones were already a worrying trend and a major concern for humanitarian organizations. Such attacks have led both MSF and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to launch campaigns1 addressing the need for greater protection of the medical mission in situations of armed conflict. Nonetheless, the scale and specific context of the attack on the Kunduz Trauma Centre have given rise to various specific investigations2 and provoked many more questions that this article will explore. The article will delve into the “many mistakes” scenario that has been presented by the US investigation in order to critically analyze whether these mistakes may originate from either incorrect or biased interpretations or implementation of international humanitarian law.
Autism and Faux Pas. Influences of Presentation Modality and Working Memory
Authors: Garcia-Molina Irene , Clemente-Estevan Rosa Ana
Published: April 2019

People diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often have difficulties on Theory of Mind (ToM) tasks involving social situations, such as ‘faux pas’. The objective of this study was to find the modality of presentation (visual, verbal, or mixed) that yields the best understanding of a ‘faux pas’, and the possible influence of other variables, including intelligence (IQ), age, and working memory. Thirty autistic children and 30 neurotypical children, all aged 7 to 12 years old and comparable in age and IQ, participated in this study. They were asked to resolve nine ‘faux pas’ stories (three per modality). Significant between-groups differences were found in the visual (t= 2.99,p= .004) and verbal modalities (t= 2.64,p= .011), such that the neurotypical (NT) group had higher scores than the ASD group. The ASD group’s comprehension was better via the mixed modality than the verbal modality (t= 2.48,p= .019). In addition, working memory had a bigger impact on Faux Pas understanding in cases of autism than in typical development (R2explained between .19 and .28 of variance in Faux Pas test outcomes), and could therefore explain some of the difficulties previously reported in this area. Future research should include a measure of working memory and a control among the stimuli presented to test for group differences in faux pas understanding.