Aesthetics in Negotiation: Part Two: The Uses of Alchemy

In Part One, in this volume, we discussed the four classic elements — earth, water, air and fire — as paths via which beauty can infuse negotiation. Another way these four elements can be explored is through the organizing concept of alchemy. Alchemy, historically concerned with changing states and physical properties, including turning one substance into another, is essentially concerned with transformation. Given that negotiation — when optimal — may also yield transformation, we examine what alchemical concepts may have to offer here

Aesthetics in Negotiation: Part Two: The Uses of Alchemy

In Part One, in this volume, we discussed the four classic elements — earth, water, air and fire — as paths via which beauty can infuse negotiation. Another way these four elements can be explored is through the organizing concept of alchemy. Alchemy, historically concerned with changing states and physical properties, including turning one substance into another, is essentially concerned with transformation. Given that negotiation — when optimal — may also yield transformation, we examine what alchemical concepts may have to offer here

Resistance, Resonance and Restoration: How Generative Stories Shape Organisational Futures

Stories are powerful. They reflect our past and shape our futures, but are never complete. Stories connect us to people in organisations – present and past – with whom we feel belonging, and disconnect us from others. Always abstractive, they give incomplete pictures of what was, weaving past accounts into what is and what will be. Because choice-points in storytelling are mostly unconscious, biases and perceptions are always part of narration, tending to reinforce preferred images, identities and trajectories. Storytelling habits, in turn, often accent negative histories and escalate conflict. Because stories are so powerful, it is essential to critically examine how they function in organisations, and to develop ways of supporting generative, inclusive stories

A Tale of Two Villages : Isotopic Insight into Diet, Economy, Cultural Diversity and Agrarian Communities in Medieval (11th-15th century AD) Apulia, Southern Italy.

Questo studio utilizza l'analisi stordito sfusa dell'isotopo del carbonio (δ13C) e dell'azoto (δ15N) di collagene osseo per studiare le diete di due villaggi medievali deserti, Apigliano e Quattro Macino, in Puglia, Italia meridionale. I cimiteri campionati rappresentano la cultura religiosa cattolica latina e greco-ortodossa. L'obiettivo era quello di indagare potenziale variazione inter- e intra-sito (età, sesso, fede, etnia, luogo di sepoltura) tra queste popolazioni culturalmente diverse e metterle in un più ampio contesto medievale italiano. Il collagene osseo è stato analizzato da 103 esseri umani e 33 animali. Sessantotto esseri umani sono stati campionati da Apigliano (c.13-15 secolo d.C.) e 35 individui provenienti da Quattro Macine (c.XI-XV secolo dC). Da entrambi i siti sono stati campionati i non adulti e gli adulti di sesso maschile, femminile e sconosciuto e animali contemporanei. I dati isotopici indicano che entrambi i siti sono stati riportati su una dieta terrestre a base di C3 con un apporto limitato di proteine ad alto livello trofico da carne e pesce, come indicato da bassi valori di δ15N. La dieta dei non adulti corrispondeva a quella degli adulti a partire dai cinque anni di età ad Apigliano, ma quattro mafie non adulti presentano valori significativamente impoveriti di 15N. La variabilità nella dieta differiva tra i due insediamenti, con Apigliano che dimostrava un intervallo maggiore e valori più alti di δ15N complessivo rispetto a Quattro Macine. Interpretiamo il modello alimentare differenziale tra i siti come risultato di fattori socio-culturali e socio-economici. Il confronto con i dati isotopici di altre popolazioni medievali indica tendenze nelle differenze di sussistenza in tutta la penisola italiana, in particolare associate alla natura rurale/urbana dell'insediamento e dell'economia locale. Questa ricerca aggiunge nuove prove dietetiche medievali da un'area geografica precedentemente inesplorata utilizzando tecniche isotopiche

Honey Bee and Bumble Bee Antiviral Defense

Bees are important plant pollinators in both natural and agricultural ecosystems. Managed and wild bees have experienced high average annual colony losses, population declines, and local extinctions in many geographic regions. Multiple factors, including virus infections, impact bee health and longevity. The majority of bee-infecting viruses are positive-sense single-stranded RNA viruses. Bee-infecting viruses often cause asymptomatic infections but may also cause paralysis, deformity or death. The severity of infection is governed by bee host immune responses and influenced by additional biotic and abiotic factors. Herein, we highlight studies that have contributed to the current understanding of antiviral defense in bees, including the Western honey bee (Apis mellifera), the Eastern honey bee (Apis cerana) and bumble bee species (Bombus spp.). Bee antiviral defense mechanisms include RNA interference (RNAi), endocytosis, melanization, encapsulation, autophagy and conserved immune pathways including Jak/STAT (Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription), JNK (c-Jun N-terminal kinase), MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinases) and the NF-κB mediated Toll and Imd (immune deficiency) pathways. Studies in Dipteran insects, including the model organism Drosophila melanogaster and pathogen-transmitting mosquitos, provide the framework for understanding bee antiviral defense. However, there are notable differences such as the more prominent role of a non-sequence specific, dsRNA-triggered, virus limiting response in honey bees and bumble bees. This virus-limiting response in bees is akin to pathways in a range of organisms including other invertebrates (i.e., oysters, shrimp and sand flies), as well as the mammalian interferon response. Current and future research aimed at elucidating bee antiviral defense mechanisms may lead to development of strategies that mitigate bee losses, while expanding our understanding of insect antiviral defense and the potential evolutionary relationship between sociality and immune function

The medieval population of Leopoli-Cencelle (Viterbo, Latium) : dietary reconstruction through stable isotope analysis from bone proteins

The Medieval period in Europe was a time of unprecedented social complexity and significant social and political change that had an impact on human diets. The present study aims to use stable isotope analysis from bone proteins to explore the diets of humans (n = 76) and fauna (n = 5) from the Medieval town of Leopoli-Cencelle (VT, Italy). The town was occupied between the 9th–15th centuries CE, however, the analysed remains date to the Late Medieval period (12th–15th centuries CE). Historical sources provide some information about the inhabitants of this community: the majority of the population was represented by craftsmen and traders, but farmers and shepherds were also present. To date, no biomolecular data regarding this community have been published. The results indicated an increase of 3–5‰ in δ15N values of humans compared to animals, reflecting a high trophic-level. The δ13C results indicated that animal and human diet was mainly based on C3 terrestrial resources, although three humans possessed an isotopic signature indicative of C4 plant consumption. No statistically significant differences between sexes or age groups (adults vs juveniles) were detected. The isotopic results were further placed in their regional and chronological context, adding valuable data to our understanding of diet and food distribution during the Medieval period in Italy

Assessing current c-reactive protein sampling practices within the neonatal intensive care unit for neonates with suspected early onset sepsis

C-reactive protein is synthesized in the liver as part of the acute phase response activated in reaction to acute injury. It has been well established that CRP levels can be used as an acute marker of inflammation making it a useful aid in the diagnosis and management of sepsis. However, its use within the immediate postnatal period presents unique challenges. Aim: This study aimed to elucidate and standardise CRP blood sampling intervals in neonates with suspected early onset sepsis, and to describe the relationship between CRP results and final blood culture results, with the aim of implementing NICE recommendations within the local setting. Results: 316 infants were included in the study. 26.2% of neonates had at least 1 positive CRP value (>10 mg/dl) during the first 72 hours of life, with 12.7% resulting in a detectable bacterial growth on blood cultures. The largest percentage of positive CRP levels was obtained when blood was sampled within 18 to 24 hours post birth (30.3%). 40.7% of CRP samples were repeated between 24-48 hours of life. For 27.7% of neonates, a first positive CRP level of more than 10 mg/dl was noted after 24 hours of life. The results show the importance of maintaining adequate timing intervals between serial CRP levels, which should be taken as a baseline on admission and then repeated not before 12 hours of age, to achieve optimal sensitivity. Our current sampling practice might lead to falsely reassuring negative CRP values, affecting outcomes in sepsis management.peer-reviewe