Capita transformata : reworked private Roman portraits, first through fourth centuries AD : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Arts in History at Massey University

Long before the modern day interest in recycling, the Romans were reusing materials such as stone and precious and base metals in their art and architecture. In fact, any culture that produces art works from laboriously obtained or scarce materials is likely to reuse these elements. The extent of such recycling by the Romans is far-reaching and surprising, and reflects the entrenched practice of reuse in that society. Building material was commonly reused, ranging from architectural elements and sculpture to create the aggregate required for concrete, to decorative marbles to be reinstalled in a new context.1 For the reuse of building material, see Kinney 1997, 122-129. The most well known example of re-employed marble ornamentation is the Arch of Constantine in Rome: see most recently, Elsner 2000, with earlier literature. Reused material was also employed in the construction of mosaics. Existing evidence also suggests that mosaicists salvaged and recycled material from redundant pavements. Examples have been found both of mortar beddings from which tesserae (cubes of stone, glass, or terracotta used in the making of a mosaic) have been systematically removed and of reused tesserae with traces of old mortar adhering to them: Ling 1998, 13. Honorific inscriptions carved on marble could be turned and reused for other purposes.2 A case in point is an inscribed piece of marble in the University Museum in Philadelphia with an honorific dedication to Domitian from AD 95/6 on one side. Following the death of Domitian, the marble was turned and reused in the Trajanic period by being carved with a scene depicting members of the praetorian guard, soldiers who were employed as the emperor's personal bodyguard: see most recently, Flower 2001, with earlier literature. In clever and very practical examples of sleights-of-carving, old or disused architectural elements were transformed even into likenesses of a given subject.3 A column fragment in the Mariemont Museum, for example, was refashioned into the portrait of a lady: Lévêque and Donnay 1967, 78-79, no. G33. A similar example is a portrait of a Flavian man from Egypt, now in the Princeton University Art Gallery, that was carved from a Corinthian anta capital: Antonaccio 1992, and below, 84. A portrait of a Constantinian man from Cyrenaica was carved out of an architrave block: Rosenbaum 1960, 122-123, no. 282. Statues could be reused by replacing the original head with that of someone else, sometimes with amusing and incongruous results. 4 See, for example, a draped female statue from the first century AD in Cyrene, which had the head replaced with a portrait of the emperor Marcus Aurelius: Catani 1996,42-43. The replacement of the head of a statue with that of someone else is mentioned by Pliny the Elder, NH 35.4. See also Isager 1998, 115. Funerary inscriptions and altars could be reused by having the inscriptions recarved.5 For the reuse of funerary inscriptions and reliefs, see below, 83-84. For the reuse of altars: Andreae 1994, 36-37, pls. 408-409; Kinney 1997, 118, note 6. Architectural reliefs were also recycled, by having the portrait features reworked. 6 For example, the Cancelleria Relief in the Vatican depicting the profectio of Domitian had the features of this emperor recut to represent those of his successor, Nerva. See most recently, Meyer 2000, 124-136, with earlier literature at 125, note 396. 'Reworking' is defined in this thesis as the recarving of the hair and/or facial features of a marble portrait to represent a different subject. Because of their value as a precious material, even cameos could be reused by having the portraits on them reworked to depict new subjects. 7 See Megow 1987; more recently, see Sande 2001. This phenomenon, however, appears to have been almost exclusively limited to cameos depicting imperial subjects

Fragile X (CGG)(n )repeats induce a transcriptional repression in cis upon a linked promoter: Evidence for a chromatin mediated effect

BACKGROUND: Expansion of an unstable (CGG)(n )repeat to over 200 triplets within the promoter region of the human FMR1 gene leads to extensive local methylation and transcription silencing, resulting in the loss of FMRP protein and the development of the clinical features of fragile X syndrome. The causative link between (CGG)(n )expansion, methylation and gene silencing is unknown, although gene silencing is associated with extensive changes to local chromatin architecture. RESULTS: In order to determine the direct effects of increased repeat length on gene transcription in a chromatin context, we have examined the influence of FMR1 (CGG)(n )repeats upon transcription from the HSV thymidine kinase promoter in the Xenopus laevis oocyte. We observe a reduction in mRNA production directly associated with increasing repeat length, with a 90% reduction in mRNA production from arrays over 100 repeats in length. Using a kinetic approach, we show that this transcriptional repression is concomitant with chromatin maturation and, using in vitro transcription, we show that chromatin formation is a fundamental part of the repressive pathway mediated by (CGG)(n )repeats. Using Trichostatin A, a histone deacetylase inhibitor, we show reactivation of the silenced promoter. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, isolated fragile X associated (CGG)(n )repeat arrays can exert a modifying and transcriptionally repressive influence over adjacent promoters and this repressive phenomenon is, in part, mediated by histone deacetylation

The potential for videogame learning in a South African distance education environment

This article examines the potential for a videogame-based pedagogy in a South African open and distance learning (ODL) environment, wherein videogame interactivity might address the absence of individualised tuition. The discipline of Classics is utilised as a working example, with its primary educational elements, namely the study of history and culture, illustrating the broader appeal of a videogame-based pedagogy that can be deployed to courses ranging from anthropology to cultural and media studies, to history and even art. In largely literature review format, this article first assesses the representation of these elements in commercial videogames, before concentrating on user-modified videogame scenarios (‘mods’), and the employment of easy to understand ‘toolsets’ for creating such course specific content. The creation of such content using these ‘toolsets’ and other means (eg, free-to-play games) enables lecturers to construct unique videogame learning environments (VGLEs) for teaching purposes. Modern pedagogical principles are also brought to bear upon this notion of a videogame-centred multimedia approach to student-centred learning to properly situate it within the parameters of current educational practice. Finally, the pros, cons, and particular challenges of the use of a VGLE within the South African educational environment are considered.The University of Pretoria and its Department of Ancient Languages.http://www.unisa.ac.za/Default.asp?Cmd=ViewContent&ContentID=7388http://reference.sabinet.co.za/sa_epublication/progressam201

Philostratus' Heroikos : Protesilaos, Achilles and Palamedes unite in defence of the Greek world

Philostratus’ Heroikos is a dialogue between a vinedresser, tending the sanctuary of the hero, Protesilaos, and a Phoenician merchant. By reading this dialogue in tandem with the Vita Apollonii, which includes several notable instances engaging with the hero-cult, Philostratus’ opinion of this traditional form of Greek worship, and of the Eastern mystery cults as well, becomes clear. Philostratus initially expresses his displeasure at the religious status quo of his time through his character of Apollonius of Tyana, a time when mystery cultism was beginning to overthrow the ancient rites of the Olympian deities with its individualistic approach to belief. This article argues that together, these two works provide evidence of a call by Philostratus to renew the worship of the old Homeric heroes as a viable replacement for the declining rites of the Olympian gods, and as an attack on mystery rites as foreign intrusions on the religious landscape.http://www.casa-kvsa.org.zahb201

'Selling it as a holistic health provision and not just about condoms ?' Sexual health services in school settings: current models and their relationship with sex and relationships education policy and provision

In this article we discuss the findings from a recent study of UK policy and practice in relation to sexual health services for young people, based in - or closely linked with - schools. This study formed part of a larger project, completed in 2009, which also included a systematic review of international research. The findings discussed in this paper are based on analyses of interviews with 51 service managers and questionnaire returns from 205 school nurses. Four themes are discussed. First, we found three main service permutations, in a context of very diverse and uneven implementation. Second, we identified factors within the school context that shaped and often constrained service provision; some of these also have implications for sex and relationships education (SRE). Third, we found contrasting approaches to the relationship between SRE input and sexual health provision. Fourth, we identified some specific barriers that need to be addressed in order to develop 'young people friendly' services in the school context. The relative autonomy available to school head teachers and governors can represent an obstacle to service provision - and inter-professional collaboration - in a climate where, in many schools, there is still considerable ambivalence about discussing 'sex' openly. In conclusion, we identify areas worthy of further research and development, in order to address some obstacles to sexual health service and SRE provision in schools

Quench Risk Increase With Radiation Damage

Superconducting magnets are often proposed to confine plasma in fusion reactors. Superconducting material enables the magnets to carry current densities that would melt materials with non-zero resistance. Quench occurs when superconductivity is lost and the current starts to generate heat. Unless prevented with a fast enough control system, the heat generated during a quench can cause catastrophic damage to the coils. This work describes a less-studied heating mechanism that increases the likelihood and aggressiveness of fusion magnet quenches. Defects accumulate in the magnet structural material under irradiation by the fusion process. The defects store energy in the material and change thermal and normal state electrical properties. Wigner energy is released when defects anneal. After a 0.9 mDPA neutron irradiation, a 10 K disturbance from 20 K is predicted to release enough energy to result in a final temperature of 40 K. Irradiation damage also reduces the quench time constant by increasing normal state resistivity and thus Ohmic heating. The continuous operation of a fusion reactor produces an increasingly unstable thermodynamic system in superconducting magnets by changing electrical and thermal properties with irradiation damage. The temperature margin between operation and quench runaway reduces with irradiation. The next steps are to include these observations in quench models and validate the predictions experimentally. Implications of this work is felt by all fusion powerplant projects planning to leverage superconducting magnets. Designs will recognize this risk with more stringent specifications on quench control systems and maximum duration of coil operation at cryogenic temperature between periodic releases of Wigner energy to avoid catastrophic quench failures.Comment: 6 pages, 9 figures, 1 table. Work presented at Symposium on Fusion Engineering 2023 in Oxford on July 13th. The work is a hot topic and has been shared publicly. The work has significant implications for the design of some private machines. After publishing on Arxiv the work will be shared for peer review. The work will be submitted for a IEEE Transactions on plasma science early Septembe

The future in the past: belief in magical divination and other methods of prophecy among the archaic and classical Greeks and among the Zulu of South Africa during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2003.Magic and the supernatural have always been fascinating topics for investigation, none more so than the belief in prophecy. Actually being able to predict future occurrences, sometimes long before they take place, is certainly a desirable ability, and so naturally it was something that was much sought after in ancient Greece and amongst the Zulu people of South Africa. This is the domain of this dissertationbelief in the power of divination and how this belief could appear to be interrelated between two distinct peoples who are separated not only by the passage of time and their geographical locations, but also by socio-economic changes like industrialization and globalisation. The beliefs of both societies in this particular area are sometimes strikingly similar, especially in how each group understood such esoteric notions as the human soul and the afterlife or underworld. The function of magic in these cultures is also of -importance, since divination is almost always classed as a magical activity. The relative closeness to each other of their metaphysical knowledge allows a closer study of the figure of the diviner or prophet, more specifically who it was that could become a diviner and the reasons for this 'calling'. Several examples like Teiresias, the blind seer, are also useful in demonstrating certain beliefs and patterns. The major part of this dissertation deals with certain ritual practices of diviniilg. Although there exist many variations on a theme, the most important forms studied here are dreams, oracles, oionomancy (divining by understanding the song or flight of birds) and necromancy' (divining with the aid of the spirits of the dead). The method of divining by studying one's dreams is a universal constant and seems to take place in all cultures, making the practice useful for the purposes of comparative study. In terms of oracles, I contend that oracular divination is not a uniquely ancient fonn,but can be clearly seen in certain elements of the practice of Zulu divining, especially in the work of the abemilozi (diviners working with familiar spirits) Because of these similarities it is quite difficult to maintain that oracular divination· as occurred in ancient Greece, is not also practiced among the Zulu to some extent. Birds have always held a certain fascination for people and so it is not surprising that they are also used for divining. For the Greeks they could herald the favour of the gods, while the Zulu made use of them mostly for foretelling changes in the weather. Finally, necromancy because of its connection with ghosts and the dead was often frowned upon, but for both the Greeks and the Zulu it was one of the most powerful methods of divining because it was the spirits, who had already crossed to the other side and so were believed to have access to supernatural knowledge, that were thought to be able to answer the questions posed by the diviner. Most importantly I conclude that there is an indication that the souls of these two peoples were close to each other. The beliefs and the manner in which they go about establishing, using and confirming them are much the same for the ancient Greeks and the Zulu, despite the fact that they are separated by time, space and socio-economic context. In all, the only real difference is that the Greeks came to later explore science as another knowledge system. For the Zulu, one system was enough

First principles predictions of thermophysical properties of refrigerant mixtures

We present pair potentials for fluorinated methanes and their dimers with CO2 based on ab initio potential energy surfaces. These potentials reproduce the experimental second virial coefficients of the pure fluorinated methanes and their mixtures with CO2 without adjustment. Ab initio calculations on trimers are used to model the effects of nonadditive dispersion and induction. Simulations using these potentials reproduce the experimental phase-coexistence properties of CH3F within 10% over a wide range of temperatures. The phase coexistence curve of the mixture of CH2F2 and CO2 is reproduced with an error in the mole fractions of both phases of less than 0.1. The potentials described here are based entirely on ab initio calculations, with no empirical fits to improve the agreement with experiment

Role of Toll-Like Receptors 2 and 4 in Pulmonary Inflammation and Injury Induced by Pneumolysin in Mice

Background: Pneumolysin (PLN) is an intracellular toxin of Streptococcus pneumoniae that has been implicated as a major virulence factor in infections caused by this pathogen. Conserved bacterial motifs are recognized by the immune system by pattern recognition receptors among which the family of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) prominently features. The primary objective of the present study was to determine the role of TLR2 and TLR4 in lung inflammation induced by intrapulmonary delivery of PLN. Methodology/Results: First, we confirmed that purified PLN activates cells via TLR4 (not via TLR2) in vitro, using human embryonic kidney cells transfected with either TLR2 or TLR4. Intranasal administration of PLN induced an inflammatory response in the pulmonary compartment of mice in vivo, as reflected by influx of neutrophils, release of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines, and a rise in total protein concentrations in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. These PLN-induced responses were dependent in part, not only on TLR4, but also on TLR2, as indicated by studies using TLR deficient mice. Conclusion: These data suggest that although purified PLN is recognized by TLR4 in vitro, PLN elicits lung inflammation i