Glass Mosaic Dish

2nd-1st c. BCE The Glass Mosaic Dish from Hellenistic Greece is an example of decorative glass mosaic. This shallow bowl reflects the lively spirit of the Hellenistic period. The use of green, blue, white and yellow create an unusual color palette that is vastly different from the floor or wall mosaics of this period, but the integration and combination square pieces are most closely related to what we understand as present day mosaic. The blue and green squares also feature a spiral pattern, which is potentially a reference to the Greek key. This key pattern has been used on many different vases since Early Greek art, and it is therefore a very identifiable reference to the Greek culture. The dish was formed in a cast technique that was very common for glassware of the time.The result is a very well preserved, intact object that has withstood the test of time. There are two small holes drilled into the side, possibly meant for handles.These holes, however, are the only major imperfection found on this dish in present day. This dish was most likely created for an upper class domestic space, indicated by the unique and luxurious patterns.Many of these Hellenistic mosaics were created for party settings, often to honor Dionysus.They were noted as an “expression of taste and thought of their time.”It is possible that this dish was intended to be a drinking vessel for parties as many other mosaic dishes this size were. This, and other mosaic bowls, were not only an advancement on decor, but the production of glass mosaic also contributed greatly to the Hellenistic economy, especially out of Italy.With workshops producing and exporting dishes, jewelry, and wall decor at great numbers, there was a definite increase in desire for art as well as the elite needed glass for their parties. Although mosaics are typically associated with earlier civilizations, the Hellenistic period saw many great advancements and works in this medium. It is interesting to note how much influence a small glass vessel can have on a culture as well as history. Works Cited Lourve Museum. “Mosaic Glass Bowl.” http://www.louvre.fr/en/oeuvre-notices/mosaic- glass-bowl. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. “The Collection Online - Greek Mosaic Dish.” http:// www.metmuseum.org/collection/the-collection-online/search/245200? =&imgno=0&tabname=online-resources. Pollitt, Jerome Jordan. Art in the Hellenistic Age. Cambridge University Press, 1986). Stewart, Andrew. Art in the Hellenistic World. Cambridge University Press, 2014.https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/art231/1000/thumbnail.jp

Bronze Group of a Bull and Acrobat

1700-1450 BCE The Minoan Bull Leaper, or Bronze Group of a Bull and Acrobat, is a small representation of a Minoan ritualistic activity. Bull-leaping is a frequently shown and dangerous act that has been represented in different mediums in Minoan art.In this particular sculpture, the acrobat is shown somersaulting over the back of the bull and landing with both feet on its back. This is known to be the most dangerous and impossible of the various bull-leaping methods. The overall composition is shockingly dynamic and fluid. The acrobat, in an unusual position, is juxtaposed with the powerful bull in mid air. The acrobat and bull appear to be connected at the head with the acrobat’s hair skimming the bull’s horns. While somersaulting over the bull’s head, he is crouched, upside down, and almost unidentifiable. The bull is spread out into a flying gallop pose, common of Minoan bull painting and sculpture. Because Minoan bronze was typically poor in tin, the surface is bubbly and flawed.The broken legs of the bull and the leaper, a possible result of the casting technique, add to its fragmented condition. It is possible that the bull is being honored in this sculpture because it is the more prominent and idealized figure of the two. The bull, in Minoan culture, was seen as a sacred animal. This is evident in the idealized pose and expression that creates a powerful and authoritative image. This potential votive figure is quite different than those seen in other cultures. While most ritualistic statues are of human figures standing or sitting in a reflective pose, this statue reflects an action of an animal. The effect of this dynamic action is mystical - performing an act which seems to be impossible, and therefore suited for ritualistic purposes. Bull-leaping sculptures, like this one, were used in shrines or sanctuaries.It is possible that this seemingly impossible act was made easier by restraining the bull in real life, but without that image in this sculpture, the bull and acrobat appear to be flying through an undefined space.This representation of the bull is frequent - especially in the Minoan Palace of Knossos. Because this activity has a ritualistic and spiritual meaning, it is possible that this sculpture was produced for a palatial purpose. The bronze was clearly crafted by a skilled sculptor, not for a common, household item. Because of other bull representations associated with Knossos, this small sculpture could have been associated with rituals held in the palace. While this particular sculpture is unique in stylization, it belongs in a vast category of objects made by civilizations that wanted to worship what they believed to be sacred to their lifestyles. Works Cited Archino, Sarah. “Art of the Ancient World.” (presentation, Furman University, Greenville, SC, October 21, 2015). British Broadcasting Corporation. “Minoan Bull Leaper.” in A History of the World. http:/ www.bbc.co.uk/ahistoryoftheworld/objects/eU0DV7kOQ5inxmklD__YIw (accessed October 2015). The British Museum. “Minoan Bull Leaper.” http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights highlight_objects/gr/b/minoan_bull_and_acrobat.aspx (accessed October 2015).https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/art231/1006/thumbnail.jp

Octopus Flask

1500-1450 BCE The Octopus Flask is an example of Minoan New Palace Period pottery. Made to celebrate the sea, this Kamares Ware jug is covered in decoration of marine life.The jug is round with a small opening at the top and has two small, round handles on either side of the neck. The main figure is an octopus whose tentacles span over the rounded surface of the vase. There is not much attention to realism in this representation, and the figure is almost cartoon-like. The most unrealistic features are the figure’s bulging, round eyes, and the inclusion of all of its suckers, which would not be visible on all tentacles in a realistic perspective; However, these round motif features mimic the shape of the vase as well as the round handles at the neck. The overall appearance of the octopus is fluid and dynamic as it wraps around the surface. The space around the main figures is filled with other sea objects - coral, seaweed, and shells. These objects are usually placed without much interest in composition or symmetry. While there is not a specific narrative, it is clear that the overall meaning is a representation of a love for the sea.This subject matter on vases is called of “Marine Style” pottery.The marine style is shown in the design of the subject as well as the overall structure of the jug. The round body of the jug represents the head of an octopus, and the two rounded handles are a simplified version of tentacles. This is what art historians call “Anthropomorphic”, meaning the object itself is a representation of the subject. Here, the handles are made to represent the subject of the octopus. This is important because, when used, this style gives historians insight into what the culture valued. In this case, as shown with the abundance of marine subjects in other media, it is evident that the Minoan culture valued marine life. This also supports evidence that the Minoan economy depended on the sea. Over time, the paint has become muted, but it is clear that there is a shift in style of Minoan pottery and ceramics. In Old Palace style, pottery showed light figures on a dark background, for the most part.Here, dark figures are shown on a light background. This shift would be important in Greek pottery, and this dark on light technique would be the norm for Greek pottery until about 530 BCE.The effect of this style is a greater attention to detail, like the suckers on the octopus, which would be less prominent on a dark background. Across various ancient cultures, artists portrayed what they saw in everyday life and what was important to them, and this is very much true for Minoan art and pottery. Works Cited Kleiner, Fred. Gardner’s Art through the Ages: A Global History. Cengage Learning: 2015. 92. Stockstad, Marilyn. Art History, 3rd ed. Prentice Hall: 2007. 94.https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/art231/1003/thumbnail.jp

Utilization of 340b Program in a Rural Hospital

Introduction: The 340B is a federal program that provides eligible rural hospitals, providers, and clinics the capability to purchase medications at reduced prices for outpatient use. Enrollment in the 340B program requires drug manufacturers to supply covered healthcare entities and eligible healthcare organizations medications at substantially reduced prices and has allowed covered entities to extend federal resources by offering more comprehensive services and reaching more of the vulnerable populations. The purpose of this research study was to examine utilization of 340B program within provider based clinics of a university medical school affiliated with a rural hospital to assess the benefits and barriers of its utilization. Methodology: The methodology for this study was a literature review complemented with a semi-structured interview of an expert in 340B program. Seven electronic databases were utilized with a total of 21 sources referenced for this review. Results: The type and volume of care provided in rural areas has been expanded as a result of the 340B program leading to median savings of $10,000 per month in prescription purchases. Pharmacy savings have ranged from$600 to $158,000 per month depending upon whether chemotherapy was available on an outpatient basis or not. In 2010, total cost of drug discounts equaled$6 billion dollars, and has been projected to be $12 billion by 2016 with a discount range between 30% to 50%. Discussion/Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that the benefits in the types and volume of services provided outweigh the barriers of maintaining separate drug inventories and difficulties in the management of the outpatient pharmacy that include audits at the state and federal levels as well as audits from pharmaceutical manufacturers

Dating Methods and Techniques at the John Hallowes Site (44WM6): A Seventeenth-Century Example

The John Hallowes site (44WM6) in Westmoreland County, Virginia, was excavated between July 1968 and August 1969. No report of the excavations was completed at that time, although an article summarizing the findings was published in Historical Archaeology in 1971, dating the site’s occupation to the period from the 1680s to 1716. From 2010 to 2012, a systematic reanalysis of the site, features, history, and artifacts was conducted by archaeologists at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Benefiting from nearly 40 years of advances in Chesapeake archaeology, the reanalysis has challenged accepted dates for the site’s occupation, which is now placed at 1647–1681. In this article, we will discuss the multiple lines of evidence in support of the newly interpreted date range

Longitudinal Evaluation of the Impact of Placement Development Teams on Student Support in Clinical Practice

AIMS: To investigate the impact of a new structure for supporting healthcare students and mentors in practice placements (Placement Development Teams). INTRODUCTION: The English Model National Partnership Agreement for healthcare education required Strategic Health Authorities, Higher Education Institutions and National Health Service Trusts to redesign strategies for student support. Placement Development Teams are one English University's response to this. MATERIALS AND METHODOLOGY: This study was phase 2 of a longitudinal qualitative evaluation of Placement Development Teams. Data were collected after establishment of Placement Development Teams, and compared and contrasted with those collected prior to their implementation. Telephone interviews were conducted with key educational stakeholders in Trusts and Strategic Health Authorities. Focus groups were conducted with third year non-medical healthcare students and first year paramedics working in 16 NHS Trusts in the south west peninsula of England. RESULTS: Pre-Placement Development Teams, themes from the students' data were: Supportive and unsupportive behaviour of staff; Mentor allocation; Placement allocation; Benefits of students to the placement area and Perceived control over the learning experience. Post-Placement Development Teams, the themes were Communication; Supportive and unsupportive behaviour of staff; The effect of peers on the placement experience; Knowledge and perceptions of the work of the PDTs. Form the staff data, pre-Placement Development Teams the themes were: Vision for improving student support. Post-Placement Development Teams themes from the staff data were how they provided a central point of contact for student and mentor support; and how they supported students and mentors. CONCLUSION: Support of students and mentors is particularly important following the introduction of The English Model National Partnership Agreement for healthcare education. Placement Development Teams can facilitate partnership working between higher education institutions and placement providers for student support

Kin-Aggregations Explain Chaotic Genetic Patchiness, a Commonly Observed Genetic Pattern, in a Marine Fish

The phenomenon of chaotic genetic patchiness is a pattern commonly seen in marine organisms, particularly those with demersal adults and pelagic larvae. This pattern is usually associated with sweepstakes recruitment and variable reproductive success. Here we investigate the biological underpinnings of this pattern in a species of marine goby Coryphopterus personatus. We find that populations of this species show tell-tale signs of chaotic genetic patchiness including: small, but significant, differences in genetic structure over short distances; a non-equilibrium or “chaotic” pattern of differentiation among locations in space; and within locus, within population deviations from the expectations of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE). We show that despite having a pelagic larval stage, and a wide distribution across Caribbean coral reefs, this species forms groups of highly related individuals at small spatial scales (metres). These spatially clustered family groups cause the observed deviations from HWE and local population differentiation, a finding that is rarely demonstrated, but could be more common than previously thought

The association of genetic predisposition to depressive symptoms with non-suicidal and suicidal self-Injuries

Non-suicidal and suicidal self-injury are very destructive, yet surprisingly common behaviours. Depressed mood is a major risk factor for non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. We conducted a genetic risk prediction study to examine the polygenic overlap of depressive symptoms with lifetime NSSI, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts in a sample of 6237 Australian adult twins and their family members (3740 females, mean age\ua0=\ua042.4\ua0years). Polygenic risk scores for depressive symptoms significantly predicted suicidal ideation, and some predictive ability was found for suicide attempts; the polygenic risk scores explained a significant amount of variance in suicidal ideation (lowest p\ua0=\ua00.008, explained variance ranging from 0.10 to 0.16\ua0%) and, less consistently, in suicide attempts (lowest p\ua0=\ua00.04, explained variance ranging from 0.12 to 0.23\ua0%). Polygenic risk scores did not significantly predict NSSI. Results highlight that individuals genetically predisposed to depression are also more likely to experience suicidal ideation/behaviour, whereas we found no evidence that this is also the case for NSSI

Tidal, Geological, and Biological Impacts to Humboldt Bay\u27s pH

This research examines factors that control pH in Humboldt Bay – a shallow, tidally-driven estuary in northern California (USA) that supports shellfisheries which are economically important to the state. Time-series data from hydrographic sensors at two Central and Northern California Ocean Observing System (CenCOOS) stations, as well as multiple 2021 undergraduate cruises, were used to understand the role of tides, biological productivity and carbonate dissolution in controlling pH on various timescales. Differences in pH, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll, and temperature between an in-bay sensor and a coastal sensor indicate that the tidal flux exerts a long term, seasonal control on pH, but biological productivity substantially modifies carbon and oxygen thereby controlling pH on daily and weekly timescales. Sediment samples were also collected from the bay in 2021 to study carbonate dissolution. Sediments were incubated for three days in both stirred and unstirred conditions (to mimic tidal mixing and no tidal mixing respectively) and DO, pH and alkalinity were monitored. For all stirred incubations, large increases in pH and alkalinity suggested considerable carbonate sediment dissolution. When scaled to the bay’s in-situ suspended sediment concentrations, carbonate dissolution may exert a supplementary control on pH at similar time scales as biological productivity, but the magnitude of its effect is less