Confessions of a serial polygamist: the reality of radiocarbon reproducibility in archaeological samples

Since 1993 Historic England (and its predecessor English Heritage) has commissioned 9,074 radiocarbon measurements on archaeological samples. Over 80% of these have been interpreted within formal Bayesian statistical models. The multiple strands of reinforcing evidence incorporated in these models provide precise chronologies that make stringent demands on the accuracy of the radiocarbon results included in the analysis. Inter-laboratory replication is consequently a routine part of model construction and validation. We report an analysis of replicate measurements on 1,089 archaeological samples. It is clear that laboratory reproducibility accounts for only part of the observed variation. The type of material dated is also critical to the reproducibility of measurements, with some sample types proving particularly problematic

Death is not a success: reflections on business exit

This article is a critical evaluation of claims that business exits should not be seen as failures, on the grounds that may constitute voluntary liquidation, or because they are learning opportunities. This can be seen as further evidence of bias affecting entrepreneurship research, where failures are repackaged as successes. This article reiterates that the majority of business exits are unsuccessful. Drawing on ideas from the organisational life course, it is suggested that business ‘death’ is a suitable term for describing business closure. Even cases of voluntary ‘harvest liquidation’ such as retirement can be meaningfully described as business deaths

Annotating UI Architecture with Actual Use

Developing an appropriate user interface architecture for supporting a system's tasks is critical to the system's overall usability. While there are principles to guide architectural design, confirming that the correct decisions are made can involve the collection and analysis of lots of test data. We are developing a testing environment that will automatically compare and contrast the actual user interaction data against the existing user interface architectural models. This can help a designer more clearly understand how the actual tasks performed relate to the proposed architecture, and enhances feedback between different design artifacts

Quantitative Modeling in Cell Biology: What Is It Good for?

Recently, there has been a surge in the number of pioneering studies combining experiments with quantitative modeling to explain both relatively simple modules of molecular machinery of the cell and to achieve system-level understanding of cellular networks. Here we discuss the utility and methods of modeling and review several current models of cell signaling, cytoskeletal self-organization, nuclear transport, and the cell cycle. We discuss successes of and barriers to modeling in cell biology and its future directions, and we argue, using the field of bacterial chemotaxis as an example, that the closer the complete systematic understanding of cell behavior is, the more important modeling becomes and the more experiment and theory merge

Supplemental prophylactic intervention for chemotherapy-induced nausea and emesis (spice) trial: Protocol for a multi-centre double-blind placebo-controlled randomized trial

Aim: There is significant recent interest in the role of ginger root (Zingiber officinale) as an adjuvant therapy for chemotherapy‐induced nausea. The supplemental prophylactic intervention for chemotherapy‐induced nausea and emesis (SPICE) trial aims to assess the efficacy by reduced incidence and severity of chemotherapy‐induced nausea and vomiting, and enhanced quality of life, safety and cost effectiveness of a standardised adjuvant ginger root supplement in adults undergoing single‐day moderate‐to‐highly emetogenic chemotherapy. Methods: Multisite, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled randomised trial with two parallel arms and 1:1 allocation. The target sample size is n = 300. The intervention comprises four capsules of ginger root (totalling 60 mg of active gingerols/day), commencing the day of chemotherapy and continuing for five days during chemotherapy cycles 1 to 3. The primary outcome is chemotherapy‐induced nausea‐related quality of life. Secondary outcomes include nutrition status; anticipatory, acute and delayed nausea and vomiting; fatigue; depression and anxiety; global quality of life; health service use and costs; adverse events; and adherence. Results: During the five‐month recruitment period from October 2017 to April 2018 at site A only, a total of n = 33 participants (n = 18 female) have been enrolled in the SPICE trial. Recruitment is expected to commence at Site B in May 2018. Conclusions: The trial is designed to meet research gaps and could provide evidence to recommend specific dosing regimens as an adjuvant for chemotherapy‐induced nausea and vomiting prevention and management.No Full Tex

Islands of history: the Late Neolithic timescape of Orkney

Orkney is internationally recognised for its exceptionally well-preserved Neolithic archaeology. The chronology of the Orcadian Neolithic is, however, relatively poorly defined. The authors analysed a large body of radiocarbon and luminescence dates, formally modelled in a Bayesian framework, to address the timescape of Orkney's Late Neolithic. The resultant chronology for the period suggests differences in the trajectory of social change between the ‘core’ (defined broadly as the World Heritage site) and the ‘periphery’ beyond. Activity in the core appears to have declined markedly fromc.2800 cal BC, which, the authors suggest, resulted from unsustainable local political tensions and social concerns

A new model for high value meetings

The purpose of this research is to consider how organisations can increase competiveness by maximising the value of meetings whilst minimising their cost. This involves the development of a model which considers both the scheduling and management of meetings, whilst taking into account importance, value and cost where previously there has been no measure of these elements. This work will provide not only academic research within this under-represented area, but through a case study, a practical application. As time lost through unproductive meetings is estimated to cost billions, the potential saving through the application of this research is significant