Organic residues in archaeology - the highs and lows of recent research

YesThe analysis of organic residues from archaeological materials has become increasingly important to our understanding of ancient diet, trade and technology. Residues from diverse contexts have been retrieved and analysed from the remains of food, medicine and cosmetics to hafting material on stone arrowheads, pitch and tar from shipwrecks, and ancient manure from soils. Research has brought many advances in our understanding of archaeological, organic residues over the past two decades. Some have enabled very specific and detailed interpretations of materials preserved in the archaeological record. However there are still areas where we know very little, like the mechanisms at work during the formation and preservation of residues, and areas where each advance produces more questions rather than answers, as in the identification of degraded fats. This chapter will discuss some of the significant achievements in the field over the past decade and the ongoing challenges for research in this area.Full text was made available in the Repository on 15th Oct 2015, at the end of the publisher's embargo period

Simulation in Obstetrics and Gynecology

Simulation training in obstetrics and gynecology has been used for hundreds of years. The apprenticeship model of training has evolved to include group simulations and virtual reality trainers. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and other professional societies have recognized the importance of simulation and formulated recommendations and/or curricula for appropriate training of residents, fellows, students, and staff. Obstetrics has utilized simulation mannequins to teach the birthing process and is taking advantage of simulation and the associated debriefing sessions for training in emergency and uncommon scenarios as well as in multidisciplinary training. Gynecology has used box trainers and virtual reality simulation to improve procedural skills of trainees outside the operating room using proficiency-based training paradigms. Simulation has also allowed for improvements in the objectivity of assessments. Future directions may include crowdsourcing for the evaluation of surgical proficiency and possibly for credentialing purposes