From a port for traders to a town of merchants: exploring the topography, activities and dynamics of early medieval Copenhagen

Copenhagen’s earliest history has long been shrouded in uncertainties. This is mainly due to insufficient source material. Basic questions – how old is the town, how did it originate, and where was the oldest settlement situated? – are still under discussion, as are questions regarding specific features of the early medieval town. Was Absalon’s twelfth-century castle preceded by an earlier one? What does a centrally placed, early medieval horseshoe-shaped enclosure surrounded by a massive ditch represent? Using archaeological results from recent major excavations, combined with Bayesian modelling of new 14C dates from the two early cemeteries of Sankt Clemens and Rådhuspladsen, older archaeological information and the medieval written sources on Copenhagen are revisited to form a new interpretation of the early development of the town. Three phases of topographical development from the eleventh to the early thirteenth century are recognised. The changes tell of a dynamic first two hundred years of the town’s history and of its changing role in Danish society. The article explores the people, activities and networks that lie behind the outstanding development from the small early settlement of the eleventh century to the flourishing merchant town of the thirteenth century

Are works councils and joint consultative committees a threat to trade unions? A comparative analysis

This article assesses whether the operation of works councils or joint consultative committees (JCCs) is inimical to unionization in different business systems. An extensive transnational survey reveals that both works councils and JCCs are positively associated with a union presence; there is no evidence from this sample that either is used to any significant extent as a substitute for unions. The finding holds true irrespective of business system. Its implications for industrial relations actors are examined

Massage therapy in the management of myogenic TMD: a pilot study Massoterapia para o tratamento da DTM miogênica: um estudo piloto

INTRODUCTION: The Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is greatly prevalent in the population and can be associated with bruxism. This disorder produces several signs and symptoms. Among them, pain is one of the most important because it reduces life quality and productivity of people who have such disorder. The aim of this research was to study if massage causes pain relief and/or electromyographic (EMG) changes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The subjects were chosen by a questionnaire and divided into 2 different groups. Their ages varied from 19 to 22 years. The experimental group consisted of 6 TMD patients, who were submitted to the massage treatment and 4 EMG-sessions (the 1st EMG-session occurred before the treatment and the others in the 1st, 15th and 30th days after the treatment). The control group consisted of 6 TMD patients, who were submitted to the same 4 EMG-sessions. While EMG activity was recorded, subjects were asked to keep mandibular rest position (MRP) and to perform maximal voluntary clenching (MVC). The treatment consisted of 15 massage-sessions on face and neck and in application of Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for measuring pain level. The massage sessions had 30 minutes of duration and were performed daily. The EMG data were processed to obtain the Root Mean Square (RMS), which were normalized by MVC. RESULTS: It was demonstrated that (1) RMS-MRP of the right masseter in experimental group at the 1st EMG-session was higher than at the 2nd EMG-session and (2) statistically significant reduction was found for VAS values after massage session. CONCLUSION: Unfortunately the sample is insufficient to draw any conclusions, therefore, more studies regarding the use of massage in the management of myogenic TMD are necessary.<br>INTRODUÇÃO: A disfunção temporomandibular (DTM) tem grande prevalência na população e pode ser associada com bruxismo. Esta desordem produz vários sinais e sintomas. Entre eles, a dor é um do mais importantes porque reduz a qualidade de vida e a produtividade das pessoas que têm tal distúrbio. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar se a massagem produz alívio da dor e/ou alterações eletromiográficas (EMG). MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Para tanto, utilizou-se um questionário para selecionar portadores de DTM, os quais foram divididos em 2 grupos diferentes. A idade dos voluntários variou de 19 a 22 anos. O grupo experimental foi formado por 6 portadores de DTM submetidos ao tratamento pela massagem e a 4 sessões EMG (a 1ª sessão ocorreu antes do tratamento e as outras nos 1º, 15º e 30º dias depois do tratamento). O grupo controle foi composto por 6 portadores de DTM submetidos às mesmas 4 sessões EMG. Durante o registro eletromiográfico, foi pedido aos voluntários para manter a posição de repouso mandibular (PRM) e realizar contração voluntária máxima (CVM). O tratamento consistiu em 15 sessões de massagem na face e pescoço e na aplicação da Escala Visual Analógica (EVA) para avaliar o nível de dor. As sessões de massagem tiveram 30 minutos de duração e foram realizadas diariamente. Os sinais EMG foram processados para obter Root Mean Square (RMS) que foi normalizado pela CVM. RESULTADO: Foi demonstrado que: (1) RMS-PRM do masseter direito do grupo experimental foi maior na 1ª sessão EMG em comparação com a 2ª sessão EMG e (2) houve redução estatisticamente significante para os valores de EVA pós-massagem. CONCLUSÃO: A AMOstra é pequena para delinear qualquer conclusão, sendo necessários mais estudos a respeito da massagem no tratamento das DTMs miogênicas