Examining Reactive Arthropathy in Military Skeletal Assemblages: A Pilot Study Using the Mass Grave Assemblage from the Battle of Towton (1461)

Military personnel are often subjected to physical exertion, sleep deprivation, deficient diets, overcrowding, and stress. All of these influences are capable of compromising the immune system’s ability to ward off disease-causing bacteria, thus explaining why the historical narrative of war is frequently accompanied by reports of death and suffering due to epidemics of infectious diseases. Historically some of the most common infections included: diarrhoea, dysentery, typhoid fever, gonorrhoea, and streptococcal tonsillitis. The bacteria which cause these diseases are also capable of triggering arthritis. When an arthritic condition is triggered by an infectious microbe it can broadly be referred to as “reactive arthropathy,” of which the spondyloarthritides (SpAs) are of great interest. Since the bacteria associated with these arthritic conditions are responsible for the epidemics which have plagued combatants for centuries, it is reasonable to assume that reactive arthropathy was present in past military populations. This assertion can be tested through a prevalence study of military related skeletal assemblages. To test the methodology and gain preliminary results for this research project, a pilot study was carried out using remains from the 1461 Battle of Towton. The methodology was deemed to be sound and the statistical results, while not significant, were promising

The Multiplicity of Being: John Clare and the Art of 'Is'

John Clare has sometime been regarded as a poet that demonstrates the characteristics of naïve poetry according to Schiller’s definition. This had led to ideas that Clare is resistant to philosophical readings and theories. Through careful consideration of the workings of his poetry, this thesis argues the reverse case. It asserts that Clare writes ontological poetry and poetry which ‘thinks.’ This thinking can be illuminated by the existential ontological concepts of Martin Heidegger, together with his later writings which interpret poetry as the language of Being. The chapters are organised to bring out the diverse and interconnected implications of these assertions. After the introduction which, among other things, defines key Heideggerian concepts, such as Dasein, Thrownness, Gelessenheit, The Open and ‘Thinging’, the initial chapter discusses Clare as a poet of Being according to Heidegger’s criteria and definitions. Clare is compared to Hölderlin, Heidegger’s ultimate philosophical poet. The chapter discusses Heidegger’s definition of essential poetry and subsequently emphasises its characteristics and traces them through Clare and Hölderlin. The next two chapters present Clare’s poetry as it conforms to Heidegger’s ideas of ‘pure poetry’ using the The Shepherd’s Calendar (1927) as exemplification. The first of these chapters uses the poems from ‘January’ to ‘June’ to reveal what Heidegger describes as the unconditionedness, or the unconditional and unconditioned intelligibility of Being’s essences. In chapter three the thesis demonstrates how Clare’s poetry, from ‘July’ to ‘December’, corresponds in its methods to the way in which Heidegger takes the noun ‘thing’ and transforms it into a verb. Chapter four addresses two treatments of Being within Clare’s nature poems. The first idea is that of nature as aletheia, a Greek word which Heidegger interprets as the disclosing of ‘truth.’ The second idea is that of Human Being. The ideas are linked in that nature as truth becomes a synonym for Clare’s own being. Chapter fives sees Clare as a poetic thinker, probing the existential significance of life. Chapter six discusses Clare’s writing about Being-in the world and Being-with others. The chapter highlights the irony of Clare as a poet of place who can find no sense of home. Clare uses poetry to alleviate his ontological homelessness. Clare’s later excursions into existential ontology lead to chapter seven and a discussion of the poet’s ontological shift to the Eternal. The final chapter compares Clare and Wordsworth as philosophical poets. An Appendix glosses key terms from Heidegger, in support of and cross-referenced to the expositions offered in the Introduction and elsewhere. Overall, the thesis explores and affirms the value of Clare’s work as an embodiment of ontology as a mode of thinking made possible by poetry

RUNNING FOR INTEGRATION: CCNY AND THE PROMISE OF INTERRACIAL COOPERATION THROUGH BASKETBALL

In 1951, an investigation of gambling in college basketball by New York district attorney, Frank Hogan, ultimately led to the arrest of more than 30 players from seven schools, including six players from the City College of New York (CCNY). Just a year earlier in 1950, CCNY became the first racially integrated basketball team to win the national championship; and the only one to win the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and National Invitational Tournament (NIT) championships in the same season. Unfortunately, their accomplishments were overshadowed by the gambling scandals

The sociology of ethnic relations

The sociological problems presented by ethnic relations should be distinguished from problems of social policy. The foundations for a micro-sociology of ethnic relations laid by Max Weber in 1906-11 have to be inter-related with the macro-sociological contexts within which ethnic groups are constructed by collective action. When ethnic relations have their origin in transnational migration, much depends on the immigrants' points of entry into the receiving society's scale of socio-economic status, and, thereafter, on transmitted inequalities. While the nature and causes of social differences associated with ethnic origin have been illuminated by quantitative and qualitative studies, new styles of research are needed to bridge these modes of analysis, such as the measurement of relative preferences for association with co-ethnics

Administering the Empire, 1801-1968

Administering the Empire, 1801-1968 is an indispensable introduction to British colonial rule during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. It provides an essential guide to the records of the British Colonial Office, and those of other departments responsible for colonial administration, which are now held in The National Archives of the United Kingdom. As a user-friendly archival guide, Administering the Empire explains the organisation of these records, the information they provide, and how best to explore them using contemporary finding aids. The book also outlines the expansion of the British empire from the early nineteenth century, and discusses the structure of colonial governments. An appendix lists countries alphabetically giving brief details of their constitutional histories under the British and listing the categories and approximate numbers of the documents to be found for each, thus giving Commonwealth citizens an idea of the wealth of relevant material in the UK, much of which is not duplicated in their own countries. First published in 2008, and updated and revised in 2015, Administering the Empire is available from 2020 both in print and online as an open access edition, reissued by the Institute of Historical Research and University of London Press. Dr Mandy Banton is a Senior Research Fellow of the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, at the School of Advanced Study, University of London, and a former Principal Records Specialist (Diplomatic and Colonial) at The National Archives, UK

Reducing Central Venous Infections

Practice Problem: Patients in the hospital are 36.6% more likely to die after a diagnosis of a Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infection (CLABSI) (Chovanec et al., 2021). The purpose of this evidence-based practice implementation is to reduce CLABSI rates in the Neurological ICU (Neuro ICU) at a private medical center through use of a CLABSI prevention bundle checklist each shift. PICOT: In the adult neuro-ICU (P), how does implementing a CLABSI prevention bundle checklist each shift (I), compared to current practice (C), affect CLABSI rates (O) within eight weeks (T)? Evidence: Evidence-based research supports that if clinical staff completed each part of the CLABSI bundle, remained informed, and used an interdisciplinary team approach there would be a lower risk of CLABSI. Intervention: The intervention for the project was to have the Neuro ICU staff nurses complete a CLABSI bundle checklist a the change of each shift for patients with a central line. The staff completed an educational lesson on CLABSI and completing each competent of the CLABSI bundle checklist. Outcome: 100% of nurses received education on CLABSI and CLABSI bundles. 100% of patients with central lines receive a documented CLABSI bundle checklist and there was a decreased CLABSI infections from 1.28% to 0%. Conclusion: This evidence-based practice implementation aimed to reduce the Neuro ICU\u27s CLABSI rate through the CLABSI preventive bundle checklist at each shift. Going forward the best practice recommendations for reducing CLABSI rates include using CLABSI packages, informed staff, and an interdisciplinary team approach

Between Two Giant Sounds: Jamaican Politics, Nationalism, and Musical Culture in Transition, 1974-1984

The story of Jamaican music is also one of the island\u27s journey from independence, the rise of nationalism and changes in its political structure in the Cold War era. Reggae as a popular form, developed in the context of Jamaica\u27s history of colonialism and slavery, as well as the island\u27s development as an independent nation within the African Diaspora. Michael Manley\u27s policy of democratic socialism leading to U.S. intervention to destabilize his government in the mid-1970s and the installation of the pro-American Edward Seaga, in 1980, led to considerable changes in Jamaican political culture and nationalism. Inextricable from changes in the nation\u27s political culture, however, were changes in its popular culture, namely, the transition in popular music from reggae to what became known as dancehall. The history of reggae and the rise of dancehall in the period from 1974 to 1984 this thesis argues, was integral to the transformation of Jamaican nationalism and politics in the decades following independence

Pathway Group Lasso for Integrating Metabolomics and Transcriptomics

INTRODUCTION: Transcriptomics and metabolomics are high-throughput technologies that are critical to contemporary biomedical sciences, measuring gene expression levels and metabolite concentrations, respectively. Effective methods of integrating metabolomics and transcriptomics data are highly desired. Gene and metabolic pathways represent accumulated expert knowledge in particular domains. LASSO regression is widely used for feature selection, and group LASSO incorporates prior knowledge of groups of variables. AIM: To address the current need to integrate the two data types, a novel approach in the framework of group LASSO was developed and tested using a set of metabolomics and transcriptomics data on malaria intermittent preventative treatment with pyrimethamine in Rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). METHODS: Groups are predefined using biological pathways and variables in groups will be standardized separately. The leading principal components were obtained for each pathway for each of the two data types, and then combined into an integrated matrix, which together with the group information served as input for a group LASSO regression model. RESULTS: We identified multiple pathways that were top contributors to the differences due to pyrimethamine exposure in the macaques and jointly predicted the association of member genes and metabolites to plasma hemoglobin levels. DISCUSSION: By applying this integration approach via group LASSO, we identified multiple pathways that are top contributors to the differences due to pyrimethamine exposure in the macaques and jointly predicted the association of member genes and metabolites to plasma hemoglobin levels. Our findings are consistent with current literature, and provide high-quality mechanistic hypotheses. Pathway group LASSO is thus a novel and effective method of integrating metabolomics and transcriptomics data

Study of Mediterranean anaemia

This study of Mediterranean Anaemia was made between July 1946 and March 1947, while I was serving as a Graded Physician in the R.A.M.C. in Cyprus. By way of introduction some features of conditions in Cyprus will be discussed, so that the problem there may be viewed in its natural perspective.The existence of Mediterranean Anaemia in Cyprus has only been recognised in recent years. Arabantinos (1936) mentioned that he had seen cases from Cyprus, and two of the children described by Caffey (1937) were of Cypriot parentage. But in the island itself Fawdry, a District Medical Officer in the Colonial Government Medical Services, was the first to draw attention to the condition. He published a report on the subject in 1944. Up till then the condition had always been regarded as chronic malaria, despite the absence of parasites in the blood films and the failure of quinine therapy. The local medical practitioners are mostly Greek trained and, as pointed out later in this thesis, the Greek medical schools have been strong protagonists of malaria as the etiological factor. From conversation with local doctors it was clear that many still held these views. In the main, however, the Government Medical Department has enlightened medical opinion throughout the island, and it is now realised that far from being a rarity, this disease is very common. It is interesting to record that a technician working in one of the Government hospitals told me that he frequently saw target cells when he was examining blood films, but that per se he did not regard them as abnormal. The technician in question was a most able and competent worker, but he was not familiar with the trait of the disease. In view of what is subsequently said about the trait, this is an example of the adage that 'familiarity breeds contempt.' I was first introduced to the condition by Fawdry, and I must acknowledge the encouragement and guidance I received from him when I embarked on investigating the condition myself.The area of the island is 3,572 square miles, and the population is about 400,000 - roughly the same population as in Edinburgh. About three - quarters of the population are Greek Cypriots, and belong to the Greek Orthodox Church. About one -fifth are Turks of the Moslem faith. These are a remnant of the era when the Turks ruled Cyprus. There are also a few Armenians, a small British community, and scattered fatilies of other races, but all these comprise only a small percentage. The different sects live together quite harmoniously, though they keep much to themselves.Marriages between Greek and Turk are uncommon, but do take place. These points are important when one considers the hereditary aspect of Mediterranean Anaemia. Cyprus was an ideal place to study problems of heredity, since being a small island, relatives of patients were often quite easily available. In many cases whole families were located in the same village, and often in the same house. Life in Cyprus was very simple - in the country it had progressed little from Bible times - and the majority of the populace were subjected to the same environmental factors, and these had remained unchanged for very many generations.The people themselves were friendly and co- operative. The Cypriots are a simple race, and though near the gateway of the East, are essentially European in their outlook. Their education is limited, and their intelligence below average judged by our standards. Often they did not know their own ages, and they would give different answers if questions were repeated. This made case, history taking difficult, and accordingly details of events, particularly those happening years previously, were unreliable. In particular, I found it difficult to obtain details of family histories. Mothers often could not remember how many children they had had, and remembering miscarriages was usually quite beyond them. They were also less observant of symptoms than mothers in this country, and they would pass as normal, children which most mothers here would recognise as unwell. They were, however, most co- operative in allowing me to make my investigations. Perhaps their generosity in this respect should be recognised even further, since it is a popular belief in the island that all blood examinaations have something to do with syphillis. Only in the third family which I recorded did I meet with opposition to my examining their blood. In this instance two sisters refused on the grounds that they were pregnant, and they believed that venepuncture would affect them adversely. I must acknowledge the enthusiasm and persuasive powers of my interpreter, whose helpwas invaluable. It was perhaps as well that I did not know some of the things he told my victims!Certain diseases peculiar to the island are worthy of mention. As a result of an energetic Anopheles Eradication Scheme by the Government Medical Department, malaria is no longer a major problem, and the decline in its incidence is likely to continue. Hydatid disease is common and must be considered in the differential diagnosis of any tumour. In my nine months stay in Cyprus I saw hydatids affecting the liver, spleen, lung, kidney, thyroid and a coronary artery. Typhoid fever is endemic, particularly in the villages where sanitation is poor. Bacillary dysentery is common, and shows a normal seasonal increase. It has, however, a lower incidence than elsewhere in the Middle East, probably because Cyprus is cleaner than the majority of places in that area. Amoebic dysentery is not seen.. Some interesting facts emerge regarding blood diseases other than Mediterranean Anaemia. Fawdry (1944) reviewed this problem, but other facts have come to light since his article was written. Idiopathic hypo - chromic anaemia, as we know it in this country, is never seen in Cyprus. In my stay there I never saw an example of koilonychia. Though the people are very poor, they live on the land, and apparently their diet is more adequate than that of the poorer classes in this country. The absence of this form of anaemia was fortunate in view of the similarities of the blood picture in this condition, and in Mediterranean Anaemia. In particular it would have complicated the detection of the trait of the disease. Fawdry records having seen cases of nutritional megalocytic anaemia, but I did not have the opportunity of seeing any such cases while I was on the island. A point of considerable interest is that he never saw a case of acholuric jaundice in all the seven years he was in Cyprus, despite the fact that specifically he was interested in blood disorders, and was on the look out for this condition. It may well be that since this disease, like Mediterranean Anaemia, is the result of a genetic mutation, the chance occurrence of one disease renders the other disease less likely. Haemolytic Anaemias of the allergic type are also seen. These result from sensitivity to certain beans. Cases are seen in the spring when there are flowers, and are presumably due to pollen sensitivity, and also in late summer when the beans have developed. I saw two cases in March 1947.The investigations carried out in this study were essentially of the simplest nature. Technical assistance was limited and often had to be dispensed with owing to inaccuracy. No facilities were available for biochemical analysis. There are very many interesting problems connected with this disease which require the services of a biochemist. Such investigations may help to elucidate some of the obscure problems of iron metabolism, and also in the final issue, I feel that the etiology of Mediterranean Anaemia may have a biochemical basis.Before describing cases of the disease a short introduction to the disease must first be given. It was first recognised by Cooley and Lee in 1925, though 1927 is usually accepted as the date when Cooley first described the condition as a clinical entity. He separated it from Von Jaksch's Anaemia with which it was originally confused. Cooley's name has often been associated with the condition, and there have been other synonyms. In view of the haematological response Cooley himself called the condition Erythroblastic Anaemia, but this term leads to confusion with other anaemias in which an erythroblastic reaction occurs. Whipple and Bradford (1936) called the condition Mediterranean Disease or Thalassaemia. This recognised that anaemia may be only one of the features of the disease and not the fundamental abnormality. Both the terms Mediterranean Disease and Mediterranean Anaemia are in common use.Thalassaemia has recently become popular, particularly in America. Lovel (1947) has pointed out that this is unfortunate, since ' Thalassa' is Greek for the sea and refers to the Mediterranean, and a literal translation means that the patient has the Mediterranean in his blood. This leaves the purists in no doubt as to why he should be anaemic! Damashek (1940) introduced the term Target Cell Anaemia, but this is unsatisfactory, since target cells are found in other conditions as well as in Mediterranean Anaemia.An accurate definition of what constitutes the disease has not been given in the literature. There is in fact a gradual gradation from the trait not showing any anaemia, through the mild form of the disease, compatible with adult life, to the severe form of the disease, fatal in infancy. Clearly any distinction between one form and another is purely arbitrary. The terms Thalassaemia major and minor have been used to differentiate between the severe and mild forms of the disease. Classification is considered in greater detail under the heading of symptomatology.In this thesis the following plan has been adopted. Fourteen cases of Mediterranean Anaemia together with haematological studies of their relatives are recorded. Examples of the trait of the disease are given and then the symptomatology and haematology of both the disease and the trait are discussed. A separate section is devoted to the radiological appearances. The results of investigations to determine the incidence of the trait of the disease in Cyprus are then recorded, and their significance is discussed. The results of a village survey are given to show how the trait may affect an isolated community. Various aspects of the etiology are next considered: the incidence of the disease in Cyprus, the defect in the erythrocyte, the development of the disease and finally the possible causes of the condition. The hereditary problem is considered in detail. Diagnosis, treatment and prognosis are dealt with in general terms, and a summary of the essential points concludes the thesis