A sack gown from the Haddington Collection at the National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland,Edinburgh

Abstract

A sack gown of c. 1740–50, remodelled from a brocaded silk gown of c. 1726–28, had the back pleats altered again in the present century, probably for fancy dress. A close study of the gown enabled the pleats to be replaced as they had been arranged in c. 1740–50, so that conservation work could be carried out prior to mounting the gown for display.     

Beyond “Woodstein”: Narratives of Investigative Journalism

ABSTRACT

Using a methodology inspired by structural narratology and by James Hamilton’s [2016. Democracy’s Detectives: The Economics of Investigative Journalism. Cambridge: Harvard] economic analysis of investigative journalism, this paper identifies a set of 14 recurring structural and formal elements (plot events, character types and functions, visual iconography) that constitute a fable about investigative journalism. The fable structure is applied to analyze six diverse films about investigative journalism produced in the US in the last 40 years. The films include two instantiations of successful investigative journalism (All the President’s Men, Spotlight), two cases where conflict between journalists and corporate managers diminished the impact of the investigation (Good Night and Good Luck, The Insider), and two instances of a counter-fable of failed investigative journalism (Truth, Kill the Messenger). The paper argues that the films’ representation of investigative journalism influences public perceptions of investigative journalism. It also speculates about the factors that will influence investigative journalism and its representations in the current political context in the US.     

The Calligraphy Connections Project: Reviving Historical East Asian Texts

Abstract

Historical texts have much to offer young researchers in Hong Kong and Mainland China. Yet, many students feel that such resources are of no value to them. Consequently, academic library usage rates for historical East Asian texts are low, and continue to drop. In Hong Kong and Mainland China, however, there still remains a widespread appreciation of Chinese calligraphy. Through leveraging this interest, academic libraries in East Asia can motivate university students to engage with historical texts and discover what they have to offer. This paper will recount and reflect upon the Calligraphy Connections Project, an initiative aimed at getting students to engage with historical East Asian texts through the creation of calligraphy artworks, which were subsequently exhibited to the public.     

Book Reviews

Abstract

It is not well known that the mountings of Tibetan paintings have an iconography and a cosmogeneric relationship to the painting. Hence, a painting without its mounting is incomplete. The iconography is described and the cosmogeneric relationships are discussed, leading to the suggestion that, where possible, the original mounting should be conserved or a logical replacement made. The structure and manner of construction of mountings is shown and described in order to provide a basis for repairs. Four major style varieties are shown as an additional guide in reconstruction. A glossary of Tibetan terms is included for reference.     

World War Z,The Zombie Apocalypse,and the Israeli state’s monstering of Palestinian “others”

ABSTRACT

The authors deploy a critical cultural critique that extends the work of monstrosity scholars and other researchers who are interested in the application of zombie apocalypse analyses to critiques of contemporary nationalistic and social controversies. World War Z sets in motion a series of cinematic dynamics that invite audiences to consider how Israeli securitization of Jerusalem might serve as the world's best hope for containing the zombie apocalypse. By decoding the “monstering” features World War Z, the authors note the heuristic value of understanding how the rhetoric of autoimmunity influences mediated perceptions of Israeli and Palestinian conflicts.     

THE DISCOVERY AND CONSERVATION OF AN ANCIENT EGYPTIAN LINEN TUNIC

Abstract

The archaeological evidence for dating a linen tunic found amongst other pieces from the Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, UCL, is weighed against the evidence from Carbon-14 dating. An account of the structure, conservation and mounting of the tunic is then given.     

The Effects of Discipline Membership and Experience in the Field on Scholars’ Book and Journal Format Preferences

Abstract

Using data from Ithaka S?+?R US Faculty Survey 2015, the current study examined the influence of disciplinary differences and experience levels as well as their interactions on scholars’ attitudes toward print and electronic materials. While results of 3?×?5 factorial ANOVA procedure indicated both disciplinary membership and experience played a role in scholars’ attitudes, effect size indicated disciplinary membership played a more crucial role. Significant findings include rising popularity of electronic formats across examined groups.     

Investigating the influence of student–teacher Facebook interaction in Thailand

ABSTRACT

In Thailand, older individuals or ‘Phu Yai’ are people with higher social status and power as compared to younger people or ‘Phu Noi’ (Komolsevin &; Knutson, 2010). In the realm of education, teachers are considered Phu Yai while students are considered Phu Noi. This concept reinforces Hofstede’s (1991) major finding on Thailand being categorized as a high power-distance culture. The current study examines students’ perspective of the effect of student–teacher Facebook interactions on intercultural communication concepts such as power distance and submission to authority within the Thai student–teacher relationship. Questionnaires were administered to 353 students (N?=?353) at a large international university in Thailand. The study found that social media use between Thai students and teachers influence how students view the face-to-face power dynamics between them and their teachers. Specifically, the more students and teachers interact on Facebook, the lower students perceive the power distance between them and their teachers.     

MAKING THE FIBRE GLASS REPLICA OF THE SUTTON ROO SHIP IMPRESSION

Abstract

It was decided to make a replica from the plaster mould of the Sutton Hoo ship impression using polyester resin reinforced with glass fibre matting and paper rope. For easy storage and transportation the replica was cast in twenty-five sections which could be bolted together. The problem of supporting these and preventing them from sagging or twisting out of shape was solved by using eighty accurately measured leg attachments fixed to the underside of the cast.     

Study of Fe(II) sulphides in waterlogged archaeological wood

Abstract

Wet organic archaeological materials extracted from seawater may suffer damage as a result of degradation influenced by micro-organisms. One of the most common phenomena is indirectly induced by sulphate-reducing bacteria (SRB). Due to their metabolic activity in anoxic conditions, SRB generate hydrogen sulphide from sulphate ions present in seawater. When steel items are in contact with organic matter in presence of sulphides, corrosion of the metal leads to the precipitation of Fe(II) sulphides. These phases are responsible for dramatic post-excavation damage: their oxidation during storage or exhibition in museums leads to the formation of voluminous crystals, which may cause cracking and crumbling, and lead to the production of sulphuric acid. In order to characterize Fe(II) sulphides and their by-products, 13 waterlogged samples were analysed by environmental scanning electron microscopy, micro-Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. Experiments were performed on untreated wood fragments, on a fragment of rope, and on mineral concretions scratched from the surface of wood remains, all extracted from different shipwrecks. Mackinawite was detected inside the fragments and between the fibres of the rope. Greigite was detected in scattered locations. Pyrite and sulphated phases, like gypsum and iron sulphates, were identified at the surface of the wood fragments and in the mineral concretions.     

The “Mere Presence” Hypothesis: Investigating the Nonverbal Effects of Cell-Phone Presence on Conversation Satisfaction

Prior research has supported the mere presence hypothesis, which suggests that cell phones act as an environmental nuisance that negatively impact the quality of face-to-face interactions. This study conducted an experiment to determine whether cell-phone presence negatively influences conversation satisfaction. Specifically, network member dyads (N = 46) engaged in unstructured conversations where one partner’s cell phone was either absent or present. The results revealed that, whereas the mere presence of a cell phone did not influence conversation satisfaction, individuals’ recollection of whether or not a cell phone was present did significantly negatively impact their pre- to posttest reports of conversation satisfaction. Implications of these findings for research on the mere presence hypothesis as well as directions for future research are discussed.     

Displaying Dinosaurs at The Natural History Museum,London

Dinosaur reconstructions have been exhibited in public for over a hundred years. During that time, scientific and public understanding of these extinct animals has changed considerably. Changes in perception have influenced and been influenced by the three-dimensional reconstructions mounted in museums and galleries, and these in turn have been influenced by the availability and use of mounting materials and techniques. The dinosaur exhibition in The Natural History Museum (NHM) in London contains examples of original, altered, and new dinosaur reconstructions that are described here—two, Gallimimus and Massospondylus, in detail. The final form of any reconstructed dinosaur is often influenced by factors beyond the control of the conservation, preparation, and mounting workers involved.     

Let’s Talk about Regulation: The Influence of the Revolving Door and Partisanship on FCC Regulatory Discourses

ABSTRACT

The content of political communication of independent regulatory agencies (IRAs) is understudied. Combining computational text analysis and qualitative document analysis, this study analyzes over 7,500 speeches and statements of Federal Communications Commission (FCC) commissioners, given over two decades, to examine how political and industry influence on policymaking manifest themselves discursively. The results shed light on how external factors, such as regulator party affiliation and passage through the revolving door, exert influence on IRAs by impacting agenda-setting processes and occasionally the content of regulators’ political communication. However, the findings also reveal the contingency of this influence in selected contexts as well.     

The use of Loansome Doc to meet the needs of unaffiliated health professionals

Objective: This study was undertaken in order to determine how health sciences libraries in a ten-state region are using Loansome Doc, with an emphasis on whether this tool continues to be used to serve unaffiliated health professionals. Methods: Usage data were examined and health sciences libraries were administered a survey to determine how they are using this tool. Results: Loansome Doc usage across libraries is low and declining, and a number of libraries do not serve unaffiliated health professionals with this tool. Conclusions: Use of Loansome Doc is low and declining, in part, due to license restrictions, declining interlibrary loan, and the prevalence of alternatives, such as OCLC's ILLiad, for document delivery to affiliated users.     

Social networking site uses,internalization, body surveillance,social comparison and body dissatisfaction of males and females in mainland China

Findings indicated that the mass media exposure significantly associated with body image dissatisfaction [Chen & Jackson, 2012. Gender and age group differences in mass media and interpersonal influences on body dissatisfaction among Chinese adolescents. Sex Roles, 66(1-2), 3–20; Field et al., 2005. Exposure to the mass media, body shape concerns, and use of supplements to improve weight and shape among male and female adolescents. Pediatrics, 116(2), e214–e220]. However, limited studies have examined the effect of social media on body image concerns. In regard to this, this paper aims to explore how appearance presentation and appearance interaction on social networking sites influence young adults’ body image dissatisfaction in the Chinese patriarchal society. It proposes that internalization, social comparison and body surveillance may be potential mediators of SNS influences from appearance presentation and appearance interaction on female’s and male’s body dissatisfaction. A survey of 181 males and 203 females indicated that online appearance interaction was significantly associated with female’s body dissatisfaction. In addition, its effect was partially mediated by body surveillance. Besides, body surveillance also mediated the effect of appearance presentation on female’s body dissatisfaction. In male’s case, the influence of online appearance interaction on body dissatisfaction was mediated by internalization and social comparison.     

Identifying Criminal Justice Faculty Research Interests Using Voyant and NVivo

Abstract

Inspired by Gao’s text analysis of communication studies faculty, this study looks at the trends from 176 faculty publications from the criminal justice department at the University of Nevada, Reno. Criminal justice faculty publications are missing from library science text analysis literature. This study uses Voyant and NVivo 12 to analyze words and phrases from titles and abstracts to identify research interests. Voyant itself was found to be sufficient and identified specific research trends such as organizational commitment, amber alerts, and death qualification. This study can assist liaison librarians in selecting between these two tools based on their needs.     

KEEPING IT TOGETHER: CONSERVATION,CONTEXT AND CULTURAL MATERIALS

Abstract

In 1900 a small group of Galician immigrants in New York City formed a self-help association. They displayed their state certificate of incorporation in a paperboard mat ornamented with textual and pictorial elements. In 2004 this wall plaque received conservation treatment for exhibition at the Library of Congress. Over the course of a century, this object went from representing a community to itself to representing a mechanism for self-preservation to the public. This paper explores context and interpretation; material integrity and cultural identity; and preserving the potential for discovering and creating meaning. It analyzes how context influences conservation and how conservation influences the historical trajectory of cultural materials. As an example it will consider the cultural context in which conservation has developed and its influence on the conservation treatment of the wall plaque.     

Muscle spasticity in functional aphonia and dysphonia

Gains Suetonius Tranquillus, Roman historian and biographer of the first and second centuries A.D., wrote De Rhetoribus,the only Latin treatise concerned directly with pre‐Ciceronian rhetoricians and providing information on the strong opposition to rhetoric, the radical changes in the educational system of Rome, and the influence of otherwise unknown rhetoricians. After placing Suetonius in the rhetorical tradition of the early Roman Empire, a translation of De Rhetoribus and an extensive commentary on the major points are presented. The major significance of Suetonius's De Rhetoribus in the history of rhetoric was its demonstration that transplanted Greek rhetoric survived the dark ages of the early Roman Republic because rhetoric was a source of political power.     

On the Preservation of Knowledge,or “Paging Doctor Johnston,Doctor Johnston to Surgery!”

ABSTRACT

Aggressively promoting a Web site is the best way to ensure that colleagues and information consumers are aware of the resource's existence. A strategy that worked well for one such resource, The Researching Librarian, is discussed. Methods such as submitting the site to search engines, announcing the site to members of relevant listservs, and informing the media will increase awareness of a resource and usage for sites providing useful and needed content.