Explore the vast range of titles available.

The interactions of the Celtic-speaking communities of Southern Gaul with the Mediterranean world have intrigued commentators since antiquity. This book combines sociolinguistics and archaeology to bring to life the multilingualism and multiple identities of the region from the foundation of the Greek colony of Massalia in 600 BC to the final phases of Roman Imperial power. It builds on the interest generated by the application of modern bilingualism theory to ancient evidence by modelling language contact and community dynamics and adopting an innovative interdisciplinary approach. This produces insights into the entanglements and evolving configurations of a dynamic zone of cultural contact. Key foci of contact-induced change are exposed and new interpretations of cultural phenomena highlight complex origins and influences from the entire Mediterranean koine. Southern Gaul reveals itself to be fertile ground for considering the major themes of multilingualism, ethnolinguistic vitality, multiple identities, colonialism and Mediterraneanization.

AimTo gain consensus on the content required to develop a training plan and competency assessment tool for pharmacists to undertake systemic anti-cancer therapy (SACT) verification for paediatric haematology oncology patients; a high risk clinical pharmacy area.1 MethodA two-stage Delphi style questionnaire, using a five point Likert scale, was distributed to pharmacists in the UK and Ireland.2 The extent to which they agreed or disagreed with a series of statements was rated. These statements covered seven key elements3:essential requirements for pharmacists working in cancer care areas;governance and patient safety;cancer biology and SACT;initiation of treatment;toxicity and oncological emergencies;prescription verification; andclinical application and assessment.Consensus of opinion with each statement was set at ≥70% agreement.4 Where there was failure of agreement in round one, this was reassessed in round two.ResultsThe majority of respondents operated in principal treatment centres and had >5 years work experience. Consensus was reached in 80.3% of the statements asked in round one.Consensus was not reached on whether a pharmacist would be required to be aware of the Lanksy and Karnofsky performance scales, whether they would be required to explain how to manage some oncological emergencies and how it was best to assess competence for the pharmacist’s clinical application of knowledge. These areas were further explored in round two and consensus was reached in 66.7% of the statements. Consensus was reached on how best to assess the competence of a pharmacist new to this high-risk area and advanced level pharmacist would need to demonstrate awareness of the Lanksy and Karnosfky performance scales. However, consensus was not reached on whether they would be able to explain and how to manage superior vena cava obstruction and increased intracranial pressure.ConclusionA strong consensus was reached on the competency assessment required for pharmacists to undertake SACT verification in paediatric haematology oncology, and how best to conduct this assessment. These findings will be used to develop a training framework and evidence pack to traininexperienced pharmacists entering this high-risk clinical area. It will be distributed to the Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group principal treatment centres and members of Neonatal Paediatric Pharmacy Group – Paediatric Oncology Pharmacists sub-group.ReferencesCane J, O’Connor D, Michie S. Validation of the theoretical domains framework for use in behaviour change and implementation research. Implement Sci2012;7:37.Carrington C, Weir J, Smith P. The development of a competency framework for pharmacists providing cancer services. J Oncol Pharm Pract2011;17(3):168–78.Meyers RS, Costello-Curtin J. Implementing a paediatric pharmacy educational program for health-system pharmacists. Am J Pharm Educ2011;75(10):205.Powell C. The Delphi technique: Myths and realities. J Adv Nurs2003;41(4):376–82.

Background African Americans (AA) develop hypertension (HTN) at an earlier age, have a greater frequency and severity of HTN, and greater prevalence of uncontrolled HTN as compared to the white population. Mineralocorticoid antagonists have been shown to be very effective in treating uncontrolled HTN in both AA and white patients, but sex-specific responses are unclear. Methods We evaluated the sex-specific impact of mineralocorticoid antagonism in an AA population. An AA cohort ( n  = 1483) from the Genetic Epidemiology Network of Arteriopathy study was stratified based on sex and whether they were taking spironolactone, a mineralocorticoid antagonist, in their antihypertensive regimen. Results As compared to AA women not prescribed a mineralocorticoid antagonist, AA women taking spironolactone ( n  = 9) had lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure despite having a similar number of antihypertensive medications. The proportion of AA women with uncontrolled HTN was significantly less for patients taking spironolactone than for patients not prescribed spironolactone. Interestingly, none of these associations were found in the AA males or in white females. Conclusions Our data suggests that spironolactone is particularly effective in reducing blood pressure and controlling HTN in AA women. Further research into the impact of this therapy in this underserved and understudied minority is warranted.

The Canterbury Hinterland Project (CHP) has combined aerial photographic and LiDAR analysis, synthesis of HER and other data across east Kent with targeted survey south and east of Canterbury. We present possible hillforts, temples, large enclosures, a major trackway, linking paths, burials and high-status Roman-period complexes and argue that people organised the landscape to communicate meaning in two main ways: a ‘public’ face oriented towards the Dover–Canterbury road and expressions of ritual and remembrance for local groups. The character of this rural population has traditionally been understood in terms of its relationship to the civitas capital and villas; we look beyond this to examine a more detailed vision of possible social interactions.

A Roman stylus tablet discovered at Vindolanda in 2014 preserves the partial text of a deed-of-sale for an enslaved person, only the second such document from Britain. This article presents the results of multiple techniques used to reveal the almost illegible text and proposes a restoration of the format of the document and its lost content, based on more complete examples from Italy and around the Empire. We examine the late first-century archaeological and historical context and suggest that the purchaser is probably the prefect Iulius Verecundus. We consider other possible evidence for the servi of the commanders at Vindolanda, for example in another hard-to-decipher stylus tablet which may be related to their travel. The deed-of-sale provides a new type of testimony for slavery at Vindolanda and adds to knowledge of enslavement in the Roman military.

The Secundinus stone, with its combination of carved phallus and text, was found in 2022 in excavations within the stone fort at Vindolanda. We consider comparanda for the imagery from Vindolanda, Britannia and further afield, and textual parallels particularly from Pompeii. We offer several possible interpretations of the object and prefer an analysis which takes the text, SECVNDINVS CACOR, as it is carved. This interpretation would add an otherwise unattested verbal form to the Latin scato-sexual vocabulary.

A four-line inscription in Old Roman Cursive on a pot base found in excavations in East Farleigh, Kent, in 2010 appears to be written (at least in part) in metre and has close textual similarities with examples from Binchester, Co. Durham. We describe the new text and then offer some thoughts about the possible relationship of these British texts to extant Latin verse and consider how to interpret the Kentish piece in context. Although much remains uncertain in our understanding of the text, it is a significant addition to the Romano-British corpus.

Reflecting on present unease about structural biases in the discipline, and aiming to offer a data-rich response to some recent criticisms of this Journal , the Editorial Board has undertaken a study of the representation of female scholars in the Journal of Roman Studies . To that end, we have gathered data on publications, submissions and JRS Editorial Board membership for the past fifteen years, from Volume 95 (2005) through to the present volume, Volume 109 (2019). The data are set out in the final section (VII), following a brief review of the main results. Our goal here is neither to present a definitive analysis, nor to offer a commentary on the underlying causes of the patterns revealed (on which we expect much fruitful discussion elsewhere). Rather, the JRS Editorial Board aims to make key data available both to inform a much wider debate within the profession as a whole and, importantly, to inform this Journal ’s policies, procedures and active outreach. The Board is also acutely aware that any analysis of gender bias needs to be framed carefully — both by an awareness that there are other under-represented groups in the discipline (on which our data in their current form would regrettably only offer a most imperfect picture), and by a sensitivity to the limitations of a conception of gender as a simple binary.