Improved treatments for early breast cancer have led to a significant increase in overall survival. While evidence regarding potential long-term sequelae of adjuvant treatments exists, relatively little research reports patients' own perceptions of change before and after adjuvant chemotherapy (AC). This study aimed to identify key ongoing issues associated with AC in daily life. An online survey developed for this study was completed by 198 women (mean age 49.7 years) in the UK, France and Germany who had AC 1-5 years previously for oestrogen receptor positive, HER2 negative early breast cancer. Women without AC and endocrine therapy, those treated with Trastuzumab or who had recurrent disease were excluded. A third of women who responded were currently unable to perform their former family role. The majority had needed support, particularly with child care, during treatment. While 54% were in full-time employment before diagnosis this had reduced to 32% following AC. Of those women still working, over half reported difficulties with tiredness or concentration. Most (85.8%) were satisfied with healthcare professionals' treatment information, but only 29.7% received information about returning to work. This exploratory survey highlights areas of women's lives affected 1-5 years following AC for early breast cancer. The impact on returning to work and issues surrounding childcare particularly, require further study.

Thirty-nine samples of red figure pottery found at Locri Epizephiri were analysed for 18 chemical elements by inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy. The finds, dated from the end of the sixth to the fourth century BC , were assigned to Attic, Sicilian and Locrian workshops due to their style of execution. Prior to facing the archaeological questions, possible biases on sample classification due to variable firing conditions, or to alteration during burial, were investigated: the results supported the opportunity of a refiring pre-treatment. Multivariate statistical treatment of the analytical data confirms the separation between Attic and non-Attic samples; comparison with the composition of black gloss pottery suggests that all the non-Attic red figure vases could be the output of Locrian workshops.

Samples from Greek figure vases were investigated by scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray analysis, X-ray diffraction, thermomechanical analysis and reflectance spectroscopy to achieve a technological characterisation. The vases, dating from the end of the sixth to the fourth century BC, had been excavated at Locri Epizephiri (Calabria, Italy) and attributed to Attic or local workshops, respectively. Information on the morphology of black slip areas and firing temperatures was compared with that previously obtained for Attic and local black gloss pottery from the same site; results show that the peculiar technique required for the production of black slips was mastered by both Attic and local potters and employed for monochrome and figured products. The black coating is usually well vitrified and 15- to 20-microm thick; the evaluated maximum firing temperature is around 900 degrees C, while a temperature lower than 800 degrees C is generally estimated for ceramic body re-oxidation.

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In recent years, geophysical methods have been increasingly applied as a preliminary mapping tool to guide archaeological excavations. Despite the reported growing case histories of geophysical prospections for archaeological purposes, direct comparison between expectations arising from the geophysical results and actual findings is not always systematically performed. A critical comparison between preexcavation geophysical-guided hypotheses and post-excavation archeological evidences is proposed in this work. A test site within the archaeological area of Locri Epizephyrii (Calabria, southern Italy) was chosen for this purpose. An unsurveyed rectangular area (31 × 26 m) was investigated with high-density ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and magnetic profiles. Several anomalous alignments, both compatible and oblique with respect to the orientation of the Greek-Roman city plan, were preliminarly observed in the geophysical results. The use of two different techniques allowed for comparison of anomalous areas, enhancing the likelihood of finding features of significance. Two archaeological soundings were later carried out in the areas showing the most peculiar geophysical anomalies. Several structures revealing the same orientation of the ancient city plan and belonging to at least two different building phases were unearthed from a depth of 15-25 cm below the ground surface. A systematic comparison between geophysical and archeological results was then carried out. In general, walls showing different construction typologies (opus testaceum, opus incertum or opus caementicium) were found to generate similar radar anomalies. Artifacts made with materials similar to the background sandy alluvial deposits were not identified by both geophysical techniques, as in the case of an unearthed channel bank, made of local sandstone blocks. GPR was globally observed to detect buried structures better than the magnetic method, probably due to background geological variables linked to the presence of Fe-rich minerals within the background sediments, generating noisier and scattered magnetic gradient maps.