Theatre Operation Research Articles

RSTN COVID-19 Hand Recovery: Two years on, where are we now?

Hand surgery services were required to rapidly adapt to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Two years following the initial wave, hand surgery units continue to adapt and recover from the pandemic. The aim of the RSTN COVID-19 Hand Recovery survey was to evaluate what adaptions made to hand surgery services during COVID-19 have been maintained in the COVID recovery phase. A survey was distributed to hand surgery units, across the UK and Ireland. The survey was completed by consultant hand surgeons across 39 hospitals. Most practices returned to pre-pandemic standards. The main changes that endured were the increase in consultant-led triaging for referrals and utilisation of video conferencing platforms for teaching and meetings. Changes made during the pandemic, such as increased use of WALANT, out of theatre operating and use of telemedicine were not sustained during the recovery period. The COVID-19 pandemic allowed the opportunity for hand surgery services to adapt their services. Several changes that were implemented have since been proven to be more efficient and equally effective for patients. However, these changes have not been sustained and the barriers preventing permanent implementation should be scrutinised. We call on hand surgery units to evaluate their current practice to ensure that patients are provided a streamlined and sustainable service.

DO WE NEED LAMINAR FLOW IN TRAUMA?

Laminar flow theatres were first introduced in the United Kingdom in the 1960s and 1970s and have become standard in orthopaedic surgery involving implants. A study from 1982 showed a 50% reduction in infections with joint arthroplasties when compared to conventional theatres and laminar flow became standard in the following decades. Recent evidence including a meta-analysis from 2017 questions the effectiveness of these theatre systems. Most of the evidence for Laminar flow use is based on arthroplasty surgery. We aimed to determine the effect of using non-laminar flow theatres on our trauma patients.A total of 1809 patients who had trauma surgery were identified from 2019 to 2021. 917 patients were operated on in a laminar theatre and 892 in a non-laminar theatre across two operating sites. We identified the surgical site infections as reported through our surveillance program within the first 90 days of infection. Patient co-morbidities were noted through patient records and procedure length was also noted.Of the 1809 trauma patients identified between the years of 2019 and 2021, 917 patients had operations in a laminar flow theatre and 892 in a non-laminar theatre. Of the 892 operated in non-laminar flow theatres, 543 were operated in the University Hospital of Wales (UHW) and 349 at the University Hospital of Llandough (UHL). An analysis of soft tissue infections and hospital acquired infections post-operatively demonstrated 15/543 and 71/543 respectively for non-laminar UHW infections and 4/349 and 21/349 for non-laminar UHL infections. A look at laminar flow patients showed 25/917 with soft tissue infections and 86/917 hospital acquired infections. There was no difference between laminar and non-laminar flow theatre infection rates showing rates of 12.1% and 12.2% respectively.In our trauma patients we noticed no significant advantage of using laminar flow theatres when compared to non-laminar flow theatres. This is in keeping with some recently published literature. Laminar flow theatres have been shown to decrease airborne pathogen counts under controlled conditions, but we conclude in the day to day environment of trauma theatres these conditions are either not met or that the theoretical advantage of laminar flow does not translate to a direct advantage of reduction of infections which may be achieved by standard prophylactic antibiotics.

Military Security in the Baltic Sea during Cold War: Analysis Based on the Materials of the Naval Reconnaissance Unit of the Polish People’s Republic

The purpose of the article was to present, in the proverbial nutshell, the issues related to the military situation in the 1950s and 1960s during the so-called Cold War in the Baltic Sea, based on the materials of the Naval Reconnaissance Unit of the Polish People’s Republic. These materials were very important for analytical teams preparing concepts for operations in the Northern European Theater of Operations, as well as ensuring the security of the maritime borders of the Warsaw Pact countries.
 The 1950s and 1960s were characterized by a wide range of reconnaissance activities as a consequence of the changing reality in the Baltic Sea. The naval potential of both NATO countries, especially Denmark and the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG), was expanded, thus the other side began to create the People’s Navy of the German Democratic Republic (GDR), as well as to strengthen the combat potential of the naval forces of the People’s Republic of Poland. At the same time, the cooperation of allied fleets of the Warsaw Pact countries was improved, and for this purpose, staff exercises were conducted on maps and in the Baltic Sea.
 In retrospect, both NATO and the Warsaw Pact appreciated the military importance of the Danish Straits and the Baltic Sea. In the following years, efforts were made to improve the concepts of naval forces in these waters.

피란수도 부산의 극장 운영에 관한 일 고찰

Busan Theaters Street was built during the Japanese colonial period. This Busan Theaters Street was a gathering place for multi-purpose theaters that staged plays and films and held various events. he reason why this place is particularly noteworthy is that it was the road where Japanese performing groups and external contents were first performed across the border(Korea Strait) and spread throughout the Korean Peninsula. After independence, this theater district(Busan Theaters Street) played a role in accommodating Korean(Choseon) content and promoting cultural exchange between the region and the center. Then, the Korean War broke out and many cultural and artistic artists flocked to Busan. In 1950, theater operation and content performance were restricted, but after 1951, each theater became a center of new creation and restored the role of producing, viewing, and distributing a lot of content at the same time. Busan Theaters Street is again home to cultural innovation, art distribution and creative activities. This phenomenon continued until the time of ‘Hwando’, and after ‘Hwando’ it acted as a driving force that gave new vitality to the development and distribution of Korean contents.

Türkiye'nin Kriz Yönetimine Yaklaşımı: Suriye Örneği

This study aims to shed light on Türkiye's crisis management approach and comprehensively analyze Türkiye's cross-border operations in the Syrian theater. It focuses on the practical side of crisis management and highlights Türkiye's success in managing the Syrian Civil War, which poses an existential threat to Türkiye. Despite facing significant challenges, such as the July 15 coup attempt, Türkiye has managed crises effectively, as evidenced by its successive cross-border operations in the Syrian theater as part of the fight against terrorism. The reason for choosing the operations in Syria after the July 15 coup attempt as the sample is that both crises occurred back-to-back, and the Syrian Civil War is Türkiye's most crucial crisis in the 21st century. As a result of the spread of the Arab Spring process to Türkiye's southern neighbor with a 911 km land border, Syria has become a failed state, its state apparatus has gradually disappeared, and its public structure has ceased to exist. During this process, various terrorist organizations and non-state armed groups emerged in the country. These organizations found extensive areas of operation, extended their initial local influence to a regional level, and significantly strengthened their influence in political, economic, and social circles. DAESH and YPG/PKK are among the most prominent of these organizations, not to mention various other groups linked to Al-Qaeda. The post-2011 political, military, and economic turmoil in Syria, the emerging power vacuum in the region, and the states, non-state armed actors, and terrorist organizations trying to fill this vacuum have caused severe ruptures in Türkiye's security approaches. However, it has faced significant challenges in tackling crises stemming from terrorism and migration. The approach of providing security behind the borders and meeting terrorism on the country's territory has deepened the security crisis stemming from terrorism in Türkiye in the five years.

Survey and reduction of waste production from eye surgery

The health sector is facing new challenges due to the impact of climate change on health. At the same time, it significantly contributes to our society's climate footprint. Hospitals producing considerable amounts of waste are an important aspect of this burden. The aim of this work was to quantify the amount of waste produced by eye surgery and, as an optimization measure, to evaluate the effect of glass separation from residual waste. Over a2-week period, the waste generated by eye operations in the surgical theater of our university hospital was measured. Another 2‑week long measurement was conducted after the initiation of glass separation from general waste. The data obtained allowed acomparison of the two periods, the type of waste (residual and recyclable) as well as the type of operation (intraocular, extraocular). Considering regional waste disposal costs, an economic comparison was also performed. In the first measurement period (196 operations), atotal of 549.6 kg of waste was generated, 87% (478.3 kg) of which was residual waste, corresponding to 14.3tons of total waste annually. Intraocular procedures generated on average 80% more waste than extraocular procedures: 18.1 ± 3.9 kg and 11.4 ± 4.0 kg, respectively, per day and theater. Separation of glass from residual waste reduced its quantity by 7.2% in the second measurement period (197 procedures). As the disposal of glass is free of charge in the city of Essen, this resulted in asmall economic advantage (extrapolated to 112 € per year). The amount of waste generated by ophthalmic surgery is substantial, with apredominant proportion of non-recyclable residual waste. Intraocular operations are the cause of the majority of the waste produced. Simple measures, such as disposing of glass separately, are helpful and inexpensive to reduce the quantity of residual waste.

Exploring the Assessment Tool ICO OSCAR. A Comparison of Reliability of Whole of the Operation with Its Parts

Purpose: To compare the reliability of Ophthalmology Surgical Competency Assessment Rubric (ICO-OSCAR: phaco) between assessment of whole of the operation and its parts. Study Design: Mixed method study design. Place and Duration of Study: Mughal Eye Hospital, Lahore from January 2020 to January 2021. Methods: Three raters assessed six anonymized phaco video operations with the help of ICO OSCAR phaco first as whole operations and then as parts of the operation. Inter rater reliability of the assessments of parts of the operation were compared with inter rater reliability of whole of the operation. Intra class coefficient (ICC) was used in SPSS – version 20. Raters also filled a survey form to detect how satisfied they were with the rubric. Raters’ feedback was taken to describe shortcomings/faults found during the use of ICO OSCAR phaco form. Results: In the quantitative part, the ICC for the combined parts of the operation (0.910) was better than the value of ICC for the whole operation (0.904). In the questionnaire part, raters were satisfied with ICO OSCAR phaco rubric as a useful tool for learning and assessment of phacoemulsification surgical skills. In the qualitative part, many deficiencies were observed by the assessors in the rubric during videos analysis with the rubric ICO OSCAR phaco. This rubric is more accurate for assessment of operations in the operation theater. Conclusion: Parts of the operations can be used instead of the whole operations for the assessment of surgical skills of phacoemulsification with the help of ICO OSCAR phaco rubric. For assessment of videos, it requires some modifications as it is more valid for the assessment of surgical skills during live surgery than in operation theater.

Образовательный потенциал театрально-педагогических практик

Relevance. The Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation has issued guidelines for ensuring a school theatre operating in every school. The task arising out of these guidelines for the researches of theatre practices in education is to find sociocultural deficits which can be eliminated by the means of theatre projects and to provide practical theatrical forms for solving the issues. The relevance of the study is defined by the need for clear directions on how to implement drama in education. The aim of the article is to provide psychological and pedagogical analysis of theatre practices in education as well as to highlight their educational value. Objective. The purpose of the work is to present a psychological and pedagogical analysis of the educational resource of theatrical and pedagogical practices. To achieve this goal, the article provides a phenomenological description and analysis of three implemented theatrical educational projects. Sample. The material for the analysis was the graduation qualification projects of undergraduates of the programme ‘Theater Pedagogy and Directing the Educational Environment’ of Moscow City University. In this analysis, particular attention was given to the description of the goals and results of the projects. Graduates of 2022 whose works belong to three different types of educational situations were selected as respondents. Projects of the three types were involved: a project implemented in general education, a project of extra education, and an educational project implemented in professional theater Methods. In preparing the work, the method of free interview was used, which made it possible to collect information about the projects implemented by undergraduates. It is important that this type of interview allows you to use not only the researcher's own conclusions, but also the experience of people directly related to the subject of research. Results. The results of this work are presented in the form of case studies considered in the advanced training courses for teachers and in the master's classes in the profile: ‘Theater Pedagogy and Directing the Educational Environment’ of Moscow City University. It is planned to further formalize the results of the study in the form of methodological recommendations for teaching staff. Conclusions. The article presents a general analysis that allows us to draw a conclusion about the existing socio-cultural deficits that impede the development of personal and meta-subject competencies of students of different ages, as well as a description of specific areas of possible psychological and pedagogical work of theatre practices in education.

An audit of cancellation of elective surgery in paediatric patients at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital.

Cancellation of elective surgery is one of the quality indicators of theatre operation worldwide. The cancellation of elective surgery in paediatric patients is a worldwide problem with the rates ranging from 0.21% to 44%. This study aimed to determine the rates and describe the reasons for cancellation of elective surgeries in paediatric patients at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital (CHBAH). A retrospective study was conducted using theatre records from 1st January to 31st December 2019. The numbers and reasons for elective paediatric surgeries were reviewed. Data were collected using the structured collection sheet and entered into Microsoft Excel. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences was also used to further analyse the data. Results were expressed as percentages in a graph and table forms. In the year 2019, a total of 3399 elective paediatric procedures were scheduled in 14 specialities at CHBAH. Of these, 634 (19%) were cancelled due to various reasons. The highest number of cases cancelled were from paediatric surgery and neonates (n = 204, 31%), followed by ear nose and throat (n = 99, 24%), burns (n = 80, 20%) and paediatric orthopaedics (n = 79, 16%). The most common reason for cancellation of elective surgery in paediatric patients at CHBAH was found to be time constraint (34%). The reasons for cancellation in our study were mostly due to avoidable factors at 68% and non-avoidable at 32%. The rate of cancellation in our study was high. Majority of the causes for cancellation were avoidable.

The Howling Storm: Weather, Climate, and the American Civil War by Kenneth W. Noe

Reviewed by: The Howling Storm: Weather, Climate, and the American Civil War by Kenneth W. Noe Adam H. Petty (bio) The Howling Storm: Weather, Climate, and the American Civil War. Kenneth W. Noe. Baton Rouge: Louisiana States University Press, 2020. ISBN 978-0-8071-7320-6. 680 pp., cloth, $59.95. Kenneth Noe’s latest book, The Howling Storm, investigates the role weather played in the American Civil War. In particular, it focuses on weather’s effect on military campaigns. The book is foremost a narrative history. Most of its chapters are dedicated to retelling events in Virginia or the western theater, although there are occasional excursions to the Trans-Mississippi. The weather’s impact on Northern and Southern agriculture also receives some attention in Noe’s book, as does the soldiers’ yearly struggle to make themselves comfortable in winter quarters. While The Howling Storm is not encyclopedic, it covers a remarkable amount of ground for a single volume. As for the book’s argument, Noe contends that “a full understanding of the war requires regrounding it in the physical environment” (1). Not surprisingly, he concludes that “weather shaped every campaign, often more decisively than we have fathomed” (9). Moreover, in many instances, the weather “favored the Union cause and—perhaps even more—emancipation” (493). Better equipped boys in blue could withstand the elements with greater ease then their counterparts in gray. He also observes that Northern agriculture did not suffer the [End Page 433] catastrophic damage that spring rains and summer droughts inflicted on the Confederacy, resulting in food shortages south of the Mason-Dixon line. The Howling Storm, with just shy of five hundred pages of text, is not a quick read. Nor is it a page-turner. The many descriptions of soldiers suffering through the mud, rain, heat, and cold might prove monotonous to some readers. That being said, The Howling Storm is a very useful book. Its achievement lies in gathering an enormous amount of information about Civil War weather in one volume. In the past, good military historians included information about the weather in their campaign studies, but Noe’s book provides a relatively compact resource that historians can reference to see what the weather was up to at crucial moments of the Civil War. Because of the book’s broad approach, Noe is able to see larger patterns in the weather, conclusions that would escape more focused studies. For instance, he will note when a cold snap or a torrential downpour that affected one campaign was part of a larger weather system that was also affecting operations in a different theater. One concern that I have about this book is that it could mislead those who read it to think that weather was the most important factor controlling the events of the war. I do not mean to say that Noe asserts this or intended this outcome. Rather, it is simply a danger that comes with relying on any one analytical lens to tell a story. While Noe’s work provides a nice corrective to those who might have been tempted to ignore the weather’s influence, I think it is best read in conjunction with other military histories of the war, allowing readers to weigh the merits of weather as an explanatory tool. The Howling Storm is a great resource for those wanting to add a little information about the weather to their Civil War course, especially for historians who do not specialize in military history. All in all, lay readers and historians alike owe Noe a collective “Huzzah!” for this mammoth work and important contribution to Civil War history. Adam H. Petty History Department Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Adam H. Petty ADAM H. PETTY is a historian and documentary editor with the Joseph Smith Papers. He is the author of The Battle of the Wilderness in Myth and Memory: Reconsidering Virginia’s Most Notorious Civil War Battlefield (2019). Copyright © 2022 The Kent State University Press

Project Eagle: Polscy wywiadowcy w raportach i dokumentach wojennych amerykańskiego Biura Służb Strategicznych [Project Eagle: Polish Agents in the Reports and Wartime Documents of the American Office of Strategic Services

<i>Project Eagle: Polscy wywiadowcy w raportach i dokumentach wojennych amerykańskiego Biura Służb Strategicznych</i> [Project Eagle: Polish Agents in the Reports and Wartime Documents of the American Office of Strategic Services

Novaya Zemlya Archipelago in the Defense System of the Soviet Arctic During the Great Patriotic War

This analyzes the significance of Novaya Zemlya in the course of military operations in the Arctic during World War II. Data on the deployment of troops in the Novaya Zemlya archipelago and nearby islands are provided based on an analysis of archive documents. The military history of the archipelago is examined from the creation of the Belomorskaya military flotilla in 1941 until its disbandment in April 1945. Minor importance of the region at the initial stage of the war is replaced by an increase in the activity of the German naval forces in 1942, especially submarines. The result of this was the expansion of military operations in the Arctic Sea theater, expressed in enemy attacks on polar stations and sea convoys. In response, the Soviet command created a naval base on Novaya Zemlya and increased the fleet’s ship composition. By the end of the war, there was a qualitative and quantitative increase in military infrastructure. The natural and climatic factor had a huge impact on the conduct of military operations, because of it the main combat activity of the warring parties directly depended on the polar summer and navigation period. The experience of the main Department of the Northern Sea route in the development of the region in the 1930s was taken into account. The author concluded that the possession of Novaya Zemlya was key both for the control of navigation and for the possession of the entire surrounding region. Despite all efforts, the enemy still failed to disrupt Maritime navigation in the Arctic, and to break the courageous resistance of military seamen and employees of the Main Administration of the Northern Sea Way.

Utilisation of paediatric surgical theatres at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, Johannesburg

Background. Optimal theatre utilisation is essential to reduce long waiting lists for elective surgeries and to increase cost-effective theatre operation. Utilisation rates well below the global benchmark of 80% have been reported for government hospitals in Johannesburg, South Africa (SA). Objective. To investigate utilisation of three paediatric theatres at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital (CHBAH) in Johannesburg. Methods. Surgery lists of the three theatres were reviewed for three one-week periods over a four-month study period. Preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative data were collected to create a timeline for each theatre and each surgical case, including reasons for cancellations, delays or expedited times. Results. A total of 152 surgeries were scheduled during the reviewed study period, of which 44 cases were cancelled. The utilisation rate was 59.8% across the three theatres combined, with individual rates calculated as 62.7%, 58.2% and 57.0% in the burns, general and neonatal theatres, respectively. The primary factor contributing to under-utilisation was early completion of the scheduled list. Surgery delays were mainly due to delays in transferring the patient to the theatre and between anaesthetic induction and the start of surgery. Conclusion. Utilisation of the paediatric theatres at CHBAH is below the ideal benchmark of 80%; however, utilisation was better than expected when compared with findings from other public-sector hospitals in SA. However, theatre efficiency was found to be very low and perhaps better explains the reasons for backlogs in paediatric surgeries at CHBAH.

The Pattern of Ear, Nose &amp; Throat (Ent) Surgeries in A Secondary Health Centre in Enugu South Local Government Area of Enugu State Sourth-East, Nigeria

There is a wide spectrum of ear, nose and throat surgical conditions affecting both children and adults in Nigeria. This study aimed at determining the prevalence, socio-demographic features, types of ear, nose and throat surgical procedures in a secondary health centre in Enugu. Patients and Methods: This was a retrospective hospital based study of ENT clinic operation booking register and theatre operation register. Data obtained were collated, documented and statistically analysed using SPSS version 20.0 software. Result: A total of 75 patients were operated at the centre during the period under review. The female to male was 1:1:2. The age range was from 1 year to 85years. The indication for surgeries involving the throat were 67 (89.3%). The nose 7(9.2%). No surgery was performed in the ear. Adenotosillectomy 52(69.3) was the commonest surgery performed is in throat while polypectomy 4(5.3%) occurred more in the nose. Conclusion: Resources for Ear, Nose and throat surgeries in Enugu South Local Government are grossly inadequate. There is need for partnership with the Local Government administrator to upgrade the facilities.

Cost-effectiveness of adjunctive negative pressure wound therapy in paediatric burn care: evidence from the SONATA in C randomised controlled trial

Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) has been shown to improve clinical outcomes for children with burns by accelerating wound re-epithelialisation. Its effects on healthcare costs, however, remain poorly understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of NPWT from a healthcare provider perspective using evidence from the SONATA in C randomised controlled trial, in which 101 children with small-area burns were allocated to either standard care (silver-impregnated dressings) or standard care in combination with adjunctive NPWT. The primary outcome, time to re-epithelialisation, was assessed through a blinded photographic review. Resource usage and costs were prospectively recorded for each participant for up to 6 months. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios and dominance probabilities were estimated and uncertainty quantified using bootstrap resampling. Mean costs per participant—including dressings, labour, medication, scar management, and theatre operations—were lower in the NPWT group (AUD $903.69) relative to the control group (AUD $1669.01). There was an 89% probability that NPWT was dominant, yielding both faster re-epithelialisation and lower overall costs. Findings remained robust to sensitivity analyses employing alternative theatre costs and time-to-re-epithelialisation estimates for grafted patients. In conclusion, adjunctive NPWT is likely to be a cost-effective and dominant treatment for small-area paediatric burns (ANZCTR.org.au:ACTRN12618000256279).

Introducing an orthopaedic trauma list to a regional hospital: Improved efficiencies and patient outcomes

The lack of dedicated theatre time for orthopaedic surgeries at a small rural hospital meant that operations were regularly performed after hours as well as on weekends. Retrospective observational audit. Data were collected for 317 patients admitted for trauma surgery between August 2019 and March 2020 at Shoalhaven District Memorial Hospital, which has an orthopaedic service and acts as a referral hospital for a 4561-km2 catchment on the South Coast of New South Wales. Decreased time to surgery, length of stay and proportion of after-hours operating. To quantify patient outcomes demonstrating effectiveness of the trauma list in theatre operations at the hospital, providing evidence for adequate provision of care at the rural location A reduction in out-of-hours operations results in a significant financial saving to the hospital, as well as increased safety to patients. Significantly more operations were performed before 16:00hours as well as on a weekday. Trauma list patients have a shorter length of stay (4.82 vs 7.8days). Patients prior to the trauma list waited on average 89hours for surgery, whereas patients on the trauma list waited only 43hours. A dedicated, twice-weekly orthopaedic trauma list is able to significantly reduce after hours and weekend surgeries. Patients placed on the trauma list had a significantly shorter length of stay and time to surgery. We therefore recommend the usage of dedicated trauma lists at small, regional sites not just to achieve cost savings but also to improve the patient journey and keep patients closer and returning to the home sooner.

The Romance Promoter with A Deadline at 11: Rural Exhibitors, Urban Exchanges, and The Emerging Culture of Film Distribution in The United States, 1918–1925

One of the many reasons distribution has retained its status as the least understood aspect of commercial film culture has been the absence of records, particularly from the late 1910s and early 1920s, when the studio system was formed in the United States. While historians have persuasively argued that exhibitors helped develop moviegoing culture in the early 20th century, these studies have been limited by their reliance on other forms of public media, including local newspapers, trade magazines, and studio house organs. In this article, I use exhibition and distribution records from two small-town movie theater operations, the Adele Theater in Eatonton, Georgia, a town of just 2,500 people in 1920, and the Low Moor Iron Company’s theaters in its company-owned villages of Low Moor, Virginia, and Kaymoor, West Virginia, in order to reconstruct the emergence of distribution as a standardized, and programmatic, practice.

The Siege of Vicksburg: Climax of the Campaign to Open the Mississippi River, May 23-July 4, 1863 by Timothy B. Smith

Reviewed by: The Siege of Vicksburg: Climax of the Campaign to Open the Mississippi River, May 23-July 4, 1863 by Timothy B. Smith Jim Woodrick (bio) The Siege of Vicksburg: Climax of the Campaign to Open the Mississippi River, May 23-July 4, 1863. By Timothy B. Smith. (Lawrence: University Press of Kansas, 2021. Pp. 752. $50.00 cloth) As the sun rose on July 4, 1863, the prospects were for another hot and humid day, just as so many days that had already passed for the two armies at Vicksburg. This day was different, however, as the constant roar of rifle and cannon had ceased, replaced by an eerie calm which settled over the battlefield. The sudden quiet was due to the surrender of Confederate Lt. Gen. John C. Pemberton's Army of Vicksburg to Ulysses S. Grant after six weeks of siege warfare. With [End Page 328] the Union victory at Vicksburg, Pemberton's army was captured, and the Mississippi River was open once again, splitting the Confederacy in two. As the battered defenders marched out of their trenches and stacked arms, an Indiana soldier noted that "it was one of the most solemn and affecting scenes I have ever beheld" (p. 490). This account is but one of many ably recorded by Timothy B. Smith in his monumental work, The Siege of Vicksburg: Climax of the Campaign to Open the Mississippi River, May 23–July 4, 1863. Over the years, military operations in the eastern theater of the Civil War have received a great deal more attention from historians than events in the western theater. In particular, the Vicksburg Campaign, which is arguably the most decisive of the Civil War, has only in recent years seen an increase in scholarly studies, all building on the foundation of Edwin C. Bearss's classic three-volume history, originally published in 1985. Among those who have worked to address this disparity, Smith stands out, both in his writing ability and productivity, as he has already published extensively on various aspects of the Vicksburg Campaign and the war in the West. Smith's latest book follows a previous and equally monumental work on the Union assaults at Vicksburg on May 19 and May 22, published in 2020. Combined, these two volumes constitute the most complete study of the military operations in front of Fortress Vicksburg to date. Although lengthy, The Siege of Vicksburg is a thoroughly entertaining read, as Smith's narrative includes numerous personal accounts from soldiers and civilians alike. At the same time, the book provides plenty of detail for those interested in the intricacies of military engineering and troop movements, both within the siege lines and along Grant's exterior defenses. While much of the narrative is by necessity an overview of very complex operations, especially several wide-ranging probes and expeditions north of Vicksburg initiated with the intent to counter any supposed threat from Joseph E. Johnston's "Army of Relief," the majority of the book properly focuses on the siege operations themselves. Smith gives particular attention to Ewing's and Logan's approaches in front of [End Page 329] the Stockade Redan complex and the 3rd Louisiana Redan, respectively, and paints an especially vivid picture of the June 25 mine explosion along the Jackson Road. Not forgotten is the vital role of the U.S. Navy's constant bombardment of the city and the effect it had on the morale of Vicksburg's residents, both slave and free, nor does the author ignore the role the Navy played in supplying Grant's army with an abundance of supplies during the siege. Although the complexity and length of the siege of Vicksburg could easily fill multiple volumes, Smith has delivered an instant classic with his one-volume treatment, and it will no doubt be the standard reference for many years to come. For anyone interested in the Civil War in Mississippi and the overall campaign for control of the Mississippi Valley region, The Siege of Vicksburg: Climax of the Campaign to Open the Mississippi River is a must read. Jim Woodrick JIM WOODRICK is retired from the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. A licensed battlefield...

Evaluation of Audit Criteria for Cultural Institutions: A Research Report

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to evaluate the model solution for auditing cultural institutions. The methodology, including audit criteria in key management areas, was used to audit ten cultural institutions of Krakow (theatres and music institutions). The conducted research allowed the auditors to evaluate audit methodology and criteria, as well as identify areas for improvement in relation to audit criteria in the studied cultural institutions. Design/Methodology/Approach: The audits included internal documentation studies, interviews with employees, observation of the theatre operation, participation in performances, including the general rehearsal, website and social media surveys, and interviews with stakeholders. Different approaches were taken to study the organization, systemic and process, based on risk analysis, and with reference to results and compliance. Audit triangulation was used to increase confidence in the research findings. Findings: The audit study assessed audit criteria in eighteen areas of management. In each of these areas, ten quality criteria were evaluated. Practical Implications: Managers of cultural institutions can use the guidance included in the methodology developed and research report to self-assess and improve, as well as to build awareness of the importance of management and its aspects among all employees. Original/value: The evaluation study of the “Guide on the audit of cultural institution” carried out in ten cultural institutions illustrated that the adopted audit criteria are a useful tool for self-assessment and benchmarking.

서울시민회관의 공공극장 운영 방향성에 관한 연구 - 상주단체인 서울민속가극단의 활동을 중심으로

이 연구는 1960년대 관립문화공간이자 대형 다목적홀인 시민회관의 운영실태, 문화수용 양상을 고찰하고, 단명한 상주공연단체 사례를 통해 시민회관을 재조명하는 데 목적이 있다. 시민회관은 단순한 이윤보다 서울시민의 문화생활과 지역사회의 공익에 이바지해야 하는 공공극장으로 설립되었다. 이곳은 고급예술과 대중예술, 전통예술과 현대예술이 혼재된, 혼종성을 지닌 문화공간이었다. ‘자본’의 공간이자 ‘혼종성’의 공간인 시민회관의 특성을 규명하기 위해서, 시민회관의 전속공연단체로 육성시키려 한 서울민속가극단의 공연활동을 실증적으로 검토하였다. 시민회관이 이윤을 추구한다는 비판에 직면한 서울시는 공익성을 중심으로 하는 시민회관의 운영 방향과 공공지원 기능을 요구받고 있었다. 이에 따라 서울시는 ‘서울민속가극단’ 출범과 운영을 적극 지원하였다. 서울민속가극단은 민속예술의 대중화·무대화를 모토로 공연활동을 펼쳤으며, 활동 중심 무대는 시민회관이었다. 다시 말해, 서울민속가극단은 무분별한 민간단체 대관 위주라는 시민회관 운영상의 비판을 감안하여 공공 공연장의 자체 기획기능을 활성화하기 위해 서울시 후원으로 탄생한 공연단체이다. 서울민속가극단은 악극, 여성국극 공연을 재구성한 공연을 선보였으나, 기존 공연물과의 차별화나 문화담론 형성에 새로운 방향성을 제시하지 못한 채 해체되고 말았다. 이 논문에서는 수요-공급이라는 경제논리로 운영된 시민회관 전속 예정 공연단체의 쇠퇴 과정과 공연 특성을 규명함으로써, 혼종성의 공간이자 자본의 공간인 시민회관의 성격, 프로그램 운영실태와 한계를 드러내고자 하였다.