U.K. Press Discourses Surrounding Representations of Rape in Film and the Subject of Male Violence against Women

Representations of rape in film have contributed significantly to the mass of representations of rape present in popular culture. The attention these have attracted, and continue to attract, from audiences, cultural critics and academics is substantial. What has often been overlooked, and what this study does, is explore how these films have been discussed across the U.K. national popular press (including individual newspapers’ online counterparts). Developing on the work of scholars working in the area of film publicity and critical reception who have suggested that film criticism may be socially impactful, this thesis contends that press discussions of films that include representations of rape contribute to discourses surrounding rape that circulate in society and culture and that, as such, they play a part in the construction of specific frameworks of thinking about rape and other forms of male violence against women. Paying particular attention to the language used to describe the rape, the language used to describe the female characters who are raped, and language used to describe the male perpetrators of rape, this thesis demonstrates how press discussions of mainstream films that include representations of rape can reinforce, propagate, challenge and reject rape myths and misconceptions surrounding rape and other forms of male violence against women

Schizophrenia: Practical prescribing of antipsychotics

Schizophrenia is commonly treated with antipsychotics. This article presents a major overview of prescribing antipsychotic for the non-medical prescriber. The prescribing of first- and second generation antipsychotics is considered together with the formulation and side effects. Both the evidence-base for prescribing, and the pharmacology are considered with particular reference to side effects and patient choice

Grassland Productivity and Water Quality: A 21\u3csup\u3est\u3c/sup\u3e Century Issue

Key points 1. Irrigation and other changes to the hydrological cycle can increase soil and water salinity. 2. Primary salinisation is a natural process that affects much of Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas and Australia. Secondary salinisation is caused by human activities such as irrigation and land clearing that mobilise salt stored in the soil. 3. The critical water contaminants exported from grasslands are nitrogen, phosphorus, potential pathogens and sediment. 4. The mechanisms responsible for diffuse pollution from grasslands and mitigation strategies are most effectively investigated using a ‘source-mobilisation-transport’ framework. 5. There is a lack of coherent interaction across discipline boundaries that links pollutant sources to impact. Grassland scientists need to work hand-in-hand with hydrologists and limnologists, to understand the water flows and the intricacies of ecological response, in stream or lake, in order to achieve a more coordinated and inclusive, holistic platform of research

Fine Colloids ‘Carry’ Diffuse Water Contaminants from Grasslands

The transport of diffuse pollutants from grassland has traditionally been described by the operationally defined threshold of greater, or smaller than a nominated membrane filter size. Most commonly this has been a 0.45 μm threshold to define ‘solute’ and ‘particulate’ transport. In this paper we shall use phosphorus (P) to help provide an example of the importance of colloid-facilitated transport

Grassland Productivity and Water Quality: A 21st Century Issue

Irrigation and other changes to the hydrological cycle can increase soil and water salinity. Primary salinisation is a natural process that affects much of Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas and Australia. Secondary salinisation is caused by human activities such as irrigation and land clearing that mobilise salt stored in the soil. The critical water contaminants exported from grasslands are nitrogen, phosphorus, potential pathogens and sediment. The mechanisms responsible for diffuse pollution from grasslands and mitigation strategies are most effectively investigated using a ‘source-mobilisation-transport’ framework. There is a lack of coherent interaction across discipline boundaries that links pollutant sources to impact. Grassland scientists need to work hand-in-hand with hydrologists and limnologists, to understand the water flows and the intricacies of ecological response, in stream or lake, in order to achieve a more coordinated and inclusive, holistic platform of research

The impact of the grazing animal on phosphorus, nitrogen, potassium and suspended solids loss from grazed pastures, Part A

Teagasc wishes to acknowledge the support of the Environmental Research Technological Development and Innovation (ERTDI) Programme under the Productive Sector Operational Programme which was financed by the Irish Government under the National Development Plan 2000-2006.End of project reportIn Ireland 90% of the 4.2 million ha of farmland is grassland. Phosphorus deficiency limited grassland production in Ireland and this was corrected by chemical fertiliser use in the 1960s and 1970s. The increased inputs of fertilisers led to increased intensification of grassland with a doubling of grass yield and of grazing animal numbers, from about 3 million to over 6 million livestock units. There is little information on relative contribution of increased chemical fertiliser use compared to increased grazing animal numbers on phosphorus loss to water. The main objective of this study was to obtain information on nutrient loss, particularly phosphorus, in overland flow from cut and grazed grassland plots, with a range of soil test phosphorus levels over three years and implications.Environmental Protection Agenc

Medicines reconciliation in comparison with NICE guidelines across secondary care mental health organisations

Background Medicines reconciliation-identifying and maintaining an accurate list of a patient's current medications-should be undertaken at all transitions of care and available to all patients. Objective A self-completion web survey was conducted for chief pharmacists (or equivalent) to evaluate medicines reconciliation levels in secondary care mental health organisations. Setting The survey was sent to secondary care mental health organisations in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. Method The survey was launched via Bristol Online Surveys. Quantitative data was analysed using descriptive statistics and qualitative data was collected through respondents free-text answers to specific questions. Main outcomes measure Investigate how medicines reconciliation is delivered, incorporate a clear description of the role of pharmacy staff and identify areas of concern. Results Forty-two (52 % response rate) surveys were completed. Thirty-seven (88.1 %) organisations have a formal policy for medicines reconciliation with defined steps. Results show that the pharmacy team (pharmacists and pharmacy technicians) are the main professionals involved in medicines reconciliation with a high rate of doctors also involved. Training procedures frequently include an induction by pharmacy for doctors whilst the pharmacy team are generally trained by another member of pharmacy. Mental health organisations estimate that nearly 80 % of medicines reconciliation is carried out within 24 h of admission. A full medicines reconciliation is not carried out on patient transfer between mental health wards; instead quicker and less exhaustive variations are implemented. 71.4 % of organisations estimate that pharmacy staff conduct daily medicine reconciliations for acute admission wards (Monday to Friday). However, only 38 % of organisations self-report to pharmacy reconciling patients' medication for other teams that admit from primary care. Conclusion Most mental health organisations appear to be complying with NICE guidance on medicines reconciliation for their acute admission wards. However, medicines reconciliation is conducted less frequently on other units that admit from primary care and rarely completed on transfer when it significantly differs to that on admission. Formal training and competency assessments on medicines reconciliation should be considered as current training varies and adherence to best practice is questionable

Transfer of Escherichia coli to water from drained and undrained grassland after grazing.

The aim of this study was to determine the load of Escherichia coli transferred via drainage waters from drained and undrained pasture following a grazing period. Higher concentrations (ranging between 104 and 103 CFU g-1) of E. coli persisted in soil for up to 60 days beyond the point where cattle were removed from the plots, but these eventually declined in the early months of spring to concentrations less than 102 CFU g-1. The decline reflects the combined effect of cell depletion from the soil store through both wash-out and die-off of E. coli. No difference (P 0.05) was observed in E. coli loads exported from drained and undrained plots. Similarly, no difference (P 0.05) was observed in E. coli concentrations in drainage waters of mole drain flow and overland plus subsurface interflow. Intermittent periods of elevated discharge associated with storm events mobilised E. coli at higher concentrations (e.g. in excess of 400 CFU ml-1) than observed during low flow conditions (often <25 CFU ml-1). The combination of high discharge and cell concentrations resulted in the export of E. coli loads from drained and undrained plots exceeding 106 CFU L-1 s-1. The results highlight the potential for drained land to export E. coli loads comparable to those transferred from undrained pasture

Water quality and UK agriculture: challenges and opportunities

There are high aspirations for environmental water quality targets in the UK, but requirements for significant growth in agricultural production to meet both food security objectives and provide viable livelihoods for farmers make these hard to achieve. Significant water quality challenges are related to nutrients, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, pathogens, sediments and habitat alteration. To facilitate the challenges posed, there is a need for predictive, spatially-distributed models to be developed that encompass the key aspects of agriculture and water management in order to inform future policy and organisations with an interest in land management. Additionally, there needs to be recognition from policy makers that different solutions are needed in different agri-water systems and that it often takes many years or decades for policies to have a sustained water quality impact. Long-term support for research infrastructure and the scientific skills base is required to enable measurement and data analysis necessary to inform decision making. Farmers need clearly articulated information on the issues and potential solutions on which to make informed management decisions regarding water. There are existing solutions to some problems and this knowledge needs to be effectively disseminated with appropriate incentives for implementation to have maximum impact. Greater collaboration between researchers, industry and policy makers, with the necessary framework to deliver effective joint working, is urgently needed. There is also a need for a wider societal understanding of the land-water system and the various ways in which society pays (and might pay in the future) for the real value of water