Environmental risks in the news: a qualitative analysis of Spanish television news programs

Dada la influencia fundamental de los medios de comunicación en la difusión de amenazas y riesgos, nuestro objetivo es analizar el discurso mediático en torno a un riesgo en particular: el medioambiental. A partir de una muestra de 84 programas informativos emitidos en las tres cadenas de televisión españolas con mayores índices de audiencia a nivel nacional, se ha localizado y analizado un total de 138 noticias, todas ellas relativas al medio ambiente y la naturaleza. La información recogida ha sido codificada y clasificada de acuerdo a cuatro temáticas: causas, consecuencias, soluciones y referencias a problemas medioambientales. En términos generales, las noticias tienden a centrarse en eventos concretos y a mostrar preferencia por contenidos emocionales, de entretenimiento o anecdóticos, frente a explicaciones en torno a soluciones, consecuencias y, sobre todo, causas de los problemas medioambientales.Given the important role mass media play in the dissemination of risks, this article analysis the media discourse about a particular risk: the environmental one. From a sample of 84 news programs broadcast by the three Spanish television channels with the highest national ratings, we have analyzed a total of 138 pieces of news related to the environment and the nature. Applying qualitative methodology, the information has been classified looking for discourses around: references to environmental risks, causes, consequences and solutions. In general terms, news tend to focus on specific events and display their preference to emotional contents, entertainment or anecdotal facts, compared to the explanation of solutions, consequences and, above all, causes

Riesgos medioambientales en los espacios informativos: análisis cualitativo de la televisión española

Given the important role mass media play in the dissemination of risks, this article analysis the media discourse about a particular risk: the environmental one. From a sample of 84 news programs broadcast by the three Spanish television channels with the highest national ratings, we have analyzed a total of 138 pieces of news related to the environment and the nature. Applying qualitative methodology, the information has been classified looking for discourses around: references to environmental risks, causes, consequences and solutions. In general terms, news tend to focus on specific events and display their preference to emotional contents, entertainment or anecdotal facts, compared to the explanation of solutions, consequences and, above all, causes.Dada la influencia fundamental de los medios de comunicación en la difusión de amenazas y riesgos, nuestro objetivo es analizar el discurso mediático en torno a un riesgo en particular: el medioambiental. A partir de una muestra de 84 programas informativos emitidos en las tres cadenas de televisión españolas con mayores índices de audiencia a nivel nacional, se ha localizado y analizado un total de 138 noticias, todas ellas relativas al medio ambiente y la naturaleza. La información recogida ha sido codificada y clasificada de acuerdo a cuatro temáticas: causas, consecuencias, soluciones y referencias a problemas medioambientales. En términos generales, las noticias tienden a centrarse en eventos concretos y a mostrar preferencia por contenidos emocionales, de entretenimiento o anecdóticos, frente a explicaciones en torno a soluciones, consecuencias y, sobre todo, causas de los problemas medioambientales

Föreställningar om prostitution i Sverige

study about the common conceptions regarding prostitution in Sweden The aim of this study was to explore the conception of prostitution in Sweden of today. In the study three different levels were examined: government level, organizational level (organizations helping people out of prostitution) and individual level. The subject was examined in three different ways: documents, a participant observation and interviews. Government and organizational levels express a strongly negative attitude against prostitution. They believe everyone should battle prostitution and their goal is to eradicate it. The prostitutes are described as week, helpless individuals who need to be rescued. Someone who wants to buy sex is described as abnormal and the behavior is prohibited by the law. The work against prostitution is characterized by pastoral power and an ambition towards normalization, where the authorities appear as a strict but loving parent who always knows the right way to go. The individual level differs a bit from the other levels and the view of prostitution is less negative and rigid. Historically the prostitutes have been regarded as a dangerous group who could create chaos in the society. Today’s conception/conceptions about prostitution might be something we have inherited

Hur lantbrukare i Uppland påverkas av att producera lokalt och ekologiskt kött

Marknaden för lokal och ekologisk mat har vuxit och det finns idag flera olika försäljningskanaler för produkter som produceras inom lantbruket. Denna uppsats syftar till att undersöka hur lokala och ekologiska köttbönder i en förening i Uppland påverkas av sin valda produktionsinriktning och försäljningskanal, samt hur de bedömer sin resiliens. Studien grundar sig huvudsakligen på djupintervjuer. Det visade sig att lantbrukarna var nöjda med såväl att producera lokalt och ekologiskt, samt med den ekonomiska föreningen Upplandsbondens de var medlemmar i. Ekonomi, omsorg om djuren och gemenskap var tre av orsakerna till att de valde att gå med i föreningen och att producera lokalt och ekologiskt. Lantbrukarnas självuppskattande resiliens hade överlag ett högt värde.The market for locally and organically produced food has grown and today there are several distribution channels for foods produced at farms. This Master thesis aims to investigate how farmers in Uppland, Sweden, producing local and organic meat, are affected by their chosen production line, and also how they estimate their resilience. The study is mainly based on in-depth interviews. The study showed that the farmers were satisfied with producing locally and organically, as well as with their market association Upplandsbondens. Economic benefits, animal welfare and community were three of the reasons to join the association and producing according to its values. The farmers’ self-assessment of resilience showed that farm resilience in general was high

Dietary intake of zinc and iron within the female population of two farming villages in the Red River Delta, Vietnam

In many developing countries, among them Vietnam, contamination of agricultural land is a major issue that has public health implications. A fast growing population, rapid urbanization and industrialization have led to air and water emissions of potentially toxic elements (PTEs), such as cadmium (Cd). Earlier studies have shown that individuals with low iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) status absorb larger quantities of Cd than those of adequate nutritional status. The purpose of this study was to investigate and compare the Fe and Zn intake from the foods consumed by women (15-45 years) in selected households in two agricultural villag-es in the Red River delta in Vietnam. In one of the villages the residents were involved in metal (mainly Fe) recycling activity, whereas in the other village the residents had agricul-tural production as main source of income. Interviews, followed by food intake calcula-tions, were performed. In total, 59 women were interviewed about their food intake as well as their knowledge about anemia, and the prevalence of this disease. The Zn and Fe intake values were compared to the nutrition recommendations for these elements. In the iron recycling village, the Zn intake was 12.7 mg/day/person and the Fe intake was 11.8 mg/day/person, based on the food intake a typical day. In the reference village, the Zn intake was 15.4 mg/day/person and the Fe intake was 13.2 mg/day/person. Based on a Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), in the iron recycling village the Zn intake was 11.8 mg/day/person and the Fe intake was 11.1 mg/day/person, while in the reference village, the Zn intake was 12.1 mg/day/person and the Fe intake was 13.0 mg/day/person. The reasons for these differences between the villages are difficult to establish, but may be due to different eating habits regarding amounts and choice of food. When comparing the Zn intake with the nutrition recommendations from the Vietnamese National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), as well as World Health Organization (WHO) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Zn intake is higher than the recommendations. However, the Fe intake in both villages did not reach the Fe recommendations, regardless if comparing with the recommendations from NIN or WHO. For this reason, the women in this study may be more prone to absorb Cd. In the iron recycling village, 93 % had knowledge about anemia and 14 % was suffering from it. In the reference village, the proportions are 100 % and 32 % respectively. The Zn content is high in for instance beef, clams and cheese, and the Zn need for the women in this study is fulfilled. There are different strategies to improve the Fe status of Vietnamese women. Apart from increasing the intake, through certain foods rich in Fe, the status can be improved by eating foods that enhance absorption and avoid or lower the intake of foods that inhibit absorption. Information from the National Institute of Nutrition and medical stations is another important factor when improving the health status

Remote nocturnal bird classification by spectroscopy in extended wavelength ranges

We present optical methods at a wide range of wavelengths for remote classification of birds. The proposed methods include eye-safe fluorescence and depolarization lidar techniques, passive scattering spectroscopy, and infrared (IR) spectroscopy. In this paper we refine our previously presented method of remotely classifying birds with the help of laser-induced beta-keratin fluorescence. Phenomena of excitation quenching are studied in the laboratory and are theoretically discussed in detail. It is shown how the ordered microstructures in bird feathers induce structural "colors" in the IR region with wavelengths of around 3-6 mu m. We show that transmittance in this region depends on the angle of incidence of the transmitted light in a species-specific way and that the transmittance exhibits a close correlation to the spatial periodicity in the arrangement of the feather barbules. We present a method by which the microstructure of feathers can be monitored in a remote fashion by utilization of thermal radiation and the wing beating of the bird. (C) 2011 Optical Society of Americ

A novel long non-coding RNA from NBL2 pericentromeric macrosatellite forms a perinucleolar aggregate structure in colon cancer

Primate-specific NBL2 macrosatellite is hypomethylated in several types of tumors, yet the consequences of this DNA hypomethylation remain unknown. We show that NBL2 conserved repeats are close to the centromeres of most acrocentric chromosomes. NBL2 associates with the perinucleolar region and undergoes severe demethylation in a subset of colorectal cancer (CRC). Upon DNA hypomethylation and histone acetylation, NBL2 repeats are transcribed in tumor cell lines and primary CRCs. NBL2 monomers exhibit promoter activity, and are contained within novel, non-polyA antisense lncRNAs, which we designated TNBL (Tumor-associated NBL2 transcript). TNBL is stable throughout the mitotic cycle, and in interphase nuclei preferentially forms a perinucleolar aggregate in the proximity of a subset of NBL2 loci. TNBL aggregates interact with the SAM68 perinucleolar body in a mirror-image cancer specific perinucleolar structure. TNBL binds with high affinity to several proteins involved in nuclear functions and RNA metabolism, such as CELF1 and NPM1. Our data unveil novel DNA and RNA structural features of a non-coding macrosatellite frequently altered in cancer

Microalbuminuria and retinopathy in adolescents and young adults with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

AIM: To estimate the occurrence of complications related to early-onset type 2 diabetes compared with type 1 diabetes. METHODS: All individuals registered in the Swedish Pediatric Quality Diabetes Register and the Swedish National Diabetes Register with type 2 diabetes diagnosis at 10 to 25?years of age between 1996 and 2014 (n = 1413) were included. As controls, individuals with type 1 diabetes were randomly selected from the same registers and were matched for age, sex, and year-of-onset (n = 3748). RESULTS: Of the adolescents with type 2 diabetes in the pediatric register, 7.7% had microalbuminuria and 24.6% had signs of retinopathy 5?years after diagnosis, whereas the adolescents with type 1 diabetes 3.8% had microalbuminuria and 19.2% had retinopathy. Among the young adults with type 2 diabetes from the adult diabetes register 10?years after diagnosis 15.2% had microalbuminuria and 39.7% retinopathy, whereas the young adults with type 1 diabetes 4.8% had microalbuminuria and 43.8% retinopathy. After adjustment for established risk factors measured over time in the whole combined cohort, individuals with type 2 diabetes had significantly higher risk of microalbuminuria with a hazard ratio (HR) of 3.32 (95% confidence interval, CI 2.86-3.85, P?< .001), and retinopathy with a HR of 1.17 (95% CI 1.06-1.30, P 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of complications and comorbidities was higher among those with type 2 diabetes compared with type 1 diabetes, although prevalent in both groups. Early monitoring and more active treatment of type 2 diabetes in young individuals is required

Using magnetic resonance imaging to measure head muscles: An innovative method to opportunistically determine muscle mass and detect sarcopenia

Background Sarcopenia is associated with multiple adverse outcomes. Traditional methods to determine low muscle mass for the diagnosis of sarcopenia are mainly based on dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and bioelectrical impedance analysis. These tests are not always available and are rather time consuming and expensive. However, many brain and head diseases require a head MRI. In this study, we aim to provide a more accessible way to detect sarcopenia by comparing the traditional method of DXA lean mass estimation versus the tongue and masseter muscle mass assessed in a standard brain MRI. Methods The H70 study is a longitudinal study of older people living in Gothenburg, Sweden. In this cross-sectional analysis, from 1203 participants aged 70 years at baseline, we included 495 with clinical data and MRI images available. We used the appendicular lean soft tissue index (ALSTI) in DXA images as our reference measure of lean mass. Images from the masseter and tongue were analysed and segmented using 3D Slicer. For the statistical analysis, the Spearman correlation coefficient was used, and concordance was estimated with the Kappa coefficient. Results The final sample consisted of 495 participants, of which 52.3% were females. We found a significant correlation coefficient between both tongue (0.26) and masseter (0.33) with ALSTI (P < 0.001). The sarcopenia prevalence confirmed using the alternative muscle measure in MRI was calculated using the ALSTI (tongue = 2.0%, masseter = 2.2%, ALSTI = 2.4%). Concordance between sarcopenia with masseter and tongue versus sarcopenia with ALSTI as reference has a Kappa of 0.989 (P < 0.001) for masseter and a Kappa of 1 for the tongue muscle (P < 0.001). Comorbidities evaluated with the Cumulative Illness Rating Scale were significantly associated with all the muscle measurements: ALSTI (odds ratio [OR] 1.16, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.07–1.26, P < 0.001), masseter (OR 1.16, 95% CI 1.07–1.26, P < 0.001) and tongue (OR 1.13, 95% CI 1.04–1.22, P = 0.002); the higher the comorbidities, the higher the probability of having abnormal muscle mass. Conclusions ALSTI was significantly correlated with tongue and masseter muscle mass. When performing the sarcopenia diagnostic algorithm, the prevalence of sarcopenia calculated with head muscles did not differ from sarcopenia calculated using DXA, and almost all participants were correctly classified using both methods.publishedVersio

Innsatte i nordiske fengsler: Utdanning, utdanningsønske og -motivasjon

Undersøkelsene Innsatte i fengsel har rett til utdanning og opplæring. Rettighetene er regulerte av internasjonale konvensjoner og anbefalinger. Medlemsstatene i FN og Europarådet har forpliktet seg til å følge opp de konvensjoner og anbefalinger de har vært med og vedta. De nordiske land har således inkorporert Den europeiske menneskerettskonvensjonen i lovverkene sine. I 2006 og 2007 ble den nordiske fangebefolkningens utdanningsbakgrunn og -ønsker kartlagt gjennom omfattende spørreundersøkelser i Danmark, Finland, Island, Norge og Sverige. Undersøkelsene ble i hvert land gjennomført i en bestemt tidsperiode. I Danmark var alle 3 461 innsatte i målgruppen og fikk skjemaet; svarprosenten var 69,5. I den finske undersøkelsen var 3 432 innsatte i målgruppen; svarprosenten var 71,2. På Island var det 119 innsatte som fikk spørreskjemaet; svarprosenten var 66. Den norske målpopulasjonen var 3 289 innsatte; svarprosenten var 71,1. I Sverige ble det gjort en utvalgsundersøkelse. Hver femte mannlig innsatt og halvparten av de kvinnelige innsatte ble trukket ut; svarprosenten var 93. Bakgrunnsopplysninger Gjennomsnittsalderen til innsatte i nordiske fengsler er i trettiårene. Island har den yngste fangepopulasjonen; gjennomsnitt der er 31 år. Finland og Sverige har den eldste fangebefolkningen; de innsatte er der i overkant av 36 år. De innsattes domslengde varierer noe mellom de fem landene. På Island og i Sverige er det bare fire prosent av de innsatte som har en doms10 Innsatte i nordiske fengsler – Utdanning, utdanningsønske og -motivasjon lengde på under tre måneder. I Finland er det 9,5 prosent som har en tilsvarende domslengde, i Danmark 12,6 prosent og i Norge er denne prosenten 24,3. Andelen som har den lengste dommen (fem år eller mer) ligger i overkant av tjue prosent. Det gjelder Sverige (21,4 prosent), Island (23 prosent), Finland (22 prosent) og Danmark (23,1 prosent, her også inkludert innsatte med ubestemt soningstid). I Norge er det 15,6 prosent av de innsatte som har en dom på mer enn fem år. Kjønnsfordelingen er også lik i de fem landene. Mellom 94 og 95 prosent av de som sitter i fengsler er menn. De innsattes opprinnelse, dvs. statsborgerskap varierer en del. Finland har den klart høyeste andelen som har statsborgerskap i det landet hvor en sitter i fengslet (92,6 prosent). På Island er denne prosenten 88; i Norge 85,6; i Danmark 84,3; i Sverige 74,6. (I Sverige registrerte man i tillegg hvem som har svensk som morsmål; den prosenten er der 62,5.) Med andre ord har man i Sverige, i følge denne undersøkelsen, en fangebefolkning med et større innslag av utlendinger enn hva de andre landene i Norden har.Utdanning Mellom sju og seksten prosent av de innsatte har i følge undersøkelsene ingen fullført utdanning. Island har den høyeste andelen innsatte som ikke har noen form for fullført utdanning (16 prosent). Finland og Norge (7,2 prosent) har den laveste andelen. I Danmark og Sverige er det omtrent hver niende innsatt som mangler utdanning i det hele tatt. Hvor stor andel som bare har obligatorisk skole som det høyeste utdanningsnivået, varierer fra ca. en fjerdepart i Finland til nær halvparten på Island og i Sverige. Danmark og Finland har en noe høyere andel innsatte som har fullført utdanning på nivå to (dvs. ett, to eller tre år med videregående/gymnasial utdanning/yrkesutdanning) enn innsatte i de andre landene. Lavest andel med nivå to har innsatte på Island. I Norge og Sverige har ca. en av ti innsatte nivå 3 (universitets- eller høyskoleutdanning). Danmark har den laveste andelen med universitetseller høyskoleutdanning (4,2 prosent). Generelt sett viser undersøkelsene at det særlig er de yngste innsatte i Norden som har mangelfull utdanning. Prosentandelen innsatte som ikke tar utdanning i fengslet er svært lik i de nordiske landene. Island har den laveste andelen innsatte som ikke tar utdanning i fengslet (55 prosent), mens Danmark har den høyeste med tre av fire innsatte. I de andre landene er det ca. to av tre innsatte som på undersøkelsestidspunktene ikke tok del i noen form for formell opplæring eller utdanningsaktivitet i fengslet. Island har den høyeste andelen som tar nivå to i fengsel, dvs. yrkesutdanning eller gymnasialt nivå. En av tolv innsatte i Finland (7,9 prosent) tar grunnskoleopplæring. I Danmark er det en av ni (11,0 prosent) som enten tar forberedende voksenundervisning eller allmenn voksenutdannelse. Norge, Sverige og Island har den høyeste andelen innsatte som tar utdanning på universitet- eller høyskolenivå, ca tre prosent. De innsatte skulle angi i hvilken grad femten grunner var viktige for dem for å ta utdanning i fengsel. Det å ’benytte tiden fornuftig og nyttig’ fremstår som den viktigste grunnen til å ta utdanning i fengslet for innsatte i alle fem landene. De viktigste grunnene for ikke å ta utdanning i fengslet er at fengslet ikke har utdanningstilbud i det hele tatt eller at det ikke finnes tilbud som passer de innsatte, som for eksempel yrkesrettede utdanninger. Mellom en av ti og en av fire innsatte er ikke interesserte i å ta utdanning i det hele tatt. De innsatte som det gjelder er generelt sett fornøyd med utdanningen og undervisningen som blir gitt. Mangel på (eller mangel på tilgang til) ikt-utstyr er det som innsatte under utdanning i alle fem landene opplever som det største problemet eller hinderet for å fullføre utdanning i fengslet. Denne andelen er høyest på Island (65 prosent) og i Danmark (61 prosent). Innsatte med korte dommer deltar i mindre grad enn de med lange dommer i utdanningsaktiviteten i fengslene. Praktiske implikasjoner Det internasjonale lovverket, som de nordiske land har sluttet seg til, skal sikre at alle grupper i samfunnet sin rett til utdanning blir ivaretatt. Innsatte i fengsel er en mangfoldig gruppe. Denne variasjonen må det tas hensyn til når utdanningen skal organiseres. Det er særlig urovekkende at mange unge i fengsel mangler obligatorisk grunnutdanning og videregående (gymnasial) opplæring. Kriminalomsorg og utdanningsmyndigheter må til enhver tid kartlegge hvem disse er, utrede deres behov for utdanning og tilrettelegge tilbud. Mange av de unge innsatte har korte dommer, og det er et paradoks, at korte dommer blir et hinder for å ta utdanning i fengsel. Korte dommer kan være en innfallsport til videre kriminalitet, og derfor må en hindre at dommene representerer brudd i de unges utdanningsløp. Det blir anbefalt at de nordiske landene tar et krafttak for å sikre innsatte utdanning, uavhengig av dommens lengde. Resultatene fra den delen av undersøkelsen som omfatter de som ikke tar utdanning i fengsel, viser at det fremdeles er en rekke forhold som hindrer de innsatte fra å gjøre dette. Særlig finnes det institusjonelle hinder. Utdanningstilbudene er for lite varierte og for lite tilpasset de som soner. Særlig er det behov for flere yrkes- eller ervervsrettede tilbud. Mange opplever også at de ikke får informasjon om utdanningstilbudene. En økende del av de innsatte har studiekompetanse. Dette krever at det blir lagt til rette for universitets- og høyskolestudier under soning, ved å forbedre mulighetene for å studere under permisjon og for selvstudium under veiledning i fengsel