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The discovery of part of a human body at Lindow Moss, Cheshire, in 1984, provided Britain with an equivalent to the famous "bog bodies" of Germany, the Netherlands, and Scandinavia, and its subsequent careful forensic analysis appeared to furnish valuable insights into the nature of Iron Age ritual practices. In particular, it served strongly to reinforce the belief that those practices contained a significant component of human sacrifice. Although not wholly without controversy, this interpretation has until recently remained the norm in general surveys of Iron Age or "Celtic" religious attitudes and activities in Britain or northwestern Europe. During the 2000s it became appreciated that the evidence was a great deal more complex and open-ended than this orthodoxy acknowledged. "Lindow Man" has at least as much to tell us about the state of the discipline of archaeology at the opening of the twenty-first century, and the choices open to it, as he does about British prehistory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The history of "alternative" forms of spirituality in modern Britain is now starting to be written, although the ventures into it to date have the character of pioneering works. This article compares two of the most prominent such forms of spirituality in twentieth-century England, both characterized by a close relationship with prehistoric monuments: Druidry and the Earth Mysteries movement. It formulates the main distinguishing features of the former and then charts the development of the latter, viewing it, like the former, primarily as a form of religious and cultural expression. This exercise permits a systematic comparison of the two, and also an examination of their relationship with orthodox archaeology and history. In the process, it is hoped not only to be able to gain new insights into the nature of twentieth-century British counter-cultures, but into the nature of modern British culture as a whole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientific method is a key area of How science works, as it appears in the new key stage 4 programme of study of the National Curriculum for England. In this article aspects of a module for trainee teachers incorporating this area of study are described. As the scientific method is open to interpretation, an approach in which the lives of noted scientists are studied to inform about the methods that they use is described. Examples of the study contents are given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Propofol target-controlled infusion (TCI) in effect site mode has become popular since it became commercially available., Objective: We have performed a study to assess the pharmacokinetic performance of the Marsh model in effect site mode in an unselected group of patients during neurosurgery during the maintenance phase of anaesthesia., Design: Fifty American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status classes 1 to 3 adults underwent elective neurosurgery receiving propofol TCI using the Marsh model in effect site mode. Propofol dose titration and level of patient monitoring was determined by the attending anaesthesiologist. Arterial blood was sampled at regular intervals during the maintenance phase of anaesthesia and measured plasma propofol concentrations were compared with those estimated using TCI., Setting: Large tertiary referral centre in Birmingham, UK, with a specialist neuroanaesthesia service., Patients: Fifty ASA status I to III adult patients undergoing elective neurosurgery., Main Outcome Measures: Performance of Marsh model as assessed by median performance error (bias) and median absolute performance error (imprecision)., Results: Performance of the Marsh model showed a positive bias (median performance error) of 27.6%, and imprecision (median absolute performance error) of 29.4%. Analysis of pooled data demonstrated greatest bias in the early phase (15 to 30 min) of anaesthesia (mean prediction error of 51.6%). Analysis of covariates demonstrated that obesity (BMI >30 kg m(-2)) contributed around half of the bias detected (mean prediction error 47 vs. 23%, P < 0.001). Patients with advanced age and significant comorbidity (ASA physical status class >2) actually demonstrated significantly lower prediction errors., Conclusion: Pharmacokinetic analysis suggests that the performance of the Marsh model in effect site mode is poor in this broad patient population. The greatest bias demonstrated occurred in the early maintenance phase of anaesthesia. Of the covariates analysed, obesity contributed most significantly to an increased bias. Despite overall poor performance of the Marsh model, attending anaesthesiologists modified targeted propofol concentrations only 0.3 times per hour on average, using remifentanil dose modification nine times more frequently, with good surgical conditions in all patients.

Background: There is little data available on the prevalence of violence risk factors in people at ultra-high risk of developing psychosis., Aim: The aim of this study was to provide an estimate of the cross-sectional prevalence of violence risk factors in those attending a routine clinical service for people at ultra-high risk of developing psychosis., Methods: The case notes of all 34 clients receiving treatment over a 4-week period were reviewed and all clinicians were interviewed. Information was gathered regarding gender, current violent ideation, history of violence (including convictions), expressions of concern from others, problems with alcohol or substance misuse, jealousy, suspiciousness, irritability, anger and relevant subthreshold psychotic symptoms. Information on protective factors, including treatment engagement, was also gathered., Results: Thirty-eight per cent (n = 13) had a history of violent behaviour, 79.4% (n = 27) were thought to be currently experiencing significant levels of suspiciousness and 47.1% (n = 16) were thought to have problems with anger. Twenty-nine per cent (n = 10) had previous known convictions for violence. Two-thirds (n = 8) of those where risk of violence was identified were described as being engaged with treatment., Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of violence risk factors in this small sample. Further research with larger samples and better methodology is urgently required to investigate risk of violence in this group and determine the contribution, if any, of subclinical psychotic symptoms., (© 2011 Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.)