A survey of food projects in the English NHS regions and Health Action Zones in 2001

Background and Objective: This article sets out the findings from an analysis of food projects, with a particular emphasis on fruit and vegetables, from the 26 Health Action Zones (HAZs) in England and those taking place within the former NHS regional areas in 2001. The objective was to gather information on the existing practice to inform future work. Methods: A series of interviews with key informants in the London area and a review of all the London Health Improvement Programmes and Coronary Heart Disease Local Implementation Plans were used to inform the development of an interview schedule and questionnaire. A second phase consisted of interviews with leads in the NHS Regional Offices. The third phase involved distribution of a questionnaire to the 26 Health Action Zones (HAZs). Results: Comprehensive data on food projects was not routinely available. The large number of initiatives related to food led some respondents to feel unsure as to under which policy to locate their food and fruit and vegetable work. Projects tended to be based on the development of skills (for example, cooking classes) or on a settings approach such as activities in schools or workplaces. A strategic focus was reported as being more common at a local level. Evaluation of food projects was at an early stage in many areas. Conclusions: The future sustainability of food and fruit and vegetable projects was identified as a Key issue. Future policy development of food projects need to be clearly guided by a coherent policy focus and an integrated approach which clearly tackles the root causes of food access and poverty

Thermodynamics of entropy-driven phase transformations

Thermodynamic properties of one-dimensional lattice models exhibiting entropy-driven phase transformations are discussed in quantum and classical regimes. Motivated by the multistability of compounds exhibiting photoinduced phase transitions, we consider systems with asymmetric, double, and triple well on-site potential. One finds that among a variety of regimes, quantum versus classical, discrete versus continuum, a key feature is asymmetry distinguished as a "shift" type and "shape" type in limiting cases. The behavior of the specific heat indicates one phase transformation in a "shift" type and a sequence of two phase transformations in "shape"-type systems. Future analysis in higher dimensions should allow us to identify which of these entropy-driven phase transformations would evolve into phase transitions of the first order

Domain h Type Collective Dimerization of Graphite and Possible sp2sp^2 rightarrow sp3sp^3 Transition Induced by Inter h Layer Charge Transfer Excitations in the Visible Region

We theoretically study possible domain-type collective dimerizations of graphite induced by inter-layer charge transfer excitations in the visible region. Using the semiempirical Brenner theory, we have calculated the adiabatic energy along the path that starts from original two distant graphite layers, but finally reaches the dimerized domain which consists of about 100 carbons with inter-layer σ-bonds. The energy barrier between this new domain and the starting graphite is shown to be of the order of 1 eV, being easily overcome by applying a few visible photons. We have also shown the optimal path of transformation via step by step increase of the domain size

How Nodes and Groups Properties Influence Assortativity in Social Networks?

A model of social network construction taking into account both social and individual influences on the distribution of links is proposed. The balance between social and individual factors is regulated through a "flexibility" parameter, reflecting how strong the initial individual sociability is altered by groups structure. The main interest is focused on the effect of groups on degree-degree correlation. Both numerical and analytical results on the relationship between assortativity and flexibility are presented

An attempt to assess the effect of tourist trail width on adjacent forest environment

The impact of narrow (up to 2 m), medium (up to 3.5 m) and wide (>3.5 m) tourist trails on the surrounding environment was investigated. On wide trails, the value of soil erosion and compaction indices was found to be the highest, while the herb height index was the lowest indicating the greatest impact of wide trails on the environment. The phytosociological relevés were used to determine ecological indicator figures. Wide trails were characterized by higher thermal and continentalism indices and lower pH and trophic indices. The proportion of therophytes and geophytes was higher, while of hemicryptophytes, phanerophytes and chamaephytes on wide trails were lower than on medium and narrow trails. All the analysed indices pointed to a stronger impact of wide trails on the environment in comparison with medium and narrow trails