On the qualitative analysis of the solutions of a mathematical model of social dynamics

AbstractThis work deals with a family of dynamical systems which were introduced in [M.L. Bertotti, M. Delitala, From discrete kinetic and stochastic game theory to modelling complex systems in applied sciences, Math. Models Methods Appl. Sci. 7 (2004) 1061–1084], modelling the evolution of a population of interacting individuals, distinguished by their social state. The existence of certain uniform distribution equilibria is proved and the asymptotic trend is investigated

Factors affecting the sustainability of community mental health assets: A systematic review

Resources and activities offered by Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations could play a key role in supporting communities with their mental health. Whilst policy makers have become increasingly interested in using such asset-based approaches to improve mental health and well-being, the sustainability of these approaches remains underresearched. In this review, we explored the factors affecting the sustainability of community mental health assets. We conducted a systematic review of the literature using keywords based on three key terms: ‘sustainability’, ‘mental health issues’ and ‘service provision’. Our search strategy was deployed in four electronic databases (MEDLINE, Web of Science, ASSIA and IBSS) and relevant websites were also searched. The literature search was conducted in November and December 2020 and yielded 2486 results. After title and abstract screening, 544 articles were subjected to full-text review. A total of 16 studies were included in a narrative synthesis. Studies included a broad range of community interventions and 30 factors affecting sustainability were identified across three sustainability levels: micro (individual), meso (organisational) and macro (local/national/global). Factors were discussed as barriers or facilitators to sustainability. A key barrier across all sustainability levels was funding (cost to individual participants, lack of available funding for VCSEs, economic uncertainty) whilst a key facilitator was connectedness (social connections, partnering with other organisations, linking with national public health systems). Nearly all articles included no definition of sustainability and the majority of factors identified here were at the meso/organisational level. As funding was found to be such a prevalent barrier, more research into macro level factors (e.g. government policies) is required

Social, cognitive, behavioural and neighbourhood characteristics associated with sedentary time in men and women living in deprived neighbourhoods

Background Multiple individual and neighbourhood characteristics are theorised to influence adult sedentary behaviour. The aim of this study was to examine associations between individual and neighbourhood-level characteristics in forty deprived neighbourhoods in London, UK. Methods A cross-sectional design was utilised with baseline data from the Well London Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial in forty deprived neighbourhoods in London. Multilevel linear regression was used to examine associations between individual characteristics (measured by household survey), neighbourhood characteristics (neighbourhood audit, GIS and routinely available datasets) and sedentary behaviour (sitting time). Results Individual-level positive mental wellbeing and health behaviours were associated with sedentary time. Individual-level social networks were associated with increased sedentary time in men and reduced sedentary time in women. Neighbourhood-level measures of social networks and perceived neighbourhood quality were associated with reduced sedentary time. Fifteen percent of the variance in sedentary time was attributable to differences at the neighbourhood-level (intra-class correlation coefficient = 0.15). Conclusion These findings suggest that social networks at the individual and neighbourhood-levels, collective perceptions of neighbourhood quality, individual-level positive mental wellbeing and other health behaviours may be important components of interventions developed to reduce sedentary time in deprived populations

A review of effectiveness, including cost effectiveness wherever possible, of commissioned healthy weight-related projects in City and Hackney: final report

Combatting rising levels of overweight and obesity and their subsequent negative impact on health and well-being is an international, national and local priority. Strategies for promoting healthy weight need to encompass efforts to tackle the obesogenic environment as well as individual lifestyles. Before launching new strategies and projects there is a need to take stock of what is already happening. What is required is a clear picture of the kinds of healthy weight related projects that are currently in operation and an assessment of whether these projects demonstrate the characteristics known to associated with effectiveness, acceptability, accessibility and good practice. The research project described in this report aimed to: identify and map healthy weight-related projects at a local level in the London boroughs of City and Hackney, review project strengths and weaknesses, and develop a set of assessment metrics (including cost where possible) to review and monitor projects in the future. The project was part of a larger programme of work commissioned by NHS City and Hackney, Hackney Council, the Corporation of London and their partners who are seeking to effect a step change in their strategy to tackle obesity and promote healthy weight

Making sense of social prescribing

This booklet provides advice and guidance on all things social prescribing

Impulsive waves in the Nariai universe

A new class of exact solutions is presented which describes impulsive waves propagating in the Nariai universe. It is constructed using a six-dimensional embedding formalism adapted to the background. Due to the topology of the latter, the wave front consists of two non-expanding spheres. Special sub-classes representing pure gravitational waves (generated by null particles with an arbitrary multipole structure) or shells of null dust are analyzed in detail. Smooth isometries of the metrics are briefly discussed. Furthermore, it is shown that the considered solutions are impulsive members of a more general family of radiative Kundt spacetimes of type-II. A straightforward generalization to impulsive waves in the anti-Nariai and Bertotti-Robinson backgrounds is described. For a vanishing cosmological constant and electromagnetic field, results for well known impulsive pp-waves are recovered.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures, REVTeX 4. v3: added Appendix B, revised references, minor changes in the text. To appear in Phys. Rev.

Creating and Maintaining a Healthy Stratford City: Principles and Practices for Success

Health and other professionals in London Borough of Newham recognise that there are many challenges and opportunities for the promotion of health and the provision of health services with the construction of the Olympic park and new homes, retail outlets and business adjacent to the site. In particular, incorporating new residents into existing communities and existing health services with an expanded provision requires foresight and careful planning. This report aims to contribute to their thinking, planning and decision-making. Research findings from a range of sources including reviews of academic literature and case studies are used to propose some principles and practices to inform decision-making by health and other professions. Our proposals recommend a focus on developing and sustaining a healthy place rather than on ill-health and illness. We outline the reasons why we think that this perspective is preferable and how it may be achieved