Open data on health-related neighbourhood features in Great Britain

Our study details the creation of a series of national open source low-level geographical measures of accessibility to health-related features for Great Britain. We create 14 measures across three domains: retail environment (fast food outlets, gambling outlets, pubs/bars/nightclubs, off-licences, tobacconists), health services (General Practitioners, pharmacies, dentists, hospitals, leisure centres) and the physical environment (green space and air quality). Using the network analysis process of Routino, postcode accessibility (km) to each of these features were calculated for the whole of Great Britain. An average score for each domain was calculated and subsequently combined to form an overall Index highlighting 'Access to Healthy Assets and Hazards'. We find the most accessible healthy areas are concentrated in the periphery of the urban cores, whilst the least accessible healthy areas are located in the urban cores and the rural areas. The open data resource is important for researchers and policy makers alike with an interest in measuring the role of spatial features on health.

Anisotropic Plasmonic CuS Nanocrystals as a Natural Electronic Material with Hyperbolic Optical Dispersion

Copper sulfide nanocrystals have recently been studied due to their metal-like behavior and strong plasmonic response, which make them an attractive material for nanophotonic applications in the near-infrared spectral range; however, the nature of the plasmonic response remains unclear. We have performed a combined experimental and theoretical study of the optical properties of copper sulfide colloidal nanocrystals and show that bulk CuS resembles a heavily doped p-type semiconductor with a very anisotropic energy band structure. As a consequence, CuS nanoparticles possess key properties of relevance to nanophotonics applications: they exhibit anisotropic plasmonic behavior in the infrared and support optical modes with hyperbolic dispersion in the 670-1050 nm spectral range. We also predict that the ohmic loss is low compared to conventional plasmonic materials such as noble metals in the NIR. The plasmonic resonances can be tuned by controlling the size and shape of the nanocrystals, providing a playground for future nanophotonic applications in the near-infrared.

Immunomodulation by HDAC inhibition: Results from a phase Ib study with vorinostat and pembrolizumab in metastatic urothelial, renal, and prostate carcinoma patients

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Background: Immunosuppressive factors such as regulatory T cells (Tregs) and myeloid-derived suppressive cells (MDSCs) limit the efficacy of immunotherapies. Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors have been shown to have immunomodulatory effects. We have previously reported that HDAC inhibitors have synergistic antitumor effects in combination with PD-1 inhibition in tumor models by inhibiting the function of Tregs and MDSCs. Thus, we conducted a Phase Ib clinical study with the HDAC inhibitor vorinostat and the PD-1 inhibitor pembrolizumab in patients (pts) with metastatic urothelial, renal and prostate carcinoma. Methods: The primary objective was to evaluate the safety and tolerability of this combination strategy. The phase I portion consisted of two dose levels of vorinostat (100 and 200 mg, PO daily 2 weeks ON and one week OFF) and a fixed, standard dose of pembrolizumab (200 mg IV every 21 days). Patients were assigned to three cohorts: Cohort A (previously treated, anti-PD1/PD-L1 naïve urothelial and renal cancer pts = 15), Cohort B (previously treated, anti-PD1/PD-L1 resistant urothelial and renal cancer pts = 14), and Cohort C (prostate cancer pts = 14). Results: Dose levels 1 (4 enrolled, 3 evaluable) and 2 (4 enrolled, 3 evaluable) were completed without DLTs and 200 mg was the Phase II recommended dose for vorinostat. The most common resolved grade 3/4 toxicities were acute kidney injury (n = 1), anemia (n = 1), diarrhea (n = 1), and hypothyroidism (n = 1) in the dose expansion cohorts. We have enrolled 43 pts (37 evaluable) in the dose expansion cohorts. For Cohort A, B, and C the median PFS were 2.8 months, 5.2 months, and 3.5 months. Two PR were observed including the dose escalation phase. Two PCA pts have achieved undetectable PSA. We have performed several correlative studies including flow cytometry and gene expression analysis on peripheral blood mononuclear cells, PDL-1 staining and PSMA PET scans in a subset of pts. Conclusions: The results from this phase Ib suggest that the combination of vorinostat and pembrolizumab is relatively well tolerated and may be active in a subset of immune checkpoint resistant UC/RCC pts and immune checkpoint naïve PCA pts. Clinical trial information: NCT02619253.

Common acoustic phonon lifetimes in inorganic and hybrid lead halide perovskites

The acoustic phonons in the organic-inorganic lead halide perovskites have been reported to have anomalously short lifetimes over a large part of the Brillouin zone. The resulting shortened mean free paths of the phonons have been implicated as the origin of the low thermal conductivity. We apply neutron spectroscopy to show that the same acoustic phonon energy linewidth broadening (corresponding to shortened lifetimes) occurs in the fully inorganic CsPbBr3 by comparing the results on the organic-inorganic CH3NH3PbCl3. We investigate the critical dynamics near the three zone boundaries of the cubic P m 3 ¯ m Brillouin zone of CsPbBr3 and find energy and momentum broadened dynamics at momentum points where the Cs-site (A-site) motions contribute to the cross section. Neutron diffraction is used to confirm that both the Cs and Br sites have unusually large thermal displacements with an anisotropy that mirrors the low temperature structural distortions. The presence of an organic molecule is not necessary to disrupt the low-energy acoustic phonons at momentum transfers located away from the zone center in the lead halide perovskites and such damping may be driven by the large displacements or possibly disorder on the A site.

A preliminary trial of an online dissonance-based eating disorder intervention

OBJECTIVE

We conducted a controlled randomized preliminary trial of an expanded online version of the Body Project (n = 46) compared to an assessment-only control condition (n = 36) via a longitudinal design (baseline, postintervention, 2-month follow-up) in a community sample of women (N = 82) with clinical (n = 53) and subclinical (n = 29) eating disorder symptoms.

METHOD

The traditional content of the Body Project was modified to include verbal, written, and behavioral exercises designed to dissuade objectification and maladaptive social comparison and adapted to an online format. Body dissatisfaction, self-esteem, self-objectification, thin-ideal internalization, maladaptive social comparison, trait anxiety, positive affect, negative affect, and eating disorder symptomatology were evaluated in the control and the online expanded Body Project condition at baseline, postintervention, and 2-month follow-up.

RESULTS

A 2 (condition: online expanded Body Project, control) × 3 (time: baseline, postintervention, 2-month follow-up) mixed factorial multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was conducted to examine statistically significant group differences. As predicted, results indicated a statistically significant condition × time interaction.

CONCLUSIONS

Participants in the expanded online Body Project condition showed significant reductions in eating disorder symptoms and several associated psychological risk correlates from baseline to postintervention and follow-up; contrary to predictions, eating disorder symptoms and risk correlates were not significantly lower in the online expanded Body Project condition compared to the waitlist control condition at postintervention or 2-month follow-up.

Using machine learning to investigate self-medication purchasing in England via high street retailer loyalty card data

The availability alongside growing awareness of medicine has led to increased self-treatment of minor ailments. Self-medication is where one ‘self’ diagnoses and prescribes over the counter medicines for treatment. The self-care movement has important policy implications, perceived to relieve the National Health Service (NHS) burden, increasing patient subsistence and freeing resources for more serious ailments. However, there has been little research exploring how self-medication behaviours vary between population groups due to a lack of available data. The aim of our study is to evaluate how high street retailer loyalty card data can help inform our understanding of how individuals self-medicate in England. Transaction level loyalty card data was acquired from a national high street retailer for England for 2012–2014. We calculated the proportion of loyalty card customers (n ~ 10 million) within Lower Super Output Areas who purchased the following medicines: ‘coughs and colds’, ‘Hayfever’, ‘pain relief’ and ‘sun preps’. Machine learning was used to explore how 50 sociodemographic and health accessibility features were associated towards explaining purchasing of each product group. Random Forests are used as a baseline and Gradient Boosting as our final model. Our results showed that pain relief was the most common medicine purchased. There was little difference in purchasing behaviours by sex other than for sun preps. The gradient boosting models demonstrated that socioeconomic status of areas, as well as air pollution, were important predictors of each medicine. Our study adds to the self-medication literature through demonstrating the usefulness of loyalty card records for producing insights about how self-medication varies at the national level. Big data offer novel insights that add to and address issues that traditional studies are unable to consider. New forms of data through data linkage may offer opportunities to improve current public health decision making surrounding at risk population groups within self-medication behaviours.

Fast-food outlet availability and obesity: Considering variation by age and methodological diversity in 22,889 Yorkshire Health Study participants

This study investigated if the relationship between residential fast-food outlet availability and obesity varied due to methodological diversity or by age. Cross-sectional data (n = 22,889) from the Yorkshire Health Study, England were used. Obesity was defined using self-reported height and weight (BMI ≥ 30). Food outlets ("fast-food", "large supermarkets", and "convenience or other food retail outlets") were mapped using Ordnance Survey Points of Interest (PoI) database. Logistic regression was used for all analyses. Methodological diversity included adjustment for other food outlets as covariates and continuous count vs. quartile. The association between residential fast-food outlets and obesity was inconsistent and effects remained substantively the same when considering methodological diversity. This study contributes to evidence by proposing the use of a more comprehensive conceptual model adjusting for wider markers of the food environment. This study offers tentative evidence that the association between fast-food outlets and obesity varies by age.

Alcohol outlet density and alcohol related hospital admissions in England: a national small-area level ecological study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Excessive alcohol consumption has a substantial impact on public health services. A key element determining alcohol availability is alcohol outlet density. This study investigated the relationship between on-trade and off-trade outlets and hospital admission rates in local neighbourhoods.

DESIGN

National small-area level ecological study.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

All 32 482 lower layer super output census areas (LSOAs) in England (42 227 108 million people aged 15+ years). Densities for six outlet categories (outlets within a 1-km radius of residential postcode centroids, averaged for all postcodes within each LSOA) were calculated.

MEASUREMENTS

Main outcome measures were admissions due to acute or chronic conditions wholly or partially attributable to alcohol consumption from 2002/03 to 2013/14.

FINDINGS

There were 1 007 137 admissions wholly, and 2 153 874 admissions partially, attributable to alcohol over 12 years. After adjustment for confounding, higher densities of on-trade outlets (pubs, bars and nightclubs; restaurants licensed to sell alcohol; other on-trade outlets) and convenience stores were associated with higher admission rate ratios for acute and chronic wholly attributable conditions. For acute wholly attributable conditions, admission rate ratios were 13% (95% confidence interval = 11-15%), 9% (7-10%), 12% (10-14%) and 10% (9-12%) higher, respectively, in the highest relative to the lowest density categories by quartile. For chronic wholly attributable conditions, rate ratios were 22% (21-24%), 9% (7-11%), 19% (17-21%) and 7% (6-9%) higher, respectively. Supermarket density was associated with modestly higher acute and chronic admissions but other off-trade outlet density was associated only with higher admissions for chronic wholly attributable conditions. For partially attributable conditions, there were no strong patterns of association with outlet densities.

CONCLUSIONS

In England, higher densities of several categories of alcohol outlets appear to be associated with higher hospital admission rates for conditions wholly attributable to alcohol consumption.

Combination GLP-1 and Insulin Treatment Fails to Alter Myocardial Fuel Selection vs. Insulin Alone in Type 2 Diabetes

CONTEXT

It is unclear if effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and clinically available GLP-1 agonists on the heart occur at clinical doses in humans, possibly contributing to reduced cardiovascular disease risk.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether liraglutide, at clinical dosing, augments myocardial glucose uptake (MGU) alone or combined with insulin compared with insulin alone in metformin-treated type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D).

DESIGN

In a randomized clinical trial of patients with T2D treated with metformin plus oral agents or basal insulin, myocardial fuel use was compared after 3 months of treatment with insulin detemir, liraglutide, or combination detemir plus liraglutide added to background metformin.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Myocardial blood flow (MBF), fuel selection, and rates of fuel use were evaluated using positron emission tomography, powered to demonstrate large effects.

RESULTS

MBF was greater in the insulin-treated groups [median (25th, 75th percentile): detemir, 0.64 mL/g/min (0.50, 0.69); liraglutide, 0.52 mL/g/min (0.46, 0.58); detemir plus liraglutide, 0.75 mL/g/min (0.55, 0.77); P = 0.035 comparing three groups, P = 0.01 comparing detemir groups to liraglutide alone]. There were no evident differences among groups in MGU [detemir, 0.040 µmol/g/min (0.013, 0.049); liraglutide, 0.055 µmol/g/min (0.019, 0.105); detemir plus liraglutide, 0.037 µmol/g/min (0.009, 0.046); P = 0.68 comparing three groups]. There were no treatment-group differences in measures of myocardial fatty acid uptake or handling, and no differences in total oxidation rate.

CONCLUSION

These observations argue against large effects of GLP-1 agonists on myocardial fuel metabolism as mediators of beneficial treatment effects on myocardial function and ischemia protection.

Anharmonic Magnon Excitations in Noncollinear and Charge-Ordered RbFe^{2+}Fe^{3+}F_{6}

RbFe^{2+}Fe^{3+}F_{6} is an example of a charge ordered antiferromagnet where iron sites, with differing valences, are structurally separated into two interpenetrating sublattices. The low temperature magnetically ordered Fe^{2+} (S=2) and Fe^{3+} (S=5/2) moments form a noncollinear orthogonal structure with the Fe^{3+} site displaying a reduced static ordered moment. Neutron spectroscopy on single crystals finds two distinct spin wave branches with a dominant coupling along the Fe^{3+} chain axis (b axis). High resolution spectroscopic measurements find an intense energy and momentum broadened magnetic band of scattering bracketing a momentum-energy region where two magnon processes are kinematically allowed. These anharmonic excitations are enhanced in this noncollinear magnet owing to the orthogonal spin arrangement.

How has big data contributed to obesity research? A review of the literature

There has been growing interest in the potential of ‘big data’ to enhance our understanding in medicine and public health. Although there is no agreed definition of big data, accepted critical components include greater volume, complexity, coverage and speed of availability. Much of these data are ‘found’ (as opposed to ‘made’), in that they have been collected for non-research purposes, but could include valuable information for research. The aim of this paper is to review the contribution of ‘found’ data to obesity research to date, and describe the benefits and challenges encountered. A narrative review was conducted to identify and collate peer-reviewed research studies. Database searches conducted up to September 2017 found original studies using a variety of data types and sources. These included: retail sales, transport, geospatial, commercial weight management data, social media, and smartphones and wearable technologies. The narrative review highlights the variety of data uses in the literature: describing the built environment, exploring social networks, estimating nutrient purchases or assessing the impact of interventions. The examples demonstrate four significant ways in which ‘found’ data can complement conventional ‘made’ data: firstly, in moving beyond constraints in scope (coverage, size and temporality); secondly, in providing objective, quantitative measures; thirdly, in reaching hard-to-access population groups; and lastly in the potential for evaluating real-world interventions. Alongside these opportunities, ‘found’ data come with distinct challenges, such as: ethical and legal questions around access and ownership; commercial sensitivities; costs; lack of control over data acquisition; validity; representativeness; finding appropriate comparators; and complexities of data processing, management and linkage. Despite widespread recognition of the opportunities, the impact of ‘found’ data on academic obesity research has been limited. The merit of such data lies not in their novelty, but in the benefits they could add over and above, or in combination with, conventionally collected data.

Neighbourhood typologies and associations with body mass index and obesity: A cross-sectional study

Little research has investigated associations between a combined measure of the food and physical activity (PA) environment, BMI (body-mass-index) and obesity. Cross-sectional data (n=22,889, age 18-86years) from the Yorkshire Health Study were used [2010-2013]. BMI was calculated using self-reported height and weight; obesity=BMI≥30. Neighbourhood was defined as a 2km radial buffer. Food outlets and PA facilities were sourced from Ordnance Survey Points of Interest (PoI) and categorised into 'fast-food', 'large supermarkets', 'convenience and other food retail outlets' and 'physical activity facilities'. Parks were sourced from Open Street Map. Latent class analysis was conducted on these five environmental variables and availability was defined by quartiles of exposure. Linear and logistic regressions were then conducted for BMI and obesity respectively for different neighbourhood types. Models adjusted for age, gender, ethnicity, area-level deprivation, and rural/urban classification. A five-class solution demonstrated best fit and was interpretable. Neighbourhood typologies were defined as; 'low availability', 'moderate availability', 'moderate PA, limited food', 'saturated' and 'moderate PA, ample food'. Compared to low availability, one typology demonstrated lower BMI (saturated, b=-0.50, [95% CI=-0.76, -0.23]), while three showed higher BMI (moderate availability, b=0.49 [0.27, 0.72]; moderate PA, limited food, b=0.30 [0.01, 0.59]; moderate PA, ample food, b=0.32 [0.08, 0.57]). Furthermore, compared to the low availability, saturated neighbourhoods showed lower odds of obesity (OR=0.86 [0.75, 0.99]) while moderate availability showed greater odds of obesity (OR=1.18 [1.05, 1.32]). This study supports population-level approaches to tackling obesity however neighbourhoods contained features that were health-promoting and -constraining.

Influence of the Surfactant Structure on Photoluminescent π-Conjugated Polymer Nanoparticles: Interfacial Properties and Protein Binding

π-Conjugated polymer nanoparticles (CPNs) are under investigation as photoluminescent agents for diagnostics and bioimaging. To determine whether the choice of surfactant can improve CPN properties and prevent protein adsorption, five nonionic polyethylene glycol alkyl ether surfactants were used to produce CPNs from three representative π-conjugated polymers. The surfactant structure did not influence size or yield, which was dependent on the nature of the conjugated polymer. Hydrophobic interaction chromatography, contact angle, quartz crystal microbalance, and neutron reflectivity studies were used to assess the affinity of the surfactant to the conjugated polymer surface and indicated that all surfactants were displaced by the addition of a model serum protein. In summary, CPN preparation methods which rely on surface coating of a conjugated polymer core with amphiphilic surfactants may produce systems with good yields and colloidal stability in vitro, but may be susceptible to significant surface alterations in physiological fluids.

Is adolescent body mass index and waist circumference associated with the food environments surrounding schools and homes? A longitudinal analysis

BACKGROUND

There has been considerable interest in the role of access to unhealthy food options as a determinant of weight status. There is conflict across the literature as to the existence of such an association, partly due to the dominance of cross-sectional study designs and inconsistent definitions of the food environment. The aim of our study is to use longitudinal data to examine if features of the food environment are associated to measures of adolescent weight status.

METHODS

Data were collected from secondary schools in Leeds (UK) and included measurements at school years 7 (ages 11/12), 9 (13/14), and 11 (15/16). Outcome variables, for weight status, were standardised body mass index and standardised waist circumference. Explanatory variables included the number of fast food outlets, supermarkets and 'other retail outlets' located within a 1 km radius of an individual's home or school, and estimated travel route between these locations (with a 500 m buffer). Multi-level models were fit to analyse the association (adjusted for confounders) between the explanatory and outcome variables. We also examined changes in our outcome variables between each time period.

RESULTS

We found few associations between the food environment and measures of adolescent weight status. Where significant associations were detected, they mainly demonstrated a positive association between the number of amenities and weight status (although effect sizes were small). Examining changes in weight status between time periods produced mainly non-significant or inconsistent associations.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study found little consistent evidence of an association between features of the food environment and adolescent weight status. It suggests that policy efforts focusing on the food environment may have a limited effect at tackling the high prevalence of obesity if not supported by additional strategies.

Synthesis and preliminary biological evaluation of a novel P2X7R radioligand [18F]IUR-1601

The reference standard IUR-1601 ((S)-N-(2-chloro-3-(trifluoromethyl)benzyl)-1-(2-fluoroethyl)-5-oxopyrrolidine-2-carboxamide) was synthesized from tert-butyl (S)-5-oxopyrrolidine-2-carboxylate, fluoroethylbromide, and 2-chloro-3-(trifluoromethyl)benzylamine with overall chemical yield 12% in three steps. The target tracer [¹⁸F]IUR-1601 ((S)-N-(2-chloro-3-(trifluoromethyl)benzyl)-1-(2-[¹⁸F]fluoroethyl)-5-oxopyrrolidine-2-carboxamide) was synthesized from desmethyl-GSK1482160 with 2-[¹⁸F]fluoroethyl tosylate, prepared from 1,2-ethylene glycol-bis-tosylate and K[¹⁸F]F/Kryptofix2.2.2, in two steps and isolated by HPLC combined with SPE in 1-3% decay corrected radiochemical yield. The radiochemical purity was >99%, and the molar activity at end of bombardment (EOB) was 74-370 GBq/μmol. The potency of IUR-1601 in comparison with GSK1482160 was determined by a radioligand competitive binding assay using [¹¹C]GSK1482160, and the binding affinity K_i values for IUR-1601 and GSK1482160 are 4.31 and 5.14 nM, respectively.

Protein for Life: Review of Optimal Protein Intake, Sustainable Dietary Sources and the Effect on Appetite in Ageing Adults

With an ageing population, dietary approaches to promote health and independence later in life are needed. In part, this can be achieved by maintaining muscle mass and strength as people age. New evidence suggests that current dietary recommendations for protein intake may be insufficient to achieve this goal and that individuals might benefit by increasing their intake and frequency of consumption of high-quality protein. However, the environmental effects of increasing animal-protein production are a concern, and alternative, more sustainable protein sources should be considered. Protein is known to be more satiating than other macronutrients, and it is unclear whether diets high in plant proteins affect the appetite of older adults as they should be recommended for individuals at risk of malnutrition. The review considers the protein needs of an ageing population (>40 years old), sustainable protein sources, appetite-related implications of diets high in plant proteins, and related areas for future research.

Distinct clusters of stunted children in India: An observational study

Childhood stunting is often conceptualised as a singular concept (i.e., stunted or not), and such an approach implies similarity in the experiences of children who are stunted. Furthermore, risk factors for stunting are often treated in isolation, and limited research has examined how multiple risk factors interact together. Our aim was to examine whether there are subgroups among stunted children, and if parental characteristics influence the likelihood of these subgroups among children. Children who were stunted were identified from the 2005–2006 Indian National Family Health Survey (n = 12,417). Latent class analysis was used to explore the existence of subgroups among stunted children by their social, demographic, and health characteristics. We examined whether parental characteristics predicted the likelihood of a child belonging to each latent class using a multinomial logit regression model. We found there to be 5 distinct groups of stunted children; “poor, older, and poor health‐related outcomes,” “poor, young, and poorest health‐related outcomes,” “poor with mixed health‐related outcomes,” “wealthy and good health‐related outcomes,” and “typical traits.” Both mother and father's educational attainment, body mass index, and height were important predictors of class membership. Our findings demonstrate evidence that there is heterogeneity of the risk factors and behaviours among children who are stunted. It suggests that stunting is not a singular concept; rather, there are multiple experiences represented by our “types” of stunting. Adopting a multidimensional approach to conceptualising stunting may be important for improving the design and targeting of interventions for managing stunting.

A demographic, clinical, and behavioral typology of obesity in the United States: an analysis of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011-2012

PURPOSE

Public health reporting, randomized trials, and epidemiologic studies of obesity tend to consider it as a homogeneous entity. However, obesity may represent a heterogeneous condition according to demographic, clinical, and behavioral factors. We assessed the heterogeneity of individuals with obesity in the United States.

METHODS

We analyzed data from the 2011-2012 wave of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a nationally representative sample of adults in the United States with detailed physical examination and clinical data (n = 1380). We used cluster analysis to identify subgroups classified as obese according to demographic factors, clinical conditions, and behavioral characteristics.

RESULTS

We found significant heterogeneity among participants with obesity according to six distinct clusters (P < .001): affluent men with sleep disorders (16% of sample); older smokers with cardiovascular disease (16%); older women with high comorbidity (20%); healthy white women (13%); healthy non-white women (14%); and active men who drink higher amounts of alcohol (21%).

CONCLUSIONS

Obesity in the United States is not a homogeneous condition. Current research and treatment may fail to account for complex and interrelated factors, with implications for prevention strategies and diverse risks of obesity.

Associations between the combined physical activity environment, socioeconomic status, and obesity: a cross-sectional study

AIMS

This study investigates associations between the combined physical activity environment and obesity and explores any sub-group effects by individual-level socioeconomic status.

METHODS

In a large cross-sectional cohort ( n = 22,889) from the Yorkshire Health Study, body mass index was calculated using self-reported height and weight and obesity was defined as a body mass index ≥ 30. The physical activity environment was split into 'unfavourable physical activity', 'moderately favourable physical activity' and 'favourable physical activity' environments. This was based on the count of parks and physical activity facilities within a 2 km radial buffer centred on home addresses. A favourable physical activity environment was defined as having ≥1 physical activity facility and ≥1 park, unfavourable as having no physical activity facility and park and any other combinations defined as moderately favourable. Logistic regression (odds ratios) identified associations with obesity.

RESULTS

Relative to 'unfavourable physical activity environments', individuals within favourable physical activity environments were less likely to be obese (odds ratio = 0.90; 95% confidence interval = 0.82-0.97), and there was no effect for moderately favourable environment. Furthermore, once stratified by education level, this relationship was only present for those of higher education.

CONCLUSION

Our findings provide novel UK evidence and is one of the first papers internationally that highlights the importance of considering the interplay of individual-level socioeconomic factors when investigating associations between the physical activity environment and obesity.

Orphan Spins in the S=5/2 Antiferromagnet CaFe_{2}O_{4}

CaFe_{2}O_{4} is an anisotropic S=5/2 antiferromagnet with two competing A (↑↑↓↓) and B (↑↓↑↓) magnetic order parameters separated by static antiphase boundaries at low temperatures. Neutron diffraction and bulk susceptibility measurements, show that the spins near these boundaries are weakly correlated and a carry an uncompensated ferromagnetic moment that can be tuned with a magnetic field. Spectroscopic measurements find these spins are bound with excitation energies less than the bulk magnetic spin waves and resemble the spectra from isolated spin clusters. Localized bound orphaned spins separate the two competing magnetic order parameters in CaFe_{2}O_{4}.

Updating Edwin Chadwick's seminal work on geographical inequalities by occupation

To honour the 175^th anniversary of Edwin Chadwick's seminal 'Report on the Sanitary Conditions of the Labouring Poor', we update Chadwick's famous analysis of geographical differences in occupational based inequalities. Much of the field of Health Geography owes both its direction of development and its initial impetus to his 1842 report. The report presented evidence for the importance of local context to health, with individuals of the lowest occupations in Rutland living longer than individuals of the highest occupations in Liverpool. Here we update the 1842 analysis using data from the Office of National Statistics on individual mortality records by occupation (2010-12) and population data from the 2011 Census. Sex-specific directly standardised premature (16-74) mortality rates were calculated for hierarchical occupational categories similar to Chadwick's categories, for the nearest equivalent areas to those used in Chadwick's report. Although there is no longer consistent evidence on individuals in the lowest occupational group having lower mortality rates than those in the highest group, there were clear social gradients in mortality within each area and the extent of these inequalities varied between areas. Individuals who live in Rutland had lower premature mortality rates across each occupational group compared to the other areas. Our results demonstrate that while life expectancy has nearly doubled since Chadwick's report, social and spatial inequalities in health have persisted. We suggest that Chadwick's legacy on the importance of locality continues.