Key Government Agencies Research Articles

Public Acceptance on the Benefits and Risks of DNA Profile Storage in Forensic DNA Databases: A Lesson from Malaysia

In December 2015, the Forensic DNA Databank of Malaysia (FDDM) was formally established to help in crime prevention and justice. Government activities are boosting public awareness, yet some misconceptions and concerns remain about the collection, storage, and use of Forensic DNA databases. The study's aim is to raise awareness about the benefits and risks of profile storage in forensic DNA data banks. A small number of public informants were selected using the qualitative technique. These included ten public informants and the study employs thematic analysis, and the results are somewhat unexpected. The findings of Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) show that informants' understanding of the benefits and risk of storing DNA profiles in forensic DNA data banks remains low. If the public is unclear and has limited understanding of the benefits and risks involved, it can have an impact on public health in general, and informants continue to blame practitioners in the relevant authorities for a lack of information. It raises the question of how the Malaysian forensic DNA database can be considered sustainable by the public. In recommendations, the government can collaborate with all key government agencies, including the judicial system, the attorney general's office, and the department of chemistry, to raise public acceptance of the benefits and risks of preserving DNA profiles in forensics DNA databanks. Future research is expected to involve additional stakeholders and use a variety of methodological approaches to cover a broader scope.

Challenges and Opportunities in Nigeria's Renewable Energy Policy and Legislation

Endowed with abundant renewable energy resources, Nigeria stands at a pivotal point in its energy development journey. This study explores the landscape of renewable energy policy and legislation in Nigeria, highlighting the challenges and opportunities that shape the sector. The research begins with an overview of Nigeria's current energy framework, emphasizing the critical role of renewable energy in achieving sustainable development. It examines existing policies and legislative frameworks, identifying the key government agencies responsible and outlining their respective functions. Despite the country's vast potential, numerous barriers impede the growth of renewable energy. These include legal and regulatory inconsistencies, institutional inefficiencies, financial constraints, and technical challenges. The study delves into these issues, providing a comprehensive analysis of how they hinder progress in renewable energy adoption. Conversely, the research identifies significant opportunities to enhance renewable energy policy and legislation including potential legislative reforms, institutional strengthening, financial incentives, and the promotion of technological innovation and infrastructure development. By leveraging these opportunities, Nigeria can create a more robust and conducive environment for renewable energy growth. The study concludes with strategic recommendations for policymakers and stakeholders to bridge the existing gaps and foster a sustainable energy future for Nigeria. It also outlines future research directions aimed at optimizing renewable energy policies and practices. Through this comprehensive analysis, the study aims to contribute to the ongoing discourse on renewable energy in Nigeria, providing insights to guide effective policy-making and legislative action.

Evaluation of Watershed Carrying Capacity on Flood Management in Greater Malang East Java Indonesia

Purpose: The over-depletion of natural resources in the Ambang watershed is the recent cause of the flooding in the region. The Ambang watershed, located in the larger Malang region of Indonesia's East Java Province, is the subject of this article because of the importance of this resource to local residents.This study follows the rules set out by Regulation No. P.61/2014 of the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry, which governs the assessment and monitoring of watershed management, in order to determine the Ambang watershed's effectiveness. Finding out how much water the Ambang watershed can hold and how well the regulation works to control floods were the two main goals of this research Method: This study primarily uses data on floods, conservation initiatives, land use, and water value in the Ambang river basin. Data and information on floods, conservation regulations, and the worth of water infrastructure comes from government sources and community discussions. The data on land usage was derived from the analysis of satellite images. Literature reviews and reports from key government agencies (such as the regional agricultural agency, the regional environmental protection agency, and the district government) were used to gather secondary data for the Ambang watershed management study Results and Conclusion: Land cover, as a percentage, can reduce run-off rates and enhance infiltration capacity in a watershed, hence monitoring it is crucial for assessing the state of land carrying capacity. With an area of 86,783.77 ha, the Ambang sub-watershed has 27,311.79 ha of vegetative land cover (PPV), which is classed as poor, falling between 20 and 40%. The result is expressed as a percentage. One way to measure the difference between allowed and actual erosion is via the Erosion Index. Based on the analysis, the Ambang sub-watershed, which covers an area of 86,783.77 ha, experiences heavy erosion on average with 190.8 tons/ha/year. The erosion index is 14.2, and the IE classification is > 2, which is very bad. This is due to factors such as steep to very steep slopes in some areas, poor to moderate soil conservation, and the presence of annual plants on the land, with some exceeding 25%. Research Implications: In order to better educate the public about the conservation and restoration efforts of different stakeholders and to improve the recommendations for potential conservation and restoration actions in each of the Ambang watershed regions, a series of investigations and experimental projects are planned. Laws enacted by the Indonesian government (number 37/2012) and the Ministry of Forestry (number 6061/2014) control the administration of water-related regions in the country. Before receiving any funds from the National State Budget, regional (provincial) governments must develop a management plan that takes into account the watershed's ability to sustain initiatives. Our investigation showed that Regulation 61/2014, issued by the Federal Forestry Minister, does not adequately evaluate the Ambang watershed's harbor capacity. Especially in arid regions, further studies should help Indonesian watersheds better gauge the potential of their water supplies.

Towards Evidence-based Care: Promoting Cognitive Well-being of Older People

The article by Mamayson and Lacanaria 1 in Acta Medica Philippina summarized the available evidence on the effects of cognitively stimulating activities (CSA) on the overall cognitive functioning of older people with mild cognitive impairment(MCI). Aside from the new evidence, it also provided insights on how the findings of study will inform the nursing profession in terms of clinical practice, leadership and policy, research, and education.
 Utilizing a meta-analysis of three randomized controlled trials (RCTs), the authors reported that cognitive training using CSA improves overall cognitive function among older people with MCI. 1 Calligraphy, cognitive, and language trainings werethe cognitively stimulating activities included in the reviewed RCTs which were conducted over the past years in Hong Kong, China, and Greece, respectively. The authors acknowledged that such activities are effective and practical, inexpensive, non- pharmacological approaches to slow down cognitive decline. 1 The strength of the paper is the inclusion of good methodical quality studies and only RCTs which are considered gold standard for evaluating the effectiveness of interventions. However, the authors emphasized that the interpretation of study results requires caution. This is due to the small number of studies reviewed which limits the generalizability of the findings.
 Older people with mild cognitive impairment are at increased risk of dementia since aging is a primary predictor of MCI progression to dementia. 2 The Global Action Plan on the Public Health Response to Dementia 2017-2025 outlined the growing consensus on protective measures which can reduce the risk of cognitive decline and dementia. These measures include healthy lifestyle (e.g., physical activity, balanced diet, smoking, and alcohol cessation), management of hypertension and diabetes, social engagement, and promotion of cognitively stimulating activities and learning. 3 These are aligned with the recommendations of the Lancet Commission which emphasized that dementia prevention is about policy and individuals. Preventive actions require both public health strategies and individually-tailored interventions. 4
 In the Philippines and as mandated by the Republic Act No. 9994 or also known as the Expanded Senior Citizens Act, the Department of Health (DOH) in coordination with relevant stakeholders shall institute a national health program andprovide an integrated health service for senior citizens. 5 The DOH developed the Health and Wellness Program for Senior Citizens 6 and several policies on the care of older people 7,8 . Specific policies relevant to cognition include the 2022 Omnibus Health Guidelines for the Elderly. The guidelines contain the conduct of cognitive stimulation therapy by a psychologist or mental health specialist for people with cognitive decline who may benefit from cognitive stimulation. 7 The implementation of this specific guideline is challenging due to the limited number of health workforce. In particular, there are only approximately 1600 psychologists and 500 psychiatrists serving about 110 million Filipinos. 9
 In the era of and prior to the introduction of evidence-based practice, nurses are one of the major key players in the care of older people. The study of Mamayson and Lacanaria added evidence which will be useful in guiding the current and future professional nursing practice. 1 Nurses can promote cognitive wellness by educating the older patient, family members, and the community on the importance of engaging in appropriate cognitively stimulating activities and the potential benefits of these non-pharmacological approaches. The recommendations on the incorporation of the findings into the gerontology courses, introduction of certification programs for dementia and MCI care specialists, and advocating for policy changes call for action. These recommendations can be put into action in close coordination with the right stakeholders. The involvement of key national government agencies namely Commission on Higher Education, Professional Regulation Commission, Department of Health, National Commission of Senior Citizens, as well as academic institutions, and professional societies such as the Philippine Nurses Association, Gerontology Nurses Association of the Philippines, and the Philippine Society of Geriatrics and Gerontology is crucial.
 The research recommendations outlined by Mamayson and Lacanaria highlighted the conduct of future studies with larger samples, longer follow ups, less language restrictions, and more rigorous analysis. 1 It is notable that no local study oncognitively stimulating activities that was cited or included in the review. Given this, the country should strengthen local evidence generation to develop age-, gender-, culturally-sensitive, and responsive interventions. The most recent NationalUnified Health Research Agenda of the Philippines included geriatric health and tailoring novel mental health interventions to different life-stages as priority topics. 10 This is an opportunity for professional societies, academe, and research institutions to pursue research, contribute to the local evidence base, promote cognitive well-being, and ultimately, improve the care and quality of life of older Filipinos.

Digital Transformation in Politics and Governance in Indonesia: Opportunities and Challenges in the Era of Technological Disruption

Digital transformation has become a major driver of change in politics and governance in Indonesia. This study aims to examine the opportunities and challenges faced in the process of digitalizing the public sector in Indonesia. Using a qualitative approach with case studies and literature analysis, the research identifies several key aspects, including increased political participation through social media platforms, the evolution of e-governance, and the implications of cybersecurity and data privacy. The units of analysis include policies and practices of digitalization in the public sector. The study population consists of government agencies, active politicians on social media, and citizens participating in digital politics. A purposive sampling technique was used to select key government agencies, influential politicians on social media, and digitally active citizens. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and document analysis and analyzed using thematic analysis techniques. The findings indicate that digital technology creates new opportunities to enhance transparency, efficiency, and public participation in Indonesian governance. However, challenges such as the digital divide, cybersecurity threats, and data privacy protection remain. The results highlight the importance of adaptive policies and robust regulatory frameworks to maximize the benefits of digital transformation while addressing existing challenges.

Reducing the gap between rhetoric and reality: Use of Digital Service Standards for public service innovation through digital transformation in Australia

AbstractNearly a decade ago, the Australian Federal Government introduced a Digital Service Standard (DSS) for new and redesigned government services. This was an opportunity to encourage digital services and disruptive innovations to help the government improve citizens outcomes, and indeed there was a significant uptake in the digital services assessments offered by the program with key government agencies across health, human services, taxation, and education on board. However, by the 2020s the number of publicly visible assessments had significantly reduced. The initial broad adoption and recent reduction in numbers present an opportunity to explore the effectiveness of this government innovation management program that was ahead of its time. This paper reviews the impact of the DSS in fostering public service innovation and presents lessons learnt from the program. To perform this analysis, this research evaluates to what extent the DSS applied common private sector innovation management approaches of Innovation Process Management and Innovation Portfolio Management in the public sector. It also looks at the impact of these programs in encouraging specific types of modern digital innovations. The analysis draws on DSS assessments from 2015 to 2021 and considers how the program demonstrated public sector innovation leadership. This paper proposes a framework to improve the DSS by tailoring its approach for new and existing services, adopting specific standards to encourage incremental and disruptive innovations, and promoting more transparent reporting and funding of innovation management programs. This evaluation found that the DSS exemplifies Innovation Process Management in its use of stages and gates, and Innovation Portfolio Management in its use of targeted assessment criteria across innovation portfolios of various government agencies. The analysis also identified design limitations in the DSS as a whole of government innovation management approach due to its limited uptake in multiple large agencies and lack of specific standards to encourage different types of innovation. The impact of this research is to increase the adoption of the DSS and increase the innovation outcomes delivered by this government program. We conclude by reflecting some of the unique considerations in applying private sector innovation management practices in the public sector.Points for practitioners Innovation management techniques are emerging but remain immature in the public sector. Australia has shown leadership in Government Innovation Process and Portfolio Management. Government must remain committed to innovation management programs and sharing the outputs of these programs. Government Innovation Management Programs should build in flexibility to encourage different types of innovation.

E-procurement adoption in Nigeria: perceptions from the public sector employees

PurposeThis study attempts to examine the factors that influence user intention to adopt e-procurement in the Nigerian public sector.Design/methodology/approachA well-structured questionnaire was used to collect primary data from 278 procurement and information technology (IT) departments’ officials of key federal government ministries and agencies. The technology acceptance model (TAM) model was adopted and extended with security-related factors, namely perceived trust and perceived security. A partial least squares-structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) approach was used to test and validate the model.FindingsThe results indicated that perceived usefulness is the best predictor of users’ intention to adopt e-procurement, followed by perceived security and perceived trust. In contrast, however, perceived ease of use was found to have a significant negative effect on the intention to adopt e-procurement.Originality/valueThis study is among the first in the Nigerian public sector context to evaluate users’ perceptions on e-procurement adoption with the use of a distinctive research model (TAM). The study's findings contribute to a better understanding of the factors influencing the adoption of e-procurement in the Nigerian public sector.

On The Path towards Sustainable Construction—The Case of the United Arab Emirates: A Review

The construction sector in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is expanding substantially due to many variables, including strong economic growth, a swiftly growing population, and continuous modernization endeavors. As a result, the development of the construction industry is leading to adverse impacts on energy consumption and environmental conditions. The UAE government and policymakers have implemented significant initiatives to advance sustainable infrastructure, promote clean energy utilization, effectively manage construction and demolition waste (CDW), and foster green building development. These measures follow the nation’s dedication to the Paris Agreement, which aims to decrease greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The article comprehensively examines the policies and practices implemented in this industrialized nation concerning sustainable construction. Moreover, the primary objective of this study is to evaluate the performance of the UAE in comparison to other countries within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) concerning their accomplishments in sustainability. Additionally, the study seeks to integrate insights from the global community regarding sustainability policies, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the effective management of CDW, and the implementation of green regulations that govern environmentally conscious construction practices. A comprehensive analysis of information sources from official websites, particularly those of the ministry and key government agencies, is conducted to better understand the current sustainability policies and treatment methods related to the management of CDW and green building regulations.

Centring equity in data‐driven public health: a call for guiding principles to support the equitable design and outcomes of Australia's data integration systems

Centring equity in data‐driven public health: a call for guiding principles to support the equitable design and outcomes of Australia's data integration systems

Enabling Adoption of Stress-Tolerant Rice Varieties and Associated Production Management Technologies by Smallholder Farmers in Cambodia

Smallholder rice farmers in four target provinces surrounding Tonle Sap Lake in Cambodia face problems of crop failures and low yields due to biotic and abiotic factors and a lack of suitable seeds and technologies. This paper reviews the status of rice production in the four areas and discusses the approaches to foster wide-scale dissemination and adoption of high-yielding, stress-tolerant rice varieties (STRVs) with resistance to biotic factors and tolerance to drought or floods. Baseline and endline surveys were conducted as well as extensive linkages with stakeholders, capacitybuilding activities, quality seed production at institutional level, field demonstration, and seed dissemination. The study summarizes data from 1,220 baseline respondents on demographic details, varietal use, knowledge assessment, and needs. The survey showed an aging profile, of which almost 25 percent are women, use of traditional and modern varieties with low yields of 2.5 t/ha, abiotic stress occurrence, and that only 14 percent of farmer respondents have heard about STRVs. In 30 months, training activities, varietal information, and diffusion of seeds reached 13,080 farmers. Results from 339 field trials showed the yield advantage of 1.0 to 1.5 t/ha of STRVs compared with those of farmer’s varieties. An endline survey from 424 farmers in 2018 showed recognition for government extension, better awareness of STRVs, high willingness to adopt STRVs at 92.4 percent of the respondents, preferred varietal traits, and additional training activities are needed. The barriers to adoption that were identified were concerns on low market price and marketability. Participatory trials and farmers’ field days were effective for early adoption as the visual performance of STRVs increased interest among farmer groups. Key government agencies are needed to promote and sustain registered seed production, availability of STRVs, and crop suitability. The support of the Royal Government of Cambodia and its new seed policy address problems on seed quality and availability.

Emerging policy opportunities for United States–Canada transboundary connectivity conservation

In response to recent alignment of political leadership in Canada and the United States with respect to global nature conservation imperatives, a nascent and intentional dialogue has emerged on transboundary connectivity conservation between the two countries. In February and April 2021, two meetings were remotely convened, bringing together more than 160 participants from key government agencies, non-governmental organizations and Indigenous Nations engaged in conservation in both countries. Participants generated 25 concrete ideas for key next steps and 11 broad strategies that, when considered together, comprise 11 priority policy directions. Among these, four core policy imperatives include (1) prioritizing opportunities to coordinate within and among Indigenous communities, (2) creating formalized memorandums of understanding (MOUs) and funding commitments between the US and Canada, (3) mainstreaming connectivity into sectors and society, and (4) initiating systemwide changes in governance and economic structures. Together, these policy directions represent important strategies at this crucial inflection point. Only rarely are nations given historic policy alignment opportunities to redefine and reinvigorate their common conservation goals. Particularly salient is the drive to embrace transboundary connectivity conservation as a nature-based solution to climate change adaptation. We see this dialogue as a beginning in securing the peace that defines two countries and numerous Indigenous Nations that are inextricably linked by ecology and culture.

OCHOTNICZE HUFCE PRACY JAKO INSTYTUCJE RYNKU PRACY NA WARMII I MAZURACH

Volunteer Labour Troops are one of the key government's agencies focused on organization of a system support for youth, in the area of it's both social and professional activation i.e. upbringing, teaching, training courses, consultancy and employment. As budgetary institutions they are entrusted with responsibility for particularly difficult youth, stemmed from socially neglected environments, threatened with marginalization and social exclusion. In recent years those institutions in the elastic way have adapted their nature of business and functions fulfilled to constantly changing social-economic reality.The main goal of this article is to enunciate Volunteer Labour Troops in Warmia and Mazury as counteracting marginalization and social exclusion, in completing background and professional preparation of youth and unemployed before the age of 25. In the article analysis of documents statutes, regulations and educational programmes of each VLC units has been applied as well as individual in – depth interviews conducted with VLC representatives in region. The necessary for drawing conclusions research material has been gathered in VLC units working in Warmia and Mazury region.

Issues in the establishment of a therapeutic cannabis market under Jamaica's Dangerous Drugs Amendment Act 2015

IntroductionIn 2015, Jamaica became the first Caribbean country to decriminalise personal cannabis possession, legalise home cultivation and establish a commercial therapeutic cannabis market via the passage of the Dangerous Drugs Amendment Act (DDAA). AimTo critically analyse implementation of the legal therapeutic cannabis market under the DDAA. MethodsSynthesis of findings from semi-structured face-to-face interviews with 22 key informants (KIs) from the government, industry, academia and NGO sector, unstructured interviews with illegal growers, and field observations of licensed and illegal operators. ResultsKIs identified a number of challenges in implementing therapeutic market provisions under DDAA, including a limited buy-in from key government agencies; delays in developing a framework for quality assurance; and lack of access to banking services. Public sector actors stressed the challenges imposed by the UN drug conventions and need to maintain favourable diplomatic relationship with the US federal government, with the consequence of prioritising enforcement to prevent diversion and inversion. Implementation of the Alternative Development Programme in two traditional cannabis-growing communities experienced challenges with land titles and frictions in local communities. High compliance costs and limited skills to meet the envisioned medical standards presented barriers for traditional farmers. Many KIs conceptualised the purchasing of cannabis from the regulated market as “recreational” rather than medical, reflecting the marketing and limited information on medical applications at point of sale. Licensees’ reliance on foreign investment puts local industry at risk of predatory shareholder agreements, but also provides needed investment and expertise. ConclusionExternal international factors (e.g. UN treaties, correspondent banking with the US) and conflicting domestic government agency visions for the reform played a significant role in the DDAA implementation. As cannabis law reform spreads beyond Western jurisdictions, consideration of pre-existing social, cultural and economic conditions of developing countries will be important.

Identifying government’s and farmers’ roles in soil erosion management in a rural area of southern China with social network analysis

Agricultural production in China is mainly decentralized, small in size, and involved by independent single households. Farmers are the main implementers of soil erosion control projects. Their willingness and abilities, which are crucial to the effectiveness of these projects, are closely related to their social networks. However, the relationship between farmers’ social networks and soil erosion control remains unclear. Hengxi, a typical village in Jiangxi Province, China, was used as a case study. Traditional- and new-type of farmers’ social networks were built according to the planting structures based on survey data. The results showed that both types of networks had the characteristics of small-world network and scale-free network. The ability to obtain and dispense information was the significant distinction between the two networks. The dealer was an influential key node in both networks. The government agencies were key nodes in the new-type network but not in the traditional-type network, which made it difficult for traditional farmers to obtain indispensable information about soil erosion control. The characteristics of farmers and their corresponding networks had significant influences on their awareness of soil erosion. Soil erosion management projects could be deployed smoothly by the key farmers and government agencies in the new-type social network, but difficultly in the traditional-type social network. To improve the effectiveness of soil erosion control projects, cooperation with dealers is important for government agencies.

Enhancing the Ease of Doing Business in APEC Countries: A Comprehensive Review of Literature

Since 2006, the World Bank has been ranking almost 200 countries in terms of their business environment and the “ease of doing business” in these economies. The rationale behind this is the importance of a thriving private sector in promoting high and inclusive growth and development. It is argued that the easier it is to establish and run a business, the more investors will be encouraged to invest, and thus more employment is generated. A good business environment also promotes competition and encourages innovation and expansion (World Bank 2013). The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) also has its own specialized group monitoring the progress of its members in enhancing the ease of doing business. In its 2015 edition (which looks at data from 2014), the World Bank ranked the Philippines 95th in its Doing Business Report. This is a 13-place improvement from its 2014 rank and a 38-notch jump from 2013. These improvements reflect the efforts made by key government agencies in the past years. This rise in ranking can be seen not only as an enhancement of the country’s economic fundamentals and potential for growth; it also sends out a positive signal to foreign investors, governments, institutions, and media. This paper will provide inputs to the APEC Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) Initiative which establishes the goal of an APEC-wide improvement of 25% by 2015 in the following five key areas of doing business: (1) starting a business; (2) dealing with permits; (3) getting credit; (4) trading across borders; and (5) enforcing contracts, with an interim target of 5% percent improvement by 2011.

Sustainable Inland and Coastal Fisheries: Key Lessons Drawn from Community-based Fisheries Management in Bangladesh

Aim: To build an appropriate basis for inland and coastal fisheries co-management through the involvement of key government agencies, fishers, traders and relevant stakeholders.
 Study Design: Literature review of the community-based fisheries management projects in Bangladesh during 1995-2017 and examine fisher’s perceptions of co-management approaches from an inclusive cross-section of fishing households.
 Place and Duration of Study: The study sites are located in six riverine districts in Bangladesh, namely Bhola, Chandpur and Laxmipur within fish sanctuary areas and Barisal, Pirojpur and Jhalokathi outside fish sanctuary areas.
 Methodology: The study included community-based fisheries management project’s knowledge in different inland and coastal habitat types in Bangladesh. The study comprised on lessons learned from field activities, workshops on fisheries co-management with the public, NGOs, experts, civil society, fisher’s organizations, traders and related stakeholders, and reviews of several reports on other community-based fisheries management initiatives in Bangladesh. The study also examined stakeholder perceptions of co-management approaches from a cross-section of 1200 fishing households in 24 fishing villages.
 Results: Results indicated that performance of community-based fisheries management in Bangladesh varied widely to improve natural fish production, fish abundance and biodiversity and, with the nature of the community involved. These include the development capabilities of user groups through formation of village level Conservation Groups and fish landing center-based organizations, and capabilities of the key government agencies and law enforcing agencies for enhancing compliance.
 Conclusions: This paper proposes a co-management arrangement for fishery management along the fish sanctuary areas of the Padma-Meghna River systems in Bangladesh. These findings provided the scientific basis of community managed fisheries management and its applications.

Using address histories to improve the link rates of surveys in the Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI)

Stats NZ’s Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI) is a linked longitudinal database combining administrative and survey data. Initially, the IDI contained a small number of administrative datasets from key government agencies, which generally contained good quality identifying information such as nam es and date of birth. As a result, the methodologies developed to link these datasets together relied heavily on these variables, and yielded high link rates while maintaining good quality links. When survey datasets were later added, the link rates achieved were lower than that of administrative datasets, due to poor quality names and the underutilisation of geographic information. This indicated there were improvements to be made to the linking methodology used to link survey data in the IDI. Stats NZ underwent extensive consultation with the research community on their requirements for the expansion of the IDI (IDI2). A key finding from the consultation was that researchers wanted improved survey linkage. This paper outlines how the address history of individuals were used to increase the link rate of surveys in the IDI.

Policy addressing suicidality in children and young people: an international scoping review

ObjectiveTo map key policy documents worldwide and establish how they address the treatment and care needs of children and young people (CYP) who are suicidal.DesignWe conducted a scoping review to...

Building back towards storm-resilient housing: Lessons from Fiji's Cyclone Winston experience

Storm-related disasters lead to massive destruction of housing structures all over the world. In 2016, Fiji was struck by Cyclone Winston, which rendered approximately 15% of the country's population homeless. In light of the severe devastation brought about by the cyclone, there is a need to better prepare for future hazards, particularly in the resilience of housing structures in developing countries. A research delegation traveled to Fiji and surveyed two villages in Ra province, which were among the most severely affected by the cyclone. The field study was supplemented with an archival review of post-disaster reports and other background information obtained from key government agencies and non-government organizations working on the recovery and rehabilitation of the affected areas. Structural failure modes and patterns on damaged and collapsed houses were observed and analyzed. Results reveal the vulnerabilities of Fijian housing structures to severe winds. Inadequacies are observed in both design and construction aspects, underpinned by people's awareness of and access to cyclone-proofing practices and technologies, availability of skilled labor, and the corresponding costs. These underpinning factors would have to be addressed in order to develop a storm-resilient housing stock in Fiji.

Supporting intellectual property through advocacy, education, and awards

Innovation continues to be a key generator of economic progress, both for our country and, specifically, for the chemistry community. Intellectual property protections help ensure that inventors and innovators continue to have fair and appropriate incentives to innovate. On the recommendation of the Committee on Patents & Related Matters (CPRM), the American Chemical Society recently adopted a policy statement on intellectual property. Please take a moment to review this statement under the Advocacy tab of the ACS website. Through its advocacy efforts in Congress and its collaboration with key government agencies, ACS actively supports the continued development of a robust intellectual property system that encourages innovation and fosters scholarly advancement, especially in the sciences. As part of these efforts, CPRM identifies opportunities for ACS to advocate on the importance of intellectual property guided by the policy statement on intellectual property. One way that CPRM stays informed about legi...