National Mobilization Research Articles

Development and implementation of a national mobile health application: A case study from Brunei

Mobile health applications (m-Health apps) have the potential to provide low-cost, near instant access to health care to end users on a national level. They provide opportunities for remote monitoring, teleconsultation, virtual care, information exchange, and remote data capturing. National m-Health apps enable centralisation and consolidation of health data, which may assist policy and health […]

Immunogenicity of COVID-19 vaccines and levels of SARS-CoV-2 neutralising antibody in the Bruneian population: Protocol for a national longitudinal study

IntroductionNeutralising antibodies (NAbs) have been shown to be correlative of immune protection against SARS-CoV-2. We report the protocol for a national longitudinal study to assess and compare the level of...

Age-based medical screening of drivers in Switzerland: an ecological study comparing accident rates with Austria and Germany.

In Switzerland, as in various other countries throughout the world, elderly drivers have to pass a medical screening assessment every two years to keep their driver's licence. The scientific literature shows no clear evidence that these policies improve road safety. This study evaluated the effects of the Swiss screening policy by comparing the accident and injury rates of elderly road users in Switzerland with those in Austria and Germany, two neighbouring countries without systematic age-based screening policies. The aims of this study were to examine if the screening policy is associated with a reduced risk of elderly car drivers causing serious accidents (research question 1) or with an increased risk of elderly pedestrians or (e-)cyclists being seriously or fatally injured (research question 2). In all three countries, data on accidents were taken from official statistics based on police reports and mileage data from national mobility surveys. An accident was defined as serious if at least one person is seriously or fatally injured in it. Accident and injury rates were calculated using distances driven and population size as measurement of exposure. Multiple Poisson regression models were used to examine the association between the Swiss policy and the accident or injury risk of elderly persons. We found no association between the screening policy for elderly drivers in Switzerland and their risk of causing a serious accident (incidence rate ratio [IRR] 1.24, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.79-1.94). Contrary to other studies, however, the Swiss policy was not associated with an increased risk of elderly pedestrians (IRR 1.16, 95% CI 0.80-1.68) and (e-)cyclists (IRR 0.79, 95% CI 0.56-1.12) being seriously or fatally injured. The intended positive effect of the Swiss screening policy on accident rates of elderly drivers could not be demonstrated in this study. These findings serve as a basis for discussion on how to proceed with the policy in the future.

Physical Activity Trends Among Adults in a National Mobile Health Program: A Population-Based Cohort Study of 411,528 Adults.

Physical inactivity is a global public health challenge, and effective, large-scale interventions are needed. We examined the effectiveness of a population-wide mobile health (mHealth) intervention in Singapore, National Steps Challenge Season 3 (NSC3) and 2 booster challenges (Personal Pledge and Corporate Challenge). The study includes 411,528 participants. We used regression discontinuity design and difference-in-difference with fixed-effects regression to examine the association of NSC3 and the additional booster challenges on daily step counts. Participants tended to be female (58.5%), with an average age of 41.5 years (standard deviation, 13.9) and body mass index (weight (kg)/height (m)2) of 23.8 (standard deviation, 4.5). We observed that NSC3 was associated with a mean increase of 1,437 steps (95% confidence interval (CI): 1,408, 1,467) per day. Enrollments in Personal Pledge and Corporate Challenge were associated with additional mean increases of 1,172 (95% CI: 1,123, 1,222) and 896 (95% CI: 862, 930) steps per day, respectively. For NSC3, the associated mean increase in the step counts across different sex and age groups varied, with greater increases for female participants and those in the oldest age group. We provide real-world evidence suggesting that NSC3 was associated with improvements in participants' step counts. Results suggest NSC3 is an effective and appealing population-wide mHealth physical activity intervention.

What explains spatial variations of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy?: a social-ecological-technological systems approach

While COVID-19 vaccines have been available since December 2020 and efforts have been made to vaccinate the maximum population, a large number of people are continuing to be hesitant, prolonging the pandemic in the US. While most previous studies investigated social, economic, and demographic variables that are associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, we added ecological and technological variables to better understand the spatial variations of vaccine rates in the contiguous United States using spatial regression and geographically weighted regression (GWR) models. We aim to identify spatially varying social, ecological, and technological factors that are associated with COVID-19 vaccination rates, which can aid in identifying and strengthening the public health system and vaccination programs that can eventually facilitate and overcome vaccination hesitancy. We found six statistically significant predictors; two predictors, % Republican voters (r = 0.507, p < .001) and % Black population (r = −0.360, p < .001) were negatively correlated with the vaccination rates, whereas four remaining predictors, % Population with college degree (r = 0.229, p < 001), NRI Score (r = 0.131, p < .001), % Population with broadband access (r = 0.020, p < 001), and Health facilities per 10 000 population (r = 0.424, p < 001) were positively correlated with the vaccination rates at the county level. GWR results show spatially varying relationships between vaccination rate and explanatory variables, indicating the need for regional-specific public health policy. To achieve widespread vaccination, addressing social, ecological, and technological factors will be essential. We draw particular attention to the spatial variances even among positively and negatively associated factors. This research also calls for a reexamination of existing practices, including vaccination communication and other public health policies, local and national public health organizations, telecommunications agents, and mobilization of resources by the public and private sectors.

Revealing the extent of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya based on serological and PCR-test data.

Policymakers in Africa need robust estimates of the current and future spread of SARS-CoV-2. We used national surveillance PCR test, serological survey and mobility data to develop and fit a county-specific transmission model for Kenya up to the end of September 2020, which encompasses the first wave of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in the country. We estimate that the first wave of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic peaked before the end of July 2020 in the major urban counties, with 30-50% of residents infected. Our analysis suggests, first, that the reported low COVID-19 disease burden in Kenya cannot be explained solely by limited spread of the virus, and second, that a 30-50% attack rate was not sufficient to avoid a further wave of transmission.

Technology-assisted adaptive recruitment strategy for a large nation-wide COVID-19 vaccine immunogenicity study in Brunei.

A national study was conducted in Brunei to assess and compare the immunogenicity of the various brands of COVID-19 vaccines administered to the population as part of the National COVID-19 Vaccination Programme. Most of the population have had received at least 2 doses of BBIBP-CorV, AZD1222 or MRNA-1273 vaccines. Neutralising antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 induced by these vaccines will be analysed to infer population-level immune protection against COVID-19. During the 5-week recruitment period, 24,260 eligible individuals were invited to the study via SMS, out of which 2,712 participants were enrolled into the study. This paper describes the novel adaptive strategy used to recruit the study participants. Digital technology was leveraged to perform targeted online recruitment to circumvent the limitations of traditional recruitment methods. Technology also enabled stratified random selection of these eligible individuals who were stratified based on age, gender and vaccine brand. Data was extracted from the electronic health records, the national mobile health application and a third-party survey platform and integrated into a dedicated research platform called EVYDResearch. The instant availability and access to up-to-date data on EVYDResearch enabled the study team to meet weekly and adopt an adaptive recruitment strategy informed by behavioural science, where interventions could be quickly implemented to improve response rates. Some examples of these include incorporating nudge messaging into SMS invitations, involving the Minister of Health to make press announcements on this study, media coverage, setting up an enquiries hotline and reaching out to foreign language speaking expatriates of a local multinational company to participate in this study. Data integration from various data sources, real time information sharing and a strong teamwork led to good outcomes adaptable to the progress of recruitment, compared to the more time-consuming and static traditional recruitment methods.

Genomic Epidemiology Unveil the Omicron Transmission Dynamics in Rome, Italy

Since 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic represented an important worldwide burden. Well-structured surveillance by reliable and timely genomic data collection is crucial. In this study, a genomic monitoring analysis of all SARS-CoV-2 positive samples retrieved at the Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, in Rome, Italy, between December 2021 and June 2022, was performed. Two hundred and seventy-four SARS-CoV-2-positive samples were submitted to viral genomic sequencing by Illumina MiSeqII. Consensus sequences were generated by de novo assembling using the iVar tool and deposited on the GISAID database. Lineage assignment was performed using the Pangolin lineage classification. Sequences were aligned using ViralMSA and maximum-likelihood phylogenetic analysis was performed by IQ-TREE2. TreeTime tool was used to obtain dated trees. Our genomic monitoring revealed that starting from December 2021, all Omicron sub-lineages (BA.1, BA.2, BA.3, BA.4, and BA.5) were circulating, although BA.1 was still the one with the highest prevalence thought time in this early period. Phylogeny revealed that Omicron isolates were scattered throughout the trees, suggesting multiple independent viral introductions following national and international human mobility. This data represents a sort of thermometer of what happened from July 2021 to June 2022 in Italy. Genomic monitoring of the circulating variants should be encouraged considering that SARS-CoV-2 variants or sub-variants emerged stochastically and unexpectedly.

An updated comprehensive IVOC emission inventory for mobile sources in China

Intermediate volatility organic compounds (IVOCs) from mobile sources contribute significantly to secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation. However, the assessments of IVOC emissions remain considerably uncertain due to the lack of localized measured data and detailed emission source classifications. This study established a comprehensive database of IVOC emission factors (EFs) for mobile sources based on the diversified measured EFs and correlations with hydrocarbons. The provincial-level IVOC emission inventories over China were further established by integrating activity data of various mobile sources. The national mobile source IVOC emissions were 507.5 Gg in 2017. The IVOC emissions of on-road and non-road mobile sources were roughly the same. Trucks and non-road construction machineries were the major contributors to IVOC emissions, accounting for >66 % of the total. The IVOC emission characteristics and spatial distributions from various mobile sources varied significantly with different types and usages. The IVOC emission inventories with detailed classifications can be used to evaluate emission control policies for mobile sources. Incorporating localized measured data would be beneficial for a better understanding for the atmospheric impacts of mobile source IVOC emissions.

Wakurugenzi Networks: Reframing Kenyan Vernaculars of Gender/Gendering in Abel Mutua’s YouTube Channel

ABSTRACT During the Kenyan Covid-19 lockdown, Abel Mutua, a renowned actor, scriptwriter and comic created a YouTube channel that has instructively transformed a virtual space into a storytelling platform. The channel presents narrations on a diverse range of topics presented in the format of a TV series. In this article, I analyse the channel as a popular art form that makes use of hegemonic platforms and architecture to assemble communities of engagement that radically disrupt the rhetoric of national political mobilisation and troubles Kenyan vernaculars of gender/gendering. In this regard, I consider Mutua’s mobilisation of an online community, and his representation of non-hegemonic masculinity’s navigation of male friendships and work, dating and family, Kenyan masculinist cultures of violence, change and growth in ways that subvert orthodox framings of manhood and challenge the reproduction of gender power. Ultimately, I argue that Mutua’s channel presents a networked community that links decentralised and fragmented voices, and a space for thinking through progressive and egalitarian conceptions of gender. Further, I posit that Mutua presents a significant space for rethinking the notions of text and genre, while at the same time creating a digital archive that debunks hierarchies of being, knowledge production and dissemination.

Public knowledge, practices, and awareness of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance in Myanmar: The first national mobile phone panel survey.

In 2017, the Myanmar National Action Plan for Containment of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) (2017-2022) was endorsed by the Ministry of Health and Sports, Myanmar; one of its objectives was to increase public awareness of AMR to accelerate appropriate antibiotic use. This survey aimed to assess the public knowledge, practices and awareness concerning antibiotics and AMR awareness among adults in Myanmar. We conducted a nationwide cross-sectional mobile phone panel survey in January and February 2020. Participants were randomly selected from the mobile phone panel in each of three groups stratified by gender, age group, and residential area urbanity; they were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Collected data were weighted based on the population of each stratum from the latest national census and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Two thousand and forty-five adults from 12 regions and states participated in this survey. Overall, 89.5% of participants had heard about antibiotics; however, only 0.9% provided correct answers to all five questions about antibiotics, whereas 9.7% provided all incorrect answers. More than half of participants (58.5%) purchased antibiotics without a prescription, mainly from medical stores or pharmacies (87.9%); this was more frequent in age group (18-29 years) and those in rural areas (p = 0.004 and p < 0.001, respectively). Only 56.3% were aware of antibiotic resistance and received their information from medical professionals (46.3%), family members or friends (38.9%), or the media (26.1%). Less than half (42.4%) knew that antibiotics were used in farm animals. Most did not know that using antibiotics in farm animals could develop resistance (73.2%) and is banned for the purposes of growth stimulation (64.1%). This survey identifies considerable gaps in the knowledge, practices, and awareness about antibiotics among the general population in Myanmar. Continuous public education and awareness campaigns must be urgently conducted to fulfill these gaps, which would aid in promoting antibiotic stewardship, leading to combating AMR in Myanmar.

Spatial Multi-Criteria Analysis for Road Segment Cycling Suitability Assessment

The shift to low-emission mobility, embedded in a growing need for sustainable development, makes soft modes a highly promoted transport alternative in national and international mobility policies. Soft mobility modes, especially cycling, is an alternative capable of reversing the trend of private car use in urban areas, being one of the main strategies of Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMP). Several factors can influence travel mode choice, between them, demographic, economic, land use, travel distance and time, and climatic and physical factors are the most reported in the literature. This study presents a framework of the main European cycling strategies and focuses on the development of a methodological approach to assess the cycling suitability of existing road networks. The approach is based on a spatial multi-criteria analysis that combines population density, trip generation points service areas and road characteristics (hierarchy and slope). Consideration of the topography was particularly relevant in the cycling suitability model definition. The model was tested in the hillside city of Covilhã (Portugal) and compared with the recently planned and implemented city cycling network. The main conclusions point to the adequacy, flexibility, and applicability of the proposed model by municipalities, contributing to a more sustainable urban environment and healthier communities. Results obtained in the Covilhã case study also denote the possibility of implementing cycling mobility in hillside cities, especially using e-bikes. For future works, an expansion of the approach is proposed to include a detailed and sustained cycling network definition model and a process to assess cycling routes hierarchy/solutions.

Opportunistic nationalism and racism: race, nation, and online mobilization in the context of the Polish Independence March 2020

ABSTRACT The article is dedicated to the issue of the online racism among football fans at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic when due to national restrictions, participation in football matches was unavailable, by the example of the 2020 Polish Independence March. In particular, the research is dedicated to the fans’ mobilization to participate in the March. The main research questions include: (1) What actors/groups did fans perceive as the main antagonists in the context of the Independence March?; (2) Was the racist content present in the discourse?; (3) Did fans refer to the COVID-19 pandemic in the context of the Independence March?. The research has been pursued through qualitative content analysis of a topic dedicated to the 2020 Independence March on the most prominent internet forum of Polish football fans kibice.net.

Changing Strategies and Mixed Agendas: Contradiction and Fragmentation within China’s External Propaganda

ABSTRACT China’s external propaganda, or waixuan, is organized by two separate bureaucratic systems – the ‘propaganda system’ and the ‘foreign affairs system.’ This article examines waixuan’s changing strategies and the bureaucratic structure’s adjustments. It argues that since 2012, waixuan has moved on from its previous emphasis on traditional culture in the Jiang and Hu periods to promoting China’s development model. The Foreign Ministry bears the pressure to project the image of a great power, making waixuan increasingly ideology-oriented and inflexible. Meanwhile, the great power narrative provides both opportunities and pressure for the propaganda system to use waixuan to feed nationalism among domestic audiences, even though it has been cautious about nationalist mobilization. Such nationalism, in turn, further ideologizes waixuan, making it difficult to attract foreign audiences.

Battered by Geopolitical Winds, Bulgaria Struggles to Restart Much Needed Reforms

Battered by Geopolitical Winds, Bulgaria Struggles to Restart Much Needed Reforms

Making waves: Lessons learned from the COVID-19 anthropause in the Netherlands on urban aquatic ecosystem services provisioning and management

The anomalous past two years of the COVID-19 pandemic have been a test of human response to global crisis management as typical human activities were significantly altered. The COVID-instigated anthropause has illustrated the influence that humans and the biosphere have on each other, especially given the variety of national mobility interventions that have been implemented globally. These local COVID-19-era restrictions influenced human-ecosystem interactions through changes in accessibility of water systems and changes in ecosystem service demand. Four urban aquatic case studies in the Netherlands demonstrated shifts in human demand during the anthropause. For instance, reduced boat traffic in Amsterdam canals led to improved water clarity. In comparison, ongoing service exploitation from increased recreational fishing, use of bathing waters and national parks visitation are heightening concerns about potential ecosystem degradation. We distilled management lessons from both the case studies as well as from recent literature pertaining to ecological intactness and social relevance. Equally important to the lessons themselves, however, is the pace at which informed management practices are established after the pandemic ends, particularly as many communities currently recognize the importance of aquatic ecosystems and are amenable to their protection.

GBIF’s (Global Biodiversity Information Facility) New Strategic Framework to Address Biodiversity Data Needs

Every five years the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) reevaluates its work in an updated Strategic Framework. The latest was recently approved and will be in effect 2023–2027. In responding to our Governing Board and network expectations to accelerate data mobilization and capacity enhancement to improve science for research and policy relevance, the new Framework specifically responds to the biodiversity crisis in its Vision, Mission and Values statements. In addition to the successful national data mobilization framework, GBIF is developing thematic data use cases to accelerate towards the goals set forth in the Framework's priority areas. The thematic data mobilization will identify critical data gaps in areas of research and policy importance and work with new communities to mobilize this data into the GBIF network. Additionally, we will work with user communities to facilitate and track data use. These thematic topics will include areas of interest to global policy initiatives, such as human health, invasive species, agricultural biodiversity, eDNA and others. Aligned with this work is the enhancement of the GBIF Data Model, based on DwC, to better integrate data from diverse sources. We expect that this advancement will encourage the publishing of more and diverse data types that can be used to improve science for research and policy relevance of GBIF-mediated data. In order to accomplish this ambitious Strategic Framework, GBIF will also need to evolve how we operate. The pandemic has taught us that virtual interactions are positive, but have limits. We are developing a more distributed workforce and importantly expanding collaborations, such as with the Atlas of Living Australia, Biodiversity Information Standards (TDWG), and the Catalogue of Life on joint infrastructure and models. These alliances build interoperability, enlarge and improve data mobilization and use, and quicken knowledge growth to strengthen the entire biodiversity knowledge network to meet our critical needs.

Co-regulation of hepatic steatosis by ferritinophagy and unsaturated fatty acid supply.

Both iron overload and iron deficiency have been reported in obesity and metabolic syndromes. Due to the presence of multiple intracellular iron pools and the dynamic nature of iron mobilization and use, the actual status and contribution of free and metabolically active iron toward metabolic syndrome remain to be established. The discovery of nuclear receptor coactivator 4 (NCOA4) as a ferritinophagy receptor provides an opening to address the connection between iron and metabolic diseases. This study aims to specifically dissect the role of hepatic ferritinophagy in lipid metabolism and hepatic steatosis. We conducted a series of Ncoa4 gain‐ and loss‐of‐function experiments to examine how ferritinophagy affects lipid metabolism through phenotypic and lipidomic analyses both in vitro and in vivo. We show that ferritinophagy is required to release iron from ferritin cages for biological use, and is induced by lipid loading in vitro and during the development of obesity in vivo. Ncoa4 knockdown impairs mitochondrial morphology and reduces palmitate‐induced lipid droplet formation in cultured cells and the development of hepatic steatosis in obese mice models. Importantly, the effect of Ncoa4 deficiency on mitochondrial morphology and lipid accumulation is specifically linked to lipidomic reductions in unsaturated fatty acid content in triglycerides and cardiolipins, and an external supply of unsaturated fatty acids reverses these phenotypes. Conclusion: This study shows that ferritinophagy‐derived iron supports fatty acid desaturation and the synthesis of unsaturated fatty acid–rich lipids to reduce lipotoxicity. However, the continuous activation of ferritinophagy contributes to the development of hepatic steatosis and liver damage in obesity.

Kathryn Ciancia. On Civilization’s Edge: A Polish Borderland in the Interwar World.

Kathryn Ciancia. <i>On Civilization’s Edge: A Polish Borderland in the Interwar World.</i>

아시아태평양전쟁 말기 일본의 군수동원법제 정비와 조선인 동원의 강화

This paper studied on the legislation process for national mobilization of the company and laborers, especially focused on Munitions Companies Act(Gunjukaishaho), and its legal operations both in japan and Korea, which led to intensive mobilization of colonial Koreans. The results of studies are as follows. 1. Legislative process - The concept of national mobilization originated from the Munitions Industry Mobilization Law in 1918, which was made after the model of German wartime mobilization system, and was actualized by legislation of National Mobilization Law in 1938 just after the Sino-Japanese War, finally reinforced by the legislation of the Munitions Companies Act in October of 1943, which was made for the reverse the tide in the Pacific war by producing munitions including air fighters in a high speed, which led to more intensive mobilization of women and adolescents as well as japanese men. 2. Logistics mobilization in colonial Korea - The Japanese Government General in korea initiated a logistic mobilization policy in October of 1944, which was similar to Munitions Companies Act in Japan, which was the result of the enormous pressure from the japanese government, munitions corporate group(Zaibatsu), and military powers. This was the very crucial trigger to intensify the nation-wide forced mobilization(Choyo) 3. Influence on korean mobilization - After the introduction of Munitions Companies Act in korea, koreans mobilized into munitions company in north area of korean peninsula and japanese islands increased in a high speed, which brought about under population in south korea. Nevertheless, The Japanese Government General in korea mobilized more koreans including women and adolescents in the name of Jyosei Kinro Teishintai or Kinrohokokutai to fill up the labor shortage in japan. The mobilized koreans were put mainly into japanese munitions companies, which were granted a number of favors for their pains and cooperations. That is the reason why the japanese munitions companies as well as japanese government won’t be free from the responsibility and compensation for mobilized koreans.