Policy Officials Research Articles

Challenges Facing Ward Community Policing in Morogoro Rural District, Tanzania

This study investigated challenges facing the Ward community policing in Morogoro Rural District, Tanzania. The study used the explanatory design, sampling 100 subjects who filled a questionnaire. Descriptive statistics analyzed the data through mean score and standard deviation. Based on the results, the study concludes that the Ward community policing initiatives operate very well in the Morogoro Rural District. The community policing had sufficient resources in implementing their daily routines and there was effective communication between police officers and other stakeholders, including community members. Both the law enforcement team and member of the community possessed awareness of the importance of the Ward community policing. Furthermore, community cooperation supported the policing initiatives just as higher policy authorities supported the Ward community policing. Finally, the policy officers were disciplined and citizenship behavior prevailed among the community members. These conclusions imply that community policing is an effective way to maintain peace and harmony in Tanzanian communities.

Quantitation and Abundance of Xylazine and Xylazine Metabolites in Human Urine and Plasma by LC-MS/MS

Abstract The most common cause of drug overdose fatality in the US involves synthetic opioids such as fentanyl. Recently the Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy designated fentanyl adulterated or associated with xylazine as an emerging threat to the US, and a national response plan will include xylazine testing. Xylazine is a clonidine analog and is not FDA-approved for use in humans but has been increasingly detected in unregulated illicit drugs supplies. Our understanding of xylazine detection, metabolism, and clinical impact on patients, however, is limited. The objectives of this study are to develop a liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method to detect xylazine and xylazine metabolites in urine and plasma, and to investigate the presence and abundance of xylazine metabolites in remnant urine and plasma samples submitted for clinical testing. This is achieved by first collecting paired urine and serial plasma samples when urine tests positive for xylazine during routine clinical testing. Plasma samples were prepared for LC-MS/MS analysis by protein precipitation with methanol and xylazine-D6 internal standard. Urines were prepared by dilution with xylazine-D6, followed by a hydrolysis with beta-glucuronidase. All experiments were performed using an Aquity HPLC coupled to a Waters TQS-micro triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. LC separation utilized a C18 column with a 4-minute gradient from 2% to 98% mobile phase B (0.1% formic acid and 2mM ammonium acetate in A: water; B: methanol) with a flow rate of 400 μl/min at 50°C. Multiple reaction monitoring for xylazine and 4-OH-xylazine was optimized with commercial standards. Calibration curves for both analytes were prepared from 0.5 – 2,000 ng/mL in plasma, and 5 – 5,000 ng/mL in urine. Product ion scanning was used to detect four additional xylazine metabolites by spectral matching with previously published full scan tandem mass spectra. The highest intensity fragment ions observed in the product ion spectra were used to develop multiple reaction monitoring experiments for four additional xylazine metabolites, previously described as: sulfone-xylazine, oxo-xylazine, OH-sulfone-xylazine, and OH-oxo-xylazine, in 50 remnant urines and 70 individual plasmas. In remnant urines, xylazine concentrations ranged from less than 5 to greater than 5,000 ng/mL. In remnant plasmas, xylazine ranged from less than 0.5 to 158 ng/mL. Previously reported xylazine metabolites were detected in both urine and plasma, and relative peak area ratios were calculated as metabolite-to-xylazine in both matrices. In urine, the highest average peak area ratio (3.1) was observed for sulfone xylazine, after hydrolysis. In plasma, the highest average peak area ratio (1.4) was observed for oxo-xylazine. We were unable to absolutely quantitate either metabolite due to lack of available standards. Future studies include investigation on the association of xylazine exposure and plasma concentrations with clinical presentation and patient outcomes.

B-298 Quantitation and Abundance of Xylazine and Xylazine Metabolites in Human Urine by LC-MS/MS

Abstract Background The most common cause of drug overdose fatality in the US involves synthetic opioids such as fentanyl. Recently the Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy designated fentanyl associated with xylazine as an emerging threat to the US, and a national response plan will include xylazine testing. Xylazine, a clonidine analog is not FDA-approved for use in humans but has been increasingly detected in unregulated illicit drugs supplies. Our understanding of xylazine detection, metabolism, and clinical impact on patients, however, is limited. The objectives of this study are to develop a liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method to investigate the presence and abundance of xylazine metabolites in remnant urine samples submitted for clinical testing. Methods Remnant urine samples were identified when tested positive for xylazine during routine clinical LC-MS/MS testing. All experiments were performed using an Acquity HPLC coupled to a Waters TQS-micro triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. Urines were diluted with xylazine-D6 internal standard, hydrolyzed using β-glucuronidase and separated on a 100mm x 2.1mm, 2.6μm Kinetex C18 column (Phenomenex) with a 4 minute step gradient from 2% to 98% mobile phase B (0.1% formic acid and 2mM ammonium acetate in A: water; B: methanol) with a flow rate of 400 μl/min at 50°C. Xylazine and 4-OH-xylazine were detected in positive mode using multiple reaction monitoring, with transitions optimized from standards (Cayman Chemical and/or Sigma Aldrich), resulting in the following transitions: xylazine: 221>90, 221>164; 4-OH xylazine: 237>90, 237>137. Xylazine and 4-OH-xylazine were quantified using calibration curves prepared from 1 - 5,000 ng/mL in negative urine. Product ion scanning (PIS) was used to detect four additional xylazine metabolites, based on spectral matching to previously published full scan high resolution product ion spectra. The highest abundance fragment ions and identified retention times from PIS experiments were used to perform targeted detection for sulfone-xylazine (253>181, 253>147), oxo-xylazine (235>122, 235>114), OH-sulfone-xylazine (269>197, 269>163), and OH-oxo-xylazine (251>197, 251>148). Results Xylazine was detected at >=1 ng/mL in 38% (54/138) of fentanyl positive urines. A subset (n= 362) of urines that screened positive for opiates, amphetamines, or cocaine metabolite, were also tested but xylazine was detected in only 1 urine that did not contain fentanyl.Xylazine concentrations quantified in 61 remnant urines ranged from <1 to >5,000 ng/mL. 4-OH-xylazine concentrations ranged from <1 to 509 ng/mL. We observed five previously reported xylazine metabolites: 4-OH-xylazine, oxo-xylazine, sulfone-xylazine, OH-oxo-xylazine, OH-sulfone-xylazine. The mean concentration ratio of 4-OH-xylazine-to-xylazine was 0.11. The mean peak area ratios (metabolite-to-xylazine) for sulfone-xylazine, OH-oxo-xylazine, OH-sulfone-xylazine, and oxo-xylazine were 3.5, 3.8, 2.1, and <0.1, respectively. The proposed sulfone-xylazine and OH-oxo-xylazine metabolites were observed to have the most abundant signal of all detected metabolites, although there is currently no commercially available standard to facilitate quantification. Conclusions Xylazine and 4-OH-xylazine were quantitated in 61 patient urines. Four additional xylazine metabolites were observed and relative abundance to xylazine was estimated using peak areas. Future studies include quantitation of xylazine and xylazine metabolites in plasma and association of xylazine detection with clinical presentation and patient outcomes.

Watch those OD numbers!

In a comment entitled “the new math,” Rob Kent, former general counsel for the federal Office of National Drug Control Policy, and before that general counsel for the New York Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS), sent us this.

Urban Housing Practices of Policy Implementation in Bamenda, Cameroon

Housing is a fundamental human need, but making sure that every person has access togood quality housing is a worldwide challenge. Public policy impact on the quest for housing adequacy and affordability is visible in Bamenda as Cameroon’s fourth city. This paper investigates the effectiveness of institutional policy and structures put in place to determine the on-going processes of housing management in Bamenda. To explore this nexus, explanatory design was used involving direct interviews of policy officials who operate within the cross sectorial housing institutions in Bamenda. The practice perceptions were captured through a 372 questionnaires survey on households in addition to field observations. Results portray that varied regulatory instruments have been enacted to mitigate housing and urban challenges as the 2004 Town Planning Law and its subsequent decrees signed in 2008, the 1974 Land Ordinance and the 1976 Decree to lay down conditions for obtaining land certificates, the 1996 Environmental Management Law, 1998 Water Code, 2004 Laws of Decentralisation and Deconcentration. Results also show that despite the number of housing institutions and policies put in place, housing practices in Bamenda continue to resist regulatory texts, land certificates and building permits fostering the illegal occupation of flood plains and risky slopes. This paper opts for an effective policy environment that enforces housing laws and regulations, while allowing sufficient flexibility to align to local conditionswithin Bamenda.

Nation’s Response to the Substance Use Crisis

Dr. Rahul Gupta, the first practicing physician to serve as Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, shares his perspective on the national response to the opioid crisis and how North Carolina is poised to take action to save lives from overdose.

80 Improving policy and practice for cyclists with a disability in The Netherlands

Abstract Purpose Cycling is known to have great health benefits and to contribute to the autonomy and independence in mobility of people with a disability. However, Dutch streets and cycling lanes are not designed for adapted bicycles, and other traffic users often do not know how to react to cyclists with an adapted bicycle. Furthermore, there is a lack of cycling policy that accounts for disabled cyclists. This raises the following questions: - Why, when, and where do people with a disability cycle? - What challenges do cyclists with a disability experience when cycling? - How can these challenges be addressed, according to people with a disability themselves and professionals in the field? This study will help to gain insight into the practice of cycling among Dutch adults with a disability, in order to better understand their challenges and needs. A better understanding of these challenges and needs is necessary to make cycling more accessible. We also aim to raise awareness amongst designers and policy officials of the great diversity within cyclists’ needs and the types of bicycles used. We ultimately hope to contribute to greater cycling participation among people with a disability. Methods We conducted ten interviews with Dutch adults with different disabilities who shared their experiences of cycling in their neighborhood environment and beyond. The interview transcripts were coded and analyzed based on main themes we identified: characteristics of general cycling behavior, motivation(s) to cycle, challenges in cycling and possibilities to improve the cycling experience. We discussed these results for improvement in a workshop with professionals in spatial and traffic design. Results We will present the experiences of cyclists with a disability, the challenges they face and suggestions for improvements. Conclusions With this study, we hope to contribute to a better understanding of the needs and experiences of cyclists with a disability. Applying these insights will help policy officers and other professionals in the field in making their policies and designs more effective and improve road designs for cyclists with a disability. Funding This research project is funded by the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS).

S04-4: The HEPA PAT: An in-depth tool to audit HEPA policies at national level

Abstract Purpose The Health-Enhancing Physical Activity Policy Audit Tool (HEPA PAT) a standardized protocol for the detailed compilation and communication of country-level policy responses on physical inactivity. This presentation aims to briefly present the structure of the tool as well as its use in PA policy research. Methods The 29 open-ended and closed questions of the HEPA PAT are structured around a set of 17 key criteria, which were identified based on experiences from several previous guidelines and comparisons of physical activity policy. It supports standardized data collection and is to be completed collaboratively by a team of national stakeholders from all relevant political sectors. However, the process of its application differed across countries. Results The HEPA PAT has been applied in 13 European countries (Belgium, Croatia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Switzerland). These studies provided a detailed overview of physical activity policies for the different sections of the tool such as, for instance, leadership and partnerships, policy documents, evaluation, and funding. A recent study has shown that the tool can be applied to understand aspects influencing the policy process (agenda-setting, policy formulation, decision-making, policy implementation, evaluation). Conclusions The studies based on the HEPA PAT showed in which areas governments are already active to promote physical activity and what improvements can be made. Cross-country comparisons also showed that procedures and timelines of using the HEPA PAT have to be adapted to national contexts. Overall, the instrument can make an important contribution to understanding and informing physical activity policy, especially when used as an add-on to regular monitoring tools like the EU HEPA Monitoring Framework. The PAT completion also fostered new connections with policy makers and officials in government departments and among HEPA stakeholders within and outside of government, which in itself was seen to be extremely valuable. Funding Source No funding

How does economic policy uncertainty influence energy policy? The role of financial sector development

It is necessary to warrant the long-term viability of the energy policy for sustainable economic growth. However, certain factors exist that can create a threat to energy policy. In this essence, the current analysis explores the impact of EPU (economic policy uncertainty) and financial sector development on fossil fuel energy, renewable energy (REC), and total energy (EGY). The empirical analysis utilized the CS-ARDL model and focused on a sample comprising G7 economies. The robustness of analysis was examined by employing fully modified ordinary least square (FMOLS) technique. The estimated coefficients outline the significant negative impact of all main explanatory variables on fossil fuel energy and total energy and EGY in the long run and a significant negative impact on renewable energy in the short run. The findings further demonstrate the significant positive impact of financial development on fossil fuel energy and total energy and the significant negative relationship between financial development and renewable energy. Particularly, the analysis discloses the moderating role of financial development in the EPU-energy policy nexus. It is advised to policy officials that they should enhance the cooperation between the financial sector and the energy sector for the success of energy policy and for responding to the uncertain economic situation. This study robust the empirical findings of studies exploring the EPU-energy nexus and extends the literature by pointing out the moderating role of FCD.

Scientific expertise and public engagement in science policy: A conversation with Dr. Alondra Nelson

MIT Science Policy Review spoke with Dr. Alondra Nelson about the role of scientists and the broader public in shaping policy. Dr. Nelson is the Harold F. Linder Professor in the School of Social Science at the Institute of Advanced Study, an independent research center in Princeton, New Jersey, and is the author of multiple works about the intersections of science, technology, medicine, and inequality, including Body and Soul (2011) and The Social Life of DNA (2016). She previously served as Deputy Assistant to President Joe Biden and acting director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). As a distinguished senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, she has advised at various levels of government and civil society on science-related issues. Dr. Nelson’s unique perspective as a sociologist sheds light on the importance of public participation in policy development, both as a democratic process, and to ensure that scientific and technological progress benefits society. In our conversation, we discussed some of the challenges of science policymaking, strategies to enhance public involvement in policy, and the fundamental value of providing broad public access to science and scientific education.

The SPPO Complaint Process

If a postsecondary student believes their college or university violated their rights under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, the student has a right to file a complaint with the Student Privacy Policy office.

Keep me posted, but don’t stress me out: how the positive effect of social networking services on civil servants’ information use and political capacities can be attenuated by social media stress

Public policy and administration debates typically assume that ICT tools, including social networking services (SNS), increase the amount of information that is communicated and thus harnessed for policymaking processes. At the same time, behavioral approaches point to the potentially detrimental effects of social media stress resulting from an overexposure to SNS. Because systematic research on the individual-level effects of SNS in policy formulation is rare, this paper explores the effect of SNS on the use of policy-relevant information and, thus, on individual political capacities. A moderated mediation analysis was performed based on survey data from central ministerial bureaucracies in Germany, Italy, and Norway, considering not only the amount of information utilized in legislative drafting but also the variability and concentration of the information sources. The results indicate that SNS positively relate to policy officials’ information use, which, in turn, increases their self-reported political capacities. However, the positive relationship between SNS and both the amount and the variability of information use was found to be diminished when levels of social media stress are high rather than low. The conclusions discuss the implications for civil servants and policymaking.

The SPPO Complaint Process

If a postsecondary student believes their college or university violated their rights under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, the student has a right to file a complaint with the Student Privacy Policy office.

Voluntary optimisation of antimicrobial consumption in swine and poultry production in Thailand: a policy analysis.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global health concern with significant implications on economies and health security, affecting humans, animals, food, and the environment. To tackle this issue, promoting responsible antimicrobial use in livestock production has emerged as a crucial intervention. In 2018, Thailand introduced the Voluntary Optimization of Antimicrobial Consumption (VOAC) programme, with the objective to encourage responsible antimicrobial use practises. This study aimed to analyse the context, content, process and actors of the VOAC programme. A qualitative method including document reviews and key informant interviews were applied. In-depth interviews were conducted with 18 key informants who are key stakeholders from public and private sectors involved in the policy formulation, design of policy contents and implementation of VOAC: policy makers or officers responsible for animal health (n = 12), animal producers (n = 2), animal product traders or retailers (n = 2), and farm veterinarians (n = 2). Interview transcripts were validated by informants for accuracy, and triangulated with document review findings. Deductive approach was applied for data analysis and interpretation based on Walt and Gilson's policy analysis framework. The VOAC farm certification comprises of Raised Without Antibiotics (RWA) and Reducing Antibiotic Use (RAU), both aiming to combat AMR in food animals. Global and national factors, including increased public awareness, policy commitments, export requirements from the European Union, and international organisation advocacies, influenced the development of the programme led by the Department of Livestock Development (DLD), under the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives. Collaboration with the private sector facilitated policy clarity, with implementation primarily executed through regional, provincial, and district livestock officers. Integration of the programme with the pre-existing Good Agriculture Practise certification system enabled cost-effective implementation without additional resources. In 2022, DLD official data reported 214 RWA farms (112 pig and 102 broiler), and 230 RAU farms (83 pig and 147 broiler). Incentives for farms to participate in the programme include improving corporate image and demonstrating corporate responsibility addressing AMR in food products. Recommendations include optimising certification strategies, increasing consumer awareness of RWA and RAU products and strengthening monitoring and evaluation systems.

Managing the Santa Cruz River: Prospects for a Future Binational Minute

This paper examines the prospects for developing and implementing a binational water management agreement for the transboundary Santa Cruz River that crosses the US–Mexico boundary near the sister cities of Nogales, Sonora–Nogales, Arizona. After considering the geography, history, socio-economic context, and binational agreements affecting utilization of the Santa Cruz River, we review the conditions influencing recent binational progress on another transboundary river, the Tijuana River. Specifically, we ask what conditions created a favorable environment in which a binational agreement for management of the Tijuana River Watershed (TRW) was developed, what specific actions by relevant policy officials took place, and how the final agreement was reached. We then compare the dynamics that unfolded in the TRW with conditions in the Santa Cruz River to identify obstacles hindering progress towards achieving an International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) agreement (Minute) on shared management of the Santa Cruz River in its international reach. We find that the required political conditions that favored an agreement on the Tijuana River are not yet met on the Santa Cruz, although several favorable conditions do exist. We conclude with an assessment of current prospects for advancing binational cooperation that can inform discussion of how an IBWC Minute could be drafted to address water resource management issues in the Santa Cruz River Basin.

Biomedical Data Repository Concepts and Management Principles

The demand for open data and open science is on the rise, fueled by expectations from the scientific community, calls to increase transparency and reproducibility in research findings, and developments such as the Final Data Management and Sharing Policy from the U.S. National Institutes of Health and a memorandum on increasing public access to federally funded research, issued by the U.S. Office of Science and Technology Policy. This paper explores the pivotal role of data repositories in biomedical research and open science, emphasizing their importance in managing, preserving, and sharing research data. Our objective is to familiarize readers with the functions of data repositories, set expectations for their services, and provide an overview of methods to evaluate their capabilities. The paper serves to introduce fundamental concepts and community-based guiding principles and aims to equip researchers, repository operators, funders, and policymakers with the knowledge to select appropriate repositories for their data management and sharing needs and foster a foundation for the open sharing and preservation of research data.

Transformative reproductive futures in Northern Ireland

A foundation of rights-based solidarity has fostered an environment of cooperation between LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) rights and reproductive justice in Northern Ireland (NI) following the introduction of equal marriage and the decriminalization of abortion in 2019. This article provides a grounded look at this reproductive justice organizing in NI as an example of transformative organizing for reproductive futures. The case study considers a conversation with two activists who have been central to this work. Emma Campbell coconvenor of Alliance for Choice and Danielle Roberts the coconvenor of Reclaim the Agenda and former Senior Policy and Development Officer of HERe NI. Reclaim the Agenda is a coalition of feminist, youth, LGBTQ+ and community organizations that connects and mobilizes women to promote feminist activism through education, campaigning and celebration. HERe NI is a community organization and registered charity based in Belfast that supports lesbian and bisexual women and their families across NI. Alliance for Choice campaigns for free, safe legal and local abortion access for everyone who needs it in NI. Together these groups approach reproductive justice using a framework informed by lesbian feminist organizing and an intersectional approach that views access to abortion as part of a broader understanding of gender justice inspired by Black-women led SisterSong through (1) cross-movement organizing (2) centering bodily autonomy and (3) trans affirming feminist approaches to navigating shifting language about gender. The case study will be of interest to those working provide abortion services in a queer-informed way, as well as those navigating the challenges of reforming abortion policy.

Strengthening legal preparedness and response within the global health emergency framework: the role of the GHSA Legal Preparedness Action Package*

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed failings in preparedness and response across the world and a shortfall in global health security. The crisis also highlighted shortcomings in global and regional legal frameworks, including the International Health Regulations (2005) and relevant European Union law, as well as in national public health legislation and emergency plans. Lessons learned from the pandemic converge around strengthening preparedness and response capacities at all levels, with special attention to be paid to legal preparedness, a critical component of public health emergency preparedness. Improving legal capacities at country level is one of the strategic priorities set by the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA), which established a new Legal Preparedness Action Package (LP AP) in order to elevate attention to and the importance of legal preparedness worldwide. Since 2021 the LP AP has been front and centre in international efforts to bridge the legal preparedness gap at national level. In bringing together technical experts in global health law and government health policy officials from a broad range of countries and partners, the LP AP seeks to set a foundation for legal preparedness by developing technical and capacity-building tools, legal guidelines, policy briefs, information and training. This article aims to illustrate and contextualize the work of the GHSA LP AP and raise awareness about the importance of its contribution to enhanced global health security. It also intends to highlight how its work promotes and develops synergies with parallel initiatives, processes and tools, facilitates regime interaction and harmonization of technical assistance and ultimately ensures consistency of action, methodology and approaches.

Drivers and barriers to climate-smart agricultural practices and technologies adoption: Insights from stakeholders of five European food supply chains

The adoption of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is a critical component in the transition to a more sustainable food system. However, the transition calls for significant changes in the food production system, in which stakeholders in the supply chain should work collaboratively. So far, most studies have focused on the perceptions of one actor, the farmer, on implementation of CSA practices. This study aims to include also other stakeholders’ perceptions on drivers and barriers to CSA implementation in the primary production for five European food supply chains. Data were collected from stakeholders using a semi-structured interview guide, including farmers, producers and manufacturers, advisory service providers, advocacy institutions, policy officers, researchers, and consultants. The top three drivers to foster the adoption of CSA practices within the five food supply chains touched on economic, institutional and policy, as well as personal and psychological factors. Similarly, the top three barriers limiting adoption of CSA practices were seen to be economic, technology-related aspects, and institutional and policy factors. According to the stakeholders, addressing these barriers requires financial support, policy changes, and capacity-building efforts to make these practices attractive especially to farmers. They also emphasized that improved coordination among stakeholders, incentives for sustainable practices and customized strategies for communicating and disseminating CSA information can help catalyse effective understanding and implementation of CSA practices.

Coordinated lunar time (LTC): Implications of a lunar-centric time zone on astronaut health and space medicine

Lunar exploration offers an exciting opportunity for humanity to advance scientific knowledge and future potential economic growth and possibly allow humans to become a multi-planetary species. On April 2, 2024 the US Office of Science and Technology Policy released a memorandum outlining the current Biden-Harris Administration's policy on the need to establish time standards at celestial bodies other than Earth. This memorandum also introduced the need for Coordinated Lunar Time (CLT), the concept of having a reference time for the moon. The establishment of CLT would provide a multitude of benefits for astronaut health, from expedition planning, to maintaining a sense of order in an austere environment. International agreements and collaboration will be required prior to the recognition of CLT.