Public Activities Research Articles

Criminal Communication: Public Representations, Repertoires, and Regimes of Criminal Governance

Criminal actors are widely assumed to maintain a low profile, exerting power through coercion and clandestine networks. Scholarship addressing public action by criminal actors focuses largely on visible violence. However, an ample empirical record demonstrates that criminal actors also communicate publicly to broad audiences. To better understand this practice, my study focuses on campaigns of narco-messaging in Mexico. I ask: how do criminal actors represent themselves when they speak publicly? How does such self-portrayal interact with other practices of criminal governance and control? I identify three patterns of self-representation: Ruler of territory, Scourge of enemies, and Guardian of people. Overall, public communication expands the repertoires of criminal actors, offering ways to modify public perceptions of better-known practices such as costly signaling through violence. Different representations are deployed strategically in the contexts of establishing regimes of governance, maintaining regimes, and fighting criminal wars.

A multi-modal social media data analysis framework: Exploring the complex relationships among urban environment, public activity, and public perception—A case study of Xi’an, China

A multi-modal social media data analysis framework: Exploring the complex relationships among urban environment, public activity, and public perception—A case study of Xi’an, China

Identifying public health competencies for Australian pharmacists: A modified Delphi study.

This study aimed to define a set of competencies for public health-related services and activities for pharmacists in Australia. A modified Delphi technique of two rounds was used to gain consensus by public health and pharmacy professionals on a set of public health competency statements for Australian pharmacists. Delphi panellists agreed on the inclusion of 27 competency statements organised into three domains of health promotion and illness prevention, health protection and population health quality improvement. Competency statements concerning evaluation of services and reflective practice were revised to achieve agreement in the second Delphi round. Examples of practice were included to illustrate application of the competency to practice. A set of competencies outlining requirements for pharmacists to bring a public health perspective to practice will assist engagement of the pharmacy profession with public health. As key providers of public health initiatives, it is important for health professionals, including pharmacists, to engage with public health. Identifying competencies required to deliver effective public health will raise awareness of the contribution of pharmacists to public health and inform their education and professional development.

Monks and Their Role in Managing Education in the Northeastern Region of Thailand

The role of monks in managing education in Northeastern Thailand has been historically significant in local educational development. This study aimed to: (i) examine the history of educational management by monks in the Northeastern region, and (ii) investigate the roles of monks in educational management. This qualitative research employed document analysis and field data collection through surveys, interviews, observations, group discussions, and workshops. Data were collected from 99 participants, including 9 abbots, 54 students, and 36 community members. The findings revealed that: (i) Northeastern Thailand has developed its culture and education based on Buddhist foundations, with monks playing crucial roles in educational management since before the educational and religious reforms during King Rama V’s reign, (ii) Monks in the research area provide educational support through scholarships, food provision, school building construction, and management of both general and Pali Dharma curricula, while also serving as leaders in public welfare activities. This research provides valuable insights for temple-based educational management and can benefit educational institutions and relevant organizations in developing local education systems.

Citizen Responses to Donor-Centeredness in the US-China Public Diplomacy Competition

The rapid expansion of China’s public diplomacy initiatives has garnered significant scholarly and popular attention as it challenges the sphere of a more traditional public diplomacy player, the United States. China’s public diplomacy efforts are frequently criticized for being overly donor-focused in contrast with conventional public diplomacy efforts, a characteristic that presumably diminishes China’s influence. While all public diplomacy activities aim to win and gain hearts and minds of citizens, donor-centeredness refers to an approach that prioritizes the interests and goals of the donor country over the needs of the recipient countries. A donor-centered approach can be distinguished from a recipient-oriented approach by its greater emphasis on self-interest versus mutual benefits. Using a multi-country survey experiment administered in 13 countries, we estimated how donor-centeredness affects recipient citizens’ preferences for inbound public diplomacy initiatives in the context of the US-China strategic competition. We found that the donor-centric approach affects recipient citizens’ preferences for inbound public diplomacy initiatives in an unbalanced manner: a donor-centered project lowers recipient citizens’ support for an inbound Chinese public diplomacy project by 3.6 percentage points while donor-centeredness does not affect US public diplomacy to a meaningful extent.

The role of educational institutions in transformations to achieve sustainable development

The study aims to assess the role of educational institutions in achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs) during wartime in Ukraine. The focus is on the education sector, namely, adapting educational strategies to contemporary challenges. The paper employs a content analysis of information published by ten leading pedagogical universities in Ukraine to assess their success in implementing sustainable development goals. Special attention is given to such sustainable development goals as quality education (SDG 4), gender equality (SDG 5), sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11), peace and justice (SDG 16), and partnerships for the goals (SDG 17). University strategies and publication activity on addressing global sustainable development challenges in the Scopus database were analyzed. The research results demonstrate the variability of university development strategies, which determines their uneven focus on certain aspects of sustainable development. The results highlight the need to improve management strategies, integrate sustainable development principles into educational programs, and strengthen international partnerships. Finally, the study offers recommendations for further adaptation of educational institutions to changing conditions to ensure the sustainable development of Ukrainian society.

P-1320. HAISeq: Monitoring Emerging and Novel Gram-Negative Antimicrobial Threats from Healthcare Settings in the United States with Publicly Available NCBI BioProject Data

Abstract Background Gram-negative healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and antimicrobial resistance (AR) cause considerable morbidity and mortality in the United States. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) has become a critical methodology to describe HAIs, providing important contextual information on resistance genes and relatedness. It is essential that public health agencies leverage large amounts of WGS data quickly for public health action, and that data can be accessible across jurisdictions. Methods In advance of an influx of resources to state public health laboratories for HAI/AR WGS capacity, CDC’s Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion (DHQP) established the HAISeq Umbrella BioProject in the National Center for Biotechnology Information’s Short Read Archive as a centralized repository for WGS data generated by DHQP and partners. Data submitted is from CDC’s Antimicrobial Resistance Laboratory Network, surveillance projects, and outbreak investigations. Results The gram-negative-specific BioProject within the HAISeq Umbrella currently contains 6.5TB of WGS data, representing > 20,000 gram-negative isolates, ∼40 genera, and > 450 unique AR genes. While DHQP priorities are heavily reflected in represented genera (Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, Klebsiella, Escherichia) and gene targets (e.g., >10 carbapenemase families), the dataset also represents hundreds of minor frequency species and genes captured from the above sequencing efforts. DHQP uses bimonthly data pulls to detect potential novel and emerging HAI/AR genetic threats. Examples include identification of novel carbapenemase variants (e.g., 23 variants from all “Big 5” groups), variants that convey unexpected phenotypes to treatment options (e.g., carbapenem susceptible but ceftazidime-avibactam resistant), and rare gene/organism combinations (e.g., blaOXA-48-like genes in Acinetobacter baumannii). Data are also used to rapidly provide feedback to public health laboratories on data quality issues. Finally, these data help inform national HAI/AR sequencing priorities. Conclusion This publicly available dataset, alone and in combination with traditional testing data, allows for both federal and state public health labs to leverage WGS for public health action while maintaining data privacy. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

Rethinking utopias through Hannah Arendt: Youth climate activism and the politics of possibility

This article presents a reflective analysis that utilizes Hannah Arendt’s concepts to rethink utopias, examining how youth climate activism embodies her ideas of freedom and public action. It proposes viewing utopias as spaces for ongoing political engagement rather than as fixed visions of a perfect society. Grounded in Arendt’s critique of totalitarianism, the study highlights how young activists respond to the climate crisis through collective actions that express political freedom. By focusing on the youth climate movement, the article presents activism as a resilient alternative to rigid solutions, fostering new possibilities for justice and environmental change. Arendt’s concept of natality – representing new beginnings – connects with the hope-driven nature of youth movements that reimagine the future through collective action. Ultimately, it argues that, in an Arendtian sense, youth activism cultivates conditions for freedom and transformation in the present rather than merely pursuing a distant utopia.

DESAFIOS DA ASSISTÊNCIA FARMACÊUTICA NO SISTEMA ÚNICO DE SAÚDE (SUS) SOB O OLHAR DA ATENÇÃO PRIMÁRIA À SAÚDE

Pharmaceutical assistance within the Unified Health System (SUS) plays a central role in ensuring access to essential medicines and the effectiveness of public health actions, particularly in Primary Health Care (PHC), which serves as the main gateway to the system. This study aimed to investigate the challenges faced by pharmaceutical assistance in the SUS, with a focus on PHC, analyzing issues such as failures in distribution logistics, insufficient technical training of professionals, and poor integration between levels of care and information systems. Additionally, it addressed problems related to low patient adherence to treatment and the irrational use of medicines, factors that undermine the effectiveness of comprehensive care. The research was based on an in-depth literature review and employed qualitative methods to explore the complexity of pharmaceutical assistance management and the obstacles encountered in daily practice. Based on the identification of these challenges, recommendations were proposed for the formulation of more effective public policies, improvements in medication management, and enhanced training for health professionals. The study also highlights strategies to promote the rational use of medicines and optimize the quality of pharmaceutical care in PHC. It is expected that the findings will contribute to the improvement of pharmaceutical assistance within the SUS, ultimately strengthening the healthcare system as a whole.

P-2337. Contemporary Epidemiology of Infant Mortality Attributable to Cytomegalovirus Infection in the United States, 2007-2021

Abstract Background Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections are common in infants in the United States (US) but infant mortality due to CMV has been poorly studied and it is unknown if there have been changes in CMV infant mortality rate (CMV-IMR) over time. We described the characteristics of a contemporary national cohort of infants who died from CMV and whether the CMV-IMR changed from 2007 to 2021.Table 1.Characteristics of the national cohort of infants who died from CMV infections and their corresponding CMV-IMR, 2007-2009. Methods This was a retrospective serial cross-sectional analysis of the CDC's linked birth and infant death records from 2007-2021. We used ICD-10 codes to identify infants < 1 year of age who had CMV infection listed as the underlying cause of death.The crude CMV-IMR was calculated per 1,000,000 live births and further stratified by gender, birth weight, gestational age, age at death, race, and census region. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare two groups and P < 0 .05 defined statistical significance. Trends were evaluated with Joinpoint regressionand expressed as average annual percentage change (AAPC) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results Out of 59 million live births, 406 infant deaths were attributed to CMV infections (crude CMV-IMR of 6.9 per 1,000,000). This resulted in at least 30,044 years of potential life lost. Notable characteristics of the study cohort were (Table 1): 78.8% low birth weight, 72.4% preterm, 63.8% of the mothers had at least high school education, 14 states had 64% of the CMV deaths, and 45.3% died within 28 days of birth. The CMV-MR was higher in low birth weight and preterm infants and was inversely related to gestational age (Table 1). The CMV-IMR varied by race [highest in Non-Hispanic Black (9.9)], censusregion [highest in the Midwest (8.5)], and by state [4.3 in Illinoisand 12.3 in Alabama]. There was a non-significant decrease in the CMV-IMR from 9.3 to 4.1 (AAPC -2.9%; CI: -6.7 – 1.0%.)which was insignificant at 95%CI. Conclusion The ubiquitous nature of CMV and the higher mortality in preterm and low birth weight infants should prompt serious consideration for early and universal CMV screening in these infants. The racial disparities in CMV-IMR suggest differential public health action toward awareness, prevention, and treatment of CMV. Addressing these disparities must be a top priority. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

P-1332. Estimates of Waning Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness Against Laboratory-Confirmed Influenza in California, October 2023–March 2024

Abstract Background Annually, an estimated 9.3 to 41 million persons experience influenza illness in the United States. Vaccination protects against influenza and associated complications, and vaccine effectiveness (VE) varies between and within seasons. Identifying declines in VE can guide appropriate public health actions. Mandatory influenza vaccine reporting to California’s immunization information system began January 1, 2023, and all influenza laboratory testing results, including negative results, were reportable starting June 15, 2023. We calculated VE of seasonal influenza vaccines against laboratory-confirmed influenza over time using public health data reported to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). Influenza vaccine effectiveness by time since vaccination (days) using mandatory reported California influenza laboratory and immunization data, October 2023–March 2024 Methods We included influenza laboratory surveillance data for all persons aged ≥6 months during October 1, 2023–March 31, 2024, and immunization data during August 1, 2023–March 31, 2024. VE for laboratory-confirmed influenza was calculated using a case control design as 100% x (1 – adjusted odds ratio [aOR]); aOR was odds ratio of vaccination among case-patients that received a positive influenza test result versus control-patients that received a negative influenza test result. Using mixed-effects logistic regression, estimates were adjusted for age, ethnicity, and race as fixed effects; specimen week and county of residence were random effects. Estimates were stratified by time since vaccination. Results Overall, 18% of case-patients were vaccinated versus 31% of control-patients. Median time since vaccination was 85 days (range: 14–241 days) for cases and 87 days (range: 14–241 days) for controls. VE through March 31, 2024, was 43% against laboratory-confirmed influenza among persons aged ≥6 months. VE was 59% for persons vaccinated 14–29 days before their influenza test result; 52% for 30–59 days; 39% for 60–89 days; 34% for 90–119 days; and 35% for ≥120 days. Stratified by calendar month of testing, VE similarly declined with increasing time since vaccination. Conclusion Influenza vaccination reduced the risk of testing positive for influenza, but VE declined with time after vaccination. Timing immunization for maximum protection during periods of higher risk, along with additional preventive measures, might further reduce incidence. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

Climate change: What do we do about it? Economic issues regarding agricultural adaptation and mitigation

AbstractClimate change will undoubtedly affect many aspects of the agricultural sector as a driver of impacts, as a force stimulating adaptation to limit or exploit climate change impacts, and as a focal point for mitigation opportunities to reduce its extent. Sectoral participants will react by undertaking a variety of adaptation and mitigation actions. Adaptation is largely inevitable but may require public action to either provide public goods or support private adaptation. Agriculture will also play an important role in mitigating climate change, as in cases it can provide low‐cost net greenhouse gas reductions. This paper will discuss the economic and physical characteristics of adaptation and mitigation actions that can be taken in the agricultural sector plus introduce some analysis results and possible directions. Clearly, across these areas, economists will find rich areas for economic inquiry.

Reserve Major Luka Bobev Dorosiev – a Life in the Name of Bulgaria

One of the main tasks facing the restored Bulgarian state after the Liberation is to build a strong and capable army. It must be the main guarantor for the realization of the Bulgarian national ideal – the liberation of the enslaved brothers in Thrace and Macedonia and the accession of these lands to the Kingdom of Bulgaria. At the beginning of the 20th century, our country took part in three wars, during which thousands of Bulgarian officers showed their courage and sacrifice. The names of some of them, such as Generals Georgi and Vladimir Vazovi, Stefan Toshev, Nikola Zhekov, Kliment Boyadzhiev and others are well known to the contemporaries. At the same time, there was another group of officers who also appeared on the battlefields and then in public life after leaving the army, but they are almost unknown today. In this paper, the biography of one of these “forgotten officers” is presented. His name is Reserve Major Luka Bobev Dorosiev. The present study will present the main moments of his military biography and public activities after he joined the army.

Dobri Chintulov and the Bulgarian National Revival

The article explores the life path, creative work and public activity of Dobri Chintulov. The author comes to the conclusion that it is necessary to continue scholarly research on the life and activities of the poet, composer, pedagogue and public figure Dobri Chintulov, because the memory of his personality should not fade in the minds of the Bulgarians.

Aging Adaptation Transition of Health Care Buildings for Accessibility Optimization for the Elderly

As society develops, the aging population issue is becoming more serious and gaining global attention. Meanwhile, the building industry worldwide is focusing on making buildings more convenient for the elderly. This study focuses on a health care building, analyzing its aging-friendly design. It examines issues related to walking situations and activity spaces and proposes optimization strategies based on relevant codes and actual needs. Through optimization and transformation, the walking distance to the nearest exit for the elderly in the building has been reduced by 36.8%, the walking distance to activity space for the elderly has been reduced by 8.4%, and the average public activity space of each elderly person has been increased by about 23.5%. In addition, the handrails of the accessible stairway have been changed to double handrails, which is more suitable for the different needs of the elderly, and the space of the wheelchair-accessible elevator has been expanded, which is more convenient for the elderly’s activities in elevators. This paper explores the feasibility and design direction of the aging-friendly architecture, and it aims to provide a valuable reference for the renovation of aging buildings.

Research on the Greening of Water Policy Needs to Move Beyond Supply and Demand‐Oriented Logics to Achieve Water Sustainability for All

ABSTRACTThis piece discusses recent research and current trends in water infrastructure. Specifically, we unpack how supply and demand logics inform policy and continue to do so in light of the 10th World Water Forum. We argue that the social structural transformations that have been needed remain lacking. Around the world, we observe a continued, if not renewed, emphasis on supposedly rational economic logics surrounding supply and demand. However, this has led to not reforms towards more ecologically minded engineering and governance, but rather it often appears that water infrastructure is emerging with a doubling down on a kind of old civil engineering emphasis, such as has been seen with the rise in new mega‐dam projects, desalination plants, and other “new water” endeavors. Yet, there are other examples that we point to that can be learned from, such as the Santa Cruz River restoration project in Southern Arizona and other measures in France and Bolivia that take a more participatory approach. Infrastructure issues must lead us to rethinking public and democratic action to distribute water in a manner that promotes social equity, and prevents massive resource destruction linked to abusive economic forces blind to collective interest and meaningful objectives, rather than a cynical “water for all” program. To secure the 6th Sustainable Development Goal, we regret that the 10th World Water Forum did not seem to pay enough attention to the greening of water policy through the sustainability of ecological infrastructures, nor to the economic and political conditions of their generalization.

Impact of nocturnal road traffic noise and annoyance on self-reported insomnia symptoms: policy intervention in noise-polluted environments.

Chronic exposure to traffic noise is associated with increased stress and sleep disruptions. Research on the health consequences of environmental noise, specifically traffic noise, has primarily been conducted in high-income countries (HICs), which have guided the development of noise regulations. The relevance of these findings to policy frameworks in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) remains uncertain. To investigate the relationship between road traffic noise exposure and annoyance on insomnia symptoms, a questionnaire survey was administered to 5408 randomly selected participants residing in Srinagar, India. Sleep quality was assessed using a standardized sleep disturbance score, along with self-reported annoyance levels related to road traffic noise at the participants' residences. Nighttime road traffic noise was modeled using Sound PLAN 8.2 software to generate noise contour maps, enabling the spatial evaluation of noise levels along roadways near residential areas. A total of 79.3% of the 5408 respondents were exposed to noise levels exceeding 45 Lnight dB(A). Statistically significant associations were observed between traffic noise exposure and all insomnia symptoms, with difficulty falling asleep showing the strongest association (OR = 1.53; 95% CI = 1.12-2.09) within the study sample. Compared to males, females exhibited higher insomnia symptoms (OR = 1.68; 95% CI = 1.35-2.08). The results indicated that insomnia was strongly correlated with an increased odds of traffic noise annoyance (OR = 2.39; 95% CI = 1.73-3.76) (p = 0.029). Finally, this study advocates for a robust regulatory framework to incorporate noise pollution mitigation strategies into the public health action plans of developing nations.

Uncovering the Potential Link Between Polychlorinated Biphenyls and Cardiovascular Diseases: A Comprehensive Analysis

Background: A family of persistent organic pollutants, known as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), are extensively found in the environment and may be harmful to the cardiovascular system. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses are required to thoroughly evaluate the association between PCB exposure and cardiovascular disease (CVDs), despite the fact that studies on the subject have produced inconsistent results. Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between PCBs exposure and cardiovascular disease risk in order to provide more conclusive data to promote public health actions. Methods: The studies that met the inclusion criteria were screened out using the databases PubMed, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and Cochrane Library. The comprehensive effect size (OR) was calculated using the random-effects model; the study’s heterogeneity was analyzed using I2 statistics; the major reasons of heterogeneity were identified using subgroup analysis; and publication bias graphically was measured using the Egger’s test. Results: A meta-analysis of 11 studies revealed that total PCBs (OR = 1.56, 95% CI: 1.20–1.75), non-dioxin-like PCBs (NDL-PCBs) (OR = 1.33, 95% CI: 1.15–1.53), and dioxin-like PCBs (DL-PCBs) (OR = 1.31, 95% CI: 1.10–1.57) were all found to be positively associated with the risk of cardiovascular disease. Subgroup analysis revealed that study type, biomaterials, and literature quality were the most significant drivers of variation. Furthermore, certain PCB homologues, such as non-dioxin-like (NDL)-PCB153 and dioxin-like (DL)-PCB118, are highly related with cardiovascular disease. Conclusions: According to this meta-analysis, exposure to PCBs may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Notwithstanding major drawbacks, our results emphasize the significance of lowering exposure to PCBs and offering a solid theoretical basis for public health initiatives.

Cohort profile: the BangladEsh Longitudinal Investigation of Emerging Vascular and nonvascular Events (BELIEVE) cohort study

PurposeBangladesh has experienced a rapid epidemiological transition from communicable to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in recent decades. There is, however, limited evidence about multidimensional determinants of NCDs in this population. The...

Public attitudes to genetic technology for invasive pest control and preferences for engagement and information: a segmentation analysis

Advances in genetic technology hold promise in managing the increasing problem of invasive pests. The current study sought to improve our understanding of public perceptions, and potential public engagement pathways and information needs as the technology is researched and potentially developed for deployment. A survey of 1,149 Australians was conducted, and the sample was segmented into 4 groups based on their attitudes: Certain Objectors, Fence Sitters, Cautious Supporters, and Certain Supporters. ‘Light touch’ engagement activities appeared to satisfy most people; yet more intensive engagements could be appropriate for a small group who hold negative views towards the technology. Across the board, people wanted to know about the potential risks, and the regulation and controls surrounding the gene editing technology. Those who held more positive views also showed an interest in the scientific processes and techniques, while people who held more negative views wanted to know what was being done to deal with social and ethical issues. The results provide insight into 1) the diversity of views, and associated beliefs and feelings, among the public when confronted with a synthetic biology solution to an environmental problem, 2) how public engagement activities can be tailored to align with people’s engagement beliefs and stated preferences, and 3) what issues biotechnology developers should address as they endeavour to design genetic technology in a socially responsible way.