scholarly journals Mobility Patterns of the Portuguese Population During the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiago Tamagusko ◽  
Adelino Ferreira
Keyword(s):  
Lower Risk ◽  
Reproduction Number ◽  
First Year ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Population Mobility ◽  
Mobility Patterns ◽  
Portuguese Population ◽  
Location Data ◽  
Community Mobility ◽  
The Relationship

This study analyzes the relationship between the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus (COVID-19) and the mobility patterns of the Portuguese population. By reducing mobility, the idea is that contacts are reduced, countering the spread of the virus in the community. As an indicator of the spread of the virus, the reproduction number (Rt) was used. Data from Google's Community Mobility Reports was used to evaluate changes in mobility patterns. This report uses location data from Android mobile phone users. The locations are divided into retail and recreation, grocery and pharmacy, parks, transit stations, workplaces and residential. In this year of the COVID-19 crisis in Portugal, population mobility patterns have changed over the various phases of the pandemic. At first, all mobility was affected uniformly, with the population avoiding much of the activity outside the home. In a second phase, there was some adaptation, and the areas considered to be of lower risk had less impact, emphasizing the changes in the relationship between daily life and the workplace.

scholarly journals Population Mobility, Lockdowns, and COVID-19 Control: An Analysis Based on Google Location Data and Doubling Time from India

2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 325-334
Author(s):  
Aravind Gandhi Periyasamy ◽  
U Venkatesh
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Doubling Time ◽  
Control Measure ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Population Mobility ◽  
Mobility Patterns ◽  
Location Data ◽  
Community Mobility ◽  
Tailored Implementation

Objectives: Physical distancing is a control measure against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Lockdowns are a strategy to enforce physical distancing in urban areas, but they are drastic measures. Therefore, we assessed the effectiveness of the lockdown measures taken in the world’s second-most populous country, India, by exploring their relationship with community mobility patterns and the doubling time of COVID-19.Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis based on community mobility patterns, the stringency index of lockdown measures, and the doubling time of COVID-19 cases in India between February 15 and April 26, 2020. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated between the stringency index, community mobility patterns, and the doubling time of COVID-19 cases. Multiple linear regression was applied to predict the doubling time of COVID-19.Results: Community mobility drastically fell after the lockdown was instituted. The doubling time of COVID-19 cases was negatively correlated with population mobility patterns in outdoor areas (r = –0.45 to –0.58). The stringency index and outdoor mobility patterns were also negatively correlated (r = –0.89 to –0.95). Population mobility patterns (R2 = 0.67) were found to predict the doubling time of COVID-19, and the model’s predictive power increased when the stringency index was also added (R2 = 0.73).Conclusions: Lockdown measures could effectively ensure physical distancing and reduce short-term case spikes in India. Therefore, lockdown measures may be considered for tailored implementation on an intermittent basis, whenever COVID-19 cases are predicted to exceed the health care system’s capacity to manage.

scholarly journals Data-Driven Approach to Understand the Mobility Patterns of the Portuguese Population during the COVID-19 Pandemic

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (22) ◽  
pp. 9775
Author(s):  
Tiago Tamagusko ◽  
Adelino Ferreira
Keyword(s):  
Distance Measures ◽  
Data Driven ◽  
Definitive Treatment ◽  
Population Mobility ◽  
Mobility Patterns ◽  
Portuguese Population ◽  
Community Mobility ◽  
Pattern Change ◽  
Data Driven Approach ◽  
The Impact

SARS-CoV-2 emerged in late 2019. Since then, it has spread to several countries, becoming classified as a pandemic. So far, there is no definitive treatment or vaccine, so the best solution is to prevent transmission between individuals through social distancing. However, it is not easy to measure the effectiveness of these distance measures. Therefore, this study uses data from Google COVID-19 Community Mobility Reports to understand the Portuguese population’s mobility patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this study, the Rt value was modeled for Portugal. In addition, the changepoint was calculated for the population mobility patterns. Thus, the mobility pattern change was used to understand the impact of social distance measures on the dissemination of COVID-19. As a result, it can be stated that the initial Rt value in Portugal was very close to 3, falling to values close to 1 after 25 days. Social isolation measures were adopted quickly. Furthermore, it was observed that public transport was avoided during the pandemic. Finally, until the emergence of a vaccine or an effective treatment, this is the new normal, and it must be understood that new patterns of mobility, social interaction, and hygiene must be adapted to this reality.

scholarly journals Evaluating Social Distancing Measures and Their Association with the Covid-19 Pandemic in South America

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 121
Author(s):  
Gisliany Lillian Alves de Oliveira ◽  
Luciana Lima ◽  
Ivanovitch Silva ◽  
Marcel da Câmara Ribeiro-Dantas ◽  
Kayo Henrique Monteiro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South America ◽  
Population Mobility ◽  
Mobility Patterns ◽  
Mobility Index ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Government Response ◽  
Community Mobility ◽  
Data Driven Approach ◽  
Local Moran ◽  
Global And Local

Social distancing is a powerful non-pharmaceutical intervention used as a way to slow the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus around the world since the end of 2019 in China. Taking that into account, this work aimed to identify variations on population mobility in South America during the pandemic (15 February to 27 October 2020). We used a data-driven approach to create a community mobility index from the Google Covid-19 Community Mobility and relate it to the Covid stringency index from Oxford Covid-19 Government Response Tracker (OxCGRT). Two hypotheses were established: countries which have adopted stricter social distancing measures have also a lower level of circulation (H1), and mobility is occurring randomly in space (H2). Considering a transient period, a low capacity of governments to respond to the pandemic with more stringent measures of social distancing was observed at the beginning of the crisis. In turn, considering a steady-state period, the results showed an inverse relationship between the Covid stringency index and the community mobility index for at least three countries (H1 rejected). Regarding the spatial analysis, global and local Moran indices revealed regional mobility patterns for Argentina, Brazil, and Chile (H1 rejected). In Brazil, the absence of coordinated policies between the federal government and states regarding social distancing may have played an important role for several and extensive clusters formation. On the other hand, the results for Argentina and Chile could be signals for the difficulties of governments in keeping their population under control, and for long periods, even under stricter decrees.

scholarly journals An improved method to estimate the effective reproduction number of the COVID-19 pandemic: lessons from its application in Greece

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Theodore Lytras ◽  
Vana Sypsa ◽  
Demosthenes Panagiotakos ◽  
Sotirios Tsiodras
Keyword(s):  
Incubation Period ◽  
Reproduction Number ◽  
Surveillance Data ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Population Mobility ◽  
Improved Method ◽  
Mobility Patterns ◽  
Routine Surveillance ◽  
Serial Interval ◽  
Tourism Activity

Introduction: Monitoring the time-varying effective reproduction number Rt is crucial for assessing the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic. We present an improved method to estimate Rt and its application to routine surveillance data from Greece. Methods: Our method extends that of Cori et al (2013), adding Bayesian imputation of missing symptom onset dates, imputation of infection times using an external estimate of the incubation period, and an adjustment for reporting delay. To facilitate its use, we provide an R software package named "bayEStim". We applied the method to COVID-19 surveillance data from Greece, and examined the resulting Rt estimates in relation to control measures applied, in order to assess their effectiveness. We also associated Rt, as a measure of transmissibility, to population mobility as recorded in Google data and to ambient temperature. We used a serial interval between 4 and 7.5 days, and a median incubation period of 5.1 days. Results: In Greece Rt fell rapidly as the first control measures were introduced, dropping below 1 at least a week before a full lockdown came into effect. In mid-July Rt started increasing again, as increased mobility associated with tourism activity was observed. Each 10% of increase in relative mobility increased Rt by 8.1% (95% CrI 6.1-10.2%), whereas each unit celsius of temperature increase decreased Rt by 4.6% (95% CrI 5.4-13.7%). Conclusions: Mobility patterns significantly affect Rt. Most of the reduction in COVID-19 transmissibility in Greece occurred already before the lockdown, likely as a result of decreased population mobility. Lower viral transmissibility in summer does not appear sufficient to counterbalance the increased mobility due to tourism. Monitoring Rt is an essential component of COVID-19 surveillance, and it is crucial for correctly assessing the effect of control measures.

The Need to Belong and the Relationship Between Loneliness and Health

2014 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 194-201 ◽  
Author(s):  
Freda-Marie Hartung ◽  
Britta Renner
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Social Situation ◽  
First Year ◽  
Health State ◽  
Need To Belong ◽  
First Year University ◽  
Perceived Social Isolation ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

Humans are social animals; consequently, a lack of social ties affects individuals’ health negatively. However, the desire to belong differs between individuals, raising the question of whether individual differences in the need to belong moderate the impact of perceived social isolation on health. In the present study, 77 first-year university students rated their loneliness and health every 6 weeks for 18 weeks. Individual differences in the need to belong were found to moderate the relationship between loneliness and current health state. Specifically, lonely students with a high need to belong reported more days of illness than those with a low need to belong. In contrast, the strength of the need to belong had no effect on students who did not feel lonely. Thus, people who have a strong need to belong appear to suffer from loneliness and become ill more often, whereas people with a weak need to belong appear to stand loneliness better and are comparatively healthy. The study implies that social isolation does not impact all individuals identically; instead, the fit between the social situation and an individual’s need appears to be crucial for an individual’s functioning.

Thathir Quality Scholarship Program For Students At University level

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 206-219
Author(s):  
Louay Qais Abdullah ◽  
Duraid Faris Khayoun
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Life Sciences ◽  
Economic Feasibility ◽  
First Year ◽  
Grant Program ◽  
Scholarship Program ◽  
University Level ◽  
Faculty Of Education ◽  
The University ◽  
The Relationship

The study focused basically on measuring the relationship between the material cost of the students benefits program and the benefits which are earned by it, which was distributed on college students in the initial stages (matinee) and to show the extent of the benefits accruing from the grant program compared to the material burdens which matched and the extent of success or failure of the experience and its effect from o scientific and side on the Iraqi student through these tough economic circumstances experienced by the country in general, and also trying to find ways of proposed increase or expansion of distribution in the future in the event of proven economic feasibility from the program. An data has been taking from the data fro the Department of Financial Affairs and the Department of Studies and Planning at the University of Diyala with taking an data representing an actual and minimized pattern and questionnaires to a sample of students from the Department of Life Sciences in the Faculty of Education of the University of Diyala on the level of success and failure of students in the first year of the grant and the year before for the purpose of distribution comparison. The importance of the study to measure the extent of interest earned in comparision whit the material which is expenseon the program of grant (grant of students) to assist the competent authorities to continue or not in the program of student grants for the coming years.

scholarly journals A Time-Based Objective Measure of Exposure to the Food Environment

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (7) ◽  
pp. 1180 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason Scully ◽  
Anne Moudon ◽  
Philip Hurvitz ◽  
Anju Aggarwal ◽  
Adam Drewnowski
Keyword(s):  
Food Environment ◽  
Fast Food ◽  
Objective Measure ◽  
Mobility Patterns ◽  
Time Duration ◽  
Positioning Systems ◽  
Global Positioning ◽  
Fast Food Restaurants ◽  
Logistic Regressions ◽  
The Relationship

Exposure to food environments has mainly been limited to counting food outlets near participants’ homes. This study considers food environment exposures in time and space using global positioning systems (GPS) records and fast food restaurants (FFRs) as the environment of interest. Data came from 412 participants (median participant age of 45) in the Seattle Obesity Study II who completed a survey, wore GPS receivers, and filled out travel logs for seven days. FFR locations were obtained from Public Health Seattle King County and geocoded. Exposure was conceptualized as contact between stressors (FFRs) and receptors (participants’ mobility records from GPS data) using four proximities: 21 m, 100 m, 500 m, and ½ mile. Measures included count of proximal FFRs, time duration in proximity to ≥1 FFR, and time duration in proximity to FFRs weighted by FFR counts. Self-reported exposures (FFR visits) were excluded from these measures. Logistic regressions tested associations between one or more reported FFR visits and the three exposure measures at the four proximities. Time spent in proximity to an FFR was associated with significantly higher odds of FFR visits at all proximities. Weighted duration also showed positive associations with FFR visits at 21-m and 100-m proximities. FFR counts were not associated with FFR visits. Duration of exposure helps measure the relationship between the food environment, mobility patterns, and health behaviors. The stronger associations between exposure and outcome found at closer proximities (<100 m) need further research.

scholarly journals Relationship between initial peritoneal dialysis modality and risk of peritonitis

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maiko Kokubu ◽  
Masaru Matsui ◽  
Takayuki Uemura ◽  
Katsuhiko Morimoto ◽  
Masahiro Eriguchi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Peritoneal Dialysis ◽  
Lower Risk ◽  
Observational Studies ◽  
Primary Outcome ◽  
Propensity Scores ◽  
First Episode ◽  
Connection Type ◽  
Adjusted Model ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Nara Prefecture

Abstract Peritonitis is a critical complication of peritoneal dialysis (PD). Investigators have reported the risk of peritonitis in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) versus automated peritoneal dialysis (APD), but the available evidence is predominantly based on observational studies which failed to report on the connection type. Our understanding of the relationship between peritonitis risk and PD modality thus remained insufficient. We studied 285 participants who began PD treatment between 1997 and 2014 at three hospitals in Nara Prefecture in Japan. We matched 106 APD patients with 106 CAPD patients based on their propensity scores. The primary outcome was time to first episode of peritonitis within 3 years after PD commencement. In total, PD peritonitis occurred in 64 patients during the study period. Patients initiated on APD had a lower risk of peritonitis than did those initiated on CAPD in both the unadjusted and adjusted models. The hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for the primary endpoint were 0.30 (0.17–0.53) in the fully adjusted model including connection type. In the matched cohort, APD patients had a significantly lower risk of peritonitis than did CAPD patients (log-rank: p < 0.001, HR 0.32, 95% CI 0.16–0.59). The weighting-adjusted analysis of the inverse probability of treatment yielded a similar result (HR 0.35, 95% CI 0.18–0.67). In conclusion, patients initiated on APD at PD commencement had a reduced risk of peritonitis compared with those initiated on CAPD, suggesting APD may be preferable for prevention of peritonitis among PD patients.

The Relationship between Mobility and COVID-19 in Germany: Modeling Case Occurrence using Apple's Mobility Trends Data

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark David Walker ◽  
Mihály Sulyok
Keyword(s):  
Generalized Additive Models ◽  
Information Criterion ◽  
Additive Models ◽  
Online Data ◽  
German Government ◽  
Explanatory Variables ◽  
Mobility Data ◽  
Community Mobility ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Potential Use

Abstract Background Restrictions on social interaction and movement were implemented by the German government in March 2020 to reduce the transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Apple's “Mobility Trends” (AMT) data details levels of community mobility; it is a novel resource of potential use to epidemiologists. Objective The aim of the study is to use AMT data to examine the relationship between mobility and COVID-19 case occurrence for Germany. Is a change in mobility apparent following COVID-19 and the implementation of social restrictions? Is there a relationship between mobility and COVID-19 occurrence in Germany? Methods AMT data illustrates mobility levels throughout the epidemic, allowing the relationship between mobility and disease to be examined. Generalized additive models (GAMs) were established for Germany, with mobility categories, and date, as explanatory variables, and case numbers as response. Results Clear reductions in mobility occurred following the implementation of movement restrictions. There was a negative correlation between mobility and confirmed case numbers. GAM using all three categories of mobility data accounted for case occurrence as well and was favorable (AIC or Akaike Information Criterion: 2504) to models using categories separately (AIC with “driving,” 2511. “transit,” 2513. “walking,” 2508). Conclusion These results suggest an association between mobility and case occurrence. Further examination of the relationship between movement restrictions and COVID-19 transmission may be pertinent. The study shows how new sources of online data can be used to investigate problems in epidemiology.

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