Influence of COVID-19 Mobility-Restricting Policies on Individual Travel Behavior in Malaysia

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in new postpandemic travel patterns as a result of the stay-at-home policies and restricted movement orders imposed by the Malaysian government. The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in individual travel behavior after the government imposed a series of lockdowns, also known as movement control orders (MCO). From March to April 2021, a questionnaire survey was distributed throughout Malaysia, and 435 complete responses were collected. Results indicated that the respondents predominantly chose private cars for various traveling purposes during the pandemic. When choosing a travel mode during the pandemic, married respondents and essential workers placed a significantly higher priority on pandemic-related - items such as cleanliness, infection concern, social distance, and wearing face masks, compared to single respondents and nonessential workers. Binary logistic regression models were developed to estimate individuals’ propensity to make trips for different purposes, i.e., work/study, social activities, recreational activities, and religious activities. Results indicated that essential workers were nearly three times more likely than the general population to make a work trip during the pandemic. Regarding social and recreational trips, males were more likely to make such types of trips as compared to females. Furthermore, those who perceived a higher risk of infection were less likely to make social and recreational trips. Regarding religious trips, males were significantly more likely to make such trips during the pandemic as compared to females. In addition, Muslims had significantly higher odds of making a trip for religious purposes during the pandemic. The findings of this study could be useful in transportation planning when considering travel restrictions during pandemics based on peoples’ travel purposes and mode choices.

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COVID-19 AND STOCK RETURNS: EVIDENCE FROM MALAYSIA

International Journal of Banking and Finance - Vol. 15, Number 2, 2020 ◽

10.32890/ijbf2021.16.2.5 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (Number 2) ◽

pp. 111-140

Keyword(s):

Stock Market ◽

Stock Returns ◽

Abnormal Returns ◽

Movement Control ◽

Efficient Market Hypothesis ◽

Early Stages ◽

Financial Panic ◽

The Government ◽

Control Orders ◽

The Impact

The severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus or Covid-19 has affected the world unprecedentedly. Malaysia is not exempted from its impact. The Malaysian government announced a nationwide lockdown in the middle of March 2020. The magnitude of the outbreak had caused panic to the public and financial panic in the stock market. This study examined the impact of Covid-19 cases and the action taken by the government through movement control orders (MCOs) and economic stimulus packages in the stock market. Event study methodology was used to assess the impact of Covid-19 on stock returns in Bursa Malaysia. Consistent with the efficient market hypothesis, the study found that during the early stages of the MCOs, the cumulative average abnormal returns (CAAR) reflected significant negative returns. However, it showed positive returns after MCO 3 and MCO 4. The results implied that the market perceived that the pandemic was under control. The study also revealed a significant relationship between CAAR and the number of cases announced, supporting the notion that in a less to a moderately free country such as Malaysia, investors showed a certain lack of trust in the number of cases reported by the authorities, and thus overreacted to the number of reported cases. The stimulus packages that were expected to stabilise the economy and society were found to be positively significant during the early stages of the MCOs.

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Homeless Management During Movement Control Order Due To COVID-19 Pandemic: Experience from Federal Territory Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

International Journal of Public Health Research ◽

10.17576/ijphr.1102.2021.13 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (02) ◽

pp. 1480-1485

Author(s):

Mohd Rizal Abdul Manaf ◽

◽

Haliza Abdul Manaf ◽

Rozita Arifin ◽

◽

...

Keyword(s):

Homeless People ◽

Movement Control ◽

Government Agencies ◽

Kuala Lumpur ◽

Governmental Organizations ◽

Non Governmental Organizations ◽

Permanent Home ◽

The Government ◽

Control Order ◽

Control Orders

Malaysia has been hit by COVID-19 pandemic since 2020 and this problem also affects countries around the world. This COVID-19 infection does not distinguish age, gender, educational and financial status. Homeless people are also not exempt from being infected with COVID-19, especially when the government implements the Movement Control Order, particularly these people who have no permanent home. This article describes the activities carried out by the government agencies, especially from the Ministry of Health Malaysia, Department of Social Welfare, National Anti-Drugs Agency, Immigration Department of Malaysia, as well as other non-governmental agencies in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur on homeless people during movement control orders. It is hoped that this shared experience can be a guide to government agencies, non-governmental organizations, private sectors and individuals in other states to manage this underprivileged group, especially during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic

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Association between multimorbidity patterns and disability among older people covered by long-term care insurance in Shanghai, China

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-021-10463-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Zijing Wang ◽

Wenjia Peng ◽

Mengying Li ◽

Xinghui Li ◽

Tingting Yang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older People ◽

Functional Disability ◽

Long Term Care ◽

Strong Association ◽

Binary Logistic Regression ◽

Term Care ◽

Logistic Regression Models ◽

Disease Pattern ◽

Long Term Care Insurance

Abstract Background Functional disability and multimorbidity are common among older people. However, little is known about the relationship between functional disability and different multimorbidity combinations. We aimed to identify multimorbidity patterns and explore the associations between these patterns and functional disability. Methods We investigated a multi-stage random sample of 1871 participants aged ≥60 years and covered by long-term care insurance in Shanghai, China. Multimorbidity was defined as the simultaneous presence of two or more chronic diseases in an individual. Participants completed scales to assess basic and instrumental activities of daily living (BADL and IADL, respectively). Multimorbidity patterns were identified via exploratory factor analysis. Binary logistic regression models were used to determine adjusted associations between functional disability and number and patterns of multimorbidity. Results Multimorbidity was present in 74.3% of participants. The prevalence of BADL disability was 50.7% and that of IADL disability was 90.7%. There was a strong association between multimorbidity and disability. We identified three multimorbidity patterns: musculoskeletal, cardio-metabolic, and mental-degenerative diseases. The cardio-metabolic disease pattern was associated with both BADL (OR 1.28, 95%CI 1.16–1.41) and IADL (OR 1.41, 95%CI 1.19–1.68) disability. The mental-degenerative disease pattern was associated with BADL disability (OR 1.55, 95%CI 1.40–1.72). Conclusions Multimorbidity and functional disability are highly prevalent among older people covered by long-term care insurance in Shanghai, and distinct multimorbidity patterns are differentially associated with functional disability. Appropriate long-term healthcare and prevention strategies for older people may help reduce multimorbidity, maintain functional ability, and improve health-related quality of life.

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The number of household members as a risk factor for peptic ulcer disease

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-84892-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Mi Hong Yim ◽

Keun Ho Kim ◽

Bum Ju Lee

Keyword(s):

Peptic Ulcer ◽

Peptic Ulcer Disease ◽

Binary Logistic Regression ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Living Alone ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Ulcer Disease ◽

Logistic Regression Models ◽

Household Members ◽

H Pylori

AbstractPeptic ulcer disease (PUD) is caused by many sociodemographic and economic risk factors other than H. pylori infection. However, no studies reported an association between PUD and the number of household members. We showed the number of family members affected by PUD based on sex in a Korean population. This cross-sectional study used 1998–2009 data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Multiple binary logistic regression models adjusted for confounders were constructed to analyze the association of PUD with the number of household members. The number of household members was associated with PUD, age, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, hemoglobin, glucose, location (urban/rural), income, education level, stress, current drinking, and smoking in both sexes. Men with other household members had a higher PUD risk compared to men or women living alone (reference), and the opposite was observed for women. Men with 4 household members had a higher PUD risk than men living alone in the model adjusted for age, BMI, income, location, education, and stress (OR = 2.04 [95% CI 1.28–3.27], p value = .003). Women with more than 6 household members had a lower PUD risk than women living alone in the adjusted model (OR = 0.50 [0.33–0.75], p value = .001). Women with more household members had a lower PUD risk. However, more men had PUD than women regardless of the number of household members.

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Development of a chimeric odour blend for attracting gravid malaria vectors

Malaria Journal ◽

10.1186/s12936-021-03797-w ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Betelehem Wondwosen ◽

Mengistu Dawit ◽

Yared Debebe ◽

Habte Tekie ◽

Sharon R. Hill ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Vector Control ◽

Binary Logistic Regression ◽

Ground Level ◽

Malaria Vectors ◽

Volatile Components ◽

Innovative Strategy ◽

Breeding Sites ◽

Logistic Regression Models ◽

Plant Feeding ◽

Global Vector

Abstract Background Odour-based tools targeting gravid malaria vectors may complement existing intervention strategies. Anopheles arabiensis are attracted to, and stimulated to oviposit by, natural and synthetic odours of wild and domesticated grasses associated with mosquito breeding sites. While such synthetic odour lures may be used for vector control, these may have limited efficacy when placed in direct competition with the natural source. In this study, workflows developed for plant-feeding pests was used to design and evaluate a chimeric odour blend based on shared attractive compounds found in domesticated grass odours. Methods Variants of a synthetic odour blend, composed of shared bioactive compounds previously identified in domesticated grasses, was evaluated sequentially in a two-choice olfactometer to identify a ratio-optimized attractive blend for malaria vectors. During this process, blends with ratios that were significantly more attractive than the previously identified synthetic rice blend were compared to determine which was most attractive in the two-choice olfactometer. To determine whether all volatile components of the most attractive blend were necessary for maximal attraction, subtractive assays were then conducted, in which individual components were removed for the most attractive blend, to define the final composition of the chimeric blend. Binary logistic regression models were used to determine significance in all two-choice assays. The chimeric blend was then assessed under field conditions in malaria endemic villages in Ethiopia, to assess the effect of dose, trap type, and placement relative to ground level. Field data were analyzed both descriptively and using a Welch-corrected t-test. Results A ratio-optimized chimeric blend was identified that significantly attracted gravid An. arabiensis under laboratory conditions. In the field, trap captures of An. arabiensis and Anopheles pharoensis were dependent on the presence of the lure, trap type (CDC, BG Sentinel and Suna traps), placement relevant to ground level, with low release rates generally luring more mosquitoes. Conclusions The workflow designed for the development of chimeric lures provides an innovative strategy to target odour-mediated behaviours. The chimeric lure identified here can be used in existing trapping systems, and be customized to increase sustainability, in line with goals of the Global Vector Control Response Group.

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Prevalence and risk factors of anaemia among men: A study based on Empowered Action Group states, India

Nutrition and Health ◽

10.1177/0260106020982348 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 026010602098234

Author(s):

Pradeep Kumar ◽

Himani Sharma ◽

Kamalesh Kumar Patel

Keyword(s):

Family Health ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

Binary Logistic Regression ◽

Bivariate Analysis ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Action Group ◽

Nationally Representative ◽

The Government ◽

Eag States

Background: Despite various programmes initiated by the Government of India, the nutritional indicators are not encouraging, as several problems like undernutrition, malnutrition and anaemia – still persist in the country, especially in the Empowered Action Group (EAG) states. Aim: Because of the dearth of studies regarding anaemia among men in India, the present study aimed to determine its prevalence in this population in the EAG states and to analyse its geographical and socio-demographic determinants. Methods: The study utilized nationally representative, cross-sectional survey data from round 4 of the National Family Health Survey conducted in 2015–16. Bivariate analysis along with binary logistic regression were performed to assess the predictors of anaemia among men in the EAG states. Results: Around a quarter of the men in the EAG states suffered from anaemia. A similar high-prevalence pattern was observed across the EAG states. Wherein, Bihar and Jharkhand had the highest prevalence of anaemia while Uttarakhand showed the lowest. Age, place of residence, marital status and caste were positively associated with the likelihood of anaemia among men in the EAG states. Conclusions: Focusing on the EAG states, this study considered the severity of anaemia as a public health problem among men. Strategies to reduce the burden of anaemia among this population are needed. The government should formulate programmes targeting anaemia specifically, and improving the nutritional status among men in general in the EAG states.

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EPID-34. THE DETRIMENTAL EFFECT OF BIOPSY PRECEDING RESECTION IN SURGICALLY ACCESSIBLE GLIOBLASTOMAS: RESULTS FROM THE NATIONAL CANCER DATABASE

Neuro-Oncology ◽

10.1093/neuonc/noaa215.352 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 22 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. ii85-ii86

Author(s):

Ping Zhu ◽

Xianglin Du ◽

Angel Blanco ◽

Leomar Y Ballester ◽

Nitin Tandon ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Logistic Regression ◽

Failure Time ◽

Binary Logistic Regression ◽

Rank Test ◽

Imaging Features ◽

National Cancer Database ◽

Prolonged Length ◽

Logistic Regression Models ◽

Operative Outcomes ◽

The Impact

Abstract OBJECTIVES To investigate the impact of biopsy preceding resection compared to upfront resection in glioblastoma overall survival (OS) and post-operative outcomes using the National Cancer Database (NCDB). METHODS A total of 17,334 GBM patients diagnosed between 2010 and 2014 were derived from the NCDB. Patients were categorized into two groups: “upfront resection” versus “biopsy followed by resection”. Primary outcome was OS. Post-operative outcomes including 30-day readmission/mortality, 90-day mortality, and prolonged length of inpatient hospital stay (LOS) were secondary endpoints. Kaplan-Meier methods and accelerated failure time (AFT) models with gamma distribution were applied for survival analysis. Multivariable binary logistic regression models were performed to compare differences in the post-operative outcomes between these groups. RESULTS Patients undergoing “upfront resection” experienced superior survival compared to those undergoing “biopsy followed by resection” (median OS: 12.4 versus 11.1 months, log-rank test: P=0.001). In multivariable AFT models, significant survival benefits were observed among patients undergoing “upfront resection” (time ratio [TR]: 0.83, 95% CI: 0.75–0.93, P=0.001). Patients undergoing upfront GTR had the longest survival compared to upfront STR, GTR following STR, or GTR and STR following an initial biopsy (14.4 vs. 10.3, 13.5, 13.3, and 9.1, months), respectively (TR: 1.00 [Ref.], 0.75, 0.82, 0.88, and 0.67). Recent years of diagnosis, higher income and treatment at academic facilities were significantly associated with the likelihood of undergoing upfront resection after adjusting the covariates. Multivariable logistic regression revealed that 30-day mortality and 90-day mortality were decreased by 73% and 44% for patients undergoing “upfront resection” over “biopsy followed by resection”, respectively (both p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Pre-operative biopsies for surgically accessible tumors with characteristic imaging features of Glioblastoma lead to worse survival despite subsequent resection compared to patients undergoing upfront resection.

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Habitat use of golden jackals (Canis aureus) in riverine areas of northern Bosnia and Herzegovina

European Journal of Wildlife Research ◽

10.1007/s10344-021-01457-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 67 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Aldin Selimovic ◽

Eva Maria Schöll ◽

Larissa Bosseler ◽

Jennifer Hatlauf

Keyword(s):

Habitat Use ◽

Bosnia And Herzegovina ◽

Agricultural Practices ◽

Binary Logistic Regression ◽

Food Sources ◽

Golden Jackal ◽

Canis Aureus ◽

Logistic Regression Models ◽

Habitat Analysis ◽

Group Density

AbstractRecently confirmed expansion of golden jackals (Canis aureus) into countries without any previous records poses questions, one of them focusing on the species potential and possibly varying habitat use. In this study, we investigated the presence and distribution of golden jackals in northern Bosnia and Herzegovina, where knowledge about golden jackal distribution and habitat use is still scarce. We used bioacoustic stimulation as a non-invasive tool to gather data on golden jackal presence. Habitat structures potentially selected by the species were assessed at 92 calling stations and used as input for binary logistic regression models. Our study area covered approximately 1150 km2, and bioacoustic stimulation within this area resulted in an estimated minimum relative group density of 3.5 territorial groups per 100 km2. We found territorial groups at distances between 15 and 38 km southwards from the river Sava but always within a maximum range of 3 km to perennial watercourses. Habitat analysis identified shrub vegetation and pastures as structures with a significant effect on the presence of resident golden jackals. Probability that golden jackals answered at calling stations increased with increasing surface area covered with pastures and shrubs. Distances between golden jackal territories and the nearest human settlement were relatively small. Our results indicate that structures like transitional woodland-shrubs and pastures, together with other potential influencing factors like local agricultural practices, low hunting pressure, diverse natural and anthropogenic food sources, could have benefited the settlement of golden jackals in the northern lowlands of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

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Government management capacities and the containment of COVID-19: a repeated cross-sectional study across Chinese cities

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-041516 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. e041516

Author(s):

Wenchao Li ◽

Jing Li ◽

Junjian Yi

Keyword(s):

Outcome Measures ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Control Measures ◽

Secondary Outcome ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Travel Restrictions ◽

Government Management ◽

The Government ◽

Laws And Policies ◽

Novel Coronavirus

ObjectivesBetter understanding of the dynamics of the COVID-19 (2019 novel coronavirus disease) pandemic to curb its spread is now a global imperative. While travel restrictions and control measures have been shown to limit the spread of the disease, the effectiveness of the enforcement of those measures should depend on the strength of the government. Whether, and how, the government plays a role in fighting the disease, however, has not been investigated. Here, we show that government management capacities are critical to the containment of the disease.SettingWe conducted a statistical analysis based on cross-city comparisons within China. China has undergone almost the entire cycle of the anticoronavirus campaign, which allows us to trace the full dynamics of the outbreak, with homogeneity in standards for statistics recording.Primary and secondary outcome measuresOutcome measures include city-specific COVID-19 case incidence and recoveries in China.ResultsThe containment of COVID-19 depends on the effectiveness of the enforcement of control measures, which in turn depends on the local government’s management capacities. Specifically, government efficiency, capacity for law enforcement, and the transparency of laws and policies significantly reduce COVID-19 prevalence and increase the likelihood of recoveries. The organisation size of the government, which is not closely related to its capacity for management, has a limited role.

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Depressive Symptoms in Swiss University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Their Correlates

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18041458 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (4) ◽

pp. 1458 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Thomas Volken ◽

Annina Zysset ◽

Simone Amendola ◽

Anthony Klein Swormink ◽

Marion Huber ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

University Students ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Binary Logistic Regression ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Logistic Regression Models ◽

National Population ◽

Student Cohorts ◽

Containment Measures

Background: COVID-19 containment measures and the uncertainties associated with the pandemic may have contributed to changes in mental health risks and mental health problems in university students. Due to the high burden of the disease, depression is of particular concern. However, knowledge about the prevalence of depressive symptoms in Swiss university students during the pandemic is limited. We therefore assessed the prevalence of depressive symptoms and their change during the COVID-19 pandemic in a large sample of Swiss university students. Methods: We assessed depressive symptoms in two cross-sectional cohorts of university students (n = 3571) in spring and autumn 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and compared them with a matched sample of the Swiss national population (n = 2328). Binary logistic regression models estimated prevalence with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Results: Adjusted prevalence of depressive symptoms in female (30.8% (95% CI: 28.6–33.0)) and male students (24.8% (95% CI: 21.7–28.1)) was substantially higher than in the matching female (10.9% (95% CI: 8.9–13.2)) and male (8.5% (6.6–11.0)) pre-pandemic national population. Depressive symptoms in the two consecutive student cohorts did not significantly differ. Conclusions: More than a quarter of Swiss university students reported depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic, which was substantially higher as compared to the matched general population. Universities should introduce measures to support students in such times of crisis and gain an understanding of the factors impacting mental health positively or negatively and related to university structures and procedures.

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