Experiences on the application of the Sustainable Urban Mobility Index (IMUS) in Brazilian and foreign cities

The lack of effective instruments to control and monitor urban mobility has had a direct impact on the management of municipalities. The Sustainable Urban Mobility Index (IMUS, in Portugese) is an instrument that aims to support urban mobility planning, based on a list of indicators that allow the assessment of different aspects of sustainable urban mobility. However, some indicators are still not easily accessible in the municipalities, either due to the lack of data or the absence of information made available in an aggregated form, a numerical value for example. Given this context, this article presents a comparative analysis of studies that applied the IMUS in different cities in Brazil and abroad, in order to identify which indicators of urban mobility are still difficult to access in the municipalities where the IMUS was applied. Theses and dissertations or other academic works that used the IMUS, developed between 2008 and 2019, with the theme adhering to the title “Index of Sustainable Urban Mobility (IMUS)” were selected. The analysis of the works allowed to identify: (i) which indicators are still difficult to access to assess urban mobility, by municipality size, and (ii) a comparative analysis of the index result for the Domains, Themes and Indicators, in the evaluated cities.

Mobility indicators and COVID-19 growth ratio in Iraq: a correlation study

Background There is no prior study of the effect of mobility-limiting measures on the occurrence of COVID-19 in Iraq. Objectives To determine the relationship between publicly available mobility index data and the growth ratio (GR) of COVID-19. Method We used Google COVID-19 Community Mobility Reports to extract Iraq’s mobility data and the official Ministry of Health COVID-19 statements. We used the data to calculate the Pearson’s correlation coefficient and fit a linear regression model to determine the relationship between percentage change from the baseline in the mobility indices and the GR of COVID-19 in Iraq. Results There was a moderate positive correlation between each of the mobility indices except the residential index and COVID-19 GR in Iraq. The general linear model indicated that as each of the mobility indices increases by one unit, the GR of COVID19 increases by 0.002–0.003 except for the residential index. As the residential mobility index increases by one unit, the GR decreases by 0.009. All the findings were statistically significant (P-value < 0.0001). Conclusion Mobility-limiting measures may be able to reduce the growth rate of COVID-19 moderately. Accordingly, mobility-limiting measures should be combined with other public control measures particularly mass mask use.

Can tracking mobility be used as a public health tool against COVID-19 following the expiration of stay-at-home mandates?

Background: Considering the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants and low vaccine access and uptake, minimizing human interactions remains an effective strategy to mitigate the spread of SARS-CoV-2. The aim of this study was to create a novel multidimensional mobility index to capture the complexity of human interaction and evaluate its utility as an early indicator of surges in COVID-19 cases. Methods: We used publicly available anonymous cell phone data compiled by SafeGraph, from all counties in Illinois, Ohio, Michigan and Indiana between January 1st to December 8, 2020. Six metrics of mobility were extracted for each county. Changes in mobility were defined as a time-updated 7-day rolling average. We used an unsupervised machine learning method known as functional principal component analysis (fPCA) to construct the latent mobility index (MI) using the six metrics of mobility. Associations between our MI and COVID-19 cases were estimated using a quasi-Poisson hierarchical generalized additive model adjusted for population density and the COVID-19 community vulnerability index. Results: Individual mobility metrics varied significantly by counties and by calendar time. More than 50% of the variability in the data was explained by the first principal component by each state, indicating good dimension reduction. Following the expiration of stay-at-home orders, mobility increased across all counties and this was particularly evident on weekends. While an individual metric of mobility was not associated with surges of COVID-19, our MI was independently associated with COVID-19 cases in all four states given varying time-lags. Conclusion: Following the expiration of stay-at-home orders, a single metric of mobility was not sensitive enough to capture the complexity of human interactions. Monitoring mobility can be an important public health tool, however, it should be modelled as a multidimensional construct.

Temporal Air Quality (NO2, O3 and PM10) Changes in Urban and Rural Stations in Catalonia during COVID-19 Lockdown: An Association with Human Mobility and Satellite Data

In this study, changes in air quality by NO2, O3 and PM10 in Barcelona metropolitan area and other parts of Catalonia during the COVID-19 lockdown with respect to pre-lockdown and to previous years (2018 and 2019) were evaluated. Selected air monitoring stations included 3 urban (Gràcia, Vall d’Hebron and Granollers), 1 control site (Fabra Observatory), 1 semi-urban (Manlleu), and 3 rural (Begur, Bellver de Cerdanya, and Juneda). NO2 lockdown levels showed a diminution, which in relative terms was maximum in two rural stations (Bellver de Cerdanya, -63% and Begur, -61%), presumably due to lower emissions from the ceasing hotel and ski resort activities during eastern holidays. In absolute terms and from an epidemiologic perspective, decrease in NO2, also reinforced by the high amount of rainfall registered in April 2020, was more relevant in the urban stations around Barcelona. O3 levels increased in the transited urban stations (Gràcia, +42%, and Granollers, +64%) due to the lower titration effect by NOx. PM10 lockdown levels decreased, mostly in Gràcia, Vall d’Hebron and Granollers (-35, -39% and -39%, respectively) due to traffic depletion (-90% in Barcelona's transport). Correlation among mobility index in Barcelona (-100% in retail & recreation) and contamination was positive for NO2 and PM10 and negative for O3 (P<0.001). Satellite images evidenced two hotspots of NO2 in Spain (Madrid and Barcelona) in April 2018 and 2019 that disappeared in 2020. Overall, the benefits of lockdown on air quality in Catalonia were evidenced with NO2, O3 and PM10 levels below WHOAQG values in most of stations opposed to the excess registered in previous years.

A generic outcome assessment of mobility capacity in neurorehabilitation: measurement properties of the de Morton Mobility Index

Background Mobility capacity is a key outcome domain in neurorehabilitation. The de Morton Mobility Index (DEMMI), an established and generic outcome assessment of mobility capacity in older patients, is promising for use in neurorehabilitation. The aim of this study was to examine the measurement properties of the DEMMI in rehabilitation inpatients with neurological conditions. Methods Cross-sectional study including a mixed sample of adult inpatients in a neurorehabilitation hospital. Structural validity, unidimensionality and measurement invariance (Rasch analysis), construct validity, internal consistency reliability, and inter-rater reliability of the DEMMI (scale range: 0–100 points) were established. The minimal detectable change, the 95% limits of agreement, and possible floor and ceiling effects were calculated to indicate interpretability. Results We analyzed validity (n = 348) and reliability (n = 133) in two samples. In both samples, the majority of participants had a sub-acute stroke or Parkinson’s disease. Rasch analysis indicated unidimensionality with an overall fit to the model (chi-square = 59.4, P = 0.074). There was no relevant measurement invariance by disease group. Hypotheses-based correlation analyses (DEMMI and other functional outcome assessments) showed sufficient construct validity. Internal consistency reliability (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.94) and inter-rater reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.94; 95% confidence interval: 0.91–0.95) were sufficient. The minimal detectable change with 90% confidence was 15.0 points and the limits of agreement were 39%. No floor or ceiling effects were observed. Conclusions Results indicate sufficient measurement properties of the DEMMI in rehabilitation inpatients with neurological conditions. The DEMMI can be used as a generic outcome assessment of mobility capacity in neurorehabilitation. Trial registration German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS00004681). Registered May 6, 2013.

Übersetzung und transkulturelle Adaptation des Prosthesis Mobility Questionnaire 2.0 (PMQ) ins Deutsche und dessen Reliabilität und Validität bei Patienten mit Majoramputation der unteren Extremität

Zusammenfassung Ziel der Studie Das Ziel dieser prospektiven Validierungsstudie war es, den Prosthesis Mobility Questionnaire 2.0 (PMQ) leitlinienkonform ins Deutsche zu übersetzen und anschließend mittels Verfahren der klassischen Test-Theorie auf Validität und Reliabilität zu überprüfen. Methodik Der PMQ wurde gemäß ISPOR-Leitlinien zweifach vorwärts- und zweifach rückwärtsübersetzt und mittels Pilottest (N=10) finalisiert. Anschließend erfolgte eine Überprüfung der Gütekriterien an N=61 Patienten mit unilateraler Majoramputation der unteren Extremität von März 2020 bis August 2020. Die konvergente Konstruktvalidität wurde mittels der deutschen Version des Locomotor Capabilities Index-5 (LCI-5-D), dem Rivermead Mobility Index (RMI), dem Timed up and go Test (TUG) sowie anhand der Mobilitätsgrade ermittelt. Zur Überprüfung der internen Konsistenz wurde Cronbachs Alpha berechnet sowie die Trennschärfe durch Item-Skala-Korrelationen ermittelt. Die Test-Retest-Reliabilität wurde mittels ICC (2,1) berechnet. Darauf aufbauend wurde die minimale detektierbare Differenz berechnet. Ergebnisse Der Übersetzungsprozess erforderte kleine Änderungen nach dem Pilottest. Die Validierungsstudie wurde an N=61 Patienten durchgeführt (56,59±13,16 Jahre, m/w=38/23). Im Mittel konnte ein PMQ von 26,23±8,89 Punkten erreicht werden. Decken- oder Bodeneffekte zeigten sich im Gesamtscore nicht. Die Konstruktvalidität zeigte starke positive Korrelationen zum LCI-5-D (r=0,74, p<0,001), RMI (r=0,63 p<0,001) sowie Mobilitätsgraden (r=0,61 p<0,001). Ebenso eine moderate negative Korrelation zum TUG (r=− 0,49, p<0,001). Die interne Konsistenz war sehr gut (Cronbachs Alpha=0,95). Alle Items zeigten einen Wert größer r=0,40 bei der Item-zu-Gesamtscore Korrelation. Test-Retest-Reliabilität war mit einem ICC (2,1)=0,98 exzellent bei einem Erhebungsintervall zwischen T0 und T1 von 3,2±2,83 Tagen. Darauf aufbauend betrug die minimale detektierbare Differenz 3,40 Punkte. Schlussfolgerung Die deutsche Version des Prosthesis Mobility Questionnaire 2.0 ist ein valides und reliables Selbsteinschätzungs-Instrument zur Messung der Mobilität und Funktionsfähigkeit von Patienten mit Exoprothese bei unilateraler Majoramputation der unteren Extremität. Es kann für den deutschsprachigen Raum verwendet werden.