Mulier Institute

Organic ferroelectrictransistors are excellent candidates as low-costalternatives for synaptic devices. Specifically, interfaces with donor–acceptorsemiconducting polymers and copolymers of poly­(vinylidene fluoride)(PVDF) are attractive for mimicking synaptic responses. By tailoringthe linking unit between the pyridyl triazole (PyTr) acceptors andthiophene donors, three copolymers are synthesized incorporating selenium-substitutedthiophene, benzothiadiazole, and fluorine-substituted thiophene linkers.Using the hexafluoropropylene copolymer of PVDF (PVDF-HFP) as thedielectric layer, the three PyTr semiconductors show p-type transportin transistor architectures with carrier mobilities between 0.1 and0.2 cm2 V–1 s–1. Thesynaptic plasticity is investigated by applying long-term pulsed voltagesat the gate electrode to emulate potentiation and depression processes.To assess their neuromorphic functionality, the synaptic responsesof the devices are tested for image recognition in a multilayer perceptronneural network. The copolymer with the benzothiadiazole linker achievedrecognition accuracy close to 80%, whereas the one with a fluorine-substitutedthiophene linker shows no synaptic behavior, highlighting the criticalrole of the semiconductor–dielectric interface. A detailedstudy of the interface trap density and morphology is performed toidentify how interfacial properties directly influence synaptic deviceperformance.

BackgroundCommunity-based overweight prevention programmes are widely implemented, however, little is known about their effectiveness after scale-up. This study examines the contribution of a scaled up community-based overweight prevention programme in the Netherlands: Healthy Youth, Healthy Future (JOGG) to children’s BMIz, adherence to fruit and/or vegetable consumption guidelines, and minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) per week.MethodsIn this observational study we used repeated cross-sectional data from 5 to 11- and 12-18-year-old participants in the annual Dutch national health survey (2006–2019) and applied two analytical methods for more robust inference. First, we applied linear mixed models to assess the association between JOGG exposure for at least 18 months (n = 1,008) vs. no exposure (n = 23,779) and the outcomes and assessed whether this association differed across subgroups defined by age, socioeconomic position (SEP), or migration background. Second, we compared outcome trends in JOGG and non-JOGG municipalities before and after implementation, using a difference-in-differences approach, to account for unobserved time-invariant confounders.ResultsResults showed no significant association between JOGG exposure and BMIz or MVPA. However, JOGG exposure was associated with higher adherence to fruit and/or vegetable consumption guidelines in 12- to 18-year-olds (log odds 1.82, 95%CI 0.23, 3.41). We observed no differential associations across subgroups and no differences in outcome trends between JOGG and non-JOGG municipalities.ConclusionsThe scale up of JOGG in the Netherlands between 2010 and 2019 potentially contributed to higher fruit and vegetable consumption but not to BMIz or MVPA levels. Further examination of the implementation process may provide insight in underlying mechanisms and contribution of JOGG.

Study ObjectivesTo examine (1) multidimensional sleep profiles in preschoolers (3–6 years) across geocultural regions and (2) differences in sleep characteristics and family practices between Majority World regions (Pacific Islands, Sub-Saharan Africa, Eastern Europe, Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, and Latin America) and the Minority World (the Western world).MethodsParticipants were 3507 preschoolers from 37 countries. Nighttime sleep characteristics and nap duration (accelerometer: n = 1950) and family practices (parental questionnaire) were measured. Mixed models were used to estimate the marginal means of sleep characteristics by region and examine the differences.ResultsGeocultural region explained up to 30% of variance in sleep characteristics. A pattern of short nighttime sleep duration, low sleep efficiency, and long nap duration was observed in Eastern Europe, Northeast Asia, and Southeast Asia. The second pattern, with later sleep midpoints and greater night-to-night sleep variability, was observed in South Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, and Latin America. Compared to the Minority World, less optimal sleep characteristics were observed in several Majority World regions, with medium-to-large effect sizes (∣d∣=0.48–2.35). Several Majority World regions reported more frequent parental smartphone use during bedtime routines (Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia: 0.77–0.99 units) and were more likely to have electronic devices in children’s bedroom (Eastern Europe, Latin America, South Asia: OR = 5.97–16.57) and co-sleeping arrangement (Asia, Latin America: OR = 7.05–49.86), compared to the Minority World.ConclusionsPreschoolers’ sleep profiles and related family practices vary across geocultural regions, which should be considered in sleep health promotion initiatives and policies.

Abstract The organised sport setting is a key context for health promotion, but it can also be associated with risky behaviours. Sports coaches play a crucial role in supporting the health of sport participants but often lack the resources and support to do so. This paper proposes a guide to help coaches become health promoters by defining their key actions in line with the Health Promoting Sports Club model. An embedded mixed-method study with a QUAL (qual) design was used, where 15 experts took part in 5 meetings and 299 coaches provided input through an online survey. Four steps were carried out: (1) defining the health-promoting sports coach and key action principles, (2) co-constructing progression stages using the settings-based approach, (3) identifying key actions for promoting health in different coaching moments, and (4) developing long-term intervention components. A definition of the health-promoting sports coach was produced, and eight key action principles have been identified, divided into three dimensions: connection with the system, adoption of a coaching philosophy, and focus on participants. Five stages of progression for integrating health promotion into coaching have been established, ranging from risk prevention to a global approach involving the entire sports system. Specific actions for each moment of coaching (before, during and after training, and competition) have been determined, such as ‘monitoring the physical, mental and social health of participants’ or ‘ensuring a cool-down, stretching, shower and proper eating after competition’. Finally, long-term intervention components to support the implementation of these actions in practice have been developed based on what coaches are already doing, the skills they possess and the five stages of progression. This paper enabled the development of a guide to help sports coaches promote health by identifying concrete actions and short- and long-term interventions, whilst making links with the health promoting sports club model. It broadens the scope of coaching by incorporating health principles, while emphasising the need to adapt to the environment and context of the club. This work calls for future research to test the effectiveness and feasibility of these approaches in various sporting environments.

BackgroundMuch remains unknown about how complex community-based programmes can successfully achieve long-term impact. More insight is needed to understand the key mechanisms through which these programmes work. Therefore, we conducted an in-depth study in five communities that implemented the Healthy Youth, Healthy Future (JOGG) approach, a Dutch community-based obesity prevention programme. We aimed to identify perceived outcomes and long-term impacts among local stakeholders and explore potential causal pathways and working mechanisms.MethodsWe used ripple effects mapping (REM), a qualitative participatory method to map outcomes and identify causal pathways, in five communities. We involved 26 stakeholders, professionals and policy-makers affiliated with the local JOGG approach, spread over eight REM sessions and conducted individual interviews with 24 additional stakeholders. To uncover working mechanisms, we compared outcomes and causal pathways across communities.ResultsOver 5–9 years of implementation, participants perceived that JOGG had improved ownership of local stakeholders, health policies, intersectoral collaboration and social norms towards promoting healthy lifestyles. Causal pathways comprised small initial outcomes that created the preconditions to enable the achievement of long-term impact. Although exact JOGG actions varied widely between communities, we identified five common working mechanisms through which the JOGG approach contributed to causal pathways: (1) creating a positive connotation with JOGG, (2) mobilizing stakeholders to participate in the JOGG approach, (3) facilitating projects to promote knowledge and awareness among stakeholders while creating successful experiences with promoting healthy lifestyles, (4) connecting stakeholders, thereby stimulating intersectoral collaboration and (5) sharing stakeholder successes that promote healthy lifestyles, which gradually created a social norm of participation.ConclusionsThe JOGG approach seems to work through activating initial stakeholder participation and bolstering the process towards ownership, policy change, and intersectoral collaboration to promote healthy lifestyles. Key working mechanisms can inform further development of JOGG as well as other complex community-based prevention programmes.

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).

PurposePractitioners, researchers and policy makers have been looking for ways to change the negative trend observed in physical activity (PA) behaviour in children. An individual PA advice for children, based on the concept of physical literacy (PL), might offer an important avenue to support and motivate children to be physically active in a way that fits their needs and skills. Due to the holistic approach of PL, this concept is suitable for the development of an individual PA advice to motivate children to be physically active for life. Therefore, we aim to develop a feasible tool to provide children aged 4 to 12 years with an individual PA advice in the Dutch school setting.MethodIn this project, experts on the different areas of PL collaborate to create a tool feasible for implementation in the Dutch primary school setting. Experts will comprise children, parents, practitioners, researchers and policy makers.First, available measurement instruments on (elements of) PL will be reviewed. This will help us determine what instruments are best suitable to be used in the Dutch setting to create ‘input’ for a tool. Secondly, we will examine how data from these instruments can be harmonized to create an individual PA advice. This step will involve close collaborations with ICT while adhering to privacy rules and regulations. During this step we will also examine how the translation from ‘input’ to ‘output’, an individual PA advice, might have to differ for different age groups. Thirdly, we will develop a plan for the implementation in the Dutch setting and educational context. This involves feasibility in terms of finances as well as feasibility from a practical point of view.ConclusionBy creating a tool to develop an individual PA advice, we hope to support and motivate children and parents to engage in PA that will last a life time. Throughout the process, relevant stakeholders will be involved in any step needed to ensure acceptability, feasibility and sustainability.FundingThis project is funded by the Dutch Ministery of Health, Welfare, and Sports.

PurposeThe potential for organised sports to promote health has been underexploited so far, according to researchers and policy-makers. Sports clubs have limited capacity to promote health due to their voluntary nature and have called for support from their national sports federations. The present article provides guidelines based on health promoting sports clubs theoretical foundations, and an analysis of practical tools and proven strategies to support national sports federations’ investment in health promotion (HP).MethodsA qualitative iterative study was undertaken, based on five two-hour meetings of a group of 15 international researchers in health promotion in sports clubs. Notes and minutes from meetings, as well as shared outputs were analyzed based on the health promoting sports club framework.ResultsGuidelines for national sports federations to promote health includes a definition of a health promoting sports federation, a description of the settings-based approach stages adapted to national sports federations, as well as practical applications of the health promoting sports club’s intervention strategies. The analysis of existing tools demonstrated that most tools are centered on a single dimension of health (social, mental, physical, spiritual or community), and often on a specific health topic. Furthermore, they do not cover HP as a continuous process or support of sports clubs’ members health, but are generally short-term programs. The HPSF clarifies theoretical concepts, their practical implementation via case studies and outlines intervention components and tools useful for sports federations in their implementation of HP.ConclusionsThe guidelines are meant to facilitate national sports federations to acknowledge, reinforce and foster their further investment in HP.Funding sourceThis project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 101028401. This work was funded by a grant from the World Health Organization in partnership with Santé publique France, Université de Lorraine and Université Côte d’Azur.