9,381 research outputs found
Avian and Human Influenza Pandemic, How Prepared is the Developing World?
The history of avian and human influenza pandemics showed a high case fatality and devastating socioeconomic impact on the developing world. The global epidemiology of the human influenza of 1918, 1957 and 1968 pandemics had few similarities. One of which was mass human migration, whether it being troop deployment or trade routes. How much the perennial flight patterns of wild bird had on its spread is another question for consideration? The avian influenza virus does not readily cross the species barrier, though there is a potential for genetic re-assortment and cross infection. The main finding of this review suggest a lack of historic epidemiological data from the developing world on previous influenza pandemics, a poorly developed surveillance system and lack of health service delivery capacity to effectively combat an outbreak of influenza, should it occur. The developing world already heavily burdened with endemic diseases such as malaria, HIV, Tuberculosis and other respiratory tract infections will find it difficult to cope with an influenza pandemic. A preparedness plan for developing countries should include health systems strengthening especially that providing expertise and improved surveillance tools.
Keywords: Influenza, Pandemic, Preparedness, Health system
Exploring occupational standing activities using accelerometer-based activity monitoring
Prolonged standing at work is required by an estimated 60% of the employed population and is associated with a high prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders. ‘Standing’ is expected to encompass a range of activities of varying intensity. This study aimed to define a range of ‘standing’ work-based activities; and objectively explore differences between ‘standing’ occupations. The following movements were defined using a triaxial accelerometer (ActivPAL) through recordings of known movements (n = 11): static standing, weight-shifting, shuffling, walking and sitting. Movements over a working day were defined for chefs (n = 10), veterinary surgeons (n = 7) and office workers (n = 9). Despite veterinary surgeons and chefs spending a similar time in an upright posture, veterinary surgeons spent 62% of this time standing statically whereas chefs split their time between all the movements. Overall, this study provides the first attempt to define ‘standing’ activities, allowing the differentiation of activities between occupations spending similar periods of time upright.
Practitioner Summary: This study identified a range of work-based ‘standing’ activities of varying intensity. Differences in activity were recorded between two occupations spending a similar time in an upright posture (veterinary surgeons and chefs). A broader definition of standing activities could be important when considering factors related to musculoskeletal disorders at work
A Similarity Measure for GPU Kernel Subgraph Matching
Accelerator architectures specialize in executing SIMD (single instruction,
multiple data) in lockstep. Because the majority of CUDA applications are
parallelized loops, control flow information can provide an in-depth
characterization of a kernel. CUDAflow is a tool that statically separates CUDA
binaries into basic block regions and dynamically measures instruction and
basic block frequencies. CUDAflow captures this information in a control flow
graph (CFG) and performs subgraph matching across various kernel's CFGs to gain
insights to an application's resource requirements, based on the shape and
traversal of the graph, instruction operations executed and registers
allocated, among other information. The utility of CUDAflow is demonstrated
with SHOC and Rodinia application case studies on a variety of GPU
architectures, revealing novel thread divergence characteristics that
facilitates end users, autotuners and compilers in generating high performing
code
Does free-living physical activity improve one-year following total knee arthroplasty in patients with osteoarthritis : a prospective study
Objective Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is the gold-standard treatment for end-stage knee osteoarthritis, and the primary expectations are reduced pain and improved function. However, there is conflicting evidence regarding functional changes post-TKA. Commonly, functional changes are measured using Oxford Knee Score (OKS). No previous study has investigated physical behaviour (PB) changes in terms of volume and patterns post-TKA. The aims of this study were to explore volume and pattern changes in PB following TKA using an objective tool and to assess the correlation between this and OKS.
Design An activPAL measured the PB of individuals on a waiting list for TKA for a period of 7–8 days pre-TKA, and for the same length of time at 12 months post-TKA. OKS was completed at similar follow-up time points.
Results Thirty-three individuals completed the study, where stepping time, the number of steps and the time spent on moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) (>100 steps/minute) improved significantly post-TKA p = 0.0001. Steps at 12 months post-TKA improved by 45.6% (from 4,240 to 6,174) and stepping time increased by 38.8% (from 0.98 to 1.36 hours). MVPA improved by 35 minutes at 12 months (from 6.6 to 41.7 minutes).
There were no significant correlations between PB and OKS.
Conclusion This is the first study to explore PB volumes and event-based patterns post-TKA. Activity improved in terms of volume and patterns. No correlation was found between OKS and ActivPAL, which emphasises the need to use objective methods in addition to patient reported outcome measures
Project Energize: intervention development and 10 years of progress in preventing childhood obesity
Prevention of childhood obesity is a global priority. The school setting offers access to large numbers of children and the ability to provide supportive environments for quality physical activity and nutrition. This article describes Project Energize, a through-school physical activity and nutrition programme that celebrated its 10-year anniversary in 2015 so that it might serve as a model for similar practices, initiatives and policies elsewhere. The programme was envisaged and financed by the Waikato District Health Board of New Zealand in 2004 and delivered by Sport Waikato to 124 primary schools as a randomised controlled trial from 2005 to 2006. The programme has since expanded to include all 242 primary schools in the Waikato region and 70 schools in other regions, including 53,000 children. Ongoing evaluation and development of Project Energize has shown it to be sustainable (ongoing for >10 years), both effective (lower obesity, higher physical fitness) and cost effective (one health related cost quality adjusted life year between 30,000) and efficient ($45/child/year) as a childhood 'health' programme. The programme's unique community-based approach is inclusive of all children, serving a population that is 42 % Ma¯ori, the indigenous people of New Zealand. While the original nine healthy eating and seven quality physical activity goals have not changed, the delivery and assessment processes has been refined and the health service adapted over the 10 years of the programme existence, as well as adapted over time to other settings including early childhood education and schools in Cork in Ireland. Evaluation and research associated with the programme delivery and outcomes are ongoing. The dissemination of findings to politicians and collaboration with other service providers are both regarded as priorities
Advances in reproductive biology and seed production systems of Eucalyptus: The case of Eucalyptus globulus
Eucalyptus globulus is the main eucalypt species grown in Australian plantations. The focus
on seedling deployment systems, coupled with exploitation of large, open-pollinated base
populations for breeding purposes over the last two decades, has required a detailed
understanding of the reproductive biology of this species. We review our research on the
reproductive biology of E. globulus, with a focus on it’s breeding system and advances made
in seed production systems. While most improved seed is still obtained from open-pollinated
seedling or grafted seed orchards, the development of the one-stop/single-visit pollination
procedure has revolutionised the breeding and deployment of this species. The reduced
costs of controlled pollination has meant full pedigree-control can now be maintained in large
advanced generation breeding populations and E. globulus is one of the few eucalypt
species where large-scale production of manually pollinated seed for family forestry is being
undertaken
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