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Pandemic influenza preparedness plans strongly focus on efficient mitigation strategies including social distancing, logistics and medical response. These strategies are formed by multiple decision makers before a pandemic outbreak and during the pandemic in local communities, states and nation-wide. In this paper, we model the spread of pandemic influenza in a local community, a university, and evaluate the mitigation policies. Since the development of an appropriate vaccine requires a significant amount of time and available antiviral quantities can only cover a relatively small proportion of the population, university decision makers will first focus on non-pharmaceutical interventions. These interventions include social distancing and isolation. The disease spread is modelled as differential equations-based compartmental model. The system is simulated for multiple non-pharmaceutical interventions such as social distancing including suspending university operations, evacuating dorms and isolation of infected individuals on campus. Although the model is built based on the preparedness plan of one of the biggest universities in the world, Arizona State University, it can easily be generalized for other colleges and universities. The policies and the decisions are tested by several simulation runs and evaluations of the mitigation strategies are presented in the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assesses the accuracy of the Omron HJ-720ITC pedometer at low walking intensities in patients with chronic heart failure. Step accuracy was assessed by visual observation on the treadmill and during free walking at 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 m/min, as well as during self paced walking using the 6 min walk test. A total of ninety-seven patients with heart failure (mean age: 61+/-13, NYHA I, N=30; NYHA II, N=32; NYHA III, N=35) participated in the study. At predefined walking speeds, a statistically significant % error in pedometer accuracy was evident at 60 m/min (p=0.039), and% error increased markedly below this threshold. Highest% error in pedometer accuracy was seen at 40 m/min (mean bias (% error): 28.3+/-9.0%; 95% CI: 21.8-34.7; p<0.001). During self paced walking (6MWT) the absolute% error in pedometer readings was largest in patients with strongest functional limitations and 6 MWT distances <400 m (mean bias (% error): 10.7+/-13.6%; CI 5.6-15.4, p<0.001). The Omron HJ-720ITC pedometer is accurate for monitoring activity in individuals with normal walking behaviour, but seems unsuitable for chronically ill patients characterised by slow walking gaits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assesses the accuracy of the Omron HJ-720ITC pedometer at low walking intensities in patients with chronic heart failure. Step accuracy was assessed by visual observation on the treadmill and during free walking at 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 m/min, as well as during self paced walking using the 6min walk test. A total of ninety- seven patients with heart failure (mean age: 61±13, NYHA I, N=30; NYHA II, N=32; NYHA III, N=35) participated in the study. At predefined walking speeds, a statistically significant % error in pedometer accuracy was evident at 60 m/min (p = 0.039), and % error increased markedly below this threshold. Highest% error in pedometer accuracy was seen at 40m/min (mean bias (% error): 28.3 ±9.0%; 95% Cl: 21.8-34.7;p<0.001). During self paced walking (6MWT) the absolute% error in pedometer readings was largest in patients with strongest functional limitations and 6 MWT distances <400m (mean bias (% error): 10.7±13.6%; Cl 5.6-15.4, p<0.001). The Omron HJ-720ITC pedometer is accurate for monitoring activity in individuals with normal walking behaviour, but seems unsuitable for chronically ill patients characterised by slow walking gaits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the associations among health status, well-being, and perceived stress in a sample of urban African American women. African American women (n = 128) (Mean +/- SD, 49.3 +/- 10.5) from Baltimore, Maryland, enrolled in a church-based physical activity randomized trial were included in the analysis. Health status was assessed from the SF-36. Well-being, perceived stress, and demographics were also determined from self-report. Results indicated that the sample reported favorable health status, well-being, and stress levels compared to mean levels reported in the literature. Spearman rank-order correlations indicated that perceived stress score negatively correlated with most health status dimensions and well-being in the present, past, and future. Multiple regression analyses, adjusting for potential demographic confounders, indicated that higher perceived stress was associated with lower health status and well-being. If these results are confirmed in prospective investigations, they suggest that interventions designed to reduce stress may impact health status and future morbidity and mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]