Biomechanical studies suggest that one determinant of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) rupture is related to the stress in the wall. In this regard, a reliable and accurate stress analysis of an in vivo AAA requires a suitable 3D constitutive model. To date, stress analysis conducted on AAA is mainly driven by isotropic tissue models. However, recent biaxial tensile tests performed on AAA tissue samples demonstrate the anisotropic nature of this tissue. The purpose of this work is to study the influence of geometry and material anisotropy on the magnitude and distribution of the peak wall stress in AAAs. Three-dimensional computer models of symmetric and asymmetric AAAs were generated in which the maximum diameter and length of the aneurysm were individually controlled. A five parameter exponential type structural strain-energy function was used to model the anisotropic behavior of the AAA tissue. The anisotropy is determined by the orientation of the collagen fibers (one parameter of the model). The results suggest that shorter aneurysms are more critical when asymmetries are present. They show a strong influence of the material anisotropy on the magnitude and distribution of the peak stress. Results confirm that the relative aneurysm length and the degree of aneurysmal asymmetry should be considered in a rupture risk decision criterion for AAAs.

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Background: This article describes the methods of a door-to-door screening survey exploring the distribution of disability and its major determinants in northeastern Spain. This study will set the basis for the development of disability-related services for the rural elderly in northeastern Spain. Methods: The probabilistic sample was composed of 1,354 de facto residents from a population of 12,784 Social Security card holders (age: ≧50 years). Cognitive and disability screenings were conducted (period: June 2008–June 2009). Screening instruments were the MMSE and the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule. Participants screened positive for disability underwent an assessment protocol focusing on primary care diagnoses, disability, lifestyle, and social and health service usage. Participants screened positive for cognitive functioning went through in-depth neurological evaluation. Results: The study sample is described. Usable data were available for 1,216 participants. A total of 625 individuals (51.4%) scored within the positive range in the disability screening, while 135 (11.1%) scored within the positive range of the cognitive screening. The proportion of positively screened individuals was higher for women and increased with age. Conclusions: Screening surveys represent a feasible design for examining the distribution of disability and its determinants among the elderly. Data quality may benefit from methodological developments tailored to rural populations with a low education level.

BackgroundThough poorly known, relationships between disability, need of help (dependency) and use of social services are crucial aspects of public health. The objective of this study was to describe the links between disability, officially assessed dependency, and social service use by an industrial population, and identify areas of inequity.MethodsWe took advantage of a door-to-door survey conducted in the Cinco Villas district, Spain, in 2008–2009, which provided data on disability, morbidity, and service use among 1216 residents aged ≥50 years, and officially assessed dependency under the 2006 Dependency Act (OAD). Using logistic regression, we combined data collected at homes/residences on 625 disability screened-positive participants, and administrative information on degree of OAD and benefits at date of visit.ResultsBased on 163 disabled persons, the prevalence of residential/community-care users was 13.4% overall, with 6.0% being market-provided, 2.5% supported by the 2006 Act, and 4.9% supported by other public funds. Of 111 OAD applicants, 30 had been assigned an OAD degree; in 29 cases this was the highest OAD degree, with 12 receiving direct support for residential care and 17 receiving home care. Compared to unassessed dependency, the highest OAD degree was linked to residential care (OR and 95% CI) 12.13 (3.86–38.16), declared non-professional care 10.99 (1.28–94.53), and publicly-funded, non-professional care 26.30 (3.36–205.88). In contrast, 43 persons, 58% of the severely/extremely disabled, community-dwelling sample population, 81% of whom were homebound, including 10 persons with OAD but no implemented service plan, made no use of any service, and of these, 40% lacked a non-professional carer.ConclusionsFormal service use in the Cinco Villas district attained ratios observed for established welfare systems but the publicly-funded proportion was lower. The 2006 Act had a modest, albeit significant, impact on support for non-professional carers and residential care, coexisting with a high prevalence of non-use of social services by severely disabled persons.

El ciberacoso es una realidad entre los adolescentes. En esta problemática no solo tenemos a cibervíctimas y ciberacosadores, sino que también están los ciberobservadores, los cuales juegan un papel fundamental. El objetivo principal fue conocer la prevalencia de ciberobservadores, ver las diferencias de género y edad, y relacionarlo con el uso del teléfono móvil y de Internet fuera de casa. Para ello se ha realizado un estudio transversal en el que se ha utilizado un cuestionario como instrumento. La muestra se ha seleccionado con un muestreo aleatorio estratificado, estando compuesta al final por un total de 950 estudiantes de la ESO, siendo un 50.4% chicos y con una media de edad de 13.93 (DT = 1.35). El 62.3% había observado al menos una de las conductas evaluadas durante el último año. Las chicas observaron en general más conductas que los chicos. En cuanto a la edad, los adolescentes de más edad son los que indicaron haber observado más ciberacoso. Aquellos adolescentes que disponen de ordenador en su propia habitación o los que tienen acceso a Internet fuera de casa observaron más ciberacoso. Teniendo en cuenta que el ciberacoso se da en un proceso grupal, los ciberobservadores juegan un papel fundamental para evitarlo. Cyberbullying is a reality among adolescents. In this problem we not only have cybervictims and cyberbullies, but also cyberobservers, who play a fundamental role in this problem. The main objective of this research is to find out the prevalence of cyberobservers, see gender and age differences, and relate it to mobile phone and Internet use outside the home. To this end, a cross-sectional study has been carried out using a questionnaire as an information-gathering tool. The sample was selected with stratified random sampling, and at the end consisted of a total of 950 secondary school students, of which 50.4% were boys and with an average age of 13.93 (SD = 1.35). 62.3% had observed at least one of the behaviors assessed during the past year. Women generally observed more behavior than men. In terms of age, older adolescents are the ones who reported having observed the most cyberbullying. Teenagers who have computers in their own rooms or those who have access to the Internet outside the home observed more cyberbullying. Given that cyberbullying occurs in a group process, cyber-observers play a key role in preventing it.