Fibromyalgia (FM) is recognized as a common condition, characterized by widespread pain and associated with sleep disturbances and poor-quality sleep. The Pittsburgh Sleep Questionnaire Index (PSQI) is one of the most recommended instruments to measure sleep quality and sleep disorders. The purpose of our study was to translate the questionnaire into Spanish and to assess the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the PSQI. A total of 138 women with FM belonging to a FM association (AFIXA, Andalusia, Spain) completed the study. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability were analyzed. Factorial analysis was performed for the PSQI components. Convergent validity of the PSQI was evaluated using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient with the Spanish versions of the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) and the health survey short form-36 (SF-36). In our analysis, the Spanish version of the PSQI has shown a good internal consistency of the total score, with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.805, and an acceptable test-retest reliability, with a Spearman's correlation coefficient of 0.773 (p < 0.001), for the total score. A two-factor structure was generated by exploratory factor analysis, with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.866 for factor 1 and of 0.712 for factor 2. In convergent validity analysis, the PSQI total score showed a significant correlation (p < 0.01) with the FIQ total score and with the mental and physical health summaries scores of the SF-36. Our results show that the Spanish version of the PSQI provides a reliable instrument, with a good convergent validity for measuring sleep quality among Spanish FM patients.

“Age-Friendly Cities and Communities” is an initiative launched by the WHO in 2007 that has spread to more than 1000 cities and communities around the world. This initiative is based on an integrated physical and social environment for older people, and a model of participatory, collaborative governance. An enabling social environment setting is just as important as material conditions in determining well-being in later life. The objective of this study is to analyze the interaction between age-friendliness (physical and social) and subjective well-being in women and men aged 55 and over in the Basque Country. The methodology was based on a survey of a representative sample (n = 2469 individuals). In order to know the predictive power of age-friendliness over subjective well-being, linear regression models separated by gender were constructed. The predictive models of age-friendliness are composed by different variables for men and women. In both cases, the physical environment variables do not remain in the final model. Among the predictors of well-being in men, the coexistence stands out as a safety and support network. In women, the neighborhood has proved to be a very important resource. The conclusions of this study contribute to literature and interventions promoting more effective strategies that enhance older people well-being, considering the gender perspective.

Plastic CTOD as fatigue crack growth characterising parameter in 2024T3 and 7050T6 aluminium alloys using DIC VascoOlmo, JM

The surface displacement fields of a fatigue precracked compact tension sample under tensile load were registered by electronic speckle pattern interferometry and image correlation. The in-plane elastic strain fields calculated from the displacement data were used to obtain the first stress invariant, which for the case of plane stress is proportional to the real part of the first complex potential in Muskhelishvili's approach. Solutions for the stress fields around the crack tip, KI and KII were sought in the form of the Fourier series using Muskhelishvili's complex stress functions. The Fourier series coefficients were calculated from the displacement data using multiple point overdeterministic method (MPODM). The nominal and inferred KI values differ by around 10%; this is probably due in part to mixed mode (KII) loading introduced by some degree of misalignment during the experiment.

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