FE Modeling of Circular, Elliptic, and Triangular Isolated Slabs With a Continuous Damage Model

The non-linear behavior of reinforced concrete circular, elliptic, and triangular isolated slabs was studied using computational mechanics. Concrete was modeled with a damage model which includes softening, while the behavior of the reinforcing steel was modeled with a 1D bilinear plasticity model. The constitutive models and the finite element method were validated by comparing the computed numerical results with the experimental results of a rectangular slab reported in the scientific literature. The coefficient method is proposed for its simplicity to calculate design bending moments in slabs with circular, elliptic, and triangular geometries. These coefficients were computed from the FE analysis. The layout of steel reinforcement is proposed, particularly lengths of zones for positive and negative moments, respectively. The crack paths are showed, which are depending on the boundary conditions, acting loads, and geometry of the slabs

Resilience Scale Psychometric Study. Adaptation to the Spanish Population in Nursing Students

Nursing students and professionals are exposed to highly stressful clinical situations. However, when confronted with stress, which is exacerbated by academic and professional situations, there is a great disparity between those who do not know how to respond suitably to the demands from patients or teachers due to a lack of competence and personal resistance, and those who are more resilient and develop a greater range of strengths. This research aims to analyse the validity and psychometric characteristics of a questionnaire on resilience adapted to Spanish nursing bachelor's degree students. The participants were 434 undergraduate nursing students from the province of Valencia (Spain) between 17 and 54 years of age (Mean, M = 21; Standard Deviation, SD = 0.320), 104 of whom were men (24%) and 330 women (76%). A cross-sectional group evaluation was carried out in the university itself, adhering to the ethical standards of the Declaration of Helsinki. Based on the descriptive, factorial, exploratory and confirmatory analyses, it was possible to confirm the suitability of the questionnaire and its adaptation to nursing students. The model is thus suitable for evaluating the population under study. Furthermore, there are statistically significant differences depending on age and gender. The results show that the questionnaire analysed is suited to evaluating resilience among Spanish nursing students, thereby justifying the adaptation of a scale of this nature to foster resilience among nursing students and nurses in professional life, who are exposed to critical situations with patients' suffering, deterioration or death. Our study highlights important practical implications: Spanish nursing studies involve theory and practice, but students and nurses in professional life have to confront critical situations of patients' suffering, deterioration, or death. These situations cause stress and feelings of impotence that may lead to chronic stress and even suicidal thoughts

Sleep quality in patients with heart failure in the spanish population: A cross-sectional study

Background: Heart failure is a major problem in western societies. Sleep Disorders maintain a bidirectional relationship with heart failure, as shown by studies conducted in other countries. This study aims to describe the quality of sleep in Spanish patients with heart failure. Materials and methods: We carried out a cross-sectional study to analyze the quality of sleep in a sample of 203 patients with a diagnosis of heart failure admitted to an Internal Medicine Service. The Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used to evaluate sleep quality in our sample over a one-month period. Results: 75% of the sample presented sleep disorders. The most common problems included the interruption of sleep (73.5% nocturia and 30% breathing difficulties); 35% had poor sleep efficiency; 33% showed a decrease in daytime performance; 84% had used hypnotics at some point to induce sleep and 35% used them regularly. Conclusions: This is the first study to report on the perceived sleep quality of patients with heart failure in Spain. Self-perception of sleep quality differed from that estimated by the PSQI. The prevalence of the use of sleep-inducing medication was very high. The diurnal dysfunction generated by sleep disorders in a heart failure environment can contribute to the development of self-care and cognitive deterioration problems

From abundance to gastronomic delights: An ethnography of the new opportunities for attracting tourism in Las Hurdes (Cáceres)

Las Hurdes ha sido el símbolo en España durante mucho tiempo del hambre más atroz y la pobreza más extrema. Diferentes estudios han evidenciado cómo aquella dramática existencia sigue condicionando algunos hábitos hoy en día. A partir de un estudio cualitativo de naturaleza etnográfica, nos hemos aproximado a la manera en que ese pasado sigue influyendo en los usos y costumbres alimentarias y gastronómicas. Un material empírico que nos ha permitido delimitar diferentes categorías como abundancia, tradición, sostenibilidad y exquisitez que evidencian un importante giro en la restauración de la zona. Se abre de esta manera una nueva vía de atracción turística que bien podría ayudar a un desarrollo turístico que aún resulta insuficiente en la comarca. Se exhorta, en las conclusiones, a las administraciones públicas a apostar con firmeza por ello, superando las dificultadas tradicionales de colaboración entre el sector público y el privado tradicionalmente subrayadas.Las Hurdes has long been the symbol in Spain for the most atrocious hunger and extreme poverty. Different studies have shown how that dramatic association continues to condition many habits still in the present. Based on a qualitative ethnographic study, we have approached the way in which this past contin‐ ues influencing food and gastronomic habits and customs. This empirical material has allowed us to delimit different categories such as abundance, tradition, sustainability and exquisiteness that show an important change in the catering business in the area. This opens up a new avenue of tourist attractions that could well help tourism development, still largely insufficient in the region. In the conclusions, the public admin‐ istrations are urged to make a firm commitment to changing associations and to overcome the traditional difficulties of collaboration between public and private sectors

The prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress and their associated factors in college students

Aim: To estimate the prevalence of symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress and associated factors in a population of college students. Method: Cross-sectional study of psychological distress measured through the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) in a sample of 1074 college students. Results: We found a moderate prevalence of depression (18, 4%), anxiety (23, 6%) and stress (34, 5%) symptoms in our study population. Being <21, having problematic Internet use behavior, smoking, presenting insomnia and having a low self-esteem were independently associated with symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress. Being a woman, living with their family, having a stable partner, consuming alcohol frequently and having poor nutritional habits were significantly associated with symptoms of stress; lacking a stable partner was significantly associated with depressive symptoms; and frequent consumption of alcohol was significantly associated with symptoms of anxiety. Conclusion: We found a moderate prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress symptoms in our population. Interventions aimed at promoting mental health among college students should be implemented

Risk of drug-related falls among noninstitutionalized older adults

RESUMEN Objetivo: Determinar qué número de medicamentos consumidos diariamente es influyente en el riesgo de caídas en ancianos no institucionalizados y con historial de caídas en el último año. Método: Estudio descriptivo mediante muestreo aleatorio con la utilización de los siguientes instrumentos de medida: cuestionario de la OMS para el estudio de caídas en el anciano, escala de marcha y escala depresión geriátrica y escala de marcha y equilibrio. El análisis univariante, bivariante con prueba no paramétrica de Chi-cuadrado y regresión logística binaria se ellevó a cabo con el programa estadístico SPSS versión 21.0. Resultados: Participaron del estudio 213 personas. El consumo ≥ a 4 medicamentos se comportan para el riesgo de caída p=0,010 OR=4,034. Esto mismo no sucede para personas con un consumo ≤ a 3 medicamentos p=0,006 OR=0,335. Conclusión: Un consumo a partir de cuatro o más medicamentos diarios se considera un factor de riesgo para las personas ancianas que se encuentren en riesgo de caídas

Care dependency in patients with heart failure: A cross-sectional study in Spain

Background: Heart failure (HF) is a progressive and debilitating condition that represents an ever-growing problem for health systems worldwide. HF patients feel that they are a burden on their families, they feel socially isolated and have a low perception of their health. Accordingly, the objectives of this study were to: (1) to explore the profile of care dependency in a representative sample of Spanish HF patients through the Care Dependency Scale (CDS), and (2) to identify correlates of care dependency in this population. Material and Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study of 187 patients admitted for HF decompensation to the Hospital Clínico of Zaragoza (Spain). Results: Only 15% of our sample was highly or completely dependent on care from others. More specifically, our results indicate that HF patients felt a greater level of dependency on care from others when it comes to moving, getting dressed and undressed, maintaining good personal hygiene, participating in daily and recreational activities and being continent. Conclusions: We find association between the CDS categories that present a low score for care dependency in HF patients and the patients’ physical deterioration

Serological and molecular survey of hepatitis E virus in cats and dogs in Spain

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an emerging zoonotic pathogen that is currently recognized as one of themajor causes of acute human hepatitis worldwide. In Europe, the increasing number of hepatitis E cases is mainly associated with the consumption of animal food products or contact with infected animals. Dogs and cats have been suggested as a zoonotic source of HEV infection. The aim of this study was to assess Orthohepevirus circulation, including HEV-A, HEV-B and HEV-C species, in sympatric urban cats and dogs in southern Spain. Between 2017 and 2020, blood samples were collected from 144 stray cats and 152 dogs, both strays and pets. The presence of antibodies againstHEV were tested using a double-antigen sandwich ELISA and seropositive simples were further analysed bywestern blot.ART-PCR was performed to detect RNAof Orthohepevirus species (HEV-A,HEV-B andHEV-C).Atotal of 19 (6.4%; 95%CI: 3.6-9.2) of the 296 animals tested showed anti-HEV antibodies by ELISA. Seropositivity was significantly higher in dogs (9.9%; 15/152; 95%CI: 5.1-14.6) than in cats (2.8%; 4/144; 95%CI: 0.1-5.5). Ten of the 18 ELISA-positive animals that could be further analysed by western blot, reacted against HEV-3 and/or HEV-C1 antigens, which suggest circulation of both genotypes in urban cats and dogs in the study area. However, HEV-A, HEV-B and HEV-C RNA were not detected in any of the tested sera. This is the first study to assess HEV circulation in both stray cats and dogs in Europe. Our results provide evidence of HEV exposure in sympatric urban cat and dog populations in southern Spain. Further studies are needed to determine the role of these species in the epidemiology of HEV

Logical intelligence and mathematical competence are determined by physical fitness in a sample of school children.

Previous research has shown positive relationships between fitness level and different cognitive abilities and academic performance. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships between logical–mathematical intelligence and mathematical competence with physical fitness in a group of pre-adolescents. Sixty-three children (50.79% girls; 49.21% boys) from Castro del Río (Córdoba, Spain), aged between 11 and 12 years (M = 11.44, SD = 0.64), participated in this research. The Superior Logical Intelligence Test (SLIT) and the EVAMAT 1.0–5 battery were used. Physical fitness was evaluated by the horizontal jump test, the 4×10 meter speed–agility test, and the Course Navette test. The analyses showed positive relationships between physical fitness with logical–mathematical intelligence and mathematical competence. Specifically, linear regression analyzes indicated that the 4×10 speed–agility test significantly predicted mathematical competence (R2 = 0.16; β = −0.41) and the horizontal jump test significantly predicted logical–mathematical intelligence (R2 = 0.24; β = 0.50). These results are in agreement with previous research, highlighting the importance of improving physical fitness from an early age due to its benefits for intellectual and academic development