Disability, support and long-term social care of an elderly Spanish population, 2008-2009: An epidemiologic analysis

Background: Though 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. Methods: We 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. Results: Based 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. Conclusions: Formal 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

Conceptos básicos de mecánica en biomecánica

Peer Reviewe

Nueva plataforma dinamométrica para el análisis y valoración del rendimiento deportivo

Un nuevo modelo de plataforma dinamométrica ha sido desarrollado por el Instituto de Biomecánica de Valencia (IBV) y se han fabricado sus primeros prototipos. Permite la medida de la fuerza de reaccipón tridimensional, en momento torsor y el punto de aplicación de la fuerza, a una velocidad de muestre0 de hasta 1000 Hz (500 Hz para dos plataformas). El nuevo diseño se caracteriza por poseer cuatro captadores bidimensionales octogonales mecánicamente desacoplados, placa superior de rigidez optimizada y sensibilidad cruzada mínima

Identifying spatial and seasonal patterns of river water quality in a semiarid irrigated agricultural Mediterranean basin

A detailed understanding of the study area is essential to achieve key information and optimize the monitoring, analysis, and evaluation of water quality of natural ecosystems that have been highly transformed into agricultural areas. Using classification techniques like the hierarchical cluster analysis (CA) and partial triadic analysis (PTA), we assessed the sources of water pollution and the seasonal influence of human activities in water composition in a river basin from northeastern Spain. The results suggested that a strong connection existed between water quality and the seasonality of the human activities. The CA showed the spatial relationship between water chemistry and the adjacent land uses. The PTA associated the analyzed variables to their pollutant source. Electrical conductivity (EC), Cl−, SO4 2−–S, Na+, and Mg2+ ions were related with agricultural sources, whereas NH4 +–N, PT, and PO4 3−–P were linked with urban polluted sites. Concentration of NO3ˉ–N was associated with urban land use. Differences in water composition according to the irrigation intensity were also found during the irrigation season. The statistical tools used in this work, especially the PTA, allowed us to jointly analyze the spatial and seasonal components of water pollutant trends. We obtained a more comprehensive knowledge of water quality patterns in the study area, which will be essential when taking measures to minimize the effects of water pollution.This work is part of the AGUAFLASH project funded by the Program of Territorial Cooperation “Interreg IVB-SUDOE” (SOE1/P2/F146) which is funded by EU FEDER. Thanks are given to Comarca de Los Monegros for its consistent cooperation in the development of this project. We thank C. Pedrocchi, J. Cervantes, S. G. Eisman, M. García, S. Pérez and A. Barcos for their comments and their crucial assistance in the field and laboratory work. A. Calvo at CHE contributed with key formal cooperation to this work. We also wish to thank the AEMET (Spanish Meteorological Agency) for access to meteorological data. This work was also developed as Research Group E61 Aragon Goverment.Peer reviewe

From national monopoly to Multinational Corporation: how regulation shaped the road towards telecommunications internationalization

One of the consequences of major regulatory reform of the telecommunications sector from the end of the 1970s – particularly, privatization, liberalization and deregulation – was the establishment of a new business environment which permitted former national telecommunications monopolies to expand abroad. From the 1990s, a number of these firms, particularly those based in Europe, joined the rankings of the world’s leading Multinational Corporations. Their internationalization was uneven, however: while some firms internationalised strongly, others ventured abroad much slower. This article explores how the regulatory framework within which telecommunications incumbents evolved over the long-term shaped their subsequent, uneven, paths to internationalization. Two case studies representing ´maximum variation´ are selected: Telefónica, whose early and unrelenting expansion transformed it into one of the world’s most international of Multinational Corporations, and BT, whose overseas ventures failed and, with eroding domestic market share, forced the firm to partially retreat, becoming the least international of the large European incumbents. Long-term ownership, access to capital, management style and exposure to liberalization strongly influenced firms’ approaches to internationalizatio

EANM/SNMMI Guideline for 18F-FDG Use in Inflammation and Infection

The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) is an international scientific and professional organization founded in 1954 to promote the science, technology and practical application of nuclear medicine. Its 16,000 members are physicians, technologists, and scientists specializing in the research and practice of nuclear medicine. In addition to publishing journals, newsletters, and books, the SNMMI also sponsors international meetings and workshops designed to increase the competencies of nuclear medicine practitioners and to promote new advances in the science of nuclear medicine. The European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM) is a professional nonprofit medical association that facilitates communication worldwide between individuals pursuing clinical and research excellence in nuclear medicine. The EANM was founded in 1985

Mechanical characterization of porous Ti base alloys produced by sintering space-holder method

[ES] La búsqueda de materiales adecuados para su uso como implante implica una mayor investigación sobre los biomateriales, como lo son el titanio y sus aleaciones. Respecto a sus propiedades mecánicas, se debe garantizar una resistencia mecánica suficiente como para soportar cargas en uso, al igual que su rigidez ha de ser parecida a la del hueso humano. En el presente trabajo se miden diferentes propiedades mecánicas de materiales porosos de titanio y de la aleación Ti6Al4V, producidos por vía pulvimetalúrgica mediante sinterización con espaciador. Los resultados muestran la relación entre la porosidad y las propiedades mecánicas, indicando los casos en los que se presenta un compromiso entre la rigidez y la resistencia mecánica.[EN] The search of suitable materials for use as an implant involves more research of biomaterials, like titanium and its alloys. Regarding their mechanical properties, it must be guaranteed mechanical strength to support loads in use, as well as its stiffness must be similar to the bone. In this paper it have been measured several mechanical properties of porous titanium and Ti6Al4V alloy, produced by sintering powder metallurgy with space-holder method. The results show the relationship between porosity and mechanical properties and it is indicated in which cases it is presented a compromise between the stiffness and mechanical strength.Los autores agradecen al área de Ciencia de Materiales e Ingeniería Metalúrgica de la Universidad de Sevilla la ayuda prestada en el cálculo de la rigidez por ultrasonidos. Igualmente, los autores desean agradecer la financiación obtenida por el Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (proyecto PET2008_0158_02) y a la beca Grisolia /2009/040.Tojal Domenech, C.; Devaud, J.; Amigó, V.; Calero, JA. (2010). Caracterización mecánica de aleaciones porosas, base Ti, producidas mediante la técnica de sinterización con espaciador. Revista de Metalurgia. 46:27-32. https://doi.org/10.3989/revmetalmadrid.02.2XIIPMSS27324