Social networking patterns/hazards among teenagers.

Social Networking Sites (SNSs) have grown substantially, posing new hazards to teenagers. This study aimed to determine general patterns of Internet usage among Irish teenagers aged 11-16 years, and to identify potential hazards, including; bullying, inappropriate contact, overuse, addiction and invasion of users' privacy. A cross-sectional study design was employed to survey students at three Irish secondary schools, with a sample of 474 completing a questionnaire. 202 (44%) (n = 460) accessed the Internet using a shared home computer. Two hours or less were spent online daily by 285(62%), of whom 450 (98%) were unsupervised. 306 (72%) (n = 425) reported frequent usage of SNSs, 403 (95%) of whom were Facebook users. 42 (10%) males and 51 (12%) females experienced bullying online, while 114 (27%) reported inappropriate contact from others. Concerning overuse and the risk of addiction, 140 (33%) felt they accessed SNSs too often. These patterns among Irish teenagers suggest that SNS usage poses significant dangers, which are going largely unaddressed.

Bouncy knee: a stance phase flex-extend knee unit.

A Bouncy Knee is a knee control device for use in above-knee prostheses, designed to give a natural flex-extend action during the stance phase of the walking cycle. Tests with an adjustable device fitted to an amputee identified optimum angles of bounce (peak initial knee flexion after foot contact). Subsequently a clinical trial was conducted with six patients. The patients' gait was assessed using an instrumented walkway and polarized light goniometry. Symmetry of gait was improved in all cases and the patients reported a marked improvement in comfort and increased control in downhill walking. After removal of the units, cyclic testing was carried out without collapse of any Bouncy Knee unit. The clinical fitting procedure has been established and a simple peak-reading goniometer designed to enable the prosthetist fitting the unit to assess its performance. A production batch, suitable for Blatchford Modular Assembly Prostheses, Stabilised Knee users has been made.