Identification of factors influencing insertion characteristics of cochlear implant electrode carriers

Insertion studies in artificial cochlea models (aCM) are used for the analysis of insertion characteristics of different cochlear implant electrode carrier (EC) designs by measuring insertion forces. These forces are summed forces due to the measuring position which is directly underneath the aCM. The current hypothesis is that they include dynamic friction forces during the insertion process and the forces needed to bend an initially straight EC into the curved form of the aCM. For the purposes of the present study, straight EC substitutes with a constant diameter of 0.7 mm and 20.5 mm intracochlear length were fabricated out of silicone in two versions with different stiffness by varying the number of embedded wires. The EC substitutes were inserted into three different models made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), each model showing only one constant radius. Three different insertion speeds were used (0.11 / 0.4 / 1.6 mm/s) with an automated insertion test bench. For each parameter combination (curvature, speed, stiffness) twelve insertions were conducted. Measurements included six full insertions and six paused insertions. Paused insertions include a ten second paused time interval without further insertion movement each five millimetres. Measurements showed that dynamic and static components of the measured summed forces can be identified. Dynamic force components increase with increased insertion speeds and also with increased stiffness of the EC substitutes. Both force components decrease with larger radius of the PTFE model. After the insertion, the EC substitutes showed a curved shape, which indicates a plastic deformation of the embedded wires due to the insertion into the curved models. The results can be used for further research on an analytical model to predict the insertions forces of a specific combination of selected parameters as insertion speed and type of EC, combined with given factors such as cochlear geometry

Five years "Healthy Lower Rhine ... Against Stroke": implementation of a regional, intersectoral and sustainable public health program

Aim: Stroke is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Optimizing health care according to the "time is brain" concept is recommended by the Local Health Conferences (KGK) in North Rhine-Westphalia. In 2001, KGK managers from six neighboring districts and municipalities founded the "Healthy Lower Rhine Network." In 2003 the network launched the program "Healthy Lower Rhine ... Against Stroke." This initiative aims primarily at reducing pre-hospital time, i.e., delays from onset of symptoms to hospital presentation in order to optimize modern acute health care. Improving community knowledge of stroke is crucial in this context as well as training in the professional sector. Methods: The conceptual framework comprised three elements: (1) needs assessment, using local expert panels, surveys into community knowledge and clinic data samples of health care quality; (2) intervention plan containing a social marketing concept with two-level organization and standards, training and education in health care; (3) formative and summative evaluation. Central elements of the intervention plan are: local health targets, collaboration and networking, intersectorality, continuity and sustainability (5-year runtime), corporate design, target groups and settings. Results: The central elements of the concepts were implemented. Community surveys revealed similar deficits in public knowledge on stroke in the city of Düsseldorf (2000 and 2004) and in the Wesel district (2002 and 2008). Knowledge of proper action (phone 112 in case of a stroke) significantly improved in Düsseldorf's community with 32.5% correct statements in 2000 versus 50.6% correct answers in 2004 and, finally, 69% correct answers in 2008 in the Wesel district. Clinics in the Wesel district collected 3-month samples of data on pre-hospital times in 2003 before the start of the initiative and in 2005. There was no significant change, with a constant portion of 28% of patients being hospitalized within a 3-h window after onset of stroke symptoms. Conclusion: Due to medical progress and demographic changes, stroke remains a paramount issue in Public Health in Germany. The "Healthy Lower Rhine Network" uses its program "Healthy Lower Rhine ... Against Stroke" to present a strategy to launch and implement a complex, sustainable and intersectoral Public Health intervention, in spite of a growing shortage of resources in public health services

Comparing PTSD symptom networks in type I vs. type II trauma survivors

Background: Network analysis has gained increasing attention as a new framework to study complex associations between symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A number of studies have been published to investigate symptom networks on different sets of symptoms in different populations, and the findings have been inconsistent. Objective: We aimed to extend previous research by testing whether differences in PTSD symptom networks can be found in survivors of type I (single event; sudden and unexpected, high levels of acute threat) vs. type II (repeated and/or protracted; anticipated) trauma (with regard to their index trauma). Method: Participants were trauma-exposed individuals with elevated levels of PTSD symptomatology, most of whom (94%) were undergoing assessment in preparation for PTSD treatment in several treatment centres in Germany and Switzerland (n = 286 with type I and n = 187 with type II trauma). We estimated Bayesian Gaussian graphical models for each trauma group and explored group differences in the symptom network. Results: First, for both trauma types, our analyses identified the edges that were repeatedly reported in previous network studies. Second, there was decisive evidence that the two networks were generated from different multivariate normal distributions, i.e. the networks differed on a global level. Third, explorative edge-wise comparisons showed moderate or strong evidence for specific 12 edges. Edges which emerged as especially important in distinguishing the networks were between intrusions and flashbacks, highlighting the stronger positive association in the group of type II trauma survivors compared to type I survivors. Flashbacks showed a similar pattern of results in the associations with detachment and sleep problems (type II > type I). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that trauma type contributes to the heterogeneity in the symptom network. Future research on PTSD symptom networks should include this variable in the analyses to reduce heterogeneity

Comparing PTSD symptom networks in type I vs. type II trauma survivors

Background: Network analysis has gained increasing attention as a new framework to study complex associations between symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A number of studies have been published to investigate symptom networks on different sets of symptoms in different populations, and the findings have been inconsistent. Objective: We aimed to extend previous research by testing whether differences in PTSD symptom networks can be found in survivors of type I (single event; sudden and unexpected, high levels of acute threat) vs. type II (repeated and/or protracted; anticipated) trauma (with regard to their index trauma). Method: Participants were trauma-exposed individuals with elevated levels of PTSD symptomatology, most of whom (94%) were undergoing assessment in preparation for PTSD treatment in several treatment centres in Germany and Switzerland (n = 286 with type I and n = 187 with type II trauma). We estimated Bayesian Gaussian graphical models for each trauma group and explored group differences in the symptom network. Results: First, for both trauma types, our analyses identified the edges that were repeatedly reported in previous network studies. Second, there was decisive evidence that the two networks were generated from different multivariate normal distributions, i.e. the networks differed on a global level. Third, explorative edge-wise comparisons showed moderate or strong evidence for specific 12 edges. Edges which emerged as especially important in distinguishing the networks were between intrusions and flashbacks, highlighting the stronger positive association in the group of type II trauma survivors compared to type I survivors. Flashbacks showed a similar pattern of results in the associations with detachment and sleep problems (type II > type I). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that trauma type contributes to the heterogeneity in the symptom network. Future research on PTSD symptom networks should include this variable in the analyses to reduce heterogeneity

On the problem of supersonic gas flow in two-dimensional channel with the oscillating upper wall

In the present paper we solve the problem of supersonic gas flow in two-dimensional channel with the moving upper wall making oscillations according to the harmonic law. In order to get a numerical solution for gas dynamics equations we have implemented a difference scheme with space and time approximation of the first order and one with space approximation of the second order. Depending on a type of harmonic law and initial gas inflow conditions, the peculiarities of angle-shock wave propagation in moving curvilinear domains have been investigated. It has been determined that the increase of oscillation amplitude causes the increase of shock wave intensity. It has been shown that under particular oscillation amplitude the moving wall has practically no effect on the flow within the domain

Public access to research data in language documentation: Challenges and possible strategies

The Open Access Movement promotes free and unfettered access to research publications and, increasingly, to the primary data which underly those publications. As the field of documentary linguistics seeks to record and preserve culturally and linguistically relevant materials, the question of how openly accessible these materials should be becomes increasingly important. This paper aims to guide researchers and other stakeholders in finding an appropriate balance between accessibility and confidentiality of data, addressing community questions and legal, institutional, and intellectual issues that pose challenges to accessible dat

Geschichte schreiben. Ein Quellen- und Studienhandbuch zur Historiografie (ca. 1350-1750)

Wie schreibt man Geschichte? Welche Möglichkeiten gibt es, sich mit Geschichte zu beschäftigen, sie darzustellen und an andere zu vermitteln? Die spätmittelalterliche und frühneuzeitliche Geschichtsschreibung ist ein zentrales Experimentierfeld der Historiografie, in das die hier ausgewählten und präsentierten Beispiele Einblicke vermitteln. Die damit angebotene Neustrukturierung des historiografischen Feldes geht weit über das hinaus, was die Historiografiegeschichtsschreibung des 19. und 20. Jahrhunderts herausgestellt hat, und erweitert den Horizont über die Konstrukte moderner Geschichtswissenschaft hinaus erheblich.Dieses Quellenhandbuch richtet sich an ein interdisziplinäres, universitäres Publikum: an fortgeschrittene Studierende und Promovierende und an Lehrende für die Verwendung im Unterricht oder an Forscher/innen, die sich über die neueren Tendenzen auf dem Gebiet der Historiografiegeschichte informieren wollen. Der Einsatz des Handbuchs bietet sich vor allem für neue Masterstudiengänge mit historischem oder kulturwissenschaftlichem Schwerpunkt an (Geschichte des Spätmittelalters, der Renaissance, der Frühen Neuzeit, Kultur-, Literatur-, Kirchen-, Wissensgeschichte etc.), weil damit Grundlagenwissen der Historiografiegeschichte quellennah und auf dem neuesten Stand der Forschung vermittelt werden kann

Wissenschaftsmanagement - Neue Karrierewege fuer Frauen?

This chapter examines the appointment of women to management roles in academi

Wissenschaftsmanagement - Neue Karrierewege fuer Frauen?

This chapter examines the appointment of women to management roles in academi