Sheltered Program at the Technische Universität Braunschweig, Germany. Facilitating Studying and Working Abroad: Best Practices

This paper describes the sheltered program at the University Language Center at the Technische Universität Braunschweig, Germany, which is designed to provide American undergraduate exchange students with the opportunity to enhance their language, intercultural and technical skills, thereby integrating them into the German university and preparing them for an internship abroad. Based on the experiences made in this program, a set of best practices will be described

Brave hearts and minds: the devolution revolution and the (re)building of the Scottish nation

In 1995, the myth-history presented in Mel Gibson’s award winning film, Braveheart, sparked the fires of nationalism in Scotland, leading to the nation’s partial autonomy. Braveheart’s influence on politics, historical memory and cultural identity are undeniable, yet few historians give the film the credit it rightly deserves. This demonstrates that, while it may not have single handily led to Scotland’s devolution in 1999, Braveheart did play a major role in the lead up to the 1997 devolution referendum. The film infused Scotland’s society, culture, and politics with nationalistic pride. Utilizing James DeFronzo’s five critical factors for revolutionary success as a framework, this project shows that Braveheart, a film about the legendary Scottish hero named William Wallace, had a vast political, social and cultural impact on Scotland, thus leading to the restoration of a Scottish parliament after three-centuries of dormancy. However, Scotland is not an independent country, as it remains a member of the United Kingdom. Therefore, this thesis also examines the ongoing nation-building, or rebuilding, process in Scotland, in the period immediately prior to the independence referendum in 2014. In all, the fact that Braveheart managed to revive, alter, and create Scotland’s greatest historical and mythological hero, as well as forever change the course of Scottish political and social history, makes it one of the most influential films of all time

The Second Wind

The Second Wind device is a set of sensors and a data processing unit capable of recording data necessary to conduct a simplified version of a complex cardiopulmonary stress test (CPET). This data includes VO2, VCO2, ventilation, and pulse oximetry data. VO2 and VCO2 are the percent, by volume, of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the patient\u27s breath, spirometry is the measure of air flow, and the pulse oximetry data includes heart rate (HR) and percent oxygen in the blood (SpO2). In addition, the device was designed to be portable, so this test could be run from patients’ homes or other smaller facilities rather than the usual hospital setting

A profile on the WISE cortical strip for intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring

INTRODUCTION: During intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring in neurosurgery, brain electrodes are placed to record electrocorticography or to inject current for direct cortical stimulation. A low impedance electrode may improve signal quality. AREAS COVERED: We review here a brain electrode (WISE Cortical Strip, WCS®), where a thin polymer strip embeds platinum nanoparticles to create conductive electrode contacts. The low impedance contacts enable a high signal-to-noise ratio, allowing for better detection of small signals such as high-frequency oscillations (HFO). The softness of the WCS may hinder sliding the electrode under the dura or advancing it to deeper structures as the hippocampus but assures conformability with the cortex even in the resection cavity. We provide an extensive review on WCS including a market overview, an introduction to the device (mechanistics, cost aspects, performance standards, safety and contraindications) and an overview of the available pre- and post-approval data. EXPERT OPINION: The WCS improves signal detection by lower impedance and better conformability to the cortex. The higher signal-to-noise ratio improves the detection of challenging signals. The softness of the electrode may be a disadvantage in some applications and an advantage in others

Low impedance electrodes improve detection of high frequency oscillations in the intracranial EEG

OBJECTIVE Epileptic fast ripple oscillations (FR, 250-500 Hz) indicate epileptogenic tissue with high specificity. However, their low amplitude makes detection demanding against noise. Since thermal noise is reduced by low impedance electrodes (LoZ), we investigate here whether this noise reduction is relevant in the FR frequency range. METHODS We analyzed intracranial electrocorticography during neurosurgery of 10 patients where a low impedance electrode was compared to a standard electrode (HiZ) with equal surface area during stimulation of the somatosensory evoked potential, which evokes a robust response in the FR frequency range. To estimate the noise level, we computed the difference between sweep 2n and sweep 2n + 1 for all sweeps. RESULTS The power spectral density of the noise spectrum improved for the LoZ over all frequencies. In the FR range, the median noise level improved from HiZ (0.153 µV) to LoZ (0.089 µV). For evoked FR, the detection rate improved (91% for HiZ vs. 100% for LoZ). CONCLUSIONS Low impedance electrodes for intracranial EEG reduce noise in the FR frequency range and may thereby improve FR detection. SIGNIFICANCE Improving the measurement chain may enhance the diagnostic value of FR as biomarkers for epileptogenic tissue

The Second Demographic Transition in the United States: Exception or Textbook Example?

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/75204/1/j.1728-4457.2006.00146.x.pd

Sustainable and Efficient Hydroforming of Aerospace Composite Structures

Hydroforming, in comparison with sheet stamping, is an efficient and economical manufacturing process for complex-shape aerospace composite parts because it does not require the use of a female die. The hydroforming manufacturing method is expected to greatly increase the formability of composite parts by using a controllable heated and pressurized fluid that acts as a support for the composite sheet throughout the forming process. The design of a hydroforming process and a machine to shape complex aerospace composite parts is proposed in this chapter. The design and analysis of a sheet metal hydroforming machine with composite overwrap are presented to sustainably and efficiently produce not only the aerospace composites but also dual-phase and bake hardened steel parts with complex 3D geometry

Aggregatibacter aphrophilus ventriculitis following C1-C2 transarticular screw fixation

Objective Central nervous system (CNS) infections after cervical spine surgery are a rare but serious complication and may be caused by uncommon pathogens. We report the case of a 57-year-old male who developed slowly progressive mental confusion with headaches, increased daytime sleepiness and mild gait disturbance within the last 3 weeks. Six weeks prior to admission to our department, he underwent an atlantoaxial fusion by C1-C2 transarticular screw fixation for rheumatoid arthritis related C1-C2 multidirectional instability. Methods We analyzed clinical and neuroradiological findings. Results The findings were consistent with communicating hydrocephalus secondary to ventriculitis and the left C1-C2 screw was found to be misplaced with perforation of the dura. The situation was interpreted as implant related surgical site infection of the cerebrospinal fluid followed by ventriculitis and hydrocephalus. Bacterial broad range 16S rRNA gene PCR from the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) followed by sequencing identified Aggregatibacter aphrophilus as the causative agent, while conventional cultures remained negative due to its fastidious growth. The patient was successfully treated with a lumbar drain and intravenous ceftriaxone. Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first report of Aggregatibacter aphrophilus ventriculitis following C1-C2 transarticular screw fixation

Bifocal extra- and intradural melanocytoma of the spine: case report and literature review

Background: Spinal melanocytoma is one of the most infrequent space-occupying lesions of the central nervous system. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of primary bifocal intradural melanocytoma of heterogenous pathological grade to date. Case description: We report the case of a 43-year old patient with primary bifocal melanocytoma, clinically and radiologically resembling benign schwannoma. The patient presented with myeloradiculopathy of the left C3 dermatome. Magnetic resonance imaging of the upper spine revealed two space-occupying lesions with paraspinal extension, initially diagnosed as neurofibroma. Definitive histopathological classification of both lesions was melanocytoma. Both tumours were only partially removed due to adherence to surrounding structures. The patient underwent stereotactic external beam irradiation (EBR). Follow-up at 1year after surgery revealed no recurrence and the patient remained free of symptoms. The clinical, radiological and pathological features of this rare tumour entity are presented and the available literature is reviewed. Conclusions: Intradural melanocytoma, although exceedingly rare, requires a thorough work-up to exclude malignant melanoma. With only two previous reports of multifocal melanocytoma published in the literature, standard therapy has not yet been established and complete surgical removal remains the modality of choice. Patients should be closely monitored to detect local recurrence or malignant degeneration. EBR may be considered in cases where total excision is not achievable and reduces risk of local recurrence

Out of Autoclave Metal and FRP Composites Thermo-Hydroforming

In this chapter, we explore a novel type of thermo-hydroforming process conceived to expand the role of sheet metal hydroforming machines from one of just forming sheet metal materials into one of being able to form multiple materials. This work specifically focuses on the use of thermohydroforming to shape and thermal catalyze prepreg composite sheets into rigid parts of complex 3D geometry. Elastomeric Sheet Hydroforming is an excellent low-cost manufacturing method requiring a single tool die on only one side. The mating die is a flexible membrane backed by fluid under high pressure. Various designs configurations exist that allow for significant pressure levels of up to 1400 Bar (20,000 psi), to be contained. The cycle life of the containment vessel components is commonly designed to accommodate up to 1 million cycles of use over 40 years. However, these machines can be expensive ranging in cost from several hundred thousand up to $6 million dollars. Expanding the market scope and potential of the press by enabling them to also form composites will provide benefit to both the machine owners and their customers. The intent of this project is to advance the state of the art in composites forming by demonstrating through FEA modeling that a hydroforming machine can be potentially configured to form thermally catalyzed prepreg composite panels. It is believed that the concept in like manner, will also be applicable to forming metal-composite hybrid panels, stratified metal thermoplastic laminates, thermoplastic synthetic granites and of course sheet metal materials. This concept seeks to benefit the American Manufacturing Industry and create jobs in the U.S. by providing a low-cost method for manufacturers to produce medium to very large sized high-quality sheet composite parts of an advanced nature in construction. This application is for operations requiring volumes less than 30,000 forming cycles per year per machine. Processes currently exist in the industry that utilizes heated air or heated glycol to form sheet materials. However, this process seeks to offer greater benefit by using pure water as a high thermal conductivity working fluid in a scheme that offers vastly elevated pressure during forming and curing cycles