Undergraduate Design Experiences in the TransAtlantic Biosystems Engineering Network (TABE.NET)

Trans-Atlantic Biosystems Engineering Network (TABE.NET) has been established with the overall goal to advance internationalization of Biosystems Engineering (BSEN) curricula and develop a global awareness within the discipline. The participating institutions are Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VT), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), University College Dublin (UCD), Agricultural University of Athens (AUA), Universidad Politecnica de Madrid (UPM), and University of Bari (UniBar). A working group is exploring the potential to develop an international collaborative design project for undergraduate students in the participating institutions. This paper summarizes the first step in the process by examining current course structures and design experiences across the network. There is a clear trend towards problem-based learning in real-life type design projects in team environments. There is potential for a collaborative undergraduate design activity across the network but further discussion and analysis is required

Curran T. P., Barreiro P., Vox G., Dillaha T. A., Zahos S.C. , Gates R.S. (2011) Undergraduate Design Experiences in the Trans-Atlantic Biosystems Engineering Network (TABE.NET)

A Trans-Atlantic Biosystems Engineering Network (TABE.NET) has been established with the overall goal to advance internationalization of Biosystems Engineering (BSEN) curricula and develop a global awareness within the discipline. The participating institutions are Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VT), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), University College Dublin (UCD), Agricultural University of Athens (AUA), Universidad Politecnica de Madrid (UPM), and University of Bari (UniBar). A working group is exploring the potential to develop an international collaborative design project for undergraduate students in the participating institutions. This paper summarizes the first step in the process by examining current course structures and design experiences across the network. There is a clear trend towards problem-based learning in real-life type design projects in team environments. There is potential for a collaborative undergraduate design activity across the network but further discussion and analysis is required

Multifocal spinal and extra-spinal Mycobacterium chelonae osteomyelitis in a renal transplant recipient

Only localized cases of Mycobacterium chelonae osteomyelitis have been reported. In this article, a 55-year-old immunosuppressed man with M. chelonae osteomyelitis and multiple spinal and extra-spinal involvement is presented. The patient had nodulo-pustular skin lesions, spondylodiscitis at multiple levels, and osteolytic lesions at extra-spinal locations. Biopsy and cultures of the osseous lesions showed M. chelonae osteomyelitis. The patient started antimycobacterial chemotherapy with ciprofloxacin and clarithromycin. Progressive cervical kyphosis associated with anterior wedged deformity of the C5 vertebra and posterior C5-C6 spondylolisthesis resulted in compression of the spinal cord and neurological impairment. The patient underwent anterior decompression and C4-C6 arthrodesis using a titanium mesh cage and cervical plate. About 15 months after the initiation of chemotherapy and 5 months after surgery, the patient was pain free, with significant improvement of his neurological function. In the presence of immunosuppression, the physician should be alert for unusual or opportunistic pathogens of osteomyelitis. Long-term antimicrobial chemotherapy and surgical intervention is the cornerstone of successful treatment of multifocal bone M. chelonae infection

Hypertension and exposure to noise near airports: The HYENA study

Background: An increasing number of people are exposed to aircraft and road traffic noise. Hypertension is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and even a small contribution in risk from environmental factors may have a major impact on public health. Objectives: The HYENA (Hypertension and Exposure to Noise near Airports) study aimed to assess the relations between noise from aircraft or road traffic near airports and the risk of hypertension. Methods: We measured blood pressure and collected data on health, socioeconomic, and lifestyle factors, including diet and physical activity, via questionnaire at home visits for 4,861 persons 45-70 years of age, who had lived at least 5 years near any of six major European airports. We assessed noise exposure using detailed models with a resolution of 1 dB (5 dB for United Kingdom road traffic noise), and a spatial resolution of 250 × 250 m for aircraft and 10 × 10 m for road traffic noise. Results: We found significant exposure-response relationships between night-time aircraft as well as average daily road traffic noise exposure and risk of hypertension after adjustment for major confounders. For night-time aircraft noise, a 10-dB increase in exposure was associated with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.14 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.01-1.29]. The exposure-response relationships were similar for road traffic noise and stronger for men with an OR of 1.54 (95% CI, 0.99-2.40) in the highest exposure category (> 65 dB; ptrend = 0.008). Conclusions: Our results indicate excess risks of hypertension related to long-term noise exposure, primarily for night-time aircraft noise and daily average road traffic noise