High Altitude Student Project; Capsule

We are creating an animatronic puppet monkey that will interact with young students, via camera, while in high altitude conditions. The puppet will be housed in a light foam shell, or capsule, and sent up on a high altitude balloon. This project will also be participating in NASA WALLOPS this upcoming fall

Revision of clinical case definitions: influenza-like illness and severe acute respiratory infection

Abstract in English, Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, SpanishThe formulation of accurate clinical case definitions is an integral part of an effective process of public health surveillance. Although such definitions should, ideally, be based on a standardized and fixed collection of defining criteria, they often require revision to reflect new knowledge of the condition involved and improvements in diagnostic testing. Optimal case definitions also need to have a balance of sensitivity and specificity that reflects their intended use. After the 2009-2010 H1N1 influenza pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) initiated a technical consultation on global influenza surveillance. This prompted improvements in the sensitivity and specificity of the case definition for influenza - i.e. a respiratory disease that lacks uniquely defining symptomology. The revision process not only modified the definition of influenza-like illness, to include a simplified list of the criteria shown to be most predictive of influenza infection, but also clarified the language used for the definition, to enhance interpretability. To capture severe cases of influenza that required hospitalization, a new case definition was also developed for severe acute respiratory infection in all age groups. The new definitions have been found to capture more cases without compromising specificity. Despite the challenge still posed in the clinical separation of influenza from other respiratory infections, the global use of the new WHO case definitions should help determine global trends in the characteristics and transmission of influenza viruses and the associated disease burden.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

High Altitude Student Platform

Our project focuses on the testing of critical components of the next phase of a high altitude robotic puppet that will be used on Near Space balloon missions to engage younger students (K-6). The prototype robotic puppet has been under the development at the University of Bridgeport (UB) supported by a Connecticut Space Grant College Consortium (CSGCC)

High Altitude Thermal Control

On September 1, 2016, a high altitude student platform (HASP) was launched from NASA’s Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility in Fort Sumner, New Mexico with 12 student payloads. The University of Bridgeport sent a robotic arm with three servo-motors and servo-motor testbed to the fringes of space. The objective was to test the motors at very low temperatures and in vacuum conditions. The payload has heaters and temperature sensors fitted on all its walls that can automatically respond to the thermal conditions to assure that the motors operate

Effect of Shunting on Visual Outcomes and Headache in Patients with Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension

Visual dysfunction and headache are major symptoms in patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH). We aimed to evaluate the improvement of these symptoms in patients who underwent ventriculoperitoneal (VPS) and lumboperitoneal (LPS) shunting. Electronic medical records were reviewed to identify baseline and treatment characteristics for patients diagnosed with IIH over 10 years. Visual outcomes and headache were evaluated at the latest follow-up post shunting. We included 163 patients with a mean age of 32.6 years. Most patients (74.2%) underwent VPS versus 25.8% of patients who received LPS. After a mean follow-up duration of 35 months, there was a 58.3% decrease in patients reporting headache (P = 0.006), an 87.7% decrease in papilledema (P = 0.1), a 100% resolution of diplopia with VPS or LPS, and an 88.5% decrease in transient visual obscurations (P = 1). In the worse eye, improved visual acuity (VA) occurred in 53.7% of eyes (P = 1), was stable in 16.4%, and worsened in 29.8%. The mean LogMAR VA was improved by 0.06 LogMAR (20/68) in the worse eye (P = 0.97) and 0.08 LogMAR (20/31) in the better eye (P = 0.7). The visual function that impairs daily activity was decreased by 55.4% (P = 0.08). Patients shunted within 1 month of presentation had a significantly higher rate of headache (P = 0.04) and VA improvement (P < 0.001). VPS and LPS are effective in improving visual symptoms and headache in patients with IIH

Experience With Ventriculoperitoneal and Lumboperitoneal Shunting for the Treatment of Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension: A Single Institution Series

CSF shunting is among the most widely utilized interventions in patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH). Ventriculoperitoneal shunting (VPS) and lumboperitoneal shunting (LPS) are 2 possible treatment modalities. To evaluate and compare complications, malfunction, infection, and revision rates associated with VPS compared to LPS. Electronic medical records were reviewed to identify baseline and treatment characteristics for patients diagnosed with IIH treated with VPS or LPS. A total of 163 patients treated with either VPS (74.2%) or LPS (25.8%) were identified. The mean follow-up was 35 mo. Shunt revision was required in 40.9% of patients. There was a nonsignificant higher rate of revision with LPS (52.4%) than VPS (36.4%, P = .07). In multivariate analysis, increasing patient age was associated with higher odds of shunt revision (P = .04). LPS had higher odds of shunt revision, yet this association was not significant (P = .06). Shunt malfunction was the main indication for revision occurring in 32.7%, with a significantly higher rate with LPS than VPS (P = .03). In total, 15 patients had shunt infection (9.4% VPS vs 12.2% LPS P = .50). The only significant predictor of procedural infection was the increasing number of revisions (P = .02). The incidence of shunt revision was 40.9%, with increasing patient age as the sole predictor of shunt revision. The incidence of shunt malfunction was significantly higher in patients undergoing LPS, while there was no significant difference in the incidence of shunt infection between the 2 modalities