Fulbright Scientific Conference – March 2015
Report written by the students of Première S EURO, Lycée
Stanislas de Wissembourg
Preparatory work
The meeting with an American researcher was a project that was proposed to Mrs.
Georges (who teaches biology), Mrs. Bossert-Weider (English) and Mr. Tomasini (physics).
Before the meeting with Adrienne Hezghia, we made a preparatory work and the teachers
guided us during our researches. Our English teacher, Mr. Amar, also helped us especially for
the vocabulary and the expressions we had to use.
During the first hours, we mainly acquired knowledge about the brain, the vocabulary
we needed in order to understand the researcher. So we learned specific terms, the different
MRI cuts and some scientific words we would use in our presentation.
We also talked about the different brain areas which would be affected in the
different cases we had to talk about, and then understand why certain abilities don’t work
when the brain is damaged by an accident. To learn the different parts of the brain, we used
some human anatomical brain models which could be taken apart. It allowed us to see each
part alone and from different angles.
That second part of the work was concentrated on the study of different MRI of the
brain.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a painless technique that allows doctors to look at
different parts of the body. The MRI scanner has very strong magnets in special coils to
detect the electric signal. A computer uses these signals to create a detailed image of what
you want to study. An MRI gives 3D pictures thanks to the three different axes: the sagittal
cut, the transversal or axial cut and the frontal or coronal cut.
We used a special software in order familiarize ourselves with the MRI. We had to
work on the images of the brain and locate the spot which is activated when simulating
different parts of the body (right thumb, tongue…). A brain area is colored in red when there
is a little increase in oxygen consumption. That means that the neurons in this area are
active.
The second session of our work was to study different clinical cases. We made three
groups and each one received a different case to study. The first patient had a bleeding on
the right motricity area, which caused a facial paralysis. The left side of the body was also
affected. The second one had an occlusion on the left cerebral artery which caused a
paralysis on the right side of the body. The last one was affected by Rasmussen's Syndrome.
The disease can engender cortical atrophy, hemiplegia and delayed cognitive abilities. The
doctors had to remove a large part of her brain. After the surgery, the language area of the
brain was affected and she lost language abilities. So they study the MRI.
After that, we made a slide show presentation of our cases and we presented it to
the three teachers, the researcher and the rest of the class. We also prepared a list of
questions to ask to Adrienne.
Visit by Margaret SHEVIK and Adrienne Hezghia
On Thursday 12 March 2015, from 1:25PM to 3:15 PM, Margaret Shevik and Adrienne
Hezghia came to our high-school, accompanied by the academic inspectors for English and
Natural Sciences. We were two classes participating in this meeting, the Terminale Euro who
were with Margaret, and the Première Euro, with Adrienne. We were with Adrienne, and we
made the presentations we had prepared for her visit. All of us had the occasion to speak
English, and all the presentations went well: Adrienne had no problems to understand us and
each case. Every group finally asked her questions about each clinical case and she
answered us with many details. After that, we had time left to ask her questions about her
studies, her exchange, and her research. She first explained us a bit more what her research
is about, and then she told us how she came to France, thanks to the Fulbright Program,
which allows students from all around the world to go to different countries, in order to
study or to make researches in different laboratories. She explained us that this was a nice
experience, which allowed her to learn more about the French culture. She also told us how
it is to be a female scientist, and encouraged us to become scientists too, if we wanted it,
and to pursue our dreams.
Conference in Strasbourg
On Friday, March 13th, two European classes of the Lycée (Première and Terminale) went
to Strasbourg, to the CRDP building to take a part in a scientific conference. It was in two
parts, each made by a Fulbright program grantee. Margaret Shevik spoke about interactions
between two species of Candida within biofilms. Adrian Hezghia, spoke about traumatic
injuries with different neuromethods testing.
Presentation by Adrienne HEZGIAH
Understanding Traumatic Brain Injuries with Neuroimaging and
Neuropsychological Testing
Example of TBI
First, she explained us what the brain was exactly: the center of the nervous system in all
vertebrates and in many invertebrates. It is also the most complicated area of the body.
Then, she told us that the skull was a body structure that surrounds & protects the brain in
which is a cerebral spinal fluid that protects the brain from the hits against the skull.
She showed us the shape of a neuron with its different parts (Cell body, Dendrites & Axon)
After the introduction, she spoke about the TBI (Traumatic Brain Injuries = Damages to the
brain as a results of an external mechanic force)
The most common causes of TBI are:
- Violence/Assaults
- Sport (mainly US Football)
- Motorcar accident
- Explosions
-
Falls
War conflicts
She showed us a table of classification of TBI’s injuries (in 3 categories: Mild / Moderate /
Severe as a function of the Loss of conscience of time, the altered consciousness of time and
the post-traumatic amnesia)
Then, she explained what the lasting symptoms were physical (headache, nausea, vomiting),
cognitive (troubles with attention) and behavioral/emotional). She explained why she
researches in this domain. In fact, there are lots of deaths and only few treatments are
effective.
She also told us what her job was: Neuroimaging.
There are two ways to do neuroimaging in the Hospitals: The MRI & the CT scan, but these
two do not allow to detect tears in white matter, so the researchers need to discover a
better way to see in the brain.
She then exposed 2 ways that are a bit better: the fMRI (a method of functional brain
imaging that evaluates spontaneous neutral activity to determine different kinds of things;
here, the patient is still awake while he’s scanned. Then the results are compared to healthy
volunteers results) and the Diffusion Tensor Imaging (which identifies healthy and abnormal
white matter structure by measuring the movement of water.)
She finished by talking about the place of women in sciences and about International
mobility.
Finally, there were supposed to be a question-answer time to take place but there were not
a lot of questions in the audience and on Twitter w/ the hashtag #CanopeFulbright
Presentation by Margaret Shevik
Biofilm Formation in Candida Species
The second part of the conference is made by Margaret Shevik. She explains what a
Candida is and what the different types of it are. Candida is a genus of yeasts and is the
most common cause of fungal infections worldwide. The two different species are:
- the Candida Albicans is the most commonly species, and can cause infections in
humans and animals body.
- The Candida Parapsilosisis is a significant cause of sepsis and of wound and tissue
infections in immuno-compromised patients.
She explains how the Candida causes infection. So, it evades host immunes response
and there is dissemination in bloodstreams. And, it resists antifungal treatment which
provokes an infection.
Then she exposes their laboratory characteristics:
-
Candida Albicans have an elongated shape with a round part and another long and
thin.
-
Candida Parapsilosis have a round shape with a little round centre
After their laboratory characteristics, she explains what a biofilm is and how to make it. A
biofilm is a community of microorganisms that forms on surface. In order to do it we want to
use silicon squares models that could be used in medical practice. Then, the squares are
incubated with cells.
We obtain two really different biofilms:
The parapsilosis are forming a green square whereas the albicans are forming a red heap
which grows up.
To finish she talks about the different reasons for studying Candida infections. On the one
hand, they are responsible for the highest number of fungal infections in hospital patients,
and cause an extremely high mortality. On the other hand, they are difficult to treat.
Moreover, this study gives worldwide issues.
To finish she spoke about women in science. She said that women have as many possibilities
as men and we must be curious in order to move forward.
Benefits from the projects
1. Scientific knowledge
At first, the preparation we made taught us a huge amount of knowledge in the
medical field, especially about the brain. We learned what an MRI is and how to
analyze its image. We were also introduced to the brain, its different parts and
functions. We were stunned when we discovered how huge the brain’s plasticity is
and how fragile it is. We saw some brain injuries which were really impressive. After,
we had the possibility to act like scientists and analyze some MRI pictures, make
some hypotheses and assumptions. We worked on a clinical case of brain injury, and
showed it too Adrienne HERGHZA. She helped us to understand some little mystery
by answering our questions. Everything we learned will be useful, in a short time, in
order to prepare the final exam. The conference we had also completed our
knowledge about the two scientific fields the two scientists told us about. These
keynotes really opened our mind to the brain and to nosocomial diseases. Therefore,
we really enjoyed this experience.
2. Language knowledge
As the entire project was in English, we were able to realize our level of
language. It gave us a chance to notice how well we understand American people
speaking. Also, it gave us the opportunity to have an interaction with two Americans.
So we spoke and listened to them in English. That allowed us to increase the number
of words and expression that we master and even widen our vocabulary. But it will
also help us in the future. It's a fact that a lot of students of our class are interested
in being scientists. And then, we learned things that we will surely use in our work
time, when we are older. We got a lot of knowledge and we are really thankful for
that. As science is mainly in English, knowing some science basis in English will really
help us.
3. Cultural knowledge
We learned a lot about the American culture and its education system. We have
also heard two different American accents, and learned from where they are coming.
Afterward, the exchange allowed us to have a feedback about French culture. But
that's not all! We also discovered how the science students who did a study
exchange in France were living, their impression about our culture. We joked a little
bit on French culture with them and that made the atmosphere smoother. We were
also interested in the way they were living in America and we got a lot of information
about that! It was surely a wonderful experience to meet those people who had a
different culture. This experience has increased our interest in the US. We learned a
lot about them, but also about us.
4. Opening for future studies and professional life
The work we have done and the conference will help us in our future life,
because the conference allows us to see two different fields of medicine. And so, we
can have and better idea of what these two fields of studies are, how we can follow
these studies and what kind of job we can have after the studies in this fields. The
discussions with the two young women have helped us to see how we can make
studies. And honestly, we got interested in studying abroad. The science students
told us how they lived this exchange and how they became slowly independent. We
would like to be on this sort of exchange in a scientific school of America and they
explained us what they did in order to take part in this exchange. They really helped
and interested us. Finally we really got interested in studying abroad or at least
participating in an exchange. It was a great experience filled with discoveries!
Report written by BASTIAN Ornella, DOSSMANN Quentin, FLEITH Aurélien, FROEHLICH Léo, HISSLER
Hélène, JUNG Emilien, SAUNIER Charlotte, SCHMAUCH Eloi, WEBER Marine and WILLGENSS Marie