Yes / Background Previous research has shown that use of a dynamic-response prosthetic foot (DRF) that incorporates a small passive hydraulic ankle device (hyA-F), provides certain biomechanical benefits over using a DRF that has no ankle mechanism (rigA-F). This study investigated whether use of a hyA-F in unilateral trans-tibial amputees (UTA) additionally provides metabolic energy expenditure savings and increases the symmetry in walking kinematics, compared to rigA-F. Methods Nine active UTA completed treadmill walking trials at zero gradient (at 0.8, 1.0, 1.2, 1.4, and 1.6 of customary walking speed) and for customary walking speed only, at two angles of decline (5° and 10°). The metabolic cost of locomotion was determined using respirometry. To gain insights into the source of any metabolic savings, 3D motion capture was used to determine segment kinematics, allowing body centre of mass dynamics (BCoM), differences in inter-limb symmetry and potential for energy recovery through pendulum-like motion to be quantified for each foot type. Results During both level and decline walking, use of a hyA-F compared to rigA-F significantly reduced the total mechanical work and increased the interchange between the mechanical energies of the BCoM (recovery index), leading to a significant reduction in the metabolic energy cost of locomotion, and hence an associated increase in locomotor efficiency (p < 0.001). It also increased inter-limb symmetry (medio-lateral and progression axes, particularly when walking on a 10° decline), highlighting the improvements in gait were related to a lessening of the kinematic compensations evident when using the rigA-F. Conclusions Findings suggest that use of a DRF that incorporates a small passive hydraulic ankle device will deliver improvements in metabolic energy expenditure and kinematics and thus should provide clinically meaningful benefits to UTAs’ everyday locomotion, particularly for those who are able to walk at a range of speeds and over different terrains. / Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council(EPSRC, reference EP/H010491/1).

This study takes an in-depth look at the architectural journey of the Malmö City Library, paying particular attention to how traditional and modern architectural styles have merged together. We'll closely examine the contributions of architects like John Smedberg and Henning Larsen, who have played pivotal roles in shaping the library's visual identity. Throughout our exploration, we'll unpack key architectural concepts such as architectural rhythm, design contrast, and the principles of parasitic and prosthetic architecture. These concepts will serve as our guideposts as we navigate the complexities of integrating old and new architectural elements seamlessly. By analyzing real-world examples from the Malmö City Library, we'll gain valuable insights into the strategies employed by architects to achieve this harmony. At the core of our investigation lies a quest to understand the transformative power of thoughtful design. The Malmö City Library stands as a testament to this power, offering a tangible example of how architectural innovation can create spaces that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing. By examining the historical context and contemporary practices surrounding the library's evolution, we'll uncover the profound impact that architecture can have on our lived experiences. One of the key takeaways from our study is the importance of architectural adaptation. Through careful analysis, we'll uncover the challenges faced by architects as they sought to blend tradition with innovation. By studying the successes and failures of projects like the Malmö City Library, we'll gain a deeper understanding of the strategies that underpin successful architectural transformations. Ultimately, our research aims to contribute to a greater understanding of the role of architecture in shaping our built environment. By shining a spotlight on the architectural evolution of the Malmö City Library, we hope to inspire future generations of architects to approach their work with creativity, sensitivity, and a deep appreciation for the transformative potential of design. With this essay we will also be crafting a project proposal based on our comprehensive study and research into the topic of additions on existing buildings. Our focus will be on expanding the library Garaget, employing our expertise in the field and aligning with the specific needs of the library. Through this endeavor, we aim not only to enhance the Garaget library but also to promote its significance within the community in the area.

During prosthetic rehabilitation after tumor therapy in the head and neck region, the dentist must assess whether the prognosis of the remaining teeth is sufficiently good or whether implants should be used to anchor dentures. Thus, the aim of the present study was to compare the survival rate of teeth and implants after and to evaluate factors potentially influencing implant survival. One hundred fifteen patients (male: 70.3%; mean age: 63.2 12.4 years) having received dental treatment before and after at the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg were enrolled in the study. Clinical examination including assessment of dental status and stimulated salivary flow rate was performed. Information about disease progression and therapy was retrieved from medical records. After from a total of 1262 teeth, 27.2% had to be extracted. Of 308 implants inserted after 7.0% were lost. Teeth exhibited lower 5-year survival probability (76.8%) than implants (89.9%; p = 0.001). The risk of loss (RL) of implants increased with age, nicotine use, intraoral defects, and RCT. Radiotherapy did not independently increase the RL. Thus, implants seem to be a reliable treatment option in case of progressive tooth decay after, particularly after RT.

Thesis (MScEng (Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / Aortic valve replacements are frequently performed during heart surgery. However, since this is quite a stressful procedure, many patients are turned down for medical reasons. Stented valves, designed and manufactured for percutaneous insertion, eliminate many of the risks involved in open-heart surgery, thus providing a solution to patients not deemed strong enough for open-chest aortic valve replacements. The aortic valve is a complex structure, and therefore numerical simulation is necessary to obtain flow and stress data to support the design of a prosthetic heart valve in the absence of viable physical measuring methods. To aid in the design of a prosthetic heart valve, various finite element valve models were created, and the fluid structure interaction (FSI) between the valves and the blood was simulated using commercial finite element software. The effect of the geometry of the leaflets on the haemodynamic behaviour over the cardiac cycle was investigated. It was found that leaflet dimensions should be chosen judiciously, because of their considerable effect on the stress distribution and performance of the valve. A simple leaflet geometry optimisation was done for a 20 mm and 26 mm valve, respectively, by means of existing geometry relationships found in the literature. Simulations were done to obtain the maximum leaflet attachment forces that can be used by a stent designer for fatigue loading, or to investigate the structural strength of the stent. These simulations were numerically validated. The effect of leaflet thickness and stiffness on resistance to opening, stress distribution and strain were investigated. Results showed that leaflet thickness has a greater effect on the performance of the valve than leaflet stiffness, and thereby validated the results of similar tests contained in the literature. After simulating over-, as well as under-dilation of a stented valve, it was found that problems associated with over-dilation can be minimised to a certain extent by increasing the coaptation1 region of the leaflets. A simple pulse duplicator was designed based on a four-element Windkessel model. The pulse duplicator was used to study the performance of the prototype valves by means of high-speed photography, the results of which were fed into one of the numerical finite element models and compared to real valve performance. Some of the prototype valves showed efficiencies of 88%.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Removable Prosthetic Dentistry (PRO400) is a fourth year module of the undergraduate dentistry programme which consists of a large clinical component. After reviewing relevant literature and conducting module evaluations, clinical tests were introduced and implemented in 2008 as an additional clinical assessment method. The intention of introducing the clinical tests was an attempt to ensure that students were assessed fairly, that their theoretical knowledge and the ability to apply it clinically were properly assessed, and to provide feedback on their clinical performance. The purpose of this concurrent mixed methods study was to compare the relationship between the students‟ performance in the clinical tests and daily clinical grades with their theoretical performance in the PRO400 module. The second part of the study explored the academic staff s‟ perceptions of the clinical test as clinical assessment tool in the PRO400 module. The case study design enabled the researcher to explore the question at hand in considerable depth. The mixed methods approach was useful to capture the best of both the qualitative and quantitative approaches. For the quantitative data-collection, record reviews of the results of fourth-year dental students‟ who completed the PRO400 module at the end of 2007 were used, and included 110 students. For the qualitative component three full-time lecturers within the Prosthetic department were interviewed. The clinical test marks and clinical session marks of all the students (n=109) in PRO400 were compared to their theory mark of that year. The tests marks were entered into a spreadsheet in Microsoft Excel and the data analysis was done with the assistance of a statistician. The analytical abstraction method was used to assist with the qualitative data analysis; first the basic level of analysis was done in the narrative form, followed by second higher level of data analysis. The basic and higher levels of analysis were discussed under the following themes: clinical tests, student performances, alignment of theory and clinical assessment and personal influence on supervisors‟ assessment practices and attitude. Role-taking and the supervisors‟ perceptions and concerns regarding the students were explored as emergent themes. The quantitative findings were displayed using tables and graphs. Forty five students. clinical marks were 10% higher than their theory mark, while only 8 students. theory marks were 10% higher than their clinical test mark. There appeared to be hardly any relationship between the students. clinical daily grade assessment marks and their theory marks. The average theory mark was 47%, the average clinical test marks were 55% and the average daily clinical grade was 63%. Integration of the data obtained from the different data collection methods was done at the level of data interpretation. The clinical test as an assessment tool is well accepted by the supervisors and they agreed that it is more reliable and accurate than the clinical daily grade assessment method. The quantitative findings relate well to other reported studies that concluded that the daily grade was poorly correlated with the competency exams (a similar phenomenon in the clinical test of the PRO400 module). From the findings of this study it appeared that there is a better correlation of the clinical test mark and the theory mark, than clinical daily mark and the theory mark. This finding related well with the lecturers. views that the clinical tests were more reliable as a clinical assessment tool than the daily clinical mark. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: "Removable Prosthetic Dentistry (PRO400)" is 'n vierdejaar-module in die voorgraadse tandheelkundeprogram wat 'n groot kliniese komponent bevat. Na 'n oorsig gedoen is van die relevante literatuur, en nadat die module-evaluering afgehandel is, is kliniese toetse in 2008 ingevoer en geimplementeer as 'n bykomende metode van kliniese assessering. Die kliniese toetse is ingestel in 'n poging om te verseker dat studente se teoretiese kennis en hul vermoe om dit klinies toe te pas op . regverdige wyse geassesseer word en om terugvoer te kan gee oor die studente se kliniese prestasie. Die doel van hierdie studie, waarin gelyktydige gemengde metodes gebruik is, was om die verband tussen die studente se prestasie in die kliniese toetse, asook hul daaglikse kliniese punte en hul teoretiese prestasie in die PRO400-module vas te stel. Die tweede deel van die studie het ondersoek ingestel na die akademiese personeel se persepsies van die kliniese toets as 'n instrument vir kliniese assessering in die PRO400-module. 'n Dwarssnit-gevallestudie-ontwerp is gebruik en 'n gemengdemetode-benadering was nuttig om sowel kwalitatiewe as kwantitatiewe data in te samel. Vir die kwantitatiewe data-insamelingverslae is die uitslae van 109 vierdejaar-tandeheelkundestudente in die PRO400-module aan die einde van 2007 gebruik. Vir die kwalitatiewe data-insameling is onderhoude gevoer met drie voltydse dosente in die Prostetiese Tandheelkunde-departement. Die kliniese toetspunte en die kliniese sessiepunte van al die studente (n=109) in die PRO400-module is met hul teoriepunte van daardie jaar vergelyk. Die toetspunte is op 'n sigblad in Microsoft Excel ingevoer en die data-analise is met die hulp van 'n statistikus gedoen. Die analitiese abstraksiemetode is vir die analise van die kwalitatiewe data gebruik. Die basiese vlak van data-analise in die narratiewe vorm is eerste gedoen. Dit is gevolg deur 'n tweede, hoervlak-data-analise. Die basiese en hoer vlakke van analise is onder die volgende temas bespreek: kliniese toetse, studenteprestasie, ooreenstemming van teorie en kliniese assessering, en persoonlike invloed op studieleiers se assesseringspraktyke en houding. Rol-aanneming en die studieleiers se persepsies, asook kwessies rakende die studente is as ontluikende temas ondersoek. Die resultate van hierdie studie het aangetoon dat die kliniese punte van 45 studente 10% hoër was as hul teoriepunte, en dat slegs agt studente se teoriepunte 10% hoër as hul kliniese toetspunte was. Dit het geblyk dat daar feitlik geen verband was tussen die studente se kliniese daaglikse assesseringspunte en hul teoriepunte nie. Die gemiddelde teoriepunt was 47%, die gemiddelde kliniese toetspunt was 55% en die gemiddelde daaglikse kliniese punt was 63%. Al die studieleiers het die kliniese toets as assesseringsinstrument goed aanvaar en hulle het saamgestem dat dit meer betroubaar en akkuraat is as die daaglikse kliniese assesseringsmetode. Die kwantitatiewe bevindings hou goed verband met dié van soortgelyke studies waarin daar bevind is dat die daaglikse prestasie swak gekorreleer het met die bevoegdheidseksamen (ʼn soortgelyke beginsel as die kliniese toets van die Pro400). Dit het ook uit die bevindings van hierdie navorsing geblyk dat daar ʼn beter korrelasie is tussen die kliniese toetspunt en die teoriepunt as tussen die daaglikse kliniese punt en die teoriepunt. Hierdie bevinding het ʼn duidelike verband getoon met die dosente se siening dat die kliniese toetse as ʼn kliniese assesseringsinstrument meer betroubaar is as die daaglikse kliniese punt in die PRO400-module in die Tandheelkunde-program.

De traditionella armproteser som tillverkas i utvecklingsländer står inför stora problem i att leverera patienter med lämpliga hjälpmedel. Processen är inte bara tidskrävande eftersom varje enhet måste anpassas för varje enskild användare men vissa komponenter kan inte produceras lokalt vilket driver upp priset ytterligare. Syftet med detta examensarbete var att utveckla en armprotes för utvecklingsländerna med hjälp av additiv tillverkning (3D Printing) för klienten 3D Life Prints som baseras i Nairobi, Kenya. En protes är ett hjälpmedel som används för att underlätta en amputerad människa i dagliga aktiviteter och med hjälp av additiv tillverkning kan även en lokal tillverkningsprocess utvecklas och förbättras vilket skulle kunna minska tiden för tillverkning och distribution av proteser. Den initiala protesen, som låg till grund för designarbetet, var en underarmsprotes som fortfarande var i utvecklingsstadiet hos klienten. Protesen tillverkades med hjälp av tillverkningsmetoden Fused Deposit Modelling (FDM), som har den fördelen att den använder sig av relativt billiga 3D skrivare. För att sammanfatta syftet med projektet utvecklades följande frågeställningar 1. Hur tillverkas, distribueras och används konventionella proteser i jämförelse med additivt tillverkade proteser i Nairobi, Kenya? 2. Vem är den primära användaren av proteser i utvecklingsländer, vilka problem upplevs hos dagens lösningar och vilka faktorer anses vara den viktigaste hos användaren? Och varför?  3. Hur ska additivt tillverkade proteser utformas för optimal användning i utvecklingsländer?  Förutom att besvara frågeställningarna var målet att utvecklingen av systemet skulle leda till förbättrad funktionalitet för användaren och underlätta tillverkningen för organisationen.  För att få en allmän översikt över det vetenskapliga området av additivt tillverkade proteser studerades kontexten för utvecklingsländer, användarcentrerad design (eftersom syftet var att förbättra en produkt för en specifik användare), armproteser och additiv tillverkning. Resultatet, från de olika stadier av designprocessen, var den slutgiltiga designen av "3D Life Arm". Det slutliga systemet bestod av fyra huvudkomponenter, Kroppsselen, Inlägget, Proteshanden och Hylsan. Komponenterna använde sig utav additiv tillverkning i både styvt material (Kroppsselen, Hylsan och Inlägget) och flexibelt material (Proteshanden). Lokalt tillgängliga komponenter användes där additiv tillverkning inte var möjligt till exempel fisketråd och skruvar. En slutsats drogs att de två faktorer som ansågs viktigast för användaren var att produkten skulle vara estetiskt tilltalande och billig. Även sociala stigman spelar en stor roll och enligt användare och experter i Nairobi, måste protesen efterlikna den saknade armen så mycket som möjligt för att kunna smälta in. Författarna konstaterade att kostnaden var den viktigaste faktorn när man utformar proteser för utvecklingsländerna, eftersom användaren i dagsläget inte har råd med de proteser som tillverkas i Nairobi. Sammanfattningsvis utfördes en kostnads- och tidsanalys för att kontrollera tillverkningskostnaderna för hela systemet. Med tre skrivare kunde alla delar tillverkas för 282 kronor och skulle ta cirka 15 timmar och 15 minuter att skriva ut som är betydligt lägre än de funktionella proteser som tillverkades i Nairobi. Ytterligare utvärderingar krävs för att fastställa att protesen kommer att klara av påfrestningarna från dagliga aktiviteter hos användaren och en fungerande strategi för passning måste utvärderas ytterligare. Författarna tror dock att med hjälp av en fullt utbildad protestillverkare finns det en framtid för additiv tillverkning av armproteser. / The traditional prosthetic arms that are being fitted in developing countries are facing major issues in suppling patients with proper assistive aids. Not only is the process time consuming with every single unit having to be customized for the user but some parts can’t be locally produced which drives up price even further. The objective of this master thesis was to develop a prosthetic arm for developing countries with the help of additive manufacturing (3D printing) for the client 3D Life Prints which are based in Nairobi, Kenya. A prosthesis is used to aid an amputee in daily living activities. With additive manufacturing the intention is that a local manufacturing process could be developed and improved which would reduce the time of fitting and distributing a prosthesis. The initial prosthesis, that was the origin of the design, was a below elbow prosthetic arm that was being developed by the client. The prosthesis was fabricated with the additive manufacturing process fused deposition modelling (FDM) which has the advantage of providing the cheapest printers. To summarize the aim of the project the research questions that was established was as followed 1. How are conventional prosthetic arms generally being manufactured, distributed and used compared to additive manufactured prostheses in Nairobi, Kenya?  2. Who is the primary user of prosthetic arms in developing countries, what problems are they facing with current solutions and what factors are considered as the most important? And why? 3. How should additive manufactured prostheses be designed for optimal usage in developing countries? In addition to answer the research questions the aim was that the development of the system would lead to enhanced functionality for the user and to facilitate manufacturing for the organization. To get a general overview of additive manufacturing prostheses the fields theories that was studied included context of developing countries, user centred design (since the aim was to approve on a product which needed to suit a specific user), upper limb prostheses and additive manufacturing. As a result, from different stages of the design process a final design was reached called the “3D Life Arm”.  The final system was comprised of four main components, the Harness system, the Insert, the Cover and the Socket. These components used additive manufacturing in both rigid material (Harness parts, Socket and Insert) and flexible material (the Cover). Locally available components were used for parts not feasible to additive manufacture e.g. fishing wire and screws. The two factors that were concluded to be the most important for the user were the aesthetic appeal and cost. With social stigmas playing a major part according to users and experts in Nairobi, the prosthesis needs to resemble the missing limb as much as possible. It was concluded that cost was the major factor when designing prostheses for developing countries since user just wasn’t able to afford the prostheses that was being manufactured in Nairobi. In the end a cost and time analysis was conducted to verify what price the complete system would need to be manufactured. With three printers all parts could be printed for the price of 282 SEK and would take approximately 15 hours and 15 minutes to print which is considerably lower than that of the functional prosthesis being distributed in Nairobi. Further evaluations need to be done to establish that the prosthesis will manage the strains and stresses of daily living activities of the user and a complete fitting strategy needs to be evaluated further. It’s the authors belief however, that with the help of fully educated prosthetist there is a future for additive manufacturing of upper limb amputees.

This thesis is focused on the nursing care for patient after valvular defects surgery. The aim of this final paper is to ascertain the principles of specialized nursing care for patient after valvular defects surgery, analyse the condition of written standards for providing aftercare to patients who underwent valvular defects surgery, or the state of the nursing protocols in specialized nursing care. The purpose of qualitative - observational research in providing specialized nursing care is to find an answer to the question of whether the specifics of nursing care in Prague cardiac centres are significantly different. The theoretical section contains chapters describing cardiac centres, the history of surgical treatment of heart valves, and the most common valvular heart defects in adulthood. In the theoretical section of this study, I focus in detail on the nursing care for patients following cardiac procedure, ensuring not to forget the monitoring of physiological functions, artificial pulmonary ventilation, and immediate position after elective cardiac surgery. The empirical section is divided into quantitative and qualitative research. The quantitative empirical investigation is focused on an anonymous questionary survey that has been applied in three Prague cardiac centres. Approximately 150...

A qualidade dos procedimentos clínicos realizados na prática odontológica está intimamente ligada às propriedades dos materiais e tecnologias aplicadas à reabilitação oral. No caso das overdentures, uma falta de retenção entre a prótese e o implante pode ocorrer pelo excesso de fadiga das cápsulas que os conectam. Isso leva a um insucesso no tratamento e perda de função, reduzindo a durabilidade e qualidade de vida dos pacientes. Diante dessa problemática o presente estudo propôs um novo material que seja capaz de solucionar ou minimizar este problema, visando uma longevidade do tratamento reabilitador. O objetivo desse trabalho foi comparar um material inédito na odontologia com os já existentes, na confecção de cápsulas para retenção de overdenture, antes e após o envelhecimento artificial por termociclagem (10.000 ciclos = 1 ano clínico). O material estudado foi o Politereftalato de Etileno (PET) que vem se demonstrando um material promissor para tal função devido a sua biocompatibilidade e suas características físicas e mecânicas. O PET foi comparado com poliacetal, polietileno e teflon já utilizados para esta função (n=20). Os materiais foram submetidos aos ensaios resistência à compressão, rugosidade e dureza superficial, resistência à fadiga, arrancamento, resistência de união e análise em estereomicroscópio e microscopia eletrônica de varredura. Para responder aos objetivos do estudo foram utilizadas, além de técnicas básicas de análise exploratória como média, mediana, desvio padrão e intervalo de confiança para média (IC 95%), a análise inferencial de comparação de média de ANOVA Two-Way com Medidas Repetidas. Houve influência do envelhecimento artificial apenas na variável fadiga, em todos os tempos analisados. Em relação a rugosidade o PET (0,9168) apresentou as menores médias, juntamente com o Poliacetal (0,5160) (p=0,001). Para Dureza superficial não houve diferença entre os grupos. Na Resistência à Compressão o Poliacetal (109,88) apresentou os maiores valores de tensão, não havendo diferença estatisticamente significante do PET(101,02)(p=0,003). No ensaio de arrancamento PET (484,4) e Poliacetal (443,7) apresentaram os maiores valores de força máxima (p=0,033). Em relação a Fadiga PET e Poliacetal apresentaram os maiores valores em todos os tempos analisados (p<0,001). Através da análise por estereomicroscopia, o padrão de fratura do Poliacetal e PET foi coesiva, os demais foram adesiva. Pela microscopia eletrônica de varredura, não foi observado alteração de superfície apenas pelo Polietileno. Conclui-se que o PET apresentou ótimos resultados para as variáveis propostas, sugerindo seu uso para confecção de componentes protéticos / The quality of clinical procedures performed in dental practice is closely linked to the properties of materials and technologies applied to oral rehabilitation. In the case of overdentures, a lack of retention between the prosthesis and the implant can occur due to the excess fatigue of the capsules that connect them. This leads to unsuccessful treatment and loss of function, reducing the durability and quality of life of patients. Faced with this problem, the present study proposed a new material that is capable of solving or minimizing this problem, aiming at a longevity of the rehabilitation treatment. The objective of this study was to compare a new material in dentistry with existing ones, in the manufacture of capsules for retention of overdenture, before and after artificial aging by thermocycling (10,000 cycles = 1 year clinical).The material studied was polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which has been shown to be a promising material for this function due to its biocompatibility and its physical and mechanical characteristics. PET was compared with polyacetal, polyethylene and teflon already used for this function (n=20). The materials were submitted to the tests of compressive strength, roughness and surface hardness, fatigue strength, pullout, bond strength and stereomicroscopic analysis and scanning electron microscopy. In order to respond to the objectives of the study, we used, besides basic exploratory analysis techniques such as mean, median, standard deviation and confidence interval for mean (95% CI), the inferential analysis of the comparison of mean two-way ANOVA with Repeated Measurements . There was influence of artificial aging only on the variable fatigue, at all times analyzed. In relation to the roughness, the PET (0,9168) presented the lowest averages, together with the Polyacetal (0,5160) (p = 0.001). For superficial hardness there was no difference between the groups. In the Compression Resistance the polyacetal (109,88) had the highest values of tension, and there was no statistically significant difference of PET (101,02) (p= 0.003). The PET (484,4) and polyacetal (443,7) tear test the highest values of maximum strength were found (p = 0.033). In relation to PET Fatigue and Polyacetal presented the highest values in all times analyzed (p <0.001). Through stereomicroscopy analysis, the fracture pattern of Polyacetal and PET was cohesive, the others were adhesive. By scanning electron microscopy, no surface change was observed only by Polyethylene. It is concluded that PET presented excellent results for the proposed variables, suggesting its use for the preparation of prosthetic components

Målet och syftet med denna studie är att observera, tolka, och vidareutveckla förståelsen för den samtida turistens interagerande med, och omförhandlande av, det historiska rummet genom individualistisk påverkan från fiktiva narrativ – i detta fallet, Outlanders transmediala berättelsevärld. Genom ett teoretiskt ramverk uppbyggt på materialism, påverkan, tidsresande och proteser har jag analyserat och kartlagt både kulturarvsplatserna samt Outlander-fansens interaktion med dessa genom att ha deltagit själv i två guidade endagarsturer, samt genom en djupgående, om än liten, enkät. I en nutid som beskådar hur förhållandet till det förflutna och de platser som kopplas till de temporala och spatiala dimensionerna av historien förändras snabbt och omgående, är detta projekt avgörande för att vidare förstå denna minneskultur och vidareutvecklandet av ett kollektivt minne. Resultatet av mina observationer och min enkät påvisar och demonstrerar hur omfattande individuell den sensoriska upplevelsen har blivit inom Outlander-turismen i Skottland. Genom metoder såsom påverkan och lekfullhet är besökaren inbjuden till att tolka platserna i syfte att tillfredsställa deras personliga behov för autencitet i både fiktionen, historien, och sensationen. Ändock är inte vikten av, och värdet på, historien helt och hållet förlorad; majoriteten av respondenterna demonstrerar ett ökat intresse till den faktiska historien, den ’riktiga’ och autentiska, samtidigt som de återinvesterar i det ’virtuella’ och artificiella. Att bära historiens fysiska kropp som en protes, fullständigt beroende av narrativets påverkan, manifesterar den sensoriska upplevelsen och det fysiska mötet med rummet som en anpassad sammangjutning mellan historien och kroppen; besittningen av den historiska protesen stör fördelaktigt ej den egna kroppens integritet

This essay’s primarily focus is on the common discourse about the persisting effects of the past in the present in Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale(1985)and Octavia E. Butler’s Kindred (1979).These novels are the testimonies of the protagonists Offred and Dana who shares their experience of traumatic violence and oppression. Dana, with her ability to time travel, will see her present time in clearer light as she experiences the life of a slave on an antebellum plantation. Offred, the Handmaiden owned by the totalitarian regime Gilead, portrays her contemporary life in parallel to remembering her former and thus describing Gilead’s increasing authority. Based on different theorists and concepts in the field of cultural memory studies, this essay examines the tension between memory and history, the distantness towards the past and the problematics with representations of traumatic events. As I argue that the voices of Dana and Offred calls attention to the importance of perspective and of sharing stories, they are also an act of hope, therapy and resistance; an act that also make possible a critique of the processes of the production of historical knowledge.