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Objective: Visual arts-based exposure and training are effective tools to enhance medical education. The visual arts can increase emotional intelligence and critical thinking skills. This study, conducted at Georgetown University School of Medicine (GUSoM) and the National Gallery of Art (NGA) in Washington, DC, was designed to measure the effect of a visual arts elective course on medical students' self-perception of their communication skills., Methods: This 6-week course involved lessons at the NGA and GUSoM for16 second-year medical students. The intervention students were age and gender-matched to14 second-year medical student control participants who took different elective courses. Prior to and following the intervention, the participants completed the Communication Skills Attitude Scale (CSAS). Statistical analysis was performed with either the 2-sided t-test or 2-sided Wilcoxon rank-sum test., Results: There were no statistically significant differences in the presurvey scores between the groups. However, there were 6 CSAS questions in the postsurveys that had statistically significant differences between the 2 groups. Within each group, there were also numerous statistically significant differences between their presurvey and postsurvey responses, with positive changes occurring in the intervention group (IG) and primarily negative changes occurring in the control group (CG). The NGA course improved the self-perception of communication skills, with students reporting stronger views on the importance of communication skills in teamwork and patient rapport. The CG, on the other hand, did not have as many improved perceptions of communication skills and had stronger opinions regarding not needing the ability to communicate well to be a good physician., Conclusion: This study indicates that medical student communication skills can benefit from exposure to visual arts activities and experiences. Future physicians must become effective communicators, and this study paves the way for research investigating the relationship between visual arts education and the development of a physician's communication skills., Competing Interests: The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (© The Author(s) 2024.)

Competing Interests: Conflict-of-Interest Disclosures: None to disclose.

This paper is dedicated to the presentation and validation of SPECTRON, a novel neutron noise measurement system developed at CEA Cadarache. The device is designed for the measurement of the β(eff) parameter (effective fraction of delayed neutrons) of experimental nuclear reactors using the Cohn-α method. An integrated electronic system is used to record the current from fission chambers. Spectra computed from measurement data are processed by a dedicated software in order to estimate the reactor transfer function and then the effective fraction of delayed neutrons as well as the prompt neutron generation time. After a review of the pile noise measurement method in current mode, the SPECTRON architecture is presented. Then, the validation procedure is described and experimental results are shown, supporting the proper functioning of this new measurement system. It is shown that every technical requirement needed for correct measurement of neutron noise is fulfilled. Measurements performed at MINERVE and EOLE, two experimental nuclear reactors at CEA Cadarache, in real conditions allowed us to validate SPECTRON.

Flux monitoring is of great interest for experimental studies in material testing reactors. Nowadays, only the thermal neutron flux can be monitored on line, e.g., using fission chambers or self-powered neutron detectors. In the framework of the Joint Instrumentation Laboratory between SCK-CEN and CEA, we have developed a fast neutron detector system (FNDS) capable of measuring on line the local high-energy neutron flux in fission reactor core and reflector locations. FNDS is based on fission chambers measurements in Campbelling mode. The system consists of two detectors, one detector being mainly sensitive to fast neutrons and the other one to thermal neutrons. On line data processing uses the CEA depletion code DARWIN in order to disentangle fast and thermal neutrons components, taking into account the isotopic evolution of the fissile deposit. The first results of FNDS experimental test in the BR2 reactor are presented in this paper. Several fission chambers have been irradiated up to a fluence of about 7 × 10(20) n∕cm(2). A good agreement (less than 10% discrepancy) was observed between FNDS fast flux estimation and reference flux measurement.

Because previous researchers have reported a reduced lactic acid production that accompanies a delayed or an absent ventilatory threshold (VTh) in water-based exercise, we hypothesized that the metaboreflex, activated by muscle acidosis, might be absent in fin swimming. This motor response, delaying the occurrence of fatigue, is characterized by a decreased median frequency (MF) of electromyographic (EMG) power spectrum. Seven healthy subjects performed a maximal fin swimming exercise protocol with simultaneous recordings of surface EMGs in VASTUS MEDIALIS (VM), TIBIALIS ANTERIOR (TA) and GASTROCNEMIUS MEDIALIS (GM). We computed the root mean square (RMS) and MF and recorded the compound evoked muscle potential (M-wave) in VM. We also measured the propulsive force and oxygen uptake (VO (2)), and determined VTh. VTh was absent in 4/7 subjects and measured at 70-90% of VO (2max) in the other three. In the three studied muscles, the global EMG activity (RMS) increased while the MF decreased in proportion of VO (2), the MF changes being significantly higher in VM (-29%) and GM (-39%) than in TA (-19%). Because no M-wave changes were noted, the MF decline was attributed to the recruitment of low-frequency, fatigue-resistant motor units. Our most important finding is the persistence of the metaboreflex even in a situation of reduced muscle acidosis., ((c) Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart . New York.)

Data in the literature suggest that compared to dry-land exercise fin swimming might delay the activation of the anaerobic metabolism. To verify this hypothesis, we explored indirect indices such as the oxygen pulse (VO(2)/HR), carbon dioxide production (VCO(2)), and ventilatory threshold, comparing fin swimming exercise to dry-land cycling. Thirteen participants, experienced or inexperienced in fin swimming, completed an incremental fin swimming exercise and a maximal exercise on a cycloergometer with breath-by-breath measurements of heart rate (HR), ventilation (VE), tidal volume (VT), VO(2), VCO(2), and VO(2)/HR and determination of the ventilatory threshold and maximal oxygen uptake (VO(2)max). Compared to dry-land cycling exercise, fin swimming resulted in elevated or absent ventilatory threshold. Although VO(2)max did not differ in either condition, in fin swimming the maximal HR value was lower (-18%, p=0.0072), maximal VO(2)/HR higher (+20%, p=0.0325), and maximal VCO(2) lower (-17%, p=0.0071). We also measured significant reduction of VE, VT, and HR variations for the same VO(2) increase. This study suggests that the anaerobic muscle metabolism might be delayed in fin swimming. An attenuated chemoreflex drive to the heart and respiratory centres exerted by muscle metabolites might explain the depressed cardiopulmonary response to fin swimming.

Background: The improvement of vulnerable users' protection has become an essential objective for our society. Injury assessments observed in clinical traumatology have led researchers and manufacturers to understand the mechanisms involved and to design safe vehicles (to reduce the severity of pedestrian injuries)., Methods: In all, 137 crash tests between 1979 and 2004 with postmortal human subjects (PMHS) were performed at the Laboratory of Applied Biomechanics to access pedestrian protection. A retrospective analysis of these experimental tests, pedestrian/car impacts (full scale or subsystems), performed at the laboratory is thus proposed. This document focuses on injury mechanisms investigation on the evolution of the experimental approach, as well as on the vehicles' technological improvements performed by car manufacturers., Results: The analysis of experimental results (injury assessment, kinematics, vehicle deformations, etc.) shows the complexity and variety of injury mechanisms. The injury assessment shows the need to improve lower-limb joints protection, as well as head and spine segments, because of the difficulties of surgical repair of these injuries., Conclusions: Experimental tests contribute to evaluate the automobile safety evolution in the field of pedestrian protection. The main induced car improvements concern considerable efforts on vehicle material behavior and their capacity to dissipate energy during shocks (replacement of the convex rigid bumpers by deformable structures, modification of the windscreen structure). They also concern the suppression of all aggressive structures for the pedestrian (spare wheel initially placed on the front part of the vehicle, protection of the heels of windscreen wiper, etc.).