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Mythbusters: The Explosive Exhibition is a traveling exhibit based on the popular television show. When housed at the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago, it included a traditional, interactive free flow exhibition space followed by a live facilitated show. This paper describes results from an experimental study about the effects of the Live Show on the learning of and attitudes towards science. A pre-test was given to 333 children entering the exhibit. A post-test was given to 80 children after they walked through the free-flow portion of the exhibit and to 191 children after they watched the Live Show. Thirty-two children were interviewed in lieu of taking the post-test. Findings show additional knowledge and attitude gains by the children who watched the Live Show. However, no gains in either group were found on items related to recognizing terminology related to the scientific process.

Casual games are everywhere. People play them throughout life to pass the time, to engage in social interactions, and to learn. However, their simplicity and use in distraction-heavy environments can attenuate their potential for learning. This experimental study explored the effects playing an online, casual game has on awareness of human biological systems. Two hundred and forty-two children were given pretests at a Museum and posttests at home after playing either a treatment or control game. Also, 41 children were interviewed to explore deeper meanings behind the test results. Results show modest improvement in scientific attitudes, ability to identify human biological systems and in the children's ability to describe how those systems work together in real-world scenarios. Interviews reveal that children drew upon their prior school learning as they played the game. Also, on the surface they perceived the game as mainly entertainment but were easily able to discern learning outcomes when prompted. Implications for the design of casual games and how they can be used to enhance transfer of knowledge from the classroom to everyday life are discussed.

In folded protein domains, protein function is frequently more conserved than amino acid sequence because highly diverged sequences can fold into equivalent 3D structures with identical function. During evolution, intrinsically disordered protein regions (IDRs) often experience rapid amino acid sequence divergence, but because they do not fold into stable 3D structures, it remains largely unknown when and how function is conserved. As a model system for studying the evolution of IDRs, we examined transcriptional activation domains, the regions of transcription factors that bind to coactivator complexes. We systematically identified activation domains on 502 homologs of the transcriptional activator Gcn4 spanning 600 MY of fungal evolution in the Ascomycota. We found that the central activation domain shows strong conservation of function without conservation of sequence. This conservation of function without conservation of sequence arises from evolutionary turnover (gain and loss) at two length scales. Within the central activation domain, we see turnover of acidic and aromatic residues, but primarily loss of short linear motifs. In the full-length transcription factor, we see turnover of entire activation domains. Stabilizing selection and evolutionary turnover at multiple length scales are likely a general mechanism for conservation of function without conservation of sequence in IDRs.

Category: Ankle, Trauma Introduction/Purpose: Ankle fractures are commonly-seen orthopaedic injuries across all age groups, and often warrant operative management. Postoperative complications are particularly common among elderly patients, and can lead to a progressive culmination of negative outcomes. Although several studies have focused on the risk factors for and prevention of such complications in elderly patients, a paucity of literature exists addressing risk of postoperative complications in younger patient populations. The purpose of this study was to compare the incidence of and risk factors for various postoperative complications between younger and older patient populations. Methods: Patients who underwent open reduction and internal fixation for an ankle fracture at a single institution between the years 2008 and 2018 were retrospectively identified based on seven different Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes: 27829, 27784, 27822, 27814, 27769, 27792, and 27766. Patient charts were reviewed for demographic data and comorbid conditions. Patients with open fractures, pilon fractures, and polytraumatic injuries were excluded. The sample was stratified into two cohorts based on age in years: 18-49 (group 1), and 50 and older (group 2). Incidence of various postoperative complications—including infection, wound dehiscence, sepsis, DVT, implant failure, revision surgery, and non-union— was compared between groups. Secondary analysis was conducted to compare risk factors for these complications between ages 18- 49 and older than 50. Results: 881 patients were included. A significantly greater number of patients in group 2 experienced wound dehiscence (p = 0.033) and nonunion (p<0.001) postoperatively in comparison to those in group 1. Risk of infection was significantly increased among patients with hypertension, CHF, and CKD compared to patients without these comorbidities in both group 1 and group 2. Risk of wound dehiscence was significantly increased among patients using tobacco and illicit drugs in group 1 (RR=3.39, p=0.0223 and RR=3.07, p=0.0201 respectively), but not in group 2 (RR = 1.12, p = 0.8021 and RR = 1.77, p = 0.4203 respectively). Risk of implant failure was significantly increased among tobacco users in group 2 (RR=3.82, p = 0.0005), but not in group 1 (RR = 0.75, p=0.4709). Conclusion: Patients age 50 and older may be at significantly increased risk for postoperative wound dehiscence and nonunion in comparison to patients who are younger than 50. Additionally, younger patients who use tobacco and illicit drugs may be at increased risk of wound dehiscence, while tobacco use among patients 50 years and older may increase risk of implant failure. Understanding the risk factors associated with negative outcomes may help physicians to optimize individual patient care based on existing comorbidities and age.

Category: Ankle, Ankle Arthritis, Arthroscopy, Basic Sciences/Biologics Introduction/Purpose: Ankle arthrodesis is a gold standard for end-stage ankle arthritis after conservative managements fail. It may be done through direct anterior, lateral, arthroscopic or mini open approaches. Joint preparation, apposition of joint surfaces and stable fixation are very important for successful outcomes. Ankle arthrodesis maybe associated with infection, chronic pain and nonunion - of these, nonunion is the most common complication reported. Achieving union is of utmost importance while minimizing complications associated with the procedure. Regardless of approach or fixation method, preparation of articular surface is of paramount importance for successful union and may be limited by the approach used. Our study aims to evaluate the difference between direct lateral and dual mini-open approaches (extended arthroscopic portals) in terms of joint preparation. Methods: We used 10 below knee fresh-frozen cadaver legs for this cadaveric study. Ankle joints of five specimens were prepared through the lateral approach, while the remaining five ankles were prepared using dual mini incisions. After the completion of preparation, all ankles were dissected to open, photographic images of tibial plafond and talar articular were taken. Surface areas of each articular facet and unprepared cartilage of the talus, distal tibia, and distal fibula were measured and analyzed using ImageJ software. Results: Significantly greater amount of total surface area was prepared among specimens using mini-open approach compared to those with trans-fibular approach. The percentage of total articulating surface area prepared (including talus and tibia/fibula), talus, tibia and fibula in trans-fibular approach were 76.9%, 77.7% and 75% respectively. The percentages were 90.9%, 92.9%, and 88.6% in mini-open approach. While the medial gutter was well prepared with mini incision technique (unprepared surface 44 .64% vs 91.08%), lateral gutter was well prepared in trans-fibular technique (88.82vs 82.04 square cm). There is no difference in the amount of unprepared surface of talar dome between the two approaches. When excluding the medial gutter, there was no significant difference between trans-fibular and mini open techniques (83.94 vs 90.85, p=0.1412). Conclusion: Joint preparation using the mini-open approach (extended arthroscopic portal) is equally as efficacious as the transfibular approach for preparation of the tibiotalar joint. When including preparation of the medial gutter, the mini-open approach provides superior joint preparation. This may be advantageous with decreased rate of nonunion and less complications. But many surgeons fuse only tibiotalar surface, considering that, both approaches yield equal amount of joint preparation. But it needs to be confirmed with clinical studies.