The effect of a virtual simulation-based educational application on nursing students' belief and self-efficacy in communicating with patients about complementary and alternative medicine.

Background: Simulation-based learning that focuses on the development and assessment of communication and counseling skills can help nursing students achieve better skill performance and gain self-confidence with decision-making ability. It is unknown whether virtual simulation as an instructional design significantly improves educational outcomes than a traditional lecture with low-fidelity simulation in students.

Objectives: The aim was to explore the effect of a virtual simulation-based educational smartphone application on nursing students' beliefs and self-efficacy in communicating with patients about complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use.

Effects of Acupuncture on Postoperative Pain After Total Knee Replacement: Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objective: To identify the analgesic effectiveness of acupuncture after total knee replacement by systematic review.

Methods: A search of randomized controlled trials was conducted in five English medical electronic databases and five Chinese databases. Two reviewers independently searched in five English medical electronic databases and five Chinese databases.

Blu-ray based optomagnetic aptasensor for detection of small molecules.

This paper describes an aptamer-based optomagnetic biosensor for detection of a small molecule based on target binding-induced inhibition of magnetic nanoparticle (MNP) clustering. For the detection of a target small molecule, two mutually exclusive binding reactions (aptamer-target binding and aptamer-DNA linker hybridization) are designed. An aptamer specific to the target and a DNA linker complementary to a part of the aptamer sequence are immobilized onto separate MNPs.

Quantification of rolling circle amplified DNA using magnetic nanobeads and a Blu-ray optical pick-up unit.

We present the first implementation of a Blu-ray optical pickup unit (OPU) for the high-performance low-cost readout of a homogeneous assay in a multichamber microfluidic disc with a chamber thickness of 600 μm. The assay relies on optical measurements of the dynamics of magnetic nanobeads in an oscillating magnetic field applied along the light propagation direction. The laser light provided by the OPU is transmitted through the sample chamber and reflected back onto the photo detector array of the OPU via a mirror.

Nanomechanical recognition of prognostic biomarker suPAR with DVD-ROM optical technology.

In this work the use of a high-throughput nanomechanical detection system based on a DVD-ROM optical drive and cantilever sensors is presented for the detection of urokinase plasminogen activator receptor inflammatory biomarker (uPAR). Several large scale studies have linked elevated levels of soluble uPAR (suPAR) to infectious diseases, such as HIV, and certain types of cancer. Using hundreds of cantilevers and a DVD-based platform, cantilever deflection response from antibody-antigen recognition is investigated as a function of suPAR concentration.

High throughput label-free platform for statistical bio-molecular sensing.

Sensors are crucial in many daily operations including security, environmental control, human diagnostics and patient monitoring. Screening and online monitoring require reliable and high-throughput sensing. We report on the demonstration of a high-throughput label-free sensor platform utilizing cantilever based sensors.

Effects of ear acupressure in improving visual health in children.

Myopia is a major health problem, not only because of its high prevalence in Asia but also because it contributes to visual morbidity. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of ear acupressure for visual improvement on school children in Taiwan. Participants were fifth-grade school children with visual acuity between 6/37.

An intervention of acupressure and interactive multimedia to improve visual health among Taiwanese schoolchildren.

Objective: Myopia is a significant health issue but it can be alleviated and prevented by several interventions. This study aimed to construct an intervention of acupressure and interactive multimedia for visual health and to evaluate the effect of its application on schoolchildren.

Design: A pre-posttest experimental research design with a control group was used.