Effects of Standardized Patient Simulation and Mobile Applications on Nursing Students' Clinical Competence, Self-Efficacy, and Cultural Competence: A Quasi-Experimental Study.

Background: Simulation-based education has emerged as an effective approach in nursing education worldwide. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a surgical nursing education program based on a simulation using standardized patients and mobile applications among nursing students.

Methods: A mixed-methods design with a quasi-experimental longitudinal approach and focus group interviews was employed.

Challenges and Lessons Learned in the Development of a Participatory Learning and Action Intervention to Tackle Antibiotic Resistance: Experiences From Northern Vietnam.

Antibiotic use in the community for humans and animals is high in Vietnam, driven by easy access to over-the counter medicines and poor understanding of the role of antibiotics. This has contributed to antibiotic resistance levels that are amongst the highest in the world. To address this problem, we developed a participatory learning and action (PLA) intervention.

Is T2 mapping reliable in evaluation of native and repair cartilage tissue of the knee?

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of imaging plane and experience of observers on the reliability of T2 mapping of native and repair cartilage tissue of the knee.

Methods: Fifteen consecutive patients from two randomised controlled trials (RCTs) were included in this cross-sectional study. Patients with an isolated knee cartilage lesion were randomised to receive either debridement or microfracture (RCT 1) or debridement or autologous chondrocyte implantation (RCT 2).

A stereocomplex of poly(lactide)s with chain end modification: simultaneous resistances to melting and thermal decomposition.

The simultaneous improvement of the melting temperature (T(m) = 224 °C) and the decomposition temperature (T(10) = 359 °C) of poly(lactide)s was achieved by the stereocomplex formation of poly(l-lactide) and poly(d-lactide) with bio-based aromatic groups at both initiating and terminating chain ends.

Development of photoreactive degradable branched polyesters with high thermal and mechanical properties.

Branched polyesters composed of poly(L-lactide)s (PLLAs) and 3,4-dihydroxycinnamic acid (DHCA) were obtained by the thermal melt-polycondensation of 3,4-diacetoxycinnamic acid (DACA)-terminally conjugated PLLAs (DACA-PLLAs). The chemical structures of the DHCA/PLLA polyesters were confirmed by FT-IR and (1)H NMR measurements. All of the polyesters showed high photoreactivities independent of LLA content.

Thermally stable and photoreactive polylactides by the terminal conjugation of bio-based caffeic acid.

Caffeic acid terminally conjugated with polylactide showed high thermal stability and photoreactivity, and may be useful as a functional polylactide in the environmental and medical fields.

Synthesis and properties of coumaric acid derivative homo-polymers.

Poly(4-hydroxycinnamic acid) (P4HCA), poly(3-hydroxycinnamic acid) (P3HCA), poly(3-methoxy-4-hydroxycinnamic acid) (PMHCA) and poly(3,4-dihydroxycinnamic acid) (PDHCA) were synthesized by the thermal poly-condensation of the corresponding monomers, which are lignin precursors, coumaric acid derivatives consisting of cinnamoyl groups and different position and number of OH groups. The solubility of the homo-polymers in organic solvents decreased in the order of P3HCA > PDHCA > P4HCA > PMHCA. The wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) results indicated that P4HCA or PMHCA with p-OH group had higher crystallinity, in contrast to P3HCA or PDHCA with m-OH group which had lower crystallinity.

Environmentally degradable, high-performance thermoplastics from phenolic phytomonomers.

Aliphatic polyesters, such as poly(lactic acid), which degrade by hydrolysis, from naturally occurring molecules form the main components of biodegradable plastics. However, these polyesters have become substitutes for only a small percentage of the currently used plastic materials because of their poor thermal and mechanical properties. Polymers that degrade into natural molecules and have a performance closer to that of engineering plastics would be highly desirable.

Enhanced effects of lithocholic acid incorporation into liquid-crystalline biopolymer poly(coumaric acid) on structural ordering and cell adhesion.

A novel thermotropic liquid-crystalline biocopolymer, poly{trans-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (4HCA: trans-coumaric acid)-co-lithocholic acid (LCA)}, was synthesized by a thermal polycondensation of 4HCA and LCA. When the LCA composition of P(4HCA-co-LCA) was 0, 5, 7, 23, 27, and 45 mol%, the copolymers showed a nematic liquid-crystalline phase. The melting point of the copolymers was 120-250 degrees C depending on the LCA composition, and showed a maximum at 7 mol%.