Factors affecting clinical experience of nursing students in Malaysia: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Nursing education covers pathophysiology, nursing procedures, and compassionate care. Nursing students can apply theory and develop skills in the real world by participating in a supportive learning environment. For nursing students to effectively apply what they have learned in the classroom, they need a supportive clinical learning environment.

Bacterial biofilm colonization and succession in tropical marine waters are similar across different types of stone materials used in seawall construction.

Seawalls are important in protecting coastlines from currents, erosion, sea-level rise, and flooding. They are, however, associated with reduced biodiversity, due to their steep orientation, lack of microhabitats, and the materials used in their construction. Hence, there is considerable interest in modifying seawalls to enhance the settlement and diversity of marine organisms, as microbial biofilms play a critical role facilitating algal and invertebrate colonization.

Long-Term Subconjunctival Delivery of Brimonidine Tartrate for Glaucoma Treatment Using a Microspheres/Carrier System.

Core-shell polymer microspheres with poly(d,l-lactic-co-glycolic acid) core and poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA) shell are developed for the long-term subconjunctival release of brimonidine tartrate (BT) in order to reduce intraocular pressure (IOP) in the treatment of glaucoma. The PLLA-rich shell acts as a diffusion barrier, enabling linear release of BT over an extended period of 40 d. The microspheres are encased in a porous non-degradable methacrylate-based carrier for ease of subconjunctival implantation in a glaucoma-induced rabbit model.

Transparent nanostructured photochromic UV-blocking soft contact lenses.

Aim: We aim to develop transparent UV-blocking photochromic soft contact lenses via polymerization of a bicontinuous nanoemulsion.

Materials & Methods: Transparent nanostructured polymers were prepared by incorporating a polymerizable surfactant and thermal initiator together with water, monomers, UV blockers and photochromic dyes. The polymers were characterized using oxygen permeometer, tensile tester, electron microscope, UV spectrophotometer, corneal cell culture and testing in rabbits.

Sustained release of bupivacaine for post-surgical pain relief using core-shell microspheres.

Core-shell polymer microspheres with poly(d,l-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) core and poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA) shell were developed for sustained release of bupivacaine for postoperative pain relief after knee surgery. The PLLA-rich shell acted as a diffusion barrier, allowing linear release of bupivacaine in a goat model over an extended period of 2 weeks post-surgery. In vivo bupivacaine concentrations in the goat synovial fluid remained within therapeutic levels for the 2 weeks, whereas bupivacaine concentrations in the blood plasma remained safely below toxic levels.