title: An Empirical Evaluation of Online Cooperative Programming Platforms Based on the PACT Framework and Technology Readiness abstract: Programming instruction helps students develop critical-thinking and problem-solving skills, and is also important for the development of professional talent in the information technology sector. Cooperative learning has been shown to promote innovative educational applications while enhancing learning motivation and performance. Referring to the People, Activities, Context, Technologies (PACT) framework and the theory of technology readiness, this study explores factors that affect continued use intention and learning performance for students using an online cooperative programming (OCP) platform. A total of 120 students were invited to participate in the programming course. Students were asked to complete programming projects on the OCP platform and fill out a questionnaire. A causal model was proposed and examined using a partial least squares regression. The results show that optimism/ innovativeness in technology readiness and trust among team members both have a positive impact on user satisfaction using the platform. In addition, both user satisfaction and trust encourage continued use intention and improve learning performance. The findings can help educators and researchers promote the development of programming teaching and learning.
An Empirical Evaluation of Online Cooperative Programming Platforms Based on the PACT Framework and Technology Readiness
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Effect of Pharmacist Intervention on a Population in Taiwan with High Healthcare Utilization and Excessive Polypharmacy
title: Effect of Pharmacist Intervention on a Population in Taiwan with High Healthcare Utilization and Excessive Polypharmacy abstract: Patients with high healthcare utilization are at increased risk of polypharmacy and drug interactions. This study investigated the changes in the number of medications, drug interactions and interaction severity in high frequency outpatients with polypharmacy at hospitals and clinics in Taiwan after home pharmaceutical care, to understand the effectiveness of interventions by pharmacists. This was a retrospective observational study. Cases with excessive polypharmacy (10+ drugs) were selected from the Pharmaceutical Care Practice System database of the Taiwan Pharmacist Association in 2017. After the home care intervention, the number of drug types used decreased 1.89-fold (p
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Separation and quantification of bioactive flavonoids from Scutellaria barbata using a green procedure
title: Separation and quantification of bioactive flavonoids from Scutellaria barbata using a green procedure abstract: Six bioactive flavonoids, including apigenin, baicalein, baicalin, luteolin, naringenin and wogonin, were extracted from a herbal tea plant, Scutellaria barbata D. Don, using a hyphenated procedure (HUAE) combining heat-reflux extraction (HRE) and ultrasonic assisted extraction (UAE); the flavonoids were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS). HUAE had the highest flavonoid yield, which was 8.1-9.2% and 18.3-21.1% higher than those of UAE and HRE, respectively, while using shorter extraction times (less than 45 and 165 min) and less extraction solvent (less than 100 and 220 mL). The enhancement of the extraction efficiency obtained by HUAE was mainly due to the combined cavitation, mechanical and thermal effects caused by the ultrasonic energy. It was further found that the experimental data obtained for the total extract of S. barbata via the HUAE and HRE procedures can achieve excellent correlation using the second-order rate model. The second-order rate constant obtained by the HUAE correlation decreased with increasing temperature, which was completely opposite to that of the HRE procedure. However, the remaining two related parameters (the equilibrium concentration of analytes and the initial extraction rate), whether obtained through HUAE or HRE procedures, increased with increasing temperature. In addition, this study also relied on the evaluation of the extraction activation energy and thermodynamic parameters to explain and demonstrate the superiority of the HUAE procedure for the extraction of S. barbata. (C) 2019 Institution of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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Preceptors' Subjective Competency Ratings in Acute Care Hospitals in Taiwan
title: Preceptors' Subjective Competency Ratings in Acute Care Hospitals in Taiwan abstract: Background: This study focused on developing a Subjective Competency Scale (SCS) in acute care hospitals and identified factors that affect preceptors' competency to precept new graduate nurses (NGNs). Method: This study was conducted in two stages that included collecting information on preceptor training courses and conducting a cross-sectional questionnaire survey. A total of 350 preceptors completed the survey in 2011. The validity and reliability of the SCS were determined. Results: An SCS was developed using 22 items and five factors: teaching/assessment skills, interpersonal/communication skills, confidence/self-assurance, problem-solving/stress-coping skills, and self-reflection. These explained 69.73% of the variance. Cronbach's alpha for these five factors of scale ranged from .715 to .889. Preceptors' subjective competency was correlated positively with age, years as a nurse, years as a preceptor, willingness to be a preceptor, and self-rated relationship with NGNs (p
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