The thionolactone 3,3-dimethyl-2,3-dihydro-5H-benzo[e][1,4]dioxepine-5-thione (DBT) is shown to homopolymerize and, for the first time, copolymerize with styrene and methacrylates, introducing degradable thioester backbone functionality. The rapid copolymerization with styrene was exploited to produce copolymers through free-radical polymerization in a starve-fed semi-batch setup. The copolymerization of DBT with tert-butyl methacrylate under RAFT conditions was hypothesized to involve selective retardation of DBT-terminal chains that led to a more uniform distribution of degradable thioester linkages between chains. Surprisingly, the aminolysis of DBT homopolymers was accompanied by the intramolecular ether cleavage within the primary degradation product leading to the formation of 2,2-dimethylthiirane and salic-ylamides.

No abstract

Aims The aims of this study were to ascertain how prepared newly qualified Foundation Year 1 (FY1) doctors felt for their surgical rotation and to evaluate the effectiveness of a surgical-themed teaching day for new FY1 doctors. Methods A near-peer surgery-themed teaching day was delivered to 44 newly qualified FY1 doctors and delivered by clinical teaching fellows (FY3 doctors). The day involved four surgical-themed simulation scenarios: (i) haemodynamically unstable pancreatitis, (ii) anastomotic leak following ileocaecal resection, (iii) septic shower post ureteric stent and (iv) post-operative pulmonary embolism. Classroom-based teaching included: (i) microbiology and antibiotic prescribing (ii) interpreting abdominal films and (iii) insulin prescribing (including for nil by mouth patients). FY1s were randomly allocated a participant number and completed pre- and post-session anonymised questionnaires. Results Only 31.7% (13/41) agreed that Medical School had adequately prepared them for their surgical foundation job and 46.3% (19/41) felt less prepared for surgical rotations compared with medical rotations. When compared with the pre-session scores: 93% (58% pre-session) felt prepared to manage acutely unwell surgical patients and 84% (43.9% pre-session) were confident with escalating patients to level 2/3 care. Confidence improved across the board for classroom-based sessions. Conclusion This study has highlighted a need to ensure newly qualified FY1 doctors feel better prepared for their surgical rotations. The introduction of a mixed simulation and classroom teaching day has, in this instance, improved confidence across a number of important domains. Teaching delivered in the near-peer style may be the key to imparting relevant knowledge to new FY1s.

N,N′-dibutyloxamide (1) was prepared by reacting diethyloxalate with n-butylamine in ethyl alcohol and characterized by microanalytical techniques, FT-IR, and NMR spectroscopy. Crystals suitable for single crystal X-ray diffraction (SC-XRD) were obtained from an acetonitrile solution of 1, and the structural characterization showed the presence of intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions.

Ammonium N-(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)oxamate (AmPicOxam), synthesized from O-methyl-N-(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)oxamate, was spectroscopically and structurally characterized and assayed as a novel precursor for the protection and consolidation of carbonate stone substrates. An in-depth characterization of treated and untreated biomicritic limestone and white Carrara marble samples was carried out by means of SEM microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, helium pycnometry, determination of water transport properties, and pull-off tests. The improved solubility (1.00 M, 16.5% w/w) of the title compound with respect to ammonium oxalate (0.4 M, 5% w/w) results in the formation of a thicker protective coating of calcium oxalate (CaOx) dihydrate (weddellite) on marble and biomicrite samples after the treatment with 5% and 12% w/w water solutions, producing a reduction in the stone porosity and increased cohesion. Theoretical calculations were carried out at the DFT level to investigate both the electronic structure of the N-(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)oxamate anion and the hydrolysis reaction leading from AmPicOxam to CaOx.