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This work presented a new PEG modified calix[4]arene stationary phase (C4A-PEG-2PTSC) for gas chromatographic (GC) separations. The statically coated C4A-PEG-2PTSC column exhibited moderate polarity and column efficiency of 2224 plates m-1 determined by 1-octanol at 120 oC. The results showed that the C4A-PEG-2PTSC column exhibited the good separation performance for various types of analytes containing halogenated benzenes, benzaldehydes, phenols, alcohols, anilines isomers and showed the different retention behavior with the comparative columns. Importantly, it showed the better separation capacity of toluidine and xylidine isomers than commercial HP-35 column. Moreover, it was applied in practical sample analysis to detect the content of isomer impurities. This work exhibited the good application potential of C4A-PEG-2PTSC stationary phase in GC analyses.

The nuclear power valve is an important piece of equipment in any nuclear power system. The finite element method was used in this study to analyze the strength and rigidity of the high-temperature and high-pressure nuclear gate valve. The structural characteristics were optimized as per the parameters that affect the strength of the valve body. Fluid-solid coupling technology was utilized to investigate the temperature, deformation, and stress distributions in the structure. A high stress concentration was observed in the initial design; the maximum equivalent stress exceeded the allowable range. Three optimization methods were deployed in efforts to improve the stress distribution. The stress distribution was found to be more uniform post-optimization and the gate valve structure of all three schemes tested met the relevant stress requirements. The optimal scheme was then determined by further comparison. The results presented here may provide a theoretical reference for the optimization of nuclear power valve designs.

Retinoids has been used widely in the topical and systemic treatments of various dermatoses: psoriasis, disorders of keratinization (DOK), keratotic genodermatosis, and severe acne. Moreover, it is also used in the treatment and/or chemoprevention of skin cancer and other neoplasms. Retinoids display key regulatory functions and most dermatologists are familiar with the FDA-approved indication of this medication. Retinoic acid is a potent signaling molecule that is essential for many biological processes, and its levels are tightly regulated by mechanisms that are only partially understood. This article will review these recent findings and attempt to synthesize their meaning to provide a view into the off-label uses of retinoids in dermatology with an emphasis on oral isotretinoin and acitrein.

El presente trabajo de investigación tiene el propósito de describir la entonación de los enunciados declarativos e interrogativos absolutos del chino mandarín hablado por taiwaneses. Teniendo en cuenta este objetivo, se ha elaborado un corpus de habla espontánea y se ha analizado siguiendo el método Análisis Melódico del Habla. El corpus está basado en 88 enunciados emitidos por 44 informantes, que provienen de las emisiones de dos programas de televisión taiwaneses. Los resultados obtenidos muestran que los enunciados declarativos e interrogativos absolutos tienen tendencia a finalizar con un contorno descendente leve, y además, se ha observado que el tono de los fonemas se modifica según la entonación del grupo fónico.

Previous findings from Project STAR have highlighted the benefits of being in small classes in early grades on average. Here, we examined the differential “value-added” effects of small classes across the achievement distribution. We find that once previous grade achievement and small class membership are controlled for, small class effects are by and large insignificant. Although high-achievers benefited more from small classes in third grade reading, overall, the differential small class effects were not systematic. Findings from longitudinal analyses failed to show that being in small classes for two or more years is as beneficial as being in small classes for only one year. Although the cumulative small class effects are positive, significant, and meaningful in magnitude, they do not indicate which grade (or grades) are the most important.

This paper presents the ongoing project "German as a Second Language in a Dialect-Speaking Environment" which is concerned with the acquisition of German as a second language by immigrant children in the German-Speaking part of Switzerland. As this is one of the areas where a distinct dialect coexists with the standard variety, the language acquisition poses a challenge for immigrant children: The daily input does not correspond at all, or only in part, to what the immigrant children should learn (e.g. for achievement in school and career opportunities), namely standard German. The aims of the project are to evaluate existing language measuring methods for preschool children and to develop a test that is adapted to the bilingualism of the immigrant children and the specific diglossic learning situation. Furthermore, an empirical pilot study deals with the language abilities of primary school children and examines how and to what extend the local dialect influences the use of standard German in spoken and written texts.

ABSTRACT In this study, POU1F1 gene polymorphism was detected in five sheep populations (large-tailed Han, small-tailed Han, Yuxi fat-tailed, Lanzhou large-tailed, and Mongolian sheep), using DNA pooling and sequencing, to provide theoretical basis for the breeding of excellent sheep varieties. Three single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) loci of POU1F1 gene were detected in five sheep populations, namely C355T (C/T), C71G (C/G), and C330G (C/G). C and T frequencies of C355T were 0.67/0.33, 0.81/0.19, 0.67/0.33, 1.00/0.00, and 0.93/0.07, respectively, in large-tailed Han, small-tailed Han, Yuxi fat-tailed, Mongolian, and Lanzhou large-tailed sheep. C of C355T locus was the dominant allele in five sheep populations. C and G allele frequencies of C330G locus were detected in Yuxi fat-tailed sheep; their frequencies were 0.75 and 0.25, respectively. C and G allele of C71G locus were only detected in Yuxi fat-tailed and large-tailed Han sheep; their frequencies were 0.87/0.13 and 0.87/0.13, respectively. The cluster analysis based on POU1F1 gene sequence showed that bactrian camel, dromedary, and wild camel clustered first, and dolphin and killer whales clustered according to taxonomy. Although the four species Tibetan antelope, buffalo, goat, and sheep were alone, they got close and the relative genetic relationship was intimate according to the dendrogram. The mutation site analysis of the POU1F1 gene in five sheep populations in this study would be favorable for uncovering the function of POU1F1 gene deeply.

Introduction: Clinical trials are a fundamental tool in evidence-based medicine, with participant recruitment being a critical factor for their execution. Low participation in a study leads to inadequate sample size. Older adults constitute a minority in clinical trials, and various factors influence their level of participation and retention during the study process. Our objective is to determine the willingness of older adults to participate in clinical trials and identify their main barriers and facilitator., Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out on outpatient adults over 60 years of age. The rate of desire for voluntary participation in clinical trials was determined and through a validated survey "National Health Information Trends Survey (HINTS 5, cycle 4)" the knowledge, rate of prior participation in CE and the influence of different factors that could be associated with a positive attitude to participate. These factors were analyzed using ordinal logistic regression., Results: 251 older adults were surveyed. Of them, 171 (68%) reported not having any knowledge about clinical trials and 80 (31.87%) reported having it to some degree. 12 patients (5%) previously participated in a CS and up to 88 patients (35%) expressed that they would probably or definitely participate in one. It was observed that, the older the age, the less willingness to participate in CE [OR]: 0.55 (CI 95% 0.34-0.88). Likewise, male sex was associated with a greater desire to participate [OR]: 1.74 (CI 95% 1.06-2.84), respectively. The scenarios that were associated with a greater desire to participate in CE were knowing that by participating you could help others [OR]: 1.95 (95% CI 1.36-2.178), the possibility of receiving help for participating [OR]: 1.69 (95% CI 1.26-2.26) and the possibility of trying a new type of medical care [OR]: 1.71 (95% CI 1.20-2.42)., Conclusions: The level of knowledge about CE among older adults is low and up to a third of them would participate as volunteers in a CE. The dissemination of information about ECs could encourage a higher participation rate., (Copyright © 2024 SEGG. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Introduction and Objectives: Intensive systolic blood pressure (SBP) control improved outcomes in the Strategy of Blood Pressure Intervention in the Elderly Hypertensive Patients (STEP) trial. Whether the serum uric acid concentration at baseline alters the benefits of intensive SBP control is unknown., Methods: The STEP trial was a randomized controlled trial that compared the effects of intensive (SBP target of 110 to<130mmHg) and standard (SBP target of 130 to <150mmHg) SBP control in Chinese patients aged 60 to 80 years with hypertension. The primary outcome was a composite of cardiovascular disease events. This post hoc analysis was performed to examine whether the effects of intensive SBP intervention differed by the baseline uric acid concentration using 2 models: restricted cubic spline curves and subgroup analyses, both based on the Fine-Gray subdistribution hazard model in the analysis of the primary outcome and secondary outcomes (excluding all-cause death). In the analysis of all-cause death, the Cox regression model was used. We also examined the change in the follow-up uric acid concentrations., Results: Overall, the risk of the primary outcome rose as the cumulative uric acid concentration increased in both the intensive and standard treatment groups. Patients with intensive treatment had a lower multivariable-adjusted subdistribution hazard ratio for the primary outcome, but with a wide overlap of 95%CI. Next, we stratified patients according to their baseline uric acid concentration (tertile 1 [T1], <303.0μmol/L; tertile 2 [T2], 303.0 to <375.8μmol/L; and tertile 3 [T3], ≥375.8μmol/L). Subgroup analyses using tertiles provided HRs and 95%CI in T1 (HR, 0.55; 95%CI, 0.36-0.86; P=.008), T2 (HR, 0.80; 95%CI, 0.56-1.14; P=.22) and T3 (HR, 0.86; 95%CI, 0.60-1.21; P=.39), with an interaction P value of .29. The results for most of the secondary outcomes followed the same trends., Conclusions: There was no evidence that the benefit of the intensive SBP control differed by baseline uric acid concentrations. This trial was registered at ClinicalTrial.gov (Identifier: NCT03015311)., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U.)