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Technology including social media and other technology applications enabled by different technology devices offer many possibilities for second language learners to improve their learning, if they are interested in doing so. We investigated purposes for using technology among urban adolescents, including both English language learners (ELLs) and native English speakers (NESs). Data were collected through a survey of 531 students in an urban public middle school in the USA. The results showed that students used technology for diverse purposes regardless of their first language background. Although overall technology students' access was comparable to national averages, the use of technology for many specific purposes was markedly lower, lending support to the notion of a new digital divide between students from high- and low-income families based on technology knowledge and meaningful application of such knowledge rather than mere access. Student reports of their own English skills were related to various specific uses of technology, e.g., blogging and email. These relationships were stronger for ELLs, particularly those in grade 6, than for NESs. The results suggest that younger ELL adolescents may be more aware of their language constraints and prone to use technology in certain ways than their NES peers. These findings provide some preliminary insights into the complex relationships between language skills and student preferences for technology use and can ultimately provide guidance for the integration of technology into language and literacy instruction for linguistically diverse urban adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A simple bioanalytical method was first established and validated for CBMIDA. • Direct determination of the chelator itself instead of metal complex. • Improved peek shape was achieved by pulse gradient method. • Poor accuracy and linearity were overcome by addition of EDTA in the mobile phase. • Successful application to pharmacokinetic study. It is usually somewhat difficult to analyze the metal chelators, especially in complex biological matrix, because of the interference of metal ions in both the matrix and analyzing system. In this study, an innovative and simple bioanalytical method was established and validated for the quantification of a newly developed uranium chelator catechol-3, 6-bis (methyleiminodiacetic acid) (CBMIDA) in beagle dog plasma. Different analytical columns and mobile phase were tested for effective chromatography resolution and sensitive and reproducible response of CBMIDA and the internal standard. An Agilent Zorbax SB AQ column was chosen. Excessive peak tailing, peak asymmetry, low recovery, and poor reproducibility, which are generally observed in chromatographic analysis of metal chelators, were overcome by the use of a pulse gradient method and addition of ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) to the mobile phase at 8 μg mL−1, enabling good peak shape, low matrix interference, high precision and good linearity for CBMIDA quantification in beagle dog plasma. Plasma sample pretreatment was performed by a simple, high throughput protein precipitation step with 2.5 mM EDTA methanol solution in a 96-well protein precipitation plate without complexing with the metal ions, and the sample was directly analyzed by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. By shifting the analysis target from the metal complex to metal chelator itself, the method has an advantage over the existing method for determination of EDTA and diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid owing to increased sample throughput and apparent simplicity. The assay was validated in accordance with the United States Food and Drug Administration guidelines and successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic study of CBMIDA in beagles after intramuscular injection of CBMIDA at different doses. The method was sensitive enough for the detection of CBMIDA concentration at 4 elimination half-times. The experimental strategies presented herein may be helpful for the measurement of other radionuclide chelators in biological matrices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Paragangliomas of the urinary bladder (UBPGLs) are rare neuroendocrine tumours and pose a diagnostic and surgical challenge. It remains unclear what factors contribute to a timely presurgical diagnosis. The purpose of this study is to identify factors contributing to missing the diagnosis of UBPGLs before surgery., Design, Patients and Measurements: A total of 73 patients from 11 centres in China, and 51 patients from 6 centres in Europe and 1 center in the United States were included. Clinical, surgical and genetic data were collected and compared in patients diagnosed before versus after surgery. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify clinical factors associated with initiation of presurgical biochemical testing., Results: Among all patients, only 47.6% were diagnosed before surgery. These patients were younger (34.0 vs. 54.0 years, p < .001), had larger tumours (2.9 vs. 1.8 cm, p < .001), and more had a SDHB pathogenic variant (54.7% vs. 11.9%, p < .001) than those diagnosed after surgery. Patients with presurgical diagnosis presented with more micturition spells (39.7% vs. 15.9%, p = .003), hypertension (50.0% vs. 31.7%, p = .041) and catecholamine-related symptoms (37.9% vs. 17.5%, p = .012). Multivariable logistic analysis revealed that presence of younger age (<35 years, odds ratio [OR] = 6.47, p = .013), micturition spells (OR = 6.79, p = .007), hypertension (OR = 3.98, p = .011), and sweating (OR = 41.72, p = .013) increased the probability of initiating presurgical biochemical testing., Conclusions: Most patients with UBPGL are diagnosed after surgery. Young age, hypertension, micturition spells and sweating are clues in assisting to initiate early biochemical testing and thus may establish a timely presurgical diagnosis., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Accurate forecasting is required to measure future national energy performance levels in order to establish clear policies for both monitoring and reducing Nitrous Oxide and other harmful emissions. Using the well-established and accepted measures, we predict the Nitrous Oxide emissions for the year 2030 based on actual data from the years 2000 to 2016 for six countries responsible for 61% of global emissions (China, Indonesia, India, Japan, Russia and the USA). Three advanced mathematical grey predictions models were employed, namely the Even Grey Model (1, 1), the Discrete Grey Model (1, 1) and the Non-homogeneous Discrete Grey Model, which is capable of working with poor or limited data. Results showed that the Non-homogeneous Discrete Grey Model was a better fit and proved more effective in forecasting Nitrous Oxide emissions because it produced the lowest mean absolute percentage error for all countries when compared to the Even Grey Model (1, 1) and the Discrete Grey Model (1, 1). The mean absolute percentage error of the Even Grey Model (1, 1) was 2.4%, that of the Discrete Grey Model (1, 1) was 2.16%, and that of the Non-homogeneous Discrete Grey Model was 1.9%. Furthermore, the results show that China has the highest Nitrous Oxide emissions during the years studied (China 20,578,144, Russia 1,705,110, India 7,806,137, Indonesia 3,405,389, USA 8,891,219 and Japan 780,118). This study also suggests some implications for both academicians and practitioners in respect of reducing Nitrous Oxide emission levels.