Nonacademic predictors of China medical licensing examination.

Background: National Medical Licensing Examination (NMLE) is the entrance exam for medical practice in China, and its general medical knowledge test (GMKT) evaluates abilities of medical students to comprehensively apply medical knowledge to clinical practice. This study aimed to identify nonacademic predictors of GMKT performance, which would benefit medical schools in designing appropriate strategies and techniques to facilitate the transition from medical students to qualified medical practitioners.

Methods: In 1202 medical students, we conducted the deletion-substitution-addition (DSA) and structural equation model (SEM) analyses to identify nonacademic predictors of GMKT performance from 98 candidate variables including early life events, physical conditions, psychological and personality assessments, cognitive abilities, and socioeconomic conditions.

Establishing a GRU-GCN coordination-based prediction model for miRNA-disease associations.

Background: miRNAs (microRNAs) are endogenous RNAs with lengths of 18 to 24 nucleotides and play critical roles in gene regulation and disease progression. Although traditional wet-lab experiments provide direct evidence for miRNA-disease associations, they are often time-consuming and complicated to analyze by current bioinformatics tools. In recent years, machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) techniques are powerful tools to analyze large-scale biological data.

Risk factors associated with the failure of local methotrexate combined with minimally invasive surgery for late cesarean scar pregnancy.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the risk factors related to the failure of initial combined local methotrexate (MTX) treatment and minimally invasive surgery for late cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP).

Methods: This retrospective case-control study was conducted between January 2016 and December 2023, involving patients with late CSP (≥ 8 weeks) who received local MTX injection combined with either hysteroscopic or laparoscopic surgery. Cesarean scar pregnancy was classified as type I, II, or III based on the direction of growth of the gestational sac and the residual myometrial thickness as assessed by ultrasound.

Dynamic X-ray Microtomography vs. Laser-Doppler Vibrometry: A Comparative Study.

Purpose: There are challenges in understanding the biomechanics of the human middle ear, and established methods for studying this system show significant limitations. In this study, we evaluate a novel dynamic imaging technique based on synchrotron X-ray microtomography designed to assess the biomechanical properties of the human middle ear by comparing it to laser-Doppler vibrometry (LDV).

Methods: We examined three fresh-frozen temporal bones (TB), two donated by white males and one by a Black female, using dynamic synchrotron-based X-ray microtomography for 256 and 512 Hz, stimulated at 110 dB and 120 dB sound pressure level (SPL).

Comparative metabolomic analysis of Haematococcus pluvialis during hyperaccumulation of astaxanthin under the high salinity and nitrogen deficiency conditions.

Revealing the differences of metabolite profiles of H. pluvialis during hyperaccumulation of astaxanthin under the high salinity and nitrogen deficiency conditions was the key issues of the present study. To investigate the optimum NaCl and NaNO concentration and the corresponding metabolic characteristic related to the astaxanthin accumulation in H.

Robust estimation of the latent trait in graded response models.

Aberrant responses (e.g., careless responses, miskeyed items, etc.

Mutagenesis and analysis of contrasting wheat lines do not support a role for PFT in Fusarium head blight resistance.

Ambiguity about whether the histidine-rich calcium-binding protein-coding gene (His) or the pore-forming toxin-like gene (PFT) or both are responsible for Fusarium head blight (FHB) resistance conferred by the Fhb1 quantitative trait locus hinders progress toward elucidating Fhb1 resistance mechanisms. Here, with a series of developed lines with or without PFT but all possessing His and five His-carrying PFT mutant lines created via gene editing, we show that PFT does not confer FHB resistance and that the His resistance effect does not require PFT in the tested conditions. We also show that PFT mutations are not associated with morphological and phenological characteristics that often affect FHB severity.

Catalytic-independent functions of the Integrator-PP2A complex (INTAC) confer sensitivity to BET inhibition.

Chromatin and transcription regulators are critical to defining cell identity through shaping epigenetic and transcriptional landscapes, with their misregulation being closely linked to oncogenesis. Pharmacologically targeting these regulators, particularly the transcription-activating BET proteins, has emerged as a promising approach in cancer therapy, yet intrinsic or acquired resistance frequently occurs, with poorly understood mechanisms. Here, using genome-wide CRISPR screens, we find that BET inhibitor efficacy in mediating transcriptional silencing and growth inhibition depends on the auxiliary/arm/tail module of the Integrator-PP2A complex (INTAC), a global regulator of RNA polymerase II pause-release dynamics.

Modeling bacterial interactions uncovers the importance of outliers in the coastal lignin-degrading consortium.

Lignin, as the abundant carbon polymer, is essential for carbon cycle and biorefinery. Microorganisms interact to form communities for lignin biodegradation, yet it is a challenge to understand such complex interactions. Here, we develop a coastal lignin-degrading bacterial consortium (LD), through "top-down" enrichment.

Gut microbiota modulation in cardiac cell therapy with immunosuppression in a nonhuman primate ischemia/reperfusion model.

Gut microbiota affect transplantation outcomes; however, the influence of immunosuppression and cell therapy on the gut microbiota in cardiovascular care remains unexplored. We investigated gut microbiota dynamics in a nonhuman primate (NHP) cardiac ischemia/reperfusion model while under immunosuppression and receiving cell therapy with human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived endothelial cells (EC) and cardiomyocytes (CM). Both immunosuppression and EC/CM co-treatment increased gut microbiota alpha diversity.

Global, regional and national burden of depressive disorders and attributable risk factors, from 1990 to 2021: results from the 2021 Global Burden of Disease study.

Background: Depressive disorders pose a significant global public health challenge, yet evidence on their burden remains insufficient.

Aims: To report the global, regional and national burden of depressive disorders and their attributable risk factors from 1990 to 2021.

Methods: Data from the Global Burden of Disease 2021 were analyzed for 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2021.

Clamping Catheter Versus Free Drainage for Patients With Neurogenic Bladder With Indwelling Urinary Catheter: A Meta-Analysis.

In the clinical setting, individuals with neurogenic bladder dysfunction commonly utilize indwelling urinary catheters for urinary management. The comparative efficacy of catheter clamping versus continuous free drainage in this patient population is yet to be established. This meta-analysis aims to explore the efficacy and safety of catheter clamping versus natural drainage in patients with neurogenic bladder, to provide evidence to support the treatment and nursing care of these patients.

Intra-arterial tenecteplase after successful endovascular recanalisation in patients with acute posterior circulation arterial occlusion (ATTENTION-IA): multicentre randomised controlled trial.

Objective: To assess whether intra-arterial tenecteplase administered after successful endovascular recanalisation improves outcomes in patients with acute arterial occlusion of the posterior circulation.

Design: Multicentre randomised controlled trial.

Setting: 31 hospitals in China, 24 January 2023 to 24 August 2023.

Stroke Subtypes Mortality Attributable to Smoking in China: A Study Based on the Global Burden of Disease Database 2021.

Background: The objective of this study was to analyze long-term trends in ischemic stroke (IS), subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) mortality from smoking in China from 1992 to 2021, to provide scientific advice on stroke prevention and treatment in China.

Methods: The mortality data of smoking-related stroke and its subtypes in China during 1992-2021 were collected from the Global Burden of Disease 2021. Joinpoint regression model and Age-period-cohort (APC) model were used for trend analysis.

A novel fluorescent sensor for highly sensitive detection of ascorbic acid in food based on inhibiting phosphatase-like activity of Zr-based MOF.

Nanozyme-based sensors for detecting ascorbic acid (AA) generally depend on the reducibility of the analyte. However, these sensors are susceptible to interference from reducing substances in food. Herein, a novel fluorescent sensor for AA detection was developed based on inhibiting the phosphatase-like activity of a Zr-based metal-organic framework (Zr-CAU-28).

Premelted-Substrate-Promoted Selective Etching Strategy Realizing CVD Growth of High-Quality Graphene on Dielectric Substrates.

Direct chemical vapor deposition growth of high-quality graphene on dielectric substrates is a great challenge. Graphene growth on dielectrics always suffers from the issues of a high nucleation density and poor quality. Herein, a premelted-substrate-promoted selective etching (PSE) strategy was proposed.

Feedback regulation of mA modification creates local auxin maxima essential for rice microsporogenesis.

N-methyladenosine (mA) RNA modification and its effectors control various plant developmental processes, yet whether and how these effectors are transcriptionally controlled to confer functional specificity so far remain elusive. Herein, we show that a rice C2H2 zinc-finger protein, OsZAF, specifically activates the expression of OsFIP37 encoding a core component of the mA methyltransferase complex during microsporogenesis in rice anthers. OsFIP37, in turn, facilitates mA modification and stabilization of an auxin biosynthesis gene OsYUCCA3 to promote auxin biosynthesis in anthers.

Nanopore RNA direct sequencing identifies that mA modification is essential for sorbitol-controlled resistance to Alternaria alternata in apple.

Sorbitol, a main photosynthate and transport carbohydrate in all tree fruit species in Rosaceae, acts as a signal controlling resistance against Alternaria (A.) alternata in apple by altering the expression of the MdNLR16 resistance gene via the MdWRKY79 transcription factor. However, it is not known if N-methyladenosine (mA) methylation of the mRNAs of these genes participates in the process.

The economic inequality effect of environmental policies--a case from China's "authoritarian environmentalism" actions.

Command-and-control environmental policies are crucial for achieving sustainable development across environmental, economic, and social dimensions. However, these policies often neglect the impact on vulnerable populations and impoverished regions. This paper reveals the mechanisms and impacts of CAC exacerbating regional economic inequality under resource endowment differences through empirical analysis of county panel data in China from 2010 to 2021.

JTF-SqueezeNet: A SqueezeNet network based on joint time-frequency data representation for egg-laying detection in individually caged ducks.

Accurate individual egg-laying detection is crucial for eliminating low-yielding breeder ducks and improving production efficiency. However, existing methods are often expensive and require strict environmental conditions. This study proposes a data processing method based on wearable sensors and joint time-frequency representation (TFR), aimed at accurately identifying egg-laying in ducks.

Investigation and elimination of noncovalent artificial aggregates during non-reduced capillary electrophoresis-sodium dodecyl sulfate analysis of a multi-specific antibody.

Capillary electrophoresis-sodium dodecyl sulfate (CE-SDS) is widely used in the biopharmaceutical industry for monitoring purity and analyzing impurities. The accuracy of the method may be compromised by artificial species resulting from sample preparation or electrophoresis separation due to suboptimal conditions. During non-reduced CE-SDS analysis of a multispecific antibody (msAb), named as multispecific antibody C (msAb-C), a cluster of unexpected peaks was observed after the main peak.

Cytotoxic and Noncytotoxic Steroidal Constituents of .

(-)-Cryptanoside A () was identified previously as a major cytotoxic component of the stems of collected in Laos, which mediates its activity by targeting Na/K-ATPase (NKA), with hydrogen bonds formed between its 11- and 4'-hydroxy groups and NKA being observed in its docking profile. In a continuing investigation, and its 17-epimer, (-)-17--cryptanoside A (), and the new (+)-2-hydroxyandrosta-4,6-diene-3-one-17-carboxylic acid () and the known (+)-2,21-dihydroxypregna-4,6-diene-3,20-dione or 2-hydroxy-6,7-didehydrocortexone () pregnane-type steroids were isolated from . In addition, (-)-11,4'-di--acetylcryptanoside A () has been synthesized from the acetylation of .

Liquid Active Surface Growth: Explaining the Symmetry Breaking in Liquid Nanoparticles.

In our previous studies of metal nanoparticle growth, we have come to realize that the dynamic interplay between ligand passivation and metal deposition, as opposed to static facet control, is responsible for focused growth at a few active sites. In this work, we show that the same underlying principle could be applied to a very different system and explain the abnormal growth modes of liquid nanoparticles. In such a liquid active surface growth (LASG), the interplay between droplet expansion and simultaneous silica shell encapsulation gives rise to an active site of growth, which eventually becomes the long necks of nanobottles.

Construction of CuMoS/ZnO Heterostructures and Mechanism of Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production.

Constructing wide and narrow band gap heterogeneous semiconductors is a method to improve the activity of photocatalysts. In this paper, CMS/ZnO heterojunctions were prepared by solvothermal loading of ZnO particles on the surface of CuMoS nanosheets. The photocatalytic H precipitation rate is about 545 μmol·g·h, which is 6.