First Principles Study of the Structure-Performance Relation of Pristine Wn+1Cn and Oxygen-Functionalized Wn+1CnO2 MXenes as Cathode Catalysts for Li-O2 Batteries.

Li-O2 batteries are considered a highly promising energy storage solution. However, their practical implementation is hindered by the sluggish kinetics of the oxygen reduction (ORR) and oxygen evolution (OER) reactions at cathodes during discharging and charging, respectively. In this work, we investigated the catalytic performance of Wn+1Cn and Wn+1CnO2 MXenes (n = 1, 2, and 3) as cathodes for Li-O2 batteries using first principles calculations. Both Wn+1Cn and Wn+1CnO2 MXenes show high conductivity, and their conductivity is further enhanced with increasing atomic layers, as reflected by the elevated density of states at the Fermi level. The oxygen functionalization can change the electronic properties of WC MXenes from the electrophilic W surface of Wn+1Cn to the nucleophilic O surface of Wn+1CnO2, which is beneficial for the activation of the Li-O bond, and thus promotes the Li+ deintercalation during the charge-discharge process. On both Wn+1Cn and Wn+1CnO2, the rate-determining step (RDS) of ORR is the formation of the (Li2O)2* product, while the RDS of OER is the LiO2* decomposition. The overpotentials of ORR and OER are positively linearly correlated with the adsorption energy of the RDS LixO2* intermediates. By lowering the energy band center, the oxygen functionalization and increasing atomic layers can effectively reduce the adsorption strength of the LixO2* intermediates, thereby reducing the ORR and OER overpotentials. The W4C3O2 MXene shows immense potential as a cathode catalyst for Li-O2 batteries due to its outstanding conductivity and super-low ORR, OER, and total overpotentials (0.25, 0.38, and 0.63 V).

Surgery for longer duration supranuclear ophthalmoplegia secondary to brain stem cavernoma: A case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Previous reports revealed that patients with acquired paralytic strabismus caused by central nervous system diseases are primarily affected by the etiology and treatment of the condition. Strabismus correction for these acquired paralytic strabismus should be performed as soon as the primary disease has been stabilized for 6 months in order to archive a favorable surgical outcome. CASE: We followed an infrequent case of longer-lasting supranuclear ophthalmoplegia secondary to brain stem cavernoma. OBSERVATION: A 25-year-old Chinese Han female developed aberrant head posture and ipsilateral conjugate gaze palsies 8 years after the first brainstem hemorrhage caused by pontine cavernoma. The patient was diagnosed with supranuclear ophthalmic palsy and brain stem cavernoma after surgery. A resection-recession procedure along with a rectus muscle transposition was performed. The patient's abnormal head position disappeared, with a normal primary position. CONCLUSION: Resection-recession procedures combined with rectus muscle transposition works very well for longer duration large-angle strabismus caused by brain stem cavernoma.

Study on structure and properties of galactomannan and enzyme changes during fenugreek seeds germination.

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L) galactomannan play an important role in the food and pharmaceutical sectors due to its attractive physicochemical properties. In this study, the changes of structure, properties and biological activity of fenugreek galactomannan (FG) during germination are analyzed by the activity and mechanism of endogenous enzymes (α-D-galactosidase and ß-D-mannanase). The enzymes generally increased during germination and synergistically altered the structure of GM by cutting down the main chains and removing partial side residues. The mannose to galactose ratio (M/G) increased from 1.11 to 1.59, which is accompanied by a drastic decrease in molecular weight from 3.606 × 106 to 0.832 × 106 g/mol, and the drop of viscosity from 0.27 to 0.06 Pa·sn. The degraded macromolecules are attributed to the increase in solubility (from 64.55 % to 88.62 %). In terms of antioxidation and antidiabetic ability, germinated fenugreek galactomannan has the ability to scavenge 67.17 % ABTS free radicals and inhibit 86.89 % α-glucosidase. This galactomannan with low molecular weight and excellent biological activity precisely satisfies the current demands of pharmaceutical reagents and food industry. Seeds germination holds promise as a means of industrial scale production of low molecular weight galactomannans.

A novel strategy by combining foam fractionation with high-speed countercurrent chromatography for the rapid and efficient isolation of antioxidants and cytostatics from Camellia oleifera cake.

Camellia oleifera cake is a by-product, which is rich in functional chemical components. However, it is typically used as animal feed with no commercial value. The purpose of this study was to isolate and identify compounds from Camellia oleifera cake using a combination of foam fractionation and high-speed countercurrent chromatography (HSCCC) and to investigate their biological activities. Foam fractionation with enhanced drainage through a hollow regular decahedron (HRD) was first established for simultaneously enriching flavonoid glycosides and saponins for further separation of target compounds. Under suitable operating conditions, the introduction of HRD resulted in a threefold increase in enrichment ratio with no negative effect on recovery. A novel elution-extrusion countercurrent chromatography (EECCC) coupled with the consecutive injection mode was established for the successful simultaneous isolation of flavonoid glycosides and saponins. As a result, 38.7 mg of kaemferol-3-O-[2-O-D-glucopyranosyl-6-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl]-ß-D-glucopyranoside (purity of 98.17%, FI), 70.8 mg of kaemferol-3-O-[2-O-ß-D-xylopyranosyl-6-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl]-ß-D-glucopyranoside (purity of 97.52%, FII), and 560 mg of an oleanane-type saponin (purity of 92.32%, FIII) were separated from the sample (900 mg). The present study clearly showed that FI and II were natural antioxidants (IC50 < 35 µg/mL) without hemolytic effect. FIII displayed the effect of inhibiting Hela cell proliferation (IC50 < 30 µg/mL). Further erythrocyte experiments showed that this correlated with the extremely strong hemolytic effect of FIII. Overall, this study offers a potential strategy for efficient and green isolation of natural products, and is beneficial to further expanding the application of by-products (Camellia oleifera cake) in food, cosmetics, and pharmacy.

Temporal dynamics of stomatal regulation and carbon- and water-related traits for a native tree species in low subtropical China.

Stomata are pivotal in modulating water and carbon processes within plants. However, our understanding of the temporal dynamics of water- and carbon-related traits, as influenced by stomatal behavior, remains limited. Here, we explore how stomatal regulation behavior and water- and carbon-related traits vary with changing environments by examining the seasonal variations in these traits of the native tree species Schima superba in low subtropical China. In February, April, and July of 2022, a series of water- and carbon-related traits were measured in the leaves and stems. The results showed that S. superba exhibited isohydric behavior in February when the soil dried out and vapor pressure deficit (VPD) was lower but anisohydric behavior in April and July when the soil was wetter and VPD was higher. In February, NSC and their components increased, and a relatively large contribution of soluble sugars to the change in NSC was observed. In the branches and phloem, NSC and their components displayed a relatively high monthly variability, suggesting their role in maintaining carbon balance within the trees. Conversely, the NSC in the leaves demonstrated minimal monthly variability. The specific leaf area, as well as the concentration of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) per unit mass in leaves and the cumulative stem water release, exhibited a decrease with a reduction in soil water potential. Interestingly, the hydraulic conductivity remained consistent throughout this process. Furthermore, the relatively low monthly growth rate observed in February could suggest a carbon sink limitation. In conclusion, the increased NSC and decreased water status of S. superba under relatively stressed soil conditions indicated a trade-off between water and carbon storage. Our findings enhance our comprehension of the dynamics and regulation of water and carbon status in forests, thereby advancing the development of plant carbon and water process models under climate change scenarios.

Fabrication of multi-functional biodegradable liquid mulch utilizing xyloglucan derived from tamarind waste for agricultural application.

Biodegradable liquid mulch is considered a promising alternative to plastic mulch for sustainable agriculture. This work proposed a xyloglucan-based liquid mulch with multi-function using a combination of chemical modification and blending methods. The esterification product of tamarind xyloglucan (TXG) from forestry wastes was synthesized with benzoic anhydride (BA). The effect of esterification modification was investigated, and BA-TXG was utilized as a film-forming and sand-fixation agent. The rheological properties, thermal stability, and hydrophobicity were improved following esterification. Additionally, waterborne polyurethane and urea were incorporated into the mulch to enhance its mechanical strength (23.28 MPa, 80.71 %), and homogeneity, as well as improve its nutritive properties. The xyloglucan-based liquid mulch has excellent UV protection, a high haze value (approximately 90 %), and retains water at a rate of 80.45 %. SEM and immersion experiment showed the effect of xyloglucan-based liquid mulch on sustainable sand-fixation. Moreover, the liquid mulch treatment demonstrated an impressive germination rate of 83.8 % and degradation rate of 51.59 % (60 days). The modified polysaccharide film increases stability and slows down the degradation rate. Tamarind xyloglucan-based liquid mulch exhibits powerful and diverse optical properties as well as sand fixation functions, indicating their great potential in sustainable agriculture as an alternative to plastic mulch.

Foam and fluid properties of purified saponins and non-purified water extracts from Camellia oleifera cake (by-product).

The physicochemical and foam properties of non-purified water extracts (WE) and purified tea saponins (TS) from Camellia oleifera cake (byproduct) were compared. WE showed different fluid properties at equal saponin concentrations (1.0 wt%) compared to TS. Particularly, it exhibited limited micelle size (average 434.1 nm), effective viscosity (0.15 Pa·s), and surface tension (43.9 mN/m) independently of pH. Moreover, the foam properties of WE were comparable to TS and better than sodium caseinate, especially foam stability. WE foam was more stable than TS foam under pH (3-7) and heating (40-80 °C). In the presence of NaCl, sucrose, and ethanol (5-20 wt%), WE and TS were effective and had similar foam behavior. Low concentrations of sucrose (<10 wt%)/ethanol (<20 wt%) significantly increased the foam capacity, while ethanol over 30 wt% was unfavorable. WE/TS foam contributes significantly to the desired physicochemical and sensory attributes (taste, texture, and appearance) of foods.

Tartary Buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum) FtTT8 Inhibits Anthocyanin Biosynthesis and Promotes Proanthocyanidin Biosynthesis.

Tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum) is an important plant, utilized for both medicine and food. It has become a current research hotspot due to its rich content of flavonoids, which are beneficial for human health. Anthocyanins (ATs) and proanthocyanidins (PAs) are the two main kinds of flavonoid compounds in Tartary buckwheat, which participate in the pigmentation of some tissue as well as rendering resistance to many biotic and abiotic stresses. Additionally, Tartary buckwheat anthocyanins and PAs have many health benefits for humans and the plant itself. However, little is known about the regulation mechanism of the biosynthesis of anthocyanin and PA in Tartary buckwheat. In the present study, a bHLH transcription factor (TF) FtTT8 was characterized to be homologous with AtTT8 and phylogenetically close to bHLH proteins from other plant species. Subcellular location and yeast two-hybrid assays suggested that FtTT8 locates in the nucleus and plays a role as a transcription factor. Complementation analysis in Arabidopsis tt8 mutant showed that FtTT8 could not recover anthocyanin deficiency but could promote PAs accumulation. Overexpression of FtTT8 in red-flowering tobacco showed that FtTT8 inhibits anthocyanin biosynthesis and accelerates proanthocyanidin biosynthesis. QRT-PCR and yeast one-hybrid assay revealed that FtTT8 might bind to the promoter of NtUFGT and suppress its expression, while binding to the promoter of NtLAR and upregulating its expression in K326 tobacco. This displayed the bidirectional regulating function of FtTT8 that negatively regulates anthocyanin biosynthesis and positively regulates proanthocyanidin biosynthesis. The results provide new insights on TT8 in Tartary buckwheat, which is inconsistent with TT8 from other plant species, and FtTT8 might be a high-quality gene resource for Tartary buckwheat breeding.

Off-axis four-mirror telescope with a wide field of view and a long focal length using double integrated mirrors.

An off-axis four-mirror optical system has the advantages of a wide field of view (FOV) and a small telephoto ratio. However, it will bring difficulties in assembly and detection. Here we report an off-axis four-mirror free-form telescope with a long focal length and a wide field of view based on two integration mirrors. The initial structure of a coaxial four-mirror optical system is established based on the Seidel aberration theory. A Zernike Fringe free-form surface is introduced to correct aberrations. By gradually increasing the entrance pupil diameter and the FOV, we finally obtain an off-axis four-mirror telescope with a FOV of 0.4∘×20∘, an F-number of 11.5, a long focal length of 2000 mm, and a volume of 360×400×600m m 3. In addition, four mirrors remain coaxially aligned, remarkably facilitating detection and adjustment. The proposed off-axis four-mirror telescope, with double integration mirrors, holds great potential for application in aerospace remote sensing observations.

Endoplasmic Reticulum-Targeted Aggregation-Induced Emission Luminogen for Synergetic Tumor Ablation with Glibenclamide.

Photodynamic therapy based on fluorescence illumination of subcellular organelles and in situ bursts of reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been recognized as a promising strategy for cancer theranostics. However, the short life of ROS and unclarified anticancer mechanism seriously restrict the application. Herein, we rationally designed and facilely synthesized a 2,6-dimethylpyridine-based triphenylamine (TPA) derivative TPA-DMPy with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) features and production of type-I ROS. Except for its selective binding to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), TPA-DMPy, in synergy with glibenclamide, a medicinal agent used against diabetes, induced significant apoptosis of cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, TPA-DMPy greatly incited the release of calcium from ER upon light irradiation to further aggravate the depolarization of ER membrane potential caused by glibenclamide, thus inducing fatal ER stress and crosstalk between ER and mitochondria. Our study extends the biological design and application of AIE luminogens and provides new insights into discovering novel anticancer targets and agents.

Ultrasound-responsive glycopolymer micelles for targeted dual drug delivery in cancer therapy.

Controlled drug release of nanoparticles was achieved by irreversibly disrupting polymer micelles through high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) induction. An ultrasound-responsive block copolymer was synthesized, comprising an end-functional Eosin Y fluorophore, 2-tetrahydropyranyl acrylate (THPA), and acrylate mannose (MAN). The block copolymer was then self-assembled to produce micelles. The chemotherapy drug dasatinib (DAS) and the sonodynamic therapy agent methylene blue (MB) were encapsulated by the self-assembly of the block copolymer. This targeted nanoparticle enables sonodynamic therapy through high-intensity focused ultrasound while triggering nanoparticle disassembly for controlled drug release. The ultrasound-mediated, non-invasive strategy provides external spatiotemporal control for targeted tumour treatment.

Early changes of ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer thickness and macular microvasculature in Posner-Schlossman syndrome: a binocular control study by OCTA.

To evaluate the early changes in ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer thickness and macular microvasculature in Posner-Schlossman syndrome (PSS) with a binocular control study involving optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). Twenty-six patients with unilateral PSS were included in this cross-sectional study. All subjects underwent a thorough ocular examination. Macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (mGCIPL) and superficial macular microvasculature measurements, including vessel density (VD), perfusion density (PD) and the foveal avascular zone (FAZ), were recorded. In PSS-affected eyes, the mGCIPL thickness was significantly lower in all quadrants than in the contralateral eyes (all p < 0.05). Significant macular microvascular damage was found in the PSS-affected eyes, including whole-image VD (wiVD), wiPD, perifoveal VD (periVD) and periPD (all p < 0.05); but there was no obvious difference in parafoveal VD (paraVD), paraPD and FAZ parameters (all p > 0.05). In addition, a decreased wiVD and wiPD were significantly correlated with a smaller mGCIPL thickness and a decreased MD (all p < 0.05). These parameters may contribute to the early detection of glaucomatous damage and timely supervision of disease progression in PSS.

The Effect of Trait Anxiety on Bedtime Procrastination: the Mediating Role of Self-Control.

BACKGROUND: Bedtime procrastination (BP), a special type of health behavior procrastination, is considered to be a failure of self-control. Notably, self-control may mediate the effect of trait anxiety on general procrastination. However, there is no evidence demonstrating the role of self-control in the relationship between trait anxiety and BP. Moreover, the association between BP and trait anxiety has not yet been thoroughly studied. Therefore, the present study aimed to explore the direct relationship between them as well as the mediating role of self-control in this relationship. METHODS: This cross-sectional survey included 718 college students enrolled in Chinese universities between October 2018 and January 2020. The Chinese versions of the Bedtime Procrastination Scale, the Self-Control Scale, and the Trait Anxiety Inventory were used to evaluate BP, self-control, and trait anxiety, respectively. RESULTS: Multiple linear regression analysis revealed trait anxiety independently predicted BP while controlling for demographic characteristics. Correlation analyses showed that BP was positively correlated with trait anxiety, but negatively related to self-control. Structural equation modeling further revealed a mediating role of self-control in the relationship between trait anxiety and BP. CONCLUSIONS: Trait anxiety is a significant independent predictor of BP and may induce BP directly or indirectly through the effect of self-control. These findings provide a deeper understanding of the relationship between trait anxiety and BP and the underlying mechanism by exploring the mediating effect of self-control. As such, trait anxiety and self-control should be included in prevention and intervention strategies to address BP behavior in college students.

Climate-driven sapwood-specific hydraulic conductivity and the Huber value but not leaf-specific hydraulic conductivity on a global scale.

Efficient water transport is crucial for plant growth and survival. Plant hydraulic conductivity varies between functional groups and biomes and is strongly influenced by changing environmental conditions. However, correlations of conductivity-related hydraulic traits with climatic variables are not fully understood, preventing clarification of plant form and function under climate change scenarios. By compiling leaf-specific hydraulic conductivity (KL), sapwood-specific hydraulic conductivity (Ks), and Huber values (Hv, sapwood area to leaf area ratio) along with climatic variables including mean annual temperature (MAT), mean annual precipitation (MAP) and aridity index (AI) for 428 species across a wide range of plant functional types (PFTs) and biomes at a global scale, we found greater variability of KL within PFTs and biomes than across PFTs and biomes. Interaction effects between PFTs and biomes on KL and Ks were found. The interaction between MAT and MAP played a significant role in Ks and Hv (t = 3.89, P < 0.001 for Ks and t = -5.77, P < 0.001 for Hv). With increasing AI, Ks increased and Hv decreased. KL was not influenced by the investigated climatic variables. Our study provides a better understanding of the dynamics of hydraulic structure and function across functional groups and biomes and of the abiotic drivers of their large-scale variations.

Emerging roles of growth factors in osteonecrosis of the femoral head.

Osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) is a potentially disabling orthopedic condition that requires total hip arthroplasty in most late-stage cases. However, mechanisms underlying the development of ONFH remain unknown, and the therapeutic strategies remain limited. Growth factors play a crucial role in different physiological processes, including cell proliferation, invasion, metabolism, apoptosis, and stem cell differentiation. Recent studies have reported that polymorphisms of growth factor-related genes are involved in the pathogenesis of ONFH. Tissue and genetic engineering are attractive strategies for treating early-stage ONFH. In this review, we summarized dysregulated growth factor-related genes and their role in the occurrence and development of ONFH. In addition, we discussed their potential clinical applications in tissue and genetic engineering for the treatment of ONFH.

Comparative proteomic analyses of Tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum) seeds at three stages of development.

Tartary buckwheat is among the valuable crops, utilized as both food and Chinese herbal medicine. To uncover the accumulation dynamics of the main nutrients and their regulatory mechanism of Tartary buckwheat seeds, microscopic observations and nutrient analysis were conducted which suggested that starch, proteins as well as flavonoid gradually accumulated among seed development. Comparative proteomic analysis of rice Tartary buckwheat at three different developmental stages was performed. A total of 78 protein spots showed differential expression with 74 of them being successfully identified by MALDI-TOF/TOF MS. Among them, granule bound starch synthase (GBSS1) might be the critical enzyme that determines starch biosynthesis, while 11 S seed storage protein and vicilin seemed to be the main globulin and affect seed storage protein accumulation in Tartary buckwheat seeds. Two enzymes, flavanone 3-hydroxylase (F3H) and anthocyanidin reductase (ANR), involved in the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway were identified. Further analysis on the expression profiles of flavonoid biosynthetic genes revealed that F3H might be the key enzyme that promote flavonoid accumulation. This study provides insights into the mechanism of nutrition accumulation at the protein level in Tartary buckwheat seeds and may facilitate in the breeding and enhancement of Tartary buckwheat germplasm.

Integrating maxillary dentition and 3D facial photo using a modified CAD/CAM facebow.

BACKGROUND: Accurate integration of the dentitions with the face is essential in dental clinical practice. Here we introduce a noninvasive and efficient protocol to integrate the digitized maxillary dentition with the three-dimensional (3D) facial photo using a prefabricated modified computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacture (CAD/CAM) facebow. METHODS: To integrate the maxillary dentition with the 3D facial photo, the CAD/CAM facebow protocol was applied to 20 patients by taking a series of 3D facial photos in the clinic and integrating them in the laboratory. The integration accuracy of this protocol was compared with that of a valid 3D computed tomography (CT)-aided protocol concerning translational deviations of the landmarks representing maxillary incisors and maxillary first molars as well as the rotational deviation of the maxillary dentition. The intra- and inter-observer reproducibility was assessed, and the time of clinical operation and laboratory integration was recorded. RESULTS: This facebow-aided protocol generated 3D fused images with colored faces and high-resolution dentitions, and showed high reproducibility. Compared with the well-established CT-aided protocol, the translational deviations ranged from 0 to 1.196 mm, with mean values ranging from 0.134 to 0.444 mm, and a relatively high integration error was found in the vertical dimension (Z) with a mean ± standard deviation (SD) of 0.379 ± 0.282 mm. Meanwhile, the rotational deviations ranged from 0.020 to 0.930°, with mean values less than 1°, and the most evident deviation was seen in pitch rotation with a mean ± SD of 0.445 ± 0.262°. The workflow took 4.34 ± 0.19 min (mins) for clinical operation and 11.23 ± 0.29 min for laboratory integration. CONCLUSION: The present radiation-free protocol with the modified CAD/CAM facebow provided accurate and reproducible transfer of the digitized maxillary dentition to the 3D facial photo with high efficiency.

Integrated Transcriptomics and Widely Targeted Metabolomics Analyses Provide Insights Into Flavonoid Biosynthesis in the Rhizomes of Golden Buckwheat (Fagopyrum cymosum).

Golden buckwheat (Fagopyrum cymosum) is used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. It has received attention because of the high value of its various medicinal and nutritional metabolites, especially flavonoids (catechin and epicatechin). However, the metabolites and their encoding genes in golden buckwheat have not yet been identified in the global landscape. This study performed transcriptomics and widely targeted metabolomics analyses for the first time on rhizomes of golden buckwheat. As a result, 10,191 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 297 differentially regulated metabolites (DRMs) were identified, among which the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway was enriched in both transcriptome and metabolome. The integration analyses of the transcriptome and the metabolome revealed a network related to catechin, in which four metabolites and 14 genes interacted with each other. Subsequently, an SG5 R2R3-MYB transcription factor, named FcMYB1, was identified as a transcriptional activator in catechin biosynthesis, as it was positively correlated to eight flavonoid biosynthesis genes in their expression patterns and was directly bound to the promoters of FcLAR2 and FcF3'H1 by yeast one hybrid analysis. Finally, a flavonoid biosynthesis pathway was proposed in the rhizomes of golden buckwheat, including 13 metabolites, 11 genes encoding 9 enzymes, and 1 MYB transcription factor. The expression of 12 DEGs were validated by qRT-PCR, resulting in a good agreement with the Pearson R ranging from 0.83 to 1. The study provided a comprehensive flavonoid biosynthesis and regulatory network of golden buckwheat.

A nanomedicine enables synergistic chemo/photodynamic therapy for pancreatic cancer treatment.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Gemcitabine (Gem) has been a key chemotherapy agent for pancreatic cancer treatment by suppressing cell proliferation and inducing apoptosis. However, the overexpression of inhibitors of apoptosis (IAP) family of proteins during the carcinogenesis of pancreatic cancer can develop resistance to chemotherapy treatment and result in poor efficacy. To achieve the synergistic combinations of multiple strategies for this dismal disease, we developed a robust nanomedicine system, consisting of a photodynamic therapeutic agent (chlorine e6, Ce6) and a pro-apoptotic peptide-Gem conjugate. To have spatiotemporally controlled drug release, the pro-apoptotic peptide-Gem conjugate was designed to have a vinyldithioether linker that was sensitive to reactive oxygen species (ROS). The nanomedicine was fabricated by the direct self-assembly of the pro-apoptotic peptide-Gem conjugate with Ce6. After being delivered into tumors, the nanomedicine disassembled and rapidly released Gem, Ce6, and the pro-apoptotic peptide upon light illumination (660 nm). Both in vitro and in vivo studies in pancreatic cancer models confirmed the tumor inhibition efficacy with low systemic toxicity to animals.

Bedtime procrastination in the relationship between self-control and depressive symptoms in medical students: From the perspective of sex differences.

BACKGROUND: Depressive symptoms typically exhibit sex differences among medical students and are associated with bedtime procrastination (BP) and self-control. However, it remains unclear whether sex differences exist in the relationship between these variables. METHODS: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted among 402 medical students from a public university in China. Students' depressive symptoms, BP, and trait self-control were assessed using the Chinese version of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)-II, the Bedtime Procrastination Scale, and the Self-control Scale, respectively. Applying a BDI cutoff value of 14, 364 valid participants were divided into non-depressed (<14) and depressed (≥14) groups. RESULTS: Binary logistic regression revealed that BP was an independent predictor of the prevalence of depressive symptoms in women only. Hierarchical regression showed that high BP levels were independently positively correlated to more depressive symptoms only in non-depressed women. In contrast, low self-control levels were independently negatively correlated to more depressive symptoms in non-depressed and depressed female students. Furthermore, structural equation modeling reflected the mediating role of BP between self-control and depressive symptoms in the non-depressed female group only. CONCLUSIONS: Sex differences exist in the effect of BP on depressive symptoms as well as the relationship between self-control and depressive symptoms among Chinese medical students. As a moderator, sex regulates the mediating effect of BP on the relationship between self-control and depressive symptoms in the non-depressed group. These findings provide a sex-specific perspective for targeted prevention and intervention of depressive symptoms among high-risk medical students, especially during the non-depressed period.