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To explore the hypoglycemic effect of Moringa oleifera leaf polysaccharide (MOLP) on diabetic mice and its corresponding mechanism, a streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mouse was modeled. The mice were then divided into groups exposed to low (100 mg/kg·bw), medium (200 mg/kg·bw), and high dosage (400 mg/kg·bw) of MOLP, with a normal blank group, model group and a positive drug group (hydrochloric acid dimethylbiguanide, 200 mg/kg·bw). Eight mice in each group were gavaged for 28 d. Fasting blood glucose, serum glycated protein, serum insulin, hepatic/ myocardial glycogen and other biochemical indexes were determined. Additionally, the key genes of glucose metabolism, including liver X receptor (LXR), pancreatic-duodenal homeobox-1 (PDX-1), glucokinase (GK), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), glucose 6-phosphatase (G6Pase), glucose transporter type 2 (GLUT2) and insulin receptor substrate 1/2 (IRS1/2) were measured in the liver and the pancreas. Furthermore, the mice's liver and pancreas tissues in each group were stained with HE to observe their histomorphology. The results showed that MOLP exhibited a significant hypoglycemic effect and a dose-response relationship. The level of blood glucose reduction in the MOLP high-dose group (400 mg/kg⋅bw) was closest to that of the positive drug group. The underlying mechanism was that the significantly upregulated expression of LXR and PDX-1 ameliorated the glucose metabolism disorders in diabetic mice by regulating the expression of their downstream genes including PEPCK, G6Pase, GK, GLUT2 and IRS1/2 mRNA. This regulation facilitated the improvement of the damaged liver and pancreatic tissues, increased serum insulin and hepatic glycogen content and ultimately resulted in a hypoglycemic effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

4D printing technology is advantageous for developing new shape memory effects and new functionalities. Herein, a new type of photo-thermal staged-responsive shape memory polymer (SMP) was prepared using fused granular fabrication (FGF) 4D printing technology. The integration of an azobenzene containing oligomer (Bisdi) with commercialized thermal-responsive SMP granules (PEC) resulted in composites (PEC-Bisdi) with good compatibility and higher thermal stability, suitable for FGF 4D printing. The granules made from the composite can also be used directly in the FGF printing technology. The specimens named PEC-Bisdi printed by FGF illustrated excellent photo-thermal staged responses with ultraviolet light (UV) responsive bending, thermal-responsive shape recovery, and good fixation at room temperature. The FGF-printed specimens also displayed good mechanical properties with up to 380% elongation at break and a 1.5 GPa glassy storage modulus. The influences of material factors and printing parameters were systematically investigated and the results showed an increase in the curvature of the spline as a function of Bisdi content and elongation, while a decrease was recorded as a function of the spline thickness. The optimal printing parameters for the highest curvature were determined to be an extrusion rate of 140, an extrusion temperature of 230 °C, a routing rate of 80, and a parallel infill pattern. Overall, the proposed PEC-Bisdi composites showing programmable and remotely controllable shape memory capabilities have the potential for use in advanced engineering and soft robotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective The use and effect of nitrous oxide sedation techniques in oral clinics were analyzed retrospectively. Methods Patients who were treated with nitrous oxide inhalation sedation in the clinic of the Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University from January 1, 2016, to December 30, 2018, were examined. Age and gender of the patients, dental treatments involved, reasons for nitrous oxide inhalation, sedative effects and adverse reactions were compiled. Results A total of 1 429 cases were examined, comprising 587 males and 842 females, and the average age was 32.64±16.34 years old. Among the patients who underwent nitrous oxide inhalation sedation in the oral clinic, 79.98% needed tooth extraction, and 79.50% had a dental fear of procedures. The patients were divided into following 7 age groups: 5-15 years old, 16-25 years old, 26-35 years old, 36-45 years old, 46-55 years old, 56-65 years old and > 65 years old. The sedation satisfaction rate of the 5-15-year-old group was 45.71%, and the sedation satisfaction rate of the other 6 age groups was 90.83%- 96.20% (P < 0.001). The incidence of total adverse reactions was 5.39%; the incidence was higher in females than in males, and the incidence was higher in the 16-25 age group than in the other age groups (P < 0.05). The most frequent adverse reaction was vertigo (81.82%). Conclusion Among the four common oral outpatient treatment programs including the extraction of teeth, dental implants, pulp treatment and periodontal treatment, patients undergoing inhalation sedation of nitrous oxide in the dental extraction most. The most common reason for requiring sedation is dental fear, and the sedative effect of the 5-15-year-old group was significantly worse than that of the other age groups. The incidence of adverse reactions of nitrous oxide sedation was low and manageable.

In grassland ecosystems, aboveground biomass (AGB) is critical for energy flow, biodiversity maintenance, carbon storage, climate regulation, and livestock husbandry. Particularly on the climate-sensitive Tibetan Plateau, accurate AGB monitoring is crucial for assessing large-scale grassland livestock capacity. Previous studies focused on predicting AGB mainly at the plant community level and from the perspective of dry weight (AGBd). This study aims to predict grassland AGB in Xizang at both the plant taxonomic group (sedge, graminoid, forb) and community levels, from both an AGBd and a fresh weight (AGBf) perspective. Three to four independent variables (growing mean temperature, total precipitation, total radiation and NDVImax, maximum normalized difference vegetation index) were used for AGB prediction using nine models in Xizang grasslands. The random forest model (RFM) showed the greatest potential in simulating AGB (training R2 ≥ 0.62, validation R2 ≥ 0.87). This could be due to the nonlinear relationships between AGB, meteorological factors, and NDVImax. The RFM exhibited robustness against outliers and zero values resulting from taxonomic groups that were absent from the quadrats. The accuracies of the RFM were different between fresh and dry weight, and among the three taxonomic groups. The RFM's use of fewer variables can reduce complexity and costs compared to previous studies. Therefore, the RFM emerged as the optimal model among the nine models, offering potential for large-scale investigations into grassland AGB, especially for analyzing spatiotemporal patterns of plant taxonomic groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]