Comparative Analysis of Biological Activity of Artificial and Wild Agarwood

Agarwood is a highly economically important medicinal herb with widespread uses; however, the difference between the biological activities of artificial and wild agarwood is unclear. In this study, the alcohol-soluble extracts of agarwood produced by fungi and natural agarwood were used to determine the differences between the overall biological activities. The antioxidant ability (the clearance rates of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS+) radicals, and total reducing power), anti-acetylcholinesterase, and anti-α-glucosidase activity were determined by ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry. The results indicated that with 2 mg/mL alcohol-soluble extracts, the scavenging DPPH radical rates of the artificial agarwood samples were 93.74–102.31% of that of the wild agarwood, and the ABTS+ radical clearance rates of the artificial agarwood samples were 75.38–95.52% of that of the natural agarwood. With 3.5 mg/mL alcohol-soluble extracts, the artificial agarwood samples had a total reducing power of 63.07–80.29% of that of the wild agarwood. With 4 mg/mL alcohol-soluble extract, the acetylcholinesterase activity inhibition rates of the artificial agarwood samples were 102.56–109.16% of that of the wild agarwood. With 1 mg/mL alcohol soluble extracts, the α-glucosidase effect inhibitions rates of the artificial agarwood samples were 68.32–100.39% of that of the wild agarwood.

Is a Decentralized Police Organization a Better Option in a Modern Democratic Society? A Case Study From South Korea

While western countries have had a decentralized policing model for many years, some countries, such as South Korea, still employ a centralized, national police department. Responding to calls for reform, South Korea launched a pilot program and implemented a more decentralized policing structure in Jeju Island in 2006. This study adds to the policing literature by offering the empirical comparison of a region before and after decentralization of a police department. This study will examine the intervention effects of police decentralization in Jeju, specifically related to crime rates, crime clearance rates, victimization, trust in police, and fear of crime. Using propensity score matching and interrupted time series analysis, this study found that the decentralized policing intervention significantly reduced total crime, violent crime rates, and property crime rates that lasted throughout the intervention period, while improving crime clearance rates for violent crime, as well as reduced fear of crime among residents.

Bivalve Feeding on the Brown Tide Aureoumbra lagunensis in a Shallow Coastal Environment

Brown tides formed by Aureoumbra lagunensis decrease light penetration in the water column and are often followed by hypoxic events that result in the loss of fish and shellfish. To understand the ability of bivalve filter feeders to control and prevent A. lagunensis blooms, we exposed eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica), hooked mussels (Ischadium recurvum), and hard clams (Mercenaria mercenaria) to a naturally co-occurring brown tide in the Indian River Lagoon (IRL), Florida, United States. Bivalves were exposed in the laboratory to multiple concentrations (104 to 106 cells mL–1) of isotopically labeled (13C and 15N) A. lagunensis cells. The standard clearance rate (herein clearance rate) of each bivalve species was calculated using flow cytometry to quantify A. lagunensis cell removal. The highest clearance rates were at 104 cells mL–1, but values varied across bivalve species (2.16 ± 0.30, 3.03 ± 0.58, and 0.41 ± 0.12 L h–1 for C. virginica, I. recurvum, and M. mercenaria, respectively). Although clearance rates decreased with increasing bloom concentrations, bivalves were still consuming algal cells at all concentrations and were retaining and assimilating more cells at the highest concentrations, as revealed by δ13C and δ15N values. We highlight interspecific differences among bivalve species in the removal of A. lagunensis, supporting the importance of healthy and diverse filter feeding communities in estuaries, especially as threats of brown tides and other HABs are increasing in the Anthropocene.

Filter Feeding and Carbon and Nitrogen Assimilation of a Freshwater Bivalve (Unio douglasiae) on a Toxic Cyanobacterium (Microcystis aeruginosa)

We investigated the possible intake of toxic cyanobacteria (Microcystis aeruginosa) as a nutrient resource for a filter-feeder bivalve (Unio douglasiae) based on the measurement of feeding and assimilation rates of carbon and nitrogen in a limited space with no current for 72 h using 13C and 15N dual isotope tracers. With high clearance rates, the unionid rapidly removed Microcystis cells within 24 h, but only a small amount of carbon and nitrogen were incorporated into the tissues. Even with the low assimilation rates, the mussels showed more favorable uptake of carbon than of nitrogen from toxic Microcystis water, and of tissues, the gills and gut accumulated more carbon and nitrogen than the muscle and mantle. Collectively, our findings indicate that although Unio douglasiae effectively uptake toxic Microcystis cells, they can assimilate only low amounts of nutrients into tissues within three days, despite a non-flowing system.

Comparison of retrograde intrarenal surgery and mini-percutaneous nephrolithotomy for lower calyx renal stones

Background: Due to the anatomic characteristics of the lower calyx, lower polar stones are difficult to be removed through the ureter, retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) can be used to deal with lower polar stones, while mini-percutaneous nephrolithotomy(mini-PCNL) is mainly used to deal RIRS failed to eliminate the stone. Aims and Objectives: Prospective comparison of mini-PCNL and retrograde intrarenal surgery outcomes in lower calyx managementwith respect to surgery duration, pain score (visual analog score), analgesic requirement, hemoglobin drop, and hospital stay. Materials and Methods: This is a prospective study in 50 patients (25 cases of RIRS and 25 cases of MINIPERC) over 2 years who came to the urology departme with lower calyx stone of size up to 20mm. The selection of the management methods was primarily based on the patient’s preferences. Preoperatively, all patients underwent routine workup and CT KUB plain. The primary and secondary objective was stone clearance rates, retreatment rate, complications, surgical duration, pain score (visual analog score [VAS]), analgesic requirement, hemoglobin drop, and hospital stay. Results: Miniperc and RIRS had stone clearance rates of 100% and 96%, respectively. In the RIRS group, one patient required retreatment for 1month. Hospital stay, intraoperative and post-operative complications were non-significant between both groups. Operative duration (P=0.003) was lower in the Miniperc group. Hemoglobin drop (P<0.0013), patient pain, and visual analog scale score at 6, 24, and 48 h, as well as an analgesic requirement (P<0.020), were all lower in the RIRS group. Conclusion: The stone clearance rates in both modalities are high, and complications are low. RIRS requires a longer operative duration, and it is associated with favorable pain scores and a lower hemoglobin drop.

Overall vertical transmission of hepatitis C, transmission net of clearance, and timing of transmission.

Background: It is widely accepted that the risk of HCV vertical transmission (VT) is 5-6% in mono-infected women, and that 25-40% of HCV infection clears spontaneously within 5 years. However, VT and clearance rates have not been estimated from the same datasets, and there is a lack of information on VT rates 'net' of clearance. Methods: We re-analysed data on 1749 children in 3 prospective cohorts to obtain coherent estimates of overall VT rate and VT rates 'net' of clearance at different ages. Clearance rates were used to impute the proportion of uninfected children who had been infected and then cleared before testing negative. The proportion of transmission early in utero, late in utero and at delivery was estimated from data on the proportion of RNA positives in samples tested within three days of birth, and differences between elective caesarean and non-elective caesarean deliveries. Findings: Overall VT rates were 7.2% (95% credible interval 5.6-8.9) in mothers who were HIV negative and 12.1% (8.6-16.8) in HIV-co-infected women. The corresponding rates net of clearance at 5 years were 2.4% (1.1-4.1) and 4.1% (1.7-7.3). We estimated that 24.8% (12.1-40.8) of infections occur early in utero, 66.0% (42.5-83.3) later in utero, and 9.3% (0.5-30.6) during delivery. Conclusion: Overall VT rates are about 24% higher than previously assumed, but the risk of infection persisting beyond age 5 years is about 38% lower. The results can inform design of trials of to prevent or treat pediatric HCV infection, and strategies to manage children exposed in utero.