Levels Of Activities Research Articles

DYNAMICS OF BANDITRY ACTIVITIES: A MATHEMATICAL MODELING APPROACH

Banditry represents a significant worldwide social issue; in light of this, a mathematical model for the dynamics of banditry activities was developed. The model is intended to control banditry activities in society. The model encompasses six population classes and incorporates preventive measures such as preventing susceptible individuals from being kidnapped and taking the captured bandits into jail or detention. Bandits-free and bandits persistence were established. Also, the threshold parameter (Reproduction Number (Rc)) used to measure the level of banditry activities was established, as (Rc<1), banditry activities die out from the dynamical system, and if Rc>1 the banditry persists Rc>1, in the system. Numerical results demonstrate that banditry is effectively curbed when Rc<1 and persists otherwise. Stability analyses reveal the local asymptotic stability of the bandit-free equilibrium, further supported by global stability analysis employing the Lyapunov theorem. Empirical findings suggest that incarcerating captured bandits significantly outperforms lethal measures or preventing susceptible individuals from being kidnapped.

Teaching at the Right Level Approach in Problem-Based Learning Design

Community Service (known with PkM) activities were carried out by providing training to teachers in North West Seram District, Central Maluku Regency. This activity aims to provide insight into the development of teacher professionalism, more specifically how deep the application of Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) in learning activities in schools. The activity was carried out through direct face-to-face meetings with teachers. The results of this service are known that teachers gain a lot of knowledge about strategies for connecting learning with a cultural background and referring to the level of student ability. In addition, more than 100 teachers were satisfied with the activities carried out, which were based on the level of student knowledge with the TaRL approach using the problem-based learning model. The teachers hope that the PkM Team can continue to provide assistance so that the implementation of learning activities in the classroom can run well. This is because TaRL is a new method for teachers in remote areas so that it requires adjustments in implementation in learning

Development of new LSM-83177 analogues as anti-tumor agents against colorectal cancer targeting p53-MDM2 interaction

LSM-83177, a phenoxy acetic acid derivative, is a small molecule reported for its promising anti-tumor properties. Via inhibiting the interaction between MDM2 and p53, LSM-83177 can elevate the active p53 levels within cells, thereby promoting apoptosis and inhibiting tumor growth. Also, LSM-83177 has been shown to inhibit GST activity in colorectal cancer HT29 cells. In the current work, novel LSM-83177 hydrazone analogs 5a-f, 7a-b, 10a-e, and 13a-b have been designed according to the structure features of LSM-83177 and their binding mode in the active site of MDM2. The anti-cancer activity of the newly synthesized analogs is evaluated against the HT29 cell line. The most potent compounds, 7a and 10a, showed IC50 = 12.48 and 10.44 µg/ml, respectively, when compared with Cisplatin (IC50 = 11.32 µg/ml) as a reference drug. Compounds 7a and 10a were introduced for further inspection for p53-MDM2 protein–protein interaction, where they displayed IC50 values of 3.65 and 11.08 µg/ml, respectively. Furthermore, hydrazones 7a and 10a increased the p-53 expression levels by 3.22– and 4.25-fold, respectively; in addition, they effectively reduced the GST expression levels in HT29 cancer cells with 0.56- and 0.30-fold increments in comparison to the untreated control.

Forecasting Power Consumption in the DSL Access Network System based on Network Activities by using Machine Learning

The widespread telecommunication networks and Internet services like Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) access has contributed to the growing demand of electricity. With environmental consciousness arising from non-renewable energy sources, coupled with rising demand, industries need to implement green strategies. This research focuses on predicting power consumption in DSL access networks using machine learning approaches. With an emphasis on Very High Bit Rate Digital Subscriber Line 2 (VDSL2) technology, the study investigates DSL modem’s power usage under an ideal and a bridge tap faulty conditions of copper cable along distances ranging from 100 to 1000 meters. The different levels of network activities are generated by IxChariot software and Pearson’s correlation techniques are used to analyse the relationship between power consumption and network activities. Combining the Train-Valid-Test and Random Forest algorithms, a predictive Machine Learning model is developed to forecast the power consumption based on relevant variables. The results show that power consumption tends to increase as the network activities are heavier and the proposed model presents a low minimum absolute error as a good model to forecast the power. It may aid Internet service providers to predict the optimum power limit in the network systems and pursue further investigation on how to reduce electricity use in the telecommunication field.

Co-exposure Impact of Nickel Oxide Nanomaterials and Bacillus subtilis on Soybean Growth and Nitrogen Assimilation Dynamics.

Nickel oxide nanoparticles (NiO-NPs) pose potential threats to agricultural production. Bacillus subtilis has emerged as a stress-mitigating microbe that alleviates the phytotoxicity caused by NiO-NPs. However, the mechanisms underlying its effectiveness, particularly in root-nodule symbiosis and biological N2-fixation (BNF), remain unclear. Here, we tested the combined exposure of NiO-NPs (50 mg kg-1) and B. subtilis on soybean (Glycine max L.) growth and BNF. Combined exposure increased root length, shoot length, root biomass, and shoot biomass by 19-26%, while Ni (200 mg kg-1) reduced them by 38--53% compared to the control. NiO-NPs at 100 and 200 mg kg-1 significantly (P < 0.05) reduced nodule formation by 16% and 58% and Nitrogen assimilation enzyme activities levels (UE, NR, HS, and GOGAT) by 13-57%. However, co-exposure with B. subtilis improved nodule formation by 22-44%. Co-exposure of NiO-NPs (200 mg kg-1) with B. subtilis increased POD, CAT, and GSH-Px activity levels by 20%, 16%, and 14% while reducing MDA (14%) and H₂O₂ (12%) levels compared to NiO-NPs alone. Additionally, co-exposure of NiO-NPs (100 and 200 mg kg-1) with B. subtilis enhanced the relative abundance of Stenotrophomonas, Gemmatimonas, and B. subtilis, is associated with N2-cycling and N2-fixation potential. This study confirms that B. subtilis effectively mitigates NiO-NP toxicity in soybean, offering a sustainable method to enhance BNF and crop growth and contribute to addressing global food insecurity.

Deducing land–atmosphere coupling regimes from SMAP soil moisture

Abstract. In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the significance of land–atmosphere (L–A) interactions and feedback mechanisms in understanding and predicting Earth's water and energy cycles. Soil moisture plays a critical role in mediating the strength of L–A interactions and is important for understanding the complex and governing processes across this interface. This study aims to identify the significance of soil moisture in identifying L–A coupling strength within the convective triggering potential (CTP) and humidity index (HI) framework. To address this, a consistent and reliable dataset of atmospheric profiles is created by merging CTP and HI using triple collocation (TC) with three reanalysis datasets. The merged CTP and HI product demonstrates enhanced performance globally compared to the individual datasets when validated with radiosonde and satellite observations. This merged product of CTP and HI is then used to compare the L–A coupling strength based on Soil Moisture Active Passive Level 3 (SMAPL3) and SMAP Level 4 (SMAPL4) over 2 decades (2003–2022) where L–A coupling strength is defined as the persistence probability within the dry and wet coupling regimes. Results indicate that the persistency-based coupling strength is related to the ability of soil moisture to predict future atmospheric humidity and dry vs. wet coupling state. The coupling strength in SMAPL4 is consistently stronger than in SMAPL3 and is likely due to its reliance on a land surface model and reduced susceptibility to random noise. The difference in coupling strength based on the same CTP–HI underscores the importance of soil moisture data in estimating coupling strength within the CTP–HI framework. These findings lay the groundwork for understanding the role of L–A interactions and drought evolution due to soil moisture variations by providing insight into the quantification of coupling strength and its role in drought monitoring and forecast efforts.

Red Rice DE 40 Alleviates High-fat Diet-induced Hyperlipemia by Lowering Lipid Profiles in Rats

Background Hyperlipidaemia is characterised by an abnormal increase in one or more lipids in plasma, and is a major contributor to obesity, coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, and stroke if they are not treated promptly. Objectives In this study, we intended to discover the therapeutic actions of Red Rice DE 40 (RR DE 40) on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced rats. Materials and Methods The experimental rats were fed with HFD for 90 days to initiate the hyperlipidaemia and subsequently treated with 250 and 500 mg/kg of RR DE 40 from 60th to 90 days. The body weight of the rats was measured regularly. After the scarification, the blood, liver, and adipose tissue specimens were collected for biochemical assays. The liver and adipose tissues were weighed properly. The levels of haematological indices were counted using a haemocytometer. The levels of biochemical markers and liver marker enzymes were assessed using standard methods. The levels of lipid profiles were determined by standard methods. The excised liver and adipose tissues were analysed microscopically by histopathological analysis. Results RR DE 40 treatment effectively decreased the body weight gain in the HFD-induced rats. The liver and adipose tissue weight was also reduced by the RR DE 40 treatment. The changes in the haematological parameters such as RBC, WBC, Hb, monocytes, lymphocytes, and polymorphs were modulated by the RR DE 40 treatment on EG-induced rats. The levels of total protein, albumin, glucose, and urea and activities of SGOT and SGPT were substantially decreased by the RR DE 40 treatment. The RR DE 40 treatment also diminished the status of TC, TG, LDL, and VLDL in the HFD-treated rats. The findings of histopathological analysis also witnessed the therapeutic effects of RR DE 40. Conclusion The findings of this work highlighted that RR DE 40 is effective in HFD-induced hyperlipidaemia, probably due to its lipid-lowering potential. Hence, it may be used for the treatment of hyperlipidaemia-associated diseases.

3D Printed Bigel: A Novel Delivery System for Cannabidiol-Rich Hemp Extract

The therapeutic potential of Cannabis sativa L. extract has gained significant attention due to its diverse medical applications. Sublingual administration remains a common delivery method of cannabinoids; however, challenges often arise due to the inconvenient form of the extract and its taste. To address these issues, a novel bigel formulation was developed, combining water and oil phases to enhance stability and bioavailability. This formulation incorporates a cannabidiol-rich hemp extract, hyaluronic acid for its moisturizing properties, and a taste-masking agent to improve patient compliance and comfort. Using a standardized hemp extract rich in cannabinoids and a well-characterized terpene profile, the printability of the bigels was evaluated through 3D printing technology. A printout with known cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) content of 11.613 mg ± 0.192 of CBD and 4.732 mg ± 0.280 of CBDA in the printout was obtained. In addition, the release profile of CBD and CBDA was evaluated to determine the delivery efficiency of the active ingredient—dissolved active ingredient levels ranged from 74.84% ± 0.50 to 80.87% ± 3.20 for CBD and from 80.84 ± 1.33 to 98.31 ± 1.70 for CBDA depending on the formulation. Rheological studies were conducted to evaluate the viscosity of the bigels under varying temperature conditions, ensuring their stability and usability. Findings suggest that this 3D-printed bigel formulation could significantly enhance the delivery of cannabis extracts, offering a more convenient and effective therapeutic option for patients. This research underscores the importance of innovation in cannabinoid therapies and paves the way for further advancements in personalized medicine.

Enhancing Sports Activism and Team Sports Advocacy among Team Sports Athletes in Henan, China

This study examines the relationship between the level of sports activism and athletic advocacy among team sports athletes. The analysis focuses on various forms of activism, including symbolic, scholarly, grassroots, sport-based, and economic activism, and their correlation with advocacy efforts in areas such as fair play, social justice, and historical successes. The findings reveal that scholarly activism has a significant positive relationship with advocacy for fair play and social justice as well as engagement with historical successes in sports. Grassroots activism also shows a strong correlation with advocacy for fair play and social justice, highlighting the importance of community involvement in driving social change. However, no significant correlation is found between symbolic, sport-based, or economic activism and advocacy, suggesting that these forms of activism may not directly translate into concrete advocacy outcomes. The study concludes that athletes who engage intellectually and at the community level are more likely to advocate for social justice, while symbolic and economic actions, though impactful, may require further integration with broader advocacy strategies to achieve lasting change.

Diversity and ecotourism on multipurpose marine protected areas

Beyond its ecological benefits, there is a growing call for the establishment of marine protected areas (MPAs) for varied economic activities. Due to the decline in the wild catch, there is an increase in demand for farmed fish and a call for the development of aquaculture production in marine protected areas. In addition, the diversity in marine protected areas is suitable for the introduction of a tourism industry. Therefore, we need to design a clear scientific management system that balances the main goal of marine protected areas with the economic benefits, of aquaculture and tourism activities. This paper aims to determine the optimal size of the marine protected areas, the aquaculture size in the protected areas, and the level of tourism activities that maximize the overall benefit of the stakeholders. This is vital for the co-existence and sustainability of different sectors such as aquaculture production, tourism activities, and open-access fisheries.

How does land use affect soil quality and biological fertility in the arid ecosystem of Kutch, India?

Arid regions cover a large part of the Earth's surface and are at risk of increased agricultural activity and expected shifts in climate. Unfortunately, there is still a lack of comprehensive knowledge about the impact of land useon soil quality in these soils. Using a state factor approach, we studied the effects of different land use types on soil physico-chemical and biological characteristics in the Bhuj region of Kutch, Gujarat (India). Our analysis identified six key land uses: barren land (BL), natural forest (NF), grazing land (GL), and cultivated land under monocropping (MC), intercropping (IC), and crop rotation (CR). Our findings demonstrated significantly higher levels of soil organic carbon (SOC), calcium carbonate (CaCO3), plant-available nutrients (nitrogen, potassium, sodium, calcium, and magnesium), and enzyme activities in NF and GL (P < 0.05) than cultivated land and BL. For instance, SOC content in NF and GL exceeded that in cultivated land by 130% and 73.33%, respectively. Conversely, soil pH and plant-available phosphorus were higher in cultivated land. A strong correlation was observed between SOC and soil enzymes (P < 0.05), highlighting the importance of preserving SOC for optimal soil biological health in arid regions. Our study provides crucial baseline data on various soil quality indicators for an arid region, informing the development of landscape-scale models and guiding effective land management strategies.

Effects of Transport Stress (Duration and Density) on the Physiological Conditions of Marbled Rockfish (Sebastiscus marmoratus, Cuvier 1829) Juveniles and Water Quality

Live transportation is a critical component of fish farming and hatchery release. To optimize hatchery-release techniques and improve the survival rate of marbled rockfish (Sebastiscus marmoratus, Cuvier 1829) juveniles, the effects of varying transport durations (2, 4, 6, and 8 h) and densities (60, 90, 120, and 150 kg m−3) on the physiological indicators of the fish and water quality were investigated under controlled laboratory conditions. We found that as transport duration and density increased, water quality significantly deteriorated, with ammonia nitrogen levels rising and dissolved oxygen content and pH levels decreasing. Physiological indicators including levels of lactate, cortisol, and malondialdehyde and activities of superoxide dismutase, alkaline phosphatase, and glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase notably increased, indicating that the fish experienced heightened stress during transport. Additionally, the mortality rate of juveniles increased significantly with increasing density and transport duration. The high mortality rate might be associated with sustained elevated cortisol levels and liver damage. Our results are helpful for determining the optimal transport conditions for S. marmoratus juveniles and also provide valuable insights for improving transport techniques for other aquatic animal species.

Anthropogenic activities disturb phytoplankton taxa and functional groups in an urban river

Anthropogenic activities have substantial impacts on river ecosystems, yet how phytoplankton taxa and functional groups respond to varying levels of anthropogenic activity in urban rivers remains poorly understood. Herein, we investigated the sensitivity of phytoplankton taxa and functional groups to anthropogenic disturbances in the Bahe River, which experiences increased anthropogenic activity intensity from upstream to downstream. We found that both phytoplankton composition and niche breadth exhibited distinct variations among the three reaches with different anthropogenic disturbances. Notably, we observed a marked increase in the abundance of potential bloom-forming species in the river section with the highest anthropogenic disturbance, suggesting that anthropogenic activities might promote the growth and proliferation of these species. Compared to geographical and physiochemical factors, anthropogenic activities were identified as the primary driver of changes in phytoplankton taxa and functional groups. Increasing levels of anthropogenic activities potentially led to higher concentrations of ammonium nitrogen and total phosphorus, further influencing niche differentiation among phytoplankton taxa and functional groups. Our study offers profound insights into the impacts of anthropogenic disturbances on phytoplankton, emphasizing the necessity of integrating watershed-scale human activity management into strategies for controlling phytoplankton in urban rivers.

A potent broad-spectrum neutralizing antibody targeting a conserved region of the prefusion RSV F protein

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) poses a significant public health challenge, especially among children. Although palivizumab and nirsevimab, neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) targeting the RSV F protein, have been used for prophylaxis, their limitations underscore the need for more effective alternatives. Herein, we present a potent and broad nAb, named 5B11, which exhibits nanogram level of unbiased neutralizing activities against both RSV-A and -B subgroups. Notably, 5B11 shows a ~20-fold increase in neutralizing efficacy compared to 1129 (the murine precursor of palivizumab) and approximately a 3-fold increase in neutralizing efficacy against B18537 in comparison to nirsevimab. Cryo-electron microscopy analysis reveals 5B11’s mechanism of action by targeting a highly conserved epitope within site V, offering a promising strategy with potentially lower risk of escape mutants. Antiviral testing in a female cotton rat model demonstrated that low-dose (1.5 mg/kg) administration of 5B11 achieved comparable prophylactic efficacy to that achieved by high-dose (15 mg/kg) of 1129. Furthermore, the humanized 5B11 showed a superior in vivo antiviral activity against B18537 infection compared to nirsevimab and palivizumab. Therefore, 5B11 is a promising RSV prophylactic candidate applicable to broad prevention of RSV infection.

An open source electrochemical channel flow cell setup for kinetics studies. Application to investigations on oxygen electrocatalysis

Herein, an electrochemical channel flow cell setup that allows for conducting electrochemical investigations up to 80°C and pressurized gases up to 3 bar is presented in details, including technical drawings and list of parts, in an attempt to facilitate the adoption of such setup by the community for electrochemical/electrocatalytic kinetic studies. The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) on a commercial Pt/C catalyst, chosen as a model reaction, was investigated to demonstrate the reliability of the experimental setup, including the hydrodynamic properties, to provide hands on practical guidelines to carry out experiments, and, on the other hand, to illustrate the capabilities of this electrochemical setup for an assessment of basic quantities. Among the various quantities that have be determined experimentally for the ORR, a monotonic decay of the activation enthalpy and bell-shaped variation of the entropy of activation were resolved as the overpotential for the ORR increases. These fundamental thermodynamic/kinetic data are briefly discussed within the frame of the established reaction mechanism and can serve as a feed for the benchmarking of the outputs from theoretical/computational models. Furthermore, a remarkable agreement was obtained between the change in the activation free Gibbs energy determined for the ORR with the flow cell setup and the kinetic region of fuel cell polarization curve obtained with the same Pt/C catalyst embedded in the cathode of an a hydrogen proton exchange membrane fuel cell. This enables potentially a bridge of the environmental gap existing between model experiments conducted at active material level in contact with liquid electrolyte and experiments with porous gas diffusion electrode embedding the same active material that are employed in practical device.

Evaluating the influence of Citrus aurantiifolia seed powder on the growth performance, ileal digestibility and physiological response of broiler chickens

ABSTRACT This study was conducted to assess the effect of Citrus aurantiifolia seed powder (CASP) on growth performance, ileal digestibility, blood profile, and antioxidant status of broiler chickens. A total of 600 (43.54 ± 0.85 g) day-old mixed-sex Cobb 500 broiler chicks were randomly allotted to 6 treatments with 5 replicates each and 20 birds per replicate using a completely randomized design for 42 days. The treatments comprised negative control, T – (standard diet), positive control, T + (standard diet + oxytetracycline 50%) and a standard diet supplemented with 0.25% (T0.25%), 0.5% (T0.5%), 0.75% (T0.75%) or 1% (T1%) of CASP respectively. The results showed that birds in the T0.5% treatment had a significantly lower feed conversion ratio (P < 0.01). The improvement in crude protein and phosphorus ileal digestibility were associated with increase in CASP. Beyond 0.5% of CASP, the serum glucose and protein decreased (P < 0.05). Cholesterol concentration decreased with CASP in the diet (P < 0.01). Supplementation of CASP improved (P < 0.01) total antioxidant capacity, and glutathione peroxidase activities levels with best values for the T0.5% and T0.75% group. It was concluded that CASP at 0.5% and 0.75% in the diets of broiler chickens can enhance feed utilization and overall performance.

Anti- Inflammatory Activities Of The Methanol Leaf Extract And Fractions Of Elaesis Guineensis In In-Vivo Animals

Abstract Objective Objective of this paper is to investigate the preliminary anti-inflammatory property of the leaves and its fractions of Elaesis guineensis using egg induced albumin and formaldehyde induced arthritis models in rats. Method Egg albumin induced inflammation was induced by sub-plantar injection of 0.1 ml of fresh undiluted egg albumin. The volume of distilled water displaced by the treated paw was measured at 0.5,1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 hours after induction of inflammation. Formaldehyde-induced arthritis was induced after 30 min by sub-plantar injection of 0.1 ml of 2.5% formaldehyde solution and was repeated on day 3. Arthritis was assessed by measuring the volume of distilled water displaced by the paw before induction of arthritis and once every day for ten days, starting from day one, after induction of arthritis. Results The acute toxicity test revealed that the plant extract was safe even at 5000 mg/kg dose level. The methanol extract (ME) showed a dose-dependent inhibition of egg albumin-induced acute inflammation that peaked at the dose of 200 mg/kg, while the fractions of the extract showed that the hexane and ethyl acetate fractions had the highest activity during the experiment. Similarly, the crude extract of the formaldehyde induced arthritis showed a dose-dependent inhibition making the 200 mg/kg the most active dose level. Additionally, it was observed that among the fractions of the extract the hexane fraction (HF) showed the most significant inhibitory activity when compared to other fractions Conclusion this study establishes that the methanol leaf extract and fractions ofElaesis guineensis possess significant anti-inflammatory activity

Investigating heart rate responses of children to active travel: a mixed effects modeling analysis

BackgroundThe active travel concept has gained recognition as an effective method to enhance physical activity in children’s everyday mobility. Yet, there is a notable gap of quantitative evidence on its direct impacts, especially regarding physiological outcomes that can concretely demonstrate its influences on physical intensity and overall health of children.MethodsThis study investigates the effects of active travel on children, focusing on trip-level physiological responses, specifically heart rate. Through a mixed survey design, we obtained a repeated-measures dataset from a cohort of 73 children (average age 13) across three Austrian secondary schools, each observed for 7 days. By applying mixed effects modelling approach, both fixed and random effects to children’s heart rates were explored.ResultsAccording to results from developed mixed linear models (maximum R2 = 0.22), it revealed a significant positive association between active travel mode(s) engagement and heightened physiological responses (Low, Medium and High active level of trip compare to None: β = 1.81, 5.01 and 8.34, t-value = 4.70, 10.29 and 21.34), indicating that increased usage of active travel modes led to elevated heart rate values. Additionally, subjective perceptions also played an important role in influencing children’s physiological responses. Feelings of exhausted, anxiety, and stress contributing to a higher heart rate (β = 14.79, 16.69 and 1.99, t-value = 20.42, 5.67 and 3.0), while unhappiness was associated with a lower heart rate (β = -5.96, t-value = -14.62). Effects of social interactions were also found during the trip. The presence of adults was associated with a calming effect (β = -1.92, t-value = -5.72), whereas solo travel resulted in lower heart rate compared to travel with peers (β = -1.95, t-value = -6.59).ConclusionOur article innovatively employs mixed survey methods and heart rate data to quantitatively demonstrate the positive association between engagement in active travel modes and heightened physiological responses in children, elucidating the intricate interplay of subjective perceptions and social interactions during trips, thus offering valuable insights into the health implications of active travel at a trip level. Future research will keep on leveraging survey and experimental methods.

Reoperation after short-segment lumbar spinal fusion surgery in dialysis patients: A retrospective cohort study.

Patients with dialysis are at high risk of reoperation after lumbar spinal fusion surgery. However, the risk of reoperation after short-segment (≤2 fusion levels) lumbar spinal fusion surgery in this patient group has not been completely investigated. This study aimed to compare the risk of reoperation after short-segment lumbar spinal fusion surgery between patients with dialysis and matched controls without dialysis. We retrospectively evaluated 85 patients who underwent short-segment lumbar spinal fusion surgery at a single institution. Based on the current dialysis treatment, patients were divided into the non-dialysis and dialysis groups. We compared the patients' characteristics, surgical data, pre- and postoperative radiographic measurements, locomotive functional levels in activities of daily living (ADL), rate of whole reoperation, and cause-specific incidence of reoperation such as adjacent segmental disease (ASD) and implant failure between the non-dialysis and dialysis groups. Then, these variables were compared after adjusting for age, sex, and body mass index (BMI) via a propensity-score-matched analysis. In total, 68 patients in the non-dialysis group and 17 patients in the dialysis group were included in this study. The dialysis group was significantly younger and had a lower postoperative ADL status than the non-dialysis group. Moreover, the dialysis group had a significantly higher rate of whole reoperation (8.8% vs 41.2%, P = .003), reoperation due to ASD (4.4% vs 23.5%, P = .027), and reoperation due to implant failure (0.8% vs 11.8%, P = .038) than in the non-dialysis group. Based on a propensity-score-matched analysis, the dialysis group had a significantly higher rate reoperation rate after short-segment lumbar spinal fusion surgery than the non-dialysis group (0.0% vs 58.3%, P = .005). The current study firstly clarified that patients with dialysis are at significantly high risk of reoperation even after short-segment lumbar spinal fusion surgery.

Optimizing Solvent Extraction for Potent Antioxidant and Antidiabetic Activities: A Study on Ampelocissus martini Root

The selection of extraction solvents is a critical factor influencing the composition and concentration of phytochemicals in plant extracts, thereby leading to variations in their biological activities. In this study, Ampelocissus martini Planch., an edible plant traditionally used for its medicinal properties, was investigated for its phytochemical profile and biological activities. We assessed the impact of different solvents used in fractionating the aqueous methanolic root extract of the plant on its phytochemical content, as well as its antioxidant, antidiabetic, and antibacterial properties. Among the 3 fractions—ethyl acetate, butanol, and water-soluble—the butanol fraction exhibited significantly higher levels of total phenolics and proanthocyanidins, while the ethyl acetate fraction contained the highest levels of total flavonoids and saponins. The water-soluble fraction showed lower concentrations of these compounds compared to the other 2 fractions. The butanol fraction demonstrated superior antioxidant activity, outperforming other fractions and several standard antioxidants, as evidenced by DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, and CUPRAC assays. Additionally, the butanol fraction showed greater antidiabetic activity, indicated by a lower IC50 value, although it was still less effective than acarbose, a synthetic antidiabetic drug. Correlation analysis revealed a significant association between total proanthocyanidin content and the observed levels of antioxidant and antidiabetic activities across the fractions. All fractions also exhibited antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria. Based on these findings, butanol emerges as the optimal solvent for extracting specific phytochemicals with potent antioxidant, antidiabetic, and antibacterial activities from the aqueous methanolic extract of A. martini root. The butanol fraction holds promise as a natural source of antioxidants for managing diabetes and its associated complications. HIGHLIGHTS Butanol extract showed strong antioxidant and antidiabetic activities, rich in proanthocyanidins. Strong link was found between proanthocyanidins and bioactivities in A. martini. Butanol fraction showed promise as a natural antioxidant for diabetes management. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT