Development and Effect of Child Obesity Management Program by Applied Nudge.

BACKGROUND: Child obesity rates are increasing worldwide. In Korea, the proportion of overweight students has steadily increased from 21.8% in 2015 to 25.8% in 2019. Childhood obesity causes mental problems, such as depression and social phobia, due to mental stress, feelings of inferiority, and low self-esteem. METHODS: This experimental study aimed to verify the effect of the child obesity management program on body changes (height, weight, obesity degree, body mass index [BMI], body fat percentage), eating habits, exercise habits, obesity knowledge, and social support. This child obesity management program applies the nudge technique based on an ecological model and induces autonomous weight management through environmental control. RESULTS: As results of this study, the child obesity management program using the nudge technique developed in this study improved the height (t = -5.19, p < 0.001), obesity degree (z = -3.28, p = 0.001), BMI (z = -3.22, p = 0.001), exercise habits (t = -2.09, p = 0.040), and obesity knowledge of obese children (z = -2.99, p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: This multidimensional intervention improved obesity by inducing and sustaining behavioral changes in obese children. Therefore, applying the nudge techniques and multidimensional intervention methods based on ecological model are proposed to increase the effectiveness of the health promotion programs.

Comparative intraocular pressure measurements using three different rebound tonometers through in an ex vivo analysis and clinical trials in canine eyes.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical relevance of intraocular pressure (IOP) measured with three different rebound tonometers in an ex vivo analysis and clinical trials in dogs. ANIMALS AND PROCEDURES: Ex vivo analysis and clinical trials were performed separately. For the ex vivo analysis, eight enucleated eyes were obtained from four Beagle dogs. IOP values measured with TONOVET® (TV-IOP), TONOVET-Plus® (TVP-IOP), and SW-500® (SW-IOP) were compared with manometric IOPs. For clinical trials, each tonometer was evaluated separately, depending on whether TVP-IOP was higher or lower than 14 mm Hg. One-way repeatedmeasures analysis of variance, simple linear regression analysis, and Bland-Altman plots were used for statistical analyses. RESULTS: In ex vivo analysis, TV-IOP and TVP-IOP were not significantly different from manometric IOP. However, SW-IOP underestimated IOP compared to manometry. Higher discrepancy was observed in TV-IOP and SW-IOP with an increase in manometric IOP. In clinical trials, no significant difference was observed between TV-IOP (9.73 ± 2.92) and TVP-IOP (11.36 ± 2.23) when TVP-IOP was lower than 14 mm Hg, but SW-IOP (8.70 ± 3.03) was significantly lower than TVP-IOP. TV-IOP (15.96 ± 6.47) and SW-IOP (13.09 ± 3.72) were significantly lower than TVP-IOP (20.08 ± 6.60) when the IOP was higher than 14 mm Hg of TVP-IOP. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that the TONOVET® and TONOVET-Plus® provide a useful approach for ex vivo analysis. In clinical trials, results of TV-IOP and SW-IOP were significantly lower than of TVP-IOP when IOP was higher than 14 mm Hg of TVP-IOP. The characteristics of rebound tonometers should be considered in clinical settings.

Synthesis of Metal-Organic Framework ZnO x -MOF@MnO2 Composites for Selective Removal of Strontium Ions from Aqueous Solutions.

A Zn(II)-based metal-organic framework (MOF) compound and MnO2 were used to prepare ZnO x -MOF@MnO2 composites for selective Sr2+ removal in aqueous solutions. The ZnO x -MOF@MnO2 composites were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area analysis. The functional groups, morphologies, thermal stabilities, and specific surface areas of the composites were suitable for Sr2+ adsorption. A maximum adsorption capacity of 147.094 mg g-1 was observed in batch adsorption experiments, and the sorption isotherms were fit well by the Freundlich model of multilayer adsorption. Adsorption reached equilibrium rapidly in kinetic experiments and followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The adsorption capacity of the ZnO x -MOF@MnO2 composite with the highest MnO2 content was high over a wide pH range, and the composite was highly selective toward Sr2+ in solutions containing coexisting competing ions. Also, it has a good reusability for removing Sr2+.

Development of dental hygiene gum for cats considering their anatomical features of dentition.

The purpose of this study was to develop effective dental hygiene chews for cats based on the anatomical features of the dentition and patterns of chewing motion. All cats were volunteered for dental prophylaxis followed by dental impressions using yellow stone and alginate under general anesthesia. Twenty parameters related to dentition were defined in order to compare dental impressions using digital caliper. For the chewing motion study, patterns of chewing motion were identified based on recordings made with a digital camera. Ten cats (4 domestic shorthairs, 2 Russian blues, 1 American shorthair, 1 Persian, 1 Turkish Angora, and 1 Devon Rex) were recruited for the study. The parameters related to teeth and oral size were similar among the studied cats. Chewing motion can be described as more of a guillotine-like motion rather than a crushing motion, with cats chewing 3-7 times before swallowing. The chewing pattern of cats involves shearing for a short period of time followed by immediate swallowing. Therefore, the overall size of the dental hygiene chew could be determined based on the measurement of the oral size for inducing chewing. The surface details of the dental hygiene chew could be designed for prevention and removal of dental calculus and plaque in cats considering the anatomical teeth parameters. Dental hygiene chews customized for cats considering the different anatomical features of their teeth might be effective for oral care.

Effect of Three Different Sedatives on Electroretinography Recordings in Domestic Pigeons (Columba livia).

This study was conducted to compare the effects of 3 different sedative agents on electroretinography (ERG) in domestic pigeons (Columba livia). Six pigeons were sedated with alfaxalone, xylazine, and medetomidine at separate times with a 1-week washout period between sedative administration. After sedation with each agent, pigeons underwent the modified ERG protocol adapted from the standardized protocol for dogs. The scotopic mixed rod and cone response was recorded after 20 minutes of dark adaptation, and the photopic cone response and photopic flicker response were recorded after 10 minutes of light adaptation. Either a 1-way analysis of variance or a Kruskall-Wallis test was used to compare the a-wave and b-wave implicit time and amplitude. No significant differences were observed in the scotopic mixed rod and cone response among all 3 sedatives used. Compared with alfaxalone, medetomidine significantly prolonged the a-wave implicit time, depressed the b-wave amplitude of photopic cone response, and prolonged the peak implicit time of the photopic flicker response (P < .05). These results show that medetomidine has a depressant effect on photopic ERG in pigeons at a dosage that produces light sedation.

Locomotion Control of Pigeons using Polymer-based Deep Brain Electrodes.

This paper describes the electrical modulation of locomotion in pigeons using deep brain electrodes. Polymer-based depth electrodes with four channels were fabricated. Based on the location of the nucleus intercollicularis (ICo), the shanks of the depth electrodes were designed to be a length of 11 mm. After the implantation of the depth electrode into the ICo region of the brain, it was connected by wires to a custom-made stimulator, and biphasic current pulses were delivered. Current pulses with an amplitude of 0.5 mA, a rate of 58.0 Hz, and a duration of $320\mu \mathrm{s} $s were applied for 0.5 s. When the ICo region was electrically stimulated, taking-off behavior was successfully induced for 0.4 s. Induction of taking-off behavior by electrical stimulation, when coupled to control of turning and running forward locomotions, may contribute to the development of remote flight-control system of freely moving pigeon.