Behavioral Changes Research Articles

Internet of things-based approach for glycemic control in people with type 2 diabetes: A randomized controlled trial.

The utilization of long-term effect of internet of things (IoT) on glycemic control is controversial. This trial aimed to examine the effect of an IoT-based approach for type 2 diabetes. This randomized controlled trial enrolled 1,159 adults aged 20-74 years with type 2 diabetes with a HbA1c of 6.0-8.9% (42-74 mmol/mol), who were using a smartphone on a daily basis were randomly assigned to either the IoT-based approach group (ITG) or the control group (CTG). The ITG were supervised to utilize an IoT automated system that demonstrates a summary of lifelogging data (weight, blood pressure, and physical activities) and provides feedback messages that promote behavioral changes in both diet and exercise. The primary end point was a HbA1c change over 52 weeks. Among the patients, 581 were assigned to the ITG and 578 were in the CTG. The changes in HbA1c from baseline to the final measurement at 52 weeks [mean (standard deviation)] were -0.000 (0.6225)% in ITG and - 0.006 (0.6449)% in CTG, respectively (P = 0.8766). In the per protocol set, including ITG using the IoT system almost daily and CTG, excluding those using the application almost daily, the difference in HbA1c from baseline to 52 weeks were -0.098 (0.579)% and 0.027 (0.571)%, respectively (P = 0.0201). We observed no significant difference in the adverse event profile between the groups. The IoT-based approach did not reduce HbA1c in patients with type 2 diabetes. IoT-based intervention using data on the daily glycemic control and HbA1c level may be required to improve glycemic control.

Myopia Control: Are We Ready for an Evidence Based Approach?

Myopia and its vision-threatening complications present a significant public health problem. This review aims to provide an updated overview of the multitude of known and emerging interventions to control myopia, including their potential effect, safety, and costs. A systematic literature search of three databases was conducted. Interventions were grouped into four categories: environmental/behavioral (outdoor time, near work), pharmacological (e.g., atropine), optical interventions (spectacles and contact lenses), and novel approaches such as red-light (RLRL) therapies. Review articles and original articles on randomized controlled trials (RCT) were selected. From the initial 3224 retrieved records, 18 reviews and 41 original articles reporting results from RCTs were included. While there is more evidence supporting the efficacy of low-dose atropine and certain myopia-controlling contact lenses in slowing myopia progression, the evidence about the efficacy of the newer interventions, such as spectacle lenses (e.g., defocus incorporated multiple segments and highly aspheric lenslets) is more limited. Behavioral interventions, i.e., increased outdoor time, seem effective for preventing the onset of myopia if implemented successfully in schools and homes. While environmental interventions and spectacles are regarded as generally safe, pharmacological interventions, contact lenses, and RLRL may be associated with adverse effects. All interventions, except for behavioral change, are tied to moderate to high expenditures. Our review suggests that myopia control interventions are recommended and prescribed on the basis of accessibility and clinical practice patterns, which vary widely around the world. Clinical trials indicate short- to medium-term efficacy in reducing myopia progression for various interventions, but none have demonstrated long-term effectiveness in preventing high myopia and potential complications in adulthood. There is an unmet need for a unified consensus for strategies that balance risk and effectiveness for these methods for personalized myopia management.

Parental Knowledge, Beliefs, Practices, and Barriers Related to Children's Bladder Health in the School Environment.

Pediatric lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are a set of common childhood problems. Community-level interventions that target behavioral change among children with LUTS can improve symptoms outside of the clinic environment. Parents, navigating the home and school environments, are key in supporting healthy bladder behaviors. Thus, we asked parents about their perceptions and barriers related to pediatric bladder health. English-speaking parents (n = 30) of children ages 5-10 years with and without LUTS were interviewed. Transcripts were coded iteratively by two independent coders using deductive and inductive approaches that emphasized consensus coding and peer debriefing. Ninety-three percent of participants were women, 50% were 30-39 years old, and 60% held a graduate degree. Parents identified school-, classroom-, and child-based barriers to bladder health. These included the bathroom environment, restrictive policies for bathroom use, and anxiety on how and when to use the bathroom. Addressing school-, classroom-, and child-based barriers is necessary to promote healthy bladder habits among children in the school environment and beyond. Recommended school-based interventions include bathroom use and sanitation policies that support students' voiding needs, teachers' professional development, and school readiness initiatives. Limitations include participation of English-speaking parents only.

“Recovery activities are needed every step of the way”—exploring the process of long-term recovery in people previously diagnosed with exhaustion disorder

BackgroundSick-leave rates are high due to stress-related illnesses, but little is still known about the process of recovery from these conditions. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of the recovery process, 6 to 10 years after treatment in people previously diagnosed with exhaustion disorder (ED), focusing on facilitators and barriers for the process of recovery from ED, and recovery activities experienced as helpful during the recovery process.MethodThirty-eight participants (average age: 52 years, 32 females) previously diagnosed with ED were interviewed with semi-structured interviews 6–10 years after undergoing treatment. The interviews were analyzed with thematic analysis.ResultsThree themes resulted from the analysis. The first theme, “A long and rocky road”, summarizes the fluctuating path to feeling better and emphasizes barriers and facilitators that affected the process of recovery, with a focus on external life events and the participants’ own behaviors. Facilitators were changing workplace, receiving support, a reduction in stressors, and changed behaviors. Barriers were a poor work environment, caregiver responsibilities, negative life events and lack of support. The second theme “Recovery activities are needed every step of the way” describes how both the need for recovery activities and the types of activities experienced as helpful changed during the recovery process, from low-effort recovery activities for long periods of time to shorter and more active recovery activities. Recovery activities were described as important for self-care but hard to prioritize in everyday life. The last theme, “Reorienting to a new place”, captures the struggle to cope with the remaining impact of ED, and how internal facilitators in terms of understanding and acceptance were important to reorient and adjust to a new way of functioning.ConclusionsRecovering from ED is a long and ongoing process where recovery activities are needed every step of the way. Our results highlight the importance of supporting personal recovery and long-term behavioral change, addressing individual stressors that may perpetuate the condition, and adjusting recovery activities according to where the person is in the recovery process.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov: NCT0073772. Registered on March 8, 2017. This study was pre-registered on Open Science Framework (osf.io).

Child Sexual Abuse in Boys: A Retrospective Investigation

Background: Although recent studies have increased public awareness of child sexual abuse, certain aspects of the issue remain unclear. While research on sexual abuse in girls is abundant, there is limited focus on boys in our country. This study aims to explore the characteristics of cases involving sexual abuse of boys in the province of Türkiye. Methods: The study is descriptive and retrospective in nature. A total of 245 boys who underwent forensic interviews for alleged sexual abuse between September 2017 and March 2023 at the Child Advocacy Center in the province of Türkiye were retrospectively examined. Results: The study included 245 boys aged 3-18 with a mean age of 11.04±3.39. The most common type of sexual abuse was non-penetrative contact (57.6%). Delayed disclosure was primarily attributed to factors such as threat, fear, and shame. Sexual abuse predominantly occurred in public places (56.5%). There were significant among age groups concerning the identity of the reporters, initial disclosure persons, the existence of abuse, and reporting time. However, no significant differences were found in the presence of multiple suspects, recurrent abuse, and the incident location. Post-abuse behavioral changes in children included fear of the perpetrator (15.5%), emotional changes (15.5%), physiological changes (9.4%), and the displaying of risky behaviors (4.1%). Conclusion: The study emphasized the importance of not overlooking sexual abuse among male children. The findings underscore the need for enhanced awareness and intervention strategies to address sexual abuse in boys within the country.

Neuroplasticity-Related Genes Correlate with Individual Differences in Distinct Phases of Oxycodone Self-Administration in Male Rats.

Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a chronic condition associated with long-lasting molecular and behavioral changes. Animals with prolonged access to opioids develop behaviors similar to human OUD. Identifying associated molecular changes can provide insight to underpinnings that lead to or maintain OUD. In pilot studies, we identified several miRNA targets that are altered by the administration of oxycodone. We selected mir182 for follow up as it was recently shown to be dysregulated in plasma of men administered oxycodone. In addition, mir182 is increased in reward-related brain regions of male rats following exposure to various addictive substances. The present study utilizes a long-access oxycodone self-administration paradigm to examine changes in mir182 and its mRNA targets associated with neuroplasticity, which may be involved in the maintenance of OUD-like phenotype in rats. Male rats were trained to self-administer oxycodone (0.1 mg/kg/infusion, i.v.) for 6h daily sessions for 12 days. Each animal had a yoked saline control that received matched saline infusions. Animals were then tested on a progressive ratio schedule to measure motivation to obtain a single infusion of oxycodone. Drug seeking was measured following 28 days of forced abstinence using a 90-minute cued/test. RTqPCR was utilized to measure mir182 and mRNA targets related to neuroplasticity (wnt3, plppr4, pou3f3, tle4, cacna2d, and bdnf) from the nucleus accumbens. Data revealed that animals responded on a continuum for oxycodone. When divided into two groups termed high- and low responders, animals diverged during self-administration acquisition and maintained differences in behavior and gene expression throughout the study. mir182 was upregulated in the nucleus accumbens of both high and low responders and negatively correlated with tle4, which showed a strong negative correlation with reinstatement behavior. mRNA target levels were correlated with behaviors associated with increased severity of OUD behavior in male rats.

Neuroprotective Role of Selenium Nanoparticles Against Behavioral, Neurobiochemical and Histological Alterations in Rats Subjected to Chronic Restraint Stress.

Chronic stress induces changes in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) showed promising results in several neurological animal models. The implementation of SeNPs in chronic restraint stress (CRS) remains to be elucidated. This study was done to determine the possible protective effects of selenium nanoparticles on behavioral changes and brain oxidative stress markers in a rat model of CRS. 50 rats were divided into three groups; control group (n = 10), untreated CRS group (n = 10) and CRS-SeNPs treated group (n = 30). Restraint stress was performed 6 h./day for 21 days. Rats of CRS-SeNPs treated group received 1, 2.5 or 5 mg/kg SeNPs (10 rats each) by oral gavage for 21 days. Rats were subjected to behavioral assessments and then sacrificed for biochemical and histological analysis of the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. Prefrontal cortical and hippocampal serotonin levels, oxidative stress markers including malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and caspase-3 were assessed. Accordingly, different doses of SeNPs showed variable effectiveness in ameliorating disease parameters, with 2.5 mg/kg dose of SeNPs showing the best improving results in all studied parameters. The present study exhibited the neuroprotective role of SeNPs in rats subjected to CRS and proposed their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects as the possible mechanism for increased prefrontal cortical and hippocampal serotonin level, ameliorated anxiety-like and depressive-like behaviors and improved prefrontal cortical and hippocampal histological architecture.

Therapeutic doses of ketamine acutely attenuate the aversive effect of losses during decision-making.

The discovery of rapid-acting antidepressant, ketamine has opened a pathway to a new generation of treatments for depression, and inspired neuroscientific investigation based on a new perspective that non-adaptive changes in the intrinsic excitatory and inhibitory circuitry might underlie the pathophysiology of depression. Nevertheless, it still remains largely unknown how the hypothesized molecular and synaptic levels of changes in the circuitry might mediate behavioral and neuropsychological changes underlying depression, and how ketamine might restore adaptive behavior. Here, we used computational models to analyze behavioral changes induced by therapeutic doses of ketamine, while rhesus macaques were iteratively making decisions based on gains and losses of tokens. When administered intramuscularly or intranasally, ketamine reduced the aversiveness of undesirable outcomes such as losses of tokens without significantly affecting the evaluation of gains, behavioral perseveration, motivation, and other cognitive aspects of learning such as temporal credit assignment and time scales of choice and outcome memory. Ketamine's potentially antidepressant effect was separable from other side effects such as fixation errors, which unlike outcome evaluation, was readily countered with strong motivation to avoid errors. We discuss how the acute effect of ketamine to reduce the initial impact of negative events could potentially mediate longer-term antidepressant effects through mitigating the cumulative effect of those events produced by slowly decaying memory, and how the disruption-resistant affective memory might pose challenges in treating depression. Our study also invites future investigations on ketamine's antidepressant action over diverse mood states and with affective events exerting their impacts at diverse time scales.

Therapeutic doses of ketamine acutely attenuate the aversive effect of losses during decision-making

The discovery of rapid-acting antidepressant, ketamine has opened a pathway to a new generation of treatments for depression, and inspired neuroscientific investigation based on a new perspective that non-adaptive changes in the intrinsic excitatory and inhibitory circuitry might underlie the pathophysiology of depression. Nevertheless, it still remains largely unknown how the hypothesized molecular and synaptic levels of changes in the circuitry might mediate behavioral and neuropsychological changes underlying depression, and how ketamine might restore adaptive behavior. Here, we used computational models to analyze behavioral changes induced by therapeutic doses of ketamine, while rhesus macaques were iteratively making decisions based on gains and losses of tokens. When administered intramuscularly or intranasally, ketamine reduced the aversiveness of undesirable outcomes such as losses of tokens without significantly affecting the evaluation of gains, behavioral perseveration, motivation, and other cognitive aspects of learning such as temporal credit assignment and time scales of choice and outcome memory. Ketamine’s potentially antidepressant effect was separable from other side effects such as fixation errors, which unlike outcome evaluation, was readily countered with strong motivation to avoid errors. We discuss how the acute effect of ketamine to reduce the initial impact of negative events could potentially mediate longer-term antidepressant effects through mitigating the cumulative effect of those events produced by slowly decaying memory, and how the disruption-resistant affective memory might pose challenges in treating depression. Our study also invites future investigations on ketamine’s antidepressant action over diverse mood states and with affective events exerting their impacts at diverse time scales.

Comparisons of energy metabolism and personality traits before and after angling in crucian carp (Carassius auratus)

Catch and release has become a very popular fish conservation strategy and fisheries management tool. The physiological and behavioral changes in individuals who experience catch and release may be adaptive. These individuals may exhibit more cautious bait use or hook avoidance behavior when faced with lures again. Here, our study was conducted on crucian carp (Carassius auratus) to compare energy metabolism and personality (e.g. activity) before and after angling for three bouts of repeated angling. Our study showed that the standard metabolic rate, maximum metabolic rate, aerobic scope and factorial aerobic scope were all lower after three bouts of repeated angling, and the metabolic rates were greater before angling than after angling in the first two bouts of angling. In addition, the total magnitude of excess postexercise oxygen consumption after repeated angling also showed a decreasing trend as the number of angled bouts increased. The percentage of time spent moving increased after three bouts of repeated angling, but there were no changes in either individual swimming speed or total distance traveled. Our results suggest that repeated angling causes a high death rate and decreases the aerobic/anaerobic metabolic capacity of crucian carp, which may reduce their metabolic potential for other physiological functions, such as locomotion, growth and digestion. Future studies should continue to focus on the effects of fishing on the physiology, behavior, and population dynamics of fish.

Assessing the Feasibility and Preliminary Effects of a Web-Based Self-Management Program for Chronic Noncancer Pain: Mixed Methods Study.

In Canada, adults with chronic noncancer pain face a persistent insufficiency of publicly funded resources, with the gold standard multidisciplinary pain treatment facilities unable to meet the high clinical demand. Web-based self-management programs cost-effectively increase access to pain management and can improve several aspects of physical and emotional functioning. Aiming to meet the demand for accessible, fully automated resources for individuals with chronic noncancer pain, we developed a French web- and evidence-based self-management program, Agir pour moi (APM). This program includes pain education and strategies to reduce stress, practice mindfulness, apply pacing, engage in physical activity, identify and manage thinking traps, sleep better, adapt diet, and sustain behavior change. This study aims to assess the APM self-management program's feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects in adults awaiting specialized services from a center of expertise in chronic pain management. We conducted a mixed methods study with an explanatory sequential design, including a web-based 1-arm trial and qualitative semistructured interviews. We present the results from both phases through integrative tables called joint displays. Response rates were 70% (44/63) at postintervention and 56% (35/63) at 3-month follow-up among the 63 consenting participants who provided self-assessed information at baseline. In total, 46% (29/63) of the participants completed the program. We interviewed 24% (15/63) of the participants. The interview's first theme revolved around the overall acceptance, user-friendliness, and engaging nature of the program. The second theme emphasized the differentiation between microlevel and macrolevel engagements. The third theme delved into the diverse effects observed, potentially influenced by the macrolevel engagements. Participants highlighted the features that impacted their self-efficacy and the adoption of self-management strategies. We observed indications of improvement in self-efficacy, pain intensity, pain interference, depression, and catastrophizing. Interviewees described these and various other effects as potentially influenced by macrolevel engagement through behavioral change. These findings provided preliminary evidence that the APM self-management program and research methods are feasible. However, some participants expressed the need for at least phone reminders and minimal support from a professional available to answer questions over the first few weeks of the program to engage. Recruitment strategies of a future randomized controlled trial should focus on attracting a broader representation of individuals with chronic pain in terms of gender and ethnicity. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05319652; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05319652.

How Do Curbside Feedback Tactics Impact Households’ Recycling Performance? Evidence From Community Programs

Much of the responsibility for advancing the circular economy has been directed towards firms, yet many reuse opportunities can only be achieved through environmentally compliant, household-level recycling behaviors. In response, policymakers and recycling organizations are using a range of feedback mechanisms to promote household recycling that meets local quality standards. However, the effectiveness of these tactics remains unclear, and stakeholders are divided on the appropriateness of their use. In this research, we examine the role of two popular feedback mechanisms—information-only and information-plus-penalty—in correcting households’ curbside recycling behaviors. With information-only feedback, households are provided with best practices for recycling and are not penalized for their errors. With information-plus-penalty feedback, households also receive information, but temporarily forfeit their recycling services. While previous studies have explored the use of information and penalties as feedback mechanisms to guide behavioral changes, there is mixed evidence of their effectiveness, particularly in the recycling context. We address this research gap by analyzing unique data collected from a 2019 curbside auditing effort that occurred in a large, Mid-Western city. Our analysis leverages econometric methods, and recycling feedback and performance data from 25,359 audits across 11,899 households and 15 recycling routes. We find that information-only feedback mechanisms, while preferred by some stakeholders, are not associated with improvements in recycling quality (measured using household contamination rates). By contrast, our results indicate that punitive mechanisms (i.e., information-plus-penalty) involving cart refusals are associated with significant reductions in contamination rates: that is, households that receive punitive feedback reduce their contamination rate severity by 59%, and are 75% less likely to commit a violation in the future. More importantly, we do not find evidence that punitive feedback mechanisms generally discourage households’ participation in recycling programs (measured using future set out rates). Our study informs sustainable operations management literature by investigating how curbside feedback mechanisms, with differing levels of severity, influence critical dimensions of households’ recycling performance (i.e., recycling quality and participation). We also inform policymakers on how curbside feedback mechanisms can be more effectively leveraged to enhance opportunities for material reuse.

Barriers and facilitators of adherence to low-dose aspirin during pregnancy: A co-produced systematic review and COM-B framework synthesis of qualitative evidence.

Women at increased risk of developing pre-eclampsia are advised to take a daily low-dose of aspirin from 12 weeks of pregnancy to reduce their risks. Despite the well-established prophylactic effect of aspirin, adherence to this therapy is low. This systematic review aimed to summarise evidence on the barriers and facilitators of adherence to low-dose aspirin to inform intervention development to support decision making and persistence with aspirin use for pre-eclampsia prevention. A systematic review and meta-synthesis of qualitative research was co-produced by representatives from charities, and public, clinical and academic members. Eight electronic databases (MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Web of Science, Scopus, EMBASE, Prospero, OpenGrey), archives of charities and professional organisations were searched (between October and November 2023 and re-run in August 2023) using predefined search terms. Studies containing qualitative components related to barriers and facilitators of adherence to low-dose aspirin during pregnancy were included. Quality assessment was performed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme checklist for qualitative research. A combination of the COM-B framework with phases of adherence process as defined by international taxonomy was used as the coding framework. Co-production activities were facilitated by use of 'Zoom' and 'Linoit'. From a total of 3377 papers identified through our searches, five published studies and one dissertation met our inclusion criteria. Studies were published from 2019 to 2022 covering research conducted in the USA, Canada, UK, Netherlands and Australia. Barriers and facilitators to adherence were mapped to six categories of the COM-B for three phases of adherence: initiation, implementation, and discontinuation. The discontinuation phase of adherence was only mentioned by one author. Four key themes were identified relating to pregnancy: 'Insufficient knowledge', 'Necessity concerns balance', 'Access to medicine', 'Social influences', and 'Lack of Habit'. The COM-B framework allowed for detailed mapping of key factors shaping different phases of adherence in behavioural change terms and now provides a solid foundation for the development of a behavioural intervention. Although potential intervention elements could be suggested based on the results of this synthesis, additional co-production work is needed to define elements and plan for the delivery of the future intervention. PROSPERO CRD42022359718. https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42022359718.

Precancerous lesion determinants in women attending cervical cancer screening at public health facilities in North Shoa Zone, Amhara, Ethiopia: an unmatched case-control study

BackgroundPrecancerous cervical lesions develop in the transformation zone of the cervix and progress through stages known as cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 1, 2, and 3. If untreated, CIN2 or CIN3 can lead to cervical cancer. The determinants of cervical precancerous lesions are not well documented in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aims to find the determinants of cervical precancerous lesions among women screened for cervical cancer at public health facilities.MethodsA study conducted from January to April 2020 involved 216 women, consisting of 54 cases (positive for VIA during cervical cancer screening) and 162 controls (negative for VIA). It focused on women aged 30 to 49 undergoing cervical cancer screening. Multivariable logistic regression analysis assessed the link between precancerous lesions and different risk factors, considering a significance level of p < 0.05.ResultsWomen who used oral contraceptives for a duration exceeding five years showed a nearly fivefold increase in the likelihood of developing precancerous lesions (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 4.75; 95% CI: 1.48, 15.30). Additionally, early age at first sexual intercourse (below 15 years) elevated the odds of developing precancerous lesions fourfold (AOR = 3.77; 95% CI: 1.46, 9.69). Furthermore, women with HIV seropositive results and a prior history of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) had 3.4 times (AOR = 3.45; 95% CI: 1.29, 9.25) and 2.5 times (AOR = 2.58; 95% CI: 1.10, 6.09) higher odds of developing cervical precancerous lesions compared to their counterparts.ConclusionIn conclusion, women who have used oral contraceptives for over five years, started sexual activity before the age of 15 and have a history of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, are at higher risk of developing precancerous cervical lesions. Targeted intervention strategies aimed at promoting behavioural change to prevent early sexual activity and STIs are crucial for avoiding cervical precancerous lesions. It is crucial to introduce life-course principles for female adolescents early on, acknowledging the potential to prevent and control precancerous lesions at critical stages in life, from early adolescence to adulthood, encompassing all developmental phases.

Determinants of behaviour and their efficacy as targets of behavioural change interventions

Determinants of behaviour and their efficacy as targets of behavioural change interventions

Promotive and preventive education of non-communicable diseases for the community

Non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and heart disease are global health challenges that require a holistic approach to their prevention and management. Promotive and preventive education has been recognized as an effective strategy for increasing public health awareness and reducing the incidence of non-communicable diseases. This service activity can improve health awareness in the community, primarily related to promotive and preventive education. Measures such as education campaigns, education in schools, collaboration with communities, and the use of technology have been discussed as effective strategies for achieving this goal. In conclusion, the joint efforts of different parties and diverse methods are crucial to creating an environment that supports high health awareness. Implementing the right strategy is expected to increase public understanding of the importance of a healthy lifestyle and the prevention of non-communicable diseases and produce positive behavioral change in the long term. Joint efforts from different sectors and diverse methods can help increase health awareness in the community, realize a healthy lifestyle, and reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases significantly. Health awareness includes an understanding of a healthy lifestyle and the ability to implement that knowledge in everyday life.

Aging in zebrafish is associated with reduced locomotor activity and strain dependent changes in bottom dwelling and thigmotaxis.

Aging is associated with a wide range of physiological and behavioral changes in many species. Zebrafish, like humans, rodents, and birds, exhibits gradual senescence, and thus may be a useful model organism for identifying evolutionarily conserved mechanisms related to aging. Here, we compared behavior in the novel tank test of young (6-month-old) and middle aged (12-month-old) zebrafish from two strains (TL and TU) and both sexes. We find that this modest age difference results in a reduction in locomotor activity in male fish. We also found that background strain modulated the effects of age on predator avoidance behaviors related to anxiety: older female TL fish increased bottom dwelling whereas older male TU fish decreased thigmotaxis. Although there were no consistent effects of age on either short-term (within session) or long-term (next day) habituation to the novel tank, strain affected the habituation response. TL fish tended to increase their distance from the bottom of the tank whereas TU fish had no changes in bottom distance but instead tended to increase thigmotaxis. Our findings support the use of zebrafish for the study of how age affects locomotion and how genetics interacts with age and sex to alter exploratory and emotional behaviors in response to novelty.

Nicotine inhalant via E-cigarette facilitates sensorimotor function recovery by upregulating neuronal BDNF-TrkB signalling in traumatic brain injury.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) causes lifelong physical and psychological dysfunction in affected individuals. The current study investigated the effects of chronic nicotine exposure via E-cigarettes (E-cig) (vaping) on TBI-associated behavioural and biochemical changes. Adult C57/BL6J male mice were subjected to controlled cortical impact (CCI) followed by daily exposure to E-cig vapour for 6 weeks. Sensorimotor functions, locomotion, and sociability were subsequently evaluated by nesting, open field, and social approach tests, respectively. Immunoblots were conducted to examine the expression of mature brain-derived neurotrophic factor (mBDNF) and associated downstream proteins (p-Erk, p-Akt). Histological analyses were performed to evaluate neuronal survival and neuroinflammation. Post-injury chronic nicotine exposure significantly improved nesting performance in CCI mice. Histological analysis revealed increased survival of cortical neurons in the perilesion cortex with chronic nicotine exposure. Immunoblots revealed that chronic nicotine exposure significantly up-regulated mBDNF, p-Erk and p-Akt expression in the perilesion cortex of CCI mice. Immunofluorescence microscopy indicated that elevated mBDNF and p-Akt expression were mainly localized within cortical neurons. Immunolabelling of Iba1 demonstrated that chronic nicotine exposure attenuated microglia-mediated neuroinflammation. Post-injury chronic nicotine exposure via vaping facilitates recovery of sensorimotor function by upregulating neuroprotective mBDNF/TrkB/Akt/Erk signalling. These findings suggest potential neuroprotective properties of nicotine despite its highly addictive nature. Thus, understanding the multifaceted effects of chronic nicotine exposure on TBI-associated symptoms is crucial for paving the way for informed and properly managed therapeutic interventions.

Investigation of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Home Cage Behavior: The Home Cage Assay Advantages.

This study utilized the Noldus PhenoTyper Home Cage Monitoring system (HCM) to assess the behavioral and cognitive changes of experimental closed-head mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Seventy-nine adult male Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice were subjected to either a sham procedure or closed-head mTBI using the weight-drop model. Seven days post-injury, separate cohorts of mice underwent either a non-cognitive or a cognitive home cage assessment, a treadmill fatigue test, or the Open Field Test. mTBI significantly influenced habituation behavior and circadian wheel-running activity. Notably, mTBI mice exhibited an increased frequency of visits to the running wheel, but each visit was shorter than those of controls. No significant differences between the groups in discrimination or reversal learning performance were observed. However, during the reversal learning stage, mTBI mice performed similarly to their initial discrimination learning levels, suggesting an abnormally faster rate of reversal learning. Home cage monitoring is a valuable tool for studying the subtle effects of mTBI, complementing traditional assays. The automated evaluation of habituation to novel stimuli (e.g., novel environment) could serve as a potentially sensitive tool for assessing mTBI-associated behavioral deficits.

Crafting a healthier future: exploring the nexus of product design, digital innovations and dynamic marketing for obesity prevention. A literature review

PurposeThe current work aims to present a review of academic literature that systematizes the body of knowledge related to marketing and consumer behavior in order to identify the most effective variables that encourage the consumer towards a proper and better lifestyle, accordingly the paradigm of management, marketing and technology efforts to promote a “better” society preventing obesity.Design/methodology/approachA literature review was carried out to examine the studies of marketing and consumer behavior published in international peer-reviewed journals over the last twenty-three years (2000–2023). Our review finally considered a total amount of 46 articles.FindingsFindings elucidate three overarching themes and associated sub-hemes, encompassing: (1) Product design for obesity prevention, including aspects such as labeling, nomenclature, packaging and assortment; (2) Technology-supported preventive measures, involving mobile applications, self-monitoring, short message services and digital therapeutics; and (3) Marketing and communication strategies, incorporating social advertising, nudge, social influence and initiatives targeting childhood obesity prevention. Furthermore, a comprehensive research agenda is presented, delineating potential avenues for future investigations predicated on the utility of the results in fostering subsequent endeavors within the realms of: efficacy and effectiveness studies; personalization and tailoring; behavioral change techniques and gamification; user experience and acceptance; cost-effectiveness and implementation; as well as ethical and privacy concerns.Research limitations/implicationsMain limitations are related to the characteristics of the analyzed literature, resulting in only English journal articles, book chapter and so on. Thus, other relevant contributions in different languages discussing interesting insights might have been neglected.Practical implicationsThis study offers several insights to managers, marketers and policymakers involved in the issue of the obesity prevention. Since obesity represents a crucial challenge for public health at a global level, with its incidence reaching epidemic proportions in recent decades, the results may be extremely useful and powerful because suggesting – by employing a robust resulting corpus of knowledge on this domain – several practical features, actions and tactics to face such an important challenge. Moreover, this paper offers for scholar and researcher a systematized knowledge around the issues of obesity prevention, together with a detailed research agenda emerging by the critical analysis of the emerging insights, and to practitioners systematized useful insights to project and develop their future business strategies.Social implicationsBy providing several actions and tactics for obesity prevention (e.g. as for product labeling, naming, packaging, assortment; the exploitation of new technologies for mobile applications design, self-monitoring, short message service (SMS) alert systems, digital therapeutics; the role of social advertising, nudge, social influence) this work perfectly match the emerging societal orientation related to business, marketing and technology efforts to create a “better” society.Originality/valueThe study shed lights the need for a holistic approach to obesity prevention, involving interaction between individual main topics. Importantly this is the first study to analyze the issue of obesity prevention by considering a multidisciplinary corpus of literature, analyzed trough an individual-centric orientation.