Baekseok Arts University

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition marked by social communication deficits and restricted, repetitive behaviors. Among evidence-based practices (EBPs), interventions grounded in applied behavior analysis (ABA) principles-including Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention and naturalistic developmental behavioral interventions-are widely used. While the evidence suggests potential benefits, the findings are inconsistent, most studies carry a high risk of bias, and the quality of evidence is generally low to very low. Gaps also remain in comparisons with treatment as usual (TAU) and across intervention intensities. This mixed-methods systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the quantitative effectiveness and qualitative experiences of ABA-based interventions for children and adolescents with ASD, addressing the methodological limitations of earlier studies, and examining comparisons with TAU. Seven databases were searched up to August 2023 following the PRISMA guidelines. Twenty-five studies met the inclusion criteria (16 randomized controlled trials, 9 qualitative). The quantitative outcomes included adaptive behavior, cognitive ability (IQ/DQ), language, daily living skills, socialization, joint attention, and autism symptom severity. Qualitative studies explored parents' and practitioners' experiences. Random-effects models were used, with subgroup analyses by intervention intensity and TAU comparisons. The meta-analysis revealed significant improvements in adaptive behavior (SMD = 0.31, 95% CI: 0.04-0.59, GRADE = low), daily living skills (SMD = 0.36, 95% CI: 0.08-0.64, GRADE = low), language skills (SMD = 0.42, 95% CI: 0.24-0.60, GRADE = moderate), and joint attention behavior (SMD = 0.27, 95% CI: 0.04-0.49, GRADE = low) compared with the controls. High-intensity interventions had a notably greater effect on language skills (SMD = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.42-1.01) than low-intensity interventions (SMD = 0.34, 95% CI: 0.13-0.55). Comparisons with TAU revealed significant effects on adaptive behavior (SMD = 0.34, 95% CI: 0.02-0.66), daily living skills (SMD = 0.39, 95% CI: 0.07-0.71), and language skills (SMD = 0.51, 95% CI: 0.24-0.78). Qualitative findings highlighted perceived family and practitioner benefits but also barriers such as financial constraints and variability in training quality. This study confirms the effectiveness of ABA in improving developmental and behavioral outcomes in children with ASD. However, systemic challenges and variability in outcomes underscore the need for targeted policy initiatives, enhanced training programs, and further research on the impact of ABA on core ASD symptoms.

BackgroundThis study examined the impact of pet food selection attributes, including price, quality, reliability, and convenience, on customer satisfaction and loyalty in South Korea’s evolving pet food market. The pet industry in South Korea is expanding rapidly, driven by changes in demographics like the rise of single-person households and aging populations. It is essential to understand consumer preferences in pet food attributes.MethodsA survey of 365 pet owners was conducted, and data were analyzed using path analysis.ResultsThe analysis showed that reliability and convenience play a significant role in increasing customer satisfaction and loyalty, while price and quality do not have a significant effect. Consumers value trust in product origins, brand credibility, and practical features like easy-to-store packaging. These results underscore the importance of attributes that simplify daily routines and build trust in pet food products.DiscussionThese findings stress the importance of transparency in production processes and consumer-oriented product designs that meet modern demands for convenience. By prioritizing these attributes, pet food manufacturers can better align their products with changing consumer expectations, improving loyalty and strengthening their competitive position in a dynamic market. This study offers insights into how selection attributes affect customer satisfaction and loyalty, with practical implications for product development and marketing strategies in the rapidly growing pet food sector. However, the study is limited by its sample representativeness and the scope of analyzed attributes, suggesting considerable scope for future research to broaden demographic coverage and explore additional influencing factors.

Aims/IntroductionWe investigated the failure of monotherapy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in real practice settings.Materials and MethodsThe Korean National Diabetes Program was a prospective, multicenter observational cohort study of type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in Korea. Of the 3,950 patients enrolled in the study, we studied 998 who were continuously maintained on monotherapy for at least 90 days at six participating centers. To balance the baseline characteristics of patients in each group, we used propensity matching at a 1:1 ratio (metformin vs sulfonylureas) and 4:1 ratio (metformin vs meglitinides and metformin vs alpha‐glucosidase inhibitors [aGIs]). The hazard ratios (HRs) of treatments (compared with metformin) were determined by Cox's proportional hazards regression modeling.ResultsThe median follow‐up time was 56 months, and monotherapy failed in 45% of all patients. The annual incidences of failure were 15.6%, 21.3%, 27% and 9.6% in the metformin, sulfonylurea, meglitinide and aGI groups. Compared with metformin, sulfonylureas and meglitinides were associated with higher risks of monotherapy failure (HR 1.39, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.08–1.80; HR 1.92, 95% CI 1.13–3.27), and aGIs with risks similar to that of metformin (HR 0.80, 95% CI 0.44–1.45). When analyzed by failure type, sulfonylureas, meglitinides and aGIs were associated with a higher risk of a switch to other agents (HR 4.43, 95% CI 2.14–9.17; HR 18.80, 95% CI 6.21–56.93; HR 4.25, 95% CI 1.49–12.13), and aGIs with a lower risk of prescription of add‐on second agents (HR 0.16, 95% CI 0.04–0.64).ConclusionsMetformin was associated with a lower failure risk than were sulfonylureas and meglitinides, but a comparable aGI failure rate.

Scopoletin is a bioactive component in many edible plants and fruits. This study investigated the effects of scopoletin on hepatic steatosis and inflammation in a high-fat diet fed type 1 diabetic mice by comparison with metformin. Scopoletin (0.01%, w/w) or metformin (0.5%, w/w) was provided with a high-fat diet to streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice for 11weeks. Both scopoletin and metformin lowered blood glucose and HbA1c , serum ALT, TNF-α and IL-6 levels, glucose intolerance, and hepatic lipid accumulation compared with the diabetic control group. Scopoletin or metformin down-regulated hepatic gene expression of triglyceride (Pparg, Plpp2, and Dgat2) and cholesterol (Hmgcr) synthesis as well as inflammation (Tlr4, Myd88, Nfkb1, Tnfa, and Il6), while it up-regulated Cyp7a1 gene. Hepatic PPARγ and DGAT2 protein levels were also down-regulated in scopoletin or metformin group compared with the control group. Scopoletin or metformin also inhibited hepatic fatty acid synthase and phosphatidate phosphohydrolase activities. These results suggest that scopoletin protects against diabetes-induced steatosis and inflammation by inhibiting lipid biosynthesis and TLR4-MyD88 pathways. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

To determine the association between frontal lobe function and risk of hip fracture in patients with Alzheimer disease (AD).Retrospective cohort study using multicenter hospital-based dementia registry and national health insurance claim data was done. Participants who had available data of neuropsychological test, national health insurance claim, and other covariates were included. A total of 1660 patients with AD were included based on Stroop Test results. A total of 1563 patients with AD were included based on the Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT) results. Hip fracture was measured by validated identification criteria using national health insurance claim data. Frontal lobe function was measured by Stroop Test and COWAT at baseline.After adjusting for potential covariates, including cognitive function in other domains (language, verbal and nonverbal memory, and attention), the Cox proportional hazard regression analysis revealed that risk of a hip fracture was decreased with a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.98 per one point of increase in the Stroop Test (adjusted HR = 0.98, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.97–1.00) and 0.93 per one point increase in COWAT (adjusted HR = 0.93, 95% CI: 0.88–0.99).The risk of hip fracture in AD patients was associated with baseline frontal lobe function. The result of this research presents evidence of association between frontal lobe function and risk of hip fracture in patients with AD.

BackgroundWe examined the longitudinal association between participation in individual or combinations of physical, social, and religious activity and risk of depression in the elderly.MethodsElderly subjects aged ≥60 years who completed the Living Profiles of Older People Survey in Korea (n = 6,647) were included. The baseline assessment, Wave 1, was conducted in 2008, and a follow-up assessment, Wave 2, was conducted in 2011. We defined participation in frequent physical activity as ≥3 times weekly (at least 30 minutes per activity). Frequent participation in social and religious activity was defined as ≥1 activity weekly. The primary outcome was depression at 3-year follow up.ResultsMultivariable logistic regression analysis showed that subjects who participated in frequent physical, social, and religious activity had an adjusted odds ratio of 0.81 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.69–0.96), 0.87 (95% CI, 0.75–1.00), and 0.78 (95% CI, 0.67–0.90), respectively, compared with participants who did not participate in each activity. Participants who participated in only one type of activity frequently and participants who participated in two or three types of activities frequently had an adjusted odds ratio of 0.86 (95% CI, 0.75–0.98) and 0.64 (95% CI, 0.52–0.79), respectively, compared with participants who did not participate in any type of physical, social, and religious activity frequently.ConclusionParticipation in physical, social, and religious activity was associated with decreased risk of depression in the elderly. In addition, risk of depression was much lower in the elderly people who participated in two or three of the above-mentioned types of activity than that in the elderly who did not.

The mobile communication industry evolves into a mobile communication industry ecosystem led by new keystone players (i.e., Apple and Google) and reflects the expansion of overall industrial competitiveness in size through conversion with other businesses. In this study, the modeling was done in a systematic method to derive the answers to the questions such as, which functions in the value chains of mobile communication industry contribute most to profit creation, what is the key resource, and what the new business model is. This study attempts to objectively identify derivation of factors and correlations between the configuration factors for competitiveness expansion for each industry. Specifically, we developed a dynamic model to predict the overall industry movement by theoretically establishing the modelling concept about value networking of the mobile communication industry ecosystem. Using the system dynamics methodology, coupled with professional interviews, this paper empirically tests the value network model that reflects open mobile communication ecosystem. The results show that the ecosystem of the mobile communication industry is evolving into an open form with the surfacing of portals and terminal production companies, suggesting the collapse of the traditional structure (Walled Garden).

In this study differences in behavioral problems between children at risk for Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) and normally developing children were identified. Further, relationships between parental stress, depression, and child behavioral problems according to ADHD symptoms were explored. Participants were 222 elementary school children and their parents. The ADHD risk group was determined by the Korean-ADHD Rating Scale. Data were collected using the Korean-ADHD Rating Scale, Korean version of Child Behavior CheckList (K-CBCL), Parenting Stress Index, and Beck Depression Inventory. Data were analyzed using t-test, Pearson correlation coefficients, and regression analysis. 1) The ADHD risk group showed higher levels of behavioral problems, parenting stress, and maternal depression than the normal group. 2) There were significant relationships between ADHD scores and parenting stress (r=.66), maternal depression (r=.35), internal behavioral problems (r=.47), and external problems (r=.55), but, ADHD risk scores were negatively correlated with social competence (r=-.40). 3) The regression analysis revealed that ADHD levels affected the child's internal behavioral problems, mediated by maternal depression (beta=.29, p<.001). The study results show that higher risk scores for ADHD indicate a significant effect for behavioral problems. Also, parenting stress and depression influence child's behavioral problems. These results suggest that identification of children at risk for ADHD and development of parental education programs would contribute to the prevention of behavioral problems and aggravation of the ADHD symptoms.