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BackgroundWorksite nutrition and physical activity interventions are important to help overweight and obese employees lose weight, but costs and insufficient sustained motivation prevent the majority of these programs from succeeding. Tailored text messaging in aiding weight management has been effective in several studies, but no studies have evaluated the effect of a tailored text message service on weight loss in a worksite health promotion program. ObjectiveWe studied the efficacy of a tailored text-messaging intervention for obese male participants in a worksite weight loss program of 6 months duration. MethodsThe study was an unblinded, randomized controlled trial. Men with a body mass index greater than 25 kg/m2 were recruited from the Korea District Heating Corporation, the Korea Expressway Corporation, and the Korea Gas Corporation. The participants were identified by nurse managers. Participants were randomly allocated to 1 of the following 2 groups for 24 weeks: (1) intervention group, which received tailored text message reminders every other day plus 4 offline education sessions and brief counseling with monthly weight check by nurses for weight control over 6 months and (2) control group, which received the 4 offline education sessions and brief counseling with monthly weight check by nurses about weight control over 6 months. The primary outcome was the difference in weight loss at 6 months. A mixed-model repeated-measures analysis was performed to evaluate the effect of the intervention group’s weight loss compared with the control group. ResultsA total of 205 obese men were randomized into either the intervention (n=104) or the control group (n=101). At the end of 6 months, the intervention group (n=63) had lost 1.71 kg (95% CI –2.53 to –0.88) and the control group (n=59) had lost 1.56 kg (95% CI –2.45 to –0.66); the difference between the 2 groups was not significant (mean difference –0.15, 95% CI –1.36 to 1.07). At the end of the study, 60% (34/57) of the intervention group rated the message program as helpful for weight control and 46% (26/57) would recommend the text message service to their friends. ConclusionsTailored text message reminders did not have a significant effect on weight loss in obese men as part of a worksite weight loss program. Trial RegistrationInternational Standard Randomized Controlled Trial Number (ISRCTN): 39629189; http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN39629189?q=39629189&filters=&sort=&offset=1&totalResults=1&page=1&pageSize=10&searchType=basic-search (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6VsFkwJH6).

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a high-demand chemical, valued as a powerful and eco-friendly oxidant for various industrial applications. The traditional industrial method for producing H2O2, known as the anthraquinone process, is both costly and environmentally problematic. Electrochemical synthesis, which produces H2O2 using electricity, offers a sustainable alternative, particularly suited for small-scale, continuous on-site H2O2 generation due to the portability of electrocatalytic devices. For efficient H2O2 electrosynthesis, electrocatalysts must exhibit high selectivity, activity, and stability for the two-electron pathway-oxygen reduction reaction (2e− ORR). Transition-metal chalcogenide (TMC)-based materials have emerged as promising candidates for effective 2e− ORR due to their high activity in acidic environments and the abundance of their constituent elements. This review examines the potential of TMC-based catalysts in H2O2 electrosynthesis, categorizing them into noble-metal and non-noble-metal chalcogenides. It underscores the importance of achieving high selectivity, activity, and stability in 2e− ORR. By reviewing recent advancements and identifying key challenges, this review provides valuable insights into the development of TMC-based electrocatalysts for sustainable H2O2 production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Free-living amoebae (FLA) are found in diverse environments, such as soils, rivers, and seas. Hence, they can be used as bioindicators to assess the water quality based solely on their presence. In this study, we determined the presence of FLA in river water by filtering water samples collected from various sites and culturing the resulting filtrates. FLA were detected in all the water samples with varying quality grades (Grades I-V). The significant increase in the size of the amoebae population with the deterioration in the water quality. Monoxenic cultures of the amoebae were performed, and genomic DNAs were isolated, among which 18S rDNAs were sequenced to identify the amoeba species. Of the 12 species identified, 10 belonged to the Acanthamoeba genus; of the remaining 2 species, one was identified as Vannella croatica and the other as a species of Vermamoeba. Acanthamoeba was detected in samples with Grades I to VI quality, whereas the Vermamoeba species was present only in Grade I water. V. croatica was found exclusively in water with Grade II quality. Following morphological observations, genomic DNA was sequenced using 16S rDNA to determine whether the species of Acanthamoeba harbored endosymbionts. Most of the isolated Acanthamoeba contained endosymbionts, among which 4 species of endogenous bacteria were identified and examined using transmission electron microscopy. This study provides evidence that the distribution of amoebae other than Acanthamoeba may be associated with water quality. However, further confirmation will be required based on accurate water quality ratings and assessments using a more diverse range of FLA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]