Modelling the impact of menthol sales restrictions and retailer density reduction policies: insights from tobacco town Minnesota.

INTRODUCTION: Tobacco control policies focused on the retail environment have the potential to reduce tobacco use and tobacco-related health disparities through increasing direct and indirect costs. Recently, national and subnational governments have begun to restrict the sale of menthol products and reduce tobacco retailer density. METHODS: We developed an agent-based model to project the impact of menthol cigarette sales restrictions and retailer density reduction policies for six types of communities and three priority populations. During each simulated day, agents smoke cigarettes, travel in the community and make purchase decisions-whether, where and which product type to purchase-based on a combination of their own properties and the current retail environment. RESULTS: Of the policies tested, restricting all cigarette sales or menthol cigarette sales to tobacco specialty shops may have the largest effect on the total (direct and indirect) costs of purchasing cigarettes. Coupling one of these policies with one that establishes a minimum distance between tobacco retailers may enhance the impact. Combining these policies could also make the costs of acquiring cigarettes more equal across communities and populations. DISCUSSION: Our simulations revealed the importance of context, for example, lower income communities in urban areas begin with higher retailer density and may need stronger policies to show impact, as well as the need to focus on differential effects for priority populations, for example, combinations of policies may equalise the average distance travelled to purchase. Adapting and combining policies could enhance the sustainability of policy effects and reduce tobacco use.

The role of novelty and fat and sugar concentration in food selection by captive tufted capuchins (Sapajus apella).

Capuchins, like other primates, use feedback from sensory cues and digestion to make decisions about which foods to consume and which to avoid. However, little is known about how capuchins make consumption decisions when simultaneously presented with novel and familiar foods, or how food familiarity and macronutrient concentration together influence food choice, topics with potential implications for developmental and health research. In this study, we evaluated the role of familiarity, as well as fat and sugar concentration, in the food selections of captive tufted capuchins (Sapajus apella). In the first experiment, over 10 sessions, subjects were assigned to either a group that chose between one familiar and one novel food item both high in fat or sugar (high condition), or to a group that chose between one familiar and one novel food item both low in fat or sugar (low condition). In the second experiment, subjects were divided into three groups, familiarized with food over five feeding sessions, and then offered the familiarized food and a novel food that varied in fat or sugar for 10 sessions. When offered foods high in fat, capuchins showed no clear signs of neophobia, forming an initial preference for the novel food, rejecting foods less frequently, and selecting foods faster than when offered foods low in fat. These trends were generally not observed in response to foods with sugar. When presented with options that varied in macronutrient concentration, subjects showed an initial interest in the novel food irrespective of whether it was high in fat or sugar, yet formed a final preference for the higher-concentration item. Findings suggest that the concentration of fat or sugar in novel foods may be an important mediator of exploratory behavior and that capuchins rely on immediate feedback from taste and other sensory cues to make consumption decisions.

Replacing uridine with 2-thiouridine enhances the rate and fidelity of nonenzymatic RNA primer extension.

The nonenzymatic replication of RNA oligonucleotides is thought to have played a key role in the origin of life prior to the evolution of ribozyme-catalyzed RNA replication. Although the copying of oligo-C templates by 2-methylimidazole-activated G monomers can be quite efficient, the copying of mixed sequence templates, especially those containing A and U, is particularly slow and error-prone. The greater thermodynamic stability of the 2-thio-U(s(2)U):A base pair, relative to the canonical U:A base pair, suggests that replacing U with s(2)U might enhance the rate and fidelity of the nonenzymatic copying of RNA templates. Here we report that this single atom substitution in the activated monomer improves both the kinetics and the fidelity of nonenzymatic primer extension on mixed-sequence RNA templates. In addition, the mean lengths of primer extension products obtained with s(2)U is greater than those obtained with U, augmenting the potential for nonenzymatic replication of heritable function-rich sequences. We suggest that noncanonical nucleotides such as s(2)U may have played a role during the infancy of the RNA world by facilitating the nonenzymatic replication of genomic RNA oligonucleotides.

Crystal structure studies of RNA duplexes containing s(2)U:A and s(2)U:U base pairs.

Structural studies of modified nucleobases in RNA duplexes are critical for developing a full understanding of the stability and specificity of RNA base pairing. 2-Thio-uridine (s(2)U) is a modified nucleobase found in certain tRNAs. Thermodynamic studies have evaluated the effects of s(2)U on base pairing in RNA, where it has been shown to stabilize U:A pairs and destabilize U:G wobble pairs. Surprisingly, no high-resolution crystal structures of s(2)U-containing RNA duplexes have yet been reported. We present here two high-resolution crystal structures of heptamer RNA duplexes (5'-uagcs(2)Ucc-3' paired with 3'-aucgAgg-5' and with 3'-aucgUgg-5') containing s(2)U:A and s(2)U:U pairs, respectively. For comparison, we also present the structures of their native counterparts solved under identical conditions. We found that replacing O2 with S2 stabilizes the U:A base pair without any detectable structural perturbation. In contrast, an s(2)U:U base pair is strongly stabilized in one specific U:U pairing conformation out of four observed for the native U:U base pair. This s(2)U:U stabilization appears to be due at least in part to an unexpected sulfur-mediated hydrogen bond. This work provides additional insights into the effects of 2-thio-uridine on RNA base pairing.

Impacted maxillary canines and root resorptions of neighbouring teeth: a radiographic analysis using cone-beam computed tomography.

The study analyses the location of impacted maxillary canines and factors influencing root resorptions of adjacent teeth using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). In addition, the interrater reliability between observers of two different dental specialties for radiographic parameters will be evaluated. CBCT images of patients who were referred for radiographic localization of impacted maxillary canines and/or suspicion of root resorptions of adjacent teeth were included. The study analysed the exact three-dimensional location of the impacted canines in the anterior maxilla, frequency and extent of root resorptions, and potential influencing factors. To assess interrater agreement, Cohen's correlation parameters were calculated. This study comprises 113 patients with CBCT scans, and 134 impacted canines were analysed retrospectively. In the patients evaluated, 69 impacted canines were located palatally (51.49 per cent), 41 labially (30.60 per cent), and 24 (17.91 per cent) in the middle of the alveolar process. Root resorptions were found in 34 lateral incisors (25.37 per cent), 7 central incisors (5.22 per cent), 6 first premolars (4.48 per cent), and 1 second premolar (0.75 per cent). There was a significant correlation between root resorptions on adjacent teeth and localization of the impacted canine in relation to the bone, as well as vertical localization of the canine. Interrater agreement showed values of 0.546-0.877. CBCT provides accurate information about location of the impacted canine and prevalence and degree of root resorption of neighbouring teeth with high interrater correlation. This information is of great importance for surgeons and orthodontists for accurate diagnostics and interdisciplinary treatment planning.

An agent-based model of child sugar-sweetened beverage consumption: implications for policies and practices.

BACKGROUND: A strong body of evidence links young children's intake of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) with myriad negative outcomes. OBJECTIVES: Our research provides insight into whether and to what extent potential intervention strategies can reduce young children's consumption of SSBs. METHODS: We built an agent-based model (ABM) of SSB consumption representing participants in the Project Viva longitudinal study between ages 2 and 7 y. In addition to extensive data from Project Viva, our model used nationally representative data as well as recent, high-quality literature. We tested the explanatory power of the model through comparison to consumption patterns observed in the Project Viva cohort. Then, we applied the model to simulate the potential impact of interventions that would reduce SSB availability in 1 or more settings or affect how families receive and respond to pediatrician advice. RESULTS: Our model produced age-stratified trends in beverage consumption that closely match those observed in Project Viva cohort data. Among the potential interventions we simulated, reducing availability in the home-where young children spend the greatest amount of time-resulted in the largest consumption decrease. Removing access to all SSBs in the home resulted in them consuming 1.23 (95% CI: 1.21, 1.24) fewer servings of SSBs per week on average between the ages of 2 and 7 y, a reduction of ∼60%. By comparison, removing all SSB availability outside of the home (i.e., in schools and childcare) had a smaller impact (0.77; CI: 0.75, 0.78), a reduction of ∼40%. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that interventions reducing SSB availability in the home would have the strongest effects on SSB consumption.

[Non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the mandible--a case report with differential diagnostic considerations]. / Non-Hodgkin Lymphom der Mandibula.

Approximately 5% of all malignant lesions are diagnosed as malignant lymphomas, of which 2-3% are localized in the head and neck region. After the squamous cell carcinoma and neoplasms of the salivary glands, malignant lymphomas represent the third most frequent malignant lesion in that region. Malignant lymphomas can be grouped into Hodgkin- and non- Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) and subdivided into nodal (lymph nodes) and extranodal lymphomas. We present the case of an extranodal non-Hodgkin lymphoma in the left mandible of a 47-year-old woman, who was referred to our department with an unclear swelling, which was supposed to be infectious. After clinical and radiological examination, a biopsy was taken and a CD20 and BCL-6 protein positive non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the large B-cell type (DLBCL) was diagnosed. The patient was treated primarily with immunochemotherapy (R-CHOP protocol) and refused to undergo a subsequent radiotherapy. The 18 months follow-up showed a complete remission of the lymphoma. In this paper, the NHL in the oral and maxillofacial region is presented as a cause of unclear swelling. Important differential diagnostic conditions are discussed.

Using a Microsimulation of Energy Balance to Explore the Influence of Prenatal Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Intake on Child BMI.

OBJECTIVE: Experiments with animals suggest that high sugar consumption during pregnancy may predispose offspring to obesity, but few human studies have examined this relationship. This study explored the association between the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) during pregnancy and caloric intake through childhood. METHODS: Using cohort data on child weight, height, and physical activity levels, a lab-validated microsimulation model of energy balance was employed to infer the caloric intake of children through age 11 years. Random effects models were then employed to explore the relationships between prenatal maternal consumption and inferred caloric intake during childhood. RESULTS: An additional daily serving of SSBs during the second trimester of pregnancy was associated with an increase in child consumption of 13 kcal/d (95% CI: 1.2-26.8). Age-stratified models adjusting for maternal and child covariates suggested that this association was strongest for children aged 2.5 to 5.5 years. The consumption of SSBs during the first trimester was not found to have a consistently positive relationship to caloric intake. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that SSB consumption during the second trimester of pregnancy is associated with child energy intake and may influence anthropometry in early childhood, which is consistent with and suggestive of the presence of biological causal pathways alongside likely simultaneous contributions of social and environmental influences.

[Periapical osseous dysplasia of the anterior maxilla--a case presentation]. / Periapikale ossäre Dysplasie der anterioren Maxilla. Ein Fallbericht.

Osseous dysplasias (formerly cemento-osseous dysplasias/ CODs) represent a specific clinico-pathologic spectrum of related, non-neoplastic benign fibro-osseous lesions. The most recent WHO classification (2005) defines them as bone-related lesions (9262/0). The controversial presence of cementum was solved by complete removal of the term "cemento" in the revised classification of tumors. Normal bone architecture is replaced by fibroblasts and collagen fibers containing variable amounts of mineralized material. Osseous dysplasias are often identified as an incidental finding on standard dental radiographs of adults. They usually cause no specific symptoms or obvious clinical findings. Four different types of ODs can be distinguished: the periapical osseous dysplasia (POD), the focal osseous dysplasia (FocOD), the florid osseous dysplasia (FOD) and the familial gigantiform cementoma. This case report presents an unusual localization of a periapical osseous dysplasia (POD) in the anterior maxillary bone in a 33-year old female patient of Caucasian origin. Radiological, clinical and histopathological characteristics of the POD and similar benign lesions are defined and discussed.

Combinatorial synthesis of thrombin-binding aptamers containing iso-guanine.

A library of all possible substitutions of guanine by iso-guanine (iG) in the thrombin aptamer was prepared by split and mix synthesis. A colorimetric assay was used to screen for functional oligomers in the library. Colorimetrically active oligonucleotides were selected and sequenced by the Maxam-Gilbert method. The sequenced oligonucleotides were individually resynthesized, and their affinities for thrombin were assayed by isothermal titration calorimetry. Three aptamer sequences containing iG were found to have enhanced binding activity to human alpha-thrombin compared to the parent aptamer.

A systematic review of system dynamics and agent-based obesity models: Evaluating obesity as part of the global syndemic.

The problem of obesity has recently been reframed as part of the global syndemic-the co-occurring, interacting pandemics of obesity, undernutrition, and climate change that are driven by common underlying societal drivers. System science modeling approaches may help clarify how these shared drivers operate and the best ways to address them. The objective of this paper was to determine to what extent existing agent-based and system dynamics computational models of obesity provide insights into the shared drivers of the global syndemic. Peer-reviewed studies published until July 2018 were identified from Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed databases. Thirty-eight studies representing 30 computational models were included. They show a growing use of system dynamics and agent-based modeling in the past decade. They most often examined mechanisms and interventions in the areas of social network-based influences on obesity, physiology and disease state mechanics, and the role of food and physical activity environments. Usefulness for identifying common drivers of the global syndemic was mixed; most models represented Western settings and focused on obesity determinants close to the person (eg, social circles, school settings, and neighborhood environments), with a relative paucity in models at mesolevel and macrolevel and in developing country contexts.

Activating a Community: An Agent-Based Model of Romp & Chomp, a Whole-of-Community Childhood Obesity Intervention.

OBJECTIVE: Successful whole-of-community childhood obesity prevention interventions tend to involve community stakeholders in spreading knowledge about and engagement with obesity prevention efforts through the community. This process is referred to by the authors as stakeholder-driven community diffusion (SDCD). This study uses an agent-based model in conjunction with intervention data to increase understanding of how SDCD operates. METHODS: This agent-based model retrospectively simulated SDCD during Romp & Chomp, a 4-year whole-of-community childhood obesity prevention intervention in Victoria, Australia. Stakeholder survey data, intervention records, and expert estimates were used to parameterize the model. Model output was evaluated against criteria derived from empirical data and experts' estimates of the magnitude and timing of community knowledge and engagement change. RESULTS: The model was able to produce outputs that met the evaluation criteria: increases in simulated community knowledge and engagement driven by SDCD closely matched expert estimates of magnitude and timing. CONCLUSIONS: Strong suggestive evidence was found in support of a hypothesis that SDCD was a key driver of the success of the Romp & Chomp intervention. Model exploration also provided additional insights about these processes (including where additional data collection might prove most beneficial), as well as implications for the design and implementation of future interventions.

Two Watson-Crick-like metallo base-pairs.

Two Watson-Crick-like metallo base-pairs are described with mutually independent geometries that have similar dimensions and stabilities to their natural, hydrogen-bonded counterparts.

Toward optimal implementation of cancer prevention and control programs in public health: a study protocol on mis-implementation.

BACKGROUND: Much of the cancer burden in the USA is preventable, through application of existing knowledge. State-level funders and public health practitioners are in ideal positions to affect programs and policies related to cancer control. Mis-implementation refers to ending effective programs and policies prematurely or continuing ineffective ones. Greater attention to mis-implementation should lead to use of effective interventions and more efficient expenditure of resources, which in the long term, will lead to more positive cancer outcomes. METHODS: This is a three-phase study that takes a comprehensive approach, leading to the elucidation of tactics for addressing mis-implementation. Phase 1: We assess the extent to which mis-implementation is occurring among state cancer control programs in public health. This initial phase will involve a survey of 800 practitioners representing all states. The programs represented will span the full continuum of cancer control, from primary prevention to survivorship. Phase 2: Using data from phase 1 to identify organizations in which mis-implementation is particularly high or low, the team will conduct eight comparative case studies to get a richer understanding of mis-implementation and to understand contextual differences. These case studies will highlight lessons learned about mis-implementation and identify hypothesized drivers. Phase 3: Agent-based modeling will be used to identify dynamic interactions between individual capacity, organizational capacity, use of evidence, funding, and external factors driving mis-implementation. The team will then translate and disseminate findings from phases 1 to 3 to practitioners and practice-related stakeholders to support the reduction of mis-implementation. DISCUSSION: This study is innovative and significant because it will (1) be the first to refine and further develop reliable and valid measures of mis-implementation of public health programs; (2) bring together a strong, transdisciplinary team with significant expertise in practice-based research; (3) use agent-based modeling to address cancer control implementation; and (4) use a participatory, evidence-based, stakeholder-driven approach that will identify key leverage points for addressing mis-implementation among state public health programs. This research is expected to provide replicable computational simulation models that can identify leverage points and public health system dynamics to reduce mis-implementation in cancer control and may be of interest to other health areas.

Nonenzymatic oligomerization of RNA by TNA templates.

Cytosine TNA promotes nonenzymatic, template-directed oligomerization of complementary activated rGMP, leading to selective and efficient formation of RNA products. This process models "genetic takeover" of a pre-RNA by RNA. [reaction: see text]