Evaluation of two social norms nudge interventions to promote healthier food choices in a Canadian grocery store.

The objective of this study was to determine the impact of two nudge interventions on customers' produce purchases at a rural Canadian grocery store. A pre- and post-intervention observational study design was used. Sales data were gathered before and after the staggered implementation of two nudge-based interventions to encourage produce purchases: grocery cart dividers to encourage shoppers to fill one-third of their cart with produce and grocery cart plaques with information about how many fruits and vegetables were typically purchased in the store. The proportion of total sales accounted for by produce was compared between baseline and implementation of the first intervention (Phase 1), between implementation of the first intervention and the addition of the second intervention (Phase 2), and between baseline and post-implementation of both interventions together. There was a 5% relative increase (0.5% absolute increase) in produce spending between baseline and post-implementation of both interventions (10.3% to 10.8%, p < 0.001, 95% CI 0.2%, 0.7%). Intervention phase-specific produce spending showed no significant change in the percentage of produce spending from baseline to Phase 1 of the intervention, and an 8% relative increase (0.8% absolute increase) in the percentage of produce spending from Phase 1 to Phase 2 of the intervention (10.3% to 11.1%, p < 0.001, 95% CI 0.5, 1.1%). Simple, low-cost nudge interventions were effective at increasing the proportion of total grocery spend on produce. This study also demonstrated that partnerships with local businesses can promote healthier food choices in rural communities in Canada.

Antimicrobial Peptides from the Aurein Family Form Ion-Selective Pores in Bacillus subtilis.

The mechanism of action of aurein 2.2 and aurein 2.3, antimicrobial peptides from the frog Litoria aurea, was investigated. Proteomic profiling of the Bacillus subtilis stress response indicates that the cell envelope is the main target for both aureins. Upon treatment, the cytoplasmic membrane depolarizes and cellular ATP levels decrease. Global element analysis shows that intracellular concentrations of certain metal ions (potassium, magnesium, iron, and manganese) strongly decrease. Selective translocation of some ions over others was demonstrated in vitro. The same set of ions also leaks from B. subtilis cells treated with sublethal concentrations of gramicidin S, MP196, and nisin. Aureins do not permeabilize the cell membrane for propidium iodide thus excluding formation of large, unspecific pores. Our data suggest that the aureins acts by forming small pores thereby causing membrane depolarization, and by triggering the release of certain metal ions thus disturbing cellular ion homeostasis.

Propagating Change: Using RE-FRAME to Scale and Sustain A Community-Based Childhood Obesity Prevention Initiative.

Sustainable Childhood Obesity Prevention through Community Engagement (SCOPE) has developed Live 5-2-1-0, a multi-sectoral, multi-component community-based childhood obesity prevention initiative grounded in systems thinking and participatory research principles. Building on previous work, this study continued implementation of an innovative knowledge exchange model, RE-FRAME, in two 'new' and two 'existing' Live 5-2-1-0 communities. This mixed-methods study examined follow-up data to determine the nature and extent of the model's ability to build and sustain community capacity and facilitate the scale-up and sustainability of systems- and community-level change. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected using stakeholder interviews, and quantitative process tracking (PTT) and capacity building tools (CCBT), and were analyzed using thematic analysis and descriptive statistics, respectively. Results from three communities with baseline and follow-up CCBT data showed capacity domain scores increased (15/27; 56%) or remained constant (10/27; 37%) over the study period. PTT data showed over 50 multi-sectoral community partnerships formed in Community D (new) and 108 actions implemented. Stakeholder interviews identified having a common cause, co-ownership, champion networks and consistency of the Live 5-2-1-0 message as essential to sustainability of the initiative. RE-FRAME supports knowledge exchange and community capacity-building that is integral to initiating and sustaining a community-based childhood obesity prevention initiative.