A trans-Atlantic panel of social scientists addresses the question of what social science might offer the new President of the United States in various areas of policy and government action. Andrew Rudalevige's analysis of the scholarship on managing the presidency leads him to state that ‘most of the major happenings of the Bush years were essentially administrative in nature. That is likely to continue. Thus, how and whether presidents achieve the sort of advice and responsiveness they desire from the bureaucracy has important implications not only for the kinds of policy the government implements, but for assessing democratic governance itself’. George Edwards examines presidential strategies for government with the conclusion that ‘Social science shows us that there is no silver bullet’ when a president is trying to obtain the support of the public or Congress. Jenel Virden points out that in 2008 women turned out to vote more than men, voted for Obama more than men, and were strongly hopeful that under the new administration prospects would improve. Having engaged so successfully with this sector of the population, the Obama administration is under pressure to recognize and address its needs. Robert Singh points out that there are necessary reservations about the utility of social science in informing an Obama foreign policy, but nonetheless elaborates propositions and principles that could usefully frame the administration's approach. Dilys Hill provides an overview and draws the debate to a close. The discussion in these pages is based on the 2009 Academy of Social Sciences annual debate, convened by Philip Davies and hosted by the Eccles Centre for American Studies at the British Library (Davies et al, 2009).

Regular physical activity for adults is associated with optimal appetite regulation, though little work has been performed in adolescents. To address this gap in the literature, we conducted a study examining appetite across a range of physical activity and adiposity levels in adolescent males. Healthy males (n 46, 14–18 years old) were recruited across four body weight and activity categories: normal weight/high active (n 11), normal weight/low active (n 13), overweight, obese/high active (n 14), overweight and obese/low active (n 8). Participants from each group completed a 6-h appetite assessment session on Day 0, followed immediately by a 14-day free-living physical activity and dietary assessment period on Days 1–14, and a fitness test session occurring between Days 15–18. Subjective and objective assessment of appetite, resting energy expenditure, body composition using dual energy absorptiometry and thermic effect of feeding (TEF) was conducted on Day 0. Physiological variables in the normal weight low active group that were different than their peers included lower fat-free mass, cardiorespiratory fitness, glucose/fullness response to a standardised meal, TEF in response to a standardised meal, lower self-rated fullness and satiety and higher self-rated hunger to a standardised meal. Conversely, the overweight, obese high active group displayed better subjective appetite responses, but higher insulin responses to a standardised meal. Taken together, these results suggest that physical inactivity during adolescence has a negative impact on metabolic health and appetite control, which may contribute to future weight gain.

Human milk and direct breastfeeding provide the optimal, biologically normative nutrition for hospitalised infants, with well-established benefits for immune, gut, cardiac, brain, and maternal health. Despite these benefits, human milk and breastfeeding rates for infants with CHD in high-resource countries are typically low, and there are no formal guidelines to drive CHD breastfeeding practice. Our aim is to (1) summarise the evidence on breastfeeding for infants with CHD, (2) discuss key barriers to and facilitators of breastfeeding in this population, (3) identify critical research and practice gaps to improve breastfeeding care in CHD, and (4) provide recommendations for clinical practice and future research.

Primary breastfeeding barriers for infants with CHD include (1) concern for dysphagia/aspiration, (2) concerns related to weight gain, (3) clinical instability/sickness, (4) developmental considerations, (5) general breastfeeding challenges, and (6) workflow and implementation issues, with racism and health disparities also contributing. The evidence to support these barriers is limited and often conflicting. Breastfeeding facilitators for preterm infants are well described, but facilitators may require modification for infants with CHD. Most lactation interventions have not been tested in CHD populations. Current evidence does not support automatic withholding of breastfeeding from infants with CHD; rather, the benefits of breastfeeding likely outweigh many potential concerns. There is a critical need for research and quality improvement to identify interventions that equitably and effectively support breastfeeding for infants with CHD and to evaluate the effect of breastfeeding on short- and long-term physical, psychological, and developmental outcomes for infants and families.

The dhole Cuon alpinus is a large canid that is categorized as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and at risk of global extinction. Information on the spatial distribution of suitable habitat is important for conservation planning but is largely unavailable. We quantified the spatial distribution of potential range as well as the relative probability of dhole occurrence across large parts of the species’ global range. We used the MaxEnt algorithm to produce a multi-scale environmental niche model based on 24 environmental variables and dhole occurrence data from 12 countries. We identified three regions where dhole conservation should be focused: western India, central India, and across the Himalayan foothills through Southeast Asia. Connectivity between suitable areas was poor, so coordinated action among these regions should be a priority. For instance, transboundary dhole conservation initiatives across the Himalayas from southern China, Myanmar, north-east India, Nepal and Bhutan need to be initiated. We also highlight the value of improving dhole population viability on unprotected land and increasing monitoring in the northern parts of its historic distribution, in particular in areas within mainland China.

Panic disorder, characterised by sudden episodes of intense fear or anxiety, affects 1–4% of the population. Symptoms include rapid heartbeat, chest pain and fear of dying. Panic disorder often co-occurs with substance dependence and major depression. This review article examines pharmacological treatments, focusing on antidepressants and benzodiazepines, but also considering antipsychotics and anticonvulsants. It overviews the history of antidepressants and benzodiazepines in the treatment of panic disorder and their mechanisms of action. The results of a recent Cochrane Review network meta-analysis are then presented and contrasted with six current national and international treatment guidelines. Rankings of the various drugs in terms of efficacy, tolerability and safety are summarised, along with levels of evidence and lines of recommendation as a treatment option (first-, second or third-line, or reserved for treatment-resistant cases).

Cardiometabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and cardiovascular disease (CVD), are common. Approximately one in three deaths annually are caused by CVD in Aotearoa New Zealand (AoNZ)(1). The Mediterranean dietary pattern is associated with a reduced risk of cardiometabolic disease in epidemiological and interventional studies(2,3). However, implementing the Mediterranean diet into non-Mediterranean populations can be challenging(4). Some of these challeanges include facilitating consumption of unfamiliar foods and the cultural and social context of food consumption. AoNZ produces a rich source of high-quality foods consistent with a Mediterranean dietary pattern. He Rourou Whai Painga is collaborative project combining contributions from food industry partners into a Mediterranean Diet pattern and providing foods, recipes and other support to whole household/whānau. The aim was to test if a New Zealand food-based Mediterranean diet (NZMedDiet) with behavioural intervention improves cardiometabolic health and wellbeing in individuals at risk. This presentation will review the background to the research, the process of forming a collaboration between researchers and the food industry, the design and implementation of a complex study design (see protocol paper)(5), with results from the initial randomised controlled trial. We conducted several pilot studies(6,7,8) to inform the final design of the research, which was a combination of two randomised controlled trials (RCT 1 and 2) and a longitudinal cohort study. RCT-1 compared 12-weeks of the NZMedDiet to usual diet in participants with increased cardiometabolic risk (metabolic syndrome severity score (MetSSS) >0.35). The intervention group were provided with food and recipes to meet 75% of their energy requirements, supported by a behavioural intervention to improve adherence. The primary outcome measure was MetSSS after 12 weeks. Two hundred individuals with mean (SD) age 49.9 (10.9)yrs with 62% women were enrolled with their household/whānau. After 12 weeks, the mean (SD) MetSSS was 1.0 (0.7) in the control (n = 98) and 0.8 (0.5) in the intervention (n = 102) group; estimated difference (95% CI) of -0.05 (-0.16 to 0.06), p=0.35. A Mediterranean diet score (PyrMDS) was greater in the intervention group 1.6 (1.1 to 2.1), p<0.001, consistent with a change to a more Mediterranean dietary pattern. Weight reduced in the NZMedDiet group compared with control (-1.9 kg (-2.0 to -0.34)), p=0.006 and wellbeing, assessed by the SF-36 quality of life questionnaire, improved across all domains p<0.001. In participants with increased cardiometabolic risk, food provision with a Mediterranean dietary pattern and a behavioural intervention did not improve a metabolic risk score but was associated with reduced weight and improved quality of life.

A subset of Australia’s workforce are shift workers undertaking critical work for our community, who are at greater risk for obesity and related conditions, such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease(1,2,3). The lifestyle and circadian disruption experienced by night shift workers is currently not addressed in existing dietary guidance for obesity management. The Shifting Weight using Intermittent Fasting in night shift workers study (SWIFt) is a world-first, randomised controlled trial that compares three, 24-week weight-loss interventions for night shift workers: continuous energy restriction (CER) and two twice-per-week intermittent fasting (IF) interventions (fasting during a night shift or during the day). This qualitative study aimed to explore the experiences of participants while following the dietary interventions to understand how intervention features and associated behaviour change mechanisms influence engagement. Semi-structured interviews at baseline and 24-weeks were conducted and audio diaries were collected every two weeks from participants using a maximum variation sampling approach, and analysed using the five steps of framework analysis(4). Each coded text for intervention enablers was mapped to the following behaviour change frameworks: the COM-B model, the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF), and the Behaviour Change Taxonomy (BCT). Of the 250 participants randomised to the SWIFt study, 47 interviews from n = 33 participants were conducted and n = 18 participants completed audio diaries. Three major themes were identified related to intervention factors influencing engagement: 1) Simplicity and ease are important for night shift workers; 2) Support and accountability are needed to change behaviour and to tackle fluctuating motivation; and 3) An individualised approach is sometimes needed. Ten enabler sub-themes were identified: ease and acceptability of provided foods, structured and straightforward approach, flexible approach, easier with time, simplicity and small changes, dietetic support, accountability, self-monitoring, increased nutrition knowledge, and focus on regular eating. The enabler sub-themes were predominantly related to the ‘motivation’ and ‘capability’ domains of the COM-B model and one sub-theme related to the ‘opportunity’ domain. Mapping to the ‘capability’ COM-B domain was more frequent for the CER intervention compared to the IF interventions. For the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF), the following domains were the most frequently reported: ‘behavioural regulation’, ‘knowledge’, ‘goals’ and ‘environmental context and resources’. For the Behaviour Change Taxonomy (BCT), the following domains were the most frequently reported: ‘instruction on how to perform a behaviour’, ‘goal setting (behaviour)’, ‘self-monitoring of outcome(s) of behaviour’, and ‘adding objects to the environment’. This study provides important findings detailing the behaviour change mechanisms perceived to positively influence night shift worker engagement during the weight-loss interventions of the SWIFt study, which will help inform the translation of interventions into non-research settings.

Shift workers in Australia constitute approximately 16% of the workforce, with nearly half working a rotating shift pattern(1). Whilst poor dietary habits of shift workers have been extensively reported, along with increased risk of metabolic health conditions such as obesity, cardiovascular disease and diabetes compared to non-shift workers(2,3,4), studies on shift working populations rarely control for individual and lifestyle factors that might influence dietary profiles. While rotating shift work schedules have been linked with higher energy intake than daytime schedules(5), little is known about the impact of different night shift schedules (e.g., fixed night vs rotating schedules) on the diets of shift workers, including differences in 24-hour energy intake and nutrient composition. This observational study investigated the dietary habits of night shift workers with overweight/obesity and compared the impact of rotating and fixed night shift schedules on dietary profiles. The hypothesis was posited, that shift workers’ diets overall would deviate from national nutrition recommendations, and those working rotating shift schedules compared with fixed night schedules would have higher energy consumption. Participants were from the Shifting Weight using Intermittent Fasting in night shift workers (SWIFt) trial, a randomised controlled weight loss trial, and provided 7-day food diaries upon enrolment. Mean energy intakes (EI) and the percentage of EI from macronutrients, fibre, saturated fat, added sugar, alcohol, and the amount of sodium were evaluated against Australian adult recommendations. Total group and subgroup analysis of fixed night vs rotating schedules’ dietary profiles were conducted, including assessment of plausible and non-plausible energy intake reporters. Hierarchical regression analysis were conducted on nutrient intakes, controlling for individual and lifestyle factors of age, gender, BMI, physical activity, shift work exposure, occupation and work schedule. Overall, night shift workers (n = 245) had diets characterised by high fat/saturated fat/sodium content and low carbohydrate/fibre intake compared to nutrition recommendations, regardless of shift schedule type. Rotating shift workers (n = 121) had a higher mean 24-hour EI than fixed night workers (n = 122) (9329 ± 2915 kJ vs 8025 ± 2383 kJ, p < 0.001), with differences remaining when only plausible EI reporters were included (n = 130) (10968 ± 2411 kJ vs 9307 ± 2070 kJ, p < 0.001). These findings highlight poor dietary choices among this population of shift workers, and higher energy intakes of rotating shift workers, which may contribute to poor metabolic health outcomes often associated with working nightshift.

Approximately 15% of Australia’s workforce are shift workers, who are at greater risk for obesity and related conditions, such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.(1,2,3) While current guidelines for obesity management prioritise diet-induced weight loss as a treatment option, there are limited weight-loss studies involving night shift workers and no current exploration of the factors associated with engagement in weight-loss interventions. The Shifting Weight using Intermittent Fasting in night shift workers (SWIFt) study was a randomised controlled trial that compared three, 24-week weight-loss interventions: continuous energy restriction (CER), and 500-calorie intermittent fasting (IF) for 2-days per week; either during the day (IF:2D), or the night shift (IF:2N). This current study provided a convergent, mixed methods, experimental design to: 1) explore the relationship between participant characteristics, dietary intervention group and time to drop out for the SWIFt study (quantitative); and 2) understand why some participants are more likely to drop out of the intervention (qualitative). Participant characteristics included age, gender, ethnicity, occupation, shift schedule, number of night shifts per four weeks, number of years in shift work, weight at baseline, weight change at four weeks, and quality of life at baseline. A Cox regression model was used to specify time to drop out from the intervention as the dependent variable and purposive selection was used to determine predictors for the model. Semi-structured interviews at baseline and 24-weeks were conducted and audio diaries every two weeks were collected from participants using a maximum variation sampling approach, and analysed using the five steps of framework analysis.(4) A total of 250 participants were randomised to the study between October 2019 and February 2022. Two participants were excluded from analysis due to retrospective ineligibility. Twenty-nine percent (n = 71) of participants dropped out of the study over the 24-week intervention. Greater weight at baseline, fewer years working shift work, lower weight change at four weeks, and women compared to men were associated with a significant increased rate of drop out from the study (p < 0.05). Forty-seven interviews from 33 participants were conducted and 18 participants completed audio diaries. Lack of time, fatigue and emotional eating were barriers more frequently reported by women. Participants with a higher weight at baseline more frequently reported fatigue and emotional eating barriers, and limited guidance on non-fasting days as a barrier for the IF interventions. This study provides important considerations for refining shift-worker weight-loss interventions for future implementation in order to increase engagement and mitigate the adverse health risks experienced by this essential workforce.

Objectives/Goals: To investigate interventional clinical trial participation overall and by race, gender, and age. Methods/Study Population: We used Epic Cosmos, an aggregated, de-identified EHR platform including over 270 million patients, to examine overall clinical trial participation and the race, gender, and age composition of participants versus non-participants. Patients ≥5 years old with known race and gender and at least one healthcare encounter between 2021 and 2024 were included. Interventional trial enrollment was identified by a “research flag” indicating current or past participation in an interventional study within an Epic system contributing data to Cosmos. Race was categorized as American Indian, Asian, Black, Native Hawaiian, or White. Age-adjusted relative representation (RR) ratios were used to compare participation, with RR >1 indicating over-representation and RR Results/Anticipated Results: Of 130,455,189 patients meeting eligibility criteria, 0.52% (673,425) of patients were active or inactive in an interventional clinical trial. Results are shown in the figure below. The poorest representation was from Asian and NH/PI persons. Representation was most similar to the patient population for whites and AI/AN persons. Black males participated less and women, more than predicted by patient composition. Older patients participated more frequently than younger (age, mean (SD), y, 53 (22) vs. 46 (23); p Discussion/Significance of Impact: This is the first study we know of describing interventional trial participation in the USA across millions and millions of patients. Further research is needed to clarify whether these differences are due to the nature of the studies themselves (e.g., OB/GYN trials including only women, etc.) versus disparities in recruitment or otherwise.

Objectives/Goals: Opioid use disorder (OUD) at delivery increased between 1999 and 2014. Clinical guidelines include medication for OUD (MOUD) for pregnant women with OUD and is associated with better fetal outcomes. Few large studies have compared prenatal MOUD outcomes to no MOUD. We evaluated the association of documented MOUD prescription during pregnancy with maternal outcomes. Methods/Study Population: We utilized aggregated electronic health records using the TriNetX platform to conduct a retrospective cohort study of females, aged 1249 years with a childbirth CPT code and documented opioid use via ICD-10 codes in the nine months before delivery between 2014 and 2020, comparing patients with MOUD prescription of buprenorphine or methadone during the nine months before delivery to demographically matched patients without any documented MOUD, using hazard ratios and 95% CIs for outcomes occurring one week to one or three years after childbirth. Results/Anticipated Results: MOUD cohort (n = 6,945, 85.33% White; 82.77% Non-Hispanic or Latino) was associated with significantly higher subsequent documented MOUD prescription (HR, 9.26 [95% CI, 7.98–10.76]; 6.21 [95% CI, 5.60–6.88]) and new remission codes (HR, 2.79 [95% CI, 2.15–3.62]; 2.85 [95% CI, 2.38–3.40]) at one and three years, lower ED visits at one year (HR, 0.88 [95% CI, 0.81–0.96]), no significant association of ED visits at three years (0.95 [95% CI, 0.89–1.02]), higher outpatient visits (HR, 1.26 [95% CI, 1.20–1.32]; HR, 1.27 [95% CI, 1.21–1.33], and no significant association of inpatient visits at one and three years (HR, 0.93 [95% CI, 0.813–1.06]; 1.06 [95% CI, 0.96–1.18]) than the never-MOUD cohort (n = 4,708, 76.11% White; 75.68% non-Hispanic or Latino). Discussion/Significance of Impact: A documented prescription for MOUD during pregnancy is associated with newly documented remission of OUD, increased outpatient visits, decreased ED visits, and additional documented MOUD prescriptions suggestive of increased access to continuity care. Efforts to increase MOUD use in pregnancy may improve maternal outcomes.