The World Health Organization (WHO) has a global initiative to eliminate industrially produced trans fatty acids (iTFAs) from the food supply (1). Formed via the partial hydrogenation of vegetable oils to create hardened vegetable fat, iTFAs can be found in processed foods including fried foods and baked goods. Even small amounts of iTFAs can increase the risk of coronary heart disease. These can be successfully eliminated from the food supply with the WHO recommending a ban on partially hydrogenated oils or to limit iTFA in food to a maximum of 2% of total fat (1). As of June 2024, over 50 countries had one of these regulatory measures in place. The trans-Tasman Food Regulation System is considering policy options to ensure iTFAs are eliminated or reduced as much as possible from the food supply in Australia and New Zealand. Up to date data on the presence of iTFAs in the New Zealand food supply is needed to inform this work as this was last measured in New Zealand in 2007/09 for packaged food and 2013 for fast food. The aim of this survey was to determine the presence and levels of iTFAs in the New Zealand food supply. Since it is not possible to analytically quantify iTFA separately from trans-fats that occur naturally in food products of ruminant origin, such as dairy, beef and lamb products, the sampling plan was designed to target products likely to contain predominately iTFA and adapted from the WHO global protocol for measuring trans fatty acid profiles of foods(2) to the New Zealand context. The survey analysed the trans-fat content of 627 products across national supermarkets (275 products), international supermarkets specialising in imported foods (149 products) and ready-to-eat food outlets (203 products from three regions). One hundred and six products (16.9%) contained trans-fat that exceeded 2% of total fat. Twenty-five (4%) of these products were likely to contain predominately iTFA. The 25 products predominately containing iTFA included eight products from national supermarkets (mostly bakery products), nine products from international supermarkets (mostly curry pastes and biscuits) and eight products from ready-to-eat food outlets (all fried foods). The median trans-fat content of these 25 products was 3.2% of total fat (assumed to be all iTFA). Over a third of these products contained more than double the recommended WHO limit, with five products containing over four times the limit and one product containing more than 16 times the WHO limit. The remaining 81 products may contain some iTFA, but we were unable to quantify the amount. The results from this survey will be used by New Zealand Food Safety to inform the consideration of regulatory options for reducing iTFAs in foods in New Zealand.

Teacher food and nutrition (FN) practices influence their personal health and wellbeing outcomes, with implications for students. As educators, teachers role model FN practices to students and act as health promoters. Our team’s recent scoping review outlined the lack of standardised methods used to assess FN constructs in teachers, with limited validated and composite tools available that measure FN constructs, especially culinary factors, alongside measures of wellbeing(1). The importance of teacher FN education, to facilitate effective school health promotion, is highlighted by the World Health Organization and the United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organization. Therefore, understanding the scope of teacher FN practices in relation to teacher wellbeing is critical, yet limited evidence currently exists. This research aims to examine baseline data on teacher FN practices and potential FN predictors of teacher health and wellbeing from the Australian longitudinal teacher FN-related health and wellbeing study. The Teacher Food and Nutrition Questionnaire (TFNQ) consists of nine sub-scales and 21 single-item measures using pre-defined food, nutrition, and wellbeing constructs. This provides a composite evaluation tool to collate data on teacher FN practices for comparison with wellbeing outcomes, including stress and burnout. Descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation coefficient (r) were used to assess relationships between food, nutrition, and wellbeing constructs, and linear regression to determine slope of significant relationships using diet quality (i.e., the Fruit and Vegetable Variety index), wellbeing (i.e., burnout) and professional FN confidence as outcome variable(s) of interest. A total of n = 112 secondary teachers completed the baseline TFNQ (September 2023). Of these, the majority were female (87.5%), aged 31–45 years (52%), with 90% on full time contracts. Mean diet quality score was 92.0 (maximum score (MS) of 190), with sub-scale score for vegetable (63.2/122 MS) and fruit (28.9/68 MS) intake. Of the wellbeing measures, burnout (16.3/24 MS), stress (7.3/10 MS) and coping (6.2/10 MS) were measured alongside teacher food skills confidence (105.7/133 MS) and food agency (40.9/55 MS). Teacher FN confidence to role model healthy FN practices was moderately correlated to food agency r = −0.43 (p < 0.001), and personal subjective wellbeing ‘satisfied’ r = 0.41 (p < 0.001). A moderate correlation was observed between vegetable intake and food skills confidence r = 0.42 (p < 0.001), with a moderate negative correlation observed between food agency and teacher burnout r = −0.43 (p < 0.001). Overall, these baseline data confirm teacher diet quality is suboptimal, with teacher food agency and/or food skills confidence demonstrating moderate correlations with all three study outcomes of teacher wellbeing, diet quality and professional FN confidence. These data provide a snapshot of secondary teachers’ FN practices and wellbeing. Results inform development of professional development to support FN behaviours as a contributing factor for optimal teacher health and wellbeing.

The description and delineation of trematode species is a major ongoing task. Across the field there has been, and currently still is, great variation in the standard of this work and in the sophistication of the proposal of taxonomic hypotheses. Although most species are relatively unambiguously distinct from their congeners, many are either morphologically very similar, including the major and rapidly growing component of cryptic species, or are highly variable morphologically despite little to no molecular variation for standard DNA markers. Here we review challenges in species delineation in the context provided to us by the historical literature, and the use of morphological, geographical, host, and molecular data. We observe that there are potential challenges associated with all these information sources. As a result, we encourage careful proposal of taxonomic hypotheses with consideration for underlying species concepts and frank acknowledgement of weaknesses or conflict in the data. It seems clear that there is no single source of data that provides a wholly reliable answer to our taxonomic challenges but that nuanced consideration of information from multiple sources (the ‘integrated approach’) provides the best possibility of developing hypotheses that will stand the test of time.

Objectives/Goals: 1. Demonstrate the need to apply principles of community-engaged research to various stages of the research process. 2. Outline the process of using CE Studio(s) to redesign an interview guide for service providers of youth involved in the justice system. Methods/Study Population: Service-providers provide a critical lens with which to view the sexual health needs of justice-involved youth. Minimal research describes the unique perspectives of those who work directly with this vulnerable population to address their sexual health needs. The goal of this project is to outline the process of using CE Studio(s) to redesign an interview guide for service providers. The guide is aimed at gathering insight into the knowledge, access, and use of sexual health services for justice-involved youth. Preparation involves the preplanning phase, including the drafting of the interview guide; engagement consists of recruitment and implementation of the CE Studio; and restructuring will outline the application of feedback and finalization of the interview guide. Results/Anticipated Results: During the preparation phase, the researcher was tasked with (1) developing a visual guide to highlight key points of the research study and (2) providing a draft of the tentative interview guide for review prior to the CE Studio session. For the engagement stage, participants were recruited from listservs, community organizations, and word-of-mouth to participate in a session facilitated by a member of the CE Studio team. Lastly, we anticipate that the restructuring phase will not only allow us to use feedback from the CE Studio session to alter the interview guide but provide insight into potential recruitment strategies for the overarching research project. Discussion/Significance of Impact: Leveraging CE Studios to elicit feedback from service providers will provide unique insight into addressing the sexual health needs of justice-involved youth. We expect that the overall CE Studio process and feedback will be integral in eliciting strong qualitative feedback and shaping the implementation of the overall research project.

The global population and status of Snowy Owls Bubo scandiacus are particularly challenging to assess because individuals are irruptive and nomadic, and the breeding range is restricted to the remote circumpolar Arctic tundra. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) uplisted the Snowy Owl to “Vulnerable” in 2017 because the suggested population estimates appeared considerably lower than historical estimates, and it recommended actions to clarify the population size, structure, and trends. Here we present a broad review and status assessment, an effort led by the International Snowy Owl Working Group (ISOWG) and researchers from around the world, to estimate population trends and the current global status of the Snowy Owl. We use long-term breeding data, genetic studies, satellite-GPS tracking, and survival estimates to assess current population trends at several monitoring sites in the Arctic and we review the ecology and threats throughout the Snowy Owl range. An assessment of the available data suggests that current estimates of a worldwide population of 14,000–28,000 breeding adults are plausible. Our assessment of population trends at five long-term monitoring sites suggests that breeding populations of Snowy Owls in the Arctic have decreased by more than 30% over the past three generations and the species should continue to be categorised as Vulnerable under the IUCN Red List Criterion A2. We offer research recommendations to improve our understanding of Snowy Owl biology and future population assessments in a changing world.

Daily sodium intake in England is ∼3.3 g/day(1), with government and scientific advice to reduce intake for cardiovascular health purposes having varying success(2). Eccrine sweat is produced during exercise or exposure to warm environments to maintain body temperature through evaporative cooling. Sweat is primarily water, but also contains appreciable amounts of electrolytes, particularly sodium, meaning sweat sodium losses could reduce daily sodium balance without the need for dietary manipulation. However, the effects of sweat sodium losses on 24-h sodium balance are unclear.

Fourteen active participants (10 males, 4 females; 23±2 years, 45±9 mL/kg/min) completed a preliminary trial and two 24-h randomised, counterbalanced experimental trials. Participants arrived fasted for baseline (0-h) measures (blood/urine samples, blood pressure, nude body mass) followed by breakfast and low-intensity intermittent cycling in the heat (∼36⁰C, ∼50% humidity) to turnover ∼2.5% body mass in sweat (EX), or the same duration of room temperature seated rest (REST). Further blood samples were collected post-EX/REST (1.5-3 h post-baseline). During EX, sweat was collected from 5 sites and water consumed to fully replace sweat losses. During REST, participants drank 100 mL/h. Food intake was individually standardised over the 24-h, with bottled water available ad-libitum. Participants collected all urine produced over the 24-h and returned the following morning to repeat baseline measures fasted (24-h). Sodium balance was estimated over the 24-h using sweat/urine losses and dietary intake. Data were analysed using 2-way ANOVA followed by Shapiro-Wilk and paired t-tests/Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. Data are mean (standard deviation).

Dietary sodium intake was 2.3 (0.3) g and participants lost 2.8 (0.3) % body mass in sweat (containing 2.5 (0.9) g sodium). Sodium balance was lower for EX (-2.0 (1.6) g vs -1.0 (1.6) g; P = 0.022), despite lower 24-h urine sodium losses in EX (1.8 (1.2) g vs 3.3 (1.7) g; P = 0.001). PostEX/REST blood sodium concentration was lower in EX (137.6 (2.3) mmol/L vs 139.9 (1.0) mmol/L; P = 0.002) but did not differ at 0-h (P = 0.906) or 24-h (P = 0.118). There was no difference in plasma volume change (P = 0.423), urine specific gravity (P = 0.495), systolic (P = 0.324) or diastolic (P = 0.274) blood pressure between trials over the 24-h. Body mass change over 24-h was not different between trials (REST +0.25 (1.10) %; EX +0.40 (0.68) %; P = 0.663).

Sweat loss through low-intensity exercise resulted in a lower sodium balance compared to rest. Although urine sodium output reduced with EX, it was not sufficient to offset exercise-induced sodium losses. Despite this, body mass, plasma volume and blood sodium concentration were not different between trials, suggesting sodium may have been lost from non-osmotic sodium stores. This suggests sweat sodium losses could be used to reduce sodium balance, although longer studies are required to confirm this thesis.

Although ethics is increasingly integrated in the curriculum of U.S. medical schools, it remains not well integrated with system issues, and social and structural contexts of illness. Moreover, ethical analysis is not often taught as a clinical skill. To address these issues, an outcomes driven course in Social Sciences, Humanities, Ethics and Professionalism (SHEP) was created. Within the course, a web-based concept mapping device, SHEP Case Analysis Tool (SCAT), was created which schematizes the structure and flow of clinical cases from diagnosis to treatment options, to shared decision making to outcome, and includes key stakeholders, influences, and structural features of the health system. In the course, each student analyzes a case in which they were directly involved using SCAT and presents their analysis to faculty and peers. This exercise 1) reinforces knowledge-based portions of the course pedagogy, 2) supports meta-cognition and critical thinking through concept mapping, 3) applies multidimensional analysis to identify ethical, social, and system issues that impact patient-care. 4) develops problem solving skills, 5) counters the hidden curriculum/support professional identity formation, and 6) develops skills in reflective discourse. This paper outlines the development and use of this concept mapping case analysis tool in an undergraduate medical education curriculum.

Prenatal glucocorticoid exposure has been negatively associated with infant neurocognitive outcomes. However, questions about developmental timing effects across gestation remain. Participants were 253 mother-child dyads who participated in a prospective cohort study recruited in the first trimester of pregnancy. Diurnal cortisol was measured in maternal saliva samples collected across a single day within each trimester of pregnancy. Children (49.8% female) completed the Bayley Mental Development Scales, Third Edition at 6, 12, and 24 months and completed three observational executive function tasks at 24 months. Structural equation models adjusting for sociodemographic covariates were used to test study hypotheses. There was significant evidence for timing sensitivity. First-trimester diurnal cortisol (area under the curve) was negatively associated with cognitive and language development at 12 months and poorer inhibition at 24 months. Second-trimester cortisol exposure was negatively associated with language scores at 24 months. Third-trimester cortisol positively predicted performance in shifting between task rules (set shifting) at 24 months. Associations were not reliably moderated by child sex. Findings suggest that neurocognitive development is sensitive to prenatal glucocorticoid exposure as early as the first trimester and underscore the importance of assessing developmental timing in research on prenatal exposures for child health outcomes.