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In ruminants, the rumen is the largest and most significant fore-stomach. Stereological analysis of important structural parameters that may be used to assess the functional capacity of the rumen is lacking. In the current investigation, five rams were used to demonstrate the methods for quantifying salient structural parameters related to rumen function. The sheep were euthanized with 20% sodium pentobarbital intravenously, the rumen was dissected out and divided into the various sacs for gross examination, and fixation by total immersion in 10% formalin. Macroscopic ruminal surface area was estimated using the point-associated area method. Volumes of the ruminal tissues were estimated by the volume displacement method, while volume densities of the components of the ruminal wall were estimated by point counting methods. Tissue blocks for histology were obtained by systematic random sampling and processed to obtain vertical sections for surface area and volume estimations. Papillary densities and numbers were estimated from horizontal sections. The volume of ruminal tissue was 536.54 ± 80.52 cm3, the macroscopic surface area was 1091 ± 115.75 cm2 with a papillary packing density of 84.64 ± 10.99 cm−2. Average absolute surface area was 4726.74 ± 628.56 cm2. The total number of ruminal papillae per rumen was 92,884.91 ± 6216.46. The methods documented here provide the possibility of doing a detailed stereological analysis of ruminal tissue in different experimental or even pathological conditions.

Synchrotron users and experts from Australia, New Zealand, and further afield congregated in November for the Australian Synchrotron User Meeting 2014. Around 200 members of the synchrotron community attended the highly anticipated meeting held, in conjunction with the New User Symposium, at the Australian Synchrotron's National Centre for Synchrotron Science. Early career researchers played a prominent role at the meeting. Their achievements highlighted the promising capabilities of the region's next generation of synchrotron scientists.

In July 2013, the Australian Synchrotron celebrates six years of user operations. Our initial suite of nine beamlines is fully operational, with the upgraded and extended imaging and medical beamline achieving first light in the satellite building 136 meters from the source in September 2012. We also have an additional terahertz/far-infrared beamline sharing a beam port with the IR microscopy beamline, and a new soft X-ray imaging branchline in commissioning.

Thanks to the farsighted efforts of synchrotron communicators, teachers, and physicists during construction of the Australian Synchrotron (AS), synchrotron science is a specific unit for final-year high-school physics students in the state of Victoria, where the AS is located. Synchrotron applications are also specifically mentioned in Victoria's high-school chemistry and biology curricula.

The Australian Synchrotron User Meeting, held in Melbourne, Victoria, in December 2011, attracted an enthusiastic audience of more than 230 synchrotron experts, users, and prospective users. The me...

After months of media speculation, the Australian Synchrotron (AS) has secured operating funds. Funding totalling $100 million over four years was announced jointly by Australia's federal Minister ...

The Australian Synchrotron held an intensive week of review and stakeholder meetings in November 2013, celebrating a successful year's research and culminating with the annual User Meeting.

Purpose Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) was used in CALGB 9741 to support dose-dense sequential chemotherapy with doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide (AC) followed by paclitaxel (P) (Citron et al. J Clin Oncol 21:1431–1439, 2003). However, myelosuppression is not known to be dose or schedule limiting for paclitaxel. We therefore conducted this trial to determine the need for routine G-CSF, using the pegylated product (pG-CSF), support during the paclitaxel component of dose-dense sequential chemotherapy in women with early stage breast carcinoma (BC). Patients and methods Eligible patients received dose-dense chemotherapy consisting of four cycles of AC followed by four cycles of P at two week intervals. pG-CSF (NeulastaTM) was administered after each of four cycles of AC but was held after P. Planned enrollment was 59 pts. Results Of the first 15 patients, nine completed therapy without delays due to neutropenia but 6 (40%) did not, leading to implementation of the pre-specified early termination rule. Overall, 85% of P doses were successfully delivered on time. The mean treatment delay for the entire group due to neutropenia was 0.75 days. There was no significant correlation between neutropenia and prior WBC, ANC, or concurrent treatment with trastuzumab. Pts with neutropenia tended to be younger (Mean age 43.5) and have a lower BSA (1.65 m2). There were no febrile episodes due to omission of pG-CSF. Conclusion When paclitaxel is administered in a dose-dense fashion without growth factor support brief treatment delays are common. Further study is needed to identify the minimal pG-CSF administration that will avoid treatment delays.

Purpose Dose-dense (dd) doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide (AC) followed by paclitaxel (P) is superior to every 3-weekly AC followed by P. Given the demonstrated cardiac safety for trastuzuamb (T) with conventionally scheduled AC followed by P, we tested the safety of dd AC followed by P with T. The primary end point was cardiac safety, and the secondary end points were time to recurrence and overall survival. Methods Patients with HER-2/neu immunohistochemistry (IHC) 3+ or fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH)-amplified breast cancer and baseline left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of ≥ 55% were enrolled, regardless of tumor size or nodal status. Treatment consisted of AC (60/600 mg/m2) × 4 followed by P (175 mg/m2) × 4 every 2-weekly with pegfilgrastim (6 mg on day 2) + T ×1 year. LVEF by radionuclide scan was obtained at baseline, at months 2, 6, 9, and 18. Results From January 2005 to November 2005, 70 patients were enrolled. The median age was 49 years (range, 27 to 72 years); median LVEF at baseline was 68% (range, 55% to 81%). At month 2 in 70 of 70 patients, the median LVEF was 67% (range, 58% to 79%); at month 6 in 67 of 70 patients, it was 66% (range, 52% to 75%); at month 9 in 68 of 70 patients, it was 65% (range, 50% to 75%); and at month 18 in 48 of 70 patients, it was 66% (range, 57% to 75%). As of December 1, 2007, the median follow-up was 28 months (range, 25 to 35 months). One patient (1%) experienced conestive heart failure (CHF). There were no cardiac deaths. Conclusion Dose-dense AC followed by P/T followed by T is feasible and is not likely to increase the incidence of cardiac events compared to established regimens.

How should lawyers negotiate? This article outlines an empirical study of how lawyers rate each other in negotiation behaviors. After discussing what skills are needed for effective negotiation behavior, we then look more closely at how family lawyers in particular are negotiating. Examining some troubling data, we find that family lawyers appear to be more adversarial and less problem solving than other types of practitioners. We conclude by discussing why this might be so and what the family law bar and family law professors should be doing in the future to address this problem.

TPS5602Background: Approximately 75% of women with epithelial ovarian cancer (OC) present with advanced disease. The majority of these women will ultimately recur and require life-long treatment fo...

The release of water soluble substrates from Aquacoat coated pellets was through water-filled channels. Each pellet works like a mini osmotic pump with many orifices (pores). The energy to drive the system was supplied by the osmotic pressure differences generated between the internal medium in the coated pellets and the external dissolution medium. The channels or pores were artifacts of the coating process and were not found in free films prepared from the coating dispersion. The free films were not permeable to the water soluble substrates, e.g., diphenhydramine HCl (D), pseudoephedrine hydrochloride (P) and FD&C red dye #40 (RD). However, the compounds were released easily from the coated DPRD pellets. The size and extent of channel production in the controlling membrane were directly related to the surface properties of the core pellets. Scanning electron microscopy and mercury porosimetry studies revealed that the coated sugar pellets (SRD) have more uniform channels of smaller diameter than the DPRD pellets. The surface of the DPRD core pellets is ionizable and more water soluble than the SRD core surface. The release rate from the pellets was dependent on the substrate solubility and the osmotic pressure of the external dissolution medium. The release rate from the coated pellets initially was zero order and changed to first-order when there was no solid substrate left in the pellets. The zero order portion of release was shorter for water soluble compounds ( 24 h for theophylline (T). The release rate of T was increased by incorporation of a more water soluble substrate, D, in the pellets.

Cyclophosphamide/methotrexate/fluorouracil (CMF) is a proven adjuvant option for patients with early-stage breast cancer. Randomized trials with other regimens demonstrate that dose-dense (DD) scheduling can offer greater efficacy. We investigated the feasibility of administering CMF using a DD schedule.Thirty-eight patients with early-stage breast cancer were accrued from March 2008 through June 2008. They were treated every 14 days with C 600, M 40, F 600 (all mg/m2) with PEG-filgrastim (Neulasta®) support on day 2 of each cycle. The primary endpoint was tolerability using a Simon's 2-stage optimal design. The design would effectively discriminate between true tolerability (as protocol-defined) rates of ≤ 60% and ≥ 80%.The median age was 52-years-old (range, 38-78 years of age). Twenty-nine of the 38 patients completed 8 cycles of CMF at 14-day intervals.Dose-dense adjuvant CMF is tolerable and feasible at 14-day intervals with PEG-filgrastim support.

Purpose We conducted a pilot study of dose-dense epirubicin/cyclophosphamide (EC) × 6 → paclitaxel (P) × 6 with pegfilgrastim. A previous dose-dense trial of FEC (5-fluorouracil [5-FU]/EC) × 6 with filgrastim → by weekly paclitaxel alternating with docetaxel × 18 was not feasible because of pneumonitis (with dose-dense FEC) and pericardial/pleural effusion (taxane phase). Dose-dense EC (without the 5-FU) is not associated with pneumonitis, and dose-dense paclitaxel (alone) is feasible. Primary objective was feasibility. Patients and Methods Patients with resectable breast cancer were enrolled, regardless of surgery status, tumor size, or nodal status. Treatment regimen consisted of every-2-week EC (100/600 mg/m 2 ) × 6 → by 2-weekly P (175 mg/m 2 ) × 6 with pegfilgrastim 6 mg on day 2. Results Between November 2004 and May 2005, 38 patients were enrolled. The median age was 47 years (range, 30-72 years); 33 of 38 (87%) were treated in the adjuvant setting and 27 of 33 (81%) had involved nodes (range, 1-46); 5 of 38 (13%) were treated pre-operatively; 33 of 38 (87%) completed all chemotherapy as planned; the remaining patients (13%) had treatment modifications for toxicity. Febrile neutropenia occurred in 6 of 38 patients (16 %) and only during EC. There were 12 hospitalizations in 9 of 38 patients (24%) enrolled. Conclusion Dose-dense every-2-week EC × 6 → P × 6 with pegfilgrastim is feasible based on our prospective definition.

An imbalance in electrolyte concentration during separation from cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) may lead to a disruption in excitation-contraction coupling resulting in a failure to wean. The etiology of myocardial dysfunction is multifactorial, and includes alterations in acid-base balance, glucose metabolism, and cellular function. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of hyperkalemia on myocardial function during separation from CPB. A porcine model (n = 5) of hypothermic (32 degrees C) CPB was used where hyperkalemia [K+ (6.5 +/- 1.0)] was created before weaning. A 3-minute weaning process was initiated once normothermia was achieved. Mixed venous and arterial samples were obtained during CPB, weaning, and 10 minutes postbypass. Samples were assayed for [K+], [Ca++], glucose, pH, CPK-MB, and lactic acid levels. Hyperkalemia resulted in the generation of severe arrhythmias in all animals. During the immediate prewean period, there was a significant correlation between venous [K+] and pH (p.01, r2 =.891). Arterial pH did not change during the weaning or post-CPB period, while venous pH declined significantly throughout the same period (7.35 +/- 0.75 to 7.20 +/- 0.17, p.05). No other measured variables correlated with hyperkalemia. In summary, hyperkalemia caused a significant decline in venous pH evidenced in the early separation period, but had no effect on other variables. Therefore, measurement of venous pH may be an early marker indicating myocardial dysfunction and dysrhythmia.

From June 18–19, 2012, the Australian Synchrotron hosted an infrared microscopy beamline data analysis workshop designed to introduce participants to working with resonant Mie scattering (RMieS) corrections to remove baseline distortions in Fourier transform IR spectra from biological single cells and tissue sections. Mie scattering has been a barrier to the advancement of IR microspectroscopy in biological research for many years, but recently developed correction algorithms have opened up new horizons in analytical interpretations.

The 2010 Australian Synchrotron User Meeting attracted around 230 synchrotron experts, users and potential users, and other interested observers, mainly from around Australia and New Zealand, to Melbourne, Australia, in late November. Held within easy walking distance of Carlton's many cosmopolitan cafes and shops, the User Meeting provided numerous opportunities for participants to discuss their research, learn from each others' experiences, and plan future collaborations.

Background: Adjuvant therapy for breast cancer (BCA) may be associated with an increased risk for osteoporosis. This prospective, observational study evaluates BMD changes in postmenopausal women undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy (CTX) for early stage BCA, in the absence of endocrine therapy.Methods: Women who have been postmenopausal for at least 5 years, and who were recently diagnosed with Stage 0-III BCA were eligible to undergo serial BMD if adjuvant endocrine therapy was not recommended. Study BMDs were performed at baseline, 1 and 2 years. All patients (pts) were counseled on calcium, vitamin D and weight bearing exercise. This study was designed to assess serial changes in BMD in the individual and to compare changes in those treated with CTX to those who received no systemic therapy (observation). The study was closed prior to reaching target sample size due to slow accrual.Results: Sixteen pts enrolled. Eleven pts received CTX with a dose dense anthracycline and taxane containing regimen and 5 pts received no systemic adjuvant therapy. Twelve pts, median age 63 (range 52-80), have completed the 1 year assessment and are reported here. Two pts treated with CTX and 1 pt on observation were on bisphosphonates at study entry. Baseline BMD mean in gm/cm2 at the lumbar spine (LS) was 1.112 (range 0.807-1.389) and total hip (TH) was 0.989 (range 0.760-1.213). At 1 year, mean BMD at LS was 1.078 (range 0.767-1.347) and TH was 0.956 (range 0.753-1.210). For all 12 pts at 1 year, the individual BMD changes in LS & TH BMD ranged from 10% loss to 2% gain, with 8 of the 9 CTX treated pts losing 1-10% of BMD and the 3 pts on observation staying within 2% of baseline. The mean dosage of dexamethasone used during CTX by the 9 CTX pts was 230 mg (range 156-288mg). The 3 observation pts had no exposure to steroids during the parallel time period.Conclusions: This prospective, observational study supports the hypothesis that adjuvant CTX, and/or its supportive medications, may be associated with acute changes in BMD in postmenopausal women. Patient follow up continues.Funded by Susan G. Komen for the Cure POP0402593 Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(24 Suppl):Abstract nr 1066.