Exposure of Akwesasne Mohawk women to polychlorinated biphenyls and hexachlorobenzene is associated with increased serum levels of thyroid peroxidase autoantibodies

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (p,p'-DDT) were reported to influence immunological activity. As endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDC), these pollutants may disrupt normal thyroid function and act as catalysts for development of autoimmune thyroid disease by directly and indirectly affecting levels of thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAbs). Native American communities are disproportionately exposed to harmful toxicants and are at an increased risk of developing an autoimmune disease. The aim of this study was to determine the association between POPs and TPOAbs in serum obtained from Native American women. This assessment was used to measure whether increased risk of autoimmune thyroid disease occurred as a result of exposure to POPs. Data were collected from 183 Akwesasne Mohawk women, 21-38 years of age, between 2009 and 2013. Multivariate analyses were conducted to determine the association between toxicant exposure and levels of TPOAbs. In multiple logistic regression analyses, exposure to PCB congener 33 was related to elevated risk of individuals possessing above normal levels of TPOAbs. Further, HCB was associated with more than 2-fold higher risk of possessing above normal levels of TPOAbs compared to women with normal levels of TPOAbs. p,p'-DDE was not associated with TPOAb levels within this study. Exposure to PCB congener 33 and HCB was correlated with above normal levels of TPOAbs, a marker of autoimmune thyroid disease. Additional investigations are needed to establish the causes and factors surrounding autoimmune thyroid disease which are multiple and complex.

Phase 1 study to determine the safety and dosing of autologous PBMCs modified to present HPV16 antigens (SQZ-PBMC-HPV) in HLA-A*02+ patients with HPV16+ solid tumors

We conducted a dose escalation Phase 1 study of autologous PBMCs loaded by microfluidic squeezing (Cell Squeeze® technology) with HPV16 E6 and E7 antigens (SQZ-PBMC-HPV), in HLA-A*02+ patients with advanced/metastatic HPV16+ cancers. Preclinical studies in murine models had shown such cells resulted in stimulation and proliferation of antigen specific CD8+ cells, and demonstrated antitumor activity. Administration of SQZ-PBMC-HPV was every 3 weeks. Enrollment followed a modified 3+3 design with primary objectives to define safety, tolerability, and the recommended Phase 2 dose. Secondary and exploratory objectives were antitumor activity, manufacturing feasibility, and pharmacodynamic evaluation of immune responses. Eighteen patients were enrolled at doses ranging from 0.5 × 106 to 5.0 × 106 live cells/kg. Manufacture proved feasible and required < 24 h within the overall vein-to-vein time of 1 - 2 weeks; at the highest dose, a median of 4 doses were administered. No DLTs were observed. Most related TEAEs were Grade 1 - 2, and one Grade 2 cytokine release syndrome SAE was reported. Tumor biopsies in three patients showed 2 to 8-fold increases in CD8+ tissue infiltrating lymphocytes, including a case that exhibited increased MHC-I+ and PD-L1+ cell densities and reduced numbers of HPV+ cells. Clinical benefit was documented for the latter case. SQZ-PBMC-HPV was well tolerated; 5.0 × 106 live cells/kg with double priming was chosen as the recommended Phase 2 dose. Multiple participants exhibited pharmacodynamic changes consistent with immune responses supporting the proposed mechanism of action for SQZ-PBMC-HPV, including patients previously refractory to checkpoint inhibitors.

Efficacy and safety of ripretinib in patients with KIT-altered metastatic melanoma

BACKGROUND

Ripretinib, a broad-spectrum KIT and platelet-derived growth factor receptor A switch-control tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is approved for the treatment of adult patients with advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumor as ≥ fourth-line therapy. We present the efficacy and safety of ripretinib in patients with KIT-altered metastatic melanoma enrolled in the expansion phase of the ripretinib phase I study.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with KIT-altered metastatic melanoma were enrolled and treated with ripretinib at the recommended phase II dose of 150 mg once daily in 28-day cycles. Investigator-assessed responses according to Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors version 1.1 were carried out on day 1 of cycles 3, 5, 7, every three cycles thereafter, and at a final study visit.

RESULTS

A total of 26 patients with KIT-altered metastatic melanoma (25 with KIT mutations, 1 with KIT-amplification) were enrolled. Patients had received prior immunotherapy (n = 23, 88%) and KIT inhibitor therapy (n = 9, 35%). Confirmed objective response rate (ORR) was 23% [95% confidence interval (CI) 9%-44%; one complete and five partial responses] with a median duration of response of 9.1 months (range, 6.9-31.3 months). Median progression-free survival (mPFS) was 7.3 months (95% CI 1.9-13.6 months). Patients without prior KIT inhibitor therapy had a higher ORR and longer mPFS (n = 17, ORR 29%, mPFS 10.2 months) than those who had received prior KIT inhibitor treatment (n = 9, ORR 11%, mPFS 2.9 months). The most common treatment-related treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) of any grade in ≥15% of patients were increased lipase, alopecia, actinic keratosis, myalgia, arthralgia, decreased appetite, fatigue, hyperkeratosis, nausea, and palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia syndrome. There were no grade ≥4 treatment-related TEAEs.

CONCLUSIONS

In this phase I study, ripretinib demonstrated encouraging efficacy and a well-tolerated safety profile in patients with KIT-altered metastatic melanoma, suggesting ripretinib may have a clinically meaningful role in treating these patients.

Links between oral health-related quality of life in US adults and type 2 diabetes: structural equation modeling analysis

OBJECTIVES

To analyze the effects of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), need for dental care, personal health practices and use of services on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in US adults.

BASIC RESEARCH DESIGN

The sample included 2,945 participants (aged ≥ 20) selected from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003-2004 stratified probability sample that represented 124,525,899 individuals in the weighted sample. Two-stage structural equation modelling (SEM) assessed interrelationships between T2DM regressions on factors associated with OHRQoL in a simplified three-factor Andersen Behavioral Model (ABM).

RESULTS

SEM supported the hypotheses that T2DM directly predicted need (perceived need, evaluated need, general health condition) with a significant path coefficient of 0.49 (β=0.49, p⟨0.05). Need had direct (77%) and indirect (23%) effects on OHRQoL (βdirect=0.30, βindirect=0.09, p⟨ 0.001). Need predicted personal health practices including use of services (reason for dental visit, frequency of dental visits, smoking status) (β=0.46, p⟨0.001). Need, in turn, predicted OHRQoL (β=0.19, p⟨0.001). In the model, 23.8%, 59.7%, and 18.1% of the variance was explained by need, personal health practices including use of services, and OHRQoL, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The results confirmed T2DM predicted need, which in sequence had direct and indirect effects on OHRQoL.

Educational Case: HER-2 Positive Breast Cancer

The following fictional case is intended as a learning tool within the Pathology Competencies for Medical Education (PCME), a set of national standards for teaching pathology. These are divided into three basic competencies: Disease Mechanisms and Processes, Organ System Pathology, and Diagnostic Medicine and Therapeutic Pathology. For additional information, and a full list of learning objectives for all three competencies, seehttp://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/2374289517715040. ¹

Ripretinib intrapatient dose escalation after disease progression provides clinically meaningful outcomes in advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumour

PURPOSE

Ripretinib is a switch-control tyrosine kinase inhibitor that broadly inhibits KIT and platelet-derived growth factor receptor α kinase signalling. Ripretinib showed preliminary efficacy in patients with advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST) in a phase I study across a range of doses. Results were confirmed in the phase III INVICTUS study, and ripretinib 150 mg once daily (QD) was subsequently approved as a ≥fourth-line therapy. Here, we report the phase I study results of intrapatient dose escalation (IPDE) in patients with GIST treated across second, third and later lines of therapy.

METHODS

Patients with advanced GIST who experienced disease progression (PD) at ripretinib 150 mg QD could dose escalate to 150 mg twice daily (BID). Progression-free survival (PFS) 1 was calculated from the date of the first dose of ripretinib 150 mg QD to PD (as per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours 1.1); PFS2 was from the date of IPDE (150 mg BID) to PD or death. Treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were summarised by dosing periods and compared descriptively.

RESULTS

Of 142 patients with GIST receiving ripretinib 150 mg QD, 67 underwent IPDE. IPDE provided benefit across all lines of therapy; the median PFS2 was 5.6, 3.3 and 4.6 months for patients on second-, third- and ≥fourth-line therapy, respectively. A partial metabolic response after IPDE was demonstrated in 13 of 37 patients with available positron emission tomography scans. TEAEs reported at both doses were similar.

CONCLUSION

Ripretinib IPDE after PD provided continued clinical benefit in advanced GIST across second, third and later lines of therapy with a similar safety profile to that observed with the QD regimen.

PMMA Bone Cement in Interventional Oncology

Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) bone cement is increasingly being used for percutaneous minimally invasive treatments of patients suffering from bone malignancies. PMMA is composed of a polymeric powder and a monomeric liquid. Once mixed, the polymerization process begins and leads to a viscous fluid that can be injected through a bone trocar. Cement progressively hardens within the bone, leading to a viscoelastic solid material. PMMA interacts with the surrounding cancellous bone through mechanical interlocking via interdigitations in trabecular bone. It can also bond with hardware, such as titanium screws, as it penetrates the macro- and micro-irregularities of the hardware. PMMA itself has no antineoplastic effects but may be used as a stand-alone treatment to provide pain palliation and bone consolidation through mechanical reinforcement, notably in areas with high compression load. It can also be used to reinforce the anchorage of screws in case of a landing zone with poor bone quality due to underlying malignant osteolysis.

Social Support From Kin and Mortality Risk Among Older Adults in a Historical Aging Population

Family are often sources of social, instrumental, and financial support for older adults. However, in many types of survey and archival data, details on the provision of support are lacking. This study examines the association between kin availability and cause-specific mortality among adults over age 60 using multiple longitudinal linked data sources from North Orkney, Scotland, 1851-1911. This study explores the relationships between cause of death and kin availability, as certain ailments may be amenable to interventions related to social support in this period while others may not. This approach will aid in interpreting the effects of social support that may be transmitted through kin networks. Reconstructed individual life courses (N=4,946) and genealogies, in combination with data on the proximity non-coresident kin, are used to examine kin availability and propinquity over the life course. Cause of death is available from death records and has been coded into the ICD. Orkney provides an interesting case study as longitudinal information is available on mortality and kin availability during a time of population aging. Kin availability is associated with longevity in this sample, while cause-specific analysis allows us to evaluate the role of social support in promoting longevity net of this association.

KIN NETWORK DYNAMICS OVER THE LIFE COURSE AND HISTORICAL TIME IN 19TH-CENTURY ORKNEY, SCOTLAND

Kin are important sources of social, instrumental, and financial assistance for older adults. Support from kin is associated with improved wellbeing and longer lives among this age group, yet few longitudinal studies examine information on the composition and structure of kin networks beyond dyadic relationships, such as those between spouses or parents and their children. This study examines the dynamics of non-dyadic measures of kin networks among adults over age 60 using multiple longitudinal linked data sources from North Orkney, Scotland, 1851-1911. Reconstructed individual life courses (N=4,946) and genealogies, in combination in spatial information concerning the proximity non-coresident kin, are used to examine change in kin availability and propinquity over the life course and across historical time. Orkney provides an interesting case study; as information is available on individual-level change in kin availability with a long period of follow up during a time of population change. The study period covers the early stages of population aging and depopulation of the islands, which began in the 1870s in this community. A descriptive analysis of kin network change is presented. Kin availability is associated with longer lives in this sample. The presence of co-resident kin is associated with economic status, after controlling for other factors. Older adults who receive poor relief are significantly more likely to live alone and less likely to live with kin, and the association is stronger for men than for women.

First-in-Human Randomized, Controlled Trial of Mosaic HIV-1 Immunogens Delivered via a Modified Vaccinia Ankara Vector

Background

Mosaic immunogens are bioinformatically engineered human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) sequences designed to elicit clade-independent coverage against globally circulating HIV-1 strains.

Methods

This phase 1, double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial enrolled healthy HIV-uninfected adults who received 2 doses of a modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA)-vectored HIV-1 bivalent mosaic immunogen vaccine or placebo on days 0 and 84. Two groups were enrolled: those who were HIV-1 vaccine naive (n = 15) and those who had received an HIV-1 vaccine (Ad26.ENVA.01) 4-6 years earlier (n = 10). We performed prespecified blinded cellular and humoral immunogenicity analyses at days 0, 14, 28, 84, 98, 112, 168, 270, and 365.

Results

All 50 planned vaccinations were administered. Vaccination was safe and generally well tolerated. No vaccine-related serious adverse events occurred. Both cellular and humoral cross-clade immune responses were elicited after 1 or 2 vaccinations in all participants in the HIV-1 vaccine-naive group. Env-specific responses were induced after a single immunization in nearly all subjects who had previously received the prototype Ad26.ENVA.01 vaccine.

Conclusions

No safety concerns were identified, and multiclade HIV-1-specific immune responses were elicited.

Clinical Trials Registration

NCT02218125.

Grazing management of mixed alfalfa bermudagrass pastures

Rotational grazing management is commonly recommended to improve persistence of legumes interseeded into bermudagrass, but impacts on animal performance are poorly understood. Steers (n = 365, BW = 249 ± 22.9 kg) grazed mixed alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)/bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon [L.] Pers.) pastures (n = 10; 1.6-ha) with either continuous grazing (CONT) or rotational grazing (ROT) management over 3 yr. Initial stocking rate was set at 6.25 steers/ha. When forage allowance of CONT became limiting in mid-July each year, 2 randomly selected steers were removed from all pastures to maintain equal stocking rates in CONT and ROT. Rotational grazing pastures were divided into 8 paddocks with 3-d grazing and 21-d rest between grazing events. Initial, final, and interim (28-d) BW were collected following a 16-h removal from feed and water. Data were analyzed as a repeated measures experiment with completely random design using the mixed procedure of SAS (SAS Inst. Inc., Cary, NC) using pasture within treatment by year in the random statement. Across years, steer BW did not differ (P ≥ 0.47) at the midpoint or end of the grazing season. Daily BW gains during the early summer period tended (P = 0.10) to be 0.11 kg greater for CONT than ROT in yr 1, but did not differ (P ≥ 0.24) in yr 2 and 3. In the late summer, ADG was 0.15 kg less (P < 0.01) for CONT than ROT in yr 1, were not different (P = 0.23) in yr 2, and were 0.29 kg less (P < 0.01) for CONT than ROT in yr 3. Over the entire experimental period, ADG did not differ (P ≥ 0.67) in yr 1 or 2, but tended (P = 0.09) to be 0.10 kg greater for ROT than CONT in yr 3. Forage mass of ROT was greater (P < 0.01) than CONT throughout the grazing season. Because stocking rates were maintained at the same level, ROT pastures provided greater (P < 0.01) forage allowance during the grazing season than CONT explaining differences in ADG between treatments. Alfalfa stand percentage did not differ (P = 0.79) at the beginning of the experiment, but was less (P ≤ 0.03) for CONT than ROT at all other sampling dates. These data indicate that at equal stocking rates, ROT can maintain greater alfalfa persistence, forage nutritive quality, and forage allowance compared with continuous grazing and provided increased animal performance during the late summer when the alfalfa stand was reduced in CONT pastures.

Pharmacokinetic-driven phase I study of DCC-2618 a pan-KIT and PDGFR inhibitor in patients (pts) with gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) and other solid tumors

2515

Background: DCC-2618 is a potent switch control inhibitor of KIT and PDGFR kinases active in a broad range of mutations. GIST is an important disease to achieve a proof-of-concept due to the heterogeneity of KIT resistance mutations, which emerge on treatment with approved KIT inhibitors. Methods: This was a PK-guided dose escalation study of oral DCC-2618 (QD or BID q28 days) in advanced solid tumors. FDG-PET scans were used to assess changes in FDG uptake in GIST pts after 3 wks of therapy. Next generation sequencing (NGS) of plasma cell-free (cf) DNA was performed throughout the study to assess and quantify KIT and other molecular alterations in drug targets and potential mechanisms of resistance. Results: 38 pts were enrolled (30 GIST; 4 glioma; 1 mastocytosis, 3 other carcinoma) to 8 dose levels: BID doses: 20 (4 pts), 30 (4), 50 (5), 100 (6), 150 (6) and 200 mg (3); QD doses: 100 (5) and 150 mg (4). Safety of evaluable pts is as follows: G3 or G4 adverse effects (regardless of attribution and occurring in > 1 pt) included anemia (5), lipase increase (4), hypertension (2). Two of the G3/4 lipase increase at 100 mg BID and 200 mg BID were DLTs. All G3/4 lipase increase were asymptomatic. G1/2 AEs (considered at least possibly related to DCC-2618) and occurring in ≥15% (n > 5) of pts include fatigue (12), alopecia & lipase increase (7), weight decrease (6). Starting with 50 mg BID dose level, trough concentrations of total drug exceeded the IC90 of the least sentivitive KIT mutations. Plasma concentrations > 5μM were achieved starting at 100 mg BID and the selection of the expansion phase dose is being finalized. Of 18 pts with KIT mutant GIST assessed by FDG PET, 14 (78%) had partial metabolic response per EORTC criteria. RANO/RECIST partial responses (PRs) were reported in 3 patients (1 GBM with PDGFRA/KIT amplifications and 2 GIST with Ex 11 & 17 / Ex 11 & 18 mutations, respectively). NGS of plasma cfDNA revealed 44 KIT mutations in baseline samples from 19 of 21 pts with GIST. Conclusions: DCC-2618 is well tolerated with encouraging preliminary activity in GIST pts with a broad spectrum of mutations and prior therapies. PR was also seen in a pt with GBM with PDGFRA/KIT amplifications. Clinical trial information: NCT02571036.

Whole exome analysis of patients (pts) with metastatic GIST (mGIST) demonstrating exceptional survival with imatinib (IM) therapy compared to those with short term benefit

11513

Background: Most patients with mGIST initially benefit from IM therapy with durable disease control (DC), i.e. objective responses and stable disease, with median duration of approximately two years. We reported exceptional long-term benefit (LTB) with DC and overall survival (OS) >14 years in a subset of mGIST pts treated with IM. We aimed to characterize tumor and normal genomes of exceptional LTB pts treated with IM and compare with short-term benefit (STB) pts. Methods: Among 87 mGIST pts enrolled between July 2000 and June 2001 in the B2222 trial of IM and followed prospectively at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, we identified 10 LTB (>14 years of DC) pts, and 6 STB (<2 years of DC) pts on IM. Targeted genotyping ( KIT/PDGFRA)was performed in all tumors (n=16). Whole exome sequencing (WES) was performed on archival FFPE tumor samples from LTB and STB pts prior to any IM treatment. We compared WES results from LTB with STB pts to identify unique features of long-term DC and OS with IM. Results: KIT mutation in LTB pts were as follows: exon 11(6 pts), exon 9 (3 pts), and SDH-deficient with KIT/PDGFRA wild type (1 pt). In STB pts, mutated KITwas found 4 pts (exon 11) and 2 pts (exon 9). WES was successful in six LTB (five exon 11, one exon 9) and three STB (two exon 11, one exon 9) pts. A total of 1211 somatic mutations were observed (546 missense, 37 nonsense, 256 silent, 285 indels, 36 splice mutations). The mean somatic mutational burden was 3.42 mutations/Mb (range 1.18-4.93) and 3.34 mutations/Mb (range 1.06-6.68) among LTB and STB, respectively. Genes mutated in LTB but not in STB were MUC7 (4 pts), H1F0 (3 pts), ZKSCAN1 (3 pts), SLC24A1 (3 pts) and USP4 (2 pts). Conclusions: KRAB domain containing zinc finger (KRAB-ZNF) gene expression signatures have been associated with prediction of response to IM, and a possible role in response modulation to tyrosine kinase inhibitors in GIST. We found variants in ZKSCAN1, a gene encoding a transcriptional regulator of the KRAB subfamily of zinc finger, to be present in LTB but not in STB. KRAB-ZNF family of genes may be linked to LTB and exceptional survival with IM in mGIST; functional analyses will be important to test such hypotheses.

Replacing synthetic N with clovers or alfalfa in bermudagrass pastures. 2. Herbage nutritive value for growing beef steers

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of including alfalfa (ALF, Medicago sativa L.) or a combination of white (Trifolium repens L.) and red (Trifolium pretense L.) clovers (CLVR) inter-seeded into bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L. Pers.) on herbage nutritive value compared with monocultures of bermudagrass fertilised with 0 (0N), 56 (56N), or 112 (112N) kg nitrogen (N)/ha over four grazing seasons. At the end of the fourth year (during the winter), legume plants in ALF and CLVR were killed and the carryover N benefit on bermudagrass nutritive value was evaluated during the fifth year. Pre-grazing herbage of all pastures exceeded the dietary recommendations for growing steers to maintain 0.9 kg/day average daily liveweight gain for crude protein and total digestible nutrients, 118 and 617 g kg/DM, respectively. Post-grazing herbage in ALF was below 600 g/kg total digestible nutrients at all times during the grazing season, post-grazing total digestible nutrients of CLVR was below 600 g/kg during the late summer and autumn. Post-grazing herbage of monoculture bermudagrass pastures fell below 600 g/kg in the middle of summer regardless of N fertilisation. Carryover N benefits of legumes were similar to 112N in the early summer, but were not different than 0N and 56N during the late summer and autumn. Replacing applications of synthetic N in bermudagrass swards with inter-seeding of either clovers or alfalfa produce herbage with equivalent nutritive value to heavily N fertilised monocultures of bermudagrass during the early summer, and similar to moderately N fertilised in the late summer and autumn. The inclusion of legumes in bermudagrass swards can reduce the reliance on synthetic N fertilisation with little overall effect on herbage nutritive quality possibly decreasing environmental impacts of grazing production systems.

Replacing synthetic N with clovers or alfalfa in bermudagrass pastures. 3. Performance of growing steers

The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of steers (n = 590, 263 ± 30.6 kg) grazing alfalfa (ALF, Medicago sativa L.) or a combination of white (Trifolium repens L.) and red (Trifolium pretense L.) clovers (CLVR) inter-seeded into bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L. Pers.) pastures compared with fertilisation with 0 (0N), 56 (56N), or 112 (112N) kg nitrogen (N)/ha (n = 4, 0.8-ha pastures per treatment) in north-east Arkansas (USA) over 4 years. The carryover N benefit of CLVR or ALF was compared with N fertilisation rates during the fifth year on performance of growing steers (n = 120; 235 ± 22.6 kg). Average daily gain increased with N application rate and legume pastures were similar to 56N; but liveweight gain per steer grazing legume pastures tended to be greater than 112N. Steer grazing days per hectare and liveweight gain per hectare were greater for ALF and CLVR than bermudagrass monocultures regardless of N fertilisation rate. Steer average daily gain, grazing days per hectare and liveweight gain per hectare for carryover N from legumes did not differ from 56N. These results indicate that replacing synthetic N by inter-seeding legumes into bermudagrass swards has the potential to improve individual animal performance and production per unit area and carryover benefits of legume N may be equivalent to 56 kg N/ha.

Replacing synthetic N with clovers or alfalfa in bermudagrass pastures. 1. Herbage mass and pasture carrying capacity

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of including alfalfa (ALF, Medicago sativa L.) or a combination of white (Trifolium repens L.) and red (Trifolium pretense L.) clovers (CLVR) inter-seeded into bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L. Pers.) on herbage nutritive value compared with monocultures of bermudagrass fertilised with 0 (0N), 56 (56N), or 112 (112N) kg nitrogen (N)/ha over four grazing seasons. In autumn, at the end of the fourth year and in the spring before the fifth grazing season, alfalfa and clover plants were killed and the carryover N benefit of CLVR or ALF was compared with N fertilisation rates during the fifth year. Across years, N fertilisation rate increased herbage mass and carrying capacity linearly; whereas herbage production from CLVR and ALF swards was equivalent to 56N, were greater than 0N and less than 112N. Herbage mass in CLVR and ALF swards was greater than fertilised bermudagrass swards in the spring and did not differ from fertilised bermudagrass in the early summer. In late summer herbage accumulation of CLVR and ALF swards appeared to decrease, limiting the herbage mass in the legume pastures compared with 56N and 112N. Carrying capacity of CLVR and ALF swards was greater than fertilised bermudagrass in the spring and early summer, but did not differ from fertilised swards in the late summer. The N benefit of including legumes in bermudagrass swards can alleviate the reliance on synthetic N fertilisation with little overall effect on pasture carrying capacity.

How does dense phase CO2 influence the phase behaviour of block copolymers synthesised by dispersion polymerisation?

Using a CO₂ continuous phase for dispersion synthesis of block copolymers can provide a useful handle to control phase behaviour.

Block copolymer synthesis by controlled/living radical polymerisation in heterogeneous systems

We review the range of CLRP-controlled syntheses of block copolymer particles in dispersed systems, which are being exploited to create new opportunities for the design of nanostructured soft materials.

Lessons learnt about effectively applying participatory action research: a case study from the New South Wales dairy industry

A participatory action research (PAR) project was implemented in the New South Wales dairy industry. Six regional dairy groups were given funding to investigate issues relating to management of the feedbase. Facilitated meetings in the regions identified limitations to local systems and how these limitations could be addressed. Local groups then implemented research of relevance to their systems. Activities varied but groups were guided by the principles of PAR. Regional groups consisted of farmers, government extension and/or research staff, processors and other stakeholders. A leadership team, consisting of representatives from each of the regional groups and other stakeholders, was formed to administer the project and assist groups in using the PAR approach. Evaluation of the project indicated high levels of participation in all regions and a strong sense of ownership of the project and/or project work. The most commonly mentioned outcome in the groups was what they learned as a result of involvement. The project and its evaluation are discussed in relation to PAR principles, the outcomes from the approach, and lessons learnt for improving the success of PAR.