Aims:  To investigate, using culture‐independent methods, whether the ruminal bacterial structure, population and fermentation parameters differed between sampling locations and time. Methods and Results:  The detectable bacteria and fermentation parameters in the digesta from five locations in the rumen of three cows at three time points were analysed. The PCR‐denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR‐DGGE) profiles were similar among digesta samples from five locations (95·4%) and three time points (93·4%) within cows; however, a lower similarity was observed for samples collected from different host animals (85·5%). Rumen pH and concentration of volatile fatty acids (VFA) were affected by time points of sampling relative to feeding. Conclusions:  The detectable bacterial structure in the rumen is highly conserved among different locations and over time, while the quantity of individual bacterial species may change diurnally in response to the feeding. Significance and impact of the study:  This study supplies the fundamental understanding of the microbial ecology in the rumen, which is essential for manipulation of ruminal microflora and subsequent improvement in animal production.

Appropriate use of administrative data enables the assessment of care quality at the population level. Our objective was to develop/validate methods for assessing quality of breast cancer diagnostic care using administrative data, specifically by identifying relevant medical tests to estimate the percentage screen/symptom-detected cancers and time to diagnosis. Two databases were created for all women diagnosed with a first-ever breast cancer in years 2007-2010 in Alberta, Canada, with dates of medical tests received in years 2006-2010. One purchased database had test results and was used to determine the 'true' first relevant test of a cancer diagnosis. The other free administrative database had test types but no test results. Receiver operating characteristic curves and concordance rates were used to assess estimates of percent screen/symptom-detected breast cancers; Log-rank test was used to assess time to diagnosis obtained from the two databases. Using a look-back period of 4-6 months from cancer diagnosis to identify relevant tests resulted in over 94% concordance, sensitivity and specificity for classifying patients into screen/symptom-detected group; good agreement between the distributions of time to diagnosis was also achieved. Our findings support the use of administrative data to accurately identify relevant tests for assessing the quality of breast cancer diagnostic care.

Summary — Menthol foam-strips, vegetable shortening-menthol paste containing 30 and 60 g menthol and melted vegetable shortening-menthol-dipped cardboard (30 g) were applied to tracheal mite-infested colonies and compared to untreated control colonies. Honey and wax samples from brood frames, honey super frames and from bulk extracted honey were analyzed for menthol residues. The prevalence of mite-infested bees was reduced in all menthol treatments (applied 17 May) to < 1% by the end of August. The controls increased in tracheal mite prevalence to a 25% level by the end of August. Sealed brood production was not significantly different among the treatments, although brood mortality was observed in most treatments for a few d after application. Honey production was generally lower in treated colonies and significant differences were evident. Menthol was not detectable in extracted honey or from honey frames in honey supers. Residue levels in brood nest honey were highest in the 60-g foam-strip treatments at 6.2 ppm and were lowest in the 30 g cardboard treatment at 0.8 ppm.