Living on the Outside: cultural diversity and the transformation of public space in Melbourne

Melbourne has been described as Australia's most liveable and most multicultural city. What relation do these descriptions have to each other? How has the public culture of Victoria been influenced by the cultural diversity of the state? The political class in Victoria has tended to be more in favour of multiculturalism as a policy, more resistant to populist racism and more positive about immigration than elsewhere in Australia. How has this orientation been affected by the institutional embedding of ethnic power during the past four decades? The organization of ethnic groups into political lobbies, which have collaborated across ethnic borders, has brought about cultural transformations in the mainstream. Often the public experiences these transformations through changing uses of public spaces. This paper offers an historical sociology of this process, and argues for a view of public space as a physical representation of the relative power of social forces. It is based on research for the Making Multicultural Australia (Victoria) project. (http://multiculturalaustralia.edu.au). An online version of the paper inviting user-generated comments can be found at http://mmav1.wordpress.com

The Role of Magmatism in Hydrocarbon Generation in Sedimented Rifts: a Nd Isotope Perspective from Mid-Cretaceous Methane-Seep Deposits of the Basque-Cantabrian Basin, Spain

Studies on the involvement of intrusive magmatism in hydrocarbon generation within sedimentary basins have gained momentum owing to increasing appraisal of the role that such processes may play in controlling global carbon cycle perturbations, and the exploration potential of the volcanic sedimentary basins. Nevertheless, for many areas the causal link between the intrusions and surrounding hydrocarbon systems remains disputed, encouraging a search for methods that could aid in identifying different hydrocarbon sources. Here, we have performed a multi-proxy geochemical study of the middle Cretaceous methane-seep deposits of the Basque-Cantabrian Basin, an early-stage, peri-cratonic rift marking the Mesozoic opening of the Bay of Biscay. Infilled by a thick sedimentary succession intruded by shallow-level igneous bodies, the basin shares analogies with modern young, sedimented rifts that sustain hydrocarbon seepage. We have applied a novel approach that uses the Nd isotope composition of the seep deposits to constrain the relationship between hydrocarbon seepage and igneous activity, and to explore the general potential of Nd isotopes to trace magmatic-influenced fluids in volcanic sedimentary basins. The Nd isotope data have been combined with rare earth element analyses and carbon and oxygen isotope measurements, providing broad insight into the former composition of the seeping fluids. For three out of four investigated seeps, the Nd isotope ratios observed in authigenic seep carbonates include signatures markedly more radiogenic than that reconstructed for background seawater-derived pore waters. The level of this Nd-143-enrichment varies both between and within individual deposits, reflecting spatial and temporal differences in fluid composition typical of seep-related environments. The radiogenic Nd isotope signals provide evidence of subseafloor interactions between the seeping fluids and mafic igneous materials, supporting the model of an igneous control on the mid-Cretaceous methane expulsion in the Basque-Cantabrian Basin. The thermogenic origin of the methane is in accord with the moderately negative delta C-13 values and paragenetic successions observed in the studied seep carbonates. For a single deposit, its relatively unradiogenic Nd isotope composition can be attributed to the smallest size and shallowest emplacement depth of the underlying intrusion, likely resulting in a short-lived character and limited hydrocarbon-generation potential of the associated contact metamorphism. The study demonstrates that Nd isotope analyses of seep carbonates offer a tool in disentangling methane fluxes from different organic matter alteration pathways for the numerous, both fossil and modern sedimented rifts for which the involvement of various methane sources remains insufficiently understood.This work was supported by the National Science Centre, Poland (grant No. 2016/23/D/ST10/00444; to MJ) , and the Eusko Jaurlaritza (Ikerketa Taldeak IT930-16) and the Spanish State Research Agency (project PID2019-105670GB-I00/AEI/10.13039/501100011033; both to LMA

Treatment of patients with distant metastases from phyllodes tumor of the breast

BACKGROUND: Here, the treatment methods and results of patients with phyllodes tumor of the breast (PT) with distant metastases at a single institution are presented. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on a group of 295 patients with PT treated from 1952 to 2010. RESULTS: Distant metastases developed in 37 (12.5 %) patients; 3/160 (1.9 %) patients had benign PT, 6/36 (16.7 %) were considered borderline, and 28/99 (28.3 %) had malignant PT. Most frequently, the metastases were located in the lungs; 28 (75.7 %), bone 7 (18.9 %), brain 4 (10.8 %), and liver 2 (5.4 %). Metastases occurred on overage 21 months (2–57) after surgery. Patients with lung metastases were generally treated with monochemotherapy or polychemotherapy. In one patient Testosterone and in two patients resection of metastases combined with Doxorubicin were used. Patients with bones or brain metastases were treated with palliative radiotherapy only or combined with Doxorubicin. The mean survival (MS) from diagnosis of distant metastases (DM) was 7 months (2–17). The longest mean survival in patients with bones metastases was 11.8 months, the worst survival was for patients with brain metastases—2.8 months. Hormone therapy appeared to have low efficacy (MS: 2 months) as well as monochemotherapy (MS: 3–5 months). Improved MS was obtained using Doxorubicin (7 months) and Doxorubicin with Cisplatin, Cyclophosphamide, or Ifosfamide (9 months). CONCLUSION: The prognosis of patients with DM from PT is poor. The role of surgery and irradiation of such patients is very limited. There appears to be no role for the use of hormone therapy. This study showed that polychemotherapy with Doxorubicin and Ifosfamide suggest that it might be more effective than once thought

Synchronous malignancies in patients with breast cancer

Introduction. The continuously improving cancer detection at an early stage and improving survival rates have been observed and, therefore, patients are predisposed to detection of multiple primaries. It has been reported that the incidence of multiple primaries in breast cancer patients ranges from of 4% to 17%. Materials and methods. A group of 112 breast cancer patients with synchronous malignancies was presented. They constituted 0.09% of patients (118,952 cases) who were treated for breast cancer at the same time period, and made up 3.5% of all patients (3,176 cases) with multiple primary cancers, and 21.7% of all patients (517 cases) with breast cancer who developed multiple primaries. Results. The most frequent type of synchronous primary malignancy was breast cancer (63.4%) and 90.1% of them were diagnosed at the same time or within one month following the first breast cancer diagnosis. Among cases of non-breast synchronous primaries, female genital organ malignancies were predominant (36.6%). Synchronous breast cancer was diagnosed significantly earlier than non-breast cancers (mean time was 0.4 and 1 month, respectively, p = 0.0123). Better results in the group with synchronous contralateral breast cancer in comparison to synchronous breast and non-breast cancer were observed (5-year overall survival rates were 90.9% and 66.3%, respectively, and 5-year disease-free survival rate — 62.5% and 51.3%, respectively)

Synchronous malignancies in patients with breast cancer

Introduction. The continuously improving cancer detection at an early stage and improving survival rates have been observed and, therefore, patients are predisposed to detection of multiple primaries. It has been reported that the incidence of multiple primaries in breast cancer patients ranges from of 4% to 17%. Materials and methods. A group of 112 breast cancer patients with synchronous malignancies was presented. They constituted 0.09% of patients (118,952 cases) who were treated for breast cancer at the same time period, and made up 3.5% of all patients (3,176 cases) with multiple primary cancers, and 21.7% of all patients (517 cases) with breast cancer who developed multiple primaries. Results. The most frequent type of synchronous primary malignancy was breast cancer (63.4%) and 90.1% of them were diagnosed at the same time or within one month following the first breast cancer diagnosis. Among cases of non-breast synchronous primaries, female genital organ malignancies were predominant (36.6%). Synchronous breast cancer was diagnosed significantly earlier than non-breast cancers (mean time was 0.4 and 1 month, respectively, p = 0.0123). Better results in the group with synchronous contralateral breast cancer in comparison to synchronous breast and non-breast cancer were observed (5-year overall survival rates were 90.9% and 66.3%, respectively, and 5-year disease-free survival rate — 62.5% and 51.3%, respectively)

Air Gauge Characteristics Linearity Improvement

This paper discusses calibration uncertainty and linearity issues of the typical back-pressure air gauge. In this sort of air gauge, the correlation between the measured dimension (represented by the slot width) and the air pressure in the measuring chamber is used in a proportional range. However, when high linearity is required (e.g., nonlinearity less than 1%), the measuring range should be shortened. In the proposed method, based on knowledge of the static characteristics of air gauges, the measuring range is kept unchanged but the nonlinearity is decreased. The static characteristics may be separated into two sections, each of them approximated with a different linear function. As a result, the nonlinearity is reduced from 5% down to 1% and even below

Recurrent mutations of BRCA1, BRCA2 and PALB2 in the population of breast and ovarian cancer patients in Southern Poland

Background Mutations in the BRCA1, BRCA2 and PALB2 genes are well-established risk factors for the development of breast and/or ovarian cancer. The frequency and spectrum of mutations in these genes has not yet been examined in the population of Southern Poland. Methods We examined the entire coding sequences of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes and genotyped a recurrent mutation of the PALB2 gene (c.509_510delGA) in 121 women with familial and/or early-onset breast or ovarian cancer from Southern Poland. Results A BRCA1 mutation was identified in 11 of 121 patients (9.1 %) and a BRCA2 mutation was identified in 10 of 121 patients (8.3 %). Two founder mutations of BRCA1 accounted for 91 % of all BRCA1 mutation carriers (c.5266dupC was identified in six patients and c.181 T > G was identified in four patients). Three of the seven different BRCA2 mutations were detected in two patients each (c.9371A > T, c.9403delC and c.1310_1313delAAGA). Three mutations have not been previously reported in the Polish population (BRCA1 c.3531delT, BRCA2 c.1310_1313delAAGA and BRCA2 c.9027delT). The recurrent PALB2 mutation c.509_510delGA was identified in two patients (1.7 %). Conclusions The standard panel of BRCA1 founder mutations is sufficiently sensitive for the identification of BRCA1 mutation carriers in Southern Poland. The BRCA2 mutations c.9371A > T and c.9403delC as well as the PALB2 mutation c.509_510delGA should be included in the testing panel for this population

5 Rak endometrium – wstępna ocena tolerancji pooperacyjnej pulsacyjnej brachyterapii

CelOcena tolerancji dopochwowego leczenia PDR (pulsed dose-rate) chorych operowanych z powodu raka trzonu macicy.Materiał i MetodaU 110 chorych operowanych z powodu raka trzonu macicy przeprowadzono po raz pierwszy w Polsce w okresie od 1.10.1998 do 31.12.1999 roku uzupełniające dopochwowe leczenie techniką PDR. Chore leczone były cylindrycznym aplikatorem dopochwowym, otrzymywały 21 Gy w ciągu 21 godzin leczenia (dawka 1 Gy/h, czas trwania pulsu od 10 do 30 minut w związku ze spadkiem aktywności źródła irydowego). Dawkę obliczano 0,5 cm od powierzchni aplikatora oraz 1cm od szczytu pochwy. U każdej chorej indywidualnie obliczono rozkład dawki w terenie miednicy przy użyciu IBU oraz systemu Plato. U 43 chorych (39%) PDR był jedyną formą uzupełniającej radioterapii, u 67 chorych (61%) zastosowano dodatkowo napromienianie od zewnątrz. Odczyny popromienne oceniono w oparciu o klasyfikacje EORTC/RTOG.WynikiŚredni czas obserwacji chorych wynosił 15 miesięcy – od 6 do 32 miesięcy. Tolerancja leczenia była dobra. Wszystkie chore otrzymały napromienianie zgodnie z planem. Wczesny odczyn popromienny w pochwie w stopniu G1 wystąpił u 8 chorych (7,3%). U 10 chorych (9%) poza obszarem leczenia, w okolicy podcewkowej wystąpiła odleżyna o powierzchni do 1,5 cm2, podobnie jak u chorych leczonych cylindrycznym aplikatorem Selektronowym, wynikająca z rozmiaru aplikatora i jego ucisku. Wczesne odczyny popromienne w pęcherzu i w odbytnicy o lekkim przebiegu wystąpiły odpowiednio u 5 i 4 chorych. Późna reakcja popromienna w pochwie w stopniu G2 wystąpiła u jednej chorej. Późna reakcja popromienna w pęcherzu i w odbytnicy w stopniu G1 wystąpiła odpowiednio u 2 i 4 chorych. U jednej chorej wystąpił odczyn popromienny w odbytnicy w stopniu G4. W okresie obserwacji loko-regionalne niepowodzenie wystąpiło u 3 chorych (2,7%).WnioskiBrachyterapia dopochwowa PDR wydaje się być obiecującą, bezpieczną i dobrze tolerowaną metodą uzupełniającego leczenia chorych operowanych z powodu raka trzonu macicy