Pretreatment prognostic value of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging vascular, texture, shape, and size parameters compared with traditional survival indicators obtained from locally advanced breast cancer patients

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine if associations exist between pretreatment dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based metrics (vascular kinetics, texture, shape, size) and survival intervals. Furthermore, the aim of this study was to compare the prognostic value of DCE-MRI parameters against traditional pretreatment survival indicators. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was undertaken. Approval had previously been granted for the retrospective use of such data, and the need for informed consent was waived. Prognostic value of pretreatment DCE-MRI parameters and clinical data was assessed via Cox proportional hazards models. The variables retained by the final overall survival Cox proportional hazards model were utilized to stratify risk of death within 5 years. Results: One hundred twelve subjects were entered into the analysis. Regarding disease-free survival-negative estrogen receptor status, T3 or higher clinical tumor stage, large ( > 9.8 cm 3 ) MR tumor volume, higher 95th percentile ( > 79%) percentage enhancement, and reduced ( > 0.22) circularity represented the retained model variables. Similar results were noted for the overall survival with negative estrogen receptor status, T3 or higher clinical tumor stage, and large ( > 9.8 cm 3 ) MR tumor volume, again all been retained by the model in addition to higher ( > 0.71) 25th percentile area under the enhancement curve. Accuracy of risk stratification based on either traditional (59%) or DCEMRI (65%) survival indicators performed to a similar level. However, combined traditional and MR risk stratification resulted in the highest accuracy (86%). Conclusions: Multivariate survival analysis has revealed thatmodel-retained DCEMRI variables provide independent prognostic information complementing traditional survival indicators and as such could help to appropriately stratify treatment

Broadbanding Brunswick: High-speed broadband and household media ecologies

New research from the University of Melbourne and Swinburne University has found that 82% of households in the NBN first release site of Brunswick, Victoria, think the NBN is a good idea. The study, Broadbanding Brunswick: High-speed Broadband and Household Media Ecologies, examines the take-up, use and implications of high-speed broadband for some of its earliest adopters. It looks at how the adoption of high-speed broadband influences household consumption patterns and use of telecoms. The survey of 282 Brunswick households found there had been a significant uptake of the NBN during the course of the research. In 2011, 20% of households were connected to the NBN and in 2012 that number had risen to 34%. Families, home owners, higher income earners and teleworkers were most likely to adopt the NBN. Many NBN users reported paying less for their monthly internet bills, with 49% paying about the same. In many cases those paying more (37%) had elected to do so.Download report: Broadbanding Brunswick: High-speed Broadband and Household Media Ecologies [PDF, 2.5MB] Download report: Broadbanding Brunswick: High-speed Broadband and Household Media Ecologies [Word 2007 document, 5MB

Users and non-users of next generation broadband

This paper explores the contexts and motivations that underpin the uptake of Australia’s National Broadband Network (NBN). The findings are drawn from a mixed-methods research study of households using surveys and interviews conducted in 2011 and 2012 in an early release site of the NBN rollout. Whilst use and non-use have traditionally been treated as questions of digital access, inequality and exclusion, there is evidence for emerging forms of non-use characterized by more critical and discriminating approaches. We contribute to this evidence, but our findings suggest that use and non-use of high speed broadband do not occur in isolation or as an expression of individual choice, but as part of increasingly dense household media ecologies of digital infrastructures, devices, services and knowledge

'Was it Good for you Darling?' – Intimacy, Sex and Critical Technical Practice

On the basis of forty-two weeks of ethnographic data collected across six pairs of co-habiting partners, we have theorized about the nature of intimacy, developed artifacts for its mediation and explored methods for its study. In this workshop we wish to take this work as our departure point, and reflect on: The importance of problematising intimacy carefully, that is, approaching intimacy critically. The complex and multiple meanings of intimacy in the context of ongoing intimate relationships. The losses and risks attendant on supporting intimacy between distributed couples

Death and the internet: consumer issues for planning and managing digital legacies

The team of Melbourne University researchers examined licencing policies, terms of use agreements and copyright law, and interviewed a range of people, including funeral directors, religious workers, internet content and service providers, as well as estate planning lawyers. The project identified a range of ownership and access issues, and found that many online \u27assets\u27 are left exposed or stranded after death. The researchers concluded that more Australians should include digital registers in, or with, their wills and these should contain passwords and account locations so that material can then be distributed by the Executor or other designated person. A website was also created as part of the project and provides useful tips and information on preparing a digital register. Visit it here: www.digitalheritage.net.a

Capturing Archaeological Performance on Digital Video: Implications for Teaching and Learning Archaeology

In 2009 we produced a series of edited video clips to demonstrate practical methods to archaeology students at the University of Sydney in Australia. The videos were made publicly accessible via YouTube and incorporated into teaching of an undergraduate archaeological field methods course in 2010 and 2011. Our paper outlines staff experiences of making and using the videos for teaching and discusses results of student questionnaire feedback about the videos and the course. The results provide insight into the effectiveness of different ways of teaching practical archaeology in a context of large class sizes and limited resources and the potential of using digital video technologies to communicate archaeology to students and other audiences.Denis Gojak, Banksia Archaeology & Heritage Pty. Ltd. University of Sydney, Faculty of Arts, Small Teaching Infrastructure and Equipment Scheme Grant 2009

Self-beating instabilities in bistable devices

Since the observation of optical bistability by Gibbs et al., optical bistability has been the field where researchers from many fields have found a common place to work. More recently, when Ikeda and co-workers discussed the effect of a delayed feedback on instability of a ring cavity containing a non linear dielectric medium, and pointed out that the transmitted light from the ring cavity can be periodic or chaotic in time under a certain condition, optical bistable devices have shown new possibilities to be applied in many different fields. The novel phenomenon has been predicted to be observed in the hybrid optical device and has been confirmed by Gibbs et al. Moreover, as we have shown, a similar effect can be obtained when liquid crystal cells are employed as non linear element

Using the case method for an undergraduate IS subject: Encouraging participation in culturally mixed classes

This paper reports on work in progress on an investigation of the role of IS in achieving the goals of stakeholders in the hospital system. The investigation has two parts. The first part, now completed, is reported on briefly before the ongoing second part is introduced. The work is founded on theoretical concepts of ‘strategy’ and how relevant those concepts are to the hospital context and to those hospital stakeholders with a commitment to better health outcomes

Meeting Privacy Obligations: The Implications for Information Systems Development

The European Union(EU) Data Protection (Privacy) Directive of 1995 (EUPD) and resulting legislation introduced by member states is designed to ensure that business activity is subject to privacy regulation. The ability of organisations to respond to the requirements of this legislation is affected by the quality of their customer data. This paper explores the issues for IS development created by poor customer data quality as organisations adjust their business practices to meet the new legislative provisions. A number of key issues emerge including managing large amounts of fragmented customer data, understanding what information is required for organisational activities, controlling use and disclosure across the organisation, and allowing anonymity when interacting with customers. Furthermore, several important implications for systems development practitioners are discussed