Search

Also moved to pydata_sphinx_theme!

Primary female urethral carcinoma is rare. Limited clinicopathologic information has hindered development of staging criteria in this disease. We analyzed 29 primary female urethral carcinoma resections from 3 academic medical centers to characterize histopathologic features, clinical outcomes, and applicability of current and a novel modified staging criteria. We complemented this analysis with review of fully embedded female autopsy urethras to detail anterior and posterior urethral wall histology. Primary female urethral carcinoma subtypes included urothelial carcinoma in situ (3/29, 10%), adenocarcinoma in situ (1/29; 3%), invasive urothelial carcinoma (13/29, 45%), clear cell carcinoma (5/29, 17%), adenocarcinoma not otherwise specified (4/29, 14%) and squamous cell carcinoma (3/29, 10%). Only 6/29 cases (21%) were originally assigned a stage at diagnosis. Using histologic landmarks specific to the female urethra, we modified existing eighth edition American Joint Committee on Cancer urethral staging to a histology-based female urethral carcinoma staging (UCS) system. UCS stages were defined as pTa/pTis(UCS) (noninvasive carcinoma), pT1(UCS) (subepithelial tissue invasion), pT2(UCS) (periurethral muscle invasion), pT3(UCS) (vaginal adventitia or surrounding fibrovascular tissue), and pT4(UCS) (anterior wall fibroadipose tissue or posterior vaginal wall). UCS staging was applicable to all cases and showed stepwise changes in disease recurrence with increasing stage and was statistically significant for disease-specific and overall survival in contrast to the American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system. This study of one of the largest cohort of primary female urethral carcinomas provides a modified histology-based staging system specific to female urethral anatomy that provides outcomes-related information, which may be further validated by larger multi-institutional studies.

Signet ring cell carcinomas of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract are clinically aggressive neoplasms with frequent intra-abdominal metastases at initial presentation. Currently available immunohistochemistry (IHC) markers cannot distinguish signet ring cell carcinomas of the lower GI tract and upper GI tract, suggesting the need for more specific diagnostic markers. SATB2 is a novel, sensitive marker for colorectal carcinoma. We hypothesized that SATB2 IHC can reliably identify primary and metastatic signet ring cell carcinomas of lower GI tract origin. SATB2 and CDX2 IHC was performed on 159 primary (n=93) and metastatic (n=66) signet ring cell carcinomas of GI tract origin and 13 metastatic breast carcinomas with signet ring cell features. Positive SATB2 expression (SATB2) was identified in 82% (27/33) of appendiceal, 88% (43/49) of colorectal, 13% (7/54) of gastric, and 35% (8/23) of esophageal/esophagogastric junction signet ring cell carcinomas. Primary and metastatic signet ring cell carcinomas of lower GI tract origin were more frequently SATB2 than those from upper GI tract (70/82, 85% vs. 15/77, 19%, P

Active control offers a lightweight solution to the problem of low frequency structure-borne road noise in cars. Feedforward control of road noise is predominantly limited by the difficulty of finding reference signals that are highly coherent with the sound in the cabin. One factor that could restrict the coherence of the reference signals, and therefore the performance of a linear control system, is the behaviour of nonlinear components in the suspension. The purpose of this research is to identify potential sources of nonlinearity in a car���s suspension and investigate their influence on the propagation of structure-borne road noise into the cabin. The details of experiments and simulations are described that aim to quantify the role of nonlinearity in the suspension���s dynamics, and determine to what extent it limits the performance of a linear feedforward road noise control system. The results of experiments conducted on a Nissan Leaf test vehicle are presented that establish the theoretical maximum noise reduction that can be achieved with a linear control system using reference sensors placed at the wheel hubs. Laboratory experiments on the components in the Nissan Leaf���s suspension are presented that identify the hydraulic dampers as the main source of nonlinearity in the road noise transmission path. Models of the key components in a car suspension are developed based on the results of the experiments. Models for the front and rear dampers in the Nissan Leaf are validated up to 300 Hz, and analysed to reveal the mechanisms causing their nonlinear dynamics. Models for the bushings, springs and wishbone are developed and combined into a full suspension model. The suspension model���s predictions add to the evidence from the measurements that road noise transmission is strongly influenced by nonlinearity in the damper. Some implications of the suspension���s nonlinear dynamics for feedforward control of road noise are then explored. The linear control systems used currently are often limited to one reference sensor on each suspension; a simplified analysis of a two transmission path suspension system shows that, if one path is nonlinear, a linear control system with a single reference sensor can not cancel all of the noise generated at the wheel. This thesis presents strong evidence that nonlinear suspension dynamics limit the performance of feedforward road noise controllers. A nonlinear model of vibration transmission through a suspension is developed and guidelines are suggested for reference sensor selection., Bose Corporation

This project investigated a review and analysis of enabling programs offered by Australian higher education providers focusing on domestic students from disadvantaged groups including low SES, Indigenous, students with disability, regional and remote students, and students from non-English speaking backgrounds. The report examined programs’ effectiveness and appropriateness as pathways to university, variability in program quality, and potential measures to improve their effectiveness.

The expansion of higher education places adaptive pressure on institutional and policy frameworks that were originally designed at times of lower levels of participation. This adaptive pressure is evident in changes to admission and selection practices, and has become more acute with the introduction of demand driven funding for undergraduate Commonwealth supported places. Universities seeking to optimise their market share in line with their values and strategic objectives are increasingly utilising direct admissions rather than historically dominant state centralised admissions processes. Direct entry pathways are also being utilised by some institutions as a means of increasing their share of disadvantaged students in particular. Both centralised and direct admissions pathways are also drawing on contextual data – such as the geo-demographic background of the applicant, school attended, perceived academic potential, or volunteer and community service – in the assessment process (Harvey 2014). The growth and complexity of university admissions practices raises two key questions. First, what impact is rising complexity in admissions practices having on student decision-making, with particular emphasis on students from disadvantaged backgrounds? And, second, how are universities and state-based tertiary admissions centres (TACs) responding to the challenges associated with rising student participation, diversity and mobility, as well as complexity in admissions practice?