Electron Transfer-oxy Radical Mechanism for Anti-cancer Agents: 9-anilinoacridines

A possible mode of action involving electron transfer is advanced for the 9- anilinoacridines. The mechanism entails formation of toxic oxy radicals which destroy the neoplasm. Cyclic voltammetry was performed on iminium type ions derived by protonation of the acridines. Reductions were generally reversible with potentials of about - 0.60 V. Involvement of quinoidal metabolites is also a possibility. The relationship of electrochemical behavior to structure and physiological activity is addressed

Footstep and Motion Planning in Semi-unstructured Environments Using Randomized Possibility Graphs

Traversing environments with arbitrary obstacles poses significant challenges for bipedal robots. In some cases, whole body motions may be necessary to maneuver around an obstacle, but most existing footstep planners can only select from a discrete set of predetermined footstep actions; they are unable to utilize the continuum of whole body motion that is truly available to the robot platform. Existing motion planners that can utilize whole body motion tend to struggle with the complexity of large-scale problems. We introduce a planning method, called the "Randomized Possibility Graph", which uses high-level approximations of constraint manifolds to rapidly explore the "possibility" of actions, thereby allowing lower-level motion planners to be utilized more efficiently. We demonstrate simulations of the method working in a variety of semi-unstructured environments. In this context, "semi-unstructured" means the walkable terrain is flat and even, but there are arbitrary 3D obstacles throughout the environment which may need to be stepped over or maneuvered around using whole body motions.Comment: Accepted by IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation 201

Rethinking the Business Plan Paradigm: Bridging the Gap Between Plan and Plan Execution*

A new business planning paradigm is inherent in the "total quality management'' school of thought. This new approach has several advantages. Principal among them is that it helps bridge the gap between plan creation and plan execution. Most business planning resources for small business have not yet recognized the new business planning paradigm. This paper compares the traditional business plan paradigm to the new. /1 describes three shortcomings of the traditional approach and five strengths of the new approach.  !1 explains how the strengths of the new approach can be used to overcome the shortcomings of the traditional approach and yield stronger business plans. Simple examples illustrate how to create and execute business plans using New-Paradigm business planning.

Transforming Consultants' Recommendations into Business Improvement: A Model and Action Agenda

As the company grows, successful small business owners often find their management lacks sufficient sophistication. They are good at what they do, but a small staff cannot be knowledgeable in all areas of business. Seeking solutions to major growing pains, many owners engage consultants. The aim is improving the dynamics of running the company. The use of consultants is a way for small businesses to gain quick, access to management expertise. Unfortunately, too often, both the owner and the consultant feel frustration at the conclusion of the consulting engagement.  The owner feels the consultant recommendations are too general. The consultant is disappointed with the owner follow-up on key recommendations. No one is willing to take responsibility for implementation.This article explores how to deal with the follow-up challenge. It covers four main topics: why business owners do not follow-up; why consultants do not follow-up; an eight-part model for organized improvement; and an action agenda for improved follow-up. Both owners and consultants can use the action agenda to help turn consultant recommendations into business improvement. An appendix offers advice to Small Business Institute directors and advisors guiding student consultants

Anti-cancer Action of Metal Complexes: Electron Transfer and Oxidative Stress?

Evidence is presented in support of an electron transfer mechanism for various metal complexes possessing anti-neoplastic properties. Cyclic voltammetry was performed on several metallocenes, bis(acetato)bis(imidazole)Cu(II), and coordination compounds (Cu or Fe) of the anti-tumor agents, bipyridine, phenanthroline, hydroxyurea, diethyldithiocarbamate, and α, α1-bis(8-hydroxyquinolin-7-yl)-4-methoxytoluene. The favorable reduction potentials ranged from +0.5 to -0.5 V. Electrochemical behavior is correlated in some cases with structure and physiological activity. Relevant literature data are discussed

Field Case Consulting: Ten Keys for Success

One AACSB accredited College of Business and Economics believes so strongly in the value of student consulting that it requires all of its graduating MBA students to consult. For ten years, its MBA student consulting teams have achieved consistently high ratings  in national field case competitions. This business brief explains why and how this curriculum component was instituted, and identifies ten keys for success. It  also offers  useful  background information for those interested in launching a similar progran1. The authors note that they have also applied the ten keys successfully  to undergraduate student consulting

Charge Transfer-oxy Radical Mechanism for Anti-cancer Agents

The proposal is advanced that anti-cancer drugs generally function by charge transfer resulting in formation of toxic oxy radicals which destroy the neoplasm. Electrochemical studies were performed with some of the main types of agents: iminium ions (adenine iminium from alkylating species, iminium metabolite of 6-mercaptopurine, nitidine, other polynuclear iminiums) and metal complexes (Pt(II)diaquodiammine-guanosine, copper salicylaldoximes). Reduction potentials ranged from -0.4 to -1.2 V. Literature data for quinones are presented and radiation is discussed. Based on the theoretical framework, a rationale is offered for the carcinogen-anti-cancer paradox and the role of antioxidants

Traversing Environments Using Possibility Graphs for Humanoid Robots

Locomotion for legged robots poses considerable challenges when confronted by obstacles and adverse environments. Footstep planners are typically only designed for one mode of locomotion, but traversing unfavorable environments may require several forms of locomotion to be sequenced together, such as walking, crawling, and jumping. Multi-modal motion planners can be used to address some of these problems, but existing implementations tend to be time-consuming and are limited to quasi-static actions. This paper presents a motion planning method to traverse complex environments using multiple categories of actions. We introduce the concept of the "Possibility Graph", which uses high-level approximations of constraint manifolds to rapidly explore the "possibility" of actions, thereby allowing lower-level single-action motion planners to be utilized more efficiently. We show that the Possibility Graph can quickly find paths through several different challenging environments which require various combinations of actions in order to traverse