The Use of Cisplatin in the Management of Appendicular Osteosarcoma in the Dog

This dissertation presents analysis of various features of cases of canine osteosarcoma (including one case of chondrosarcoma) managed in the Department of Veterinary Surgery, Glasgow University Veterinary School. These features include: -the clinical outcome in cases managed with surgery and cisplatin chemotherapy - experiences with the use of bone allografts for limb reconstruction following en bloc resection - analysis of certain aspects of the pharmacokinetics of the drug administered to selected patients These findings are presented in the light of published work on the treatment of osteosarcoma and the use of cisplatin in the dog and man. The major conclusions are: - subsets of the tumour may exist, with the potential for varying biological behaviour - the management of osteosarcoma with cisplatin chemotherapy has a positive benefit on survival, in selected patients, but death due to metastatic disease is almost inevitable - the design of chemotherapeutic protocols for canine osteosarcoma is not finalised - though the area under the platinum in plasma ultrafiltrate concentration-time curve gave a consistent value in the clinic at Glasgow University Veterinary School it is not suitable, in isolation, for comparing administration protocols - the use of massive allografts in conjunction with cisplatin chemotherapy requires further evaluation - multi-centre prospective trials would be the way to pursue these goals

Three-dimensional multigrid algorithms for the flux-split Euler equations

The Full Approximation Scheme (FAS) multigrid method is applied to several implicit flux-split algorithms for solving the three-dimensional Euler equations in a body fitted coordinate system. Each of the splitting algorithms uses a variation of approximate factorization and is implemented in a finite volume formulation. The algorithms are all vectorizable with little or no scalar computation required. The flux vectors are split into upwind components using both the splittings of Steger-Warming and Van Leer. The stability and smoothing rate of each of the schemes are examined using a Fourier analysis of the complete system of equations. Results are presented for three-dimensional subsonic, transonic, and supersonic flows which demonstrate substantially improved convergence rates with the multigrid algorithm. The influence of using both a V-cycle and a W-cycle on the convergence is examined

Mortality as Framed by Ongoingness in Digital Design

This article presents a number of perspectives on mortality in light of both Victorian mourning and memento mori jewelry and bereavement therapy and grieving. Both help to reveal valuable qualities for digital design. The article then illustrates how these qualities influenced the design of four digital lockets, examining how both Victorian and modern practices relate to mortality, mourning, grief, and death, and exploring possibilities for digital design. Finally, ongoingness—by reference to the work of artist Moira Ricci—is explained as both a theoretical construct and a resource for design practice. Central in the proposal is the notion that, rather than being distanced or detached from the deceased (as has been the predominant grieving therapy approach of modernity), the bereaved can continue to have an active and growing relationship with them

Pseudo-random number generators for Monte Carlo simulations on Graphics Processing Units

Basic uniform pseudo-random number generators are implemented on ATI Graphics Processing Units (GPU). The performance results of the realized generators (multiplicative linear congruential (GGL), XOR-shift (XOR128), RANECU, RANMAR, RANLUX and Mersenne Twister (MT19937)) on CPU and GPU are discussed. The obtained speed-up factor is hundreds of times in comparison with CPU. RANLUX generator is found to be the most appropriate for using on GPU in Monte Carlo simulations. The brief review of the pseudo-random number generators used in modern software packages for Monte Carlo simulations in high-energy physics is present.Comment: 31 pages, 9 figures, 3 table

Effects of Increased Dosage of the Plp Gene: A Study in Transgenic Mice

The Plp gene encodes two proteins (proteolipid protein and DM20), by alternative splicing of the primary transcript, that between them account for greater than 50% of total myelin protein in the central nervous system. Though the proteolipid protein is thought to have a structural role in the compaction of the myelin sheath the role of the DM20 protein isoform remains uncertain but is speculated to involve oligodendrocyte development. The Plp gene has been strongly conserved during evolution, and across species, and it is well recognised that its mutation is involved with dysmyelination. It has become increasingly clear that as well as mutations altering the nucleotide sequence being associated with disease that duplications of the gene locus, without nucleotide changes, are also significant in disease aetiopathogenesis in man. This project describes the phenotypic consequences of extra copies of the Plp gene on two lines of transgenic mice (#66 and #72) in relation to myelin gene expression

Sublethal Effects of the Insecticide Pyrifluquinazon on the European Honey Bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Pyrifluquinazon (PQZ) is an Insecticide Resistance Action Committee (IRAC) Group 9 insecticide that has recently been registered for use in the United States for control of soft-bodied sucking insect pests. Although it has been classified as practically nontoxic to honey bees, Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae), based on acute contact bioassays, additional information on sublethal effects of this insecticide on honey bees is lacking. Using a combination of laboratory assays with video movement tracking software and near-field evaluations of colonies foraging in a high-tunnel experiment, we determined that, when fed PQZ at a concentration of 84 mg active ingredient (ai)/liter (= ppm) in sugar water, a reduction in overall movement by the foraging worker bees was observed. However, when provided with honey reserves in the hive, honey bees rejected the PQZ-treated sugar water. These results indicate that, if ingested at levels of 84 mg ai/liter, PQZ could have a negative effect on honey bee behavior; however, honey bee workers appear to be able to detect the presence of PQZ in their food and reject it

The Relationship Between Employee Motivation and Evaluation Capacity in a Community-Based Education Organization

Background: Evaluation capacity building (ECB) has gained popularity among organizations due to the increased importance of accountability and organizational effectiveness. While the ECB literature has occasionally addressed the notion of motivation, it has usually been in terms of motivation to do or use evaluation (Clinton, 2014; Taylor-Ritzler et al., 2013); this study sought to ascertain whether general overall employee motivation in an organization is itself related to evaluation capacity. By better understanding this relationship, those who are involved in administering, implementing, evaluating, or researching ECB can be better equipped to understand one of the ‘mediating conditions’ or ‘antecedent conditions’ (Cousins et al., 2014) affecting an organization’s ability to do and use evaluation, and, in turn, can more efficiently and effectively craft their ECB work. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between: (a) employee motivation and individual evaluation capacity; (b) employee motivation and evaluative thinking, and (c) evaluation capacity and evaluative thinking. Setting: The study focused on the Cooperative Extension System, a non-formal community-based education organization linked to public land-grant universities throughout the United States. Specifically, this study drew participants from two state Extension systems, Virginia and Maryland. Intervention: Not applicable. Research Design: This quantitative study used a descriptive correlational design (Creswell, 2003) to uncover the relationship between the variables: motivation and evaluation capacity, motivation and evaluative thinking, and evaluation capacity and evaluative thinking. Data Collection and Analysis: To investigate the relationship between the factors of interest (motivation, evaluation capacity, and evaluative thinking), three instruments were used: the Multidimensional Work Motivation Scale (MWMS), the Evaluation Capacity Assessment Instrument (ECAI), and the Evaluative Thinking Inventory (ETI). STATA MP 13.1 quantitative software was used to analyze the collected data. Findings: Employees with lower overall motivation in doing their work have lower evaluation capacity, and employees with higher motivation which is triggered by no external means but driven by internal factors have higher evaluation capacity

Community Inventor Days:Scaffolding Grassroots Innovation with Maker Events

This paper describes a series of Inventor Days designed to catalyse sustainable relationships between communities and makers to support grassroots innovation. By appropriating core properties of hackathons, the Inventor Days brought together residents in a community and makers from across the city. Over three events, makers and community members worked together to learn about the local area, design novel ideas that addressed local issues and build prototypes. We show evidence that these events created enthusiasm around use of technology to support the community, while developing ongoing relationships that enabled members of the community to continue building on their experiences beyond the events. We propose this as a new means of enabling innovation in communities. Copyright is held by the owner/author(s).</p