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Background: Dexamethasone (Dex) is the most common corticosteroid to treat edema in glioblastoma (GBM) patients. Recent studies identified the addition of Dex to radiation therapy (RT) to be associated with poor survival. Independently, Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) provides a novel anti-cancer modality for patients with primary and recurrent GBM. Whether Dex influences the efficacy of TTFields, however, remains elusive. Methods: Human GBM cell lines MZ54 and U251 were treated with RT or TTFields in combination with Dex and the effects on cell counts and cell death were determined via flow cytometry. We further performed a retrospective analysis of GBM patients with TTFields treatment +/- concomitant Dex and analysed its impact on progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Results: The addition of Dex significantly reduced the efficacy of RT in U251 and MZ54 cells. TTFields (200 kHz/250 kHz) induced massive cell death in both cell lines. Concomitant treatment of TTFields and Dex did not reduce the overall efficacy of TTFields. Further, in our retrospective clinical analysis, we found that the addition of Dex to TTFields therapy did not influence PFS nor OS. Conclusion: Our translational investigation indicates that the efficacy of TTFields therapy in patients with GBM and primary GBM cell lines is not affected by the addition of Dex.

Purpose: Dexamethasone (Dex) is the most common corticosteroid to treat edema in glioblastoma (GBM) patients. Recent studies identified the addition of Dex to radiation therapy (RT) to be associated with poor survival. Independently, Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) provides a novel anti-cancer modality for patients with primary and recurrent GBM. Whether Dex influences the efficacy of TTFields, however, remains elusive. Methods: Human GBM cell lines MZ54 and U251 were treated with RT or TTFields in combination with Dex and the effects on cell counts and cell death were determined via flow cytometry. We further performed a retrospective analysis of GBM patients with TTFields treatment +/- concomitant Dex and analysed its impact on progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Results: The addition of Dex significantly reduced the efficacy of RT in U251, but not in MZ54 cells. TTFields (200 kHz/250 kHz) induced massive cell death in both cell lines. Concomitant treatment of TTFields and Dex did not reduce the overall efficacy of TTFields. Further, in our retrospective clinical analysis, we found that the addition of Dex to TTFields therapy did not influence PFS nor OS. Conclusion: Our translational investigation indicates that the efficacy of TTFields therapy in patients with GBM and GBM cell lines is not affected by the addition of Dex.

Soon after the end of the Persian Gulf War in 1991, the Kurdish people of northern Iraq rebelled against the regime of Saddam Hussein. The rebellion was violently crushed by the Iraqi military resulting in over 1 million Kurdish refugees throughout northern Iraq, northwestern Iran, and southeastern Turkey. This humanitarian tragedy prompted the United States to initiate Operation Provide Comfort. Since Operation Provide Comfort I began, and through its subsequent incarnations, Provide Comfort II and Northern Watch, the United States applied military force in order to accomplish a number of objectives. These objectives can be broken down into three categories: humanitarian, military, and political. This thesis analyzes the primary objectives of the United States military under each of these three categories in order to determine the answer to the primary question. The analysis resulted in the determination that the United States military did not accomplish all of the primary objectives it set out to accomplish. Although the application of military force successfully accomplished its principal humanitarian objective (the resettlement of the displaced Kurds), and although it was successfully accomplishing its primary military objective (deter Hussein from again attacking the Kurdish population), it did not accomplish its chief political objective (containment).

Sažetak Ekološki prihvatljiva maziva su ona, koja će u kontaktu s okolišem uzrokovati minimum štetnog djelovanja, i kod proizvodnje i primjene i kod zbrinjavanja otpada. Jedan od uvjeta ekološke prihvatljivosti je biološka razgradljivost maziva. Pored biološke razgradljivosti potrebna su i ekotoksikološka ispitivanja na bakterije, alge i ribe te određivanje bioakumulacije maziva., Ecologically acceptable lubricants are those that when in contact with the environment cause minimal detrimental effects, both in the process of production and application as well as in the phase of waste disposal. The biodegradability of lubricants is one of the conditions of their ecological acceptability. Along with the biodegradability condition, an ecotoxicological testing on bacterias, sea weeds (algae) and fish is necessary to determine the bioaccumulation of lubricants.

Sažetak Metode za određivanje toksičnosti kemijskih tvari na vodene organizme, propisane organizacijama kao što su OECD, EU ili ISO odnose se na kemijske supstancije s točnim generičkim opisom, tj. propisuju ispitivanje vodotopljivih, kemijski stabilnih i nehlapljivih tvari. Međutim, ako se te metode primjenjuju za tvari koje ne podliježu navedenim svojstvima (tvari koje su samo djelomično ili slabo topljive u vodi, nestabilne, hlapljive ili kompleksnog sastava), mogu se očekivati teškoće u procjeni toksičnosti. Prema sadašnjim saznanjima najbolja raspoloživa metoda za ispitivanje toksičnosti u vodi slabo topljivih kemijskih tvari je WAF metodologija (Water Accommodated Fraction). WAF predstavlja vodeni medij koji sadrži frakciju supstancije zaostale u vodenom mediju nakon miješanja i odvajanja faza. Predmet naših ispitivanja su maziva teško topljiva u vodi od kojih neka imaju svojstvo intenzivnog prijanjanja uz podlogu i maziva ulja koja s vodom stvaraju emulziju. Prema svom sastavu to su maziva na osnovi sintetičkih estera i biljnih ulja različito ugušćeni sa sapunima ili organofilnim bentonitima. Ispitivana maziva miješana su s deioniziranom vodom i mineralnim medijem pomoću elektromagnetske mješalice i u vremenskom razdoblju od 24-96 sati miješanja praćeni su određeni parametri (koncentracija lipofilnih tvari, totalni organski ugljik i prisutnost organskih kiselina eventualno nastalih hidrolizom estera)., Test methods for assessment toxicity chemical substances to aquatic organisms have been described by various organizations including the OECD, EU or ISO. Those test methods are typically designed for substances with precise generic description and substances, which are readily water soluble, chemically stable and non-volatile. When test methods are applied to substances with different chemical properties (sparingly soluble, unstable or volatile substances or those of a complex composition) it is possible to expect some difficulties in toxicity evaluation. According to present knowledge the best test method for toxicity examination of water-resistant substances is WAF methodology (Water Accommodated Fraction). WAF is an aqueous medium containing only that fraction of a substance which remains in the aqueous phase after mixing and phase separation. The subjects for our examination were water-resistant greases (some of them have very strong adhesive characteristics) and lubricant oils which form emulsion with water. According to their chemical composition there are synthetic based esters and plant oils thickned with soaps and organophylic bentonits. The greases were mixed with deionised water and mineral media on magnetic stirrer and during the time period of 24-96 hours some parameters were defined (concentration of lipophylic substances, total organic carbon and organic acids eventually made by ester hydrolyzis).

Soon after the end of the Persian Gulf War in 1991, the Kurdish people of northern Iraq rebelled against the regime of Saddam Hussein. The rebellion was violently crushed by the Iraqi military resulting in over 1 million Kurdish refugees throughout northern Iraq, northwestern Iran, and southeastern Turkey. This humanitarian tragedy prompted the United States to initiate Operation Provide Comfort. Since Operation Provide Comfort I began, and through its subsequent incarnations, Provide Comfort II and Northern Watch, the United States applied military force in order to accomplish a number of objectives. These objectives can be broken down into three categories: humanitarian, military, and political. This thesis analyzes the primary objectives of the United States military under each of these three categories in order to determine the answer to the primary question. The analysis resulted in the determination that the United States military did not accomplish all of the primary objectives it set out to accomplish. Although the application of military force successfully accomplished its principal humanitarian objective (the resettlement of the displaced Kurds), and although it was successfully accomplishing its primary military objective (deter Hussein from again attacking the Kurdish population), it did not accomplish its chief political objective (containment).

This survey aims to locate, describe and evaluate the historic resources lying (1) within and adjacent to the Whittier Narrows Flood Control Basin and (2) along the banks of the Rio Hondo channel from Whittier Narrows Dam to its junction with the Los Angeles River and along the banks of that river to the Pacific Ocean at Long Beach. The purpose of this survey is fourfold: - (1) to locate and identify historic resources within and adjacent to the above specified areas; (2) to evaluate the effects of the proposed project upon those resources; (3) to propose ways of mitigating any harmful effects on those resources, (4) to nominate qualified historic resources or sites for potential inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places, and for potential inclusion in the California State Historic Landmarks program.