A double-blind trial of phenytoin therapy following craniotomy was performed to test the hypothesis that phenytoin is effective in reducing postoperative epilepsy. A significant reduction in the frequency of epilepsy was observed in the group receiving the active drug up to the 10th postoperative week. Half of the seizures occurred in the first 2 weeks and two-thirds within 1 month of cranial surgery. High rates of epilepsy were observed after surgery in patients with meningioma, metastasis, aneurysm, and head injury. Routine prophylaxis with phenytoin (in a dosage of 5 to 6 mg/kg/day) would seem to be indicated, particularly in high-risk patients and, where possible, this treatment should be started 1 week preoperatively. Seizure control is best when therapeutic levels of phenytoin are maintained.

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Most accounts of the Mesoamerican civil‐religious hierarchy assume either a pre‐Hispanic or colonial formation of the system, despite the lack of convincing evidence. This paper presents unpublished archival data on colonial cofradias and civil cargos from four regions of Mexico: Jalisco, central Mexico, the Valley of Oaxaca, and the Sierra Zapoteca of Oaxaca. It is argued that while a civil hierarchy was well developed in colonial times, the civil‐religious hierarchy was mainly a post‐independence development. Changes in the functions of the hierarchy and its mode of articulation with the larger society are also discussed. [Mesoamerica, peasant society, ethnohistory, religion, political organization]

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and mercuric chloride (0 1 mM) but not by sulphydryl reactants. 3. The reaction is characterized by a marked increase in iodine-staining power and P-amylolysis limit but oc-(I-÷ 4)-glucosidic linkages in glycogen are not attacked. Enzyme action is incomplete, only the outer oc-(1-> 6)-glucosidic linkages being hydrolysed. 4. Isoamylase differs from the plant and animal debranching enzymes [R-enzyme and amylo-(1-+ 6)-glucosidase] since both amylopectin and glycogen are substrates. 5. Purified isoamylase has no action on maltose, isomaltose or maltotriose. 6. Isoamylase is also present in baker's yeast.

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On the design of a highspeed combined highresolution powder diffractometer and smallangle scattering system with timeresolution capability based on the use of imaging plates and CCCC monochromators Rev. Sci. Instrum.A wide−time range pulse radiolysis system of picosecond time resolution Rev. Sci. Instrum. 46, 62 (1975);A unique stroboscopic pulse radiolysis system is described which detects the transient light-absorbing species formed in solutions by individual fine structure pulses from a 40 MeV linear accelerator. A measured time resolution of 23 psec is attained by using, as the analyzing light, the short «10 psec) Cerenkov light flashes produced in air by the fine structure pulses of the electron beam. This light is suitably delayed by an optical system in which the path length is slowly changed, then passed through the irradiated sample. The integrated light passing through the sample is detected, and variations in the optical absorption at varying times after the irradiation pulse are observed. The design and performance of the optical, mechanical, and electronic devices which retrieve the absorption signal out of the noise are described in some detail. As an integrated unit, this system meets its expected performance capability, being able to successfully detect absorption signals as small as 0.2%.

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