old_contents: import os, re
  from base64 import b64encode as encode
  from qipipe.staging import airc_collection as airc
  from qipipe.staging.staging_helper import SUBJECT_FMT
  from qipipe.helpers import xnat_helper
  
  import logging
  logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
  
  def generate_subject_name(name):
      """
      Makes a subject name that is unique to the given test name.
      
      :param name: the test name
      :return: the test subject name
      """
      return encode(name).strip('=')
  
new_contents: import os, re
  from base64 import b64encode as encode
  from qipipe.staging import airc_collection as airc
  from qipipe.staging.staging_helper import SUBJECT_FMT
  from qipipe.helpers import xnat_helper
  
  import logging
  logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
  
  def generate_subject_name(name):
      """
      Makes a subject name that is unique to the given test name.
      
      :param name: the test name
      :return: the test subject name
      """
      return encode(name).strip('=')
  
  def delete_subjects(project, *subject_names):
      """
      Deletes the given XNAT subjects, if they exist.
  
      :param project: the XNAT project id
      :param subject_names: the XNAT subject names
      """
      with xnat_helper.connection() as xnat:
          for sbj_lbl in subject_names:
              sbj = xnat.get_subject(project, sbj_lbl)
              if sbj.exists():
                  sbj.delete()
                  logger.debug("Deleted the XNAT test subject %s." % sbj_lbl)
  
subject: Move delete_subjects to a test helper.