Delusional Infestation:Perspectives from Scottish Dermatologists and a 10-year Case Series from a Single Centre

Perceptions of the clinical management of delusional infestation (DI) were compared with clinical outcomes in this 10-year case series from a single centre in Dundee, UK. An online questionnaire (survey-monkey, a TM brand of online survey available for free for basic use) was sent to Scottish Dermatologists to gauge their opinions and confidence in the management of DI. Also, a retrospective review of medical case notes of patients seen by dermatologists in one institution was undertaken and clinical outcomes were reported by patients’ general practitioners (GP). The survey showed that 61% of responding dermatologists encountered 1–5 cases of DI per year. Twenty-four percent respondees were ‘confident’ in managing patients with DI, 54% were ‘somewhat confident’. Forty-seven patients (62% female, 70% single) were seen over the 10 years; 43% brought a self-collected specimen to clinic, 68% of patients had a psychiatric comorbidity, 23% of patients had primary DI and 11/47 (23%) were seen by a psychiatrist. Clinical outcomes as rated by patients’ GPs were reasonable or good in 2/3 patients. A poor outcome was seen in 12 patients and associated with chronic pain in 50% (p< 0.01) and psychiatric comorbidity in 100% (p < 0.01). We conclude that good outcomes can be achieved in some patients with DI without psychiatric input and without psychoactive treatment

Can education improve tax compliance? Evidence from different forms of tax education

We examine whether tax compliance is improved via different forms of tax education. We argue that different types of tax education have respective impacts on tax compliance. To explore this empirical issue, we conduct a survey related to tax compliance among 205 students taking either a general tax course or a technical tax course in Hong Kong. Our findings suggest that sales tax compliance among undergraduate students was significantly improved if they had been exposed to a general tax education, and income and sales tax compliance among postgraduate students were significantly improved if they had taken a technical tax course

Molecular identification and phylogenetic analysis of Pseudoperonospora cubensis isolates in Peninsula Malaysia

Thirteen isolates of Pseudoperonospora cubensis, the causal agent of downy mildew, were collected from cucurbit fields in five states of the western part of Peninsular Malaysia during its growing season between November 2008 and March 2009. The host range of these isolates was determined previously using leaf disc assay and the results indicated that there were 12 pathotypes among these isolates. The objective of this study was to analyze the 13 isolates for phylogenetic relationship using internal transcribed spacers (ITS) of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) and mitochondrial COX-II regions. A high sequence similarity among the 13 isolates and similar sequences from GenBank were detected in ITS (>99%) and COX-II (>98%) regions. Phylogenetic analysis of the 13 isolates based on Minimum Evolution method performed on ITS and COX-II regions revealed five and three groupings, respectively. However, no relationship was found between the phylogenetic groupings using both genes and pathotypes in this study

Evaluation of tantalum for mercury containment in the SNAP-8 boiler

Corrosion testing of tantalum for mercury containment in SNAP 8 boile

Protective actions of des-acylated ghrelin on brain injury and blood-brain barrier disruption after stroke in mice

The major ghrelin forms, acylated ghrelin and des-acylated ghrelin, are novel gastrointestinal hormones. Moreover, emerging evidence indicates that these peptides may have other functions including neuro- and vaso-protection. Here, we investigated whether post-stroke treatment with acylated ghrelin or des-acylated ghrelin could improve functional and histological endpoints of stroke outcome in mice after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAo). We found that des-acylated ghrelin (1 mg/kg) improved neurological and functional performance, reduced infarct and swelling, and decreased apoptosis. In addition, it reduced blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption in vivo and attenuated the hyper-permeability of mouse cerebral microvascular endothelial cells after oxygen glucose deprivation and reoxygenation (OGD + RO). By contrast, acylated ghrelin (1 mg/kg or 5 mg/kg) had no significant effect on these endpoints of stroke outcome. Next we found that des-acylated ghrelin's vasoprotective actions were associated with increased expression of tight junction proteins (occludin and claudin-5), and decreased cell death. Moreover, it attenuated superoxide production, Nox activity and expression of 3-nitrotyrosine. Collectively, these results demonstrate that post-stroke treatment with des-acylated ghrelin, but not acylated ghrelin, protects against ischaemia/reperfusion-induced brain injury and swelling, and BBB disruption, by reducing oxidative and/or nitrosative damage

Revisiting the Marrow Metabolic Changes after Chemotherapy in Lymphoma: A Step towards Personalized Care

Purpose. The aims were to correlate individual marrow metabolic changes after chemotherapy with bone marrow biopsy (BMBx) for its potential value of personalized care in lymphoma. Methods. 26 patients (mean age, 58 ± 15 y; 13 female, 13 male) with follicular lymphoma or diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, referred to FDG-PET/CT imaging, who had BMBx from unilateral or bilateral iliac crest(s) before chemotherapy, were studied retrospectively. The maximal standardized uptake value (SUV) was measured from BMBx site over the same area on both initial staging and first available restaging FDG-PET/CT scan. Results. 35 BMBx sites in 26 patients were evaluated. 12 of 35 sites were BMBx positive with interval decrease in SUV in 11 of 12 sites (92%). The remaining 23 of 35 sites were BMBx negative with interval increase in SUV in 21 of 23 sites (91%). The correlation between SUV change over the BMBx site before and after chemotherapy and BMBx result was significant (P < 0.0001). Conclusions. This preliminary result demonstrates a strong correlation between marrow metabolic changes (as determined by FDG PET) after chemotherapy and bone marrow involvement proven by biopsy. This may provide a retrospective means of personalized management of marrow involvement in deciding whether to deliver more extended therapy or closer followup of lymphoma patients

Modelling and analysis of asymmetrical latency in packet-based networks for current differential protection application

Current differential protection typically requires symmetrical communications channels—with equal latency in each direction—for correct operation. Conventionally, this has been delivered using protocols such as IEEE C37.94 over a Time-Division Multiplexing (TDM) wide-area network (WAN). Modern packet-based WANs offer improvements in efficiency, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness for utility applications. However, jitter is unavoidable in packet-based networks and, in extreme cases, jitter inevitably results in substantial asymmetrical latency in communications paths. This paper clearly defines how a new source of asymmetry arises due to the use of "de-jitter" buffers, which can jeopardize critical protection services. This is demonstrated using an analytical modelling approach, which precisely quantifies the degree of risk, and through real-time demonstration with actual devices, involving current differential protection over an IP/MPLS WAN. Using a novel method of real-time manipulation of Ethernet traffic to emulate large WANs, the modelling approach has been validated. It is shown how the sensitivity of relays to asymmetry depends on the protection settings and the magnitude of the measured load current. To address the risk of protection maloperation, a new approach for compensating for asymmetrical latency has been comprehensively validated. These developments will be of immediate interest to utilities operating, or migrating to, a packet-based infrastructure

The analysis of alphaâ 1â antitrypsin glycosylation with direct LCâ MS/MS

A liquid chromatographyâ tandem mass spectrometry (LCâ MS/MS)â based methodology has been developed to differentiate coreâ and antennaryâ fucosylated glycosylation of glycopeptides. Both the glycosylation sites (heterogeneity) and multiple possible glycan occupancy at each site (microheterogeneity) can be resolved via intact glycopeptide analysis. The serum glycoprotein alphaâ 1â antitrypsin (A1AT) which contains both coreâ and antennaryâ fucosylated glycosites was used in this study. Sialidase was used to remove the sialic acids in order to simplify the glycosylation microheterogeneity and to enhance the MS signal of glycopeptides with similar glycan structures. β1â 3,4 galactosidase was used to differentiate coreâ and antennaryâ fucosylation. Inâ source dissociation was found to severely affect the identification and quantification of glycopeptides with low abundance glycan modification. The settings of the mass spectrometer were therefore optimized to minimize the inâ source dissociation. A threeâ step mass spectrometry fragmentation strategy was used for glycopeptide identification, facilitated by pGlyco software annotation and manual checking. The collision energy used for initial glycopeptide fragmentation was found to be crucial for improved detection of oxonium ions and better selection of Y1 ion (peptide+GlcNAc). Structural assignments revealed that all three glycosylation sites of A1AT glycopeptides contain complex Nâ glycan structures: site Asn70 contains biantennary glycans without fucosylation; site Asn107 contains biâ , triâ and tetraâ antennary glycans with both coreâ and antennaryâ fucosylation; site Asn271 contains biâ and triâ antennary glycans with both coreâ and antennaryâ fucosylation. The relative intensity of coreâ and antennaryâ fucosylation on Asn107 was similar to that of the A1AT protein indicating that the glycosylation level of Asn107 is much larger than the other two sites.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/146302/1/elps6432_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/146302/2/elps6432.pd

Investigation of alumina supported mixed nickel oxide and cerium oxide catalysts for syngas production

Catalysts containing mixtures of nickel oxide and cerium oxide with different ratio, 1:1, 1:2 and 2:1 were prepared by the sonochemical treatment. The sonication was prolonged for 45 min, constant for each of the catalyst prepared supported by alumina. The resultant catalysts were characterized using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and temperature programmed reduction (TPR) in H2. The syngas production was detected using temperature programmed gasification and it was done under 5 % oxygen in helium. The coconut shell in powder form (3 μm) was used as a feedstock. X-ray diffraction patterns shows that all of the catalyst was perfectly matched to the XRD patterns standard of NiO, CeO2 and alumina, indicating that the catalyst produce through this method were in high purity. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy results further confirmed that all of the elements contain inside the synthesized catalyst were NiO, CeO2 and alumina were produced in each catalyst. 1:1 ratio of catalyst shows the highest syngas production (H2/CO) with ratio 0.76 followed by 1:2 and 2:1 with 0.62 and 0.44, respectively. Compared to the standard optimum ratio of syngas which is equal to 1, the experimental value which is 0.76 (nearer to 1), so that it can be used for production of acetic acid and acetyl oxide