Severe pulmonary hypertension reversed by antibiotics in a patient with Whipple's disease

The case is described of a 58 year old man with systemic Whipple's disease with pericardial and pleural effusions and severe pulmonary hypertension. After three months of antibiotic treatment there was a complete resolution, not only of the symptoms known to be associated with Whipple's disease (diarrhoea, arthralgia, pericardial and pleural effusions), but also of pulmonary hypertension.     

Agronomic evaluation of fertilizer products derived from Sukulu Hills phosphate rock

Partial acidulation of phosphate rock (PR) or compaction of PR with soluble P fertilizers can improve the usefulness of unreactive PR for use as P fertilizer. A greenhouse study was conducted to evaluate nonconventional phosphate fertilizers derived from a low reactive Sukulu Hills PR from Uganda. Raw PR (which contained 341.0 g kg^–1 Fe₂O₃), beneficiated or concentrate PR, partially acidulated PR (PAPR) and PR compacted with triple superphosphate (TSP) were evaluated. Compacted materials had a P ratio of PR:TSP = 50:50. PAPR materials were made by 50% acidulation with H₂SO₄. TSP was used as a reference fertilizer. Fertilizers were applied to an acidic (pH = 5.4) Hiwassee loam (clayey, kaolinitic, thermic Rhodic Kanhapludults) at rates of 0, 50, 100, 200, 300 and 400 mg P kg^–1 soil. Two successive corn (Zea mays L.) crops were grown for 6 weeks. Compacted concentrate PR + TSP and raw PR + TSP were 94.4 and 89.7% as effective as TSP, respectively, in increasing dry-matter yields for the first corn crop. PAPR from the concentrate was 54.8% as effective as TSP. Raw PR, concentrate PR and the PAPR from the raw PR were ineffective in increasing dry-matter yields. The same trends were obtained when P uptake was used to compare effectiveness. Ineffectiveness of the raw PR and its corresponding PAPR was attributed to a high Fe₂O₃ content in the raw PR. Bray I and Pi paper were found to be nearly equally suitable at estimating available P in the soils treated with responsive fertilizer materials. Mehlich 1 overestimated available P in soil treated with raw PR, concentrate PR or the PAPR from the raw PR.     

Potassium fertilization of broccoli transplants

Increased potassium fertilization may be important in broccoli transplant growth. Recommended amounts of water soluble 20N-8.7P-16.6K were supplemented with varying concentrations of K as KCl applied at intervals during broccoli transplant development. Transplant growth and subsequent broccoli yields were studied in greenhouse and field tests.Fertilization with supplemental K significantly increased broccoli transplant fresh and dry weight, leaf area, stem diameter and plant height over the control. Effect of number of applications was generally dependent on K concentration and age of the broccoli seedling at the first fertilization. High K concentrations (> 2098 ppm) applied two weeks after planting were detrimental to broccoli transplant growth.In two field tests, supplemental K applied to transplants had no effect on broccoli yield. No significant differences were found between supplementing fertilizer with K and hardening transplants in a cold frame for two weeks. Incidence of hollow stem was increased in one test by application of 1000ppm K. Two applications per week caused significant increases in yield, head diameter and hollow stem when compared with one application per week.     

Modelling droplet motion and interfacial tension in filters collecting liquid aerosols

Extensive experimental investigations have shown some of the differences between the behaviours of the barrel and the clamshell shapes of droplets on filter fibres in flow fields. Realistic flow velocities (such as those used in many industrial filter systems) were utilised. The forces acting are air drag, interfacial tension and gravity. The properties of the interfacial restoring force are modelled, and show agreement with the experimental results, at least in the linear extension region before the onset of oscillatory behaviour of the droplets (induced by instability of the flow field). The model for the oscillatory behaviour is explored, and the natural frequencies of oscillation in the radial and transverse directions are shown to be the same, for the barrel shape. The clamshell shape also has the same natural frequencies, but they are different to those of the barrel shape. The coupling of the radial and transverse oscillation modes is explored for both the barrel and clamshell shape. Some contact angle results are given, both without airflow acting on the droplet and with increasing airflow.     

A Longitudinal Examination of Causal Attributions and Depression Symptomatology in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Objective: Examine longitudinal relationships between causal attributions and depression symptoms in adults with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Study Design: Cross-lagged panel correlations tested the temporal precedence of attributions relative to depression symptoms over 1 year. Participants: Forty-two participants completed self-report instruments on 2 occasions. Main Outcome Measures: The Inventory to Diagnose Depression and the Attributional Style Questionnaire. Results: Time 1 attributions predicted increased levels of depression symptoms at Time 2 after perceived pain and disability were controlled: Time 1 depression symptoms were unrelated to Time 2 attributions. Cross-lagged correlation comparisons revealed statistical dominance for attribution-depression relationships relative to depression-attribution relationships. Conclusions: Results support cognitive diathesis conceptualizations of depression and support cognitive-behavioral treatments for depression in RA. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Case Study – The Making of an Institutional Crisis: The Mass Release of Inmates by a Correctional Agency

A US state correctional agency inadvertently released a large numbers of inmates before expiration of their sentences. This created an institutional crisis, for three reasons. First, the correctly timed release of inmates is unequivocally central the agency's core mission. Second, the early releases were consequential, in that serious crimes were committed by those only out of prison because of early release. Third, a citizen alerted the agency of an early‐release calculation for a particular offender, but the agency failed to act on this information. The correctional agency responded to this crisis by changing both its operating procedure and its culture.     

A flaw in the electronic commerce protocol SET

The Secure Electronic Transaction (SET) protocol has been developed by the major credit card companies in association with some of the top software corporations to secure e-commerce transactions. This paper recalls the basics of the SET protocol and presents a new flaw: a dishonest client may purchase goods from an honest merchant (with the help of another merchant) for which he does not pay. Fortunately, by checking his balance sheet, the merchant may trace with the help of his bank the client and his accomplice. We also propose a modification to fix the flaw.