Serpentine cord formation in BACTEC 12B medium was evaluated as a rapid method for the presumptive identification of M. tuberculosis complex. Kinyoun acid-fast stained smears were prepared from 666 positive BACTEC 12B bottles and examined for the presence or absence of serpentine cording. Cord formation had a sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of ...

This study illustrates the use of data envelopment analysis to benchmark mutual funds on the basis of risk-adjusted performance, load, 12b-1 plan, and expense ratios. Using the DEA methodology, we calculate an efficiency score for 189 funds on a scale of 1 to 100 by maximizing twelve month total return and minimizing beta, standard deviation, load, 12b-1 charges, and expense ratios. This study ...

We evaluated the ability of a PCR assay to identify Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) from positive BACTEC 12B broth cultures. A total of 107 sputum samples were processed and inoculated into Ogawa slants and BACTEC 12B vials. At a growth index (GI) > or=30, 1.0 ml of the 12B broth was removed, stored, and assayed with PCR. Molecular results were compared to those obtained by phenotypic...

Object-Oriented Technology (OOT) has been extensively utilized throughout the nonsafety rated software development community (e.g., Windows 98 and Internet software). Although the adoption of OOT has been limited in the airborne civil aviation community, OOT is being considered by an increasing number of manufacturers of airborne software. Application of RTCA DO-178B/EUROCAE ED-12B ("Software C...

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remains a debilitating autoimmune condition as many patients are refractory to existing conventional and biologic therapies, and hence successful development of novel treatments remains a critical requirement. Towards this, we now describe a synthetic drug-like small molecule analogue, SMA-12b, of an immunomodulatory parasitic worm product, ES-62, which acts both proph...

Stem/Progenitor cells in the postnatal pituitary gland are embedded in a marginal cell layer around Rathke's pouch. However, the nature and behavior of anterior pituitary progenitor cells remain unclear. We established bovine anterior pituitary progenitor cell line (BAPC)-1 from the anterior pituitary gland, which expressed stem/progenitor cell-related genes and several inflammatory cytokines. ...

OBJECTIVES We sought to assess the impact of direct stenting (DS) using the sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) on angiographic and clinical outcomes. BACKGROUND The SES is superior to bare-metal stents in the treatment of native de novo coronary artery lesions in randomized, controlled trials. METHODS A post hoc analysis was performed on 225 patients (158 men; 62 +/- 11 years old) who received S...

abstract background: dyes are visible materials and are considered as one of the hazardous components that make up the industrial waste. dye compounds in natural water, even in very low concentrations, will lead to environmental problems. azo dyes are compounds with one or more –n=n– groups and are used in textile industry. because of its low price, solubility, and stability, azo dyes are widel...