Several branches of the potential outcome causal inference literature have discussed merits blocking versus complete randomization. Some concluded it can never hurt precision estimates, and some hurt. In this paper, we reconcile these apparently conflicting views, give a more thorough discussion what guarantees no harm, discuss how other aspects blocked design cost, all in terms precision. We d...

A revised broth microdilution susceptibility testing method for telavancin was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Telavancin activity was assessed against Gram-positive pathogens collected worldwide (2013) using the revised method. A total of 12,346 isolates from 90 sites were included as part of the Telavancin International Surveillance Program for the Americas, Europe, and As...

The MICs of ofloxacin, sparfloxacin, clarithromycin, azithromycin, and fusidic acid for clinical isolates of Mycobacterium kansasii were determined by the radiometric (BACTEC) method. All drugs except azithromycin elicited MICs for 90% of the strains tested that were lower than previously reported achievable maximum concentrations in serum. Ofloxacin, sparfloxacin, and clarithromycin had the la...