STUDY OBJECTIVES To evaluate the use of a rapid strip test for the quick evaluation of sputum quality. DESIGN Prospective, double-blind study. Sputum and saliva samples were collected. Sputum quality was assessed by the presence of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) and squamous epithelial cells (SECs) per low-power (microscopic) field (LPF) [x10 objective]. Sputum was defined as follows: (...

The inoculum effect (IE) is the phenomenon observed where changes in the inoculum size used in an experiment alters the outcome with respect to, for example, the minimum inhibitory concentration of an antimicrobial or the growth/no growth boundary for a given set of environmental conditions. Various hypotheses exist as to the cause of the IE such as population heterogeneity and quorum sensing, ...

Plant extracts are extensively researched as a source of green corrosion inhibitors. Herein, we report on a highly efficient and thermally stable corrosion inhibitor from the stem extract of high-altitude shrub Berberis aristata. The corrosion inhibition efficiency (IE) of the extract was tested in 1.0 M H2SO4 for the corrosion protection of mild steel (MS) by using gravimetric and electrochemi...

The concept of conditional stability constant is extended to the competitive binding of small molecules to heterogeneous surfaces or macromolecules via the introduction of the conditional affinity spectrum (CAS). The CAS describes the distribution of effective binding energies experienced by one complexing agent at a fixed concentration of the rest. We show that, when the multicomponent system ...

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a chronic condition requiring long-term treatment. Simple lifestyle modifications are the first methods employed by patients and, because of their low cost and simplicity, should be continued even when more potent therapies are initiated. Potent acid-suppressive therapy is currently the most important and successful medical therapy. Whereas healing of t...