Search results for "Assurance"

Service quality benchmarking via a novel approach based on fuzzy ELECTRE III and IPA: an empirical case involving the Italian public healthcare conte…

2017

A novel fuzzy-based approach which combines ELECTRE III along with the Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA) is proposed in the present work to comparatively evaluate the service quality in the public healthcare context. Specifically, ELECTRE III is firstly considered to compare the service performance of examined hospitals in a noncompensatory manner. Afterwards, IPA is employed to support the service quality management to point out improvement needs and their priorities. The proposed approach also incorporates features of the Fuzzy Set Theory so as to address the possible uncertainty, subjectivity and vagueness of involved experts in evaluating the service quality. The model is applied to…

CREDIBILIDAD EN LATINOAMÉRICA DEL INFORME DE RESPONSABILIDAD SOCIAL CORPORATIVA

2014

Para dar mayor credibilidad a la información publicada en los informes de responsabilidad social corporativa se asigna a estos de un proceso de aseguramiento por parte de un experto externo. Esta investigación se basa en 1.021 observaciones de 12 países de Latinoamérica durante los años 2006-2010. A la vista de los resultados, podemos concluir que Latinoamérica es una región donde cada vez hay un mayor compromiso con la sostenibilidad. Además, los resultados señalan que la decisión de otorgar mayor credibilidad a las políticas sostenibles por medio del aseguramiento depende del tamaño de la empresa, del sector al que pertenece y del país donde se encuentre. Para dar mais credibilidade às in…

Assaying multiple 125 I seeds with the well-ionization chamber SourceCheck 4π 33005 and a new insert

2015

PURPOSE To provide a practical solution that can be adopted in clinical routine to fulfill the AAPM-ESTRO recommendations regarding quality assurance of seeds used in prostate permanent brachytherapy. The aim is to design a new insert for the well-ionization chamber SourceCheck(4π) 33005 (PTW, Germany) that allows evaluating the mean air-kerma strength of up to ten (125)I seeds with one single measurement instead of measuring each seed individually. MATERIAL AND METHODS The material required is: a) the SourceCheck(4π) 33005 well-ionization chamber provided with a PTW insert to measure the air-kerma strength S K of one single seed at a time; b) a newly designed insert that accommodates ten s…

External investigations and disciplinary sanctions against auditors: the impact on audit quality

2015

In this paper, we provide empirical evidence for the impact of disciplinary sanctions imposed on Spanish auditing firms and their engagement partners. The disciplinary sanctions resulted from external investigations, which revealed misapplications of auditing standards. In particular, we evaluate (a) the efficacy of the external supervisory board in identifying low-quality auditors and (b) the effectiveness of the disciplinary system in improving the quality of subsequent statutory audits performed by the sanctioned auditors. We employ two earnings management indicators as proxies for audit quality: loss avoidance through extraordinary items and abnormal accruals. And we compare these measu…

Baltic Journal of English Language, Literature and Culture, N. 3

2013

Technical note: Monte Carlo derivation of TG-43 dosimetric parameters for radiation therapy resources and 3M Cs-137 sources

2005

In clinical brachytherapy dosimetry, a detailed dose rate distribution of the radioactive source in water is needed in order to plan for quality treatment. Two Cs-137 sources are considered in this study; the Radiation Therapy Resources 67-800 source (Radiation Therapy Resources Inc., Valencia, CA) and the 3M model 6500/6D6C source. A complete dosimetric dataset for both sources has been obtained by means of the Monte Carlo GEANT4 code. Dose rate distributions are presented in two different ways; following the TG43 formalism and in a 2D rectangular dose rate table. This 2D dose rate table is helpful for the TPS quality control and is fully consistent with the TG43 dose calculation formalism…

SU-FF-T-14: Monte Carlo Derivation of TG-43 Dosimetric Parameters for Radiation Therapy Resources and 3M Cs-137 Sources

2005

Purpose: In clinical brachytherapydosimetry a detailed dose rate distribution of the radioactive source in water is needed to make a quality treatment planning. Two Cs‐137 sources are considered in this study the Radiation Therapy Resources 67–800 source(Radiation Therapy Resources Inc., Valencia, CA) and the 3M model 6500/6D6C source.Material and methods: A complete dosimetric dataset for both sources has been obtained by means of the Monte Carlo GEANT4 code. Results:Dose rate distributions are presented in two different ways, following the TG43 formalism and in a 2D rectangular dose rate table. Conclusion: This 2D dose rate table is helpful for the TPS quality control and it is fully cons…

Quality assurance of decision-making in conversations between professionals and non-professionals: identifying the presence of deliberative principles

2012

The ideal of dialogue is at stake in professional conversations. The aim of this study is to develop an instrument that makes it possible to compare principles of deliberation with what actually takes place in professional conversations. The developed instrument is tested on one patient's conversation with his doctor about lifestyle changes, and meetings where pupils with learning disabilities and their parents discuss further schooling with school representatives. Although in need of refinement, the conclusion is that the instrument provides meaningful insight into how much each participant 'contributes' to the decision-making process and 'behaves' during the conversation.

Quality assurance in RT-PCR-based BCR/ABL diagnostics--results of an interlaboratory test and a standardization approach.

2000

Here we describe the results of an interlaboratory test for RT-PCR-based BCR/ABL analysis. The test was organized in two parts. The number of participating laboratories in the first and second part was 27 and 20, respectively. In the first part samples containing various concentrations of plasmids with the ela2, b2a2 or b3a2 BCR/ABL transcripts were analyzed by PCR. In the second part of the test, cell samples containing various concentrations of BCR/ABL-positive cells were analyzed by RT-PCR. Overall PCR sensitivity was sufficient in approximately 90% of the tests, but a significant number of false positive results were obtained. There were significant differences in sensitivity in the cel…

Cryopreservation of MHC Multimers: Recommendations for Quality Assurance in Detection of Antigen Specific T Cells

2015

Fluorescence-labeled peptide-MHC class I multimers serve as ideal tools for the detection of antigen-specific T cells by flow cytometry, enabling functional and phenotypical characterization of specific T cells at the single cell level. While this technique offers a number of unique advantages, MHC multimer reagents can be difficult to handle in terms of stability and quality assurance. The stability of a given fluorescence-labeled MHC multimer complex depends on both the stability of the peptide-MHC complex itself and the stability of the fluorochrome. Consequently, stability is difficult to predict and long-term storage is generally not recommended. We investigated here the possibility of…