Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impact of Accreditation on the Quality of Healthcare Services: a Systematic Review of the Literature

Background and Objective: Accreditation is usually a voluntary program in which trained external peer reviewers evaluate a healthcare organization′s compliance and compare it with pre-established performance standards. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of accreditation programs on the quality of healthcare services Methods : We did a systematic review of the literature to evaluate the impact of accreditation programs on the quality of healthcare services. Several databases were systematically searched, including Medline, Embase, Healthstar, and Cinhal. Results: Twenty-six studies evaluating the impact of accreditation were identified. The majority of the studies showed general accreditation for acute myocardial infarction (AMI), trauma, ambulatory surgical care, infection control and pain management; and subspecialty accreditation programs to significantly improve the process of care provided by healthcare services by improving the structure and organization of healthcare facilities. Several studies showed that general accreditation programs significantly improve clinical outcomes and the quality of care of these clinical conditions and showed a significant positive impact of subspecialty accreditation programs in improving clinical outcomes in different subspecialties, including sleep medicine, chest pain management and trauma management. Conclusions: There is consistent evidence that shows that accreditation programs improve the process of care provided by healthcare services. There is considerable evidence to show that accreditation programs improve clinical outcomes of a wide spectrum of clinical conditions. Accreditation programs should be supported as a tool to improve the quality of healthcare services.
Phenotypic and Immunologic Comparison of Clade B Transmitted/Founder and Chronic HIV-1 Envelope Glycoproteins

ABSTRACT Sexual transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) across mucosal barriers is responsible for the vast majority of new infections. This relatively inefficient process results in the transmission of a single transmitted/founder (T/F) virus, from a diverse viral swarm in the donor, in approximately 80% of cases. Here we compared the biological activities of 24 clade B T/F envelopes (Envs) with those from 17 chronic controls to determine whether the genetic bottleneck that occurs during transmission is linked to a particular Env phenotype. To maximize the likelihood of an intact mucosal barrier in the recipients and to enhance the sensitivity of detecting phenotypic differences, only T/F Envs from individuals infected with a single T/F variant were selected. Using pseudotyping to assess Env function in single-round infectivity assays, we compared coreceptor tropism, CCR5 utilization efficiencies, primary CD4+ T cell subset tropism, dendritic cell trans-infections, fusion kinetics, and neutralization sensitivities. T/F and chronic Envs were phenotypically equivalent in most assays; however, T/F Envs were modestly more sensitive to CD4 binding site antibodies b12 and VRC01, as well as pooled human HIV Ig. This finding was independently validated with a panel of 14 additional chronic HIV-1 Env controls. Moreover, the enhanced neutralization sensitivity was associated with more efficient binding of b12 and VRC01 to T/F Env trimers. These data suggest that there are subtle but significant structural differences between T/F and chronic clade B Envs that may have implications for HIV-1 transmission and the design of effective vaccines.
Chemical salivary composition and its relationship with periodontal disease and dental calculus

Aim: To determine the relationship between the chemical composition of saliva, periodontal disease and dental calculus. Methods: An observational analytical cross-sectional study was conducted with patients over 55 years of age. Ethical principles of autonomy and risk protection were applied according to the international standards. Sociodemographic and diagnosis variables (presence of dental calculus and periodontal status) were considered to measure salivary concentrations of glucose (by the glucose oxidase/peroxidase method, amylase (by the colorimetric test), urea (by the amount of indophenol), total protein (by the Bradford method) and albumin (by the nephelometric method). Patients chewed a sterile rubber band and 3 mL of stimulated saliva were collected. The samples were stored at -5 °C, centrifuged at 2,800 rpm for 10 min, and the supernatant was removed and stored at -20 °C. Data were presented as frequencies and proportions for qualitative variables and measures of central tendency and dispersion for quantitative variables. Data were analyzed by either analysis of variance or Kruskal Wallis test . A p value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Significant relationships were observed between the concentration of salivary urea and periodontal status (p = 0.03) and the presence of dental calculus and urea (p = 0.04) was demonstrated. Conclusions: A relationship between the salivary urea concentration and the presence of periodontal disease and dental calculus is suggested.
Lived Experiences of Parents of Gifted Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder

The purpose of this phenomenological, qualitative study was to illuminate the lived, shared experiences of parents of gifted children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Thirteen parents were interviewed and the interviews were transcribed and qualitatively analyzed. This article specifically examines the parents’ experiences navigating the educational system for their children. All participants described the challenges associated with finding appropriate educational placements for their children due to the children’s unique social and academic needs. Parents recognized the incompatibility between their child’s characteristics and typical educational environments, and this incompatibility required parents to take an active role in designing and finding appropriate educational opportunities. These findings provide insight for school personnel and parents as they develop flexible services for twice-exceptional students.
Phylogenetic analysis of bacterial and archaeal species in symptomatic and asymptomatic endodontic infections.

Phylogenetic analysis of bacterial and archaeal 16S rRNA was used to examine polymicrobial communities within infected root canals of 20 symptomatic and 14 asymptomatic patients. Nucleotide sequences from approximately 750 clones amplified from each patient group with universal bacterial primers were matched to the Ribosomal Database Project II database. Phylotypes from 37 genera representing Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Fusobacteria and Proteobacteria were identified. Results were compared to those obtained with species-specific primers designed to detect Prevotella intermedia, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Porphyromonas endodontalis, Peptostreptococcus micros, Enterococcus sp. , Streptococcus sp. , Fusobacterium nucleatum, Tannerella forsythensis and Treponema denticola. Since members of the domain Archaea have been implicated in the severity of periodontal disease, and a recent report confirms that archaea are present in endodontic infections, 16S archaeal primers were also used to detect which patients carried these prokaryotes, to determine if their presence correlated with severity of the clinical symptoms. A Methanobrevibacter oralis-like species was detected in one asymptomatic and one symptomatic patient. DNA from root canals of these two patients was further analysed using species-specific primers to determine bacterial cohabitants. Trep. denticola was detected in the asymptomatic but not the symptomatic patient. Conversely, Porph. endodontalis was found in the symptomatic but not the asymptomatic patient. All other species except enterococci were detected with the species-specific primers in both patients. These results confirm the presence of archaea in root canals and provide additional insights into the polymicrobial communities in endodontic infections associated with clinical symptoms.
PREDICTIVE POWER OF FINANCIAL RATIOS WITH REGARD TO THE TURKISH BANKING INDUSTRY: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY ON THE STOCK MARKET INDEX

In this study, it is examined whether changes in the stock market index can be explained by the change in financial ratios. Financial statements of 11 conventional and 2 participation banks for a total of 13 banks (representing the essential part of the Turkish Banking Sector and constituting the BIST XBANK Stock Index) announced on a quarterly basis from 2002 to 2013 were extracted from the Public Disclosure Platform website. The contemporaneous financial statements were merged and by using this data, consolidated financial ratios were obtained. Based on empirical evidence, while an increase in debt-to- equity ratio affects the BIST XBANK Index negatively, shareholders' equity to total assets ratio has a positive impact on the growth of the Index. In addition, it is verified that shareholders' equity to total assets ratio and provisions/non-performing loans ratio have a causal relationship with the BIST XBANK Index.
Differential Effects of Diet-Induced Dyslipidemia and Hyperglycemia on Mesenteric Resistance Artery Structure and Function in Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes and dyslipidemia oftentimes present in combination. However, the relative roles of diabetes and diet-induced dyslipidemia in mediating changes in vascular structure, mechanics, and function are poorly understood. Our hypothesis was that addition of a high-fat diet would exacerbate small artery remodeling, compliance, and vascular dysfunction in type 2 diabetes. Vascular remodeling indices [media/lumen (M/L) ratio, collagen abundance and turnover, and matrix metalloproteinase dynamics], mechanical properties (vessel stiffness), and reactivity to pressure and vasoactive factors were measured in third-order mesenteric arteries in control Wistar and type 2 diabetic Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats fed either a regular or high-fat diet. M/L ratios, total collagen, and myogenic tone were increased in diabetes. Addition of the high-fat diet altered collagen patterns (mature versus new collagen) in favor of matrix accumulation. Addition of a high-fat diet caused increased constriction to endothelin-1 (0.1–100 nM), showed impaired vasorelaxation to both acetylcholine (0.1 nM–1 μM) and sodium nitroprusside (0.1 nM–1 μM), and increased cardiovascular risk factors in diabetes. These results suggest that moderate elevations in blood glucose, as seen in our lean GK model of type 2 diabetes, promote resistance artery remodeling resulting in increased medial thickness, whereas addition of a high-fat diet contributes to diabetic vascular disease predominantly by impairing vascular reactivity in the time frame used for this study. Although differential in their vascular effects, both hyperglycemia and diet-induced dyslipidemia need to be targeted for effective prevention and treatment of diabetic vascular disease.
Sexual Harassment in Online Communications: Effects of Gender and Discourse Medium

Differences in the perception of sexual harassment depending on discourse medium (traditional classroom setting versus online) and gender were examined via survey with 270 undergraduate participants. It was hypothesized that (1) participants would differ in their evaluations of similar behaviors when they were described as occurring in a traditional classroom setting as opposed to an online environment, and (2) males and females would differ in their evaluations of online behaviors. Eight potentially harassing acts were examined--including sexually explicit pictures, content, jokes, misogyny, the use of nicknames, requests for company, sexual favors, and comments about dress. Misogynist comments were seen as more harassing online than in traditional settings, as well as using nicknames and comments about dress. In a traditional setting, only requests for company were seen as more harassing. In terms of gender differences, women rated online pictures and jokes as significantly more harassing than men.
Antiviral Activities of Several Oral Traditional Chinese Medicines against Influenza Viruses

Influenza is still a serious threat to human health with significant morbidity and mortality. The emergence of drug-resistant influenza viruses poses a great challenge to existing antiviral drugs. Traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) may be an alternative to overcome the challenge. Here, 10 oral proprietary Chinese medicines were selected to evaluate their anti-influenza activities. These drugs exhibit potent inhibitory effects against influenza A H1N1, influenza A H3N2, and influenza B virus. Importantly, they demonstrate potent antiviral activities against drug-resistant strains. In the study of mechanisms, we found that Xiaoqinglong mixture could increase antiviral interferon production by activating p38 MAPK, JNK/SAPK pathway, and relative nuclear transcription factors. Lastly, our studies also indicate that some of these medicines show inhibitory activities against EV71 and CVB strains. In conclusion, the 10 traditional Chinese medicines, as kind of compound combination medicines, show broad-spectrum antiviral activities, possibly also including inhibitory activities against strains resistant to available antiviral drugs.
Examining the interpersonal model of binge eating and loss of control over eating in women.

OBJECTIVE This study examined the interpersonal model of binge eating (Wilfley et al., Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Group, New York: Basic Books, 2000; Wilfley et al., Arch Gen Psychiatry, 8, 713-721, 2002; Elliott et al., Behav Res Ther, 48, 424-428, 2010) which posits that interpersonal problems lead to negative affect which, in turn, triggers disordered eating. METHOD The model was tested using data from 350 women obtained via an internet assessment method. Analyses examined direct and indirect effects, via depressive/negative affect, of interpersonal problems, including domains of affiliation and dominance on loss of control over eating, binge eating, and eating disorder psychopathology. RESULTS Interpersonal problems showed significant effects on binge eating and eating disorder psychopathology that were statistically mediated by depressive/negative affect. Affiliation showed significant effects on binge eating and eating disorder psychopathology with low affiliation effects statistically mediated by depressive/negative affect and high affiliation effects independent of depressive/negative affect. DISCUSSION These findings support the interpersonal model of binge eating and highlight the importance of examining specific types of interpersonal problems in understanding heterogeneity of individuals with eating disorder psychopathology.
Punitiveness and U.S. Elite Support for the 1991 Persian Gulf War

There is a substantial moralistic streak in U.S. elite attitudes about war against states perceived as evil. Among opinion leaders, death penalty supporters were substantially more likely than opponents to support the 1991 Gulf War, condone the Iraqi death toll, and favor escalating the war to topple Saddam Hussein. These relationships persist after controlling for ideology, nationalism, and instrumental beliefs about force and thus probably result from individual differences in retributiveness and humanitarianism, moral values known to underlie death penalty attitudes. Foreign policy expertise moderated this effect only on the regime change issue, and then only moderately, suggesting that “moral punitiveness” might also influence the thinking of decision makers. President George H. W. Bush evidently felt real moral outrage during the crisis about Iraq’s aggression, but he refrained from escalating the war to punish Saddam more severely for it.
Cooling of ejaculated and epididymal stallion sperm

After a serious injury or sudden death, epididymis cauda sperm recovery and cryopreservation may present as the last opportunity to obtain genetic material from a valuable stallion. This study evaluated the viability of cooled equine sperm collected by three different methods: sperm of ejaculated (G1), sperm recovered from the epididymal cauda immediately after orchiectomy (G2) and sperm recovered from the epididymal cauda after storage for 24 hours at 5°C (G3). To obtain G1 sperm, two ejaculates were collected. After 1 week, all stallions underwent a bilateral orchiectomy, and one of the removed epididymides was flushed to obtain G2 sperm. The contralateral epididymis was stored at 5°C for 24 hours before being flushed to obtain G3 sperm. The sperm samples were evaluated immediately after the addition of the refrigeration extender, and after 24 and 48 hours of storage at 5°C. After 24 and 48 hours of storage, the epididymal sperm demonstrated higher motility traits when compared to the ejaculated sperm (P<0.05). These results indicate that sperm recovered from the epididymal cauda of stallions are more resistant to the cooling process, with higher kinetic parameters and plasma membrane integrity when compared to the ejaculated sperm.
The prevalence and correlates of depressive symptoms from an Arabian setting: A wake up call

It has been shown that medical students have a higher rate of depressive symptoms than the general population and age- and sex-matched peers. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of depressive symptoms among the medical students of a large school following a traditional curriculum and its relation to personal background variables. A descriptive–analytic, cross-sectional study was conducted in a medical school in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The medical students of King Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, were screened for depressive symptoms using the 21-item Beck Depression Inventory. A high prevalence of depressive symptoms (48.2%) was found, it was either mild (21%), moderate (17%), or severe (11%). The presence and severity of depressive symptoms had a statistically significant association with early academic years (p < 0.000) and female gender (p < 0.002). The high prevalence of depressive symptoms is an alarming sign and calls for remedial action, particularly for the junior and female students.
Prosocial behavior and public service motivation

Although research on public service motivation (PSM) is vast, there is little evidence regarding the effects of PSM on observable behavior. This article contributes to the understanding of the behavioral implications of PSM by investigating whether PSM is associated with prosocial behavior. Moreover, it addresses whether and how the behavior of other group members influences this relationship. The article uses the experimental setting of the public goods game, run with a sample of 263 students, in combination with survey-based PSM measures. A positive link is found between PSM and prosocial behavior. This relationship is moderated by the behavior of other group members: high-PSM people act even more prosocially when the other members of the group show prosocial behavior as well, but they do not do so if the behavior of other group members is not prosocial.
Effect of 4% titanium tetrafluoride application on shear bond strength of composite resin: An in vitro study

Aims: The objective of thisstudy is to evaluate and compare 4% titanium tetrafluoride with 2% Sodium fluoride, and the bond strength of composite resin with dentin and their effects on the smear layer. Materials and Methods: Fifty freshly extracted non-carious molar and premolar teeth were selected. The occlusal surfaces of the teeth were ground, to prepare flat dentin surfaces at a depth of 2 mm and were randomly grouped with 10 specimens in each. Group I (Etching + Adhesive + Composite resin) was taken as a control group. In Group II, 4% titanium tetrafluoride was applied before etching and in Group III, 4% titanium tetrafluoride was applied after etching. In Group IV, 2% Sodium fluoride was applied before etching and in Group V, 2% Sodium fluoride was applied after etching. Shear bond strength was tested using the Lloyds Universal testing machine and was recorded in MPa. Results: The results were statistically analyzed using the one-way Anova test. Group III showed the highest bond strength among the experimental groups, but less than the control group. Conclusions: Under the conditions of this in vitro study, titanium tetrafluoride did not significantly affect the bond strength of the composite. Sodium fluoride was found to deleteriously affect the bond strength of the composite.
Centre of pressure correlates with pyramid performance in acrobatic gymnastics

Abstract Acrobatic gymnasts need excellent balance control to execute pyramids where one gymnast is supported by another. The objectives of this study were: (1) to describe balance performance by assessing the centre of pressure displacement in a group of acrobatic gymnasts executing pyramids; (2) to determine the relationship between the parameters describing the centre of pressure oscillations and pyramid score; and (3) to examine the role of each foot in providing a solid base of support to maintain the balance of the pyramid. Sixteen acrobatic gymnasts grouped in pairs performed a Half pyramid and a Straddle pyramid held for 7 s on two force platforms. Path length, variance, range trajectory, and surface area of the centre of pressure of each foot were examined to analyse the balance of the pyramid. The path length was correlated with the pyramid score (Straddle: p = 0.692 [large]; Half: p = 0.407 [moderate]). There were differences in the functions of each leg to maintain balance, with the non-preferred leg supporting a higher weight of the pyramid while the preferred leg performed control movements to maintain balance. The results suggested that quantitative analysis of balance can provide important information on pyramid performance.
Phronetic planning research: theoretical and methodological reflections

This article presents the theoretical and methodological considerations behind a research method which the author calls ‘phronetic planning research’. Such research sets out to answer four questions of power and values for specific instances of planning: (1) Where are we going with planning? (2) Who gains and who loses, and by which mechanisms of power? (3) Is this development desirable? (4) What, if anything, should we do about it? A central task of phronetic planning research is to provide concrete examples and detailed narratives of the ways in which power and values work in planning and with what consequences to whom, and to suggest how relations of power and values could be changed to work with other consequences. Insofar as planning situations become clear, they are clarified by detailed stories of who is doing what to whom. Clarifications of that kind are a principal concern for phronetic planning research and provide the main link to praxis.