Endoscopy : an evolving speciality

The practice of endoscopy has been rapidly changing due to new emerging technologies and novel techniques. There has been more focus on colonoscopy training with the development of structured programmes including simulators. Chromoendoscopy and magnification endoscopy have enabled improved diagnosis of small neoplastic lesions and will be important for the success of colorectal cancer screening programmes. The small bowel is now accessible to diagnostic modalities like capsule endoscopy and to therapeutic tools through the double balloon enteroscope. Endoscopic therapy has also become more sophisticated with endoscopic therapy of reflux disease now possible. Excision of large colorectal adenomatous polyps by endoscopic mucosal resection and dissection of submucosal tumours may reduce the need for surgical intervention. The practice of endoscopy has rapidly changed over the past few years. What was once a simple diagnostic procedure made possible by the development of fibre optics has become a speciality in its own right. This article will highlight some aspects of endoscopic practice that have undergone major changes over the past few years and that will shape endoscopy practice in the future.peer-reviewe

Center Review Procedures

Revised report of the Subcommittee on Review Procedures prepared by Subcommittee Chair David Bell, and Lowell Hardin following discussion of an earlier draft at the November 1973 meeting of the CGIAR. The report covers both the review of the annual program and budget documents prepared by centers, and the arrangements for periodic external reviews to be made by TAC. Marked "draft," this version was circulated to the CGIAR members, center directors and TAC for comment. No revisions were made as a result of comments received, so the November 5, 1973 document was allowed to stand. It was often referred to as "The Bell Report." Agenda item discussed at CGIAR meeting, November 1973 and at TAC Seventh Meeting, February 1974

Can Image Enhancement Allow Radiation Dose to Be Reduced Whilst Maintaining the Perceived Diagnostic Image Quality Required for Coronary Angiography?

Objectives: The aim of this research was to quantify the reduction in radiation dose facilitated by image processing alone for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) patient angiograms, without reducing the perceived image quality required to confidently make a diagnosis. Methods: Incremental amounts of image noise were added to five PCI angiograms, simulating the angiogram as having been acquired at corresponding lower dose levels (10-89% dose reduction). Sixteen observers with relevant experience scored the image quality of these angiograms in three states - with no image processing and with two different modern image processing algorithms applied. These algorithms are used on state-of-the-art and previous generation cardiac interventional X-ray systems. Ordinal regression allowing for random effects and the delta method were used to quantify the dose reduction possible by the processing algorithms, for equivalent image quality scores. Results: Observers rated the quality of the images processed with the state-of-the-art and previous generation image processing with a 24.9% and 15.6% dose reduction respectively as equivalent in quality to the unenhanced images. The dose reduction facilitated by the state-of-the-art image processing relative to previous generation processing was 10.3%. Conclusions: Results demonstrate that statistically significant dose reduction can be facilitated with no loss in perceived image quality using modern image enhancement; the most recent processing algorithm was more effective in preserving image quality at lower doses. Advances in knowledge: Image enhancement was shown to maintain perceived image quality in coronary angiography at a reduced level of radiation dose using computer software to produce synthetic images from real angiograms simulating a reduction in dose

An availability study for a SME

A case study of an availability analysis for a small commercial company is presented. The analysis was carried out to meet a customer requirement for the availability of an electronic ground-based system in a benign environment. Availability calculations were based on failure data provided and an explanation of the methodology and problems encountered and dealt with are discussed. The methodology includes failure classification according to MIL-HDBK-781A and how it may be used to promote and develop internal processes. A commentary on the background to reliability/availability specification is provided and a number of recommendations for monitoring reliability and availability are given

Societal sentience: constructions of the public in animal research policy and practice

The use of non-human animals as models in research and drug testing is a key route through which contemporary scientific knowledge is certified. Given ethical concerns, regulation of animal research promotes the use of less ‘sentient’ animals. This paper draws on a documentary analysis of legal documents, and qualitative interviews with Named Veterinary Surgeons and others at a commercial laboratory in the UK. Its key claim is that the concept of animal sentience is entangled with a particular imaginary of how the general public or wider society views animals. We call this imaginary societal sentience. Against a backdrop of increasing ethnographic work on care encounters in the laboratory, this concept helps to stress the wider context within which such encounters take place. We conclude that societal sentience has potential purchase beyond the animal research field, in helping to highlight the affective dimension of public imaginaries (Welsh and Wynne 2013), and their ethical consequences. Researching and critiquing societal sentience, we argue, may ultimately have more impact on the fate of humans and non-humans in the laboratory, than focusing wholly on ethics as situated practice

UAPPM Policy 3405: Holidays

The official university policy on annual holidays, as it is found in the UAPPM. This includes a note of the addition of Indigenous Peoples Day as an observed university holiday as of 2018

UAPPM Policy 2740: Sexual Misconduct

The UAPPM policy on Sexual Misconduct, issued in 2015 and revised in 2018, that provides substantial definitions and procedures for dealing with misconduct at the university

UAPPM Policy 2720: Equal Opportunity, Non-Discrimination, and Affirmative Action

The UAPPM Policy concerning Equal Opportunity and Non-Discrimination within the community and hiring practices of the university

UAPPM Policy 3290: Professional Development and Training

The UAPPM policy concerning things like mandatory university-wide training and required job-specific training