The Bank of Standardized Stimuli (BOSS), a New Set of 480 Normative Photos of Objects to Be Used as Visual Stimuli in Cognitive Research

There are currently stimuli with published norms available to study several psychological aspects of language and visual cognitions. Norms represent valuable information that can be used as experimental variables or systematically controlled to limit their potential influence on another experimental manipulation. The present work proposes 480 photo stimuli that have been normalized for name, category, familiarity, visual complexity, object agreement, viewpoint agreement, and manipulability. Stimuli are also available in grayscale, blurred, scrambled, and line-drawn version. This set of objects, the Bank Of Standardized Stimuli (BOSS), was created specifically to meet the needs of scientists in cognition, vision and psycholinguistics who work with photo stimuli

Competencies in radiation oncology: a new approach for education and training of professionals for Radiotherapy and Oncology in Europe

Progress in radiation oncology has been significant during the last decade and will continue to undergo even more dynamic development in the decade to come [1], [2], [3] and [4]. Cancer is recognized as one of the major diseases with increasing frequency and relevance not only in the western world but also from the global perspective [5]. One major reason is the aging population, which provides great challenges with respect to management and maintaining the quality of life. In this respect radiation oncology, as a minimally invasive procedure, will provide a real opportunity to achieve this

Withdrawal of a novel-design duodenoscope ends outbreak of a VIM-2-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Background and study aims: Infections are a recognized risk of endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography (ERCP). This paper reports on a large outbreak of VIM-2-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa that was linked to the use of a recently introduced duodenoscope with a specific modified design (Olympus TJF-Q180V). Methods: Epidemiological investigations and molecular typing were executed in order to identify the source of the outbreak. Audits on implementation of infection control measures were performed. Additional infection control strategies were implemented to prevent further transmission. The design and the ability to clean and disinfect the duodenoscope were evaluated, and the distal tip was dismantled. Results: From January to April 2012, 30 patients with a VIM-2-positive P. aeruginosa were identified, of whom 22 had undergone an ERCP using a specific duodenoscope, the TJF-Q180V. This was a significant increase compared with the hospital-wide baseline level of 2-3 cases per month. Clonal relatedness of the VIM-2 P. aeruginosa was confirmed for all 22 cases and for the VIM-2 strain isolated from the recess under the forceps elevator of the duodenoscope. An investigational study of the new modified design, including the dismantling of the duodenoscope tip, revealed that the fixed distal cap hampered cleaning and disinfection, and that the O-ring might not seal the forceps elevator axis sufficiently. The high monthly number of cases decreased below the pre-existing baseline level following withdrawal of the TJF-Q180V device from clinical use. Conclusions: Duodenoscope design modifications may compromise microbiological safety as illustrated by this outbreak. Extensive pre-marketing validation of the reprocessability of any new endoscope design and stringent post-marketing surveillance are therefore mandatory

The updated ESTRO core curricula 2011 for clinicians, medical physicists and RTTs in radiotherapy/radiation oncology.

INTRODUCTION: In 2007 ESTRO proposed a revision and harmonisation of the core curricula for radiation oncologists, medical physicists and RTTs to encourage harmonised education programmes for the professional disciplines, to facilitate mobility between EU member states, to reflect the rapid development of the professions and to secure the best evidence-based education across Europe. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Working parties for each core curriculum were established and included a broad representation with geographic spread and different experience with education from the ESTRO Educational Committee, local representatives appointed by the National Societies and support from ESTRO staff. RESULTS: The revised curricula have been presented for the ESTRO community and endorsement is ongoing. All three curricula have been changed to competency based education and training, teaching methodology and assessment and include the recent introduction of the new dose planning and delivery techniques and the integration of drugs and radiation. The curricula can be downloaded at http://www.estro-education.org/europeantraining/Pages/EuropeanCurricula.aspx. CONCLUSION: The main objective of the ESTRO core curricula is to update and harmonise training of the radiation oncologists, medical physicists and RTTs in Europe. It is recommended that the authorities in charge of the respective training programmes throughout Europe harmonise their own curricula according to the common framework