B Reader

The problems of uncertainties and flexibility of multiproduct plants were discussed, among others, by Bhatia and Biegler (1997), Fichtner et al. (1990), Pistikopoulos et al. (1990), Pistikopoulos (1990), Rippin (1983a,b 1993), Shah and Pantelides (1992), Straub and Grossmann (1992), Lee and Reklaitis (1989), and Wellons and Reklaitis (1989a,b). Readers interested in details of the flexibility and uncertainties are referred to these papers. 

Reprinted from Tetrahedron Letters vol 44, p 4779 (Authors Atrash B, Reader J, Bradley M). Copyright (2003), with permission from Elsevier... 

Meams, K., Kirwan, B., Reader, T, Jackson, J., Ketmedy, R. and Gordon, R. 2013. Development of a methodology for understanding and enhancing safety culture in Air Traffic Management. Safety Science, 53, 123-33. 

The desire to diminish variability in radiograph interpretation resulted in the formation of the Department of Labor and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)-sponsored B reader program. The development of this credentialing program has been organized by NIOSH, with contractual agreements with the... 

Despite the introduction of the B reader program, an attempt to introduce reproducibility into the system of radiographic interpretation, variability has continued. 

In the decade of the 1990s, and perhaps in response to the above concerns, NIOSH scheduled a workshop addressing the B reader program. After considerable discussion, the workshop participants concluded that (1) the current B reader program should continue (2) in addition to re-certification every four years, ongoing quality assurance was recommended (however, no clear plan was agreed upon, or to my knowledge, initiated) and (3) within the... 

Others have also shown problems in reproducibility of B reader results. Ducatman showed a large variation in the interpretation of small opacities among 23 NIOSH-certified B readers. To emphasize this point, he noted a 20-fold difference in the prevalence of positive findings between the readers at the two extremes (Ducatman 1991 Ross 2003). 

Ikble 1.1. Variability in chest radiograph interpretation in coal miners by two B readers. S surface miner, U underground miner, BPP bilateral pleural plaques, RPP right-sided pleural plaque. Assuming a radiograph is considered positive at ILO category 1/0, then the prevalence of pneumoconiosis for reader 1 is 16/19 (84%) and for reader 2 is 3/19 (16%)... 

Attfield MD, Wagner GR (1992) A report on a workshop on the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health B reader certification program. J Occup Med 34 875-878 Balmes JR (1992) To B-read or not to B-read. J Occup Med 34 885-886... 

Gamsu G, Salmon CJ, Warnock ML, Blanc PD (1995) CT quantification of interstitial fibrosis in patients with asbestosis a comparison of two methods. AJR 164 63-68 Gitlin JN, Cook LL, Linton OW et al (2004) Comparison of B readers interpretation of chest radiographs for asbestos related changed. Acad Radiol 11 843-856 Henry DA (2002) International Labor Office classification system in the age of imaging relevant or redundant. J Thor Imag 17 179-188... 

Gitlin JN, Cook LL, Linton OW, Garrett-Mayer E (2004) Comparison of B readers interpretations of chest radiographs for asbestos related changes. Acad Radiol 11 843-856... 

In the United States, NIOSH conducts a program aimed to train and certify physicians in the use of the ILO Classification. The NIOSH B Reader Program was developed to comply with U.S. Federal regulations that provide specifications for the interpretation and classification of radiographs. The creation of this program was also stimulated by the findings of large interreader variability in the clas-... 

Vallyathan V, Brower PS, Green FH et al (1996) Radiographic and pathologic correlation of coal workers pneumoconiosis. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 154 741-748 Wagner GR, Attfield MD, Kennedy RD et al (1992) The NIOSH B reader certification program. An update report.) Occup Med 34 879-884... 

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