Information system supporting research on rubber in Thailand

his research aimed to develop an information system supporting research on rubber (ISSR) in Thailand. This system was designed as a web application with responsive web design. The rubber database was developed with MySQL, used Apache Server as a Web Server and programed with PHP-script. High Chart, Google Chart API and Java Technology were used to represent an online information with graphical format. The system was tested with the actual data on rubber research in Southern Thailand. The system has been available online at URL http://www.s-cm.site/issr. There are three type of users: administrator, researcher (member) and generic user. The researcher performed data entry about research with log-in to the system using username and password provided by the automatic system via online registration form. The administrator can manage the research information. The researchers can manage their research information, use searching tool and leave comments on other member’s research. The generic users can access the system without username and password to view the research and general information on rubber. Moreover, the system generates a report on rubber research with online graphical format. In conclusion, this information system enhances investigation on rubber research in Thailand and its strategy planning for rubber plantation in the future

Web-based Circuit Design Simulation Package For Solving Electrical Eng

A Web-based circuit design package has been improved and evaluated to provide students with an enhanced and innovative teaching tools package for the electrical circuit design course. The project objectives can be summarized as follows: 1) developing enhanced problem solving skills using a Web-based environment, 2) developing the design skills and sharpening the critical thinking process, 3) developing a generic and comprehensive teaching/learning circuit package as an extention to the Electrical Engineering virtual lab environment, which gives students the capability to practice and experience all the circuit design skills with minimum cost and effort. The project provides the students with an enhanced and powerful graphical computer aided design (CAD) tool by which students can carry out an online simulation of AC and DC designs with the capability to plot simulation results graphically. The proposed prototype is implemented by JAVA, which is used to to implement Web-based applications with different platform support. The project provides students with an enhanced graphical user interface (GUI) by which they can build any electrical circuit using either text or schematic entry format, generate the Netlist, which describes all circuit information (circuit topology, circuit attributes and so on), and simulate the design by parsing the Netlist to CIRML format, which is sent over the network to the remote server. The server will process the CIRML data and run the simulation using PSPICE and eventually send back the simulation results to the client for display

VIPR: A Visual Interface Tool for Programming Semantic Web Rules

The file attached to this record is the author's final peer reviewed version. The Publisher's final version can be found by following the DOI link.Semantic technologies have evolved from the initial purpose of supporting semantic integration, information exchange for the semantic web, towards a generic set of engineering tools for knowledge modelling, representation, inference. However, there is still much work required within the area of Semantic computing, the area highlights a key research challenge involving the complexity in engineering Semantic rules, associated dedicated models. Many existing tools focus on the creation of models, but concentrate on providing support for domain experts, isolating users with no knowledge engineering experience. This paper aims to address this issue by introducing a novel approach to enable the visual creation of Semantic web rules, for use within ontological models, context-aware applications. The developed tool, known as VIPR, aims to provide a user-friendly, interactive approach to aid in the creation of Semantic rules for ontologies. The work describes the design process involved in creating VIPR, presents the results of a comparative user evaluation. The research highlights the extent to which this tool has on improving the usability, intuitiveness of creating rules in an interactive environment, assesses how the tool can improve the learnability level for users with no prior knowledge engineering experience

EpiCollect+: linking smartphones to web applications for complex data collection projects.

© 2014 Aanensen DM et al.Previously, we have described the development of the generic mobile phone data gathering tool, EpiCollect, and an associated web application, providing two-way communication between multiple data gatherers and a project database. This software only allows data collection on the phone using a single questionnaire form that is tailored to the needs of the user (including a single GPS point and photo per entry), whereas many applications require a more complex structure, allowing users to link a series of forms in a linear or branching hierarchy, along with the addition of any number of media types accessible from smartphones and/or tablet devices (e.g., GPS, photos, videos, sound clips and barcode scanning). A much enhanced version of EpiCollect has been developed (EpiCollect+). The individual data collection forms in EpiCollect+ provide more design complexity than the single form used in EpiCollect, and the software allows the generation of complex data collection projects through the ability to link many forms together in a linear (or branching) hierarchy. Furthermore, EpiCollect+ allows the collection of multiple media types as well as standard text fields, increased data validation and form logic. The entire process of setting up a complex mobile phone data collection project to the specification of a user (project and form definitions) can be undertaken at the EpiCollect+ website using a simple drag and drop procedure, with visualisation of the data gathered using Google Maps and charts at the project website. EpiCollect+ is suitable for situations where multiple users transmit complex data by mobile phone (or other Android devices) to a single project web database and is already being used for a range of field projects, particularly public health projects in sub-Saharan Africa. However, many uses can be envisaged from education, ecology and epidemiology to citizen science

Decision support and the effectiveness of web-based delivery and information tailoring for bowel cancer screening : an exploratory study

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in males and the second in females throughout the developed world. Population screening using fecal occult blood tests (FOBTs) facilitates early detection and greater chance of survival, but participation rates are low. We developed a Web-based decision tool to provide information tailored to an individual&rsquo;s decision stage for CRC screening and attitude toward screening utilizing the Preventive Health Model (PHM) and Precaution Adoption Process Model (PAPM) as theoretical frameworks for screening behavior. We describe the practical steps employed in the tool&rsquo;s design and the subsequent conduct of an exploratory study.Objective: To design a decision tool for CRC screening and conduct an exploratory study among average-risk men and women to (1) test the impact of message type (tailored vs non-tailored) and message delivery modality (Web-based vs paper-based) on attitudes toward screening and screening uptake, and (2) investigate the acceptability of the decision tool and relevance of materials.Methods: Participants (n = 100), recruited from a population sample of men and women aged 50-76 residing in urban Adelaide, Australia, were randomly assigned to a control group or one of 4 interventions: (1) Web-based and tailored information, (2) paper-based and tailored information, (3) Web-based and non-tailored (generic) information, or (4) paper-based and non-tailored information. Participation was augmented by snowball recruitment (n = 19). Questionnaires based on PHM variables were administered pre- and post-intervention. Participants were given the opportunity to request an FOBT. Following the intervention, participants discussed the acceptability of the tool.Results: Full data were available for 87.4% (104/119) of participants. Post-intervention, perceived susceptibility scores for individuals receiving tailored information increased from mean 10.6 (SD 2.1) to mean 11.8 (SD 2.2). Scores on self-efficacy increased in the tailored group from mean 11.7 (SD 2.0) to mean 12.6 (SD 1.8). There were significant time x modality x message effects for social influence and salience and coherence, reflecting an increase in these scores for tailored Web-based participants only; social influence scores increased from mean 11.7 (SD 2.6) to mean 14.9 (SD 2.3), and salience and coherence scores increased from mean 16.0 (SD 2.2) to mean 17.7 (SD 2.1). There was no greater influence of modality or message type on movement toward a decision to screen or screening uptake, indicating that neither tailored messages nor a Web modality had superior effect. Overall, participants regarded tailored messages positively, but thought that the Web tool lacked &ldquo;media richness.&rdquo;Conclusions: This exploratory study confirms that tailoring on PHM predictors of CRC screening has the potential to positively address attitudes toward screening. However, tailoring on these variables did not result in significantly increased screening uptake. Future research should consider other possible psychosocial influences. Mode of delivery did not affect outcomes, but as a delivery medium, the Web has economic and logistical advantages over paper.<br /

Whole Building LCA With WLC: A New Commercial Software Development For Product Specification In The UK

In 2000, BRE launched a software tool called Envest. This tool allowed designers to gauge the environmental impacts of a whole building design at the initial stage of the design process, comparing the embodied impact of the building fabric to the impact from operation. The simplicity of the tool hinges upon the use of a single score approach to measuring environmental impacts. The measure is known as Ecopoints. In response to pressure from the market, BRE has developed Envest further to include a Whole Life Costing function that enables the designer to consider the costs of the building delivery and its maintenance scheme together with the environmental impact. Acknowledging that there is a role for generic and specific costs, the new tool will enable users to enter their own costs or use default data. In early 2002, Envest II will go on line. Web based, the tool will be inherently more flexible than its CD ROM predecessor and, for the first time, creates the possibility of adding new products as data becomes available from manufacturers. This function has been developed in parallel with the BRE Certification Scheme for Environmental profiles of Construction Products which allows manufacturers to make independently verified claims about their product. Envest scores can already be used to obtain "material" credits in BREEAM, the whole building assessment scheme and the new version will continue to be used in this way

mHealth Support System for Researchers and Participants

With the proliferation of mobile technologies, there is a significant increase of research using mobile devices in the medical and public health area. Mobile technology has improved the efficiency of healthcare delivery effectively. Mobile Health or mHealth is an interdisciplinary research area which has been active for more than a decade. Much research has been conducted and many software research tools (mHealth Support System) have been developed. Despite the time length, there is a significant gap in the mHealth research area regarding software research tools. Individual research groups are developing their own software research tool though there is a significant similarity among them. Most of the research tools are study or disease specific. Some of the tools are device specific (desktop/laptop, mobile phone, and tablet) and some are platform specific (web, android, iOS, and windows). This costs each research study their precious time, money, and workforce to develop similar service or software research tools. Based on the mHealth research characteristics, it is possible to design and implement a customizable generic software research tool. In this thesis, we have proposed, designed, and implemented a customizable generic mHealth software research tool. It has most of the common software research modules that are needed for an mHealth research study. These include real-time data collection, research participant management, research staff management, role based access control, research data anonymization, customizable surveys, report generation, study forum, and activity tracking. This software research tool is responsive and HIPAA compliant which makes it device independent, privacy-aware, and security-aware

Development, implementation and pilot evaluation of a Web-based Virtual Patient Case Simulation environment – Web-SP

BACKGROUND: The Web-based Simulation of Patients (Web-SP) project was initiated in order to facilitate the use of realistic and interactive virtual patients (VP) in medicine and healthcare education. Web-SP focuses on moving beyond the technology savvy teachers, when integrating simulation-based education into health sciences curricula, by making the creation and use of virtual patients easier. The project strives to provide a common generic platform for design/creation, management, evaluation and sharing of web-based virtual patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate if it was possible to develop a web-based virtual patient case simulation environment where the entire case authoring process might be handled by teachers and which would be flexible enough to be used in different healthcare disciplines. RESULTS: The Web-SP system was constructed to support easy authoring, management and presentation of virtual patient cases. The case authoring environment was found to facilitate for teachers to create full-fledged patient cases without the assistance of computer specialists. Web-SP was successfully implemented at several universities by taking into account key factors such as cost, access, security, scalability and flexibility. Pilot evaluations in medical, dentistry and pharmacy courses shows that students regarded Web-SP as easy to use, engaging and to be of educational value. Cases adapted for all three disciplines were judged to be of significant educational value by the course leaders. CONCLUSION: The Web-SP system seems to fulfil the aim of providing a common generic platform for creation, management and evaluation of web-based virtual patient cases. The responses regarding the authoring environment indicated that the system might be user-friendly enough to appeal to a majority of the academic staff. In terms of implementation strengths, Web-SP seems to fulfil most needs from course directors and teachers from various educational institutions and disciplines. The system is currently in use or under implementation in several healthcare disciplines at more than ten universities worldwide. Future aims include structuring the exchange of cases between teachers and academic institutions by building a VP library function. We intend to follow up the positive results presented in this paper with other studies looking at the learning outcomes, critical thinking and patient management. Studying the potential of Web-SP as an assessment tool will also be performed. More information about Web-SP

Exploring user and system requirements of linked data visualization through a visual dashboard approach

One of the open problems in SemanticWeb research is which tools should be provided to users to explore linked data. This is even more urgent now that massive amount of linked data is being released by governments worldwide. The development of single dedicated visualization applications is increasing, but the problem of exploring unknown linked data to gain a good understanding of what is contained is still open. An effective generic solution must take into account the user’s point of view, their tasks and interaction, as well as the system’s capabilities and the technical constraints the technology imposes. This paper is a first step in understanding the implications of both, user and system by evaluating our dashboard-based approach. Though we observe a high user acceptance of the dashboard approach, our paper also highlights technical challenges arising out of complexities involving current infrastructure that need to be addressed while visualising linked data. In light of the findings, guidelines for the development of linked data visualization (and manipulation) are provided