Designing a Bike Trailer as an Alternative for Transportation and Distribution of Goods

This report explores the process taken and results of a project in creating a system of sustainable urban transportation. First, the problems facing cities with regards to transportation are identified and analyzed. A solution to these problems is then offered in the form of bike and bicycle trailer transportation. Research was then done to create designs of bicycle trailers to be utilized for businesses. An examination into the design process and evolution used in this project was also done to show why decisions were made with regards to the final design. The final designs, both general for a multitude of businesses and a specialized design for Higher Ground Farm. Ultimately, a framework for sustainable transportation was created by this project and analyzed by the report

The use of conversation mapping to frame key perceptual issues facing the general dental practice system in England

<b>Objective</b>: To demonstrate the use of a novel qualitative methodology namely conversation mapping, which can be used to capture differences in stakeholder perspectives and give a root definition of the problem in a complex policy area. The methodology is used in the context of the changes introduced in the English general dental practice system in April 2006, to investigate the key issues facing the system, as perceived by general dental practitioners (GDPs). <b>Basic research design</b>: From a broad trigger statement, three transformational statements were produced. Each participant recorded their contribution on a hard diagrammatic form as a ‘map’, with others responding with their own written comment, thus generating three conversation maps. Thematic analysis resulted in the generation of a preliminary model summarising key perceptual issues. <b>Results</b>: The five emergent themes identified were: financing, dentists’ wants/needs, the role of the public and patients, system goals and policy level decision making. Financing was identified as the core category to which all other categories were related. <b>Conclusions</b>: Conversation mapping, a methodology arising from a systems approach, can be used to develop a ‘rich picture’ of an oral health care system in order to define the core problem within this policy area. Findings suggest that GDPs identify the financing of the system as a fundamental source of problems within the general dental practice system. This appears to be at variance with the perception of policy makers, who report a more limited view, identifying the system of remuneration as the ‘heart of the problem’

PERANCANGAN SISTEM INFORMASI AKADEMIK BERBASIS WEBSITE MENGGUNAKAN BAHASA PEMROGRAMAN PHP dan MySQL (Studi kasus di SMA Muhammadiyah Imam Syuhodo, Sukoharjo)

Online media in the form of a website as a source of information easier for everyone to get information. Through the Internet growing, today one can save time and expense to get the information he needs. Information management in an institution is very important, especially in schools. Where the school will be easier to manage a number of existing data to then be published to the general public. This research aims to design a web-based academic information system conducted at SMA Muhammadiyah Boarding Imam Syuhodo Sukoharjo. In designing an information system is needed for an identification system design, which contains the context diagram, the decomposition process, data flow diagrams and entity relationship diagram. The next steps so that this scheme can work well is to perform database design, form design, report design, and web design and conduct simulations. Based academic information system design of this website using PHP as the programming language and MySQL as the database maker program then simulated through localhost or local server. Based on these results, generated a system of school-based academic information website. The design of this academic information system provides information on the teacher data, student data, school profiles, school agenda, a data value of students as well as photographs of student activities. The system's design also produces two main menus admin menu as manager of information systems, and user pages as recipient information. Keywords: MySQL, PHP, System Information, Websit

Configurational and Instrumentation Aspects of the Flight Test Gyroplane G-ABCD. Aero Dept Int. Rep No. 9713

In the following report a quantitative description of the Montgomerie G-ABCD gyroplane configuration and instrumentation will be presented. This light gyroplane has been acquired by the department in order to enhance the research in the field of rotorcraft flight dynamics. The aircraft configuration is based on a conventional two seater design, with the second seat modified so as to accommodate the instrumentation to be used for the data acquisition. The intention of this report is to document the configuration properties of the airframe such as its dimensions, its weight and balance and aerodynamic properties in order to later on use them as an input to a rotorcraft simulation program. It is also intended to provide an overview of the elements comprising the data acquisition system to be used for the research together with information regarding the manufacturers of the components. The report does not intend to form a detailed document but to serve as a general reference and guide to the aircraft and its instrumentation

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

Assessing the payback from health R & D: From ad hoc studies to regular monitoring

Chapter 1 : Introduction • The increasing demands for the benefits of payback from publicly funded R&D to be assessed are based partly on the need to justify or account for expenditure on R&D, and partly on the desire for information to assist resource allocation and the better management of R&D funds. The former consideration is particularly strong in relation to the R&D expenditure that comes out of the wider NHS budget. • In this report a range of categories of payback will be identified along with a variety of methods for assessing them. • The aim of the report is to make recommendations as to how the outcomes from health research might best be monitored on a regular basis. The specific context of the report is the NHS R&D Programme but many of the issues will be relevant for a wide range of funders of health R&D. • The introduction sets out not only a plan of the report but also suggests that readers familiar with the general arguments and existing literature may choose to jump to Chapter 6. Chapter 2 : Review of Existing Approaches to Assessing the Payback from Research • Existing work describes various approaches to valuing research. Some are ex ante and attempt to predict the outcomes of research being considered, others are ex post or retrospective. • The five categories of benefit or payback from health R&D that have been identified involve contributions: to knowledge; to research capacity and future research; to improved information for decision making; to the efficiency, efficacy and equity of health care services; and to the nation’s economic performance. These are shown in Table 1 of the report • The process by which R&D generates final outcomes can be modelled as a sequence. This includes primary outputs such as publications; secondary outputs in the form of policy or administrative decisions; and final outcomes which comprise the health and economic benefits. Feedback loops are also introduced and mitigate the limitations of a linear approach. • Qualitative and quantitative approaches can be used but there are immense problems with time lags and attributing outcomes, and sometimes even outputs, to specific items of research funding. • Four common methods of measuring payback can be used. Expert review, by peers or, sometimes, users is the traditional way of assessing the quality of research. Bibliometric techniques can involve not only counting publications but also using datasets such as the Science Citation Index and Wellcome’s Research Outputs Database (ROD). The various methods of economic analysis of payback are difficult to undertake given the costs and problems of acquiring relevant information and estimating benefits. Social science methods include case studies, which can provide useful information but are resource intensive, and questionnaires to researchers and potential research users. Chapter 3 : Characteristics of a Routine Monitoring System • In moving from ad hoc or research studies of payback towards a more regular monitoring it is noted that whereas there has always been a tradition of evaluation of research, in the public services in general there is now a greater emphasis on audit and performance measurement and indicators. A review of these various systems suggests we should be looking to develop a system of outcomes monitoring that incorporates performance indicators (PIs) and measurement rather than an audit system that is trying to monitor activities against predetermined targets. • Standard characteristics of performance measurement systems do not necessarily apply to research where, for example, there are non-standard outputs. Difficulties have arisen in the USA in attempting to apply the Government Performance and Results Act to research funding agencies. It is shown that because the findings of basic research, in particular, enter a knowledge pool in which people and ideas interact, it is difficult to use a PIs’ approach to track eventual outcomes. However, for some types of health research it has proved more feasible to trace the flow between research outputs and outcomes. • An outcomes monitoring system could be useful if it met the following criteria: relevant to, with as comprehensive coverage as possible of, the funders objectives; relevant to the funder’s decision making processes; encourages accurate compliance; minimises unintended consequences; and has acceptable costs. Chapter 4 : Differences Between Research Types • The range of differences between types of research can be relevant for the design of a routine monitoring system. The OECD distinguishes between basic research, applied research and experimental development. Most DH/NHS research is applied. There might be more of a tradition of publication of findings in applied research in health than in other fields. Nevertheless, the publication and incentives patterns operating in basic research mean that it would be inappropriate to use bibliometric indicators in a simple way across all fields even in health research. • Despite having some differences from health research in publication patterns and in the detailed categories of payback, the broad approach proposed in Chapter 6 could be applied to social care research. • Research that is commissioned, especially by the government, has some of the minimum conditions built into it that are associated with outcomes being generated, in particular because the funder has identified that a contribution in this area will be valuable. Chapter 5 : What Units of Research? • The term programme has various meanings including being used to describe a collection of projects on a common theme and to describe a block of funding for a research unit. • Three main streams or modes of funding can be identified: projects, which are administratively grouped into programmes including a responsive programme; institutions/centres/units; individual researchers. These 3 streams are displayed in Figure 1. It is probable that the regular data-gathering for a monitoring system would operate at the basic level of each stream or mode. • Previous work demonstrates that the full range of benefits can sometimes be applied at the level of projects, either in the responsive mode or in programmes, through the use of questionnaires to researchers. Expert and user review and user surveys have also been applied. • Institutions and centres increasingly have experience not only of traditional periodic expert review but also of producing annual reports, although there are debates about what dimensions to include in such reviews and reports. • Individuals in receipt of research development awards have completed questionnaires during and after the awards. These concentrate on the development of research capacity but can go wider. Chapter 6 : A Possible Comprehensive Outcomes Monitoring System • The proposed system is intended for DH/NHS to monitor the outcomes from its R&D in order to justify the R&D expenditure and assist with managing the portfolio. More detailed information is required for the latter purpose. • We propose a multidimensional approach be adopted to cover all the dimensions of payback and that information be gathered from three sets of sources and Table 3 shows which methods would cover which output/outcome categories. • Firstly, possibly annually, a questionnaire (possibly electronic) covering most payback categories should gather data from the basic level of each funding stream ie. from lead researchers of projects, from research institutions/centres, and from individual award holders. • Secondly, supplementary information should be gathered from external databases (including the citation indices and Wellcome’s ROD). • Thirdly, a range of approaches ie. user surveys, reviews by experts and peers, case studies including economic evaluations, and analysis of sources used in policy documents such as NICE guidelines, would be undertaken on a sample basis. They would provide not only supplementary information but, as with the external databases, would also verify the data collected directly from researchers. • These proposals can be evaluated against the criteria set out in Chapter 3: • The system is relevant to DH’s objectives of generating payback in a range of categories. • Various problems have to be overcome before the system could be fully decision relevant. Firstly it might be necessary to ask researchers to apportion the contribution made to specific outputs from various funding streams. Second, to be decision relevant the information would have to be analysed and presented in a manner consistent with funders’ decision making processes. This would involve a) showing how for each outcome and output, for example publications, data from one project or stream could be compared with those from another and b) demonstrating how different outputs and outcomes could be aggregated. • The questions of accuracy of data, minimisation of unintended consequences and the acceptability of the net costs are also addressed. Chapter 7 : Research and Monitoring • Whilst this report is primarily concerned with moving from ad hoc studies towards a routine monitoring system there are issues that need further research. • Before embarking on full implementation the feasibility needs to be tested of items such as on-line recording of data and asking researchers to attribute proportions of research outputs to separate funding agencies. • Once the system is implemented the value of some items can be better assessed, for example the additional value provided by self reporting of publications beyond that gained from relying on external databases. • The data provided by the system would provide opportunities for further payback research on, for example, links between publications and other categories of payback. • Some items such as network analysis could potentially be added to the monitoring system after further examination of them. • Finally the benefit from the monitoring system itself should be assessed.Department of Health; Wellcome Trus

The Development of E-Procurement System for an IT Consultant Company

The research objective was to identify, analyze, and design a procurement information system that was developed by an IT consultant company for their client companies. Data collection techniques used were literature study, field study, document study, learning and trying the existing e-procurement system. Then, it was followed by analysis on general procurement processes using objectoriented analysis with Unified Modeling Language (UML) as tools. The result is a web-based e-procurement application that supports documentation and storage of transaction data. It also generates reports in accordance with company requirements. The main system features are Request Usage Form (RUF), Purchase Request (PR), Purchase Request Summary (PRS), Request for Quotation (RFQ), Quotation, Winner Selection (WS), Purchase Order (PO), and Receive Report (RR). It can be concluded that the developed system can support procurement processes effectively and efficiently, and integrate the inventory and approval system. Integration with inventory system will result in easier stock checking and automated update of goods data in the inventory system. It includes creating item, editing item, and receiving made report document. Integration with approval system will also result in the simpler process of documents approval in the e-procurement system