Context based querying of scientific data: changing querying paradigms?

We are investigating and applying a semantically enhanced query answering machine for the needs of addressing semantically meaningful data and operations within a scientific information system. We illustrate a context based querying paradigm on the basis of a Regional Avalanche Information and Forecasting System - RAIFoS which is concerned with the collection and analysis of snow and weather related physical parameters in the Swiss Alps. The querying paradigm relies upon the issue of interactively constructing a semantically valid query rather than formulating one in a database specific query language and for a particular implementation model. In order to achieve this goal, the query answering machine has to make inferences concerning the properties and value domains, as well as data analysis operations, which are semantically valid within particular contexts. These inferences take place when the intended query is being constructed interactively on a Web-based blackboard. A graph-based display presentation formalism is used with elements including natural language terms, measurement units, statistical quantifiers and/or specific value domains. A meta-data database is used to organise and provide the elements of the graph each time the graph, and consequently the intended query, is expanded or further refined. Finally, the displayed graph is transformed into elements of the implementation model from which, in turn, SQL statements and/or sequences of statistical operations are created

An information states blackboard as an intelligent querying interface for snow and avalanche data

We present the graph-based querying paradigm used in the Regional Avalanche Information and Forecasting System (RAIFoS) for the collection and analysis of snow and weather related physical parameters in the Swiss Alps. The querying paradigm relies upon the issue of interactively constructing a semantically valid query graph on an Information States Blackboard as guided by meta-data elements standing for interpretations of conceptual model, data values and/or operations. The meta-data elements constitute the terms of a meta-data-driven query language (MDDQL) the interpretation of which is done interactively relying on a kind of finite state automaton

Randomised controlled trial of specialist nurse intervention in heart failure

<p>Objectives. To determine whether specialist nurse intervention improves outcome in patients with chronic heart failure.</p> <p>Design. Randomised controlled trial.</p> <p>Setting. Acute medical admissions unit in a teaching hospital.</p> <p>Participants. 165 patients admitted with heart failure due to left ventricular systolic dysfunction. The intervention started before discharge and continued thereafter with home visits for up to 1 year.</p> <p>Main outcome measures. Time to first event analysis of death from all causes or readmission to hospital with worsening heart failure.</p> <p>Results. 31 patients (37%) in the intervention group died or were readmitted with heart failure compared with 45 (53%) in the usual care group (hazard ratio=0.61, 95% confidence interval 0.33 to 0.96).Compared with usual care, patients in the intervention group had fewer readmissions for any reason (86 v 114, P=0.018), fewer admissions for heart failure (19 v 45, P<0.001) and spent fewer days in hospital for heart failure (mean 3.43 v 7.46 days, P=0.0051).</p> <p>Conclusions. Specially trained nurses can improve the outcome of patients admitted to hospital with heart failure.</p&gt

Supporting users tasks with personal information management and web forms augmentation

Currently, many tasks performed on the Web prompt users to provide personal information through forms. Despite the fact that most users are familiarized with this kind of interaction technique, the use of Web forms is not always straightforward. Indeed, some users might need assistance to understand labels and complex data format required to fill in form fields that, quite often, vary from a Web site to another even when requesting similar data. Filling in forms can be tedious and repetitive as many Web sites request similar information. In this work we analyze user's interactions with Web forms and propose an approach for enhancing Web forms using client-side adaptation techniques in order to assist users to fill in Web forms. As the use of Web forms is closely related to the management of personal information our approach includes the support for data exchange between user's personal information management systems (PIMs) and third-party Web forms. The approach is illustrated by a set of client-side adaptation tools and a pervasive Personal Information Management Systems called PIMI.Publicado en Lecture Notes in Computer Science book series (vol. 7387).Laboratorio de Investigación y Formación en Informática Avanzad

Troponin in acute chest pain to risk stratify and guide effective use of computed tomography coronary angiography (TARGET-CTCA): a randomised controlled trial

Background The majority of patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome presenting to the emergency department will be discharged once myocardial infarction has been ruled out, although a proportion will have unrecognised coronary artery disease. In this setting, high-sensitivity cardiac troponin identifies those at increased risk of future cardiac events. In patients with intermediate cardiac troponin concentrations in whom myocardial infarction has been ruled out, this trial aims to investigate whether outpatient computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) reduces subsequent myocardial infarction or cardiac death. Methods TARGET-CTCA is a multicentre prospective randomised open label with blinded endpoint parallel group event driven trial. After myocardial infarction and clear alternative diagnoses have been ruled out, participants with intermediate cardiac troponin concentrations (5 ng/L to 99th centile upper reference limit) will be randomised 1:1 to outpatient CTCA plus standard of care or standard of care alone. The primary endpoint is myocardial infarction or cardiac death. Secondary endpoints include clinical, patient-centred, process and cost-effectiveness. Recruitment of 2270 patients will give 90% power with a two-sided P value of 0.05 to detect a 40% relative risk reduction in the primary endpoint. Follow-up will continue until 97 primary outcome events have been accrued in the standard care arm with an estimated median follow-up of 36 months. Discussion This randomised controlled trial will determine whether high-sensitivity cardiac troponin-guided CTCA can improve outcomes and reduce subsequent major adverse cardiac events in patients presenting to the emergency department who do not have myocardial infarction

Managing Personal Information through Information Components

Abstract. We introduce the concept of information components and show how it can allow non-expert users to construct personal information spaces by selecting, customising and composing components defined by the system or other users. The system presented is based on a plug-andplay concept and new user-defined applications can be integrated into the portal-style interface based on default templates which can easily be customised by the users

Modelling in Coordination Systems

We describe an approach to the coordination of application systems based on the modelling and maintenance of inter-system dependencies expressed as data constraints together with update propagation rules. These dependencies are specified by a Coordination Model which comprises a Coordination Interface for each application system together with a global Coordination View. A Coordination Interface describes local object types relevant for systemwide coordination. The Coordination View describes the subsystems, their globally important object types and the relationships between those object types. Additionally, the Coordination View specifies actions to restore global consistency in the event of constraint violations, thereby providing system coordination. Specifically, we describe how this approach has been adopted in a prototype Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) system based on the coordination of CIM subsystems. In this CIM system, the Coordination Model is specified using the NIA..

Understanding process behaviours in a large insurance company in Australia: A case study

Having a reliable understanding about the behaviours, problems, and performance of existing processes is important in enabling a targeted process improvement initiative. Recently, there has been an increase in the application of innovative process mining techniques to facilitate evidence-based understanding about organizations' business processes. Nevertheless, the application of these techniques in the domain of finance in Australia is, at best, scarce. This paper details a 6-month case study on the application of process mining in one of the largest insurance companies in Australia. In particular, the challenges encountered, the lessons learned, and the results obtained from this case study are detailed. Through this case study, we not only validated existing `lessons learned' from other similar case studies, but also added new insights that can be beneficial to other practitioners in applying process mining in their respective fields