ICON: A System for Implementing Constraints in Object-based Networks

In today's Network Management scenario, the network operator's interface to the network is through a Management Information Base (MIB). The MIB stores all management related data such as configuration information, performance statistics, and trouble logs and so on. Configuration management, which is at the core of network management, is implemented through the MIB in a three step process: making updates to MIB data elements, checking the validity of the updates, propagating the effects of the updates to the network elements. While all three steps need to be executed efficiently for the MIB to serve its intended goal, the second step of checking update validity is especially important from the management viewpoint. For example, if an operator mistakenly configures a ninth port on an eight port card, it is essential that the MIB should both detect and prevent this error. Allowing such operations to go through would have adverse impact on the performance of the network (since it increases the network management traffic). Therefore, we focus primarily on the problem of checking the validity of updates to MIB data elements, which can be viewed as a specific instance of the general problem of constraint management in database systems. We introduce the design of ICON (Implementing Constraints in Object-based Networks), a proposed constraint management system. In ICON, constrains are expressed through rules. Each rule is composed of an event, a condition, and an action. Occurrence of the event triggers the rule, the condition is a boolean check, and the action is executed if the condition is satisfied. Rules and events are also treated as objects so that they can be created, modified, and deleted like other objects, thus providing a uniform view of rules and events in an OO context. The OO paradigm results in an extensible and a reusable system. To our knowledge, not much work has been done in this area and this paper would trigger further research in this area

The ABCD of usability testing

We introduce a methodology for tracking and auditing feedback, errors and suggestions for software packages. This short paper describes how we innovate on the evaluation mechanism, introducing an (Antecedent, Barrier, Consequence and Development) ABCD form, embedded within an eParticipation platform to enable end users to easily report on any usability issues. This methodology will be utilised to improve the STEP cloud eParticipation platform (part of the current STEP Horizon2020 project http://step4youth.eu. The platform is currently being piloted in real life contexts, with the participation of public authorities that are integrating the eParticipation platform into their regular decision-making practices. The project is involving young people, through engagement and motivation strategies and giving them a voice in Environmental decision making at the local level. The pilot evaluation aims to demonstrate how open engagement needs to be embedded within public sector processes and the usability methodology reported here will help to identify the key barriers for wide scale deployment of the platform

Rare coding SNP in DZIP1 gene associated with late-onset sporadic Parkinson's disease

We present the first application of the hypothesis-rich mathematical theory to genome-wide association data. The Hamza et al. late-onset sporadic Parkinson's disease genome-wide association study dataset was analyzed. We found a rare, coding, non-synonymous SNP variant in the gene DZIP1 that confers increased susceptibility to Parkinson's disease. The association of DZIP1 with Parkinson's disease is consistent with a Parkinson's disease stem-cell ageing theory.Comment: 14 page

Information Visualisation for Project Management: Case Study of Bath Formula Student Project

This paper contributes to a better understanding and design of dashboards for monitoring of engineering projects based on the projects’ digital footprint and user-centered design approach. The paper presents an explicit insight-based framework for the evaluation of dashboard visualisations and compares the performance of two groups of student engineering project managers against the framework: a group with the dashboard visualisations and a group without the dashboard. The results of our exploratory study demonstrate that student project managers who used the dashboard generated more useful information and exhibited more complex reasoning on the project progress, thus informing knowledge of the provision of information to engineers in support of their project understanding

Exploring Large Digital Library Collections Using a Map-Based Visualisation

In this paper we describe a novel approach for exploring large document collections using a map-based visualisation. We use hierarchically structured semantic concepts that are attached to the documents to create a visualisation of the semantic space that resembles a Google Map. The approach is novel in that we exploit the hierarchical structure to enable the approach to scale to large document collections and to create a map where the higher levels of spatial abstraction have semantic meaning. An informal evaluation is carried out to gather subjective feedback from users. Overall results are positive with users finding the visualisation enticing and easy to use

Wearable Haptic Devices for Gait Re-education by Rhythmic Haptic Cueing

This research explores the development and evaluation of wearable haptic devices for gait sensing and rhythmic haptic cueing in the context of gait re-education for people with neurological and neurodegenerative conditions. Many people with long-term neurological and neurodegenerative conditions such as Stroke, Brain Injury, Multiple Sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease suffer from impaired walking gait pattern. Gait improvement can lead to better fluidity in walking, improved health outcomes, greater independence, and enhanced quality of life. Existing lab-based studies with wearable devices have shown that rhythmic haptic cueing can cause immediate improvements to gait features such as temporal symmetry, stride length, and walking speed. However, current wearable systems are unsuitable for self-managed use for in-the-wild applications with people having such conditions. This work aims to investigate the research question of how wearable haptic devices can help in long-term gait re-education using rhythmic haptic cueing. A longitudinal pilot study has been conducted with a brain trauma survivor, providing rhythmic haptic cueing using a wearable haptic device as a therapeutic intervention for a two-week period. Preliminary results comparing pre and post-intervention gait measurements have shown improvements in walking speed, temporal asymmetry, and stride length. The pilot study has raised an array of issues that require further study. This work aims to develop and evaluate prototype systems through an iterative design process to make possible the self-managed use of such devices in-the-wild. These systems will directly provide therapeutic intervention for gait re-education, offer enhanced information for therapists, remotely monitor dosage adherence and inform treatment and prognoses over the long-term. This research will evaluate the use of technology from the perspective of multiple stakeholders, including clinicians, carers and patients. This work has the potential to impact clinical practice nationwide and worldwide in neuro-physiotherapy

The legal and ethical framework governing Body Donation in Europe-1st update on current practice

Previously, we have reported on the legal and ethical aspects and current practice of body donation in several European countries, reflecting cultural and religious variations as well as different legal and constitutional frameworks. We have also established good practice in body donation. Here we shall further extend the legal and ethical frameworks in place and also focus on novelties in the law and different directives. Of particular interest are points that address the commercialization of human bodies and body parts and weaknesses in the legal directives. Therefore, it is important to define what is ethical and what needs to be considered unethical in body donation and the subsequent utilisation of human bodies for teaching and research.peer-reviewe

Presenting patient data in the electronic care record: the role of timelines

OBJECTIVE: To establish the current level of awareness and investigate the use of timelines within clinical computing systems as an organized display of the electronic patient record (EPR). DESIGN: Multicentre survey conducted using questionnaires and interview. SETTING: Seven UK hospitals and several general practice surgeries. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 120 healthcare professionals completed a questionnaire which directed structured interviews. Participants fell into two cohorts according to whether or not they had used clinical timelines, which gave 60 timeline users and 60 prospective timeline users. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: To investigate the awareness of timelines, and the potential benefits of timelines within clinical computing systems. RESULTS: Fifty-eight percent of participants had not heard of the specific term timelines despite 75% of users utilizing a form of timeline on a daily basis. The potential benefits of future timelines were clinical audit (95%CI 77.6-91.6), increased time efficiency (95%CI 77.7-91.6%), reduced clinical error (95%CI 71.0-86.7) and improved patient safety (95%CI 70.0-85.9). One continuous timeline view between primary and secondary care was considered to be of great potential benefit in allowing communication via a unified patient record. CONCLUSIONS: The concept of timelines has enjoyed proven success in healthcare in the USA and in other sectors worldwide. Clinicians are supportive of timelines in healthcare. Formal input from clinicians should be sought when designing and implementing computer systems in healthcare. Timelines in healthcare support clinicians cognitive processes by improving the amount of data available and improving the way in which data are presented