Business Domain Modelling using an Integrated Framework

This paper presents an application of a “Systematic Soft Domain Driven Design Framework” as a soft systems approach to domain-driven design of information systems development. The framework combining techniques from Soft Systems Methodology (SSM), the Unified Modelling Language (UML), and an implementation pattern known as “Naked Objects”. This framework have been used in action research projects that have involved the investigation and modelling of business processes using object-oriented domain models and the implementation of software systems based on those domain models. Within this framework, Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) is used as a guiding methodology to explore the problem situation and to develop the domain model using UML for the given business domain. The framework is proposed and evaluated in our previous works, and a real case study “Information Retrieval System for academic research” is used, in this paper, to show further practice and evaluation of the framework in different business domain. We argue that there are advantages from combining and using techniques from different methodologies in this way for business domain modelling. The framework is overviewed and justified as multimethodology using Mingers multimethodology ideas

Autologous Adipose Stem Cells Use for Skin Regeneration and Treatment in Humans

There is growing evidence that adipose stem cells contribute to the restoration of tissue vascularization, and have a potentially large therapeutic effect in the field of regenerative medicine. The purpose of this study was to assess the clinical effectiveness of lipoaspirate transplantation on the treatment of skin lesions in humans. This study began with surgical procedures in 2009 followed by a follow-up plan for 4 months. Twenty clients underwent therapy for skin lesions and follow-up. Adipose derived stem cells can promote human dermal fibroblast, proliferation, and re-epithelialization of cutaneous wounds, rejuvenation of the aging skin and related skin lesions. These stem cells replenish dying cells, and have the capacity to regenerate new tissues. Adverse events including pain, swelling and allergy were minimal. All participants expressed their satisfaction of the results. This surgical procedure is a low-invasive therapeutic approach that can resolve the problem of depressed skin, skin lesions, and wrinkles. Adopting this procedure decreases the cost of skin care, and improves client’s long-term outcome. Furthermore, it facilitates cell-mediated skin repair and regeneration. Keywords: Adipose stem cells, Lipoaspirate, skin diseases

The Impact of Both Physical Exhaustion and Disruption of Circadian Rhythm on Blood Coagulation Factors in Rats

Effects of circadian rhythm and different durations of physical exercise on blood clotting and fibrinolytic systems were measured in 60 male Wistar rats. Rats were divided into control (n=20) and experimental groups (n=40). Blood samples were collected from rat tail tip at several stages; before and after physical activity in various functional conditions of pineal gland (activation and inhibition). The first group of  rats were housed in absolutely  light-  conditions (inhibition phase) for 10 days ,while the other group was kept in absolutely dark room for 10 days , at ambient temperature 23ºC±2ºC. A standard rat diet and water were supplied ad labium. Our data showed that no statistically significant variation was found in blood clotting time and thrombin time of samples after a short – physical exercise in the normal subject, but there was a significant shortening in blood clotting time and thrombin time after strenuous exercise. Physical activity significantly prolonged clotting time in animals with inhibited pineal gland. Rats with activated pineal gland (dark phase), the clotting time prolonged after both durations (short and long exercise); thrombin generation time shortened

Information Systems Development through an Integrated Framework

Information systems are essential entities for several organizations who strive to successfully run their business operations. One of the major problems faced by the organizations is that many of these information systems fail, and thus the organizations do not achieve their required targets in time. Many of the reasons for the information system failures documented in the literature are related to development methodologies or frameworks that are unable to handle both ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ system aspects. In general, the hard issues of the system are considered more significant than the soft issues, however, all the methodologies must be able to deal with all the system and business aspects. This thesis investigates the possibility of developing and evaluating a multimethodology framework that can be used for information systems development in an academic and business environment. The research explores the applicability of such a framework that comprehends both ‘soft’ and ‘hard’ system aspects in order to eliminate information system failures. Different software development approaches are investigated, including the dominant ‘domain-driven design’ (DDD) approach. A new multimethodological framework entitled ‘Systemic Soft Domain Driven Design’ (SSDDDF) has been developed by combining ‘soft system methodology’ as a guiding methodology, ‘unified modelling language’ as a business domain modelling approach, and a domain-driven design implementation pattern. This framework is intended as an improvement of the DDD approach. Soft and hard techniques are integrated through mapping from the ‘consensus primary task model’ of the soft approach to the ‘use cases’ of the hard approach. In addition, ‘soft language’ is introduced as a complement to DDD’s ‘ubiquitous language’, for facilitating the communication between the different stakeholders of a project. The implementation pattern (e.g., Naked Objects) is included for generating code from domain models. The framework has been evaluated as an information systems development approach through different undergraduate and postgraduate projects. Feedback from the developers has been positive and encouraging for further improvements in the future. The SSDDD framework has also been compared to different ISD methodologies and frameworks among of these DDD as an approach to ISD. The results of this comparison show that SSDDDF has advantages over DDD and significant improvements to DDD have been achieved. Finally, the research suggests an agenda for further improvements of the framework, while suggesting the development of different pattern languages

Investigating Agricultural Management Practices and Environmental Sustainability in Jordan

Jordan, as other developing countries in the world, is struggled by instable agricultural development due to existing various water pressures (e.g. increase in irrigation demands, deterioration of water quality, industrial pollution, water borne sewerage, etc.), climate change impacts, and biophysical and socioeconomic barriers (e.g. rapid population growth, social unsettlements, sudden refuges and migrations, limited economic resources, low levels of technology, environmental limitations and stresses, and widespread poverty). One of the adaptive key issues for the Jordanian environmental sustainable development is the awareness of farmers on the water savings and environmental protections at farm level. The aim of this study was to present a descriptive analysis for the adopted conventional farming practices at the Jordan Valley and explore potential of adoption of new technologies in agricultural management coupled with sustainable environmental performances, as pursued by the project “Improving the Environmental Sustainability of Irrigated Agricultural Production in Lebanon and Jordan (ENSIAP)”. Twenty farmers were selected to represent the heterogeneity of the farming practices along the three zones (districts) of Jordan Valley: Northern, Middle, and Southern Jordan Valley. A detailed survey questionnaire was developed to investigate for the potential improvements in the conventional and the newly introduced farming practices to ensure the sustainability of all natural resources. The heterogeneity of the farmers\u27 knowledge, experience, and capabilities were determined in addition to various components of cropping/ farming practices. Seven themes were emphasized in this study including (1) Farm characteristics, (2) Soil description and management, (3) Crop characteristics and management, (4) Water Irrigation parameters, (5) Cultivation and fertilizer use, (6) Environmental related issues, and (7) Farmer experience. Results indicated that most of the farmers are not fully aware with environmental sustainability issues. The irrigation systems, fertilizer use, and management practices currently in use are not resource-conservative and do not follow Best Agricultural and Management Practices, leading to high soil and groundwater degradation and pollution

Pedagogical Evaluation of a Domain-Driven Design Framework

This paper presents a pedagogical evaluation of the framework SDDD as a “soft systems” approach to Domain-Driven Design of computer-based information systems development. The framework combined techniques from Soft Systems Methodology (SSM), the Unified Modelling Language (UML), and an implementation pattern. Systems development and teaching evaluations are done to find better framework which can be used for teaching and developing information systems. More Feedback and reflections from the lecturers and Msc students of the module Methods and Modeling are presented. The results are supported our previous work of proposing the framework to enhance the understanding of the business process modeling and implementation into an integrated framework. This is an enhancement of Domain Driven Design approach because new “soft layer” is added and the framework used for teaching further than development as DDD. Comments received from all participants are used to enhance the framework development and for further evaluation in the future

Application of a Systemic Soft Domain-Driven Design Framework

This paper proposes a “soft systems” approach to domain-driven design of computer-based information systems. We propose a systemic framework combining techniques from Soft Systems Methodology (SSM), the Unified Modelling Language (UML), and an implementation pattern known as “Naked Objects”. We have used this framework in action research projects that have involved the investigation and modelling of business processes using object-oriented domain models and the implementation of software systems based on those domain models. Within the proposed framework, Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) is used as a guiding methodology to explore the pr oblem situation and to generate a ubiquitous language (soft language) which can be used as the basis for developing an object-oriented domain model. The domain model is further developed using techniques based on the UML and is implemented in software following the “Naked Objects” implementation pattern. We argue that there are advantages from combining and using techniques from different methodologies in this way. The proposed systemic framework is overviewed and justified as multimethodologyusing Mingers multimethodology ideas. This multimethodology approach is being evaluated through a series of action research projects based on real-world case studies. A Peer-Tutoring case study is presented here as a sample of the framework evaluation proces

A Scaffolded Approach to Teaching Information Systems Design

This paper reflects on the experience of delivering a module in Information Systems Design to postgraduate students. The module has been taught for a number of years but has recently been restructured around a novel systems development framework presented as a pattern language. This restructuring represents a move towards a “scaffolded” approach to delivering the module. We present evidence that this approach has improved both the students’ technical skills and their confidence in applying these skills

Field scale soil characterization using pedostructural properties

Accurate soil characterization is crucial for understanding soil-water interactions and allow for better on-farm agricultural and environmental management. Current soil characterization methods lack quantitative attributes that integrate the soil mapping units with environmental and agronomical models. In this research we propose a methodology to physically characterize the soil water medium using quantitative parameters. We incorporated the continuously measured soil water potential curve and the soil shrinkage curve to extract the physically based pedostructural (PS) parameters needed for characterizing the soil water medium. We discuss a setup that we designed and built to continuously measure the shrinkage and potential curves. The procedure we developed to extract the PS parameters for sandy and silty soils was successfully applied on all soil samples, and the required PS parameters were extracted. We present a methodology to generate and define functional soil mapping units that possess physical and quantitative parameters. We followed a four step general system hierarchical approach overlaying study area map, landform map, and SSURGO map. The fourth step was to validate the generated functional soil units using discriminate analysis performed on the PS parameters extracted for every soil mapping unit. Measuring the shrinkage and potential curves requires a special setup that is not available in traditional soil laboratories. Pedotransfer functions (PTFs) to correlate the PS parameters to soil texture and organic matter are developed and presented. Results of this study show that surface horizon (Ap) have higher PS parameter values than subsurface horizon Bt. The PS concept showed high capabilities in defining the soil mapping units, as concluded from the discriminate analysis that was performed. The functional soil mapping units will help in modeling the soil and thus improve the decision make systems