BIMS: Biomedical Information Management System

This final year project presents the design principles and prototype implementation of BIMS (Biomedical Information Management System), a flexible software system which provides an infrastructure to manage all information required by biomedical research projects.The BIMS project was initiated with the motivation to solve several limitations in medical data acquisition of some research projects, in which Universitat Pompeu Fabra takes part. These limitations,based on the lack of control mechanisms to constraint information submitted by clinicians, impact on the data quality, decreasing it.BIMS can easily be adapted to manage information of a wide variety of clinical studies, not being limited to a given clinical specialty. The software can manage both, textual information, like clinical data (measurements, demographics, diagnostics, etc ...), as well as several kinds of medical images (magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, etc ...). Moreover, BIMS provides a web - based graphical user interface and is designed to be deployed in a distributed andmultiuser environment. It is built on top of open source software products and frameworks.Specifically, BIMS has been used to represent all clinical data being currently used within the CardioLab platform (an ongoing project managed by Universitat Pompeu Fabra), demonstratingthat it is a solid software system, which could fulfill requirements of a real production environment.

Tapiola-ryhmän Yhtiökokousjärjestelmä-ohjelmiston määrittely ja suunnittelu

Tässä insinöörityössä selvitettiin mahdollisuuksia parantaa Tapiola-ryhmän Yhtiökokousjärjestelmä-ohjelmiston ominaisuuksia ja tietoturvallisuutta. Järjestelmää käytetään Tapiola-ryhmän vakuutusyhtiöiden yhtiökokouksiin osallistuvien osakkaiden kirjaamiseen ja heidän äänten laskentaan. Tutkimuksen perusteella tehtiin järjestelmän määrittely ja suunnittelu, joiden tuloksena syntyivät toiminnallinen ja tekninen määrittelydokumentaatio, jotka toimivat pohjana uuden Yhtiökokousjärjestelmän toteutukselle. Työ tehtiin Tapiola-ryhmälle Tieto-Tapiola Oy:n tilauksesta. Työn alussa tutkittiin erilaisia mahdollisuuksia toteuttaa järjestelmän ohjelmisto- ja tietokanta-arkkitehtuuri, joiden perusteella määrittelyä ja suunnittelua alettiin toteuttaa. Tutkimuksen perusteella päädyttiin käyttämään Java SE -arkkitehtuuria sovelluksen toteutukseen ja SQL Server -tietokantaa järjestelmän tietovarastona. Valittuihin ratkaisuihin päädyttiin niiden hyvien tietoturvallisuus- ja kertakirjausominaisuuksien takia. Toiminnallisessa määrittelydokumentissa käydään läpi järjestelmälle asetettuja vaatimuksia ja kuvataan sen toiminnot, liiketoimintaluokkamalli, käyttöliittymä ja tulosteet. Lisäksi siinä otetaan kantaa järjestelmän käyttöympäristöön, ulkoisiin tietokantaliittymiin, käyttäjän tunnistautumiseen ja tietoturvallisuuteen sekä käydään läpi sen toiminta käyttäjien näkökulmasta. Toiminnallisen määrittelydokumentin pohjalta luotiin tekninen määrittelydokumentti. Siinä kuvataan järjestelmän ympäristö ja ohjelmisto- sekä tietokanta-arkkitehtuuri yleisellä tasolla. Tämän lisäksi järjestelmän arkkitehtuuria käydään myös tarkemmin läpi sekä kuvataan moduulit ja toiminnot niin tarkasti, että niiden perusteella voidaan toteuttaa koko järjestelmä. Työn tuloksena syntyivät kattava toiminnallinen ja tekninen määrittelydokumentaatio, joissa käydään läpi kaikki järjestelmän toteuttamiseen tarvittavat elementit sillä tarkkuudella, että järjestelmän toteuttaminen voidaan aloittaa.

Software CMAP TOOLS® para a construção de mapas conceituais: a avaliação dos estudantes de enfermagem

O mapeamento conceitual (MC) é uma estratégia de ensino que pode ser utilizada para resoluções de casos clínicos, porém de trabalhosa execução manuscrita. O estudo teve por objetivos descrever os desafios e as contribuições do software Cmap Tools® para a construção de mapas conceituais para resolução de caso clínico. Para isso, utilizou-se método descritivo, qualitativo, com estudantes da 3ª série de Graduação em Enfermagem da Universidade Federal de São Paulo. A estratégia de ensino foi aplicada e os dados foram coletados pela técnica do grupo focal. Os resultados evidenciaram que o software facilita e garante a organização, visualização e correlação dos dados, porém com dificuldades iniciais relacionadas ao manejo das ferramentas que dispõe. Concluiu-se que o software Cmap Tools® favoreceu a construção dos MC por seus recursos de formatação e autoformatação e que estratégias de orientação deveriam ser implantadas para a fase inicial de utilização.

Audit report on applying agreed-upon procedures for the City of Linden’s compliance with road use tax requirements for the period July 1, 1999 through June 30, 2004

Audit report on applying agreed-upon procedures for the City of Linden’s compliance with road use tax requirements for the period July 1, 1999 through June 30, 2004

Análise de riscos e dificuldades no desenvolvimento de software

O trabalho que ora apresentamos tem como tema “ O Ensino da Expressão e Educação Físico-Motora nas Escolas do Ensino Básico de São Lourenço dos Órgãos – Pós – Reforma.” O mesmo tem como horizonte temporal o ano lectivo 2006/07 e abarca as Escolas Básicas do novel Município de São Lourenço dos Órgãos. O ensino da Expressão e Educação Físico – Motora (E.E.F.M.) reveste-se de enorme importância e, nos últimos anos, tem-se emprestado muita atenção a esta área, quer seja a nível planetário, quer seja a nível nacional. Hoje, muitos estudiosos preocupam-se com o ensino desta área e, em consequência procuram fazer algo que permita a promoção da mesma e seja vista como as outras ditas académicas, isto porque todos estão cientes da sua importância e pertinência dentro do sistema escolar. Diante de tudo o que já foi dito e na possibilidade de poder dar um contributo a bem da educação no nosso pais, em geral, e no Município de São Lourenço dos Órgãos, em particular, pretendemos compreender, entretanto, porque é que muitos professores não leccionam ou raras vezes leccionam a área da Expressão e Educação Físico – Motora.

On optimal location with treshold requirements

The optimal location of services is one of the most important factors that affects service quality in terms of consumer access. On theother hand, services in general need to have a minimum catchment area so as to be efficient. In this paper a model is presented that locates the maximum number of services that can coexist in a given region without having losses, taking into account that they need a minimum catchment area to exist. The objective is to minimize average distance to the population. The formulation presented belongs to the class of discrete P--median--like models. A tabu heuristic method is presented to solve the problem. Finally, the model is applied to the location of pharmacies in a rural region of Spain.

Aspects thérapeutiques de la vitamine D: quels taux cibler avec quels traitements [Therapeutic goal of vitamin D: optimal serum level and dose requirements].

Therapeutic goal of vitamin D: optimal serum level and dose requirements Results of randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses investigating the effect of vitamin D supplementation on falls and fractures are inconsistent. The optimal serum level 25(OH) vitamin D for musculoskeletal and global health is > or = 30 ng/ml (75 nmol/l) for some experts and 20 ng/ml (50 nmol/l) for some others. A daily dose of vitamin D is better than high intermittent doses to reach this goal. High dose once-yearly vitamin D therapy may increase the incidence of fractures and falls. High serum level of vitamin D is probably harmful for the musculoskeletal system and health at large. The optimal benefits for musculoskeletal health are obtained with an 800 UI daily dose and a serum level of near 30 ng/ml (75 nmol/l).

TCR signaling requirements for activating T cells and for generating memory.

Over the last two decades the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying T cell activation, expansion, differentiation, and memory formation have been intensively investigated. These studies revealed that the generation of memory T cells is critically impacted by a number of factors, including the magnitude of the inflammatory response and cytokine production, the type of dendritic cell [DC] that presents the pathogen derived antigen, their maturation status, and the concomitant provision of costimulation. Nevertheless, the primary stimulus leading to T cell activation is generated through the T cell receptor [TCR] following its engagement with a peptide MHC ligand [pMHC]. The purpose of this review is to highlight classical and recent findings on how antigen recognition, the degree of TCR stimulation, and intracellular signal transduction pathways impact the formation of effector and memory T cells.

Vitamin C requirements in parenteral nutrition.

Some biochemical functions of vitamin C make it an essential component of parenteral nutrition (PN) and an important therapeutic supplement in other acute conditions. Ascorbic acid is a strong aqueous antioxidant and is a cofactor for several enzymes. The average body pool of vitamin C is 1.5 g, of which 3%-4% (40-60 mg) is used daily. Steady state is maintained with 60 mg/d in nonsmokers and 140 mg/d in smokers. Shocked surgical, trauma, and septic patients have a drastic reduction of circulating plasma ascorbate concentrations. These low concentrations require 3-g doses/d to restore normal plasma ascorbate concentrations, questioning the recommended PN dose of 100 mg/d. Determination of intravenous requirements is usually based on plasma concentrations, which are altered during the inflammatory response. There is no clear indicator of deficiency: serum or plasma ascorbate concentrations <0.3 mg/dL (20 micromol/L) indicates inadequate vitamin C status. On the basis of available pharmacokinetic data the 100 mg/d dose for patients receiving home PN and 200 mg/d for stable adult patients receiving PN are adequate, but requirements have been shown to be higher in perioperative, trauma, burn, and critically ill patients, paralleling oxidative stress. One recommendation cannot fit all categories of patients. Large vitamin C supplements may be considered in severe critical illness, major trauma, and burns because of increased requirements resulting from oxidative stress and wound healing. Future research should distinguish therapeutic use of high-dose ascorbic acid antioxidant therapy from nutritional PN requirements.

Record keeping by Swiss physiotherapists--a national survey of knowledge regarding legal requirements.

A national survey conducted in Switzerland aimed to evaluate the knowledge of physiotherapists regarding the legal requirements for record keeping and to collect their feedback about record keeping in general. Three physiotherapists from various professional practice groups and a lawyer specialised in health law developed a questionnaire that was sent to the 7,753 members of two existing national associations of physiotherapists. The questionnaire evaluated the participants' knowledge by calculating a score of legal knowledge, which had a maximum of 30 points. We included 825 questionnaires in the analysis. The large majority (83.4%) of participants confessed an ignorance of the legal requirements concerning record keeping prior to the survey. The average score of legal compatibility was 8 points. The younger age of the physiotherapists was a significant predictor of having knowledge of the legal requirements for record keeping (p <0.001). The participants had an appreciation of the value of records, but they did not have the relevant knowledge regarding the legal requirements for keeping records. The participants blamed a lack of time and remuneration for their failure to keep records according to known requirements. All practising allied health professionals should keep up-to-date and accurate records that conform to active legal requirements and existing international guidelines. In addition to the existing legal requirements, the emergence of e-health and the electronic era will trigger major changes in patient record management by physiotherapists.

Aplicación de software de interpolación en las evaluaciones hidroacústicas de la biomasa y distribución de recursos pelágicos

Propone una alternativa para el procesamiento de datos de ecointegración acústica cuando se pretende obtener la distribución y el nivel de biomasa de recursos marinos, mediante la aplicación de un software de interpolación de datos.

KemapMobile: una adaptación de la herramienta software KeMap a la plataforma Android

Este trabajo describe el proceso de creación de la herramienta de software KemapMobile para la plataforma Android. El artefacto es una adaptación del software de escritorio KeMap que se integra en la plataforma educativa VerilUOC y permite a los estudiantes conectarse a ella para descargar, en la aplicación, ejercicios con los que poner a prueba y afianzar sus conocimientos sobre la simplificación de funciones lógicas booleanas con mapas de Karnaugh y tablas de verdad. La arquitectura cliente-servidor de la aplicación permite a los estudiantes disponer de ejercicios personalizados y al profesorado obtener datos sobre el uso de la herramienta y sobre la progresión del alumnado.