scholarly journals Information system for epidemic control: a computational solution addressing successful experiences and main challenges

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Guilherme Conceição Rocha ◽  
Henrique Mohallem Paiva ◽  
Davi Gonçalves Sanches ◽  
Daniel Fiks ◽  
Rafael Martins Castro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Information System ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Practical Implementation ◽  
Automatic Identification ◽  
Technical Solution ◽  
Epidemic Control ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Contamination Risk ◽  
Health Authorities

PurposeThe SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has caused a major impact on worldwide public health and economics. The lessons learned from the successful attempts to contain the pandemic escalation revealed that the wise usage of contact tracing and information systems can widely help the containment work of any contagious disease. In this context, this paper investigates other researches on this domain, as well as the main issues related to the practical implementation of such systems and specifies a technical solution.Design/methodology/approachThe proposed solution is based on the automatic identification of relevant contacts between infected or suspected people with susceptible people; inference of contamination risk based on symptoms history, user navigation records and contact information; real-time georeferenced information of population density of infected or suspect people; and automatic individual social distancing recommendation calculated through the individual contamination risk and the worsening of clinical condition risk.FindingsThe solution was specified, prototyped and evaluated by potential users and health authorities. The proposed solution has the potential of becoming a reference on how to coordinate the efforts of health authorities and the population on epidemic control.Originality/valueThis paper proposed an original information system for epidemic control which was applied for the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and could be easily extended to other epidemics.

scholarly journals Introducing Lean Six Sigma to a German municipality: an action research report

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 221-237 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ingo Kregel ◽  
André Coners
Keyword(s):  
Action Research ◽  
Public Sector ◽  
Six Sigma ◽  
Lean Six Sigma ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Research Report ◽  
Practical Implementation ◽  
Communication Management ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public

Purpose This paper aims to expand the knowledge about Lean Six Sigma (LSS) implementation in the public sector. By analyzing an LSS improvement initiative in a German municipality, examples of success, barriers and challenges are discussed. A comparison with literature regarding the production and service sectors unfolds similarities and differences. Design/methodology/approach The paper applies the action research method. Especially for the broad field of project management, methods focusing on actual experience from practice have been recommended by many researchers. Findings Implementations of LSS in the public sector seem to be particularly challenging and lengthy. Change and communication management have proved to be the most important aspects to successful acceptance, cooperation and improvement sustainability. In the analyzed cases, the needed volume of data could often not be procured. The applied Six Sigma methodology primarily included the DMAIC project phases as well as selected standard instruments. In contrast, the lean elements of LSS achieved more results and were appreciated by project team members. Originality/value The LSS application in this paper provides insights into practical implementation experience in a municipality, as well as lessons learned. Until now, most research addressed the single application of lean, continuous improvement or Six Sigma. This paper represents the first academic report of a LSS program in a German municipality and underlines the need for scientific support of those initiatives in further municipalities worldwide.

scholarly journals FM and clinical employees' involvement in the design of eight Norwegian hospital projects

Facilities ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marit Støre-Valen
Keyword(s):  
Social Impact ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Information Modeling ◽  
Technical Solution ◽  
Design Phase ◽  
Hospital Organization ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Wide Range

Purpose This paper aims to gain insight in how the involvement of facilities management (FM) and clinical employees are practiced in new Norwegian hospital projects and to study the benefits and lessons learned from the involvement. Design/methodology/approach This study is conducted by cross-sectional case studies of eight hospital projects by using a literature review, interviews and document studies of FM and clinical employees and project leaders (PLs) among Sykehusbygg. Findings The service design approach with a structured interaction between the PL’s of Sykehusbygg, and the different disciplines of clinical employees and FM specialist was rewarding and efficient. The facilitator role of Sykehusbygg is essential to manage such a broad and complex involvement process using a wide range of various techniques at the different stages of the projects (dialogue meetings, review meetings, workshops, post-it notes, 2-D drawings, mock-up and 3-D models, as well as virtual reality (VR) and Building Information Modeling technology). The clinical employees’ framework is stronger and much more structured than the involvement of FM competences through the different stages of the projects. The property management competences were involved at the early concept phase and design phase, whereas the Operation and Maintenance (O&M) competences were getting involved through the construction and commissioning phase. The value of FM involvement in all stages of the project is seen beneficial, particularly when the FM specialist become a part of the design team and located physically at the same place. The main reported benefits of early FM involvement are cost-effective technical solutions and installations, less design flaws and improved functionality, as well as a stronger ownership and mutual respect between the clinical and FM disciplines. However, not all hospital organizations see the benefits of the FM involvement of all stages, as they are driven by reducing capital cost. In one of the new projects, other ways of involving the FM competences were tested. Additionally, particularly for the O&M competences, a dialogue meeting with a clear focus of sharing experiences with different technical solution was found rewarding in terms of cost benefits. Research limitations/implications This study does not consider the social impact of the choices made in the design phase. The findings also indicated a certain development of the FM involvement. This is not studied in two of the newest projects where they are still in the design phase and the FM role was not interviewed. Practical implications The PL role is important as a facilitator role of the involvement process. Social implications A dialogue meeting with a group of O&M people was found rewarding and valuable for knowledge sharing. This methodology can be further developed and tested, as this group of stakeholders is not always available for giving input in the project. Originality/value The value of this study is the description of the interaction between the PLs and the hospital organization in the eight projects and lessons learned by the involvement of FM competences and clinical employees.

scholarly journals Integrating maternal and child health data into the Iraqi Kurdistan health information system

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Haveen H. Alsilefanee ◽  
Sivar A. Qadir ◽  
Shahla O. Salih ◽  
Luma H. Alhanabadi ◽  
Leonardo Emberti Gialloreti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Information System ◽  
Child Health ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Health Information System ◽  
Health Data ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Iraqi Kurdistan ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
And Child Health

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to present the workflow on the integration of Maternal and Child Health Care Services (MCHCS) into the electronic Health Information System of the Iraqi Kurdistan (KRG-HIS).Design/methodology/approachAs part of the cooperation between the University of Rome Tor Vergata-Italy and the Iraqi Kurdistan Ministry of Health, six PhD positions were granted for Iraqi students to create a local team of experts with the aim of supporting the scaling-up of the KRG-HIS. After specific training, the team then trained the staff members of the health centers, met health authorities and analyzed the local scenario to ensure that the KRG-HIS could be better tailored to regional needs. In 2019, the integration of MCHCS into the KRG-HIS was one of the main areas of research.FindingsHealth data collection was mostly paper-based, which made vital statistics and evaluation of outcomes difficult to measure. More than 15,000 paper-files from the Duhok Obstetrics and Gynaecology Hospital were retrieved from storage. Then data entered in the KRG-HIS. Theoretical and practical training sessions were conducted for local staff members, with 183 health operators already having been trained. Daily supervision of the online system and field visits were ensured.Originality/valueThere is a need to support health authorities in improving data collection on MCHCS, ensuring the future self-sufficiency of the HIS. Key to the process is the creation of a specialized team of local experts with the objective of “training the trainers”.

scholarly journals Effective vibration-based condition monitoring (eVCM) of rotating machines

2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 279-296 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akilu Yunusa-kaltungo ◽  
Jyoti K. Sinha
Keyword(s):  
Frequency Domain ◽  
Condition Monitoring ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Practical Implementation ◽  
Rotating Machines ◽  
Data Combination ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Vibration Data ◽  
Rotating Machine ◽  
Faults Diagnosis

Purpose The purpose of this paper is mainly to highlight how a simplified and streamlined approach to the condition monitoring (CM) of industrial rotating machines through the application of frequency domain data combination can effectively enhance the eMaintenance framework. Design/methodology/approach The paper commences by providing an overview to the relevance of maintenance excellence within manufacturing industries, with particular emphasis on the roles that rotating machines CM of rotating machines plays. It then proceeds to provide details of the eMaintenance as well as its possible alignment with the introduced concept of effective vibration-based condition monitoring (eVCM) of rotating machines. The subsequent sections of the paper respectively deal with explanations of data combination approaches, experimental setups used to generate vibration data and the theory of eVCM. Findings This paper investigates how a simplified vibration-based rotating machinery faults classification method based on frequency domain data combination can increase the feasibility and practicality of eMaintenance. Research limitations/implications The eVCM approach is based on classifying data acquired under several experimentally simulated conditions on two different machines using combined higher order signal processing parameters so as to reduce CM data requirements. Although the current study was solely based on the application of vibration data acquired from rotating machines, the knowledge exchange platform that currently dominates present day scientific research makes it very likely that the lessons learned from the development of eVCM concept can be easily transferred to other scientific domains that involve continuous CM such as medicine. Practical implications The concept of eMaintenance as a cost-effective and smart means of increasing the autonomy of maintenance activities within industries is rapidly growing in maintenance-related literatures. As viable as the concept appears, the achievement of its optimum objectives and full deployment to the industry is still subjective due to the complexity and data intensiveness of conventional CM practices. In this paper, an eVCM approach is proposed so that rotating machine faults can be effectively detected and classified without the need for repetitive analysis of measured data. Social implications The main strength of eVCM lies in the fact that it permits the sharing of historical vibration data between identical rotating machines irrespective of their foundation structures and speed differences. Since eMaintenance is concerned with driving maintenance excellence, eVCM can potentially contribute towards its optimisation as it cost-effectively streamlines faults diagnosis. This therefore implies that the simplification of vibration-based CM of rotating machines positively impacts the society with regard to the possibility of reducing how much time is actually spent on the accurate detection and classification of faults. Originality/value Although the currently existing body of literature already contains studies that have attempted to show how the combination of measured vibration data from several industrial machines can be used to establish a universal vibration-based faults diagnosis benchmark for incorporation into eMaintenance framework, these studies are limited in the scope of faults, severity and rotational speeds considered. In the current study, the concept of multi-faults, multi-sensor, multi-speed and multi-rotating machine data combination approach using frequency domain data fusion and principal components analysis is presented so that faults diagnosis features for identical rotating machines with different foundations can be shared between industrial plants. Hence, the value of the current study particularly lies in the fact that it significantly highlights a new dimension through which the practical implementation and operation of eMaintenance can be realized using big data management and data combination approaches.

Twenty years of S&T priority setting in Russia: lessons learned

foresight ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 449-466
Author(s):  
Anna Sokolova ◽  
Anna Grebenyuk ◽  
Alexander Sokolov
Keyword(s):  
Priority Setting ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Practical Implementation ◽  
Key Factors ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Team Members ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
History Of ◽  
Further Development ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This paper aims to present a retrospective analysis of the experience gained in the course of 20 years’ history of S&T priority setting and critical technologies’ identification, in terms of expected and actually achieved effects and lessons learned. Design/methodology/approach The methodology is based on analysing project documentation and reports, as well as on interviewing project team members. Each project’s effects are evaluated in terms of the six key foresight functions. Findings The key factors affecting success of priority S&T areas and critical technologies’ selection and implementation have been identified. They include focusing on practical implementation, linking S&T with socio-economic goals, combining thematic priorities with infrastructural and functional ones, as well as integrating priority selection in the S&T policy process. Research limitations implications The task of evaluating priority setting exercises over a long period requires a substantial information base to provide a comprehensive comparative analysis. The projects considered in the paper also need to be analysed in a context of socio-economic development. Practical implications The lessons learned presented in the paper could contribute to further development of approaches to selecting science and technology priorities and critical technologies, and their more efficient implementation. Originality value Priority setting has significant influence on policymaking and decision-making at the national and industry level. The evaluation of a unique 20-year experience provides substantial information and practical hints for further increasing efficacy of this instrument.

Integrating IR with CRIS – a novel researcher-centric approach

2017 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 298-321 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henryk Rybinski ◽  
Lukasz Skonieczny ◽  
Jakub Koperwas ◽  
Waclaw Struk ◽  
Jolanta Stepniak ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Information System ◽  
Academic Community ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Research Management ◽  
Research Information ◽  
Content Type ◽  
University Of Technology ◽  
Practical Usefulness ◽  
Analytical Tools

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present a solution for building an institutional information system (IIS) for the university, so that it combines the functionality of institutional repository (IR) with the functionality of current research information system (CRIS). The paper presents functionality of a system that has been implemented at Warsaw University of Technology (WUT), which solves the requirements of both system types. In addition, applied AI technologies aiming at providing features attractive for the system beneficiaries are presented. Design/methodology/approach The authors have reviewed various approaches to IIS, analyzed the problems observed by researchers in combining CRIS with IR, and have shown how the problems can be solved within a system that integrates various functionalities. Based on this analysis, the authors have implemented software Ω-ΨR (OMEGA-PSIR) for an academic IIS, which integrates requirements of both system types, and then deployed it at WUT. Findings It is shown that although a classical repository is an important part of the CRIS/IR system, the essential value of the solution is in providing analytical tools for “research management.” Based on the example of OMEGA-PSIR, the authors have also presented how the researcher-centric approach influences the acceptance rate of the academic community. It is also shown how the researcher-centric approach can take advantage from integrating the conflicting functionalities of IR and CRIS. Practical implications The paper bridges the gap between theory and practice in the area of IIS for academic institutions. It constructively discusses the role of institutional IR and it provides guides how to develop a system combining functionalities of CRIS and IR, as well as how to make IIS more attractive for the users by making the system researcher centric. Originality/value The survey of various approaches to IIS is unique. The research-centric approach and its implementation within OMEGA-PSIR system are original. Lessons learned from deploying the software at the WUT are of great value for institutions planning to install IR/CRIS solutions. A survey research concerning the system usability is provided, showing practical usefulness of the proposed approach.

NEURAL NETWORK METHOD OF ADAPTING THE PARAMETERS OF THE INFORMATION SYSTEMS INTERFACE

2020 ◽  
pp. 26-31
Author(s):  
А.Д. Обухов ◽  
М.Н. Краснянский ◽  
М.С. Николюкин
Keyword(s):  
Neural Networks ◽  
Information System ◽  
Information Systems ◽  
Statistical Processing ◽  
Low Complexity ◽  
User Preferences ◽  
Expert Assessment ◽  
Practical Implementation ◽  
Algorithmic Support ◽  
Interface Parameters

Рассматривается проблема выбора оптимальных параметров интерфейса в информационных системах с целью его персонализации под предпочтения пользователя и возможности его оборудования. В настоящее время для ее решения используется алгоритмическое обеспечение и статистическая обработка предпочтений пользователей, что не обеспечивает достаточной гибкости и точности. Поэтому в данной работе предлагается применение разработанного метода адаптации параметров интерфейса, основанного на анализе и обработке пользовательской информации с помощью нейронных сетей. Научная новизна метода заключается в автоматизации сбора, анализа данных и настройки интерфейса за счет использования и интеграции нейронных сетей в информационную систему. Рассмотрена практическая реализация предлагаемого метода на Python. Экспертная оценка адаптивности интерфейса тестовой информационной системы после внедрения разработанного метода показала его перспективность и эффективность. Разработанный метод показывает лучшую точность и низкую сложность программной реализации относительно классического алгоритмического подхода. Полученные результаты могут использоваться для автоматизации процесса выбора компонентов интерфейса различных информационных систем. Дальнейшие исследования заключаются в развитии и интеграции разработанного метода в рамках фреймворка адаптации информационных систем Here we consider the problem of choosing the optimal parameters of the interface in information systems with the aim of personalizing it for the preferences of the user and the capabilities of his equipment. Currently, algorithmic support and statistical processing of user preferences are used to solve it, which does not provide sufficient flexibility and accuracy. Therefore, in this work, we propose the application of the developed method for adapting interface parameters based on the analysis and processing of user information using neural networks. The scientific novelty of the method is to automate the collection, analysis of data and interface settings through the use and integration of neural networks in the information system. We consider the practical implementation of the proposed method in Python. An expert assessment of the adaptability of the interface of the test information system after the implementation of the developed method showed its availability and efficiency. The developed method shows the best accuracy and low complexity of software implementation relative to the classical algorithmic approach. The results obtained can be used to automate the selection of interface components for various information systems. Further research consists in the development and integration of the developed method within the framework of the information systems adaptation framework

scholarly journals User-driven efforts in creating knowledge graph information system

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 97-111
Author(s):  
Stanislava Gardasevic
Keyword(s):  
Information System ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Resource Discovery ◽  
The Body ◽  
Knowledge Graph ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Study Objective ◽  
Content Type

Purpose This paper presents the results of a qualitative study that involved students of an interdisciplinary PhD program. The study objective was to gather requirements to create a knowledge graph information system. The purpose of this study was to determine information-seeking practices and information needs of this community, to inform the functionalities of a proposed system, intended to help students with relevant resource discovery and decision-making. Design/methodology/approach The study design included semi-structured interviews with eight members of the community, followed by a website usability study with the same student participants. Findings Two main information-seeking styles are recognized and reported through user personas of international and domestic (USA) students. The findings show that the useful information resides within the community and not so much on the program website. Students rely on peer communication, although they report lack of opportunities to connect. Students’ information needs and information seeking are dependent on their progress through the program, as well as their motivation and the projected timeline. Practical implications Considering the current information needs and practices, a knowledge graph hosting both information on social networks and the knowledge produced by the activities of the community members would be useful. By recording data on their activities (for example, collaboration with professors and coursework), students would reveal further useful system functionalities and facilitate transfer of tacit knowledge. Originality/value Aside from the practical value of this research that is directly influencing the design of a system, it contributes to the body of knowledge on interdisciplinary PhD programs.

scholarly journals Fueling the Covid-19 pandemic: summer school holidays and incidence rates in German districts

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Plümper ◽  
Eric Neumayer
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Summer School ◽  
Incidence Rates ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Robert Koch Institute ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Holiday Period ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Public Health Authorities

AbstractBackgroundThe Robert-Koch-Institute reports that during the summer holiday period a foreign country is stated as the most likely place of infection for an average of 27 and a maximum of 49% of new SARS-CoV-2 infections in Germany.MethodsCross-sectional study on observational data. In Germany, summer school holidays are coordinated between states and spread out over 13 weeks. Employing a dynamic model with district fixed effects, we analyze the association between these holidays and weekly incidence rates across 401 German districts.ResultsWe find effects of the holiday period of around 45% of the average district incidence rates in Germany during their respective final week of holidays and the 2 weeks after holidays end. Western states tend to experience stronger effects than Eastern states. We also find statistically significant interaction effects of school holidays with per capita taxable income and the share of foreign residents in a district’s population.ConclusionsOur results suggest that changed behavior during the holiday season accelerated the pandemic and made it considerably more difficult for public health authorities to contain the spread of the virus by means of contact tracing. Germany’s public health authorities did not prepare adequately for this acceleration.

First steps for a library publisher

2015 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 76-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
Somaly Kim Wu ◽  
Heather McCullough
Keyword(s):  
Open Access ◽  
Electronic Publishing ◽  
Academic Library ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Journal Publishing ◽  
Digital Scholarship ◽  
Publishing Services ◽  
Communication Policies ◽  
The University

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to presents the very recent development of e-journal publishing services at the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Charlotte. In 2011, the J. Murrey Atkins Library at UNC Charlotte created a new unit in the library, the Digital Scholarship Lab (DSL), which partners with faculty and graduate students in the use of digital and networked research tools to create, disseminate and store new knowledge. E-journal publishing and hosting are among the suite of services offered by the DSL, and we currently publish three journals (https://journals.uncc.edu/). Design/methodology/approach – This report provides an overview of the context of our library’s decision to begin publishing journals, including a discussion of our university’s becoming more research-intensive, our university system mandating increased efficiencies and sharing research with the state citizens, and the library’s own goals of raising awareness of and supporting open access. Also outlined are the technical and procedural choices made, important activities undertaken to develop, define and publicize the new services, campus response to the service and next steps. Findings – This report provides detailed accounting of how a large academic library implemented an electronic publishing service to support open access scholarship. Important activities such as marketing communication, policies development and technical/procedural activities are defined and results described. The report provides observation and lessons learned for academic libraries in development and support of electronic journals. Originality/value – Library as the publisher is a new concept. This report will be of interest to many libraries who are considering offering publishing services and to libraries that currently offer publishing services.

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