An interactive application for malaria elimination transmission and costing in the Asia-Pacific

Leaders in the Asia-Pacific have endorsed an ambitious target to eliminate malaria in the region by 2030. The emergence and spread of artemisinin drug resistance in the Greater Mekong Subregion makes elimination urgent and strategic for the global goal of malaria eradication. Mathematical modelling is a useful tool for assessing and comparing different elimination strategies and scenarios to inform policymakers. Mathematical models are especially relevant in this context because of the wide heterogeneity of regional, country and local settings, which means that different strategies are needed to eliminate malaria. However, models and their predictions can be seen as highly technical, limiting their use for decision making. Simplified applications of models are needed to allow policy makers to benefit from these valuable tools. This paper describes a method for communicating complex model results with a user-friendly and intuitive framework. Using open-source technologies, we designed and developed an interactive application to disseminate the modelling results for malaria elimination. The design was iteratively improved while the application was being piloted and extensively tested by a diverse range of researchers and decision makers. This application allows several target audiences to explore, navigate and visualise complex datasets and models generated in the context of malaria elimination. It allows widespread access, use of and interpretation of models, generated at great effort and expense as well as enabling them to remain relevant for a longer period of time. It has long been acknowledged that scientific results need to be repackaged for larger audiences. We demonstrate that modellers can include applications as part of the dissemination strategy of their findings. We highlight that there is a need for additional research in order to provide guidelines and direction for designing and developing effective applications for disseminating models.

Download Full-text

An interactive application for malaria elimination transmission and costing in the Asia-Pacific

Wellcome Open Research ◽

10.12688/wellcomeopenres.14770.1 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 4 ◽

pp. 61 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Olivier J. Celhay ◽

Sheetal Prakash Silal ◽

Richard James Maude ◽

Chris Erwin Gran Mercado ◽

Rima Shretta ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Malaria Elimination ◽

Complex Model ◽

Asia Pacific ◽

Great Effort ◽

Dissemination Strategy ◽

Diverse Range ◽

Interactive Application ◽

Scientific Results ◽

Widespread Access ◽

User Friendly

Download Full-text

Malaria elimination transmission and costing in the Asia-Pacific: Developing an investment case

Wellcome Open Research ◽

10.12688/wellcomeopenres.14769.2 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 ◽

pp. 60 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Rima Shretta ◽

Sheetal Prakash Silal ◽

Olivier J. Celhay ◽

Chris Erwin Gran Mercado ◽

Shwe Sin Kyaw ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health System ◽

Malaria Elimination ◽

Return On Investment ◽

Premature Death ◽

Economic Benefits ◽

Asia Pacific ◽

Transmission Model ◽

Mortality And Morbidity ◽

Lost Productivity ◽

Coverage Rates

Background: The Asia-Pacific region has made significant progress against malaria, reducing cases and deaths by over 50% between 2010 and 2015. These gains have been facilitated in part, by strong political and financial commitment of governments and donors. However, funding gaps and persistent health system challenges threaten further progress. Achieving the regional goal of malaria elimination by 2030 will require an intensification of efforts and a plan for sustainable financing. This article presents an investment case for malaria elimination to facilitate these efforts. Methods: A transmission model was developed to project rates of decline of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax malaria and the output was used to determine the cost of the interventions that would be needed for elimination by 2030. In total, 80 scenarios were modelled under various assumptions of resistance and intervention coverage. The mortality and morbidity averted were estimated and health benefits were monetized by calculating the averted cost to the health system, individual households, and society. The full-income approach was used to estimate the economic impact of lost productivity due to premature death and illness, and a return on investment was computed. Results: The study estimated that malaria elimination in the region by 2030 could be achieved at a cost of USD 29.02 billion (range: USD 23.65-36.23 billion) between 2017 and 2030. Elimination would save over 400,000 lives and avert 123 million malaria cases, translating to almost USD 90 billion in economic benefits. Discontinuing vector control interventions and reducing treatment coverage rates to 50% will result in an additional 845 million cases, 3.5 million deaths, and excess costs of USD 7 billion. Malaria elimination provides a 6:1 return on investment. Conclusion: This investment case provides compelling evidence for the benefits of continued prioritization of funding for malaria and can be used to develop an advocacy strategy.

Download Full-text

R3SOLVE: A Serious Game to Support End-of-Life Rooftop Solar Panel Waste Management

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su132212418 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (22) ◽

pp. 12418

Author(s):

Hengky Salim ◽

Rodney Anthony Stewart ◽

Oz Sahin ◽

Birthe Sagstad ◽

Michael Dudley

Keyword(s):

End Of Life ◽

Extrinsic Motivation ◽

Complex Model ◽

Solar Panel ◽

Serious Game ◽

Promotional Effort ◽

Systems Model ◽

Evaluation Approach ◽

Goal Clarity ◽

User Friendly

A complex systems model is necessary to holistically address the end-of-life (EoL) solar panel waste problem. However, there is a significant challenge in communicating such a model to stakeholders. Serious games can overcome this challenge by simplifying a complex model via a user-friendly interface. It enables stakeholders to experiment with different decisions and understand their long-term impacts in a safe environment. In this paper, a serious game called R3SOLVE was designed from a previously developed system dynamics (SD) model. The goal of the game is to achieve certain collection and recovery outcomes through a mix of decisions ranging from product stewardship strategies, landfill regulation, technological investment, promotional effort, reuse strategy, and infrastructure improvement. The game has a single player mode, where a player can access all decisions, and a multiplayer (turn-based) mode, where two players with different roles work collaboratively to achieve the desired outcome. Rewards and penalties also exist in the game to promote players’ extrinsic motivation to use critical thinking. Both game modes have been tested in separate workshops to identify bugs and issues regarding goal clarity and in-game information. Future directions to conduct stakeholder workshops and the evaluation approach are also suggested at the end of this paper.

Download Full-text

473 A Review of The Risk Stratification Models Used in The Management of Oncological Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgical Patients

British Journal of Surgery ◽

10.1093/bjs/znab259.668 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 108 (Supplement_6) ◽

Author(s):

A Coombs ◽

C Jordan ◽

S Hussain ◽

O Ghandour

Keyword(s):

Decision Aids ◽

Scoring Systems ◽

Prognostic Scores ◽

Clinical Implementation ◽

Diverse Range ◽

Ovid Medline ◽

Current Trends ◽

Patient Groups ◽

Evidenced Based ◽

User Friendly

Abstract Introduction Oncological scoring systems in surgery are used as evidence-based decision aids to best support management through assessing prognosis, effectiveness and recurrence. Currently, the use of scoring systems in the hepato-pancreato-biliary (HPB) subspecialty is limited as concerns over precision and applicability prevent widespread clinical implementation. The aim of the review is to discuss clinically useful oncological scoring systems for the surgical management of HPB patients. Method Primary articles of validated novel and established scoring systems were searched over a 25-year period using PubMed, Cochrane and Ovid Medline. Results This review discusses 9 clinically useful scoring systems in cancers of the liver (CLIP, BCLC, ALBI Grade, RETREAT, Fong et al.), pancreas (Genc et al., mGPS) and biliary tract (TMHSS, MEGNA). CLIP and BCLC are extensively validated prognostic tools, with BCLC clinically endorsed by guidelines. Conversely, patient and treatment stratification is limited in CLIP and BCLC respectively - ALBI works to improve patient stratification. RETREAT, Fong et al. and Genc et al. scores predict recurrence following surgery, however these scores require further validation in heterogenous patient groups. mGPS and MEGNA are simple prognostic scores, but also require further validation in varied patient cohorts. TMHSS is user-friendly, however is limited at discriminating treatment for the middle patient group. Conclusion A diverse range of HPB surgical scoring systems may facilitate evidenced-based treatment decisions and improve management. Future scoring systems need to be developed on heterogenous patient cohorts with improved stratification, with current trends towards implementing machine learning and genetics to improve outcome prediction.

Download Full-text

Predicting the cost of malaria elimination in the Asia-Pacific

Wellcome Open Research Channels ◽

10.12688/wellcomeopenres.channels.214 ◽

2019 ◽

Keyword(s):

Malaria Elimination ◽

Asia Pacific ◽

The Cost

Download Full-text

Malaria elimination gaining ground in the Asia Pacific

Malaria Journal ◽

10.1186/1475-2875-11-346 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Roly D Gosling ◽

Maxine Whittaker ◽

Cara Smith Gueye ◽

Nancy Fullman ◽

Mario Baquilod ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Malaria Elimination ◽

Asia Pacific

Download Full-text

The PBase Scientific Workflow Provenance Repository

International Journal of Digital Curation ◽

10.2218/ijdc.v9i2.332 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 28-38 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Víctor Cuevas-Vicenttín ◽

Parisa Kianmajd ◽

Bertram Ludäscher ◽

Paolo Missier ◽

Fernando Chirigati ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Scientific Workflow ◽

Scientific Workflows ◽

Data Reuse ◽

Data Intensive ◽

Research Collaborations ◽

Provenance Data ◽

Scientific Experiments ◽

History Of ◽

Scientific Results ◽

User Friendly

Scientific workflows and their supporting systems are becoming increasingly popular for compute-intensive and data-intensive scientific experiments. The advantages scientific workflows offer include rapid and easy workflow design, software and data reuse, scalable execution, sharing and collaboration, and other advantages that altogether facilitate “reproducible science”. In this context, provenance – information about the origin, context, derivation, ownership, or history of some artifact – plays a key role, since scientists are interested in examining and auditing the results of scientific experiments. However, in order to perform such analyses on scientific results as part of extended research collaborations, an adequate environment and tools are required. Concretely, the need arises for a repository that will facilitate the sharing of scientific workflows and their associated execution traces in an interoperable manner, also enabling querying and visualization. Furthermore, such functionality should be supported while taking performance and scalability into account. With this purpose in mind, we introduce PBase: a scientific workflow provenance repository implementing the ProvONE proposed standard, which extends the emerging W3C PROV standard for provenance data with workflow specific concepts. PBase is built on the Neo4j graph database, thus offering capabilities such as declarative and efficient querying. Our experiences demonstrate the power gained by supporting various types of queries for provenance data. In addition, PBase is equipped with a user friendly interface tailored for the visualization of scientific workflow provenance data, making the specification of queries and the interpretation of their results easier and more effective.

Download Full-text

Malaria elimination in the Asia‐Pacific: Going the last mile

Asia & the Pacific Policy Studies ◽

10.1002/app5.335 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Vivian Lin ◽

Tikki Pangestu

Keyword(s):

Malaria Elimination ◽

Asia Pacific ◽

Last Mile

Download Full-text

An Interactive Animated Comic of Paedophile Awareness for Children

International Journal of Recent Technology and Engineering - 2 ◽

10.35940/ijrte.a1501.059120 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 332-337

Keyword(s):

Primary School ◽

School Children ◽

Research Methodology ◽

Interactive Multimedia ◽

Primary School Children ◽

Design Development ◽

Analysis And Design ◽

Research Activities ◽

Interactive Application ◽

User Friendly

Paedophile is an issue that can cause nightmare to children who have become victims as they are likely to suffer physically and emotionally for the rest of their lives. Paedophile awareness is still generally low among Malaysians, especially children, that a creative and attractive method is required to deliver the crucial message. This research focused on the integration of animated comic and interactive multimedia using storytelling elements to create awareness about paedophile. Scenes embedded with the message are put into comic form to attract children’s attention and increase their understanding. Therefore, this study aims to develop an interactive application, called ‘i-ComPedo’ (Interactive Animated Comic of Paedophile Awareness among Children. The study adapts 3-phases research activities for the research methodology, which are analysis and design, development and testing. In order to evaluate the usability of ‘i-ComPedo’, this study conducted usability that involved primary school children. The usability test revealed that 91.3% of the children perceived ‘i-ComPedo’ as an interesting, understandable, user-friendly courseware. As a conclusion, an interactive animated comic has been developed to offer a new and innovative approach in instilling awareness among children about paedophile.

Download Full-text