Zero-knowledge identity authentication for internet of vehicles: Improvement and application

The popularity of Internet of Vehicles (IoV) has made people's driving environment more comfortable and convenient. However, with the integration of external networks and the vehicle networks, the vulnerabilities of the Controller Area Network (CAN) are exposed, allowing attackers to remotely invade vehicle networks through external devices. Based on the remote attack model for vulnerabilities of the in-vehicle CAN, we designed an efficient and safe identity authentication scheme based on Feige-Fiat-Shamir (FFS) zero-knowledge identification scheme with extremely high soundness. We used the method of zero-one reversal and two-to-one verification to solve the problem that FFS cannot effectively resist guessing attacks. Then, we carried out a theoretical analysis of the scheme's security and evaluated it on the software and hardware platform. Finally, regarding time overhead, under the same parameters, compared with the existing scheme, the scheme can complete the authentication within 6.1ms without having to go through multiple rounds of interaction, which reduces the additional authentication delay and enables all private keys to participate in one round of authentication, thereby eliminating the possibility that a private key may not be involved in the original protocol. Regarding security and soundness, as long as private keys are not cracked, the scheme can resist guessing attacks, which is more secure than the existing scheme.

Anonymity preserving and round effective three-party authentication key exchange protocol based on chaotic maps

Three-party authentication key exchange (3PAKE) is a protocol that allows two users to set up a common session key with the help of a trusted remote server, which is effective for secret communication between clients in a large-scale network environment. Since chaotic maps have superior characteristics, researchers have recently presented some of the studies that apply it to authentication key exchange and cryptography. Providing user anonymity in the authentication key exchange is one of the important security requirements to protect users' personal secrets. We analyse Lu et al.'s scheme which attempts to provide user anonymity and we prove that his scheme has errors in the key exchange phase and password change phase. We propose a round-effective three-party authentication key exchange (3PAKE) protocol that provides user anonymity and we analyse its security properties based on BAN logic and AVISPA tool.

Designing Mobile Applications for Emergency Response: Citizens Acting as Human Sensors

When an emergency occurs, citizens can be a helpful support for the operation centers involved in the response activities. As witnesses to a crisis, they initially can share updated and detailed information about what is going on. Moreover, thanks to the current technological evolution people are able to quickly and easily gather rich information and transmit it through different communication channels. Indeed, modern mobile devices embed several sensors such as GPS receivers, Wi-Fi, accelerometers or cameras that can transform users into well-equipped human sensors. For these reasons, emergency organizations and small and medium enterprises have demonstrated a growing interest in developing smart applications for reporting any exceptional circumstances. In this paper, we present a practical study about this kind of applications for identifying both limitations and common features. Based on a study of relevant existent contributions in this area and our personal direct experience in developing and evaluating emergency management solutions, our aim is to propose several findings about how to design effective and efficient mobile emergency notification applications. For this purpose we have exploited the basic sensors of modern mobile devices and the users’ aptitude for using them. The evaluation consists of a practical and a theoretical part. In the practical part, we have simulated a traffic accident as closely as possible to a real scenario, with a victim lying on the ground near a car in the middle of a street. For the theoretical part, we have interviewed some emergency experts for collecting their opinions about the utility of the proposed solution. Results from this evaluation phase confirm the positive impact that EN application have for both operators’ and citizens’ perspective. Moreover, we collected several findings useful for future design challenges in the same area, as shown in the final redesign of the proposed application.

The general use of outdoor warning sirens: a preliminary survey of emergency managers

With more direct, personal warning systems becoming popular, the continued maintenance of older warning systems, such as outdoor warning sirens, may be jeopardized as emergency managers (EMs) seek to optimize their limited budgets. However, the extent to which sirens are embedded into the American landscape and culture argues against their removal. To better quantify the distribution and use of outdoor warning sirens, an international survey of EMs was conducted to learn more about where siren systems are deployed and how they are operated. Approximately 593 respondents started the 31 question survey with 383 completing it. Questions were asked regarding siren network size, alternative warning systems, siren use and capabilities, and testing. For those without sirens, a series of questions were asked for why sirens were not used. In general, a lack of perceived threat, high costs, and large geographic area kept some jurisdictions from installing sirens. Of those that operate siren networks, half of networks are small (≤10 sirens), while a small percentage of jurisdictions (6.3 percent) operate very large networks (>100). A large majority of respondents expected to maintain or expand their networks within the next 5 years. Three-quarters of respondents use additional warning systems. Nearly half of respondents use sirens for nonweather applications, and nearly two-thirds have the capability to use multiple sound alerts. Overall, sirens remain a popular tool for warning on a variety of local hazards though how the sirens are operated and tested vary widely by jurisdiction.

Understanding and De-risking the Dependencies between Operator and Manufacturer of Clinical IT

Health IT, in addition to benefits can also have unintended consequences both in terms of operational and business risks. Understanding the dependencies between operator and manufacturer as well as issues that need to be addressed during procurement is essential to increase confidence in the operation of health IT. The paper provides the context, and a number of issues health IT operators such as clinical organisations, need to investigate during acquisition of health IT.

Comprehension and acceptability of on-board traffic information: Beliefs and driving behaviour

Co-Drive on-board traffic information system is a complementary tool providing a dynamic management of transportation infrastructure and traffic as well as the diffusion of accurate real-time information about the road environment and motorists' driving behaviour. The aim of this study was to examine drivers' acceptability of Co-Drive by investigating the impact of traffic information provided via on-board display devices on motorists' beliefs and behaviour. 116 drivers (Men=46.6%), between 22 and 62 years, participated to a driving simulator experiment. They were randomly divided into two experimental groups according to the type of display device (Blackberry vs. iPhone) and a control group. The experimental groups were exposed to fourteen on-board traffic messages: warning (e.g., road crash), recommendation (e.g., the use of seat-belt) and comfort messages (e.g., the location of a gas station). They had to validate each message by pushing the headlight flashing button as soon as they understood it. At the end, all participants had to fill in a questionnaire. Drivers evaluated positively the on-board messages, expressed a high level of confidence in the on-board information and estimated having received it sufficiently in advance for them to adjust their behaviour. Regardless of the type of display device, they took more time to read warning and recommendation messages as compared to comfort messages and complied with them. Finally, those exposed to the messages adapted their behaviour easier to the road events than those who did not receive them. Practical implications of the results are discussed.

[Current problems of information technologies application for forces medical service]

The modern information technologies are the key factors for the upgrading of forces medical service. The aim of this article is the analysis of prospective information technologies application for the upgrading of forces medical service. The authors suggested 3 concepts of information support of Russian military health care on the basis of data about information technologies application in the foreign armed forces, analysis of the regulatory background, prospects of military-medical service and gathered experience of specialists. These three concepts are: development of united telecommunication network of the medical service of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation medical service, working out and implementation of standard medical information systems for medical units and establishments, monitoring the military personnel health state and military medical service resources. It is noted that on the assumption of sufficient centralized financing and industrial implementation of the military medical service prospective information technologies, by the year 2020 the united information space of the military medical service will be created and the target information support effectiveness will be achieved.

Mobile health applications to assist patients with diabetes: lessons learned and design implications

Self-management is critical to achieving diabetes treatment goals. Mobile phones and Bluetooth® can supportself-management and lifestyle changes for chronic diseases such as diabetes. A mobile health (mHealth) research platform--the Few Touch Application (FTA)--is a tool designed to support the self-management of diabetes. The FTA consists of a mobile phone-based diabetes diary, which can be updated both manually from user input and automatically by wireless data transfer, and which provides personalized decision support for the achievement of personal health goals. Studies and applications (apps) based on FTAs have included: (1) automatic transfer of blood glucose (BG) data; (2) short message service (SMS)-based education for type 1diabetes (T1DM); (3) a diabetes diary for type 2 diabetes (T2DM); (4) integrating a patient diabetes diary with health care (HC) providers; (5) a diabetes diary for T1DM; (6) a food picture diary for T1DM; (7) physical activity monitoring for T2DM; (8) nutrition information for T2DM; (9) context sensitivity in mobile self-help tools; and (10) modeling of BG using mobile phones. We have analyzed the performance of these 10 FTA-based apps to identify lessons for designing the most effective mHealth apps. From each of the 10 apps of FTA, respectively, we conclude: (1) automatic BG data transfer is easy to use and provides reassurance; (2) SMS-based education facilitates parent-child communication in T1DM; (3) the T2DM mobile phone diary encourages reflection; (4) the mobile phone diary enhances discussion between patients and HC professionals; (5) the T1DM mobile phone diary is useful and motivational; (6) the T1DM mobile phone picture diary is useful in identifying treatment obstacles; (7) the step counter with automatic data transfer promotes motivation and increases physical activity in T2DM; (8) food information on a phone for T2DM should not be at a detailed level; (9) context sensitivity has good prospects and is possible to implement on today's phones; and (10) BG modeling on mobile phones is promising for motivated T1DM users. We expect that the following elements will be important in future FTA designs: (A) automatic data transfer when possible; (B) motivational and visual user interfaces; (C) apps with considerable health benefits in relation to the effort required; (D) dynamic usage, e.g., both personal and together with HC personnel, long-/short-term perspective; and (E) inclusion of context sensitivity in apps. We conclude that mHealth apps will empower patients to take a more active role in managing their own health.

Home care and technology: a case study

Health care aides (HCAs) are the backbone of the home care system and provide a range of services to people who, for various reasons related to chronic conditions and aging, are not able to take care of themselves independently. The demand for HCA services will increase and the current HCA supply will likely not keep up with this increasing demand without fundamental changes in the current environment. Information and communication technology (ICT) can address some of the workflow challenges HCAs face. In this project, we conducted an ethnographic study to document and analyse HCAs' workflows and team interactions. Based on our findings, we designed an ICT tool suite, integrating easily available existing and newly developed (by our team) technologies to address these issues. Finally, we simulated the deployment of our technologies, to assess the potential impact of these technological solutions on the workflow and productivity of HCAs, their healthcare teams and client care.

Effective dashboards. What to measure and how to show it

Today, hospitals must measure not only financial health, but also operational efficiency and quality of care. Redesigned dashboards make the data more accessible.

A usability evaluation toolkit for In-Vehicle Information Systems (IVISs)

Usability must be defined specifically for the context of use of the particular system under investigation. This specific context of use should also be used to guide the definition of specific usability criteria and the selection of appropriate evaluation methods. There are four principles which can guide the selection of evaluation methods, relating to the information required in the evaluation, the stage at which to apply methods, the resources required and the people involved in the evaluation. This paper presents a framework for the evaluation of usability in the context of In-Vehicle Information Systems (IVISs). This framework guides designers through defining usability criteria for an evaluation, selecting appropriate evaluation methods and applying those methods. These stages form an iterative process of design-evaluation-redesign with the overall aim of improving the usability of IVISs and enhancing the driving experience, without compromising the safety of the driver.

[Investigation on the information system of immunization site at township level in Jilin province]

OBJECTIVE

To understand the status of the expanded program on immunization (EPI) ralated to the immunization site at towns, and provide reliable base for it.

METHODS

Questionnaires about the status of information system were filled out by all immunization site at towns, and descriptive method was applied to analyze the EPI and infomation service, personnel, equipments, funds and information system status.

RESULTS

Among all the immunigation site in Jilin province, monthly running accounts for 75.85%, vaccination in designated sites and homes accounts for 46.77% and 40.41% respectively; the personnel whose age was under 45-year-old accounts for 77.31%, and the personnel whose work experience was more than 3 years accounted for 86.98%, 39.15% of all the personnel had little knowledge about using computer, and 46.93% of which had basic knowledge. 7.23% of all the immunigation site at towns had computers for EPI management, and 5.53% of which had optical cable or ADSL network service. Funds for EPI related information system and management at all immunization site at towns was little.

CONCLUSION

Computers should be equipped as soon as possible, and computer related training should be enhanced; funds input should be increased. Pilot project about EPI related information network at county level should be carried out to obtain useful experience and to improve the information system so that the EPI related information network could be expanded.

The future of healthcare IT: what can we expect to see?

A 10- to 15-year healthcare IT strategy should focus on: EHRs. Business intelligence. Customer relationship management. Clinical decision support. Interorganizational systems. Connected care.

A user's guide to the NINDS rt-PA stroke trial database

Robert Dachs and colleagues describe the process for researchers to acquire and decipher the dataset from the original NINDS rt-PA trial.

Enhance your technology and enrich your bottom line

Electronic systems can assist medical practice executives with their biggest practice management challenges, from finding uncollected revenue to tracking patients and supplies, and helping manage documentation and reports. This article explores a few technology opportunities that will boost your bottom line. You can start small and work up to the big purchases. Short-term successes in smoothing work flow or saving money will encourage bigger steps.

The effect of stimulus modality on signal detection: implications for assessing the safety of in-vehicle technology

OBJECTIVE

This study examined the effect of two in-vehicle information systems (IVIS) on signal detection in the visual, auditory, and tactile modalities; established whether the detrimental effects of an IVIS on driving could be quantified by these detection tasks; and examined the effect of stimulus modality on signal detection.

BACKGROUND

The peripheral detection task has been used widely for assessing the effects of an IVIS on driving. However, performance on this task relies on drivers' ability to see a series of LEDs, which can be problematic in field tests (e.g., on sunny days).

METHOD

Participants responded to one of three detection tasks during a simulated driving experiment. The effect of IVIS interaction on these detection tasks was also measured. Reduced performance in the detection tasks was assumed to indicate a decline in drivers' ability to handle sudden events in the driving task.

RESULTS

Response time to all detection tasks increased by around 200 ms when drivers performed the IVIS tasks, as compared with baseline driving. Analyses of variance and comparison of effect sizes showed the effects of these two IVISs to be the same across the three detection tasks.

CONCLUSION

These detection tasks are useful for quantifying the safety of an IVIS during driving. The absence of a difference in signal detection by modality suggests that performance on these tasks relies on general attentional resources and is not modality specific.

APPLICATION

The signal detection tasks employed here should be further investigated for their suitability in assessing the safety of in-vehicle systems.

[Design of the wireless medical information system based on PDA]

This paper introduces the design of the wireless medical information management system based on PDA and its model whose experiment results show that it can realize the functional requirements of the design.

Current status and perceived needs of information technology in Critical Access Hospitals: a survey study

The US Congress established the designation of Critical Access Hospitals in 1997, recognising rural hospitals as vital links to health for rural and underserved populations. The intent of the reimbursement system is to improve financial performance, thereby reducing hospital closures. Informatics applications are thought to be tools that can enable the sustainability of such facilities. The aim of this study is to identify the current use of information and communication technology in Critical Access Hospitals, and to assess their readiness and receptiveness for the use of new software and hardware applications and their perceived information technology (IT) needs. A survey was mailed to the administrators of all Critical Access Hospitals in one US state (Missouri) and a reminder was mailed a few weeks later. Twenty-seven out of 33 surveys were filled out and returned (response rate 82%). While most respondents (66.7%) stated that their employees have been somewhat comfortable in using new technology, almost 15% stated that their employees have been somewhat uncomfortable. Similarly, almost 12% of the respondents stated that they themselves felt somewhat uncomfortable introducing new technology. While all facilities have computers, only half of them have a specific IT plan. Findings indicate that Critical Access Hospitals are often struggling with lack of resources and specific applications that address their needs. However, it is widely recognised that IT plays an essential role in the sustainability of their organisations. The study demonstrates that IT applications have to be customised to address the needs and infrastructure of the rural settings in order to be accepted and properly utilised.

Improving life sciences information retrieval using semantic web technology

The ability to retrieve relevant information is at the heart of every aspect of research and development in the life sciences industry. Information is often distributed across multiple systems and recorded in a way that makes it difficult to piece together the complete picture. Differences in data formats, naming schemes and network protocols amongst information sources, both public and private, must be overcome, and user interfaces not only need to be able to tap into these diverse information sources but must also assist users in filtering out extraneous information and highlighting the key relationships hidden within an aggregated set of information. The Semantic Web community has made great strides in proposing solutions to these problems, and many efforts are underway to apply Semantic Web techniques to the problem of information retrieval in the life sciences space. This article gives an overview of the principles underlying a Semantic Web-enabled information retrieval system: creating a unified abstraction for knowledge using the RDF semantic network model; designing semantic lenses that extract contextually relevant subsets of information; and assembling semantic lenses into powerful information displays. Furthermore, concrete examples of how these principles can be applied to life science problems including a scenario involving a drug discovery dashboard prototype called BioDash are provided.

On-the-fly generation of multiplanar reformation images independent of CT scanner type

We propose a system that automatically generates multiplanar reformation (MPR) images on-the-fly, which is independent of computed tomography (CT) scanner type. Triggered by digital imaging communication in medicine (DICOM) Storage Commitment or in a time threshold manner, this system generates MPR images from received thin-section CT data sets with predefined reformation parameters and then sends MPR images to DICOM stations. Users can specify the reformation parameters and the destination of the resulting MPR images for each CT study description. A pilot system was tested for 3 months. From thin-section data sets received from two 16- and one 64-detector-row CT scanners, this system generated MPR images and sent them to the picture archiving and communication system (PACS) without failure or any additional human operation. For 143 test thin-section CT studies (172-4,761 images in each study), the time to store reformatted images (axial and coronal with 5-mm thicknesses and 4-mm intervals) in PACS after the completion of the CT scan ranged from 92 to 1,772 s (mean +/- SD, 555.1 +/- 509.4).

How to enhance integrated care towards the personal health paradigm?

For improving quality and efficiency of health delivery under the well-known burdens, the health service paradigm has to change from organization-centered over process-controlled to personal health. The growing complexity of highly distributed and fully integrated healthcare settings can only be managed through an advanced architectural approach, which has to include all dimensions of personal health. Here, ICT, medicine, biomedical engineering, bioinformatics and genomics, legal and administrative aspects, terminology and ontology have to be mentioned. The Generic Component Model allows for different domains' concept representation and aggregation. Framework, requirements, methodology and process design possibilities for such a future-proof and meanwhile practically demonstrated approach are discussed in detail. The deployment of the Generic Component Model and the concept representation to biomedical engineering aspects of eHealth are touched upon as essential issues.

Ten commonly asked computer questions ... and answers. Part 1

I hope that you have learned something from this article that will help you get through your next computer crisis. Remember that most computer problems are not your fault and they are not the end of the world. It stinks when your car breaks down, and it stinks when your PC crashes, but you will get through it. If your PC does crash, write down what you were doing when it crashed, any changes that were made, any software that was installed, and take a deep breath. You will be able to help get the problem solved quicker if you stay relaxed. Part 2 of this article, to be published in a future issue of Dentistry Today, will answer the next 5 commonly asked computer questions.

Integrating data for learning disabilities service providers: are the barriers and solutions technical or organisational?

Since the publication of the Government White Paper 'Valuing People: a new strategy for learning disability for the 21st century', the responsibility for providing health care for people with learning disabilities has shifted rapidly to primary care. However, people with learning disabilities are supported by a disparate group of providers, from health care through local authorities to the voluntary sector, with resultant difficulties in providing seamless care. There would seem to be considerable potential for 'joined-up' data and information services to improve this situation, and Semantic Web technologies offer many enticing possibilities in this regard. However, to be effective, many organisational and policy issues have to be addressed; not least among these is the concern of patient confidentiality. This is particularly pertinent given that people with learning disabilities might be less able to make informed decisions. The approach that this paper takes is to review the policy and service scenarios that would benefit from 'joined-up' data, and then, based on user feedback from a series of seminars with stake-holders on these issues, explore what works well, what works less well, and to offer suggestions for future developments.

Integration of Information Technology, Wireless Networks, and Personal Digital Assistants for Triage and Casualty

The purpose of this study was to evaluate a portable tool for use by first responders in documenting triage of victims in a mass casualty incident (MCI) more effectively. The tool presented in this study allows first responders to gather patients vital signs, injuries, and triage status in a prompt and accurate way, and enables first responders to wirelessly communicate vital health information throughout the entire care continuum. The architecture infrastructure for the portable device is called Triage and Casualty Informatics Technology (TACIT) and can expedite triage, transport and treatment procedures within an MCI. TACIT was developed by integrating handheld devices, wireless networks, global positioning system (GPS), digital cameras, and bar code scanners with customized triage software. Two MCI initial field trials verified that the TACIT software, battery life, data accuracy, and wireless transmission met the emergency response system requirements. Initial field trials also demonstrated robustness of operation, reduced triage collection time and improved collection accuracy. The TACIT system could work as an efficient prehospital response tool and platform.

An automated electronic case log: using electronic information systems to assess training in emergency medicine

As part of the Outcome Project of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, training programs are required to evaluate trainees across six general competencies. Assessment of the patient-care competency by direct observation can be supplemented with a quantification of overall experience through the use of case logs. However, manual entry of information into such registries frequently is incomplete. The authors report on the development of an automated electronic case log as a novel tool for evaluating the experience of individual trainees or an entire training program. Specific examples of use of the case log are provided. The authors use a pediatric emergency medicine fellowship as a paradigm to demonstrate the potential utility across all emergency medicine training programs. In addition, the authors discuss how additional information technologies might be incorporated to further these evaluative efforts in the future.

[Registration information systems for occupational diseases of dust etiology]

The elaboration of a computer-aided system for registration and analysis of occupational diseases (OD) is extremely important to obtain valid data on the size and composition of a contingent of registered patients; on the distribution of patients by nosological entities and the severity of a pathological process; on the frequency of complications and comorbidity; on the presence of harmful industrial factors that favor disability and present a risk for OD.

Enhancement of CLAIM (CLinical Accounting InforMation) for a Localized Chinese Version

CLinical Accounting InforMation (CLAIM) is a standard for the exchange of data between patient accounting systems and electronic medical record (EMR) systems. It uses eXtensible Markup Language (XML) as a meta-language and was developed in Japan. CLAIM is subordinate to the Medical Markup Language (MML) standard, which allows the exchange of medical data between different medical institutions. It has inherited the basic structure of MML 2.x and the current version, version 2.1, contains two modules and nine data definition tables. In China, no data exchange standard yet exists that links EMR systems to accounting systems. Taking advantage of CLAIM's flexibility, we created a localized Chinese version based on CLAIM 2.1. Since Chinese receipt systems differ from those of Japan, some information such as prescription formats, etc. are also different from those in Japan. Two CLAIM modules were re-engineered and six data definition tables were either added or redefined. The Chinese version of CLAIM takes local needs into account, and consequently it is now possible to transfer data between the patient accounting systems and EMR systems of Chinese medical institutions effectively.

GeneRank: using search engine technology for the analysis of microarray experiments

Background

Interpretation of simple microarray experiments is usually based on the fold-change of gene expression between a reference and a "treated" sample where the treatment can be of many types from drug exposure to genetic variation. Interpretation of the results usually combines lists of differentially expressed genes with previous knowledge about their biological function. Here we evaluate a method – based on the PageRank algorithm employed by the popular search engine Google – that tries to automate some of this procedure to generate prioritized gene lists by exploiting biological background information.

Results

GeneRank is an intuitive modification of PageRank that maintains many of its mathematical properties. It combines gene expression information with a network structure derived from gene annotations (gene ontologies) or expression profile correlations. Using both simulated and real data we find that the algorithm offers an improved ranking of genes compared to pure expression change rankings.

Conclusion

Our modification of the PageRank algorithm provides an alternative method of evaluating microarray experimental results which combines prior knowledge about the underlying network. GeneRank offers an improvement compared to assessing the importance of a gene based on its experimentally observed fold-change alone and may be used as a basis for further analytical developments.

Consultants bulk up

A consolidation trend among consulting companies has created a number of mega-firms designed to see hospital projects through from conception to implementation.

A contextual study of police car telematics: the future of in-car information systems

Telematics systems are increasingly prevalent, but how safe are they to use? Designers have the challenge of designing systems that are suitable for usage within vehicles--systems that do not excessively distract the driver from the primary task of driving. This investigation addressed the requirements of telematics system design by evaluating an existing telematics device in the context of its everyday use. The system evaluated was the Mobile Data Terminal, a device used by the Sussex Police Force to assist officers in their duties whilst out on patrol. The investigation involved interviewing officers, working alongside officers in real-world situations, and assessing the system through implementation of a telematics safety checklist. The findings showed that the Mobile Data Terminal improved the productivity of double-crewed patrol cars, but was less effective, and potentially compromised road safety when patrol cars were single-crewed. The central conclusion was that telematics systems, which are considered to be incompatible with driving, should not be accessible whilst a vehicle is in motion.

Comparison of Vector Space Model Methodologies to Reconcile Cross-Species Neuroanatomical Concepts

Generating informational thesauri that classify, cross-reference, and retrieve diverse and highly detailed neuroscientific information requires identifying related neuroanatomical terms and acronyms within and between species (Gorin et al., 2001) Manual construction of such informational thesauri is laborious, and we describe implementing and evaluating a neuroanatomical term and acronym reconciliation (NTAR) system to assist domain experts with this task. NTAR is composed of two modules. The neuroanatomical term extraction (NTE) module employs a hidden Markov model (HMM) in conjunction with lexical rules to extract neuroanatomical terms (NT) and acronyms (NA) from textual material. The output of the NTE is formatted into collections of term- or acronym-indexed documents composed of sentences and word phrases extracted from textual material. The second information retrieval (IR) module utilizes a vector space model (VSM) and includes a novel, automated relevance feedback algorithm. The IR module retrieves statistically related neuroanatomical terms and acronyms in response to queried neuroanatomical terms and acronyms. Neuroanatomical terms and acronyms retrieval obtained from term-based inquiries were compared with (1) term retrieval obtained by including automated relevance feedback and with (2) term retrieval using "document-to-document" comparisons (context-based VSM). The retrieval of synonymous and similar primate and macaque thalamic terms and acronyms in response to a query list of human thalamic terminology by these three IR approaches was compared against a previously published, manually constructed concordance table of homologous cross-species terms and acronyms. Term-based VSM with automated relevance feedback retrieved 70% and 80% of these primate and macaque terms and acronyms, respectively, listed in the concordance table. Automated feedback algorithm correctly identified 87% of the macaque terms and acronyms that were independently selected by a domain expert as being appropriate for manual relevance feedback. Context-based VSM correctly retrieved 97% and 98% of the primate and macaque terms and acronyms listed in the term homology table. These results indicate that the NTAR system could assist neuroscientists with thesauri creation for closely related, highly detailed neuroanatomical domains.

Integrating data from biological experiments into metabolic networks with the DBE information system

Modern 'omics'-technologies result in huge amounts of data about life processes. For analysis and data mining purposes this data has to be considered in the context of the underlying biological networks. This work presents an approach for integrating data from biological experiments into metabolic networks by mapping the data onto network elements and visualising the data enriched networks automatically. This methodology is implemented in DBE, an information system that supports the analysis and visualisation of experimental data in the context of metabolic networks. It consists of five parts: (1) the DBE-Database for consistent data storage, (2) the Excel-Importer application for the data import, (3) the DBE-Website as the interface for the system, (4) the DBE-Pictures application for the up- and download of binary (e. g. image) files, and (5) DBE-Gravisto, a network analysis and graph visualisation system. The usability of this approach is demonstrated in two examples.

Interoperability as a quality label for portable & wearable health monitoring systems

Advances in ICT promising universal access to high quality care, reduction of medical errors, and containment of health care costs, have renewed interest in electronic health records (EHR) standards and resulted in comprehensive EHR adoption programs in many European states. Health cards, and in particular the European health insurance card, present an opportunity for instant cross-border access to emergency health data including allergies, medication, even a reference ECG. At the same time, research and development in miniaturized medical devices and wearable medical sensors promise continuous health monitoring in a comfortable, flexible, and fashionable way. These trends call for the seamless integration of medical devices and intelligent wearables into an active EHR exploiting the vast information available to increase medical knowledge and establish personal wellness profiles. In a mobile connected world with empowered health consumers and fading barriers between health and healthcare, interoperability has a strong impact on consumer trust. As a result, current interoperability initiatives are extending the traditional standardization process to embrace implementation, validation, and conformance testing. In this paper, starting from the OpenECG initiative, which promotes the consistent implementation of interoperability standards in electrocardiography and supports a worldwide community with data sets, open source tools, specifications, and online conformance testing, we discuss EHR interoperability as a quality label for personalized health monitoring systems. Such a quality label would support big players and small enterprises in creating interoperable eHealth products, while opening the way for pervasive healthcare and the take-up of the eHealth market.