Natalia Beloff

Exploiting the potential of large databases of electronic health records for research using rapid search algorithms and an intuitive query interface.

Objective UK primary care databases, which contain diagnostic, demographic and prescribing information for millions of patients geographically representative of the UK, represent a significant resource for health services and clinical research. They can be used to identify patients with a specified disease or condition (phenotyping) and to investigate patterns of diagnosis and symptoms. Currently, extracting such information manually is time-consuming and requires considerable expertise. In order to exploit more fully the potential of these large and complex databases, our interdisciplinary team developed generic methods allowing access to different types of user. Materials and methods Using the Clinical Practice Research Datalink database, we have developed an online user-focused system (TrialViz), which enables users interactively to select suitable medical general practices based on two criteria: suitability of the patient base for the intended study (phenotyping) and measures of data quality. Results An end-to-end system, underpinned by an innovative search algorithm, allows the user to extract information in near real-time via an intuitive query interface and to explore this information using interactive visualization tools. A usability evaluation of this system produced positive results. Discussion We present the challenges and results in the development of TrialViz and our plans for its extension for wider applications of clinical research. Conclusions Our fast search algorithms and simple query algorithms represent a significant advance for users of clinical research databases.

THEMIS observations of mirror structures: Magnetic holes and instability threshold

Nonpropagating mirror-mode structures are commonly observed in many regions of natural plasma such as solar wind, planetary magnetosheaths, in cometary plasma, Io wake, terrestrial ring current and even on the outskirts of solar system. Mirror structures are typically observed in the shape of magnetic holes or peaks. Fast survey mode plasma data from the THEMIS satellites are used to solve the puzzle of how mirror structures in the form of dips can be observed in the regions of mirror stable plasma. THEMIS data also show that for mirror structures with spatial scales that considerably exceed ion Larmor radius the perpendicular temperature anticorrelates with the strength of the magnetic field. This contradiction with the conservation of adiabatic invariants is explained by the role of trapped particles. Citation: Balikhin, M. A., R. Z. Sagdeev, S. N. Walker, O. A. Pokhotelov, D. G. Sibeck, N. Beloff, and G. Dudnikova (2009), THEMIS observations of mirror structures: Magnetic holes and instability threshold, Geophys. Res. Lett., 36, L03105, doi:10.1029/ 2008GL036923.

Internet of Things, Blockchain and Shared Economy Applications

This paper explores how the Internet of Things and blockchain technology can benefit shared economy applications. The focus of this research is understanding how blockchain can be exploited to create decentralised, shared economy applications that allow people to monetise, securely, their things to create more wealth. Shared economy applications such as Airbnb and Uber are well-known applications, but there are many other opportunities to share in the digital economy. With the recent interest in the Internet of Things and blockchain, the opportunity exists to create a myriad of sharing applications, e.g. peer-to-peer automatic payment mechanisms, foreign exchange platforms, digital rights management and cultural heritage to name but a few. While many types of shared economy scenarios are proliferating, few of them, so far, leverage the Internet of Things and blockchain as technologies to build distributed applications. This paper discusses how we might make use of the Internet of Things and blockchains to create secure shared economy distributed applications. Presented are examples of such distributed applications in the context of an Internet of Things architecture using blockchain technology.

Experimental studies of wave-particle interactions in space using particle correlators: Results and future developments

The technique of particle correlation measures directly electron modulations that result from naturally occurring and actively stimulated wave-particle interactions in space plasmas. In the past this technique has been used for studies of beam-plasma interactions, caused by both natural auroral electron beams via sounding rockets and by artificially generated electron beams on Space Shuttle missions (STS-46, STS-75). It has also been applied to studies of how electrons become energised by waves injected from in-situ transmitters (e.g OEDIPUS-C sounding rocket). All four ESA Cluster-II spacecraft launched in 2000 to study the outer magnetosphere, cusp, and bow shock were implemented with electron correlators. Here the prevalent weaker wave-particle interactions have been more difficult to extract, however, the application of new statistical algorithms has permitted these correlators to provide a novel insight into the plasma turbulence that occurs. Present work involves technical improvements to both sensor design and correlator implementation that enable many electron energy-angle combinations to be simultaneously monitored for wave-particle interactions. A broad energy-angle range spectrograph connected to a multi-channel, multi-frequency range FPGA implemented array of correlators is scheduled to fly early 2004. Neural network techniques previously flown on STS-46 and STS-75, and statistical tests developed for Cluster-II will be used on-board to select data to be transmitted.

Generation of convective cells by ion-drift waves in dusty plasmas

The parametric excitation of large-scale convective cells in non-uniform dusty plasmas with non-zero ion temperature is considered. A set of two coupled nonlinear equations (for the variation of the electrostatic potential and the ion pressure) governing the nonlinear dynamics of ion-drift waves in dusty plasmas (IDWDPs) is obtained. The equations are then simplified by using a standard multiscale expansion technique. A nonlinear dispersion relation, which describes the nonlinear electrostatic and thermal convective cells, is obtained. The analysis of our dispersion relation shows that only the electrostatic mode yields a non-zero growth rate. The thermal convective cell is found to be stable. A simple expression for the maximum instability growth rate and the optimal dimension of the convective mode is deduced. The fastest growing wave appears to be a zero-frequency mode, elongated perpendicularly to the plasma inhomogeneity. The electrostatic convective cell growth rate is compared with that for the traditional parametric IDWDP decay.

Quality of recording of diabetes in the UK: how does the GP's method of coding clinical data affect incidence estimates? Cross-sectional study using the CPRD database

Objective To assess the effect of coding quality on estimates of the incidence of diabetes in the UK between 1995 and 2014. Design A cross-sectional analysis examining diabetes coding from 1995 to 2014 and how the choice of codes (diagnosis codes vs codes which suggest diagnosis) and quality of coding affect estimated incidence. Setting Routine primary care data from 684 practices contributing to the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink (data contributed from Vision (INPS) practices). Main outcome measure Incidence rates of diabetes and how they are affected by (1) GP coding and (2) excluding ‘poor’ quality practices with at least 10% incident patients inaccurately coded between 2004 and 2014. Results Incidence rates and accuracy of coding varied widely between practices and the trends differed according to selected category of code. If diagnosis codes were used, the incidence of type 2 increased sharply until 2004 (when the UK Quality Outcomes Framework was introduced), and then flattened off, until 2009, after which they decreased. If non-diagnosis codes were included, the numbers continued to increase until 2012. Although coding quality improved over time, 15% of the 666 practices that contributed data between 2004 and 2014 were labelled ‘poor’ quality. When these practices were dropped from the analyses, the downward trend in the incidence of type 2 after 2009 became less marked and incidence rates were higher. Conclusions In contrast to some previous reports, diabetes incidence (based on diagnostic codes) appears not to have increased since 2004 in the UK. Choice of codes can make a significant difference to incidence estimates, as can quality of recording. Codes and data quality should be checked when assessing incidence rates using GP data.

Developing quality scores for electronic health records for clinical research: a study using the general practice research database

The General Practice Research Database (GPRD) is a collection of anonymised patient records obtained from UK general practices. Data are representative of approximately 8% of the UK population and are collected mainly for research purposes, which include assessing risk factors for disease, evaluating the side effects of drugs and comparing the effectiveness of different drugs. The data are used internationally by academics, governments and the pharmaceutical industry. As research findings arising from GPRD data may have potential public health and safety implications it is crucial importance that the data collected is of high quality. Data quality may vary within and between practices and may depend on the time of data collection. Although the GPRDs established framework for assessing data quality is comprehensive, it does not allow a systematic review of individual practice data quality markers. We are developing a framework for further improvement of existing methods of data quality assessment. We shall extend a set of current quality measures for each practice and, using statistical pattern recognition techniques, shall develop algorithms that will combine these measures into a smaller number of meaningful quality scores which will reflect different aspects of data quality and can be measured over time. We report the aims and rationale of the study and preliminary results.

An Integrated Workflow Management Solution for Heritage Information Mashups

This paper outlines the process of developing and deploying an integrated workflow management solution for our system that uniquely integrates heritage data mashups whose digital content is derived from social network repositories and a specific museum digital collections repository and presentation system called ARCO. This workflow solution accommodates a number of integration techniques, based on social networking with user defined content, and using virtual and augmented reality in a Web 2.0 mashup to dynamically present digital heritage content. Other technologies exploited in this scenario include a web service based Grid solution for generating 3D virtual reconstruction animations. The implementation of the workflow solution is based on the Windows Workflow Foundation while the adoption of the multi-tiered human workflow architecture leads to a fully integrated workflow management engine.

Errors of ionospheric parameter diagnostics by vertical sounding method

The problem of RMS error determination in ionospheric parameters measured by the method of vertical HF soundings is considered here. This problem is solved for the case of topside ionospheric soundings when the height distribution of electron density is monotonic. An analytical expression is obtained which relates the variance of deduced parameters to the correlation function of errors in measured characteristics of soundings signals. The computing simulation provides for errors in real height determination, in reconstruction of vertical velocities of plasma motion, and in effective electron collision frequencies for the measurements of virtual heights, Doppler frequency shift, and radio wave absorption, respectively. Their dependencies on signal polarization, working frequency range, and geomagnetic latitude of observation point are determined. The obtained results are useful for planning plasma diagnostics experiments using HF sounding technique.

Innovative framework for e-government adoption in Saudi Arabia: a study from the business sector perspective

E-Government increases transparency and im- proves communication between the government and the users. Providing e-Government services to business sector is a fun- damental mission of governmental agencies in Saudi Arabia. However, the adoption of e-Government systems is less than satisfactory in many countries, particularly in developing coun- tries. This is a significant factor that can lead to e-Government failure and, therefore, to the waste of budget and effort. One pertinent, unanswered question is what are the key factors that influence the adoption and utilisation level of users from business sector. Unlike much research in the literature that has utilised common technology acceptance models and theories to analyse the adoption of e-Government, which may not be sufficient for such analysis, this study proposes a conceptual framework following a holistic approach to analyse key factors that influence the adoption and utilisation of e-Government in Saudi Arabia. The developed framework, E-Government Adoption and Utilisation Model (EGAUM), was developed based on critical evaluation of several common models and theories related to technology acceptance and use including Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), in conjunction with analysis of e-Government adoption literature. The study involved 48 participating business entities from two major cities in Saudi Arabia, Riyadh and Jeddah. The descriptive and statistical analyses are presented in this paper and the results indicated that all the proposed factors have degree of influence on the adoption and utilisation level. Perceived Benefits, Awareness, Previous Experience, and Regulations & Policies were found to be the significant factors that are most likely to influence the adoption and usage level of users from business sector. Keywords: E-Government; E-Services; Saudi Arabia; Technology Adoption; Influential Factors; Users’ Intention; Business Sector Perspective