Interoperability Approach Research Articles

Pediatric Clinical Research Networks: Role in Accelerating Development of Therapeutics in Children.

BackgroundRecent decades have seen many advances in policy and legislation that support the development of drugs used by neonates, infants, children, and young people. This review summarizes the characteristics and performance of networks capable of conducting studies needed to meet regulatory requirements and make advances in pediatric drug development.MethodsDescription of network goals and capabilities by network leaders.ResultsIn the United States, Europe, Japan, and Canada, clinical research networks have been organized to meet the needs of biopharmaceutical and academic sponsors for timely access to high-quality sites, as well as to provide advice about drug development with regard to strategic and operational feasibility. Each network addresses the specificities of its context while working toward shared principles including standards and timelines; alignment of goals and processes, while not disturbing arrangements for conducting trials that work well; wide geographic coverage; all age groups and pediatric conditions; sources of funding; sites that compete on performance; performance monitoring for benchmarking, and opportunities to optimize the allocation of resources; and education and training for network members. Facilitation in interactions among these networks is based on a single point-of-contact for each; similar approaches to strategic and operational feasibility assessment, and site selection; and collaborative approaches to education and training.ConclusionWithin five years, clinical research networks will support the needs of biopharmaceutical and publicly funded pediatric drug development through locally appropriate and globally interoperable approaches.

Interoperability approaches of blockchain technology for supply chain systems

PurposeThis work focuses on the interoperability of the blockchain from the viewpoint of its technological evolution in the wider context of supply chain systems. Interoperability concerns the most since it is among the most persevering problems in the process of blockchain adaptation. The study aims to trace and pinpoint all the different methods that affect the interoperability of blockchains, gather all the obtainable evidence and recognize gaps in between the applicable approaches mentioned across the contemporary academic literature.Design/methodology/approachAn analysis is done of seven interoperability approaches based on their relevance, practical usefulness and adoption processes concerning the blockchain. Mainly, this work examines interoperability from several different perspectives. An interoperability modular decomposition via a layered model has been defined through the level of conceptual interoperability (LCIM) and level of information system interoperability (LISI), which represent the most popular metrics with regard to assessing the level of interoperability from a qualitative level.FindingsGenerally, the findings of this work are directed in two major aspects: Firstly, it expands the research around blockchain technology interoperability by providing crucial background information and pinpointing important connotations for both industrial and academic environments. It also defines and analyzes several different approaches toward the blockchain platform's interoperability. Secondly, it also identifies and proposes several scenarios that take advantage of multiple blockchain application approaches, highlights various issues and challenges to the evolution of interoperability standards and solutions and indicates the desired areas of further research.Originality/valueAn essential aspect of the originality of this paper is that, contrary to other work contributions, this work summarized the different interoperability approaches for blockchain in supply chain systems. Mainly, seven approaches were discussed for practitioners and researchers, and the open issues and future research direction were considered.

The Changing Face of City Hospitals in Public-Private Partnership in the Pandemic Process: New Health Order and Interoperability Approach

Kamu-Özel işbirliği (KÖİ), sağlık sektörü başta olmak üzere, kamunun üstlendiği birçok görevde baş vurulan bir modeldir. Yine bu modelin en çok fayda-zarar etkisi sağlık sektörü üzerinden tanımlanmaktadır. Özellikle de toplumu kitlesel olarak etkileyen, salgın hastalıkların yaşandığı dönemlerde sağlık sektörü üzerinden yapılan işlevsellik tartışmaları önem kazanmaya başlar. Covid-19 pandemi süreci ile de yine sağlık sektörü, özelde de şehir hastaneleri mercek altına alınmış ve KÖİ modelinin artı ve eksileri yeniden gözden geçirilmiştir. Dünya genelinde sarsıcı etkiye neden olan pandemi sürecinde sağlık sektörü adeta bir şok yaşamıştır. Süreç içerisinde ise birçok doktor ve sağlık personeli görevlerinden istifa etmiştir. Yaşanan bu kırılmalar sağlık sektöründe tamiri olmayan sorunlara neden olabilir. Hem hizmeti sunanlar hem hizmeti alanlar aksaklıklar karşısında kendisini mağdur ve çözümsüz hissetmektedir. Beklenen ise sağlık sektörünün ve KÖİ modelinin revizyona giderek, modelin aksayan yönlerini gidermek ve de kullanılabilir yönünü arttırmak adına şeffaflık ilkesi temelinde alanda uzman kişi ve departmanlarla birlikte çalışabilirlik ilkesini benimsemedir. Bu çalışmada, KÖİ modeli, şehir hastaneleri ve pandemi sürecinde sağlık sektörü ve Türkiye’deki şehir hastanelerinin gücü incelenmiştir. Aynı zamanda, KÖİ modeli ile hizmete sunulan sağlık sektörünün, yeni sağlık düzeni anlayışı ile neden birlikte çalışabilirlik anlayışı benimsemesi gerektiğinin nedenleri ortaya koyulmaya çalışılmıştır.

A Proposed Mobile Bill Payment Business Solution Based on the New Fiscalization Process in Albania

Albania has introduced a new tax reform named fiscalization in 2020. The focus of the process is to report the transactions electronically and in real-time to the tax authorities’ information systems. The intention is to reduce informality and bureaucracy, two of the key issues in doing business within the country. Considering that the new fiscalization process has a clear aim and stable requirements, the waterfall method is adopted to conduct the research. Beginning with a detailed literature analysis on similar implemented systems, and subsequently proposing a business solution followed by designing a suitable architecture. The proposed business logic solution and system architecture have as focal points mobility and interoperability. The interoperability approach enables the financial institutions’ information system to be connected to the proposed system, implying an increased potential number of merchants using it. The use of mobile technologies and the possibility to integrate different digital payment methods increase the number of people taking part in the formal financial system.

Integrating building and context information for automated zoning code checking: a review

Interoperability approaches have attracted much attention in the AEC/FM industry with the increased interest in Building Information Modeling (BIM) studies since 2000’s. Especially, the integration of BIM with GIS is crucial for areas, which need detailed information on buildings and their surroundings. Automated code compliance checking against zoning codes is an area that requires both zoning data and building design data. In an ideal automated zoning code checking process, building codes should be retrieved from the responsible authority, data regarding the neighborhood the project is located in should be retrieved directly from the local municipality’s GIS, and the building project should be supplied by the designer as a BIM file. The checking process should be able to work with a combination of GIS and BIM data and generate a compliance report. Although recent BIM-GIS integration efforts have been successful in some areas, BIM-GIS integration studies in the context of automated zoning code compliance checking are limited, and the data interoperability problem in this field still needs to be addressed. This paper intends to (1) provide a critical review and analysis of the current BIM and GIS integration studies for building permit processes, (2) present the opportunities that the implementation of integrating BIM and GIS might bring to the automated zoning compliance checking domain and (3) identify promising integration approaches for future efforts.

A Model-Driven Approach for Interoperability Among SaaS and DaaS/DBaaS: The MIDAS Case

A Model-Driven Approach for Interoperability Among SaaS and DaaS/DBaaS: The MIDAS Case

Domain-Specific Common Data Elements for Rare Disease Registration: Conceptual Approach of a European Joint Initiative Toward Semantic Interoperability in Rare Disease Research.

BackgroundWith hundreds of registries across Europe, rare diseases (RDs) suffer from fragmented knowledge, expertise, and research. A joint initiative of the European Commission Joint Research Center and its European Platform on Rare Disease Registration (EU RD Platform), the European Reference Networks (ERNs), and the European Joint Programme on Rare Diseases (EJP RD) was launched in 2020. The purpose was to extend the set of common data elements (CDEs) for RD registration by defining domain-specific CDEs (DCDEs).ObjectiveThis study aims to introduce and assess the feasibility of the concept of a joint initiative that unites the efforts of the European Platform on Rare Disease Registration Platform, ERNs, and European Joint Programme on Rare Diseases toward extending RD CDEs, aiming to improve the semantic interoperability of RD registries and enhance the quality of RD research.MethodsA joint conference was conducted in December 2020. All 24 ERNs were invited. Before the conference, a survey was communicated to all ERNs, proposing 18 medical domains and requesting them to identify highly relevant choices. After the conference, a 3-phase plan for defining and modeling DCDEs was drafted. Expected outcomes included harmonized lists of DCDEs.ResultsAll ERNs attended the conference. The survey results indicated that genetic, congenital, pediatric, and cancer were the most overlapping domains. Accordingly, the proposed list was reorganized into 10 domain groups and recommunicated to all ERNs, aiming at a smaller number of domains.ConclusionsThe approach described for defining DCDEs appears to be feasible. However, it remains dynamic and should be repeated regularly based on arising research needs.

Towards an Interoperable Approach for Modelling and Managing Smart Building Data: The Case of the CESI Smart Building Demonstrator

Buildings have a significant impact on energy consumption and carbon emissions. Smart buildings are deemed to play a crucial role in improving the energy performance of buildings and cities. Managing a smart building requires the modelling of data concerning smart systems and components. While there is a significant amount of research on optimising building energy using the smart building concept, there is a dearth of studies investigating the modelling and management of smart systems’ data, which is the starting point for establishing the necessary digital environment for representing a smart building. This study aimed to develop and test a solution for modelling and managing smart building information using an industry foundation classes (IFCs)-based BIM process. A conceptual model expressed in the SysML language was proposed to define a smart building. Five BIM approaches were identified as potential ‘prototypes’ for representing and exchanging smart building information. The fidelity of each approach is checked through a BIM-based validation process using an open-source visualisation platform. The different prototypes were also assessed using a multi-criteria comparison method to identify the preferred approach for modelling and managing smart building information. The preferred approach was prototyped and tested in a use case focused on building energy consumption monitoring to evaluate its ability to manage and visualise the smart building data. The use case was applied in a real case study using a full-scale demonstrator, namely, the ‘Nanterre 3’ (N3) smart building located at the CESI campus in Paris-Nanterre. The findings demonstrated that an open BIM format in the form of IFCs could achieve adequate modelling of smart building data without information loss. Future extensions of the proposed approach were finally outlined.

An approach for semantic interoperability in autonomic distributed intelligent systems

AbstractThe complexity and dynamism of distributed intelligent systems have motivated the utilization of autonomic computing in such systems. However, the interoperability of agents in order to attain self‐managing properties is itself a great challenge that requires more attention. Although a number of semantic approaches exist for central autonomic systems, there are not many attempts to develop mechanisms for facilitating semantic interoperability to attain a distributed feedback loop. In this paper, a semantic approach is presented to overcome this challenge. The main component of this approach is AutonoML language that provides the shared semantics for autonomic computing in distributed environments. Besides this language, the method of its application for enhancing the interoperability of the distributed MAPE‐K loop is presented. In order to evaluate this mechanism, three well‐known metrics from the ontological assessment area are utilized, and the results are compared with an existing autonomic ontology that shows greater relational and attributes richness of the proposed semantic structures. Moreover, in order to evaluate the applicability of the mechanism, a case from NASA‐ANTS project is studied, and the results show that the proposed mechanism is capable of facilitating the achievement of more stable self‐adaptive solutions in less time and by exchanging fewer messages.

Pediatric Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing: Interoperability Through Domain Analysis Modeling and a National Survey.

The electronic health record, data science advances, and dynamic environmental and infectious threats to child health highlight the need for harmonized and interoperable approaches to pediatric cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET). Accordingly, we developed a terminology harmonization in exercise medicine and exercise science domain analysis model (THEMES DAM) to structure CPET data elements. THEMES DAM identified 114 data elements, including participant information, calibration, equipment, protocols, laboratory personnel, encouragement strategies, and analysis procedures. We used the THEMES DAM, vetted by the international data standards organization HL7, to construct a current-state survey of pediatric CPET centers in the United States. Forty-eight of 101 centers responded to a questionnaire covering seven major topic areas (38 items). Centers predominantly performed between 100 and 500 tests annually. Cardiac disease represented 55% of referrals. Almost all centers calibrated gas concentrations and flow daily, but 42% never calibrated their treadmill or cycle ergometers. All centers measured V̇O2peakbut calculated differently. Centers used a variety of protocols (e.g., for treadmill: 61%, Bruce; 43%, modified Bruce; 59%, other); 44% calculated CPET slopes from submaximal portions of CPET (e.g., V̇O2-HR). All centers verbally encouraged participants, but only 40% used a standardized approach. The interpretation of CPET was done by physicians (60%), exercise physiologists (25%), exercise technicians (10%), nurses (1%), or others (4%). Ninety-one percent would agree to collaborate in multicenter research, 89% to establish dynamic reference values, and 83% to better interpret CPET. The survey data and the implementation of THEMES DAM could accelerate interoperability across multiple centers. This would facilitate a nimble approach to create pediatric reference values responsive to the constantly changing health environment and stimulate novel approaches to CPET research and clinical application.

Blockchain Interoperability: Towards a Sustainable Payment System

The highly fragmented blockchain and cryptocurrency ecosystem necessitates interoperability mechanisms as a requirement for blockchain-technology acceptance. The immediate implication of interchain interoperability is automatic swapping between cryptocurrencies. We performed a systematic review of the existing literature on Blockchain interoperability and atomic cross-chain transactions. We investigated different blockchain interoperability approaches, including industrial solutions, categorized them and identified the key mechanisms used, and list several example projects for each category. We focused on the atomic transactions between blockchain, a process also known as atomic swap. Furthermore, we studied recent implementations along with architectural approaches for atomic swap and deduced research issues and challenges in cross-chain interoperability and atomic swap. Atomic swap can instantly transfer tokens and significantly reduce the associated costs without using any centralized authority, and thus facilitates the development of a sustainable payment system for wider financial inclusion.

Technology prioritization framework to adapt maintenance legacy systems for Industry 4.0 requirement: an interoperability approach

Technology prioritization framework to adapt maintenance legacy systems for Industry 4.0 requirement: an interoperability approach

Qualitative Analyses of Semantic Interoperability Approaches: Toward Learning based model transformations

The emergence of cyber-physical systems and connected objects is helping to increase the technical complexity that enables the integration and the collaboration of information systems. This highly heterogeneous digital environment, subject to constant change, requires both the improvement of companies’ capacity for change and the rapid and effective expansion of their digital organization in a flexible and agile manner. In a rapidly changing industrial context, ensuring, and maintaining the digital continuity of information at all levels of the company becomes a major challenge from an economic, technical, and organizational perspective. To meet Industry 4.0 requirements for agility, flexibility, and responsiveness, a "plug- and-play" approach that breaks away from fixed norms and standards seems to be the solution to promote sustainable and on demand interoperability of systems. In this paper, the specifications of the “plug-and-play” are presented. Thus, a qualitative comparison is made between the ontology approach and the Model-Driven-Engineering approach. The goal is to compare their ability to ensure semantic interoperability of systems, and thus digital continuity, based on the criteria of genericity, dynamism, connectivity, integration, and federation capability.

JSON Schemas with Semantic Annotations Supporting Data Translation

As service-oriented architectures are a solution for large distributed systems, interoperability between these systems, which are often heterogeneous, can be a challenge due to the different syntax and semantics of the exchanged messages or even different data interchange formats. This paper addresses the data interchange format and data interoperability issues between XML-based and JSON-based systems. It proposes novel annotation mechanisms to add semantic annotations and complement date values to JSON Schemas, enabling an interoperability approach for JSON-based systems that, until now, was only possible for XML-based systems. A set of algorithms supporting the translation from JSON Schema to XML Schema, JSON to XML, and XML to JSON is also proposed. These algorithms were implemented in an existing prototype tool, which now supports these systems’ interoperability through semantic compatibility verification and the automatic generation of translators.

A Holistic and Interoperable Approach towards the Implementation of Services for the Digital Transformation of Smart Cities: The Case of Vitoria-Gasteiz (Spain).

Cities in the 21st century play a major role in the sustainability and climate impact reduction challenges set by the European agenda. As the population of cities grows and their environmental impact becomes more evident, the European strategy aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions—the main cause of climate change. Measures to reduce the impact of climate change include reducing energy consumption, improving mobility, harnessing resources and renewable energies, integrating nature-based solutions and efficiently managing infrastructure. The monitoring and control of all this activity is essential for its proper functioning. In this context, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) plays a key role in the digitisation, monitoring, and managing of these different verticals. Urban data platforms support cities on extracting Key Performance Indicators (KPI) in their efforts to make better decisions. Cities must be transformed by applying efficient urban planning measures and taking into account not only technological aspects, but also by applying a holistic vision in building solutions where citizens are at the centre. In addition, standardisation of platforms where applications are integrated as one is necessary. This requires interoperability between different verticals. This article presents the information platform developed for the city of Vitoria-Gasteiz in Spain. The platform is based on the UNE 178104 standard to provide a holistic architecture that integrates information from the different urban planning measures implemented in the city. The platform was constructed in the context of the SmartEnCity project following the urban transformation strategy established by the city. The article presents the value-added solutions implemented in the platform. These solutions have been developed by applying co-creation techniques in which stakeholders have been involved throughout the process. The platform proposes a step forward towards standardization, harmonises the integration of data from multiple vertical, provides interoperability between services, and simplifies scalability and replicability due to its microservice architecture.

Data Consultations, Racism, and Critiquing Colonialism in Demographic Datasheets

Objective: We consider how data librarians can take antiracist action in education and consultations. We attempt to apply QuantCrit thinking, particularly to demographic datasheets. Methods: We synthesize historical context with modern critical thinking about race and data to examine the origins of current assumptions about data. We then present examples of how racial categories can hide, rather than reveal, racial disparities. Finally, we apply the Model of Domain Learning to explain why data science and data management experts can and should expose experts in subject research to the idea of critically examining demographic data collection. Results: There are good reasons why patrons who are experts in topics other than racism can find it challenging to change habits from Interoperable approaches to race. Nevertheless, the Census categories explicitly say that they have no basis in research or science. Therefore, social justice requires that data librarians should expose researchers to this fact. If possible, data librarians should also consult on alternatives to habitual use of the Census racial categories. Conclusions: We suggest that many studies are harmed by including race and should remove it entirely. Those studies that are truly examining race should reflect on their research question and seek more relevant racial questions for data collection.

Verifying the Feasibility of Implementing Semantic Interoperability in Different Countries Based on the OpenEHR Approach: Comparative Study of Acute Coronary Syndrome Registries.

BackgroundThe semantic interoperability of health care information has been a critical challenge in medical informatics and has influenced the integration, sharing, analysis, and use of medical big data. International standard organizations have developed standards, approaches, and models to improve and implement semantic interoperability. The openEHR approach—one of the standout semantic interoperability approaches—has been implemented worldwide to improve semantic interoperability based on reused archetypes.ObjectiveThis study aimed to verify the feasibility of implementing semantic interoperability in different countries by comparing the openEHR-based information models of 2 acute coronary syndrome (ACS) registries from China and New Zealand.MethodsA semantic archetype comparison method was proposed to determine the semantics reuse degree of reused archetypes in 2 ACS-related clinical registries from 2 countries. This method involved (1) determining the scope of reused archetypes; (2) identifying corresponding data items within corresponding archetypes; (3) comparing the semantics of corresponding data items; and (4) calculating the number of mappings in corresponding data items and analyzing results.ResultsAmong the related archetypes in the two ACS-related, openEHR-based clinical registries from China and New Zealand, there were 8 pairs of reusable archetypes, which included 89 pairs of corresponding data items and 120 noncorresponding data items. Of the 89 corresponding data item pairs, 87 pairs (98%) were mappable and therefore supported semantic interoperability, and 71 pairs (80%) were labeled as “direct mapping” data items. Of the 120 noncorresponding data items, 114 (95%) data items were generated via archetype evolution, and 6 (5%) data items were generated via archetype localization.ConclusionsThe results of the semantic comparison between the two ACS-related clinical registries prove the feasibility of establishing the semantic interoperability of health care data from different countries based on the openEHR approach. Archetype reuse provides data on the degree to which semantic interoperability exists when using the openEHR approach. Although the openEHR community has effectively promoted archetype reuse and semantic interoperability by providing archetype modeling methods, tools, model repositories, and archetype design patterns, the uncontrolled evolution of archetypes and inconsistent localization have resulted in major challenges for achieving higher levels of semantic interoperability.

Burn-to-Claim: An asset transfer protocol for blockchain interoperability

The future of multi-blockchain architecture depends on the emergence of new protocols that enable consensus between trustless cross-blockchain participants. However, interoperability between blockchains remains a research challenge. The existing interoperability approaches provide integration through solutions using a middleware system, making it difficult to gain confidence in the security and correctness of the process. A cross-blockchain protocol must provide a self-verifiable state proof that encodes trust in the transfer process to guarantee consensus. Inspired by the burn-address concept, we propose a Burn-to-Claim cross-blockchain protocol to exchange assets between two networks. The proposed protocol transfers assets from one blockchain system to another so that the asset is burned from the source blockchain and recreated on the destination blockchain. Our protocol makes use of digital signatures, hash-time-locks and integration mechanisms to perform cross-blockchain transactions in a distributed manner. We theoretically prove that the proposed cross-blockchain protocol transfers assets securely and correctly. In addition, the experimental results demonstrate the feasibility of the Burn-to-Claim protocol when used in an application environment.

Thesauri and Terminologies as Sources for the Interoperability of Archaeological Data: The Case of Prospection Vocabulary

– Vocabulary-based approach of interoperability for archaeological data. – Use of thesaurus (ISO 25964) as semantic tools for building a “hub” between multiple scientific vocabularies and perennial librarian repositories, to allow “machine to machine” dialogue. – A bottom-up (from ground vocabulary to abstraction) and collective approach to build a disciplinary consensus.

IFC-Based 4D Construction Management Information Model of Prefabricated Buildings and Its Application in Graph Database

Effective data interoperability and schedule analysis play a significant role in improving the management of prefabricated buildings. However, there is a lack of efficient strategies and comprehensive approaches for data interoperability and data-based automated schedule analysis. This paper intends to promote prefabricated buildings’ management by solving these two problems via developing an IFC-based framework consisting of three parts. Firstly, this framework proposed a mechanism to establish an IFC-based 4D construction management information model of prefabricated buildings. Furthermore, a non-relational database—graph database—is introduced to twin this model into a task-centered network to realize the interoperation of construction information among different participants. Finally, graph database-based strategies to update data, automatically analyze construction schedules and visualize the 4D construction management information model are described. The proposed framework is validated in a prefabricated engineering case. In this case, an IFC-based and graph database-based 4D construction management information model is established through IFC standard’s extension. The graph database-based analysis of the model automatically recognizes the engineering case’s critical path information, delay analysis information, and schedule network analysis information. It is illustrated that this framework can successfully establish a unified IFC-based information model of prefabricated buildings’ construction management to prompt effective data interoperability. In addition, the application of this IFC-based information model in graph database can automatically analyze the construction schedules to prevent possible delays in advance. In short, the significance of this paper is to innovatively propose an IFC-based and graph data-based information model to solve the difficulties of ineffective data interoperation and unautomated schedule analysis in prefabricated buildings’ construction management. This study can be the digital foundation of further IFC-based digital twin.