Practical System Research Articles

Improving the estimation of countermovement jump height from force plate recordings by considering the interaction between multiple procedural steps: An optimisation approach.

Force plates are used as standalone measurement systems in research and practice to evaluate metrics such as jump height. Calculating jump height involves multiple procedural steps, but previous investigations aiming to improve calculation procedures have only considered the influence of a single procedural step in isolation. The purpose of this study was to investigate if considering the interacting influence of multiple procedural steps in conjunction would impact the accuracy of jump height calculated from force plate recordings. An optimisation procedure was used to determine the combination of filter type, filter order, filter cut-off, integration start point and instant of take-off, that would minimize the root mean squared difference between force plate calculated jump height and a kinematic criterion. The best filter approach was a fifth order Butterworth filter with a 6 Hz cut-off frequency or a third order Chebyshev filter with a 5 Hz cut-off frequency. The best starting point for integration was approximately 0.25 s prior to the onset of the jump and the instant of take-off was best identified by finding the first instant that the force-time signal decreased by the magnitude of system weight. The presented optimisation technique provides an improved quantitative approach to develop standard procedures.

Māori nurse practitioners: The intersection of patient safety and culturally safe care from an Indigenous lens.

Dynamic and complex health systems require innovative and adaptive solutions to support patient safety and achieve equitable health outcomes for Indigenous populations. Understanding the ways by which Indigenous (and specifically Māori) nurse practitioners (NPs) practice patient safety is key to enhancing Indigenous health outcomes in predominantly westernized healthcare systems. To describe Māori NPs perspectives on patient safety when caring for Māori and understand how Māori NPs deliver safe health care. A group of five Māori NPs worked alongside a Māori nurse researcher to explore their perceptions of patient safety. Together, they held an online hui (focus group) in early 2024. Data were analysed collectively, informed by kaupapa Māori principles, using reflexive thematic analysis. Māori NP experiences, expressions and understandings of patient safety envelop cultural safety and have many facets that are specific to the needs of Māori populations. The three themes showed: (1) Te hanga a te mahi: the intersection of cultural and clinical expertise; (2) Mātauranga tuku iho: the knowledge from within, where safe practice was strongly informed by traditional knowledge and cultural practice; (3) Te Ao hurihuri: walking in two worlds, where Māori NPs navigated the westernized health system's policies and practices while acting autonomously to advocate for and deliver culturally safe care. The Māori NP lens on patient safety is vital for promoting culturally responsive and effective health care. By recognizing the unique needs of Māori patients and families and incorporating cultural perspectives into practice, Māori NPs contribute to a more comprehensive and inclusive approach to patient safety that goes beyond westernized principles and practices. No patient or public contribution.

Spinal Lesions in Axial Psoriatic Disease: How Should They Be Identified and Quantified by Magnetic Resonance Imaging?

Proper assessment of patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) requires assessment of all disease domains, including axial disease. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the method of choice for evaluating axial involvement in PsA. When assessing patients with PsA for spinal involvement, it is important to assess both vertebral body lesions and posterolateral lesions, such as inflammation in facet joints and costovertebral joints, and enthesitis at spinous and transverse processes. The Canada-Denmark (CanDen) assessment system for spine MRIs is the preferred method for detailed evaluation of inflammation and structural damage at various anatomical locations in the spine, and it is reproducible and sensitive to change. The Assessment of Spondyloarthritis international Society (ASAS) has recently published MRI definitions of inflammatory and structural lesions in the spine, incorporating the CanDen definitions of spinal lesions on MRI. Applying the ASAS definitions and the CanDen assessment system in clinical practice and trials is recommended. Ongoing research/studies, not least the Axial Involvement in Psoriatic Arthritis (AXIS) study, may provide a data-driven definition of axial involvement in PsA. Ongoing research is expected to further improve and validate assessment tools for axial PsA and to provide a much-needed data-driven consensus-based definition of axial involvement in PsA.

Configuration of Man’s Position within Patriarchal Structure in Nepalese Society

Patriarchy is a powerful philosophy and structure of male domination and supremacy. It is not new, nor is the recognition of women’s demoralized existence well-established patriarchal system and it embraces that there is an inferior position of women since historical period. Patriarchy is a social system in which men use, abuse, control, oppress and exploit women. The concept of patriarchy highlights the interconnection of different aspects of gender discrimination and women are often underprivileged in many areas of social existence. Theories and philosophies of patriarchy explore the division of interests between most men and women formed by the social system of gender perceptions, practices and relationships. Gender is a relationship of power and inequality and not merely of variation. There are various supplementary expressions that have extremely related meaning to patriarchy. These incorporate gender command, gender arrange, gender display and sex-gender formulation. They are comparable in pointing to the powerful interconnection of various sphere of influence of gender discrimination. Analyses of patriarchy differ as to whether men's position as head of the household and family or society or state entity is recognized as the key to their potentiality to rule and oppress, or whether the institutional features of men's supremacy are pictured and imagined. In this context, this study provides an analysis of the understanding and accepting of man's position within existing patriarchal structure in Nepalese societies inside the background of gender standpoints and different educational status. It also tries to explore the common judgments and ruling ideologies on patriarchy and its practices and social insights of gender relationships.

A new approach to wind farm stabilization and peak electricity support using fuel cells: Case study in Swedish cities

The present article introduces and investigates a new approach for shaving the peak electricity demand and mitigating energy instability. At the heart of this concept is a smart integration for efficient hydrogen production/storage/usage to minimize energy costs and maximize the renewable penetration in the local electricity grid. The system is driven by a wind farm integrated with proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzers and reverse osmosis desalination units for efficient electricity, hydrogen, and freshwater production. It also combines with PEM fuel cells equipped with a hydrogen tank to meet the demand constantly when renewable electricity is unavailable or unstable. The system's practicality is assessed and compared for various Swedish cities with high wind potential from thermodynamic, economic, and environmental aspects to see where it works effectively. The comparative results of various scenarios show that integrating 32 wind turbines, 2 electrolyzers, and 2 reverse osmosis units, with 25% of electricity going to electrolyzers, 20% to reverse osmosis, and 55% to the grid, is the most optimal configuration/allocation. Optimal locations for the power plant are identified in Visby, Halmstad, and Lund due to favorable wind conditions. Setting up the system in Visby could prevent 1878.2 tonnes of CO2 emissions, generate 93,910 MWh of electricity annually, and create 213 ha of green space. The proposed system in Visby could boast the biggest electricity generation capacity, reaching 11,263 MWh, sufficient to power 938 households. Scaling this model to 12 cities in Sweden could provide the electricity needs of 4500 households, demonstrating the potential for widespread impact.

Building a comprehensive acupuncture clinical intervention system from individualized diagnosis and treatment to systematic design: reflections based on the modern rehabilitation treatment model

The acupuncture clinical practice system is presenting a diversity of intervention methods and intervention concepts as modern technological civilization progresses. Therefore, it is of practical significance to construct a comprehensive acupuncture clinical intervention system and to scientifically design and implement the intervention system. This article aims to combine the current development status of rehabilitation treatment models, starting from the perspective of systems theory, to explore the importance of constructing a comprehensive acupuncture intervention system and its implementation strategies, providing new ideas and directions for the modern development of acupuncture clinical practice.

Firefighting Vehicle Dispatch and Route Planning Model Based on Priority Passage Rights

<div>Efficient fire rescue operations in urban environments are critical for saving lives and reducing property damage. By utilizing connected vehicle systems (CVS) for firefighting vehicles planning, we can reduce the response time to fires while lowering the operational costs of fire stations. This research presents an innovative nonlinear mixed-integer programming model to enhance fire rescue operations in urban settings. The model focuses on expediting the movement of firefighting vehicles within intricate traffic networks, effectively tackling the complexities associated with collaborative dispatch decisions and optimal path planning for multiple response units. This method is validated using a small-scale traffic network, providing foundational insights into parameter impacts. A case study in Sioux Falls shows its superiority over traditional “nearest dispatch” methods, optimizing both cost and response time significantly. Sensitivity analyses involving clearance speed, clearance time, minimum rescue force, and fire loss parameters contribute to the enhancement of urban fire rescue operations and the refinement of practical decision support systems.</div>

Impact of Imbalanced Modulation on Security of Continuous-Variable Measurement-Device-Independent Quantum Key Distribution

Continuous variable measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution (CV-MDI-QKD) removes all known or unknown side-channel attacks on detectors. However, it is difficult to fully implement assumptions in the security demonstration model, which leads to potential security vulnerabilities inevitably existing in the practical system. In this paper, we explore the impact of imbalanced modulation at transmitters on the security of the CV-MDI-QKD system mainly using a coherent state and squeezed state under symmetric and asymmetric distances. Assuming two different modulation topologies of senders, we propose a generalized theoretical scheme and evaluate the key parameter achievable of the protocol with the mechanism of imbalanced modulation. The presented results show that imbalanced modulation can achieve a relatively nonlinearly higher secret key rate and transmission distances than the previous protocol which is the balanced modulation variance used by transmitters. The advantage of imbalanced modulation is demonstrated for the system key parameter estimation using numerical simulation under different situations. In addition, the consequences indicate the importance of imbalanced modulation on the performance of CV-MDI-QKD protocol and provide a theoretical framework for experimental implementation as well as the optimal modulated mode.

Contact-force local impedance algorithm to guide effective pulmonary vein isolation in AF patients: 1-year outcome from an international multicenter clinical setting.

The combination of highly localized impedance (LI) and contact force (CF) may improve tissue characterization and lesion prediction during radiofrequency (RF) pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). We report the outcomes of our acute and long-term clinical evaluation of CF-LI-guided PVI in consecutive AF ablation cases from an international multicenter clinical setting. Three hundred twenty-four consecutive patients from 20 European centers undergoing RF catheter ablation with the Stablepoint™ catheter were enrolled in the CHARISMA registry. Of these, 275 had a minimum follow-up of 1year and were included in the primary analysis. The mean procedure duration was 115 ± 47min, and the mean fluoroscopy time was 9.9 ± 6min. At the end of the procedures, all PVs had been successfully isolated in all study patients. Minor complications were reported in 12 patients (4.4%). At 1year, 36 (13.1%) patients had had an AF recurrence, and freedom from antiarrhythmic drugs and AF recurrence was achieved in 228 (82.9%) patients. The recurrence rate was higher in patients with persistent AF (21/116, 18.1%) than in those with paroxysmal AF (15/159, 9.4%; p = 0.0459). On multivariate logistic analysis adjusted for baseline confounders, only time > 6months from first diagnosis of AF to ablation (HR = 2.93, 95%CI 1.03 to 8.36, p = 0.0459) was independently associated with recurrences. An ablation strategy for PVI guided by CF-LI technology proved safe and effective and resulted in a low recurrence rate of AF over 1-year follow-up, irrespective of the underlying AF type. Catheter Ablation of Arrhythmias with a High-Density Mapping System in Real-World Practice. (CHARISMA). URL: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ Identifier: NCT03793998.

Learning from NN-based extended PID control for a class of high-order uncertain nonlinear systems

As is well known, traditional PID controllers are the most widely used type of controllers in industrial control due to their simplicity and other advantages. However, the existing research results on PID controllers lack a general theory for addressing the nonlinearity and uncertainty present in practical systems. In the era of intelligent control, it is highly valuable to design an intelligent PID controller with learning capability for complex unknown nonlinear systems. In this paper, we consider an extended form of PID controller based on deterministic learning (DL) for high-order nonlinear systems with unknown dynamics. The introduction of neural networks (NNs) provides an effective tool to compensate for the composite unknown nonlinearities in controlled systems, overcoming the limitations of traditional PID controllers relying solely on feedback mechanisms to combat unknown nonlinearities. Based on the Lyapunov theory, it not only ensures the stability and tracking control of the system but also simplifies the selection of controller parameters. Furthermore, based on the DL theory, the composite unknown nonlinear dynamics can be accurately compensated and approximated, and the acquired knowledge can be stored in a constant-value neural network. When encountering similar control tasks, the acquired knowledge can be quickly accessed to construct a knowledge-based extended PID controller, thereby improving the overall control performance. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.

Synthesis and application of mesoporous MIL-88A for enhanced lipase immobilization and high value oil conversion

MIL-88A, a metal–organic framework (MOF), has significant promise for lipase immobilization due to its robust acid and water tolerance coupled with cost-effectiveness. Nonetheless, enhancing the dimensional compatibility of carrier with lipase and substrate is imperative for its broader application. In this study, we innovatively synthesized mesoporous MIL-88A (Meso-MIL-88A) with a fairly wide pore distribution around 10 nm using a soft-template method followed by a citrate dissociation strategy. The adsorption isotherm of Meso-MIL-88A conformed to the Langmuir model, exhibiting a notable increase in the adsorption capacity of lipase ET 2.0 compared to common MIL-88A (C-MIL-88A), attributed to the augmented external specific surface area (59 to 19 m2/g). Moreover, the immobilized lipase on Meso-MIL-88A showcased superior specific activity and enzyme activity recovery in contrast to C-MIL-88A, owing to enhanced structural preservation of lipase protein and reduced mass transfer resistance. Greater stability towards pH and temperature and better dynamic performance of immobilized lipase compared to free lipases exhibited the great advantages of Meso-MIL-88A as immobilized carrier. Notably, in the synthesis of phosphatidyl DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), immobilized CalB (Candida antarctica lipase B) on Meso-MIL-88A exhibited a 41.89 % incorporation of DHA into PC (phosphatidylcholine) within 48 h and an 82.60 % recovery after five batches of use. SEM observations confirmed the sustained integrity of the immobilized lipase structure post-recycling, underscoring the good stability of Meso-MIL-88A in the catalysis system. This study unveils the substantial potential of Meso-MIL-88A in lipase immobilization and offers a facile approach to tailoring the pore size of MOFs for practical application system.

Drug Release Study of Polyvinyl Alcohol-Gelatin-Montmorillonite Bionanocomposite Hydrogel Drug Delivery Systems Loaded with Clindamycin

One of the challenges facing medical science is the proper formulation of drug delivery systems for the correct transfer of active pharmaceutical ingredients to the body. Polymer and nanocomposite hydrogels have been considered ideal options in the preparation of drug delivery systems due to their proper properties, such as hydrophilicity and biocompatibility. In this, our research, described in this manuscript, the drug release from polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-gelatin-montmorillonite (MMT) bionanocomposite hydrogel drug delivery systems loaded with clindamycin was studied. The structural and physical properties of prepared nanocomposite hydrogels were investigated using X-ray diffractometry (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Brunauer-Emmette-Teller (BET) analysis, gel fraction and swelling tests. The results showed that by adding MMT clay to PVA-gelatin hydrogels, the amount of gel fraction increased, and due to the decrease in the size of the pores, the amount of swelling decreased. The results of the drug release tests showed that the release rate of clindamycin was inversely related to the percentage of MMT added to the nanocomposite hydrogel. The results also showed that the shape of the drug delivery system and its dimensions affected the release rate of clindamycin. The dominant mechanism of drug release in all samples was found to be Fickian transport. Considering the favorable in-vitro drug release performance of our PVA-gelatin-MMT nanocomposite hydrogels in the release of clindamycin, it was concluded that they are suitable options for preparing practical drug delivery systems with controlled drug release ability.

Augmented reality navigation method based on image segmentation and sensor tracking registration technology

With the rapid development of modern science and technology, navigation technology provides great convenience for people's life, but the problem of inaccurate localization in complex environments has always been a challenge that navigation technology needs to be solved urgently. To address this challenge, this paper proposes an augmented reality navigation method that combines image segmentation and multi-sensor fusion tracking registration. The method optimizes the image processing process through the GA-OTSU-Canny algorithm and combines high-precision multi-sensor information in order to achieve accurate tracking of positioning and guidance in complex environments. Experimental results show that the GA-OTSU-Canny algorithm has a faster image edge segmentation rate, and the fastest start speed is only 1.8 s, and the fastest intersection selection time is 1.2 s. The navigation system combining the image segmentation and sensor tracking and registration techniques has a highly efficient performance in real-world navigation, and its building recognition rates are all above 99%. The augmented reality navigation system not only improves the navigation accuracy in high-rise and urban canyon environments, but also significantly outperforms traditional navigation solutions in terms of navigation startup time and target building recognition accuracy. In summary, this research not only provides a new framework for the theoretical integration of image processing and multi-sensor data, but also brings innovative technical solutions for the development and application of practical navigation systems.

Attenuation images of optical CT using Fricke xylenol orange gel for dose mapping in radiotherapy

The Fricke gel dosimeter, a gel-based solution containing ferrous ions, can be used for three-dimensional dosimetry by adding xylenol orange to the solution. This changes the optical properties, affecting radiation absorption. These gel dosimeters are recommended for clinical use, and 3D dosimetry uses optical computed tomography (OCT) to analyze reconstructed images. Advancements in radiotherapy focus on accurate irradiation while reducing doses to nearby tissues. This study uses modified FXO gel for 3D dosimetry, utilizing non-toxic, easy-to-handle reagents and optical CT Vista 16 equipment. The experiment aims to characterize the system's practicality and evaluate the impact of lead filters on attenuation values. The study also examines trends in attenuation values for different thicknesses of lead shields, enhancing our understanding of the relationship between attenuation and dose using optical CT. To prevent artifacts, a modified FXO gel was created by introducing a variation of XO in the preparation. The ideal concentration of XO is 0.01 mM to prevent distortions within the dose range of 1 Gy–10 Gy. A calibration system using FXO gel can be developed by comparing the maximum irradiation dose with the attenuation observed in the gel. The modified gel showed a sensitivity of 5.5·10−3 ± 2.6·10−4 cm−1/Gy and a starting dose of 4.2 Gy. Two samples were tested using different configurations of lead filters, with the central holes showing dose peaks of 4.72 Gy, 4.57 Gy, and 4.32 Gy, respectively. The results suggest the feasibility of producing modified FXO gels for examination in optical CT systems and their potential application in radiotherapy systems. Future research is being conducted in clinical irradiation to facilitate comparison with system designs.

Development of mathematical methods for diagnosing kidney diseases using fuzzy set tools

An approach based on fuzzy set theory is presented in the scientific article to enhance the efficiency of diagnosing kidney diseases by decreasing the time required for making medical decisions. The suggested approach employs fuzzy models and algorithms that consider the uncertainty and variability of clinical data to optimize the assessment of the functional state of the kidneys, taking into account various risk factors and individual characteristics of patients. The paper suggests a technique to develop a system of fuzzy decision rules. This technique combines E. Shortliff’s iterative rules with functions from the studied classes of kidney diseases. Mathematical modeling and experimental studies have indicated relatively high effectiveness in classifying different forms of kidney diseases. The results can be used to formulate intelligent decision support systems in clinical practice and improve diagnostic and monitoring processes. Moreover, the findings may aid in shaping more targeted and effective health policies at the national and regional levels, enhancing access to healthcare, and promoting the population’s overall health.

Bio-based Epoxy Resin Demonstrating High Breakdown Strength and Low Dielectric Loss via Intrinsic Molecular Charge Traps Construction

In the ultra-high voltage, ultra-high capacity and high frequency energy systems, epoxy-based dielectric materials demonstrating high breakdown strength and low dielectric loss are urgently needed. This work reports a strategy to modulate the charge trap depth in bio-based epoxy dielectric materials by tailoring the local molecular chain structures, ultimately leading to the significant suppression of high-field conductivity and dielectric loss. With the introduction of octa(dimethylsiloxy)octasilsiloxane (POSS) as the intrinsic molecular charge traps, our synthesized epoxy dielectric material exhibits a high breakdown strength of Eb-DC=81.5 kV/mm, 37% higher than the traditional bisphenol A epoxy resin (DGEBA), and low dielectric loss of tan δ=0.0022, 45% lower than that DGEBA. Furthermore, simulation results give the structure-property relationships, guiding the molecular design. Specifically, the dielectric properties are positively correlated with the LUMO energy difference and charge separation index of the polymer molecular chains. This work provides a promising pathway to enhance the dielectric properties of polymers by building intrinsic molecular charge traps, which is prospective for practical electronics and electrical power systems.

Satin bowerbird algorithm with an adaptive constriction factor for enhanced photovoltaic integration in distribution feeders

—This paper introduces an enhanced Satin bowerbird optimizer (SBO), specifically tailored for the integration of photovoltaic distributed generation (DG) units into radial distribution systems. The upgraded SBO version involves two pivotal adjustments. Firstly, the positional updating mechanism of the newly generated bower is modified to enable exploration around the iteration's elite bower. Secondly, an adaptive constriction factor is introduced, progressively decreasing during iterations to concentrate the search in promising areas. These modifications significantly amplify the exploration capacity of each new bower in the SBO algorithm. The proposed upgraded SBO aims at minimizing costs related to CO2 emissions from the grid and those linked with photovoltaic units, in addition to energy losses. The variability of photovoltaic DG units is represented using the Beta Probability Density Function (PDF) to portray distinct solar irradiation conditions experienced daily. The enhanced SBO version undergoes testing on a practical Nigerian distribution system, the Ajinde 62-bus network, and a standard IEEE 69 nodes system. Simulation results underscore the effectiveness of the upgraded SBO version, revealing substantial reductions in energy losses and emissions. Specifically, for the Ajinde 62-bus network, the proposed SBO version achieves a noteworthy 31 % reduction in the combined yearly costs of energy losses and emissions compared to the initial case. Additionally, for the IEEE 69-bus system, it attains a considerable reduction of 35 %. Furthermore, the simulation results illustrate the competitive performance of the suggested SBO version when compared to Differential Evolution (DE) and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithms, as well as the standard SBO.

The creeping movement of a soft colloidal particle normal to a planar interface

A methodological blend of analytical and numerical strategies employing collocation techniques is presented to investigate the task of describing the Stokes flow generated by a soft particle (composite sphere) moving perpendicularly to a planar interface of infinite extent, separating two semi-infinite, immiscible viscous fluid domains. The particle consists of a solid core enclosed by a porous membrane allowing fluid passage. The movement of the soft nanoparticle has been examined through a continuum mathematical model. This model incorporates the Stokes and Brinkman equations, accounting for the hydrodynamic fields both outside and within the porous membrane layer, respectively. The motion is investigated under conditions characterized by low Reynolds and capillary numbers, where the interface experiences negligible deformation. The solution combines cylindrical and spherical fundamental solutions via superposition. Initially, the boundary conditions at the fluid–fluid interface are satisfied utilizing Fourier–Bessel transforms, subsequently addressing the conditions at the soft particle's surface through a collocation method. The normalized drag force exerted on the particle is accurately calculated, exhibiting robust convergence across various geometric and physical parameters. These findings are effectively visualized via graphs and tables. We juxtapose our drag force coefficient results with established literature data, particularly focusing on the extreme cases. The findings highlight the substantial impact of the interface on the drag force coefficient. Across the full range of viscosity ratios, the normalized drag force decreases as the relative thickness of the porous layer increases. These results enhance the understanding of practical systems and industrial processes such as sedimentation, flotation, electrophoresis, and agglomeration.

A Survey on Fake News Detection in Social Media Using Graph Neural Networks

Nowadays, social media has become the key source of information for anyone seeking about current events across the world. This information may be fake or real news. On social media platforms, fake news negatively impacts politics, the economy, and health, and affects the stability of society. The research on fake news detection has received widespread attention in the field of computer science. There are many effective methods of fake news detection technology including natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning techniques, primarily focusing on content analysis and user behavior. While these methods have shown promise, they often fall short in capturing the complex relational and propagation patterns inherent in social networks. Fake news exhibits distinct features such as misleading headlines, and fabricated content, making its detection challenging. To address these issues, Graph Neural Networks (GNNs) have been introduced as a superior solution. GNNs are particularly effective in processing graph-structured data, allowing them to model the intricate connections and dissemination patterns of news in social networks more accurately. This study provides an overview A variety of false information and their characteristics and discusses various techniques and features used in fake news detection. As well as advanced GNN-based techniques and datasets used to implement practical fake news detection systems from multiple perspectives and future research directions. In addition, tables and summary figures help researchers understand the full picture of fake news detection. Finally, the object of this review is to help other researchers improve fake news detection models using GNNs.

BUILDING SHOWCASE PLATFORM

Abstract : Formal project management is not widespread in SMEs. Most of the office work and normal business activities are looked by the staff in an informal manner and in most cases without any project management training. This is not to say that their projects are not successful. Many SMEs handle projects well and are successful. This could be due to their tactical knowledge and the individuals involved rather than a conscious effort. But these companies could be falling short of their potential and may perform better if they follow a proper formal system of project management practices. Management, produces a degree of predictability, focuses on systems, relays on control, organizes and staffs, accepts the status quo and motivates people to comply with standards. This project aims to study the approach of small and informal construction firms towards construction management and the various techniques adopted by them and thereby suggest systems and methods in project management to improve their performance. A startup construction firm that did not have formal project management systems and techniques in place was identified and upon discussion with their owners and employees regarding their practices, they were willing to let us assist them in their projects by setting up a project management function there by analyzing their work. During the course of the study, significant improvements were observed in the system adopted by the firm in various aspects like quality control, project monitoring & tracking and safety. It can thus be concluded that introduction of project management techniques even though on a small but systematic way can help bring improvement in the performance of the firm and contribute to the organization’s growth in the long run. IndexTerms – Web-Based Application, Modern structure.