Algorithm for wireless sensor networks in ginseng field in precision agriculture.

In the research on energy-efficient networking methods for precision agriculture, a hot topic is the energy issue of sensing nodes for individual wireless sensor networks. The sensing nodes of the wireless sensor network should be enabled to provide better services with limited energy to support wide-range and multi-scenario acquisition and transmission of three-dimensional crop information. Further, the life cycle of the sensing nodes should be maximized under limited energy. The transmission direction and node power consumption are considered, and the forward and high-energy nodes are selected as the preferred cluster heads or data-forwarding nodes. Taking the cropland cultivation of ginseng as the background, we put forward a particle swarm optimization-based networking algorithm for wireless sensor networks with excellent performance. This algorithm can be used for precision agriculture and achieve optimal equipment configuration in a network under limited energy, while ensuring reliable communication in the network. The node scale is configured as 50 to 300 nodes in the range of 500 × 500 m2, and simulated testing is conducted with the LEACH, BCDCP, and ECHERP routing protocols. Compared with the existing LEACH, BCDCP, and ECHERP routing protocols, the proposed networking method can achieve the network lifetime prolongation and mitigate the decreased degree and decreasing trend of the distance between the sensing nodes and center nodes of the sensor network, which results in a longer network life cycle and stronger environment suitability. It is an effective method that improves the sensing node lifetime for a wireless sensor network applied to cropland cultivation of ginseng.

Ensino da segurança do paciente na graduação em enfermagem no estado da Bahia / Enseñanza sobre la seguridad del paciente en el pregrado en enfermería en el estado de Bahia-Brasil / Teaching patient safety in undergraduate nursing in the state of Bahia

RESUMO Objetivo: identificar o tema segurança do paciente nos componentes curriculares de cursos de graduação em enfermagem no estado da Bahia. Método: pesquisa quantitativa, descritiva, exploratória de base documental desenvolvida em fevereiro de 2019, com dados extraídos da Matriz Curricular, Projeto Pedagógico e Ementa, disponíveis nos websites de instituições de ensino superior com situação ativa no sistema e-MEC. Resultados: das 75 instituições cadastradas, nove eram públicas, e 66 privadas. O tema segurança do paciente não foi encontrado em nenhum website de universidades públicas e apenas em 8,06% das privadas. O contato inicial com a temática dava-se no 3º semestre, a carga horária média das disciplinas que abordavam o tema variava de 30 a 306 horas e o componente curricular era obrigatório para estas disciplinas. Apenas 1,71% dos websites das instituições públicas apresentavam todos os documentos pesquisados, enquanto as privadas apresentaram 33,33%, a matriz curricular foi o documento mais disponibilizado. Conclusão: a inserção do tema segurança do paciente nos componentes curriculares mostrou-se insuficiente, apontando necessidade de revisão dos processos formativos e inclusão de abordagem interdisciplinar e transdisciplinar, tendo em vista a complexidade do cuidado em saúde e a importância do desenvolvimento de competências específicas com foco na segurança do paciente.

RESUMEN Objetivo: identificar el tema seguridad del paciente en los componentes curriculares de cursos de pregrado en enfermería en el estado de Bahia-Brasil. Método: investigación cuantitativa, descriptiva, exploratoria de base documental desarrollada en febrero de 2019, con datos extraídos de la Matriz Curricular, Proyecto Pedagógico y Directrices, disponibles en los sitios electrónicos de instituciones de enseñanza superior con situación activa en el sistema e-MEC. Resultados: de las 75 instituciones registradas, nueve eran públicas y 66 privadas. El tema de la seguridad del paciente no se encontró en ningún website de universidades públicas y solo en el 8,06% de las privadas. El contacto inicial con la temática se trabajaba en el 3º semestre, el promedio de la carga horaria de las asignaturas que trataban el tema variaba de 30 a 306 horas y el componente curricular era obligatorio para estas asignaturas. Solo el 1,71% de los sitios electrónicos de las instituciones públicas presentaba todos los documentos investigados, mientras que los privados presentaron el 33,33%, la matriz curricular fue el documento más disponible. Conclusión: la inserción del tema seguridad del paciente en los componentes curriculares se mostró insuficiente, señalando necesidad de revisión de los procesos formativos e inclusión de abordaje interdisciplinario y transdisciplinario, teniendo en cuenta la complejidad del cuidado de la salud y la importancia del desarrollo de competencias específicas centradas en la seguridad del paciente.

ABSTRACT Objective: to identify the theme of patient safety in the curricular components of undergraduate nursing courses in the state of Bahia. Method: quantitative, descriptive, exploratory research of documentary basis developed in February 2019, with data extracted from the Curricular Matrix, Pedagogical Project and Menu, available on the websites of higher education institutions with active situation in the e-MEC system. Results: of the 75 registered institutions, nine were public, and 66 were private. The theme of patient safety was not found in any website of public universities and only in 8.06% of private universities. The initial contact with the theme took place in the 3rd semester, the average workload of the subjects that addressed the theme ranged from 30 to 306 hours and the curricular component was mandatory for these disciplines. Only 1.71% of the websites of public institutions had all the documents surveyed, while the private ones presented 33.33%, the curriculum matrix was the most available document. Conclusion: the insertion of the patient safety theme in the curricular components proved insufficient, pointing out the need for review of training processes and inclusion of an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approach, in view of the complexity of health care and the importance of developing specific competencies focused on patient safety.

Communicating with medical library users during COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: The Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library serves a community of over 22,000 individuals primarily from the Yale Schools of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing and the Yale New Haven Hospital. Though they are geographically close to one another, reaching these disparate populations can be a challenge. Having a clear and thorough communication plan has proved invaluable in transcending communication chasms, especially in recent times of crisis. CASE PRESENTATION: This article describes the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library's methods for communicating and promoting its remote resources and services in response to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). It details our communication strategies and messages leading up to, and after, the Yale campus was closed and specifies how we pivoted from reaching users inside the library to reaching our audiences remotely. CONCLUSIONS: Our communication plan has provided the foundation for all of our messaging, be it print or digital media. In recent moments of crisis, it has been especially helpful for planning and executing large scale messaging. Similarly, knowing whom to contact around our organization to promote our message in different and broader ways has been extremely beneficial.

Analyzing medical device connectivity and its effect on cyber security in german hospitals.

BACKGROUND: Modern healthcare devices can be connected to computer networks and many western healthcare institutions run those devices in networks. At the same time, cyber attacks are on the rise and there is evidence that cybercriminals do not spare critical infrastructure such as major hospitals, even if they endanger patients. Intuitively, the more and closer connected healthcare devices are to public networks, the higher the risk of getting attacked. METHODS: To asses the current connectivity status of healthcare devices, we surveyed the field of German hospitals and especially University Medical Center UMCs. RESULTS: The results show a strong correlation between the networking degree and the number of medical devices. The average number of medical devices is 25.150, with a median of networked medical devices of 3.600. Actual key users of networked medical devices are the departments Radiology, Intensive Care, Radio-Oncology RO, Nuclear Medicine NUC, and Anaesthesiology in the group of UMCs. In the next five years, the usage of networked medical devices will increase significantly in the departments of Surgery, Intensive Care, and Radiology. We detected a strong correlation between the degree of connectivity and the likelihood of being attacked.The survey answers regarding the cyber security status reveal a lack of security basics in some of the inquired hospitals. We did discover successful attacks in hospitals with separated or subsidiary departments. A fusion of competencies on an organizational level facilitates the right behavior here. Most hospitals rated themselves predominantly positively in the self-assessment but also stated the usefulness of IT security insurance. CONCLUSIONS: Concluding our results, hospitals are already facing the consequences of omitted measures within their growing pool of medical devices. Continuously relying on historically grown structures without adaption and trusting manufactures to solve vectors is a critical behavior that could seriously endanger patients.

Nursing staff's evaluation of facilitators and barriers during implementation of wireless nurse call systems in residential care facilities. A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Traditional nurse call systems used in residential care facilities rely on patients to summon assistance for routine or emergency needs. Wireless nurse call systems (WNCS) offer new affordances for persons unable to actively or consciously engage with the system, allowing detection of hazardous situations, prevention and timely treatment, as well as enhanced nurse workflows. This study aimed to explore facilitators and barriers of implementation of WNCSs in residential care facilities. METHODS: The study had a cross-sectional descriptive design. We collected data from care providers (n = 98) based on the Measurement Instrument for Determinants of Innovation (MIDI) framework in five Norwegian residential care facilities during the first year of WNCS implementation. The self-reporting MIDI questionnaire was adapted to the contexts. Descriptive statistics were used to explore participant characteristics and MIDI item and determinant scores. MIDI items to which ≥20% of participants disagreed/totally disagreed were regarded as barriers and items to which ≥80% of participants agreed/totally agreed were regarded as facilitators for implementation. RESULTS: More facilitators (n = 22) than barriers (n = 6) were identified. The greatest facilitators, reported by 98% of the care providers, were the expected outcomes: the importance and probability of achieving prompt call responses and increased safety, and the normative belief of unit managers. During the implementation process, 87% became familiar with the systems, and 86 and 90%, respectively regarded themselves and their colleagues as competent users of the WNCS. The most salient barriers, reported by 37%, were their lack of prior knowledge and that they found the WNCS difficult to learn. No features of the technology were identified as barriers. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the care providers gave a positive evaluation of the WNCS implementation. The barriers to implementation were addressed by training and practicing technological skills, facilitated by the influence and support by the manager and the colleagues within the residential care unit. WNCSs offer a range of advanced applications and services, and further research is needed as more WNCS functionalities are implemented into residential care services.

Big Data in the Assessment of Pediatric Medication Safety.

Big data (BD) in pediatric medication safety research provides many opportunities to improve the safety and health of children. The number of pediatric medication and device trials has increased in part because of the past 20 years of US legislation requiring and incentivizing study of the effects of medical products in children (Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act of 1997, Pediatric Rule in 1998, Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act of 2002, and Pediatric Research Equity Act of 2003). There are some limitations of traditional approaches to studying medication safety in children. Randomized clinical trials within the regulatory context may not enroll patients who are representative of the general pediatric population, provide the power to detect rare safety signals, or provide long-term safety data. BD sources may have these capabilities. In recent years, medical records have become digitized, and cell phones and personal devices have proliferated. In this process, the field of biomedical science has progressively used BD from those records coupled with other data sources, both digital and traditional. Additionally, large distributed databases that include pediatric-specific outcome variables are available. A workshop entitled "Advancing the Development of Pediatric Therapeutics: Application of 'Big Data' to Pediatric Safety Studies" held September 18 to 19, 2017, in Silver Spring, Maryland, formed the basis of many of the ideas outlined in this article, which are intended to identify key examples, critical issues, and future directions in this early phase of an anticipated dramatic change in the availability and use of BD.

The Times they Are a-Changin' - Healthcare 4.0 Is Coming!

The Industrial Revolution brought new economics and new epidemic patterns to the people, which formed the healthcare 1.0 that focused on public health solutions. The emergence of large production concept and technology brought healthcare to 2.0. Bigger hospitals and better medical education were established, and doctors were trained for specialty for better treatment quality. The size of computer shrunk. This allowed fast development of computer-based devices and information technology, leading the healthcare to 3.0. The initiation of smart medicine nowadays announces the arrival of healthcare 4.0 with new brain and new hands. It is an era of big revision of previous technologies, one of which is artificial intelligence which will lead humans to a new world that emphasizes more on advanced and continuous learnings.

Experiencia en la utilización de la Distribución GNU/Linux VyOS como software para PC-routers en una institución de Salud / Experience in the use of the GNU / Linux VyOS Distribution as software for PC-routers in a Health institution

En este trabajo se presenta una distribución de GNU/Linux que permite configurar un router, en un hardware x86 de sobremesa, con casi todas las características de uno propietario; con el objetivo de mejorar la infraestructura de red, reducir costes, y aumentar la seguridad y disponibilidad de los servicios que se brindan; teniendo en cuenta además, las limitantes del país debido al bloqueo económico al cual está sometido por los Estados Unidos. Para ello se utilizó como método el análisis documental a partir de información recuperada en materiales digitales en Internet, así como experiencias realizadas en el Hospital Clínico Quirúrgico Universitario Dr. Ambrosio Grillo Portuondo(AU)

In this paper we present a GNU / Linux distribution that allows you to configure a router, in a desktop x86 hardware, with almost all the characteristics of a proprietary; with the aim of improving the network infrastructure, reducing costs, and increasing the security and availability of the services provided; also taking into account, the limitations of the country due to the economic blockade to which it is submitted by the United States. To do this, a documentary analysis was used as a method based on information retrieved from digital materials on the Internet, as well as experiences at the University Clinical Surgical Hospital Dr. Ambrosio Grillo Portuondo(AU)

MARC: A Novel Framework for Detecting MITM Attacks in eHealthcare BLE Systems.

Real-time and ubiquitous patient monitoring demands the use of wireless data acquisition through resource constrained medical sensors, mostly configured with No-input No-output (NiNo) capabilities. Bluetooth is one of the most popular and widely adopted means of communicating this sensed information to a mobile terminal. However, over simplified implementations of Bluetooth low energy (BLE) protocol in eHealth sector is susceptible to several wireless attacks, in particular the Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) attack. The issue arises due to a lack of mutual authentication and integrity protection between the communicating devices, which may lead to compromise of confidentiality, availability and even the integrity of this safety-critical information. This research paper presents a novel framework named MARC to detect, analyze, and mitigate Bluetooth security flaws while focusing upon MITM attack against NiNo devices. For this purpose, a comprehensive solution has been proposed, which can detect MITM signatures based upon four novel anomaly detection metrics: analyzing Malicious scan requests, Advertisement intervals, RSSI levels, and Cloned node addresses. The proposed solution has been evaluated through practical implementation and demonstration of different attack scenarios, which show promising results concerning accurate and efficient detection of MITM attacks.

Measuring electronic communication networks in virtual care teams using electronic health records access-log data.

OBJECTIVE: To develop methods for measuring electronic communication networks in virtual care teams using electronic health records (EHR) access-log data. METHODS: For a convenient sample of 100 surgical colorectal cancer patients, we used time-stamped EHR access-log data extracted from an academic medical center's EHR system to construct communication networks among healthcare professionals (HCPs) in each patient's virtual care team. We measured communication linkages between HCPs using the inverse of the average time between access events in which the source HCPs sent information to and the destination HCPs retrieved information from the EHR system. Social network analysis was used to examine and visualize communication network structures, identify principal care teams, and detect meaningful structural differences across networks. We conducted a non-parametric multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) to test the association between care teams' communication network structures and patients' cancer stage and site. RESULTS: The 100 communication networks showed substantial variations in size and structures. Principal care teams, the subset of HCPs who formed the core of the communication networks, had higher proportions of nurses, physicians, and pharmacists and a lower proportion of laboratory medical technologists than the overall networks. The distributions of conditional uniform graph quantiles suggested that our network-construction technique captured meaningful underlying structures that were different from random unstructured networks. MANOVA results found that the networks' topologies were associated with patients' cancer stage and site. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that it is feasible to use EHR access-log data to measure and examine communication networks in virtual care teams. The proposed methods captured salient communication patterns in care teams that were associated with patients' clinical differences.

Arquitectura de información como un proceso para organizar sitios web usables e intuitivos: El caso del Centro Centroamericano de Población (CCP) / Information architecture as a process to organize usable and intuitive websites. The case of the Central American Center for Population, University of Costa Rica

Resumen El artículo expone cómo se desarrolló un proceso de arquitectura de información para el sitio Web del Centro Centroamericano de Población (CCP) de la Universidad de Costa Rica (UCR), como parte de un estudio dentro del campo de la Bibliotecología. Explica, ampliamente, cómo se realizó el análisis del sitio, la identificación de los requerimientos, la estructura y los sistemas de etiquetado y navegación requeridos por el CCP para mejorar su sitio Web. Durante este proceso se diseñaron, también, todas las visualizaciones (wireframes) de las páginas que conforman la versión de escritorio de este sitio, además, se elaboraron visualizaciones para la versión responsive requerida por los dispositivos móviles. Se concluye que la arquitectura de información es un proceso que demanda de planificación y análisis del problema a tratar, al mismo tiempo, es un campo laboral importante para profesionales en Bibliotecología con interés en incorporar la tecnología a su práctica profesional.

Abstract The development of an information architecture process on the website of the Central American Center for Population from the University of Costa Rica is explained. This investigation is in the field of library and information sciences and explains how the website was analyzed, how the requirements were lifted, how the structure and the labeling and navigation systems were developed in order to improve the website. During this process, all the wireframes for the desktop version of the website were designed, also, wireframes for the responsive version were created. It concludes that information architecture is a process that requires a lot of planning and analysis of the problem, also, it is an important working area for librarians that are interested in getting involved with technology.

Short-term adoption rates for a web-based portal within the intranet of a hospital information system.

OBJECTIVE: An intranet portal that combines cost-free, open-source software technology with easy set-up features can be beneficial for daily hospital processes. We describe the short-term adoption rates of a costless content management system (CMS) in the intranet of a tertiary Greek hospital. DESIGN: Dashboard statistics of our CMS platform were the implementation assessment of our system. RESULTS: In a period of 10 months of running the software, the results indicate the employees overcame 'Resistance to Change' status. The average growth rate of end users who exploit the portal services is calculated as 2.73 every 3.3 months. CONCLUSION: We found our intranet web-based portal to be acceptable and helpful so far. Exploitation of an open-source CMS within the hospital intranet can influence healthcare management and the employees' way of working as well.

Computerization of primary health care in Brazil: the network of actors.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the network of human and non-human actors involved in the computerization of primary health care in the Brazilian federal government. METHOD: A qualitative study that used as a theoretical reference the actor-network theory and as a methodological reference the cartography of controversies. Data analysis was carried out using Gephi software, and through the extraction of reports, informed by the actor-network theory. RESULTS: We found a network of 288 connections among 33 actors, composed mainly of nonhuman influencers of computerization. These actors are distributed throughout 3 inter-related communities, and manage the network by defining obligations, penalties, conflicts and intentionalities, thus influencing the success of the intended computerization. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: The network of actors at the federal level generates situations that, in many cases, hamper the successful implementation of a nationwide computerization strategy.

Computerization of primary health care in Brazil: the network of actors / Informatización de la atención primaria a la salud en Brasil: la red de actores / Informatização da atenção primária à saúde no Brasil: a rede de atores

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the network of human and non-human actors involved in the computerization of primary health care in the Brazilian federal government. Method: A qualitative study that used as a theoretical reference the actor-network theory and as a methodological reference the cartography of controversies. Data analysis was carried out using Gephi software, and through the extraction of reports, informed by the actor-network theory. Results: We found a network of 288 connections among 33 actors, composed mainly of nonhuman influencers of computerization. These actors are distributed throughout 3 inter-related communities, and manage the network by defining obligations, penalties, conflicts and intentionalities, thus influencing the success of the intended computerization. Final considerations: The network of actors at the federal level generates situations that, in many cases, hamper the successful implementation of a nationwide computerization strategy.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Analizar la red de actores humanos y no-humanos que están involucrados en la informatización de la atención primaria a la salud en la esfera federal del gobierno brasileño. Método: Estudio cualitativo que ha utilizado como referencial teórico la teoría actor-red y como referencial metodológico la cartografía de controversias. El análisis de los datos se dio por medio del programa Gephi y desde la técnica de extractos de relatos con punto de vista de la teoría actor-red. Resultados: Se ha constatado una red de 288 conexiones entre 33 actores, que está conformada mayoritariamente por no-humanos influyentes de la informatización. Los actores están distribuidos en 3 comunidades, que se relacionan entre sí, agenciando la red desde la definición de las obligatoriedades, las condenas, los conflictos y las intencionalidades, influyendo el éxito de la pretendida informatización. Consideraciones Finales: La red de actores en la esfera federal moviliza situaciones que, en muchos momentos, obstaculizan el éxito de la implantación de una estrategia de la informatización de abarcadura nacional.

RESUMO Objetivo: Analisar a rede de atores humanos e não-humanos envolvidos na informatização da atenção primária à saúde na esfera federal do governo brasileiro. Método: Estudo qualitativo que utilizou como referencial teórico a teoria ator-rede e como referencial metodológico a cartografia de controvérsias. A análise dos dados se deu por meio do software Gephi e a partir da técnica de extratos de relatos com ponto de vista da teoria ator-rede. Resultados: Constatou-se uma rede de 288 ligações entre 33 atores, composta majoritariamente por não-humanos influenciadores da informatização. Os atores estão distribuídos em 3 comunidades, que se relacionam entre si, agenciando a rede a partir da definição de obrigatoriedades, penalidades, conflitos e intencionalidades, influenciando o sucesso da pretendida informatização. Considerações finais: A rede de atores na esfera federal mobiliza situações que, em muitos momentos, obstaculizam o sucesso da implantação de uma estratégia de informatização de abrangência nacional.

'Fit-for-purpose?' - challenges and opportunities for applications of blockchain technology in the future of healthcare.

Blockchain is a shared distributed digital ledger technology that can better facilitate data management, provenance and security, and has the potential to transform healthcare. Importantly, blockchain represents a data architecture, whose application goes far beyond Bitcoin - the cryptocurrency that relies on blockchain and has popularized the technology. In the health sector, blockchain is being aggressively explored by various stakeholders to optimize business processes, lower costs, improve patient outcomes, enhance compliance, and enable better use of healthcare-related data. However, critical in assessing whether blockchain can fulfill the hype of a technology characterized as 'revolutionary' and 'disruptive', is the need to ensure that blockchain design elements consider actual healthcare needs from the diverse perspectives of consumers, patients, providers, and regulators. In addition, answering the real needs of healthcare stakeholders, blockchain approaches must also be responsive to the unique challenges faced in healthcare compared to other sectors of the economy. In this sense, ensuring that a health blockchain is 'fit-for-purpose' is pivotal. This concept forms the basis for this article, where we share views from a multidisciplinary group of practitioners at the forefront of blockchain conceptualization, development, and deployment.