Experience in the application of Java Technologies in telemedicine

Java language has been demonstrated to be an effective tool in supporting medical image viewing in Russia. This evaluation was completed by obtaining a maximum of 20 images, depending on the client's computer workstation from one patient using a commercially available computer tomography (CT) scanner. The images were compared against standard CT images that were viewed at the site of capture. There was no appreciable difference. The client side is a lightweight component that provides an intuitive interface for end users. Each image is loaded in its own thread and the user can begin work after the first image has been loaded. This feature is especially useful on slow connection speed, 9.6 Kbps for example. The server side, which is implemented by the Java Servlet Engine works more effective than common gateway interface (CGI) programs do. Advantages of the Java Technology place this program on the next level of application development. This paper presents a unique application of Java in telemedicine.     

The BiolAD-DB system : an informatics system for clinical and genetic data

The Biology of Addictive Diseases-Database (BiolAD-DB) system is a research bioinformatics system for archiving, analyzing, and processing of complex clinical and genetic data. The database schema employs design principles for handling complex clinical information, such as response items in genetic questionnaires. Data access and validation is provided by the BiolAD-DB client application, which features a data validation engine tightly coupled to a graphical user interface. Data integrity is provided by the password-protected BiolAD-DB SQL compliant server and database. BiolAD-DB tools further provide functionalities for generating customized reports and views. The BiolAD-DB system schema, client, and installation instructions are freely available at http://www.rockefeller.edu/biolad-db/.     

The design of Jemboss: a graphical user interface to EMBOSS

DESIGN: Jemboss is a graphical user interface (GUI) for the European Molecular Biology Open Software Suite (EMBOSS). It is being developed at the MRC UK HGMP-RC as part of the EMBOSS project. This paper explains the technical aspects of the Jemboss client-server design. The client-server model optionally allows that a Jemboss user have an account on the remote server. The Jemboss client is written in Java and is downloaded automatically to a user's workstation via Java Web Start using the HTML protocol. The client then communicates with the remote server using SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol). A Tomcat server listens on the remote machine and communicates the SOAP requests to a Jemboss server, again written in Java. This Java server interprets the client requests and executes them through Java Native Interface (JNI) code written in the C language. Another C program having setuid privilege, jembossctl, is called by the JNI code to perform the client requests under the user's account on the server. The commands include execution of EMBOSS applications, file management and project management tasks. Jemboss allows the use of JSSE for encryption of communication between the client and server. The GUI parses the EMBOSS Ajax Command Definition language for form generation and maximum input flexibility. Jemboss interacts directly with the EMBOSS libraries to allow dynamic generation of application default settings. RESULTS: This interface is part of the EMBOSS distribution and has attracted much interest. It has been set up at many other sites globally as well as being used at the HGMP-RC for registered users. AVAILABILITY: The software, EMBOSS and Jemboss, is freely available to academics and commercial users under the GPL licence. It can be downloaded from the EMBOSS ftp server: http://www.uk.embnet.org/Software/EMBOSS/, ftp://ftp.uk.embnet.org/pub/EMBOSS/. Registered HGMP-RC users can access an installed server from: http://www.uk.embnet.org/Software/EMBOSS/Jemboss/     

Project management system for structural and functional proteomics: Sesame

A computing infrastructure (Sesame) has been designed to manage and link individual steps in complex projects. Sesame is being developed to support a large-scale structural proteomics pilot project. When complete, the system is expected to manage all steps from target selection to data-bank deposition and report writing. We report here on the design criteria of the Sesame system and on results demonstrating successful achievement of the basic goals of its architecture. The Sesame software package, which follows the client/server paradigm, consists of a framework, which supports secure interactions among the three tiers of the system (the client, server, and database tiers), and application modules that carry out specific tasks. The framework utilizes industry standards. The client tier is written in Java2 and can be accessed anywhere through the Internet. All the development on the server tier is also carried out in Java2 so as to accommodate a wide variety of computer platforms. The database tier employs a commercial database management system. Each Sesame application module consists of a simple user interface in the client tier, corresponding objects in the server tier, and relevant data stored in the centralized database. For security, access to stored data is controlled by access privileges. The system facilitates both local and remote collaborations. Because users interact with the system using Java Web Start or through a web browser, access is limited only by the availability of an Internet connection. We describe several Sesame modules that have been developed to the point where they are being utilized routinely to support steps involved in structural and functional proteomics. This software is available to parties interested in using it and assisting to guide its further development.Deceased, 30 August 2000     

Content Delivery Policies in Replicated Web Services: Client-Side vs. Server-Side

Replication of Web Services has an important role among techniques that have been developed in order to meet the demand for faster and more efficient access to the Internet. Replication can be addressed both by a cluster of servers, and by servers geographically distributed in the Internet. In this paper, we focus on geographical replication. Two approaches are commonly used for geographical replication: server-side and client-side. In the client-side approach, the client has a significant role in the policy used to exploit Web Service Replication. In the server-side approach, the client transparently exploits a Replicated Web Service. Both server-side and client-side approaches provide various strategies that can be adopted. An analysis of these strategies, and an overall classification, is presented here. Finally, client-side and server-side approaches are compared, identifying their pros and cons in order to propose the features of an eventual complete approach.     

BioWAP, mobile Internet service for bioinformatics

We have developed a new Internet service, which provides mobile access to bioinformatics databases and software tools. The BioWAP service facilitates access to basic bioinformatics databases and analysis tools from everywhere without a PC or a laptop computer. Both open source bioinformatics program suites and Internet services, which are not designed for mobile Internet access, were utilized in the BioWAP service. AVAILABILITY: The BioWAP service starting page can be browsed with any WAP terminal from http://bioinf.uta.fi/wml/welcome.wml.     

Clustalnet: the joining of Clustal and CORBA

MOTIVATION: Performing sequence alignment operations from a different program than the original sequence alignment code, and/or through a network connection, is often required. Interactive alignment editors and large-scale biological data analysis are common examples where such a flexibility is important. Interoperability between the alignment engine and the client should be obtained regardless of the architectures and programming languages of the server and client. RESULTS: Clustalnet, a Clustal alignment CORBA server is described, which was developed on the basis of Clustalw. This server brings the robustness of the algorithms and implementations of Clustal to a new level of reuse. A Clustalnet server object can be accessed from a program, transparently through the network. We present interfaces to perform the alignment operations and to control these operations via immutable contexts. The interfaces that select the contexts do not depend on the nature of the operation to be performed, making the design modular. The IDL interfaces presented here are not specific to Clustal and can be implemented on top of different sequence alignment algorithm implementations.     

Mouse emulation based on facial electromyogram

This work introduces a novel human–computer interface based on electromyography (EMG). This tool allows the user to control the cursor on a computer screen through EMG activity resulting from specific facial movements. This type of human–computer interface may be useful for individuals who want to interact with computers and suffer from movement limitations of arms and hands. Although there are a number of EMG-based human–computer interfaces described in literature, most of them are not assessed with regard to the learning curve resulting from the interaction with such interfaces, being this factor one of the main contributions of the presented study. Another contribution of the investigation is the proposal and evaluation of a complete and practical solution that implements a two-channel EMG interface for generating seven distinct states which can be used as output commands. In the study, a Finite State Machine, which is the core of the system, is responsible for the conversion of features extracted from EMG signals into commands (i.e., SINGLE_CLICK, UP, DOWN, LEFT, RIGHT, ROTATE, and ON_STANDBY) used for the control of the cursor on a computer screen. The tool uses only two channels of information that combines the muscle activity of three facial muscles, i.e., the Left and Right Temporalis and the Frontalis. In order to evaluate learning when using the tool a customized graphical user interface was devised. This interface allowed subjects to execute pre-defined timed actions with distinct levels of difficulty. In total, 10 healthy subjects and a single subject suffering from muscular dystrophy were involved in the experiments. Approximately 60 h of practical experiments were carried out. The results suggest that just after one training session subjects could control the cursor on a computer screen, and also that incremental learning is verified over training sessions. Therefore, the devised tool may be integrated with specific programs and used by individuals whose facial muscles are not severely damaged.     

Adopting a database as a solution to managing electron image data

A database was used for data management and interprogram communication in an image processing and three-dimensional reconstruction program suite for biological bundles. The programs were modified from the MRC crystallographic package. The database server works with local and remote programs and data sets, allows simultaneous requests from multiple clients, and maintains multiple databases and data tables within them. It has built-in security for the data access. Several graphical user interfaces are available to view and/or edit data tables. In addition, FORTRAN interface and function libraries are written to communicate with image processing software. The data management overhead is inexpensive, requiring only narrow bandwidth from the network. It easily handles several data tables with over 1000 entries.     

ArrayQuest: a web resource for the analysis of DNA microarray data

Background  

Numerous microarray analysis programs have been created through the efforts of Open Source software development projects. Providing browser-based interfaces that allow these programs to be executed over the Internet enhances the applicability and utility of these analytic software tools.     

Informatics for mutagenesis: the design of Mutabase—a distributed data recording system for animal husbandry, mutagenesis, and phenotypic analysis

The increasing use of high-throughput methods for the production of biologically important information and the increasing diversity of that information pose considerable bioinformatics challenges. These challenges will be met by implementing electronic data management systems not only to capture the data, but increasingly to provide a platform for data integration and mining as we enter the post-genomic era. We discuss the design and implementation of such a data capture system, `Mutabase', as a model of how such electronic systems might be designed and implemented. Mutabase was created in support of a large-scale, phenotype-driven mouse mutagenesis program at MRC Mammalian Genetics Unit, Harwell, in collaboration with SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals, Queen Mary and Westfield College, London, and Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London. The aim of this mutagenesis project is to make a significant contribution to the existing mouse mutant resource, closing the phenotype gap and providing many more models for fundamental research and disease modeling. Mutabase records experimental details at the `point of generation' and provides a number of dissemination and analysis tools for the experimental data, as well as providing a means of assessing various aspects of progress of the program. Mutabase uses a hypertext-based interface to provide interaction between a number of intranet-based client workstations and a central industrial strength database. Mutabase utilizes a variety of techniques in order to implement the user interface system including Perl/CGI, Java Servlets, and an experimental CORBA server. We discuss the relative merits of these methods in the context of the need to provide sound informatics approaches for the support of systematic mutagenesis programs. Received: 16 December 1999 / Accepted: 17 December 1999     

Design and Development of a Scalable Distributed Debugger for Cluster Computing

Debugging is an essential part of parallel and distributed processing. However, developing parallel and distributed debugger is difficult. This is especially true for cluster computing where heterogeneity presents. In this paper, we first give a survey of the current debugging techniques and existing tools, and then present a client–server debugging model. Based on this model, we discuss the design and development of a practical scalable distributed debugging system for cluster computing in detail, and give two case studies to show how the distributed debugging system efficiently supports debugging message-passing programs such as various MPI and PVM programs. The newly developed distributed debugger is based on the sequential debugger gdb and dbx. It has the capability of scaling to handle hundreds of processes. Its interfaces are completely implemented in Java, and its graphical user interface is the same on all computing platforms. In addition, it is portable, easy to learn and use.     

A Web Interface for Easy Flexible Protein-Protein Docking with ATTRACT

Protein-protein docking programs can give valuable insights into the structure of protein complexes in the absence of an experimental complex structure. Web interfaces can facilitate the use of docking programs by structural biologists. Here, we present an easy web interface for protein-protein docking with the ATTRACT program. While aimed at nonexpert users, the web interface still covers a considerable range of docking applications. The web interface supports systematic rigid-body protein docking with the ATTRACT coarse-grained force field, as well as various kinds of protein flexibility. The execution of a docking protocol takes up to a few hours on a standard desktop computer.     

GEOCHEM-EZ: a chemical speciation program with greater power and flexibility

GEOCHEM-EZ is a multi-functional chemical speciation program, designed to replace GEOCHEM-PC, which can only be used on DOS consoles. Chemical speciation programs, such as GEOCHEM and GEOCHEM-PC, have been excellent tools for scientists designing appropriate solutions for their experiments. GEOCHEM-PC is widely used in plant nutrition and soil and environmental chemistry research to perform equilibrium speciation computations, allowing the user to estimate solution ion activities and to consider simple complexes and solid phases. As helpful as GEOCHEM-PC has been to scientists, the consensus was that the program was not very user friendly, was difficult to learn and to troubleshoot, and suffered from several functional weaknesses. To enhance the usability and to address the problems found in GEOCHEM-PC, we upgraded the program with a Java graphical interface, added Help files, and improved its power and function, allowing it to run on any computer that supports Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7.     

Rainbow: a toolbox for phylogenetic supertree construction and analysis

Rainbow is a program that provides a graphic user interface to construct supertrees using different methods. It also provides tools to analyze the quality of the supertrees produced. Rainbow is available for Mac OS X, Windows and Linux. AVAILABILITY: Rainbow is a free open-source software. Its binary files, source code, and manual can be downloaded from the Rainbow web page: http://genome.cs.iastate.edu/Rainbow/     

A convenient and adaptable microcomputer environment for DNA and protein sequence manipulation and analysis.

We describe the further development of a widely used package of DNA and protein sequence analysis programs for microcomputers (1,2,3). The package now provides a screen oriented user interface, and an enhanced working environment with powerful formatting, disk access, and memory management tools. The new GenBank floppy disk database is supported transparently to the user and a similar version of the NBRF protein database is provided. The programs can use sequence file annotation to automatically annotate printouts and translate or extract specified regions from sequences by name. The sequence comparison programs can now perform a 5000 X 5000 bp analysis in 12 minutes on an IBM PC. A program to locate potential protein coding regions in nucleic acids, a digitizer interface, and other additions are also described.