The Database Sharing Tools module

This module makes it possible to share and exchange data between users, databases and laboratories. It forms the perfect backbone for setting up BioNumerics as a central lab-wide and multi-user database and analysis platform. In addition, the Database Sharing Tools offers the functionality to connect to remote server databases. The need to share and exchange biodata has become particularly urgent in clinical and epidemiological research and surveillance networks.

Users and security
In a multi-user environment, security tools and user restrictions are indispensible to keep the database clean and managable and avoid abusive changes.  BioNumerics contains a comprehensive set of user and security tools, including the creation of User Groups defining specific privileges and Users with logins and passwords. The database is object-oriented, which means that each database component is defined as an object (entries, experiment types, individual experiments, comparisons, attachments, subsets etc.). Every single object can be granted or denied a number of specific privileges per user group (e.g. Create, Modify, Delete, etc.). Objects can be locked and unlocked and have ownership and sharing information.
User activity is logged, which includes opening and closing of the database, failed authentication attempts and failed attempts to use signatures (see also the Audit Trails module).

Peer-to-peer data exchange
BioNumerics users can exchange information at a peer-to-peer level by simply making a selection of database entries, and clicking the information fields and experiment data to be exported in XML format. Received XML files can be imported and directly analyzed together with other database entries. BioNumerics automatically recognizes which experiments are compatible. XML exchange files can optionally be compressed and encrypted.

Client-Server approach
BioNumerics’ advanced client-server system is the perfect solution for collaborative research projects, networks, and private initiatives of any size, where central databases are made available to a restricted or unrestricted number of client users. Each BioNumerics software package that contains the Database Sharing Tools comes as a client version, which can connect and communicate with a BioNumerics Server using TCP/IP. A connection is established between the Server and the Client, allowing uploading and downloading of database entries, interactive querying, and automatic identification of profiles uploaded by the client. Using the script language both at client and server site, sophisticated implementations can be designed. Examples include automatic creation and broadcasting of reports and notices, or automatic alerts of members in surveillance networks.

Geographical mapping
In many research projects, especially epidemiological, biological data is closely linked to geographical data. BioNumerics’ Database Sharing Tools enable the Geo plugin to be installed, offering a simple yet powerful way to map the results from queries, comparisons, identifications etc. on geographical maps. Geographical information with database entries can be provided as city names, postal or zip codes, or geographical coordinates. Entries can be plotted individually or as stacked bar graphs or pie charts, using different colors according to groups defined in the database. The powerful geographic tools of Google™ Maps and versatile search, select, and query interface of BioNumerics together make the Geo plugin a very useful and interactive asset.

Features:

• Database connectivity. Possibility to link BioNumerics to ODBC compatible high performance database management systems such as Oracle, SQL Server and MySQL.
• User management. Comprehensive set of user and security tools, including creation of Users with logins and passwords and User Groups defining specific privileges. Control password timeout and strength, user activity logging and data input consistency. Possibility to define access privileges for each individual database object. Create, Modify, Delete, Sign, Restore, Lock and Unlock privileges can be granted to specific users. ODBC connection string can optionally be encrypted to enhance database security. To ensure even higher security, the entire database connection and mapping settings file can be encrypted as well.
• Client-Server setup. Client functions come with the Database Sharing Tools. Functions include querying and downloading entries from the central Server database; upload of data to the Server for identification; receipt of detailed identification report from Server. See also BioNumerics Server.
• Geographical coding. Perform geocoding and plot database entries on an interactive geographical map based on locations present in the database.
• Bundles. Any selected information and experiment data for selections of entries from the database can be condensed into a Bundle. Bundles can be exchanged over internet and opened in a recipient database. Automatic remapping makes full comparison between different fingerprint systems possible.

© 2009 Applied Maths NV