LabTrove: A Lightweight, Web Based, Laboratory 'Blog' as a Route towards a Marked Up Record of Work in a Bioscience Research Laboratory
Background: The electronic laboratory notebook (ELN) has the potential to replace the paper notebook with a marked-up digital record that can be searched and shared. However, it is a challenge to achieve these benefits without losing the usability and flexibility of traditional paper notebooks. We i...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
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PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE
2013
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/81470 |
| _version_ | 1848764371375751168 |
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| author | Milsted, A.J. Hale, J.R. Frey, J.G. Neylon, Cameron |
| author2 | Smalheiser, Neil R |
| author_facet | Smalheiser, Neil R Milsted, A.J. Hale, J.R. Frey, J.G. Neylon, Cameron |
| author_sort | Milsted, A.J. |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Background: The electronic laboratory notebook (ELN) has the potential to replace the paper notebook with a marked-up digital record that can be searched and shared. However, it is a challenge to achieve these benefits without losing the usability and flexibility of traditional paper notebooks. We investigate a blog-based platform that addresses the issues associated with the development of a flexible system for recording scientific research.
Methodology/Principal Findings: We chose a blog-based approach with the journal characteristics of traditional notebooks in mind, recognizing the potential for linking together procedures, materials, samples, observations, data, and analysis reports. We implemented the LabTrove blog system as a server process written in PHP, using a MySQL database to persist posts and other research objects. We incorporated a metadata framework that is both extensible and flexible while promoting consistency and structure where appropriate. Our experience thus far is that LabTrove is capable of providing a successful electronic laboratory recording system.
Conclusions/Significance: LabTrove implements a one-item one-post system, which enables us to uniquely identify each element of the research record, such as data, samples, and protocols. This unique association between a post and a research element affords advantages for monitoring the use of materials and samples and for inspecting research processes. The combination of the one-item one-post system, consistent metadata, and full-text search provides us with a much more effective record than a paper notebook. The LabTrove approach provides a route towards reconciling the tensions and challenges that lie ahead in working towards the long-term goals for ELNs. LabTrove, an electronic laboratory notebook (ELN) system from the Smart Research Framework, based on a blog-type framework with full access control, facilitates the scientific experimental recording requirements for reproducibility, reuse, repurposing, and redeployment. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:18:18Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-81470 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:18:18Z |
| publishDate | 2013 |
| publisher | PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-814702020-11-04T07:49:50Z LabTrove: A Lightweight, Web Based, Laboratory 'Blog' as a Route towards a Marked Up Record of Work in a Bioscience Research Laboratory Milsted, A.J. Hale, J.R. Frey, J.G. Neylon, Cameron Smalheiser, Neil R Science & Technology Multidisciplinary Sciences Science & Technology - Other Topics CHEMISTRY Background: The electronic laboratory notebook (ELN) has the potential to replace the paper notebook with a marked-up digital record that can be searched and shared. However, it is a challenge to achieve these benefits without losing the usability and flexibility of traditional paper notebooks. We investigate a blog-based platform that addresses the issues associated with the development of a flexible system for recording scientific research. Methodology/Principal Findings: We chose a blog-based approach with the journal characteristics of traditional notebooks in mind, recognizing the potential for linking together procedures, materials, samples, observations, data, and analysis reports. We implemented the LabTrove blog system as a server process written in PHP, using a MySQL database to persist posts and other research objects. We incorporated a metadata framework that is both extensible and flexible while promoting consistency and structure where appropriate. Our experience thus far is that LabTrove is capable of providing a successful electronic laboratory recording system. Conclusions/Significance: LabTrove implements a one-item one-post system, which enables us to uniquely identify each element of the research record, such as data, samples, and protocols. This unique association between a post and a research element affords advantages for monitoring the use of materials and samples and for inspecting research processes. The combination of the one-item one-post system, consistent metadata, and full-text search provides us with a much more effective record than a paper notebook. The LabTrove approach provides a route towards reconciling the tensions and challenges that lie ahead in working towards the long-term goals for ELNs. LabTrove, an electronic laboratory notebook (ELN) system from the Smart Research Framework, based on a blog-type framework with full access control, facilitates the scientific experimental recording requirements for reproducibility, reuse, repurposing, and redeployment. 2013 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/81470 10.1371/journal.pone.0067460 English http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE fulltext |
| spellingShingle | Science & Technology Multidisciplinary Sciences Science & Technology - Other Topics CHEMISTRY Milsted, A.J. Hale, J.R. Frey, J.G. Neylon, Cameron LabTrove: A Lightweight, Web Based, Laboratory 'Blog' as a Route towards a Marked Up Record of Work in a Bioscience Research Laboratory |
| title | LabTrove: A Lightweight, Web Based, Laboratory 'Blog' as a Route towards a Marked Up Record of Work in a Bioscience Research Laboratory |
| title_full | LabTrove: A Lightweight, Web Based, Laboratory 'Blog' as a Route towards a Marked Up Record of Work in a Bioscience Research Laboratory |
| title_fullStr | LabTrove: A Lightweight, Web Based, Laboratory 'Blog' as a Route towards a Marked Up Record of Work in a Bioscience Research Laboratory |
| title_full_unstemmed | LabTrove: A Lightweight, Web Based, Laboratory 'Blog' as a Route towards a Marked Up Record of Work in a Bioscience Research Laboratory |
| title_short | LabTrove: A Lightweight, Web Based, Laboratory 'Blog' as a Route towards a Marked Up Record of Work in a Bioscience Research Laboratory |
| title_sort | labtrove: a lightweight, web based, laboratory 'blog' as a route towards a marked up record of work in a bioscience research laboratory |
| topic | Science & Technology Multidisciplinary Sciences Science & Technology - Other Topics CHEMISTRY |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/81470 |