Protecting access to the intellectual property of the health sciences.
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Academies and Institutes↗
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Results for “computer sciences”
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Medical libraries and computers. The role of medical libraries in medical informatics.
The classic function of health sciences libraries is to build and maintain a knowledge base and to provide timely access to that collective memory for the purpose of learning, teaching, caring for patients, conducting research or managing an organization. The formats and representation of that knowledge base are changing rapidly, as are the methods and techniques for gaining access to information. Medical libraries have long used computers for cataloging and controlling records but are now shifting to acquiring, managing and distributing bibliographic and full-text information to local library "networks."
Computer Communication Networks↗
Toward the neurocomputer: image processing and pattern recognition with neuronal cultures.
Information processing in the nervous system is based on parallel computation, adaptation and learning. These features cannot be easily implemented on conventional silicon devices. In order to obtain a better insight of how neurons process information, we have explored the possibility of using biological neurons as parallel and adaptable computing elements for image processing and pattern recognition. Commercially available multielectrode arrays (MEAs) were used to record and stimulate the electrical activity from neuronal cultures. By mapping digital images, i.e., arrays of pixels, into the stimulation of neuronal cultures, a low and bandpass filtering of images could be quickly and easily obtained. Responses to specific spatial patterns of stimulation were potentiated by an appropriate training (tetanization). Learning allowed pattern recognition and extraction of spatial features in processed images. Therefore, neurocomputers, (i.e., hybrid devices containing man-made elements and natural neurons) seem feasible and may become a new generation of computing devices, to be developed by a synergy of Neuroscience and Material Science.
Animals↗
Extending the hand of knowledge: promoting mobile technologies.
The widespread use of handheld computers and other mobile devices in the healthcare environment and their potential for providing access to information has prompted health sciences librarians everywhere to learn more about this technology. Early in 2001, the Health Sciences Library (HSL) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill began exploring ways to support mobile computing. This paper describes the four basic approaches taken by the librarians that helped establish the HSL as a leader in the area of mobile technologies.
Academic Medical Centers↗
What is computer assisted orthopaedic surgery?
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Bone and Bones↗
The computational prediction of pharmaceutical crystal structures and polymorphism.
A computational method of predicting all the polymorphs of an organic molecule would be a valuable complement to polymorph screening in the developmental phase. Such a computational method is in its early stages of development, and the current methodologies, which are based on searches for the most stable lattice structure, are critically reviewed. This crude thermodynamic approach generally overestimates the propensity for polymorphism, at least for most of the molecules studied so far, showing the need to model kinetic effects as well as to refine the thermodynamic models. Although the ultimate goal of these studies is still far off, computational predictions of crystal structures have proved useful in aiding the characterisation of polymorphs from powder X-ray data, and in providing insights into the range of types of packing that may be adopted by a given molecule. Thus, computational studies already have the potential to be a valuable tool in pharmaceutical solid state science.
Acetaminophen↗
Medical computing in Mississippi.
As our society enters the information age, physicians are finding an ever growing role for computers in the practice of medicine. Computers are used for education, research, medical record keeping, communications and as a powerful reference resource. They have even served as electronic consultants to assist in diagnosis and medical decision making. Mississippians have been pioneers in the use of computers in research and education and have taken a very progressive view of the future of medical computing in our state. Resources such as the Mississippi Health Sciences Information Network have served to connect rural health practitioners to academic centers and other informational resources and improve the quality of patient care throughout the state. Internet users will find that there are many Mississippi medical institutions that have home pages on the world wide web that also connects us to the global medical community. Computers are rapidly becoming one of the most important new tools in the black bag of the modern physician.
Computer Communication Networks↗
A proton-shuttle mechanism mediated by the porphyrin in benzene hydroxylation by cytochrome p450 enzymes.
Benzene hydroxylation is a fundamental process in chemical catalysis. In nature, this reaction is catalyzed by the enzyme cytochrome P450 via oxygen transfer in a still debated mechanism of considerable complexity. The paper uses hybrid density functional calculations to elucidate the mechanisms by which benzene is converted to phenol, benzene oxide, and ketone, by the active species of the enzyme, the high-valent iron-oxo porphyrin species. The effects of the protein polarity and hydrogen-bonding donation to the active species are mimicked, as before (Ogliaro, F.; Cohen, S.; de Visser, S. P.; Shaik, S. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2000, 122, 12892-12893). It is verified that the reaction does not proceed either by hydrogen abstraction or by initial electron transfer (Ortiz de Montellano, P. R. In Cytochrome P450: Structure, Mechanism and Biochemistry, 2nd ed.; Ortiz de Montellano, P. R., Ed.; Plenum Press: New York, 1995; Chapter 8, pp 245-303). In accord with the latest experimental conclusions, the theoretical calculations show that the reactivity is an interplay of electrophilic and radicalar pathways, which involve an initial attack on the pi-system of the benzene to produce sigma-complexes (Korzekwa, K. R.; Swinney, D. C.; Trager, W. T. Biochemistry 1989, 28, 9019-9027). The dominant reaction channel is electrophilic and proceeds via the cationic sigma-complex,( 2)3, that involves an internal ion pair made from a cationic benzene moiety and an anionic iron porphyrin. The minor channel proceeds by intermediacy of the radical sigma-complex, (2)2, in which the benzene moiety is radicalar and the iron-porphyrin moiety is neutral. Ring closure in these intermediates produces the benzene oxide product ((2)4), which does not rearrange to phenol ((2)7) or cyclohexenone ((2)6). While such a rearrangement can occur post-enzymatically under physiological conditions by acid catalysis, the computations reveal a novel mechanism whereby the active species of the enzyme catalyzes directly the production of phenol and cyclohexenone. This enzymatic mechanism involves proton shuttles mediated by the porphyrin ring through the N-protonated intermediate, (2)5, which relays the proton either to the oxygen atom to form phenol ((2)7) or to the ortho-carbon atom to produce cyclohexenone product ((2)6). The formation of the phenol via this proton-shuttle mechanism will be competitive with the nonenzymatic conversion of benzene oxide to phenol by external acid catalysis. With the assumption that (2)5 is not fully thermalized, this novel mechanism would account also for the observation that there is a partial skeletal retention of the original hydrogen of the activated C-H bond, due to migration of the hydrogen from the site of hydroxylation to the adjacent carbon (so-called "NIH shift" (Jerina, D. M.; Daly, J. W. Science 1974, 185, 573-582)). Thus, in general, the computationally discovered mechanism of a porphyrin proton shuttle suggests thatthere is an enzymatic pathway that converts benzene directly to a phenol and ketone, in addition to nonenzymatic production of these species by conversion of arene oxide to phenol and ketone. The potential generality of protonated porphyrin intermediates in P450 chemistry is discussed in the light of the H/D exchange observed during some olefin epoxidation reactions (Groves, J. T.; Avaria-Neisser, G. E.; Fish, K. M.; Imachi, M.; Kuczkowski, R. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1986, 108, 3837-3838) and the general observation of heme alkylation products (Kunze, K. L.; Mangold, B. L. K.; Wheeler, C.; Beilan, H. S.; Ortiz de Montellano, P. R. J. Biol. Chem. 1983, 258, 4202-4207). The competition, similarities, and differences between benzene oxidation viz. olefin epoxidation and alkanyl C-H hydroxylation are discussed, and comparison is made with relevant experimental and computational data. The dominance of low-spin reactivity in benzene hydroxylation viz. two-state reactivity (Shaik, S.; de Visser, S. P.; Ogliaro, F.; Schwarz, H.; Schröder, D. Curr. Opin. Chem. Biol. 2002, 6, 556-567) in olefin epoxidation and alkane hydroxylation is traced to the loss of benzene resonance energy during the bond activation step.
Benzene↗
Health informatics education for undergraduates: teaching experiences with multi media.
In a global information society all students regardless of discipline need to have or acquire basic computing and information literacy skills. The Faculty of Health Science at the Central Queensland University now includes a compulsory and introductory course in Health Informatics at the undergraduate level for all its first year students to meet these educational needs for the future health industry workforce. This paper describes the teacher and student lived experiences encountered throughout the concurrent use of a variety of delivery modes to teach an introductory unit of health informatics to this varied student population. It will include a discussion about the unit itself, educational philosophy adopted, strengths and weaknesses of the technologies and delivery methods adopted and the results of the student evaluation.
Computer User Training↗
Towards a virtual laboratory for FMRI data management and analysis.
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) is a popular tool used in neuroscience research to study brain activation due to motor or cognitive stimulation. In fMRI studies, large amounts of data are acquired, processed, compared, annotated, shared by many users and archived for future reference. As such, fMRI studies have characteristics of applications that can benefit from grid computation approaches, in which users associated with virtual organizations can share high performance and large capacity computational resources. In the Virtual Laboratory for e-Science (VL-e) Project, initial steps have been taken to build a grid-enabled infrastructure to facilitate data management and analysis for fMRI. This article presents our current efforts for the construction of this infrastructure. We start with a brief overview of fMRI, and proceed with an analysis of the existing problems from a data management perspective. A description of the proposed infrastructure is presented, and the current status of the implementation is described with a few preliminary conclusions.
Databases as Topic↗
[Computer analysis of echocardiograms].
Owing to its non-invasive nature, echocardiography, is widely used in many fields of clinical sciences. Especially in cardiology, real-time pictures of the beating heart are now essential in clinical practice. With recent developments of computer technology, various aspects of computerization have been introduced into echocardiography. Analysis of cardiac function became easier by automated echocardiography with three dimensional framework, length-tension-velocity. A 3-dimensional view of the heart could also be obtained by computerized image processing of serial echocardiograms. The results of the automated analysis by computer were in good agreement with those with manual measurements. Therefore, the computer processing is valid. These kinds of computer image processing of echocardiograms would be useful in various clinical settings.
Computer Systems↗
Deterministic chaos and the sciences of complexity: psychoanalysis in the midst of a general scientific revolution.
A combination of new concepts and the enormous powers of computation now available have created the beginnings of a major new scientific revolution. It does not have to do with psychoanalysis per se, but with some basic assumptions among the sciences generally. The result is already showing in new visions of nature variously called "deterministic chaos," "nonlinear dynamics," or "sciences of complexity." For the first time it is possible to study complex systems in process, over time. This paper, especially attending to issues of separation and integration, focuses on two components of the new understandings, fractal geometry (part of the mathematics of topology) and deterministic chaos (the tendency of nonlinear systems to oscillate toward and away from absolute chaotic disorganization). In a diverse group of intellectual disciplines, it is now possible to describe systems in operation in detail, in terms of nonlinear differential equations. From these, computer models of multiple variables in interaction can be produced. In turn, this allows experimentation on the models by altering variables. At this time, psychoanalysis can only use deterministic chaos and fractals metaphorically, but in the future, especially if psychoanalysis is seen in terms of process or organismic theory, it is likely that such models can be produced.
Computer Simulation↗
Advances in technique and technology in body computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging.
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Humans↗
The GI Project: a prototype electronic textbook for high school biology.
A prototype electronic science textbook for secondary education was developed to help bridge the gap between state-of-the-art medical technology and the basic science classroom. The prototype combines the latest in radiologic imaging techniques with a user-friendly multimedia computer program to teach the anatomy, physiology, and diseases of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The program includes original text, illustrations, photographs, animations, images from upper GI studies, plain radiographs, computed tomographic images, and three-dimensional reconstructions. These features are intended to create a stimulus-rich environment in which the high school science student can enjoy a variety of interactive experiences that will facilitate the learning process. The computer-based book is a new educational tool that promises to play a prominent role in the coming years. Current research suggests that computer-based books are valuable as an alternative educational medium. Although it is not yet clear what form textbooks will take in the future, computer-based books are already proving valuable as an alternative educational medium. For beginning students, they reinforce the material found in traditional textbooks and class presentations; for advanced students, they provide motivation to learn outside the traditional classroom.
Biology↗
Medical informatics, artefacts or science?
Successful and productive medical informatics research is evidently a combination of luck, creative art, and science, but some researchers focus too much on building computer artefacts and writing anecdotal reports of their experience. They need to adopt a less technology-fixated approach, be willing to evaluate their systems and publish failures as well as successes, and attempt to generalise their results as hypotheses for others to test. It does appear that medical informatics is a distinct discipline, and one based on scientific principles, but it is less clear whether these principles originate within the discipline or elsewhere. If elsewhere, it is usually unclear whether their validity has been tested with the atypical information, decisions and context that medicine represents. This article has presented some criteria for judging such scientific principles, and described a process which would lead to such principles, if they exist, being uncovered more rapidly. If our discipline is to thrive and take root in firm ground, such activities need to be taken seriously by all, otherwise we could end up building edifices on sand.
Delivery of Health Care↗
Indications for and accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography in orbital disease.
All patients referred for orbital imaging to the neuroradiology department of the Institute of Neurological Sciences in Glasgow over a three year period were enrolled in the study and were scheduled to undergo both magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography. A total of 101 of the 110 referred patients were deemed suitable for analysis. Details of key presenting symptoms, signs, and a pre-imaging diagnosis were recorded prospectively. A final diagnosis was obtained by histology in 65% of cases with an orbital abnormality, by a minimum of one year of clinical review in 19.5%, by response to antibiotic or steroid therapy in 8.5%, or by conclusive investigations such as carotid angiography in in 7% of patients, 29% of the patients had no detectable orbital disease despite a minimum one years' follow-up, and so were regarded as a "normal" group. The images were interpreted prospectively by separate masked observers. The diagnostic accuracies of the two techniques were compared to the final diagnosis. The two imaging methods were shown to be comparable in overall diagnostic accuracy, with a small and statistically non-significant advantage held by magnetic resonance imaging. Interpretation of the two investigations gave more accurate information in different types of disease.
Academies and Institutes↗
Development of novel biomedicine based on genome science.
Towards the post genomic sequencing era, conventional drug discovery is drastically improving genomic technologies and computational advances. The completion of the entire genome sequence of many experimental organisms as well as the human organism allow us to compare several genomic sequences, comparative genomics, to get valuable information for gene discovery and functional genomics. Pharmacogenomic studies and chemical genomic investigations are quickly becoming fundamental techniques for genomic drug discovery. Additionally, progress in microchip and microarray technology has been stimulating genomic drug discovery studies. This paper reviews recent progress in human genome research, basic elements in the new strategy for drug discovery based on genome science, and future perspectives for the bio and pharmaceutical industries.
Computational Biology↗
Student critical thinking is enhanced by developing exercise prescriptions using online learning modules.
Developing the ability to think critically is an important element of undergraduate physiology education and is influenced by many factors, including the learning environment, the social context of the learning environment, and the instructor's approach to teaching. In this work, we describe online learning modules (OLM) that were designed to promote higher-order critical thinking skills in students enrolled in an upper-division Exercise Testing and Prescription course. The OLM provided students with an online learning environment in which to review clinical physiological details from authentic patient case data and develop exercise prescriptions (ExRx), by requiring students to critically analyze authentic patient case histories and collaborate on computer-based learning activities. On the basis of assessment data, we conclude that the OLM helped exercise science students develop the critical thinking skills necessary for development of effective exercise prescriptions by requiring them to think critically while concurrently reinforcing lecture-presented exercise science content.
Computer-Assisted Instruction↗