Ten simple rules to make computable knowledge shareable and reusable.

Computable biomedical knowledge (CBK) is: "the result of an analytic and/or deliberative process about human health, or affecting human health, that is explicit, and therefore can be represented and reasned upon using logic, formal standards, and mathematical approaches." Representing biomedical knowledge in a machine-interpretable, computable form increases its ability to be discovered, accessed, understood, and deployed. Computable knowledge artifacts can greatly advance the potential for implementation, reproducibility, or extension of the knowledge by users, who may include practitioners, researchers, and learners.

CBK model composition using paired web services and executable functions: A demonstration for individualizing preventive services.

Introduction: Learning health systems are challenged to combine computable biomedical knowledge (CBK) models. Using common technical capabilities of the World Wide Web (WWW), digital objects called Knowledge Objects, and a new pattern of activating CBK models brought forth here, we aim to show that it is possible to compose CBK models in more highly standardized and potentially easier, more useful ways.

Methods: Using previously specified compound digital objects called Knowledge Objects, CBK models are packaged with metadata, API descriptions, and runtime requirements.

ScriptNumerate: A Data-to-Advice Pipeline using Compound Digital Objects to Increase the Interoperability of Computable Biomedical Knowledge.

Many obstacles must be overcome to generate new biomedical knowledge from real-world data and then directly apply the newly generated knowledge for decision support. Attempts to bridge the processes of data analysis and technical implementation of analytic results reveal a number of gaps. As one example, the knowledge format used to communicate results from data analysis often differs from the knowledge format required by systems to compute advice.

Drainage of Cerebrospinal Fluid and Blood Pressure Augmentation as Rescue Therapies for Ischemic Myelitis After Bronchial Embolization: A Case Report.

A 62-year-old man presented to the emergency department with massive hemoptysis. After bronchial artery embolization, he developed ischemic myelitis, a rare complication in this setting for which no specific therapy is currently recommended. The symptoms were managed with lumbar drainage of cerebrospinal fluid and blood pressure augmentation therapy.

Architecture and Initial Development of a Knowledge-as-a-Service Activator for Computable Knowledge Objects for Health.

The Knowledge Grid (KGrid) is a research and development program toward infrastructure capable of greatly decreasing latency between the publication of new biomedical knowledge and its widespread uptake into practice. KGrid comprises digital knowledge objects, an online Library to store them, and an Activator that uses them to provide Knowledge-as-a-Service (KaaS). KGrid's Activator enables computable biomedical knowledge, held in knowledge objects, to be rapidly deployed at Internet-scale in cloud computing environments for improved health.

The Knowledge Object Reference Ontology (KORO): A formalism to support management and sharing of computable biomedical knowledge for learning health systems.

Introduction: Health systems are challenged by care underutilization, overutilization, disparities, and related harms. One problem is a multiyear latency between discovery of new best practice knowledge and its widespread adoption. Decreasing this latency requires new capabilities to better manage and more rapidly share biomedical knowledge in computable forms.

Architecture and Initial Development of a Digital Library Platform for Computable Knowledge Objects for Health.

Throughout the world, biomedical knowledge is routinely generated and shared through primary and secondary scientific publications. However, there is too much latency between publication of knowledge and its routine use in practice. To address this latency, what is actionable in scientific publications can be encoded to make it computable.

Gram-negative bacterial carriage in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis is not associated with more severe inflammation.

Background: We have previously demonstrated that persistent symptoms following functional endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is associated with Gram-negative bacterial carriage. Mechanisms for this remain unknown. We wished to determine whether Gram-negative carriage in patients with CRS with nasal polyposis is associated with a more severe inflammatory phenomenon.

Active smoking status in chronic rhinosinusitis is associated with higher serum markers of inflammation and lower serum eosinophilia.

Background: Smoking negatively affects postoperative evolution in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS); however, the mechanism remains incompletely described. In the lung, smoking increases expression of proinflammatory genes and is associated with an elevation of inflammatory serum markers. Our objective is to determine the impact of smoking on these biomarkers in CRS.

A pooling-based genomewide association study identifies genetic variants associated with Staphylococcus aureus colonization in chronic rhinosinusitis patients.

Background: Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). However, host factors contributing to susceptibility to S.

Genetic variations in taste receptors are associated with chronic rhinosinusitis: a replication study.

Background: Recent evidence implicates polymorphisms of the bitter taste receptor TAS2R38 as defining characteristics in respiratory innate defense that may contribute to the complex genetic and environmental interactions predisposing to chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). The purpose of this study was to (1) verify whether identified polymorphisms associated with respiratory infection in taste receptors replicate within our existing population of patients with CRS and (2) identify other taste receptors potentially associated with CRS.

Methods: Pooling-based genomewide association studies (pGWAS) were previously performed on 2 populations of Canadian CRS patients (genetics of chronic rhinosinusitis 1, refractory CRS [GCRS1]; and genetics of chronic rhinosinusitis 2, CRS with nasal polyposis [GCRS2]) using the Illumina HumanHap 1-M chip.

Comparative clinical and airway inflammatory features of asthmatics with or without polyps.

Background: Nasal polyposis (NP) is associated with a more severe and steroid-resistant asthma.

Objective: To compare clinical and airway inflammatory features of asthmatics with or without NP.

Methods: Two groups of asthmatic patients were studied: group 1; n=39, with NP; group 2; n=40, without NP.

Polymorphisms in the interleukin-22 receptor alpha-1 gene are associated with severe chronic rhinosinusitis.

Rationale: Stimulation of interleukin-22 receptor alpha-1 (IL22RA1) was reported to increase the innate immune responses in inflammatory diseases. Moreover, a reduced level of IL22RA1 was found in patients with recalcitrant CRS with nasal polyps.

Objective: To explore association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in IL22RA1 and severe CRS.

Comparison of sweat rate measured by a pouch collector and a hygrometric technique during exercise.

Measurements of local sweat rate (back) determined with a closed-pouch collector made of polyethylene (110 cm2) were compared with those obtained from a ventilated capsule using an infrared photometric hygrometer technique. Eight young male subjects underwent three exercise sessions each for 60 min at 45% VO2max on a cycle ergometer at an ambient temperature of 35 degrees C and 35% relative humidity. When the onset and transient sweating periods (0-20 min) are excluded from calculations, the difference between the mean values obtained by the collector and the sweat capsule during the 20-60 time period is only 0.

Alcohol and its variable effect on human thermoregulatory response to exercise in a warm environment.

The aim of this study was to observe the effect of alcohol ingestion on body temperature and local sweat rate during endogenous and exogenous heat stress. After ingesting either alcohol (1.2 g alcohol/kg of body weight) or a placebo drink, 8 subjects exercised for 60 minutes at 45% VO2max in a warm environment (35 degrees C, 45% RH).