Machine Learning Made Easy (MLme): A comprehensive toolkit for machine learning-driven data analysis

Abstract

Background: Machine learning (ML) has emerged as a vital asset for researchers to analyze and extract valuable information from complex datasets. However, developing an effective and robust ML pipeline can present a real challenge,demanding considerable time and effort, thereby impeding research progress. Existing tools in this landscape require a profound understanding of ML principles and programming skills. Furthermore, users are required to engage in the comprehensive confguration of their ML pipeline to obtain optimal performance. Results: To address these challenges, we have developed a novel tool called Machine Learning Made Easy (MLme) that streamlines the use of ML in research, specifcally focusing on classifcation problems at present. By integrating 4 essential functionalities - namely, Data Exploration, AutoML, CustomML, and Visualization - MLme fulflls the diverse requirements of researchers while eliminating the need for extensive coding efforts. To demonstrate the applicability of MLme, we conducted rigorous testing on 6 distinct datasets, each presenting unique characteristics and challenges. Our results consistently showed promising performance across different datasets, reaffrming the versatility and effectiveness of the tool. Additionally, by utilizing MLme's feature selection functionality, we successfully identifed signifcant markers for CD8+naive (BACH2), CD16+(CD16), and CD14+(VCAN) cell populations. Conclusion: MLme serves as a valuable resource for leveraging ML to facilitate insightful data analysis and enhance research outcomes, while alleviating concerns related to complex coding scripts. The source code and a detailed tutorial for MLme are available at https://github.com/FunctionalUrology/MLme.