Assisting model-discovery in neuroendocrinology

Abstract

It is very difficult, if not impossible, for researchers to manually evaluate and revise their scientific models using a vast amount of relevant information now available to them. The paper describes a new framework, called JustAid, that successfully integrates techniques from Knowledge Acquisition and Machine Learning in a way that complements their strengths to overcome their weaknesses, and provides an interactive environment to help researchers in a process of scientific discovery. JustAid can use information stored in medical databases and assist experimental scientists in forming, testing and revising scientific models, without a need of a knowledge engineer. In this paper, JustAid has been applied to a real world problem in the area of neuroendocrinology, a branch of physiology.