Computational Reasoning across Multiple Models

Abstract

Computational support of clinical decisions frequently requires the integration of data in a variety of formats and from multiple sources and domains. Some impressive multiscale computational models of biological phenomena have been developed as part of the study of disease and healthcare systems. One can now contemplate harnessing these models arising from computational biology and using highly interconnected clinical data to support clinical decision-making. Indeed, understanding how to build computational systems able to reason across heterogeneous models and datasets is one of the major and perhaps foundational challenges of translational biomedical informatics. In this paper, the authors examine the use of multimodels (models composed of several daughter models) and explore three major research challenges to reasoning across multiple models: model selection, model composition, and computer aided model construction.

Systematic review automation technologies

“…This sort of consistency verification is a type of computational reasoning task that requires models of the problem to be created through knowledge representation, simulation, and/or constraint resolution [ 42 ]. Such models for clinical trials were proposed in the 1980s [ 43 ], are still evolving [ 44 ], and similar models should also be possible for other clinical questions.…”

Discovery of Molecularly Targeted Therapies

“…This theory holds that effective decision-making in the biomedical domain is predicated on the vertical integration of multiple, scalar levels of reasoning. This fundamental premise is the basis for a correlative framework put forth by Tsafnat and colleagues, which states that the ability to replicate expert reasoning relative to complex biomedical problems using computational agents (e.g., in-silico knowledge synthesis) requires the replication of such multi-scalar and integrative decision-making [16]. In order to achieve such an outcome, Tsafnat posits that multi-scalar decision-making in an in-silico context requires both: 1) the generation of component decision-making models at multiple scales; and 2) the similar generation of interchange layers that define important pair-wise connections between entities situated in two or more component models, often referred to as vertical linkages [16].…”

“…This fundamental premise is the basis for a correlative framework put forth by Tsafnat and colleagues, which states that the ability to replicate expert reasoning relative to complex biomedical problems using computational agents (e.g., in-silico knowledge synthesis) requires the replication of such multi-scalar and integrative decision-making [16]. In order to achieve such an outcome, Tsafnat posits that multi-scalar decision-making in an in-silico context requires both: 1) the generation of component decision-making models at multiple scales; and 2) the similar generation of interchange layers that define important pair-wise connections between entities situated in two or more component models, often referred to as vertical linkages [16]. When such component models and interchange layers are combined in a computationally actionable format, they yield what can be referred to as a multi-model for a given domain that is able to satisfy the premises of Blois’ vertical reasoning axiom, and therefore facilitate the replication of expert performance in a high-throughput manner [16].…”

“…In order to achieve such an outcome, Tsafnat posits that multi-scalar decision-making in an in-silico context requires both: 1) the generation of component decision-making models at multiple scales; and 2) the similar generation of interchange layers that define important pair-wise connections between entities situated in two or more component models, often referred to as vertical linkages [16]. When such component models and interchange layers are combined in a computationally actionable format, they yield what can be referred to as a multi-model for a given domain that is able to satisfy the premises of Blois’ vertical reasoning axiom, and therefore facilitate the replication of expert performance in a high-throughput manner [16]. Of note, this type of approach is extremely reliant upon graph-theoretic reasoning and representational models, using a network paradigm that allows for the application of logical reasoning operations spanning the entities and relationships that make up a multi-model [8].…”

The automation of systematic reviews

“…11 Moving from information extraction to its synthesis is far more challenging and will depend on computational reasoning across multiple documents. 12 An early example is a system that monitors the literature and alerts reviewers when new evidence appears that is likely to change the conclusions of a systematic review. 13 Although text extraction algorithms typically use statistical methods to identify specified elements in a document, multi-document synthesis will probably require mixed methods that harness specific knowledge about the structure and process of clinical trials to guide interpretation.…”