title: Simulating soft data to make soft data applicable to simulation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Biomedical processes are often influenced by measures considered "non-crisp", "soft" or "subjective". Despite the growing awareness of the importance of such measures, they are rarely considered in biomedical simulation. This study introduces an input generator for soft data (input generator SD) that makes soft data applicable to simulation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Machine learning approaches and standard regression techniques were applied to simulate odour intensity ratings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The performance of all the applied methods was satisfactory and the results can be used to modify systems biological mathematical models.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Soft data should no longer be discounted in systems biological simulations. Exemplarily, it can be demonstrated that the input generator SD produces results that are similar to those that the simulated system can generate. Machine learning and/or appropriate conventional mathematical approaches may be applied to simulate noncrisp processes that can be used to modify mathematical models of any granularity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Saarland University, Homburg-Saar, Germany trouth@gmx.net
authors.forename: Mathias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: Malgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zamelczyk-Pajewska
authors.forename: Constantin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Landes
authors.forename: Holger
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sudhoff
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kosmider
authors.forename: Tereza
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Richards
authors.forename: Ulrike-Marie
authors.initials: UM
authors.lastname: Krause
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stark
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Groh
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Weichert
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Linder
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D009812:Odorants; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology