Chapter about MYCIN Flashcards
Most computer applications have been … or …, but AI deals with … that is used in problem-solving.
Most computer applications have been numerical or data-based, but AI deals with symbolic knowledge that is used in problem-solving.
AI uses …*, which are not guaranteed to work but often find solutions faster than other methods.
AI uses heuristics*, which are not guaranteed to work but often find solutions faster than other methods.
Heuristics
qualitative reasoning techniques*
Quantitative analysis
Imagine you’re trying to understand how a car’s fuel efficiency changes with speed. Quantitative analysis would involve specific numerical values, like miles per gallon at different speeds.
Qualitative reasoning techniques
Imagine you’re trying to understand how a car’s fuel efficiency changes with speed. qualitative reasoning would involve looking at general trends, such as noticing that the fuel efficiency tends to decrease as the speed increases, even if you don’t have exact numbers.
LISP
a programming language commonly used in AI because it allows:
for rapid modification and testing of programs
easy separation of rules and inference procedures.
DENDRAL-program
focused on organic chemistry, was the first AI program to emphasize specialized knowledge.
MYCIN (outgrowth of DENDRAL)
If-then rules with certainty factors
an expert system designed to provide expert-level solutions to complex problems in medicine.
MYCIN primarily uses backward chaining*
Example:
IF:
The site of the culture is blood, and
The identity of the organism may be pseudomonas, and
The patient has ecthyma gangrenosum skin lesions
THEN: There is strongly suggestive evidence (0.8) that the identity of the organism is pseudomonas
Never used in practice, due to ethical and legal difficulties
Backward chaining
where it starts with a goal and works backwards to find the data that supports that goal.
The whole system is used to …
The whole system is used to provide diagnostic and therapeutic advice for patients with infections.
History of MYCIN:
The text describes the collaborative effort between researchers and physicians to develop a computer-based consultant for antibiotic prescriptions.
The system required extensive medical knowledge and used a rule-based approach.
The text discusses the early development of a computer program called MYCIN, which was designed to help physicians make decisions about infectious disease therapy.
They focused on creating a working prototype program that could show the consequences of different rules for treatment.
The program had interactive capabilities to explain its recommendations and allow experts to teach it new rules.
Choosing the right antibiotic to treat an infection can be difficult because …
Choosing the right antibiotic to treat an infection can be difficult because different antibiotics work better against different bacteria.
Process of choosing the right antibiotic to treat an infection: (7 steps)
Define the organism
It’s important for doctors to know what organism is causing the infection in order to choose the most effective drug.
Determine which antibiotics will work against it
It can take a few days to identify the organism and determine which antibiotics will work against it.
Using clinical criteria to decide if the patient needs treatment
Doctors may use clinical criteria, like fever or inflammation, to decide if the patient needs treatment.
Lab tests to determine which antibiotics are likely to be effective
Once the organism is identified, lab tests can help determine which antibiotics are likely to be effective.
Making a decision, based on probabilities and the own experiences of the doctors
This information may not be available right away, so doctors often have to make a decision based on probabilities and their own experience.
Considering if the patient has allergies
Considering how severe the infection is
Other factors, like the patient’s allergies or the severity of the infection, play a role in choosing the best antibiotic.
The researchers found that MYCIN could be useful for ….
The researchers found that MYCIN could be useful for teaching students about infectious disease diagnosis.
Problem with prescription of antibiotics
It states that many doctors prescribe antibiotics without properly identifying the cause of the infection, leading to overprescribing.
This is a problem both in outpatient settings and hospitals.
The text raises concerns about the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and the potential harm caused by prophylactic use of antibiotics.
