Metabolic Pathway Search System Using Peripheral Compound Extraction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing literature search methods lack efficiency in retrieving relevant information for metabolic pathways and enzyme-related research, particularly in biochemistry, as they do not adequately utilize the relationships and laws of the physical world within the searched field.

Innovation Solution

An information processing system and search method that utilize a database with metabolic pathway information, including compounds, enzymes, and reactions, to extract relevant literature by inputting specific reaction data and generating search expressions based on peripheral compounds and synonymous expressions, facilitating a more targeted literature search.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional literature search methods are used, then the search process is simple, but the retrieval efficiency and relevance for metabolic pathway research is low

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveliterature retrieval efficiencyVSAvoidsearch system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the literature search process into distinct functional modules: input unit for receiving metabolic pathway information, extraction unit for identifying peripheral compounds, and search unit for retrieving literature. This segmentation allows each module to specialize in a specific task, improving overall retrieval efficiency while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary extraction unit that acts as a mediator between the input metabolic pathway information and the literature search process. This extraction unit identifies peripheral compounds from the metabolic pathway data and uses them to generate search expressions, thereby improving retrieval relevance without requiring direct complex interactions between the input data and search database.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If general search expressions are used, then the search coverage is broad, but the relevance to specific metabolic pathways is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesearch result relevanceVSAvoidnumber of retrieved literatures
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by generating search expressions that are specifically tailored to the input metabolic pathway information. Instead of using uniform general search expressions, the system extracts peripheral compounds specific to each metabolic pathway and creates customized search queries, thereby improving result relevance while maintaining adequate literature coverage through the specialized nature of the searches.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If metabolic pathway information is utilized, then the search accuracy for biochemical research is improved, but the processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesearch accuracy for biochemical researchVSAvoiddata processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the extraction unit identify and extract peripheral compounds from the metabolic pathway information before the search process begins. This preliminary processing organizes the biochemical data into usable search terms in advance, improving search accuracy for biochemical research while reducing the processing complexity during the actual search execution, as the preparatory work has already been completed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3825872B1Information processing system and search method
Publication Date: 2022.08.10 HITACHI LTD
  • EP3825872B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3825872B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3825872B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In order to search for more literatures which match a search intention of a user and are related to a target substance to be generated and a gene related to a metabolic pathway, the invention provides an information processing system, in which information related to an input metabolic pathway is input, a main metabolic map including a pathway most similar to or the same as the input metabolic pathway is selected from a database of a metabolic map represented by a directed graph in which a compound that is a reaction compound in a metabolic reaction is set as a node, and an enzyme that acts when a node used in reaction is moved to a node produced by reaction is set as an edge, a compound in a vicinity of the input metabolic pathway is selected from the main metabolic map as a peripheral compound, and a search expression is generated based on information on the selected peripheral compound and information of the compound and enzyme related to the input metabolic pathway so as to search the literature database for a literature.