Can feature structure improve model's precision? A novel prediction method using artificial image and image identification.

ABSTRACT

Objectives: This study aimed to develop an approach to enhance the model precision by artificial images. Materials and Methods: Given an epidemiological study designed to predict 1 response using f features with M samples, each feature was converted into a pixel with certain value. Permutated these pixels into F orders, resulting in F distinct artificial image sample sets. Based on the experience of image recognition techniques, appropriate training images results in higher precision model. In the preliminary experiment, a binary response was predicted by 76 features, the sample set included 223 patients and 1776 healthy controls. Results: We randomly selected 10 000 artificial sample sets to train the model. Models' performance (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve values) depicted a bell-shaped distribution. Conclusion: The model construction strategy developed in the research has potential to capture feature order related information and enhance model predictability.