Abstract Computational models are often employed in systems biology to study the dynamic behaviours of complex systems. With the rise in the number of computational models, finding ways to improve the reusability of these models and their ability to reproduce virtual experiments becomes critical. Correct and effective model annotation in community-supported and standardised formats is necessary for this improvement. Here, we present recent efforts toward a common framework for annotated, accessible, reproducible and interoperable computational models in biology, and discuss key challenges of the field.

Addressing barriers in comprehensiveness, accessibility, reusability, interoperability and reproducibility of computational models in systems biology

The Systems Biology community has taken numerous actions to develop data and modeling standards towards FAIR data and model handling. Nevertheless, the debate about incentives and rewards for individual researchers to make their results reproducible is ongoing. Here, we pose the specific question of whether reproducible models have a higher impact in terms of citations. Therefore, we statistically analyze 328 published models recently classified by Tiwari et al. based on their reproducibility. For hypothesis testing, we use a flexible Bayesian approach that provides complete distributional information for all quantities of interest and can handle outliers. The results show that in the period from 2013, i.e., 10 years after the introduction of SBML, to 2020, the group of reproducible models is significantly more cited than the non-reproducible group. We show that differences in journal impact factors do not explain this effect and that this effect increases with additional standardization of data and error model integration via PEtab. Overall, our statistical analysis demonstrates the long-term merits of reproducible modeling for the individual researcher in terms of citations. Moreover, it provides evidence for the increased use of reproducible models in the scientific community. 

/pdf/bayesian-estimation-reveals-that-reproducible-models-in-1963sgb6.pdf

Bayesian estimation reveals that reproducible models in Systems Biology get more citations

The glycolytic flux, and in particular lactate production, is strongly increased in cancer cells compared to normal cells, a characteristic often referred to as aerobic glycolysis or the Warburg effect. This makes the glycolytic pathway a potential drug target, in particular if the flux control distribution in the pathway has shifted due to the metabolic reprogramming in cancer cells. The flux response of a drug is dependent on both the sensitivity of the target to the drug and the flux control of the target, and both these characteristics can be exploited to obtain selectivity for cancer cells. Traditionally drug development programs have focused on selective sensitivity of the drug, not necessarily focussing on the flux control of the target. We determined the flux control of two steps that have been suggested to have high control in cancer cells, using two inhibitors, iodoacetic acid and 3-bromopyruvate, and measured a flux control of the glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase close to zero, while the hexokinase holds 50% of all flux control in glycolysis in an invasive cancer cell line MDA-mb-231. 

Inhibitor titrations reveal low control of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase and high control of hexokinase on glycolytic flux in an aggressive triple-negative breast cancer cell line.

Data-driven models of neurons and circuits are important for understanding how the properties of membrane conductances, synapses, dendrites and the anatomical connectivity between neurons generate the complex dynamical behaviors of brain circuits in health and disease. However, the inherent complexity of these biological processes make the construction and reuse of biologically-detailed models challenging. A wide range of tools have been developed to aid their construction and simulation, but differences in design and internal representation act as technical barriers to those who wish to use data-driven models in their research workflows. NeuroML, a model description language for computational neuroscience, was developed to address this fragmentation in modeling tools. Since its inception, NeuroML has evolved into a mature community standard that encompasses a wide range of model types and approaches in computational neuroscience. It has enabled the development of a large ecosystem of interoperable open source software tools for the creation, visualization, validation and simulation of data-driven models. Here, we describe how the NeuroML ecosystem can be incorporated into research workflows to simplify the construction, testing and analysis of standardized models of neural systems, and supports the FAIR (Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, and Reusability) data principles, thus promoting open, transparent and reproducible science.

The NeuroML ecosystem for standardized multi-scale modeling in neuroscience

A whole-cell model represents certain aspects of the cell structure and/or function. Due to the high complexity of the cell, an integrative modeling approach is often taken to utilize all available information including experimental data, prior knowledge and prior models. In this review, we summarize an emerging workflow of whole-cell modeling into five steps: (i) gather information; (ii) represent the modeled system into modules; (iii) translate input information into scoring function; (iv) sample the whole-cell model; (v) validate and interpret the model. In particular, we propose the integrative modeling of the cell by combining available (whole-cell) models to maximize the accuracy, precision, and completeness. In addition, we list quantitative predictions of various aspects of cell biology from existing whole-cell models. Moreover, we discuss the remaining challenges and future directions, and highlight the opportunity to establish an integrative spatiotemporal multi-scale whole-cell model based on a community approach.

Integrative modeling of the cell

Abstract Computational models have great potential to accelerate bioscience, bioengineering, and medicine. However, it remains challenging to reproduce and reuse simulations, in part, because the numerous formats and methods for simulating various subsystems and scales remain siloed by different software tools. For example, each tool must be executed through a distinct interface. To help investigators find and use simulation tools, we developed BioSimulators (https://biosimulators.org), a central registry of the capabilities of simulation tools and consistent Python, command-line and containerized interfaces to each version of each tool. The foundation of BioSimulators is standards, such as CellML, SBML, SED-ML and the COMBINE archive format, and validation tools for simulation projects and simulation tools that ensure these standards are used consistently. To help modelers find tools for particular projects, we have also used the registry to develop recommendation services. We anticipate that BioSimulators will help modelers exchange, reproduce, and combine simulations.

/pdf/biosimulators-a-central-registry-of-simulation-engines-and-2yhrn6a7.pdf

BioSimulators: a central registry of simulation engines and services for recommending specific tools

Collective cell migration is an important process during biological development and tissue repair, but may turn malignant during tumor invasion. Mathematical and computational models are essential to unravel the mechanisms of self-organization that underlie the emergence of collective migration from the interactions among individual cells. Recently, guidance-by-followers was identified as one such underlying mechanism of collective cell migration in the zebrafish embryo. This poses the question how guidance stimuli are integrated when multiple cells interact simultaneously. Here, we extend a recent individual-based model by an integration step of the vectorial guidance stimuli and compare model predictions obtained for various variants of the mechanism (arithmetic mean of stimuli, dominance of stimulus with largest transmission interface, dominance of most head-on stimulus). Simulations are carried out and quantified within the modeling and simulation framework Morpheus. Collective cell migration is sfound to be robust and qualitatively identical for all considered variants of stimulus integration. Moreover, this study highlights the role of individual-based modeling approaches for understanding collective phenomena at the population scale that emerge from cell-cell interactions.

/pdf/collective-cell-migration-due-to-guidance-by-followers-is-uo341fr0.pdf

Collective cell migration due to guidance-by-followers is robust to multiple stimuli

Background Stillbirths during pregnancy do not only trigger maternal psychological trauma but also affect the economic growth in developing countries. Since the predictors of stillbirths and their dynamics are diverse in different settings, it requires adequate knowledge to mitigate these predictors in reducing perinatal deaths in Ghana. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and determinants of stillbirths in a referral hospital in Northern Region of Ghana. Methods This study is a portion of a retrospective cohort study conducted from April to July 2020 in Savelugu municipality of Northern Ghana. Sociodemographic and obstetric data were collected using a structured questionnaire from antenatal and delivery records. We used binary logistic regression to identify independent predictors of stillbirths. Results Four percent (4.0%) of the 422 deliveries were stillborns. Anaemia in the first trimester of pregnancy (aOR: 3.15; 95%CI: 0.94 - 10.6; p=0.034), self-employed mothers (aOR: 7.75; 95%CI: 2.33 - 25.8; p=0.018), and non-use of insecticide-treated bed nets during pregnancy (aOR: 12.9; 95%CI: 1.55 - 107; p=0.001) were independent predictors of stillbirths. Conclusion The relatively high stillbirth prevalence at the referral facility is affected by gestational anaemia and lifestyle factors including non-use of insecticide-treated bed nets and self-employed jobs. Management of Savelugu Municipal Hospital (Ghana Health Service), program planners, and other stakeholders who are engaged in improving perinatal and maternal health should be made aware of these predictors in order to reduce the stillbirth rate and its psychological effect on families in Savelugu.

Predictors of stillbirths in a peri-urban referral facility in Northern Region, Ghana

Handle everyday research tasks with reliable, citation-backed results

Your personal Research Agent to handle research tasks with citation-backed results

Popular Tasks used by Researchers

How can I help with your research?

Meet SciSpace

Get more enhanced response by uploading the PDFs you want me to reference.

No relevant PDFs in your library

SciSpace is the AI research assistant for academics. Run systematic literature reviews on 280M+ papers, and write papers with cited sources. Trusted by 1M+ students, PhDs & researchers.

SciSpace | AI for Research

Analyze PDFs

Code & Manuscripts

Funding & Grants

Literature & Patents

Medical & Clinical Data

Systematic Review

Visualize & Present

Web & Data

Build a Google Scholar-like website for your research.

Build a website

Create charts and images for your research

Create a Chart

Write a paper for submission to a journal

Draft a manuscript

Patent Search

Design eye-catching scientific posters in minutes.

Scientific Poster Generation

Systematic Literature Review

One task is running at the moment. Your messages will be shown right after.

Drag and drop or click here to browse

Loved by <highlight>1 million+</highlight> researchers

Extract a list of specific topics and their sources from unstructured text

Topics

Compare and analyze relevant papers that matches with your search

Papers

Get insights from PDFs and bookmarked papers from your library

My library

Recent searches

Try searching for:

Catch AI-generated content in scholarly and non-scholarly content

{ai} Detector

Ai Writer

Get PDF Summaries, highlighted text explanations 

Chat with PDF

Effortlessly create in-text citations and bibliographies in APA and 2,500 other formats

Citation generator

Get explanations, summaries, and answers on academic papers

Ease up your research workflow with {scispace}'s cohort of exciting AI tools

Elevate your academic writing skills and convey your ideas the way you want

Paraphraser

Explore our range of reading and writing tools

Your file is being prepared and should be ready in a few minutes. If it's a large file, it might take a bit longer. You can close this window, and we'll email you the file when it's done.

You have reached a maximum limit of <strong>{limit}</strong> columns in the table. Remove at least <strong>1</strong> column to add or create another one.

Diego Jahn

Author Tools

Chat about Author

Papers

BioSimulators: a central registry of simulation engines and services for recommending specific tools

Collective cell migration due to guidance-by-followers is robust to multiple stimuli

Predictors of stillbirths in a peri-urban referral facility in Northern Region, Ghana