Investigators
Dr. Robert Gaunt, Dr. Marco Capogrosso, Dr. Elvira Pirondini, Dr. Lee Fisher
Contact info (email)
rag53@pitt.edu
1. Define context(s)
identify/explore new therapies
reveal new biological insights
Current Conformance Level / Target Conformance Level
Partial
Primary goal of the model/tool/database
The primary goal of this model is to simulate the recruitment of different axon populations in a feline sacral spinal cord, dorsal rootlets and caudal equina in response to epidural electrical stimulation for the purpose of studying effects on the lower urinary tract. An accurate anatomical model will be created from high-resolution magnetic resonance images. Finally, axon recruitment will be coupled to spiking network models of sacral spinal reflexes.
Biological domain of the model
Spinal cord electrical stimulation, bladder function
Structure(s) of interest in the model
Feline sacral spinal cord and cauda equina
Spatial scales included in the model
25 microns to 10 cm
Time scales included in the model
0.1 ms to 30 s
2. Data for building and validating the model
| Data for building the model | Published? | Private? | How is credibility checked? | Current Conformance Level / Target Conformance Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| in vitro (primary cells cell, lines, etc.) | ||||
| ex vivo (excised tissues) | No | No | Multiple scans from multiple animals | Adequate |
| in vivo pre-clinical (lower-level organism or small animal) | ||||
| in vivo pre-clinical (large animal) | No | No | Repeated stimulation events in multiple animals | Adequate |
| Human subjects/clinical | ||||
| Other: ________________________ |
| Data for validating the model | Published? | Private? | How is credibility checked? | Current Conformance Level / Target Conformance Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| in vitro (primary cells cell, lines, etc.) | ||||
| ex vivo (excised tissues) | ||||
| in vivo pre-clinical (lower-level organism or small animal) | ||||
| in vivo pre-clinical (large animal) | No | No | Repeated stimulation events in multiple animals | Adequate |
| Human subjects/clinical | ||||
| Other: ________________________ |
3. Validate within context(s)
| Who does it? | When does it happen? | How is it done? | Current Conformance Level / Target Conformance Level | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verification | Developers | During software design | Adequate | |
| Validation | Developers | After initial model has been completed, during refinement, and during new scenarios | Model performance is checked agains experimentally recorded electrophysiological data using the same stimulation parameters in the model as were used in the experiment. Experimental nerve recruitment is qualitatively and qualitatively compared to the population of axons activated in the model. | Adequate |
| Uncertainty quantification | Developers and users | During simulations | Adequate | |
| Sensitivity analysis | Developers and users | During simulations | Adequate | |
| Other:__________ | ||||
| Additional Comments |
4. Limitations
| Disclaimer statement (explain key limitations) | Who needs to know about this disclaimer? | How is this disclaimer shared with that audience? | Current Conformance Level / Target Conformance Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spinal cord anatomical images are taken from different specimens than the electophysiological data used to validate the model. | Model users | This will be stated in model documentation. | Adequate |
| Axon population distributions in the dorsal rootlets are estimated from literature, and are not based on measurements in the specimens | Model users | This will be stated in model documentation. | Adequate |
5. Version control
| Current Conformance Level / Target Conformance Level |
|---|
| Extensive |
| Naming Conventions? | Repository? | Code Review? | |
|---|---|---|---|
| individual modeler | Yes | Git | No |
| within the lab | Yes | Git | No |
| collaborators | ? | Git/o2S2PARC | No |
6. Documentation
| Current Conformance Level / Target Conformance Level | |
|---|---|
| Code commented? | Adequate: All code will be documented according to good practices. |
| Scope and intended use described? | Adequate:grant and other documents describe intended purpose. Future publications will improve. |
| User’s guide? | Adequate: available in o2S2PARC |
| Developer’s guide? | Extensive: part of o2S2PARC |
7. Dissemination
| Current Conformance Level / Target Conformance Level |
|---|
| Expected to be Extensive. Results will be published, and all models will be made available on o2S2PARC. |
| Target Audience(s): | “Inner circle” | Scientific community | Public |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simulations | will be available | ||
| Models | will be available | ||
| Software | will be available | ||
| Results | will be available | ||
| Implications of results | will be available |
8. Independent reviews
| Current Conformance Level / Target Conformance Level |
|---|
| Insufficient: no review has been done. |
| Reviewer(s) name & affiliation: | |
|---|---|
| When was review performed? | |
| How was review performed and outcomes of the review? |
9. Test competing implementations
| Current Conformance Level / Target Conformance Level |
|---|
| Insufficient: no alternatives are known. |
| Yes or No (briefly summarize) | |
|---|---|
| Were competing implementations tested? | No: none known |
| Did this lead to model refinement or improvement? |
10. Conform to standards
| Current Conformance Level / Target Conformance Level |
|---|
| Insufficient |
| Yes or No (briefly summarize) | |
|---|---|
| Are there operating procedures, guidelines, or standards for this type of multiscale modeling? | No. No standards are known. |
| How do your modeling efforts conform? |
11. (optional) Additional information to support items 1-10
This model has yet to be developed. Therefore, portions of this assessment reflect either assumptions about future implementations or expectations on the how much will be able to be accomplished as the model is developed.
This assessment will be updated as more information becomes available.
This model does not currently exist. As a result some of the conformance assessments reflect expectations based on the tools, systems, methods and data that will be used to construct this model. Some conformance levels are described as "Insufficient" because it is currently unknown what the likely level of conformance will be with the rule.