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Relational grounding facilitates development of scientifically useful multiscale models
C Anthony Hunt1, Glen E P Ropella, Tai ning Lam
1Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA. a.hunt@ucsf.edu
Theoretical Biology & Medical Modelling
|September 29, 2011
Summary
Addressing grounding issues early in biomedical multiscale model (MSM) development is crucial for scientific usefulness. Relational grounding enhances model flexibility, adaptability, and reusability, especially for complex biological systems.
Area of Science:
- Computational Biology
- Biomedical Modeling
- Systems Biology
Background:
- Biomedical multiscale models (MSMs) integrate diverse biological data.
- Grounding, the reference of model components to real-world entities, is critical for MSM utility.
- Current MSMs often use absolute grounding (continuous models) or relational grounding (discrete models).
Purpose of the Study:
- To review grounding issues impacting MSM scientific usefulness.
- To identify strategies for addressing grounding in MSM development.
- To emphasize the importance of grounding decisions for model lifecycle and reusability.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of grounding strategies in multiscale modeling.
- Analysis of absolute vs. relational grounding in different modeling paradigms.
- Discussion of grounding's influence on model flexibility, integration, and reusability.
Main Results:
- Grounding decisions significantly affect model flexibility, adaptability, and reusability.
- Absolute grounding simplifies integration with common units but can hinder context adaptation.
- Relational grounding facilitates component autonomy and robustness to context changes, crucial for translational research.
Conclusions:
- Grounding issues must be addressed at the outset and reevaluated throughout MSM development.
- Relational grounding supports the creation of adaptable, reusable MSMs for complex biological systems and translational research.
- Multi-paradigm modeling necessitates both hyperspatial and relational grounding.
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