A Digital Repository and Execution Platform for Interactive Scholarly Publications in Neuroscience

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Computational Science
• Data Science

Background:

• Neuroscientists require platforms for data storage, sharing, development, execution, reproduction, and publication.
• Existing platforms may lack integrated functionalities for linking research outputs like data and software to publications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and describe the new interactive publications repository functionality within the CARMEN Virtual Laboratory (VL).
• To enable users to link data and software directly to publications, facilitating examination and execution within the platform.
• To promote research reuse, reproducibility, and open access principles in neuroscience.

Main Methods:

• Development of a cloud-based Software as a Service (SaaS) platform, the CARMEN VL.
• Implementation of an interactive publications repository allowing linkage of data and software to published work.
• Integration of a scientific workflow environment for combining software services into processing trees.
• Incorporation of secure access control for managing resource permissions.

Main Results:

• The new facility enables users to examine and execute associated data and software within the VL, mirroring authors' original research conditions.
• The platform supports the analysis of vast datasets using cloud-based software services.
• Workflows can be associated with publications, allowing users to execute them.
• The repository ensures long-term preservation and curation of research resources.

Conclusions:

• The interactive publications repository enhances research reproducibility and verification through open access principles.
• The CARMEN VL facilitates building upon existing research via data and software reuse.
• The platform provides a secure and collaborative environment for neuroscientific research, respecting copyright and privacy.