Neuron Registry Specifications
From Program on Ontologies of Neural Structures
Contents |
Desired Neuron Registry Specifications:
Entity Pages:
- Each structural entity will have its own page
- Neuron Registry pages will be reciprocally mirrored with corresponding NeuroLex entries.
- Each entity will be accompanied by a standard set of annotations
- Each entity will be identified by a unique identifier
- Each entity will have a standard set of properties that will themselves be derived from other Wiki entities, e.g., species will come from existing entities
- Because these entities are meant to be used in information systems, each entity will be assigned a version number so that any changes can be tracked. In addition a complete record of all edits and who made those edits (creator) will be recorded.
- For each version, the annotations and properties will be fixed, i.e., uneditable.
- Each entity will have a place where changes can be suggested or corrections can be made.
- New entities can be added by anyone. Trained individuals will review the entities that are added and speedily delete any new entities that do not conform to standards. If a problem is found with a submission, and contributor information is know, these people can follow-up to resolve these issues.
- Entities that been published in a release may not be deleted but they can be retired
- Using features of the semantic wiki, entity pages can also be linked to each other through a defined set of properties, e.g., synaptic connections between neuron types can be recorded as links.
- Changes will be reviewed by a curator and a new version released on a regular schedule.
- Instances of each entity class may also be linked to each page.
Contributors
- The Neuron Registry is meant to be an authoritative source by which neuroscientists can define neuron types and neuron properties.
- As such, anonymous contributions may be rejected. In general, anonymous contributions will be given less weight by a curator than signed contributions, as unidentifiable submitters are not available for feedback.
- While anyone who signs in can contribute comments and corrections, a curator will be necessary to monitor the discussions and decide what action should be taken.
Users:
- Experts: The Neuron Registry will serve as an authoritative reference for experts in their domain to define neuron types and their properties in a clear way. It will provide a forum through which debate can occur.
- Non-experts: The Neuron Registry is meant to provide a reference so that non-experts can interpret the definition and criteria and apply them to data.
- Information systems: The Neuron Registry needs to be constructed in a way that it can be utilized by information systems that would like to utilize and perhaps mine the information.
- Journals: The Neuron Registry will provide a reference for linking metadata or other entities within articles and will also provide a standard reference for those submitting data.
- Wikipedia: The Neuron Registry should link to but not supplant Wikipedia, which serves a different purpose. However, neuroscientists should have their view linked to each page and perhaps contribute Wikipedia entities that do not have a page.
