Description
Orient a supplied compartment-flow magnitude as inflow positive or outflow negative.
Computational biology models distinguish counts, rates, reaction orders, stoichiometric signs and state constraints. A volume-scaling factor is only one component of a stochastic propensity, and a supplied flux bound is separate from a feasible network solution. Bookkeeping balances do not infer unobserved biological states or validate a model.
Orient a supplied compartment-flow magnitude as inflow positive or outflow negative.
When to use this tool
Use Compartment Flow Sign Crosswalk when you already have flowMagnitude, relationToCompartment and need to orient a supplied compartment-flow magnitude as inflow positive or outflow negative.
How to use the tool and how it works
- Enter flowMagnitude, relationToCompartment. Use the units and conventions below.
- Run the tool. Correct any format, range, or cross-field input error before interpreting the output.
- Read signedContribution. Use the output convention below.
Require magnitude>=0 and relation inflow/outflow; preserve or negate accordingly.1
| Input field | Meaning and units | Accepted input |
|---|---|---|
| flowMagnitude | Flow Magnitude | Required. Finite number; minimum 0. |
| relationToCompartment | Relation To Compartment | Required. Text; one of "inflow", "outflow"; maximum UTF-16 length 8192. |
| Output field | Interpretation | Returned shape |
|---|---|---|
| signedContribution | Signed Contribution | Required. Finite number. |
{
"input": {
"flowMagnitude": 4,
"relationToCompartment": "outflow"
},
"output": {
"signedContribution": -4
}
}Limitations and assumptions
- Units and compartment boundaries must match. No flow, volume, complete mass balance or actual process is inferred.
- Inputs must satisfy both the field types and the cross-field conditions above. Invalid input causes an error; a successful false flag or documented placeholder is a different result.
- Numeric calculations use binary floating point unless exact decimal-integer arithmetic is explicitly stated. No hidden measurement tolerance or decimal rounding is added; nonfinite or out-of-contract results are rejected. Numeric signed-zero results are exported as zero.
Alternative or Complementary methods
Check the full model definition, data provenance, reaction conventions and numerical implementation. Use complete network, stochastic or population analyses when needed; local count balances, priorities and bound checks cannot establish biological mechanisms or model adequacy.
References
Similar or alternative tools
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