pytc-gui documentation

pytc-gui is a graphical interface for pytc, a flexible package for fitting Isothermal Titration Calorimetry data.

Start-up

either: + double-click the icon for the installed program + run pytc-gui on command line

Workflow

  • load experiments
  • link individual fit parameters to global parameters
  • set fit parameter guesses
  • fit the model to the data
  • export the results, which will save a csv file with the fit parameters and a pdf showing the fit

Installation

Note: If you would like to use the pytc API in addition to the GUI, we recommend installing the python scientific computing stack and then installing pytc-gui via the pip method.

Demo heat files for testing the GUI are here.

Windows or Mac installation

For users who only want to use the GUI

  • Windows: download the installation file and follow the prompts for the installer.
  • Mac: download the dmg, unpack it, and then drag the pytc icon into the Applications folder.

It will install its own mini python scientific computing stack, independent of other python distributions installed on the system.

pip installation (windows, mac, or linux)

For users who want to use the GUI and API or for users who want to use an existing python installation

Make sure that python3 and pip3 are already installed (see below).

Option 1: pip. In a terminal, type:

pip3 install pytc-gui

Option 2: git. In a terminal, type:

git clone https://github.com/harmslab/pytc-gui.git
cd pytc-gui
pip3 install .

Installing python3

You can obtain python3 from the following sources:

  • Anaconda. A single large installation with binaries for windows, mac, and linux.
  • WinPython. A single large installation for windows.
  • Package managers (linux and mac). For example, the Ubuntu command would be: sudo apt-get install python3 python3-pip
  • python.org. The main python binary for windows, mac, and linux.

Indices and tables

How-To: Basic Fits with GUI

Setting Up

Single-Site Model

For performing a single-site model fit to a single experiment.

_images/01.png

First, go to File -> Add Experiment. Select the model, load in the file, and select the shot start.

_images/02.png

Before fitting, the graph shows the model calculated using the parameter guesses.

_images/03.png

To fit the model, go to Fitting -> Fit Experiments.

This can be repeated for more experiments. Any new experiments you load will be added to the GUI.

Sliders

Each loaded experiment has a model with associated fit parameters. These parameters can be maniuplated using a set of “sliders”. These have the same general layout. Each time a value is changed on a slider, the graph is updated with the new guesses. The graph will update to show the fit results once the fit is performed.

_images/011.png

The general layout for each slider. Global parameters are similar except they exclude the dropdown menu.

  Use
Fix When checked, allows you to enter a fixed parameter value
Slider Changes the parameter guess value.
Dropdown
Allows you to link and unlink parameters from global
parameters as well as creation of new global parameters or
connectors.
Min/Max
Allows you to change the bounds of allowed values for a
parameter.

Global Variables

Simple Global

For using a global variable that is shared across multiple experiments.

_images/012.png

pytc-gui uses sliders to select guesses for each fit parameter. To get to the sliders for an experiment, click on the Show Sliders button next to the experiment name. Each pop-up has the same basic layout.

To add a new global variable, select Add Global Var from the dropdown menu.
_images/021.png

The pop-up allows you to create a new global variable.

_images/031.png

Once a global variable is made, it can be linked to any parameter by selecting it from the dropdown menu for that parameter.

_images/04.png

A new entry is made for the global variable. After this select Fitting -> Fit Experiments. This will fit the new global model to the data an update the graph and parameter list.

Connectors

For defining more complex linkages between experiments (such as a van’t Hoff relationship).

_images/05.png

Fit using a temperature dependant experiment.

_images/06.png

Connectors are linked in a similar way to global variables, except select Add Connector from the dropdown menu rather than Add Global Var. A new pop-up will come up allowing you to select the type of connector you’d like to make, the name of the connector, and nay variables linked to that connector.

_images/07.png

As with global variables, link parameters to a connector parameter by selecting the connector from the dropdown menu.

_images/08.png

Some connectors might require experimental metadata (temperature, ionization enthalpy, etc.). These need to be defined before performing the new fit.

_images/09.png

Once everything is set, perform the new fit.

Indices and tables

Video Examples of Fits

Single Site - Single w/ Blank

Connectors - Num Proton

Connectors - Van’t Hoff

Single Site - Replicate + Blank

GUI Module

Main Interface

Main Window
Fit Update
Set-up

Experiments

Local
Global
Connectors

Sliders

Main Sliders
Local
Global/Connectors
Pop-ups

Indices and tables