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modelling 4-parameter curve in R does not match data - how to proceed?

7 messages · Duncan Murdoch, Luigi Marongiu

#
Hello,
I have a dataset from a polymerase chain reaction. I am using the
equation given by Rutledge
(https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15601990/) but the profile I get in R
does not match the data. I ran the same thing in Desmos and instead
the profile is correct (attached).
Why do I not get the same matching model as in Desmos? I believe the
formula in R is the same as the one in Desmos, and I am using the same
parameters.
Is there a procedure to debug models?
Thanks

Here is the code:
```
high <- c(120.64, 66.14, 34.87, 27.11, 8.87, -5.8, 4.52, -7.16, -17.39,
       -14.29, -20.26, -14.99, -21.05, -20.64, -8.03, -21.56, -1.28, 15.01,
       75.26, 191.76, 455.09, 985.96, 1825.59, 2908.08, 3993.18, 5059.94,
       6071.93, 6986.32, 7796.01, 8502.25, 9111.46, 9638.01, 10077.19,
       10452.02, 10751.81, 11017.49, 11240.37, 11427.47, 11570.07, 11684.96,
       11781.77, 11863.35, 11927.44, 11980.81, 12021.88)
plot(1:45, high, type = "l")
rutledge <- function(p, x) {
  m = p$half_fluorescence
  s = p$slope
  M = p$max_fluorescence
  B = p$back_fluorescence
  y = (M / ( 1 + exp(-(x-m)/s)) ) + B
  return(y)
}
desmos <- rutledge(list(half_fluorescence = 27.1102, slope = 2.76798,
                        max_fluorescence = 11839.8, back_fluorescence
= -138.864) , high)

points(1:45, desmos, type="l", col="blue")
```
#
On 17/03/2021 5:41 a.m., Luigi Marongiu wrote:
In your calculation of desmos, you are using the Y variable for x in the 
formula.  Calculate it this way instead:

desmos <- rutledge(list(half_fluorescence = 27.1102, slope = 2.76798,
                           max_fluorescence = 11839.8, back_fluorescence
  = -138.864) , 1:45)

Duncan Murdoch
#
yes, but in `rutledge` I model y as `y = (M / ( 1 + exp(-(x-m)/s)) ) +
B`, with x being 1:45. Isn't that the equivalent of what I fed Desmos
with? Tx

On Wed, Mar 17, 2021 at 11:31 AM Duncan Murdoch
<murdoch.duncan at gmail.com> wrote:

  
    
#
On 17/03/2021 6:59 a.m., Luigi Marongiu wrote:
No, it's not.

Duncan Murdoch
#
sorry, I don't get it...
On Wed, Mar 17, 2021 at 2:35 PM Duncan Murdoch <murdoch.duncan at gmail.com> wrote:

  
    
#
On 17/03/2021 12:37 p.m., Luigi Marongiu wrote:
Modify your rutledge function to print x, and you'll see the values of 
high printed.  x should be 1:45.

Duncan Murdoch
#
Oh, I got it! I was sending the fluorescence instead of the cycles x.
Thank you

```
desmos <- rutledge(list(half_fluorescence = 27.1102, slope = 2.76798,
                        max_fluorescence = 11839.8, back_fluorescence
= -138.864) , 1:45)
```
On Wed, Mar 17, 2021 at 8:58 PM Duncan Murdoch <murdoch.duncan at gmail.com> wrote: