diff --git a/.github/workflows/test.yml b/.github/workflows/test.yml
index 7b2f9532..a0414e03 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test.yml
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ jobs:
     strategy:
       matrix:
         os: [ubuntu-latest]
-        python-version: ["3.8", "3.9", "3.10", "3.11", "3.12"]
+        python-version: ["3.9", "3.10", "3.11", "3.12"]
         include:
           - os: macos-12
             python-version: "3.10"
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ jobs:
       run: tox
 
     - name: "Upload coverage to Codecov"
-      uses: codecov/codecov-action@v2
+      uses: codecov/codecov-action@v4
       with:
         token: ${{ secrets.CODECOV_TOKEN }}
         fail_ci_if_error: false
diff --git a/README.rst b/README.rst
index 8c124b2f..3ffbe544 100644
--- a/README.rst
+++ b/README.rst
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ News
 Requirements
 ============
 
-* `Python 3.8+ <https://www.python.org/downloads/release/python-380/>`_
+* `Python 3.9+ <https://www.python.org/downloads/release/python-390/>`_
 * `Pip <https://pip.pypa.io>`_ (installed by default in newer versions of Python)
 * `Neuron 7.4+ <http://neuron.yale.edu/>`_ (compiled with Python support)
 * `eFEL eFeature Extraction Library <https://github.com/BlueBrain/eFEL>`_ (automatically installed by pip)
diff --git a/bluepyopt/ephys/morphologies.py b/bluepyopt/ephys/morphologies.py
index 27a6d5d4..27cbc1ec 100644
--- a/bluepyopt/ephys/morphologies.py
+++ b/bluepyopt/ephys/morphologies.py
@@ -307,6 +307,8 @@ def load(morpho_filename, replace_axon):
             morpho = arbor.load_component(morpho_filename).component
         elif morpho_suffix == '.swc':
             morpho = arbor.load_swc_arbor(morpho_filename)
+            # turn loaded_morphology into morphology type
+            morpho = morpho.morphology
         elif morpho_suffix == '.asc':
             morpho = arbor.load_asc(morpho_filename).morphology
         else:
diff --git a/bluepyopt/ephys/protocols.py b/bluepyopt/ephys/protocols.py
index 804329f2..aa742bca 100644
--- a/bluepyopt/ephys/protocols.py
+++ b/bluepyopt/ephys/protocols.py
@@ -602,7 +602,12 @@ def instantiate_iclamp_stimuli(self, decor, use_labels=False):
         for i, stim in enumerate(self.stimuli):
             if not isinstance(stim, stimuli.SynapticStimulus):
                 if hasattr(stim, 'envelope'):
-                    arb_iclamp = arbor.iclamp(stim.envelope())
+                    envelope = stim.envelope()
+                    envelope = [
+                        (t * arbor.units.ms, curr * arbor.units.nA)
+                        for (t, curr) in envelope
+                    ]
+                    arb_iclamp = arbor.iclamp(envelope)
                 else:
                     raise ValueError('Stimulus must provide envelope method '
                                      ' or be of type NrnNetStimStimulus to be'
@@ -648,7 +653,9 @@ def instantiate_recordings(self, cell_model, use_labels=False):
 
             cell_model.probe('voltage',
                              arb_loc.ref if use_labels else arb_loc.loc,
-                             frequency=10)  # could be a parameter
+                             f"probe-{i}",
+                             # frequency could be a parameter
+                             frequency=10 * arbor.units.kHz)
 
         return cell_model
 
diff --git a/bluepyopt/ephys/simulators.py b/bluepyopt/ephys/simulators.py
index de546633..a4d038ce 100644
--- a/bluepyopt/ephys/simulators.py
+++ b/bluepyopt/ephys/simulators.py
@@ -372,9 +372,11 @@ def run(self, arb_cell_model, tstop=None, dt=None):
         dt = dt if dt is not None else self.dt
 
         if dt is not None:
-            return arb_cell_model.run(tfinal=tstop, dt=dt)
+            return arb_cell_model.run(
+                tfinal=tstop * arbor.units.ms, dt=dt * arbor.units.ms
+            )
         else:
-            return arb_cell_model.run(tfinal=tstop)
+            return arb_cell_model.run(tfinal=tstop * arbor.units.ms)
 
 
 class ArbSimulatorException(Exception):
diff --git a/bluepyopt/ephys/templates/acc/decor_acc_template.jinja2 b/bluepyopt/ephys/templates/acc/decor_acc_template.jinja2
index 13ae43d1..eac074cb 100644
--- a/bluepyopt/ephys/templates/acc/decor_acc_template.jinja2
+++ b/bluepyopt/ephys/templates/acc/decor_acc_template.jinja2
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 (arbor-component
-  (meta-data (version "0.1-dev"))
+  (meta-data (version "0.9-dev"))
   (decor
     {%- for mech, params in global_mechs.items() %}
     {%- if mech is not none %}
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
     {%- endif %}
     {%- else %}
     {%- for param in params %}
-    (default ({{ param.name }} {{ param.value }}))
+    (default ({{ param.name }} {{ param.value }} (scalar 1.0)))
     {%- endfor %}
     {%- endif %}
     {%- endfor %}
@@ -27,13 +27,13 @@
     {%- endif %}
     {%- else %}
     {%- for param in params %}
-    (paint {{loc.ref}} ({{ param.name }} {{ param.value }}))
+    (paint {{loc.ref}} ({{ param.name }} {{ param.value }} (scalar 1.0)))
     {%- endfor %}
     {%- endif %}
     {%- endfor %}
 
     {%- for synapse_name, mech_params in pprocess_mechs[loc].items() %}
-    (place {{loc.ref}} (synapse (mechanism "{{ mech_params.mech }}" {%- for param in mech_params.params %} ("{{ param.name }}" {{ param.value }}){%- endfor %})) "{{ synapse_name }}")
+    (place {{loc.ref}} (synapse (mechanism "{{ mech_params.mech }}" {%- for param in mech_params.params %} ("{{ param.name }}" {{ param.value }} (scalar 1.0)){%- endfor %})) "{{ synapse_name }}")
     {%- endfor %}
 
     {%- endfor %}))
diff --git a/bluepyopt/ephys/templates/acc/label_dict_acc_template.jinja2 b/bluepyopt/ephys/templates/acc/label_dict_acc_template.jinja2
index 508c0aa1..ca2e7dac 100644
--- a/bluepyopt/ephys/templates/acc/label_dict_acc_template.jinja2
+++ b/bluepyopt/ephys/templates/acc/label_dict_acc_template.jinja2
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 (arbor-component
-  (meta-data (version "0.1-dev"))
+  (meta-data (version "0.9-dev"))
   (label-dict
   {%- for loc, label in label_dict.items() %}
     {{ label.defn }}
diff --git a/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/test_create_acc.py b/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/test_create_acc.py
index baae6def..367ef22a 100644
--- a/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/test_create_acc.py
+++ b/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/test_create_acc.py
@@ -537,7 +537,7 @@ def run_short_sim(cable_cell):
     arb_cell_model.properties.catalogue.extend(arbor.bbp_catalogue(), "BBP::")
 
     # Run a very short simulation to test mechanism instantiation
-    arb_cell_model.run(tfinal=0.1)
+    arb_cell_model.run(tfinal=0.1 * arbor.units.ms)
 
 
 @pytest.mark.unit
@@ -665,6 +665,10 @@ def check_acc_dir(test_dir, ref_dir):
             with open(ref_dir_file / file) as f:
                 ref_file = f.read()
             assert ref_file == test_file
+            # check that load_component is not raising any error here
+            fpath = pathlib.Path(test_dir) / file
+            if fpath.suffix == "acc":
+                arbor.load_component(fpath).component
 
 
 @pytest.mark.unit
diff --git a/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/test_parameterscalers.py b/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/test_parameterscalers.py
index 846bf023..877cac90 100644
--- a/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/test_parameterscalers.py
+++ b/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/test_parameterscalers.py
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 """Test ephys.parameterscalers"""
 
 import json
-
+import pathlib
+import tempfile
+import arbor
 
 import pytest
 
@@ -143,3 +145,33 @@ def test_parameterscalers_iexpr_generator_unsupported_attr():
                              'unsupported attribute tau.'):
         iexpr = value_scaler.acc_scale_iexpr(
             value=value, constant_formatter=lambda v: '%.9g' % v)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.unit
+def test_parameterscalers_iexpr():
+    """ephys.parameterscalers: Test iexpr"""
+    # iexpr from bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/test_parameterscalers.py
+    iexpr = '(sub (scalar 0.62109375) ' \
+            '(mul (log (pi) ) ' \
+            '(exp (div (distance (region "soma")) ' \
+            '(scalar 0.421875) ) ) ) )'
+
+    # modified decor as in
+    # bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/testdata/acc/simplecell/simple_cell_decor.acc
+    simple_cell_decor_with_iexpr = \
+        '(arbor-component\n' \
+        '  (meta-data (version "0.9-dev"))\n' \
+        '  (decor\n' \
+        '    (paint (region "soma") ' \
+        '(membrane-capacitance 0.01 (scalar 1.0)))\n' \
+        '    (paint (region "soma") ' \
+        '(scaled-mechanism (density (mechanism "default::hh" ' \
+        '("gnabar" 0.10299326453483033) ("gkbar" 0.027124836082684685))) ' \
+        f'("gkbar" {iexpr})))))'
+
+    with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as test_dir:
+        decor_filename = pathlib.Path(test_dir).joinpath("decor.acc")
+        with open(decor_filename, "w") as f:
+            f.write(simple_cell_decor_with_iexpr)
+        # check that load_component is not raising any error here
+        arbor.load_component(decor_filename).component
diff --git a/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/testdata/acc/CCell/CCell_decor.acc b/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/testdata/acc/CCell/CCell_decor.acc
index dd9c47e9..2427ea90 100644
--- a/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/testdata/acc/CCell/CCell_decor.acc
+++ b/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/testdata/acc/CCell/CCell_decor.acc
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 (arbor-component
-  (meta-data (version "0.1-dev"))
+  (meta-data (version "0.9-dev"))
   (decor
-    (default (gSKv3_1bar_SKv3_1 65))
-    (paint (region "soma") (gSKv3_1bar_SKv3_1 65))
-    (paint (region "soma") (gSKv3_1bar_SKv3_1 65))
+    (default (gSKv3_1bar_SKv3_1 65 (scalar 1.0)))
+    (paint (region "soma") (gSKv3_1bar_SKv3_1 65 (scalar 1.0)))
+    (paint (region "soma") (gSKv3_1bar_SKv3_1 65 (scalar 1.0)))
     (paint (region "dend") (density (mechanism "BBP::Ih")))
-    (paint (region "apic") (gSKv3_1bar_SKv3_1 65))
-    (paint (region "apic") (gSKv3_1bar_SKv3_1 65))
+    (paint (region "apic") (gSKv3_1bar_SKv3_1 65 (scalar 1.0)))
+    (paint (region "apic") (gSKv3_1bar_SKv3_1 65 (scalar 1.0)))
     (paint (region "apic") (density (mechanism "BBP::Ih")))))
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/testdata/acc/CCell/CCell_label_dict.acc b/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/testdata/acc/CCell/CCell_label_dict.acc
index 08c4efd5..2fcd0172 100644
--- a/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/testdata/acc/CCell/CCell_label_dict.acc
+++ b/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/testdata/acc/CCell/CCell_label_dict.acc
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 (arbor-component
-  (meta-data (version "0.1-dev"))
+  (meta-data (version "0.9-dev"))
   (label-dict 
     (region-def "all" (all)) 
     (region-def "apic" (tag 4)) 
diff --git a/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/testdata/acc/CCell/simple_axon_replacement.acc b/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/testdata/acc/CCell/simple_axon_replacement.acc
index 7dee06c1..b5df598b 100644
--- a/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/testdata/acc/CCell/simple_axon_replacement.acc
+++ b/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/testdata/acc/CCell/simple_axon_replacement.acc
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 (arbor-component 
   (meta-data 
-    (version "0.1-dev"))
+    (version "0.9-dev"))
   (morphology 
     (branch 0 -1 
       (segment 0 
diff --git a/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/testdata/acc/expsyn/simple_cell_decor.acc b/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/testdata/acc/expsyn/simple_cell_decor.acc
index ff1e8f1b..e1ed15e0 100644
--- a/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/testdata/acc/expsyn/simple_cell_decor.acc
+++ b/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/testdata/acc/expsyn/simple_cell_decor.acc
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 (arbor-component
-  (meta-data (version "0.1-dev"))
+  (meta-data (version "0.9-dev"))
   (decor
-    (paint (region "soma") (membrane-capacitance 0.01))
+    (paint (region "soma") (membrane-capacitance 0.01 (scalar 1.0)))
     (paint (region "soma") (density (mechanism "default::pas")))
-    (place (locset "somacenter") (synapse (mechanism "default::expsyn" ("tau" 10))) "expsyn")))
\ No newline at end of file
+    (place (locset "somacenter") (synapse (mechanism "default::expsyn" ("tau" 10 (scalar 1.0)))) "expsyn")))
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/testdata/acc/expsyn/simple_cell_label_dict.acc b/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/testdata/acc/expsyn/simple_cell_label_dict.acc
index fe69d135..ab69054e 100644
--- a/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/testdata/acc/expsyn/simple_cell_label_dict.acc
+++ b/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/testdata/acc/expsyn/simple_cell_label_dict.acc
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 (arbor-component
-  (meta-data (version "0.1-dev"))
+  (meta-data (version "0.9-dev"))
   (label-dict
     (region-def "all" (all))
     (region-def "soma" (tag 1))
diff --git a/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/testdata/acc/l5pc/C060114A7_axon_replacement.acc b/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/testdata/acc/l5pc/C060114A7_axon_replacement.acc
index 1723e930..e9f03844 100644
--- a/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/testdata/acc/l5pc/C060114A7_axon_replacement.acc
+++ b/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/testdata/acc/l5pc/C060114A7_axon_replacement.acc
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 (arbor-component 
   (meta-data 
-    (version "0.1-dev"))
+    (version "0.9-dev"))
   (morphology 
     (branch 0 -1 
       (segment 0 
diff --git a/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/testdata/acc/l5pc/C060114A7_modified.acc b/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/testdata/acc/l5pc/C060114A7_modified.acc
index d47f3c7d..26451178 100644
--- a/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/testdata/acc/l5pc/C060114A7_modified.acc
+++ b/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/testdata/acc/l5pc/C060114A7_modified.acc
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 (arbor-component 
   (meta-data 
-    (version "0.1-dev"))
+    (version "0.9-dev"))
   (morphology 
     (branch 0 -1 
       (segment 0 
diff --git a/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/testdata/acc/l5pc/l5pc_decor.acc b/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/testdata/acc/l5pc/l5pc_decor.acc
index 9b499549..fb9c4e40 100644
--- a/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/testdata/acc/l5pc/l5pc_decor.acc
+++ b/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/testdata/acc/l5pc/l5pc_decor.acc
@@ -1,13 +1,13 @@
 (arbor-component
-  (meta-data (version "0.1-dev"))
+  (meta-data (version "0.9-dev"))
   (decor
-    (default (membrane-potential -65))
-    (default (temperature-kelvin 307.14999999999998))
-    (default (membrane-capacitance 0.01))
-    (default (axial-resistivity 100))
+    (default (membrane-potential -65 (scalar 1.0)))
+    (default (temperature-kelvin 307.14999999999998 (scalar 1.0)))
+    (default (membrane-capacitance 0.01 (scalar 1.0)))
+    (default (axial-resistivity 100 (scalar 1.0)))
     (paint (region "all") (density (mechanism "default::pas/e=-75" ("g" 3.0000000000000001e-05))))
-    (paint (region "soma") (ion-reversal-potential "na" 50))
-    (paint (region "soma") (ion-reversal-potential "k" -85))
+    (paint (region "soma") (ion-reversal-potential "na" 50 (scalar 1.0)))
+    (paint (region "soma") (ion-reversal-potential "k" -85 (scalar 1.0)))
     (paint (region "soma") (density (mechanism "BBP::NaTs2_t" ("gNaTs2_tbar" 0.98395500000000002))))
     (paint (region "soma") (density (mechanism "BBP::SKv3_1" ("gSKv3_1bar" 0.30347200000000002))))
     (paint (region "soma") (density (mechanism "BBP::SK_E2" ("gSK_E2bar" 0.0084069999999999995))))
@@ -15,8 +15,8 @@
     (paint (region "soma") (density (mechanism "BBP::Ca_LVAst" ("gCa_LVAstbar" 0.00033300000000000002))))
     (paint (region "soma") (density (mechanism "BBP::CaDynamics_E2" ("gamma" 0.00060899999999999995) ("decay" 210.48528400000001))))
     (paint (region "soma") (density (mechanism "BBP::Ih" ("gIhbar" 8.0000000000000007e-05))))
-    (paint (region "axon") (ion-reversal-potential "na" 50))
-    (paint (region "axon") (ion-reversal-potential "k" -85))
+    (paint (region "axon") (ion-reversal-potential "na" 50 (scalar 1.0)))
+    (paint (region "axon") (ion-reversal-potential "k" -85 (scalar 1.0)))
     (paint (region "axon") (density (mechanism "BBP::NaTa_t" ("gNaTa_tbar" 3.1379679999999999))))
     (paint (region "axon") (density (mechanism "BBP::Nap_Et2" ("gNap_Et2bar" 0.0068269999999999997))))
     (paint (region "axon") (density (mechanism "BBP::K_Pst" ("gK_Pstbar" 0.97353800000000001))))
@@ -26,11 +26,11 @@
     (paint (region "axon") (density (mechanism "BBP::Ca_HVA" ("gCa_HVAbar" 0.00098999999999999999))))
     (paint (region "axon") (density (mechanism "BBP::Ca_LVAst" ("gCa_LVAstbar" 0.0087519999999999994))))
     (paint (region "axon") (density (mechanism "BBP::CaDynamics_E2" ("gamma" 0.0029099999999999998) ("decay" 287.19873100000001))))
-    (paint (region "dend") (membrane-capacitance 0.02))
+    (paint (region "dend") (membrane-capacitance 0.02 (scalar 1.0)))
     (paint (region "dend") (density (mechanism "BBP::Ih" ("gIhbar" 8.0000000000000007e-05))))
-    (paint (region "apic") (ion-reversal-potential "na" 50))
-    (paint (region "apic") (ion-reversal-potential "k" -85))
-    (paint (region "apic") (membrane-capacitance 0.02))
+    (paint (region "apic") (ion-reversal-potential "na" 50 (scalar 1.0)))
+    (paint (region "apic") (ion-reversal-potential "k" -85 (scalar 1.0)))
+    (paint (region "apic") (membrane-capacitance 0.02 (scalar 1.0)))
     (paint (region "apic") (density (mechanism "BBP::NaTs2_t" ("gNaTs2_tbar" 0.026145000000000002))))
     (paint (region "apic") (density (mechanism "BBP::SKv3_1" ("gSKv3_1bar" 0.0042259999999999997))))
     (paint (region "apic") (density (mechanism "BBP::Im" ("gImbar" 0.00014300000000000001))))
diff --git a/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/testdata/acc/l5pc/l5pc_label_dict.acc b/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/testdata/acc/l5pc/l5pc_label_dict.acc
index ea26ab1a..feec6f79 100644
--- a/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/testdata/acc/l5pc/l5pc_label_dict.acc
+++ b/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/testdata/acc/l5pc/l5pc_label_dict.acc
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 (arbor-component
-  (meta-data (version "0.1-dev"))
+  (meta-data (version "0.9-dev"))
   (label-dict
     (region-def "all" (all))
     (region-def "soma" (tag 1))
diff --git a/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/testdata/acc/l5pc_py37/l5pc_decor.acc b/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/testdata/acc/l5pc_py37/l5pc_decor.acc
index 017c701f..449a04f2 100644
--- a/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/testdata/acc/l5pc_py37/l5pc_decor.acc
+++ b/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/testdata/acc/l5pc_py37/l5pc_decor.acc
@@ -1,13 +1,13 @@
 (arbor-component
-  (meta-data (version "0.1-dev"))
+  (meta-data (version "0.9-dev"))
   (decor
-    (default (membrane-potential -65))
-    (default (temperature-kelvin 307.14999999999998))
-    (default (membrane-capacitance 0.01))
-    (default (axial-resistivity 100))
+    (default (membrane-potential -65 (scalar 1.0)))
+    (default (temperature-kelvin 307.14999999999998 (scalar 1.0)))
+    (default (membrane-capacitance 0.01 (scalar 1.0)))
+    (default (axial-resistivity 100 (scalar 1.0)))
     (paint (region "all") (density (mechanism "default::pas/e=-75" ("g" 3.0000000000000001e-05))))
-    (paint (region "soma") (ion-reversal-potential "na" 50))
-    (paint (region "soma") (ion-reversal-potential "k" -85))
+    (paint (region "soma") (ion-reversal-potential "na" 50 (scalar 1.0)))
+    (paint (region "soma") (ion-reversal-potential "k" -85 (scalar 1.0)))
     (paint (region "soma") (density (mechanism "BBP::NaTs2_t" ("gNaTs2_tbar" 0.98395500000000002))))
     (paint (region "soma") (density (mechanism "BBP::SKv3_1" ("gSKv3_1bar" 0.30347200000000002))))
     (paint (region "soma") (density (mechanism "BBP::SK_E2" ("gSK_E2bar" 0.0084069999999999995))))
@@ -15,8 +15,8 @@
     (paint (region "soma") (density (mechanism "BBP::Ca_LVAst" ("gCa_LVAstbar" 0.00033300000000000002))))
     (paint (region "soma") (density (mechanism "BBP::CaDynamics_E2" ("gamma" 0.00060899999999999995) ("decay" 210.48528400000001))))
     (paint (region "soma") (density (mechanism "BBP::Ih" ("gIhbar" 8.0000000000000007e-05))))
-    (paint (region "axon") (ion-reversal-potential "na" 50))
-    (paint (region "axon") (ion-reversal-potential "k" -85))
+    (paint (region "axon") (ion-reversal-potential "na" 50 (scalar 1.0)))
+    (paint (region "axon") (ion-reversal-potential "k" -85 (scalar 1.0)))
     (paint (region "axon") (density (mechanism "BBP::NaTa_t" ("gNaTa_tbar" 3.1379679999999999))))
     (paint (region "axon") (density (mechanism "BBP::Nap_Et2" ("gNap_Et2bar" 0.0068269999999999997))))
     (paint (region "axon") (density (mechanism "BBP::K_Pst" ("gK_Pstbar" 0.97353800000000001))))
@@ -26,11 +26,11 @@
     (paint (region "axon") (density (mechanism "BBP::Ca_HVA" ("gCa_HVAbar" 0.00098999999999999999))))
     (paint (region "axon") (density (mechanism "BBP::Ca_LVAst" ("gCa_LVAstbar" 0.0087519999999999994))))
     (paint (region "axon") (density (mechanism "BBP::CaDynamics_E2" ("gamma" 0.0029099999999999998) ("decay" 287.19873100000001))))
-    (paint (region "dend") (membrane-capacitance 0.02))
+    (paint (region "dend") (membrane-capacitance 0.02 (scalar 1.0)))
     (paint (region "dend") (density (mechanism "BBP::Ih" ("gIhbar" 8.0000000000000007e-05))))
-    (paint (region "apic") (ion-reversal-potential "na" 50))
-    (paint (region "apic") (ion-reversal-potential "k" -85))
-    (paint (region "apic") (membrane-capacitance 0.02))
+    (paint (region "apic") (ion-reversal-potential "na" 50 (scalar 1.0)))
+    (paint (region "apic") (ion-reversal-potential "k" -85 (scalar 1.0)))
+    (paint (region "apic") (membrane-capacitance 0.02 (scalar 1.0)))
     (paint (region "apic") (density (mechanism "BBP::NaTs2_t" ("gNaTs2_tbar" 0.026145000000000002))))
     (paint (region "apic") (density (mechanism "BBP::SKv3_1" ("gSKv3_1bar" 0.0042259999999999997))))
     (paint (region "apic") (density (mechanism "BBP::Im" ("gImbar" 0.00014300000000000001))))
diff --git a/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/testdata/acc/simplecell/simple_axon_replacement.acc b/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/testdata/acc/simplecell/simple_axon_replacement.acc
index 8b8d954e..5aad006f 100644
--- a/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/testdata/acc/simplecell/simple_axon_replacement.acc
+++ b/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/testdata/acc/simplecell/simple_axon_replacement.acc
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 (arbor-component 
   (meta-data 
-    (version "0.1-dev"))
+    (version "0.9-dev"))
   (morphology 
     (branch 0 -1 
       (segment 0 
diff --git a/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/testdata/acc/simplecell/simple_cell_decor.acc b/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/testdata/acc/simplecell/simple_cell_decor.acc
index e5af159c..e1361030 100644
--- a/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/testdata/acc/simplecell/simple_cell_decor.acc
+++ b/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/testdata/acc/simplecell/simple_cell_decor.acc
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 (arbor-component
-  (meta-data (version "0.1-dev"))
+  (meta-data (version "0.9-dev"))
   (decor
-    (paint (region "soma") (membrane-capacitance 0.01))
+    (paint (region "soma") (membrane-capacitance 0.01 (scalar 1.0)))
     (paint (region "soma") (density (mechanism "default::hh" ("gnabar" 0.10299326453483033) ("gkbar" 0.027124836082684685))))))
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/testdata/acc/simplecell/simple_cell_label_dict.acc b/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/testdata/acc/simplecell/simple_cell_label_dict.acc
index ea26ab1a..feec6f79 100644
--- a/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/testdata/acc/simplecell/simple_cell_label_dict.acc
+++ b/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/testdata/acc/simplecell/simple_cell_label_dict.acc
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 (arbor-component
-  (meta-data (version "0.1-dev"))
+  (meta-data (version "0.9-dev"))
   (label-dict
     (region-def "all" (all))
     (region-def "soma" (tag 1))
diff --git a/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/testdata/acc/simplecell/simple_modified.acc b/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/testdata/acc/simplecell/simple_modified.acc
index 89a99ad3..0e29834f 100644
--- a/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/testdata/acc/simplecell/simple_modified.acc
+++ b/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/testdata/acc/simplecell/simple_modified.acc
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 (arbor-component 
   (meta-data 
-    (version "0.1-dev"))
+    (version "0.9-dev"))
   (morphology 
     (branch 0 -1 
       (segment 0 
diff --git a/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/testdata/acc/templates/decor_acc_template.jinja2 b/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/testdata/acc/templates/decor_acc_template.jinja2
index b55ca0bc..4f5a33c9 100644
--- a/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/testdata/acc/templates/decor_acc_template.jinja2
+++ b/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/testdata/acc/templates/decor_acc_template.jinja2
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 (arbor-component
-  (meta-data (version "0.1-dev"))
+  (meta-data (version "0.9-dev"))
   (meta-data (info "test-decor"))
   (decor
     {%- for mech, params in global_mechs.items() %}
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
     {%- endif %}
     {%- else %}
     {%- for param in params %}
-    (default ({{ param.name }} {{ param.value }}))
+    (default ({{ param.name }} {{ param.value }} (scalar 1.0)))
     {%- endfor %}
     {%- endif %}
     {%- endfor %}
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
     {%- endif %}
     {%- else %}
     {%- for param in params %}
-    (paint {{loc.ref}} ({{ param.name }} {{ param.value }}))
+    (paint {{loc.ref}} ({{ param.name }} {{ param.value }} (scalar 1.0)))
     {%- endfor %}
     {%- endif %}
     {%- endfor %}
diff --git a/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/testdata/acc/templates/label_dict_acc_template.jinja2 b/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/testdata/acc/templates/label_dict_acc_template.jinja2
index c439b12b..e2686dc0 100644
--- a/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/testdata/acc/templates/label_dict_acc_template.jinja2
+++ b/bluepyopt/tests/test_ephys/testdata/acc/templates/label_dict_acc_template.jinja2
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 (arbor-component
-  (meta-data (version "0.1-dev"))
+  (meta-data (version "0.9-dev"))
   (meta-data (info "test-label-dict"))
   (label-dict
   {%- for loc, label in label_dict.items() %}{# this is a comment #}
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index f62638c4..6db01366 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@
 ]
 
 EXTRA_ARBOR = [
-    'arbor>=0.7',
+    'arbor>=0.10',
 ]
 
 setuptools.setup(
diff --git a/tox.ini b/tox.ini
index b135d453..60af05f4 100644
--- a/tox.ini
+++ b/tox.ini
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ minversion = 4
 
 [gh-actions]
 python =
-    3.8: py3
     3.9: py3
     3.10: py3
     3.11: py3
@@ -12,7 +11,7 @@ python =
 
 [testenv]
 envdir =
-    py3{8,9,10,11,}{-unit,-functional,-style,-syntax}: {toxworkdir}/py3
+    py3{9,10,11,12,}{-unit,-functional,-style,-syntax}: {toxworkdir}/py3
     docs: {toxworkdir}/docs
 extras = tests
 deps =
@@ -46,7 +45,7 @@ commands =
     functional: pytest --cov=bluepyopt {[testenv]coverage_options} bluepyopt/tests -m neuroml
 
 [testenv:docs]
-basepython = python3.8
+basepython = python3.9
 changedir = docs
 deps =
     sphinx