An Approach to Complement Model-Based Vehicle Development by Implementing Future Scenarios

Today, vehicle development is already in a process of substantial transformation. Mobility trends can be derived from global megatrends and have a significant influence on the requirements of the developed vehicles. The sociological, technological, economic, ecological, and political developments can be determined by using the scenario technique. The results are recorded in the form of differently shaped scenarios; however, they are mainly document-based. In order to ensure a holistic approach in the sense of model-based systems engineering and to be able to trace the interrelationships of the fast-changing trends and requirements, it is necessary to implement future scenarios in the system model. For this purpose, a method is proposed that enables the consideration of future scenarios in model-based vehicle development. The procedure of the method is presented, and the location of the future scenarios within the system architectures is named. The method is applied and the resulting system views are derived based on the application example of an autonomous people mover. With the help of the described method, it is possible to show the effects of a change of scenario (e.g., best-case and worst-case) and the connections with the highest level of requirements: stakeholder need

Supplementary information "Model-based analysis of the dynamic capacity ramp-up of closed-loop supply chains for lithium-ion batteries in Japan and Germany"

Mathematical formulation of a capacity planning model for the proceedings paper for the EcoDesign 2023 conference in Japan

Effects of estrogen deficiency during puberty on maxillary and mandibular growth and associated gene expression – an μCT study on rats

Background Estrogen is a well-known and important hormone involved in skeletal homeostasis, which regulates genes involved in bone biology. Some studies support that estrogen is important for craniofacial growth and development. Therefore this in vivo animal study aimed to investigate, whether and in which way low estrogen levels in the prepubertal period affect craniofacial development in the postpubertal stage and to quantify the gene expression of RANK, RANKL and OPG in cranial growth sites in ovariectomized estrogen-deficient rats during puberty. Methods Control (sham-operated, n = 18) and ovariectomy (OVX, n = 18) surgeries were performed on 21-days-old female Wistar rats. Animals euthanized at an age of 45 days (pubertal stage) were used for gene expression analyses (n = 6 per group) and immunohistochemistry of RANK, RANKL and OPG. Animals euthanized at 63 days of age (post-pubertal stage) were used for craniofacial two-dimensional and three-dimensional craniofacial measurements using μCT imaging (n = 12 per group). Results In the μCT analysis of the mandible and maxilla many statistically significant differences between sham-operated and OVX groups were observed, such as increased maxillary and mandibular bone length in OVX animals (p < 0.05). Condylar volume was also significantly different between groups (p < 0.05). The sham-operated group showed a higher level of RANK expression in the midpalatal suture (p = 0.036) and the RANKL:OPG ratio levels were higher in the OVX group (p = 0.015). Conclusions Our results suggest that estrogen deficiency during the prepubertal period is associated with alterations in the maxillary and mandibular bone length and condylar growth

An Approach to Complement Model-Based Vehicle Development by Implementing Future Scenarios

Today, vehicle development is already in a process of substantial transformation. Mobility trends can be derived from global megatrends and have a significant influence on the requirements of the developed vehicles. The sociological, technological, economic, ecological, and political developments can be determined by using the scenario technique. The results are recorded in the form of differently shaped scenarios; however, they are mainly document-based. In order to ensure a holistic approach in the sense of model-based systems engineering and to be able to trace the interrelationships of the fast-changing trends and requirements, it is necessary to implement future scenarios in the system model. For this purpose, a method is proposed that enables the consideration of future scenarios in model-based vehicle development. The procedure of the method is presented, and the location of the future scenarios within the system architectures is named. The method is applied and the resulting system views are derived based on the application example of an autonomous people mover. With the help of the described method, it is possible to show the effects of a change of scenario (e.g., best-case and worst-case) and the connections with the highest level of requirements: stakeholder needs.</jats:p

Impact of NSAID etoricoxib on side effects of orthodontic tooth movement

Objectives: The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug etoricoxib is the most highly selective inhibitor of cyclooxygenase-2 available (344:1) and has been approved for postoperative pain therapy following dental interventions in Europe. At clinically relevant doses it has been reported to only have marginal effects on the velocity of orthodontic tooth movement (OTM). Its effects on associated dental root resorptions, osteoclastogenesis, trabecular number in the alveolar bone and periodontal bone loss during OTM, however, have not yet been investigated. Material and methods: 40 male Fischer344 rats were divided into four groups: 1.5 ml tap water/day p.o. (control, 1), additional 7.8 mg/kg/day etoricoxib (normal dose) for three (2) or seven (3) days/week and 13.1 mg/kg/day (high dose) for seven days/week, respectively (4). After a week of premedication, OTM in anterior direction of the first left upper molar was performed for 28 days by means of a nickel-titanium coil spring (0.25 N). We quantified OTM-associated dental root resorptions, osteoclastogenesis, trabecular number and periodontal bone loss by histomorphometrical, histochemical and mu CT analyses of the disected tooth-bearing upper jaw sections. Results: After 28 days of OTM, associated reduction of trabecular number seemed to be slightly alleviated by high doses of etoricoxib, whereas no significant other etoricoxib effects in the doses administered could be detected regarding OTM-induced or -associated dental root resorptions, osteoclastogenesis or periodontal bone loss. Conclusions: Dental root resorptions, osteoclastogenesis and periodontal bone loss during OTM in rats were not significantly affected by etoricoxib in the clinically relevant dosages investigated with only a slight inhibitory effect on bone remodelling to be expected at high dosages. Etoricoxib is therefore not suitable for the prevention of these detrimental effects, but could be a suitable analgesic during OTM, as it has been reported not to affect tooth movement. (C) 2020 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved

Morphometric characteristics of anencephalic skulls – A comparative study

Anencephaly is the most severe form of a neural tube defect resulting from the incomplete occlusion of the anterior neuropore in the fourth week of development and associated with a severely underdeveloped brain mass. As desmal ossification of the neurocranium is induced by the presence of soft tissues (brain), no bone develops as direct consequence of the missing brain. The cranial base, by contrast, is formed by chondral ossification, which is genetically determined, and thus present also in anencephaly. Morphometric characteristics of anencephalic skulls, however, have not yet been investigated in sufficient detail before. In this study we therefore comparatively assessed macroscopic morphological-anatomical and cephalometric CT data on structures and dimensions of 11 macerated anencephalic and 4 normal neonatal skulls highlighting skeletal morphological differences. The most striking results were the missing skullcap and the greatly changed morphology of the existing skull bones, which were reduced in size. The parameters of the skull base, the transverse orbital diameter and maxillary width were significantly smaller in anencephalic skulls. The morphology of the viscerocranium appeared similar to that of normal neonatal skulls. The results of this study can be used in diagnosis and skeletal classification for anencephaly. This can help identify bones that are incomplete, fragmented and taphonomically altered, which is often the case in historical and forensic studies. (C) 2020 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved

Effects of estrogen deficiency during puberty on maxillary and mandibular growth and associated gene expression – an μCT study on rats

AbstractBackgroundEstrogen is a well-known and important hormone involved in skeletal homeostasis, which regulates genes involved in bone biology. Some studies support that estrogen is important for craniofacial growth and development. Therefore this in vivo animal study aimed to investigate, whether and in which way low estrogen levels in the prepubertal period affect craniofacial development in the postpubertal stage and to quantify the gene expression of RANK, RANKL and OPG in cranial growth sites in ovariectomized estrogen-deficient rats during puberty.MethodsControl (sham-operated,n = 18) and ovariectomy (OVX, n = 18) surgeries were performed on 21-days-old female Wistar rats. Animals euthanized at an age of 45 days (pubertal stage) were used for gene expression analyses (n = 6 per group) and immunohistochemistry of RANK, RANKL and OPG. Animals euthanized at 63 days of age (post-pubertal stage) were used for craniofacial two-dimensional and three-dimensional craniofacial measurements using μCT imaging (n = 12 per group).ResultsIn the μCT analysis of the mandible and maxilla many statistically significant differences between sham-operated and OVX groups were observed, such as increased maxillary and mandibular bone length in OVX animals (p &lt; 0.05). Condylar volume was also significantly different between groups (p &lt; 0.05). The sham-operated group showed a higher level of RANK expression in the midpalatal suture (p = 0.036) and the RANKL:OPG ratio levels were higher in the OVX group (p = 0.015).ConclusionsOur results suggest that estrogen deficiency during the prepubertal period is associated with alterations in the maxillary and mandibular bone length and condylar growth.</jats:sec