Animation vielfältiger Prozeßabläufe mit Hilfe von Petri-Netzen

Petri-Netze und deren Erweiterungen stellen ein leistungsfähiges Instrument zur Model-lierung, Simulation und Animation von Systemen bzw. Prozessen dar. Mathematische Methoden die sowohl analytisch beschreibbar als auch graphisch darstellbar sind, wie z. B. Warteschlangenprobleme, Netzpläne, Suche optimaler Wege in Netzen bzw. Dynamische Optimierung, können mit Hilfe von Petri-Netzen modelliert werden. Werden Petri-Netze zur graphischen Darstellung gewählt, so können die Stellen (passive Knoten) mit Markenverweilzeiten sowie die Transitionen (aktive Knoten) mit Schaltzeiten belegt werden. Für die Zeiten sind deterministische bzw. stochastische Größen einsetzbar. Wird dem Gesamtnetz eine zentrale Uhr und den einzelnen zeitbehafteten Knoten jeweils eine lokale Uhr zugeordnet, so lassen sich die Prozeßabläufe mittels Animation sichtbar machen. Ein an der Professur Computergestützte Techniken entwickeltes Programmsystem dient zur Demonstration der einzelnen Probleme. In anschaulicher Weise kann damit das Ver-ständnis für die genannten Methoden sowie die mit ihrer Hilfe dargestellten Prozesse erleichtert werden

Genetic Analyses of Heme Oxygenase 1 (HMOX1) in Different Forms of Pancreatitis

Contains fulltext : 107993.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)BACKGROUND: Heme oxygenase 1 (HMOX1) is the rate limiting enzyme in heme degradation and a key regulator of inflammatory processes. In animal models the course of pancreatitis was ameliorated by up-regulation of HMOX1 expression. Additionally, carbon monoxide released during heme breakdown inhibited proliferation of pancreatic stellate cells and might thereby prevent the development of chronic pancreatitis (CP). Transcription of HMOX1 in humans is influenced by a GT-repeat located in the promoter. As such, HMOX1 variants might be of importance in the pathogenesis of pancreatitis. METHODS: The GT-repeat and SNP rs2071746 were investigated with fluorescence labelled primers and by melting curve analysis in 285 patients with acute pancreatitis, 208 patients with alcoholic CP, 207 patients with idiopathic/hereditary CP, 147 patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis, and in 289 controls, respectively. GT-repeat analysis was extended to a total of 446 alcoholic CP patients. In addition, we performed DNA sequencing in 145 patients with alcoholic CP, 138 patients with idiopathic/hereditary CP, 147 patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis, and 151 controls. Exon 3 screening was extended to additional patients and controls. RESULTS: S- and L-alleles of the GT-repeat, genotypes and alleles of SNP rs2071746 and non-synonymous variants detected by sequencing were found with similar frequencies in all groups. CONCLUSIONS: Although functional data implicate a potential influence of HMOX1 variants on the pathogenesis of pancreatitis, we did not find any association. As rare non-synonymous HMOX1 variants were found in patients and controls, it is rather unlikely that they will have functional consequences essential for pancreatitis development

A Common Variant of PNPLA3 (p.I148M) Is Not Associated with Alcoholic Chronic Pancreatitis

Contains fulltext : 110441.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)BACKGROUND: Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is an inflammatory disease that in some patients leads to exocrine and endocrine dysfunction. In industrialized countries the most common aetiology is chronic alcohol abuse. Descriptions of associated genetic alterations in alcoholic CP are rare. However, a common PNPLA3 variant (p.I148M) is associated with the development of alcoholic liver cirrhosis (ALC). Since, alcoholic CP and ALC share the same aetiology PNPLA3 variant (p.I148M) possibly influences the development of alcoholic CP. METHODS: Using melting curve analysis we genotyped the variant in 1510 patients with pancreatitis or liver disease (961 German and Dutch alcoholic CP patients, 414 German patients with idiopathic or hereditary CP, and 135 patients with ALC). In addition, we included in total 2781 healthy controls in the study. RESULTS: The previously published overrepresentation of GG-genotype was replicated in our cohort of ALC (p-value <0.0001, OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.6-3.3). Distributions of genotype and allele frequencies of the p.I148M variant were comparable in patients with alcoholic CP, idiopathic and hereditary CP and in healthy controls. CONCLUSIONS: The absence of an association of PNPLA3 p.I148M with alcoholic CP seems not to point to a common pathway in the development of alcoholic CP and alcoholic liver cirrhosis

Simulation modeling for stratified breast cancer screening : a systematic review of cost and quality of life assumptions

BACKGROUND: The economic evaluation of stratified breast cancer screening gains momentum, but produces also very diverse results. Systematic reviews so far focused on modeling techniques and epidemiologic assumptions. However, cost and utility parameters received only little attention. This systematic review assesses simulation models for stratified breast cancer screening based on their cost and utility parameters in each phase of breast cancer screening and care. METHODS: A literature review was conducted to compare economic evaluations with simulation models of personalized breast cancer screening. Study quality was assessed using reporting guidelines. Cost and utility inputs were extracted, standardized and structured using a care delivery framework. Studies were then clustered according to their study aim and parameters were compared within the clusters. RESULTS: Eighteen studies were identified within three study clusters. Reporting quality was very diverse in all three clusters. Only two studies in cluster 1, four studies in cluster 2 and one study in cluster 3 scored high in the quality appraisal. In addition to the quality appraisal, this review assessed if the simulation models were consistent in integrating all relevant phases of care, if utility parameters were consistent and methodological sound and if cost were compatible and consistent in the actual parameters used for screening, diagnostic work up and treatment. Of 18 studies, only three studies did not show signs of potential bias. CONCLUSION: This systematic review shows that a closer look into the cost and utility parameter can help to identify potential bias. Future simulation models should focus on integrating all relevant phases of care, using methodologically sound utility parameters and avoiding inconsistent cost parameters

Genetic and Evolutionary Analyses of the Human Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptor 2 (BMPR2) in the Pathophysiology of Obesity

Human bone morphogenetic protein receptor 2 (BMPR2) is essential for BMP signalling and may be involved in the regulation of adipogenesis. The BMPR2 locus has been suggested as target of recent selection in human populations. We hypothesized that BMPR2 might have a role in the pathophysiology of obesity.Evolutionary analyses (dN/dS, Fst, iHS) were conducted in vertebrates and human populations. BMPR2 mRNA expression was measured in 190 paired samples of visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue. The gene was sequenced in 48 DNA samples. Nine representative single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped for subsequent association studies on quantitative traits related to obesity in 1830 German Caucasians. An independent cohort of 925 Sorbs was used for replication. Finally, relation of genotypes to mRNA in fat was examined.The evolutionary analyses indicated signatures of selection on the BMPR2 locus. BMPR2 mRNA expression was significantly increased both in visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue of 37 overweight (BMI>25 and <30 kg/m²) and 80 obese (BMI>30 kg/m²) compared with 44 lean subjects (BMI< 25 kg/m²) (P<0.001). In a case-control study including lean and obese subjects, two intronic SNPs (rs6717924, rs13426118) were associated with obesity (adjusted P<0.05). Combined analyses including the initial cohort and the Sorbs confirmed a consistent effect for rs6717924 (combined P = 0.01) on obesity. Moreover, rs6717924 was associated with higher BMPR2 mRNA expression in visceral adipose tissue.Combined BMPR2 genotype-phenotype-mRNA expression data as well as evolutionary aspects suggest a role of BMPR2 in the pathophysiology of obesity

Implementation and investigation of a force control for a forming demonstrator with coupled servo drives

In the area of production engineering, there are ongoing efforts to improve manufacturing strategies and processes in terms of stability, quality and efficiency. One possibility for ensuring stable process conditions and reducing rejected parts is closed loop control of quality determining parameters. For many applications, the machining forces often represent the limiting factor for the design of the processes and the choice of parameters. As a controlled value, they are predestined for ensuring process stability and safety. For the tasks and problems of forming technology, control of process forces is not yet mature and offers significant potential for improvement. The drafting of sophisticated control concepts, which enable a mutual use or a combination of force and position control, is the focus of future developments. The design and implementation of a force control for a forming demonstrator with coupled servo drives is described in this publication. The combination of force and position control is realized by direct switching. In addition, further combination options and structures are explained. The focus here is first on the parameterization of the force control and the assessment of the control performance using appropriate comparison criteria in the time domain

Implementation and investigation of a force control for a forming demonstrator with coupled servo drives

In the area of production engineering, there are ongoing efforts to improve manufacturing strategies and processes in terms of stability, quality and efficiency. One possibility for ensuring stable process conditions and reducing rejected parts is closed loop control of quality determining parameters. For many applications, the machining forces often represent the limiting factor for the design of the processes and the choice of parameters. As a controlled value, they are predestined for ensuring process stability and safety. For the tasks and problems of forming technology, control of process forces is not yet mature and offers significant potential for improvement. The drafting of sophisticated control concepts, which enable a mutual use or a combination of force and position control, is the focus of future developments. The design and implementation of a force control for a forming demonstrator with coupled servo drives is described in this publication. The combination of force and position control is realized by direct switching. In addition, further combination options and structures are explained. The focus here is first on the parameterization of the force control and the assessment of the control performance using appropriate comparison criteria in the time domain

Detection of the Force Distribution Close to the Effective Site in Forming Machines for a Force Control

Ever higher demands are placed on the quality and complexity of formed sheet metal parts, whereby the efficiency of the processes may not be affected. Thus it becomes more difficult to ensure process stability. In order to reduce rejected parts it is necessary to improve forming technologies and processes. Closed loop control of process variables with an influence to the quality of a part is a promising approach. Therefor the reliable metrological acquisition of such a parameter is a basic requirement. Forming force respectively force distribution has an influence on component quality and seems to be a suited value. In this paper, a measurement setup and its implementation in a demonstrator is described. First metrological examinations show occurring effects during eccentric load cases and the derivation of spindle forces via additional load paths in the machine frame. This knowledge will be used for the development of a force control

Role of vaspin in human eating behaviour.

OBJECTIVE: The adipokine vaspin (visceral adipose tissue derived serine protease inhibitor, serpinA12) follows a meal-related diurnal variation in humans and intracerebroventricular vaspin administration leads to acutely reduced food intake in db/db mice. We therefore hypothesized that vaspin may play a role in human eating behaviour. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We measured serum vaspin concentrations in 548 subjects from a self-contained population of Sorbs (Germany) who underwent detailed metabolic testing including eating behaviour assessments using the three-factor eating questionnaire. In addition, genetic variation within vaspin was assessed by genotyping 28 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in all study subjects. RESULTS: Serum vaspin concentrations correlated positively with restraint, disinhibition and hunger (all P<0.05), although the correlations did not withstand further adjustments for age, gender and BMI (all P>0.05). Independent of observed correlations, genetic variants in vaspin were associated with serum vaspin levels but showed no significant association with any of the eating behaviour phenotypes after accounting for multiple testing (P≥0.05 after adjusting for age, gender and BMI). CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that serum vaspin concentrations might modulate human eating behaviour, which does not seem to be affected by common genetic variation in vaspin