@misc{BergPloentzkeLeonhardMareketal.2017, author = {Berg, Mascha and Pl{\"o}ntzke, Julia and Leonhard-Marek, Sabine and M{\"u}ller, Kerstin-Elisabeth and R{\"o}blitz, Susanna}, title = {A dynamic model to simulate potassium balance in dairy cows.}, issn = {1438-0064}, doi = {10.3168/jds.2016-12443}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-64756}, year = {2017}, abstract = {High performing dairy cows require a particular composition of nutritional ingredients, adapted to their individual requirements and depending on their production status. The optimal dimensioning of minerals in the diet, one of them being potassium, is indispensable for the prevention of imbalances. The potassium balance in cows is the result of potassium intake, distribution in the organism, and excretion, it is closely related with the glucose and electrolyte metabolism. In this paper, we present a dynamical model for the potassium balance in lactating and non-lactating dairy cows based on ordinary differential equations. Parameter values are obtained from clinical trial data and from the literature. To verify the consistency of the model, we present simulation outcomes for three different scenarios: potassium balance in (i) non-lactating cows with varying feed intake, (ii) non-lactating cows with varying potassium fraction in the diet, and (iii) lactating cows with varying milk production levels. The results give insights into the short and long term potassium metabolism, providing an important step towards the understanding of the potassium network, the design of prophylactic feed additives, and possible treatment strategies.}, language = {en} } @article{BergPloentzkeLeonhardMareketal.2017, author = {Berg, Mascha and Pl{\"o}ntzke, Julia and Leonhard-Marek, Sabine and M{\"u}ller, Kerstin-Elisabeth and R{\"o}blitz, Susanna}, title = {A dynamic model to simulate potassium balance in dairy cows}, volume = {100}, journal = {Journal of Dairy Science}, number = {12}, doi = {10.3168/jds.2016-12443}, pages = {9799 -- 9814}, year = {2017}, abstract = {High-performing dairy cows require a particular composition of nutritional ingredients, adapted to their individual requirements and depending on their production status. The optimal dimensioning of minerals in the diet, one being potassium, is indispensable for the prevention of imbalances. Potassium balance in cows is the result of potassium intake, distribution in the organism, and excretion, and it is closely related to glucose and electrolyte metabolism. In this paper, we present a dynamical model for potassium balance in lactating and nonlactating dairy cows based on ordinary differential equations. Parameter values were obtained from clinical trial data and from the literature. To verify the consistency of the model, we present simulation outcomes for 3 different scenarios: potassium balance in (1) nonlactating cows with varying feed intake, (2) nonlactating cows with varying potassium fraction in the diet, and (3) lactating cows with varying milk production levels. The results give insights into the short- and long-term potassium metabolism, providing an important step toward the understanding of the potassium network, the design of prophylactic feed additives, and possible treatment strategies.}, language = {en} } @article{BergPloentzkeSiebertetal.2021, author = {Berg, Mascha and Pl{\"o}ntzke, Julia and Siebert, Heike and R{\"o}blitz, Susanna}, title = {Modelling Oscillatory Patterns in the Bovine Estrous Cycle with Boolean Delay Equations}, volume = {83}, journal = {Bulletin of Mathematical Biology}, number = {121}, doi = {10.1007/s11538-021-00942-z}, pages = {1 -- 25}, year = {2021}, abstract = {Boolean delay equations (BDEs), with their relatively simple and intuitive mode of modelling, have been used in many research areas including, for example, climate dynamics and earthquake propagation. Their application to biological systems has been scarce and limited to the molecular level. Here, we derive and present two BDE models. One is directly derived from a previously published ordinary differential equation (ODE) model for the bovine estrous cycle, whereas the second model includes a modification of a particular biological mechanism. We not only compare the simulation results from the BDE models with the trajectories of the ODE model, but also validate the BDE models with two additional numerical experiments. One experiment induces a switch in the oscillatory pattern upon changes in the model parameters, and the other simulates the administration of a hormone that is known to shift the estrous cycle in time. The models presented here are the first BDE models for hormonal oscillators, and the first BDE models for drug administration. Even though automatic parameter estimation still remains challenging, our results support the role of BDEs as a framework for the systematic modelling of complex biological oscillators.}, language = {en} } @misc{BergRitterRoeblitz2011, author = {Berg, Mascha and Ritter, Julia and R{\"o}blitz, Susanna}, title = {A mathematical model for the Zinc response of young pigs}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-12191}, number = {11-05}, year = {2011}, abstract = {In a number of studies the feeding of pharmacological levels of Zinc to weanling pigs was examined. The publications agree in the fact that the achieved performance increase of the pigs depends on the amount of Zinc as well as on the type of mineral complex used as feed additive. The results are based on measurements of the animals' body weight and the Zinc concentration in the blood within the first two weeks of the experiments. From the measurement values, conclusions are drawn about adequate Zinc doses, but a deeper understanding of the physiological processes that influence the Zinc distribution in the organism is still missing. In this report, we want to close this gap by using a systems biology approach. We present a small mathematical model that describes the organic feedback mechanisms with the help of differential equations. The simulation results not only match with measurement values, but also give insight into non-measurable processes, which will hopefully contribute to animal experiments being organized in a more selective and reduced way.}, language = {en} } @misc{BockmayrSiebertRoeblitzetal.2014, author = {Bockmayr, Alexander and Siebert, Heike and R{\"o}blitz, Susanna and Sch{\"u}tte, Christof and Deuflhard, Peter}, title = {Advanced mathematical modeling in systems biology}, volume = {1}, journal = {MATHEON-Mathematics for Key Technologies}, editor = {Deuflhard, Peter and Gr{\"o}tschel, Martin and H{\"o}mberg, Dietmar and Kramer, J{\"u}rg and Mehrmann, Volker and Polthier, Konrad and Schmidt, Frank and Sch{\"u}tte, Christof and Skutela, Martin and Sprekels, J{\"u}rgen}, publisher = {European Mathematical Society}, pages = {29 -- 44}, year = {2014}, language = {en} } @article{BoerRoeblitzStoetzeletal.2011, author = {Boer, H. Marike T. and R{\"o}blitz, Susanna and St{\"o}tzel, Claudia and Veerkamp, Roel F. and Kemp, Bas and Woelders, Henri}, title = {Mechanisms regulating follicle wave patterns in the bovine estrous cycle investigated with a mathematical model}, volume = {94}, journal = {Journal of Dairy Science}, number = {12}, doi = {10.3168/jds.2011-4400}, pages = {5987 -- 6000}, year = {2011}, language = {en} } @misc{BoerStoetzelRoeblitzetal.2010, author = {Boer, H. Marike T. and St{\"o}tzel, Claudia and R{\"o}blitz, Susanna and Deuflhard, Peter and Veerkamp, Roel F. and Woelders, Henri}, title = {A simple mathematical model of the bovine estrous cycle: follicle development and endocrine interactions}, issn = {1438-0064}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-11682}, number = {10-06}, year = {2010}, abstract = {Bovine fertility is the subject of extensive research in animal sciences, especially because fertility of dairy cows has declined during the last decades. The regulation of estrus is controlled by the complex interplay of various organs and hormones. Mathematical modeling of the bovine estrous cycle could help in understanding the dynamics of this complex biological system. In this paper we present a mathematical model of the bovine estrous cycle that includes the processes of follicle and corpus luteum development and the key hormones that interact to control these processes. Focus in this paper is on development of the model, but also some simulation results are presented, showing that a set of equations and parameters is obtained that describes the system consistent with empirical knowledge. Even though the majority of the mechanisms that are included are only known qualitatively as stimulatory or inhibitory effects, the model surprisingly well features quantitative observations made in reality. This model of the bovine estrous cycle could be used as a basis for more elaborate models with the ability to study effects of external manipulations and genetic differences.}, language = {en} } @article{BoerStoetzelRoeblitzetal.2011, author = {Boer, H. Marike T. and St{\"o}tzel, Claudia and R{\"o}blitz, Susanna and Deuflhard, Peter and Veerkamp, Roel F. and Woelders, Henri}, title = {A simple mathematical model of the bovine estrous cycle}, volume = {278}, journal = {Journal of Theoretical Biology}, number = {1}, doi = {10.1016/j.jtbi.2011.02.021}, pages = {20 -- 31}, year = {2011}, language = {en} } @incollection{BoerStoetzelRoeblitzetal.2012, author = {Boer, H. Marike T. and St{\"o}tzel, Claudia and R{\"o}blitz, Susanna and Woelders, Henri}, title = {A differential equation model to investigate the dynamics of the bovine estrous cycle}, volume = {736}, booktitle = {Advances in Systems Biology}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-4419-7210-1_35}, pages = {597 -- 606}, year = {2012}, language = {en} } @misc{BondouyRoeblitz2012, author = {Bondouy, Manon and R{\"o}blitz, Susanna}, title = {Mathematical modeling of follicular development in bovine estrous cycles}, issn = {1438-0064}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-15585}, year = {2012}, abstract = {Normal follicular growth is a prerequisite for successful fertilization of dairy cows. However, submission rates have been decreasing during the last decades because animals are not ovulating at the planned time of mating or insemination. In this study we use a mathematical model to investigate mechanisms that lead to anestrus. This model is derived by coupling two previously published models: a small model for the development of multiple follicles (Smith et al., 2004), and a large estrous cycle model (St\"otzel et al., 2012). We first investigate the influence of synchronization protocols on the time-shift of ovulation. In a second scenario we simulate an extended period of anestrus as it typically occurs after calving.}, language = {en} } @book{DeuflhardRoeblitz2015, author = {Deuflhard, Peter and R{\"o}blitz, Susanna}, title = {A guide to numerical modelling in systems biology}, volume = {12}, publisher = {Springer}, isbn = {978-3-319-20058-3}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-319-20059-0}, year = {2015}, language = {en} } @article{DeuflhardRoeblitzStoetzel2010, author = {Deuflhard, Peter and R{\"o}blitz, Susanna and St{\"o}tzel, Claudia}, title = {Mathematical Systems Biology at Zuse Institute Berlin (ZIB)}, volume = {39}, journal = {BioTOPics - Journal of Biotechnology in Berlin-Brandenburg}, year = {2010}, language = {en} } @article{DierkesRoeblitzWadeetal.2013, author = {Dierkes, Thomas and R{\"o}blitz, Susanna and Wade, Moritz and Deuflhard, Peter}, title = {Parameter identification in large kinetic networks with BioPARKIN}, volume = {abs/1303.4928}, journal = {CoRR - Computing Research Repository - arXiv.org}, year = {2013}, language = {en} } @misc{DierkesWadeNowaketal.2011, author = {Dierkes, Thomas and Wade, Moritz and Nowak, Ulrich and R{\"o}blitz, Susanna}, title = {BioPARKIN - Biology-related Parameter Identification in Large Kinetic Networks}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-12706}, number = {11-15}, year = {2011}, abstract = {Modelling, parameter identification, and simulation play an important r{\^o}le in Systems Biology. In recent years, various software packages have been established for scientific use in both licencing types, open source as well as commercial. Many of these codes are based on inefficient and mathematically outdated algorithms. By introducing the package BioPARKIN recently developed at ZIB, we want to improve this situation significantly. The development of the software BioPARKIN involves long standing mathematical ideas that, however, have not yet entered the field of Systems Biology, as well as new ideas and tools that are particularly important for the analysis of the dynamics of biological networks. BioPARKIN originates from the package PARKIN, written by P.Deuflhard and U.Nowak, that has been applied successfully for parameter identification in physical chemistry for many years.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{EhrigDierkesSchaeferetal.2016, author = {Ehrig, Rainald and Dierkes, Thomas and Sch{\"a}fer, Stefan and R{\"o}blitz, Susanna and Tronci, Enrico and Mancini, Toni and Salvo, Ivano and Alimguzhin, Vadim and Mari, Federico and Melatti, Igor and Massini, Annalisa and Kr{\"u}ger, Tillmann H. C. and Egli, Marcel and Ille, Fabian and Leeners, Brigitte}, title = {An integrative approach for model driven computation of treatments in reproductive medicine}, booktitle = {BIOMAT - Proceedings of the 15th International Symposium on Mathematical and Computational Biology, Rorkee, India}, year = {2016}, language = {en} } @misc{EhrigDierkesSchaeferetal.2016, author = {Ehrig, Rainald and Dierkes, Thomas and Sch{\"a}fer, Stefan and R{\"o}blitz, Susanna and Tronci, Enrico and Mancini, Toni and Salvo, Ivano and Alimguzhin, Vadim and Mari, Federico and Melatti, Igor and Massini, Annalisa and Kr{\"u}ger, Tillmann H. C. and Egli, Marcel and Ille, Fabian and Leeners, Brigitte}, title = {An Integrative Approach for Model Driven Computation of Treatments in Reproductive Medicine}, issn = {1438-0064}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-57103}, year = {2016}, abstract = {We present an overview of the current status of the European collaborative project PAEON. The challenge of PAEON is to provide specialists in reproduc- tive medicine with a computerised model of the menstrual cycle under normal and various pathological conditions, which will allow them to get further in- sight in fertility dynamics. This model also enables the simulation of treatment protocols, which were used within in vitro fertilization. By the definition of virtual patients through biologically admissible parametrizations our approach allows not only the evaluation of a given treatment strategy in silico, but also the design and optimization of such protocols. Once a protocol is formalized in the virtual hospital, the success can be controlled by a treatment execution monitor, which works then as a clinical decision support system. All these tools will be combined in a virtual hospital environment, enabling the access to the PAEON services through the web.}, language = {en} } @article{ErlekamIgdeRoeblitzetal.2019, author = {Erlekam, Franziska and Igde, Sinaida and R{\"o}blitz, Susanna and Hartmann, Laura and Weber, Marcus}, title = {Modeling of Multivalent Ligand-Receptor Binding Measured by kinITC}, volume = {7}, journal = {Computation}, number = {3}, doi = {10.3390/computation7030046}, pages = {46}, year = {2019}, abstract = {In addition to the conventional Isothermal Titration Calorimetry (ITC), kinetic ITC (kinITC) not only gains thermodynamic information, but also kinetic data from a biochemical binding process. Moreover, kinITC gives insights into reactions consisting of two separate kinetic steps, such as protein folding or sequential binding processes. The ITC method alone cannot deliver kinetic parameters, especially not for multivalent bindings. This paper describes how to solve the problem using kinITC and an invariant subspace projection. The algorithm is tested for multivalent systems with different valencies.}, language = {en} } @article{FackeldeyRoeblitzScharkoietal.2011, author = {Fackeldey, Konstantin and R{\"o}blitz, Susanna and Scharkoi, O. and Weber, Marcus}, title = {Soft Versus Hard Metastable Conformations in Molecular Simulations}, journal = {Particle Methods II, Fundamentals and Applications, Barcelona, Spain 26-28 Oct. 2011, E. Onate and D.R.J. Owen (eds.)}, pages = {899 -- 909}, year = {2011}, language = {de} } @misc{FackeldeyRoeblitzScharkoietal.2011, author = {Fackeldey, Konstantin and R{\"o}blitz, Susanna and Scharkoi, Olga and Weber, Marcus}, title = {Soft Versus Hard Metastable Conformations in Molecular Simulations}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-13189}, number = {11-27}, year = {2011}, abstract = {Particle methods have become indispensible in conformation dynamics to compute transition rates in protein folding, binding processes and molecular design, to mention a few. Conformation dynamics requires at a decomposition of a molecule's position space into metastable conformations. In this paper, we show how this decomposition can be obtained via the design of either ``soft'' or ``hard'' molecular conformations. We show, that the soft approach results in a larger metastabilitiy of the decomposition and is thus more advantegous. This is illustrated by a simulation of Alanine Dipeptide.}, language = {en} } @article{FischerEhrigSchaeferetal.2021, author = {Fischer, Sophie and Ehrig, Rainald and Sch{\"a}fer, Stefan and Tronci, Enrico and Mancini, Toni and Egli, Marcel and Ille, Fabian and Kr{\"u}ger, Tillmann H. C. and Leeners, Brigitte and R{\"o}blitz, Susanna}, title = {Mathematical Modelling and Simulation Provides Evidence for New Strategies of Ovarian Stimulation}, volume = {12}, journal = {Frontiers in Endocrinology}, doi = {10.3389/fendo.2021.613048}, year = {2021}, abstract = {New approaches to ovarian stimulation protocols, such as luteal start, random start or double stimulation, allow for flexibility in ovarian stimulation at different phases of the menstrual cycle which is especially useful when time for assisted reproductive technology is limited, e.g. for emergency fertility preservation in cancer patients. It has been proposed that the success of these methods is based on the continuous growth of multiple cohorts ("waves") of follicles throughout the menstrual cycle which leads to the availability of ovarian follicles for ovarian controlled stimulation at several time points. Though several preliminary studies have been published, their scientific evidence has not been considered as being strong enough to integrate these results into routine clinical practice. This work aims at adding further scientific evidence about the efficiency of variable-start protocols and underpinning the theory of follicular waves by using mathematical modelling and numerical simulations. For this purpose, we have modified and coupled two previously published models, one describing the time course of hormones and one describing competitive follicular growth in a normal menstrual cycle. The coupled model is used to test stimulation protocols in silico. Simulation results show the occurrence of follicles in a wave-like manner during a normal menstrual cycle and qualitatively predict the outcome of ovarian stimulation initiated at different time points of the menstrual cycle.}, language = {en} } @article{FischerHolzhausenRoeblitz2022, author = {Fischer-Holzhausen, Sophie and R{\"o}blitz, Susanna}, title = {Hormonal regulation of ovarian follicle growth in humans: Model-based exploration of cycle variability and parameter sensitivities}, journal = {Journal of Theoretical Biology}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtbi.2022.111150}, year = {2022}, abstract = {We present a modelling and simulation framework for the dynamics of ovarian follicles and key hormones along the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis throughout consecutive human menstrual cycles. All simulation results (hormone concentrations and ovarian follicle sizes) are in biological units and can easily be compared to clinical data. The model takes into account variability in follicles' response to stimulating hormones, which introduces variability between cycles. The growth of ovarian follicles in waves is an emergent property in our model simulations and further supports the hypothesis that follicular waves are also present in humans. We use Approximate Bayesian Computation and cluster analysis to construct a population of virtual subjects and to study parameter distributions and sensitivities. The model can be used to compare and optimize treatment protocols for ovarian hyperstimulation, thus potentially forming the integral part of a clinical decision support system in reproductive endocrinology.}, language = {en} } @article{FischerHolzhausenRoeblitz2022, author = {Fischer-Holzhausen, Sophie and R{\"o}blitz, Susanna}, title = {Mathematical modelling of follicular growth and ovarian stimulation}, journal = {Current Opinion in Endocrine and Metabolic Research}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coemr.2022.100385}, year = {2022}, language = {en} }