@article{DierkesOrtmann2015, author = {Dierkes, Thomas and Ortmann, Karl Michael}, title = {On the efficient utilisation of duration}, volume = {60}, journal = {Insurance: Mathematics and Economics}, doi = {10.1016/j.insmatheco.2014.11.002}, pages = {29 -- 37}, year = {2015}, abstract = {In this article we present a new approach to estimate the change of the present value of a given cashflow pattern caused by an interest rate shift. Our approximation is based on analysing the evolution of the present value function through a linear differential equation. The outcome is far more accurate than the standard approach achieved by a Taylor expansion. Furthermore, we derive an approximation formula of second order that produces nearly accurate results. In particular, we prove that our method is superior to any known alternative approximation formula based on duration. In order to demonstrate the power of this improved approximation we apply it to coupon bonds, level annuities, and level perpetuities. We finally generalise the approach to a non-flat term structure. As for applications in insurance, we estimate the change of the discounted value of future liabilities due to a proportional shift in the set of capital accumulation factors. These findings are of particular importance to capital adequacy calculations with respect to interest rate stress scenarios that are part of regulatory solvency requirements.}, language = {en} } @misc{Guenther2014, type = {Master Thesis}, author = {G{\"u}nther, Matthias}, title = {Implementation and verification of methods for the validation of knee joint kinematics}, pages = {55}, year = {2014}, language = {en} } @masterthesis{Burtscher2016, type = {Bachelor Thesis}, author = {Burtscher, Felicia}, title = {Algorithmic approaches to the change-point problem for ovulation detection in the human menstrual cycle}, pages = {80}, year = {2016}, language = {en} } @article{GuptaGramatkeEinspanieretal.2017, author = {Gupta, Pooja and Gramatke, Annika and Einspanier, Ralf and Sch{\"u}tte, Christof and von Kleist, Max and Sharbati, Jutta}, title = {In silico cytotoxicity assessment on cultured rat intestinal cells deduced from cellular impedance measurements}, volume = {41}, journal = {Toxicology in Vitro}, issn = {1438-0064}, pages = {179 -- 188}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Early and reliable identification of chemical toxicity is of utmost importance. At the same time, reduction of animal testing is paramount. Therefore, methods that improve the interpretability and usability of in vitro assays are essential. xCELLigence's real-time cell analyzer (RTCA) provides a novel, fast and cost effective in vitro method to probe compound toxicity. We developed a simple mathematical framework for the qualitative and quantitative assessment of toxicity for RTCA measurements. Compound toxicity, in terms of its 50\% inhibitory concentration IC50 on cell growth, and parameters related to cell turnover were estimated on cultured IEC-6 cells exposed to 10 chemicals at varying concentrations. Our method estimated IC50 values of 113.05, 7.16, 28.69 and 725.15 μM for the apparently toxic compounds 2-acetylamino-fluorene, aflatoxin B1, benzo-[a]-pyrene and chloramphenicol in the tested cell line, in agreement with literature knowledge. IC50 values of all apparent in vivo non-toxic compounds were estimated to be non-toxic by our method. Corresponding estimates from RTCA's in-built model gave false positive (toxicity) predictions in 5/10 cases. Taken together, our proposed method reduces false positive predictions and reliably identifies chemical toxicity based on impedance measurements. The source code for the developed method including instructions is available at https://git.zib.de/bzfgupta/toxfit/tree/master.}, language = {en} } @misc{WinkelmannSchuette2017, author = {Winkelmann, Stefanie and Sch{\"u}tte, Christof}, title = {Hybrid Models for Chemical Reaction Networks: Multiscale Theory and Application to Gene Regulatory Systems}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-64264}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Well-mixed stochastic chemical kinetics are properly modelled by the chemical master equation (CME) and associated Markov jump processes in molecule number space. If the reactants are present in large amounts, however, corresponding simulations of the stochastic dynamics become computationally expensive and model reductions are demanded. The classical model reduction approach uniformly rescales the overall dynamics to obtain deterministic systems characterized by ordinary differential equations, the well-known mass action reaction rate equations. For systems with multiple scales there exist hybrid approaches that keep parts of the system discrete while another part is approximated either using Langevin dynamics or deterministically. This paper aims at giving a coherent overview of the different hybrid approaches, focusing on their basic concepts and the relation between them. We derive a novel general description of such hybrid models that allows to express various forms by one type of equation. We also check in how far the approaches apply to model extensions of the CME for dynamics which do not comply with the central well-mixed condition and require some spatial resolution. A simple but meaningful gene expression system with negative self-regulation is analysed to illustrate the different approximation qualities of some of the hybrid approaches discussed.}, language = {en} } @article{HengartnerKruegerGeraedtsetal.2017, author = {Hengartner, Michael and Kr{\"u}ger, Tillmann H. C. and Geraedts, Kirsten and Tronci, Enrico and Mancini, Toni and Ille, Fabian and Egli, Marcel and R{\"o}blitz, Susanna and Ehrig, Rainald and Saleh, Lanja and Spanaus, Katharina and Schippert, Cordula and Zhang, Yuanyuan and Leeners, Brigitte}, title = {Negative affect is unrelated to fluctuations in hormone levels across the menstrual cycle: evidence from a multisite observational study across two successive cycles}, volume = {99}, journal = {Journal of Psychosomatic Research}, doi = {10.1016/j.jpsychores.2017.05.018}, pages = {21 -- 27}, year = {2017}, language = {en} } @misc{LangeSchwiegerPloentzkeetal.2017, author = {Lange, Alexander and Schwieger, Robert and Pl{\"o}ntzke, Julia and Sch{\"a}fer, Stefan and R{\"o}blitz, Susanna}, title = {Follicular competition: the selection of dominant follicles as a synergistic effect}, issn = {1438-0064}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s00285-018-1284-0}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-63863}, year = {2017}, abstract = {The estrous cycle of mono-ovulatory species such as cows or humans, is known to show two or more waves of follicular growth and decline between two successive ovulations. Within each wave, there is one dominant follicle escorted by subordinate follicles of varying number. Under the surge of the luteinizing hormone a growing dominant follicle ovulates. Rarely the number of ovulating follicles exceeds one. In the biological literature, the change of hormonal concentrations and individually varying numbers of follicular receptors are made responsible for the selection of exactly one dominant follicle, yet a clear cause has not been identified. In this paper, we suggest a synergistic explanation based on competition, formulated by a parsimoniously defined system of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) that quantifies the time evolution of multiple follicles and their competitive interaction during one wave. Not discriminating between follicles, growth and decline are given by fixed rates. Competition is introduced via a growth-suppressing term, equally supported by all follicles. We prove that the number of dominant follicles is determined exclusively by the ratio of follicular growth and competition. This number turns out to be independent of the number of subordinate follicles. The asymptotic behavior of the corresponding dynamical system is investigated rigorously, where we demonstrate that the omega-limit set only contains fixed points. When also including follicular decline, our ODEs perfectly resemble ultrasound data of bovine follicles. Implications for the involved but not explicitly modeled hormones are discussed.}, language = {en} } @article{LeenersKruegerGeraedtsetal.2017, author = {Leeners, Brigitte and Kr{\"u}ger, Tillmann H. C. and Geraedts, Kirsten and Tronci, Enrico and Mancini, Toni and Ille, Fabian and Egli, Marcel and R{\"o}blitz, Susanna and Saleh, Lanja and Spanhaus, K. and Schippert, Cordula and Zhang, Y. and Hengartner, M. P.}, title = {Lack of association between female hormone levels and visuospatial working memory, divided attention and cognitive bias across two consecutive menstrual cycles}, journal = {Front. Behav. Neurosci.}, doi = {10.3389/fnbeh.2017.00120}, year = {2017}, 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{MoualeuNgangueWeiserEhrigetal.2015, author = {Moualeu-Ngangue, Dany Pascal and Weiser, Martin and Ehrig, Rainald and Deuflhard, Peter}, title = {Optimal control for a tuberculosis model with undetected cases in Cameroon}, volume = {20}, journal = {Communications in Nonlinear Science and Numerical Simulation}, number = {3}, doi = {10.1016/j.cnsns.2014.06.037}, pages = {986 -- 1003}, year = {2015}, abstract = {This paper considers the optimal control of tuberculosis through education, diagnosis campaign and chemoprophylaxis of latently infected. A mathematical model which includes important components such as undiagnosed infectious, diagnosed infectious, latently infected and lost-sight infectious is formulated. The model combines a frequency dependent and a density dependent force of infection for TB transmission. Through optimal control theory and numerical simulations, a cost-effective balance of two different intervention methods is obtained. Seeking to minimize the amount of money the government spends when tuberculosis remain endemic in the Cameroonian population, Pontryagin's maximum principle is used to characterize the optimal control. The optimality system is derived and solved numerically using the forward-backward sweep method (FBSM). Results provide a framework for designing cost-effective strategies for diseases with multiple intervention methods. It comes out that combining chemoprophylaxis and education, the burden of TB can be reduced by 80 \% in 10 years.}, language = {en} } @misc{KlebanovSikorskiSchuetteetal.2016, author = {Klebanov, Ilja and Sikorski, Alexander and Sch{\"u}tte, Christof and R{\"o}blitz, Susanna}, title = {Prior estimation and Bayesian inference from large cohort data sets}, issn = {1438-0064}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-57475}, year = {2016}, abstract = {One of the main goals of mathematical modelling in systems biology related to medical applications is to obtain patient-specific parameterisations and model predictions. In clinical practice, however, the number of available measurements for single patients is usually limited due to time and cost restrictions. This hampers the process of making patient-specific predictions about the outcome of a treatment. On the other hand, data are often available for many patients, in particular if extensive clinical studies have been performed. Using these population data, we propose an iterative algorithm for contructing an informative prior distribution, which then serves as the basis for computing patient-specific posteriors and obtaining individual predictions. We demonsrate the performance of our method by applying it to a low-dimensional parameter estimation problem in a toy model as well as to a high-dimensional ODE model of the human menstrual cycle, which represents a typical example from systems biology modelling.}, language = {en} } @misc{Dierkes2015, author = {Dierkes, Thomas}, title = {Construction of ODE systems from time series data by a highly flexible modelling approach}, issn = {1438-0064}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-56768}, year = {2015}, abstract = {In this paper, a down-to-earth approach to purely data-based modelling of unknown dynamical systems is presented. Starting from a classical, explicit ODE formulation y=f(t,y) of a dynamical system, a method determining the unknown right-hand side f(t,y) from some trajectory data y_k(t_j), possibly very sparse, is given. As illustrative examples, a semi-standard predator-prey model is reconstructed from a data set describing the population numbers of hares and lynxes over a period of twenty years [1], and a simple damped pendulum system with a highly non-linear right-hand side is recovered from some artificial but very sparse data [2].}, language = {en} } @article{Dierkes2015, author = {Dierkes, Thomas}, title = {Construction of ODE systems from time series data by a highly flexible modelling approach}, volume = {math.NA 1512.03357}, journal = {ArXiv e-prints}, year = {2015}, abstract = {In this paper, a down-to-earth approach to purely data-based modelling of unknown dynamical systems is presented. Starting from a classical, explicit ODE formulation y=f(t,y) of a dynamical system, a method determining the unknown right-hand side f(t,y) from some trajectory data y_k(t_j), possibly very sparse, is given. As illustrative examples, a semi-standard predator-prey model is reconstructed from a data set describing the population numbers of hares and lynxes over a period of twenty years, and a simple damped pendulum system with a highly non-linear right-hand side is recovered from some artificial but very sparse data.}, language = {en} } @article{KryvenRoeblitzSchuette2015, author = {Kryven, Ivan and R{\"o}blitz, Susanna and Sch{\"u}tte, Christof}, title = {Solution of the chemical master equation by radial basis functions approximation with interface tracking}, volume = {9}, journal = {BMC Systems Biology}, number = {67}, doi = {10.1186/s12918-015-0210-y}, pages = {1 -- 12}, year = {2015}, abstract = {Background. The chemical master equation is the fundamental equation of stochastic chemical kinetics. This differential-difference equation describes temporal evolution of the probability density function for states of a chemical system. A state of the system, usually encoded as a vector, represents the number of entities or copy numbers of interacting species, which are changing according to a list of possible reactions. It is often the case, especially when the state vector is high-dimensional, that the number of possible states the system may occupy is too large to be handled computationally. One way to get around this problem is to consider only those states that are associated with probabilities that are greater than a certain threshold level. Results. We introduce an algorithm that significantly reduces computational resources and is especially powerful when dealing with multi-modal distributions. The algorithm is built according to two key principles. Firstly, when performing time integration, the algorithm keeps track of the subset of states with significant probabilities (essential support). Secondly, the probability distribution that solves the equation is parametrised with a small number of coefficients using collocation on Gaussian radial basis functions. The system of basis functions is chosen in such a way that the solution is approximated only on the essential support instead of the whole state space. Discussion. In order to demonstrate the effectiveness of the method, we consider four application examples: a) the self-regulating gene model, b) the 2-dimensional bistable toggle switch, c) a generalisation of the bistable switch to a 3-dimensional tristable problem, and d) a 3-dimensional cell differentiation model that, depending on parameter values, may operate in bistable or tristable modes. In all multidimensional examples the manifold containing the system states with significant probabilities undergoes drastic transformations over time. This fact makes the examples especially challenging for numerical methods. Conclusions. The proposed method is a new numerical approach permitting to approximately solve a wide range of problems that have been hard to tackle until now. A full representation of multi-dimensional distributions is recovered. The method is especially attractive when dealing with models that yield solutions of a complex structure, for instance, featuring multi-stability. Electronic version: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1752-0509/9/67}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{BoethDudaHinzmannetal.2015, author = {Boeth, Heide and Duda, Georg and Hinzmann, Daniel and Taylor, William R. and Ehrig, Rainald and Witaschek, Tom and Buttgereit, Frank}, title = {Objektive Quantifizierung der Morgensteifigkeit als Parameter f{\"u}r rheumatoide Arthritis im Metacarpophalangealgelenk}, booktitle = {9. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft f{\"u}r Biomechanik (DGfB), Bonn}, year = {2015}, language = {de} } @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} } @misc{PloentzkeBergStoetzeletal.2015, author = {Pl{\"o}ntzke, Julia and Berg, Mascha and St{\"o}tzel, Claudia and R{\"o}blitz, Susanna}, title = {A systems biology approach to bovine fertility and metabolism: Development of a glucose insulin model.}, issn = {1438-0064}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-56453}, year = {2015}, abstract = {To counteract the antagonistic relationship between milk yield and fertility in dairy cow, a deeper understanding of the underlying biological mechanisms is required. For this purpose, we study physiological networks related to reproduction and metabolism in dairy cows. We interactively develop dynamic, mechanistic models by fitting the models to experimental data and mechanistic knowledge. We have already developed models for potassium balance and hormonal regulation of fertility in the dairy cow, which will briefly be reviewed here. The main focus of this article is a glucose-insulin model currently developed by us. This model links the bovine hormonal cycle and the potassium balance to glucose and thus to energy metabolism. The models can be applied in scientific research, education, experimental planning, drug development and production on farms.}, language = {en} } @article{StoetzelRoeblitzSiebert2015, author = {St{\"o}tzel, Claudia and R{\"o}blitz, Susanna and Siebert, Heike}, title = {Complementing ODE-based System Analysis Using Boolean Networks Derived from an Euler-like Transformation}, journal = {PLOS ONE}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0140954}, year = {2015}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Gupta2013, author = {Gupta, Pooja}, title = {Integrating high-density marker information into the genetic evaluation of the honey bee}, year = {2013}, language = {en} } @misc{GuptaRoeblitzKrauseetal.2013, author = {Gupta, Pooja and R{\"o}blitz, Susanna and Krause, Carola and Knaus, Petra and Sch{\"u}tte, Christof}, title = {Mathematical modeling of the Smad and Non-Smad BMP signaling pathways in context of cell density}, journal = {Computational Models in biology and medicine, 2013, Dresden, Germany}, year = {2013}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{GuptaKrauseRikeitetal.2014, author = {Gupta, Pooja and Krause, Carola and Rikeit, Paul and R{\"o}blitz, Susanna and Knaus, Petra and Sch{\"u}tte, Christof}, title = {Modeling of the BMP mediated co-regulation of the Smad and Non-Smad pathways in the context of cell density}, booktitle = {10th International BMP conference, 2014, Berlin, Germany}, year = {2014}, 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{EhrigHeller2019, author = {Ehrig, Rainald and Heller, Markus O.}, title = {On intrinsic equivalences of the finite helical axis, the instantaneous helical axis, and the SARA approach. A mathematical perspective.}, volume = {84}, journal = {Journal of Biomechanics}, doi = {10.1016/j.jbiomech.2018.12.034}, pages = {4 -- 10}, year = {2019}, language = {en} } @article{IgdeRoeblitzMuelleretal.2017, author = {Igde, Sinaida and R{\"o}blitz, Susanna and M{\"u}ller, Anne and Kolbe, Katharina and Boden, Sophia and Fessele, Claudia and Lindhorst, Thisbe and Weber, Marcus and Hartmann, Laura}, title = {Linear Precision Glycomacromolecules with Varying Interligand Spacing and Linker Functionalities Binding to Concanavalin A and the Bacterial Lectin FimH}, volume = {17}, journal = {Marcomolecular Bioscience}, number = {12}, doi = {10.1002/mabi.201700198}, pages = {1700198}, year = {2017}, language = {en} } @misc{KubeLasserWeber2007, author = {Kube, Susanna and Lasser, Caroline and Weber, Marcus}, title = {Monte Carlo sampling of Wigner functions and surface hopping quantum dynamics}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-9604}, number = {07-17}, year = {2007}, abstract = {Wigner transformation provides a one-to-one correspondence between functions on position space (wave functions) and functions on phase space (Wigner functions). Weighted integrals of Wigner functions yield quadratic quantities of wave functions like position and momentum densities or expectation values. For molecular quantum systems, suitably modified classical transport of Wigner functions provides an asymptotic approximation of the dynamics in the high energy regime. The article addresses the computation of Wigner functions by Monte Carlo quadrature. An ad aption of the Metropolis algorithm for the approximation of signed measures with disconnected support is systematically tested in combination with a surface hopping algorithm for non-adiabatic quantum dynamics. The numerical experiments give expectation values and level populations with an error of two to three percent, which agrees with the theoretically expected accuracy.}, language = {en} } @article{ThiesSunkaraRayetal.2023, author = {Thies, Arne and Sunkara, Vikram and Ray, Sourav and Wulkow, Hanna and Celik, M. {\"O}zg{\"u}r and Yerg{\"o}z, Fatih and Sch{\"u}tte, Christof and Stein, Christoph and Weber, Marcus and Winkelmann, Stefanie}, title = {Modelling altered signalling of G-protein coupled receptors in inflamed environment to advance drug design}, volume = {13}, journal = {Scientific Reports}, number = {607}, doi = {10.1038/s41598-023-27699-w}, year = {2023}, abstract = {We previously reported the successful design, synthesis and testing of the prototype opioid painkiller NFEPP that does not elicit adverse side effects. The design process of NFEPP was based on mathematical modelling of extracellular interactions between G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) and ligands, recognizing that GPCRs function differently under pathological versus healthy conditions. We now present an additional and novel stochastic model of GPCR function that includes intracellular dissociation of G-protein subunits and modulation of plasma membrane calcium channels and their dependence on parameters of inflamed and healthy tissue (pH, radicals). The model is validated against in vitro experimental data for the ligands NFEPP and fentanyl at different pH values and radical concentrations. We observe markedly reduced binding affinity and calcium channel inhibition for NFEPP at normal pH compared to lower pH, in contrast to the effect of fentanyl. For increasing radical concentrations, we find enhanced constitutive G-protein activation but reduced ligand binding affinity. Assessing the different effects, the results suggest that, compared to radicals, low pH is a more important determinant of overall GPCR function in an inflamed environment. Future drug design efforts should take this into account.}, language = {en} } @article{MontefuscoSchuetteWinkelmann2023, author = {Montefusco, Alberto and Sch{\"u}tte, Christof and Winkelmann, Stefanie}, title = {A route to the hydrodynamic limit of a reaction-diffusion master equation using gradient structures}, volume = {83}, journal = {SIAM Journal on Applied Mathematics}, number = {2}, arxiv = {http://arxiv.org/abs/2201.02613}, doi = {10.1137/22M1488831}, pages = {837 -- 861}, year = {2023}, abstract = {The reaction-diffusion master equation (RDME) is a lattice-based stochastic model for spatially resolved cellular processes. It is often interpreted as an approximation to spatially continuous reaction-diffusion models, which, in the limit of an infinitely large population, may be described by means of reaction-diffusion partial differential equations. Analyzing and understanding the relation between different mathematical models for reaction-diffusion dynamics is a research topic of steady interest. In this work, we explore a route to the hydrodynamic limit of the RDME which uses gradient structures. Specifically, we elaborate on a method introduced in [J. Maas and A. Mielke, J. Stat. Phys., 181 (2020), pp. 2257-2303] in the context of well-mixed reaction networks by showing that, once it is complemented with an appropriate limit procedure, it can be applied to spatially extended systems with diffusion. Under the assumption of detailed balance, we write down a gradient structure for the RDME and use the method in order to produce a gradient structure for its hydrodynamic limit, namely, for the corresponding RDPDE.}, language = {en} } @article{DellnitzHuellermeierLueckeetal.2023, author = {Dellnitz, Michael and H{\"u}llermeier, Eyke and L{\"u}cke, Marvin and Ober-Bl{\"o}baum, Sina and Offen, Christian and Peitz, Sebastian and Pfannschmidt, Karlson}, title = {Efficient Time-Stepping for Numerical Integration Using Reinforcement Learning}, volume = {45}, journal = {SIAM Journal on Scientific Computing}, number = {2}, doi = {10.1137/21M1412682}, pages = {A579 -- A595}, year = {2023}, language = {en} } @article{OehmeMoewisBoethetal.2024, author = {Oehme, Stephan and Moewis, Philippe and Boeth, Heide and Bartek, Benjamin and von Tycowicz, Christoph and Ehrig, Rainald and Duda, Georg and Jung, Tobias}, title = {Altered knee kinematics after posterior cruciate single-bundle reconstruction - a comprehensive prospective biomechanical in vivo analysis}, volume = {12}, journal = {Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology}, doi = {10.3389/fbioe.2024.1322136}, year = {2024}, language = {en} } @article{ErnstFalkenhagenWinkelmann2023, author = {Ernst, Ariane and Falkenhagen, Undine and Winkelmann, Stefanie}, title = {Model reduction for calcium-induced vesicle fusion dynamics}, volume = {23}, journal = {Proceedings in Applied Mathematics \& Mechanics}, number = {4}, doi = {10.1002/pamm.202300184}, year = {2023}, abstract = {In this work, we adapt an established model for the Ca2+-induced fusion dynamics of synaptic vesicles and employ a lumping method to reduce its complexity. In the reduced system, sequential Ca2+-binding steps are merged to a single releasable state, while keeping the important dependence of the reaction rates on the local Ca2+ concentration. We examine the feasibility of this model reduction for a representative stimulus train over the physiologically relevant site-channel distances. Our findings show that the approximation error is generally small and exhibits an interesting nonlinear and non-monotonic behavior where it vanishes for very low distances and is insignificant at intermediary distances. Furthermore, we give expressions for the reduced model's reaction rates and suggest that our approach may be used to directly compute effective fusion rates for assessing the validity of a fusion model, thereby circumventing expensive simulations.}, language = {en} } @article{ErbanWinkelmann2025, author = {Erban, Radek and Winkelmann, Stefanie}, title = {Multi-grid reaction-diffusion master equation: applications to morphogen gradient modelling}, volume = {87}, journal = {Bulletin of Mathematical Biology}, arxiv = {http://arxiv.org/abs/arXiv:2405.02117}, doi = {10.1007/s11538-024-01377-y}, pages = {6}, year = {2025}, abstract = {The multi-grid reaction-diffusion master equation (mgRDME) provides a generalization of stochastic compartment-based reaction-diffusion modelling described by the standard reaction-diffusion master equation (RDME). By enabling different resolutions on lattices for biochemical species with different diffusion constants, the mgRDME approach improves both accuracy and efficiency of compartment-based reaction-diffusion simulations. The mgRDME framework is examined through its application to morphogen gradient formation in stochastic reaction-diffusion scenarios, using both an analytically tractable first-order reaction network and a model with a second-order reaction. The results obtained by the mgRDME modelling are compared with the standard RDME model and with the (more detailed) particle-based Brownian dynamics simulations. The dependence of error and numerical cost on the compartment sizes is defined and investigated through a multi-objective optimization problem.}, language = {en} } @article{ArmasMerbisMeylahnetal.2025, author = {Armas, Jay and Merbis, Wout and Meylahn, Janusz M and Rafiee Rad, Soroush and del Razo, Mauricio J}, title = {Risk aversion can promote cooperation}, volume = {6}, journal = {Journal of Physics: Complexity}, number = {1}, arxiv = {http://arxiv.org/abs/2306.05971}, doi = {10.1088/2632-072X/adb234}, year = {2025}, abstract = {Cooperative dynamics are central to our understanding of many phenomena in living and complex systems. However, we lack a universal mechanism to explain the emergence of cooperation. We present a novel framework for modelling social dilemma games with an arbitrary number of players by combining reaction networks, methods from quantum mechanics applied to stochastic complex systems, game theory and stochastic simulations of molecular reactions. Using this framework, we propose a novel and robust mechanism for cooperation based on risk aversion that leads to cooperative behaviour in population games. Rather than individuals seeking to maximise payouts in the long run, individuals seek to obtain a minimum set of resources with a given level of confidence and in a limited time span. We show that this mechanism can lead to the emergence of new equilibria in a range of social dilemma games.}, language = {en} } @article{BernsYildizWinkelmannetal.2025, author = {Berns, Manon and Yildiz, Mirza and Winkelmann, Stefanie and Walter, Alexander}, title = {Independently engaging protein tethers of different length enhance synaptic vesicle trafficking to the plasma membrane}, volume = {603}, journal = {The Journal of Physiology}, number = {20}, doi = {10.1113/JP286651}, pages = {6107 -- 6134}, year = {2025}, abstract = {Synaptic vesicle (SV) trafficking toward the plasma membrane (PM) and subsequent SV maturation are essential for neurotransmitter release. These processes, including SV docking and priming, are coordinated by various proteins, such as SNAREs, Munc13, and Synaptotagmin (Syt), which connect—tether—the SV to the PM. Here, we investigated how tethers of varying lengths mediate SV docking using a simplified mathematical model. The heights of the three tether types—estimated from the structures of the SNARE complex, Munc13, and Syt—defined the SV-to-PM distance ranges for tether formation. Geometric considerations linked SV-to-PM distances to the probability and rate of tether formation. We assumed that SV tethering constrains SV motility and that multiple tethers associate by independent interactions. The model predicted that forming multiple tethers favors shorter SV-to-PM distances. Although tethers acted independently in the model, their geometrical properties often caused sequential assembly, from longer ones (Munc13/Syt), that accelerated SV movement towards the PM, to shorter ones (SNAREs) which stabilized PM-proximal SVs. Modifying tether lengths or numbers affected SV trafficking. The independent implementation of tethering proteins enabled their selective removal to mimic gene knockout situations. This showed that simulated SV-to-PM distance distributions qualitatively aligned with published EM studies upon removal of SNARE and Syt tethers, while Munc13 knockout data were best approximated when assuming additional disruption of SNARE tethers. Thus, while salient features of SV docking can be accounted for by independent tethering alone, our results suggest that functional tether interactions not yet featured in our model are crucial for biological function.}, language = {en} } @article{delRazoDelleSite2025, author = {del Razo, Mauricio and Delle Site, Luigi}, title = {Dynamics of systems with varying number of particles: from Liouville equations to general master equations for open systems}, volume = {18, 001}, journal = {SciPost Physics}, doi = {10.21468/SciPostPhys.18.1.001}, year = {2025}, abstract = {A varying number of particles is one of the most relevant characteristics of systems of interest in nature and technology, ranging from the exchange of energy and matter with the surrounding environment to the change of particle number through internal dynamics such as reactions. The physico-mathematical modeling of these systems is extremely challenging, with the major difficulty being the time dependence of the number of degrees of freedom and the additional constraint that the increment or reduction of the number and species of particles must not violate basic physical laws. Theoretical models, in such a case, represent the key tool for the design of computational strategies for numerical studies that deliver trustful results. In this manuscript, we review complementary physico-mathematical approaches of varying number of particles inspired by rather different specific numerical goals. As a result of the analysis on the underlying common structure of these models, we propose a unifying master equation for general dynamical systems with varying number of particles. This equation embeds all the previous models and can potentially model a much larger range of complex systems, ranging from molecular to social agent-based dynamics.}, language = {en} } @article{delRazoKostre2025, author = {del Razo, Mauricio and Kostr{\´e}, Margarita}, title = {Open reaction-diffusion systems: bridging probabilistic theory and simulations across scales}, volume = {58}, journal = {Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical}, number = {14}, doi = {10.1088/1751-8121/adc520}, year = {2025}, abstract = {Reaction-diffusion processes are the foundational model for a diverse range of complex systems, ranging from biochemical reactions to social agent-based phenomena. The underlying dynamics of these systems occur at the individual particle/agent level, and in realistic applications, they often display interaction with their environment through energy or material exchange with a reservoir. This requires intricate mathematical considerations, especially in the case of material exchange since the varying number of particles/agents results in ``on-the-fly'' modification of the system dimension. In this work, we first overview the probabilistic description of reaction-diffusion processes at the particle level, which readily handles varying number of particles. We then extend this model to consistently incorporate interactions with macroscopic material reservoirs. Based on the resulting expressions, we bridge the probabilistic description with macroscopic concentration-based descriptions for linear and nonlinear reaction-diffusion systems, as well as for an archetypal open reaction-diffusion system. Using these mathematical bridges across scales, we finally develop numerical schemes for open reaction-diffusion systems, which we implement in two illustrative examples. This work establishes a methodological workflow to bridge particle-based probabilistic descriptions with macroscopic concentration-based descriptions of reaction-diffusion in open settings, laying the foundations for a multiscale theoretical framework upon which to construct theory and simulation schemes that are consistent across scales.}, language = {en} } @article{MontefuscoHelfmannOkunolaetal.2024, author = {Montefusco, Alberto and Helfmann, Luzie and Okunola, Toluwani and Winkelmann, Stefanie and Sch{\"u}tte, Christof}, title = {Partial mean-field model for neurotransmission dynamics}, volume = {369}, journal = {Mathematical Biosciences}, arxiv = {http://arxiv.org/abs/2307.01737}, doi = {10.1016/j.mbs.2024.109143}, year = {2024}, abstract = {This article addresses reaction networks in which spatial and stochastic effects are of crucial importance. For such systems, particle-based models allow us to describe all microscopic details with high accuracy. However, they suffer from computational inefficiency if particle numbers and density get too large. Alternative coarse-grained-resolution models reduce computational effort tremendously, e.g., by replacing the particle distribution by a continuous concentration field governed by reaction-diffusion PDEs. We demonstrate how models on the different resolution levels can be combined into hybrid models that seamlessly combine the best of both worlds, describing molecular species with large copy numbers by macroscopic equations with spatial resolution while keeping the stochastic-spatial particle-based resolution level for the species with low copy numbers. To this end, we introduce a simple particle-based model for the binding dynamics of ions and vesicles at the heart of the neurotransmission process. Within this framework, we derive a novel hybrid model and present results from numerical experiments which demonstrate that the hybrid model allows for an accurate approximation of the full particle-based model in realistic scenarios.}, language = {en} } @article{LueckeWinkelmannHeitzigetal.2024, author = {L{\"u}cke, Marvin and Winkelmann, Stefanie and Heitzig, Jobst and Molkenthin, Nora and Koltai, P{\´e}ter}, title = {Learning interpretable collective variables for spreading processes on networks}, volume = {109}, journal = {Physical Review E}, number = {2}, arxiv = {http://arxiv.org/abs/2307.03491}, doi = {10.1103/PhysRevE.109.L022301}, pages = {L022301}, year = {2024}, abstract = {Collective variables (CVs) are low-dimensional projections of high-dimensional system states. They are used to gain insights into complex emergent dynamical behaviors of processes on networks. The relation between CVs and network measures is not well understood and its derivation typically requires detailed knowledge of both the dynamical system and the network topology. In this Letter, we present a data-driven method for algorithmically learning and understanding CVs for binary-state spreading processes on networks of arbitrary topology. We demonstrate our method using four example networks: the stochastic block model, a ring-shaped graph, a random regular graph, and a scale-free network generated by the Albert-Barab{\´a}si model. Our results deliver evidence for the existence of low-dimensional CVs even in cases that are not yet understood theoretically.}, language = {en} } @article{ErnstBankowskiJusyteetal.2025, author = {Ernst, Ariane and Bankowski, Anastasia and Jusyte, Meida and Okunola, Toluwani and Petrov, Tino and Walter, Alexander and Winkelmann, Stefanie}, title = {Parameter Optimization for a Neurotransmission Recovery Model}, volume = {87}, journal = {Bulletin of Mathematical Biology}, publisher = {Bulletin of Mathematical Biology}, doi = {10.1007/s11538-025-01486-2}, year = {2025}, abstract = {We assess the empirical applicability of a simplified model for neurotransmitter release that incorporates maturation, fusion, and recovery of both release sites and vesicles. Model parameters are optimized by fitting the model to experimental data obtained from neuromuscular junction synapses of 3rd-instar Drosophila melanogaster larvae. In particular, the mean-squared error between the local extrema of the simulated total junction current and its experimental counterpart is minimized. We compare three estimation approaches, differing in the choice of optimized parameters and the fusion rate function. Despite the model's minimalistic structure, it demonstrates a compelling ability to replicate experimental data, yielding plausible parameter estimates for five different animals. An additional identifiability analysis based on the profile likelihood reveals practical non-identifiabilities for several parameters, highlighting the need for additional constraints or data to improve estimation accuracy.}, language = {en} } @article{OehmeMoewisBoethetal.2022, author = {Oehme, Stephan and Moewis, Philippe and Boeth, Heide and Bartek, Benjamin and Lippert, Annika and von Tycowicz, Christoph and Ehrig, Rainald and Duda, Georg and Jung, Tobias}, title = {PCL insufficient patients with increased translational and rotational passive knee joint laxity have no increased range of anterior-posterior and rotational tibiofemoral motion during level walking}, volume = {12}, journal = {Scientific Reports}, number = {1}, doi = {10.1038/s41598-022-17328-3}, pages = {1 -- 11}, year = {2022}, 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} } @article{ErnstUngerSchuetteetal.2023, author = {Ernst, Ariane and Unger, Nathalie and Sch{\"u}tte, Christof and Walter, Alexander and Winkelmann, Stefanie}, title = {Rate-limiting recovery processes in neurotransmission under sustained stimulation}, volume = {362}, journal = {Mathematical Biosciences}, arxiv = {http://arxiv.org/abs/2302.01635}, doi = {10.1016/j.mbs.2023.109023}, year = {2023}, abstract = {At chemical synapses, an arriving electric signal induces the fusion of vesicles with the presynaptic membrane, thereby releasing neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft. After a fusion event, both the release site and the vesicle undergo a recovery process before becoming available for reuse again. Of central interest is the question which of the two restoration steps acts as the limiting factor during neurotrans-mission under high-frequency sustained stimulation. In order to investigate this question, we introduce a novel non-linear reaction network which involves explicit recovery steps for both the vesicles and the release sites, and includes the induced time-dependent output current. The associated reaction dynamics are formulated by means of ordinary differential equations (ODEs), as well as via the associated stochastic jump process. While the stochastic jump model describes a single release site, the average over many release sites is close to the ODE solution and shares its periodic structure. The reason for this can be traced back to the insight that recovery dynamics of vesicles and release sites are statistically almost independent. A sensitivity analysis on the recovery rates based on the ODE formulation reveals that neither the vesicle nor the release site recovery step can be identified as the essential rate-limiting step but that the rate- limiting feature changes over the course of stimulation. Under sustained stimulation the dynamics given by the ODEs exhibit transient dynamics leading from an initial depression of the postsynaptic response to an asymptotic periodic orbit, while the individual trajectories of the stochastic jump model lack the oscillatory behavior an asymptotic periodicity of the ODE-solution.}, language = {de} } @article{StraubeWinkelmannHoefling2023, author = {Straube, Arthur and Winkelmann, Stefanie and H{\"o}fling, Felix}, title = {Accurate reduced models for the pH oscillations in the urea-urease reaction confined to giant lipid vesicles}, volume = {127}, journal = {The Journal of Physical Chemistry B}, number = {13}, arxiv = {http://arxiv.org/abs/arXiv:2212.14503}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jpcb.2c09092}, pages = {2955 -- 2967}, year = {2023}, abstract = {This theoretical study concerns a pH oscillator based on the urea-urease reaction confined to giant lipid vesicles. Under suitable conditions, differential transport of urea and hydrogen ion across the unilamellar vesicle membrane periodically resets the pH clock that switches the system from acid to basic, resulting in self-sustained oscillations. We analyse the structure of the phase flow and of the limit cycle, which controls the dynamics for giant vesicles and dominates the pronouncedly stochastic oscillations in small vesicles of submicrometer size. To this end, we derive reduced models, which are amenable to analytic treatments that are complemented by numerical solutions, and obtain the period and amplitude of the oscillations as well as the parameter domain, where oscillatory behavior persists. We show that the accuracy of these predictions is highly sensitive to the employed reduction scheme. In particular, we suggest an accurate two-variable model and show its equivalence to a three-variable model that admits an interpretation in terms of a chemical reaction network. The faithful modeling of a single pH oscillator appears crucial for rationalizing experiments and understanding communication of vesicles and synchronization of rhythms.}, language = {en} } @article{delRazoWinkelmannKleinetal.2023, author = {del Razo, Mauricio and Winkelmann, Stefanie and Klein, Rupert and H{\"o}fling, Felix}, title = {Chemical diffusion master equation: formulations of reaction-diffusion processes on the molecular level}, volume = {64}, journal = {Journal of Mathematical Physics}, number = {1}, arxiv = {http://arxiv.org/abs/2210.02268}, doi = {10.1063/5.0129620}, year = {2023}, abstract = {The chemical diffusion master equation (CDME) describes the probabilistic dynamics of reaction--diffusion systems at the molecular level [del Razo et al., Lett. Math. Phys. 112:49, 2022]; it can be considered the master equation for reaction--diffusion processes. The CDME consists of an infinite ordered family of Fokker--Planck equations, where each level of the ordered family corresponds to a certain number of particles and each particle represents a molecule. The equations at each level describe the spatial diffusion of the corresponding set of particles, and they are coupled to each other via reaction operators --linear operators representing chemical reactions. These operators change the number of particles in the system, and thus transport probability between different levels in the family. In this work, we present three approaches to formulate the CDME and show the relations between them. We further deduce the non-trivial combinatorial factors contained in the reaction operators, and we elucidate the relation to the original formulation of the CDME, which is based on creation and annihilation operators acting on many-particle probability density functions. Finally we discuss applications to multiscale simulations of biochemical systems among other future prospects.}, language = {en} } @article{LueckeHeitzigKoltaietal.2023, author = {L{\"u}cke, Marvin and Heitzig, Jobst and Koltai, P{\´e}ter and Molkethin, Nora and Winkelmann, Stefanie}, title = {Large population limits of Markov processes on random networks}, volume = {166}, journal = {Stochastic Processes and their Applications}, arxiv = {http://arxiv.org/abs/2210.02934}, doi = {10.1016/j.spa.2023.09.007}, year = {2023}, abstract = {We consider time-continuous Markovian discrete-state dynamics on random networks of interacting agents and study the large population limit. The dynamics are projected onto low-dimensional collective variables given by the shares of each discrete state in the system, or in certain subsystems, and general conditions for the convergence of the collective variable dynamics to a mean-field ordinary differential equation are proved. We discuss the convergence to this mean-field limit for a continuous-time noisy version of the so-called "voter model" on Erdős-R{\´e}nyi random graphs, on the stochastic block model, as well as on random regular graphs. Moreover, a heterogeneous population of agents is studied. For each of these types of interaction networks, we specify the convergence conditions in dependency on the corresponding model parameters.}, language = {en} } @article{SteudleWinkelmannFuerstetal.2024, author = {Steudle, Gesine and Winkelmann, Stefanie and F{\"u}rst, Steffen and Wolf, Sarah}, title = {Understanding Memory Mechanisms in Socio-Technical Systems: the Case of an Agent-based Mobility Model}, volume = {27}, journal = {Advances in Complex Systems}, doi = {10.1142/S0219525924400034}, year = {2024}, abstract = {This paper explores memory mechanisms in complex socio-technical systems, using a mobility demand model as an example case. We simplified a large-scale agent-based mobility model into a Markov process and discover that the mobility decision process is non-Markovian. This is due to its dependence on the system's history, including social structure and local infrastructure, which evolve based on prior mobility decisions. To make the process Markovian, we extend the state space by incorporating two history-dependent components. Although our model is a very much reduced version of the original one, it remains too complex for the application of usual analytic methods. Instead, we employ simulations to examine the functionalities of the two history-dependent components. We think that the structure of the analyzed stochastic process is exemplary for many socio-technical, -economic, -ecological systems. Additionally, it exhibits analogies with the framework of extended evolution, which has previously been used to study cultural evolution.}, language = {en} } @article{EngelOliconMendezWehlitzetal.2024, author = {Engel, Maximilian and Olic{\´o}n-M{\´e}ndez, Guillermo and Wehlitz, Nathalie and Winkelmann, Stefanie}, title = {Synchronization and random attractors in reaction jump processes}, journal = {Journal of Dynamics and Differential Equations}, arxiv = {http://arxiv.org/abs/2207.00602}, doi = {10.1007/s10884-023-10345-4}, year = {2024}, abstract = {This work explores a synchronization-like phenomenon induced by common noise for continuous-time Markov jump processes given by chemical reaction networks. Based on Gillespie's stochastic simulation algorithm, a corresponding random dynamical system is formulated in a two-step procedure, at first for the states of the embedded discrete-time Markov chain and then for the augmented Markov chain including random jump times. We uncover a time-shifted synchronization in the sense that—after some initial waiting time—one trajectory exactly replicates another one with a certain time delay. Whether or not such a synchronization behavior occurs depends on the combination of the initial states. We prove this partial time-shifted synchronization for the special setting of a birth-death process by analyzing the corresponding two-point motion of the embedded Markov chain and determine the structure of the associated random attractor. In this context, we also provide general results on existence and form of random attractors for discrete-time, discrete-space random dynamical systems.}, language = {en} } @article{delRazoLammaMerbis2026, author = {del Razo, Mauricio and Lamma, Tommaso and Merbis, Wout}, title = {Field theories and quantum methods for stochastic reaction-diffusion systems}, volume = {98}, journal = {Rev. Mod. Phys.}, arxiv = {http://arxiv.org/abs/2409.13377}, doi = {10.1103/9qlw-gyd7}, year = {2026}, abstract = {Complex systems are composed of many particles or agents that move and interact with one another. In most real-world applications, these systems involve a varying number of particles/agents that change due to interactions with the environment or their internal dynamics. The underlying mathematical framework to model these systems must incorporate the spatial transport of particles/agents and their interactions, as well as changes to their copy numbers, all of which can be formulated in terms of stochastic reaction-diffusion processes. However, the standard probabilistic representation of these processes can be overly complex because of the combinatorial aspects arising due to the non-linear interactions and varying particle numbers. In this manuscript, we review the main field theory representations of stochastic reaction-diffusion systems, which handle these issues "under-the-hood''. First, we focus on bringing techniques familiar to theoretical physicists —such as second quantization, Fock space, path integrals and quantum field theory— back into the classical domain of reaction-diffusion systems. We demonstrate how various field theory representations, which have evolved historically, can all be unified under a single basis-independent representation. We then extend existing quantum-based methods and notation to work directly on the level of the unifying representation, and we illustrate how they can be used to consistently obtain previous known results in a more straightforward manner, such as numerical discretizations and relations between model parameters at multiple scales. Throughout the work, we contextualize how these representations mirror well-known models of chemical physics depending on their spatial resolution, as well as the corresponding macroscopic (large copy number) limits. The framework presented here may find applications in a diverse set of scientific fields, including physical chemistry, theoretical ecology, epidemiology, game theory and socio-economical models of complex systems, specifically in the modeling and multi-scale simulation of complex systems with varying numbers of particles/agents. The presentation is done in a self-contained educational and unifying manner such that it can be followed by researchers across several fields.}, language = {en} } @article{LueckeWinkelmannKoltai2026, author = {L{\"u}cke, Marvin and Winkelmann, Stefanie and Koltai, Peter}, title = {Accurate mean-field equation for voter model dynamics on scale-free networks}, volume = {113}, journal = {Physical Review E}, arxiv = {http://arxiv.org/abs/2509.13485}, doi = {10.1103/vkpx-5cvt}, pages = {034311}, year = {2026}, abstract = {Understanding the emergent macroscopic behavior of dynamical systems on networks is a crucial but challenging task. One of the simplest and most effective methods to construct a reduced macroscopic model is given by mean-field theory. The resulting approximations perform well on dense and homogeneous networks but poorly on scale-free networks, which, however, are more realistic in many applications. In this paper, we introduce a modified version of the mean-field approximation for voter model dynamics on scale-free networks. The two main deviations from classical theory are that we use degree-weighted shares as coarse variables and that we introduce a correlation factor that can be interpreted as slowing down dynamics induced by interactions. We observe that the correlation factor is only a property of the network and not of the state or of parameters of the process. This approach achieves a significantly smaller approximation error than standard methods without increasing dimensionality.}, language = {en} } @article{WehlitzPavliotisSchuetteetal.2026, author = {Wehlitz, Nathalie and Pavliotis, Grigorios and Sch{\"u}tte, Christof and Winkelmann, Stefanie}, title = {Data-driven Reduction of Transfer Operators for Particle Clustering Dynamics}, arxiv = {http://arxiv.org/abs/2601.02932}, year = {2026}, abstract = {We develop an operator-based framework to coarse-grain interacting particle systems that exhibit clustering dynamics. Starting from the particle-based transfer operator, we first construct a sequence of reduced representations: the operator is projected onto concentrations and then further reduced by representing the concentration dynamics on a geometric low-dimensional manifold and an adapted finite-state discretization. The resulting coarse-grained transfer operator is finally estimated from dynamical simulation data by inferring the transition probabilities between the Markov states. Applied to systems with multichromatic and Morse interaction potentials, the reduced model reproduces key features of the clustering process, including transitions between cluster configurations and the emergence of metastable states. Spectral analysis and transition-path analysis of the estimated operator reveal implied time scales and dominant transition pathways, providing an interpretable and efficient description of particle-clustering dynamics.}, language = {en} }