The nuclei of the auditory brainstem harbor a diversity of neuronal cell types and are interconnected by excitatory as well as inhibitory ascending, descending, and commissural pathways. Classically, neurons have been characterized by size and shape of their cell body and by the geometry of their dendrites. Our study is based on the use of axonal tracers in combination with immunocytochemistry to identify and distinguish neuronal subtypes by their molecular signature in dorsal and ventral cochlear nucleus, lateral superior olive, medial superior olive, medial nucleus of the trapezoid body, and inferior colliculus of the adult rat. The presumed neurotransmitters glutamate, glycine, and GABA were used alongside the calcium-binding proteins parvalbumin, calretinin, and calbindin-D28k as molecular markers. Our data provide distinct extensions to previous characterizations of neuronal subtypes and reveal regularities and differences across auditory brainstem nuclei that are discussed for their functional implications.

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With the uprising discussion around digitization, the value of product data has reached a new level. Product Lifecycle Management aims to play a core role in enabling the digital transformation in industry. The focus of PLM has traditionally been on the management of processes and data to define product types while many concepts of digitization rest upon individual product instances. In the context of current PLM implementations, this new perspective is not yet widely understood. A model that explains the interaction of product type and its instances along the business processes is missing. This essay suggests a PLM reference model that separates the lifecycles of product types and product instance. Four phases in a closed loop process explain the interaction between type and instance and how they are connected to the business processes of a company. The model results from a series of workshops with industrial experts and was applied in several industrial projects.