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Electromobility and autonomous driving has started a transformation in the automotive industry, resulting in new requirements for vehicle systems. Due to its functions, the electrical/electronic (E/E) architecture is one of the essential systems. Zonal E/E architecture is a promising approach to tackle this issue. The research presented in this paper describes a methodology for determining the optimal number of zones, the position of the zone control units (ZCU), and the assignment of electric components to these zones and ZCUs. Therefore, the design of the power supply and the wiring harness is essential. This approach aims to identify the most suitable system architecture for a given vehicle geometry and a set of electric components. For this purpose, the assignment of electric components is accomplished by k-means clustering, and Dijkstra's algorithm is used to optimize the cable routing. As ZCUs will be the hubs for the in-vehicle data and information transport in zonal architectures, their position and their number are crucial for the architecture and wiring harness development. Simulations show a suitable zonal architecture reduces wiring harness length as well as weight and brings functional benefits. However, the number of zones must be chosen with care, as there may also be functional limitations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Anastomotic leakages after esophagectomies continue to constitute significant morbidity and mortality. Intrathoracic anastomoses pose a high risk for mediastinitis, sepsis, and death, if a leak is not addressed timely and appropriately. However, there are no standardized treatment recommendations or algorithms as for how to treat these leakages. Methods: The study included all patients at the University Hospital Regensburg, who developed an anastomotic leakage after esophagectomy with gastric pull-up reconstruction from 2007 to 2022. Patients receiving conventional treatment options for an anastomotic leakage (stents, drainage tubes, clips, etc.) were compared to patients receiving endoscopic vacuum-assisted closure (eVAC) therapy as their mainstay of treatment. Treatment failure was defined as cervical esophagostomy formation or death. Results: In total, 37 patients developed an anastomotic leakage after esophagectomy with a gastric pull-up reconstruction. Twenty patients were included into the non-eVAC cohort, whereas 17 patients were treated with eVAC. Treatment failure was observed in 50% of patients (n = 10) in the non-eVAC cohort and in 6% of patients (n = 1) in the eVAC cohort (p < 0.05). The 90-day mortality in the non-eVAC cohort was 15% (n = 3) compared to 6% (n = 1) in the eVAC cohort. Cervical esophagostomy formation was required in 40% of cases (n = 8) in the non-eVAC cohort, whereas no patient in the eVAC cohort underwent cervical esophagostomy formation. Conclusion: eVAC therapy for leaking esophagogastric anastomoses appears to be superior to other treatment strategies as it significantly reduces morbidity and mortality. Therefore, we suggest eVAC as an essential component in the treatment algorithm for anastomotic leakages following esophagectomies, especially in patients with intrathoracic anastomoses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]