Development of a Scalable Fabrication Concept for Sustainable, Programmable Shape‐Morphing Metamaterials

Programmable materials are a novel development, in which specialized production processes are used to introduce a framework of information capabilities into the inner structure of materials. Since the design and fabrication of programmable materials are still challenging, this aims to introduce a design and fabrication concept to pave the way toward industrial application. Herein, complex shape morphing has been implemented in the sense that the shape changes in response to external conditions, following a predefined program. First, the feasibility of a fabrication concept for uniform metamaterials with auxetic behavior is presented. A material with a predetermined nonuniform inner structure that deforms to a symmetrical shape has been developed and fabricated according to this concept. More complex behavior can be implemented by facilitating optimization methods to find inner structures according to a target shape. Lastly, an optimized and producible design for asymmetrical shape morphing is described to demonstrate the applicability of the approach

Compressive behavior and failure mechanisms of freestanding and composite 3D graphitic foams

Open-cell graphitic foams were fabricated by chemical vapor deposition using nickel templates and their compressive responses were measured over a range of relative densities. The mechanical response required an interpretation in terms of a hierarchical micromechanical model, spanning 3 distinct length scales. The power law scaling of elastic modulus and yield strength versus relative density suggests that the cell walls of the graphitic foam deform by bending. The length scale of the unit cell of the foam is set by the length of the struts comprising the cell wall, and is termed level I. The cell walls comprise hollow triangular tubes, and bending of these strut-like tubes involves axial stretching of the tube walls. This length scale is termed level II. In turn, the tube walls form a wavy stack of graphitic layers, and this waviness induces interlayer shear of the graphitic layers when the tube walls are subjected to axial stretch. The thickness of the tube wall defines the third length scale, termed level III. We show that the addition of a thin, flexible ceramic Al2O3 scaffold stiffens and strengthens the foam, yet preserves the power law scaling. The hierarchical model gives fresh insight into the mechanical properties of foams with cell walls made from emergent 2D layered solids

Selective depletion of Foxp3+ regulatory T cells induces a scurfy-like disease

The scurfy mutant mouse strain suffers from a fatal lymphoproliferative disease leading to early death within 3–4 wk of age. A frame-shift mutation of the forkhead box transcription factor Foxp3 has been identified as the molecular cause of this multiorgan autoimmune disease. Foxp3 is a central control element in the development and function of regulatory T cells (T reg cells), which are necessary for the maintenance of self-tolerance. However, it is unclear whether dysfunction or a lack of T reg cells is etiologically involved in scurfy pathogenesis and its human correlate, the IPEX syndrome. We describe the generation of bacterial artificial chromosome–transgenic mice termed “depletion of regulatory T cell” (DEREG) mice expressing a diphtheria toxin (DT) receptor–enhanced green fluorescent protein fusion protein under the control of the foxp3 gene locus, allowing selective and efficient depletion of Foxp3+ T reg cells by DT injection. Ablation of Foxp3+ T reg cells in newborn DEREG mice led to the development of scurfy-like symptoms with splenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, insulitis, and severe skin inflammation. Thus, these data provide experimental evidence that the absence of Foxp3+ T reg cells is indeed sufficient to induce a scurfy-like phenotype. Furthermore, DEREG mice will allow a more precise definition of the function of Foxp3+ T reg cells in immune reactions in vivo

Ontology modelling for materials science experiments

Materials are either enabler or bottleneck for the vast majority of technological innovations. The digitization of materials and processes is mandatory to create live production environments which represent physical entities and their aggregations and thus allow to represent, share, and understand materials changes. However, a common standard formalization for materials knowledge in the form of taxonomies, ontologies, or knowledge graphs has not been achieved yet. This paper sketches the efforts in modelling an ontology prototype to describe Materials Science experiments. It describes what is expected from the ontology by introducing a use case where a process chain driven by the ontology enables the curation and understanding of experiments

Ontology Modelling for Materials Science Experiments

Materials are either enabler or bottleneck for the vast majority of technological innovations. The digitization of materials and processes is mandatory to create live production environments which represent physical entities and their aggregations and thus allow to represent, share, and understand materials changes. However, a common standard formalization for materials knowledge in the form of taxonomies, ontologies, or knowledge graphs has not been achieved yet. This paper sketches the e_orts in modelling an ontology prototype to describe Materials Science experiments. It describes what is expected from the ontology by introducing a use case where a process chain driven by the ontology enables the curation and understanding of experiments

Ontology modelling for materials science experiments

Materials are either enabler or bottleneck for the vast majority of technological innovations. The digitization of materials and processes is mandatory to create live production environments which represent physical entities and their aggregations and thus allow to represent, share, and understand materials changes. However, a common standard formalization for materials knowledge in the form of taxonomies, ontologies, or knowledge graphs has not been achieved yet. This paper sketches the efforts in modelling an ontology prototype to describe Materials Science experiments. It describes what is expected from the ontology by introducing a use case where a process chain driven by the ontology enables the curation and understanding of experiments

Consortium Proposal NFDI-MatWerk

This is the official proposal the NFDI-consortium NFDI-MatWerk submitted to the DFG within the request for funding the project. Visit www.dfg.de/nfdi for more infos on the German National Research Data Infrastructure (Nationale Forschungsdateninfrastruktur - NFDI) initiative. Visit www.nfdi-matwerk.de for last infos about the project NFDI-MatWerk

Methanbildungspotenziale verschiedener Pflanzenarten aus Energiefruchtfolgen

Das Methanbildungspotenzial ist ein entscheidendes Qualitätsmerkmal von Biomassen bei ihrer Nutzung als Einsatzstoff für die Biogasproduktion. Von 769 unter einheitlichen Bedingungen silierten Erntegütern aus Energiefruchtfolgen wurden mittels Batch-Gärtests in zwei verschiedenen Versuchsanlagen spezifische Methanausbeuten ermittelt. Daraus konnten Richtwerte für mittlere Methanausbeuten je Fruchtart und Fruchtfolgestellung, Schnitt bzw. Trockenmassebereich oder Entwicklungsstadium zur Ernte für 93 verschiedene pflanzliche Biomassen abgeleitet werden. Die Ergebnisse stellen eine umfassende Datengrundlage dar, die in Verbindung mit Biomasseerträgen für die Abschätzung von Methanhektarerträgen zur ökonomischen und ökologischen Bewertung von Energiefruchtfolgen, zur Planung und Auslegung von Biogasanlagen sowie zur Entscheidung hinsichtlich des Anbaus alternativer pflanzlicher Kosubstrate und der Konzeption nachhaltiger Biogasfruchtfolgen genutzt werden können.The methane production potential represents an essential quality parameter of biomass if used as feedstock for biogas production. 769 harvested crop materials from crop rotations were ensiled at standardized conditions and were analyzed regarding their specific methane yields by applying two different experimental setups of batch anaerobic digestion tests. Based on this analysis, reference values for average methane yields per crop species and position within the crop rotation, cutting regime, range of dry matter content, or stage of growth at harvest have been deduced for 93 different crop biomasses. Results provide a comprehensive dataset that can be used in combination with biomass yields for the estimation of methane hectare yields, for economic and ecological evaluation of energy crop rotations, for planning and structural design of biogas plants as well as for decisions regarding the cultivation of alternative co-substrates and the design of sustainable biogas crop rotations

Interim Report NFDI4Chem 2023

The progress of the DFG-funded NFDI4Chem consortium (NFDI 4/1 - project number 441958208) in data management in chemistry is outlined in our latest report, highlighting the steps we have taken to integrate a data-centric approach within the chemistry community. This interim report offers a comprehensive overview of our data management activities, covering the reporting period from October 2020 to August 2023.The shift to digital tools in research documentation is driven by our work with Electronic Laboratory Notebooks (ELNs), such as Chemotion ELN, offering systematic data storage for easy retrieval and sharing. Additionally, we focus on developing repositories, such as Chemotion repository and RADAR4Chem, which fulfil the needs for the storage of chemical data. The NFDI4Chem Search Service ensures easy data access from our repositories. Our efforts extend to community engagement through conference visits and online presence, aimed at creating awareness for (digital) research data management and connecting to chemistry students and researchers. Our training programs have reached over 600 participants to date. Initiatives like the FAIR4Chem award and the Chemistry Data Days promote cultural change towards FAIR data. Our Editors4Chem initiative collaborates with publishers for standardised data management and the Ontologies4Chem workshops organised by our consortium promote the ontology development in the field.Apart from the consortium's engagement for chemists, NFDI4Chem members played key roles in the development of the NFDI as a whole. Being actively involved in the sections and task forces, NFDI4Chem promotes collaborative solutions across NFDI consortia

International Journal of Cancer / Synergistic crosstalk of hedgehog and interleukin6 signaling drives growth of basal cell carcinoma

Persistent activation of hedgehog (HH)/GLI signaling accounts for the development of basal cell carcinoma (BCC), a very frequent nonmelanoma skin cancer with rising incidence. Targeting HH/GLI signaling by approved pathway inhibitors can provide significant therapeutic benefit to BCC patients. However, limited response rates, development of drug resistance, and severe side effects of HH pathway inhibitors call for improved treatment strategies such as rational combination therapies simultaneously inhibiting HH/GLI and cooperative signals promoting the oncogenic activity of HH/GLI. In this study, we identified the interleukin6 (IL6) pathway as a novel synergistic signal promoting oncogenic HH/GLI via STAT3 activation. Mechanistically, we provide evidence that signal integration of IL6 and HH/GLI occurs at the level of cisregulatory sequences by cobinding of GLI and STAT3 to common HHIL6 target gene promoters. Genetic inactivation of Il6 signaling in a mouse model of BCC significantly reduced in vivo tumor growth by interfering with HH/GLIdriven BCC proliferation. Our genetic and pharmacologic data suggest that combinatorial HHIL6 pathway blockade is a promising approach to efficiently arrest cancer growth in BCC patients.(VLID)301234