Biologization, Nanotechnology, Simulation: Proceedings of the 1st Joint PhD Conference on Material Science:: from 27.6.-1.7.2022 in Dresden/ Germany and Usti/Česká republika

Materials scientists from Ústí nad Labem and Dresden met in June of 2022 for the first joint PhD Conference on Material Science, with the special focus on biologization, nanotechnology and simulation. The conference aimed to encourage interdisciplinary exchange between Čzech and German research institutes and promote transnational cooperation on an international level along the Saxon- Čzech border. Due to the restrictions caused by the corona pandemic, several attempts were necessary before the conference, which was first planned in 2020, could finally take place for the first time in 2022. The conference could take place in presence, which was seen as a big plus by all participants, especially as it was the first meeting in this German - Čzech context for most of the participants. The attending scientists (about 60) met at the Institute of Material Science of TU Dresden in Germany for the first half of the week before the conference moved to the faculties of Science and Environment of the Jan Evangelista Purkyně University UJEP in Ústí nad Labem in Čzechia. The organized activities ranged from scientific presentations of current PhD projects and research topics, lab tours in the participating institutions, come-together events such as a guided tour at the dye collection of the TU Dresden and a hiking trip to Bohemian Switzerland. The conference was funded by INTERREG VA Saxony - Čzech Republic - a cooperation programme of the Elbe/Labe region. All participants - PhD students, scientists and staff members of the participating institutions - enjoyed this opportunity to build individual and new contacts, exchange information on current research topics and methods, find starting points for future collaborations between the different research areas and institutions and also discuss the similarities and differences between the German and Čzech research landscape. The purpose of this brochure is to present the institutions with their special topics and laboratories and to present current research topics - on the base of the presented PhD projects.:1 Introduction 2 1.1 Committees 5 2 Presentation of the participating institutes and chairs 5 2.1 Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem 6 2.1.1 Faculty of Science 6 2.1.2 Faculty of Environment 12 2.2 Technische Universität Dresden 17 2.2.1 Institute of Material Science 17 2.3 Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems IKTS 19 2.3.1 Department Bio- and Nanotechnology at IKTS 19 2.4 Institute for Complex Materials, Leibniz-IFW Dresden 21 2.5 TRANS³Net 22 3 Presentation of the PhD topics 23 3.1 Topic: BIOLOGIZATION 23 3.1.1 Ludovico Andrea Alberta: Exploring the effect of Cu additions on the mechanical behaviour of β-TiNb biomaterials 23 3.1.2 Franziska Alt: Formation of a microenvironment for directed differentiation of stem cells in a perfusion bioreactor 25 3.1.3 Dmitry Belyaev: Circular microfluidic systems for electro-chemical continuous monitoring of bio-chemicals in emulsion droplets 27 3.1.4 Constantin Ißleib: Dynamic osteoimmunological crosstalk in a bone replacement context 28 3.1.5 Adela Jagerová: Surface Modification by High-Energy Heavy-Ion Irradiation in Various Crystalline ZnO Facets 29 3.1.6 Nils Kaube: Bioinspired development of artificial enamel via in-situ nano-mineralization 30 3.1.7 Michaela Kocholata: Isolation and characterization of plant derived nanovesicles 30 3.1.8 Zuzana Nejedlá: Dendrimers as Drug Delivery System 31 3.1.9 Jacub Perner: Effect of cold plasma treatment of Poppy and Proso Millet seeds in plasma downer 32 3.1.10 Marina Roshchina: Development of new bacteria-killing coatings on beta-Ti-Nb alloy based on functional oxide nanotubular (ONT) layers 33 3.1.11 Muhammad Saqib: Algorithms and fluid-dynamic experimental platform for in vitro degradation studies of implant materials 34 3.1.12 Jacub Tolasz: Interaction of pollutants on nanoceria 35 3.1.13 Zuzana Žmudová: 3D spheroid culture for in vitro testing of nanoparticles 35 3.2 Topic: METROLOGY 37 3.2.1 Katrien Boonen: The potential of dendrochemistry and dendroecology in pollution research 37 3.2.2 Ivan Lopez Carasco: Development of immobilization protocols for Tro6 and Tro4 aptamers to be used in electrochemical biosensor 38 3.2.3 Jacub Hoskovec: Functionalized electrospun materials for selectvie capture of selected gases 39 3.2.4 Dominic Pilnaj: Applications of gas sensors for air-quality monitoring and identification of volatile organic compounds by GC-HRMS 39 3.2.5 Michaela Průšová: Prostat, Glioblastoma and Mammary carcinoma cells derived exosomes: Their isolation, characterization and loading with doxorubicin 40 3.2.6 Kateřina Přibylová: Preparation of nanostructured surfaces for CO2 Detection, Capture and Utilization 41 3.2.7 Michal Syrový: Chemical modification of PAN – based nanofibrous membranes prepared by electrospinning and their properties for CO2 capture potential 42 3.3 Topic: GEOLOGICAL/MATERIALS 43 3.3.1 Sabine Apelt: Using biomimicry to design anti-ice surfaces for air-water heat pumps 43 3.3.2 Jan Dočkal: Molecular dynamics of interfacial solution structure of alkali-halide electrolytes at graphens electrodes 47 3.3.3 Tereza Dušková: Metal complexes with polyfluorinated NHCs 48 3.3.4 Kristína Fiantoková: Obtaining of the active mass from the spent Li-Ion batteries 48 3.3.5 Stephanie Ihmann: Engineering of bio-based Building and Construction Materials 49 3.3.6 Sara Jalali: Degradable bone substitute materials with load-bearing properties - Fiber-strengthened silica 50 3.3.7 Pavel Kaule: Preparation of heteroborane derivatives for thin film deposition by the covalent bond formation 53 3.3.8 M. Kozakovic: The effect of primary and secondary flows on the homogenization process in a vertical bladed mixer 53 3.3.9 Pavlína Matysová: Molecular Simulation of Salt Hydrates 54 3.3.10 Viktorie Neubertová: Surface functionalization of Ti3C2T MXene for MRI contrast agent 55 3.3.11 Robert Ato Newton: Fuel characteristics of Miscanthus x giganteus biomass produced at the marginal and slightly contaminated by trace elements soils 55 3.3.12 Martin Otto: Bioresorbable Fe-based alloys processed via laser powder bed fusion 56 3.3.13 Petr Panuška: A millifluidic chip for cultivation of fish embryos and toxicity testing fabricated by 3D printing technology 59 3.3.14 David Poustka: Unlocking mass production of photocrosslinked chitosan nanofibers 60 3.3.15 Eliška Rezlerová: Adsorption and Diffusion of Short Hydrocarbons and Carbon Dioxide in Shale Organic Matter: Insights from Molecular Simulations 60 3.3.16 Stefan Weitz: Investigating the material hardness of mollusks shells in dry and wet states by microindentation 6

Die Wahrnehmung von Leistungen direktabsetzender Betriebe des ökologischen Landbaus durch Verbraucher

In a holistic approach customers were asked in qualitative interviews about their perception of organic farms which run their own shops. Besides the organic quality they like the competent service, the traditional look and details. They regard the farms shops as pleasant. Many customers visit the farm and animals. Other consumers living near the farm like a wide range of products contact to their neighbourhood and exchange information. The seasonal fluctuations in supply are accepted. Most customers, though different in age and motivation, are aware of ecological and health topics. Customers praise the good taste, the real freshness and good quality. In a second series of Interviews customers of organic shops were asked to define the farm shop related meaning of the word “atmosphere”. They regard it as the classical idyllic small farm agriculture

SOX5 is involved in balanced MITF regulation in human melanoma cells

Background: Melanoma is a cancer with rising incidence and new therapeutics are needed. For this, it is necessary to understand the molecular mechanisms of melanoma development and progression. Melanoma differs from other cancers by its ability to produce the pigment melanin via melanogenesis; this biosynthesis is essentially regulated by microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF). MITF regulates various processes such as cell cycling and differentiation. MITF shows an ambivalent role, since high levels inhibit cell proliferation and low levels promote invasion. Hence, well-balanced MITF homeostasis is important for the progression and spread of melanoma. Therefore, it is difficult to use MITF itself for targeted therapy, but elucidating its complex regulation may lead to a promising melanoma-cell specific therapy. Method: We systematically analyzed the regulation of MITF with a novel established transcription factor based gene regulatory network model. Starting from comparative transcriptomics analysis using data from cells originating from nine different tumors and a melanoma cell dataset, we predicted the transcriptional regulators of MITF employing ChIP binding information from a comprehensive set of databases. The most striking regulators were experimentally validated by functional assays and an MITF-promoter reporter assay. Finally, we analyzed the impact of the expression of the identified regulators on clinically relevant parameters of melanoma, i.e. the thickness of primary tumors and patient overall survival. Results: Our model predictions identified SOX10 and SOX5 as regulators of MITF. We experimentally confirmed the role of the already well-known regulator SOX10. Additionally, we found that SOX5 knockdown led to MITF up-regulation in melanoma cells, while double knockdown with SOX10 showed a rescue effect; both effects were validated by reporter assays. Regarding clinical samples, SOX5 expression was distinctively up-regulated in metastatic compared to primary melanoma. In contrast, survival analysis of melanoma patients with predominantly metastatic disease revealed that low SOX5 levels were associated with a poor prognosis. Conclusion: MITF regulation by SOX5 has been shown only in murine cells, but not yet in human melanoma cells. SOX5 has a strong inhibitory effect on MITF expression and seems to have a decisive clinical impact on melanoma during tumor progression

KD Diagnosis Does Not Increase Cardiovascular Risk in Children According to Dynamic Intima–Media Roughness Measurements

Background: Kawasaki Disease (KD) is a generalized vasculitis in childhood with possible long-term impact on cardiovascular health besides the presence of coronary artery lesions. Standard vascular parameters such as carotid intima–media thickness (cIMT) have not been established as reliable markers of vascular anomalies after KD. The carotid intima–media roughness (cIMR) representing carotid intimal surface structure is considered a promising surrogate marker for predicting cardiovascular risk even beyond cIMT. We therefore measured cIMR in patients with a history of KD in comparison to healthy controls to investigate whether KD itself and/or KD key clinical aspects are associated with cIMR alterations in the long-term. Methods: We assessed cIMR in this case-control study (44 KD, mean age in years (SD); 13.4 (7.5); 36 controls, mean age 12.1 (5.3)) approximately matched by sex and age. Different clinical outcomes such as the coronary artery status and acute phase inflammation data were analyzed in association with cIMR values. Results: When comparing all patients with KD to healthy controls, we detected no significant difference in cIMR. None of the clinical parameters indicating the disease severity, such as the persistence of coronary artery aneurysm, were significantly associated with our cIMR values. However, according to our marginally significant findings (p = 0.044), we postulate that the end-diastolic cIMR may be rougher than the end-systolic values in KD patients. Conclusions: We detected no significant differences in cIMR between KD patients and controls that could confirm any evidence that KD predisposes patients to a subsequent general arteriopathy. Our results, however, need to be interpreted in the light of the low number of study participants

Correction:Comprehensive genetic screening of early-onset dementia patients in an Austrian cohort-suggesting new disease-contributing genes (Human Genomics, (2023), 17, 1, (55), 10.1186/s40246-023-00499-z)

Following publication of the original article [1], the authors reported an error in Table 1. The correct Table 1 has been provided in this Correction. (Table presented.) Basic clinical and genetic characteristics of all 60 EOD patients ID Diagnosis AAO (years) Sex FH APOE Gene Variant Position Transcript CADD ClinVar Significance for disease EOD-1 EOD-2 c.184G &gt; A; p.R62C chr6:41129208-41129208 NM_001271821.1 25.5 n.r Risk modifier Risk modifier EOD-3 AD 45 f 2 E3/E3 EOD-4 AD 51 f 4 E4/E3 Risk modifier EOD-5 nfPPA 58 f 2 E3/E2 EOD-6 AD 56 f 3 E3/E3 EOD-7 AD/PCA 56 f 4 E3/E3 EOD-8 bvFTD 56 m 4 E3/E3 c.1427T &gt; C; p.M476T chr11:117160361-117160361 NM_012104.3 26.4 n.r Unknown c.9757A &gt; G; p.S3253G chr15:62173781-62173781 NM_020821.2 29.5 n.r Unknown EOD-9 AD 55 f 3,5 E4/E3 Risk modifier EOD-10 AD 58 f 3,5 E3/E3 EOD-11 AD 63 m 4 E3/E3 EOD-12 mixed dementia (AD + VD) 55 m 3,5 E4/E3 Risk modifier EOD-13 AD 61 m 4,5 E3/E3 EOD-14 AD/lpPPA 61 m 4 E4/E3 Risk modifier c.4300C &gt; T; p.V1434I chr15:62244179-62244179 NM_020821.2 24.8 n.r Unknown EOD-15 nfPPA 64 m 2 E3/E3 c.2218C &gt; T; p.E740K chr2:74594514-74594514 NM_004082.4 24.0 n.r Unknown EOD-16 AD 56 f 4 E3/E3 EOD-17 AD (PD) 60 m 1 E4/E3 Risk modifier g.chr16:1816528 A &gt; G; c.2817-2A &gt; G chr16:1816528-1816528 NM_015133.3 22.3 n.r Unknown EOD-18a c.2914C &gt; T; p.P972S chr19:1051537-1051537 NM_019112.3 25.3 n.r Potential risk modifier EOD-19 EOD-19 (2)b EOD-20 AD 57 m 4,5 E3/E3 c.7397T &gt; A; p.L2466H chr12:40760814-40760814 NM_198578.3 25.7 VUS Unknown EOD-21 EOD-22 EOD-23 EOD-24 EOD-25 EOD-26 AD 56 f 4 E3/E3 c.2980G &gt; C; p.P994A chr2:74590268-74590268 NM_023019.3 17.3 VUS Unknown c.2087G &gt; A; p.R696H chr16:1814180-1814180 NM_015133.3 31.0 n.r Unknown EOD-27 AD 57 f 4 E4/E3 Risk modifier EOD-28 AD 54 m 4 E3/E3 EOD-29 AD 54 m 4 E3/E3 EOD-30 AD 64 m 4 E3/E3 EOD-31 mixed dementia (AD + VD) 58 m 3,5 E3/E3 EOD-32 FTD/svPPA 61 m 4 E3/E3 EOD-33 AD 62 f 4,5 E4/E3 Risk modifier c.521G &gt; A; p.S174L chr2:74598788-74598788 NM_004082.4 24.4 VUS Unknown EOD-34 AD 59 f 2 E4/E3 Risk modifier EOD-35 AD 55 m 3,5 E4/E3 Risk modifier EOD-36c AD 64 m 2 E4/E3 c.140G &gt; A; p.R47H chr6:41129252-41129252 NM_018965.3 9.7 LB Risk modifier Risk modifier EOD-37 AD 52 f 3,5 E3/E3 c.7397T &gt; A; p.L2466H chr12:40760814-40760814 NM_198578.3 25.7 VUS Unknown EOD-38 AD 52 f 3,5 E4/E3 Risk modifier EOD-39 AD 63 f 3 E4/E3 Risk modifier EOD-40 AD 55 f 4 E4/E3 Risk modifier EOD-41 AD 58 m 3,5 E3/E3 EOD-42 AD 39 m 4 E3/E2 EOD-43 AD 63 m 4 E3/E3 c.3148A &gt; G; p.I1050V chr15:62256964-62256964 NM_020821.2 0.001 VUS Unknown EOD-44 AD/lpPPA 58 f 3,5 E3/E3 c.3014T &gt; G; p.M1005R chr11:121430331-121430331 NM_003105.5 27.9 n.r Potential risk modifier EOD-45 AD 65 m 4 E3/E3 EOD-46 CBS + AD 51 f 3,5 E3/E3 c.4606G &gt; A; p.G1536S chr11:121474988-121474988 NM_003105.5 25.2 B Risk modifier EOD-47 AD 54 f 4 E3/E3 EOD-48 bvFTD 57 m 4 E3/E3 EOD-49 FTD/nfPPA + ALS 58 m 4 E3/E3 c.986T &gt; C; p.L276P chr12:64875636-64875636 NM_013254.3 n.r Potential risk modifier c.7436T &gt; C; p.I2429T chr15:62212307-62212307 NM_020821.2 n.r Unknown EOD-50 Risk modifier EOD-51 FTD/svPPA 62 f 4 E3/E3 EOD-52 AD 57 m 4 E4/E3 Risk modifier EOD-53 c.7377G &gt; A; p.M2459I chr12:40758839-40758839 NM_198578.3 17.7 n.r Unknown EOD-54 AD 59 m 1 E4/E3 Risk modifier EOD-55 AD 49 m 4 E3/E3 EOD-56 AD 61 m 3,5 E3/E3 EOD-57 AD/lpPPA 57 f 4 E3/E3 EOD-58 AD + VD 64 f 3 E3/E3 c.823C &gt; T; p.R141C chr2:74598126-74598126 NM_004082.3 29.3 VUS Unknown EOD-59 bvFTD 52 m 4 E4/E3 Risk modifier EOD-60 a, EOD-18: The APP duplication of was confirmed to be 'de novo'. Both parents did not show this duplication b, EOD-19 (2) is the brother of EOD19. He was also affected by AD and carrier of the same duplication. EOD 19 (2) was not included in the analyses of AAO and FH c, EOD-36: ClinVar assessment of TREM2 p.R47H of LB (likely benign) refers to Nasu-Hakola disease. However, p.R47H is an established risk variant for dementia (Ref. 15) The original article [1] has been corrected.</p

Lifestyle factors and clinical severity of Parkinson's disease.

peer reviewedGenetic factors, environmental factors, and gene-environment interactions have been found to modify PD risk, age at onset (AAO), and disease progression. The objective of this study was to explore the association of coffee drinking, aspirin intake, and smoking, with motor and non-motor symptoms in a cohort of 35,959 American patients with PD from the Fox Insight Study using generalized linear models. Coffee drinkers had fewer problems swallowing but dosage and duration of coffee intake were not associated with motor or non-motor symptoms. Aspirin intake correlated with more tremor (p = 0.0026), problems getting up (p = 0.0185), light-headedness (p = 0.0043), and problems remembering (p = 1 × 10-5). Smoking was directly associated with symptoms: smokers had more problems with drooling (p = 0.0106), swallowing (p = 0.0002), and freezing (p < 1 × 10-5). Additionally, smokers had more possibly mood-related symptoms: unexplained pains (p < 1 × 10-5), problems remembering (p = 0.0001), and feeling sad (p < 1 × 10-5). Confirmatory and longitudinal studies are warranted to investigate the clinical correlation over time

Health outcomes in offspring born to survivors of childhood cancers following assisted reproductive technologies

Purpose: An increasing number of childhood cancer survivors are using assisted reproductive technologies (ART) to overcome treatment-related fertility impairment. We report perinatal and health outcomes of offspring born to survivors following ART. Methods: The FeCt Multicenter Offspring Study surveyed the health of offspring of childhood cancer survivors. Health outcomes in offspring born to survivors following ART (n = 57, 4.6%) or after spontaneous conception (n = 1182) were assessed in the German cohort (n = 1239) using bivariate analysis. Findings were put into the context of the general German population by health outcome assessment in 1:1 matched-pair analysis (n = 2478). Results: Nearly twice the survivors used ART compared with numbers reported for the German general population (4.6% vs. 2.6%). Successful pregnancies were achieved after a median of two cycles, mainly using non-cryopreserved oocytes/sperm. Multiple sibling births (p < 0.001, 28.1% vs. 3.0%) and low birth weight (p = 0.008; OR = 2.659, 95% CI = 1.258-5.621) occurred significantly more often in offspring born to survivors who utilized ART than spontaneously conceived children, whereas similar percentages were born preterm or too small for their gestational age. ART did not increase the prevalence of childhood cancer or congenital malformations in offspring born to survivors. Conclusion: ART use by childhood cancer survivors was successful with both fresh and cryopreserved oocytes/sperm, and did not influence perinatal health or health outcomes when known confounders were taken into account. Implications for cancer survivors: Oncofertility is an important component of patient care. Our study implicates that the utilization of ART by adult survivors of childhood cancer does not put offspring at additional risk for adverse perinatal or health outcomes

Plate size and food consumption: a pre-registered experimental study in a general population sample

Abstract: Background: There is considerable uncertainty regarding the impact of tableware size on food consumption. Most existing studies have used small and unrepresentative samples and have not followed recommended procedures for randomised controlled trials, leading to increased risk of bias. In the first pre-registered study to date, we examined the impact on consumption of using larger versus smaller plates for self-served food. We also assessed impact on the underlying meal micro-structure, such as number of servings and eating rate, which has not previously been studied. Methods: The setting was a purpose-built naturalistic eating behaviour laboratory. A general population sample of 134 adult participants (aged 18–61 years) was randomly allocated to one of two groups varying in the size of plate used for self-serving lunch: large or small. The primary outcome was amount of food energy (kcal) consumed during a meal. Additionally, we assessed impact on meal micro-structure, and examined potential modifying effects of executive function, socio-economic position, and sensitivity to perceptual cues. Results: There was no clear evidence of a difference in consumption between the two groups: Cohen’s d = 0.07 (95% CI [− 0.27, 0.41]), with participants in the large plate group consuming on average 19.2 (95% CI [− 76.5, 115.0]) more calories (3%) compared to the small plate group (large: mean (SD) = 644.1 (265.0) kcal, versus small: 624.9 (292.3) kcal). The difference between the groups was not modified by individual characteristics. There was no evidence of impact on meal micro-structure, with the exception of more food being left on the plate when larger plates were used. Conclusions: This study suggests that previous meta-analyses of a low-quality body of evidence may have considerably overestimated the effects of plate size on consumption. However, the possibility of a clinically significant effect – in either direction – cannot be excluded. Well-conducted trials of tableware size in real-world field settings are now needed to determine whether changing the size of tableware has potential to contribute to efforts to reduce consumption at population-level. Trial registration: The study protocol (https://osf.io/e3dfh/) and data analysis plan (https://osf.io/sh5u7/) were pre-registered on the Open Science Framework

The Parkinson's disease VPS35[D620N] mutation enhances LRRK2 mediated Rab protein phosphorylation in mouse and human

Missense mutations in the LRRK2 and VPS35 genes result in autosomal dominant Parkinson’s disease. The VPS35 gene encodes for the cargo-binding component of the retromer complex, while LRRK2 modulates vesicular trafficking by phosphorylating a subgroup of Rab proteins. Pathogenic mutations in LRRK2 increase its kinase activity. It is not known how the only thus far described pathogenic VPS35 mutation, [D620N] exerts its effects. We reveal that the VPS35[D620N] knock-in mutation, strikingly elevates LRRK2 mediated phosphorylation of Rab8A, Rab10 and Rab12 in mouse embryonic fibroblasts. The VPS35[D620N] mutation also increases Rab10 phosphorylation in mouse tissues (lung, kidney, spleen and brain). Furthermore, LRRK2 mediated Rab10 phosphorylation is increased in neutrophils as well as monocytes isolated from three Parkinson’s patients with a heterozygous VPS35[D620N] mutation compared to healthy donors and idiopathic Parkinson’s patients. LRRK2 mediated Rab10 phosphorylation is significantly suppressed by knock-out or knock-down of VPS35 in wild type, LRRK2[R1441C] or VPS35[D620N] cells. Finally, VPS35[D620N] mutation promotes Rab10 phosphorylation more potently than LRRK2 pathogenic mutations. Available data suggest that Parkinson’s patients with VPS35[D620N] develop the disease at a younger age than those with LRRK2 mutations. Our observations indicate that VPS35 controls LRRK2 activity and that the VPS35[D620N] mutation results in a gain of function, potentially causing Parkinson’s disease through hyperactivation of the LRRK2 kinase. Our findings suggest that it may be possible to elaborate compounds that target the retromer complex to suppress LRRK2 activity. Moreover, patients with VPS35[D620N] associated Parkinson’s might benefit from LRRK2 inhibitor treatment that have entered clinical trials in humans