Institute for Innovative Process Engineering

Silver nanowires (AgNWs) are extensively reported as 2D conductive composites for their neural metaplasticity mimicking behavior, crucial for next-generation computing. While 2D networks rely on junction-mediated ballistic transport, 3D AgNW bulk composites exhibit diffuse and percolation driven conduction. Comparing these systems could reveal key dimensional effects, though scaling the intricate 2D networks into the bulk remains challenging. We report a highly reproducible 3D metastable powder composite of anisotropic AgNW with poly(vinylpyrrolidone) as a supporting matrix, produced via spray drying. With rapid drying kinetics, affinity-driven anisotropic morphologies are observed with ellipsoidal microstructures bent at flexural angles. First-principles electronic percolation characterization of the compressed composite is determined by a four-point probe (4PP), and the percolative regimes are allotted. 2D AgNW networks reach ∼1-500 S/cm at network densities of ∼0.4-11 μm-2. The 3D composites, on the other hand, span a wider range, from ∼10-8 S/cm at 3 wt % to ∼102 S/cm at ∼90 wt % of AgNW loading. These values reflect the dominant conductive pathways within the interaction volume. Complementary electrochemical impedance spectroscopy confirms pressure-driven extremization in percolation, with conductivity rising by 2 orders of magnitude from ∼10-2 to ∼1 S/cm at applied pressures of 0.3 to 50 MPa even for 10 wt % AgNW, where 4PP measurements show values near 10-5 S/cm. Spray drying was chosen, as scalability was prioritized over nanoscale precision, making it suitable for bulk materials where microstructure control is secondary to throughput. Hence, the morphologically free AgNWs serve as a versatile precursor for industrially relevant down streaming and reprocessing. When the metastable composite was coextruded at high shear with a commercial elastomer, stretching induced alignment of the initially randomly oriented AgNWs was revealed by SEM micrographs.

ABSTRACT This study investigates the recyclability of expandable polystyrene (EPS) bead foams under conditions aligned with the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) by simulating 10 consecutive extrusion cycles with a consistent 35 wt% recycled fraction. Although molar mass distribution and MFI remained nearly constant across all cycles, mechanical properties deteriorated during the first four cycles. Compression modulus decreased by 24%, flexural modulus by 14% and flexural strength by 21% in these initial cycles. Faster pentane diffusion, reflected in shorter steaming times, indicates that changes in diffusion behavior, rather than chain scission, govern the loss in mechanical performance. After Cycle 4, both processing behavior and mechanical properties reached a plateau, demonstrating that the required 35 wt% recycled content leads to a stable material condition for future industrial practice. A complete post‐use recycling loop (C + 1), including prefoaming, welding, compression, shredding, and pelletizing, revealed the strongest degradation, with a 15% drop in molar mass and an increase in MFI, which was caused primarily by the pelletizing step. Overall, the results show that EPS bead foams can withstand multiple recycling cycles when blended with virgin material, while highlighting that pelletizing and blowing agent diffusion must be monitored closely in circular EPS production.

ABSTRACT Background Helicase-primase is an interesting target for small-molecule therapy of herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections. With amenamevir already approved for varicella-zoster virus and herpes simplex in Japan and with pritelivir‘s granted breakthrough therapy designation for the treatment of acyclovir-resistant HSV infections in immunocompromised patients, the target has sparked interest in helicase-primase inhibitors. Areas covered Here, we analyze the series of patent applications from Assembly Biosciences (published between 03/2024 and 03/2025) covering their drug candidate ABI-5366 together with additional data from poster presentations, press releases and company updates. This me-too approach on the old Bayer urea series is currently in clinical phase I (NCT06385327) and the modification is the bridging of the two urea nitrogens via an alkylene linkage. Expert opinion The chemical structure for 1,3-disubstituted tetrahydropyrimidin-2(1H)-one derivative ABI-5366 is presented and its potential opportunities and limitations as a long-acting oral administration or injectable depot drug compared to other HPIs are discussed.

As hospitals expand their roles within transforming health systems, their governance structures must adapt to changing demands, with novel leadership structures evolving to meet new challenges. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview on the evidence of the influence of hospital C-level positions on key organisational performance parameters. It maps key concepts from the existing literature relating to hospital performance and leadership and identifies mediators and moderators of top management team impacts based on the Upper-Echelons-Theory. The scoping review was conducted according to the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews, covering studies from 1990 to the present. Eligible studies addressed at least one identifiable hospital C-Suite role and one hospital-wide leadership effect. Out of 5430 articles identified, 60 were included. The analysis covers seven distinct C-Suite roles and their effects on six performance dimensions: quality of care, structural quality, patient satisfaction, work satisfaction, financial performance, and process efficiency. The findings suggest that the influence of C-Suite positions on hospital performance is multifaceted, with the Chief Executive Officer's influence extending beyond financial performance to shaping the quality of care. Additionally, the impact of newer roles such as the Chief Quality Officer, as well as leadership roles like the Chief Medical Officer and Chief Nursing Officer, appear to depend on a collaborative approach and alignment with the Chief Executive Officer. From a policy perspective, the findings emphasise that hospital governance, shaped by regulations, determines key performance indicators and strategic priorities.

The exposure of insular species to local disturbances can influence their evolutionary trajectory resulting in specific adaptations. On the island La Palma, Canary Islands, the archipelago-endemic tree species Pinus canariensis forms forest ecosystems and has been described to be adapted to wildfires. The frequency of these in the recent past, however, is higher due to anthropogenic activities. Recent studies suggest that the species traits might also be an evolutionary response to volcanic outbreaks, consisting of massive sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emissions and ash fall. Several stands of P. canariensis have been exposed to both disturbances, wildfires and volcanic outbreaks, in the recent past. We assess the recovery of P. canariensis after double exposure to these disturbances. P. canariensis recovery was assessed based on Sentintel-2 NDVI images within a 7 km radius of the craters of the Tajogaite volcano that erupted in 2021. Within the same area, wildfires occurred in 2009, 2012 and 2016. We used a Generalized Additive Model (GAM) to assess the recovery of P. canariensis after volcanic and wildfire disturbances. The model shows the P. canariensis forest recovers after the volcanic outbreak with a peak at a distance of 1000–1200 m to the eruption crater, which is in line with our first hypothesis. Our second hypothesis was met with unexpected results, forests exposed to the recent wildfire in 2016 showed an increased recovery, which underlines that P. canariensis exhibits traits related to fire adaptation or might also be the result of stand-specific characteristics such as forest height or local topography. The double pressure of volcanic and forest fire disturbances did not lead to suppressed recovery of the Canary-endemic tree species and highlights the resilience of P. canariensis.

Effects of micro- and nanoplastic particles (MNP) on organisms have been increasingly reported in recent years, with a large number of studies conducted on water fleas of the genus Daphnia. Most of the available studies used pristine particles that have not been exposed to the environment or to organic substances. In natural environments, however, organic substances like dissolved organic matter (DOM) attach to the MNP, forming an ecocorona on the particles’ surface. How the formation of an ecocorona influences MNP toxicity is still uncertain. While some studies suggest that DOM can mitigate the negative effects of MNP on organisms, other studies did not find such associations. In addition, it is unclear whether the DOM attached to the particles’ surface attenuates the effects of MNP directly or whether co-exposure with DOM solved in the medium attenuates MNP toxicity indirectly, for instance by increasing Daphnia‘s resilience to stressors in general. To draw more solid conclusions about the direction and size of the mediating effect of DOM on MNP-associated immobilization in Daphnia spp., we synthesized evidence from the published literature and compiled 305 data points from 13 independent studies. The results of our meta-analysis show that the toxic effects of MNP are likely reduced in the presence of certain types of DOM in the exposure media. We found similar mediating effects when MNP were incubated in media containing DOM before the exposure experiments, although to a lesser extent. Future studies designed to disentangle the effects of DOM attached to the MNP from the general effects of DOM in the exposure medium will contribute to a deeper mechanistic understanding of MNP toxicity in nature and enhance the reliability of MNP risk assessment.Graphical

Abstract In Fluorpolymeren sind die Wasserstoffatome in einer Polymerkette zum Großteil oder auch vollständig durch Fluor ersetzt, was zu einer Reihe besonderer Eigenschaften wie hoher chemischer und thermischer Beständigkeit führt. Aufgrund dieser Eigenschaftskombination sind diese Hochleistungspolymere für manche Anwendungen nicht oder nur schwer ersetzbar. Sonderwerkstoffe wie Fluorpolymere nehmen aufgrund ihrer chemischen Zusammensetzung, ihres geringen Marktvolumens und der meist industriellen Anwendung eine Sonderstellung ein, da sie nicht zusammen mit Massenpolymeren wie z. B. Polyethylen am Ende des Lebenszyklus anfallen und auch nicht zusammen recycelt werden können. In diesem Beitrag werden verschiedene Verfahren hinsichtlich ihres technischen Reifegrades und ihrer Eignung diskutiert, um Fluorpolymere vollständig zu recyceln.

Die vorliegende Ausgabe der ZiG ist wieder als Themenheft konzipiert -und zugleich ein Novum in der Geschichte der Zeitschrift. Mit den Berliner Topographien wird nämlich zum ersten Mal eine Stadt, Berlin, in das Zentrum gerückt, um diese ›im Horizont gesellschaftlicher Pluralität‹ zu beleuchten. Besorgt und betreut wird das Schwerpunktthema von Anne Fleig, Matthias Lüthjohann und Sara Maatz, die im Vorwort unterstreichen, dass es ihnen darum gehe, »Zugänge zur Literatur-und Migrationsgeschichte der Stadt [zu] eröffnen, die an der Verbindung von Affekt und Raum ansetzen.« Eingelöst wird diese Zielstellung durch neun Beiträge, welche unterschiedlichste Facetten des migrantisch-dynamischen Stadtraumes Berlin in den Blick nehmen. Neben der literarischen Analyse ist dabei auch die Auseinandersetzung mit den Genres Theater und Film wesentlich. Dazu passt der in der Rubrik Aus Literatur und Theorie wiederabgedruckte kurze Text Guten Tag, Riesin! von Robert Walser, der »das Wunder der Stadt« in geradezu beunruhigender Intensität vor Augen führt. Im Kontrast dazu steht das Forum, in welchem Withold Bonner sich den bedrückenden deutsch-sowjetischen Verhältnissen und Einzelschicksalen der Stalinära und insbesondere deren literarischer Verarbeitung in Steffen Menschings Roman Schermanns Augen widmet. Der Rezensionsteil und die Rubrik GiG im Gespräch beschließen das vorliegende Heft wie üblich. Und es gibt Neuigkeiten in eigener Sache. Aus Altersgründen ist Wilhelm Amann aus dem Herausgeberteam ausgeschieden. Wilhelm Amann hat über etliche Jahre entscheidend zum Erfolg der ZiG beigetragen. Wir sind ihm deshalb zu bleibendem Dank verpf lichtet und hoffen, dass er uns und der Zeitschrift auch weiterhin mit Rat und Tat unterstützen möge. Erfreulich ist, dass mit Amelie Bendheim eine Kollegin ins Herausgebergremium nachgerückt ist, die die entstandene, nicht eben kleine Lücke sicherlich füllen wird. Amelie Bendheim ist Mediävistin und bereits seit einigen Jahren als Mitarbeiterin für die Zeitschrift tätig gewesen.