Regen

The creation of ‘smart’ sustainable cities is seen as critical for achieving net-zero ambitions. It is therefore important to ask where, when, and how such cities are made. Taking inspiration from science and technology studies (STS), we look beyond the ‘city’, adopt an oligoptic approach, and trace out socio-technical relationships and connections in order to identify four ‘hot areas’ where smart sustainable futures are contested, configured and calibrated. This specifically involves taking Manchester – a city with bold and ambitious ‘smart’ 2038 net-zero aspirations – as our first hot area and point of departure. We subsequently zoom in on a building project in the centre of the city that is synonymous with current smart sustainable design, focusing attention on the electricity connection process. We then trace wires out from the building, turning attention to the management of the electricity distribution network, before moving on again to discuss two wind farms. In each instance, we reveal socio-technical contingencies, situated both within and beyond the city, which act to mediate the speed and slow Manchester's smart sustainable transitions. In response, we offer four speculative suggestions that promise to speed up such shifts. Our central argument is that revealing and addressing hot areas that are distributed across various socio-technical networks in and beyond cities is crucial for attempts to accelerate net-zero transitions.

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Congenital anomalies, diseases, and injuries may result in osteochondral damage. Recently, a big hope has been given to somatic stem cells (SSCs) which are characterized as undifferentiated cells with an ability of long-term self-renewing and plasticity. They are adherent with a fibroblast-like morphology in vitro and express various surface markers (e.g. CD29, CD73, CD90, and CD105), but they are negative for CD31, CD34, CD45, and HLA-DR. SSCs secrete various bioactive molecules, which are involved in processes of regeneration. The main goal of the present study was the characterization and comparison of biological properties of SSCs obtained from adipose tissue, dental pulp, and urine concerning osteochondral regeneration. SSCs were maintained in an appropriate growth medium up to the third passage and were analyzed by light and electron microscope. The immunophenotype was analyzed by flow cytometry. The kinetics of proliferation was measured by MTT assay. Human Cytokine/Chemokine Multiplex Assay was used, and SSCs secretory profile was measured by Luminex MAGPIX® Instrument. Pellet cultures and a chondrogenic medium were used to induce chondrogenic differentiation. Osteogenic differentiation was induced by the osteogenic medium. Chondrogenic and osteogenic differentiation was analyzed by real-time PCR. SSCs had similar fibroblast-like morphology. They have similar kinetics of proliferation. SSCs shared the expression CD29, CD44, CD73, CD90, and CD105. They lack expression of CD29 and CD34. SSCs secerned similar levels of IL10 and IL18 while differing in IFN-gamma, IL6, IL8, MCP-1, and RANTES production. SSCs possess a similar capacity for chondrogenic differentiation but slightly differ in osteogenic differentiation. In conclusion, it can be emphasized that SSCs from adipose tissue, dental pulp, and urine share the majority of cellular characteristics typical for SSCs and have great potential to be used in osteochondral tissue regeneration.

Für die Berechnung der Querkrafttragfähigkeit bewehrter Mauerwerkbalken ohne Querkraftbewehrung werden in bauaufsichtlichen Regelwerken überwiegend einaxiale Festigkeitswerte unbewehrten Mauerwerks verwendet. Die Berücksichtigung mehraxialen Materialverhaltens sowie der vorhandenen Längsbewehrung erfolgt häufig nicht; Anisotropie der Mauersteine und des Mauerwerks werden vernachlässigt. Es erschien daher notwendig, einen Berechnungsvorschlag zu entwickeln, der die Querkrafttragfähigkeit von bewehrten Mauerwerkbalken ohne Querkraftbewehrung innerhalb der Schubspannungsfelder wirklichkeitsnah erfasst. Der auf Spannungsfeldern basierende, aus dem Stahlbetonbau (SMCFT) abgeleitete Berechnungsvorschlag ermöglicht die Querkraftberechnung sowohl von bewehrten als auch vorgespannten Mauerwerkbalken unterschiedlicher Bauteilkategorie. Grundlage waren die aus dem fib MC 2010 bekannten Gleichungen zur Schubbemessung von Balken ohne Querkraftbewehrung. Der Verformungszustand infolge der Einwirkungssituation wird bei der Berechnung berücksichtigt.

Complex in vitro characterization of a blended material based on Poly(Lactic Acid), Poly(Hydroxybutyrate), and Thermoplastic Starch (PLA/PHB/TPS) was performed in order to evaluate its potential for application in the field of tissue engineering. We focused on the biological behavior of the material as well as its mechanical and morphological properties. We also focused on the potential of the blend to be processed by the 3D printer which would allow the fabrication of the custom-made scaffold. Several blends recipes were prepared and characterized. This material was then studied in the context of scaffold fabrication. Scaffold porosity, wettability, and cell-scaffold interaction were evaluated as well. MTT test and the direct contact cytotoxicity test were applied in order to evaluate the toxic potential of the blended material. Biocompatibility studies were performed on the human chondrocytes. According to our results, we assume that material had no toxic effect on the cell culture and therefore could be considered as biocompatible. Moreover, PLA/PHB/TPS blend is applicable for 3D printing. Printed scaffolds had highly porous morphology and were able to absorb water as well. In addition, cells could adhere and proliferate on the scaffold surface. We conclude that this blend has potential for scaffold engineering.

In surface-enhanced Raman spectra, vibrational peaks are superimposed on a background continuum, which is known as one major experimental anomaly. This is problematic in assessing vibrational information especially in the low Raman-shift region below 200 cm−1, where the background signals dominate. Herein, we present a rigorous comparison of normal Raman and surface-enhanced Raman spectra for atomically defined surfaces of Au(111) or Au(100) with and without molecular adsorbates. It is clearly shown that the origin of the background continuum is well explained by a local field enhancement of electronic Raman scattering in the conduction band of Au. In the low Raman-shift region, electronic Raman scattering gains additional intensity, probably due to a relaxation in the conservation of momentum rule through momentum transfer from surface roughness. Based on the mechanism for generation of the spectral background, we also present a practical method to extract electronic and vibrational information at the metal/dielectric interface from the measured raw spectra by reducing the thermal factor, the scattering efficiency factor and the Purcell factor over wide ranges in both the Stokes and the anti-Stokes branches. This method enables us not only to analyse concealed vibrational features in the low Raman-shift region but also to estimate more reliable local temperatures from surface-enhanced Raman spectra.

Two visible-light driven alkenylation reactions of unactivated alkyl bromides, which were enabled by the use of Ir(dF(CF3)ppy)2(dtbbpy)PF6 as the photocatalyst and (TMS)3SiH as the atom transfer reagent to activate the alkyl bromides, were described for the first time. These protocols can be used to produce a variety of alkenes from easily available feedstock with good reaction efficiency and high chemoselectivity under mild reaction conditions. To further demonstrate the applicability of the present strategy, the alkenylation of bioactive molecules and glycosyl bromides, as well as the alkynylation of unactivated alkyl bromides, was proven to be feasible.

The present study asks for the meaning of the Roman triumph within the concepts of performance and ritual in relation to space in Rome. In this context, the Roman triumph can be regarded as a commemoration ceremony to celebrate the Iron Age origin of Rome and its superelevation in myths. Within society, it therefore can establish identity and affiliation. However, I additionally demonstrate that - within the traditional route of the procession - there existed space for deviations. The Roman triumph offered the opportunity for innovations and changes of lesser extent at specific parts of the route, which may be regarded as a form of individualisation and commemoration.