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Transitioning urban drainage systems to serve water-smart societies requires the involvement of different disciplines and stakeholders. However, stakeholders have different visions and needs from the transitioning process (e.g in terms of financing, policy adaptation and system management) these also vary between regions and countries. Identifying such different needs for stakeholders is necessary to propose practical adaptation strategies. Therefore, evidence of needs as reflected in policy papers and legislation in seven European countries was collected. Knowledgeable individuals in the urban drainage community were asked about their visions. Results show that whilst there is consensus on the challenges, visions on how to transition are diverse, indicating that more interaction between the different stakeholder groups is required to develop consensus. Additionally, organisational and legislative structures often slow down the necessary change processes.

This document is a Deliverable 1.1 “Identification of RI users and UDS community needs” of the Co-UDlabs project, funded under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101008626. The Deliverable is drafted within the Work Package 1, “Sectorial Integration and Sustainability Strategy”. The lead beneficiary of the Work Package is the Group of Research, technical coordination and water information (GRAIE). GRAIE is the main author of this Deliverable. The aim of this document is to collect and identify needs and visions from different stakeholders involved in the transitioning of Urban Drainage Systems within the European Union and associated countries towards sustainability and smart infrastructure. Therefore, different sources were considered: (i) policy documents existing in the countries represented in the project; (ii) inputs from the academic researchers and scientists involved in the Co- UDlabs project; and (iii) feedback from early adopters and (potential) users of the Research Infrastructure of urban drainage made accessible within the project. The evaluation of the identified needs serves as a blueprint for a further identification of the role of Research Infrastructure in the research and innovation capacity needed to transition to more sustainable and smart urban drainage systems within the project. The aim of this report is to identify in a first step for which areas the different stakeholders define a need to be fulfilled that enables this transitioning.

The seamless integration of electronics with living matter requires advanced materials with programmable biological and engineering properties. Here electrochemical methods to assemble semi-synthetic hydrogels directly on electronically conductive surfaces are explored. Hydrogels consisting of poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) and heparin building blocks are polymerized by spatially controlling the click reaction between their thiol and maleimide moieties. The gels are grown as conformal coatings or 2D patterns on ITO, gold, and PtIr. This study demonstrates that such coatings significantly influence the electrochemical properties of the metal-electrolyte interface, likely due to space charge effects in the gels. Further a promising route toward engineering and electrically addressable extracellular matrices by printing arrays of gels with binary cell adhesiveness on flexible conductive surfaces is highlighted.

Recently, dose reference levels (DRLs) have been defined in Germany for auxiliary low-dose CT scans in hybrid SPECT/CT and PET/CT examinations, based on data from 2016/17. Here, another survey from 2020 was evaluated and compared with the new DRLs as well as with similar surveys from foreign countries.The survey, which had already been conducted in the Nordic countries, queried for various examinations including the following values: patient weight and height, volume CT dose index (CTDIData from 15 SPECT/CT and 13 PET/CT systems from 15 nuclear medicine departments were collected. For the following examinations datasets from more than 10 systems were submitted: SPECT lung VQ, SPECT bone, SPECTPET cardiac, PET brain, PET oncology. Especially for examinations of the thorax and heart, the new DRLs are very strict compared to this study. The CTDIFor certain examination types, there is a need for dose optimization at some clinics and devices in order to take into account the new DRLs in Germany in the future.ZIEL: Seit Kurzem gibt es in Deutschland für auxiliäre Niedrigdosis-CT-Aufnahmen bei SPECT/CT- und PET/CT-Untersuchungen Dosisreferenzwerte (DRW), welche auf Daten von 2016/17 basieren. Hier wurde eine weitere Umfrage aus dem Jahr 2020 ausgewertet und mit den neuen DRW sowie mit ähnlichen Umfragen aus anderen Ländern verglichen.Die Umfrage, welche bereits in den nordischen Ländern durchgeführt wurde, erfasste für unterschiedliche Einsatzbereiche u.a. folgende Werte: Patientengewicht/-größe, volumenbezogener CT-Dosisindex (CTDIDaten von insgesamt 15 SPECT/CT- und 13 PET/CT-Geräten aus 15 Zentren wurden erhoben. Hierbei beinhalteten die Daten z.B. folgender Untersuchungen mehr als 10 Geräte: Lungen-SPECT, Knochen-SPECT, kardiologisches SPECTPET, Hirn-PET, onkologisches PET. Besonders für Untersuchungen des Thorax und des Herzens sind die neuen DRW im Vergleich zu dieser Studie sehr streng. Die CTDIFür einzelne Untersuchungstypen besteht bei einigen Kliniken und Geräten Dosisoptimierungsbedarf, um die neuen DRW in Deutschland zukünftig zu berücksichtigen.

Bioelectronic interfaces employing arrays of sensors and bioactuators are promising tools for the study, repair and engineering of cardiac tissues. They are typically constructed from rigid and brittle materials processed in a cleanroom environment. An outstanding technological challenge is the integration of soft materials enabling a closer match to the mechanical properties of biological cells and tissues. Here we present an algorithm for direct writing of elastic membranes with embedded electrodes, optical waveguides and microfluidics using a commercial 3D printing system and a palette of silicone elastomers. As proof of principle, we demonstrate interfacing of cardiomyocytes derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs), which are engineered to express Channelrhodopsin-2. We demonstrate electrical recording of cardiomyocyte field potentials and their concomitant modulation by optical and pharmacological stimulation delivered via the membrane. Our work contributes a simple prototyping strategy with potential applications in organ-on-chip or implantable systems that are multi-modal and mechanically soft.

Combined sewer overflows (CSOs) are of major environmental concern for impacted surface waterbodies. In the last decades, major storm events have become increasingly regular in some areas, and mete...

Tissue transglutaminase (TGase 2) is proposed to be important for biomaterial–tissue interactions due to its presence and versatile functions in the extracellular environment. TGase 2 catalyzes the cross-linking of proteins through its Ca2+-dependent acyltransferase activity. Moreover, it enhances the interactions between fibronectin and integrins, which in turn mediates the adhesion, migration, and motility of the cells. TGase 2 is also a key player in the pathogenesis of fibrosis. In this study, we investigated whether TGase 2 is present at the biomaterial–tissue interface and might serve as an informative biomarker for the visualization of tissue response toward gelatin-based biomaterials. Two differently cross-linked hydrogels were used, which were obtained by the reaction of gelatin with lysine diisocyanate ethyl ester. The overall expression of TGase 2 by endothelial cells, macrophages, and granulocytes was partly influenced by contact to the hydrogels or their degradation products, although no clear correlation was evidenced. In contrast, the secretion of TGase 2 differed remarkably between the different cells, indicating that it might be involved in the cellular reaction toward gelatin-based hydrogels. The hydrogels were implanted subcutaneously in immunocompetent, hairless SKH1-Elite mice. Ex vivo immunohistochemical analysis of tissue sections over 112 days revealed enhanced expression of TGase 2 around the hydrogels, in particular at days 14 and 21 post-implantation. The incorporation of fluorescently labeled cadaverine derivatives for the detection of active TGase 2 was in accordance with the results of the expression analysis. The presence of an irreversible inhibitor of TGase 2 led to attenuated incorporation of the cadaverines, which verified the catalytic action of TGase 2. Our in vitro and ex vivo results verified TGase 2 as a potential biomarker for tissue response toward gelatin-based hydrogels. In vivo, no TGase 2 activity was detectable, which is mainly attributed to the unfavorable physicochemical properties of the cadaverine probe used.

Vertical-flow constructed wetlands remove pollutants from combined sewer overflows (CSOs) and have been in operation for approximately 20 years in Germany. More than 150 sites are currently operated in the state of North-Rhine Westphalia, with most of them constructed according to the same guidelines. This number provides an adequate statistical population to evaluate the treatment efficiency of this design; however, most available data have not been collected in a standardized way. This study presents the results from a survey amongst operators of these plants, who provided long-term data for 24 sites. It also describes a statistical approach to harmonizing the data and evaluating the removal efficiencies of wastewater pollutants while considering errors and uncertainties with a Monte Carlo simulation. This method makes it possible to harmonize data from surveys and to draw generalized conclusions on the treatment efficiency of large-scale facilities. In this study, the evaluation could be adapted for the removal efficiencies of chemical oxygen demand, total suspended solids and total phosphorus.

Floating treatment wetlands (FTWs), artificial systems constructed from buoyant mats and planted with emergent macrophytes, represent a potential retrofit to enhance the dissolved nutrient removal performance of existing retention ponds. Treatment occurs as water flows through the dense network of roots suspended in the water column, providing opportunities for pollutants to be removed via filtration, sedimentation, plant uptake, and adsorption to biofilms in the root zone. Despite several recent review articles summarizing the growing body of research on FTWs, FTW design guidance and strategies to optimize their contributions to pollutant removal from stormwater are lacking, due in part to a lack of statistical analysis on FTW performance at the field scale. A meta-analysis of eight international FTW studies was performed to investigate the influence of retention pond, catchment, and FTW design characteristics on effluent concentrations of nutrients and total suspended solids (TSS). Random forest regression, a tree-based machine learning approach, was used to model complex interactions between a suite of predictor variables to identify design strategies for both retention ponds and FTWs to enhance treatment of nutrient and sediment. Results indicate that pond design features, especially loading ratio and pond depth (which should be limited to 200:1 and 1.75 m, respectively), are most influential to effluent water quality, while the benefits of FTWs were limited to improving mitigation of phosphorus species and TSS which was primarily influenced by FTW coverage and planting density. Findings from this work inform wet retention pond and FTW design, as well as guidance on scenarios where FTW implementation is most appropriate, to improve dissolved nutrient and sediment removal in urban runoff.

Immunocompatibility and non-thrombogenicity are important requirements for biomedical applications such as vascular grafts. Here, gelatin-based hydrogels formed by reaction of porcine gelatin with increasing amounts of lysine diisocyanate ethyl ester were investigated in vitro in this regard. In addition, potential adverse effects of the hydrogels were determined using the “Hen’s egg test on chorioallantoic membrane” (HET-CAM) test and a mouse model. The study revealed that the hydrogels were immunocompatible, since complement activation was absent and a substantial induction of reactive oxygen species generating monocytes and neutrophils could not be observed in whole human blood. The density as well as the activation state of adherent thrombocytes was comparable to medical grade polydimethylsiloxane, which was used as reference material. The HET-CAM test confirmed the compatibility of the hydrogels with vessel functionality since no bleedings, thrombotic events, or vessel destructions were observed. Only for the samples synthesized with the highest LDI amount the number of growing blood vessels in the CAM was comparable to controls and significantly higher than for the softer materials. Implantation into mice showed the absence of adverse or toxic effects in spleen, liver, or kidney, and only a mild lymphocytic activation in the form of a follicular hyperplasia in draining lymph nodes (slightly increased after the implantation of the material prepared with the lowest LDI content). These results imply that candidate materials prepared with mid to high amounts of LDI are suitable for the coating of the blood contacting surface of cardiovascular implants.

Neuromuscular interfaces are required to translate bioelectronic technologies for application in clinical medicine. Here, by leveraging the robotically controlled ink-jet deposition of low-viscosity conductive inks, extrusion of insulating silicone pastes and in situ activation of electrode surfaces via cold-air plasma, we show that soft biocompatible materials can be rapidly printed for the on-demand prototyping of customized electrode arrays well adjusted to specific anatomical environments, functions and experimental models. We also show, with the monitoring and activation of neuronal pathways in the brain, spinal cord and neuromuscular system of cats, rats and zebrafish, that the printed bioelectronic interfaces allow for long-term integration and functional stability. This technology might enable personalized bioelectronics for neuroprosthetic applications. © 2020, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited. We acknowledge funding from the following sources: the European Research Council (804005; IntegraBrain), Saint-Petersburg State University (project 51134206; funding to O.G. and N.M. for animal facility and biocompatibility studies, and validation of the implants on in vivo models), Technische Universität Dresden, the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (grants 20-015-00568-a (for the urodynamic study) and 18-33-20062-mol_a_ved (for developing the optimal electrode array configuration)), Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (MI 2117/1-1) and the Volkswagen Foundation (Freigeist 91 690). We thank D. E. Korzhevskiy (immunohistochemistry), Y. I. Sysoev (zebrafish model), A. V. Goriainova (functional tests) and T. Kurth (electron microscopy) for help and expertise.

Aicardi-Goutières syndrome (AGS) is a hereditary early onset encephalopathy. AGS patients display variable clinical manifestations including intracranial calcification, cerebral atrophy, white matter abnormalities and characteristic leukocytosis as well as a constitutive upregulation of type I IFN production indicative of a type I interferonopathy. Seven genes (SAMHD1, TREX1, RNASEH2B, RNASEH2C, RNASEH2A, ADAR1, IFIH1) have been associated with the AGS phenotype, up to now. Here, we describe the generation of three induced pluripotent stem cell lines from a patient with a deletion of coding exons 14 and 15 of the SAMHD1 gene.

Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR)-redirected T cells show great efficacy in the patient-specific therapy of hematologic malignancies. Here, we demonstrate that a DARPin with specificity for CD4 specifically redirects and triggers the activation of CAR engineered T cells resulting in the depletion of CD4+ target cells aiming for elimination of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) reservoir.