Gradients of properties increase the morphing and stiffening performance of bioinspired synthetic fin rays.

State-of-the-art morphing materials are either very compliant to achieve large shape changes (flexible metamaterials, compliant mechanisms, hydrogels), or very stiff but with infinitesimal changes in shape that require large actuation forces (metallic or composite panels with piezoelectric actuation). Morphing efficiency and structural stiffness are therefore mutually exclusive properties in current engineering morphing materials, which limits the range of their applicability. Interestingly, natural fish fins do not contain muscles, yet they can morph to large amplitudes with minimal muscular actuation forces from the base while producing large hydrodynamic forces without collapsing.

Microbial Pathway Thermodynamics: Stoichiometric Models Unveil Anabolic and Catabolic Processes.

The biotechnological exploitation of microorganisms enables the use of metabolism for the production of economically valuable substances, such as drugs or food. It is, thus, unsurprising that the investigation of microbial metabolism and its regulation has been an active research field for many decades. As a result, several theories and techniques were developed that allow for the prediction of metabolic fluxes and yields as biotechnologically relevant output parameters.

What controls carbon sequestration in plants under which conditions?

Photosynthetic organisms use photosynthesis to harvest sunlight and convert the solar energy into chemical energy, which is then used to reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide into organic molecules. This process forms the basis of all life on Earth, and stands at the beginning of the food chain which feeds the world population. Not surprisingly, many research efforts are currently ongoing aiming at improving growth and product yield of photosynthetic organisms, and several of these activities directly target the photosynthetic pathways.

A Comparison of Different Matrices for the Laboratory Diagnosis of the Epizootic American Foulbrood of Honey Bees.

American Foulbrood (AFB) of honey bees caused by the spore-forming bacterium is a notifiable epizootic in most countries. Authorities often consider a rigorous eradication policy the only sustainable control measure. However, early diagnosis of infected but not yet diseased colonies opens up the possibility of ridding these colonies of spores by the shook swarm method, thus preventing colony destruction by AFB or official control orders.

Improved efficiency of vibration-based sound power computation through multi-layered radiation resistance matrix symmetry.

Computing sound power using complex-valued surface velocities involves using a geometry-dependent acoustic radiation resistance matrix multiplied by a velocity vector to compute sound power for a given frequency range. Using a laser scan grid with constant spacing and a scalar radiator area approximation, a multi-layered Toeplitz symmetry exists in the radiation resistance matrix. An innovative approach was developed to exploit this Toeplitz symmetry.