Open Access

We present the instrumentation of the newly constructed prestressed concrete bridge BW2 along the A117 motorway, located at the southeastern border between Berlin and Brandenburg, using distributed fiber optic sensing. The fiber optic sensors were embedded into all major components of the bridge structure, including the deck slab, abutments, and all precast girders. The fiber optic sensing cables were designed to allow flexible configuration of measurement sections. During the construction phase, verification measurements and a load test were performed to evaluate installation quality, sensor performance, and data reliability. The results demonstrate that distributed fiber optic sensing is an effective and practical technology for structural health monitoring of new bridge constructions and can represent a key enabler for predictive maintenance management.

Immuno-detection biosensors represent a well-established and widely recognised class of analytical tools. The popularity of these devices can be attributed to their exceptional selectivity and impressive sensitivity. However, when trace-level detection is required — particularly for small molecules — sensitivity can become a limiting factor. This challenge evident in fields such as forensic analysis, where the in-situ detection of explosives remains difficult due to the scarcity of highly sensitive sensor platforms. In this work, an optical biosensor designed for the highly specific and sensitive detection of HomeMade Explosives (HME) is introduced. The immunoassay is embedded within a hydrogel matrix that is both permeable to the analyte and optically transparent, thereby enabling interrogation of fluorescently labeled antibodies. The signal readout is achieved using Supercritical Angle Fluorescence (SAF), an advanced microscopy technique that enhances surface-level fluorescence detection while suppressing bulk emission. In order to implement SAF, a parabolic optical geometry is required. The use of a high-resolution SLA printer (with a resolution of less than 22 µm) allowed us to fabricate this tailored optical element. Prior to the fabrication stage, optical simulations were conducted to validate the light path for optimal SAF collection. Additionally, to study the optical suitability of the material used, a spectroscopic and physical characterisation was conducted. This cost-effective approach, characterised by rapid production and minimal design constraints, was specifically engineered to capture emission at the immunoanalytical interface. In order to facilitate antibody-specific recognition, the glass surface was functionalised with a hapten corresponding to the target analyte, thereby enabling non-covalent attachment of labelled antibodies. This configuration permits antibody displacement and, consequently, SAF signal modulation (see Figure 1). The integration of immunoanalytical recognition with SAF detection has resulted in a platform that exhibits modularity and versatility. This development signifies the potential for the advancement of next-generation sensors capable of trace-level detection and substance identification.

In the SimuCrown project, ageing mechanisms within the crown-cement-tooth complex (CCTC) are investigated, with a focus on high-resolution structural characterisation. Although dental crowns are widely used indirect restorations worldwide, links between clinical complications such as debonding, fractures and time-dependent cement degradation remain insufficiently understood. To address this, we employ high-resolution X-ray µCT and synchrotron X-ray refraction radiography (SXRR) to identify microstructural ageing processes which are inaccessible with conventional imaging. CCTCs subjected to controlled chewing simulation are examined using SXRR to detect structural alterations, interfacial defects, and the progression of damage within the cement layer and neighbouring materials. Our research explores crack initiation, pore evolution, and interfacial integrity using SXRR, capturing degradation phenomena across multiple time scales. By integrating synchrotron imaging with functional ageing simulation and computational modelling, the SimuCrown project offers a robust framework for evaluating the long-term performance of dental restorations. The outcomes contribute to the optimisation of materials and cementation approaches aimed at improving the clinical durability of dental restorations.

Emulsion explosives based on ammonium nitrate are an easy-to-use explosive mainly used for mining. In principle, the ammonium nitrate emulsion can be sensitized by various methods like gassing or the addition of microballoons. The introduction of these hot-spots is important for an adiabatic compression and subsequent detonative propagation. This technique is reliable even at colder temperatures. Now, experiments in a rectangular test setup have shown that the size and composition of the sensitizing material indeed have an impact on the detonation ability of the emulsion explosive. This happens to an extent of a full detonation at 20°C and a failure at 0°C. Whereas, usually the ambient temperature does not have an influence on an effective detonation. Different calorimetric methods like DSC and MMC, as well as practical detonation tests and the UN-Test F.3 (BAM Trauzl Test) have been used to examine the behavior of emulsion explosives.

The coupling of electrospray ionization (ESI) with the newly discovered acoustic ion manipulation (AIM) phenomenon is demonstrated for biopolymeric ions, including peptides, proteins, and oligonucleotides. It is shown that large(i.e.,up to ca.29 kDa) and multiply charged Ions are influenced by the presence of acoustic fields. Specifically, we demonstrate the ability to gate, modulate, redirect, and focus These biomolecular Ions with an acoustic field. To ensure effective acoustic control of ESI-generated ions, it was necessary to desolvate the electrospray droplets and ions prior to the AIM field through optimization of drying tube temperature and spray gas pressure. In general, small and highly charged Ions were more readily deflected from the unstable antinode Region toward the acoustic nodes.This trend Extended to acharge-state-dependent behavior for proteinions, where higher-charge Ions of the same molecule werere directed more easily than their lower-charge counterparts. This work laysa foundation for the implementation of AIMin the study of biomolecules aswell as other analytes introducedbyESI to ion-based spectroscopic techniques, such as massspectrometry and ion mobility spectrometry.