143174 research outputs found
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Exploring different search approaches to discover donor molecules for organic solar cells
No full textPreprint versio
Multiscale modelling of supercapacitors with hierarchical structure
No full textStructural supercapacitors (SSCs) are a class of multifunctional composites that simultaneously provide load-carrying and energy storage capacities. This paper presents a physics-based continuum multiscale electrochemical model aimed at understanding the influence of design decisions on the electrochemical performance of mechanically robust supercapacitors (SCs). The approach was exemplified by considering carbon aerogel-modified carbon fibre-reinforced multifunctional electrodes in a room-temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) electrolyte. The new pseudo 4D (P4D) multiscale model integrates a 3D macroscopic dynamic model to solve the charge transport while coupling a 1D microscopic equilibrium electric double layer (EDL) model to determine the local voltage-dependent double layer capacitance of the porous structural electrode. The numerical model was evaluated to simulate the conventional electrochemical device characterisation methods: cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charging and discharging, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The model achieved prediction errors below 10 % for specific energy and capacitance, and around 20 % for specific power. Additionally, an asymmetrical electrochemical behaviour was predicted on the symmetric cell, exhibiting an unbalanced potential window and capacitance at the negative and positive electrodes. Overall, the proposed P4D multiscale electrochemical model provides a powerful tool for analysing, developing, and optimising SSCs and more general SCs with porous electrodes
Assessment of mental and behavioural non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's Disease using Artificial Intelligence (AI): a systematic review
No full textClosed-loop enhancement of plant photosynthesis via biomass-derived carbon dots in biohybrids
No full textImproving photosynthetic efficiency is pivotal for biomanufacturing and agriculture. Despite the progress on photosynthetic biohybrids integrating biocatalysts with materials, nanomaterials with increasing energy-efficiency as well as great biocompatibility and cost-effectiveness are needed. Here, we present a closed-loop strategy using biomass-derived carbon dots (CDs) for improving photosynthesis. We demonstrate that the CDs act as both light converters and photosensitizers by converting solar irradiation to red light and supplying light-excited electrons into the photosynthetic electron transfer chain. Biohybrids incorporating CDs and cyanobacteria or plant exhibited increased photosynthetic efficiency, when compared with the photosynthetic organism only. The cyanobacterial CO2-fixation rate and CO2-to-glycerol production were increased 2.4-fold and 2.2-fold, respectively, while Arabidopsis thaliana displayed a 1.8-fold increase in the fresh weight of the plant. Techno-economic analysis showed the competitive advantage of biomass-derived CDs over other nanomaterials. These CDs hold potential applications in future sustainable agriculture and solar-powered biomanufacturing
Abilities of design professors to distinguish design assignments generated by students and AI
No full textThis study aims to detect the ability of professors to distinguish design assignments generated by students with and without using AI. Ten students were recruited to undertake a conceptual design task twice, one with and one without the help of AI. 105 higher-education associate, assistant and full professors from industrial and product design programmes were recruited to assess the generated designs using a 7-point Likert Scale with nine indexes. The results indicate that assessors have moderate ability to distinguish between design assignments of students using AI and those where students did not use AI. Three cues to suggest the risk of the design assignment is made with AI instead of students who did not use AI were identified. By considering the three cues, lecturers distinguish design assignments generated by students with or without AI
Understanding the effects of suspension systems on lower-limb prosthesis rotation
No full textBackground:
Limb rotation within prosthetic sockets significantly affects the comfort, gait, and stability of lower-limb amputees. Despite advancements in suspension systems, empirical evidence validating their rotational control remains limited. This study aims to systematically compare the rotational resistance of 3 prosthetic suspension systems—Pin-Lock, Suction, and Hook-and-Loop (HOLO)—under controlled conditions, addressing a critical gap in prosthetic design research.
Methods:
We evaluate the rotational resistance of 3 different prosthetic suspension systems—Pin-Lock, Suction, and HOLO—under varying axial loads (0/40/80 kg) and both (medial and lateral) rotational directions. Using a custom-designed mock limb and identical 3D-printed sockets, each suspension system was evaluated using a materials testing machine. The angular displacement of the limb inside each socket was measured under a constant torque ramp of 1 Nm/s, up to a maximum torque of 8.5 Nm.
Results:
The HOLO system (9.67° at 80 kg) showed significantly less rotation than the Pin-Lock (13.34° at 80 kg, p < 0.01) and Suction (14.42° at 80 kg, p < 0.01) systems. The medial rotation was 10.5% and 26.9% less than lateral rotation for Pin-Lock and HOLO systems, respectively, and 25.5% greater for Suction (all p < 0.01). Increasing axial loads reduced rotation for the Pin-Lock system only.
Conclusions:
This is the first study to measure the effectiveness of different prosthetic suspension systems using a representative mock limb. The results show that there are significant differences between the systems, highlighting the need to consider a user's activity level and rotational demands in prosthetic provision
Disappearing glaciers of the Oregon Cascades, USA
No full textThe Oregon Cascades had 35 named glaciers on seven volcanoes in the 1980s, with 34 of those glaciers remaining by 2000. Here, we document the glaciers that fall into the Global Glacier Casualty List categories based on five years of field observations of these 34 glaciers. Five glaciers have disappeared, four have almost disappeared and eight are critically endangered. Thus, half of the Oregon Cascades named glaciers have disappeared, almost disappeared, or reached critically endangered status in the 21st century. Between 1980 and 2024, the May–October ablation season of the Oregon Cascades region warmed at ∼0.3°C per decade, with a 2020–24 mean temperature ∼1.7°C warmer than the 1975–84 mean. In contrast, there was no significant trend in November–April accumulation season precipitation. Given the significant rise in melt-season temperature, we attribute ongoing glacier disappearance in the Oregon Cascades to the warming climate
Imperial College London Grantham Institute for Climate Change and the Environment - Digitalisation for Smarter, Greener and More Inclusive Sustainable Development
No full textMarta Koch, PhD Researcher, Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London, shares her experience as UN Side Event Chair & UK Delegate at the 2025 United Nations Economic and Social Council Youth Forum
UK and European heatwave 2025
No full textThis background briefing covers evidence on the heatwave that affected the UK and Europe in June-July 2025. It also shares evidence on the impact of climate change on heatwaves, how heatwaves affect the economy, public attitudes towards heatwaves and what is being done to protect people in the UK
Hypoxia induces histone clipping and H3K4me3 loss in neutrophil progenitors resulting in long-term impairment of neutrophil immunity
No full textThe long-term impact of systemic hypoxia resulting from acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) on the function of short-lived innate immune cells is unclear. We show that patients 3–6 months after recovering from ARDS have persistently impaired circulating neutrophil effector functions and an increased susceptibility to secondary infections. These defects are linked to a widespread loss of the activating histone mark H3K4me3 in genes that are crucial for neutrophil activities. By studying healthy volunteers exposed to altitude-induced hypoxemia, we demonstrate that oxygen deprivation alone causes this long-term neutrophil reprogramming. Mechanistically, mouse models of systemic hypoxia reveal that persistent loss of H3K4me3 originates in proNeu and preNeu progenitors within the bone marrow and is linked to N-terminal histone 3 clipping, which removes the lysine residue for methylation. Thus, we present new evidence that systemic hypoxia initiates a sustained maladaptive reprogramming of neutrophil immunity by triggering histone 3 clipping and H3K4me3 loss in neutrophil progenitors