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Signs of safety: an investigation of how OHS professionals interpret injury metrics
No full textIntroduction: Injury metrics are traditional indicators of safety performance widely used by organizations, industry bodies, and regulatory agencies. In this paper we contend that they are semiotic signs leading to a variety of interpretations beyond their traditionally held meaning as a representation of an organization's safety performance. We argue that injury metrics are semiotic signs where different organizational uses and signals lead to a variety of interpretations amongst internal and external stakeholders.
Method: This exploratory study reveals these different uses and meanings through semi-structured interviews with 20 experienced occupational health and safety professionals from around the world. Through the uses of injury metrics that they described, we identified 17 separate and distinct meanings that signify four different objects of the injury metric, namely management control, image management, risk measurement, and trust in leadership.
Results: The findings demonstrate that the meaning of injury metrics is not singular but is contingent and contextually determined. With multiple meanings, a decreasing injury metric is not necessarily a sign of improving safety. It is suggested that injury metrics may support ‘safety work’ by OHS professionals and that they may have unintended consequences that are antithetical to safety in the workplace.
Practical applications: Given the role of injury metrics in indicating the safety of an organization, these findings have practical implications for the reliance placed on them and the inferred meanings.Journal of Safety Researc
Techno-economic analysis for smart hangar inspection operations through sensing and localisation at scale
No full textThe accuracy, robustness and affordability of localisation are fundamental to autonomous robotic inspection within aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) hangars. Hangars typically have high ceilings and are predominantly steel-framed structures with metal cladding. Because of this, they are regarded as GPS-denied environments, characterised by significant multipath effects and strict operational constraints, which together form a unique challenging setting. The lack of comparative techno-economic benchmarks for localisation technologies in such environments remains a critical gap. Addressing this, the paper presents the first techno-economic analysis that benchmarks motion capture (MoCap), ultra-wideband (UWB) and a ceiling-mounted camera (CMC) system across three operational scenarios: robot localisation, asset monitoring and surface defect detection within a single-bay hangar. A two-stage optimisation framework for camera selection and placement is introduced, which couples market-based camera-lens selection with an optimisation solver, producing camera layouts that minimise hardware while meeting accuracy and coverage targets. The consolidated blueprints provide quantification of the required equipment and its performance: 15 global-shutter GigE cameras are adequate for drone localisation, 9 cameras meet the requirements for on-bay monitoring and 49 high-resolution cameras facilitate defect mapping of the upper airframe surfaces for midsize defects. Across these scenarios, the study reports indicative performance and cost envelopes: a MoCap installation delivers submillimeter localisation at an estimated £190k per bay, UWB delivers centimetre-level tracking for around £49k and the proposed CMC system layouts achieve task-specific coverage with costs in the £9k–£77k range. The analysis equips MRO planners with an actionable method to balance accuracy, coverage and budget, demonstrating that an optimised CMC system can deliver robust and cost-effective sensing for next-generation smart hangars.The Aeronautical Journa
Positioning multi-intelligence agents for healthcare enterprises: toward evolving cyber-physical-social systems
No full textHealthcare enterprises, including providers, payers, pharmaceutical and biotech firms, medical device manufacturers, health IT companies, regulators, supply chain actors, and hybrid care models, face the complex challenge of balancing economic viability with equitable and environmentally-responsible care delivery. This challenge is compounded by entrenched asymmetries in access to information, analytical capabilities, and control over resources and decision-making, which constrain responsiveness and obstruct transitions toward inclusive, adaptive service delivery. In this article, the author argues for designing healthcare systems for punctuated evolution, rapid, transformative adjustments to shifting patient needs, emerging technologies, and evolving regulatory or environmental conditions, while operating in a poised equilibrium that balances stability and exploration. A smart service perspective is advanced, prioritizing adaptability, stakeholder alignment, and long-term resilience across healthcare and related domains. The author presents a computational and conceptual framework positioning smart services as evolving cyber-physical-social systems (eCPSS), anchored in the novel construct of multi-intelligence agents (MIAs). The core contribution is a mental model integrating physical, cyber, and social domains to address persistent asymmetries in intelligence, information, and resources. This model operationalizes adaptive intelligence by enabling MIAs to perceive context, learn from interaction, and align behavior with dynamic service goals. It introduces evolvability, the maintained capacity of an eCPSS to generate and retain beneficial variations while remaining viable. The healthcare sector is used to illustrate the framework's relevance, with a discussion of its extensibility to other smart service domains.Journal of Computing and Information Science in Engineerin
Integration of aerobic riverbank filtration and ultrafiltration for advanced water treatment and membrane ageing reduction
No full textReduced chemical usage and the development of cost-effective water treatment technologies are key priorities for safeguarding public health, particularly in the context of global carbon neutrality goals. Integrating nature-based riverbank filtration (RBF) with ultrafiltration (UF) offers an efficient and environmentally friendly approach for drinking water supply. However, traditionally deployed RBF systems operating across aerobic, anoxic, and anaerobic zones face practical challenges, including ion release and groundwater depletion. Focusing solely on the aerobic RBF may address these limitations; however, its impact on UF performance, particularly in relation to natural organic matter (NOM) as a major membrane foulant, remains poorly understood. As microbe-mediated processes in RBF also critically influence membrane performance, this study examined aerobic RBF’s influence on UF membrane fouling through comprehensive NOM and microbial analyses. The results showed that aerobic RBF pretreatment reduced UF fouling by approximately 77%, primarily through decreased organic accumulation on membrane surfaces. This mitigation was attributed to reductions in dissolved organic carbon, UV254, humic acid-like substances, and soluble microbial products (e.g., proteins). NOM molecular analysis revealed decreased quantities of proteins, lignin/carboxylic-rich alicyclic molecules (CRAM)-like compounds, and condensed aromatic structures (CAS). Adsorption accounted mainly for the removal of persistent compounds (e.g., CAS), while the removal of proteins and lignin was attributed to microbially mediated biotransformation by genera such as Streptomyces and Pseudomonas. These findings provide novel molecular-level insights into the dynamics of NOM in RBF and demonstrate the significant potential of aerobic RBF as an effective pretreatment step for UF towards advanced water treatment applications.This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (52221004, 52322001, 51820105011) and the Program of Excellent Youth Innovation Promotion Association, Chinese Academy of Sciences (Y2023010).Water Researc
Controlled experiments on dissolution and remediation of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene in distilled water and seawater
No full textPrior to the ratification of the London Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter in 1972, dumping of military munitions at sea was considered a safe and secure method of disposal. There is increasing desire to remove the now corroding and unstable munitions from this prime ocean real estate to develop offshore wind and solar farms. However, after 50–100 years of exposure to the marine environment, corroded munitions may be leaching toxic explosives to the environment, and remediation methods involving detonation are also likely to leave toxic residue. Therefore, to investigate the potential for explosive leaching at dump sites, the dissolution of the common high explosive 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) in seawater was investigated. Then, to determine the potential for remediation, the efficacy of commercial activated carbon and waste derived biochar for adsorption of TNT from seawater was investigated. It was observed that TNT dissolves slower in seawater compared to distilled water, which suggests that explosives in underwater ordnance may remain in bulk mass for longer periods of time than expected and be easier to remove. Furthermore, the small-scale laboratory test demonstrated that both activated carbon and biochar reduced the concentration of TNT in distilled and seawater by up to 90 % after only 2 h. This study provided insight into alternative sustainable remediation options for TNT-contaminated water using commercially available activated carbon and biochar generated from waste products.Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (PID2022-139732OB-C21)Sé neca Foundation-Science and Technology Agency of the Region of Murcia within the framework of the Regional Programme of Mobility, Cooperation and Knowledge Exchange "Jiménez de la Espada" (21727/EE/22).Heliyo
Deposition of alginate-oregano nanofibres on cotton gauze for potential antimicrobial applications
Get PDFCorrigendum to “Deposition of alginate-oregano nanofibres on cotton gauze for potential antimicrobial applications” [Int. J. Biol. Macromol. Vol. 319 (2025), 1-16 Article 145, 372]. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, Volume 319, Pt 4, August 2025, Article number 146240In this study, we developed an innovative natural antibacterial medical bandage composed of electrospun nanofibres derived from alginate (SAg) and oregano essential oil (OEO). The nanofibre deposition process was systematically optimised, achieving a controlled evolution of fibre formation at intervals of 1, 2, 3, 4, and 8 h. Over time, fibre morphology has changed from a dispersed network to a densely packed, homogeneous, fibrous, fully embedding cotton gauze nanofibre. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) revealed nanofibres with diameters ranging from 100 to 300 nm, 46 % measuring 100–200 nm, 37 % at 200–300 nm, and 14 % between 300 and 400 nm. Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) confirmed improved thermal stability in cross-linked samples. At the same time, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) shows the incorporation of OEO into the nanofibres shows OEO carvacrol, and thymol. Antibacterial efficacy tested inhibition zone assays against Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Listeria monocytogenes on double-layered bandages is 15 mm and 10 mm, respectively. Statistical analysis results from ANOVA confirmed that multi-layered bandages (TL-BSS) had significantly enhanced antibacterial activity compared to single-layered (SSS) and both-sided spun (BSS) configurations. Unlike conventional wound dressings, this study introduces a bioactive, nanofibre-integrated gauze with sustained antibacterial efficacy.The authors would like to acknowledge the Biomass Biorefinery Network (BBNet), the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) for their partial funding and the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) for sponsorship and scholarship support Award Number: PTDF/ED/OSS/PHD/AOO/1844/2020PHD152.International Journal of Biological Macromolecule
Unmanned aerial vehicles versus smart grids
Get PDFThe increasing threat of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to smart grid infrastructures poses critical challenges to energy systems security. This study examines smart grid vulnerabilities to UAV‐based attacks and proposes a novel optimisation framework to enhance grid resilience. Employing a multi‐objective optimisation approach using the Non‐dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm III (NSGA‐III) and a game‐theoretic Stackelberg model, the research captures the strategic interplay between UAV operators and grid defenders. Key contributions include the development of a multi‐objective optimisation framework, integration of adversarial game theory, incorporation of dynamic environmental conditions, and generation of Pareto‐optimal solutions for strategic defence planning. This research makes four pivotal contributions: (a) the design of a comprehensive multi‐objective optimisation framework tailored for UAV strike optimisation, (b) the integration of game‐theoretic principles to model adversarial behaviours, (c) the inclusion of dynamic environmental factors to improve solution robustness, and (d) the application of NSGA‐III to generate trade‐off solutions, equipping decision‐makers with diverse strategies to enhance grid resilience. By addressing an urgent and timely challenge, this work offers practical guidance for fortifying smart grid infrastructures against emerging UAV threats in increasingly complex operational environments.The authors would like to acknowledge the support provided by the Researchers Supporting Project (Project number:RSPD2025R635), King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.IET Smart Gri
Exploring advanced and sustainable bioaugmentation-enhanced ultrafiltration processes for the removal of emerging contaminants
Get PDFThe development of cost-effective and sustainable water treatment technologies is crucial for supporting the water sector and the public in achieving global sustainable development goals (SDG 6) and carbon neutrality targets. Ultrafiltration (UF), known for its compactness, relatively high performance, and ease of operation, has been widely deployed in water treatment. However, its limitations in removing some emerging contaminants (ECs) and membrane fouling issues have hindered its broader application. This study investigated the incorporation of bioaugmented filtration into conventional UF processes to enhance ECs removal and mitigate membrane fouling during the treatment of real drinking water sources. In addition to effectively removing microorganisms (eukaryotes and bacteria), polysaccharides (13.9%), and inorganic pollutants (CaCO3, MgO, SiO2, and Al2O3), the proposed approach also demonstrated superior removal (4.6%–100.0%) of four target ECs (atenolol, carbamazepine, trimethoprim, and sulfamethoxazole) compared to direct UF process (1.5%–47.5%). After 56 days of operation, the bioaugmented pre-treatment significantly reduced transmembrane pressure (TMP) by 80.2% compared to the direct UF process. Mechanisms studies further reassured that ECs removal followed oxidation during bioaugmentation pre-treatment. The time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry with in-depth analysis capability (around 5 nm) revealed that the UF membrane primarily removed atenolol through adsorption. The toxicity prediction results of typical ECs and their degradation intermediates indicated a significant reduction in ecological risk for most intermediates. The findings from this work demonstrate the feasibility of using low-carbon and few-chemical water treatment technologies to secure drinking water quality.China National Petroleum Corporation (China), National Natural Science Foundation of China, Youth Innovation Promotion AssociationThis work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (52322001, 52388101, 52070183), the Program of the Excellent Youth Innovation Promotion Association of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Y2023010), and the China National Petroleum Corporation (2023ZZ1305).Journal of Membrane Scienc
AI-assisted in silico trial for the optimization of osmotherapy after ischaemic stroke
Get PDFOver the past few decades, osmotherapy has commonly been employed to reduce intracranial pressure in post-stroke oedema. However, evaluating the effectiveness of osmotherapy has been challenging due to the difficulties in clinical intracranial pressure measurement. As a result, there are no established guidelines regarding the selection of administration protocol parameters. Considering that the infusion of osmotic agents can also give rise to various side effects, the effectiveness of osmotherapy has remained a subject of debate. In previous studies, we proposed the first mathematical model for the investigation of osmotherapy and validated the model with clinical intracranial pressure data. The physiological parameters vary among patients and such variations can result in the failure of osmotherapy. Here, we propose an AI-assisted in silico trial for further investigation of the optimisation of administration protocols. The proposed deep neural network predicts intracranial pressure evolution over osmotherapy episodes. The effects of the parameters and the choice of dose of osmotic agents are investigated using the model. In addition, clinical stratifications of patients are related to a brain model for the first time for the optimisation of treatment of different patient groups. This provides an alternative approach to tackle clinical challenges with in silico trials supported by both mathematical/physical laws and patient-specific biomedical information.Stephen J. Payne is supported by a Yushan Fellowship from the Ministry of Education, Taiwan (111V1004-2). David A. Clifton is supported by the Pandemic Sciences Institute at the University of Oxford; the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Oxford Biomedical Research Centre (BRC); an NIHR Research Professorship; a Royal Academy of Engineering Research Chair; and the InnoHK Hong Kong Centre for Centre for Cerebro-cardiovascular Engineering (COCHE).IEEE Journal of Biomedical and Health Informatic
Quantification of smokeless powder (SLP) additives on hands after direct handling of bulk samples via a filter-and-shoot method
Get PDFCorrigendum to “Quantification of smokeless powder (SLP) additives on hands after direct handling of bulk samples via a filter-and-shoot method” [Sci. Justice (2025) 101262]
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scijus.2025.101282Smokeless powders (SLPs) are easily available energetic materials that are often used in the construction of improvised explosive devices. Following a bombing incident, hand swabs are routinely collected from persons of interest (POIs) to assess potential SLP handling. However, the evidential significance of analytical findings remains difficult to assign due to the lack of systematic data on residue transfer. This study aimed to address this gap by determining the quantities transferred to hands (qT) of three common SLP additives – diphenylamine (DPA), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), and ethyl centralite (EC) – following direct handling of bulk samples, with the specific goal of enabling the estimation of expected qT ranges on a POI's hands under the hypothesis that they had handled SLP. A streamlined filter-and-shoot method was developed for residue collection and analysis, allowing direct chromatographic analysis without preconcentration steps. The results showed that qT values typically ranged from the high nanogram to low microgram level, with DBP exhibiting the highest values and EC the lowest, mirroring their relative concentrations in the SLP formulations. The total mass of SLP handled (MSLP) and the handler variability (HID) were identified as significant factors influencing qT, whereas the type of SLP (TSLP) had a much weaker effect. Notably, a strong linear dependence between qT and MSLP was observed for all the three compounds. Based on these findings, regression models were developed to estimate expected qT ranges (including means and standard deviations) at different MSLP values, providing a practical tool to refine interpretation where information on the amount of SLP handled is available. By establishing empirical data on SLP residue transfer, this study fills a critical knowledge gap in the literature, enhancing the ability to assess the significance of forensic findings and ultimately contributing to more robust interpretations in cases involving suspected SLP handling.King's College London; HR/DP-22/23-36799This work was kindly supported by a Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) Research Fund grant (grant no. R23-8065799070).Science & Justic