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Augmented Reality Navigation in Robot-Assisted Surgery
No full textIn the last few decades, major complications in surgery have emerged as a significant public health issue, and so the practical implementation of safety measures to prevent injuries and deaths in different phases of surgery is required. Augmented reality (AR) is considered one of the most promising solutions for safer procedures in several surgical specialties. Fusing patient-specific preoperative information, typically 3D models extracted from CT scans or MRI, with real-time surgical images allows the surgeon to have detailed information on the anatomical structure of the surgical target intraoperatively. The coupling of AR and robotics represents the next step toward introducing awareness into the surgical room, thus enhancing the surgeon’s perceptual, cognitive, and manipulative capabilities. This chapter describes the main areas involved in an AR navigation system integrated into a robotic teleoperated platform. It will describe the modalities to obtain a patient-specific virtual model, the methodologies to develop an AR navigation system, and the methods to implement it in a teleoperated surgical robotic platform. Recent advances in the field are also presented, providing as an example a novel integrated system for real-time AR navigation in robotic minimally invasive surgery (RMIS), composed of a robotic endoscopic camera, teleoperated implementing a software-based remote center of motion (RCM), and an AR navigation software based on an initial manual registration of virtual 3D models with the real anatomy
Defining new approaches for retrofit life cycle analysis to improve design outcomes
No full textDomestic retrofit is well established as a means of reducing energy consumption in buildings and therefore mitigating climate change. However when life cycle carbon, i.e. carbon impacts associated with the retrofit materials is considered, the life cycle carbon benefit remains under-developed. Wider uptake of retrofit life cycle analysis (LCA) at the design stage would ensure that maximum energy and carbon efficiencies are being achieved both at an individual building and a global scale. Yet robust guidance for retrofit LCA does not exist, and so any LCA delivered at present is subject to much interpretation by the analyst. This paper considers the well-regarded guidance ’Whole life carbon assessment for the built environment, 2nd edition’ [1], and evaluates its usefulness to retrofit LCA. The research presented here finds that a more specific approach for life cycle carbon and energy analysis of retrofit is required. The RICS approach addresses only carbon analysis and so can easily overlook the advantages of energy demand reductions; many of the default values are unsuitable for a small-scale project like a domestic retrofit; and the method for deriving uncertainty could provide false confidence to users. Instead, to ensure that life cycle analysis outcomes can be pinpointed to retrofit measures with minimal conflating factors, carefully considered deviations and amendments are proposed. This specificity ensures that results can be used to hone a retrofit design, leading to better life cycle design decision making, facilitate development of a high quality retrofit life cycle dataset, build confidence in understanding retrofit life cycle general trends, enable better strategic and policy level decisions, and importantly, reduce life cycle carbon and energy impacts of retrofit. Ultimately, the redefined LCA approach proposed in this paper, specifically for retrofit, with parameters focused on thermal performance, lays the foundations for a new standard for retrofit life cycle studies
Thriving Workplaces:Bridging Mental Health Research and Practice
No full textThis book brings together several prominent areas of concern for both the academic and the workplace practitioner to understand mental health in the Asian workplace.Drawing on the authors’ unique combined expertise in workplace psychology and sociolinguistics, the book presents a comprehensive theoretical background of mental health in Asia, with particular focus on workplace environments. It explores critical themes including stigma, the role of technology, and the experiences of women and young people in professional settings. This work presents original empirical findings gathered through a mixed-methods research design specifically developed by the authors to examine workplace mental health issues in depth. Leveraging their ongoing research agenda, the authors provide valuable implementation strategy suggestions to enhance workplace mental health practices, effectively bridging the gap between academic findings and practical applications. This is a book of interest to researchers and postgraduate students across psychology and sociolinguistics, as well as workplace professionals in communication, organizational management, human resources and well-being
Neural Network Verification for Gliding Drone Control:A Case Study
No full textAs machine learning is increasingly deployed in autonomous systems, verification of neural network controllers is becoming an active research domain. Existing tools and annual verification competitions suggest that soon this technology will become effective for real-world applications. Our application comes from the emerging field of microflyers that are passively transported by the wind, which may have various uses in weather or pollution monitoring. Specifically, we investigate centimetre-scale bio-inspired gliding drones that resemble Alsomitra macrocarpa diaspores. In this paper, we propose a new case study on verifying Alsomitra-inspired drones with neural network controllers, with the aim of adhering closely to a target trajectory. We show that our system differs substantially from existing VNN and ARCH competition benchmarks, and show that a combination of tools holds promise for verifying such systems in the future, if certain shortcomings can be overcome. We propose a novel method for robust training of regression networks, and investigate formalisations of this case study in Vehicle and CORA. Our verification results suggest that the investigated training methods do improve performance and robustness of neural network controllers in this application, but are limited in scope and usefulness. This is due to systematic limitations of both Vehicle and CORA, and the complexity of our system reducing the scale of reachability, which we investigate in detail. If these limitations can be overcome, it will enable engineers to develop safe and robust technologies that improve people’s lives and reduce our impact on the environment.</p
Resource recovery and water reclamation from acid mine drainage: Market analysis, industry trends, and future research directions
No full textAcid mine drainage (AMD) is a highly recalcitrant wastewater matrix that is typically generated from coal and metal mining activities and contains elevated levels of (heavy) metals and sulfates, along with rare earth elements (REEs) and radionuclides in some instances. This review seeks to elucidate the physicochemical characteristics of AMD and potential resource recovery avenues that can grossly underpin circularity and introduce the waste-to-resource paradigm. Specifically, opportunities for major metals (e.g., iron (Fe), aluminum (Al), and manganese (Mn)) and critical minerals, such as cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), and notably, REEs recovery, along with other minor constituents, such as radionuclides, were explored. Other valorization avenues, such as sulfates transformation to sulfuric acid and recovery, and water reclamation were further explored. The techniques for resource recovery from AMD, such as precipitation, adsorption, solvent extraction, and ion exchange, were discussed, as well as possible industrial uses of the recovered materials (e.g., coagulants, adsorbents, pigments and catalysts). The beneficiation and valorization of AMD can minimize ecological footprint associated with this notorious mine water effluent, and, to a larger extent, reduce the extraction of virgin resource, such as REEs, while water reclamation can provide water security in water-scarce regions and countries. The recovered resources can provide an important revenue stream by offsetting the treatment costs and even making the process self-sustainable due to the high value of certain products. For example, the REEs global market in 2023 was USD14.2 billion by 2033, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12 %, thus denoting that recovering REEs from AMD could be profitable, while it also reduces mining requirements and associated environmental impacts. Finally, knowledge gaps in terms of recoverability, along with challenges, prospects, and avenues for further research into this growing field were also distilled
Comparison of international wind loading codes with a proposed Computational Fluid Dynamics framework considering the slenderness of buildings
No full textThis study compares the latest editions of five international wind loading codes -namely, the American code (ASCE 7–22), the Japanese code (AIJ-2019), the Australian/New Zealand code (AS/NZS 1170.2:2021), the European code (EN 1991-1-4:2018), and the Canadian code (NBCC 2020)- against a proposed Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) framework. The comparison is based on 12 isolated square buildings situated in open terrain, with height-to-plan-dimension ratios (H/B) ranging from 1 to 12. The objective is to classify each code according to the H/B ratio, identify its strengths and limitations, and highlight the scenarios where wind tunnel testing becomes essential. The influence of building natural frequency is also examined. Numerical results reveal that, for along-wind loads, ASCE 7–22 aligns well with CFD predictions for H/B ≤ 6, when the directionality factor is not considered. AIJ 2019 and NBCC 2020 show good agreement for H/B ≤ 8, AS/NZS 1170.2:2021 for H/B ≤ 5, and EN 1991-1-4:2018 for H/B ≥ 6. For across-wind base moments, AS/NZS 1170.2:2021 matches the CFD results well at H/B ratios of 3 and 4. In terms of acceleration, EN 1991-1-4:2018 provides the best match for along-wind acceleration, while NBCC 2020 performs best for cross-wind acceleration. Furthermore, the findings confirm the necessity of employing wind tunnel testing or a CFD-based approach when the building exceeds an H/B ratio of 4, as across-wind effects become dominant beyond this threshold
Discovery of globally rare CYP51 mutations associated with azole resistance in Iranian Zymoseptoria tritici isolates
No full textBackgroundSeptoria tritici blotch, caused by Zymoseptoria tritici, is a major wheat disease worldwide. Demethylation inhibitor (DMI) fungicides, which target the sterol 14α-demethylase enzyme encoded by the CYP51 gene, remain central to disease control. In Iran, propiconazole is extensively applied, raising concerns about the evolution of resistance. This study investigated potential CYP51-mediated resistance mechanisms in Iranian Z. tritici populations.ResultsTwenty-eight isolates collected from six major wheat-producing provinces were assessed for propiconazole sensitivity using a microdilution assay and were classified as sensitive, tolerant, or resistant based on IC₅₀ values. Sequencing of the CYP51 coding region in representative isolates revealed several amino acid substitutions. Two novel mutations (G450R and G516D) were identified, together with rare variants previously reported at low global frequencies (E454K and L4V) and well-established resistance-associated changes such as Y461S and ΔY459/G460. These mutations defined seven haplotypes with variable resistance phenotypes. To validate these findings, we also performed whole-genome sequencing (WGS) on representative Iranian isolates. The WGS results were fully consistent with targeted sequencing, confirming the robustness of CYP51 mutation detection. Gene expression analysis showed inducible CYP51 upregulation in the most resistant isolate. Structural modelling using both homology-based and AlphaFold2 predictions indicated that the novel substitutions may alter surface electrostatics or cavity properties of the enzyme, potentially affecting fungicide binding.ConclusionsThis study documents the emergence of novel resistance-associated mutations in Iranian Z. tritici populations, expanding the spectrum of known CYP51 variants. The findings highlight the interplay between coding mutations, regulatory changes, and structural flexibility in shaping fungicide resistance. An integrated approach combining phenotypic assays, sequencing, expression analysis, and structural modelling provides a robust framework for monitoring resistance and informing sustainable fungicide use in wheat disease management
Embodied carbon tracking in the construction supply chain: phenomenological insights into challenges and strategies
No full textPurposeEffective tracking of embodied carbon (EC) across construction supply chains is critical for decarbonisation but remains challenged by fragmented data, regulatory gaps and limited digital integration. This study aims to identify key EC tracking challenges and essential implementation strategies and evaluates the role of digital technologies in facilitating comprehensive EC tracking.Design/methodology/approachA phenomenological research design was used, involving semi-structured interviews with eight UK-based construction professionals experienced in EC management.FindingsFindings revealed that barriers like data inconsistency and low awareness can be overcome through strategies such as automation, collaboration and early planning. Digital technologies were revealed to be pivotal enablers, enhancing transparency and real-time monitoring.Originality/valueThis study advances EC scholarship by providing phenomenological evidence from UK practitioners on supply-chain EC tracking, yielding a consolidated typology of challenges, implementation strategies and adoption levers. It bridges the gap between theoretical frameworks and practical implementation by empirically identifying the specific strategies that practitioners perceive as essential for overcoming EC tracking challenges within the construction supply chain. Furthermore, it provides empirical evidence on the pivotal role of digital technologies in enhancing data transparency and real-time monitoring, thereby contributing actionable insights for industry stakeholders striving for a low-carbon built environment. This study offers an actionable framework for industry practitioners, policymakers and technology developers to advance EC tracking
Longitudinal analysis shows possible distinct patterns of associations between conspiracy beliefs and either institutional distrust or the sense of precarity
No full textThe paper reports longitudinal analyses examining the extent to which institutional trust mediates the relationship between individuals' sense of precarity and their adherence to conspiracy beliefs. Across three waves, 925 participants (50.2% female) between the ages of 18 and 85 (M = 49.53; SD = 15.81) reported subjective appraisals of their financial situation (precarity), trust in institutions and adherence to conspiracy beliefs. The current study extends the previous analyses by including three-wave longitudinal data. The preregistered autoregressive cross-lagged panel model supports the notion that a sense of precarity follows adherence to conspiracy beliefs rather than preceding them, while institutional (dis)trust and conspiracy beliefs show a bidirectional pattern. However, the random-intercept cross-lagged panel model does not corroborate this, suggesting that the effects may be driven by stable between-person differences rather than actual within-person changes. Additionally, the latter model reveals two separate temporal patterns linking conspiracy beliefs with either the sense of precarity or institutional trust, opening the possibility that our results were driven by two distinct underlying mechanisms. The paper discusses the importance of longitudinal studies for a more accurate understanding of social-psychological realities in which conspiracy beliefs and suspicions of institutions may flourish
In Situ Extrusion Processing of Treated and Untreated Pineapple Leaf Fibre-Reinforced PLA Composites for Improved Impact Performance
No full textMaterial extrusion (MEX) 3D-printed parts are primarily used for prototyping rather than functional components due to lower mechanical strength. To address this limitation and promote sustainability, current work explores the reinforcement of plant-based polylactic acid (PLA) with pineapple leaf fibre (PALF). An in situ approach was proposed to embed continuous PALF within the middle layer of a 3D-printed component during the MEX process. An experimental investigation was conducted to evaluate the impact performance of composites produced via this new fabrication method. To optimize the fibre–matrix interface, an alkaline treatment was applied to the natural fibre, enhancing interfacial adhesion. Neat PLA, along with two types of PALF-reinforced PLA composite, were printed with both single-strand and three-strand fibre configurations. Fracture surfaces were analyzed under a digital microscope and a scanning electron microscope (SEM) to correlate morphological characteristics with the impact strength. The results showed that the impact strength of the three-strand treated PALF-PLA composite (3 PALF-PLA) surpassed that of neat PLA by 2.71% due to reduced porosity. In contrast, the one-strand PALF-PLA composites exhibited lower performance compared to neat PLA due to the presence of the fibre gap caused by the mid-print pause. Treated fibres consistently outperformed untreated ones due to their rougher surface morphology resulting from alkaline treatment. The results demonstrate that the combination of alkaline treatment and continuous fibre reinforcement significantly enhances energy absorption of 3D-printed MEX parts and offers a sustainable pathway for 3D-printed MEX parts
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