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Journal articleChurkin A, Pinson P, Pozo D, et al., 2027, , Electric Power Systems Research, Vol: 263, ISSN: 0378-7796
Operation of modern power systems depends on high-quality data and forecasts. As the provision of valuable forecasts shifts to independent providers, such as renewable and distributed generators, there is a growing need for forecast-sharing markets. However, existing forecast valuation mechanisms, often inspired by game theory, overlook physical network constraints and the dispersed locations of forecast providers in realistic power systems. This work shows that widely used valuation methods, such as the Shapley value, can yield counterintuitive results when applied to load forecasting in distribution networks. Specifically, due to the location of providers and voltage constraints, less accurate forecasts may appear more valuable than precise ones, while some providers may even be penalised. Moreover, value-oriented mechanisms lack incentive compatibility, as certain providers may systematically misreport load forecasts to receive higher payments. These findings expose the limitations of existing forecast valuation approaches and suggest that incorporating accuracy-based scoring may enhance value-oriented mechanisms.
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Journal articlePeters A, Pinson P, Banovic O, et al., 2027, , Electric Power Systems Research, Vol: 263, ISSN: 0378-7796
This work presents the novel open-source platform Wind Power Forecast for open and accessible wind power forecasting across Europe. The platform is motivated by the limited accessibility of wind power forecasting tools, which are often not openly available, difficult to adapt to arbitrary wind power plants (WPPs), or restricted by limited data availability. To address this, a model based on Multi-Layer Perceptrons (MLPs) is developed to generalise across arbitrary WPPs, enabling forecasts for existing and custom WPPs without asset-specific training. In this work, ”real-time forecast” refers to forecasts that are automatically updated using the most recent available weather forecast data. The model is trained on wind speeds at 100 m and WPP data, namely turbine type, hub height, age, and recorded production data, and it outperforms a power-curve benchmark. A web application renders the forecasts publicly available, visualises them on an interactive map, and allows users to define custom WPPs. In addition, a crowdsourcing feature enables users to upload production time series in order to extend the database and continuously improve the model. The platform is intended to particularly benefit smaller stakeholders and researchers by improving accessibility, transparency, interpretability, and opportunities for community-based contribution.
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Journal articleAmatuni L, Clemm C, Sprecher B, et al., 2026, , Communications Earth and Environment, Vol: 7
Product reuse advances circular economy by reducing material demand. However, environmental assessments often assume reused products fully replace new ones, or they overlook market changes and shortened lifespans driven by resale and repurchase opportunities. This study presents an empirically based analysis of the second-hand smartphone market and its cumulative effects on manufacturing demand and carbon emissions. Integrating consumer survey data and product lifetime estimates in a stock-and-flow model, we find that in the United States, each second-hand transaction currently extends smartphone use time by 40%, displaces 0.40 new devices, and that circular consumption results in a 34% lower annual carbon footprint. With 25% of consumers purchasing used phones, production demand and carbon emissions are lowered by 15% and 14%, respectively. Yet, shortened use times offset nearly half the potential gains. If reuse became the norm, manufacturing demand could decline by one-third, revealing both the promise and the limits of reuse.
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Journal articleRiley S, Vamvakeros A, Quino G, et al., 2026, , Communications Materials, Vol: 7
Understanding the strain tolerance of both standard and mechanically flexible battery electrodes is prerequisite for optimizing performance, safety, and longevity, particularly in heavy-duty applications, flexible electronics and wearables. Achieving this requires a deeper understanding of how mechanical strain drives electrode degradation. In this work, we directly compare the strain response of electrospun (flexible) and slurry-cast (conventional) electrodes. To simulate acute mechanical stress, electrodes underwent a controlled 180° folding, pressing, and unfolding protocol designed to induce measurable damage, we then employed a combination of characterization techniques, including synchrotron X-ray nano-computed tomography, X-ray diffraction mapping, electrochemical analysis, and in situ Tensiometer-scanning electron microscopy to assess both structural and electrochemical degradation modes and provide a standardised upper-bound for strain induced damage. Our results reveal that electrospun electrodes exhibit significantly greater resilience to deformation, attributed to their freestanding architecture and fibrous morphology. These findings underscore the importance of characterizing deformation mechanisms to guide the design of high-performance batteries.
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Journal articleMalone L, Cardin MA, Cilliers J, et al., 2026, , Acta Astronautica, Vol: 246, Pages: 745-759, ISSN: 0094-5765
As human exploration of the Moon and Mars transitions from temporary missions to long-term habitation, in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) is expected to play a pivotal role in enabling future sustainable economic and scientific activities in space. Designing and operating ISRU systems under such extreme and uncertain conditions, however, presents major challenges, ranging from dealing with harsh environmental conditions, regulatory complexity, to differing stakeholder risk tolerance profiles and unpredictable technological system behavior. This study introduces a novel experimental methodology to investigate how human factors playing an important role in situational awareness can influence ISRU-related design decision-making and associated performance under uncertainty. Specifically, this study addresses the following research question: What are the main and interaction effects of different levels of visual fidelity and emotional cues on users’ ability to manage remote lunar resource production systems under uncertainty? A controlled user study involving 33 participants used a serious game platform to explore the effects of two key variables: visual fidelity of the simulation and presence of emotional cues. In a realistic though simplified mission, participants were tasked with operating a simulated lunar ISRU system to supply water sustainably to a lunar habitat. Results show that emotional cues can significantly enhance participants’ performance, measured through a novel operational sustainability metric, particularly in low-fidelity visual environments. The results provide no evidence of statistically significant correlation between situational awareness and system performance. These findings highlight the importance of immersive and affective elements in simulation-based training platforms. The proposed methodology provides a structured, replicable framework to evaluate decision-making in complex space systems, and offers valuable insights into how
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Journal articleDemirel P, Kesidou E, Wu L, 2026, , Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Vol: 230, ISSN: 0040-1625
The impact of different policy instruments and policy mixes on innovation novelty remains unclear, particularly in emerging economies. This study contributes to the literature by examining the context-specific associations between innovation policies and different magnitudes of novelty in innovation outcomes. Our findings suggest that exposure to R&D tax credits is associated with increases in innovations that can be considered both as relatively more novel and less novel, in line with the market conforming design R&D tax credits that mimic firms' existing R&D portfolios. Conversely, R&D subsidies, often characterised by ‘picking the winners’, are mainly associated with relatively less novel innovation outcomes. We further show that policy mixes that involve R&D subsidies are more likely to support relatively less novel, domestic innovations. Building on Sanjaya Lall's technological capability approach, we propose a conceptualization of incremental innovation and argue that R&D subsidies should not be viewed merely as a misallocation of resources toward relatively less novel innovations at the expense of more novel alternatives. Instead, they should be seen as a context-specific policy mechanism for enabling emerging economies to build and accumulate the technological capabilities necessary for innovation. We empirically test these hypotheses using a unique longitudinal dataset (2013−2021) of 4162 publicly traded firms in China and estimate conditional treatment effects using a propensity score matching method. Our results underscore the nuanced and context-specific effects of R&D tax credits and subsidies on innovation novelty, offering new insights for innovation policy in emerging economies.
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Journal articleWen H, Pinson P, 2026, , European Journal of Operational Research, Vol: 332, Pages: 492-504, ISSN: 0377-2217
Forecast reconciliation is considered an effective method to achieve coherence (within a forecast hierarchy) and to improve forecast quality. However, the value of reconciled forecasts in downstream decision-making tasks has been mostly overlooked. In a multi-agent setup with heterogeneous loss functions, this oversight may lead to unfair outcomes, hence resulting in conflicts during the reconciliation process. To address this, we propose a value-oriented forecast reconciliation approach that focuses on the forecast value for all individual agents. Fairness is ensured through the use of a Nash bargaining framework. Specifically, we model this problem as a cooperative bargaining game, where each agent aims to optimize their own gain while contributing to the overall reconciliation process. We then present a primal-dual algorithm for parameter estimation based on empirical risk minimization. From an application perspective, we consider an aggregated wind energy trading problem, where profits are distributed using a weighted allocation rule. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach through several numerical experiments, showing that it consistently results in increased profits for all agents involved.
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Journal articleVan Zalk N, 2026,
Designing Minds: Toward Systematic Integration of Psychological Science in Design for Augmented Humanity
, Design for Augmented Humanity, ISSN: 2977-6481Design for augmented humanity increasingly operates at the level of human cognition, emotion, and behaviour. As technologies extend and reconfigure human capabilities, design decisions play a constitutive role in shaping how individuals perceive, think, and act. Despite this, the integration of psychological science into design practice remains fragmented and unsystematic. While psychological concepts are widely referenced, they are often applied in selective and decontextualised ways, limiting both explanatory depth and practical effectiveness.This paper advances the position that the central challenge is not the absence of psychological science in design, but the lack of its systematic integration. Building on this critique, it introduces a framework of levels of psychological grounding, describing progressive forms of integration from informal awareness and ad hoc application to structured incorporation in design processes, evaluation, and interdisciplinary collaboration. The framework provides a conceptual basis for analysing current practice and guiding more coherent integration.The paper argues that such integration is essential for designing in the context of augmented humanity, where systems increasingly participate in cognition and behaviour. Systematic psychological integration is therefore positioned as a necessary condition for developing design practices that are not only effective, but also transparent, accountable, and aligned with human well-being.
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Journal articleDaubner S, Lagnoni M, Kench S, et al., 2026, , ECS Meeting Abstracts, Vol: MA2026-01, Pages: 649-649
<jats:p>Microstructure design of battery electrodes is key to enable fast charge and higher capacity in next-generation lithium and sodium ion batteries. While porous-electrode (Doyle–Fuller–Newman-type) models capture the coupled transport–reaction physics governing cell performance, they typically treat the electrode as a homogenized medium and encode microstructure only through fitted, scalar “effective” parameters (e.g., Bruggeman-type tortuosity). This assumption is often adequate for uniform electrodes, but it breaks down for modern architectures with graded porosity, binder migration, bimodal particle distributions, or bilayer designs, where transport resistance is heterogeneous and reaction rates localize, leading to non-uniform utilization and premature rate limitations.</jats:p> <jats:p> Here we introduce an approach that efficiently bridges 3D image-based electrode simulations and microstructure-aware cell-scale modelling using volume-averaged microstructure descriptors. We compute spatially resolved, directional tortuosity factors <jats:italic>τ(x)</jats:italic> along with spatial porosity <jats:italic>ε(x)</jats:italic> and specific surface area <jats:italic>a(x)</jats:italic> and embed these closures directly into DFN-type cell models. This replaces ad hoc, globally fitted transport factors with architecture-dependent descriptors that can represent graded and bilayer electrodes in a physically interpretable way. We further show that common characterization and parameter-identification workflows implicitly assume electrode homogeneity, and can therefore misattribute microstructure-driven limitations to “material” kinetics when applied to structured electrodes. </jats:p>
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Journal articleWang W, Bhattacharya D, Tang K, et al., 2026,
Robotic Fabric Alignment System for Sewing Using Global Local Weighted ICP
, IEEE Transactions on Automation Science and Engineering -
Journal articleWang W, Bhattacharya D, Tang K, et al., 2026, , IEEE Transactions on Automation Science and Engineering, ISSN: 1545-5955
Accurate fabric alignment is a critical step that must be performed before sewing. This paper presents a novel automated fabric alignment system. The system estimates the poses of top and bottom fabric panels—lying flat and wrinkle-free in arbitrary positions—using a new Global Local Weighted Iterative Closest Point (GLW-ICP) method. The system then manipulates the top panel to achieve precise alignment at both edges and sewing lines.Unlike conventional approaches, GLW-ICP robustly aligns both global edges and local sewing lines by globally aligning fabric edge points and locally aligning sewing line points to their corresponding CAD model points, while removing unmatched points in occluded regions. Real-world experiments with various fabric shapes show that the system consistently achieves millimeter-level alignment accuracy under both occlusion and non-occlusion conditions, demonstrating its effectiveness and suitability for automated fabric alignment in practical scenarios.
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Journal articleDawber W, Baker CE, Sharp D, et al., 2026, , Accident Analysis and Prevention, Vol: 232, Pages: 108545-108545, ISSN: 0001-4575
Children’s cycle helmets are certified using the same impact conditions as adult helmets, which can overlook important factors contributing to child head injuries. Our objective is to identify common patterns in traumatic brain injury pathologies, age, sex, riding environment, cause of injury, helmet use, and helmet injury reduction in child cyclists to inform child-specific test methods.We reviewed 48,074 head injury cases in cyclists under 17 years across 24 studies. An aggregate data meta-analysis was conducted to identify recurring patterns overall and in studies with a high proportion of severe injuries (n = 3,542 cases).Cases most often involved male riders (71.8%, CI: 71.6–72.1%), aged 10–13 years (40.2%, CI: 39.1–41.3%), occurring on paved roads (75.0%, CI: 74.2–75.9%) without prior collision (84.4%, CI: 84.1–84.8%). Injuries were predominantly intracranial (73.7%, CI: 71.6–75.8%). Studies with mostly severe injuries included significantly more males, on-road incidents, motor vehicle collisions, intracranial haemorrhages, and skull fractures. Helmets reduced odds of head injuries (OR = 0.44, CI = 0.41–0.47), but the efficacy was lower for severe injuries (OR = 0.61, CI = 0.58–0.65), which contrasts most findings for adult helmets.The identified factors associated with severe injuries in child cyclists, such as vehicle collisions and intracranial injuries with rotational mechanisms, are not represented in current child helmet test procedures. This work provides a foundation for further work aimed at quantifying representative head impact biomechanics in typical and severe child cycling incidents, with the ultimate goal of developing helmet test procedures tailored specifically to children.
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Journal articleMohamed M, Ding Z, Wu H, et al., 2026, , Transactions of the Indian Institute of Metals, Vol: 79, ISSN: 0972-2815
Recently, there was an increase in the demand for lightweight, high-performance automotive structures, which has induced an interest in steel-based fibre metal laminates (FMLs). The conventional separate heating and forming stages for the metal and fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) are time- and cost-consuming, which limits the industrial applications. This study presents a simulation-driven methodology for cost-effective one-shot forming of steel (DP780) and FRP (GF/PA6). A coupled thermo-mechanical model is created in Abaqus to represent the nonlinear response of FRP stacks, accounting for temperature-dependent material properties and interactions between FRP layers and steel. The simulation predicts key process defects, including steel–FRP interfacial gaps, FRP delamination, and excessive thickness deviations. The results show good agreement with experimental trials, confirming the model’s accuracy. The simulation framework demonstrates its capability to model the novel forming process for FMLs and to implement it in the industrial-scale production of lightweight, high-performance automotive FML components.
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Journal articleDing Z, Wang H, Gao C, et al., 2026, , Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing, Pages: 110105-110105, ISSN: 1359-835X
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Journal articleCash P, Schmidt R, Baxter W, 2026, , Design Science, Vol: 12
Behavioural design processes have proliferated in recent years across a diverse set of fields including policy, product development and health. However, this diversity of perspectives also increases ambiguity regarding which (and when) processes should be enacted, which hinders research and practice across fields. This drives two research questions: (1) How are behavioural design processes currently framed, described, and enacted? and (2) How can we consistently understand commonalities and differences across behavioural design processes? In response to these questions, we adopt a critical interpretive synthesis (CIS) approach, reviewing 12 processes from academic and practitioner sources selected through purposive sampling and analysed using a theory-informed coding protocol. Through interpretive synthesis, we re-characterise behavioural design in terms of an ecosystem of distinct but complementary processes rather than its typical presentation in fixed sequences of steps. This increases behavioural design’s ability to respond to different degrees of uncertainty and dynamism in the problem and solution as well as its ability to reflect diverse assumptions about uncertainty, iteration, outcomes and practitioner capability. This research supports an important and developing interdisciplinary area by bringing design process into a design science research context through which many of these topics can be further discussed and developed.
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Journal articleCaltabiano A, Voruganti A, Nesi J, et al., 2026,
Virtual reality-delivered exposure for contamination concerns in adults with obsessive-compulsive symptoms: a single-arm pilot study
, JMIR Serious Games, ISSN: 2291-9279Background: Exposure and response prevention is a first line intervention for obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), yet many individuals with contamination concerns do not access care. Virtual reality exposure (VRET) may improve scalability and acceptability.Objective: This pilot study evaluated the feasibility and acceptability of a standardized single-session VRET protocol targeting contamination concerns, whether it elicited within-session anxiety and exploratory contamination symptom change at 1-month follow-up.Methods: We conducted a single-arm, pilot in adults with elevated contamination concerns and no formal OCD diagnosis, recruited via convenience sampling. Participants completed a baseline survey, an in-lab VRET session using a standardized virtual public toilet environment, and a follow-up survey. Outcomes included momentary anxiety (Subjective Units of Distress Scale) during exposure, affect (Positive and Negative Affect Schedule) across time points, and contamination symptoms (Obsessive Compulsive Inventory Revised contamination subscale) at baseline and follow-up. Usability (System Usability Scale; SUS) and VR sickness were also assessed. Within-session outcomes used repeated-measures ANOVA or Friedman tests; symptom change used paired t tests (alpha = .05); point estimates include 95% CIs. Missing data were addressed using multiple imputation (random forest; m = 5); 37.5% of participants did not complete the follow-up survey (overall missingness: 5.47%).Results: Sixteen participants were included (ages 18-32 years). Anxiety increased during exposure tasks and decreased after virtual hand washing in both trials (Exposure 1 Friedman’s Test: χ²(3) = 28.56, P < .001, W = 0.6); Exposure 2 repeated measures ANOVA: F(1.85, 27.81) = 5.35, P = .012, GES = 0.058 (Greenhouse-Geisser corrected). Negative and positive affect both changed significantly across time points (negative affect: Friedman’s Test: χ²(3) = 13.76, P = .003, W =
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Journal articleAleo O, Dieckmann E, Stephan A, et al., 2026,
Barriers to closed-loop manufacturing: challenges for a circular economy in automotive production
, Journal of Circular Economy, ISSN: 2752-163XThe transition to closed-loop production is critical for sustainable manufacturing, yet linear models remain dominant due to prioritization of profitability over resource efficiency. This study examines barriers to closed-loop manufacturing in the automotive sector, focusing on inefficiencies in material recirculation in production. Through site observations and interviews with 21 key stakeholders, 12 barriers are identified across strategic, operational, legal, and economic dimensions. Key challenges include fragmented supply chains, lack of standardization and insufficient coordination. Addressing these barriers requires standardized frameworks, improved communication, and integration of waste management into production to enhance resource recovery and economic viability. The study highlights the need for a holistic approach that integrates waste management into production, reducing material loops, and maximizing resource recovery. The work provides actionable insights to support manufacturers in achieving eco-effectiveness through closed-loop manufacturing and improved economic viability.
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Journal articleRiley S, Marcuccio F, Xu X, et al., 2026, , ACS Applied Energy Materials, Vol: 9, Pages: 7575-7583
Silicifying diatoms are unicellular algae that can be cultivated sustainably to aid the battery materials supply chain. Diatom silica frustules (DSF) are explored as active materials or templates for Li ion battery anodes due to the high lithium storage capacity of SiO<inf>2</inf>, particle size diversity, and porosity, and high potential to reduce carbon footprint associated with Si materials production. However, to practically benefit from their complex hierarchical structures in battery electrodes, an understanding of scale-dependent lithiation and delithiation processes is required at the single particle level with high spatial resolution. Here, we used in situ scanning ion conductance and electrochemical cell microscopy to simultaneously image structure and map electrochemical activity upon lithiation and delithiation of untreated DSF collected from as-grown diatom monoculture. Our results demonstrate a direct correlation between structure, composition, and electrochemical activity of DSF as active particles in half cells and their contribution to full-cell battery electrochemistry that can be maintained reversibly with appreciable capacities upon battery cycling. This opens possibilities to directly assess the electrochemical properties of DSF in situ that will enable us to select and tailor optimum structures for high-performance and sustainable battery applications.
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Journal articlePan W, Yang J, Zhao Y, et al., 2026, , Nature Reviews Electrical Engineering
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Conference paperBhattacharya D, Tang K, Xu H, et al., 2026,
RTFF: Random-to-Target Fabric Flattening Policyusing Dual-Arm Manipulator
, IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS)Robotic fabric manipulation remains challenging due to fabric deformability and occlusions from wrinkles and the manipulator. This paper defines Random-to-Target Fabric Flattening (RTFF) as the task of bringing a randomly wrinkled fabric to an arbitrary user-specified wrinkle-free target pose. RTFF requires simultaneous flattening and pose alignment, where the two objectives are inherently coupled since flattening the fabric displaces its pose, while realigning it tends to introduce wrinkles. To solve this task, this paper anchors both the current and target fabric states to the same template mesh, enabling direct vertex-level wrinkle and pose assessment without registration. Building on this representation, a hybrid Imitation Learning--Visual Servoing (IL--VS) RTFF policy is proposed. A novel Mesh Action Chunking Transformer (MACT) leverages structured mesh observations to achieve goal-conditioned coarse alignment from a compact demonstration set, after which VS ensures precise convergence to the target. The policy is validated on a real dual-arm teleoperation system, demonstrating precise alignment to unseen target poses, fabric types, and scales. Code and videos:
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Journal articleBaker C, Wang Z, Low L, et al., 2026,
Face the facts: a characterisation of 2013–2025 UK motorcycle collisions, head impact locations and injury outcomes supporting facial impact testing
, Traffic Safety Research, ISSN: 2004-3082There is limited contemporary evidence on head impact conditions and injuries in motorcyclists, despite substantial recent changes in vehicles, helmet design and test standards. This constrains evidence-driven improvements to helmet protection and impact test protocols, particularly for underrepresented facial impacts. We quantified head impact locations and associated head and facial injury distributions in 12 years of motorcycle collisions from Great Britain’s Road Accident In-Depth Studies (RAIDS) database (1 April 2013–31 March 2025). Injuries were classified using Abbreviated Injury Scale codes augmented with free-text identification of clinically utilised Mayo-classified brain injury, and primary helmet impact location was derived from investigator summaries and helmet photographs. Most of the 353 motorcyclists were injured (93%) and male (90%) and 2% were unhelmeted. One third sustained at least one head injury and 23.6% sustained Mayo-classified traumatic brain injury (16.9% moderate–severe). Facial injuries occurred in 12.2%, including 4.4% with facial fracture. Skull fractures (including basilar) and intracranial haemorrhage were also common. Head and facial injuries were more prevalent in fatally injured motorcyclists than survivors. Primary helmet impact location was determined for 125 motorcyclists with 50.4% of impacts were to the facial region. Head injury rates and patterns were similar across primary impact locations. When primary facial impacts caused head injury, upper face and chinbar impacts dominated visor impacts. Facial impacts are both frequent and associated with clinically important head injuries. Helmet standards and consumer ratings should incorporate facial impact assessments and adopt injury risk criteria reflecting skull fractures, focal brain injury and intracranial haemorrhage.
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Conference paperForward M, Porat T, Mougenot C, 2026, , PDC 2026 Vol. 2: Participatory Design Conference 2026, Vol. 2: Exploratory Papers and Doctoral Colloquium, Publisher: ACM, Pages: 242-247
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Journal articleKormushev P, Zou Y, CHEN W, et al., 2026, , Design for Augmented Humanity, ISSN: 2977-6481
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Journal articleFischer B, Stam E, Roundy PT, et al., 2026, , Industry and Innovation, Pages: 1-10, ISSN: 1366-2716
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Journal articleBatcup C, Almukhtar A, Menon A, et al., 2026,
Exploring the overuse of non-sterile gloves in operating theatres: a cross-sectional survey and interview study
, BMJ Open, ISSN: 2044-6055Objectives: To identify factors influencing unnecessary non-sterile glove use in operating theatres, and to estimate how common these factors are across the UK.Design: Mixed-methods study using interviews and a cross-sectional survey.Setting: 911½ñÈÕºÚÁÏ College Healthcare Trust for interviews, and nationally across the UK for the survey. Participants: 19 interviewees and 329 survey respondents, all clinical staff working in UK operating theatres.Outcome measures: Barriers and facilitators to unnecessary non-sterile glove use in operating theatres.Results: The findings highlight a combination of key drivers leading to the unnecessary use of non-sterile gloves: (1) lack of prioritisation of sustainability, (2) fears around negative patient outcomes, (3) strong social influences such as norms to use gloves, (4) the absence of clear guidelines and limited training on glove use, (5) availability of alternatives and quality of gloves, and (6) beliefs about personal safety and habitual glove use. Respondents also suggested potential intervention strategies.Conclusions: 67% of participants reported using gloves unnecessarily. Our findings highlight the role of habitual behaviour, social influences and unclear guidelines in driving this practice. Interventions should address these factors, for example by clearly communicating when gloves should and should not be worn, encouraging changes to local social norms towards waste reduction, improving access to hand gel, and supporting habit change to reduce unnecessary glove use and associated environmental impact.
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Journal articleTan R, Yu X, Ghajari M, 2026, , Annals of Biomedical Engineering, Vol: 54, Pages: 1914-1936, ISSN: 0090-6964
PurposeFalls and trips are a leading cause of work-related traumatic brain injuries, yet the protective performance of industrial helmets in such scenarios remains poorly understood. This study assesses the effectiveness of different industrial helmet designs under impact conditions representative of falls and trips.MethodsSix industrial helmets with different designs were tested. Four were suspension-based models compliant with EN 397, including two versions of the same model, one with and one without the rotation reduction system, MIPS. Two additional helmets were foam-based, meeting both EN 397 and EN 12492 standards. Helmets were dropped onto angled anvils at different speeds and impact locations to simulate trips and falls. Tests were conducted on two surface types: P80 abrasive papers and roof shingles. The new EN 17950 headform was used.ResultsHelmet performance varied by design and impact condition. Foam-based helmets offered better protection against impacts than suspension-based helmets, which showed greater sensitivity to impact location. Front impacts near the rim at 5.5 m/s produced the highest severity, with peak linear accelerations exceeding 700 g for some suspension-based helmets, followed by rear impacts. In the single helmet model evaluated, MIPS reduced peak rotational acceleration. Finally, the influence of the surface type on peak head kinematics was borderline significant, with P80 papers producing larger peak kinematics.ConclusionHelmet design has a key role in protection against trip and fall impacts, with foam-based helmets providing added benefits. These findings highlight the need for improvements in helmet safety standards and helmet designs to better prevent work-related brain injuries.
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Journal articleLa Magna N, Bettelli A, Nenna F, et al., 2026, , Virtual Reality, Vol: 30, ISSN: 1359-4338
A promising trend in Virtual Reality (VR) is the use of embodied interfaces, systems that involve full-body motion within a Virtual Environment. These devices enhance immersion and user experience while reducing cybersickness when compared to hand-held interfaces, such as gamepads. However, existing embodied interfaces often lack comprehensive motion cues and control. In this study, we evaluated the VitruvianVR, a novel embodied interface, providing self-motion cues through 3-axes rotation, suitable for multiple VR experiences such as flight simulations. This gyroscopic VR device allows users to rotate their entire body in all directions, simulating the sensation of flying. VitruvianVR has been compared to a traditional hand-held interface (i.e., gamepad) during a flight simulation. Combining both self-reported and objective data, we focused on performance metrics (i.e., flight accuracy, failures, birds report), cybersickness, User eXperience (UX), sense of presence, acceptance, mental load and participants’ head and body rotation behaviours. Our main findings show that users’ flight accuracy performance with Vitruvian VR is reduced when compared to the gamepad, and generates more mental workload than a hand-held interface. VitruvianVR is associated with greater head rotations compared to the gamepad session, while being associated with lower perceived cybersickness symptoms than the counterpart. Furthermore, VitruvianVR leads to higher scores of UX, including overall satisfaction, enjoyment, realism, novelty, perceived safety and sense of presence compared to the gamepad. The results broaden the knowledge regarding full motion cueing interfaces and provide a step forward in the design of effective bodily rotating devices. VitruvianVR suggests promising opportunities of application in various flight-related contexts.
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Journal articleMcmeeking A, Wang CT, Tsuge T, et al., 2026, , Carbohydrate Polymer Technologies and Applications, Vol: 14, ISSN: 2666-8939
Bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) is a renewable polymer valued for its strength and purity, but its brittleness and hydrophilicity limit wider application. Incorporating biodegradable polyester polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) offers a pathway to functional, scalable composites. We establish two complementary routes for producing bacterial nanocellulose-polyhydroxybutyrate composites. In-situ co-cultures of Komagataeibacter rhaeticus (KR) and Cupriavidus necator (CN) were optimised through inoculation timing, medium screening, and pH buffering. 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid (MES) at 50 mM stabilised culture conditions, improved cellulose output, and enabled PHB co-localisation of 4% total wet weight. These natural incorporation levels provided benchmarks for a solvent-free blending strategy, in which powdered PHB was introduced into plasticised sterilised BNC using Gellan gum, Glycerol, PEG400, and CaClâ‚‚ at loadings of 0.1%, 0.3%, 0.7%, and 2.0% (approximately 10%, 30%, 70%, and 200% relative to dry BNC mass) and heat pressed. Blended films reproduced co-culture PHB levels and tolerated up to 0.7% (wet weight) before shrinkage and brittleness were observed. Heat pressing promoted PHB diffusion between cellulose fibrils, enhancing interfibre bonding; in blended films at 0.3 % PHB (heat-pressed), this yielded a 6.3-fold increase in ultimate tensile strength and a 9.5-fold increase in Young's modulus. Co-culturing defined the biological starting point, while blending enabled scalable processing and systematic characterisation, offering complementary routes to manufacture BNC-PHB composites.
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Journal articleCaltabiano A, Akin AD, Martina DS, et al., 2026, , Virtual Reality, Vol: 30, ISSN: 1434-9957
Objective: This systematic scoping review mapped the empirical literature on Virtual Reality Exposure-Based Therapy (VRET) delivered via commercially availablehead-mounted displays for adult anxiety-related disorders, to characterize study targets, methods, and gaps. Methods: A comprehensive database search yielded 1097 records. Publications were excluded if anxiety was not a measured outcome; if exposure was paired with other techniques (e.g., relaxation or additional therapies) in a way that prevented evaluation of exposure as a stand-alone component; or if virtual reality was delivered via methods other than head-mounted displays. Thirty studies met inclusion criteria and were charted for synthesis. Results: The 30 included studies examined phobias (n = 11), Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (n = 4), public speaking anxiety and social anxiety (n = 13), and other anxiety presentations (n = 2; social physique anxiety; MRI anxiety). Most studies reported pre- to post-intervention reductions in anxiety symptoms, but study designs and outcome measures varied substantially. Acceptability and engagement were generally favorable when assessed, but measurement approaches were inconsistent and adverse effects were not uniformly reported. Methodological heterogeneityand limited replication constrained cross-study comparability. Conclusions: The current evidence base indicates growing application of HMD-based VRET across multiple anxiety-related targets and suggests potential clinical benefit in many studies; however, heterogeneity and small samples limit the strength of inferences regarding comparative outcomes. Future research would benefit from standardized reporting of intervention parameters and equipment, consistent measurement of acceptability, and adequately powered comparative designs with longer follow-up to clarify where HMD-based VRET is most feasible and beneficial.
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Journal articleHe P, Han Y, Zhou Y, et al., 2026, , Adv Sci (Weinh)
Potassium (K) metal anodes are attractive for next-generation rechargeable batteries due to their low redox potential and elemental abundance, yet their practical application is hindered by dendrite growth and unstable solid-electrolyte interphases (SEIs). Here, we replace conventional roll pressing with a cutting-based fabrication strategy to produce crystallographically more uniform and minimally deformed K surfaces, while independently tuning SEI chemistry through electrolyte concentration. This approach establishes a unified framework that elucidates the synergistic coupling between surface uniformity and SEI robustness in governing K plating/stripping stability. Only their synergy delivers fast kinetics, high areal capacity, and long-term reversibility. Consequently, optimized K||K symmetric cells operate stably for over 4 000 h at 0.5 mA cm-2 and 4 mA h cm-2. Full cells paired with K1.97Mn[Fe(CN)6] cathodes retain 90% capacity after 1200 cycles. These findings highlight the importance of concurrent morphological and interfacial regulation for practical K metal anodes.
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