Search Results (539)

Background: The use of augmented reality (AR) in orthopaedics is growing rapidly but is mainly limited to pre-operative planning and teaching. This study is one of the first to describe the intraoperative application within revision arthroplasty for the positioning of customised partial pelvic replacements. Methods: In a proof-of-concept study an AR environment was used during surgery in 11 cases to enhance implant positioning. Postoperatively, a voxel-based CT deviation analysis was carried out to determine the COR deviation and the cup plane deviation angle. Additionally, digital implant superimposition was conducted. Results: Implantation was possible in all cases with a mean COR deviation vector of 4.2 (SD 2.5; 1.2–9.3) mm and a cup plane deviation angle of 4.4 (SD 2.5; 0.7–8.1)°. The implant analysis showed a superimposition of 0.69 (SD 0.15; 0.38–0.88) (Dice-Score calculation). Conclusions: This study is able to report promising results for AR in orthopaedic surgery, showing improved intraoperative feedback in complex operations, resulting in increased accuracy. However, the integration of AR poses a new challenge to the surgical team, especially because the AR users are facing a significantly increased level of intraoperative stress. Further development of this auspicious tool, as well as a conceivable combination with navigation, is necessary to facilitate broader usage. Full article

Orthopaedic plates are long-established medical devices conventionally manufactured from metals, most notably titanium alloys. The introduction of Additive Manufacturing (AM) has created new opportunities to design implants with complex internal architectures, enabling precise control over infill patterns and densities that directly influence mechanical properties and fatigue performance. Biodegradable polymers such as polylactic acid (PLA) have attracted growing interest in biomedical engineering, potentially reducing the need for secondary implant-removal surgery if degradation rates are carefully controlled and clinically approved. Additionally, AM offers the ability to customise internal structure for improved mechanical performance and load-bearing, while also providing the possibility of integrating advanced functionalities, such as controlled drug delivery. Building on previous work by our research group at the University of Belgrade, this study investigates the fatigue behaviour of the best-performing AM-optimised orthopaedic plate design. Numerical models incorporating honeycomb infill structures with the full range of achievable densities were developed to assess structural integrity under fatigue loading. Fatigue crack growth was simulated in ANSYS Mechanical (ANSYS Inc., Canonsburg, PA, USA) software, employing a four-point bending configuration in accordance with the ASTM F382 standard. A validated PLA material model was implemented at a reduced load level (10%) relative to previous studies. Direct comparison with titanium plates was avoided due to fundamentally different material properties, focusing instead on infill architecture to identify optimal AM design strategies for orthopaedic plates. Full article

The world is constantly challenged by complex crises—from the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical tensions to economic uncertainty and severe environmental disasters. During these critical times, individuals need to reflect on ethical values and demonstrate responsible decision-making, integrity, and preparedness to mitigate the impact of future crises. Education can play an instrumental role in these endeavours. This study presents the user experience and usability evaluation of PREPARED App—an educational mobile application developed to raise users’ awareness on the ethical dimensions of global challenges through real-life case studies. The captivating narratives, clear structure, ease-of-use, and multimedia content were reported as key strengths of the mobile app by both users (n = 54) and experts (n = 4). Suggestions were also captured for enriching the learning experience through enhanced customisation options, personalised feedback mechanisms, and accessibility features. A set of pedagogical guidelines is extracted to enable instructional designers, educators, and mobile application developers to create accessible and engaging mobile learning experiences. Full article

The choice to age in a familiar home environment within the community without relying on residential services can prolong independence, provided care services are customised to the specific needs of the household. However, this model of care provision frequently conceals the hidden costs for women who are often the spousal carer. The navigation of care needs of a spouse when aged 65+ often contains challenges linked to accessing quality community care and respite. These challenges are further compounded by the impact of personal health realities that come with ageing. To explore the support needs of older adults choosing to remain in their own homes, qualitative semi-structured interviews took place with 26 individuals aged 65 and above. This article concentrates on a specific subset of the research using constructivist grounded theory to examine the caregiving realities of six women and one man. A significant finding was that these predominantly female carers often felt unsupported, fatigued, and time-poor, largely attributable to the scale of care needed. Formal care support was particularly valued when it prioritised relationships over task-oriented care. A key recommendation to enable couples to remain living at home and avoid residential care is that more support for spousal (informal) carers is required. Full article

The tendon-to-bone enthesis is a multiphasic structure with four structurally continuous and compositionally distinct regions: tendon, uncalcified fibrocartilage, calcified fibrocartilage and bone. Our study aimed to develop 3D scaffold-free in vitro spheroids and macro-tissues of the enthesis for applications as experimental tools to understand the development and repair of enthesis injury. This study hypothesises that integrating tendon and bone cell spheroids with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell spheroids will facilitate the production of a fibrocartilaginous interface. 3D Spheroids: The biphasic (tendon–bone) and triphasic co-culture (tendon–stem cell–bone) of spheroids in growth media and chondrogenic media were investigated to establish fusion kinetics, and the cellular and ECM components produced via histology and immunohistochemistry. Complete fusion between spheroids occurred within 6-to-8 days in biphasic co-culture, and 15-to-20 days in triphasic co-culture. Compared to biphasic, the triphasic co-culture in chondrogenic media showed a continuous interface connecting the tendon and bone regions. The presence of collagen I, sulphated proteoglycans and collagen type II in the interface region of triphasic co-culture indicates fibrochondrogenic differentiation. 3D macro-tissues: The modular tissue engineering strategy was used in this study to produce enthesis macro-tissues using spheroids as building blocks. Spheroids were bio-assembled in the triphasic manner (12 tendon spheroids, 12 stem cell spheroids and 8 bone spheroids) in the custom-designed and 3D-printed temporary supports (Formlabs Clear Resin^®) using a customised spheroid bio-assembly system. The fusion of spheroids occurred by day 8 after bio-assembly, and they were removed from temporary supports and cultured in scaffold-free conditions. Although the bio-assembly methodology was successful in producing fused scaffold-free macro-tissues, the histological analysis revealed the presence of an extensive necrotic core due to the large-sized constructs. To conclude, the findings support the hypothesis that a triphasic co-culture has the potential to produce a structurally continuous fibrocartilaginous interface but requires further optimisation to produce macro-tissues with anatomical morphologies and reduced necrotic cores. Full article

Collaborative robots (cobots) can work cooperatively alongside humans, while contributing to task automation in industries such as manufacturing. Designed with enhanced safety features, cobots can safely assist a range of users, including those with no previous robotics experience. Despite the human-centric design of cobots, programming them can be challenging for novice operators, who may lack the skills and understanding of robotics. If left with a choice between major worker upskilling or replacement and investing in expensive and complex precision cobot positioning and object-detection systems, business owners may be reluctant to embrace cobot ownership. Furthermore, if a cobot’s primary intended tasks were simple Pick-and-Place operations, the tenuous return on investment, compared to retaining current manual processes, could make cobot adoption financially impracticable. This paper proposes a low-cost cobot control system (LCCS), an intuitive cobot solution for Pick-and-Place tasks, designed for novice cobot operators. Off-the-shelf vision-based positioning solutions, priced at around $US20,000, are typically designed to be assigned to a single cobot. The LCCS comprises a Raspberry Pi, a standard USB webcam and ArUco fiducial markers, which can easily be incorporated into a multi-cobot operation, with a combined total hardware cost of around $US100. The system scales simply and economically to support an expanding operation and it is easy to use It allows a user to specify a target pick location by positioning a portable localisation scanner upon an object to be grasped by the cobot end-effector. The scanner’s integrated webcam captures the location and orientation perspective from ArUco markers affixed to predefined positions outside the cobot workspace. By pressing a switch mounted on the scanner, the user relays the captured information, converted to 3D coordinates, to the cobot controller. Finally, the cobot’s integrated processor calculates the corresponding pose using inverse kinematics, which allows the cobot to move to the target position. Subsequent actions can be pre-programmed as required, as part of the initial system configuration. Preliminary testing indicates that the proposed system provides accurate and repeatable localisation information, with a mean positional error below 3.5 mm and a mean standard deviation less than 1.8. With a hardware investment just 0.3% of the UR5e purchase price, an easy to use, customisable, and easily scalable vision-based Pick-and-Place localisation system for cobots can be implemented. It has the potential to be a reliable and robust system that significantly lowers cobot operation barriers for novice operators by alleviating the programming requirement. By reducing the reliance on experienced programmers in a production environment, cobot tasks could be deployed more rapidly and with greater flexibility. Full article

Recent research suggests that artificial intelligence (AI) tools allow EFL (English as a Foreign Language) learners to exert greater control over their language-learning process. Furthermore, these tools enhance their language skills by providing them with elements often absent in traditional classroom settings, such as autonomy and individual pace of learning. Specifically, AI-based tools, such AI chatbots, have the potential to facilitate learning and streamline tasks for both students and instructors in language-learning contexts. These digital companions (i.e., chatbots) can be methodically crafted and equipped with the required essential materials to support students in practising language skills independently, regardless of time or location. The current study presents an experiment conducted with undergraduate students at a university in Saudi Arabia to assess the effectiveness of a customised AI chatbot, WritePro (GPT-4), in improving their writing skills. Learners in the experimental group were instructed to use WritePro to navigate through their writing stages, focusing their queries on four key components: content and organisation, grammar mechanics, vocabulary usage, and sentence structure. The findings showed that WritePro serves as an effective tool for EFL learners to overcome several challenges in developing writing competencies. Therefore, the significance of these findings lies in the potential of AI tools to enable EFL instructors to effectively integrate chatbots into classroom instruction, supporting the development of students’ writing skills. Furthermore, these findings can be used as a basis for advocacy with university policymakers regarding the use of AI chatbots in language classrooms. Full article

Healthcare 5.0 and the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) is emerging as a scalable model for the delivery of customised healthcare and chronic disease management, through Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) in patient smart home environments. Large-scale RPM initiatives are being rolled out by healthcare providers (HCPs); however, the constrained nature of IoMT devices and proximity to poorly administered smart home technologies create a cyber risk for highly personalised patient data. The recent Network and Information Systems (NIS 2) directive requires HCPs to improve their cyber risk management approaches, mandating heavy penalties for non-compliance. Current research into cyber risk management in smart home-based RPM does not address scalability. This research examines scalability through the lens of the Non-adoption, Abandonment, Scale-up, Spread and Sustainability (NASSS) framework and develops a novel Scalability Index (SI), informed by a PRISMA guided systematic literature review. Our search strategy identified 57 studies across major databases including ACM, IEEE, MDPI, Elsevier, and Springer, authored between January 2016 and March 2025 (final search 21 March 2025), which focussed on cyber security risk management in the RPM context. Studies focussing solely on healthcare institutional settings were excluded. To mitigate bias, a sample of the papers (30/57) were assessed by two other raters; the resulting Cohen’s Kappa inter-rater agreement statistic (0.8) indicating strong agreement on study selection. The results, presented in graphical and tabular format, provide evidence that most cyber risk approaches do not consider scalability from the HCP perspective. Applying the SI to the 57 studies in our review resulted in a low to medium scalability potential of most cyber risk management proposals, indicating that they would not support the requirements of NIS 2 in the RPM context. A limitation of our work is that it was not tested in a live large-scale setting. However, future research could validate the proposed SI, providing guidance for researchers and practitioners in enhancing cyber risk management of large-scale RPM initiatives. Full article

Industrialised construction (IC) represents a foundational strategy for overcoming entrenched productivity constraints and supply shortfalls in the housing sector. By enabling the mass production and mass customisation of advanced kit-of-parts systems, IC supports more efficient, predictable, scalable, and sustainable building delivery through integrated, standardised, and digitally enabled processes. However, adoption remains uneven due to fragmentation across regulatory, organisational, and technological systems. This paper presents a systematic literature review and thematic synthesis of the literature published between 2000 and 2025 to examine performance outcomes, adoption trends, digital integration maturity, and emerging platform-based design for manufacture and assembly (P-DfMA) approaches, and the main drivers. The review shows that significant performance gains are achievable, including notable reductions in construction time and cost variability, along with substantial reductions in material waste, together with measurable improvements in quality, safety, and delivery predictability. However, widespread uptake of IC remains constrained. This is largely driven by regulatory misalignment, rigid and bespoke procurement and delivery models, inconsistent and unstable supply chain capacity, and the lack of standardised components and integrated digital workflows. Building on these insights, this paper examines the key enablers required for sector-wide transformation toward an ecosystem that supports standardised kit-of-parts solutions, digitally driven design-to-production workflows, and aligned policy and procurement frameworks that are capable of delivering scalable and repeatable industrialised housing. The findings provide a consolidated evidence base and identify the key enablers for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and researchers working to move from project-centred delivery models to platform-based, digitally integrated, and industrialised construction systems. We searched Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar, complemented by targeted industry and policy repositories; the searches were last updated on 1 December 2025. After screening, 117 sources were included. The review was not registered, and no review protocol was prepared. Full article

Optical frames are used worldwide to correct visual impairments, protect from UV damage, or simply for fashion purposes. Optical frames are often made of poorly biodegradable and fossil-based materials, with designs not targeted to everyone’s tastes and requirements. Additive manufacturing processes allow personalisation of optical frames and the use of new sustainable biomaterials to replace fossil-based ones. This comprehensive review combines an extensive survey of the scientific literature, market trends, and information from other relevant sources, analysing the biomaterials currently used in additive manufacturing and identifying biomaterials (biopolymers, natural fibres, and natural additives) with the potential to be developed into biocomposites for printing optical frames. Requirements for optical devices were carefully considered, such as standards, regulations, and demands for manufacturing materials. By comparing with fossil-based analogues and by discussing the chemical, physical, and mechanical properties of each biomaterial, it was found that combining various materials in biocomposites is promising for achieving the desirable properties for printing optical frames. The advantages of the various techniques of this cutting-edge technology were also analysed and discussed for optical industry applications. This study aims to answer the central research question: which biopolymers and biocomposite constituents (natural fibres, plasticisers, and additives) have the ideal mechanical, thermal, physical, and chemical properties for combining into a biomaterial suitable for producing sustainable, customisable, and inclusive optical frames on demand, using additive manufacturing techniques. Full article

Maxillofacial skeletal reconstruction presents significant challenges due to anatomical complexity, functional requirements, and aesthetic demands. Traditional materials such as titanium and autogenous bone grafts have limitations, prompting interest in Polyetheretherketone (PEEK), a versatile thermoplastic polymer with advantages like biocompatibility, radiolucency, and elasticity similar to human bone. This multi-year case series evaluates the clinical outcomes of PEEK implants used in 56 cases on 53 patients for maxillofacial reconstruction, primarily for trauma (44 patients) and deformity (9 patients). PEEK implants were applied to various facial regions including the orbit, zygoma, mandible, and maxilla. The majority of surgeries utilised virtual surgical planning. Patient-specific implants were fabricated using 3D imaging technologies, allowing customisation for optimal fit and functionality. The mean patient age was 37 years with a split of 37 to 16 females. Some complications were noted such as infection and paraesthesia. However, the majority of patients experienced positive outcomes. The findings support PEEK implants as a safe, effective, and adaptable material for maxillofacial surgery, with potential for further advancements in material properties and surgical technologies to improve long-term outcomes. Full article

Additive manufacturing has been adopted in several industries including the medical field to develop new personalised medical implants including tissue engineering scaffolds. Custom patient-specific scaffolds can be additively manufactured to speed up the wound healing process. The aim of this study was to design, fabricate, and evaluate a range of materials and scaffold architectures for 3D-printed wound dressings intended for soft tissue applications, such as skin repair. Multiple biocompatible polymers, including polylactic acid (PLA), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), butenediol vinyl alcohol copolymer (BVOH), and polycaprolactone (PCL), were fabricated using a material extrusion additive manufacturing technique. Eight scaffolds, five with circular designs (knee meniscus angled (KMA), knee meniscus stacked (KMS), circle dense centre (CDC), circle dense edge (CDE), and circle no gradient (CNG)), and three square scaffolds (square dense centre (SDC), square dense edge (SDE), and square no gradient (SNG), with varying pore widths and gradient distributions) were designed using an open-source custom toolpath generator to enable precise control over scaffold architecture. An in vitro degradation study in phosphate-buffered saline demonstrated that PLA exhibited the greatest material stability, indicating minimal degradation under the tested conditions. In comparison, PVA showed improved performance relative to BVOH, as it was capable of absorbing a greater volume of exudate fluid and remained structurally intact for a longer duration, requiring up to 60 min to fully dissolve. Tensile testing of PLA scaffolds further revealed that designs with increased porosity towards the centre exhibited superior mechanical performance. The strongest scaffold design exhibited a Young’s modulus of 1060.67 ± 16.22 MPa and withstood a maximum tensile stress of 21.89 ± 0.81 MPa before fracture, while maintaining a porosity of approximately 52.37%. This demonstrates a favourable balance between mechanical strength and porosity that mimics key properties of engineered tissues such as the meniscus. Overall, these findings highlight the potential of 3D-printed, patient-specific scaffolds to enhance the effectiveness and customisation of tissue engineering treatments, such as meniscus repair, offering a promising approach for next-generation regenerative applications. Full article

Hard anodic oxide coatings on aluminium have long been used to enhance surface functionality. However, increasing industrial demands are driving the need for coatings with superior hardness, wear resistance, corrosion resistance and self-lubricating properties. Due to their porous structure, anodic oxide coatings can be modified by incorporating various nanoparticles. The properties of the modified coatings depend on both the type of nanoparticles used and the method employed to incorporate them. In this study, anodic oxide coatings were produced using direct and duplex methods on a semi-industrial scale to enable process control and potential industrial implementation. The coatings were modified with hard (Al₂O₃) and soft (CaCO₃, PTFE) nanoparticles in order to customise their functional properties. Their microstructure and chemical composition were characterised by SEM and TEM. Their microhardness, abrasion resistance and electrochemical behaviour were also evaluated. Among the tested production methods and methods for modifying nanoparticles, the duplex process incorporating Al₂O₃ particles proved to be the most promising. Its optimisation resulted in coatings with a microhardness of 430 HV0.05 and a mass loss of 9.4 mg after the Taber abrasion test, demonstrating the potential of this approach for industrial applications. Full article

Ultrasound-guided femoral vascular access (UFVA) is a crucial step in cardiovascular intervention, yet training models remain costly, anatomically limited, or insufficiently durable. This research aimed to develop and evaluate a reusable, self-healing vascularised leg phantom in collaboration with clinicians. This bifurcating vascular model was cast in Plastisol using a customisable silicone mould design. The material exhibited a Shore OO hardness of 18.0 ± 2.2, a speed of sound of 1454 ± 15 m/s, an acoustic attenuation of 1.66 ± 0.02 × 106 kg/m²s, and healed 18G needle lesions within 3 h. Training capabilities were evaluated in a workshop involving 18 medical students: FVA times improved by more than 60% after 5 min of free practice. Qualitative feedback was collected from 31 medical educators via a seven-question Likert survey, with most reporting they would adopt the phantom for teaching. Phantoms cost £7.87 for materials, yet educators valued the models at £100–£500, underscoring its perceived utility. Compared to commercial alternatives, this in-house production approach reduced costs by 10–60 times, achieving comparable durability and anatomical fidelity. This study establishes a scalable, ultra-low-cost method for producing anatomically realistic, self-healing vascular phantoms, validated for effective skill acquisition in both educational and research settings. Full article

The environmental impacts of road transport, in particular air pollution and noise, are receiving increasing attention in urban and regional planning, as they can not only predict vehicle movements but also provide detailed information on traffic volumes and speed distributions, which are indispensable for effective regulation, targeted interventions and health-conscious urban planning. This study presents an emission calculation module that can be integrated into traffic models and provides detailed estimates of pollutants emitted by road vehicles. The developed module builds on the COPERT methodology, which accounts not only for exhaust emissions such as ${\mathrm{CO}}_2$, ${\mathrm{NO}}_x$ and PM, but also for non-exhaust emissions from brake wear, tyre wear, road abrasion and evaporation. The presented system has an open architecture, enabling further customisation, particularly when local measured data are available. This contributes to building a stronger, data-driven link between transport planning and environmental protection. Full article