Search Results (5,611)

The expected rise in space operations challenges the European Air Traffic Management (ATM), as traditional static airspace segregation causes operational inefficiencies. To mitigate this, a new function within the European Network Manager Operations Centre (NMOC), supported by the novel Network Real-time Mission Monitoring (N-RMM) tool, and complemented by ad hoc Debris Response Areas (DRAs), are being developed. This paper introduces the safety assessment of this approach using the Expanded Safety Reference Material (E-SRM) methodology. By developing specialised Accident Incident Models (AIMs) for mid-air collisions with space debris, we quantify safety barrier efficiencies and define a Risk Classification Scheme (RCS). The results indicate that by developing dedicated AIMs for the proposed dynamic airspace-management concept, the derived safety criteria, under the stated assumptions, are compatible with the targeted safety thresholds. The potential reduction in segregated airspace volume and duration remains an expected operational benefit to be quantified in subsequent validation work. Full article

Controller performance is strongly influenced by its parameters. Estimating these parameters requires an effective estimation approach for obtaining the best possible response. This study proposes a novel methodology for the estimation of controller parameters, utilizing the dream optimization algorithm (DOA) and a new objective function. The proposed method is employed to determine the optimal parameters of various PID controllers used in the automatic voltage regulator (AVR) system. Thus, the suggested objective function consists of transient response metrics and the stability index “integral of time-weighted absolute error ($ITAE$)”. Three different PID controllers are used, which are cascaded PIPD with filter (CPIPDF), cascaded fractional-order PI fractional-order PDF (CFOPIFOPDF), and PIDF. The DOA’s performance is compared with famous and recent optimizers and shows more reliable performance. For example, based on the statistical analysis, the DOA obtained a standard deviation of 0.0042, while the closest competitor obtained 0.0089. Furthermore, the CPIPDF, CFOPIFOPDF, and PIDF controllers are compared under a wide variety of operating conditions. Based on ITAE, the CPIPDF controller achieved lower values than the CFOPIFOPDF and PIDF controllers. Also, the results show that the CPIPDF controller achieves better performance than other published controllers. For instance, the CPIPDF controller improves AVR performance by approximately 45.3% compared to the fireworks whale optimization algorithm-based PIDD² controller in the case of varying load condition impact. Moreover, scenarios that remain insufficiently addressed in the literature, such as communication delays, restricted excitation voltages, and external disturbances, are considered. Full article

The $\mathsf{\Lambda }$CDM cosmological model has been successful in explaining many astronomical observations. However, recent observations increasingly point to deviations from the standard $\mathsf{\Lambda }$CDM framework. Among these, one of the most significant discrepancies is the Hubble tension, which refers to the difference in values obtained for the Hubble constant $H_0$ from high-redshift measurement and local observation. To address this issue, numerous cosmological models and methodological approaches have been proposed. This review offers a concise overview of recent progress in resolving the Hubble tension. The combination of Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) Baryon Acoustic Oscillations (BAO) and uncalibrated Type Ia supernovae data yields a value for $H_0$ that is significantly higher than the $\mathsf{\Lambda }$CDM predication based on early-universe probes, even without incorporating local distance ladder constraints. This result indicates that the origin of the Hubble tension lies in new physics at low redshifts. Our findings suggest that although many unresolved systematics persist in current observations, they are insufficient to account for the magnitude of the current Hubble tension. This implies the likely existence of new physical mechanisms that have yet to be discovered. Full article

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) have seen a significant growth in civilian space over the past decade. The number one ranked challenge in UAS operations in Europe is regulatory obstacles such as the Specific Operations Risk Assessment (SORA) for 2023–2025. Existing approaches have focused on individual technical solutions (radio technologies, redundancy schemes, or cryptographic protections) or on high-level safety analysis, but have not integrated regulatory compliance, risk assessment, and repeatable systems models that directly support SORA artifact generation and rapid adaptation across BVLOS operational contexts. Thus, the current state-of-the-art apparatus lacks a systematic Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) approach that can cater to Command and Control (C2) data-link design for Beyond Visual Line-of-Sight (BVLOS) missions. In this work, we propose an MBSE methodology designed to assist engineers in designing a C2 data link for BVLOS drone operations that complies with SORA regulations in the Netherlands and Europe. To validate the use of MBSE in a wide range of complex drone operations, we demonstrate how subtle modifications in the proposed engineering models can be made without any major overhaul of new SORA applications, and this is validate these changes through laboratory software tests and simulations. Full article

Fluorine-18 is often considered an ideal positron emitter owing to its excellent chemical, physiological, and nuclear properties. Consequently, the development of rapid, simple, and reliable ¹⁸F-labeling strategies remains critically important for synthesizing new radiopharmaceuticals for PET molecular imaging. A common approach involves the synthesis of ¹⁸F-labeled prosthetic groups that subsequently undergo bioconjugation with peptides or other biomolecules to generate ¹⁸F-labeled imaging probes. However, conventional synthetic methods for these prosthetic groups are often lengthy, require large quantities of precursor and solvent, and typically rely on elevated reaction temperatures. Herein, we report a droplet-based microscale synthetic methodology for the preparation of the [¹⁸F]FVSB prosthetic group that minimizes precursor and solvent usage, proceeds rapidly, and operates at relatively low temperatures. Conditions were optimized using a platform for performing droplet reactions in parallel, enabling high-throughput study of multiple reaction parameters within a short period of time. Additionally, we introduce a simple micro-cartridge purification technique that affords purified [¹⁸F]FVSB in small volumes. Furthermore, we describe an efficient bioconjugation that requires substantially lower reagent amounts than the previously reported macroscale method. The microscale process we report could facilitate wider use of this ¹⁸F-labeling strategy and can be extended to label other thiol-bearing peptides or biomolecules. Full article

Adopting a circular economy approach requires new business models, multi-stakeholder engagement, and tailored financial models and mechanisms as core pillars. This paper examines the conditions needed to scale circular economy initiatives in Europe by analysing insights collected from the DECISO project and conducting a comparative analysis of 38 European projects. The study adopts a mixed methods approach that integrates an online stakeholder survey with inputs generated through participatory workshops and discussions of selected use cases. This combined approach is used to identify the main structural barriers limiting the maturity and investment readiness of circular economy projects, such as regulatory complexity, difficulties in accessing funding, and weak stakeholder dialogue mechanisms. The approach was also used for enabling factors that can support development of circular economy. Particular attention is given to the role of project development assistance, modular financing strategies, and de-risking tools, which are highlighted as crucial elements for supporting the technical and economic credibility of projects and attracting public and private investors. The article also identifies and addresses seven unresolved research gaps in the literature, including the lack of interoperable policy instruments, the absence of business models capable of integrating investor expectations, the paucity of integrated methodologies for assessing technical and economic regulatory feasibility, and the need for trust-building procedures. The findings suggest that the transition to a regenerative economy requires a systemic approach based on coherent policies, de-risking financial instruments, collaborative governance, and strategic technical support throughout the project development cycle. Full article

On-farm welfare assessment of equines is a challenge given the large diversity of management practices, especially in terms of housing and activities. In our study, we tested time budget measures as a complementary tool to more conventional welfare indicators (e.g., stereotypic behaviours, ear position while foraging, neck shape). We observed 174 horses living in eight facilities (in their home environment) for which data on management practices and welfare were available. Time budget was assessed using the scan sampling method (1 min scan sampling over 30 min; 33 scans), while welfare assessment was based on classical measures. The study was performed in two parts: The first part consisted of validating time budget as a correlate of welfare state, which was performed at the individual level and according to the context of observation. In the second part, the data were analysed at the farm level by averaging data from all horses in the same facility. The results showed that the time spent feeding, in exploratory walking and observation behaviour were correlated with indicators of positive welfare and/or good practices in contrast to the time spent standing immobile resting or in fixed attention and/or in negative social interactions. Time budget varied greatly between facilities, reflecting welfare state and management (feeding, working) practices. This study shows that, provided that observations are made at different time periods when animals are calm, three sessions of 10 min. could give a good account of the local «atmosphere». These findings bring new insights into both methodological approaches and the significance of behaviours and, in particular, the importance of precisely defining and measuring the types of attention as a window into an animal’s internal state. Full article

This systematic review comprehensively explores the integration of Extended Reality (XR) technologies, comprising Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality (MR), into New Zealand’s STEM education framework. In alignment with PRISMA 2020 guidelines, we systematically analyzed 127 peer-reviewed studies from the Web of Science (n = 48), Scopus (n = 57), and Dimensions (n = 22) and incorporated 15 grey literature sources, resulting in 142 studies included in the review. Our meta-analysis found substantial improvements in student conceptual understanding from XR-enhanced STEM modules. Specifically, we observed an average increase of 23.4% when compared to traditional instructional methods (95 percent Confidence Interval: 18.7 to 28.1 percent, p < 0.001). These gains were especially prominent in interactive learning environments where immersive XR applications supported deeper engagement and the visualization of abstract STEM concepts. The qualitative synthesis highlighted several key barriers that limit effective XR integration. These include technological infrastructure gaps reported in 68 percent of reviewed studies, a critical need for educator training cited by 82 percent of studies, and curriculum alignment issues present in 57 percent of cases. Methodological quality was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) 2018, and the qualitative component employed a deductive thematic coding approach with inter-coder reliability verification. Successful institutional implementations were also identified. At Auckland University of Technology, XR-supported courses produced a 67 percent increase in student engagement, while Wellington High School achieved a 41 percent reduction in STEM achievement gaps through targeted XR interventions. Based on the evidence, we propose a four-phase implementation framework that addresses the technological, pedagogical, and policy requirements for sustainable XR adoption. These findings highlight the role of immersive technologies in supporting human-centered digital transformation and future skills development in the transition to Industry 5.0. The review contributes evidence-based insights that support the transition from technology-driven approaches associated with Industry 4.0 to the human-centered, socially oriented priorities of Industry 5.0. It also identifies critical research gaps, particularly in long-term learning outcomes and the integration of Mātauranga Māori within XR-enabled STEM environments. Full article

Riparian ecosystems provide numerous services that are critical to integrated, sustainable water management. Their ecological functions face various threats, however, including the construction of impervious surfaces that alter watershed hydrology. The understanding of risks and the design of adequate solutions to the threats posed by impervious cover requires assessment throughout entire watersheds. Yet few assessments have considered parcel-scale changes over larger extents, particularly using readily available public data. Seeking to better characterize recent patterns and to understand how characterizations differ with alternative spatial resolutions and assumptions, we assessed statewide change in impervious land cover within riparian areas in Washington State, USA. Leveraging open data from a public decision-support application, we generated estimates based on high-resolution (1 m) change detections for 2011 to 2017, intersected with riparian areas defined from the current management guidance. As an illustrative contrast, we constructed estimates based on the 2011 to 2016 change in a national dataset of 30 m resolution land cover within a fixed buffer on a coarser stream network. Complementing these depictions of change, we also estimated the 2021 standing impervious area using an independent 1 m land cover layer within the management-based riparian extent for the western portion of the state. The “best available” high-resolution estimate of change indicated that riparian and floodplain impervious cover increased by hundreds of hectares a year statewide during the early and middle 2010s. New impervious cover was more prevalent within reaches associated with urban growth areas (UGAs) and in portions of the assessed extent used by highly valued Pacific salmon. The coarser contrasting approach yielded a similar overall magnitude of change, but this served to clarify methodological sources of uncertainty rather than to confirm accuracy. Notably, in addition to capturing larger blocks of impervious increase, high-resolution data revealed many individual changes that were smaller than a single 30 m × 30 m pixel. In 2021, standing impervious cover was also concentrated in UGA-associated reaches, which contained 43.5% of the impervious area despite being 5.2% of the assessed extent. Much of the observed change within the assessed extent was likely outside of the local riparian regulatory jurisdiction at the time, but the patterns revealed by high-resolution monitoring data underscore the importance of continuing to strengthen riparian protections to maintain ecosystem function. Full article

High-precision plant phenotyping requires efficient 3D reconstruction methods with high geometric quality. 3D Gaussian Splatting (3DGS) has recently emerged as a promising approach for real-time 3D reconstruction, achieving impressive visual quality. However, in crop environments dominated by monochromatic and low-texture regions, existing 3DGS methods often produce ambiguous geometries and fail to recover geometry-consistent 3D surfaces. To address these limitations, we propose LV-3DGS (Leafy Vegetables-3DGS), an optimized 3DGS-based framework tailored for the reconstruction of leafy vegetable scenes. First, a blurred reconstruction module is introduced to mitigate reconstruction artifacts caused by camera motion blur during multi-view image acquisition. Second, we propose a planar optimization strategy and design both local and global geometric consistency regularizations to optimize the model, thereby improving the surface reconstruction quality and geometric accuracy. Third, based on an analysis of individual Gaussian contributions, a contribution-based pruning strategy is developed to selectively remove inaccurate geometric components, achieving accurate scene geometry while reducing memory consumption and improving rendering efficiency. In addition, a quantitative geometric evaluation method is proposed for assessing reconstruction quality. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method achieves the highest accuracy among the tested baselines, with SSIM, PSNR, and LPIPS reaching 0.94, 34.53 dB, and 0.11, respectively. Moreover, the geometric consistency (GC) metric attains 0.317 cm. Finally, phenotypic parameters are measured from the reconstructed leafy vegetable point clouds. Compared with ground truth measurements, the proposed approach yields coefficients of determination ($R^2$) of 0.9959, 0.9651, and 0.9895 for plant height, leaf number, and leaf area, respectively. These results are significantly outperform to some existing phenotyping methods, providing a new methodology and technical solution for high-precision, low-cost, and high-throughput crop phenotyping. Full article

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common and highly heterogeneous neurodevelopmental condition with complex biological underpinnings. Despite substantial progress in identifying genetic and neurobiological correlates, the cellular mechanisms linking genetic variation to functional brain alterations remain poorly understood. Human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology provides a powerful platform to investigate these mechanisms by enabling the generation of patient-specific neural cell types and the direct interrogation of molecular, cellular, and network-level phenotypes. In this review, we summarise the current understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms underlying ADHD, including dopaminergic dysregulation, delayed neurodevelopmental maturation, and excitatory/inhibitory imbalance. We then discuss how iPSC-based models, combined with genome engineering and advanced functional assays, can be used to dissect gene-specific effects, study neural circuit development, and establish scalable platforms for therapeutic discovery. Finally, we outline key methodological considerations for designing robust iPSC-based models of ADHD. Together, these approaches provide new opportunities to bridge genetic risk with cellular function and accelerate the development of mechanistically informed therapeutic strategies. Full article

This paper proposes a digital twin framework for robust parallel control of the mobile gin pole in ultra-high voltage (UHV) transmission line construction, aiming to improve safety and operational efficiency under uncertain conditions. The new framework integrates kinetic analysis, machine learning models, and multi-objective optimization algorithms to address the challenges of heavy-lifting operations in complex terrains. The method conducts finite-element kinetic analysis based on the actual structure of the mobile gin pole. A Tyrannosaurus Rex Optimization Algorithm (TROA) is employed to enhance the performance of the Extra Randomized Trees (ET) model for predicting key parameters such as maximum axial stress and shear stress. The framework leverages the Non-Dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm III (NSGA-III) to optimize safety and efficiency metrics by adjusting key control parameters. A digital twin system for the mobile gin pole was constructed to validate the proposed approach. Results indicate that: (1) The proposed prediction model achieved performance improvements with R², RMSE, and MSE of 0.9642, 19.6, and 7.42, respectively. Compared with baseline machine learning models, the proposed model achieved significant improvements of 21.5%, 19.2%, and 5.1% in R², RMSE, and MSE, respectively. (2) Experiments confirm that the proposed model maintains high prediction accuracy under noise interference and missing data scenarios, indicating strong robustness. (3) Under various operation conditions, the method reduces safety risks by up to 32.30% and improves operational efficiency by up to 42.73%. Case studies further verify the effectiveness of the proposed framework, demonstrating superior prediction accuracy, noise resistance, and computational efficiency compared to conventional control methods. The core methodological novelty of this study lies in integrating TROA, ET, NSGA-III, and digital twin technology into a unified framework for mobile gin poles. This framework adopts TROA-ET to convert finite-element-based kinetic analysis into a behavior–mechanics surrogate model. It further embeds the constructed surrogate model into an NSGA-III-driven digital twin parallel control architecture. In this way, the study contributes an integrated and computationally efficient solution for safety–efficiency co-optimization of mobile gin pole operations under uncertainty. Full article

The Social Study of Science (SSS) constitutes an interdisciplinary domain dedicated to examining the profound influence of social, political, and cultural factors on the development of scientific research and practice. Rejecting conceptions of science as an autonomous, self-directed enterprise, SSS posits that scientific knowledge is fundamentally a social product, deeply embedded within specific historical and cultural contexts. This field employs analytical frameworks from sociology, history, philosophy, and anthropology to elucidate the practices, institutions, history, and intellectual content of science. The scrutiny of science’s social dimensions has fundamentally reconfigured understandings of scientific work and methodology. During the 1960s and 1970s, the field was significantly shaped by contemporaneous protest movements, with historical materialism emerging as a critical framework for sociologists and historians of science seeking to critique power structures and alienation inherent in scientific practices. However, a subsequent intellectual shift witnessed a movement away from this materialist approach towards postmodern and constructivist analyses. Recently, a resurgence of interest in Marxian historical materialism has become evident. This is marked by a renewed engagement with pre-World War II Marxist theorists such as Boris Hessen and Edgar Zilsel, whose works are being republished and re-evaluated in light of the ongoing technological revolution in automation and machine intelligence. This paper delineates this development within SSS, highlighting the contributions of these foundational Marxist thinkers to the critical assessment and understanding of the social ramifications of the new technological revolution. Full article

Universities operate in an environment characterized by complexity, unpredictable challenges, rapid change and stakeholder demands. University employees are a key resource to achieve the strategic goals of the institution, linked to this complexity. Therefore, a conducive environment that fosters employee engagement in the university is critical. Employee engagement as a concept which encompasses employees’ positive attitude towards the organization and its values, whereby employees continuously improve how they perform their duties to improve organizational effectiveness. Organizational effectiveness is the ability of the organization to proactively adapt and adopt new ideas to continuously improve its operations. The purpose of the study was to explore the application of systems thinking as a strategic approach to foster employee engagement across functional boundaries in universities of technology (UoTs). Employee engagement is central to achieving the strategic goals of Universities of Technology. The problem is a lack of an overarching philosophy to foster employee engagement across the institution. To achieve the objectives of this study, a qualitative research methodology was used, underpinned by a constructivism philosophical worldview. A total of 15 participants were purposively selected from the employees of two universities of technology. Semi-structured face-to-face interviews were used to collect data. Thematic analysis was applied to analyze data. The findings revealed that systems thinking would create a conducive environment to foster employee engagement across functional boundaries in the UoTs. In addition, the findings revealed the prevalence of silo practices in universities of technology. Without systems thinking in the institution, departments generally operate in silos and there is no institutionalized philosophy to foster employee engagement, collaboration and knowledge sharing within and beyond functional boundaries. Full article

Electro-hydraulic servo systems are widely used in industrial machinery and automation due to their high power density and fast dynamic response; however, their achievable positioning accuracy is often limited by nonlinear friction effects. In many robust control strategies, including sliding mode control and its multi-surface variants, friction is commonly treated as a lumped bounded disturbance. This simplification neglects the dynamic and operating condition-dependent nature of friction, leaving the practical value of explicit friction compensation insufficiently clarified, especially for electro-hydraulic actuators operating near their bandwidth limits. This paper presents an experimental evaluation of LuGre-based dynamic friction compensation integrated into a multi-surface sliding mode control framework for electro-hydraulic actuators. Rather than proposing a new control methodology, the study focuses on clarifying, from a control-oriented mechanical engineering perspective, how friction compensation influences closed-loop tracking performance under different operating regimes. The proposed scheme is implemented on a laboratory-scale electro-hydraulic test bench and evaluated using step and sinusoidal reference motions over a wide range of excitation frequencies, from low-speed operation to the practical bandwidth limit of the actuator. Comparative experiments with a conventional proportional–integral–derivative controller and a multi-surface sliding mode controller without friction compensation are conducted to isolate the effect of explicit friction modeling. The experimental results reveal a strongly frequency-dependent influence of friction on tracking performance. At low excitation frequencies (e.g., 0.1 Hz), friction compensation provides only marginal improvement in root mean square (RMS) tracking errors. In contrast, as the excitation frequency approaches the actuator bandwidth limit (1 Hz), explicit LuGre-based friction compensation reduces the relative RMS tracking error by approximately 57% compared with the baseline MSSM controller and by up to 82% relative to a conventional PID controller. These results demonstrate that the effectiveness of friction compensation is highly dependent on operating conditions, providing experimentally grounded guidance for the design of control strategies for bandwidth-limited electro-hydraulic machines. Full article