Anaerobic digestion (AD) effluent, or biogas slurry, contains high concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus that require further treatment prior to discharge. Simultaneously, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production is limited by the availability of suitable lipid feedstocks. In this study, an integrated strategy combining biogas slurry remediation with microalgae-derived biofuel production was developed. Microalgal strains were screened from wastewater-associated environments based on their tolerance and nutrient removal performance in real biogas slurry. Among the isolates, Chlorella vulgaris exhibited superior adaptability and efficient removal of total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and chemical oxygen demand (COD). The harvested biomass was subsequently subjected to lipid extraction and catalytic hydrogenation to produce biodiesel and bio-aviation fuel. GC-MS analysis revealed that hydrotreated microalgae oil predominantly consisted of C16-C18 hydrocarbons, consistent with the compositional requirements of aviation fuels. Physicochemical characterization demonstrated that key fuel properties satisfy relevant ASTM specifications. The results confirm the feasibility of coupling wastewater treatment with high-value fuel production, enabling simultaneous pollutant removal, nutrient recovery, and biomass valorization. This work provides a sustainable waste-to-resource pathway, highlighting the potential of microalgae-based biorefineries for integrated environmental remediation and SAF feedstock generation.
Renewable diesel (RD) and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) are lower-carbon alternatives to conventional petroleum fuels that have begun to enter the U.S. market at commercial scale, largely driven by policy. The most widely deployed forms of RD and SAF are hydrotreated lipids, produced by similar processes, using vegetable or waste oil as the feedstock. Both RD and SAF typically result in lower air pollutant emissions than their petroleum equivalents, especially particulate matter and sulfur oxides (SOx), however the quantity and location of these reductions are different. The dependence of both RD and SAF on the same pool of feedstock and production capacity means that in the near term, increased SAF production may come at the expense of RD. This study investigates the possible air quality effects of such a shift, with a focus on potential impacts in disadvantaged communities. We develop two emissions scenarios in California, for which diesel and aviation emissions are scaled to reflect policies that favor SAF or RD. The air quality associated with each emissions scenario is then simulated using a chemical transport model. Health impacts from the air quality exposure fields are estimated for three major urban areas and exposure disparities are calculated based on historical socioeconomic data. The results of this show minimal air quality and public health changes between the high SAF and high RD scenarios for the California cities analyzed in the present study because California's current diesel emission regulations limit the potential air quality benefit from RD. This suggests that air quality considerations should not be a dominant motivation when evaluating policy-driven shifts in the relative prevalence of RD and SAF in California. Other regions using less advanced diesel engine technology may see more significant air quality tradeoffs between SAF and RD.Implications: Hydrotreated alternative fuels like renewable diesel (RD) and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) are entering the market at large scale, drawing from a limited global pool of feedstock (vegetable oil and non-fossil waste oils) and using similar production processes. Policymakers have explored expanding SAF consumption; likely near-term approaches to this would result in a commensurate reduction in RD. This paper evaluates whether this trade-off would cause significant impacts on air quality if it were to occur in California, where a SAF-focused policy change was considered in 2024. We find no significant regional air quality impact from such a shift.
Sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) are critical for decarbonising the hard-to-abate aviation sector, which significantly contributes to global CO2 emissions. Conventional SAF production routes, such as Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids, Fischer-Tropsch and Alcohol-to-Jet, offer drop-in compatibility but are constrained by feedstock availability, high costs and environmental impacts. This review highlights, as promising alternatives, microbial bioproduction via precision fermentation of SAF-relevant compounds from low-cost feedstocks, with reduced land use and enhanced circularity. Here, we focus on microbially derived SAF precursors such as alcohols, terpenes, fatty acid ethyl esters, methyl ketones and saturated hydrocarbons, as well as recent advances in host engineering, pathway design, and bioprocess optimisation.
Biofuels, including sustainable aviation and marine fuels, and biomass carbon removal and storage (BiCRS) are often viewed as potentially competing pathways for advancing climate and energy goals. Their comparative economic, environmental, and temporal advantages remain debated. Rather than identifying a "best-use" for biomass, we show that the relative economic advantages of BiCRS versus biofuels exist along a continuum shaped by energy- and decarbonization-focused market conditions. These pathways need not be adversarial: BiCRS can enable, rather than displace, future biofuel deployment. While the lignocellulosic biofuel sector continues to face barriers associated with underdeveloped supply chains and technologies that have not yet been commercialized at scale, emerging BiCRS approaches are comparatively feedstock-flexible, rapidly deployable, and responsive to carbon removal markets. Early BiCRS deployment can help establish reliable biomass supply chains, reducing investment risk for future lignocellulosic biorefineries. By easing initial supply chain constraints, BiCRS can serve as a practical stepping stone toward meeting both near-term carbon removal needs and long-term sustainable fuel objectives under uncertain future market and policy conditions.
Sustainable biomanufacturing of high-value, structurally complex chemicals directly from CO2 represents a frontier for carbon neutrality yet remains fundamentally constrained by a trade-off intrinsic to photobiohybrid systems: catabolic oxidation of fixed carbon must be invoked to regenerate intracellular reducing power, creating a futile cycle that reoxidizes photosynthetically fixed carbon back to CO2 and erodes the overall carbon atom economy. Overcoming this bottleneck requires a unified platform capable of simultaneously supplying carbon substrates and regenerating reducing equivalents to maximize anabolic flux. Here, we report a spatiotemporally decoupled photobiohybrid system that achieves carbon-efficient CO2 conversion through an "extracellular fixation and intracellular empowerment" strategy. A bifunctional catalyst of iron single atoms anchored on nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots (Fe-NC QDs), featuring atomically dispersed Fe-N4 active sites, was developed. Extracellularly, the Fe-NC QDs catalyze CO2 reduction to methanol with a production rate of 826.10 μmol·g-1·h-1 and 91.33% selectivity; intracellularly, the same QDs are internalized by engineered Pichia pastoris and photocatalytically regenerate NADH through a flavin-mediated electron transport chain. Coupling this bifunctional catalyst with an artificial phosphoketolase pathway enables the direct conversion of CO2 into the C15 aviation fuel precursor epi-isozizaene at a titer of 1.98 mg·L-1, corresponding to a 3-fold increase in product titer over conventional methanol-feeding strategies. By spatiotemporally decoupling carbon supply from energy regeneration, this work establishes a generalizable framework for solar-driven biosynthesis of complex multicarbon feedstocks and advances the development of a circular bioeconomy.
Musculoskeletal injuries (MSKIs) are ubiquitous in the U.S. military, especially among high-performing service members such as Marines. Given that female service members only started to be assigned to ground combat roles since December 2015, evaluation of sex on MSKI risk in ground combat occupations has not been possible until there was an ample population to study. The purpose of this population-level epidemiological study was to assess (1) if female sex was a salient risk factor for MSKI in Marines serving in different military occupations, including combat arms, and (2) the effects of integration period on MSKI risk among female Marines. A population-based epidemiological retrospective cohort study of all U.S. Marines was performed assessing female sex, occupation, and integration period on the prevalence of MSKI from 2011 through 2020. The Military Health System Data Repository was utilized to identify initial healthcare encounters for diagnosed ankle-foot, knee, lumbopelvic-hip, thoracocostal, cervicothoracic, shoulder, elbow, or wrist-hand complex injuries. Prevalence was calculated for female and male Marines in each occupational category (combat, combat support, aviators, aviation support, services) during the pre-integration (2011-2015) and post-integration (2016-2020) periods. During the pre-integration period, 520/1,000 female Marines (n = 13,985) and 299/1,000 male Marines (n = 142,158) incurred MSKIs. In the post-integration period, the prevalence increased to 565/1,000 female Marines (n = 17,608) and 348/1,000 male Marines (n = 161,429). In the multivariable evaluation of sex, occupation, integration period, and the interaction of sex and occupation on combined MSKIs, only female sex was a significant factor for injury (prevalence ratio [PR]=1.99), with service in ground combat and aviation occupations identified as protective factors when compared with services occupations (PR = 0.69). When these same factors were evaluated for specific MSKI outcomes, female sex remained a robust factor in all lower quarter (PR = 1.75-2.63) and upper quarter (PR = 1.38-2.36) injuries except for shoulder injuries. Service in ground combat and aviation occupations was protective for all lower quarter injuries (PR = 0.46-0.71). In the upper quarter, ground combat was protective for all injuries except for elbow injuries (PR = 0.67-0.77). Serving as an aviator was a risk factor for cervicothoracic (PR = 1.57) and thoracocostal (PR = 1.22) injuries and a protective factor for shoulder (PR = 0.73) and wrist-hand (PR = 0.46) injuries. Adjusted risk for lumbopelvic-hip (PR = 1.13), ankle-foot (PR = 1.53), cervicothoracic (PR = 1.19), thoracocostal (PR = 1.14), and elbow (PR = 1.48) injuries significantly increased during the post-integration period. There was a significant sex-by-period interaction for shoulder injuries alone, with female sex in the post-integration epoch found to be salient (PR = 1.26). Female sex was a significant factor for MSKI, with service in ground combat and aviation occupations identified as protective factors when compared with services occupations. In the evaluation of specific MSKIs, female sex remained a robust and significant factor in all lower quarter injuries and upper quarter injuries except for shoulder injuries. There was only a significant sex-by-period interaction for shoulder conditions, with an increased risk of these injuries in female Marines in the post-integration period.
To examine flight-related and aviation environmental changes in self-perceived vocal status among airline crew and to determine whether these differ between short-, medium-, and long-haul routes. Thirty-three airline crew members (n = 11 short-, n = 11 medium-, and n = 11 long-haul) participated in this observational study. Self-evaluation was conducted before and after flight routine using the validated versions of the voice handicap index (VHI), vocal fatigue index (VFI) of cluster 1 (tiredness and avoidance plus physical discomfort), and vocal tract discomfort (VTD) scale. The study followed defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data were analyzed using the Shapiro-Wilk test to verify normal distribution, and depending on data characteristics, paired-sample t tests and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests compared pre and postflight results. Repeated-measures analysis of variance and Kruskal-Wallis tests examined differences among flight-route groups. Finally, effect size measures of Cohen's d and Cohen's f were used. Overall, airline crew members reported a significant increase with small to medium effect sizes in voice-related complaints after flight operations across VHI, VFI, and VTD (P values < 0.01; d values ≥ 0.41). The general perception of voice-related complaints, as measured by the VHI, was observed among the airline crew on medium- and long-haul flights (P values < 0.05), with large effect sizes (f > 0.82). Although perceived vocal problems did not consistently manifest as vocal fatigue (VFI-cluster 1) or laryngeal discomfort (VTD) across all flight distances, postflight measurements still showed a significant overall rise in these parameters (P values = 0.002). Specifically, medium-haul flights were associated with marked vocal fatigue of cluster 1 (P = 0.008), while long-haul flights showed significantly increased laryngeal discomfort (P = 0.014). Airline crew members on long-haul routes were the most affected group, already exhibiting beginning pathological scores across all three preflight questionnaires compared with their short- and medium-haul counterparts. Flight operations are associated with increased self-reported vocal complaints, particularly in long-haul crew. These outcomes point to the impact of occupational vocal loading in aviation and highlight the importance of further investigation to obtain vocal health in aviation.
The transition to sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) requires efficient catalytic technologies to convert oxygenated lipid-derived feedstocks into hydrocarbon fuels that comply with stringent aviation fuel specifications. Motivated by the relatively low cost of nickel (Ni)-based catalysts and their suitability for large-scale commercial applications, a series of Ni-based catalysts supported on a modified beta zeolite (m-beta) were synthesized to investigate the effects of gallium (Ga) incorporation and the addition of a cerium (Ce) promoter on hydroconversion of palm oil-derived biodiesel. Based on catalyst characterization, the incorporation of Ga improved Ni dispersion and reduced Ni particle size, while Ce further modified Ni electronic states, enhanced H2 consumption, and introduced additional Brønsted acid sites through OH-bridging Ce species. Among the studied catalysts under a central condition, the bimetallic 5Ni5Ga/m-beta catalyst exhibited the highest liquid biofuel yield at 75.9 wt %, with 35.1 wt % biojet fuel-range hydrocarbons, and a high iso-/n-alkane ratio (1.14), attributable to its enhanced Ni active sites and alkane dehydrogenation and aromatization. For the effect of reaction parameters, both the reaction temperature and weight hourly space velocity (WHSV) played critical roles in overcoming limitations in oxygen-removal reactions. Although higher reaction temperatures and lower WHSV enhanced the biojet fuel fraction in the resulting liquid biofuels, these conditions should be carefully optimized to minimize undesirable aromatization. The addition of an appropriate Ce loading to the 5Ni5Ga/m-beta catalyst (5Ni5Ga-5Ce/m-beta) could further improve oxygen removal and alter the reaction pathway, thereby increasing iso-alkane selectivity over aromatic and cyclic compounds. A blend of oil between commercial Jet A-1 and the resulting liquid biofuel from 5Ni5Ga-5Ce/m-beta at 90/10 (v/v) had a heating value comparable to that of Jet A-1 (43.0 MJ/kg) and a freezing point of -54.9 °C. These results highlight the potential of NiGaCe/m-beta catalysts as cost-effective systems for producing SAF-compatible hydrocarbons from biodiesel, expanding strategies for sustainable aviation applications.
Midair collisions (MACs), while rare for air carriers, are not infrequent for general aviation, partly reflecting the limitations of the see-and-avoid method. However, considering technological advances potentially offsetting ocular limitations and little research on the subject, we sought to determine 1) whether the MAC rate has declined over time and 2) the underlying causes. MACs' (1995-2023) injury severity, mission type, and ambient conditions were per the National Transportation Safety Board database. Statistics used Poisson distributions/Chi-square tests. There were 480 aircraft (90% and 8% fixed-/rotary-wing aircraft, respectively) involved in 257 midair events. Despite an overall decline (63% reduction) in MAC rates (2020-2023), the proportion of fatal events (44-58%) was unchanged. Aircraft engaged in personal and training missions represented 61% and 24% of MACs, respectively, with the training mission MAC rate declining 70%. Although traffic density is highest surrounding aerodromes, surprisingly, only half of the MACs were within this environment. MAC rates, adjusted for arrival/departure counts, at aerodromes with a control tower were 6.5-fold lower compared with airports lacking such a facility. However, some MACs were still evident for aircraft receiving traffic deconfliction services, and for such mishaps, 78% were due to pilots not maintaining visual separation. The following recommendations are advanced. General aviation authorities and organizations should update pilot training curricula and safety programs to include training on physiological limitations, e.g. field of vision deterioration with advancing age. Further, the findings herein warrant future research to determine whether over-reliance on electronic traffic displays and panel modernization negatively impact external visual scanning. Boyd D, Anderson C. Midair collisions over a period of technological advances targeting human performance deficits. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2026; 97(6):443-450.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) operate in navigation, sensing, and communication environments that are frequently degraded or adversarial. Their attack surface spans flight-control and payload software, radio links, and swarm coordination. This PRISMA-aligned systematic review synthesizes peer-reviewed studies published between 2015 and 2025 and organizes the evidence using an OSI-inspired threat taxonomy that maps spoofing, jamming, intrusion, and malware to system touchpoints and observable anomalies. We compare deep learning architectures, training targets, feature representations, evaluation practice, and deployment constraints relevant to single UAVs and swarms. Across the literature, convolutional and recurrent models dominate intrusion and anomaly detection pipelines, while attention-based, graph, and generative models appear in newer work targeting multi-agent settings and limited labels. Evidence most often relies on protocol traffic and onboard telemetry, whereas RF inputs are used less frequently and are typically represented as raw samples or spectrograms when datasets allow. Studies increasingly report efficiency-oriented deployment using pruning, quantization, distillation, or split inference to meet onboard compute and energy limits. Federated and multi-agent approaches are evaluated for scalability and robustness under poisoned updates, and blockchain-integrated designs are discussed under bandwidth and power constraints. Key gaps persist in shared datasets, repeatable adversarial stress testing, uncertainty and explainability reporting, privacy preservation, and certification-ready assurance cases for aviation regulation.
RSR pattern in precordial electrocardiogram (ECG) leads may represent various underlying cardiac conditions. While generally benign, there is insufficient evidence precluding the need for further echocardiographic assessment. This retrospective cohort study aims to investigate the utility of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) in diagnosing disqualifying cardiac conditions among Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) applicants with isolated RSR on pre-employment medical screening (PEMS). Applicants who underwent PEMS from December 31, 2014-December 31, 2024, had isolated ECG RSR with subsequent TTE, complete medical records, and clearly documented selection outcomes were identified from RSAF PEMS data. Data pertaining to baseline demographics, cardiovascular risk factors, cardiac investigation findings, and PEMS outcomes were extracted. Of 102 eligible applicants, 95 accepted for all vocations and 7 disqualified from at least one vocation formed the accepted and disqualified cohorts, respectively. Overall, 18.6% (N = 19) of the cohort had abnormal TTE findings. Compared to the accepted cohort, the proportion of abnormal TTE (N = 6, 85.7% vs N = 13, 13.7%) was significantly higher in those disqualified. Regression analysis demonstrated significant correlation between abnormal TTE findings and QRS duration (OR = 1.12; CI = 1.03,1.20). This study highlights the potential value of integrating ECG-based risk stratification with echocardiographic evaluation to balance diagnostic accuracy, resource efficiency, and mitigation of aeromedical risks. Nonetheless, TTE continues to be of value in identifying disqualifying cardiac conditions among individuals with isolated RSR during ab-initio military aviation selection in the RSAF. Yang WYL, Cheok LJ, Ching K, Koh CH, See B, Low JW. Transthoracic echocardiography for evaluation of isolated RSR pattern in military aircrew applicants. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2026; 97(6):403-410.
Autoimmune limbic encephalitis is a rare condition. Autoimmune limbic encephalitis after COVID-19 infection is rarer. To date, a handful of cases in nonaviation settings have been reported and their serology were negative for antiprotein leucine-rich glioma inactivated 1 antibody (LGI-1), save two case reports. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case in aviation environment where positive anti-LGI-1 antibody was detected in serum post-COVID-19 infection. 53-yr-old male commercial pilot presented with confabulations and faciobrachial dystonic seizures 6 mo after contracting COVID-19. He had lately failed his scheduled flight simulator check, despite prior uncheckered flying history and proficiency checks. His serum showed mild hyponatremia and was positive for anti-LGI-1 antibody. T2 MRI demonstrated intensity in his temporal lobes. The pilot was treated with high-dose intravenous and oral steroids, intravenous immunoglobulin, plasma exchange, and rituximab. He did not improve and remained grounded from flying duties. LGI-1 autoimmune limbic encephalitis is characterized by clinical manifestation of faciobrachial dystonic seizures and cognitive impairment, commonly affecting short-term memory or amnesia. Laboratory findings such as hyponatraemia and T2 MRI hyperintensity in the temporal lobes should assist in forming a provisional diagnosis which is confirmed by positive anti-LGI-1 serology. There is no cure. Prognosis is guarded with immunotherapy treatment and relapse rates are considerable. It is associated with seizures and tumor. All these factors render the condition not meeting the 1% aeromedical certification rule, and it is incompatible with safe operation of aircraft. Wong MGP. Post-COVID-19 leucine-rich glioma inactivated 1 autoimmune limbic encephalitis in an aviator. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2026; 97(6):464-467.
Deciding between multiple options in a split second is a crucial aspect in various domains, including traffic, aviation, policing, and sports. Both drift-diffusion modeling (DDM), a computational model that approaches decision-making as noisy evidence accumulation, and finger tracking have been suggested to capture the evolution of a decision over time. In this study, we comparatively applied DDM and finger tracking to examine the processes underlying split-second decision-making within an anticipatory handball penalty task. Participants were shown temporally occluded videos of handball penalties and predicted shot direction by either pointing or continuously swiping toward one of two target areas. We extended previous research by using an optical motion capture system to track trajectories of both pointing and swiping and also calculated drift-diffusion models grouped by response modality. Results indicate that the DDM robustly mirrors the decision-making process. The model reflects the movement differences between pointing and swiping accurately in the non-decision time and shows consistent correlations between response modalities. In contrast, the finger tracking parameters (i.e., area under the curve, velocity, x-flips, and entropy) did not show consistent correlations between pointing and swiping trials and were strongly dependent on response modality. Furthermore, the effect of the response modality manipulation could not be clearly identified by finger tracking parameters. We conclude that DDM when compared to finger tracking seems to provide more modality-invariant insights into the processes underlying decision-making across different response tasks (i.e., modalities).
ObjectiveTo identify eye movement patterns that are correlated with spatial disorientation (SD) events during flights in a flight simulator that induces SD.BackgroundSpatial Disorientation is one of the main causes for aviation mishaps. It can result from illusions caused by misinterpreted vestibular or visual sensory cues, leading to an incorrect perception of an aircraft's position, attitude, or motion. SD prevention is of great importance, as there is currently no objective tool to identify its occurrence.MethodEye movements of 45 participants (30 aircrew members, 15 cadets) were recorded using Tobii Pro Glasses 2 in a Gyro-IPT SD flight simulator. Illusions were either vestibular or visual. Gaze metrics such as fixations, saccades (rapid gaze shift between two points), and visits were compared between subjects who experienced SD and those who did not. Statistical analyses were conducted to identify significant differences.ResultsAmong 284 flight profiles, 136 SD occurrences were recorded (48%). During visual illusions the participants who more frequently checked the instrument panel had a higher chance of avoiding SD. In contrast, during vestibular illusions, participants who examined the head-up display (HUD) more frequently had a lower probability of SD occurrence.ConclusionMitigating SD requires distinct eye-movement strategies tailored to the illusion type. Our results suggest that to mitigate visual illusions, there is a need for greater instrument panel focus, whereas to mitigate vestibular illusions, increased HUD engagement is needed, as opposed to the current instructions.ApplicationOur findings may inform training programs to enhance performance in high-risk SD flight profiles. Additionally, results support the potential development of a real-time SD alert system for aircraft, aiming to mitigate or prevent SD-related incidents.
Air-source heat pumps (ASHPs) provide high-efficiency electric space heating and play an important role in residential decarbonization. In cold climates, low outdoor temperatures reduce ASHP efficiency, while frost formation necessitates periodic defrosting, which lowers indoor temperatures and is typically offset by energy-intensive auxiliary electric resistance heating. Antifrost coatings offer a pathway to suppress frost formation and mitigate these comfort and energy penalties, but their system-level implications for residential ASHP applications have not been quantified. Here, we simulate ASHP operation in ∼7900 single-family homes across 25 U.S. cold-climate cities, comparing current practice, i.e., defrosting with auxiliary electric resistance heating, to defrosting operation without auxiliary heating, and to antifrost coatings assumed to suppress frost formation and thereby avoid defrost operations. Our calculations show that relative to current practice, antifrost coatings can reduce median winter emissions by ∼40% (assuming defrost is triggered after each hour of frosting conditions and lasts 15 min). Disabling electric resistance heating yields the largest emissions reductions but causes 1-5 °C indoor cooling during defrost, while a +2 °C increase in temperature set point halves under-heating. At scale, widespread adoption of antifrost coatings could yield winter emissions reductions of up to 30% of U.S. commercial aviation emissions in 2022, while eliminating defrost-related thermal discomfort.
The demands of competing in the Olympic games is remarkably similar to that of surgeon in theatre. Both require sustained precision, high cognitive load, emotional regulation, physical endurance, and the weight of outcomes that matter profoundly.Other high-performance domains, such as elite sport, aviation, and the military, have long recognised that peak execution comes from deliberate investment in human performance science: training body and mind, integrating recovery, applying technology, and employing coaching and human performance strategy to optimise outcomes. Athletes systematically invest in programmed and periodised conditioning, physiological monitoring, recovery, nutrition, and psychological resilience. Their success depends on the integration of physiology, psychology, and environment.
Burn injuries and chronic wounds impose a substantial and growing global health and economic burden, particularly in low- and middle-income countries and among aging populations with diabetes, vascular disease, and immobility. Conventional wound assessment depends heavily on visual inspection, manual measurements, and clinician experience, leading to variability in burn-depth estimation, wound sizing, and prognostication. Artificial intelligence, especially deep learning-based computer vision, has emerged as a promising approach to provide objective, reproducible, and scalable evaluation of burns and complex wounds. In this narrative review, we synthesize studies published between 2015 and 2025 focused on three domains: image-based wound recognition and segmentation, predictive modeling of outcomes such as healing, graft success, infection, and amputation, and integration of artificial intelligence into telemedicine platforms and smart technologies for remote monitoring. Across multiple datasets, convolutional neural networks achieve segmentation Dice coefficients frequently exceeding 0.85 and burn-depth or tissue-type classification sensitivities above 0.90, while multimodal prediction models reach accuracies and areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve of approximately 0.80-0.95. Early clinical pilots demonstrate the feasibility of embedding artificial intelligence tools into smartphone applications, telehealth workflows, and sensor-enabled dressings. Nonetheless, persistent challenges related to algorithmic bias across skin tones, limited dataset diversity, opaque model behavior, workflow integration, and evolving regulatory frameworks must be addressed before artificial intelligence-enabled wound care systems can be safely and equitably deployed at scale.
Early identification of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is essential for improving developmental outcomes but remains challenging due to diagnostic delays, subjectivity, and resource limitations. Eye-tracking offers objective indices of social attention and could improve access to early screening when deployed on consumer devices at home. This scoping review synthesizes evidence on home-deployable eye-tracking as digital biomarkers for early ASD screening, associated machine learning methods, and feasibility of real-world implementation. Following the Arksey and O'Malley framework and Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology, reported per PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR), we searched PubMed and Scopus (2015-2025) for English-language human studies using terms for autism, eye-tracking, and home-based assessment. Using a Population, Concept, Context (PCC) framework (Population: infants/ children; Concept: eye-tracking as digital biomarker; Context: home/ clinical settings), two reviewers screened each record and charted data on participant characteristics, stimuli, devices, analytic methods, diagnostic performance, and implementation indicators. Extracted data, including diagnostic performance metrics (PPV, NPV, confidence intervals), study design classifications, validation methods, and biomarker readiness ratings, are provided in full in Supplementary Tables S2-S6. The protocol was preregistered on the Open Science Framework (OSF Registries osf.io/mdz2e/; https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/MDZ2E). Searches were last executed on 1 August 2025. A process-based estimation approach was used to quantify the EOL carbon footprint of two timber floor systems-Adhesive & Screw and Sharp Plate & Screw, following ISO 14040/44 standards. Four realistic EOL pathways (landfilling, downcycling, component reuse, and full assembly reuse) were assessed under three recovery-rate scenarios (90%, 60%, and 30%) to capture both ideal deconstruction and conventional demolition conditions. EOL impacts, biogenic carbon flows, and Stage D credits (potential environmental benefits beyond building life) were integrated to determine the EOL climate outcomes. Across 90 studies, reported discrimination typically ranged from moderate to high. Sample sizes varied from small pilots to large datasets (n = 30-1,000+), with ages from 5 months to 18 years. Studies were categorized by system type: hardware-based, wearable, webcam-based, and home-deployed. By study purpose, studies ranged from prospective screening evaluations and internally validated case-control classification studies to exploratory group-difference analyses and feasibility evaluations; the majority fall into the latter two categories. Common tasks included faces/social scenes, biological motion, and joint-attention cues; frequently reported metrics included fixation proportion, dwell time, saccade dynamics, and interest-area contrasts (eyes/face vs. objects). Supervised learning (e.g. SVM, random forests) and deep learning pipelines were used, though external validation and calibration-robustness were inconsistently reported. Practical barriers included ambient-light variability, viewing distance, caregiver facilitation, device heterogeneity, and data privacy/governance. This review mapped 90 studies across four eye-tracking platform stages to assess translational readiness for home-based ASD screening. Gaze-based biomarkers carry robust discriminative signal, but the evidence derives almost entirely from laboratory-based, case-control studies. Only three studies collected data in home-deployed settings, none with externally validated accuracy. Priorities include prospective multisite home-based trials with prespecified endpoints, standardised stimulus protocols, evaluation of model robustness to distribution shift, and navigation of jurisdiction-specific regulatory pathways. Limitations include English-only sourcing, two databases, the 2015-2025 window, and lack of critical appraisal. Not Applicable.
Australia is failing people with complex mental health challenges, who experience poorer physical health and a reduced life expectancy of 15-20 years. This inequity is driven largely by preventable physical illnesses, many linked to lifestyle-related behaviours including physical inactivity, poor nutrition, smoking and sleep disturbance. Evidence shows integrated physical health and lifestyle interventions are feasible and effective. Yet translation into routine care remains fragmented, with most initiatives failing to scale beyond pilots. As a cornerstone of Australia's mental health system, community-managed organisations (CMOs) are central providers of recovery-oriented and peer-led psychosocial care to adults with complex mental health challenges. This uniquely positions CMOs to tackle such physical health inequities, yet they are under-resourced and underfunded, and their capability remains insufficiently recognised within national health policy frameworks. This Perspective presents a case for harnessing the capacity and capability of CMOs as a pathway for system reform, enabling better access to interventions that improve health outcomes and minimise health disparities. We outline opportunities for structured models of intervention, integrated care pathways, workforce development and policy and research priorities - all critical levers to enable sustainable, equitable physical health outcomes. It is time to elevate CMOs within mainstream health policy and strategically invest in their capacity to lead a systemic response to the physical health inequities of people living with mental health challenges.
Transpired solar collectors (TSCs) preheat ventilation air and reduce conductive heat loss through the building envelope, thereby acting as dynamic insulation. Direct outdoor comparisons of glazed and unglazed TSC modules operating under identical conditions remain limited. A systematic experimental study was conducted on two façade-mounted modules with the same perforated galvanised-steel absorber and 110 mm plenum: an unglazed TSC (UTSC) and a glazed TSC (GTSC) fitted with 4 mm low-iron tempered glass. The system was tested outdoors in Amman, Jordan, under clear-sky conditions (January-March 2025) at specific airflow rates of 18-144 m3/(h·m2) and solar irradiance of 200-1000 W/m2. Passive natural-convection operation of the GTSC was also evaluated at several cavity heights. Performance was quantified using physically bounded metrics covering thermal performance, heat exchange, exergy, wall heat-loss recapture, ventilation load reduction, and economic return. Across the tested range, the GTSC achieved thermal efficiency of 48-75% and exergy efficiency up to 12%, outperforming the UTSC (42-65%) by 6-9% points. The UTSC wall heat-loss recapture index decreased from 93% at low irradiance to 63% at peak irradiance, consistent with dynamic-insulation behaviour, while GTSC ventilation load reduction increased monotonically from 60% to 90%. Under passive operation, the GTSC reached 55% efficiency at 3.0 m cavity height without fan energy. Economic assessment using Jordanian energy prices indicated payback periods of 4.4 years (UTSC) and 5.2 years (GTSC). The results provide experimentally grounded guidance on when glazing is justified for sustainable ventilation preheating in buildings.