Combating carbon footprint: novel reactor system converts carbon dioxide into usable fuel

New reactor design converts CO2 emissions from small boilers into methane fuel, offering a promising approach to combating climate change

Peer-Reviewed Publication

SHIBAURA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

 

IMAGE: 

RESEARCHERS FROM JAPAN AND POLAND HAVE DEVELOPED A REACTOR DESIGN THAT EFFICIENTLY CAPTURES CO2 EMISSIONS AND CONVERTS THEM INTO USABLE METHANE FUEL. THIS BREAKTHROUGH COULD SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS, PAVING THE WAY FOR A CARBON-NEUTRAL FUTURE.

view more 

CREDIT: PROFESSOR MIKIHIRO NOMURA FROM SIT, JAPAN

Reducing carbon emissions from small-scale combustion systems, such as boilers and other industrial equipment, is a key step towards building a more sustainable, carbon-neutral future. Boilers are widely used across various industries for essential processes like heating, steam generation, and power production, making them significant contributors to greenhouse gas emissions.

Boilers are generally quite efficient. As a result, it is difficult to reduce CO2 emissions simply by improving the combustion efficiency. Therefore, researchers are exploring alternative approaches to mitigating the environmental impact of CO2 emissions from boilers. One promising strategy to this end is to capture the CO2 emitted from these systems and convert it into a useful product, such as methane.

To implement this strategy, a specific type of membrane reactor, called the distributor-type membrane reactor (DMR), is needed that can facilitate chemical reactions as well as separate gases. While DMRs are used in certain industries, their application for converting CO2 into methane, especially in small-scale systems like boilers, has remained relatively unexplored.

This research gap was addressed by a group of researchers from Japan and Poland, who were led by Professor Mikihiro Nomura from Shibaura Institute of Technology in Japan and Prof. Grzegorz Brus from AGH University of Science and Technology in Poland. Their findings were published online on 17 April 2024 in Volume 82 of the Journal of CO2 Utilization.

The team conducted a two-pronged approach to the problem through numerical simulations and experimental studies to optimize the reactor designs for efficient conversion of CO2 from small boilers into methane. In their simulation, the team modeled how gases flow and react under different conditions. In turn, this enabled them to minimize the temperature variations, ensuring that energy consumption is optimized while methane production remains dependable.

The team further found that, unlike traditional methods that channel gases into a single location, a distributed feed design could spread the gases out into the reactor instead of sending them in from one place. This, in turn, results in a better distribution of CO2 throughout the membrane, preventing any location from overheating. “This DMR design helped us reduce temperature increments by about 300 degrees compared to the traditional packed bed reactor,” explains Prof. Nomura.

Beyond the distributed feed design, the researchers also explored other factors influencing the reactors efficiency and discovered that one key variable was the CO2 concentration in the mixture. Changing the amount of CO2 in the mixture affected how well the reaction worked. “When the CO2 concentration was around 15%, similar to what comes out of the boilers, the reactor was much better at producing methane. In fact, it could produce about 1.5 times more methane compared to a regular reactor that only had pure CO2 to work with,” highlights Prof. Nomura.

Additionally, the team investigated the impact of reactor size, finding that increasing the size of the reactor facilitated the availability of hydrogen for the reaction. There was, however, a tradeoff to be considered as the benefit of higher hydrogen availability required careful temperature management to avoid overheating.

The study thus presents a promising solution to the problem of tackling a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. By utilizing a DMR, low-concentration CO2 emissions can be successfully converted into usable methane fuel. The benefits gained thereof are not limited to methanation alone but can also be applied to other reactions, making this method a versatile tool for efficient CO2 utilization even for households and small factories.

 

***

 

Reference

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcou.2024.102763

 

About Shibaura Institute of Technology (SIT), Japan

Shibaura Institute of Technology (SIT) is a private university with campuses in Tokyo and Saitama. Since the establishment of its predecessor, Tokyo Higher School of Industry and Commerce, in 1927, it has maintained “learning through practice” as its philosophy in the education of engineers. SIT was the only private science and engineering university selected for the Top Global University Project sponsored by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and had received support from the ministry for 10 years starting from the 2014 academic year. Its motto, “Nurturing engineers who learn from society and contribute to society,” reflects its mission of fostering scientists and engineers who can contribute to the sustainable growth of the world by exposing their over 9,500 students to culturally diverse environments, where they learn to cope, collaborate, and relate with fellow students from around the world.

Website: https://www.shibaura-it.ac.jp/en/

 

About Professor Mikihiro Nomura from SIT, Japan

Professor Mikihiro Nomura leads the Separation Systems Engineering Laboratory at Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan. With a focus on ceramic membrane separation technology, Prof. Nomura aims to advance efficient separation processes for hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and wastewater, contributing to the realization of a carbon-neutral society. Through innovative approaches and a commitment to sustainability, he and his team strive to address pressing environmental challenges with cutting-edge engineering solutions.

 

Funding Information

This study was supported by the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange under the Strategic Partnerships Programme, Project No. BPI/PST/2021/1/00023 (project title: Strategic cooperation with Japan in the field of Energy and Environmental Engineering) and partially by the “Excellence Initiative-Research University” program of the AGH University of Krakow, and by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number JP23K04479.

---

JOURNAL

Journal of CO2 Utilization

DOI

10.1016/j.jcou.2024.102763 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Experimental study

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

Not applicable

ARTICLE TITLE

Unveil carbon dioxide recycling potential throughout distributor-type membrane reactor

 

Investigating the origin of circatidal rhythms in freshwater snails

Snails synchronize rhythms with tides, revealing adaptability to environmental changes

CHIBA UNIVERSITY

 

IMAGE: 

A HYPOTHESIS ON THE PROCESS OF ADAPTATION TO THE TIDAL ENVIRONMENT IN A FRESHWATER SNAIL. THE CIRCATIDAL RHYTHM IS NOT EXPRESSED IN NONTIDAL INDIVIDUALS UNDER NATURAL CONDITIONS. IN THE EARLY STAGE OF ADAPTATION TO THE TIDAL ENVIRONMENT, THE FLEXIBILITY OF BIOLOGICAL RHYTHMS ALLOWED SNAILS TO COPE WITH TIDAL CYCLES. SUBSEQUENTLY, SOME GENETIC CHANGES OCCURRED, AND SNAILS SHOWED A MORE PRONOUNCED CIRCATIDAL RHYTHM IN THE TIDAL ENVIRONMENT.

view more 

CREDIT: TAKUMI YOKOMIZO FROM THE CENTER FOR ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH, KYOTO UNIVERSITY

Organisms, including humans, follow a schedule that coordinates important bodily functions such as sleep-wake cycles, metabolism, hormone production, cognitive function, and feeding habits to environmental cycles. While most organisms possess circadian rhythms synchronized with the 24-hour day-night cycle, they have also developed other internal clocks to suit their local environments. Marine animals have evolved circatidal rhythms, aligning activities with the 12.4-hour tidal cycle, complementing circadian rhythms.

Researchers from Chiba University have discovered that snails living in downstream tidal areas have biological rhythms synchronized with the tidal cycles, unlike those in nontidal regions. This observation raises the question of whether circatidal rhythms develop due to differences in habitat or are caused by genetic variations between the populations. 

Building on their previous findings, Associate Professor Yuma Takahashi, along with Dr. Takumi Yokomizo from Chiba University (at the time of the study, and currently a post-doc researcher at the Center for Ecological Research, Kyoto University), revealed that freshwater snails living in tidal environments gradually adjust their biological rhythms to synchronize with the tidal cycles. The study published in the journal Heredity on March 27, 2024, offers insights into the adaptability and potential divergence of biological rhythms in response to tidal environments.

“This study revealed genetic and non-genetic changes in biological rhythms while adapting to tidal environments in a freshwater snail. This result could lead to an understanding of the role of biological clocks in the adaptation to rhythmic environment, which is one of the most important issues in chronobiology,” says Dr. Takahashi. The researchers collected freshwater snails (Semisulcospira reiniana) from tidal and nontidal areas along the Kiso River in Japan, 20 km apart. Snails were divided into two groups: one exposed to a regular 24-hour light-dark cycle, while the other experienced a simulated 12-hour tidal cycle, alternating between submersion during high tide and exposure to air during low tide.

Following a 4-week entrainment period, the researchers analyzed the behavior and genetic expression patterns of the snails in darkness at a constant temperature of 23°C. Among the snails from non-tidal areas, there were no significant differences in the intensity of the circadian and circatidal rhythms between the two groups. However, snails from tidal areas that were exposed to the simulated tidal cycle showed stronger circatidal rhythms compared to the control group. Interestingly, both the tidal and non-tidal populations exposed to the simulated tide showed an increase in the number of circatidal oscillating genes and a decrease in the circadian oscillating genes (genes that fluctuate in activity in tune with the tidal and diurnal cycle, respectively). Snails that had already adapted to the tidal cycles in the rivers in their early life had a greater number of circatidal oscillating genes compared to the nontidal population. 

These results imply that the expression rhythms of genes controlled by the biological clock are sensitive to environmental changes, and can be influenced by genetic changes that result from environmental adaptation. “Our study focused on the flexibility of biological clocks and found their potential to change biological rhythms according to dominant environmental cycles,” says Dr. Takahashi. 

Disruptions to biological rhythms can negatively impact various physiological processes. The findings of this study may enhance our understanding of how organisms adapt to changing environmental conditions and prove valuable in the treatment of chronobiological diseases in the future.

About Associate Professor Yuma Takahashi from Chiba University
Dr. Yuma Takahashi is an Associate Professor at the Graduate School of Science, Chiba University. He has a Ph.D. from the University of Tsukuba and has held research fellowships at the University of Tsukuba and Tohoku University. His research focuses on integrating hierarchies and time scales and includes topics like gene expression variation, developmental fluctuations, phenotypic plasticity, and rapid adaptation. Dr. Takahashi has published numerous articles on damselflies, Drosophila, and freshwater snails, exploring the genetic and environmental factors shaping their evolutionary trajectories. He has won numerous awards, including the Miyaji Award from the Ecological Society of Japan and the Population Ecology Young Scientist Award.

---

JOURNAL

Heredity

DOI

10.1038/s41437-024-00680-7 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Experimental study

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

Animals

ARTICLE TITLE

Plasticity of circadian and circatidal rhythms in activity and transcriptomic dynamics in a freshwater snail

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

27-Mar-2024

 

Evolutionary genomics: Consequences of biodiverse reproductive systems

DFG funds new Research Training Group in Biology at the University of Göttingen

UNIVERSITY OF GÖTTINGEN

 

IMAGE: 

GÖTTINGEN’S NEW RESEARCH TRAINING GROUP (RTG), FUNDED BY THE GERMAN RESEARCH FOUNDATION (DFG) - "EVOLUTIONARY GENOMICS: CONSEQUENCES OF BIODIVERSE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEMS (EVOREST)" - BENEFITS FROM AN INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO INVESTIGATE THE EVOLUTION OF GENOMES IN ORGANISMS WHICH USE DIFFERENT FORMS OF REPRODUCTION FROM THE ENTIRE "TREE OF LIFE".

view more 

CREDIT: ELVIRA HÖRANDL, INES FRIEDRICH & JAN DE VRIES

A new Research Training Group (RTG) in Biology at the University of Göttingen has been funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG).  The RTG, entitled "Evolutionary Genomics: Consequences of Biodiverse Reproductive Systems (EvoReSt)", benefits from an interdisciplinary approach to investigate the evolution of genomes in organisms which use different forms of reproduction from the entire "Tree of Life". The DFG is providing funding of around 6.6 million euros over the next five years to establish this RTG.

 

The researchers will investigate the evolution of the nuclear genome – meaning the complete set of DNA within the nucleus of an organism’s cell – by analysing asexual and sexual reproduction in animals, plants and fungi. In addition, they will study the interaction between the nuclear genome and the genomes of specialised structures within cells known as organelles. Their studies will include horizontal gene transfer by means of viruses, which remains an under-researched topic. The continuing development of methods and models for modern analysis of the genome is also an important focus of the RTG. "The complete sequencing and analysis of genomes is now also possible for organisms that do not belong to the classic model systems," explains RTG Spokesperson Professor Elvira Hörandl from the Albrecht von Haller Institute for Plant Sciences. "This approach enables us to empirically test evolutionary hypotheses on changing and evolving genomes that could previously only be predicted theoretically. This allows us to better understand the dominance of sexual reproduction in nature, a key topic in evolutionary biology."

 

The RTG comprises a team of twelve researchers from the Göttingen Campus – the Faculty of Biology and Psychology, the University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG) and the Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences – providing a diverse range of expertise which will facilitate extensive study on this topic. The aim is to establish an international network on evolutionary genomics which will offer PhD researchers a modern, wide-ranging education in biology, enabling the RTG to promote the international exchange of students and researchers through workshops, seminars, conferences and short research visits with collaborating research groups. The research results will be published in peer-reviewed journals which have open access, as well as at international conferences.

 

Contact:

Professor Dr. Elvira Hörandl

University of Göttingen

Faculty of Biology and Psychology

Department of Systematics, Biodiversity and Evolution of Plants

Untere Karspüle 2, 37073 Göttingen, Germany

Tel: +49 (0)551 39-27843

Email: elvira.hoerandl@biologie.uni-goettingen.de

https://www.uni-goettingen.de/en/153591.html

ESG

Companies can improve the sustainability of their products in the earliest product-design stages

An interdisciplinary team of researchers from Lithuanian and Italian universities proposed a tool, which allows companies to assess the circularity of their future products in the earliest (creative) stages of product development,

KAUNAS UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

 

IMAGE: 

PROF. LINA DAGILIENĖ

view more 

CREDIT: KTU

An interdisciplinary team of researchers from Lithuanian and Italian universities proposed a tool, which allows companies to assess the circularity of their future products. The self-assessment tool emphasises the co-creation of circular design in the early (creative) stages of product development, encouraging entrepreneurs and designers think more systematically and collaborate better by integrating related stakeholders into the product development process. According to the researchers, this makes it unique.

“The majority of existing practical tools (systems of indicators) are aimed at measuring the environmental impact of products already in the market. Many companies are aware of sustainability and circularity, but they need skills and tools, which can help develop sustainable new products,” says Lina Dagilienė, professor at Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) School of Economics and Business.

A circular product design framework (CD-Framework) and a self-assessment tool (CD-Tool), co-created with researchers from KTU, Politecnico di Milano and business companies, are aimed at product developers, designers, and entrepreneurs. The CD-Framework consists of 10 categories; the additional questions focus on a certain products’ specific aspects and add interactivity.

Circular solutions: win-win for businesses and society

“The systemic thinking based structured information was one of the advantages identified by the companies, who participated in our research. Our tools helped them understand how they could practically include circularity in their products. For example, by changing the packaging and production materials or including additional services in a circular business model,” says Prof. Dagilienė.

According to the researchers, product or service design can become a catalyst of circular transition. Dagilienė says that the focus on a product design reflects an eco-friendly mindset which aims to prevent damage, rather than to manage the consequences of irresponsible behaviour.

“The growing amount of waste, pollution, noise, and diminishing biodiversity is the price that society pays for the environmentally harmful production. Our circular design tools emphasise the importance of planetary boundaries and promote the systemic attitude towards new product development among current and future entrepreneurs,” says Prof. Dagilienė, Principal Researcher at the Digitalisation research group at the KTU School of Economics and Business.

In contrast to the linear mindset, the circular economy (CE) can be linked with the idea of Spaceship Earth, where humans must find their place within a cyclical ecological system. The CE emphasises a win-win between the environment and business activity. According to Dagilienė, such a mindset can be beneficial to businesses as it allows them to create a unique value proposition for their customers.

“Moreover, in the context of stricter environmental policies and ever-present greenwashing, implementation of real circular innovations in the processes and products becomes increasingly important. For that, companies need knowledge and skills,” says the KTU researcher.

Bridges the gap between research and practice

The study, which resulted in the circular design framework and tool included practitioners from business in the process: the researchers were observing the companies applying the tool and registered the challenges they faced. According to Dagilienė, it is important to design a user-friendly, uncomplicated instrument without compromising its content.

“The research-practice gap can be described through forest and tree metaphor. While a practitioner cares about a specific tree and its qualities, a researcher will always be interested in the whole forest, its growth tendencies and other characteristics. Similarly, when developing new products, business practitioners require fast, specific solutions for their products, whereas researchers are developing systems, which focus on general tendencies, instead of individual needs of one company,” explains Dagilienė.

The study of researchers of KTU School of Economics and Business bridges the gap between research and business. The circular design pre-accelerator took four months – during this time, 8 workshops were organised, led by experts from different fields of sustainable new product development. In total, the pre-accelerator received 62 applications to become participants or experts; 48 novel concepts underwent rigorous evaluation and 16 proposals for further engagement were selected. Finally, 10 circular or sustainable ideas completed the pre-accelerator programme.

“The majority of the participants were small companies, as they have less human and financial resources, and similar activities allow them to renew their knowledge and share their practices with the representatives from other branches of industry,” says Dagilienė.

During the action research of pre-accelerator, the scientists were collecting data (expert diaries, focus groups, interviews) from the participants. According to Dagilienė, networking, sharing knowledge, expanding outlook were the main benefits of the activity as reported by the practitioners.

Users’ acceptance of circular products is related to storytelling

“The majority of the tested ideas represented techno cycle of product development – handbags, saunas, campervans, educational toys, candles, cardboard furniture. However, we also had the ideas about database of sustainable suppliers in film production, and products made from buckwheat hulls,” says Dagilienė.

She emphasises that the development of a circular product benefits from design-thinking approach, which involves the final user in the product design process. This helps to create products, which are attractive to the final user, and understand what the customers value in these products.

“For example, we observed that users’ acceptance of circular products (especially repaired, recycled ones) is closely linked to visual representation and storytelling,” says Dagilienė.

Usually, circular or sustainable products are more expensive (or they are not circular). That is why it is important to understand the needs of the consumer from the very first stages of product development.

“The business needs to know for what their customer is ready to pay more. However, it is also essential to ensure that circular economy solutions would not create social injustice, which would happen if they were affordable only to those with higher income,” emphasises Prof. Dagilienė.

To avoid this, an extensive analysis of the customers’ needs and expectations must be undertaken, together with experimenting with products and business models.

The self-assessment tool for circular product design (CD-Tool) co-created by interdisciplinary team of scientists from KTU and Politecnico di Milano in collaboration with businesses is available on circuloop.lt website.

The above-described study was published in Journal of Industrial Ecology and is available here.

---

JOURNAL

Journal of Industrial Ecology

DOI

10.1111/jiec.13494 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Survey

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

Not applicable

ARTICLE TITLE

Developing a circular design framework: Co-creation and validation of a circular product and service design tool

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

20-May-2024

 ROBOTICS

Cutting-edge robotics: Introducing the hybrid-driven origami gripper

Peer-Reviewed Publication

BEIJING INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY PRESS CO., LTD

 

IMAGE: 

SCIENTISTS FROM SHANGHAI JIAO TONG UNIVERSITY HAVE UNVEILED A NOVEL HYBRID-DRIVEN ORIGAMI GRIPPER, DESIGNED TO TACKLE THE CHALLENGE OF GRASPING AND MANIPULATING OBJECTS WITH UNPRECEDENTED VERSATILITY AND PRECISION.

view more 

CREDIT: ZHUANG ZHANG, SHANGHAI JIAO TONG UNIVERSITY.

In an impressive leap forward for robotics technology, researchers from Shanghai Jiao Tong University have unveiled a novel hybrid-driven origami gripper, designed to tackle the challenge of grasping and manipulating objects with unprecedented versatility and precision. This innovative device, highlighted in a recent study published in Cyborg Bionic Systems, promises to reshape the capabilities of robotic systems in industries ranging from manufacturing to healthcare.

The newly developed gripper utilizes a combination of pneumatic and cable-driven mechanisms to control an origami-inspired structure, allowing for adjustable finger stiffness and variable finger lengths. This sophisticated design enables the gripper to handle a wide variety of objects by altering its physical characteristics to suit the task at hand—a groundbreaking development in the field of soft robotics.

Traditional robotic grippers, often limited by their rigid construction and lack of adaptability, can struggle with tasks that require delicate handling or complex maneuvers. The origami gripper, in contrast, draws inspiration from the biological compliance and softness seen in natural organisms. Its fingers, crafted from thermoplastic urethanes-coated fabric and discrete thin metal sheets, combine the flexibility of soft materials with the precision and strength of rigid components. This allows the gripper to conform closely to the surfaces it interacts with, enhancing its ability to securely grasp diverse materials without causing damage.

One of the key innovations of the origami gripper is its ability to adjust the length and stiffness of its fingers dynamically. By modifying the lengths of the cables and the input pressure of the pneumatic system, the gripper can change its grasp to accommodate objects of different sizes and weights. This feature is particularly useful in scenarios where a variety of objects need to be handled sequentially or in environments where space and adaptability are crucial.

The design of the gripper includes three independently controlled cables for each finger, which can either pull synchronously for uniform motion or differentially for complex, multi-directional movement. This level of control is essential for tasks that require fine manipulation capabilities, such as assembling delicate components or navigating through cluttered or uneven surfaces.

The research team has conducted extensive testing to demonstrate the gripper's functionality. Experiments showed that the gripper could effectively adjust its gripping force and finger configuration to handle objects ranging from thin fabric pieces to large, heavy footballs. This versatility is underpinned by the gripper’s innovative pneumatic-cable hybrid system, which provides both the power needed to handle heavier loads and the gentle touch required for more fragile items.

Looking ahead, the researchers plan to further refine the gripper's design to enhance its load-bearing capabilities and increase its energy efficiency. Such improvements could broaden the gripper’s applications, making it a valuable tool for industries where manual dexterity and delicate handling are paramount, such as in surgical settings or the intricate assembly of consumer electronics.

This breakthrough represents a significant step forward in the ongoing integration of soft robotics into industrial and commercial applications. As robotics technology continues to evolve, devices like the origami gripper are poised to play a crucial role in enabling more efficient, safe, and versatile automated systems.

The paper, "Hybrid-Driven Origami Gripper with Variable Stiffness and Finger Length," was published in the journal Cyborg and Bionic Systems on Apr 9，2024, at DOI: https://spj.science.org/doi/10.34133/cbsystems.0103.

---

JOURNAL

Cyborg and Bionic Systems

DOI

10.34133/cbsystems.0103 

ARTICLE TITLE

Hybrid-Driven Origami Gripper with Variable Stiffness and Finger Length

Revolutionizing robotics: Integrating actuation and sensing for smarter soft robots

BEIJING INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY PRESS CO., LTD

 

IMAGE: 

SCIENTISTS FROM JIANGSU KEY LABORATORY FOR DESIGN AND MANUFACTURE OF MICRO-NANO BIOMEDICAL INSTRUMENTS HAVE THE “STRATEGIES FOR SOFT ACTUATION” SECTION WILL DELVE INTO INTELLIGENT ACTUATION STRATEGIES FOR SOFT ROBOTS AND SUMMARIZE WORK RELATED TO MULTIMODAL ACTUATION TECHNIQUES.

view more 

CREDIT: SHUAI ZHOU, JIANGSU KEY LABORATORY FOR DESIGN AND MANUFACTURE OF MICRO-NANO BIOMEDICAL INSTRUMENTS.

The world of robotics is witnessing a transformative shift with the rise of soft robotics, which offers unparalleled flexibility and adaptability in various applications, from medical interventions to intricate rescue operations. A groundbreaking review article by Zhou et al. published in Cyborg Bionic Systems in 2024, sheds light on this evolution, highlighting the crucial integration of actuation and sensing technologies that pave the way for truly intelligent soft robots.

Soft robots, unlike their rigid counterparts, are made from materials that mimic the mechanical properties of living tissues, allowing them to move and adapt with a life-like grace. This capability makes them ideal for operating in unstructured and unpredictable environments where traditional robots might falter. The innovative research spearheaded by the team from Southeast University in Nanjing, China, focuses on merging actuation—the ability to move and interact with surroundings—with sensing, which involves collecting data about the environment. This integration is essential for developing soft robots that can react and adapt to their surroundings autonomously.

Actuation technologies enable soft robots to perform diverse tasks, such as navigating rough terrain or delicately handling objects. Sensing technologies, on the other hand, allow these robots to perceive their environment, from detecting obstacles to assessing the properties of the objects they interact with. By integrating these two capabilities, soft robots can perform complex tasks more effectively and with greater autonomy.

Zhou and colleagues discuss various actuation methods, including pressure-driven, electrically driven, and those utilizing shape memory materials. These methods have allowed soft robots to achieve complex movements such as rotation, crawling, and bending. On the sensing side, the researchers explore advancements in proprioceptive (self-perception) and haptic (touch-based) sensing, which enable robots to understand their body position and react to physical contact.

One of the review's highlights is the detailed examination of three integration methodologies for actuation and sensing:

Sensor Surface Integration: Embedding sensors on the surface of the robot to provide real-time feedback on external interactions.

Sensor Internal Integration: Incorporating sensors within the robot's body to monitor internal states, enhancing the robot's ability to adapt its movements based on dynamic internal and external conditions.

Closed-loop System Integration: Utilizing sensor feedback to create systems where actuation and sensing are continuously informing and optimizing each other's functions.

Despite the promising advancements, the review identifies several challenges facing the field. These include the need for more durable and reliable integration techniques, the development of materials that can withstand diverse operational environments, and the creation of more sophisticated models for predicting and controlling robot behavior.

The future directions suggested by the research team include enhancing the load capacity of these robots, improving their energy efficiency, and refining the technologies that allow them to operate in extreme conditions. These improvements could revolutionize the way robots are used in fields such as deep-sea exploration, disaster recovery, and health-care.

Zhou,Li et al.'s review not only summarizes the current state of soft robotics but also serves as a call to action for researchers. It encourages further exploration into the integration of actuation and sensing to realize the full potential of soft robots. As this field evolves, it promises to bring forth robots that are not only more adaptable and safe for human interaction but also capable of performing tasks that are currently unimaginable.

The paper, "Integrated Actuation and Sensing: Toward Intelligent Soft Robots," was published in the journal Cyborg and Bionic Systems on Apr 18, 2024, at DOI: https://spj.science.org/doi/10.34133/cbsystems.0105.

---

JOURNAL

Cyborg and Bionic Systems

DOI

10.34133/cbsystems.0105 

ARTICLE TITLE

Integrated Actuation and Sensing: Toward Intelligent Soft Robots

Humble leaders boost employees’ workplace status and leadership potential

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA

There are many different types of workplace leaders, from those who prioritise the needs of team members and the organisation above their own, to authentic leaders who foster openness, trust and transparency.

A recent study by the University of South Australia has highlighted the significant benefits of humble leadership in the workplace.

According to the study by UniSA’s Dr Xiao Lin, humble leadership can effectively elevate the workplace status of employees by boosting their sense of respect and prominence. It also leads to employees enhancing their own leadership potential by motivating them to lead and take charge.

Humble leadership is a workplace leadership behaviour characterised by leaders who view themselves accurately, appreciate the strengths and contributions of others and are open to feedback, even if it’s critical.

Humble leaders practice “bottom-up leadership” that involves behaviours such as listening actively and valuing the input of employees, supporting professional development of others and encouraging initiative within their workers.

Dr Lin, a member of UniSA’s Centre for Workplace Excellence, is an expert in moral-based leadership styles and says understanding humble leadership is important in today’s complex and competitive business environment.

“Understanding and implementing humble leadership is essential as it’s been shown to positively impact individual and team outcomes in the workplace including work engagement, proactive behaviour, wellbeing and resilience and increased innovation, learning and performance,” she says.

“Humble leadership is a powerful tool for lifting employees’ status and unlocking their potential, leading to a more engaged, innovative and high-performing workplace. It can also help build a pool of effective leaders for the future. By fostering the leadership potential of employees, organisations can maintain competitive advantages.”

Humble leadership works when leaders provide ‘status cues’ to communicate their humility and approachability. This could include a leader demonstrating their own willingness to listen, learn and work with their employees instead of asserting dominance or superiority.

Another example is the practice of ‘role reversals’ which allow employees to teach their leaders, driving them to exert more influence in the workplace.

Dr Lin says not all employees will respond to humble leadership behaviour in the same way and that it depends on their personal characteristics.

“Employees who focus on individual development, success and competition respond best to humble leadership behaviours. These are people who feel the need to be at the top, stand out and be excellent employees so they have the chance to influence their leaders and become high-status team members,” she says.

“People who don’t place as much value on their own development and success in the workplace are less likely to benefit from humble leadership behaviours. These sorts of employees will do whatever the leaders tell them. They have no interest in teaching their leaders or displaying their own strengths or contributions.”

Media contact: Melissa Keogh, Communications Officer, UniSA E: +61 403 659 154 E: Melissa.Keogh@unisa.edu.au

Researcher contact: Dr Xiao Lin, UniSA, E: Xiao.Lin@unisa.edu.au

---

JOURNAL

Journal of Organizational Behavior

DOI

10.1002/job.2793 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Data/statistical analysis

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

People

ARTICLE TITLE

How do humble leaders unleash followers' leadership potential? The roles of workplace status and individualistic orientation

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

5-May-2024

 

New male birth control gel takes effect sooner than similar contraceptive methods

THE ENDOCRINE SOCIETY

BOSTON—A novel male contraceptive gel combining two hormones, segesterone acetate (named Nestorone) and testosterone, suppresses sperm production faster than similar experimental hormone-based methods for male birth control, according to a new study.

Results from an ongoing multicenter phase 2b clinical trial will be presented Sunday at ENDO 2024, the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting in Boston.

“The development of a safe, highly effective and reliably reversible contraceptive method for men is an unmet need,” said senior researcher Diana Blithe, Ph.D., chief of the Contraceptive Development Program at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Md. “While studies have shown that some hormonal agents may be effective for male contraception, the slow onset of spermatogenic suppression is a limitation.”

NIH’s Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development is funding the study, which included 222 men who completed at least 3 weeks of daily treatment with the contraceptive gel. The gel contained 8 milligrams (mg) of segesterone acetate and 74 mg of testosterone. Segesterone acetate is an ingredient of the Annovera vaginal birth control ring. Men applied the gel once daily to each shoulder blade.

Early in the study, the researchers measured for suppression of sperm production by obtaining sperm count tests at 4-week intervals. The threshold deemed effective for contraception was 1 million or fewer sperm per milliliter of semen, Blithe noted.

Most study participants (86%) reached this sperm count by week 15, the researchers reported. Among those men, sperm production was suppressed at a median, or midpoint, time of less than 8 weeks of segesterone-testosterone treatment. Blithe said prior studies of male hormonal contraceptives given by injections showed a median time between 9 and 15 weeks for sperm output to become suppressed.

“A more rapid time to suppression may increase the attractiveness and acceptability of this drug to potential users,” Blithe said.

Testosterone treatment alone decreases sperm production, with a median time of 15 weeks but the addition of segesterone acetate speeds the time and lowers the dose of testosterone needed to suppress sperm production over testosterone alone, she said. In the daily segesterone-testosterone gel regimen, blood levels of testosterone are kept in the physiologic range to maintain normal sexual function and other androgen-dependent activities.

The sperm suppression stage of the international phase 2b trial of segesterone-testosterone gel is complete. The study continues to test the contraceptive’s effectiveness, safety, acceptability and reversibility of contraception after treatment stops.

# # #