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Publications

2026

Evolving power system operator rules for real-time congestion management

Authors
Moaidi, F; Bessa, RJ;

Publication
ENERGY AND AI

Abstract
The growing integration of renewable energy sources and the widespread electrification of the energy demand have significantly reduced the capacity margin of the electrical grid. This demands a more flexible approach to grid operation, for instance, combining real-time topology optimization and redispatching. Traditional expert-driven decision-making rules may become insufficient to manage the increasing complexity of real-time grid operations and derive remedial actions under the N-1 contingency. This work proposes a novel hybrid AI framework for power grid topology control that integrates genetic network programming (GNP), reinforcement learning, and decision trees. A new variant of GNP is introduced that is capable of evolving the decision-making rules by learning from data in a reinforcement learning framework. The graph-based evolutionary structure of GNP and decision trees enables transparent, traceable reasoning. The proposed method outperforms both a baseline expert system and a state-of-the-art deep reinforcement learning agent on the IEEE 118-bus system, achieving up to an 28% improvement in a key performance metric used in the Learning to Run a Power Network (L2RPN) competition.

2026

From classroom to career: How graduate attributes shape employability and entrepreneurial intentions in the UAE

Authors
Nasaj, M; Almeida, F; Pudhuparambil, MM; Kutty, SV;

Publication
Industry and Higher Education

Abstract
This study aims to investigate how specific graduate attributes relate to university students’ employability and entrepreneurial intentions, with a focus on higher education institutions in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The research distinguishes between traditional and emerging attributes and examines their predictive value for distinct post-graduation pathways. A quantitative, cross-sectional survey design was adopted. Data were collected from 524 undergraduate students and analysed using multivariate multiple regression to assess the simultaneous effects of nine graduate attributes. The findings reveal that employability intention is significantly are associated with goal-directed behaviour, continuous learning, problem-solving, and the ability to present and apply information. Entrepreneurial intention, on the other hand, is more strongly predicted by enterprising behaviour, analytical thinking, and artificial intelligence literacy. Some attributes, such as ethical responsibility and interactive communication, were not significant predictors. University prestige had a minor but significant effect on employability intention, while the presence of a university incubator showed no significant relation. This study contributes to the theoretical development of graduate attribute frameworks by validating digital-era competencies and empirically distinguishing between employability and entrepreneurial orientations. It offers practical insights for higher education institutions seeking to develop curricula that better prepare graduates for diverse career outcomes.

2026

Intelligent and Automated Technologies for Textile Recycling Pre-Processing: A Systematic Literature Review

Authors
Lopes, D; Pires, EJS; Filipe, V; Silva, MF; Rocha, LF;

Publication
TECHNOLOGIES

Abstract
Textile-to-textile recycling is strongly constrained by upstream pre-processing, where post-consumer clothing must be identified, separated, and prepared under high variability in materials, appearance, and contamination. This paper presents a Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA)-guided systematic literature review of intelligent and automated technologies for textile recycling pre-processing covering the interval between 2015 to 2025. After screening and quality assessment, 21 primary studies published between 2020 and 2025 were included. The literature is synthesized across three task families: (i) identificationof fiber/material, composition, or color; (ii) sorting, considered only when explicit separation strategies are defined to operationalize identification outcomes into routing actions or output streams; and (iii) contaminant detection and/or removal, targeting non-recyclable items. Results show that identification dominates the field (19/21 studies), supported by Red-Green-Blue (RGB) and red-green-blue plus depth (RGB-D) imaging and material-signature sensing, including near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy, hyperspectral imaging (HSI), and Raman spectroscopy. In contrast, sorting as a defined separation stage is less frequent (4/21), and contaminant-related automation remains sparse (3/21). Most studies are validated in laboratory conditions, with limited semi-industrial evidence, highlighting a persistent perception-to-action gap. Overall, the review indicates that robust separation strategies, representative datasets, and end-to-end system integration remain key bottlenecks for scalable automated textile recycling pre-processing.

2026

The ExoGRAVITY survey: A K-band spectral library of giant exoplanet and brown dwarf companions

Authors
Kammerer,, J; Winterhalder,, TO; Lacour,, S; Stolker,, T; Marleau,, GD; Balmer,, WO; Moore,, AF; Piscarreta,, L; Toci,, C; Mérand,, A; Nowak,, M; Rickman,, EL; Pueyo,, L; Pourre,, N; Nasedkin,, E; Wang,, JJ; Bourdarot,, G; Eisenhauer,, F; Henning,, T; García López,, R; van Dishoeck,, EF; Forveille,, T; Monnier,, JD; Abuter,, R; Amorim,, A; Benisty,, M; Berger,, JP; Beust,, H; Blunt,, S; Boccaletti,, A; Bonnefoy,, M; Bonnet,, H; Sadun Bordoni,, MS; Brandner,, W; Cantalloube,, F; Caselli,, P; Ceva,, W; Charnay,, B; Chauvin,, G; Chavez,, A; Chomez,, A; Choquet,, E; Christiaens,, V; Clénet,, Y; Du Foresto,, V; Cridland,, A; Davies,, R; Dembet,, R; Dexter,, J; Drescher,, A; Duvert,, G; Eckart,, A; Fontanive,, C; Förster Schreiber,, NM; Garcia,, P; Gendron,, E; Genzel,, R; Gillessen,, S; Girard,, JH; Grant,, S; Hagelberg,, J; Haubois,, X; , G; Hinkley,, S; Hippler,, S; Houlle,, M; Hubert,, Z; Jocou,, L; Keppler,, M; Kervella,, P; Kreidberg,, L; Kurtovic,, NT; Lagrange,, AM; Lapeyrère,, V; Le Bouquin,, JB; Lutz,, D; Maire,, AL; Mang,, F; Matthews,, EC; Mollière,, P; Mordasini,, C; Mouillet,, D; Ott,, T; Otten,, GPPL; Paladini,, C; Paumard,, T; Rousselet Perraut,, K; Perrin,, G; Pfuhl,, O; Ribeiro,, DC; Rustamkulov,, Z; Ségransan,, D; Shangguan,, J; Shimizu,, T; Samland,, M; Sing,, D; Stadler,, J; Straub,, O; Straubmeier,, C; Sturm,, E;

Publication
ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS

Abstract
Context. Direct observations of exoplanet and brown dwarf companions with near-infrared interferometry, first enabled by the dualfield mode of VLTI/GRAVITY, provide unique measurements of the objects' orbital motions and atmospheric compositions. Aims. Here we compile a homogeneous library of all exoplanet and brown dwarf K-band spectra observed by GRAVITY thus far. This ExoGRAVITY Spectral Library is made publicly available online. Methods. We re-reduced all the available GRAVITY dual-field high-contrast data in a uniform and highly automated way and, where companions were detected, extracted their similar to 2.0-2.4 mu m K-band contrast spectra. We then derived stellar model atmospheres for all the employed flux references (either the host star or the swap calibrator), which we used to convert the companion contrast into companion flux spectra. Solely from the resulting GRAVITY K-band flux spectra, we extracted spectral types, spectral indices, and bulk physical properties for all the companions. Finally, and with the help of age constraints from the literature, we also derived isochronal masses for most of the companions using evolutionary models. Results. The resulting library contains R similar to 500 GRAVITY K-band spectra of 39 substellar companions from late M to late T spectral types, including the entire L-T transition. Throughout this transition, a shift from CO-dominated late M- and L-type dwarfs to CH4-dominated T-type dwarfs can be observed in the K-band. The GRAVITY spectra alone constrain the objects' bolometric luminosity to typically within +/- 0.15 dex. The derived isochronal masses agree with dynamical masses from the literature where available, except for HD 4113 c for which we confirm its previously reported potential underluminosity. Conclusions. Medium-resolution spectroscopy of substellar companions with GRAVITY provides insight into the carbon chemistry and the cloudiness of these objects' atmospheres. It also constrains these objects' bolometric luminosities, which can yield measurements of their formation entropy if combined with dynamical masses, for instance from Gaia and GRAVITY astrometry.

2026

Mimic Grasping: A Modular and Flexible Programming-by-Demonstration Robotic Grasping Solution

Authors
de Souza, JPC; Rocha, LF; Moreira, AP; Boaventura Cunha, J;

Publication
JOURNAL OF FIELD ROBOTICS

Abstract
The Industry 5.0 concept guides the industry to the premise of sustainability, resilience and human-centric solutions. The last related pillar tries to create solutions to empower the people in production line processes since solutions should be designed to be easy to use and easy to learn without discarding the working people. In this regard, it's natural that robots become closer to humans in industrial applications where it is possible to absorb human-machine qualities. Robotic grasping has widespread application with a wide range of applicability. However, engineers and shop-floor operators spend time finding a fast response solution when the production demand changes. Aiming to create a tool to help this procedure in a human-centred fashion, the current paper proposes a programming-by-demonstration solution that is easy to use, reuse, adapt, and increment with its modular design.

2026

Sagittarius A* near-infrared flare polarization as a probe of space-time I. Nonrotating exotic compact objects

Authors
Aimar, N; Rosa, JL; Tamm, HL; Garcia, P;

Publication
ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS

Abstract
Context. The center of our Galaxy hosts Sagittarius A*, which is a supermassive compact object of similar to 4.3 & times; 10(6) solar masses and is usually associated with a black hole. Nevertheless, black holes possess a central singularity that is considered unphysical, and an event horizon that leads to loss of unitarity in a quantum description of the system. To address these theoretical inconsistencies, alternative models, collectively known as exotic compact objects, have been proposed. Aims. We investigate the potential detectability of signatures associated with nonrotating exotic compact objects (ECOs) within the dataset of Sgr A* polarized flares as observed through GRAVITY and the upcoming GRAVITY+. Methods. We examined a total of eight distinct metrics that originate from four different categories of static and spherically symmetric compact objects: black holes, boson stars, fluid spheres, and gravastars. Our approach involved using a toy model that orbits the compact object in the equatorial plane at the Schwarzschild-Keplerian velocity. Using simulated astrometric and polarimetric data with current GRAVITY uncertainties as well as improved flux uncertainties expected for the GRAVITY+ upgrade, we fit the datasets across all metrics we examined. We evaluated the detectability of the metric for each dataset based on the resulting chi(2)(red) and Bayesian information criteria-based Bayes factors. Results. Plunge-through images of ECOs affect polarization and astrometry in a distinguishable way from the spin of a Kerr black hole. With GRAVITY's current uncertainties, none of the metrics models are discernible. However, when the data are modeled within a compact boson star background, the corresponding best fit is sufficiently superior to the Kerr fit to rule out the latter. We examined the best expected enhanced flux uncertainties and discovered that a fourfold increase in flux sensitivity enables the detection of some of the exotic compact object models we investigated. The signals of the others are too close to each other to be distinguishable. However, with the GRAVITY+ flux uncertainties, when the data are produced using an ECO model, the best-fit ECO model is significantly preferred (with a BIC-based Bayes factor exceeding two) over the best fit in the Kerr metric, such that the latter can be ruled out. Nevertheless, enhancing the astrophysical complexity of the hot-spot model might diminishes these outcomes. Conclusions. With the improved sensitivity of GRAVITY+, we expect to be able to determine whether Sgr A* is a Kerr black hole or some form of exotic compact object, although we will not be able to identify the specific ECO models that describe Sgr A* best.

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