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Adoption of AI by the HR function in the civil service
Get PDFThis paper uses the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to assess the readiness of the HR Function within the UK Civil Service (CSHR) to implement AI to support performance. Academic literature in relation to AI acceptance in HR functions is currently limited, so this paper aims to establish a better understanding of the current landscape and level of ambition in this area.A quantitative research approach was adopted to determine likely behavioral intentions of workers in the HR function if AI were implemented, by investigating key aspects of the TAM (the perceived usefulness of AI and the transparency of the CSHR in adopting AI).Whilst the results suggest that the CSHR is not ready to harness AI opportunities, employees were personally ready, despite perceiving a lack of sufficient knowledge in this area. The paper identifies that more time needs to be spent on raising awareness and upskilling the HR Function before the CS can be considered fully ready to harness these opportunities.The penetration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies into the global workforce brings transformative potential to the governance structures and use of digital platforms in public sector organizations. AI is likely to play a role in the operation of Human Resources (HR) Functions and influence how they might operate in the near future
Achieving resilient supply chains: Managing temporary healthcare supply chains during a geopolitical disruption
Get PDFGeopolitical disruptions significantly impact the management of temporary healthcare supply chains (HSCs). Common across geopolitical disruptions is the interruption to the flow of supplies, calling for organizations to reconfigure their existing supply chains or set up temporary ones. We theoretically and empirically investigate how temporary HSCs are designed to ensure a resilient flow of vital healthcare products during a geopolitical disruption.,We investigated two different temporary HSCs – potable water and blood products – that experienced geopolitical disruptions. We purposefully sampled HSCs in deployed medical care where healthcare providers operate in resource-austere, politically volatile environments and timing and access to specialist expertise, medical equipment and medicines are critical. We built on rich datasets, including archival data, 12 expert workshops and 41 interviews.,The nature of temporary HSCs (e.g. urgency of demand and time-limited need) and product characteristics (e.g. perishability and strict storage conditions) lead to complexity in designing resilience for temporary HSCs. In contrast to permanent supply chains, temporary HSCs have limited flexibility and redundancy. Collaboration and agility are predominant strategies for enhancing resilience for temporary HSCs.,The study uncovers an urgent need for radical changes in how managers and policymakers responsible for HSC address resilience. During geopolitical disruptions, managers and policymakers need to review healthcare regulations across nations and prioritize by activating high levels of information- and knowledge-sharing between nations.,This study addresses an underresearched area of investigation by theoretically combining and empirically investigating the supply chain strategies employed by organizations to build up resilience in temporary HSCs
Retinal microvascular phenotypes can track small vessel disease burden and CPAP treatment effectiveness in obstructive sleep apnoea
Get PDFOptical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) retinal imaging enables visualization of the retinal microvasculature that is developmentally related to the brain and can offer insight on cerebrovascular health. We investigated retinal phenotypes and neuroimaging markers of small vessel disease (SVD) in individuals with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). We enrolled 44 participants (mean age 50.1 ± SD 9.1 years) and performed OCT-A imaging before and after continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy. Pre-treatment analyses using a generalized estimating equations model adjusted for relevant covariates, revealed perivascular spaces (PVS) volume in basal ganglia associated with greater foveal vessel density (fVD) (p-value < 0.001), and smaller foveal avascular zone area (p-value = 0.01), whereas PVS count in centrum semiovale associated with lower retinal vessel radius (p-value = 0.02) and higher vessel tortuosity (p-value = 0.01). A reduction in retinal vessel radius was also observed with increased OSA severity (p-value = 0.05). Post-treatment analyses showed greater CPAP usage was associated with a decrease in fVD (p-value = 0.02), and increased retinal vessel radius (p-value = 0.01). The findings demonstrate for the first time the potential use of OCT-A to monitor CPAP treatment and its possible impact on both retinal and brain vascular health
Co-creation in citizen science: Sharing learnings and good practice from an indoor, airborne microplastics project
Get PDFHOMEs was a citizen science exploratory project, aimed at investigating the presence of airborne microplastics in people's homes. Participants placed passive samplers in their homes, using low-cost microscopes to see and take pictures of their samples. The methods developed are promising, however there are a number of pitfalls to avoid and key considerations. This practice insight explores successful approaches and identifies barriers and limitations when embedding co-creation and participatory citizen science approaches to a research project. This piece focuses on the methods and engagement with participants, rather than on microplastics findings
Book Review: Trade Unions in the European Union: Picking Up the Pieces of the Neoliberal Challenge. By Jeremy Waddington, Torsten Müller, and Kurt Vandaele
Get PDFBook review: Fraud and Risk in Commercial Law, edited by Paul S Davies and Hans Tjio. Hart Publishing 2024
Get PDFThis review of Fraud and Risk in Commercial Law examines this book, which is the second in the series on current issues in commercial law by Hart Publishing. The book comprises a collection of individually authored chapters on a range of topics which relate to fraud and/or risk in commercial law. The topics range from the development of technology and its exploitation by fraudsters, to the role of private law and risk mitigation in commercial contracts. Other topics covered are the operation of force majeure clauses; increased fraud risk in the age of artificial intelligence; and cryptocurrencies and their use in fraud, which is particularly relevant following the collapse of crypto trading platform FTX in 2022. Overall the review concludes that this compendium of well researched and well-argued papers is essential reading for both academics and practitioners of fraud and commercial law
Gamifying engagement in spatial crowdsourcing: An exploratory mixed-methods study on gamification impact among university students
Get PDFCitizen science now relies heavily on digital platforms to engage the public in environmental data collection. Yet, many projects face declining participation over time. This study examines the effect of three elements of gamification—points, daily streaks, and real-time leaderboards—on student engagement, achievement, and immersion during a five-day campus-wide intervention utilising the GAME and a spatial crowdsourcing app. Employing a convergent mixed-methods design, we combined behavioural log analysis, validated psychometric scales (GAMEFULQUEST), and post-experiment interviews to triangulate both quantitative and qualitative dimensions of engagement. Results reveal that gamified elements enhanced students’ sense of accomplishment and early-stage motivation, which is reflected in significantly higher average scores for goal-directed engagement and recurring qualitative themes related to competence and recognition. However, deeper immersion and sustained “flow” were less robust with repetitive task design. While the intervention achieved only moderate long-term participation rates, it demonstrates that thoughtfully implemented game mechanics can meaningfully enhance engagement without undermining data quality. These findings provide actionable guidance for designing more adaptive, motivating, and inclusive citizen science solutions, underscoring the importance of mixed-methods evaluation in understanding complex engagement processes. While the sample size limits the statistical generalizability, this study serves as an exploratory field trial offering valuable design insights and methodological guidance for future large-scale, controlled citizen science interventions
The potential role of 1,25(OH) 2 D 3 (Active vitamin D 3 ) in modulating macrophage function; implications for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Get PDFMacrophages play an important role in tissue homeostasis, inflammation, and repair, displaying remarkable plasticity by polarising towards pro-inflammatory M1 or anti-inflammatory M2 phenotypes. In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), this regulatory balance is disrupted, resulting in sustained tissue damage and impaired repair capability. Defective efferocytosis and dysregulated macrophage phenotypes are key contributors to COPD pathogenesis. Emerging evidence suggests that vitamin D3, particularly its active form 1,25(OH)2D3, has an immunomodulatory effect on reprogramming macrophages towards an M2 phenotype. This review examines the molecular mechanisms through which 1,25(OH)2D3 is reported to influence macrophage metabolism, surface marker expression, and intracellular signalling. Overall, the review suggests that 1,25(OH)2D3-mediated reprogramming of macrophage phenotype and function offers a potential therapeutic approach to mitigate persistent inflammation and tissue destruction in COPD. Moreover, future research should focus on exploring the detailed molecular pathway of 1,25(OH)2D3 action in COPD macrophages and validating its clinical effects as part of personalised treatment strategies. Evidence suggests that 1,25(OH)2D3 enhances mitochondrial function and shift macrophage metabolism from glycolysis to oxidative phosphorylation through metabolic reprogramming facilitating M1-to-M2 polarisation. 1,25(OH)2D3 also modulates macrophage phenotype by regulating M2-associated surface markers (CD36, CD163, CD206, TIM-3) and downregulating pro-inflammatory mediators (CD86, iNOS, HLA-DR). It promotes the secretion of anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-10 and TGF-β while suppressing IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF production. Mechanistically, 1,25(OH)2D3 regulates macrophage polarisation through multiple signalling pathways and suppresses pro-inflammatory responses by inhibiting NF-κB and MAPK activation, while promoting anti-inflammatory signalling via STAT6 and VDR-PPARγ axis. Deficiency in 1,25(OH)2D3 is strongly associated with increased inflammation and oxidative stress in COPD correlating with increased disease severity. Conversely, restoring vitamin D3 levels reduces oxidative damage, suppresses pro-inflammatory gene expression, and improves alveolar macrophage function highlighting its therapeutic potential in modulating inflammation
Opportunities and challenges for monitoring terrestrial biodiversity in the robotics age
Get PDFWith biodiversity loss escalating globally, a step change is needed in our capacity to accurately monitor species populations across ecosystems. Robotic and autonomous systems (RAS) offer technological solutions that may substantially advance terrestrial biodiversity monitoring, but this potential is yet to be considered systematically. We used a modified Delphi technique to synthesize knowledge from 98 biodiversity experts and 31 RAS experts, who identified the major methodological barriers that currently hinder monitoring, and explored the opportunities and challenges that RAS offer in overcoming these barriers. Biodiversity experts identified four barrier categories: site access, species and individual identification, data handling and storage, and power and network availability. Robotics experts highlighted technologies that could overcome these barriers and identified the developments needed to facilitate RAS-based autonomous biodiversity monitoring. Some existing RAS could be optimized relatively easily to survey species but would require development to be suitable for monitoring of more 'difficult' taxa and robust enough to work under uncontrolled conditions within ecosystems. Other nascent technologies (for instance, new sensors and biodegradable robots) need accelerated research. Overall, it was felt that RAS could lead to major progress in monitoring of terrestrial biodiversity by supplementing rather than supplanting existing methods. Transdisciplinarity needs to be fostered between biodiversity and RAS experts so that future ideas and technologies can be codeveloped effectively. [Abstract copyright: © 2025. The Author(s).
Interrogating the ‘when I was young’ trope: Supporting children’s play for nature connection and resilience through the development of an alternative nature toolkit
Get PDFAs concerns grow about the lack of opportunities that children have to engage with nature, how children might engage with nature play is a critical question to address. In considering this query, we present a study of key literature on changing childhood experiences and present considerations for future studies and practices. Linked to these considerations, we outline how we developed with twelve parents/carers a progressive, research-informed toolkit which supports children’s nature connectedness and resilience through play, and advocate the need to expand studies and practices which appropriately and meaningfully support modern children to engage with nature play