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Motherboard (Haiku art / mixed media)
No full textMotherBoard stands as a tribute to Black British Windrush matriarchs whose presence embodies memory, strength, and survival across generations. These Great Grandmothers, Grandmothers and Mothers represent a legacy we are losing daily as mortality forms the natural evolution of life.
Based on a portrait photograph captured in my studio and developed using ethically sourced AI blending tools, this work reimagines the role of elder Black British women within a digitally connected world.
Ethical AI Process
The term "ethically sourced AI blending tools" refers specifically to my methodological approach where all portrait images used were my own original photographs, created with explicit permission from the model. I deliberately blended these contemporary photographs with specific historical artworks from The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Open Access collection:
Jacques de Gheyn II's "Vanitas Still Life" (1603)
Henri Fantin-Latour's "Roses in a Bowl" (1883)
Ralph Albert Blakelock's "Landscape" (1885-95)
These works were accessed through The Met's Open Access policy, which allows free copying, modification, and distribution of these images, even for commercial purposes.
By consciously selecting European artists' historical artworks as base elements, I engage in a deliberate artistic intervention that confronts colonialism in a contemporary context, using the very visual languages and traditions that historically excluded Black subjects to now center and elevate them.
In a landscape where AI often overlooks those outside the algorithmic mainstream, MotherBoard places her at the centre, dignified, timeless, and essential.
Motherboard is not a relic of the past but the source code for the future.
This piece forms my submission for the 'AI for Good': Canvas of the Future 2025 call-out and constitutes part of my wider practice in tech art archival, employing photography, AI, and digital art (Mixed Media) to preserve, honour and future-proof the cultural presence of Black women in global memory systems.
The work comprises two versions (Haiku in English and Haiku in Jamaican Patois) alongside an accompanying Short Shorts video.
The English version was submitted to 'AI for Good'.
Prompt Title: Motherboard: Wisdom Woven in Skin
Prompt Description:
I created a hyperrealistic, painterly portrait of an elder Black British Windrush woman, inspired by diasporic visual ethnography. Her image is rendered in 3D with deep skin textures, luminous highlights, and expressive eyes that carry both generational memory and contemporary power.
The work utilises Renaissance-inspired oil painting textures with metallic undertones in her clothing—blending golds, rose pinks, and earth browns. Her headwrap symbolises cultural continuity, while faint abstract patterns surrounding her reference oral storytelling, migration, and memory.
The portrait embodies warmth, dignity, and introspection, framing the woman as a living archive: her gaze quiet, yet speaking to centuries of resilience and creativity. This work explicitly resists AI's tendency to erase or stylise Black skin inaccurately by prioritising fine-grained detail, deep tones, and culturally specific features.
Retain the photo realism and dark skin tone (vital as AI does enter the realms of colourism heavily)
Technical Parameters
Style: Romanticism, Ethnographic realism, Renaissance, Afro-surrealism
Textures: Canvas grain, fine brushwork, oil and metallic highlights
Lighting: Soft studio lighting with contrast emphasis on wrinkles, fabric texture and gaze
Pose: Half-turn glance over shoulder (inspired by documentary portraiture)
Emotive Intent: Introspective, rooted, humanising
Symbolism: Reclaimed heritage, matrilineal memory, intergenerational strength
Medium Emulation: Oil on canvas, with textured digital depth
Conceptual Framework
My work sits firmly within cultural, linguistic, and feminist anthropology, examining how visual representation intersects with identity formation and preservation.
My choice of the old master style from the Renaissance period is deliberate, drawing on their established visual narratives of social conduct and moral standards (Hall, 2019). By appropriating historical European artistic styles and specific works from The Met's collection, I enact what Tuck and Yang (2012) call "counter-appropriation," reclaiming colonial aesthetics for decolonial purposes.
Without the next generations preserving their existence, Black British women risk being lost from our collective memory. As technology becomes the new tool for presence, it becomes our responsibility to ensure these women are part of tech conversations both off and online.
My blending prompts draw inspiration from my love of the Memento Mori and Vanitas artistic traditions, while my mixed-media Visual Ethnography and Cultural Mortality documents cultural identities historically marginalised, erased, or devalued.
In this sense, my portraits function as anti-vanitas, refusing the symbolic death of Black British Windrush women by centring them within cultural legacy.
As Bryan et al. (2018) observe, Black British women's histories have been systematically excluded from mainstream archives, creating what they term "archival silences." This work attempts to address these silences through digital reclamation.
The inclusion of Jamaican Patois in one version of the haiku engages with linguistic anthropology by elevating creolised languages within academic and artistic contexts (Sebba, 2021). Jamaican Patois is considered a creole language by linguists. It's a language that has evolved from a pidgin, or a mixture of languages, often influenced by West African languages, English, and other languages.
While vanitas reminds us of mortality, my work reclaims the dignity of lives often excluded from official memory, particularly elder Black British women. This aligns with my Anthro-Digital Narratives (ADN) framework, which positions lived experience, heritage, and memory as legitimate sites of knowledge production (Barrett, 2020).
These portraits disrupt the silent death imposed by historical erasure, presenting instead a visual form of intellectual, emotional, and ancestral survival. As Noble (2018) argues, algorithmic systems frequently perpetuate historical biases, making intentional counter-narratives essential for digital equity. From a feminist anthropological perspective, this work challenges the technological determinism that often excludes elder women from digital spaces (Strathern, 2016).
Symbolism and AI Ethics
AI systems often flatten identity into generic categories. My images echo the vanitas tradition of layered symbolism; skin texture, headwraps, and expression function as cultural artefacts. This approach combats algorithmic bias by forcing AI into ethical confrontation with complexity and human texture.
MotherBoard's portrait holds the same solemnity and stillness as a vanitas work; she appears timeless, contemplative, neither fully in the past nor future. This represents AI as a space for reclaiming rather than erasing. Research by Benjamin (2019) demonstrates how technologies often reproduce racial hierarchies, requiring deliberate interventions like this portrait to disrupt such patterns.
Cultural anthropologists like Ginsburg (2018) have noted the importance of 'cultural futures' work that ensures indigenous and minority communities remain visible in emerging technological landscapes.
Elements That Echo Memento Mori and Vanitas:
The Skull (mortality): Wrinkled skin and soft gaze (lived experience, memory)
Flowers (fragility): Yellow headwrap and pink dress (symbolism of joy + lineage)
Hourglass: Passing sideways glance—facing the past while living in the present
Extinguished Candle: Soft shadows behind her, representing lives lost, untold
Mirror: Self-reflection through the photographic lens and her steady gaze mirror each other
The MotherBoard portrait becomes a living vanitas, but instead of mourning lost time, it preserves it, making visible the "ordinary" Black British Windrush woman as extraordinary, layered, symbolic, and central to cultural memory.
This work exemplifies the use of traditional and contemporary art styles to create empowerment and visibility through visual narration on digital platforms. It represents my contribution as a PhD student to recognising what these women did before me and did to enable my presence in academia today. As discussed by Wekker (2016), honouring Black women's knowledge production becomes an act of both preservation and resistance. Feminist anthropological approaches frame this work as what Behar (2013) terms 'vulnerable ethnography'—research that acknowledges emotional connection to cultural documentation
“Revolving stages” of Primal Scream: Autoethnography, “collective effervescence,” live performance, and the making of an alternative legacy act
No full textThis article explores the evolution of the Scottish rock band Primal Scream into an alternative legacy act. It discusses the “revolving stages” of Primal Scream’s career, focused on their musical and performative development, which aligns with their ever-increasing profile and audience. The article takes an autoethnographic approach, based on memories of four concerts the authors attended between 1986 and 2010, where Durkheim’s notion of “collective effervescence” is applied to gain insights into the experience of seeing Primal Scream live during this period. Tutenges’s subtypes of violent effervescence and compassionate effervescence are also applied to underline the nuanced and radical evolution of the band, as understood from the perspective of the audience experience. The article concludes that the period between the groundbreaking albums Screamadelica and XTRMNTR (1991–2000) generated the foundation of the alternative legacy act that emerged in 2010 at Olympia London
In vivo evaluation of biocompatibility and biodegradation of porcine collagen membranes
No full textCollagen-based materials differ in absorption time, biodegradation patterns, and inflammatory cell infiltration. This study aimed to evaluate the biocompatibility and biodegradation of native, differently processed, and cross-linked porcine collagen membranes implanted in the subcutaneous tissue of rats, following ISO 10993-6:2016. Sixty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: Group 1 (lyophilized 3 % porcine type I collagen membrane), Group 2 (lyophilized 3 % porcine type I collagen membrane, dehydrothermal [DHT]), Group 3 (1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether [BDDE] cross-linked, lyophilized 3 % porcine type I collagen), and Group 4 (BDDE cross-linked, lyophilized 3 % porcine type I collagen, DHT). The experimental periods were 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks, with three animals per group per period. After each period, specimens were extracted and analyzed for membrane structure, biodegradation, cell infiltration, angiogenesis, tissue integration, and foreign body reaction using histological staining and scoring according to ISO 10993-6:2016. The cross-linked collagen membrane groups maintained their porous structure, with cell infiltration and blood vessel formation observed within this structure. Non-cross-linked collagen membranes (Group 1) appeared as lumps under the subcutaneous tissue and exhibited minimal or no response throughout the observation periods. Groups 2 and 4 biodegraded the fastest. Group 2 membranes were not detected in the subcutaneous tissue at 8 weeks, classified as a slight response. Cross-linked collagen membranes in all groups showed a slight response, whereas Group 4 exhibited a moderate response (11.0-16.9) only at 12 weeks. The tissue response to collagen membranes in all groups aligned with physiological inflammatory processes, scoring from minimal or no response (0.0-5.9) to slight response (6.0-10.9), confirming their biocompatibility. Cross-linking methods, temperature, and chemical reagents influence collagen membrane properties. Cross-linked collagen formed a porous structure, and high-temperature DHT cross-linking accelerated the biodegradation of the collagen membrane. [Abstract copyright: © 2025 The Author(s).
Efficacy and safety of direct oral anticoagulants for patients with atrial fibrillation with glomerular hyperfiltration: A systematic review and meta-analysis
No full textPurpose
The purpose of this study was to identify possible therapeutic benefits of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) compared with warfarin in subjects with supranormal renal function.
Methods
PubMed and Embase were systematically searched until September 25, 2022. Articles that met the prespecified selection criteria were included. The fixed-effects model was chosen if there is no significant heterogeneity. Subgroup analyses were conducted to find the sources of heterogeneity. Variables that might expand heterogeneity were selected as follows: (1) type of DOAC, (2) dose of DOAC, (3) equation for glomerular filtration rate estimation, and (4) types of original research.
Findings
A total of 7 studies involving 87,514 patients were included. In patients with creatinine clearance (CrCl) >80 mL/min, DOACs were associated with a significant reduction in the overall effectiveness outcomes compared with warfarin (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.75; 95% CI, 0.66–0.86; P 95 mL/min, DOACs were associated with a borderline lower risk of effectiveness outcomes (HR = 0.83; 95% CI, 0.68–1.01; P = 0.07; I2 = 61%) and significantly lower risk of safety outcomes (HR = 0.66; 95% CI, 0.58–0.76; P < 0.0001; I2 = 0%), particularly major bleeding (HR = 0.63; 95% CI, 0.53–0.76; P < 0.0001; I2 = 0%) and intracranial hemorrhage (HR = 0.43; 95% CI, 0.30–0.62; P < 0.0001; I2 = 0%).
Implications
In patients with atrial fibrillation and CrCl >80 mL/min, DOACs have greater clinical benefits than warfarin. For those with atrial fibrillation and CrCl >95 mL/min, significantly better safety outcomes were observed for DOACs
The impact of adjunctive Aripiprazole on Olanzapine‐induced metabolic adverse effects in patients with schizophrenia: A systematic review
No full textBackground
Olanzapine is a second-generation atypical antipsychotic drug which is commonly used in the treatment of schizophrenia. It has been associated with metabolic adverse effects such as weight gain, hyperglycaemia, dyslipidaemia, and this has been shown to contribute to the reduction of life expectancy of patients with schizophrenia. This systematic review aimed to assess whether adjunctive aripiprazole is effective at reducing metabolic adverse effects caused by olanzapine.
Methods
A systematic review was conducted for this study. A systematic search strategy was developed, recorded, and applied to multiple databases. The literature search found a total of 853 results with the final inclusion of 7 research articles. Based on specific inclusion and exclusion criteria, a wide range of study designs were included in the review, such as randomized control trials (RCTs), open label trials, and case series. Key outcomes were identified, which included glucose levels, lipid profile, body weight, BMI, and waist circumference. The results were recorded and analyzed using narrative synthesis.
Results
Statistically significant decreases in fasting triglycerides were consistent across multiple studies. Adjunctive aripiprazole shows potential weight loss benefits, with some studies reporting significant reductions in weight and BMI. Effects on cholesterol and fasting glucose showed reductions, and others showed minimal or no impact. Psychiatric symptom control remained stable in most studies, suggesting that aripiprazole does not negatively affect schizophrenia symptoms while potentially providing metabolic advantages.
Conclusion
Adjunctive aripiprazole had variable effects on metabolic parameters in patients on olanzapine therapy; however, reductions in triglycerides appeared consistent among most of the data, and some studies reported significant weight loss. This highlighted that aripiprazole does have some effect in reducing metabolic adverse effects caused by olanzapine
Why Generative AI is (some) middle-agers’ best friend
No full textBlog at ESRC Centre for Digital Futures at Wor
Gap analysis investigating healthcare professionals' skills and knowledge for pain management in haemophilia-A qualitative study
No full textIntroduction
People with haemophilia continue to experience pain impacting activities of daily living despite the advances in haemostatic treatments. Although guidelines exist, pain management in the clinical setting remains inadequate. It is unclear why this gap in practice persists. This study aimed to explore the practice and experience of pain management by haemophilia healthcare professionals (HCPs) to better understand perceived competency and barriers/facilitators to appropriate care.
Methods
European HCPs working ≥ 3 years in haemophilia care were invited to participate (haematologists, nurses, physiotherapists and psychosocial professionals). Data were collected using profession-specific focus groups and semi-structured individual interviews, recorded and transcribed. The data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.
Results
Twenty-three HCPs (6 haematologists, 7 nurses, 6 physiotherapists, 4 psychosocial professionals) from 10 European countries agreed to participate. Four themes were constructed: (1) Defining who is responsible: the challenges in multidisciplinary team provision for good pain management; (2) the concept of pain and its management exists in multiple temporalities; (3) aspirations for better pain management are limited by prevailing biomedicalism; (4) pain management can be better—knowledge and experience improves confidence.
Discussion
These data demonstrate a gap in confidence in the delivery of effective pain management, influenced by individual knowledge and skills and wider geographical determinants of healthcare delivery. There is a need for services to establish who is responsible for pain management and better understand professional role identity. Mechanisms to support the implementation of better pain care in haemophilia need to be explored
‘No one wants to be the washed-up ex-cricketer sitting at the bar getting pissed talking of the good old days’: A narrative analysis of retirement as experienced by male professional cricketers in England
No full textIn spite of current literature illuminating the challenges professional athletes encounter when transitioning into new careers, very little research has focused on the experiences of professional cricketers. To rectify this situation, this study explores how a group of professional cricketers in England experienced retirement from their sport. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with former county (7) and international (3) male players who had retired within the last 15 years. Interview transcripts were then subjected to a narrative analysis that led to the identification of the following themes: restricting, confronting, enforcement, coherence and re-imagining . Each of these themes is discussed in detail, and the manner in which they function as narrative resources that shape the retirement experiences of the cricketers is considered. Attention is also given to how narrative repertoires amongst professional cricketers might be expanded so that multiple future selves become available to them in the process of retiring from their sport, rather than being restricted by narrowly defined career storylines
Section A. A thematic synthesis of service users and their social networks' experiences of receiving Open Dialogue. Section B. A grounded theory of how mental health professionals using Open Dialogue experience and navigate working within the NHS
No full textSection A
Background and aims: Open Dialogue (OD) is a social network-based approach to mental health care and has recently been adopted in multiple countries. Freeman et al. (2019) conducted a review of OD but concluded that no firm conclusions could be drawn due to the low quality of the studies. This thematic synthesis builds on Freeman et al.’s (2019) review by synthesising recent studies exploring the experiences of receiving OD and identifying implications for NHS mental health services attempting to implement it.
Methods: Databases were searched for peer-reviewed papers using relevant search terms. Twelve studies were identified which were then critically appraised using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) Qualitative Studies Checklist (CASP, 2018). Thematic synthesis was used to integrate the findings across the studies.
Results: The synthesis identified four themes: “Network meetings felt emotionally safe”, “dialogism facilitates communication and new understandings”, “Open Dialogue can shift traditional power dynamics” and “Challenges with family involvement and the format”.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that transparency and a supportive therapeutic relationship created emotional safety in the network meetings. The dialogical work enhanced communication and created opportunities for new perspectives. Participants also valued the inclusion of family and having agency over their care. However, some challenges were identified regarding the inclusion of family and the dialogical format.
Section B
Background and aims: Open Dialogue (OD) is a therapeutic approach and a way of organising mental health services. It has been introduced within the NHS as an addition to existing mental health teams. However, there is a limited understanding of professionals’ experiences of using OD within the NHS. Therefore, this study explores how NHS professionals experience delivering OD and how they navigate any challenges that arise.
Method: The study used Corbin and Strauss’ grounded theory. One focus group and ten individual interviews were completed with fifteen participants.
Results: The model captures six categories: “Being drawn to Open Dialogue”, “Open Dialogue is a rewarding way of working”, “tensions emerge at ideological, team and individual levels”, the importance of the team context”, “team-related strategies for working with tensions” and “sustaining themselves”.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that professionals experience the approach as a highly valuable and enriching way of working whilst also encountering multiple challenges. The specific team context that they were working in appeared key to influencing the degree to which these tensions emerged. Over time, they discovered ways to work with these challenges by using team related strategies and sustaining themselves
A place in society: the private public of the Persistent Scribblers' Society
No full textThis thesis examines the Persistent Scribblers’ Society (P.S.S), a Canterbury based manuscript magazine society of the 1870s, and makes an original contribution to manuscript magazine research. It situates the works of the P.S.S. within wider literary practices to challenge John Stuart Mill’s assertion that until women had a place in society, they could not have a literature of their own, and argues that the liminal space of manuscript magazines constitutes a place in society. This liminal space, although at odds with historical narratives of social agency, constructed and articulated by men, is nevertheless important feminine space that is both socially expansive and enriching, producing a literature which despite its invisibility to wider society is no less agentic. The first chapter considers opportunities for leisure for men and women within Canterbury in the 1870s, looking at the tensions that politics and faith created within the city and how this is reflected in the utilization of public space. In the second chapter, the social model underpinning the P.S.S. is explored to challenge the critical discourse of the public/private spheres, arguing that the liminal space of the “private public” acts as an alternate social space to the public sphere. The third chapter considers Anglican women’s agency and their contribution to faith discourse through manuscript magazines. The
fourth chapter examines the stories and poems of the P.S.S. to understand how members articulate their place in society, arguing that women were able to express their anxieties among their private publics. The final chapter considers the period 1879-1891 and argues that the society had a positive impact on its members allowing space for personal growth