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Balancing Usability and Protection in AI and Data Security: A Human-Centric Approach
Get PDFAs artificial intelligence (AI) systems become integral to our daily lives, the challenge lies in striking the delicate balance between usability and protection. This paper advocates for a human-centric approach—one that considers not only technical safeguards but also user experience. We explore behavioral insights, transparent communication, and collaborative efforts to enhance security while ensuring seamless interactions. By prioritizing both usability and protection, we pave the way for a secure and user-friendly AI landscape The increasing interplay between protection and usability results from the incorporation of artificial intelligence (AI) systems into our digital lifestyles. This research, which focuses on the Usability-Privacy Nexus, promotes a human-centric approach that goes beyond conventional security paradigms. We can design security procedures to fit users' mental models and decision-making processes by studying human behavior. Users must have open lines of communication and be trusted to understand the consequences of their actions. There are some methods for informing consumers about security measures without becoming too intrusive. Organizational culture, training initiatives, and user education are crucial factors that go beyond technical solutions. Awareness programs, nudges, and gamification can improve security literacy. Collaboration and user-centered design are also vital, incorporating people early in the process. Through the integration of behavioral information, entities can customize security protocols
The Co-op-Labour Alliance: An electoral case study of the Attlee years, 1945-1951
Get PDFThe 1945-51 Labour governments have understandably been the subject of a vast amount of historical research given their reputation for radical reform and reconstruction of the British economy and society after the Second World War. Yet, the Attlee governments’ relationship with the Co-operative Party is much less well understood. The Co-operative Party was formed following the Co-operative Union’s decision to seek direct political representation following the First World War with the primary function of protecting the interests of the consumer Co-operative Movement and, despite standing as an independent party, from the outset its MPs aligned themselves with the Labour Party. A formal alliance was agreed in 1927 which henceforth entailed the fielding of joint candidates in conjunction with the Labour Party, an arrangement that was confirmed and further developed through the negotiation of an amended agreement in 1946. Whilst there have been several works which have discussed the Co-operative Party with some focussing directly on the period of Attlee government, they have tended to characterise relations as being tense due to the incompatibility of Labour’s centralised party organisation and statist policies and the Co-operative movement’s democratic, voluntary consumerism. However, there remains a general neglect of how the Co-op-Labour alliance functioned during this period with regards to electoral organisation and campaigning. This remains a grave oversight given that the Co-operative Party was formed to provide parliamentary representation for the Co-operative Movement, forged and maintained an alliance with Labour to secure this goal, and from 1945 was the third largest party in Parliament.
This thesis, therefore, aims to enhance understanding of Co-op-Labour relations during the period of the Attlee governments through a case study of the Co-operative Party’s electoral organisation, campaigning, and performance between 1945 and 1951. By analysing the interconnected themes of candidate selection, policymaking and constituency campaigning, the thesis seeks to provide insights into the extent to which this alliance proved an effective way to secure parliamentary representation and protect the interests of the Co-operative Movement. Through the use of a combination of previously unused and neglected archival sources, the thesis aims to revise existing pessimistic interpretations of the alliance by arguing that this diverse, locally based, voluntary alliance did largely function as an effective medium by which the Co-operative Party could gain parliamentary representation for the Co-operative movement at a level which it was content with whilst still enabling the movement to retain sufficient independence and agency to defend its core business interests
The role of green space and nature interventions in cancer care: a commentary on a systematic review
No full textCancer is a leading cause of death globally and the projected prevalence continues to rise. Treatments for cancer can be both physically and emotionally demanding. Nature based interventions such as forest bathing and spending time in nature have been used across the globe to reduce stress and support a healthy lifestyle. In recent years, health institutions have started to implement nature-based interventions into patient care through schemes such as the National Health Service (NHS) Green Social Prescribing Programme. Prior research indicates that access to greenspace and/or participation in nature-based interventions contribute to improved health outcomes. Bikomeye et al (2022) have explored the evidence for greenspace or nature-based interventions on cardiovascular health and/or cancer related outcomes. This commentary aims to critically appraise the systematic review and discuss the implications of the findings for practice and further research in cancer care
Episodic outbursts during brown dwarf formation
Get PDFThere is evidence that stars and browns dwarfs grow through episodic rather than continuous gas accretion. However, the role of episodic accretion in the formation of brown dwarfs remains mostly unexplored. We investigate the role of episodic accretion, triggered by the magnetorotational instability in the inner disk regions, resulting in episodic outbursts during the formation of brown dwarfs, and its implications for their early formation stages. We use hydrodynamical simulations coupled with a sub-grid accretion model to investigate the formation of young proto-brown dwarfs and protostars, taking into account the effects of episodic accretion resulting in episodic radiative feedback, i.e. in luminosity outbursts. The formation timescale for proto brown dwarfs is at least one order of magnitude shorter than that of protostars. Episodic accretion leads to a shorter main accretion phase compared to continuous accretion in brown dwarfs, whereas the opposite is true for low-mass stars. Episodic accretion can accelerate early mass accretion in proto-brown dwarfs and protostars, but it results in less massive objects by the end of the main phase compared to continuous accretion. We find an approximately linear correlation between an object's mass at the end of the main accretion phase and the timing of the last episodic outburst: later events result in more massive brown dwarfs but less massive low-mass stars. Episodic outbursts have a stronger effect on brown dwarf-forming cloud cores, with the last outburst essentially splitting the brown dwarf evolution into a short high-accretion and a much longer low-accretion phase
Eastern European Cross-Border Collaboration in Film and Popular Music Business During the State Socialist Period: The Case of Sing, Cowboy, Sing (1981)
No full textThis article discusses the collaboration in film and popular music between East Germany, Czechoslovakia and Romania, as evidenced by the film Sing, Cowboy, Sing (Zpívej, kovboji; 1981), directed by Dean Reed. It explores the reasons why this coproduction took place and how the involvement of three countries—or even four, if we account for the fact that the director was American—affected the textual characteristics of the film. It argues that Sing, Cowboy, Sing is a revisionist Western not only in relation to classical American Westerns, but also East German ‘Red Westerns’, which reflects the fact that by the time Reed embarked on this project, this genre was in decline. It also considers the international reception of this film. It concludes that the collaboration reflected the Cold War dynamics and was most profitable for Czechoslovakia, which took advantage of its eminent professionals in the field of popular music
Leveraging Artificial Intelligence for enhanced lessons management: The RAID Model
No full textThis article examines the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into lessons management processes in emergency management, focusing on the Real-time Artificially Intelligent Doctrine (RAID) model. Drawing on insights from post-event inquiries, organisational culture research and collaborative frameworks, this paper evaluates how AI can address systemic challenges in translating lessons into practice. By synthesising findings from research across 20 years, this paper demonstrates how RAID’s AI-driven approach complements existing lessons management frameworks while overcoming barriers to implementation
Comparative Corporate Responses to Climate Risk: ESG Integration in New Zealand Businesses
No full textThis study investigates the integration of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles into corporate strategy amo ng New Zealand businesses, focusing on their responses to climate-related risks. Despite the global proliferation of ESG research, evidence from small, open economies like New Zealand remains limited, particularly in the context of recent regulatory mandates such as the 2023 mandatory climate-related financial disclosures introduced by the Financial Markets Authority (FMA). Using a mixed-methods approach, the study combines quantitative analysis of ESG scores, disclosure indicators, and financial performance metrics for NZX-listed firms between 2018 and 2025 with qualitative multiple case studies across the energy, agriculture, and finance sectors. Results reveal a positive relationship between ESG integration and financial outcomes, including return on assets, market valuation, and operational resilience. Sectoral analyses indicate that technology and finance firms exhibit the highest ESG maturity, while agriculture and energy sectors demonstrate moderate adoption, often constrained by resource limitations and compliance-driven approaches. Qualitative findings highlight the critical role of governance mechanisms, stakeholder engagement, and strategic alignment in converting ESG adoption into meaningful organizational benefits. The study identifies regulatory frameworks, dynamic capabilities, and internal governance as key enablers of effective ESG integration, while emphasizing that early adoption provides a competitive advantage in managing climate risks. Limitations include reliance on secondary ESG data and a focus on publicly listed firms, suggesting the need for future research encompassing SMEs and longitudinal analyses. Overall, the study contributes to the understanding of ESG integration in small, open economies and offers practical insights for policymakers and corporate managers seeking to enhance resilience and sustainable value creation in the face of climate change
Lost in definition: Conceptual and practical challenges in policing cyberstalking
No full textCyberstalking is a growing concern within society, yet remains conceptually contested and inconsistently defined across law, research and practice. Cyberstalking can be understood as a pattern of unwanted, fixated and obsessive use of digital technologies to monitor, contact or pursue individuals. Internationally, legal frameworks have struggled to keep pace with such behaviours. Pre-digital UK stalking legislation often fails to protect victims of cyberstalking, leading to gaps in investigations and prosecution, particularly where anonymity and cross-jurisdiction issues arise. This paper examines the definitional and practical challenges arising from ambiguity in how harassment, stalking and cyberstalking are distinguished across arenas. Legal uncertainty, inconsistent policy frameworks, and discretionary policing practices contribute to fragmented responses, underreporting and missed opportunities for victim protection. Reviewing legal, academic and clinical perspectives, the paper explores how definitional debates directly influence policing responses. Engaging with these debates is vital to improving cyberstalking case recognition, strengthening victim protection, and developing coherent policing strategies. It concludes by highlighting the need for research grounded in the lived experiences of victim survivors and frontline police practice
Posttraumatic growth and its associations with perceived stress and core beliefs in women after traumatic childbirth during the COVID-19 pandemic
Get PDFBackground
The COVID-19 pandemic added new challenges and stressors to the childbirth period, potentially increasing the risk of traumatic childbirth experiences. There is little known about Post-traumatic Growth (PTG) in a childbearing population. This study describes PTG in women after traumatic childbirth during the COVID-19 pandemic and its association with sociodemographic, birth related characteristics, traumatic childbirth events, perceived stress and core beliefs, as well as exploring what factors predict PTG.
Methods
We conducted a cross-sectional study with 202 women who self-identified as having experienced traumatic childbirth. Measures included sociodemographic and birth-related characteristics, traumatic childbirth events, self-reported stress during childbirth, the PTG Inventory, and the Core Beliefs Inventory (CBI).
Results
Perceived stress at the time of birth was very high in 70% of the respondents. CBI showed moderate disruption of core beliefs; 41.6% of mothers indicated substantial PTG. Education and type of birth were related to perceived stress levels. Higher disruption of core beliefs was observed in individuals who experienced perineal trauma and a lack of partners’ presence during childbirth, and higher disruption of core beliefs was positively associated with PTG. Predictive models showed that perceived stress had a minimal effect, while the disruption of core beliefs showed a significant positive association with PTG.
Conclusion
Traumatic childbirth experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic were positively related to PTG. Health professionals should create an environment where women can explore their feelings and emotions. Changes in current practices are also necessary, as caesarean sections have been shown to be highly associated with high levels of perceived stress
Perceptibility and Pain Thresholds in Low- and High-Frequency Alternating Current Stimulation: Implications for tACS and tTIS
Get PDFBackground: Transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) has emerged as a promising tool for neuromodulation, but its application is often limited by the discomfort associated with higher stimulation intensities. Newer variants like transcranial temporal interference stimulation (tTIS) utilize high-frequency alternating currents (≥ 500 Hz) to penetrate deeper brain regions while mitigating perceptual discomfort.
Objective: This study sought to examine sensation and pain thresholds across various stimulation frequencies of alternating currents, aiming to explore the boundaries of comfortable intensities. Additionally, we sought to evaluate the efficacy of an anesthetizing topical cream in increasing participant comfort and potentially extending the range of tolerable stimulation levels.
Method: We recruited 37 participants and applied alternating current stimulation to the head at various frequencies (10 Hz, 20 Hz, 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, and 2000 Hz) to determine intensity dependent perception- and pain thresholds. Additionally, thresholds were determined under the influence of a topical anesthetic.
Results: Our findings confirm that as stimulation frequency increases, perceptibility decreases, with higher frequencies allowing a manyfold increase in stimulation intensity before becoming perceptible or causing pain. Additionally, the anesthetizing cream was efficacious in further reducing perceptibility and pain sensations across all frequencies.
Conclusion: This study lays the groundwork for future research by establishing comfortable limits for stimulation intensities, particularly in the context of high-frequency stimulation. The reduced perceptibility of high-frequency stimulation, coupled with the effectiveness of anesthetizing creams, enables the administration of higher stimulation intensities for more potent neuromodulatory interventions without causing discomfort