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Evolutionary drivers of caching behaviour in corvids
No full textCaching has recurrently evolved across a range of animal taxa to withstand fluctuations in food availability and in the context of intraspecific competition. It is widespread in the corvid family, which exhibit considerable interspecific variation in their behavioural and morphological adaptations to caching. However, the evolutionary drivers responsible for this diversity have seldom been explored. The present study systematically reviews the literature on caching behaviour in corvids globally to determine (1) which food caching strategies species have adopted (specialist, generalist or non-cacher) and (2) whether ecological factors affect the occurrence of different strategies, namely (a) climate breadth, (b) trophic niche, (c) habitat breadth, (d) centroid latitude, (e) centroid longitude, (f) breeding system, and (g) body mass. In addition, the ancestral states of caching are reconstructed to assess the evolutionary trajectory of each strategy. Caching strategies were identified in 63 species from 16 genera (out of 128 corvid species and 22 genera). Ancestral state analysis suggested specialist caching as the ancestral state in corvids. Type of caching is associated with distance from equator and by average body mass, with generalist caching concentrated around the equatorial zone and among heavier corvids, while specialist caching occurring more commonly in smaller species found farther from the equator. Although specialist caching most likely was the ancestral state in corvids, both specialist and generalist caching evolved several times independently in the family of corvids. Our results show caching to be widespread in corvids and affected by body size and latitude but ecological factors such as trophic niche and habitat breadth and breeding system, not to be strong drivers shaping caching behaviour.</p
Disruptions in Aesthetic Medicine: A Global Analysis of GLP-1 Agonists Using Punctuated Equilibrium Framework
No full textIntroduction The adoption of GLP-1 receptor agonists, such as semaglutide, has significantly improved obesity and type 2 diabetes management. However, their unintended side effects, particularly facial volume loss termed “Ozempic face,” have disrupted aesthetic medicine. This intersection between metabolic health and aesthetics raises ethical dilemmas and growing dependency on corrective interventions such as dermal fillers.
Methods A mixed-methods approach was employed, incorporating content analysis, social media sentiment analysis, and social network modelling. Data were collected from 15 peer-reviewed studies, clinical reports, and 3.79 million social media posts across global regions. Sentiment analysis identified public perceptions, while network analysis examined influencer dominance in promoting aesthetic solutions.
Results Findings revealed a 40% increase in filler consultations attributed to GLP-1-related aesthetic concerns. Sentiment analysis showed that 72% of high-engagement content was driven by influencers normalising fillers as necessary adjuncts to GLP-1 therapies. Ethical concerns were prominent, particularly in regions like Asia and South America, where commercial narratives dominate. In contrast, North America and Europe demonstrated a more balanced approach, prioritising informed patient care under regulatory frameworks.
Conclusion GLP-1 therapies represent a transformative shift in metabolic care but introduce significant aesthetic, ethical, and psychological challenges. Social media amplifies
commercial influences, often at the cost of evidence-based practice. Regulatory reforms, longitudinal studies, and enhanced patient education are critical to navigating this evolving landscape and ensuring patient well-being.</p
Knowledge and awareness of healthcare systems and the uptake of diabetic services among Chinese people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in the UK
No full textObjectivesDiabetes poses a significant public health challenge. The Chinese community has unique cultural characteristics that can influence their understanding of the diabetes healthcare system and engagement with services. This study aims to explore the knowledge and awareness of the diabetes healthcare system and the uptake of healthcare services in the UK Chinese population.DesignThis study adopted a qualitative design. Three focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted on Zoom with 22 Chinese participants with self-reported type 2 diabetes living in the UK. Participants ranged from 24 to 85 years (mean age = 66 years, SD = 17.1). A purposive sample was recruited through study adverts in Chinese community centres and snowball sampling. Data were analysed using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis (TA).ResultsThis paper discusses 4 themes: Awareness and understanding of diabetes, healthcare access and utilisation, attitudes towards diabetes prevention programmes and Chinese medicine vs. Western medicine. Limited knowledge and awareness of diabetes was highlighted, with cultural factors impacting this. Factors which impacted healthcare access and utilisation were linguistic/ communication challenges, and trust and perception of the NHS. Participants were unaware of diabetes prevention programmes and highlighted that these were culturally inappropriate. Generational preferences were noted in the way participants wished to receive diabetes education. The western medical system was viewed as medication focused, therefore the older Chinese community trusted familiar natural methods of illness management.ConclusionThese findings highlight the importance of ensuring diabetes education is culturally appropriate. Generational differences in education preference should be recognised by healthcare professionals to increase healthcare engagement. These findings demonstrate the important need to educate UK healthcare professionals with the unique sociocultural contexts for this ethnic group. This study uncovers gaps in awareness and service uptake, highlighting the need for co-development of interventions that promote health equity and improve diabetes management within this population.</p
A grounded theory study of gender dynamics in business in Moroccan private schools
No full textThis thesis combines empirical research into the management of private schools in Morocco with a critical review of some of the dominant theoretical frameworks developed by North American and European researchers to understand the impact of gendered social structures on attitudes of and towards female private school owners, and on their approach to their managerial activities and the business output as a whole.The first part of the thesis excavates the legacy of Morocco’s complex colonial and post-colonial history with specific reference to the private school sector, and provides a critical foundation of the research subject contextualisation.Using grounded theory, my empirical research starts with a sociologically deconstructed replication of Geert Hofstede’s 2013 Value Survey Module (VSM), initially to a pilot study of 76 (67 female and 9 male) private school teachers and management teams in the region of Agadir in Morocco. Analysis of the results of the VSM found that its definition of Masculinity and Femininity produces incoherent results when applied to these settings. Further, the score for Morocco published by Hofstede in 2003- and the one obtained as part of this (2017-2019) research were on opposing poles 53 and 11.5 respectively.The limitations of the results of the VSM required further empirical research through ethnographic observations and interviews with the owners and/or managers of these private schools. This qualitative research found that women, more than men, tended to distance themselves from set characteristics attributed to a gender, and instead put forward the common interest of the organisation as their critical value motivation. Success and motivation were not gender-bound, and gendered norms were seen as circumstantial and not fundamental. The research found that male and female dynamics were governed by economic imperatives rather than by gendered norms.I use this historically grounded reading of Moroccan-specific gender dynamics to challenge the universalist assumptions of cross-cultural management approaches such as Hofstede’s. My research provides the basis to deepen our understanding of the context and impact of gender dynamics within business organisations in other regions of Morocco. Research that remains alive to the impact of globalisation on southern political economies in and through being anchored to the specifics of historical, linguistic and cultural place.</p
"We’re not animals in a zoo to look at – people need to meet us on a level" - How Can Medical Schools Better Support VCSOs and their Service Users to Co-design and Deliver Inclusion Health Teaching to Medical Students?
No full textInclusion Health (IH), as defined by NHS England, is ‘an umbrella term used to describe people who are socially excluded, who typically experience multiple interacting risk factors for poor health, such as stigma, discrimination, poverty, violence, and complex trauma’ (NHS, 2025). Despite the growing recognition of health inequalities, Inclusion Health remains greatly underrepresented in medical school curricula in the UK. These curricula may often lack consideration of the lived experience within marginalised groups. This project expands on findings from a wider scope of work exploring the adequacy of Inclusion Health (IH) Teaching in UK undergraduate medical curricula (Ahluwalia et al., 2024 - NIHR Endorsed Project PEDHSC29). The study highlighted a lack of involvement of communities with lived experience in curriculum design and limited teaching and knowledge on Inclusion Health. This follow on consultation aims to explore how local Voluntary, Community, and Social Organisations (VCSOs) can be involved in the creation of Inclusion Health education within medical schools and through this, allow us to identify practical methods to effectively collaborate and create a sustainable curriculum.</p
Exploring collaboration at a board of director and executive team level: a case study of Al Maha Petroleum
No full textIn light of the ongoing oil and gas sector reforms in the Middle East, characterized by a pressing need for economic diversification and sustainable practices, collaborative endeavours between boards of directors and executive management assume critical importance. This case study focuses on Al Maha Petroleum, examining the intricate challenges encountered in fostering collaboration, particularly amidst the clash between the organization's long-term renewable energy aspirations and its immediate corporate imperatives.Grounded in Social Identity Theory (Tajfel & Turner, 1979), this research provides insights into how identity, group dynamics, and power relationships influence board-executive interactions. By examining how identification with group roles affects collaboration and decision-making, Social Identity Theory serves as a lens to understanding how shared identity can foster cohesion or, conversely, amplify divides within leadership groups (Ashforth & Mael, 1989). This perspective is critical in analyzing corporate governance structures that facilitate effective strategic alignment within complex organizational environments (Haslam et al., 2003; Hogg, 2001).Employing a qualitative approach, this study gathered data through semi-structured interviews and observations of board and executive meetings, focusing on Al Maha’s board structure, communication practices, and collaborative processes. Key themes, including strategic leadership, diversity, and structured interactions, were identified as significant factors influencing the effectiveness of collaboration. The study also highlights how strategic leadership and board diversity enhance collaboration, while areas such as direct communication and structured collaborative practices offer potential for improvement.Findings from this research underline both strengths, such as board diversity and effective communication, and opportunities for enhancing collaboration through structured practices. The study presents actionable recommendations aimed at advancing Al Maha Petroleum’s transition towards sustainable energy practices, thereby contributing to the broader goals of resilience and adaptability within the energy sector.</p
Artificial Intelligence and Architectural Design Before Generative AI: Artificial Intelligence Algorithmics Approaches 2000–2022 in Review
No full textThis study explores the evolution of Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications in the AEC from 2000 to 2022 focusing on the transition leading up to the accessibility of Generative AI in 2023. Through a systematic quantitative literatureBibliometric review of publications indexed in Scopus, Web of Science, and CumInCAD, the research examines the adoption of specific algorithmic approaches, Genetic Algorithms (GAs), Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs), and Agent-Based Systems(ABS).
Findings reveal that GAs and ANNs exhibited comparable use until 2015, after
which ANNs experienced exponential growth, surpassing GAs by 2016. ABS, although less prominent overall, saw a temporary surge starting in 2008 which established ABS as a distinct research category. Comparative analysis with CumInCAD highlights its early role as a primary repository for specialized research surpassing WoS and ScupusScopus still quite a few years afterwards.
This research underscores key historical milestones marking AI's integration into the AEC, including advancements in evolutionary computation, machine learning, and distributed AI systems.
While revealing critical trends, the study acknowledges its limitations, such as database bias and the exclusion of developments post-2023. Future research should extend beyond this period, incorporate qualitative analysis, and explore emerging tools in generative design to understand AI's growing impact.</p
Using co-design to modify an open-source rhythm game for upper limb rehabilitation after stroke
No full textThis thesis investigates whether an open-source rhythm-based music game, modified with off-the-shelf interfaces, can serve as a low-cost and accessible platform for upper limb rehabilitation after stroke. Existing research outlines the urgent need for strategies for long-term upper limb rehabilitation interventions, particularly due to low adherence to at-home rehabilitation programmes. This research introduces the design and adaptation of innovative prototypes that combine music and gaming technologies for upper limb rehabilitation after stroke. It also delineates the significant gaps that exist in exploring the potential for existing music-based rhythm games to be used in this context and recommends future research emphasis on this basis.The research uses a participant-centred co-design approach to tailor the intervention, investigating the use of musical preferences and bespoke compositions to enhance therapeutic outcomes, and the adaptability of the intervention to accommodate different levels of hemiparesis.This study had a mixed-methods approach. Quantitative data were collected through the game’s inbuilt scoring system, demonstrating its ability to track essential formative and summative assessment metrics such as gameplay frequency, number of repetitions, and stroke survivors' scorebased progress within the game. The co-design process enabled participants to develop qualitative feedback methodologies that contributed to an iterative process of design, testing, response, and refinement.Findings highlight that long-term co-design is essential in creating effective, personalised interventions and that stroke survivors' lived experience is fundamental to include in intervention design. The intervention has the potential to facilitate a wide range of upper limb rehabilitation exercises through ‘end of movement range’ switch placements, which alleviates the need for stroke survivors to hold gaming controllers. While games that used participants' musical preferences were motivating, a method of visual, auditory and movement synchrony was developed. This further enhanced the intervention by synchronising exercise components with immersive original music compositions, pitch-based or rhythmic phrases and in-game visuals, with the goal to improving exercise timing, precision and adherence.The free open-source software is highly adaptable and can facilitate isolated, assisted, and unassisted upper limb exercises. Future research can focus on refining the gaming levels, enhancing interface mounting and including tools essential for stroke rehabilitation, such as compensation detection and online therapist intervention.This research contributes to the field of stroke rehabilitation by demonstrating the importance of co-design in prototype development and participant adherence, the synchronisation of music, movement and visuals in gaming rehabilitation interventions, and the customisation of an open-source rhythm game for upper limb rehabilitation after a stroke.</p
AI business applications training and business outcomes: an inclusive intervention for underrepresented entrepreneurs
No full textThis study investigates the associations between university-led training in AI business applications and business outcomes among small firms, with a focus on underrepresented entrepreneurs in England, Wales, and Scotland. A total of 121 non-native, disabled, and non-heterosexual entrepreneurs participated in a four-month training programme covering AI applications for communication, finance, project management, and other key business functions. Data were collected before the training (2023) and one year later (2024). Using panel data estimates, the findings indicate that, post-training, firms experienced an increase in digital competencies, which were positively associated with customer satisfaction, entrepreneurs’ empowerment, and revenue growth. Notably, interaction effects showed that these associations were significantly strengthened following the training. Additional results reveal that, after the training, firms not only adopted a greater number of AI business applications but also used them more frequently. These behaviours were found to be associated with improvements in business outcomes. The study demonstrates how innovative educational interventions can support entrepreneurs in developing digital competencies within technology-driven environments, thereby enabling more inclusive access to tools and fostering equitable participation in the digital economy. The findings suggest that structured, application-focused training, when clearly aligned with business operations, can accelerate firms’ technological adoption and effective use. Continued investment in AI training, sector-specific courses, and practitioner-led learning communities can therefore support small firms and underrepresented entrepreneurs in enhancing their digital competencies and achieving meaningful improvements in performance. The study contributes by developing the AI Business Applications Training Model, reflecting upon theoretical pathways, empirical patterns, and policy implications.</p
Correction: Vocal efficiency in crows
No full texthttps://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-025-01985-8. In the sentence beginning ‘‘Interestingly, adherence to Menzerath’s law was stronger in males’ in this article, the word ‘males’ should have read ‘females’. The original article has been corrected.</p
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