Embedding a Data-Driven Decision-Making Work Culture in a Social Housing Environment

YesThis paper explores the issue of delayed rent payments in social housing in the United Kingdom and its impact on tenants and housing providers. Our approach is to use machine learning algorithms to analyse payment patterns and identify tenants who may be at risk of falling behind on rent payments. By doing this, we aim to equip housing providers with the necessary tools to intervene early and maintain consistent tenancies. We have conducted research using machine learning models such as decision trees and random forests to address this issue. The paper emphasises the potential benefits of Explainable AI, which can help build trust in data-driven decision-making and AI among employees unfamiliar with AI and machine learning

Non-Negative Matrix Factorisation for Feature Selection: A Proposed Approach for the Detection of Multi-Stage Attacks

NoWith the emergence of digital technologies like 5G wireless networks, cloud computing, and the Internet of Things (IoT), our daily lives, travel, and work have undergone a transformation. These advancements have led to improved productivity, informed decision-making, and increased profits. However, adversaries have also found lucrative opportunities to launch attacks, which have become more sophisticated and stealthier, making them challenging to detect. Multi-Stage attacks (MSAs), in particular, have gained popularity due to their stealthy nature and the success they have achieved in recent years. To combat these attacks, this paper utilised an optimised Non-Negative Matrix Factorisation (NMF) for feature selection, as part of the Machine Learning (ML) approach to enhance the detection of MSAs

Overcoming ‘Diffusion Limits’ - Principles required to measure high molar mass polymers by diffusion ordered NMR

YesQuestion: This paper studies the importance of resolving ‘in-solution’ viscosity to determine an accurate hydrodynamic radii for high molar mass or high dispersity macromolecules via DOSY NMR. Analysis of polymer size via diffusion NMR has become increasingly more common, however as in-solution viscosity increases NMR output becomes more complex and requires dedicated methodologies (both in the instrumentation and data treatment) that can sufficiently resolve slowly diffusing analytes. Results: Diffusion measurements were used to determine hydrodynamic radii of dissolved polymer chains of materials across a broad molar mass ranges in multiple solvents. Studied systems included poly(ethylene glycol), poly(ethylene oxide), poly(styrene), poly(methyl methacrylate) and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) and all are shown to match known literature values for dissolved polymer coils with a high degree of accuracy. However, it is shown that it is essential to use the “in-solution viscosity”, which can be obtained by applying a viscosity correction factor to the pure solvent viscosity. It was found that % error in outputs correlates to the viscosity of the solvent, with low viscosity solvents contributing to a higher variability in output data. We have also shown how the experimental range of the technique can be expanded to high molar mass (in excess of 1 million g mol-1), or high viscosity, and demonstrated the advantages of a diffusion optimised NMR probe (Bruker DiffBB) to target slowly diffusing chemical species. Significance: The presence of even small quantities of large molar mass polymer analytes (2 mg ml-1) has an impact on in-solution viscosity, and thus provides a systematic offset in output diffusion values that are commonly used to interpret polymer sample size. DOSY NMR data include the diffusion of the solvent in-solution. Therefore, DOSY NMR measurements alone, with no internal or external standard besides the solvent itself, can be used to correct for this, allowing for prediction of an accurate hydrodynamic radius (and thus molar mass) of large, slowly diffusing, materials.Wellcome Trus

The imaging support workforce: Stakeholder perceptions of role, impact and career progression

YesIntroduction: Demand for imaging continues to rise, placing significant challenges on an already-stretched radiography workforce. Enhancing the capability and capacity of the Support Worker and Assistant Practitioner (SWAP) workforce is a potential solution, yet little evidence exists about their deployment. This study explored imaging department stakeholder perceptions in NHS institutions across England regarding SWAP roles and responsibilities, their contribution to service provision, and potential for career progression. Methods: This qualitative study is the final phase of a multi-stage explanatory mixed methods study investigating the utilisation of the imaging SWAP workforce. A case study approach included semi-structured interviews (service/modality leads) and focus groups (SWAPs) across nine NHS Trusts. Sampling was evidence-based and purposive, aiming for representative diversity in SWAP utilisation levels, geographical spread and department size. Thematic analysis was conducted within and across cases. Results: The SWAP workforce was consistently recognised as crucial for maintaining operational efficiency and enhancing patient care. Four overarching themes emerged: (1) operational efficiency and service impact, where SWAPs were critical in optimising workflows; (2) roles and responsibilities, recognising both role clarity and ambiguity leading to role strain; (3) career progression, support, and training, highlighting opportunities yet significant barriers to advancement; and (4) workforce dynamics and job satisfaction, where high job satisfaction contrasted with challenges in role stability and professional recognition. Conclusion: SWAPs significantly enhance imaging service delivery. Despite their substantial contributions, SWAPs face challenges in role clarity and career progression that can impact on inherently high job satisfaction. Implications for practice: A high level of variation in SWAP deployment is confirmed; a structured framework is required to guide implementation of effective deployment models. Moving from SWAP rotational models to static modality deployment may enhance consistency, team dynamics and job satisfaction.NIHR Health Services and Delivery Research programme(I.D.NIHR133813)

The Association between Urbanisation and Household Food Security

YesA growing number of studies have shown that urbanisation is commonly associated with a change in dietary or consumption patterns towards more expensive and exotic foods. Previous attempts to investigate the implications of urbanisation on household food security have commonly employed dichotomous or binary indicators of urbanisation. Unlike previous studies, we employ satellite-based night-time light intensity data from the U.S. Air Force Defense Meteorological Satellites Program and use it as a proxy for different stages or degrees of urbanisation. The night-time light data provide a continuous, spatially explicit, and objective proxy for urbanisation. The data are measured with consistent quality across countries, regardless of the different institutional capacities, allowing for consistent measurement of urban growth across various communities and regions. In our analysis, we explore the impact of variations in nightlight intensity on household food security in Nigeria. Our results show that night-time light is positively associated with household food security. However, we find that higher polynomial terms of night-time light intensity exhibit a non-linear relationship between urbanisation and household food security. Based on the results of the quantitative analysis, our findings will advance the current understanding of the relationship between urbanisation and household food security, which could have implications on maternal and child wellbeing

HBIM applications in the world heritage city of as-salt, Jordan: Architecture as a reflection of cultural diversity shaped by migratory flows

YesJordan's history of migration has led to a rich mix of cultures shaping the urban identity where architecture is strong evidence of the tangible record of cultural exchanges. This research explores the urban development as a dynamic canvas where Cultural Heritage emerges as a representation of human diversity and traditions influenced by historical migration flows by using HBIM as a digital tool for storytelling. Focusing on the Qaqish House in the World Heritage City of As-Salt, the research will use HBIM to showcase how digital applications can enrich our understanding of the complex city's layered architectural, social, and historical urban landscape. Building upon the already developed IT-HBIM library, its value will be expanded by incorporating a social and historical dimension. Results emphasizes the potential of HBIM for understanding and interpreting heritage sites by bridging the gap between generations, fostering a sense of community, and attracting global audiences to heritage sites

Dealing with the Most Responsible for International Crimes: An Evaluation of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Warrant of Arrest for Vladimir Putin

YesThe aim of international criminal justice as encapsulated in the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) is to ensure accountability for international crimes and to close impunity gaps. To this end, the preamble of the Rome Statute declares that the most serious crimes of concern to the international community as a whole must not go unpunished and that it is the duty of states to exercise their criminal jurisdictions over those who are most responsible for these crimes. Dealing with the most responsible for international crimes in conflict situations dates to the ad hoc tribunals of the 1990s. With the ICC however, unsuccessful attempts have been made to deal with Uhuru Kenyatta and Omar Al-Bashir former presidents of Kenya and Sudan respectively. Could the ICC’s arrest warrant for President Vladimir Putin be an exception? This paper argues that while there seems to be expectations globally on the ICC to ensure accountability for international crimes committed by the most responsible in the Russo/Ukrainian war, the primary responsibility rests on states. It is proposed that unless the complementarity and cooperation pillars of the ICC are fully activated, the arrest warrant for Putin might go in similar trajectory of others

Magnetically induced drug release from niosome-based nanocarriers loaded with doxorubicin

YesNiosomes co-loaded with doxorubicin and magnetic nanoparticles were synthesised using the thin film hydration method. The loading efficiency of the doxorubicin was between 60–70%. The hydrodynamic diameter measured as the average number (mean ± standard deviation), using dynamic light scattering, was found to be 188 ± 68 nm, 141 ± 86 nm and 169 ± 69 nm for the plain niosomes, niosomes loaded with doxorubicin and niosomes loaded with doxorubicin and magnetic nanoparticles, respectively. The zeta potential for all three niosome samples was determined to be −26.4 mV ± 1.9 mV. The thermally mediated release of doxorubicin was monitored using fluorescence spectroscopy and found to follow 1st order kinetics. The rate constant for the thermal release was 1.2 × 10−6, 1.0 × 10−4 and 5.1 × 10−4 min−1 at 298, 313 and 333 K, respectively. The doxorubicin was also released using an alternating magnetic field, this also followed 1st order kinetics and had a rate constant of 1.7 × 10−2 min−1. This is four orders of magnitude greater than the thermal release at the same temperature (298 K). The work shows the magnetically controlled, burst release from a drug-loaded niosome delivery system. The release was triggered on demand by the application of the alternating magnetic field, resulting in 86% doxorubicin release within 3 hours compared to 3% release in 30 days via thermalThis research was supported by the Royal Society of Chemistry (E22-5590558249), the University of Bradford and Airlangga Universit

Bear factor and hedge fund performance

YesWe find that hedge funds that have low (negative) return covariance with the return of a bear spread portfolio (i.e., Bear factor) after controlling for the market factor, earn significantly higher returns in the cross-section. The return spread does not reflect bear risk premia; instead, it represents a low risk-high return relation. We decompose the Bear factor into different components to identify the one driving the bear beta effect on fund performance and show that the return spread can be attributed to the differential ability of low bear beta funds to reduce their market exposures when the market declines and the VIX increases (i.e., downside timing). Further analysis suggests that these fund managers are more skilled at selling overpriced insurance during volatile market periods. Overall, we propose a simple option-implied predictor of hedge fund returns and unravel a novel economic mechanism that associates the Bear factor exposure with fund performance

Beyond the Pay check: Conceptualizing Employer Brand Activism

NoGone are the days when a business must be a certain way and their primary objective was to generate revenue and maximize stakeholder value. Today, the aspirations and expectations of different groups have become increasingly complex; they want to attach meaning to a brand when associating themselves with it. For example, consumers, investors and employees expect organizations to speak out or take a stand on social, political and environmental issues. At the same time, today׳s leaders want to be known beyond their role. They are increasingly vocal about what they stand for and where their personal views lie. While this evolving mindset overlaps well and has the potential to form that ideal triad for all, i.e., if the management, the customer, the investor and the employee align on a value, it will have a positive impact on the organization. However, it is far from ideal because if complexity is paramount, so are the looming uncertainties of ever-changing trends and priorities, i.e., the changing preferences of consumers and investors, the changing views, inclinations and preferences of employees, and the values of executives and management. Now, organizations must understand and manage the ever-changing trends and priorities. More importantly, they must explore and define their values and ensure that they are aligned from the inside out to create value. Therefore, this book chapter aims to explore the facets of activism within the organization (i.e., corporate activism, brand activism, leadership activism, and employee activism) to explain employer brand activism, which is the interplay between employees and the organization. In doing so, we focus on employer brand activism, its short-term benefits, access to long-term effects and how these ultimately relate to other activism. This is important because if this alignment is not achieved internally, external alignment remains fragile and fraught with uncertainty. We therefore hope to shed more light on the broad discussion of how activism and business can go hand in hand and how organizations can drive value from understanding, defining, and prioritizing their values with others, be it employees, leadership, brands, consumers, or investors