Lex Ruinae - Crisis Jurisprudence in the age of Systemic Collapse

My objective in this piece is to use the Roman legal fiction of Lex Ruinae, which, simultaneously refers to the law of ruins and ruinous law, to try to understand the relationship between law and what we might call the contemporary poly- / perma-crisis. In this regard, the overall thesis of the piece is that we might understand the legal dimensions of the crisis that seems to be spatially expansive, in the sense that it takes on planetary scale, and temporally extensive, in respect of seeming to stretch out into an endless critical future, through a theory of spasm. Here, the ruinous law of late capitalism seeks to force ever more progress, modernity, and profitability, but prevailing global economic conditions mean that further development is impossible and, in this way, exert a kind of contractive counter-force upon the global system that expresses itself in a tendency towards collapse and ruin. On the basis of this thesis, my argument is that rather than continue to live through the ruinous law of the code of capital, we should engage in what I am calling crisis jurisprudence to think about how we might live in the age of ruins and what a law of ruins might involve. Following a discussion of Lex Ruinae in the context of Roman crisis, and the struggle between Cicero, Caesar, and Antony over the purpose of law, I develop my discussion through an exploration the modern crisis of sovereignty, decision, and power, before showing how the economic version of imperium that has developed over the course of the second half of the 20th and early 21st century has led to the point of global poly- / perma-crisis, where there is nowhere else to go but a world of ruin. Thus, we confront the problem of Lex Ruinae

Toward agentic AI: User acceptance of a deeply personalized AI super assistant (AISA)

Recent scholarship underscores the transformative potential of generative AI in shaping consumer decision-making, preferences, and overall brand satisfaction. Among these technologies, chatbots and AI voice assistants are increasingly deployed in marketing to influence consumer behavior. A critical question, however, is whether consumers are willing to accept a new generation of such technologies. In July 2025, OpenAI introduced the agent mode of ChatGPT, which represents a shift toward highly personalized, multimodal, and autonomous systems. This study defines these systems as AI super assistants (AISA). Informed by the broader literature on AI adoption and consumer behavior, an adapted AIDUA model with perceived risk is proposed. Survey data from the Philippines (N = 407) was analyzed using combined PLS-SEM and NCA methods. The results show that users appear increasingly confident in their ability to engage with new AI technologies, indicating that they do not feel overwhelmed but instead perceive AISA's new features as manageable. Hedonic motivation, novelty value, performance expectancy, and effort expectancy were identified as necessary conditions for user acceptance, while perceived risk is a necessary condition for objection. These findings offer new insights into user perception toward AISA, with implications for responsible AI design and deployment

Clinical and MRI variables in decision support systems for prostate MRI: A systematic review of decision support tools, nomograms, and risk models

Introduction Workforce shortages and rising demand for MRI have increased interest in clinical decision support systems (CDSSs) to standardise imaging workflows. The Prostate Imaging–Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) committee recommends real-time radiologist input to guide MRI pathways, but workforce constraints may limit consistent implementation. This systematic review examined CDSSs used in prostate MRI, including decision tools, nomograms, and risk calculators, to identify the clinical and MRI-derived variables they incorporate and assess their relevance for future development. Methods A systematic search of Medline, Cochrane, CINAHL, Web of Science, and ProQuest was conducted in June 2025. Eligible studies were original research published in English since January 2015 describing development, validation, or clinical use of a CDSS using structured clinical and MRI-derived variables for prostate cancer diagnosis, pre-biopsy risk stratification, or staging. Exclusion criteria included radiomics-only studies, non-primary research, studies without MRI variables, and those lacking external validation. Two reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias using PROBAST. Certainty of evidence was appraised using the GRADE framework. Results Twenty-two studies met inclusion criteria: fifteen evaluated nomograms, five described risk calculators, and two reported predictive models. None assessed a fully implemented CDSS. Common predictors included PI-RADS (82 %), prostate-specific antigen density (64 %), age (64 %), prostate-specific antigen (41 %), and prostate volume (23 %). Most tools showed strong discriminative accuracy (AUC >0.80), though calibration and decision curve analysis were inconsistently reported. Conclusion Validated clinical and MRI predictors support robust CDSSs, but heterogeneity and lack of implementation limit evidence. Prospective multicentre validation is needed. Implications for practice Radiographer-facing tools integrating key predictors could guide contrast use, staging, and workflow decisions, improve diagnostic accuracy and reduce unnecessary contrast administration

Artificial intelligence, innovation and the new architecture of exploitation: Towards reconfiguring humanness in the age of algorithmic labour

Purpose This conceptual study explores how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the nature of work and reconfiguring the experience of humanness, particularly among low-skilled and informal workers. Method Using an integrative literature review methodology, the study synthesises interdisciplinary research from organisational studies, sociology, and AI ethics to examine the mechanisms through which AI-driven labour displacement, algorithmic management, and structural precarity contribute to new forms of exploitation. Findings The study develops a novel conceptual framework that links technological transformation to the erosion of the relational, moral, and emotional dimensions of work conditions, resulting in conditions increasingly resembling modern slavery. Originality the study’s novelty lies in its reframing of AI as a socio-technical actor with ontological consequences for worker identity, autonomy, and dignity. The findings underscore the need for ethical AI design, inclusive policy frameworks, and human-centred organisational practices. Practical implications This paper offers practical implications for policymakers, technologists, and business leaders seeking to align innovation with social justice and sustainable labour futures. Plain summary Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the nature of work and disrupting the human experience, especially for low-skilled and informal workers, highlighting the urgency and complexity of this research. AI-driven labour displacement and algorithmic management contribute to new forms of exploitation that echo modern slavery. The erosion of humanness at work is linked to reduced autonomy, empathy, and moral agency under opaque algorithmic systems. A socio-technical framework is needed to address AI’s impact on dignity and agency, with ethical design and inclusive governance at its core. JEL Code O330, O31, O3

Preliminary clinical evaluation in cross-sectional imaging: A qualitative exploration of current international radiography practice

IntroductionImplementation and practice compliance of preliminary clinical evaluation (PCE) vary across national and international settings. The reason for these variations remains unclear, especially in relation to cross-sectional imaging. This study therefore explored PCE education and practice experiences of a multinational cohort of cross-sectional imaging radiographers with the aim of identifying effective training and implementation strategies, challenges, and opportunities for improvement.MethodsA phenomenological qualitative design was used, with purposive sampling to recruit a multinational cohort of cross-sectional imaging radiographers enrolled in a UK-based postgraduate medical imaging programme. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted via Microsoft Teams between December 2024 and February 2025. Data were analysed using Braun and Clarkes’ reflexive thematic analysis approach, facilitated by NVivo™ (v.20.0).ResultsTwelve radiographers from seven different countries participated in the study. The clinical experience of participants ranged (2–8 years), with most working in public or both public and private hospitals (8/12, 67 %) and (5/12, 42 %) had multinational clinical experience. All participants had PCE as a core component of their undergraduate training, but post-qualification practice expectations vary. Four overarching themes were developed: (1) education and skill refinement, (2) drivers for practice, (3) barriers to practice, and (4) opportunities for practice.ConclusionThe findings reveal inconsistencies in PCE education, including variable module content and teaching depth, which affect clinical preparedness and confidence. Additionally, systemic barriers and communication lapses hinder PCE integration, while engagement is driven by its perceived value for others, support for clinical decision-making and presence of PCE-specific practice frameworks.Implications for practiceStandardisation of PCE education and training, establishment of clear practice frameworks and addressing communication gaps can enhance the integration of PCE into routine clinical workflows

Feeling the heat? metaverse as a platform for motivating pro-environmental behaviour through consumers’ climate (change) engagement

This study proposes to investigate how the metaverse experiences (usability, interactivity, personalization) influence their metaverse engagement. Further, this study also examines the influence of consumer climate (change) engagement dimensions on pro-environmental behaviour. A mixed-method approach was employed by collecting both qualitative and quantitative data to gain a comprehensive understanding of the conceptual framework. The findings of this study reveal that usability, interactivity and personalization are positively associated with consumer metaverse engagement. Further, consumer metaverse engagement is significantly associated with environmental knowledge and responsibility. Also, environmental knowledge and environmental responsibility are positively associated with pro-environmental behaviours. Finally, the results of this study reveal that climate change risk perception moderates the association between personalization and consumer metaverse engagement. The study is amongst the foremost research initiatives to examine the concept of consumer climate (change) engagement in the metaverse context. Further, this study enriches the metaverse and Uses and Gratification (U&G) theory literature. In doing so, it repositions U&G theory within the metaverse context and highlights its relevance for understanding consumer motivations and behaviours related to climate (change) engagement. Finally, this study provides several implications for brands, metaverse platforms, and other stakeholders interested in promoting pro-environmental behaviour within the metaverse

Some semidirect products of skew braces arising in Hopf-Galois theory

We classify skew braces that are the semidirect product of an ideal and a left ideal. As a consequence, given a Galois extension of fields L/K whose Galois group is the semidirect product of a normal subgroup A and a subgroup B, we classify the Hopf-Galois structures on L/K that realize L A via a normal Hopf subalgebra and L B via a Hopf subalgebra. We show that the Hopf algebra giving such a Hopf-Galois structure is the smash product of these Hopf subalgebras, and use this description to study generalized normal basis generators and questions of integral module structure in extensions of local fields

Servant leadership and members' well-beingin China's village committees: A multilevelanalysis of the serial mediating roles of serving culture and organization-based selfesteem

This study investigates the impact of servant leadership on the well-being of village committee members within China's rural communities, examining the mediating roles of serving culture and organization-based self-esteem. Drawing on social identity theory and employing a multilevel research design, the research analyzes two-wave survey data collected from 263 members of village committees, the grassroots rural public organizations in China. The results suggest a positive correlation between servant leadership and village committee members' well-being, with serving culture and organization-based self-esteem acting as key mediators in this relationship. Furthermore, these mediating effects occur sequentially: servant leadership fosters a serving culture, which in turn boosts organization-based self-esteem, ultimately enhancing member well-being. These findings offer new insights into the role of servant leadership in effective public management in rural communities

Iconic fascism The excess of destruction and creation in interwar radical right-wing politics

Aristotle Kallis uses comparative analysis in Fascism and Iconoclasm to demonstrate that fascists were supreme icon-lovers even as they were consummate icon-breakers. Kallis shows that Iconoclasm – the wilful destruction of icons – was a core feature of fascist violence, from its early movement days through to the consolidation of political power and until the very end of the fascist epoch. The book looks at how fascist iconoclasm changed significantly over this period and differed in its targets and rituals from case to case, whilst remaining central to the fascist dynamics of rupture and rebirth. It examines several case studies, with a focus on Mussolini's Italy and Nazi Germany, and underlines how much fascists appreciated and instrumentalized icons and symbols in the pursuit of their revolutionary political project in the process

Impact of implant generation on the outcomes in medial pivot total knee arthroplasty: a systematic review

Introduction Medial pivot total knee arthroplasty (TKA) was developed to reproduce native knee kinematics and improve function. Second-generation designs introduced refinements to enhance medial conformity and lateral rollback, but their clinical benefit remains uncertain. This systematic review compared outcomes of first- and second-generation medial pivot implants. Methods A comprehensive search of PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Google Scholar was performed in August 2025 following PRISMA guidelines. Comparative and non-comparative studies reporting outcomes after first- or second-generation medial pivot TKA were included. Primary endpoints were Knee Society Score (KSS), functional subscale (KSS-F), Oxford Knee Score (OKS), WOMAC, Forgotten Joint Score (FJS), range of motion (ROM), and revision rates. Results Twenty-four studies including 4686 patients (3541 first-generation; 1145 s-generation) were analysed. Most baseline variables were comparable, though BMI, follow-up duration, and baseline WOMAC and ROM showed minor differences. At the latest follow-up, KSS, KSS-F, WOMAC, and FJS showed no significant differences. Revision rates were similar. OKS was slightly lower in the second-generation cohort (MD −2.5, p = 0.04), and ROM was greater (MD 4.6°, p = 0.01), but both fell below minimal clinically important difference thresholds. Conclusion First- and second-generation medial pivot TKAs achieved comparable outcomes and survivorship. Although second-generation designs showed statistical improvements in ROM and OKS, these were not clinically relevant. These findings suggest that while design refinements of second-generation implants may offer minor biomechanical advantages, they do not translate into significant improvements in patient-reported outcomes. Surgical decision-making should be based on the surgeon's experience, implant availability, and patient-specific factors rather than expectations of superior performance from newer designs. Level of evidence Level III