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‘Your Strike is Affecting Our Children’: Host Community’s Intervention on the Front Line of a University Strike in Southwest Nigeria.
No full textWhile it is common to regard the traditional actors such as the employers and their representatives, employees and their representatives, and the state as the main actors in industrial relations (IR), this on-the-frontline article shows that host communities (HCs) can be recognised as IR actors in their own right. This article illustrates that the interventions of HCs in IR can be independent – contrary to how HCs are characterised as subordinates to trade unions in community unionism literature. Through Biobaku’s accounts of the interventions of a university’s host community from the Yorùbá society of southwest Nigeria, this article offers empirical contributions to the literature of neo-pluralism and decolonisation of IR in the context of the Global South, where formal and indigenous actors co-form the IR system
Digital Versus Paper-Based Consent from the UK NHS Perspective: A Micro-costing Analysis.
Get PDFThe paper-based consent pathway can be associated with missing information, error, and inadequate patient comprehension. Digital consent addresses some of these limitations. However, limited research has been conducted to understand relative costs and consequences associated with adopting digital consent pathways. The aim of this study was to compare the relative costs of digital consent pathways with paper-based consent pathways in UK National Health Service (NHS) clinical practice. A micro-costing study was conducted from the UK NHS perspective. Multi-stakeholder involvement contributed to understanding how the paper-based consent pathway varies by department and hospital setting. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to identify the key cost drivers and scenario analyses explored the effect of consent timing and hospital digital readiness. Potential advantages and disadvantages of digital consent were also considered, such as possible impacts associated with consent-related litigation. The cost per consent episode is approximately £0.90 more expensive when completed on paper. The ordering or printing of paper consent forms, and the transportation of forms to storage and back to clinic are process steps that would not be necessary with digital consent. Sensitivity and scenario analyses indicated consultation duration had the greatest impact on the relative costs of both pathways. Per litigation claim prevented, an average of £201,590 could be saved. Digital consent is potentially cost saving for the NHS. Consent for elective procedures is recommended in advance of the day of surgery, and digital consent used in this scenario demonstrated the greatest savings. Consultation duration was estimated to have the greatest impact on the relative costs of both pathways, which should be a focus of further investigation. [Abstract copyright: © 2024. The Author(s).
Automated Cybersecurity Compliance and Threat Response Using AI, Blockchain & Smart Contracts
No full textTo address the challenges of internal security policy compliance and dynamic threat response in organizations, we present a novel framework that integrates artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, and smart contracts. We propose a system that automates the enforcement of security policies, reducing manual effort and potential human error. Utilizing AI, we can analyse cyber threat intelligence rapidly, identify non-compliances and automatically adjust cyber defence mechanisms. Blockchain technology provides an immutable ledger for transparent logging of compliance actions, while smart contracts ensure uniform application of security measures. The framework's effectiveness is demonstrated through simulations, showing improvements in compliance enforcement rates and response times compared to traditional methods. Ultimately, our approach provides for a scalable solution for managing complex security policies, reducing costs and enhancing the efficiency while achieving compliance. Finally, we discuss practical implications and propose future research directions to further refine the system and address implementation challenges
Conversations across international divides: children learning through empathy about climate change
Get PDFPrimary school curricula often largely avoid the climate crisis, and teachers feel ill-equipped to teach it. In the secondary school curriculum, the climate crisis is generally addressed only in specific subjects such as science or geography. Our own and others’ research indicates that children are curious about climate change and become less anxious when they feel agentic in facing its effects. The challenges of everyday life for children in parts of the world severely affected by the rapidly changing climate are seldom included in educational contexts. This article reports on a project that linked a school in a UK town with a school on a Fijian island to explore a holistic approach to understanding the impacts of climate change. The children aged 9 to 11 built friendships across the globe through film messages, email, written letters, and drawings. As part of getting to know one another, the children asked and answered questions about their lives. Those questions and other creative activities revealed children’s interests and priorities and the extent of their local and global knowledge and enabled us to consider a personalised approach to climate justice. By co-creating and exchanging their stories the children could begin to understand the social and emotional impacts as well as the science of climate change. We discuss the role of empathy in children’s learning about climate change, and consider how connections across international divides can be facilitated
Understanding how British Pakistani women speak about resilience through the lens of the Resilience Portfolio Model
Get PDFThe aim of this study was to gain an in-depth understanding of the way British Pakistani women speak about resilience during the Covid-19 adversity. It draws upon in-depth narrative interviews with 13 British Pakistani women, aged between 38 to 69. The analysis is grounded in the Resilience Portfolio Model developed by Grych and colleagues. The Resilience Portfolio Model proposes that each individual has a unique “portfolio” of strengths and protective factors which consists of ‘assets’ (regulatory strengths, interpersonal strengths, and meaning-making strengths) and resources available to individuals. Just like many people across the globe, women were impacted by the pandemic in different ways, nevertheless, they maintained resilience through regulatory behaviours of walking and enjoying nature, engaging in praying and reading of the Quran. Women invested in positive relationships that supported the development of social capital within their community and allowed them to connect with others in meaningful and reciprocal ways. Their religious beliefs and identity was not only key in their ability to make sense of the pandemic, but promoted a sense of belonging which enabled them to engage with their community resources. Findings show that women’s assets worked in tandem with their resources to promote their overall wellbeing during the Covid-19 adversity. This highlights the need for practitioners to combine individual ‘strengths’ and community resources when developing preventative and responsive interventions for ethnic minority women who have experienced adversity and for policy initiatives to consider recreational resources that help to minimise isolation in ethnic minority communities
‘Empowering connections’: developing a coach mentoring framework
Get PDFMentoring has often been advocated as a method of harnessing the influential power of experience through guidance, observation, and reflective practice, allowing coaches to become better equipped to deal with the uncertain nature of coaching. Although much of the discourse on mentoring is set in a positive light, it continues to lack conceptual clarity, with no current universal definition available. Aligned to this, specific research into the programme at the heart of this study, also highlights the need for both wider, and more contextual research. Therefore, with this research being conducted into an established programme, broadly pragmatic research methods were adopted to ensure the research was sensitive to the social, historical and political context of the enquiry.
The purpose of study one was to investigate the mentoring process from the mentee’s perspective. Employing a questionnaire, the results of the study indicated a lack of clarity and understanding of the role of the mentor/mentee relationship in supporting coaching practice. Hence, building on the outcome of study one, study two interviewed four key managers within The FA with responsibility for mentoring to explore how they conceptualized the role of mentors in supporting coach development. The outcome of this study indicated an emphasis on ensuring mentors build healthy rapport with mentees to help provide clarity and understanding of the mentors role in supporting the grassroots coach. Clearly, a conceptual gap appeared to exist between what mentees were experiencing and what The FA were aiming to deliver. Consequently, study three created and presented an applied mentoring framework to support mentors in defining their role and help mentees understand the mentor/mentee relationship. Using a Delphi Study approach, the mentoring framework was shared with an independent panel of mentoring experts who provided constructive critical feedback to shape and help develop the mentoring process in context. As a consequence of this research, the mentoring framework is now employed by the FA to support the delivery of the national FA mentoring programme.
To support the research and findings further, a reflexive thread, and my own personal narrative is highlighted via the text, sketches and doodles to help the reader navigate my thoughts, reflections, and experiences on this research journey
Dialectical behaviour therapy in the treatment of borderline personality disorder: a commentary
No full textDialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) is a psychotherapeutic intervention that was designed specifically to treat deliberate self-harm (with or without suicide intent) in women with borderline personality disorder (BPD). DBT has received the most research attention compared with other psychological approaches used in the management of symptoms of BPD. This article provides a commentary on a meta-analysis of 11 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that investigated the effects of DBT on self-harming behaviours and negative emotions in patients with BPD. The commentary includes a critical appraisal of the methodology used in the meta-analysis. The authors of this article conclude that although the meta-analysis provides some evidence that DBT may reduce self-harming behaviours and depression in individuals with BPD, its methodological limitations, and the high risk of bias identified within the RCTs reviewed, mean that the results should be viewed with caution
Citizen Diplomacy Through Peace Tourism
No full textPeace tourism is a niche form of tourist activity that, as its name suggests, is driven by an interest in peace. Peace tourism is a broad category of tourist activity that can have both positive and negative contributions to the host destination. This chapter explores the ways in which peace tourism enables individuals to satisfy this interest in peace by exercising citizen diplomacy. In doing so, it addresses a methodological gap in diplomacy research, which conventionally adopted a state-centric perspective and overlooked the political agency of the individual – and as such, the tourist. The chapter examines the ways in which citizen diplomacy is applied through peace tourism and whether it can positively contribute to sustainable peace within and beyond state boundaries. Using the case study of Israel/Palestine, this chapter identifies initiatives of citizen diplomacy through peace tourism and examines their impact using Anderson’s model of six levels to peace. The study’s findings show that citizen diplomacy through peace tourism can yield positive contributions to peace. The findings are discussed in reference to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) framework, and specifically SDG 16 on Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Cooperatives and Business Schools: Why the Disconnect?
Get PDFBusiness schools are not neutral purveyors of teaching and research about how to organise. More often than not, they sell a very particular form of knowledge and act as outlets for a form of life in which a cooperative economy is ignored. Using international evidence, our paper shows that cooperatives lack adequate intellectual support from academia in terms of research or education. We explore the disconnect between academia and the cooperative economy in a search for explanations and justifications. Our analysis suggests that this state of affairs denies the cooperative sector an opportunity to both address its skill shortages and acquire the organisational capabilities needed to boost the impact of cooperative enterprises. Equally important, this normalises the situation where business schools can continue to ignore alternative business models. We conclude by suggesting that there would be societal and scholarly gains from accepting the cooperative sector as a legitimate and valuable constituent of any modern economy, and that this should be reflected in the teaching and research of business schools
Commentary on: Inspiratory Muscle Training, with or without Pulmonary Rehabilitation, for COPD: A Critical Appraisal of a Cochrane Review
No full textApproximately 300 million people worldwide have COPD (1) with a global prevalence of between approximately 10-12.2% (2-4). COPD is a highly prevalent respiratory disease in the United Kingdom, ranking as the second most common lung disease, with approximately 1.2 million people diagnosed (5).
In COPD, oxidative stress and sarcomere injury lead to proteolysis and subsequent atrophy of the diaphragm, the main inspiratory muscle (6). The reduction in capacity of the respiratory muscles lead to a reduction in the body’s capacity to generate inspiratory pressures, thus reducing lung capacity and is thought to contribute to dyspnoea in adults with advanced COPD (7).
Respiratory muscle weakness is a modifiable weakness and can be targeted with interventions including variations in frequency and duration of Inspiratory Muscle Training (IMT) (8). Inspiratory muscle training uses resistance to challenge inhalation, stimulating respiratory muscles and potentially enhancing contractile force through hypertrophy (9). A previous Cochrane review examined the effectiveness of IMT, both with and without pulmonary rehabilitation, in increasing inspiratory muscle strength in individuals with COPD (10)