Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in diabetic populations. Early detection of cardiovascular risk in diabetes is crucial to reduce complications, particularly in resource-limited settings. This study aimed to develop and evaluate a hybrid machine learning framework that integrates Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks with traditional algorithms to improve cardiovascular risk prediction in diabetic patients. The hybrid model, which included structured data and time-series health data, was tested on a sample of 1,000 diabetes patients. Using 10-fold cross-validation, the model achieved impressive predictive performance (accuracy 98.7%, AUC 0.99). There are three main conclusions from this study. Initially, the hybrid model demonstrated a significant increase in CVD prediction accuracy when compared to independent machine-learning techniques. Second, the model provided reasonable predictions across different demographic groupings, ensuring equitable outcomes. Finally, the model's high performance supports its potential for future use in clinical decision-support systems aimed at improving outcomes and optimizing resource allocation. Increased CVD screening rates in diabetic patients, better access to care for communities with limited resources, and the advancement of health equity are all possible outcomes of incorporating machine learning and deep learning techniques. The proposed hybrid model also demonstrates strong potential for clinical deployment in cardiovascular risk prediction among diabetic populations, supporting earlier interventions and improved patient outcomes.

Abstract Understanding how ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi interact is essential for both general mycorrhizal ecology and for practitioners in fields such as truffle cultivation. We investigated competitive interactions between Tuber aestivum (the summer truffle) and Tuber rufum under controlled conditions, testing two soil pH conditions (6.5 and 7.5) and two commonly accepted host species (Quercus robur and Corylus avellana). While T. rufum is often reported in mildly acidic soils, we found it formed significantly more mycorrhizae under alkaline conditions— a trait it shared with T. aestivum. However, under co-inoculation, T. aestivum consistently outperformed T. rufum, yet both species performed better in isolation. Strikingly, competition promoted spatial niche partitioning in hazel root systems, with T. aestivum dominating mid-root zones and T. rufum the lower zones— an effect absent in sub-optimal (pH 6.5) conditions. From an applied perspective, these findings highlight that host tree choice may influence truffle orchard outcomes when competitive ECM species co-occur. More broadly, our results suggest that root-zone niche partitioning may represent an important, underexplored mechanism of ECM coexistence. Together, this underscores the ecological complexity of truffle systems and the need for integrated lab–field approaches to advance both applied and fundamental mycorrhizal research.

ABSTRACT Many businesses, particularly small businesses, are underinvesting in cyber security. This exposes them to the risk of costly cyber attack. To address the challenge of cyber security in small businesses a greater understanding is needed of why businesses are underinvesting. To address this challenge, we propose a novel framework to distinguish five behavioral types and quantify the proportion of businesses fitting each type. The types are overconfident, procrastinator, risk accepting, defer responsibility, and optimal. We apply our framework using data from the UK Government’s Cyber Security Breaches Survey from 2018–2024. We find that procrastination and overconfidence are the main reasons for underinvestment in cyber security in small businesses. We also find that small businesses with cyber insurance and/or cyber outsourcing are more likely to be classified as optimal. These results can inform policy interventions that better target the root cause of underinvestment in cyber security.

ABSTRACTThis study explored the application of natural dyes to develop a color palette for creative design, focusing on the traditional natural dyeing in Lampang Province, Thailand. Utilizing local natural resources such as Burma Padauk, Siamese Senna, Indian Almond Tree, Eucalyptus, and Lac, the research identified the properties and variations of colors achieved through the use of different mordants such as alum and rust. Color measurements were conducted using the CIE L*a*b* system, with results converted into RGB, CMYK, and HEX color systems for practical design applications. The findings emphasize the importance of preserving local wisdom in natural dyeing while addressing challenges in consistency and quality control. This research integrated traditional dyeing knowledge with modern design principles, providing a framework for developing sustainable and culturally enriched products. By establishing systematic dyeing processes and creating standardized color palettes, the study aims to enhance the global competitiveness of locally produced textiles, aligning with the goals of sustainable development and responsible consumption, promoting sustainable practices, economic growth, and cultural preservation.

Purpose The study contributes to debates on reflexivity by emphasising the importance of self-awareness and critical engagement in insider research. It highlights the need for researchers to reflect on their positionality, biases, and power dynamics, offering practical recommendations such as transparent communication, ongoing self-reflection, and peer debriefing. By integrating the researcher’s presence into the analytical process, the study demonstrates how insider status can enhance rather than hinder research depth. These insights provide valuable guidance for future studies on marginalised communities, promoting ethical practices and fostering meaningful, impactful findings. Design/methodology/approach This paper explores the long-term effects of conducting research within one’s own community, focussing on the complexities of positionality, reflexivity, and power dynamics in native ethnography. Drawing on fieldwork experiences with homeless Polish migrants in two UK-based homeless support organisations, this paper examines how researchers’ insider status influences both the research process and its personal and professional consequences. Qualitative and ethnographic methods were employed to highlight the recurring power imbalances between service providers and homeless individuals, with specific attention to inequalities in accessing resources. Findings Findings indicate that researchers’ dual role as insiders and observers creates ethical and emotional tensions, shaping how participants and institutions respond to their presence. In this context, the challenge of balancing personal identity with professional objectivity underscores the deeply emotional and ethical stakes of reflexivity. Far from being a passive or detached exercise, reflexivity emerges as an active and continuous negotiation of power, emotions, and ethics—one that profoundly shapes the researcher’s insights and the broader significance of their work. Research limitations/implications While the study provided significant insights, it was not without limitations. One key limitation was the relatively small sample size, which may not be fully representative of the broader migrant homeless population. The research focused primarily on homeless Polish migrants in the UK, and thus, the findings may not be generalisable to other migrant communities or geographical locations. Additionally, the insider perspective, while valuable, may have introduced biases that influenced the interpretation of the data as this study reflects only my experiences as a researcher, which introduces the possibility that personal biases may have influenced both the findings and their interpretation. Practical implications This study underscores the need for researchers working within their own communities to actively engage in reflexivity, ethical self-awareness, and transparent communication. It highlights the importance of mitigating power imbalances between researchers, participants, and institutions through strategies such as peer debriefing, ongoing self-reflection, and critical engagement with positionality. By integrating reflexivity into the research process, insider researchers can enhance the depth and ethical integrity of their work. These insights offer valuable guidance for future studies on marginalised communities, encouraging more ethical, informed, and impactful research practices that prioritise participant agency and equitable knowledge production. Social implications This study highlights the broader social impact of research on marginalised communities, particularly homeless Polish migrants in the UK By exposing power imbalances within support services, it advocates for more inclusive and equitable approaches to homelessness intervention. The findings emphasise the need for service providers to recognise and address structural inequalities that limit access to resources. Additionally, the study challenges traditional notions of researcher neutrality, promoting a more engaged and ethical approach to knowledge production. Ultimately, it calls for policies and practices that prioritise dignity, agency, and meaningful participation for homeless individuals in shaping their own support systems. Originality/value This study offers a unique contribution by critically examining the long-term personal, ethical, and professional challenges of conducting research within one’s own community. By focussing on homeless Polish migrants in the UK, it provides new insights into power dynamics between researchers, participants, and institutions. The paper moves beyond traditional discussions of reflexivity, presenting it as an ongoing negotiation rather than a static concept. By demonstrating how insider status can enhance research depth rather than hinder objectivity, this study adds valuable perspectives to debates on positionality, ethical research practices, and the role of researchers in studying marginalised communities.

As global conflicts intensify, resource-based approaches to mental health at work are becoming increasingly vital. Drawing on Conservation of Resources (COR) theory, this study examines deployment practices and mental health outcomes among military expatriates (United Nations peacekeepers within the Ghana Armed Forces). Thematic analysis of interview data reveals that military expatriate face multiple stressors and trauma triggers, contributing to significant mental health challenges. However, unit-level support during deployment emerged as a key protective resource, while pre-deployment activities have a dual impact: they build mental resilience through personal resource development but also cause short-term stress and anxiety. This study advances the limited literature on military expatriate mental health and proposes a “resource-driven military mental health model,” extending COR theory to a critically underexplored population.

In this column, Sharon Rees aims to refresh knowledge and interest in some of the commonly used drugs in a series of posts on Bluesky. This month she is talking about #glucagon

Purpose This study examines the questions “how do entrepreneurs operating in slums make sense of their environment?” and “how do entrepreneurs view entrepreneurship as emancipating?” This study extends research on social imaginary which represents how people make meanings and structures that guide individual and collective actions and values in the society. Design/methodology/approach Based on qualitative method, data were gathered using semi-structured interviews with 42 entrepreneurs and community leaders from Abuja slums of Nigeria. Through thematic analysis involving coding and recoding, 8 grounded first-order codes and 3 abductively derived second-order codes were identified. Findings The findings reveal two forms of entrepreneuring in the slums – individual and community-oriented (collective) entrepreneurship. This article proposes that social imagination of slum entrepreneurs is bound by situational conditions and emancipatory entrepreneuring may be driven by individual and collective aspirations and values. Entrepreneurs operating in slums create shared empowerment through collective emancipation, social and community embeddedness. Research limitations/implications This article makes three key contributions to knowledge: proposing an empirically derived proposition of social imaginary of emancipation and entrepreneurship, responding to calls to bring indigenous voices to the forefront and adding to knowledge on slum entrepreneurship. Originality/value Few studies examine social imaginary of emancipatory entrepreneuring from the context of the slum environment. This article contributes to advancement of United Nations – Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 1 (No poverty), 10 (Reduced inequalities) and 11 (Sustainable cities and communities).