21c Consultancy (United Kingdom)

Purpose This study explores how sustainable leadership and financial technology (FinTech) adoption influence ethical artificial intelligence (AI) governance outcomes in Bangladesh’s FinTech sector. It further examines the mediating role of ethical AI skills development and the moderating influence of organizational capacity, offering an integrated view of responsible digital innovation in emerging economies. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative research design was employed, utilizing semi-structured interviews with six stakeholder groups, including FinTech leaders, compliance officers, regulators, platform users and advocates for financial inclusion. Thematic analysis was conducted using a structured six-phase approach, supported by qualitative data analysis software. A dual-stage literature review guided the conceptual framework and interpretation of findings. Findings The study finds that ethical AI governance is strengthened when sustainable leadership is supported by strategic FinTech adoption, embedded ethics training and institutional capacity. Ethical AI skills development plays a mediating role by operationalizing leadership vision, while organizational capacity moderates the effectiveness of leadership and technology strategies on governance outcomes. A moderated-mediation model is proposed to explain these interactions. Practical implications The findings offer actionable insights for FinTech firms and policymakers. Organizations should align AI deployment with ethical mandates, invest in workforce capacity-building and establish cross-functional governance mechanisms. Policymakers are encouraged to support national guidelines, certification schemes and capacity-building grants to promote inclusive and transparent digital finance ecosystems. Originality/value This study makes a novel contribution by integrating leadership, technology, training and institutional capacity into a unified model of ethical AI governance. It offers original insights into how internal and external enablers can jointly support responsible AI innovation in the context of a rapidly growing FinTech sector.

Background: Iron deficiency (ID) is common among people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and/or heart failure (HF). Despite the additional burden ID causes among people with CKD and HF, there is considerable uncertainty surrounding the best way to diagnose it and, subsequently, identify who is most likely to benefit from receiving iron therapy. Methods: This manuscript reports the markers and thresholds used in ID diagnosis, treatment, and management in the UK by nephrologists and cardiologists who manage people with chronic kidney disease or heart failure, as well as investigating future challenges and questions that remain unanswered. The research involved three stages: an online questionnaire, individual interviews, and a panel meeting, which discussed the findings from the first two stages. Results: The panel concluded that there is no robust definition of iron deficiency that can be applied to chronic kidney disease and heart failure. Existing methods of diagnosing iron deficiency come with various problems; a transferrin saturation of <20% is the most popular, but it is not regarded as a perfect solution. Transferrin saturation is also the most popular way of assessing the success of iron deficiency treatment. Clinicians generally do not vary treatment regimens based on severity or subgroups. There are large variations in monitoring and the ability to administer iron therapy in secondary care. Conclusions: There is a clear need to consolidate current approaches to diagnosing and treating iron deficiency in people with chronic kidney disease and/or heart failure. Simple markers and thresholds, and simple strategies to implement them are required.

ABSTRACT Global sustainability policy demands coordination among domain‐specific policies, yet a major challenge persists in policy monitoring and reporting, where various, often uncoordinated indicator initiatives exist. To address this challenge, we apply a network approach to investigate linkages between the indicators of the Sustainable Development Goal 15 (SDG 15, Life on Land), the indicators of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and those used in assessments of the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), and the Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs). Network analysis is a well‐known tool but to the best of our knowledge remains largely unexplored to analyse indicator linkages. Our findings indicate limited interconnectivity (number and type of cross‐set linkages) among the selected indicator sets. Nevertheless, we identify direct network linkages showing that most SDG 15 indicators could draw upon data or other information (e.g., methodological) from Aichi indicators, IPBES indicators, or EBVs. Findings show the potential of EBVs to deliver policy‐relevant information, but this warrants further research. We identify indicators and EBVs with a key role in the network and discuss advantages and limitations of our network approach. We show the utility of the approach to linking multiple policy agendas, and argue that—if applied more widely—it can promote a more coordinated sustainability policy monitoring and reporting.

Abstract. Two mechanisms cause wind speed recovery in the wake of a wind farm: momentum mixing and the Coriolis force. To study these mechanisms, we use a steady linearised two-layer fast Fourier transform (FFT) model so that both analytical expressions and full flow fields can be derived. The model represents the complex vertical mixing processes by a simple Rayleigh friction. Rayleigh friction decays the wind disturbance at a rate proportional to its local value. Pressure gradient forces are computed using a two-part vertical wave number formulation in the upper layer. The Coriolis force recovery occurs by deflecting flow leftward (in the Northern Hemisphere). The Coriolis force, acting on this cross-flow, re-accelerates the flow in the downwind direction. The relative importance of Rayleigh versus Coriolis wake recovery depends on their two coefficients: C and f respectively, each with units of inverse time. When the coefficient ratio is large, i.e. C/f≫1, Rayleigh friction restores the wake before Coriolis can act. Farm size and atmospheric static stability are also important in wake recovery. The wakes of small- and medium-size farms will quickly approach geostrophic balance. Once balance is established, the ratio of farm size “a” to the Rossby radius of deformation (RRD) determines the amount of Coriolis recovery. For a small farm in a stable atmosphere (a&lt; RRD), Coriolis acts by adjusting the pressure field to obtain geostrophic balance rather than accelerating the wind. When this occurs, only momentum mixing can restore the “inner” wake. For large farms in less stable conditions (a&gt; RRD), the Coriolis force significantly contributes to wake recovery. In this case, the leftward deflected flow creates “edge jets” on either side of the wake. Including the Coriolis force when modelling wind farm wakes is demonstrated to be increasingly important for larger wind farms or farm clusters.

Abstract This article explains how companies and legal professionals should investigate suspected forced labour and severe labour exploitation within global supply chains. While Human Rights Due Diligence is a broad and preventative process, incident investigations are reactive fact-finding exercises triggered when indicators of exploitation arise. This article therefore distinguishes clearly between these two processes and focuses specifically on investigative methods, decision making frameworks, and safeguarding principles required when forced labour is suspected. The article introduces the investigative mindset, the use of working hypotheses, methods for collecting and evaluating material, and trauma-informed approaches when engaging with persons harmed. It highlights common features of forced labour cases including coercive recruitment, document retention, debt bondage, restrictions on movement, intimidation, and dependency, and explains why these cases require specialist investigative practice. Because legal professionals increasingly advise companies on supply chain governance, compliance, crisis response, remediation, and cooperation with law enforcement, the article translates investigative concepts into a form relevant to their work. By clarifying terminology, evidential challenges, and the roles of investigators, company representatives and external partners, this article equips legal readers with a structured understanding of how effective investigations are carried out, how findings contribute to remediation, and how investigative outcomes feed into wider Human Rights Due Diligence expectations.

The Malaysian estate agency industry, which has been regulated since 1981, has been experiencing long-term problems of breaching ethics, conflicts of interest, and a lack of transparency. The purpose of this paper is to enhance the level of ethical conduct and improve general performance in the Malaysian estate agency industry. The mixed-methods approach (surveys and comparative studies) is used in the paper. The results reveal the necessity to implement sustainable methods and offer changes in regulatory systems to promote the development and professionalism of the industry. Although the structure of the estate agency in Malaysia is similar to that of the developed countries, there is a potential for improvement that can be realized to ensure that it becomes sustainable. The article highlights the need to change the regulatory systems to match the modern business dynamics and industry needs to ensure that Malaysia keeps progressing and that the profession of the estate agency is developed.

[Este manuscrito es una versión en español revisada y ampliada del preprint titulado “The Marmaray Railway Infrastructure: The Challenges of the Heritage Protection before the Growth of Istanbul’s Urban Areas”, disponible en Preprints.org] El artículo analiza el proyecto ferroviario Marmaray, una de las infraestructuras más significativas y complejas de Turquía, que conecta las zonas europea y asiática de Estambul mediante un sistema de túneles, subterráneos y sumergidos, bajo el estrecho del Bósforo. Desde una lectura situada, se examina su desarrollo como espacio de convergencia entre ingeniería, paisaje y patrimonio, abordando sus dimensiones técnicas, ambientales y culturales. Se estudian los factores geológicos, estructurales y urbanísticos que condicionaron su diseño y ejecución, así como las estrategias implementadas para mitigar los impactos sobre el entorno natural y sobre el patrimonio arqueológico y edificado. La metodología combina la revisión bibliográfica con la observación directa de las obras por parte de la primera autora, en el marco de su experiencia profesional en la coordinación del proyecto y en la gestión de la interacción entre infraestructura y patrimonio. Asimismo, se reflexiona sobre los efectos del crecimiento metropolitano y los marcos normativos de protección del paisaje en un territorio caracterizado por la coexistencia de valores históricos y ecológicos. En conjunto, el estudio propone comprender el Marmaray como un laboratorio de equilibrio entre desarrollo, tecnología y memoria, y como un ejemplo paradigmático de sostenibilidad aplicada a las grandes metrópolis contemporáneas