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Articles by Mark Simmonds
The Art Of (a good mental health) Conversation
The current climate is putting a lot of pressure on everyone. The impact of the war in Iran, the ongoing threats caused by Russia and China, the cost of living crisis, a government that seems to be on unsteady ground, the double-edged sword of AI (is it a good or bad thing?) ... Some of your friends and colleagues will be stressed at the moment, no doubt about it.
Succeeding Without Suffering
Navigating a world of economic uncertainty. Encouraging innovation whilst maintaining operational efficiency. Adopting and adapting to the brave new world of AI and digital transformation. Dealing with the complexities of hybrid working. Oh yes, and not to mention having to face the continual pressure of both meeting and beating financial targets. It certainly is a tough time to be a leader. Plenty of stress and pressure all around.
Group income protection a tool most employers miss out on
The UK government is keen to reduce the number of long-term sick people of working age. But organisations are overlooking a benefit which could avert the problem in the first place: Group income protection. The UK government is planning to overhaul the benefits system to create what the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has termed a 'more pro-work welfare system'.[1] Its goal is to help many of the 2.8 million long term sick people of working age into employment.
British Wildlife 36.8 August 2025
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Role of entrepreneurs and civil society in Africa's development
As a former UK Minister for Africa, I have had the privilege of witnessing firsthand the vibrant potential of the continent. It is a land of immense diversity, not only in its people and cultures but also in challenges and opportunities. While African leaders and governments have made significant strides, the continent’s most transformative changes often stem from the grassroots—entrepreneurs, civil society and innovative institutions leading the way.
Inverse linear association between blood haemoglobin and oxygen saturation accuracy measured by pulse oximetry: a cross-sectional analysis in individuals with COVID-19 infection
Abstract Background Pulse oximetry measures oxygen saturation non-invasively by using differential absorption of infrared signals which are dependent on the oxyhaemoglobin:deoxyhaemoglobin ratio. We tested the hypothesis that pulse oximetry error in measurements of blood oxygen saturations may be associated with blood haemoglobin levels.
Let's use green technology to bridge urban-rural economic divide
As we confront the dual challenges of rapid technological change and escalating environmental concerns, the potential of green technology to narrow the economic divide between urban and rural areas has never been clearer and more achievable. The realisation of this potential hinges on a crucial factor: government leadership.
Bridging the urban-rural divide with green technology
As we confront the dual challenges of rapid technological change and escalating environmental concerns, the potential of green technology to narrow the economic divide between urban and rural areas has never been clearer and more achievable. The realisation of this potential hinges on a crucial factor: government leadership.
United Kingdom: Proposed stronger employment rights for employees
The new Labour government has introduced the Employment Rights Bill to enact many of its plans to improve working rights for employees. The wide-ranging bill includes 28 different reforms, including establishing employees’ rights to family and sick leaves from the first day of employment and greatly restricting employers’ use of zero-hours contracts and “fire and rehire” practices.
The Lakehouse: Your Path to Business Enlightenment
With the right lakehouse implementation, all your data can be accessed, managed, and governed to drive deeper, thereby delivering more complete insights, resulting in smarter business outcomes. But not all lakehouses are born equal. Editor’s Note: This article is an excerpt from the book The Lakehouse Effect: A New Era for Data Insights and AI. Data is at the center of every business.
T-Pain Brings the Fire to Miami Beach
The Legendary T-Pain delivered a mesmerizing performance at The Fillmore Miami Beach this past Independence Day eve, showcasing his enduring talent and celebrating nearly 20 years in the music industry. The beautiful Miami Beach theater venue, known for its intimate setting and superb acoustics, provided the perfect backdrop for T-Pain’s blend of nostalgic hip-hop and contemporary innovation.
A requirement for the use of supplementary oxygen to guide medical treatment decisions may introduce bias against non-white individuals
To the Editor: In England and Wales there was excess mortality from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection in individuals whose forebears originated outside the UK, often in Africa or South East Asia [1]. The reasons for this are still unclear. We suggest that the use of oxygen saturations derived from pulse oximetry to guide treatment may have been a contributory factor.
A requirement for the use of supplementary oxygen to guide medical treatment decisions may introduce bias against non-White individuals
Footnotes This manuscript has recently been accepted for publication in the European Respiratory Journal. It is published here in its accepted form prior to copyediting and typesetting by our production team. After these production processes are complete and the authors have approved the resulting proofs, the article will move to the latest issue of the ERJ online. Please open or download the PDF to view this article. Conflict of Interest: All authors have nothing to disclose.
Response to “A method was developed for correcting the bias in the usual study weights in meta-analyses” by Walter and Balakrishnan
This paper is only available as a PDF. To read, Please Download here.
New Rights For Carers And For Employees Requesting Flexible Work
Several recent pieces of legislation — which have all received Royal Assent — establish new entitlements for neonatal care leave and carer's leave, provide protection against redundancy to employees during pregnancy and after taking family-related leave, and ease requirements for employees requesting flexible work arrangements.
Explainability in AI Bias
“Explainability” is the process of explaining why an ML model behaved in a certain way, such as approving or declining a bank loan. Editor's Note: This article is excerpted from chapter 3 of Artificial Intelligence: Evolution and Revolution In previous articles, a general look at Algorithmic Bias and Explainability was presented, next Types of Algorithmic Bias were examined.
AI Theory vs. Reality - The First 5 of 10 Lessons from the Field
There’s a huge difference between the purely academic exercise of training machine learning (ML) models versus building end-to-end data-science solutions to help solve real enterprise problems.
AI Theory vs. Reality - The Final 5 of 10 Lessons from the Field
There’s a huge difference between the purely academic exercise of training machine learning (ML) models versus building end-to-end data-science solutions to help solve real enterprise problems.
The Biggest Trends in the 2023 State of IBM i Security Study
The Truth, the Whole Truth,…and AI Systems By Mark Simmonds If our legal processes and justice systems were infused with advanced artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, the outcome of some trials might be very different from those that were absent of AI. Some may argue AI might produce more balanced and consistent verdicts by identifying and attempting to remove human prejudice and bias. But that’s just one perspective on AI in the justice system.
A Moment with Carol Woodbury: Introduction to Pen Testing
Is 2030 the new Y2K? In the world of IBM i transformation, time may not be your friend. RPG resource availability is at an all-time low, and forecasts do not look promising for any resurgence. That fact, combined with the reality that a full-blown transformation initiative can take several years on average, simply means that putting off aggressive digital transformation activity is no longer an option for most organizations. By Michael Killian of Profound Logic Software, Inc.
iCON - WMCPA Spring Conference 2023
The Ethical Considerations of AI, Part 1 By John Ghrist Designing software has always been straightforward in certain ways, no matter what kind of application a developer is trying to create. The designer looks to accomplish a set of tasks and pass resulting information on to another program and, ultimately, other humans.
iCON - WMCPA Spring Conference 2023
Algorithmic bias occurs when a computer system reflects the implicit values of its human designers in its behavior.
iCON - WMCPA Spring Conference 2023
A set of tenets can help deliver successful data and AI software projects. Each tenet is a continual journey, not a destination. Each must be practiced until it becomes second nature, and each tenet has multi-dependencies with other tenets. By Mark Simmonds There’s a set of symbiotic tenets and disciplines when it comes to building and delivering software products that can help drive success for both vendors and clients alike. Here are what I consider to be some of the top tenets.
iCON - WMCPA Spring Conference 2023
“Explainability” is the process of explaining why an ML model behaved in a certain way, such as approving or declining a bank loan. By Steven Astorino, Mark Simmonds, and Jean-François Puget Editor's Note: This article is excerpted from chapter 3 of Artificial Intelligence: Evolution and Revolution In previous articles, a general look at Algorithmic Bias and Explainability was presented, next Types of Algorithmic Bias were examined.
iCON - WMCPA Spring Conference 2023
Is 2030 the new Y2K? In the world of IBM i transformation, time may not be your friend. RPG resource availability is at an all-time low, and forecasts do not look promising for any resurgence. That fact, combined with the reality that a full-blown transformation initiative can take several years on average, simply means that putting off aggressive digital transformation activity is no longer an option for most organizations. By Michael Killian of Profound Logic Software, Inc.
iCON - WMCPA Spring Conference 2023
Bias can be introduced into the algorithms of hardware and software in a variety of ways. By Steven Astorino, Mark Simmonds, and Jean-François Puget Editor's Note: This article is excerpted from chapter 3 of Artificial Intelligence: Evolution and Revolution Pre-existing Bias Pre-existing bias in an algorithm is a consequence of underlying social and institutional ideologies. Such ideas may influence or create personal biases within individual designers or programmers.
iCON - WMCPA Spring Conference 2023
Moving to the cloud is supposed to save money. That strategy is often successful, but sometimes related expenses can start climbing. Some areas to keep a weather eye on can help mitigate losses. By John Ghrist Many enterprises continue to move to the cloud as a way of managing their computing expenses. Added security, reduction in IT-related expenses of managing systems in-house, and user convenience often top the list of corporate motivations.
iCON - WMCPA Spring Conference 2023
As artificial intelligence penetrates our daily lives, questions on trust and transparency arise. Without the right tools to manage, detect, and mitigate bias to what extent are we humans prepared to hand over control to AI systems for decision-making and taking actions? By Mark Simmonds Throughout history, some sectors of society have rejected automation and technology—partly because of the fear of “letting go” control to the machines.
Inverse association between blood pressure and pulse oximetry accuracy: an observational study in patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection
Discussion This analysis of the association between the accuracy of oxygen saturation as measured by pulse oximetry within the different ranges of systolic and diastolic BPs and HRs commonly observed in clinical practice demonstrates that there is an inverse linear association between the accuracy of pulse oximeter measurements of oxygen saturations and all three cardiovascular exposures of systolic BP, diastolic BP and HR.
Pulse oximeter measurement error of oxygen saturation in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection stratified by smoking status
To the Editor: Pulse oximeters provide a non-invasive measurement of oxygen saturation and are now routinely used to assess patients, inform medical decision-making and monitor subsequent clinical status. As pulse oximeters are now so widely used, it is important to identify any patient groups in whom they may also have a systematic bias that may impair the delivery of medical care to these individuals.
Pulse oximeter measurement error of oxygen saturation in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection stratified by smoking status
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What role could the UK play in Africa’s energy transition?
Today’s global energy crisis has emphasised the urgency, benefits and necessity of an accelerated energy transition worldwide. In Africa, the consequences of the Ukraine war have increased the strains on economies already hard hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. The continent is facing more severe climate change than most other parts of the world, despite bearing the least responsibility for the problem.
Reply to: Inaccuracy of pulse oximetry in darker-skinned patients is unchanged across 32 years
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Reply to: Inaccuracy of pulse oximetry in darker-skinned patients is unchanged across 32 years
Dear ERJ, We thank Tobin and Jubran for their interest in our data [1]. As they state, it is an extension of a body of work that they helped establish over 30 years ago. We don't have reliable data on whether these patients were ventilated or not, as the electronic data that we had access to excluded the period of time when patients were admitted to intensive care.
Pulse oximeter measurements vary across ethnic groups: an observational study in patients with COVID-19
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The Relationship Between Career Fit And Stress
One way of doing this is to treat your job in the same way you would treat a personal relationship. In other words, look for employment where there is close alignment between your own needs and values and those of the company. If there is misalignment between the two for too long, the pressure will mount and it will more than likely end badly. Career fit is everything.
Mark Simmonds: Stronger trade partnerships in Africa will be essential to a successful, global Britain
Mark Simmonds is a former Foreign Office Minister for Africa and Chairman of the Advisory Board of Invest Africa. In little over a week, the Ukrainian invasion has dramatically transformed the geopolitical and economic status quo.
Pulse oximeters’ measurements vary across ethnic groups: An observational study in patients with Covid-19 infection
Colin J Crooks, Joe West, Joanne R Morling, Mark Simmonds, Irene Juurlink, Steve Briggs, Simon Cruickshank, Susan Hammond-Pears, Dominick Shaw, Timothy R Card, Andrew W Fogarty European Respiratory Journal 2022; DOI: 10.1183/13993003.03246-2021 The pulse oximeter provides regular non-invasive measurements of blood oxygenation and is used in a wide range of clinical settings [1].
Voices: Plans to help economies in Africa recover from Covid must involve the poorest communities
A woman receives a Covid vaccination in a Johannesburg clinic (AP) Last week, the foreign secretary Liz Truss announced the launch of British International Investment, a body endeavouring to leverage private capital for investment in countries across Asia, Africa and the Caribbean. To “build back better” and aid recovery from the disastrous economic consequences of the global Covid-19pandemic.
Aerospace fork in the road
The COVID-19 pandemic has devastated the aerospace industry significantly, as it has with so many others. Air travel ceased, a substantial number of commercial aircraft was parked, and potential new aircraft production and deliveries were essentially halted. During this time, Arnprior Aerospace had to make several difficult restructuring decisions while rapidly pivoting in attempts to service other industry sectors.
Evaluating Progestogens for Preventing Preterm birth International Collaborative (EPPPIC): meta-analysis of individual participant data from randomised controlled trials
Summary Background Preterm birth is a global health priority. Using a progestogen during high-risk pregnancy could reduce preterm birth and adverse neonatal outcomes. Methods We did a systematic review of randomised trials comparing vaginal progesterone, intramuscular 17-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17-OHPC), or oral progesterone with control, or with each other, in asymptomatic women at risk of preterm birth.
An Ethology of Adaptation: Dolphins Stop Feeding but Continue Socializing in Construction-Degraded Habitat
Introduction The accelerating pace and breadth of marine coastal development threatens marine mammals with cumulative effects from unsustainable human practices and pollution (Williams et al., 2015; Gomez et al., 2016; Shannon et al., 2016; Avila et al., 2018).
A new WTO boss who understands Africa is a good thing for the global economy
The impasse over who will become the next director-general of the WTO has at last come to a conclusion. Following South Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee’s withdrawal from the selection process, the path is now clear for Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, a widely respected former Nigerian finance minister, to become the first woman and first African to lead the WTO.
Intensive behavioural interventions based on applied behaviour analysis for young children with autism: An international collaborative individual participant data meta-analysis - Mark Rodgers, Mark Simmonds, David Marshall, Robert Hodgson, Lesley A Stewar
Introduction Autism spectrum disorder (henceforth referred to as ‘autism’) is a spectrum condition in which individual presentation is usually a combination of social, communication and behavioural difficulties, differences and strengths, which vary considerably between individuals and over time. Autism currently has significant economic and social impacts for individuals, their families and wider society (Buescher et al., 2014; Howlin & Moss, 2012).
How To Manage Remotely In The Covid World Of Work
Covid-19 has created mass uncertainty and panic. People are worried about their jobs, their health and their loved ones. Difficult times are when leaders should shine. But how do you lead remotely? The pandemic has created a whole new set of problems for employees and managers, as well as leaders. For employees, working from home will suit some better than others. If you have a home office, it’s potentially easier than sitting on the settee and working off your laptop.
The Benefits Of Combinatory Play For Project Managers
The term ‘combinatory play’ was first coined by Albert Einstein in a letter he wrote to the French mathematician Jacques Hadamard. The latter was intrigued to find out Einstein’s secret when it came to his methods of creative thinking. In a nutshell, combinatory play is all about considering two or more seemingly unrelated topics, activities, disciplines and putting them together in such a way that something new and different emerges.
Creative prison or Creative paradise?
Andy Haldane is the Bank of England’s chief economist. In a recent speech he gave online to the Engaging Business Summit, he stated correctly that the pandemic had “re-shaped our working lives, our economic contributions and our well-being”. Andy Haldane is the Bank of England’s chief economist. In a recent speech he gave online to the Engaging Business Summit, he stated correctly that the pandemic had “re-shaped our working lives, our economic contributions and our well-being”.
A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to save creativity
If I were an HR professional whose employer viewed creativity as a core competency required for growth, I would like to think that this is what I would have done during Covid times: I would have treated the lockdown, enforced isolation and remote work as an opportunity, not a threat. A beautiful constraint to be embraced rather than avoided. After all, the frantic workplace can hardly be considered the natural habitat for creativity.
Office working still necessary for productivity, study finds
Office working still necessary for productivity, study finds Emma Greedy, November 23, 2020 Staff need on average three days a week (2.91) in the office to achieve maximum productivity, according to a new study by construction services company ISG.
Remote work could be damaging relations between different ethnic groups in England and Wales
Remote work could be damaging relations between different ethnic groups in England and Wales Beau Jackson, November 16, 2020 Remote working is preventing employees from mixing and socialising with colleagues from different ethnicities. A new report from the Woolf Institute found changes to work and life patterns due to the pandemic could lead to an increase in racism and prejudice.
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