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The rise of liberal market economies, propagated by neoliberal free market thought, has created a vacant responsibility for public interests in the market order of society. This development has been critiqued by Catholic social teaching (CST), forcefully arguing that governments and businesses should be directed to the common good. In this debate, no attention has yet been given to the Reformational tradition and its principle of sphere sovereignty, which provides guidelines on the responsibilities of governments and companies for the public interest of society. This article analyzes the differences and similarities between CST and the Reformational philosophy in their critiques of the neoliberal free market perspective of Hayek. We apply the three perspectives to the case of orphan drugs in the pharmaceutical industry and show that CST and the Reformational philosophy offer valuable insights in correction to Hayek's views on the responsibilities of governments and companies for public health interests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article analyzes the positions of the Supreme Court regarding discharge from criminal liability in view of reconciliation of the offender and the victim. It is noted that the interpretation of the conditions of the discharge, namely the commission of a first-time minor offence or reckless minor crime, is not controversial and the judicial practice in this case is unanimous. Instead, it is stated that the interpretation of the grounds for the specified type of discharge in judicial practice contains contradictions, and there are also issues that are still unresolved. It is stated that the legal positions regarding the understanding of the concept of «reconciliation» are consistent. It is noted that the death of the victim excludes the possibility of reconciliation, however, the issue of the possible expression of the will to reconcile by a minor, juvenile, incapacitated or limitedly capable victim remains unresolved. Decisions of the Supreme Court in cases of discharge from criminal liability under Art. 46 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine for an offender who has committed a criminal offence against public order are mentioned. It is noted that there is no unambiguous answer as to whether this type of discharge is possible in criminal offenses that cause or pose a real threat of causing significant harm not only to individuals, but also to the public interest, nevertheless, the possibility of applying this type of discharge in such cases has not been denied. It is concluded that in cases where the criminal offence has not caused harm or damages, application of Art. 46 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine is possible without establishing the specified ground for discharge. It is specified that reimbursement of damages or elimination of harm may be incomplete upon agreement with the victim. It is noted that the issues of the victim's ability to refuse compensation, as well as to reach an agreement on reimbursement in the future, remain unresolved. The authors also mention the positions of the Supreme Court stating that discharge from criminal liability in view of reconciliation of the offender and the victim is a mandatory typ e of discharge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article is devoted to the study of the content and peculiarities of implementation of the principles and criteria for limiting human freedoms. The author concludes that the principle of freedom should be studied through the following aspects: axiological, theoretical and practical. The first one involves maximum absolutisation of the principle of freedom for its further deployment in social relations. The theoretical dimension involves the study of the specifics of the content, types, features, and nature of freedom as a legal principle, which allows for a better understanding of it and its more harmonious implementation in legal relations. The practical dimension involves studying the problems of implementing the principle of freedom, the degree of its presence in various branches of law, and the specifics of its restrictions. The article notes that the principle of proportionality means that restriction of freedom can only be a means, not an aim, freedom is always the highest value for law and its restrictions as the ultimate goal are inadmissible, but only as a regulatory means to ensure rights and freedoms, national security, healthcare, public order, etc. The principle of public welfare as a criterion for restricting freedom is more complicated, since there are two doctrines: classical liberalism, which puts freedom above all else and limits state intervention, and social liberalism, which insists on the welfare of all and therefore more active state intervention in the economic life of society. The author concludes that restrictions on freedom must be in the general public interest in the economic, social and political spheres. The author notes that limitation of the principle of freedom is a reduction of its scope, but not a restriction of its content. By restricting freedom, its content remains unchanged, otherwise it will lose its legal value. The article provides the author’s definition of restriction of the principle of freedom as a lawful interference by the State with the capabilities of a person, which is expressed in setting limits for a possible model of behaviour in a certain territory, individually or for certain groups of persons. The author emphasises that one of the key problems with the implementation of measures restricting human freedom is excessiveness. An important public interest allows for the restriction of freedom to achieve it, but other interests and values may suffer. The principles of minimum possible restriction and priority social value should apply here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large language models (LLM) have been a catalyst for the public interest in artificial intelligence (AI). These technologies perform some knowledge-based tasks better and faster than human beings. However, whether AIs can correctly assess social situations and devise socially appropriate behavior, is still unclear. We conducted an established Situational Judgment Test (SJT) with five different chatbots and compared their results with responses of human participants (N = 276). Claude, Copilot and you.com's smart assistant performed significantly better than humans in proposing suitable behaviors in social situations. Moreover, their effectiveness rating of different behavior options aligned well with expert ratings. These results indicate that LLMs are capable of producing adept social judgments. While this constitutes an important requirement for the use as virtual social assistants, challenges and risks are still associated with their wide-spread use in social contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article is devoted to the formation of scientifically based recommendations on the application of administrative and legal forms and methods of countering violations of public interests in the activities of institutional investors. The author separates the concepts of preventing violations and countering violations of public interests in the activities of institutional investors, indicating that the prevention of violations of public interests takes place when certain shortcomings or problems are identified in their work, which potentially carry a risk of violating the rights of citizen investors, but at a specific moment do not yet pose a threat of violation or are not a violation of public interests. In contrast to prevention, counteraction conditionally assumes the existence of a certain illegal action, as a result of which a situation arises when the interests of citizen-depositors and the institutional investor (his officials) do not coincide, and the private business or selfish interest of individuals begins to dominate over the public interest. According to the author, the system of countermeasures includes such forms of management activity as: issuance of normative legal acts, execution of legally significant actions, which are implemented through such methods as administrative supervision, administrative control, bringing to legal responsibility. Special laws define a number of measures that can be applied to institutional investors for violations, in particular, the suspension or cancellation of a license, the prohibition of the payment of dividends, an injunction and much more, which allows for the timely protection of public interests and the prevention of encroachment on public values, because criminal activity undermines the existing legal order of investment activities of institutional investors and in general the trust of citizen-investors in the state, in its ability to protect their values, entrusted to entities authorized by the state to preserve and multiply them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Half of all species are predicted to face extinction by the end of the century. Despite this, awareness of certain species' extinctions remains surprisingly muted, highlighting the need to improve and quantify public awareness. We explore the connection between biodiversity loss and public awareness by quantifying the changes in online interest on Twitter (now known as X) and Wikipedia both before and after the extinctions of eight species and following their reclassification in the IUCN Red List. Our findings reveal that extinction announcements generally spike online interest for most species, albeit briefly on Twitter (i.e. tweets and retweets about species), while Wikipedia (i.e. article pageviews of species) exhibits a more prolonged interest. IUCN reports were generally not associated with increased interest. Coordinated media coverage, especially when aligned with broader environmental narratives and key events, enhanced the impact of extinction announcements. On Twitter, spatially we observed a shift from local to global interest of users following extinction. We also found a small subset of influential users on Twitter, including content creators and media organisations, who disproportionately shaped conservation discussions. Environmentally oriented individuals and organisations also play a significant role, collectively comprising a third of the top retweeted users. Overall, these results highlight the need for conservation bodies, such as the IUCN, to engage more directly both with media organisations and content creators in order to drive public interest for conservation efforts, especially for less charismatic species. The tragedy of species extinction necessitates such efforts to ensure sustained and meaningful public awareness. Our findings also show that while social media outlets can generate global interest quickly, which may drive public discussions regarding ongoing extinctions and potential future de‐extinctions, this is likely to be short‐lived, underscoring the importance of alternative platforms such as Wikipedia, which can foster longer‐term engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: As the public's interest in companion dogs grows, health issues in these animals are also emerging, necessitating the optimization of whole exome sequencing (WES) as a valuable method for disease prediction. While WES targeting the human genome is well established, WES targeting the canine genome is understudied, and there is a need to find effective analysis kits. Methods: We compared and analyzed the performance of three WES kits from Twist and Agilent using the canine genome as the target to perform genetic analysis of canine diseases effectively. The levels of total reads, the duplication rate, and variant calling in canine genomic DNA samples from seven healthy dogs (three beagles, one bichon fry, one maltese, one welsh corgi, and one mixed breed) without any interventions were examined through WES via Twist and Agilent kits. Results: We found that while Twist had the lowest total read number, the number of reads in the SSXT series was significantly (P<0.05) greater. Twist showed low evenness and high standard deviation, but the SSXT series showed relatively high evenness. Compared with Twist, the SSXT series from a depth of 30× presented a significantly (P<0.05) greater target ratio. Among the four kits, the significantly lowest duplicate ratio was confirmed for SSXT (O/N) (30% lower than Twist). Conclusion: The most important performance of the kit, the number of variants detected, was 48,302 for Twist and 130,506 for SSXT (O/N). On the basis of the performance comparison results, SSXT (O/N) was found to have the best performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines policy uncertainty on mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in South Africa, emphasising the extensive regulatory review by the Competition Commission under the 'public interest consideration' criterion. It aims to identify the cost implications and uncertainties associated with M&A transactions to propose measures to reduce these uncertainties. Utilising qualitative methodologies, the study gathers empirical evidence through interviews with companies and competition lawyers involved in the M&A processes. The findings reveal significant concerns about economic uncertainty, merger control, and policy and regulation impacting investment decisions. Policy uncertainty, particularly in the context of merger regulation, imposes substantial cost implications and delays on M&A activities, negatively affecting investment, growth, and economic development. It emphasises the necessity for a regulatory framework that minimises disruptions and costs to business participants. The findings suggest that addressing policy uncertainty and streamlining regulatory processes are crucial steps towards enhancing South Africa's attractiveness as an investment destination and fostering economic growth and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on the governance of Granville Island, a former industrial stretch of land that operates as an arts destination abutting the City of Vancouver's waterfront. While Granville Island might look like any other neighbourhood in Vancouver, it is in fact owned and managed by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, a federal agency, on behalf of the Government of Canada. This article examines what it means, democratically speaking, for the federal government to operate public space in a city. Public entities are each legally unique, raising questions as to how they and their relationships with other entities can be understood, evaluated and adjudicated. This article animates how public entities are understood under Canadian law by demonstrating the difficulty in crafting inclusive, participatory governance models that respond to the many interests involved in public space, especially spaces that are explicitly identified as 'innovative'. Drawing on qualitative data and document review, the article highlights the manner in which Granville Island has been structured and operated by the federal government, its singular focus on commerce and tourism and its weak commitments to accountability, transparency and representation. Granville Island is rendered 'invisible' in its governance: it blends into the urban form as though part of the City of Vancouver, while at the same time lacking in accountability, transparency and representation. We conclude that while Granville Island governs public space, making it seem like a neighbourhood in a municipality, it cannot be conceptualised as a 'democratic body'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to uncover the underlying social and institutional origins of China's local preemptive environmental protests against developmental projects with negative externalities, which have not been fully investigated by the extant literature on "NIMBY" ("not-in-my-backyard") activism in China. Primarily through the perspective of Karl Polanyi's environmental sociology, this article presents a case study of the 2012 protest in Qidong, Jiangsu province, against an industrial waste disposal pipeline. The case of Qidong shows how local ecology has been deeply embedded in the social context and relations that have historically shaped the economic structures, culinary traditions, and place attachment in the area. Such a nexus between the environment and society in turn significantly impacted the opposition pattern of the local communities, which involved various social strata by triggering their economic and health concerns as well as an emotional response. Moreover, the article finds that the unified cross-class action under the banner of defending public interests was possible in Qidong largely because the actors were all part of the same holistic local ecological system, with shared economic interests, dietary preferences, and cultural identities. This research thus echoes the insights of environmental sociology and argues that it is necessary to take into account the interplay between ecology and locality to understand local environmental politics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyses the manner in which bourgeois environmentalism and aspirational urban planning have brought about a recalibration of justice for agrarian communities along the Yamuna in Delhi. Bela Estate, the research site, is one such agrarian community in the urban segment of the Yamuna. Following a ban on the farming of edible crops in this region, pronounced by India's apex environmental court in 2015, the Delhi Development Authority has conducted multiple demolition drives for nearly a decade now to evict farmers and clear their land for redevelopment. Utilising archival sources and based on a close reading of planning documents and court judgements, this article contributes to discourses of public interest in the wider context of development and law. More specifically, it decodes the ongoing contentions involving farmers, planning agencies and the judiciary in this region as symptomatic of the larger erosion of social justice in an urbanising, aspirational India that undervalues the role of nature-based livelihoods in Indian cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is concerned with a central question in administrative law, as well as environmental law; that is, how to conceptualise and determine the public interest in complex contexts where decisions concern collective action problems, involve multiple actors, cross-temporal and spatial scales, and occur under conditions of knowledge uncertainty. Here, it is argued against the use of trade-offs in the determination of the public interest in these contexts because trade-offs involve epistemological simplifications and de-contextualise interests dismissing the nature of knowledge as a situated and dynamic collective practice. To concretise the critique, the EU Habitats Directive's site protection management provisions are relied on as an example where decisions in the public interest are underpinned by a problematic trade-off logic. To move beyond trade-offs, the article introduces Dewey's thought. More precisely, it is argued that Dewey's deliberative pragmatism presents a cogent conceptualisation of the public interest, and thereby constitutes a first intellectual step to overcome the key limitations of a trade-off logic in determining the public interest in environmental decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The proliferation of driver‐assistance features in vehicles has resulted in a growing interest among the public in fully autonomous driving systems (ADSs). However, the integration of software and hardware in these complex systems presents significant testing challenges, particularly with respect to ensuring passenger safety. To address these challenges, simulation has emerged as a crucial step in the testing of ADSs. This paper presents a solution to the challenges faced in testing ADSs, with a focus on the validation of ADS simulators. The proposed approach involves using simulations and metamorphic testing (MT) to generate multiple concrete metamorphic relations (MRs) for testing ADS simulators. In order to accomplish this goal, we introduce three metamorphic relation patterns (MRPs). Each MRP is accompanied by a metamorphic relation input pattern (MRIP) that aids in generating detailed MRs. These MRs are designed to identify potential issues within the ADS simulator. To simplify the testing process and facilitate MT for testers, a self‐evolving scenario‐testing framework is also presented. The framework allows testers to improve test cases and MRs iteratively until issues detected are confirmed. The benefits and limitations of the framework are demonstrated using an industry case study. Overall, this study offers a practical solution to the challenges in testing ADSs and provides useful insights into improving testing efficiency for researchers and practitioners in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Billions of fishes are kept in captivity for research and food production world‐wide, with a strong impetus for maintaining high welfare standards. Accordingly, the importance of empirical research into the welfare and husbandry of captive fishes is increasingly acknowledged in both science and aquaculture, alongside growing public and governmental interest. Physical enrichment can have an important influence on welfare in of captive fishes, but many questions remain. Here, we summarise the current state of research and outline knowledge gaps in the area of physical enrichment, which is a fundamental aspect to improving welfare of captive fishes. To explore the level of research interest this area across time we conducted a series of surveys, using the number of papers published per year as a metric. These surveys highlight that work on fish welfare, while representing a relatively low proportion of fish research overall, is increasing rapidly. For species that are of aquaculture importance or used commonly as laboratory subjects, we show a positive relationship between general research interest and number of welfare‐related papers. However, for many, particularly relatively less studied, species the proportion of papers on enrichment remains low, with a slower increase compared to welfare‐related papers in general. In terms of common metrics used to quantify fish welfare, there is a reliance on growth and behaviour, with scope for inclusion and combination of a more comprehensive range of reproducible measures. We finish by highlighting recent progress, promising areas for future research and suggestions for advances in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since its launch in November 2022, ChatGPT has become a global phenomenon, sparking widespread public interest in chatbot artificial intelligences (AIs) generally. While not approved for medical use, it is capable of passing all three United States medical licensing exams and offers diagnostic accuracy comparable to a human doctor. It seems inevitable that it, and tools like it, are and will be used by the general public to provide medical diagnostic information or treatment plans. Before we are taken in by the promise of a golden age for chatbot medical AIs, it would be wise to consider the implications of using these tools as either supplements to, or substitutes for, human doctors. With the rise of publicly available chatbot AIs, there has been a keen focus on research into the diagnostic accuracy of these tools. This, however, has left a notable gap in our understanding of the implications for health outcomes of these tools. Diagnosis accuracy is only part of good health care. For example, crucial to positive health outcomes is the doctor–patient relationship. This paper challenges the recent focus on diagnostic accuracy by drawing attention to the causal relationship between doctor–patient relationships and health outcomes arguing that chatbot AIs may even hinder outcomes in numerous ways including subtracting the elements of perception and observation that are crucial to clinical consultations. The paper offers brief suggestions to improve chatbot medical AIs so as to positively impact health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current debate on corporate purpose challenges the idea that the corporation is solely a private actor. There is an increasing insistence that corporations are social and political actors as much as they are economic actors. If a key concern in the corporate purpose literature is to define and delimit the role that corporations now play in public and private life, then it is important to have a theoretical framework within which we can decide where and how those limits should be set. Available theories do not adequately capture this conceptual shift. The most likely candidate is concession theory, but it does not properly capture the role of the state in modern regulatory capitalism. This paper reconfigures the core elements of concession theory and develops a framework that provides a justification for the role of the state in regulating corporations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent years have seen an increased research interest in the determinants of public trust in science. While some argue that democracy should be the political regime most conducive to science, recent debates about salient scientific findings revealed considerable cracks in the public perception of science. We argue that existing cross-national work on trust in science is incomplete because it uses an aggregate concept of "science". People in different political environments likely have different conceptions of what science is, which can have consequences for perceptions and trust. To remedy this shortcoming, we present results from a preregistered survey experiment in ten countries (N = 8441), which covers a broad spectrum of political regimes and tests how science and scientists' characteristics influence public trust. We find that, against expectations, female scientists and scientists engaging in public activism are both perceived as more trustworthy. High-impact research is trusted more than low-impact research, and it does not matter whether a scientist is a co-national. Overall, our experiment reveals few differences across political regimes. Additional survey results show that respondents' education and exposure to science have similar relationships with trust across autocratic and democratic countries. A striking difference we find is that while political orientation has little impact in autocratic countries, it is strongly related to trust across democracies as perceptions of science become increasingly politicized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale Aims and Objectives Method Results Conclusions Previous research has demonstrated the applicability of Google Trends in predicting infectious diseases.This study aimed to analyze public interest in other infectious diseases before and after the outbreak of COVID‐19 via Google Trends data and to predict these trends via time series models.Google Trends data for 12 common infectious diseases were obtained in this study, covering the period from 1 February 2018 to 5 May 2023. The ARIMA, TimeGPT, XGBoost, and LSTM algorithms were then utilized to establish time series prediction models.Our study revealed a significant decrease in public interest in most infectious diseases at the beginning of the pandemic outbreak, followed by a rebound in the post‐pandemic era, which is consistent with reported disease incidences. Furthermore, our prediction models demonstrated good accuracy, with TimeGPT showing unique advantages.Our study highlights the potential application value of Google Trends and large pre‐trained models for infectious disease prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AimMethodsResultsConclusionThis study investigated the impact of the World Cerebral Palsy Day (WCPD) campaign on the public interest using Google Trends Analysis data in Brazil.Google Trends was used to collect Relative Search Volume (RSV) data for “cerebral palsy” from 2004 to 2011 (control years) and 2012 to 2022 (WCPD years). RSV during the 4 weeks around WCPD (period of interest) was compared with the rest of the year (control period) in each timeframe. Regional RSV, search queries, and main topics were also investigated.RSV increased by 62.22% from pre-campaign to campaign period. During the WCPD years, a 21.36% RSV increase occurred in campaign weeks, with an average difference of 12.16 (95% CI: 1.74, 22.58); notably in in the last five years in the southeast 9.47 (95% CI: 2.93, 16.01) and south 8.66 (95% CI: 1.66, 15.66) macro-regions.The campaign has fulfilled its role, but targeting more vulnerable areas could further amplify its impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article challenges the pervasive assumption that judicial review of administrative action is not concerned with rights. Making a break from this orthodoxy, it proposes a theory of judicial review that suggests that its purpose is to protect distinctive administrative law rights held by those subject to public administrative power. This rights‐based theory makes sense of the structure of applications for judicial review in which, paradigmatically, an individual subject to an administrative decision makes a claim against the state that the public official responsible for that decision failed to meet the relevant administrative law standards, and accordingly demands a remedy. The bulk of the article is dedicated to addressing the major objections to a rights‐based theory, including those arising from public interest standing and the nature of judicial review remedies. The analysis shows that each of these objections fails, clearing the ground for a fuller development of a rights‐based theory of judicial review in future work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the ethical complexities of openly-expressed medical commentary using recent cancer diagnoses within the British monarchy as illustrative cases. Specifically, it examines tensions between public interest, personal privacy, and professional standards, underlining the adverse implications of conjectural discourse, alongside the role of physicians in enhancing wider medical understanding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ruling of the Superior Court of Justice of Asturias on June 10, 2024 resolves an administrative dispute regarding the denial of authorization for the Teixo Wind Farm in Taramundi. The appealing company challenges the decision based on a negative urban planning report, arguing that the installation of wind energy is of higher public interest. The Court determines that the municipal report is only binding on urban planning aspects and that the completion of the procedure for urban planning reasons is legitimate. The contested resolution is annulled and the procedure is ordered to be reverted to address deficiencies and consider the presumption of higher public interest for renewable energies. [Extracted from the article]

This article analyses the challenges of controlling short-term rentals (STR) in an era of intermediation by digital platforms, focusing on the process of regulatory enforcement. Drawing on evidence from large European cities, it investigates how public authorities identify and tackle STR deemed illegal, how operators of illegal STR seek to escape detection, and the relationships between city governments and digital platforms in the process of regulatory enforcement. The article shows what digitalisation and 'platformisation' do to the possibility of (local) state regulation of housing informality and illegality in the European context. As platforms have been reluctant to release individualised STR listings to local authorities, the latter have had to rely on imperfect, 'DIY' methods of data gathering in the physical and digital worlds, in the context of attempts to regulate STR for public interest objectives such as the protection of the long-term residential stock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

GM Ignition Switch. Dalkon Shield. Oxycontin. For decades, protective orders-court orders that require parties to maintain the confidentiality of information unearthed during discovery-have hid deadly defects and pervasive abuse from the public, perpetuating unnecessary harm. But how worrisome are these protective orders, really? Under Rule 26(c)’s plain language, protective orders are to be granted only upon a showing of “good cause.” Doesn’t that adequately cabin the orders’ entry? Prominent judges and scholars have long insisted it does, and that, under Rule 26(c), the day-to-day grant of protective orders is careful, not cavalier. Critics disagree. They charge that parties frequently agree to sidestep Rule 26(c)’s “good cause” requirement and that judges, although formally duty bound to protect the public interest, uncritically acquiesce to parties’ demands. Worried about judicial rubber-stamping, some, in fact, have spent decades pushing to tighten Rule 26(c)’s standards-while others have, just as vigorously, opposed these efforts, insisting that the status quo works well enough. This debate has raged since the late 1980s. But until now, it has mostly run aground on the shoals of basic, but unanswered, factual questions: Are stipulated protective orders really de rigueur? Are they becoming more prevalent? And are joint motions for protective orders actually meticulously scrutinized? Using state-of-the-art machine learning techniques, this Article analyzes an original dataset of over 2.2 million federal cases to answer these persistent and profoundly important questions. Along the way, we find that stipulated protective orders are surprisingly prevalent. Grant rates for stipulated protective orders are sky high. And even though many insist that judges are scrupulous in the entry of such orders, over our entire study period, a majority of federal judges never rejected a joint protective order request. We offer the first comprehensive accounting of stipulated protective orders in federal litigation. In so doing, we aim not only to revitalize- and discipline-the perennial and consequential debate surrounding Rule 26(c). We also offer a fortified empirical foundation on which to ground inquiry into broader questions, including the role of transparency and privacy in a system ostensibly committed to “open courts,” tort law’s vital information-forcing function, adversarialism as a procedural cornerstone of American litigation, and trial-court discretion and fidelity to higher law. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In Australia, animal welfare legislation is being reassessed and a number of notable changes have occurred. This article clarifies statements and builds upon a previous article published in 2023, titled "How Well Does Australian Animal Welfare Policy Reflect Scientific Evidence: A Case Study Approach Based on Lamb Marking". In the article, we explore the debate and changes around mandatory pain relief for mulesing of lambs and how this differs between Australian states and territories. The article also looks at how these legislative changes and industry action influence practice and how the interest of the public is represented in animal welfare law. It stresses the need for clear communication, collaboration among stakeholders, and policies based on scientific evidence to improve animal welfare. This commentary provides an update and clarification on the legislative landscape surrounding mulesing in Australia since the publication of the 2023 study, "How Well Does Australian Animal Welfare Policy Reflect Scientific Evidence: A Case Study Approach Based on Lamb Marking". The article explores legislative changes mandating the use of pain relief for mulesing in various states, emphasising Victoria's original role, and highlighting the fragmented state-based legislative approach to animal welfare. It discusses the impact of these legislative changes on industry practices and animal welfare outcomes. The commentary highlights the complexities of policy development in this area, due in part to the diverse and often conflicting interests of stakeholders and the public. It underscores the importance of transparency, stakeholder collaboration, and scientifically informed policymaking to effectively enhance animal welfare standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forced sterilisation, a serious violation of human rights, occurred across the former communist bloc, both during and after the socialist period. This study examines the case of the Czech Republic, where legislation regarding compensation to the victims of forced sterilisation was only passed in 2021, despite a 2005 finding by the Ombudsman that at least 50 women had been subject to the procedure. My research shows that long-standing discrimination against Roma people and public lack of interest in the issue were largely to blame for this delay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a statistical framework for quantifying the importance of single events that do not provide intermediate rewards but offer implicit incentives through scheduling and the reward structure at the end of a multi-event contest. Applying the framework to primary elections in the US, where earlier elections have greater importance and influence, we show that schedule variations can mitigate the problem of front-loading elections. When applied to European football, we demonstrate the utility and meaningfulness of quantified event importance in relation to the in-match performance of contestants to improve outcome prediction and to provide an early indication of public interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the field reliability of forensic mental health examiners' opinions in pre-parole evaluations. The California Offenders with Mental Health Disorders (OMD) statute allows for the post-incarceration commitment to a state hospital for treatment as a condition of parole. Reliability is critical in these evaluations because the triers of fact rely on them for their determinations. We expect to find variability among opinions, not only on the final opinions but also on each criterion. We compared three expert opinions on 98 cases to determine the level of interrater agreement. Agreement rates varied by agency, evaluator, and the forensic question posed. We found higher reliability for criteria that were more reliant on past factors and lower reliability for those criteria based on factors present at the time of the assessment. Imprecisely defined legal constructs, unknown individual evaluator characteristics, contextual factors, and passage of time between the evaluations impede reliability. Public Significance Statement: Accurate and reliable forensic mental health evaluations are critical to protecting the competing interests of public safety and individual civil liberties. Reliability is a keystone of validity in that one cannot have validity without reliability. Increasing the reliability of forensic mental health evaluations serves the interests of individual citizens and whole societies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the factors that facilitate trust and collaboration in Mobility as a Service (MaaS) ecosystems is crucial to the effective delivery of a MaaS scheme given the involvement of both public and private stakeholders. This paper presents the findings of a study investigating the factors that build trust and collaboration among the stakeholders in a MaaS ecosystem and provides insights into the role of regulatory authorities in enabling MaaS developments. The research approach employed the Constructivist Grounded Theory Method (CGTM) using the distinct cases of Whim in Helsinki, Finland and The Sydney MaaS trial in Sydney, Australia. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with the representatives of key stakeholder organizations in the two MaaS ecosystems. A conceptual framework of trust and collaboration was developed for each case study to illustrate the process of forming and consolidating trust and collaboration in each MaaS ecosystem. The findings suggest that trust acts as the antecedent and catalyst for building collaborative space within a MaaS ecosystem. Possessing a good understanding of partners' expectations is a prerequisite for collaboration given the inherent conflicts between interests and goals of the public and private sector. The capability of the partners, prior relationships and open negotiations emerged as the key constructs which form trust in a MaaS ecosystem. It was evident that appropriate policies and legislation developed with the consultation of stakeholders are critical in the development of trust and collaboration in the MaaS ecosystem. • This study investigates the factors that lead to trust and collaboration in two MaaS ecosystems, namely Whim in Helsinki, Finland, and the Sydney MaaS trial in Australia. • Prior relationships, the capability of the partners, transparent communication and flexible contracts are key factors that lead to trust in a MaaS ecosystem. • Identifying stakeholder motives, having a vision for MaaS, mutual understanding, having a MaaS champion and identifying synergies were identified as other factors that create collaboration. • The involvement of regulatory authorities is necessary to create an enabling environment for MaaS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article seeks to shed light on debates about the right to be forgotten by offering a new account of the right as grounded in the confidence that the direction of one's life is up to one and worth the trouble that it takes to direct it. I show how this confidence is supported by what the right actually provides: the possibility of new social interactions unconditioned by information about one's past. This view avoids pitfalls facing other accounts of the right's moral basis, clarifies its relation to rights of privacy, and resolves several puzzles thought to face its practical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Engineering Management / Gongcheng Guanli Xuebao is the property of Journal of Engineering Management Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study investigates public interest in geological disasters by analyzing Google Trends data from 2023. This research focuses on earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, and tsunamis to understand how search behaviors reflect public awareness and concern. This study identifies temporal and geographical patterns in search trends. Key findings reveal that public interest spikes during significant disaster events, such as the February 2023 earthquake in Turkey and Syria and the August 2023 hurricanes in the United States. This study highlights the importance of timely and accurate information dissemination for disaster preparedness and response. Google Trends proves to be a valuable tool for monitoring public interest, offering real-time insights that can enhance disaster management strategies and improve community resilience. This study's insights are essential for policymakers, disaster management agencies, and educational efforts aimed at mitigating the impacts of natural disasters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to synthesize the existing literature with insights gained from interviews conducted with regulatory experts. The objective is to analyse the challenges associated with incorporating cryptocurrencies into regulatory frameworks and to explore constraints in the regulatory institutionalization of cryptocurrencies. Design/methodology/approach: The study methodology consists of two steps. The first step is to identify regulatory constraints in the literature review and in the next step, interviews are conducted with officials of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). The study used a qualitative case study methodology, in which a single case (regulatory constraint) was selected as a unit of analysis. Findings: The findings show that lack of traceability, legal status, lack of governmental control due to decentralization, difficulty enforcing laws, volatility, lack of skills with regulators and difficulty integrating cryptocurrencies into the current financial system are the main obstacles to the introduction of a regulatory framework. Thus, on a broader conceptual level, the findings can be grouped into opportunism, lack of strategic capability and fragmented global laws. Research limitations/implications: This study could inform global cryptocurrency regulation discussions, sharing a developing country's views on balancing the government, central banks, the financial sector and public interests. This could guide countries to consider cryptocurrency adoption in similar situations. This could affect the cryptocurrency market, impacting demand, supply and investor trust in Pakistan. Practical implications: The study has implications for policy making officials. The research aims to offer valuable insights to the SBP and other regulatory authorities, helping them identify potential risks and create an effective regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies. Social implications: The study has implications for society in knowing about the volatile nature of cryptos and anonymity of their issuers, which poses regulatory constraints. This then implies its harmfullness to its traders and the huge losses that may arise from their trading due to its volatile nature. Originality/value: This study contributes to the literature on the constraints, responsibilities and consultation framework of cryptocurrency regulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IMPACT: This article provides important insights for public administration practitioners, particularly those involved in the governance of municipally owned corporations (MOCs). The research highlights how the shift to working from home (WFH) during the Covid 19 pandemic influenced governance practices, with both positive and negative implications for the safeguarding of the public interest. While formal accountability remained strong, reduced trust and less effective informal collaboration emerged as challenges. These findings are particularly relevant for municipal leaders and policy-makers responsible for overseeing MOCs, as well as for those involved in digital transformation and remote work management. The article underscores the need for developing digital skills among civil servants and tailoring governance practices to address the complexities of WFH, which is increasingly becoming the norm. Practitioners in other countries should consider these insights while accounting for differences in governance structures and cultural contexts. By interviewing civil servants involved in the governance of municipally owned corporations, the authors found that WFH has both direct and indirect effects on governance, impacting creativity, motivation and formal reporting mechanisms. While formal accountability remained consistent, reduced trust and diminished informal collaboration posed challenges to effective governance. This article highlights the importance of considering employees' home situations, understanding the complex relationships between motivation and creativity, developing digital skills, and adapting governance practices to safeguard the public interest. This article contributes to the literature by providing empirical evidence on the nuanced effects of WFH on governance within MOCs, particularly highlighting the complex interplay between digital skill development, home environments, and their impact on creativity and motivation among civil servants. Limitations include the focus on Dutch MOCs and the potential for subjectivity in the analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Arab Journal for Scientific Publishing is the property of Research & Development of Human Recourses Center (REMAH) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Among its many applications, artificial intelligence (AI) can be used to manipulate audiovisual content for malicious intents. Such manipulations – which are commonly known as deepfakes – present a significant obstacle to maintaining truth in sectors that serve the public interest, and it is necessary to take proactive fact-checking actions to respond to the threat they pose. The current study conducted an online experiment focusing on the topic of cancer prevention. In this experiment, we further examined the influence of individual differences, such as issue relevance and motns, in health information consumption. When compared to textual disinformation, health-related audiovisual deepfakes were found to have a significant effect on increasing misperceptions but no such effect on fact-checking intentions. We also found that exposure to such deepfakes discouraged individuals with high issue relevance from engaging in fact-checking. Deepfakes were also shown to have a particularly potent effect on increasing misperceptions among individuals with high (illusory) accuracy motivations. These findings underscore the need for increased awareness regarding the detrimental effects of health deepfakes in particular and the urgent importance of further elucidating individual variations to ultimately develop more comprehensive approaches to combat deepfakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The association between mood and sexual desire has been the object of significant scientific and public interest. How mood shapes and is shaped by sexual desire is typically studied within one and the same individual, yet sexual desire is often experienced in the context of a romantic relationship. To obtain a more complete picture of the relation between mood and sexual desire, we examined the temporal interplay between mood and sexual desire both within and between partners in a romantic relationship. Using data from an experience sampling study involving both partners of mixed-gender romantic couples (N = 188; Mage = 26.34, SDage = 5.33), we investigated how each partner’s mood (in terms of positive and negative affect) predicted their own sexual desire as well as that of their partner and vice versa. Results of both concurrent and temporal analyses confirmed bidirectional associations between mood and sexual desire both within and between partners, such that (1) both a person’s own and their partner’s positive mood predicted an increase in sexual desire, and a person’s own and their partner’s negative mood predicted a decrease in sexual desire. In addition, (2) both a person’s own and their partner’s sexual desire predicted an increase in positive mood, and a person’s own and their partner’s sexual desire predicted a decrease in negative mood. Only a few gender differences were found. The results underscore how sexual desire can predict and be predicted by both romantic partners’ mood, highlighting the need for interactional models of sexual desire. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given its frequency in the general population and its major impact on the quality of life of patients suffering from it, haemorrhoidal disease is a real subject of public interest. On a daily basis, doctors are faced with patients' questions about the existence of potential triggering factors and, in particular, the role of spicy food in preventing and managing attacks. Despite the paucity of literature and the many complex physiopathology factors involved, this mini-review takes stock of current knowledge on the potential link between haemorrhoidal disease and spices, in an attempt to unravel the myth from the reality of this commonly accepted relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Generative Artificial Intelligence (Al) tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Stable Diffusion are trained using datasets that often include entire copyrighted works. The use of copyrighted works to train these increasingly prominent tools has proven so controversial that a senior executive from one of the most well-known AI firms recently resigned, stating it was "exploitative for AI developers to scrape and use mass amounts of internet data to train their systems without first gaining consent from copyright holders: In this article, I examine these concerns and ultimately conclude that the ingestion of entire copyrighted works for the purpose of training Generative AI tools likely constitutes a transformative use under U.S, copyright's Fair Use Doctrine. In arriving at this conclusion, I first provide a brief overview of current litigation, then introduce case law instructive to the application of fair use to challenges presented by Generative AI tools. Next, I apply that case law to the ingestion of copyrighted works for training Generative AI tools, arguing that such use constitutes a transformative, fair use under U.S. copyright law. Finally, the article ends with optimism, exploring implications for the future of copyright law and outlining the numerous avenues that creators still have to uphold their exclusive rights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial intelligence (AI) could be at the heart of a fourth revolution by significantly changing professional identity, relationships between individuals and resource management. To help public administration practitioners and researchers cope with changes anticipated by AI, this research note maps existing conceptual approaches on the opportunities and challenges of AI in public administration and proposes a conceptual framework and initiatives that can inform and support effective, public interest‐oriented technology policymaking. This research note outlines a potential research agenda, with multi‐level opportunities and challenges, to accelerate this critical work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copper nanoclusters (CuNCs) were synthesized using glutathione and cysteine as ligands, respectively. According to the photoluminescence mechanisms of CuNCs, we investigated the effects of various factors on their photoluminescence properties, including ligands, radicals, pH, solvents, and temperature. Based on these findings, a Copper Nanoclusters Photofluorescence Kit was successfully developed. The kit is portable, safe, and applicable across a broad range of public science education scenarios, effectively engaging the public's interest in nanomaterials and actively enhancing their understanding of the charm of chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the overlooked history and significance of physical relief models in the development of geographical knowledge and education. By examining their use in academic, educational and public settings, it argues for a broader appreciation of these models as integral to the discipline's material culture. Historical debates around their function and purpose are highlighted amidst developments in modelling techniques, materials, and instructional guides. A deeper investigation into the models, their creators, and their influence on geographical learning and public engagement is advocated for and illustrated through the production and impact of the 1951 book The Earth's Crust. • Relief models are crucial components of geography's material culture. • School geography employed models and modelling exercises to advance pedagogy. • Popular books used relief models as visual aids to attract public interest in geography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A complex network of ethico‐legal rules makes it difficult for health researchers in South Africa to lawfully recruit adolescents to the kinds of sensitive studies where it may be ethically appropriate to proceed without notifying parents or obtaining parental consent. This article responds to a recent proposal to amend the blanket requirement for mandatory parental consent presently contained in section 71 the South African National Health Act 61 of 2003 [NHA]. The proposed amendment is intended to bring the NHA into alignment with South Africa's 2015 Department of Health Guidelines on Ethics in Health Research by permitting greater flexibility for a health research ethics committee to waive parental consent, and permit adolescents to consent independently. A lacuna in this proposal is highlighted with reference to the requirements of South Africa's Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 [POPIA]: Even if the NHA is amended as proposed, the goal of aligning South African law with prevailing ethics norms in South Africa would not necessarily be attained, as parental consent may still be required by POPIA. This article investigates whether this goal (of aligning the law with ethics) can be attained in a way that is compliant with POPIA. It is concluded that this is indeed possible in a number of ways, and that the best way to attain this goal is by requesting the South African Information Regulator to issue a guidance note to the effect that all health research projects that are approved by institutional health research ethics committees are to be regarded as being in the public interest, which would qualify such health research projects to be exempted from POPIA's consent requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author has studied the problem of escheated inheritance. The problematic aspect of this legal phenomenon is also stipulated by the lack of its legislative definition, disputes in regard to the legal nature of relations of escheated inheritance. The relevance of this problem is evidenced by the fact that it is appropriate to assume an increase in objects of escheated property in terms of the martial law and post-war reconstruction due to inability of lawful heirs to accept inheritance (death as a result of hostilities, leaving the country for permanent residence in other states, etc.), destruction and damage of property. Therefore, the registration procedure and usage of escheated property at the level of territorial communities may be revised in terms of the martial law. It has been noted in the paper that escheated inheritance cannot be considered as hereditary and legal definition by its legal nature, because: it is based on the obligation, but not on the right to accept inheritance; its purpose is to satisfy the public interest in maintaining the stability of property relations in society; it is legal succession. The author has proved that the construction of interest in the system of legal relations of escheated inheritance is complex and combines public (social) and economic (property) interests. Public (social) interest consists in preserving the stability of property relations in society. Economic (property) interest has a public and private orientation, in particular, it satisfies the interests of the territorial community, both an acquirer of the ownership right and a creditor regarding the satisfaction of an ancestor's obligations at the expense of escheated property. At the same time, a public entity assumes the burden of the ancestor's obligations sometimes not in own interests, but in order to satisfy the stability of property relations in society. The procedure of recognizing inheritance as escheated has the following stages: detection of escheated property, in particular from reports of neighbors, from the authority in charge of the residential stock; examination of discovered property, whereat a formal note is taken; collection of information regarding the status of escheated property; in case of establishing the fact of damage (destruction), the commission puts forward a proposal to terminate the ownership right to such an object; preparation of a claim to the court on defining inheritance as escheated and transfer of property to communal ownership; hearing the case according to the rules of a separate proceeding; adoption of a court judgement on transfering escheated inheritance to communal ownership; the decision of the local self-government agency's session on the acquisition of the right of communal ownership of escheated property; state registration of property for the relevant territorial community; maintenance and use of escheated property. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)