Moral Issues Research Articles

Perempuan Disabilitas dan Hubungannya dengan Teologi Belas Kasih Katolik

Abstract: Humans are the image of God and have the dignity of life as a special gift from God. In this regard, it must be noted that gender differences as men or women, normal physical conditions or as people with disabilities are never a measure of human dignity. Women with disabilities have the right to live and be loved like other human beings. Discrimination and various acts of injustice against women with disabilities are a moral issue that threatens the value of equal human dignity. This research aims to call for the need to realize Catholic theology of compassion, especially for women with disabilities. Women with disabilities are often ignored in various groups such as families, local communities, and in religious/religious circles. To overcome these problems and collect data and analyze problems comprehensively, this research uses case studies and qualitative methods through literature studies. Thus, the problem is studied through quantitative and qualitative approaches. First, I will explain that women with disabilities experience marginalization in general society; second, I will outline the idea of Catholic theology of mercy; Third, build a theological reflection and show the possible direction of pastoral theology. Through this research, the author hopes to be able to tell the concrete experiences of women with disabilities in relation to Catholic theology of compassion. In this way, it is hoped that there will be a joint movement that will increasingly promote peace, love, justice and prosperity. Keywords: human dignity; women with disabilities; mercy; discrimination

Effects of Urdu Infotainment Programs on Pakistani People: Entertainment, Cultural and Vulgarity Concerns

<p class="Default"><strong>Introduction:</strong> Infotainment is the term to entertain the public as well as to inform. Infotainment programs include shows based on funny analysis; parodies and moral issue based comedy to keep amuse the spectators. This research study explored the ‘Effects of Urdu Infotainment Programs on Pakistani People.’ The basic purpose of this study was to know about the effects of Pakistani well known infotainment programs on society.</p><p class="Default"><strong>Methods:</strong> Study was conducted under the light of ‘Uses and Gratification Theory’ perspectives and method of survey was adopted and well-structured self-designed questionnaire used for data collection. Population of study was Punjab Province, Pakistan and respondents were selected from six districts selected from three parts of the province that is South, Central and North Punjab of Pakistan on the basis of available and convenience including males and females. Data was collected from (N=519) respondents.</p><p class="Default"><strong>Findings:</strong> Findings of the study showed positive and significant relationship among the variables. The study accomplished that infotainment programs have enormous effects in providing entertainment among public. Respondents demanded more infotainment programs to reduce their complexities.</p><strong>Originality:</strong> Furthermore study concluded that one of three hypothesis that is infotainment programs as source of entertainment supported and two hypothesis that is infotainment programs role in promoting culture and vulgarity not supported.

Moral caring competency and moral distress among Ghanaian nurses in adult care settings: A descriptive-correlational study.

Nurses in adult care settings frequently encounter moral distress due to the daily ethical obligations they must fulfill. In contrast to other healthcare professionals, nurses often grapple with a heightened frequency of moral dilemmas, resulting in increased moral distress. This study aimed to explore the levels and relationship between moral caring competency and moral distress among Ghanaian nurses in adult care settings. This quantitative study utilized a descriptive-correlational design. A multistage sampling was used to select three public hospitals. Simple random sampling was used to recruit 231 nurses from the three public hospitals. Data were collected from June to July 2023 using validated questionnaires. The study utilized frequency and percentages, mean and standard deviation, and Spearman's Correlation. The nurses had a low level of moral caring competency (M = 2.18, SD = 0.340). The composite moral distress score was 227.31, indicating a high level of moral distress among the nurses. Furthermore, there was a moderate, negative significant relationship between moral caring competency and moral distress (rs = -.474, N = 231, p <0.001). Nurses in public hospitals had limited personal cognitive, affective, and psychomotor abilities to address patient moral issues. The nurses also experience significant moral distress when delivering patient care. Furthermore, to decrease the level of moral distress, moral caring competency should be strengthened among nurses. Therefore, it is recommended that nurse administrators provide adequate organizational support and implement continuous moral training to improve nurses' moral caring competency and mitigate their moral distress. Healthcare policymakers are encouraged to develop or refine policies to navigate moral dilemmas and reduce moral distress among nurses. Future studies employing qualitative designs can explore the influence of culture on moral caring competency within the Ghanaian setting.

The Church in the context of corruption: A case of the Church of Christ in Zimbabwe

Corruption has caused serious dysfunction in most of the public institutions in Zimbabwe. The effectiveness of public institutions on providing meaningful services today hinges upon the capacity of the Church and other social institutions to combat corruption. Regrettably, corruption has infected and affected both the Church and the secular institutions. This theoretical qualitative study explores the potential of the Church of Christ in Zimbabwe (COCZ) in curbing corruption in Zimbabwe. It employs a combination of the Christological kenosis and Ubuntu or Hunhu as its theoretical lenses. The article argues that the Church has great potential to tackle corruption. The potential of the COCZ manifests in its organisation and public engagement. The restorative nature of the COCZ Restoration Movement (RM) magnifies scripture, the gospel of Christ (Christological kenosis) as a tool of conviction and behaviour change in public spaces to combat corruption. These unique attributes of the COCZ provide the rationale for choosing it as a case study in this article. The data were collected through the engagement with literature largely from the Zimbabwean scholars on the subject and the COCZ documents. The findings were that the COCZ can only unlock its potential if it is committed to taking a self-introspection and reconfigure itself in order to take a robust anti-corruption stance.Contribution: The study poses questions about the potential of the Church’s voice, through the case of the COCZ, in the context of corruption in Zimbabwe. It pushes for the Church to reclaim its authentic status in order to root out corruption and have relevance in the Zimbabwean communities’ lived experiences. Religion has always claimed higher ground in ethical and moral issues, but there is scanty literature on the COCZ’s role in combating corruption in Zimbabwe. The study maintains that the Church has a consequential opportunity to either drive the agenda to end corruption or lose relevance due to perceived complicit attitudes towards the same.

Farmers’ cooperatives and smallholder farmers’ access to credit: Evidence from China

Farmers’ cooperatives serve as effective means of transforming smallholder farmers’ production methods in the process of agricultural modernization in developing countries. This paper aims to examine the credit effects of farmers’ cooperatives by employing a framework based on institutional finance theory. Based on the 2021 China Household Finance Survey data, an endogenous switching probit model is employed to explore the impact of cooperative membership on smallholder farmers’ access to credit. The research findings indicate the following: i) Farmers’ cooperatives possess information advantages, as financial institutions gain access to smallholder farmers’ information through the organized value chains of farmers’ cooperatives, leading to a direct reduction in transaction costs and an improvement in access to credit. ii) Farmers’ cooperatives can promote smallholder farmers’ agricultural investments, increase household income for smallholder farmers, enhance the liquidity of farmland, and further improve access to credit for smallholder farmers. Therefore, farmers’ cooperatives represent an inevitable trend in the agricultural modernization of developing countries. Rural financial institutions should alter their financial models and resolve adverse selection and moral hazard issues in the credit process through organizational approaches, thereby enhancing access to credit for smallholder farmers.

Analyzing socioscientific issues-based instruction studies focusing on character and value development: A systematic review

ABSTRACT The increase in ecological problems and social and moral conflicts has brought character and value education to the agenda in the 21st century. Socioscientific issues (SSI) that concern society and address ethical and moral issues are recommended as appropriate content to develop character and values within science education. In this systematic review, we investigate the trends and differences of SSI-based instruction studies that aim to develop character and values. Based on the analysis of 12 related articles, we found that SSI-based instructions focus on ecological worldview, socioscientific accountability, and social and moral compassion. We also cover instructional activities, assessment, time spent, and content. This research will guide researchers and practitioners to develop SSI-based instructions particularly for character and value development and explore new areas of SSI-based research by recognizing the gaps in this field.

The implications of handwritten text recognition for accessing the past at scale

PurposeThis paper focuses on image-to-text manuscript processing through Handwritten Text Recognition (HTR), a Machine Learning (ML) approach enabled by Artificial Intelligence (AI). With HTR now achieving high levels of accuracy, we consider its potential impact on our near-future information environment and knowledge of the past.Design/methodology/approachIn undertaking a more constructivist analysis, we identified gaps in the current literature through a Grounded Theory Method (GTM). This guided an iterative process of concept mapping through writing sprints in workshop settings. We identified, explored and confirmed themes through group discussion and a further interrogation of relevant literature, until reaching saturation.FindingsCatalogued as part of our GTM, 120 published texts underpin this paper. We found that HTR facilitates accurate transcription and dataset cleaning, while facilitating access to a variety of historical material. HTR contributes to a virtuous cycle of dataset production and can inform the development of online cataloguing. However, current limitations include dependency on digitisation pipelines, potential archival history omission and entrenchment of bias. We also cite near-future HTR considerations. These include encouraging open access, integrating advanced AI processes and metadata extraction; legal and moral issues surrounding copyright and data ethics; crediting individuals’ transcription contributions and HTR’s environmental costs.Originality/valueOur research produces a set of best practice recommendations for researchers, data providers and memory institutions, surrounding HTR use. This forms an initial, though not comprehensive, blueprint for directing future HTR research. In pursuing this, the narrative that HTR’s speed and efficiency will simply transform scholarship in archives is deconstructed.

Женская духовность в культурной идентичности России

The article presents the results of the author’s analytical research on the problems of women’s spirituality, its place in the consideration of the formation of cultural identity and originality of Russia. Significance of the material presented is determined by its relevance, consisting in the fact that the realities of the modern world lead to a rethinking of the attitude towards spirituality and traditional basic values of the country. The share of the population interested in the issues of morality, civic identity and especially spirituality is increasing. Proof of this statement is the words of the President of the Russian Federation, uttered at the Valdai Forum, a meeting with historians, in an address to the residents of Russia in February 2023, as well as Decree No. 809 of November 9, 2022 “On Approval of the Fundamentals of State Policy for the Preservation and Strengthening of Traditional Russian Spiritual and Moral Values”. The author attaches special importance to women's spirituality, arguing that it is women, for the most part, in our society who are the guardians of the basic values of their families. The analysis of the historical cross-section of the formation of the cultural identity of Russia is carried out, where the special role of traditional, family values is indicated, the interconnection of generations, the importance of the influence of knowledge about historical facts on the events of the future is shown, the justification of the importance of education and development of female spirituality in society is presented.

Optimizing the Clinical Direction of Artificial Intelligence With Health Policy: A Narrative Review of the Literature.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has the ability to completely transform the healthcare industry by enhancing diagnosis, treatment, and resource allocation. To ensure patient safety and equitable access to healthcare, it also presents ethical and practical issues that need to be carefully addressed. Its integration into healthcare is a crucial topic. To realize its full potential, however, the ethical issues around data privacy, prejudice, and transparency, as well as the practical difficulties posed by workforce adaptability and statutory frameworks, must be addressed. While there is growing knowledge about the advantages of AI in healthcare, there is a significant lack of knowledge about the moral and practical issues that come with its application, particularly in the setting of emergency and critical care. The majority of current research tends to concentrate on the benefits of AI, but thorough studies that investigate the potential disadvantages and ethical issues are scarce. The purpose of our article is to identify and examine the ethical and practical difficulties that arise when implementing AI in emergency medicine and critical care, to provide solutions to these issues, and to give suggestions to healthcare professionals and policymakers. In order to responsibly and successfully integrate AI in these important healthcare domains, policymakers and healthcare professionals must collaborate to create strong regulatory frameworks, safeguard data privacy, remove prejudice, and give healthcare workers the necessary training.

IMPACT OF GENERATIVE AI ON EDUCATIONAL SECTOR

This study looks into how generative artificial intelligence (AI) is affecting the field of education. The study examines the possible advantages of using generative AI into instruction, such as more individualized learning opportunities, enhanced accessibility, and creative teaching strategies. The study also recognizes and examines the moral issues raised by the application of AI in education, highlighting the significance of upholding academic honesty and openness. It draws attention to the necessity of cautious application in order to guarantee that AI fosters fruitful learning results. The suggested research technique describes a mixed methods strategy that combines quantitative data analysis with qualitative information from surveys and interviews. The goal of the project is to provide best practices and standards for the appropriate integration of generative AI in education, while also identifying the potential and problems that this technology presents. The anticipated results include a thorough comprehension of how generative AI will affect education and how it might improve learning opportunities, ethical issues for responsible usage, and the identification of possible problems and solutions. In the end, the research hopes to promote a more inclusive and productive learning environment by aiding in the creation of useful frameworks for incorporating AI into educational settings. The education industry has drastically evolved in recent years, thanks to the remarkable advancements made by artificial intelligence. With the integration of generative AI technology, educators and students are now presented with a wealth of possibilities and opportunities. As AI continues to advance further, it holds great potential for revolutionizing education as we know it through improved efficiency measures that personalize learning experiences while enhancing overall student outcomes. Harnessing this power-packed tool in teaching environments creates an opportunity for educational institutions across various sectors allowing them efficient intelligent assessment tools coupled with personalized tutoring provisions towards addressing classroom weaknesses resulting in custom-made lesson plans aimed at betterment of individual academic progress developed using predictive models creating ample time such that teachers can focus solely on providing tailored instruction &amp; support based exclusively around their Student's requirements&amp; specifications. This groundbreaking technological development provided meaningfully leveraging Generative Intelligence efforts promises nothing short but will be instrumental when shaping how Education is structured from henceforth enabling automation capabilities within the Administrative tasks management system,&amp; content-building-The advantages come twofold-Enhancement not only resides generally concerning Upgrade Learning Experience situations; there exist tailor solutions projecting Speaker understanding regarding distinctive needs pupils have always had throughout all levels ultimately leading to Developmental Progression heights hitherto attainable anticipated sooner than later.

Creating AI business value through BPM capabilities

PurposeAlthough businesses continue to take up artificial intelligence (AI), concerns remain that companies are not realising the full value of their investments. The study aims to provide insights into how AI creates business value by investigating the mediating role of Business Process Management (BPM) capabilities.Design/methodology/approachThe integrative model of IT Business Value was contextualised, and structural equation modelling was applied to validate the proposed serial multiple mediation model using a sample of 448 organisations based in the EU.FindingsThe results validate the proposed serial multiple mediation model according to which AI adoption increases organisational performance through decision-making and business process performance. Process automation, organisational learning and process innovation are significant complementary partial mediators, thereby shedding light on how AI creates business value.Research limitations/implicationsIn pursuing a complex nomological framework, multiple perspectives on realising business value from AI investments were incorporated. Several moderators presenting complementary organisational resources (e.g. culture, digital maturity, BPM maturity) could be included to identify behaviour in more complex relationships. The ethical and moral issues surrounding AI and its use could also be examined.Practical implicationsThe provided insights can help guide organisations towards the most promising AI activities of process automation with AI-enabled decision-making, organisational learning and process innovation to yield business value.Originality/valueWhile previous research assumed a moderated relationship, this study extends the growing literature on AI business value by empirically investigating a comprehensive nomological network that links AI adoption to organisational performance in a BPM setting.

Research Ethics Committee and Integrity Board Members’ Collaborative Decision Making in Cases in a Training Setting

AbstractThis research focuses on how research ethics committee and integrity board members discuss and decide on solutions to case scenarios that involve a dimension of research ethics or integrity in collaborative settings. The cases involved issues around authorship, conflict of interest, disregard of good scientific practice and ethics review, and research with vulnerable populations (children and neonates). The cases were set in a university, a hospital, or a research institute. In the research, we used a deductive qualitative approach with thematic analysis. Twenty-seven research ethics committee and research integrity board members from 16 European countries and one country outside Europe participated. Participants represented natural and life sciences, social sciences, and humanities. They worked on cases involving ethical/integrity issues in six different constellations. Results show that experts apply key elements of ethical decision making, namely identification of ethical issues, stakeholders, guidelines, solutions, and own positionality, in dealing collaboratively with ethics/ integrity problems, and the nature of the application depends on the complexity of the case. Understanding how individuals knowledgeable in research ethics and integrity, in this case, individuals serving on research ethics committees and integrity boards, approach ethical/ moral issues can help to identify strategies that may be useful in the development of research ethics and integrity training for junior researchers who may benefit from learning professional strategies.

Knowledge, Awareness, and Perception of Dental Stem Cell: A Questionnaire-based Cross-sectional Study

ABSTRACT The purest and unrestricted source of stem cells is the enamel of the teeth. Dental stem cells (DSCs), which are simple to get, quick to use, and reasonably priced, have the potential to be used in a variety of promising therapeutic applications. Due to their capacity for self-renewal, they are employed to treat significant flaws brought about by diseases, injuries, or surgical procedures. However, they are constrained by moral and ethical issues, as well as challenges with isolation, culturing, and implantation. DSCs are used in the rebuilding of orofacial structures because they retain the ability to differentiate into neurogenic, adipogenic, and odontogenic components. Before stem cell implantation, scaffolding that has been treated with growth hormones and bone morphogenic proteins is crucial. A self-administered questionnaire was used for a cross-sectional study (n = 200) that collected data on demographics, knowledge of stem cells, and attitude statements. Statistical Package for Social Software version 20.0 was used to analyze the data. This study seeks to learn more about professional groups’ perceptions of stem cell research in Tamil Nadu and their knowledge and awareness of DSCs.

Linking Spiritual Leadership with Other Leadership Concepts: A Literature Review of Four Decades

Recently, there is a growing interest in the concept of spiritual leadership. However, there are conceptual and research dilemmas regarding distinctions between the concept of spiritual leadership and other leadership approaches, especially positive leadership theories. Thus, there is a need to distinguish between the semantic relation construct of spiritual leadership and other related concepts in the field of management. Therefore, the current study provides a systematic literature review and bibliometric analyses of the 422 publications on spiritual leadership that were published between 1980 and 2021. The VOSviewer software with network visualization map was used. This paper contributes to understanding related aspects of spiritual leadership with other leadership approaches, provides a framework for integrating existing theories of leadership and leads to the identification of questions for future research. The study includes concepts based only on moral and ethical issues.

Moral Dilemmas Regarding Physical Restraints in Intensive Care Units: Understanding Autonomy, Beneficence, Non-Maleficence and Justice in the Use of Physical Restraints.

In intensive care units, patients are often restrained to ensure their safety, with physical restraints being the most commonly used method. However, physical restraints compromises the patient's freedom, health and comfort, and nurses often face moral dilemmas when deciding whether to use physical restraints. This article examines physical restraints through the four universal principles of autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence and justice. Through these principles, the authors will critically explore whether the physical restraints of patients by nurses is ethical in practice and what moral issues exist. This paper also explores conflicts and moral dilemmas for nurses in this context. Finally, suggestions are made on changes to education and clinical practice.

Medical science and pedophilia: Knowledge, discourses, and representations of pedophilia in medical books from 1910 to 1990 in a Brazilian public library

Pedophilia is defined as a multifaceted and complex phenomenon associated with various domains of knowledge. This article investigates the representation of pedophilia in medical literature from 1910 to 1990, focusing on a Brazilian public library’s collection. Through documentary analysis, the study examines the evolution of medical discourse surrounding pedophilia and its impact on societal perceptions. Medical ideas about pedophilia and pedophile in the twentieth century were constructed upon concepts of pathology, perversion, and crime. However, the findings also reveal a shifting understanding of pedophilia over the examined period, transitioning from moral deviation to a complex psychological phenomenon. Initially framed as a moral issue, pedophilia gradually came to be understood within the realms of clinical psychology and psychiatry, highlighting the interplay between medical discourse and societal attitudes. In conclusion, this research elucidates the intricate relationship between medical discourse and societal perceptions of pedophilia. By acknowledging historical shifts and current challenges, policymakers and practitioners can develop more informed strategies for addressing pedophilia and safeguarding children and adolescents.

The Spatial Distribution of Sexual Harassment Sentiment in Twitter

In a cultural landscape where discussions about sexual harassment are often considered taboo, this study leverages social media as a platform for the anonymous sharing of experiences related to sexual harassment in Asia. By focusing on Kuala Lumpur, we applied grid-based data mining to analyze the spatial distribution of tweets related to sexual harassment, revealing significant distribution patterns. Moreover, this study utilized two advanced sentiment analysis methods: the Natural Language Toolkit (NLTK) and Azure Machine Learning (AML), to evaluate the polarity of sentiments expressed in these tweets. The findings demonstrate a notable variance in sentiment analysis results between NLTK and AML, with NLTK classifying a majority of tweets as neutral (63.7%), while AML identified a predominant positive sentiment (70%). This discrepancy highlights the complexities of sentiment analysis and the importance of selecting appropriate tools for specific research contexts. In examining the spatial distribution, it becomes apparent that tweets collected through the identified keywords are dispersed within the boundaries of Kuala Lumpur. However, there is a notable concentration in specific areas, particularly evident in the hotspot encompassing Taman Desa and Pantai Dalam. Understanding the sentiment's location enables us to delve deeper into the pronounced cluster of tweets, examining potential correlations with surrounding social and moral issues. This insight empowers us to address the issue through various means, including the implementation of Crime Prevention through Environmental Design and fostering community-based initiatives.

Artificial Intelligence: Its Impact in Contemporary Times

Abstract: Artificial intelligence (AI) is a force that is transforming industries and reshaping societal norms in a variety of fields. This study paper offers a thorough analysis of the most current developments in artificial intelligence (AI) technology, their uses, and the moral issues raised by their widespread use. The first section of the paper explains the basic ideas and techniques of artificial intelligence (AI), such as machine learning, deep learning, and natural language processing. It explores how AI has developed from rule-based systems to more complex models like neural networks and reinforcement learning, emphasizing the turning points that have brought AI to this point. The study then delves into the various uses of AI in industries including healthcare, banking, transportation, and education. It looks at how AI-powered systems are boosting user experiences, streamlining decision-making procedures, and optimizing operations across a range of industries. The revolutionary effects of AI on several industries and society at large are demonstrated through case studies and real-world examples.

Ius cogens along with international morality and the problem of the invalidity of Poland's renunciation of war reparations

The article contains an analysis of the problem of the invalidity of Poland's renunciation of war reparations against the background of the provisions of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties. Analysing the reasons for invalidity, the authors point to their existence in the context of the declaration of renouncing reparations in 1953, also referring to the circumstances surrounding those historical events. The article also contains a reference to the issue of international morality.

Unethical Dimensions of Ramzan Transmissions in Pakistan

The month of Ramadan has special significance for Muslims around the world. Muslims fast in this holy month and spend most of their time in prayers and remembering Allah Almighty. In Pakistan, Ramadan is not only observed and practised by Muslims in daily life, but there is a spree of Ramadan transmissions on TV Channels also. Around a hundred news and entertainment channels are broadcasting their 24/7 transmissions, and Ramadan brings them the opportunity to get viewership and ratings. Almost every channel in Pakistan does “Ramadan Transmission” during this holy month, and these transmissions also get traction and viewership. However, where these transmissions get eyeballs and generate ratings for these channels, these transmissions are sometimes below the ethical standards. Game shows, unnecessary, irrelevant debates, cooking segments, and the use of actors and actresses as anchors for these transmissions not only hurt the sanctity of Ramadan but also create moral and ethical issues. Religious programs such as the Ramadan transmission on PTV, HUM TV, GEO TV, and ARY News are the most watchable programs for the people of Pakistan. Therefore, this paper will investigate which ethical and moral principles of Islam are violated in these transmissions during Ramadan. Normative theory is the most suitable approach to understanding this particular research scenario.