Possible Conflicts Of Interest Research Articles

Key Qualities, Manipulations, Negligence and Ethical Challenges in Postmortem Examinations

The credibility of forensic investigations and the legal system as a whole are seriously threatened by manipulation, negligence, and unethical behaviour during postmortem examinations. Breaking ethical rules can lead to inaccurate conclusions about the cause and manner of death, which compromises the validity of important forensic evidence used in court. Findings may be biased by outside influences from law enforcement, families, or well-known people, impeding the pursuit of justice. Furthermore, incorrect interpretations might arise from procedural errors and missed facts, which can be especially detrimental when forensic evidence is crucial. Falsifying documents is one example of an unethical behaviour that erodes public trust in medico-legal institutions. These challenges are made worse by a lack of funding, poor training, and possible conflicts of interest, all of which compromise the impartiality and thoroughness of postmortem investigations. To tackle these challenges and enhance accountability and integrity in the field of forensic pathology, it is crucial to undertake comprehensive reforms. This includes establishing stricter regulatory frameworks, upgrading infrastructure, boosting human resources, improving videographic documentation, providing enhanced ethical and specialized training, and ensuring more effective resource allocation.

Emerging ethical concerns: Unfair redecision and unfair retraction in predatory journals

ABSTRACT The ethical issues surrounding academic publishing are covered in this manuscript, with a particular emphasis on predatory journals’ unethical retraction and redecision policies. It is crucial to provide examples of dubious editorial choices and possible conflicts of interest. Serious questions concerning the integrity and credibility of the participating journals are raised by the lack of openness, the way conflicts of interest are handled, and the possibility of bias in the retraction decisions. To keep the trust of the scientific community, fairness, responsibility, and ethical behavior must be given top priority in academic publishing.

Integration of MQTT-SN and CoAP protocol for enhanced data communications and resource management in WSNs

Lightweight communication protocols for wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are unfolding for machine to machine (M2M) communications and thus there is always going to be a possible conflict of interest on which protocol is best suited for any particular application. The two protocols of interest in this study are the message queue telemetry transport protocol for sensor network (MQTT-SN), a variant of message queue telemetry transport (MQTT) protocol and the constrained application protocol (CoAP). There have been studies that reveal that these protocols perform differently based on the underlying network conditions. CoAP experience lower delays than MQTT for higher packet loss and higher delays for lower packet loss. MQTT default communication via a broker is easier to scale compared to CoAP direct request-response paradigm. Although this is a huge advantage over CoAP, it presents the single point-of-failure problem. In this paper we propose an integration of MQTT-CoAP protocol using an abstraction layer that enables both MQTT-SN and CoAP protocol to be used in the same sensor node. Resources are managed by directly modifying sensor node configuration using CoAP protocol. Performance evaluation of these protocols under the integrated scenario shows acceptable levels of latency and energy consumption for internet of thing (IoT) operations.

Informed consent in the economic law field of additive manufacturing

Informed consent in the economic law field of additive manufacturing

Utilising resistance feedback for software implementation in healthcare

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a rapid transformation in the healthcare industry. Telemedicine, mHealth, and artificial intelligence technologies have become integral components of healthcare delivery, enabling remote consultations, symptom tracking, medication reminders, diagnosis, and treatment. However, the adoption of these technologies in healthcare organisations is often met with resistance from shareholders. The most frequent reasons are fear of technology, uncertainty about the impact of technology solutions on patient care, ethical and regulatory concerns, skepticism about the effectiveness of remote medical consultations, concerns about data privacy and security, reluctance to change workflows, risk of job losses due to automation of certain processes, and possible conflicts of interest. This article explores the complex landscape of shareholder resistance during software implementation projects, the origins of this problem, its manifestations, advantages, disadvantages, and consequences. The article also examines this issue through the prism of the Lewin’s Change Model and the Transtheoretical Model of Change, and demonstrates it on the examples of Information Technology Company and Microsoft. The article offers strategic recommendations for healthcare organisations to effectively manage and mitigate these challenges, facilitating a successful transition to the healthcare technology landscape. Among the main problems, the article discusses the following things: creating open and transparent communication channels for shareholders; joint problem-solving sessions with all stakeholders; an iterative approach to implementing IT projects in healthcare facilities, which allows reviewing, adjusting, and agreeing on solutions at each iteration; involving shareholders in decision-making at the early stages of the software implementation process; comprehensive programs to improve shareholder competencies; targeting opinion leaders who are supporters of changes in the organisation; maintaining continuous feedback, etc.

Post-Acquisition Changes in Agency Cost of Acquirers: Effect of Target Companies

Acquisitions constitute substantial corporate investments, often leading to changes in ownership and top management giving rise to possible conflicts of interest. The impacts of such conflicts following an acquisition are absorbed by the acquirer and are referred to as agency costs. This study focuses on exploring the influence of the target companies on changes in the post-acquisition agency costs of acquiring companies. A panel fixed effects model is used to analyze acquisitions that took place between 2008–09 and 2019–20. The study’s findings indicate that post-acquisition changes in the agency costs of acquirers significantly vary based on the presence of domestic and foreign promoters in the target company. Further promoter groups such as domestic promoters and foreign promoters contribute to conflicting interests, exacerbating post-acquisition agency costs. The monitoring role assumed by foreign promoters of target companies plays a pivotal part in reducing the post-acquisition agency costs of acquirers. Foreign promoters also positively influence post-acquisition profitability by adversely affecting operating expenses, suggesting that they mitigate agency costs by exerting control over management through the monitoring of debt, cash, and profitability. The post-acquisition utilization of the target’s cash reserves positively correlates with the operating expenses of the acquirer. It is observed that the acquisition of larger targets magnifies agency costs.

Energy Sustainability: Bridging the Gap between Oil and Gas Operations and Community Well-Being in the Niger Delta Region, Nigeria

Sustainability is an important issue in energy provision for meeting increasing needs. However, harvesting energy resources in communities while protecting the ecosystem and reducing issues of environmental degradation to the barest minimum are the ideal target for stakeholders, but usually not always attainable. The objective of this paper is therefore to review the sustainable energy arrangements with ambitions to significantly bridge the gaps between oil and gas operations of firms and improved community well-being in the Niger Delta Region, Nigeria using secondary information and data harvested from previously published studies found Online. Specifically, the paper will examine some effects of oil and gas exploration in communities, examines metrics that can be used to track community well-being, the possible conflicts of interest that could occur between firms and host communities in oil and gas operations as well as measures in the past to ameliorate these challenges and improve the community well-being in issues pertaining to oil and gas operations of firms. The study recommends that continuous stakeholder engagement be carried out in order to make for smooth oil and gas operations. Furthermore, it makes for proffers workable solutions to the challenges that accentuate possible conflicts. The study also identifies different key stakeholders in this gap-bridging process and their various roles.

Assessment of Damages and Compensation in the Context of ISDS Reform Proposals

This article discusses the possible reforms in the assessment of damages and compensation in international investment arbitration. The article highlights the challenges of the valuation leading to the need for reforms, such as the inflation of awards issued in investment arbitration cases, the major gap between the damages claimed and damages awarded, and the difficulties posed by the large damages awards for the developing states. Other reasons for reforms include arbitral tribunals’ inconsistency in the valuation, the incorrectness of awards and potential conflicts of interests between arbitrators and damages experts. The author further discusses whether the issues of damages and compensation in investor- state disputes fall within the mandate of the UNCITRAL Working Group III, which is argued to be limited to solely procedural issues. The author concludes that the reforms could and should be developed by the Working Group III. The assessment of damages and compensation in investor-state disputes requires a comprehensive reform process based on procedural solutions as well as substantive suggestions, which the Working Group III can devise. Based on the law and economics theories, the author analyzes the appropriate approach of tackling the quantum issues, concluding that the reforms should be implemented through soft law instruments. The article dwells on viable procedural reforms on the quantification of damages and compensation in investment arbitration. The analysis focuses on the reforms prospecting to address the damages experts’ possible conflict of interest, the divergence in the parties’ experts damages amounts and the anchoring effect of the claimants’ requested amounts on arbitrators, as well as on the option of conducting early damages conferences, drawing on the insights from behavioral economics. Lastly, the article discusses substantive reforms options for the valuation that help promote the consistency and correctness of awards. The author considers the options of clarifying the use of the discounted cash flow method and setting standards that require damages to reflect a balance between the competing interests, providing guidance on the investor’s contributory fault, capping compensation to the actually invested amount and the assessment of contextual factors relevant for the calculation of damages.

Was wird unter einer Public-Health-Intervention verstanden? Ergebnisse eines Delphi-Prozesses im deutschsprachigen Raum

BackgroundInternationally, a variety of definitions for public health interventions (PHI) exist. In the German-speaking countries, however, a definition is still outstanding. Therefore, the aim of this study was to derive consensus criteria for the definition of PHI from the expert perspective of science and practice. MethodsA Delphi survey with two online rounds was conducted from December 2022 to February 2023. Six criteria were formulated by a working group and posed for consensus: 1) the intention of the intervention, 2) potential conflicts of interest of the initiators of the intervention, 3) primary vs. secondary/tertiary prevention, 4) costs, 5) targeting, and 6) the reach of the intervention. In both Delphi rounds, experts from academia and practice were recruited through relevant networks and associations throughout the German-speaking world. The judgments were asked about standardized rating scales with the possibility of open justification. ResultsIn the first Delphi round, n = 52 and in the second round n = 43 experts from research, care and administration/management in health care participated. Consensus was reached on four of the six criteria after the second Delphi round: the intention of the intervention, possible conflicts of interest of the initiators of the intervention, primary vs. secondary/tertiary prevention, and the scope of the intervention. From the perspective of the experts interviewed, these are the criteria that distinguish PHI. Discussion and conclusionBased on the consensus criteria, PHI can be defined more concretely. Thus, the results contribute to a better inter- and transdisciplinary understanding. Ideally, the criteria will make it easier to assign interventions to the public health sector in the future, even if a precise examination will be necessary in individual cases, among other things because the experts disagreed on the criteria of costs and how to address the target group.

Use of underground space for the storage of selected gases (CH4, H2, and CO2) – possible conflicts of interest

Use of underground space for the storage of selected gases (CH4, H2, and CO2) – possible conflicts of interest

One Health early warning and response system for zoonotic diseases outbreaks: Emphasis on the involvement of grassroots actors.

Emerging and reemerging zoonotic diseases have become a global concern due to their frequent occurrence. Large delays between onset of emerging zoonotic disease outbreaks and their reporting and control are indicative of weak animal and human health systems. The objective of this paper is to tackle the time delay by suggesting a One Health Early Warning and Response System (OH-EWRS) aiming at improving the surveillance and notification of zoonotic diseases by strengthening 'bottom-up' approaches and systems for early detection, especially in hot spot areas where they emerge. In this conceptual paper, we searched online database including PubMed, Google and Google Scholar to explore the scientific landscape for zoonotic diseases and One Health Early Warning and Response Systems published in English up to December, 2020. In addition, the authors made use of their own expertise and critically reviewed the retrieved papers that were found to be of relevance as the three authors are experts in their own fields, coming from different backgrounds, but are all working to improve the prevention and control of zoonotic disease outbreak. The OH-EWRS advocates for collaboration between relevant stakeholders including nongovernmental organisations, country offices of international and intergovernmental technical organisations, governmental bodies, research institutes, the private sector and local communities with the aim of an integrated One Health prevention and control system. The OH-EWRS considers various priorities and objectives of the different stakeholders, taking into account possible conflict of interests and considering the need for trust, transparency and mutual benefits. Although the operationalisation, governance and institutionalisation of the OH-EWRS should be the responsibility of government bodies, inputs from and feedback to relevant stakeholders through a bottom-up and top-down approach are essential elements for the application of the successful operationalisation of a OH-EWRS.

Compliance with the Basel Core Principles and supervisory structure: A cross-country analysis

This paper is motivated by the implementation of the new banking supervision structure in the European Union (EU) and the possible conflict of interest between monetary policy and the supervision authority within the European Central Bank (ECB). The empirical analysis considers the relationship between the structure of banking supervision and the compliance with the Basel Core Principles (BCP) for effective supervision. A sample of 21 countries and the Euro Area (EA) is used. In addition to the structure of bank supervision, a list of independent variables is considered to explain the dependent variable. The results suggest that the supervisory structure has no statistical significance at any notable significance level on compliance with the BCP. On the contrary, financial freedom is a statistically significant variable.

A lawyer's refusal to provide legal aid and the need to observe a certain set of measures to avoid a conflict of interests

In this article, a theoretical-applied study of the essence of conflicts of interest is carried out primarily through the prism of clarifying the legal nature of the measures that a lawyer must follow in order to avoid them. This article is devoted to the disclosure of various positions of scientists regarding the possibility of accepting a mandate from a client (continuing the provision of legal assistance) under the condition of a potential conflict of interests.
 The study focused on the fact that criminal proceedings provide for the possibility of submitting an application for the recusal of the defense counsel (application for self-recusal of the defense counsel), while in other types of proceedings, the decision to participate or, conversely, not to participate in the case in conditions of conflict of interests depends directly on the will of the lawyer. Representative and the court cannot declare the dismissal of such a representative.
 Within the framework of this study, a significant set of measures that should be taken by a lawyer (law association) to prevent the occurrence and reduce the possible negative consequences of the existence of a conflict of interests in the conditions of the practice of law was analyzed. It is concluded that such measures can include: establishing additional restrictions on the provision of legal assistance by law firms (information barriers, consolidation of internal corporate codes of ethical behavior of lawyers); establishing certain obligations, prohibitions and restrictions in the relationship between the client and the lawyer in order to establish the absolute independence of the lawyer in the performance of his professional activities, etc.
 In this article, both general scientific methods of analysis and synthesis, as well as methods specific to legal science, have been widely used. The research itself was carried out with the application in particular, formal-dogmatic method, which provided an opportunity to analyze a set of measures that a lawyer should follow in order to avoid a possible conflict of interests.

Conflict of interests in local government: features of legal regulation and prevention of its occurrence

Introduction. This paper addresses the specificities of conflicts of interest within the sphere of local self-government. One of the most common situations where a conflict of interest arises is through relationships with individuals and/or legal entities that may give rise to a private interest. Moreover, it distinguishes between the concepts of «authority» and «private interest». Purpose. To define the concept of conflict of interests in local self-government bodies, its signs, features, methods of settlement, possible consequences and to find out the variability of actions of officials in solving this problem in accordance with anti-corruption legislation. Results. Through an analysis of current legal documents and academic literature, the unique characteristics associated with the legal management and prevention of conflicts of interest within the functions of local government bodies are identified. It is determined that a conflict of interest may arise not only when a contradiction has already affected the objectivity and/or impartiality of decision-making or performance of actions, but also when there is a potential opportunity to influence them. This paper also investigates the essence of conflicts of interest and their manifestations in the sphere of local self-government. By analyzing various situations in which conflicts of interest arise in the system of local self-government, the paper describes the consequences of such conflicts and highlights certain shortcomings of the regulatory and legal framework of Ukraine regarding the notification of conflicts of interest and the algorithm of behavior in their presence. Conclusion. The paper concludes that persons entrusted with the responsibility of preventing and resolving conflicts of interest in the sphere of local self-government and other state authorities should take several measures. Firstly, they should take measures to prevent possible conflicts of interest and their actual manifestation. Secondly, they should report a conflict of interest by providing information about an actual or possible situation where a conflict may arise between their personal interests and the interests of another person. Thirdly, they should avoid taking actions or making decisions in situations of real conflicts of interest. Lastly, they should take measures to resolve potential or existing conflicts of interest, which depend on the situation. It is important to note that a person can take any measures independently, as long as they do not violate the law.

How Do Editorial Board Members Contribute to Journal Ranking in Library and Information Science?

The paper aims to detect publication contributions of editorial board members (EBMs) to academic journal ranking as exemplified by Russian LIS serials divided into three groups according to their authority. To reveal the EBMs’ contribution in each group, papers by EBMs in their parent journals as well as other sources were studied with comparative analyses of EBMs’ papers in parent journals and papers by other authors in the same journals. The Russian Science Citation Index (RSCI) was used for collecting indicators that reflect journal ranks and scholarly output of EBMs. We found no relationship between journal ranking and a share of EBMs’ papers in a parent journal. Citation analyses of EBMs’ papers as well as citations of parent journals made by EBMs from other sources reveals a significant effect of EBMs on the rank of top-tiered and low-tiered journals pointing at active participation of EBMs in the development of parent journals. Zero or even negative impact of EBMs’ papers on the journal rank is registered in the middle-tiered group implying formalistic engagement of researchers to join the editorial boards, lack of interest in the journal work, or possible violation of the publication ethics by publishing poorly cited or uncited papers in parent journals due to less strict peer-review processes. The paper adds to a better understanding of the nature of journal ranking, particularly, impact factors, as well as performance of EBMs in the field of LIS publications. The ethics and possible conflict of interests related to publishing in parent journals are discussed. The results of the study can be useful for revising journal policy or editorial board composition.

Anti-corruption regulation of a former civil public servant’s participation in the bodies of a legal entity

The article presents the problematic issues of anti-corruption regulation to prevent conflicts of interest when a former state and municipal employee is engaged in activities carried out for remuneration as a member of a collegial body of management or control of legal entities. The author points out the gaps in the anti-corruption legislation in terms of the lack of any control procedures in order to prevent a possible conflict of interest when nominating as a candidate and electing a former state or municipal employee to the management or control bodies of a business entity, in respect of which during his official activities exercised certain functions of state, municipal (administrative) management, including control or supervision, and receiving remuneration for work in such bodies of a business entity. An analysis of the risks of a conflict of public and private interests with the participation of former state or municipal employees in the management and control bodies of commercial and non-profit organizations is given. Possible solutions to this problem are proposed on the basis of the current system of the procedure for resolving a possible conflict of interest when concluding an employment contract or a civil law contract for the performance of work (services) with a former state or municipal employee, taking into account the specifics of corporate relations in business entities.

The issue of impartiality of voivodeship board members involved in the implementation of the European Union funds within the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-27

The purpose of this paper is to consider the standard of impartiality promoted by the European Commission regarding the implementation of European Union funds and expressed in particular in identifying and excluding conflicts of interest in terms of the issue of its adequacy at the level of regional programmes in Poland. We attempted to answer the horizontal question of whether and what legal problems are raised by potential inadequacy in this respect and how they can be constructively counteracted. In our study we primarily used the dogmatic-legal method. The findings of our research show that in some situations, the “zealous” implementation of EU standards of impartiality may result in unexpected legal issues, such as in the situation related to the declarations of members of voivodeship boards who are managing authorities of regional programmes. The value of the study lies in its critical and at the same time constructive approach towards the issue of counteracting a possible conflict of interest through declarations of interest by members of voivodeship boards (as the managing institution of the regional programmes financed with EU funds) during the period of the real start of implementation of EU funds by Polish regions in the financial perspective 2021-27.

Lessons from the implementation of residential methamphetamine contamination policies in New Zealand.

Methamphetamine contamination of housing has been discussed as a significant issue in New Zealand. However, scientific evidence to determine a threshold level at which health harms occur is inconclusive, resulting in conflicting and changing guidance. The initial strong precautionary policy, with significant unintended impacts on vulnerable public housing tenants, dramatically changed following a scientific review. This study explores the policy response to residential methamphetamine contamination in New Zealand over the past decade. Thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with 13 key stakeholders involved in policy development/implementation, including those from government, industry, residential housing and academic sectors. Consistent application of a methamphetamine contamination threshold for housing has been problematic due to legislative and regulatory gaps. Stakeholders in the residential sector have been influenced by perceptions of methamphetamine contamination as a health risk, political views on drug use, media coverage and the testing industry's business practices. Public housing tenants have faced disadvantages when resolving methamphetamine contamination disputes. The testing industry's participation in committees shaping the regulatory response presents a possible conflict of interest. Wide media coverage heightened public anxiety about the problem but may also have stimulated policy changes to alleviate unintended consequences of the precautionary approach. New Zealand's fragmented policy response to residential methamphetamine contamination is likely rooted in the lack of scientific evidence, with some key actors further exacerbating the response. Future policy development should seek to produce overarching regulation that guides the whole sector while balancing powers of the stakeholders involved.

On Expert Evaluation of the Scientific Research Effectiveness

The general approaches to expertise in assessing the effectiveness of the scientific and technical sphere are considered. The roles of the participants of the examination – the decision-maker, the organizer of the examination, experts, and other interested participants in the results of the examination are considered. The general requirements for experts, such as qualification, objectivity, independence of the expert, possible conflicts of interests of the participants of the examination, are analyzed. The implementation of the theoretical provisions of the organization of expertise on practical examples is considered. It is shown that expert assessments in the analysis of the effectiveness of scientific organizations can lead to unreliable results, as well as the use of scientometric performance indicators outside the zone of their applicability.Some basic scientometric indicators are considered, it is shown that they can be considered as formalized answers to examination questions. The dependence of scientometric indicators on the scale of the audience to which certain publications are published is shown. Possible changes in the scientometric indicators of Russian publications are predicted in conditions of limited access of Russian publications to world information systems.

Two-level assessment of threats to geodiversity and geoheritage: A case study from Hády quarries (Brno, Czech Republic)

Geoconservation is an action of conserving and enhancing geological, geomorphological, hydrological and soil features and processes, sites and specimens. Originally and usually, the geoconservation activities aim at preserving specific sites of Earth Sciences interest, respectively geoheritage. However, for effective and sustainable management of geodiversity and geoheritage, it is necessary to take into account the surroundings of those sites and undertake the geoconservation measures for wider area. Nevertheless, despite established legal protection and related geoconservation activities, threats to geoheritage and geodiversity can arise and reaching a compromise can be difficult. In this paper, a two-level threat assessment is applied and discussed. The first level of threat assessment corresponds to the geoconservation in a strict sense – the method is based on the already used criteria within geosite/geomorphosite concept. The second level of threat assessment corresponds to geoconservation in a broader sense and here, it is represented by Risk Assessment Matrix, which assess the threats within a wider area. Using both approaches provides a complex view on the threats to geodiversity and geoheritage in a study area and complement each other. As a case study, we identified and assessed threats, risks and possible conflicts of interest in an area situated in the outskirts of large city (Hády Hill in Brno, Czech Republic). Based on the evaluation, we proposed particular measures that could contribute to the balance of the different demands and more effective geoconservation management in the study area.