Recent Case Research Articles

Big data and AI in employment: The dual challenge of workforce replacement and protecting customer privacy in biometric data usage

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Big Data is ushering in profound transformations across various industries, with biometric data usage standing out due to its deep implications for workforce dynamics and customer privacy. This review article critically examines the dual challenges presented by AI-driven automation and the extensive use of biometric data analytics, focusing on the resultant job displacement and escalating privacy concerns. Biometric technologies such as facial recognition, fingerprint identification, and voice analysis are increasingly deployed across sectors including finance, healthcare, and retail. These technologies aim to enhance security measures, improve user experience, and optimize operational efficiencies. However, they also bring to light substantial ethical dilemmas, particularly concerning the privacy of individuals and the security of the data being collected. The pervasive collection and analysis of biometric data can lead to invasive surveillance and profiling, exacerbating risks to personal privacy. Moreover, the use of AI in automating tasks that were traditionally performed by human workers is leading to significant shifts in employment structures. While AI can increase efficiency and reduce costs, it also raises the specter of widespread job displacement. This potential for automation-driven unemployment is especially pronounced in sectors that heavily utilize routine, repetitive tasks, posing critical socio-economic challenges. This article also explores the regulatory and technological frameworks currently in place, and those that are needed to address these challenges. The effectiveness of existing data protection laws, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the European Union, and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) in the United States, is assessed in the context of AI and biometric data. We discuss the role of policy in shaping the ethical use of AI and protecting workers, along with the technological safeguards that could be implemented to secure biometric data and ensure privacy. By synthesizing insights from recent research, case studies, and expert analyses, this article provides a comprehensive overview of how AI and Big Data are reshaping the landscape of work and privacy. It critically discusses the need for a balanced approach that harnesses the benefits of technological advancements while safeguarding individual rights and employment security.

ENHANCING MILITARY TRAINING THROUGH VR APPLICATIONS

Virtual Reality (VR) technologies have ushered in a new era for military education and training, offering immersive learning environments that replicate real-world scenarios with unprecedented realism and detail. This paper delves into the multifaceted application of VR within military training, delving into its efficacy in bolstering soldier readiness, facilitating skill acquisition, and honing decision-making abilities crucial for operational success. Through a comprehensive review of recent literature and insightful case studies, the paper illuminates the myriad advantages VR brings to the forefront of military training methodologies. Notably, VR is lauded for its capacity to engender experiential learning, providing trainees with hands-on exposure to diverse combat situations without exposing them to physical harm. Moreover, the paper underscores the significant cost-saving potential inherent in VR-based training modalities, as they obviate the need for large-scale live exercises while still delivering unparalleled training value. Despite these remarkable benefits, the paper also addresses pertinent challenges impeding the widespread adoption of VR in military training contexts. Issues such as technological constraints, fidelity of simulation, and seamless integration into existing training frameworks warrant careful consideration to fully harness the transformative potential of VR. Nonetheless, by leveraging VR technologies judiciously, military organizations stand poised to optimize training effectiveness, enhance operational readiness, and adeptly navigate the ever-evolving landscape of security threats on a global scale. Key Words: Virtual Reality (VR), Military Training Experiential Learning, Operational Readiness, Technological Challenges

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy in malignant otitis externa: a retrospective analysis.

Malignant otitis externa (MOE) is a rare form of invasive osteomyelitis of the external ear canal. It is typically caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in immunocompromised patients. The diagnosis is clinical, and the initial treatment involves systemic antibiotics or antifungal therapy. Surgery is usually only considered when medical treatment has failed. Although hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is recommended for refractory osteomyelitis, there are no specific guidelines for MOE. This is a retrospective study that evaluates clinical data, treatment, and results obtained in patients diagnosed with MOE treated with HBOT at the Pedro Hispano Hospital between 2007 and 2022. During the study period, fifteen patients diagnosed with MOE were admitted for treatment with HBOT. All patients received antibiotic and/or antifungal therapy, and three required surgical intervention before starting HBOT. The pathology was successfully managed on all patients. HBOT may be an effective adjuvant treatment option in patients with MOE but it lacks robust scientific evidence. However, its therapeutic value should not be underestimated due to the good results and few adverse effects reported in recent retrospective studies and case reports.

No Place Like Home? Alienage, Popular Sovereignty and an Implied Freedom of Entry into Australia Under the Constitution

Does the Constitution protect the ability of an Australian to enter the country? This article investigates that question. Whilst the Constitution provides no express guarantee of a citizen’s right to enter Australia, a series of recent cases — particularly Love v Commonwealth 1 and Alexander v Minister for Home Affairs 2 — give occasion to consider whether a freedom of entry forms an implied part of Australia’s constitutional framework. Early scholarly attempts to establish a freedom of entry have relied upon the definition of non-alienage to ground this implication. This article commences by reviewing the effect of the High Court’s recent alienage jurisprudence on these arguments. After concluding that fatal difficulties attend this approach, I investigate an alternative foundation for an implied freedom of entry: an implication drawn from a constitutional principle of popular sovereignty. Focusing on a recent thread of High Court jurisprudence which has placed an increasing emphasis on the constitutional protection afforded to popular sovereignty, I conclude that this alternative basis provides a viable foundation upon which an implied freedom of entry could be recognised in the Constitution.

A Study and Analysis on Recent Mergers in India

This research paper aims to provide a comprehensive study and analysis of recent merger and demerger activities in India. It examines the motivations, strategies, and impacts of mergers and demergers on the Indian corporate landscape. Through a detailed analysis of recent case studies, the paper delves into the key factors driving these corporate restructuring activities, including regulatory changes, market dynamics, and strategic imperatives. Additionally, it evaluates the financial performance, market reactions, and implications for stakeholders involved in such transactions. The research contributes to the understanding of the merger and demerger trends in India, offering insights into the evolving corporate strategies and their implications for the Indian economy. Furthermore, it explores the legal and regulatory framework surrounding mergers and demergers, providing a holistic view of the process and its challenges.

Anti-dumping Duties & Countervailing Provision in Digital Trade

With the technological advancement in the world, in recent years, the rapid growth of digital trade has presented new challenges for anti-dumping duties and countervailing provisions in India. Digital technologies have reshaped the global commerce which includes cross-border data flows and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) considerations and this has posed various complexities as traditional trade regulations struggle to adequately address these complexities of digital trade. The objective of this paper is to investigate the implications of anti-dumping duties and countervailing provisions in digital trade as well as identify the if there is any need for updating the regulatory frameworks in Indian trade laws. The problem arises from the intersection of digital trade and anti-dumping measures, where the digital economy presents essential constraints to traditional methods for evaluating market inefficiencies and establishment of fair market value. Similarly, particular issues of data flow and IPR are associated with digital product and services which introduce unique challenges, such as difficulty and quantifying intangible assets and addressing virtual market manipulations. This paper will deal with such types of specific challenges posed by the digital economy in India, including identification of digital trade-related market inefficiencies and shortcoming of existing anti-dumping provisions. Through an examination of recent cases and industry examples this study will provide practical suggestions which aims to bridge the gap of regulatory framework and foster a fair and competitive digital trade environment. In summary, this research paper examines the implication of digital trade such as data flows & IPR on the anti-dumping duties and countervailing measures and whether there is a need for any update in the regulatory framework in Indian trade regulations

Histologic Hitchhikers: A Review of Common Exogenous Artifacts Encountered During Mohs Micrographic Surgery.

Exogenous artifacts can interfere with accurate histologic tissue evaluation on frozen sections during Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS). Mohs surgeons should be aware of these anomalies to avoid potential misdiagnoses. To review exogenous artifacts encountered in frozen tissue pathology during MMS. A literature search was conducted in PubMed to identify studies reporting on exogenous artifacts encountered during MMS and a list of previously described exogenous artifacts was compiled. A retrospective examination of frozen histology slides from recent Mohs cases at the authors' institution was performed to obtain illustrative examples of these artifacts, supplemented by formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples when frozen examples could not be found. Exogenous artifacts represent foreign bodies that have been externally introduced into the skin or artifacts resulting from other external factors. If frozen section evaluation is inaccurate, overdiagnosis can occur during MMS, resulting in unnecessary layers, larger margins, and more complex reconstructions. These exogenous tissue changes can mimic inflammatory processes and melanocytic or keratinocyte malignancies on histology. Exogenous artifacts are common findings during margin assessment in Mohs micrographic surgery. The resulting histological findings can be confusing but correlating them with the clinical and surgical history often reassures surgeons. Recognizing these artifacts facilitates accurate diagnosis and promotes optimal patient care.

Successful pregnancy with intracytoplasmic sperm injection after bacterial contamination of embryo culture in in vitro fertilization: a case report

BackgroundBacterial infection of embryo culture medium is rare but may be detrimental. The main source of embryo culture contamination is semen. Assisted reproduction centers currently lack consensus regarding the methods for preventing and managing embryo culture infection. In our recent case, a successful pregnancy was achieved with intracytoplasmic sperm injection after failed conventional in vitro fertilization owing to bacterial contamination.Case presentationWe present a case report of two consecutive in vitro fertilization–intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles with photo and video documentation of the bacterial growth. A 36-year-old Hungarian woman and her 37-year-old Hungarian partner came to our department. They had two normal births followed by 2 years of infertility. The major causes of infertility were a closed fallopian tube and asthenozoospermia. Bacterial infection of the embryo culture medium was observed during in vitro fertilization and all oocytes degenerated. The source was found to be the semen. To prevent contamination, intracytoplasmic sperm injection was used for fertilization in the subsequent cycle. Intracytoplasmic bacterial proliferation was observed in one of the three fertilized eggs, but two good-quality embryos were successfully obtained. The transfer of one embryo resulted in a successful pregnancy and a healthy newborn was delivered.ConclusionIntracytoplasmic sperm injection may be offered to couples who fail conventional in vitro fertilization treatment owing to bacteriospermia, as it seems to prevent infection of the embryo culture. Even if bacterial contamination appears, our case encourages us to continue treatment. Nevertheless, the development of new management guidelines for the prevention and management of bacterial contamination is essential.

Death of the suicide law: A changing standard of liability for clinicians.

High rates of suicide continue to plague the modern world, with clinicians, researchers, and policymakers working urgently to ameliorate what has been recognized as a worldwide public health crisis. Under American Law, individuals- including health care providers, could generally not be held liable for causing the suicide of another person. This article presents a review of suicide law in the United States in the context of a recent civil case in which a physician with expertise in mental health was sued for the death of an ex-partner who committed suicide in his home. Historical events and landmark legal cases spanning the 15th century to now are examined and presented as a narrative review to inform society and mental health clinicians a-like towards interpreting the changing medical-legal landscape. As modern advances in science continue to discern the critical biopsychosocial factors that contribute to the act of suicide, there is an inevitably growing concern that suicide may no longer be an incomprehensible nor irrational event as has been assumed for centuries. Thus, it may be considered that individual with expertise and qualification to treat a group of individuals at higher risk of suicide (severe mental illness) may be subject to a different standard than the average individual. This article seeks to present a complex matter where no simple or broad-sweeping conclusions can yet be drawn, however remains a critically important matter for mental health clinicians.

Global seroprevalence of scrub typhus: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Scrub typhus, a neglected disease, is a significant health concern in the Tsutsugamushi triangle of the Asia–Pacific and has raised global concerns due to recent cases occurring outside this region. To estimate the global prevalence of scrub typhus, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis. We conducted a systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, and Embase databases for observational studies on scrub typhus. Using a random-effects model, we combined the prevalence estimates with inverse-variance weights while also evaluating heterogeneity and publication bias. Among 3551 reports screened, we identified 181 studies with 1,48,251 samples for inclusion in our synthesis. The overall pooled seroprevalence (95% confidence intervals) of scrub typhus infections was 24.93% (23.27–26.60). Gender-wise pooled prevalence was estimated to be 50.23% (47.05–53.40) for males and 48.84% (45.87–51.80) for females. Eschar prevalence was observed to be 30.34% (22.54–38.15) among the positive cases. One-fourth of all the samples tested positive for scrub typhus and eschar was present in one-third of these total positive cases, encompassing regions beyond the Tsutsugamushi triangle. This estimation underlines the importance of this neglected disease as a public health problem. Strengthening surveillance and implementing disease control measures are needed in the affected regions.

Recent Case Law on the Application of the Profit Split Method

Is it possible for MNEs to achieve tax certainty when using the profit split method? Recent case law demonstrates a growing controversy surrounding the profit split method application, with tax authorities becoming more proficient at challenging its use.

Appeals Court Admonition of NLRB Highlights Risks to Employers

In the recent case of Stern Produce Co. v. NLRB, Case No. 23‐1100 (2024), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia has highlighted just how far the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) will go to reach certain conclusions and has underscored the ongoing risks to employers that appear before the agency.

Assisted death for prisoners and forensic patients: complexity and controversy illustrated by four recent cases.

Medical assistance in dying (MAiD) (which includes euthanasia and assisted suicide) is available in an increasing number of countries. In Belgium, The Netherlands and Switzerland (and was due to be implemented in Canada from 2024) eligibility includes mental suffering in the absence of any physical disorder. There are particular ethical and legal issues when considering MAiD for those involuntarily detained in prisons and hospitals. We describe four recent cases that illustrate these complexities, and highlight issues of equivalence of healthcare and self-determination against concerns about the criteria for determining eligibility of those with non-terminal conditions as well as the objections raised by victims and families and the demands for justice.

Resisting and Reclaiming: Squatting as Contentious Urban Politics in the U.S.

Abstract Squatting as contentious politics has been well studied globally, expanding knowledge of how everyday people resist injustices, strive to remake cities, and respond to local/regional conditions. These histories and contemporary struggles have largely been overlooked in the U.S. This article uses qualitative data to compare three recent cases of organized housing occupations in Detroit (2011), Oakland (2019), and Philadelphia (2020) by mothers of color with their children, to better understand how this form of global urban politics manifests in the U.S. Using this comparison, we identify important dimensions that have shaped these three cases of contentious politics and their outcomes, including differences in goals, tactics, and socio-spatial context. We also uncover the diagnostic and prognostic frames reflected in each case: despite common legal violations, each case purposefully diagnoses locally-rooted housing problems and suggests different property-relations as solutions. We find that each case varies in terms of what kind of property squatters target, how these spaces reflect broader structural problems in the U.S. housing market, and what kind of property-relations they envision with these occupations. In turn, our findings also advance understanding of this global urban politics by showing how squatting efforts may dovetail with place-based legacies, such as racial segregation and settler colonialism in the U.S. Researchers have long attended to organized housing struggles in their varied manifestations, but by foregrounding resistance to and reclaiming of property by squatters, we draw out understudied problems and possibilities related to land and housing occupations that are subverted within broader housing studies.

Vicarious trauma among legal practitioners and judicial officers

The term ‘vicarious trauma’ refers to a range of cumulative and harmful effects from exposure to the trauma of others and is now recognised as a category of causation in the diagnostic criteria of post-traumatic stress disorder. Legal practitioners may be exposed to the risk of harm from vicarious trauma in a number of occupational contexts. This article reviews recent case authority, including a 2023 prosecution of Court Services Victoria for failing to provide a safe workplace in the Coroners Court of Victoria and the High Court decision in Kozarov v Victoria (2022) and the Victoria Court of Appeal decision in Bersee v Victoria (2022). It considers measures that should be taken to provide a workplace for both legal practitioners and judicial officers that is as safe and without risks to health as is reasonably practicable.

Exploring the Link between Smartphone Use, Recorded Violence, and Social Sharing in 80 Case Studies in Italy

The increasing prevalence of violence recorded and shared through smartphones in today’s digital age has raised concerns about the underlying reasons driving such behavior. However, the lack of experimental studies and scientific evidence exploring the relationship between smartphone use and acts of violence has hindered our understanding of this phenomenon. To bridge this gap, the present study aimed to investigate the potential link between smartphone usage and the perpetration of violence, specifically focusing on incidents where violent acts were recorded and shared publicly. Given the challenges associated with directly observing such occurrences and the limitations of self-reporting due to social desirability bias, the study adopted a novel approach by analyzing major news outlets. Cross-referencing the most recent cases involving 80 episodes of violence, spanning from 2017 to 2023, accompanied by smartphone-recorded videos, the research aimed to gain insights into the role and outcomes of content dissemination. The findings revealed a concerning trend, indicating a rise in violence perpetrated with the aid of smartphones, where subsequent sharing on social networks and instant messaging platforms contributed to the viral spread of such content. This study provides valuable insights into the connection between smartphone usage, violence, and the sharing of violent content. The implications of these findings highlight the need for further research and the development of tools to detect and address violence-related issues in the digital space. Moreover, it emphasizes the importance of responsible social media usage and collective efforts to curb the spread of violent content and foster a safer online environment.

Publishing important work that lacks validity or reproducibility – pushing frontiers or corrupting science?

ABSTRACT Scientific research requires objectivity, impartiality and stringency. However, scholarly literature is littered with preliminary and explorative findings that lack reproducibility or validity. Some low-quality papers with perceived high impact have become publicly notable. The collective effort of fellow researchers who follow these false leads down blind alleys and impasses is a waste of time and resources, and this is particularly damaging for early career researchers. Furthermore, the lay public might also be affected by socioeconomic repercussions associated with the findings. It is arguable that the nature of scientific research is such that its frontiers are moved and shaped by cycles of published claims inducing in turn rounds of validation by others. Using recent example cases of room-temperature superconducting materials research, I argue instead that publication of perceptibly important or spectacular claims that lack reproducibility or validity is epistemically and socially irresponsible. This is even more so if authors refuse to share research materials and raw data for verification by others. Such acts do not advance, but would instead corrupt science, and should be prohibited by consensual governing rules on material and data sharing within the research community, with malpractices appropriately sanctioned.

First reported case in an Irish flock of MCF- like systemic necrotizing vasculitis in sheep associated with ovine herpesvirus 2

BackgroundOvine gammaherpesvirus 2 (OvHV-2) is the causative agent of sheep associated malignant catarrhal fever (MCF). As sheep are the adapted host for OvHV-2, it is generally presumed that infection is not associated with disease in this species. However, a recent case review combined in-situ hybridisation, PCR and histopathology and correlated the viral distribution with systemic necrotizing vasculitis and concluded OvHV-2 was the likely agent responsible for sporadic, MCF-like vascular disease in sheep.Case presentationUsing similar methods this case study reports on the findings of the first reported cases in an Irish Flock of MCF- like systemic necrotizing vasculitis in sheep associated with OvHV-2. Sheep A, a 16-month-old Texel-cross hogget displayed signs of ill- thrift, Sheep B, a nine-month-old Belclare-cross lamb, was found dead having displayed no obvious symptoms. Both cases occurred on the same farm, however the animals were not related. Lymphohistiocytic vasculitis of various tissues was the predominant histopathological finding in both animals.ConclusionBy combining histopathology, PCR and in-situ hybridisation results, MCF- like systemic necrotizing vasculitis associated with OvHV-2 has been diagnosed for the first time in an Irish flock.

The False Hope of Stewardship in the Context of Controlling Shareholders: Making Sense Out of the Global Transplant of a Legal Misfit

Abstract In 2010, the United Kingdom issued the world’s first stewardship code. Since then, stewardship codes have been issued in many of the world’s leading economies and now exist in twenty jurisdictions on six continents, with more jurisdictions considering adopting them. In the United Kingdom, stewardship codes were promised to transform rationally passive institutional investors into actively engaged shareholders to prevent another global financial crisis (GFC). More recently, the new 2020 U.K. Stewardship Code (U.K. Code) has been promoted as a mechanism to save the planet by incentivizing institutional investors to pressure listed companies to focus on environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG). There is a vigorous debate and developed literature on whether the U.K. Code will achieve these goals. However, what has been lost in this debate is that outside of the United Kingdom/United States it may not matter nearly as much if stewardship succeeds in changing the behavior of institutional investors. This is because, with the notable exception of the United Kingdom/United States, institutional investors are collectively minority shareholders in most listed companies in almost every jurisdiction in the world. Moreover, in almost every jurisdiction, with the notable exception of the United Kingdom/United States, most listed companies already have a rationally active—non-institutional—controlling shareholder as their “steward.” Why then have jurisdictions around the world adopted U.K.-style stewardship codes which are designed based on the assumption that institutional investors collectively control most listed companies? This Article answers this question by undertaking the first in-depth global comparative analysis of the curious transplant of U.K.-style stewardship codes into jurisdictions dominated by controlling shareholders and examines the role that stewardship plays in these jurisdictions. It does this by drawing on a unique collection of recent in-depth case studies on stewardship in twenty-two jurisdictions by leading corporate law experts, hand-collected data analyzing the content of every stewardship code that has ever been issued, and fresh hand-compiled data on shareholder ownership structures in listed companies around the world. It reveals that stewardship has been coopted by governments and institutional investors to serve their own diverse purposes—a troubling trend which will likely be exacerbated post-Covid-19, when an authentic focus on an inclusive society and the environment will be more critical than ever.

A Legal Conundrum - The Duty to Reasonably Accommodate: A Comment on Legal Aid South Africa v Jansen 2020 41 ILJ 2580 (LAC)

Persons with disabiliites are a historically marginalised minority, but they do possess the capacity to make a valuable contribution in the workplace. Disabilty in no way dimisses the right of individuals to be employed and to make a contribution to the labour market and the economy at large. Recent case law suggests that the duty to reasonably accommodate disabled respondents remains a conundrum for both respondents and employers in South Africa. In Legal Aid South Africa v Jansen 2020 41 ILJ 2580 (LAC) the Labour Appeal Court (LAC) overturned a judgment by the Labour Court that found that Legal Aid unfairly discriminated against a respondent with depression. In 2018, the Labour Court ordered Legal Aid to reinstate Mr Jansen in that it had acted unfairly as his depression was most likely the true cause for his misconduct. On appeal, the LAC emphasised that in order to prove automatic unfair dismissal an applicant must prove both factual and legal causation. The LAC further found that the most dominant reason for Mr Jansen's dismissal was his misconduct and not his depression. Nonetheless, the LAC emphasised that depression is a prevalent illness in the current work environment and that all employers have a duty to deal with depression in a sympathetic manner and were reminded of their obligation to investigate the disability fully, to consider reasonable accommodation and to consider alternatives short of dismissal. Respondents were also reminded of the fact that they need to co-operate with their employers. Whilst South Africa has made significant progress in enacting legislation, codes, and guidelines to lay the foundation for reasonable accommodation, role-players, with specific reference to employers and the judiciary, often overlook these detailed guidelines, especially in cases where the employee suffers from depression. Disabilty is often used interchangeably with incapacity, which is problematic. This article argues that employers should follow a broad interpretation of the guidelines contained in the Code of Good Practice: Key Aspects on the Employment of People with Disabilities (2002), as well as the Technical Assistance Guidelines. Multi-party consultations and investigations need to be conducted, with the assistance of experts, if needs be. It is further suggested that until South Africa has targeted legislation and policies which make disability management functions mandatory, reasonable accommodation will remain a conundrum.