Ethics of Human Resources Management in the Cameroonian Health System, Medical Nomadism and the Ineffectiveness of the Fight against High Blood Pressure

Context/objectives: The fight against Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) is a long-term undertaking, which requires available, motivated and well-managed human resources (HR). The administrative management of skills on both qualitative and quantitative levels is one of the essential functions of a health system. To better implement policies of fight against High Blood Pressure (HBP) and other chronic diseases, it is important to establish strategies to retain health personnel. This loyalty requires favorable working conditions and consideration of the contribution-reward couple. Good working conditions are likely to reduce the phenomenon of medical nomadism;conversely, poor HR management can contribute to their exodus towards exotic “green pastures”, thus leading to an additional crisis in the Cameroonian health system. The fight against HBP is a complex, multifaceted and multifactorial reality that requires appropriate management model for all types of resources mainly HR. The main objective of this research is to show the impact of poor management of human resources in Cameroon health system on medical nomadism and the ineffectiveness of the fight against High Blood Pressure. Method: A cross-sectional descriptive survey among five hundred (500) health facilities in the center region of Cameroon has been conducted. A stratified probabilistic technique has been used, and the number of health facilities to be surveyed has been determined using the “sample size estimation table” of Depelteau. The physical questionnaires have been printed and then distributed to data collectors. After data collection, the latter were grouped during processing in Excel sheets. The Chi-square test was used for data with a qualitative value and that of Kolmogorov-Sminorf for data with a quantitative value to assess the normality and reliability of data. The Crochach’s Alpha reliability test allowed us to have a summary of the means and variances and then to search for intragroup correlations between variables. Descriptive analysis was possible with the XLSTAT 2016 software. Results: 43.60% of Health Facilities (HF) managers were unqualified. 82.20% of HF managers have staff in a situation of professional insecurity. They are mainly contractual (49.00), decision-making agents (24.40%), casual agents (08.80). The proportion of unstable personnel is average of 22.00% and very unstable, 12.00%.

Exploring the intersection of the medical metaverse and healthcare ethics:future considerations and caveats

The medical metaverse and digital twin are set to revolutionise healthcare.Like all emerging technologies their benefits must be weighed against their ethical and social,impacts.If we consider the advances of medical technology as an expression of our values,such as the pursuit of knowledge,cures and healing,an ethical study allows us to align our values and steer the technology towards an agreed goal.However,to appreciate the long-term consequents of a technology,those consequences must be considered in the context of a society already shaped by that technology.This paper identifies the technologies currently shaping society and considers the ethical,and social consequences of the medical metaverse and digital twin in that future society.

The Role of Ethics in Library and Information Practice

Applied ethics finds application in all spheres of social life,one of which is the field of library and information science.Ethics is an important pillar contributing to the systematic order of the library and its collection.Ethical principles are contained in key documents such as the Librarian’s Code of Ethics,partly in the Library(Lending)Regulations,and should therefore be adopted by every member of staff.The library profession consists not only of working with information,namely making it available,but also of setting up effective communication towards users(readers)in the form of defining optimal solutions eliminating the problems that arise.The aim of our efforts is to capture the most common problems that arise from misunderstandings between librarian and user(reader)and to make clear what specific role ethical values play in library and information practice.

On Evaluating University Teachers’ Morality and Ethics in the New Era

University teachers play an important role in promoting moral and political education among university students.Regular and long-term construction of teachers’morality and ethics will contribute to the success of the fundamental task of cultivating talents.The present study proposes that due to the multiple identities of university teachers,it is necessary to evaluate the construction of teachers’morality and ethics in terms of what to evaluate and how to evaluate?It is expected that the attempt will provide useful guidance for the construction of university teachers’morality and ethics.

The Value and Realization Strategy of Teacher Ethics Construction in Colleges and Universities under the Perspective of“Cultivating People by Virtue”

“Cultivating people by virtue”has become the foundation of China’s education,and is the top priority of college education.“Only the learned can become teachers,and only those who behave properly can become role models”.The construction of teachers’ethics in colleges and universities is the premise of realizing the fundamental task of moral education,the need of teachers,the key to realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation,and it is also the way to correct the bad atmosphere in colleges and universities.In the construction of teachers’ethics,teachers should understand their roles and improve their professional ethics,schools should improve the guarantee system of teachers’ethics construction,meanwhile,improve the status of teachers and create a social environment of respecting teachers and valuing teachers.

Recognition of Ethics and Sustainability:A Case Study of Coca-Cola

Corporate ethics and sustainable development are receiving increasing attention in today’s society.More and more companies are realizing that ethical and sustainable development is not only a requirement for fulfilling social responsibility but also a key factor for achieving long-term growth and sustainable competitive advantage.As a result,companies are integrating ethics and sustainability into their strategies,decisions,and operations to achieve both business success and social benefit.However,some companies shout sustainability and environmental protection slogans;the actual practice differs from the claim.This paper combined the planning and actual data of the Coca-Cola Company and found that the Coca-Cola Company was suspected of greenwashing.While Coca-Cola does contribute to the environment,there is a difference between what it does and what it says.As for the possibility of this problem,the article also makes a relative solution and assessment.

Challenges and Suggestions of Ethical Review on Clinical Research Involving Brain-Computer Interfaces

Brain-computer interface(BCI)technology is rapidly advancing in medical research and application.As an emerging biomedical engineering technology,it has garnered significant attention in the clinical research of brain disease diagnosis and treatment,neurological rehabilitation,and mental health.However,BCI also raises several challenges and ethical concerns in clinical research.In this article,the authors investigate and discuss three aspects of BCI in medicine and healthcare:the state of international ethical governance,multidimensional ethical challenges pertaining to BCI in clinical research,and suggestive concerns for ethical review.Despite the great potential of frontier BCI research and development in the field of medical care,the ethical challenges induced by itself and the complexities of clinical research and brain function have put forward new special fields for ethics in BCI.To ensure"responsible innovation"in BCI research in healthcare and medicine,the creation of an ethical global governance framework and system,along with special guidelines for cutting-edge BCI research in medicine,is suggested.

Applications and advancements in animal models for antiviral research on mosquito-borne arboviruses

Vector-borne diseases caused by arthropod-borne viruses(arboviruses) are a considerable challenge to public health globally. Mosquito-borne arboviruses, such as Chikungunya, Dengue, and Zika viruses, cause a range of human illnesses and may be fatal. Currently, efforts to control these diseases still face challenges due to growing vector resistance towards insecticides, urbanization, and limited effective antiviral treatments and vaccines. Animal models are crucial in antiviral research on mosquito-borne arboviruses, playing a role in understanding disease mechanisms,vaccine development, and toxicity testing, but the application of animal models still faces the challenges of ethical considerations and animal-to-human translational success. Genetically engineered mouse models, hamster models and non-human primate(NHP) are currently used in arbovirus research, but new models such as tree shrews and novel humanized mice are emerging. In the context of Malaysian research, the use of long-tailed macaques as potential NHP models for arbovirus research is possible;however, it faces the ethical dilemma of using an endangered species for scientific purposes. Overall, animal models play a crucial role in advancing infectious disease research, but a balance between medical research and species conservation must be upheld.

Ethical and strategic challenges of AI weapons: A call for global action

1 Impending prophecy About a decade ago,theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking expressed extreme concern about the development of artificial intelligence(AI),stating that"the development of full artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race.Concurrently,in 2014,entrepreneur Elon Musk expressed similar cautionary sentiments,suggesting that AI might surpass nuclear weapons in terms of danger.Despite these warnings,the prevailing sentiment at the time was largely skeptical.However,only a few years later,on May 30,2023,hundreds of artificial intelligence experts and other notable figures issued a 22-word statement[1]warning against the“risk of extinction.”

Tackling the Existential Threats from Quantum Computers and AI

Although AI and quantum computing (QC) are fast emerging as key enablers of the future Internet, experts believe they pose an existential threat to humanity. Responding to the frenzied release of ChatGPT/GPT-4, thousands of alarmed tech leaders recently signed an open letter to pause AI research to prepare for the catastrophic threats to humanity from uncontrolled AGI (Artificial General Intelligence). Perceived as an “epistemological nightmare”, AGI is believed to be on the anvil with GPT-5. Two computing rules appear responsible for these risks. 1) Mandatory third-party permissions that allow computers to run applications at the expense of introducing vulnerabilities. 2) The Halting Problem of Turing-complete AI programming languages potentially renders AGI unstoppable. The double whammy of these inherent weaknesses remains invincible under the legacy systems. A recent cybersecurity breakthrough shows that banning all permissions reduces the computer attack surface to zero, delivering a new zero vulnerability computing (ZVC) paradigm. Deploying ZVC and blockchain, this paper formulates and supports a hypothesis: “Safe, secure, ethical, controllable AGI/QC is possible by conquering the two unassailable rules of computability.” Pursued by a European consortium, testing/proving the proposed hypothesis will have a groundbreaking impact on the future digital infrastructure when AGI/QC starts powering the 75 billion internet devices by 2025.

Helping People and Changing the World with CS

What should academic institutions be doing in order to benefit students,the community at large,and society in the new era?Particularly,as computing is impacting all aspects of human society,it also brings many challenges and opportunities for the academic departments of computer science.Some of these challenges include the increasing impact of software on society,issues involving privacy and data abuse,and ethical issues concerning AI.Towards addressing these challenges,the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology(KAIST)leverages its position as an educator in order to train the future computing workforce to be more aware of these issues.To achieve this goal,KAIST mainly adopts three strategies:Combining science&technology and humanities together;putting academy and industry together;training software experts while making them understand people and the world.

Integrating GPT into the Journalism and Communication Industries:The Technological Logic,Ecosystem Reconstruction,and Ethical Chal enges

Generative AI,represented by GPT(Generative Pre-trained Transformer),is now leading the technological revolution and is reconstructing the journalism and communication industries'ecosystems because of its powerful generative capacity and diverse range of outputs.While GPT is busy revolutionizing and innovating the production of news content,working patterns,and operation modes,it has also given rise to ethical concerns in regard to news authenticity,data security,humanistic values,and other related aspects.Therefore,it is imperative to initiate strategies and approaches,such as establishing a mechanism for verifying information authenticity,enhancing data security and privacy regulations,and instituting an ethical supervision and governance framework for AI,in order to facilitate the systematic advancement of AI-based news production while reinstating public trust.

The Ethical Choice of Business English Interpreters under Chesterman’s Model of Translation Ethics

This paper explores the ethical challenges encountered by business English interpreters using Chesterman’s Model of Translation Ethics,set against the context of economic globalization and the“Belt and Road”initiative.With the increasing demand for interpreters,the paper delves into the ongoing discussion about the role of AI in translation and its limitations,especially concerning cultural subtleties and ethical issues.It highlights the importance of human interpreters’cross-cultural understanding and the ethical principles that inform their work,such as the Ethics of Representation,Service,Communication,Norm-based Ethics,and Commitment.Moreover,the paper examines how these ethical models are applied in practical business situations,including business banquets,business negotiations,business talks and business visits,etc.,and investigates the cultural misunderstandings that may occur during these interactions.The study concludes that although AI provides efficiency and cost savings,human interpreters are essential for their capacity to handle the intricacies of cross-cultural communication with cultural awareness and ethical discernment.

The AI Paradox: Mapping the Unintended Disruptions in IT and Beyond

In the realm of Artificial Intelligence (AI), there exists a complex landscape where promises of efficiency and innovation clash with unforeseen disruptions across Information Technology (IT) and broader societal realms. This paper sets out on a journey to explore the intricate paradoxes inherent in AI, focusing on the unintended consequences that ripple through IT and beyond. Through a thorough examination of literature and analysis of related works, this study aims to shed light on the complexities surrounding the AI paradox. It delves into how this paradox appears in various domains, such as algorithmic biases, job displacement, ethical dilemmas, and privacy concerns. By mapping out these unintended disruptions, this research seeks to offer a nuanced understanding of the challenges brought forth by AI-driven transformations. Ultimately, its goal is to pave the way for the responsible development and deployment of AI, fostering a harmonious integration of technological progress with societal values and priorities.

Biobanks and biomarkers:Their current and future role in biomedical research

The importance and utility of biobanks has increased exponentially since their inception and creation.Initially used as part of translational research,they now contribute over 40%of data for all cancer research papers in the United States of America and play a crucial role in all aspects of healthcare.Multiple classification systems exist but a simplified approach is to either classify as population-based or disease-oriented entities.Whilst historically publicly funded institutions,there has been a significant increase in industry funded entities across the world which has changed the dynamic of biobanks offering new possibilities but also new challenges.Biobanks face legal questions over data sharing and intellectual property as well as ethical and sustainability questions particularly as the world attempts to move to a low-carbon economy.International collaboration is required to address some of these challenges but this in itself is fraught with complexity and difficulty.This review will examine the current utility of biobanks in the modern healthcare setting as well as the current and future challenges these vital institutions face.

Designing a medical ethics curriculum in ophthalmology

Ethical principles form a bedrock to medical practice in any specialty,guiding physicians to appropriate attitudes and behaviors.A formal ethics curriculum can be difficult to generate de novo in an ophthalmology training program.A number of barriers exist in most ophthalmology departments:trainees may think ethics is of secondary importance compared to core basic and clinical science topics;most ophthalmology faculty have no formal degree in medical ethics;there is limited didactic time with competing academic,clinical,and surgical priorities;work-hours regulations may limit the time available to deliver“para-professional”lectures;and there is a belief that the medical ethics lectures during medical school is a sufficient amount of coursework to last through a physician’s career with no need for continuing professional development.The four pillars of medical ethics are beneficence,non-maleficence,autonomy,and justice.In addition,morals,ethics,and professionalism are important aspects of sound medical practice.A curriculum specific to medical ethics in ophthalmology can be developed in any of our sub-specialties and include lectures,curated readings,case rounds,and clinic wrap-up sessions.Ethical considerations are part of everyday clinical practice,and a structured ethics curriculum can be incorporated into ophthalmology training programs.The concept of backward design can be used to structure the curriculum,starting with the expected outcome,then designing authentic assessments,and finally putting together a learning plan that has students actively involved in ethical discussions.This paper will provide a guide to developing an ethics curriculum for an ophthalmology training program utilizing the concept of backwards design and guide the reader through the process of developing expected learning outcomes,authentic assessments,and a unified learning plan.

From the mathematical model to the patient: The scientific and human aspects of artificial intelligence in gastrointestinal surgery

Recent medical literature shows that the application of artificial intelligence(AI)models in gastrointestinal pathology is an exponentially growing field,with pro-mising models that show very high performances.Regarding inflammatory bowel disease(IBD),recent reviews demonstrate promising diagnostic and prognostic AI models.However,studies are generally at high risk of bias(especially in AI models that are image-based).The creation of specific AI models that improve diagnostic performance and allow the establishment of a general prognostic fo-recast in IBD is of great interest,as it may allow the stratification of patients into subgroups and,in turn,allow the creation of different diagnostic and therapeutic protocols for these patients.Regarding surgical models,predictive models of post-operative complications have shown great potential in large-scale studies.In this work,the authors present the development of a predictive algorithm for early post-surgical complications in Crohn's disease based on a Random Forest model with exceptional predictive ability for complications within the cohort.The pre-sent work,based on logical and reasoned,clinical,and applicable aspects,lays a solid foundation for future prospective work to further develop post-surgical prognostic tools for IBD.The next step is to develop in a prospective and mul-ticenter way,a collaborative path to optimize this line of research and make it applicable to our patients.

Navigating AI Cybersecurity: Evolving Landscape and Challenges

The rapid integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into critical sectors has revealed a complex landscape of cybersecurity challenges that are unique to these advanced technologies. AI systems, with their extensive data dependencies and algorithmic complexities, are susceptible to a broad spectrum of cyber threats that can undermine their functionality and compromise their integrity. This paper provides a detailed analysis of these threats, which include data poisoning, adversarial attacks, and systemic vulnerabilities that arise from the AI’s operational and infrastructural frameworks. This paper critically examines the effectiveness of existing defensive mechanisms, such as adversarial training and threat modeling, that aim to fortify AI systems against such vulnerabilities. In response to the limitations of current approaches, this paper explores a comprehensive framework for the design and implementation of robust AI systems. This framework emphasizes the development of dynamic, adaptive security measures that can evolve in response to new and emerging cyber threats, thereby enhancing the resilience of AI systems. Furthermore, the paper addresses the ethical dimensions of AI cybersecurity, highlighting the need for strategies that not only protect systems but also preserve user privacy and ensure fairness across all operations. In addition to current strategies and ethical concerns, this paper explores future directions in AI cybersecurity.

Can propensity score matching replace randomized controlled trials?

Randomized controlled trials(RCTs)have long been recognized as the gold standard for establishing causal relationships in clinical research.Despite that,various limitations of RCTs prevent its widespread implementation,ranging from the ethicality of withholding potentially-lifesaving treatment from a group to relatively poor external validity due to stringent inclusion criteria,amongst others.However,with the introduction of propensity score matching(PSM)as a retrospective statistical tool,new frontiers in establishing causation in clinical research were opened up.PSM predicts treatment effects using observational data from existing sources such as registries or electronic health records,to create a matched sample of participants who received or did not receive the intervention based on their propensity scores,which takes into account characteristics such as age,gender and comorbidities.Given its retrospective nature and its use of observational data from existing sources,PSM circumvents the aforementioned ethical issues faced by RCTs.Majority of RCTs exclude elderly,pregnant women and young children;thus,evidence of therapy efficacy is rarely proven by robust clinical research for this population.On the other hand,by matching study patient characteristics to that of the population of interest,including the elderly,pregnant women and young children,PSM allows for generalization of results to the wider population and hence greatly increases the external validity.Instead of replacing RCTs with PSM,the synergistic integration of PSM into RCTs stands to provide better research outcomes with both methods complementing each other.For example,in an RCT investigating the impact of mannitol on outcomes among participants of the Intensive Blood Pressure Reduction in Acute Cerebral Hemorrhage Trial,the baseline characteristics of comorbidities and current medications between treatment and control arms were significantly different despite the randomization protocol.Therefore,PSM was incorporated in its analysis to create samples from the treatment and control arms that were matched in terms of these baseline characteristics,thus providing a fairer comparison for the impact of mannitol.This literature review reports the applications,advantages,and considerations of using PSM with RCTs,illustrating its utility in refining randomization,improving external validity,and accounting for non-compliance to protocol.Future research should consider integrating the use of PSM in RCTs to better generalize outcomes to target populations for clinical practice and thereby benefit a wider range of patients,while maintaining the robustness of randomization offered by RCTs.

Navigating the ethical terrain:Off-label and experimental treatments in medical case reports

This article explores the ethical considerations surrounding the reporting of offlabel and experimental treatments in medical case reports,with a focus on fields such as oncology,psychiatry,and pediatrics.It emphasizes the balance between innovation and evidence-based medicine,highlighting the critical role of case reports in disseminating clinical experiences and advancing medical knowledge.The discussion delves into the ethical framework guiding case reporting,including principles of patient autonomy,informed consent,non-maleficence,beneficence,justice,and transparency.Challenges such as negative outcome reporting,commercial interests,and the balance between innovation and caution are examined.Recommendations for ethical vigilance,the development of comprehensive guidelines,and the role of regulatory bodies are proposed to ensure patient safety and uphold scientific integrity.The article concludes by underscoring the importance of a collaborative effort among clinicians,researchers,ethicists,and regulatory bodies to foster the responsible advancement of medical science while adhering to the highest ethical standards.