Search Results (144)

This study examines institutional processes in digital justice through a mixed conceptual approach that integrates bibliometric analysis and technology-adoption modeling, incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) as a projected component rather than an implemented system. A corpus of approximately 200 Scopus-indexed documents (2003–2024) was analyzed, identifying five dominant thematic clusters: advanced technologies, institutional justice, digital government, judicial information management, and digital criminal justice. The results reveal persistent gaps in the literature, particularly in rural and underserved communities, where connectivity barriers and the limited application of adoption models hinder inclusive digital transformation. As an institutional contribution, the study presents the conceptual design of the digital solution “Travel Permits—Accessible Justice”, developed under a Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) and projected for future integration with AI-supported components to automate judicial authorizations through biometric validation, electronic signatures, and digital delivery. To evaluate its potential acceptance, the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) is analytically adapted and extended to the community-based judicial context, framing institutional learning processes as a prospective form of learning analytics focused on user interaction, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and behavioral intention. Taken together, the integration of bibliometric evidence with an extended TAM, along with the projected incorporation of AI-supported institutional learning processes, offers a coherent foundation for future studies on inclusive digital innovation in justice environments. Full article

Indonesia faces persistent challenges in crime forecasting and judicial resource management, compounded by chronic underreporting and inconsistent spatial resolution in official crime statistics. In this study, a multi-level spatio-temporal machine learning framework is developed and applied to 95,666 adjudicated crime records from the Supreme Court of Indonesia spanning January 2023 to June 2024. Following the CRISP-DM methodology, a hybrid STL-XGBoost v. 3.2.0 model is trained on a chronological split to forecast daily judicial caseloads, achieving an R² of 0.8070, MAE of 16.52, and sMAPE of 9.76% on the held-out test set. DBSCAN spatial clustering, parameterized via k-distance plot analysis ($\mathrm{ϵ}={0.3}^{\circ }$, $minPts$ = 3) and validated through Jaccard Similarity Index sensitivity analysis, identifies 29 distinct adjudicated crime hubs concentrated along Java and Sumatra’s urban and transit corridors. Comparative analysis of reported versus adjudicated crime data reveals systematic judicial funnel attrition ranging from 199.12% in Riau to 2436.02% in Papua, establishing that adjudicated crime records provide a reliable indicator of judicial workload rather than a comprehensive measure of social deviance. Key limitations, including the 18-month observation window that may not capture long-term policy shifts and the use of city centroids as spatial proxies that introduces a degree of ecological fallacy, are acknowledged. The framework offers a scalable, interpretable decision support tool for evidence-based judicial resource planning across national, provincial, and city scales in Indonesia. Full article

The escalating scale and complexity of cybercrime necessitate standardized digital forensic protocols to ensure the integrity and admissibility of digital evidence. This study empirically assesses the use of ISO/IEC 27037 and ISO/IEC 27041 through three real-world digital forensic case studies conducted in organizational settings. A multi-case methodology was employed, encompassing a multinational corporate criminal investigation, an internal employee misbehaviour probe, and an examination into mobile- and cloud-based data leaks. The effect of synchronized standard implementation was evaluated using audit-based and quantitative indicators that measure forensic process quality as a system attribute. The findings demonstrate that the systematic implementation of ISO/IEC 27037 and ISO/IEC 27041 improves investigative traceability, documentation quality, and evidentiary robustness. In the worldwide case study, documentation completeness increased by 18%, and all digital evidence was deemed admissible in judicial proceedings, surpassing the institutional baseline admissibility rate of 82%. In other instances, evidence gathered within the same framework was acknowledged in organizational or disciplinary review processes, resulting in similar enhancements in documentation quality and procedural consistency, notwithstanding technological and organizational limitations. The paper develops and empirically substantiates an integrated procedural validation model that connects evidence-handling practices with method and instrument validation. The results indicate that the synchronized implementation of ISO/IEC forensic standards improves the transparency, dependability, and auditability of digital forensic investigations. Full article

The Ottoman Empire possessed a multi-religious social structure whose continuity was maintained through legal and administrative mechanisms. While Muslims, Christians, and Jews preserved their religious identities within the imperial framework, conversion was a closely monitored and regulated process at both the individual and public levels. Because religious conversion had direct consequences for taxation, legal and social status, family structure, and communal affiliation, it became a matter of concern for the Ottoman legal order. In this context, the sharia courts constituted the primary institutional arena in which cases of ihtidā (conversion) were recorded, supervised, and given legal effect; they also produced the principal documentation that verified the procedural validity of conversion and secured the legal standing of new Muslims. This study examines the social and legal contexts of religious conversion in the Ottoman provinces through cases recorded in the sixteenth- to nineteenth-century court registers of the district of Rodosçuk. It challenges interpretations that portray ihtidā as a coercive and one-directional policy of Islamization, demonstrating instead that legal protection and economic opportunity could function both as outcomes of conversion and as enabling preconditions. The study also questions assumptions about systematic judicial bias against non-Muslims, emphasizing that in the Rodosçuk example the courts operated as a neutral forum accessible to different confessional communities. The evidence suggests that conversion unfolded through slow, gradual, and largely individual processes shaped by the combined influence of religious, economic, and social motivations. Full article

In the field of forensic document examination, accurately determining the chronological sequence of intersecting lines between seal ink and handwriting is a crucial technical step for verifying document authenticity, identifying contract tampering, and detecting forged signatures. This technique analyzes the physical superimposition relationship formed by the deposition of the two media on the paper substrate to provide objective scientific evidence for judicial practice. Although traditional methods such as microscopic imaging and mass spectrometry analysis have achieved some progress, they still suffer from common limitations including high equipment costs, complex operation, and potential damage to samples. This study proposes and validates an innovative non-destructive determination method that integrates structured light 3D reconstruction technology with deep learning algorithms. The research captures the microscopic 3D morphological features of the ink intersection area using a high-precision structured light scanning system and effectively eliminates noise interference caused by paper substrate undulation through Gaussian flattening technology. Subsequently, a multimodal fusion strategy combines 2D texture images with 3D depth information to construct a dataset rich in features. On this basis, a deep learning model based on an improved Residual Neural Network (ResNet) is designed, incorporating the ELU activation function and an EMA mechanism to enhance the model’s feature extraction capability and convergence stability. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method achieves a recognition accuracy of 94.39% on the test set, fully validating its effectiveness and application potential in the non-destructive determination of ink stroke sequencing. Full article

Dog bite incidents constitute significant public health, animal welfare, and economic concerns with substantial physical and psychological consequences for victims. Despite legislative responses, research indicates that breed-focused interventions are ineffective in reducing dog bite risk. Human behaviour, caregiving practices, and environmental context all play central roles in the expression of human-directed canine aggression. Current methods of assessing dog bite risk remain largely unstructured, dog-centred, and reliant on subjective judgement and provocative behavioural testing. These approaches exhibit limited predictive validity and poor reliability, and are vulnerable to bias, raising serious concerns for public safety, judicial fairness, and animal welfare. Comparable challenges in human violence risk assessment led to the development of an evidence-based structured professional judgement (SPJ) assessment framework, which combines empirical risk factors with individualised case formulation and dynamic risk management. An SPJ framework for dog bite risk would ensure the systematic consideration of empirically supported static and dynamic risk factors relating to the dog, caregivers, and related environmental conditions, while supporting the development of targeted risk reduction strategies. Conclusion: Developing an SPJ approach offers a more scientifically grounded, ethically defensible, and prevention-focused method for managing dog bite risk, with potential benefits for public safety, animal welfare, and professional practice. Full article

Extremely preterm infants often require prolonged respiratory support due to lung immaturity and inflammation, placing them at high risk of lung injury and development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). In many of these infants, systemic postnatal corticosteroids are used to reduce lung inflammation, facilitate mechanical ventilation (MV) weaning and extubation, and improve short-term pulmonary outcomes. However, despite decades of clinical use, substantial variation persists in timing, choice of agent and dosing. These inconsistencies reflect a lack of strong evidence and a limited understanding of the systemic and organ-specific effects of therapy for a highly heterogenous population usually exposed to this medication. This narrative review addresses these gaps by integrating current knowledge of the inflammatory and respiratory effects of postnatal corticosteroids in extremely preterm infants. We explore how corticosteroids modulate pulmonary inflammation, their effects on lung development, and how they affect key clinical outcomes such as extubation success and BPD severity. We also examine evolving approaches to corticosteroid administration and dosing, highlighting the importance of individualized strategies informed by developmental and disease-specific considerations. Comparative data from randomized controlled trials are reviewed, including the efficacy and side-effect profiles of commonly used regimens. Current evidence supports judicious use of late low-dose dexamethasone, while early prophylaxis with inhaled or intratracheal steroids remains experimental and is not routinely advised. In line with a physiology-driven approach, we also discuss emerging domain-specific monitoring tools that may enhance patient selection and optimize timing of intervention. By synthesizing mechanistic insights with clinical evidence, this review supports a more nuanced, individualized approach to postnatal corticosteroid therapy in extremely preterm infants, balancing therapeutic benefits with potential systemic trade-offs. Full article

Compensation for mental distress in preschool children is a crucial mechanism for protecting their personality rights, yet current judicial practice in China relies heavily on judicial discretion and lacks child-sensitive standards for determining severity. Following the enactment of the Preschool Education Law of the People’s Republic of China in 2025, the principle of the Best Interests of the Child has placed new behavioral and developmental requirements on decision-making, particularly regarding the recognition of children’s expressive limitations and psychological vulnerability. Drawing on representative judicial cases, this research identifies inconsistencies in current adjudication—primarily between factual presumption and medical proof—and highlights their failure to reflect preschoolers’ developmental characteristics. To address this gap, we construct a child-centered liability determination framework integrating the Lundy model of child participation and Nussbaum’s Capabilities Approach. This framework provides a structured method for incorporating children’s voices into proceedings and offers multidimensional criteria for assessing capability impairment as an indicator of mental distress severity. These findings suggest that the framework can help reduce excessive discretion, strengthen developmental sensitivity, and promote more consistent and equitable adjudication. Beyond the Chinese context, this research offers an analytical lens for advancing international discussions on child-centered mental distress assessment and children’s rights protection. Full article

The management of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in premature infants remains a significant debate in neonatology. Interventions aimed at accelerating ductal closure, often using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or acetaminophen, are common practice. However, recent evidence increasingly challenges this approach. Pharmacological agents for PDA closure demonstrate limited efficacy and carry significant risks of systemic toxicity, affecting renal, gastrointestinal, vascular, and pulmonary systems. Multiple recent randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and meta-analyses have largely failed to demonstrate that early active treatment improves crucial clinical outcomes such as mortality, bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), or necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Some studies even suggest potential harm, particularly an increased risk of BPD and mortality in vulnerable extremely preterm infants. Procedural closure methods (surgical ligation, transcatheter techniques), while achieving anatomical closure, also pose significant risks and lack evidence of improved clinical outcomes. Given the high rates of spontaneous PDA closure, especially in extremely preterm infants, and the lack of proven benefit alongside potential harm from interventions, a paradigm shift towards expectant or conservative management is gaining support. This approach emphasizes supportive care, minimizing interventions, and may be complemented by the judicious use of postnatal corticosteroids in selected infants with significant lung disease, which might indirectly facilitate ductal closure by addressing underlying inflammation. Full article

Preeclampsia (PE) has traditionally been regarded as a pregnancy-limited hypertensive disorder; however, accumulating evidence increasingly positions it as a pivotal early-life vascular stress test that manifests underlying vulnerabilities and accelerates biological aging. Women with a history of PE exhibit a heightened susceptibility to premature-onset multi-systemic diseases, specifically cardiovascular, ovarian, renal, and metabolic decline. This suggests that PE acts as a catalyst for accelerated aging, driven by shared pathophysiological pathways that represent common mechanisms of systemic senescence. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the epidemiological links and pathogenic drivers underpinning accelerated systemic aging following PE, with a specific focus on the cardiovascular-ovarian axis. Epidemiological data consistently demonstrate that women with prior PE exhibit significantly reduced anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels, translating to an estimated 1.5-year acceleration in reproductive aging. In parallel, PE is associated with a twofold increase in lifetime cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and the onset of chronic hypertension occurring an average of 7.7 years earlier. However, reconciling the phenotypic heterogeneity of PE and transcending the constraints of non-experimental designs are essential for firmly establishing this accelerated aging paradigm. At the molecular level, PE and ovarian aging converge on shared pathways—including mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, inflammation, and epigenetic dysregulation—collectively defining a distinct pathogenic ovarian–vascular aging axis. Proposed geroscience-based strategies advocate for refined risk stratification by incorporating molecular aging biomarkers—such as epigenetic clocks and inflammatory profiles—alongside conventional clinical indicators. This integrative framework facilitates the early identification of high-risk aging phenotypes, enabling targeted monitoring and timely interventions to preemptively modulate accelerated aging pathways. Pharmacological approaches within this framework emphasize the judicious repurposing of established agents, such as metformin, statins, and SGLT2 inhibitors, while emerging gerotherapeutics, including senolytics and senomorphics, provide a conceptual foundation for targeting the fundamental biological drivers of senescence. Although these geroprotective strategies, including the repurposing of established agents and the use of senolytics, offer innovative conceptual frameworks for targeting the fundamental drivers of senescence, they remain largely exploratory and require further clinical validation. Such strategies offer novel opportunities to shift the clinical focus from treating isolated comorbidities to modulating the shared molecular substrates of aging, ultimately promoting healthy aging and functional longevity in the elderly female population. Full article

Autosomal short tandem repeat (STR) markers remain the cornerstone of modern forensic genetics, providing exceptional power for individualization, kinship verification, and reconstruction of complex investigative cases. Over the last decade, the field has undergone a major technological transition from length-based capillary electrophoresis (CE) toward sequence-level characterization using massively parallel sequencing (MPS), enabling detection of internal sequence variants (isoalleles) and flanking-region polymorphisms that substantially increase discriminatory power in many forensic contexts. Although MPS is increasingly adopted in forensic laboratories, implementation remains dependent on infrastructure, cost considerations, validation requirements, and jurisdiction-specific legal frameworks. This review synthesizes the molecular mechanisms underlying STR variability, including replication slippage and mutation processes, and critically evaluates the transition to sequencing-based analysis. Particular attention is given to analytical challenges such as stochastic effects in ultra-low-template DNA and PCR inhibition in degraded samples. Special emphasis is placed on identification of skeletal remains from mass graves and historical contexts, where hierarchical analytical strategies—from mini-STR approaches to MPS-based workflows—enable recovery of highly fragmented DNA. The review also examines the evolution of probabilistic genotyping (PG), highlighting the importance of algorithmic transparency and reproducible analytical frameworks for judicial applications. By integrating technological advances with practical forensic challenges, this review outlines a comprehensive framework for implementing high-resolution STR analysis in contemporary genomic casework. As a narrative synthesis, the conclusions reflect currently available published evidence and acknowledge variability in validation status, implementation practices, and regional forensic infrastructures. Full article

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is consistently associated with cognitive impairment and dementia through mechanisms that extend beyond classical cardioembolic stroke. However, the relative contribution of these pathways and the effectiveness of available therapeutic strategies for preserving cognition remain uncertain, as most data come from observational studies with a substantial risk of bias. Objectives: This review narratively synthesizes contemporary evidence on epidemiology, pathophysiological mechanisms, therapeutic strategies—including anticoagulation, rhythm control, and comprehensive risk-factor management—and the role of digital health technologies in the relationship between AF and cognitive decline. Methods: We performed a narrative, PRISMA-informed scoping review of observational cohorts, mechanistic studies, randomized clinical trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses published up to January 2026, identified through structured searches in MEDLINE/PubMed and complementary sources. Studies were selected if they examined (i) associations between AF and cognitive impairment or dementia, (ii) mechanistic pathways linking AF to brain injury, (iii) therapeutic interventions with cognitive or brain imaging outcomes, or (iv) digital health technologies applied to AF management. Heterogeneity in study design and outcome assessment precluded meta-analysis; therefore, we provide a qualitative synthesis, explicitly distinguishing observational evidence from randomized data and discussing key sources of confounding. Risk of bias was evaluated using validated tools: ROBINS-I for non-randomized studies, RoB 2.0 for RCTs, Newcastle–Ottawa Scale for observational cohorts, and AMSTAR-2 for systematic reviews. Results: Large population-based cohorts and meta-analyses indicate that AF is associated with a 1.4–2.2-fold higher risk of cognitive impairment or incident dementia, even after adjustment for shared vascular risk factors and exclusion of patients with prior stroke; nevertheless, residual confounding and selection bias cannot be excluded. Silent cerebral infarcts are detected in roughly one-quarter to two-fifths of AF patients without clinical stroke and are themselves associated with cognitive deficits, suggesting that subclinical embolism represents one important, but not exclusive, pathway. Additional mechanisms include chronic cerebral hypoperfusion, neuroinflammation, small vessel disease, and structural brain atrophy, all of which are incompletely disentangled from comorbidities. Observational data suggest that oral anticoagulation, particularly with direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs), is associated with lower rates of dementia compared with no anticoagulation or warfarin, but randomized trials such as BRAIN-AF and GIRAF have not demonstrated a clear cognitive benefit, underlining the low-to-moderate certainty of this evidence. Rhythm-control interventions, especially catheter ablation, are associated with lower dementia incidence in registry studies, yet strong selection effects and short follow-up limit causal inference. Digital health tools and ABC-pathway mobile applications improve cardiovascular outcomes and adherence, although cognitive endpoints remain largely unexplored. Conclusions: AF should be conceptualized as a neurovascular condition with important implications for brain health, rather than a purely cardiac rhythm disorder confined to stroke prevention. A comprehensive heart–brain management strategy that combines optimal anticoagulation, individualized rhythm control, aggressive vascular risk factor modification, routine cognitive screening in older or high-risk patients, and judicious use of digital health technologies may offer the best opportunity for preserving cognition, although rigorous trials with cognitive endpoints are still needed to establish causality. Full article

Background: Dietary guidance for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) frequently discourages fruit consumption due to intrinsic sugars, despite extensive evidence supporting the anti-diabetic properties of fruit-derived polyphenols. This reductionist, carbohydrate-only model inadequately reflects the complex bioactive matrices of whole fruits. Objective: To develop an integrated analytical framework that quantitatively balances the predicted anti-diabetic bioactivity of fruit polyphenols against their glycemic burden, and to apply this model to fruits commonly consumed in the Korean market. Methods: Nutritional and phytochemical composition data for five fruits sourced from Korea and India were obtained from national food databases to ensure broader phytochemical diversity. Six representative polyphenols were selected based on abundance and reported significance. Molecular docking was conducted against α-glucosidase and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) to estimate target-specific affinity, and a “Total Predicted Anti-Diabetic Score” (TPAS) was computed by weighting docking potency by compound concentration. A risk–benefit matrix integrating TPAS and sugar content was applied to classify fruits, followed by a cultivar-level comparison of major grape varieties. Results: Hesperidin exhibited the strongest predicted PPAR-γ binding (−9.3 kcal/mol). Among whole fruits, grapes and oranges showed the highest TPAS (593.19 and 448.77, respectively), placing them in the “redemptive choice” category (high benefit/high glycemic risk). Comparative cultivar analysis identified the Campbell Early grape as the most advantageous option, with a Holistic Value Score (HVS) of 9.5, notably higher than Shine Muscat (3.9). Conclusions: This study presents a structured, computation-driven framework capable of integrating phytochemical potency and nutritional risk into a unified metric for dietary evaluation. Despite higher sugar content, fruits rich in potent polyphenols may confer substantial metabolic benefit when consumed judiciously. These findings challenge sugar-centric dietary models and provide an evidence-based tool for consumer-level guidance in T2DM dietary management. Full article

A growing body of evidence indicates that the gut microbiota has a role in the mating preference process in mammals. This likely occurs through the modulation of various mating signals induced by symbiotic bacteria, thereby leading to variations in mating behavior. Given that giant pandas are solitary wild animals that rely on chemical signals for mate selection, it is relevant to explore whether the mating behavior of giant pandas is also affected by the gut microbiota. We hypothesize that antibiotic treatment-induced residual antibiotic resistance genes in captive giant pandas may disrupt intestinal microbiota homeostasis, diminish the abundance of beneficial microorganisms involved in short-chain fatty acid synthesis, and consequently impair nervous system function via the gut–brain axis. The ensuing physiological stress is likely to suppress innate mating behavior and compromise pheromone synthesis, thereby reducing an individual’s attractiveness to potential mates. To answer this question, we utilize fecal metagenomics technology to analyze the differences in gut microbes and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) between captive male adult giant pandas displaying natural versus non-natural mating behavior. The research findings suggest that, when compared with captive adult male giant pandas demonstrating natural mating behavior, those with non-natural mating behavior exhibit a significantly reduction in the abundance of beneficial gut microorganisms (s_Clostridium sp. and f_Ruminococcaceae) (p < 0.05). Concurrently, there is a significantly increase in the observed resistance genes tetO and mgtA, which are mainly associated with macrolide and tetracycline resistance (p < 0.05). Furthermore, Kegg functional analysis reveals a significant up-regulation of metabolic pathways related to sensory systems, such as taste and olfactory transduction, in the intestines of captive adult male giant pandas showing natural mating behavior. These results imply that changes in the abundance of gut microbiota and ARGs are correlated with the manifestation of natural mating behavior in captive adult male giant pandas. Consequently, to improve the success rate of natural reproduction within the male giant panda populations in captive environments, it is advisable to administer antibiotics judiciously and closely monitor the composition of beneficial bacteria in their gut microbiota. The findings of this study provide novel perspectives on the mechanisms by which captive conditions affect the decline in natural mating behavior observed in adult male giant pandas. Full article

Against the backdrop of comprehensively promoting a green economy to drive high-quality development, curbing corporate greenwashing is pivotal to advancing this agenda. Consequently, leveraging the quasi-natural experiment presented by the gradual regional rollout of intermediate environmental courts, this study employs A-share data from Chinese listed companies between 2012 and 2024, utilizing a difference-in-differences approach. It empirically examines the impact of environmental judicial systems on corporate greenwashing practices. The findings reveal that the policy of establishing intermediate environmental courts exerts a restraining effect on corporate greenwashing. This conclusion remains robust across a series of stability and endogeneity tests. Mechanism analysis indicates that this policy reduces greenwashing by enhancing judicial efficiency, upgrading green strategies, and strengthening rights protection oversight. Further analysis indicates that the negative effect of intermediate environmental courts on corporate greenwashing is more pronounced among state-owned enterprises, heavily polluting industries, and regions with stringent environmental regulations. This provides substantial evidence that specialized environmental adjudication effectively curbs corporate greenwashing. Consequently, leveraging environmental judicial mechanisms to curb corporate greenwashing and promote green innovation holds significant implications for advancing high-quality socio-economic development. Full article