Trust Issues Research Articles

Transforming online voting: a novel system utilizing blockchain and biometric verification for enhanced security, privacy, and transparency

As a cornerstone of democratic governance, elections hold unparalleled significance, shaping a nation’s trajectory. However, the prevailing ballot-paper based voting systems continue to face trust issues among significant populations. As a result, e-Voting has emerged as an appealing alternative, with numerous countries opting for its implementation globally. While e-Voting systems offer several advantages, they also come with their own set of challenges. Even a minor vulnerability can lead to massive manipulations in voting results. In recent years, there have been efforts to revolutionize the e-Voting paradigm by harnessing the potential of emerging technologies such as biometrics and blockchain. This paper proposes a Internet-based voting that adopts blockchain technology and biometric identification techniques. We use biometric modalities, such as fingerprint and facial recognition, for voter authentication while leveraging Hyperledger Fabric framework as blockchain network and ensuring a secure, transparent, and tamper-evident voting record. We demonstrate the proposed system with 100 participants in a preset environment where we collect the biometrics data. The results indicate that 87% of participants successfully registered with biometrics, while 88% cast their votes with a combination of either voter ID and fingerprint or voter ID with facial recognition. Our findings suggest that the proposed system allows voters to access the system seamlessly and automate identity verification procedures while ensuring a secure, decentralized, and distributed database network that maintains transparency. Future research shall be carried out in collaboration with election officials and voters to improve the system in real-world scenarios.

Trust in the government and regulation: do they play a part in CSR decoupling-tax relationship?

ABSTRACT This paper investigates if trust in the government and regulation influence the relationship between Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) decoupling and tax avoidance. Malaysia is deliberately examined following a recent trust issue between its citizen and the former government, in addition to a recent urge for tax avoidance regulation. The findings reveal that trust in the government and regulation do not influence the overall issues of CSR and tax at corporate level. The findings lend credence to the belief that the relationship between CSR and tax is not limited solely on the ethical feature, but beyond. Decision of CSR and tax at corporate level may be driven by other factors than mere contribution to society. The findings provide theoretical and practical implications, particularly to future researchers in the area, companies and the government.

The influence of social media on public attitudes and behaviors towards cosmetic dermatologic procedures and skin care practices: A study in Saudi Arabia.

Social media has fostered a landscape where trends, ideals, and beauty standards have significantly proliferated. Images of flawless skin, sculpted features, and curated aesthetics inundate user feeds, potentially shaping their self-perceptions and aspirations. The rise of influencers, dermatologist social media engagement, and beauty campaigns sharing skincare routines and product recommendations wield substantial influence over individual appearance-related decisions. The main aim of this study is to determine the pattern of behavior in using social media to seek dermatological procedures and skin care routine. We conducted a nationwide, online cross-sectional study targeting the general Saudi population. Our survey aimed to understand participant social media behaviors and gather insights into skincare products, cosmetic procedures, and makeup habits. Gender-related differences emerged in seeking skincare advice. Females preferred dermatologists on social media (p < 0.001) and beauty influencers (p < 0.001), whereas men leaned towards pharmacists (p < 0.001). Women displayed stronger engagement with dermatologist social media reputation regarding non-cosmetic concerns (p < 0.001), education (p < 0.001), and social media impact on cosmetic decisions (p = 0.001). They frequently sought dermatologists on social media before appointments (p = 0.001), whereas men emphasized dermatologists' fame (p = 0.024). Common cosmetic barriers included high costs (62.5%), complications (40.3%), and trust issues (40.2%). Women underwent various cosmetic procedures (p < 0.05), influenced by social media in their decisions and skincare routines. Our study reveals significant gender-based disparities in seeking skincare advice. Women rely on social media, clinics, friends, and beauty influencers, whereas men prefer pharmacists. Additionally, women depend on dermatologists' social media reputation and conduct thorough pre-appointment research. Their heightened social media engagement links to skincare practices and influences cosmetic procedure considerations based on age and usage frequency.

Factors Influencing the Integration of Traditional Medicine and Mainstream Medicine in Mental Health Services in West Africa: A Systematic Review Using Narrative Synthesis

This study explored the enablers and obstacles to the integration of traditional medicine and mainstream medicine in mental health services in West Africa. This study is a systematic review conducted in accordance with the relevant parts of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-analyses. Keywords searches were done in databases, and other reference lists were also searched. The Rainbow model of integrated care and a thematic analysis framework were used to account for the factors influencing the integration of traditional medicine and mainstream medicine in mental health services in West Africa. A total of 12 studies met the eligibility criteria after the evaluation of 6413 articles from databases and reference lists. The themes of: policy and implementation; different conceptualisation of mental health/referrals; trust issues, and education and training, were enablers or obstacles of integration depending on how they worked to facilitate or hinder integration. There was an indication of little integration of TM and MM at the macro, meso and micro levels in mental health services in West Africa. Though the study does cover all the West African states evenly, it is recommended that policy-makers and stakeholders interested in integration should ensure integration activities, especially policies, cut across all the levels of the rainbow model of integrated care and are planned and aligned at the macro, meso and micro levels instead of using ad hoc measures, informal initiatives or placing TM services in MM mental health services, which do not amount to integration.

Policies and cultural beliefs: Community perceptions about COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Indonesia.

Vaccine hesitancy is a global concern and a significant threat to COVID-19 vaccination programs. This study aimed to explore vaccine hesitancy from the perspective of the Indonesian community related to policies and cultural beliefs. A descriptive qualitative approach was utilized in this study. Twenty participants were recruited from various settings to ensure the representation of experiences in different contexts in Indonesia. Audio-recorded, semi-structured, individual, in-depth interviews were carried out. Content analysis was performed to identify the main key themes. Twenty participants were recruited from various regions of Java Island, Indonesia. The participants revealed hesitancy about the COVID-19 vaccine, including the themes of mistrust, controversy, and the culture and beliefs of the community. This study highlights COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Indonesia, which may have implications for the community's perceptions and beliefs regarding the uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine. The trust issue remains a major challenge to convincing the community to accept the vaccine at the grassroots level. Targeted education and communication strategies are essential in addressing trust issues surrounding COVID-19 vaccines among critical stakeholders and religious leaders in Indonesia. Public health nursing plays a crucial role in fostering community acceptance and ensuring the success of vaccination programs.

Enhancing Team Performance in The Digital Age: Impact of Technologically Moderated Communication in The Interplay of E-Leadership &amp; Trust

As the COVID-19 pandemic concluded, anticipating future health crises underscores the urgency of effective management and adaptable organizations. This paper draws from existing literature on e-leadership, virtual teams, and organizations, and conceptualizes a foundation to explore e-leadership challenges in virtual contexts. Emphasizing the pivotal role of e-leadership competencies in bridging technology-mediated interactions and effective leadership, the study addresses communication, trust, and coordination issues within virtual teams. It illuminates the impact of technology and assesses how diversity shapes the link between employee engagement and performance. The paper contributes to theoretical knowledge in the field, highlighting the importance of trust-building, relationship cultivation, and clear communication. Moreover, its practical implications offer insights into organizational practices and guide leaders in navigating challenges and opportunities posed by virtual teams and organizations.

Hazardous Chemicals Logistics Internet of Vehicles Based on Encryption Algorithm

With the advancement of information and communication technology, vehicles role in people's lives is not just for transportation but also equipment for the carrier of mobile communication. The new direction is provided by the Internet for the automobiles development and upgrading. Internet of Vehicles (IoVs) includes smart vehicles, Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) as well as roadside units (RSUs) that communicate for providing the enhanced transportation services such as high traffic efficiency and reduced congestion and accidents. In the hazardous chemical logistics sector, the integration of Internet of Vehicles (IoVs) introduces significant security, privacy, and trust challenges. Vulnerabilities to cyberattacks, such as hacking and data manipulation, threaten the integrity of sensitive information regarding hazardous cargo, while concerns about location privacy and data minimization arise due to the tracking of vehicle movements. Ensuring authentication, authorization, and compliance with regulatory standards is essential for building trust within the IoV ecosystem, as any compromise in supply chain integrity could lead to safety hazards or legal liabilities. Robust encryption algorithms like AES and RSA play a crucial role in securing data transmission, but proper implementation and key management practices are necessary to prevent cryptographic weaknesses. Addressing these issues comprehensively is vital for safeguarding the transportation of hazardous chemicals and ensuring the safety of both the environment and the public. IoVs, suffer from security, privacy and trust issues. In order to solve the problem of hazardous chemical logistics of encryption algorithm, the author proposed a research on the information security of the Internet of Vehicles. Firstly, the information characteristics of dangerous chemicals vehicles are analyzed, then analyze the Data Encryption Standard (DES) algorithm. Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) algorithm is analyzed in the symmetric cryptosystem and then RSA algorithm is analyzed in the public key cryptosystem. Finally, the performance of the algorithm and the characteristics of vehicle information are comprehensively analyzed. The security of Internet of Vehicle's data transmission is efficiently improved by the proposed method.

The Impact of China-Japan Economic Cooperation on Regional Security: A Case Study of the Japanese Official Development Assistance (ODA) to China

The issuance of the China-Japan Joint Declaration in 1972 marked the beginning of reconciliation and exchanges between the two countries, and since then Sino-Japanese relations have continued to advance in twists and turns. The issue of territorial sovereignty, historical understanding and changes in relative strength in the political field of the two countries have all hindered the development of bilateral relations. However, the implementation of the China-Japan Joint Declaration has provided many new possibilities for exchanges and cooperation between the two countries, and the continuous development of economic relations between the two countries has promoted the improvement of bilateral relations and regional security. This paper finds that the Japanese official development assistance (ODA) to China initially brought China and Japan closer and promoted the improvement of regional security, but later due to the emergence of many problems, Japan's ODA policy was adjusted, making the role of the ODA in promoting bilateral relations and regional security disappear. Therefore, economic cooperation should not be affected by the issue of political mutual trust, and economic cooperation without political interference could be the best way to improve Sino-Japanese relations today.

An attribute-based access control scheme using blockchain technology for IoT data protection

With the wide application of the Internet of Things (IoT), storing large amounts of IoT data and protecting data privacy has become a meaningful issue. In general, the access control mechanism is used to prevent illegal users from accessing private data. However, traditional data access control schemes face some non-ignorable problems, such as only supporting coarse-grained access control, the risk of centralization, and high trust issues. In this paper, an attribute-based data access control scheme using blockchain technology is proposed. To address these problems, attribute-based encryption (ABE) has become a promising solution for encrypted data access control. Firstly, we utilize blockchain technology to construct a decentralized access control scheme, which can grant data access with transparency and traceability. Furthermore, our scheme also guarantees the privacy of policies and attributes on the blockchain network. Secondly, we optimize an ABE scheme, which makes the size of system parameters smaller and improves the efficiency of algorithms. These optimizations enable our proposed scheme supports large attribute universe requirements in IoT environments. Thirdly, to prohibit attribute impersonation and attribute replay attacks, we design a challenge-response mechanism to verify the ownership of attributes. Finally, we evaluate the security and performance of the scheme. And comparisons with other related schemes show the advantages of our proposed scheme. Compared to existing schemes, our scheme has more comprehensive advantages, such as supporting a large universe, full security, expressive policy, and policy hiding.

Impacts of Gang Involvement on Health and Well-Being: The Perilous Dimensions of Leisure

Extant studies on gangs have primarily focused on the adverse effects of gang activity on communities and risk factors for involvement, while information on the impacts of engagement in deviant leisure activities associated with gangs on the health and well-being of gang members is lacking. Therefore, using constructivist grounded theory and the biopsychosocial model, this study explored the impacts of gang affiliation and related leisure on the physical and mental well-being and life prospects of former gang members. Data were collected through 39 in-depth interviews with 38 former gang members and recreation practitioners working with gangs. Findings revealed that gang-related leisure was detrimental to physical health, leading to acquired addictions, injuries, and disabilities. Mental health consequences included depression, suicidal ideation, post-traumatic stress disorder, sleep disorders, emotional detachment, and anger issues. These psychological traumas, guilt, self-doubts, trust issues, and the stigma of gang membership negatively affected their social relations and life prospects.

Research on Information Sharing Among Supply Chain Financial Enterprises Based on Blockchain

As a key mechanism to alleviate the financing difficulties of small and medium-sized enterprises, supply chain finance has an important impact on corporate growth and supply chain stability. However, the traditional model faces transparency and trust issues due to insufficient information sharing. The development of blockchain technology provides new solutions to these problems, especially in terms of improving information sharing efficiency, enhancing transparency and security. Therefore, this article explores the application and compatibility of blockchain in supply chain finance by building a supply chain financial information sharing system based on blockchain. By analyzing typical scenarios and business processes, it is proven that this system can effectively improve the efficiency of supply chain financial operations, reduce transaction costs, and enhance overall trust. The results not only provide a new technical path for the practice of supply chain finance, but also provide a theoretical reference for the construction of the supply chain finance system under the new development pattern.

Institutional arrangements for improving water and sanitation services in the rural villages of India: a systems thinking approach

AbstractThis study examines the impact of institutional arrangements on water and sanitation (WATSAN) services in a village context in India. Data from households in Nagla Chandi village in Uttar Pradesh state were used to assess the situation. A systems thinking approach was employed to identify intervention points and improve access. The study identified under‐resourced local institutions, a lack of village‐level WATSAN rules and regulations, a lack of participation by both public institutions and communities, and trust issues as the critical barriers to accessing WATSAN services. It advocates for setting up a local WATSAN fund to ensure sustainable service delivery and a better understanding of the broader governance environment for sustainable WATSAN delivery in rural communities.

Belief-neutral Versus Belief-linked Knowledge as Predictors of Climate-change Opinions

Previous research on climate-relevant knowledge distinguishes between two types: belief-linked (facts which can be guessed based on general climate beliefs) and belief-neutral (facts which require specific knowledge). To better understand these differences, we used data from nationwide US 2016 and 2021 surveys to develop composite indicators of the two types of knowledge. We analyzed demographic predictors of each type, as well as their effect on climate change belief. Further, we examined the issue of trust in science. The findings point to some novel insights. One, not all knowledge is equal; specific, belief-neutral knowledge in particular is less necessary for climate change belief. And two, trust in science is more relevant for fostering climate change belief than either knowledge type. Although this poses certain challenges, given the ideological divide when it comes to scientific trust, it is also useful information for policymakers and science communicators about where to direct energy and resources when engaging with the public.

Reliance on sources of immunization information and vaccine uptake among older adults in a rural state: The mediating role of trust

Older adults are more vulnerable to the negative impacts of infectious diseases than younger individuals. However, regardless of the importance and effectiveness of vaccines to reduce morbidity and mortality, issues remain with vaccine hesitancy among this population. Older adults’ sources of immunization information and their level of trust in those sources may play a role in their vaccination behaviors. This research aimed to better understand the role of information sources and related issues of trust as related to vaccine uptake among older adults. A community-based, cross-sectional survey was conducted with 901 older adults in North Dakota in May-July 2022. Measures included extent of reliance on specific sources of immunization information, levels of trust, and uptake for influenza, pneumonia, shingles, and COVID-19 vaccinations. Immunization information sources were grouped into medical experts, informal, and public outlets. Results indicated older adults were more likely to rely on medical experts than informal sources or public outlets for immunization information. Greater reliance on medical experts was associated with a greater likelihood of vaccine uptake for all vaccines, while reliance on public outlets was associated with a greater likelihood of vaccine uptake only for COVID primary series and boosters. Reliance on informal sources for immunization information was associated with a reduced likelihood of vaccine uptake for all vaccines except shingles. Nearly half of respondents were uncertain who to trust for vaccine information. Uncertainty who to trust for immunization information significantly mediated the associations between reliance on medical experts and uptake for most vaccines indicating that trust in medical experts fosters vaccine uptake. Increasing reliance on medical experts as sources of immunization information is vital to increasing vaccine uptake among older adults. Additionally, this population must be assisted in increasing their ability to successfully assess the trustworthiness of immunization information sources.

Exploring the Prospects and Challenges of Artificial Intelligence in Shaping the Future of Web 3.0

Abstract: In the era of digital innovation, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a pivotal catalyst, unlocking new avenues for the evolution of Web 3.0. Web 3.0 signifies the next phase of the internet, characterized by decentralized structures, peer-topeer networks, and cutting-edge technologies like blockchain and smart contracts. This research provides an in-depth exploration of the role played by AI in shaping Web 3.0, delving into both its opportunities and challenges. AI proves instrumental in processing and analysing vast datasets with increased efficiency, fostering intelligent decision-making and insightful outcomes. The paper extensively covers essential Web 3.0 concepts and technologies, encompassing the Semantic Web and ontologies, and underscores AI's transformative potential across diverse industries such as healthcare, finance, and education. An analysis of the challenges posed by AI in the Web 3.0 landscape, including issues of data privacy, bias, trust, and ethics, is presented. Furthermore, the research examines the broader societal implications of AI in Web 3.0. Conclusively, the paper outlines future directions and implications of AI within the Web 3.0 framework, proposing potential areas for subsequent research. By contributing to a comprehensive understanding of AI's impact on web development and its broader societal implications, this research aims to guide future endeavours in this dynamic field.

Trust on the BRICS Scale as in the Case of Brazil

The paper presents historical, political, legal and economic facts taken from open sources that have formed the specifics of the political mentality and public consciousness in Brazil. They have an impact on the established community of factors affecting trust in this country. Brazil is a BRICS member with high economic growth potential, on the one hand, and cultural and business characteristics, on the other, which makes this state attractive for research. The author comprehensively approaches the issue of trust, considering the trust of the electorate in the first person, the level of implementation of artificial intelligence and trust in Brazilian society, the influence of the media on the perception of other states and trust in them. The relationship of trust — economy — culture is being analyzed. It is noted that the level of education of the population raises the level of trust in society. There is a struggle for scientific and technological progress between the leading economic powers. The use of soft and smart power as a tool of influence or a weapon of mass influence is considered. The prerequisites for the accumulation of trust potential as a necessary element of economic growth are analyzed.

Sociocultural barriers to outsourcing housework: Unraveling the non‐use of domestic services

AbstractThe outsourcing of housework is broadly recognized as providing an impetus for increasing women's participation in the labor market and relieving the burdens of households with children and dual earners. Despite an objective need, demand for paid domestic services is low, even for households with sufficient financial resources. By drawing on a German survey of cohabiting couples aged between 30 and 60, we analyze households that have, to date, not used domestic services (N = 1479). Based on items about attitudes toward domestic services, we identify five distinct attitude profiles defined by diverse combinations and levels of sociocultural barriers to outsourcing housework, including gendered expectations, privacy concerns, aversion toward a servant culture, and trust and control issues. Our results establish that half of the sample exhibits scarcely any sociocultural aversion to the employment of domestic help. While some of these households report preferring to do housework within the family, households of higher social strata, in particular, express a need for external support, but are hindered by an insufficient supply of and access to appropriate paid domestic services. In contrast, the other half of the sample consists of subgroups of rejectors, revealing different levels of disapproval and normative‐moral profiles concerning outsourcing. Interestingly, complete rejectors are often found in low‐income households, indicating a strong connection between socioeconomic and sociocultural characteristics. The results highlight the potential for future developments within the domestic service sector to meet customers' normative and moral concerns.

Adversarial Fairness Network

Fairness is becoming a rising concern in machine learning. Recent research has discovered that state-of-the-art models are amplifying social bias by making biased prediction towards some population groups (characterized by sensitive features like race or gender). Such unfair prediction among groups renders trust issues and ethical concerns in machine learning, especially for sensitive fields such as employment, criminal justice, and trust score assessment. In this paper, we introduce a new framework to improve machine learning fairness. The goal of our model is to minimize the influence of sensitive feature from the perspectives of both data input and predictive model. To achieve this goal, we reformulate the data input by eliminating the sensitive information and strengthen model fairness by minimizing the marginal contribution of the sensitive feature. We propose to learn the sensitive-irrelevant input via sampling among features and design an adversarial network to minimize the dependence between the reformulated input and the sensitive information. Empirical results validate that our model achieves comparable or better results than related state-of-the-art methods w.r.t. both fairness metrics and prediction performance.

National and International Collaboration and its Impact on Economic Development

National and international collaboration plays a pivotal role in the globalized world’s economic development. This research paper examines the definition of such collaboration and its significant impact on economic growth. It delves into the economic benefits, challenges, and strategies for successful collaboration. The paper also explores the influence of collaboration on the global economy and its potential to reduce poverty and inequality. Collaboration is shown to facilitate technology transfer, knowledge exchange, and mutual economic growth, but it also presents hurdles like trust issues and divergent motivations. Strategies, such as proper preparation and facilitation, are recommended to mitigate these challenges. Collaboration between stakeholders, including universities, enterprises, and governments, contributes to economic development and innovation. It is especially significant in addressing global economic issues and building a green economy to alleviate poverty and inequality. Collaboration not only strengthens economic ties between countries but also promotes social and environmental sustainability. In conclusion, the paper underscores the importance of collaboration in achieving a more prosperous and equitable world while addressing the complexities and opportunities it presents in the context of economic development.&#x0D; &#x0D; Received: 3 February 2024 / Accepted: 5 March 2024 / Published: 23 March 2024

Assessing and neutralizing multi-tiered security threats in blockchain systems

Blockchain technology, the backbone of digital cryptocurrencies, has rapidly ascended as a pivotal tool in modern commerce due to its decentralized, immutable nature. It offers fresh, innovative avenues for overcoming trust issues inherent in traditional trading systems. Yet, the unique traits that make blockchain advantageous also render it vulnerable. Cybercriminals are ceaselessly innovating, devising new tactics to exploit these vulnerabilities and resulting in a surge of security incidents that have led to substantial economic losses. The increasing frequency and sophistication of these attacks jeopardize the integrity and stability of blockchain networks. This paper offers a comprehensive study of blockchain system architecture, the principles underlying various attack methods, and viable defense strategies, all organized within a hierarchical framework. Initially, the paper categorizes blockchain attacks according to the hierarchy of blockchain systems, providing a detailed exploration of the characteristics and principles behind these attacks at each level. Next, the paper summarizes existing countermeasures and proposes effective new strategies for bolstering blockchain security. The paper concludes with a recap of its key findings and outlines the landscape for future research in blockchain security.