Potential Misuse Research Articles

Cipher key instructions in early modern Europe: analysis and text edition

We present an overview of instructions for the use of European historical cipher keys in early modern times. We describe the structure of instructions and the content presented to the key users. We exemplify various key instruction types and give a text edition of typical examples in various languages. The study is based on the analysis of more than 1,600 cipher keys collected from archives and libraries in ten European countries. We examine the practical implementation of cipher keys to the extent that instructions offer insights into everyday cryptographic practices. We focus on the typical rules scribes were expected to adhere to and the common errors they were instructed to avoid. We aim to reconstruct the apprehensions and considerations of the authors of cipher keys: They sought to offer assistance to users while likely harboring concerns regarding the potential misuse of their intellectual product. Given the secretive nature of cryptology, the documentation of knowledge transfer is scarce. In addition to the detailed manuals authored by well-known cryptologists, anonymous cipher key instructions offer valuable insights into this knowledge transfer process. By studying these instructions, historians gain direct access to a realm of knowledge that would otherwise remain hidden from their view.

Impact of chronic opioid on cognitive function and spermatogenesis in rat: An experimental study.

Opioid analgesics like morphine and methadone are widely used for managing severe pain; however, concerns over their potential misuse and adverse effects on the brain and reproductive system are significant. We aimed to investigate their impacts on spermatogenesis and cognitive function in male Norway rats. In this experimental study, 36 male Norway rats (250-300 gr, 6 months old) were divided into 6 groups: low-dose morphine, high-dose morphine, low-dose methadone, high-dose methadone, positive control (received normal saline at 5 mg/kg), and negative control (received no treatment). Morphine and methadone were administered intraperitoneally over 30 days at doses of 3 mg/kg and 7 mg/kg, respectively. Behavioral assessments evaluated anxiety, stress, and short- and long-term memory. Sperm parameters (viability, motility, morphology), hormonal analysis (testosterone, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, estradiol), and gene expressions (Tp53, CatSper1) were assessed. A significant reduction in rat weight was observed in the high-dose morphine group (p = 0.0045), while testicular weights remained unchanged. Sperm abnormalities were observed with high doses of methadone and morphine. High-dose methadone significantly reduced offspring count (p = 0.0004). Levels of follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, testosterone, and estradiol varied significantly across treatment groups. Gene expression was altered in response to treatments (p 0.05). Prolonged exposure to methadone and morphine resulted in memory dysfunction, chronic stress, hormonal disturbances, altered gene expression, and fertility complications. These effects were more pronounced at higher doses, highlighting the importance of careful dosage management in opioid therapy.

A Survey of Text Watermarking in the Era of Large Language Models

Text watermarking algorithms are crucial for protecting the copyright of textual content. Historically, their capabilities and application scenarios were limited. However, recent advancements in large language models (LLMs) have revolutionized these techniques. LLMs not only enhance text watermarking algorithms with their advanced abilities but also create a need for employing these algorithms to protect their own copyrights or prevent potential misuse. This paper conducts a comprehensive survey of the current state of text watermarking technology, covering four main aspects: (1) an overview and comparison of different text watermarking techniques; (2) evaluation methods for text watermarking algorithms, including their detectability, impact on text or LLM quality, robustness under target or untargeted attacks; (3) potential application scenarios for text watermarking technology; (4) current challenges and future directions for text watermarking. This survey aims to provide researchers with a thorough understanding of text watermarking technology in the era of LLM, thereby promoting its further advancement.

ENSURING PROSECUTORIAL SUPERVISION OVER THE USE OF EXPERT KNOWLEDGE IN CONDUCTING INVESTIGATIVE ACTIONS

This article explores the role of specialists and experts in criminal investigations, emphasizing their legal involvement in procedural actions, such as interrogations and evidence collection. The distinction between specialists and experts is highlighted, with experts possessing broader procedural powers in analyzing case-relevant information. The participation of educators, especially in cases involving minors, is emphasized as critical for obtaining reliable testimony. Additionally, the role of interpreters is examined, emphasizing their importance in ensuring the rights of non-native speakers during criminal proceedings. The article underscores the prosecutor's responsibility in monitoring the proper use of specialists, experts, and interpreters, as well as the importance of maintaining accuracy and preventing potential misuse. The article also touches upon legal provisions related to the participation of third parties, such as educators and interpreters, during interrogations and investigative actions, providing insights into best practices.

Data autonomy: beyond personal data abuse, sphere transgression, and datafied gentrification in smart cities

The ‘smart city’ has been driven by advances in information and communication technologies, with the aim of integrating these technologies with urban infrastructures for improved optimisation, automation and control. Smart cities have emerged as a response to the challenges faced by megacities and are likely to manifest the ‘datafying’ society in the public space. However, the pervasive nature of data collection, continuous analysis and inference, and long-term data storage result in a potentially problematic reconfiguration of society that undermines individual and collective autonomy. This article proposes the concept of ‘data autonomy’ as a guiding principle for the development of smart cities, addressing challenges related to the potential misuse of personal data, sphere transgression, and datafied gentrification. Section II. explores concerns related to data protection law, which can be understood as a proxy for the relationship between the individual and society, highlighting power dynamics and the autonomy of individuals and communities. Section III. discusses the concept of sphere transgression, where tech giants expand their influence in society without adequate expertise or accountability. Section IV. examines the potential impact of datafied gentrification on individual and collective autonomy. Building on the challenges identified throughout these sections, this paper proposes ‘data autonomy’ as a guiding principle for smart city development in section V., promoting a value-based approach centred on human dignity. To make it practicable, increased interdisciplinary collaboration in the development of smart cities is needed, with a particular focus on improved design and impact assessment methodologies.

Putting Interests of Digital Nagriks First: Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act 2023 of India

The increasing application of artificial intelligence (AI) and the extensive collection, storage and analysis of personal data by service providers have heightened privacy concerns. To address unauthorised use and potential misuse of personal information, the Government of India introduced the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act on 11 August 2023 aimed at enhancing the living standards of its digital citizens, termed as ‘digital nagriks’ in this study. This research evaluates the DPDP Act’s impact on digital nagriks across six sections, starting with an introduction to the necessity of privacy legislation and an overview of global privacy laws from countries like Singapore, the European Union and China. It then explores the origin and fundamental aspects of the DPDP Act, leveraging the literature to critically analyse its implications for privacy. The study presents observations on the Act’s current state, recommends adjustments for balancing privacy with innovation and security and highlights the need for stronger enforcement mechanisms to protect digital nagriks effectively. It concludes that while the DPDP Act is a positive advancement, explicit exceptions in future regulations could further refine this balance.

A C4 Software for Anti Drone System

Mini unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as small drones, have seen outstanding advancements in recent years and have been used in a variety of fields. However, their potential misuse for illegal activities and the risks they pose to safety and privacy have raised concerns. To address these issues, we propose a Command, Control, Communications, and Computers (C4) software able to manage and control anti-drone systems. Our software solution includes an easy-to-use dashboard that processes and displays video data from surveillance sensors. It incorporates AI-powered functionalities, including object detection, target tracking, and classification of small drones. At the inference stage, the network models for drone detection and classification functionalities have achieved an accuracy exceeding 96 %. We have evaluated the effectiveness of our solution by deploying it in a no-fly zone, where it successfully identified and tracked drones in near real-time. The proposed control system provides unified information with which the entire anti-drone process can be managed starting from the detection of each threat.

The promise and challenges of generative AI in education

ABSTRACT Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools, such as large language models (LLMs), generate natural language and other types of content to perform a wide range of tasks. This represents a significant technological advancement that poses opportunities and challenges to educational research and practice. This commentary brings together contributions from nine experts working in the intersection of learning and technology and presents critical reflections on the opportunities, challenges, and implications related to GenAI technologies in the context of education. In the commentary, it is acknowledged that GenAI’s capabilities can enhance some teaching and learning practices, such as learning design, regulation of learning, automated content, feedback, and assessment. Nevertheless, we also highlight its limitations, potential disruptions, ethical consequences, and potential misuses. The identified avenues for further research include the development of new insights into the roles human experts can play, strong and continuous evidence, human-centric design of technology, necessary policy, and support and competence mechanisms. Overall, we concur with the general skeptical optimism about the use of GenAI tools such as LLMs in education. Moreover, we highlight the danger of hastily adopting GenAI tools in education without deep consideration of the efficacy, ecosystem-level implications, ethics, and pedagogical soundness of such practices.

Limitations and Potential Dark Sides of Transformational Leadership: The Case of the Founder and Former CEO of Theranos

Transformational leadership is widely recognized as an effective leadership style; however, it is important to recognize its potential misuse, where it may serve a leader’s self-interests at the expense of others, both inside and outside the organization. In this article, we present an experiential exercise that uses the case of Theranos and its founder and former CEO, Elizabeth Holmes, to highlight the limitations and potential dark sides of transformational leadership. In this exercise, students watch three YouTube videos about Holmes, identify the characteristics of Holmes that match transformational leadership, and discuss issues with her leadership style. This exercise can be used in Introductory Management and Organizational Behavior courses, in-person or virtually. Students who have completed the exercise agree it is effective in teaching the concept of transformational leadership and in fostering active class engagement.

Exploring artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots adoption among research scholars using unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT)

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools, such as chatbots, has significantly increased in academia and research. The present study seeks to determine the key factors influencing chatbot adoption, as well as attempts to validate the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) in the context of AI chatbots adoption among research scholars. The data for this study were collected through purposive sampling using a cross-sectional survey. The population of the study comprised research scholars enrolled in three public sector universities in Pakistan. The eight-factor proposed measurement model was estimated using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) based on 30 valid items. The goodness of fit indices suggest a favourable fit for the model χ2 = 1.710, DF = 381; p = 0.000; IFI = .902; TLI = 0.886, CFI = 0.900, RMSEA = 0.056. Our research affirms that social influence, trust, and facilitating conditions play pivotal roles as primary predictors of behavioural intentions for AI chatbots adoption among scholars. The study suggests that the perceived risks associated with using AI chatbots due to their potential misuse can be minimized by effectively implementing AI user guidelines, and developing AI literacy among scholars. Information professionals and ethical libraries can play an important role in “building the bridge” between cutting-edge technology capabilities and information users’ needs and rights. The proposed eight-factor AI chatbots adoption model holds substantial potential in understanding the influence of performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, trust, perceived risk, and facilitating conditions on behavioural intention to AI chatbots adoption. This study contributes to the limited body of research investigating the factors influencing AI chatbot adoption among research scholars using the UTAUT model with additional constructs for trust and perceived risk.

Hydrophilic/hydrophobic modified microchip for detecting multiple gene doping candidates using CRISPR-Cas12a and RPA

With significant advancements in understanding gene functions and therapy, the potential misuse of gene technologies, particularly in the context of sports through gene doping (GD), has come to the forefront. This raises concerns regarding the need for point-of-care testing of various GD candidates to counter illicit practices in sports. However, current GD detection techniques, such as PCR, lack the portability required for on-site multiplexed detection. In this study, we introduce an integrated microfluidics-based chip for multiplexed gene doping detection, termed MGD-Chip. Through the strategic design of hydrophilic and hydrophobic channels, MGD-Chip enables the RPA and CRISPR-Cas12a assays to be sequentially performed on the device, ensuring minimal interference and cross-contamination. Six potential GD candidates were selected and successfully tested simultaneously on the platform within 1 h. Demonstrating exceptional specificity, the platform achieved a detection sensitivity of 0.1 nM for unamplified target plasmids and 1 aM for amplified ones. Validation using mouse models established by injecting IGFI and EPO transgenes confirmed the platform's efficacy in detecting gene doping in real samples. This technology, capable of detecting multiple targets using portable elements, holds promise for real-time GD detection at sports events, offering a rapid, highly sensitive, and user-friendly solution to uphold the integrity of sports competitions.

Artificial intelligence, adversarial attacks, and ocular warfare

PurposeWe explore the potential misuse of artificial intelligence (AI), specifically large language models (LLMs), in generating harmful content related to ocular warfare. By examining the vulnerabilities of AI systems to adversarial attacks, we aim to highlight the urgent need for robust safety measures, enforceable regulation, and proactive ethics. DesignA viewpoint paper discussing the ethical challenges posed by AI, using ophthalmology as a case study. It examines the susceptibility of AI systems to adversarial attacks and the potential for their misuse in creating harmful content. MethodsThe study involved crafting adversarial prompts to test the safeguards of a well-known LLM, OpenAI's ChatGPT-4.0. The focus was on evaluating the model's responses to hypothetical scenarios aimed at causing ocular damage through biological, chemical, and physical means. ResultsThe AI provided detailed responses on using Onchocerca volvulus for mass infection, methanol for optic nerve damage, mustard gas for severe eye injuries, and high-powered lasers for inducing blindness. Despite significant safeguards, the study revealed that with enough effort, it was possible to bypass these constraints and obtain harmful information, underscoring the vulnerabilities in AI systems. ConclusionAI holds the potential for both positive transformative change and malevolent exploitation. The susceptibility of LLMs to adversarial attacks and the possibility of purposefully trained unethical AI systems present significant risks. This paper calls for improved robustness of AI systems, global legal and ethical frameworks, and proactive measures to ensure AI technologies benefit humanity and do not pose threats.

Buprenorphine/naloxone – one formulation that doesn’t fit all: a case report

BackgroundSublingual buprenorphine, approved for treatment of opioid use disorder since 2002, is most commonly available in co-formulation with naloxone. Naloxone is an opioid antagonist minimally absorbed when sublingual (SL) buprenorphine/naloxone is taken as prescribed; it is thought to reduce potential for misuse via intravenous administration. However, growing data and clinical experience demonstrate that previously accepted assumptions about the pharmacokinetics of these medications may not apply to all patients.Case presentationWe present a patient whose adverse post-administration side effects on SL buprenorphine/naloxone resolved with transition to SL buprenorphine monoproduct.DiscussionNaloxone can be detected in nearly all patients taking SL buprenorphine/naloxone, though with apparent variability in clinical effect. In a minority of patients, naloxone can contribute to adverse and potentially treatment-limiting side effects. Furthermore, the naloxone component is commonly misunderstood by patients and providers and can foster mistrust in the therapeutic relationship if providers are perceived to be withholding a more tolerable formulation. Prescribers should have a low threshold to offer buprenorphine alone when clinically appropriate.

Directly Observed Therapy in Correctional Settings

What Is the Issue? Directly observed therapy ensures patient adherence to a prescribed treatment regimen by having a health care worker watch the patient take the drug (s). However, it can result in patients needing to wait to see an available health care provider, and long waits can lead to patients being late for or missing out on work, school, or other therapy. What Did We Do? We conducted a literature search to identify, gather, synthesize, and summarize relevant evidence to inform our understanding of how directly observed therapy is used and what drugs are administered via directly observed therapy in correctional settings in Canada and internationally. What Did We Find? We identified practice manuals and guidelines from Canada, British Columbia, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Saskatchewan, as well as Australia and the UK, related to using directly observed therapy in correctional settings. Drugs recommended to be provided via directly observed therapy included methadone, other drugs for opioid use disorder, and drugs at high risk of misuse or diversion (e.g., benzodiazepines, opioids). Most documents noted the high risk of misuse and/or diversion, suggesting these are the main justifications for providing drugs via directly observed therapy. Some strategies that may help reduce administration or wait times include an in-possession policy (where patients keep their drugs and self-administer if possible) and long-acting injectable forms of drugs (e.g., buprenorphine, antipsychotics). In-possession is typically not recommended for drugs at high risk of misuse and diversion. Still, it may be allowed for specific drugs or on a case-by-case basis, considering factors like the particular drug, available local resources, and patient characteristics. What Does This Mean? When considering alternatives to directly observed therapy, it may be helpful to assess risks, which may be influenced by the facility, the drug being provided, and individual patients. It may also be beneficial to implement methods of monitoring drug adherence and checking for potential misuse or diversion, such as by reviewing drug administration or supply records. While some alternatives to directly observed therapy may help to reduce time spent administering drug, some potential risks include increased risk of misuse and/or diversion and higher cost of drugs. Additional time may be required initially to allow staff to learn and adapt to the new process. It may be helpful to consider alternatives to directly observed therapy as additional options for patients, allowing patients to have input into what drug they will take based on their needs and concerns.

Legal Awareness of Micro and Small Enterprise Operators Regarding Halal Certification: A Maslaha Perspective

The halal certification of food products is essential for consumer protection and should be harmonized with the practices of small-scale micro-producers to ensure security and mutual benefits in accordance with Islamic teachings. However, micro-businesses have been observed to possess varied perceptions toward the certification program. Based on this understanding, the present study aims to categorize awareness of the benefits and legal aspects of digitalizing the process of obtaining the certification using a theoretical legal system approach. In order to achieve the stated objective, qualitative data was gathered from different sources such as micro-business owners, halal certifiers, and beneficiaries of halal-certified food products. The obtained results showed that micro-businesses in serang-Banten often register for halal certification due to regulatory requirements and potential sanctions, rather than a deep understanding of the benefits of halal-certified products. This finding emphasized the persistence of a lack of significant awareness among micro-businesses regarding the advantages of obtaining halal certification. Accordingly, during the course of the investigation, the dominant challenges experienced include administrative complexities in the self-declaration process and the availability of qualified halal certifiers for high-risk food ingredients. To address these issues, there is an essential necessity for the development of a streamlined certification system that supports micro-businesses, facilitates application processes, and monitors the potential misuse of fake halal logos. Lastly, following the observations made, it can be inferred that digitizing the process of halal certification for both the registration and labeling of food products would improve consumer confidence and ease supervision.

PENERAPAN METODE TOPIS PADA PENERIMAAN BANTUAN LANGSUNG TUNAI DANA DESA

The selection of prospective recipients for Direct Cash Assistance (BLT) from Village Funds often faces the complex problem of determining the individuals who truly need assistance. This problem arises due to the limitations of the data and criteria used, as well as the lack of transparency in the selection process. This research aims to overcome these problems by applying the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method in a decision support system for selecting BLT prospective recipients. The TOPSIS method is chosen because of its ability to handle multi-attribute criteria and different weights. The data used in this research is village population data that has been surveyed and verified by the village government. The criteria used in the selection of BLT prospective recipients include poverty level, living conditions, age, Marital Status, health. The results of the study show that the TOPSIS method is able to produce a more objective and accountable ranking of BLT prospective recipients compared to conventional methods. The application of this method is expected to assist village governments in distributing assistance effectively and minimizing the potential misuse of BLT funds.

Cybersecurity in the Age of AI: Protecting Our Data and Privacy in a Digital World

In the digital age, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is pivotal in enhancing cybersecurity, offering advanced capabilities to detect and mitigate cyber threats efficiently. This article delves into AI's role in strengthening cyber security, emphasizing its ability to proactively identify vulnerabilities, forecast attacks, and automate incident responses. It also addresses the challenges and ethical concerns associated with AI in cyber security, such as the potential for misuse by cybercriminals to conduct sophisticated attacks and issues related to data privacy and algorithmic bias. The piece highlights the necessity of a balanced approach to leveraging AI, advocating for collaboration among stakeholders to navigate the ethical and regulatory complexities. Ultimately, it underscores AI's indispensable role in developing resilient cyber security frameworks and fostering a secure digital environment amidst an increasingly complex threat landscape.

AI’s Bipolar Effect on Mitigating and Motivating Frauds

In the time of digital innovation, Artificial Intelligence (AI) stands at the forefront, signaling new capabilities in fraud management but also new vulnerabilities. This paper aims to dissect AI's paradoxical influence on fraud, portraying its roles in both promoting and mitigating fraudulent activities. The research seeks to bridge the gap in understanding the dual nature of AI, highlighting the need for ethical and regulatory frameworks to traverse the complications AI introduces into fraud detection and prevention. Utilising secondary data from Google News and academic databases with the keyword 'AI fraud,' this study adopts a keyword-based analysis to sift through the most relevant literature. The approach is designed to capture a comprehensive snapshot of the current discourse, underlining the bipolar impact of AI on fraud. The analysis reveals AI's significant potential in enhancing fraud detection systems through rapid data analysis and pattern recognition. However, AI technologies can be exploited to facilitate sophisticated fraud schemes. The study underscores an urgent need for evolving practices and policies that counteract AI's potential for misuse, weighing in the emerging concept of self-regulatory AI systems as a promising direction for future research. This paper contributes insights into the dualistic role of AI in fraud, adding depth to the discourse on its implications for security, ethical considerations, and regulatory challenges. It advocates for a balanced perspective on AI's capabilities.

Detection of nonsteroidal and steroidal selective androgen receptor modulators in equine hair after oral administrations.

This paper describes the detections of nonsteroidal and steroidal selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs), namely, RAD140 and YK-11, in mane hair collected from horses having been orally administered with the respective drugs. SARMs are potent anabolic agents with a high potential of misuse in horseracing and equestrian sports, and the misuses of RAD140 and YK-11 in human sports have been reported. To better control the misuse of RAD140 and YK-11 in horses, two separate oral administration studies of RAD140 (0.3mg/kg daily for 3days) and YK-11 (0.2mg/kg daily for 3days) were previously conducted to investigate their metabolism and to identify target analyte(s) with the longest detection time in urine and plasma for doping control. In this work, segmental analyses of post-administration hair samples have revealed that (i) RAD140 and YK-11 could be detected in horse mane after oral administration and (ii) internal incorporation of RAD140 into hair via bloodstream and external incorporation through sweat or sebum were both observed, whereas YK-11 was primarily incorporated into hair via sweat or sebum.

Investigating the detection of the novel doping‐relevant peptide kisspeptin‐10 in urine using liquid chromatography high‐resolution mass spectrometry

Kisspeptin-10 is a peptide hormone capable of increasing circulating follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone and testosterone levels in humans. Clinically, these effects suggest its use as a treatment for infertility. However, its testosterone-increasing effect indicates potential misuse in sports. As such, it is included in the 2024 World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List. This work describes the successful validation of an initial testing procedure (screening) and a confirmation procedure for kisspeptin-10 in urine using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Additionally, kisspeptin-10 was incubated in human serum to mimic endogenous metabolism to improve method sensitivity, as previous research had demonstrated a rapid elimination time of only 30 min after injection (in rats). Four metabolites, corresponding to peptide fragments y9, y8, y7 and y5, were found and added to the ITP in full scan mode. A degradation product discovered during early experimentation was found to probably be caused by oxidation of the tryptophan residue into a kynurenine residue. Further research should elucidate the kinetic parameters of the reaction to improve product stability. Using the validated confirmation procedure, a black-market vial of kisspeptin-10 was analysed. The product contained no unexpected impurities, although it appeared to have undergone more degradation than the purchased reference standard.