scholarly journals The NPS Phenomenon and the Deep Web: Trends Analyses and Internet Snapshots

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 71
Author(s):  
Ahmed Al-Imam ◽  
Ban A. AbdulMajeed
Keyword(s):  
Middle Eastern ◽  
Reliable Data ◽  
Deep Web ◽  
Google Trends ◽  
Knowledge Discovery In Databases ◽  
Novel Psychoactive Substances ◽  
Psychoactive Substances ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Surface Web ◽  
Mining Tools

BACKGROUND: In relation to the phenomenon of novel psychoactive substances, activities on the surface web represent only the tip of the iceberg. The majority of the electronic commerce (e-commerce) activities exist on the deep web and the darknet. Observational analytic studies are failing to keep pace with these activities; these studies are either obsolete beyond the point in time of the taken internet snapshot or highly-consuming for resources including time, funding, and manpower.MATERIALS & METHODS: Cross-sectional and retrospective analyses via multiple Internet snapshots were carried out across Google Trends database and the e-markets on the darknet. Google Trends were scanned retrospectively (2012-2016) for keywords specific to the deep web in an aim to estimate and geo-map of the attentiveness (interest) of surface web users in the deep web and its illicit activities.RESULTS: The attentiveness of surface web users in the deep web was noticed to be incremented during 2013 and 2014; the top ten contributing countries were Norway, Germany, Denmark, Austria, Poland, Sweden, Slovenia, Switzerland, Finland, and Netherlands. Middle Eastern countries contributed minimally including; Syria, Iran, Israel, UAE, Morocco, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia. Power scoring of e-markets revealed that the top five markets were; AlphaBay, Agora, Nucleus, Abraxas, and Hansa. The most common categories of NPS on these markets were; cannabis and cannabimimetic (1st), stimulants (2nd), empathogens (3rd), and psychedelics (4th).CONCLUSION: The e-commerce activities on the deep web and the darknet e-marketplace represent an integral component of the NPS e-phenomenon. Unfortunately, recent attempts to examine and study those unlawful activities are outdated. Hence, to achieve real-time and reliable data, the inclusion of data mining tools and knowledge discovery in databases are critical to ensuring a future victory.

scholarly journals The Most Popular Chemical Categories of NPS in Four Leading Countries of the Developed World: An Integrative Analysis of Trends Databases, Surface Web, and the Deep Web

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 27
Author(s):  
Ahmed Al-Imam ◽  
Ban A. AbdulMajeed
Keyword(s):  
Deep Web ◽  
Google Trends ◽  
New Psychoactive Substances ◽  
Psychoactive Substances ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Novel Method ◽  
Multiple Levels ◽  
Developed World ◽  
Surface Web ◽  
Mining Tools

BACKGROUND: New psychoactive substances are very diverse; hundreds exist today. Several schemes exist to categorise them; NPS can be classified into Cannabinoids and Cannabimimetics (1), Phenethylamines (2), Cathinones (3), Tryptamines (4), Piperazines (5), Pipradrol derivatives (6), and miscellaneous substances (7)MATERIALS & METHODS: Observational analyses via multiple internet snapshots will be carried out on the surface web and the deep web. The analyses will be hierarchical and integrative to infer the most popular categories of NPS based on the attentiveness (interest) of web users.RESULTS: Analysis of Google Trends from 2012 to the end of 2016, shows that interest in cannabinoids was the highest (98%), while all other chemical categories of NPS summed up to a tiny fragment (2%). The trends were highly oscillating over the years and shooting up during holiday seasons. Geo-mapping and localisation of the Middle East were not possible (not allowed) via Google Trends, while trends were attributed to four major leading countries of the developed world; US (35%), UK (17%), Canada (26%), and Australia (22%). Cannabinoids and stimulants were also found to be the most popular on the darknet.CONCLUSION: A novel method is proposed in this study; it has been carried out to provide an updated extrapolation on the most favoured chemical categories of NPS. This method is based on a combinatory examination at multiple levels of the surface web and the deep web. Furthermore, this method when potentially combined with data mining tools should provide unprecedented real-time analyses of high quality.

scholarly journals Retrospective Analyses of High-risk NPS: Integrative Analyses of PubMed, Drug Fora, and the Surface Web

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed Al-Imam
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Google Trends ◽  
Hazardous Substances ◽  
Psychoactive Substances ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Medline Database ◽  
High Incidence ◽  
Integrative Analyses ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Surface Web

BACKGROUND: Novel psychoactive substances (NPS) can be classified based on their safety for use into low-risk and high-risk. High-risk NPS can be either lethal or poisonous. Fatalities can be either pharmacological or behavioural-induced, including suicide and homicide.MATERIALS & METHODS: Observational analysis, including retrospective, were implemented across; Google Trends, PubMed/MedLine database; Drug Fora, and the surface web. The aim was to collect data in relation to incidents of intoxication and fatalities caused by forty-seven (47) of the most popular NPS and to infer the high-risk (hazardous) substances. Geo-mapping was also applicable. Inferential analyses were also carried out to deduct data on the different age grouping of (ab)users.RESULTS: Among the most popular NPS substances, nearly half of them were labelled as high-risk due to their relatively high incidence of intoxications and deaths. The substances included; DMA/DOX, MXE, Mescaline, Methylone, Crack, GHB, Benzodiazepines, NBOMe, 2C-B, DMT, Stimulants RCs, Shrooms, Ketamine, Opioids, Heroin, Meth, Speed, LSD, MDMA, and Cocaine. Many of these substances were either psychedelic or dissociative substance. Geo-mapping of use indicated that the top ten contributing countries were; Australia, Canada, United States, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Ireland, Norway, Netherlands, Switzerland, and Estonia. The contribution of the Middle East was insignificant, although data have regularly been noticed originating from Israel, Iran, and Turkey.CONCLUSION: In this study, an unconventional inferential method is suggested for analysis of high-risk NPS; it is based on cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis of data. It relies primarily on data from; the surface web, Google Trends, PubMed/Medline database, and drug fora. This method is not only descriptive but also inferential for age and gender among (ab)users of a diverse array of high-risk NPS substances.

scholarly journals Knowledge and (Ab)Use in Connection with Novel Psychoactive Substances: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Psychedelic Users Existing on Online Platforms

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 51
Author(s):  
Mohammed-Lutfi Al-Imam ◽  
Ahmed Al-Imam
Keyword(s):  
Religious Affiliation ◽  
Novel Psychoactive Substances ◽  
Psychoactive Substances ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Online Platforms ◽  
Level Of Knowledge ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Sectional Analysis ◽  
Developed World

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of use and misuse of novel psychoactive substances (NPS) has been escalating at an exponential rate in the past two decades. Studies on NPS are highly concentrated in relevance to the developed world, while few have been undertaken in the developing countries.MATERIALS & METHODS: This study is observational and cross-sectional in nature; it relies on a web-based survey distributed to a population of (ab)users of psychedelics and NPS; this community was accessible via dedicated online platforms psychedelics users located on the Facebook social communication medium. The aim of the study is to estimate the level of knowledge and the extent of (mis)use in connection with psychoactive substances, including the novel ones (NPS).RESULTS: The number of participants who responded to the survey reached 458 responders. The level of knowledge and (ab)use was relatively high. The majority of participating individuals were Caucasians males from the developed world including the US, the UK, India, and western European countries. The primary religious affiliation was either agnosticism or atheism. Approximately, 26% were diagnosed with the neuropsychiatric condition.CONCLUSION: The NPS phenomenon is still a major concern primarily in the developed world. Additional studies are required in virtual and non-virtual populations. The targeted populations should include; students, medical professionals, academics, patients with psychiatric and neurological abnormalities, convicts and criminals, and even terrorists.

scholarly journals Knowledge and (Ab)Use in Connection with Novel Psychoactive Substances: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Iraqi Medical Students

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 61
Author(s):  
Ahmed Al-Imam ◽  
Farah Al-Mukhtar ◽  
Aisha Shafiq ◽  
Manolia Irfan ◽  
Mustafa M Saleh
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Middle East ◽  
Western Europe ◽  
Psychiatric Patients ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Novel Psychoactive Substances ◽  
Psychoactive Substances ◽  
Undergraduate Medical Students ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The University

BACKGROUND: The extent of (ab)use of the Novel Psychoactive substances has been thoroughly mapped in the developed world, particularly in the US, Canada, UK, Western Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. However, there are still untapped geographic locations particularly in the developing world including the Middle East.MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study is observational in nature and cross-sectional in design; it is based on a survey that will aim is to estimate the level of knowledge and the extent of (ab)use of psychoactive substances, traditional and novel, in a population of undergraduate medical students from Iraq. There will be an implementation of inferential statistical analyses for the purpose of hypothesis testing. Ethical approvals were granted from the College of Medicine at the University of Baghdad and the University of Hertfordshire.RESULTS: There was some degree of knowledge in connection with psychoactive substances among a population of medical students. However, the extent of (ab)use is still minimal when compared to that of the developed countries. In general, the knowledge and the extent of NPS (ab)use did not vary substantially as the students progressed through the medical college.CONCLUSION: The use of observational analytic tools for assessing the diffusion of the phenomenon of psychoactive and novel psychoactive substances is indispensable. The extent of knowledge and (ab)use of NPS in the Middle East may still be considered minute or insignificant. Further analyses are required in the Middle East; different populations are to be targeted including; students, academics, researchers, medical and paramedical staff, psychiatric patients, prisoners, military and para-military organisations, and even terrorists.

scholarly journals The digital epidemiology of phenylketonuria, aka folling’s disease: retrospective analysis and geographic mapping via google trends

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 93-99
Author(s):  
Ahmed Al-Imam
Keyword(s):  
Inborn Errors Of Metabolism ◽  
Predictive Analytics ◽  
Middle Eastern ◽  
Genetic Diseases ◽  
Google Trends ◽  
Inborn Errors ◽  
Geographic Mapping ◽  
Multiple Organs ◽  
Digital Epidemiology ◽  
Surface Web

Background: Phenylketonuria, commonly known as PKU, is an inherited disorder in which there is an abnormally elevated blood level of the amino acid phenylalanine leading to several pathologies affecting multiple organs including the central nervous system and resulting in debilitating intellectual disability and other neuropsychiatric disorders. Phenylalanine is a building block of several critical proteins within the biological systems.Aims and Objective: To assess the digital epidemiology and geographic mapping of Phenylketonuria.Materials and Methods: This study is a retrospective analytic (2013‑2017) of a very large database existing on the surface web known as Google Trends. it aims to extrapolate a statistical inference concerning the digital epidemiology and the geographic mapping of phenylketonuria. The trends database will be explored via thematic keywords specific to the condition of phenylketonuria including “Phenylketonuria [PKU]”, “Phenylalanine”, “Inborn errors of metabolism”, “Tetrahydrobiopterin”, and “Chromosome 12 (human)”.Results: The digital epidemiology is densely clustered in countries from the developed world, eastern Europe, and Latin America. Surface web users from China appears to possess the highest interest in phenylketonuria. The contribution of the Middle Eastern and Arabic countries to the geographic mapping did not exceed 10.51% at its best. Significant changes existed for year-to-year variations of trends. Statistical outliers were also found, the strongest of which was observed during April 2016 for which there’s no plausible explanation.Conclusion: Trends databases operating on the surface web represent potent tools of big data that can be exploited to assess the digital epidemiology and geographic mapping of countless phenomenon including rare genetic diseases and inborn errors of metabolism. There are also enormous potentials for real-time and predictive analytics of these databases when investing the application of automation in data collection and principles of machine learning.Asian Journal of Medical Sciences Vol.9(6) 2018 93-99

scholarly journals Captagon, Octodrine, and NBOMe: An Integrative Analysis of Trends Databases, the Deep Web, and the Darknet

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 114
Author(s):  
Ahmed Al-Imam ◽  
Ban A. AbdulMajeed
Keyword(s):  
Warning System ◽  
Deep Web ◽  
Google Trends ◽  
Integrative Approach ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Terror Attacks ◽  
Pharmacokinetic Properties ◽  
Novel Method ◽  
Developed World ◽  
The Web

BACKGROUND: Captagon, Octodrine, and NBOMe are unique substances; each represents a chemical category of its own pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties. Captagon is an amphetamine-type stimulant, while octodrine is a sympathomimetic agent, on the other hand, NBOMe is a hallucinogen (psychedelic substance). However, the mechanism of action for each is exerted via monoamine transporters.MATERIALS & METHODS: This study will explore these substances using an integrative approach via the analysis of the surface and deep web, and a trends database. The aims are; to visualise the extent of diffusion of each substance on the internet, conclude the geo-mapping for the diffusion, to see if the patterns are compatible on both divisions of the web, and to infer data on the basis of the power (authority) for e-vendors on the darknet e-marketplace. This study is a hybrid of cross-sectional and retrospective analyses.RESULTS: Google Trends analyses confirmed that the popularity of captagon is ahead over both NBOMe and octodrine; captagon popularity was correlated with terror attacks in the developed world, particularly in western European countries. The contribution of the developing countries to the diffusion of these substances, including the Middle East, was minimal.CONCLUSION: This study proposes a novel method to analyse the e-markets on the darknet via the use of; analysis of the basis of power, inferential statistics, geo-mapping in parallel with data from Google Trends database. Data from Google Trends can serve as a foundation for data mining techniques for an efficient warning system against an anticipated swarm of intoxications or an attack of terror.

scholarly journals Analyzing the Open/Deep Web to Better Understand the New/Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS) Scenarios: Suggestions from CASSANDRA and NPS.Finder Research Projects

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabrizio Schifano
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
United Nations ◽  
Deep Web ◽  
Novel Psychoactive Substances ◽  
Research Projects ◽  
Psychoactive Substances ◽  
Psychotropic Substances ◽  
New Novel ◽  
Public Health Threat ◽  
Narcotic Drugs

New/novel psychoactive substances (NPS) are defined as new narcotic/psychotropic drugs which are not controlled by the United Nations’ 1961 Narcotic Drugs/1971 Psychotropic Substances conventions, but which may pose a public health threat [...]

Prospettiva e Valore della matrice Cheratinica nella valutazione dell'utilizzo di Nuove Sostanze Psicoattive nella popolazione che afferisce ai SERD

MISSION ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 39-44
Author(s):  
Concettina Varango ◽  
Francesca Musarella ◽  
Mara Cella ◽  
Antonella Varango
Keyword(s):  
Novel Psychoactive Substances ◽  
Psychoactive Substances

Questo articolo nasce dall'esigenza di informare un più ampio pubblico sul pericolo rappresentato da queste sostanze, far conoscere le NPS (Novel Psychoactive substances) agli operatori del settore (personale di laboratorio, personale delle unità di emergenza/ urgenza, operatori sanitari, ricercatori, ecc.) al fine di agevolare l'analisi di campioni sconosciuti e divulgare i dati scientifici che cominciano ad emergere da studi clinici e preclinici sui loro effetti tossici e farmacologici. Dal 2009 sono comparsi nel gruppo delle N.P.S., i nuovi oppioidi sintetici, molecole estremamente potenti che comportano una seria minaccia per la salute pubblica. Si tratta di prodotti dalla notevole potenza (il fentanyl, per esempio, capostipite di questa famiglia, ha un'azione circa 100 volte maggiore rispetto a quella della morfina) che vengono utilizzati sia per sé sia come adulteranti di partite di sostanze classiche, soprattutto eroina, causando scie di decessi per overdose. 

scholarly journals Human Neuronal Cell Lines as An In Vitro Toxicological Tool for the Evaluation of Novel Psychoactive Substances

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (13) ◽  
pp. 6785
Author(s):  
Valeria Sogos ◽  
Paola Caria ◽  
Clara Porcedda ◽  
Rafaela Mostallino ◽  
Franca Piras ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Death ◽  
Neuronal Cell ◽  
In Vitro Study ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Novel Psychoactive Substances ◽  
Psychoactive Substances ◽  
Concentration Dependent Manner ◽  
Mechanisms Of Toxicity ◽  
Neuronal Cell Lines

Novel psychoactive substances (NPS) are synthetic substances belonging to diverse groups, designed to mimic the effects of scheduled drugs, resulting in altered toxicity and potency. Up to now, information available on the pharmacology and toxicology of these new substances is very limited, posing a considerable challenge for prevention and treatment. The present in vitro study investigated the possible mechanisms of toxicity of two emerging NPS (i) 4′-methyl-alpha-pyrrolidinoexanophenone (3,4-MDPHP), a synthetic cathinone, and (ii) 2-chloro-4,5-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (2-Cl-4,5-MDMA), a phenethylamine. In addition, to apply our model to the class of synthetic opioids, we evaluated the toxicity of fentanyl, as a reference compound for this group of frequently abused substances. To this aim, the in vitro toxic effects of these three compounds were evaluated in dopaminergic-differentiated SH-SY5Y cells. Following 24 h of exposure, all compounds induced a loss of viability, and oxidative stress in a concentration-dependent manner. 2-Cl-4,5-MDMA activates apoptotic processes, while 3,4-MDPHP elicits cell death by necrosis. Fentanyl triggers cell death through both mechanisms. Increased expression levels of pro-apoptotic Bax and caspase 3 activity were observed following 2-Cl-4,5-MDMA and fentanyl, but not 3,4-MDPHP exposure, confirming the different modes of cell death.

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