Commercial Trade Research Articles

Sea-level changes and human economic development in the northern flank of the Yangtze River Delta during the Middle to Late Holocene

The environmental dynamics in coastal regions are inevitably influenced by fluctuations in sea levels and human interventions. Evidence derived from archeological site remains and sediment cores indicates that sea-level change has been the primary driving force behind the continuous relocation of human settlements since the Holocene epoch. However, the understanding of the Holocene land formation process and its relationship with human activities in the northern flank of the Yangtze River Delta remains limited. The Guoqing Temple, located in southwest Juegang and serving as a hub for sea salt production during the Sui and Tang Dynasties, was established in the Tang Dynasty and served as one of the pivotal points along the Maritime Silk Road. A sedimentary core was obtained in close to the Guoqing Temple, and the sedimentological and micropalaeontological data were analyzed to investigate the process of sedimentary evolution from marine to terrestrial environments, as well as the environmental factors facilitating the development of the salt industry. Analysis results explained that: Between 6360 and 1750 cal yr BP, the study area was situated in a shallow sea on the outermost periphery of the sandbank, with a maximum water depth of 20 m. After 1750 cal yr BP, it underwent a transition to a supratidal low-salinity shallow marsh environment that continued to be influenced by marine conditions. The climate in the study area is primarily influenced by the Asian monsoon: Before 3000 cal yr BP, the overall climatic conditions were characterized by warm and humid conditions; After 3000 cal yr BP, climate stability prevailed in the region. Meanwhile, due to the newly formed wetlands that facilitated extensive salt production, economic shifts toward southern regions, and reforms in salt laws during the Tang Dynasty, Juegang emerged as a flourishing commercial trade hub and a prosperous center for Buddhist culture.

Interest rate risk in banking book management at commercial banks in Vietnam

Interest rate risk is potentially averse to a commercial bank's trading book and banking book. The sharp and rapid volatility of interest rates can push commercial banks to fall into difficult situations, thus leading to instability of the whole banking system. Therefore, interest rate risk in banking book (IRRBB) management plays a vital role in banking operations. This paper analyzes the current management of IRRBB at 21 commercial banks in Vietnam by doing in-depth interviews and questionnaires. The finding indicates that the level of IRRBB management of commercial banks in Vietnam is mostly relatively completed or inadequate, with the highest levels belonging to international commercial banks and the banks that implement Basel II. Furthermore, the study also executes a simulation of IRRBB management at one commercial bank according to current regulations of the State Bank of Vietnam. Based on the selected interest rate scenarios, the capital requirement for IRRBB is calculated, which is the actual simulation for commercial banking in implementing the IRRBBB framework. Finally, to improve the effectiveness of IRRBB management in Vietnam, some implications for the State Bank of Vietnam and commercial banks are provided.

Implementation of the international health regulations – global challenges and the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract The International Health Regulations (IHR) govern how 196 countries and the World Health Organization (WHO) collectively manage global disease spread while preserving international travel and commercial trade. The COVID-19 pandemic set an unprecedented challenge to the IHR commitments. To address this gap, two scoping reviews were conducted: one identifying global challenges in IHR implementation and the other analyzing challenges, successes and limitations of the IHR during the COVID-19 pandemic. The scoping reviews followed Arksey and O’Malley’s framework and PRISMA methodology, utilizing the PubMed, Medline, World of Science, SCOPUS, and Google Scholar databases, plus backwards citation chaining. Data selection and analysis were guided by pretest forms. From 128 articles screened, 52 met inclusion criteria for the IHR implementation review. 135 challenges were identified, in these categories: (1) requirement of financial and technical resources, (2) lack of enforcement and accountability mechanisms, (3) need for rules clarification, (4) deterrents to reporting, (5) inadequate governance, (6) insufficient cooperation between countries, (7) sovereignty issues, (8) scarcity of guidance and technical support from WHO, (9) lack of inclusion of roles for relevant non-state actors, (10) conflicts and emergencies. In the COVID-19 review, 15 articles were included. Although the role of the IHR during Health Emergencies was acknowledged, most countries faced limitations in its implementation during the pandemic. Key lessons included reinforcing the global health security strategy, reviewing the IHR to address current challenges and strengthening countries and states’ commitment to resolutions compliance. The ongoing debate over IHR updates confirms the need for its revision to safeguard global health. A more effective response grounded on the IHR is needed to face upcoming and expected events of COVID-19’s magnitude and severity.

Early Molecular Detection of Invasive Alien Plants in Urban and Peri-Urban Areas

Invasive alien plants represent one of the five major threats to biodiversity and the disruption of ecosystems. They are introduced through various routes, starting with commercial trade. Preventing their introduction is essential to avoid the spread of new invasive plants. In this paper, we propose a new early warning DNA barcoding tool for invasive plant detection. Eight invasive alien species of European Union concern (i.e., Ludwigia grandiflora, Elodea nuttallii, Myriophyllum aquaticum, Pontederia crassipes, Ailanthus altissima, Heracleum mantegazzianum, Impatiens glandulifera, Pueraria montana) were selected and analysed. A unique DNA marker for each species was identified and amplified using species-specific primers capable of identifying the presence of alien species. To verify whether the approach could detect the presence of alien plants in urban areas from lawn clippings, mixes with typical urban spontaneous plants and invasive species were tested. In all mixes, only the invasive species was identified. This rapid detection capability will enable environmental operators to intervene promptly to contain the spread of invasive plants before they can cause significant damage to the local ecosystem. This tool could have a significant impact on the protection of local biodiversity and the integrity of urban habitats.

Spatial and Temporal Evolution and Conservation Significance of Traditional Villages in the Yangtze River Basin, China

Traditionally, “ancient villages” are communities that date back to a previous era, possess abundant traditional resources, and hold significant historical, social, cultural, ecological, and economic significance. This study examines the geographical and chronological development of 2957 traditional communities in the Yangtze River Basin and extensively employs GIS spatial analysis, geostatistical analysis, and historical literature review to study the evolution of the locations of traditional settlements under various factors. The study’s findings revealed that: (1) From a geographical standpoint, the traditional villages in the study area present a distribution state of “two cores, small aggregation, and many dispersions”. The two core clusters are located at the intersection of Hunan, Guizhou, and Chongqing provinces, where the natural geographical advantages attracted people from different dynasties to settle here. (2) From a temporal perspective, the quantity of traditional villages shows a growing trend, and the distribution center of each dynasty shows an east–west direction. Among them, the shift from the Song to the Yuan dynasties marked the period of greatest change in village distribution, which originated from the Song Dynasty’s quick economic growth. In addition, the village distribution was clustered in the eastern part of the country, adapting to the needs of commercial trade. When the Song Dynasty fell, the society was in turmoil, and the villages were transferred to the central region to avoid the war. The Yuan Dynasty also laid down the fundamental distribution pattern of conventional villages. (3) From the standpoint of choosing a village location, most of them are distributed in mountainous, hilly, and plain regions; the gentle slopes of 0°~15° are favored by people. Sufficient water sources, abundant precipitation, and a suitable climate are also necessary choices. (4) From the perspective of driving factors, traditional village distribution in the basin is impacted by historical, cultural, social, and ecological factors. Included among these, traditional village distribution is inversely connected with socio-economic variables. Under the interaction of two factors, the distribution will be more affected. To summarize, the complex human geographic factors together create the conventional village dispersal pattern, and examining these elements holds substantial practical importance for comprehending, safeguarding, and preserving traditional villages.

Commercial Trade and Conservation: DNA Barcoding of Wild Reticulated Python (Malayopython reticulatus) (Schneider, 1801) for Sustainable Management

Abstract The reticulated python, scientifically known as Malayopython reticulatus, is a prominent member of the Pythonidae family, exhibiting a wide geographic distribution across Southeast Asia. Like most python species, it is listed on Appendix II of CITES, allowing for regulated harvest and commercial export. However, inadequate monitoring of snakeskin origins within Malaysia has facilitated illegal trade, exacerbating concerns over population declines. Thus, this study aims to document the DNA barcoding of M. reticulatus in Pantai Penyabong, Johor, utilizing the COI gene marker of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Observations revealed 11 reticulated pythons, with two successfully captured for blood sample extraction and amplification. Sequences obtained exhibited a high identity percentage in the NCBI GenBank database, supported by similar topologies in phylogenetic trees. These findings demonstrate the efficacy of molecular identification techniques in combating illegal wildlife trade. Governments and law enforcement agencies can enforce conservation laws and protect wild populations by verifying mislabeled python species. This study highlights the crucial role of DNA barcoding in wildlife forensics and conservation management, offering a rapid and reliable method for species identification and monitoring in the face of escalating threats.

Whole genome sequence analysis of turkey orthoreovirus isolates reveals a strong viral host-specificity and naturally occurring co-infections in commercial turkeys

Avian orthoreoviruses (ARV) are an emerging threat for the poultry industry, both in the United States (US) and globally. ARV infections in turkeys have been associated with arthritis, lameness and neurological disorders, and cost the US economy approximately USD 33 million per year. There is not a commercial vaccine available and the shortage of turkey ARV (TRV) genomic data hinders the efforts to explore the molecular epidemiology of this virus, although several studies suggest a close relationship between European TRVs and TRVs present in the US. This study shows a snapshot of the genomic diversity of Avian orthoreoviruses (ARV) circulating in Germany in the mid-2000s. Through a deep genomic analysis of 18 ARV isolates recovered from sick turkeys, we observed that co-infection was a common condition. 80% of the samples showed signs of a simultaneous infection with a TRV and a chicken ARV (CRV). We believe this is the first reported evidence of CRV and TRV naturally occurring co-infections in commercial turkeys. These co-infection events were identified due to the significant genomic diversity observed among ARV infecting various production bird species. Our phylogenetic analysis revealed a consistent host-associated ARV clustering, with three main clades: (i) a TRV clade, (ii) a CRV clade, and (iii) a Duck ARV (DRV)/Goose ARV (GRV) clade. Furthermore, our findings indicate that German TRVs have interacted with their European and American counterparts, suggesting active mobilization of the virus, likely through the commercial trading of live animals. However, we also consider the potential role of migratory birds in the international movement of ARV.

Clarifying to whom, where, and when payments are made : Recommendations from the ERPB Working Group on Transparency for Retail Payment End Users

It has become increasingly difficult for consumers to identify to whom, where, and when they have made payment transactions, as the descriptions provided on account statements do not always match the expectations of the consumer. Given that multiple actors in the payment chain can influence the information provided to the consumer, this problem can only be addressed with the involvement of multiple stakeholders. This paper discusses the recommendations made by the working group established by the Euro Retail Payments Board (ERPB) to address this issue. As regards the name of the party to whom payment has been made, the working group recommended that the commercial trade name of the payee (defined as the name used by the merchant to identify itself to the consumer) should be used along the entire payments chain. Regarding the where element, the working group recommended that the account statement should indicate the precise geographical location of the transaction. In the case of online commerce, the commercial trade name displayed on the website, or the commercial trade name of the payee’s online platform should be mentioned. Related to the when element, the working group recommended that the account statement should indicate clearly the date and time of the transaction as it would be known by the consumer. The working group called upon all actors involved to create and maintain quality transaction data and to ensure that the underlying technical standards being used are capable of supporting the collection, preservation and safe transmission of the data required by the consumer. The industry was expected to implement these voluntary recommendations by June 2024, but although progress has been made, the overall progress seems to be lagging slightly as the various stakeholders are addressing the issue in isolation. In the meantime, the European Commission has adopted some of the working group’s recommendations into proposed new payments legislation.

Early warning of trends in commercial wildlife trade through novel machine-learning analysis of patent filing

Unsustainable wildlife trade imperils thousands of species, but efforts to identify and reduce these threats are hampered by rapidly evolving commercial markets. Businesses trading wildlife-derived products innovate to remain competitive, and the patents they file to protect their innovations also provide an early-warning of market shifts. Here, we develop a novel machine-learning approach to analyse patent-filing trends and apply it to patents filed from 1970-2020 related to six traded taxa that vary in trade legality, threat level, and use type: rhinoceroses, pangolins, bears, sturgeon, horseshoe crabs, and caterpillar fungus. We found 27,308 patents, showing 130% per-year increases, compared to a background rate of 104%. Innovation led to diversification, including new fertilizer products using illegal-to-trade rhinoceros horn, and novel farming methods for pangolins. Stricter regulation did not generally correlate with reduced patenting. Patents reveal how wildlife-related businesses predict, adapt to, and create market shifts, providing data to underpin proactive wildlife-trade management approaches.

Modeling the distribution of the proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus) in Sabah (Borneo) based on remotely sensed high-resolution global cloud dynamics

Proboscis monkeys, Nasalis larvatus (Wurmb, 1787), are indigenous to the island of Borneo and are considered one of its most emblematic species. Today the conservation status of this primate is classified as Endangered on the the IUCN Red List and listed under Appendix I of CITES, prohibiting all international commercial trade. In the Malaysian state of Sabah, the species is listed as totally protected and cannot be hunted. Continuing studies suggest that the number of proboscis monkeys has been decreasing in recent years. These studies have identified various factors contributing to this decline and its potential consequences. In order to carry out a thorough assessment of the conservation status of the species it is essential to have a good understanding of the animal`s ecology and habitat requirements and to use research-based approaches. One of such are species distribution models (SDMs) which in recent decades have become widely used tools in ecology by relating species occurrences to environmental data so as to gain ecological insights. In this work we specifically evaluated the effect of environmental parameters such as cloud cover to predict the potential distribution of the proboscis monkey in Sabah. Cloud cover, a seemingly simple atmospheric phenomenon, exerts a profound influence on a wide range of ecological biological processes, yet the assessment of its importance has remained remarkably limited. For modeling purposes the ‘flexsdm’ R (v. 3.3.3) modeling package was employed for testing out the Maximum Entropy (Maxent) algorithm, one of the most widely used SDM modeling methods. Model evaluation gave satisfactory results and the resulting model found a high level of suitability for proboscis monkeys in nearshore areas. A concerning discovery is that perhaps less than 13% of Sabah's area is suitable for proboscis monkey habitats, raising questions about their long-term viability. Cloud cover, particularly average annual cloudiness, is a key environmental factor influencing the distribution of proboscis monkeys in Sabah. The conversion of Borneo's forests to oil palm plantations can negatively impact cloud properties, potentially threatening the monkeys' habitat.

A novel spreading dynamic based on adoption against the trend

In the spreading dynamics of previous fashion trends, adoption researchers have neglected to consider that some individuals may behave differently from popular tendencies, which is called opposite-trend adoption behavior. To explore the dissemination mechanisms of the behavior, we first establish the adoption-against-trend model. Additionally, an edge division theory based on the adoption of opposite trends was proposed to quantitatively analyze this unique dissemination mechanism. This study presents three different degrees of opposite trends, each highlighting unique spreading scenarios. In the case of a strong opposite trend, no spreading occurs. In the case of a weak opposite trend, limited contact will accelerate information spreading, but it will not alter the mode of spreading. Nevertheless, in the case of a moderately opposite trend, the degree of the opposite trend alters the mode of spreading. Meanwhile, a cross-phase transition occurs. The findings of this paper can be applied to various areas, including social media and commercial trades.

Research on the Development and Construction of Confucius Institutes in Portugal under the Belt and Road Initiative

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was proposed by President Xi Jinping during his visits to Central Asia and Southeast Asia in 2013, advocating for collaborative development with countries along the route. Spanning across the continents of Asia and Europe, the Indian Ocean, and the western Pacific, the BRI involves 64 countries with a total population of over 3 billion and a combined GDP accounting for nearly 20% of the global economy, holding significant strategic importance. Historically, the BRI serves not only as a platform for commercial trade but also as a medium for cultural exchanges among the countries along its route. In reality, embracing cultural diversity aligns with the collaborative development goals of the BRI, promoting cultural and civilizational exchanges among nations, achieving holistic cultural complementarity, and fostering social harmony and development. In recent years, Chinese language education has been included in the educational systems of European, Latin American, and African countries alongside languages such as French, Russian, and Spanish. In the context of increasingly integrated global interests, Chinese language education has gained more attention. To internationalize and diversify Chinese language education, the term Confucius Institute was coined. Drawing on international experience, the Chinese government has established numerous Confucius Institutes and classrooms overseas. Among them, Portugal is one of the European countries with the closest cooperation with China in education, language, and humanities. With the comprehensive development of Sino-Portuguese relations, more opportunities have arisen for Sino-Portuguese language and cultural exchanges, expanding the development prospects of Confucius Institutes. Currently, the four main Confucius Institutes jointly established by major universities in Portugal are: Minho University Confucius Institute, University of Lisbon Confucius Institute, University of Aveiro Confucius Institute, and University of Coimbra Confucius Institute. Each Confucius Institute has its own educational positioning, such as providing basic Chinese language teaching, training Chinese language teachers, improving Chinese language teaching resources, and organizing Chinese cultural exchange activities, providing Portuguese students with a platform for learning Chinese language and culture.

A comparative analysis reveals the genomic diversity among 8 Muscovy duck populations.

The Muscovy duck (Cairina moschata) is a waterfowl indigenous to the neotropical regions of Central and South America. It has low demand for concentrated feed and strong adaptability to different rearing conditions. After introduced to China through Eurasian commercial trade, Muscovy ducks have a domestication history of around 300 years in the Fujian Province of China. In the 1990s, the commodity Muscovy duck breed "Crimo," cultivated in Europe, entered the Chinese market for consumption and breeding purposes. Due to the different selective breeding processes, Muscovy ducks have various populational traits and lack transparency of their genetic background. To remove this burden in the Muscovy duck breeding process, we analyzed genomic data from 8 populations totaling 83 individuals. We identify 11.24 million single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and categorized these individuals into the Fujian-bred and the Crimo populations according to phylogenetic analyses. We then delved deeper into their evolutionary relationships through assessing population structure, calculating fixation index (FST) values, and measuring genetic distances. Our exploration of runs of homozygosity (ROHs) and homozygous-by-descent (HBD) uncovered genomic regions enriched for genes implicated in fatty acid metabolism, development, and immunity pathways. Selective sweep analyses further indicated strong selective pressures exerted on genes including TECR, STAT2, and TRAF5. These findings provide insights into genetic variations of Muscovy ducks, thus offering valuable information regarding genetic diversity, population conservation, and genome associated with the breeding of Muscovy ducks.

An Intelligent Detection System for Wheat Appearance Quality

In the realm of commercial trade, the appearance quality of wheat is a crucial metric for assessing its value and grading. Traditionally, evaluating wheat appearance quality is a manual process conducted by inspectors, which is time-consuming, laborious, and error-prone. In this research, we developed an intelligent detection system for wheat appearance quality, leveraging state-of-the-art neural network technology for the efficient and standardized assessment of wheat appearance quality. Our system was meticulously crafted, integrating high-performance hardware components and sophisticated software solutions. Central to its functionality is a detection model built upon multi-grained convolutional neural networks. This innovative setup allows for the swift and precise evaluation and categorization of wheat quality. Remarkably, our system achieved an exceptional overall recognition accuracy rate of 99.45% for wheat grain categories, boasting a recognition efficiency that was approximately five times faster than manual recognition processes. This groundbreaking system serves as a valuable tool for assisting inspectors, offering technical support for customs quarantine, grain reserves, and food safety.

Turning the tide on big cat trade: Expert opinion on trends and conservation lessons from the Republic of Korea.

Unsustainable trade in big cats affects all species in the genus, Panthera, and is one of the foremost threats to their conservation. To provide further insight into the impact of policy interventions intended to address this issue, we examine the case study of the Republic of Korea (South Korea), which in the early 1990s was one of the world's largest importers of tiger (Panthera tigris) bone and a major manufacturer of tiger-derived medicinal products. In 1993, South Korea became a Party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and introduced a ban on commercial trade in CITES Appendix I-listed big cats a year later. We used an expert-based questionnaire survey and an exploration of the CITES trade database to investigate what has since happened to big cat trade in South Korea. Expert opinion suggested that big cat trade has likely substantially reduced since the early 1990s, as a result of the trade ban and broad socioeconomic changes. However, illegal trade has not been eradicated entirely and we were able to confirm that products reportedly derived from big cats were still publicly available for sale on a range of Korean online marketplaces, sometimes openly. The items most commonly reported by respondents from post-1994 trade and supported by expert-led evidence were tiger and leopard (Panthera pardus) skins and tiger bone wine. Although South Korea may provide a useful case study of a historically significant consumer country for tiger which has made strong progress in addressing unsustainable levels of big cat trade within a short period of time, there remains a need to address recalcitrant small-scale, illegal trade. We also recommend further investigation regarding reports of South Korean nationals being involved in illegal trade in tiger-derived products in Southeast Asia.

Characterization of lamp oil residues from Tangchaodun Site, Xinjiang, northwest China during the 8th−13th centuries CE

Lamp illuminants reflect how ancient people exploited natural resources, such as animal fat, plant oil and mineral oil. Besides, the commercial trade of lamp oil, including olive oil, represented economic exchange. In addition, oil lamps were often used in religious practices to glorify deities and illuminate grand halls. Although many ancient lamps have been found in China, there are few scientific reports regarding ancient lamp illuminants. In this study, chemical analysis including FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy), Py-GC/MS (Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry), GC–MS (Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry), and GC-C-IRMS (Gas Chromatography-Combustion-Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry) was applied to characterize black residues remaining on the surface of pottery lamps from the Tangchaodun site, northwest China, from the 8th to 13th centuries CE. The results show that the black residues are soot, and both ruminant adipose fat and plant oil were used as the primary fuel. These lamps share similar morphology and utilize similar combustibles, implying that the production of both lamps and oil may have undergone convergent evolution driven by aesthetic preferences. Furthermore, the ruminant animals mainly fed on C4 plants, indicating that these animals were raised in pens and millet agriculture was practiced in this region.

Коммерческая торговля в системе общественного питания Сталинградской области в 1944–1947 годах

Introduction. The article deals with the creation and development of a commercial trade system in public catering in the city of Stalingrad and the Stalingrad region at the end of the Great Patriotic War and in the first post-war years. Methods. In this study, historical-descriptive (idiographic), historical-genetic, and historical comparative methods, as well as quantitative methods, were used in the examination of newspaper sources. Analysis and results. In order to replenish the budget and meet the demand of the population, already in the spring of 1944, free trade in alcoholic beverages began in the canteens of Stalingrad. In the spring and summer of 1945, the first restaurants and commercial halls at canteens opened in the city. The opening of commercial tea houses in the system of state and cooperative trade became widespread in early 1946 after the decrees of the USSR government were issued. This process took place in the face of an acute shortage of inventory, kitchen equipment, and utensils. A feature of Stalingrad was the complete lack of premises for new catering establishments. As a rule, commercial tea houses were opened at or instead of existing canteens. Since a significant part of the products for commercial tea houses were purchased from collective farms and the population at market prices, the cost of even the simplest dishes was 8–10 times higher than in ration canteens. Procurement of products occurred with difficulty due to the priority of mandatory supplies of agricultural products to the state. After the drought in 1946, even commercial tea houses and restaurants limited the sale of bread. At the same time, there was a second wave of the establishment of commercial restaurants and cafes. In 1947, commercial canteens with a small selection of dishes appeared, occupying a middle position between restaurants and tea houses. Having completed the task of attracting funds from the population, commercial catering enterprises, at the same time, did not become centers for cultural leisure. Most of the teahouses were located in adapted premises that needed repair and were poorly maintained. The assortment of dishes was not maintained, and violations of technology and theft by workers flourished. Most of the profits came from the sale of purchased goods, primarily alcoholic beverages.

Skin ‘Bleaching’ Practices and Associated Adverse Health Effects in Zimbabwe: A Canonical Correlational Study of Harare

The study aimed to identify the ingredients, processes and practitioners involved in the skin lightening practices in Zimbabwe and to identify the associated, adverse health effects as well as to establish the user demographics. A technical field survey was carried out in Harare, Zimbabwe from October 2022 to March 2023. Out of a total of 450 potential participants, 382 individuals in 3 broad groups were successfully interviewed; these included 150 skin lightening practitioners and traders, 118 skin lightening products users and 114 individuals who have never practiced skin bleaching. A semi structured technical questionnaire was used for each group of participants and the collected data were analysed qualitatively and quantitatively. The study observed that both sexes are involved in skin lightening in Zimbabwe, the majority (52%) being women aged between 31-45 years. The established industry, is divers, including registered healthcare providers, commercial trade, informal markets and others. The majority of practitioners (65%) have less than 5 practising years. There are over 30 different skin lightening products available either as prescription medications, OTC treatments, commercial products, network marketing products as well as illegal bootleg concoctions. The products extends from creams, lotions and serums, to oral and injectable dosage forms. The most prevalent products being corticosteroid creams. 75% of users reported both reversible and non-reversible adverse health side effects and outcomes including skin irritations, inflammation, rashes, erythema, oedemas, ochronosis, dermal atrophy, photophobia, insomnia and unexplained weight gain. The most prevalent side effect being pruritus and irritations. It was observed that there is no formal registration, regulation or legislation covering the products, processes and practice of skin lightening in Zimbabwe.

Manufacturing Exports and Employment Nexus in Nigeria

Nigeria has lower manufacturing employment than other industries for several reasons, including it share to Gross domestic product. Nigeria's manufacturing sector contributes less than 10 percent of the nation's GDP. This suggests that the sector's overall economic production is weak, which may restrict its ability to provide job opportunities to the teeming populace. This study investigates the impact of manufacturing output on employment in Nigeria. The Autoregressive Distributive Lag (ARDL) estimation technique was used to establish the long run relationship among the variables. It was revealed that long run relationship exists among the variables in the estimated model. The results of the Error Correction Mechanism (ECM) within the framework of the ARDL shows that the development of the manufacturing sector is one of the key strategies for the creation of employment opportunities in Nigeria. The study recommends; the development and diversification of the manufacturing sector as one of its top long-term policy strategies for the creation of employment for Nigerians. It also suggests that policies aimed at attracting foreign investment in this sector could positively impact on employment generation. This can be accomplished by providing incentives to the operators of the manufacturing sector, such as import waivers on essential imported inputs, providing and guaranteeing large commercial trading businesses to enter the manufacturing of their products through licensing, facilitating and acting as surety in franchise agreements with foreign manufacturers, and any other incentive to help lower the manufacturing sector's cost of production. Hence, the government must prioritize the development of the manufacturing sector by providing necessary support and incentives to attract more investors and increase local production, which will lead to job creation and economic growth for Nigerians.

Penerapan Waste Management Pada Proyek Ruko Di Kota Palangka Raya

Construction products are one of the markers of the progress of a nation's development. One of the construction products such as shophouses is a building generally built multi-storey has two functions, namely as residential and commercial trade. The construction sector is a significant sector to improve the economy. On the other hand, the construction sector is a major contributor to the negative impact on the environment due to the amount of waste generated. One of the efforts to reduce the negative impact of construction waste is waste management. The purpose of this study was to determine the application of waste management in shophouse construction projects in Palangka Raya City. The research method was carried out by distributing questionnaires to developers and owners who had and were handling shophouse construction projects in Palangka Raya City. This research data uses primary data obtained directly from respondents, then the data is analyzed to obtain the mean value and standard deviation and then ranked. The results of the analysis show that the dominant application of waste management is: Design and construction using materials according to standards, Storage of materials that are resistant to weather, and Optimization of material use