Manufacture Of Goods Research Articles

Challenges of the Circular Economy: Inequality and Economic Behavior

Abstract The move towards a circular economy is a challenging journey. It has gained a lot of recognition in recent years as a sustainable alternative to traditional production and manufacturing of goods, mainly due to its potential for minimisation of waste and promotion of resource efficiency through reusability and recycling. Nevertheless, this transition it’s also met with sufficient challenges that are linked with inequality in society as well as consumer behavior. Although the circular economy model is based on the principle of extending reusability of products and materials, its implementation is often difficult in practice. In low-income communities, in particular, the access to sustainable materials or practices is proven to be difficult and it’s often linked with disparities in resource distribution. As well as inequality, consumer behavior also plays a major role in the success of implementing sustainable initiatives which are supporting the transition to a circular economy. Behavior is shaped by choices, cultural norms, economic incentives and individual preferences, which have a significant influence on how sustainable consumers are or have the potential of being. This article considers inequality and consumer behavior and underscores some of the challenges to fully transition to a circular economy. This study also seeks to identify the barriers to transition to circular economy practices and opportunities to overcome them. Through developing inclusive policies, promoting sustainable consumption, and empowering stakeholders across society, we can navigate towards a more equitable and resilient future.

Middle through late Holocene long-distance transport of exotic shell personal adornments in Central West Patagonia (southern South America). The archaeomalacological assemblage of Baño Nuevo 1.

The exchange of information and social interactions on broad spatial scales between human groups in the past can be studied through the provenance of key indicators of distant origin recorded at archaeological sites. The remains of shells of mollusk species, especially when crafted as elements of personal ornaments, express aspects of the behaviors and valuations for the populations that selected, transformed, and exchanged such items. In the southern cone of South America, past hunter-gatherer groups traveled long distances and interacted with communities distributed throughout the territory to acquire goods for technological use, visual display or considered highly valued materials. When recorded at distant locations, these goods of extra local origin are very informative regarding the differences between commonly used home ranges and the occasional access to remote spaces. We present the results of the analysis of the archaeomalacological assemblage of the Baño Nuevo 1 site, a cave with exceptional preservation conditions in Central West Patagonia. This site has yielded a diverse group of artifacts made of shells with origins from multiple distances, as well as evidence of the use of marine, freshwater, and terrestrial species. Its deposits, which extend over the last 11,000 years, reveal an antiquity of at least the middle Holocene for the acquisition, manufacture, use and transport of goods as personal ornaments from shells in the macroregion.

Distinct epigenetic modulation of differentially expressed genes in the adult mouse brain following prenatal exposure to low-dose bisphenol A.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a common component in the manufacture of daily plastic consumer goods. Recent studies have suggested that prenatal exposure to BPA can increase the susceptibility of offspring to mental illness, although the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we performed transcriptomic and epigenomic profiling in the adult mouse brain following prenatal exposure to low-dose BPA. We observed a sex-specific transcriptional dysregulation in the cortex, with more significant differentially expressed genes was observed in adult cortex from male offspring. Moreover, the upregulated genes primarily influenced neuronal functions, while the downregulated genes were significantly associated with energy metabolism pathways. More evidence supporting impaired mitochondrial function included a decreased ATP level and a reduced number of mitochondria in the cortical neuron of the BPA group. We further investigated the higher-order chromatin regulatory patterns of DEGs by incorporating published Hi-C data. Interestingly, we found that upregulated genes exhibited more distal interactions with multiple enhancers, while downregulated genes displayed relatively short-range interactions among adjacent genes. Our data further revealed decreased H3K9me3 signal on the distal enhancers of upregulated genes, whereas increased DNA methylation and H3K27me3 signals on the promoters of downregulated genes. In summary, our study provides compelling evidence for the potential health risks associated with prenatal exposure to BPA, and uncovers sex-specific transcriptional changes with a complex interplay of multiple epigenetic mechanisms.

TOXICITY OF LITHIUM BATTERY WASTE ON SELECTED INVERTEBRATES

Electronic waste poses a major menace to ecosystems owing to the toxic properties of materials used for the manufacture of electronic goods. In this present study, the toxicity of lithium battery waste on invertebrates, snails (Archachatina marginata) and earthworms (Apporrectodeal longa) were evaluated using appropriate concentrations of toxicant. The physicochemical and heavy metal analysis of the toxicant was carried out according to the method of APHA (2008). The standard protocol obtained from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the protocol obtained from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) were adopted for the 14-day exposure to varying concentrations of the toxicant (0.3125, 0.625, 1.25, 2.5 and 5.0 mg/kg) for earthworm and (3.125,6.25, 12.5, 25 and 50 mg/kg) for snail respectively. The pH, Electrical conductivity. Total dissolved solids, Lithium, cadmium and mercury results of the toxicant were (2.6, 13500, 8640, 36.60, 2.03 and 10.48mg/L) respectively. The result also shows an increased in the mortality of test organisms with increase in toxicant concentration. LC50, LOEC, NOEC, TUc and TUa with exposure time for snails and earthworms were (1.05, 0.86,0.77,94.88, 129.87 mg/kg) and (0.68, 0.41,0.31, 147.06, 322.58.mg/kg), respectively. The study established that the toxicant (lithium battery) is considered a high risk to animals, plants and the environment as it adversely affects soil invertebrates which bring about soil fertility if not properly disposed of.

The impact of social capital on major customer supply chain power

We investigate the impact of regional social capital on firms' ability to attain bargaining power over their supply chain partners. Using ordinary least squares and instrumental variables estimations, we find a positive relationship between firm-level supply chain power and US county-level social capital. Additionally, we observe this positive effect to be stronger for firms in durable goods manufacturing and the services industry, but not for nondurable goods manufacturers. We conclude that firms headquartered in US counties with high social capital are preferred by suppliers, resulting in greater supply chain power.

ANALYSIS OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DENSITY AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES IN EXPANDED PVC FILMS WITH THERMOPLASTIC MICROSPHERES

The production of artificial leather is critically important for the manufacture of various goods, such as vehicle interiors. This manufacturing process is typically carried out by "layer addition", and the final product is called "Supported Expanded Vinyl" or SEV. This process uses chemical foaming agents that degrade with heat to generate nitrogen and carbon gases. Due to new environmental regulations, companies are opting for more sustainable measures such as thermoplastic microspheres that expand with heat. For foams expanded with this method, it is crucial to consider the viscoelastic properties at different expansion ratios as the product's performance in its application depends on these. This paper describes the differences in the mechanical properties of the yield limit and rupture resistance of PVC foams expanded with a chemical agent and those expanded with a physical agent. From the statistical analysis of the behavior of these properties at different densities, prediction models were obtained, and the statistical correlation between the factors and their responses was established. Key words: thermoplastic microspheres, viscoelastic properties, mechanical properties.

Uncovering air traveler purchase behavior: Influence of airline goods product characteristics towards repurchase intention

This research explores air travelers’ consumption and approach behavior for airline goods products by building a robust theoretical framework encompassing product characteristics, nostalgic emotion, lovemarks, brand personality, and purchasing route. The results of this study uncovered the criticality of airline goods products and the characteristics in the aviation industry. This study also demonstrates that the specific characteristics of airline goods products hold considerable impact of consumer purchase intention for airline brands. The present research enriches the contemporary knowledge of the existing literature on the characteristics of airline goods products, while offering offering valuable insights for optimizing marketing and managing airline products and services.

Mechanical properties and energy absorption capabilities of plate-based AlSi10Mg metamaterials produced by laser powder bed fusion

Plate-based lattice structures are an emerging category of mechanical metamaterials with exceptional mechanical performance. In this work, plate-based SCFCC metamaterials of AlSi10Mg with various relative densities are fabricated by laser powder bed fusion (LPBF). Circular holes are strategically designed and placed at the center of each non-load-bearing face for residual powder removal. Quasi-static compression experiments and numerical simulations are performed to investigate their mechanical performance and deformation mechanisms. Results indicate that the elastic modulus of SCFCC metamaterials decreases by 3.5% with the presence of 0.9 mm diameter holes, while increasing the hole size shows negligible impact on the elastic modulus. The novel plate-based SCFCC structure exhibits superior mechanical properties and enhanced energy absorption capacity concerning conventional high-stiffness truss-based and shell-based counterparts. The improvement, at the relative density of 0.2, can be observed in terms of elastic modulus (around 50%), peak compressive strength (around 300%), energy absorption capacity (around 400% or 200%). When increasing the relative density from 0.2 to 0.5, plate-based SCFCC metamaterial still maintains superior mechanical performance while the gaps between SCFCC and its counterparts narrow down gradually owing to the loss of structural features. Moreover, mechanical characteristics and coefficients of three Gibson and Ashby analytical equations are determined. This work proposes a novel type of plate-based structure with both exceptional mechanical performance and good additive manufacturability, which opens a new avenue for the design of lightweight mechanical metamaterials.

Experimental investigation of Bamboo Leaf Ash and Rice Husk Ash as partial replacement cement in concrete

Construction work was mostly done in the ancient era using mudstone obtained from industry. The experimental investigation on the strength properties of M30 grade concrete, in which rice husk ash and bamboo leaf ash have largely substituted cement. One of these waste materials produced as a by-product of the rice paddy milling industry is rice husk ash (RHA). and Bamboo is used as scaffolding for the manufacture of domestic goods and construction paper. In this investigation, concrete specimens created with 0%, 5%, 10%, and 15% of the RHAsh and BLAsh as the cement replacement percentages were used to calculate the strength-related parameters such as compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, and flexural strength. Samples were examined at 7, 14, and 28 days old. Finally, it was determined that, when compared to other replacement levels, the 5% RHAsh and BLAsh replacement level in M30 grade concrete demonstrated to be greater.

Exploring the Proximate Composition, Antioxidant Content, Glycemic Index, and Microbiological Analysis of Idiyappam Enriched with Black Rice (Oryza sativa L. indica) Flour

ABSTRACT: Notwithstanding being rich in numerous antioxidant components, black rice flour hasn't been frequently used in the manufacture of food goods. This study aimed to create idiyappam, examine its proximate compositions, minerals, antioxidant, glycemic, organoleptic and shelf-life attributes. The study focused on evaluating these qualities in idiyappam produced with various replacement levels of black rice flour and white rice flour, in various proportions with 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%. The findings showed that the idiyappam with 100% raw black rice flour (BRFI4) had significantly higher levels of total dietary fiber, protein but can be found that it has a lowest of moisture content, while carbohydrates and fat content can be seen more in BRFI1. There were noticeable differences in mineral composition among the various formulations. BRFI4 exhibited strong antioxidant potential, and all formulations had a low glycemic index. BRFI3 received superior sensory ratings compared to the other idiyappam variations. The shelf-life study revealed substantial variation among the idiyappam formulations after 5 days of storage. This study highlights that incorporating black rice flour into idiyappam not only enhances the levels of protein, dietary fiber, but also results in low glycemic index values and favorable organoleptic evaluations, particularly up to a 75% substitution level.

Company Age, Company Size and Earnings Management in Listed Industrial Goods Manufacturing Companies in Nigeria: A Moderating Role of Political Connection of Board Members

The study analysed the effect of company age, company size and political connections of Board members on earning management of quoted industrial goods manufacturing companies in Nigeria. The specific objectives of the study include assessing the effect of company age, company size and evaluating the moderating effect of political connections of board members on earnings management of quoted industrial goods manufacturing companies in Nigeria. The study used 130 firm-year data involving thirteen (13) quoted industrial goods manufacturing companies purposely selected over the period of 2012-2021. The data were sourced from the annual audited reports and accounts of the companies obtained from the Nigerian Exchange Group. The study used E-Views 8.0 statistical package and used panel regression techniques to analyse the data after carrying out diagnostic tests such as normality test, Panel Unit Root Test, Multicollinearity Test, Redundant Fixed Effects Tests, Hausman test, Heteroskedasticity Test, Serial Correlation Test to select the most appropriate model and fixed effect model was used for the model. The findings revealed that company age and company size do not influence earnings management. Also, the study revealed that political connection of board members insignificantly moderated the effect of company age and company size on earnings management. The study recommended that increased attention be given to internal control mechanisms to help curtail aggressive corporate earnings manipulation, reduce the effect of political connection, and enhance the financial reporting quality, particularly in Nigeria. Keywords: Firm Characteristics, Political Connections, Accruals, Real Earnings Management. Journal Reference Format: Adesuyi, T. Y. & Owoseni, G. D. (2024): Company Age, Company Size and Earnings Management in Listed Industrial Goods Manufacturing Companies in Nigeria: A Moderating Role of Political Connection of Board Members. Humanities, Management, Arts, Education & the Social Sciences Journal. Vol. 12. No. 1, Pp 49-72. www.isteams.net/humanitiesjournal. dx.doi.org/10.22624/AIMS/HUMANITIES/V12N1P4

The Effectiveness of Experiential Marketing Event "HermesFit Indonesia 2023" on Purchase Intention of Hermes Products

In recent years, there has been a noticeable increase in the consumption of luxury fashion brands. Consuming and purchasing luxury fashion brands can evoke a sense of pride, exclusivity, and prestige for those who wear them (Chada & Husband 2006). Hermès is a French luxury goods manufacturer since 1837. When viewed in terms of exclusivity, the brand is consistently ranked as the most valuable luxury brand in the world in various assessments and ranking studies published by leading consultants (Leonard, 2021). On September 15 – 17, 2023, Hermès held an event called HermèsFit, which was held at City Hall Pondok Indah Mall 3. This event was created to introduce its new collection to visitors. On the one hand, Hermès also gave visitors experience in using products from their brands. This research aims to measure the level of effectiveness of experiential marketing carried out by the Hermès brand in creating the HermèsFit 2023 event at PIM 3. The theory used in this research is the Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM) using quantitative method. The research utilized a purposive sampling method with a sample size of 96 respondents whose criteria were JABODETABEK residents who attended the HermèsFit Indonesia 2023 event. This research has an influence between X variable (Experiential Marketing) on Y variable (Purchase Intention) with a regression equation of Y = 1.313 + 0.507 have an influence on Purchase Intention.

Assessing Financial Performance in Consumer Goods Manufacturing: The Role of Debt to Assets Ratio, Current Ratio, and Inventory Turnover

Manufacturing companies in the consumer goods sector play a vital role in satisfying market demands and attracting investors, especially those listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX). This study assesses the financial performance of consumer goods manufacturing companies listed on the IDX, focusing on the cosmetics and household goods sub-sector. It examines the influence of Debt to Assets Ratio (DAR), Current Ratio (CR), and Inventory Turnover on financial performance. Data analysis utilizes panel data regression tests. Findings reveal that all three variables significantly impact financial performance, suggesting that managing these ratios can enhance company profitability and value. The study offers practical recommendations for improving asset management, liquidity, and inventory turnover to optimize consumer goods manufacturing sector financial performance.

Revenue Dependence Analysis of the Domestic and Foreign Manufacturers of Goods in the Field of Information and Communication Services on the Rate of Foreign Currency

Payments for goods and services between Russian consumers and foreign suppliers are made in US currency. Dollar to ruble exchange rate is constantly changing, that creates difficulties in forecast estimates of trade transactions and affects the competitiveness of domestic producers. In this paper, the authors built regression models and determined the closeness of the relationship between the US dollar exchange rate and the revenue of foreign and domestic producers of goods in the field of information and communication services in order to compare the terms of trade and assess the competitiveness of domestic producers. As a result, of the study, it was found that the revenue of foreign companies, manufacturers of goods in the field of information and communication services directly depends on the US dollar rate. On the contrary, the US dollar exchange rate is an insignificant factor for the revenue of domestic companies. This distribution makes trade conditions unequal and jeopardizes the competitiveness of the domestic producer. The conducted studies indicate the need to increase the real level of the weighted average rate of import customs duty to the optimal size, since only at the optimal level of the analyzed rate, domestic companies will be able to be in equal economic conditions.

Consistency of Criminal Sanctions Regulations in Protecting Women Victims of Non-consensual Pornography Content Dissemination

The law is enacted to protect the rights. Along with technological developments, the scope of legal protection certainly needs to be expanded. Resolution of the Human Rights Council dated July 1, 2016, Number 32/13, concerning the Promotion, Protection, and Enjoyment of Human Rights on the internet, that individual rights must be protected offline and online. At present, there are many cases of electronic-based sexual violence, also known as Online Gender-Based Violence. One of the many forms of action that occurs is the spread of pornographic content without the consent of the person who is the object of the recording or shooting (Non-Consensual Distribution of Intimate Images/NCDII). In Indonesia, Law Number 12 of 2022 concerning Crimes of Sexual Violence has been enacted, but when the NCDII case occurred, women who were victims were not protected legally. Often, women are considered as parties involved in the manufacture of immoral goods, so they are subject to criminal sanctions. This paper is a result of normative juridical research, specifically analytical descriptive research. This research uses statute and conceptual approaches, using legal materials such as regulations and legal theories. This research concludes that there is no common understanding between the public and law enforcers that in cases where pornographic content is spread without consent, women are in the position of victims. Protection for victims is still difficult to obtain because the regulations that are currently in force do not specifically state that disclosing content without the consent of the depicted person is a crime.

The Spondylus beads from El Molino (Puerta de Corral Quemado, Catamarca, Argentina): Analysis and implications for the study of local power in Inka times

The purpose of this paper is to present the analysis of a set of Spondylus beads found in El Molino (Puerta de Corral Quemado, Dept. of Belén, province of Catamarca, Argentina) –3000 km south of Tumbes–, a local residential pre-Inka site, with evidence of Inka influence during the 15th century CE. Given that the presence of objects manufactured in Spondylus in Chile and Argentina is nearly restricted to the capacochas −Inka burial ceremonies of children and young maidens dressed in fine textiles at the top of the snow-capped peaks of the Andes−, the discovery of these beads in El Molino acquires special relevance. We present the description of the raw material, the reconstruction of possible manufacturing techniques, the analysis of the morphometry and the comparison with other sets of beads. The implications of this discovery at a local and regional scale, taking into account the symbolic and strategic importance of this resource for the Inka expansive policy, are discussed. It is proposed that the site could have been a space of local power, where an elite group, that organized the manufacture of prestigious goods, was benefited by the mechanisms of hierarchization and legitimation of political power promoted by the state.

Managerial ability and supply chain power

This paper investigates how major customer firms, managed by highly capable managers, can gain bargaining power over their suppliers. Our results document a positive association between managerial ability and the supply chain power a major customer firm holds over its suppliers. The results are robust to endogeneity concerns, tested through two-stage least squares (2SLS) regressions and difference-in-differences estimates surrounding forced CEO turnovers. We find the positive association to be stronger for durable goods manufacturers and higher ability managers engaged in socially responsible activities and corporate innovation. We provide evidence that higher-ability managers use their enhanced bargaining power to secure greater supplier trade credit.

Assessment of Impact of Inflation on University Management in North-Central, Nigeria

The objectives of this study is to assess the impact of inflation on university management in Nigeria. The population of this study comprised of all academic staff in North-Central, Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. The sample for study was made up of three hundred academic staff. The sample was selected from three public universities in North-central, Nigeria. The sample was selected using multi-stage sampling technique. A research instrument was constructed by the researchers and used for the data collection which was title: (Impact of Inflation on University Management Questionnaire). The structured questionnaire used 4 Likert scale: Strongly Agree (SA), Agree (A), Disagree (D) and Strongly Disagree (SD). The reliability of the instruments IIUMQ was established through a test re-test method. The results of the first and second administration of the instrument were analysed using the Pearson Product Moment correlation coefficient, which yielded a reliability index of 0.88. Data collected in the study were analyzed using mean-scores and standard deviation. The findings showed that inflation affected running of the universities in Nigeria via increment in operational cost. The result also indicated that inflation affected projects completion, led to projects abadonment, poor projects financing and poor projects maintenance. The result finally revealed that inflation affected implementation of teaching, research and community service programme in Nigerian universities. Based on the findings, the paper hereby recommended that government should increase the funding of universities in Nigeria. Government should diversify the economy by increasing local production and encourage locally manufacturing of goods.

Marketplace as a Digital Product Promotion Platform

Relevance. In the modern world, digital trading platforms on the Internet are increasingly gaining relevance, this phenomenon is associated with the growth of innovation and the acceleration of the pace of life of society as a whole. To achieve maximum efficiency from sales, it is not enough for manufacturers of goods to simply have their own website. Currently, digital trading platforms or marketplaces are gaining relevance for most brands. This trend helps to ensure that companies do not miss any potential sales and maximize their profits. Such marketplaces as Wildberries, Ozon, Yandex-market are the most popular and in demand in the Russian trade market. Each trading platform offers its own methods of promotion and sale of goods, and also has various advantages and non-delivery. The purpose of the study is to study the basic principles of Russian marketplaces. Objectives: based on the analysis of the e-commerce market in Russia to identify the largest marketplaces and conduct their comparative analysis. Methodology. The research is aimed at achieving this goal and is based on a review of scientific research by both domestic and foreign marketers, as well as a statistical analysis of the functioning of online trading platforms. Results. In the course of the work, the process of sales through marketplaces was analyzed, the advantages and disadvantages of this digital platform were identified, and the process of functioning of Russian Internet trading platforms was investigated. Conclusions. The conducted research gives grounds to conclude that the marketplace is becoming the mainstream of modern trade. Analysis of current trends in the digital trade market indicates the increasing role of the marketplace, as a unique interaction environment is being created that gives equal rights and opportunities to all participants in the process, contributing to successful competition on one digital platform.

Evolutionary adaptation in the laboratory and the process of retrograde engineering augment autotrophic proliferation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Genetic engineering provides various avenues for CO2 transformation into biological matter or bio-substances, aiding in mitigating the unsustainable utilization of organic raw materials that contribute detrimentally to global warming. The employment of widely recognized industrial microorganisms, like Saccharomyces cerevisiae, for the creation of innovative carbon (C) biomanufacturing frameworks may detach biological technology from raw materials with potential substitute applications in agricultural output. Lately, the primary C utilization of S. cerevisiae was rewired through a systematic manipulation strategy, enabling the resultant strains to achieve autotrophic growth with a maximum growth rate (μmax) of 0.002 h−1, which was subsequently enhanced to 0.02 h−1 via evolutionary engineering. By employing retrograde gene manipulation to manipulate Copy Number Variations (CNVs) variations happening in the genes encoding hexokinase and nicotinamide mononucleotide adenylyltransferase (NMNAT) following evolution, we assessed their impact on the enhanced self-sustaining characteristics. The modified CNVs induced reduced catalytic capabilities in potential bifurcation reactions and energy-balancing-related chemical processes. Moreover, we demonstrate how subsequent evolution enables peroxisomal intake and augments proliferation in self-sustaining circumstances. The genetically modified S. cerevisiae strains provide a foundation for the advancement of a versatile innovation that harnesses CO2 for the manufacturing of high-value goods, including cellular organic matter, specialized catalysts, and compounds while circumventing the consumption of organic raw materials alongside potential substitute applications in agricultural output. Additionally, the detection and validation of three critical mechanisms might facilitate the assimilation of foreign CBB cycles or analogous routes to foreign microorganisms.