Illegal Sources Research Articles

ДЖЕРЕЛА ПОХОДЖЕННЯ ПРЕДМЕТА ЛЕГАЛІЗАЦІЇ

The article substantiates the possibility of identifying socially dangerous acts that are de jure not criminal offenses, but de facto can be attributed to the subject of legalization. Attention is drawn to the problematic aspects of the practice of lifting the criminal law prohibition of acts, which according to the level of public danger should be defined as criminal offenses, and at the same time, be considered a source of origin of the subject of legalization. It emphasizes the inaccuracy of the legislative approach to the restrictive interpretation of the list of criminally punishable actions, which, objectively, provide for economic gain in an illegal manner, as a result of which it is not possible to classify them as predicate criminal offenses. The scientific basis for the possibility of using civil transactions to commit criminal offenses and under the guise of lawful business activities to hide the actual goal, the achievement of which involves criminal intent, including obtaining economic benefits. The ratio of the categories «tax minimization» and «tax evasion» is considered, as well as the possibility of classifying not only criminal but also other offenses as sources of legalization is clarified. The purpose of the study is to develop an author’s scientific approach to addressing the possibility of classifying as sources the subject of legalization of acts in respect of which there is no criminal law prohibition. It is concluded that the existence of a legally defined criminal law prohibition is a crucial aspect in the context of resolving the issue of the possibility of classifying socially dangerous actions as predicate criminal offenses, which are the sources of the subject of legalization. The opinion is expressed about the erroneousness of the legislative approach to the restrictive interpretation of the list of criminally punishable actions, which objectively provide for economic gain in an illegal way, as a result of which it is not possible to classify them as predicate criminal offenses. It is proved that the norms of the domestic law on criminal liability do not fully take into account the level of public danger of actions that are an illegal source of economic benefit. It is substantiated that the level of public danger of such actions is a necessary factor for adequate awareness of the need, first, for a criminal law prohibition of conduct that is unacceptable from the point of view of the state and society and contradicts the characteristics of its development; secondly, the distinction between criminal and administrative offenses and non-criminal conduct; thirdly, the identification of actions aimed at using gaps to reduce their own tax liabilities, which necessitate the need to improve legislation in this area.

Implementation of the European Timber Regulation by German importing operators: An empirical investigation

Illegal logging causes damage to forests with consequences for climate, biodiversity, livelihoods and national economies. One of the causes is international trade driven by consumer-country demand. Since 2013, the European Timber Regulation (EUTR) prohibits the placement of timber and timber products from illegal sources on the European market. The implementation is still in progress in most EU Member States, and market operators are insufficiently aware of their respective duties.The study considers a causal chain necessary to result in the envisaged behaviour change of importing operators, i.e., a reduced import of timber products from illegal sources. Therefore, the extent to which importing operators meet the prerequisites of behaviour change (awareness, knowledge, compliance and change of timber trade activities) is analysed. Taking Germany as an example, an extensive survey is conducted on German importing operators. Operator characteristics are analysed to determine in how far the prerequisites of behaviour change are met.The study found gaps in the practical implementation process along the whole causal chain. While awareness, knowledge and compliance among importing operators in Germany is still low, those operators that show the envisaged behaviour changes cover the majority of total import value. The majority of operators import only small quantities of timber products, while a few operators dominate the market. Especially small operators outside the timber-related sector were found to be unaware of the EUTR and less often compliant. Their low information status hints on uneven information availability. Compliance was highest among larger enterprises, and those importing from risk countries.The study contributes to determining risk factors for better targeting gaps along the causal chain necessary for compliance with the EUTR, and the types of operators affected. Finally, needs and options for intervention and further research are discussed.

Regulating mediators of internet piracy: P2P websites and cyberlockers

PurposeContemporary copyright infringement has significantly changed in the digital era, and because of the unique attributes of internet piracy and method of exchange, traditional regulatory approaches are ineffective. The characteristics of digital goods enable users to almost costlessly copy and exchange content. Much of the contemporary research fails to incorporate the necessary components of exchange that are central to digital piracy. This paper aims to examine the role of peer-to-peer network hosts and the often-omitted cyberlocker.Design/methodology/approachA simple framework is constructed that describes how these entities how these entities facilitate digital piracy and operate financially. This framework illustrates the objectives of piracy mediators, highlighting the avenues by which regulation can craft policy. Additional examination of online piracy highlights the challenges of contemporary policy to combat digital piracy due to the secondary consequences.FindingsRecent policies, aimed at diminishing piracy, would infringe on consumers’ privacy, hurt business finances or strategically used by rivals to hurt the operations of legal entities. Trying to prevent illegal sources (or facilitators) of pirate goods from providing access to files continues to be challenging. In many instances, the blurry line between a legal platform for file exchange and a piracy haven creates significant regulatory problems. For known piracy promoters (host sites or cyberlockers), location and revenue streams continue to limit direct intervention.Originality/valueThis paper discusses the necessary path for piracy to occur by including previously omitted agents necessary for communication and/or distribution. My analysis incorporates these entities that facilitate piracy and the unique features of digital exchange, which has industrial and regulatory implications. Furthermore, my results highlight why regulators have been ineffective in crafting meaningful anti-piracy policy.

Knocking on Heaven’s Door: User preferences on digital cultural distribution

This paper explores the social, demographic and attitudinal basis of consumer support of a Copyright Compensation System (CCS), which, for a small monthly fee would legalise currently infringing online social practices such as private copying from illegal sources and online sharing of copyrighted works. We do this by first identifying how different online and offline, legal and illegal, free and paying content acquisition channels are used in the media market using a cluster-based classification of respondents. Second, we assess the effect of cultural consumption on the support for a shift from the status quo towards alternative, CCS-based forms of digital cultural content distribution. Finally, we link these two analyses to identify the factors that drive the dynamics of change in digital cultural consumption habits. Our study shows significant support to a CCS compared to the status quo by both occasional and frequent buyers of cultural goods, despite the widespread adoption of legal free and paying online services by consumers. The nature of these preferences are also explored with the inclusion of consumer preference intensities regarding certain CCS attributes. Our results have relevant policy implications, for they outline CCS as a reform option. In particular, they point evidence-based copyright reform away from its current direction in the EU of stronger enforcement measures, additional exclusive rights, and increased liability and duties of care for online platforms. This work shows that CCS may be an apt policy tool to hinder piracy and potentially increase right holder revenues, while respecting fundamental rights and promoting technological development.

Changes in associations of prescription opioid use disorder and illegal behaviors among adults in the United States from 2002 to 20.

In the United States, the availability of prescription opioids has decreased in recent years. Whether there have been corresponding changes in the likelihood of people with prescription opioid use disorder (POUD) to engage in illegal behaviors related to drug use remains unknown. We examined changes in prevalence of illegal behaviors between people with and without POUD over time, and how transactions for obtaining opioids have changed among people with POUD over time. Temporal trend analysis of repeated cross-sectional data. United States household dwelling population from all 50 states and District of Columbia. Adult subsamples from the 2002-14 National Survey of Drug Use and Health (n=5393 people with POUD; n=486 768 people without POUD). Outcome variables were selected illegal behaviors and sources of opioids used non-medically. POUD was defined using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition, criteria. Time was treated as a continuous variable. The variable of interest for each illegal behavior analysis was the interaction between POUD diagnosis and time. Covariates included age, sex and race/ethnicity. During the 13-year period examined, the adjusted interaction odds ratio (AIOR) describing the change in association between POUD and selling illicit drugs increased by a factor of 2.41 [95% confidence interval (CI)=1.56-3.71, P<0.001]. Similar trends were noted for stealing (AIOR=2.12, 95% CI=1.31-3.44, P=0.002) and for life-time history of arrest (AIOR=1.53, 95% CI=1.06-2.19, P=0.021). People with POUD became less likely to receive opioids for free from friends and family [adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=0.42, 95% CI=0.25-0.71, P=0.001] and more likely to buy them from friends and family (AOR=3.29, 95% CI=1.76-6.13, P<0.001) from 2005 to 2014. In the United States, against a backdrop of a decreasing prescription opioid supply, rates of some crimes potentially related to drug use increased among people with prescription opioid use disorder compared with those without prescription opioid use disorder from 2002 to 2014.

Factors Associated with Frequency of Recent Initiation of Others into Injection Drug Use Among People Who Inject Drugs in Los Angeles and San Francisco, CA, USA, 2016–17

Objective: Drug injection initiation is often assisted by a person who injects drugs (PWID). How often PWID provide this assistance has not been examined. We examine frequency of injection initiation assistance and factors associated with high (4+) and low frequency (1–3) initiation assistance as compared to no initiation assistance among PWID. Methods: Participants were 979 Californian PWID. PWID were interviewed about providing injection initiation assistance in the last 6 months among other items. Multinomial regression analysis was used to examine factors associated with levels of frequency of injection initiation assistance. Results: Among participants, 132 (14%) had initiated 784 people into injection (mean = 5.94 [standard deviation = 20.13]; median = 2, interquartile range = 1,4) in the last 6 months. PWID engaged in high frequency initiation (26% of sample) assisted 662 new initiates (84% of total). Using multinomial regression analysis with no initiating as the referent group, we found that high frequency initiating was statistically associated with higher injection frequency, having a paying sex partner, taking someone to a shooting gallery, and providing injection assistance. Lower frequency initiation was statistically associated with having a paying sex partner, illegal income source, and providing injection assistance. Conclusion: Differences between high and low frequency initiators were not found. Sex work and assisting with drug injection were linked to initiating others. Individual-level interventions that reduce this behavior among PWID and structural interventions such as safe consumption sites and opioid medication treatments that interrupt the social process of injection initiation should be considered as ways to reduce injection initiations.

Alternative Facts, Fake News, Conflicting Perceptions, &amp; Their Relevance to Library and Information Professionals

Abstract This article addresses contemporary and emerging issues involving perceptions of “truth,” particularly truth in social networking and other web environments. It is a work primarily tackling issues concerning perceptions of truth in the United States of America with a lesser emphasis on their impact on other developed nations. Heuristics (trial and error lessons) derived from the author’s tacit knowledge gained in the political arena communicating factual information to legislators and their staff under the American constitutional right to petition for “redress of grievances” are provided. Research dealing with the well-documented predisposition of people, both well and poorly-educated, to seek out information supporting their existing views is considered. Also reviewed are the implications of the increased availability of disinformation and misinformation from hostile, mercenary, illegal, alt-right, alt-left and other contentious online sources. The essay concludes with the examination of the feasibility of a spectrum of possible roles to be played by libraries and information centers and their personnel in support of a broader identification and provision of validated facts at a time of overabundance in often unreliable electronic information.

Public Perception toward E-commerce of Medicines and Comparative Pharmaceutical Quality Assessment Study of Two Different Products of Furosemide Tablets from Community and Illicit Online Pharmacies.

Background:E-commerce of medicines has been extensively spread worldwide. Many reasons influence consumers to purchase their medical needs through the Internet, including low cost, availability, accessibility, and time saving. However, most of these medicines are substandard and counterfeit.Aim:To assess the perception of people in the UAE about purchasing medicines from online sources and to evaluate the quality of furosemide tablets from two different sources including illegal online source.Materials and Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted on 528 participants in the UAE. The questionnaire included three parts to assess the public perception and experience toward purchasing medicines from online sources. Furosemide tablets, purchased from the UAE market and an illegal online source, were physically and chemically studied to assess their quality according to the British Pharmacopoeia (2018).Results:The survey results revealed that less than 10% of participants have purchased their medicines from online sources and mostly they were nonprescription products (78%). Most common motives for online purchasing were either unavailability in the local pharmacies (43%) or lower cost compared to that in local market (43%). The opinion of participants toward purchasing of online medicines was negative. On the other hand, the experimental analysis showed that online furosemide had failed to pass the chemical assay test (91.0% ± 0.8), which makes it a substandard product.Conclusion:This study showed that few consumers had considered purchasing pharmaceutical products from online sources as a feasible way to save money and time. However, most of them were in doubt about their quality, which encourages health-care providers to guide patients to government-supported websites if required. The study also showed that the quality of online medicines is questionable, indicating that these products are not equally effective as the medicines purchased from a local pharmacy.

A Comparative Study of the Intellectual Property Rights in Perspective of the Islamic &amp; Western Law

Islam always emphasizes to use legal ways and means of earning. In contrary the legal and illegal sources of income have been explained in detail. The “Right of invention” is one of the most discussed issues among the Islamic Jurists. This right is related to the intellectual skills and capabilities of people. However, internationally intellectual property is a known concept that associates with right of publication, right of trademark, patent and right of goodwill et cetera. However, research must be conducted on inquiring rights of intellectual property in Islamic Sharia and comparison of these rights with those in Western laws. In this paper the historical review of the intellectual properly has been presented. Similarly, those various types and concerned ruling have been discussed in contrast with the Islamic and western law on descriptive research methods.

Reliable methods for identifying animal deaths in GPS‐ and satellite‐tracking data: Review, testing, and calibration

Abstract Assessing mortality factors and survival rates is a cornerstone for the management of threatened and harvestable species. Modern tracking technologies allow unprecedented opportunities to monitor the mortality of individuals for years. However, the methods employed to separate actual deaths from transmitter failures have rarely been validated. Here, we review these previous methods and exploit an intensive satellite‐tagging programme on raptorial black kites Milvus migrans to examine through tree models whether any tag‐parameter indicators could reliably separate 18 confirmed deaths (recovered corpse) from 32 confirmed cases of radio‐failure (tagged individual subsequently observed alive). Classification keys were validated on 21 confirmed deaths or radio‐failures from an independent tagging study on two other raptor species. Review of tracking studies on mortality showed that they are exponentially increasing and using a wide variety of indicators (e.g., battery charge, stationary locations, fix frequency/quality, sudden tag disappearance, or common sense), with no preponderance of any. Few studies confirmed enough deaths or radio‐failures to validate such methods. For GPS‐satellite tags, we found a reliable classification key that correctly classified 100% of the deaths and radio‐failures in both the calibration and validation datasets through three simple dichotomous indicators: (a) whether GPS locations were stationary or not; (b) whether background Doppler data confirmed them as stationary or not; and (c) whether GPS‐locations’ frequency gave indication of transmitter malfunctioning or not (Figure 3). For tags recording Doppler locations alone, we failed to find a reliable classification key and advise future researchers to use Doppler data very cautiously (e.g., by censoring any uncertain terminal events) because misclassification rates are likely to be high. Synthesis and applications. Refining the death surveillance function of satellite and GPS‐tags will improve the capability of management practitioners to: (a) uncover under‐reported casualties provoked by illegal or conflictual causes (e.g., poisoning, shooting, collision with windmills); and (b) calibrate demographic models which form the basis of management plans (e.g., population viability or sustainable harvest models). Improved exploitation of such remote monitoring will markedly advance the efficiency, planning, and implementation of management projects on imperilled or harvestable species affected by illegal, conflictual, or cryptic sources of mortality.

Microwave-assisted extraction and differential scanning calorimetry in the chemical identification of sliming agents apprehended in the south region of Brazil

Over the past decades, consume of slimming agents considerably increased in several countries, including Brazil, due to weight-loss and stimulant properties. Since these drugs are controlled to prevent illicit and indiscriminate use, there is a parallel illegal market that uses the Internet and irregular pharmacies in order to distribute these formulations. Slimming agents produced by these illegal sources are known for being manufactured with little or none quality control resulting in uncertain and unknown formulations. For forensic purposes, apprehended pharmaceuticals have to undergo a process of chemical identification that can be difficult due to its complex matrix. In this sense, application of assisted energies in the extraction step such as microwave irradiation can be a promising method to increase the recuperation of the target molecules of the sample. Therefore, the aim of this research was to identify four slimming agents apprehended in Brazil by means of visual inspection, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Differential Scanning Calorimetry and Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry. Moreover, the efficiency of solid-liquid extraction and microwave-assisted extraction was compared. It should be noted that our work was one of the few to use Differential Scanning Calorimetry and the application of microwave irradiation in the analysis of apprehended materials. Results showed that the majority of the samples was counterfeit being composed of one or several adulterants or contaminants. Initially, visual inspection resourcefully screened the slimming agents for possible signs of falsification, however it failed to detect fraudulent products that were very similar to veridical medicines. Sequentially, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy detected functional groups present in the samples while the presence or absence of the alleged active ingredients were successfully measured with Differential Scanning Calorimetry and, thus, providing a full chemical screening of the apprehended materials. Gas Chromatography- Mass Spectrometry confirmed the presence of adulterants such as caffeine, fluoxetine and phenolphthalein as well as contaminants such as sulfurol in the falsified samples. Finally, comparison of extraction procedures indicated that microwave-assisted extraction increased the recovery of compounds detected in chromatographic analysis to a greater extent than solid-liquid extraction.

Understanding determinants of illegal e-book downloading behaviour in the UK and Germany

With the success of e-books in the last decade, e-book piracy has become increasingly prevalent. This is a significant threat to the publishing industry, publishers and authors alike. Despite efforts to inhibit illegal downloading of e-book files, unauthorized download platforms have not lost much popularity. One of the underlying problems is a limited understanding of the determinants that drive consumers in their choice between legal and illegal download options. This article identifies and critically evaluates the key product attributes in the decision-making process of consumers downloading e-books from legal and illegal sources. By providing consumer insights, the publishing industry and e-book sellers can be guided to meet consumer demand better and design marketing plans to attract consumers towards legal download sources and discourage e-book piracy. The consumer choice between legal and illegal e-book download platforms is analysed using the multi-attribute theory for consumer decision making. 23 attributes were tested using an online questionnaire and analysed by logistic regression. Three attributes were found to be significant in determining the choice of download platforms: A low perception of the importance of copyright compliance, dissatisfaction with the security of download platforms and dissatisfaction with e-book prices in online stores.

Peer-to-peer injection: Demographic, drug use, and injection-related risk factors

BackgroundPeer-to-peer injection (either providing or receiving an injection to/from a person who injects drugs [PWID]) is common (19%–50%) among PWID. Most studies of peer-to-peer injection have focused on receiving injection assistance, with fewer examining providing injection assistance and none considering characteristics of PWID who do both. We examined characteristics of PWID by peer-to-peer injection categories (receiving, providing, both, and neither) and determined if these behaviors were associated with receptive and distributive syringe sharing. MethodsLos Angeles and San Francisco PWID (N = 777) were recruited using targeted sampling methods and interviewed during 2011–2013. Multinomial logistic regression was used to determine characteristics associated with peer-to-peer injection categories and logistic regression was used to examine if peer-to-peer categories were independently associated with distributive and receptive syringe sharing. ResultsRecent peer-to-peer injection was reported by 42% of PWID (18% provider; 14% recipient; 10% both). In multinomial regression analysis, PWID reporting any peer-to-peer injection were more likely to inject with others than those who did neither. Injection providers and those who did both were associated with more frequent injection, illegal income source, and methamphetamine injection while injection recipients were associated with fewer years of injection. Injection providers were younger, had more years of injecting, and were more likely to inject heroin than PWID who did neither. In multivariate analyses, we found that providers and PWID who did both were significantly more likely to report receptive and distributive syringe sharing than PWID who did neither. ConclusionPeer-to-peer injection is associated with HIV/HCV risk. Current prevention strategies may not sufficiently address these behaviors. Modification of existing interventions and development of new interventions to better respond to peer-to-peer injection is urgently needed.

The Minimum Wage, EITC, and Criminal Recidivism

For recently released prisoners, the minimum wage and the availability of state Earned Income Tax Credits (EITCs) can influence both their ability to find employment and their potential legal wages relative to illegal sources of income, in turn affecting the probability they return to prison. Using administrative prison release records from nearly six million offenders released between 2000 and 2014, we use a difference-in-differences strategy to identify the effect of over two hundred state and federal minimum wage increases, as well as 21 state EITC programs, on recidivism. We find that the average minimum wage increase of $0.50 reduces the probability that men and women return to prison within 1 year by 2.8%. This implies that on average the effect of higher wages, drawing at least some released prisoners into the legal labor market, dominates any reduced employment in this population due to the minimum wage. These reductions in returns to incarcerations are observed for the potentially revenue generating crime categories of property and drug crimes; prison reentry for violent crimes are unchanged, supporting our framing that minimum wages affect crime that serves as a source of income. The availability of state EITCs also reduces recidivism, but only for women. Institutional subscribers to the NBER working paper series, and residents of developing countries may download this paper without additional charge at www.nber.org.

FATF and money laundering in Iran

PurposeThe aim of this paper is considering that obtaining illegitimate property and obtaining property illegally is morally outrageous. The law also condemns it as a crime. The act of those who launder the proceeds of crime is also condemned. This condemnation is almost universal. So, money laundering as a way of diversion of the origin of the illegal gains into legitimate currency or other assets has been criminalized in most of the countries, including in Iran. Before criminalization of money laundering, there were different laws which referred to the case without referring to the term of money laundry. According to Article 49 of the Iranian Constitution “all proceeds of illegal sources like embezzlement, bribery, gambling and other ways should be confiscated.”Design/methodology/approachArticle 662 of the Islamic Penal Code (IPC) ratified in 1996 criminalized dealing with the proceeds of theft and Note 2 of Article 119 of the Penal Code of the Armed Forces criminalized obtaining the proceeds of embezzlement. But, in 2008, to follow the international conventions, especially Article 3 of the psychotropic substances 1988 in Vienna and also Financial Action Task Force (FATF) recommendations on Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing, the legislator ratified the anti-money laundering code (AMLC). The methodology is an analytical one. The author using an analytical method, has analyzed the subject with consideration of Iran’s situation, as well as international documents and FATF’s recommendations.FindingsThe author has studied the issue, believing that domestic regulations of Iran comply with international regulations and FATF recommendations. The current paper considers the different aspects of the AMLCs in Iran in relation to FATF recommendations.Originality/valueThe author confirms the originality of the paper and declares that he has referred all the other materials.

The Dangers of Buying Prescription Drugs from Rogue Wholesale Distributors

ABSTRACT Counterfeit and unapproved drugs pose serious health risks to patients in the United States. High-profile cases, such as the incident concerning the counterfeit version of the oncology drug Avastin, demonstrate that there are major incentives such as demand, convenience, high profit, and low legal risks for rogue wholesale distributors to sell unapproved and counterfeit drugs. Wholesale drug distributors play a significant role in ensuring prescription medications are delivered safely and efficiently to health care practitioners and pharmacies. While the U.S. drug supply chain is one of the most secure and sophisticated in the world, there are networks of rogue wholesale drug distributors that target physicians and medical practices by advertising prescription drugs for sale at deeply discounted rates. Buying drugs from unlicensed sources puts patients at risk of consuming medications that may be unapproved, counterfeit, contaminated, or ineffective. It is critical that physicians be aware of the patient health risks and potential legal consequences of purchasing drugs from illegal sources. State medical boards can help address this issue given their important role of public protection in the licensing and oversight of the practice of medicine. The regulatory community serves as a key information hub and can provide targeted communication channels to educate physicians.

Aberrant use and poor quality of trypanocides: a risk for drug resistance in south western Ethiopia

BackgroundTrypanocidal drugs have been used to control African animal trypanosomosis for several decades. In Ethiopia, these drugs are available from both authorized (legal) and unauthorized (illegal) sources but documentation on utilization practices and quality of circulating products is scanty. This study looked at the practices of trypanocidal drug utilization by farmers and the integrity of active ingredient in trypanocides sold in Gurage zone, south western Ethiopia. The surveys were based on a structured questionnaire and drug quality determination of commonly used brands originating from European and Asian companies and sold at both authorized and unauthorized markets. One hundred farmers were interviewed and 50 drug samples were collected in 2013 (Diminazene aceturate = 33 and Isometamidium chloride = 17; 25 from authorized and 25 from unauthorized sources). Samples were tested at the OIE-certified Veterinary Drug Control Laboratory (LACOMEV) in Dakar, Senegal, by using galenic standards and high performance liquid chromatography.ResultsTrypanosomosis was found to be a major threat according to all interviewed livestock keepers in the study area. Diminazene aceturate and isometamidium chloride were preferred by 79% and 21% of the respondents respectively, and 85% of them indicated that an animal receives more than six treatments per year. About 60% of these treatments were reported to be administered by untrained farmers. Trypanocidal drug sources included both unauthorized outlets (56%) and authorized government and private sources (44%). A wide availability and usage of substandard quality drugs was revealed. Twenty eight percent of trypanocidal drugs tested failed to comply with quality requirements. There was no significant difference in the frequency of non-compliance between diminazene-based and isometamidium chloride products (P = 0.87) irrespective of the marketing channel (official and unofficial). However, higher rates of non-compliant trypanocides were detected for drugs originating from Asia than from Europe (P = 0.029).ConclusionThe findings revealed the presence of risk factors for the development of drug resistance, i.e. wide distribution of poor quality drugs as well as substandard administration practices. Therefore, it is strongly recommended to enforce regulatory measures for quality control of veterinary drugs, to expand and strengthen veterinary services and to undertake trypanocidal drug efficacy studies of wider coverage.

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Arsenic residue in residential area after cleanup of pesticide illegal dumping sources in Thanh Hoa province, Central Vietnam

ABSTRACTIn Vietnam, Nicotex's site is perhaps the most infamous case of illegal disposal of toxic pesticides near residential areas. In 2013, affected villagers discovered illegal burials of around 1,000 tons of expired pesticides in the Nicotex factory. Organic pesticides were detected in illegal burial areas (IBAs) around 60 times greater than acceptable levels, but no attention was paid to contamination of metals, metalloids, and other classes of organic contaminants, which could be co-contaminants in pesticide formulation. This study assessed the contaminants remaining in the IBAs and surrounding residential areas two years after the source removal conducted in 2014. Additionally, a preliminary health risk assessment from residual contaminants was performed. Nine classes of chemicals including parental pesticides, inorganic and organic degradation byproducts, and metals and metalloids, comprising 123 chemicals were quantified in soil, sediment, and water samples from Nicotex and surrounding residential areas. Although concentrations of organic pesticides were below acceptable levels, arsenic contamination in the soil in a Nicotex IBA named NCT5 and Nap village (NV) exceeded the acceptable level. The enrichment factor and log-probability plot indicate that arsenic enrichment at NV is not from natural sources but is associated with arsenic contamination in NCT5. Arsenic may be a co-contaminant in pesticide manufacturing or an arsenical pesticide, such as monosodium methanearsonate. Arsenic found in NV was toxic arsenate for which the preliminary risk assessment yielded an unacceptable excess carcinogenic risk (1 × 10−4). While all attention was paid to investigate and treat contamination of organic pesticides, it turns out that arsenic is the major existing threat which poses an unacceptable cancer risk in good agreement with the high cancer rate claimed by villagers near Nicotex. This justifies the need for further investigation of the extent of the arsenic contamination and restoration of the contaminated land.

Unintended consequences of local alcohol restrictions in rural Alaska

ABSTRACTSince 1981, Alaskans have had the ability to enact by referendum local restrictions in alcohol sales, importation, and possession, known as “local options.” Intended to empower rural communities to reduce alcohol abuse and associated violence and trauma, the “local option” laws have led to unintended consequences as individuals in alcohol-restricted communities seek intoxication from both legal and illegal sources of alcohol. Based on 68 interviews with 72 community members in eight rural sites in Alaska, this article examines these unintended consequences of local options restrictions and provides context to the challenges rural communities face in implementing alcohol policies.