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Recent increased regulatory restrictions on the use of a first-generation anticoagulant rodenticide, diphacinone, were put into place in California in January 2024 by the passage of California Assembly Bill 1322 in late 2023. Second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides were listed as California Restricted Materials in 2014, and their uses were further restricted in 2021 with the passage of California Assembly Bill 1788. As a result of the passage of AB 1322, diphacinone was added to the Restricted Materials list and prohibited for use in all areas of the state except for specific exceptional uses and sites. Specific requirements for rodenticide applicators using diphacinone are described, along with exceptions to restrictions, as well as other related regulatory requirements for rodenticide users.

The study aims to explore the intricate connections between motivations, attitudes, and purchasing behavior concerning green food. To achieve this, the Self-determination Theory (SDT) is employed as the theoretical framework. A sample of 778 green food customers is evaluated using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), and the data analysis incorporates environmental views and conviction as moderating variables. The results of the study reveal a noteworthy relationship between integrated external regulation and intrinsic motivation in shaping attitudes and purchasing behavior. Interestingly, the study finds that attitude does not significantly impact purchase behavior. The key takeaway from the findings is that ethical considerations related to health and social values strongly motivate customers to opt for green food. Practical implications suggest that marketing practitioners should tailor advertising messages to highlight the health and well-being benefits associated with green food. By emphasizing these aspects, marketers can stimulate customer interest and encourage the purchase of green products. The study sheds light on the importance of aligning marketing strategies with ethical values and health concerns on the target audience in the context of green food consumption.

The maritime industry is exploring ammonia as an alternative fuel to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, the high toxicity of ammonia poses significant safety challenges for onboard handling and storage. This study investigates ammonia dispersion and toxicity levels from vent mast releases on ships, aiming to enhance safety measures for future ammonia-fueled vessels. Using CFD analysis on a 31,000-dwt general cargo ship model, the research examines various release scenarios, considering regulatory requirements, vent mast design, and environmental conditions. Results show that direct ammonia release from the vent mast poses fatal risks to the crew in the accommodation area and on adjacent ships, regardless of current regulatory stipulations. The study recommends installing an ammonia-catching system to reduce concentrations to safe levels of 30 ppm before release. These findings offer crucial insights for improving the safety of using ammonia as marine fuel through risk assessment and management. [Display omitted] • Provides key safety recommendations for the toxic release of ammonia from the ships. • Critically examines existing regulatory gaps related to ammonia release via vent mast. • Investigates dispersion scenarios considering different environmental conditions, vent mast designs, and release rates. • Regardless of vent mast location and height, direct ammonia release poses a fatal threat to humans onboard the ship. • Recommends the installation of an ammonia catch system before releasing ammonia into the atmosphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Does the adoption of restrictive regulations shape numbers of non-governmental organizations? Since the late 1990s, governments around the world have been enacting new legal measures designed to suppress civil society's functions and organizational space to carry out advocacy and politically oriented work. Scholars have investigated the impact of these new regulations on foreign aid flows, voting behavior, and on organizations, but to date, we lack a systematic analysis about the cross-national global effects of these legal restrictions on numbers of international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) in particular, since it is these organizations (and their funders) that have been heavily targeted. In this research note, we fill this gap through an empirical analysis of the effects of various types of restrictive laws on INGO numbers in 96 countries between 1992 and 2018 and find that advocacy restrictions result in a reduction of transnational human rights organizations but not numbers of INGOs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the impact of legal and regulatory frameworks on whistleblowing intention (WI) in the context of the United Arab Emirates multicultural setting and legal environment. Applying the ethical decision-making model and using data collected via an online survey, it examines factors leading to employees' decisions to blow a whistle. The results support the premise of a model promulgating the interdependency of WI upon ethical awareness and ethical judgement; however, while respondents showed willingness to report major fraud and behaviors resulting in "harm to others," they preferred to ignore and not report minor fraud. This contention is also supported by the effects of work tenure and fear of retaliation on WI. To explain the findings, the study scrutinizes the effect of the country's legal environment on employees' intent to blow a whistle. It argues in favor of the implementation of a stand-alone comprehensive whistleblowing law. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Little attention has been given to questions of blocked access in public administration research. We draw on past scholarship on access: qualitative research accounts in public administration that address access processes, problems, and possibilities; and our own experience with access challenges in a public school setting involving public sector employees. This allowed us to detail three methodological principles to facilitate the initiation of ethnographic research while access was constantly (re)negotiated: accounting for regulations, rules, and ruling artifacts; meaningful events; and routine and non-routine artifacts. We investigated public administration regulations, events, and artifacts, developing and employing an empirical method to collect data under conditions where access to primary field sites is blocked based on the boundary condition of our investigation. By describing the research findings and their applications, we demonstrate that conceptualizing access problems as multiple data layers can provide researchers with profound insights into relational dynamics, thereby enriching qualitative inquiry in public administration research. We conclude by arguing that this approach remains highly relevant even as field access is constantly negotiated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The environmental impact of consuming seafood is receiving increasing attention. However, in New Zealand, environmental claims on food products are not regulated in the Food Standards Code. The objective of this study is to describe labelling practices, including environmental claims, on fish and other seafood products available in New Zealand. In total, 369 fish and seafood products from 2022 were analysed from Nutritrack – a database of food products available from major New Zealand supermarkets. For each product, labelling information, as well as the number and type of environmental claims were extracted from archived photographs of all sides of the product packages. Self-declared environmental claims were evaluated against the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14021:2016 standard for environmental claims. About half (48.4%) of the products did not state the harvest location, 8.7% did not state the processing location and 92.6% did not state the harvest method. We identified 33 distinct self-declared environmental claims displayed on a total of 152 packaged seafood products, with 78.8% classified as unclear, and therefore in breach of the ISO standard. This study suggests that stronger regulation around seafood labelling is needed in New Zealand, to provide consumers transparent, accurate and substantiated information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen (H2) is positioned as a key solution to the decarbonization challenge in both the energy and transportation sectors. While hydrogen is a clean and versatile energy carrier, it poses significant safety risks due to its wide flammability range and high detonation potential. Hydrogen leaks can occur throughout the hydrogen value chain, including production, storage, transportation, and utilization. Thus, effective leak detection systems are essential for the safe handling, storage, and transportation of hydrogen. This review aims to survey relevant codes and standards governing hydrogen-leak detection and evaluate various sensing technologies based on their working principles and effectiveness. Our analysis highlights the strengths and limitations of the current detection technologies, emphasizing the challenges in achieving sensitive and specific hydrogen detection. The results of this review provide critical insights into the existing technologies and regulatory frameworks, informing future advancements in hydrogen safety protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural products of bee origin, despite their complex composition and difficulties in standardization, have been of high interest among scientists representing various disciplines from basic sciences to industrial and practical implementation. As long as their use is monitored and they do not impact human health, they can be considered valuable sources of many chemical compounds and are potentially useful in medicine, food processing, nutrition, etc. However, apart from honey, the general turnover of bee products lacks precise and detailed legal requirements ensuring their quality. The different residues in these products constitute a problem, which has been reported in numerous studies. All products derived from beekeeping are made by bees, but they are also influenced by the environment. Such a dual pathway requires detailed surveillance of hazards stemming from outside and inside the apiary. This should be ensured via harmonized requirements arising from the binding legal acts, especially in international and intercontinental trade zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study addresses the critical need for a comprehensive review of the legal and regulatory landscape for hydrogen energy in the US, motivated by its potential to enhance energy security, create a diverse energy mix, and mitigate climate change. The novelty lies in its thorough examination of fragmented hydrogen regulations across federal and state levels, highlighting issues such as lack of national law, regional overregulation, inconsistencies in subsidy support mechanisms, and underfunded long-term hydrogen initiatives, which have received limited academic attention. Non-technical updates, such as harmonized codes and standards, improved safety practices, a strong supply chain, and a skilled workforce, are also essential. The study emphasizes the need for more infrastructure investment and a systematic framework, as 60% of hydrogen production and consumption is on-site. This research contributes to the literature by emphasizing the need for a cohesive framework, substantial infrastructure investment, and collaboration among stakeholders to advance the hydrogen economy. [Display omitted] • Hydrogen laws, policies, regulations, and strategies in the U.S. are reviewed. • Hydrogen laws and regulations are spread across different codes of federal regulations. • Two levels of regulations exist in the U.S. • Various regulatory bodies oversee the hydrogen value chain. • The majority of US hydrogen strategies are now focusing on R&D and incentives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Climate change is a significant challenge in today's world. The construction industry is one of the most energy-intensive and raw material-depleting sectors worldwide. Legal regulations, such as laws, building codes, and alternative governance, are effective ways to help mitigate climate change risks. Most of the research focuses on either one country's policies in the construction industry towards climate change or one type of regulation across various countries. Therefore, the objective of this study is to explore and compare various kinds of regulations, namely policies and laws, green codes, and green building rating systems, in three countries: Egypt, the UAE, and the United States, representing different country profiles from different continents. Sources from credible journal papers, conference proceedings, and theses dissertations were used to explore the most recent practices in these countries. It was found that Egypt is the least effective country in enforcing actions towards the climate crisis. There is a gap between the UAE's actions and the nationally determined contribution target. Federal setbacks hinders the widespread adoption of green practices in the United States. Therefore, the key to effective approaches to combating climate change is enforcing inclusive laws, including all sustainability pillars, and having inclusive nationwide emissions targets in all sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractSex plays a crucial role in shaping the immune response of vertebrates, leading to differing susceptibilities to diseases between females and males. This review explores the observed sexually dimorphic patterns in different pathogenic infections, immune responses, and molecular events. First, a compilation of historical guidelines for incorporating gender/sex as a variable in research studies to enhance scientific rigor, improve research outcomes, and promote better health for both sexes has been carried out. Following this, the study focuses on examining sex-based differences in immune responses across different taxa, with an in-depth review of available studies on fish, particularly regarding the prevalence of sex-related differences in parasites, viruses, and bacteria. Furthermore, the benefits of considering sexual dimorphism when evaluating the prevalence of diseases in fish management in aquaculture and ecological contexts have been discussed. Integrating sex in understanding immune responses will positively influence fish welfare, economic impacts, and policymaking, leading to more tailored and effective treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration of electronic systems into the judicial process represents a significant advancement in legal practice. The advent of e-Court and electronic mediation represent a broader trend towards integrating technology to improve the efficiency and reach of judicial processes. This study aims to find out the stages of implementation of Supreme Court Regulation Number 3 of 2022 concerning Electronic Mediation in the jurisdiction of the Denpasar District Court, and the inhibiting factors of the implementation of the regulation in this jurisdiction. The study provides valuable insights into the practical application of electronic mediation, highlights challenges faced in the field, and offers recommendations for improving the regulatory process and overcoming obstacles. This research could evaluate how legal representatives support parties in fulfilling their rights and obligations during electronic mediation. Additionally, investigating the specific obstacles related to software and human resources could provide insights into how these challenges impact the mediation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The history of Credit Rating Agencies [CRAs], commonly called Rating Agencies, has a long and distinguished trajectory marked by influence, reputation and power. Due to the ability of this field to instigate significant changes in market regulations and actions of economic actors, this subject is extensively debated within the literature. In economic sociology, while some studies have focused on perceptions of performativity and market devices to understand how the calculability of its methods influences the economy, others, along relational lines of sociology, aim to understand them through a more complex constructive process. In this study, we attempt to fill a gap by exploring the complementarity between two theoretical approaches to sociology: theory of fields and performativity. Thus, we mobilize theory of fields to understand the inter-field relationship between the State and CRAs. Specifically, this paper sets out to i) analyze the co-constitution of the state and market fields with the field of CRAs; ii) describe the existing regulation and situate the CRAs and their classification devices in the broader history of the State and the market; iii) analyze how the legitimation of the CRAs by the State generates broader social contexts that assist in the performative work of the CRAs. Based on historical documentary research, we analyze some of the main milestones and regulatory events in the field of CRAs. This research reaffirms the assumption that even after credibility crises, the State is the most significant predictor of legitimacy, power, and influence that CRAs hold to date. The legitimacy of this power and influence has yet to be exhausted because the reputation of CRAs is rooted in the reputation of the State itself. This happens because the State provides essential actions (such as regulations) for the existence of the financial market. Thus, results suggest that the State, through regulatory measures, can engage several other fields to promote the legitimacy of performative work of the CRAs, whose purpose is to provide calculation tools to shape markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process to respond to climate change impacts of development projects can only be realized with the support of policies, regulations, and actors' engagement. While considering climate change in EIA has become partly mandatory through the EU revised Directive in Europe, African countries are still lagging. This paper assesses Tanzanian policies, laws, regulations, and EIA reports to uncover consideration of climate change impacts, adaptation, and mitigation measures, drawing from the transformational role of EIA. The methodology integrates content analysis, interpretive policy analysis, and discourse analysis. The analyses draw from environmental policy, three regulatory documents and three EIA reports in Tanzania using a multi-cases study design. The aim was to understand how considering Climate Change issues in EIA has played out in practice. Results reveal less consideration of climate change issues in EIA. The policy, laws, and regulations do not guide when and how the EIA process should consider climate change-related impacts mitigation and adaptation. The practice of EIA in the country is utterly procedural in line with regulations provisions. Consequently, environmental impact statements only profile the climatology of the study area without conducting a deeper analysis of the historical and future climate to enhance the resilience of proposed projects. The weakness exposed in the laws and regulations contributes to the challenges of responding to the impacts of climate change through the EIA process. It is possible to address climate change issues throughout the project life cycle, including design, approval, implementation, monitoring, and auditing, provided the policy and regulations guide how and when the EIA process should consider climate change issues. Additionally, increasing stakeholders' awareness and participation can enhance the EIA process's potential to respond to the impacts of climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Asian Journals of Ecotoxicology is the property of Gai Kan Bian Wei Hui and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Molecular farming, the practice of engineering plants to produce recombinant proteins, presents novel challenges and opportunities for domestic markets and international trade. This article explores the multifaceted risks associated with these biotechnological advancements, including public health concerns related to recombinant animal proteins produced in plants, cross-contamination and unintended allergens, and the necessity for stringent identity preservation systems to avoid past failures. On the global stage, the trade of such genetically engineered crops brings about unique regulatory concerns, underscoring the need for internationally harmonized policies and reevaluating existing low-level presence (LLP) thresholds to address unexpected allergens. Moreover, molecular farming ventures into complex religious and ethical territories, particularly affecting communities with strict dietary laws, such as Islamic, Jewish, and those following vegan or vegetarian lifestyles. Addressing these concerns requires a collaborative approach among scientists, regulatory bodies, industry leaders, and religious figures, aiming to foster an inclusive dialogue that navigates the ethical, religious, and environmental implications of integrating animal proteins into plant-based systems. Such efforts are essential for ensuring the responsible development of molecular farming technologies, contributing to a future of sustainable, secure, and inclusive food systems that respect diverse cultural and ethical values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ports play an important role in connecting the domestic and global economies. Zero emissions port models are actively developed and frequently utilized to fulfill economic objectives while reducing environmental effect. The cold ironing system is one of technological methods assisting ports in transitioning to zero emissions port models. Although a number of ports have successfully implemented it, many other seaports, particularly those in developing countries, continue to face numerous challenges in implementing cold ironing. The aim of this research is to investigate the factors influencing the adoption of cold ironing. The study used a quantitative method, conducting a survey of 215 port managers from the North, Central, and South of Vietnam. The findings indicate that economic incentives and regulation have a positive impact on the adoption of cold ironing at ports. While lack of initial capital and lack of standardization are barriers to the implementation of cold ironing. The last section will look over the study's results and implications in greater detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The international market for plant‐based ‘milk‐alternatives’ (PBMA) is growing tremendously. There are concerns pertaining to their suitability for vulnerable people as they differ from natural milk in nutritional composition, flavour and digestibility. Currently, there exists no clear‐cut definition/identity/standards in almost all countries (except Canada) for them as well as for lab‐grown milk. The present paper focuses on novel areas of issues and challenges associated with their suitability to feed infants. It also raises concerns and priority areas for the regulators to develop policies regarding establishing standards and regulations for varied parameters to assure safety, health and wellness of consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research is based on three fundamental aspects of successful biosimilar development in the challenging biopharmaceutical market. First, biosimilar regulations in eight selected countries: Japan, South Korea, the United States, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Australia, and South Africa, represent the four continents. The regulatory aspects of the countries studied are analyzed, highlighting the challenges facing biosimilars, including their complex approval processes and the need for standardized regulatory guidelines. There is an inconsistency depending on whether the biosimilar is used in a developed or developing country. In the countries observed, biosimilars are considered excellent alternatives to patent-protected biological products for the treatment of chronic diseases. In the second aspect addressed, various analytical AI modeling methods (such as machine learning tools, reinforcement learning, supervised, unsupervised, and deep learning tools) were analyzed to observe patterns that lead to the prevalence of biosimilars used in cancer to model the behaviors of the most prominent active compounds with spectroscopy. Finally, an analysis of the use of active compounds of biosimilars used in cancer and approved by the FDA and EMA was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A life cycle assessment (LCA) study was completed to understand the environmental impacts associated with the land application of wastes produced from rural food‐processing operations for final disposal. The system boundaries for the two comprised scenarios included the storage of the produced non‐agriculture source material (NASM), transportation to an applicable location, land application of the NASM, and the impacts of the final emissions to the soil and groundwater for a full year. The Tool for the Reduction and Assessment of Chemicals and Other Environmental Impacts (TRACI) v2.1 was selected as the impact assessment method. Furthermore, SimaPro 8.0.4.26 was the LCA model version that was used with all the databases included. Overall, the LCA study showed that the most significant environmental impacts associated with the disposal process resulted from carcinogenic and eutrophication emissions. The component that contributed the most to carcinogenic impacts was found to be from the material required to create the concrete storage tank. Additionally, eutrophication was identified to be a potential significant impact, if proper setback requirements are not followed for the NASM material. Results of the study look to inform stakeholders about the benefits and risks encountered from NASM disposal. Practitioner Points: Life cycle assessment was completed on a representative NASM disposal system using land application.Concrete tank used for storage of NASM had the most significant impact in carcinogenic emissions.Eutrophication impacts were the second most significant impact behind carcinogenic emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indian biotech startup sector – a rapidly growing business segment focused on the development of innovative products has the potential to make significant contributions to the country’s economy. Indian bio-entrepreneurs’ optimistic expectation of rapidly moving product development from bench to bedside faces tremendous challenges of the complex Indian regulatory system, which is shaped by a diversity of regulatory authorities, rules, guidelines, and processes. This brief review discusses specific regulatory issues faced by bio-entrepreneurs investing in a variety of innovative products – new drugs, vaccines, medical devices, cell, and gene therapy and suggests approaches which can ease Indian entrepreneur’s endeavors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fifth generation (5G) cellular network roll-out provides high-speed performance, better coverage, and ubiquitous connectivity for the next-generation of intelligent communication systems. Compared to earlier versions, the new 5G wireless standard operates across a wider range of frequencies, which has raised aviation industry's concerns regarding safety and compatibility. For example, 5G systems operating with frequencies that are adjacent those used by radio altimeters could disrupt flight operations and navigation functions. This paper provides an overview of current research efforts assessing the 5G interference and its potential operational impact on altimeters. The work discusses the current stance of regulators and telecommunications operators worldwide on potential 5G interference with altimeters. The paper also compares the ongoing public consultations with key stakeholders globally regarding cellular systems' interference with altimeters. This work offers technical and policy recommendations to spectrum regulators and aviation authorities to inform the safe and efficient deployment of 5G spectra. This work identifies long-term solutions for achieving maximum 5G bands usability and ensuring compatibility among cellular technologies and aviation systems. • Aviation altimeters are highly susceptible to interference due to 5G mid-band. • Using directional 5G beams could be an interference mitigation solution. • Lack of definitive real-time data remains a barrier for interference estimation. • Regulations should be revised to reflect recent operational altimeter requirements. • Manufacturers need compliance with the altimeter's minimum operational standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the future of inorganic contaminants in drinking water and the challenges that water utilities may face in the coming years. It highlights that while the number of regulated inorganic contaminants has remained relatively stable over the past 26 years, compliance with current regulations can be difficult for some water systems. The article also identifies three inorganic contaminants, hexavalent chromium, arsenic, and manganese, that are likely to pose new challenges in the future. It emphasizes the importance of preparing for the future by developing innovative treatment technologies and addressing issues such as climate change and changing consumer expectations. [Extracted from the article]

Alternatives assessment is a methodology used to identify, evaluate, and compare potential chemical and nonchemical solutions with a substance of concern. It is required in several chemicals management regulatory frameworks, with the objective of supporting the transition to safer chemistry and avoiding regrettable substitutions. Using expert input from symposium presentations and a discussion group hosted by the Association for the Advancement of Alternatives Assessment, four case examples of the use of alternatives assessment in regulatory frameworks were evaluated and compared: (1) the US Environmental Protection Agency Significant New Alternatives Policy (USEPA SNAP), (2) authorization provisions in the EU REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals) regulation, (3) the California (CA) Safer Consumer Products (SCP) Program, and (4) the Safer Products for Washington (WA) Program. Factors such as the purpose of the alternatives assessment, the timeline of actions, who completes the assessment, the role of stakeholder engagement, and the regulatory response options for each policy are outlined. Through these presentations and expert discussions, four lessons learned about the use of alternatives assessments in regulatory policy emerged: (1) the goal and purpose of the regulatory framework significantly affects its ability to result in safer substitution, (2) existing frameworks struggle with data access and insufficient stakeholder engagement, (3) some frameworks lack clear decision rules regarding what is a safer and feasible alternative, and (4) regulatory response options provide limited authority for enforcement and do not adequately address options where alternatives are unavailable or limited. Five recommendations address these lessons as well as how the application of alternatives assessment in regulatory settings could have greater impact in the future. This synthesis is not meant to be a comprehensive policy analysis, but rather an assessment based on the perspectives from experts in the field, which should be supplemented by formal policy analysis as policies are implemented over time. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:1035–1045. © 2023 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC). Key Points: A discussion group composed of subject matter experts was convened to gather perspectives on chemical alternatives assessment in response to government regulations.Four regulatory frameworks were discussed, and lesson learned were developed about the use of chemical alternatives assessment in regulatory policy.Five recommendations for regulatory alternatives assessment were developed: establish clear decision rules, enforce or incentivize adoption alternatives, ensure adequate funding, engage stakeholders throughout the process, and create a third‐party, standard‐setting organization.A more formal policy analysis is needed to better understand the impact of regulatory alternatives assessment, particularly newer frameworks, as they're enacted over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to identify the problems in shariah compliance and the weak oversight of implementing Islamic crowdfunding (ICF). Shariah compliance regulation is an essential subsystem in Islamic social finance ecosystems. Design/methodology/approach: This type of research is legal research. The research approaches are the statute, comparative and conceptual approaches. The study in this research examines Indonesia, the UK and Malaysia. Findings: ICF is one of the fastest-growing sectors of Islamic financial technology (fintech). The Islamic fintech sector is showing maturity signals with a market size of $79bn in 2021, projected at $179bn in 2026. Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia lead the Index by Global Islamic Fintech (GIFT) Index scores. However, low shariah compliance is still an issue in implementing ICF. This problem is caused by regulatory support that is still lacking and oversight of shariah compliance is not optimal. On the one hand, shariah compliance is the ICF core principle for Shariah Governance. Research limitations/implications: This study examines the regulation and oversight of ICF in Indonesia, Malaysia and the UK. Indonesia and Malaysia, a country with the highest GIFT index score in the world, and the UK, a country with an Islamic finance sector experiencing rapid growth. Practical implications: The research results on shariah compliance regulation in ICF are helpful as a comprehensive approach for developing sustainable Islamic social finance ecosystems. Social implications: Shariah compliance is the core principle of ICF governance. Its implementation can increase public trust. Originality/value: Crowdfunding platform and issuers in ICF must implement shariah compliance. Therefore, it is essential to consider the presence of shariah compliance requirements and a Shariah Supervisory Board (DPS). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Firms are increasingly pressured to comply with mandatory supply chain transparency (SCT) regulations. Drawing on information processing theory (IPT), this study aims to show how blockchain technology can address information uncertainty and equivocality in assuring regulatory compliance in an interorganizational network (ION). Design/methodology/approach: IPT is applied in a single case study of an ION in the mining industry that aimed to implement blockchain to address mandatory SCT regulations. The authors build on a rich proprietary data set consisting of interviews and substantial secondary material from actors along the supply chain. Findings: The case shows that blockchain creates equality between actors, enables compliance and enhances efficiency in an ION, reducing information uncertainty and equivocality arising from conflict minerals regulation. The system promotes engagement and data sharing between parties while protecting commercial sensitive information. The lack of central authority prevents larger partners from taking control. The system provides mineral provenance and a regulation-compliant record. System cost analysis shows that the system is efficient as it is inexpensive relative to volumes and values of metals transacted. Issues were identified related to collecting richer human rights data for assurance and compliance with due diligence regulations. Originality/value: The authors provide some of the first evidence in the operations and supply chain management literature of the specific architecture, costs and limitations of using blockchain for SCT. Using an IPT lens in an ION setting, the authors demonstrate how blockchain-based systems can address two key IPT challenges: environmental uncertainty and equivocality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction industry is embracing digital technologies, particularly generative or algorithm-aided design principles. However, integrating these digital tools into design processes while ensuring compliance with rules and regulations remains a significant challenge. This study aims to address this challenge by identifying the essential design parameters and constraints required for semi-automated building model design in the early design stages, with a specific focus on a use case of modular multi-story housing in Vienna. To achieve this, we investigate which parameters are fundamental, how constraints must be formulated, and how these aspects can be covered effectively in the design process. Our research provides a parameter catalog in natural language format to be used for scripting algorithms to generate parametric models. We delineate crucial housing-specific design parameters and identify constraints derived from legal, technical, evaluative, and expert knowledge sources. These constraints ensure that the designs comply with regulations and standards. The findings are organized into eight thematic clusters, each detailing specific conditions, and their interdependencies, thus offering a guideline for scripting algorithm-aided design processes. In conclusion, we propose a conceptual model for translating natural language design parameters into visual programming language. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growth of electric vehicles (EVs) has prompted the need to enhance the technology of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) in order to improve their response when subjected to external factors that can alter their performance, thereby affecting their safety and efficiency. Mechanical abuse has been considered one of the major sources of LIB failure due to the changes it provokes in the structural integrity of cells. Therefore, this article aims to review the main factors that aggravate the effects of mechanical loading based on the results of different laboratory tests that subjected LIBs to abusive testing. The results of different cell types tested under different mechanical loadings have been gathered in order to assess the changes in LIB properties and the main mechanisms responsible for their failure and permanent damage. The main consequences of mechanical abuse are the increase in LIB degradation and the formation of events such as internal short circuits (ISCs) and thermal runways (TRs). Then, a set of standards and regulations that evaluate the LIB under mechanical abuse conditions are also reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Villages are stated to be the smallest government structure in Indonesia. A village is an area that has certain boundaries, as a legal community unit that has the right to regulate and manage the affairs of local communities based on their origins. Apart from that, the village government also has the authority to determine legislative products mentioned in village regulations. However, this form of legal regulation is not included in the hierarchy of legal regulations in Indonesia, and in practice it is rarely known by the public. Therefore, this research will focus on identifying the legality of the position of regulations in villages as part of the national legal and regulatory framework. The research method used is a normative legal research method which discusses the position and legality of regulations in the village based on applicable laws and regulations as primary legal material. Apart from that, the discussion is also complemented by secondary legal materials in the form of books and articles published in journals based on theories, concepts, as well as legal principles and adages. The research results show that the village government is the smallest unit in the government system in Indonesia. The village government, like other governments in the region, has the authority to regulate and manage its government affairs autonomously based on the division of affairs and rights according to the origins of the village. Regarding this authority, the village government has the authority to form village regulations and village head regulations. The status and legitimacy of village regulations and village head regulations are recognized as statutory regulations and have binding legal force as long as they are formed based on higher statutory regulations or based on their authority over the village's original rights.

Villages have actually been existing before the Republic of Indonesia was established, but in the journey of this Republic of Indonesia, they are often intentionally designed by the law-forming state elite. One of the main causes for the presence of the various portraits of the marginalization is the absence of respect, protection and the fulfillment of village community autonomy in our Constitution that has been amended 4 (four) times. This directly implies on the obscurity of the existence and position of village regulation and legal products in executing village authority and autonomy. The present research is aimed at (1) explaining the existence and position of village regulation in various legal products arranging the hierarchy of regulations; (2) finding a design of the setting of existence and position of village regulation in the hierarchy of the regulations based on the recognition and subsidiary principles in the village community autonomy. A normative juridical with an analytic descriptive specification based on the legal history and statutory approach. The result shows that the existence of village regulations will be recognized and they will possess a binding power if they are formed on the basis of the instruction of the higher regulation or authority. The village regulations, however, are made to reinforce and guard the subsidiarity and recognition principles-based village autonomy. In order to arrange the existence and the position of village regulations in the system of regulation, further changes of the Constitution have to accommodate the arrangement of village community autonomy. The existence and position of village regulatios should be strengthened in the statutory system in order to guard and reinforce village autonomy so that villages become autonomous and may maintain their local wisdom, economic and ecological sustainability, and their local wisdom-based economic growth.

Aquaporins (AQPs) are transmembrane channels initially discovered for their role in water flux facilitation through biological membranes. Over the years, a much more complex and subtle picture of these channels appeared, highlighting many other solutes accommodated by AQPs and a dense regulatory network finely tuning cell membranes’ water permeability. At the intersection between several transduction pathways (e.g., cell volume regulation, calcium signaling, potassium cycling, etc.), this wide and ancient protein family is considered an important therapeutic target for cancer treatment and many other pathophysiologies. However, a precise and isoform-specific modulation of these channels function is still challenging. Among the modulators of AQPs functions, cations have been shown to play a significant contribution, starting with mercury being historically associated with the inhibition of AQPs since their discovery. While the comprehension of AQPs modulation by cations has improved, a unifying molecular mechanism integrating all current knowledge is still lacking. In an effort to extract general trends, we reviewed all known modulations of AQPs by cations to capture a first glimpse of this regulatory network. We paid particular attention to the associated molecular mechanisms and pinpointed the residues involved in cation binding and in conformational changes tied up to the modulation of the channel function.

This study aims to determine and analyze the determinants of the complexity of tax regulations and the principles of justice regarding taxpayer compliance in Indonesia. The study surveyed 148 individual taxpayers who are entrepreneurs of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) using a Google Form. The results show that the complexity of tax regulations has a significant negative effect (–0.253) on taxpayer compliance, and the principles of justice (0.501) have a significant positive effect on taxpayer compliance. An R square shows that independent variables have a 45.5% influence on increasing taxpayer compliance. The degree of the correlation relationship between all independent variables is around 0.674. The results confirm the relationship between the complexity of tax regulations and the principle of justice and their effect on taxpayer compliance. Therefore, to increase taxpayer compliance, the government should put efforts into simplifying and explaining tax regulations. This can help reduce inadvertent errors, increase taxpayer confidence, and reduce the overall cost of complying with regulations. It is important to consider aspects of justice when designing and implementing the tax system. Efforts to increase transparency, reduce injustice, and make taxes applied proportionally can help strengthen taxpayer compliance and support the sustainability of state revenues.