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More than one in ten Americans are food insecure, with significantly higher rates in minority communities. Most of the extensive research on food insecurity focuses on food deserts and the accessibility to well-stocked supermarkets, with much less known about the role of dollar stores in the urban environment. We draw on retail redlining as a conceptual framework because of its utility in describing the interaction of race/ethnicity, poverty, and profit-seeking in the spatial distribution of food outlets in urban areas. Specifically, we examine how race/ethnicity and poverty predict differential access to dollar stores and supermarkets in Chicago. We find that race and ethnicity remain significant predictors of access to retail outlets, even when controlling for a variety of additional factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food loss and waste (FLW) continues to have economic, environmental, and reputational risks for retailers. However, standardised baseline data to engage this challenge is often absent in developing economies. We quantify FLW for all the retail outlets from a major retailer operating in southern Africa by using the World Resources Institute's FLW Accounting and Reporting Standard and its reporting template for three-month trial period. The data enabled us to reflect on the appropriateness of the Standard for retailers in these economies, which proved adequate subject to recommended changes to the template before implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research from both managerial branding and social semiotics has acknowledged the construction of space for retail establishments, while the experiential turn in brand practice has resulted in the more deliberate use of space to build identifiable characteristics across outlets. As a "retail apocalypse" has been sweeping across the U.S., forcing numerous chains and malls to close, these outlets often leave a host of brand-identifying materials behind after their closing. As the materials were once used to define the space and communicate a brand identity, they continue to do so in the afterlife of stores, forcing future tenants and the surrounding community to deal with the remains from the former capitalistic enterprises. Using a reflexive, visual ethnography, this paper shows how the materials used for brand purposes outlast establishments and pose obstacles for new tenants by casting a shadow and structuring new tenants as subordinate or lesser than the original outlets. The increased use of branded spaces coupled with the extensive closure of retail outlets has made this a pressing concern as communities need to deal with the trash departing retails have left behind. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the concept of Mobility as a Service (MaaS), which is a digital platform that allows users to plan, book, and pay for various types of transportation services. MaaS is seen as a way to achieve sustainability objectives by reducing private car ownership and traffic congestion. However, there is limited evidence on how MaaS has contributed to these objectives. The article highlights the challenges facing MaaS, including the need to incentivize users and make the alternative modes of transportation more attractive. The authors suggest that involving non-transport providers and implementing a tendering authority could help address these challenges. Overall, the future of MaaS is uncertain and further research is needed. [Extracted from the article]

There have been calls for more research to investigate the sociocultural context of retail food environments. This paper examines how a segment of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, residents described convenience stores (CS) in their local retail food environments. 84 social media discussions from Ottawa residents pertaining to their local retail food outlets were qualitatively analyzed, and three themes were formulated: 1) CS are interchangeable, 2) CS are not 'real stores,' and 3) CS are dangerous retail food outlets. We argue that these social constructions of CS have implications for healthy food environments and offer suggestions for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PAHs are hazardous chemicals associated to cancer and other health concerns that endanger food safety. This study aimed at Assessment of PAHs content in singed ruminant hides and skins sold in retail outlets within seven major abattoirs of North-western Nigeria. Concentration of PAHs was investigated on 96 singed and unsigned hides and skins samples using Gas-Chromatograph Mass-Spectrometer-detector (GC-MSD). The cattle and camel hides had higher frequency of PAH occurrence. Acenaphthene ng/kg (5.07 ± 4.44) and (3.80 ± 4.73) exhibited the highest PAHs concentrations and was detected in singed camel hides. Chrysene (0.02 ± 0.00 ng/kg) is the only PAH found in unsigned (control) samples and was seen in cattle hide. Additionally, Naphthalene, Indeno [1,2,3.c.d] pyrene and Chrysene linked to cancer were detected. However, all singed PAHs did not exceed EU maximum permissible limit (12 µg/kg) 12,000 ng/kg. Singeing significantly elevated (P < 0.05) PAHs concentration in ruminant hides and skins. Hence, singed ruminant hides and skins from North-western Nigeria are to a large extend safe for consumption. However, perpetual patronage of singed ruminant hides and skins needs to be discouraged to abate public health concerns in the long run. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The retail grocery business is experiencing rapid expansion in several major Indonesian cities. A significant proportion of these establishments is owned and managed by a particular ethnic group, specifically the Madurese community hailing from East Java, who take pride in their identity as Muslim entrepreneurs. This research endeavors to investigate the fundamental factors contributing to the sustainability and expansion of Madurese-owned Muslim-run grocery stores as ethnic-based grocery stores (EGS). The data for this study were acquired through observations and in-depth interviews with key figures among EGS owners and staff. The findings highlight that the pivotal strategy for the success and growth of EGS lies in their capacity to adapt and emulate modern retail outlets. Furthermore, the principles of cooperation, familial bonds, cultural preservation, and adherence to Islamic values that have been fostered within the Madurese Muslim ethnic groups residing in urban environments play a significant role. Additionally, the distinctive relationships between store proprietors and employees contribute significantly to the swift proliferation of EGS across Indonesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Animal diseases are a danger to livestock, businesses, and public health. This is why the public and private sectors in Africa have invested immensely in the manufacture and distribution of veterinary drugs. However, veterinary drug supply chain actors still suffer losses as a result of expiration. Besides, the way expired products are managed might pose risks to human, animal, and environmental health. This study investigated the prevalence, management of, and factors associated with the expiry of veterinary medicines in supply outlets in Central Uganda. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among owners and caretakers of veterinary drug supply outlets. Data were collected using self-administered, semi-structured questionnaires. The level of expiry was computed as "acceptable" (for levels reported as ≤ 5%) and "unacceptable" (for levels reported as ˃5%). Logistic regression was used to assess associations between the level of drug expiry and predictor variables. Results: A total of 168 owners/caretakers of veterinary drug supply outlets were included in this study. The majority (148/168, 88.1%) of respondents reported having experienced expiries in their outlets. Unacceptable levels of expiry were reported in 38/168 (22.6%) of the outlets. Retail outlets accounted for the majority (34/38, 89.5%) of the unacceptable levels. Powdered drugs accounted for most expiries (106/148, 71.6%). Most expiries were for drugs supplied to outlets on credit (58/124, 46.8%) and those used to treat rare diseases (26/124, 21%). Major reasons for expiry included irrational prescription, inaccurate forecasts, overstocking, dry seasons, and stocking without considering stock-at-hand. Methods of disposal of expired drugs included throwing at pits (74/168, 44.1%); returning drugs to suppliers (51/168, 30.4%); and incineration (33/168, 19.6%). Factors associated with acceptable levels of expiry included the caretaker being female [adjusted OR = 2.9, 95% CI = 1.22–5.08]; having a procurement policy [adjusted OR = 3.9, 95% CI = 1.29–4.81] and practicing first expiry, first out [adjusted OR = 6.07, 95% CI = 4.71–8.70]. Conclusions: Veterinary drug expiries are common in Uganda, and environmentally unfriendly methods of disposal are widely used. Acquisition and use of inventory tracking technologies that support First-Expiry-First-Out principles as well as proper disposal of expired medicines are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Critical actions are required for the proper administration of medications to patients with cardiovascular diseases. However, there has been an increase in irrational use of cardiovascular drugs. The purpose of this study was to determine the extent of non-prescription cardiovascular medicine dispensing practices at community drug retail outlets (CDROs) in Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia. Methods: A cross-sectional survey and simulated patient-based visits were employed at the CDROs in Gondar City, Northwest Ethiopia between June 1 and July 20, 2022. The cross-sectional component that assessed the self-reported practices used a standardized self-reported questionnaire. A simulated patient (SP) case scenario, using different tracer prescriptions only for cardiovascular medications, allowed for the observation of real-world dispensing procedures. SPSS version 22 was used for the data entry and analysis. Results: The cross-sectional study approached 76 CDROs, and 71 of them agreed to take part (93.4% response rate). More than half of the respondents (53.5%) were males, with a mean (SD) age of 33.5 ± 9.1 years. Overall, the current self-reported survey showed that 59.2% of the participants provided cardiovascular drugs without a prescription. A total of 213 simulated visits were conducted. Considering all SP scenarios, the percentage of cardiovascular drugs dispensed without a prescription increased to 88.7%. Besides, more than 90% of pharmacists did not demand the SP to have a prescription, did not advise them to visit doctors or clinics, and did not inquire as to whom the medication was required. Conclusion: A significant proportion of CDROs dispensed cardiovascular medications without a prescription. The findings highlight the disparity between self-reported and actual CDRO practices. Additionally, nearly all of the CDROs approached made it simple to obtain cardiovascular medications. Stakeholders could adherently follow the CDROs' practices to improve their proper dispensing procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research has shown that crime is concentrated at a small number of micro-places. This research has found that these spatial patterns are generalisable across different urban settings and are relatively stable over time. Despite this, little is known about the explanatory factors of crime at the micro-spatial scale. Using police incident data and land-use information obtained from the Vancouver Open-Data catalogue, zero-inflated negative binomial models are used to explain the spatial patterns of various types of property crimes at the street segment level. The results demonstrate that aspects of micro-places (multi-unit housing, restaurants (with and without liquor), and retail outlets) have a significant positive impact on these crime types at the micro-spatial level. Depending on the crime type, the strength of the relationship varies in magnitude and level of significance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In low- and middle-income countries, too, public–private partnerships in health insurance schemes are crucial for improving access to health services. Problems in the public supply chain of medicines often lead to medicine stock-outs which then negatively influence enrolment in and satisfaction with health insurance schemes. To address this challenge, the government of Tanzania embarked on a redesign of the Community Health Fund (CHF) and established a Prime Vendor System (Jazia PVS). Informal and rural population groups, however, rely heavily on another public–private partnership, the Accredited Drug Dispensing Outlets (ADDOs). This study takes up this public demand and explores the potentials, pitfalls, and modalities for linking the improved CHF (iCHF) with ADDOs. Methods: This was a qualitative exploratory study employing different methods of data collection: in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and document reviews. Results: Study participants saw a great potential for linking ADDOs with iCHF, following continuous community complaints about medicine stock-out challenges at public health facilities, a situation that also affects the healthcare staff's working environment. The Jazia PVS was said to have improved the situation of medicine availability at public health facilities, although not fully measuring up to the challenge. Study participants thought linking ADDOs with the iCHF would not only improve access to medicine but also increase member enrolment in the scheme. The main pitfalls that may threaten this linkage include the high price of medicines at ADDOs that cannot be accommodated within the iCHF payment model and inadequate digital skills relevant for communication between iCHF and ADDOs. Participants recommended linking ADDOs with the iCHF by piloting the connection with a few ADDOs meeting the selected criteria, while applying similar modalities for linking private retail outlets with the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF). Conclusions: As the government of Tanzania is moving toward the Single National Health Insurance Fund, there is a great opportunity to link the iCHF with ADDOs, building on established connections between the NHIF and ADDOs and the lessons learnt from the Jazia PVS. This study provides insights into the relevance of expanding public–private partnership in health insurance schemes in low- and middle-income countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We introduce a practically useful extension of the gravity model. When specifying the distance decay function, the basic gravity model and its variants use actual distance or travel time. But, in reality, travel time to a retail outlet is only a fraction of the time spent on shopping trips. Hence, ignoring "time spent in facilities" may bias market share estimates in a competitive environment. To address this issue and by-passing the need to know time spent on facilities, we propose a simple extension of the gravity model by introducing an extra distance/travel time parameter. For its implementation, zip code (or neighborhood) information of intercepted patrons at facilities is sufficient to determine the extra distance making it practically appealing. To illustrate the estimation and also empirically validate the proposed approach, we analyze a shopping malls application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study focus on the role of self-expressive branding, brand love, brand trust and brand commitment on brand loyalty. It also identifies the strength of mediating effect of variable brand commitment between brand love and brand trust. Also measures the strength of mediating effect of variable brand commitment between brand trust and brand loyalty. The data is gathered by using a structured questionnaire and a sample size of 101 respondents in a cross-sectional study. Statistical analysis has been done through SMART PLS 3.0 software. In the analysis part, PLS algorithms, bootstrapping, blindfolding, Importance performance matrix, FIMIX, Multi-Group analysis have been undertaken. A reflective model has been developed. The path coefficient value and empirical t-values of all direct relationships of variables above 0.2 and 1.96 respectively and substantiate the hypothesis. The results have shown that brand commitment is partially mediates the association between brand love and brand trust and also between brand trust and brand loyalty. The four-segment solution's FIMIX-PLS path coefficient shows that brand love and brand trust are more relevant in segment 3, followed by segment 2, segment 1 and segment 4, respectively. Companies should focus on improving their brand trust displayed by consumers followed by brand commitment which strengthens brand loyalty in the automobile sector. This industry could consider implementing this creating trustworthiness about the brand, by developing strong psychological connectedness between the customer and brand by the retail outlet by offering the best quality product, and by incorporating strategies to reduce cognitive dissonance among the buyers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Following the emergence of the global Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, alcohol-based hand sanitizers (ABHS) have been extensively used as one of the effective methods of preventing its transmission. The products are dispensed over the counter and used by the general population. Growing concerns have been reported, however, regarding the quality, efficacy and compliance to regulatory requirements calling for objective evidence that can facilitate proactive regulatory measures. Objectives: The study aimed at assessing the level of compliance to packaging and labeling regulatory requirements of selected locally manufactured ABHS products marketed in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was employed to randomly collect 25 locally manufactured ABHS products from retail outlets located in Addis Ababa. The manufacturers were grouped under four categories considering their experience in manufacturing, resources and technical capacities. The collected samples were evaluated for compliance to packaging and labeling information regulatory requirements and the results subjected to descriptive analysis. Results: Majority of the products were found to meet most of the packaging, general product description and manufacturer-related information requirements. However, concerning gaps were observed in storage, precaution and warning-related labeling information requirements. The overall compliance of the selected products (to a total of 29 requirements under 5 categories) was 56.9%. The highest level of compliance was for general product information requirements (80.2%) followed by packaging and manufacturer-related requirements accounting for 76.8% and 75.0%, respectively. Low level of compliance was observed for storage condition and precautions (10.2% and 42.4%, respectively). Better overall compliance to packaging and labeling requirements (62.9%) were observed by large pharmaceutical and cosmetics manufacturers, while the lowest compliance level was recorded for medium level pharmaceuticals and cosmetics manufacturers. Conclusions: Even though most of the selected products were able to comply with the majority of packaging, product description and manufacturer-related requirements, gaps were observed in essential labeling information requirements. Considering the extensive use of ABHS products among diverse population groups and the potential risks associated with inappropriate use of the products, improving regulatory law enforcement practices, strengthening continuing education of manufacturing personnel and raising public awareness is very timely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aims to establish a nonlinear complementarity model and method for multi-commodity supply chain network equilibrium problems consisting of manufacturers and retailers in which the demands associated with the retail outlets are random. This work is different from previous research in that it focuses on a condition in which a manufacturer cannot sell all of its products. Based on this, the optimizing behaviour of the various decision-makers is modelled, the equilibrium conditions of the manufacturers and the retailers are derived, respectively, and nonlinear complementarity model of this problem is established. Qualitative properties of the equilibrium pattern in terms of existence, boundedness and global uniqueness are provided under milder conditions. Neither strict complementarity nor global Lipschitz continuity are required, and non-singular assumption is replaced by local error bound. A modified smoothing Levenberg–Marquardt algorithm to solve this model is proposed, and its global convergence and quadratic convergence rate are established, respectively. Finally, the model is illustrated through several numerical examples for which equilibrium prices and product shipments are computed under a variety of scenarios. Numerical results indicate the validity of the model, the availability of the algorithm, as well as the variation characteristics of equilibrium price and product shipment pattern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Non-prescribed antibiotic use is an emerging risky practice around the globe. An inappropriate use involving nonprescription access is one cause of the rapid increase in antibiotic resistance. Children commonly encounter many self-limiting illnesses for which they frequently use antibiotics without prescription. However, no specific and conclusive evidence exists to inform actions against this unsafe practice. We thus aimed to estimate the pooled proportion of non-prescribed antibiotic use for children at community levels in low- and middle-income countries. Methods: A systematic search of records was conducted from PubMed/Medline, Embase, Scopus, CINAHL, and Google scholar. Eligible English-language publications were original articles which reported on community-based non-prescribed antibiotic use for children and conducted in low- and middle-income countries. Study features and the number of antibiotics used without prescriptions were extracted and pooled for effect sizes employing a random-effects model. The pooled proportion of non-prescribed antibiotic use was estimated as a percentage. Results: In this analysis, we included a total of 39 articles consisting of 40,450 participants. Of these, 16,315 participants used non-prescribed antibiotics. The pooled percentage for this use of non-prescribed antibiotics was 45% (95% CI: 40–50%). The estimate was considerably higher in studies involving simulated patient methods (56%; 95% CI: 49–62%) than those studies with community surveys (40%; 95% CI: 34–46%) (P = 0.001). It was also varied by the recall period of antibiotics use—56% (95% CI: 50–62%) for instantly observed practice, 36% (95% CI: 22–50%) for within two week recall, 35% (95% CI: 26–45%) for 1–6 months recall, and 46% (95% CI: 37–54%) for more than six months recall (P = 0.001). Primary access points for the non-prescribed antibiotic uses were retail drug outlets. Conclusions: We found that nearly half of the antibiotics used for children in community settings were without prescriptions. For these unsafe practices, caregivers accessed antibiotics mainly from drug outlets. Hence, context-specific educational and regulatory interventions at these outlets and the community levels are the first steps to improving antibiotic usage for children in low- and middle-income countries. Trial registration number: CRD42021288971 (PROSPERO). https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42021288971. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the nutritional value of ready-to-eat meals available in Greek retail outlets. A total of 228 meals were identified, their nutritional value was registered according to their labels and a comparison was performed against specific nutritional criteria for the macronutrients, per serving. The 183 products were main dishes and 45 were salads and appetisers. The 28.9% of salads and appetisers were within the calorie cut-off point (250Kcal), the 82.2% of them contained more salt than the limit (0.75 g), whereas 22.2% were within the limit of fat (9 g). 72.1% of the main dishes had fewer calories than the cut-off point (600 Kcal), 12.6% of them had less salt than the limit (1.8 g) and 48.1% of them were within the limit for fats (21 g). Companies should reformulate their offered ready-to-eat meals in terms of their fat and salt content in order to provide the consumers with balanced meals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we investigate the surge in use of COVID-19-related preprints by media outlets. Journalists are a main source of reliable public health information during crises and, until recently, journalists have been reluctant to cover preprints because of the associated scientific uncertainty. Yet, uploads of COVID-19 preprints and their uptake by online media have outstripped that of preprints about any other topic. Using an innovative approach combining altmetrics methods with content analysis, we identified a diversity of outlets covering COVID-19-related preprints during the early months of the pandemic, including specialist medical news outlets, traditional news media outlets, and aggregators. We found a ubiquity of hyperlinks as citations and a multiplicity of framing devices for highlighting the scientific uncertainty associated with COVID-19 preprints. These devices were rarely used consistently (e.g., mentioning that the study was a preprint, unreviewed, preliminary, and/or in need of verification). About half of the stories we analyzed contained framing devices emphasizing uncertainty. Outlets in our sample were much less likely to identify the research they mentioned as preprint research, compared to identifying it as simply "research." This work has significant implications for public health communication within the changing media landscape. While current best practices in public health risk communication promote identifying and promoting trustworthy sources of information, the uptake of preprint research by online media presents new challenges. At the same time, it provides new opportunities for fostering greater awareness of the scientific uncertainty associated with health research findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While a large number of studies have investigated seafood consumption in various markets, surprisingly little is known about the types of seafood sold in retail outlets or their product forms in the USA. This is particularly true for fresh seafood, which is generally regarded as the most valuable product form of seafood. In this article, a unique dataset on retail in-store seafood sales that includes information about three main product forms (fresh, frozen, and shelf-stable products) was analyzed. Fresh seafood is important, as it makes up 43% of sales revenue. Moreover, some species are almost exclusively sold fresh, with trout and lobster as prime examples. Fresh also includes the greatest diversity of species and, as such, is the most likely product form for new producers to succeed. National sales are dominated by a few species, with salmon and shrimp accounting for a large portion of the fresh (27%) and frozen categories (43%), respectively, and tuna dominating the shelf-stable category (75%). There are also a large number of species with mostly small market shares. There are few differences in regional sales patterns for the main species, with notable exceptions such as whitefish in New England and crawfish in Louisiana and Texas. The degree of urbanization and income level appears as the important drivers for seafood sales. Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/23308249.2021.1946481 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposes a projection pursuit – stochastic frontier analysis (PP-SFA) approach to address the shortcomings of SFA, which can only deal with a single output. The PP-SFA approach is employed to investigate the influencing factors and efficiency of the express industry in 31 provinces of China. The conclusions demonstrate that: (1) the technical efficiency of the express delivery industry in China is low, and the gap between the different regions is large. (2) An increase in the number of employees in the logistics industry will significantly promote the express delivery industry efficiency, while the increase of business outlets will inhibit this. (3) E-commerce sales platforms have a remarkably positive influence on the efficiency of the express delivery industry, but stricter control in environmental pollution restrain the industry's technical efficiency. Furthermore, this paper advances proposals from the enterprise and government perspectives to promote the efficient development of China's express industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After nearly a half millennia of administration, in 1999 Portugal returned the city-state of Macau to the People's Republic of China, and the territory was designated a Special Administrative Region of the PRC under the "one country, two systems" regime. After the handover of sovereignty, the local government liberalized the city's casino gaming monopoly and opened the industry to foreign investment, and in the intervening years, Macau has been transformed into the world's most lucrative site of casino gaming. Today Macau is visited by more than 35 million annual tourists, the majority of whom are from mainland China, and whose travel to Macau is enabled by a special PRC exist visa called the Individual Visit Scheme. This paper analyzes velvet ropes which are positioned to manage queues of Chinese shoppers at the entrance to select retail outlets selling luxury branded fashion items in Macau's integrated casino resorts. With attention to the PRC's ongoing governmental efforts to deploy tourist mobilities in order to enhance the "quality" (suzhi) of select Chinese citizens in hopes that their consumption behaviors will contribute to domestic economic growth, the article explores the role of Macau's velvet rope apparatus in producing a post-socialist Chinese subject appropriate to China's economic reforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using historical sources, I attempt to piece together the economic worldview held by the United States Treasury Department during World War II. Analyzing the Treasury's view of taxation, bond sales, and interest rates, this article considers whether and in what ways this worldview is compatible with Modern Monetary Theory. I conclude that in most regards, the two align closely, the differences being primarily attributable to the peculiarities of war finance. Finding a less clear view of national debt, an interpretation is offered based on Treasury's statements. Additional evidence shows that this view had a small but significant foothold in the era's news outlets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the number of outlets has increased significantly; however, little research has been done with reference to users' expectations about the outlets in the years to come. Our research tries to determine which expectations customers have about the future outlet mall in terms of stores, entertainment venues and technological innovation, and whether these expectations are conditioned by demographic factors. We examined a sample of 1531 respondents from an online panel survey. We used the chi-square test of independence to compare proportions among demographic characteristics. Our findings showed that there are significant differences between men's and women's expectations when analysing stores categories. Personal factors, like age and occupation, condition preferences over leisure activities and technological innovations. These results represent an important starting point for decision makers who wish to manage outlet malls based on a customer-centric strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The occurrence of tenuazonic acid (TeA), alternariol, alternariol monomethyl and tentoxin in tomato-based products was surveyed over the years 2017–2019. A total of 120 samples were collected from retail outlets and tomato-based food producers located in Northern Italy. After extraction and purification through prepacked columns, the mycotoxins were analysed using LC-MS/MS. A widespread contamination of TeA was found in tomato-based products, particularly in concentrated tomato paste. Other Alternaria toxins were not detected. The incidence of TeA was 78.5%, 47.4%, 55.5%, and 76.9% in concentrated tomato paste (maximum value 5955 µg kg−1), tomato sauce, tomato pulp, and ketchup, respectively. The mean level was 243 ± 725 µg kg−1 in concentrated tomato paste and below 30 µg kg−1 in the other tomato products. The contamination varied from year to year. Alternaria spp strains isolated from fresh tomatoes produced mainly TeA. This study provides further Alternaria toxins occurrence data, useful for future risk assessments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Self-care is one of the growing tasks of community pharmacy professionals. They are highly engaged in consultations in response to specific drug request (product-based presentation) or symptoms clients describe (symptom-based presentation). Purpose: This study was aimed at assessing the appropriateness of patient assessment and response to an adult diarrheal case among community drug retail outlets in Gondar town, north-west Ethiopia. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study design based on simulated-client method of visit was conducted from 03 August to 21 September, 2020. An adult female diarrheal case scenario was developed and used to guide data collectors to interact with professionals in a standardized and consistent way. All 60 dispensaries in the town during the data collection were included in the study. A pretested data collection tool was used to record the conversation between simulated clients and providers. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. Results: With regard to patient history, age of the patient, whether diarrhea is watery or bloody and onset and duration of diarrhea were the three most commonly requested questions with 59 (98.3%), 55 (91.7%) and 46 (76.7%), respectively. Past-medical and medication history are enquired in none of the visits. Medication was dispensed in 57 (95%) of the visits and no referral to a health facility was recommended in majority (90%) of cases. The most commonly recommended medications were ciprofloxacin 30 (52.6%) and metronidazole 20 (35.1%). ORS was considered in only 6 (10.5%) dispensaries. Conclusion: Patient assessment, final decisions and treatment recommendations for an adult diarrheal case are inadequate, irrational and illegal. Educational interventions coupled with incentive mechanisms for cognitive pharmaceutical service and strict regulatory enforcement are needed to reduce the problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Achieving universal health coverage will require robust private sector engagement; however, as many low- and middle-income countries launch prepayment schemes to achieve universal health coverage, few are covering products from retail drug outlets (pharmacies and drug shops). This case study aims to characterize barriers and facilitators related to incorporating retail drug outlets into national prepayment schemes based on the experience of the Tanzanian National Health Insurance Fund's (NHIF) certification of pharmacies and accredited drug dispensing outlets. Methods: We reviewed government documents and interviewed 26 key informants including retail outlet owners and dispensers and central and district government authorities representing eight districts overall. Topics included awareness of NHIF in the community, access to medicines, claims processing, reimbursement prices, and how the NHIF/retail outlet linkage could be improved. Results: Important enablers for NHIF/retail outlet engagement include widespread awareness of NHIF in the community, NHIF's straightforward certification process, and their reimbursement speed. All of the retail respondents felt that NHIF helps their business and their clients to some degree. As for barriers, retailers thought that NHIF needed to provide more information to them and to its members, particularly regarding coverage changes. Some retailers and government officials thought that the product reimbursement prices were below market and not adjusted often enough, and pharmacy respondents were unhappy about claim rejections for what they felt were insignificant issues. All interviewees agreed that one of the biggest problems is poor prescribing practices in public health facilities. They reiterated that prescribers need more supervision to improve their practices, particularly to ensure adherence to standard treatment guidelines, which NHIF requires for approving a claim. In addition, if a prescription has any problem, including a wrong date or no signature, the client must return to the health facility to get it corrected or pay out-of-pocket, which is burdensome. Conclusions: Little published information is available on the relationship between health insurance plans and retail providers in low- and middle-income countries. This case study provides insights that countries can use when designing ways to include retail outlets in their health insurance schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Access to profitable market outlets for agroforestry mango producers is a major concern in Kwale and Kilifi counties. This paper is set to determine the factors affecting the choice of market outlets among agroforestry mango producers. The study analyzed the market outlets chosen by producers to find out which were the most prevalent chosen. The multivariate probit model was used to determine the factors that affect the choice of market outlets among the agroforestry mango producers. Data were collected using exploratory research through the systematic sampling approach. This resulted in an ultimate selection of 208 respondents, half of which participated in commercial farming and the other half practiced subsistence agroforestry. The results show that of the sampled respondents, 15% sold at farm gate, 63% sold to middlemen, 11% sold to local retailers and 11% sold to town markets. The Multivariate Probit model results indicate that education level (5%), price (1%), access to credit (5%) and age (10%) had a negative significant influence on the producers' choice of farm gate market outlet as only gender had a positive influence at 10% significance level. Negotiation costs and mango quantity sold had a positive influence in selection of middlemen at 1% and 5% significant level, respectively, while price and cost of transport had a negative influence at 1% and 5% significance level. For the local retail market outlet, price and cost of transport had a positive and negative significance at 1% and 5%, respectively. Lastly, at the town market outlet distance to market outlet, education level (5%), price (1%) and age (5%) positively influenced the selection of the outlet, while both off-farm income and negotiation cost had a negative influence at 5% significance level. The prevalence of mango producers' selling to middlemen was as a result of the immediate cash offered by the outlet capitalizing on the desperate need for cash by mango producers. However, the town markets offered better returns though the several barriers to enter limited mango producers from accessing them. The results revealed that subsistence agroforestry mango producers dominated the farm gate and middlemen outlets, while producers with commercial systems mostly sold their produce to the local retail and town markets. The high transaction costs involved in accessing potential profitable markets need to be addressed by the relevant stakeholders so as to encourage more agroforestry mango-based producers into market participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the cost and availability of fruit and vegetables at farmers' markets, supermarkets and greengrocers/primarily fruit and vegetable retail outlet. Data on 43 seasonal fruit and vegetables were collected in person from 17 accredited farmers' markets, 17 supermarkets and 16 greengrocers across 20 locations (9 rural, 11 urban). Greengrocers were found to be significantly cheaper than supermarkets (AU$4.70 (2.99, 7.99) vs AU$5.00 (3.00, 8.88) p = 0.010). Farmers' markets had lower availability or fewer varieties of fruit and vegetables (32 (20,35) compared to greengrocers 37 (31.75, 40.5) p = 0.028). Greengrocers may be the most accessible fruit and vegetable retail outlet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic is putting a huge strain on healthcare systems and is a turning point for the beginning of a global health crisis of an unprecedented condition. As such, the provision of quality pharmacy services particularly, dispensing practice with pre-existing challenges in resource-limited settings is a grave concern in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, in this commentary we described the pattern of dispensing practice in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic by evaluating the current condition of drug dispensing practice in drug retail outlets of Jimma Town. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrite intake from locally processed meat in Khartoum, Sudan was estimated and compared to established safety levels. For this purpose, 90 locally processed meat samples were collected randomly from retail outlets and analysed for nitrite levels according to the British standard 1992 protocol and 350 purchasers at retail outlets were questioned about their consumption pattern. Nitrite concentrations in all samples were below the Sudanese maximum limit (ML) of 100 mg kg−1for nitrite in meat products. Dietary exposure to nitrite for adults and children was estimated to be in the range of 0.026–0.128 and 0.107–0.511 mg kg−1bw day−1, respectively. This implies that nitrite intake for a significant number of consumers, especially children, are likely to exceed the established acceptable daily intake (ADI) of 0–0.07 mg kg−1bw/day of JECFA, in spite the fact that meat samples collected complied with the current ML. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This article focuses on the choice of franchise by a potential franchisee, opening an outlet for the first time. The aim is to analyze the relationship between two signals—brand equity and price—sent by the franchisor, and the choice of franchise. Signaling theory provides the method to analyze this relationship. Using data panel methodology, we conclude that brand equity, up-front franchise fees, and initial investment are the signals taken into account by Spanish franchisees when starting up franchise stores between 2002 and 2008. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study of expanding the retail luggage operation of Emporium Luggage, which offered various merchandise and services. Topics discussed include the loss of customers to Internet-based retailers, including Amazon.com, opening of a store closer to potential customers living in Midwestern metropolitan city in the U.S., and the use of the Poisson distribution to determine that the proposed location could generate traffic flow to support the store outlet.

Three hundred and fifty foodstuffs packaged in printed paper/board were purchased from UK retail outlets. Solvent extracts of all foods and associated quality assurance samples were analysed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to determine the presence and concentrations of 20 printing ink compounds: benzophenone, 4-methylbenzophenone, 2-methylbenzophenone, 3-methylbenzophenone, 4-hydroxybenzophenone, 2-hydroxybenzophenone, 4-phenylbenzophenone, methyl-2-benzoylbenzoate, 1-hydroxycyclohexyl phenyl ketone, 2-isopropylthioxanthone, 4-isopropylthioxanthone, 2,4-diethyl-9H-thioxanthen-9-one, 2,2-dimethoxy-2-phenylacetophenone, 2-methyl-4′-(methylthio)-2-morpholinopropiophenone, 4-(4-methylphenylthio)benzophenone, ethyl-4-dimethylaminobenzoate, 2-ethylhexyl-4-(dimethylamino)benzoate,N-ethyl-p-toluene-sulphonamide, triphenyl phosphate and di-(2-ethylhexyl) fumarate. The presence of one or more of the compounds benzophenone, 4-phenylbenzophenone, methyl-2-benzoylbenzoate, 1-hydroxycyclohexyl phenyl ketone, 2,2-dimethoxy-2-phenylacetophenone, 4-(4-methylphenylthio)benzophenone, ethyl-4-dimethylaminobenzoate, 2-ethylhexyl-4-dimethylaminobenzoate and triphenyl phosphate was confirmed in some food samples. Analysis of the associated packaging material was also carried out to confirm whether or not it was likely that the occurrence of these compounds in the foods was due to migration from the printed paper/board packaging. With the exception of triphenyl phosphate, detected in one foodstuff, all the packaging material contained the substance(s) found in the food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study deals with the measurement of service quality at cellular retail outlets in the Indian environment with a focus on perception and expectation of service quality from the customer's perspective. The research was conducted via a structured questionnaire based on the SERVQUAL model. A literature review was conducted on service quality and its potential offering competitive advantage. This study provides evidence supporting the proposition that customers distinguish between the performance cues of the customer-contact employees. Service delivery systems should create positive moments of truth by ensuring that the point of customer's contact is reduced to minimum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purposes of this research study were to (1) examine the use of reference prices by one segment of retailing- factory outlet stores and (2) explore related public policy considerations. The researchers found that there was a significant difference between advertised reference prices at factory outlet stores and the regular retail price found in department or specialty stores in the same market. Advertised reference prices in outlets were significantly higher — a 6.2 percent difference. For only two of the product categories studied were differences not significant — housewares and children's apparel. Since these comparative reference prices are not in line with the regular prices at traditional stores, there is a potential for deceptive price claims. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper tests a discrete choice model on the mix of franchised and companyowned outlets (contractual heterogeneity) within the firm. This is often explained by the existing literature as due to heterogeneous characteristics of the outlets. However, correspondence between outlets and contracts characteristics is not often observed in reality. An explanation is proposed which suggests that contract mixing is driven by the contractual choice of both principal and agents, and that heterogeneous agents will choose contracts that match their characteristics. This hypothesis is supported by econometric results, based on outlet level microdata collected by means of a survey of UK firms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study which investigated the patronage behavior of factory outlet mall shoppers in the United States. Shopping motivations and shopper typologies; Consumer reasons for shopping at outlet malls; Relationship between patronage motives and shoppers' characteristics.

This article explores alternative changes that could take place in the technology, methodology, and most importantly, the practice of locational decision-making, and is part of a larger scale project aimed at investigating the practical value of artificial intelligence (AI) techniques for strategic decision-making. The research involves comparing the effectiveness of a number oral paradigms and modelling devices, both with each other and with more conventional computer models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beginning in the late 1970s there has been a major development in US retailing: the factory outlet/off-price shopping centre. The origins can be traced back to where manufacturers operated factory site stores for employees; later there was a change in location and customers, particularly in the grouping of outlet stores to form shopping centres. This clustering is very recent. This paper examines the reasons for growth, the types and size of centres, market segments served, the geography of centres and their future. Whether these outlet centres are creatures of recession and will fade as the US economy improves or whether this is a significant trend in retailing remains to be seen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the early 1990s there was considerable speculation about the potential impact which new retail formats may have upon UK retailing. These "fourth wave" out-of-town developments, primarily of US origin, were viewed as a major threat to town centres. This paper revisits these estimates for the new retail formats and assesses the relative success or failure of the formats in light of research undertaken with senior executives of companies involved in the development process. The research shows that the high expectations pertaining to the fourth wave of out-of-town development have not materialized and the predictions of the early 1990s were over-optimistic. The tightening of planning policy guidelines has been partially responsible for the downgrading of initial estimates, especially for factory outlet centres, where several key developers have accelerated their search for sites in other parts of Europe because of the lack of development opportunities in the UK. Warehouse clubs, on the other hand, have not only experienced planning difficulties but have yet to gain consumer acceptability in a highly competitive retail marketplace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]