Search

Sub-Saharan Africa falls among the developing countries with poor standards of living contributing to the high prevalence of malnutrition. Interventions have been conducted, but malnutrition continues to linger, with devastating impacts on vulnerable groups. In Africa, 90% of its children cannot access the minimum balanced diet. Also, 60% of the people in this region do not access daily meals for dietary needs. Traditional vegetables like Amaranthus are identified to have great potential to combat malnutrition; however, Amaranthus is underutilized due to limited awareness of its potential and poor post-harvest practices along the value chain. This study evaluates the dynamics of Amaranthus along its value chain in the urban and rural communities of KwaZulu-Natal. South Africa. Mixed-design research and a purposive convenient random sampling approach were explored. Semi-structured questionnaires were used to collect data for the survey, and this was strengthened by a series of five n = (30) face-to-face interviews with six key informants from urban and rural formal and informal markets. The findings revealed that eleven species of Amaranthus have been identified in South Africa such as Amaranthus spinosus varieties, including A. dubius, and A. cruentus, which are the most sold and consumed, mostly being sold by street vendors. Thus, poor perception and attitudes along with limited access to Amaranthus in some upper-class markets contribute to underutilization. Promoting Amaranthus at all levels of markets might create better awareness of its utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Raised personal health awareness and social environmental responsibility put pressure on the agri-food industry to adopt more sustainable ways of production, including the use of more natural ingredients, reducing waste, conservation and the regeneration of resources and energy. Plant-based colorants are ecologically friendly alternatives to artificial food dyes, especially with regards to the current reports on the adverse effects of some of the latter on human health. Various plants are traditionally used by many cultures to obtain vivid food coloration; however, the knowledge and means to produce them becomes less and less accessible to urbanized societies, and affordable organic alternatives are not always available on the market. An online questionnaire was performed to explore the awareness on plant-based dyes and pro-environmental attitudes of Bulgarian customers through the lens of Orthodox Easter eggs dyeing and the obtaining of plant dyes. From a total of 294 adult participants, only 5% reported a strict preference for natural dyes, while more than half of them (54%) were found to use natural and artificial ones concomitantly or switching between both. Of 45 plant taxa used for egg coloration, 12 were most frequently cited with many new additions of imported plants. Most of the used plant-based dyes were common fruits, spices, herbal infusions and even food waste like onion peels and avocado pits that were readily available from home gardens, markets and food shops. Additionally, we made a review of the scientific literature regarding their antioxidant and antimicrobial activity against food spoilage bacteria and foodborne pathogens isolated from eggs. All frequently used taxa were reported to exhibit antibacterial activities against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and possess antioxidant activity due to the presence of various polyphenols, essential oils and other compounds. Grape and red wine, roselle and stinging nettle are the species with the most diverse antibacterial activity, effective against 15 out of the 16 bacterial species of spoilage and foodbourn microorganisms included in our focus. The antimicrobial activities, however, were found mostly tested against bacterial strains in vitro, and further studies are needed to confirm their potential antibacterial activity when applied to Easter/boiled eggs or other food products. Our findings suggest that traditional cultural practices, as a multifaceted and engaging phenomenon, have the potential to promote environmental responsibility and a healthy lifestyle using both contemporary and traditional knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This cross-sectional study determined the occurrence of virulence and antimicrobial resistance genes in Salmonella strains recovered from chicken obtained from informal markets in Gauteng province, South Africa. The study also assessed the relationship between these characteristics, the source, the type of samples, and the serotypes of Salmonella isolates. A total of 151 samples (cloacal swabs, chicken carcasses, and carcass drips) were randomly collected from 47 informal market outlets in six townships in Gauteng province. Salmonella spp. was isolated and identified based on ISO 6579:2002 methods and confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting invA gene fragment. Conventional PCR was used to detect 12 virulence and 18 antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes in Salmonella spp. The most frequently detected virulence genes were invA (100%), shdA (91%), mgtB (87.7%), and sopE (81%), but considerably low for spvC (2.2%), sefC (1.5%), and pefC (0.4%). The differences in detection frequency were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Tetracycline-resistant genes tetA (34.7%) and tetB (16%) were the most frequently detected, while Betalactam-resistant genes blaTEM (0.4%), blaCMY-2 (0.4%) and quinolones resistant gene qnrS (0.4%) were detected in low frequency (p < 0.05). The locations of the outlets and the types of samples were significantly associated with detecting some virulence and AMR genes. Significant but moderately to substantial positive correlations were observed for qnrS, sul2; shdA, and mgtB genes. The pipA and spiC were, however, substantially negatively correlated. Our findings show that detecting these virulence and AMR genes in Salmonella isolates serves as a potential health hazard to the public, environment, and poultry farming in Gauteng, South Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sub-Saharan Africa falls among the developing countries with poor standards of living contributing to the high prevalence of malnutrition. Interventions have been conducted, but malnutrition continues to linger, with devastating impacts on vulnerable groups. In Africa, 90% of its children cannot access the minimum balanced diet. Also, 60% of the people in this region do not access daily meals for dietary needs. Traditional vegetables like Amaranthus are identified to have great potential to combat malnutrition; however, Amaranthus is underutilized due to limited awareness of its potential and poor post-harvest practices along the value chain. This study evaluates the dynamics of Amaranthus along its value chain in the urban and rural communities of KwaZulu-Natal. South Africa. Mixed-design research and a purposive convenient random sampling approach were explored. Semi-structured questionnaires were used to collect data for the survey, and this was strengthened by a series of five n = (30) face-to-face interviews with six key informants from urban and rural formal and informal markets. The findings revealed that eleven species of Amaranthus have been identified in South Africa such as Amaranthus spinosus varieties, including A. dubius, and A. cruentus, which are the most sold and consumed, mostly being sold by street vendors. Thus, poor perception and attitudes along with limited access to Amaranthus in some upper-class markets contribute to underutilization. Promoting Amaranthus at all levels of markets might create better awareness of its utilization.

Persistent engagement of dairy farmers in informal milk markets poses economic and health challenges while limiting the supply of raw milk to processing plants that heavily rely on smallholder dairy farmers. Consequently, this results in a decline of domestically processed milk products, job losses throughout the dairy value chain, and a transition to becoming net importers of milk and milk products. Based on these challenges, a systematic review of scholarly articles was conducted to find out factors influencing dairy farmers' engagement in informal milk markets. PRISMA approach was employed, where fifteen articles that met the inclusion criteria were analysed after a thorough screening process. The findings show informalities in milk markets is more prevalent in developing countries, particularly in Africa and Asia. The study revealed four major categories of drivers that influence dairy farmers' engagement in informal milk markets, namely market factors, production factors, farmers-related factors and support service-related factors. In addition, the study employed Pareto analysis, where market and production related factors were prioritized for interventions to enhance reduction of 80% of the challenges limiting dairy farmers' engagement in formal markets. The study contributes towards understanding the factors influencing smallholder dairy farmers' decisions to engage in informal milk markets, which is instrumental in designing policy actions and transition programs for farmers’ engagement in high-value markets. Unlike the previous studies, this paper extends the literature beyond country-specific factors focusing on the extent of the challenge in developing countries.

South Africa’s rapid urbanization and high unemployment rates pushed people into street food vending as an alternative source of livelihood. Hygiene and food safety have become a concern under these circumstances owing to foodborne illnesses and associated deaths. A survey tool with 38 structured questions was administered to 172 to assess pork vendors’ hygiene and safety practices and identify their determinants in five low-income high-density suburbs of the Cape Metropole District, South Africa. Overall, vendors washed their hands before and after handling meat (66% of respondents) and cleaned the working area daily (51%), pork storage area daily (60%), and utensils and equipment before and after use (36%) with most of them using detergents as the main cleaning agent (70%). A quarter of the interviewed vendors experienced meat spoilage during storage, and 80% had no training in hygiene and safe food handling. The marginal effects of logistic regression findings showed that vending income increased the vendor’s probability to wash hands, and clean vending stalls, storage areas, utensils, and equipment. The likelihood of vendors cleaning pork storage areas, utensils, and equipment increased with the increase in female participants. The likelihood of hand washing and vending stall cleaning increased by 1% for each extra year of schooling. Strategies aimed at improving meat hygiene and safety practices of vendors in the surveyed areas should target vulnerable groups, especially less educated females depending solely on vending income.

Based on a case study of Alexandria city, Egypt, this paper investigates the configuration, interrelation, and integration of urban expansion within the framework of sustainability transitions to enhance the performance of sociotechnical transitions. It explores two main arguments; first, to evaluate the recent urban planning innovations, and second, to raise awareness of the participatory planning model to enhance the involvement of the three pillars to better integrate urban sustainable development. It presumes there is a linkage between urban sustainability transitions and the geographical transitions. It further evaluates whether this linkage would benefit accommodating the rapid population growth of Alexandria. This research applies an empirical methodology to test concepts and patterns known from theory generating three scenarios from empirical data. Moving beyond the ‘niche–regime dichotomy’, this study concludes that innovative practices and vested interests are typically constituted in a dualistic manner and tend to incite processes of change in both.

Based on a case study of Alexandria city, Egypt, this paper investigates the configuration, interrelation, and integration of urban expansion within the framework of sustainability transitions to enhance the performance of sociotechnical transitions. It explores two main arguments; first, to evaluate the recent urban planning innovations, and second, to raise awareness of the participatory planning model to enhance the involvement of the three pillars to better integrate urban sustainable development. It presumes there is a linkage between urban sustainability transitions and the geographical transitions. It further evaluates whether this linkage would benefit accommodating the rapid population growth of Alexandria. This research applies an empirical methodology to test concepts and patterns known from theory generating three scenarios from empirical data. Moving beyond the 'niche–regime dichotomy', this study concludes that innovative practices and vested interests are typically constituted in a dualistic manner and tend to incite processes of change in both. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Risk factors pre-disposing local butter to food safety hazards in the informal marketing system along the supply chain of the central highlands and south-west midlands of Ethiopia were assessed. Purposive random sampling technique was used to select 1101 respondents from the local butter supply chain (532 producers, 107 retailers and 462 consumers). Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire developed separately for each category of respondents. Ninety- nine percent of the respondents indicated that butter was stored and marketed at ambient temperature with no cold chain management. Common butter storage materials included high-density polyethylene containers (51%), low-density polyethylene plastic bags (29%) and clay pots (73%). The respondents packed and marketed butter using castor leaves, plastic cups and false banana leaves and lints. Stream, river and borehole water sources were used to wash vessels, churners and fresh butter. However, only 23% of the respondents used tap water for the same purposes. The majority of the respondents trekked on their foot to take butter to local market places followed by the use of horse carts (11%) and three-wheel drives (10%). Itinerant traders and retailers played key roles in the informal supply chain of butter. Overall, there are no standard operating procedures and infrastructures along the supply chain. Thus, local butter supplied to consumers is liable to sensorial, physico-chemical and microbial deterioration and is exposed to risks of food-borne pathogens. The practices endanger the safety and quality of local butter unless stringent quality control measures are taken by concerned regulatory bodies. The objective of the study was to identify risk factors and design intervention to minimize the food safety hazards in butter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Demonetisation of the Indian economy in 2016 facilitated significant changes in the lifestyle of people, particularly in adoption of digital transactions in everyday life. While there have been studies on mobile phones and the digital divide even prior to demonetisation, the growing gender disparity in the use of new technologies for secure payment via UPI (Unified Payment Interface) methods remains largely unexplored. Therefore, this paper explores the impact of new payment methods through digital means on street vendors in local markets through an ethnographic study based on narratives, unstructured interviews, and general observation. The study focuses on Assam while bringing out the larger socioeconomic context of the digital discrimination within the country. It locates how the government's drive for digital economy post-demonetisation exacerbated the gender gap in access to technology in informal markets. The article observes how men use mobile phones and technology to sell their commodities while women vendors lag behind in ownership, usage, or access to such technology due to social norms and expectations. Subsequently, the study brings about the narratives on how women negotiate through such constraints to build their social 'agency' and identity in the market at both individual and collective level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study determined the prevalence, characteristics, and risk factors of Campylobacter species contamination of chicken carcasses sold at informal poultry outlets in Gauteng province, South Africa. Within six townships, 151 chicken carcasses were collected from 47 outlets. Carcass swab, cloacal swab, and carcass drip samples were collected from each chicken, along with a matched questionnaire on risk factors regarding Campylobacter contamination. Sample-inoculated Bolton broth (BB) was cultured to isolate Campylobacter species by bacteriological methods. Subsequent confirmation and characterization of Campylobacter were conducted using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Isolated Campylobacter strains were evaluated for the presence of six virulence genes (ciaB, dnaj, pldA, racR, flaA, and flaB), three toxin genes (cdtA, cdtB, and cdtC), and one antimicrobial resistance gene (tetO). The overall prevalence of Campylobacter was 23.4% (106 of 453), with sample type–specific prevalence being 17.2% (26 of 151), 25.8% (39 of 151), and 27.2% (41 of 151) for the carcass swabs, cloacal swabs, and carcass drip, respectively, following bacteriological isolation and confirmation by PCR. The overall prevalence of Campylobacter species was 93.5% by PCR, which varied significantly (P = 0.000) by sample: 99.2, 98.4, and 82.8% for carcass swabs, cloacal swabs, and carcass drip, respectively, by using PCR to detect Campylobacter in BB. Important risk factors for carcass contamination by Campylobacter included the slaughter of culled breeders and spent chickens, the use of stagnant water, and poor sanitation. Virulence and toxin gene frequencies were higher in C. jejuni–positive (82.5%) than in C. coli–positive (71.4%) BB cultures, but tetracycline resistance gene (tetO) frequency was higher in C. coli (75.9%) than in C. jejuni (48.10%). The observed high frequencies in C. jejuni recovered from street-vended chickens may pose food safety and therapeutic concerns to consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many experts expressed their point of view about the harmful impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic on the economy. Without disputing this position, which is popular in Russian and foreign media, the authors have been conducted research on the shadow market of services in 19 regions of Russia in 2020 and 2021, and have been concluded that the global pandemic has an extremely insignificant negative impact on the shadow market of services in Russia. The majority of shadow respondents did not note a significant decrease in the level of income due to the pandemic, nor a change in professional employment, nor a significant change in the level of competition. The reasons for this state of affairs became: high social mobility, social activity, high adaptability of the shadow market to any crises and changes than in the official sectors of the economy, a high level of trust between subjects and consumers of services in this sector of the economy, a high speed of reaction of this market to the needs of customers.

"Independent" sex work outside red light areas in big cities in developing countries is an understudied phenomenon. Through a survey of independent sex workers in Delhi, India, this paper sheds light on the governance of independent prostitution. It shows that in the sex work industry, which is informal in nature and faces a complex legal architecture, regulatory intermediaries (RIs) drive both regulation and responsibilization strategies. On behalf of the state, the police act as regulatory intermediaries, implementing hierarchical regulation. In red light areas, sex workers' collectives and solidarity networks operate as RIs on behalf of workers. But in independent sex work, it is pimps who act as intermediaries for workers, driving their responsibilization strategies. Independent sex workers take up the services of pimps even though they charge hefty fees, in large part because pimps can negotiate their protection from the police. I examine several characteristics of the relationships between prostitutes, pimps, clients, and the police, and refine the RIT model of regulatory intermediaries (Abbott et al. 2017) in the context of prostitution in a developing country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Gray markets refer to those markets where multinational brands are distributed throughout the local markets of a country through unofficial sources of brand activity. Consequently, companies that are responsible for distribution of multinational brands in the host country will face difficulties. Given that consumers tend to gray markets to buy the original brand at lower prices during economic fluctuations in particular countries, it is impossible to eliminate gray markets, (Dasu et al., 2012). On the other hand, the lack of appropriate management of such markets and the passive approach of multinational companies toward such markets undermine the value of those international brands in the host countries and undervalue branding efforts. In our country, gray markets also exist and have significant economic consequences. The home appliance market is one of the most critical existing gray markets in Iran, which has emerged due to a lack of screening and extensive activities in the illegal distribution of home appliance brands. Samsung home appliance company is regarded as one of the international companies that has suffered accordingly. Gray markets that do not provide adequate support and following services for consumers have caused problems for the Samsung brand. This problem-oriented study on the gray market for Samsung home appliance products intends to address why such gray markets have emerged despite various marketing activities by Samsung Company. This study aims at identifying antecedents and consequences of the existence of gray markets for Samsung products. Methodology The present empirical study is developmental in terms of purpose and qualitative in terms of data collection. This research has been conducted according to the grounded theory. The research sample includes a group of managers working at Sam Service Company and university professors who were selected by purposeful sampling. The data were collected through interviews and then coded in three levels of open, axial, and selective coding. Eventually, the results were coded into five categories of causal, contextual, and intervening conditions, as well as strategies and consequences based on Strauss and Corbin model. Findings Causal conditions include economic fluctuations and lack of screening in the country's entrance refers to the critical phenomenon of emergence of gray market. Contextual conditions entail rules and regulations and also consumers’ culture. Intervening conditions include empowerment of legal intermediaries and consumers’ awareness. Strategies encompass customized and passive production strategies. And finally outcomes include sales performance and brand value. The research findings indicated that there were not adequate necessary advertisement to persuade buyers from intermediaries and sales agents; besides, Samsung company has focused its advertisement on their products instead of official distributors. Therefore, it is very important to reconsider and invest in advertising and communication to inform customers about the significance of buying from official suppliers. Focusing on creating a consumer culture corresponding to service quality and reducing the risk of product problems can also strengthen consumer culture and reduce consumer risk-taking to buy from gray markets. In terms of laws, there are not adequate restrictive laws leading to the formation of the gray market in the field of home appliances, and in particular Samsung brand. Conclusion The results of this study showed that it is necessary to address the specific economic conditions of the host market, the extent of distributing channels and supply of products of the main company, creating a culture of buying from official channels, familiarizing customers with follow-up service, and establishing systems to engage customers accordingly. In terms of theoretical participation, findings of this study can be considered in the application of necessary theories related to customer engagement for international companies. The lack of constant communication between Sam Service Company and its customers has established a sense of Service Company for customers rather than a company that is the official provider of products. It leads to the image that customers should only refer to the company when there is a problem and they need repair services. Therefore, it is related to the natural dissatisfaction caused by product problems or service failure. However, in case of creating customer engagement systems, a continuous and coherent relationship is established with the parent company and the official representative can increases the brand value. It also results in incentives such as loyalty discounts, customer club points, and etc. during future purchases. It causes customers to disregard gray markets and turn to official markets, and also leads to constant communication with customers.

Copyright of Geosaberes: Revista de Estudos Geoeducacionais is the property of GEOSABERES - Revista de Estudos Geoducacionais 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.)

Many activities related to cybercrime operations do not require much secrecy, such as developing websites or translating texts. This research provides indications that many users of a popular public internet marketing forum have connections to cybercrime. It does so by investigating the involvement in cybercrime of a population of users interested in internet marketing, both at a micro and macro scale. The research starts with a case study of three users confirmed to be involved in cybercrime and their use of the public forum. It provides a first glimpse that some business with cybercrime connections is being conducted in the clear. The study then pans out to investigate the forum population's ties with cybercrime by finding crossover users, that is, users from the public forum who also comment on cybercrime forums. The cybercrime forums on which they discuss are analyzed and the crossover users' strength of participation is reported. Also, to assess if they represent a sub-group of the forum population, their posting behavior on the public forum is compared with that of non-crossover users. This blend of analyses shows that (i) a minimum of 7.2% of the public forum population are crossover users that have ties with cybercrime forums; (ii) their participation in cybercrime forums is limited; and (iii) their posting behavior is relatively indistinguishable from that of non-crossover users. This is the first study to formally quantify how users of an internet marketing public forum, a space for informal exchanges, have ties to cybercrime activities. We conclude that crossover users are a substantial part of the population in the public forum, and even though they have thus far been overlooked, their aggregate effect in the ecosystem must be considered. This study opens new research questions on cybercrime participation that should consider online spaces beyond their cybercrime branding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-typhoidal Salmonella enterica is a pathogen of global importance, particularly in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). The presence of antimicrobial resistant (AMR) strains in market environments poses a serious health threat to consumers. In this study we identified and characterized the genotypic and phenotypic AMR profiles of 81 environmental S. enterica strains isolated from samples from informal markets in Cambodia in 2018–2019. AMR genotypes were retrieved from the NCBI Pathogen Detection website (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pathogens/) and using ResFinder (https://cge.cbs.dtu.dk/services/) Salmonella pathogenicity islands (SPIs) were identified with SPIFinder (https://cge.cbs.dtu.dk/services/). Susceptibility testing was performed by broth microdilution according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) standard guidelines M100-S22 using the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) Sensititre Gram Negative plate. A total of 17 unique AMR genes were detected in 53% (43/81) of the isolates, including those encoding tetracycline, beta-lactam, sulfonamide, quinolone, aminoglycoside, phenicol, and trimethoprim resistance. A total of 10 SPIs (SPI-1, 3–5, 8, 9, 12–14, and centisome 63 [C63PI]) were detected in 59 isolates. C63PI, an iron transport system in SPI-1, was observed in 56% of the isolates (n = 46). SPI-1, SPI-4, and SPI-9 were present in 13, 2, and 5% of the isolates, respectively. The most common phenotypic resistances were observed to tetracycline (47%; n = 38), ampicillin (37%; n = 30), streptomycin (20%; n = 16), chloramphenicol (17%; n = 14), and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (16%; n = 13). This study contributes to understanding the AMR genes present in S. enterica isolates from informal markets in Cambodia, as well as support domestic epidemiological investigations of multidrug resistance (MDR) profiles.

Non-typhoidal Salmonella enterica is a pathogen of global importance, particularly in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). The presence of antimicrobial resistant (AMR) strains in market environments poses a serious health threat to consumers. In this study we identified and characterized the genotypic and phenotypic AMR profiles of 81 environmental S. enterica strains isolated from samples from informal markets in Cambodia in 2018–2019. AMR genotypes were retrieved from the NCBI Pathogen Detection website (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pathogens/) and using ResFinder (https://cge.cbs.dtu.dk/services/) Salmonella pathogenicity islands (SPIs) were identified with SPIFinder (https://cge.cbs.dtu.dk/services/). Susceptibility testing was performed by broth microdilution according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) standard guidelines M100-S22 using the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) Sensititre Gram Negative plate. A total of 17 unique AMR genes were detected in 53% (43/81) of the isolates, including those encoding tetracycline, beta-lactam, sulfonamide, quinolone, aminoglycoside, phenicol, and trimethoprim resistance. A total of 10 SPIs (SPI-1, 3–5, 8, 9, 12–14, and centisome 63 [C63PI]) were detected in 59 isolates. C63PI, an iron transport system in SPI-1, was observed in 56% of the isolates (n = 46). SPI-1, SPI-4, and SPI-9 were present in 13, 2, and 5% of the isolates, respectively. The most common phenotypic resistances were observed to tetracycline (47%; n = 38), ampicillin (37%; n = 30), streptomycin (20%; n = 16), chloramphenicol (17%; n = 14), and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (16%; n = 13). This study contributes to understanding the AMR genes present in S. enterica isolates from informal markets in Cambodia, as well as support domestic epidemiological investigations of multidrug resistance (MDR) profiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article contributes to ongoing debates on the multiple dimensions of moral boundary-making processes particularly with respect to the perceptions of dominant groups. Based on ethnographic observations and thirty semi-structured interviews with employers in Adana, Turkey, this paper explores how distinct framing strategies are employed towards Syrian employees in workplaces, and how moral boundaries are negotiated and contested at different stages of employment in the informal market economy. It argues that attachment to morality in the workplace is distinctively (re)constructed by employers at different stages of employment: during the hiring process and then during employment itself. Results suggest that employers' context-based understanding of morality is heavily concentrated on their moral construction of 'self' during hiring processes whereas their focus shifts from the 'self' towards the moral construction of the 'employee' after having different kinds of work experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salmonella has been linked to many foodborne illnesses and epidemics in both humans and animals. This cross-sectional study determined the prevalence, serovars, and factors associated with Salmonella contamination of chickens slaughtered in informal market outlets in Gauteng Province, South Africa. A total of 151 chicken carcasses were randomly collected from 47 outlets. Standard bacteriological and molecular methods were used to isolate, identify, and determine the serovar of Salmonella isolates. The prevalence of Salmonella in carcass swabs, cloacal swabs, and carcass drips was 29.1% (44 of 151), 27.2% (41 of 151), and 43.7% (66 of 151), respectively, and the differences were statistically significant (P = 0.004). Only 5 (township locations of outlet, throughput, carcass evisceration, location of carcass for sale, and outlet sanitation) of 10 factors investigated for the contamination of carcasses by Salmonella were statistically significantly (P < 0.05) associated with the isolation of Salmonella. Of the 268 isolates of Salmonella, 157 (58.6%) were typeable using a limited molecular PCR technique, and nine serovars were identified. The predominant Salmonella enterica serovars were Bovismorbificans (31.0%), Enteritidis (7.5%), and Hadar (6.7%). The five important factors found to be significantly associated with the isolation of Salmonella at these outlets offer opportunities for the reduction of Salmonella contamination. There is a need for further investigation of the probable causes of the predominant isolation of Salmonella serovar Bovismorbificans in chickens and its potential implications for human infections in South Africa. It is concluded that chickens purchased from the informal market in Gauteng Province can be a source for salmonellosis in humans if improperly cooked before consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: informal food marketing is predominantly practiced in developing countries as it solves major social and economic challenges through the provision of employment and easily accessible food products at relatively inexpensive prices. However, such products often escape effective health and safety regulations which relatively characterize formal marketing, thus posing threats to public health. Methods: we conducted a cross-sectional microbial assessment of randomly collected raw meats (n=224) sold at selected informal (n=112) and formal (n=112) meat markets in Ibadan, south-western Nigeria for Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. using standard protocols. Isolates were evaluated for antibiogram patterns by Kirby-Bauer Assay and data analysed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression. Results: overall, 75.5%, 65.2%, 61.6%, and 46.9% of the 224 samples were positive for S. aureus, L. monocytogenes, Salmonella spp, and E. coli, respectively. Significantly higher prevalences were obtained from the informal markets for S. aureus (OR=9.43; 95%CI: 0.05-0.24), L. monocytogenes (OR=9.35; 95%CI: 0.06-0.21), Salmonella spp (OR=10.00; 95%CI: 0.05-0.19) and E. coli (OR=12.99; 95%CI: 0.04-0.15) than the formal markets. The pathogens exhibited total resistance against half of the 14 antibiotics studied, with the least resistance to ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin. Conclusion: the significantly higher microbial contamination in meats from informal markets and associated high antibiotic resistance level portends serious public health implications of informal meat marketing. Since informal food marketing also characterizes other developing sub-Saharan African countries, synergy among local and international stakeholders to step up health and safety policies towards regulating activities at informal food markets is urgently required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The occurrence, concentrations, and variables associated with tetracycline, polyether ionophore, and anthelmintic residues in the livers of chickens sold in the informal market in South Africa were determined. Ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry was used to simultaneously analyze for four tetracyclines, five polyether ionophores, and six anthelmintic residues. The study determined the presence of residues in liver samples at both the limit of quantifications (LOQ) and concentrations over the maximum residue limit (MRL), i.e., noncompliant. Doxycycline (tetracycline group) was detected in 24 (24.5%) of 98 chicken livers, and 15 (15.3%) of the 98 were noncompliant. Mean ± standard deviation (SD) concentrations of 919.04 ± 1,081.30 ppb (LOQ) and 1,410.57 ± 108.89 ppb (MRL) were obtained. Maduramicin was detected in 27 (27.6%) of 98 chicken livers, and 19 (19.4%) of 98 were noncompliant. The mean ± SD for LOQ was 117.96 ± 84.56 ppb, and MRL was 153.21 ± 76.29 ppb. The concentrations of residues of doxycycline and maduramicin in chicken livers varied significantly across townships. Lasalocid was found in 31 (31.6%) of 98 samples, of which 5 (5.1%) had concentrations above the MRL. The mean ± SD concentration of lasalocid was 62.90 ± 170.84 ppb for samples in which lasalocid was quantified and 310.16 ± 356.68 ppb for noncompliant samples. Detectable concentrations of praziquantel, closantel, and rafoxanide (anthelmintics) residues were found in 3 (3.1%), 1 (1.0%), and 2 (2.0%) of 98 chicken livers, respectively. The presence of residues of three classes of veterinary drugs in chicken livers poses food safety implications to consumers and indicates a need for enhanced regulatory enforcement in controlling these drugs in South Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In accordance with Article 31, section IV, of the Political Constitution of the United Mexican States, it is established that it is the obligation of Mexicans to contribute to public expenditures, whether of the Federation, of the Federal District or of the State and Municipality in which Reside, in the proportional and equitable manner provided by the laws. It should also be noted that this precept is based on the fact that this obligation considers compliance based on the principles of generality, equity, obligations and transparency in the destination of public spending. However, when citizens perceive that their contributions do not comply with what is established in the regulations in question, there is a so-called tax evasion. Which in accordance with Camargo (2005), that concept is defined as the reduction of an amount of a tax produced within a country by those who are obliged to pay it do not, however, they do obtain benefits through a behaviour fraudulent. Based on this premise, the purpose of this study is to estimate in the best possible way the potential collection that could be obtained by the Federal Government, particularly from the payment of income tax by people who carry out transactions in the informal market, focusing on analysis on the citizens that are dedicated to the sale of merchandise in the markets on wheels, considering simultaneously the benefits that these people would obtain when paying this tribute. For this, 300 surveys were carried out, considering the answers, as well as the application of the Real Options methodology Trigeorgis y cols. (1996) and the Game Theory model (Mas-Colell, Whinston, Green y cols., 1995), the estimation of the collection by expanding the tax base and the benefits in monetary terms at the moment these people enter the formal market.

This paper aims to evaluate how prices are formed in the informal tourism market and how this has a bearing on the livelihoods of informal traders. More specifically, the objectives of this research were to: (i) determine the dependence and strategies of informal traders on sales and fair prices for their livelihood; (ii) assess price judgement of tourists in two currencies and (iii) determine whether altruism influences price judgement. A mixed-methods approach was followed, where interviews were held with informal craft traders and a questionnaire was electronically administered to 450 international tourists who visited South Africa. The results show that the informal craft traders are supporting extended family members in southern African countries. The informal tourism economy in South Africa therefore plays an integral part in providing a source of livelihood for many migrants. In addition, tourists have inaccurate price judgements, which is more pronounced for lower valued items, and leads to price distortions in the market. We also find that price judgement in the unfamiliar currency distorts the effect of pro-social behaviour on price judgement, with higher levels of altruism only being associated with price overvaluations in the respondent's home currency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among those who work in the informal sector ythere are many people that voted the Cambiemos alliance in 2015 and 2019. What are their reasons, their motivations? The fact that poor people vote candidates offering adjustment programs, solidaristic people vote xenophobic and exclusionary discourses, workers that had better jobs in past years due to redistributionist policies now vote individualistic plans. These is part of a general question in social sciences but grows in relevance in Latin America nowadays with a polarized Bolivia, with part of the poor electorate rejecting Evo Morales, with a black Brazil voting for Bolsonaro. It is also in this region where Chile rises against exclusionary public policies, same than in Ecuador. We are elaborating the question of the perceptions and motivations focusing in poor women. They are being pulled by opposite forces in the region: popular feminist movements and descentralized territorial evangelical churches. What are the political options for them? How do they perceive their societies' problems and its solutions? We focus in class and gender conditions. It is widely accepted that being a woman and being excluded from the formal market, is a double disadvantage. However, in some contexts this condition is being politized by popular feminist movements in an extensive way, which is innovative as a political phenomenon and at the same time, conservative religious forces are doing their job. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Espirales Revista Multidisciplinaria de Investigación is the property of Grupo Compas 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.)

South Africa's rapid urbanization and high unemployment rates pushed people into street food vending as an alternative source of livelihood. Hygiene and food safety have become a concern under these circumstances owing to foodborne illnesses and associated deaths. A survey tool with 38 structured questions was administered to 172 to assess pork vendors' hygiene and safety practices and identify their determinants in five low-income high-density suburbs of the Cape Metropole District, South Africa. Overall, vendors washed their hands before and after handling meat (66% of respondents) and cleaned the working area daily (51%), pork storage area daily (60%), and utensils and equipment before and after use (36%) with most of them using detergents as the main cleaning agent (70%). A quarter of the interviewed vendors experienced meat spoilage during storage, and 80% had no training in hygiene and safe food handling. The marginal effects of logistic regression findings showed that vending income increased the vendor's probability to wash hands, and clean vending stalls, storage areas, utensils, and equipment. The likelihood of vendors cleaning pork storage areas, utensils, and equipment increased with the increase in female participants. The likelihood of hand washing and vending stall cleaning increased by 1% for each extra year of schooling. Strategies aimed at improving meat hygiene and safety practices of vendors in the surveyed areas should target vulnerable groups, especially less educated females depending solely on vending income., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

African indigenous vegetables (AIVs) play a very significant role in food security of poor households. However, some AIVs are still underutilised in many African countries. The aim of this study was to analyse the effect of farm support program on market participation and profitability of AIV production in South Africa. Data were collected from 86 AIV farmers from South Africa. Probit regression and Stochastic Frontier efficiency analyses were employed for data analyses. The results revealed that infrastructure support assisted farmers to improve participation in markets. In addition, engagement in growing spinach and amaranth vegetables, farm income, gender, cooperative membership and access to EDSP significantly increased the probability of participating in informal markets (p<0.05). Also, the determinants of indigenous vegetable farmers' profit were seed input, land area cultivated, interactions of fertilizer with fertilizer, seed with seed and fertiliser with seed. Profit efficiency was significantly influenced by farm distance, road conditions and access to EDSP. It was concluded that EDSP enhanced farmers' access to informal markets and profit efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Honey is a product naturally produced by bees and, due to its composition, it has a characteristic flavor and high nutritional value. Its use is known since antiquity and each day it conquers new consumer markets. The demand for quality products available for human expenditure reflects the need for better supervision during the production process. The goal for this research was to evaluate the physio-chemical and microbiological quality of 22 honey samples with inspection and informal commerce registers in different cities in Paraná, Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina. The following parameters were analyzed: total acidity, pH, insoluble solids, diastase activity, hydroxymethylfurfural, Fiehe, Lugol, Lund reactions, and the presence of mold and yeast. As to the physical-chemical characteristics, 54.54% of the samples presented some shortcoming with the parameters established by the legislation. Although the law doesn’t demand microbiological analyses, 45.45% of the samples presented mold and yeast. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article studies how Argentina's value-added tax (VAT) revenue has risen to historic highs since its 2001 sovereign default and continues to grow despite unchanged VAT rates, slow economic growth, stagnant household consumption, and low commodity prices after 2010. In 2015, VAT revenue accounted for one-quarter of all tax revenue in Argentina. We show that Argentina's banked population went from less than 41.6% in 2003 to 89.6% in 2016. Consequently, there was significant growth in electronic payments via credit cards and debit cards. Using time series regression, the authors show that the rising banked population and card growth is correlated with VAT-to-GDP increases from 2002 to 2015. The authors posit that one reason for these correlations is that some consumption is shifting from informal (harder to tax) markets to formal (easier to tax markets) as cash use declined and card use grew. Also, rising electronic payments likely explains improved VAT compliance as well—the Argentine VAT noncompliance rate averaged 36.4% between 2000 and 2005 but improved to 20.5% between 2006 and 2010 (Trigueros, Longinotti, & Vecorena, 2013). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de Administração de Roraima is the property of Revista de Administracao de Roraima 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.)

Pork in the informal market significantly contributes to food, nutrition and income security in low-income countries' urban areas but is a safety concern to value chain actors and public authorities due to potential contamination by pathogens. To evaluate the physicochemical quality, microbial and oxidative profiles of pork sold from the informal urban street market, 50 samples were collected from 40 street vendors and 10 supermarkets in five different low-income, high-density suburbs in the Cape Metropole District, South Africa. Results showed no differences (P > 0.05) in pH, colour, proximate attributes (except for lipid content), antioxidant activity, lipid oxidation, and Escherichia coli counts in pork collected from the formal and informal markets, and open-air and enclosed market stalls. Lipid content, Enterobacteriaceae , and total bacterial counts of pork collected from the informal market were higher (P ≤ 0.05) than those from the formal market. Positive cases of Listeria monocytogenes (6–8%) and Salmonella spp. (4%) were reported for pork sampled in the informal market, especially in open-air stalls. It was concluded that higher levels of microbial contamination in the informal market, particularly in open-air stalls compared to the formal market require constant monitoring, provision of appropriate market infrastructure, and hygiene behaviour change of vendors to ensure pork safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This paper evaluated the implementation of an initiative for promoting risk-based approaches to improve food safety management in Vietnam. A Taskforce of Risk Assessment for Food Safety (Taskforce) was formed and consisted of researchers working on risk assessment and food safety, and representatives of the related ministries of Health and of Agriculture. We used the OECD Development Assistance Committee Evaluation Criteria as a framework for assessing the impact of the Taskforce with five evaluation areas – relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact and sustainability. They analysed current food safety policies, identified key constraints and opportunities, and conducted action research and capacity building to address these challenges in food safety. Stakeholder workshops helped determine priority food safety issues and activities. A series of hands-on training based on real-world case studies were organized and risk assessment curricula were developed and taught at universities to promote sustainability. Practical guidelines, text books, a special edition and policy briefs were published. The Taskforce provided technical support to a national food safety assessment commissioned by the World Bank and evidence for development partners. The Taskforce was institutionalized by a national university to have a formal role in implementing its activities. In conclusion, the Taskforce has brought experts in Vietnam to work together on prioritized topics of food safety risk assessment, assisted and informed ministries in implementing risk-based approaches for food safety management. It can be recommended as a way of institutionalising risk-based methods in countries new to the approach. Highlights • Researchers working in food safety risk assessment and representatives of related ministries formed a taskforce for risk assessment for food safety (or taskforce for food safety risk assessments). • The Taskforce members worked together on prioritized topics of food safety risk assessment, to conduct hands-on trainings, real-world risk assessment case studies and to develop curricula for universities. • The Taskforce was institutionalized by a national university to have a formal role in implementing its activities in food safety risk assessment research, teaching and advocacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Médecine et Santé Tropicales is the property of John Libbey Eurotext Ltd. 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.)