scholarly journals A typology of urban speciality shops selling rural provenance food products – a contribution from Portugal

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandre Silva ◽  
Elisabete Figueiredo ◽  
Mónica Truninger ◽  
Celeste Eusébio ◽  
Teresa Forte
Keyword(s):  
Hierarchical Cluster ◽  
Critical Research ◽  
Food Retail ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Food Stores ◽  
Large Cities ◽  
Retail Outlets ◽  
Changing Patterns ◽  
Food Taking

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore and typify the characteristics and diverse features of urban speciality stores selling rural provenance food, taking the case of three cities in Portugal.Design/methodology/approachThe study was based on hierarchical cluster analysis, performed upon data collected from a survey to 113 shops, located in Aveiro (n = 15), Lisbon (n = 56) and Porto (n = 42).FindingsThe study identified three clusters of shops according to the type of rural provenance products sold, services provided and clientele characteristics: the wine focused, the rural provenance focused and the generalist. The study confirms that in Portugal, small food retail outlets, with different rural provenance patterns and degrees of specialization have considerably grown in large cities over the last decade.Research limitations/implicationsThe study contributes to typifying urban speciality food stores selling rural provenance products and to addressing critical research gaps on this topic. The study highlights the dynamism of small food retail outlets and their significance, mediating and responding to changing patterns of food consumption in urban spaces.Originality/valueThis study contributes to a better understanding and characterization of food speciality shops in urban settings and their links with rural territories of provenance, an under-researched topic on the food retail literature.

Urban food retailing and food prices in Africa: the case of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 90-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Assefa ◽  
Girum Abebe ◽  
Indra Lamoot ◽  
Bart Minten
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Addis Ababa ◽  
Food Markets ◽  
Food Retail ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Retail Markets ◽  
Primary Survey ◽  
Retail Outlets ◽  
The City ◽  
Large Primary

Purpose Despite the large interest in urban food markets, there are, however still relatively few good studies that have empirically documented the functioning of retail markets in developing countries, especially in Africa. The purpose of this paper is to look in particular at the case of Addis Ababa, a city of more than four million people and the capital of Ethiopia, one of the most populous countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. To better understand urban food retail, the authors rely on a large primary survey. Design/methodology/approach To better understand urban food retail, the authors rely on a large primary survey. Based on a stratified sampling scheme representative for the city as a whole, 1,226 urban food retail outlets were interviewed in March and April 2012. Findings The authors find increasing differentiation in food retail markets in recent years. Despite the prohibition of foreign direct investment in food retail, a domestic modern private retail sector is quickly emerging. However, its share is still very small and, in contrast to roll-outs of modern retail in other countries, it has not yet entered the cereal sector, which remains in the hands of local flour mills, cereal shops, and cooperative retail outlets. The importance of cooperative retail is growing even more rapidly. It is especially important for those products where supply chains are controlled by the government. On the high-end, domestic private modern retail outlets deliver high-quality products at significantly higher prices, ceteris paribus. At the other side, the authors see cooperative retail that delivers food at significantly lower – and subsidized – prices. However, the latter shops are characterized by typical price control problems, reflected in regular lack of supplies and queuing. Research limitations/implications The study is limited to the city of Addis Ababa and it seems useful if similar studies could be conducted in other cities in Africa. Originality/value Despite the large interest in urban food markets, there are still relatively few good studies that have empirically documented the functioning of retail markets in developing countries, especially in Africa. The paper therefore contributes to fill this lacuna by studying urban food retail markets using new and unique data for Africa.

scholarly journals Role of Premycofactocin Synthase in Growth, Microaerophilic Adaptation, and Metabolism of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

mBio ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gopinath Krishnamoorthy ◽  
Peggy Kaiser ◽  
Patricia Constant ◽  
Ulrike Abu Abed ◽  
Monika Schmid ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mycobacterium Tuberculosis ◽  
Mycobacterial Species ◽  
Intracellular Growth ◽  
Critical Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research Priority ◽  
Functional Relevance ◽  
Almost All

Characterization of proteins with unknown functions is a critical research priority as the intracellular growth and metabolic state of Mycobacterium tuberculosis , the causative agent of tuberculosis, remain poorly understood. Mycofactocin is a peptide-derived redox cofactor present in almost all mycobacterial species; however, its functional relevance in M. tuberculosis pathogenesis and host survival has never been studied experimentally.

scholarly journals A Methodology Based on FT-IR Data Combined with Random Forest Model to Generate Spectralprints for the Characterization of High-Quality Vinegars

Foods ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 1411
Author(s):  
José Luis P. Calle ◽  
Marta Ferreiro-González ◽  
Ana Ruiz-Rodríguez ◽  
Gerardo F. Barbero ◽  
José Á. Álvarez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Random Forest ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Hierarchical Cluster ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Support Vector ◽  
Protected Designation Of Origin ◽  
Ft Ir

Sherry wine vinegar is a Spanish gourmet product under Protected Designation of Origin (PDO). Before a vinegar can be labeled as Sherry vinegar, the product must meet certain requirements as established by its PDO, which, in this case, means that it has been produced following the traditional solera and criadera ageing system. The quality of the vinegar is determined by many factors such as the raw material, the acetification process or the aging system. For this reason, mainly producers, but also consumers, would benefit from the employment of effective analytical tools that allow precisely determining the origin and quality of vinegar. In the present study, a total of 48 Sherry vinegar samples manufactured from three different starting wines (Palomino Fino, Moscatel, and Pedro Ximénez wine) were analyzed by Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The spectroscopic data were combined with unsupervised exploratory techniques such as hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and principal component analysis (PCA), as well as other nonparametric supervised techniques, namely, support vector machine (SVM) and random forest (RF), for the characterization of the samples. The HCA and PCA results present a clear grouping trend of the vinegar samples according to their raw materials. SVM in combination with leave-one-out cross-validation (LOOCV) successfully classified 100% of the samples, according to the type of wine used for their production. The RF method allowed selecting the most important variables to develop the characteristic fingerprint (“spectralprint”) of the vinegar samples according to their starting wine. Furthermore, the RF model reached 100% accuracy for both LOOCV and out-of-bag (OOB) sets.

scholarly journals Characterization of RarA, a Novel AraC Family Multidrug Resistance Regulator in Klebsiella pneumoniae

2012 ◽  
Vol 56 (8) ◽  
pp. 4450-4458 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Veleba ◽  
Paul G. Higgins ◽  
Gerardo Gonzalez ◽  
Harald Seifert ◽  
Thamarai Schneiders
Keyword(s):  
Multidrug Resistance ◽  
Klebsiella Pneumoniae ◽  
Efflux Pump ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Resistance Phenotype ◽  
Serratia Proteamaculans ◽  
Virulence Potential ◽  
Article Type ◽  
Acrab Efflux Pump

ABSTRACTTranscriptional regulators, such as SoxS, RamA, MarA, and Rob, which upregulate the AcrAB efflux pump, have been shown to be associated with multidrug resistance in clinically relevant Gram-negative bacteria. In addition to the multidrug resistance phenotype, these regulators have also been shown to play a role in the cellular metabolism and possibly the virulence potential of microbial cells. As such, the increased expression of these proteins is likely to cause pleiotropic phenotypes.Klebsiella pneumoniaeis a major nosocomial pathogen which can express the SoxS, MarA, Rob, and RamA proteins, and the accompanying paper shows that the increased transcription oframAis associated with tigecycline resistance (M. Veleba and T. Schneiders, Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 56:4466–4467, 2012). Bioinformatic analyses of the availableKlebsiellagenome sequences show that an additional AraC-type regulator is encoded chromosomally. In this work, we characterize this novel AraC-type regulator, hereby called RarA (Regulator of antibiotic resistance A), which is encoded inK. pneumoniae,Enterobactersp. 638,Serratia proteamaculans568, andEnterobacter cloacae. We show that the overexpression ofrarAresults in a multidrug resistance phenotype which requires a functional AcrAB efflux pump but is independent of the other AraC regulators. Quantitative real-time PCR experiments show thatrarA(MGH 78578 KPN_02968) and its neighboring efflux pump operonoqxAB(KPN_02969_02970) are consistently upregulated in clinical isolates collected from various geographical locations (Chile, Turkey, and Germany). Our results suggest thatrarAoverexpression upregulates theoqxABefflux pump. Additionally, it appears thatoqxR, encoding a GntR-type regulator adjacent to theoqxABoperon, is able to downregulate the expression of theoqxABefflux pump, where OqxR complementation resulted in reductions to olaquindox MICs.

scholarly journals Characterization of Glycoside Hydrolase Family 5 Proteins in Schizosaccharomyces pombe

2010 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 1650-1660 ◽  
Author(s):  
Encarnación Dueñas-Santero ◽  
Ana Belén Martín-Cuadrado ◽  
Thierry Fontaine ◽  
Jean-Paul Latgé ◽  
Francisco del Rey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Schizosaccharomyces Pombe ◽  
Protein Characterization ◽  
Wall Material ◽  
Glycoside Hydrolase Family ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Hydrolysis Of ◽  
Controlled Hydrolysis ◽  
Hydrolase Family

ABSTRACT In yeast, enzymes with β-glucanase activity are thought to be necessary in morphogenetic events that require controlled hydrolysis of the cell wall. Comparison of the sequence of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae exo-β(1,3)-glucanase Exg1 with the Schizosaccharomyces pombe genome allowed the identification of three genes that were named exg1 + (locus SPBC1105.05), exg2 + (SPAC12B10.11), and exg3 + (SPBC2D10.05). The three proteins have different localizations: Exg1 is secreted to the periplasmic space, Exg2 is a membrane protein, and Exg3 is a cytoplasmic protein. Characterization of the biochemical activity of the proteins indicated that Exg1 and Exg3 are active only against β(1,6)-glucans while no activity was detected for Exg2. Interestingly, Exg1 cleaves the glucans with an endohydrolytic mode of action. exg1 + showed periodic expression during the cell cycle, with a maximum coinciding with the septation process, and its expression was dependent on the transcription factor Sep1. The Exg1 protein localizes to the septum region in a pattern that was different from that of the endo-β(1,3)-glucanase Eng1. Overexpression of Exg2 resulted in an increase in cell wall material at the poles and in the septum, but the putative catalytic activity of the protein was not required for this effect.

scholarly journals Characterization of T Cells Specific for CFP-10 and ESAT-6 in Mycobacterium tuberculosis-Infected Mauritian Cynomolgus Macaques

2017 ◽  
Vol 85 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Ellis ◽  
Alexis Balgeman ◽  
Mark Rodgers ◽  
Cassaundra Updike ◽  
Jaime Tomko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Mycobacterium Tuberculosis ◽  
Mhc Class Ii ◽  
Nonhuman Primates ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Host Immune Responses ◽  
Cell Responses ◽  
Cynomolgus Macaques ◽  
Mhc Haplotype

ABSTRACT Nonhuman primates can be used to study host immune responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Mauritian cynomolgus macaques (MCMs) are a unique group of animals that have limited major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genetic diversity, such that MHC-identical animals can be infected with M. tuberculosis. Two MCMs homozygous for the relatively common M1 MHC haplotype were bronchoscopically infected with 41 CFU of the M. tuberculosis Erdman strain. Four other MCMs, which had at least one copy of the M1 MHC haplotype, were infected with a lower dose of 3 CFU M. tuberculosis. All animals mounted similar T-cell responses to CFP-10 and ESAT-6. Two epitopes in CFP-10 were characterized, and the MHC class II alleles restricting them were determined. A third epitope in CFP-10 was identified but exhibited promiscuous restriction. The CFP-10 and ESAT-6 antigenic regions targeted by T cells in MCMs were comparable to those seen in cases of human M. tuberculosis infection. Our data lay the foundation for generating tetrameric molecules to study epitope-specific CD4 T cells in M. tuberculosis-infected MCMs, which may guide future testing of tuberculosis vaccines in nonhuman primates.

Propagation of risks and their impact on performance in fresh food retail

2015 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 568-602 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samir K Srivastava ◽  
Atanu Chaudhuri ◽  
Rajiv K. Srivastava
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chains ◽  
Performance Measures ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Food Retail ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Fresh Food ◽  
Retail Supply Chains ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Supply Chain Risks

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to carry out structural analysis of potential supply chain risks and performance measures in fresh food retail by applying interpretive structural modeling (ISM). Design/methodology/approach – Inputs were taken from industry experts in identifying and understanding interdependencies among food retail supply chain risks on different levels (sourcing and logistics outside the retail stores; storage and customer interface at the stores). Interdependencies among risks and their impact on performance measures are structured into a hierarchy in order to derive subsystems of interdependent elements to derive useful insights for theory and practice. Findings – Using the ISM approach the risks and performance measures were clustered according to their driving power and dependence power. Change in/inadequate government regulations’ are at the bottom level of the hierarchy implying highest driving power and require higher attention and focussed mitigation strategies. Risks like lack of traceability, transport delays/breakdowns and temperature abuse, cross-contamination in transport and storage have medium driver and dependence powers. Research limitations/implications – The approach is focussed on food retail supply chains in the Indian context and thereby limits the ability to generalize the findings. The academics and experts were selected on convenience and availability. Practical implications – It gives managers a better understanding of the risks and performance measures that have most influence on others (driving performance measures) and those measures which are most influenced by others (dependent performance measures) in fresh food retail and also a tool to prioritize them. This kind of information is strategic for managers who can use it to identify which performance measures they should concentrate on managing the trade-offs between measures. The findings and the applicability for practical use have been validated by both experts and practicing managers in food retail supply chains. Originality/value – The work is perhaps the first to link supply chain risks with performance and explains the propagation of risks in food retail supply chains. It contributes to theory by addressing a few research gaps and provides relevant managerial insights for practitioners.

scholarly journals Molecular Characterization of the CytochromebGene andIn VitroAtovaquone Susceptibility of Plasmodium falciparum Isolates from Kenya

2015 ◽  
Vol 59 (3) ◽  
pp. 1818-1821 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luicer A. Ingasia ◽  
Hoseah M. Akala ◽  
Mabel O. Imbuga ◽  
Benjamin H. Opot ◽  
Fredrick L. Eyase ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plasmodium Falciparum ◽  
Genetic Polymorphism ◽  
Molecular Characterization ◽  
Mutant Allele ◽  
Inhibitory Concentration ◽  
Wild Type Allele ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Western Kenya ◽  
Content Type

ABSTRACTThe prevalence of a genetic polymorphism(s) at codon 268 in the cytochromebgene, which is associated with failure of atovaquone-proguanil treatment, was analyzed in 227Plasmodium falciparumparasites from western Kenya. The prevalence of the wild-type allele was 63%, and that of the Y268S (denoting a Y-to-S change at position 268) mutant allele was 2%. There were no pure Y268C or Y268N mutant alleles, only mixtures of a mutant allele(s) with the wild type. There was a correlation between parasite 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) and parasite genetic polymorphism; mutant alleles had higher IC50s than the wild type.

scholarly journals A typology of personal factor attributes among shoppers

2014 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 394-412 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yue Teng Wong ◽  
Syuhaily Osman ◽  
Aini Said ◽  
Laily Paim
Keyword(s):  
Hierarchical Cluster ◽  
Measurement Model ◽  
Shopping Behavior ◽  
Personal Factors ◽  
Shopping Malls ◽  
Personal Factor ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Practical Applications ◽  
Confirmatory Factor ◽  
Klang Valley

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to derive a comprehensive model with integrated dimensions of trait constructs to understand the shoppers’ dispositional traits in consumption. This study endeavors to gain empirical validation of a motivational network of shoppers’ traits in consumption as well as to ascertain different shoppers’ typology from the configurations of personal factor attributes. Design/methodology/approach – Store-intercept method was used to collect data from a sample of 600 apparel adult shoppers at five shopping malls in Klang Valley, Malaysia. The factor structure of personal factors was achieved using confirmatory factory analysis. The hierarchical and non-hierarchical cluster analysis was employed to develop the shoppers’ typology. Findings – A relatively good fit in confirmatory factor analysis validates the applicability of the conceptualized personal factor attributes measurement model. The constitution of personal factor attributes results in three shoppers typology of Confident, Enthusiastic Shoppers; Moderate, Pragmatic Shoppers and Self-Confined, Apathetic Shoppers. Practical implications – The study provides an understanding of the personal attribute factors and disseminates insightful information about profile of shoppers’ typology. Accordingly, the implementation of the strategy which involving the personality and psychological desires of the consumers, is now possible. Originality/value – This paper stipulates new insights to discern other dimensions in personality traits to examine the personal factor attributes, by considering the elemental traits, compound traits, situational traits and surface traits in a holistic manner. The findings of this study advance the knowledge on personal factor attributes that shape shopping behavior along with practical applications.

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