• Asia Marketing Journal
• /
• v.24 no.4
• /
• pp.143-151
• /
• 2023

In emerging countries, traditional retail, such as wet markets, still accounts for a large proportion of retail sales. Traditional retail has poor infrastructure compared to modern retail, and is often associated with problems of waste, water, and environmental pollution. Therefore, traditional retail faces extreme difficulties in achieving sustainability. This study aimed to determine what value traditional retail contributes to sustainability. We generated and applied a conceptual framework of sustainability to explore this question. We used a single case study of a small-scale wet market in Vietnam. The results showed that wet markets have significant value for the development of sustainable retail, including economic, environmental, social, and community value. This study extends the literature by providing a comprehensive and accurate view about the value of traditional retail in contributing to sustainability. It suggests strategies for traditional retail in emerging countries to survive sustainably.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.51 no.4
• /
• pp.390-402
• /
• 2023

Salmonella are Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria commonly found in food animals such as poultry and swine and potentially constitute risks and threats to food safety and public health through transmissible virulence and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes. Although there are previous studies in the Philippines regarding genotypic and phenotypic AMR in Salmonella, there are very few on virulence and their associations. Hence, this study collected 700 Salmonella isolates from swine samples in abattoirs and wet markets among four districts in Metro Manila and characterized their genotypic virulence and β-lactam AMR profiles. Gene frequency patterns and statistical associations between virulence and bla genes and comparisons based on location types (abattoirs and wet markets) and districts were also determined. High prevalence (>50%) of virulence genes was detected encompassing Salmonella pathogenicity islands (SPIs) 1-5 suggesting their pathogenic potential, but none possessed plasmid-borne virulence genes spvR and spvC. For bla, bla_TEM was detected with high prevalence (>45%) and revealed significant associations to four SPI genes, namely, avrA, hilA, mgtC, and spi4R, which suggest high resistance potential particularly to β-lactam antibiotics and relationships with pathogenicity that remain mechanistically unestablished until now. Lastly, comparisons of location types and districts showed variations in gene prevalence suggesting effects from environmental factors throughout the swine production chain. This study provides vital data on the genotypic virulence and AMR of Salmonella from swine in abattoirs and wet markets that suggest their pathogenicity and resistance potential for policymakers to implement enforced surveillance and regulations for the improvement of the Philippine swine industry.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.391-396
• /
• 2010

The purpose of this study was to investigate the biosafety of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in raw salad vegetables at wet markets and supermarkets in Malaysia. A combination of the most probable number-polymerase chain reaction (MPN-PCR) method was applied to detect the presence of V. parahaemolyticus and to enumerate their density in the food samples. The study analyzed 276 samples of common vegetables eaten raw in Malaysia (Wild cosmos=8; Japanese parsley=21; Cabbage=30; Lettuce=16; Indian pennywort=17; Carrot=31; Sweet potato=29; Tomato=38; Cucumber=28; Four-winged bean=26; Long bean=32). The samples were purchased from two supermarkets (A and B) and two wet markets (C and D). The occurrence of V. parahaemolyticus detected was 20.65%, with a higher frequency of V. parahaemolyticus in vegetables obtained from wet markets (Wet market C=27.27%; Wet Market D=32.05%) compared with supermarkets (Supermarket A=1.64%; Supermarket B=16.67%). V. parahaemolyticus was most prevalent in Indian pennywort (41.18%). The density of V. parahaemolyticus in all the samples ranged from <3 up to >2,400 MPN/g, mostly <3 MPN/g concentration. Raw vegetables from wet markets contained higher levels of V. parahaemolyticus compared with supermarkets. Although V. parahaemolyticus was present in raw vegetables, its numbers were low. The results suggest that raw vegetables act as a transmission route for V. parahaemolyticus. This study will be the first biosafety assessment of V. parahaemolyticus in raw vegetables in Malaysia.

• Animal Bioscience
• /
• v.35 no.5
• /
• pp.778-788
• /
• 2022

Objective: The objective of the study was to understand and document socio-economic characteristics, production parameters, challenges and management practices used by Fijian households which keep indigenous chickens. Methods: A survey involving 200 households was carried out in coastal and inland communities of Fiji's wet and semi-dry ecoregions. Data on the influence of ecoregion and location of households relative to the sea on management practices, challenges and productivity of indigenous chickens were analyzed using logistic regression and general linear model of SAS software. Results: Irrespective of location relative to the sea and ecoregion, households indicated that they kept indigenous chickens for food and income generation. The Welsummer was the most (p>0.05) preferred breed. Households in the semi-dry inland communities had the largest (p<0.05) flocks compared to those in semi-dry coastal communities and the wet region. Chickens in the semi-dry region performed better (p<0.05) than those in the wet region in terms of number of clutches per year and mature live weight. Predators and feed shortages were the biggest challenges faced by households in all areas. The mongoose was ranked as the most (p>0.05) common predator followed by domestic dogs. Most households in the wet ecoregion's coastal communities housed their chickens at night, whereas communities in semi-dry ecoregion housed their chickens most of the time (p<0.05). In all regions, no households sold their chickens to commercial markets (p>0.05). Households in semi-dry ecoregion were more likely (p>0.05) to sell their chickens at the local market place. Conclusion: The productivity of local chickens in Fiji is low because of feed shortage, predators such as the mongoose and lack of market linkages.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
• /
• v.40 no.5
• /
• pp.921-935
• /
• 2016

This research analyzed the manual performance of firefighting protective gloves on global markets in order to suggest an evaluation method for firefighting protective gloves wearing comfort. We collected 13 types of firefighting gloves from domestic and international markets (7 types from Korea, 3 types form Europe, 2 types from the U.S and 1 type from Japan). We set the Don-Doff test as a basal requirement for moving toward to further manual performance tests that consist of: ASTM dexterity test, Minnesota dexterity test, Bennett hand tool test and ASTM torque test. All gloves were evaluated in dry and wet conditions, we included eight current male firefighters ($43.4{\pm}7.0yr$ in age, $173.1{\pm}4.4cm$ in height, $79.9{\pm}9.2kg$ in body mass) for the tests. Four gloves (1 Korea, 1 U.S, 1 Germany, and 1 Japan) out of thirteen firefighting gloves passed the Don-Doff test and had great subject preferences. There was no significant difference between dry and wet conditions on the ASTM dexterity test, Minnesota dexterity test, Bennett hand tool test and ASTM torque test. However, Japanese gloves had the greatest score and showed 3-4 times faster completion time on the ASTM dexterity test (p<.05), 1.2-1.5 times faster on the Minnesota dexterity test (p<.05), as fast as the bare hand on Bennett hand tool test (p<.05), and greater performance on the ASTM torque test compared to bare hand. In conclusion, Don-Doff test in wet conditions should be the first step for a mobility evaluation of domestic firefighting protective gloves; subsequently, a comprehensive test assorting ASTM, Minnesota, and Bennett test should be developed as a second step. The current ASTM torque test can be adopted as a third step. This three-step-method for evaluating firefighting protective glove mobility can be expected to expand into surveys of other safety gloves in Korea.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
• /
• v.15 no.4
• /
• pp.465-474
• /
• 2005

This study was conducted to estimate the contents of heavy metals 'mercury(Hg), cadmium(Cd), lead(Pb), arsenic(As), zinc(Zn), copper(Cu), chrome(Cr) and manganese(Mn)' in root vegetables which were produced in Korea. The levels of heavy metals were determined using a mercury analyzer, an ICP(inductively coupled plasma spectrometer) and an AAS(atomic absorption spectrophotometer) after wet digestion. The values of heavy metals 'mean(minimum-maximum)' mg/kg(ppm) in root vegetables (radish, turnip, carrot, ginger, edible burdock, taro, Chinese yam, east indian lotus) were as follows ; Hg : 0.0019(0.0002${\~}$0.0062), Cd : 0.0088(ND${\~}$0.0402), Pb : 0.021(ND${\~}$0.1070), As : 0.0401(ND${\~}$0.1732), Zn : 1.865(0.4186${\~}$6.9319), Cu : 0.648 (0.1826${\~}$4.0172), Cr : 0.121(0.0132${\~}$1.2030), and Mn : 2.730(0.0477${\~}$10.0468) mg/kg. These results showed that Hg were generally similar to and Cd was lower but Ph, As, Zn, Co, Mn were little higher than the levels of those reported contents in root vegetables on retail markets in Korea. Although the tolerable limit of Cd and Hg is not set in a regulation of WHO/FAO, the tested mean levels(Pb, As, Zn, Cu) were lower than the regulated ones of WHO/FAO, Pb '0.1-2.0', As '1.0', Zn '5.0', and Cu 0.1${\~}$50 mg/kg from vegetables. Therefore, root vegetables sold in the retail markets were evaluated as safe in terns of the heavy metal contents.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.686-693
• /
• 2011

Small-to-medium retailers in local neighborhood have been managing to survive without outside influence. However rapid change in business environment including consumer needs for goods and the quality of life has brought turbulence into retail business. Petty retailers are facing a crisis as large-sized discount stores owned by big enterprises are entering into traditional markets. To protect small-to-medium retailers from such threats and revive the traditional commercial markets the government is taking on the policy of subsidizing small-to-medium businesses. However, recent emergence of SSM (an industrialized supermarket in forms of direct management and affiliation) in local commercial areas has brought about conflicts and frictions between large companies and local merchants. Under this background this study attempted to make an analysis of vulnerable factors of small-to-medium retailers coping with SSM and probe for the alternatives to SSM business restructuring.

• Journal of Conservation Science
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.161-169
• /
• 2009

The objective of this study was to investigate stability of Korean Paper(Hanji) which is being sold in the Korean markets according to aging treatment. In order to know the aging characteristics, the optical and mechanical properties of before and after wet and dry-heat aging treatment were examined. The optical and mechanical properties were shown higher reduction in the dry-heat aging treatment compared to the wet-heat aging treatment. The Soonji (pure mulberry Hanji) made from black mulberry bast pulp was shown a great reduction of the brightness and whiteness, and increase of the opacity in the aging treatment. On the other hand, in case of mechanical properties, the breaking length of Soonji made from white mulberry bast pulp was significantly higher than that of the others, and the tensile strength was shown drastic reduction in according to Soonji made from black mulberry bast pulp in the aging treatment. The burst strength of Soonji made from black and white mulberry bast pulp was shown the similar value in the wet-heat aging treatment. The folding endurance of Soonji made from white mulberry bast pulp was significantly higher than that of others before and after aging treatment. Consequently, Hanji was affected sensitive in the temperature compared to the humidity. Meanwhile, the density and color of the chinese ink was no significant changes before and after wet and dry-heat aging treatment.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.127-135
• /
• 2002

Twenty seafood samples, which are common edible species and commercially important items in Korea, were purchased at the local fisheries markets and were analyzed for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometer detector (GC/MSD). The levels of sixteen PAHs in seafood from Korean coasts were 161 to 2,243 pg/g wet weight. The highest concentration was found at saury (Coloabis saira) and the lowest level was found at jacopever (Sebastes schlegeli). The concentrations of potentially carcinogenic PAHs of six species were in the range of 9 to 123 pg/g wet weight. The residues of PAHs in fishes from Korean coasts were slightly low or relatively moderate to other countries. There was no correlation between PAH residues and lipid contents in seafood samples. The predominant contributors in fish samples were lower-molecular-weight two and three ring aromatic PAHs such as naphthalene, acenaphthene, fluorene and phenanthrene. Filter-feeding organisms like shrimp, crab and topshell were dominated by three- and four-ring aromatic PAHs. The PAH profiles in marine sediments, bivalves, fishes, shrimp, crab and topshell according to exposure pathway were compared through factor analysis. The PAH profiles were clearly classified by the difference of species or environmental matrices. This result suggests that most of PAHs within the same samples behave identically in marine environment.

• The Korean Journal of Food & Health Convergence
• /
• v.6 no.1
• /
• pp.21-27
• /
• 2020

The levels of five heavy metals (mercury, cadmium, lead, copper and zinc) were analyzed in edible tissues of Lophius piscatorius Linnaeus, 1758 marketed in Sinop coasts of the Black Sea by using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. With the present study, heavy metal values of this fish in the Black Sea were examined for the first time. The mean concentrations in mg kg^-1 wet wt. of Hg, Cd, Pb, Cu and Zn were 0.022, 0.009, 0.035, 6.3 and 16 mg kg^-1 wet wt., respectively. The results of the present study indicate that the consumption of muscle from anglerfish can be considered safe in terms of permissible legal limits. It is clear that, Zn showed the high accumulation in muscle tissue followed by Cu, while non-essential metals Hg, Cd and Pb showed the low accumulation. This could be explained by the fact that Zn and Cu are essential elements in the bodies of living organisms and has an important role in different physiological processes. In the present study, heavy metal levels in angler fish were low. Likewise, the calculated HI values were lower than one. In conclusion, the results of the present study indicate that the consumption of muscle from anglerfish can be considered safe in terms of permissible legal limits and hazard index values.