Study on the impact of a bundle of determinants on the shopping and visiting intentions of tourists: An extension of the theory of reasoned action

Scope and Method of Study: The objective of the study is to build and test a theoretical model to explain the impact of a bundle of determinants on the shopping and visiting intentions of tourists. The study investigates an extension of the theory of reasoned action (TRA) model by identifying the impact of the antecedents of the model, that is, the factors that influence the formation of attitude and the subjective norm. These factors include the perceptions among tourists of shopping quality and the shopping value that they attain through their shopping experiences. The perceived shopping quality and perceived value attained from the shopping experience among respondents with different demographic and travel characteristics were also compared. A cross-sectional sample survey was conducted among a target population of mainland Chinese tourists who visited Hong Kong during the 18-day survey period. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), structural equation modeling (SEM), one-way ANOVA, and independent sample T-tests were used for the data analysis.Findings and Conclusions: The proposed model was supported. Not all of the dimensions of shopping quality exerted an influence on the shopping value attained: only the environment, promotion, and convenience dimensions showed a positive influence on both hedonic and utilitarian value. However, the products dimension was found to have a direct influence on intention to visit and shop in the destination in the future, and the staff dimension was found to have a direct influence on overall satisfaction with the shopping experience. Hedonic value had a stronger influence than utilitarian value on both overall satisfaction and the subjective norm. Overall satisfaction had a positive influence on attitude toward visiting and shopping in the destination in the future. Finally, the subjective norm and attitude toward visiting and shopping in the destination both exerted an influence on the intention to visit and shop in Hong Kong again, with the subjective norm having a stronger impact than attitude. Tourists with different demographic and travel characteristics were found to have different perceptions of shopping quality and shopping value attained

Targeted sequencing of BRAF by MinION in archival Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded specimens allows to discriminate between Hairy Cell Leukemia and Hair Cell Leukemia Variant

Targeted sequencing of BRAF by MinION in archival Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded specimens allows to discriminate between Hairy Cell Leukemia and Hair Cell Leukemia Varian

Dry Hydrogen Production in a Tandem Critical Raw Material-Free Water Photoelectrolysis Cell Using a Hydrophobic Gas-Diffusion Backing Layer

A photoelectrochemical tandem cell (PEC) based on a cathodic hydrophobic gas-diffusion backing layer was developed to produce dry hydrogen from solar driven water splitting. The cell consisted of low cost and non-critical raw materials (CRMs). A relatively high-energy gap (2.1 eV) hematite-based photoanode and a low energy gap (1.2 eV) cupric oxide photocathode were deposited on a fluorine-doped tin oxide glass (FTO) and a hydrophobic carbonaceous substrate, respectively. The cell was illuminated from the anode. The electrolyte separator consisted of a transparent hydrophilic anionic solid polymer membrane allowing higher wavelengths not absorbed by the photoanode to be transmitted to the photocathode. To enhance the oxygen evolution rate, a NiFeOX surface promoter was deposited on the anodic semiconductor surface. To investigate the role of the cathodic backing layer, waterproofing and electrical conductivity properties were studied. Two different porous carbonaceous gas diffusion layers were tested (Spectracarb® and Sigracet®). These were also subjected to additional hydrophobisation procedures. The Sigracet 35BC® showed appropriate ex-situ properties for various wettability grades and it was selected as a cathodic substrate for the PEC. The enthalpic and throughput efficiency characteristics were determined, and the results compared to a conventional FTO glass-based cathode substrate. A throughput efficiency of 2% was achieved for the cell based on the hydrophobic backing layer, under a voltage bias of about 0.6 V, compared to 1% for the conventional cell. For the best configuration, an endurance test was carried out under operative conditions. The cells were electrochemically characterised by linear polarisation tests and impedance spectroscopy measurements. X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) patterns and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) micrographs were analysed to assess the structure and morphology of the investigated materials.Authors gratefully acknowledge funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement no. 760930 (FotoH2 project)