Motivational factors towards fast-food joint selection in under-developed country setting: A Partial Least Square and Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) approach

The abrupt rise in the fast food business the world over calls for research attention to the phenomenon, especially, in underdeveloped and developing economies. Research is scanty regarding the phenomenon; especially what motivates patrons to select fast food joints in under developed economies such as Ghana. The study sought to ascertain the motivational factors that actuate (or stimulate) consumers' intent to select a fast-food joint in an under-developed country setting, particularly, in Ghana, a sub-Sahara African region. Additionally, the partial goal of this survey is to examine the mediating role of convenience (CONV), and taste and preference (TASPRE) given the indirect effect of traditional advertising communication medium (ACM); Radio/Tv and word-of-mouth. Using a quantitative research approach, a structured survey questionnaire was used to intercept buyers of fast-food at vantage points in the Cape Coast metropolis in the Central region of Ghana. A non-randomized sampling technique, precisely, the convenience sampling, was adopted to consider popular fast-food joints that aided the researchers to intercept customers/buyers for the study. Results from the application of partial least square and structural equation modelling (PL-SEM) of 305 valid responses revealed that the mediation (indirect) analysis supported all the mediate-hypotheses. The research implications and future study directions are discussed in the concluding part of the paper.Internal Grant Agency of FaME through Tomas Bata University in Zlin, Czech Republic [IGA/FaME/2019/008

Effect of yoghurt containing Bifidobacterium lactis Bb12® on faecal excretion of secretory immunoglobulin A and human beta-defensin 2 in healthy adult volunteers

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Probiotics are used to provide health benefits. The present study tested the effect of a probiotic yoghurt on faecal output of beta-defensin and immunoglobulin A in a group of young healthy women eating a defined diet.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>26 women aged 18-21 (median 19) years residing in a hostel were given 200 ml normal yoghurt every day for a week, followed by probiotic yoghurt containing <it>Bifidobacterium lactis </it>Bb12^®(10⁹in 200 ml) for three weeks, followed again by normal yoghurt for four weeks. Stool samples were collected at 0, 4 and 8 weeks and assayed for immunoglobulin A and human beta-defensin-2 by ELISA. All participants tolerated both normal and probiotic yoghurt well. Human beta-defensin-2 levels in faeces were not altered during the course of the study. On the other hand, compared to the basal sample, faecal IgA increased during probiotic feeding (P = 0.0184) and returned to normal after cessation of probiotic yoghurt intake.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p><it>Bifidobacterium lactis </it>Bb12^®increased secretory IgA output in faeces. This property may explain the ability of probiotics to prevent gastrointestinal and lower respiratory tract infections.</p

<span style="font-size: 22.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:15.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">Dielectric relaxation studies of 100 MeV Ni⁵⁸<span style="font-size:17.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"> <span style="font-size:22.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 15.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">ion irradiated kapton-H polyimide film </span></span></span>

654-659<span style="font-size: 15.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.0pt;font-family:" arial","sans-serif""="">Kapton -H polyimide samples of thickness 12.5<span style="font-size:14.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size:7.5pt;font-family:" arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:="" hiddenhorzocr"="">µ<span style="font-size:14.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:7.5pt; font-family:HiddenHorzOCR;mso-hansi-font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family: HiddenHorzOCR">m <span style="font-size:15.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.0pt; font-family:" arial","sans-serif""="">have been irradiated with 100 MeV Ni58 ion beam with fluences 6.295 <span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 5.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">×<span style="font-size: 15.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.0pt;font-family:" arial","sans-serif""="">1011 and 2.57 <span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:5.0pt;font-family: " times="" new="" roman","serif""="">× 1012<span style="font-size: 12.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:5.5pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""=""> ions/cm2 .<span style="font-size:15.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.0pt;font-family: " arial","sans-serif""="">The dielectric constant/loss investigations have been measured from 30 to 240°C<span style="font-size:19.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 12.5pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""=""> <span style="font-size: 15.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.0pt;font-family:" arial","sans-serif""="">for different frequencies ranging from 100Hz to 3 MHz. The nature of Ɛ'-<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">T curve in low temperature region (30-70°C) is mainly governed by γ-relaxation. The dielectric loss peak at 60°C is in conformity with this relaxation. The dielectric constant in the temperature range 70-180°C is mainly governed by dipolar and space charge relaxations. The new energy <span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 6.0pt;font-family:HiddenHorzOCR;mso-hansi-font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family: HiddenHorzOCR">trap <span style="font-size:15.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;font-family:" arial","sans-serif""="">due to the formation or free radicals by high-energy ion irradiation, contributes significantly towards space charge relaxation. In this temperature region,Ɛ<span style="font-size:13.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 6.5pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">' <span style="font-size: 15.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.0pt;font-family:" arial","sans-serif""="">or high flux irradiated samples is more than low flux irradiated samples. In high temperature region (180-240°C) the increase in Ɛ<span style="font-size:14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:7.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""=""> ' with temperature is mainly due to interfacial polarization, which arises due to formation or new phases by irradiation. The loss maximumin Ɛ "- <span style="font-size:15.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.0pt; font-family:" arial","sans-serif""="">T <span style="font-size:15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:8.0pt;font-family:" arial","sans-serif""="">curve at 240°C confirms the presence or this relaxation. </span

<span style="font-size: 22.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">Dielectric constant/loss behaviour of 11.6 MeV/n U^{<span style="font-size:17.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">238</span>}<span style="font-size:17.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"> <span style="font-size:22.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:15.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">ion irradiated poly (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">p</i>-hydroxy benzoic acid-co-ethylene terephthalate) liquid crystal polymer </span></span></span>

633-636<span style="font-size: 15.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.0pt;font-family:" arial","sans-serif""="">Polymer liquid crystal, a copolymer or polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and poly hydroxy henzoic acid (PHB) whence referred as PET/x PHB where <span style="font-size:15.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt; font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">x <span style="font-size: 15.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.0pt;font-family:" arial","sans-serif""="">represents the molar concentration or PHB, for x=0.3 and 0.7 or 165 µ<span style="font-size:13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:6.0pt;font-family:HiddenHorzOCR;mso-hansi-font-family:Arial; mso-bidi-font-family:HiddenHorzOCR">m nominal <span style="font-size: 15.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.0pt;font-family:" arial","sans-serif""="">thickness were irradiated with 11.6 MeV /n <span style="font-size:19.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 12.5pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">U238 -ion at DRAMSTADT (Germany) with fluence 1×10<span style="font-size: 13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:6.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">6 ions/cm2 .<span style="font-size:15.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.0pt;font-family: " arial","sans-serif""="">The dielectric constant/loss measurements for these polymer liquid crystal samples were measured in the temperature range 20-220°C b<span style="font-size:15.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.0pt;font-family: " arial","sans-serif""="">y using Keithley's precision LCZ meter for frequencies 120Hz, 1 kHz, 10kHz and 100kHz. An increase in the dielectric constant at low temperature (20-60 °C) mainly ascribed to <span style="font-size:15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:8.0pt;font-family:" ms="" mincho";mso-bidi-font-family:arial"="">α-relaxation, which depends upon the molar concentration of PHB. This peak has been attributed to the polar nature or both PET and PHB. The α<span style="font-size:15.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;font-family:" arial","sans-serif""="">-relaxation is followed by suppression in dielectric constant or PET/0.3PHB and sharp increase in dielectric constant of -PET/0.7PHB from which one can understand that, due to irradiation, the PET rich phase has been affected drastically. The decrease in the dielectric constant <span style="font-size: 15.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.0pt;font-family:" arial","sans-serif""="">at higher temperatures is due to the increase in crystallinity as annealing-like effects are also induced due to irradiation by <span style="font-size: 15.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.0pt;font-family:" arial","sans-serif""="">energetic heavy ions. The peak in the dielectric loss (0.3 PHB) curve ascribed to the space charge relaxation processes, which is in accordance with the thermally-stimulated polarization current behaviour. A continuous decrease in the dielectric loss curve (0.7PHB) ascribed to the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">m-transition that is in conformity with the investigations on internal friction. </span

Does the participation in modern marketing channels for dry chillies affect economic welfare? Evidence from India

AbstractThe choice of marketing channels holds significant implications for the economic welfare and stability of smallholder dry chilli farmers in India. This study aims to investigate the impact of participating in modern marketing channels on the economic welfare of smallholder dry chilli farmers. Dry chilli marketing in Andhra Pradesh encompasses both traditional and modern channels. Traditional avenues include Agricultural Produce Market Committees, while modern options involve linking with retail malls and utilizing the Kalgudi e-market online platform. The first stage of multivariate endogenous switching regression model (MESRM) reveals significant determinants influencing farmers’ participation in modern channels. Factors like access to extension services, education, technical support from ANGRAU and the Department of Agriculture, engagement with retail malls and e-markets, access to market information, and membership in Farmers’ Producer Organizations encourage farmers to adopt modern channels. The subsequent MESRM stage reaffirms these factors’ positive impact on household welfare across various marketing channels. The study’s focal point, Average Treatment Effects, highlights substantial income improvements for participants in modern marketing channels. The counterfactual analysis reveals that smallholder farmers engaging in modern marketing channels would have experienced lower gross economic welfare if they had not participated. These findings underscore modern channels’ vital role in enhancing smallholder farmers’ economic well-being. So, Government entities and agricultural institutions should prioritize developing linkages between farmers and retail malls. Ensuring robust digital infrastructure, including reliable internet connectivity and user-friendly online platforms, is essential to empower farmers in navigating modern channels effectively. Furthermore, policymakers should consider hybrid marketing strategies that seamlessly blend traditional and modern channels to cater to the diverse preferences of consumers. By acknowledging these findings and implementing corresponding policies, stakeholders can contribute to the growth and prosperity of smallholder dry chilli farmers, fostering sustainable development in the agricultural sector

Consumer Preference and Spending Pattern in Indian Fast Food industry

Abstract- Fast food industry is one of the world’s fastest growing sectors in food industry. However, over a period of time, with a growth in the number of nuclear families, economic growth and increasing per capita income as well as globalization, fast food culture gained prominence in India. The study reveals that. The average visits made by the sample respondents was three times in a month and that young consumer lifestyle trend consists of taste, convenience and seeking alternate food items which formed the major reasons for consuming fast food. Analysis on reasons behind eating fast food by the sample respondents revealed that taste (56 per cent) is major reason to consume fast food followed by convenience (15 per cent) and alternate to home food (11 per cent).They also expressed that relaxation and wider variety of menu were the other reasons to consume fast food. Index Terms- Fast food industry, spending pattern, Consumer preference I

Problems and Changing Needs of Consumers in Fast Food Industry: The Indian Perspective

Abstract- Fast food industry is one of the world’s fastest growing sectors in food industry. However, over a period of time, with a growth in the number of nuclear families, economic growth and increasing per capita income as well as globalization, fast food culture gained prominence in India. The study reveals that absence of healthy menu, no new varieties of fast food and slow delivery time were major problems perceived by the consumers in fast food restaurants. it could be inferred that absence of healthy menu, no new varieties of fast food and slow delivery time were major problems perceived by the consumers in fast food restaurants. Index Terms- Fast food industry, Consumer Needs I