Anshu Bhatia and Neelam Khetarpaul
Some of the indigenous fermented foods of India seem to be very nutritious but not scientifically proved. Moreover, due to urbanisation and changing food habits and lifestyles…
Abstract
Purpose
Some of the indigenous fermented foods of India seem to be very nutritious but not scientifically proved. Moreover, due to urbanisation and changing food habits and lifestyles, people are abandoning such nutritious recipes. This paper aims to collect such indigenous technical knowledge, standardise it under laboratory conditions and analyse it organoleptically and for various nutrients.
Design/methodology/approach
Doli ki roti – an indigenous nutritional fermented bread popular among Indian Punjabis migrated from Pakistan – is a wheat‐based product. Natural fermentation is carried out in an earthen pot called doli in vernacular language. The final product was a stuffed puri‐like preparation (a puri is a fried small fermented wheat bread stuffed with spice‐cooked chickpeas). Its preparation was learned from rural households and standardised under laboratory conditions. The product prepared was improved further to make it rich in micronutrients and protein. It was analysed for proximate nutrients, phytic acid and in vitro digestibility of starch and protein using standard AOAC methods.
Findings
The unfermented bread had 632.3 mg phytic acid per 100 g but this reduced significantly to an extent of 5‐18 per cent due to fermentation at 35°C and for both time periods, i.e. 18 h and 24 h. This significant reduction in the phytic acid content culminated in a marked improvement in protein (28‐50 per cent) and starch (57‐88 per cent) digestibility. The higher the temperature and the longer the period of fermentation, the more significant (p<0.05) were the changes seen in the phytic acid content, and a significant and negative correlation between the two further strengthened the findings.
Research limitations/implications
Such a product can be further improved nutritionally by making it rich in beta‐carotene. Instead of frying, it can be baked in the oven for health‐conscious people suffering from hypercholesterolemia.
Practical implications
On the basis of the findings of the present study, people should be encouraged not to abandon healthy eating practices but continue with their traditional healthy food habits. They should be motivated to prepare and eat fermented foods having the right combination of cereals, pulses and leafy vegetables.
Originality/value
This is an original paper based on an original idea. It is based on the research findings of the MSc thesis of the first author, who worked under the guidance of the second author.
Details
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Maha Al Balushi, Mirza Mohammad Didarul Alam and Adam Mohamed Ali Fadlalla
This study aims to assess both internal and external factors that impact consumer attitudes and intentions with regard to the purchase of non-deceptive counterfeits. More…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to assess both internal and external factors that impact consumer attitudes and intentions with regard to the purchase of non-deceptive counterfeits. More specifically, this study examines the impact of integrity, brand consciousness, performance risk and social risk on the attitude and in turn on the purchase intention of consumers towards non-deceptive counterfeits.
Design/methodology/approach
A total of 679 valid responses from the university students in two different Gulf countries, namely, Oman (264) and Qatar (415) were gathered through a self-administered structured questionnaire and analysed through partial least square‐structural equation modeling.
Findings
All the predictors of consumer attitude appeared significant in both country samples except integrity. However, brand consciousness appeared insignificant in the sample of Oman. In addition, Purchase intention towards the non-deceptive counterfeits was significantly predicted by attitude and subjective norm in both samples.
Originality/value
In the domain of non-deceptive counterfeit literature, the findings of the study will substantially add value. Particularly, in the Gulf country context, the impact of internal psychological and external risk factors on the attitude and purchase intention of non-deceptive counterfeits will enhance the insights of existing literature and extend and proof the robustness of the theory of reasoned action.
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Qiuping Nie, Long Ma and Zhifu Li
Despite the rapid development of metaverse industry, the adoption rate of metaverse products is still very low. While prior studies mainly focused on investigating the motivators…
Abstract
Purpose
Despite the rapid development of metaverse industry, the adoption rate of metaverse products is still very low. While prior studies mainly focused on investigating the motivators of metaverse adoption, this study explores the barriers affecting consumer intention to use metaverse products, utilizing the framework of innovation resistance theory (IRT).
Design/methodology/approach
Through a survey conducted in China, we examined the effects of variables such as usage barrier, value barrier, risk barrier, tradition barrier, image barrier, as well as the moderating effects of individuals’ innovativeness. Three hundred and seventy seven valid questionnaires were collected and hierarchical regression method was conducted to analyze the data.
Findings
Our findings reveal that usage and value barriers, as well as tradition barrier, significantly negatively influence consumer intention to use metaverse products. However, risk and image barrier do not exhibit a significant impact. Additionally, we discovered that individuals’ innovativeness positively influences consumer intention, indicating that users with higher innovativeness are more inclined to engage with metaverse products. Furthermore, innovativeness acts as a positive moderator, weakening the negative impact of tradition barrier on usage intention.
Originality/value
The study extends IRT by incorporating the role of individual innovativeness, providing a more holistic understanding of the factors that impede the widespread use of metaverse products. The findings are crucial for developing strategies to mitigate the negative influences of potential barriers, ultimately promoting the diffusion of metaverse products.
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Aman Kumar, Amit Shankar, Ankit Mehrotra, Muhammad Zafar Yaqub and Ebtesam Abdullah A. Alzeiby
Metaverse is one of the decade’s most exciting and transformative technological innovations. While the metaverse holds immense promise, it has potential risks and dark sides. This…
Abstract
Purpose
Metaverse is one of the decade’s most exciting and transformative technological innovations. While the metaverse holds immense promise, it has potential risks and dark sides. This research aims to investigate and identify the crucial dark dimensions associated with the metaverse platforms.
Design/methodology/approach
Employing a qualitative phenomenological methodology, the authors interviewed 45 metaverse users to unravel dark dimensions related to the metaverse. Analyzing the themes extracted from the participants' insights revealed an alignment with the underpinnings of the Technology Threat Avoidance (TTA) theory.
Findings
The findings of this study revealed seven major dark dimensions: addiction and dependency, isolation and loneliness, mental health issues, privacy and security, cyberbullying and harassment, digital identity theft and financial exploitation.
Practical implications
The study helps organizations and metaverse platforms understand the crucial dark dimensions of the metaverse. This study concludes by synthesizing prevalent themes and proposing propositions, offering insights for practical application and policy considerations.
Originality/value
This study provides a deeper understanding of the dark side of the metaverse environment from a user perspective using the underpinnings of TTA theory.