Mohammad Ghiath Naser Aldeen, Rita Mansour and Malak AlJoubbeh
This paper aims to study the effect of cooking and food additives, such as lemon juice and vinegar, on phenols and flavonoids contents and antioxidant activity of purslane.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to study the effect of cooking and food additives, such as lemon juice and vinegar, on phenols and flavonoids contents and antioxidant activity of purslane.
Design/methodology/approach
The Folin–Ciocalteu method was used to determine total phenols content (TP), while total flavonoid content (TF) was determined by the aluminum chloride method. Two methods were used for determination of antioxidant activity: DPPH (1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) assay to determine radical scavenging activity, and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) to measure the reducing power.
Findings
According to the results, leafs had higher values of TP, TF and antioxidant activity than aerial parts. Both lemon juice and vinegar retracted antioxidant properties of leafs. TP and TF of leaves showed deterioration after treatment with lemon by 58% and 21.8%, respectively, and FRAP and radical scavenging activity decreased by 75.8% and 74.5%, respectively (p <0.001). Also, TP, TF, FRAP and DPPH radical scavenging activity decreased in leaves by 82.2%, 30.5%, 87.8% and 90.9%, respectively, after treatment of leaves with vinegar. TF increased after cooking in studied parts, where no significant statistical difference was observed in TP and antioxidant activity (DPPH assay and FRAP) of cooked aerial parts. Adding lemon juice after cooking increased antioxidant properties of purslane (p <0.001).
Originality/value
Purslane has antioxidant activity because it is rich in polyphenols and flavonoids. Effects of food additives and cooking were studied using different measurements. According to the authors’ knowledge, this is the first work that studied the effect of food additives on antioxidant properties of purslane.
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The purpose of this paper was to determine and compare nutritional composition of different parts of citrus fruits, namely, Citrus aurantium (peel: albedo, flavedo and pulp…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper was to determine and compare nutritional composition of different parts of citrus fruits, namely, Citrus aurantium (peel: albedo, flavedo and pulp: juice, pomace) . This study was conducted through three stages of fruit maturity (green, yellow and orange). Total polyphenols, flavonoids, β-carotene, total chlorophyll, ascorbic acid, acidity, total soluble solid and the minerals (Ca, Mg, Zn, Na, K, Fe, Mn Cu) were evaluated. Moreover, the relationship between the total polyphenol, flavonoids and the antioxidant activity was determined.
Design/methodology/approach
Total polyphenols were determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method. Flavonoids were assessed by the aluminum chloride colorimetric method. Ca, Mg, Zn, Fe, Mn and Cu were measured using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. K and Na contents were determined by using a flame photometer. Other nutritional composition was determined by volumetric method.
Findings
The result showed that the concentrations of antioxidants, total polyphenols, flavonoids, vitamin C, total chlorophyll, total acidity and antioxidant activity (DPPH%) decreased during the maturity of fruit while the value of pH and β-carotene increases. In addition, the concentrations of the most minerals decreased through the maturation of fruit except Na. Anova statistical analysis of all the studied chemical variables was shown significant differences between all the samples. The pH, total soluble solids, β-caroteniod: orange juice had the highest average while green juice had the lowest. Ascorbic acid, total acidity, total chlorophyll: green juice had the highest average while orange juice has the lowest. Total phenol, K, Mg, Fe, Cu, Mn: green flavedo had the highest average while orange juice had the lowest. Flavonoid, antioxidant activity (DPPH%), Ca, Zn: green albedo had the highest average while orange juice had the lowest. Na: orange flavedo had the highest average while green juice had the lowest. The correlations between total polyphenol, flavonoid and antioxidant capacity were significantly higher (R = 0.935 and 0.960, respectively).
Originality/value
The stage of maturity affects nutritional composition in Citrus aurantium fruits (C. aurantium) peel and pulp, where some minerals of composition increased and others decreased, according to the results. This is the first study on comparing the nutritional composition of pulp: juice, pomace and peel: albedo, flavedo of Citrus aurantium L. during maturity in Syria, and it was also not found in previous works.
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Paulo Rita, Vasco Eiriz and Beatriz Conde
This study aims to determine how to influence the customer journey of mobile food ordering applications (MFOAs) users. It researches how available information could influence…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to determine how to influence the customer journey of mobile food ordering applications (MFOAs) users. It researches how available information could influence customers’ intention to use MFOAs platforms in the prepurchase stage and explores the potential of personalized information to improve customer satisfaction with these services in the postpurchase stage.
Design/methodology/approach
This research followed a mixed design, combining qualitative (focus groups) and quantitative (online survey) research and using both content analysis and partial least squares structural equation modeling.
Findings
Two types of available information (firm-generated information and online customer reviews) had a positive influence on the behavioral intention to use MFOAs. Additionally, findings showed that different web personalization strategies, namely, content personalization, functional personalization and system-driven personalization, were useful tools to create customer satisfaction with this type of platform.
Research limitations/implications
The study discusses limitations regarding the sample and sampling process, indicator variables and measures.
Practical implications
The present research provides actionable insights for online food delivery providers.
Originality/value
This study addresses a research gap in the literature and provides a novel and richer understanding of customer behavior toward mobile food delivery platforms. Also, it adds to the personalization research by identifying and testing a range of web personalization strategies.
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Amira Bouteraa and Fatma Bouaziz
The purpose of this research is to study the impact of talent management practices on organizational resilience in Tunisian firms in times of the sanitary crises due to COVID-19.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this research is to study the impact of talent management practices on organizational resilience in Tunisian firms in times of the sanitary crises due to COVID-19.
Design/methodology/approach
A hypothetico-deductive approach is adopted. First, it is hypothesized that four talent management practices positively affect organizational resilience. Then, the hypotheses were tested by using quantitative methods. Data were collected through questionnaires and analyzed with PLS-SEM techniques.
Findings
Results show that talent identification positively affects organizational resilience operationalized through the three dimensions of agility, integrity and robustness. Talent development and talent succession planning positively influence the firms' agility only, whilst talent retention had no effect on the three organizational resilience dimensions.
Practical implications
The findings of this research may be helpful for human resources managers to recognize among talent management practices those that are mostly associated with organizational resilience and its dimensions. This could help them revise some talent management practices and implement those that are lacking to ensure strong and resilient firms, especially in a context characterized by the occurrence of crises of different natures.
Originality/value
The literature review showed that talent management practices and organizational resilience relationships are understudied. This research empirically highlights the relevance of the linkage between them. It contributes to the rare existent works by identifying a significant effect of talent identification on all organizational resilience dimensions and a positive effect of talent development and succession planning on agility.
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Sónia Maria Martins Caridade, Rosa Saavedra, Rita Ribeiro, Ana Cristina Oliveira, Manuela Santos, Iris Sofia Almeida and Cristina Soeiro
This paper aims to characterize the type of support provided to victims of violence against women and domestic violence (VAWDV) during the first lockdown, assessing the training…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to characterize the type of support provided to victims of violence against women and domestic violence (VAWDV) during the first lockdown, assessing the training of professionals to use remote support (RS).
Design/methodology/approach
This cross-sectional study involves a sample of 196 support professionals, mainly women (91.8%) and who integrate the Portuguese National Support Network for victims of domestic violence (NSNVDV) (Mean age = 36.49; SD = 10.52).
Findings
Telephone emerges as the main RS communication media used in the lockdown (43.9%) and the emergency state periods (57.1%). Participants reported to have never used any social applications (41.8% vs 41.8%) or videoconference (46.4% vs 58.2%), in both periods assessed, i.e. lockdown and emergency state, respectively, and 82.7% assumed to have no training with RS to assist VAWDV victims. However, support professionals recognized several advantages in using RS such as dealing with isolation, reducing inhibition, fear and shame and in promoting the victims’ empowerment.
Research limitations/implications
Given the exploratory nature of this study, only descriptive analyzes were conducted.
Originality/value
During the COVID-19 pandemic, little is known about effective RS given by professionals to victims of VAWDV in the Portuguese context. The paper aims to add knowledge to the studied field.
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Zahid Yousaf, Noor Sahar, Abdul Majid and Amajad Rafiq
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of e-marketing orientation (EMO) on strategic business performance (SBP) in presence of e-trust.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of e-marketing orientation (EMO) on strategic business performance (SBP) in presence of e-trust.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected from CEOs, finance managers, IT managers, Policy makers, owners and Managing Directors of SMEs located in two big cities of Pakistan (Islamabad and Peshawar). Correlation, regression and bootstrap analysis was conducted to check the relationship among independent, mediating and dependent variables.
Findings
Based on empirical findings of the responses from managerial staff, it is suggested that strategic performance largely depends on EMO and e-trust.
Research limitations/implications
The authors recommend that further studies are required to test the propositions in longitudinal research design for achieving in-depth insights.
Practical implications
It has been observed that SMEs in developing countries pay less attention toward its strategic goals. This research discusses an implementation approach based on solid theoretical foundations to achieve the SBP.
Originality/value
This study tests e-trust as a mediator between EMO and SBP, therefore, makes a significant contribution to the literature of SMEs by focusing on the link between EMO, e-trust and SBP.
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Mohammad Osman Gani, Naimul Bhuiya, Anika Afrin Swarna, Muhammad Intisar Alam and Mohammad Omar Faruq
The purpose of this paper is to understand the determinants affecting the adoption behavior of eCourier services and to establish a moderating role of resistance to change between…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to understand the determinants affecting the adoption behavior of eCourier services and to establish a moderating role of resistance to change between behavioral intention and actual usage behavior.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected through a survey questionnaire that was distributed to the eCourier users. A total of 260 collected data were analyzed by using structural equation modeling.
Findings
The results of the study demonstrate that all the factors considered for the study have a significant impact on the adoption of eCourier except social influence and customer service. The results also confirm that there is no moderating effect of resistance to change in the relationship between behavioral intention and actual usage.
Practical implications
This research provides theoretical contribution by extending the practical knowledge focusing on the adoption intention of eCourier, and actual usage behavior using Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology model—a pertinent and unresearched topic in the existing literature that presents a number of potential avenues for further study.
Originality/value
This study provides a general understanding of consumers in underdeveloped nations and advances earlier research on the usage of e-commerce in the courier sector.
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This study aims to explore the factors that could affect consumers’ adoption of augmented reality (AR) and investigate the interaction between gender and educational level on…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to explore the factors that could affect consumers’ adoption of augmented reality (AR) and investigate the interaction between gender and educational level on intention to adopt AR in developing countries as demonstrated here by Saudi Arabia.
Design/methodology/approach
The examined constructs were developed by integrating factors from the unified theory of acceptance and the use of technology (UTAUT2), including performance expectancy, expectancy effort, social influence, facilitating conditions, hedonic motivation and habit. Price value was eliminated and innovativeness was added to the examined constructs. Data were collected from 673 Saudi consumers through an online survey by implementing a convenience sampling. Furthermore, the effect of gender and education level on behavioral intention to adopt AR by consumers was examined.
Findings
The results of the regression analysis showed that the independent variables statistically significantly predict the consumers’ behavioral intention toward AR adoption with all the examined constructs. The proposed model was able to explain 84% of the variance of behavioral intention. Furthermore, there was a statistically significant interaction between the effects of gender and educational level on intention to adopt AR.
Practical implications
This study will clarify the relatively low diffusion rate of AR adoption in Saudi Arabia, which will help business owners and marketers to develop the right strategies, especially strategies that are associated to marketing and developing mobile applications by incorporating AR technologies, which will attract the attention of many users.
Originality/value
This is one of the few studies that has explored the intention to adopt AR by consumers by examining the UTAUT2 constructs in the Middle Eastern cultural contexts, in contrast to previous studies, specifically Saudi Arabia. This study further investigated the interaction between the effects of gender and educational level on intention to adopt AR.