How brand attitude, brand quality, and brand value affect Thai canned tuna consumer brand loyalty

Branding locally produced chicken in Ghana: An application of discrete choice experiment

Branding is gradually becoming an essential component of successful agribusinesses and a significant motivation to boost modern agriculture. The study aimed to investigate broiler farmers' choices and preferences for branding locally produced chicken in Ghana. Primary data was collected from 562 broiler producers using a multistage sampling technique. The Discrete Choice Experiment model, which comprises random parameter logit and conditional logit models, was used to analyse farmers' preferences for branding attributes and willingness to brand locally produced chicken. Branding attributes of brand source, production claim, form of branded chicken, percentage of farm use, and price were analysed. Averagely, farmers were willing to pay US$0.59 to brand 1.9 kg of processed chicken. Further, household size, brand source, production claim, form of branded chicken, percentage of farm use, and membership of a farmer-based organisation positively influenced farmers' willingness to brand locally produced chicken. In contrast, price negatively influenced farmers' preference for branding. Farmers should produce brands with these unique attributes to boost sales, improve income and enhance the competitiveness in the poultry industry.

The impact of brand image on customer satisfaction and brand loyalty: A systematic literature review

This literature review examines the impact of brand image on customer satisfaction and brand loyalty in the context of foreign tourism. Following a review of relevant literature, 13,302 articles were found for this study, including the keywords "brand image (BI)", "customer satisfaction (CS)", and "brand loyalty (BL)". Considering the required inclusion and the quality of studies, we employed the rigorous PRISMA technique for comprehensive data synthesis and evaluated 79 articles for the final review. Our findings underscore the significant impact of brand image on shaping customer satisfaction and fostering brand loyalty within the foreign tourism sector. The study enriches the literature by incorporating self-congruity theory. In addition, factors like product quality, pricing, and advertising are identified as key determinants significantly influencing the proposed relationship.

Predicting student-teacher self-directed learning using intrinsic and extrinsic factors: a Theory of Planned Behavior adoption

Introduction

This study set out to develop a model that illustrates the causal relationship between factors influencing Thai student-teacher self-directed learning (SDL). To achieve this, the authors analyzed and applied the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to investigate the role of family support, teacher support, friend support, fellow students, and the university in influencing SDL.

Methods

The research used a sample of 468 student-teachers from five academic majors randomly selected from the King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL) Bachelor of Industrial Education Program during the 2021 academic year. The authors developed a questionnaire which was evaluated from both a panel of experts and a 30 student-teacher pilot test which found that item reliability was acceptable. LISREL 9.10 was used to analyze the data from the study's structural equation model path analysis.

Results

The results revealed that all the causal variables in the model positively influenced SDL, explaining the variance of influencing factors on SDL (R2) at 51%. SDL comprised five variables, when ranked in order of importance these were fellow students (FSt), teacher support (TS), family support (FS), friend support (FrS), and their university (Uni). The study also highlighted issues concerning each student-teacher's learning time management ability and their perception of the university's ability/willingness to allow each individual to choose their course, thus enhancing their SDL learning ability skills.

Discussion

It was speculated that some university educators even today perceive SDL as an adult education tool which they perceive is not appropriate at the university level. The authors also felt that for younger student-teachers that the COVID-19 medical emergency limited teacher/student/university interaction, thus contributing to student misconceptions about support availability. This study contributes significantly to the literature by investigating how TPB intrinsic and extrinsic factors impact a university student's self-directed learning.

Factors affecting state railway of Thailand (SRT) passenger train service use decision: A structural equation model

The State Railway of Thailand's (SRT) rail passenger ridership has dropped from a peak of 88 million rides in 1994 to less than 23 million in 2022, with the reasons for this collapse being numerous. Therefore, the authors set out to examine how organizational image (OI), service quality (SQ), service motivation (SM), and service satisfaction (SS) affect SRT use decision (SUD) making. From August-October 2022, multiple-stage random sampling was used to select a sample of 1,250 SRT passengers from five regional rail lines and their associated 25 stations. A confirmatory factor analysis goodness-of-fit was used to confirm the model's fit. A structural equation model (SEM) using LISREL 9.10 was then used to analyze the ten hypothesized relationships. The quantitative research used a 5-level questionnaire to measure the study's five constructs and 22 observed variables. The reliability of the items ranged from 0.86 to 0.93. The data analysis included calculating various statistical measures. Results showed that the model's causal variables positively affected passenger SRT use decision, with an R² of 71%. When ranked by total effect (TE) values, service quality (SQ = 0.89) was viewed by the surveyed passengers as most important, followed by service satisfaction (SS = 0.67), organizational image (OI = 0.63), and service motivation (SM = 0.53). Additionally, all ten hypotheses were supported, with service satisfaction judged the most essential to SRT Use Decisions. The study's novelty is the ever-growing requirement for the SRT to serve as a regional hub in a more extensive East Asian rail and infrastructure strategy. The paper contributes significantly to the academic literature on factors affecting rail transportation use intent.

Nanoparticles Based on Chondroitin Sulfate from Tuna Heads and Chitooligosaccharides for Enhanced Water Solubility and Sustained Release of Curcumin

This study aimed to separate chondroitin sulfate (CS) from the heads of skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) and yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares), by-products derived from canned tuna processing, via a biological process. The use of 1% w/w papain and an incubation time of 48 h resulted in a degree of hydrolysis of 93.75 ± 2.94% and a CS content of 59.53 ± 1.77 mg/100 g. The FTIR spectra of extracted CS products exhibited identical functional groups found in commercially available CS. The molecular weights of CS extracted from skipjack and yellowfin tuna heads were 11.0 kDa and 7.7 kDa, respectively. Subsequently, a CH:CS ratio of 3:2 for CS and chitooligosaccharides (CH) was chosen as the optimal ratio for the preparation of spherical nanoparticles, with %EE, mean particle size, PDI, and zeta potential values of 50.89 ± 0.66%, 128.90 ± 3.29 nm, 0.27 ± 0.04, and -12.47 ± 2.06, respectively. The CU content was enhanced to 127.21 ± 1.66 μg/mL. The release of CU from this particular nanosystem involved mainly a drug diffusion mechanism, with a burst release in the first 3 h followed by a sustained release of CU over 24 h. The DPPH and ABTS scavenging activity results confirmed the efficient encapsulation of CU into CHCS nanoparticles. This study will provide a theoretical basis for CS derived from tuna head cartilages to be used as a functional component with specific functional properties in food and biomedical applications.

Challenges and perceptions of e-learning for educational sustainability in the "new normality era"

Background

All universities were faced with the challenges of e-learning when they suddenly had to switch to distance learning in March 2020 due to COVID-19 regulations. Several challenges may arise when implementing e-learning, including an insufficient budget or problems with adoption. Nevertheless, the role of digitalization is to ensure the university's long-term sustainability. Indeed, the future of e-learning depends on future generations, which increasingly accept new technologies.

Objectives

This study aimed to analyze the factors that stimulate university students' acceptance of technology.

Methodology

The study population comprised Romanian university students who took online courses during the COVID-19 pandemic. A questionnaire survey was employed to gather primary data. The surveys were distributed between January and February 2022. In particular, 1,875 questionnaires were received from students, who were the focus of this study (the results for teachers were presented in previous research). To process and interpret the data, the method of modeling with structural equations (SEM) was used. The data collected were processed using SPSS and AMOS.

Findings

The results indicate that external factors do not influence perceived usefulness. Accordingly, students consider that the perceived ease of use does not influence the behavior intention to use new technologies.

Conclusion

The results linked e-learning satisfaction to academic success and Romanian students who utilized e-learning during the pandemic. In addition, the results indicate that external factors do not influence perceived usefulness. Accordingly, students consider that the perceived ease of use does not influence the behavior intention to use new technologies. The results validated the basic variables of the TAM model.

Implications

The study presents a series of theoretical, practical, and societal implications that can guide universities in adopting sustainable development goals.

The Path of College Students' Entrepreneurship Education Under Causal Attribution Theory From the Perspective of Entrepreneurial Psychology

The purpose of the study is to promote college students to actively respond to the national “Public Entrepreneurship and Mass Innovation” policies and calls, improve college students’ entrepreneurial enthusiasm and their entrepreneurial ability, and cultivate their good entrepreneurial psychological states. First, the relevant content of entrepreneurship psychology and causal attribution theory is displayed. Second, the questionnaire of college students’ entrepreneurship education is formulated and a questionnaire survey is conducted on University N based on the relevant content of entrepreneurship psychology. Subsequently, the management system of new venture A is taken as the research object to construct the management strategy of new ventures and simulate the implementation process. Finally, the questionnaire survey results of college students’ entrepreneurship education are analyzed and the corresponding entrepreneurship education path is formulated. Meanwhile, the implementation effect of the management strategy of new ventures is evaluated. After the questionnaire is sorted out, it is found that there are some problems in college students’ entrepreneurship education, such as weak awareness of entrepreneurship, insufficient publicity, outdated curriculum, and unqualified teachers. The reasons for these problems are the constraints of traditional concepts, insufficient attention, and incomplete system construction. Therefore, a plan is made for overall entrepreneurship education, the publicity of the concept of entrepreneurship education is strengthened, and the setting of entrepreneurship education curriculum and the ability of the teachers for entrepreneurship education are improved. Through the evaluation of the simulation implementation of a new enterprise management strategy, it is found that the new management strategy can achieve the expected effect. Therefore, this study provides some references for the development of college students’ entrepreneurship education and the management strategy of new ventures.

Empirical analysis of factors influencing student satisfaction with online learning systems during the COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand

Starting in early 2020, Thailand's education system came to a grinding halt due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, which created a fervor-like effort to move from traditional classrooms to online education. However, the process has experienced significant troubles. Therefore, starting in June 2021, multiple-stage random sampling and simple random sampling were used to select a sample of 270 Thai high school students across nine Thai provinces. Using a network of Thai teachers, students were assisted with their questionnaire input using Google Form. LISREL 9.1 software was used to conduct the subsequent goodness-of-fit (GOF) assessment and the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). A structural equation model (SEM) was used for the 53-item questionnaire, which contained eight latent variables, 18 observed variables, and ten hypotheses. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the SEM's output and ten hypotheses. After that, it was calculated that the model's causal variables had a positive effect on SS, which had an R² of 54%. The analysis also revealed that when ranked by total effect (TE) values, performance expectancy (PE = 0.43) was most significant, followed by actual use (AU = 0.30), learner interaction (LI = 0.18), and behavioral intention (BI = 0.12). Overall, hypotheses testing established three moderately strong correlations, four weak correlations, and three unsupported hypotheses. The novelty of our study is the growing concern of stakeholders for how online learning affects student satisfaction due to the deadly global COVID-19 pandemic. This study's research contribution is that it is unique in that it was conducted during the pandemic lockdown while students were participating in Thai Ministry of Education (MOE) online courses. This paper contributes to the online education domain by providing research directions and implications for future researchers. In conclusion, the study confirmed that the model adequately explained causal relationships between variables and presented direct and indirect significant impacts on online SS, promoting learners' better academic performance and knowledge acquisition.

Impact of the Covering Vegetable Oil on the Sensory Profile of Canned Tuna of Katsuwonus pelamis Species and Tuna’s Taste Evaluation Using an Electronic Tongue

The impact of the covering vegetable oil (sunflower oil, refined olive oil and extra virgin olive oil, EVOO) on the physicochemical and sensory profiles of canned tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis species) was evaluated, using analytical techniques and a sensory panel. The results showed that canned tuna covered with EVOO possesses a higher content of total phenols and an enhanced antioxidant capacity. This covering medium also increased the appreciated redness-yellowness color of the canned tuna, which showed a higher chromatic and intense color. Olfactory and kinesthetic sensations were significantly dependent on the type of oil used as covering medium. Tuna succulence and adhesiveness were promoted by the use of EVOO, which also contributed to decreasing the tuna-related aroma sensations. The tuna sensory data could be successfully used to identify the type of vegetable oil used. Moreover, a potentiometric electronic tongue allowed discriminating between the canned tuna samples according to the vegetable oil used (mean sensitivity of 96 ± 8%; repeated K-fold cross-validation) and the fruity intensity of the EVOO (mean sensitivity of 100%; repeated K-fold cross-validation). Thus, the taste sensor device could be a practical tool to verify the authenticity of the declared covering medium in canned tuna and to perceive the differences in consumers’ taste.