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The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioural control, religiosity, knowledge and Shariah-compliance with intention to hold Shariah-compliant credit card (SCCC) amongst Muslims and non-Muslims.

Researchers used survey questionnaire to collect data and applied a purposive sampling method, then analyzing the data using descriptive statistics and also multi-group analysis of SmartPLS.

For Muslims, attitude, subjective norm, Shariah-compliance, knowledge and religiosity are positively significant. While for non-Muslims, only attitude and subjective norm are positively significant to intention to hold SCCCs.

The behavioural study only focusses on intention to hold Islamic credit cards, which is constraining the extended model of the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) without the actual performance of the behaviour, which is holding SCCCs. Secondly, the research caters for a single method, namely, quantitative without including the qualitative method to better understand and explore other factors affecting consumers’ behavioural intention. The qualitative part can be carried out by conducting interviews with practitioners, regulators and customers. Thirdly, the cultural dimensions are not combined as parts of TPBs’ antecedents for extended model that could be affecting intention, as Malaysia has diverse ethnic groups with different religious background.

In terms of managerial implications, the findings will further assist financial service providers to develop more effective marketing strategies for Islamic financial products not just to cater for the Muslims but also the non-Muslims, who are increasingly attracted to Islamic banking. As many Muslims are still holding conventional credit cards, it is timely for the Islamic financial institutions to attract them with the SCCCs.

Financial marketers are expected to be qualified and well-versed on the different Islamic product structures and also the conventional products. By having such enables them to enlighten and create awareness amongst the targeted consumers in seeking Shariah-compliant financial-related products.

The research will contribute to new theoretical knowledge of an extended behavioural model in relation to customers’ perception towards SCCCs’ acceptance.

Literature has shown that phenolic acids and flavonoids are bearing with hypoglycemic and anti-adipogenic properties. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the possibility of phenolic-rich soya bean husk powder extract (SHPE) in combating diabetes and obesity using in vitro models.

The hypoglycemic properties were evaluated by determining the ability of SHPE (25-100 µg/mL) in inhibiting a-amylase and a-glucosidase enzymes and in triggering insulin secretion in BRIN-BD11 cells. Murine 3T3-L1 adipocytes were used for evaluating the anti-adipogenic properties of SHPE through the determination of relative lipid accumulation, triglyceride content and glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) activity.

The hypoglycemic properties of SHPE was in the dose-dependent manner, where 100 µg SHPE/mL exhibited a significant higher (p < 0.05) a-amylase inhibitory activity (56.8 ± 0.11 per cent) and insulin secretion activity (0.73 ± 0.02 µg/l) against other concentrations. In contrast to the aforementioned findings, a significant lower a-glucosidase inhibitory activity (52.0 ± 0.44 per cent) was also observed in 100 µg SHPE/mL. Nevertheless, findings revealed that all the SHPE were able to inhibit the activity of a-amylase and a-glucosidase and stimulated the insulin secretion in BRIN-BD11 cells. On the other hand, the anti-adipogenic properties of SHPE were in the reverse dose-dependent manner, where 100 µg SHPE/mL demonstrated a significant lower (p < 0.05) relative lipid accumulation (48.5 ± 0.03 per cent), intracellular triglyceride content (5.7 ± 0.07 mg/dL) and GPDH activity (1.0 ± 0.01 mU/mL). These findings reflected that 100 µg SHPE/mL was a potent anti-adipogenic agent when compared with other concentrations. In conclusion, soya husk could emerge as a potential hypoglycemic and anti-adipogenic agents in in vitro models.

This was the first study to explore the effectiveness of phytochemicals derived from soya bean husk in ameliorating hyperglycemia and adipogenesis. Promising findings that derived from the present study could enable the scientists to re-evaluate the potential use of agricultural wastes, especially in the formulation of nutraceuticals.

This study aims to investigate the comparative importance of factors influencing the customer shift behavior from conventional to Islamic banking for consumer finance in Pakistan.

First, a comprehensive analysis of the existing literature was conducted to identify a broad range of factors related to customer shift behavior. Through an expert sampling, 14 essential factors were chosen for further investigation. Second, a questionnaire was developed using the analytical hierarchy process (AHP). This questionnaire was then distributed among customers who had previously been using conventional banking services but had made a shift toward Islamic banking. The purpose of this questionnaire was to gather data and insights regarding their motivations and decision-making process behind the shift, and a sample 215 customers are taken in the study.

The results of AHP depicts that the religiosity is a most important factor influencing customers to shift from conventional to Islamic banking, and the second most important factor is pricing. The other subsequent important factors are reputation of the bank, marketing and promotion, service quality, behavior of banks staff, Shariah compliance, management, convenience, fastness and charges/fees. Whereas documentation, ambiance and recommendation are found least important factors to patronize Islamic banking.

The study recommends Islamic banks to create awareness, concentrating on religious factor to have a greater impact on growth of Islamic banking and shrinking of conventional banking. Further, it suggests Islamic banks to apply Shariah-recommended approach of doing business, to help community in best possible way and to launch differentiated marketing techniques to attract customers. It also proposes regulatory authorities to provide facilitation to Islamic banking business by providing level playing field similar to conventional banking, tax equality and conversion of public financing from conventional banking to Islamic banking.

The originality of this study lies in its comprehensive analysis of factors influencing consumer shift behavior from conventional to Islamic banking in the context of consumer finance in Pakistan. By using the AHP, the study provides a structured approach to understanding the relative importance of these factors. This is the uniqueness of the paper that it applies the AHP for the analysis. Furthermore, the study offers practical implications for Islamic banks and regulatory authorities to effectively address and capitalize on this consumer shift trend.

The purpose of this paper is to determine the antioxidant properties (capacity and component) of four non‐leafy vegetables. The correlation between the antioxidant capacity and its components of the studied vegetables was also assessed.

Winged beans, also known as four‐angled bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus), French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), string bean (Vigna sinensis) and snow pea (Pisum sativum) were selected as samples from among the common non‐leafy vegetables consumed by Malaysians. These fresh vegetables were lyophilised and ground and their ethanolic extracts were prepared for antioxidant capacity assays and total phenolic, β‐carotene and ascorbic acid contents.

Among the vegetables, string beans showed the highest antioxidant capacity compared to the other vegetables studied (p < 0.05). The total phenolic, ascorbic acid and β‐carotene contents of snow peas were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than the other vegetables. There was a significant positive correlation between scavenging activity and antioxidant components studied. On the other hand, a negative correlation was found between antioxidant activity and its components of the studied vegetables.

Previous reports have indicated that vegetables contain high levels of antioxidants. However, data on antioxidant capacity of these non‐leafy vegetables are still lacking. This research paper shows the non‐leafy vegetables studied is a promising source of antioxidants with good antioxidant capacity. Beside that, along with the studied antioxidant components, other compounds in these vegetables could also contribute to their antioxidant capacity.

This study was aimed to estimate and compare the contents of protein and amino acids in raw, boiled and fried fishes of Indian mackerel “kembong” (Rastrelliger kanagurta), sardine (Sardina pilchardus), red tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicusx) and black tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus). Protein contents of raw mackerel, sardine, red and black tilapia were 8.1±0.0, 8.4±0.1, 9.6±0.4 and 9.0±0.0 percent, respectively. In a boiled fish, the protein contents were 7.9±0.1, 7.7±0.0, 7.5±0.1 and 8.9±0.1 percent, respectively, and for a fried fish the values were 8.6±0.5, 8.9±0.1, 9.1±0.2 and 8.4±0.0 percent, respectively. It was found that there was a significant difference (p<0.01) in the protein content of the raw fish compared to the heat‐treated ones for all the fishes. The study detected 17 components of essential amino acids (lysine, histidine, threonine, valine, methionine, leucine, isoleucine and phenylalanine) and non‐essential amino acids (arginine, aspartic acid, serine, glutamic acid, proline, glycine, alanine, cystein and tyrosine) in all the fishes. There was no significant difference in amino acids content among the boiled and fried fishes. In conclusion, heat treatment for five minutes in boiling water (100°C) and frying for three minutes in palm oil (160°C) did not alter the quality of protein in all the fishes studied.

Flaxseed (FL) is a nutrient rich seed but contains cyanogenic glycosides, which can release hydrogen cyanide (HCN) into the body after consumption. This study aims to determine the cyanogenic content of raw and heated (170°C, 15 min) flaxseed as well as its effect on the blood thiocyanate (SCN⁻) concentration, a derivate of HCN, in rats. Changes in liver and kidney enzymes level of blood are further studied.

Rats were assigned into groups of control, 10 percent, 20 percent and 30 percent of either raw or heated FL, in basal diet, for duration of 30 days. Cyanogenic content of FL analyzed using picrate method and blood thiocyanate concentration analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography.

Raw ground flaxseed had 251.14±9.11 mg HCN/kg food, which significantly reduced by 8.5 percent after heating. Generally heated FL groups showed lower (but not significant) blood thiocyanate compared to raw FL groups. Blood SCN elevated by increasing the dosage of flaxseed. However, only in 30 percent raw FL group the difference was significant (p<0.05). Liver and kidney enzymes were not changed significantly in all groups (p>0.05). This study suggests that consumption of flaxseed in high dosage (20 percent to 30 percent) is better to be in heated form to result in lower blood thiocyanate concentration.

This study may provide better understanding for safer usage of flaxseed in animals and even human interventional studies and may be applicable to flaxseed consuming food industries.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the structural relationship between web site personality, utilitarian web browsing, hedonic web browsing and online impulse buying of tourism products.

A total of 405 valid online questionnaires were collected to empirically test the measurement and structural model using partial least square path modelling approach, a variance-based structural equation modelling technique. The study sample includes experienced online shoppers who performed shopping tourism products and services via internet medium.

The results imply that web site personality is a second-order reflective construct comprising solidity, enthusiasm, genuineness, sophistication and unpleasantness. web site personality positively influences utilitarian web browsing, hedonic web browsing and online impulse buying; and both hedonic web browsing and utilitarian web browsing positively influence online impulse buying.

Online impulse buying of tourism products has not been profoundly explored in current literature, despite its important implication for managers, academicians and consumers alike. This study contributes to the field of e-commerce marketing, retailing and e-tourism research.

This study aims to explore if public and private hospitals have differing servicescape attributes.

The study uses a two-stage (EFA and CFA) procedure for identifying the servicescape attributes and examining their validity in the context of public and private hospitals.

The findings indicate that, in different contexts, patients would expect different aesthetics of servicescape attributes and how they are influenced by the hospital premises.

It is interesting to note that: not all of the attributes that appear in both contexts are exactly the same; patients do not seem to face difficulties in analysing and interpreting directional cues, even though the spatial orientation in private hospitals is relatively smaller; the way patients of public hospitals draw inference about the ambient conditions is not consistent with private hospitals; and patients perceive that private hospitals pay special attention to developing a built environment that facilitates treatment and recovery process via interior layout, as well as decoration and architecture attributes.

The study grounds the servicescape attributes and provides insights to effectively promote public and private hospitals.

This study may be amongst the first to offer servicescape evidence in both the public and private hospitals.

This research aims to examine the casual relationship between normative belief (NB), subjective norms (SN), retailer’s behavioural belief (RBB), retailer’s attitude (RATT), retailer’s behaviour intention (RBI), retailer’s actual behaviour (RAB) and retail performance (RetailP). Managing Halal meat becomes an issue for retailers due to consumers’ concerns for their religious belief.

A total of 230 questionnaires were distributed among Malaysian meat retailers of which 178 useful questionnaires were collected to empirically test the proposed seven critical points in Halal meat handling. Partial least squares, a structural equation modelling approach was used to examine simultaneously the structural components of both the measurement and causal model for reflective and formative constructs.

RBI and RAB are positively related to NB, SN, RBB and RATT in which motivate retailers for high RetailP and critical points in Halal meat handling. The empirical assessment supports the proposed hypotheses and supports RetailP as a formative construct measured by sales revenue, market share and customer satisfaction.

Empirically it was found that theory of reasoned actions (TRA) can be used to predict RetailP in addition to RAB. This study has significant policy implications alongside research implications despite some limitations.

The current literature and stated policies are focussing solely on consumers to understand the issues in Halal market which may not reach the strategic standpoint for firms and the state in general. The Malaysian Government should appreciate the importance of the Halal business markets in which NB, SN, RBB and RATT are influenced by certain elements discussed in this study.

This study is among the first few attempts towards “Islamic Retailing”. Prior literature applied TRA in a customer market verses this study examine the attitude and behaviour of businesses market (retailers) in Malaysia. This study explores retailers’ behaviour towards Halal value chain by integrating TRA and critical points in Halal meat handling.

Despite the tremendous advancement of information technology worldwide, a few attempts have been made to uncover the effectiveness of paid internet advertising (PIA) on consumers buying decisions for retail enterprises in emerging markets. The purpose of this paper is to examine the structural relationships between consumer self-confidence, perceived intrusiveness, continuance search intention, attitude towards PIA and frequency of apps-buying decisions.

A total number of 515 online questionnaires were obtained from a sample of experienced apps shoppers who were disposed to PIA, in order to evaluate the theoretical model. VB-SEM, which is a variance-based structural equation modelling technique, was applied to assess the measurement scales and structural relationship between exogenous and endogenous constructs.

Overall, the structural results imply that the proposed model explains 0.738 per cent of variances in consumer’s continuance search intention and 0.756 per cent of the frequency of apps-buying decisions. The results support that consumer self-confidence positively influences attitude towards PIA, continuance search intention and frequency of apps-buying decisions; however, consumer self-confidence is negatively related to perceived intrusiveness. Similarly, attitude towards PIA is positively related to continuance search intention and frequency of apps-buying decision. Besides, perceived intrusiveness negatively influences attitude towards PIA, continuance search intention and frequency of apps-buying decisions. Finally, continuance search intention and the frequency of apps-buying decisions are positively related.

Despite the fact that PIA and its utilisation has been a recent growing trend in managing retail enterprises worldwide, a few studies have been conducted on possible end results of PIA, including consumer continuous apps search intention and purchase decisions.