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With the empirical evidence on the purchase behaviour of tinned tomatoes, food labelling and the safety consciousness of consumers in Ghana were examined.

Primary data were obtained from 130 consumers. Descriptive statistics, factor analysis and multinomial probit analysis were applied.

Consumers use tinned tomatoes for cooking because of its easy accessibility in nearby shops, guaranteed constant supply, attractive package, it being affordable/cheaper, its better colour, advertisement/promotion, and longer shelf life. There is a low level of food safety consciousness among consumers since only one-fifth read labels on tinned tomatoes very often, and one-fifth do not read labels at all. Consumers frequently check on tinned tomatoes' most essential information: brand/type, manufacturing and expiry dates, and weight/volume. Age, residential status, contact information, nutritional benefits and affordability influence the choice of retail brand of tinned tomatoes. The health label consumer segment and conventional label consumer segment were identified, with the majority being the former.

The sample size used for the study could be improved in terms of number and geographical coverage. This is because the study was limited to only one main urbanised area in Ghana. Therefore, it will be worthwhile for a further study to be conducted by comparing urban and rural consumers in Ghana and other countries within Africa, to either validate or reveal a different trajectory of consumer behaviour relevant to marketing, policy and practice.

Tomato paste (tinned tomatoes) is consumed in almost all homes in Africa, but there are food scare concerns about tinned tomatoes due to reported cases of adulteration with unhealthy materials such as starch and food colour, leading to negative health implications on consumers. This makes the reading of tinned tomato labels very crucial. Thus, it is of policy relevance to investigate consumers' reading behaviour of label information on tinned tomatoes in Ghana. However, previous studies on food labelling focussed on food and nutrition labelling and implications of food labelling on consumers' purchase behaviour, with most of them outside Africa.

The demand for the cold chain logistics of agricultural products was investigated through demand forecasting; targeted suggestions and countermeasures are provided. This paper aims to discuss the aforementioned statement.

A Markov-optimised mean GM (1, 1) model is proposed to forecast the demand for the cold chain logistics of agricultural products. The mean GM (1, 1) model was used to forecast the demand trend, and the Markov chain model was used for optimisation. Considering Guangxi province as an example, the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method were verified, and relevant suggestions are made.

Compared with other models, the Markov-optimised mean GM (1, 1) model can more effectively forecast the demand for the cold chain logistics of agricultural products, is closer to the actual value and has better accuracy and minor error. It shows that the demand forecast can provide specific suggestions and theoretical support for the development of cold chain logistics.

This study evaluated the development trend of the cold chain logistics of agricultural products based on the research horizon of demand forecasting for cold chain logistics. A Markov-optimised mean GM (1, 1) model is proposed to overcome the problem of poor prediction for series with considerable fluctuation in the modelling process, and improve the prediction accuracy. It finds a breakthrough to promote the development of cold chain logistics through empirical analysis, and give relevant suggestions based on the obtained results.

The purpose of this paper, an experimental study, is to investigate the optimal machining parameters for turning of nickel-based superalloy Inconel 718 under eco-friendly nanofluid minimum quantity lubrication (NMQL) environment to minimize cutting tool flank wear (Vb) and machined surface roughness (Ra).

The central composite rotatable design approach under response surface methodology (RSM) is adopted to prepare a design of experiments plan for conducting turning experiments.

The optimum value of input turning parameters: cutting speed (A), feed rate (B) and depth of cut (C) is found as 79.88 m/min, 0.1 mm/rev and 0.2 mm, respectively, with optimal output response parameters: Vb = 138.633 µm and Ra = 0.462 µm at the desirability level of 0.766. Feed rate: B and cutting speed: A2 are the leading model variables affecting Vb, with a percentage contribution rate of 12.06% and 43.69%, respectively, while cutting speed: A and feed rate: B are the significant factors for Ra, having a percentage contribution of 38.25% and 18.03%, respectively. Results of validation experiments confirm that the error between RSM predicted and experimental observed values for Vb and Ra is 3.28% and 3.75%, respectively, which is less than 5%, thus validating that the formed RSM models have a high degree of conformity with the obtained experimental results.

The outcomes of this research can be used as a reference machining database for various metal cutting industries to establish eco-friendly NMQL practices during the turning of superalloy Inconel 718 to enhance cutting tool performance and machined surface integrity.

No study has been communicated till now on the turning of Inconel 718 under NMQL conditions using olive oil blended with multi-walled carbon nanotubes-based nanofluid.

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-10-2023-0317/

This study aims to focus on how reactive diluents with mono- and di-functionalities affect the properties of resin formulation developed from bioderived precursors. A hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) terminated urethane acrylate oligomer was synthesized and characterized to study its application in stereolithography 3D printing with different ratios of isobornyl acrylate and hexanediol diacrylate.

Polyester polyol was synthesized from suberic acid and butanediol. Additionally, isophorone diisocyanate, polyester polyol and HEMA were used to create urethane acrylate oligomer. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and ¹H NMR were used to characterize the polyester polyol and oligomer. Various formulations were created by combining oligomer with reactive diluents in concentrations ranging from 0% to 30% by weight and curing with ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The cured coatings and 3D printed specimens were then evaluated for their properties.

The findings revealed an improvement in thermal stability, contact angle value, tensile strength and surface properties of the product which indicated its suitability for use as a 3D printing material.

This study discusses how oligomers that have been cured by UV radiation with mono- and difunctional reactive diluents give excellent coating characteristics and demonstrate suitability and stability for 3D printing applications.

The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of postbiotics and the use of postbiotics to increase the shelf life and quality of food.

In this review paper, all articles from five electronic databases containing Google Scholar, Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus and Science Direct were considered and selected according to the purpose of the study.

In addition to improving food safety and increasing its shelf life, natural food preservation using biological preservatives also has a positive effect on improving consumer health. As a result, protection using natural antioxidants and antimicrobial agents seems essential. Postbiotics, having favorable characteristics such as nontoxicity, long shelf life and ease of standardization and transportation, are known as suitable antioxidant and antimicrobial, and there is an interest in making antioxidant and antimicrobial active films containing postbiotics to delay spoilage, increase the shelf life of perishable foods without changing their sensory characteristics.

Postbiotic refers to all soluble factors that are either secreted from living probiotic cells or released after cell lysis. These compounds include enzymes, peptides, polysaccharides, organic acids, teichoic acids and cell surface proteins, and their effects have been proven to improve some human and animal diseases. Probiotic bacteria must survive unfavorable conditions such as processing, storage, distribution, preparation and the digestive system to exert their health-giving effects, whereas their metabolites (postbiotics) have overcome these adverse conditions well and may be a good substitute for probiotics.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a dramatic impact on energy supply and demand. It is vital to understand households’ behaviour with regard to energy, particularly during the pandemic, to deploy future sustainable energy systems. This study aims to investigate the nexus of Malaysian households’ energy consumption behaviour in relation to various electrical appliances, their energy-saving appliance purchasing behaviour and their current possession of energy-saving appliances during the pandemic, especially during the lockdown period, from the perspective of the energy cultures framework.

The partial least squares structural equation modelling technique was used to test hypothesised relationships based on the 1,485 pieces of household data collected using an online and physical survey during the lockdown period in Malaysia.

The energy-saving behaviour cultivated due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic led to residential customers’ intentions to purchase energy-saving appliances which subsequently led to their current possession of energy-saving appliances. Indeed, energy-saving behaviours in the kitchen, entertainment, office, home lighting and cooling appliances have more than 77.4% influence on their purchasing behaviour. The consumer’s purchase behaviour for energy-saving appliances has a significant, partially mediating influence on the energy-saving behaviour of various electrical appliances and the consumers’ current possession of energy-saving appliances.

This study could be enhanced by improving the sample using a higher-income group and involving other parts of Malaysia such as the southern region. The findings do extend the energy cultures framework by demonstrating the mediating role of households’ energy-saving appliance purchasing behaviour on the relationship between their energy consumption behaviour in relation to various electrical appliances and their current possession of energy-saving appliances.

The results of this study will help develop future action plans for transitioning to energy-saving appliance practices.

This paper examines the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on future energy efficiency practices in developing countries from the perspective of the energy cultures framework.

The purpose of the research is to analyze the factors that determine the intention of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to adopt the Metaverse. For this purpose, the analysis of the effort expectancy and performance expectancy of the constructs in relation to business satisfaction is proposed.

The analysis was performed on a sample of 182 Spanish SMEs in the technology sector, using a PLS-SEM approach for development. For the confirmation of the model and its results, an analysis with PLSpredict was performed, obtaining a high predictive capacity of the model.

After the analysis of the model proposed in this research, it is recorded that the valuation of the effort to be made and the possible performance expected by the companies does not directly determine the intention to use immersive technology in their strategic behavior. Instead, the results obtained indicate that business satisfaction will involve obtaining information, reducing uncertainty and analyzing the competition necessary for approaching this new virtual environment.

The study represents one of the first approaches to the intention of business behavior in the development of performance strategies within Metaverse systems. So far, the literature has approached immersive systems from perspectives close to consumer behavior, but the study of strategic business behavior has been left aside due to the high degree of experimentalism of this field of study and its scientific approach. The present study aims to contribute to the knowledge of the factors involved in the intention to use the Metaverse by SMEs interested in this field.

The purpose of this study is to conduct a systematic literature review of the adoption of immersive marketing technology (IMT) in terms of strategic planning of its adoption, resource requirements and its implications and challenges.

This study categorizes and contextualizes qualitative approaches to evaluate the literature, with Scopus databases serving as the primary source of 90 selected articles in the areas of information technology, business and marketing strands. Theme analysis was carried out using thematic techniques and grounded approach principles to facilitate thematic coding and generate theme analysis.

The analysis was supported by the three concepts of business flexibility, agility and adaptability, which were drawn as a strategy for IMT adoption. The findings presented three main themes: proactive flexibility, responsive agility and reactive adaptability that enable business owner–managers to craft a strategy for IMT adoption.

The novel contribution of this study is the inclusion of key implications related to IMT as a starting point of the next level of innovative marketing for all academics, practitioners and business owner–managers.

The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of ChatGPT on the development of corporate social responsibility (CSR).

Based on the current applications of ChatGPT in enterprises and existing challenges in CSR, the paper analyzes how the tool promotes corporate sustainable development and what potential risks and challenges are in the practical application.

This paper finds that ChatGPT can promote the development of CSR from four aspects: to support social responsibility activities, to strengthen internal control, to promote external supervision and to convey the notion of sustainability and other corporate philosophies for enterprises.

This paper provides the ground for applying ChatGPT to CSR and includes the potential risks and challenges of the practical applications that enterprises can use for reference.

ChatGPT is becoming increasingly popular and mature, but its applications and effectiveness are less mentioned in CSR. In the future, the research in this area needs to be further advanced.

This paper makes contributions to the link between ChatGPT and CSR. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is one of the first studies that explore the applications, impacts, challenges and opportunities of the technology in the area of social responsibility.

This work aims to offer a better understanding of the inevitable challenges related to the digital transformation in the family-owned low-tech SMEs, examining the role assumed by familiness in this specific context. To this end, it examines the main factors that influence the adoption and implementation of digital technologies in the family-owned low-tech SMEs.

The study uses a multiple case studies approach, by investigating the case of family-owned low-tech SMEs operating in the winery sector and located in the South-Italy area.

Based on the empirical evidence, findings show how familiness influence the digital transformation of family-owned SMEs and highlight three main factors – individual, process and organization – relevant for the introduction and use of digital technologies in the productive and innovative activities of these organizations.

This paper fills the research gap existing in the literature on the family business. Firstly, it focuses on the digital transformation phenomenon and underlines how familiness, within family-owned low-tech SMEs, can differently influence the firm's innovation processes primarly based on the use of digital technologies oriented to enable business improvements. Then, it identifies diverse dimensions that can act as “barriers” or “facilitators” for adopting advanced digital technologies within the organizations here examined.