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Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between risk characteristics, risk perception and future travel intention in the context of food safety risk. Design/methodology/approach This research used a structured questionnaire administered to a convenience sample of 715 participants. By using structural equation modelling method, a travel intention framework was successfully developed to test the impact of characteristics of food safety risk on perception of risk, and subsequently on travel intention. In addition, the framework was also tested and compared with different demographic groups. Findings The research confirms that the characteristics of risk have impact on the two dimensions of perception of risk, namely, likelihood of occurrence and consequence of occurrence in turn travel intention. Furthermore, characteristics of risk affect demographic groups differently. Research limitations/implications The finding of this study offers insight into the distinct effects between the two dimensions, namely, likelihood and consequence of risk perception and each dimension consists of different loss components and has different effect on travel intention. Practical implications The framework provides insight to the government and travel industry that risk perception is a paramount issue for travellers when making destination decision. As such, the government and travel industry should take action to prevent the occurrence of food risk and to reduce the severity consequence of the risk when it occurs. Originality/value This research is one of the few studies generating new insights into perception of food safety risk in international tourism from the social science and marketing perspective.

There has been debate in the literature as to whether: (1) the risks and benefits of genetically-modified (GM) food and agriculture are considered and determined by individuals separately or whether they are jointly determined by attitudes; (2) consumer acceptance is determined by individuals weighing up their risk and benefit perceptions in a rational, even-handed manner, or if benefit perceptions are more important than risk perceptions, and (3) certain types of risk and benefit are more important than others. Against this background, this paper assesses the categories of risks and benefits and their relative importance in determining willingness to consume. A survey was carried out to collect data on the categories of risks and benefits in the US, UK and France, and the relative importance of selected perceived risk and benefit dimensions was estimated. The findings show: risk and benefit perceptions are negatively correlated, but not perfectly and, given that regressions we performed support ...

The purpose of this study is to examine what factors cause consumer risk perception during periods of food safety concern. A survey of 195 respondents was carried out to explore the nature of consumer perception of food safety related risk using multi-dimensional analysis and how this perception was affected. Multiple regression analysis was adopted to assess the effect of risk characteristics on consumer risk perception in terms of perceived health, psychological, financial, time and taste risks. All five regression models were highly significant. Characteristics of risk, such as severity of consequences, concern about safety, involuntary exposure to risk, harmful to the environment, information, exaggerated report and adequate regulations were found to be important for predicting consumer perception of microbiological risk in chicken. Implications for future research are discussed.

PurposeFood safety is an important issue facing consumers, the food industry and the government. Since consumers cannot themselves easily assess food safety risks, their perception of food safety is, in part, a matter of trust in the food chain. This study seeks to focus on livestock farmers and to investigate the causal relationship between the factors that determine consumer trust, regarding food safety and in turn their purchase likelihood.Design/methodology/approachBy integrating theories developed in several disciplines, six factors, namely: providing information, competence, integrity, benevolence, credibility, and reliability were adopted for this study. The conceptual model was tested with a sample of 194 individuals in the form of a structural equation model using LISREL 8.30.FindingsThe research confirms that livestock farmers could draw benefit from strategies to increase their trustworthiness through provision of information, show their benevolence and integrity to consumers, and in turn positively influence consumers' purchasing decision.Practical implicationsLivestock farmers should understand more specifically what consumers want to know and provide accurate and reliable information.Originality/valueThis exploratory study provides a useful insight into the potential benefit from trust building that could be derived by livestock farmers, food safety regulators and the food supply chain as a whole, as well as the ways in which this might be achieved.

Consumer risk perception plays an important role during periods of food safety concern because it shapes the behaviour of consumers. Multi‐dimensional analysis helps to provide a thorough understanding of consumer‐perceived risk. A survey of 172 respondents was carried out to investigate the importance of individual loss components and the differences between sociodemographic characteristics regarding microbiological risk in chicken meat. The results suggest that health loss is the most important component followed by psychological, financial, time and taste losses. All these loss components were found to be significantly different between degree and non‐degree holders, while long‐term health and social losses were different within gender and age groups respectively. The findings in the study of microbiological risk in chicken meat are likely to be applicable to other food safety related risks.

The ground state of Li-11 is the preeminent example of a two-neutron-halo nucleus and is part of an isobaric sextet. Another member of this sextet, the double isobaric analog of Li-11(g.s). in B-11, has been identified in the Be-12(p, 2n)B-11 reaction. The state was discovered through its two-proton decay branch. From detected 2p + Li-9 events, its excitation energy was determined to be 33.57(8) MeV using the invariant mass method. With the known masses of Li-11 and its isobaric analog state in Be-11, three members of the same sextet have measured masses for the first time, permitting the masses of the remaining members to be extrapolated using the isobaric multiplet mass equation. All members of this multiplet are expected to have a two-nucleon halo structure and this was found consistent with the evolution of the mass across the sextet. The momentum correlations of the detected protons were found to have both "diproton" and "cigar" components.

We report on the first direct measurement of the proton separation energy for the proton-unbound nucleus Br-69. Bypassing the Se-68 waiting point in the rp process is directly related to the 2p-capture rate through Br-69, which depends exponentially on the proton separation energy. We find a proton separation energy for Br-69 of S-p(Br-69) = -785(-40)(+34) keV; this is less bound compared to previous predictions which have relied on uncertain theoretical calculations. The influence of the extracted proton separation energy on the rp process occurring in type I x-ray bursts is examined within the context of a one-zone burst model.

Research on festivals and cultural events draw considerable attention among academics and practitioners. The relationships between marketing influence and spontaneous purchase have been studied in general retail setting; however, there is dearth knowledge of purchase patterns in a festive setting. This study aims to identify what factors motivate attendees to spontaneous purchase and to investigate how local residents and tourists respond in their spontaneous purchase when exposed to stimuli at a special event held infrequently for a short period of time. The flower market at the Chinese New Year Festival was chosen as the study context as it is one of the most popular events in Macau, in which spontaneous purchases are made. A quota sample of 150 local residents and 100 tourists was recruited in November, 2007. The results indicate that product quality, price, and variety are the top three priorities among both local residents and tourists when making purchasing decision at the flower market. Significant differences of free sample tasting and cultural tradition were found between the two segments in purchase intention. The findings allow marketing activities to be highly targeted according to the difference response of local residents and tourists. Future research is also recommended.

Resonance-decay spectroscopy is used to study particle-unbound excited states produced in interactions of E/A=50 MeV Be-12 on polyethylene and carbon targets. The particle-unbound states are produced in a variety of reaction mechanisms, ranging from projectile fragmentation to proton pickup. New proton-decaying excited states are observed in Li-9(E-*=14.1 +/- 0.1 MeV, Gamma=207 +/- 49 keV) and Be-10(E-*=20.4 +/- 0.1 MeV, Gamma=182 +/- 74 keV). In addition a new alpha-decaying state is observed in B-13(E-*=13.6 +/- 0.1 MeV, Gamma 2. A second T=2 state was confirmed in B-12 at 14.82 MeV, which decays to the p+Be-11, H-3+Be-9, and alpha+Li-8 channels. Its width was found to be Gamma

The breakup of E/A=50 MeV (12)Be fragments following inelastic scattering off of hydrogen and carbon target nuclei has been studied. The breakup channels alpha+(8)He, (6)He+(6)He, t+(9)Li, and p+(11)Li were observed. Two doublets at excitation energies of 12.8 and 15.5 MeV were found for the alpha+(8)He channel. A low-energy shoulder in the excitation-energy spectra at 10.2 MeV indicates one or more additional states. This work could not confirm the presence of (6)He-(6)He rotational structure reported by Freer [Phys. Rev. C 63, 034301 (2001)], although possible peaks at excitation energies of 13.5 and 14.5 MeV were found for (6)He+(6)He decay. Significant structure is observed in the excitation-energy spectrum for p+(11)Li at 25-30 MeV which maybe associated with T=3 analog states.