Increasing consumer awareness of food safety issues requires the development of highly sophisticated techniques for the authentication of food commodities. The food products targeted for falsification are either products of high commercial value or those produced in large quantities. For this reason, the present investigation is directed toward the characterization of coffee samples according to geographical origin attributes. In addition, the current examination is focused on the identification of particular marker compounds that compose the volatile and semivolatile aroma fraction of flavoured and dessert coffees. The conducted research involved the development of a rapid headspace solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) – gas chromatography – time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC-TOFMS) method for the verification of geographical origin traceability of coffee samples. As opposed to the utilization of traditional univariate optimization methods, the current study employs the application of multivariate experimental designs to the optimization of extraction-influencing parameters. Hence, the two-level full factorial first-order design aided in the identification of two influential variables: extraction time and sample temperature. The optimum set of conditions for the two variables was 12 min and 55 oC, respectively, as directed by utilization of the Doehlert matrix and response surface methodology. The high-throughput automated SPME procedure was completed under optimized conditions by implementing a single divinylbenzene/carboxen/polydimethylsiloxane (DVB/CAR/PDMS) metal fiber with excellent properties of durability, which ensured the complete analysis of coffee samples in sequence. The coffee sample originating from an authentic Brazilian coffee producing region and characterized by rich volatile and semivolatile chromatographic profiles was selected as a reference starting point for data evaluation. The combination of the retention index (RI) system using C8-C40 alkanes and the mass spectral library search was utilized for the confirmation of analyte identity in this reference sample. Twenty-nine volatile and semivolatile compounds selected across the wide range of GC chromatogram were then evaluated in terms of chromatographic peak areas for all samples that are to be submitted to this classification study. The semiquantitative results were submitted to statistical evaluation, namely principal component analysis (PCA) for the establishment of corresponding geographical origin discriminations.

Syftet med uppsatsen är att genom en fallstudie av företaget Boomerang utreda hur ett varumärkeskoncept med en stark koppling till företagets ursprungsland påverkar beslutsfattandet kopplat till företagets internationalisering. Med avstamp i det teoretiska ramverket där det beskrivs hur country of origin som en del av ett varumärkeskoncept kan påverka ett företags internationalisering genomfördes intervjuer med Boomerangs VD och med företagets marknadschef. Resultatet av intervjuerna visade att det är av vikt att ett företag utvärderar om country of origin är en framgångsrik del av varumärkeskonceptet då det avgör hur varumärket uppfattas på en internationell marknad. Det visar sig även vara viktigt för Boomerang att noggrant utvärdera eventuella partners vid internationaliseringen via triader då företagets varumärkeskoncept behöver kommuniceras på ett enhetligt sätt på samtliga marknader och för att undvika risken att bilden av Boomerang blir splittrad och otydlig.

Group number:         2838 Research Questions:  Does the country of origin influence Thai consumers’ buying decision towards beer purchasing?  What are the consumers’ attitudes and perception towards beer consumption? Purpose: The authors aim to explore the effect of COO towards beer purchasing behavior of Thai consumer. The research study examines the attitudes of Thai consumers in terms of the beer purchasing based on two aspects: foreign and domestic brands. Method: Qualitative approach and quantitative approach was used in order to get the primary data. Questionnaire online were sent out 247 forms to the respondents and get the response 240 forms that could answers the question effectively. Interviews also were conducted with ten beer drinkers. Furthermore, several articles, researches, and literatures were used to strengthen reliability of the paper and improve the validity as well. Conclusion: Based on the study results, country of origin does not affect much in consumers’ buying decision in term of low-involvement products. Also country of origin showed that can influence consumer first purchasing activity. The research also portrayed when consumers have more knowledge or experience other cues such as price and taste have definitely effects in their buying decision more than Country of Origin factors.

Increasing consumer awareness of food safety issues requires the development of highly sophisticated techniques for the authentication of food commodities. The food products targeted for falsification are either products of high commercial value or those produced in large quantities. For this reason, the present investigation is directed toward the characterization of coffee samples according to geographical origin attributes. In addition, the current examination is focused on the identification of particular marker compounds that compose the volatile and semivolatile aroma fraction of flavoured and dessert coffees. The conducted research involved the development of a rapid headspace solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) – gas chromatography – time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC-TOFMS) method for the verification of geographical origin traceability of coffee samples. As opposed to the utilization of traditional univariate optimization methods, the current study employs the application of multivariate experimental designs to the optimization of extraction-influencing parameters. Hence, the two-level full factorial first-order design aided in the identification of two influential variables: extraction time and sample temperature. The optimum set of conditions for the two variables was 12 min and 55 oC, respectively, as directed by utilization of the Doehlert matrix and response surface methodology. The high-throughput automated SPME procedure was completed under optimized conditions by implementing a single divinylbenzene/carboxen/polydimethylsiloxane (DVB/CAR/PDMS) metal fiber with excellent properties of durability, which ensured the complete analysis of coffee samples in sequence. The coffee sample originating from an authentic Brazilian coffee producing region and characterized by rich volatile and semivolatile chromatographic profiles was selected as a reference starting point for data evaluation. The combination of the retention index (RI) system using C8-C40 alkanes and the mass spectral library search was utilized for the confirmation of analyte identity in this reference sample. Twenty-nine volatile and semivolatile compounds selected across the wide range of GC chromatogram were then evaluated in terms of chromatographic peak areas for all samples that are to be submitted to this classification study. The semiquantitative results were submitted to statistical evaluation, namely principal component analysis (PCA) for the establishment of corresponding geographical origin discriminations.

Purpose The main purpose of the research is to continue to the understanding of the relationship between the country-of-origin effects and automobile evaluation and apply the Extended COO-ELM model(Bloemer, Brijs and Kasper, 2009) for the cognitive processes underlying country of  origin-effects. The study also aims to give managers some information to assess consumer's purchase intentions of car and assist them in managing their product's COO. Design/methodology/approach A self-administered survey was used in this study.The main samples consist of the 31 students in Linnaeus university from more than 10 countries.The Spss software was used to analyze the empirical data which provide the source of judging three hypothesis of the study. Findings The results indicated the impact of country of origin on automobile evaluation is mainly moderated by other prior country-product knowledge rather than the perceived economic development.In addition, the different cognitive processes  underlying country of origin-effects occur when responders evaluating Chinese automobile and Swedish automobile Originality?Value The paper applies ELM model with extensions.This finding yields some insight for the efficiency in marketing strategy of Chinese car and Swedish car. By designing the marketing strategy more efficiently, the managers will subsequently make a better decision of how brand and country of origin should be managed. Paper type Research paper

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, San Diego, 2004. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

This paper examines three questions orderly with the help of the European Social Survey (ESS) pooled cross section data. Firstly, whether there is a gap of probability of being self-employed existed between natives and immigrants in Sweden. Secondly, whether there is heterogeneity existed within different ethnic group of immigrants and thirdly, if that heterogeneity existed across genders. The results show that there is no significant gap of probability of being self-employed between natives and immigrants in Sweden, and it can be due to the heterogeneity within the immigrant group itself. The results of logit model indicate that the probability of being self-employed for immigrants from Asian countries (the Middle East countries excluded) are significantly different from Swedish natives, and that for immigrants from the Middle East countries and Asian countries (the Middle East countries excluded) are both significantly different from immigrants from the Nordic countries (Sweden excluded). Furthermore, when looking by the perspective of genders, the results reveal that the heterogeneity existed when examining the groups for both genders can only be found in male immigrant group, while female immigrant group do not appear to be heterogeneous.

published_or_final_version / Chinese / Master / Master of Philosophy

Hispanics are the fastest growing ethnic group in the United States with the states that border Mexico having a greater percentage of persons of Mexican origin residing in them. Herbs are widely used by persons of Mexican origin, however, little is known about specifics surrounding these cultural practices. An ethnographic study in the border region of Nogales, Arizona - Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, discovered the cultural components of values, beliefs, practices, and experiences of 9 women of Mexican origin who resided in the Arizona/Sonora, Mexico border region related to using manzanilla tea during the childbearing period. Data from semi-structured in-depth interviews were analyzed using a thematic, content analysis process. Intergenerational transmission of cultural health care knowledge emerged from abstraction of the findings. Details from the women's voices provide enlightenment surrounding the values, beliefs, and practices related to the use of manzanilla tea for childbearing. Nursing should be able to integrate this knowledge into care practices and education thereby promoting more culturally relevant care during the childbearing period for women of Mexican origin.

This thesis is an investigation of processes involved in the praxis of Tseil-Waututh knowledge systems, stemming from the longhouse and its value to people of Tsleil-Waututh nation in structure and to people in content and delivery. I journeyed through the process of writing a performance from a dance, the Swan Dance. It was under Len George's care and through this process that I learned to reflect and thus, revalue my body, mind and heart. I learned to love song and sound and to sense my relatives unconscious being, here in Toronto. I felt a sense of community, consciously, unprecedented in my adult life, except in one-on-one relations with siblings and my mother and in reflection. In reflection, I could not name this process, this understanding, but in spurts of words and recollections. It is in this light that the value of Tsleil-Waututh dance and its process of learning came. I turned the light onto this process and the light reflected back onto me, its birth and journey and my participation inside of it. It has inspired a writer to help stop the violence against women, by showing a purpose to, through a belief in tradition. Out emerged a people, warm and beautiful, dancing and singing and speaking. / Seabird Island Band, the Ontario Federation of Friendships Centres.