A rapid and sensitive colorimetric detection of ascorbic acid (AA) through the morphology transformation of silver triangular nanoplates (Ag TNPs) is developed. By virtue of the redox reaction among silver nitrate and AA, the newly formed Ag atoms deposited on the surfaces of Ag TNPs. Subsequently, the morphology of Ag TNPs transforms from triangle to circle, resulting in a more than 160 nm blue shift of localized surface plasmon resonance absorption peak. The corresponding color of the solution converting from blue to yellow with the concentration of AA can be observed by naked eyes within 15 min. A linear relationship between the blue shift of absorption peak and the concentration of AA ranging from 0.2 to 6 μM is obtained with a limit of detection (LOD) of 100 nM (3σ). Some potential species (e.g., glucose, urea and various amino acids) coexisting in the system showed little or no interference. The proposed assay is successfully employed to determine the amount of AA in pharmaceutical products with recoveries from 96.9 to 106.5% and offers a sensitive, low-cost, rapid and simple assay of visual analysis of ascorbic acid.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, livestream shopping has provided consumers with a way to maintain social distancing while offering an alternative to offline shopping. This study aims to understand the impact of COVID-19 and other public health crises on the behavioral intentions of consumers using livestream shopping technology. A theoretical model was designed that combines the health belief model, trust theory, and the theory of planned behavior. Empirical data were collected from 358 residents in China and then analyzed using structural equation modeling. The results showed that perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, and perceived obstacles had a significant impact on consumer trust. Consumer trust in turn had a direct impact on behavioral intention and an indirect impact on behavioral intention via attitude. These research results have practical implications for livestream shopping merchants, platform decision-makers, and service designers.
The traditional meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) industry has been hit hard by social distancing regulations introduced to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, with concerns about pandemic risks and personal hygiene increasing the demand for online MICE technology. With the introduction of innovative new technologies to the MICE industry, it is important to study the psychology of online MICE attendees, particularly the factors affecting their behavioral intention to adopt online MICE technology during the pandemic. This study investigates the attitudes toward attending online MICE since the start of the epidemic based on the health belief model (HBM) and innovation diffusion theory (IDT). A total of 439 valid questionnaires were collected in China and used for structural equation modeling. The results show that the perceived safety threat, the comparative advantage, trialability, and outcome expectations positively impact the attendees' attitudes. Moreover, this study finds that attitude completely mediates the impact of perceived safety threat, comparative advantages, trialability, and outcome expectation on behavioral intention to attend online MICE events. These findings theoretically enrich the understanding of online MICE technology, the HBM, and the IDT and offer managerial implications for MICE organizers and exhibitors.
The shipping industry plays a vital role in the world trading system and in maintaining the stability of global supply chains. However, we cannot ignore the damage it brings to the marine environment. With a focus on protecting the marine environment, the sustainable development of shipping companies has also drawn growing attention. This study examines the sustainable shipping management practice system and develops a comprehensive framework to evaluate the significance of influencing elements and prioritizes those factors. This paper adopts a fuzzy analytic hierarchy process method. It establishes a total of 11 sub-index systems from three aspects: the external policy pressure of shipping companies, the ecological design of shipping services, and the cross-functional green management within shipping companies. We used the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) to analyze data collected from 37 experts in the Chinese shipping industry. The findings show that external policy pressure is the most critical factor influencing sustainable shipping management, followed by eco-design and cross-functional green management. These factors have a big impact and provide management references for shipping company managers and policymakers. They also give the government a company perspective when creating pertinent regulations.
Due to the spike in online-retail demand during the pandemic, couriers confront increased workload and safety concerns, posing significant social-sustainability challenges for courier companies. This study explores the impact of social-sustainability practices on couriers’ job satisfaction in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. We designed the research model from the theoretical lens of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, equity, and psychological-safety theories. We collected the views of 428 couriers from the Chinese market, where there is a developed e-commerce industry. The structural-equation-model analysis results found that social-sustainability practices such as working environment, working conditions, health and safety, education, and training positively affected the job satisfaction of couriers during the pandemic through the mediators (psychological safety and perceived fairness). These findings provide empirical recommendations for improving employees’ job satisfaction in courier companies during COVID-19 and addressing the social-sustainability issues of courier companies.
In recent years, suppliers’ sustainability has been the primary source of conflict in multinational supply chains. How suppliers from developing nations may accomplish sustainable development and competitive advantage goals has become a tough issue inside the multinational supply chain, particularly in the agri-food cold chain. Using an integrated theory-based perspective, this paper analyzes how sustainable logistics service providers’ supply chain cooperation (MSCC) might drive the sustainable transformation of suppliers in developing nations. Between 1 June 2020 and 15 January 2021, we gathered feedback from 215 Chinese vendors and analyzed and discussed possible models using structural equation modeling. This study demonstrates that the sustainable practices of logistics service providers are the foundation for influencing the collaboration of suppliers in developing nations with regard to sustainability. In addition, the five-stage transnational supply chain cooperation based on the theory of innovation diffusion is an efficient strategy for ensuring the sustainable development of suppliers in developing nations. This paper examines the theoretical framework at the forefront of multinational supply chain sustainability development. This presents the most recent experience and policy application for suppliers from emerging nations to acquire a competitive advantage.
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