Guangzhou is a metropolitan in south China with unique pollutants and geographic location. Unlike those in western countries and the rest of China, the appearance of haze in Guangzhou is often (about 278 days per year on average of 4 years). Little is known about the influence of these hazes on health. In this study, we investigated whether short-term exposures to haze and air pollution are associated with hospital admissions in Guangzhou. The relationships between haze, air pollution, and daily hospital admissions during 2008-2011 were assessed using generalized additive model. Studies were categorized by gender, age, season, lag, and disease category. In haze episodes, an increase in air pollutant emissions corresponded to 3.46 (95 % CI, 1.67, 5.27) increase in excessive risk (ER) of total hospital admissions at lag 1, 11.42 (95 % CI, 4.32, 18.99) and 11.57 (95 % CI, 4.38, 19.26) increases in ERs of cardiovascular illnesses at lags 2 and 4 days, respectively. As to total hospital admissions, an increase in NO2 was associated with a 0.73 (95 % CI, 0.11, 1.35) and a 0.28 (95 % CI, 0.11, 0.46) increases in ERs at lag 5 and lag 05, respectively. For respiratory illnesses, increases in NO2 was associated with a 1.94 (95 % CI, 0.50, 3.40) increase in ER at lag 0, especially among chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Haze (at lag1) and air pollution (for NO2 at lag 5 and for SO2 at lag3) both presented more drastic effects on the 19 to 64 years old and in the females. Together, we demonstrated that haze pollution was associated with total and cardiovascular illnesses. NO2 was the sole pollutant with the largest risk of hospital admissions for total and respiratory diseases in both single- and multi-pollutant models.

Despite the importance of international trade firms in China’s economic development, there is only limited empirical evidence about how these firms assimilate Internet-based e-business in global supply chain operations. Using the Technology-Organization-Environment framework, this study investigates technological, organizational, and environmental factors which determine e-business assimilation in these firms. Based on survey data collected from 307 international trade firms in the Beijing area, we found that environmental uncertainty was negatively associated with e-business assimilation, while a firm’s internal IT capability, relative advantage of e-business, learning orientation, and inter-organizational dependence were positive determinants of e-business assimilation. The effect of a firm’s ownership type was also significant. Environmental uncertainty was the most important inhibitor, and IT capability and inter-organizational dependence were the most salient enablers of e-business assimilation.

Despite the booming market of fresh food, the fresh e-commerce platform holds only a limited market share, owing to the lack of habitual usage of these platforms. This article explores the determinants of purchase intention when using a fresh e-commerce platform. The integrated technology acceptance model (Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology [UTAUT]) is employed as the framework. A questionnaire survey was conducted and is analyzed using the structural equation model. We find that both performance expectancy and social influence have a significantly positive effect on consumers’ purchase intention using fresh e-commerce platforms, while perceived risk has a significantly negative effect. Perceived trust plays a mediating role between performance expectancy and purchase intention, social influence and purchase intention, as well as perceived risk and purchase intention. In addition, food safety awareness is a moderator between perceived trust and purchase intention.

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The study is to present an integrative model of predictors and outcome of customer satisfaction in the fast food sector of Pakistan and also examine its effects. Moreover, we also examined the contingent effect of social trust and corporate social responsibility (CSR) on the relationship between customer satisfaction and brand loyalty. Offline and online survey was conducted with four hundred fast food customers; valid data were assessed and analyzed through structural equation modeling and moderation step-by-step approach. Results demonstrate that restaurant stimuli such as food quality, service quality, atmosphere, price, restaurant location and a variety of food have strong significant effects on customer satisfaction, and customer satisfaction engendered brand loyalty. Social trust has a positive significant impact on the relationship between customer satisfaction and brand loyalty, whereas on the other side CSR has insignificant impact on the association. The study has practical implications for both restaurateurs and government. Restaurateurs should ensure the safety standards of foods, and the government can take an initiative to set proper policy and maintain the food safety standards by regulation.

We strived to examine the combined effects of drivers and consequences of customers’ satisfaction particularly in quick-meal restaurants besides examining the interaction effect of social trust on the association between customers’ satisfaction and brand loyalty. Offline survey was conducted to approach the respondents of fast-food visitors. The valid data were assessed and analyzed through structural equation modeling and moderation step-by-step approach. The findings demonstrate that restaurant stimuli—food, service, atmosphere, location, price, and a variety of food—have robust effects on customers’ satisfaction and eventually on brand loyalty. Social trust has rigorous effect on the association between customers’ satisfaction and brand loyalty. Customers with high social trust have a positive strong bonding with restaurants than those holding low social trust. Theoretical and practical implications have been deliberated and offer some valuable recommendations along for future scholars.