Green Communication for More Package-Free Ecommerce Returns

The existing packed mail-based return mode in ecommerce has a considerable negative impact on the natural environment. In contrast, a package-free return mode accepts unpacked ecommerce returns using return points in-store and is a more eco-friendly service. On the basis of the push–pull–mooring (PPM) framework, this study aims to identify key factors in green communication that contribute to consumers switching from mail return services to package-free return services. A scenario-based online survey was conducted. Structural equation modeling was used to test the hypotheses. Push factors (consumer dissatisfaction) and a mooring factor (mail return habit) only manifested weak effects on switching intention. Regarding pull factors (service convenience and green value), in contrast to previous research, the effect of green value on switching intention was found to be much weaker than the effect of service convenience. Convenience was found to be the key factor in green communication. Our research adds value to green communication and the PPM framework. It updates existing knowledge concerning the role of consumer dissatisfaction, perceived green value, and perceived convenience of return service in green communication. This study also explains why the mooring factor of habit fails to predict switching intention.National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)Philosophy and Social Sciences Planning Project in Zhejiang Province 72032008 21ZJQN03Y

Restoring the buyer–seller relationship through online return shipping: The role of return shipping method and return shipping fee

Relationships with consumers are critical to the success of online sellers. Online returns can detrimentally influence buyer–seller relationships and, thus, online sellers should carefully approach online returns to restore their relationship with consumers. Returns due to consumer satisfaction-related reasons are a significant and inevitable part of e-commerce. This article focuses on how online sellers deal with the method and the fee aspects of their return shipping policy to improve buyer–seller relationships. We also studied the effects of return shipping policies on several pivotal consumer perceptions and repurchase intentions. A two-factor (integrated return shipping vs. separated return shipping; free return shipping vs. fee return shipping), between-subject experiment was conducted. This research revealed that both using an integrated return shipping method and offering free return shipping can lead to a better buyer–seller relationship and improve other consumer responses. No interaction effect was found between the two factors

Comparison of Two Methods for the Extraction of Fractionated Rice Bran Protein

Two different methods for extracting fractionated rice bran protein (FRBP) from defatted rice bran were investigated according to the solubility of protein in different extraction solvents. The yields of the obtained proteins and their purity were first compared. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, differential scanning calorimetry, protein surface hydrophobicity, and protein secondary molecular structure analyses were subsequently applied to identify and compare the compositional, structural, and functional characteristics of the obtained proteins. The highest yield (13.8%, w/w) and purity (45–47%) of FRBP products were obtained using 0.4 M NaCl, 80% ethanol, and 0.01 M NaOH as extraction solvents to fractionate albumin, globulin, prolamin, and glutelin. Several good properties were exhibited, including good functionality, specific denaturation temperature, and enthalpy values, for FRBP products prepared by the above method

Green Communication for More Package-Free Ecommerce Returns

The existing packed mail-based return mode in ecommerce has a considerable negative impact on the natural environment. In contrast, a package-free return mode accepts unpacked ecommerce returns using return points in-store and is a more eco-friendly service. On the basis of the push–pull–mooring (PPM) framework, this study aims to identify key factors in green communication that contribute to consumers switching from mail return services to package-free return services. A scenario-based online survey was conducted. Structural equation modeling was used to test the hypotheses. Push factors (consumer dissatisfaction) and a mooring factor (mail return habit) only manifested weak effects on switching intention. Regarding pull factors (service convenience and green value), in contrast to previous research, the effect of green value on switching intention was found to be much weaker than the effect of service convenience. Convenience was found to be the key factor in green communication. Our research adds value to green communication and the PPM framework. It updates existing knowledge concerning the role of consumer dissatisfaction, perceived green value, and perceived convenience of return service in green communication. This study also explains why the mooring factor of habit fails to predict switching intention

Recurrence factors and prevention of complications of pediatric differentiated thyroid cancer

To investigate the factors associated with recurrence of differentiated thyroid cancer in children. We combined the clinical and pathological features to guide surgical treatment options, ensure efficacy, and reduce complications. A prospective analysis of clinical data of 43 cases of pediatric differentiated thyroid cancer from March 2008 to June 2014 admitted in our department, including 38 cases of papillary cancers and five cases of follicular cancer, 40 cases were Stage I and three cases were Stage II (Union for International Cancer Control [UICC] Tumor Node Metastasis classification [TNM] staging). We performed the operations according to the condition of lesions and lymph nodes. Operations included subtotal resection in 36 cases, total resection in seven cases. We applied statistical methods to investigate the risk factors of recurrence and postoperative complications. The pathologic lymph node metastasis rate was 67.44% (29/43): Area VI lymph nodes metastases in 20 cases and Area III/IV or Area II/V lymph nodes metastases in nine cases. Postoperative hypocalcemia symptoms were seen in three cases and hoarseness in three cases, for a total rate of 13.95% (6/43). Until December 2015, patients were followed up from 1.5 years to 8.7 years, with a median of 4.9 years. There were three cases of cervical lymph node recurrence, one case of local recurrence, and one case of lung metastasis, for a total recurrence rate of 11.63% (5/43), all patients survived. Log-rank test of Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox stepwise regression analysis showed that lesion number, extrathyroidal extension, and lymph nodes metastases were the risk factors for postoperative recurrence, the relative risk values were, respectively, 3.117, 2.816, and 4.628 (p = 0.041, p = 0.048, and p = 0.031, respectively) and the 95% confidence intervals (CI) were, respectively, 1.094∼8.735, 1.046∼7.932, and 1.189∼10.205. However, the lesion excision approach was not a risk factor for postoperative recurrence (p = 0.107). The logistic stepwise regression model showed that lesion excision approach was a risk factor for postoperative hypocalcemia and hoarseness, the odds ratio value was 2.537 (p = 0.037) and the 95% CI was 1.034∼6.983. Pediatric differentiated thyroid cancer has a high metastatic rate to lymph nodes and distant organs, but the total prognosis is good. Application of total resection cannot necessarily reduce the relapse rate of pediatric differentiated thyroid cancer, but it may increase the postoperative hypocalcemia and hoarseness. The authors propose strictly adhering to various operation indicators, and carrying out various operations with a full understanding of the local lesion and lymph nodes in order to reduce relapse and postoperative complications

Buying Through Social Platforms: Perceived Risks and Trust

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) under the grant number 71702064 and the China Scholarship Council.Social platforms are currently encountering a set of burning issues: low ad conversion rates, crosschannel free-riding phenomena, lack of monetary incentives to retain premium content creators, etc. Direct purchase behaviors between social platform users (e.g., making a direct purchase through a seller’s promotional post) can largely resolve these problems. Therefore, it is imperative to study the factors that influence users’ direct purchase behavior. This paper focuses on risk- and trust-related factors, proposing a theoretical model that was tested on two samples of Chinese users of WeChat. The authors concluded that users tend to evaluate the shopping risk associated with the social platform first, then go through a process of building trust in the platform before making purchases. Further, this trust can generate a halo effect on seller risk. Finally, trust and seller risk directly impact on users’ purchase intention to buy from the seller on the platform.National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) 71702064China Scholarship Counci

High energy storage properties in CaLaTiO3-modified NaNbO3-based lead-free antiferroelectric ceramics

In this work, (1 [Formula: see text])(0.92NaNbO3–0.08BaTiO3)–[Formula: see text]Ca[Formula: see text]La[Formula: see text]TiO3 (NNBT – [Formula: see text]CLT) ceramics were successfully designed and prepared by the solid-state reaction method. Investigations on the structure, dielectric, and energy storage properties were performed. The NNBT – 0.25CLT ceramic with orthorhombic phase at room temperature was found to exhibit extremely small grain size and compacted microstructure. A large [Formula: see text] of 3.1 J/cm3 and a high [Formula: see text] of 91.5% under the electric field of 360 kV/cm were achieved simultaneously in the sample. In addition, the energy storage performance of the sample exhibits thermal stability over the temperature range of 25–140[Formula: see text]C and the frequency range of 5–500 Hz. The charge and discharge tests reveal that the ceramic shows a large current density [Formula: see text] of 965 A/cm2 and power density [Formula: see text] of 154 MW/cm3. This work demonstrates that the NNBT–0.25CLT ceramic is a prospective energy storage material for potential application in the field of pulsed power devices

Multiple Concurrent Causal Relationships and Multiple Governance Pathways for Non-Pharmaceutical Intervention Policies in Pandemics: A Fuzzy Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis Based on 102 Countries and Regions

The global outbreak of COVID-19 has been wreaking havoc on all aspects of human societies. In addition to pharmaceutical interventions, non-pharmaceutical intervention policies have been proven to be crucial in slowing down the spread of the virus and reducing the impact of the outbreak on economic development, daily life, and social stability. However, no studies have focused on which non-pharmaceutical intervention policies are more effective; this is the focus of our study. We used data samples from 102 countries and regions around the world and selected seven categories of related policies, including work and school suspensions, assembly restrictions, movement restrictions, home isolation, international population movement restrictions, income subsidies, and testing and screening as the condition variables. A susceptible-exposed-infected-quarantined-recovered (SEIQR) model considering non-pharmaceutical intervention policies and latency with infectiousness was constructed to calculate the epidemic transmission rate as the outcome variable, and a fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) method was applied to explore the multiple concurrent causal relationships and multiple governance paths of non-pharmaceutical intervention policies for epidemics from the configuration perspective. We found a total of four non-pharmaceutical intervention policy pathways. Among them, L1 was highly suppressive, L2 was moderately suppressive, and L3 was externally suppressive. The results also showed that individual non-pharmaceutical intervention policy could not effectively suppress the spread of the pandemic. Moreover, three specific non-pharmaceutical intervention policies, including work stoppage and school closure, testing and screening, and economic subsidies, had a universal effect in the policies grouping for effective control of the pandemic transmission

Research on Force Interaction Devices Specialized for Blind Guidance Robot

Abstract: As a new type of human-computer interaction, physical human-robot interaction is very common in guide robots and is the mainstream of future development. However, the force interaction device is hard to choose according to actual application requirements. In this paper, we compared the force transmission characteristics of three interaction mediums: rigid rod, spring-damping, and cable. The result shows that the rigid rod will bring a force impact on blind users when the robot’s motion state switches, while the spring-damper can not perform well in its response and stability. In contrast, the cable is more suitable in this area for its fast response and stability, moreover, it does not impose a dramatic impact when imposing an excitation force