A Comparative Study of e-Tail Service Quality Scale in USA and India

The purpose of this research is to measure the e-tail service quality of online retailers by considering survey responses from two different geographical locations, USA and India. This research focuses primarily on (i) Collecting data and performing factor analysis to refine initial scale items, developed by Qianqian, followed by reliability tests for checking the scale\u27s validity by considering responses received from survey participants in two different geographical regions; (ii) Testing of hypothesis based on the construct of the scale items of the initial scale and the scale obtained in this research; (iii) Performing regression analysis to demonstrate the impact of factors on the overall e-tail service quality. Based on Qianqian\u27s initial scale items, the questionnaire was slightly modified to accommodate changes related to mobile e-tailing. Data was collected and analyzed further through item analysis and exploratory factor analysis. The scale is later tested for its reliability and validity, followed by regression analysis. Results revealed a variation in scale parameters when a global sample is considered. This research is based on the assumption that the key to improving customers\u27 online purchasing decisions is improving e-service quality, which in turn has a significant effect on transaction results. This research is purely theoretical, with basis on exhaustive literature review

Evaluation of pulmonary and systemic toxicity following lung exposure to graphite nanoplates: a member of the graphene-based nanomaterial family

Background: Graphene, a monolayer of carbon, is an engineered nanomaterial (ENM) with physical and chemical properties that may offer application advantages over other carbonaceous ENMs, such as carbon nanotubes (CNT). The goal of this study was to comparatively assess pulmonary and systemic toxicity of graphite nanoplates, a member of the graphene-based nanomaterial family, with respect to nanoplate size. Methods: Three sizes of graphite nanoplates [20 μm lateral (Gr20), 5 μm lateral (Gr5), and \u3c2 \u3eμm lateral (Gr1)] ranging from 8–25 nm in thickness were characterized for difference in surface area, structure,, zeta potential, and agglomeration in dispersion medium, the vehicle for in vivo studies. Mice were exposed by pharyngeal aspiration to these 3 sizes of graphite nanoplates at doses of 4 or 40 μg/mouse, or to carbon black (CB) as a carbonaceous control material. At 4 h, 1 day, 7 days, 1 month, and 2 months post-exposure, bronchoalveolar lavage was performed to collect fluid and cells for analysis of lung injury and inflammation. Particle clearance, histopathology and gene expression in lung tissue were evaluated. In addition, protein levels and gene expression were measured in blood, heart, aorta and liver to assess systemic responses. Results: All Gr samples were found to be similarly composed of two graphite structures and agglomerated to varying degrees in DM in proportion to the lateral dimension. Surface area for Gr1 was approximately 7-fold greater than Gr5 and Gr20, but was less reactive reactive per m2 . At the low dose, none of the Gr materials induced toxicity. At the high dose, Gr20 and Gr5 exposure increased indices of lung inflammation and injury in lavage fluid and tissue gene expression to a greater degree and duration than Gr1 and CB. Gr5 and Gr20 showed no or minimal lung epithelial hypertrophy and hyperplasia, and no development of fibrosis by 2 months post-exposure. In addition, the aorta and liver inflammatory and acute phase genes were transiently elevated in Gr5 and Gr20, relative to Gr1. Conclusions: Pulmonary and systemic toxicity of graphite nanoplates may be dependent on lateral size and/or surface reactivity, with the graphite nanoplates \u3e 5 μm laterally inducing greater toxicity which peaked at the early time points post-exposure relative to the 1–2 μm graphite nanoplate