Background: With increasing media coverage of food safety incidents, such as that of clenbuterol residues in pork, food safety has become a major public health concern in China. Rapidly developing online markets attra...Background: With increasing media coverage of food safety incidents, such as that of clenbuterol residues in pork, food safety has become a major public health concern in China. Rapidly developing online markets attract increasing numbers of Chinese consumers to purchase food on the Internet. However, the quality and safety of food sold online are uncertain and are less reported on. Objective: This research aimed to systematically study the quality and safety of chilled pork from wet markets, supermarkets, and online markets in China. Results: The chilled pork samples from online markets were fresher than those from wet markets and supermarkets based on the surface redness(a* value). Chilled pork contained high levels of nutritional elements, especially the magnesium and phos0-phorus levels in samples from online markets. The levels of heavy metal element residues and veterinary drug residues in all chilled pork samples were within the standards limits. In addition, huge differences existed in the quality and freshness of the chilled pork samples from online markets according to principal component analysis(PCA). Conclusions: Most chilled pork sold in Chinese markets was qualified and safe. It is necessary to establish an effective online market supervision system for chilled pork.展开更多
The purpose of this study was to examine the online service expectations of fans of professional sport. Participants were asked about their online experience and the impact it had on a number of variables, including s...The purpose of this study was to examine the online service expectations of fans of professional sport. Participants were asked about their online experience and the impact it had on a number of variables, including satisfaction and service quality. Three dimensions regarding the online experience were identified. First, the core product represents the set of items influencing fans＇ perceptions of the quality of the game; second, the ancillary products characterizing the derivative products related to the game; and finally, the efficiency of support services used to access the core and ancillary products online. The study found that although respondents reported higher expectations of the core product than of the ancillary products, their expectations of support services efficiency were also very high. Understanding fans＇ specific expectations enables sport organizations to identify and fulfill fans＇ expectations of their online experience. The study＇s results are reviewed in the context of previous research and practice to suggest a future research protocol to aid managers＇ understanding of online fans＇ expectations and satisfaction with service provided.展开更多
COVID-19 is a devastating pandemic with widespread negative health,social,and economic consequences.Due to drastic changes in the business environment of tour and travel agencies,firms and marketing managers can now u...COVID-19 is a devastating pandemic with widespread negative health,social,and economic consequences.Due to drastic changes in the business environment of tour and travel agencies,firms and marketing managers can now use search engine optimization to effectively position themselves.The study’s main goal is to evaluate the effect of search engine optimization on the market performance of registered tours and travel agencies in Nairobi County,Kenya.Kenya’s tourism ministry and state government work hard to improve the business climate for tour and travel companies.Despite the overall positive image,international tourist market growth rates in Kenya have been 3.5 percent slower from 2017 to 2019 compared to previous years.This was further aggregated by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the year 2020,when the growth rate of tours and travel agencies fell by 65%.The study’s main goal is to evaluate the effect of search engine optimization on the market performance of registered tours and travel agencies in Nairobi County,Kenya.This study adopted a positivist philosophy.Both descriptive and explanatory research designs were used.A self-administered semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 324 registered tours and travels agencies picked from and a sample of 179 were used.Data analysis included the development and interpretation of both descriptive and inferential statistics,such as frequencies,mean,percentages,and standard deviation,and was presented using tables and numerical values.The results of regression analysis established that search engine optimization had a positive and significant effect on market performance of the registered tours and travel agencies picked from a sample of 179.The study recommends that agency management ensure that the firm’s website is easily accessible in order to improve agency performance.Using the internet to gain a large market share can assist tours and travel agencies in improving the performance and income of their websites.展开更多
Objective:Nutraceutical products are widely used for their claimed therapeutic benefits.However,falsified or adulterated nutraceuticals present a major health threat to consumers.This study investigates the pharmaceut...Objective:Nutraceutical products are widely used for their claimed therapeutic benefits.However,falsified or adulterated nutraceuticals present a major health threat to consumers.This study investigates the pharmaceutical quality,safety and anti-inflammatory effects of six male enhancement nutraceuticals that claim to be 100%natural.Methods:Three batches of six male enhancement products were tested to detect the presence and levels of adulterants via high-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC).The pharmaceutical quality of the selected nutraceuticals was tested with near infrared spectroscopy(NIR)and Se De M.The cytotoxic effects of these products on HepG2 cells were determined through cell proliferation(XTT)and lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)cytotoxicity assays.Lastly,the in vitro inflammatory effects of these products were investigated using murine J774 macrophages through cytokine release analysis.Results:HPLC analysis detected the presence of sildenafil citrate,a vasodilator,and the active ingredient in Viagra and Revatio,in all batches of the products we analyzed.Amount of sildenafil citrate ranged from 0.45 mg to 51.85 mg among different batches.NIR assessment showed inter-and intra-batch heterogeneity in product composition.Results of the XTT and LDH assays showed significant cytotoxic effects of the analyzed products.XTT analysis revealed that the viability of HepG2 treated with tested products varied from 27.57%to 41.43%.Interestingly,the male enhancement products also showed anti-inflammatory effects.Conclusion:Despite their labeling as 100%natural,all products tested in this study contained levels of sildenafil citrate,which was not reported on the packaging.There was a lack of pharmaceutical uniformity among products of the same batch and across different batches.Additionally,the products we tested had cytotoxic effects.These study findings highlight the adulteration,poor quality and hazard of these nutraceuticals.Therefore,strict regulation of these products and standardization of the definition of nutraceuticals are urgently needed.Further,these falsely advertised products should be withdrawn from the market due to potential adverse effects on the health of their consumers.展开更多
基金Project supported by the National Key Technology R&D Program of China(No.2016YFD0401201)
文摘Background: With increasing media coverage of food safety incidents, such as that of clenbuterol residues in pork, food safety has become a major public health concern in China. Rapidly developing online markets attract increasing numbers of Chinese consumers to purchase food on the Internet. However, the quality and safety of food sold online are uncertain and are less reported on. Objective: This research aimed to systematically study the quality and safety of chilled pork from wet markets, supermarkets, and online markets in China. Results: The chilled pork samples from online markets were fresher than those from wet markets and supermarkets based on the surface redness(a* value). Chilled pork contained high levels of nutritional elements, especially the magnesium and phos0-phorus levels in samples from online markets. The levels of heavy metal element residues and veterinary drug residues in all chilled pork samples were within the standards limits. In addition, huge differences existed in the quality and freshness of the chilled pork samples from online markets according to principal component analysis(PCA). Conclusions: Most chilled pork sold in Chinese markets was qualified and safe. It is necessary to establish an effective online market supervision system for chilled pork.
文摘The purpose of this study was to examine the online service expectations of fans of professional sport. Participants were asked about their online experience and the impact it had on a number of variables, including satisfaction and service quality. Three dimensions regarding the online experience were identified. First, the core product represents the set of items influencing fans＇ perceptions of the quality of the game; second, the ancillary products characterizing the derivative products related to the game; and finally, the efficiency of support services used to access the core and ancillary products online. The study found that although respondents reported higher expectations of the core product than of the ancillary products, their expectations of support services efficiency were also very high. Understanding fans＇ specific expectations enables sport organizations to identify and fulfill fans＇ expectations of their online experience. The study＇s results are reviewed in the context of previous research and practice to suggest a future research protocol to aid managers＇ understanding of online fans＇ expectations and satisfaction with service provided.
文摘COVID-19 is a devastating pandemic with widespread negative health,social,and economic consequences.Due to drastic changes in the business environment of tour and travel agencies,firms and marketing managers can now use search engine optimization to effectively position themselves.The study’s main goal is to evaluate the effect of search engine optimization on the market performance of registered tours and travel agencies in Nairobi County,Kenya.Kenya’s tourism ministry and state government work hard to improve the business climate for tour and travel companies.Despite the overall positive image,international tourist market growth rates in Kenya have been 3.5 percent slower from 2017 to 2019 compared to previous years.This was further aggregated by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the year 2020,when the growth rate of tours and travel agencies fell by 65%.The study’s main goal is to evaluate the effect of search engine optimization on the market performance of registered tours and travel agencies in Nairobi County,Kenya.This study adopted a positivist philosophy.Both descriptive and explanatory research designs were used.A self-administered semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 324 registered tours and travels agencies picked from and a sample of 179 were used.Data analysis included the development and interpretation of both descriptive and inferential statistics,such as frequencies,mean,percentages,and standard deviation,and was presented using tables and numerical values.The results of regression analysis established that search engine optimization had a positive and significant effect on market performance of the registered tours and travel agencies picked from a sample of 179.The study recommends that agency management ensure that the firm’s website is easily accessible in order to improve agency performance.Using the internet to gain a large market share can assist tours and travel agencies in improving the performance and income of their websites.
文摘Objective:Nutraceutical products are widely used for their claimed therapeutic benefits.However,falsified or adulterated nutraceuticals present a major health threat to consumers.This study investigates the pharmaceutical quality,safety and anti-inflammatory effects of six male enhancement nutraceuticals that claim to be 100%natural.Methods:Three batches of six male enhancement products were tested to detect the presence and levels of adulterants via high-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC).The pharmaceutical quality of the selected nutraceuticals was tested with near infrared spectroscopy(NIR)and Se De M.The cytotoxic effects of these products on HepG2 cells were determined through cell proliferation(XTT)and lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)cytotoxicity assays.Lastly,the in vitro inflammatory effects of these products were investigated using murine J774 macrophages through cytokine release analysis.Results:HPLC analysis detected the presence of sildenafil citrate,a vasodilator,and the active ingredient in Viagra and Revatio,in all batches of the products we analyzed.Amount of sildenafil citrate ranged from 0.45 mg to 51.85 mg among different batches.NIR assessment showed inter-and intra-batch heterogeneity in product composition.Results of the XTT and LDH assays showed significant cytotoxic effects of the analyzed products.XTT analysis revealed that the viability of HepG2 treated with tested products varied from 27.57%to 41.43%.Interestingly,the male enhancement products also showed anti-inflammatory effects.Conclusion:Despite their labeling as 100%natural,all products tested in this study contained levels of sildenafil citrate,which was not reported on the packaging.There was a lack of pharmaceutical uniformity among products of the same batch and across different batches.Additionally,the products we tested had cytotoxic effects.These study findings highlight the adulteration,poor quality and hazard of these nutraceuticals.Therefore,strict regulation of these products and standardization of the definition of nutraceuticals are urgently needed.Further,these falsely advertised products should be withdrawn from the market due to potential adverse effects on the health of their consumers.
