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The purpose of this study is to identify the structural determinants of e-returns service interactions, examine their impact on online shoppers' loyalty and propose returns service interventions from an interactive marketing perspective to facilitate consumer interaction and repeat purchase intentions with e-retailers.

This study empirically tests the research hypotheses based on cross-sectional survey data collected from Chinese online consumers who experienced interactions during the product returns process.

E-return service interaction includes three determinants: access support, friendly interaction and communication support. These interactions positively impact ease of return, returns satisfaction and customer loyalty. Returns satisfaction is a key mediator in the relationship between return service interaction and loyalty. Access support and friendly interaction have both direct and indirect effects on loyalty, while communication support has only an indirect effect.

This study contributes to understanding e-returns service interaction by analyzing its structural determinants, providing a robust scale foundation and analytical framework for future empirical research. Additionally, this study explores the driving role of e-returns service interaction in forming e-customer loyalty, offering a theoretical basis for the service recovery function of e-returns service interaction. It enriches the application of service recovery theory and relationship marketing theory in the field of interactive marketing.

The COVID-19 pandemic, a sudden and disruptive external shock to the USA and global economy, profoundly affected various operations. Thus, it becomes imperative to investigate the repercussions of this pandemic on the US housing market. This study investigates the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on a crucial facet of the real estate market: the Time on the Market (TOM). Therefore, this study aims to ascertain the net effect of this unprecedented event after controlling for economic influences and real estate market variations.

Monthly time series data were collected for the period of January 2010 through December 2022 for statistical analysis. Given the temporal nature of the data, we conducted the Durbin–Watson test on the OLS residuals to ascertain the presence of autocorrelation. Subsequently, we used the generalized regression model to mitigate any identified issues of autocorrelation. However, it is important to note that the response variable derived from count data (specifically, the median number of months), which may not conform to the normality assumption associated with standard regression models. To better accommodate this, we opted to use Poisson regression as an alternative approach. Additionally, recognizing the possibility of overdispersion in the count data, we also explored the application of the negative binomial model as a means to address this concern, if present.

This study’s findings offer an insightful perspective on the housing market’s resilience in the face of COVID-19 external shock, aligning with previous research outcomes. Although TOM showed a decrease of around 10 days with standard regression and 27% with Poisson regression during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is noteworthy that this reduction lacked statistical significance in both models. As such, the impact of COVID-19 on TOM, and consequently on the housing market, appears less dramatic than initially anticipated.

This research deepens our understanding of the complex lead–lag relationships between key factors, ultimately facilitating an early indication of housing price movements. It extends the existing literature by scrutinizing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the TOM. From a pragmatic viewpoint, this research carries valuable implications for real estate professionals and policymakers. It equips them with the tools to assess the prevailing conditions of the real estate market and to prepare for potential shifts in market dynamics. Specifically, both investors and policymakers are urged to remain vigilant in monitoring changes in the inventory of houses for sale. This vigilant approach can serve as an early warning system for upcoming market changes, helping stakeholders make well-informed decisions.

To find the quasi-static thermoelastic stress and displacement, the proposed model looks at how the microstructures interact with each other and how the temperature changes inside a rod. It uses the fractional-order dual-phase-lag (FODPL) theory to derive analytical solutions for one-dimensional problems in nonsimple media within the MDD framework. The dimensionless equations are used to analyze a finite rod experiencing the heat sources continuously distributed over a finite portion of the rod which vary with time according to the ramp-type function with other sectional heat supplies kept at zero temperature. The study introduces a technique using integral transforms for exact solutions in the Laplace transform domain for different kernel functions.

A novel mathematical model incorporating dual-phase-lags, two-temperatures and Riesz space-fractional operators via memory-dependent derivatives has been established to analyze the effects of thermal stress and displacement in a finite rod. The model takes into account the continuous distribution of heat sources over a finite portion of the rod and their time variation according to the ramp-type function. It incorporates the finite Riesz fractional derivative in two-temperature thermoelasticity with dual-phase-lags via memory effect, and its solution is obtained using Laplace transform with respect to time and sine-Fourier transform with respect to spatial coordinates defined over finite domains.

In memory-dependent derivatives, thermal field variables are strongly influenced by the phase-lag heat flux and temperature gradient. The non-Fourier effects of memory-dependent derivatives substantially impact the distribution and history of the thermal field response, and energy dissipation may result in a reduction in temperature without heat transfer. The temperature, displacement and stress profile exhibit a reduced magnitude with the MDD effect compared to when the memory effect is absent (without MDD). To advance future research, a new categorization system for materials based on memory-dependent derivative parameters, in accordance with the principles of two-temperature thermoelasticity theory, must be constructed.

The one-dimensional assumption introduces limitations. For example, local heating of a one-dimensional plate will not extend radially, and heating one side will not heat the surrounding sides. Furthermore, while estimating heat transfer, object shape limits may apply.

This paper aims to revise the classical Fourier law of heat conduction and develop analytical solutions for one-dimensional problems using fractional-order dual-phase-lag (FODPL) theory in nonsimple media in the context of MDD.

The purpose of this article is to study the relationship between three dimensions of workplace spirituality (inner life, meaningful work and sense of community) and work stress in Mexico and the USA.

Structural equation modeling was used as the statistical tool. The technique for conducting the analysis was partial least squared. The total sample size consisted of 304 individuals from both countries.

Results show that for both countries, inner life and sense of community were found to be insignificant. However, meaningful work was found to be negatively and significantly correlated with work stress for both countries. Results suggest that in both countries, when employees conduct meaningful activities, they perceive less stress.

For the US sample, an important percentage of individuals were part-time workers. This could have an effect on the perception of workplace spirituality and work stress because the employees do no spend enough time in the workplace. Second, compared to Mexico, the majority of the US sample was collected in the southern part of the country.

Results can provide guidance for human resources managers and business specialists to understand the importance of conducting meaningful activities at work to control, manage and prevent stress at work. For instance, rotation at work of employees could be a potential technique for stress reduction.

This study contributes by studying samples from two different countries. In addition, it seeks to understand the relationship between workplace spirituality and work stress.

The primary objective of the present study is to explore the relationship between workplace spirituality and work stress among offshore and onshore employees of the Indian oil and gas industry. The present study also tends to study the difference in the stress level of offshore and onshore employees of the Oil and Gas Industry.

The size of the sample for the present study was 202 respondents. It includes 128 onshore employees and 74 offshore employees of oil and gas companies. Respondents were mainly managers and supervisors working in various departments of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Cairn India, Reliance India Ltd (RIL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) and Indian Oil and Gas Ltd (IOCL). Since the different level of stress is experienced by employees at different stages of the organizational structure, thus study selected population comprising of managers and supervisors since they are believed to face similar work stressors. A variety of statistical tools like mean, t-test, correlation and multi-regression is used for the analysis of collected data.

Results show that all six dimensions of workplace spirituality are significantly negatively correlated with stress for onshore employees. However, the sense of community and gratitude are found insignificantly associated with stress for offshore employees. Stressful offshore conditions and excessive specialization might not allow offshore employees to cherish the community at the workplace and also the virtue of gratefulness. The offshore employees might have a certain level of gratitude and community system, but it is not sufficient for the employees to perceive a lower level of work relates to stress. The result gives the impression that the normal working conditions (onshore workplace) provide adequate opportunity to workplace spirituality to transcend its impact on work stress.

This is one of the pioneer studies that examined the role of workplace spirituality and stress in stress management of offshore and onshore employees of Indian Oil and gas companies.