Hunan Institute of Science and Technology

This study developed an active packaging material by incorporating tea tree oil (TTO)-loaded lotus stalk biochar (BC@TTO) into a chitosan (CS) matrix. Biochar was prepared from lotus stalks via pyrolysis at 600 °C and characterized, revealing a mesoporous structure with a specific surface area of 35.9 m2/g. Adsorption studies demonstrated that BC exhibited high affinity for TTO, following pseudo-first-order kinetics and the Langmuir isotherm model, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 295.6 mg/g. Chitosan-based composite membranes with varying BC@TTO contents (1-7 wt%) were fabricated by solution casting. The incorporation of BC@TTO significantly enhanced the tensile strength, elongation at break, barrier properties (water vapor and oxygen), and antioxidant/antibacterial activities of the membranes, with optimal performance observed at 3 wt% loading. However, higher loadings led to filler aggregation, reduced transparency, and compromised mechanical properties. In vitro release studies indicated that TTO release followed the Avrami model, suggesting a diffusion-controlled mechanism. Preservation tests on blueberries showed that the CS-3BC@TTO membrane effectively reduced weight loss and maintained fruit quality during storage. This work presents a promising strategy for designing bioactive packaging materials with sustained release functionality for food preservation applications.

Purpose This study investigates how social media influencers (SMIs) impact mimicry consumption by applying the heuristic-systematic model (HSM). It explores how the roles of empathy expression and self-disclosure influence consumers’ consumption imitation. Design/methodology/approach A quantitative, cross-sectional survey design was employed. Data were collected from 475 Chinese social media users. PLS-SEM and PROCESS marco were used to test the hypothesized relationships. Mediation effects of SMI credibility and emotional attachment, and moderation effects of homophily were also tested. Findings Empathy expression and self-disclosure significantly enhance both SMI credibility and emotional attachment. SMI credibility, in turn, positively predicts mimicry consumption, supporting the heuristic pathway. In contrast, emotional attachment does not directly influence mimicry behavior, and homophily does not moderate the proposed relationships. However, emotional attachment significantly mediates the effects of empathy expression and self-disclosure on mimicry consumption, functioning as an indirect relational mechanism rather than a direct driver of imitation. Research limitations/implications This study relies on self-reported survey data, which may be susceptible to common method bias and social desirability effects, and lacks behavioral or experimental validation. The model centers on HSM mechanisms without examining alternative mediators. In addition, SMI-level characteristics were not incorporated. Future research should adopt behavioral or longitudinal designs, integrate additional psychological mechanisms and consider both relational and structural SMI attributes to provide a more comprehensive account of SMI-driven consumer behavior. Practical implications SMIs should prioritize empathy expression and authentic self-disclosure to enhance credibility and stimulate mimicry consumption. Long-term collaborations with SMIs who demonstrate consistent expertise, transparency and genuine product use are more effective than relying solely on follower size. Originality/value This study is among the first to apply the HSM to SMI marketing, offering a novel dual-process explanation of mimicry consumption. Unlike prior research that treats emotional engagement and credibility as isolated factors, this study integrates them into a cohesive cognitive-emotional framework. It also challenges assumptions by showing that emotional attachment and homophily may not directly drive consumer mimicry.

Given the increasing uncertainty in the global economy, enhancing urban economic resilience is now paramount to advancing coordinated regional development. As a key force reshaping factor allocation and economic structures, the digital economy’s role in empowering urban economic resilience holds significant theoretical and practical value, especially for closely linked riverine urban agglomeration. Using 2010–2022 panel data of 41 Yangtze River Delta cities, this paper constructs a multidimensional economic resilience evaluation system. Employing two-way fixed effects, instrumental variables, and Spatial Durbin Model, it systematically examines the impact mechanism, heterogeneity, and spatial spillover of the digital economy on urban economic resilience. The findings indicate the following: (1) The digital economy significantly enhances urban economic resilience. (2) Its empowering effect exhibits notable regional disparities, with metropolitan areas and core cities benefiting more substantially. (3) The digital economy strengthens surrounding cities through spatial spillovers, yet some peripheral cities remain trapped in “low–low” agglomeration. This paper offers important insights for global riverine urban agglomerations: promoting the digital economy should prioritize cross-regional governance, enhancing core cities’ leading role, and boosting targeted investment in digital infrastructure and innovation in peripheral areas. This approach is essential for narrowing regional differences and improving overall resilience and sustainability.

Abstract Background Currently, the student population is facing increasing academic pressure and social challenges, with emotional management and mental health issues becoming increasingly prominent. Traditional mental health education mainly relies on lectures or conversations, with a single form and limited student participation and emotional integration. As an educational form that integrates visual expression and creative thinking, art and design courses achieve emotional guidance and self-awareness through nonverbal expression and creative processes. However, their systematic role in emotional management and mental health promotion has not been fully validated. Therefore, by examining the implementation mechanisms of art and design courses, this study evaluates their role in enhancing students' emotional regulation and mental health, offering new insights for psychological interventions in educational settings. Methods A study selected 100 students aged 13-18 with emotional distress (score ≥ 30 on the Emotional Regulation Difficulty Scale) students were randomly selected from two secondary schools in a certain city and separated into an experimental group (EG, n = 50) and a control group (CG, n = 50). The CG received routine mental health courses, while the EG participated in a 12-week art and design course, including themed content such as painting expression, handicrafts, and visual diaries. The Difficulty in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) and General Health Questionnaire (12 item version, GHQ-12) were used for evaluation in three stages: before the start of the course (T0), after the end of the course (T1), and one-month follow-up after the end of the course (T2). Semi structured interviews were carried out with 15 students in the EG. Quantitative data and interview data were analyzed utilizing SPSS 26.0 for repeated measures ANOVA and Nvivo 12.0 for thematic analysis. Results At T0, there was p>.05 in DERS and GHQ-12 scores between the two groups. At T1, the DERS score and GHQ-12 score of the EG were significantly lower than those of the CG (p<.01). At T2, the score of the EG was still lower than that of the CG, and the effective rate of emotional management improvement in the EG reached 76.0%, higher than the CG's 28.0% (p<.001). According to interview data, 82% of students stated that they are able to better identify and express complex emotions through the visual creative process. 74% of students reported feeling a sense of achievement and self-worth during the completion of their work. 68% of students believe that the creative activities in the course help them detach from stressful situations and stabilize their emotions. Discussion Art and design courses can effectively enhance students' emotional management abilities and improve their mental health status, and their intervention effects have a certain degree of sustainability. The art and design curriculum has the characteristics of strong integration, high participation, and easy promotion, making it suitable as an important supplement to school mental health education. Future work will explore the differentiated effects of various age groups and art forms on students' psychological development. Funding No. 25JGYB0157.