Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide new insights into the reactions and lessons learned with regard to the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of how logistics service providers (LSPs) managed to maintain supply chains resilience and what focus areas have been changed to keep operations functional and uphold financial stability. Design/methodology/approach Based on data-gathering techniques in interpretive research this study collected primary data via semi-structured interviews, interviewing informants from selected LSPs that operate on a global scale. Findings The results show that LSPs have built their reactions and actions to the COVID-19 outbreak around five main themes: “create revenue streams,” “enhance operational transport flexibility,” “enforce digitalization and data management,” “optimize logistics infrastructure” and “optimize personnel capacity.” These pillars build the foundation to LSP resilience that enables supply chains to stay resilient during an external shock of high impact and low probability. Originality/value The results of this study provide insights into how LSPs have managed the downsides and found innovative ways to overcome operational and financial challenges during the COVID-19 outbreak. As one of the first studies that specially focuses on the role of LSPs during the COVID-19 pandemic, this study categorizes the LSPs’ reactions and provides a “lessons learned” framework from a managerial perspective. From a theoretical perspective, this paper discusses the strategic role of LSPs in supply chain management and thereby extends current supply chain literature with a focus on LSP resilience.

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ObjectiveThe aim of this work was to determine the relationship between objective sensory descriptors and volatile flavour compound composition of Polish traditional dry-cured loin.MethodsThe volatile compounds were investigated by using solid phase microextraction (SPME) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). For sensory assessment, the quantitative descriptive analysis (QDA) method was used.ResultsA total of 50 volatile compounds were found and assigned to 17 chemical families. Most of the detected volatile compounds derived from smoking, lipid oxidative reactions and seasoning (46.8%, 21.7%, and 18.9%, respectively). The dominant compounds were: aromatic hydrocarbon (toluene); alkanes (hexane, heptane, and 2,2,4-trimethylpentane); aldehyde (hexanal); alcohol (2-furanmethanol); ketone (3-hydroxy-2-butanone); phenol (guaiacol); and terpenes (eucalyptol, cymene, γ-terpinen, and limonene). Correlation analysis showed that some compounds derived from smoking were positively correlated with the intensity of cured meat odour and flavour and negatively with the intensity of dried meat odour and flavour, while terpenes were strongly correlated with odour and flavour of added spices.ConclusionThe analysed dry-cured loins were characterized by specific and unique sensory profile. Odour and flavour of studied loins was mainly determined by volatile compounds originating from smoking, seasoning and lipid oxidation. Obtained results suggest that smoking process is a crucial stage during Polish traditional dry-cured loins production.

In this work we present solid state data for five host-guest complexes formed by N-(4,19-dioxo-2,8,15,21-tetraoxa-5,18-diazatricyclohexacosa-1(25),9(14),10,12,22(26),23-hexaen-26-yl)-benzamide (1) belonging to the group of benzodiazacoronands, achiral compounds for which chiral crystals were found (J. Kalisiak and J. Jurczak, Cryst. Growth Des., 2006, 6, 20). The X-ray structure was resolved for four of them. It was found that 1 crystallizes in P2(1)/c, P1 and P2(1)/n achiral space groups. Differentiation of molecular packing and the presence of guest molecules within the crystal lattice were analyzed with solid state NMR. An attempt was made to correlate changes in (13)C δ(ii) and (15)N δ(ii) chemical shift tensor values, obtained from analysis of spinning sidebands of 1D and 2D (2D PASS) NMR spectra, with changes in the strength of hydrogen bonding. Quantum mechanical DFT GIAO calculations of NMR shielding parameters carried out on structures with coordinates taken from XRD were employed for signals assignment and verification of structural constraints.