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The purpose of this paper is to adopt rapid prototyping (RP) technology to fabricate self‐hardening calcium phosphate composite (CPC) scaffolds with a controlled internal channel network to facilitate nutrient supplying and cell growth using RP technique and investigate their in vitro performance.

Porous scaffolds should possess branched channels to ensure uniform cell feeding and even flow of culture medium to promote uniform cell attachment and growth. A new three dimensional (3D) flow channel structure has been designed based on conversation of energy and flow. The CPC scaffold possessing such a channel network was made by indirect solid free form fabrication. Negative model of scaffold was designed by Pro/E software and its epoxy resin mold was fabricated on a sterolithography apparatus and the CPC slurry was filled in these molds. After CPC was self hardened, the mold was baked. The mold was removed by pyrolysis and then the designed scaffold was obtained.

The sizes of the fabricated scaffolds were consistent with the designed. The average compressive strength of the scaffold is approximately 6.0 MPa. Computational fluid dynamics and perfusion culture results showed that such a 3D flow channel arrangement would lead to a more uniform distribution of flow and cells and good transportation of nutrients.

The size errors of fabricated scaffolds could not escape and perfusion methods were difficult to control.

The basic design concept presented showed great promise for use in bone tissue engineering and fabrication method enhanced the versatility of scaffold fabrication. The designed scaffold structure made it possible to keep integrality of the scaffold when direct observation cells inside the channel by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

This study holistically and systematically consolidates the available research on digital reading to reveal the research trends of the past 20 years. Moreover, it explores the thematic evolution, hotspots and developmental characteristics of digital reading. This study, therefore, has the potential to serve as a research guide to researchers and educators in relevant fields.

The authors applied a bibliometric approach using Derwent Data Analyzer and VOSviewer to retrieve 2,456 publications for 2003–2022 from the Web of Science (WoS) database.

The results revealed that most studies' participants were university students and the experimental methods and questionnaires were preferred in digital reading researches. Among the influential countries or regions, institutions, journals and authors, the United States of America, University of London, Electronic Library and Chen, respectively, accounted for the greatest number of publications. Moreover, the authors identified the developmental characteristics and research trends in the field of digital reading by analyzing the evolution of keywords from 2003–2017 to 2018–2022 and the most frequently cited papers by year. “E-books,” “reading comprehension” and “literacy” were the primary research topics. In addition, “attention,” “motivation,” “cognitive load,” “dyslexia,” “engagement,” “eye-tracking,” “eye movement,” “systematic analysis,” “meta-analysis,” “smartphone” and “mobile reading/learning” were potential new research hotspots.

This study provides valuable insights into the current status, research direction, thematic evolution and developmental characteristics in the field of digital reading. Therefore, it has implications for publishers, researchers, librarians, educators and teachers in the digital reading field.

This paper aims to investigate the effect of Cu content and T6 heat treatment on the mechanical properties and the tribological performance of SiCp/Al-Si-Cu-Ni-Mg hybrid composites at an elevated temperature.

The stir casting method was used to synthesize SiCp/Al-12Si-xCu-1Ni-1Mg (x = 2, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5 Wt.%) composites containing 20 vol% SiC. The hardness and tensile strength of the aluminum matrix composites (AMCs) at room temperature and elevated temperature were studied, and the wear mechanism was investigated using scanning electron microscopic and energy dispersive spectroscopy.

Results indicate that the hardness and tensile strength of the AMCs are affected significantly by T6 heat treatment and Cu content. The high-temperature friction and wear mechanism of AMCs is the composite wear mechanism of oxidation wear, adhesion wear, abrasive wear, peeling wear, high-temperature softening and partial melting. Among them, adhesion wear, high-temperature matrix softening and local melting are the main wear mechanisms.

The influence mechanism of Cu content on the hardness, tensile strength and high temperature resistance of AMCs was explained by microstructure. And the results further help to explore the application of AMCs in high temperature.

To improve the high-temperature wear properties of the SiCp/A359 composite, foamed iron-reinforced SiCp/A359 composite (A359–SiCp/Fe) is prepared. The purpose of this study is to investigate the tribological behavior and mechanism of the A359–SiCp/Fe composites at different temperatures (100–500 °C) and loads (7 N, 10 N and 12 N).

The A359–SiCp/Fe composite was fabricated by vacuum-assisted infiltration. The dry sliding tribological behaviors of A359–SiCp/Fe composite were investigated using the ball-on-disc-type tribometer. The worn surface and wear morphology of the longitudinal section were examined using field emission scanning electron microscopy and metallographic microscope.

The critical transition temperature for severe wear in A359–SiCp/Fe composite was 50–100 °C higher than in SiCp/A359 composite. Foamed iron prevents exfoliation cracks from penetrating deeper into the matrix. The friction coefficient stability of the A359–SiCp/Fe composite was higher than the unreinforced composite at elevated temperatures. With the increase in temperature, the friction-affected layer was severely worn, and the wear mechanism transferred from abrasion and delamination to oxidation and plastic flow, respectively.

The preparation procedure for aluminum matrix composites reinforced with foamed metal has been less reported, and the research on the tribological behavior and mechanism of A359–SiCp/Fe composite at various temperatures is insufficient. The foamed iron structure considerably enhances the wear properties of SiCp/A359 composite in elevated temperature conditions.

Prosumers’ creative performance in a co-creation activity is greatly affected by the disclosure of activity information. Extant research has separately examined the impact of participant numbers and the impact of platform transparency, but there is a lack of research on the interaction between the two. However, testing the joint effect of the two sources of information can provide a more comprehensive understanding of individuals’ co-creation behaviour. This paper aims to fill the gap and further reveal the psychological mechanism behind the behaviour.

Three experimental studies were conducted to test the hypotheses.

The results show that a large number of participants will stimulate and inhibit creative performances on untransparent and transparent co-creation platforms, respectively. Moreover, this study found that the effect of the number of participants on creative performance is mediated by arousal on untransparent platforms and by the constraint on idea expression on transparent platforms.

This study advances knowledge of how the number of participants in an activity and platform transparency jointly influence prosumers’ creative performance and the corresponding mechanism. However, the main limitation of the study is that the findings are from scenario-based experiments.

This study provides a more comprehensive understanding of prosumers’ creative performance under the influence of the number of activity participants and platform transparency. The findings can help co-creation sponsoring companies and co-creation platforms improve activity performance by designing better information disclosure strategies, thereby enhancing platform value.

The findings enrich the literature on platform ecosystem and co-creation by integrating previously separate knowledge on the effects of participant numbers and platform transparency. In addition, the findings deepen the overall understanding of prosumers’ behaviour.

This paper aims to investigate the microstructural evolution rules of the intermetallic compound (IMC) layers in high‐density solder interconnects with reduced stand‐off heights (SOH).

Cu/Sn/Cu solder joints with 100, 50, 20 and 10 μm SOH were prepared by the same reflow process and isothermally aged at 150°C. The IMC microstructural evolution was observed using scanning electron microscopy.

The whole IMC layer (Cu₃Sn + Cu₆Sn₅) grew faster in the solder joints with lower SOH because of the thinner IMC layer before aging. Also, the IMC proportion increased more rapidly in solder joints with the lower SOH. In all solder joints with different SOH, the growth rates of the Cu₃Sn (ϵ) layers were similar, and slowed down with increasing aging time. The Cu₆Sn₅ (η) was consumed by the Cu₃Sn (ϵ) growth at the beginning of the aging stage; while it turned to thickening after a period of aging. Finally, the Cu₆Sn₅ thickness was similar in all the solder joints. It is inferred that the thickness ratio of Cu₃Sn to Cu₆Sn₅ would maintain a dynamic balance in the subsequent aging. Based on the diffusion flux ratio of Cu to Sn at the ϵ/η interface, a model has been established to explain the microstructural evolution of IMC layers in high‐density solder interconnects with reduced SOH. In the model, interfacial reactions are mainly supposed to occur at the ϵ/η interface.

The findings provide electronic packaging reliability engineers with an insight into IMC microstructural evolution in high‐density solder interconnects with reduced SOH.

To fabricate the self‐hardening calcium phosphate composite scaffolds with controlled internal pore architectures using rapid prototyping (RP) techniques and investigate their in vitro bone tissue engineering responses.

The three‐dimensionally interconnected pores in scaffolds can facilitate sufficient supply of blood, oxygen and nutrients for the ingrowth of bone cells, tissue regeneration, and vascularization. It is essential for bone tissue engineering to provide an accurate control over the scaffolds material, porosity, and internal pore architectures. Negative image of scaffold was designed and epoxy resin molds were fabricated on sterolithography apparatus. Calcium phosphate cement slurry was cast in these molds. After self‐hardening, the molds were removed by pyrolysis and the resulting scaffolds were obtained.

Eight scaffolds with 54.45 percent porosity were tested on an Instron machine. The average compressive strength measured was 5.8±0.8 Mpa. Cytotoxicity and cell proliferation studies were conducted with rabbit osteoblast. Results showed that these scaffolds were non‐toxic and displayed excellent cell growth during the 2 weeks of in vitro culture.

The resulting scaffolds inherited errors and defects from the molds, such as cracks and dimensional changes.

The present method enhances the versatility of scaffold fabrication by RP. It is capable of reproducibly fabricating scaffolds from a variety of biomaterials.

A new technique based on rapid prototyping (RP) is proposed to fabricate the mould of artificial bone composed of a nontoxic soluble material. The mould has both an external structure that exactly coincides with the replaced natural bone and an internal 3D scaffolds simulating the bone microtubule structure. By injecting self‐setting calcium phosphate cement (CPC) with bone morphogenetic protein (BMP, a kind of bone growth factors) into the cavities of the mould, the CPC solidified and the micropores can be formed after the internal 3D scaffolds is dissolved, finally the artificial bioactive bone can be produced. This approach is better than the traditional fabrication process, which the latter method cannot fabricate an artificial bone with inter‐connective micropores so as to realize the osteo‐induction for lack of bioactivity. Through animal experiments, it shows that the simulated inter‐structure could provide artificial bone with proper voids for the growth of the bone tissue and the quick activation, and hence effectively speed up the bone growth by means of activating osteo‐conduction and osteo‐induction. So, the new method of fabricating artificial bone with biological behaviors is justified.

The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the evolution of Chinese business ethics over time and how it impacts business. While much research attention has been directed toward China and its various industries, the Chinese diamond industry has been largely neglected. This industry is the second in size and fastest growing globally. It is interesting to examine its evolution over time and how external factors affect the firms’ business ethics behavior.

Exploratory field work involving the interview of major players was undertaken, complemented by extensive desk work, was used to create a base for future in-depth research of the secretive Chinese diamond industry.

A paradox was identified in the Chinese diamond industry, namely, that while Chinese businesses tend to follow a relational governance model, China’s diamond industry tends to use rational mechanisms of governance and exchange, a paradox that is explained by mitigating factors.

Future studies should use a quantitative questionnaire with a larger set of Chinese diamond firms to further examine the paradox found. Future studies could also examine whether the transformation from a system based on social networks to a system based on market forces as found in the Chinese diamond industry is an indicator of an ethical and business evolution of the whole Chinese industry. This may illustrate the rationalization of the Chinese economy and its progression toward Western models of exchange as it further opens up to the West.

This paper is a pioneering work on the business ethics and strategy implemented by firms in the Chinese diamond industry.

The purpose of the papers included in this issue is to cover a broad range of contemporary issues in Chinese corporate financial management and therefore provide the readers with important insights into Chinese financial markets as well as the social and economic consequences of firm behavior in the Chinese context.

The first part of this issue is a special section on “Corporate Finance and Corporate Social Responsibility”, which includes three papers that explore various aspects of corporate social responsibility (CSR) from a finance perspective – including the relationship between CSR and the cost of equity, the “insurance-like effect” of CSR and competition in corporate philanthropy. The remainder of the issue includes seven further papers that cover a wide range of finance-related topics, including currency and equity, monetary policy, cross-border mergers and acquisitions, earnings management, overseas investment, information disclosure, social capital and cosmopolitanism. All of the papers included in this issue are based on empirical research that draws on primary and secondary data from Chinese financial markets and from the information disclosures of Chinese enterprises.

The authors are confident that such in-depth discussions and analysis will help researchers and practitioners to develop a better understanding of the issues faced by Chinese managers in the context of China’s economic transformation. The findings reported in this issue will help inform and develop Chinese management theories based on a wide range of Chinese management practices.

Each paper in this issue reports on different aspects of finance, reporting and management in the Chinese context, discussing findings that have both relevance and significance beyond China.