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This purpose of this paper is to propose a recommendation approach for information retrieval.

Relevant results are presented on the basis of a novel data structure named FPT‐tree, which is used to get common interests. Then, data is trained by using a partial back‐propagation neural network. The learning is guided by users' click behaviors.

Experimental results have shown the effectiveness of the approach.

The approach attempts to integrate metric of interests (e.g., click behavior, ranking) into the strategy of the recommendation system. Relevant results are first presented on the basis of a novel data structure named FPT‐tree, and then, those results are trained through a partial back‐propagation neural network. The learning is guided by users' click behaviors.

The purpose of this paper is to study thermal stability, curing kinetics and physico‐chemical properties of polyurethanes systems for application in in‐mould decoration (IMD) ink.

The thermal stability of three Polyurethane (Pu) systems A, B, C were evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The kinetic parameters of the curing reaction of Pu system C were calculated using non‐isothermal curing kinetics analysis, including the activation energy Ea, the reaction rate constant K(T), the reaction order n, the initial curing temperature (Ti), the peak temperature (Tp), and the finishing temperature (Tf). Additionally, physico‐chemical properties were also evaluated such as flexibility, impact resistance, pencil hardness, adhesive attraction and solvent resistance.

TGA showed that thermal decomposition temperature T5 (5 wt.% weight loss), T10 (10 wt.% weight loss) and Tend (decomposition termination temperature) of Pu system C was 344°C, 363°C, and 489°C, respectively. T5, T10, Tend increased by 77°C, 61°C, 4°C, respectively, and the char yield at 600°C increased by 25.1 wt.% comparing with Pu system B. Curing kinetics analysis showed that Ea of Pu system C was 62.29 KJ/mol, 65.98 KJ/mol and 65.95 KJ/mol by Kissinger, Flynn‐Wall‐Ozawa and Ozawa method, respectively. The order of the curing reaction (n=0.90) demonstrated that it was a complex reaction. Moreover, Pu system C exhibited good physico‐chemical properties. The results showed that Pu system C was suitable to apply into IMD ink.

The TGA analysis, curing kinetics analysis and evaluation of physico‐chemical properties provided a simple and practical solution to study suitable resins for IMD ink application.

IMD ink for heat transfer printing technology is highly efficient, relatively low cost, clean and environmentally safe. It has been widely applied into medical and pharmaceutical products, electronic devices, telecommunication equipment, computer parts, appliance panels, automotive parts, etc.

In this paper, the thermal stability and curing kinetics of Pu for IMD ink are reported for the first time. The paper gives very interesting and important information about thermal stability, curing kinetics and properties of Pu coating system for IMD ink application.

The purpose of this paper is to modify light hollow polymer microsphere (LHPM) with titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nano-TiO2) to improve its compatibility with latex and apply the obtained nano-TiO2/LHPM composite particles in external wall thermal insulation coatings.

The nano-TiO2/LHPM composite particles were prepared via vigorous stirring. The morphology and chemical composition of the produced nano-TiO2/LHPM composite particles were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersion spectrum, thermo-gravimetric analyzer and Fourier transform infrared. The performance of this new composite coating was evaluated by checking its stability, density, radiation reflectivity, thermal conductivity and the resulting insulation temperature difference when forming coating film.

It was found that a 9:1 mass ratio of nano-TiO2/LHPM with total 10 weight per cent composite particles in the thermal insulation paint showed low density, good stability, low thermal conductivity (0.1687 W/m·K) and high insulation temperature difference (5.8°C).

The LHPM can be modified by other nanoparticles to improve its insulation performance in thermal insulation coatings.

This work provides a simple, robust, but effective approach to produce new thermal insulation coatings with nano-TiO2/LHPM composite particles.

This method for surface modification of LHPMs is novel and the modified hollow polymer microspheres could be applied to external wall insulation coatings.

The purpose of this paper is to examine Chinese employees' perceptions on their ethical decision making in relation to the workplace guanxi context in state‐owned enterprises (SOE).

Using a qualitative method, two rounds of interviews were conducted with 18 participants in two SOEs “to explore Chinese employees” ethical perceptions and experiences in the workplace. A qualitative thematic strategy was adopted to analyze and interpret the data.

The authors identified three major themes on SOE employees ethical decision making in relation to workplace guanxi: the ethical self; malleable ethical standards; and submission to authority. The authors derived a conceptual framework to outline the relationship between the invisible hand of guanxi and the SOE employees' ethical decision making.

The paper contributes to the business ethics literature by presenting a three‐dimensional profile and a conceptual framework for Chinese business ethics research. It provides an in‐depth understanding of a complex dynamics of guanxi and its impact on employees' ethical decision‐making behavior.

The purpose of this paper is to draw on triadic reciprocal determinism and social exchange theory to examine how “induced-type” and “compulsory-type” union participation influence union commitment and job involvement, and how union participation in the west differs from that in China. It also examines whether the role of both organizational justice and employee participation climate (EPC) functions in the Chinese context.

Cross-sectional data are collected from 694 employees in 46 non-publicly owned enterprises, both Chinese and foreign, in the Pearl River Delta region of China. A multi-level moderated mediation test is used to examine the model of this research.

Union participation is positively related to organizational justice, union commitment and job involvement. In addition, organizational justice acts as the mediator among union participation, union commitment and job involvement. Specifically, the mediating role of organizational justice between union participation and union commitment, and between union participation and job involvement, is stronger in high-EPC contexts than low-EPC contexts.

Instead of examining the impacts of attitudes on union participation, as per most studies in the western context, this research examines the impacts of union participation in the Chinese context on attitudes, including union commitment and job involvement. It also reveals the role of both organizational justice and EPC in the process through which union participation influences union commitment and job involvement.

The purpose of this paper is to put forward a demand chain management (DCM) framework underpinned by the alignment theory and applies it to investigate the fashion apparel (FA) industry in China under the impacts of the latest economic transition.

An exploratory multiple case study methodology involving five Chinese FA firms, each with a different business model and ownership type, was employed. Semi-structured interviews, onsite observations and review of company documents were conducted to collect information for analysis.

Using a conceptual DCM framework as a guide for analysis, the study finds that companies with a higher level of alignment with the external market situation and among the three internal DCM dimensions, namely, market management, supply chain management (SCM), and organization management, appear to perform better under the rapidly changing economic conditions in China.

This study contributes to knowledge by reviewing thoroughly the literature on SCM evolution and develops a DCM framework based on alignment theory that represents the state of the art in this area. By extending the administration-integration-production-development (A-I-P-D) logic set adopted in the alignment theory, this study has also equipped the proposed framework with an empirical tool to measure alignment.

By applying the framework to examine the Chinese apparel industry under the impacts of the latest economic transition, this study provides practitioners in the industry with a framework to help formulate strategies and a tool to measure alignment. The findings of the case study also offer insights to the industry to thrive in the rapidly changing businesses environment with dynamic uncertainties.

This study extends the application of the A-I-P-D logic set under the alignment theory to the SCM field. This endeavor successfully transforms the proposed DCM framework from a theoretical concept to a practical tool to help evaluate empirically the alignment and strategic fit of a firm and potential relationship with firm performance. As the Chinese FA market has increasingly evolved under the impact of the globalization, the findings of this study not only assist the local FA companies in coping with the dynamic uncertainties but also shed light on the future developments of the global FA industry. Besides, the alignment measurement tool embedded in the proposed DCM framework can help enhance the chances of business success during implementation.