Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Novel large area joining technique for improved power device performance

Conventional techniques for joining a silicon wafer to suitable substrates do not satisfy the demands of future power devices. Therefore, a low-temperature joining technique based on the principle of diffusion welding has been developed. The surfaces to be joined are metallized with Ag or Au, and the molybdenum substrate is coated with a thin layer of silver flakes. The parts to be joined are then sintered together at about 240 degrees C and a pressure of approximately 40 N/mm/sup 2/ within a few minutes. The joining technique does not affect the silicon wafer and accordingly is compatible with conventional power device and IC fabrication techniques. Both sides of the wafer can be joined with substrates even if IC structures are present. This possibility allows an increased surge current. Numerical calculations for different wafer thicknesses have been performed and compared with results on test devices. The technical usefulness of this approach has been proved by additional tests such as thermal cycling. <<ETX>>
Asymptotic Behavior of a Delay Differential Neoclassical Growth Model

A neoclassical growth model is examined with a special mound-shaped production function. Continuous time scales are assumed and a complete steady state and stability analysis is presented. Fixed delay is then assumed and it is shown how the asymptotic stability of the steady state is lost if the delay reaches a certain threshold, where Hopf bifurcation occurs. In the case of continuously distriubuted delays, we show that with small average delays stability is preserved, then lost at a threshold, then it is regained if the average delay becomes sufficiently large. The occurence of Hopf bifurcation is shown at both critical values.
Fields of moduli of hyperelliptic curves

Let F be an algebraically closed field with char(F) not equal to 2, let F/K be a Galois extension, and let X be a hyperelliptic curve defined over F. Let \iota be the hyperelliptic involution of X. We show that X can be defined over its field of moduli relative to the extension F/K if Aut(X)/ is not cyclic. We construct explicit examples of hyperelliptic curves not definable over their field of moduli when Aut(X)/ is cyclic.
Considerations on downlink non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) combined with closed-loop SU-MIMO

As a promising downlink multiple access scheme for further cellular enhancements toward 5G, non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) improves both cell average and cell-edge user throughput compared to orthogonal multiple access (OMA) in the cellular downlink. When NOMA is combined with multi-antenna technology in practice, some aspects are of great interest, such as error propagation (EP) of successive interference cancellation (SIC) receiver and user velocity. This paper investigates the system-level throughput of NOMA with closed-loop single-user multiple-input multiple-output (SU-MIMO) in the cellular downlink and clarifies the potential gains over OMA with SU-MIMO taking into account these practical aspects. Two EP models are presented into the NOMA with closed-loop (CL) SU-MIMO. Their impacts on performance of NOMA with CL SU-MIMO are investigated by system-level simulations with practical assumptions. Furthermore, impact of user velocity on performance gain of NOMA with CL SU-MIMO is also evaluated. Simulation results show that even with the worst case EP model, NOMA with CL SU-MIMO can still provide large performance gains for both low and high mobility scenarios.
Can the adoption of informal approaches to learning music in school music lessons promote musical progression?

The aim of this research was to explore the impact of the adoption of the Musical Futures approach on the musical progression of students in Musical Futures’ Champion schools. The research took place over three years in three phases with 733 students and 28 music teachers completing questionnaires. Data from the interviews with 39 staff and focus groups of 325 students provided greater insights into the questionnaire responses. Overall, teachers reported that Musical Futures had enhanced the musical progression of their students and increased take up at Key Stage 4. In some cases this had led to changes in the qualifications on offer with an emphasis on those which were vocational rather than academic. This created some tensions in catering for the needs of different groups of students who had a range of different musical skills.
The ergodic theoretical proof of Szemerédi's theorem

Partial results were obtained previously by K. F. Roth (1952) who established the existence of arithmetic progressions of length three in subsets of Z of positive upper density, and by E. Szemeredi (1969) who proved the existence of progressions of length four. In 1976 Furstenberg noticed that the statement of Theorem I is equivalent to a statement about "multiple recurrence" of measure-preserving transformations, namely
Knowledge of HIV Serodiscordance, Transmission, and Prevention among Couples in Durban, South Africa

Objective Couples’ voluntary HIV counseling and testing (CVCT) significantly decreases HIV transmission within couples, the largest risk group in sub-Saharan Africa, but it is not currently offered in most HIV testing facilities. To roll out such an intervention, understanding locale-specific knowledge barriers is critical. In this study, we measured knowledge of HIV serodiscordance, transmission, and prevention before and after receipt of CVCT services in Durban. Design Pre- and post-CVCT knowledge surveys were administered to a selection of individuals seeking CVCT services. Methods Changes in knowledge scores were assessed with McNemar Chi-square tests for balanced data and generalized estimating equation methods for unbalanced data. Results The survey included 317 heterosexual black couples (634 individuals) who were primarily Zulu (87%), unemployed (47%), and had at least a secondary level education (78%). 28% of couples proved to be discordant. Only 30% of individuals thought serodiscordance between couples was possible pre‐CVCT compared to 95% post-CVCT. One-third thought there was at least one benefit of CVCT pre‐CVCT, increasing to 96% post‐CVCT. Overall, there were positive changes in knowledge about HIV transmission and prevention. However, many respondents thought all HIV positive mothers give birth to babies with AIDS (64% pre-CVCT, 59% post-CVCT) and that male circumcision does not protect negative men against HIV (70% pre-CVCT, 67% post-CVCT). Conclusions CVCT was well received and was followed by improvements in understanding of discordance, the benefits of joint testing, and HIV transmission. Country-level health messaging would benefit from targeting gaps in knowledge about serodiscordance, vertical transmission, and male circumcision.
Evaluating Payments for Environmental Services: Methodological Challenges

Over the last fifteen years, Payments for Environmental Services (PES) schemes have become very popular environmental policy instruments, but the academic literature has begun to question their additionality. The literature attempts to estimate the causal effect of these programs by applying impact evaluation (IE) techniques. However, PES programs are complex instruments and IE methods cannot be directly applied without adjustments. Based on a systematic review of the literature, this article proposes a framework for the methodological process of designing an IE for PES schemes. It revises and discusses the methodological choices at each step of the process and proposes guidelines for practitioners.
A Simple LMS Algorithm Based Smart Antenna to Solve the Reader Collision Problems in RFID System

Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID), a prominent technology which carries information by radio waves, evolving rapidly as a major and innovative way to meet the growing demand for more powerful, cost-effective and highly efficient technology to wirelessly identify and track goods and assets worldwide. To improve the coverage, read rate and accuracy of this highly prospective technology dense reader RFID systems should be employed where reader collisions are very likely to happen. Reader collision problems are the main constraints to large-scale deployment of the multi-reader RFID systems and the ability to handle this problem efficiently is crucial for the performance, speed, efficiency and reliability of the whole system. In this paper we proposed a simple LMS algorithm based smart antenna technique to solve the reader collision problems efficiently in a dense reader environment. The simulation results show that, the proposed method will be a great approach to solve this problem due to the characteristics such as robustness and implementation simplicity.
Fluctuating levels of personal role engagement within the working day

In this paper, we tested Kahn's (1990) proposition that levels of personal role engagement are influenced by fluctuating perceptions of meaningfulness, safety and availability through the working day. We hypothesized that meaningfulness, safety and availability perceptions would be directly associated with engagement and also that they would mediate the associations between specific job factors, notably job design and fit, social support, and personal and organizational resources, and engagement. A total of 124 participants each completed a quantitative work diary relating to the most and least engaging situations every day within six working days (n = 723 occasions). Multilevel analysis of the findings showed that meaningfulness and availability, but not safety, may be important for boosts and drops in levels of engagement, and that job design, job fit and personal resources play an especially critical role. Organizational resources, co-worker support, and safety were not associated with fluctuations in the level of engagement.
Microtubule reassembly from nucleating fragments during the regrowth of amputated neurites

We have proposed that stable microtubule (MT) fragments that resist depolymerization may serve as nucleating elements for the local control of MT dynamics in the axon (Heidemann, S. R., M. A. Hamborg, S. J. Thomas, B. Song, S. Lindley, and D. Chu, 1984, J. Cell Biol., 99:1289- 1295). Here we report evidence that supports this proposal in studies on the role of MTs in the regrowth of neurites from the distal segments of amputated chick sensory neurites. Amputated neurites collapse to "beads" of axoplasm that rapidly regrow (Shaw, G., and D. Bray, 1977, Exp. Cell Res., 104:55-62). We examined both unarrested regrowth and regrowth after MT disassembly by either cold (-5 degrees C for 2 h) or nocodazole (0.1 microgram/ml for 15-20 min). In all these cases regrowth occurred at 3.5-4.5 micron/min with no delay times other than the times to reach 37 degrees C or rinse out the nocodazole. Electron micrographs of untreated beads show many MTs of varying lengths, while those of cold- and nocodazole-treated beads show markedly shorter MTs. The robust regrowth of neurites from beads containing only very short MTs argues against unfurling of intact MTs from the bead into the growing neurite. Electron micrographs of cold-treated beads lysed under conditions that cause substantial MT depolymerization in untreated intact neurites show persistent MT fragments similar to those in unlysed cold-treated beads. We interpret this as evidence that the MT fragments in cold-treated beads are somehow distinct from the majority of the MT mass that had depolymerized. Collapsed neurites treated with a higher dose of nocodazole (1.0 microgram/ml for 15-20 min) were completely devoid of MTs and regrew only after a 15-20 min delay in two cases but never regrew in 11 other cases. We found that MTs did not return in beads treated with 1.0 microgram/ml nocodazole even 30 min after removal of the drug. It was unlikely that the inability of these beads to reassemble MTs was due to incomplete removal of nocodazole in that a much higher dose (20 micrograms/ml nocodazole) could be quickly rinsed from intact neurites. Beads treated with 1.0 microgram/ml nocodazole could, however, be stimulated to reassemble MTs and regrow neurites by treatment with taxol. We conclude that the immediate, robust regrowth of neurites from collapsed beads of axoplasm requires MT nucleation sites to support MT reassembly. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
A polymorphic tetranucleotide repeat in the CYP19 gene and male breast cancer

The CYP19 gene codes for the aromatase enzyme that is involved in the synthesis of oestrogens. This case–control study examines the relationship between a tetranucleotide repeat sequence in the CYP19 gene and the development of male breast cancer. No significant differences were found between male breast cancer cases and controls. © 2000 Cancer Research Campaign
Revisiting Interorganizational Trust: Is More Always Better or Could More Be Worse?

This study conducts an investigation of interorganizational trust and its positive and negative effects. We consider how positive and negative effects operate differently under two types of uncertainties—buyer dependence and market instability. Trust is studied in the buyer–supplier relationship (BSR) context from the buyer’s perspective. The analysis is conducted based on survey data and secondary archival data from a sample of 133 BSRs. Results show that trust follows an inverted-U shape with performance. There is a point at which the negative effects of trust offset its benefits, and beyond that point, performance declines. The results also suggest that the positive and negative effects of trust become more pronounced when buyers are highly dependent on suppliers or when environmental uncertainty surrounding buyers is low. Trust’s negative effects are more severe for those buyers that are highly dependent and operate in stable markets.
Establishment of a radial glia-like mouse fetal hypothalamic neural stem cell line (AC1) able to differentiate into neuroendocrine cells

The present study describes the generation and the characterization of a stable cell line of neural stem cells derived from embryonic mouse hypothalamus. These cells (AC1) grow as an adherent culture in defined serum-free medium and express typical markers of neurogenic radial glia and of hypothalamic precursors. After prolonged expansion, AC1 cells may be efficiently induced to differentiate into neurons and astroglial cells in vitro and start to express some hormonal neuropeptides, like TRH, CRH, and POMC. Based on the capabilities of AC1 cells to be stably expanded and to develop neuroendocrine lineages in vitro, these cells might represent a novel tool to elucidate the mechanisms involved in the development of the hypothalamus and in the specific differentiation of neuroendocrine neurons.
Unveiling the Mobile Learning Paradox

A mobile learning paradox exists in Australian healthcare settings. Although it is increasingly acknowledged that timely, easy, and convenient access to health information using mobile learning technologies can enhance care and improve patient outcomes, currently there is an inability for nurses to access information at the point of care. Rapid growth in the use of mobile technology has created challenges for learning and teaching in the workplace. Easy access to educational resources via mobile devices challenges traditional strategies of knowledge and skill acquisition. Redesign of learning and teaching in the undergraduate curriculum and the development of policies to support the use of mobile learning at point of care is overdue. This study explored mobile learning opportunities used by clinical supervisors in tertiary and community-based facilities in two Australian States. Individual, organisation and systems level governance were sub-themes of professionalism that emerged as the main theme and impacts on learning and teaching in situ in healthcare environments. It is imperative healthcare work redesign includes learning and teaching that supports professional identity formation of students during work integrated learning.
Dynamic Information Retrieval: Theoretical Framework and Application

Theoretical frameworks like the Probability Ranking Principle and its more recent Interactive Information Retrieval variant have guided the development of ranking and retrieval algorithms for decades, yet they are not capable of helping us model problems in Dynamic Information Retrieval which exhibit the following three properties; an observable user signal, retrieval over multiple stages and an overall search intent. In this paper a new theoretical framework for retrieval in these scenarios is proposed. We derive a general dynamic utility function for optimizing over these types of tasks, that takes into account the utility of each stage and the probability of observing user feedback. We apply our framework to experiments over TREC data in the dynamic multi page search scenario as a practical demonstration of its effectiveness and to frame the discussion of its use, its limitations and to compare it against the existing frameworks.
Immunization With Neurofilament Light Protein Induces Spastic Paresis and Axonal Degeneration in Biozzi ABH Mice

Axonal damage is the major cause of irreversible neurologic disability in patients with multiple sclerosis. Although axonal damage correlates with antibodies against neurofilament light (NF-L) protein, a major component of the axonal cytoskeleton, the possible pathogenic role of autoimmunity to axonal antigens such as NF-L has so far been ignored. Here we show that Biozzi ABH mice immunized with NF-L protein develop neurologic disease characterized by spastic paresis and paralysis concomitant with axonal degeneration and inflammation primarily in the dorsal column of the spinal cord. The inflammatory central nervous system lesions were dominated by F4/80+ macrophages/microglia and relatively low numbers of CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells. In splenocyte cultures, proliferation to NF-L was observed in CD4+ T-cells accompanied by the production of the proinflammatory cytokine interferon-&ggr;. Elevated levels of circulating antibodies recognizing recombinant mouse NF-L were present in the serum, and immunoglobulin deposits were observed within axons in spinal cord lesions of mice exhibiting clinical disease. These data provide evidence that autoimmunity to NF-L protein induces axonal degeneration and clinical neurologic disease in mice, indicating that autoimmunity to axonal antigens, as described in multiple sclerosis, may be pathogenic rather than acting merely as a surrogate marker for axonal degeneration.
Determinationof HemoglobinDerivativeswiththe IL 282 CO-Oximeteras Comparedwitha ManualSpectrophotometricFive-WavelengthMethod

Hemoglobin derivatives as determined with the IL 282 CO-Oximeter correlated well with results by a manual five-wavelength method, which in turn had been checked against established methods for one or two derivatives. Measurement of total hemoglobin yielded almost identical results with both methods. As for oxyhemoglobin, carboxyhemoglobin, and hemiglobin, agreement between the two methods was fair. Although the IL 282 CO-Oximeter has not been constructed for the determination of suifhemoglobin, it appeared that the instrument can still give a strong indication as to the presence of this hemoglobin derivative. Results from the IL 282 for fetal human blood should be used with caution, especially because of the possibility of falsely high HbCO readings.
How to Center Binary Restricted Boltzmann Machines

It has recently been shown that subtracting the mean from the visible as well as the hidden variables of deep Boltzmann machines leads to better conditioned optimization problems and improves some aspects of model performance. In this work we analyze binary restricted Boltzmann machines, where centering is done by subtracting offset values from visible and hidden variables. We show analytically that (i) the expected performance of centered binary restricted Boltzmann machines is invariant under simultaneous flip of data and offsets, for any offset value in the range of zero to one, and (ii) using the ’enhanced gradient’ is equivalent to setting the offset values to the average over model and data mean. Our results also generalize to deep Boltzmann machines. Numerical simulations suggest that (i) optimal generative performance is archived by subtracting mean values from visible as well as hidden variables, (ii) the enhanced gradient suffers from divergence more often than other centering variants, (iii) learning is stabilized if a sliding average over the batch means is used for the offset values instead of the current batch mean, this also prevents the enhanced gradient from divergence.
Initial Mutations Direct Alternative Pathways of Protein Evolution

Whether evolution is erratic due to random historical details, or is repeatedly directed along similar paths by certain constraints, remains unclear. Epistasis (i.e. non-additive interaction between mutations that affect fitness) is a mechanism that can contribute to both scenarios. Epistasis can constrain the type and order of selected mutations, but it can also make adaptive trajectories contingent upon the first random substitution. This effect is particularly strong under sign epistasis, when the sign of the fitness effects of a mutation depends on its genetic background. In the current study, we examine how epistatic interactions between mutations determine alternative evolutionary pathways, using in vitro evolution of the antibiotic resistance enzyme TEM-1 β-lactamase. First, we describe the diversity of adaptive pathways among replicate lines during evolution for resistance to a novel antibiotic (cefotaxime). Consistent with the prediction of epistatic constraints, most lines increased resistance by acquiring three mutations in a fixed order. However, a few lines deviated from this pattern. Next, to test whether negative interactions between alternative initial substitutions drive this divergence, alleles containing initial substitutions from the deviating lines were evolved under identical conditions. Indeed, these alternative initial substitutions consistently led to lower adaptive peaks, involving more and other substitutions than those observed in the common pathway. We found that a combination of decreased enzymatic activity and lower folding cooperativity underlies negative sign epistasis in the clash between key mutations in the common and deviating lines (Gly238Ser and Arg164Ser, respectively). Our results demonstrate that epistasis contributes to contingency in protein evolution by amplifying the selective consequences of random mutations.
Fish, meat, and risk of dementia: cohort study

We obtained data from the PAQUID (Personnes Agees QUID) epidemiological study of cognitive and functional ageing (www.healthandage.net/html/min/paquid/entrance.htm). During the third wave of the study (1991-2) investigators visited 1674 people aged 68 and over without dementia and living at home in 75 parishes in southwestern France and recorded their frequency of consumption of meat and fish or seafood: daily, at least once a week (but not every day), from time to time (but not every week), never. Participants were followed up two, five, and seven years afterwards: 1416 (84.6 %) had at least one follow up visit. All the participants who had lost three points or more on the mini-mental state examination since a previous visit or were suspected of having dementia according to the criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , third edition, revised (DSM-III-R) were visited by a neurologist to confirm the diagnosis. We …