Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Low-profile 3D silicon-on-silicon multi-chip assembly

The focus of this paper is multi-chip 3D silicon-on-silicon assembly using low-profile lead-free (Sn-Cu) solder interconnects. Thin 3D chips (∼70 μm thick) containing tungsten TSVs and Cu wiring links were fabricated, diced and precision bonded to silicon substrates comprising ∼20 μm tall lead-free solder “pancake” bumps on Ni UBMs. Modules with up to 24 thin 3D chips were fabricated and yield tested. The electrical effect of sequential joining was studied by adjusting the batch size of 3D chips joined in a single reflow. Four-point electrical measurements on single bump sites as well as chains having >200 bumps/links show a clear shift in resistance as a function of the number of reflows, and this shift is correlated to the amount of Ni consumption at the solder/UBM interface. Yield chain data show a dramatic difference in the resistance shift depending on whether a chain is statistically “healthy” or “out of spec” after the chip is first joined. The results have significant implications for the cost-effective assembly of 3D silicon-on-silicon MCM and chip-to-wafer 3D chip-stacks.
Optimal Stocking Density for Dual-Purpose Winter Wheat Production

Dual-purpose winter wheat production is an important economic enterprise in the southern Great Plains of the United States. Because of the complex interactions involved in producing wheat grain and beef gain from a single crop, stocking density is an important decision. The objective of the research is to determine the stocking density that maximizes expected net returns from dual-purpose winter wheat production. Statistical tests rejected a conventional linear-response plateau function in favor of a linear-response stochastic plateau function. The optimal stocking density of 1.48 steers/ha (0.60 steers/acre) is 19% greater with a stochastic than with a nonstochastic plateau.
Turkey's Path to EU Membership: An Historical Institutionalist Perspective

Scholars have drawn heavily on new institutionalist approaches in the study of comparative European politics and European integration. However, these approaches have been neglected in the study of Turkey–EU relations, resulting in a significant gap in the academic literature. In particular, the extant literature fails to question the significance of domestic political institutional settings and also fails to ask what role Turkey's National Security Council (MGK) played in shaping Turkey's path towards EU membership. The Historical Institutionalist approach, and the associated concepts of path dependence and punctuated equilibrium, can help address these failures by highlighting the importance of two significant phases of Turkey's European policy: the MGK's tendency to rule through states of emergency and its incompatibility with EU membership criteria (1983–1997); and the curtailment of the MGK's powers and the EU's decision to begin accession negotiations (1997–2004). To substantiate the value of historical institutionalism, I will first discuss the utility of the approach and justify its selection as a framework for explaining Turkey–EU relations. I will then discuss, in general terms, the ways in which institutions shape political action and maintain long periods of stasis. I will then demonstrate the utility of the concept of path dependence in researching the interaction between the MGK's use of state of emergency legislation and Turkey's path towards EU membership. The final part argues that the changes in the MGK and in Turkey–EU relations can be best understood with the historical institutionalist concept of punctuated equilibrium
Does devolution make a difference? Legislative output and policy divergence in Scotland

Devolution provides large scope for Scotland to make its own policy. Primary legislation is one measure of this. Scottish legislation before devolution tended to replicate measures for the rest of the United Kingdom, with differences of style. Scottish legislation in the first four-year term of the Parliament shows a big increase in output. There is an autonomous sphere, in which Scotland has gone its own way without reference to the rest of the UK. In other areas, there is evidence of joint or parallel policy-making, with Scottish legislation meeting the same goals by different means. Finally there is a sphere in which Scottish legislation is essentially the same as that in England and Wales. Sewel motions have not been used to impose policy uniformity on Scotland. There is evidence that devolution has shifted influence both vertically, between the UK and Scottish levels, and horizontally, within a Scottish legislative system that has been opened up.
Consulting pupils about classroom teaching and learning: policy, practice and response in one school

This article reports on an ESRC (Economic and Social Research Council) doctoral study which investigated how teachers consulted pupils about teaching and learning in classrooms. Interest in consulting pupils has increased over the last decade; existing research suggests pupils have valuable perspectives on teaching and learning which teachers can usefully draw upon to inform thinking and planning. However, little research investigates the process and impact of consultation by teachers in their classrooms. This study sought further understanding in this area by exploring the consultation practices and responses of four teachers with Year 8 classes in a school with a history of consulting pupils. How would teachers consult pupils within the complexities and constraints of their ‘normal’ teaching routines and responsibilities? Qualitative case studies of two science and two English teachers were carried out over one academic year. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews (with teachers, pupils and school management), document analysis and lesson observation. Data analysis was guided by a systematic inductive approach aided by QSR NVivo. The article focuses on selected findings of the study related to how teachers were able to consult and respond to their pupils in varying degrees depending on contextual factors. It concludes by suggesting issues to be reviewed by school management and policy-makers if significant benefit is to be realised from teachers consulting pupils on classroom teaching and learning.
The motivations and experiences of Australian Football League interstate sport tourists

Abstract Using a self-complete questionnaire, this paper examines the motivating factors and associated tourism experiences of interstate tourists visiting Western Australia who attended an Australian Football League game. The main motivating factor was ‘achievement’ or the associated feeling they have when their team wins, while the least important was the ‘physical attractiveness of players’. This research also identified, however, that far from being a homogenous group of interstate sport tourists, there were some significant differences in their motivations and commitment towards the sport and/or their club, and their travel plans, based on their main reason for travel.
The Optimism Cycle: Sell in May

SummaryOn average, stocks deliver close to zero returns from May through October. We hypothesize that this seasonal pattern is caused by an optimism cycle. With year end approaching, investors start to look towards next year, often with overly optimistic expectations. Several months into the year, the initial optimism becomes hard to maintain and the stock market experiences a summer lull. A global sector-rotation strategy based on this theory appears to be highly profitable. Global earnings growth revisions follow a seasonal pattern parallel to that of the stock market. Investors’ optimism as measured by the initial returns on IPOs almost completely captures the results of the sector-rotation strategy in a separate analysis for the US stock market. All these findings support the optimism-cycle hypothesis.
Comparison of clinical outcomes, patient, and surgeon satisfaction following topical versus peribulbar anesthesia for phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation: A randomized, controlled trial

Background: Both cataract surgery and anesthesia techniques are rapidly evolving to become more patient friendly. However, comparison of topical anesthesia (TA) and peribulbar anesthesia (PA) for phacoemulsification and cataract surgery is limited. We evaluated the clinical outcomes and patient and surgeon satisfaction between anesthetic techniques. Materials and Methods: This randomized clinical trial was conducted between January and June 2012. Patients were randomly assigned to TA and PA groups for surgery. Visual acuity at 4 weeks postoperatively, status of the cornea and the wound and intraoperative complications were compared between groups at day 1, and 1 and 4 weeks after surgery. Patients and the surgeon completed a close-ended questionnaire on satisfaction with analgesia and comfort. The relative risk (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) was calculated. Result: There were 500 patients in each group. There were no significant differences between groups preoperatively. Complications at 1-day postoperatively were significantly greater in the TA group (RR = 1.36, 95% CI: 1.17–1.58). Satisfaction with the mitigation of pain was statistically significantly greater in the PA group compared to the TA group (χ2 = 10.9, df = 3, P = 0.001). Surgeons were more satisfied with PA compared to TA (RR = 1.4, 95% CI: 1.34–1.63). There were more anesthesia-related complications in the PA group compared to the TA group. Conclusions: Patients who underwent surgery with topical anesthetic experienced lower complications by more pain compared to patients who underwent PA. Topical anesthetic supplemented with analgesic medications could help the patient and surgeon during cataract surgery.
Introducing team working–a motor industry case study from Germany

Teamwork is seen as a key component of lean production, and often was and still is viewed as an attack on union influence in the workplace. This case study from Germany, based on its introduction in one automobile plant, shows how trade unions, works-council and management were able to create a team-concept beneficial to both sides.
External financial reporting and management information: a survey of UK management accountants

Abstract The interaction between external financial reporting requirements and management information has been a topic of debate both in the literature of management accounting, associated with the ideas of ‘relevance lost’, and in the literature of accounting regulation, where managerial action has been seen as one source of potential economic consequences. This paper presents the results of a postal questionnaire survey which collected the views of professionally qualified management accountants working in U.K. industrial and commercial firms. The paper documents the results from the survey on issues such as the respondents' beliefs about the influence of requirements for external financial accounting reports on internal systems design and decision-making within organizations. The paper also presents findings on areas of regulatory change having greatest impact on U.K. companies and reporting of information within these organizations. The survey is an initial part of a larger study in which the primary investigation is being undertaken through longitudinal case studies within a number of U.K. companies.
Running from a Bear: How Poor Stock Market Performance Affects the Determinants of Mutual Fund Flows

Using a proprietary data set to study how past performance affects the determinants of mutual fund flows for a sample of load fund investors, I provide evidence that the determinants of fund flow depend on market conditions for both redemptions and purchases. Specifically, I show that, for redemptions, relative performance and risk adjusted performance are important determinants during a period of record flows into mutual funds. Conversely, during a period of poor performance, absolute performance becomes much more important and relative performance and risk adjusted performance become less important. For purchases, absolute performance, risk adjusted performance, and most relative performance measures become more important during the bear market. Copyright (c) 2009 The Author Journal compilation (c) 2009 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
The Effect of Risk Preferences on Household Use of Water Treatment

Abstract This paper uses Mexican household data on water treatment to provide empirical evidence on the relationship between risk preferences and use of preventive health measures. The main finding is that in households with children, more risk-averse mothers are more likely to treat the water the household consumes. This result suggests that while households may face external constraints on their behaviour, personal preferences are also determinants of their choices.
DNA methylation is associated with altered gene expression in AMD.

PURPOSE Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in the elderly. Evidence suggests oxidative stress plays a role in the disease. To assess the potential contribution of epigenetic regulation of antioxidant genes relevant to AMD pathogenesis, we evaluated DNA methylation, a tissue-specific genetic modulation that affects gene expression. METHODS Using the Infinium HumanMethylation27 Illumina platform, we performed DNA bisulfite sequencing to compare the methylation status in postmortem retina pigment epithelium (RPE)/choroid between patients with AMD and age-matched controls. Gene expression was assessed with the Affymetrix Exon Array. TaqMan gene expression assays were used for relative quantification (RT-PCR) confirmation of the expression array results: Glutathione S-transferase isoform mu1 (GSTM1) and mu5 (GSTM5) promoter methylation was confirmed by CpG island bisulfite pyrosequencing. To assess protein levels and localization, we used Western analysis, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence with murine and human samples. RESULTS The mRNA levels of GSTM1 and GSTM5 were significantly reduced in AMD versus age-matched controls in RPE/choroid and neurosensory retina (NSR), which corresponded to hypermethylation of the GSTM1 promoter. mRNA and protein levels were decreased (RPE to a greater extent than NSR) in AMD postmortem samples, irrespective of age. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence confirm the presence of the enzymes in the NSR and RPE. CONCLUSIONS Comparison of DNA methylation, together with mRNA levels, revealed significant differences between AMD versus normal retinas. The evidence presented suggests that GSTM1 and GSTM5 undergo epigenetic repression in AMD RPE/choroid, which may increase susceptibility to oxidative stress in AMD retinas.
Impact of different types of retirement transitions on perceived satisfaction with life.

PURPOSE This study examines how life satisfaction changes as a function of the transition into retirement, distinguishing between different types of voluntary and involuntary exits. DESIGN AND METHODS Perceived satisfaction with life (SWL) was measured among 1,388 older Dutch workers on two occasions, separated by 6 years. During that time, more than half of participants (54%) left full-time employment and entered retirement. RESULTS Those who made a voluntarily departure from the workforce reported higher levels of perceived SWL compared with those who remained employed, whereas the life satisfaction scores of those whose departure was involuntary (due to health reasons, organizational reasons) were found to be the lowest. Other factors that had an effect on satisfaction included positive and negative health changes experienced during the 6-year interim, as well as changes in marital status due to divorce or loss of a spouse. IMPLICATIONS These findings have important theoretical implications for the understanding of factors that shape individuals' perceptions of how they view the quality of their lives. From an applied perspective, the findings have implications for the development of organizational initiatives aimed at helping workers transition into retirement in such a way as to maintain high levels of subjective well-being.
Snow Business: A Study of the International Ski Industry

Part 1: Issues and Problems Chapter 2: The Survival of a Forest Fragment: Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Singapore Chapter 5: Balancing Tourism and Wilderness Qualities in New Zealand’s Native Forests Chapter 6: A Review of Ecology and Camping Requirements in the Ancient Woodlands of the New Forest, England Chapter 7: Ecotourism on the Edge: The Case of Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica Part 2: Strategies and Solutions Chapter 11: Forest Tourism: Putting Policy into Practice in the Forestry Commission Chapter 14: Forest Tourism and Recreation in Nepal Chapter 16: Beyond Carrying Capacity: Introducing a Model to Monitor and Manage Visitor Activity in Forests
The determinants of bid‐ask spreads in the foreign exchange futures market: A microstructure analysis

This paper investigates and analyzes the intraday and daily determinants of bid‐ask spreads (BASs) in the foreign exchange futures (FXF) market. It is found that the number of transactions and the volatility of FXF prices are the major determinants. The number of transactions is negatively related to the BAS, whereas volatility in general is positively related to it. The study also finds that there are economies of scale in trading FXF contracts. The intraday BAS follows a U‐shaped pattern, and they tend to be higher on Mondays and Tuesdays than on other days of the week. Higher spreads at the beginning and end of a trading day are consistent with the presence of adverse selection and the avoidance of the possibility of carrying undesirable inventory overnight, respectively. Seasonal differences in BASs that are related to the delivery date of a contract are also found. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 19: 307–324, 1999
Bon Appétit! A Process Evaluation of a Campus-Based Food Bank

The University of Ottawa Bon Appétit! food bank was established to protect students against food insecurity and hunger. The current study seeks to determine program outcomes through a review of services, initiatives, and activities offered to students. Surveys and semistructured interviews were used to collect information from the 3 levels of involvement: service recipients, program volunteers, and program coordinators. Results revealed adequate program satisfaction at all levels. However, insufficient communication of policy-related issues, poor dissemination of roles and responsibilities, and minimal documentation of best practices were also among the results found. Structural issues are discussed and recommendations are provided.
Determinants of maternal health care services utilization in Pakistan: evidence from Pakistan demographic and health survey, 2012–13

Abstract The aim of this study was to determine the association between maternal utilisation of health-care services and socio-demographic factors among reproductive-age women in Pakistan. We used the sample of ever-married reproductive-age women (n = 7446) from the Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey (PDHS), 2012–13. We measured maternal utilisation of health-care services by using three dependent variables: number of antenatal care (ANC) visits, delivery assistance by a skilled health provider, and delivery in a health-care facility. Around 36.6% of women had made four or more ANC visits, 59% had received assistance from skilled health providers during delivery, and 55.3% had given birth in a health-care facility. On multivariable logistic regression, all three variables were positively associated with education and wealth, and negatively associated with birth order and women’s autonomy. Policymakers and health planners may use our findings to develop efficient strategies, particularly for uneducated women and those with poor economic status, to improve the utilisation of maternal health-care services in Pakistan.
Modelling a Regime‐Shifting Beveridge Curve

type="main"> This paper offers new insights into Beveridge curve analysis by modelling the unemployment–vacancy rate relationship within a Markov regime-switching environment in which the probabilities of curve-shifting are determined endogenously by shift factors. Shift factors include structural factors such as labour market participation and net migration, while cyclical variables include GDP growth, the real rate of interest, and labour productivity. This approach enables us to estimate regime-specific parameters and to assess the role played by these factors in influencing the transition probabilities of switching between regimes. Using New Zealand data, we show that increases in the participation rate have shifted the Beveridge curve inward, while increases in net migration have shifted the curve outward.
Electrochemistry of Tm(III) and Yb(III) in Molten Salts

Pyrochemical processes appeared today gives an interesting option for future nuclear fuel cycles in several aspects. These latter will have to provide high recovery yields for actinides elements, (taking into account the sustainability requirement) to be safe, resistant versus proliferation risks, and cost-effective. This lead to a rather prolific research today, with many innovative concepts for future reactors, future fuels, and obviously future processes. Pyrochemical processes seems in this context to offer significant-established or presumed-advantages: (i) low radiolytical effects versus solvent processes (which increases the ability to process high burn-up, short-time cooled hot fuels); (ii) ability to dissolve new ceramic or dense fuel compounds; (iii) presumed compactness of technology (low number of transformation steps, small size of unit operations) [Uozumi, 2004; Willit, 2005]. Partitioning and transmutation (PT Castrillejo et al., 2005a, 2005b, 2005c, 2009; De Cordoba et al., 2004, 2008; Kuznetsov et al., 2006; Novoselova &
Butyrate attenuates inflammation and lipolysis generated by the interaction of adipocytes and macrophages.

AIM Paracrine interaction between macrophages and adipocytes in obese visceral fat tissues is thought to be a trigger of chronic inflammation. The immunomodulatory effect of the short chain fatty acid, butyric acid, has been demonstrated. We hypothesize that sodium butyrate (butyrate) attenuates inflammatory responses and lipolysis generated by the interaction of macrophages and adipocytes. METHODS Using contact or transwell co-culture methods with differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes and RAW264.7 macrophages, we investigated the effects of butyrate on the production of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and the release of free glycerol, free fatty acids (FFAs) into the medium. We also examined the activity of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) and the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in co-cultured macrophages, as well as lipase activity and expression in co-cultured adipocytes. RESULTS We found increased production of TNF-α, MCP-1, IL-6, and free glycerol, FFAs in the co-culture medium, and butyrate significantly reduced them. Butyrate inhibited the phosphorylation of MAPKs, the activity of NF-κB in co-cultured macrophages, and suppressed lipase activity in co-cultured adipocytes. Lipase inhibitors significantly attenuated the production of TNF-α, MCP-1 and IL-6 in the co-culture medium as effectively as butyrate. Butyrate suppressed the protein production of adipose triglyceride lipase, hormone sensitive lipase, and fatty acid-binding protein 4 in co-cultured adipocytes. Pertussis toxin, which is known to block GPR41 completely, inhibited the antilipolysis effect of butyrate. CONCLUSION Butyrate suppresses inflammatory responses generated by the interaction of adipocytes and macrophages through reduced lipolysis and inhibition of inflammatory signaling.