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The benefits of Nitraclean I nitrogen inerted reflow soldering are well documented. However, there has been some debate as to the maximum oxygen level that can be tolerated by different types of paste if those benefits are to be realised. It is demonstrated that, for all paste types, solder balls decrease and the spread factor increases with increasing oxygen level, but that it has little effect on either joint strength or microstructure. It is concluded that for RMApastes a maximum oxygen level of 1000 ppm is required and that for low residue pastes the level needs to be reduced to 200 ppm for optimum results.

This paper develops a plausible software availability model for operational use. In particular, we consider two kinds of restoration scenarios; one involves the debugging activity and the other does not involve the debugging activity. The time‐dependent behavior of the software system during the operation phase is described by a Markov process. Several stochastic quantities for software availability measurement are derived from this model. Finally, numerical examples are shown to illustrate software availability analyses.

It is important to take into account the trade‐off between hardware and software systems when total computer‐system reliability/performance is evaluated and assessed. Develops an availability model for a hardware‐software system. The system treated here consists of one hardware and one software subsystem. For the software subsystem, in particular, it is supposed that: the restoration actions are not always performed perfectly; the restoration times for later software failures become longer; and reliability growth occurs in the perfect restoration action. The hardware‐ and software‐failure occurrence phenomena are described by a constant and a geometrically decreasing hazard rate, respectively. The time‐dependent behavior of the system is described by a Markov process. Useful expressions for several quantitative measures of system performance are derived from this model. Finally, numerical examples are presented for illustration of system availability measurement and assessment.

This paper aims to study the influence of reflow atmosphere and placement accuracy on the solderability of 01005 capacitor/SAC305 solder joints.

The 01005 capacitors were mounted on OSP-coated pads, and the samples were fabricated in four different atmospheres, i.e. 200 ppm O₂/N₂, 1,000 ppm O₂/N₂, 3,000 ppm O₂/N₂ and air. After the reflow process, visual inspection and X-ray detection were carried out to examine the solder joint shapes and possible defects. Some of the samples fabricated in different conditions were cross-sectioned and the solder joint microstructures were analyzed. On the other hand, besides placing the components on their normal pad positions, a 50 per cent offset of the x-axis (long axis) or y-axis (short axis) was introduced into the chip mounter programs to evaluate the 01005 capacitor’s assembly sensitivity to placement accuracy. The process-induced defects were investigated.

Experimental results indicated that an N₂-based protective atmosphere was necessary for 01005 type assembly, as it could obviously improve the 01005 solder joint quality, compared with the air condition. The protective atmosphere had little effect on the appearance, quality and microstructure of solder joints when the oxygen concentration was below 3,000 ppm. But a very low oxygen concentration could increase the risk of tombstoning defects for the assembly process. The N₂-based protective atmosphere containing 1,000-2000 ppm O₂ was acceptable and appropriate for the assembly of tiny components.

The results of this work provide a set of reflow process parameters and recommendations for 01005 size component assembly in manufacturing.

This paper explores the adaptability of buildings in Japan from the perspective of three distinct practice typologies: large general contractors, large architectural design firms, and small design ateliers. The paper illustrates the cultivation of adaptability in Japan revealing a maturing of concepts into current innovations, trends, priorities, and obstacles in relation to adaptability in design. The paper contextualizes the situation by reviewing the evolution of residential development in support of building adaptability, and the ways in which these policies and concepts have shaped practice and transcended residential design. This evolution is then explored through non-residential case studies undertaken by the three practice types, and supported through a review of critical themes emerging from the interviews. The importance of particular physical characteristics are examined including storey height, location of services, planning modules and structural spacing/spans. The interviews expose the critical relationship between adaptability and different social variables - the state of the market, the role of planning regulations and other legal frameworks; as well as, the misconceptions and variations in the perceptions on the role and meaning adaptability has in practice. The paper is concluded by revealing the lessons learnt, including the unfolding of dependencies outside the ‘black box’ of adaptability (e.g. practice culture, material and, stakeholder mindsets) and the requirement of effective communication of concepts to allow an informed conversation between professionals and with clients and users. Like many other philosophical design concepts in complex processes, adaptability benefits from a mutual understanding, good relationships, communication, integration, and shared goals amongst team members.

To evaluate in the first stage, the efficiency of changing the nature and the length of diols on the properties of perfectly hard sequences polyurethanes (PU). In the second, the thermal properties of a new series of segmented PU with different concentrations of soft sequences were determined.

The synthesis of segmented PU has been realised in two stages known as the pre‐polymer method. Various compositions of PU were obtained by keeping the poly(tetramethylene glycol) – PTMG molecular weights constant, but varying its concentration. The products obtained were characterised by IR, NMR, gel permeation chromatography and studied by differential scanning calorimetry.

The level of phase segregation depends on several parameters, especially the nature of the soft segment and its average molecular weight, nature of the hard sequence and the number of hydrogen bonds established in the PU sequences.

The segmented PU obtained were synthesised from PTMG of number molecular weight 2,000. They could also be synthesised from PTMG of molecular weight 600, 1,000, 2,000, 4,000, etc. The effect of change of PTMG molecular weight on PU properties could also be studied.

Better understanding of the morphology of segmented PU and its effect in the practical domains.

Novel perfectly hard sequences PU have been synthesised and characterised. The effect of soft sequence nature and concentration on the phase segregation in these new series of segmented PU is discussed.

The purposes of this study are to identify the ways that luxury fashion brands can leverage in metaverse retailing, and give insights to practitioners in the fashion industry who are planning to launch metaverse retailing.

To offer a balanced view of available evidence, this study adopted a literature review approach and attempted to collect all existing academic journal articles on the issues related to metaverse retailing and luxury fashion brands. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in electronic databases Google Scholar, Web of Science, Scopus, Pro Quest and Science Direct from January 2023 to April 2024. Based on the results of the research in literature, real-life examples of luxury fashion brands were used to explain the ways that luxury fashion brands in the metaverse retailing can be put into practice.

The findings have revealed that there are many ways that luxury fashion brands can leverage in the metaverse retailing. The fusion of metaverse-related technologies provides brands with a wide platform of choices that can create immersive, personalized marketing experiences for customers. Four roles of metaverse are identified: (1) enhance of immersive experience; (2) provide big data interface to smart decision-making; (3) form high-fidelity simulated space; and (4) maintenance economic system and making of identification. To further enhance the four roles of metaverse, four types of technologies and 15 components for metaverse can be adopted by luxury fashion brands.

While this paper provides a literature review and real-life examples of luxury fashion brands in the metaverse retailing to explain the findings, further research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of current efforts in the development of luxury fashion brands in the metaverse retailing through collecting both quantitative and qualitative data. Also, future studies may attempt to explore the challenges of investigating consumers in response to luxury fashion brands in the metaverse retailing.

The metaverse is turning imagination into reality through the integration of multiple technologies and is gaining momentum in tech. With technology leading the way, business leaders and brands must not only rethink retail but also bring immersive shopping experiences into the future. Metaverse has immense potential to transform the retail industry, thus the leading global and local firms must embrace innovation and new technologies, and prioritize “metaverse transformation” for their business. Based on the results of this study, some emerging practices pertaining to metaverse retailing are provided.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, it would seem that this is the first work that conducts a literature review of the relevant academic journal articles addressed to the practitioners or managerial audiences in the area of luxury fashion industry who are concerned about the development of metaverse retailing. This paper identifies the ways that luxury fashion brands can leverage in the metaverse retailing and gives insights to practitioners in the luxury fashion industry who are planning to launch metaverse retailing.

Japan has had four periods of public sector reform since World War II. This chapter discusses the leadership for reform during the occupation period, the high economic growth period, the low economic growth period and the search for a ‘new’ Japan under various present difficulties. Reforms reflect the priorities of the time and interests of prime ministers, whose style of functioning also affects how public sector reforms are advanced. During the occupation period, the Administrative Management Agency was established in the Prime Minister’s Office and was responsible for the overall management of national government organizations. It was staffed by civil servants who were experts in their areas. Since the 1980s, furthering privatization, deregulation and reorganization, advisory councils for the prime minister were also used, involving influential business leaders and scholars.

This chapter shows that political leadership, especially that of the prime minister and minister in charge of administrative reform, is important in deciding on highly political issues, to persuade or direct politicians and administrators to follow the leadership, to inspire and get the support of the general public and to ensure the support or acceptance of those concerned. Where prime ministers are not directly involved, leadership is provided by professional administrators under the general support of the prime minister and the minister responsible for administrative reforms. It is also pointed out that reform sustainability occurs through institutionalization, incentives, management and producing meaningful results.

As forestry contributes to the reduction of greenhouse gases by CO₂ fixation, in recent years, use of wood in buildings has attracted all over the world more attention. However, construction of large wood structures is almost inexistent within urban areas in Japan. This is due to the Japanese law on fire protection of wood buildings in cities, which is considered very strict with severe requirements. This paper aims to present a research work relative to the development of one-hour fire-resistant wood structural elements for buildings in cities. The developed elements are composed of three layers made of laminated timber.

These wood structural elements, made of glued laminated timber with self-charring-stop, have sufficient fire resistance during and after a fire and comply with the strict Japanese standard for wood structural elements, which stipulates that such elements have to withstand the whole dead-load of concerned buildings after fire. To comply with such requirements, new elements of glued laminated timber with self-charring-stop layer were developed, and their performance was confirmed. Several fire-resistant tests conducted on columns, beams, column-beam joints, connections between beams and walls and beams with holes were carried out.

All tests proved that the elements have sufficient fire resistance. No damage was found out at the load-bearing part of the elements after testing. As the developed elements have two layers protecting the load-bearing part, the temperature in the load-bearing part could be retained below 260°C (carbonization temperature) and provide the elements with a sufficient fire resistance for 1 h.

These wood structural elements have already been applied in six projects, where large-size wooden buildings were constructed in urban areas in Japan.

The proposed structural elements use a novel technique. Every wooden element is composed of three layers made of glued laminated timber. The elements have a typical performance of self-charring-stop after fire without need for water of firefighters. More technologies related to these elements, including column-beam joints and beams with holes and effect of crack, were also developed to design and construct safe wooden buildings.

The purpose of this study is to provide a new perspective for effective management of the merger and acquisition (M&A) process by making use of a case study of a merger in the Japanese pharmaceutical industry. As corporate governance and culture are notably employee‐oriented in Japanese firms, the paper seeks to explore whether M&As in the industry may follow different paths from those in Western companies and lead to competitive advantage.

The paper examines the case of a merger of a Japanese pharmaceutical company, Astellas Pharma, which was formed as a result of one of the largest M&As in Japanese M&A history. The case is analyzed in line with previous theories on M&A process management.

The case was characterized by a strong momentum created by a core merger team consisting of a few members of management and workforce representatives, and the merger process was facilitated by both top‐down leadership and ground‐level support from the workforce. While broad engagement and non‐rapid rationalization of the workforce can slow the execution of the merger process and delay efficiency savings, it can also consistently drive the merger process and place the merged firm on a solid foundation with strong commitment from all levels.

This study suggests a new mode of the M&A process by focusing on a particular merger case of a Japanese pharmaceutical company. The mechanisms observed in the case should be applied with appropriate modifications to the M&As of Western companies.