Effect of Conductive Particle Properties on the Reliability of Anisotropic Conductive Film for Chip-on-Glass Applications

This paper describes how the material properties of conductive particles in anisotropic conductive films (ACFs) affect the electrical conductivity and the reliability of ACF interconnections for chip-on-glass (COG) applications. For the conductive particles, Au/Ni-coated polymer particles with a 5-diameter were used. Two different types of conductive particles were characterized with respect to their mechanical and electrical properties, such as ball hardness, recovery behavior, and electrical resistance. In addition, two ACFs were fabricated in the form of a double-layered structure, in which the thickness of the ACF and a nonconductive film (NCF) layer were optimized to have as many conductive particles as possible on the bump after COG bonding. The electrical contact resistance of an ACF interconnection in a COG structure depends mainly on the electrical properties of conductive particles in the ACF. The electrical reliability of an ACF interconnection in a COG structure also depends more on the electrical properties than the mechanical properties of conductive particles under a high-temperature and humid condition. Conductive particles with a lower electrical resistance, higher mechanical hardness, and lower recovery rate show better reliability than conductive particles with a higher electrical resistance, lower mechanical hardness, and higher recovery rate. Cross-sectional scanning electron microscopic (SEM) pictures of a COG interconnection show the deformation of two different conductive particles after the reliability tests. The ACF interconnections in the edge or corner of a driver IC show less reliable joints due to high absorption of moisture.     

Activation of particulate guanylyl cyclase by Vibrio vulnificus hemolysin

Recently we reported that Vibrio vulnificus hemolysin, an exotoxin produced by V. vulnificus, dilates rat thoracic aorta via elevated cGMP levels without affecting nitric oxide synthase. We investigated the mechanism further by observing the guanylyl cyclase activities in cytosolic, membrane, unfractionated, or reconstituted preparations. Hemolysin did not activate guanylyl cyclase in the membrane or cytosolic fraction, while it activated guanylyl cyclase in unfractionated or reconstituted preparation. The increased activity was not inhibited by the HS-142-1, a microbial polysaccharide which antagonizes atrial natriuretic peptide receptor, or 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ), a soluble guanylyl cyclase inhibitor. However, it was attenuated by 6-(phenylamino)-5,8-quinolinedione (LY 83.583), which inhibits the catalytic domain of both guanylyl cyclases, and by cholesterol, which blocks hemolysin-incorporation into the membrane. Removing ATP, a cofactor of particulate guanylyl cyclase, attenuated the activation and ATPgammaS, a non-phosphorylating analog, restored it. These results suggest that V. vulnificus hemolysin activates particulate guanylyl cyclase via hemolysin incorporation into the vascular smooth muscle cell membrane in cooperation with certain unidentified cytosolic component(s).     

Stereochemical influence on the stability of radio-metal complexes in vivo. Synthesis and evaluation of the four stereoisomers of 2-(p-nitrobenzyl)-trans-CyDTPA

Distinct differences in in vivo stability of the two diastereomeric C-Functionalized CyDTPA chelating agents, (CHX-A DTPA and CHX-B DTPA, both racemates), as recently reported prompted further investigation as to why differences in configuration produced striking effects on the in vivo stability of their yttrium complexes. To this end, the four individual component stereoisomers of CHX-A and CHX-B were synthesized and ability to bind yttrium was investigated both in vitro and in vivo.     

High-frequency SPICE model of anisotropic conductive film flip-chipinterconnections based on a genetic algorithm

This paper firstly reports on the high-frequency SPICE model of the ACF flip-chip interconnections up to 13 GHz. The extraction process is based on an optimization procedure, called a genetic algorithm, which is known as a robust optimization tool. The proposed equivalent circuit model of the ACF interconnection can readily be used in SPICE circuit simulations for signal integrity analysis of high-frequency packages. Two different ACF interconnections were studied using the Au-coated polymer ball and Ni-filled ball. The extracted models of the two ACFs were found strongly dependent on not only size and rigidity of the conducting balls, but also on their magnetic permeability     

Catechol O-methyltransferase inhibitor tolcapone has minor influence on performance in experimental memory models in rats

DNA-based immunization is a promising new technique for generating antibodies in laboratory animals for diagnostic purposes in biological science. The main advantages are the elimination of time and labor and the technically demanding steps of antigen purification. The DNA sequence of the protein of interest, cloned in a suitable in vivo expression vector that is administered intramuscularly or intradermally, is sufficient to induce an immune response in animals. We report the induction of antibodies to tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) coat protein (CP) as a highly immunogenic structural protein and potato virus Y (PVY) P1 protein (P1) as a nonstructural protein. The appropriate nucleotide sequences were introduced in a mammalian expression vector (pSG5) and injected intramuscularly into New Zealand White rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). By 10 days post-injection (dpi) a specific immune response was detected against TMV-CP, while it took about 5 weeks for a response to PVY P1. In both cases the antibody titers were significantly above the corresponding pre-immune serum, however, they were considerably below the titer of the matching conventionally produced antiserum. To our knowledge, this is the first report of DNA-based immunization in order to generate antibodies to plant viral proteins, but further improvements are necessary to increase antibody titers before this promising new technique can be introduced broadly in plant science for diagnostic purposes.     

Noise in a point-contact dc SQUID

Measurements of five variations of a toroidal point-contact dc superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) are presented. The energy resolution and other parameters of these SQUIDs are examined and compared with the predictions of the Resistively Shunted Junction model. For these SQUIDs, the measured minimum energy resolution was approximately 2×10^–30 J/Hz. Excess noise in the point contacts was found to limit the energy resolution of the SQUIDs. A comparison between the typical junction parameters and noise obtained for our niobium-niobium point contacts and those of others is given. TheI–V characteristics of the junctions showed the effects of Joule heating. The white voltage noise spectral density was found to have an approximately parabolic dependence on the average voltage for bias currents larger than the critical current. While this parabolic dependence is consistent with heating effects in the junctions, the amplitude of the noise cannot be explained in terms of a heating model. The low-frequency noise of the point contacts has also been investigated.     

Dissolution and reprecipitation of barium at the particulate BaTiO3-aqueous solution interface

The electrokinetic behavior of BaTO₃ particles in an aqueous medium exhibited a hysteresis loop with titration direction. As BaTiO₃ suspension was titrated toward acidic pH, the amount of Ba²⁺ dissolution strongly increased, and in the subsequent titration toward alkaline pH, Ba²⁺ adsorbed and/or reprecipitated on the Ba-depleted BaTiO₃ surface. This dissolution-reprecipitation cycle results in the observed hysteresis behavior. An attempt was made to identify the responsible species of the adsorbed/reprecipitated compound by XPS in conjunction with electrokinetic titrations.