Effects of high temperature annealing on the device characteristics of Ga0.52In0.48P/GaAs and Al0.52In0.48P/GaAs heterojunction bipolar transistors

GaInP/GaAs and AlInP/GaAs heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) structures were grown by low pressure metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy and annealed at various temperatures up to 675°C for 15 min. Subsequent comparisons with HBTs fabricated on both annealed and unannealed control samples showed no effects for annealing up to and including 575°C, but significant changes in the electrical characteristics were observed at an annealing temperature of 675°C. For the GaInP/GaAs devices, the base current increased by a significant amount, reducing the gain and increasing the base current ideality factor from 1.07 to 1.9. Photoluminescence and electrical measurements on the structures indicated that both the emitter and base were affected by an increase in the recombination times in those regions. These effects were attributed to an out-diffusion of hydrogen from the base during annealing. The emitter of the AlInP/GaAs HBT was affected less by the hydrogen diffusion because of the larger bandgap. These observations have important implications for device performance dependence on the details of the temperature/time profile subsequent to the base growth.     

Electron mobility in degenerate tellurium doped In0.53Ga0.47As LPE layers

Tellurium doped In0.53Ga0.47As epitaxial layers have been grown by LPE in the range n=1018?4×1019 cm?3; the distribution coefficient of tellurium was found to be 0.1. These layers exhibit a two to three times higher mobility than InP or GaAs doped to the same level. Theoretically calculated values of mobility taking account of the degenerate and nonparabolic conduction band conditions are compared with the experimental data.     

740 nm InP/GaInP quantum-dot laser with 190 A cm/sup -2/ room temperature threshold current density

InP quantum-dot lasers grown on GaAs substrates and emitting in the 730-740 nm band with threshold current density as low as 190 A cm/sup -2/ for a 2000 /spl mu/m-long device with uncoated facets are reported.     

Processing and reliability of fast-flow, snap-cure underfills. I.Processing and moisture sensitivity

This series of articles studies the processing, moisture sensitivity, reliability, and failure mode analysis of a number of commercial fast-flow, snap-cure underfill materials. It includes data on process analysis, processing times, and reliability of the test vehicles in air-to-air thermal cycling (-55°C to 125°C), liquid to liquid thermal shock (-55°C to 125°C), and J Standard 020 Revision A Level 3 Moisture Sensitivity Preconditioning followed by reliability testing. Samples cured using a second reflow pass are compared to baseline samples cured in a standard batch oven based on the underfill manufacturer's recommended cure schedule. Results from the processing of these new materials have shown a greatly reduced flow time from earlier generation underfill materials as all of these materials had flow times of less than 30 s under 5-mm test die. Through differential scanning calorimetry analysis, it was shown that materials requiring less than 8 min to cure exhibited at least 95% conversion (percentage of material cured) through the modified second side renew profile. Some of these commercial underfills have also passed J Standard 020 Revision A Level 3 Moisture Sensitivity testing. Specifically in this paper, the flip chip processing, underfill processing, moisture preconditioning, and preconditioning failure modes are presented     

Investigating Biomarkers for USH2A Retinopathy Using Multimodal Retinal Imaging

Pathogenic mutations in USH2A are a leading cause of visual loss secondary to non-syndromic or Usher syndrome-associated retinitis pigmentosa (RP). With an increasing number of RP-targeted clinical trials in progress, we sought to evaluate the photoreceptor topography underlying patterns of loss observed on clinical retinal imaging to guide surrogate endpoint selection in USH2A retinopathy. In this prospective cross-sectional study, twenty-five patients with molecularly confirmed USH2A-RP underwent fundus autofluorescence (FAF), spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (AOSLO) retinal imaging. Analysis comprised measurement of FAF horizontal inner (IR) and outer (OR) hyperautofluorescent ring diameter; SD-OCT ellipsoid zone (EZ) and external limiting membrane (ELM) width, normalised EZ reflectance; AOSLO foveal cone density and intact macular photoreceptor mosaic (IMPM) diameter. Thirty-two eyes from 16 patients (mean age ± SD, 36.0 ± 14.2 years) with USH2A-associated Usher syndrome type 2 (n = 14) or non-syndromic RP (n = 2) met the inclusion criteria. Spatial alignment was observed between IR-EZ and OR-ELM diameters/widths (p < 0.001). The IMPM border occurred just lateral to EZ loss (p < 0.001), although sparser intact photoreceptor inner segments were detected until ELM disruption. EZ width and IR diameter displayed a biphasic relationship with cone density whereby slow cone loss occurred until retinal degeneration reached ~1350 μm from the fovea, beyond which greater reduction in cone density followed. Normalised EZ reflectance and cone density were significantly associated (p < 0.001). As the strongest correlate of cone density (p < 0.001) and best-corrected visual acuity (p < 0.001), EZ width is the most sensitive biomarker of structural and functional decline in USH2A retinopathy, rendering it a promising trial endpoint.     

Transplantation for end stage liver disease related to alpha 1 antitrypsin

Alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency (AT) is an autosomal recessive disease associated with chronic liver disease in adults and children and emphysema in adults. The disease is one of the most common inherited disorders of the Caucasian population of North Europe and North America and is the most common genetic reason for pediatric orthotopic liver transplantation (OLTx), although it is a rare indication in adults. The natural history of the disease is unpredictable and the pathogenesis of the liver injury unclear. Thirty-five patients with histologically apparent alpha 1 AT accumulation in the liver (22 adults, 13 children) have been transplanted in this center. Clinical features were correlated with the pretransplant phenotype, serum alpha 1 antitrypsin levels and potential precipitating factors. All children were PiZZ homozygotes, most of whom had presented with neonatal hepatitis. The majority of adult patients were heterozygotes presenting with portal hypertension and liver cirrhosis. Current one-year posttransplant survival figures are 73% for adults and 87.5% for children. Replacement of the cirrhotic liver results in acquisition of the donor phenotype, a rise in serum levels of alpha 1 antitrypsin, and apparent prevention of associated disease.     

Actinoplanic acids A and B as novel inhibitors of farnesyl-protein transferase

Actinoplanic acids A and B are macrocyclic polycarboxylic acids that are potent reversible inhibitors of farnesyl-protein transferase. Actinoplanic acids A and B were isolated from Actinoplanes sp. MA 7066 while actinoplanic acid B was isolated from both MA 7066 and Streptomyces sp. MA 7099. Actinoplanic acids A and B are competitive with respect to farnesyl diphosphate and are selective inhibitors of farnesyl-protein transferase because they do not inhibit geranylgeranyl-protein transferase type 1 or squalene synthase. MA 7066 is believed to be a novel species of actinomycetes while MA 7099 is believed to be a novel strain of Streptomyces violaceusniger on the basis of morphological, biochemical and chemotaxonomic characteristics as well as its production of actinoplanic acids.     

The effects of cytotoxic entorhinal lesions and electrolytic medial septal lesions on the acquisition and retention of a spatial working memory task

This study assesses how social desirability affects responses in clinical self-report inventories. Six hundred items gathered from four normal personality questionnaires were adapted to devise a pre-experimental personality questionnaire (pre-EMHQ). Results obtained from administering Ko's Mental Health Questionnaire (KMHQ) and the pre-EMHQ to separate samples were the proportion of individuals answering "true" to each item (i.e., P(t)) and the social desirability scale value (i.e., SDSV) of each item. The Experimental Mental Health Questionnaire (EMHQ) was established from the pre-EMHQ by closely matching the P(t)s and the SDSVs of the two questionnaires. Administering the KMHQ and the EMHQ concurrently to another sample provided results for factor analysis and other statistical analyses. The SDSVs and the P(t)s for each of the KMHQ items certainly displayed a linearly increasing relation. The two sets of corresponding subscales also correlated significantly. By applying the polynomial regression analysis, the tendency to score might be expressed as a quadratic function of SDSVs. Two iterative principal-factor analyses of the two sets of subscales each resulted in two factors, and Factor 1 is similar in both the KMHQ and the EMHQ. In brief, social desirability plays a critical role in affecting responses in a clinical self-report inventory. The factors involved and suggestions proposed will be of value for further research.