Numerical analysis of the warpage problem in TSOP

The reliability and the solderability of thin small outline package (TSOP) are significantly affected by the warpage that is generated after epoxy molding compound (EMC) molding process. This warpage problem mainly results from the mismatch of material properties such as Young's modulus, Poisson's ratio and coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and the geometric structure of each component for TSOP. The optimization of both material properties and geometric structures using the numerical analysis is necessary to reduce the warpage of TSOP. However, there are still some limitations for the numerical analysis to obtain proper results consistent with the practical warpage values. In this paper, the numerical analysis is performed under the assumption of elastic behavior for EMC. Furthermore, to solve the limitations, the material properties at the molding temperature and the degree of reaction rate at the end of the molding process of EMC are considered together for the analysis. This numerical analysis gives the higher warpage values than the measured ones, and is applicable to the practical design of the reliable electronic package.     

Preparation of the conjugated polyene chains with the 1,4-dimethyl substitution

Allylic sulfones undergo the conjugate addition to diethyl chloroisopropylidenemalonate, followed by intramolecular cyclopropanation. DBU-promoted ring opening and subsequent desulfonation reactions of the resulting adduct produce the conjugated polyene chains with the 1,4-dimethyl substitution.     

Performance of GaAs-AlGaAs V-grooved inner stripe quantum-well wirelasers with different current blocking configurations

GaAs-AlGaAs V-grooved inner stripe (VIS) quantum-well wire (QWW) lasers grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition with different current blocking configurations, n-blocking on p-substrate (VIPS), p-n-p-n blocking on n-substrate (VI(PN)_nS) and p-blocking on n-substrate (VINS) have been fabricated and characterized. The VIPS QWW lasers show the most stable characteristics with effective current confinement: one of the lasers shows fundamental transverse mode, lasing up to 5 mW/facet, typical threshold current of 39.9 mA at 818.5 mm, an external differential quantum efficiency of 24%/facet, and characteristic temperature of 92 K. The current tuning rate was almost linear at 0.031 mm/mA, and the temperature tuning rate was measured to be 0.14 nm/°C. Comparison of the light output versus current characteristics of the lasers with different current blocking configurations is presented here     

Performance of asynchronous DS-CDMA using a maximal ratio combiningdiversity over a Rician fading channel

The final closed-form expression for bit error probability (BEP) is presented for a DS-CDMA system using a maximal ratio combining (MRC) diversity over a Rician fading channel. The accuracy of the BEP estimate evaluated by this expression is verified by comparison with a semi-analytic simulation result. The effect that diversity order has on the BEP is also considered for typical multipath delay profiles with different Rician ratios     

Structural basis for inhibition of protein tyrosine phosphatases by Keggin compounds phosphomolybdate and phosphotungstate

Protein-tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) constitute a family of receptor-like, and cytoplasmic enzymes, which catalyze the dephosphorylation of phosphotyrosine residues in a variety of receptors and signaling molecules. Together with protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs), PTPs are critically involved in regulating many cellular signaling processes. In this study, diverse compounds were screened for PTP inhibition and selectively screened for inhibitors with the end product inhibition properties. Among phosphate analogues and their derivatives for PTP inhibition, Keggin compounds phosphomolybdate (PM) and phosphotungstate (PT) strongly inhibited both PTP-1B and SHP-1, with K(i) values of 0.06-1.2 micromM in the presence of EDTA. Unlike the vanadium compounds, inhibition potencies of PM and PT were not significantly affected by EDTA. PM and PT were potent, competitive inhibitors for PTPs, but relatively poor inhibitors of Ser/Thr phosphatase. Interestingly, PM and PT did not inhibit alkaline phosphatase at all. The crystal structure of PTP-1B in complex with PM, at 2.0 A resolution, reveals that MoO(3), derived from PM by hydrolysis, binds at the active site. The molybdenium atom of the inhibitor is coordinated with six ligands: three oxo-ligands, two apical water molecules and a S atom of the catalytic cysteine residue. In support of the crystallographic finding, we observed that molybdenium oxides (MoO(3), MoO(2), and MoO(2)Cl(2)) inhibited PTP-1B with IC(50) in the range 5-15 micromM.     

Bis induces growth inhibition and differentiation of HL-60 cells via up-regulation of p27

Bis (Bag-3, CAIR), a Bcl-2-interacting protein, promotes the anti-apoptotic activity of Bcl-2 and increased levels of Bis have been observed in several disease models. The involvement of Bcl-2 and some Bcl-2-binding proteins in differentiation has recently been reported. However, the relevance of Bis to cellular differentiation remains unknown. The findings herein show that Bis expression is up-regulated during the differentiation of HL-60 cells. To investigate the effect of Bis expression on differentiation, we established Bis-overexpressing HL-60 cells (HL-60-bis). HL-60-bis cells have a low nuclear: cytoplasmic ratio and indented nucleus in Wright- Giemsa staining, and an increased expression of CD11b in immunofluorescence study, indicating the promotion of differentiation. The overexpression of Bis also resulted in a retarded cell growth rate, accompanied by the accumulation of HL-60 cells at the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle, which was sustained during the differentiation process. Western blot analysis revealed that the expression of p27, a representative inducer of cell cycle arrest at the G1 phase, was increased 2.5-fold in HL-60-bis cells compared to HL-60-neo cells. These results suggest that the Bis induced growth inhibition of HL-60 cells promotes G0/G1 phase arrest via up-regulation of p27, which seems to be a prerequisite for differentiation. Further studies will be required to define the exact roles of Bis on cellular differentiation more precisely.     

Improved expression by cytomegalovirus promoter/enhancer and behavior of vascular endothelial growth factor gene after myocardial injection of naked DNA

Direct injection of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene plasmid DNA into the myocardium was shown to induce development of new blood vessels to increase the circulation in the heart of patients with coronary artery diseases. However, such angiogenic gene therapy (via naked DNA) was limited by low level of gene expression. Furthermore, the temporal and spatial characteristics of VEGF gene transfer in the heart are not known. In this study, we demonstrated that a plasmid vector, containing the human cytomegalovirus immediate early (HCMV IE) promoter and enhancer, induces greater expression of gene in the rat heart monitored by gene fused to the chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) reporter, than four different viral and cellular promoters. Interestingly, expression of VEGF121 protein showed an earlier peak, a shorter duration, and a wider distribution than that of CAT only. Therefore, a plasmid vector with an HCMV IE promoter/enhancer provides clear advantages over other previously developed plasmids. Furthermore, expression profile of VEGF121 gene may provide useful information in the design of angiogenic gene therapy in the heart.     

Synthesis of a model system for the preparation of phloroglucinol containing natural products

A model system for the synthesis of phloroglucinol containing natural products was synthesized. Key steps include a manganic acetate-mediated cyclization and the facile conversion of an alkene into a β-bromoenone.     

Design of molecular two-photon probes for in vivo imaging. 2H-Benzo[h]chromene-2-one derivatives

2H-Benzo[h]chromene-2-one derivatives showing appreciable water solubility, significant two-photon cross sections, high photostability, cell permeability, low toxicity, and ability to be converted to a protein TP probe have been developed by incorporating all of the needed functions within a small molecule.