Abstract: An improved Land Grid Array interconnect structure is provided with the use of small metal bumps on the substrate electrical contact pad. The bumps interlock with segments of the fuzz button connection and increase the physical contact surface area between the contact pad and fuss button. The improved contact reduces displacement of electrical contact points due to thermo-mechanical stress and lowers the required actuation force during assembly.

Abstract: An improved Land Grid Array interconnect structure is provided with the use of small metal bumps on the substrate electrical contact pad. The bumps interlock with segments of the fuzz button connection and increase the physical contact surface area between the contact pad and fuzz button. The improved contact reduces displacement of electrical contact points due to thermo-mechanical stress and lowers the required actuation force during assembly.

Abstract: This invention relates to lipopolysaccharide-protein conjugate vaccines with appropriate presentation of conserved inner core oligosaccharide epitopes having improved immunogenic properties. These are based upon antigenic, detoxified bacterial lipopolysaccharides which optimally present an inner core oligosaccharide epitope following removal of at least a glycosidic phosphate of the lipid A region. These partially or completely dephosphorylated antigenic, detoxified bacterial lipopolysaccharides are linkable to an immunologically acceptable carrier and can be used in polyvalent or multivalent vaccines.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of processing microelectronic device substrates, including methods of removing microscratches from such substrates, the methods involving smoothing or polishing the substrate surface in the presence of water, without the application of abrasive particles, and optionally without the use of chemical agents, as well as products prepared from the methods.

Abstract: In a method of fabricating a giant magnetoresistive (GMR) device a plurality of magnetoresistive device layers is deposited on a first silicon nitride layer formed on a silicon oxide layer. An etch stop is formed on the magnetoresistive device layers, and a second layer of silicon nitride is formed on the etch stop. The magnetoresistive device layers are patterned to define a plurality of magnetic bits having sidewalls. The second silicon nitride layer is patterned to define electrical contact portions on the etch stop in each magnetic bit. The sidewalls of the magnetic bits are covered with a photoresist layer. A reactive ion etch (RIE) process is used to etch into the first silicon nitride and silicon oxide layers to expose electrical contacts. The photoresist layer and silicon nitride layers protect the magnetoresistive layers from exposure to oxygen during the etching into the silicon oxide layer.

Abstract: An apparatus and method changes an assignment of a receiver channel element (302a-302n), such as a RAKE receiver finger based on transmit power control information (212), such as a power control bit or other suitable information, that is used as part of a closed loop transmit power control system between a transmitter and receiver. In one embodiment, a transmit power control information generator (204) produces the transmit power control information (212) on a per channel basis based on received symbol energy (210) of a received spread spectrum signal (202). A receiver channel element management module (206), analyzes the transmit power control information (212) and produces receiver channel element control information (214) to suitably change assignment of receiver channel elements, such as receiver fingers, based on the transmit power control information (212). The reassignment of fingers is rapid and provides close tracking of rapidly changing radio frequency environments.

Abstract: The sialic acid component of a sialic acid unit-containing cell surface marker characteristic of cancerous mammalian cells is modified, so that cells normally expressing such a marker express instead a modified sialic acid unit-containing cell surface marker which is strongly immunogenic. For example, the present invention enables, in a portion of patient cells which regularly express GD3 (i.e. various types of cancer cells), the expression of a highly immunogenic surface antigen namely, GD3 in which the sialic acid residues are modified. The modification is suitably N-acylation of a precursor of the sialic acid, so that the N-acylated precursor becomes chemically incorporated in the sialic acid during its intracellular biochemical synthesis. Antibodies specific for the modified antigen, which can be induced using a conjugate of a suitable portion of the modified sialic acid unit-containing marker and a carrier, can then be used to eliminate cells which express the modified GD3.

Abstract: A tailor-assembly approach is employed for synthesis of complex carbohydrates wherein a polysaccharide is degraded and the shorter product obtained from the degradation is subjected to enzymatic modification to add a sugar moiety. The products may be useful in the preparation of a cancer vaccine. In one example, oligosaccharides of the type Ia group B Streptococcus (GBSIa) capsular polysaccharide and multivalent sialyl Lex antigens are specifically described. GBSIa polysaccharide was depolymerized by partial Smith degradation to fragments representing asialo core repeating units. Enzymatic sialylation of these oligomers furnished GBSIa repeating units (from monomer to pentamer). Fucosylation on GlcNAc residues of GBSIa oligomers afforded oligosaccharides that carry multiple sialyl Lex epitopes.