Accelerate Your 3D X-ray Failure Analysis by Deep Learning High Resolution Reconstruction

Over the past decade, 3D X-ray technique has played a critical role in semiconductor package failure analysis (FA), primarily owing to its non-destructive nature and high resolution capability [1,2]. As novel complex IC packages soar in recent years [3,4], X-ray failure analysis faces increasing challenges in imaging new advanced packages because IC interconnects are more densely packed in larger platforms. It takes several hours to overnight to image fault regions at high resolution or the crucial details of a defect remain undetected. A high-productivity X-ray solution is required to substantially speed up data acquisition while maintaining image quality. In this paper, we propose a new deep learning high-resolution reconstruction (DLHRR) method, capable of speeding up data acquisition by at least a factor of four through the implementation of pretrained neural networks. We will demonstrate that DLHRR extracts signals from low-dose data more efficiently than the conventional Feldkamp-Davis-Kress (FDK) method, which is sensitive to noise and prone to the aliasing image artifacts. Several semiconductor packages and a commercial smartwatch battery module will be analyzed using the proposed technique. Up to 10x scan throughput improvement was demonstrated on a commercial IC package. Without the need of any additional X-ray beam-line hardware, the proposed method can provide a viable and affordable solution to turbocharge X-ray failure analysis.

The structure of natively iodinated bovine thyroglobulin

Thyroglobulin is a homodimeric glycoprotein that is essential for the generation of thyroid hormones in vertebrates. Upon secretion into the lumen of follicles in the thyroid gland, tyrosine residues within the protein become iodinated to produce monoiodotyrosine (MIT) and diiodotyrosine (DIT). A subset of evolutionarily conserved pairs of DIT (and MIT) residues can then engage in oxidative coupling reactions that yield either thyroxine (T4; produced from coupling of a DIT `acceptor' with a DIT `donor') or triiodothyronine (T3; produced from coupling of a DIT acceptor with an MIT donor). Although multiple iodotyrosine residues have been identified as potential donors and acceptors, the specificity and structural context of the pairings (i.e. which donor is paired with which acceptor) have remained unclear. Here, single-particle cryogenic electron microscopy (cryoEM) was used to generate a high-resolution reconstruction of bovine thyroglobulin (2.3 Å resolution in the core region and 2.6 Å overall), allowing the structural characterization of two post-reaction acceptor–donor pairs as well as tyrosine residues modified as MIT and DIT. A substantial spatial separation between donor Tyr149 and acceptor Tyr24 was observed, suggesting that for thyroxine synthesis significant peptide motion is required for coupling at the evolutionarily conserved thyroglobulin amino-terminus.

The role of Medieval road operation on cultural landscape transformation

Connecting pathways are essential for cultural and economic exchange. Commonly, historians investigate the role of routes for cultural development, whereas the environmental impacts of historical routes attract less attention. Here, we present a high-resolution reconstruction of the impact of the major trade route via Marchionis in the southern Baltic lowlands on landscape evolution since more than 800 years. We combine precisely dated annually laminated sediments from Lake Czechowskie alongside via Marchionis and pollen data at 5-year resolution together with historical data. The transformation from a quasi-natural to a cultural landscape occurred in three phases (1) an early phase until the mid-fourteenth century with slowly increasing human impact. (2) an intensification of environmental disturbance until (3) the mid-nineteenth century when via Marchionis became a modern traffic route with strong environmental impacts. Superimposed on the long-term development were repeated interruptions by short-term downturns related to societal crisis and political decisions.

High-resolution reconstruction and deconvolution of array detector images

Array detector allows a resolution gain for confocal microscopy by combining several images acquired by 32 sub-detectors. A single high resolution image is generally obtained by spatially re-assigning the signal from the 32 sub-detectors and applying a deconvolution procedure. Alternative methods have been proposed to produce high resolution images by linearly combining the signals of sub-detectors. We propose here a novel method that deconvolves directly the stack constituted of 32 spatially re-assigned detectors signals. We demonstrate on both calibration slides and real data that the proposed method allows to produce more homogeneous, well-contrasted, high-resolution images than those obtained with previous methods. All the tested methods have been implemented in an open source software which can be be downloaded for free.

The role of Medieval road operation on cultural landscape transformation

Connecting pathways are essential for cultural and economic exchange and play an important role in human life. Commonly, historians investigate the role of routes for cultural development, whereas the environmental consequences of historical route construction attract less attention. Here we present, for the first time, a high-resolution reconstruction of the impact of the major trade route via Marchionis in the southern Baltic lowlands on landscape evolution since its construction more than 800 years ago. We utilize precisely dated annually laminated lake sediments from Lake Czechowskie located alongside Via Marchionis to establish multiproxy data at 5-year resolution for an integrated interpretation with historical data. The transformation from a quasi-natural to a cultural landscape was promoted by the operation of Via Marchionis and occurred in three main phases. Superimposed on the long-term development were repeated interruptions by short-term downturns related to societal crisis caused by wars and partly overlapping with climatic deterioration.