We present a backside thinned CMOS active pixel image sensor with 20x20 μm global shutter pixels. Full well charge is > 500,000 eand read noise is 27 eRMS, resulting in a dynamic range exceeding 84 dB. The sensor employs a dual gain global shutter pixel, wherein the pixel signal is read out by two separate gain channels. The global shutter pixel employs four in-pixel storage capacitors and 13 nMOS transistors. This pixel preserves good shutter efficiency in combination with backside thinning. The sensor is backside thinned to increase QE. Two BSI configurations are being developed, targeted to the UV (270-400 nm) and visible (400-800 nm) wavelengths. The backside thinning flow is based upon SOI wafers, and an Al2O3 anti-reflective coating is employed for backside passivation and low reflectance.

Mycotoxins are among the most abundant contaminants in food and feed worldwide. Therefore, in the EU maximum levels are established, e.g. for the frequently occurringFusarium toxins deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEA). Additional to DON and ZEA, modified mycotoxins are present in naturally contaminated grain products contributing significantly to the exposure of humans and animals with mycotoxins. Up to now data on the spatial distribution of many (masked) mycotoxins in the kernels of wheat are missing. The aim of the present study was to investigate the amounts of DON and ZEA as well as their most abundant derivatives DON-3-glucoside (DON-3G), 3- and 15-acetyl-DON, ZEA-14- and 16-glucoside and ZEA-14-sulphate (ZEA-14S) in mill fractions of naturally contaminated wheat batches using HPLC-MS/MS. The investigated distribution pattern in ten milling fractions is comparable among the three investigated different wheat batches. Interestingly, DON and DON-3G were found to be present to similar amounts in all fractions. In bran, the levels were only slightly higher than in the endosperm. By contrast, for ZEA and ZEA-14S a significantly higher amount of toxin is located in the fibre-rich fractions. The relative mass proportion of DON-3G comprises for only between 2.9 and 11.2% of the free DON, while the relative mass proportion of ZEA-14S is estimated to even exceed the amount of free ZEA in certain fractions. Acetylated DON derivatives and ZEA-glucosides were only detected in low amounts. The experimental results show that a significant reduction of the ZEA and ZEA-14S level in wheat flour is feasible by applying milling technology strategies. However, the almost evenly distribution of DON and DON-3G in all fractions does not allow for the technological removal of relevant toxin amounts. Furthermore, the relative share of masked forms was higher for ZEA derivatives than for the DON conjugates in the investigated wheat lots.

Pure U-[13C18]-labelled cis-zearalenone (cis-ZEA) has been prepared and characterised as internal standard (ISTD) for a reliable quantification of cis-ZEA in contaminated food and feed products. The cis-isomer of the naturally trans-configurated Fusarium mycotoxin zearalenone is often neglected. However, isomerisation easily occurs by exposure of ZEA to (UV-)light. Thus, the applicability of the new cis-ZEA ISTD was demonstrated in a long-term isomerisation study comparing naturally trans-ZEA-contaminated edible oil with spiked edible oil. To estimate the benefits of the newly prepared cis-ZEA ISTD, various approaches to quantify cis-ZEA by high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) were compared. As a result, a significant bias was revealed if no appropriate cis-ZEA standards are used. Furthermore, the new ISTD was applied to the analysis of 15 edible oils by stable isotope dilution analysis in combination with HPLC-electrospray ionisation-MS/MS. One of the maize germ oils showed the presence of cis-ZEA above LOD (≯0.3 μg/kg), whereas two out of 15 maize germ oils were found to be contaminated with trans-ZEA (range 17.0-31.0 μg/kg).

The role of mycotoxins in the microbial competition in an ecosystem or on the same host plant is still unclear. Therefore, a laboratory study was conducted to evaluate the influence of mycotoxins on growth and mycotoxin production of Fusarium and Alternaria fungi. Fusarium culmorum Fc13, Fusarium graminearum Fg23 and two Alternaria tenuissima isolates (At18 and At220) were incubated on wheat kernels supplemented with alternariol (AOH), tetramic acid derivates (TeA), deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEA) in an in vitro test system. Fungal biomass was quantified by determining ergosterol content. Three Fusarium toxins (DON, nivalenol and ZEA) and three Alternaria toxins (AOH, alternariol methyl ether (AME) and altenuene) were analysed by HPLC-MS/MS. If Alternaria strains grew in wheat kernels spiked with Fusarium mycotoxins, their growth rates were moderately increased, their AOH and AME production was enhanced and they were simultaneously capable of degrading the Fusarium mycotoxins DON and ZEA. In contrast, both Fusarium strains behaved quite differently. The growth rate of Fc13 was not distinctly influenced, while Fg23 increased its growth in wheat kernels spiked with AOH. TeA depressed the ergosterol content in Fc13 as well as in Fg23. The DON production of Fc13 was slightly depressed, whereas the ZEA production was significantly increased. In contrast, Fg23 restricted its ZEA production. Both Fusarium strains were not capable of degrading the Alternaria mycotoxin AOH. Mycotoxins might play an important role in the interfungal competitive processes. They influence growth rates and mycotoxin production of the antagonistic combatants. The observed effects between phytopathogenic Alternaria and Fusarium strains and their mycotoxins aid the understanding of the complexity of microbial competitive behaviour in natural environments.

The Extreme Ultraviolet Imager (EUI) on-board the Solar Orbiter mission will provide image sequences of the solar atmosphere at selected spectral emission lines in the extreme and vacuum ultraviolet. For the two Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) channels of the EUI instrument, low noise and radiation tolerant detectors with low power consumption and high sensitivity in the 10-40 nm wavelength range are required to achieve the science objectives. In that frame, a dual-gain 10 μm pixel pitch back-thinned 1k x 1k Active Pixel Sensor (APS) CMOS prototype has been tested during the preliminary development phase of the instrument, to validate the pixel design, the expected EUV sensitivity and noise level, and the capability to withstand the mission radiation environment. Taking heritage of this prototype, the detector architecture has been improved and scaled up to the required 3k x 3k array. The dynamic range is increased, the readout architecture enhanced, the power consumption reduced, and the pixel design adapted to the required stitching. The detector packaging has also been customized to fit within the constraints imposed by the camera mechanical, thermal and electrical boundaries. The manufacturing process has also been adapted and back-thinning process improved. Once manufactured and packaged, a batch of sensors will undergo a characterization and calibration campaign to select the best candidates for integration into the instrument qualification and flight cameras. The flight devices, within their cameras, will then be embarked on the EUI instrument, and be the first scientific APSCMOS detectors for EUV observation of the Sun.

Aims A laboratory study was conducted to evaluate the influence of cocultivation of toxigenic Fusarium (F.) and Alternaria (A.) fungi with respect to growth and mycotoxin production. Methods and Results Fusarium culmorum Fc13, Fusarium graminearum Fg23 and two Alternaria tenuissima isolates (At18 and At220) were simultaneously or consecutively co-incubated on wheat kernels in an in vitro test system. Fungal biomass was quantified by determining ergosterol content. Three Fusarium toxins (DON, NIV and ZON) and three Alternaria toxins (AOH, AME and ALT) were analysed by a newly developed HPLC/MS/MS method. In simultaneous cocultures, the fungal biomass was enhanced up to 460% compared with individual cultures; Alternaria toxins were considerably depressed down to <5%. Combining At18 and At220 with Fg23 inhibited the toxin production of both fungal partners. In contrast, Fc13 increased its DON and ZON production in competitive interaction with both A. strains. Conclusions The interfungal competitive effects aid the understanding of the processes of competition of both fungi in natural environments and the involvement of mycotoxins as antifungal factors. Significance and Impact of Study Cocultivation significantly affects fungal growth and mycotoxin production of phytopathogenic Alternaria and Fusarium strains. The impact of mycotoxins on the interfungal competition is highlighted.

P>1. Climate warming may cause disruption of trophic linkages in aquatic ecosystems and lead to changes in abundance and genetic structure of zooplankton populations. We monitored the community of the Daphnia galeata-hyalina hybrid complex in the Saidenbach Reservoir (Saxony, Germany) using allozyme electrophoresis for three consecutive years (2005-07), including one (2007) following an unusually warm winter that prevented the formation of ice cover for the first time in the history of the reservoir. 2. Genetic composition during the 2007 season differed substantially from the two preceding years that experienced the usual 3-month ice period. Three abundance peaks in June, July and October 2007 were dominated by hybrids of Daphnia galeata x hyalina, whereas in the 2005 and 2006 seasons two peaks in June and September were dominated by Daphnia hyalina genotypes. 3. The genetic composition of the pool of diapausing eggs produced in autumn and the rate of change of genotype abundance during the following spring indicate recruitment of the D. hyalina subpopulation from ex-ephippial animals during the spring population increase. 4. The differing potential to contribute to the overwintering animal pool or to the inoculum from diapausing eggs was confirmed by results from laboratory life-table experiments. Daphnia galeata clones survived longer and produced parthenogenetic offspring under winter conditions, whereas D. hyalina clones showed a shorter lifespan and produced resting eggs. 5. Our results indicate a profound role of recruitment strategy in the observed shift in genetic composition. Increasing winter temperatures predicted in the context of climate change may thus favour overwintering animals, leading to an increase in the contribution of these genotypes to the population. Such microevolutionary processes may dampen possible seasonal mismatches between daphnid populations and their food or predator populations.

Multiwell plates in combination with optical inspection equipment are standard tools for biological and biomedical applications e.g. cell-to-cell interaction studies for cancer treatment. Microtechnology based multiwell plates have the potential to monitor physiological cellular interactions at single cell level with a high throughput e.g. for immunotherapy of cancer or targeted drug delivery, where each patient would receive drugs that are known to be useful for his/her specific situation. A Lab-On-Substrate technology platform based on standard PCB technology has been developed for cost- effective fabrication of biological and medical test devices. And as typical PCB laminates, mainly with copper as conductive material, are not biocompatible, a new material base has been identified and evaluated. The long and short time biocompatibility of promising materials including surface treatments have been studied in-vitro. Aluminum, polyimide and Pyralux have been selected as materials with focus on their bio- and process compatibility. A process flow consisting of lamination, Al structuring by wet etching, microwell and via formation by laser drilling and via metallization was developed based on standard PCB processes. These technologies allow a combination of large area and fine structuring for electrode and microwell realization. Furthermore, surface modifications of different materials by both chemicals such as thiols and fluorinated acrylates and plasma treatment were inspected by surface tension and wetting analysis to allow designing the hydrophilicity / hydrophobicity microfluidics networks required for the microwell device. A long-term stability at standard atmosphere conditions of at least one year of these coatings was also found. The technology was demonstrated with a dielectrophoresis enhanced microwell device for single cell handling and detection of cell-to-cell interaction as needed for the improvement of tumor therapy. In summary this paper describes the proof of concept using PCB manufacturing processes with biocompatible materials for the realization of an electrically enhanced microwell plate. Outcome of the technology developments is a Lab-On-Substrate technology platform for a variety of biomedical applications.

For improved reliability of microelectronics an encapsulation of sensitive structures is crucial, this is true especially for polymer electronics, where oxygen diffusion and water vapor ingress do dramatically influence the electrical performance. For the protection of semiconducting polymers within organic LEDs a glass layer is the method of choice, providing optimized sealing except for the edge areas. Disadvantage of glass as a sealing material is its rigidity and its sensitivity against mechanical stress. For the realization of low cost applications as smart labels / RF ID tags besides barrier properties also mechanical protection is needed to ensure device functionality. This is especially true when these devices need to operate within harsh environment. Various approaches are possible to apply such barrier layers, typically CVD/PVD or spin coating are used, to yield thin, homogeneous layers of encapsulants of 1 to 5 μm thickness. For the high speed encapsulation of large areas also lamination is discussed, where multilayer films are applied using temperature and pressure, layer thickness is in the range of 5 to 30 μm. As a further technology, suited for the deposition of low viscosity liquid barrier materials, film coating processes are proposed. Focus of the technology development described is the application of homogeneous coating on large areas. Expected advantage is the contactless application at high speed on large area substrates, especially useful on substrates showing a 3D topography, as present with devices integrating heterogeneous structures as organic semiconductors (OSC), printed passives or coils.

The process development for four flip chip molding compounds was based on material characterization by DSC, DMA and TMA. It was shown that the materials tested do allow reliable flip chip molding. Materials properties concerning processability and reliability are promising. There is strong potential of the technology for the increasing market of flip chip packages as certain types of BGA's and, with further miniaturization, CSP's. As these packages incorporate typically single dies, the transfer mold process can be adapted without major changes to existing equipment. Even for future developments such as one chip flip chip SIP's using advanced IC thinning and assembly methods, the flip chip molding underfill process is a successful vision for reliable encapsulation.