Acute and sublethal toxicity of surface sediments collected from five coastal and estuarine sites around the Irish coast were assessed in October 1997 using a whole sediment toxicity bioassay.( ) Six hundred individuals of the estuarine bivalve, Tapes semidecussatus 1+ age class were exposed to field-collected sediments for a period of 21 days. Survival, biometric, behavioral, biochemical, and histochemical measurements were taken before, during, and following exposure. Between 93 and 98% mortality was observed in clams exposed to sediments collected from Dublin and Bantry Bays, respectively. One hundred percent survival was observed in both reference and control sediments during the study. There was significant variation in burrowing behavior of the clams observed during the study. Glycogen levels in the soft tissue of all animals decreased during the bioassay. There was no ( ) association between metal Zn, Pb, and Cu concentrations in the dry flesh of clams exposed to ( ) sediments and sediment metal Zn, Pb, and Cu levels. Lipofuscin accumulation was observed in the digestive diverticula of clams exposed to all contaminated sediments with the exception of the reference and control sediments. The potential of T. semidecussatus as a bioassay species of estuarine sediments is discussed. ᮊ
The interfacial reaction between electroless Ni(P) under-bump metallization (UBM) and solders is studied. A P-rich layer forms in the UBM along the solder side after reflow and thermal aging. Crack formation inside the P-rich layer can sometimes penetrate throughout the entire UBM layer structure. The Ni(P) UBM degradation occurs earlier in the Sn3.5Ag solder than in Sn37Pb because of its higher reflow temperature. Despite the formation of a P-rich layer and cracks inside the UBM, it still keeps its original function within the high-temperature storage period in this study. Explanations for the formation of the P-rich layer and cracks in the UBM are outlined along with explanations for the Ni(P) UBM degradation process
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