The absorber and buffer etching is a crucial step in the manufacture of EUV masks due to the stringent CD and reflectance requirements. Plasma etching of Cr layers, usually applied as an absorber for ...conventional masks, induces a resolution-limiting line width reduction. Therefore, new absorber materials for extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUVL) masks have to be evaluated. We investigated the etching behaviour of two different layer materials, TaN-I and TaN-II. Dense lines and contact holes down to 100 nm have been realized and an etch bias ⩽+5 nm per feature has been measured. The CD uniformity of lithography and absorber patterning was about 10 nm total range. In addition, etching processes for two different buffer materials, Cr and SiO
2, have been developed. These dry etch processes for buffer and absorber layer etching have been successfully applied for EUV test mask fabrication. First results of reflectance measurements of patterned masks showed only a minimal reflectance loss due to mask making of ⩽1%.
Background: Ten to 15% of patients with pouchitis experience refractory or recurrent disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a single daily high dose probiotic preparation ...(VSL#3) in maintaining antibiotic induced remission, and quality of life (QOL), for one year in such patients. Methods: Patients with pouchitis at least twice in the previous year or requiring continuous antibiotics, associated with a pouchitis disease activity index (PDAI) ⩾7 (0 = perfect; 18 = worst), in whom remission was induced by four weeks of combined metronidazole and ciprofloxacin, were randomised to receive VSL#3 6 g or placebo once daily for one year or until relapse. Symptomatic, endoscopic, and histological evaluations were made before, and two and 12 months after randomisation or at the time of relapse. Remission was defined as a clinical PDAI ⩽2 and endoscopic PDAI ⩽1. Relapse was defined as an increased clinical PDAI score ⩾2 and increased endoscopic PDAI score ⩾3. QOL was assessed using the inflammatory bowel disease questionnaire (IBDQ). Results: Thirty six patients were randomised: 20 to VSL#3 and 16 to placebo. Remission was maintained at one year in 17 patients (85%) on VSL#3 and in one patient (6%) on placebo (p<0.0001). The IBDQ score remained high in the VSL#3 group (p = 0.3) but deteriorated in the placebo group (p = 0.0005). Conclusion: The once daily high dose probiotic VSL#3 is effective in maintaining antibiotic introduced remission for at least a year in patients with recurrent or refractory pouchitis. This is associated with a high level of quality of life.
In vivo aqueous fluorophotometry, morphology, and computational modeling were combined to examine the source of protein and the pathway by which protein enters the aqueous humor of monkeys. A ...computational model was developed to determine the likelihood of a diffusional route for delivering plasma proteins from ciliary body capillaries via the iris to anterior chamber aqueous humor, bypassing the posterior chamber. Model predictions were compared to aqueous fluorophotometric data obtained from monkeys following a single intravenous injection of fluoresceinated horseradish peroxidase (F-HRP, 250 mg/kg body mass). Model predictions of the magnitude and time course of anterior chamber F-HRP concentration agree with the fluorophotometric measurements. For example, of anterior chamber F-HRP concentration as a percentage of initial plasma F-HRP concentration at 90 min and 180 min post-injection was predicted to be 0.02% and 0.05%, respectively, and was measured to be 0.01-0.03% and 0.03-0.06%, respectively. In addition, model predictions in the case of a constant plasma protein level also are consistent with experimental data. The steady-state anterior chamber total protein concentration as a percentage of plasma protein concentration was predicted to be 0.2% and was assayed to be 0.05-0.2%. As in our previous study of the normal rabbit eye, morphologic and tracer localization evidence combined with the good agreement between model predictions and experimental data lead to the conclusion that a significant amount of the plasma protein normally present in monkey aqueous humor originates in ciliary body capillaries and diffuses anteriorly through the iris and into the anterior chamber.
Recently, several outstanding discussions of the structure of non-consequentialism have appeared. Two of these are Shelly Kagan's The Limits of Morality and a pair of articles by Warren Quinn, ..."Actions, Intentions, and Consequences: the Doctrine of Doing and Allowing" and "Actions, Intentions, and Consequences: the Doctrine of Double Effect." I would like to examine several related issues discussed by these authors. Another outstanding work to which I will refer in this article, but not discuss at great length, is Judith Jarvis Thomson's The Realm of Rights. The general topic with which I shall be concerned is the structure of a non-consequentialist moral theory. Non-consequentialism has two important features. In a non-consequentialist moral theory, (1) there is a permission not to maximize overall best consequences (this is sometimes referred to as an option), and (2) there are constraints on promoting overall best consequences (for example, we must not kill one innocent, non-threatening person for his organs to save five others). I shall use the works by Kagan, Quinn, and Thomson to help characterize further the elements of the non-consequentialist structure and to justify them.
Background: “Probiotic” bacteria are effective in treating some inflammatory bowel diseases. However which bacteria confer benefit and mechanisms of action remain poorly defined. Dendritic cells, ...which are pivotal in early bacterial recognition, tolerance induction, and shaping of T cell responses, may be central in mediating the effects of these bacteria. Aims: To assess effects of different probiotic bacteria on dendritic cell function. Methods: Human intestinal lamina propria mononuclear cells, whole blood, or an enriched blood dendritic cell population were cultured with cell wall components of the eight bacterial strains in the probiotic preparation VSL#3 (four lactobacilli, three bifidobacteria, and one streptococcal strains). Dendritic cells were identified and changes in dendritic cell maturation/costimulatory markers and cytokine production in response to probiotic bacteria were analysed by multicolour flow cytometry, in addition to subsequent effects on T cell polarisation. Results: VSL#3 was a potent inducer of IL-10 by dendritic cells from blood and intestinal tissue, and inhibited generation of Th1 cells. Individual strains within VSL#3 displayed distinct immunomodulatory effects on dendritic cells; the most marked anti-inflammatory effects were produced by bifidobacteria strains which upregulated IL-10 production by dendritic cells, decreased expression of the costimulatory molecule CD80, and decreased interferon-γ production by T cells. VSL#3 diminished proinflammatory effects of LPS by decreasing LPS induced production of IL-12 while maintaining IL-10 production. Conclusions: Probiotic bacteria differ in their immunomodulatory activity and influence polarisation of immune responses at the earliest stage of antigen presentation by dendritic cells.
The contention that some amount of injustice & rights violations must be endured before making war is examined by testing three proposals: (1) If an entity is not justified in making war, then it is ...morally obligated to remain at peace. (2) If an entity behaves morally, then the conditions that prevent war are the same as those that end war. (3) The achievement of peace could actually involve some rights violations. Although analyses of the relations between groups that benefit from rights violations & those that suffer from injustices establish support for the first & third proposals, it is demonstrated that the second proposal fails to hold since the conditions that justify the commencement of war are not consistent with those for creating justifiable peace. Additional attention is dedicated to analyzing the justifiability of an entity's threat to initiate war by a specific time in order to realize certain objectives. J. W. Parker
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