3D Advance Metrology by means of 3D Atomic Force Microscopy

We developed a new 3D-AFM technique that enables imaging of high aspect ratio trenches. By measuring both lateral and vertical forces on a cantilever tip, a subharmonic mode based on the attractive tip-sample forces becomes feasible. This enables the measurement of true 3D information of samples without causing damage. This is especially...

Occupant behavior and thermal comfort in buildings: monitroing the end user

Studies indicate that the energy performance gap between real and calculated energy use can be explained for 80% by occupant behaviour. This human factor may be composed of routine and thermoregulatory behaviour. When occupants do not feel comfortable due to high or low operative temperatures and resulting high or low skin temperatures, they are...

Reduced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis after intranasal and oral administration of recombinant lactobacilli expressing myelin antigens

Oral administration of autoantigens is a safe and convenient way to induce peripheral T-cell tolerance in autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS). To increase the efficacy of oral tolerance induction and obviate the need for large-scale purification of human myelin proteins, we use genetically modified lactobacilli expressing myelin...

IFN-beta modulates specific T cell responses in vitro but does not affect Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis in the SJL mouse

In this study, mouse recombinant IFN-β was shown to favor PLP139-151-specific Th2 responses in vitro, by inhibiting IFN-γ production and stimulating IL-4 and IL-10 production. IFN-β (5000 U/day) failed to prevent the development or severity of EAE induced with PLP139-151. Whereas efficacy of IL-10 was found in the B. pertussis assisted but not...

Therapy with antibodies against CD40L (CD154) and CD44-variant isoforms reduces experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis induced by a proteolipid protein peptide

Interactions between mononuclear cells are required for the formation of inflammatory infiltrates in the CNS and the activation of cellular effector functions provoking demyelination in MS. Membrane-expressed costimulatory molecules are crucial to such interactions. We therefore investigated whether two costimulatory molecules, CD40L (CD154,...