Guarantee Funds: A Success Factor in Microfinance?

Microfinance is described for grantmakers and non-profit organisations that are interested in making grants in the form of guarantee funds. A basic definition is given, advantages and disadvantages of this scheme are described. Documentation from a seminar on guarantee funds is also included

Progress in EUV optics lifetime expectations

Optics lifetime and contamination is one of the major challenges for extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography. The basic contamination and lifetime limiting processes are carbon growth and oxidation of the mirrors. Without appropriate measures, optics lifetime will be limited to a few hours. Within the EUV alpha-tool project of ASML and Carl Zeiss, several potential solutions. towards improvement of optics life time are being studied: vacuum improvement, capping layers for oxidation protection, mitigation of carbon growth and development of efficient cleaning techniques that are soft to the mirror. For instance, we have been able to identify a capping layer that shows carbon growth even under extremely oxidizing conditions.. The current status of our experiments leads us to believe that A lifetime of 1000 h is within reach. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Progress in EUV optics lifetime expectations

Optics lifetime and contamination is one of the major challenges for extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography. The basic contamination and lifetime limiting processes are carbon growth and oxidation of the mirrors. Without appropriate measures, optics lifetime will be limited to a few hours. Within the EUV alpha-tool project of ASML and Carl Zeiss, several potential solutions. towards improvement of optics life time are being studied: vacuum improvement, capping layers for oxidation protection, mitigation of carbon growth and development of efficient cleaning techniques that are soft to the mirror. For instance, we have been able to identify a capping layer that shows carbon growth even under extremely oxidizing conditions.. The current status of our experiments leads us to believe that A lifetime of 1000 h is within reach. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Sensitivity of neural stem cell survival, differentiation and neurite outgrowth within 3D hydrogels to environmental heavy metals

We investigated the sensitivity of embryonic murine neural stem cells exposed to 10 pM – 10 μM concentrations of three heavy metals (Cd, Hg, Pb), continuously for 14 days within 3D collagen hydrogels. Critical endpoints for neurogenesis such as survival, differentiation and neurite outgrowth were assessed. Results suggest significant compromise in cell viability within the first four days at concentrations ≥ 10 nM, while lower concentrations induced a more delayed effect. Mercury and lead suppressed neural differentiation at as low as 10 pM concentration within 7 days, while all three metals inhibited neural and glial differentiation by day 14. Neurite outgrowth remained unaffected at lower cadmium or mercury concentrations (≤ 100 pM), but was completely repressed beyond day 1 at higher concentrations. Higher metal concentrations (≥ 100 pM) suppressed NSC differentiation to motor or dopaminergic neurons. Cytokines and chemokines released by NSCs, and the sub-cellular mechanisms by which metals induce damage to NSCs have been quantified and correlated to phenotypic data. The observed degree of toxicity in NSC cultures is in the order: lead > mercury > cadmium. Results point to the use of biomimetic 3D culture models to screen the toxic effects of heavy metals during developmental stages, and investigate their underlying mechanistic pathways