Abstract: A photo resist layer is used to protect a dielectric layer and conductive elements embedded in the dielectric layer when patterning an etch stop layer underlying the dielectric layer. The photo resist layer may further be used to etch another dielectric layer underlying the etch stop layer, where etching the next dielectric layer exposes a contact, such as a gate contact. The bottom layer can be used to protect the conductive elements embedded in the dielectric layer from a wet etchant used to etch the etch stop layer.

Abstract: Provided is a pharmaceutical composition including an active pharmaceutical ingredient, a toll-like receptor (TLR) agonist, a stimulator of interferon genes (STING) agonist, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Also provided are a method for inducing immune response and a method for treating or preventing cancer or an infectious disease, including administering an effective amount of the pharmaceutical composition to a subject in need thereof.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for treating liver cirrhosis by using a composition including mesenchymal stem cells, extracellular vesicles produced by the mesenchymal stem cells, and growth factors. The composition of the present disclosure achieves the effect of treating liver cirrhosis through various efficacy experiments.

Abstract: A method includes forming a gate stack, which includes a first portion over a portion of a first semiconductor fin, a second portion over a portion of a second semiconductor fin, and a third portion connecting the first portion to the second portion. An anisotropic etching is performed on the third portion of the gate stack to form an opening between the first portion and the second portion. A footing portion of the third portion remains after the anisotropic etching. The method further includes performing an isotropic etching to remove a metal gate portion of the footing portion, and filling the opening with a dielectric material.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a fin structure disposed over a substrate. The semiconductor device includes a first interfacial layer straddling the fin structure. The semiconductor device includes a gate dielectric layer extending along sidewalls of the fin structure. The semiconductor device includes a second interfacial layer overlaying a top surface of the fin structure. The semiconductor device includes a gate structure straddling the fin structure. The first interfacial layer and the gate dielectric layer are disposed between the sidewalls of the fin structure and the gate structure.

Abstract: Semiconductor device structures having metal gate structures with tunable work function values are provided. In one example, a first gate structure and a second gate structure formed on a substrate, wherein the first gate structure includes a first work function metal having a first material, and the second gate structure includes a second work function metal having a second material, the first material being different from the second material, wherein the first gate structure further includes a gate dielectric layer, a self-protective layer having metal phosphate, and the first work function metal on the self-protective layer.

Abstract: A method includes forming isolation regions extending into a semiconductor substrate. A semiconductor strip is between the isolation regions. The method further includes recessing the isolation regions so that a top portion of the semiconductor strip protrudes higher than top surfaces of the isolation regions to form a semiconductor fin, measuring a fin width of the semiconductor fin, generating an etch recipe based on the fin width, and performing a thinning process on the semiconductor fin using the etching recipe.

Abstract: A package structure and the manufacturing method thereof are provided. The package structure includes a first package including at least one first semiconductor die encapsulated in an insulating encapsulation and through insulator vias electrically connected to the at least one first semiconductor die, a second package including at least one second semiconductor die and conductive pads electrically connected to the at least one second semiconductor die, and solder joints located between the first package and the second package. The through insulator vias are encapsulated in the insulating encapsulation. The first package and the second package are electrically connected through the solder joints. A maximum size of the solder joints is greater than a maximum size of the through insulator vias measuring along a horizontal direction, and is greater than or substantially equal to a maximum size of the conductive pads measuring along the horizontal direction.

Abstract: The invention provides a nanoemulsion adjuvant and a preparation method thereof, which are composed of the following components: a continuous aqueous phase containing H2O molecules, an oil phase material containing fats and oils, and an emulsion system for stabilizing the interface between the continuous aqueous phase and the oil phase, and the emulsion system is an emulsifier mixture. The adjuvant is characterized in that the emulsion system does not contain an ionic emulsifier and the particle size of the emulsion is between 20 and 200 nanometers. The use of the nanoemulsion adjuvant can prevent toxicity and possible harm of ionic emulsifiers to human cells, and provide a vaccine preparation capable of eliciting a high degree of immune response.

Abstract: Described herein are an immunogenic peptide containing the sequence of CLDSLGQWN (SEQ ID NO:2) and a method of using the peptide for treating cancer.

Abstract: Described herein are an immunogenic peptide containing the sequence of CLDSLGQWN (SEQ ID NO:2) and a method of using the peptide for treating cancer.

Abstract: The invention provides a nanoemulsion adjuvant and a preparation method thereof, which are composed of the following components: a continuous aqueous phase containing H2O molecules, an oil phase material containing fats and oils, and an emulsion system for stabilizing the interface between the continuous aqueous phase and the oil phase, and the emulsion system is an emulsifier mixture. The adjuvant is characterized in that the emulsion system does not contain an ionic emulsifier and the particle size of the emulsion is between 20 and 200 nanometers. The use of the nanoemulsion adjuvant can prevent toxicity and possible harm of ionic emulsifiers to human cells, and provide a vaccine preparation capable of eliciting a high degree of immune response.

Abstract: A composition in a water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) emulsion is disclosed. The composition comprises: (a) a continuous aqueous phase, comprising H2O; (b) an oil phase or an oil shell, dispersed in the continuous aqueous phase; and (c) a hydrophilic polymer, stabilizing an interface between the continuous aqueous phase and the oil phase or the oil shell to form the water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) emulsion. The oil phase or the oil shell comprises: (i) oil; (ii) an internal aqueous phase, dispersed within the oil or the oil shell; and (iii) a lipophilic sorbitan-polyester conjugate, stabilizing an interface between the oil and the inner aqueous phase to form a water-in-oil (W/O) emulsion. The lipophilic sorbitan-polyester conjugate comprises: (1) sorbitan; and (2) poly(lactide-co-?-caprolactone) or polylactic acid (polylactide), conjugated to the sorbitan.

Abstract: A composition in a water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) emulsion is disclosed. The composition comprises: (a) a continuous aqueous phase, comprising H2O; (b) an oil phase or an oil shell, dispersed in the continuous aqueous phase; and (c) a hydrophilic polymer, stabilizing an interface between the continuous aqueous phase and the oil phase or the oil shell to form the water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) emulsion. The oil phase or the oil shell comprises: (i) oil; (ii) an internal aqueous phase, dispersed within the oil or the oil shell; and (iii) a lipophilic sorbitan-polyester conjugate, stabilizing an interface between the oil and the inner aqueous phase to form a water-in-oil (W/O) emulsion. The lipophilic sorbitan-polyester conjugate comprises: (1) sorbitan; and (2) poly(lactide-co-?-caprolactone) or polylactic acid (polylactide), conjugated to the sorbitan.

Abstract: A method for enhancing a body's response to an immunogen is disclosed. The method comprises immunizing a subject in need thereof a vaccine composition in a water-in-oil (W/O/W) emulsion that comprises (a) an antigen; and (b) an adjuvant composition in a W/O/W emulsion. The adjuvant composition comprises: (i) a continuous aqueous phase comprising H2O; (ii) an oil phase comprising oil dispersed in the continuous aqueous phase, comprising an internal aqueous phase comprising H2O, being dispersed in the oil phase; and a physiologically acceptable lipophilic emulsifier selected from the group consisting of mannide monooleate and sorbitan esters, stabilizing the interface between the inner aqueous phase and the oil phase to form a water-in-oil (W/O) emulsion; and (iii) poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(lactide-co-?-caprolactone), stabilizing the interface between the oil phase and the continuous aqueous phase.

Abstract: A method for enhancing a body's response to an immunogen is disclosed. The method comprises immunizing a subject in need thereof a vaccine composition in a water-in-oil (W/O/W) emulsion that comprises (a) an antigen; and (b) an adjuvant composition in a W/O/W emulsion. The adjuvant composition comprises: (i) a continuous aqueous phase comprising H2O; (ii) an oil phase comprising oil dispersed in the continuous aqueous phase, comprising an internal aqueous phase comprising H2O, being dispersed in the oil phase; and a physiologically acceptable lipophilic emulsifier selected from the group consisting of mannide monooleate and sorbitan esters, stabilizing the interface between the inner aqueous phase and the oil phase to form a water-in-oil (W/O) emulsion; and (iii) poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(lactide-co-?-caprolactone), stabilizing the interface between the oil phase and the continuous aqueous phase.

Abstract: A method for verifying the bandwidth and phase of a digital power control system according to the present invention includes steps of: A. Disturbance Order Reading in which an A/D conversion unit receives an analog signal order and mix it with existing command components in a digital system unit; B. Phase Delay Compensation in which a phase lead compensator is designed that is based on the different sampling frequencies and time delay parameters of the digital system unit, and the phase lead compensator is added to the digital system unit; and C. System Measuring in which a mixed wave calculation unit and a supply unit are added to the digital system unit to make the analog command signal pass through the digital system unit and the mixed wave calculation unit to the supply unit and to further drive a power circuit.

Abstract: A method for verifying the bandwidth and phase of a digital power control system according to the present invention includes steps of: A. Disturbance Order Reading in which an A/D conversion unit receives an analog signal order and mix it with existing command components in a digital system unit; B. Phase Delay Compensation in which a phase lead compensator is designed that is based on the different sampling frequencies and time delay parameters of the digital system unit, and the phase lead compensator is added to the digital system unit; and C. System Measuring in which a mixed wave calculation unit and a supply unit are added to the digital system unit to make the analog command signal pass through the digital system unit and the mixed wave calculation unit to the supply unit and to further drive a power circuit.

Abstract: An composition comprises (a) a continuous aqueous phase; (b) an oily phase; and (c) an amphiphilic emulsifying system comprising a block copolymer having the formula (A)p-(B)q-(C)r, in which (B)q is a hydrophilic block and (C)r is a hydrophobic block; wherein p, q and r are integers with the proviso that: if p is 0, then A is other than hydroxyl or reactive functional groups and the block copolymer is a diblock copolymer; B and C are each individual repeating) units; if p is >1, then the block copolymer is a triblock copolymer, in which (A)p is a hydrophobic block; the hydrophobic blocks (A)p and (C)r are each homopolymers or heteropolymers; the repeating units A and C are the same or different; and wherein the ratio q/(p+r) is sufficient high so that the hydrophilic-lipophilic balance value of the block copolymer is >10.