7 GHz in the mixed state of YBa2Cu3O7-delta thin films, where

submicrometric BaZrO3 particles have been incorporated. As a function of the BaZrO3 content, we observed that the absolute losses slightly decrease up to a BaZrO3 content of 5%, and then increase. We found that the magnetic-field-induced losses behave differently in that they are not monotonic with increasing BaZrO3 concentration. At small concentration (2.5%) the field-induced losses increase, but large reduction in the losses themselves, by factors up to 3, is observed upon further increasing the BaZrO3 concentration in the target up to 7%. Using measurements of both surface resistance and surface reactance, we estimate vortex pinning-related parameters. We found that BaZrO3 inclusions introduce deep and steep pinning PLX4032 order wells. In particular, the minimum height of the energy barrier for single vortices is raised. At larger BaZrO3 content click here (5% and 7%) the phenomenon is at its maximum, but it is unclear whether it shows a saturation or not, leaving room for further improvements. (C) 2009 American Institute of Physics. [DOI: 10.1063/1.3056179]“
“Background: The development of three-dimensional conformal

radiotherapy (3D-RT) has enabled the restriction of the dose to normal lung, limiting radiation-induced lung injury. Objectives: This study was designed to describe the time course of lung function until 7.5 months after 3D-RT in patients with lung cancer, and assess the relationship between lung function changes and dose-volume histogram (DVH) analysis or computed tomography scan changes. Radiation doses were optimized according to recent guidelines. Methods: Sixty-five lung cancer patients treated with 3D-RT agreed to participate in this prospective, hospital-based study. Lung volumes, forced expiratory volume in 1 PXD101 supplier s (FEV1) and diffusing capacity of the lung

for carbon monoxide (DLCO) were measured before radiotherapy (RT), 10 weeks, 4 and 7.5 months after the beginning of 3D-RT. Results: Eleven lung cancer patients (17%) developed grade 2-3 respiratory symptoms after RT. At 7.5 months, vital capacity (VC) was 96 +/- 2%, total lung capacity (TLC) 95 +/- 2%, FEV1 93 +/- 2% and DLCO 90 +/- 2% of the initial value. Only 15% of patients showed pulmonary function reduction >20%. Patients with FEV1 or DLCO <60% before RT did not show significant changes after RT. There were weak correlations between reduction of VC, TLC, FEV1 or DLCO and radiation dosimetric parameters and between reduction of VC or FEV1 and radiation-induced pneumonitis images. Conclusions: In lung cancer, the reduction of lung function within 7.5 months after 3D-RT was small and correlated, albeit weakly, with DVH parameters. Patients with initially impaired lung function showed tiny changes in spirometry and DLCO values. Copyright (c) 2012 S.