Low doses to the heart in daily practice for treating left-sided breast cancer using accelerated partial-breast irradiation by multicatheter brachytherapy and deep-inspiration breath-hold using a SIB.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to analyze the heart dose for left-sided breast cancer that can be achieved during daily practice in patients treated with multicatheter brachytherapy (MCBT) accelerated partial-breast irradiation (APBI) and deep-inspiration breath-hold (DIBH) whole-breast irradiation (WBI) using a simultaneous integrated tumor bed boost (SIB)-two different concepts which nonetheless share some patient overlap. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed the nominal average dose (Dmean) to the heart as well as the biologically effective dose (BED) and the equivalent dose in 2­Gy fractions (EQD2) for an α/ß of 3 in 30 MCBT-APBI patients and 22 patients treated with DIBH plus SIB. For further dosimetric comparison, we contoured the breast planning target volume (PTV) in each of the brachytherapy planning CTs according to the ESTRO guidelines and computed tangential field plans. Mean dose (Dmean), EQD2 Dmean, and BED Dmean for three dosing schemes were calculated: 50 Gy/25 fractions and two hypofractionated regimens, i.e., 40.05 Gy/15 fractions and 26 Gy/5 fractions. Furthermore, we calculated tangential field plans without a boost for the 22 cases treated with SIB with the standard dosing scheme of 40.05 Gy/15 fractions. RESULTS: MCBT and DIBH radiation therapy both show low-dose exposure of the heart. As expected, hypofractionation leads to sparing of the heart dose. Although MCBT plans were not optimized regarding dose to the heart, Dmean differed significantly between MCBT and DIBH (1.28 Gy vs. 1.91 Gy, p < 0.001) in favor of MCBT, even if the Dmean in each group was very low. In MCBT radiation, the PTV-heart distance is significantly associated with the dose to the heart (p < 0.001), but it is not in DIBH radiotherapy using SIB. CONCLUSION: In daily practice, both DIBH radiation therapy as well as MCBT show a very low heart exposure and may thus reduce long term cardiac morbidity as compared to currently available long-term clinical data of patients treated with conventional tangential field plans in free breathing. Our analysis confirms particularly good cardiac sparing with MCBT-APBI, so that this technique should be offered to patients with left-sided breast cancer if the tumor-associated eligibility criteria are fulfilled.

In-Operando Nanoscale X-ray Analysis Revealing the Local Electrical Properties of Rubidium-Enriched Grain Boundaries in Cu(In,Ga)Se2 Solar Cells.

Chalcogenide Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cells yield one of the highest efficiencies among all thin-film photovoltaics. However, the variability of the absorber compositions and incorporated alkali elements strongly affect the conversion efficiency. Thus, effective strategies for spatially resolved tracking of the alkali concentration and composition during operation are needed to alleviate this limitation. Here, using a hard X-ray nanoprobe, we apply a synergistic approach of X-ray fluorescence analysis and X-ray beam-induced current techniques under operando conditions. The simultaneous monitoring of both compositional and functional properties in complete solar cells illustrates the exceptional capabilities of this combination of techniques in top-view geometry, where high spatial resolution resulted even underneath the electrical contacts. Our observations reveal Rb agglomerations in selected areas and compositional variations between different grains and their boundaries. The concurrent detection of the functionality exhibits negligible effects on the collection efficiency for Rb-enriched grain boundaries in comparison to their neighboring grains, which indicates the passivation of detrimental defects.

Hot electrons in a nanowire hard X-ray detector.

Nanowire chip-based electrical and optical devices such as biochemical sensors, physical detectors, or light emitters combine outstanding functionality with a small footprint, reducing expensive material and energy consumption. The core functionality of many nanowire-based devices is embedded in their p-n junctions. To fully unleash their potential, such nanowire-based devices require - besides a high performance - stability and reliability. Here, we report on an axial p-n junction GaAs nanowire X-ray detector that enables ultra-high spatial resolution (~200 nm) compared to micron scale conventional ones. In-operando X-ray analytical techniques based on a focused synchrotron X-ray nanobeam allow probing the internal electrical field and observing hot electron effects at the nanoscale. Finally, we study device stability and find a selective hot electron induced oxidization in the n-doped segment of the p-n junction. Our findings demonstrate capabilities and limitations of p-n junction nanowires, providing insight for further improvement and eventual integration into on-chip devices.

Improving gas sensing by CdTe decoration of individual Aerographite microtubes.

Novel gas sensors have been realized by decorating clusters of tubular Aerographite with CdTe using magnetron sputtering techniques. Subsequently, individual microtubes were separated and electrically contacted on a SiO2/Si substrate with pre-patterned electrodes. Cathodoluminescence, electron microscopy and electrical characterization prove the successful formation of a polycrystalline CdTe thin film on Aerographite enabling an excellent gas response to ammonia. Furthermore, the dynamical response to ammonia exposure has been investigated, highlighting the quick response and recovery times of the sensor, which is highly beneficial for extremely short on/off cycles. Therefore, this gas sensor reveals a large potential for cheap, highly selective, reliable and low-power gas sensors, which are especially important for hazardous gases such as ammonia.

Overall Distribution of Rubidium in Highly Efficient Cu(In,Ga)Se2 Solar Cells.

Thin-film solar cells based on Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) absorbers have achieved conversion efficiencies close to 23%. Such a high performance could be reached by incorporating heavy alkali elements into the CIGS absorber using an alkali fluoride post-deposition treatment (PDT). In order to improve the understanding of the effect of the PDT, we investigated a highly efficient CIGS solar cell whose absorber was subjected to a RbF-PDT. By applying synchrotron-based X-ray fluorescence analysis in combination with scanning transmission electron microscopy and electron backscatter diffraction to a cross-sectional lamella of the whole device, we were able to correlate the local composition of the absorber with its microstructure. The incorporated Rb accumulates at grain boundaries, with a random misorientation of the adjacent grains, at the p-n junction, and at the interface between the absorber and the MoSe2 layer. The accumulation of Rb at the grain boundaries is accompanied by a reduced Cu concentration and slightly increased In and Se concentrations. Additionally, variations in the local composition of the absorber at the p-n junction indicate the formation of a secondary phase, which exhibits a laterally inhomogeneous distribution. The improved solar cell performance due to RbF-PDT can thus be expected to originate from a favorable modification of the back contact interface, the random grain boundaries, the p-n junction, or a combination of these effects.

[Evaluation of a DC pulsed magnetic tracking system in neurosurgical navigation: technique, accuracies, and influencing factors]. / Evaluierung eines DC-gepulsten magnetischen Trackingsystems im Rahmen der neurochirurgischen Navigation: Technik, Genauigkeiten und Einflussparameter.

Navigation systems are useful instruments in cranial neurosurgery. For specification of position, so-called sensor-based navigation techniques use: (a) a signal emitter that generates a defined electromagnetic field in the area of the operation site; and (b) small sensors that detect the position of various operating instruments in the electromagnetic field. For a long time, owing to a lack of clinical data and long-term studies, electromagnetic systems have been regarded as error-prone and imprecise. With the development of a pulsed direct current (DC) technique, precision levels can now be reached that are comparable with those of established optical and mechanical measuring procedures. However, it must be noted that the influence on the measuring accuracy within the operating field increases with increasing susceptibility of the various metals used in the operating theatre (titanium