Grain size in low loss superconducting Ta thin films on c-axis sapphire

In recent years, the implementation of thin-film Ta has led to improved coherence times in superconducting circuits. Efforts to further optimize this materials set have become a focus of the subfield of materials for superconducting quantum computing. It has been previously hypothesized that grain size could be correlated with device performance. In this work, we perform a comparative grain size experiment with $\alpha$-Ta on $c$-axis sapphire. Our evaluation methods include both room-temperature chemical and structural characterization and cryogenic microwave measurements, and we report no statistical difference in device performance between small- and larger-grain-size devices with grain sizes of 924 nm$^2$ and 1700 nm$^2$, respectively. These findings suggest that grain size is not correlated with loss in the parameter regime of interest for Ta grown on c-axis sapphire, narrowing the parameter space for optimization of this materials set

Survival rate in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: a retrospective analysis of 389 patients

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer worldwide. However, treatment options are limited and often inefficient. The aim of this study was to determine current survival rates for patients diagnosed with HCC and to identify prognostic factors, which will help in choosing optimal therapies for individual patients. A retrospective analysis of medical records was performed on 389 patients who were identified through the central tumour registry at our institution from 1998 to 2003. Clinical parameters, treatments received and survival curves from time of diagnosis were analysed. Overall median survival was 11 months. Liver cirrhosis was diagnosed in 80.5% of all patients. A total of 170 patients received transarterial chemoembolisation (TACE) and/or percutaneous ethanol injections (PEI) with a median survival rate of 16 months for patients receiving TACE, 11 months for patients receiving PEI and 24 months for patients receiving TACE followed by PEI. Independent negative prognostic parameters for survival were the presence of portal vein thrombosis, advanced liver cirrhosis (Child–Pugh score B or C) and a score of >2. This study will help to estimate survival rates for patients with HCC according to their clinical status at diagnosis and the treatments received