Size and dimensionality effects in superconducting Mo thin films

Molybdenum is a low Tc, type I superconductor whose fundamental properties are poorly known. Its importance as an essential constituent of new high performance radiation detectors, the so-called transition edge sensors (TESs) calls for better characterization of this superconductor, especially in thin film form. Here we report on a study of the basic superconducting features of Mo thin films as a function of their thickness. The resistivity is found to rise and the critical temperature decreases on decreasing film thickness, as expected. More relevant, the critical fields along and perpendicular to the film plane are markedly different, thickness dependent and much larger than the thermodynamic critical field of Mo bulk. These results are consistent with a picture of type II 2D superconducting films, and allow estimates of the fundamental superconducting lengths of Mo. The role of morphology in determining the 2D and type II character of the otherwise type I molybdenum is discussed. The possible consequences of this behaviour on the performance of radiation detectors are also addresse

Erratum to: 36th International Symposium on Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s13054-016-1208-6.]

Universal behavior for magnetic entropy change in magnetocaloric materials: An analysis on the nature of phase transitions

7 páginas, 5 figuras, 1 tabla.-- PACS number(s): 75.30.Sg, 77.80.B-, 71.20.EhA universal curve for the change in the magnetic entropy has been recently proposed for materials with second-order phase transitions. In this work we have studied the universal behavior of the magnetocaloric effect in the family of cobalt Laves phases, RCo2, and mixed manganites, La2/3(CaxSr(1−x))1/3MnO3, which exhibit first- and second-order phase transitions. The rescaled magnetic entropy change curves for different applied fields collapse onto a single curve for materials with second-order phase transition as opposed to the first-order phase transition compounds, for which this collapse does not hold. This result suggests that the universal curve may be used as a further criterion to distinguish the order of the phase transition.The financial support of MAT08-01077, DECRYPT, and CAMRADS is acknowledged. C. M. Bonilla acknowledge a Banco Santander grant and a Spanish MICINN grant. V. Franco acknowledges the Spanish MICINN and EU FEDER (Project No. MAT 2007-65227), and the PAI of Regional Government of Andalucía (Project No. P06-FQM- 01823).Peer reviewe

A new criterion to distinguish the order of magnetic transitions by means of magnetic measurements

3 páginas, 3 figuras.-- Trabajo presentado al 11th Joint MMM-Intermag Conference celebrado en Washington (EE.UU) en 2010.A universal curve for the magnetic entropy change has been found to exist for a variety of materials with second order phase transitions. We have studied whether this universal behavior of the magnetocaloric effect is maintained in materials with first order phase transition, including RCo2 Laves phases and mixed La2/3(CaxSr1−x)1/3MnO3 manganites, which present both second order and first order magnetic ordering phase transitions. The rescaled magnetic entropy change curves for different applied fields collapse onto a single curve only for materials with second order phase transition. This universal curve may be used as a criterion for determining the order of magnetic phase transitions from purely magnetic measurements.The financial support of MAT08/1077, DECRYPT and CAMRADS is acknowledged. C.M. Bonilla acknowledges a Banco Santander grant and a Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación grant. Victorino Franco acknowledges the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and EU FEDER (Project No. MAT 2007-65227), and the PAI of the Regional Government of Andalucía (Project No. P06-FQM- 01823).Peer reviewe

Effects of omalizumab in Aspergillus-associated airway disease

The clinical spectrum of Aspergillus-associated airway diseases (AAAD) includes Aspergillus-induced asthma, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) and bronchocentric granulomatosis. Corticosteroids are almost always used to suppress the immunological response to the fungal antigens.1 Although there are no evidence-based alternative treatment options besides steroids, the well-known adverse effects of these drugs have prompted clinicians to look beyond this standard practice and several cases of ABPA patients with very positive outcomes after omalizumab therapy have been recently published