scholarly journals Finding fossils in Malapa breccia – medical CT scanning or micro-CT scanning?

2017 ◽  
Vol 113 (11/12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacqueline S. Smilg
Keyword(s):  
Computed Tomography ◽  
Lower Energy ◽  
Ct Scanning ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
High Energy ◽  
X Rays ◽  
Micro Ct ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Mechanical Preparation ◽  
X Ray Computed

Computed tomography (CT) imaging of fossils has revolutionised the field of palaeontology, allowing researchers to gain a better understanding of fossil anatomy, preservation and conservation. Micro focus X-ray computed tomography (μXCT) has been far more extensively used for these purposes than medical CT (XCT) – mostly because of the exquisite detail that the μXCT scanning modality, using slices of micron thicknesses, can produce. High energy X-rays can potentially penetrate breccia more effectively than lower energy beams. This study demonstrates that lower energy beams produce superior images for prioritising breccia for preparation. Additionally, XCT scanners are numerous, accessible, fast and relatively cost-effective when compared to μXCT scanners – the latter are not freely available, scanning times are much longer and there are significant limitations on the size and weight of scannable objects. Breccia blocks from Malapa were scanned at high and lower energy and images were analysed for image quality, artifact and certainty of diagnosis. Results show that lower energy images are deemed superior to higher energy images for this particular application. This finding, taken together with the limitations associated with the use of μXCT for the imaging of the large breccia from Malapa, shows that XCT is the better modality for this specific application. The ability to choose fossil-bearing breccia, ahead of manual mechanical preparation by laboratory technicians, would allow for the optimal use of limited resources, manual preparatory skills as well as the curtailment of costs.

scholarly journals Microbial Community Characteristics Largely Unaffected by X-Ray Computed Tomography of Sediment Cores

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erica Ewton ◽  
Scott Klasek ◽  
Erin Peck ◽  
Jason Wiest ◽  
Frederick Colwell
Keyword(s):  
Computed Tomography ◽  
Community Structure ◽  
Microbial Community ◽  
Microbial Communities ◽  
Sediment Cores ◽  
Microbial Community Composition ◽  
Ct Scanning ◽  
X Rays ◽  
X Ray ◽  
X Ray Computed

X-ray computed tomography (CT) scanning is used to study the physical characteristics of soil and sediment cores, allowing scientists to analyze stratigraphy without destroying core integrity. Microbiologists often work with geologists to understand the microbial properties in such cores; however, we do not know whether CT scanning alters microbial DNA such that DNA sequencing, a common method of community characterization, changes as a result of X-ray exposure. Our objective was to determine whether CT scanning affects the estimates of the composition of microbial communities that exist in cores. Sediment cores were extracted from a salt marsh and then submitted for CT scanning. We observed a minimal effect of CT scanning on microbial community composition in the sediment cores either when the cores were examined shortly after recovery from the field or after the cores had been stored for several weeks. In contrast, properties such as sediment layer and marsh location did affect microbial community structure. While we observed that CT scanning did not alter microbial community composition as a whole, we identified a few amplicon sequence variants (13 out of 7,037) that showed differential abundance patterns between scanned and unscanned samples among paired sample sets. Our overall conclusion is that the CT-scanning conditions typically used to obtain images for geological core characterization do not significantly alter microbial community structure. We stress that minimizing core exposure to X-rays is important if cores are to be studied for biological properties. Future investigations might consider variables, such as the length and energy of radiation exposure, the volume of the core, or the degree, to which microbial communities are stressed as important factors in assessing the impact of X-rays on microbes in geological cores.

Visualizing Fluid Flows With X-Rays

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Theodore J. Heindel ◽  
Terrence C. Jensen ◽  
Joseph N. Gray
Keyword(s):  
Computed Tomography ◽  
Flow Visualization ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Fluid Flows ◽  
X Rays ◽  
Radiographic Images ◽  
Optical Access ◽  
X Ray ◽  
X Ray Computed ◽  
Density Map

There are several methods available to visualize fluid flows when one has optical access. However, when optical access is limited to near the boundaries or not available at all, alternative visualization methods are required. This paper will describe flow visualization using an X-ray system that is capable of digital X-ray radiography, digital X-ray stereography, and digital X-ray computed tomography (CT). The unique X-ray flow visualization facility will be briefly described, and then flow visualization of various systems will be shown. Radiographs provide a two-dimensional density map of a three dimensional process or object. Radiographic images of various multiphase flows will be presented. When two X-ray sources and detectors simultaneously acquire images of the same process or object from different orientations, stereographic imaging can be completed; this type of imaging will be demonstrated by trickling water through packed columns and by absorbing water in a porous medium. Finally, local time-averaged phase distributions can be determined from X-ray computed tomography (CT) imaging, and this will be shown by comparing CT images from two different gas-liquid sparged columns.

Automatic Knot Detection in Coarse-Resolution Cone-Beam Computed Tomography Images of Softwood Logs

2019 ◽  
Vol 69 (3) ◽  
pp. 185-187
Author(s):  
Magnus Fredriksson ◽  
Julie Cool ◽  
Stavros Avramidis
Keyword(s):  
Computed Tomography ◽  
Exploratory Study ◽  
Ct Scanning ◽  
Detection Algorithm ◽  
Cone Beam ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Coarse Resolution ◽  
Computed Tomography Images ◽  
X Ray Computed ◽  
Accurate Position

Abstract X-ray computed tomography (CT) scanning of sawmill logs is associated with costly and complex machines. An alternative scanning solution was developed, but its data have not been evaluated regarding detection of internal features. In this exploratory study, a knot detection algorithm was applied to images of four logs to evaluate its performance in terms of knot position and size. The results were a detection rate of 67 percent, accurate position, and inaccurate size. Although the sample size was small, it was concluded that automatic knot detection in coarse resolution CT images of softwoods is feasible, albeit for knots of sufficient size.

scholarly journals High Energy X-Ray Computed Tomography for Industrial Applications

2000 ◽  
Vol 20 (1Supplement) ◽  
pp. 361-364
Author(s):  
Shigeru IZUMI ◽  
Hiroshi KAMIMURA ◽  
Hiroshi KITAGUCHI ◽  
Eisaku MIZUFUNE
Keyword(s):  
Computed Tomography ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Industrial Applications ◽  
X Ray ◽  
X Ray Computed

scholarly journals Optimization of the energy for Breast monochromatic absorption X-ray Computed Tomography

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pasquale Delogu ◽  
Vittorio Di Trapani ◽  
Luca Brombal ◽  
Giovanni Mettivier ◽  
Angelo Taibi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Computed Tomography ◽  
Imaging Techniques ◽  
Fixed Dose ◽  
X Rays ◽  
Reconstruction Algorithms ◽  
Contrast Resolution ◽  
X Ray ◽  
X Ray Imaging ◽  
X Ray Computed ◽  
Dose Levels

Abstract The limits of mammography have led to an increasing interest on possible alternatives such as the breast Computed Tomography (bCT). The common goal of all X-ray imaging techniques is to achieve the optimal contrast resolution, measured through the Contrast to Noise Ratio (CNR), while minimizing the radiological risks, quantified by the dose. Both dose and CNR depend on the energy and the intensity of the X-rays employed for the specific imaging technique. Some attempts to determine an optimal energy for bCT have suggested the range 22 keV–34 keV, some others instead suggested the range 50 keV–60 keV depending on the parameters considered in the study. Recent experimental works, based on the use of monochromatic radiation and breast specimens, show that energies around 32 keV give better image quality respect to setups based on higher energies. In this paper we report a systematic study aiming at defining the range of energies that maximizes the CNR at fixed dose in bCT. The study evaluates several compositions and diameters of the breast and includes various reconstruction algorithms as well as different dose levels. The results show that a good compromise between CNR and dose is obtained using energies around 28 keV.

High energy high resolution monochromatic x‐ray computed tomography using the Photon Factory vertical wiggler beamline

1992 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 615-618 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Nagata ◽  
H. Yamaji ◽  
K. Hayashi ◽  
K. Kawashima ◽  
K. Hyodo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Computed Tomography ◽  
High Resolution ◽  
High Energy ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Photon Factory ◽  
X Ray Computed

scholarly journals Analysis of Coal Swelling Deformation Caused by Carbon Dioxide Adsorption Based on X-Ray Computed Tomography

Geofluids ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiangrong Nie ◽  
Junbin Chen ◽  
Yi Cao ◽  
Diguang Gong ◽  
Hao Deng
Keyword(s):  
Computed Tomography ◽  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Ct Scanning ◽  
Geologic Sequestration ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Adsorption ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Coal Beds ◽  
Coal Swelling ◽  
X Ray Computed ◽  
As Adsorption

The geologic sequestration of carbon dioxide by coal beds leads to the swelling deformation of coal. In order to investigate the swelling deformation characteristics at the microscopic scale, X-ray computed tomography (CT) scanning technology was used. X-ray CT scanning technology detects the internal structure, deformation, and porosity of coal at different gas pressures. Results show that swelling deformation is nonuniform, which is caused by the heterogeneity of the coal structure. Through quantitative measurement of the distance between fractures and pseudocolor processing of CT images, we observed that fractures gradually close with the increase of adsorption pressure. As adsorption pressure increases, the porosity of coal decreases, and the density of coal increases.

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