scholarly journals Soft X-ray Lensless Imaging in Reflection Mode

Photonics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 569
Author(s):  
Horia Popescu ◽  
Franck Fortuna ◽  
Renaud Delaunay ◽  
Nicolas Jaouen ◽  
Carlo Spezzani ◽  
...  

We report on the development and implementation of methodologies dedicated to soft X-ray imaging by coherent scattering in reflection mode. Two complementary approaches are tested, based on Fourier transform holography and on ptychography. A new method for designing holographic masks has been developed. Our results represent a feasibility test and highlight the potential and limitations of imaging in reflection mode. Reflectivity is less efficient than transmission at soft X-ray wavelengths, hampering the acquisition of good quality images. Nonetheless, it has the potential to image a wider set of samples, notably those that are not transparent to soft X-rays. Although the images obtained so far are of modest quality, these results are extremely encouraging for continuing the development of coherent soft X-ray imaging in reflection mode.

Author(s):  
M.G. Baldini ◽  
S. Morinaga ◽  
D. Minasian ◽  
R. Feder ◽  
D. Sayre ◽  
...  

Contact X-ray imaging is presently developing as an important imaging technique in cell biology. Our recent studies on human platelets have demonstrated that the cytoskeleton of these cells contains photondense structures which can preferentially be imaged by soft X-ray imaging. Our present research has dealt with platelet activation, i.e., the complex phenomena which precede platelet appregation and are associated with profound changes in platelet cytoskeleton. Human platelets suspended in plasma were used. Whole cell mounts were fixed and dehydrated, then exposed to a stationary source of soft X-rays as previously described. Developed replicas and respective grids were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (13) ◽  
pp. 6179
Author(s):  
Felix Lehmkühler ◽  
Wojciech Roseker ◽  
Gerhard Grübel

X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy (XPCS) enables the study of sample dynamics between micrometer and atomic length scales. As a coherent scattering technique, it benefits from the increased brilliance of the next-generation synchrotron radiation and Free-Electron Laser (FEL) sources. In this article, we will introduce the XPCS concepts and review the latest developments of XPCS with special attention on the extension of accessible time scales to sub-μs and the application of XPCS at FELs. Furthermore, we will discuss future opportunities of XPCS and the related technique X-ray speckle visibility spectroscopy (XSVS) at new X-ray sources. Due to its particular signal-to-noise ratio, the time scales accessible by XPCS scale with the square of the coherent flux, allowing to dramatically extend its applications. This will soon enable studies over more than 18 orders of magnitude in time by XPCS and XSVS.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julius Muchui Thambura ◽  
Jeanette G.E du Plessis ◽  
Cheryl M E McCrindle ◽  
Tanita Cronje

Abstract Introduction Anecdotal evidence suggests that medical professionals in trauma units are requesting additional regional images using conventional x-ray systems, even after trauma patients have undergone full-body Lodox scans. Patients are then exposed to additional radiation, additional waiting times and an increased medical bill. This study aimed at investigating the extent to which Lodox systems were used in trauma units (n=28) in South Africa. Method In this descriptive cross-sectional study, the researcher invited one radiographer from the 28 hospitals in South Africa that use Lodox systems. Radiographers who were most experienced in using the Lodox system completed an online questionnaire. Results Twenty (71.43% n=20) out of twenty-eight radiographers responded. Most hospitals (90%, n=18) were referring patients for additional conventional x-ray images. Radiographers indicated that conventional x-rays were requested for the chest (27.80%, 10/36), the abdomen (16.67%, 6/36), the spine (13.89%, 5/36) and the extremities and skull (19.44%, 7/36). Additionally, radiographers reported using Lodox to perform procedures and examinations usually performed on conventional x-ray systems when conventional x-ray systems were not operational. Conclusion Currently, it is not clear if the use of conventional x-ray imaging following Lodox is necessary, but the results suggest that the practice is commonplace, with healthcare workers in most hospitals (90%, n=18) requesting additional x-ray imaging. The researcher thus recommends that an imaging protocol for Lodox imaging systems should be developed to guide the referral of the patients for further imaging.


2021 ◽  
Vol 502 (3) ◽  
pp. 3385-3393
Author(s):  
Tatsuya Matsumoto ◽  
Tsvi Piran

ABSTRACT The discovery of optical/UV (ultraviolet) tidal disruption events (TDEs) was surprising. The expectation was that, upon returning to the pericentre, the stellar-debris stream will form a compact disc that will emit soft X-rays. Indeed, the first TDEs were discovered in this energy band. A common explanation for the optical/UV events is that surrounding optically thick matter reprocesses the disc’s X-ray emission and emits it from a large photosphere. If accretion follows the super-Eddington mass infall rate, it would inevitably result in an energetic outflow, providing naturally the reprocessing matter. We describe here a new method to estimate, using the observed luminosity and temperature, the mass and energy of outflows from optical transients. When applying this method to a sample of supernovae, our estimates are consistent with a more detailed hydrodynamic modelling. For the current sample of a few dozen optical TDEs, the observed luminosity and temperature imply outflows that are significantly more massive than typical stellar masses, posing a problem to this common reprocessing picture.


Author(s):  
Dipayan Das ◽  
KC Santosh ◽  
Umapada Pal

Abstract Since December 2019, the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic has caused world-wide turmoil in less than a couple of months, and the infection, caused by SARS-CoV-2, is spreading at an unprecedented rate. AI-driven tools are used to identify Coronavirus outbreaks as well as forecast their nature of spread, where imaging techniques are widely used, such as CT scans and chest X-rays (CXRs). In this paper, motivated by the fact that X-ray imaging systems are more prevalent and cheaper than CT scan systems, a deep learning-based Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) model, which we call Truncated Inception Net, is proposed to screen COVID-19 positive CXRs from other non-COVID and/or healthy cases. To validate our proposal, six different types of datasets were employed by taking the following CXRs: COVID-19 positive, Pneumonia positive, Tuberculosis positive, and healthy cases into account. The proposed model achieved an accuracy of 99.96% (AUC of 1.0) in classifying COVID- 19 positive cases from combined Pneumonia and healthy cases. Similarly, it achieved an accuracy of 99.92% (AUC of 0.99) in classifying COVID-19 positive cases from combined Pneumonia, Tuberculosis and healthy CXRs. To the best of our knowledge, as of now, the achieved results outperform the existing AI-driven tools for screening COVID-19 using CXRs.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Teymurazyan ◽  
G. Pang

A Monte Carlo simulation was used to study imaging and dosimetric characteristics of a novel design of megavoltage (MV) X-ray detectors for radiotherapy applications. The new design uses Cerenkov effect to convert X-ray energy absorbed in optical fibres into light for MV X-ray imaging. The proposed detector consists of a matrix of optical fibres aligned with the incident X rays and coupled to an active matrix flat-panel imager (AMFPI) for image readout. Properties, such as modulation transfer function, detection quantum efficiency (DQE), and energy response of the detector, were investigated. It has been shown that the proposed detector can have a zero-frequency DQE more than an order of magnitude higher than that of current electronic portal imaging device (EPID) systems and yet a spatial resolution comparable to that of video-based EPIDs. The proposed detector is also less sensitive to scattered X rays from patients than current EPIDs.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pasquale Delogu ◽  
Vittorio Di Trapani ◽  
Luca Brombal ◽  
Giovanni Mettivier ◽  
Angelo Taibi ◽  
...  

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.


2017 ◽  
Vol 33 (5) ◽  
pp. 721-728 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zephania R. Odek ◽  
Bhagwati Prakash ◽  
Terry J. Siebenmorgen

Abstract. X-ray imaging is a viable method of fissure detection in rough rice kernels owing to the ability of X-rays to penetrate hulls, thus allowing visualization of internal rice kernel structure. Traditional methods of fissure detection are only applicable for brown and milled rice, and therefore cannot be used to study fissures developed during rough rice drying. In this study, the fissure detection capability of an X-ray system was evaluated and the relationship between head rice yield (HRY), as measured through laboratory milling, and the percentage of fissured rough rice kernels was determined. Long-grain rice lots of various cultivars were dried using heated air at 60°C, 10% relative humidity (RH) for five drying durations to produce different degrees of fissuring, and then milled to determine HRY. A strong linear correlation (R2 = 0.95) between HRY and the percentage of fissured rough rice kernels after drying was determined. This correlation confirms the substantial impact that kernel fissures have on milling yields. Overall, these findings show the effectiveness of X-ray imaging in rough rice fissure detection, which could allow for drying research that may provide a better understanding of kernel fissuring kinetics. Keywords: Fissures, Grainscope, Head rice yield, Rice drying, X-ray imaging.


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