Optics for broadband x-ray ptychography.

In conventional x-ray ptychography, diffraction data are collected by scanning a sample through a monochromatic and spatially coherent x-ray beam. A high-resolution image is then retrieved using an iterative algorithm. Combined with a scan of the incident photon energy, it is also possible to access chemical and elemental information.

Distinct Morphological Types of Small Airway Obstructions in Smokers with Emphysema and End-Stage COPD.

Rationale: The precise nature of small airway obstructions in COPD remains poorly understood, especially at early disease stages.

Objectives: This study aimed to characterize small airway obstructions and numbers up to the terminal bronchioles (TB) in smokers with limited emphysema and end-stage COPD. We hypothesized that obstruction subtypes would differ in morphology, nature and number from early to end-stage COPD.

Broadband Ptychotomography with a Hyperspectral Detector.

X-ray ptychography is a robust microscopy technique with nanoscale resolution that requires a spatially and temporally coherent illumination. In a typical setup, the temporal coherence requirements are satisfied by monochromating the x-ray source, e.g.

Computational fluid dynamics of small airway disease in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Small airways (<2 mm diameter) are major sites of airflow obstruction in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This study aimed to quantify the impact of small airway disease, characterized by narrowing, occlusion, and obliteration, on airflow parameters in smokers and end-stage patients with COPDs.

Methods: We performed computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations of inspiratory airflow in three lung groups: control non-used donor lungs (no smoking/emphysema history), non-used donor lungs with a smoking history and emphysema, and explanted end-stage COPD lungs.

Contrast-enhanced imaging of carbon fiber composites using hafnium oxide nanocrystals.

Carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRPs) are of utmost importance in high-performance structural applications due to their unique combination of light-weight, yet high-strength behaviour. However, their behaviour and damage mechanisms are not fully understood. Damage propagation models need to take into account the type, geometry and orientation of a multitude of failure mechanisms and defects.

The effect of cryopreservation on enamel microcracks - A μCT analysis using a deep learning algorithm.

To date, the effect of cryopreservation on microcracks in the dental enamel remains unclear. These enamel microcracks are very thin, at the limit of visibility and their segmentation is beyond the capabilities of traditional image analysis. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of cryopreservation on enamel microcracks with a μCT analysis using a deep learning algorithm.

Airway Remodeling in Cystic Fibrosis Is Heterogeneous.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is characterized by bronchiectasis on imaging, while functionally evolving toward obstructive impairment. Despite its assumed importance in CF, small airway remodeling and its relation to bronchiectasis remains poorly understood. The aim of our study was to explore both large and small airway disease morphometrically, by using detailed imaging techniques, such as high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and micro-computed tomography (μCT), and histological analysis in advanced CF.

Bmpr1aa modulates the severity of the skeletal phenotype in an fkbp10-deficient Bruck syndrome zebrafish model.

Rare monogenic disorders often exhibit significant phenotypic variability among individuals sharing identical genetic mutations. Bruck syndrome (BS), a prime example, is characterized by bone fragility and congenital contractures, although with a pronounced variability among family members. BS arises from recessive biallelic mutations in FKBP10 or PLOD2.

Method for auto-alignment and determination of parameter space in dual-phase grating interferometry.

X-ray dual-phase grating interferometry provides quantitative micro-structural information beyond the optical resolution through its tunable correlation length. Ensuring optimal performance of the set-up requires accurate correlation length estimation and precise alignment of the gratings. This paper presents an automated procedure for determining the complete geometrical parameters of the interferometer set-up with a high degree of precision.

4D microvelocimetry reveals multiphase flow field perturbations in porous media.

Many environmental and industrial processes depend on how fluids displace each other in porous materials. However, the flow dynamics that govern this process are still poorly understood, hampered by the lack of methods to measure flows in optically opaque, microscopic geometries. We introduce a 4D microvelocimetry method based on high-resolution X-ray computed tomography with fast imaging rates (up to 4 Hz).

From Corrosion Casting to Virtual Dissection: Contrast-Enhanced Vascular Imaging using Hafnium Oxide Nanocrystals.

Vascular corrosion casting is a method used to visualize the three dimensional (3D) anatomy and branching pattern of blood vessels. A polymer resin is injected in the vascular system and, after curing, the surrounding tissue is removed. The latter often deforms or even fractures the fragile cast.

Implementation of a dual-phase grating interferometer for multi-scale characterization of building materials by tunable dark-field imaging.

The multi-scale characterization of building materials is necessary to understand complex mechanical processes, with the goal of developing new more sustainable materials. To that end, imaging methods are often used in materials science to characterize the microscale. However, these methods compromise the volume of interest to achieve a higher resolution.

Pixel-wise beam-hardening correction for dark-field signal in X-ray dual-phase grating interferometry.

The dark-field signal provided by X-ray grating interferometry is an invaluable tool for providing structural information beyond the direct spatial resolution and their variations on a macroscopic scale. However, when using a polychromatic source, the beam-hardening effect in the dark-field signal makes the quantitative sub-resolution structural information inaccessible. Especially, the beam-hardening effect in dual-phase grating interferometry varies with spatial location, inter-grating distance, and diffraction order.

COVID-19 progression in hospitalized patients using follow-up CT and microCT.

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) which can lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and evolve to pulmonary fibrosis. Computed tomography (CT) is used to study disease progression and describe radiological patterns in COVID-19 patients. This study aimed to assess disease progression regarding lung volume and density over time on follow-up chest CT and give a unique look at parenchymal and morphological airway changes in "end-stage" COVID-19 lungs using microCT.

The effect of particle size on the sublimation behavior of butylhydroxytoluene as antioxidant in tablets during storage and coating.

The effect of particle size on the sublimation behavior of butylhydroxytoluene (BHT) was investigated when BHT was included as antioxidant in tablets. Sublimation of pure BHT was found to be independent of its particle size, with pore formation on the surface of all tablets after storage at room temperature and above. Moreover, a higher residual BHT content after storage was detected in tablets containing a larger size fraction.

Characterization of Pharmaceutical Tablets by X-ray Tomography.

Solid dosage forms such as tablets are extensively used in drug administration for their simplicity and large-scale manufacturing capabilities. High-resolution X-ray tomography is one of the most valuable non-destructive techniques to investigate the internal structure of the tablets for drug product development as well as for a cost effective production process. In this work, we review the recent developments in high-resolution X-ray microtomography and its application towards different tablet characterizations.

Detailed analysis of the interference patterns measured in lab-based X-ray dual-phase grating interferometry through wave propagation simulation.

In this work, we analyze the interference patterns measured in lab-based dual-phase grating interferometry and for the first time explain the spatial dependencies of the measured interference patterns and the large visibility deviations between the theoretical prediction and the experimental results. To achieve this, a simulator based on wave propagation is developed. This work proves that the experimental results can be simulated with high accuracy by including the effective grating thickness profile induced by the cone-beam geometry, the measured detector response function and a non-ideal grating shape.

Radiologic and Histologic Correlates of Early Interstitial Lung Changes in Explanted Lungs.

Background Interstitial lung abnormalities (ILAs) reflect imaging features on lung CT scans that are compatible with (early) interstitial lung disease. Despite accumulating evidence regarding the incidence, risk factors, and prognosis of ILAs, the histopathologic correlates of ILAs remain elusive. Purpose To determine the correlation between radiologic and histopathologic findings in CT-defined ILAs in human lung explants.

Development of Flow-Through Cell Dissolution Method for In Situ Visualization of Dissolution Processes in Solid Dosage Forms Using X-ray μCT.

Visualization of the dynamic behavior of pharmaceutical dosage forms during the dissolution process offers a better understanding of the drug release mechanism, enabling the design of customized dosage forms. In this study, an X-ray tomography-based approach is proposed to monitor and analyze the dynamics of the structure at the pore scale level during the dissolution process. A flow-through cell dissolution apparatus was developed, capable of mimicking the standard in vitro dissolution process, which can be easily positioned in an X-ray tomography setup.

Correction: Sinchuk et al. Variational and Deep Learning Segmentation of Very-Low-Contrast X-ray Computed Tomography Images of Carbon/Epoxy Woven Composites. 2020, , 936.

We would like to change the authors' affiliation on the recent published paper [...

A histological description of alpaca () cheek teeth: Findings and anatomical variations in macroscopically normal molars.

Scientific literature on veterinary dentistry in alpacas has historically focused on the description of tooth root abscesses. However, recent studies have shown a variety of other, sometimes preceding dental conditions to be widespread in this species. To allow the development and finetuning of treatment strategies in this species, a more thorough understanding of the underlying etiopathogenesis of dental disease is required.

Exploration of the X-ray Dark-Field Signal in Mineral Building Materials.

Mineral building materials suffer from weathering processes such as salt efflorescence, freeze-thaw cycling, and microbial colonization. All of these processes are linked to water (liquid and vapor) in the pore space. The degree of damage following these processes is heavily influenced by pore space properties such as porosity, pore size distribution, and pore connectivity.

Detecting thin adhesive coatings in wood fiber materials with laboratory-based dual-energy computed tomography (DECT).

The distribution and good spreading of adhesive resins is critical for the wood-based panels industry. Full 3D non-destructive characterization is necessary, but methods are limited due to the chemical similarities between the resins and the wood fibers. For X-ray microtomography ([Formula: see text]CT), the doping of the resin with a highly attenuating contrast agent is necessary to visualize the resin distribution.

Poly(2-alkyl-2-oxazoline)s: A polymer platform to sustain the release from tablets with a high drug loading.

Sustaining the release of highly dosed APIs from a matrix tablet is challenging. To address this challenge, this study evaluated the performance of thermoplastic poly (2-alkyl-2-oxazoline)s (PAOx) as matrix excipient to produce sustained-release tablets via three processing routes: (a) hot-melt extrusion (HME) combined with injection molding (IM), (b) HME combined with milling and compression and (c) direct compression (DC). Different PAOx (co-)polymers and polymer mixtures were processed with several active pharmaceutical ingredients having different aqueous solubilities and melting temperatures (metoprolol tartrate (MPT), metformin hydrochloride (MTF) and theophylline anhydrous (THA)).