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Nakamura N, Szypryt P, Dagel AL, Alpert BK, Bennett DA, Doriese WB, Durkin M, Fowler JW, Fox DT, Gard JD, Goodner RN, Harris JZ, Hilton GC, Jimenez ES, Kernen BL, Larson KW, Levine ZH, McArthur D, Morgan KM, O’Neil GC, Ortiz NJ, Pappas CG, Reintsema CD, Schmidt DR, Schultz PA, Thompson KR, Ullom JN, Vale L, Vaughan CT, Walker C, Weber JC, Wheeler JW, Swetz DS. Nanoscale Three-Dimensional Imaging of Integrated Circuits Using a Scanning Electron Microscope and Transition-Edge Sensor Spectrometer. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 24:2890. [PMID: 38732996 PMCID: PMC11086152 DOI: 10.3390/s24092890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2024] [Revised: 04/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024]
Abstract
X-ray nanotomography is a powerful tool for the characterization of nanoscale materials and structures, but it is difficult to implement due to the competing requirements of X-ray flux and spot size. Due to this constraint, state-of-the-art nanotomography is predominantly performed at large synchrotron facilities. We present a laboratory-scale nanotomography instrument that achieves nanoscale spatial resolution while addressing the limitations of conventional tomography tools. The instrument combines the electron beam of a scanning electron microscope (SEM) with the precise, broadband X-ray detection of a superconducting transition-edge sensor (TES) microcalorimeter. The electron beam generates a highly focused X-ray spot on a metal target held micrometers away from the sample of interest, while the TES spectrometer isolates target photons with a high signal-to-noise ratio. This combination of a focused X-ray spot, energy-resolved X-ray detection, and unique system geometry enables nanoscale, element-specific X-ray imaging in a compact footprint. The proof of concept for this approach to X-ray nanotomography is demonstrated by imaging 160 nm features in three dimensions in six layers of a Cu-SiO2 integrated circuit, and a path toward finer resolution and enhanced imaging capabilities is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Nakamura
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80305, USA; (P.S.); (B.K.A.); (D.A.B.); (W.B.D.); (M.D.); (J.W.F.); (J.D.G.); (K.M.M.); (G.C.O.); (N.J.O.); (C.D.R.); (D.R.S.); (J.N.U.); (L.V.); (J.C.W.); (D.S.S.)
- Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Paul Szypryt
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80305, USA; (P.S.); (B.K.A.); (D.A.B.); (W.B.D.); (M.D.); (J.W.F.); (J.D.G.); (K.M.M.); (G.C.O.); (N.J.O.); (C.D.R.); (D.R.S.); (J.N.U.); (L.V.); (J.C.W.); (D.S.S.)
- Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Amber L. Dagel
- Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM 87123, USA; (A.L.D.); (D.T.F.); (R.N.G.); (E.S.J.); (B.L.K.); (D.M.); (P.A.S.); (K.R.T.); (C.T.V.); (C.W.); (J.W.W.)
| | - Bradley K. Alpert
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80305, USA; (P.S.); (B.K.A.); (D.A.B.); (W.B.D.); (M.D.); (J.W.F.); (J.D.G.); (K.M.M.); (G.C.O.); (N.J.O.); (C.D.R.); (D.R.S.); (J.N.U.); (L.V.); (J.C.W.); (D.S.S.)
| | - Douglas A. Bennett
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80305, USA; (P.S.); (B.K.A.); (D.A.B.); (W.B.D.); (M.D.); (J.W.F.); (J.D.G.); (K.M.M.); (G.C.O.); (N.J.O.); (C.D.R.); (D.R.S.); (J.N.U.); (L.V.); (J.C.W.); (D.S.S.)
| | - William Bertrand Doriese
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80305, USA; (P.S.); (B.K.A.); (D.A.B.); (W.B.D.); (M.D.); (J.W.F.); (J.D.G.); (K.M.M.); (G.C.O.); (N.J.O.); (C.D.R.); (D.R.S.); (J.N.U.); (L.V.); (J.C.W.); (D.S.S.)
| | - Malcolm Durkin
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80305, USA; (P.S.); (B.K.A.); (D.A.B.); (W.B.D.); (M.D.); (J.W.F.); (J.D.G.); (K.M.M.); (G.C.O.); (N.J.O.); (C.D.R.); (D.R.S.); (J.N.U.); (L.V.); (J.C.W.); (D.S.S.)
- Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Joseph W. Fowler
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80305, USA; (P.S.); (B.K.A.); (D.A.B.); (W.B.D.); (M.D.); (J.W.F.); (J.D.G.); (K.M.M.); (G.C.O.); (N.J.O.); (C.D.R.); (D.R.S.); (J.N.U.); (L.V.); (J.C.W.); (D.S.S.)
- Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Dylan T. Fox
- Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM 87123, USA; (A.L.D.); (D.T.F.); (R.N.G.); (E.S.J.); (B.L.K.); (D.M.); (P.A.S.); (K.R.T.); (C.T.V.); (C.W.); (J.W.W.)
| | - Johnathon D. Gard
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80305, USA; (P.S.); (B.K.A.); (D.A.B.); (W.B.D.); (M.D.); (J.W.F.); (J.D.G.); (K.M.M.); (G.C.O.); (N.J.O.); (C.D.R.); (D.R.S.); (J.N.U.); (L.V.); (J.C.W.); (D.S.S.)
- Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Ryan N. Goodner
- Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM 87123, USA; (A.L.D.); (D.T.F.); (R.N.G.); (E.S.J.); (B.L.K.); (D.M.); (P.A.S.); (K.R.T.); (C.T.V.); (C.W.); (J.W.W.)
| | - James Zachariah Harris
- Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM 87123, USA; (A.L.D.); (D.T.F.); (R.N.G.); (E.S.J.); (B.L.K.); (D.M.); (P.A.S.); (K.R.T.); (C.T.V.); (C.W.); (J.W.W.)
| | - Gene C. Hilton
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80305, USA; (P.S.); (B.K.A.); (D.A.B.); (W.B.D.); (M.D.); (J.W.F.); (J.D.G.); (K.M.M.); (G.C.O.); (N.J.O.); (C.D.R.); (D.R.S.); (J.N.U.); (L.V.); (J.C.W.); (D.S.S.)
| | - Edward S. Jimenez
- Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM 87123, USA; (A.L.D.); (D.T.F.); (R.N.G.); (E.S.J.); (B.L.K.); (D.M.); (P.A.S.); (K.R.T.); (C.T.V.); (C.W.); (J.W.W.)
| | - Burke L. Kernen
- Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM 87123, USA; (A.L.D.); (D.T.F.); (R.N.G.); (E.S.J.); (B.L.K.); (D.M.); (P.A.S.); (K.R.T.); (C.T.V.); (C.W.); (J.W.W.)
| | - Kurt W. Larson
- Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM 87123, USA; (A.L.D.); (D.T.F.); (R.N.G.); (E.S.J.); (B.L.K.); (D.M.); (P.A.S.); (K.R.T.); (C.T.V.); (C.W.); (J.W.W.)
| | - Zachary H. Levine
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA;
| | - Daniel McArthur
- Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM 87123, USA; (A.L.D.); (D.T.F.); (R.N.G.); (E.S.J.); (B.L.K.); (D.M.); (P.A.S.); (K.R.T.); (C.T.V.); (C.W.); (J.W.W.)
| | - Kelsey M. Morgan
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80305, USA; (P.S.); (B.K.A.); (D.A.B.); (W.B.D.); (M.D.); (J.W.F.); (J.D.G.); (K.M.M.); (G.C.O.); (N.J.O.); (C.D.R.); (D.R.S.); (J.N.U.); (L.V.); (J.C.W.); (D.S.S.)
- Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Galen C. O’Neil
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80305, USA; (P.S.); (B.K.A.); (D.A.B.); (W.B.D.); (M.D.); (J.W.F.); (J.D.G.); (K.M.M.); (G.C.O.); (N.J.O.); (C.D.R.); (D.R.S.); (J.N.U.); (L.V.); (J.C.W.); (D.S.S.)
| | - Nathan J. Ortiz
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80305, USA; (P.S.); (B.K.A.); (D.A.B.); (W.B.D.); (M.D.); (J.W.F.); (J.D.G.); (K.M.M.); (G.C.O.); (N.J.O.); (C.D.R.); (D.R.S.); (J.N.U.); (L.V.); (J.C.W.); (D.S.S.)
- Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Christine G. Pappas
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80305, USA; (P.S.); (B.K.A.); (D.A.B.); (W.B.D.); (M.D.); (J.W.F.); (J.D.G.); (K.M.M.); (G.C.O.); (N.J.O.); (C.D.R.); (D.R.S.); (J.N.U.); (L.V.); (J.C.W.); (D.S.S.)
- Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Carl D. Reintsema
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80305, USA; (P.S.); (B.K.A.); (D.A.B.); (W.B.D.); (M.D.); (J.W.F.); (J.D.G.); (K.M.M.); (G.C.O.); (N.J.O.); (C.D.R.); (D.R.S.); (J.N.U.); (L.V.); (J.C.W.); (D.S.S.)
| | - Daniel R. Schmidt
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80305, USA; (P.S.); (B.K.A.); (D.A.B.); (W.B.D.); (M.D.); (J.W.F.); (J.D.G.); (K.M.M.); (G.C.O.); (N.J.O.); (C.D.R.); (D.R.S.); (J.N.U.); (L.V.); (J.C.W.); (D.S.S.)
| | - Peter A. Schultz
- Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM 87123, USA; (A.L.D.); (D.T.F.); (R.N.G.); (E.S.J.); (B.L.K.); (D.M.); (P.A.S.); (K.R.T.); (C.T.V.); (C.W.); (J.W.W.)
| | - Kyle R. Thompson
- Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM 87123, USA; (A.L.D.); (D.T.F.); (R.N.G.); (E.S.J.); (B.L.K.); (D.M.); (P.A.S.); (K.R.T.); (C.T.V.); (C.W.); (J.W.W.)
| | - Joel N. Ullom
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80305, USA; (P.S.); (B.K.A.); (D.A.B.); (W.B.D.); (M.D.); (J.W.F.); (J.D.G.); (K.M.M.); (G.C.O.); (N.J.O.); (C.D.R.); (D.R.S.); (J.N.U.); (L.V.); (J.C.W.); (D.S.S.)
- Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Leila Vale
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80305, USA; (P.S.); (B.K.A.); (D.A.B.); (W.B.D.); (M.D.); (J.W.F.); (J.D.G.); (K.M.M.); (G.C.O.); (N.J.O.); (C.D.R.); (D.R.S.); (J.N.U.); (L.V.); (J.C.W.); (D.S.S.)
| | - Courtenay T. Vaughan
- Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM 87123, USA; (A.L.D.); (D.T.F.); (R.N.G.); (E.S.J.); (B.L.K.); (D.M.); (P.A.S.); (K.R.T.); (C.T.V.); (C.W.); (J.W.W.)
| | - Christopher Walker
- Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM 87123, USA; (A.L.D.); (D.T.F.); (R.N.G.); (E.S.J.); (B.L.K.); (D.M.); (P.A.S.); (K.R.T.); (C.T.V.); (C.W.); (J.W.W.)
| | - Joel C. Weber
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80305, USA; (P.S.); (B.K.A.); (D.A.B.); (W.B.D.); (M.D.); (J.W.F.); (J.D.G.); (K.M.M.); (G.C.O.); (N.J.O.); (C.D.R.); (D.R.S.); (J.N.U.); (L.V.); (J.C.W.); (D.S.S.)
- Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Jason W. Wheeler
- Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM 87123, USA; (A.L.D.); (D.T.F.); (R.N.G.); (E.S.J.); (B.L.K.); (D.M.); (P.A.S.); (K.R.T.); (C.T.V.); (C.W.); (J.W.W.)
| | - Daniel S. Swetz
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80305, USA; (P.S.); (B.K.A.); (D.A.B.); (W.B.D.); (M.D.); (J.W.F.); (J.D.G.); (K.M.M.); (G.C.O.); (N.J.O.); (C.D.R.); (D.R.S.); (J.N.U.); (L.V.); (J.C.W.); (D.S.S.)
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2
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Barron A. Applications of Microct Imaging to Archaeobotanical Research. JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL METHOD AND THEORY 2023:1-36. [PMID: 37359278 PMCID: PMC10225294 DOI: 10.1007/s10816-023-09610-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
The potential applications of microCT scanning in the field of archaeobotany are only just beginning to be explored. The imaging technique can extract new archaeobotanical information from existing archaeobotanical collections as well as create new archaeobotanical assemblages within ancient ceramics and other artefact types. The technique could aid in answering archaeobotanical questions about the early histories of some of the world's most important food crops from geographical regions with amongst the poorest rates of archaeobotanical preservation and where ancient plant exploitation remains poorly understood. This paper reviews current uses of microCT imaging in the investigation of archaeobotanical questions, as well as in cognate fields of geosciences, geoarchaeology, botany and palaeobotany. The technique has to date been used in a small number of novel methodological studies to extract internal anatomical morphologies and three-dimensional quantitative data from a range of food crops, which includes sexually-propagated cereals and legumes, and asexually-propagated underground storage organs (USOs). The large three-dimensional, digital datasets produced by microCT scanning have been shown to aid in taxonomic identification of archaeobotanical specimens, as well as robustly assess domestication status. In the future, as scanning technology, computer processing power and data storage capacities continue to improve, the possible applications of microCT scanning to archaeobotanical studies will only increase with the development of machine and deep learning networks enabling the automation of analyses of large archaeobotanical assemblages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleese Barron
- School of Archaeology and Anthropology, Australian National University, Banks Building, Canberra, Canberra ACT 2601 Australia
- Department of Materials Physics, Research School of Physics, Australian National University, Canberra, Canberra ACT 2601 Australia
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Levine ZH, Alpert BK, Dagel AL, Fowler JW, Jimenez ES, Nakamura N, Swetz DS, Szypryt P, Thompson KR, Ullom JN. A tabletop X-ray tomography instrument for nanometer-scale imaging: reconstructions. MICROSYSTEMS & NANOENGINEERING 2023; 9:47. [PMID: 37064166 PMCID: PMC10101988 DOI: 10.1038/s41378-023-00510-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
We show three-dimensional reconstructions of a region of an integrated circuit from a 130 nm copper process. The reconstructions employ x-ray computed tomography, measured with a new and innovative high-magnification x-ray microscope. The instrument uses a focused electron beam to generate x-rays in a 100 nm spot and energy-resolving x-ray detectors that minimize backgrounds and hold promise for the identification of materials within the sample. The x-ray generation target, a layer of platinum, is fabricated on the circuit wafer itself. A region of interest is imaged from a limited range of angles and without physically removing the region from the larger circuit. The reconstruction is consistent with the circuit's design file.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary H. Levine
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899 USA
| | - Bradley K. Alpert
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80305 USA
| | | | - Joseph W. Fowler
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80305 USA
- Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309 USA
| | | | - Nathan Nakamura
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80305 USA
- Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309 USA
| | - Daniel S. Swetz
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80305 USA
| | - Paul Szypryt
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80305 USA
- Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309 USA
| | | | - Joel N. Ullom
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80305 USA
- Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309 USA
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4
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Englisch S, Ditscherlein R, Kirstein T, Hansen L, Furat O, Drobek D, Leißner T, Apeleo Zubiri B, Weber AP, Schmidt V, Peuker UA, Spiecker E. 3D analysis of equally X-ray attenuating mineralogical phases utilizing a correlative tomographic workflow across multiple length scales. POWDER TECHNOL 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.powtec.2023.118343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/13/2023]
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5
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Preparation strategy for statistically significant micrometer-sized particle systems suitable for correlative 3D imaging workflows on the example of X-ray microtomography. POWDER TECHNOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.powtec.2021.09.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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6
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Inkinen SI, Juntunen MAK, Ketola J, Korhonen K, Sepponen P, Kotiaho A, Pohjanen VM, Nieminen M. Virtual monochromatic imaging reduces beam hardening artefacts in cardiac interior photon counting computed tomography: a phantom study with cadaveric specimens. Biomed Phys Eng Express 2021; 8. [PMID: 34911047 DOI: 10.1088/2057-1976/ac4397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
In interior cardiac computed tomography (CT) imaging, the x-ray beam is collimated to a limited field-of-view covering the heart volume, which decreases the radiation exposure to surrounding tissues. Spectral CT enables the creation of virtual monochromatic images (VMIs) through a computational material decomposition process. This study investigates the utility of VMIs for beam hardening (BH) reduction in interior cardiac CT, and further, the suitability of VMIs for coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring and volume assessment is studied using spectral photon counting detector CT (PCD-CT).Ex vivocoronary artery samples (N = 18) were inserted in an epoxy rod phantom. The rod was scanned in the conventional CT geometry, and subsequently, the rod was positioned in a torso phantom and re-measured in the interior PCD-CT geometry. The total energy (TE) 10-100 keV reconstructions from PCD-CT were used as a reference. The low energy 10-60 keV and high energy 60-100 keV data were used to perform projection domain material decomposition to polymethyl methacrylate and calcium hydroxylapatite basis. The truncated basis-material sinograms were extended using the adaptive detruncation method. VMIs from 30-180 keV range were computed from the detruncated virtual monochromatic sinograms using filtered back projection. Detrending was applied as a post-processing method prior to CAC scoring. The results showed that BH artefacts from the exterior structures can be suppressed with high (≥100 keV) VMIs. With appropriate selection of the monoenergy (46 keV), the underestimation trend of CAC scores and volumes shown in Bland-Altman (BA) plots for TE interior PCD-CT was mitigated, as the BA slope values were -0.02 for the 46 keV VMI compared to -0.21 the conventional TE image. To conclude, spectral PCD-CT imaging using VMIs could be applied to reduce BH artefacts interior CT geometry, and further, optimal selection of VMI may improve the accuracy of CAC scoring assessment in interior PCD-CT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satu I Inkinen
- Research Unit of Medical Imaging, Physics and Technology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Mikael A K Juntunen
- Research Unit of Medical Imaging, Physics and Technology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.,Oulu University Hospital, Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Oulu, Finland
| | - Juuso Ketola
- Research Unit of Medical Imaging, Physics and Technology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.,The South Savo Social and Health Care Authority, Mikkeli Central Hospital, Mikkeli, Finland
| | - Kristiina Korhonen
- Research Unit of Medical Imaging, Physics and Technology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Pasi Sepponen
- Research Unit of Medical Imaging, Physics and Technology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Antti Kotiaho
- Research Unit of Medical Imaging, Physics and Technology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.,Oulu University Hospital, Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Oulu, Finland
| | - Vesa-Matti Pohjanen
- Cancer and Translational Medicine Research Unit, Medical Research Center, University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Miika Nieminen
- Research Unit of Medical Imaging, Physics and Technology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.,Oulu University Hospital, Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Oulu, Finland
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Ketola JHJ, Heino H, Juntunen MAK, Nieminen MT, Siltanen S, Inkinen SI. Generative adversarial networks improve interior computed tomography angiography reconstruction. Biomed Phys Eng Express 2021; 7. [PMID: 34673559 DOI: 10.1088/2057-1976/ac31cb] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
In interior computed tomography (CT), the x-ray beam is collimated to a limited field-of-view (FOV) (e.g. the volume of the heart) to decrease exposure to adjacent organs, but the resulting image has a severe truncation artifact when reconstructed with traditional filtered back-projection (FBP) type algorithms. In some examinations, such as cardiac or dentomaxillofacial imaging, interior CT could be used to achieve further dose reductions. In this work, we describe a deep learning (DL) method to obtain artifact-free images from interior CT angiography. Our method employs the Pix2Pix generative adversarial network (GAN) in a two-stage process: (1) An extended sinogram is computed from a truncated sinogram with one GAN model, and (2) the FBP reconstruction obtained from that extended sinogram is used as an input to another GAN model that improves the quality of the interior reconstruction. Our double GAN (DGAN) model was trained with 10 000 truncated sinograms simulated from real computed tomography angiography slice images. Truncated sinograms (input) were used with original slice images (target) in training to yield an improved reconstruction (output). DGAN performance was compared with the adaptive de-truncation method, total variation regularization, and two reference DL methods: FBPConvNet, and U-Net-based sinogram extension (ES-UNet). Our DGAN method and ES-UNet yielded the best root-mean-squared error (RMSE) (0.03 ± 0.01), and structural similarity index (SSIM) (0.92 ± 0.02) values, and reference DL methods also yielded good results. Furthermore, we performed an extended FOV analysis by increasing the reconstruction area by 10% and 20%. In both cases, the DGAN approach yielded best results at RMSE (0.03 ± 0.01 and 0.04 ± 0.01 for the 10% and 20% cases, respectively), peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) (30.5 ± 2.6 dB and 28.6 ± 2.6 dB), and SSIM (0.90 ± 0.02 and 0.87 ± 0.02). In conclusion, our method was able to not only reconstruct the interior region with improved image quality, but also extend the reconstructed FOV by 20%.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juuso H J Ketola
- Research Unit of Medical Imaging, Physics and Technology, University of Oulu, FI-90014, Finland.,The South Savo Social and Health Care Authority, Mikkeli Central Hospital, FI-50100, Finland
| | - Helinä Heino
- Research Unit of Medical Imaging, Physics and Technology, University of Oulu, FI-90014, Finland
| | - Mikael A K Juntunen
- Research Unit of Medical Imaging, Physics and Technology, University of Oulu, FI-90014, Finland.,Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Oulu University Hospital, FI-90029, Finland
| | - Miika T Nieminen
- Research Unit of Medical Imaging, Physics and Technology, University of Oulu, FI-90014, Finland.,Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Oulu University Hospital, FI-90029, Finland.,Medical Research Center Oulu, University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital, FI-90014, Finland
| | - Samuli Siltanen
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, FI-00014, Finland
| | - Satu I Inkinen
- Research Unit of Medical Imaging, Physics and Technology, University of Oulu, FI-90014, Finland
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8
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Vo NT, Atwood RC, Drakopoulos M, Connolley T. Data processing methods and data acquisition for samples larger than the field of view in parallel-beam tomography. OPTICS EXPRESS 2021; 29:17849-17874. [PMID: 34154059 DOI: 10.1364/oe.418448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Parallel-beam tomography systems at synchrotron facilities have limited field of view (FOV) determined by the available beam size and detector system coverage. Scanning the full size of samples bigger than the FOV requires various data acquisition schemes such as grid scan, 360-degree scan with offset center-of-rotation (COR), helical scan, or combinations of these schemes. Though straightforward to implement, these scanning techniques have not often been used due to the lack of software and methods to process such types of data in an easy and automated fashion. The ease of use and automation is critical at synchrotron facilities where using visual inspection in data processing steps such as image stitching, COR determination, or helical data conversion is impractical due to the large size of datasets. Here, we provide methods and their implementations in a Python package, named Algotom, for not only processing such data types but also with the highest quality possible. The efficiency and ease of use of these tools can help to extend applications of parallel-beam tomography systems.
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9
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Alhosani A, Scanziani A, Lin Q, Selem A, Pan Z, Blunt MJ, Bijeljic B. Three-phase flow displacement dynamics and Haines jumps in a hydrophobic porous medium. Proc Math Phys Eng Sci 2021; 476:20200671. [PMID: 33402876 PMCID: PMC7776970 DOI: 10.1098/rspa.2020.0671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
We use synchrotron X-ray micro-tomography to investigate the displacement dynamics during three-phase—oil, water and gas—flow in a hydrophobic porous medium. We observe a distinct gas invasion pattern, where gas progresses through the pore space in the form of disconnected clusters mediated by double and multiple displacement events. Gas advances in a process we name three-phase Haines jumps, during which gas re-arranges its configuration in the pore space, retracting from some regions to enable the rapid filling of multiple pores. The gas retraction leads to a permanent disconnection of gas ganglia, which do not reconnect as gas injection proceeds. We observe, in situ, the direct displacement of oil and water by gas as well as gas–oil–water double displacement. The use of local in situ measurements and an energy balance approach to determine fluid–fluid contact angles alongside the quantification of capillary pressures and pore occupancy indicate that the wettability order is oil–gas–water from most to least wetting. Furthermore, quantifying the evolution of Minkowski functionals implied well-connected oil and water, while the gas connectivity decreased as gas was broken up into discrete clusters during injection. This work can be used to design CO2 storage, improved oil recovery and microfluidic devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdulla Alhosani
- Department of Earth Science and Engineering, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Alessio Scanziani
- Department of Earth Science and Engineering, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Qingyang Lin
- State Environmental Protection Engineering Center for Coal-Fired Air Pollution Control, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, People's Republic of China
| | - Ahmed Selem
- Department of Earth Science and Engineering, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Ziqing Pan
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Martin J Blunt
- Department of Earth Science and Engineering, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Branko Bijeljic
- Department of Earth Science and Engineering, Imperial College London, London, UK
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10
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Liu Y, Xie D, Zhou R, Zhang Y. 3D X-ray micro-computed tomography imaging for the microarchitecture evaluation of porous metallic implants and scaffolds. Micron 2020; 142:102994. [PMID: 33341436 DOI: 10.1016/j.micron.2020.102994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Revised: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
As an advanced microscopy technology with strong sample adaptability and non-destructive three-dimensional (3D) characteristics, X-ray micro-computed tomography (Micro-CT) can establish the overall connection between various microarchitecture parameters and accelerate the research process of porous metallic implants and scaffolds. In this review, the Micro-CT based quantitative evaluation methods of microarchitecture and bone formation are investigated. To ensure reliability of the results, the Micro-CT setup is discussed briefly and the essential image processing algorithms are introduced in detail. The significance and limitations of Micro-CT are analyzed in the context of research on porous metallic implants. We also discuss the future development of Micro-CT technology in the field of biological tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuchuan Liu
- Key Lab of Optoelectronic Technology and Systems, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China; Engineering Research Center of Industrial Computed Tomography Nondestructive Testing, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
| | - Dongyang Xie
- Key Lab of Optoelectronic Technology and Systems, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China; Engineering Research Center of Industrial Computed Tomography Nondestructive Testing, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
| | - Rifeng Zhou
- Key Lab of Optoelectronic Technology and Systems, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China; Engineering Research Center of Industrial Computed Tomography Nondestructive Testing, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China; State Key Laboratory of Mechanical Transmissions, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China.
| | - Yuxin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Mechanical Transmissions, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China; College of Materials Science and Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China.
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11
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Robisch AL, Frohn J, Salditt T. Iterative micro-tomography of biopsy samples from truncated projections with quantitative gray values. Phys Med Biol 2020; 65:235034. [DOI: 10.1088/1361-6560/abc22f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
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12
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Bonto AP, Tiozon RN, Rojviriya C, Sreenivasulu N, Camacho DH. Sonication increases the porosity of uncooked rice kernels affording softer textural properties, loss of intrinsic nutrients and increased uptake capacity during fortification. ULTRASONICS SONOCHEMISTRY 2020; 68:105234. [PMID: 32593147 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultsonch.2020.105234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2020] [Revised: 06/07/2020] [Accepted: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
This work investigates the effect of sonication on brown and milled rice grains of both waxy and non-waxy varieties. We report herein the microstructural analysis of uncooked rice kernels under sonication and its effect on the textural properties. X-ray computed tomography results showed the formation of microporous surfaces and the creation of cracks and fissures. Sonication increased the % porosity of the rice samples allowing for easy penetration of water during the cooking process and promotes softer texture. Moreover, the effect of sonication in brown rice resulted to the decrease in endogenous iron and phosphorus contents but increased its capacity for iron uptake through fortification when sonicated rice is soaked in the mineral solution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aldrin P Bonto
- Chemistry Department, De La Salle University, 2401 Taft Avenue, Manila 0922, Philippines; International Rice Research Institute, Los Baños, Laguna 4031, Philippines
| | - Rhowell N Tiozon
- Chemistry Department, De La Salle University, 2401 Taft Avenue, Manila 0922, Philippines; International Rice Research Institute, Los Baños, Laguna 4031, Philippines
| | - Catleya Rojviriya
- Synchrotron Light Research Institute, Mueang District, Nakhon Ratchasima 30000, Thailand
| | - Nese Sreenivasulu
- International Rice Research Institute, Los Baños, Laguna 4031, Philippines
| | - Drexel H Camacho
- Chemistry Department, De La Salle University, 2401 Taft Avenue, Manila 0922, Philippines; Organic Materials and Interfaces Unit, CENSER, De La Salle University, 2401 Taft Avenue, Manila 0922, Philippines.
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13
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Bührer M, Xu H, Eller J, Sijbers J, Stampanoni M, Marone F. Unveiling water dynamics in fuel cells from time-resolved tomographic microscopy data. Sci Rep 2020; 10:16388. [PMID: 33009452 PMCID: PMC7532214 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-73036-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
X-ray dynamic tomographic microscopy offers new opportunities in the volumetric investigation of dynamic processes. Due to data complexity and their sheer amount, extraction of comprehensive quantitative information remains challenging due to the intensive manual interaction required. Particularly for dynamic investigations, these intensive manual requirements significantly extend the total data post-processing time, limiting possible dynamic analysis realistically to a few samples and time steps, hindering full exploitation of the new capabilities offered at dedicated time-resolved X-ray tomographic stations. In this paper, a fully automatized iterative tomographic reconstruction pipeline (rSIRT-PWC-DIFF) designed to reconstruct and segment dynamic processes within a static matrix is presented. The proposed algorithm includes automatic dynamic feature separation through difference sinograms, a virtual sinogram step for interior tomography datasets, time-regularization extended to small sub-regions for increased robustness and an automatic stopping criterion. We demonstrate the advantages of our approach on dynamic fuel cell data, for which the current data post-processing pipeline heavily relies on manual labor. The proposed approach reduces the post-processing time by at least a factor of 4 on limited computational resources. Full independence from manual interaction additionally allows straightforward up-scaling to efficiently process larger data, extensively boosting the possibilities in future dynamic X-ray tomographic investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minna Bührer
- Swiss Light Source, Paul Scherrer Institut, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232, Villigen, Aargau, Switzerland.,Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University and ETH Zürich, 8092, Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Hong Xu
- Electrochemistry Laboratory, Paul Scherrer Institut, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232, Villigen, Aargau, Switzerland
| | - Jens Eller
- Electrochemistry Laboratory, Paul Scherrer Institut, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232, Villigen, Aargau, Switzerland
| | - Jan Sijbers
- imec-Vision Lab, Department of Physics, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Antwerpen, Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Marco Stampanoni
- Swiss Light Source, Paul Scherrer Institut, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232, Villigen, Aargau, Switzerland.,Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University and ETH Zürich, 8092, Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Federica Marone
- Swiss Light Source, Paul Scherrer Institut, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232, Villigen, Aargau, Switzerland.
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14
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Evidence of diet, deification, and death within ancient Egyptian mummified animals. Sci Rep 2020; 10:14113. [PMID: 32820189 PMCID: PMC7441183 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-69726-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The clues to life and death of mummified animals can remain hidden beneath their wrappings. Developments in non-invasive imaging have enabled detailed study of their internal structures. Laboratory-based X-ray microcomputed tomography (microCT) and focussed imaging protocols permit smaller mummified remains, such as animals, to be studied at higher resolution. In this study, we use microCT to image three different animal mummies. Revealing the internal structures provides insights into their biography, the conditions in which they were kept, complex mummification practices, possible causes of death, and subsequent handling damage. Thousands of years after the production of these mummified animals, the X-ray microCT technique facilitates new investigations, revealing ‘harder’ skeletal structures, mummification materials, and even desiccated soft tissues. Potential evidence for an ‘opening of the mouth’ procedure was found in a snake, along with indicators of the poor conditions in which the snake was kept when alive, leading to dehydration. Examination of a cat mummy revealed it was less than five months old and had its neck purposefully broken. It was also possible to identify a bird mummy to species level from the X-ray data. Improved understanding of animal mummification through scientific imaging can thus inform conservation and understanding of past human-animal relationships.
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15
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Ditscherlein R, Furat O, de Langlard M, Martins de Souza E Silva J, Sygusch J, Rudolph M, Leißner T, Schmidt V, Peuker UA. Multiscale Tomographic Analysis for Micron-Sized Particulate Samples. MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY SOCIETY OF AMERICA, MICROBEAM ANALYSIS SOCIETY, MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 2020; 26:676-688. [PMID: 32627723 DOI: 10.1017/s1431927620001737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The three-dimensional characterization of distributed particle properties in the micro- and nanometer range is essential to describe and understand highly specific separation processes in terms of selectivity and yield. Both performance measures play a decisive role in the development and improvement of modern functional materials. In this study, we mixed spherical glass particles (0.4–5.8 μm diameter) with glass fibers (diameter 10 μm, length 18–660 μm) to investigate a borderline case of maximum difference in the aspect ratio and a significant difference in the characteristic length to characterize the system over several size scales. We immobilized the particles within a wax matrix and created sample volumes suitable for computed tomographic (CT) measurements at two different magnification scales (X-ray micro- and nano-CT). Fiber diameter and length could be described well on the basis of the low-resolution micro-CT measurements on the entire sample volume. In contrast, the spherical particle system could only be described with sufficient accuracy by combining micro-CT with high-resolution nano-CT measurements on subvolumes of reduced sample size. We modeled the joint (bivariate) distribution of fiber length and diameter with a parametric copula as a basic example, which is equally suitable for more complex distributions of irregularly shaped particles. This enables us to capture the multidimensional correlation structure of particle systems with statistically representative quantities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ralf Ditscherlein
- Institute of Mechanical Process Engineering and Mineral Processing, Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg, D-09599Freiberg, Germany
| | - Orkun Furat
- Institute of Stochastics, Ulm University, D-89069Ulm, Germany
| | | | | | - Johanna Sygusch
- Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology, D-09599Freiberg, Germany
| | - Martin Rudolph
- Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology, D-09599Freiberg, Germany
| | - Thomas Leißner
- Institute of Mechanical Process Engineering and Mineral Processing, Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg, D-09599Freiberg, Germany
| | - Volker Schmidt
- Institute of Stochastics, Ulm University, D-89069Ulm, Germany
| | - Urs A Peuker
- Institute of Mechanical Process Engineering and Mineral Processing, Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg, D-09599Freiberg, Germany
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16
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Juntunen MAK, Sepponen P, Korhonen K, Pohjanen VM, Ketola J, Kotiaho A, Nieminen MT, Inkinen SI. Interior photon counting computed tomography for quantification of coronary artery calcium: pre-clinical phantom study. Biomed Phys Eng Express 2020; 6:055011. [PMID: 33444242 DOI: 10.1088/2057-1976/aba133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Computed tomography (CT) is the reference method for cardiac imaging, but concerns have been raised regarding the radiation dose of CT examinations. Recently, photon counting detectors (PCDs) and interior tomography, in which the radiation beam is limited to the organ-of-interest, have been suggested for patient dose reduction. In this study, we investigated interior PCD-CT (iPCD-CT) for non-enhanced quantification of coronary artery calcium (CAC) using an anthropomorphic torso phantom and ex vivo coronary artery samples. We reconstructed the iPCD-CT measurements with filtered back projection (FBP), iterative total variation (TV) regularization, padded FBP, and adaptively detruncated FBP and adaptively detruncated TV. We compared the organ doses between conventional CT and iPCD-CT geometries, assessed the truncation and cupping artifacts with iPCD-CT, and evaluated the CAC quantification performance of iPCD-CT. With approximately the same effective dose between conventional CT geometry (0.30 mSv) and interior PCD-CT with 10.2 cm field-of-view (0.27 mSv), the organ dose of the heart was increased by 52.3% with interior PCD-CT when compared to CT. Conversely, the organ doses to peripheral and radiosensitive organs, such as the stomach (55.0% reduction), were often reduced with interior PCD-CT. FBP and TV did not sufficiently reduce the truncation artifact, whereas padded FBP and adaptively detruncated FBP and TV yielded satisfactory truncation artifact reduction. Notably, the adaptive detruncation algorithm reduced truncation artifacts effectively when it was combined with reconstruction detrending. With this approach, the CAC quantification accuracy was good, and the coronary artery disease grade reclassification rate was particularly low (5.6%). Thus, our results confirm that CAC quantification can be performed with the interior CT geometry, that the artifacts are effectively reduced with suitable interior reconstruction methods, and that interior tomography provides efficient patient dose reduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikael A K Juntunen
- Research Unit of Medical Imaging, Physics and Technology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland. Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
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17
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Abstract
Recent developments within micro-computed tomography (μCT) imaging have combined to extend our capacity to image tissue in three (3D) and four (4D) dimensions at micron and sub-micron spatial resolutions, opening the way for virtual histology, live cell imaging, subcellular imaging and correlative microscopy. Pivotal to this has been the development of methods to extend the contrast achievable for soft tissue. Herein, we review the new capabilities within the field of life sciences imaging, and consider how future developments in this field could further benefit the life sciences community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shelley D Rawson
- The Henry Royce Institute and School of Materials, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Jekaterina Maksimcuka
- The Henry Royce Institute and School of Materials, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Philip J Withers
- The Henry Royce Institute and School of Materials, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Sarah H Cartmell
- The Henry Royce Institute and School of Materials, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK.
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18
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Leißner T, Diener A, Löwer E, Ditscherlein R, Krüger K, Kwade A, Peuker U. 3D ex-situ and in-situ X-ray CT process studies in particle technology – A perspective. ADV POWDER TECHNOL 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.apt.2019.09.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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19
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Polikarpov M, Bourenkov G, Snigireva I, Snigirev A, Zimmermann S, Csanko K, Brockhauser S, Schneider TR. Visualization of protein crystals by high-energy phase-contrast X-ray imaging. Acta Crystallogr D Struct Biol 2019; 75:947-958. [PMID: 31692469 PMCID: PMC6834075 DOI: 10.1107/s2059798319011379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2019] [Accepted: 08/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
For the extraction of the best possible X-ray diffraction data from macromolecular crystals, accurate positioning of the crystals with respect to the X-ray beam is crucial. In addition, information about the shape and internal defects of crystals allows the optimization of data-collection strategies. Here, it is demonstrated that the X-ray beam available on the macromolecular crystallography beamline P14 at the high-brilliance synchrotron-radiation source PETRA III at DESY, Hamburg, Germany can be used for high-energy phase-contrast microtomography of protein crystals mounted in an optically opaque lipidic cubic phase matrix. Three-dimensional tomograms have been obtained at X-ray doses that are substantially smaller and on time scales that are substantially shorter than those used for diffraction-scanning approaches that display protein crystals at micrometre resolution. Adding a compound refractive lens as an objective to the imaging setup, two-dimensional imaging at sub-micrometre resolution has been achieved. All experiments were performed on a standard macromolecular crystallography beamline and are compatible with standard diffraction data-collection workflows and apparatus. Phase-contrast X-ray imaging of macromolecular crystals could find wide application at existing and upcoming low-emittance synchrotron-radiation sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxim Polikarpov
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Hamburg Unit c/o DESY, Building 25A, Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Gleb Bourenkov
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Hamburg Unit c/o DESY, Building 25A, Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Irina Snigireva
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, 38043 Grenoble, France
| | - Anatoly Snigirev
- X-ray Optics and Physical Materials Science Laboratory, Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University, Nevskogo 14, Kaliningrad 236041, Russian Federation
| | - Sophie Zimmermann
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Hamburg Unit c/o DESY, Building 25A, Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
- BASF SE, Pfalzgrafenstrasse 1, 67061 Ludwigshafen, Germany
| | - Krisztian Csanko
- Biological Research Centre (BRC), Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Temesvári krt. 62, Szeged 6726, Hungary
| | - Sandor Brockhauser
- Biological Research Centre (BRC), Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Temesvári krt. 62, Szeged 6726, Hungary
- European XFEL, Holzkoppel 4, 22869 Schenefeld, Germany
| | - Thomas R. Schneider
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Hamburg Unit c/o DESY, Building 25A, Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
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20
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Sykes D, Hartwell R, Bradley RS, Burnett TL, Hornberger B, Garwood RJ, Withers PJ. Time-lapse three-dimensional imaging of crack propagation in beetle cuticle. Acta Biomater 2019; 86:109-116. [PMID: 30660007 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2019.01.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2018] [Revised: 01/09/2019] [Accepted: 01/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Arthropod cuticle has extraordinary properties. It is very stiff and tough whilst being lightweight, yet it is made of rather ordinary constituents. This desirable combination of properties results from a hierarchical structure, but we currently have a poor understanding of how this impedes damage propagation. Here we use non-destructive, time-lapse in situ tensile testing within an X-ray nanotomography (nCT) system to visualise crack progression through dry beetle elytron (wing case) cuticle in 3D. We find that its hierarchical pseudo-orthogonal laminated microstructure exploits many extrinsic toughening mechanisms, including crack deflection, fibre and laminate pull-out and crack bridging. We highlight lessons to be learned in the design of engineering structures from the toughening methods employed. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: We present the first comprehensive study of the damage and toughening mechanisms within arthropod cuticle in a 3D time-lapse manner, using X-ray nanotomography during crack growth. This technique allows lamina to be isolated despite being convex, which limits 2D analysis of microstructure. We report toughening mechanisms previously unobserved in unmineralised cuticle such as crack deflection, fibre and laminate pull-out and crack bridging; and provide insights into the effects of hierarchical microstructure on crack propagation. Ultimately the benefits of the hierarchical microstructure found here can not only be used to improve biomimetic design, but also helps us to understand the remarkable success of arthropods on Earth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Sykes
- Henry Moseley X-ray Imaging Facility, The Royce Institute, School of Materials, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK.
| | - Rebecca Hartwell
- Henry Moseley X-ray Imaging Facility, The Royce Institute, School of Materials, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Rob S Bradley
- Henry Moseley X-ray Imaging Facility, The Royce Institute, School of Materials, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Timothy L Burnett
- Henry Moseley X-ray Imaging Facility, The Royce Institute, School of Materials, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | | | - Russell J Garwood
- School of Earth and Environmental Science, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK; Earth Sciences Department, Natural History Museum, London SW7 5BD, UK
| | - Philip J Withers
- Henry Moseley X-ray Imaging Facility, The Royce Institute, School of Materials, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
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21
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Micieli D, Minniti T, Evans LM, Gorini G. Accelerating Neutron Tomography experiments through Artificial Neural Network based reconstruction. Sci Rep 2019; 9:2450. [PMID: 30792423 PMCID: PMC6385317 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-38903-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2018] [Accepted: 12/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Neutron Tomography (NT) is a non-destructive technique to investigate the inner structure of a wide range of objects and, in some cases, provides valuable results in comparison to the more common X-ray imaging techniques. However, NT is time consuming and scanning a set of similar objects during a beamtime leads to data redundancy and long acquisition times. Nowadays NT is unfeasible for quality checking study of large quantities of similar objects. One way to decrease the total scan time is to reduce the number of projections. Analytical reconstruction methods are very fast but under this condition generate streaking artifacts in the reconstructed images. Iterative algorithms generally provide better reconstruction for limited data problems, but at the expense of longer reconstruction time. In this study, we propose the recently introduced Neural Network Filtered Back-Projection (NN-FBP) method to optimize the time usage in NT experiments. Simulated and real neutron data were used to assess the performance of the NN-FBP method as a function of the number of projections. For the first time a machine learning based algorithm is applied and tested for NT image reconstruction problem. We demonstrate that the NN-FBP method can reliably reduce acquisition and reconstruction times and it outperforms conventional reconstruction methods used in NT, providing high image quality for limited datasets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Micieli
- Università della Calabria, Dipartimento di Fisica, Arcavacata di Rende (Cosenza), 87036, Italy.
- Università degli Studi Milano-Bicocca, Dipartimento di Fisica "G. Occhialini", Milano, 20126, Italy.
| | - Triestino Minniti
- STFC, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, ISIS Facility, Harwell, United Kingdom
| | - Llion Marc Evans
- Culham Centre for Fusion Energy, Culham Science Centre, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
- College of Engineering, Swansea University, Bay Campus, Fabian Way, Swansea, United Kingdom
| | - Giuseppe Gorini
- Università degli Studi Milano-Bicocca, Dipartimento di Fisica "G. Occhialini", Milano, 20126, Italy
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22
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Boigné E, Muhunthan P, Mohaddes D, Wang Q, Sobhani S, Hinshaw W, Ihme M. X-ray Computed Tomography for Flame-Structure Analysis of Laminar Premixed Flames. COMBUSTION AND FLAME 2019; 200:142-154. [PMID: 30532316 PMCID: PMC6278941 DOI: 10.1016/j.combustflame.2018.11.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Quantitative X-ray computed tomography (XCT) diagnostics for reacting flows are developed and demonstrated in application to premixed flames in open and optically inaccessible geometries. A laboratory X-ray scanner is employed to investigate methane/air flames that were diluted with krypton as an inert radiodense tracer gas. Effects of acquisition rate and tracer gas concentration on the signal-to-noise ratio are examined. It is shown that statistically converged three-dimensional attenuation measurements can be obtained with limited impact from the tracer gas and within an acceptable acquisition time. Specific aspects of the tomographic reconstruction and the experimental procedure are examined, with particular emphasis on the quantification of experimental uncertainties. A method is developed to determine density and temperature from the X-ray attenuation measurements. These experiments are complemented by one- and multi-dimensional calculations to quantify the influence of krypton on the flame behavior. To demonstrate the merit of XCT for optically inaccessible flames, measurements of a complex flame geometry in a tubular confinement are performed. The use of a coflow to provide a uniform tracer-gas concentration is shown to improve the quantitative temperature evaluation. These measurements demonstrate the viability of XCT for flame-structure analysis and multi-dimensional temperature measurements using laboratory X-ray systems. Further opportunities for improving this diagnostic are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emeric Boigné
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Priyanka Muhunthan
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Danyal Mohaddes
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Qing Wang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Sadaf Sobhani
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Waldo Hinshaw
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Matthias Ihme
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
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Time-resolved synchrotron X-ray micro-tomography datasets of drainage and imbibition in carbonate rocks. Sci Data 2018; 5:180265. [PMID: 30531856 PMCID: PMC6290644 DOI: 10.1038/sdata.2018.265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2018] [Accepted: 10/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiphase flow in permeable media is a complex pore-scale phenomenon, which is important in many natural and industrial processes. To understand the pore-scale dynamics of multiphase flow, we acquired time-series synchrotron X-ray micro-tomographic data at a voxel-resolution of 3.28 μm and time-resolution of 38 s during drainage and imbibition in a carbonate rock, under a capillary-dominated flow regime at elevated pressure. The time-series data library contains 496 tomographic images (gray-scale and segmented) for the complete drainage process, and 416 tomographic images (gray-scale and segmented) for the complete imbibition process. These datasets have been uploaded on the publicly accessible British Geological Survey repository, with the objective that the time-series information can be used by other groups to validate pore-scale displacement models such as direct simulations, pore-network and neural network models, as well as to investigate flow mechanisms related to the displacement and trapping of the non-wetting phase in the pore space. These datasets can also be used for improving segmentation algorithms for tomographic data with limited projections.
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Du M, Vescovi R, Fezzaa K, Jacobsen C, Gürsoy D. X-ray tomography of extended objects: a comparison of data acquisition approaches. JOURNAL OF THE OPTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA. A, OPTICS, IMAGE SCIENCE, AND VISION 2018; 35:1871-1879. [PMID: 30461846 PMCID: PMC6994859 DOI: 10.1364/josaa.35.001871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2018] [Accepted: 08/03/2018] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
The penetration power of x rays allows one to image large objects, while their short wavelength allows for high spatial resolution. As a result, with synchrotron sources, one has the potential to obtain tomographic images of centimeter-sized specimens with sub-micrometer pixel sizes. However, limitations on beam and detector size make it difficult to acquire such data of this sort in a single take, necessitating strategies for combining data from multiple regions. One strategy is to acquire a tiled set of local tomograms by rotating the specimen around each of the local tomogram center positions. Another strategy, sinogram oriented acquisition, involves the collection of projections at multiple offset positions from the rotation axis followed by data merging and reconstruction. We have carried out a simulation study to compare these two approaches in terms of radiation dose applied to the specimen, and reconstructed image quality. Local tomography acquisition involves an easier data alignment problem, and immediate viewing of subregions before the entire dataset has been acquired. Sinogram oriented acquisition involves a more difficult data assembly and alignment procedure, and it is more sensitive to accumulative registration error. However, sinogram oriented acquisition is more dose efficient, involves fewer translation motions of the object, and avoids certain artifacts of local tomography.
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25
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Vescovi R, Du M, de Andrade V, Scullin W, Gürsoy D, Jacobsen C. Tomosaic: efficient acquisition and reconstruction of teravoxel tomography data using limited-size synchrotron X-ray beams. JOURNAL OF SYNCHROTRON RADIATION 2018; 25:1478-1489. [PMID: 30179188 PMCID: PMC6140399 DOI: 10.1107/s1600577518010093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2018] [Accepted: 06/24/2018] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
X-rays offer high penetration with the potential for tomography of centimetre-sized specimens, but synchrotron beamlines often provide illumination that is only millimetres wide. Here an approach is demonstrated termed Tomosaic for tomographic imaging of large samples that extend beyond the illumination field of view of an X-ray imaging system. This includes software modules for image stitching and calibration, while making use of existing modules available in other packages for alignment and reconstruction. The approach is compatible with conventional beamline hardware, while providing a dose-efficient method of data acquisition. By using parallelization on a distributed computing system, it provides a solution for handling teravoxel-sized or larger datasets that cannot be processed on a single workstation in a reasonable time. Using experimental data, the package is shown to provide good quality three-dimensional reconstruction for centimetre-sized samples with sub-micrometre pixel size.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Vescovi
- Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL 60439, USA
| | - Ming Du
- Department of Materials Science, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - Vincent de Andrade
- Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL 60439, USA
| | - William Scullin
- Argonne Leadership Computing Facility, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL 60439, USA
| | - Doǧa Gürsoy
- Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL 60439, USA
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - Chris Jacobsen
- Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL 60439, USA
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
- Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
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In-Situ High Resolution Dynamic X-ray Microtomographic Imaging of Olive Oil Removal in Kitchen Sponges by Squeezing and Rinsing. MATERIALS 2018; 11:ma11081482. [PMID: 30127273 PMCID: PMC6119885 DOI: 10.3390/ma11081482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2018] [Revised: 08/17/2018] [Accepted: 08/17/2018] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Recent advances in high resolution X-ray tomography (μCT) technology have enabled in-situ dynamic μCT imaging (4D-μCT) of time-dependent processes inside 3D structures, non-destructively and non-invasively. This paper illustrates the application of 4D-μCT for visualizing the removal of fatty liquids from kitchen sponges made of polyurethane after rinsing (absorption), squeezing (desorption) and cleaning (adding detergents). For the first time, time-dependent imaging of this type of system was established with sufficiently large contrast gradient between water (with/without detergent) and olive oil (model fat) by the application of suitable fat-sensitive X-ray contrast agents. Thus, contrasted olive oil filled sponges were rinsed and squeezed in a unique laboratory loading device with a fluid flow channel designed to fit inside a rotating gantry-based X-ray μCT system. Results suggest the use of brominated vegetable oil as a preferred contrast agent over magnetite powder for enhancing the attenuation coefficient of olive oil in a multi fluid filled kitchen sponge. The contrast agent (brominated vegetable oil) and olive oil were mixed and subsequently added on to the sponge. There was no disintegration seen in the mixture of contrast agent and olive oil during the cleaning process by detergents. The application of contrast agents also helped in accurately tracking the movement and volume changes of soils in compressed open cell structures. With the in house-built cleaning device, it was quantified that almost 99% of cleaning was possible for contrasted olive oil (brominated vegetable oil with olive oil) dispersed in the sponge. This novel approach allowed for realistic mimicking of the cleaning process and provided closer evaluation of the effectiveness of cleaning by detergents to minimize bacterial growth.
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27
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da Silva JC, Guizar-Sicairos M, Holler M, Diaz A, van Bokhoven JA, Bunk O, Menzel A. Quantitative region-of-interest tomography using variable field of view. OPTICS EXPRESS 2018; 26:16752-16768. [PMID: 30119497 DOI: 10.1364/oe.26.016752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2018] [Accepted: 06/04/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
In X-ray computed tomography, the task of imaging only a local region of interest (ROI) inside a larger sample is very important. However, without a priori information, this ROI cannot be exactly reconstructed using only the image data limited to the ROI. We propose here an approach of region-of-interest tomography, which reconstructs a ROI within an object from projections of different fields of view acquired on a specific angular sampling scheme in the same tomographic experiment. We present a stable procedure that not only yields high-quality images of the ROI but keeps as well the quantitative contrast on the reconstructed images. In addition, we analyze the minimum number of projections required for ROI tomography from the point of view of the band region of the Radon transform, which confirms this number must be estimated based on the size of the entire object and not only on the size of the ROI.
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28
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Luo S, Shen T, Sun Y, Li J, Li G, Tang X. Interior tomography in microscopic CT with image reconstruction constrained by full field of view scan at low spatial resolution. Phys Med Biol 2018; 63:075006. [PMID: 29509149 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6560/aab46f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
In high resolution (microscopic) CT applications, the scan field of view should cover the entire specimen or sample to allow complete data acquisition and image reconstruction. However, truncation may occur in projection data and results in artifacts in reconstructed images. In this study, we propose a low resolution image constrained reconstruction algorithm (LRICR) for interior tomography in microscopic CT at high resolution. In general, the multi-resolution acquisition based methods can be employed to solve the data truncation problem if the project data acquired at low resolution are utilized to fill up the truncated projection data acquired at high resolution. However, most existing methods place quite strict restrictions on the data acquisition geometry, which greatly limits their utility in practice. In the proposed LRICR algorithm, full and partial data acquisition (scan) at low and high resolutions, respectively, are carried out. Using the image reconstructed from sparse projection data acquired at low resolution as the prior, a microscopic image at high resolution is reconstructed from the truncated projection data acquired at high resolution. Two synthesized digital phantoms, a raw bamboo culm and a specimen of mouse femur, were utilized to evaluate and verify performance of the proposed LRICR algorithm. Compared with the conventional TV minimization based algorithm and the multi-resolution scout-reconstruction algorithm, the proposed LRICR algorithm shows significant improvement in reduction of the artifacts caused by data truncation, providing a practical solution for high quality and reliable interior tomography in microscopic CT applications. The proposed LRICR algorithm outperforms the multi-resolution scout-reconstruction method and the TV minimization based reconstruction for interior tomography in microscopic CT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shouhua Luo
- School of Biological Science & Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
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29
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Dynamic fluid connectivity during steady-state multiphase flow in a sandstone. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2017; 114:8187-8192. [PMID: 28716946 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1702834114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The current conceptual picture of steady-state multiphase Darcy flow in porous media is that the fluid phases organize into separate flow pathways with stable interfaces. Here we demonstrate a previously unobserved type of steady-state flow behavior, which we term "dynamic connectivity," using fast pore-scale X-ray imaging. We image the flow of N2 and brine through a permeable sandstone at subsurface reservoir conditions, and low capillary numbers, and at constant fluid saturation. At any instant, the network of pores filled with the nonwetting phase is not necessarily connected. Flow occurs along pathways that periodically reconnect, like cars controlled by traffic lights. This behavior is consistent with an energy balance, where some of the energy of the injected fluids is sporadically converted to create new interfaces.
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30
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Dynamics of snap-off and pore-filling events during two-phase fluid flow in permeable media. Sci Rep 2017; 7:5192. [PMID: 28701699 PMCID: PMC5507864 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-05204-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2017] [Accepted: 06/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the pore-scale dynamics of two-phase fluid flow in permeable media is important in many processes such as water infiltration in soils, oil recovery, and geo-sequestration of CO2. The two most important processes that compete during the displacement of a non-wetting fluid by a wetting fluid are pore-filling or piston-like displacement and snap-off; this latter process can lead to trapping of the non-wetting phase. We present a three-dimensional dynamic visualization study using fast synchrotron X-ray micro-tomography to provide new insights into these processes by conducting a time-resolved pore-by-pore analysis of the local curvature and capillary pressure. We show that the time-scales of interface movement and brine layer swelling leading to snap-off are several minutes, orders of magnitude slower than observed for Haines jumps in drainage. The local capillary pressure increases rapidly after snap-off as the trapped phase finds a position that is a new local energy minimum. However, the pressure change is less dramatic than that observed during drainage. We also show that the brine-oil interface jumps from pore-to-pore during imbibition at an approximately constant local capillary pressure, with an event size of the order of an average pore size, again much smaller than the large bursts seen during drainage.
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31
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Töpperwien M, Krenkel M, Vincenz D, Stöber F, Oelschlegel AM, Goldschmidt J, Salditt T. Three-dimensional mouse brain cytoarchitecture revealed by laboratory-based x-ray phase-contrast tomography. Sci Rep 2017; 7:42847. [PMID: 28240235 PMCID: PMC5327439 DOI: 10.1038/srep42847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2016] [Accepted: 01/16/2017] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Studies of brain cytoarchitecture in mammals are routinely performed by serial sectioning of the specimen and staining of the sections. The procedure is labor-intensive and the 3D architecture can only be determined after aligning individual 2D sections, leading to a reconstructed volume with non-isotropic resolution. Propagation-based x-ray phase-contrast tomography offers a unique potential for high-resolution 3D imaging of intact biological specimen due to the high penetration depth and potential resolution. We here show that even compact laboratory CT at an optimized liquid-metal jet microfocus source combined with suitable phase-retrieval algorithms and a novel tissue preparation can provide cellular and subcellular resolution in millimeter sized samples of mouse brain. We removed water and lipids from entire mouse brains and measured the remaining dry tissue matrix in air, lowering absorption but increasing phase contrast. We present single-cell resolution images of mouse brain cytoarchitecture and show that axons can be revealed in myelinated fiber bundles. In contrast to optical 3D techniques our approach does neither require staining of cells nor tissue clearing, procedures that are increasingly difficult to apply with increasing sample and brain sizes. The approach thus opens a novel route for high-resolution high-throughput studies of brain architecture in mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mareike Töpperwien
- Institute for X-Ray Physics, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.,Center for Nanoscopy and Molecular Physiology of the Brain, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Martin Krenkel
- Institute for X-Ray Physics, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | - Tim Salditt
- Institute for X-Ray Physics, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.,Center for Nanoscopy and Molecular Physiology of the Brain, Göttingen, Germany
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32
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Paleo P, Mirone A. Efficient implementation of a local tomography reconstruction algorithm. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017; 3:5. [PMID: 28261543 PMCID: PMC5313599 DOI: 10.1186/s40679-017-0038-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2016] [Accepted: 01/09/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
We propose an efficient implementation of an interior tomography reconstruction method based on a known subregion. This method iteratively refines a reconstruction, aiming at reducing the local tomography artifacts. To cope with the ever increasing data volumes, this method is highly optimized on two aspects: firstly, the problem is reformulated to reduce the number of variables, and secondly, the operators involved in the optimization algorithms are efficiently implemented. Results show that \documentclass[12pt]{minimal}
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\begin{document}$$4096^2$$\end{document}40962 slices can be processed in tens of seconds, while being beyond the reach of equivalent exact local tomography method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Paleo
- ESRF-The European Synchrotron, 71 avenue des Martyrs, 38043 Grenoble, France.,Université de Grenoble, 11 Rue des Mathématiques, 38400 Saint-Martin-d'Hères, France
| | - Alessandro Mirone
- Université de Grenoble, 11 Rue des Mathématiques, 38400 Saint-Martin-d'Hères, France
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33
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Paleo P, Desvignes M, Mirone A. A practical local tomography reconstruction algorithm based on a known sub-region. JOURNAL OF SYNCHROTRON RADIATION 2017; 24:257-268. [PMID: 28009565 DOI: 10.1107/s1600577516016556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2016] [Accepted: 10/17/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
A new method to reconstruct data acquired in a local tomography setup is proposed. This method uses an initial reconstruction and refines it by correcting the low-frequency artifacts, known as the cupping effect. A basis of Gaussian functions is used to correct the initial reconstruction. The coefficients of this basis are found by optimizing iteratively a fidelity term under the constraint of a known sub-region. Using a coarse basis reduces the degrees of freedom of the problem while actually correcting the cupping effect. Simulations show that the known region constraint yields an unbiased reconstruction, in accordance with uniqueness theorems stated in local tomography.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Paleo
- ESRF, 71 avenue des Martyrs, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Michel Desvignes
- GIPSA-Lab, Grenoble Images Parole Signal Automatique, Institut Polytechnique de Grenoble, France
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34
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Arcadu F, Marone F, Stampanoni M. Fast iterative reconstruction of data in full interior tomography. JOURNAL OF SYNCHROTRON RADIATION 2017; 24:205-219. [PMID: 28009560 DOI: 10.1107/s1600577516015794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2016] [Accepted: 10/06/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
This paper introduces two novel strategies for iterative reconstruction of full interior tomography (FINT) data, i.e. when the field of view is entirely inside the object support and knowledge of the object support itself or the attenuation coefficients inside specific regions of interest are not available. The first approach is based on data edge-padding. The second technique creates an intermediate virtual sinogram, which is, then, reconstructed by a standard iterative algorithm. Both strategies are validated in the framework of the alternate direction method of multipliers plug-and-play with gridding projectors that provide a speed-up of three orders of magnitude with respect to standard operators implemented in real space. The proposed methods are benchmarked on synchrotron-based X-ray tomographic microscopy datasets of mouse lung alveoli. Compared with analytical techniques, the proposed methods substantially improve the reconstruction quality for FINT underconstrained datasets, facilitating subsequent post-processing steps.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Arcadu
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - F Marone
- Swiss Light Source, Paul Scherrer Institute, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland
| | - M Stampanoni
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
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35
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Pelt DM, De Andrade V. Improved tomographic reconstruction of large-scale real-world data by filter optimization. ADVANCED STRUCTURAL AND CHEMICAL IMAGING 2016; 2:17. [PMID: 28003954 PMCID: PMC5135727 DOI: 10.1186/s40679-016-0033-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2016] [Accepted: 11/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
In advanced tomographic experiments, large detector sizes and large numbers of acquired datasets can make it difficult to process the data in a reasonable time. At the same time, the acquired projections are often limited in some way, for example having a low number of projections or a low signal-to-noise ratio. Direct analytical reconstruction methods are able to produce reconstructions in very little time, even for large-scale data, but the quality of these reconstructions can be insufficient for further analysis in cases with limited data. Iterative reconstruction methods typically produce more accurate reconstructions, but take significantly more time to compute, which limits their usefulness in practice. In this paper, we present the application of the SIRT-FBP method to large-scale real-world tomographic data. The SIRT-FBP method is able to accurately approximate the simultaneous iterative reconstruction technique (SIRT) method by the computationally efficient filtered backprojection (FBP) method, using precomputed experiment-specific filters. We specifically focus on the many implementation details that are important for application on large-scale real-world data, and give solutions to common problems that occur with experimental data. We show that SIRT-FBP filters can be computed in reasonable time, even for large problem sizes, and that precomputed filters can be reused for future experiments. Reconstruction results are given for three different experiments, and are compared with results of popular existing methods. The results show that the SIRT-FBP method is able to accurately approximate iterative reconstructions of experimental data. Furthermore, they show that, in practice, the SIRT-FBP method can produce more accurate reconstructions than standard direct analytical reconstructions with popular filters, without increasing the required computation time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniël M Pelt
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA ; Computational Imaging Group, Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica, Science Park 123, 1098 XG Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Vincent De Andrade
- Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 South Cass Avenue, Lemont, IL 60439 USA
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36
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Yu B, Bradley RS, Soutis C, Withers PJ. A comparison of different approaches for imaging cracks in composites by X-ray microtomography. PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. SERIES A, MATHEMATICAL, PHYSICAL, AND ENGINEERING SCIENCES 2016; 374:20160037. [PMID: 27242291 PMCID: PMC4901256 DOI: 10.1098/rsta.2016.0037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/07/2016] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
X-ray computed tomography (CT) has emerged as a key imaging tool in the characterization of materials, allowing three-dimensional visualization of an object non-destructively as well as enabling the monitoring of damage accumulation over time through time-lapse imaging. However, small defects and cracks can be difficult to detect, particularly in composite materials where low-contrast, plate-like geometries of large area can compromise detectability. Here, we investigate a number of strategies aimed at increasing the capability of X-ray CT to detect composite damage such as transverse ply cracking and delamination, looking specifically at a woven glass fibre-reinforced three-dimensional composite. High-resolution region of interest (ROI) scanning, in situ loading, phase contrast and contrast agents are examined systematically as strategies for improving the defect detectability. Spatial resolution, contrast, signal-to-noise ratio, full width at half maximum, user friendliness and measurement time are all considered. Taken together, the results suggest that high-resolution ROI scanning combined with the increased contrast resulting from staining give the highest defect detectability. This article is part of the themed issue 'Multiscale modelling of the structural integrity of composite materials'.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Yu
- Henry Moseley X-ray Imaging Facility, School of Materials, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - R S Bradley
- Henry Moseley X-ray Imaging Facility, School of Materials, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - C Soutis
- Aerospace Research Institute, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - P J Withers
- Henry Moseley X-ray Imaging Facility, School of Materials, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
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37
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Greenberg AM. Cone beam computed tomography scanning and diagnosis for dental implants. Oral Maxillofac Surg Clin North Am 2016; 27:185-202. [PMID: 25951956 DOI: 10.1016/j.coms.2015.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) has become an important new technology for oral and maxillofacial surgery practitioners. CBCT provides improved office-based diagnostic capability and applications for surgical procedures, such as CT guidance through the use of computer-generated drill guides. A thorough knowledge of the basic science of CBCT as well as the ability to interpret the images correctly and thoroughly is essential to current practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex M Greenberg
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Columbia University College of Dental Medicine, 630 W. 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA; Private Practice Limited to Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, 18 East 48th Street Suite 1702, New York, NY 10017, USA.
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38
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Drakopoulos M, Connolley T, Reinhard C, Atwood R, Magdysyuk O, Vo N, Hart M, Connor L, Humphreys B, Howell G, Davies S, Hill T, Wilkin G, Pedersen U, Foster A, De Maio N, Basham M, Yuan F, Wanelik K. I12: the Joint Engineering, Environment and Processing (JEEP) beamline at Diamond Light Source. JOURNAL OF SYNCHROTRON RADIATION 2015; 22:828-38. [PMID: 25931103 PMCID: PMC4416690 DOI: 10.1107/s1600577515003513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2015] [Accepted: 02/19/2015] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
I12 is the Joint Engineering, Environmental and Processing (JEEP) beamline, constructed during Phase II of the Diamond Light Source. I12 is located on a short (5 m) straight section of the Diamond storage ring and uses a 4.2 T superconducting wiggler to provide polychromatic and monochromatic X-rays in the energy range 50-150 keV. The beam energy enables good penetration through large or dense samples, combined with a large beam size (1 mrad horizontally × 0.3 mrad vertically). The beam characteristics permit the study of materials and processes inside environmental chambers without unacceptable attenuation of the beam and without the need to use sample sizes which are atypically small for the process under study. X-ray techniques available to users are radiography, tomography, energy-dispersive diffraction, monochromatic and white-beam two-dimensional diffraction/scattering and small-angle X-ray scattering. Since commencing operations in November 2009, I12 has established a broad user community in materials science and processing, chemical processing, biomedical engineering, civil engineering, environmental science, palaeontology and physics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Drakopoulos
- Diamond Light Source Ltd, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, UK
| | - Thomas Connolley
- Diamond Light Source Ltd, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, UK
| | - Christina Reinhard
- Diamond Light Source Ltd, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, UK
| | - Robert Atwood
- Diamond Light Source Ltd, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, UK
| | - Oxana Magdysyuk
- Diamond Light Source Ltd, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, UK
| | - Nghia Vo
- Diamond Light Source Ltd, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, UK
| | - Michael Hart
- Diamond Light Source Ltd, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, UK
| | - Leigh Connor
- Diamond Light Source Ltd, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, UK
| | - Bob Humphreys
- Diamond Light Source Ltd, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, UK
| | - George Howell
- Diamond Light Source Ltd, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, UK
| | - Steve Davies
- Diamond Light Source Ltd, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, UK
| | - Tim Hill
- Diamond Light Source Ltd, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, UK
| | - Guy Wilkin
- Diamond Light Source Ltd, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, UK
| | - Ulrik Pedersen
- Diamond Light Source Ltd, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, UK
| | - Andrew Foster
- Diamond Light Source Ltd, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, UK
| | - Nicoletta De Maio
- Diamond Light Source Ltd, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, UK
| | - Mark Basham
- Diamond Light Source Ltd, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, UK
| | - Fajin Yuan
- Diamond Light Source Ltd, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, UK
| | - Kaz Wanelik
- Diamond Light Source Ltd, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, UK
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Chen WH, Yang SYS, Xiao TQ, Mayo SC, Wang YD, Wang HP. A synchrotron-based local computed tomography combined with data-constrained modelling approach for quantitative analysis of anthracite coal microstructure. JOURNAL OF SYNCHROTRON RADIATION 2014; 21:586-593. [PMID: 24763649 PMCID: PMC3998815 DOI: 10.1107/s1600577514002793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2013] [Accepted: 02/06/2014] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Quantifying three-dimensional spatial distributions of pores and material compositions in samples is a key materials characterization challenge, particularly in samples where compositions are distributed across a range of length scales, and where such compositions have similar X-ray absorption properties, such as in coal. Consequently, obtaining detailed information within sub-regions of a multi-length-scale sample by conventional approaches may not provide the resolution and level of detail one might desire. Herein, an approach for quantitative high-definition determination of material compositions from X-ray local computed tomography combined with a data-constrained modelling method is proposed. The approach is capable of dramatically improving the spatial resolution and enabling finer details within a region of interest of a sample larger than the field of view to be revealed than by using conventional techniques. A coal sample containing distributions of porosity and several mineral compositions is employed to demonstrate the approach. The optimal experimental parameters are pre-analyzed. The quantitative results demonstrated that the approach can reveal significantly finer details of compositional distributions in the sample region of interest. The elevated spatial resolution is crucial for coal-bed methane reservoir evaluation and understanding the transformation of the minerals during coal processing. The method is generic and can be applied for three-dimensional compositional characterization of other materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Hao Chen
- Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201204, People’s Republic of China
- Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, People’s Republic of China
| | - Sam Y. S. Yang
- CSIRO Materials Science and Engineering, Private Bag 33, Clayton South, Victoria 3169, Australia
| | - Ti Qiao Xiao
- Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201204, People’s Republic of China
| | - Sherry C. Mayo
- CSIRO Materials Science and Engineering, Private Bag 33, Clayton South, Victoria 3169, Australia
| | - Yu Dan Wang
- Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201204, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hai Peng Wang
- Institute of Theoretical Physics and Department of Physics, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030006, People’s Republic of China
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Abstract
Increasingly researchers are looking to bring together perspectives across multiple scales, or to combine insights from different techniques, for the same region of interest. To this end, correlative microscopy has already yielded substantial new insights in two dimensions (2D). Here we develop correlative tomography where the correlative task is somewhat more challenging because the volume of interest is typically hidden beneath the sample surface. We have threaded together x-ray computed tomography, serial section FIB-SEM tomography, electron backscatter diffraction and finally TEM elemental analysis all for the same 3D region. This has allowed observation of the competition between pitting corrosion and intergranular corrosion at multiple scales revealing the structural hierarchy, crystallography and chemistry of veiled corrosion pits in stainless steel. With automated correlative workflows and co-visualization of the multi-scale or multi-modal datasets the technique promises to provide insights across biological, geological and materials science that are impossible using either individual or multiple uncorrelated techniques.
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Sen Sharma K, Holzner C, Vasilescu DM, Jin X, Narayanan S, Agah M, Hoffman EA, Yu H, Wang G. Scout-view assisted interior micro-CT. Phys Med Biol 2013; 58:4297-314. [PMID: 23732478 PMCID: PMC3732817 DOI: 10.1088/0031-9155/58/12/4297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Micro computed tomography (micro-CT) is a widely-used imaging technique. A challenge of micro-CT is to quantitatively reconstruct a sample larger than the field-of-view (FOV) of the detector. This scenario is characterized by truncated projections and associated image artifacts. However, for such truncated scans, a low resolution scout scan with an increased FOV is frequently acquired so as to position the sample properly. This study shows that the otherwise discarded scout scans can provide sufficient additional information to uniquely and stably reconstruct the interior region of interest. Two interior reconstruction methods are designed to utilize the multi-resolution data without significant computational overhead. While most previous studies used numerically truncated global projections as interior data, this study uses truly hybrid scans where global and interior scans were carried out at different resolutions. Additionally, owing to the lack of standard interior micro-CT phantoms, we designed and fabricated novel interior micro-CT phantoms for this study to provide means of validation for our algorithms. Finally, two characteristic samples from separate studies were scanned to show the effect of our reconstructions. The presented methods show significant improvements over existing reconstruction algorithms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kriti Sen Sharma
- Dept. of Elec. & Comp. Eng., Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | | | - Dragoş M. Vasilescu
- UBC James Hogg Research Centre at the Heart & Lung Institute, St Paul’s Hospital, Vancouver, B.C., V6Z 1Y6, Canada
| | - Xin Jin
- Dept. of Eng. Phys., Tsinghua Univ., Beijing 100084, China
| | - Shree Narayanan
- Dept. of Elec. & Comp. Eng., Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Masoud Agah
- Dept. of Elec. & Comp. Eng., Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | | | - Hengyong Yu
- Biomedical Imaging Division, VT-WFU School of Biomedical Eng. & Sciences, Wake Forest Univ. Health Sciences, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA
| | - Ge Wang
- Biomedical Imaging Center, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY 12180, USA
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Helfen L, Myagotin A, Mikulík P, Pernot P, Voropaev A, Elyyan M, Di Michiel M, Baruchel J, Baumbach T. On the implementation of computed laminography using synchrotron radiation. THE REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS 2011; 82:063702. [PMID: 21721697 DOI: 10.1063/1.3596566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Hard x rays from a synchrotron source are used in this implementation of computed laminography for three-dimensional (3D) imaging of flat, laterally extended objects. Due to outstanding properties of synchrotron light, high spatial resolution down to the micrometer scale can be attained, even for specimens having lateral dimensions of several decimeters. Operating either with a monochromatic or with a white synchrotron beam, the method can be optimized to attain high sensitivity or considerable inspection throughput in synchrotron user and small-batch industrial experiments. The article describes the details of experimental setups, alignment procedures, and the underlying reconstruction principles. Imaging of interconnections in flip-chip and wire-bonded devices illustrates the peculiarities of the method compared to its alternatives and demonstrates the wide application potential for the 3D inspection and quality assessment in microsystem technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Helfen
- Institut für Synchrotronstrahlung (ISS/ANKA), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), D-76128 Karlsruhe, Germany.
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