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As a typical example of constrained sintering, the behavior of a complex ceramic powder system with multi-heterogeneities has been investigated. This powder system comprises inherent imperfections as well as rigid inclusions that act as constraints to densification. The sintering process of the system was monitored by in-situ X-ray nano-tomography at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF). This technique enables three-dimensional (3D) imaging of the microstructure with a voxel size of 25 nm. The images obtained reveal the distribution of imperfections in the powder system, such as particle aggregation and pore segregation in and around them. The subsequent in-situ evaluations show the evolution of the microstructure in the presence of inclusions. The study addresses the questions pertaining to the effect of the added constraints, the consequent crack generation and their implication on the final densification of the material. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A significant proportion of revisions after reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) is attributed to the humeral component. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the radiographic and clinical outcomes of the hybrid humerus technique for RSA using a Grammont-style humeral prosthesis in an onlay fashion with metaphyseal bone impaction grafting technique and undersized stem to avoid humeral stress shielding, notching, and loosening. This is a prospective case series of patients who underwent RSA using the hybrid humerus technique with a minimum 2-year follow-up. Key steps of this technique include the use of undersized Grammont-style stem, impaction bone grafting of the proximal 5 cm of the humerus, and adjusting the height and offset of the stem depending on the patient stature, desired lateralization and distalization, and joint and soft tissue tension. Radiographic assessments were performed immediately after surgery, and at 1 and 2 years after surgery. These included assessment of metaphyseal and diaphyseal filling ratio, cortical narrowing, radiolucent lines, cortical lucencies, spot welding, scapular notching, and stem alignment. Preoperative and 2-year postoperative clinical assessments included American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score, Constant-Murley Score, University of California Los Angeles score, visual analog scale for pain, and active range of motion. Correlation between the filling ratios and clinical outcomes were also evaluated. Sixty-one patients were included in the study. The average metaphyseal and diaphyseal filling ratio on the postoperative X-ray was 0.66 and 0.54, and 0.67 and 0.54 at 2 years, respectively. Stress shielding was graded as none in 24 (40.7%), mild in 33 (55.9%), and moderate in 2 (3.4%). No stem had a change in position of more than 5°. At 2 years of follow-up, no humeral implant loosening was noted, with only 2 (3.4%) of the stems at risk of loosening. Thirty-nine (66.1%) had no notching, 14 (23.7%) were graded as mild, and 6 (10.2%) had moderate signs of notching. All clinical assessments significantly improved at 2 years (P <.001), with a weak negative correlation between visual analog scale and metaphyseal filling ratio (r = −0.268, P =.036) but none between diaphyseal filling ratio and clinical outcomes. The hybrid humerus technique of metaphyseal bone grafting with a low filling ratio stem presents a promising solution for reducing humeral complications in RSA. This technique demonstrates a low incidence of stress shielding and loosening, with excellent clinical outcomes at 2 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lu 2 O 2 S has high density, high melting temperature, and favorable thermal stability, making it an excellent matrix material for rare earth luminescence and X-ray sensitization screens. However, achieving high quality fluorescent powders with high crystal quality on a large scale is still challenging. By employing an optimized solid phase approach, Lu 2 O 2 S:Tb3+/Sm3+phosphors with a hexagonal shape and uniform particle size and showing high crystallization have been successfully synthesized. Spectral analysis reveals energy interaction between Sm3+ and Tb3+ in the Lu 2 O 2 S system (multistage interaction), indicated by spectral overlap, relative changes in luminescence intensity, and lifetime decay. By changing the excitation wavelength and dopant concentration, multicolor phosphors such as yellow-–green, orange–red, and orange–yellow could be created. Temperature-dependent emission spectroscopy shows that the system shows good luminescence performance even at high temperatures. X-ray excitation spectroscopy further confirm that the phosphors emit different colors (yellow, green and red) depending on the doping concentrations of Tb3+ and Sm3+ ion, indicating that the system has wide application potential in color displays and other relevant fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 detection is mainly based on molecular testing, especially polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analyses, to find the occurrence of the virus's genetic material in respiratory samples. Computed tomography (CT) scans and X-rays are the two chest imaging techniques, which may provide more details on lungs, aiding in the diagnosis. Radiological findings in COVID-19 cases typically involve special features such as bilateral involvement, ground-glass opacities, and consolidation of the lungs. Deep learning (DL) methods, particularly convolutional neural networks (CNNs) are used for analyzing COVID-19 infection. By training these techniques on large datasets of annotated chest X-rays (CXRs), researches have attained superior outcomes in precisely detecting the possible COVID-19 cases. Leveraging artificial intelligence together with radiological expertise holds great potential for facilitating prompt intervention in the ongoing global efforts and improving the efficiency of early detection. This article focuses on the design of mother optimization algorithm with DL-enabled detection and classification (MOA-DLEDC) technique for COVID-19 diagnosis using CXR images. In the MOA-DLEDC technique, the adaptive median filtering (AMF) approach is used to eliminate the existence of noise. In addition, the complex and intrinsic feature patterns are derived from the Efficient DenseNet model. Besides, the hyperparameter optimization of the Efficient DenseNet model takes place using MOA. For the COVID-19 detection process, the MOA-DLEDC technique applies sparse autoencoder (SAE) model. A detailed set of experiments was conducted on the CXR dataset to highlight the promising results of the MOA-DLEDC technique. The extensive results inferred that the used technique gains superior performance over other models with maximum accuracy of 99.59 %. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, cubic-phase Lu 2 O 3 :Bi3+ nanoparticles, with a range of sizes between 110 and 180 nm, were obtained by a combination of co-precipitation and thermal annealing techniques. For these nanoparticles upon UV or X-ray excitation, strong broadband emission peaks at 410 and 480 nm corresponding to Bi3+ occupying S 6 and C 2 (Lu3+(S 6) and Lu3+(C 2)) sites, respectively, can be observed. On the basis of the concentration-dependent luminescence intensity ratios (I 480 (C 2)/I 410 (S 6)) of Bi3+(C 2) to Bi3+(S 6), the energy transfer from Bi3+(S 6) to Bi3+(C 2) can be confirmed at high Bi3+ concentration. In particular, their X-ray absorption coefficient, emission wavelength, afterglow level (60 ppm) and response time (465 ns) are almost comparable to those of the commercial Bi 4 Ge 3 O 12 crystals. By the means of dispersing Lu 1.98 Bi 0.02 O 3 nanoscintillators into organic polymer (PMMA)-acetone solution, the Lu 1.98 Bi 0.02 O 3 -PMMA flexible composite films exhibiting rapid response to X-ray photons, high X-ray sensitivity and radiation resistance, good mechanical performance and excellent environmental stability were prepared using a spin-coating technique. On the surface of X-ray imaging screen formed by the flexible dense composite films, the spatial resolution can reach to 6.0 lp/mm at a safe irradiation dose (4.6 μGy). Meanwhile, for the imaging screen using the flexible composite films after bended for thousands of times, we can observe clear image of each reed gap (300 μm) of the music box. For the Lu 2 O 3 :Bi3+-PMMA composite films, our results suggest that not only their scintillation properties are almost comparable to those of the commercial broadband Bi 4 Ge 3 O 12 crystals, but also they might be applied in large-area and non-planar X-ray imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The potential of advanced imaging techniques and processing image methods to recover unreadable text in historic documents affected by chemical damage, as a consequence of the application of ink enhancement reagents in the 19th century ("galling"), was demonstrated. • High resolution multiband imaging (MBI) techniques, namely UV-induced visible fluorescence (UVL) and UV reflected (UVR) imaging, were efficient for the recovery of unreadable text in documents with faded ink, soiled parchment and moderate localised galling. • The contents of documents affected by severe chemical damage were recoverable by means of reflectance imaging spectroscopy (RIS) in the VNIR and micro X ray fluorescence imaging. • Image processing methods such as PCA or elemental map addition and subtraction were key for an increased readability of the text in the chemically damaged documents. • Combining these techniques, the legibility of 31 documents from the collection of the national archives of the UK could be significantly improved, providing new relevant information for the medieval history of Ireland. From fires to floods, from invisible inks to redactions, information has been accidentally or intentionally obscured on countless documents, maps and photographs, in collections from archives, libraries, and museums across the world. Removed from catalogues and reading rooms and therefore inaccessible to researchers and the general public, what new knowledge would these obscured documents reveal if we were able to read them? This paper demonstrates that current imaging technologies can be used to unlock this lost content. We used High Resolution Multiband Imaging (MBI), Reflectance Imaging Spectroscopy (RIS) and micro X Ray Fluorescence (µXRF) imaging to reveal illegible letter-forms and whole words written in iron gall ink on parchment from medieval documents relevant to the 'Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland' project, a digital reconstruction of archives destroyed in 1922 at the Public Record Office of Ireland at the outset of the Irish Civil War. The readability of text in historic documents with faded iron gall ink and/or parchment obscured by damp stains and ingrained dirt was successfully enhanced with MBI techniques, such as UV-induced visible luminescence (UVL) and UV reflected (UVR) imaging, which were able to recover the contrast of the ink. However, visualising text in documents showing chemical damage caused by the application of reagents for ink enhancement in the 19th century (a practice known as "galling") was more challenging because of the similar composition of the ink and the staining. RIS proved helpful to read documents with moderate to severe chemical damage, particularly after applying Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Text in documents that were severely damaged by galling was also recoverable with µXRF imaging of the distribution of iron from the ink. This also posed several challenges, such as minimising movement of the parchment during overnight scans and separating the data corresponding to iron on the front of the parchment which was combined with the signal from the back. Through subtraction of elemental maps during post-processing, we managed to tackle the latter issue. The combination of these different imaging techniques enabled palaeographers and medieval records specialists to identify individual characters and whole words, thereby recovering the meaning of texts that were previously indecipherable. Further research will adapt the methodology to the broad range of causes of information loss, including other reagents historically used for ink enhancement, as well as the variety of document media and temporalities, which require an extensive and multi-faceted approach of advanced imaging and post-processing techniques, in balance with the preservation needs of these fragile and invaluable historic materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the field of medical imaging, the increasing demand for advanced computer-aided diagnosis systems is crucial in radiography. Accurate identification of various diseases, such as COVID-19, pneumonia, tuberculosis, and pulmonary lung nodules, holds vital significance. Despite substantial progress in the medical field, a persistent research gap necessitates the development of models that excel in precision and provide transparency in decision-making processes. In order to address this issue, this work introduces an approach that utilizes transfer learning through the EfficientNet-B4 architecture, leveraging a pre-trained model to enhance the classification performance on a comprehensive dataset of lung X-rays. The integration of explainable artificial intelligence (XAI), specifically emphasizing Grad-CAM, contributes to model interpretability by providing insights into the neural network's decision-making process, elucidating the salient features and activation regions influencing multi-disease classifications. The result is a robust multi-disease classification system achieving an impressive 96% accuracy, accompanied by visualizations highlighting critical regions in X-ray images. This investigation not only advances the progression of computer-aided diagnosis systems but also sets a pioneering benchmark for the development of dependable and transparent diagnostic models for lung disease identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure of iodinated contrast media (ICM) to X-rays is not uncommon, as contrast media are often stored in close proximity to radiological equipment. However, the interaction between X-rays and ICM is not widely investigated in literature. The present study aims to investigate the chemical stability of iomeprol and iopamidol, two commercial iodinated ICM commonly used in diagnostic imaging, under X-rays exposure. Different formulations of iopamidol and iomeprol (iodine concentration 9 to 400 mgI/mL, volume 50–500 mL) were exposed to three different conditions of X-ray irradiation: i) 1 month storage in CT room (≈5–15 mGy); (ii) low-dose protocol (≈10 mGy); (ii) stressed protocol (≈100 mGy). Unexposed and exposed solutions were characterized by high-performance liquid chromatography in terms of concentration of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), iodine species and by products. In addition, appearance and colour of the solutions were inspected and pH measured. API concentrations, appearance, colour and pH of the exposed formulations remained unaffected by X-rays. Measured concentrations of iodine species and by products were observed well within the acceptability criteria, i.e. values turned out to be lower than specifications limits established by the manufacturer, considering both release and shelf-life values. Up to 100 mGy X-ray exposure did not induce any alteration of iomeprol and iopamidol formulation, nor a detectable increase in the concentration of iodine species or by-products. Our study strengthens the hypothesis that ICM are stable under X-rays exposure up to 100 mGy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

If an unknown finite set C ⊂ Z 2 is cut by lines parallel to given directions, then one may count the number of points of C that are intercepted by each line, that is, the projections of C in the given directions. The inverse problem consists in reconstructing the set C , interpreted as a binary image, from the knowledge of its projections. In general, this challenging combinatorial problem, also related to the tomographic reconstruction of an unknown homogeneous object by means of X-rays, is ill-posed, meaning that different binary images exist that match the available projections. Therefore, as a preliminary step, one can try to find conditions to be imposed on the considered directions in order to limit the number of allowed solutions. In this paper we address the above problems for sets C contained in a finite assigned lattice grid, and generalize some results known in literature. First, we describe special sets of lattice directions, called simple cycles, and focus on some of their properties. Then we prove that uniqueness of reconstruction for binary images is guaranteed if and only if the line sums are computed along suitable simple cycles having even cardinality. As a second item, we prove that the unique binary solution can be explicitly reconstructed from a real-valued solution having minimal Euclidean norm. This leads to an explicit reconstruction algorithm, tested on four different phantoms and compared with previous results, which points out a significant improvement of the corresponding performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Capable of simulating X-ray signals received by a near-Earth spacecraft. • Capable of providing supporting data for near-Earth space applications of X-ray Pulsar-based Navigation. • It is possible to determine the capacity of the atmosphere at different altitudes to absorb X-ray photons. The near-Earth space holds significant strategic value, and X-ray pulsar-based navigation in this region can diversify navigation methods, enhancing the safety and autonomy of spacecraft. Due to the challenges and high costs associated with obtaining actual measurements of pulsars in near-Earth space, the simulation technology for X-ray pulsar signals in this region can provide input for demonstrating the feasibility of technical solutions and experiments related to the application of X-ray pulsar-based navigation in near-Earth space. Therefore, this paper proposes a method for simulating X-ray signals in near-Earth space. Firstly, a scale transforming method is employed to generate a photon arrival time sequence at the spacecraft that includes energy information. Subsequently, the atmospheric transmittance model is utilized for photon selection, obtaining a sequence of photons that have passed through the atmosphere after absorption. Finally, experimental validation of the proposed algorithm is conducted using Crab pulsar data measured by the Insight-HXMT. The similarity between the simulated data and the measured data is evaluated in terms of profiles, phases, and energy spectra. Simulation experiments demonstrate that the time delay estimation error caused by the simulation algorithm is less than 17.17 us. When the observation tangent point altitude is in the range of 160 km to 180 km, the Pearson correlation coefficient of the profiles between simulated and measured data is 73.74 %. The Pearson residuals of the energy spectra are evenly distributed between −0.2 and 0.2, indicating a good level of similarity between the two. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) is an increasingly common surgical intervention for patients with end-stage ankle arthritis, there is a need to better understand the dynamic performance of prosthetic implants during activities of daily living. Our purpose was to quantify and compare relative tibiotalar motion during gait in persons with a fixed-bearing (FB) and mobile-bearing (MB) total ankle arthroplasty. We hypothesized a FB prosthesis would have lower tibiotalar range of motion (ROM). Patients at least 12 months postoperative with either a FB (n=5) or MB (n=3) total ankle arthroplasty were tested. We used high-speed biplanar videoradiography to quantify tibiotalar kinematics during self-selected gait. Angular and linear ROM in three axes were compared between the groups. ROM for dorsiflexion-plantarflexion, internal-external rotation, and inversion-eversion angles in FB subjects averaged 7.47±4.05°, 7.39±3.63°, and 4.51±2.13°, respectively. ROM in MB subjects averaged 6.74±2.04°, 6.28±4.51°, and 5.68±2.81°, respectively. Linear ROM along anteroposterior, mediolateral, and superior-inferior axes in FB subjects averaged 1.47±2.07 mm, 1.13±1.49 mm, and 0.28±0.30 mm, respectively. Linear ROM in MB subjects averaged 0.68±1.44 mm, 0.60±1.41 mm, and 0.20±0.13 mm, respectively. We found no significant difference between the two groups for any of these ROM parameters (p>0.05). Total ankle arthroplasty using either FB or MB design appears to confer similar ankle motion during the gait cycle in this biplanar fluoroscopic model. Level IV, case series. • X-ray motion analysis is a useful tool to compare ankle arthroplasty systems. • No differences in angular motion between MB and FB arthroplasty systems. • No significant difference in linear translation along joint axes in both systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pelvic incidence (PI)–lumbar lordosis (LL) mismatch has a significant destabilizing effect on the center of gravity sway in the static standing position. However, the association between spinopelvic alignment and balance during gait in healthy volunteers is poorly understood. The degree of PI–LL mismatch and trunk anterior tilt in the static standing posture influences dynamic balance during gait. In this study, 131 healthy volunteers were divided into two groups: harmonious group (PI − LL ≤ 10°; n = 91) and unharmonious group (PI − LL > 10°; n = 40). A two-point accelerometer system was used for gait analysis; accelerometers were attached to the pelvis and upper trunk to measure acceleration in the forward–backward, right–left, and vertical directions so that sagittal (front–back) deviation width, coronal (right–left) width, and vertical width and their ratios were calculated. Measurements were compared between the two groups, and correlations between alignment and accelerometer data were examined. The harmonious group showed a negative correlation between pelvic sagittal width and PI – LL, pelvic tilt (PT), and sagittal vertical axis (SVA) (correlation coefficient ρ = −0.42, −0.38, and −0.4, respectively), and a positive correlation between sagittal ratio and PI − LL (ρ = 0.35). The unharmonious group showed a positive correlation between pelvic sagittal width and PI and PT (ρ = 0.43 and 0.33, respectively) and between sagittal ratio and SVA (ρ = 0.32). The unharmonious group showed a positive correlation between upper trunk sagittal width and PI − LL and PT (ρ = 0.38 and 0.36, respectively). The association between spinal alignment and gait parameters differs depending on the presence or absence of PI–LL mismatch. The degree of pelvic compensation and trunk anterior tilt during static standing were associated with unstable gait balance. • Subjects without PI–LL mismatch reduces pelvic movement during gait with compensation. • Poor compensated subjects with PI–LL mismatch increased upper trunk sway during gait. • Static standing spinal alignment associated with trunk sway during gait. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of an Artificial Intelligence Large Language Model (AI-LLM) at improving the readability foot and ankle orthopedic radiology reports. The radiology reports from 100 foot or ankle X-Rays, 100 computed tomography (CT) scans and 100 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were randomly sampled from the institution's database. The following prompt command was inserted into the AI-LLM: "Explain this radiology report to a patient in layman's terms in the second person: [Report Text]". The mean report length, Flesch reading ease score (FRES) and Flesch-Kincaid reading level (FKRL) were evaluated for both the original radiology report and the AI-LLM generated report. The accuracy of the information contained within the AI-LLM report was assessed via a 5-point Likert scale. Additionally, any "hallucinations" generated by the AI-LLM report were recorded. There was a statistically significant improvement in mean FRES scores in the AI-LLM generated X-Ray report (33.8 ± 6.8 to 72.7 ± 5.4), CT report (27.8 ± 4.6 to 67.5 ± 4.9) and MRI report (20.3 ± 7.2 to 66.9 ± 3.9), all p < 0.001. There was also a statistically significant improvement in mean FKRL scores in the AI-LLM generated X-Ray report (12.2 ± 1.1 to 8.5 ± 0.4), CT report (15.4 ± 2.0 to 8.4 ± 0.6) and MRI report (14.1 ± 1.6 to 8.5 ± 0.5), all p < 0.001. Superior FRES scores were observed in the AI-LLM generated X-Ray report compared to the AI-LLM generated CT report and MRI report, p < 0.001. The mean Likert score for the AI-LLM generated X-Ray report, CT report and MRI report was 4.0 ± 0.3, 3.9 ± 0.4, and 3.9 ± 0.4, respectively. The rate of hallucinations in the AI-LLM generated X-Ray report, CT report and MRI report was 4%, 7% and 6%, respectively. AI-LLM was an efficacious tool for improving the readability of foot and ankle radiological reports across multiple imaging modalities. Superior FRES scores together with superior Likert scores were observed in the X-Ray AI-LLM reports compared to the CT and MRI AI-LLM reports. This study demonstrates the potential use of AI-LLMs as a new patient-centric approach for enhancing patient understanding of their foot and ankle radiology reports. Jel Classifications: IV [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The secondary metabolite Monacolin K (MK), derived from Monascus , exhibits potential lipid-lowering and anti-tumor effects. In this study, a mutant strain M. purpureus M400–6 was generated through X-ray treatment, resulting in an average MK production of 181.97 mg/L (a 54.20% increase compared to the parent strain M. purpureus M1) over five successive generations. Furthermore, optimization of medium compositions using response surface methodology led to a further enhancement in MK production by the mutant strain to 266.63 mg/L. Moreover, based on the outcomes of single-factor experiments, the addition of L-citrulline demonstrated a significantly higher level of enhancement in MK production. Therefore, a comparative transcriptome analysis was conducted to unveil the impact of L-citrulline on MK biosynthesis in M. purpureus. The data revealed a significant upregulation of glycolysis pathways, while oxidative phosphorylation including the TCA cycle and the electron transport chain, exhibited significant downregulation. Furthermore, the metabolisms of serine, glycine, threonine, alanine, aspartic acid and glutamate were found to be significantly disturbed. Additionally, the expressions of MPs and MK biosynthetic gene cluster showed a significant downregulation and upregulation respectively. Overall, these findings provide insights into enhancing MK production in submerged fermentation and elucidate the impact of L-citrulline on secondary metabolism. [Display omitted] • M. purpureus M400–6 with high MK production was generated through X-ray treatment. • L-citrulline can significantly enhance the MK production. • Response surface methodology was performed to further increase the MK production. • Transcriptome analysis reveals the impact of L-citrulline on MK biosynthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The SFE amplitude depends linearly on the perpendicular maximum flare X-ray flux. • The X-ray radiation affects the EEJ three times more strongly than the Sq current. • The weak linear relationship found for two SFE parameters might be a coincidence. Solar flares effects (SFE) are short geomagnetic disturbances (mainly in the horizontal component) observed during the development of solar flares. SFE are caused by current enhancements in multiple layers of the ionosphere induced by the flare ionizing radiation. Despite their origin, very few research studies have focused on the connection between the horizontal SFE amplitude and the maximum flare X-ray flux. By analyzing measurements from the magnetic station at Huancayo, Peru, located in the American sector of the equatorial electrojet (EEJ) current, we computed the horizontal SFE amplitudes triggered by X-class solar flares of Solar Cycle 24 by using a novel method. The EEJ contribution to the horizontal SFE amplitude was calculated using data from the geomagnetic observatory at Pilar, Argentina, located outside the EEJ belt. We found that the EEJ contribution to the horizontal SFE amplitude is linearly dependent on the perpendicular component of the maximum flare X-ray flux for two states of the EEJ current. We also found that the flare X-ray ionizing effect is around three times stronger in the EEJ current than in the solar quiet current, being the EEJ current the most important contributor to the horizontal SFE amplitude. In addition, our results suggest that the weak linear relationship between the pre-flare horizontal geomagnetic variation and the EEJ component of the horizontal SFE amplitude found by a previous study might be only a coincidence, instead of a real connection between both parameters. Exceptional SFE were studied separately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

X-ray luminescent nanoparticles have gained significant attention as promising tools for implementing multimodal imaging and radiation-based treatments in theragnostics. The intricate comprehension of their properties and the underlying mechanisms driving the conversion of X-rays into light is critical for their success in various applications. LaPO 4 nanoparticles doped with various individual luminescence centers, gadolinium (Gd3+), europium (Eu3+), dysprosium (Dy3+), and terbium (Tb3+), were produced via co-precipitation and investigated for their behavior upon X-ray excitation using energies of up to 225 kV. These materials evidenced a radioluminescent response dependent on the dopant concentrations, with emission lines from 300 to 700 nm, providing insights into the luminescence quenching effect in these structures. The luminescent characteristics of the nanoparticles were studied under continuous irradiation, evidencing the materials' ability to withstand high absorbed doses and preserve their properties. Furthermore, the influence of dopant concentrations on crystallite size and the dependence of luminescence on thermal treatments was investigated. The assessment of nanoparticle stability in aqueous suspension was evaluated over a broad pH range, revealing a tendency of the LaPO 4 surface to selectively interact with electropositive species. This insight enhances our comprehension of the colloidal stability of the material, positioning it for extended applications and in vitro evaluations, along with further surface functionalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Computerized disease detection systems (CDDs) have proven effective for automatic screening in recent years. Among the standard procedures in hospitals for faster and more accurate diagnosis is medical imaging-based disease screening. We aim to develop a CDD that detects COVID-19 using chest X-rays pre-trained vision transformers (PVTs). This scheme includes the following steps: (1) collecting images and resizing them, (2) implementing PVT for feature extraction, and (3) binary classifying the results and validating the proposed schemes. To prove the merit of the developed scheme, 4800 images (2400 normal and 2400 COVID-19) are analyzed. MLP classifiers verify the PVT performance using patch sizes of 6, 12, and 24. A patch size 24 results in 97.5% accuracy for the proposed CDD system. When patch sizes are increased to 12, accuracy increases to over 98%. For this specific task, smaller patch sizes are more effective. These high-accuracy results demonstrate the effectiveness of the developed scheme for detecting COVID-19 in chest X-rays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preliminary screenings are essential to limit the community-propagating nature of COVID-19. COVID-19 patients' lung health status can be assessed by chest radiographic imaging, such as computed tomography scanning or X-ray images. Therefore, it is preferable to use machine learning approaches to help identify COVID-19 by using chest radiographs. This research presents an image-based diagnosis of COVID-19 disease using deep learning. The presented work uses chest X-ray images because the X-ray imaging facility is widely available in almost all healthcare facilities. It is less costly and has a more negligible radiation effect than computed tomography (CT) scan images. This study employed a custom convolutional neural network (CNN) model and pre- trained deep neural architectures such as resnet 50, DenseNet 121, VGG 16, and VGG 19 to classify COVID-19 chest X-ray images. The proposed model has been evaluated on real-life data, and an accuracy of 98% has been achieved. The proposed model can be recommended to health care professionals as a trustworthy diagnostic decision-making system for COVID-19 detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious respiratory disease characterized by its high transmissibility and exponential spread, presenting persistent difficulties. This investigation sought to incorporate machine learning (ML) and transfer learning (TL) and introduced Efficient-VGG16, a novel ensemble approach that integrated the EfficientNet-B0 and VGG16 architectures to classify chest X-ray images as either COVID-19 positive or non-COVID. The COVID-Xray-5k dataset used in the research was split into different training and testing sets (with ratios of 80:20, 75:25, and 70:30), preprocessed, and then used to evaluate the approach's effectiveness. Throughout the investigation, all procedures operated effectively at the same selected image size, 224*224. Preprocessing included Gaussian blur to remove noise and relics, while Contrast Limited Adaptive Histogram Equalization (CLAHE) adjusted contrast. Among the employed ML classifiers, XgBoost attained the highest accuracy, with F1 scores of 95.78% and 71.56%, respectively. In addition, the research investigated the effectiveness of TL using pre-trained convolutional neural networks (CNNs) such as VGG16, MobileNetV3, ResNet101, Densenet201, and EfficientNet-B0. EfficientNet-B0 achieved the highest levels of accuracy and F1 score, 99.31% and 93.72%, respectively. Furthermore, the proposed Efficient-VGG16 achieved accuracy and an F1 score of 99.46% and 98.41%, respectively, and outperformed TL with EfficientNet-B0 and XgBoost. The investigation demonstrated the effectiveness of the Efficient-VGG16 for accurately classifying COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Les pathologies mécaniques de l'avant-pied sont fréquentes. Elles peuvent intéresser l'hallux et les rayons latéraux. L'imagerie repose avant tout sur le couple radiographies en charge–échographie. Le scanner et l'IRM sont le plus souvent des examens de seconde intention. L'anatomie compartimentale de l'avant-pied doit être connue et facilite le diagnostic des différentes pathologies rencontrées : hallux valgus, hallux rigidus et pathologies sésamoïdiennes pour le premier rayon, maladie de Morton, instabilité douloureuse et bursites pour les rayons latéraux. La place de chaque technique d'imagerie et la sémiologie des différentes pathologies sont décrites et illustrées pas de nombreux cas cliniques. Mechanical pathologies of the forefoot are common. They may involve the hallux and lateral rays. Imaging is primarily based on the combination of weight-bearing X-rays and ultrasound. CT and MRI are most often second-line examinations. The compartmental anatomy of the forefoot must be known and facilitates the diagnosis of the various pathologies encountered: hallux valgus, hallux rigidus and sesamoid pathologies for the first ray, Morton's disease, painful instability and bursitis for the lateral rays. The place of each imaging technique and the semiology of the different pathologies are described and illustrated by numerous clinical cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The healthcare system in India faces an acute shortage of medical staff, significantly impacting the nation's ability to provide sufficient healthcare services. X-ray reports are paramount to orthopaedic surgeons for making critical patient care decisions. Implementing automated systems for detecting bone fractures offers a potentially efficient solution to supplement the limited workforce. However, these systems encounter substantial hurdles, such as inconsistent image quality and the risk of incorrect diagnosis due to the limitations of current technology. The research provides a specialised tool for identifying bone fractures with high precision (97% accuracy) and an excellent overall rating (F1 score of 0.98), showing it can reliably detect fractures. The assessment of this model is augmented by visual tools like heatmaps and performance graphs, providing an in-depth analysis of its operational effectiveness. Furthermore, creating a user-friendly interface is intended to streamline the adoption of this tool in clinical settings. Notwithstanding its demonstrated precision, the model must navigate data-related challenges, precisely data complexity and the representation of different categories, to prevent skewed outcomes. Clarifying the model's decision-making process and adaptability to various clinical situations are also critical. The study emphasises the need for thorough testing to ensure the model's dependability in diagnosing fractures before being deployed effectively in the medical field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The organic hydride toluene/methylcyclohexane is an attractive hydrogen carrier. The direct electro-hydrogenation of toluene to methylcyclohexane has a higher energy efficiency compared to the conventional two-step method. Yet, there are factors inhibiting the toluene supply to the cathode reaction site and reducing the conversion rate to methylcyclohexane. Thus, hydrogen may be generated as a side reaction. Understanding how hydrogen bubbles are distributed is crucial regarding the design optimization of these electrochemical devices. This work presents, for the first time in a direct toluene electro-hydrogenation electrolyzer, the X-ray visualization of hydrogen bubbles inside the porous electrode. The concentration of bubbles was higher near the cathode catalyst and tended to increase with the electric current and operating time. Bubble distribution spreads across the active area when using flat field plates. As for rib-and-channel field plates, despite bubbles mostly concentrated beneath ribs, the total hydrogen accumulated inside the porous electrode could be reduced. [Display omitted] • Direct toluene electro-hydrogenation electrolyzer for efficient hydrogen transport. • Hydrogen bubbles generated from side reaction inhibit toluene mass transport. • First in situ X-ray visualization of hydrogen bubbles inside the porous electrode. • More hydrogen bubbles observed at higher current densities and after longer operation. • Ribbed flow field plates could reduce the hydrogen bubbles inside a porous electrode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a low dose X-ray induced long afterglow luminescent phosphor Sr 3 MgSi 2 O 8 :Pr3+ has been reported. The structure analysis shows the as-prepared samples possess good crystallinity and the emitting center Pr3+ is more likely to occupy the lattice position of Sr2+ due to their similar ionic radius. And under 471.1 nm excitation, Sr 3 MgSi 2 O 8 :Pr3+ shows bright visible lights peaked at 545.5, 617.1 and 648.6 nm, respectively, corresponding to the transitions of 3P 0 →3H 5 , 3P 0 →3H 6 and 3P 0 →3F 2 of Pr3+. After the X-ray irradiation, this phosphor shows strong ultraviolet C (291.7 nm), blue (493.2 nm) and red lights (617.1 nm). More important, only 5 s X-ray irradiation X-ray irradiation can easily charge Sr 3 MgSi 2 O 8 :Pr3+ to produce 5400 s afterglow emission. Even after 5400 s, its afterglow emissions still remain strong, which is about 20 times of the background intensity. The thermoluminescent results indicate that Sr 3 MgSi 2 O 8 possesses a high absorption rate for X-rays and thus X-ray irradiation can excite the host to produce large number of electrons, Secondary electron, which would rapidly fill up the traps and thus produce excellent long afterglow luminescence. In addition, the existing suitable traps with 0.76 eV trap depth are also favorable for persistent luminescence at room temperature. Thus, Sr 3 MgSi 2 O 8 :Pr3+ is confirmed to be a very efficient low dose X-ray induced long afterglow luminescent phosphor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the microstructure and damage evolution of plain weave ceramic matrix composites under in-plane shear using the in-situ X-ray computed tomography approach. The actual microstructure and damage evolution of material under several successive loading levels have been revealed precisely. A deep-learning-based image segmentation method has been employed to accurately identify material damages, including matrix cracks, delamination, fibre pull-outs and interface debonding. Besides, three-dimensional visual characterisation and quantitative analysis of damage have been carried out to gain a better understanding on the failure mechanisms. For longitudinal tows under shear, the cracks propagate along the loading direction and cause the splitting and sliding failure of tow; For transverse tows under shear, they undergo coupling effects of shear and tension, which results in kink band damage with fibre bridging mechanism. Finally, the connection of longitudinal tow splitting and transverse tow kinking leads to the catastrophic fracture of CMCs under in-plane shear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The large acquisition times needed for high-quality XCT measurements remain a stumbling block for high-throughput inspection tasks. This paper therefore presents a deep learning reconstruction algorithm to improve the quality of fast, few-view XCT measurements. The proposed method is validated on both simulated and experimental XCT measurements of additively manufactured cranio-maxillofacial implants. The validation demonstrates a drastic reduction in noise and streaking artifacts associated with few-view acquisitions. Therefore, the potential to maintain high reconstruction quality while reducing acquisition times by more than one order of magnitude is confirmed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chromium-doped persistent luminescence nanoparticles (PLNPs) have promising biomedical applications in X-ray charged near-infrared (NIR) luminous imaging. The persistent luminescence (PersL) property was usually adjusted by co-doping with other ions. Impurity phases were thought to be adverse to the PersL. In this study, a composite material, LiInSi 2 O 6 :Cr,Pr·2SiO 2 (LICP-S), was synthesized with a PersL peak at 800 nm after being charged by 1 Gy X-ray while LiInSi 2 O 6 :Cr (LIC) and LiInSi 2 O 6 :Cr,Pr (LICP) possessed no or very weak PersL. Distinctively, excess metastable cristobalite silica was found essential for the much more intense PersL of LICP-S than LICP and LIC. Thermostimulated luminescence spectra studies indicated that cristobalite adjusted the Pr-related traps from deep traps to shallow ones, which facilitated the room temperature PersL. The low dose X-ray charged PersL of LICP-S was applied to demonstrate the luminous labeling of a medical silicone prosthesis that was supposed to be imbedded in body for years via X-ray activated PersL imaging in vitro and in vivo. This work not only provides a kind of PLNPs with 800 nm emission suitable for low dose X-ray activation, but also an unusual strategy for trap engineering in PersL materials by designing multi-phase composites. Metastable cristobalite SiO 2 induces 10-times enhanced NIR persistent luminescence of LiInSi 2 O 6 :Cr,Pr after X-ray activation. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel scintillating and visualizing materials are an essential part of the development of high-power X-ray sources like synchrotrons and free-electron lasers. One of the latest approaches is the formation of composite materials composed of X-ray luminescent nanoparticles in a robust transparent matrix with high thermal conductivity. Here, such Sr 0.85-x Ba x Eu 0.15 F 2.15 nanopowders with a particle size of ≈50 nm were synthesized by precipitation from aqueous solutions. Single-phase solid solutions are formed up to a barium concentration of 70 mol.%. The most intense luminescence band is the band of trivalent europium with a maximum at 590.4 nm, corresponding to the 5D 0 → 7F 1 transition. The concentration dependence of the X-ray luminescence intensity on the barium content was revealed, and the most optimal composition Sr 0.35 Ba 0.50 Eu 0.15 F 2.15 with the brightest luminescence response was determined. The obtained type of nanoparticles has potential applications for the fabrication of new scintillating and visualizing composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work describes the first implementation and in vivo study of ultrahigh-dose-rate radiation (>37 Gy/s; FLASH) effects induced by kilovoltage (kV) x-ray from a rotating-anode x-ray source. A high-capacity rotating-anode x-ray tube with an 80-kW generator was implemented for preclinical FLASH radiation research. A custom 3-dimensionally printed immobilization and positioning tool was developed for reproducible irradiation of a mouse hind limb. Calibrated Gafchromic (EBT3) film and thermoluminescent dosimeters (LiF:Mg,Ti) were used for in-phantom and in vivo dosimetry. Healthy FVB/N and FVBN/C57BL/6 outbred mice were irradiated on 1 hind leg to doses up to 43 Gy at FLASH (87 Gy/s) and conventional (CONV; <0.05 Gy/s) dose rates. The radiation doses were delivered using a single pulse with the widths up to 500 ms and 15 minutes at FLASH and CONV dose rates. Histologic assessment of radiation-induced skin damage was performed at 8 weeks posttreatment. Tumor growth suppression was assessed using a B16F10 flank tumor model in C57BL6J mice irradiated to 35 Gy at both FLASH and CONV dose rates. FLASH-irradiated mice experienced milder radiation-induced skin injuries than CONV-irradiated mice, visible by 4 weeks posttreatment. At 8 weeks posttreatment, normal tissue injury was significantly reduced in FLASH-irradiated animals compared with CONV-irradiated animals for histologic endpoints including inflammation, ulceration, hyperplasia, and fibrosis. No difference in tumor growth response was observed between FLASH and CONV irradiations at 35 Gy. The normal tissue sparing effects of FLASH irradiations were observed only for high-severity endpoint of ulceration at 43 Gy, which suggests the dependency of biologic endpoints to FLASH radiation dose. Rotating-anode x-ray sources can achieve FLASH dose rates in a single pulse with dosimetric properties suitable for small-animal experiments. We observed FLASH normal tissue sparing of radiation toxicities in mouse skin irradiated at 35 Gy with no sacrifice to tumor growth suppression. This study highlights an accessible new modality for laboratory study of the FLASH effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An accurate and traceable performance testing of the X-ray computed tomography (XCT) is crucial for the application of the XCT in various industrial fields. For the performance testing of the XCT, we proposed a novel gauge with spheres embedded in a cylindrical resin. The proposed gauge is free from the artifacts caused by the gauge structure, and the spheres can be arranged at any position of the gauge. Additionally, the gauge can be placed with different orientations and it can be produced at an economical price. We verified the feasibility of using the proposed gauge as a reference standard, in terms of the coefficient of thermal expansion and secular change of the resin. Furthermore, we developed the associated calibration method for the gauge through multiple orientation measurements using the XCT. From the results, the proposed gauge can be calibrated with an uncertainty of 1.9 μm when the gauge size is 30 mm. • A novel gauge was proposed for the performance testing of X-ray computed tomography. • We verified the feasibility of the developed gauge with the coefficient of thermal expansion and secular change of the resin. • The proposed gauge can be calibrated with an uncertainty of 2.9 μm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research focus in the field of anti-counterfeiting has shifted toward the secure luminescent label technology, which has gained prominence. The exceptional luminescence properties of persistent luminescence materials are important in the achievement of effective anti-counterfeiting measures. It is in this context that Sr 3 Y 2 Ge 3 O 12 can serve as an excellent matrix material. In this study, it is found that Sr 3 Y 2 Ge 3 O 12 : 4.00% Mn2+ exhibits a luminescence intensity, persistence time, and stability that meet the practical requirements for applications. It is shown that the fabricated persistent luminescence film can be used in anti-counterfeiting applications, thereby, demonstrating the possibility to broaden the application scope of persistent luminescence materials. An emission band centered at 634 nm and a high-energy inflection point at 578 nm are observed in the samples excited at 260 nm. Fluorescence emission at 634 nm is also achieved through X-ray excitation. Through thermoluminescence, photoluminescence, and phosphorescence spectroscopy, a comprehensive investigation of the trap characteristics and inherent mechanisms of the long persistent phosphorescence has been conducted. The novel orange-red Sr 3 Y 2 Ge 3 O 12 : Mn2+ phosphor is extensively examined. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the shielding efficiency of a novel X-ray protection device (NPD) compared with the traditional lead clothing (TLC) during coronary intervention. This study was performed prospectively in two centres. A total of 200 coronary interventions were included and assigned equally into the NPD or TLC group. The NPD is a floor-standing X-ray protection device, which mainly composes of a barrel-like frame and two layers of lead rubber. Thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) were adopted to detect the cumulative absorbed doses, and were attached outside the NPD or TLC or body of the first operator at four different height levels in four directions during the procedure. The cumulative doses outside the NPD were comparable to that of the TLC (2,398.33 ± 2,341.64 versus 1,624.09 ± 1,732.20 μSv, p= 0.366), and the cumulative doses inside the NPD were significantly lower than those inside the TLC (40 ± 0 versus 732.28 ± 919.83 μSv, p< 0.001). As the TLC did not cover the calf segment of the operator, the area at 50 cm height from the floor in the TLC group was unshielded. The shielding efficiency of NPD was significantly higher than that of the TLC (98.2 ± 0.63% versus 52.11 ± 38.97%, p= 0.021). The NPD has a significantly higher shielding efficacy than that of the TLC, in particular, it protects the operators' lower limb, liberates their lower body from wearing heavy lead apron, and may consequently reduce the radiation or body-load associated complications. • The X-ray exposure of interventional specialists remains high despite wearing TLC. • The NPD mainly composes of a barrel-like frame and two layers of the lead rubber. • The shielding efficiency of NPD was significantly higher than that of the TLC. • The NPD liberates the operator's lower body from wearing heavy lead apron. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multimodal luminescence has emerged as a promising solution in the realm of anti-counterfeiting techniques, which have gained global attention due to their association with information and data security. The conventional approach to achieving multimodal luminescence typically involves combining upconversion and downshifting luminescence, which necessitates the use of external excitation sources and costly detection equipment. Herein, we develop an anti-counterfeiting strategy based on the afterglow performance of NaLuF 4 : Gd, Tm nanoparticles after X-ray excitation. The X-ray-induced Frenkel defects-base traps ensnare electrons with low kinetic energy, resulting in the creation of persistent photon traps that are responsible for the temperature-dependent afterglow intensity. The dual-band and thermo-enhanced afterglow emission can encrypt information well according to our proof-of-concept experiment and the visible light signal can be successfully captured by a smartphone camera. These unique features of NaLuF 4 : Gd, Tm nanoparticles render them highly appealing for multilevel anti-counterfeiting applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, many diseases can be diagnosed in a short time with the use of deep learning models in the field of medicine. Most of the studies in this area focus on adult or pediatric patients. However, deep learning studies for the diagnosis of diseases in neonatal are not sufficient. Also, since it is known that respiratory disorders such as pneumonia have a large place among the causes of neonatal death, early and accurate diagnosis of respiratory diseases in neonates is crucial. For this reason, our study aims to detect the presence of respiratory disorders through the developed deep-learning approach using chest X-ray images of patients hospitalized in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Accordingly, the enhanced version of C+EffxNet, the new hybrid deep learning model, is designed to predict respiratory disorders in neonates. In this version, the features selected by PCA are combined as 100, 200, and 300, then the binary classification process was carried out. In the study, the accuracy and kappa value were obtained as 0.965, and 0.904, respectively before feature merging, while these values were obtained as 0.977, and 0.935 after feature merging. This method, which was developed for the diagnosis of respiratory disorders in neonates, was also subsequently applied to a chest X-ray dataset that is frequently used in the literature for the diagnosis of pediatric pneumonia. For this data set, while the accuracy was 0.992, the kappa value was 0.982. The results obtained confirm the success of the proposed method for both datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy spectra of X-ray attenuation coefficients, μ (E)s, are measured using a system comprising a laboratory X-ray source and a photon-counting-type detector with an accuracy of 3% or less. We propose a method to derive the electron density (ρ e) and effective atomic number (Z eff) of an object from measured μ (E) values. The method is based on a simple approximation in which an atomic cross-section of attenuation is expressed by a linear equation of Z 4 and experimental calibration using standard materials. The μ (E) values of aqueous ethanol and acetic acid aqueous solutions are measured to get the ρ e s and Z eff s. The proposed method yielded a ρ e value with an accuracy of 1.4% despite the use of standard materials, whereas it yielded a Z eff value with an accuracy of 1.1% for standard materials whose values of Z are similar to that of the sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article is dedicated to the characteristic X-ray analysis of a hoard composed of eight bracelets discovered in an Early Iron Age context at the Vânători site. In order to obtain a complete view over the bracelets, Particle Induced X-ray Emission and Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence tests were performed. The goal was to obtain the main composing elements as well as trace elements in an effort to identify the type of alloy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 23-year-old previously healthy woman presented with headache, generalized seizures, ataxia, encephalopathy, abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting culminating in a 40-pound weight loss. A contrasted magnetic resonance imaging scan of the brain showed T2/FLAIR hyperintensities in the sulci of the occipital and parietal lobes, a punctate focus of restricted diffusion along the inferior aspect of the left caudate head and an empty sella. A lumbar puncture showed an opening pressure of 55 cm H2O, and kidney, ureter, and bladder X ray showed a radiopaque particle in the colon. Serum lead level was 85 mcg/dL (< 3.5). Blood smear showed foreign bodies identified as lead particles in the blood with basophilic stippling of RBCs. She was treated with chelation therapy and bowel irrigation and eventually recovered. Further investigation indicated that she was being slowly poisoned by her husband, a chiropractor who had access to lead. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work focuses on the analysis of the combined effect of intermetallic, interlocking, and voids on the joint strength of Al6061 and AZ31 Mg dissimilar friction stir welds. The FSW of Al6061 and AZ31 Mg is performed with different tool rotation speeds and feed rates. Tensile test specimens are prepared from these joints and subjected to X-ray tomography, which reveals the serrations and voids at the Al6061/AZ31 interface. Here, Serrations interlock the materials and increase the interface area. Serrations pitch is higher in shoulder driven region (1.4 – 0.6 mm) compared to pin driven region (0.5 – 0.2 mm). The Al6061 and AZ31 Mg interface is also accompanied by voids, where void fraction is around 0 % near the top and 2–7 % near the bottom. SEM, EDS mapping, and XRD 2-theta scans of the Al6061/AZ31 Mg interface are utilized to investigate the intermetallic compounds. Al 3 Mg 2 and Al 12 Mg 17 intermetallic compounds are observed at Al6061/AZ31 Mg interface. Further, the intermetallic compound thickness increases from 2.8 μ m to 5.3 μ m with increase tool rotational speed from 500 rpm to 800 rpm. Based on the variation of joint strength against these parameters, the intermetallic compound thickness is the most detrimental contributor to the joint strength, followed by void volume and interface area, for the Al6061 and AZ31 Mg dissimilar joints. The maximum joint strength of 112.1 MPa is achieved, which is 40 % and 33 % of AZ31 Mg and Al6061, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Appreciate that rotation is common and often unavoidable on paediatric chest x-rays. • Demonstrate methods for determining the presence and direction of rotation. • Understand the consequences of rotation on paediatric chest x-rays. • Recognise how rotation can affect diagnoses. We aimed to demonstrate the consequences of rotation on neonatal chest radiographs and how it affects diagnosis. In addition, we demonstrate methods for determining the presence and direction of rotation. Patient rotation is common in chest X-rays of neonates. Rotation is present in over half of chest X-rays from the ICU, contributed to by unwillingness of technologists to reposition new-borns for fear of dislodging lines and tubes. There are six main effects of rotation on supine paediatric chest X-rays: 1) unilateral hyperlucency of the side that the patient is rotated towards; 2) the side 'up' appears larger; 3) apparent deviation of the cardiomediastinal shadow in the direction that the chest is rotated towards; 4) apparent cardiomegaly; 5) distorted cardio-mediastinal configuration; and 6) reversed position of the tips of the umbilical artery and vein catheters with rotation to the left. These effects can cause diagnostic errors due to misinterpretation, including air-trapping, atelectasis, cardiomegaly, and pleural effusions, or disease may be masked. We demonstrate the methods of evaluating rotation with examples, including a 3D model of the bony thorax as a guide. In addition, multiple examples of the effects of rotation are provided including examples where disease was misinterpreted, underestimated or masked. Rotation is often unavoidable in neonatal chest X-rays, especially in the ICU. It is therefore important for physicians to recognise rotation and its effects, and to be aware that it can mimic or mask disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hydraulic conductivity of geosynthetic clay liners (GCLs) widely used as barrier systems considerably depends on their hydration status after the initial hydration of virgin GCLs and the rehydration of desiccated GCLs. Free hydration tests were performed on virgin and desiccated GCLs over sandy subgrades to compare their hydration level. In addition, high-resolution micro-X-ray computed tomography (CT) images of both GCLs and sandy subgrades with different gravimetric water content (i.e. 15%, 20%, and 25%) after the initial hydration were analyzed for better insights. The results show significant influences of subgrade water content on moisture content and thickness of virgin GCLs. Water loss of sandy subgrades and the time interval necessary for reaching a steady state of desiccated GCLs during rehydration was greater and longer than virgin GCLs during initial hydration. X-ray CT images verified a dense distribution of bentonite particles, macropores, and minor desiccation cracks that existed in poorly-hydrated GCLs over unsaturated sand. On the other hand, the completely saturated sandy subgrade facilitated the hydration of GCLs, leaving a lot of macropores in the sand. The relationship between water distribution and the frequency of macropore generation observed in the upper contact zone of sandy subgrades was also indicated via these X-ray CT images. • Greater water loss of sand and longer time for GCLs to reach steady water content during rehydration than initial hydration. • Dense distribution of bentonite particles, pores, and minor cracks in poorly-hydrated GCL placed over low water content sand. • Saturated sandy subgrades facilitated the GCL hydration and generated macropores in the upper zone of sandy subgrade. • X-ray CT imaging indicated the highest total pore volume in saturated sandy subgrades after initial hydration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) is one of the most prevalent pathogens of bacterial keratitis. Bacterial keratitis is a major cause of blindness worldwide. The rising incidence of multidrug resistance of P. aeruginosa precludes treatment with conventional antibiotics. Herein, we evaluated the protective efficiency and explored the possible underlying mechanism of an X-ray inactivated vaccine (XPa) using a murine P. aeruginosa keratitis model. Mice immunized with XPa exhibit reduced corneal bacterial loads and pathology scores. XPa vaccination induced corneal macrophage polarization toward M2, averting an excessive inflammatory reaction. Furthermore, histological observations indicated that XPa vaccination suppressed corneal fibroblast activation and prevented irreversible visual impairment. The potency of XPa against keratitis highlights its potential utility as an effective and promising vaccine candidate for P. aeruginosa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

X-ray Computed Tomography (XCT) has evolved over the last two decades from a medical imaging device to an industrial tool for dimensional metrology and quality control. Employing XCT for these purposes relies on the ability to generate an accurate 3D representation of the scanned object. An essential component of this is inputting the exact geometric magnification into the reconstruction algorithm, where failure to do so results in inaccurate dimensions, distortions, and/or image artifacts. Here, we propose a simple and accurate approach to correct the magnification of a rotation stage based XCT system using a single spherical reference sphere of well-known size. The method uses geometric relationships developed between the source, rotation stage, and detector to relate the sphere's position based on projection edges at three fixed locations on the rotation stage. The typical projection edge is difficult to locate as it is obscured by the air-to-object gray value gradient. Here, the precise edge locations are found through the convergence of several geometrically derived equations describing the sphere's edges from different perspectives. The results indicate that the method repeatedly delivered micron-level determination of geometric magnification, resulting in micron-level precision in dimensional reconstruction. The method is simple and easy to employ, without the need of multiple projections with a complex phantom or the use of a secondary instrument. It is simple and rapid enough to be performed on a scan-by-scan basis for any rotation stage based XCT instrument. • Micron-level XCT magnification correction method based on a single sphere phantom. • Very precise determination of a sample's edge/surface in the air-to-sample transition. • Simple and straightforward procedure for any XCT user to carryout for any rotation stage based XCT unit. • Potential to serve as an installation calibration procedure as well as a day-to-day or scan-to-scan calibration check. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]