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At least 1,045 records · Page 58

Comparison of in vivo and ex vivo laser scanning microscopy and multiphoton tomography application for human and porcine skin imaging

Two state-of-the-art microscopic optical methods, namely, confocal laser scanning microscopy in the fluorescence and reflectance regimes and multiphoton tomography in the autofluorescence and second harmonic generation regimes, are compared for porcine skin ex vivo and healthy human skin in vivo. All skin layers such as stratum corneum (SC), stratum spinosum (SS), stratum basale (SB), papillary dermis (PD) and reticular dermis (RD) as well as transition zones between these skin layers are measured noninvasively at a high resolution, using the above mentioned microscopic methods. In the case of confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), measurements in the fluorescence regime were performed by using a fluorescent dye whose topical application on the surface is well suited for the investigation of superficial SC and characterisation of the skin barrier function. For investigations of deeply located skin layers, such as SS, SB and PD, the fluorescent dye must be injected into the skin, which markedly limits fluorescence measurements using CLSM. In the case of reflection CLSM measurements, the obtained results can be compared to the results of multiphoton tomography (MPT) for all skin layers excluding RD. CLSM cannot distinguish between dermal collagen and elastin measuring their superposition in the RD. By using MPT, it is possible to analyse the collagen and elastin structures separately, which is important for the investigation of anti-aging processes. The resolution of MPT is superior to CLSM. The advantages and limitations of both methods are discussed and the differences and similarities between human and porcine skin are highlighted. (laser biophotonics)

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Fibre loop mirror with FBGs for the scanning range stabilisation in a fibre self-sweeping laser

A new scheme is suggested for stabilising scanning range boundaries of a self-sweeping fibre laser with fibre Bragg gratings (FBGs) and a fibre loop mirror. The mechanism for stabilising stop and/or start scanning boundaries is based on the formation of additional selective losses and/or reflection depending on the FBG position relative to the fibre mirror. It is shown that the simultaneous implementation of two selectors reduces fluctuations of the self-sweeping boundaries to several picometres, which is less by one-two orders in magnitude as compared with a case when the FBGs are absent. The approach suggested allows one to enhance predictability of emission wavelength tuning in fibre self-sweeping lasers, which is very important in practical applications. (paper)

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Leaky ribosomal scanning enables tunable translation of bicistronic ORFs in green algae

Advances in sequencing technology have unveiled examples of nucleus-encoded polycistrons, once considered rare. Exclusively polycistronic transcripts are prevalent in green algae, although the mechanism by which multiple polypeptides are translated from a single transcript is unknown. Here, we used bioinformatic and in vivo mutational analyses to evaluate competing mechanistic models for translation of bicistronic mRNAs in green algae. High-confidence manually curated datasets of bicistronic loci from two divergent green algae, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and Auxenochlorella protothecoides, revealed a preference for weak Kozak-like sequences for ORF 1 and an underrepresentation of potential initiation codons before the ORF 2 start codon, which are suitable conditions for leaky ribosome scanning to allow ORF 2 translation. We used mutational analysis in A. protothecoides to test the mechanism. In vivo manipulation of the ORF 1 Kozak-like sequence and start codon altered reporter expression at ORF 2, with a weaker Kozak-like sequence enhancing expression and a stronger one diminishing it. A synthetic bicistronic dual reporter demonstrated inversely adjustable activity of green fluorescent protein expressed from ORF 1 and luciferase from ORF 2, depending on the strength of the ORF 1 Kozak-like sequence. Our findings demonstrate that translation of multiple ORFs in green algal bicistronic transcripts is consistent with episodic leaky scanning of ORF 1 to allow translation at ORF 2. This work has implications for the potential functionality of upstream open reading frames (uORFs) found across eukaryotic genomes and for transgene expression in synthetic biology applications.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

A molecular line scan in the Hubble deep field north

We present a molecular line scan in the Hubble Deep Field North (HDF-N) that covers the entire 3 mm window (79-115 GHz) using the IRAM Plateau de Bure Interferometer. Our CO redshift coverage spans z ≲ 0.45, 1 ≲ z ≲ 1.9 and all z ≳ 2. We reach a CO detection limit that is deep enough to detect essentially all z > 1 CO lines reported in the literature so far. We have developed and applied different line-searching algorithms, resulting in the discovery of 17 line candidates. We estimate that the rate of false positive line detections is ∼2/17. We identify optical/NIR counterparts from the deep ancillary database of the HDF-N for seven of these candidates and investigate their available spectral energy distributions. Two secure CO detections in our scan are identified with star-forming galaxies at z = 1.784 and at z = 2.047. These galaxies have colors consistent with the 'BzK' color selection and they show relatively bright CO emission compared with galaxies of similar dust continuum luminosity. We also detect two spectral lines in the submillimeter galaxy HDF 850.1 at z = 5.183. We consider an additional nine line candidates as high quality. Our observations also provide a deep 3 mm continuum map (1σ noise level = 8.6 μJy beam{sup –1}). Via a stacking approach, we find that optical/MIR bright galaxies contribute only to <50% of the star formation rate density at 1 < z < 3, unless high dust temperatures are invoked. The present study represents a first, fundamental step toward an unbiased census of molecular gas in 'normal' galaxies at high-z, a crucial goal of extragalactic astronomy in the ALMA era.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Study of redshifted H I from the epoch of reionization with drift scan

Detection of the epoch of reionization (EoR) in the redshifted 21 cm line is a challenging task. Here, we formulate the detection of the EoR signal using the drift scan strategy. This method potentially has better instrumental stability compared to the case where a single patch of sky is tracked. We demonstrate that the correlation time between measured visibilities could extend up to 1-2 hr for an interferometer array such as the Murchison Widefield Array, which has a wide primary beam. We estimate the EoR power based on a cross-correlation of visibilities over time and show that the drift scan strategy is capable of detecting the EoR signal with a signal to noise that is comparable/better compared to the tracking case. We also estimate the visibility correlation for a set of bright point sources and argue that the statistical inhomogeneity of bright point sources might allow their separation from the EoR signal.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Dosimetric delivery validation of dynamically collimated pencil beam scanning proton therapy

Pencil beam scanning (PBS) proton therapy target dose conformity can be improved with energy layer-specific collimation. One such collimator is the dynamic collimation system (DCS), which consists of four nickel trimmer blades that intercept the scanning beam as it approaches the lateral extent of the target. While the dosimetric benefits of the DCS have been demonstrated through computational treatment planning studies, there has yet to be experimental verification of these benefits for composite multi-energy layer fields. The objective of this work is to dosimetrically characterize and experimentally validate the delivery of dynamically collimated proton therapy with the DCS equipped to a clinical PBS system. Approach. Optimized single field, uniform dose treatment plans for 3 × 3 × 3 cm 3 target volumes were generated using Monte Carlo dose calculations with depths ranging from 5 to 15 cm, trimmer-to-surface distances ranging from 5 to 18.15 cm, with and without a 4 cm thick polyethylene range shifter. Treatment plans were then delivered to a water phantom using a prototype DCS and an IBA dedicated nozzle system and measured with a Zebra multilayer ionization chamber, a MatriXX PT ionization chamber array, and Gafchromic™ EBT3 film. Main results. For measurements made within the SOBPs, average 2D gamma pass rates exceeded 98.5% for the MatriXX PT and 96.5% for film at the 2%/2 mm criterion across all measured uncollimated and collimated plans, respectively. For verification of the penumbra width reduction with collimation, film agreed with Monte Carlo with differences within 0.3 mm on average compared to 0.9 mm for the MatriXX PT. Significance. We have experimentally verified the delivery of DCS-collimated fields using a clinical PBS system and commonly available dosimeters and have also identified potential weaknesses for dosimeters subject to steep dose gradients.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗

Resolution of Virtual Depth Sectioning from Four-Dimensional Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy

Abstract One approach to three-dimensional structure determination using the wealth of scattering data in four-dimensional (4D) scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) is the parallax method proposed by Ophus et al. (2019. Advanced phase reconstruction methods enabled by 4D scanning transmission electron microscopy, Microsc Microanal25, 10–11), which determines the scattering matrix and uses it to synthesize a virtual depth-sectioning reconstruction of the sample structure. Drawing on an equivalence with a hypothetical confocal imaging mode, we derive contrast transfer and point spread functions for this parallax method applied to weakly scattering objects, showing them identical to earlier depth-sectioning STEM modes when only bright field signal is used, but that improved depth resolution is possible if dark field signal can be used. Through a simulation-based study of doped Si, we show that this depth resolution is preserved for thicker samples, explore the impact of shot noise on the parallax reconstructions, discuss challenges to making use of dark field signal, and identify cases where the interpretation of the parallax reconstruction breaks down.

3D imaging↗

Gold-gold luminosity increase in RHIC for a beam energy scan with colliding beam energies extending below the nominal injection energy

The Beam Energy Scan phase II (BES-II), performed in the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) from 2019 to 2021, explored the phase transition between quark-gluon plasma and hadronic gas. BES-II exceeded the goal of a fourfold increase in the average luminosity over that achieved during Beam Energy Scan phase I (BES-I), at five gold beam energies: 9.8, 7.3, 5.75, 4.59, and 3.85 GeV / nucleon. This was accomplished by addressing several beam dynamics effects, including intrabeam scattering, beam-beam, space charge, beam instability, and field errors induced by superconducting magnet persistent currents. Some of these effects are especially detrimental at low energies. BES-II achievements are presented, and the measures taken to improve RHIC performance are described. These measures span the whole RHIC complex, including ion beam sources, injectors, beam lifetime improvements in RHIC, and operation with the world’s first bunched beam Low Energy RHIC electron Cooler (LEReC).

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Interpretable and Efficient Interferometric Contrast in Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy with a Diffraction-Grating Beam Splitter

Efficient imaging of biomolecules, 2D materials and electromagnetic fields depends on retrieval of the phase of transmitted electrons. We demonstrate a method to measure phase in a scanning transmission electron microscope using a nanofabricated diffraction grating to produce multiple probe beams. The measured phase is more interpretable than phase-contrast scanning transmission electron microscopy techniques without an off-axis reference wave, and the resolution could surpass that of off-axis electron holography. Here, we apply the technique to image nanoparticles, carbon sub- strates and electric fields. The contrast observed in experiments agrees well with contrast predicted in simulations.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Isotope effects in molecular structures and electronic properties of liquid water via deep potential molecular dynamics based on the SCAN functional

Here, Feynman path-integral deep potential molecular dynamics (PI-DPMD) calculations have been employed to study both light (H 2 O) and heavy water (D 2 O) within the isothermalisobaric ensemble. In particular, the deep neural network is trained based on ab initio data obtained from the strongly constrained and appropriately normed (SCAN) exchange-correlation functional. Because of the lighter mass of hydrogen than deuteron, the properties of light water are more influenced by nuclear quantum effect than those of heavy water. Clear isotope effects are observed and analyzed in terms of hydrogen-bond structure and electronic properties of water that are closely associated with experimental observables. The molecular structures of both liquid H 2 O and D 2 O agree well with the data extracted from scattering experiments. The delicate isotope effects on radial distribution functions and angular distribution functions are well reproduced as well. Our approach demonstrates that deep neural network combined with SCAN functional based ab initio molecular dynamics provides an accurate theoretical tool for modeling water and its isotope effects.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Vortex dynamics induced by scanning SQUID susceptometry

In this work, we measured the local magnetic response of a niobium thin film by applying a millitesla-scale AC magnetic field using a micron-scale field coil and detecting the response with a micron-scale pickup loop in a scanning superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) susceptometry measurement. Near the film's critical temperature, we observed a steplike nonlinear and dissipative magnetic response due to the dynamics of a small number of vortex-antivortex pairs induced in the film by the local applied AC field. We modeled the dynamics of the measurement using a combined two-dimensional London-Maxwell and time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau approach, allowing us to construct a detailed real-space picture of the vortex motion causing the observed dissipative response. This work pushes scanning SQUID susceptometry of two-dimensional superconductors beyond the regime of linear response and lays the foundation for microscopic studies of vortex dynamics and pinning in superconducting devices and more exotic materials systems.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Disentangling contributions to small-system collectivity via scans of light nucleus-nucleus collisions

The observation of multiparticle azimuthal correlations in high-energy small-system collisions has led to intense debate on its origin and the possible coexistence from two competing theoretical scenarios: one based on initial-state intrinsic momentum anisotropy, and the other based on final-state interaction model (FSM) collective response to the collision geometry. To complement the previous scan of asymmetric collision systems ( p +Au, d +Au, and He+Au), we propose a scan of small symmetric collision systems at the Brookhaven National Laboratory Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider, such as C+C, O+O, Al+Al, and Ar+Ar$\sqrt{s_\text{NN}}$ = 0.2 TeV , to provide further insights in disentangling contributions from these two scenarios. These symmetric small systems have the advantage of providing a better controlled initial geometry dominated by the average shape of the overlap region as opposed to fluctuation-driven geometries in asymmetric systems. In this work, a transport model is employed to investigate the expected geometry response in the FSM scenario. Different trends of elliptic flow with increasing charge particle multiplicity are observed between symmetric and asymmetric systems, whereas triangular flow appears to show a similar behavior. Furthermore, a comparison of O+O collisions at $\sqrt{s_\text{NN}}$ = 0.2 TeV and at $\sqrt{s_\text{NN}}$ = 2.76 ₋ 7 TeV as proposed at the CERN Large Hadron Collider, provides a unique opportunity to disentangle the collision geometry effects at the nucleon level from those arising from subnucleon fluctuations.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

A new Kirkpatrick–Baez-based scanning microscope for the Submicron Resolution X-ray Spectroscopy (SRX) beamline at NSLS-II

The development, construction, and first commissioning results of a new scanning microscope installed at the 5-ID Submicron Resolution X-ray Spectroscopy (SRX) beamline at NSLS-II are reported. The developed system utilizes Kirkpatrick–Baez mirrors for X-ray focusing. The instrument is designed to enable spectromicroscopy measurements in 2D and 3D with sub-200 nm spatial resolution. The present paper focuses on the design aspects, optical considerations, and specifics of the sample scanning stage, summarizing some of the initial commissioning results.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Data-driven approach for synchrotron X-ray Laue microdiffraction scan analysis

A novel data-driven approach is proposed for analyzing synchrotron Laue X-ray microdiffraction scans based on machine learning algorithms. The basic architecture and major components of the method are formulated mathematically. It is demonstrated through typical examples including polycrystalline BaTiO 3 , multiphase transforming alloys and finely twinned martensite. The computational pipeline is implemented for beamline 12.3.2 at the Advanced Light Source, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The conventional analytical pathway for X-ray diffraction scans is based on a slow pattern-by-pattern crystal indexing process. Here, this work provides a new way for analyzing X-ray diffraction 2D patterns, independent of the indexing process, and motivates further studies of X-ray diffraction patterns from the machine learning perspective for the development of suitable feature extraction, clustering and labeling algorithms.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Geant4 simulation of clinical proton and carbon ion beams for the treatment of ocular melanomas with the full 3-D pencil beam scanning system

This work investigates the possibility to use carbon ion beams delivered with active scanning modality, for the treatment of ocular melanomas at the Centro Nazionale di Adroterapia Oncologica (CNAO) in Pavia. The radiotherapy with carbon ions offers many advantages with respect to the radiotherapy with protons or photons, such as a higher relative radio-biological effectiveness (RBE) and a dose release better localized to the tumor. The Monte Carlo (MC) Geant4 10.00 patch-03 toolkit is used to reproduce the complete CNAO extraction beam line, including all the active and passive components characterizing it. The simulation of proton and carbon ion beams and radiation scanned field is validated against CNAO experimental data. For the irradiation study of the ocular melanoma an eye-detector, representing a model of a human eye, is implemented in the simulation. Each element of the eye is reproduced with its chemical and physical properties. Inside the eye-detector a realistic tumor volume is placed and used as the irradiation target. A comparison between protons and carbon ions eye irradiations allows to study possible treatment benefits if carbon ions are used instead of protons. (authors)

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗

Impedance Scan of Inverter-Based Resources and Diesel Generator for Stability Analysis

Impedance-based methods are widely used for power system stability analysis with inverter-based resources (IBRs), e.g., assessing dynamic interactions between the power grid and an IBR, control interactions between multiple IBRs, and the sub-synchronous oscillation and damping phenomenon. Since it is difficult to get a numerical model 100% matching with the hardware IBR, using the hardware inverter directly to obtain its output impedance has become a prominent approach nowadays. Therefore, this article presents the impedance scan using hardware IBRs, and also a hardware diesel generator as it still stays with the grid before the grid completely goes to renewable. The devices under test (DuTs) for the impedance scan includes two 3-..phi.., 480 V, 60 Hz commercial grid-forming IBRs (one of 250 kVA and another of 125 kVA rating) in series with ..delta..-Y transformers, one 3-..phi.., 480 V, 60 Hz commercial grid-following IBR (of 125 kVA rating), and a 3-..phi.., 480 V, 60 Hz commercial diesel generator (of 187.5 kVA rating). Using voltage signals perturbed with sub-, inter-, and higher harmonic components, and measuring the current response, the positive-sequence impedances are computed via an offline-based post-analysis. Moreover, best-fit transfer functions are estimated that closely resemble the measured data points of the positive-sequence impedances. Based on the observations from various outcomes of the hardware experiments, this article also provides some fundamental insights on the equivalent positive-sequence impedance of a combination of multiple hardware components by comparing the estimated and the empirically computed impedances. A comparative insight on the damping capability of the DuTs using the positive-sequence impedances of the hardware is also discussed.

current measurement↗

Simplex‐based model for nanoparticle grain identification in four‐dimensional scanning transmission electron microscopy data

Grain identification in polycrystalline nanoparticles, for example, determining which crystal phases are present at each spatial location, is fundamental to materials characterisation. This is particularly challenging when grains overlap extensively, as commonly occurs in four-dimensional scanning transmission electron microscopy (4D-STEM) datasets. We propose a simplex-based model (SBM) in which each simplex vertex represents the diffraction pattern (DP) of a pure grain, and the simplex edges and interior represent overlapping grains. Our SBM grain identification algorithm operates on the Bragg disk (BD) data matrix distilled from the 4D-STEM data to identify the grain membership at each scan position, together with a BD feature matrix whose columns represent the DPs for each constituent grain, which is important for identifying the crystal structure of each grain. We solve the model using a two-stage algorithm. In Stage 1, we adapt a linear mixing algorithm to estimate an initial BD feature matrix whose columns represent DPs of potentially overlapping grains. Our Stage 2 algorithm incorporates sparsity considerations to transform the initial BD feature matrix so that its columns represent DPs of pure grains. Using simulated datasets with various grain configurations, we demonstrate that SBM recovers both the BD feature matrix and membership maps more accurately than existing methods, even when a grain lacks any pure region and completely overlaps with other grains.

4D-STEM segmentation↗

REGULATORY TESTING AND 3D SCANNING METHODOLOGY OF THE DPP-1 TYPE SHIPPING CONTAINER FOR NCT AND HAC TESTS

The safe transportation of radioactive material using appropriately designed and certified transportation packages is important to protect the public and environment. In the United States of America all transportation of radioactive material is regulated by the Department of Transportation (DOT) along with input by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). All packages that contain radioactive material requires that it be transported and regulated by the requirements set by the DOT Class 7 hazardous material transportation. Federal regulations place strict administrative controls on the transport of radioactive materials. The two main goals for transporting radioactive materials are 1. Safety should be the primarily focused on the package because it is the first line of defense. 2. Package integrity should be directly related to the degree of the hazard of the radioactive material contents. The two-part goal ensures that the right package is used. Type B packages are designed to transport radioactive materials with the highest level of radioactivity. Examples of material transported in Type B packagings include spent nuclear fuel, high-level radioactive waste, and high concentrations of other radioactive materials. The purpose of this test protocol is to determine the effects of drop and thermal testing on package performance in a Type B shipping package (DPP-1). Required physical tests for the DPP-1 package include free drop, crush, puncture, penetration, compression, vibration, water spray, water immersion, and thermal. The preparation, regulatory testing, and post-test evaluation of a Type B shipping package tested to the 10 CFR 71.71 and 10 CFR 71.73 requirements will be presented. Six packages were tested and the responses when subjected to the HAC sequence of free drop, puncture, and thermal tests according to 10 CFR 71.73(c)(1), (c)(2), (c)(3) and (c)(4) were measured. The Free Drop, Crush and Puncture tests were performed at the NTRC in Knoxville, TN, and the Thermal tests were performed Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, TX. The test units were subjected to a pre-operational leak testing before the NCT and HAC tests and a post-operational leak test and a helium leak test once regulatory testing was complete. Finally, all test units were scanned with a handheld blue light scanner to capture a 3D CAD geometry of the test units in the deformed shape. The handheld scanner provided the most effective and reliable way to acquire accurate 3D measurements of the test unit. The scanned geometry was sectioned in areas with deformation and the cross-section profile was measured to determine accurate and repeatable results of the deformed shape of the test units.

Martinez, Oscar↗