The new X-ray/visible microscopy MAXWELL technique for fast three-dimensional nanoimaging with isotropic resolution.

Microscopy by Achromatic X-rays With Emission of Laminar Light (MAXWELL) is a new X-ray/visible technique with attractive characteristics including isotropic resolution in all directions, large-volume imaging and high throughput. An ultrathin, laminar X-ray beam produced by a Wolter type I mirror irradiates the sample stimulating the emission of visible light by scintillating nanoparticles, captured by an optical system. Three-dimensional (3D) images are obtained by scanning the specimen with respect to the laminar beam.

High-resolution fast-tomography brain-imaging beamline at the Taiwan Photon Source.

The new Brain Imaging Beamline (BIB) of the Taiwan Photon Source (TPS) has been commissioned and opened to users. The BIB and in particular its endstation are designed to take advantage of bright unmonochromatized synchrotron X-rays and target fast 3D imaging, ∼1 ms exposure time plus very high ∼0.3 µm spatial resolution.

Imaging with Coherent X-rays: From the Early Synchrotron Tests to SYNAPSE.

The high longitudinal and lateral coherence of synchrotron X-rays sources radically transformed radiography. Before them, the image contrast was almost only based on absorption. Coherent synchrotron sources transformed radiography into a multi-faceted tool that can extract information also from "phase" effects.

Synchrotron radiation and X-ray free-electron lasers (X-FELs) explained to all users, active and potential.

Synchrotron radiation evolved over one-half century into a gigantic worldwide enterprise involving tens of thousands of researchers. Initially, almost all users were physicists. But now they belong to a variety of disciplines: chemistry, materials science, the life sciences, medical research, ecology, cultural heritage and others.

An enlightening procedure to explain the extreme power of synchrotron radiation.

A simple approach exploits quantum properties to justify the dependence on γ of the total synchrotron emitted power. It also clarifies some apparent puzzles and brings to light the underlying, multiple relativistic phenomena.

Gold nano-mesh synthesis by continuous-flow X-ray irradiation.

X-ray irradiation has been extensively used in recent years as a fabrication step for nanoparticles and nanoparticle systems. A variant of this technique, continuous-flow X-ray irradiation, has recently been developed, and offers three important advantages: precise control of the irradiation dose, elimination of convection effects in the precursor solution, and suitability for large-scale production. Here, the use of this method to fabricate Au nano-meshes of interest as transparent and flexible electrodes for optoelectronics is reported.

The simple physics of the bending magnet spectrum.

A new elementary model of the bending magnet synchrotron radiation is presented, with minimal mathematical formalism. The model explains features not justified by other simplified approaches; in particular, it brings to light the key role of the directional Doppler effect.

Free-electron-laser coherent diffraction images of individual drug-carrying liposome particles in solution.

Using the excellent performances of a SACLA (RIKEN/HARIMA, Japan) X-ray free electron laser (X-FEL), coherent diffraction imaging (CDI) was used to detect individual liposome particles in water, with or without inserted doxorubicin nanorods. This was possible because of the electron density differences between the carrier, the liposome, and the drug. The result is important since liposome nanocarriers at present dominate drug delivery systems.

Q&A: Why use synchrotron x-ray tomography for multi-scale connectome mapping?

To understand how information flows and is used in the human brain, we must map neural structures at all levels, providing visualizations similar to those of Google Earth for continents, countries, cities, and streets. Unfortunately, the imaging and processing techniques currently used in connectomics projects cannot achieve complete mapping for the brains of large animals within the timespan of a typical research career. However, feasible improvements in x-ray imaging would change this situation.

The relativistic foundations of synchrotron radiation.

Special relativity (SR) determines the properties of synchrotron radiation, but the corresponding mechanisms are frequently misunderstood. Time dilation is often invoked among the causes, whereas its role would violate the principles of SR. Here it is shown that the correct explanation of the synchrotron radiation properties is provided by a combination of the Doppler shift, not dependent on time dilation effects, contrary to a common belief, and of the Lorentz transformation into the particle reference frame of the electromagnetic field of the emission-inducing device, also with no contribution from time dilation.

A compact synchrotron-based transmission X-ray microscope.

A compact transmission X-ray microscope has been designed and implemented based on a cylindrical symmetry around the optical axis that sharply limits the instabilities due to thermal mechanical drift. Identical compact multi-axis closed-loop actuation modules drive different optical components. The design is modular and simplifies the change of individual parts, e.

Cu(In(1-x)Ga(x))S2 nanocrystals and films: low-temperature synthesis with size and composition control.

We demonstrate a single-step X-ray irradiation process that yields high-quality Cu(In1-xGax)S2 nanocrystals in colloidal solutions, with complete control of size and composition. Thin films produced by drop-casting exhibit high-quality photoresponse, confirming that our process is suitable for microelectronics applications.

Gold nanoparticles as high-resolution X-ray imaging contrast agents for the analysis of tumor-related micro-vasculature.

Background: Angiogenesis is widely investigated in conjunction with cancer development, in particular because of the possibility of early stage detection and of new therapeutic strategies. However, such studies are negatively affected by the limitations of imaging techniques in the detection of microscopic blood vessels (diameter 3-5 μm) grown under angiogenic stress. We report that synchrotron-based X-ray imaging techniques with very high spatial resolution can overcome this obstacle, provided that suitable contrast agents are used.

Altered branching patterns of Purkinje cells in mouse model for cortical development disorder.

Disrupted cortical cytoarchitecture in cerebellum is a typical pathology in reeler. Particularly interesting are structural problems at the cellular level: dendritic morphology has important functional implication in signal processing. Here we describe a combinatorial imaging method of synchrotron X-ray microtomography with Golgi staining, which can deliver 3-dimensional(3-D) micro-architectures of Purkinje cell(PC) dendrites, and give access to quantitative information in 3-D geometry.

Fabrication of single crystal CuGaS2 nanorods by X-ray irradiation.

CuGaS(2) nanorods were synthesized by irradiating the precursor solution with intense X-rays. The products are single crystal nanorods with preferential [220] growth and a uniform size distribution. We also report on the photoresponse of drop-cast films of these nanorods.

Quantitative analysis of nanoparticle internalization in mammalian cells by high resolution X-ray microscopy.

Background: Quantitative analysis of nanoparticle uptake at the cellular level is critical to nanomedicine procedures. In particular, it is required for a realistic evaluation of their effects. Unfortunately, quantitative measurements of nanoparticle uptake still pose a formidable technical challenge.

X-ray-induced changes in wettability.

We observed that hard X-ray irradiation modifies the wettability of a variety of inorganic materials. The smooth surfaces of all tested inorganic materials (ZnO, p-Si, Al2O3, SrTiO3, TiN, ZnS, CuO, Ag2O, and Cr2O3) change during irradiation to a state of superhydrophilic wettability, and such changes are explained by the accumulation of positive surface charges by photoelectron emission. The initial wettability state is re-established within several minutes of storage in deionized water.

Nondestructive Characterization by Advanced Synchrotron Light Techniques: Spectromicroscopy and Coherent Radiology.

The advanced characteristics of synchrotron light has led in recent years to the development of a series of new experimental techniques to investigate chemical and physical properties on a microscopic scale. Although originally developed for materials science and biomedical research, such techniques find increasing applications in other domains - and could be quite useful for the study and conservation of cultural heritage. Specifically, they can nondestructively provide detailed chemical composition information that can be useful for the identification of specimens, for the discovery of historical links based on the sources of chemical raw materials and on chemical processes, for the analysis of damage, their causes and remedies and for many other issues.

The serpin Spn5 is essential for wing expansion in Drosophila melanogaster.

Serpins, a superfamily of protease inhibitors, control proteolytic cascades in many physiological processes. Genomic studies have revealed the presence of a high number of serpin-encoding genes in Drosophila melanogaster, but their functions remain largely unknown. In a biochemical screen designed to detect protease inhibitors that may be implicated in early Drosophila development, we identified in embryos a ligand that forms a 67 kDa SDS-stable complex with the broad spectrum protease trypsin.

Full-field hard x-ray microscopy below 30 nm: a challenging nanofabrication achievement.

The fabrication of devices to focus hard x-rays is one of the most difficult-and important-challenges in nanotechnology. Here we show that Fresnel zone plates combining 30 nm external zones and a high aspect ratio finally bring hard x-ray microscopy beyond the 30 nm Rayleigh spatial resolution level and measurable spatial frequencies down to 20-23 nm feature size. After presenting the overall nanofabrication process and the characterization test results, we discuss the potential research impact of these resolution levels.

Imaging of renal and prostate carcinoma with refractive index radiology.

Aim: Having better edge enhancement and penetrating power, refractive index radiology is suitable for the imaging of weakly absorbing objects such as tissue specimens. In this study the potential of refractive index radiology was evaluated for the imaging of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and prostate cancer (PCA).

Methods: Specimens were cut in 3 mm and 4 microm thickness for X-ray radiology and hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, respectively.

Synchrotron microradiography study on acute lung injury of mouse caused by PM(2.5) aerosols.

In order to investigate FeSO(4), ZnSO(4) (the two of main metal compositions of Shanghai PM(2.5) (particle matter with those aerodynamical diameter <2.5 microm)) effects on acute lung injury, six solutions contained PM(2.

Very high resolution chemical imaging with Infrared Scanning Near-field Optical Microscopy (IR-SNOM).

In this paper we present chemically highly resolved images obtained with Scanning Near-field Optical Microscopy (SNOM) coupled with an Infrared (IR) Free Electron Laser (FEL) at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, USA. Main principles governing SNOM imaging as well as essential components of the experimental setup are described. Chemically resolved images showing the distribution of different phases within the boron-nitride films are presented.

Synchrotron radiation in radiology: radiology techniques based on synchrotron sources.

The characteristics of synchrotron X-ray sources--quite different from those of conventional sources--are exploited by several new imaging techniques. These techniques expand the capabilities of conventional radiology and find interesting application in special cases. We briefly review the basic principle, applications and limitations of the most important of them: monochromatic mammography, two-wavelength digital subtraction angiography, phase-contrast/edge-enhancement imaging, diffraction-enhanced imaging and microtomography.

Chemically resolved imaging of biological cells and thin films by infrared scanning near-field optical microscopy.

The infrared (IR) absorption of a biological system can potentially report on fundamentally important microchemical properties. For example, molecular IR profiles are known to change during increases in metabolic flux, protein phosphorylation, or proteolytic cleavage. However, practical implementation of intracellular IR imaging has been problematic because the diffraction limit of conventional infrared microscopy results in low spatial resolution.