Development of MHz X-ray phase contrast imaging at the European XFEL.

We report on recent developments that enable megahertz hard X-ray phase contrast imaging (MHz XPCI) experiments at the Single Particles, Clusters, and Biomolecules and Serial Femtosecond Crystallography (SPB/SFX) instrument of the European XFEL facility (EuXFEL). We describe the technical implementation of the key components, including an MHz fast camera and a modular indirect X-ray microscope system based on fast scintillators coupled through a high-resolution optical microscope, which enable full-field X-ray microscopy with phase contrast of fast and irreversible phenomena. The image quality for MHz XPCI data showed significant improvement compared with a pilot demonstration of the technique using parallel beam illumination, which also allows access to up to 24 keV photon energies at the SPB/SFX instrument of the EuXFEL.

Breaking the DNA by soft X-rays in the water window reveals the scavenging and temporal behaviour of OH radicals.

A laser-plasma source emitting photons with energies in the water window spectral range has been used to reveal the radiation chemical yields of single-strand breaks in plasmid DNA as a function of OH radical scavenger concentration. Direct and indirect effects were investigated separately using DNA samples with various levels of hydration. We experimentally determined the value of the efficiency factor for strand cleavage in DNA caused by the reaction with OH radicals at 0.

Three-dimensional assessment of obturation volume in lateral canals after three obturation techniques with bioceramic sealer: an in vitro comparative study.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the obturation ability of simulated lateral canal in mandibular premolars at three levels (3, 5, and 7 mm) from the apex using gutta-percha and BC Sealer HiFlow (BCHiF) with different obturation techniques, including continuous wave compaction (CWC), cold lateral condensation (CLC), and single cone (SC) techniques, by a 3D assessment method of the obturation volume with cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and MIMICS software analysis.

Methods: Thirty intact human mandibular premolars were decoronated, instrumented up to #30 taper 4%, and uniformly irrigated with 5.25% NaOCl and 17% EDTA.

Comparison of wavefront sensing and ablation imprinting for FEL focus diagnostics at FLASH2.

Extreme ultraviolet (EUV) photon beam characterization techniques, Hartmann wavefront sensing and single shot ablation imprinting, were compared along the caustic of a tightly focused free-electron laser (FEL) beam at beamline FL24 of FLASH2, the Free-electron LASer in Hamburg at DESY. The transverse coherence of the EUV FEL was determined by a Young's double pinhole experiment and used in a back-propagation algorithm which includes partial coherence to calculate the beam intensity profiles along the caustic from the wavefront measurements. A very good agreement of the profile structure and size is observed for different wavelengths between the back-propagated profiles, an indirect technique, and ablation imprints.

Dielectronic satellite emission from a solid-density Mg plasma: Relationship to models of ionization potential depression.

We report on experiments where solid-density Mg plasmas are created by heating with the focused output of the Linac Coherent Light Source x-ray free-electron laser. We study the K-shell emission from the helium- and lithium-like ions using Bragg crystal spectroscopy. Observation of the dielectronic satellites in lithium-like ions confirms that the M-shell electrons appear bound for these high charge states.

Development towards high-resolution kHz-speed rotation-free volumetric imaging.

X-ray multi-projection imaging (XMPI) has the potential to provide rotation-free 3D movies of optically opaque samples. The absence of rotation enables superior imaging speed and preserves fragile sample dynamics by avoiding the centrifugal forces introduced by conventional rotary tomography. Here, we present our XMPI observations at the ID19 beamline (ESRF, France) of 3D dynamics in melted aluminum with 1000 frames per second and 8 µm resolution per projection using the full dynamical range of our detectors.

Investigation on the origin of hot electrons in laser plasma interaction at shock ignition intensities.

Shock Ignition is a two-step scheme to reach Inertial Confinement Fusion, where the precompressed fuel capsule is ignited by a strong shock driven by a laser pulse at an intensity in the order of [Formula: see text] W/cm[Formula: see text]. In this report we describe the results of an experiment carried out at PALS laser facility designed to investigate the origin of hot electrons in laser-plasma interaction at intensities and plasma temperatures expected for Shock Ignition. A detailed time- and spectrally-resolved characterization of Stimulated Raman Scattering and Two Plasmon Decay instabilities, as well as of the generated hot electrons, suggest that Stimulated Raman Scattering is the dominant source of hot electrons via the damping of daughter plasma waves.

Damage threshold of LiF crystal irradiated by femtosecond hard XFEL pulse sequence.

Here we demonstrate the results of investigating the damage threshold of a LiF crystal after irradiating it with a sequence of coherent femtosecond pulses using the European X-ray Free Electron Laser (EuXFEL). The laser fluxes on the crystal surface varied in the range ∼ 0.015-13 kJ/cm per pulse when irradiated with a sequence of 1-100 pulses (t ∼ 20 fs, E = 9 keV).

Deep learning for laser beam imprinting.

Methods of ablation imprints in solid targets are widely used to characterize focused X-ray laser beams due to a remarkable dynamic range and resolving power. A detailed description of intense beam profiles is especially important in high-energy-density physics aiming at nonlinear phenomena. Complex interaction experiments require an enormous number of imprints to be created under all desired conditions making the analysis demanding and requiring a huge amount of human work.

Design of titanium uncemented femoral stems for hip prosthesis suitable for the Colombian young adult population.

The increase of revision surgeries in hip replacement procedure in Colombian young adult population can be addressed by a new design of femoral stem that reduces stress shielding. A new femoral stem was designed using topology optimization as a design aid to reduce the mass in the femoral stem and its overall stiffness, combined with the theoretical, computational, and experimental assessment of the new design that complies with a static and fatigue safety factor greater than one. The new femoral stem design can be used as a design tool to reduce the number of revision surgeries caused by stress shielding.

Imaging x-ray spectrometer at the high energy density instrument of the European x-ray free electron laser.

A multipurpose imaging x-ray crystal spectrometer is developed for the high energy density instrument of the European X-ray Free Electron Laser. The spectrometer is designed to measure x rays in the energy range of 4-10 keV, providing high-resolution, spatially resolved spectral measurements. A toroidally bent germanium (Ge) crystal is used, allowing x-ray diffraction from the crystal to image along a one-dimensional spatial profile while spectrally resolving along the other.

Adverse events are not increased by controlled delay in surgery of acute upper extremity fractures.

Management of the operative treatment of fractures is challenged by daily variation in patient flow. For upper limb fractures there has recently been an increasing tendency to temporarily discharge the patient to wait for a daytime operation to be performed during the next few days. The objective of this study was to study the safety of controlled delay in surgery.

Direct LiF imaging diagnostics on refractive X-ray focusing at the EuXFEL High Energy Density instrument.

The application of fluorescent crystal media in wide-range X-ray detectors provides an opportunity to directly image the spatial distribution of ultra-intense X-ray beams including investigation of the focal spot of free-electron lasers. Here the capabilities of the micro- and nano-focusing X-ray refractive optics available at the High Energy Density instrument of the European XFEL are reported, as measured in situ by means of a LiF fluorescent detector placed into and around the beam caustic. The intensity distribution of the beam focused down to several hundred nanometers was imaged at 9 keV photon energy.

Real-time spatial characterization of micrometer-sized X-ray free-electron laser beams focused by bendable mirrors.

A real-time and accurate characterization of the X-ray beam size is essential to enable a large variety of different experiments at free-electron laser facilities. Typically, ablative imprints are employed to determine shape and size of µm-focused X-ray beams. The high accuracy of this state-of-the-art method comes at the expense of the time required to perform an ex-situ image analysis.

Selection methodology of femoral stems under fatigue loading conditions.

The endurance properties of a femoral stem under fatigue loading must be known and the methodology proposed in this work provides the mathematical tools for designers of femoral stems and orthopedic surgeons to select the adequate material and femoral stem design with a new graph that condensate the information in an easy to use selection process. Initially, the theoretical and computational development of the fatigue analysis provides comparable results with an average error of 8.3%.

Comparison of body segment models for female high jumpers utilising DXA images.

In motion analysis of sport competitions, the question is often about the most convenient choice for defining the segment endpoints when no visible landmarks can be used. The purpose of the present study was to determine the location of the body centre of mass (CoM) of female high jumpers by using a high accuracy reaction board and two different segment models: Dempster (1955) and de Leva (1996). Digitising the bony landmarks from the images of dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and overhead digital camera were used to compare the digitising accuracy.

The effect of wind on jumping distance in ski jumping depends on jumpers' aerodynamic characteristics.

Several studies have suggested re-evaluation of the wind compensation system (WCS) of the International Ski Federation (FIS). It was introduced in 2009, and since then, the system has been modified considerably, but major shortcomings have still remained. The present study compared the effect of tail/head wind on two reference jumps with different aerodynamic properties (C and C) during the flight phase.

Chemical Consequences of XUV/X-ray Laser-Matter Interactions.

The first soft X-ray laser was put into operation in Livermore (CA, USA) more than three decades ago [...

Selection Methodology of Femoral Stems According to the Cross Section and the Maximum Stresses.

The maximum stresses on a femoral stem must be known for selecting the right size and shape of the shaft cross-sectional area for reducing the stress shielding effect generated after the total hip arthroplasty (THA) surgical procedure. The methodology proposed in this study provides the tools to the designers of femoral stems and orthopedic surgeons to select the adequate femoral stem cross section, decreasing the stiffness of the stem, thus reducing the stress shielding effect in the patient bones. The first contribution is the theoretical development of the maximum static stress calculation for 12 different femoral stem models with the beam theory, followed by the comparison with the static finite element analysis (FEA) simulations and finally the experimental corroboration of one femoral stem model measuring the strain with linear strain gages and transform it to stresses, the three different approaches provide comparable results, with a maximum average error of less than 8.

Dose Rate Effects in Fluorescence Chemical Dosimeters Exposed to Picosecond Electron Pulses: An Accurate Measurement of Low Doses at High Dose Rates.

The development of ultra-intense electron pulse for applications needs to be accompanied by the implementation of a practical dosimetry system. In this study four different systems were investigated as dosimeters for low doses with a very high-dose-rate source. First, the effects of ultra-short pulses were investigated for the yields of the Fricke dosimeter based on acidic solutions of ferrous sulfate; it was established that the yields were not significantly affected by the high dose rates, so the Fricke dosimeter system was used as a reference.