Hard X-ray microscopes with 20-30 nm spatial resolution ranges are an advanced tool for the inspection of materials at the nanoscale. However, the limited efficiency of the focusing optics, for example, a Fresnel zone plate (ZP) lens, can significantly reduce the power of a nanoprobe. Despite several reports on ZP lenses that focus hard X-rays with 20 nm resolution - mainly constructed by zone-doubling techniques - a systematic investigation into the limiting factors has not been reported. We report the structural effects on the focusing and imaging efficiency of 20-30 nm-resolution ZPs, employing a modified beam-propagation method. The zone width and the duty cycle (zone width/ring pitch) were optimized to achieve maximum efficiency, and a comparative analysis of the zone materials was conducted. The optimized zone structures were used in the fabrication of Pt-hydrogen silsesquioxane (HSQ) ZPs. The highest focusing efficiency of the Pt-HSQ-ZP with a resolution of 30 nm was 10% at 7 keV and >5% in the range 6-10 keV, whereas the highest efficiency of the Pt-HSQ-ZP with a resolution of 20 nm was realized at 7 keV with an efficiency of 7.6%. Optical characterization conducted at X-ray beamlines demonstrated significant enhancement of the focusing and imaging efficiency in a broader range of hard X-rays from 5 keV to 10 keV, demonstrating the potential application in hard X-ray focusing and imaging.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1107/S1600577524009615 | DOI Listing |
J Neurosurg Case Lessons
January 2025
Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Hospital Ignacio Pirovano, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Background: Resection of calcified meningiomas in the ventral thoracic spinal canal remains a formidable surgical challenge despite advances in technology and refined microsurgical techniques. These tumors, which account for a small percentage of spinal meningiomas, are characterized by their hardness, complicating safe resection and often resulting in worse outcomes than their noncalcified counterparts.
Observations: The authors present the case of a 68-year-old woman with a ventrally located ossified meningioma at the T9-10 level, successfully treated via a posterolateral transpedicular approach.
PLoS Comput Biol
January 2025
Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada.
Astrocytes critically shape whole-brain structure and function by forming extensive gap junctional networks that intimately and actively interact with neurons. Despite their importance, existing computational models of whole-brain activity ignore the roles of astrocytes while primarily focusing on neurons. Addressing this oversight, we introduce a biophysical neural mass network model, designed to capture the dynamic interplay between astrocytes and neurons via glutamatergic and GABAergic transmission pathways.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPLoS One
January 2025
Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States of America.
Testosterone, an essential sex steroid hormone, influences brain health by impacting neurophysiology and neuropathology throughout the lifespan in both genders. However, human research in this area is limited, particularly in women. This study examines the associations between testosterone levels, gray matter volume (GMV) and cerebral blood flow (CBF) in midlife individuals at risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD), according to sex and menopausal status.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPLoS Biol
January 2025
Humanities and Social Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, United States of America.
Pivotal to self-preservation is the ability to identify when we are safe and when we are in danger. Previous studies have focused on safety estimations based on the features of external threats and do not consider how the brain integrates other key factors, including estimates about our ability to protect ourselves. Here, we examine the neural systems underlying the online dynamic encoding of safety.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Med Internet Res
January 2025
Knight Foundation of Computing & Information Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States.
Background: Digital biomarkers are increasingly used in clinical decision support for various health conditions. Speech features as digital biomarkers can offer insights into underlying physiological processes due to the complexity of speech production. This process involves respiration, phonation, articulation, and resonance, all of which rely on specific motor systems for the preparation and execution of speech.
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