I. Mazzaro

X-ray scattering from human breast tissues and breast-equivalent materials.

The angular distributions of photons scattered by human breast tissues (adipose and glandular) and by eight breast-equivalent materials (water, polymethylmethacrylate, nylon, polyethylene and four commercial breast-equivalent materials simulating different glandular-adipose proportions) have been measured at a photon energy of 17.44 keV (Kalpha-radiation of Mo). Transmission target geometry has been used with an acceptance of +/- 0.6 degrees and an uncertainty of approximately 7%. Experimental molecular form factors were extracted from diffraction patterns normalizing the number of scattered photons with theoretical data in regions where no structure is expected. Linear attenuation coefficients have been measured for all samples at this energy. The results for water, polymethylmethacrylate, nylon and adipose tissue agree with former reported data. The results for human breast tissues at low and medium scattering angle (1-25 degrees, corresponding to the momentum transfer region between 0.2 and 3 nm(-1)) differ from the breast-equivalent materials. The results for adipose tissue are similar to the corresponding values from commercial breast-equivalent materials while the results for glandular tissue are similar to those for water.

Mechanical properties of layered InSe and GaSe single crystals

The mechanical properties of InSe and GaSe single crystals have been studied by means of nanoindentation tests. Both bulk crystals are well ordered and present a predominant γ-type interlayer stacking sequence as determined by x-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy measurements. The course of plastic deformation induced in the crystals by application of a definite shear stress through the penetration of a Berkovich tip indicates that the deformation occurs predominantly by pop-in events along easy slip directions having a fairly elastic character between displacements. Hardness anisotropy along crystal axes is clearly seen and the measured elastic modulus presents a discrepancy smaller than 5% in comparison with theoretical calculations performed using previous experimental values of the elastic constants.

Temperature dependence of optical transitions in AlGaAs

AlGaAs structures with different aluminum concentration (x=0.0, 0.17, 0.30, and 0.40) were characterized by photoluminescence and photoreflectance techniques. The temperature dependence of optical transitions in the temperature ranging from 2 to 300 K were investigated. Y. P. Varshni [Physica (Utrecht) 34, 194 (1967)], L. Vina et al. [Phys. Rev. B 30, 1979 (1984)], and R. Passler [Phys. Status Solidi B 200, 155 (1997)] models were used to fit the experimental points. The Passler model gave the best adjustment to the experimental points. The tree models showed that the empirical parameters obtained through the adjustment of the experimental data in the three different models are aluminum composition dependent in the ternary alloy.

Improvement of tetracaine antinociceptive effect by inclusion in cyclodextrins

Local anesthetics (LA) are among the most important pharmacological compounds used to attenuate or eliminate pain. However, systemic toxicity is still a limitation for LA application, especially for ester-type drugs, such as tetracaine (TTC) that presents poor chemical stability (due to hydrolysis by plasma esterases). Several approaches have been used to improve LA pharmaceutical properties, including the employment of drug-delivery systems. Here we used beta-cyclodextrin (β-CD) or hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) to develop two new TTC formulations (TTC:β-CD and TTC:HP-β-CD). The inclusion complexes formation, in a 1:1 stoichiometry, was confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, UV-VIS absorption and fluorescence. Nuclear magnetic resonance (DOSY experiments) revealed that TTC association with HP-β-CD is stronger (Ka = 1200 mol/L−1) than with β-CD (Ka = 845 mol/L−1). Moreover, nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) experiments provided information on the topology of the complexes, where TTC aromatic ring is buried inside the CD hydrophobic cavity. In vitro tests with 3T3 fibroblast cells culture revealed that complexation decreased TTC cytotoxicity. In addition, the total analgesic effect of TTC, tested in rats through the infraorbital nerve test, was improved in 36% with TTC:β-CD and TTC:HP-β-CD. In conclusion, these formulations presented potential for future clinical use, by reducing the toxicity and increasing the antinociceptive effect of tetracaine.

A versatile X-ray diffraction station at LNLS (Brazil)

Versatility was a major consideration in the project to provide an X-ray diffraction station at LNLS. At least two techniques are possible at the station: powder diffraction and multiple single-crystal diffraction. A two-crystal monochromator based on monolithic elastic translators, developed at LNLS, with sagittal focusing by the second crystal, allows 10 mrad of a >/=2 keV monochromatic beam to be used on the diffractometer. The station is equipped with a fast scintillation detector, imaging plates, a high-energy-resolution pin-diode detector, an ionization chamber and a high-angular-resolution soller slit. The data collection and control hardware and software were also developed at LNLS. The theta-2theta goniometry for powder diffraction on this 1 m-diameter diffractometer is based on commercial rotation tables. The multiple single-crystal goniometry is realized by an independent elastic axis driven by differential micrometers for both high- and low-resolution angular movements. At least four independent axes can be positioned as necessary on the diffractometer table. Powder diffractograms and double-crystal rocking curves collected with the synchrotron beam show the expected quality.

Measurements of X-ray scatter signatures for some tissue-equivalent materials

In this work, we have measured the angular distribution of photons scattered (scattering signature) by five tissue-equivalent materials used in mammography and conventional radiology and four samples used in bone densitometry at the photon energy 17.44 keV using a X-ray tube equipped with a graphite monochromator, a goniometer system and a NaI detector. Results from the tissue-equivalent materials scattering signatures have been compared with previous results for human tissues (adipose, glandular, muscle and bone). The scattering profiles obtained with tissue-equivalent materials are different from those obtained with human tissue. These differences are due to intermolecular correlation on the elastic scattering. Some tissue-equivalent materials present some very sharp peaks, absent in real soft human tissue. These results suggest that a careful analysis of the scattering properties must be done in order to use tissue-equivalent material to simulate human tissues.

Precise evaluation of elastic differential scattering cross-sections and their uncertainties in X-ray scattering experiments

Abstract In this work we propose a method of obtaining elastic scattering differential cross-sections from X-ray scattering experiments with amorphous samples taking into account all background sources and also multiple scattering processes. Background from the ambient and other scattering sources were measured directly. Multiple scattering was calculated through a Monte Carlo code that simulates the actual experiment and may use different theoretical approaches when considering the differential scattering cross-section. The same code, after slight modifications, provides also the attenuation coefficients and the mean scattering angle, which were compared with analytical results. The uncertainty for all experimental quantity was evaluated. As an illustration of the method, the procedure was applied to scattering data obtained for a glandular breast tissue measured inside a cylindrical container.

First experiments on diffraction-enhanced imaging at LNLS.

Diffraction-enhanced images have been obtained using two silicon crystals in a non-dispersive set-up at the XRD2 beamline at the Brazilian Synchrotron Light Laboratory (LNLS). A first asymmetrically cut silicon crystal using the (333) reflection vertically expanded the monochromated beam from 1 mm to 20 mm allowing the imaging of the whole sample without movements. A symmetrically cut Si(333) second crystal was used as a Bragg analyzer. Images of biological samples including human tissue were recorded using a direct-conversion CCD detector resulting in enhancement of the contrast compared with absorption-contrast images.

Diamond thermal expansion measurement using transmitted X-ray back-diffraction.

The linear thermal expansion coefficient of diamond has been measured using forward-diffracted profiles in X-ray backscattering. This experimental technique is presented as an alternative way of measuring thermal expansion coefficients of solids in the high-resolution Bragg backscattering geometry without the intrinsic difficulty of detecting the reflected beam. The temperature dependence of the lattice parameter is obtained from the high sensitivity of the transmitted profiles to the Bragg angle variation with temperature. The large angular width of the backscattering profiles allows the application of this technique to mosaic crystals with high resolution. As an application of this technique the thermal expansion coefficient of a synthetic type-Ib diamond (110) single crystal was measured from 10 to 300 K. Extremely low values (of the order of 1 x 10(-7) +/- 5 x 10(-7)) for the linear thermal expansion coefficient in the temperature range from 30 to 90 K are in good agreement with other reported measurements.

X-ray determination of vertical ordering of InAs quantum dots in InAs/GaAs multilayers

The degree of vertical alignment of InAs quantum dots in InAs/GaAs(001) multilayers was studied using grazing incidence x-ray scattering. We show that it is necessary to access one of the weak (200) x-ray reflections to observe the modulation of the GaAs lattice periodicity produced by the stacking of the InAs dots. The degree of alignment of the dots was assessed by fitting the x-ray diffuse scattering profiles near a GaAs (200) reciprocal lattice point. By using a model of gaussian lateral displacement of the dots, we show that we can determine the average value of the mistake in stacking positions of the islands from one bilayer to the next.