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Abstract: The long-wavelength MX beamline I23 currently under design at Diamond Light Source will be optimized in the X-ray energy range between 3 and 5 keV. At the moment no commercial off-the-shelf detector with high quantum efficiency and dynamic range is available to cover the large area required for diffraction experiments in this energy range. The hybrid pixel detector technology used in PILATUS detectors could overcome these limitations as the modular design could allow a large coverage in reciprocal space and high detection efficiency. Experiments were carried out on the Microfocus Spectroscopy beamline I18 at Diamond Light Source to test the performance of a 100K PILATUS module in the low-energy range from 2.3 to 3.7 keV.

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Abstract: Background: Skogsbergia lerneri (Kornicker, 1958) is a species of ostracod which, like all crustaceans, has a protective exoskeleton (or carapace). As well as being used for a protective function, the S. lerneri carapace is also transparent. Understanding how the carapace is transparent while retaining its protective function was the primary aim of this thesis. Results: Ultrastructural analysis showed that the carapace consisted of an epicuticle, exocuticle and an endocuticle split into a calcified, crystalline endocuticle and a laminated endocuticle. Numerous structural adaptations were seen to minimise refractive index changes at the layer intersections. These layers developed along with growth of the ostracod, maintaining similar proportions throughout. Microstructural analysis identified a chitin based second harmonic generated signal from the carapace. Pixel analysis of this signal showed a consistent level of chitin expression (~60-80% of the total carapace) throughout all the developmental stages except instar 4, which showed a lower level of expression. Elemental analysis showed that the calcified, crystalline layer comprised mainly calcium, oxygen and magnesium, leading to the assumption that the structures were calcium carbonate. X-ray absorption near edge structure analysis revealed that the calcium carbonate consisted of entirely amorphous calcium carbonate in the early to middle stages of development and a mix of amorphous and aragonite in the later stages. Unlike most crustaceans, calcite was not seen in any carapaces. Optical testing showed a consistent refractive index across all stages (1.401-1.406) leading to a mean 99.94% transmission of light at the carapace surface in seawater. Spectrophotometric results showed that light transmission increased at longer wavelengths in the younger samples but maintained a consistent level by the adult stage. Conclusions: Through the various structural adaptations of the carapace, in combination with the rare calcium carbonate polymorph distribution and its overall thinness, the S. lerneri is able to maintain its transparency without sacrificing many of its physical properties.

Open Access

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Abstract: Tomographic datasets collected at synchrotrons are becoming very large and complex, and, therefore, need to be managed efficiently. Raw images may have high pixel counts, and each pixel can be multidimensional and associated with additional data such as those derived from spectroscopy. In time-resolved studies, hundreds of tomographic datasets can be collected in sequence, yielding terabytes of data. Users of tomographic beamlines are drawn from various scientific disciplines, and many are keen to use tomographic reconstruction software that does not require a deep understanding of reconstruction principles. We have developed Savu, a reconstruction pipeline that enables users to rapidly reconstruct data to consistently create high-quality results. Savu is designed to work in an 'orthogonal' fashion, meaning that data can be converted between projection and sinogram space throughout the processing workflow as required. The Savu pipeline is modular and allows processing strategies to be optimized for users' purposes. In addition to the reconstruction algorithms themselves, it can include modules for identification of experimental problems, artefact correction, general image processing and data quality assessment. Savu is open source, open licensed and 'facility-independent': it can run on standard cluster infrastructure at any institution.

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Abstract: In the Belgian supercontainer concept, a carbon steel overpack will surround high-level waste and spent fuel containers and be encased in a cementitious buffer material. A programme of research has been carried out to investigate and measure the rate of anaerobic corrosion of carbon steel in an artificial alkaline porewater that simulates the aqueous phase in the cementitious buffer material and also in solid cement matrices. This paper highlights the main features of the programme and presents some recent results from the analysis of several samples, including two 20-year-old steel in cement samples, which showed that under anoxic conditions there is no localised corrosion or incorporation of iron into the surrounding cement, even in the presence of 20 000 ppm chloride in the porewater.

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Abstract: The results of Chap. 9 identified the existence of a number of micron-scale particles of considerable density contained within the CF-01 (Unit 1) ejecta particulate. In addition to these surface and sub-surface fragments, Cs (as well as other elements, including Pb, Sr and Zr) were observed to be strongly-heterogeneous—located as spatially discontinuous regions at elevated concentrations. Despite exhibiting a spatially heterogeneous occurrence of these elements (within the Si-based particle)—the location of such constituents was shown to be concentrated greatest around the exterior circumference of the sub-mm sample.