Last month, we talked about the Ig Noble Awards and other funny news items. This month, the featured news articles are about the 2024 Nobel Prize recipients in the various scientific fields. AI plays a part in both the Physics and Chemistry prizes. The Physics prize was awarded for people who made major contributions to machine learning and the Chemistry prize was for a specific application of the technology. Check out the Video in the Spotlight for more information about how AI is being used to predict protein folding. It is truly amazing to see how things have developed in that field in the past decade or so.
We're going to try something a little different this month—the following quiz was generated by ChatGPT using information found on the Rigaku website. This one focuses on X-ray computed tomography. Come to the Bridge Digest for the answers.
1) In computed tomography (CT), what problem does "beam hardening" often cause?
A) Artifacts that distort the image B) Enhanced clarity of dense samples C) Faster scanning time D) Reduced sample heating
Elevate and Innovate: X-ray Analysis and Automation in Cement Quality Control Seminar
Mark your calendar for the Elevate and Innovate: X-ray Analysis and Automation in Cement Quality Control seminar, taking place at the headquarters of Herzog in Strongsville, Ohio, from November 11 - 12, 2024.
The cement industry is changing fast. It is hard to figure out how to adjust the quality and process control procedures to keep up and meet the new requirements alone. This seminar will be a great place to meet the experts who can guide you through the changes. You are not alone! We are here to help you.
As the demand for lithium-ion batteries with higher energy density, faster charging, enhanced safety, and longer lifespans continues to grow, Rigaku’s comprehensive suite of analysis tools supports R&D in tackling these complex challenges. Our solutions enable in-depth analysis of anode and cathode materials, solid electrolytes, and entire battery assemblies. Explore how Rigaku’s advanced analysis tools can accelerate your battery innovations. Check out our interactive application examples.
Did you know that you can collect XRD data while charging/discharging a lithium-ion battery (LIB)? Watch this webinar on How to Run in Operando XRD Experiments.
This is the inside story of how AI cracked the protein folding code. In 2024, David Baker, Demis Hassabis and John Jumper won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for these advances in computer-assisted protein design and structure prediction.
October 8, 2024:The Nobel Prize in Physicswas awarded jointly to John J. Hopfield (Princeton University) and Geoffrey E. Hinton (University of Toronto) "for foundational discoveries and inventions that enable machine learning with artificial neural networks." Hopfield created an associative memory that can store and reconstruct images and other types of patterns in data. Hinton invented a method that can autonomously find properties in data, and so perform tasks such as identifying specific elements in pictures.
October 9, 2024: The Nobel Prize in Chemistry was divided, one half awarded to David Baker (University of Washington) "for computational protein design", the other half jointly to Demis Hassabis and John M. Jumper (both from Google DeepMind) "for protein structure prediction." David Baker and his research group have designed numerous imaginative proteins, including those that can be used as pharmaceuticals, vaccines, nanomaterials and tiny sensors. Hassabis and Jumper used an AI model called AlphaFold2 to predict the structure of virtually all the 200 million proteins that researchers have identified.
October 10, 2024: The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicinewas awarded jointly to Victor Ambros (University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School) and Gary Ruvkun (Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital) "for the discovery of microRNA and its role in post-transcriptional gene regulation." Their groundbreaking discovery revealed a completely new principle of gene regulation that turned out to be essential for multicellular organisms, including humans.
October 11, 2024: The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the Japanese organization Nihon Hidankyo "for its efforts to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons and for demonstrating through witness testimony that nuclear weapons must never be used again." Nihon Hidankyo has provided thousands of witness accounts, issued resolutions and public appeals, and sent annual delegations to the United Nations and a variety of peace conferences to remind the world of the pressing need for nuclear disarmament.
Featured Application Notes
Delamination in Lithium-ion Batteries
X-ray micro-CT (computed tomography) is a powerful tool that allows researchers to look inside batteries in a non-destructive way. Swelling and delamination after repeated use can be visualized and quantified without opening the packages. In this example, lithium-ion battery packs were scanned using a micro-CT scanner, CT Lab HX. The CT images of the normal and damaged batteries were compared and inspected for damages. The interior image of the damaged battery was segmented to identify battery components and delamination using deep learning segmentation. The thickness distribution of the delamination was calculated.
Chlorides in crude contribute to corrosion in the piping at refineries during cracking as well as mid-stream in pipelines. Organic chlorides do not naturally occur in crude; however, inorganic chlorides in the form of salts and trace levels of residual organic chlorides from various natural sources can contribute to the total chlorine content. Inorganic chlorides can be removed from crude through a wash process; however, low levels of organic chlorides may remain. Contracts at the pipelines may contain clauses limiting the amount of organic chloride allowed in the crude. And at the refinery, after desalting and desulfurization, crude needs to be analyzed for any residual organic chlorides possibly still entrained in the feedstock to avoid potential damage during the refining process. And so, the need for a reliable measurement of low level and trace chlorine is critical in the petroleum industry. To meet this vital need, Rigaku offers NEX CG II monochromatic EDXRF using Cartesian Geometry and polarization.
Standardless FP XRF analysis for lithium ion battery electrode materials
Standardless FP X-ray fluorescence analysis is a quantification method using theoretical calculations including fundamental parameters. The analysis method has been widely used in the electronics and petrochemical industries, among others, since it can simply and quickly quantify sample compositions from spectral peak intensities without preparing calibration curves. In this report, the standardless FP analysis method was tested for metallic oxide compounds using cement and geological reference materials. The analysis results for Ni-based and Ni, Co, Mn-based cathode materials and SiO anode materials are shown.
How can X-ray computed tomography unlock the hidden complexities of additive manufacturing parts and revolutionize non-destructive inspection?
In this episode, we will discuss how X-ray computed tomography (CT) can non-destructively access these internal structures, voids, cracks, as well as the external shape. Dimensional inspection including actual to nominal comparison, section thickness, mechanical load distribution of final product, as well as metal powder morphology are characterized for both qualitative visual inspection and quantitative analysis. Analysis examples from various AM feedstock, such as polymer, metal, and ceramic will be discussed.
The Opioid Matrix is a podcast for anyone looking for the latest information in the illegal drug supply chain—beginning to end. Each episode will feature a discussion with industry experts about the current opioid crisis, including drug trafficking, drug manufacturing, drug identification, drug addiction, as well as the role of government, law enforcement, new health and social programs, and more.
The Battery Lab is a podcast empowering the researchers powering the future. Every episode features insights from the industry experts, leading academics and cutting-edge research advancing batteries — and society — to the next level of safety and efficiency. From raw materials to analysis to state-of-the-art designs, if you care about fueling the future, you’ve come to the right place.
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