EA: Upgrade of the X-ray tomographic microscope to expand operations at the University of Missouri X-ray Microanalysis Laboratory

EA：升级 X 射线断层扫描显微镜以扩大密苏里大学 X 射线微量分析实验室的业务

• 批准号: 2242732
• 负责人: Tara Selly
• 金额: $ 62.5万
• 依托单位: University of Missouri-Columbia
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2023-07-01 至 2025-06-30
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2242732&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: EA; Upgrade; ray; tomographic; microscope

The University of Missouri's (MU) X-ray Microanalysis Laboratory is an analytical and scientific imaging facility run by faculty members PI Selly and Co-PI Schiffbauer. While capable of analyzing an array of samples, the facility specializes in imaging paleontological specimens. The PI team consists of five expert paleontology faculty members from across MU's campus. Their research encompasses a wide range of topics, from studying the evolutionary history of crocodiles to investigating Precambrian tube worms. One of the primary instruments in the facility is the Zeiss Xradia 510 Versa X-ray tomographic microscope (micro-CT), which will be upgraded to the more capable 610 model, which includes a flat panel extension detector system, two new optical objectives, and a higher-power X-ray source. This upgrade will allow the lab to better serve the needs of Earth science researchers and those in other STEM disciplines by accommodating larger and denser samples, dramatically enhancing imaging speeds, and improving larger sample resolution size. Moreover, these improvements will offer a more engaging and hands-on experience for visitors and students. Rather than simply dropping off samples and receiving the data later, imaging can now be completed in significantly reduced timeframes, thereby enabling rapid and achievable opportunities in classroom and workshop settings.The projects that will directly benefit from this upgrade include novel investigations into: the origins of the bilaterian body plan; selective preservation bias in the smally shelly fossil record of the earliest Cambrian Period; the evolution of soft-tissue locomotory and craniodental systems using contrast-enhanced scanning; the evolution of musculoskeletal systems; and soft-tissue degradation and feature loss during decay.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

密苏里大学 (MU) X 射线微量分析实验室是一个分析和科学成像设施，由教员 PI Selly 和 Co-PI Schiffbauer 管理。该设施虽然能够分析一系列样本，但专门从事古生物标本成像。 PI 团队由来自密西根大学校园的五名古生物学专家教师组成。他们的研究涵盖广泛的主题，从研究鳄鱼的进化史到研究前寒武纪管虫。该设施的主要仪器之一是 Zeiss Xradia 510 Versa X 射线断层显微镜 (micro-CT)，它将升级为功能更强大的 610 型号，其中包括一个平板扩展探测器系统、两个新的光学物镜、以及更高功率的 X 射线源。此次升级将使实验室能够容纳更大、更密的样本，显着提高成像速度，并提高更大的样本分辨率尺寸，从而更好地满足地球科学研究人员和其他 STEM 学科研究人员的需求。此外，这些改进将为参观者和学生提供更具吸引力和实践性的体验。现在，成像可以在显着缩短的时间内完成，而不是简单地丢弃样本并稍后接收数据，从而在课堂和研讨会环境中实现快速且可实现的机会。将直接受益于此次升级的项目包括对以下方面的新颖调查：两侧对称动物的身体结构；最早寒武纪小壳化石记录的选择性保存偏差；使用对比增强扫描的软组织运动和颅齿系统的演变；肌肉骨骼系统的进化；该奖项反映了 NSF 的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。