Publications and Research
Potential application of alkali halide filters for imaging of key minerals in fresh porous fruits
This poster was presented at the Undergraduate Research Scholars Poster Presentation at New York City College of Technology, May, 4, 2023. Mentor: Subhendra Sarkar (Departments of Radiologic Technology & Medical Imaging), Evans Lespinasse (Departments of Radiologic Technology & Medical Imaging)
Abstract
There is a significant interest in quality control of salts by mammography imaging and electrical resistance measurements. This experiment shows X-rays can be manipulated by salt filters to generate modified beams based on Compton scattering. This can be used to enhance or steal intensity from nearby iron complexes that are difficult to image by high energy commercial X-ray beams. This will be extended for various salts including effects of Gd complexes to prepare scattered X-ray beams (dispersed in energy spectrum). While it is accepted that dry fruits maintain the nutrient content, our prior works by this group have shown a dynamic readjustment in mineral distribution with heat shocks and drying of fruits. The researchers hypothesize that iron (Fe), copper (Cu) and manganese (Mn) distribution depend on surface charges and surface areas available and is responsible for biomineral distribution at cortex and cores of fruits. A drawback of current characterization tools is the lack of knowledge about oxidation or charge states of nutrients and minerals during ripening and drying of fruits. The role of moisture in tissue is hard to understand but seems to control internal tissue geometry. This work plans to demonstrate if spectrally multi-energetic X-ray beams produced by alkali halide filters can characterize the porosity changes between fresh and dried states in model fruits. A potential application would be the tissue structure changes in radiation resistant tumors and during wound healing where tissue fluid affects imaging results. Current radiological tools with X-rays or MRI do not address such internal tissue texture changes. This work focuses on the role of moisture or tissue fluid on X-ray scatter compared to dry tissue