MRI: Acquisition of Nano-resolution Zeiss Xradia 620 Versa X-ray Computed Tomography with Phase Contrast and Lab Diffraction Contrast Tomography

主要研究仪器计划的这一奖项支持在佛罗里达大学购买蔡司Xradia 620 Versa计算机断层扫描（Versa nanoCT）系统，学生、研究人员、工业合作伙伴和博物馆工作人员都可以使用该系统。Versa nanoCT是一种非破坏性表征工具，可对有机和无机样品的内部和外部特征进行纳米级3D成像。该设备的多功能性使其能够影响各种科学领域，包括材料科学，脊椎动物学和生物医学工程。获得的数据将通过开源网络和特定领域的数据库共享，以接触世界各地的研究人员，并实现大规模的数据研究计划。此外，所收集的数据还将通过虚拟博物馆藏品应用于研究生、本科生和高中教育、3D机器学习开发以及公众参与活动。（Versa nanoCT）系统通过提供无损，3D成像对于分别识别基本材料或生物过程的关键微观结构或形态特征至关重要。此外，Versa nanoCT的独特功能，包括高X射线源通量、40倍放大光学器件、衍射衬度断层扫描（LabDCT）和相位衬度，提供了在同步加速器设施之外通常无法获得的基本信息。Versa nanoCT支持并支持三个关键领域的研究：（1）阐明基本的微观结构-性能关系，以控制结构金属和陶瓷的强度，（2）存档形态多样性，以更好地了解驱动活的和灭绝的生物体多样化的过程，以及（3）监测细胞-材料相互作用，以指导组织生成。 该仪器还支持研究生、本科和高中阶段的教育计划，支持3D机器学习计划的数据支持，并通过佛罗里达自然历史博物馆（FLMNH）的外联活动吸引公众参与教育和展览中心。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查进行评估，被认为值得支持的搜索.

This award from the Major Research Instrumentation Program supports the acquisition of a Zeiss Xradia 620 Versa Computed Tomography (Versa nanoCT) system at the University of Florida, where it will be accessible to students, researchers, industrial partners, and museum personnel. The Versa nanoCT is a non-destructive characterization tool that provides nano-scale 3D imaging of internal and external features of organic and inorganic specimens. The equipment’s versatility allows it to impact a variety of scientific fields, including materials science, vertebrate zoology, and biomedical engineering. The acquired data will be shared through open source networks and field-specific databases to reach researchers around the world and enable broad-scale data research initiatives. Additionally, the data collected will be implemented in graduate, undergraduate, and high-school education, 3D machine learning development, and public engagement activities via virtual museum collections.The acquisition of a Zeiss Xradia 620 Versa Computed Tomography (Versa nanoCT) system introduces new research opportunities by providing nondestructive, 3D imaging that is essential for identifying critical microstructural or morphological features to fundamental material or biological processes, respectively. Additionally, the unique features of the Versa nanoCT, including the high X-ray source flux, 40X magnification optics, diffraction contrast tomography (LabDCT) and phase contrast, provide essential information that are typically unavailable outside of synchrotron facilities. The Versa nanoCT enables and supports research in three critical areas: (1) elucidating fundamental microstructure-property relationships to control the strength of structural metals and ceramics, (2) archiving morphological diversity to better understand the processes that drive the diversification of living and extinct organisms, and (3) monitoring cell-material interactions to guide tissue generation. The instrument also supports educational initiatives at the graduate, undergraduate, and high-school level, support data support for 3D machine learning initiatives, and engage the public through outreach at the Florida Museum of Natural History (FLMNH) Education and Exhibition Center.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.