ALBA II Symposium
Salón de Actos de la Facultad de Psicología
Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM) - Campus de Cantoblanco
As part of the ALBA II project and a follow-up of the ALBA II Day, held in 2021, this event is aimed at giving ownership to the user community, to promote awareness of the new potentials and creating a welcoming atmosphere for contributing to this important process of readying the facility for the future research challenges.
The event is split in two days. Thursday 18 January 2024 will be fully dedicated to ALBA II scientific vision, divided in the three areas of ALBA II’s identity: (1) Multilength Scale Imaging, (2) Multimodal and Big Data Approaches, and (3) Operando, In-situ and In-vivo/In-vitro Environments. Friday 19 January 2024 will be devoted to the current status of the project, new opportunities for collaborations, and the larger view of ALBA II future role within the Spanish research and development family.
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14:30
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14:45
Introduction and BackgroundConvener: Gaston García (CMAM-UAM)
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14:30
Introduction and Background 15m
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14:30
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14:45
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16:15
Session on Multi-length scale imaging, chaired by 1h 30mSpeaker: INÉS MUÑOZ FERNÁNDEZ (CNIO)
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14:45
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15:15
Using Soft-X-Rays to study the organization of immune cells: T cells and synaptic contacts 30m
The metabolic activity of T cells involves the control of cellular proteostasis, including gene transcription, protein translation, de novo protein folding, post-translational modifications, secretion, degradation and recycling. Some of these steps are regulated by the chaperonin complex CCT, which is involved in the correct folding of certain proteins. By limiting CCT levels with siRNA in quiescent cells, lipid composition and metabolic rewiring are altered due to dysregulation of the dynamics of interorganelle contacts, as studied by soft X-ras tomography and fluorescence microscopy. During the activation of T lymphocytes to form immune synaptic contacts, the cytosolic chaperonin CCT (chaperonin-containing TCP1) controls changes in the reciprocal orientation of centrioles and the polarisation of tubulin dynamics induced by T cell receptor activation. These changes ultimately determine the function and organisation of the centrioles, as shown by three-dimensional reconstruction of resting and stimulated primary T cells using cryo-soft X-ray tomography and functional live confocal and TIRF microscopy.
Speaker: Noa Martin-Cofreces (Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Instituto Princesa) -
15:15
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15:45
Multilength Scale Imaging of Cement Hydration 30m
Portland cements are environmentally contentious, accounting for ≈7% of anthropogenic CO2 emissions. If cement production is considered a country, it would be the third emitter just after China and USA. Hence, developing concretes with lower embodied carbon contents is central to maintaining our well-being. The main drawback of the most ambitious proposals for sustainable low-carbon cements is their slow hydration kinetics in the first three days. This is the focus of many hundreds of researchers and mine.
My original contribution is to develop 4D (3D+time) cement hydration nanoimaging within a multiscale framework with the final aim to decrease the CO2 emissions. Full-field laboratory X-ray micro Computer Tomography (μCT) is widely used to study cement hydration but the best spatial resolution is about 2 μm for a Field of View (FoV) of ≈ 1×2 mm (H×V) with measurements taking hours. Moreover, the contrast between the different components is poor. Full-field propagation-based phase-contrast synchrotron X-ray μCT can study similar FoVs ≈ 1×2 mm with better spatial resolution, close to 0.50 μm. The measurements are fast, i.e. 5-10 minutes. Unfortunately, the contrast is only slightly better and its availability is scarce. Cement hydration can be studied with much better contrast and spatial resolution by scanning near-field ptychographic nano-computed tomography (nCT). In this case the FoV could be of the order of ≈ 200×30 μm with spatial resolution, close to 250 nm, and excellent component contrast. Even air and water can be differentiated. Unfortunately, these nCTs takes about 3-4 hours in optimized beamlines (BL) at third generation synchrotrons. Example of different imaging modalities for 4D nCT and μCT cement hydration will be discussed. Finally, some expected performances at CoDI (ALBA-II optimized BL to be built) will be commented.Speaker: Prof. Miguel Ángel García Aranda (Univ. Malaga) -
15:45
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16:15
Exploring 3D Magnetism through Multi-length Scale Imaging: Unveiling New Frontiers 30m
Three-dimensional nanomagnetic systems, featuring novel and unconventional spin textures, offer an exciting platform to explore new magnetic phenomena, and also offers possibilities for the development of more efficient, capable and multifunctional technologies. However, harnessing these effects requires an understanding of the fundamental properties and behaviour.
The experimental study of such intricate systems poses a considerable challenge. Until recently, available techniques for probing magnetic materials were confined to flat surfaces or films, rendering the exploration of 3D magnetic systems nearly impossible. As a result, a huge effort has been done in the past few years in the development of state-of-the-art imaging techniques across a range of length scales- from transmission electron microscopy to X-rays- that allows the visualization of the magnetization in three dimensions.
This presentation reviews the developed techniques, showcasing examples that demonstrate how the integration of multiple imaging approaches not only facilitates the study of 3D nanomagnetic systems but also opens avenues for the potential design of complex 3D magnetic devices.Speaker: Sandra Ruiz Gomez (Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids) -
16:15
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16:35
Coffe Break 20m
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16:35
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17:05
Role of ALBA in magnetic molecular materials and devices 30mSpeaker: Eugenio Coronado (Universidad de Valencia)
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16:35
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18:05
Session on Multimodal and Big data Approaches, chaired by 1h 30mSpeaker: Jose A Martin Gago (ICMM)
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17:05
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17:35
New opportunities for pharmacology on Alba II 30m
Drug development relies on a thorough understanding of the structural parameters governing drug/target interactions and the structural effects resulting from drug binding in the target structure. The Unit for the Development of New Chemical, Biological, and Immunological Drugs aims (among other targets) to design and optimize compounds targeting microtubules, essential cellular polymers crucial for cell division, neuron axon stabilization, and chemical transport. Modulating microtubules is a recognized strategy for targeting cancer, neurodegeneration, and infections. To achieve these goals, we utilize XALOC to analyze drug-protein interactions at the atomic level, NCD-SWEET to examine the effects of drug binding on microtubule structure, and MISTRAL to study the cellular effects of the designed compounds in treated cells.
The advent of ALBA II presents exciting opportunities for pharmacology, providing advanced capabilities and cutting-edge tools for drug development and molecular studies. With enhanced synchrotron facilities, researchers will be able to look deeper into the structural intricacies of drug-target interactions and the intra-cellular localization of the drugs, enabling a more comprehensive understanding of pharmacological mechanisms improving their specificity and optimizing the doses used. The presentation will showcase the outcomes of this multidisciplinary research, highlighting the potential applications and discussing our wishlist for the construction of ALBA II.Speaker: José Fernando Díaz Pereira (CIB-Margarita Salas) -
17:35
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18:05
Challenges and opportunities for machine learning in XAS data interpretation 30m
The last decade witnessed rapid development in data science and machine learning (ML) methods, which are finding more and more applications across diverse fields, and make a dramatic impact also on the processing of spectroscopic data. In particular, the application of unsupervised and supervised ML methods provides new opportunities for detecting subtle fingerprints of structural changes in working functional materials, processing large data sets from time- and spatially-resolved measurements, and could provide the key also for decoding multimodal spectroscopic data. The deeper integration of the ML into the various steps of data processing pipeline, starting from the first on-the-fly analysis carried out already at the next generation of beamlines, seems to be an imminent future. In this talk we will highlight the need for advanced XAS data analysis approaches, emphasizing the areas where ML could provide a viable solution, and illustrate it with a few recent examples of ML-based operando XAS studies of working electrocatalysts. Nonetheless, as highlighted in this talk, the interpretation of spectroscopic data for realistic functional materials under actual working conditions requires caution, regardless of the data analysis approach implemented. In particular, such materials commonly are mixtures of different species (e.g., passive spectators coexisting with active species), which poses a challenge for such sample-averaging methods as XAS, requiring special care and development of dedicated data analysis tools.
Speaker: Janis Timoshenko (FHI Berlin MPG) -
18:05
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18:25
Coffee Break 20m
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18:25
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18:55
Mapping the neuronal circuits for smell with light, X-rays and electrons 30m
Integrating physiology and structure at the neuronal circuit scale can provide a mechanistic understanding on how that circuit works. The glomerular columns in the mouse olfactory bulb contain the first synapse of the olfactory sensory pathway, through a circuit that is compact, modular and accessible to optophysiology setups. A correlative multimodal imaging pipeline that combines in vivo 2-photon microscopy and synchrotron X-ray computed tomography with propagation-based phase contrast provides a robust and versatile approach to identify all neurons imaged in vivo in a multi-mm3 resin-embedded sample of brain tissue. Follow-up targeted imaging is possible with either X-ray nanoholotomography or volume EM, and doing so becomes simpler when milling the sample using a femtosecond laser. Finally, hard X-ray imaging can resolve fine structures in such samples, down to synapses. This approach allows harnessing the resolving power of multiphoton, hard X-ray and volume electron microscopy technologies to create detailed multiscale, multimodal maps of brain circuits.
Speaker: Carles Bosch Piñol (The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK) -
18:25
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19:55
Session on Operando, In-situ and In-vivo/In-vitro environments, chaired by 1h 30mSpeaker: José María Carazo (CNB-CSIC)
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18:55
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19:25
Role of ALBA in Catalysis 30m
Commercial like catalysts are very complex systems due to the interplay of different parameters which complicate the understanding of the active site. To this we have to add the dynamic behaviour of the catalyst as well as possible structural catalyst modifications due to reaction conditions which may take place at the surface or even at the subsurface or bulk level of the catalyst influencing its catalytic performance. This talk will discuss the spectroscopic requirements for handling the complexity of actual catalysts using several examples from our joint work with ALBA. The necessity of surface sensitive techniques, multimodal analysis and operando spectroscopic tools under reaction relevant conditions will be specifically taken into account. In the second section of our talk we would like to provide an illustration of how ALBA supports the development of catalysts from basic science to practical application in industry. A few remarks regarding ALBA II involvement in catalysis will be done at the conclusion of the talk, with a focus on nanoscale resolution, multimodal analysis and high pressure spectroscopies.
Speaker: Patricia Concepcion (Instituto de Tecnología Quimica,UPV-CSIC) -
19:25
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19:55
Understanding the performance of halide perovskites by synchrotron based techniques 30mSpeaker: Miguel Anaya (Universidad de Sevilla)
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19:55
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20:15
Discussion 20m
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14:30
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14:45
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09:00
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09:05
Welcome 5mSpeaker: Miguel Manso Silván (UAM, Vicerrector de Campus e Infraestructuras)
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09:30
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10:30
Session on ALBA II Tools, chaired by 1hSpeaker: Rodolfo Miranda Soriano (IMDEA Nanociencia)
- 09:50 → 10:10
- 10:10 → 10:30
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10:30
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11:00
Coffee break 30m
- 11:00 → 11:20
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11:00
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12:00
Session on Partnerships and new ways of interacting, chaired by 1hSpeaker: Eugenio Coronado (Universidad de Valencia)
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11:20
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11:40
Partnerships in Spain 20mSpeakers: M. Rosa Palacín (ICMAB-CSIC), Xavier Obradors (ICMAB-CSIC)
- 11:40 → 12:00
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12:00
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12:30
Break 30m
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12:30
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12:45
ALBA and the Spanish University 15mSpeakers: Daniel Jaque García (UAM, Vicerrector de Política Científica), Miguel Manso Silván (UAM, Vicerrector de Campus e Infraestructuras)
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12:30
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13:00
Session ALBA II within Spanish Research Area, chaired by 30mSpeaker: Caterina Biscari
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12:45
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13:00
CSIC and ALBA collaborations 15mSpeaker: José María Martell (CSIC)
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13:00
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13:15
Institutional closing remarks 15m
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13:15
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14:15
Lunch 1h
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09:00
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09:05