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Microscopy Investigations (microscopy + investigation)
Kinds of Microscopy Investigations Selected AbstractsCorrigendum: Scanning Electron Microscopy Investigation of Molecular Transport and Reactivity within Polymer BrushesCHEMPHYSCHEM, Issue 9 2010Tarik Matrab Dr. No abstract is available for this article. [source] Nanoscale Structural and Electronic Properties of Ultrathin Blends of Two Polyaromatic Molecules: A Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy InvestigationCHEMPHYSCHEM, Issue 4 2006Vincenzo Palermo Dr. Abstract We describe a Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy (KPFM) study on the morphological and electronic properties of complex mono and bi-molecular ultrathin films self-assembled on mica. These architectures are made up from an electron-donor (D), a synthetic all-benzenoid polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, and an electron-acceptor (A), perylene-bis-dicarboximide. The former molecule self-assembles into fibers in single component films, while the latter molecule forms discontinuous layers. Taking advantage of the different solubility and self-organizing properties of the A and D molecules, multicomponent ultrathin films characterized by nanoscale phase segregated fibers of D embedded in a discontinuous layer of A are formed. The direct estimation of the surface potential, and consequently the local workfunction from KPFM images allow a comparison of the local electronic properties of the blend with those of the monocomponent films. A change in the average workfunction values of the A and D nanostructures in the blend occurs which is primarily caused by the intimate contact between the two components and the molecular order within the nanostructure self-assembled at the surface. Additional roles can be ascribed to the molecular packing density, to the presence of defects in the film, to the different conformation of the aliphatic peripheral chains that might cover the conjugated core and to the long-range nature of the electrostatic interactions employed to map the surface by KPFM limiting the spatial and potential resolution. The local workfunction studies of heterojunctions can be of help to tune the electronic properties of active multicomponent films, which is crucial for the fabrication of efficient organic electronic devices as solar cells. [source] The Effect of Intermetallic Compound on Shear Strength of Diffusion Soldered InterconnectionADVANCED ENGINEERING MATERIALS, Issue 3 2006J. Wojewoda The mechanical properties of diffusion soldered Cu/Cu interconnections were examined. Application of the indium-tin eutectic alloy as a solder material and different manufacturing temperatures resulted in creation of the intermetallics in the interconnection area. The calculated cross-sections of the Cu-In-Sn diagram combined with Scanning Electron Microscopy investigation allowed for the detailed description of the joints before the shear test and after it. [source] The partial replacement of silica or calcium carbonate by halloysite nanotubes as fillers in ethylene propylene diene monomer compositesJOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, Issue 6 2009Pooria Pasbakhsh Abstract The effect of partial replacement of silica or calcium carbonate (CaCO3) by halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) on the curing behavior, tensile properties, dynamic mechanical properties, and morphological characteristics of ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) composites was studied. Five different compositions of EPDM/Silica/HNT and EPDM/CaCO3/HNT compounds (i.e. 100/30/0, 100/25/5, 100/15/15, 100/5/25, and 100/0/30 parts per hundred rubber (phr)) were prepared on a two-roll mill. The results indicated that the replacement of CaCO3 by HNTs increased the tensile strength, elongation at break (Eb), and tensile modulus of composites from 0 to 30 phr of HNTs whereas for silica, the maximum tensile strength and Eb occurred at 5 phr loading of HNTs with an enhanced stress at 300% elongation (M300). The curing results show that, with replacement of silica or CaCO3 by HNTs, the cure time (t90) and cure rate (CRI) were decreased and increased, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy investigation confirmed that co-incorporation of 5 phr of HNTs with silica would improve the dispersion of silica and enhanced the interactions between fillers and EPDM matrix. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009 [source] Dynamic mechanical and thermal properties of PE-EPDM based jute fiber compositesJOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, Issue 6 2008Gautam Sarkhel Abstract The present investigation deals with the mechanical, thermal and viscoelastic properties of ternary composites based on low density polyethylene (LDPE)-ethylene,propylene,diene terpolymer (EPDM) blend and high density polyethylene (HDPE)-EPDM blend reinforced with short jute fibers. For all the untreated and compatibilizer treated composites, the variation of mechanical and viscoelastic properties as a function of fiber loading (10, 20 and 30 wt %) and compatibilizer concentration (1, 2, and 3%) were evaluated. The flexural strength, flexural modulus, impact strength, and hardness increased with increasing both the fiber loading and the compatibilizer dose. The storage modulus (E,) and loss modulus (E,) of the HDPE-EPDM/jute fiber composites were recorded higher compared to those of the LDPE-EPDM/jute fiber composites at all level of fiber loading and compatibilizer doses. The tan, (damping efficiency) spectra showed a strong influence of the fiber loading and compatibilizer dose on the , relaxation process of polymer matrix in the composite. The thermo-oxidative stability was significantly enhanced for treated composites compared to untreated composites. Scanning electron microscopy investigation confirmed that the higher values of mechanical and viscoelastic properties of the treated composites compared to untreated composites is caused by improvement of fiber-matrix adhesion as result of compatibilizer treatment. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008 [source] Inter-crystallite nanoretention of self-etching adhesives at enamel imaged by transmission electron microscopyEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ORAL SCIENCES, Issue 6 2002Matthias Hannig The purpose of this in vitro study was to analyse the mode of action of self-etching adhesive systems when applied for resin-to-enamel bonding. Transmission electron microscopy was used to investigate the enamel,resin interface after application of non-rinsing self-etching adhesive systems based on phosphoric acid estered methacrylates (Clearfil Liner Bond 2, Clearfil SE Bond, Etch & Prime 3.0 and Resulcin AquaPrime) compared with conventional phosphoric acid etching and bonding (Heliobond). Non-decalcified ultrathin sections from the interface between enamel and self-etching adhesive systems revealed a 1.5,3.2-µm deep enamel surface layer characterized by a less-dense arrangement of enamel crystallites separated from each other by nanometer-sized spaces. A 1.5,3.2-µm wide, netlike resinous structure was observed in corresponding decalcified specimens, indicating that self-etching priming agents dissolve the peripheral and central part of the enamel crystallites, while simultaneously promoting inter- and intra-crystallite monomer infiltration. A similar pattern, but greater depth (6.9 µm) of enamel surface hybridization was found in the phosphoric acid-etched and bonded specimens. The nanoretentive interlocking between enamel crystallites and resin could explain the potential of self-etching adhesive systems in resin-to-enamel bonding despite the less distinct enamel etching pattern observed in scanning electron microscopy investigations. [source] Metal Corrosion and its Impact on Glass Tempering Furnace DesignINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF APPLIED CERAMIC TECHNOLOGY, Issue 5 2010Peter Tiernan A reliable well-designed tempering furnace is considered to be the cornerstone of any modern glass-processing facility. This paper addresses a series of engineering anomalies encountered during the commissioning of such a glass-processing furnace. Following the installation of a furnace in a European facility, small black deposits were noticed on both the silica-fused rollers used to transport the glass through the hearth of the furnace and on the processed glass surface itself. EDAX and scanning electron microscopy investigations indicated conclusively that the deposits were primarily constituted of sodium sulfate and trace elements consistent with stainless steel (chromium, iron, and nickel). Traditionally, high-density glass fiber was used to insulate the roof walls and side walls of tempering furnaces; however, it was noticed in this particular case that rolled stainless steel sheeting (SS316) was used. Chemical and X-ray diffraction analyses were used to pinpoint the origin of the deposits. It was determined that poor material selection choices taken during the design stage of the furnace in question were at fault. The combination of stainless steel and sulfur dioxide (SO2 is used as a lubricant to prevent scuffing) at elevated temperatures (>650°C) generated droplets of sodium sulfate, which condensed due to the convectional flow of the heat currents within the oven. These droplets scorched the glass surface and destroyed the fused silica rollers. As a recommendation, the usage of stainless steel and other nonrefractory metals should be avoided in the design of any future glass tempering furnaces. [source] Mechanisms involved in the photosensitized inactivation of Acanthamoeba palestinensis trophozoitesJOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 5 2009S. Ferro Abstract Aims:, To advance our understanding of the mechanisms involved in the RLP068 phthalocyanine-photosensitized inactivation of Acanthamoeba palestinensis trophozoites through a precise identification of the targets of the photoprocess in both the cytosolic and mitochondrial compartments. Methods and Results:, We followed the activities of selected marker enzymes as well as we performed fluorescence and transmission electron microscopy investigations of the alterations induced by the photoprocess in the fine structure of subcellular compartments. RLP068 is preferentially located in the contractile vacuole: the fluorescence in that site is particularly evident in the unirradiated cells and becomes more diffused after irradiation. Electron microscopic analysis of photosensitized A. palestinensis cells clearly shows that the swelling of trophozoites and the appearance of vacuoles spread throughout the cytoplasm after phototreatment. The activity of a typical cytoplasmic enzyme, such as lactate dehydrogenase, underwent a 35% decrease as a consequence of the photoprocess, reflecting the photodamage induced by migrating phthalocyanine molecules in their micro-environment. Conclusions:, The presence of multiple targets for the phthalocyanine-photosensitized process is of utmost importance because this pattern of cell damage makes it unlikely that photoresistant A. palestinensis strains are gradually selected or mutagenic phenomena are developed as a consequence of the photoinduced damage. Significance and Impact of the Study:, Photosensitization via phthalocyanines appears to represent an efficient and safe approach for achieving a close control of the population of a potentially pathogenic protozoan such as A. palestinensis, opening new perspectives for the disinfection of microbiologically polluted waters. [source] Microscopic Structure of Opalescent and Nonopalescent PecansJOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 7 2003L.T. Wakeling ABSTRACT: The ultrastructure of pecans was investigated using light microscopy, environmental scanning electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Specific methodology for the sample preparation of pecans for electron microscopy investigations was developed. Electron microscopy of the ultrastructure of opalescent (discoloration of the interior) and nonopalescent kernels revealed that cellular damage was occurring in opalescent kernels. The damage was due to cell wall and membrane rupture, which accounted for the release of oil throughout the kernel. This rupture is due to the lower level of calcium in the cell membranes of opalescent pecans, as shown by energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry, making them more susceptible to damage. [source] ,-Gallium Oxide as Oxygen Gas Sensors at a High TemperatureJOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CERAMIC SOCIETY, Issue 9 2007Marilena Bartic Resistive oxygen sensors based on gallium oxide were fabricated in order to analyze their sensing performances (as sensitivity, response, and recovery time) in an oxygen atmosphere at 1000°C. We prepared three types of sensors using a ,-Ga2O3 single crystal in a sandwich structure with Pt pad electrodes and ,-Ga2O3 polycrystalline thin films deposited by using both the sputtering technique and the chemical solution deposition method. For thin-film sensors, Pt interdigital electrodes were deposited on the surface of the films using the lift-off method. X-ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy investigations were performed to compare the structure and surface morphology of the samples. We achieved a response time of 10 s at 1000°C, while the sensitivity was 1.03 for the single crystal and 1.35,1.45 for thin films. The sensing properties depend on the preparation condition of Ga2O3 devices. [source] Synthesis and Mechanism of Ferroelectric Potassium Tantalate Niobate Nanoparticles by the Solvothermal and Hydrothermal ProcessesJOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CERAMIC SOCIETY, Issue 5 2007Nian Wei High-purity KTa0.3Nb0.7O3 nanoparticles have been successfully synthesized by hydrothermal and solvothermal methods. The KOH concentration and the solvent composition have significant effects on the final products. The synthesis mechanism was discussed. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy investigations show that the typical samples solvothermally synthesized are nanosized, well crystallized, and single crystalline. The KTa0.3Nb0.7O3 shows a pseudo-cubic to tetragonal transition with increasing crystallite size. It is believed that supercritical isopropanol plays an important role in synthesizing KTa0.3Nb0.7O3 nanoparticles under milder conditions than the hydrothermal route. The present solvothermal method provides a new potential route for synthesizing ferroelectric potassium tantalate niobate material. [source] Analytical Electron Microscopy Study of Green Ceramics Formed from Aqueous Suspensions Using the Hydrolysis-Assisted Solidification ProcessJOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CERAMIC SOCIETY, Issue 1 2002a Novak During the hydrolysis-assisted solidification (HAS) of aqueous ceramic suspensions, aluminum hydroxides are formed that bind the ceramic particles into a stiff wet body. Transmission electron microscopy investigations of HAS-processed Al2O3 and ZrO2 green parts after drying revealed that the secondary phase is amorphous and distributed uniformly around the host ceramic particles. The estimated thickness of this layer was 3,5 nm. Moreover, areas of a few tens of nanometers in size were found at three-particle junctions that contained an amorphous phase and individual nanocrystals of boehmite. [source] Synthesis of Aromatic Macrocyclic Amphiphiles and their Self-Assembling Behavior in Aqueous SolutionMACROMOLECULAR RAPID COMMUNICATIONS, Issue 11 2010Jung-Keun Kim Abstract A triblock amphiphilic macrocycle consisting of a macrocyclic aromatic segment, a hydrophilic oligo(ethylene oxide) branch, and a hydrophobic alkyl dendron is successfully synthesized and characterized. The resulting cyclic amphiphile is observed to self-assemble into hollow double-layered capsules in aqueous solution, as confirmed by dynamic light scattering and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy investigations. The capsules are able to encapsulate hydrophobic guest molecules through aromatic interactions with high stability. [source] Scanning electron microscopy investigations on bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate treated Mycobacterium cellsMICROSCOPY RESEARCH AND TECHNIQUE, Issue 8 2006B. Angelova Abstract Comparative investigation of steroid transforming activity and ultrastructural changes of bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (BEHP, phthalate) treated Mycobacterium sp. NRRL B-3805 cells was carried out. Transformation of ,-sitosterol into androstenedione (AD) and androstadienedione (ADD) was performed in phthalate medium by resting cells preincubated in the organic solvent for a period from 3 to 24 h. It was observed that a preincubation greater than 12 h leads to the development of dense formations on the cells surface, reduction in the cell turgor, disruption in the cell walls, and formation of zones with reduced electron density. The preincubation for 24 h causes deeper changes in the cell ultrastructure but the treated cells retain their steroid transforming activity, allowing up to 80% of the substrate to be converted into AD and ADD. A preincubation of the resting Mycobacterium cells in BEHP for 6 h might be recommended as it leads to an achievement of stoichiometrical transformation of the substrate into AD and ADD and slightly higher initial rate of the reaction performed. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Morphology, Biometry, and Taxonomy of Freshwater and Marine Interstitial Cyphoderia (Cercozoa: Euglyphida)THE JOURNAL OF EUKARYOTIC MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 3 2009MILCHO TODOROV ABSTRACT. Good taxonomy is essential for ecological, biogeographical, and evolutionary studies of any group of organisms. Therefore, we performed detailed light- and scanning electron microscopy investigations on the shell ultrastructure and biometric analyses of the morphometric variability of five freshwater and marine interstitial testate amoebae of the genus Cyphoderia (C. trochus var. amphoralis, C. ampulla, C. margaritacea var. major, C. compressa, and C. littoralis), isolated from different populations in Bulgaria and Switzerland. Our aims were (1) to clarify the morphological characteristics of these taxa, and (2) to compare the morphology of a given taxon (C. ampulla) among different locations in Bulgaria and Switzerland as a first step towards an assessment of the geographical variation within a supposedly cosmopolitan taxon. Four of the studied taxa are characterized by a well-expressed main-size class and by a small size range of all the characters and can be defined as size-monomorphic species. Based on these results, the following systematic changes are proposed: C. major (Penard, 1891) n. comb. (Syn.: C. margaritacea var. major (Penard, 1891) and C. amphoralis (Wailes & Penard, 1911) n. comb. (Syn.: C. trochus var. amphoralis (Wailes & Penard, 1911)). However, we also show significant morphological variability between the Swiss and Bulgarian populations of C. ampulla, suggesting the possible existence of more than one taxon within this species. Further studies are required to assess (1) if these two morphologically different taxa represent individual species, (2) if so, if more species exist, and if this diversity is due to limited distribution ranges (endemism) or if several closely related taxa occur together in different geographical areas. [source] Phosphate tungsten bronze series: crystallographic and structural properties of low-dimensional conductorsACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION B, Issue 5 2001P. Roussel Phosphate tungsten bronzes have been shown to be conductors of low dimensionality. A review of the crystallographic and structural properties of this huge series of compounds is given here, corresponding to the present knowledge of the different X-ray studies and electron microscopy investigations. Three main families are described, monophosphate tungsten bronzes, Ax(PO2)4(WO3)2m, either with pentagonal tunnels (MPTBp) or with hexagonal tunnels (MPTBh), and diphosphate tungsten bronzes, Ax(P2O4)2(WO3)2m, mainly with hexagonal tunnels (DPTBh). The general aspect of these crystal structures may be described as a building of polyhedra sharing oxygen corners made of regular stacking of WO3 -type slabs with a thickness function of m, joined by slices of tetrahedral PO4 phosphate or P2O7 diphosphate groups. The relations of the different slabs with respect to the basic perovskite structure are mentioned. The structural description is focused on the tilt phenomenon of the WO6 octahedra inside a slab of WO3 -type. In this respect, a comparison with the different phases of the WO3 crystal structures is established. The various modes of tilting and the different possible connections between two adjacent WO3 -type slabs involve a great variety of structures with different symmetries, as well as the existence of numerous twins in MPTBp's. Several phase transitions, with the appearance of diffuse scattering and modulation phenomena, were analysed by X-ray scattering measurements and through the temperature dependence of various physical properties for the MPTBp's. The role of the W displacements within the WO3 -type slabs, in two modulated structures (m = 4 and m = 10), already solved, is discussed. Finally, the complexity of the structural aspects of DPTBh's is explained on the basis of the average structures which are the only ones solved. [source] Effects of tributyltin(IV) chloride on fertilization of Styela plicata (Ascidiacea: Tunicata): II.APPLIED ORGANOMETALLIC CHEMISTRY, Issue 8 2003Scanning, transmission electron microscopy studies Abstract The morphological aspects of Styela plicata fertilization after treatment with tributyltin(IV) chloride are described by means of scanning and transmission electron microscopy investigations. Alterations have been shown both on female and male gametes; spermatozoa, all the egg envelopes and the mitochondria of the egg cortical cytoplasm are modified in relation to incubation time. As a consequence, the damage to gametes blocks sperm,egg interaction and fertilization does not occur. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||