Biology Commons^™

Application Of Cathodoluminescence In Paint Analysis, W. Stoecklein, R. Göbel

Scanning Microscopy

When solving cases of burglary or investigating ship collisions, the forensic scientist frequently has to examine several layers of paint of the same color, often white. As a rule, the usual microscopic and spectroscopic methods [fluorescence microscopy, FT-IR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy), pyrolysis, GC/MS (Gas Chromatography - Mass Spectrometry), etc.] are not sufficient to prove that the paint traces found on the scene, which are often only available in the form of fragments, originated from the same source as the reference material. It is possible to achieve convincing proof of this using either an optical cathodoluminescence-microscope or a cathodoluminescence-scanning electron …

Early Effects On The Morphology Of Mouse Small Intestine Of Single Or Combined Modality Treatment With Hyperthermia And X-Irradiation, G. R. Dickson, H. M. H. Kamel, S. P. Hume, M. Jaber, K. E. Carr

Scanning Microscopy

This study describes the effects of hyperthermia and X-irradiation on the morphological appearance of normal, at risk tissues in the ileum of the mouse. The early morphological effects day after a combined modality treatment are compared with those due to either hyperthermia or X-irradiation given alone. The response was assessed qualitatively and semiquantitatively using scanning electron microscopy and a villous scoring technique.

Early post-irradiation effects on topography did not differ significantly from those observed after small intestine exteriorisation without treatment. The villous scores for the combined modality treatments reflected greater damage than would be expected from the sum of villous …

Review And New Case Reports On Scanning Electron Microscopy Of Pili Annulati, Monilethrix And Trichothiodystrophy, K. Meyvisch, M. Song, N. Dourov

Scanning Microscopy

Pili annulati, Monilethrix and Trichothiodystrophy are uncommon conditions in which the hair shaft has a distinct appearance as seen by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). We report several new cases and review the characteristic ultrastructural abnormalities investigated by SEM.

Pili annulati: abnormal areas which show a longitudinal, "curtain-like" folding of the cuticular cells, alternating with normal areas. The latter present regularly non-systematized, superficial depressions. Hair specimens of the patient's mother show the same surface irregularities.

Monilethrix: most hair shafts show variations in thickness giving a typical nodal appearance. In the isthmus area we noticed longitudinal ridging …

Scanning Electron Microscopy Of A Soil Fungus Gliocladium Roseum, David Jones, Derek Vaughan, William J. Mchardy

Scanning Microscopy

The paper describes the ultra-structural features of cryofixed and critical point-dried sporing cultures of a soil fungus Gliocladium roseum. Features described are Acrostalagmus-like conidiophores with spore masses in mucoid balls borne at the tips of branchlets and penicillate heads with conidia massed in rope-like formations. A particular feature of the aerial hyphae and conidiophores is the presence of blister-like swellings on their walls. These observations help to accurately characterize the organism in taxonomic studies.

The Diagnostic And Phylogenetic Significance Of Widened And Pronged Hamuli In Feathers, Tim G. Brom, Uri Frank

Scanning Microscopy

The taxonomic distribution of widened and/or pronged hamuli (hooklets) on distal barbules in the pennaceous part of feathers was studied with light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in order to assess the diagnostic and phylogenetic significance of these structures. Comparison of the LM and SEM appearance of these structures indicates that "thickened" hamuli are artifacts, arising from the misinterpretation of rotated tape-like structures. Pronged hamuli, on the contrary, are non-artifacts. These structures have a much wider taxonomic distribution than was reported by earlier workers, and therefore do not seem to be useful for identifying feather fragments.

Relationship Between Villous Shape And Mural Structure In Neutron Irradiated Small Intestine, K. E. Carr, J. S. Mccullough, A. C. Nelson, S. P. Hume, S. Nunn, H. H. M. Kamel

Scanning Microscopy

Previous work on irradiation of mouse small intestine has assessed the changes produced by counting crypts/microcolonies, scoring villous shape or examining morphological changes in specific parts of the wall.

This paper used scanning and transmission electron microscopy to study the effects of whole body irradiation with 5 Gy neutrons on the surface and internal features of the intestinal wall of CFLP mice, 1 day, 3 days and 7 days after treatment.

Empirical scores from the ultrastructural findings were inserted into a Morphological Index display calculated from analytical data based on cell counts and area measurements obtained from resin histology sections. …

Scanning Electron Microscopy And Energy-Dispersive X-Ray Microanalysis Studies Of Early Dental Calculus On Resin Plates Exposed To Human Oral Cavities, T. Kodaka, Y. Ohohara, K. Debari

Scanning Microscopy

Dental calculus formed after 10 days on resin plates, applied to the lingual sides of the mandibular gingival regions in eight human subjects, was investigated by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDX). The mineral deposits were mainly divided into three types: A, B, and C. The type A deposits showing an average Ca/P molar ratio of 1.42 were densely packed with fine needle-shaped crystals formed by the intra- and extracellular calcification. The type A deposits, probably composed of Ca-deficient apatites and the transitional forms between apatite and octacalcium phosphate (OCP), were observed in all subjects. …

Scanning Electron Microscopy - Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy And X-Ray Diffraction Analyses Of Human Salivary Stones, H. Mishima, H. Yamamoto, T. Sakae

Scanning Microscopy

Ten salivary stones in the human submandibular gland were investigated by scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and X-ray diffraction analyses. The stones usually showed a lamellar pattern. SEM observations revealed cubical, plate-like, granular, small and large granules, polyhedral or globular structures in these stones. By X-ray powder diffraction analysis, the main constituents of salivary stones were found to be apatite and whitlockite. SEM-EDS analyses showed that Ca and P were the major elements, frequently accompanied by Mg and S, and less frequently by Na, Al, Si, Cl, K, Fe, Cu and Zn. Ca/P molar ratios ranged from 1.00 to …

A Light, Transmission And Scanning Electron Microscope Study Of Snuff-Treated Hamster Cheek Pouch Epithelium, S. H. Ashrafi, A. Das, R. Worowongvasu, B. Mehdinejad, J. P. Waterhouse

Scanning Microscopy

The effects of smokeless tobacco (snuff) on hamster cheek mucosa were studied by light microscopy, transmission (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Two grams of commercially available smokeless tobacco were placed into the blind end of the right cheek pouch of each experimental animal, once a day and five days a week for 24 months. The control animals did not receive smokeless tobacco. After 24 months treatment with smokeless tobacco, hamster cheek mucosal epithelium lost its translucency and had become whitish in color. By light microscopy hyperorthokeratosis, prominent granular cell layers with increased keratohyalin granules and hyperplasia were seen. At …

Integrated Single Crystal Detector For Simultaneous Detection Of Cathodoluminescence And Backscattered Electrons In Scanning Electron Microscopy, Rudolf Autrata, Josef Jirák, Jiří Špinka, Otakar Hutař

Scanning Microscopy

The design of the majority of the available high efficiency cathodoluminescence (CL) detection systems allows the secondary electron (SE) and backscattered electron (BSE) image modes to be detected simultaneously to a limited degree only. The described CL-BSE detector is based on the single crystal YAG scintillator shaped as a spherical mirror which reflects photons emitted from the CL specimen and focuses them on to the entrance surface of a fibre optic light guide connected to the photomultiplier tube (PMT I). The backscattered electrons emitted from the CL specimen move through the reflecting layer of the mirror into the YAG scintillator …

Structural Artifacts And Advantages Of Cytocentrifugation Of Cells As Viewed By Scanning Electron Microscopy, Mário N. D. Peão, Artur P. Águas, Carlos Moreira De Sá, Nuno R. Grande

Scanning Microscopy

Cytocentrifugation of cell suspensions onto glass slides is a widely used procedure in contemporary cytology. We employed here scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to investigate putative morphological changes induced in cells submitted to cytocentrifugation. The fine structure of murine pleural exudate cells (macrophages mainly) processed by spinning was compared with that of similar cells treated without centrifugation (poly-L-lysine attachment of the cells to glass slides at 1 g). Cells of cytocentrifuged preparations showed a significant increase in diameter and smoothening of the cell surface as compared with the morphology of non-centrifuged cells. Cytocentrifugation also induced the formation of thin elongations coming …

Cathodoluminescence Image Processing Of High Tc Superconductors, Z. Barkay, G. Deutscher, E. Grunbaum

Scanning Microscopy

Cathodoluminescence (CL) in the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) was performed for both ceramic pellets and thin films of YBaCuO high T_C superconductors. Image processing provided additional quantitative information. For single phase films, we demonstrated the possibility to create thickness maps in real time from the CL pictures. The gradual thickness variation within the sample was revealed by the histogram of the thickness image. The continuity of the film was observed at a few threshold thicknesses values, defined by the fraction of the occupied area. At the conduction threshold value, the location and width of the conducting paths could be …

Morphological Filtering And Granulometric Analysis On Scanning Electron Micrographs: Applications In Materials Science, Murielle Prod'homme, Michel Coster, Liliane Chermant, Jean-Louis Chermant

Scanning Microscopy

For many applications, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images reflect the granular texture of analysed objects. So it is important to characterise the morphology of this texture and also to filter these images. Because the size of the texture is the main criterion to be studied, we have focused our paper on granulometric analysis.

We present basic parameters, morphological filtering and granulometry for Rⁿ•R functions and their properties with local knowledge and anamorphosis.

Some applications in the domain of materials science illustrate these methods and present their suitable possibilities.

The Microvasculature Of Human Oral Mucosa Using Vascular Corrosion Casts And India Ink Injection I. Tongue Papillae, Q. X. Yu, W. Ran, K. M. Pang, H. P. Philipsen, J. Theilade, X. H. Chen, Y. C. Mok

Scanning Microscopy

The microvasculature of human tongue papillae originating from 9 males and 6 females, aged 0.5 to 2 years was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of vascular corrosion casts and by light microscopy (LM) of India ink injected specimens. All papillae showed a microvasculature characterized by primary, secondary and tertiary capillary loops. In the filiform papillae the loops were generally arranged in a corolla-like pattern with the tertiary loops demonstrating a hair-pin shape. The fungiform papillae showed basically a similar architectural pattern although the loops were somewhat more compact and complex in structure. A small, shallow depression of the tertiary …

Tooth Tissues Of Certain Sharks And Lungfishes, Yasutomo Iwai-Liao, Yoshikage Higashi, Yoshitaka Tamada

Scanning Microscopy

A comparative odontologic study was conducted on teeth and their supporting tissues from extant sharks, fossil sharks, and living lungfishes using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) X-ray microprobe to investigate evolutionary changes in tooth structure of the fishes.

No histological differences between the extant and fossil teeth of lamnoid sharks were observed. The weight percent of calcium in osteodentin of the fossil shark was higher than that in the extant shark. The weight percents of both P and Ca of tooth tissues in the giant extinct shark showed comparatively low values.

Both the upper and lower …

Correlation Of Cochlear Pathology With Auditory Brainstem And Cortical Responses In Cats With High Frequency Hearing Loss, R. J. Mount, R. V. Harrison, S. G. Stanton, A. Nagasawa

Scanning Microscopy

Newborn kittens were treated with the aminoglycoside amikacin to produce a bilateral high frequency cochlear hearing loss. The degree and stability of hearing loss were confirmed by recording auditory brainstem evoked potentials (ABR audiograms). After maturation, cochleotopic frequency representation within primary auditory cortex (Al) was mapped using standard microelectrode recording techniques. The cochlear sensory epithelium was assessed with SEM and the pattern of damage compared with the ABR audiograms and cortical frequency maps.

Amikacin treatment resulted in various patterns of haircell damage towards the base of the cochlea. A relatively abrupt transition between damaged and undamaged haircell regions resulted in …

The Development Of The Vascular System In Quail Embryos: A Combination Of Microvascular Corrosion Casts And Immunohistochemical Identification, M. C. Deruiter, B. Hogers, R. E. Poelmann, L. Vanlperen, A. C. Gittenberger-De Groot

Scanning Microscopy

Although vascular casts, obtained by injection with methacrylates, are frequently used to investigate the adult vascular system, little data are available for embryonic stages. In this paper we use Mercox^R in quail embryos in the period of 2 to 7 days after incubation. The microvascular corrosion casts were evaluated in the scanning electron microscope (SEM) with special attention to the development and remodelling of the large arteries and veins. Our results show that the remodelling of the large arteries and veins together with their developing tributary vessels can be visualized from very early embryonic stages onwards. However, complete replication …

Microvascularization Of The Pleura In Rats And Guinea Pigs, S. Aharinejad, A. Lametschwandtner, P. Böck, P. Franz

Scanning Microscopy

The microvascularization of the visceral and parietal pleura was studied in rats and guinea pigs using vascular corrosion casts and scanning electron microscopy.

The visceral pleura was shown to be devoid of a vascular bed of its own. The capillary meshwork observed on the surface of the lung belongs to the pulmonary parenchyma. The parietal pleura, by contrast, possesses its own capillary network with an appropriate arterial supply and a venous drainage. The parietal pleural capillaries cover the costal regions completely, whereas the intercostal spaces are only provided by interspersed small patches of capillaries. That the feeding arteries of the …

Effects Of Photosensitization And Low-Power Helium-Neon Laser Irradiation On Liposomes And Cell Membranes, Timea Berki, P. Németh, L. Pótó, A. Németh

Scanning Microscopy

Low-power He-Ne laser irradiation causes a well-defined and energy dependent cell destruction of in vitro cultured cell lines sensitized by hematoporphyrin derivative (HPD). The mechanism of this photosensitization was studied by measuring with polarization microscopic, scanning electron microscopic, and electron-spin-resonance (ESR) spectroscopic parameters. The cell damage caused by photosensitization and laser irradiation seems to be a complex process, however the biological membranes seem to be one of the primary targets. The energy of laser light causes rotation and resonance changes of macromolecules and the water molecules, resulting in an increased structural order of the submembraneous components in the living cells, …

The Scanning Electron Microscope: How Valuable In The Evaluation Of Small Bowel Mucosal Pathology In Chronic Childhood Diarrhea?, J. Rainer Poley

Scanning Microscopy

Data are presented on scanning electron microscopy (SEM) on small intestinal biopsies of children with chronic diarrhea. In particular, there were 230 patients aged 3 months to 13 years with the following diagnoses: chronic nonspecific diarrhea, cow's milk protein intolerance, soy protein intolerance, giardiasis, cystic fibrosis, gluten-sensitive enteropathy, isolated lactase deficiency, isolated sucrase-isomaltase lactase deficiency, microvillus inclusion disease, rotavirus ententis, protracted diarrhea of infancy, chylomicron retention disease, visceral myopathy and villous asthenia.

Examination of biopsied intestinal mucosa by SEM has yielded important new information and insights on structural pathology and ultrastructural topography. Many of the observed changes helped to better …

Scanning Electron Microscopy Of High-Modulus Polyethylene Fibres, N. H. Ladizesky, M. K. M. Pang

Scanning Microscopy

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) examination of high modulus polyethylene (HMPE) fibres gives rise to a number of artifacts which are here recognized. Antistatic agents may be successfully used for the observation of the woven fibres, but only in conjunction with an intermediate metallic coating. For isolated threads superior results are obtained with the metallic coating alone.

New SEM evidence suggests that the high density of surface cracks produced by plasma treatment of HMPE fibres is associated with an aging process. This can also be activated by mechanical energy or storage at room conditions.

Hereditary Hair Changes Revealed By Analysis Of Single Hair Fibres By Scanning Electron Microscopy, B. Forslind, M. K. Andersson, E. Alsterborg

Scanning Microscopy

In many disorders with a genetic background the sparsity of scalp hairs may deter the clinician from trying to extract information from single hair fibres. Presenting a number of diverse conditions, we propose to show that simple measures can be taken in the doctor's office which makes single fibre analysis a useful tool for assessment of factors involved in genetic disorders including the integument and its appendages. The paper is focussed on the utilization of the scanning electron microscope with the goal of demonstrating that pertinent information can be gained where information from transmission electron microscopy and other techniques are …

Preparation And Characterization Of Some Particulate Materials In The Aluminum Industry, A. Csordás-Tóth, B. Szikora, J. Kürthy-Komlósy, I. Tassy

Scanning Microscopy

Preparation and characterization techniques for the following particulate materials are reviewed: micromineralogical samples of bauxite, alumina and its trihydroxide, as well as sedimentary and respirable particles. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDS) and image analysis were used to characterize the microminerals of bauxite. Comparisons were made among micromineralogical samples with various grain size fractions and the degree of weathering could be quantified. Programs were developed for characterization of the sandy and floury types of aluminum trihydroxide and alumina. We have used backscattered electron SEM images to characterize the size and shape of various aluminum trihydroxides. Comparison could …

In Vitro And In Vivo Replication For Scanning Electron Microscopy Of The Cervical Region Of Human Teeth, Joan Bevenius, Kjell Hultenby

Scanning Microscopy

A replica technique for scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of the cervical region of human teeth was evaluated on extracted premolar teeth by comparing the replicas and the original specimens in the SEM. For in vivo application, the technique was modified to circumvent contamination by saliva and gingival exudate. Impressions were taken with an addition silicone polyvinylsiloxane material and the replicas were poured in epoxy resin die material. A surface active dentine conditioner facilitated flow of the impression material into irregular surface areas; in vivo a scavenger impression was used to remove surface debris. Custom trays were made of light-cured acrylic …

Seed Coat Surface Patterns And Structures Of Oxytropis Riparia, Oxytropis Campestris, Medicago Sativa, And Astragalus Cicer, D. J. Solum, R. H. Lockerman

Scanning Microscopy

Scanning electron microscopy was used to examine external and internal seed coat structures of Oxytropis riparia Litv., Oxytropis campestris L., Medicago sativa L., and Astragalus cicer L. for characteristics useful in taxonomic classification and to identify hard seed coat components which affect permeability. Seed coat surfaces of the four species were distinctly different. Palisade and hourglass cell lengths and parenchyma and endosperm cell layer thicknesses were similar among species with the exception of O. campestris seeds which lacked an identifiable endosperm layer. Surface pattern differences and the presence of a distinct endosperm layer are useful in separating these genera and …

A Technique For Correlative Scanning And Transmission Electron Microscopy Of Individual Human Placental Villi: An Example Demonstrating Syncytial Sprouts In Early Gestation, G. J. Burton, K. W. Thurley, J. N. Skepper

Scanning Microscopy

Correlating the surface appearances of certain features with their internal structure is made particularly difficult in the human placenta by the complex three-dimensional branching pattern of the villous tree. This places a possible limitation on the use of the scanning electron microscope in this field, both for basic research purposes and as a tool in pathological diagnosis. To help overcome this problem, a technique for handling individual placental villi has been devised. By attaching single villi to glass pipette tips it has proved possible to scan the villi, embed them in resin and then section them in a known pre-determined …

Preparation Of Inner Ear Sensory Hair Bundles For High Resolution Scanning Electron Microscopy, M. P. Osborne, S. D. Comis

Scanning Microscopy

Chemical fixation techniques for preservation of sensory hair bundles in the mammalian inner ear for scanning electron microscopy (SEM) are reviewed. Fixatives employed were glutaraldehyde, glutaraldehyde-picrate, glutaraldehyde-tannic acid, glutaraldehyde-formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde followed by postfixation with osmium tetroxide and the osmium thiocarbohydrazide (OTOTO) method. Dehydration was routinely accomplished with ascending grades of acetone followed by critical point drying with liquid CO₂ or fluorocarbon sublimation. Specimens other than those prepared by the OTOTO method were metal coated with gold, gold-palladium or platinum. Material was viewed at high resolution (2-3 nm) in a transmission electron microscope (TEM) fitted with a scanning system and …

Thin Sectioning Of Carbonaceous Adsorbent Spheres For Visualization By Light Microscopy And Scanning Electron Microscopy, Samuel H. Cohen, Ronald A. Segars

Scanning Microscopy

Three different types of Rohm and Haas carbonaceous adsorbent spheres (XE-340, XE-347 and XE-348) were prepared for light and scanning electron microscopy by embedding in resin and by thin sectioning. Spurr's low viscosity resin, because of its penetrating and wetting ability, contributed to the production of the most uniform and artifact free thin sections. In addition to thin sectioning, gas adsorption surface area measurements were made on batches of each type of sphere.

There was an apparent relationship between the surface area measurements of 417.8 m²/g for XE-340, 583.4 m²/g for XE-347 and 752.9 m^{2 …}

Scanning Electron Microscopic Analysis Of Dental Wear On The Heavily Worn Second Molars Of The Wild Japanese Monkey (Macaca Fuscata), Teruyuki Hojo

Scanning Microscopy

Microscopic features on scanning electron micro-graphs of epoxy-replicas of the second molars of nine wild-caught adult female Japanese monkeys, Macaca fuscata, from Oita Takasakiyama, Kyushu, were measured using a digitizer. These monkeys had been fed a monkey-diet during three or four days of captivity before replicas were made. Six of these specimens showed such heavily worn second molars that narrow peripheral enamel bands surrounded large dentin exposures and the cusps of the others had been worn off. Microwear measurements from sites near facet 9 were compared with those of facet 9 of three kinds of hard-object feeding primates from …

The Hepatic Microcirculation In Experimental Cirrhosis A Scanning Electron Microscopy Study Of Microcorrosion Casts, E. Gaudio, L. Pannarale, M. Ripani, P. Onori, O. Riggio

Scanning Microscopy

The experimental model of liver cirrhosis induced by intragastric administration of CCl₄ reproduces not only the histological picture of the postnecrotic cirrhosis but also its pathophysiological features.

Corrosion casts of livers affected by CCl₄-induced cirrhosis show the loss of the lobular pattern. Once the cirrhosis has completely developed, the whole microvascular bed appears to be composed of groups of sinusoid nodules of diameters varying between 0.3 and 1.5 mm.. Pre- and post-sinusoidal vessels and anastomoses between the former and the latter are mainly located at the perinodular spaces.

This microvascular situation modifies the normal perfusion gradient within …