Investigation of Active and Inactivated Yeast Cells by Scanning Electrochemical Impedance Microscopy

Scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and scanning electrochemical impedance microscopy (SEIM) were used to investigate electrochemical activity of active and inactivated yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells. SEIM experiment was performed using a unique electrochemical impedance spectrometer with a fast Fourier transform (FFT‐EIS) function, which enabled simultaneously perturb/evaluate electrochemical system at 50 frequencies. This allowed very quick observing the differences between impedance spectra, which were taken every few seconds. Therefore, we were able to apply SEIM for relatively fast determination of electrochemical impedance dependence on the distance between ultramicroelectrode (UME) and surface modified by immobilized yeast cells. It was determined that electrochemical activity and ‘breathing’ (a consumption of dissolved oxygen) of yeast can be electrochemically observed when the distance between UME and surface of yeast cells is in the range from 0 μm to 25 μm. Therefore, 25 μm is the maximum distance suitable for efficient investigation of yeast cell activity when experiments are performed in FFT‐SEIM mode. Charge transfer resistance of active and inactivated yeast cells was determined using EIS. It was calculated that charge transfer resistance of active yeast cells is 1.5 times lower than that of inactivated yeast cells. Lipophilic vitamin K₃ (Vit‐K₃) and hydrophilic vitamin K₁ (Vit‐K₁) were mixtured and used as redox mediators for charge transfer from yeast cells.     

喷射沉积Al-Zn-Mg-Cu合金GP区应变场的定量测试

为定量测试喷射沉积合金GP区周围的晶格应变的分布,利用喷射成形技术制备了Al12Zn2.4Mg1.1Cu合金。随后对合金进行热挤压、758K固溶2小时和393K时效20小时处理。利用高分辨透射电子显微镜(High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy,HRTEM)和几何相位分析(Geometric Phase Analysis,GPA)软件对GP区的结构和应变场进行了测量和分析。结果表明,GP区附近的应变值在各方向差别较大,沿GP区惯习面法线方向的应变最大(εxx=-0.092),与惯习面平行方向上的应变最小(εyy=-0.004)。该项结果可解释GP区附近位错运动的差异:由于应变场在各方向上存在较大差别,产生的应变强化效果不同,导致阻碍位错运动的能力也有所不同。     

Thermal degradation of polymethylsilsesquioxane and microstructure of the derived glasses

The present work aims to elucidate the physicochemical factors determining the microstructure of Si-O-C glasses derived from a polymethylsilsesquioxane powder pyrolyzed at 200-1300 °C in helium atmosphere. The pyrolysis behavior of the powder was studied by thermogravimetry coupled with mass spectrometry. The chemical composition of the glasses was determined by elemental analysis while the microstructure was studied by optical microscopy combined with scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The degradation of the polymer proceeds by a three-stage decomposition characterized by different mass losses as well as by different amount and type of evolved gaseous species. The derived glasses contain networks of pores and bubbles with diameters more than 0.1 mm. The increasing thermal treatment of the polymer above 200 °C does not lead to the disappearance of macropores. Micrometer-sized amorphous filaments are observed in porous interiors. A formation mechanism of pores and filaments is proposed. Polymer swelling accompanied by pore coagulation and gas release is believed to be responsible for the spatial separation of oligomers forming filaments.     

Investigation of the resolution ability of an image inversion interferometer

The present paper presents the experimental measurement of the interferometric point spread function of an image inversion interferometer (III). The measurement was realized by scanning a pointlike source in the object plane and integrating the intensity in the image plane for each position of the point source. The achieved results are compared to the theoretical expectations and the results, which we received in a previous work by using a different method. The improved resolution of two neighbouring points in comparison to the conventional image is demonstrated. In addition we propose an explanation concerning the divergences of the values to be expected in theory.     

Three dimensional microvascular measurements in human endometrium using optical slices from laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM)

There is increasing interest in the structure of the microvascular environment in human endometrium because of the recognition of the complexity and functional importance of this tissue. Endometrial microcirculatory networks and their relationships have rarely been studied in three-dimensions.Longitudinal uterine slices containing endometrial tissue were carefully selected from women undergoing a hysterectomy. Formalin-fixed endometrial sections (≤50 μm) representing the fundal and isthmic regions were immunofluorescently labeled with monoclonal antibody (CD34) to target the endothelium of microvessel and fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) labeled goat anti-mouse. Digital images were acquired using a Nikon Eclipse E800 microscope equipped with a Radiance 2000 confocal scanning laser attachment. ImarisBasic 4.1 visualization suite was utilized for qualitative interpretation. NeuronTracer 1.0 software was utilized to derive the length and numerical densities.There were significant changes across the phases of the menstrual cycle in functional and basal endometrial layers in vessel length density (LD_v) and branch point density (ND_v) within both fundal and isthmic regions of the uterus (P < 0.001). There was also a significant effect of menstrual cycle phase on mean vessel segment length (SL_v) within each region and within each of the layers (P < 0.001). The capillary radial diffusion distance r(diff) was negatively correlated with LD_v. In general, within each of the menstrual cycle phases, LD_v, ND_v were greater in the fundal than the isthmic regions while, in contrast, SL_v was found to be greatest in the isthmic region.Utilization of immunofluorescence and laser scanning confocal microscopy has enabled us to demonstrate significant vascular changes in human endometrial layers illustrating that in general, within each of the menstrual cycle phases, vessel length and branch point densities were greater in the fundal than the isthmic regions, while vessel segment lengths were found to be greatest in the isthmic region.     

X-ray fluorescence (conventional and 3D) and scanning electron microscopy for the investigation of Portuguese polychrome glazed ceramics: Advances in the knowledge of the manufacturing techniques

This work shows the first analytical results obtained by X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) (conventional and 3D) and Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive System (SEM-EDS) on original Portuguese ceramic pieces produced between the 16th and 18th centuries in Coimbra and Lisbon. Experts distinguished these productions based only on the color, texture and brightness, which originates mislabeling in some cases.Thanks to lateral and spatial resolution in the micrometer regime, the results obtained with μ-XRF were essential in determining the glaze and pigment thicknesses by monitoring the profile of the most abundant element in each “layer”. Furthermore, the dissemination of these elements throughout the glaze is different depending on the glaze composition, firing temperature and on the pigment itself. Hence, the crucial point of this investigation was to analyze and understand the interfaces color/glaze and glaze/ceramic support.Together with the XRF results, images captured by SEM and the corresponding semi-quantitative EDS data revealed different manufacturing processes used by the two production centers. Different capture modes were suitable to distinguish different crystals from the minerals that confer the color of the pigments used and to enhance the fact that some of them are very well spread through the glassy matrix, sustaining the theory of an evolved and careful procedure in the manufacturing process of the glaze.     

Critical angles for axial channeling

The critical angle for axial proton channeling has been measured as a function of temperature for a number of different crystals. The results are consistently below the values predicted from simple analytical estimates. The magnitude of this discrepancy does not seem to depend on the specific lattice structure. In point of fact, all the results are consistent with a relationship ψ_1/2 = α(p/a). ψ₁, where ψ₁ is Lindhard's characteristic angle, and α(p/a)is a function of the thermal vibrational amplitude p, measured in units of the Thomas-Fermi screening distance a. A formula for α(p/a), derived by Barrett from computer simulations, on the average predicts the magnitude of α quite well, but the observed functional dependence on p/a is considerably stronger than predicted.     

The Texture of Stretched and Unstretched Polymer Films with and Without Embedded Biological Materials

The stretched polymers with embedded biological samples are widely used as anisotropic matrix uniaxially orienting samples. The texture of a polymer film surface influences the properties of polarized emission and photo thermal spectra. This textural properties for the unstretched and stretched polymer films with and without the embedded biological objects of various dimensions (pigment molecules, photosynthetic bacterial cells, and cell fragments) were established using AFM (Atomic Force Microscopy).     

Interphase characterization in polymer composites - monitoring of interphasial behavior in dependence on the mode of loading

Single fiber model composites consisting of epoxy resin matrix and differently sized glass fibers were investigated using pull-out tests, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), scanning force microscopy (SFM) and single fiber dynamic load test (SFDL). The inhomogeneous stress distribution along the embedded fiber length could be visualized by monitoring. SEM images showed either cohesive fracture or adhesive failure on pulled-out fibers with different sizings. The crack initiation and propagation were detected randomly and multiply distributed as the inhomogeneous interphase itself and depending strongly on the fiber-matrix model combination. The meniscus region acts as a material inhomogeneity and its appearence depends on the surface free energies of fiber and matrix and on the curing conditions of the resin. SFM in force modulation mode has visualized different interphase thicknesses and gradients of local stiffness. The SFDL test has been shown as a worthful tool for the comprehensive determination of fiber-matrix interaction.     

Spot the difference at the nanoscale: identical location electron microscopy in electrocatalysis

Identical location electron microscopy (IL-EM) offers a unique opportunity to track the morphological, compositional, and structural changes at the nanoscale in the systems where direct EM visualization is difficult or even currently impossible, for example, aqueous electrochemistry. Since its introduction by Mayrhofer and Arenz et al. in 2008 (Electrochemistry Communications 10 (2008) 1144–1147) to reveal degradation mechanisms in the state-of-the-art Pt/C catalyst in proton exchange membrane fuel cells, numerous electrochemical and nonelectrochemical systems were addressed by IL-EM. Thus, other types of fuel cells, water electrolysis, electrochemical synthesis, batteries, heterogeneous catalysis, and so on were addressed. In this short review, we highlight the most promising IL-EM applications focusing on the very recent studies. Moreover, we discuss the future perspectives of IL-EM, which, we believe, will benefit from the availability of the equipment that enables real atomic resolution and tomography, supported by computer simulations.