Development of an objective flat-field spectrograph for electron microscopic soft x-ray emission spectrometry in 50-4000 eV

Author(s):  
T. Imazono ◽  
M. Koike ◽  
T. Kawachi ◽  
N. Hasegawa ◽  
M. Koeda ◽  
...  
Author(s):  
B. J. Panessa ◽  
H. W. Kraner ◽  
J. B. Warren ◽  
K. W. Jones

During photoexcitation the retina requires specific electrolytes and trace metals for optimal function (Na, Mg, Cl, K, Ca, S, P, Cu and Zn). According to Hagins (1981), photoexcitation and generation of a nerve impulse involves the movement of Ca from the rhodopsin-ladened membranes of the rod outer segment (ROS) to the plasmalemma, which in turn decreases the in-flow of Na into the photoreceptor, resulting in hyperpolarization. In toad isolated retinas, the presence of Ba has been found to increase the amplitude and prolong the delay of the light response (Brown and Flaming, 1978). Trace metals such as Cu, Zn and Se are essential for the activity of the metalloenzymes of the retina and retina pigment epithelium (RPE) (i.e. carbonic anhydrase, retinol dehydrogenase, tyrosinase, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase...). Therefore the content and fluctuations of these elements in the retina and choroid are of fundamental importance for the maintenance of vision. This paper presents elemental data from light and dark adapted frog ocular tissues examined by electron beam induced x-ray microanalysis, x-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) and proton induced x-ray emission spectrometry (PIXE).


Author(s):  
S. W. Hui ◽  
T. P. Stewart

Direct electron microscopic study of biological molecules has been hampered by such factors as radiation damage, lack of contrast and vacuum drying. In certain cases, however, the difficulties may be overcome by using redundent structural information from repeating units and by various specimen preservation methods. With bilayers of phospholipids in which both the solid and fluid phases co-exist, the ordering of the hydrocarbon chains may be utilized to form diffraction contrast images. Domains of different molecular packings may be recgnizable by placing properly chosen filters in the diffraction plane. These domains would correspond to those observed by freeze fracture, if certain distinctive undulating patterns are associated with certain molecular packing, as suggested by X-ray diffraction studies. By using an environmental stage, we were able to directly observe these domains in bilayers of mixed phospholipids at various temperatures at which their phases change from misible to inmissible states.


Author(s):  
Stuart McKernan ◽  
C. Barry Carter

The determination of the absolute polarity of a polar material is often crucial to the understanding of the defects which occur in such materials. Several methods exist by which this determination may be performed. In bulk, single-domain specimens, macroscopic techniques may be used, such as the different etching behavior, using the appropriate etchant, of surfaces with opposite polarity. X-ray measurements under conditions where Friedel’s law (which means that the intensity of reflections from planes of opposite polarity are indistinguishable) breaks down can also be used to determine the absolute polarity of bulk, single-domain specimens. On the microscopic scale, and particularly where antiphase boundaries (APBs), which separate regions of opposite polarity exist, electron microscopic techniques must be employed. Two techniques are commonly practised; the first [1], involves the dynamical interaction of hoLz lines which interfere constructively or destructively with the zero order reflection, depending on the crystal polarity. The crystal polarity can therefore be directly deduced from the relative intensity of these interactions.


Author(s):  
A. Angel ◽  
K. Miller ◽  
V. Seybold ◽  
R. Kriebel

Localization of specific substances at the ultrastructural level is dependent on the introduction of chemicals which will complex and impart an electron density at specific reaction sites. Peroxidase-antiperoxidase(PAP) methods have been successfully applied at the electron microscopic level. The PAP complex is localized by addition of its substrate, hydrogen peroxide and an electron donor, usually diaminobenzidine(DAB). On oxidation, DAB forms an insoluble polymer which is able to chelate with osmium tetroxide becoming electron dense. Since verification of reactivity is visual, discrimination of reaction product from osmiophillic structures may be difficult. Recently, x-ray microanalysis has been applied to examine cytochemical reaction precipitates, their distribution in tissues, and to study cytochemical reaction mechanisms. For example, immunoreactive sites labelled with gold have been ascertained by means of x-ray microanalysis.


Author(s):  
T.W. Jeng ◽  
W. Chiu

With the advances in preparing biological materials in a thin and highly ordered form, and in maintaining them hydrated under vacuum, electron crystallography has become an important tool for biological structure investigation at high resolution (1,2). However, the electron radiation damage would limit the capability of recording reflections with low intensities in an electron diffraction pattern. It has been demonstrated that the use of a low temperature stage can reduce the radiation damage effect and that one can expose the specimen with a higher dose in order to increase the signal contrast (3). A further improvement can be made by selecting a proper photographic emulsion. The primary factors in evaluating the suitability of photographic emulsion for recording low dose diffraction patterns are speed, fog level, electron response at low electron exposure, linearity, and usable range of exposure. We have compared these factors with three photographic emulsions including Kodak electron microscopic plate (EMP), Industrex AA x-ray film (AA x-ray) and Kodak nuclear track film (NTB3).


Nanomaterials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 921
Author(s):  
Simonetta Muccifora ◽  
Hiram Castillo-Michel ◽  
Francesco Barbieri ◽  
Lorenza Bellani ◽  
Monica Ruffini Castiglione ◽  
...  

Biosolids (Bs) for use in agriculture are an important way for introducing and transferring TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) to plants and food chain. Roots of Pisum sativum L. plants grown in Bs-amended soils spiked with TiO2 800 mg/kg as rutile NPs, anatase NPs, mixture of both NPs and submicron particles (SMPs) were investigated by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), synchrotron radiation based micro X-ray Fluorescence and micro X-ray Absorption Near-Edge Structure (µXRF/µXANES) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES). TEM analysis showed damages in cells ultrastructure of all treated samples, although a more evident effect was observed with single anatase or rutile NPs treatments. Micro-XRF and TEM evidenced the presence of nano and SMPs mainly in the cortex cells near the rhizodermis. Micro-XRF/micro-XANES analysis revealed anatase, rutile, and ilmenite as the main TiO2 polymorphs in the original soil and Bs, and the preferential anatase uptake by the roots. For all treatments Ti concentration in the roots increased by 38–56%, however plants translocation factor (TF) increased mostly with NPs treatment (261–315%) and less with SMPs (about 85%), with respect to control. In addition, all samples showed a limited transfer of TiO2 to the shoots (very low TF value). These findings evidenced a potential toxicity of TiO2 NPs present in Bs and accumulating in soil, suggesting the necessity of appropriate regulations for the occurrence of NPs in Bs used in agriculture.


Minerals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 133
Author(s):  
Henryk R. Parzentny ◽  
Leokadia Róg

It is supposed that the determination of the content and the mode of occurrence of ecotoxic elements (EE) in feed coal play the most significant role in forecasting distribution of EE in the soil and plants in the vicinity of power stations. Hence, the aim of the work was to analyze the properties of the feed coal, the combustion residues, and the topsoil which are reached by EE together with dust from power stations. The mineral and organic phases, which are the main hosts of EE, were identified by microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry, and scanning electron microscope with an energy dispersive X-ray methods. The highest content of elements was observed in the Oi and Oe subhorizons of the topsoil. Their hosts are various types of microspheres and char, emitted by power stations. In the areas of long-term industrial activity, there are also sharp-edged grains of magnetite emitted in the past by zinc, lead, and ironworks. The enrichment of the topsoil with these elements resulted in the increase in the content of EE, by between 0.2 times for Co; and 41.0 times for Cd in the roots of Scots pine, common oak and undergrowth, especially in the rhizodermis and the primary cortex and, more seldom, in the axle roller and cortex cells.


Catalysts ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 490
Author(s):  
Rudaviro Garidzirai ◽  
Phillimon Modisha ◽  
Innocent Shuro ◽  
Jacobus Visagie ◽  
Pieter van Helden ◽  
...  

The effects of Mg and Zn dopants on the catalytic performance of Pt/Al2O3 catalyst were investigated for dehydrogenation of perhydrodibenzyltoluene (H18-DBT) as a liquid organic hydrogen carrier. Al2O3 supports were modified with Mg and Zn to produce Mg-Al2O3 and Zn-Al2O3 with a target loading of 3.8 wt.% for dopants. The modified supports were impregnated with chloroplatinic acid solution to produce the catalysts Pt/Al2O3, Pt/Mg-Al2O3 and Pt/Zn-Al2O3 of 0.5 wt.% Pt loading. Thereafter, the catalysts were characterised using inductively coupled plasma- optical emission spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, hydrogen temperature-programmed reduction, carbon-monoxide pulse chemisorption, ammonia temperature-programmed desorption, X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The dehydrogenation experiments were performed using a horizontal plug flow reactor system and the catalyst time-on-stream was 22 h. Pt/Mg-Al2O3 showed the highest average hydrogen flowrate of 29 nL/h, while an average of 27 nL/h was obtained for both Pt/Al2O3 and Pt/Zn-Al2O3. This has resulted in a hydrogen yield of 80% for Pt/Mg-Al2O3, 71% for Pt/Zn-Al2O3 and 73% for Pt/Al2O3. In addition, the conversion of H18-DBT ranges from 99% to 92%, Pt 97–90% and 96–90% for Pt/Mg-Al2O3, Pt/Zn-Al2O3 and Pt/Al2O3, respectively. Following the latter catalyst order, the selectivity to dibenzyltoluene (H0-DBT) ranges from 78% to 57%, 75–51% and 71–45%. Therefore, Pt/Mg-Al2O3 showed improved catalytic performance towards dehydrogenation of H18-DBT.


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