Identification of improvised explosives residues using physical-chemical analytical methods under real conditions after an explosion

Electron microscopic methods have been applied increasingly during the past fifteen years, to problems in structural molecular biology. Used in conjunction with physical chemical methods and/or Fourier methods of analysis, they constitute powerful tools for determining sizes, shapes and modes of aggregation of biopolymers with molecular weights greater than 50, 000. However, the application of the e.m. to the determination of very fine structure approaching the limit of instrumental resolving power in biological systems has not been productive, due to various difficulties such as the destructive effects of dehydration, damage to the specimen by the electron beam, and lack of adequate and specific contrast. One of the most satisfactory methods for contrasting individual macromolecules involves the deposition of heavy metal vapor upon the specimen. We have investigated this process, and present here what we believe to be the more important considerations for optimizing it. Results of the application of these methods to several biological systems including muscle proteins, fibrinogen, ribosomes and chromatin will be discussed.

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Stereo modeling of HVEM specimens by serial tilting and computer graphics

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100141913 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 44 ◽

pp. 34-35

Author(s):

J.R. McIntosh ◽

D.L. Stemple ◽

William Bishop ◽

G.W. Hannaway

Keyword(s):

Computer Graphics ◽

Analytical Methods ◽

Photographic Film ◽

Complex Structures ◽

Multiple Objects ◽

Multiple Images ◽

3 Dimensional

EM specimens often contain 3-dimensional information that is lost during micrography on a single photographic film. Two images of one specimen at appropriate orientations give a stereo view, but complex structures composed of multiple objects of graded density that superimpose in each projection are often difficult to decipher in stereo. Several analytical methods for 3-D reconstruction from multiple images of a serially tilted specimen are available, but they are all time-consuming and computationally intense.

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Seeking to uncover biology's chemical roots

Emerging Topics in Life Sciences ◽

10.1042/etls20190012 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (5) ◽

pp. 435-443 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Addy Pross

Keyword(s):

Environmental Changes ◽

Biological Systems ◽

Significant Development ◽

The Road ◽

Physical Chemical ◽

Systems Chemistry ◽

Biological World ◽

Inanimate Matter ◽

The Origin Of Life ◽

Opening Up

Despite the considerable advances in molecular biology over the past several decades, the nature of the physical–chemical process by which inanimate matter become transformed into simplest life remains elusive. In this review, we describe recent advances in a relatively new area of chemistry, systems chemistry, which attempts to uncover the physical–chemical principles underlying that remarkable transformation. A significant development has been the discovery that within the space of chemical potentiality there exists a largely unexplored kinetic domain which could be termed dynamic kinetic chemistry. Our analysis suggests that all biological systems and associated sub-systems belong to this distinct domain, thereby facilitating the placement of biological systems within a coherent physical/chemical framework. That discovery offers new insights into the origin of life process, as well as opening the door toward the preparation of active materials able to self-heal, adapt to environmental changes, even communicate, mimicking what transpires routinely in the biological world. The road to simplest proto-life appears to be opening up.

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