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This paper considers the problem of reliable determination of the volume of cellulose fiber and its active surface to estimate or predict the properties of the paper or cardboard manufactured on its basis. To that end, we construct a 3D model of paper or cardboard fiber using contemporary methods of sample preparation for electron microscopy along with a professional powerful graphical editor. The 3D modeling included preparation of a series of microstructure paper slices with a step of at least 10 μm followed by their transformation into a 3D body. In the Object Properties section, the vector format graphic software sets the volume of fiber material, its surface and weight. Provided that the 3D body is correctly scaled, i.e., in accordance with the dimensions specified in microscopic images, the Object Properties section generates the required parameters. The obtained 3D fiber model also enables the force direction of interfiber interaction to be determined in the 3D coordinate system. Until now, the absence of a 3D fiber model in real dimensions has impeded evaluation of the actual value of interfiber bonding forces. These forces, as vector quantities, are characterized by not only numerical values, but also directionality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Seminal papers in Toxoplasma research are revisited. • We focus on a paper that contributed to uncovering the complete life-cycle of Toxoplasma. • A paper that revealed some of the unique cellular biology of the parasite is examined. • A study that elucidated the nature of the compartment in which Toxoplasma resides is described. • We revisit a seminal paper in understanding the immune responses to Toxoplasma infection. Since Nicolle, Manceaux and Splendore first described Toxoplasma gondii as a parasite of rodents and rabbits in the early 20th century, a diverse and vigorous research community has been built around studying this fascinating intracellular parasite. In addition to its importance as a pathogen of humans, livestock and wildlife, modern researchers are attracted to T. gondii as a facile experimental system to study many aspects of evolutionary biology, cellular biology, host-microbe interactions, and host immunity. For new researchers entering the field, the extensive literature describing the biology of the parasite, and the interactions with its host, can be daunting. In this review, we examine four foundational studies that describe various aspects of T. gondii biology, presenting a 'journal club'-style analysis of each. We have chosen a paper that established the beguiling life cycle of the parasite (Hutchison et al., 1971), a paper that described key features of its cellular biology that the parasite shares with related organisms (Gustafson et al., 1954), a paper that characterised the origin of the unique compartment in which the parasite resides within host cells (Jones and Hirsch, 1972), and a paper that established a key mechanism in the host immune response to parasite infection (Pfefferkorn, 1984). These interesting and far-reaching studies set the stage for subsequent research into numerous facets of parasite biology. As well as providing new researchers with an entry point into the literature surrounding the parasite, revisiting these studies can remind us of the roots of our discipline, how far we have come, and the new directions in which we might head. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the use of chatbot technology in the field of microscopy. The authors, Filip Braet and David Poger, highlight the potential benefits of chatbots in providing access to academic information and datasets. However, they also acknowledge the challenges and ethical considerations associated with using this technology in research. The authors share their experiences working with chatbots and express curiosity about the future role of AI in microscopy. They emphasize the importance of responsible and ethical use of AI in research and education. [Extracted from the article]

A product class characterization was requested on some plastic granular waste samples, already reduced in fine form with particles < 20 mm, derived from waste electrical wires and PC cables. The product class discrimination was worked out by visual characterization with the aid of optical stereomicroscopy and confirmation by electron scanning microscopy (SEM) and microanalysis. Characterization at a micro-scale level evidenced predominance of plastic materials with presence of metal wires, paper, textile and glass fibres at residual levels in the main fraction (0.5–4 mm). The fractions < 0.5 mm, when present, cannot easily be distinguished at sight and only approximate qualitative information can be extracted by SEM analysis. The described approach has been carried out effectively due to major shape and material differences between plastic particles and metal wires and other materials. However, this approach may not work in every case, or it may not lead to usable results with every type of waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Si is opaque to visible light, but transparent to infrared rays. Therefore, when the infrared laser is focused inside Si, the focal portion becomes ultra-hot, forming a modified volume (Laser induced modified volume: LIMV) inside. After the laser beam is injected into the Si wafer at equal intervals (for example, 5 µm) in the cross direction, and then a force is applied from the outside. Then, cracks are formed from LIMV, and the Si wafer is divided into small pieces of 5 µm square. This is the stealth dicing (SD) technology, which is now widely used in the manufacture of semiconductor devices. In this process, clarifying the nature of LIMV is of great industrial and academic significance. The authors have been engaged in elucidating the mechanism of LIMV development by TEM observation. This phenomenon, which at first seemed extremely puzzling, was finally elucidated. In this overview, we would like to describe the process that led to this elucidation in chronological order. This phenomenon is extremely puzzling, and due to the author’s lack of knowledge, there were errors in the contents of the papers published so far, so we have corrected them in this overview. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are extensively used in cellular imaging, single-particle tracking, disease diagnosis, studying membrane protein interaction, and drug delivery. Understanding the dynamics of AuNP uptake in live cells is crucial for optimizing their efficacy and safety. Traditional manual methods for quantifying AuNP uptake are time-consuming and subjective, limiting their scalability and accuracy. The available fluorescence-based techniques are limited to photobleaching and photoblinking. Optical microscopy techniques are limited by diffraction limits. Electron microscopy–based imaging techniques are destructive and unsuitable for live cell imaging. Furthermore, the resulting images may contain hundreds of particles with varied intensities, blurring, and substantial occlusion, making it difficult to manually quantify AuNP uptake. To overcome this issue and measure AuNP uptake by live cells, we annotated a dataset of dark-field images of 50 nanometer–radius AuNPs at different incubation durations. Then, to count the number of particles present in a cell, we created a customized multi-column convolutional neural network (MC-CNN). The customized MC-CNN outperformed typical particle counting architectures when compared to spectroscopy-based counting. This will allow researchers to gain a better understanding of AuNP behavior and interactions with cells, paving the way for advancements in nanomedicine, drug delivery, and biomedical research. The code for this paper is available at the following link: https://github.com/Namerlight/LabelFree_AuNP_Quantification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identification of archaeological and historical textile fibres is important because it gives insight into resource management in former times. The arrival of new tools such as table-top scanning electron microscopes, have led to an increased interest in the topic. Unfortunately, there have been cases where a lack of documentation regarding instrument settings and selection criteria has led to questionable conclusions being drawn. Optical and scanning electron microscopy are powerful techniques, but they must be used correctly and with proper knowledge of their limitations. Furthermore, ancient fibre material is often difficult to examine due to issues such as sample degradation, mineralization and the scarcity of material, which means that conclusions based on a statistical analysis of a large number of fibres are essentially not possible. In a cultural heritage context, it is therefore essential to distinguish between characteristic features, by which we mean features that are often, but not always present in a particular species and distinguishing features, which are always present in a particular species and can therefore be used for identification even if only a small amount of sample material can be examined. We argue that the community will have to accept that, quite often, a secure identification is not possible and that absolute statements such as: "This textile is made of flax" will often have to be replaced by relative statements such as "The material is likely to be flax". In this paper, we address these issues as follows: first, we present a fibre identification diagram which can be used, with some limitations, to distinguish between flax, hemp, nettle, jute, hops, and cotton using optical and electron microscopy. We then move on to highlight some of the typical pitfalls of using optical and electron microscopy for fibre identification. Finally, we present measurement documentation tables for optical and electron microscopy images, which we suggest should always be included in publications. Material scarcity means that the amount of material used for investigations should be kept at an absolute minimum. It is thus crucial that results are published with proper documentation so that measurements do not need to be repeated (more material is used) in future studies. It is our hope that the measurement documentation tables will be adapted by the community and used in future publications in the field. The paper finishes with a demonstration example, presenting a fibre analysis of Viking Age textile fragments from the 10th Century with documentation tables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Excessive inflammation is a major cause of implant failure. The surface morphology, hydrophilicity, and loading of biomaterials are major properties modulating anti-inflammatory macrophage activation. This paper investigates the regulatory effects of modifying the surface of Titanium dioxide nanotubes (TNTs) with graphene oxide (GO) on the polarization of mouse monocyte macrophages (RAW264.7). Methods: TNT was produced by the anodic oxidation of titanium. GO was subsequently electrodeposited on the TNT to obtain a TNT–GO composite. The samples were characterised through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. RAW264.7 cells were separately seeded onto the surface of three groups of samples: pure Ti, TNT, and TNT–GO. Under the condition of lipopolysaccharide stimulation, the influence of the sample surfaces on the gene expression profiles was investigated through RNA sequence analysis. In addition, cell spreading was observed through SEM, cell adhesion and proliferation were analysed using the CCK8 assay, and the expression of inflammation-related factors was investigated by ELISA and cellular immunofluorescence staining. The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the RAW264.7 cells on the surface of the three groups was detected via immunofluorescence staining. Results: The CCK8 results indicated that the adhesion and proliferation of the RAW264.7 cells were reduced on the TNT and TNT–GO surfaces. ELISA results revealed significant differences in the pro-inflammatory factors tumour necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 secretion among the three groups at 24 h (p < 0.05). The secretion of pro-inflammatory factors significantly reduced and the expression of anti-inflammatory factor IL-10 increased on the TNT and TNT–GO surfaces. The RNA sequencing, ELISA, and cell immunofluorescence staining test results suggested that the inflammatory response of M1 polarization was reduced and the M2 polarization of macrophages was induced on the TNT–GO surface, which may be attributed to the reduction in ROS production. Conclusions: Under lipopolysaccharide stimulation, the inflammatory response of the RAW264.7 cells was reduced and the M2 polarization of macrophages was promoted on the TNT–GO surface, which may be caused by the reduced ROS production. Consequently, the designed TNT–GO material is promising for implants owing to its excellent inflammation regulation ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fiber Bragg gratings are key components for optical fiber sensing applications in harsh environments. This paper investigates the structural and chemical characteristics of femtosecond laser photo-inscribed microvoids. These voids are at the base of type III fs-gratings consisting of a periodic array of microvoids inscribed at the core of an optical fiber. Using high-resolution techniques such as quantitative phase microscopy, electron transmission microscopy, and scattering-type scanning near-field IR optical microscopy, we examined the structure of the microvoids and the densified shells around them. We also investigated the high-temperature behavior of the voids, revealing their evolution in size and shape under step isochronal annealing conditions up to 1250 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aluminium alloys have a wide range of applications, mainly due to their advantageous strength-to-weight ratio, denoted as specific strength and corrosion resistance. In recent decades, there has been a notable surge in the usage of recycled alloys, attributed to their reduced production costs and emissions. One of the conditions for secondary production is the optimal sorting of used scrap. Once the aluminium scrap has been melted, it is tough to reduce the content of the various additives. Copper is the primary alloying element in some aluminium alloys, which leads to an increased amount of copper in the aluminium scrap. Therefore, it is important to investigate its effect on the properties of aluminium alloys in which it is not commonly present. For this reason, this paper is concerned with the influence of copper on the microstructure and properties of the secondary aluminium alloy AlZn10Si8Mg. Specifically, it compares two melts of self-hardening AlZn10Si8Mg alloys differing in copper content (0.019% and 1.72%). A complex quantitative and metallographic analysis by optical and electron microscopy has been performed. Mechanical properties were investigated by tensile test, Brinell hardness, and Vickers microhardness measurements. The corrosion resistance of the individual melts was verified by the Audi test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Pediculus humanus capitis, the human head louse, remains a global health problem. This study evaluated the resistance of head lice to permethrin and 6-paradol mediated by in vitro detoxification enzyme activity experiments and to describe physical changes in the lice using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Materials and Methods: The adult stages of P. h. capitis were collected from patients exposed to 1% permethrin and three different concentrations of 6-paradol (0.00005%, 0.0001%, and 0.00015%) using a filter paper diffusion bioassay. Healthy P. h. capitis adults served as the control. The in vitro bioassays were conducted after 10, 20, 30, and 60 min of exposure. The activities of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and oxidase were analyzed. Physical changes in the lice were analyzed using SEM. Results: Permethrin and 6-paradol exhibited low toxicity against the lice. At 60 min, 1% permethrin had killed 36.7% of the lice present, while 6-paradol had killed 66.7-86.7%. Permethrin induced significantly elevated AChE, GST, and oxidase activity; 6-paradol also caused significantly elevated AChE, GST, and oxidase activity. Permethrin did not cause any ultrastructural morphological changes on the lice, while 6-paradol severely damaged the head, thorax, respiratory spiracles, and abdomen of the dead lice. Conclusion: This in vitro experimental of P. h. capitis is the first study to report P. h. capitis in East Jakarta shows complete resistance to permethrin and 6-paradol, and to describe the associated increase in AChE, GST, and oxidase activity. It was observed that 6-paradol severely damaged the head, thorax, respiratory spiracles, and abdomen of the dead lice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An understanding of radiation damage effects suffered by biological samples during structural analysis using both X‐rays and electrons is pivotal to obtain reliable molecular models of imaged molecules. This special issue on radiation damage contains six papers reporting analyses of damage from a range of biophysical imaging techniques. For X‐ray diffraction, an in‐depth study of multi‐crystal small‐wedge data collection single‐wavelength anomalous dispersion phasing protocols is presented, concluding that an absorbed dose of 5 MGy per crystal was optimal to allow reliable phasing. For small‐angle X‐ray scattering, experiments are reported that evaluate the efficacy of three radical scavengers using a protein designed to give a clear signature of damage in the form of a large conformational change upon the breakage of a disulfide bond. The use of X‐rays to induce OH radicals from the radiolysis of water for X‐ray footprinting are covered in two papers. In the first, new developments and the data collection pipeline at the NSLS‐II high‐throughput dedicated synchrotron beamline are described, and, in the second, the X‐ray induced changes in three different proteins under aerobic and low‐oxygen conditions are investigated and correlated with the absorbed dose. Studies in XFEL science are represented by a report on simulations of ultrafast dynamics in protic ionic liquids, and, lastly, a broad coverage of possible methods for dose efficiency improvement in modalities using electrons is presented. These papers, as well as a brief synopsis of some other relevant literature published since the last Journal of Synchrotron Radiation Special Issue on Radiation Damage in 2019, are summarized below. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We review the measurement methods and thickness characterization algorithms of semiconductor multilayer devices. Today’s ultrahigh-density, high-energy-efficient three-dimensional semiconductor devices require an iterative semiconductor layer-stacking process. Accurate determination of nanometer-scale layer thickness is crucial for reliable semiconductor device fabrication. In this paper, we first review the commonly used semiconductor multilayer thickness measurement methods, including destructive and nondestructive measurement methods. Next, we review two approaches for thickness characterization: model-based algorithms using a physical interpretation of multilayer structures and a method using data-driven machine learning. With the growing importance of semiconductor multilayer devices, we anticipate that this study will help in selecting the most appropriate method for multilayer thickness characterization.Highlights: This paper covers various measurement methods and algorithms to detect the thickness of semiconductor multilayer devices. Model-based algorithm is suitable for cases where the number of layers is small or physical interpretation is required. Machine learning performs well for thickness characterization of multilayer devices without complex physical analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Metallic nanoscale particles attract a growing interest in several fields, thanks to their unique bonding characteristics; applications are appearing in the literature in the fields of, for example, sensor coatings and biochemical compound detection. However, the controlled fabrication of such nanopowders is often cumbersome, especially because their characterization is normally slow, involving procedures such as electron microscopy. On the other hand, microwave sensors based on near-field effects on materials are being developed with high sensitivity and show promising characteristics. In this paper, the authors show how a microwave sensor based on a Square Spiral Resonator can be used to characterize paraffin dispersions of nanoparticles conveniently and cost-effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inks of historical documents from the collection of the Russian National Library and model samples on paper and polymer were studied by transmission electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis. The results of substantially nondestructive analysis of inks make transmission electron micro-scopy an efficient tool for studying large arrays of manuscripts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article is an introduction to the second volume of "Women in Microscopy," which features a collection of papers on various microscopy techniques and technologies. The volume includes contributions on topics such as surface passivation, time-modulated structured illumination, Mesolens imaging, array tomography, and quantification in life sciences microscopy. The article also highlights the implementation of an interdisciplinary bootcamp at UC Berkeley aimed at promoting networking and support for women in microscopy. The bootcamp provides opportunities for undergraduate students to connect with women role models in academia and industry. Other papers in the volume discuss improvements in glass coatings for microscopy, a temporal method for improving localisation precision, mesoscale standing wave imaging, and array tomography in 3D electron microscopy. The volume concludes with a review on microscopy data quantification in the life sciences. Overall, the article showcases the diverse contributions of women in the field of microscopy and highlights the importance of supporting and promoting gender equity in the discipline. [Extracted from the article]

Working with Pradeep Luther, John's first PhD student, John and Pradeep investigated the A-bands from frog skeletal muscle which was commonly used at the time in X-ray fibre diffraction and muscle mechanics studies. He had high praise for John in his 2016 paper: "We find it remarkable that a myosin-packing scheme proposed 43 years ago based on a myosin assembly found in vertebrate smooth muscle could so accurately predict the myosin rod arrangement in insect flight muscle, a muscle about as different functionally from vertebrate smooth muscle as evolution could have produced" (Hu et al. [10]). So, it may be that John's vision of providing a detailed kinetic description of myosin head conformation during muscle contraction directly from fibre diffraction from fish muscle was hampered by instrumental limitations in the quality of the diffraction data. Keywords: Regulation of muscular contraction; Thin filament structure; Thick filament structure; X-ray diffraction; Electron microscopy EN Regulation of muscular contraction Thin filament structure Thick filament structure X-ray diffraction Electron microscopy 125 132 8 10/04/23 20230901 NES 230901 Graph John Michael Squire passed away on 31st January 2021, a victim of the Covid-19 pandemic. [Extracted from the article]

Cryogenic electron microscopy (cryoEM) has emerged as a revolutionary method for solving high‐resolution structures and studying the dynamics of macromolecular complexes and viruses in near‐native states. However, the availability of the equipment, and the time and cost needed for training, severely limit the opportunities for training. To solve these problems, a virtual reality‐based training system, CryoVR, has been developed to prepare trainees before operating real‐world cryoEM equipment. This paper describes the design and assessment of CryoVR (available at https://www.purdue.edu/cryoVR), which helps users learn cryoEM experimental procedures in a virtual environment, allowing immersive training with step‐by‐step tutorials with vivid visual, audio and text guidance. Implemented as a training step before a novice user interacts with the expensive real‐world cryoEM equipment, CryoVR can help users to become familiar with hands‐on operational procedures through multiple training modules and earning certificates after passing the built‐in Exam mode. Qualitative evaluation and feedback of CryoVR from users with various levels of cryoEM experience indicate the substantial value of CryoVR as a tool for a comprehensive cryoEM procedural training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The method of common lines is a well-established reconstruction technique in cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM), which can be used to extract the relative orientations of an object given tomographic projection images from different directions. In this paper, we deal with an analogous problem in optical diffraction tomography. Based on the Fourier diffraction theorem, we show that rigid motions of the object, i.e., rotations and translations, can be determined by detecting common circles in the Fourier-transformed data. We introduce two methods to identify common circles. The first one is motivated by the common line approach for projection images and detects the relative orientation by parameterizing the common circles in the two images. The second one assumes a smooth motion over time and calculates the angular velocity of the rotational motion via an infinitesimal version of the common circle method. Interestingly, using the stereographic projection, both methods can be reformulated as common line methods, but these lines are, in contrast to those used in cryo-EM, not confined to pass through the origin and allow for a full reconstruction of the relative orientations. Numerical proof-of-the-concept examples demonstrate the performance of our reconstruction methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advanced electron microscopy techniques, including scanning electron microscopes (SEM), scanning transmission electron microscopes (STEM), and transmission electron microscopes (TEM), have revolutionized imaging capabilities. However, achieving high-quality experimental images remains a challenge due to various distortions stemming from the instrumentation and external factors. These distortions, introduced at different stages of imaging, hinder the extraction of reliable quantitative insights. In this paper, we will discuss the main sources of distortion in TEM and S(T)EM images, develop models to describe them, and propose a method to correct these distortions using a convolutional neural network. We validate the effectiveness of our method on a range of simulated and experimental images, demonstrating its ability to significantly enhance the signal-to-noise ratio. This improvement leads to a more reliable extraction of quantitative structural information from the images. In summary, our findings offer a robust framework to enhance the quality of electron microscopy images, which in turn supports progress in structural analysis and quantification in materials science and biology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chitin and its derivatives are common natural polymers that are widely used in various technological fields. In recent years, considerable attention has been paid to the preparation of polymer nanocomposites based on metal nanoparticles (NPs). Chitin/chitosan-based composites due to high antibacterial activity are suitable for application in related food storage, textile industries. This paper presents an effective and simple method of obtaining chitosan-chitin copolymer/Ag nanocomposites with an extremely high content of metal nanoparticles. The structure and morphology of the synthesized nanocomposites were investigated using X-ray diffractometry, Fouriertransform infrared spectroscopy, electron microscopy, and their optical properties were studied using UV-VIS spectroscopy as well as spectral ellipsometry. It was ascertained that the resulting nanocomposite films are characterized by a uniform distribution of spherical silver nanoparticles, the sizes of which increase (from 55 up to 143 nm) with increasing the Ag+-ions concentration in the reaction mixtures. The optical absorption spectra of nanocomposites are characterized by the presence of an absorption maximum within the range 458...525 nm, which confirms the formation of Ag NPs. A monotonous increase in the values of the energies of optical transitions was observed in the process of increasing the average size of NPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The peculiarities of the structural organization of silver nanoparticles (AgNP) and their antimicrobial properties were studied using the methods of FTIR spectroscopy, X-ray analysis, electron microscopy and the discdiffusion method. In this paper, for the first time, an anionic oligomeric ionic liquid with a hyperbranched structure developed by us was used as a surface stabilizer in the synthesis of AgNP. The synthesis of AgNP was carried out by reducing Ag ions in AgNO3 with trisodium citrate in the presence of this ionic liquid. It was established that there are adsorbed ionic and carbonyl groups on the surface of the formed AgNP, and the formation of complexes between the ionic liquid and silver ions was revealed. According to electron microscopy, the size of the synthesized nanoparticles varies from 8 to 22 nm, with an average value of 14.2 nm. The synthesized silver nanoparticles showed a very high antimicrobial activity against C. albicans fungi, while the width of the inhibition zone (d) was 34 mm. In addition, the powder of AgNP shows a very high activity against gram-positive bacteria S. aureus (d = 30 mm) and gram-negative bacteria E. coli (d = 10 mm). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicon carbide (SiC) ceramic matrix composite (CMC) cladding is currently being pursued as one of the leading candidates for accident-tolerant fuel (ATF) cladding for light water reactor applications. The morphology of fabrication defects, including the size and shape of voids, is one of the key challenges that impacts cladding performance and guarantees reactor safety. Therefore, quantification of defects' size, location, distribution, and leak paths is critical to determining SiC CMC in-core performance. This research aims to provide quantitative insight into the defect's distribution under multi-scale characterization at different length scales before and after different Transient Reactor Test Facility (TREAT) irradiation tests. A non-destructive multi-scale evaluation of irradiated SiC will help to assess critical microstructural defects from production and/or experimental testing to better understand and predict overall cladding performance. X-ray computed tomography (XCT), a non-destructive, data-rich characterization technique, is combined with lower length scale electronic microscopic characterization, which provides microscale morphology and structural characterization. This paper discusses a fully automatic workflow to detect and analyze SiC-SiC defects using image processing techniques on 3D X-ray images. Following the XCT data analysis, advanced characterizations from focused ion beam (FIB) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were conducted to verify the findings from the XCT data, especially quantitative results from local nano-scale TEM 3D tomography data, which were utilized to complement the 3D XCT results. In this work, three SiC samples (two irradiated and one unirradiated) provided by General Atomics are investigated. The irradiated samples were irradiated in a way that was expected to induce cracking, and indeed, the automated workflow developed in this work was able to successfully identify and characterize the defects formation in the irradiated samples while detecting no observed cracking in the unirradiated sample. These results demonstrate the value of automated XCT tools to better understand the damage and damage propagation in SiC-SiC structures for nuclear applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with the evaluation of the structure of selected hazardous wastes from the production of metals, namely waste from the production of aluminium - red mud and waste from the production of nickel - black nickel mud. In environmental applications, red mud and black nickel mud are likely to be used after activation. The samples were activated using hydrochloric acid to study the structure properties before and after the treatment. Both of these wastes have suitable adsorption and catalytic properties that could be positively affected by the activation of their surfaces. The morphology of the samples was documented by scanning electron microscope, phase analysis was performed using diffraction techniques, and the content of elements was determined by EDX analysis. Also, FTIR analysis of the samples was performed. Activation increases the specific surface area of samples, which is beneficial in many environmental applications, such as in the adsorptive removal of pollutants. Treatment of samples changes the surface properties of the adsorbent, such as electrostatic, hydrophobic, and hydrophilic. The activation creates a new surface structure and thus affects its properties. EDX analysis confirmed the high content of Fe, Al, Si and Ti, which are responsible for good adsorption and catalytic properties. X-ray diffractograms have shown only slight changes in the structure of wastes after activation. The results of SEM confirmed the changes in the surface structure and the creation of new active centres necessary for the successful adsorption process. The FTIR analysis determined the changes in the structure of the samples mainly due to the thermal degradation of C=O and O-Si-O bonds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Overheating poor electrical connections (OPCs) are a ubiquitous ignition source of structure fires. Yet, knowledge of the intimate process between conductors at the connection point is relatively undocumented on the microscopic scale. For an OPC, it is ordinary for a filament or pool of liquid oxide to be the main current-carrying conductor at the point of overheating. This paper examines the overheating phenomena from a materials science perspective using photography through the stereo microscope, cross-sectioning, electron microscopy, and specialized techniques under the metallurgical microscope. Two case studies are presented in the second half of this paper. The first presents an artifact from field testing performed by a commercial cooking appliance manufacturer and introduces a real-world example of an OPC that did not ignite surrounding materials. The second is from a fire investigation of a food processing plant where prior research on OPCs informed expert opinions at trial and influenced the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the occasion of the 65th anniversary of Histochemistry and Cell Biology, we browse through its first ten years of publication and highlight a selection of papers from the early days of enzyme, protein, and carbohydrate histochemistry. In addition, we narrate recent progress to identify, quantify, and precisely determine the tissue localization of proteins and lipids, and small molecules by the combination of spectroscopic techniques and histology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead-free piezoelectric (K, Na)NbO3 (KNN) is considered one of the promising candidates for the replacement of Pb(ZrxTi1−x)O3. Several studies underlined the issue of K and Na volatility with increasing deposition temperatures, leading to high leakage currents in thin films, which still represents a major drawback for applications. This paper shows how epitaxial growth with concomitant preferred orientation of KNN films on niobium-doped strontium titanate (Nb:STO) depends on growth temperature and substrate strain. A preferred out-of-plane polar (001) orientation of KNN is obtained at high temperatures (>600 °C), while (100) orientation is dominant for lower ones. The (001) orientation is forced out-of-plane due to the sizeable in-plane stress derived from a negative lattice mismatch of pseudo-cubic KNN with respect to the underlying cubic (001) Nb:STO substrate. Moreover, we show that K-Na deficiency and high leakage of epitaxial KNN films deposited at high temperatures are accompanied by the appearance of a pattern of orthogonal spontaneous ferroelectric domains aligned to the [100] and [010] directions of Nb:STO. This pattern, visible in secondary electron microscopy, piezoforce response microscopy, and conductive atomic force microscopy images, is uncorrelated to the surface morphology. Supported by reciprocal space mapping by x-ray diffraction, this phenomenon is interpreted as the result of strain relaxation via ferroelectric domain formation related to K-Na deficient films displaying a sizable and increasing compressive strain when grown on Nb:SrTiO3. Our findings suggest that strain engineering strategies in thin films could be used to stabilize specific configurations of piezo- and ferroelectric domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Defects in high performance multi-crystalline silicon wafers can be detrimental to the lifetime of the solar cell. It is, therefore, important to study and understand the underlying structure and chemical elements present at these defective areas in order to suppress them. The underlying cause of the D-band emission line " v e r y i n t e n s e D 3 " (VID3) has not yet been understood, although many theories have been proposed. In this paper, we have investigated the underlying causes of the d-band emission peak VID3 by hyperspectral photoluminescence imaging, scanning electron microscopy, electron backscatter diffraction, scanning transmission electron microscopy, and density functional theory (DFT) to understand the defect structure in areas of a VID3 emission peak in more detail. We found a high VID3 peak intensity at sub-grain and Σ 3 twin boundaries bordering to grains with a small misorientation, which suggests higher stress in these regions. Defects close to the twin boundary indicate a light element dopant in the area, such as oxygen. DFT calculations show that oxygen is prone to segregate to this boundary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microscopic images in material science documents have increased in number due to the growth and common use of electron microscopy instruments. Through the use of data mining techniques, they are easily accessible and can be obtained from documents published online. As data-driven approaches are becoming increasingly common in the material science field, massively acquired experimental images through microscopy play important roles in terms of developing an artificial intelligence (AI) model for the purposes of automatically diagnosing crucial material structures. However, irrelevant objects (e.g., letters, scale bars, and arrows) that are often present inside original microscopic photos should be removed for the purposes of improving the AI models. To avoid the issue above, we applied four image inpainting algorithms (i.e., shift-net, global and local, contextual attention, and gated convolution) to a learning approach, with the aim of recovering microscopic images in journal papers. We estimated the structural similarity index measure (SSIM) and ℓ 1 / ℓ 2 errors, which are often used as measures of image quality. Lastly, we observed that gated convolution possessed the best performance for inpainting the microscopic images. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electron cryo-tomography is an imaging technique for probing 3D structures with at the nanometer scale. This technique has been used extensively in the biomedical field to study the complex structures of proteins and other macromolecules. With the advancement in technology, microscopes are currently capable of producing images amounting to terabytes of data per day, posing great challenges for scientists as the speed of processing of the images cannot keep up with the ever-higher throughput of the microscopes. Therefore, automation is an essential and natural pathway on which image processing—from individual micrographs to full tomograms—is developing. In this paper, we present Ot2Rec, an open-source pipelining tool which aims to enable scientists to build their own processing workflows in a flexible and automatic manner. The basic building blocks of Ot2Rec are plugins which follow a unified application programming interface structure, making it simple for scientists to contribute to Ot2Rec by adding features which are not already available. In this paper, we also present three case studies of image processing using Ot2Rec, through which we demonstrate the speedup of using a semi-automatic workflow over a manual one, the possibility of writing and using custom (prototype) plugins, and the flexibility of Ot2Rec which enables the mix-and-match of plugins. We also demonstrate, in the Supplementary Material, a built-in reporting feature in Ot2Rec which aggregates the metadata from all process being run, and output them in the Jupyter Notebook and/or HTML formats for quick review of image processing quality. Ot2Rec can be found at https://github.com/rosalindfranklininstitute/ot2rec. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While numerical aperture of transillumination at or above 1.25 can be achieved with a substage oiled Abbe condenser, such immersion-capable condensers can be expensive limiting their use in resource poor settings. Also the measurement of numerical aperture generated by illuminators has received relatively little attention in the literature compared to methods for measuring the numerical aperture of acceptance by objectives. In this article, I show how an inexpensive paper diffuser with refractive-index coupling to the sample slide can generate illumination of a numerical aperture of over 1.4 at a small fraction of the cost of oiled dioptric condensers of comparable numerical aperture. In addition, I present two ways in which a diffuser may also be used to measure the numerical aperture generated by an illuminator using either a calibrated index-coupled paper diffuser to implement an interpolative variation of the Horsfall method or a diffuser as a detector screen coupled to a self-built microscope slide-based illumination system apertometer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This paper presents an investigation of the oxidation of Alloy X-750 containing 5 wt% iron in a simulated boiling water reactor (BWR) environment. The specimens were exposed by a water jet (10 m/s) at 286 °C for durations ranging from 2 to 840 h, and the development of the oxide microstructure was mainly studied using electron microscopy. The results showed that the oxide scale consists of blocky crystals of trevorite on top of a porous inner layer rich in Ni and Cr. After the longest exposure time, the trevorite crystals completely covered the specimen surface. The study further revealed that the rate at which the oxide grew and the metal dissolved both decreased with time, and the metal thinning process appeared to be sub-parabolic. Given the significant variation in iron content in the X-750 specification, the influence of this element on the material's corrosion performance in BWR was examined by comparing the results from this investigation with those from previous work on material containing 8 wt% Fe. The study demonstrates that the oxide growth, metal dissolution and metal thinning were slower in the material with a higher iron content, indicating the importance of this element in limiting the degradation of Alloy X-750 in BWR environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the rapidly emerging field of biomedical applications, multifunctional nanoparticles, especially those containing magnetic and plasmonic components, have gained significant attention due to their combined properties. These hybrid systems, often composed of iron oxide and gold, provide both magnetic and optical functionalities and offer promising avenues for applications in multimodal bioimaging, hyperthermal therapies, and magnetically driven selective delivery. This paper focuses on the implementation of advanced characterization methods, comparing statistical analyses of individual multifunctional particle properties with macroscopic properties as a way of fine-tuning synthetic methodologies for their fabrication methods. Special emphasis is placed on the size-dependent properties, biocompatibility, and challenges that can arise from this versatile nanometric system. In order to ensure the quality and applicability of these particles, various novel methods for characterizing the magnetic gold particles, including the analysis of their morphology, optical response, and magnetic response, are also discussed, with the overall goal of optimizing the fabrication of this complex system and thus enhancing its potential as a preferred diagnostic agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ceramic and refractory materials are needed in many fields of activity, necessary for the development of human society, such as steel, non–ferrous metallurgy, chemistry, construction. The raw materials for obtaining refractory products are in short supply on the world market. In the activity carried out by leading economic agents, significant quantities of refractory waste are continuously generated, which must be neutralized and efficiently utilized. In this paper, the authors present the results of experimental research aimed at finalizing a technology for recycling mulcorite waste generated by an economic agent producing porcelain products. The physicochemical characteristics of this type of waste were determined and several technological variants of using mulcorite waste were tested, after an initial processing, in the manufacturing recipes of some pieces of refractory material component of the cast iron casting network from a manufacturer of gray iron castings. After testing eight variants of the composition of the manufacturing recipes, the best variant was chosen, which ensures the use of a maximum percentage of waste but also good values of the quality properties of the products obtained. For this, the main qualitative properties of the finished products were determined by measurements in the laboratory for the absorption coefficient, density and porosity, as well as by optical microscopy investigations on the structure of the finished products. The results of the conducted research demonstrated the possibility of efficient utilization of mulcorite waste, with beneficial effects on manufacturing costs and the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern computers are typically heterogeneous devices—besides the standard central processing unit (CPU), they commonly include an accelerator such as a graphics processing unit (GPU). However, exploiting the full potential of such computers is challenging, especially when complex workloads consisting of multiple computationally demanding tasks are to be processed. This paper proposes a framework called Umpalumpa, which aims to manage complex workloads on heterogeneous computers. Umpalumpa combines three aspects that ease programming and optimize code performance. Firstly, it implements a data-centric design, where data are described by their physical properties (e. g., location in memory, size) and logical properties (e. g., dimensionality, shape, padding). Secondly, Umpalumpa utilizes task-based parallelism to schedule tasks on heterogeneous nodes. Thirdly, tasks can be dynamically autotuned on a source code level according to the hardware where the task is executed and the processed data. Altogether, Umpalumpa allows for implementing a complex workload, which is automatically executed on CPUs and accelerators, and allows autotuning to maximize the performance with the given hardware and data input. Umpalumpa focuses on image processing workloads, but the concept is generic and can be extended to different types of workloads. We demonstrate the usability of the proposed framework on two previously accelerated applications from cryogenic electron microscopy: 3D Fourier reconstruction and Movie alignment. We show that, compared to the original implementations, Umpalumpa reduces the complexity and improves the maintainability of the main applications' loops while improving performance through automatic memory management and autotuning of the GPU kernels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ciencia Ergo Sum is the property of Universidad Autonoma del Estado de Mexico and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In this paper, nickel-clad cubic boron nitride (Ni/c-BN)-reinforced Ni-based composite coating was prepared on the martensitic stainless steel substrate by laser melting technology. The microstructure, phases and properties of the cladding layer were investigated by x-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectrometry, microhardness test, wear test and potentio-dynamic polarization. The experimental results show that surface quality of the cladding was excellent and free of obvious defects when the Ni/c-BN content was 5 wt.%, while reticulation cracks appeared when the content was higher than 5 wt.%. In addition, compared with the coating without Ni/c-BN, the addition of Ni/c-BN made the coating form a new phase Ni3B and a change in the eutectic tissue in the coating, which was made up of γ-Ni, Ni3B and Ni4B3. After added Ni/c-BN, the hardness, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance of the coating increased first and then decreased. Excess Ni/c-BN reduced the solid solution B element content in the matrix and accelerates the formation of the crack of the coating, thereby deteriorating the hardness, wear resistance and corrosion resistance. The coating had the best hardness, wear resistance and corrosion resistance when the Ni/c-BN content was 5 wt.%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents research on the deposition of an indium tin oxide (ITO) layer which may act as a recombination layer in a silicon/perovskite tandem solar cell. ITO was deposited by magnetron sputtering on a highly porous surface of silicon etched by the metal-assisted etching method (MAE) for texturing as nano and microwires. The homogeneity of the ITO layer and the degree of coverage of the silicon wires were assessed using electron microscopy imaging techniques. The quality of the deposited layer was specified, and problems related to both the presence of a porous substrate and the deposition method were determined. The presence of a characteristic structure of the deposited ITO layer resembling a "match" in shape was demonstrated. Due to the specificity of the porous layer of silicon wires, the ITO layer should not exceed 80 nm. Additionally, to avoid differences in ITO thickness at the top and base of the silicon wire, the layer should be no thicker than 40 nm for the given deposition parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern science is dependent on imaging on the nanoscale, often achieved through processes that detect secondary electrons created by a highly focused incident charged particle beam. Multiple types of measurement noise limit the ultimate trade-off between the image quality and the incident particle dose, which can preclude useful imaging of dose-sensitive samples. Existing methods to improve image quality do not fundamentally mitigate the noise sources. Furthermore, barriers to assigning a physically meaningful scale make the images qualitative. Here, we introduce ion count-aided microscopy (ICAM), which is a quantitative imaging technique that uses statistically principled estimation of the secondary electron yield. With a readily implemented change in data collection, ICAM substantially reduces source shot noise. In helium ion microscopy, we demonstrate 3x dose reduction and a good match between these empirical results and theoretical performance predictions. ICAM facilitates imaging of fragile samples and may make imaging with heavier particles more attractive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]