Microscopy

Article Anatomy & Morphology

A new, simplified, drying protocol to prepare tardigrades for scanning electron microscopy

Daniele Camarda, Edoardo Massa, Roberto Guidetti, Oscar Lisi

Summary: A new and efficient protocol for SEM analysis of tardigrades is proposed, which requires minimal instruments and materials and produces high quality dried animals. The method has potential applications in studying other meiofaunal groups as well.

MICROSCOPY RESEARCH AND TECHNIQUE (2023)

Article Anatomy & Morphology

The in vitro cytotoxic effects of natural (fibrous epsomite crystals) and synthetic (Epsom salt) magnesium sulfate

Sara Salucci, Matteo Giordani, Michele Betti, Laura Valentini, Pietro Gobbi, Michele Mattioli

Summary: This study evaluated the pathogenicity of natural and synthetic magnesium sulfate in a cell model. The results showed that natural epsomite fibers caused cellular damage and could be potentially dangerous for human health.

MICROSCOPY RESEARCH AND TECHNIQUE (2023)

Article Microscopy

Investigation the effects of 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2-APB) on aminoglycoside nephrotoxicity

Ozge Kendirlinan, Yurdun Kuyucu, Bilge Guzelel, Ebru Dundar Yenilmez, Abdullah Tuli, Gulsah Seydaoglu, Ufuk Ozgu Mete

Summary: This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of the transient receptor potential channel modulator 2-Aminoethoxydiphenyl Borate (2-APB) on aminoglycoside nephrotoxicity caused by reactive oxygen species, calcium-induced apoptosis and inflammation. The results showed that 2-APB can prevent gentamicin mediated nephrotoxicity through its anti-oxidant, anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory effects.

ULTRASTRUCTURAL PATHOLOGY (2023)

Article Cell Biology

Placental progesterone and its receptor in HIV-infected pre-eclamptic women

Serisha Sewnarain, Shoohana Singh, Thajasvarie Naicker

Summary: This study investigated the expression of progesterone and progesterone receptors in the placenta of HIV-infected women with pre-eclampsia compared to normotensive pregnant women in South Africa. The results showed that the expression of progesterone and progesterone receptors was significantly lower in pre-eclampsia cases and HIV-positive individuals. This downregulation could lead to the development of pre-eclampsia.

HISTOCHEMISTRY AND CELL BIOLOGY (2023)

Article Anatomy & Morphology

Microscopic characterization, TLC fingerprinting and optimization of total lipid content from Euphorbia neriifolia (L.) using response surface methodology

Priya Chaudhary, Mukesh Meena, Pracheta Janmeda

Summary: This study conducted a microscopic and chemical analysis of Euphorbia neriifolia, a medicinal plant used in traditional systems. The findings revealed the various microscopic features of the plant's leaves, stems, and latex, as well as the presence of different phytocompounds. The results are significant for species identification, quality control, and detection of adulteration.

MICROSCOPY RESEARCH AND TECHNIQUE (2023)

Article Materials Science, Multidisciplinary

Characterization of the Small Intestine in the Southern White-breasted Hedgehog (Erinaceus concolor) Using Histological, Histochemical, Immunohistochemical, and Scanning Electron Microscopic Techniques

Diaa Massoud, Maged Fouda, Fayez Shaldoum, Barakat M. Alrashdi, Mervat Ahmed Abdrabou, Soha A. Soliman, Hanan H. Abd-Elhafeez, Mervat Hassan, Mohamed Abumandour

Summary: The present study investigated the microscopic features of the small intestine in the southern white-breasted hedgehog (Erinaceus concolor). The composition of the intestinal wall and the characteristics of villi varied across different segments of the small intestine. The findings provide a foundation for future research on the digestive system of hedgehogs and other mammalian species.

MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS (2023)

Article Microscopy

Comparative study on the Ru ware, Ru-type ware of Qingliangsi kiln and celadon of Zhanggongxiang kiln

Shiqian Tao, Qiang Li, Heliang Yao, Song Liu, Qinghui Li

Summary: A systematic study was conducted on porcelain shards and celadon fragments from different kilns. The results showed similarities and differences in glaze color, body features, fracture structure, glaze composition, and glaze microstructure. The presence of needle-like diopside and residual quartz varied among the samples.

JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY (2023)

Article Materials Science, Multidisciplinary

SIRT3 Regulates Levels of Deacetylated SOD2 to Prevent Oxidative Stress and Mitochondrial Dysfunction During Oocyte Maturation in Pigs

Le Jiao, Chen-Xi Hu, Yue Zhang, Ying-Xin Zhang, Wen-Wu Cai, Wen-Lin Pan, Shao-Chen Sun, Yu Zhang

Summary: This study reveals the importance of SIRT3 in porcine oocyte maturation. Inhibition of SIRT3 leads to maturation failure, disrupted mitochondrial function, ROS accumulation, and oxidative stress-induced apoptosis.

MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS (2023)

Article Materials Science, Multidisciplinary

Lipids and Proteins Differentiation in Membrane Fouling Using Heavy Metal Staining and Electron Microscopy at Cryogenic Temperatures

Helene Roberge, Philippe Moreau, Estelle Couallier, Patricia Abellan

Summary: Detailed structural characterization of fouling in membranes is crucial for understanding filtration performance. Electron microscopy combined with labeling techniques can differentiate biomolecules, but specific protocols for differentiating biomolecules in fouled membranes are challenging due to the need for preserving membrane state and the inability of probes to penetrate fouled membranes. This study presents a heavy metal staining technique compatible with cryofixation to identify and differentiate biomolecules in fouling. The technique enhances contrast and reveals the strong interaction between proteins and lipids in fouling.

MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS (2023)

Article Microscopy

A critical catalogue of SEM-EDS multispectral maps analysis methods and their application to hydrated cementitious materials

Fabien Georget, Joyce Schmatz, Eva Wellmann, Thomas Matschei

Summary: This article reviews the latest advancements in analyzing SEM-EDS data for cementitious materials. It focuses on the successful applications of SEM-EDS in studying the microstructure of hardened cementitious materials and the main methods used to analyze the dataset. The discussion aims to highlight the requirements of each method and application, allowing readers to choose and combine methods to answer their own scientific questions.

JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY (2023)

Article Materials Science, Multidisciplinary

Handling Difficult Cryo-ET Samples: A Study with Primary Neurons from Drosophila melanogaster

Joseph Y. Kim, Jie E. Yang, Josephine W. Mitchell, Lauren A. English, Sihui Z. Yang, Tanner Tenpas, Erik W. Dent, Jill Wildonger, Elizabeth R. Wright

Summary: Cellular neurobiology has made significant progress in understanding structural and ultrastructural aspects through cryo-electron tomography. However, establishing a Drosophila neuronal model for cryo-ET encountered ultrastructural abnormalities. Through optimization of sample preparation and addressing difficulties, valuable insights were gained for future studies in establishing other cell-based model systems.

MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS (2023)

Article Microscopy

Primed conversion: The emerging player of precise and nontoxic photoconversion

Konstantinos Kalyviotis, Periklis Pantazis

Summary: This article introduces the basic principles and applications of primed conversion technique, focusing on its use in single-cell labeling and lineage tracing. The article provides a historical perspective on lineage tracing techniques and discusses the potential future developments of the primed conversion imaging toolkit.

JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY (2023)

Article Materials Science, Multidisciplinary

Automated Grain Boundary Detection for Bright-Field Transmission Electron Microscopy Images via U-Net

Matthew J. Patrick, James K. Eckstein, Javier R. Lopez, Silvia Toderas, Sarah A. Asher, Sylvia Whang, Stacey Levine, Jeffrey M. Rickman, Katayun Barmak

Summary: This study successfully demonstrates the application of a machine learning approach for grain boundary detection in bright-field transmission electron micrographs. The proposed methodology combines a U-Net convolutional neural network trained on carefully constructed data with targeted postprocessing algorithms to accurately estimate grain boundary positions and preserve fine features of interest. The technique is validated by comparing with manual tracings and shows promising results for interpreting new microstructures with different image characteristics.

MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS (2023)

Article Materials Science, Multidisciplinary

SARS-CoV-2 Causes Brain Damage: Therapeutic Intervention with AZD8797

Elif Kervancioglu Demirci, Engin Alp Onen, Erva Sevic Yilmaz, Ayca Karagoz Koroglu, Dilek Akakin

Summary: This study aimed to investigate the potential protective effects of selective CX3CR1 antagonist AZD8797 on SARS-CoV-2-induced neuronal damage. The findings showed that AZD8797 treatment mitigated the adverse effects of SARS-CoV-2, including weight loss, neuronal damage, and impaired memory function. The study suggested that the CX3CL1-CX3CR1 signaling pathway could serve as a promising target for reducing the neurological impact of SARS-CoV-2.

MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS (2023)

Article Microscopy

Clinker based on calcium looped meals from the Cleanker Project

Daniela Gastaldi, Fulvio Canonico, Valentino Merlo, Francesco Magli

Summary: The CLEAN project demonstrates the feasibility of the Calcium Looping process in industrial scale, which can capture CO2 and use it in cement production. The results show that the looped meals have good burnability and can be successfully used in clinker production.

JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY (2023)

Article Microscopy

Applications of clinker microscopy for approaching a special case study in cement production

S. Mutke, F. Canonico

Summary: This article illustrates the importance of optical light microscopy for the investigation of cement clinker through three examples: (a) Ono's method plays a vital role in the production of oil well clinker, where the reactivity of alite and the melting phase significantly influence the properties of the cement produced later; (b) the use of secondary fuels can lead to unexpected phenomena and color changes in the clinker matrix; (c) the combination of light and scanning electron microscopy provides valuable information about the formation of clinker phases in CSA clinkers, which is difficult to detect with other methods. However, there is a lack of knowledge about the relationship between production and hydraulic properties of CSA clinker, resulting in a lack of systematic documentation available.

JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY (2023)

Article Microscopy

Important aspects of investigating optical excitations in semiconductors using a scanning transmission electron microscope

Michael Stoeger-Pollach, Krystina Bukvisova, Keanu Zenz, Leo Stoeger, Ze Scales

Summary: As semiconductor components continue to evolve and shrink in size, electron beam techniques play a crucial role in investigating the dielectric properties of such miniaturized devices. However, these techniques also have physical limitations such as spatial resolution and interference effects, which are addressed in this work through spectroscopic investigations of probe electrons and emitted light from the electron-sample interaction. Topics like delocalisation, the Cerenkov effect, beam damage, and higher-order diffraction at blazed grating analysers are touched upon.

JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY (2023)

Article Anatomy & Morphology

Pecten oculi of kestrel (Falco tinnunculus rupicolaeformes) and little owl (Athene noctua glaux): Scanning electron microscopy and histology with unique insights into SEM-EDX elemental analysis

Doaa Gewily, Walaa Shalaby, Mohamed Abumandour, Om Prakash Choudhary, Ramadan Kandyel

Summary: This study compares the morphological features of the pecten oculi in diurnal common kestrels and nocturnal little owls. The results show minor variations between the two birds in terms of pleat number, shape, pigmentations, and hyalocyte cell aggregations.

MICROSCOPY RESEARCH AND TECHNIQUE (2023)

Article Cell Biology

The presence of Mott cells in the lymph nodes of rats with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Tamara Martinovic, Sasenka Vidicevic, Darko Ciric, Vladimir Bumbasirevic, Zeljka Stanojevic, Jelena Tasic, Sasa Petricevic, Aleksandra Isakovic, Vesna Cemerikic Martinovic, Neda Drndarevic, Vladimir Trajkovic, Tamara Kravic-Stevovic

Summary: In our study, we observed Mott cells, which are plasma cells with multiple spherical Russell bodies in their cytoplasm, in the lymph nodes of rats with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). These Russell bodies are filled with aggregates of immunoglobulins that are not secreted or degraded. Mott cells were found to express the plasma cell marker CD138 and originated from polyclonally activated B cells. The presence of Russell bodies suggests excessive production of immunoglobulins in EAE, highlighting the importance of B cells, including Mott cells, in the pathogenesis of this animal model of multiple sclerosis.

HISTOCHEMISTRY AND CELL BIOLOGY (2023)

Article Anatomy & Morphology

Investigations on the morpho-anatomy and histochemistry of Aconitum napellus L.

Lorene Armstrong, Camila Dias Machado, Gabriela Guedes Dell'Avanzi, Thais Spindola, Vijayasankar Raman, Joachim Busch, Jakob Maier, Nina Claudia Barboza da Silva, Carla Holandino, Adriana Passos Oliveira, Jane Manfron

Summary: This article provides detailed morphological and microscopic features of A. napellus, including anatomical and histochemical characteristics, to aid in authentication and quality control.

MICROSCOPY RESEARCH AND TECHNIQUE (2023)