Scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy and Raman and infrared spectroscopic study of tilleyite Ca5Si2O7(CO3)2-Y

The mineral tilleyite-Y, a carbonate-silicate of calcium, has been studied by scanning electron microscopy with chemical analysis using energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDX) and Raman and infrared spectroscopy. Multiple carbonate stretching modes are observed and support the concept of non-equivalent carbonate units in the tilleyite structure. Multiple Raman and infrared bands in the OH stretching region are observed, proving the existence of water in different molecular environments in the structure of tilleyite. Vibrational spectroscopy offers new information on the mineral tilleyite.

Scanning electron microscopy study of worn Al-Si alloy surfaces

A pin-on-disc machine was used to wear Al-Si alloy pins under dry conditions. Unmodified and modified binary alloys and commercial multi-component alloys were tested. The surfaces of the worn alloys were examined by scanning electron microscopy to identify distinct topographical features to aid elucidation of the mechanisms of wear.

Scanning electron microscopy studies of wear in LM13 and LM13-graphite particulate composite

Examination of the structure of worn surfaces has shown that the wear of LM13 and LM13-graphite particulate composite is controlled by the nature and extent of subsurface deformation. The addition of graphite influences the wear characteristics by affecting the plastically deformed zone. The possible mechanisms of wear are discussed.

Three-dimensional reconstruction of black tiger prawn (Penaeus monodon) spermatozoa using serial block-face scanning electron microscopy

Serial Block-Face Scanning Electron Microscopy (SBF-SEM) was used in this study to examine the ultrastructural morphology of Penaeus monodon spermatozoa. SBF-SEM provided a large dataset of sequential electron-microscopic-level images that facilitated comprehensive ultrastructural observations and three-dimensional reconstructions of the sperm cell. Reconstruction divulged a nuclear region of the spermatophoral spermatozoon filled with decondensed chromatin but with two apparent levels of packaging density. In addition, the nuclear region contained, not only numerous filamentous chromatin elements with dense microregions, but also large centrally gathered granular masses. Analysis of the sperm cytoplasm revealed the presence of degenerated mitochondria and membrane-less dense granules. A large electron-lucent vesicle and "arch-like" structures were apparent in the subacrosomal area, and an acrosomal core was found in the acrosomal vesicle. The spermatozoal spike arose from the inner membrane of the acrosomal vesicle, which was slightly bulbous in the middle region of the acrosomal vesicle, but then extended distally into a broad dense plate and to a sharp point proximally. This study has demonstrated that SBF-SEM is a powerful technique for the 3D ultrastructural reconstruction of prawn spermatozoa, that will no doubt be informative for further studies of sperm assessment, reproductive pathology and the spermiocladistics of penaeid prawns, and other decapod crustaceans. J. Morphol., 2016. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Eggs of British Meniscus midges (diptera;dixidae) observed by scanning electron microscopy

The egg of Dixella martinii is described for the first time. The eggs of the Dixidae are placed in three morphological groups: bulbous and meshed; streamlined and smooth; streamlined and minutely spiculated. Ten of the fourteen species known from Britain are placed in these groups. After a detailed description of the egg of D. martinii, the three morphological groups are described and scanning electron micrographs are provided.

Femtosecond laser pulse irradiation of Sb-rich AgInSbTe films: Scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy investigations

The single-layer and multilayer Sb-rich AgInSbTe films were irradiated by a single femtosecond laser pulse with the duration of 120 fs. The morphological feature resulting from the laser irradiation have been investigated by scanning electron microscopy and atom force microscopy. For the single-layer film, the center of the irradiated spot is a dark depression and the border is a bright protrusion; however, for the multilayer film, the center morphology changes from a depression to a protrusion as the energy increases. The crystallization threshold fluence of the single-layer and the multilayer films is 46.36 mJ/cm(2), 63.74 mJ/cm(2), respectively.

Scanning electron microscopy of Aspidogaster ijimai Kawamura, 1913 and A-conchicola Baer, 1827 (Aspidogastrea, Aspidogastridae) with reference to their fish definitive-host specificity

Two species of aspidogastreans, namely Aspidogaster ijimai and A. conchicola, were studied by scanning electron microscopy. In nine lakes and an old river course, the Tian'ezhou oxbow, investigated in the flood plain of the Yangtze River, A. ijimai was obtained from the common carp (Cyprinus carpio) in three lakes, and A. conchicola from the black carp Mylopharyngodon piceus in three lakes and the oxbow. In none of the localities, however, were the two species found together. It is suggested that A. ijimai may be considered as a specialist parasite for the common carp, at least in the flood-plain lakes of the Yangtze River. The two parasites were similar in many aspects of their morphology. Their bodies can both be separated into a dorsal part and a ventral disc, with the body surface of the dorsal part elevated by transverse folds, and the disc subdivided into alveoli by transverse and longitudinal septa, although the number of alveoli was different in the two species. The depression on the ventral surface of the neck region was prominent for both species, and their ventral disc was covered densely with non-ciliated bulbous papillae. The position of mouth, osmo-regulatory pore and marginal organ was also similar for A. ijimai and A. conchicola. However, microridges in the trough of the folds in the neck region and numerous small pits on the upper part of the septa were found exclusively in A. ijimai, but uniciliated sensory papillae in A. conchicola.