Microscopy and Microanalysis最新文献

Deciphering the nanoscale architecture of mosquito wings is crucial for understanding species-specific flight adaptations and vectorial behaviors. In this study, we present a comprehensive quantitative analysis of the wing surface morphology of Anopheles darlingi and Anopheles aquasalis. By integrating high-resolution microscopy with Minkowski functionals and multifractal formalism, we reveal pronounced interspecific and dorso-ventral asymmetries in mosquito wing surfaces at both micro- and nanoscales. Atomic force microscopic topographies revealed distinct differences in dorsal versus ventral surface roughness, with An. aquasalis displaying higher elevation variance and denser nanomorphological heterogeneity. Minkowski volume and boundary descriptors showed slower decay and broader distribution for An. aquasalis, especially on its dorsal side, indicative of complex topographic relief. Multifractal spectra, derived from the box-counting method across q = -10 to +10, exhibited larger width (Δα ≈ 1.073) and stronger left-symmetry (H ≈ -0.852) in An. aquasalis, compared to narrower and more symmetric spectra in An. darlingi (Δα ≈ 1.009; H ≈ -0.532). Generalized fractal dimensions (D0 ≈ 2.00; D2 range: 1.951-1.982) and singularity spectra asymmetry (Δf up to -1.732) further differentiated species and wing sides. These multiscale descriptors demonstrate that An. aquasalis, particularly its ventral surface, harbors higher degrees of nanomorphological complexity and textural irregularity.

Fenitrothion is a known environmental contaminant used in public health and agriculture. Gallic acid is a phenolic compound found in numerous plants. This study analyzed the hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic effects of Fenitrothion and evaluated the possible protective effect of gallic acid. Fenitrothion (32 mg/kg body weight/day) and gallic acid (50 mg/kg body weight/day) were administered to male rats by gavage for 28 days. In the present study, the renal (blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and uric acid levels) and liver (albumin, total protein, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, total cholesterol, triglyceride, lactate dehydrogenase) function markers in the blood, acetylcholinesterase activities, antioxidant enzyme activities and malondialdehyde level as markers of oxidative stress, and ultrastructural/histopathological/immunohistochemically changes were researched in liver and kidney tissues. Additionally, while superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione-S-transferase, and glutathione peroxidase activities were decreased in the liver and kidney tissue of rats treated with fenitrothion, malondialdehyde level was significantly increased. Histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses showed many injuries in the renal and hepatic tissue of fenitrothion-treated animals. Also, the supplementation of gallic acid with fenitrothion significantly improved fenitrothion-induced alterations in renal and liver function markers, antioxidant enzyme activities, acetylcholinesterase activities, malondialdehyde levels, and histological features of tissues.

In this study, the oviposition behavior of the predatory water scorpion beetle Nepa cinerea Linnaeus, 1758 (Hemiptera: Nepidae), morphological structure of eggs, and respiratory horns are described using stereo, light, and electron microscopes. The first recorded N. cinerea specimens from Kırıkkale province were examined. N. cinerea females lay their eggs by sticking them vertically to the substrate. Eggs are elliptical, approximately 1.3 mm wide and 1.63 mm long. Fresh eggs are yellow, darkening. There are 5-8 respiratory horns at the anterior pole of the egg shell. There are numerous air pore openings on the respiratory horn surface. There are hexagonal patterns on the chorion surface. The egg is surrounded by the endochorion with vitelline envelope, the exochorion with tubercle, and the intrachorionic air space between them. The nymph hatches from the egg in 8-10 days. In this study, the development of N. cinerea, which plays an important role in the aquatic ecosystem, the structure and number of respiratory horns in its eggs, and the histology and anatomy of the chorion were emphasized. Clearly determining the preadult egg period that will ensure the continuity of the species will make a significant contribution to biodiversity and biocontrol studies.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of black fig (Ficus carica) leaf extract on the skin wound healing process. In the survey, Wistar albino female rats with skin wounds on their backs according to the circular excisional wound model were divided into three groups: control, cold cream, and 5% black fig leaf cream. Following wound formation, tissue samples were collected from each group for analysis on the 3rd, 7th, and 14th days. Inflammatory cell density, bleeding, fibroblast proliferation, epithelialization, and collagen formation in the collected wound tissues were determined by hematoxylin and eosin staining and Masson's trichrome staining; VEGF and COL I gene and protein expression levels involved in the wound healing process were determined by real-time PCR and immunohistochemical analysis. As a result of the analysis, it was determined that high re-epithelialization, fibroblast proliferation, angiogenesis development, and collagen formation were observed in the FCC group compared to the C and CC groups. At the end of the study, the positive effect of black fig leaf on wound healing was also shown genetically and histopathologically. Further studies are needed to explore the potential of black fig leaves as a therapeutic drug for the treatment of skin wounds.

Starch from a single botanical source can exhibit variations in physicochemical properties in both its native and hydrolyzed forms. This study examined the structural and functional characteristics of starch from five potato varieties of India. In vitro enzymatic hydrolysis was employed to determine the dextrose equivalent profile of each starch type. The amylose content among the five potato varieties ranged from 17.5 and 25%. Optical microscopy revealed that the native starch granules were ovoid or elliptical in shape. X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the presence of starch crystallinity and identified spectral peaks characteristic of A-type starch crystals in the native form. Fourier transform infrared spectra indicated common stretching and deformation of bonds in all native starches. Differential scanning calorimeter endotherms showed the highest and lowest gelatinization peak temperatures among the starch varieties. Additionally, polarization-resolved second harmonic generation microscopy was employed to image the starch granules and obtain high-resolution structural insights, revealing distinctive patterns of starch crystallinity. The findings of this study can help to optimize the usage of potato starch in food and nonfood industries. Additionally, understanding the control points of starch digestion and genetically tailoring potato varieties with different digestibility profiles could be beneficial for nutraceutical applications.

Most investigations of resin embedded biological samples by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) have been performed in TEM bright-field mode where the electron beam transmits through the sample. Modern TEMs can also be used in scanning TEM mode (STEM) where the beam scans across the sample. The preferred detector for STEM mode is the high-angle annular dark-field (HAADF) detector. The aim of this study was to compare image quality of resin embedded biological samples such as yeast (Saccharomyces), algae (Chlorella, Haematococcus), plant leaves (Nicotiana), human cells (MCF7), and animal tissue (mouse liver and brain) between TEM bright-field and STEM-HAADF mode. Generally, images taken in STEM-HAADF mode showed better image quality in terms of contrast, brightness, and signal-to-noise ratio. Samples of sections that did not receive postcontrasting with uranyl acetate or lead citrate appeared significantly less grainy. Specifically, STEM-HAADF mode resulted in significantly better image quality of algae cells, MCF7, and liver cells that did not receive postcontrasting. Artifacts visible in TEM mode were absent in STEM-HAADF mode. Thus, we can conclude that STEM-HAADF mode has significant advantages when investigating resin embedded biological samples that have little contrast or sections that did not receive postcontrasting rendering postcontrasting of sections unnecessary.

Precise Fe concentration measurements are essential to understand the kinetics of precipitation and evolution of mechanical properties in Al-Fe alloys. Moreover, with the increasing proportion of recycled metals, it is mandatory to rely on techniques capable of tracking impurities in Al-alloys to elucidate their effects on microstructure and properties. Atom Probe Tomography (APT) is a powerful material analysis tool capable of precise composition measurements. As it relies on time-of-flight mass spectrometry, the quality of the composition measurements is highly dependent on the proper peak identification and solving peak overlapping. The complexity of peak decomposition multiplies if molecular ions such as hydrides or oxides are present in the mass spectrum. Al-Fe is one of these systems, where three out of four peaks of Fe isotopes are overlapping with Al, AlH, and AlH2 mass intervals. To solve this complex peak overlapping case, an approach has been developed here. It is based on acquiring the Al-hydride formation ratio from APT analyses of standard materials, where no overlap with Fe peaks is observed. This simple method aims to improve the precision of Fe concentration measurements in Al-Fe system.

Focused ion beam (FIB) systems have revolutionized sample preparation for transmission electron microscopy (TEM), enabling precise and site-specific material analysis. However, the conventional ion beam-induced deposition (IBID) approach to preparing FIB samples can lead to contamination effects that can compromise the quality of TEM data acquisition. This study introduces an innovative FIB method for connecting TEM lamellae to support grids via redeposition, avoiding the contamination issue. We demonstrate the effectiveness of this technique through observations of a SiC phase within tristructural-isotropic particles during in situ high-temperature and irradiation TEM experiments, establishing an improved process for characterizing material behaviors during exposure to their industrially relevant environmental conditions.

The Parthenium beetle, Zygogramma bicolorata Pallister (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is a notable biocontrol agent against invasive Parthenium weed in Australia, South Africa, and the Indian subcontinent. While larvae consume both inflorescences and leaves, and adults feed exclusively on leaves, no prior study has compared the mouthparts of Z. bicolorata larvae and adults. Present study utilized scanning electron microscopy to investigate the morphology and distribution of sensilla on mouthparts of fourth-instar larvae, pupae, and adults. Our results revealed that fourth-instar larvae had 9-different sensillum types: sensilla chaetica (Sch I-III), sensilla basiconica (Sb I-V), and sensilla digitiformia (Ds) on their mouthparts, whereas pupal sensilla were fewer and less distinct. In adults, 13-different sensillum types were present: sensilla chaetica (Sch I-III) on labrum, labium, mandibles, and maxillae; sensilla basiconica (Sb I-VI) on labium, epipharyx, lacinia, maxillary palps, and labial palps; sensilla digitiformia (Ds) on maxillary palps; and sensilla campaniformia (Sca), and sensilla coeloconica (Sco I-II) on epipharyx. These sensilla likely play vital roles in feeding behavior, sensory perception, and host plant detection. Our findings provide a microscopic morphological foundation for further research on food recognition mechanisms and local adaptations in specialist phytophagous insects.

Serial block-face scanning electron microscopy (SBF-SEM) is employed to achieve high-resolution volume reconstructions and detailed ultrastructural analyses of complex organelles. The performance of SBF-SEM is evaluated according to the accuracy of segmentation. Our study introduces a semi-supervised learning approach using a segment interpolation method to mitigate the costs of manual segmentation. The shapes and locations of individual segments between sparsely annotated label images are estimated using the proposed method. The proposed method is particularly well suited for SBF-SEM, where alignment and fine cutting of samples allow for accurate predictions with a minimal amount of labelled data. To validate the deep neural networks trained using the proposed method, the F-1 score metric and the K-fold technique were utilized. The results achieved an F-1 score of 0.89 for mouse brain cells and 0.84 for inverted images during the validation process for semi-supervised learning. Testing on an independently separated test dataset yielded scores of 0.84 for mouse brain cells and 0.80 for inverted cases. The automatically segmented results were then reconstructed in volume images using the marching cube algorithm. This allows for a three-dimensional (3-D) analysis of complex organelles, with potential applications in the fields of biology and medicine.