In situ characterization of thermal conductivities of irradiated solids by using ion beam heating and infrared imaging

AbstractWe report recent development of a three-probe micromachined nanomanipulator for manipulation and in-situ characterization of nanomaterials in scanning electron microscope (SEM). The nanomanipulator consists of three independent probes having thermal bimetallic actuators and nanoscopic end-effectors. Nanoscale end-effectors with sub-100-nm spacing are created using focused ion beam (FIB) milling to directly interface with nanoscopic objects (e.g., nanotubes, nanowires). Handling of individual carbon nanotubes (CNTs) was successfully realized with the nanomanipulator in an SEM.

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Characterization of the glycoconjugates of boar testis and epididymis

Reproduction ◽

10.1530/reprod/120.2.325 ◽

2000 ◽

pp. 325-335 ◽

Cited By ~ 29

Author(s):

A Calvo ◽

LM Pastor ◽

S Bonet ◽

E Pinart ◽

M Ventura

Keyword(s):

Ricinus Communis ◽

Lectin Histochemistry ◽

Apical Part ◽

Seminiferous Tubules ◽

In Situ Characterization ◽

Intense Staining ◽

Terminal Galactose ◽

Boar Spermatozoa

Lectin histochemistry was used to perform in situ characterization of the glycoconjugates present in boar testis and epididymis. Thirteen horseradish peroxidase- or digoxigenin-labelled lectins were used in samples obtained from healthy fertile boars. The acrosomes of the spermatids were stained intensely by lectins with affinity for galactose and N-acetyl-galactosamine residues, these being soybean, peanut and Ricinus communis agglutinins. Sertoli cells were stained selectively by Maackia ammurensis agglutinin. The lamina propria of seminiferous tubules showed the most intense staining with fucose-binding lectins. The Golgi area and the apical part of the principal cells of the epididymis were stained intensely with many lectins and their distribution was similar in the three zones of the epididymis. On the basis of lectin affinity, both testis and epididymis appear to have N- and O-linked glycoconjugates. Spermatozoa from different epididymal regions showed different expression of terminal galactose and N-acetyl-galactosamine. Sialic acid (specifically alpha2,3 neuraminic-5 acid) was probably incorporated into spermatozoa along the extratesticular ducts. These findings indicate that the development and maturation of boar spermatozoa are accompanied by changes in glycoconjugates. As some lectins stain cellular or extracellular compartments specifically, these lectins could be useful markers in histopathological evaluation of diseases of boar testis and epididymis.

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Spectro-mechanical Characterization of Aromaticity and Maturity of Kerogens in Oil Shale at 6 nm Spatial Resolution

10.26434/chemrxiv.7336160 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Devon Jakob ◽

Le Wang ◽

Haomin Wang ◽

Xiaoji Xu

Keyword(s):

Spatial Resolution ◽

Oil Shale ◽

Infrared Imaging ◽

Mechanical Characterization ◽

Optical Diffraction ◽

Chemical Compositions ◽

Valuable Insight ◽

Eagle Ford Shale

<p>In situ measurements of the chemical compositions and mechanical properties of kerogen help understand the formation, transformation, and utilization of organic matter in the oil shale at the nanoscale. However, the optical diffraction limit prevents attainment of nanoscale resolution using conventional spectroscopy and microscopy. Here, we utilize peak force infrared (PFIR) microscopy for multimodal characterization of kerogen in oil shale. The PFIR provides correlative infrared imaging, mechanical mapping, and broadband infrared spectroscopy capability with 6 nm spatial resolution. We observed nanoscale heterogeneity in the chemical composition, aromaticity, and maturity of the kerogens from oil shales from Eagle Ford shale play in Texas. The kerogen aromaticity positively correlates with the local mechanical moduli of the surrounding inorganic matrix, manifesting the Le Chatelier’s principle. In situ spectro-mechanical characterization of oil shale will yield valuable insight for geochemical and geomechanical modeling on the origin and transformation of kerogen in the oil shale.</p>

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