Cosmetology treatments on human hair: An SEM study

Author(s):  
D.F. Bowling

High school cosmetology students study the methods and effects of various human hair treatments, including permanents, straightening, conditioning, coloring and cutting. Although they are provided with textbook examples of overtreatment and numerous hair disorders and diseases, a view of an individual hair at the high resolution offered by an SEM provides convincing evidence of the hair‘s altered structure. Magnifications up to 2000X provide dramatic differences in perspective. A good quality classroom optical microscope can be very informative at lower resolutions.Students in a cosmetology class are initially split into two groups. One group is taught basic controls on the SEM (focus, magnification, brightness, contrast, specimen X, Y, and Z axis movements). A healthy, untreated piece of hair is initially examined on the SEM The second group cements a piece of their own hair on a stub. The samples are dryed quickly using heat or vacuum while the groups trade places and activities.

Author(s):  
M. Müller ◽  
R. Hermann

Three major factors must be concomitantly assessed in order to extract relevant structural information from the surface of biological material at high resolution (2-3nm).Procedures based on chemical fixation and dehydration in graded solvent series seem inappropriate when aiming for TEM-like resolution. Cells inevitably shrink up to 30-70% of their initial volume during gehydration; important surface components e.g. glycoproteins may be lost. These problems may be circumvented by preparation techniques based on cryofixation. Freezedrying and freeze-substitution followed by critical point drying yields improved structural preservation in TEM. An appropriate preservation of dimensional integrity may be achieved by freeze-drying at - 85° C. The sample shrinks and may partially collapse as it is warmed to room temperature for subsequent SEM study. Observations at low temperatures are therefore a necessary prerequisite for high fidelity SEM. Compromises however have been unavoidable up until now. Aldehyde prefixation is frequently needed prior to freeze drying, rendering the sample resistant to treatment with distilled water.


Author(s):  
Kazuo Ishizuka

It is well known that taking into account spacial and temporal coherency of illumination as well as the wave aberration is important to interpret an image of a high-resolution electron microscope (HREM). This occues, because coherency of incident electrons restricts transmission of image information. Due to its large spherical and chromatic aberrations, the electron microscope requires higher coherency than the optical microscope. On an application of HREM for a strong scattering object, we have to estimate the contribution of the interference between the diffracted waves on an image formation. The contribution of each pair of diffracted waves may be properly represented by the transmission cross coefficients (TCC) between these waves. In this report, we will show an improved form of the TCC including second order derivatives, and compare it with the first order TCC.In the electron microscope the specimen is illuminated by quasi monochromatic electrons having a small range of illumination directions. Thus, the image intensity for each energy and each incident direction should be summed to give an intensity to be observed. However, this is a time consuming process, if the ranges of incident energy and/or illumination direction are large. To avoid this difficulty, we can use the TCC by assuming that a transmission function of the specimen does not depend on the incident beam direction. This is not always true, because dynamical scattering is important owing to strong interactions of electrons with the specimen. However, in the case of HREM, both the specimen thickness and the illumination angle should be small. Therefore we may neglect the dependency of the transmission function on the incident beam direction.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qian Zhao ◽  
Baochun Huang ◽  
Zhiyu Yi ◽  
Pengfei Xue

Paleocene carbonates from the Gamba area of South Tibet provide the largest paleomagnetic dataset for constraining the paleogeography of the India-Asia collision in the early stage. Previous studies argued that the characteristic remanences (ChRMs) obtained from this unit were remagnetized via orogenic fluids. This study carries out a high-resolution petrographic study on the Paleocene carbonates from Gamba aiming to test the nature of the ChRMs. Electron microscopic observation on magnetic extracts identified a large amount of detrital magnetite that are multi- to single domain in sizes and nanoscale biogenic magnetite. Minor framboidal iron oxides were also identified, which were previously interpreted as authigenic magnetite that substitutes pyrite. However, our scanning and transmission electron microscopic (SEM/TEM) observations, along with optical microscope and Raman spectrum investigations further suggest that these magnetic minerals are pigmentary hematite and goethite that are incapable of carrying a stable primary magnetization. We therefore argue that the ChRMs of the limestones from the Zongpu Formation in the Gamba area are carried by detrital and biogenic magnetites rather than authigenic magnetite. The paleomagnetic data from the Gamba area are interpreted as primary origin and can thus be used for tectonic reconstructions. We emphasize that magnetic extraction, integrated with advanced mineralogic studies (e.g., electron backscatter diffraction and electron diffraction) are effective approaches for investigating the origin of magnetic carriers in carbonate rocks.


2001 ◽  
Vol 7 (S2) ◽  
pp. 980-981
Author(s):  
S. Notoya ◽  
H. Takahashi ◽  
T. Okumura ◽  
C.H. Nielsen

We have developed a new Electron Probe Microanalyzer (EPMA), JXA-8100/8200, with improved basic capabilities such as X-ray intensities of wavelength dispersive spectrometers (WDS), imaging functions, automated functions and analysis software. Fig. 1 shows the appearance of JXA-8200, WD/ED combined microanalyzer. in this session, we report mainly on the improved imaging functions, automated functions and analysis software.The JXA-8100/8200 is the first EPMA in the world to feature 1280 x 1024 pixels high resolution live scanning image display. Regarding scanning image, two or four different signal live images, of course including X-ray images, can be displayed simultaneously. Further, image mixing is also possible to display. On the high resolution image, an operator can choose the probe position or the stage position by mouse clicking. The stage position can also be chosen on the optical microscope (OM) live image. Another new “Swing Mouse” function, which is the seamless movement of mouse pointer between the scanning image display and the computer display, has been developed.Advanced automated functions, such as autofocus, auto astigmatism and auto contrast brightness, are effective to optimize the scanning image.


1984 ◽  
Vol 57 (3) ◽  
pp. 457-506 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. R. White ◽  
E. L. Thomas

Abstract We hope that this review contains convincing evidence of the value of scanning electron microscopy in polymer studies. Much information has been provided by this technique which could not be obtained by any other means. We hope, too, that we have indicated the kinds of problems that are confronted when dealing with this class of materials. Charging can be a problem, but this can normally be countered by applying a conductive coating. More serious is radiation damage, which may cause image deterioration and artifact production. Sometimes this will obscure the features about which information is sought and could lead to false interpretation. Proper controls should be applied and observations made at several magnifications and several beam potentials and currents to establish the best conditions. Although we have emphasized the difficulties that may be encountered when studying polymers in the SEM, many polymers provide very easy subjects, especially if high resolution (∼ 10 nm) is not sought, and standard SEM procedures are very straightforward. We hope that the value of the technique indicated by the many successful applications to which we have referred will act as sufficient incentive to outweigh any deterrent message that might be derived from our more cautionary passages relating to the difficulties.


2001 ◽  
Vol 29 (7) ◽  
pp. 499-507 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorenzo Breschi ◽  
Pietro Gobbi ◽  
Mirella Falconi ◽  
Luigi Ciavarelli ◽  
Gabriella Teti ◽  
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