Novelties in the secretory structures of three species of Gongora (Orchidaceae: Stanhopeinae)

Author(s):  
Jorgeane V Casique ◽  
Eloisa H de Aguiar Andrade ◽  
Ana Cristina Andrade de Aguiar Dias ◽  
Alexandra A Mastroberti

Abstract The members of the Stanhopeinae (Orchidaceae) bear osmophores, which are related to pollination since they exude volatile lipids that attract euglossine bees. Gongora spp. are pollinated exclusively by euglossine bees. In view of the structural diversity found in the flowers of this genus and the lack of data on other foraging insects that visit these flowers, we elucidated aspects of the anatomy of floral secreting structures in the Stanhopeinae group, focusing on structures in Gongora jauariensis, Gongora pleiochroma and Gongora minax, species from the Amazon Rainforest. Secretory structures were analysed using light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, and histochemical and phytochemical procedures. Osmophores, extrafloral nectaries and elaiophores were observed. The three species bear a structured nectary on the bract and osmophores on both the sepals and labellum hypochile. In G. minax, the labellum (hypochile) shows chemical and structural characteristics of elaiophore and osmophores, suggesting that it has both functions. We report interactions between foraging ants and nectaries of Gongora spp. for the first time. Interactions with ants attracted by the nectaries on the bracts are beneficial for orchids, as the ants help to protect their reproductive structures.

Author(s):  
R. Gronsky

The phenomenon of clustering in Al-Ag alloys has been extensively studied since the early work of Guinierl, wherein the pre-precipitation state was characterized as an assembly of spherical, ordered, silver-rich G.P. zones. Subsequent x-ray and TEM investigations yielded results in general agreement with this model. However, serious discrepancies were later revealed by the detailed x-ray diffraction - based computer simulations of Gragg and Cohen, i.e., the silver-rich clusters were instead octahedral in shape and fully disordered, atleast below 170°C. The object of the present investigation is to examine directly the structural characteristics of G.P. zones in Al-Ag by high resolution transmission electron microscopy.


Minerals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 611
Author(s):  
Celia Marcos ◽  
María de Uribe-Zorita ◽  
Pedro Álvarez-Lloret ◽  
Alaa Adawy ◽  
Patricia Fernández ◽  
...  

Chert samples from different coastal and inland outcrops in the Eastern Asturias (Spain) were mineralogically investigated for the first time for archaeological purposes. X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, transmission electron microscopy, infrared and Raman spectroscopy and total organic carbon techniques were used. The low content of moganite, since its detection by X-ray diffraction is practically imperceptible, and the crystallite size (over 1000 Å) of the quartz in these cherts would be indicative of its maturity and could potentially be used for dating chert-tools recovered from archaeological sites. Also, this information can constitute essential data to differentiate the cherts and compare them with those used in archaeological tools. However, neither composition nor crystallite size would allow distinguishing between coastal and inland chert outcrops belonging to the same geological formations.


2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 1581-1588 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. I. Sadovnikov ◽  
E. Yu. Gerasimov

For the first time, the α-Ag2S (acanthite)–β-Ag2S (argentite) phase transition in a single silver sulfide nanoparticles has been observed in situ using a high-resolution transmission electron microscopy method in real time.


1997 ◽  
Vol 04 (03) ◽  
pp. 559-566 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. GIBSON ◽  
X. CHEN ◽  
O. POHLAND

Transmission electron microscopy is uniquely able to extend techniques for imaging free surface steps to the buried interface regime, without significant loss of detail. Two mechanisms for imaging surface and interfacial steps by transmission electron microscopy are described. They are thickness contrast and strain contrast. The former reveals the position and approximate height of steps, whereas the latter detects stress fields which are commonly associated with steps. The basis for each of these methods is elaborated, and preliminary results are shown for step images at Si/SiO2 interfaces, where measurable stress fields have been directly detected for the first time.


1994 ◽  
Vol 72 (3) ◽  
pp. 301-308 ◽  
Author(s):  
Georgia L. Hoffman ◽  
Ruth A. Stockey

Several hundred vegetative and fertile specimens of Azolla Lam. have been recovered from the Paleocene Paskapoo Formation at the Joffre Bridge locality (Middle Tiffanian (Ti3) age) near Red Deer, Alberta. The spore complexes closely resemble those of the Paleocene A. stanleyi Jain & Hall, and the vegetative material is referred to that species. The specimens are unusually complete in that the remains of the fragile sporophyte are preserved, commonly with reproductive structures in place. Plants reaching up to 2.25 cm in length consist of alternately branched rhizomes bearing alternate, imbricate, sessile leaves. Leaves are ovate with entire margins, papillate surfaces, and a single midvein. Reproductive structures have been examined using light, scanning, and transmission electron microscopy. This new material is compared with the other Paleocene species for which sporophytes are known and discussed in terms of evolutionary trends for the genus. The specimens suggest that most of the vegetative characteristics of modern Azolla species were established by the middle Paleocene. Key words: Azolla, Salviniaceae, megaspore, massula, ultrastructure, Paleocene.


2007 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 530-534 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chunyi Zhi ◽  
Yoshio Bando ◽  
Guozhen Shen ◽  
Chengchun Tang ◽  
Dmitri Golberg

Adopting a wet chemistry method, Au and Fe3O4 nanoparticles were functionalized on boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) successfully for the first time. X-ray diffraction pattern and transmission electron microscopy were used to characterize the resultant products. Subsequently, a method was proposed to fabricate heterojunction structures based on the particle-functionalized BNNTs. As a demonstration, BNNT-carbon nanostructure, BNNT-ZnO and BNNT-Ga2O3 junctions were successfully fabricated using the functionalized particles as catalysts.


2013 ◽  
Vol 872 ◽  
pp. 74-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.P. Zhuravkov ◽  
Evgeny Plotnikov ◽  
Dmitry Martemiyanov ◽  
Nikolay A. Yavorovsky ◽  
Ulrich Hasse ◽  
...  

The morphological and structural characteristics of nanoscale silver particles obtained by the method of electric spark dispersion of metal granules in the liquid aprotic medium were obtained using atomic force microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and dynamic light scattering spectroscopy. The specific surface, morphology, structure and the distribution by size of the particles are presented.


2010 ◽  
Vol 434-435 ◽  
pp. 169-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Kong Pang ◽  
It Meng Low ◽  
J.V. Hanna

The use of secondary-ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to detect the existence of amorphous silica in Ti3SiC2 oxidised at 500–1000°C is described. The formation of an amorphous SiO2 layer and its growth in thickness with temperature was monitored using dynamic SIMS. Results of NMR and TEM verify for the first time the direct evidence of amorphous silica formation during the oxidation of Ti3SiC2 at 1000°C.


2008 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 433-438 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Biggemann ◽  
Marcelo H. Prado da Silva ◽  
Alexandre M. Rossi ◽  
Antonio J. Ramirez

AbstractCrystalline properties of synthetic nanostructured hydroxyapatite (n-HA) were studied using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The focal-series-restoration technique, obtaining exit-plane wavefunction and spherical aberration-corrected images, was successfully applied for the first time in this electron-beam-susceptible material. Multislice simulations and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy were also employed to determine unequivocally that n-HA particles of different size preserve stoichiometric HA-like crystal structure. n-HA particles with sizes of twice the HA lattice parameter were found. These results can be used to optimize n-HA sinterization parameters to improve bioactivity.


2010 ◽  
Vol 88 (12) ◽  
pp. 1256-1261 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guifang Sun ◽  
Faming Gao ◽  
Li Hou

Boron carbonitride (BCN) nanotubes have been successfully prepared using NH4Cl, KBH4, and ZnBr2 as the reactants at 480 °C for 12 h by a new benzene-thermal approach in a N2 atmosphere. As its by-product, a new form of carbon regular hexagonal nanocages are observed. The samples are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), transmission electron diffraction (TED), electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The prepared nanotubes have uniform outer diameters in the range of 150 to 500 nm and a length of up to several micrometerss. The novel carbon hexagonal nanocages have a typical size ranging from 100 nm to 1.5 µm, which could be the giant fullerene cages of [Formula: see text] (N = 17∼148). So, high fullerenes are observed for the first time. The influences of reaction temperature and ZnBr2 on products and the formation mechanism of BCN nanotubes are discussed.


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