Comparative ultrastructural analysis of mycorrhizal associations

1983 ◽  
Vol 61 (3) ◽  
pp. 917-943 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvano Scannerini ◽  
Paola Bonfante-Fasolo

Electron microscopy is a powerful tool in understanding functional mechanisms in symbiosis (i.e., recognition and transfer of nutrients between partners), but mycorrhizal associations are not yet so well known as host–pathogen and host – mutualistic bacterial associations. However, the study of mycorrhizal ultrastructure has provided some interesting information. In fact unknown symbionts can be recognized with electron microscopy and mycorrhizae can be classified according to a sequence linking intercellular and intracellular interactions between host and fungus. General conclusions can be drawn from this ultrastructural sequence. (i) The most significant cytological feature in mycorrhizae is the presence of an interface through which partners communicate along a vast surface area. This is the key area for symbiotic interactions (both recognition and nutrient transfer) and can vary a great deal mostly in intracellular interactions. (ii) The ultracytochemical aspects of those interfaces, mostly as regards the components of the interfacial matrix, appear quite different from those of host–pathogen associations and suggest a compatibility mechanism. (iii) As regards the transfer of nutrients, even though it has been claimed that transfer of nutrient in all intracellular interactions is achieved by a digestion mechanism of the fungus by the host, available ultrastructural data are not consistent with this hypothesis.

Nanomaterials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 1068
Author(s):  
Xinyue Zhang ◽  
Yani Guo ◽  
Wenjun Li ◽  
Jinyuan Zhang ◽  
Hailiang Wu ◽  
...  

The treatment of wastewater containing heavy metals and the utilization of wool waste are very important for the sustainable development of textile mills. In this study, the wool keratin modified magnetite (Fe3O4) powders were fabricated by using wool waste via a co-precipitation technique for removal of Cu2+ ions from aqueous solutions. The morphology, chemical compositions, crystal structure, microstructure, magnetism properties, organic content, and specific surface area of as-fabricated powders were systematically characterized by various techniques including field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), thermogravimetric (TG) analysis, and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area analyzer. The effects of experimental parameters such as the volume of wool keratin hydrolysate, the dosage of powder, the initial Cu2+ ion concentration, and the pH value of solution on the adsorption capacity of Cu2+ ions by the powders were examined. The experimental results indicated that the Cu2+ ion adsorption performance of the wool keratin modified Fe3O4 powders exhibited much better than that of the chitosan modified ones with a maximum Cu2+ adsorption capacity of 27.4 mg/g under favorable conditions (0.05 g powders; 50 mL of 40 mg/L CuSO4; pH 5; temperature 293 K). The high adsorption capacity towards Cu2+ ions on the wool keratin modified Fe3O4 powders was primarily because of the strong surface complexation of –COOH and –NH2 functional groups of wool keratins with Cu2+ ions. The Cu2+ ion adsorption process on the wool keratin modified Fe3O4 powders followed the Temkin adsorption isotherm model and the intraparticle diffusion and pseudo-second-order adsorption kinetic models. After Cu2+ ion removal, the wool keratin modified Fe3O4 powders were easily separated using a magnet from aqueous solution and efficiently regenerated using 0.5 M ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA)-H2SO4 eluting. The wool keratin modified Fe3O4 powders possessed good regenerative performance after five cycles. This study provided a feasible way to utilize waste wool textiles for preparing magnetic biomass-based adsorbents for the removal of heavy metal ions from aqueous solutions.


1991 ◽  
Vol 70 (4) ◽  
pp. 1544-1549 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Negrini ◽  
S. Mukenge ◽  
M. Del Fabbro ◽  
C. Gonano ◽  
G. Miserocchi

In seven anesthetized rabbits we measured the size, shape, and density of lymphatic stomata on the peritoneal and pleural sides of the diaphragm. The diaphragm was fixed in situ and processed for scanning electron microscopy. Results are from 2,902 peritoneal and 3,086 pleural fields (each 1,620 microns 2) randomly chosen from the various specimens. Stomata were seen in 9% of the fields examined, and in 30% of the cases they appeared grouped in clusters with 2-14 stomata/field. Stoma density was 250 +/- 242 and 72 +/- 57 (SD) stomata/mm2 on peritoneal and pleural sides, respectively, and it was similar over the muscular and tendinous portion of the two surfaces. The maximum diameter ranged from less than 1 to approximately 30 microns, with an average value of 1.2 +/- 3.1 micron. The ratio of the maximum to the minimum diameter and the surface area averaged 2 +/- 1.4 and 0.7 +/- 2.4 micron 2, respectively. The maximum and minimum diameter and surface area values followed a lognormal frequency distribution, suggesting that stomata geometry is affected by diaphragmatic tension.


1992 ◽  
Vol 7 (8) ◽  
pp. 2225-2229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z.G. Li ◽  
P.F. Carcia ◽  
P.C. Donohue

The microstructure of LaB6-base thick film resistors was investigated by cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy. The specimens were prepared by a technique that polished them to a thin wedge, thus avoiding ion-milling and permitting imaging over a distance of tens of microns. The resistor microstructure contained a finely divided electrically conductive phase of TaB2 and nonconducting crystals of CaTa4O11, formed during high temperature processing of glass and LaB6 ingredients of the thick film ink. Using higher surface area ingredients virtually suppressed the formation of CaTa4O11 crystals, and the microstructure became more uniform. Resistors made with higher surface area intermediates also had better voltage withstanding properties.


1983 ◽  
Vol 217 (1207) ◽  
pp. 191-213 ◽  

Purkinje strands from both ventricles of adult mongrel dogs were excised, and electrical properties were studied by the voltage-clamp technique. The strands were then examined with light and electron microscopy and structural properties were analysed by morphometric techniques. The canine Purkinje strand contains (by volume) about 28% myocyte and 55% dense outer connective tissue. The remainder of the volume is taken up by the inner shell of loosely packed connective tissue within 10 μm of a myocyte membrane. These volume fractions vary considerably from one strand to another. Clefts less than 10 μm wide occupy 18% of the myocyte volume and clefts less than 1 μm wide occupy 1%. The membrane surface area of the myocytes can be divided into three categories by reference to the size of the adjacent cleft. About 47.8% of the membrane surface area faces clefts wider than 1 μm, another 22.2% faces clefts between 0.1 and 1 μm wide, and the final 30% faces clefts less than 0.1 μm wide. The surface area facing the narrowest clefts (less than 0.1 μm wide) is divided between nexuses 3%, desmosomes 10%, and unspecialized membrane 17% (each figure is expressed as a percentage of the total surface area of myocyte membrane). The canine Purkinje strand has a more favourable anatomy than the sheep Purkinje strand for most physiological experiments. We expect that the complicating effects of series resistance and change in the concentration of extracellular ions will be much smaller than in sheep strands, but still not negligible.


1983 ◽  
Vol 69 (5) ◽  
pp. 423-435 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saverio Cinti ◽  
Maurizio Ferretti ◽  
Silvana Amati ◽  
Giancarlo Balercia ◽  
Adalberto Vecchi ◽  
...  

The authors report the results obtained from the application of electron microscopy techniques to the cytology of fine-needle-aspirated samples of neoplastic lesions from various body sites. These results show that the tissue structure, which is usually lost during the squashing necessary for light microscopy cytology, is preserved when the samples are processed for ultrastructural analysis. Electron microscopy also allows a highly detailed study of the cell's inner structures. Thus, when this technique is applied, fine needle-aspirated samples can be regarded as actual microbiopsies. However, because of the high cost of ultrastructural techniques, we suggest that actual analysis be performed only in selected cases, whereas fixation and inclusion for electron microscopy could be done routinely.


1999 ◽  
Vol 5 (S2) ◽  
pp. 402-403
Author(s):  
Scott Brabec ◽  
Bill Schindeldecker ◽  
Ken Brennen ◽  
Sue Okerstrom ◽  
Ky Pham

The efficiency of implantable electrodes for cardiac pacing depends on the ratio of the conductive surface area to the geometric area of the interface with excitable tissue. New models of heart pacers require reduction of post-pulse polarization, i.e. the potential left on the electrode / tissue interface after a pacemaker pulse. Increasing the conductive surface area is an effective method to this end. Microscopy provides an important tool in elucidating the role of surface structure in electrode performance.Three different surface textures were characterized on a 90% platinum(Pt)/10% iridium (Ir) polished electrode substrate of roughly 5 mm2 geometric surface area. These consisted of the polished substrate itself, a thin film of textured platinum in the 1-3 micron size range, and a sub-micron platinum black coating. Sample surface effects were characterized via scanning electron microscopy (SEM), in-vitro electrical impedance spectrum analysis, and polarization after-potential measurements.


METANA ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 31
Author(s):  
Lanjar Lanjar ◽  
Fatma Indah Riayanti ◽  
Widi Astuti

Industri tekstil semakin berkembang seiring dengan pertumbuhan penduduk di Indonesia. Selain memberikan manfaat, industri tekstil  memberikan dampak negatif bagi lingkungan akibat penggunaan zat warna sintetis, salah satunya yaitu methyl violet. Apabila limbah tersebut dibuang ke perairan akan menyebabkan rusaknya ekologi lingkungan dan ancaman bagi kesehatan manusia, karena sebagian besar zat warna bersifat sukar terurai (non-bidegradable) dan karsinogenik (Brono, 2010). Salah satu metode yang terbukti efektif untuk menghilangkan zat warna adalah adsorpsi menggunakan karbon aktif. Pada penelitian ini karbon aktif dibuat dari limbah daun nanas dengan aktivator ZnCl2 dan pemanasan gelombang mikro. Selanjutnya, karbon aktif tersebut dikarakteriasi morfologi permukaan menggunakan Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), luas permukaan menggunakan Surface Area Analyzer, dan analisis gugus fungsi menggunakan Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrometer, dan digunakan untuk menjerap methyl violet di larutan. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa karbon aktif dari limbah daun nanas yang teraktivasi ZnCl2 menghasilkan pori yang lebih besar dibandingkan dengan karbon tanpa aktivasi serta memiliki gugus fungsi yang dapat menjerap methyl violet. Kondisi optimum untuk adsorpsi adalah pH 5, waktu kontak 90 menit, dan konsentrasi awal 500 mg/L. Model kesetimbangan yang sesuai yaitu menggunakan model isotherm freundlich.


Nanomaterials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 2261 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdul Wafi ◽  
Erzsébet Szabó-Bárdos ◽  
Ottó Horváth ◽  
Mihály Pósfai ◽  
Éva Makó ◽  
...  

Catalysts for visible-light-driven oxidative cleaning processes and antibacterial applications (also in the dark) were developed. In order to extend the photoactivity of titanium dioxide into the visible region, nitrogen-doped TiO2 catalysts with hollow and non-hollow structures were synthesized by co-precipitation (NT-A) and sol–gel (NT-U) methods, respectively. To increase their photocatalytic and antibacterial efficiencies, various amounts of silver were successfully loaded on the surfaces of these catalysts by using a facile photo-deposition technique. Their physical and chemical properties were evaluated by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy–energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (TEM–EDS), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS). The photocatalytic performances of the synthesized catalysts were examined in coumarin and 1,4-hydroquinone solutions. The results showed that the hollow structure of NT-A played an important role in obtaining high specific surface area and appreciable photoactivity. In addition, Ag-loading on the surface of non-hollow structured NT-U could double the photocatalytic performance with an optimum Ag concentration of 10−6 mol g−1, while a slight but monotonous decrease was caused in this respect for the hollow surface of NTA upon increasing Ag concentration. Comparing the catalysts with different structures regarding the photocatalytic performance, silverized non-hollow NT-U proved competitive with the hollow NT-A catalyst without Ag-loading for efficient visible-light-driven photocatalytic oxidative degradations. The former one, due to the silver nanoparticles on the catalyst surface, displayed an appreciable antibacterial activity, which was comparable to that of a reference material practically applied for disinfection in polymer coatings.


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