ESEM

This work explores the methodology for micron-scale water droplet contact angle derivation for the warty surface of octocoral sclerites. The calcite-made sclerites of the Red Sea octocoral Dendronephthya hemprichi have been chosen as a model for this study. Water droplet condensation on the sclerites has been in-situ investigated using Quanta 200 FEG (field emission gun) ESEM (environmental scanning electron microscope) under wet environmental conditions. Two different analysis methods of droplet top and side views have been applied to determine the contact angle based on the secondary electron images. The ESEM image analysis for the sclerites indicates that their surface is hydrophilic. The microscopic contact angle is measured to be 45.3 ± 6.3. The macroscopic contact angle has been calculated by using the Wenzel model for the surface texturing of the sclerites.

Energy saving estimation model (ESEM) use normal distribution (Gaussian) probability theory to predict potential savings for previously determined system improvements. Those improvements are low/high cost investments based on data gathered during one year monitoring of typical hypermarket facility HVAC system. The consumption of electrical energy and natural gas has been monitored and system segments with largest amount of energy consumption have been marked. Gathered data pointed out to fan units as the biggest energy consumers and suggested that system energy-saving improvement must be focused on fans energy consumption control. This paper deals with ESEM inputs and outputs in order to provide correct financial estimation of specific investment.► Energy consumption of hypermarket systems was monitored and biggest energy consumers were located. ► Low/high cost improvements were selected for several HVAC system. ► All gathered data is processed with normal distribution based ESEM mo...

The materials used in the decoration of three painted astragaloi (knucklebones) from the Koroneia cave (Greece) were investigated by means of sequential application of non-destructive and destructive techniques: optical microscopy, environmental scanning electron microscopy coupled with X-ray microanalysis (ESEM–EDX), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) with micro-attenuated total reflection (μ-ATR) technique, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with UV-fluorescence and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) were used.The main results highlighted that the three astragaloi were prepared with a ground of ochre or iron clay and painted with a proteinaceous matter such as binder egg tempera. Both FTIR and GC–MS agree in the detection of lipids that can be related to egg. Organic dyestuffs identified as madder lake and shellfish purple were used together with inorganic pigments.

Nanotechnology, which deals with features as small as a 1 billionth of a meter, began to enter into mainstream physical sciences and engineering some 20 years ago. Recent applications of nanoscience include the use of nanoscale materials in electronics, catalysis, and biomedical research. Among these applications, strong interest has been shown to biological processes such as blood coagulation control and multimodal bioimaging, which has brought about a new and exciting research field called nanobiotechnology. Biotechnology, which itself also dates back ∼30 years, involves the manipulation of macroscopic biological systems such as cells and mice in order to understand why and how molecular level mechanisms affect specific biological functions, e.g., the role of APP (amyloid precursor protein) in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This review aims (1) to introduce key concepts and materials from nanotechnology to a non-physical sciences community; (2) to introduce several state-of-the-art examples of current nanotechnology that were either constructed for use in biological systems or that can, in time, be utilized for biomedical research; (3) to provide recent excerpts in nanotoxicology and multifunctional nanoparticle systems (MFNPSs); and (4) to propose areas in neuroscience that may benefit from research at the interface of neurobiologically important systems and nanostructured materials.

The materials used in the decoration of three painted astragaloi (knucklebones) from the Koroneia cave (Greece) were investigated by means of sequential application of non-destructive and destructive techniques: optical microscopy, environmental scanning electron microscopy coupled with X-ray microanalysis (ESEM–EDX), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) with micro-attenuated total reflection (μ-ATR) technique, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with UV-fluorescence and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) were used.The main results highlighted that the three astragaloi were prepared with a ground of ochre or iron clay and painted with a proteinaceous matter such as binder egg tempera. Both FTIR and GC–MS agree in the detection of lipids that can be related to egg. Organic dyestuffs identified as madder lake and shellfish purple were used together with inorganic pigments.

Observations of sodium sulfate hydration, dehydration, dissolution and crystallization at magnifications of 200-10,000x have revealed previously undescribed material behaviors that help explain the destructive effects of this salt in wall paintings, historic structures and monuments. Experiments performed in the environmental scanning electron microscope show that large crystals of anhydrous sodium sulfate, when exposed to water vapor, initially form a skin of sodium sulfate decahydrate that prevents the complete hydration of the crystal until sufficient liquid water is present to dissolve the skin. Hydration of sodium sulfate is also initially much slower than dehydration during similar rates of humidity change. Sodium sulfate decahydrate consistently breaks down during dehydration to form sub-micron aggregates of anhydrous sodium sulfate. Provided that the decahydrate form is not dissolved by excess liquid water, subsequent hydration-dehydration cycles result in a highly porous, high-surface area salt structure consisting of sub-micron particles. Once this porous sodium sulfate structure is established, hydration and dehydration occur at roughly the same rate. Dissolution of the fine-grained structure by liquid water, followed by drying, results in the rapid crystallization of much larger (10-100µm) sodium sulfate decahydrate crystals with well-defined crystal faces.

Energy saving estimation model (ESEM) use normal distribution (Gaussian) probability theory to predict potential savings for previously determined system improvements. Those improvements are low/high cost investments based on data gathered during one year monitoring of typical hypermarket facility HVAC system. The consumption of electrical energy and natural gas has been monitored and system segments with largest amount of energy consumption have been marked. Gathered data pointed out to fan units as the biggest energy consumers and suggested that system energy-saving improvement must be focused on fans energy consumption control. This paper deals with ESEM inputs and outputs in order to provide correct financial estimation of specific investment.

Time Perspective (TP) is a extensively studied cognitive process with important motivational repercussions. In the last decades several instruments have been developed in order to measure TP. One of the most influent nowadays is the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory (ZTPI, Zimbardo & Boyd, 1999), originally developed for measuring Past Positive, Past Negative, Present Hedonist, Present Fatalist and Future Time Perspectives. This five-dimension model have been successfully replicated in more than 20 countries (Sircova et al., 2014) through Exploratory Factor Analysis or Principal Component Analysis. However, several studies when using a more robust approach (e.g.: Confirmatory Factor Analysis) have encountered difficulties finding a model which replicates Zimbardo and Boyd´s theoretical model and present good model-fit. This work intends to present and discuss several structural models for a short version of ZTPI. The sample is composed by 1593 Uruguayan individuals, 1126 (71.1%) females and 455 males (28.7%). Ages are comprised between 18 to 67 years old (M = 25.98, SD = 8.74). Using Structural Equation Modeling the following models for ZTPI were tested: independent cluster model, second order hierarchical model, bifactor model and exploratory structural equation modeling. The latter was the model presenting best results in tested global adjustment indices (X2/df = 2.45, CFI = .985, TFI = .961, RMSEA = .031, SRMR = .014). Considering these results, can ESEM be recommended as a technique for studying ZTPI´s structure in future studies?

Modern cell biology is reliant on light and fluorescence microscopy for analysis of cells, tissues and protein localisation. However, these powerful techniques are ultimately limited in resolution by the wavelength of light. Electron microscopes offer much greater resolution due to the shorter effective wavelength of electrons, allowing direct imaging of sub-cellular architecture. The harsh environment of the electron microscope chamber and the properties of the electron beam have led to complex chemical and mechanical preparation techniques, which distance biological samples from their native state and complicate data interpretation. Here we describe recent advances in sample preparation and instrumentation, which push the boundaries of high-resolution imaging. Cryopreparation, cryoelectron microscopy and environmental scanning electron microscopy strive to image samples in near native state. Advances in correlative microscopy and markers enable high-resolution localisation of proteins. Innovation in microscope design has pushed the boundaries of resolution to atomic scale, whilst automatic acquisition of high-resolution electron microscopy data through large volumes is finally able to place ultrastructure in biological context.

Concrete with adequately soaring compressive strength has been in use for building skyscrapers, pavements, two-dimensional elements like plates and slab-decks, threedimensional solid masses like retaining walls and dams. However, majority of these structural elements continue to be brittle in nature. Generally, the compressive strength is directly proportional to brittleness. This creates prospective restrictions on the use of high strength concrete. A high stress concentration at junctions of concrete and steel is not uncommon that may cause a fracture of the concrete. Therefore, use of high ductile concrete becomes necessary for increasing the durability of the concrete structures. This paper focuses on development of Crack-free and High Ductile bendable concrete which has a tensile strain capacity of 1.67 percent for a Polyvinyl Alcohol fiber content of 2.0 percent by volume of concrete and the specimens revealed microcracks less than 153µm when subjected to Uniaxial test. Various transport properties like Rapid Chloride Penetration, Sorptivity, and Permeability of Bendable Concrete at the age of 28 days are also studied

The observation of asphalt binder microstructure with the Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope (ESEM) has yielded promising results. There have been findings that show the microstructure evolving with aging and certain loading applications. The goal of this study was to observe the PMA microstructure using ESEM analysis. Four PMA binders of varying PG grades were observed in ESEM, comparing them to a straight run binder. The binders were compared in terms of the fibril diameter and shape observed visually, along with the fibril structure. The initial ‘bee’ structures before the appearance of the fibrils were also compared. It was found that the PMA binders had a denser fibril structure, corresponding to their higher PG grades indicating stiffer binders, although this varied with different PMAs. The images were also analyzed by calculating the area and length of the fibrils through an image analysis protocol. This study is a step towards the further understanding of the microstructure of PMAs.

The aims of the present study were: (1) to assess the factor structure of the SATAQ-3 in Spanish secondary-school students by means of exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) models; and (2) to study its invariance by sex and school grade. ESEM is a technique that has been proposed for the analysis of internal structure that overcomes some of the limitations of EFA and CFA. Participants were 1559 boys and girls in grades seventh to tenth. The results support the four-factor solution of the original version, and reveal that the best fit was obtained with ESEM, excluding Item 20 and with correlated uniqueness between reverse-keyed items. Our version shows invariance by sex and grade. The differences between scores of different groups are in the expected direction, and support the validity of the questionnaire. We recommend a version excluding Item 20 and without reverse-keyed items.

El siguiente ensayo hace una reflexión respecto a las condiciones actuales que vive el país y la posibilidad de instauración de un modelo de economía social de mercado en el contexto de una serie de reformas políticas, sociales y económicas que buscan lograr un nuevo modelo de desarrollo para el país.

We have developed two integrated thermocouple (TC) crucible systems that allow precise measurement of sample temperature when using a furnace associated with an environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM). Sample temperatures measured with these systems are precise (±5°C) and reliable. The TC crucible systems allow working with solids and liquids (silicate melts or ionic liquids), independent of the gas composition and pressure. These sample holder designs will allow end users to perform experiments at high temperature in the ESEM chamber with high precision control of the sample temperature.

This work explores the methodology for micron-scale water droplet contact angle derivation for the warty surface of octocoral sclerites. The calcite-made sclerites of the Red Sea octocoral Dendronephthya hemprichi have been chosen as a model for this study. Water droplet condensation on the sclerites has been in-situ investigated using Quanta 200 FEG (field emission gun) ESEM (environmental scanning electron microscope) under wet environmental conditions. Two different analysis methods of droplet top and side views have been applied to determine the contact angle based on the secondary electron images. The ESEM image analysis for the sclerites indicates that their surface is hydrophilic. The microscopic contact angle is measured to be 45.3 ± 6.3. The macroscopic contact angle has been calculated by using the Wenzel model for the surface texturing of the sclerites.