Search results for "microscopy"

Speciation and oxidation kinetics of arsenic in the thermal springs of Wiesbaden spa, Germany.

2001

Since 1886 arsenic has been known to be present as a trace component in the Wiesbaden thermal waters at concentrations of over 100 microg L(-1). In this study for the first time molecular level speciation of arsenic was measured both in the water (by HG-AAS) and in wellstone scale deposits (by XANES). Most of the arsenic in the anoxic NaCl-type waters is in the reduced arsenite form. Hydrous ferric oxide (HFO) precipitates in the scale deposits scavenge only the minor dissolved arsenate portion which is, however, accumulated up to 3% w/w. Isothermal precipitation experiments at in-situ temperatures showed a difference between the progress of both arsenic and iron oxidation and precipitation…

JAK3/STAT5/6 Pathway Alterations Are Associated with Immune Deviation in CD8+ T Cells in Renal Cell Carcinoma Patients

2010

To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying altered T cell response in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients, we compared autologous and allogeneic CD8(+) T cell responses against RCC line from RCC patients and their HLA-matched donors, using mixed lymphocyte/tumor cell cultures (MLTCs). In addition, we analyzed the expression of molecules associated with cell cycle regulation. Autologous MLTC responder CD8(+) T cells showed cytotoxic activity against RCC cell lines; however the analysis of the distribution of CD8(+) T-cell subsets revealed that allogenic counterparts mediate superior antitumor efficacy. In RCC patients, a decreased proliferative response to tumor, associated with defe…

Infantile intranuclear rod myopathy.

1997

This report concerns three unrelated floppy infants, two girls and one boy, each biopsied at the age of 1 month. They were hypotonic since birth and required artificial ventilation. The two girls died at the ages of 4 and 3½ months, respectively, the boy is still alive at the age of 2 years, but requires assisted ventilation. Each of the three infants showed, by muscle biopsy, abundant intranuclear rods, the boy and one girl also had sarcoplasmic rods, which were not present in the other girl's muscle. Absence of sarcoplasmic rods, but the presence of intranuclear rods could also be documented in her autopsied muscle. Using an antibody against α-actinin, immunoelectron microscopy showed re…

Aspects of cell production in mantle tissue of Ciona intestinalis L. (Tunicata, Ascidiacea)

2005

Renewal of cell population is needed in the tunic of ascidians, as the tunic cells are involved in many biological functions. Tunic cells are thought to arrive by migrating across the mantle epithelium into the tunic from the blood lacunae or the mesenchymal space. Electron microscope observations show that the mantle epithelium of Ciona intestinalis shares some proliferative characteristics, releasing cells into the tunic and thus providing an increase renewal of tunical cells in restricted zones of adult animals.

Effects of tributyltin(IV) chloride on fertilization of Styela plicata (Ascidiacea: Tunicata): II. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy stud…

2003

The morphological aspects of Styela plicata fertilization after treatment with tributyltin(IV) chloride are described by means of scanning and transmission electron microscopy investigations. Alterations have been shown both on female and male gametes; spermatozoa, all the egg envelopes and the mitochondria of the egg cortical cytoplasm are modified in relation to incubation time. As a consequence, the damage to gametes blocks sperm-egg interaction and fertilization does not occur. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Effects of tributyltin(IV) chloride on the gametes and fertilization ofAscidia malaca (Ascidiacea: Tunicata)

2003

Ascidia malaca gametes before fertilization incubated in 10-5 or 10-7 M solutions of tributyltin(IV) chloride, TBTCl, for 3 h appear highly damaged under transmission electron microscopy observation. Also, the fertilization process is affected by the compound: the damaged spermatozoa are present in the vitelline coat and the egg does not cleave. An increase of microbodies, structurally similar to peroxisomes, have been detected in the egg peripheral cytoplasm, probably in relation to their role in alleviating damage to some cellular components. The results have shown that the reproduction of ascidians under unfavourable environmental conditions is prevented. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley &amp…

Invasive Observation by Atomic Force Microscope of a Langmuir-Blodgett Monolayer of Gramicidin

2002

The properties of gramicidin, a linear antibiotic polypeptide of 15 amino acids, have been studied at the air-water interface. Analysis of the pressure-area isotherm is not able to conclude about the conformational behavior of gramicidin in the monolayer. Langmuir-Blodgett deposition of gramicidin layers onto a mica substrate has been developed for atomic force microscopy (AFM) observations. At high pressure of deposition, the gramicidin monolayer is composed of dimers perpendicular to the surface. The possibility of removing the half upper part of this dimer monolayer with the AFM tip is more in favor of a structure of single-stranded helical dimers.

Relating morphology to nanoscale mechanical properties: from crystalline to mesomorphic iPP

2005

Discotic Twin and Triple Molecules with Charge-Transfer Interactions in Langmuir−Blodgett Films

1996

X-ray and atomic force microscopy observations reveal features of the surface morphology of Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films from discotic donor-acceptor molecules with strong core-to-core interactions caused by a charge-transfer (CT) complexation. The compounds are designed to be twin and triple molecules composed of chemically connected donor (triphenylene) and acceptor (trinitrofluorenone) fragments which display liquid crystalline structure in the bulk state. The LB films from these compounds possess edge-on orientation of molecules within monolayers with a smooth surface on a submicron scale but with substantial macroscopic imperfections. These imperfections are represented by the micron s…

The growth of oxide platelets on nickel in pure oxygen. II. Surface analyses and growth mechanism

1993

The structural properties of NiO platelets emerging from a primary oxide layer by oxidation of pretreated nickels in pure oxygen between 650 and 800° C have been investigated in relation with the initial metallic layers and the primary oxide. Surface composition and segregation of impurities were also studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Auger electron spectroscopy. Textural properties and structural orientation of both the primary oxide layer and the platelets were analyzed by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. Platelets grew along {111} planes, leading to elliptical or semicircular bicrystals. The driving force for the present type of growth originates from…