Constructing Electron Microscope Labs: Challenges and Solutions

The construction of advanced laboratories for precision instruments, such as electron microscopes, involves unique challenges that are influenced by the specific environmental conditions required for optimal functionality. These include mitigating interference from magnetic fields and vibrations, which are critical for maintaining the precision and accuracy of the instruments used. This study aims to offer enhanced project management strategies and detailed construction solutions that address the environmental and technical needs specific to electron microscopy labs, thereby facilitating effective lab operations and extending the lifecycle of high-end precision instruments. Case studies of existing laboratory constructions, onsite investigations, and comprehensive reviews of the technical and environmental requirements provide the basis for a best practice for constructing sophisticated electron microscopy labs. The approach integrates both pre-construction planning and post-construction adjustments to create optimal operational environments. The findings suggest that successful lab constructions are those that incorporate thorough onsite assessments, strategic location choices, and the use of advanced construction materials and techniques specifically designed to counteract environmental challenges like magnetic and vibration interferences. Actionable guidelines for both planning and executing the construction of electron microscope labs highlighted in this tutorial are intended as an important resource to troubleshoot or upgrade existing lab facilities and to consult in preparation of future lab construction projects.

Gold Standard for Skin Cancer Treatment: Surgery (Mohs) or Microscopic Molecular-Cellular Therapy (Curaderm)?

Non-melanoma skin cancers or keratinocyte cancers such as basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma make up approximately 80% and 20% respectively, of skin cancers with the 6 million people that are treated annually in the United States. 1 in 5 Americans and 2 in 3 Australians develop skin cancer by the age of 70 years and in Australia it is the most expensive, amassing $1.5 billion, to treat cancers. Non-melanoma skin cancers are often self-detected and are usually removed by various means in doctors’ surgeries. Mohs micrographic surgery is acclaimed to be the gold standard for the treatment of skin cancer. However, a novel microscopic molecular-cellular non-invasive topical therapy described in this article, challenges the status of Mohs procedure for being the acclaimed gold standard.

A system for detection of cervical precancerous in field emission scanning electron microscope images using texture features

This study develops a novel cervical precancerous detection system by using texture analysis of field emission scanning electron microscopy(FE-SEM)images.The processing scheme adopted in the proposed system focused on two steps.The first step was to enhance cervical cell FE-SEM images in order to show the precancerous characterization indicator.A problem arises from the question of how to extract features which characterize cervical precancerous cells.For the first step,a preprocessing technique called intensity transformation and morphological operation(ITMO)algorithm used to enhance the quality of images was proposed.The algo-rithm consisted of contrast stretching and morphological opening operations.The second step was to characterize the cervical cells to three classes,namely normal,low grade intra-epithelial squamous lesion(LSIL),and high grade intra-epithelial squamous lesion(HSIL).To differen-tiate between normal and precancerous cells of the cervical cell FE-SEM images,human papillomavirus(HPV)contained in the surface of cells were used as indicators.In this paper,we investigated the use of texture as a tool in determining precancerous cell images based on the observation that cell images have a distinct visual texture.Gray level co-occurrences matrix(GLCM)technique was used to extract the texture features.To confirm the system's perfor-mance,the system was tested using 150 cervical cell FE-SEM images.The results showed that the accuracy,sensitivity and specificity of the proposed system are 95.7%,95.7%and 95.8%,respectively.

Observation for Leaf Epidermal Characteristics of Four Different Pomegranate Cultivars under Scanning Electron Microscope

[Objective] The research aimed to provide reference for classification of pomegranate cultivars and studies of genetic relationship among pomegranate cultivars.[Method] The electron microscope scanning was used to comparatively observe leaf epidermal structures of 4 pomegranate cultivars.[Result] The upper epidermal structures of 4 pomegranate cultivars were similar and showed reticular structure .However, the differences existed in lower epidermis,such as cell shape,cell size and arrangement mode of cell as well as stomatal density,while the structures of leaf vein in lower epidermis of 4 pomegranate cultivars were similar.[Conclusion] The research provided morphological references for studying heterosis of pomegranate to some extent.

Changes of Calmodulin Distribution in the Embryo Sac of Oryza sativa Before and After Fertilization: an Immunogold Electron Microscope Study

Changes of calmodulin (CaM) distribution in the embryo sac of rice (Oryza sativa subsp. Japonica) at various stages before and after fertilization have been investigated by using immunogold electron microscopy. Before pollination, both cytoplasm and vacuoles of the egg cell, synergids and central cell were labeled by gold particles. A small amount of gold particles were localized in the nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria and dictyosomes. From pollination to fertilization, CaM amount increased in these cells, especially rich in the starch of amyloplasts. Increase of gold particles in the central cell began about 2 h earlier than that in the egg cell. There was no distinct difference of CaM amount between the degenerated and the persistent synergids. It is interesting to observe an obvious change of CaM distribution form during pollination and fertilization from scattered single particles to clustered particles, and back again to single particles after the fertilization finished. CaM was also localized extracellularly in the embryo sac wall as well as in the wall and intercellular space of nucellus cells. The extracellular CaM also changes in its amount and form after pollination. These results suggest that CaM, either intra- or extra-cellular, may play important roles in fertilization and zygote formation.

Obsevation for Epidermal Ultrastructure of Nostoc sphaeroides Kutzing under Scanning Electron Microscope

[Objective]The experiment aimed to explore a new way for observing surface structure of Nostoc sphaeroides Kutzing. [Method] The scanning electron microscope was used to observe the epidermal ultrastructure of wild and cultured Nostoc sphaeroides Kutzing. [ Result] The epidermis of wild and cultured Nostoc sphaeroides Kutzing showed mixture structure of fibril colloid which was reticular arranged. The difference between wild and cultured Nostoc sphaeroides Kutzing was that the outer epidermis of cultured Nostoc sphaeroides Kutzing had trichome distribution but the wild Nostoc sphaeroides Kutzing did not has such distribution. The obsevation results of under smaller than 10 μm by scanning electron microscope was touched thick and showed many folds and distortions. [ Conclusion] The scanning electron microscope was an effective way to study development of Nostoc sphaeroides Kutzing colony and it was worth popularizing.

Observation of Helicotylenchus digonicus by Scanning Electron Microscope

[ Objective] The paper was to observe Helicotylenchus digonicus by scanning electron microscope （SEM）. [ Method ] H. digonicus collected from Changxing of Zhejiang Province was observed under scanning electron microscope, and its morphological structure was confmned under optical microscope. [ Resuit]The nematode specimens fixed by glutaraldehyde and osmium tetroxide and prepared by critical point drying were unmodified and unshrinkable with clear mor- phological structure, which could be scanned very well by scanning electron microscope. [ Conclusion ] The study provided reference for study and control of H. digonicus.

Chalkiness Characters and Scanning Electron Microscope Observation of Rice Grain Endosperm of Japonica Varieties in Southern Henan

Chalkiness characters affect not only the grain appearance,milling,eating and cooking qualities but also the grain nutritional quality in rice,thus it is one of the most important traits in rice. It is very important for us to investigate the relation of the chalkiness formation and the development of endosperm structure and starch granule of different rice varieties. Here,we have investigated the chalkiness characters such as chalkiness rate,chalkiness degree and chalkiness area in 15 japonica rice varieties from southern Henan. Furthermore,the endosperm structure and starch granules of rice grain were also observed with scanning electron microscope. The results showed that the 15 japonica varieties have a significantly linear relationship between the chalkiness rate and chalkiness degree. Among the varieties,the biggest difference is the chalkiness rate,the second is the chalkiness area,and the last is the chalkiness degree. Moreover,there is a certain correlation between the distribution of starch granules,the arrangement of endosperm cells and the occurrence of grain chalkiness in the different rice varieties. For the same variety,the starch granules of chalky and non-chalky grains have obvious difference,while the starch granules from the transparent part of chalky rice and non-chalky rice do not have significant difference. The results would provide useful references for the improvement of grain quality in rice.

Endoscopic electronic record:A new approach for improving management of colorectal cancer prevention

Digestive endoscopy is currently the main diagnostic procedure for investigation of the digestive tract when a digestive disease is suspected.The use of computers and electronic medical records for the management of endoscopic data are an important key to improving endoscopy unit efficiency and productivity.This technology supports optimal program operation,monitoring and evaluation colorectal cancer screening.This article is a comprehensive survey of endoscopic electronic medical records and information systems.Computerized clinical records have the capability of identifying patients due for screening and to calculate baseline rates of colorectal cancer screening by patient characteristics and by primary care physician and practice group.This paper describes data flow in the endoscopy unit,the minimum data set of colorectal cancer and key features of endoscopic electronic medical record.In addition,the researchers state standards in different aspects,especially terminology standards and interoperability standards for image and text.

OBSERVATION OF THE EFFECT OF S－（－）USNIC ACID SODIUM ON TRICHOMONAS VAGINALIS BY TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPE

This paper reports the ultrastructural changes of trichomonas vaginaiis (T. vag. ) under the action of s-(-)usnic acid sodium in vitro. These changes can be shown by the following results:At first, the degranulation of the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) took place, the polyribosomes disaggregated. And then, the Golgi complex and the endoplasmic reticulum dilated. The cytoplasmic matrix presented and inhomogeneous apperance. Finally, the biomembrane loosed and fractured.The cell nuclei presented the karyorrhexis.

A HYBRID ELECTRONIC NOSES’SYSTEM BASED ON MOS-SAW DETECTION UNITS INTENDED FOR LUNG CANCER DIAGNOSIS

In this paper,a hybrid electronic noses’system(HENS)based on MOS-SAW detection units intended for lung cancer diagnosis is proposed.The MOS gas sensors are used to detect the VOC molecules with low molecular weight(LMW),and the SAW sensors are adopted for the detection of VOC with high molecular weight(HMW).Thus,the novel combination of these two kinds of gas sensors provides higher sensitivities to more of VOC species in breath than that of using only a single kind of sensor.The signals from MOS-SAW detection units are then recognized by a multi-model diagnosis method.Applying four algorithms,six models were established for diagnosis and tested by leave-one-out cross-validation method.The model by artificial neural network(ANN)was selected as the best model to analyze breath samples.89 clinical samples were tested with MOS-SAW ANN diagnostic model,which takes the features derived from both the MOS and SAW sensors.It shows the highest sensitivity of 93.62%,and the highest selectivity of 83.37%.The study shows that,promisingly,our HENS is effective during screening of lung cancer patients,especially among the people of high risk.

Retrieving analog images from a scanning electron microscopewith a synchronous data acquisition method

In this work,an old scanning electron microscope(SEM)is refurbished to enhance its image processing capability.How to digitally sample and process an analog image is also presented.An NI PCI-6259 multiple input/output data acquisition(DAQ)board is used to acquire signals originally being sent to an analog display,and then convert the signals into a digital image.Two output channels are used for raster scan of the horizontal and verticle axes of the image buffer,while one input channel is used to read the brightness signals at various coordinate points.Synchronous method is used to maximize the DAQ speed.Finally,the digitally buffered images are read out to display and saved in a hard drive.The hardware and software designs of this work are explained in great detail,which can serve as a very good example for fast synchronous DAQ,advanced virtual instrument design and structural driver programming with LabVIEW.

ELECTRON MICROSCOPE EVIDENCE OF VIRUS INFECTION IN CULTURED MARINE FISH

Electron microscope investigation on the red sea bream ( Pagrosomus major ), bastard halibut ( Paralichthys olivaceus ) and stone flounder ( Kareius bicoloratus ) in North China revealed virus infection in the bodies of the dead and diseased fish. These viruses included the lymphocystis disease virus (LDV), parvovirus, globular virus, and a kind of baculavirus which was not discovered and reported before and is now tentatively named baculavirus of stone flounder ( Kareius bicoloratus ).

DISTRIBUTION OF VEGF mRNA IN BREAST CANCER WITH NONRADIOACTIVE IN SITU HYBRIDIZATION AT ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC LEVELS

Object: To localize the mRNA coding for VEGF at Ultrastractural level in human breast cancer by using digoxigenin-labeled cDNA probes. Methods: Nonradioactive in situ hybridization at electron microscopic level was employed to detected VEGF mRNA in breast cancer. Result: Cancer cells and endothelial cell of angiogensis show dark color in experiment sections. No dark color can be found in control sections. Positive hybridization signals showed dark dot and were located in various compartments of the breast cancer cell and endothelial cell in experiment section. No labeling was observed in control sections. In experiment sections, the staining appeared concentrated in cytoplasm and nucleus of the breast cancer cell and endothelial cell. Conclusion: Nonradioactive in situ hybridization at electron microscopic level is efficient for direct observation of the target site mRNA of VEGF in the cytoplasm and nucleus.

AN ENZYMOCYTOCHEMICAL STUDY OF ALKALINE PHOSPHATASE ISOENZYMES IN GASTRIC CANCER-LIGHT AND ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC OBSERVATIONS

By using light and electron microscopic cytochemical technique, the activities and distributions of AP isoenzymes in gastric cancers and benign gastric diseases were examined.The results showed: Nagao, Regan and Kasahara isoenzymes, which were not expressed in normal gastric mucosae and non-malignant lesions, might be considered as tumor markers of gastric cancer;The epithelium of intestinal metaplasia exhibited intestinal-type AP only,which was one of the markers of well-differentiated intestinal metaplasia.In the view-point of the gene expression of AP isoenzymes, two mutation hypothesis and recessive-gene mutation hypothesis might be fit for gastric cancer.

Characterization of Li-rich layered oxides by using transmission electron microscope

Lithium-rich layered oxides(LrLOs) deliver extremely high specific capacities and are considered to be promising candidates for electric vehicle and smart grid applications. However, the application of LrLOs needs further understanding of the structural complexity and dynamic evolution of monoclinic and rhombohedral phases, in order to overcome the issues including voltage decay, poor rate capability, initial irreversible capacity loss and etc. The development of aberration correction for the transmission electron microscope and concurrent progress in electron spectroscopy, have fueled rapid progress in the understanding of the mechanism of such issues. New techniques based on the transmission electron microscope are first surveyed, and the applications of these techniques for the study of the structure, migration of transition metal, and the activation of oxygen of LrLOs are then explored in detail, with a particular focus on the mechanism of voltage decay.

Electron Micrographic Representations of Mechanisms of Action of Murine Norovirus on ATCC TIB-71 Cells and Level of Gene Expression

Human noroviruses (HuNoV) are the number one cause of viral gastroenteritis worldwide resulting in a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in all age groups. However, despite the medical relevance of HuNoV, effective treatment against norovirus infection is yet to be developed. In this study, we investigated the anti-Noroviral activity of Hibiscus sabdariffa (HS) calyces and Zanthoxylum armatum (ZA) seeds using murine norovirus, a surrogate of human norovirus. The antiviral mechanisms of action were also examined using a gene expression studies and transmission electron microscopy. Our results showed that virus-infected cells were left potentially void of all the cell machineries whereas uninfected cells represent healthy normal and dividing cells. The infected treated cells with extracts showed restoration of the dense cytoplasm, cytoplasmic membrane, and the nucleus. These cells were also associated with the expression of ORF genes. This study demonstrates the antiviral properties of Hibiscus sabdariffa (HS) calyces and Zanthoxylum armatum (ZA) and thus indicates their potential as natural remedies to treat noroviruses.

Gill surface architecture of mullet, Mugil soiuy (Basilewsky) : A scanning electron microscope study

Specimens of Mugil soiuy were collected from the coastal waters of Bohai Sea in Tianjin. The gillfilaments were cut with fine scissors and soaked for 24h in a fixative consisting of 2.5% glutaralde-hyde in 0.1 mol lphosporic acid buffer. After three washes in a buffer solution the tissue was fixedin a mixture of 1% osmium tetraoxide at 4℃ for 1h. The tissue was dehydrated in graded ethandethanols and dried. The tissue was examined and photographed with an SEM at an accelerating voltage

IMMUNOELECTRON MICROSCOPIC STUDY ON THE LOCALIZATION OF MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES ON GASTRIC CANCER CELLS

The localization of three monoclonal antibodies (MAb) against gastric cancer was studied on two human gastric cancer cell lines by immunoelectron microscopic technique. It has shown that the corresponding antigens of MAb 3G9 and 3H11 were distributed on the microvilli (M) and non-microvillus (NM) plasma membrane of target cells, with various M to NM ratios depending on the MAbs and target cells used. However, the corresponding antigens of MAb PD4 was only localized on the surface of round or finger-like bulges of target cells and never on the microvilli and non-microvillous plasma membrane. Since the nature and function of these tumor antigens have not been identified yet, the implication of the different distributions of these antigens remians to be clarifated.

Observation of healing between artificial bladder and tissue by scanning electronic microscope

Object To detect the healing between artificial bladder and tissue. Method:Healing between 4 artificial bladder and surrounding tissue was observed by scanning electronic microscope. Result 4 prosthesis all could heal with tissue,but healing extent was different during different time. Conclusion:This artificial bladder could perform a good connection with tissue and the structure of nylon, surface area of prosthesis, time and infection maybe influenced the healing.