Microscopy: advances in scientific research and education

Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) coupled with Energy Dispersive Sperctroscopy (EDS) are two analysis techniques that are widely used to study all kinds of solid samples, from inorganic to biological. They are used to determine morphological features of interest at a micron and sub-micron level as well as to study the chemical composition of the samples in terms of the amount of each element present. Although these analytical techniques are “routine work” in many research areas, it is not the case of the dental area, mainly because the lack of this equipment in the dental research institutes and in dental schools. Therefore, in this chapter we show the SEM/EDS techniques applied to human dental samples when irradiated with a laser Er:YAG to prevent caries. The intention of this work is to show step by step this analysis showing the key variables to consider when working with this type of biological samples. We explain the SEM conditions to obtain satisfactory images especially when it is important to follow a sequence of steps of a treatment in-vitro that changes the morphological structure of the teeth surface. Also, we discuss the EDS analysis to semiquantitatively determine the elements and their abundance in the dental samples

Efficient Removal of Heavy Metals from Aqueous Solutions Using a Bionanocomposite of Eggshell/Ag-Fe

Abstract: Eggshell and an easily synthesized bionanocomposite of eggshell with Ag-Fe nanoparticles demonstrated to be efficient adsorbent materials for the removal of lead, arsenic, and mercury from water. The natural material and the bionanocomposite were characterized by TEM and XRD. Ag-Fe nanoparticles vary from 1 to 100 nm in size. Equilibrium times of the adsorption systems were achieved between 4 and 8 h. The experimental adsorption data fitted the pseudo-second and Elovich models; therefore, the adsorption of heavy metals ions took place mainly by a chemical process. The adsorption capacity of eggshell in mg/g was 7.01 for As5+, 3.90 for Pb2+, and 1.51 for Hg2+, while the nanocomposite adsorption capacity was 17.7 for As5+, 27.8 for Pb2+ and 15.88 for Hg2+

síntesis, caracterización y aplicaciones

La Nanotecnología es un área de la ciencia relativamente nueva. No obstante, una gran parte de la comunidad científica considera que es la base del desarrollo tecnológico de los próximos años. Dentro del campo de estu dio de la nanotecnología encontramos las nanoestructuras metálicas. Estos nanomateriales presentan propiedades muy interesantes y diferentes a los materiales “en bulto” o a escala macroscópica; entre ellas, la conductividad eléctrica y las propiedades magnéticas, ópticas y de catálisis, propiedades que las hacen candidatas a innumerables aplicaciones en todos los campos de la tecnología. Desafortunadamente, como suele suceder en muchos ámbitos de la ciencia y la tecnología, es la comunidad científica que estudia un área concreta quien conoce en exclusiva esa información. Por ello, nuestro grupo de investigación ha escrito este libro intentando cum Nanoestructuras metálicas: síntesis, caracterización y aplicaciones viii plir dos objetivos principales: el primero, dar a conocer los últimos resultados de nuestras investigaciones con nanoestructuras metálicas y algunas de sus aplicaciones, dicha información va dirigida a la comunidad científica interesada en el área; el segundo objetivo es redactar un libro que sea útil para quienes estén interesados en esta ciencia aunque no tengan demasiada experiencia en el tema, para ello, cada capítulo cuenta con una parte introductoria en la que se presentan aspectos generales del tema que se trata. A su vez, se ha intentado emplear un lenguaje de fácil comprensión pero sin que se pierda la especificidad de cada tema. Finalmente, los autores de este libro queremos agradecer a nuestra alma mater, la Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, por el apoyo recibido para la publicación del mismo, esperando poder contribuir así al fortalecimiento del área científica.El desarrollo de la tecnología siempre ha estado íntimamente relacionado con las necesidades del ser humano por controlar su entorno y los fenómenos naturales, esto con el objeto de lograr una mejor calidad de vida para las personas. Muchos de los descubrimientos científicos más importantes, como es el caso de las leyes de Newton o la teoría de la relatividad de Einstein, revolucionaron la tecnología dando paso a una nueva era, en la que todo se explica desde el principio fundamental de los átomos. Ello provocó que científicos como Richard Feyman, ganador del Premio Nobel de Física en 1965, empezaran a vislumbrar las posibilidades que presentaba la nanotecnología. Feyman mencionó que, al poder estudiar y entender el comportamiento de los átomos y las moléculas, se podrían interpretar de mejor manera los fenómenos en el universo, dando paso a la frase: “En el fondo hay espacio de sobra”

Synthesis and characterization of nanometric magnetite coated by oleic acid and the surfactant CTAB

For the intermediate and largest particles a mixture of magnetite and maghemite phases were produced as the saturation magnetization values of MS ∼ 60 emu/g indicated; these values were measured for most samples, independently of the coating surfactant concentration, and according to the ZFC-FC curves the blocking temperatures were 225K and 275K for the smallest and largest magnetite nanoparticles, respectively. The synthesis method was highly reproducible.Nanometric magnetite (nm-Fe3O4) particles were prepared by the reverse co-precipitation synthesis method, obtaining particle sizes that ranged from 4 to 8.5 nm. In their synthesis, the concentration of iron salts of ferric nitrate, Fe(NO3)3⋅9H2O, and ferrous sulfate, FeSO4⋅7H2O, were varied relative to the chemical reaction volume and by using different surfactants such as oleic acid (OA) and hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). The nm-Fe3O4 particles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Mössbauer spectroscopy (MS), magnetic and X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements

Facile solventless synthesis of a nylon-6,6/silver nanoparticles composite and its XPS study

SINTESIS DE NANOPARTICULASSilver nanoparticles were synthesized and supported on thin nylon membranes by means of a simple method of impregnation and chemical reduction of Ag ions at ambient conditions. Particles of less than 10nm were obtained using this methodology, in which the nylon fibers behave as constrained nanoreactors. Pores on nylon fibres along with oxygen and nitrogen from amide moieties in nylon provide effective sites for in situ reduction of silver ions and for the formation and stabilization of Ag nanoparticles. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis showed that silver nanoparticles are well dispersed throughout the nylon fibers. Furthermore, an interaction betweenUAEME

Antimicrobial Activity of Biogenic Silver Nanoparticles from Syzygium aromaticum against the Five Most Common Microorganisms in the Oral Cavity

ARTICULO DE ACCESO LIBREAbstract: Syzygium aromaticum (clove) has been used as a dental analgesic, an anesthetic, and a bioreducing and capping agent in the formation of metallic nanoparticles. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial effect in oral microorganisms of biogenic silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) formed with aqueous extract of clove through an ecofriendly method “green synthesis”. The obtained AgNPs were characterized by UV-Vis (ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy), SEM-EDS (scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy), TEM (transmission electron microscopy), and ζ potential, while its antimicrobial effect was corroborated against oral Grampositive and Gram-negative microorganisms, as well as yeast that is commonly present in the oral cavity. The AgNPs showed absorption at 400–500 nm in the UV-Vis spectrum, had an average size of 4–16 nm as observed by the high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), and were of a crystalline nature and quasi-spherical form. The antimicrobial susceptibility test showed inhibition zones of 2–4 mm in diameter. Our results suggest that AgNPs synthesized with clove can be used as effective growth inhibitors in several oral microorganisms.S/

Hyperthermia studies using inductive and ultrasound methods on E. coli bacteria and mouse glioma cells

The survival of Escherichia coli bacteria and mouse glioma cells were studied under different temperatures using direct heating in water, ultrasound, and magnetic fluid hyperthermia. The survival of these microorganisms depended on whether the heating mode was continuous or discontinuous, surviving more in the former than in the discontinuous heating mode. Whereas Escherichia coli bacteria did not survive at temperatures ≥50∘C, the mouse glioma cells did not survive at temperatures ≥48∘C

Response to comment on 'Amphibian fungal panzootic causes catastrophic and ongoing loss of biodiversity'

Lambert et al. question our retrospective and holistic epidemiological assessment of the role of chytridiomycosis in amphibian declines. Their alternative assessment is narrow and provides an incomplete evaluation of evidence. Adopting this approach limits understanding of infectious disease impacts and hampers conservation efforts. We reaffirm that our study provides unambiguous evidence that chytridiomycosis has affected at least 501 amphibian species

Intertexto de Rosa : reconstrução do processo de composição empregado por Guimarães Rosa pela interpretação de um texto (Paramo, estas estorias)

Orientador: Roberto SchwarzDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Estudos da LinguagemResumo: Não informadoAbstract: Not informed.MestradoMestre em Letra