Correlative light and electron microscopy reveals fork-shaped structures at actin entry sites of focal adhesions

Focal adhesions (FAs) are the main cellular structures to link the intracellular cytoskeleton to the extracellular matrix. FAs mediate cell adhesion, are important for cell migration and are involved in many (patho)-physiological processes. Here we examined FAs and their associated actin fibres using correlative fluorescence and scanning...

Electron wave front modulation with patterned mirrors

We propose a microscopy scheme for the controlled modulation of the electron wave front that utilizes patterned electron mirrors. The ability to control the wave front of the electron finds many applications in electron microscopy, for instance in contrast enhancement techniques, beam mode conversion, low-dose imaging techniques such as quantum...

Optimization of negative stage bias potential for faster imaging in large-scale electron microscopy

Large-scale electron microscopy (EM) allows analysis of both tissues and macromolecules in a semi-automated manner, but acquisition rate forms a bottleneck. We reasoned that a negative bias potential may be used to enhance signal collection, allowing shorter dwell times and thus increasing imaging speed. Negative bias potential has previously...

Insights into animal septins using recombinant human septin octamers with distinct SEPT9 isoforms

Septin GTP-binding proteins contribute essential biological functions that range from the establishment of cell polarity to animal tissue morphogenesis. Human septins in cells form hetero-octameric septin complexes containing the ubiquitously expressed SEPT9 subunit (also known as SEPTIN9). Despite the established role of SEPT9 in mammalian...

Accessing lithium−oxygen battery discharge products in their native environments via transmission electron microscopy grid electrode

High-fidelity and facile ex situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) characterization of lithium−oxygen (Li−O₂) batteries is still limited by challenges in preserving the native environment of Li−O₂ discharge products. The extreme reactivity and moisture sensitivity of the discharge products means that they are...

Applicability study of pulsed laser beam welding on ferritic–martensitic ODS eurofer steel

Pulsed laser beam welding was used successfully to join the oxide dispersion-strengthened (ODS) Eurofer steel. The joining was conducted with a laser power of 2500 W and a pulsed duration of 4 ms. With the filler material being used, a minor material loss and microvoids were observed in the joint. The microstructure of the fusion zone...

Aquaporin-2 trafficking: Studying cellular mechanisms with subcellular aspiration and cryo-electron microscopy

High resolution resist-free lithography in the SEM

Focussed Electron Beam Induced Processing is a high resolution direct-write nanopatterning technique. Its ability to fabricate sub-10 nm structures together with its versatility and ease of use, in that it is resist-free and implementable inside a Scanning Electron Microscope, make it attractive for a variety of applications in nanofabrication....

Transition of Emission Colours as a Consequence of Heat-Treatment of Carbon Coated Ce3+-Doped YAG Phosphors

To modify the luminescence properties of Ce³⁺-doped Y₃Al₅O₁₂ (YAG) phosphors, they have been coated with a carbon layer by chemical vapor deposition and subsequently heat-treated at high temperature under N₂ atmosphere. Luminescence of the carbon coated YAG:Ce³⁺ phosphors has...

The influence of different types of anodic layers on the fatigue properties of 202U-T3 and 7056-T6 sheet material

Constant amplitude and flight simulation fatigue tests have been carried out on sulphuric acid, chromic acid and phosphoric acid anodized specimens. A comparison was made with the fatigue behaviour of bare sheet material. Before fatigue testing the fracture strain of the anodic layers was determined.