Organization and modifications of sperm acrosomal molecules during spermatogenesis and epididymal maturation

The mammalian acrosome is a highly specialized organelle overlying the anterior part of the sperm nucleus and contains a variety of proteins, including hydrolytic enzymes and matrix molecules. Functionally, the anterior acrosome is involved in the acrosome reaction or sperm-zona pellucida interaction, while the equatorial segment (posterior acrosome) is involved in sperm-egg fusion. The acrosome is formed during spermiogenesis, during which associated molecules are transported from the Golgi apparatus and organized. Many of the molecules thus arranged gradually become compartmentalized during sperm passage through the epididymis. Some of them are further modified during the fertilization process. The findings indicate that acrosomal molecules are not only restricted to a specific region (domain) of the acrosome but also undergo ongoing relocation in a stage-specific manner during sperm maturation in the testis and epididymis. Such maturation-associated modifications are considered essential for sperm molecules to reach the correct or final site before fertilization. This review focuses on the organization and modifications of the acrosomal molecules as well as their compartmentalization within the acrosome.     

Assessing Nanotribological Performance and Surface Energies of Inconel-ZrN,Cr-ZrN,Nb-ZrN,and ZrN Thin Films

The nanotribological performance for three groups of metal-ZrN, including Inconel-ZrN, Cr-ZrN, Nb-ZrN, and polycrystalline ZrN thin films has been investigated and results were correlated with surface energy evaluations. Metal-ZrN and ZrN thin films were deposited using direct current (DC) unbalanced magnetron sputtering and their elemental composition was investigated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Both nanomechanical and nanotribological properties were evaluated using a triboscope interfaced with an atomic force microscope (AFM) and the surface energies were calculated from the contact angle measurements. The present research reports for the first time on the nanowear behavior, surface roughness, and friction coefficients correlated with surface energies of metal-ZrN and ZrN thin films.

All metal-ZrN thin films showed improved nanotribological performance compared to the polycrystalline ZrN. Results indicate that several of the Inconel-ZrN thin film compositions have both superior nanotribological behavior and good wettability and thus have high potential use for wear resistant applications.     

Bordetella adenylate cyclase toxin induces a cascade of morphological changes of sheep erythrocytes and localizes into clusters in erythrocyte membranes

Adenylate cyclase toxin (CyaA) of Bordetella pertussis penetrates the membrane of eukaryotic cells, producing high levels of intracellular cAMP, as well as hemolysis that results from the formation of cation-selective toxin channels in the membrane. Using several microscopical approaches we studied the effects of CyaA action on the morphology of sheep erythrocytes during early phases preceding lysis and examined localization of CyaA molecules within the erythrocyte membrane. CyaA induced a cascade of morphological changes of erythrocytes, such as shrinkage, formation of membrane projections, and blebs and swelling. The use of an enzymatically inactive CyaA-AC- toxoid that is unable to produce cAMP and of a CyaA-E581K mutant exhibiting higher hemolytic activity than with CyaA showed that the hemolytic activity is responsible for the induction of morphological changes of erythrocytes. Further, immunolabeling of inserted CyaA-232/FLAG molecules with specific anti-FLAG antibodies and IgG-gold particles indicated a clustered distribution of CyaA molecules in erythrocyte membrane. This was confirmed by immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy, which revealed uniform stoichiometry of CyaA clusters, suggesting CyaA binding into specific domains in erythrocyte membrane. Indeed, a decrease of CyaA binding after cholesterol depletion of erythrocytes suggests toxin targeting and binding to membrane microdomains (rafts).     

Evaluation of the real contact areas, pressure distributions and contact temperatures during sliding contact between real metal surfaces

A three-dimensional elastic contact algorithm has been developed to analyse the normal contact problems of bodies having rough surfaces. The algorithm can evaluate the real contact areas and contact pressure distributions using measured surface roughness data.

Following an approximate elastic-plastic contact solution the analysis produces more realistic elastic and plastic contact areas; in addition results of contact pressure distributions can be predicted according to a given maximum plastic limit pressure.

The technique can simulate (in an approximate way) the elastic-plastic sliding contact behaviour in the vicinity of asperities or concentrated contact areas by ignoring the effect of the tangential forces on the vertical displacement.

Assuming a certain sliding speed and a particular coefficient of friction the local temperature distribution due to the heat generation over the real contact areas can also be calculated for 'slow sliding' problems.

The results show the moving real contact areas and the contact temperature fields for an electric spark mechanical steel surface moving over a planed bronze surface. Changes of the rigid body displacement, as well as the average and maximum pressures are also presented during sliding.

The micro-contact or asperity contact behaviour for bodies having large nominal contact area and the macro-contact behaviour for bodies being in 'concentrated contact' are also compared. In the latter case an ideal smooth steel ball was slid over the previously mentioned bronze surface.     

青年与老年手指甲表面形貌、成分与力学性能的实验分析

应用红外光谱仪、场发射扫描电镜、差示扫描热量仪、原位纳米力学测试系统对青年(20~25岁)与老年(70~75岁)指甲的表面结构、形貌、水含量及力学性能进行了实验分析。结果表明:与青年组成员指甲相比,老年组成员指甲的PO 2、C-O、CH 2与CONH基团的峰位向高波数移动;老年组成员指甲表面比青年组成员指甲粗糙并表现出明显的纵向纹理;尽管其总含水量与青年组成员指甲相当,但老年组成员指甲结合水的含量比青年组成员指甲的低;老年组成员指甲的硬度与约化弹性模量均高于青年组成员指甲相应对比量,因此,老年组成员指甲在划痕实验中显示出更好的耐磨性,但在较大载荷时出现明显的裂纹。     

Analysis of Strain Rates and Microstructural Evaluation during Metal Forming: Role of Surface Texture and Friction

The surface texture of a die plays an important role in friction during metal forming. In the present study, unidirectional and random surface finishes were produced on hardened steel plate surfaces. To understand the influence of surface texture on friction, experiments were conducted using Al-Mg alloy pins that slid against steel plates of different surface textures. In the sliding experiments, a high coefficient of friction was observed when the pins slid perpendicular to the unidirectional grinding marks and low friction occurred when the pins slid on the random surfaces. Finite element simulations were performed using the measured friction values to understand the stress and strain evolutions in the deforming material using dies with various friction. The numerical results showed that the states of stress and strain rates are strongly influenced by the friction at the interface and hence would influence the final material microstructure. To substantiate the numerical results, laboratory compression tests were conducted. Different surface textures were obtained in order to experience different friction values at different locations. A large variation in the microstructure at these locations was observed during experiments, verifying that surface texture and die friction significantly influence fundamental material formation behavior.     

Sequential treatment by phosphotungstic acid and uranyl acetate enhances the adherence of lipid membranes and membrane proteins to hydrophobic EM grids

A simple procedure for screening by electron microscopic observations of conditions for the reconstitution of membrane proteins into lipid bilayers is described. This procedure consists of a 5–10-s treatment of electron microscopic grids, to which the sample has already been applied, with 1% phosphotungstic acid before proceeding with final staining in uranyl acetate. The method substantially enhances the adherence of lipid membranes and membrane protein particles to hydrophobic collodion/carbon grids.     

Proceedings of the eleventh annual meeting of the arizona society for electron microscopy and microbeam analysis held in tucson,arizona, february 7–8, 1990

The ultrastructure of the progressive testicular involution with advancing age in men is reviewed. There is no definite age at which testicular involution begins, and the onset and severity of testicular lesions are subjected to pronounced individual variations. Hormone studies also indicate great individual variations, and subtle changes in both the testis and the pituitary develop progressively with age. Testicular size, sperm quality, and numbers of all germ cell types, Sertoli cells, and Ley dig cells decrease with age. The volume occupied by the seminiferous tubules decreases, whereas that occupied by the testicular interstitium remains constant. The most frequent histological pattern of the aging testis is a mosaic of different seminiferous tubule lesions, varying from tubules with complete, although reduced, spermatogenesis, to completely sclerosed tubules. The tubules with complete spermatogenesis may show numerous morphological abnormalities in the germ cells, including multinucleation. Abnormal germ cells degenerate causing Sertoli cell vacuolation. These vacuoles correspond to dilations of the extracellular spaces resulting from the premature exfoliation of germ cells. Degenerating cells that are phagocytosed by the Sertoli cells give rise to an accumulation of lipid droplets in the Sertoli cell cytoplasm. The loss of germ cells begins with the spermatids, but progressively affects the earlier germ cell types, and tubules with maturation arrest at the level of the spermatocytes or spermatogonia are observed. The Sertoli cells show morphological abnormalities such as dedifferentiation, mitochondrial metaplasia, and multinucleation. Germ cell loss is associated with thickening of the tunica propria. When all seminiferous epithelial cells have disappeared, only an intensely collagenized tunica propria with myoid cells remains (sclerosed tubules). The Ley dig cells progressively dedifferentiate with a decrease in the quantity of both smooth endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria, together with an accumulation of lipid droplets, crystalline inclusions, and residual bodies, and formation of multinucleate cells. The development of tubular involution with age is similar to that observed after exprimental ischemia, suggesting that vascular lesions may play an important role in age-related testicular atrophy.     

Design and fabrication of a six-dimensional wrist force/torque sensor based on E-type membranes compared to cross beams

This paper presents a novel device for measuring components of forces and moments along and about three orthogonal axes based on E-type membranes compared to conventional sensor based on cross beams. After design and analysis of both types of sensors, we chose to fabricate a six-dimensional wrist force/torque sensor based on E-type membranes. Furthermore, the calibration and decoupling based on Neural Network method were performed, and the sensor possesses excellent characteristics such as high measurement sensitivity, overload protection, good linearity, and weak couplings between components. Finally, its maximum interference error and nonlinearity error are 1.6% F.S. and 0.17% F.S., respectively.     

On the contraction and dilation of the plastic support membranes under electron-beam irradiation in the transmission electron microscope

Time relation curves are given for Formvar membrane contraction or collodion membrane dilation under electron-beam irradiation. Also, numerical values are given for the contraction or dilation measured in different zones of the Formvar or collodion support membranes.     

Analysis of friction and surface roughness effects on edge crack evolution of thin strip during cold rolling

Experimental investigation and mechanical analysis have been carried out to study the edge crack formation during cold strip rolling using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The effects of friction and surface roughness on edge crack initiation and growth rate have been discussed. Friction leads to an increase in fracture loads and decreasing the friction coefficient is effective in preventing the microcracks. Surface roughness variation along the strip width contributes to stress distribution and inhibits crack nucleation. The findings reveal that the behaviour of crack evolution is influenced by fracture surface roughness as well as rolling friction.     

Extraction of membrane lipids during fixation,dehydration and embedding of Acholeplasma laidlawii-cells for electron microscopy

The aim of the present investigation was to study the extent to which lipids are extracted from biological membranes during dehydration and embedding procedures carried out at high or low temperatures. Cells of Acholeplasma laidlawii were used as experimental material, since the lipids of this bacterium easily can be radioactively labelled without labelling the rest of the cell, and the lipids are almost entirely located in the cytoplasmic membrane. The cells were fixed at 277 K with glutaraldehyde, sequentially with this reagent and osmium tetroxide, or with glutaraldehyde, osmium tetroxide and uranyl acetate in that order. Loss of lipid during these procedures was negligible. When cells fixed with glutaraldehyde and osmium tetroxide were dehydrated with ethanol at room temperature and embedded in Epon at 333 K, i.e. subjected to a conventional treatment, about 90% of the lipid content of the cells was extracted. The loss was reduced to c. 20% when treatment with uranyl acetate was included in the procedure and the non-polar methacrylate resin Lowicryl HM20 was substituted for Epon. When cells fixed with glutaraldehyde and osmium tetroxide were dehydrated with ethanol at 238 K and embedded in Lowicryl HM20 at room temperature, practically no lipid was extracted. Substitution of the polar methacrylate-acrylate resin Lowicryl K4M for Lowicryl HM20 resulted in the loss of about half of the lipid content of the cells. The use of ethanediol as dehydrating agent instead of ethanol did not diminish the extraction. Cells fixed solely with glutaraldehyde lost about half of their lipid content, even when both dehydration and embedding was performed at 238 K. The lipid material extracted from glutaraldehyde-fixed cells contained slightly more saturated fatty acids than that remaining in the cells. The reverse was true for osmium tetroxide-fixed cells. With respect to lipid species, the extractions were generally rather unspecific.     

Recent advances in separation of roughness, waviness and form

Engineering surfaces are comprised of a range of spatial wavelengths. Filtering techniques are commonly adopted to separate the different wavelength components into well-defined bandwidths. Filtering is done prior to numerical characterization and it is also essential for extracting information needed to provide process feedback and establish functional correlation. This paper reviews commonly used filters in surface metrology like the 2RC, Gaussian and several new ones currently under research such as the spline, morphological, wavelets, regression filters and robust regression filters. The need for these new filters and examples illustrating the features of these filters are also presented.     

Changes in surface and mechanical properties of heat treated wood during natural weathering

In this study, it was aimed to investigate the changes in moisture content, color, surface roughness, compression strength parallel to grain, modulus of rupture and modulus of elasticity of heat treated ash, iroko, Scots pine and spruce wood species during natural weathering for two years. Samples were removed at 6-month intervals for performance evaluation, and test results were compared with the controls. Moisture content of heat treated samples was found to be lower than that of control samples for all exposure periods. Heat treatment significantly changed original wood color as well as weathering factors. Wood surfaces become rougher within longer weathering exposure period. Natural weathering factors caused a decrease for all strength properties. Reduction rate for strength properties of heat treated samples was relatively lower than that of control samples. Heat treatment also seemed to improve color stability and surface quality of samples after weathering.     

Evaluation of lanthanide tracer methods in the study of mammalian pulmonary parenchyma and cardiac muscle by electron energy-loss spectroscopy

Lanthanum (La) has widely been used as a tracer to study the integrity of plasma membranes. With conventional transmission electron microscopy (cTEM), the absence of electron scattering deposits from the cytoplasm has generally been assumed to reflect an intact cell membrane. However, the application of electron spectroscopic imaging (ESI) and electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) reveals that electron scattering deposits may be present which do not contain La. However, La could be detected in regions of pulmonary parenchyma and cardiac muscle that were devoid of electron scattering deposits. Therefore, to exclude misinterpretations based on cTEM the application of microanalytical techniques is strongly recommended for the study of the integrity of plasma membranes by means of La tracers. In addition, ESI and EELS are shown to distinguish between different tracers in simultaneous applications of La and terbium (Tb) which were used at the different faces of the pulmonary air-blood barrier. The analysis of the distribution of both tracers which form electron scattering deposits, indistinguishable by cTEM, may help us to understand the different functional significances of cellular alterations of both cellular borders of the barrier. As was shown for La, however, strictly controlled conditions are mandatory during the fixation procedure because an increase in the incubation time to more than 1 h in samples of pulmonary parenchyma may result in the occurrence of La deposits within the cytoplasm. In the absence of electron scattering deposits, the presence of La in glycogen granules and ribosome-containing areas of various types of alveolar septal cells even after 15 min incubation indicates that the absence of deposits does not necessarily correspond to the absence of the tracer.     

Freeze-fracturing at defined temperatures provides information on temperature rise during fracture,and on membrane complementarity

An apparatus is described which allows freeze-fracturing at defined temperatures, followed by immediate immersion of the specimen in liquid nitrogen. Replication is carried out in a Bullivant & Ames (1966) freeze-fracture device. Using yeast as a test specimen, the following results were obtained with the apparatus: (a) It was confirmed that fracturing at temperatures between 243 K and 223 K gave undeformed volcanoes on the PF of the plasma membrane, as shown originally by Steere et al. (1980). (b) Considerable energy is released by the fracturing process, both as shown by thermocouple readings and by the fact that at relatively high fracture temperatures portions of the specimen surface were melted. A temperature rise of 50–70 K was indicated, (c) Under standard conditions, there is a lack of complementarity between the yeast plasma membrane fracture faces, trigonal point particles not being present opposite the corresponding depressions in the array. Fracturing yeast suspended in salt solutions at 203 K demonstrates these particles. Their absence in normal fractures can be explained by ‘secondary fracture’, a concept based on polymer fracture studies.     

Analysis and Convenient Formulas for Elasto-Plastic Contacts of Nominally Flat Surfaces: Average Gap,Contact Area Ratio,and Plastically Deformed Volume

Interaction of nominally flat engineering surfaces that leads to a large contact area exists in many mechanical systems. Considering periodic similarity of surface geometry, a numerical three-dimensional elasto-plastic contact model can be used to simulate the contact behaviors of two nominally flat surfaces with the assistance of the continuous convolution and Fourier transform (CC-FT) algorithm. This model utilizes the analytical frequency response functions (FRF) of elastic/plastic responses of materials and provides contact performance results, including the average surface gap, the contact area ratio, and the volume of plastically deformed material, which may be defined as performance variables. Following the digital filtration technology, rough surfaces can be numerically generated with specified autocorrelation length and the first four orders of statistical moments. A group of contact simulations are conducted with various working conditions. The effects of topographic and material properties on the contact behaviors are discussed. With a multi-variables regression method, empirical formulas are developed for the performance variables as functions of surface statistical characteristics, material properties, a hardening parameter, and the applied load in terms of pressure.     

Eco-Friendly Synthesis of Colloidal Silver Nanospheres,Nanorings, and Nanonetworks

Abstract

Colloidal silver nanospheres, nanorings, and nanonetworks were synthesized by the nanosecond pulsed laser ablation of a silver metal plate in a pure distilled water (at room temperature) using the fundamental (1064 nm), second harmonic (532 nm), and third harmonic (355 nm) wavelengths of the Nd:YAG laser, respectively. The products were characterized by means of both transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and optical absorption spectroscopy. The TEM data show the formation of silver nanospheres, nanorings, and nanonetworks. On the other hand, optical spectra reveal the occurrence of the red shift of the peak associated with the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) of silver nanorings and nanonetworks. A possible explanation for the formation of above stated silver nanostructures is being discussed.     

Mechanical behavior, wear surface morphology, and clinical performance of UHMWPE acetabular components after 10 years of implantation

The relationships between the mechanical behavior of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) and the long-term clinical performance of acetabular component bearings remain poorly understood. During previous hip simulator validation studies, researchers have correlated the mechanical behavior and surface morphology of polymeric biomaterials with the wear performance in a hip simulator. For the present study, we sought correlations between clinical performance and quantitative metrics of the mechanical behavior and surface morphology of retrieved cups. Nine all-UHMWPE acetabular cups of the same cemented design, 32 mm head size, and manufacturer were retrieved after an average implantation time of 14.1 years (range: 11.5–16.4 years). The implants were manufactured from RCH-1000, sterilized by gamma radiation in air and implanted between 1980 and 1983. Mechanical behavior of the retrieved components was determined using the previously validated small punch test, which subjects miniature specimens to multi-axial loading conditions. Surface morphology of the retrievals was assessed using white light interferometry. No significant relationship was observed between the surface roughness measurements and patient related variables. However, statistically significant relationships were observed between the mechanical behavior determined by the small punch test and the implantation time and patient weight associated with the retrieved hip cups. These findings support the hypothesis that the mechanical behavior of UHMWPE is related, at least in part, to the clinical performance of acetabular component bearings for total hip replacement.