Ultrastructure of dermal denticles in sharpnose shark (Rhizoprionodon lalandii) (Elasmobranchii,Carcharhinidae)

The presence of denticles in the external surface, oral cavity, fins, and clasper of Elasmobranchii has been widely reported. These structures, called body denticles, may be observed on the body surface of sharks. Dermal and oral denticles are made up by a basal plate that is embedded in the dermis, forming a peduncle that grows from the base to the crown. These denticles may protect the skin against abrasion, and improve hydrodynamics and gill arches function. Rhizoprionodon lalandii is a widely distributed and very common species in Brazilian coastal areas. The aims of this study was to compare the morphology of oral and body denticles of R. lalandii to understand the implications of these structures in the behavior of these animals. Morphological analysis showed that there are differences between dermal and oral denticles, which are related to their role in different body regions. Body denticles have three cusps, and well‐defined crests and ridges, and literature data suggest that suggest that hydrodynamics is their main function. Most of the oral denticles have only one cusp, and their morphology and distribution showed that their main functions are preparing food to be swallowed and protecting the oral cavity against abrasion. Microsc. Res. Tech. 78:859–864, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Morphological characterization of the oral cavity of the gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) with emphasis on the teeth‐age adaptation

Gilthead sea bream with different age groups that collected from Seawater fisheries, Ismailia Governorate, Egypt, were examined by gross anatomy and scanning electron microscopy to assess the morphological characteristics of the oral cavity. Teeth patterns showed that the gilthead sea bream is adapted to the feeding pattern according to age development, as it modified from spiny form teeth in young fishes to obelisk‐like teeth and flat dome‐like teeth in growing fishes, with differentiation of teeth into three pairs of canine and conical teeth, that later differentiated to small and large flat teeth. With development, the apical pouch also showed morphological differentiation from curve‐like in small fishes to Y‐letter shape in medium‐sized fishes, which later grow to completely covering the lower jaw in grown adult fishes. Tongue papillae, on the other hand, showed some differentiation being smoother in growing fishes than adult ones. Consistent with development differentiation, the palatine region of young fishes appeared separated from the palate by deep palatine fissure, while that the same palatine region was continuous with the palate with a remnant of palatine fissure as shallow groove was noticed in grown big fishes. Taste buds were characterized in the oral cavity of small and large fishes however in large fishes; the taste buds were more prominent especially at the palate and palatine folds. These and other morphological features of the oral cavity and the feeding habits in small and large gilthead sea bream fishes were recorded. Microsc. Res. Tech. 79:227–236, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Morphology of the tongue dorsal surface of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata)

The gilthead seabream is a food fish, one of the most frequently used in aquaculture. In the species of commercial interest, feeding in captivity is very important and this process is strictly related to the morphological characteristics of the oral cavity. The aim of this study is, using the standard procedures for light and scanning electron microscopy, to analyze the morphology of the tongue dorsal surface to show if relationships are present between the tongue morphology and the nutritional habits and choices of this farmed species. The main characteristic of the gilthead seabream oral cavity floor is the presence of an apical pouch, with, probably, a protective role mainly for the apical, free part of the tongue. Three zones, like in other teleosts, an apex, a body and a root, can be clearly distinguished. In the pouch foliate‐like papillae were observed, while the whole tongue is characterized by the presence of two types of papillae, respectively with a fungiform and cylindroid aspect, both randomly distributed throughout the whole dorsal surface of the tongue. Scattered and numerous taste buds, with the typical pear‐onion shape, together with small and numerous taste pores are also present, distributed throughout the tongue surface. Our results demonstrate that in the gilthead seabream important mechanic and sensory roles are carried out by specific anatomical structures. Our anatomical data could give, together with further biochemical and physiological data, an important support with the aim of improving the nutrition of aquaculture species. Microsc. Res. Tech. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Thorns and dermal denticles of skates Atlantoraja cyclophora and A. castelnaui: Microscopic features and functional implications

Some batoid species are covered with dermal denticles (or placoid scales) that occasionally develop into thorns. In sexually mature males, sharp teeth and alar thorns found on the apex of the lateral disc are used to hold the female during copulation. This study set out to analyze microscopic features of modified dermal denticles and thorns and to investigate sexual dimorphism in Atlantoraja cyclophora and A. castelnaui species. Skin samples collected from areas covered with thorns were fixed in 10% formaldehyde, processed and analyzed using scanning electron microscopy. Alar thorn morphology varied within species, while caudal thorn, rostral and caudal dermal denticle morphology varied within and between species. These structures play an important role in the protection and reproduction of the species studied and constitute important taxonomic information, given they are often the only elements preserved in archaeological sites and fossil records.     

Cryo‐scanning electron microscopy investigation of the Octopus Vulgaris arm structures for the design of an octopus‐like arm artefact

Octopus vulgaris is a cephalopod of the Octopodidae family. It has four pairs of arms and two rows of suckers which perform many functions, including bending and elongation. For this reason the octopus was chosen as model to develop a new generation of soft‐body robots. In order to explain some of the fine structures of the octopus arm in relation to its specific ability, we examined the external and internal structures of O. vulgaris arms in a frozen‐hydrated state using cryo‐scanning electron microscopy. The arms showed skin with a very complex design that is useful to elongation, and a pore pattern distribution on their surface which is functional to cutaneous oxygen uptake. The analysis of freeze‐fractured frozen‐hydrated arm samples allowed us to describe the developmental differences in the relative proportion of the areas of axial nerve cord, intrinsic and extrinsic musculature, in relation to the growth of the arms and of the increase in functional capability. In the suckers, we analyzed the shedding mechanisms in the outer part of the infundibulum and described the outer and inner characteristics of the denticles, showing in detail their pore system, which is fundamental for their ability to explore the environment. These results are discussed by considering their possible application in the design of new octopus‐like artefacts, which will be able to take advantage of some of these ultrastructure characteristics and achieve advanced bioinspired functionalities. Microsc. Res. Tech. 78:1133–1145, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Compositional mapping of bitumen using local electrostatic force interactions in atomic force microscopy

In recent years, many researchers have investigated bitumen surface morphology, especially the so‐called bee‐like structures, in an attempt to relate the chemical composition and molecular conformation to bitumen micromechanics and ultimately performance properties. Even though recent studies related surface morphology and its evolution to stiffness and stress localization, the complex chemical nature of bitumen and its time‐ and temperature‐dependent properties still engender significant questions about the nature and origin of the observed morphological features and how they evolve due to exposure to various environmental and loading conditions. One such question is whether the observed surface features are formed from wax or from the coprecipitation of wax and asphaltene. Our prior work was mainly theoretical; it used density functional theory and showed that the coprecipitation theory may not stand, mainly because wax–asphaltene interactions are not thermodynamically favourable compared to wax–wax interactions. This paper presents a comprehensive approach based on experiments to study surface morphology of bitumen and conduct compositional mapping to shed light on the origin of the bee‐like surface morphological features. We used Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), with the main focus being on single‐pass detection and mapping of local electric properties, as a novel approach to enhance existing compositional mapping techniques. This method was found to be highly effective in differentiating various domains with respect to their polarity. The results of our study favour the hypothesis that the bee‐like features are mainly composed of wax, including a variety of alkanes.     

Dual-mode reflectance and fluorescence near-video-rate confocal microscope for architectural, morphological and molecular imaging of tissue

We have developed a near‐video‐rate dual‐mode reflectance and fluorescence confocal microscope for the purpose of imaging ex vivo human specimens and in vivo animal models. The dual‐mode confocal microscope (DCM) has light sources at 488, 664 and 784 nm, a frame rate of 15 frames per second, a maximum field of view of 300 × 250 μm and a resolution limit of 0.31 μm laterally and 1.37 μm axially. The DCM can image tissue architecture and cellular morphology, as well as molecular properties of tissue, using reflective and fluorescent molecular‐specific optical contrast agents. Images acquired with the DCM demonstrate that the system has the sub‐cellular resolution needed to visualize the morphological and molecular changes associated with cancer progression and has the capability to image animal models of disease in vivo. In the hamster cheek pouch model of oral carcinogenesis, the DCM was used to image the epithelium and stroma of the cheek pouch; blood flow was visible and areas of dysplasia could be distinguished from normal epithelium using 6% acetic acid contrast. In human oral cavity tissue slices, DCM reflectance images showed an increase in the nuclear‐to‐cytoplasmic ratio and density of nuclei in neoplastic tissues as compared to normal tissue. After labelling tissue slices with fluorescent contrast agents targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor, an increase in epidermal growth factor receptor expression was detected in cancerous tissue as compared to normal tissue. The combination of reflectance and fluorescence imaging in a single system allowed imaging of two different parameters involved in neoplastic progression, providing information about both the morphological and molecular expression changes that occur with cancer progression. The dual‐mode imaging capabilities of the DCM allow investigation of both morphological changes as well as molecular changes that occur in disease processes. Analyzing both factors simultaneously may be advantageous when trying to detect and diagnose disease. The DCM's high resolution and near‐video‐rate image acquisition and the growing inventory of molecular‐specific contrast agents and disease‐specific molecular markers holds significant promise for in vivo studies of disease processes such as carcinogenesis.     

Morphological variations of Mn‐doped ZnO dilute magnetic semiconductors thin films grown by succesive ionic layer by adsorption reaction method

Transparent conducting Mn‐doped ZnO thin films have been prepared by successive ionic layer by adsorption reaction (SILAR) method. The deposition conditions have been optimized based on their structure and on the formation of smoothness, adherence, and stoichiometry. The results of the studies by X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope (SEM), reveal the varieties of structural and morphological modifications feasible with SILAR method. The X‐ray diffraction patterns confirm that the ZnO:Mn has wurtzite structure. The interesting morphological variations with dopant concentration are observed and discussed. The films' quality is comparable with those grown with physical methods and is suitable for spintronic applications. Microsc. Res. Tech. 76:751–755, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

The microstructure of buccal cavity and alimentary canal of Siganus rivulatus: Scanning electron microscope study

The microstructure of the oral cavity and alimentary canal of herbivorous fish Siganus rivulatus collected from the Red Sea were investigated by using scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results showed that S. rivulatus has three types of teeth, tri‐cusped, bi‐cusped, and papilliform. A taste bud (Type I) was recorded in the oropharyngeal cavity. Characteristic styles of microridges on the cell's surface inside the buccal cavity were recorded. Also, the distribution of the mucous cells in the lining of the mouth cavity, alimentary canal was observed. Mucosal folds along the distinct parts of alimentary canal, showed characteristic pattern which was complex in the intestinal mucosa. The results concluded that there are characteristic microstructures according to feeding habitat compared with other bony fishes.     

Microscopic investigation of pollen morphology of Brassicaceae from Central Punjab‐Pakistan

The intention of the current study is to provide an account on the palynological features of Brassicaceae from Central Punjab‐Pakistan as a basis for future studies. Different morpho‐palynological characteristics both qualitative and quantitative were analyzed during this research which includes shape of pollen, diameter of pollen, P/E ratio, exine sculpturing, thickness of exine, type of pollen, shape and size of lumens, and thickness of murus. Taxonomic keys were also constructed based on pollen morphological characters for correct identification of species. This study aims to provide detailed information of pollen diversity and their exine structure based on both qualitative and quantitative characters by using Light microscopy and Scanning electron microscopy. Shape of pollen is mostly prolate, but some species also have sub‐prolate to spheroidal prolate types. Exine ornamentation in most species was reticulate, whereas micro reticulate (one species) and coarsely reticulate (one species) exine also observed in some pollen. All the pollen mentioned in this study have tricolpate apertures. Variation found in thickness of exine and other characters proved to be helpful at generic and specific level. The results reinforced the significance of pollen morphological features of family Brassicaceae and aid for valuable taxonomic tool in plant systematics.     

The physiology of flatfish chromatophores

Most flatfish, of the order Pleuronectiformes, possess a white lower side, and a brown or grey upper side. This upper side can display integumentary patterning with dark areas and colored or white spots. Chromatophores in flatfish are dermal and epidermal melanophores, as well as dermal xanthophores, erythrophores, iridophores, and leucophores, combinations of which contribute to the color and patterning. Cellular studies demonstrate pattern-related differences in numerical distribution between the types of chromatophores, and in their size, both of which will enhance contrast between areas of the pattern. As well as these morphological characteristics, there are also clear physiological differences, with melanophores from various areas of the patterns demonstrating differential responsiveness to background and to stress/excitement stimuli. Regulation of flatfish melanophore responses is predominantly neural, through the sympathetic nervous system; the pituitary hormones in these fish function in maintaining final equilibria in physiological adaptations to backgrounds. Melanophores from main components of patterns also respond differently in vitro to electrical stimulation, to pituitary hormones, and to sympathomimetic drugs and their antagonists. Sensitivity characteristics with alpha- and beta-adrenergic pharmacological reagents in vitro indicate the existence of a pattern-related balance in alpha- and beta-adrenoceptor mediation in melanophore regulation. The patterning mechanism is complex, with both morphological and physiological differences at the chromatophore level, as well as involvement of central processing and control, which remains to be analysed.     

Enameloid microstructure of some Cretaceous Hexanchiformes and Synechodontiformes (Chondrichthyes,Neoselachii): New structures and systematic implications

Modern neoselachian sharks may be separated from more basal relatives by the presence of tooth enameloid comprising three layers. Although enameloid microstructure studies were mostly used in the aim of differentiating supposed basal neoselachians from hybodonts, differences in the enameloid organization among neoselachians have been recognized suggesting the potential for use of enameloid microstructure as a phylogenetic tool within the neoselachian sharks. The enameloid microstructure of five taxa of neoselachian sharks belonging to two orders, the Hexanchiformes and Synechodontiformes, has been studied. The Hexanchiformes are a monophyletic order with extant representatives, whereas the extinct Synechodontiformes have been considered as monophyletic, paraphyletic, or polyphyletic by different authors. This study has revealed numerous new enameloid microstructures such as amalgamated crystallites in the internal units [parallel‐bundled enameloid (PBE) and tangled‐bundled enameloid], cavities at the shiny‐layered enameloid (SLE)/PBE boundary, radial furrows in the PBE, as well as different original organizations at the base of the crown and in the PBE at the level of the cutting edges. Pachyhexanchus pockrandti (Hexanchiforme) and Welcommia bodeuri have the most of the features in common and they share more characters with those of Paraorthacodus sp. and Sphenodus sp. than with Synechodus sp. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Experimental and numerical research on cavitating flows around axisymmetric bodies

We investigated the cavitating flows around different axisymmetric bodies based on experiments and numerical simulation. In the numerical simulation, the multiphase Reynolds averaged Navier Stokes equations (RANS) were solved via the commercial computational fluid dynamics code CFX. The modified k-ω SST turbulence model was used along with the transport equation-based cavitation model. In the experiments, a high-speed video technique was used to observe the unsteady cavitating flow patterns, and the dynamic force measurement system was used to measure the hydrodynamics of the axisymmetric bodies under different cavitation conditions. Results are shown for the hemisphere bodies, conical bodies and blunt bodies. Reasonable agreements were obtained between the computational and experimental results. The results show that for the hemispherical body, the cavity consists of quasi-steady transparent region and unsteady foggy water-vapor mixture region, which contains small-scale vortices and is dominated by bubble clusters, causing irregular disturbances at the cavity interfaces. The curvature at the front of the conical body is larger, resulting in that the flow separates at the shoulder of the axisymmetric body. The cavity stretches downstream and reaches to a fixed cavity length and shape. For blunt bodies, the incipient cavitation number is larger than that for the hemispherical body. A large cloud cavity is formed at the shoulder of the blunt body in the cores of vortices in high shear separation regions and the re-entrant jet does not significantly interact with the cavity interface when it moves upstream. As to the dynamic characteristics of unsteady cavitating flows around the axisymmetric bodies, the pulsation frequency for the hemispherical body is larger than that for the blunt body. For the hemispherical body, the pulsation is mainly caused by the high-frequency, small-scale shedding at the rear end of the cavity, while for the blunt body, the main factor for the pulsation frequency is the periodically shedding of large-scale vortex cavities.     

Fundamental investigation on partially overlapped nano-cutting of monocrystalline germanium

Molecular dynamics simulations on partially overlapped nano-cutting of monocrystalline germanium with different feeds are carried out to investigate the surface topography, cutting force and subsurface deformation. The results indicate that the side-flow material piling up on the edges of tool marks is a decisive factor for the surface topography with the machining parameters in this study, ignoring the tool wear and machining vibration. In the partially overlapped nano-cutting, the lateral force is more affected by nominal depth of cut than by pitch feed with the value of feed being in some range. The atomic sights on the subsurface deformation show that the thickness of deformed layer after machining is much thinner than that after single cut with the same nominal depth of cut. Laser micro-Raman spectroscopy and cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy are used to detect the subsurface deformation of monocrystalline germanium after eccentric turning. The crystalline structure with defects rather than the amorphous germanium is observed in many areas of machined surface. Both molecular dynamics simulation and experimental results indicate that the amorphous-damage-less and even amorphous-damage-free machined surface can be achieved by partially overlapped nano-cutting.     

Lymphatic vessels in the oral cavity: different structures for the same function.

A study using a light and transmission electron microscope was performed on some structural characteristics of the lymphatic capillaries in different regions of the human oral cavity. The lymphatic capillaries of dental pulp, masticatory mucosa (gingiva and peri-implant mucosa) and lining mucosa (cheek) were examined. Our attention was focused on the morphologic characteristics of the endothelial wall in the lymphatic capillaries. In particular, the connections between endothelial cells were investigated. In the lymphatic capillaries of the dental pulp, the endothelial wall was always very complex. It frequently presented protrusions of the endothelial cells that overlapped and formed intercellular channels. These channels were thus contained by the vessel endothelial wall with their extremities opening out towards the surrounding interstitium and the vessel lumen. The endothelial wall of the lymphatic capillaries of the cheek was very smooth and thin without complex intercellular junctions. The endothelial cells were joined by end-to-end junctions and open junctions were frequently observed. Intercellular channels were also found in the endothelial wall of lymphatic capillaries of the gingiva and the peri-implant mucosa. The presence of numerous clefts represented by the open junctions in the lymphatics of the cheek and the existence of complex intercellular adhesions with the formation of intercellular channels in the endothelial wall of the lymphatic capillaries of the dental pulp and gingiva induce us to believe that these may play a role in the various mechanisms used by lymphatic capillaries to absorb interstitial fluids. These mechanisms are based on the different morpho-functional characteristics of the surrounding tissue.     

压电纤维致动的仿鲤鱼尾鳍式小型推进器的摆动特性及流固耦合机理

宏压电纤维复合材料（Macro fiber composite,MFC）克服了传统压电材料在韧性和脆性方面的不足,具有驱动变形大、柔韧性好且防水性好的优点,在仿生变形驱动领域具有广泛的应用前景。模仿锦鲤鱼类的形态特征和身体/尾鳍（Body or caudal fin,BCF）游动推进模式,提出了一种MFC致动的仿鲤鱼尾鳍式小型水下推进器。在峰值1 000 V、频率7.5 Hz的简谐激励电压下,试验测得推进器末端水下最大摆速154.5 mm/s。采用计算流体力学（Computational fluid dynamics,CFD）分析了推进器摆动过程中周围流场分布及变化情况。仿真结果表明,推进器在稳定推进阶段产生的瞬时最大推进力和平均推进力分别为9.8 mN和4.22 mN,与Lighthill细长体理论一致;同时从推进器周围的周期平均流场结构中观察到了一片流速约为推进器结构最大摆速2倍的高速流场区域,且始终存在着一对对称分布、旋向相反的涡环结构沿着推进器顺流而下,因此产生一股高速水流从推进器尾部喷射而出,而推进器在高速水流的反作用力下向前推进,从而揭示了仿鲤鱼尾鳍式小型水下推进器的流固耦合特性和推进机理。     

车身低噪声设计新方法

为降低车内低频噪声而改进车身结构时,现有方法往往需要较长周期,因此研究一种可快速、准确定位车身结构薄弱处,以及明确车身结构刚度调整方向的车身低噪声设计新方法。将一般腔体结构的内部声场计算公式分解为5个部分,并讨论这5个部分的特点,确定进行声压响应幅度判定参数研究时,采用的6种关键组合。以含一个弹性面的刚性长方体结构声腔耦合系统为对象,讨论6种关键组合的关系;分析发现振型耦合系数、频率重叠系数、结构振型在激励点处分量等三者的乘积能够完全体现声压响应信息,可作为声压响应幅度判定参数。详细分析声压响应幅度判定参数的特点,可满足预期研究目标;基于该参数,提出一种车身结构低噪声设计的新方法。利用该新方法,对某轿车车内低频噪声进行优化,进一步的频率响应计算结果表明,车身结构优化后驾驶员测点声压级平均降低3 dB,最大降低10 dB。