Micron最新文献

{"title":"Influence of atomic coordination environment on the elastic-delocalization-induced artifacts in atomic-resolution elemental mapping","authors":"Peng Tang ,&nbsp;Guang Liu ,&nbsp;Jianjun Li ,&nbsp;Zhixin Zeng ,&nbsp;Xuewen Li ,&nbsp;Yu Zhuo ,&nbsp;Weibin Cui ,&nbsp;Xiaoxiao Fu","doi":"10.1016/j.micron.2025.103946","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.micron.2025.103946","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Elastic electron delocalization displaces elemental signals from their true atomic positions, introducing artifacts in atomic-resolution elemental maps acquired via atomic-resolution energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS), which may potentially lead to misinterpretation of new structure. This study systematically investigates the influence of the atomic coordination environment on delocalization distance using a model structure of multi-element metal carbide Mo_1.33Er_0.67Nb₂AlC₃. Building on experimentally observed artifacts, model simulations reveal that EELS signals are more localized for light elements, while EDS signals are more localized for heavy elements. Furthermore, while the delocalization distance follows an increasing trend with larger convergence semi-angles and greater sample thicknesses, the atomic number of neighboring atoms has a negligible effect—typically resulting in deviations of less than 0.1 Å, which is negligible for current structural interpretation. In contrast, variations in interatomic spacing lead to non-monotonic changes in delocalization distance, with overall fluctuations remaining within 20 %, even as spacing nearly doubles. These insights offer a quantitative basis for identifying and interpreting imaging artifacts, contributing to more accurate atomic-scale structural analysis using EELS and EDS.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18501,"journal":{"name":"Micron","volume":"201 ","pages":"Article 103946"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145459180","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Applicability of pore boundary tessellation for quantitative characterization of pore evolution of binder jet 3D printed and sintered metal microstructures: A Ni-Mn-Ga case study and literature validation","authors":"Pierangeli Rodriguez De Vecchis,&nbsp;Ian Nettleship,&nbsp;Markus Chmielus","doi":"10.1016/j.micron.2025.103955","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.micron.2025.103955","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In the study of sintered microstructures, pore size and spatial distribution are relevant for the fabrication of porous structures for filtration, lightweight, and functional applications. Traditional stereology from optical micrographs is used to calculate mean pore size and separation but may result in large systematic error because of complex-shaped porosity. Pore boundary tessellation (PBT) can be used to advance microscopy image analysis by quantifying local spatial homogeneity and minimum 2D pore separation. This study focused on applying and comparing PBT of highly porous metal structures fabricated through Binder Jet Printing and partial sintering, with previous stereological measurements for a Ni-Mn-Ga magnetic shape memory alloy case study. PBT analysis of the tessellated cell pore area fractions indicates that the sintering parameters result in pore section pinch-off, shrinkage, and elimination. At 1070 °C the pore network breaks up without significant pore shrinking. At 1080 °C, the pores shrink but are not systematically eliminated. At 1090 °C the smaller pore sections in the population are preferentially eliminated, after significant shrinkage observed at 0.5 h. The distance in the solid phase between adjacent pore sections (effective cell wall thickness) was also examined. This result was similar to stereological grain size values (±30 %) for intermediate magnifications with pixel-to-μm ratios of ∼2.7, suggesting this method can be used to improve quantitative microscopy for sintered grain size estimation of this alloy, as well as other sintered metals containing grain boundary porosity (confirmed for sintered SS316L literature micrographs).</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18501,"journal":{"name":"Micron","volume":"201 ","pages":"Article 103955"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145573506","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparative palynomorphological study of selected species of Lonicera (Caprifoliaceae): Taxonomic and evolutionary implications","authors":"Zoya M. Tsymbalyuk ,&nbsp;Daniella Ivanova ,&nbsp;Lyudmila M. Nitsenko","doi":"10.1016/j.micron.2025.103924","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.micron.2025.103924","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Molecular phylogenetic studies of Dipsacales place <em>Lonicera</em> in a clade containing <em>Leycesteria</em>, <em>Triosteum</em>, and <em>Symphoricarpos</em>. <em>Lonicera</em> is the largest among these genera. Some species of <em>Lonicera</em> are commonly used in traditional medicine as well as food, cosmetics, or have other applications. Pollen morphology is often used to distinguish between taxa at different levels. The aim of the present research was to assess the taxonomical significance of data on pollen morphology for species-specific identification. Morphology of acetolysed pollen of seven <em>Lonicera</em> species (18 specimens) was studied using both light and scanning electron microscopy. Dry pollen grains were also examined. Pollen grains are 3(4)-colporate, medium- or large-sized, suboblate to subprolate in shape. Exine sculpture is echinate-microechinate-nanoechinate. The important diagnostic features of <em>Lonicera</em> at species level are the size of pollen grains, amb, details of the colpi and endoapertures, presence/absence of annuli, details of the exine sculpture and exine structure. UPGMA dendrograms, based on quantitative pollen traits, support the differentiation of most taxa at species and subgeneric level. UPGMA dendrogram, based on qualitative pollen traits, supports the differentiation of subgenera and sections. The palynomorphological diversity of exine structure described in the present work may have implications for the evolution of family Caprifoliaceae.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18501,"journal":{"name":"Micron","volume":"200 ","pages":"Article 103924"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145270245","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Anatomical and histomorphological characterization of the gastrointestinal tract (esophagus, stomach, and ileum) of the shining sunbird (Cinnyris habessinicus): A paradigm for the nectarivorous niche in sunbirds","authors":"Ahmed A. El-Mansi ,&nbsp;Mohamed A. Al Qahtani ,&nbsp;Hend Alshahrani ,&nbsp;Eman R. Elbealy ,&nbsp;Mamdouh Eldesoqui ,&nbsp;Samir A.A. El-Gendy ,&nbsp;Mohamed A.M. Alsafy ,&nbsp;Valentina Kubale ,&nbsp;Ahmed M. Rashwan","doi":"10.1016/j.micron.2025.103923","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.micron.2025.103923","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The shining sunbird (<em>Cinnyris habessinicus</em>) is a specialized nectarivore with unique gastrointestinal adaptations to its dietary habit. This study aimed to characterize the morpho-functional features of the gastrointestinal tract of <em>C. habessinicus</em> using gross anatomical, histological, histochemical, morphometric, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques. Morphometric analysis revealed regional variations in tunics thickness: the esophagus had the thickest tunica serosa (55.67 ± 2.4 µm), the proventriculus had the thickest tunics mucosa (884.55 ± 13.05 µm), and the gizzard had the thickest tunics submucosa and tunica muscularis (47.48 ± 3.5 µm and 526.33 ± 20.55 µm, respectively). Anatomically, the esophagus was situated on the right side of the neck and showed prominent mucosal infoldings. Numerous oval-shaped mucous glands were identified within the esophagus intraepithelial layer, at the mucosa–submucosa interface, and in the submucosa, exhibiting strong reactivity for acid mucins. The proventricular mucosa contained superficial and deep polymorphic glands. The ventriculus was thin-walled and was internally lined by a keratinized koilin membrane. The ileum featured numerous tongue-shaped villi composed of absorptive enterocytes and goblet cells surrounding central lacteals. SEM analysis further revealed the surface ultrastructure of the alimentary canal: the esophagus had leaf-like mucosal folds with glandular openings; the proventriculus contained dome-shaped glandular lobules and scattered gastric orifices; the ventriculus showed undulating mucosal ridges and numerous glandular pores; and the ileum presented radially arranged pyramidal villi and mucous orifices. Histochemical staining demonstrated regional differences in acid mucin distribution and collagen localization. In conclusion, the structural and histochemical results provide new information about the nectarivorous feeding strategy of <em>C. habessinicus</em> by revealing its intricate gastrointestinal adaptations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18501,"journal":{"name":"Micron","volume":"200 ","pages":"Article 103923"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145258519","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"New insights into morpho-functional features of haemocytes from the blue crab Callinectes sapidus","authors":"Jacopo Fabrello ,&nbsp;Francesco Boldrin ,&nbsp;Federico Caicci ,&nbsp;Valerio Matozzo","doi":"10.1016/j.micron.2025.103930","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.micron.2025.103930","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In this study, we provided a comprehensive morpho-functional characterization of haemocytes in the blue crab <em>Callinectes sapidus</em>. Three haemocyte types were identified in the haemolymph: hyalinocytes (50 ± 4.7 %), lacking evident cytoplasmic granules; semigranulocytes (22.8 ± 2.02 %), containing a variable number of refractile granules; and granulocytes (27.2 ± 2 %), distinguished by their abundance of refractile granules. Haemocytes were predominantly oval or round. No significant size differences were observed among cell types, with granulocytes and semigranulocytes ranging from 7 to 22 µm, and hyalinocytes from 8 to 20 µm. Additionally, haemocytes were categorized into three cytochemical subpopulations: acidophils (38 %), basophils (36 %), and neutrophils (26 %). Notably, Neutral Red staining failed to reveal lysosomes <em>in vivo</em>, suggesting low membrane permeability under these conditions. Transmission electron microscopy corroborated the presence of the three haemocyte types. Both granulocytes and hyalinocytes exhibited phagocytic activity against yeast cells, although the phagocytic index remained low (∼4 %), implying that phagocytosis may not be the primary immune mechanism in <em>C. sapidus</em>. All haemocyte types generated superoxide anion and tested positive for several hydrolytic enzymes and phenoloxidase activity. Overall, these findings confirm the presence of three distinct haemocyte types in <em>C. sapidus</em> haemolymph and suggest that alternative immune pathways, beyond phagocytosis, may play a central role. Further research is needed to investigate additional immune functions, such as degranulation and inflammatory responses in <em>C. sapidus</em>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18501,"journal":{"name":"Micron","volume":"200 ","pages":"Article 103930"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145318566","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"In-situ microscale cold welding using a focused ion beam-scanning electron microscope","authors":"Ambra Celotto ,&nbsp;Randi Holmestad ,&nbsp;Filippo Berto ,&nbsp;Per Erik Vullum","doi":"10.1016/j.micron.2025.103922","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.micron.2025.103922","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Microscale cold welding is an efficient method for achieving high-quality joints, particularly in electronic components, as its low-temperature process preserves the mechanical and electrical properties of the base metals. However, the limited fundamental understanding of successful bonding mechanisms for dissimilar metal joining has significantly restricted its industrial adoption. This is especially true at the microscale, where heat-assisted methods are still generally preferred. Therefore, this work presents a test bed procedure for cold welding of dissimilar metals at the microscale. A Focused Ion Beam (FIB) -scanning electron microscope was employed to design, monitor and characterise the technique, allowing complete control over the welding parameters, such as speed, geometry, and superficial oxides. Successful bonding was achieved without preliminary surface preparation by pushing a tapered copper wire into a pre-made hole in a soft aluminium alloy. The copper wire diameter was larger than that of the hole, promoting shear stresses and plastic deformation. Cross-sectional analysis of joints revealed severe grain refinement near the bonded interface. Elemental mapping highlighted that shear forces removed most contaminants mechanically as soon as contact began. Bonding defects originated from microscopic residuals of oxides or contaminants from the FIB, while a uniform interface was observed in their absence. A four-probe setup for in-situ electrical resistance measurement across the Al-Cu interface was tested, and it was indirectly used to testify the bond quality. Transmission electron microscopy investigations revealed that interdiffusion occurred across the joint interface, forming a thin intermetallic Al-Cu layer, even in the presence of a nanoscopic fragmented oxygen layer.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18501,"journal":{"name":"Micron","volume":"200 ","pages":"Article 103922"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145206904","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Registration-based method for correcting nonlinear drift and random jitter in STEM imaging and spectroscopic mapping","authors":"Min-Chul Kang,&nbsp;Juhong Park,&nbsp;Cheol-Woong Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.micron.2025.103926","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.micron.2025.103926","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) images commonly suffer from spatial distortions caused by nonlinear drift and random jitter during acquisition, which compromise spatial accuracy and impede reliable atomic-scale analysis. We present a registration-based method to correct scanning drift in STEM images for two scenarios: (1) single images with periodic structures and (2) multiple images acquired with the same scan direction. For periodic structures, we exploit repeating lattice patterns to construct a high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) reference image through lattice averaging. For multiple images, we employ multi-frame registration to generate the reference. Using these high-SNR references, we iteratively estimate and correct line-by-line offsets along the slow-scanning direction. This approach significantly improves image quality by reducing artifacts such as streaking in the FFT and atomic column misalignment. We further extend the method to atomic-resolution energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) mapping, where spatial offsets derived from corresponding HAADF-STEM images correct drift-induced distortions in low-SNR elemental maps. Our results demonstrate that this technique effectively mitigates scanning drift without requiring multi-directional acquisitions and is broadly applicable to both structural and spectroscopic STEM data.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18501,"journal":{"name":"Micron","volume":"200 ","pages":"Article 103926"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145270246","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Focus measure through vectorization analysis for microscopic shape from focus","authors":"Yuezong Wang ,&nbsp;Haoran Jia","doi":"10.1016/j.micron.2025.103939","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.micron.2025.103939","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Shape from Focus (SFF) is a powerful technique for deriving three-dimensional (3D) shapes of objects from sequences of multi-focus images. However, accurately reconstructing the 3D shape of micro-scale objects with complex surface structures and height mutation remains challenging when relying solely on traditional focus measure methods. Additionally, at high magnifications, the limited field of view of optical systems often fails to meet the demands for extensive area reconstruction. To address these challenges, we introduce a novel focus measure approach designed to handle complex surface structures and height mutation. By transforming images from grayscale intensity scalar space to gradient vector (GV) space, we leverage the inherent properties of surface complexity and height mutations within the GV space. Utilizing divergence and curl operations, we identify regions of optimal focus, thereby enhancing the precision and robustness of SFF. Furthermore, we propose strategies for improving temporal efficiency in large-scale scene reconstruction and multi-field image sequence acquisition, enabling rapid surface shape computation for micro-scale objects within a short timeframe.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18501,"journal":{"name":"Micron","volume":"200 ","pages":"Article 103939"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145313376","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Direct electron detection for atomic-resolution spectroscopic mapping under cryogenic and signal-limited conditions","authors":"Berit H. Goodge ,&nbsp;Lena F. Kourkoutis","doi":"10.1016/j.micron.2025.103921","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.micron.2025.103921","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The expansion of spectroscopic mapping by STEM-EELS to cryogenic temperatures opens the door to new experiments across many fields including materials physics, biological systems, and solid–liquid interfaces. Such experiments, however, often face signal limitations due to sample sensitivity or acquisition time. Compared to traditional indirect detection systems such as charge coupled devices (CCDs), direct electron detectors (DEDs) offer improved detective quantum efficiency, narrower point spread function, and superior signal to noise ratio. Here, the performance of a Gatan K2 Summit DED is compared to a Gatan UltraScan 1000 CCD for use in signal-limited EELS experiments. Due to improved point spread function of the DED, energy resolution remains comparable to the CCD at 5 times lower dispersion, providing simultaneous access to a much broader total energy range. Furthermore, the benefits of DED enable a variety of low-signal experiments, including rapid atomic-resolution mapping of minor and high energy edges. For low per-pixel dwell time, elemental maps acquired by direct detection show increased atomic column contrast compared to those acquired with the CCD with lower acquisition dead time. Taking advantage of these performance improvements and the rapid per frame readout time, we demonstrate EELS atomic-resolution elemental mapping at cryogenic temperatures.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18501,"journal":{"name":"Micron","volume":"200 ","pages":"Article 103921"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145244396","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Probing morphological aspects of PVC/ZnO nanocomposite through image analysis techniques","authors":"Vishal Mathur ,&nbsp;Bremananth Ramachandran ,&nbsp;Pramod Kumar Arya","doi":"10.1016/j.micron.2025.103918","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.micron.2025.103918","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is a widely used thermoplastic polymer in various applications due to its appropriate mechanical strength, durability, and chemical-resistant nature. However, its inherent thermal instability and overall performance tend to limit its usefulness efficiently. The dispersion of zinc oxide (ZnO) and other nanomaterials to enhance the material’s properties has received huge consideration in recent years. The present study explores the morphological aspects of PVC/ZnO nanocomposites synthesized via solution casting technique. ZnO nanoparticles, due to their specific shape and surface properties, significantly impact the polymeric structure of the composite at the nano level. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis technique is used to obtain micrographs of PVC/ZnO specimens at different concentration levels. Image analysis techniques are applied to these SEM micrographs to get morphological insight, like the level of dispersion of ZnO nanoparticles, their uniformity, positions, and to correlate them with their thermomechanical and mechanical, and other relevant properties.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18501,"journal":{"name":"Micron","volume":"200 ","pages":"Article 103918"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145134865","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}