The area-reconstruction h-dome technique and its efficient Python implementation for improved particle size image analysis.

The traditional watershed segmentation methods usually suffer from over segmentation for irregularly shaped particles. This is because the distance map of an irregularly shaped particle contains multiple local maxima, and over segmentation would happen if these local maxima were used as seeds for watershed segmentation. In this work, several methods based on morphological reconstruction, including h-dome transform, h-maxima, and area-reconstruction h-dome transform, are introduced to merge, or erase redundant local maxima, and the performance of these methods in avoiding over segmentation is compared.

Epoxy-acrylic core-shell particles by seeded emulsion polymerization.

We developed a novel method for synthesizing epoxy-acrylic hybrid latexes. We first prepared an aqueous dispersion of high molecular weight solid epoxy prepolymers using a mechanical dispersion process at elevated temperatures, and we subsequently used the epoxy dispersion as a seed in the emulsion polymerization of acrylic monomers comprising methyl methacrylate (MMA) and methacrylic acid (MAA). Advanced analytical techniques, such as scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM) and peak force tapping atomic force microscopy (PFT-AFM), have elucidated a unique core-shell morphology of the epoxy-acrylic hybrid particles.

Toward advancing nano-object count metrology: a best practice framework.

Background: A movement among international agencies and policy makers to classify industrial materials by their number content of sub-100-nm particles could have broad implications for the development of sustainable nanotechnologies.

Objectives: Here we highlight current particle size metrology challenges faced by the chemical industry due to these emerging number percent content thresholds, provide a suggested best-practice framework for nano-object identification, and identify research needs as a path forward.

Discussion: Harmonized methods for identifying nanomaterials by size and count for many real-world samples do not currently exist.

Morphology observation of latex particles with scanning transmission electron microscopy by a hydroxyethyl cellulose embedding combined with RuO4 staining method.

Imaging of latex particles, especially those with low glass transition temperature (Tg) has been a challenging issue. Different sample preparation methods for characterization of the morphology of a poly(n-butyl acrylate)/polystyrene two-phase latex are discussed and compared in this study. A method via hydroxyethyl cellulose embedding combined with ruthenium tetraoxide (RuO4) staining for scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) observation is developed.

Inner-shell excitation spectroscopy and X-ray photoemission electron microscopy of adhesion promoters.

The C 1s, Si 2p, Si 2s, and O 1s inner-shell excitation spectra of vinyltriethoxysilane, trimethylethoxysilane, and vinyltriacetoxysilane have been recorded by electron energy loss spectroscopy under scattering conditions dominated by electric dipole transitions. The spectra are converted to absolute optical oscillator strength scales and interpreted with the aid of ab initio calculations of the inner-shell excitation spectra of model compounds. Electron energy loss spectra recorded in a transmission electron microscope on partly cured adhesion promoter, atomic force micrographs, and images and X-ray absorption spectra from X-ray photoemission electron microscopy of as-spun and cured vinyltriacetoxysilane-based adhesion promoter films on silicon are presented.

Blinded clinical evaluation of a new manual toothbrush.

Objective: A new manual toothbrush with an innovative design has recently been introduced into the marketplace. The purpose of this single-blind, crossover study was to compare plaque removal associated with this new manual toothbrush (Curvex) and a best-selling commercially available manual tootbrush (Oral-B Indicator 40).

Methodology: Over a five-week period, twenty-one subjects participated in this investigation.