The development of the femtosecond laser (fs laser) with its ability to provide extremely rapid athermal ablation of materials has initiated a renaissance in materials science. Sample milling rates for the fs laser are orders of magnitude greater than that of traditional focused ion beam (FIB) sources currently used. In combination with minimal surface post-processing requirements, this technology is proving to be a game changer for materials research. The development of a femtosecond laser attached to a focused ion beam scanning electron microscope (LaserFIB) enables numerous new capabilities, including access to deeply buried structures as well as the production of extremely large trenches, cross sections, pillars and TEM H-bars, all while preserving microstructure and avoiding or reducing FIB polishing. Several high impact applications are now possible due to this technology in the fields of crystallography, electronics, mechanical engineering, battery research and materials sample preparation. This review article summarizes the current opportunities for this new technology focusing on the materials science megatrends of engineering materials, energy materials and electronics.
ABSTRACT. This study describes the ultrastructure of the somatic cortex of Prorodon aklitolophon and Prorodon teres. the meridionally arranged somatic kineties of both species can be separated into two parts: a short anterior part, which consists of a few somatic dikinetids (in which both kinetosomes are ciliated), and a longer posterior consisting of monokinetids. the somatic monokinetids are associated with a convergent postciliary microtubular ribbon, a transverse microtubular ribbon flatly inserted in front of the kinetosome, a short and steeply extending kinetodesmal fibre attached to kinetosomal triplet 5 and 7, and a desmose anterior to triplet 3. From this desmose, two to five prekinetosomal microtubules originate and extend anteriorly. the posterior kinetosome of the somatic dikinetids is associated with the same microfibrillar and microtubular structures as the somatic monokinetid, except that no prekinetosomal microtubules originate from the desmose. the anterior kinetosome has a single postciliary microtubule and a tangentially oriented transverse microtubular ribbon. the permanent collecting canals of the unique contractile vacuole system extend parallel and adjacent to the somatic kinetics of Prorodon. the collecting canals are supported by the prekinetosomal microtubules. A similarly organized contractile vacuole system is not yet known from any other ciliate group. One of the most surprising results of this investigation was finding a significant similarity between the somatic dikinetid pattern of Prorodon and the colpodid dikinetid pattern. A hypothesis is presented to illustrate the evolution of the somatic kinetid patterns in colpodid and prostomatid ciliates.
ABSTRACT. The ultrastructure of the oral region and the ultrastructural architecture of the basket of Prorodon aklitolophon and Prorodon teres are described. the oral region of Prorodon consists of: 1) A circumoral kinety at the anterior pole of the cell surrounding the typically slit‐shaped cytostomial funnel. This kinety is composed of inversely oriented dikinetids in which both kinetosomes are ciliated and are associated with a very short postciliary microtubular ribbon and a few transverse microtubules; 2) Three brush rows aligned in parallel and extended meridionally in the anterior part of the cell. the individual brush rows consist of dikinetids, but in contrast to the dikinetids around the cytopharynx they are not inverted and only the anterior kinetosomes bear specialized short brush cilia and are associated with a divergent‐tangential transverse microtubular ribbon. the posterior kinetosome is non‐ciliated and bears a prominent convergent postciliary microtubular ribbon. Schematized dikinetid patterns of both oral regions of Prorodon are provided. In addition, a three‐dimensional reconstruction of the basket of the genus Prorodon based on serial thin sections is presented. A phylogenetic tree, mainly based on stomatogenic data, is given to show the phylogenetic relationships of some prostomatid genera as well as the hypothesized sistergroup relationship of colpodid and prostomatid ciliates.
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