Three-dimensional Morphological Structure Research Articles

Research on the evolutionary history of the morphological structure of cotton seeds: a new perspective based on high-resolution micro-CT technology.

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) seed morphological structure has a significant impact on the germination, growth and quality formation. However, the wide variation of cotton seed morphology makes it difficult to achieve quantitative analysis using traditional phenotype acquisition methods. In recent years, the application of micro-CT technology has made it possible to analyze the three-dimensional morphological structure of seeds, and has shown technical advantages in accurate identification of seed phenotypes. In this study, we reconstructed the seed morphological structure based on micro-CT technology, deep neural network Unet-3D model, and threshold segmentation methods, extracted 11 basics phenotypes traits, and constructed three new phenotype traits of seed coat specific surface area, seed coat thickness ratio and seed density ratio, using 102 cotton germplasm resources with clear year characteristics. Our results show that there is a significant positive correlation (P< 0.001) between the cotton seed size and that of the seed kernel and seed coat volume, with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.51 to 0.92, while the cavity volume has a lower correlation with other phenotype indicators (r<0.37, P< 0.001). Comparison of changes in Chinese self-bred varieties showed that seed volume, seed surface area, seed coat volume, cavity volume and seed coat thickness increased by 11.39%, 10.10%, 18.67%, 115.76% and 7.95%, respectively, while seed kernel volume, seed kernel surface area and seed fullness decreased by 7.01%, 0.72% and 16.25%. Combining with the results of cluster analysis, during the hundred-year cultivation history of cotton in China, it showed that the specific surface area of seed structure decreased by 1.27%, the relative thickness of seed coat increased by 8.70%, and the compactness of seed structure increased by 50.17%. Furthermore, the new indicators developed based on micro-CT technology can fully consider the three-dimensional morphological structure and cross-sectional characteristics among the indicators and reflect technical advantages. In this study, we constructed a microscopic phenotype research system for cotton seeds, revealing the morphological changes of cotton seeds with the year in China and providing a theoretical basis for the quantitative analysis and evaluation of seed morphology.

Aromatic biomass (torch ginger) leaf-derived three-dimensional honeycomb-like carbon to enhance gravimetric supercapacitor.

Porous carbon electrode (PCE) is identified as a highly suitable electrode material for commercial application due to its production process, which is characterized by simplicity, cost-effectiveness and environmental friendliness. PCE was synthesized using torch ginger (Etlingera elatior (Jack) R.M. Smith) leaves as the base material. The leaves were treated with different concentrations of ZnCl2 , resulting in a supercapacitor cell electrode with unique honeycomb-like three-dimensional (3D) morphological pore structure. This PCE comprises nanofibers from lignin content and volatile compounds from aromatic biomass waste. From the characterization of physical properties, PCE-0.3 had an impressive amorphous porosity, wettability and 3D honeycomb-like structural morphology with a pore framework consisting of micropores and mesopores. According to the structural advantages of 3D hierarchical pores such as interconnected honeycombs, PCE-0.3 as supercapacitor electrode had a high specific capacitance of up to 285.89 F g-1 at 1 A. Furthermore, the supercapacitor exhibited high energy and power density of 21.54 Wh kg-1 and 161.13 W kg-1 , respectively, with a low internal resistance of 0.059 Ω. The results indicated that 3D porous carbon materials such as interconnected honeycombs derived from the aromatic biomass of torch ginger leaves have significant potential for the development of sustainable energy storage devices. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Physical simulation test of multi-stage staged fracturing for shale horizontal wells

In order to clarify the influence of in-situ stress difference, displacement and fracturing series on the propagation of staged fractures in shale horizontal wells, we do the research based on a true triaxial hydraulic fracturing test system, using outcrop shale samples (300 mm × 300 mm × 300 mm) as the research object, combined with the new method of fracture-induced stress detection of staged fracturing and the three-dimensional morphological structure of specimens after hydraulic fracturing test. On the condition of maximum horizontal stress &gt; vertical stress &gt; minimum horizontal stress, we carry out the page multi-stage fracturing test study of horizontal wells in rock outcrops, to explore the influence of in-situ stress difference, pumping displacement and fracturing series on the fracture propagation of staged multi-stage fracturing in shale horizontal wells. The research results show that: because the overburden stress is lower than the maximum horizontal principal stress, the horizontal stress difference (the value is equal to the maximum horizontal stress minus the minimum horizontal stress) remains unchanged, and the reduction of the overburden stress easily leads to the opening of the bedding joints; the greater the horizontal stress difference is, the farther the propagation distance of the cross-cutting wellbore hydraulic fracture is; the net pressure is low under small displacement, the fracturing fluid is easy to filter out, and it is not easy to produce deep-penetrating main fractures; the interference between fractures with fewer fracturing stages is weak and can open hydraulic fractures of the corresponding series; the state of in-situ stress affects the compaction of bedding fractures and rock samples. When the overlying stress is low, the fracturing fluid is easy to penetrate into the bedding fractures, and the induced stress value is small and fluctuates greatly. Combined with the pump injection pressure curve and the induced stress curve, we can more accurately undersand the process of hydraulic fracturing fracture propagation. The research results of this article can promote the in-depth study of the fracture propagation law of multi-stage staged fracturing in horizontal wells.

Three-Dimensional Wheat Modelling Based on Leaf Morphological Features and Mesh Deformation

The three-dimensional (3D) morphological structure of wheat directly reflects the interrelationship among genetics, environments, and cropping systems. However, the morphological complexity of wheat limits its rapid and accurate 3D modelling. We have developed a 3D wheat modelling method that is based on the progression from skeletons to mesh models. Firstly, we identified five morphological parameters that describe the 3D leaf features of wheat from amounts of 3D leaf digitizing data at the grain filling stage. The template samples were selected based on the similarity between the input leaf skeleton and leaf templates in the constructed wheat leaf database. The leaf modelling was then performed using the as-rigid-as-possible (ARAP) mesh deformation method. We found that 3D wheat modelling at the individual leaf level, leaf group, and individual plant scales can be achieved. Compared with directly acquiring 3D digitizing data for 3D modelling, it saves 79.9% of the time. The minimum correlation R2 of the extracted morphological leaf parameters between using the measured data and 3D model by this method was 0.91 and the maximum RMSE was 0.03, implying that this method preserves the morphological leaf features. The proposed method provides a strong foundation for further morphological phenotype extraction, functional–structural analysis, and virtual reality applications in wheat plants. Overall, we provide a new 3D modelling method for complex plants.

Three-dimensional reconstruction by electron tomography for the application to ultrastructural analysis of SARS-CoV-2 particles.

SARS-CoV-2 is the cause of COVID-19. The three-dimensional morphology of viral particles existing and multiplying in infected cells has not been established by electron tomography, which is different from cryo-electron tomography using frozen samples. In this study, we establish the morphological structure of SARS-CoV-2 particles by three-dimensional reconstruction of images obtained by electron tomography and transmission electron microscopy of biological samples embedded in epoxy resin. The characteristic roots of spike structures were found to be arranged at the surface of a virion covered with an envelope. A high-electron-density structure that appears to be a nucleocapsid was observed inside the envelope of the virion on three-dimensional images reconstructed by electron tomography. The SARS-CoV-2 particles that budded in the vacuoles in the cytoplasm were morphologically identical to those found outside the cells, suggesting that mature and infectious SARS-CoV-2 particles were already produced in the vacuoles. Here, we show the three-dimensional morphological structure of SARS-CoV-2 particles reconstructed by electron tomography. To control infection, inhibition of viral release from vacuoles would be a new target in the development of prophylactic agents against SARS-CoV-2.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00795-021-00309-2.

Efficient Strike Artifact Reduction Based on 3D-Morphological Structure Operators from Filtered Back-Projection PET Images.

Positron emission tomography (PET) can provide functional images and identify abnormal metabolic regions of the whole-body to effectively detect tumor presence and distribution. The filtered back-projection (FBP) algorithm is one of the most common images reconstruction methods. However, it will generate strike artifacts on the reconstructed image and affect the clinical diagnosis of lesions. Past studies have shown reduction in strike artifacts and improvement in quality of images by two-dimensional morphological structure operators (2D-MSO). The morphological structure method merely processes the noise distribution of 2D space and never considers the noise distribution of 3D space. This study was designed to develop three-dimensional-morphological structure operators (3D MSO) for nuclear medicine imaging and effectively eliminating strike artifacts without reducing image quality. A parallel operation was also used to calculate the minimum background standard deviation of the images for three-dimensional morphological structure operators with the optimal response curve (3D-MSO/ORC). As a result of Jaszczak phantom and rat verification, 3D-MSO/ORC showed better denoising performance and image quality than the 2D-MSO method. Thus, 3D MSO/ORC with a 3 × 3 × 3 mask can reduce noise efficiently and provide stability in FBP images.

ANATOMICAL BASIS OF BIOMECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF SUPERFICIAL TISSUES OF THE ANTERIOR ABDOMINAL WALL

Biomechanics is a science that studies the mechanical properties of tissues, individual organs and systems and the body as a whole. The unique mechanical properties of the skin provide the function of support and protection of internal organs through the skin mobility and elasticity. This feature of the skin is determined by its microstructural organization and arrangement of connective tissue fibres. The mechanical properties of the skin are mainly determined by the collagen-rich dermis. The mechanics of the dermis, in turn, depends on the structure, density and direction of collagen fibres. Each biological tissue is able to acquire deformation properties i.e. stretching or contraction. At each stage of deformation in the tissues of different topographic and anatomical areas there are changes in histoarchitectonics (within the plastic characteristics, and outside these parameters). Different structural interactions are expressed by different mechanical factors, which are adequate to the magnitude and direction of tensile forces (deformation vectors), form the typical features of the connective tissue matrix of abdominal wall tissues. Normalization of the direction of tissue stress vectors, uniform distribution of the direction and force of deformation prevent microstructural rearrangement of the surface tissues of the abdominal wall. Dynamic changes in the histological structure and biomechanical behaviour of the skin are closely related to the aging process, hormonal background, mechanical factors: physiological stretching of the skin during rapid growth in adolescence, pregnancy, overweight (or rapid weight loss), under the influence of physical load and wound healing. All these factors lead to connective tissue remodelling. Thus, the skin has a complex three-dimensional morphological structure; it is subjected to prolonged exposure to internal and external factors that determines its mechanical properties.

Three-Dimensional and Histological Observations on Male Genital Organs of Greater Horseshoe Bat, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum

Anatomy of bat genital organs has been conventionally studied by gross and microscopic observations to date. Here, we employ both histological observation and diceCT (diffusible iodine-based contrast-enhanced computed tomography) to study the detailed three-dimensional morphological structure of the male genital organs in bats, using the greater horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum. This is the first study to three-dimensionally describe the whole reproductive organs of bats in detail. Our highly resolved three-dimensional reconstruction reveals that the male organs of R. ferrumequinum consist of paired testes, epididymides, deferent ducts, and five accessory genital glands. The boundary between the ampullary and vesicular glands has been difficult to identify in previous observations, but our diceCT imaging allowed us to clearly differentiate the two. We found that the ampullary gland is located at the terminal part of the deferent ducts, and the vesicular gland lies distal to the ampullary glands. This species possesses a single and carrot-shaped urethral gland, which is not found in most chiropteran families. The presence of the urethral gland in this species and its secretions suggest that after copulation this species is capable of forming a vaginal plug, which can seal the female’s vaginal orifice to block the entrance of spermatozoa from other males. The presence of the urethral gland and elongated epididymal tail and the fact that some individuals can terminate their hibernation and reactivate imply forced copulation on hibernating females can occur in R. ferrumequinum.

Multidimensional microscopic investigation of oxidation-induced hollow cavities in a Co–Al–W–Ti–Ta alloy nanotip by electron tomography

Spallation of thermal oxidation-induced cavities is the main failure mode in CoAl-based alloys, and the γ/γ′ phase structure in Co–Al–W–Ti–Ta alloys has a propensity to form oxide cavities. Multidimensional investigations were carried out herein on irregular oxide cavities by analytical microscopy, including electron tomography and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy techniques, to disclose the time-resolved three-dimensional morphological structure and elemental distributions. The alloy nanotip was exposed isothermally in air at 350 °C, and its oxidation evolution was characterized and analysed. The size and quantities of cavities in the γ phase were larger than those in the γ′ phase, which was attributed to the higher content of cobalt in the γ phase than in the γ′ phase. Different migration rates between cobalt outward and aluminium inward prompted the formation of cavities between the outer and inner layers.

Treatment of old acetabular posterior wall fracture with 3D printing combined with composite plate internal fixation

To explore the application value and clinical effect of three-dimensional printing combined with composite plate internal fixation in the treatment of old acetabular posterior wall fracture. From May 2010 to October 2016, Mimics 19.0 software was used to plan preoperatively according to a 1:1 print pelvic 3D model. At the same time, 23 patients with old acetabular posterior wall fractures were treated with combined plate internal fixation, including 15 males and 8 females, aged 20 to 63 (43.0±5.1) years old, and the time from injury to operation was 23 to 101(47.0±10.5) days. According to Letournel-Judet classification, 11 cases were posterior wall fracture, 7 cases were transverse with posterior wall fracture, and 5 cases were posterior column with posterior wall fracture. All patients were treated with single Kocher-Langenbeck approach combined plate internal fixation, and the evaluation indexes were recorded during operation, after operation and during follow-up. The operation time of 23 patients was (113.5±11.5) min, bleeding was (550.0±104.7) ml and fluoroscopy was (12.7±0.8) s. Matta radiographic reduction criteria were used: excellent in 14 cases, good in 7 cases and poor in 2 cases; 23 patients were followed up for 10 to 24 (16.0±5.6) months. The hip function was evaluated according to the modified Merle d'Aubingne and Postal scoring system at the last follow-up: excellent in 11 cases, good in 8 cases, fair in 3 cases and poor in 1 case. There were 3 cases of traumatic arthritis, 1 case of femoral head necrosis, 2 cases of heterotopic ossification and 5 cases of sciatic nerve irritation. 3D printing technique is an effective and fast method for the treatment of old acetabular posterior wall fractures. In addition, the printing model can provide three-dimensional morphological structure for the operator, combined with preoperative simulation, facilitate intraoperative reduction, and effectively improve the efficiency of surgery.

3D correlative morphological and elemental characterization of materials at the deep submicrometre scale

This paper shows how X-ray computed nanotomography (CNT) can be correlated with focused ion beam time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (FIB-TOF-SIMS) tomography on the same sample to investigate both the morphological and elemental structure. This methodology is applicable to relatively large specimens with dimensions of several tens of microns whilst maintaining a high spatial resolution of the order of 100 nm. However, combining X-ray CNT and FIB-TOF-SIMS tomography requires innovative sample preparation protocols to allow both experiments to be conducted on exactly the same sample without chemically or structurally modifying the sample between measurements. Moreover, dedicated algorithms have been developed for effective data fusion that is biased with nine degrees of freedom. This methodology has been tested using a porous and heterogeneous solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) that has features varying in size by three orders of magnitude - from hundreds of nanometre large pores and grains to tens of micron wide functional layers.

A THREE-DIMENSIONAL MORPOLOGICAL MEASUREMENT AND IN VITRO BIOMECHANICAL STUDY OF METATARSALS

Stress fracture of the metatarsal (MT) is often reported clinically. This study was aimed to measure and compare the three-dimensional (3D) morphological structure of five MTs, and investigate the in vitro biomechanics of five MTs under simulated stance phase. A total of seven foot-ankle samples of human cadavers were collected for this experiment. All samples were CT-scanned and 3D re-constructed for digital measurements. To simulate the stance phase, each sample was vertically loaded with 700-N through a material testing machine. The 3D-reconstruction-based measurement showed significant differences of the shaft length, vertical height, and inclination angle between the second MT and four others. Experimental strain measurements at dorsal MTs along the principal axis are all compressive. The values are respectively [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text] micro-strain from the first to fifth MTs. This study proposed a new load condition of plantar-flexed simply supported beam to describe the MT loading mechanism. The second and third MTs have higher risk of stress fracture due to combined effects of inhomogeneous load distribution, unfavorable geometry and structure, and limited joint motion. This finding would be helpful for design of protective equipment.

Fat and epidermal cell suspension grafting: a new advanced one-step skin regeneration surgical technique

BackgroundDystrophic skin scarring commonly occurs following skin cancer resections. In particular, the cosmetic outcome of skin graft reconstructions, following epidermoidal carcinoma removal, is generally poor due to wide marginal tumour excision, loss of subcutaneous tissues, and subsequent pigmented atrophic scarring of the graft coverage. Skin grafting sequelae need a three dimensional correction to restore either the epidermal layer or the dermal/subdermal volume and vascularization.MethodsThe surgeons combined CO2 laser ablation, subdermal lipofilling according to the Coleman’s technique and epidermal cell suspension autografting to correct wide depressed and dyschromic facial scar. The Authors applied this new technique on three nasal skin cancer resected patients: two of them actually need a longer follow-up, the third patient, a 48 yr old caucasian male, presented a skin grafting scar due to sclerodermiform basal cell carcinoma removal. This case is reported discussing pre-intra and post-operative records up to a complete twelve months follow-up.ResultsRecords at six and twelve months follow-up after surgery demonstrate a fully integrated skin graft and a good restoration of the treated area, presenting the same texture and pigmentation of the adjacent untreated skin. Optimal, stable three-dimensional skin cosmetic restoration was obtained in a single stage surgical procedure.ConclusionAutologous non-cultured epidermal cell suspension transplantation on an epidermal laser ablated skin area, in combination with lipofilling subdermal reconstruction, appears to be an effective, simple and time-saving method to correct skin graft sequelae, in skin cancer patients. This new technique allows to restore a three-dimensional morphological structure of the treated area and to recover a natural appearance of the skin at the same time. The Authors believe that this technique can be safely used to treat any kind of dystrophic scarring.

Preliminary study on the morphology of rabies virus by atomic force microscopy

Objective To explore the application of atomic force microscopy（ AFM ） on the research of morphology of the rabies viruses. Methods To prepare the rabies virus CTN-1v strains by ultracentrifugation, and observe it with transmission electron microscopy （TEM） which negatively stained by phosphotungstic acid. Then study the morphology of rabies virus with AFM based on the result of TEM. AFM image applies the tapping mode to rabies virus without any further treatment in air at room temperature. Results The TEM image is two-dimensional image which can be seen the classical bullet-shaped structure,and the spike structure can also be seen. The AFM image showed the rabies virus morphology with three-dimensional image which can shows the characteristics of the virus surface and edge. The rabies virus particle was successfully observed by TEM or AFM methods. Conclusion It＇s the first time to get the three-dimensional morphological structure of rabies virus by atomic force microscopy, compared with transmission electron microscopy, AFM is a new research tool for viral morphology study with the advantages of simple sample preparing and intuitionistic and visible interface for researchers. Key words: Rabies virus Morphology Atomic force microscopy

Projection Neuron Circuits Resolved Using Correlative Array Tomography

Assessment of three-dimensional morphological structure and synaptic connectivity is essential for a comprehensive understanding of neural processes controlling behavior. Different microscopy approaches have been proposed based on light microcopy (LM), electron microscopy (EM), or a combination of both. Correlative array tomography (CAT) is a technique in which arrays of ultrathin serial sections are repeatedly stained with fluorescent antibodies against synaptic molecules and neurotransmitters and imaged with LM and EM (Micheva and Smith, 2007). The utility of this correlative approach is limited by the ability to preserve fluorescence and antigenicity on the one hand, and EM tissue ultrastructure on the other. We demonstrate tissue staining and fixation protocols and a workflow that yield an excellent compromise between these multimodal imaging constraints. We adapt CAT for the study of projection neurons between different vocal brain regions in the songbird. We inject fluorescent tracers of different colors into afferent and efferent areas of HVC in zebra finches. Fluorescence of some tracers is lost during tissue preparation but recovered using anti-dye antibodies. Synapses are identified in EM imagery based on their morphology and ultrastructure and classified into projection neuron type based on fluorescence signal. Our adaptation of array tomography, involving the use of fluorescent tracers and heavy-metal rich staining and embedding protocols for high membrane contrast in EM will be useful for research aimed at statistically describing connectivity between different projection neuron types and for elucidating how sensory signals are routed in the brain and transformed into a meaningful motor output.

MODELING THREE-DIMENSIONAL MORPHOLOGICAL STRUCTURES USING SPHERICAL HARMONICS

Quantifying morphological shape is a fundamental issue in evolutionary biology. Recent technological advances (e.g., confocal microscopy, laser scanning, computer tomography) have made the capture of detailed three-dimensional (3D) morphological structure easy and cost-effective. In this article, we develop a 3D analytic framework (SPHARM-spherical harmonics) for modeling the shapes of complex morphological structures from continuous surface maps that can be produced by these technologies. Because the traditional SPHARM methodology has limitations in several of its processing steps, we present new algorithms for two SPHARM processing steps: spherical parameterization and SPHARM registration. These new algorithms allow for the numerical characterization of a much larger class of 3D models. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the method by applying it to modeling the cerci of Enallagma damselflies.

Reconstruction and simulation for three-dimensional morphological structure of insect neurons

We present a system for the reconstruction three-dimensional morphological structure of a neuron from a sequence of tomographic images acquired by a confocal laser scanning microscope. In this system, the branching structure and diameter of dendrites are extracted by the Single-Seed Distance Transform method. Compartmental neuron models are reconstructed using the morphological structure detected by our system. In order to analyze electrical properties, a model description for the neuronal simulator, NEURON, is generated automatically. The effectiveness of the proposed system is shown by application to the reconstruction of interneurons in an antennal lobe of silkworm moths.

Cell-type specific alterations of cortical interneurons in schizophrenic patients

In the human brain, cortical GABAergic interneurons represent an important population of local circuit neurons responsible for the intrinsic modulation of neuronal information and have been supposed to be involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. We conducted a quantitative study on the differentiated three-dimensional morphological structure of two types of parvalbumin-immunoreactive interneurons in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) of schizophrenic patients versus controls. While type A interneurons ('small bipolar cells') showed a significant reduction of their soma size in schizophrenics, type B interneurons ('small multipolar cells') of schizophrenic patients exhibited a marked decrease in the extent of their dendritic system. These results further support the assumption of a considerable significance of the ACC, an important limbic relay centre, for the etiopathogenesis of schizophrenic psychoses.

Functional role and angioarchitectural arrangement of the filiform and fungiform papillae on the medial-dorsal surface of the beagle dog tongue

A scanning electron microscopic study has been performed on the three-dimensional morphological structure and functional arrangement in microvascular cast specimens (MVCS) of the filiform (FiP) and fungiform papillae (FuP) of the entire medial-dorsal surface of the caudal portion of the beagle dog tongue.The characteristics and functional arrangements of each FiP and FuP were as follows: The FiPs densely and geometrically covered the entire medial-dorsal surface. The outer structure of the FiPs was composed of both the main process (mp) and accessory process (ap). These were formed by both the ascending and descending branches and originating in their tributaries was a spoon-like capillary micronetwork structure with a sharp arrow-head-like top. The mp inclined posteriorly and the ap anteriorly. On the other hand, the outer structure of the FuPs was a rounded papillary body composed of a capillary microvascular network consisting of the ascending and descending branches just as the FiPs. They were distributed sporadically along the oblique eines of FiPs in a V running from both peripheral edges in the posterocentral direction.It has been conjectured that the FiPs play a concentric functionally important role in transporting food and liquid from both the peripheral edges to the postero-central part or towards the pharynx, and on the other hand the FuPs play an assisting role in receiving gustatory sensations from the masticated food and liquid on the medial-peripheral and central-dorsal surface of the caudal portion of the beagle dog tongue.

電子顕微鏡による高分子材料のモルフォロジー解析

Three sample preparation methods for the electron microscopy (EM) analysis of the morphology of polymeric materials were evaluated: (1) the ion-etching sample method, (2) the RuO4-staining method, and (3) the newly developed deeply etched section (DES) method. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses of samples prepared by these three methods revealed different aspects of the morphologies of the polymers. Ion etching was carried out in an AC glow discharge under low vacuum. The high-order structure of multiphase polymer systems and polymer-filler composites was clearly revealed through SEM analysis of ion-etched samples. The crystalline structure of RuO4- stained samples was observable through TEM analysis, because RuO4 selectively stained the amorphous chain. The three-dimensional morphological structure of the polymer was revealed by TEM analysis of stained ultra-thin sections of polymer samples prepared by the DES method. We believe these techniques will be useful in designing new morphologies in polymers as well as in revealing the higher order structure of polymers in general.