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From: Rachel Spicer :      spicer-at-oeb.harvard.edu
Date: Sat, 31 Mar 2001 17:06:03 -0500
Subject: LM/FM: adherence of xylem tissue to slides

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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{microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com}


John:
We do around 500 renal biopsies per year and all the sections are
mounted on 200 mesh uncoated copper grids. We have an 8 year old Hitachi
7100 and use 60kv. The majority of the glomerulus can be viewed with the
3-4 serial sections lying randomly across the grid bars. We do not need a
picture of the whole glomerulus, rather most pictures are between 3,000 and
10,000X.
Dr. Tibor Nadasdy is the renal pathologist and decided last year that
all our renal biopsies would be captured with the digital camera onto a
computer and sent up to him via a network to his computer. So, at the
present time we use very little EM film. He diagnoses each biopsy and
e-mails representative digitized images to the nephrologists.




Karen L. Jensen, M.S.
Project Manager & Associate Scientist
Electron Microscopy Research Core




-----Original Message-----
} From: "JHoffpa464-at-aol.com"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
[mailto:"JHoffpa464-at-aol.com"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com]
Sent: Friday, March 30, 2001 2:20 PM
To: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com


Hello -

Has anyone out there tried to adhere xylem sections to pre-coated
microscope slides like Fisher Probe-On Plus slides? I've tried and had a
zero percent section retention. I can imagine that this is because of the
scarcity of live cells (and plasma membranes). I've tried slow air drying
and various temperatures on the slide warmer. The sections are 15 microns,
and are from fixed (buffered paraformaldehyde) but not embedded samples.
I'm about to try Poly-L-lysine and amino-acyl silane treated slides, but
I'm not too hopeful because they (at least Poly-L) rely on the same
positively-charged surface principle. I want to avoid gelatin or albumin
subbing because I'm treating sections with protease, and also want to
minimize background staining. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

Rachel




******************************************
Rachel Spicer
Biological Laboratories 3119
Organismic and Evolutionary Biology
Harvard University
16 Divinity Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138

(617) 496-3580 (phone)
(617) 496-5854 (fax)
spicer-at-oeb.harvard.edu
******************************************



From daemon Sat Mar 31 19:08:27 2001



From: Garber, Charles A. :      cgarber-at-2spi.com
Date: Sat, 31 Mar 2001 20:03:17 -0500
Subject: Support for ISI SEMs

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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-- [ From: Garber, Charles A. * EMC.Ver #3.1 ] --

Rishi Raj wrote:
============================================================
We have just acquired a used microscope made by ISI Inc. (their model alpha
- 1980). Would anyone please have information on how we can obtain spare
parts, filaments etc., for this machine. Many thanks for your help...
============================================================
The business of the ISI SEM's is now being handled by

Aspex Instruments LLC
Formerly: RJ Lee Instruments Ltd.
175 Sheffield Drive
Delmont, PA 15626 USA
Tel: 1-724-468-5400
Fax: 1-724-468-0225
E-mail: pssales-at-rjleeinst.com

The former manager of the SEM operation when it was still ISI, Michael
McCarthy, is now with Aspex. Michael might be the single most knowledgeable
person in terms of spare parts for the column and vacuum system. Several of
the main suppliers of consumables, like SPI Supplies, also offer filaments,
new and retipped, apertures, and the other items of that nature you would be
needing to maintain the microscope.

Chuck

===================================================
Charles A. Garber, Ph. D. Ph: 1-(610)-436-5400
President 1-(800)-2424-SPI
SPI SUPPLIES FAX: 1-(610)-436-5755
PO BOX 656 e-mail: cgarber-at-2spi.com
West Chester, PA 19381-0656 USA Cust. Service: spi2spi-at-2spi.com


Look for us!
############################
WWW: http://www.2spi.com
############################
==================================================



From daemon Mon Apr 2 03:32:31 2001



From: electron microscope laboratory :      emlab-at-udsm.ac.tz
Date: Mon, 02 Apr 2001 11:17:07 +0300
Subject: scholarship querry

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Hi All!

I desperately want to be a materials researcher/Electron Microscopist.
We have a Newly established Electron Microscope Laboratory. We need
knowledge and skills.
Please assist for a scholarship/suport as we have no funds, nor courses of
the like at our University.

Please write directly to me for any help.

Thanks,

Maulid Kivambe
mkivambe-at-hotmail.com




From daemon Mon Apr 2 07:49:23 2001



From: Laura Hernandez :      lahernan-at-udec.cl
Date: Mon, 02 Apr 2001 08:41:40 -0400
Subject: JEOL EPMA - H-type spectrometers

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


Hello everybody,
We have an JEOL JXA 8600 EPMA in our Institute, with three WDS
spectrometers. We are planning to buy an other one, and we where thinking
about the H-type x-ray spectrometer.

Is there anybody in the list who has experience with this kind of
spectrometers that could give me some information about them (their
performance in general and also comparatively to standard spectrometers,
etc.)?

Thanks


Laura Hernandez
Laura Hernandez
Laboratorio Microsonda Electronica
Instituto GEA
Universidad de Concepcion
Casilla 160C
Concepcion
CHILE

e-mail: lahernan-at-udec.cl
FAX: 56-41-242535
TELEFONO:56-41-204861




From daemon Mon Apr 2 09:38:30 2001



From: sghoshro-at-NMSU.Edu
Date: Mon, 2 Apr 2001 08:33:15 -0600 (MDT)
Subject: Re: LM/FM: adherence of xylem tissue to slides

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


Rachel,

Try using Vectabond treated slides. vectabond is available from vector
laboratories. We had quite good results with leaf, stem, root sections
sticking to these slides. Vector lab: 1-800-227-6666

Good luck,

Soumitra


I have no financial interest in Vector Laboratories.



On Sat, 31 Mar 2001, Rachel Spicer wrote:

} ------------------------------------------------------------------------
} The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
} To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com
} On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html
} -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
}
}
} Hello -
}
} Has anyone out there tried to adhere xylem sections to pre-coated
} microscope slides like Fisher Probe-On Plus slides? I've tried and had a
} zero percent section retention. I can imagine that this is because of the
} scarcity of live cells (and plasma membranes). I've tried slow air drying
} and various temperatures on the slide warmer. The sections are 15 microns,
} and are from fixed (buffered paraformaldehyde) but not embedded samples.
} I'm about to try Poly-L-lysine and amino-acyl silane treated slides, but
} I'm not too hopeful because they (at least Poly-L) rely on the same
} positively-charged surface principle. I want to avoid gelatin or albumin
} subbing because I'm treating sections with protease, and also want to
} minimize background staining. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.
}
} Rachel
}
}
}
}
} ******************************************
} Rachel Spicer
} Biological Laboratories 3119
} Organismic and Evolutionary Biology
} Harvard University
} 16 Divinity Avenue
} Cambridge, MA 02138
}
} (617) 496-3580 (phone)
} (617) 496-5854 (fax)
} spicer-at-oeb.harvard.edu
} ******************************************
}
}
}



From daemon Mon Apr 2 10:46:53 2001



From: Walck, Scott D. :      walck-at-ppg.com
Date: Mon, 2 Apr 2001 11:42:03 -0400
Subject: RE: adjust the intensity of the image

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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You can do a brightness leveling image process with a number of a standard packages.

The procedure is simply to do a Gaussian blur that gives you the slowly varying component of the background and subtract that from your original image.


-Scott

Scott D. Walck, Ph.D.
PPG Industries, Inc.
Glass Technology Center
Guys Run Rd. (packages)
P. O. Box 11472 (letters)
Pittsburgh, PA 15238-0472

Walck-at-PPG.com

(412) 820-8651 (office)
(412) 820-8161 (fax)



} -----Original Message-----
} From: Feng Wu [mailto:fwu-at-bgumail.bgu.ac.il]
} Sent: Wednesday, March 28, 2001 6:14 AM
} To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
} Subject: adjust the intensity of the image
} Sensitivity: Confidential
}
}
} --------------------------------------------------------------
} ----------
} The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society
} of America
} To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to
} ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com
} On-Line Help
} } http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyLists } erver/FAQ.html
}
}
}
} --------------------------------------------------------------
} ---------.
}
}
} Hi, All,
} I take some diffraction contrast pctures. As the thickness of
} the samples
} changes sharply the brightness of the images is not uniform.
} Does someone know
} any software to adjust the brightness for the whole image?
} Thanks inadvance.
} Best regards.
} Feng
} **********************************************
} Dr. Feng Wu
} Dept. of Materials Engineering
} Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
} Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel
}
} voice 972-8-6461473
}
} fwu-at-bgumail.bgu.ac.il
} **********************************************
}
}
}


From daemon Mon Apr 2 13:39:41 2001



From: Dohnalkova, Alice :      Alice.Dohnalkova-at-pnl.gov
Date: Mon, 02 Apr 2001 11:33:33 -0700
Subject: cauliflower strucutures on aniline films

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Dear listers,

I'm posting this message for a colleague; as always, I appreciate your help.
Alice.

Alice Dohnalkova
Environmental Microbiology
Battelle, PNNL
Richland, WA
(509) 372-0692

} My graduate student has made TEM images of our plasma polymerized
aniline
} films. The films seem to have a "cauliflower" structure that could
} probably be described as a fractal pattern. Have you ever made plasma
} polymerized aniline films and if so did you see a cauliflower
structure?
} Your comments would be helpful. Thanks.
} Pat
}
} Patrick D. Pedrow, pedrow-at-eecs.wsu.edu, www.eecs.wsu.edu/~pedrow





From daemon Mon Apr 2 14:17:56 2001



From: Geoff McAuliffe :      mcauliff-at-umdnj.edu
Date: Mon, 02 Apr 2001 15:14:19 -0400
Subject: Re: GACH Resin/polyethylene-imine

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Tobias Baskin wrote:

} Greetings,
} I have found that polyethlyene-imine (PEI) is much stickier
} than poly-lysine. I have no idea about the resin you mentioned, but
} PEI is sticky stuff. It comes as a liquid. I make a 0.1% soloution in
} ddwater, which I freeze in aliquots. Then I keep a working one in the
} fridge. I coat coverslips in the stuff by floating them on a drop of
} the PEI solution for about 10 sec, and then blotting off the excess
} and letting them air dry. In that conditions, the coated 'slips are
} good for at least months.
}
} Hope this helps,
} Tobias Baskin
}

Tobias:

Would this be Sigma catalogue number P-3143?

Geoff
--
**********************************************
Geoff McAuliffe, Ph.D.
Neuroscience and Cell Biology
Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
675 Hoes Lane, Piscataway, NJ 08854
voice: (732)-235-4583; fax: -4029
mcauliff-at-umdnj.edu
**********************************************




From daemon Mon Apr 2 16:23:34 2001



From: William F. Tivol :      wft03-at-health.state.ny.us
Date: Mon, 2 Apr 2001 17:17:54 -0400
Subject: Re: X-ray radiation detector for TEM's

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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I am looking for a X-ray radiation detector used on TEMs. Currently we have
a Geiger counter that is only sensitive to low energy X-ray. The purpose of
the new detector is to sense high energy X-ray leakage from a 200 kV scope.

Any suggestion or clue will be greatly appreciated. Please contact off-line.


Dear Haifeng,
The x-ray monitors on our HVEM are wrapped in a metalic sheath so they will
be sensitive to the brehmsstrahlung spectrum of 1.2 MeV electrons. I don't
think that they could be easily connected to your scope, but you might look into
making a similar sheath for your existing Geiger counter. Good luck.
Yours,

Bill Tivol
Wadsworth Center
Albany NY
(518) 473-7399 WFT02-at-health.state.ny.us




From daemon Mon Apr 2 17:38:28 2001



From: Dusevich, Vladimir :      DusevichV-at-umkc.edu
Date: Mon, 2 Apr 2001 17:33:37 -0500
Subject: JEOL EPMA - H-type spectrometers

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


H-type x-ray spectrometer = horisontal spectrometer?

I have worked with CAMECA SX50 with the horizontal spectrometer.
It was helpful when working with fractures, for example for identification of
nonmetallic inclusions. Another it's advantage was that it was the only
spectrometer with all 4 crystals, so it had more flexibility in maps or line
scans acquisition. In quantitative analysis I did not use it both major and
trace elements acquisition and never got any problems with its performance.

Vladimir Dusevich

-----Original Message-----
} From: Laura Hernandez
To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
Sent: 4/2/01 7:41 AM


Hello everybody,
We have an JEOL JXA 8600 EPMA in our Institute, with three WDS
spectrometers. We are planning to buy an other one, and we where
thinking
about the H-type x-ray spectrometer.

Is there anybody in the list who has experience with this kind of
spectrometers that could give me some information about them (their
performance in general and also comparatively to standard spectrometers,
etc.)?

Thanks


Laura Hernandez
Laura Hernandez
Laboratorio Microsonda Electronica
Instituto GEA
Universidad de Concepcion
Casilla 160C
Concepcion
CHILE

e-mail: lahernan-at-udec.cl
FAX: 56-41-242535
TELEFONO:56-41-204861




From daemon Mon Apr 2 17:50:34 2001



From: SEM Machine :      SEM-at-ACATC.AME.Arizona.edu
Date: Mon, 2 Apr 2001 15:48:48 -0700
Subject: Creating reference points on SEM sample

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


I am trying to determine a method to create or embed points of reference on
an SEM sample. To give some background, the samples are sections of
microprocessor packages that are placed in a modified stage with a
three-point bend fixture. What I'm trying to do is monitor the movement of
points on the specimen surface as the load is increased. I tried using the
spot mode on the scope to see if I could remove some of the sputter coat,
since most of the material underneath is non-conductive, but that was
unsuccessful.

Imaging will most likely be done between 300 and 1000x. I need to have
multiple reference points on the screen at one time, since I will be
measuring relative displacements. The reference points do not need to be
distributed in a uniform pattern.

I have tried applying some powder to the surface, since I read about this
being done before, but the results were not acceptable. I may just be using
the wrong type of powder, but I haven't been able to find out what kind of
powders would work best

So, any ideas on how I may accomplish this?


Thanks,

Norman Kay
Graduate Student
AME Dept.
The University of Arizona




From daemon Mon Apr 2 18:08:50 2001



From: Ritchie Sims :      r.sims-at-auckland.ac.nz
Date: Tue, 3 Apr 2001 11:11:15 GMT+1200
Subject: Camera-Microscope interfacing

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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I want to put a (cheap) video camera onto the optical microscope of
my JEOL 840.

I want to leave the eyepiece lens on, so that users can have the
option of easily removing the camera to use the microscope
conventionally.

I have tried presenting several different models of CCD video cameras
up to the eyepiece, both with and without the camera lens attached,
but none gives me anything better than a smallish bright circle in
the centre of the (black) field of view.

I presume that I need some sort of intermediate lens, but my
understanding of physical optics has largely evaporated over the
years.

Can someone point me towards a suitable text or other information
source?

thanks

rtch


Ritchie Sims Phone : 64 9 3737599 ext 7713
Department of Geology Fax : 64 9 3737435
The University of Auckland email : r.sims-at-auckland.ac.nz
Private Bag 92019
Auckland
New Zealand


From daemon Mon Apr 2 23:23:35 2001



From: Gordon Couger :      gcouger-at-couger.com
Date: Mon, 2 Apr 2001 23:17:00 -0500
Subject: Re: Camera-Microscope interfacing

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html



} From: "Ritchie Sims" {r.sims-at-auckland.ac.nz}
} I want to put a (cheap) video camera onto the optical microscope of
} my JEOL 840.
}
} I want to leave the eyepiece lens on, so that users can have the
} option of easily removing the camera to use the microscope
} conventionally.
}
} I have tried presenting several different models of CCD video cameras
} up to the eyepiece, both with and without the camera lens attached,
} but none gives me anything better than a smallish bright circle in
} the centre of the (black) field of view.
}
} I presume that I need some sort of intermediate lens, but my
} understanding of physical optics has largely evaporated over the
} years.
}
} Can someone point me towards a suitable text or other information
} source?
}
} thanks
}
} rtch

A CCD camera without a lens looking into and eyepiece usually has the
opposite problem of having too much magnification. The image coverage of
the image on the CCD camera can be increased when no lens is present on
the camera simply by moving the camera further away from the eyepiece. My
set up uses a 2.6x eyepiece for the video camera and a 10 x eyepiece to
view the distance between the 2.6 eyepiece and the CCD element is about 2
inches or a little more and I have almost twice the magnification on the
CCD camera as I see through the 10X eyepiece.

So just adding a spacer between your camera and your eyepiece should solve
your problem.

Gordon
Gordon Couger gcouger-at-couger.com
Stillwater, OK www.couger.com/gcouger





From daemon Tue Apr 3 01:22:49 2001



From: Ron Doole :      ron.doole-at-materials.oxford.ac.uk
Date: Tue, 3 Apr 2001 07:21:39 +0100 (GMT Daylight Time)
Subject: Re: Creating reference points on SEM sample

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Hi Norman,

If you have coat your specimen with a thin carbon layer for
conduction then add another layer of gold through a TEM
grid as a mask you should be able to see the grid bars.
Check out your local EM supplier's catalogue for the most
suitable grid design.

Good luck,
Ron

On Mon, 2 Apr 2001 15:48:48 -0700 SEM Machine
{SEM-at-ACATC.AME.Arizona.edu} wrote:

} ------------------------------------------------------------------------
} The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
} To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com
} On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html
} -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
}
}
} I am trying to determine a method to create or embed points of reference on
} an SEM sample. To give some background, the samples are sections of
} microprocessor packages that are placed in a modified stage with a
} three-point bend fixture. What I'm trying to do is monitor the movement of
} points on the specimen surface as the load is increased. I tried using the
} spot mode on the scope to see if I could remove some of the sputter coat,
} since most of the material underneath is non-conductive, but that was
} unsuccessful.
}
} Imaging will most likely be done between 300 and 1000x. I need to have
} multiple reference points on the screen at one time, since I will be
} measuring relative displacements. The reference points do not need to be
} distributed in a uniform pattern.
}
} I have tried applying some powder to the surface, since I read about this
} being done before, but the results were not acceptable. I may just be using
} the wrong type of powder, but I haven't been able to find out what kind of
} powders would work best
}
} So, any ideas on how I may accomplish this?
}
}
} Thanks,
}
} Norman Kay
} Graduate Student
} AME Dept.
} The University of Arizona
}
}
}

----------------------
Mr. R.C. Doole
Department of Materials,
University of Oxford.
Parks Road, Oxford. OX1 3PH. UK.
Phone +44 (0) 1865 273701
Fax +44 (0) 1865 283333
ron.doole-at-materials.ox.ac.uk



From daemon Tue Apr 3 02:00:43 2001



From: Allen R. Sampson :      ars-at-sem.com
Date: Tue, 3 Apr 2001 01:57:33 -0500
Subject: RE: Creating reference points on SEM sample

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


The magnifications you are using present the problem. I'm sure that you
are also wanting as much resolution as possible from image processing of
the resultant images.

Producing a non-conductive spot on the sample is a good idea, as it should
stand out well, particularly during a slow record mode scan.

My vote - copier or laser printer toner. Very small particle size,
non-conductive plastic composition. Also, once the powder is sprinkled on,
it can be adhered to the surface with a little heat to ensure that it
doesn't move around.

On Monday, April 02, 2001 5:49 PM, SEM Machine
[SMTP:SEM-at-ACATC.AME.Arizona.edu] wrote:
}
}
} I am trying to determine a method to create or embed points of reference
on
} an SEM sample. To give some background, the samples are sections of
} microprocessor packages that are placed in a modified stage with a
} three-point bend fixture. What I'm trying to do is monitor the movement
of
} points on the specimen surface as the load is increased. I tried using
the
} spot mode on the scope to see if I could remove some of the sputter coat,
} since most of the material underneath is non-conductive, but that was
} unsuccessful.
}
} Imaging will most likely be done between 300 and 1000x. I need to have
} multiple reference points on the screen at one time, since I will be
} measuring relative displacements. The reference points do not need to be
} distributed in a uniform pattern.
}
} I have tried applying some powder to the surface, since I read about this
} being done before, but the results were not acceptable. I may just be
using
} the wrong type of powder, but I haven't been able to find out what kind
of
} powders would work best
}
} So, any ideas on how I may accomplish this?
}
}
} Thanks,
}
} Norman Kay
} Graduate Student
} AME Dept.
} The University of Arizona
}
}
}
}


Allen R. Sampson, Owner
Advanced Research Systems
317 North 4th. Street
St. Charles, Illinois 60174
voice 630.513.7093 fax 630.513.7092



From daemon Tue Apr 3 02:30:27 2001



From: Faerber Jacques :      Jacques.Faerber-at-ipcms.u-strasbg.fr
Date: Tue, 3 Apr 2001 09:25:05 +0200
Subject: Lorentz microsopy

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My collegue C. Ulhaq want to know who practice Lorentz Microscopy on TEM
(in Europe particulary).

The questions would be : which kind of microscope you use, do you use
special polar pieces, and did you buy it or were they "home made". Same
question about the sample holder. What are the max magnification
accessible ? We have a ABT Topcon 002B, with the the possibility to change
the polar pieces.

You can answer direct to my collegue (corinne.ulhaq-at-ipcms.u-strasbg.fr),
or on the list.



J. Faerber
IPCMS-GSI
(Institut de Physique et Chimie des Matériaux de Strasbourg
Groupe Surface et Interfaces)
23, rue de Loess
67037 Strasbourg CEDEX
France

Tel 00 33(0)3 88 10 71 01
Fax 00 33(0)0 88 10 72 48
E-mail Jacques.Faerber-at-ipcms.u-strasbg.fr



From daemon Tue Apr 3 02:35:06 2001



From: electron microscope laboratory :      emlab-at-udsm.ac.tz
Date: Tue, 03 Apr 2001 10:30:57 +0300
Subject: SCHOLARSHIP QUERRY, RE-STATED

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Hi All!

Thanks for the replies and the advice that you have offered.

I have Some additional information.
I am a BSc.[Physics, Mathematics] holder. Currently I am working at the E.M
laboratory of the university of
Dar es Salaam as a supporting staff, and I am looking for the opportunity
to pursue an MSc. and hence a Ph.D
that will qualify me to research fellow. Funds are a hindrance. We have one
old ZEISS9S2 TEM, and a new
LEO 910 analytical TEM.
An MSc. course in TEM or a research in metals/ceramics will do.

Thanks again,
Maulid
..........................................

Maulid Kivambe
University of Dar es Salaam
Faculty of Science
P.O.Box 35065
Dar es Salaam
Tanzania.

Phone +255 0744 266667
Fax +255 0222 410258
E-mail Mkivambe-at-hotmail.com
.........................................


From daemon Tue Apr 3 07:58:10 2001



From: Avi David :      avi.david-at-sagitta.co.il
Date: Tue, 3 Apr 2001 07:50:00 -0500
Subject: DIC

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Hi,
I need some articles about
Differential Interference Contrast (DIC)
Especially advantages and disadvantages.
Regards ,

Avi David
Application Engineer
Sagitta ES Ltd
4 Hayetzira st. Ramat-Gan 52521
Tel: + 972-3-7514601
Cell: + 972-55-765522




From daemon Tue Apr 3 09:28:19 2001



From: Karen Kelley :      klk-at-biotech.ufl.edu
Date: Tue, 03 Apr 2001 10:19:38 -0500
Subject: culture in paraffin

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Hello,
We have a client who needs to embed a cell culture in paraffin. In our lab
we embed cultures in agarose and then embed for TEM. We do not have
experience embedding paraffin. My question is, since xylene is used for
paraffin how do you keep the culture from dispersing. Any suggestions?
Thank you

Karen Kelley
Senior Electron Microscopist
University of Florida
ICBR Electron Microscopy Core Lab
Box 118525 Gainesville Florida
Lab: 352-392-1184 fax: 352-846-0251
email: klk-at-biotech.ufl.edu
http://www.biotech.ufl.edu/~emcl/staff/karenpage.html


From daemon Tue Apr 3 09:37:12 2001



From: Asli Oztan :      asost2+-at-pitt.edu
Date: Tue, 03 Apr 2001 10:42:14 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: suspension cells

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Jacques:

I have not done Lorentz microscopy (here LEM) in a long time and I am not
very familiar with the configuration of the Topcon 002B. This is what I
remember ,for LEM to work the sample has to be outside the strong magnetic
field of the OL pole piece. In the good old days, we used a modified top
entry-type specimen holder which was longer than usual so that the specimen
would sit below its normal position. In addition, the IL electronics had to
be modified so that focus could still be attained when the specimen was in
this lower position. We normally used magnifications of up to about 20 KX if
I recall.

The second way of doing this is to essentially turn off the objective lens ,
but you have to be able to focus with the IL . Some of the newer scopes
might not be able to do this without modifications to the electronics. In
our case all the modifications were done by the manufacturer.

Hope this helps

Jordi Marti

-----Original Message-----
} From: Faerber Jacques [mailto:Jacques.Faerber-at-ipcms.u-strasbg.fr]
Sent: Tuesday, April 03, 2001 3:25 AM
To: Microscopy Society of America



Hi everyone,
We are working with suspension cells (Jurkats or H9s) and we need a
protocol to prepare them for fluorescent microscope (both fixed and live
cell imaging).
Thanks in advance for your help.

Asli Oztan

asost2-at-pitt.edu
University of Pittsburgh
Molecular Virology and Microbiology



From daemon Tue Apr 3 10:47:57 2001



From: Frank Lee :      flee-at-uhnres.utoronto.ca
Date: Tue, 03 Apr 2001 11:39:46 -0400
Subject: Re: culture in paraffin

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


You can try spinning (centrifuging) the cells down so they become a packed
ball of cells, then carefully put them into a bag (i think they are nylon
bags) for processing and subsequently into paraffin block.

Frank Lee


Karen Kelley wrote:

} ------------------------------------------------------------------------
} The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
} To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com
} On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html
} -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
}
} Hello,
} We have a client who needs to embed a cell culture in paraffin. In our lab
} we embed cultures in agarose and then embed for TEM. We do not have
} experience embedding paraffin. My question is, since xylene is used for
} paraffin how do you keep the culture from dispersing. Any suggestions?
} Thank you
}
} Karen Kelley
} Senior Electron Microscopist
} University of Florida
} ICBR Electron Microscopy Core Lab
} Box 118525 Gainesville Florida
} Lab: 352-392-1184 fax: 352-846-0251
} email: klk-at-biotech.ufl.edu
} http://www.biotech.ufl.edu/~emcl/staff/karenpage.html



From daemon Tue Apr 3 10:56:34 2001



From: Mary Mager :      mager-at-interchange.ubc.ca
Date: Tue, 03 Apr 2001 08:52:17 -0700
Subject: Re: Creating reference points on SEM sample

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Dear Norman,
When we had a similar problem of creating a reference for studying crack
growth, we used the gold-evaporated grid method, as Ron Doole mentioned.
However, this gave problems because the grid is uniform, so after you've
traveled a little way, you had no unique reference to keep you placed. We
solved this by also puting a drop of latex sphere suspension on the surface,
before sputter coating. This is a suspension of latex spheres of specific
size, I believe we used one micron, but you can use a size suitable to your
magnification. The suspension dries to form a random pattern of dots that
can be compared in photos. You amy have to experiment with the concentration
of spheres to get the right coverage. We were lucky enough to have a
researcher making latex spheres who gave us some of her duds, but these
suspensions can be purchased.
I hope this helps.
At 03:48 PM 4/2/01 -0700, you wrote:
}
} I am trying to determine a method to create or embed points of reference on
} an SEM sample. To give some background, the samples are sections of
} microprocessor packages that are placed in a modified stage with a
} three-point bend fixture. What I'm trying to do is monitor the movement of
} points on the specimen surface as the load is increased. I tried using the
} spot mode on the scope to see if I could remove some of the sputter coat,
} since most of the material underneath is non-conductive, but that was
} unsuccessful.
}
} Imaging will most likely be done between 300 and 1000x. I need to have
} multiple reference points on the screen at one time, since I will be
} measuring relative displacements. The reference points do not need to be
} distributed in a uniform pattern.
}
} I have tried applying some powder to the surface, since I read about this
} being done before, but the results were not acceptable. I may just be using
} the wrong type of powder, but I haven't been able to find out what kind of
} powders would work best
}
} So, any ideas on how I may accomplish this?
}
}
} Thanks,
}
} Norman Kay
} Graduate Student
} AME Dept.
} The University of Arizona
}
Regards,
Mary

Mary Mager
Electron Microscopist
Metals and Materials Engineering
University of British Columbia
6350 Stores Road
Vancouver, B.C. V6T 1Z4
CANADA
tel: 604-822-5648
e-mail: mager-at-interchg.ubc.ca



From daemon Tue Apr 3 13:24:28 2001



From: Robert Palmer :      rjpalmer-at-dir.nidcr.nih.gov
Date: Tue, 3 Apr 2001 13:46:51 -0400
Subject: methylamine tungstate

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Can someone identify a supplier for small amounts of methlyamine tungstate
powder (used for negative staining in TEM)? I have tried EMS, Ted Pella,
and Polysciences (the supplier of our original decade-old vial).
Robert J. Palmer Jr., Ph.D.
Natl Inst Dental Craniofacial Res - Natl Insts Health
Oral Infection and Immunity Branch
Bldg 30, Room 308
30 Convent Drive
Bethesda MD 20892
ph 301-594-0025
fax 301-402-0396


From daemon Tue Apr 3 13:29:01 2001



From: Ellen Carrillo-Heian :      emheian-at-engr.ucdavis.edu
Date: Tue, 3 Apr 2001 11:25:45 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: ESCA/Auger value

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Hello,

I'm trying to get a handle on the value of an old Auger/ESCA spectrometer.
The model is PHI 558, by Perkin-Elmer. It was built around 1985 or 86, and
the electronics are quite old, but it's intact and fully functional. It
also has a LEED detector and has been upgraded over time. A partial list
of parts is included below. Does anyone have an idea what this might be
worth?

Thank you,
Ellen Carrillo-Heian

emheian-at-engr.ucdavis.edu
Dept. of Chem. Eng. and Mat. Sci.
UC Davis
Davis, CA 95616
USA
----------------------
Partial list of components:

} 32-010 Lock In Amp
} 20-0275 Electron Multiplier Supply
} 32-095 X Ray Source Control
} 22-040 DC Power Supply
} 16-020 Heat Exchange / Deionizer
} 20-805 Analyzer Control
} 32-100 Electron Multiplier Supply
} 11-065 Ion Gun Control
} 20-115 Ion Gun Control
} 11-010 Electron Gun Control
} 11-055 ESCA / Auger System Control
} 11-500A Auger System Control
} Inficon 012-214
} 04-303 Differential Ion Gun
} 04-548 Dual Anode X-ray Source
} 15-255 GAR Precision Electron Energy Analyzer
} Ultek DI Pump
} 218075B-26 UHV Instruments (Tag in front of the screw/bellows assembly, on
} frame.)
}
} And a 386 Compaq controlling it.
}
} The chamber has the dual chamber translation set up. (With the 4 ft
} screw/bellows)
}




From daemon Tue Apr 3 14:06:32 2001



From: Paul.Nolan-at-Alcan.Com
Date: Tue, 3 Apr 2001 14:05:39 -0500
Subject: RE: Creating reference points on SEM sample

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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We do this using contamination spots from the microscope itself.
We put down a grid array of spots using our Isis system to control the stage
and spot positons. Focus the beam to a spot and let is sit there for a minute
or so and a contamination spot should appear. We are using electropolished
aluminum. I dont know if it will work for your material but its worth a try
Then we strain our material and look at it again.
Works well.




From daemon Tue Apr 3 17:45:41 2001



From: Thearith H. Ung :      tung-at-qdots.com
Date: Tue, 3 Apr 2001 15:38:51 -0700
Subject: TEM: Particle Sizing

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Hi all,

I would like to do high resolution TEM on spherical, semiconductor
nanoparticles. The diameters of these particles range from 1 to 10 nm. Our
goal is to acquire good digital images of these particles so that we can
size them in house. Please let me know if you can help and how much you
charge per sample or per hour. Your help will be greatly appreciated.

Regards,
Thearith



From daemon Tue Apr 3 18:06:49 2001



From: hainfeld-at-bnl.gov
Date: Tue, 03 Apr 2001 18:06:51 -0500
Subject: methylamine tungstate

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Dear Dr. Palmer,
Nanoprobes sells the methylamine tungstate you desired under the name
"NanoW". It is an excellent negative stain. They also make methylamine
vanadate, a similar, but lower atomic number stain they call "NanoVan".
More information is at www.nanoprobes.com.
J. Hainfeld


Dr. James F. Hainfeld
Brookhaven National Laboratory
Biology Dept.
Bldg. 463
Upton, NY 11973 USA
Tel. 631-344-3372
Fax. 631-344-3407
email: hainfeld-at-bnl.gov
website: http://bnlstb.bio.bnl.gov/biodocs/stem/stem.html


From daemon Tue Apr 3 19:29:10 2001



From: Thearith H. Ung :      tung-at-qdots.com
Date: Tue, 3 Apr 2001 17:50:22 -0700
Subject: Image Analysis Software

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Generally, equipment depreciates at the rate of 30% per year on the balance.
In other words, an SEM with an initial cost of 100K is worth 70K after the
first year, 49K the second year, 34.3k the third year, etc.

These numbers are based upon the experience I have had with used equipment
sales during the past five years.
Other allowances are made for equipment that has been abused, etc.
Strangely enough, accessories add little to the resale value of equipment.

I am sure there are others who would differ as it would not fit into their
accounting procedures but my experience has been that scientific equipment
depreciates more than computers.

Regards,

Earl Weltmer

I have no financial interest in this thread only experience.

----- Original Message -----
} From: "Ellen Carrillo-Heian" {emheian-at-engr.ucdavis.edu}
To: "microscopy" {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com}
Sent: Tuesday, April 03, 2001 11:25 AM



Hi everybody (again),

I am looking for a program that allows me to quantify a given group of
nanoparticles that have various shapes and sizes. These particles range from
1 to 10 nm in diameter. Your help will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Regards,
Thearith





From daemon Tue Apr 3 21:37:31 2001



From: Rick Powell at Nanoprobes :      rpowell-at-nanoprobes.com
Date: Tue, 03 Apr 2001 22:36:56 -0400
Subject: Re: methylamine tungstate - commercial vendor reply

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Hello Robert:

We sell this as a 2 % aqueous solution (suitable for use directly) - the
product is called "Nano-W." It's listed on our web site catalog under
"Negative staining."

Regards,

Rick Powell


*****************************************************************************************
Richard D. Powell * rpowell-at-nanoprobes.com * www.nanoprobes.com
NANOPROBES, Incorporated
95 Horse Block Road, Yaphank, NY 11980-9710, USA

US Toll-free: (877) 447-6266 * Tel: (919) 845-6324 * Fax: (919)
845-6324

Sign up for our newsletter: http://www.nanoprobes.com/Newsletter.html
*****************************************************************************************



From daemon Tue Apr 3 23:04:23 2001



From: Gary Gaugler :      gary-at-gaugler.com
Date: Tue, 03 Apr 2001 21:04:57 -0700
Subject: Re: ESCA/Auger value

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Earl:

What kind of computer depreciates (looses value) slower than
scientific equipment? A regular PC or Mac drops by over
50% the first year. After an additional six months, the system
worth next to nothing. But of course, the new and improved
model is $2K or more. Either way, the standard IRS depreciation
schedule for computers and scientific equipment is five years.
I would say that this is more appropriate for scientific equipment
than it is for computers. But YMMV.

gary g.


At 05:16 PM 4/3/2001, you wrote:
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} The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America



From daemon Wed Apr 4 00:58:12 2001



From: Rosemary White :      Rosemary.White-at-pi.csiro.au
Date: Wed, 4 Apr 2001 15:47:39 +1000
Subject: equipment depreciation

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


This is an interesting thread. Our unit is supposed to operate at "full
cost recovery", and as such we are charged depreciation of the instruments
(funded from a central equipment grant), which are depreciated over 15
years. Only computers are depreciated over 3 years. If anyone else is
aware of some vaguely standard depreciation times for TEMs, SEMs, confocal,
light microscopes, I'd appreciate hearing about this.

Thanks,
rosemary


Rosemary White
Microscopy Centre
CSIRO Plant Industry
GPO Box 1600
Canberra, ACT 2601
Australia

phone 61-2-6246 5475
fax 61-2-6246 5000
email r.white-at-pi.csiro.au




From daemon Wed Apr 4 02:40:34 2001



From: loidrgiperikg-at-netian.com
Date: Tue, 03 Apr 2001 23:35:54 -1900
Subject: .

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


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From daemon Wed Apr 4 07:19:56 2001



From: Frank Thomas :      thomasf-at-AGC.BIO.NS.CA
Date: Wed, 4 Apr 2001 09:01:23 -0300
Subject: Re: equipment depreciation

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Rosemary said -
} This is an interesting thread. Our unit is supposed to operate at "full
} cost recovery", and as such we are charged depreciation of the instruments
} (funded from a central equipment grant), which are depreciated over 15
} years.

FWIW, I understand that that our organization (A Canadian federal government
one) also depreciates this kind of major capital equipment over 15 years.
(Except, apparently, helicopters - our Navy is still using ones which are,
literally, older than most of the pilots flying them....)

Frank Thomas
Geological Survey of Canada (Atlantic)
Bedford Institute of Oceanography
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia




From daemon Wed Apr 4 07:24:34 2001



From: Hendrik O. Colijn :      colijn.1-at-osu.edu
Date: Wed, 04 Apr 2001 08:20:55 -0400
Subject: RE: adjust the intensity of the image

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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John Russ recently demonstrated an adaptive equalization technique for us
that works quite well. Basically it is histogram equalization over a local
area of the image that is then stepped over the whole image. He has
implemented this method in his IP Toolkit and Fovea Pro packages that
plugin to PhotoShop. It is also described in The Image Processing
Handbook, 2nd edition on page 222.

Just a satisfied customer...

Henk Colijn

At 11:42 AM 4/2/01 -0400, Walck, Scott D. wrote:
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------
} The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America

Hendrik O. Colijn colijn.1-at-osu.edu
Campus Electron Optics Facility Ohio State University
(614) 292-0674 http://web.ceof.ohio-state.edu
Fools are pleased when they discover error.
The wise are pleased when they discover truth.



From daemon Wed Apr 4 07:29:14 2001



From: Roger Moretz :      rcmoretz-at-excite.com
Date: Wed, 4 Apr 2001 05:25:31 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: equipment depreciation

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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An interesting thread indeed! We are in the midst of surplusing out a lot
of used histology equipment, and find that there are two different methods
of determining value. Depreciation of equipment for tax purposes is done
according to state/federal tax laws--and I think that means after 5 or 10
years (the time seems to change, and I can never keep up with) the _tax_
value is zero. However. When it comes to disposing of the equipment, our
business folks are using a different "book value" that has values
significantly greater than current market value. So.... Draw your own
conclusions.

Roger Moretz, Ph.D.
Dept of Toxicology
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

On Wed, 4 Apr 2001 15:47:39 +1000, Rosemary White wrote:

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------
| The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
| To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com
| On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html
| -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
|
|
| This is an interesting thread. Our unit is supposed to operate at "full
| cost recovery", and as such we are charged depreciation of the
instruments
| (funded from a central equipment grant), which are depreciated over 15
| years. Only computers are depreciated over 3 years. If anyone else is
| aware of some vaguely standard depreciation times for TEMs, SEMs,
confocal,
| light microscopes, I'd appreciate hearing about this.
|
| Thanks,
| rosemary
|
|
| Rosemary White
| Microscopy Centre
| CSIRO Plant Industry
| GPO Box 1600
| Canberra, ACT 2601
| Australia
|
| phone 61-2-6246 5475
| fax 61-2-6246 5000
| email r.white-at-pi.csiro.au
|
|
|


Roger Moretz, Ph.D.
Dept of Toxicology
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
900 Rigdebury Road
Ridgefield, CT 06877
203-798-5448





_______________________________________________________
Send a cool gift with your E-Card
http://www.bluemountain.com/giftcenter/




From daemon Wed Apr 4 08:18:02 2001



From: Malis, Tom :      malis-at-nrcan.gc.ca
Date: Wed, 4 Apr 2001 09:12:26 -0400
Subject: RE: equipment depreciation

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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I think that CSIRO is on the high side. In the Canadian government 10 years
seems to have been the semi-official standard for as long as I can remember.
In my lab, though, we informally think of two 'effective lifetimes', 7 years
or thereabouts for the TEM and SEM, and 10 for the other beam instruments
(EPMA, SIMS, XPS and SAM). Furthermore, we regard these as upper limits for
two reasons:

- vendors these days are operating on ever-tighter parts inventories, thus a
beam instrument may have some good years left in it, but you find you can't
get a crucial part any longer. This happened to us recently with our 12
year old Cameca SIMS, when a flight tube developed ultrafine cracks and we
discovered that they are not kept in stock any more. After a lot of
arm-twisting and calling of favors, we tracked down one of the few remaining
ones in Europe, otherwise we would have been down for 3 months awaiting a
custom-built one.

- we do a lot of work with the private sector, some on a contract basis.
They often come to us to get state-of-the-art data quality which has been
collected in a timely fashion. The first is what usually gets their
attention in the first place, while the second is crucial to keeping their
attention.

Tom Malis
Group Leader - Characterization
Materials Technology Laboratory
Natural Resources Canada (Govt. of Canada)
568 Booth St., Ottawa, Canada
ph. 613-992-2310
FAX 613-992-8735
email: malis-at-nrcan.gc.ca


} ----------
} From: Rosemary White
} Sent: Wednesday, April 04, 2001 1:47 AM
} To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
} Subject: equipment depreciation
}
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------
} The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
} To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com
} On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html
} -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
}
}
} This is an interesting thread. Our unit is supposed to operate at "full
} cost recovery", and as such we are charged depreciation of the instruments
} (funded from a central equipment grant), which are depreciated over 15
} years. Only computers are depreciated over 3 years. If anyone else is
} aware of some vaguely standard depreciation times for TEMs, SEMs,
} confocal,
} light microscopes, I'd appreciate hearing about this.
}
} Thanks,
} rosemary
}
}
} Rosemary White
} Microscopy Centre
} CSIRO Plant Industry
} GPO Box 1600
} Canberra, ACT 2601
} Australia
}
} phone 61-2-6246 5475
} fax 61-2-6246 5000
} email r.white-at-pi.csiro.au
}
}
}


From daemon Wed Apr 4 08:18:07 2001



From: mxm67-at-email.psu.edu
Date: Wed, 4 Apr 2001 09:09:04 -0400
Subject: unsubscribe

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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unsubscribe....


From daemon Wed Apr 4 09:40:20 2001



From: Boucher, Germaine G :      germaine_g_boucher-at-groton.Pfizer.com
Date: Wed, 4 Apr 2001 10:34:52 -0400
Subject: TEM: precipitate in samples of white fat

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Hello,

I am processing samples of white fat for TEM and have been having trouble
with a dense precipitate that covers the cytoplasm. Nuclei and blood
vessels are relatively unaffected. So far I've tried 3 different fixatives:
Trump's and 2.5% glut/2% para in either 0.1M cacodylate of 0.1M phosphate
buffer. The samples have been osmicated for one hour and embedded in either
Spurr's resin or Epon. The precipitate is present in unstained sections as
well as those stained with UA alone or UA and lead. Treatment with .5N HCl
for 2 minutes alleviates the problem somewhat but bleaches the sections so
much that they are very difficult to see. If anyone has encountered similar
problems and has suggestions for me I would be most grateful.

Thanks in advance

Germaine G. Boucher
TEM Lab
Pfizer Global Research and Development
Groton, CT




From daemon Wed Apr 4 10:18:06 2001



From: jeanross :      jeanross-at-blue.weeg.uiowa.edu
Date: Wed, 4 Apr 2001 10:13:49 -0500
Subject: EDS preferences

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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We are looking to replace a very old EDS system on our Hitachi S-2460N
variable pressure SEM. I would like to know about your preferences for and
experiences with different companies, both good and bad. Please reply
directly to me. If anyone else is interested, I could submit a summary to the
list after I've collected all the responses.

Thanks in advance.

Jean Ross
Central Microscopy Research Facility
University of Iowa




From daemon Wed Apr 4 10:25:43 2001



From: Tom Phillips :      PhillipsT-at-missouri.edu
Date: Wed, 4 Apr 2001 10:19:39 -0500
Subject: Confocal Service contracts

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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I have two questions concerning service contracts on confocals. Let
me start by saying i have had a confocal for about 8 years and would
never consider going without one. I have a Biorad 2000 going off
warranty and need to make a decision.

First question: Biorad no longer guarantees a response time - they
now promise to get to you as fast as they can but no longer promise a
48 or 72 hr response. Have other confocal manufacturers done this
also?

Second question: My university is pushing replacing service
contracts with "insurance" contracts with a major vendor who then
pays for a service visit from the manufacturer on an hourly basis.
All parts, travel, service repair time, etc are covered at a price
that is typically 75% less than the manufacturer's service contract.
They guarantee the price and coverage for 3 years. Personally I
don't know how they could make money on this deal since we average a
fair number of visits and spare parts (e.g. lasers) in a typical
year. Does anyone have experience with this type of situation with
confocals? The company the University is dealing with is CIC but
there are several other ones out there.

Thanks for any input.
--
Thomas E. Phillips, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Biological Sciences
Director, Molecular Cytology Core Facility

3 Tucker Hall
Division of Biological Sciences
University of Missouri
Columbia, MO 65211-7400
(573)-882-4712 (voice)
(573)-882-0123 (fax)


From daemon Wed Apr 4 11:03:29 2001



From: RonMervis-at-aol.com
Date: Wed, 4 Apr 2001 11:57:57 EDT
Subject: Mountant media

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html



--part1_ce.12ee3a2b.27fc9e85_boundary
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

dear listservers....
i need some advice....
we use Permount as our mountant...however, as we cut our slides extremely
thick (120 micra) for our staining method (Golgi-impregnations of neurons),
it often takes 2-3 weeks for the Permount to dry sufficiently so that we can
actually use the slides without it getting on our microscope stage, or the
coverslip moving around under our oil-immersion lenses....
so....my question is --- does any microscope maven out there know if there is
anything that can be done to accelerate the drying/hardening the
Permount....???
many thanks for any help....
regards,
Ron Mervis
~~~~~~~~~~
Ronald F. Mervis, Ph.D.
Neuro-Cognitive Research Laboratories
2109 West Fifth Avenue
Columbus, Ohio 43212 USA
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
..independent nonprofit contract laboratories dedicated to quantitiative
neurostructural analysis to promote our knowledge and understanding of human
neurological diseases, neurodegeneration, and neuroplasticity....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tel: (614)-486-6404; lab: (614)-486-6080
Fax: (614)-486-6020
e-mail: RonMervis-at-aol.com (or) RonMervis-at-Neuro-Cognitive.org
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"...can the human soul be glimpsed through a microscope? Maybe, but you'd
definitely need one of those very good ones with two eyepieces."
- Woody Allen


--part1_ce.12ee3a2b.27fc9e85_boundary
Content-Type: text/html; charset="US-ASCII"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

{HTML} {FONT FACE=arial,helvetica} {FONT SIZE=2} dear listservers....
{BR} i need some advice....
{BR} we use Permount as our mountant...however, as we cut our slides extremely
{BR} thick (120 micra) for our staining method (Golgi-impregnations of neurons),
{BR} it often takes 2-3 weeks for the Permount to dry sufficiently so that we can
{BR} actually use the slides without it getting on our microscope stage, or the
{BR} coverslip moving around under our oil-immersion lenses....
{BR} so....my question is --- does any microscope maven out there know if there is
{BR} anything that can be done to accelerate the drying/hardening the
{BR} Permount....???
{BR} many thanks for any help....
{BR} regards,
{BR} Ron Mervis
{BR} ~~~~~~~~~~
{BR} Ronald F. Mervis, Ph.D.
{BR} Neuro-Cognitive Research Laboratories
{BR} 2109 West Fifth Avenue
{BR} Columbus, Ohio 43212 USA
{BR} ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
{BR} ...independent nonprofit contract laboratories dedicated to quantitiative
{BR} neurostructural analysis to promote our knowledge and understanding of human
{BR} neurological diseases, neurodegeneration, and neuroplasticity....
{BR} ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
{BR} Tel: (614)-486-6404; lab: (614)-486-6080
{BR} Fax: (614)-486-6020
{BR} e-mail:   RonMervis-at-aol.com (or) RonMervis-at-Neuro-Cognitive.org
{BR} ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
{BR} "...can the human soul be glimpsed through a microscope?  Maybe, but you'd
{BR} definitely need one of those very good ones with two eyepieces."
{BR}                                                           - Woody Allen
{BR} {/FONT} {/HTML}

--part1_ce.12ee3a2b.27fc9e85_boundary--


From daemon Wed Apr 4 13:54:02 2001



From: Rodney McCabe :      rmccabe-at-lanl.gov
Date: Wed, 04 Apr 2001 12:48:46 -0600
Subject: SiO2 removal

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


I have seen some beautiful SEM pictures of semiconductor interconnect lines
(Copper and aluminum) in which the dielectric material (Silicon dioxide I
assume) has been completely removed. Can someone tell me what was used to
remove the dielectric without affecting the metallization?

Thanks

Rod



From daemon Wed Apr 4 13:54:04 2001



From: Bruce Brinson :      brinson-at-rice.edu
Date: Wed, 04 Apr 2001 13:48:14 -0500
Subject: Au & Bronz

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Hello friends,
I have a gold bronze composition material coming in for imaging by
SEM, x-ray mapping, and optical microscopy. I could us a sample prep
recommendation, particularly for a etchant or so I think. This is
primarily a failure analysis project in which we want to clearly observe
and differentiate grain boundaries. Recommendations would be greatly
appreciated.

thanks,
Bruce Brinson
Optical Analyst
Rice University



From daemon Wed Apr 4 14:56:20 2001



From: Mary Gail Engle :      mgengle-at-pop.uky.edu
Date: Wed, 04 Apr 2001 15:51:36 -0400
Subject: Re: TEM: precipitate in samples of white fat

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Germaine,
If you don't rinse in buffer well enough after the initial fixation , the
glut will form a precipitate with osmium. Try washing 4x or 5x for 15
minutes each between glutaraldehyde and osmium.
Good luck,

At 10:34 AM 4/4/01 -0400, Boucher, Germaine G wrote:
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------
} The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America

Mary Gail Engle
Sr. Research Laboratory Manager
Electron Microscopy & Imaging Facility
Health Sciences Research Bldg. 001
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY 40536-0305

phone 859-323-6108
fax 859-257-5700


From daemon Wed Apr 4 16:39:06 2001



From: Ritchie Sims :      r.sims-at-auckland.ac.nz
Date: Thu, 5 Apr 2001 09:40:13 GMT+1200
Subject: Camera-Microscope interfacing Pt 2

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Hi again

Thanks for all the recommendations for suppliers of cameras and
interfaces, but what I was wanting was a pointer to a text or
somesuch from which I could figure out myself what I need.

There must be someone in this learned and experienced community who's
been there and done that, isn't there?

"That", for those who may have missed my first post, being the
problem of how to work out what sort of intermediate lens would be
needed to interface a small cheap CCD video camera (or a webcam) so
that it gives a good image when looking into the existing eyepiece
lens of a given optical microscope (in this case the OM of a JEOL 840
SEM).

thanks

rtch


Ritchie Sims Phone : 64 9 3737599 ext 7713
Department of Geology Fax : 64 9 3737435
The University of Auckland email : r.sims-at-auckland.ac.nz
Private Bag 92019
Auckland
New Zealand


From daemon Wed Apr 4 18:17:28 2001



From: Kalvoda Jiri :      dino-at-sci.muni.cz
Date: Wed, 4 Apr 2001 18:15:24 -0500
Subject: digital camera for my Axiolab Zeiss microscope

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Dear colleagues, I would like to buy a digital camera for my Axiolab
Zeiss microscope. Unfortunately I am a bit confused in the amount of
available data. I would need a digital camera of the resolution that
matches the quality of film cameras in order I need not scan photos or
negatives. Could you please be so kind and give me a piece of advice? I
have Olympus Camedia 3030 with 3,34 mil pixels. Will this camera and
resolution do or do I need to buy another one? If yes of what resolution
and type? I will be very indebted for an advice because I receive often
contradicting information for different distributors and I am not much
wise about it. Many thanks in advance. With best
wishes Jiri
Kalvoda Department of
Geology and Paleontology
Masaryk University
Kotlarska 2 61137 Brno
Czech republic




From daemon Wed Apr 4 18:45:15 2001



From: Gary Gaugler :      gary-at-gaugler.com
Date: Wed, 04 Apr 2001 16:47:16 -0700
Subject: Re: SiO2 removal

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


It is easily done with a plasma etch using CF4 + O2.

The top layer of "glass" is typically silicon nitride over
silicon dioxide or in earlier devices, it is boron phosphor
silicon glass (BPSG).

I have some colorized shots on my web site at:

http://photoweb.net

More get added and some get swapped over time.

gary g.


At 11:48 AM 4/4/2001, you wrote:
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------
} The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America



From daemon Wed Apr 4 19:03:46 2001



From: Garber, Charles A. :      cgarber-at-2spi.com
Date: Wed, 04 Apr 2001 20:00:07 -0500
Subject: Removal of glass passivation layers

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


-- [ From: Garber, Charles A. * EMC.Ver #3.1 ] --

Rod McCabe wrote:
=======================================================
I have seen some beautiful SEM pictures of semiconductor interconnect lines
(Copper and aluminum) in which the dielectric material (Silicon dioxide I
assume) has been completely removed. Can someone tell me what was used to
remove the dielectric without affecting the metallization?
=======================================================
While HF and Q-Tips can be used to swab off the SiO2, the better way (in our
opinion) is with reactive plasma etching, using CF4 as the reactive gas.
This way the layer is removed in a way that does not disrurb, for example,
corrosion product that might have formed underneath. If you use the wet
chemical approach, you can dissolve and swab away features of interest, such
as corrosion product. And you have removed that which you might otherwise
have been able to analyze with EDS or even Auger.

Several manufacturers offer table top plasma etchers, SPI Supplies being one
of them. You can find information about the SPI Plasma Prep™ II on our
website given below.

Chuck

===================================================
Charles A. Garber, Ph. D. Ph: 1-(610)-436-5400
President 1-(800)-2424-SPI
SPI SUPPLIES FAX: 1-(610)-436-5755
PO BOX 656 e-mail: cgarber-at-2spi.com
West Chester, PA 19381-0656 USA Cust. Service: spi2spi-at-2spi.com


Look for us!
############################
WWW: http://www.2spi.com
############################
==================================================



From daemon Wed Apr 4 20:16:31 2001



From: James S. Martin :      james.s.martin-at-att.net
Date: Wed, 4 Apr 2001 21:08:43 -0400
Subject: clean air workstations

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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I am writing for comments -- off-list please -- about the CleanZone LF clean
air workstation manufactured by IQAir, which, I am told, is used in
Switzerland and Germany, but only recently has been introduced in the United
States. With thanks,

James Martin
Orion Analytical, LLC
www.orionanalytical.com
martin-at-orionanalytical.com




From daemon Wed Apr 4 22:27:00 2001



From: Tina Carvalho :      tina-at-pbrc.hawaii.edu
Date: Wed, 4 Apr 2001 17:22:23 -1000 (HST)
Subject: Scanner for negs and prints

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


Hi, All-

A colleague has asked for recommendations for setting up a digital
darkroom (fun to spend someone else's money!). This person would benefit
from a really good scanner that could deal with prints, large format
negatives (4"x5", 3.25"x4") as well as 35 mm slides. At one time I looked
into an Agfa Duoscan T2500. Do any of you have an opinion about this or
other suitable scanners?

I know this subject comes up regularly, but I don't feel bad about
introducing it again, since technology evolves so quickly!

Mahalo,
Tina

http://www.pbrc.hawaii.edu/bemf/microangela
****************************************************************************
* Tina (Weatherby) Carvalho * tina-at-pbrc.hawaii.edu *
* Biological Electron Microscope Facility * (808) 956-6251 *
* University of Hawaii at Manoa * http://www.pbrc.hawaii.edu/bemf*
****************************************************************************



From daemon Thu Apr 5 00:59:02 2001



From: Csaba Cserhati :      cserhati-at-delfin.klte.hu
Date: Thu, 5 Apr 2001 07:51:05 +0200
Subject: tripod polisher

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Dear Fellow Microscopists,

thanks to everyone for the advices about all type of glues for tripod polishing.
I tried to make some sort of summary from the different answers I have
received. I would be happy if it could be any use for other tripod beginners
as well.

Cheers!
Csaba


1.) The best mail which decribes well the everyday life and joy of a
microscopist comes first.

You really can't look at a spec sheet and know that it works - it's all
trial and error.

2.) About the type of glue to be used:

The best material to use is super glue which is a cyanoacrylate material.
There are different types available under various names. They all have
slightly different properties and vary in such things as viscosity.
The most important point is that the super glue is fresh. Once it is opened,
you can use it for a short time, but then need to replace it. Sometimes,
the glue from an unopened package can also be bad if it has been on the
shelf for a long time. The trouble with using consumer products is that they
sometime change without warning.

You should buy it from a place that has a high turnover rate of it so that it is
fresh. The IBM guys recommend keeping the stuff unopened in the refrigerator
for any length of time. Once it has been opened, you can't use it for very
long (a day or two). I have used the Loctite a little longer because it has
a very good sealing top. The Loctite product is also available in a "pen" type
applicator which seems to have the best bench life of any of the applicators
I've used. My tube usually is swiped off the bench long before it goes bad.One
of the advantages to the cyanoacrylic cement is it dissolves, in a reasonable
time, in acetone.If you were to use a crosslinked epoxy, you'll need to devise
a cleaning scheme that will exhaustively remove the epoxy without altering
your sample.

Basically what we're looking for is an intermediate viscosity glue
(somewhere between maple syrup and water) that bonds in about 30-40 seconds
and is very strong. Don't use any type of super glue gel! It doesn't work,
you have to use the thin stuff.

In the end we are using a Loctite Prism 460.

Crystalbond 509. This is an acetone soluble glue which
melts at 150*C and becomes quite viscous. We use it quite often here at
Queens as a temporary glue for ceramics that have to be ground and polished
on all four sides. If the bond breaks you simply heat it up and reset the
part. This stuff comes in sticks that last for a very long time. Their
website is as follows. {http://www.aremco.com/}

I like to glue specimens with epoxy resin because the substance
does not harden too fast, and you always have time to find the best
location for your sample, so that the latter does not break.

I have tried the "super glue" approach with no luck. Many technicians
advocate Lock Tite brand of super glue that many companies sell with the
tripod polish kit. I have always utilized Crystalbond adhesive. It is a
low melting point (77 C) wax that is dissolved in acetone. If your sample
is heat sensitive, super glue is the only other choice I know.

3.)Glueing advices:

--the biggest reason for sections falling off is the cleanliness of the pedastal.
It must be cleaned with clean solvents that do not leave any trace of a
contamination film on the glass. Check for cleanliness by holding the tool
such that light reflects from the surface.

--the suface that you are glueing to should be as rough as possible to
obtain a tooth or larger surface area for the glue to adhere to.

--any way you can improve the surface area would be great.

--the same above would be for the specimen

--pressure on the sample while it cures might be important, but the IBM guys
just wick the extra stuff away from the sample and don't put a lot of
pressure on the sample.


--
____________________________________________
Csaba Cserhati
Univ.of Debrecen / Dept. of Solid State Phys.
Hungary
tel/fax: 36 52 316073
e-mail: cserhati-at-delfin.klte.hu
____________________________________________


From daemon Thu Apr 5 03:47:29 2001



From: HARRISm-at-esm-semi.co.uk
Date: Thu, 05 Apr 2001 09:36 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: SERVICE CONTRACT V INSURANCE .

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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I've followed with interest the discussion on equipment depreciation
and service contracts .
I've noticed over the years in both metals research and now the
semiconductor industry with increasing sophistication/specialisation
of equipment running a lab to a given budget seems to mean accepting
manufacturers service contracts with fewer 'independent' sources being
able or willing to offer maintenance assistance .

My question arises from a recent 'confocal service contract' letter
and I wonder does an insurance contract service alternative as offered
by CIC exist in the UK ? and if so could anyone let me know where I
could get more information ? .

Martyn Harris
Device Engineer
ESM Ltd , Cardiff Rd
Newport , South Wales
UK
NP10 8YJ .

Tel 01633 810121
email harrism-at-esm-semi.co.uk



From daemon Thu Apr 5 04:40:57 2001



From: Allen R. Sampson :      ars-at-sem.com
Date: Thu, 5 Apr 2001 04:38:01 -0500
Subject: RE: Confocal Service contracts

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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First, a disclaimer. I am a third party service provider for a variety of
equipment, but not confocals. I have worked for a number of manufacturers
in the past and been self-employed for around 20 years.

In regards to the first question - service departments in general are
getting squirrellier. Contract prices have gone up greatly over the last
decade or so while quality and parts stores have gone down. A
generalization, granted, but one I'd be happy to back up.

As for the second question - don't get me started again. Given recent
problems with the industry in general, I can only suggest that your
university carefully study the question and check with several of their
customers who have been with them for at least a couple of years insuring
similar equipment. That goes for any such provider. I've been a vocal
antagonist here of the concept, and from what I have heard from some
customers, perhaps rightfully so. Not right, so far, in my feelings
regarding the potential long term problems. Rather in the broad approach
they have taken. Perhaps in trying to be a jack of all trades, they are a
master of none.

To those of you who might be surprised by my abnormally low tone in this
posting, please understand that we are getting to a point in time where
these organizations are getting quite large in a very short period of time.
As with any company or industry, they do have problems that they will not
publicize. They also have increasingly large budgets for legal teams that
would probably be anxious to root out any libel. They do save many
organizations large amounts of money, but you have to ask, at what cost?

On Wednesday, April 04, 2001 10:20 AM, Tom Phillips
[SMTP:PhillipsT-at-missouri.edu] wrote:
}
}
} I have two questions concerning service contracts on confocals. Let
} me start by saying i have had a confocal for about 8 years and would
} never consider going without one. I have a Biorad 2000 going off
} warranty and need to make a decision.
}
} First question: Biorad no longer guarantees a response time - they
} now promise to get to you as fast as they can but no longer promise a
} 48 or 72 hr response. Have other confocal manufacturers done this
} also?
}
} Second question: My university is pushing replacing service
} contracts with "insurance" contracts with a major vendor who then
} pays for a service visit from the manufacturer on an hourly basis.
} All parts, travel, service repair time, etc are covered at a price
} that is typically 75% less than the manufacturer's service contract.
} They guarantee the price and coverage for 3 years. Personally I
} don't know how they could make money on this deal since we average a
} fair number of visits and spare parts (e.g. lasers) in a typical
} year. Does anyone have experience with this type of situation with
} confocals? The company the University is dealing with is CIC but
} there are several other ones out there.
}
} Thanks for any input.
} --
} Thomas E. Phillips, Ph.D.
} Associate Professor of Biological Sciences
} Director, Molecular Cytology Core Facility
}
} 3 Tucker Hall
} Division of Biological Sciences
} University of Missouri
} Columbia, MO 65211-7400
} (573)-882-4712 (voice)
} (573)-882-0123 (fax)
}
}


Allen R. Sampson, Owner
Advanced Research Systems
317 North 4th. Street
St. Charles, Illinois 60174
voice 630.513.7093 fax 630.513.7092



From daemon Thu Apr 5 07:20:17 2001



From: Andreas Taubert :      taubert-at-seas.upenn.edu
Date: Thu, 5 Apr 2001 08:22:53 -0400
Subject: Re: Image Analysis Software

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Thearith,

I don't know if this is exactly what you are looking for, but Reetz and Coworkers have recently
published a high troughput routine for nanaoparticle analysis: Reetz, Manfred T.; Maase, Matthias;
Schilling, Tobias; Tesche, Bernd. Computer Image Processing of Transmission Electron Micrograph
Pictures as a Fast and Reliable Tool To Analyze the Size of Nanoparticles. J. Phys. Chem. B
(2000), 104(37), 8779-8781.

Good Luck,

Andreas

*************************************************
Dr. Andreas Taubert
Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering
3231 Walnut Street
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia PA 19104-6272
tel: +1 215 898 2700
fax: +1 215 573 2128

Physical Chemistry is everything for
which 1/T is linear ...
*************************************************




From daemon Thu Apr 5 07:28:54 2001



From: Roger Moretz :      rcmoretz-at-excite.com
Date: Thu, 5 Apr 2001 05:25:43 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: Scanner for negs and prints

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


Tina:
We have the Duoscan 1200 but the 2500 is also a very nice unit--additional
(real) resolution and a high O.D. range plus 14 or 16 bit image depth. The
Agfa units also come with a built-in transparency plate (rather than having
to add on a separate transparency adaptor). I find that color fidelity is
very good with the Duoscan, and Agfa provides both reflective and
transparency calibration standards. I am currently scanning in 3x4 TEM
negatives at 12 bits (yield is about 26MB per image), and scan time is
fairly rapid. There is one option that you might want to consider: the
DIImage unit is made for up to 4x5 negatives, and I think (can't remember
the last time I read the specs--the neurons aren't firing today) that
resolution is in the 2700 dpi range--even for the 4x5 size.

Roger Moretz, Ph.D.
Dept of Toxicology
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

The opinions expressed are solely my own and do not constitute an
endorsement of any vendor or manufacturer. I have no fiduciary interest in
either company.

On Wed, 4 Apr 2001 17:22:23 -1000 (HST), Tina Carvalho wrote:

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------
| The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
| To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com
| On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html
| -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
|
|
| Hi, All-
|
| A colleague has asked for recommendations for setting up a digital
| darkroom (fun to spend someone else's money!). This person would benefit
| from a really good scanner that could deal with prints, large format
| negatives (4"x5", 3.25"x4") as well as 35 mm slides. At one time I looked
| into an Agfa Duoscan T2500. Do any of you have an opinion about this or
| other suitable scanners?
|
| I know this subject comes up regularly, but I don't feel bad about
| introducing it again, since technology evolves so quickly!
|
| Mahalo,
| Tina
|
| http://www.pbrc.hawaii.edu/bemf/microangela
|
****************************************************************************
| * Tina (Weatherby) Carvalho * tina-at-pbrc.hawaii.edu
*
| * Biological Electron Microscope Facility * (808) 956-6251
*
| * University of Hawaii at Manoa *
http://www.pbrc.hawaii.edu/bemf*
|
****************************************************************************
|
|


Roger Moretz, Ph.D.
Dept of Toxicology
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
900 Rigdebury Road
Ridgefield, CT 06877
203-798-5448





_______________________________________________________
Send a cool gift with your E-Card
http://www.bluemountain.com/giftcenter/




From daemon Thu Apr 5 08:32:18 2001



From: rgriffin-at-eng.uab.edu
Date: Thu, 5 Apr 2001 08:24:54 -0500
Subject: Preparation of a steel wedge on a ceramic substrate

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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We have a professor here who has a 1 cm x 2.5cm steel layer about 100 um in
thickness on a ceramic substrate. The metal layer was sputter deposited
onto the ceramic substrate. The ceramic substrate extends past the metal
layer. He needs to get a thickness gradient across the steel layer along
the 2.5 cm length. He would like to have one end at about 50 microns in
thickness and the other at 2 microns with a gradually decreasing thickness
gradient. Steps down would be ok although a smooth transition would be
better. We have a laser profilometer to measure anything that we produce.

Does anyone out there have any ideas how to do this? Would a tripod
polisher work? I thought about electropolishing and masking off portions at
a time but I worry about what will happen at the interface between the
ceramic and the metal. Could we alter a dimpler?



Thanks,

Robin Griffin
UAB


From daemon Thu Apr 5 08:39:36 2001



From: Nestor J. Zaluzec :      zaluzec-at-microscopy.com
Date: Thu, 5 Apr 2001 08:38:46 -0500
Subject: Film Scanners - Rule of Thumb

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Tina

There is a simple rule of thumb I use.

Nominal grain size of film is about 10 microns (varies
with film speed etc but this is the right order of magnitude).
Thus to digitize the film to it's nominal limits your scanner should
be able to digitize to better than this spatial dimension.

A simple back of the envelope calculation says a spatial resolution
of 10 microns is 2540 - dpi..... and as
we all know that must be the optical resolution of the
scanner not the interpolated resolution. Scanners at this
end are obviously more than you need to digitize photo's and
get expensive quickly. Also when you see 2 numbers listed
as the scanners resolution, believe only the first number, that is
the CCD resolution.

Now add your bit depth. 12 bits is the minimium I
would shoot for greyscale image, but if your attempting
diffraction work the higher the better (i.e. 14 -16 bits+).
For color work obviously multiple the bit depth by 3
one for each primary color (RGB). I've seen a number
of 36 bit color scanners but not too many 48 bit ones at
} 2540 dpi.

Lastly, dit depth is irrelevant if you don't have a high
optical density capabilities otherwise your just digitizing
noise. The highest value I believe is an OD of 4.0 but
this is for DRUM scanners. Flatbed scanners typically
run as low as 2.8, upwards to about 3.4 for the best
I've seen in a flatbed.

Hope that helps...


Nestor
Your Friendly Neighborhood SysOp.






From: John Foust :      jfoust-at-threedee.com
Date: Thu, 05 Apr 2001 08:46:30 -0500
Subject: Re: Camera-Microscope interfacing Pt 2

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


At 09:40 AM 4/5/01 +0000, Ritchie Sims wrote:
} "That", for those who may have missed my first post, being the
} problem of how to work out what sort of intermediate lens would be
} needed to interface a small cheap CCD video camera (or a webcam) so
} that it gives a good image when looking into the existing eyepiece
} lens of a given optical microscope (in this case the OM of a JEOL 840
} SEM).

You might try a web search for "afocal coupling".
See http://www.photosolve.com/xtendascope.asp for example.

This page, and the message below, are for coupling to
the eyepiece of telescopes, but the process should be similar
with a microscope eyepiece. If you're looking for "small and cheap",
put in a wide field eyepiece and hold the camera close to it
and see what happens. I suspect you'll have some cropping
of the image due to optical mismatch.

- John

} A friend of mind recently bought a fairly expensive SLR digital still
} camera, an Olympus C-2500L,
}
} http://www.olympusamerica.com/product.asp?c=57&p=16&s=12&product=380
}
} and has experimented with afocal photography through both his 8-inch f/6
} Dob and a microscope. All he sees in the camera is a small central disk
} of light. He got the following explanation from a post on rec.photo.
} digital.
}
} For cameras with LARGE taking lenses (f 2.8, f2.0) [...] there will
} be a problem since their entry pupil ( the area of the lens that lets
} the image into the lens) is so large compared to the exit pupil (the
} opening on the eyepiece that lets the image out of the microscope)
} that a large amount of the image will be lost!! This results in
} severe vignetting, and so only a small central spot of image in a
} dark field is recorded by the digital camera.
}
} Does this sound reasonable? The optics of this situation are pretty
} mysterious to me, so I can't judge. But it seems like increasing the
} focal length of the camera lens (zooming in) should compensate for the
} effect of the small exit pupil, and that the problem might be more one
} of eye relief (he just can't get the lens close enough to the eyepieces,
} which I think are a couple of Plossls and the 25mm SMA that comes with
} Celestron Dobs).

And here's the response so far.

} Subject: Re: afocal astrophoto problem: exit pupil?
} Date: Wed, 4 Oct 2000 17:52:19 -0400
} From: "Michael A. Covington" {See http://www.CovingtonInnovations.com for address}
} Organization: MindSpring Enterprises
} Newsgroups: sci.astro.amateur
}
} } Does this sound reasonable?
}
} No. The camera lens is *supposed* to have a larger entrance pupil than the
} exit pupil of the telescope. When doing afocal photography with an SLR the
} entrance pupil of the lens is an inch or more in diameter.
}
} If there is vignetting, it's probably because the camera is the wrong
} distance from the eyepiece -- either too close or too far.
}
} --
}
} Clear skies,
}
} Michael A. Covington / AI Center / The University of Georgia
} Author, ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY FOR THE AMATEUR
} http://www.CovingtonInnovations.com/astro {} {
}
}
} Subject: Re: afocal astrophoto problem: exit pupil?
} Date: Wed, 4 Oct 2000 14:25:48 -0700
} From: "Bob May" {bobmay-at-nethere.com}
} Organization: Posted via Supernews, http://www.supernews.com
} Newsgroups: sci.astro.amateur
}
} Bet that when you look at the viewfinder, you will see an image just
} like one that you would see if your eye were at a certain distance
} from the EP. If that image looks like the eye is too far away from
} the EP then it's a sure thing that the camera's lens is too far away
} from the EP. That's how it's all done. The camera is nothing more
} than an aritificial eye.
} --
} Bob May
} Remember that computers do exactly what you tell them to do, not what
} you think that you told them!
} Bob May
}
}
} Subject: Re: afocal astrophoto problem: exit pupil?
} Date: Wed, 04 Oct 2000 19:43:43 GMT
} From: "Chuck Olson" {chuckolson01-at-home.com}
} Organization: -at-Home Network
} Newsgroups: sci.astro.amateur
}
} Yes, it is critical that the eyepiece and camera lens be somewhat
} physically compatible with each other. The eyepiece must put the
} exit pupil about in the plane of the camera iris opening, which
} in most instances requires the eyepiece to be virtually in
} contact with the camera lens front element. For instance, the
} Nikon Coolpix 950 and 990 have relatively small lens fronts and a
} nice 28mm (I think) thread that adapts readily to the T-thread
} that is often used in astrophotography. As a result, the CP950
} easily looks through 17mm , 26mm, or 32mm Plossl eyepieces. Even
} there, as you point out, the camera needs to be operating at the
} tele end of its zoom range to fill the rectangular frame, rather
} than showing a small, circular, fuzzy-edged, wide-angle field.
}
} I'm not sure what the C-2500L looks like, but it may have a
} physically larger lens that has its iris deep behind the front
} surface. This might require a very long focus eyepiece, like a
} 40mm Plossl, conceivably, or one with even greater eye relief, to
} accomplish the optical hook-up more favorably, and may limit the
} operation of the overall system to somewhat lower magnifications.
} Oh, once you have a compatible eyepiece, then you can use Barlow
} lenses to get back needed magnification for your desired image
} scale. The only probmen there is the setup gets pretty long as
} these lenses are stacked up, and stability may suffer.
}
} The Nikon, as mentioned, has been found by many to be almost
} ideal for afocal photography of the moon and planets.
}
} Chuck
}





From: Vickie Frohlich :      frohlich-at-uthscsa.edu
Date: Thu, 05 Apr 2001 09:10:42 -0500
Subject: FRET/FLIM Symposium Second Announcement

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


{bigger} The University of Texas Health Science Center will host a
symposium sponsored by Hamamatsu Photonics KK

on

{/bigger}

{bold} {color} {param} ffff,0000,0000 {/param} {bigger} {bigger} {bigger} FRET
and FLIM:

{/bigger} {/bigger} {/bigger} {/color} {/bold} {bold} {bigger} Advanced
Fluorescence Techniques for Biological Imaging

{/bigger} {/bold}

{bold} {color} {param} ffff,0000,0000 {/param} {bigger} {bigger} June 8-10,
2001 {/bigger} {/bigger} {/color} {/bold}


{bold} at {/bold}


{bold} {bigger} The Sheraton Gunter Hotel

205 E. Houston St.

San Antonio, TX


************************************************************************* {/bigger} {/bold} Interest
in the sophisticated fluorescence imaging techniques of Fluorescence
Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) and Fluorescent Lifetime Imaging
Microscopy (FLIM) amongst the biological research community has grown in
recent years. FRET imaging provides a tool to solve complex structural
associations at resolution limits beyond conventional optical imaging.
FLIM allows the measurement of FRET without the significant problems
associated with intensity based FRET measurement, as well as faster, more
accurate and quantitative measurement of cell physiology. These
techniques are also being implemented in high-throughput screening
regimes for drug discovery. Invited lectures by a distinguished group of
scientists will concentrate on new technical developments in these areas
and demonstrate successful application of these techniques in biological
and industrial settings.


A poster session has been organized for June 9th so that registrants may
present their experiences with FRET and FLIM.


We anticipate that this will be a most enjoyable as well as
intellectually stimulating symposium.


{bold} *********************************************************************************

{bigger} Speakers:

{/bigger}

Philippe Bastiaens, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (Germany)

Christoph Biskup, Friedrich Schiller University (Germany)

Robert Clegg, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (USA)

Michael Edidin, Johns Hopkins University (USA)

Hans Gerritsen, Utrecht University (Netherlands)

Jesus Gonzalez, Aurora Biosciences (USA)

Enrico Gratton, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (USA)

Brian Herman, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio (USA)

Thomas Jovin, Max-Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry (Germany)

Steven Kay, The Scripps Research Institute/Novartis Inc.(USA)

Karsten König, Friedrich Schiller University (Germany)

Wen-Hong Li, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (USA)

Atsushi Miyawaki, The Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (Japan)

Ammasi Periasamy, University of Virginia (USA)

Alexander Sorkin, University of Colorado Health Science Center (USA)

Roger Tsien, University of California, San Diego (USA) {/bold}


{bold} {color} {param} 0000,0000,ffff {/param} {bigger}

Registration Fees

Student: $175 ($200 after May 1st)

Academic/Corporate: $225 ($250 after May 1st)

{/bigger} {/color} {/bold}


Meeting, lodging and travel information may be found at:


{bold} {color} {param} ffff,0000,ffff {/param} {bigger} {bigger} http://usa.hamamatsu.com/fretflim

{/bigger} {/bigger} {/color} {/bold}

or contact


Victoria Centonze Frohlich (mailto:frohlich-at-uthscsa.edu)







{/x-rich}



From: Vickie Frohlich :      frohlich-at-uthscsa.edu
Date: Thu, 05 Apr 2001 09:15:11 -0500
Subject: FRET/FLIM Symposium Second Announcement

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


{bigger} The University of Texas Health Science Center will host a
symposium sponsored by Hamamatsu Photonics KK

on

{/bigger}

{bold} {color} {param} ffff,0000,0000 {/param} {bigger} {bigger} {bigger} FRET
and FLIM:

{/bigger} {/bigger} {/bigger} {/color} {/bold} {bold} {bigger} Advanced
Fluorescence Techniques for Biological Imaging

{/bigger} {/bold}

{bold} {color} {param} ffff,0000,0000 {/param} {bigger} {bigger} June 8-10,
2001 {/bigger} {/bigger} {/color} {/bold}


{bold} at {/bold}


{bold} {bigger} The Sheraton Gunter Hotel

205 E. Houston St.

San Antonio, TX


************************************************************************* {/bigger} {/bold} Interest
in the sophisticated fluorescence imaging techniques of Fluorescence
Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) and Fluorescent Lifetime Imaging
Microscopy (FLIM) amongst the biological research community has grown in
recent years. FRET imaging provides a tool to solve complex structural
associations at resolution limits beyond conventional optical imaging.
FLIM allows the measurement of FRET without the significant problems
associated with intensity based FRET measurement, as well as faster, more
accurate and quantitative measurement of cell physiology. These
techniques are also being implemented in high-throughput screening
regimes for drug discovery. Invited lectures by a distinguished group of
scientists will concentrate on new technical developments in these areas
and demonstrate successful application of these techniques in biological
and industrial settings.


A poster session has been organized for June 9th so that registrants may
present their experiences with FRET and FLIM.


We anticipate that this will be a most enjoyable as well as
intellectually stimulating symposium.


{bold} *********************************************************************************

{bigger} Speakers:

{/bigger}

Philippe Bastiaens, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (Germany)

Christoph Biskup, Friedrich Schiller University (Germany)

Robert Clegg, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (USA)

Michael Edidin, Johns Hopkins University (USA)

Hans Gerritsen, Utrecht University (Netherlands)

Jesus Gonzalez, Aurora Biosciences (USA)

Enrico Gratton, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (USA)

Brian Herman, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio (USA)

Thomas Jovin, Max-Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry (Germany)

Steven Kay, The Scripps Research Institute/Novartis Inc.(USA)

Karsten König, Friedrich Schiller University (Germany)

Wen-Hong Li, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (USA)

Atsushi Miyawaki, The Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (Japan)

Ammasi Periasamy, University of Virginia (USA)

Alexander Sorkin, University of Colorado Health Science Center (USA)

Roger Tsien, University of California, San Diego (USA) {/bold}


{bold} {color} {param} 0000,0000,ffff {/param} {bigger}

Registration Fees

Student: $175 ($200 after May 1st)

Academic/Corporate: $225 ($250 after May 1st)

{/bigger} {/color} {/bold}


Meeting, lodging and travel information may be found at:


{bold} {color} {param} ffff,0000,ffff {/param} {bigger} {bigger} http://usa.hamamatsu.com/fretflim

{/bigger} {/bigger} {/color} {/bold}

or contact


Victoria Centonze Frohlich (mailto:frohlich-at-uthscsa.edu)







{/x-rich}



From: michael shaffer :      epmalab-at-darkwing.uoregon.edu
Date: Thu, 5 Apr 2001 07:32:29 -0700
Subject: RE: digital camera for my Axiolab Zeiss microscope

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Kalvoda Jiri writes ...

} Dear colleagues, I would like to buy a digital camera
} for my Axiolab Zeiss microscope.
} Unfortunately I am a bit confused in the amount of
} available data. I would need a digital camera of the
} resolution that matches the quality of film cameras
} in order I need not scan photos or negatives.
} ...

To give you an idea of what you are asking: For comparable
resolution, the camera would need deliver more than 6M pixels ... and
there is also the question of a digital camera capturing the gamut of
color capable of film. For example, the camera you mention, which is
aimed at consumers, probably delivers a gamut aimed at the "sRGB"
color space. Only a film scanner can capture a color gamut comparable
to "Ektaspace RGB".
Still, your camera is likely to do a very good job if properly
adapted to the microscope. You will need a 1X C-mount adapter for the
microscope head, and an adapter for mounting the camera on the
C-mount. These are readily obtained for Nikon Coolpix cameras,
possibly yours too.

cheerios, shAf :o)

{} /\ {\/} /\ {\/} /\ {\/} /\ cogito, ergo zZOooOM /\ {\/} /\ {\/} /\ {\/} /\ {}
Michael Shaffer, R.A. - mshaf-at-darkwing.uoregon.edu
Geological Science's Electron Probe Facility - University of Oregon
http://epmalab.uoregon.edu/






From: Bruce Brinson :      brinson-at-rice.edu
Date: Thu, 05 Apr 2001 09:37:45 -0500
Subject: Re: Scanner for negs and prints

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Hello Tina,
I have the scanner you are looking at & like it a lot. To be quite honest I
do not find that I need to exploit it'll full capably. If I were in the market
again, looking at newer technology I would be interested in a faster scanner of
similar quality. Yes I want my cake & to eat it too :).
I'll give you this analogy. If I have 10 negatives I will franchise my time,
that is let things scan while I hang out in the office doing other things. If I
have 20 negatives, I'll probably goto the darkroom to make photos. It is quicker
& paper is cheaper. BTW I have an Epson 870 inkjet that produces nice quality
images... cost is down to $180 US, (now the Epson 880)....no financial interest
in these companies.

Oh yea, get the fastest computer you can afford.

good luck,
Bruce Brinson
Rice U.

Tina Carvalho wrote:

} ------------------------------------------------------------------------
} The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
} To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com
} On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html
} -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
}
} Hi, All-
}
} A colleague has asked for recommendations for setting up a digital
} darkroom (fun to spend someone else's money!). This person would benefit
} from a really good scanner that could deal with prints, large format
} negatives (4"x5", 3.25"x4") as well as 35 mm slides. At one time I looked
} into an Agfa Duoscan T2500. Do any of you have an opinion about this or
} other suitable scanners?
}
} I know this subject comes up regularly, but I don't feel bad about
} introducing it again, since technology evolves so quickly!
}
} Mahalo,
} Tina
}
} http://www.pbrc.hawaii.edu/bemf/microangela
} ****************************************************************************
} * Tina (Weatherby) Carvalho * tina-at-pbrc.hawaii.edu *
} * Biological Electron Microscope Facility * (808) 956-6251 *
} * University of Hawaii at Manoa * http://www.pbrc.hawaii.edu/bemf*
} ****************************************************************************





From: John C. Gilkey :      jgilkey-at-u.arizona.edu
Date: Thu, 5 Apr 2001 09:47:02 -0700
Subject: Re: Scanner for negs and prints

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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} ...or other suitable scanners?...

Tina,
Have your colleague check out the Imacon Flextight Precision II
scanner. The optical resolution is 5760 dpi for slide-sized objects;
I believe it drops to 4800 dpi for objects the size of her larger
negatives. The scanner collects 14 bits of usable data per channel,
which can be exported as a two bytes per channel, and has a dynamic
range of 3.9 OD units (4.1 OD max). The machine is also very fast.
The URL is:

http://www.imacon.dk/usr/imacon/wppImacon.nsf/pages/flexprecision.html

John




From: Rick Harris :      raharris-at-ucdavis.edu
Date: Thu, 05 Apr 2001 10:18:14 -0700
Subject: Re: Scanner for negs and prints

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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At 05:22 PM 4/4/2001 -1000, Tina Carvalho wrote:
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------
} The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America

Tina,

I have the Duoscan and a Nikon slide scanner. The Duoscan can scan slides
on the special tray feature but side by side comparisons of the Duoscan and
Nikon show that the Nikon scan is much better. For the larger negs we had
a special tray made for the Duoscan and we scan in our EM negs. The Nikon
has gotten much cheaper and an excellent scanner can be had for $700 with
Digital ICE, something you want.

Get two scanners.




Rick A. Harris, Director
Microscopy and Imaging Facility
Section of Molecular and Cellular Biology
1241 Life Sciences Addition
University of California
Davis, CA
530 752 2914
530 754 7536 fax
http://katie.ucdavis.edu
raharris-at-ucdavis.edu





From: tflore-at-lsuhsc.edu (Flores, Teresa)
Date: Thu, 5 Apr 2001 10:30:06 -0500
Subject: Johns formar coated grids

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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I forgot to mention John that we do not use formar coated grids. For better
assessment of the renal biopsy we do not mince the sample, either. Please
see our Web page for more details.
{pathology.lsuhsc.edu/Pathist/dx_home.htlm} click on M.diagnostic service
and then on renal biopsy.
Our diagnostic em lab continues to send poloroid HRLM pictures and TEM B&W
contact prints with each report.






From: Alwyn Eades :      jae5-at-lehigh.edu
Date: Thu, 05 Apr 2001 14:15:06 -0400
Subject: Microscopy technician sought

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Electron Microscopy
Lehigh University

Lehigh University seeks an Electron Microscopy Technician to perform
duties in support of the Microscopy Center of the Materials Science and
Engineering Department. The person appointed will work with other
technical staff to instruct students in the operation of microscopes and
other equipment; maintain and repair instruments; carry out upkeep of
the lab; support research professors and students; analyze samples; give
tours and demonstrations; maintain a safe environment and perform other
assigned duties. A bachelor's degree in physical science and/or 4+
years related work experience is required. Candidates should be
familiar with electron microscopes, mechanical and electronic equipment,
vacuum systems, computers (PC and/or Mac) and EDS/WDS systems.
Experience with a microprobe would be especially valuable. Good
communication and interpersonal skills are essential.

Lehigh University offers excellent benefits including medical, vision
and tuition. Interested candidates should forward their resume to
Jennifer Mohney, Human Resources, 428 Brodhead Avenue, Lehigh
University, Bethlehem PA 18015. EEO/AA

--
..........
Alwyn Eades
Department of Materials Science and Engineering
Lehigh University
5 East Packer Avenue
Bethlehem
Pennsylvania 18015-3195
Phone 610 758 4231
Fax 610 758 4244
jae5-at-lehigh.edu




From: Ron L'Herault :      lherault-at-bu.edu
Date: Thu, 5 Apr 2001 15:22:41 -0400
Subject: DNA Staining

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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One of our students is trying to stain the DNA of osteoblasts using
bisBenzamid, Hoechst no. 33258 trihydrochloride. She is finding conflicting
information about the concentration to use and the lethal dose.

I would appreciate it if someone can provide or point us to a protocol they
have used successfully. We are primarily a materials lab and do not have a
lot of biological reference material at hand.

Thanks.

Ron L





From: Ron L'Herault :      lherault-at-bu.edu
Date: Thu, 5 Apr 2001 16:28:49 -0400
Subject: Light Microscopy-need DNA stain help

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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One of our students is trying to stain the DNA of osteoblasts using
bisBenzamid, Hoechst no. 33258 trihydrochloride. She is finding conflicting
information about the concentration to use and the lethal dose.

I would appreciate it if someone can provide or point us to a protocol they
have used successfully. We are primarily a materials lab and do not have a
lot of biological reference material at hand.

Thanks.

Ron L








From: Tina Carvalho :      tina-at-pbrc.hawaii.edu
Date: Thu, 5 Apr 2001 15:08:37 -1000 (HST)
Subject: More digital darkroom

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Hi, again-

I was initially hesitant to introduce a subject that gets periodically
posted here, but received so many enthusiastic messages about print and
negative scanners that I thought I'd continue the thought. I will be happy
to summarize the responses and throw in some opinions of my own. As more
and more of us convert to "digital darkrooms" we can share more of our
experiences with hardware and software.

I am helping a former traditional photographic media user/computerphobe
set up digital imaging capabilities since her university/museum department
is closing their darkroom facilities and reassigning personnel (sigh). She
has what appears to be a decent budget (until I started pricing the good
stuff!). I am proposing she get a fast (733MHz) G4 Mac with maximum
(1.5GB) RAM, and she saw and fell in love with the Apple 22" cinema
display (as did I when I saw it in person). People seem to like
the Agfa T2500 scanner for prints and negatives. A moderate color printer,
since she has access to other really good printers in her department. A
Nikon Coolpix 990 digital camera for on- and off-microscope. Photoshop
6.0, for which I'll train her. Corel Draw for vector graphics?

Additions, subtractions and comments will be welcome. I'll summarize after
a reasonable amount of time and we'll see if there is a consensus on the
ideal digital darkroom!

Mahalo,
Tina

http://www.pbrc.hawaii.edu/bemf/microangela

****************************************************************************
* Tina (Weatherby) Carvalho * tina-at-pbrc.hawaii.edu *
* Biological Electron Microscope Facility * (808) 956-6251 *
* University of Hawaii at Manoa * http://www.pbrc.hawaii.edu/bemf*
****************************************************************************






From: Michele von Turkovich :      mvonturk-at-zoo.uvm.edu
Date: Thu, 5 Apr 2001 20:30:30 -0500
Subject: Waste osmium tetroxide storage

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How does your institution handle short term storage in the lab of waste
osmium tetroxide. Does it need to be in a fume hood? We keep it in closed
glass containers mixed with vegetable oil. Does anyone have a reference
regarding whether or not it needs to be stored in a hood? Thank you for any
responses.






From: tflore-at-lsuhsc.edu (Flores, Teresa)
Date: Thu, 5 Apr 2001 20:34:22 -0500
Subject: Johns formar coated grids

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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John, I forgot to mention that we do not use formar coated grids. For better
assessment of the renal biopsy we do not mince the sample, either. Please
see our Web page for more details.
{pathology.lsuhsc.edu/Pathist/dx_home.htlm} click on M.diagnostic service
and then on renal biopsy.
Our diagnostic em lab continues to send poloroid HRLM pictures and TEM B&W
contact prints with each report.






From: Scott Johnson :      sjohnson-at-brookdale.cc.nj.us
Date: Thu, 5 Apr 2001 20:37:04 -0500
Subject: Grids for TEM

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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I am a laboratory instructor at Brookdale Community College in Lincroft, NJ
who operates a Zeiss 9C TEM which was donated to the college. We are still
in the process of being able to make our own grids. Does anyone have some
grids that they would be willing to sell or donate to the College? Grids
of anything would be greatly appreciated, but basic cellular structures is
really what we are looking for as we are a community college and only have
first and second year students. Thanks in advance for your help.


Scott Johnson






From: Csaba Cserhati :      cserhati-at-delfin.klte.hu
Date: Fri, 6 Apr 2001 08:56:06 +0200
Subject: Re:Scanner for negs and prints

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Dear Tina,

I used Agfa DuoScan HiD earlier and I try to get it here as well. I like that
machine a lot. It's optical resolution is 1000x2000 Dynamic range is 3.7D,
which would help scanning DP's. If you want more info you can have a look at:

http://www.agfa.com/scanners/duoscan_HiD.html

Printing is another task you can buy things from AGFA as well. Their
photoprinter is just excellent, but a bit expensive. I have tried nice HP
injet printers with great success.

Cheers!
Csaba

--
____________________________________________
Csaba Cserhati
Univ.of Debrecen / Dept. of Solid State Phys.
Hungary
tel/fax: 36 52 316073
e-mail: cserhati-at-delfin.klte.hu
____________________________________________




From: Csaba Cserhati :      cserhati-at-delfin.klte.hu
Date: Fri, 6 Apr 2001 10:04:47 +0200
Subject: Re:Scanner for negs and prints

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


Dear Tina,

I used Agfa DuoScan HiD earlier and I try to get it here as well. I like that
machine a lot. It's optical resolution is 1000x2000 Dynamic range is 3.7D,
which would help scanning DP's. If you want more info you can have a look at:

http://www.agfa.com/scanners/duoscan_HiD.html

Printing is another task you can buy things from AGFA as well. Their
photoprinter is just excellent, but a bit expensive. I have tried nice HP
injet printers with great success.

Cheers!
Csaba


--
____________________________________________
Csaba Cserhati
Univ.of Debrecen / Dept. of Solid State Phys.
Hungary
tel/fax: 36 52 316073
e-mail: cserhati-at-delfin.klte.hu
____________________________________________




From: Csaba Cserhati :      cserhati-at-delfin.klte.hu
Date: Fri, 6 Apr 2001 10:19:37 +0200
Subject: RE: Scanner for negs and prints

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


Dear Tina,

I used Agfa DuoScan HiD earlier and I try to get it here as well. I like that
machine a lot. It's optical resolution is 1000x2000 Dynamic range is 3.7D,
which would help scanning DP's. If you want more info you can have a look at:

http://www.agfa.com/scanners/duoscan_HiD.html

Printing is another task you can buy things from AGFA as well. Their
photoprinter is just excellent, but a bit expensive. I have tried nice HP
injet printers with great success.

Cheers!
Csaba

--
____________________________________________
Csaba Cserhati
Univ.of Debrecen / Dept. of Solid State Phys.
Hungary
tel/fax: 36 52 316073
e-mail: cserhati-at-delfin.klte.hu
____________________________________________




From: Patton, David :      David.Patton-at-uwe.ac.uk
Date: Fri, 6 Apr 2001 09:51:46 +0100 (GMT Daylight Time)
Subject: Re: Waste osmium tetroxide storage

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


Based on historical precedent we keep used osmium tetroxide
in the fridge in a "Kilner" jar (for pickled fruit and
veg.), which has a rubber seal.

BTW what ratio of vegetable oil to osmium solution do you
use?

Dave


On Thu, 5 Apr 2001 20:30:30 -0500 Michele von Turkovich
{mvonturk-at-zoo.uvm.edu} wrote:

} ------------------------------------------------------------------------
} The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
} To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com
} On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html
} -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
}
}
} How does your institution handle short term storage in the lab of waste
} osmium tetroxide. Does it need to be in a fume hood? We keep it in closed
} glass containers mixed with vegetable oil. Does anyone have a reference
} regarding whether or not it needs to be stored in a hood? Thank you for any
} responses.
}
}
}

----------------------------------------
Patton, David
Email: David.Patton-at-uwe.ac.uk
"University of the West of England"







From: Tony Garratt-Reed :      tonygr-at-mit.edu
Date: Fri, 06 Apr 2001 09:04:16 -0400
Subject: Re: Scanner for negs and prints

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


Listers,

In respose to Tina's post, I have not seen any mention on the list of the
scanner I purchased a few weeks ago, the Epson Expression 1640XL. It has
1600dpi optical resolution (scans at a hardware resolution of 1600x3200
dpi) 42 bit color (14 bit gray) and Dmax of 3.6. It is large format, and
the transparency adapter comes with a range of negative holders. Has SCSI
or USB interfaces with firewire as an optional extra (I use USB on a Win
2000 system). Of course, you pay for what you get - it isn't cheap.

We are only just beginning to learn how best to use all the resolution and
bit depth we now have, but I and my users love it!

This is not a comparison, of course (I haven't used the other models) but
just to say we are happy with what we have.

Tony.

}
} Hi, All-
}
} A colleague has asked for recommendations for setting up a digital
} darkroom (fun to spend someone else's money!). This person would benefit
} from a really good scanner that could deal with prints, large format
} negatives (4"x5", 3.25"x4") as well as 35 mm slides. At one time I looked
} into an Agfa Duoscan T2500. Do any of you have an opinion about this or
} other suitable scanners?
}
} I know this subject comes up regularly, but I don't feel bad about
} introducing it again, since technology evolves so quickly!
}
} Mahalo,
} Tina
}
} http://www.pbrc.hawaii.edu/bemf/microangela
} ****************************************************************************
} * Tina (Weatherby) Carvalho * tina-at-pbrc.hawaii.edu *
} * Biological Electron Microscope Facility * (808) 956-6251 *
} * University of Hawaii at Manoa * http://www.pbrc.hawaii.edu/bemf*
} ****************************************************************************
}

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* Anthony J. Garratt-Reed M.A., D.Phil.
* MIT, Room 13-1027
* 77 Massachusetts Avenue
* Cambridge, MA 02139-4307
* USA
* Phone: (617) 253-4622
* Fax: (617) 258-6478
*






From: Jim at ProSciTech :      jim-at-proscitech.com
Date: Fri, 6 Apr 2001 23:12:44 +1000
Subject: RE: Waste osmium tetroxide storage

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


Hysterical precedents aside. The idea of the oil is to absorb all tetroxide
vapours and render the substance harmless. Metallic Os is essentially
non-toxic, so the treated tetroxide waste should smell of whatever vegetable
oil and not emit any of the musky smell emitted by osmium tetroxide.
Neither should the treated material be regarded as hazardous waste - but I
expect that no safety officer would have the courage to make that declaration.
Cheers
Jim Darley
ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS
PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia
Ph +61 7 4774 0370 Fax:+61 7 4789 2313 service-at-proscitech.com
Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes
ABN: 99 724 136 560 www.proscitech.com

On Friday, April 06, 2001 6:52 PM, Patton, David [SMTP:David.Patton-at-uwe.ac.uk]
wrote:
}
}
}
} Based on historical precedent we keep used osmium tetroxide
} in the fridge in a "Kilner" jar (for pickled fruit and
} veg.), which has a rubber seal.
}
} BTW what ratio of vegetable oil to osmium solution do you
} use?
}
} Dave
}
}
} On Thu, 5 Apr 2001 20:30:30 -0500 Michele von Turkovich
} {mvonturk-at-zoo.uvm.edu} wrote:
}
} }
} }
} } How does your institution handle short term storage in the lab of waste
} } osmium tetroxide. Does it need to be in a fume hood? We keep it in closed
} } glass containers mixed with vegetable oil. Does anyone have a reference
} } regarding whether or not it needs to be stored in a hood? Thank you for any
} } responses.
} }
} }
} }
}
} ----------------------------------------
} Patton, David
} Email: David.Patton-at-uwe.ac.uk
} "University of the West of England"
}
}
}



From daemon Fri Apr 6 08:49:35 2001



From: sterling stoudenmire :      sstouden-at-thelinks.com
Date: Fri, 06 Apr 2001 09:03:01 -0500
Subject: seeking databases that list distances

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


between membranes in all cellular components that have two or more
membrances and

also seeking "volume and size" of all known subcellular organelles
with or without membranes.
also seeking " other physical measurement parameters" of cellular
components by cell type..
by cell age..
etc.
thanks.

Computer Aided Cell and Molecular Biology (CACMB), not medicine, will find
the cure for cancer and other diseases. There will always be a need for
the trained clinician (MD/RN) but, advanced diagnostic and treatment option
selection has become gene based, has moved from the physician's practice to
the computerized cell and molecular biology laboratory, and appropriate
treatment options should now be based on the personal biology of the
patient.


From daemon Fri Apr 6 08:49:36 2001



From: Philip Oshel :      peoshel-at-facstaff.wisc.edu
Date: Fri, 6 Apr 2001 08:46:54 -0500
Subject: Re: More digital darkroom

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


Adobe Illustrator or Freehand for vector graphics. Corel Draw is less
common and has a proprietary file format that has caused me troubles
preparing articles for Microscopy Today. Corel can save in other
formats, but people have to use that option.
Also, Adobe has educational pricing, and special package prices that
bundle full versions of Photoshop and Illustrator.

Phil

} Hi, again-
}
} I was initially hesitant to introduce a subject that gets periodically
} posted here, but received so many enthusiastic messages about print and
} negative scanners that I thought I'd continue the thought. I will be happy
} to summarize the responses and throw in some opinions of my own. As more
} and more of us convert to "digital darkrooms" we can share more of our
} experiences with hardware and software.
}
} I am helping a former traditional photographic media user/computerphobe
} set up digital imaging capabilities since her university/museum department
} is closing their darkroom facilities and reassigning personnel (sigh). She
} has what appears to be a decent budget (until I started pricing the good
} stuff!). I am proposing she get a fast (733MHz) G4 Mac with maximum
} (1.5GB) RAM, and she saw and fell in love with the Apple 22" cinema
} display (as did I when I saw it in person). People seem to like
} the Agfa T2500 scanner for prints and negatives. A moderate color printer,
} since she has access to other really good printers in her department. A
} Nikon Coolpix 990 digital camera for on- and off-microscope. Photoshop
} 6.0, for which I'll train her. Corel Draw for vector graphics?
}
} Additions, subtractions and comments will be welcome. I'll summarize after
} a reasonable amount of time and we'll see if there is a consensus on the
} ideal digital darkroom!
}
} Mahalo,
} Tina
}
} http://www.pbrc.hawaii.edu/bemf/microangela
}
} ****************************************************************************
} * Tina (Weatherby) Carvalho * tina-at-pbrc.hawaii.edu *
} * Biological Electron Microscope Facility * (808) 956-6251 *
} * University of Hawaii at Manoa * http://www.pbrc.hawaii.edu/bemf*
} ****************************************************************************

--
}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{
Philip Oshel
Supervisor, AMFSC and BBPIC microscopy facilities
Department of Animal Sciences
University of Wisconsin
1675 Observatory Drive
Madison, WI 53706 - 1284
voice: (608) 263-4162
fax: (608) 262-5157 (dept. fax)


From daemon Fri Apr 6 08:51:11 2001



From: Sara Miller :      saram-at-duke.edu
Date: Fri, 6 Apr 2001 09:45:29 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Re: Waste osmium tetroxide storage

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


We keep used osmium in small sealed bottles in the hood. Our
environmentals services office would rather have **undiluted/unmixed** (no
oil) waste for them to neutralize. They have no way of knowing whether
all the osmium has been denatured by attachment to oil and would have to
treat the whole bottle as osmium waste making for more volume to have to
dispose of. Check with your hazardous waste office.

Sara E. Miller, Ph. D.
P. O. Box 3712
Duke University Medical Center
Durham, NC 27710
Ph: 919 684-3452
FAX: 919 684-3265



From daemon Fri Apr 6 08:51:36 2001



From: inikolak-at-mred.tuc.gr.or.eisodos-at-otenet (by way of Nestor J. Zaluzec)
Date: Fri, 6 Apr 2001 08:51:08 -0500
Subject: Ask-A-Microscopist: enumeration of airborne microorganisms

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html



Email: inikolak-at-mred.tuc.gr or eisodos-at-otenet.
Name: Irene Nikolakaki

Organization: Technical University of Crete

Education: Graduate College

Location: Chanea, Crete,Greece

Question: Dear sir/madam,

I am a postgraduate student at the Technical University of Crete and
I seek information (as detailed as possible) on how enumeration of
airborne microorganisms collected on Nuclepore filters is done with
the use of epi-fluorescence microscopy.I would be grateful if you
could provide me with this infromation or any kind of help as to
where I can find it.

Sincerely yours,
Irene Nikolakaki






---------------------------------------------------------------------------


From daemon Fri Apr 6 09:46:57 2001



From: rgriffin-at-eng.uab.edu
Date: Fri, 6 Apr 2001 09:41:58 -0500
Subject: More digital darkroom

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


I both run the microscope labs here and am a researcher in materials
engineering.

First I want to say that I strongly support the use of the digital
laboratory. While we still occasionally use film for our highest quality
requirements, in general we are fully digital. The use of digital cameras
has really expanded our undergraduate teaching laboratories and has sped up
our research.

I have found one "dark-side" to a digital imaging laboratory as a lab
manager. As the lab manager, I have found that keeping a digital laboratory
up-to-date is much more expensive than the film laboratory. When we were
only film, we had to repair the film cartridges for our Polaroid PN film (it
takes about five minutes) and have the microscopes cleaned about once a year
at a cost of about $1k.

The digital lab. is much more expensive time and repair wise. Because we
crunch our computers with our image size and storage, it takes more of my
time to keep stuff going. All our computers are networked and in addition
to work, the students tend to junk up the computers with downloads etc which
stops them from working for the image processing work. This requires
continual monitoring on my part (in spite of rules against using them for
these applications!) In addition, keeping computers that will run the data
is expensive. I buy pretty much the best out there, but somehow upgrades
are still inevitable. I also have to supply print cartridges,etc.
Researchers always supplied their own film and dark room supplies. In
addition, I've had to have our cameras repaired numerous times. The cost
was high (at least $500) and they stayed gone for up to a month. Finally,
some of my cameras are about 3 years old. I can see a degredation in the
image quality from when they were purchased. The cameras are much noisier.
I see a future of regular replacement of my cameras in addition to the
computer upgrades. So while the cost to the researchers is lower (which
helps me as a researcher), the cost to the lab itself is higher (which hurts
me as a lab manager). I'm working on setting up a fee schedule for this
equipment but REALLY hate to have to do it. All of you who do this in a
university know how painful it is!

Regarding the camera purchase-in addition to considering the camera
resolution and cost, I think you should consider the image transfer. I
recommend considering a camera with immediate transfer of the image to the
microscope if you have numerous inexperienced users. Being able to focus on
the screen is extremely helpful. The image transfer time is also important
if you have many images to capture. We do image analysis on numerous images
and some of the cameras have about a 30 second transfer time for decent
resolution. This would be unbearable for the number of images we collect.
I'm not sure how the Nikon Coolpix works but this should be considered by
anyone that is purchasing a digital camera.

Good luck!

Robin Griffin
UAB

-----Original Message-----
} From: Tina Carvalho [mailto:tina-at-pbrc.hawaii.edu]
Sent: Thursday, April 05, 2001 6:09 PM
To: Microscopy Listserver


Hi, again-

I was initially hesitant to introduce a subject that gets periodically
posted here, but received so many enthusiastic messages about print and
negative scanners that I thought I'd continue the thought. I will be happy
to summarize the responses and throw in some opinions of my own. As more
and more of us convert to "digital darkrooms" we can share more of our
experiences with hardware and software.

I am helping a former traditional photographic media user/computerphobe
set up digital imaging capabilities since her university/museum department
is closing their darkroom facilities and reassigning personnel (sigh). She
has what appears to be a decent budget (until I started pricing the good
stuff!). I am proposing she get a fast (733MHz) G4 Mac with maximum
(1.5GB) RAM, and she saw and fell in love with the Apple 22" cinema
display (as did I when I saw it in person). People seem to like
the Agfa T2500 scanner for prints and negatives. A moderate color printer,
since she has access to other really good printers in her department. A
Nikon Coolpix 990 digital camera for on- and off-microscope. Photoshop
6.0, for which I'll train her. Corel Draw for vector graphics?

Additions, subtractions and comments will be welcome. I'll summarize after
a reasonable amount of time and we'll see if there is a consensus on the
ideal digital darkroom!

Mahalo,
Tina

http://www.pbrc.hawaii.edu/bemf/microangela

****************************************************************************
* Tina (Weatherby) Carvalho * tina-at-pbrc.hawaii.edu *

* Biological Electron Microscope Facility * (808) 956-6251 *
* University of Hawaii at Manoa * http://www.pbrc.hawaii.edu/bemf*

****************************************************************************




From daemon Fri Apr 6 10:37:58 2001



From: Gordon Vrololjak :      gvrdolja-at-nature.Berkeley.EDU
Date: Fri, 6 Apr 2001 08:33:30 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Microscopy and Microanalysis cover picture

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


Hello,
On the September/October issue of Microscopy and Microanalysis, they have
a cover picture of a yeast SEM image collected by David Scharf. I was
wondering if anyone knew the details of how the sample was prepared. It
looks as though the sample was processed directly from the medium it was
growing on. I am used to processing bacteria and yeast by filtering
through membrane filters, or depositing on polylysine treated
glass/silica. I was wondering if there was something different done for
this sample?

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Gordon Ante Vrdoljak Electron Microscope Lab
ICQ 23243541 http://nature.berkeley.edu/~gvrdolja 26 Giannini Hall
gvrdolja-at-nature.berkeley.edu UC Berkeley
phone (510) 642-2085 Berkeley CA 94720-3330
fax (510) 643-6207 cell (510) 290-6793




From daemon Fri Apr 6 10:38:03 2001



From: Bruce Girrell :      bigirrell-at-microlinetc.com
Date: Fri, 6 Apr 2001 11:35:54 -0400
Subject: Sputter coater questions

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


I am in need of some form of a conductive film coater for SEM sample
preparation. I have found a Tousimis Research Corporation Samsputter-2a
sputter coater, though it may not be working properly.

Until now, I have been considering constructing my own sputter coater from
microwave oven parts and the like, but I have not yet found any books or
other resources with clear enough information to get my confidence to the
point that I feel that I can do it. I have an understanding of what is
needed electrically, but I need something that fills in some details like
"Be sure that the target to sample distance can be adjusted between X and Y.
You need to get a QRZ type needle valve to admit the argon", etc.

Does anyone have experience with the Tousimis Samsputter 2a? From what I can
see, it is an extremely simple unit. Is it something that would be worth
repairing? Would it best be used to scavenge parts for a home-built unit?

Since I have breeched the question of home-built sputter coaters, does
anyone know of any resources that describe the dos and donts of building
one? I know that there are a number of vendors on the listserv. What are the
critical features of your units that I just can't get in a home-built unit
and just can't live without?

To put this all in perspective, I have an old SEM with 100 Angstrom
resolution at best. I don't need flawless, grainless deposition. I have
close to zero budget. Even a used sputter coater at market prices is far too
expensive. Either I make something like this work, or I learn to work with
uncoated samples (which will be difficult, since I am interested in looking
at clays - small particle size with next to zero conductivity).

Bruce "SEM on a shoestring" Girrell





From daemon Fri Apr 6 10:40:25 2001



From: Dusevich, Vladimir :      DusevichV-at-umkc.edu
Date: Fri, 6 Apr 2001 10:37:00 -0500
Subject: Preparation of a steel wedge on a ceramic substrate

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


I suggest to use SEM (with calibrated magnification) if
you could electroplate your sample with layer of Ni 0.1-0.3 mm thick.
Sorry, I do not have a protocol for plating with Ni now, but I did
it many times and it is pretty easy.

After coating with Ni you can cut your sample, mount it in epoxy or
thermoset and prepare usual cross section. Ni would save the edge of steel
layer and measurements will be very simple.

If surface of you samples is flat, you can cut them (better with
diamond saw), mount them in epoxy with a steel strip (instead of Ni)
attached to steel layer and polish. It is less dependable but still not bad
method.

Vladimir Dusevich

-----Original Message-----
} From: "rgriffin-at-eng.uab.edu"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
[mailto:"rgriffin-at-eng.uab.edu"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com]
Sent: Thursday, April 05, 2001 8:25 AM
To: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
Cc: hban-at-eng.uab.edu


We have a professor here who has a 1 cm x 2.5cm steel layer about 100 um in
thickness on a ceramic substrate. The metal layer was sputter deposited
onto the ceramic substrate. The ceramic substrate extends past the metal
layer. He needs to get a thickness gradient across the steel layer along
the 2.5 cm length. He would like to have one end at about 50 microns in
thickness and the other at 2 microns with a gradually decreasing thickness
gradient. Steps down would be ok although a smooth transition would be
better. We have a laser profilometer to measure anything that we produce.

Does anyone out there have any ideas how to do this? Would a tripod
polisher work? I thought about electropolishing and masking off portions at
a time but I worry about what will happen at the interface between the
ceramic and the metal. Could we alter a dimpler?



Thanks,

Robin Griffin
UAB


From daemon Fri Apr 6 11:50:20 2001



From: Robert Mixon :      mixonr-at-ohsu.edu
Date: Fri, 06 Apr 2001 09:44:40 -0700
Subject: RE: Osmium waste urban legend

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


Osmium waste is toxic and hazardous due to its reactivity and heavy metal characteristics. One of the "urban legends" that abounds is that Osmium mixed with oil is "neutralized" and made safe. It is true that much of it is reduced to metallic Osmium. However in a bizarre incident it was shown in our lab years ago that reduced Osmium is very reactive with strong oxidizers. In the incident some reduced Osmium was accidentally spilled in a sink which had a small amount of Hydrogen Peroxide in the drain. The ensuing yellow gas cloud of newly formed Osmium Tetroxide from the exothermic reaction was very toxic!!!! I mention this only to confirm that Sara Miller is right again as usual and that mixing Osmium waste with other compounds does not make it safe and does increase the volume.



From daemon Fri Apr 6 15:30:09 2001



From: Kristen Lennon :      kalen-at-iastate.edu
Date: Fri, 06 Apr 2001 15:26:46 -0500
Subject: GMA recipe

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


Hi All,
I've been tearing hair out all day trying to find a recipe for GMA. In the
past, I have used either JB-4 or Historesin (or Technovit) embedding kits,
which have clear directions for embedding tissue and polymerizing these
resins without UV. I recently ordered a straight GMA embedding kit (because
it was much cheaper), and received not one bit of direction as to how I
should combine the three components. I did find a protocol on EMS' website
for UV polymerization, but would much prefer to use the non-UV method,
since it allows tissue to be better oriented. Before I start experimenting,
I thought I'd see if anyone out there can help.
Thanks again for your help.
Bald in Iowa,
Kristen
Kristen A. Lennon, Ph.D.
Department of Plant Pathology
351 Bessey Hall
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011
515-294-8854
kalen-at-iastate.edu



From daemon Fri Apr 6 17:41:09 2001



From: Chris Jeffree :      c.jeffree-at-ed.ac.uk
Date: Fri, 6 Apr 2001 23:37:57 +0100
Subject: Osmium waste

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


Osmium metal is sometimes reported not to react with air, but other
sources report slow reactivity of the metal with air to produce OsO4.
It is interesting to note that the name osmium is derived from the
Greek "osme" meaning smell, referring to the odour of the metal
resulting from osmium tetroxide production at its surface. Presumably
neither the finely divided metal nor the dioxide (osmium black) can be
trusted not to oxidise to OsO4 in air. What makes osmium tetroxide
especially hazardous is the fact that it is very volatile. Unlike
OsO4 neither osmium metal nor osmium dioxide are volatile, and
provided oxygen can be prevented from reaching them they are therefore
relatively innocuous. Surrounding them in oil is probably therefore a
good strategy, provided the mixture is still treated as toxic waste.


Dr. Chris Jeffree
Inveresk Cottage
26, Carberry Road
Inveresk
Musselburgh
Midlothian
EH21 8PR
Tel: +44 131 665 6062
FAX +44 131 653 6248
Mobile 07710 585 401



From daemon Fri Apr 6 19:53:46 2001



From: Nicol Aitken :      nicol-at-semiconductor.com
Date: Fri, 6 Apr 2001 20:47:56 -0400
Subject: Preparation of a steel wedge on a ceramic substrate

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


I think that I have missed part of this message string somewhere, but it
sounds like you are starting with a uniform thickness steel layer that has
been deposited on a ceramic substrate. I will then make the assumption that
you are attempting to alter the thickness of the steel layer across the
length of the sample to produce a 'wedge'. I am not sure that this will
help, but you could try the wedge polishing technique used for TEM sample
preparation, or bevel polishing. I have had success bevel polishing IC's,
but not to the degree of accuracy that you require. I know that South Bay
technologies makes a pretty good tripod with micrometer levels at all three
corners that may help you out. The biggest problem will be in setting up to
ensure a good gradient. You should probably try it a few times with 'dummy'
samples to get the feel for how aggressive your polish angle is. I hope this
helps.
Nick Aitken

-----Original Message-----
} From: Dusevich, Vladimir [mailto:DusevichV-at-umkc.edu]
Sent: Friday, April 06, 2001 11:37 AM
To: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
Cc: hban-at-eng.uab.edu


I suggest to use SEM (with calibrated magnification) if
you could electroplate your sample with layer of Ni 0.1-0.3 mm thick.
Sorry, I do not have a protocol for plating with Ni now, but I did
it many times and it is pretty easy.

After coating with Ni you can cut your sample, mount it in epoxy or
thermoset and prepare usual cross section. Ni would save the edge of steel
layer and measurements will be very simple.

If surface of you samples is flat, you can cut them (better with
diamond saw), mount them in epoxy with a steel strip (instead of Ni)
attached to steel layer and polish. It is less dependable but still not bad
method.

Vladimir Dusevich

-----Original Message-----
} From: "rgriffin-at-eng.uab.edu"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
[mailto:"rgriffin-at-eng.uab.edu"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com]
Sent: Thursday, April 05, 2001 8:25 AM
To: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
Cc: hban-at-eng.uab.edu


We have a professor here who has a 1 cm x 2.5cm steel layer about 100 um in
thickness on a ceramic substrate. The metal layer was sputter deposited
onto the ceramic substrate. The ceramic substrate extends past the metal
layer. He needs to get a thickness gradient across the steel layer along
the 2.5 cm length. He would like to have one end at about 50 microns in
thickness and the other at 2 microns with a gradually decreasing thickness
gradient. Steps down would be ok although a smooth transition would be
better. We have a laser profilometer to measure anything that we produce.

Does anyone out there have any ideas how to do this? Would a tripod
polisher work? I thought about electropolishing and masking off portions at
a time but I worry about what will happen at the interface between the
ceramic and the metal. Could we alter a dimpler?



Thanks,

Robin Griffin
UAB


From daemon Sun Apr 8 02:31:52 2001



From: thespyisnow23-at-ozbytes.net.au
Date: Sat, 07 Apr 2001 20:54:14 -0700
Subject: NEED A MORTGAGE LOAN?

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From daemon Sun Apr 8 04:42:28 2001



From: thespyisnow23-at-ozbytes.net.au
Date: Sat, 07 Apr 2001 20:54:14 -0700
Subject: NEED A MORTGAGE LOAN?

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From daemon Sun Apr 8 12:53:25 2001



From: Garber, Charles A. :      cgarber-at-2spi.com
Date: Sun, 08 Apr 2001 13:45:11 -0500
Subject: OsO4 storage/recycling

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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-- [ From: Garber, Charles A. * EMC.Ver #3.1 ] --

Jim Darley wrote:
==================================================
Hysterical precedents aside. The idea of the oil is to absorb all tetroxide
vapours and render the substance harmless. Metallic Os is essentially
non-toxic, so the treated tetroxide waste should smell of whatever
vegetable
oil and not emit any of the musky smell emitted by osmium tetroxide.
Neither should the treated material be regarded as hazardous waste - but I
expect that no safety officer would have the courage to make that
declaration.
==================================================
Jim might be right but there are other points of view on this:

1] I have been led to believe that the vegetable oil reduction of remaining
unreduced tetroxide reduces things down to the dioxide, not the metal. The
dioxide is a black colloidal solid (the metal is a lighter "bluish gray").
Osmium dioxide is itself relatively innocuous, for example, it is not
"regulated" as a dangerous good when shipped, either domestically under US
DOT rules or internationally under IATA rules.

2] Osmium is a non-renewable resource and as such, we should all be looking
for ways to recycle such materials as opposed to taking them to landfills or
in the case of osmium, incineration. I am no environmental "activist"
myself, but I think we should all be thinking about such things. The
possibility of recycling something however, is intimately connected with the
economics of recycling vs. the cost of the purchase of new virgin material.
And when the "used" osmium tetroxide containing aqueous liquid is
"neutralized" in vegetable oil, for those involved in precious metals
recycling, this act essentially kills the economics of recycling.

3] We have in beta testing stage right now an "osmium recycling kit". We
are looking for a limited number of laboratories (for now, just in the USA)
to participate in our beta testing of this kit. If you are interested in
participating in this test, let me know off-line and I will send you the
details.

4] In the mean time, I would offer the following advice. Consider using
one of the other methods described on this listserver in the past, such as
the ones involving KOH as a reducing agent. The reduced material in this
state can be recycled economically, but only in large quantities. No one
laboratory, in our opinion, could generate enough such material over a
reasonable period of time, to make recycling and refining, even of the
material is in this state, economical.

5] The one thing you don't ever want to do, at least in the USA, is to
declare this as any kind of a "hazardous waste". Once something has been
declared to be a hazardous waste, that designation can never (if my
understanding of regulations is correct) be reversed, and it forever has to
be treated as a waste, and translated, that means it is destined for
eventual disposal by either landfill or incineration. I want to be very
careful here, it is complicated, this is true so long as we are talking
about a RCRA hazardous waste, that is, it meets a listing or characteristic
definition. One environmental experts tells me the following: "The reason
OsO4 (and OsO2, for that matter) are not regulated as hazardous has nothing
to do with their human toxicity (or lack of); it is because osmium, from a
regulatory standpoint, is not considered toxic to the environment." He
also says it is OK to designate something as a hazardous waste with the
intent to recycle it; it simply must be managed as a hazardous waste while
it is on-site.

So these containers that are holding reduced material (from the tetroxide)
for recycling must be labeled properly, and that would mean something like
"osmium dioxide for recycling". I am getting into an area that is not black
and white defined, and probably varies from institution to institution in
the US, not to mention the variation from country to country. But the
important thing is that from a regulatory point of view, what that label
says ends up determining the possibilities for the ultimate fate of its
contents.

We are striving to find a way to help people transfer, on their
environmental "accounting sheets", a material from the column saying
"incineration" or "landfill", to the "recylcing" column. And for those who
worry about such things, from a legal liability standpoint, there is general
recognition that if the material is recycled, there is far less legal
liability associated with its disposal than if it is incinerated or sent to
landfill. And at the same time, recycling keeps this most valuable
nonrenewable resource in the stream of commerce and available for future
generations.

Disclaimer: SPI Supplies has developed a kit for recycling osmium. It is
not yet commercially available, but is in beta test stage. We also have the
obviously ulterior motive of making sure there is osmium tetroxide available
for future generations of EM users, otherwise there would be no place for
firms like SPI Supplies.......

Chuck

PS: Please remember that we are nearly 100% paperless and we would ask that
any reply to this message be by way of the "reply" feature on your software,
so that the entire string of correspondence can come back to us and all be
in one place.

===================================================
Charles A. Garber, Ph. D. Ph: 1-(610)-436-5400
President 1-(800)-2424-SPI
SPI SUPPLIES FAX: 1-(610)-436-5755
PO BOX 656 e-mail: cgarber-at-2spi.com
West Chester, PA 19381-0656 USA Cust. Service: spi2spi-at-2spi.com


Look for us!
############################
WWW: http://www.2spi.com
############################
==================================================



From daemon Mon Apr 9 00:17:11 2001



From: Jim at ProSciTech :      jim-at-proscitech.com
Date: Mon, 9 Apr 2001 15:12:22 +1000
Subject: RE: OsO4 storage/recycling

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Different people approach such subjects from rather different angles and they
may all be right, but considering their own realities.

A couple of submissions approached the subject from an "absolute safety" point
of view. I don't subscribe to that because the amount of tetroxide emitted from
gram quantities of metal and some dioxide when surrounded by the tetroxide
absorbing oil, would be miniscule. In my opinion, Os waste in vegetable oil is
not a substantial hazard in the lab or when dumped. For many, particularly in
the USA this is irrelevant, because of strict legal obligations.

There is also an environmental angle. Unfortunately, greatest safety regardless
of cost, is at odds with good environmental practice. If a lot of material and
energy is used to dispose of a low hazard material, then the total
environmental cost may be very high when compared with an "acceptable risk"
solution. We should not confuse the ever-increasing demands for greatest safety
with "environmentally friendly" practices: they are not synonymous, but often
mutually exclusive.

I was pleased to read some of Chuck's submission. Whatever the motivation,
recycling of a limited resource is commendable. This has been tried before by
turning the waste material back into the tetroxide. I understand that few
people still practice the regeneration of osmium. One reason is that the actual
fixative solution is poorly defined after reclamation from diverse fixation
vehicles.

Chuck's idea of turning the material into metallic osmium is possible. Using
precision electrolysis, for instance with SS electrodes at ~400volts, with the
plate size determining amperage, the recovered metal could be 99.9% pure. The
refiner, however, would charge for assaying and refining and this means another
business would need to collect the osmium, resulting in double shipping and
double mark-ups.
Considering the few grams recoverable, instrument cost and maintenance, this
would be a marginal business, but one that the larger labs certainly should
consider.
Cheers
Jim Darley
ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS
PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia
Ph +61 7 4774 0370 Fax:+61 7 4789 2313 service-at-proscitech.com
Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes
ABN: 99 724 136 560 www.proscitech.com

On Monday, April 09, 2001 4:45 AM, Garber, Charles A. [SMTP:cgarber-at-2spi.com]
wrote:
}
}
} -- [ From: Garber, Charles A. * EMC.Ver #3.1 ] --
}
} Jim Darley wrote:
} ==================================================
} Hysterical precedents aside. The idea of the oil is to absorb all tetroxide
} vapours and render the substance harmless. Metallic Os is essentially
} non-toxic, so the treated tetroxide waste should smell of whatever
} vegetable
} oil and not emit any of the musky smell emitted by osmium tetroxide.
} Neither should the treated material be regarded as hazardous waste - but I
} expect that no safety officer would have the courage to make that
} declaration.
} ==================================================
} Jim might be right but there are other points of view on this:
}
} 1] I have been led to believe that the vegetable oil reduction of remaining
} unreduced tetroxide reduces things down to the dioxide, not the metal. The
} dioxide is a black colloidal solid (the metal is a lighter "bluish gray").
} Osmium dioxide is itself relatively innocuous, for example, it is not
} "regulated" as a dangerous good when shipped, either domestically under US
} DOT rules or internationally under IATA rules.
}
} 2] Osmium is a non-renewable resource and as such, we should all be looking
} for ways to recycle such materials as opposed to taking them to landfills or
} in the case of osmium, incineration. I am no environmental "activist"
} myself, but I think we should all be thinking about such things. The
} possibility of recycling something however, is intimately connected with the
} economics of recycling vs. the cost of the purchase of new virgin material.
} And when the "used" osmium tetroxide containing aqueous liquid is
} "neutralized" in vegetable oil, for those involved in precious metals
} recycling, this act essentially kills the economics of recycling.
}
} 3] We have in beta testing stage right now an "osmium recycling kit". We
} are looking for a limited number of laboratories (for now, just in the USA)
} to participate in our beta testing of this kit. If you are interested in
} participating in this test, let me know off-line and I will send you the
} details.
}
} 4] In the mean time, I would offer the following advice. Consider using
} one of the other methods described on this listserver in the past, such as
} the ones involving KOH as a reducing agent. The reduced material in this
} state can be recycled economically, but only in large quantities. No one
} laboratory, in our opinion, could generate enough such material over a
} reasonable period of time, to make recycling and refining, even of the
} material is in this state, economical.
}
} 5] The one thing you don't ever want to do, at least in the USA, is to
} declare this as any kind of a "hazardous waste". Once something has been
} declared to be a hazardous waste, that designation can never (if my
} understanding of regulations is correct) be reversed, and it forever has to
} be treated as a waste, and translated, that means it is destined for
} eventual disposal by either landfill or incineration. I want to be very
} careful here, it is complicated, this is true so long as we are talking
} about a RCRA hazardous waste, that is, it meets a listing or characteristic
} definition. One environmental experts tells me the following: "The reason
} OsO4 (and OsO2, for that matter) are not regulated as hazardous has nothing
} to do with their human toxicity (or lack of); it is because osmium, from a
} regulatory standpoint, is not considered toxic to the environment." He
} also says it is OK to designate something as a hazardous waste with the
} intent to recycle it; it simply must be managed as a hazardous waste while
} it is on-site.
}
} So these containers that are holding reduced material (from the tetroxide)
} for recycling must be labeled properly, and that would mean something like
} "osmium dioxide for recycling". I am getting into an area that is not black
} and white defined, and probably varies from institution to institution in
} the US, not to mention the variation from country to country. But the
} important thing is that from a regulatory point of view, what that label
} says ends up determining the possibilities for the ultimate fate of its
} contents.
}
} We are striving to find a way to help people transfer, on their
} environmental "accounting sheets", a material from the column saying
} "incineration" or "landfill", to the "recylcing" column. And for those who
} worry about such things, from a legal liability standpoint, there is general
} recognition that if the material is recycled, there is far less legal
} liability associated with its disposal than if it is incinerated or sent to
} landfill. And at the same time, recycling keeps this most valuable
} nonrenewable resource in the stream of commerce and available for future
} generations.
}
} Chuck
}


From daemon Mon Apr 9 03:42:15 2001



From: Divakar R :      divakar-at-igcar.ernet.in
Date: Mon, 9 Apr 2001 13:28:08 +0530
Subject: TEM of Cadmium Telluride - need advice

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


There is a proposal for TEM characterisation of cadmium telluride nanoparticles for morphology and size information. I would appreciate information from the list members whether

1. CdTe and related compounds are stable under electron irradiation
2. there is a accelerating voltage limit to be adhered to
3. any other precautions required to ensure microscope safety

My primary microscopy experience is with metallic alloys and ceramics. I have this impression that these compounds are low melting, unstable and likely to sputter onto the pole pieces. Kindly correct and advise me. I use a JEOL 2000 EX II top entry stage operating at 200 kV.

----
Divakar R
Physical Metallurgy Section, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research
Kalpakkam 603102, India
----






From daemon Mon Apr 9 08:07:53 2001



From: Ni, Chao-Ying :      CYNi-at-rodel.com
Date: Mon, 9 Apr 2001 09:01:42 -0400
Subject: TEM of Cadmium Telluride - need advice

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


Divakar,

Years ago, I did CdTe/CdS junction. As far as I can remember, both layers
were beam sensitive and the layer CdS was more so. I could get fairly good
twined CdTe structures as well as its overall morphology, but had difficulty
revealing the details in CdS as the available effective observation time was
much limited plus the CdS layer was very thin. There are a few ways to get
around of the issue, including using a) C-coating, b) small spot size (} 2),
and perhaps c) proper keV's (I was using 100keV, the max available voltage
for me that time). Good luck!

Chao-Ying Ni
Scientist
Rodel Inc.
USA

-----Original Message-----
} From: Divakar R [mailto:divakar-at-igcar.ernet.in]
Sent: Monday, April 09, 2001 3:58 AM
To: Microscopy (E-mail)


There is a proposal for TEM characterisation of cadmium telluride
nanoparticles for morphology and size information. I would appreciate
information from the list members whether

1. CdTe and related compounds are stable under electron irradiation
2. there is a accelerating voltage limit to be adhered to
3. any other precautions required to ensure microscope safety

My primary microscopy experience is with metallic alloys and ceramics. I
have this impression that these compounds are low melting, unstable and
likely to sputter onto the pole pieces. Kindly correct and advise me. I use
a JEOL 2000 EX II top entry stage operating at 200 kV.

----
Divakar R
Physical Metallurgy Section, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research
Kalpakkam 603102, India
----






From daemon Mon Apr 9 08:28:47 2001



From: Eric Windsor :      Eric.Windsor-at-nist.gov
Date: Mon, 09 Apr 2001 09:14:46 -0400
Subject: Re: Preparation of a steel wedge on a ceramic substrate

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Robin,

The tripod polisher may just work. Although your sample is larger than
anything I have previously tripoded, it should work if you use a plain
L-bracket. First, planarize your sample and the two back feet of the
tripod polisher. Then adjust the two back feet to give you the wedge angle
you desire (just slightly over 1 degree if my trigonometry for your sample
is correct). Likewise, the Multiprep system from Allied High Tech should
be able to accept and wedge polish a sample of this size.

If this approach does not work then you may need to use a precision lapping
and polishing jig. You can either design your own or you may want to check
with South Bay Technology. They make several jigs with precise angular
control for polishing crystals. I don’t know however, if they will work
with samples this large.

Hope this helps.

Eric Windsor

Disclaimer: I have no financial interest in either South Bay Technology or
Allied High Tech Products. I am a satisfied customer of both. Also, there
may be other products on the market that will work equally well for
preparing this sample.

The opinion expressed is my own and not that of my employer (NIST).

Original Message:

We have a professor here who has a 1 cm x 2.5cm steel layer about 100 um in
thickness on a ceramic substrate. The metal layer was sputter deposited
onto the ceramic substrate. The ceramic substrate extends past the metal
layer. He needs to get a thickness gradient across the steel layer along
the 2.5 cm length. He would like to have one end at about 50 microns in
thickness and the other at 2 microns with a gradually decreasing thickness
gradient. Steps down would be ok although a smooth transition would be
better. We have a laser profilometer to measure anything that we produce.
Does anyone out there have any ideas how to do this? Would a tripod
polisher work? I thought about electropolishing and masking off portions at
a time but I worry about what will happen at the interface between the
ceramic and the metal. Could we alter a dimpler?


Thanks,
Robin Griffin
UAB




From daemon Mon Apr 9 09:59:04 2001



From: JHoffpa464-at-aol.com
Date: Mon, 9 Apr 2001 10:53:32 EDT
Subject: rapid renal processing

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--part1_b9.cf4bf0a.280326ec_boundary
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

i am interested in a rapid i.e. same day processing schedule, for diagnostic
} renal bx. it must be reliable and the cutting qualities good, since we do a
} lot of low mag work (250x). thanks in advance.
} john


--part1_b9.cf4bf0a.280326ec_boundary
Content-Type: text/html; charset="US-ASCII"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

{HTML} {FONT FACE=arial,helvetica} {FONT SIZE=2} i am interested in a rapid i.e. same day processing schedule, for diagnostic
{BR} > renal bx. it must be reliable and the cutting qualities good, since we do a
{BR} > lot of low mag work (250x). thanks in advance.
{BR} > john
{BR} {/FONT} {/HTML}

--part1_b9.cf4bf0a.280326ec_boundary--


From daemon Mon Apr 9 10:25:22 2001



From: michael shaffer :      epmalab-at-darkwing.uoregon.edu
Date: Mon, 9 Apr 2001 08:21:27 -0700
Subject: RE: Scanner for negs and prints

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Tony writes ...

} In respose to Tina's post, I have not seen any
} mention on the list of the scanner I purchased
} a few weeks ago, the Epson Expression 1640XL.
} It has 1600dpi optical resolution (scans at
} a hardware resolution of 1600x3200 dpi) 42 bit
} color (14 bit gray) and Dmax of 3.6.

I would certainly believe the resolution and the color depth for this
scanner is adequate, but if scanning TEM films is an issue, I'd
seriously advise measuring the optical density of your films ... I've
heard these approach OD} 4 ... which would imply you might consider the
dedicated film scanners, e.g., Polaroid 45 Ultra or the new Nikon
LS-8000.

cheerios, shAf :o)

{} /\ {\/} /\ {\/} /\ {\/} /\ cogito, ergo zZOooOM /\ {\/} /\ {\/} /\ {\/} /\ {}
Michael Shaffer, R.A. - mshaf-at-darkwing.uoregon.edu
Geological Science's Electron Probe Facility - University of Oregon
http://epmalab.uoregon.edu/




From daemon Mon Apr 9 12:14:51 2001



From: L. D. Marks :      ldm-at-risc4.numis.nwu.edu
Date: Mon, 9 Apr 2001 12:10:46 -0500 (CDT)
Subject: Scanners: quantitative accuracy

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I have been listening to the thread on scanners. Has anyone done
tests of how accurate they are in absolute terms for quantitative
digitization?

-------------------------------------------------------
Laurence Marks
Department of Materials Science and Engineering &
Center for Transportation Nanotechnology
Northwestern University
Tel: (847) 491-3996 Fax: (847) 491-7820
mailto:ldm-at-risc4.numis.nwu.edu
http://www.numis.nwu.edu http://www.ctn.northwestern.edu
-------------------------------------------------------
The Other Nanotubes http://focus.aps.org/open/st12.html
Boron Nitride Nanotubes http://pubs.acs.org/cen/topstory/7912/7912notw1.html

Workshop May 17-19 2001 "New approaches to the Phase Problem"
http://xraysweb.lbl.gov/esg/phasing/index.html



From daemon Mon Apr 9 12:57:59 2001



From: Tracey M. Pepper :      tpepper-at-iastate.edu
Date: Mon, 09 Apr 2001 12:52:50 -0500
Subject: cryo-systems for SEM

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Hello,
I'm looking for companies (other than Gatan whom I've already contacted)
that sell cryo-stage and cryo-prep. systems for a JEOL 5800LV scanning
electron microscope. Thanks for any input!
Tracey


Tracey Pepper
Supervisor
Bessey Microscopy Facility
Iowa State University
ph: 515-294-3872
fax: 515.294.1337



From daemon Mon Apr 9 13:54:43 2001



From: BOES,TERESA (HP-Corvallis,ex1) :      teresa_boes-at-hp.com
Date: Mon, 9 Apr 2001 11:50:14 -0700
Subject: Substitutes for absolute ethanol?

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Has anyone used any of the denatured ethanols as a substitute for absolute
ethanol?

We have recently run into some difficulty when needing to reorder 200 proof
ethanol, which we use for dehydration and infiltration of samples (primarily
many types of paper) prior to embedding in Spurrs epoxy, and for cleaning
samples (non paper) and lenses of light microscopes. The chemical company
selling the ethanol is insisting that we must have a liquor license before
they will ship to us.

Ethanol denatured with a variety of substances is readily available and can
be shipped with no licensing requirements. Our concern is that the
denaturing agent will leave a detectable residue on lenses, samples, and may
cause problems with the polymerization of Spurrs. Rather than obtaining a
liquor license, we are considering using one of the 100:5 ethanol: methanol
blends. If any of you have had successful or unsuccessful experiences
substituting denatured ethanol for absolute in embedding or cleaning
protocols, I would appreciate hearing from you.

Teresa Boes
Hewlett-Packard
Analytical and Development Lab
1000 Circle Blvd
Corvallis, OR 97330
541-715-7055
teresa_boes-at-hp.com



From daemon Mon Apr 9 15:52:22 2001



From: eric :      biology-at-ucla.edu
Date: Mon, 09 Apr 2001 13:48:33 -0700
Subject: RE: renal Em

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} Hiya John,


Sorry about being late with this thread...Out here we do about 750 renal
biopsies last year and all our sections are mounted on 300 mesh uncoated
thin bar Gilder grids. We have a Philips 208S at 80kV. We can get a
majority of the glomerulus to lie in the grid square to be viewed. Most of
our images are shout between 2800X and 14,000X.

Last November we finally obtained the AMT Advantage HR 1K x 1K system and
use it exclusively for our EM images... We also do some Neuropathology
and Surgical Pathology EM in this lab.

Out here we have rigged up a system that all the Pathologists who need
the EM images are setup on a EM users group on the network. I them upload
the images from the computer here in the scope room to a directory on our
network so the Pathologists can view the images right at their
desktop. The renal Pathologist here is thrilled with the system... It
cuts down our expenses, and it shortens our turnaround time on specimens
from 5 days to about 3 days or less....

Eric A. Rosen
Electron Microscopist
UCLA Medical Center


==============================


} John:
} We do around 500 renal biopsies per year and all the sections are
} mounted on 200 mesh uncoated copper grids. We have an 8 year old Hitachi
} 7100 and use 60kv. The majority of the glomerulus can be viewed with the
} 3-4 serial sections lying randomly across the grid bars. We do not need a
} picture of the whole glomerulus, rather most pictures are between 3,000 and
} 10,000X.
} Dr. Tibor Nadasdy is the renal pathologist and decided last year that
} all our renal biopsies would be captured with the digital camera onto a
} computer and sent up to him via a network to his computer. So, at the
} present time we use very little EM film. He diagnoses each biopsy and
} e-mails representative digitized images to the nephrologists.
}
}
}
}
} Karen L. Jensen, M.S.
} Project Manager & Associate Scientist
} Electron Microscopy Research Core
} -----Original Message-----
} } From: "JHoffpa464-at-aol.com"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
} [mailto:"JHoffpa464-at-aol.com"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com]
} Sent: Friday, March 30, 2001 2:20 PM
} To: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
} Subject: renal Em
} ok taking a little survey. i am in a diagnostic EM lab. we mount out
} sections
} on formvar coated slotted grids, so he can shoot pics of the whole
} glomerlus.
} ok my question. how may of you out there doing diagnostis EM on renals do
} this?
} john




From daemon Mon Apr 9 16:05:16 2001



From: Jesse Rodrigues :      Jesse_Rodrigues-at-kopin.com
Date: Mon, 9 Apr 2001 17:39:39 -0400
Subject: Scribe tools

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Tracey
VG Microtech make Polaron integrated column-mounted cryo systems
including a new system
designed for high-resolution work with FEGSEMs
Emitech have an off-microscope cryo-prep and transfer system suitable
for LTSEM with a conventional tungsten filament or LaB6 SEM
BalTec make various cryo transfer and preparation systems which could
be used to transfer specimens from e.g. a freeze-etcher to SEM

see http://www.kaker.com/mvd/list.html for addresses and contact
numbers for these companies
Chris

----- Original Message -----
} From: "Tracey M. Pepper" {tpepper-at-iastate.edu}
To: {microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com}
Sent: Monday, April 09, 2001 6:52 PM




------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America

I am looking for a 2" and/or 3" scribe tool for GaN. Does anyone have
any experience with a quality new/used equipment vendor who supplied such a
tool in the past. I am looking for a fairly new programmable scriber.

Thank you,

Jesse Rodrigues
Device Processing Manager
Kopin Corporation
695 Myles Standish Blvd.
Taunton, MA 02780
Ph#(508)824-6696 Fax#(508)824-6958
email: jrodrigues-at-kopin.com




From daemon Mon Apr 9 16:39:46 2001



From: Mark Keller :      mark.keller-at-boulder.nist.gov
Date: Mon, 9 Apr 2001 15:35:24 -0600
Subject: subscribe

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From daemon Mon Apr 9 17:09:23 2001



From: Walck, Scott D. :      walck-at-ppg.com
Date: Mon, 9 Apr 2001 18:04:31 -0400
Subject: RE: Preparation of a steel wedge on a ceramic substrate

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Eric,
I think that your geometry is off. The Tripod Polisher is about 50 mm long from the sample to the feet and has 1 um divisions. The arctan of 1/50000 gives about 0.001 degrees. This job needs an angle given by the arctan of 48/25000 or 0.11 degrees. Plus you need to stick the thickness at one end at a particular thickness -2 um. It is doable with the TP, but will be difficult. You are correct that they will need to planarize the sample. What I would do is also planarize the holder and mount the parallel-sided sample and then set the height of the feet to the thickness of the sample and then add the amount for the angle. Then I would slowly polish using a low value grit 1 or 3 (perhaps even 1/2) um until I went through to the substrate at one end. You would have your angle and thickness values that went from zero to the desired value and a little thicker. The trick is stopping at the right place and accounting for the wear on the feet. You should be able to watch the facet
move towards one end. You can watch the progress using a glass plate and look at the thickness fringes at the facet caused by the unpolished and polished surfaces.

-Scott

Scott D. Walck, Ph.D.
PPG Industries, Inc.
Glass Technology Center
Guys Run Rd. (packages)
P. O. Box 11472 (letters)
Pittsburgh, PA 15238-0472

Walck-at-PPG.com

(412) 820-8651 (office)
(412) 820-8161 (fax)


"The opinions expressed are those of Scott D. Walck and not of PPG
Industries, Inc. nor of any PPG-associated companies."
--




} -----Original Message-----
} From: Eric Windsor [mailto:Eric.Windsor-at-nist.gov]
} Sent: Monday, April 09, 2001 9:15 AM
} To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
} Subject: Re: Preparation of a steel wedge on a ceramic substrate
}
}
} --------------------------------------------------------------
} ----------
} The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society
} of America
} To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to
} ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com
} On-Line Help
} http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html
}
} --------------------------------------------------------------
} ---------.
}
}
} Robin,
}
} The tripod polisher may just work. Although your sample is
} larger than
} anything I have previously tripoded, it should work if you use a plain
} L-bracket. First, planarize your sample and the two back feet of the
} tripod polisher. Then adjust the two back feet to give you
} the wedge angle
} you desire (just slightly over 1 degree if my trigonometry
} for your sample
} is correct). Likewise, the Multiprep system from Allied High
} Tech should
} be able to accept and wedge polish a sample of this size.
}
} If this approach does not work then you may need to use a
} precision lapping
} and polishing jig. You can either design your own or you may
} want to check
} with South Bay Technology. They make several jigs with
} precise angular
} control for polishing crystals. I don't know however, if they
} will work
} with samples this large.
}
} Hope this helps.
}
} Eric Windsor
}
} Disclaimer: I have no financial interest in either South Bay
} Technology or
} Allied High Tech Products. I am a satisfied customer of
} both. Also, there
} may be other products on the market that will work equally well for
} preparing this sample.
}
} The opinion expressed is my own and not that of my employer (NIST).
}
} Original Message:
}
} We have a professor here who has a 1 cm x 2.5cm steel layer
} about 100 um in
} thickness on a ceramic substrate. The metal layer was sputter
} deposited
} onto the ceramic substrate. The ceramic substrate extends
} past the metal
} layer. He needs to get a thickness gradient across the steel
} layer along
} the 2.5 cm length. He would like to have one end at about 50
} microns in
} thickness and the other at 2 microns with a gradually
} decreasing thickness
} gradient. Steps down would be ok although a smooth transition
} would be
} better. We have a laser profilometer to measure anything that
} we produce.
} Does anyone out there have any ideas how to do this? Would a tripod
} polisher work? I thought about electropolishing and masking
} off portions at
} a time but I worry about what will happen at the interface
} between the
} ceramic and the metal. Could we alter a dimpler?
}
}
} Thanks,
} Robin Griffin
} UAB
}
}
}


From daemon Mon Apr 9 17:09:42 2001



From: timothy.quinn-at-tufts.edu
Date: Mon, 09 Apr 2001 18:06:20 -0400
Subject: I need to unsubscribe tell me how

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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I need to unsubscribe. Can you direct me.

Thanks Tim Quinn U of Kansas Museum of Natural History


From daemon Mon Apr 9 17:37:20 2001



From: Vr. Richard Bejsak-Colloredo-Mansfeld :      ricardo-at-ans.com.au
Date: Tue, 10 Apr 2001 08:38:10 +1000
Subject: Re: Substitutes for absolute ethanol?

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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How you can get the licence if you do not SELL the alcohol?
Licence is only for selling..

} We have recently run into some difficulty when needing to reorder 200
proof
} ethanol, which we use for dehydration and infiltration of samples
(primarily
} many types of paper) prior to embedding in Spurrs epoxy, and for cleaning
} samples (non paper) and lenses of light microscopes. The chemical company
} selling the ethanol is insisting that we must have a liquor license before
} they will ship to us.




From daemon Mon Apr 9 18:26:20 2001



From: Sally Stowe :      stowe-at-rsbs.anu.edu.au
Date: Tue, 10 Apr 2001 09:20:25 +1000
Subject: Re: Scanners: quantitative accuracy

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Does anybody have experience (good or bad) with Imaging Plate scanners on
TEMs?

PLease reply on or off-line, I will post a summary - preserving anonymity
if necessary!

thanks

Sally




Dr Sally Stowe
Facility Coordinator,
ANU Electron Microscopy Unit
Research School of Biological Sciences
Australian National University
Canberra ACT0200
AUSTRALIA
stowe-at-rsbs.anu.edu.au fax 61 (0)2 6125 3218 or 6125 8525
http://www.anu.edu.au/EMU



From daemon Mon Apr 9 22:28:30 2001



From: Gary Gaugler :      gary-at-gaugler.com
Date: Mon, 09 Apr 2001 20:28:30 -0700
Subject: Re: Substitutes for absolute ethanol?

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Your point is well taken, but in this environment, there is
no distinction between purchase, application or consumption.

I'm in California and have not run into this situation
as yet. But I would bet that the same myopic rules
would apply. I buy ethyl alcohol from Ted Pella in
Redding, CA. But I don't know the specific proof of the
alcohol (Cat.# 19207). It comes in 200mL bottles and
poses no problem when purchased in lots of six or fewer
bottles.

gg

At 03:38 PM 4/9/2001, you wrote:
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} The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America



From daemon Mon Apr 9 22:35:50 2001



From: Gary Gaugler :      gary-at-gaugler.com
Date: Mon, 09 Apr 2001 20:36:30 -0700
Subject: Re: Scanners: quantitative accuracy

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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How do you define "quantitative digitization?" i.e., what
variables are you dealing with in this respect? What are
the "absolute terms?"

Anyone else have some ideas about this topic?

gg


At 10:10 AM 4/9/2001, you wrote:

} I have been listening to the thread on scanners. Has anyone done
} tests of how accurate they are in absolute terms for quantitative
} digitization?
}
} -------------------------------------------------------
} Laurence Marks
} Department of Materials Science and Engineering &
} Center for Transportation Nanotechnology
} Northwestern University
} Tel: (847) 491-3996 Fax: (847) 491-7820
} mailto:ldm-at-risc4.numis.nwu.edu
} http://www.numis.nwu.edu http://www.ctn.northwestern.edu



From daemon Tue Apr 10 01:12:30 2001



From: Andrew.Campbell3-at-defence.gov.au
Date: Tue, 10 Apr 2001 14:56:40 +1000
Subject: SEC: UNCLASSIFIED:-Microscope Ergonomics

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I am a Laboratory Technician currently studying for a Diploma in Occupational
Health and Safety. My last study module is an Action Research project which I
would like to do on the development of ergonomic microscopes and although there
is a lot of information on the problems involved in microscopy and methods to
relieve them I was wondering if any research has been done into the
effectiveness of ergonomic design for improving microscopy diagnosis, and where
I could get any papers on the subject. Thanks. Andy.




From daemon Tue Apr 10 03:32:03 2001



From: Rosemary White :      Rosemary.White-at-pi.csiro.au
Date: Tue, 10 Apr 2001 18:25:42 +1000
Subject: Re: GMA recipe

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Dear Kristen,

Perhaps the reason there was no recipe for the GMA is that you can vary the
component ratios alot depending on the tissue you're embedding. There are
several reviews from the 60s and 70s on different GMA recipes, at least for
embedding plant material. One "standard" mix for plant material is 95% v/v
pure GMA, 5% v/v polyethylene glycol, 0.15-1.0% w/v benzoyl peroxide
(catalyst). With more catalyst, polymerisation is faster and blocks are
harder, but too much produces brittle, bubbly blocks. PEG can be 0-10%,
PEG 200 and 400 are commonly used.

Like other methacrylate resins, GMA can be heat polymerised but you need to
exclude oxygen. You can either seal the GMA blocks in capsules - gelatin
capsules for example - dent the cap to exclude as much air as possible, or
cover flat embedding moulds so that they are completely sealed - e.g. use a
plastic vial cap as flat mould with another on top to seal. If you have
access to a vacuum oven, you can polymerise open moulds under nitrogen.

Time to polymerise depends enormously on the composition of the resin, try
60C overnight for starters if using a fairly "standard" mixture.

good luck,
cheers,
Rosemary


Rosemary White
Microscopy Centre
CSIRO Plant Industry
GPO Box 1600
Canberra, ACT 2601
Australia

phone 61-2-6246 5475
fax 61-2-6246 5000
email r.white-at-pi.csiro.au




From daemon Tue Apr 10 03:57:39 2001



From: Roger Moretz :      rcmoretz-at-excite.com
Date: Tue, 10 Apr 2001 04:57:26 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: Substitutes for absolute ethanol?

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Chris,

Just a minor correction / update. VG Microtech recently changed name to
Thermo VG Scientific, address and contact details remain the same, except
for the surface science website:

Surface science products: www.vgscientific.com
Polaron range: www.polaron-range.com

The Polaron range continues to be represented in the US by Energy Beam
Sciences.

Best regards,

Mike Wombwell
Polaron Range Business Manager
Thermo VG Scientific
The Birches Industrial Estate
Imberhorne Lane
East Grinstead
West sussex RH19 1UB
UK
Tel: +44(0)1342310296 (direct line)
Tel: +44(0)1342327211 (Switchboard)
Fax: +44(0)1342315074
email: mike.wombwell-at-scientific.com
Website: http://www.polaron-range.com

E & OE


-----Original Message-----
} From: Chris Jeffree [mailto:c.jeffree-at-ed.ac.uk]
Sent: 09 April 2001 22:04
To: Tracey M. Pepper
Cc: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com


Tracey
VG Microtech make Polaron integrated column-mounted cryo systems
including a new system
designed for high-resolution work with FEGSEMs
Emitech have an off-microscope cryo-prep and transfer system suitable
for LTSEM with a conventional tungsten filament or LaB6 SEM
BalTec make various cryo transfer and preparation systems which could
be used to transfer specimens from e.g. a freeze-etcher to SEM

see http://www.kaker.com/mvd/list.html for addresses and contact
numbers for these companies
Chris

----- Original Message -----
} From: "Tracey M. Pepper" {tpepper-at-iastate.edu}
To: {microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com}
Sent: Monday, April 09, 2001 6:52 PM


Richard:
Not true in the good old US of A! 200 proof EtOH is considered a controlled
substance, and purchase of even small quantities is regulated. In the
Histology and EM Labs here, we use a fairly large supply, so there is a
company license which allows purchase of a specific amount, and that means
if demands go up dramatically there is a real issue of obtaining adequate
supplies from time to time. I think that the issue may well have to do with
the quantities being purchased. If one buys the odd bottle now and then,
there is no hassle. But when usage passes a certain point, then licenses
are necessary. Keeps all of the bureaucrats in jobs.
As for the license, Teresa, it is mostly just paperwork. Requires you to
specify purpose for use, amounts that will be required, etc. If I remember
correctly (had to do this myself a _very_ long time ago--now an internal
supply room clerk does it), this is an annual process. And, like most labs,
since you have to account for every drop of reagent that enters and leaves
the lab for EPA, state EPA, OSHA, etc, you will likewise enter the EtOH into
that stream, thus showing that you aren't using it for more pleasurable
ends.

Roger Moretz, Ph.D.
Dept of Toxicology
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals
NB--personal opinions and experiences only expressed above.
On Tue, 10 Apr 2001 08:38:10 +1000, Vr. Richard Bejsak-Colloredo-Mansfeld
wrote:

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------
| The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
| To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com
| On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html
| -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
|
|
| How you can get the licence if you do not SELL the alcohol?
| Licence is only for selling..
|
| } We have recently run into some difficulty when needing to reorder 200
| proof
| } ethanol, which we use for dehydration and infiltration of samples
| (primarily
| } many types of paper) prior to embedding in Spurrs epoxy, and for
cleaning
| } samples (non paper) and lenses of light microscopes. The chemical
company
| } selling the ethanol is insisting that we must have a liquor license
before
| } they will ship to us.
|
|
|


Roger Moretz, Ph.D.
Dept of Toxicology
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
900 Rigdebury Road
Ridgefield, CT 06877
203-798-5448





_______________________________________________________
Send a cool gift with your E-Card
http://www.bluemountain.com/giftcenter/




From daemon Tue Apr 10 07:15:22 2001



From: Boucher, Germaine G :      germaine_g_boucher-at-groton.Pfizer.com
Date: Tue, 10 Apr 2001 08:11:52 -0400
Subject: Freeze dry protocols

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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I am interested in freeze drying pieces of murine liver tissue for
subsequent embedment in Spurr's epoxy resin. Does anyone have experience
with this technique? Specifically I would be interested in times and
temperatures. I will be using a turbo freeze dryer from EMS to freeze dry
the tissue.

Thanks in advance,

Germaine G. Boucher
TEM Lab
Pfizer Global Research and Development
Groton, CT




From daemon Tue Apr 10 07:55:11 2001



From: Sinkler, Wharton :      WSinkler-at-uop.com
Date: Tue, 10 Apr 2001 07:50:22 -0500
Subject: RE: Scanners: quantitative accuracy

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Laurie and Gary,

Would noise be a good criterion? Say, for a perfectly evenly darkened film
(if such a thing existed, or at least even on a scale { { collected pixel
size) - what is the value of the noise (standard deviation of pixel value)
as a function of film darkness (density)?

This would presumably improve with the time of collection. Thus how "good"
your scanner is depends on how you run it or whether it lets you take a
slower scan or to average multiple scans. With the exception of drum
scanners these devices all use CCD arrays. So what is probably most of
interest is the signal to noise ratio as a function of illumination
intensity, with everything known about CCD's going into determining this.
The maximum density the scanner can handle is just the point at which the
noise swamps the signal.

There must be some good literature out there on the sources of noise,
optimizing collection (scan) time etc. One article which might be a
starting point is:

G. H. Campbell, W. E. King and D. Cohen "Analysis of Experimental Error in
High Resolution Electron Micrographs", Microscopy and Microanalysis vol. 3
(1997) p. 451.

This is not very detailed, and treats only the total random noise, i.e.
grouping noise arising in collecting the image with that arising from the
scanner.

Now, finding a good "Consumer Report" test with hard numbers on commercial
models is likely to be a lot harder!

Wharton

} -----Original Message-----
} From: Gary Gaugler [SMTP:gary-at-gaugler.com]
} Sent: Monday, April 09, 2001 10:37 PM
} To: L. D. Marks
} Cc: MSA listserver
} Subject: Re: Scanners: quantitative accuracy
}
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------
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}
}
} How do you define "quantitative digitization?" i.e., what
} variables are you dealing with in this respect? What are
} the "absolute terms?"
}
} Anyone else have some ideas about this topic?
}
} gg
}
}
} At 10:10 AM 4/9/2001, you wrote:
}
} } I have been listening to the thread on scanners. Has anyone done
} } tests of how accurate they are in absolute terms for quantitative
} } digitization?
} }
} } -------------------------------------------------------
} } Laurence Marks
} } Department of Materials Science and Engineering &
} } Center for Transportation Nanotechnology
} } Northwestern University
} } Tel: (847) 491-3996 Fax: (847) 491-7820
} } mailto:ldm-at-risc4.numis.nwu.edu
} } http://www.numis.nwu.edu http://www.ctn.northwestern.edu
}


From daemon Tue Apr 10 09:09:30 2001



From: Timothy Schneider :      Timothy.Schneider-at-mail.tju.edu
Date: Tue, 10 Apr 2001 10:02:03 -0400
Subject: 200 PROF ETHANOL

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


To the person having trouble getting 200 proof ethanol:

If you are embedding in Spurrs, you do not need ethanol or P.O.. Just
dehydrate in E M grade acetone and infiltrate with acetone/Spurrs and you
will get good results. Keep it simple, Tim

Timothy G. Schneider
Director of Electron Microscopy
Department of Pathology
Room 229 Jefferson Hall
Thomas Jefferson University
1020 Locust St.
Philadelphia Pa. 19107
215-503-4798 work
610-613-8170 cellular
timothy.schneider-at-mail.tju.edu



From daemon Tue Apr 10 09:25:45 2001



From: jeanross :      jeanross-at-blue.weeg.uiowa.edu
Date: Tue, 10 Apr 2001 09:22:15 -0500
Subject: EDS summary

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


I have put together a summary of responses I got from my inquiry about a week
or so ago about EDS systems. I really appreciate everyone's input. We
haven't made any decisions yet since we are still gathering information but
your responses will help. I've included the responses in their entirety so I
hope this helps others as well.

Thanks again from everyone who contributed.

Jean Ross
Central Microscopy Research Facility
University of Iowa

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have been using an IXRF EDS / Gresham Detector (with IXRF digital pulse
processor) system for almost 2 years. Initially, the IXRF was installed on
an ETEC. About 15 months ago the Etec was replaced with a Hitachi 3500, a
new detector (Gresham) was purchased, and the EDS was installed on the 3500.
Generally, I am quite satisfied. There are minor software bugs, but IXRF
has been reasonably good at fixing them when discovered. It has been my
experience that all the systems have bugs, perhaps some more than others.
Prior to the IXRF, I had a Kevex 8000/Delta.

Low end noise and broad peaks were evident on first installation, but were
soon fixed by tweaking the detector preamp and pulse processor amp.

I am still running their first software package, "Iridium". I have the
newest release, "EDS 2000", but lack of time has kept me from installing and
checking it out.

I should mention that IXRF is a "virtual" company, with people spread out
between Texas, California, etc. This has not proven to be a problem.

Woody White
McDermott Technology, Inc.
nwwhite-at-mcdermott.com

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------


We have had EDAX for about a decade and a half, and we are very pleased with
the product and the service we get.
Carol Heckman
heckman-at-bgnet.bgsu.edu

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------


look at IXRF eds systems there web site is www.ixrfsystems.com, they are
very affordable and offer no nonsense performance that second to none.

happy ixrf user,

James Fotinopoulos
yzfrjim-at-ix.netcom.com


------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I would recommend you give consideration to Doug Connors at
TN Analyzer Service, Inc. of Dane, WI. Doug has rebuild and
upgraded detectors for me for the last 6 years. He is dependable
knowledgeable, and economical as well.

Bob Roberts
EM Lab Services, Inc.
2409 S. Rural Rd Suite C
Tempe, Arizona 85282
(480) 967-3946
bobrobs-at-earthlink.net

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------


We recently purchased a Noran Instruments Vantage DS1. We purchased this
based on some very impressive demonstrations of software that the salesperson
brought in. Unfortunately they are still working out the bugs in their
software. Everything they have is ported over from Unix, and literally runs
in a unix shell on an Microsoft Windows NT platform. This makes their
software fairly buggy. Their response time to fix major bugs and hang-ups in
the software has been very slow, and if given the opportunity to do it all
over again I'd probably look at Oxford Instruments. I would still rate the
quality of the equipment very high. Our detector performs at the specified
resolution, and is a good piece of equipment. Now if they could only get the
software end of it straight...
My vote:
1) Oxford Instruments
2) Noran Instruments
3) Edax or some of the smaller players
The benefit with going with a larger company is support and upgrades. We have
a 10 year old WDX that we just purchased new software and interface for last
year. Our old EDS was given some trade in value by Noran. And we all know
how valuable a service contract can be...

Get back to me if you have any more questions,
~Jonathan
Jonathan Dunlap
Analytical Laboratory Manager
Osram Sylvania Inc.
816 Lexington Avenue
Warren, PA 16365
Ph: 814-726-6991
Fax: 814-726-6942
Jonathan.Dunlap-at-sylvania.com


------------------------------------------------------------------------------


We have an Oxford Instruments Link ISIS Model 200 on our 2460N. We have been
happy with it, but I don't know about the direction that Oxford is heading. I
don't care for the feel of their new INCA software. Some might like it. It
also seems to be slow coming together. Some of the functions are still lacking
after 2 (or is it 3) years of seeing it at MSA.

We have an IXRF system on our JEOL 840A. It was a good price ($30K) for an
upgrade to our Kevex several years ago. It does what we need. They keep at
work on the software and have it freely available on the web. I might have to
pay closer attention and stay away from the beta stuff. They are still working
on it. They also have a nice digital pulse processor which stills stand alone
for about $5k.

I still feel funny about some contacts with EVEX. I can't say much about EDAX,
NORAN, or PGT. They should all have good stuff but it might be pricey. The
last we seriously looked at them was 6 years ago or so when we opted for the
Oxford.

I was intrigued by the unit from Quartz PCI. I think it was called X-ray One,
or such. It was new at MSA 1-1/2 years ago but looked promising.

Feel free to call if you want more details.

Warren E Straszheim
wesaia-at-iastate.edu

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------


We purchased an EDAX Falcon system for our Hitachi S-3000N and I've been
pleased with it. It has better light element sensitivity than most which
was very important to me although I don't think that its mapping
capabilities are as good as PGT's, say. I don't have direct experience with
Noran although I did talk to them and their system seemed ok - but logistics
didn't favor Noran so I passed on them. EDAX does have good integration
with the Hitachi and the Quartz database.

I'd be glad to respond more specifically if you'd like.

Richard Shalvoy
Arch Chemicals
Cheshire, CT
RBShalvoy-at-archchemicals.com

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------


I have an iXRF systems out of Texas using a Gresham detector. It works
well. Not the most cutting edge, but they are one of the "start ups". They
have been around for I guess 6-7 years. I have a digital pulse processor
and completely active control for x-ray maps and such. They are very price
competitive, but lack a dedicated technical support person. You talk to the
programmer or electronics expert, but no techs on the phone whenever you
have a software question. But, if you willing to wait a day for some
answers then they are worth it. I haven't run across the problem where I
thought, "if I just had a better system". If you want to integrated w/ WDS
than maybe Noran. Also, if you want to integrated w/ motorized stage
control, I don't think they off such a package, like the bigger companies.

I have a Hitachi 450. I used to run a 2400 and 500 before I quit my day job
and went out on my own. I am very happy w/ Hitachi.

Good Luck

Fell free to call with any specifics.

Their web page is www.ixrfsystems.com

Ric

SMARTech
860-491-3299
www.semguy.com
19 Cornwall Drive
Goshen CT 06756
smartech-at-javanet.com

------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Hello, all:

I use Oxford ISIS300 system on HITACHI S-3500N (with VP mode) for light
element analysis, mostly C, O, N, F, P, S, Si, Mg, as well as metal Co, Ni-P,
Pt, Cr, Fe, W, etc. This system works well. One useful function is the overlay
of 2 spectrums. I can easily subtract the blank from the sample spot and make
it easy to identify what is (are) in the sample. I am sure some other program
may have this kind of function, but I have not seen.

Zhiyu Wang
zhiyuw-at-home.com
I would be interested in seeing the responses as I am going to try and get
funding next year for a replacement for our EDAX PV9100 on an Hitachi s-450.

Dave
David.Patton-at-uwe.ac.uk

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------


We have been running EDX on SEMs and TEMs for many years. We used to have a
range of systems from Kevex, PGT, Noran, Link, EDAX, however a few years ago
we decided that we ought to standardize on one common system. After evaluation
we bought three Oxford Instruments ISIS systems. Whenever we have upgraded or
bought new systems they have been Oxford Instruments ISIS or now INCA.

I have been happy with the ISIS except for the file handling that was not
designed for a multi user facility such as ours (approx 120 EM users in total
roughly 25 to 30 swapping every year). I am really quite impressed by the
INCA, Oxford Instruments are, at last, listening to the users and adding user
requested facilities. They have sorted out the file handling mess of the ISIS
and structured it well for an SEM user (not quite as well for a TEM user but
there are less of us). The software structure is quite intuitive and there is
a really impressive help menu and explanation of everything from the physics
of X-ray generation, how EM’s work, how detectors work and how to analyze
samples.

Their detectors have always been good and the SATW (thin window detectors)
still have a reasonable efficiency at low Z. B is possible but C is easy and
even the N peak is over 30% efficient (there is often a high absorption at N).

Another feature that is invaluable for TEM is the integral shutter that will
close when the count rate is too high. This protects the crystal, it prevents
it overloading and shutting down or worse the crystal efficiency may change
for a few minutes until it recovers fully. This may affects your quantitative
work. In TEM this is usually caused by hitting the grid bar and not really a
problem in SEM but I don't know what secondaries and ions you will have in a
variable pressure SEM. It could be useful for you, check with other high
pressure SEM users.

Regards,
Ron

Please note: Oxford Instruments have upgraded an ISIS to an INCA system in my
department, without charge, in return for access to the instrument for
development projects and demonstrations for a fixed number of days. I receive
no benefit from this and the department has no benefit from Oxford Instruments
sales. I remain a thorn in the flesh of all our suppliers if I think they
could improve their products or service.
ron.doole-at-materials.oxford.ac.uk


------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Hello,
I am very familiar with the Oxford ISIS 300 series spectrometers. They are
ok, and the new Inca system looks good too. However, I recently saw the PGT
spectrometer at Lehigh and it is very impressive.

Steve
Stephen_Skirius-at-bkitech.com



--------------------------------------------------------------------------


I'm also in the market for an EDS system and have looked at EDAX, Noran,
PGT and Oxford.

I edited out PGT because in order to quantify you have to optimize the
system for the type of sample by playing with fudge factors, which none of
the other systems have to do (though one of them, I think Noran, lets you
adjust a sensitivity factor if you want to, but they didn't do it on my
samples that were tested against known microprobe results and the answers
were fine). I also eliminated Oxford, though it has a terrific user
interface (maybe at the expense of functionality), because they
consistently IDed my aluminum peaks as Br or Tm (!); this made me wonder
about all their algorithms. They claim it had to do with the takeoff angle
on the particular SEM being used, but that shouldn't be a factor.

I like both EDAX and Noran, though for different reasons. EDAX user
interface is better than Noran's, though again, I think Noran possibly
offers more routines (it's hard to keep track and see absolutely everything
a system has to offer in a demo day....).Noran can multitask - work on
several programs while a spectral map is being collected, for instance
(does EDAX? I have to check). But EDAX has a beam skirt reduction routine
for low vac mode (though it's time consuming, so a bit cumbersome), and
their peak modeling is right up front - but Noran can put theirs up front
also if you want to have it accessible (yes) and I think Noran might be a
little better engineered.

As you can see I'm still in a quandary (ditto for the two contending SEMs,
LEO and ESEM). Whatever I decide I'll still be very interested in the
results of your posting - especially if other folks' info comes in within
the next week or so it would help in my decision too.

I hope my input helps a little. Good luck with your quest!

Dee Breger
micro-at-ldeo.columbia.edu


---------------------------------------------------------------------------


I looked into Noran, EDAX, and PGT. Noran was quickly culled (less user
friendly, less abilities, didn't work right during demo), but EDAX and PGT
both seemed to have equivalent capabilities (PGT claimed a 'proprietary'
signal amplifier/digitizer doohickey, but it was only in the placement.)
For the long-time spectrum gathering (I forget the technical term), PGT
makes many passes with short dwell times while EDAX dwells on each pixel
much longer to collect data & does it in 1 pass. Kinda 6 of one, half dozen
of the other. What made us choose the EDAX Phoenix system was the fact that
the PGT software was UNIX-based (although hidden) while EDAX is PC-based.
I've heard rumors that PGT is switching to PC-based; we purchased our system
in 1999. I've also heard that Noran has practically no service techs (but
that may be an East coast thing.) We've been happy with the EDAX service,
and I enjoyed their user school very much. By the way, our SEM is a
variable pressure JEOL 5900, and it's integrated with the EDAX system.

Hope I've been helpful,

Jane L. LaGoy
Development Engineer
Bodycote IMT, Inc.
155 River Street
Andover, MA 01810
978-470-1620
jlagoy-at-bodycote-imt.com




From daemon Tue Apr 10 09:51:53 2001



From: Michael Coviello :      coviello-at-mae.uta.edu
Date: Tue, 10 Apr 2001 09:58:52 -0500
Subject: TEM-SiC wafer sample prep?

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


Hi All:
I have been asked to examine some films on a Si carbide substrate using
TEM. Does anyone out there work with this material. Can one
mechanically thin it using diamond films? Please offer some suggestions
of what you are doing.
Thanks in advance,
Michael Coviello
University of Texas Arlington




From daemon Tue Apr 10 11:31:37 2001



From: R. Howard Berg :      rhberg-at-danforthcenter.org
Date: Tue, 10 Apr 2001 11:26:36 -0500
Subject: dye transfer

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


We have some staining that suggests the staining dye has transferred from
one place to another and I write to see if anyone could shed some light on
this for us.

In the experiment we stain isolated chromosomes with DAPI, rinse them, and
then introduce them into plant protoplast cells (likely one or few per
cell). There is no autofluroescence in the DAPI channel and we can follow
the course of the dyed chromosomes over time. At first the DAPI
fluorescence appears in the cytosol on structures likely to be the
introduced chromosomes. Then it appears in the nucleus, where all the
chromosomes are stained! This is especially evident when we culture these
cells. Dividing cells at metaphase show DAPI fluorescence over the entire
metaphase plate. Note that only some cells show DAPI fluorescence,
consistent with the presumption that our fusion process that introduces the
chromosomes is only successful in some of the cells.

Has anyone had an experience where dye has been transferred from one
structure to another in a living cell? What are some alternative
interpretations of this phenomenon?

Thanks for your comments,

Howard Berg


R. Howard Berg, Ph.D.
Director, Integrated Microscopy Facility,
Associate Member
Donald Danforth Plant Science Center/Nidus Center
893 North Warson
St. Louis, MO 63141

phone: 314-812-8076
fax: 314-812-8127
cell phone: 314-378-2409

http://www.danforthcenter.org





From daemon Tue Apr 10 11:57:10 2001



From: Alwyn Eades :      jae5-at-lehigh.edu
Date: Tue, 10 Apr 2001 13:24:23 -0400
Subject: Scanners

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html



Mike,

We tripod polished thin films on SiC. It works OK with diamond lapping
film and diamond powder slurry as a final polish, but it takes a loooonnng
time. Put a sacrificial piece of SiC on the second side tool pedestal so
the final wedge polish will go from SiC sample to SiC tool. Otherwise the
glass pedestal polishes faster than the SiC and makes a little step that
can lead to sample breakage. ...Always a good idea to match the pedestal
hardness to the specimen--hard or soft.

As I recall, we had more problems with poor film adhesion to the SiC than
with polishing the SiC substrate.

Although we haven't tried it, I suppose a FIB would work fine.

Ron




There was a thread recently on scanners for TEM film. I have looked up
all the models mentioned, on the web and called agents for prices - and
produced a comparative table, given below.

I do not guarantee that the figures are accurate but they are my best
interpretation of the data given.

In the light of experience and Nestor's comments, I would suggest that
2000 dpi is a minimum for TEM negatives. You may be able to get away
with less nine times out of ten, but there will be occasions when you
need more.
I would exclude the Minolta and all the Epsons from consideration
(despite the incredibly low prices of some of the Epsons) because of the
low pixel density.

Among the rest the Nikon has the best pixel density and the best optical
density (another critical parameter for TEM negatives). The price is
very competitive too. The Nikon web site does not give a time for
scanning a negative. On the face of it the Nikon would be a best buy -
get a separate, inexpensive flatbed scanner for the other work.

These comments are all my own opinions based on manufacturers' data.
Since we are considering purchase any comments to the contrary would be
most welcome.



Code Maker Model Type



A Agfa DuoScan T2500 Flatbed -Transparency included

B Epson 1640 several versions Flatbed -Transparency option
1680 several versions

C 1600 several versions Flatbed -Transparency included

D Imacon Flextight Precision II Drum -for film and large format

E Minolta Dimage ScanMulti II Film

F Nikon Super Coolscan 8000ED Film

G Polaroid 45 Ultra Film

H Umax Powerlook 3000 Flatbed -Transparency included





Code dpi OD Time Price Opinion
at 6 x 9 cm


A 2500 x2500 3.4 3 min $4,500 Fair

B 1600 x 3200 3.6 $300-$3000 Poor
$800-$1400 Poor

C 1600 x 3200 3.3 $650-$1160 Not suitable

D 2240 x2240** 3.9/4.1 N/A above $10k Good: low pixel density

E 1128 x 1128 3.6 Not suitable

F 4000 x 4000 4.2 N/A $2,695 V. Good

G 2500 x 2500 3.8 5 min $7,495 Good but pricey

H 3048 x 3048 3.6 3 min $6,499 Good


--
..........
Alwyn Eades
Department of Materials Science and Engineering
Lehigh University
5 East Packer Avenue
Bethlehem
Pennsylvania 18015-3195
Phone 610 758 4231
Fax 610 758 4244
jae5-at-lehigh.edu


From daemon Tue Apr 10 13:32:25 2001



From: Tom Phillips :      PhillipsT-at-missouri.edu
Date: Tue, 10 Apr 2001 13:22:23 -0500
Subject: Re: Scanners

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


I too am about to buy and I would make a couple of comments on your
evaluation. First, let me remind everyone that the Dynamic range is
a log scale so small numerical differences are significant.

I also think the Nikon Coolscan 8000 looks great but it only takes a
2.5 x 3.5 negative which is smaller than my JEOL and Hitachi EM
negative sizes (~ 3 1/2 by 4 1/2"). Have these EM manufacturers gone
to a smaller film size or is Nikon using a non-Japanese EM as their
standard? seems odd but I don't see how the Nikon would be very
useful. You say a {2000 line scanner would be useful 9 out of 10
times but want the 2000+ lines for the occasional high res scan. I
would argue that the size of the negative was the more important
variable to be worried about. The Nikon couldn't handle 4x5 LM
negatives or transparencies from autoradiography of
Westerns/Northerns, etc.

My leading candidate is the ArtixScan 1100 has a Dmax of 3.9 (about
$1600 with SCSI card). This was has a 1000 x 2000 dpi resolution.
more details at www.microtek.com. This is my leading candidate. It
was 4 negative carriers and I await word whether one could be
modified to carry a 3 1/2 by 4 1/2 negative. At worst, I will have
my scientific instrumentation shop guys fabricate a holder. It comes
with a glass 8 x 10 glass carrier for odd size negs but I want to
avoid Newton rings and want a glassless carrier.

I would appreciate comments on the following argument (I think I have
this correctly figured out but am not sure since so many out there
seem to want to have a higher resolution scanner). I have a Fuji
Pictrography 3000 printer with a 400 dpi output that is as good as
any other widely available printer in the academic world. If you
figure the maximum published image size is about 8 inches, that would
mean the maximum image size be 3200 dpi wide. A 1000 dpi scan of my
negative would be 4500 x 3500 dpi. I could crop by about 28% or 10%
depending on the orientation of the negative and still be taking full
advantage of the printer resolution. In reality, most EM publication
prints are smaller than 8" wide so one could crop even more and still
not need more than 1000 dpi. A resolution } 1000 dpi would be
useful for subtle morphometric analysis but a 4000 dpi scan of a 3 x
4 negative would be 192 MB. That is pretty big for doing morphometry
on! A 1000 dpi scan of a 3.5 x 4.5" negative would be about 16 MB
and that is much more manageable. Perhaps the difference is in the
type of EM we are doing. I am working with biological specimens
doing standard thin section type stuff. are you doing some Material
Sci application that demands more?


I will be interested in Alwyn (and any others) reply since I hope to
buy one soon!


} .
}
}
} There was a thread recently on scanners for TEM film. I have looked up
} all the models mentioned, on the web and called agents for prices - and
} produced a comparative table, given below.
}
} I do not guarantee that the figures are accurate but they are my best
} interpretation of the data given.
}
} In the light of experience and Nestor's comments, I would suggest that
} 2000 dpi is a minimum for TEM negatives. You may be able to get away
} with less nine times out of ten, but there will be occasions when you
} need more.
} I would exclude the Minolta and all the Epsons from consideration
} (despite the incredibly low prices of some of the Epsons) because of the
} low pixel density.
}
} Among the rest the Nikon has the best pixel density and the best optical
} density (another critical parameter for TEM negatives). The price is
} very competitive too. The Nikon web site does not give a time for
} scanning a negative. On the face of it the Nikon would be a best buy -
} get a separate, inexpensive flatbed scanner for the other work.
}
} These comments are all my own opinions based on manufacturers' data.
} Since we are considering purchase any comments to the contrary would be
} most welcome.
}
}
}
} Code Maker Model Type
}
}
}
} A Agfa DuoScan T2500 Flatbed
} -Transparency included
}
} B Epson 1640 several versions Flatbed
} -Transparency option
} 1680 several versions
}
} C 1600 several versions Flatbed
} -Transparency included
}
} D Imacon Flextight Precision II Drum -for
} film and large format
}
} E Minolta Dimage ScanMulti II Film
}
} F Nikon Super Coolscan 8000ED Film
}
} G Polaroid 45 Ultra Film
}
} H Umax Powerlook 3000 Flatbed
} -Transparency included
}
}
}
}
}
} Code dpi OD Time Price
} Opinion
} at 6 x 9 cm
}
}
} A 2500 x2500 3.4 3 min
} $4,500 Fair
}
} B 1600 x 3200 3.6
} $300-$3000 Poor
}
} $800-$1400 Poor
}
} C 1600 x 3200 3.3
} $650-$1160 Not suitable
}
} D 2240 x2240** 3.9/4.1 N/A above
} $10k Good: low pixel density
}
} E 1128 x 1128 3.6
} Not suitable
}
} F 4000 x 4000 4.2 N/A
} $2,695 V. Good
}
} G 2500 x 2500 3.8 5 min
} $7,495 Good but pricey
}
} H 3048 x 3048 3.6 3 min
} $6,499 Good
}
}
} --
} ..........
} Alwyn Eades
} Department of Materials Science and Engineering
} Lehigh University
} 5 East Packer Avenue
} Bethlehem
} Pennsylvania 18015-3195
} Phone 610 758 4231
} Fax 610 758 4244
} jae5-at-lehigh.edu

--
Thomas E. Phillips, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Biological Sciences
Director, Molecular Cytology Core Facility

3 Tucker Hall
Division of Biological Sciences
University of Missouri
Columbia, MO 65211-7400
(573)-882-4712 (voice)
(573)-882-0123 (fax)


From daemon Tue Apr 10 14:02:54 2001



From: Walck, Scott D. :      walck-at-ppg.com
Date: Tue, 10 Apr 2001 14:58:55 -0400
Subject: RE: TEM-SiC wafer sample prep?

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


I assume that your SiC is single crystal. The small angle cleavage technique works for SiC. See MRS Proceedings, TEM Prep IV Vol 480.


-Scott

Scott D. Walck, Ph.D.
PPG Industries, Inc.
Glass Technology Center
Guys Run Rd. (packages)
P. O. Box 11472 (letters)
Pittsburgh, PA 15238-0472

Walck-at-PPG.com

(412) 820-8651 (office)
(412) 820-8161 (fax)



} -----Original Message-----
} From: Michael Coviello [mailto:coviello-at-mae.uta.edu]
} Sent: Tuesday, April 10, 2001 10:59 AM
} To: listserver
} Subject: TEM-SiC wafer sample prep?
}
}
} --------------------------------------------------------------
} ----------
} The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society
} of America
} To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to
} ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com
} On-Line Help
} } http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyLists } erver/FAQ.html
}
}
}
} --------------------------------------------------------------
} ---------.
}
}
} Hi All:
} I have been asked to examine some films on a Si carbide
} substrate using
} TEM. Does anyone out there work with this material. Can one
} mechanically thin it using diamond films? Please offer some
} suggestions
} of what you are doing.
} Thanks in advance,
} Michael Coviello
} University of Texas Arlington
}
}
}


From daemon Tue Apr 10 14:28:31 2001



From: Gang Ning :      gning-at-mcw.edu
Date: Tue, 10 Apr 2001 14:17:42 -0500
Subject: Sputter coater

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


Hi All:

I want to buy a new/used sputter coater which enables to do rotary
shadowing as well as carbon coating. Any suggestions/input are
appreciated.

Greg Ning

EM Facility
Medical College of Wisconsin



From daemon Tue Apr 10 14:30:04 2001



From: Francis W. Flynn :      Flynn-at-uwyo.edu
Date: Tue, 10 Apr 2001 13:25:33 -0600
Subject: listserve job opening

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


Microscopy Scientist for two Recently Established NIH Centers for
Biomedical Research at The University of Wyoming

As part of our seven interrelated projects into the biology, chemistry, and
molecular biology of cardiovascular function and nitric oxide we seek a
skilled microscopist to be hired at the non-tenured Assistant Research
Professor level. Experience and research interests in state-of-the-art
microscopy, including confocal and epifluorescence, and ultrastructural
techniques. Primary responsibility will be management of the University's
Microscopy Center. Opportunity includes the possibility of establishing a
research program within this Center. Appointment will be at a (non-tenure
track) Assistant Professor level for a renewable four year term.

Details:
Start_Search_Date: April 5, 2001
End_Search_Date: N/A
Job_Title: Confocal Microscopy/Electron Microscopy Technologist

Job Description: The person we seek will be responsible for organization of
a new research laboratory facility at the University of Wyoming which will
include two confocal microscopes and an electron microscope. The position
includes overall management of the microscope facility, user training, and
user supervision. Requirements for the position include experience with
light, confocal, and transmission electron microscopy. This individual will
oversee all aspects of specimen accession and processing, operation of the
microscopes, photography, and record keeping. The individual will work with
only minimum supervision. Responsibilities include: Serve as the technical
manager of the facility and be responsible for the operation and maintenance
of the confocal and EM microscope facility. In addition the manager will
perform preventative maintenance on the equipment; maintain the lab, order
supplies, schedule instruments, and oversee billing. Image analysis at the
light, confocal and electron microscopic levels and preparation of
micrographs for publication.
Applicant Qualifications: Experience focus on both confocal and EM.
Regarding confocal microscopy, we require experience with confocal and
digital imaging techniques, visualization of living cells containing
fluorescent probes, photobleaching, and fluorescence in situ hybridization.
The successful applicant will have experience with tissue preparation for EM
and the maintenance of an electron microscope. Excellent interpersonal and
organizational skills are essential. Ph.D.. degree required
Desirable Experience: Expertise and training in the operation of confocal
microscope and EM microscope systems is required. Familiarity with light
microscopy methods, immunofluorescent staining, use of fluorescent probes
for physiologic measurements and the general principles of cell biological
research are desirable. Significant facility with computers is desired.
Salary Range: Commensurate with experience.

For additional information see our websites:
www.uwyo.edu/nocobre
www.uwyo.edu/MolecBio/Cobre
To apply send complete CV, three references, and a cover letter indicating
which position(s) you are applying for to: Lynda Payne, Department of
Chemistry, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071-3838, USA. The searches
will remain open until all positions are filled.

The University of Wyoming is located in a high (2,200 m) valley surrounded
by the Rocky Mountains in the southeast corner of Wyoming. The University of
Wyoming is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.



From daemon Tue Apr 10 15:25:17 2001



From: jshields-at-cb.uga.edu
Date: Tue, 10 Apr 2001 16:19:55 -0400
Subject: Southeastern microscopy newsletter

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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The Beam, newsletter for the Southeastern Microscopy Society
(SEMS) is now online at the SEMS website in PDF format:
http://www.biotech.ufl.edu/sems/

It contains information on the upcoming meeting in Clemson, SC.
If you are a member, and have not received this notice via e-mail,
and wish to be informed about the society through e-mail, please
respond off-listserve at:
jshields-at-cb.uga.edu

John Shields
Center for Ultrastructural Research
Univ. of Georgia
Athens, GA


From daemon Tue Apr 10 15:41:34 2001



From: Hayes, Fred :      FHayes-at-TAC.Textron.com
Date: Tue, 10 Apr 2001 16:38:00 -0400
Subject: Ultracut E

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Looking to buy a used Ultracut E with FC4E cryo unit, in good working order

contact

Fred Hayes
FHayes-at-TAC.Textron.com


From daemon Tue Apr 10 16:05:43 2001



From: Joseph C. Besharse :      jbeshars-at-mcw.edu
Date: Tue, 10 Apr 2001 16:12:21 +0000
Subject: Re: Sputter coater

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Greg:

Such an instrument could provide for low-angle rotary shadowing capability
for visualizing purified proteins at high resolution. It would need to
have an electron beam gun for platinum evaporation and a separate one for
carbon coating.

If this is what you have in mind, I support it. I purchased such an
instrument that had good performance for about $20,000 about 10 years ago.

Dr. Joseph C. Besharse
Professor and Chairman
Dept of Cell Biology,
Neurobiology and Anatomy
Medical College of Wisconsin
8701 Watertown Plank Road
Milwaukee, WI 53226-0509

Phone: 414-456-8261
Fax: 414-456-6517
E-mail: jbeshars-at-mcw.edu
Website: http://www.mcw.edu/cellbio/

} From: Gang Ning {gning-at-mcw.edu}
} Organization: Medical College of Wisconsin
} Reply-To: gning-at-mcw.edu
} Date: Tue, 10 Apr 2001 14:17:42 -0500
} To: Microscopy Newsgroup {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com}
} Cc: "Dr. Traktman" {ptrakt-at-post.its.mcw.edu} , Ming Lei {mlei-at-mcw.edu} , "Dr.
} Besharse" {jbeshars-at-mcw.edu}
} Subject: Sputter coater
}
} Hi All:
}
} I want to buy a new/used sputter coater which enables to do rotary
} shadowing as well as carbon coating. Any suggestions/input are
} appreciated.
}
} Greg Ning
}
} EM Facility
} Medical College of Wisconsin
}



From daemon Tue Apr 10 16:44:57 2001



From: s2007282-at-student.rmit.edu.au
Date: Tue, 10 Apr 2001 16:42:59 -0500
Subject: Ask-A-Microscopist: microscope kit

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html



Email: s2007282-at-student.rmit.edu.au
Name: Kade

Organization: RMIT Melbourne Australia

Education: Graduate College

Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Question: Hi, I have just purchased a microscope, a good biological
one. I need a microscope kit but nobody sells them around here.
Anyway already I have glass slides and covers. I have read some on
microscopy and I need an adhesive, resin I think its called to
prepare slides? is this true?
Also some ink to stain specimens. What are the names of all these
chemicals so I can buy them all seperatly since no one sells them all
together.
Thankyou.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------


From daemon Tue Apr 10 16:53:27 2001



From: Purdy, Sam :      SPurdy-at-nationalsteel.com
Date: Tue, 10 Apr 2001 16:52:30 -0500
Subject: RE: Substitutes for absolute ethanol?

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Dear Theresa:
Although a metallographic laboratory, we use alcohol for
specimen preparation, mainly for preparation of etchants and for specimen
cleaning. We found the paperwork associated with pure ethanol onerous and
switched to denatured alcohol Type 3A with no discernable difference. Beware
of some of the denaturants, they produce unusual side effects.

Sam Purdy
National Steel Tech Center
Trenton MI



} ----------
} From: BOES,TERESA (HP-Corvallis,ex1)
} Sent: Monday, April 9, 2001 2:50 PM
} To: 'microscopy-at-MSA.microscopy.com'
} Subject: Substitutes for absolute ethanol?
}
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------
} The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
} To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com
} On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html
} -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
}
}
} Has anyone used any of the denatured ethanols as a substitute for absolute
} ethanol?
}
} We have recently run into some difficulty when needing to reorder 200
} proof
} ethanol, which we use for dehydration and infiltration of samples
} (primarily
} many types of paper) prior to embedding in Spurrs epoxy, and for cleaning
} samples (non paper) and lenses of light microscopes. The chemical company
} selling the ethanol is insisting that we must have a liquor license before
} they will ship to us.
}
} Ethanol denatured with a variety of substances is readily available and
} can
} be shipped with no licensing requirements. Our concern is that the
} denaturing agent will leave a detectable residue on lenses, samples, and
} may
} cause problems with the polymerization of Spurrs. Rather than obtaining a
} liquor license, we are considering using one of the 100:5 ethanol:
} methanol
} blends. If any of you have had successful or unsuccessful experiences
} substituting denatured ethanol for absolute in embedding or cleaning
} protocols, I would appreciate hearing from you.
}
} Teresa Boes
} Hewlett-Packard
} Analytical and Development Lab
} 1000 Circle Blvd
} Corvallis, OR 97330
} 541-715-7055
} teresa_boes-at-hp.com
}
}


From daemon Tue Apr 10 17:14:30 2001



From: Jim at ProSciTech :      jim-at-proscitech.com
Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2001 08:55:11 +1000
Subject: RE: Sputter coater

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Jean,

I would caution biased opinions from installation engineer and sales
representatives ie... James Fotinopoulos.... www.semguy.com...

Hmmmmmmmmm?

Food for thought





----- Original Message -----

} From: "jeanross" {jeanross-at-blue.weeg.uiowa.edu}
} To: "Microscopy Listserver" {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com}
} Sent: Tuesday, April 10, 2001 10:22 AM
} Subject: EDS summary
}
}
} } ------------------------------------------------------------------------
} } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
} } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com
} } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html
} } -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
} }
} }
} } I have put together a summary of responses I got from my inquiry about a
} week
} } or so ago about EDS systems. I really appreciate everyone's input. We
} } haven't made any decisions yet since we are still gathering information
} but
} } your responses will help. I've included the responses in their entirety
} so I
} } hope this helps others as well.
} }
} } Thanks again from everyone who contributed.
} }
} } Jean Ross
} } Central Microscopy Research Facility
} } University of Iowa
} }
} } --------------------------------------------------------------------------
} ---
} } I have been using an IXRF EDS / Gresham Detector (with IXRF digital pulse
} } processor) system for almost 2 years. Initially, the IXRF was installed on
} } an ETEC. About 15 months ago the Etec was replaced with a Hitachi 3500, a
} } new detector (Gresham) was purchased, and the EDS was installed on the
} 3500.
} } Generally, I am quite satisfied. There are minor software bugs, but IXRF
} } has been reasonably good at fixing them when discovered. It has been my
} } experience that all the systems have bugs, perhaps some more than others.
} } Prior to the IXRF, I had a Kevex 8000/Delta.
} }
} } Low end noise and broad peaks were evident on first installation, but were
} } soon fixed by tweaking the detector preamp and pulse processor amp.
} }
} } I am still running their first software package, "Iridium". I have the
} } newest release, "EDS 2000", but lack of time has kept me from installing
} and
} } checking it out.
} }
} } I should mention that IXRF is a "virtual" company, with people spread out
} } between Texas, California, etc. This has not proven to be a problem.
} }
} } Woody White
} } McDermott Technology, Inc.
} } nwwhite-at-mcdermott.com
} }
} } --------------------------------------------------------------------------
} ---
} }
} }
} } We have had EDAX for about a decade and a half, and we are very pleased
} with
} } the product and the service we get.
} } Carol Heckman
} } heckman-at-bgnet.bgsu.edu
} }
} } --------------------------------------------------------------------------
} ---
} }
} }
} } look at IXRF eds systems there web site is www.ixrfsystems.com, they are
} } very affordable and offer no nonsense performance that second to none.
} }
} } happy ixrf user,
} }
} } James Fotinopoulos
} } yzfrjim-at-ix.netcom.com
} }
} }
} } --------------------------------------------------------------------------
} ----
} }
} } I would recommend you give consideration to Doug Connors at
} } TN Analyzer Service, Inc. of Dane, WI. Doug has rebuild and
} } upgraded detectors for me for the last 6 years. He is dependable
} } knowledgeable, and economical as well.
} }
} } Bob Roberts
} } EM Lab Services, Inc.
} } 2409 S. Rural Rd Suite C
} } Tempe, Arizona 85282
} } (480) 967-3946
} } bobrobs-at-earthlink.net
} }
} } --------------------------------------------------------------------------
} ---
} }
} }
} } We recently purchased a Noran Instruments Vantage DS1. We purchased this
} } based on some very impressive demonstrations of software that the
} salesperson
} } brought in. Unfortunately they are still working out the bugs in their
} } software. Everything they have is ported over from Unix, and literally
} runs
} } in a unix shell on an Microsoft Windows NT platform. This makes their
} } software fairly buggy. Their response time to fix major bugs and hang-ups
} in
} } the software has been very slow, and if given the opportunity to do it all
} } over again I'd probably look at Oxford Instruments. I would still rate
} the
} } quality of the equipment very high. Our detector performs at the
} specified
} } resolution, and is a good piece of equipment. Now if they could only get
} the
} } software end of it straight...
} } My vote:
} } 1) Oxford Instruments
} } 2) Noran Instruments
} } 3) Edax or some of the smaller players
} } The benefit with going with a larger company is support and upgrades. We
} have
} } a 10 year old WDX that we just purchased new software and interface for
} last
} } year. Our old EDS was given some trade in value by Noran. And we all
} know
} } how valuable a service contract can be...
} }
} } Get back to me if you have any more questions,
} } ~Jonathan
} } Jonathan Dunlap
} } Analytical Laboratory Manager
} } Osram Sylvania Inc.
} } 816 Lexington Avenue
} } Warren, PA 16365
} } Ph: 814-726-6991
} } Fax: 814-726-6942
} } Jonathan.Dunlap-at-sylvania.com
} }
} }
} } --------------------------------------------------------------------------
} ----
} }
} }
} } We have an Oxford Instruments Link ISIS Model 200 on our 2460N. We have
} been
} } happy with it, but I don't know about the direction that Oxford is
} heading. I
} } don't care for the feel of their new INCA software. Some might like it. It
} } also seems to be slow coming together. Some of the functions are still
} lacking
} } after 2 (or is it 3) years of seeing it at MSA.
} }
} } We have an IXRF system on our JEOL 840A. It was a good price ($30K) for an
} } upgrade to our Kevex several years ago. It does what we need. They keep at
} } work on the software and have it freely available on the web. I might have
} to
} } pay closer attention and stay away from the beta stuff. They are still
} working
} } on it. They also have a nice digital pulse processor which stills stand
} alone
} } for about $5k.
} }
} } I still feel funny about some contacts with EVEX. I can't say much about
} EDAX,
} } NORAN, or PGT. They should all have good stuff but it might be pricey. The
} } last we seriously looked at them was 6 years ago or so when we opted for
} the
} } Oxford.
} }
} } I was intrigued by the unit from Quartz PCI. I think it was called X-ray
} One,
} } or such. It was new at MSA 1-1/2 years ago but looked promising.
} }
} } Feel free to call if you want more details.
} }
} } Warren E Straszheim
} } wesaia-at-iastate.edu
} }
} } --------------------------------------------------------------------------
} ---
} }
} }
} } We purchased an EDAX Falcon system for our Hitachi S-3000N and I've been
} } pleased with it. It has better light element sensitivity than most which
} } was very important to me although I don't think that its mapping
} } capabilities are as good as PGT's, say. I don't have direct experience
} with
} } Noran although I did talk to them and their system seemed ok - but
} logistics
} } didn't favor Noran so I passed on them. EDAX does have good integration
} } with the Hitachi and the Quartz database.
} }
} } I'd be glad to respond more specifically if you'd like.
} }
} } Richard Shalvoy
} } Arch Chemicals
} } Cheshire, CT
} } RBShalvoy-at-archchemicals.com
} }
} } --------------------------------------------------------------------------
} ---
} }
} }
} } I have an iXRF systems out of Texas using a Gresham detector. It works
} } well. Not the most cutting edge, but they are one of the "start ups". They
} } have been around for I guess 6-7 years. I have a digital pulse processor
} } and completely active control for x-ray maps and such. They are very price
} } competitive, but lack a dedicated technical support person. You talk to
} the
} } programmer or electronics expert, but no techs on the phone whenever you
} } have a software question. But, if you willing to wait a day for some
} } answers then they are worth it. I haven't run across the problem where I
} } thought, "if I just had a better system". If you want to integrated w/ WDS
} } than maybe Noran. Also, if you want to integrated w/ motorized stage
} } control, I don't think they off such a package, like the bigger companies.
} }
} } I have a Hitachi 450. I used to run a 2400 and 500 before I quit my day
} job
} } and went out on my own. I am very happy w/ Hitachi.
} }
} } Good Luck
} }
} } Fell free to call with any specifics.
} }
} } Their web page is www.ixrfsystems.com
} }
} } Ric
} }
} } SMARTech
} } 860-491-3299
} } www.semguy.com
} } 19 Cornwall Drive
} } Goshen CT 06756
} } smartech-at-javanet.com
} }
} } --------------------------------------------------------------------------
} ----
} }
} }
} } Hello, all:
} }
} } I use Oxford ISIS300 system on HITACHI S-3500N (with VP mode) for light
} } element analysis, mostly C, O, N, F, P, S, Si, Mg, as well as metal Co,
} Ni-P,
} } Pt, Cr, Fe, W, etc. This system works well. One useful function is the
} overlay
} } of 2 spectrums. I can easily subtract the blank from the sample spot and
} make
} } it easy to identify what is (are) in the sample. I am sure some other
} program
} } may have this kind of function, but I have not seen.
} }
} } Zhiyu Wang
} } zhiyuw-at-home.com
} } I would be interested in seeing the responses as I am going to try and get
} } funding next year for a replacement for our EDAX PV9100 on an Hitachi
} s-450.
} }
} } Dave
} } David.Patton-at-uwe.ac.uk
} }
} } --------------------------------------------------------------------------
} ---
} }
} }
} } We have been running EDX on SEMs and TEMs for many years. We used to have
} a
} } range of systems from Kevex, PGT, Noran, Link, EDAX, however a few years
} ago
} } we decided that we ought to standardize on one common system. After
} evaluation
} } we bought three Oxford Instruments ISIS systems. Whenever we have upgraded
} or
} } bought new systems they have been Oxford Instruments ISIS or now INCA.
} }
} } I have been happy with the ISIS except for the file handling that was not
} } designed for a multi user facility such as ours (approx 120 EM users in
} total
} } roughly 25 to 30 swapping every year). I am really quite impressed by the
} } INCA, Oxford Instruments are, at last, listening to the users and adding
} user
} } requested facilities. They have sorted out the file handling mess of the
} ISIS
} } and structured it well for an SEM user (not quite as well for a TEM user
} but
} } there are less of us). The software structure is quite intuitive and there
} is
} } a really impressive help menu and explanation of everything from the
} physics
} } of X-ray generation, how EM's work, how detectors work and how to analyze
} } samples.
} }
} } Their detectors have always been good and the SATW (thin window detectors)
} } still have a reasonable efficiency at low Z. B is possible but C is easy
} and
} } even the N peak is over 30% efficient (there is often a high absorption at
} N).
} }
} } Another feature that is invaluable for TEM is the integral shutter that
} will
} } close when the count rate is too high. This protects the crystal, it
} prevents
} } it overloading and shutting down or worse the crystal efficiency may
} change
} } for a few minutes until it recovers fully. This may affects your
} quantitative
} } work. In TEM this is usually caused by hitting the grid bar and not really
} a
} } problem in SEM but I don't know what secondaries and ions you will have in
} a
} } variable pressure SEM. It could be useful for you, check with other high
} } pressure SEM users.
} }
} } Regards,
} } Ron
} }
} } Please note: Oxford Instruments have upgraded an ISIS to an INCA system in
} my
} } department, without charge, in return for access to the instrument for
} } development projects and demonstrations for a fixed number of days. I
} receive
} } no benefit from this and the department has no benefit from Oxford
} Instruments
} } sales. I remain a thorn in the flesh of all our suppliers if I think they
} } could improve their products or service.
} } ron.doole-at-materials.oxford.ac.uk
} }
} }
} } --------------------------------------------------------------------------
} ----
} }
} }
} } Hello,
} } I am very familiar with the Oxford ISIS 300 series spectrometers. They are
} } ok, and the new Inca system looks good too. However, I recently saw the
} PGT
} } spectrometer at Lehigh and it is very impressive.
} }
} } Steve
} } Stephen_Skirius-at-bkitech.com
} }
} }
} }
} } --------------------------------------------------------------------------
} }
} }
} } I'm also in the market for an EDS system and have looked at EDAX, Noran,
} } PGT and Oxford.
} }
} } I edited out PGT because in order to quantify you have to optimize the
} } system for the type of sample by playing with fudge factors, which none of
} } the other systems have to do (though one of them, I think Noran, lets you
} } adjust a sensitivity factor if you want to, but they didn't do it on my
} } samples that were tested against known microprobe results and the answers
} } were fine). I also eliminated Oxford, though it has a terrific user
} } interface (maybe at the expense of functionality), because they
} } consistently IDed my aluminum peaks as Br or Tm (!); this made me wonder
} } about all their algorithms. They claim it had to do with the takeoff angle
} } on the particular SEM being used, but that shouldn't be a factor.
} }
} } I like both EDAX and Noran, though for different reasons. EDAX user
} } interface is better than Noran's, though again, I think Noran possibly
} } offers more routines (it's hard to keep track and see absolutely
} everything
} } a system has to offer in a demo day....).Noran can multitask - work on
} } several programs while a spectral map is being collected, for instance
} } (does EDAX? I have to check). But EDAX has a beam skirt reduction routine
} } for low vac mode (though it's time consuming, so a bit cumbersome), and
} } their peak modeling is right up front - but Noran can put theirs up front
} } also if you want to have it accessible (yes) and I think Noran might be a
} } little better engineered.
} }
} } As you can see I'm still in a quandary (ditto for the two contending SEMs,
} } LEO and ESEM). Whatever I decide I'll still be very interested in the
} } results of your posting - especially if other folks' info comes in within
} } the next week or so it would help in my decision too.
} }
} } I hope my input helps a little. Good luck with your quest!
} }
} } Dee Breger
} } micro-at-ldeo.columbia.edu
} }
} }
} } --------------------------------------------------------------------------
} -
} }
} }
} } I looked into Noran, EDAX, and PGT. Noran was quickly culled (less user
} } friendly, less abilities, didn't work right during demo), but EDAX and PGT
} } both seemed to have equivalent capabilities (PGT claimed a 'proprietary'
} } signal amplifier/digitizer doohickey, but it was only in the placement.)
} } For the long-time spectrum gathering (I forget the technical term), PGT
} } makes many passes with short dwell times while EDAX dwells on each pixel
} } much longer to collect data & does it in 1 pass. Kinda 6 of one, half
} dozen
} } of the other. What made us choose the EDAX Phoenix system was the fact
} that
} } the PGT software was UNIX-based (although hidden) while EDAX is PC-based.
} } I've heard rumors that PGT is switching to PC-based; we purchased our
} system
} } in 1999. I've also heard that Noran has practically no service techs (but
} } that may be an East coast thing.) We've been happy with the EDAX service,
} } and I enjoyed their user school very much. By the way, our SEM is a
} } variable pressure JEOL 5900, and it's integrated with the EDAX system.
} }
} } Hope I've been helpful,
} }
} } Jane L. LaGoy
} } Development Engineer
} } Bodycote IMT, Inc.
} } 155 River Street
} } Andover, MA 01810
} } 978-470-1620
} } jlagoy-at-bodycote-imt.com
} }
} }
} }
} }
}
}
}

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{HTML} {FONT FACE=arial,helvetica} Jean,
{BR}
{BR} I would caution biased opinions from installation engineer and sales
{BR} representatives ie... James Fotinopoulos.... www.semguy.com...
{BR}
{BR} Hmmmmmmmmm?
{BR}
{BR} Food for thought
{BR} {FONT SIZE=2}
{BR}
{BR}
{BR}
{BR}
{BR} ----- Original Message -----
{BR} {/FONT} {FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=3 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Arial" LANG="0"}
{BR} {/FONT} {FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Arial" LANG="0"} {BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px"} From: "jeanross" <jeanross-at-blue.weeg.uiowa.edu>
{BR} To: "Microscopy Listserver" <Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com>
{BR} Sent: Tuesday, April 10, 2001 10:22 AM
{BR} Subject: EDS summary
{BR}
{BR}
{BR} > ------------------------------------------------------------------------
{BR} > The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
{BR} > To  Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com
{BR} > On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html
{BR} > -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
{BR} >
{BR} >
{BR} > I have put together a summary of responses I got from my inquiry about a
{BR} week
{BR} > or so ago about EDS systems.  I really appreciate everyone's input.  We
{BR} > haven't made any decisions yet since we are still gathering information
{BR} but
{BR} > your responses will help.  I've included the responses in their entirety
{BR} so I
{BR} > hope this helps others as well.
{BR} >
{BR} > Thanks again from everyone who contributed.
{BR} >
{BR} > Jean Ross
{BR} > Central Microscopy Research Facility
{BR} > University of Iowa
{BR} >
{BR} > --------------------------------------------------------------------------
{BR} ---
{BR} > I have been using an IXRF EDS / Gresham Detector (with IXRF digital pulse
{BR} > processor) system for almost 2 years. Initially, the IXRF was installed on
{BR} > an ETEC. About 15 months ago the Etec was replaced with a Hitachi 3500, a
{BR} > new detector (Gresham) was purchased, and the EDS was installed on the
{BR} 3500.
{BR} > Generally, I am quite satisfied. There are minor software bugs, but IXRF
{BR} > has been reasonably good at fixing them when discovered. It has been my
{BR} > experience that all the systems have bugs, perhaps some more than others.
{BR} > Prior to the IXRF, I had a Kevex 8000/Delta.
{BR} >
{BR} > Low end noise and broad peaks were evident on first installation, but were
{BR} > soon fixed by tweaking the detector preamp and pulse processor amp.
{BR} >
{BR} > I am still running their first software package, "Iridium". I have the
{BR} > newest release, "EDS 2000", but lack of time has kept me from installing
{BR} and
{BR} > checking it out.
{BR} >
{BR} > I should mention that IXRF is a "virtual" company, with people spread out
{BR} > between Texas, California, etc. This has not proven to be a problem.
{BR} >
{BR} > Woody White
{BR} > McDermott Technology, Inc.
{BR} > nwwhite-at-mcdermott.com
{BR} >
{BR} > --------------------------------------------------------------------------
{BR} ---
{BR} >
{BR} >
{BR} > We have had EDAX for about a decade and a half, and we are very pleased
{BR} with
{BR} > the product and the service we get.
{BR} > Carol Heckman
{BR} > heckman-at-bgnet.bgsu.edu
{BR} >
{BR} > --------------------------------------------------------------------------
{BR} ---
{BR} >
{BR} >
{BR} > look at IXRF eds systems there web site is www.ixrfsystems.com, they are
{BR} > very affordable and offer no nonsense performance that second to none.
{BR} >
{BR} > happy ixrf user,
{BR} >
{BR} > James Fotinopoulos
{BR} > yzfrjim-at-ix.netcom.com
{BR} >
{BR} >
{BR} > --------------------------------------------------------------------------
{BR} ----
{BR} >
{BR} > I would recommend you give consideration to Doug Connors at
{BR} > TN Analyzer Service, Inc. of Dane, WI. Doug has rebuild and
{BR} > upgraded detectors for me for the last 6 years. He is dependable
{BR} > knowledgeable, and economical as well.
{BR} >
{BR} > Bob Roberts
{BR} > EM Lab Services, Inc.
{BR} > 2409 S. Rural Rd Suite C
{BR} > Tempe, Arizona 85282
{BR} > (480) 967-3946
{BR} > bobrobs-at-earthlink.net
{BR} >
{BR} > --------------------------------------------------------------------------
{BR} ---
{BR} >
{BR} >
{BR} > We recently purchased a Noran Instruments Vantage DS1.  We purchased this
{BR} > based on some very impressive demonstrations of software that the
{BR} salesperson
{BR} > brought in.  Unfortunately they are still working out the bugs in their
{BR} > software.  Everything they have is ported over from Unix, and literally
{BR} runs
{BR} > in a unix shell on an Microsoft Windows NT platform.  This makes their
{BR} > software fairly buggy.  Their response time to fix major bugs and hang-ups
{BR} in
{BR} > the software has been very slow, and if given the opportunity to do it all
{BR} > over again I'd probably look at Oxford Instruments.  I would still rate
{BR} the
{BR} > quality of the equipment very high.  Our detector performs at the
{BR} specified
{BR} > resolution, and is a good piece of equipment.  Now if they could only get
{BR} the
{BR} > software end of it straight...
{BR} > My vote:
{BR} > 1) Oxford Instruments
{BR} > 2)  Noran Instruments
{BR} > 3)  Edax or some of the smaller players
{BR} > The benefit with going with a larger company is support and upgrades.  We
{BR} have
{BR} > a 10 year old WDX that we just purchased new software and interface for
{BR} last
{BR} > year.  Our old EDS was given some trade in value by Noran.  And we all
{BR} know
{BR} > how valuable a service contract can be...
{BR} >
{BR} > Get back to me if you have any more questions,
{BR} > ~Jonathan
{BR} > Jonathan Dunlap
{BR} > Analytical Laboratory Manager
{BR} > Osram Sylvania Inc.
{BR} > 816 Lexington Avenue
{BR} > Warren, PA 16365
{BR} > Ph:  814-726-6991
{BR} > Fax: 814-726-6942
{BR} >  Jonathan.Dunlap-at-sylvania.com
{BR} >
{BR} >
{BR} > --------------------------------------------------------------------------
{BR} ----
{BR} >
{BR} >
{BR} > We have an Oxford Instruments Link ISIS Model 200 on our 2460N. We have
{BR} been
{BR} > happy with it, but I don't know about the direction that Oxford is
{BR} heading. I
{BR} > don't care for the feel of their new INCA software. Some might like it. It
{BR} > also seems to be slow coming together. Some of the functions are still
{BR} lacking
{BR} > after 2 (or is it 3) years of seeing it at MSA.
{BR} >
{BR} > We have an IXRF system on our JEOL 840A. It was a good price ($30K) for an
{BR} > upgrade to our Kevex several years ago. It does what we need. They keep at
{BR} > work on the software and have it freely available on the web. I might have
{BR} to
{BR} > pay closer attention and stay away from the beta stuff. They are still
{BR} working
{BR} > on it. They also have a nice digital pulse processor which stills stand
{BR} alone
{BR} > for about $5k.
{BR} >
{BR} > I still feel funny about some contacts with EVEX. I can't say much about
{BR} EDAX,
{BR} > NORAN, or PGT. They should all have good stuff but it might be pricey. The
{BR} > last we seriously looked at them was 6 years ago or so when we opted for
{BR} the
{BR} > Oxford.
{BR} >
{BR} > I was intrigued by the unit from Quartz PCI. I think it was called X-ray
{BR} One,
{BR} > or such. It was new at MSA 1-1/2 years ago but looked promising.
{BR} >
{BR} > Feel free to call if you want more details.
{BR} >
{BR} > Warren E Straszheim
{BR} > wesaia-at-iastate.edu
{BR} >
{BR} > --------------------------------------------------------------------------
{BR} ---
{BR} >
{BR} >
{BR} > We purchased an EDAX Falcon system for our Hitachi S-3000N and I've been
{BR} > pleased with it. It has better light element sensitivity than most which
{BR} > was very important to me although I don't think that its mapping
{BR} > capabilities are as good as PGT's, say. I don't have direct experience
{BR} with
{BR} > Noran although I did talk to them and their system seemed ok - but
{BR} logistics
{BR} > didn't favor Noran so I passed on them. EDAX does have good integration
{BR} > with the Hitachi and the Quartz database.
{BR} >
{BR} > I'd be glad to respond more specifically if you'd like.
{BR} >
{BR} > Richard Shalvoy
{BR} > Arch Chemicals
{BR} > Cheshire, CT
{BR} > RBShalvoy-at-archchemicals.com
{BR} >
{BR} > --------------------------------------------------------------------------
{BR} ---
{BR} >
{BR} >
{BR} > I have an iXRF systems out of Texas using a Gresham detector. It works
{BR} > well. Not the most cutting edge, but they are one of the "start ups". They
{BR} > have been around for I guess 6-7 years. I have a digital pulse processor
{BR} > and completely active control for x-ray maps and such. They are very price
{BR} > competitive, but lack a dedicated technical support person. You talk to
{BR} the
{BR} > programmer or electronics expert, but no techs on the phone whenever you
{BR} > have a software question. But, if you willing to wait a day for some
{BR} > answers then they are worth it. I haven't run across the problem where I
{BR} > thought, "if I just had a better system". If you want to integrated w/ WDS
{BR} > than maybe Noran. Also, if you want to integrated w/ motorized stage
{BR} > control, I don't think they off such a package, like the bigger companies.
{BR} >
{BR} > I have a Hitachi 450. I used to run a 2400 and 500 before I quit my day
{BR} job
{BR} > and went out on my own. I am very happy w/ Hitachi.
{BR} >
{BR} > Good Luck
{BR} >
{BR} > Fell free to call with any specifics.
{BR} >
{BR} > Their web page is www.ixrfsystems.com
{BR} >
{BR} > Ric
{BR} >
{BR} > SMARTech
{BR} > 860-491-3299
{BR} > www.semguy.com
{BR} > 19 Cornwall Drive
{BR} > Goshen CT 06756
{BR} > smartech-at-javanet.com
{BR} >
{BR} > --------------------------------------------------------------------------
{BR} ----
{BR} >
{BR} >
{BR} > Hello, all:
{BR} >
{BR} > I use Oxford ISIS300 system on HITACHI S-3500N (with VP mode) for light
{BR} > element analysis, mostly C, O, N, F, P, S, Si, Mg, as well as metal Co,
{BR} Ni-P,
{BR} > Pt, Cr, Fe, W, etc. This system works well. One useful function is the
{BR} overlay
{BR} > of 2 spectrums. I can easily subtract the blank from the sample spot and
{BR} make
{BR} > it easy to identify what is (are) in the sample. I am sure some other
{BR} program
{BR} > may have this kind of function, but I have not seen.
{BR} >
{BR} > Zhiyu Wang
{BR} > zhiyuw-at-home.com
{BR} > I would be interested in seeing the responses as I am going to try and get
{BR} > funding next year for a replacement for our EDAX PV9100 on an Hitachi
{BR} s-450.
{BR} >
{BR} > Dave
{BR} > David.Patton-at-uwe.ac.uk
{BR} >
{BR} > --------------------------------------------------------------------------
{BR} ---
{BR} >
{BR} >
{BR} > We have been running EDX on SEMs and TEMs for many years. We used to have
{BR} a
{BR} > range of systems from Kevex, PGT, Noran, Link, EDAX, however a few years
{BR} ago
{BR} > we decided that we ought to standardize on one common system. After
{BR} evaluation
{BR} > we bought three Oxford Instruments ISIS systems. Whenever we have upgraded
{BR} or
{BR} > bought new systems they have been Oxford Instruments ISIS or now INCA.
{BR} >
{BR} > I have been happy with the ISIS except for the file handling that was not
{BR} > designed for a multi user facility such as ours (approx 120 EM users in
{BR} total
{BR} > roughly 25 to 30 swapping every year). I am really quite impressed by the
{BR} > INCA, Oxford Instruments are, at last, listening to the users and adding
{BR} user
{BR} > requested facilities. They have sorted out the file handling mess of the
{BR} ISIS
{BR} > and structured it well for an SEM user (not quite as well for a TEM user
{BR} but
{BR} > there are less of us). The software structure is quite intuitive and there
{BR} is
{BR} > a really impressive help menu and explanation of everything from the
{BR} physics
{BR} > of X-ray generation, how EM's work, how detectors work and how to analyze
{BR} > samples.
{BR} >
{BR} > Their detectors have always been good and the SATW (thin window detectors)
{BR} > still have a reasonable efficiency at low Z. B is possible but C is easy
{BR} and
{BR} > even the N peak is over 30% efficient (there is often a high absorption at
{BR} N).
{BR} >
{BR} > Another feature that is invaluable for TEM is the integral shutter that
{BR} will
{BR} > close when the count rate is too high. This protects the crystal, it
{BR} prevents
{BR} > it overloading and shutting down or worse the crystal efficiency may
{BR} change
{BR} > for a few minutes until it recovers fully. This may affects your
{BR} quantitative
{BR} > work. In TEM this is usually caused by hitting the grid bar and not really
{BR} a
{BR} > problem in SEM but I don't know what secondaries and ions you will have in
{BR} a
{BR} > variable pressure SEM. It could be useful for you, check with other high
{BR} > pressure SEM users.
{BR} >
{BR} > Regards,
{BR} > Ron
{BR} >
{BR} > Please note: Oxford Instruments have upgraded an ISIS to an INCA system in
{BR} my
{BR} > department, without charge, in return for access to the instrument for
{BR} > development projects and demonstrations for a fixed number of days. I
{BR} receive
{BR} > no benefit from this and the department has no benefit from Oxford
{BR} Instruments
{BR} > sales. I remain a thorn in the flesh of all our suppliers if I think they
{BR} > could improve their products or service.
{BR} > ron.doole-at-materials.oxford.ac.uk
{BR} >
{BR} >
{BR} > --------------------------------------------------------------------------
{BR} ----
{BR} >
{BR} >
{BR} > Hello,
{BR} > I am very familiar with the Oxford ISIS 300 series spectrometers. They are
{BR} > ok, and the new Inca system looks good too. However, I recently saw the
{BR} PGT
{BR} > spectrometer at Lehigh and it is very impressive.
{BR} >
{BR} > Steve
{BR} > Stephen_Skirius-at-bkitech.com
{BR} >
{BR} >
{BR} >
{BR} > --------------------------------------------------------------------------
{BR} >
{BR} >
{BR} > I'm also in the market for an EDS system and have looked at EDAX, Noran,
{BR} > PGT and Oxford.
{BR} >
{BR} > I edited out PGT because in order to quantify you have to optimize the
{BR} > system for the type of sample by playing with fudge factors, which none of
{BR} > the other systems have to do (though one of them, I think Noran, lets you
{BR} > adjust a sensitivity factor if you want to, but they didn't do it on my
{BR} > samples that were tested against known microprobe results and the answers
{BR} > were fine). I also eliminated Oxford, though it has a terrific user
{BR} > interface (maybe at the expense of functionality), because they
{BR} > consistently IDed my aluminum peaks as Br or Tm (!); this made me wonder
{BR} > about all their algorithms. They claim it had to do with the takeoff angle
{BR} > on the particular SEM being used, but that shouldn't be a factor.
{BR} >
{BR} > I like both EDAX and Noran, though for different reasons. EDAX user
{BR} > interface is better than Noran's, though again, I think Noran possibly
{BR} > offers more routines (it's hard to keep track and see absolutely
{BR} everything
{BR} > a system has to offer in a demo day....).Noran can multitask - work on
{BR} > several programs while a spectral map is being collected, for instance
{BR} > (does EDAX? I have to check). But EDAX has a beam skirt reduction routine
{BR} > for low vac mode (though it's time consuming, so a bit cumbersome), and
{BR} > their peak modeling is right up front - but Noran can put theirs up front
{BR} > also if you want to have it accessible (yes) and I think Noran might be a
{BR} > little better engineered.
{BR} >
{BR} > As you can see I'm still in a quandary (ditto for the two contending SEMs,
{BR} > LEO and ESEM). Whatever I decide I'll still be very interested in the
{BR} > results of your posting - especially if other folks' info comes in within
{BR} > the next week or so it would help in my decision too.
{BR} >
{BR} > I hope my input helps a little. Good luck with your quest!
{BR} >
{BR} > Dee Breger
{BR} > micro-at-ldeo.columbia.edu
{BR} >
{BR} >
{BR} > --------------------------------------------------------------------------
{BR} -
{BR} >
{BR} >
{BR} > I looked into Noran, EDAX, and PGT. Noran was quickly culled (less user
{BR} > friendly, less abilities, didn't work right during demo), but EDAX and PGT
{BR} > both seemed to have equivalent capabilities (PGT claimed a 'proprietary'
{BR} > signal amplifier/digitizer doohickey, but it was only in the placement.)
{BR} > For the long-time spectrum gathering (I forget the technical term), PGT
{BR} > makes many passes with short dwell times while EDAX dwells on each pixel
{BR} > much longer to collect data & does it in 1 pass. Kinda 6 of one, half
{BR} dozen
{BR} > of the other. What made us choose the EDAX Phoenix system was the fact
{BR} that
{BR} > the PGT software was UNIX-based (although hidden) while EDAX is PC-based.
{BR} > I've heard rumors that PGT is switching to PC-based; we purchased our
{BR} system
{BR} > in 1999. I've also heard that Noran has practically no service techs (but
{BR} > that may be an East coast thing.) We've been happy with the EDAX service,
{BR} > and I enjoyed their user school very much. By the way, our SEM is a
{BR} > variable pressure JEOL 5900, and it's integrated with the EDAX system.
{BR} >
{BR} > Hope I've been helpful,
{BR} >
{BR} > Jane L. LaGoy
{BR} > Development Engineer
{BR} > Bodycote IMT, Inc.
{BR} > 155 River Street
{BR} > Andover, MA 01810
{BR} > 978-470-1620
{BR} > jlagoy-at-bodycote-imt.com
{BR} >
{BR} >
{BR} >
{BR} >
{BR}
{BR} {/XMP} {/FONT} {FONT COLOR="#0f0f0f" SIZE=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Arial" LANG="0"}
{BR} {/FONT} {/HTML}

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I guess it was a slip:
In a sputter coater you can do rotary coating but shadowing is possible in
evaporators only.
For carbon coating the sputter coater would need an attachment for carbon
string evaporation, which may be used for SEM and analyses, but not in TEM.
Disclaimer: ProSciTech is the EMITECH instrument distributor in Australasia.
Cheers
Jim Darley

ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS
PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia
Ph +61 7 4774 0370 Fax:+61 7 4789 2313 service-at-proscitech.com
Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes
ABN: 99 724 136 560 www.proscitech.com

On Wednesday, April 11, 2001 5:18 AM, Gang Ning [SMTP:gning-at-mcw.edu] wrote:
}
}
} Hi All:
}
} I want to buy a new/used sputter coater which enables to do rotary
} shadowing as well as carbon coating. Any suggestions/input are
} appreciated.
}
} Greg Ning
}
} EM Facility
} Medical College of Wisconsin
}



From daemon Tue Apr 10 19:40:31 2001



From: Thomas, Larry (PNNL) :      Larry.Thomas-at-pnl.gov
Date: Tue, 10 Apr 2001 17:35:26 -0700
Subject: RE: Scanners

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


A colleague and I each recently bought Microtek scanners to scan TEM negatives.
I have the Artixscan 1100 and he has the Model 8700 which has similar
characteristics (actually higher resolution -1200dpi), 3.9 dmax at 42 bits color
(14 grayscale), and the glassless film carrier setup. The 8700 has USB and
Firewire interfaces and is cheaper ( {$1000), and the 1000 dpi Model 1100 has a
SCSI interface. You might want to check out the specs of the lower cost model
8700 on the microtekusa website if your computer can handle USB or Firewire.
Both scanners have performed up to our expectations, which I would characterize
as modest. Microtek does not supply a 3-1/4 x 4 " negative carrier for standard
size TEM film but you can easily make a serviceable one from stiff paper or
light cardboard.

How much scanner resolution should you buy? The answer depends on how you
intend to use it. Most applications do not require capturing the full
resolution of the negative. From a practical viewpoint, the scanner resolution
just determines how many times you can magnify the negative image to produce the
final print size. For example, to get a publication-size print at 300 dpi, an
image scanned at 1200 dpi scan could be zoomed 4X. A practical alternative to
spending more for higher scanning resolution is to take photos at higher
magnification. One exception is with lattice images from the TEM, which
(depending on the lattice fringe spacing on the negative) might require higher
scan resolutions to avoid getting a moire effect. (Of course, not everyone
agrees. My colleague prefers to always scan at the maximum resolution).

What does a Dmax of 3.9 mean to you? To me it means a very dark negative. D is
the log of the transmitted to incident intensity ratio. I wonder if users ever
actually verify the manufacturer's specs with a calibrated density target. A
Dmax of 3.9 can be useful for scanning TEM diffraction patterns that might have
high contrast, but TEM micrograph negatives of metals and ceramics generally
don't have that much contrast and biological thin section photos tend to have
rather weak contrast. If your negatives are simply dark, use shorter photo
exposure times. Scanning with maximum allowed grayscale resolutions (e.g., 14
bits rather than 8) is highly recommended if you intend to enhance or adjust
images, but that's another story.


Larry Thomas
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
MSIN P8-16
P.O. Box 999
Richland, WA 99352
Phone: (509)372-0793 Fax: (509)376-6308
Email: mailto:Larry.Thomas-at-pnl.gov



----------
From: Tom Phillips
Sent: Tuesday, April 10, 2001 11:22 AM
To: Alwyn Eades
Cc: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
Subject: Re: Scanners

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I too am about to buy and I would make a couple of comments on your
evaluation. First, let me remind everyone that the Dynamic range is
a log scale so small numerical differences are significant.

I also think the Nikon Coolscan 8000 looks great but it only takes a
2.5 x 3.5 negative which is smaller than my JEOL and Hitachi EM
negative sizes (~ 3 1/2 by 4 1/2"). Have these EM manufacturers gone
to a smaller film size or is Nikon using a non-Japanese EM as their
standard? seems odd but I don't see how the Nikon would be very
useful. You say a {2000 line scanner would be useful 9 out of 10
times but want the 2000+ lines for the occasional high res scan. I
would argue that the size of the negative was the more important
variable to be worried about. The Nikon couldn't handle 4x5 LM
negatives or transparencies from autoradiography of
Westerns/Northerns, etc.

My leading candidate is the ArtixScan 1100 has a Dmax of 3.9 (about
$1600 with SCSI card). This was has a 1000 x 2000 dpi resolution.
more details at www.microtek.com. This is my leading candidate. It
was 4 negative carriers and I await word whether one could be
modified to carry a 3 1/2 by 4 1/2 negative. At worst, I will have
my scientific instrumentation shop guys fabricate a holder. It comes
with a glass 8 x 10 glass carrier for odd size negs but I want to
avoid Newton rings and want a glassless carrier.

I would appreciate comments on the following argument (I think I have
this correctly figured out but am not sure since so many out there
seem to want to have a higher resolution scanner). I have a Fuji
Pictrography 3000 printer with a 400 dpi output that is as good as
any other widely available printer in the academic world. If you
figure the maximum published image size is about 8 inches, that would
mean the maximum image size be 3200 dpi wide. A 1000 dpi scan of my
negative would be 4500 x 3500 dpi. I could crop by about 28% or 10%
depending on the orientation of the negative and still be taking full
advantage of the printer resolution. In reality, most EM publication
prints are smaller than 8" wide so one could crop even more and still
not need more than 1000 dpi. A resolution } 1000 dpi would be
useful for subtle morphometric analysis but a 4000 dpi scan of a 3 x
4 negative would be 192 MB. That is pretty big for doing morphometry
on! A 1000 dpi scan of a 3.5 x 4.5" negative would be about 16 MB
and that is much more manageable. Perhaps the difference is in the
type of EM we are doing. I am working with biological specimens
doing standard thin section type stuff. are you doing some Material
Sci application that demands more?


I will be interested in Alwyn (and any others) reply since I hope to
buy one soon!


} .
}
}
} There was a thread recently on scanners for TEM film. I have looked up
} all the models mentioned, on the web and called agents for prices - and
} produced a comparative table, given below.
}
} I do not guarantee that the figures are accurate but they are my best
} interpretation of the data given.
}
} In the light of experience and Nestor's comments, I would suggest that
} 2000 dpi is a minimum for TEM negatives. You may be able to get away
} with less nine times out of ten, but there will be occasions when you
} need more.
} I would exclude the Minolta and all the Epsons from consideration
} (despite the incredibly low prices of some of the Epsons) because of
the
} low pixel density.
}
} Among the rest the Nikon has the best pixel density and the best
optical
} density (another critical parameter for TEM negatives). The price is
} very competitive too. The Nikon web site does not give a time for
} scanning a negative. On the face of it the Nikon would be a best buy
-
} get a separate, inexpensive flatbed scanner for the other work.
}
} These comments are all my own opinions based on manufacturers' data.
} Since we are considering purchase any comments to the contrary would be
} most welcome.
}
}
}
} Code Maker Model Type
}
}
}
} A Agfa DuoScan T2500 Flatbed
} -Transparency included
}
} B Epson 1640 several versions Flatbed
} -Transparency option
} 1680 several versions
}
} C 1600 several versions Flatbed
} -Transparency included
}
} D Imacon Flextight Precision II Drum -for
} film and large format
}
} E Minolta Dimage ScanMulti II Film
}
} F Nikon Super Coolscan 8000ED Film
}
} G Polaroid 45 Ultra Film
}
} H Umax Powerlook 3000 Flatbed
} -Transparency included
}
}
}
}
}
} Code dpi OD Time Price
} Opinion
} at 6 x 9 cm
}
}
} A 2500 x2500 3.4 3 min
} $4,500 Fair
}
} B 1600 x 3200 3.6
} $300-$3000 Poor
}
} $800-$1400 Poor
}
} C 1600 x 3200 3.3
} $650-$1160 Not suitable
}
} D 2240 x2240** 3.9/4.1 N/A above
} $10k Good: low pixel density
}
} E 1128 x 1128 3.6
} Not suitable
}
} F 4000 x 4000 4.2 N/A
} $2,695 V. Good
}
} G 2500 x 2500 3.8 5 min
} $7,495 Good but pricey
}
} H 3048 x 3048 3.6 3 min
} $6,499 Good
}
}
} --
} ..........
} Alwyn Eades
} Department of Materials Science and Engineering
} Lehigh University
} 5 East Packer Avenue
} Bethlehem
} Pennsylvania 18015-3195
} Phone 610 758 4231
} Fax 610 758 4244
} jae5-at-lehigh.edu

--
Thomas E. Phillips, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Biological Sciences
Director, Molecular Cytology Core Facility

3 Tucker Hall
Division of Biological Sciences
University of Missouri
Columbia, MO 65211-7400
(573)-882-4712 (voice)
(573)-882-0123 (fax)




From daemon Wed Apr 11 05:59:20 2001



From: Allen R. Sampson :      ars-at-sem.com
Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2001 05:47:58 -0500
Subject: RE: Scanners: quantitative accuracy

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


Noise is only part of the problem, or solution, when considering a
quantitative approach to scanning in negative or positive images. Since
noise in electronic detection systems is largely dependent on temperature,
that must also be brought into consideration. But the characteristics of
the detector can be even more important. An array type device, such as a
CCD, can have characteristics that vary from pixel to pixel as sensitivity,
dynamic range and noise susceptibility. Your desire for a Consumer's
Report on scanners is probably most appropriate as these various effects
are difficult, if not impossible, to measure in a lab. Even if possible,
these measurements may not be extendable to similar machines that aren't
individually tested. Best to try to find a consensus on visual traits.

On Tuesday, April 10, 2001 7:50 AM, Sinkler, Wharton
[SMTP:WSinkler-at-uop.com] wrote:
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------
} The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
} To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com
} On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html
} -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
}
}
}
} Laurie and Gary,
}
} Would noise be a good criterion? Say, for a perfectly evenly darkened
film
} (if such a thing existed, or at least even on a scale { { collected pixel
} size) - what is the value of the noise (standard deviation of pixel
value)
} as a function of film darkness (density)?
}
} This would presumably improve with the time of collection. Thus how
"good"
} your scanner is depends on how you run it or whether it lets you take a
} slower scan or to average multiple scans. With the exception of drum
} scanners these devices all use CCD arrays. So what is probably most of
} interest is the signal to noise ratio as a function of illumination
} intensity, with everything known about CCD's going into determining this.
} The maximum density the scanner can handle is just the point at which the
} noise swamps the signal.
}
} There must be some good literature out there on the sources of noise,
} optimizing collection (scan) time etc. One article which might be a
} starting point is:
}
} G. H. Campbell, W. E. King and D. Cohen "Analysis of Experimental Error
in
} High Resolution Electron Micrographs", Microscopy and Microanalysis vol.
3
} (1997) p. 451.
}
} This is not very detailed, and treats only the total random noise, i.e.
} grouping noise arising in collecting the image with that arising from the
} scanner.
}
} Now, finding a good "Consumer Report" test with hard numbers on
commercial
} models is likely to be a lot harder!
}
} Wharton
}
} } -----Original Message-----
} } From: Gary Gaugler [SMTP:gary-at-gaugler.com]
} } Sent: Monday, April 09, 2001 10:37 PM
} } To: L. D. Marks
} } Cc: MSA listserver
} } Subject: Re: Scanners: quantitative accuracy
} }
} } --------------------------------------------------------------------
----
} } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
} } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to
ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com
} } On-Line Help
http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html
} }
-----------------------------------------------------------------------.
} }
} }
} } How do you define "quantitative digitization?" i.e., what
} } variables are you dealing with in this respect? What are
} } the "absolute terms?"
} }
} } Anyone else have some ideas about this topic?
} }
} } gg
} }
} }
} } At 10:10 AM 4/9/2001, you wrote:
} }
} } } I have been listening to the thread on scanners. Has anyone done
} } } tests of how accurate they are in absolute terms for quantitative
} } } digitization?
} } }
} } } -------------------------------------------------------
} } } Laurence Marks
} } } Department of Materials Science and Engineering &
} } } Center for Transportation Nanotechnology
} } } Northwestern University
} } } Tel: (847) 491-3996 Fax: (847) 491-7820
} } } mailto:ldm-at-risc4.numis.nwu.edu
} } } http://www.numis.nwu.edu http://www.ctn.northwestern.edu
} }
}
}


Allen R. Sampson, Owner
Advanced Research Systems
317 North 4th. Street
St. Charles, Illinois 60174
voice 630.513.7093 fax 630.513.7092



From daemon Wed Apr 11 09:02:41 2001



From: mckaylodge-at-aol.com ()
Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2001 08:59:24 -0500
Subject: Ask-A-Microscopist:Help Cleaning Lenses

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html



Email: mckaylodge-at-aol.com
Name: Robert Lodge

Organization: McKay Lodge Home School

Education: 9-12th Grade High School

Location: Oberlin, OH 44074

Question: My student accidently got immersion oil on the 40x Leica
Plan Acromat. I took a chance and used a fine artist's brush and
xylene to clean it recalling (I may be wrong) that lens adhesives are
soluble in alcohols not xylene, toluene and similar. Well, the lens
didn't fall out. Too bad because I need an excuse to upgrade! If (or
when) this happens again, what would you recommend for cleaning?

Bob Lodge

---------------------------------------------------------------------------


From daemon Wed Apr 11 09:02:44 2001



From: kunikova-at-mtf.stuba.sk ()
Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2001 08:58:46 -0500
Subject: Ask-A-Microscopist:TEM thinning of austenitic stainless

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html



Email: kunikova-at-mtf.stuba.sk
Name: terezia Kunikova

Organization: Faculty of Materils scince and technology, Slovak
University of Technology in Bratislava

Education: Undergraduate College

Location: Trnava, Slovakia

Question: Hi,
I am searching for suitable solution for final thinning of austenitic stainless
steel specimen for transmission electron microscopy.

Thank you.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------


From daemon Wed Apr 11 09:10:38 2001



From: DMoravits-at-swri.edu
Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2001 9:06:57 CDT
Subject: Microtome of Bone

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


Does anyone out there have any experience microtoming bone that has NOT been
decalcified? Is it even possible? I'm hoping to be able to have an answer for
the admin people--prior to simply trying it out and possibly damaging my
diamond knife.

Don Moravits
Senior Technician
Southwest Research Institute
6220 Culebra Road
San Antonio, Texas 78238

Voice-210-522-2891
Fax-210-522-6220
E-Mail-dmoravits-at-swri.edu


From daemon Wed Apr 11 09:14:24 2001



From: timothy.quinn-at-tufts.edu
Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2001 10:09:52 -0400
Subject: Infiltration of feathers

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


Hello everybody,

I am embedding feather barbs which are mostly spongey dry collagen with keratin
and small air pockets.

I am attempting Jan Dycks method-

1. 0.25 M NaOH 30 mins
2. formic acid / absolute alcohol 2:3 2 hrs ( to fill air pockets with
solution)
3. 15% epon / propylene oxide 3 days
4. standard graduated increase of epon / dehydrant

Any other suggestions? Possibly from other similar material such as plant
material.

Thanks

Tim Quinn
Kansas University
Museum of Natural History
Lawrence, KS
785-864-4556


From daemon Wed Apr 11 10:30:31 2001



From: Tom Phillips :      PhillipsT-at-missouri.edu
Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2001 10:22:19 -0500
Subject: RE: Scanners

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


I would love to take advantage of the Firewire option but my
information is that the 8700 has a Dmax of 3.4 vs the 3.9 for the
1100. That is a significant difference. Do EM negatives of
biological thin sections reach that? I think so. I do a lot of EM
immunocytochemistry and have to look for gold (intensely black)
against a very dark tissue component so I am hoping the higher Dmax
improves my results. I frequently scan negatives on a Umax 1100
(Dmax 3.4??) and can't differentiate the gold from the background
although by eye I can discriminate them when the negative is placed
on a light box. Changing my exposure would give me an unuseable
image for the rest of the tissue. Maybe this is an extreme case but
I suspect that lots of "dark organelles" (e.g., lysosomes, nuclei)
have fine structure that get lost in the scanning with a low Dmax
scanner. Tom


} A colleague and I each recently bought Microtek scanners to scan TEM
} negatives.
} I have the Artixscan 1100 and he has the Model 8700 which has similar
} characteristics (actually higher resolution -1200dpi), 3.9 dmax at
} 42 bits color
} (14 grayscale), and the glassless film carrier setup. The 8700 has USB and
} Firewire interfaces and is cheaper ( {$1000), and the 1000 dpi Model 1100 has a
} SCSI interface. You might want to check out the specs of the lower cost model
} 8700 on the microtekusa website if your computer can handle USB or Firewire.
} Both scanners have performed up to our expectations, which I would
} characterize
} as modest. Microtek does not supply a 3-1/4 x 4 " negative carrier
} for standard
} size TEM film but you can easily make a serviceable one from stiff paper or
} light cardboard.
}
} How much scanner resolution should you buy? The answer depends on how you
} intend to use it. Most applications do not require capturing the full
} resolution of the negative. From a practical viewpoint, the scanner
} resolution
} just determines how many times you can magnify the negative image to
} produce the
} final print size. For example, to get a publication-size print at 300 dpi, an
} image scanned at 1200 dpi scan could be zoomed 4X. A practical alternative to
} spending more for higher scanning resolution is to take photos at higher
} magnification. One exception is with lattice images from the TEM, which
} (depending on the lattice fringe spacing on the negative) might require higher
} scan resolutions to avoid getting a moire effect. (Of course, not everyone
} agrees. My colleague prefers to always scan at the maximum resolution).
}
} What does a Dmax of 3.9 mean to you? To me it means a very dark
} negative. D is
} the log of the transmitted to incident intensity ratio. I wonder if
} users ever
} actually verify the manufacturer's specs with a calibrated density target. A
} Dmax of 3.9 can be useful for scanning TEM diffraction patterns that
} might have
} high contrast, but TEM micrograph negatives of metals and ceramics generally
} don't have that much contrast and biological thin section photos tend to have
} rather weak contrast. If your negatives are simply dark, use shorter photo
} exposure times. Scanning with maximum allowed grayscale resolutions (e.g., 14
} bits rather than 8) is highly recommended if you intend to enhance or adjust
} images, but that's another story.
}
}
} Larry Thomas
} Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
} MSIN P8-16
} P.O. Box 999
} Richland, WA 99352
} Phone: (509)372-0793 Fax: (509)376-6308
} Email: mailto:Larry.Thomas-at-pnl.gov
}
}
}
} ----------
} From: Tom Phillips
} Sent: Tuesday, April 10, 2001 11:22 AM
} To: Alwyn Eades
} Cc: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
} Subject: Re: Scanners
}
}
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------
} The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
} To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to
} ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com
} On-Line Help
} http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html
}
} -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
}
}
} I too am about to buy and I would make a couple of comments on your
} evaluation. First, let me remind everyone that the Dynamic range is
} a log scale so small numerical differences are significant.
}
} I also think the Nikon Coolscan 8000 looks great but it only takes a
} 2.5 x 3.5 negative which is smaller than my JEOL and Hitachi EM
} negative sizes (~ 3 1/2 by 4 1/2"). Have these EM manufacturers gone
} to a smaller film size or is Nikon using a non-Japanese EM as their
} standard? seems odd but I don't see how the Nikon would be very
} useful. You say a {2000 line scanner would be useful 9 out of 10
} times but want the 2000+ lines for the occasional high res scan. I
} would argue that the size of the negative was the more important
} variable to be worried about. The Nikon couldn't handle 4x5 LM
} negatives or transparencies from autoradiography of
} Westerns/Northerns, etc.
}
} My leading candidate is the ArtixScan 1100 has a Dmax of 3.9 (about
} $1600 with SCSI card). This was has a 1000 x 2000 dpi resolution.
} more details at www.microtek.com. This is my leading candidate. It
} was 4 negative carriers and I await word whether one could be
} modified to carry a 3 1/2 by 4 1/2 negative. At worst, I will have
} my scientific instrumentation shop guys fabricate a holder. It comes
} with a glass 8 x 10 glass carrier for odd size negs but I want to
} avoid Newton rings and want a glassless carrier.
}
} I would appreciate comments on the following argument (I think I have
} this correctly figured out but am not sure since so many out there
} seem to want to have a higher resolution scanner). I have a Fuji
} Pictrography 3000 printer with a 400 dpi output that is as good as
} any other widely available printer in the academic world. If you
} figure the maximum published image size is about 8 inches, that would
} mean the maximum image size be 3200 dpi wide. A 1000 dpi scan of my
} negative would be 4500 x 3500 dpi. I could crop by about 28% or 10%
} depending on the orientation of the negative and still be taking full
} advantage of the printer resolution. In reality, most EM publication
} prints are smaller than 8" wide so one could crop even more and still
} not need more than 1000 dpi. A resolution } 1000 dpi would be
} useful for subtle morphometric analysis but a 4000 dpi scan of a 3 x
} 4 negative would be 192 MB. That is pretty big for doing morphometry
} on! A 1000 dpi scan of a 3.5 x 4.5" negative would be about 16 MB
} and that is much more manageable. Perhaps the difference is in the
} type of EM we are doing. I am working with biological specimens
} doing standard thin section type stuff. are you doing some Material
} Sci application that demands more?
}
}
} I will be interested in Alwyn (and any others) reply since I hope to
} buy one soon!
}
}
} } .
} }
} }
} } There was a thread recently on scanners for TEM film. I
} have looked up
} } all the models mentioned, on the web and called agents for
} prices - and
} } produced a comparative table, given below.
} }
} } I do not guarantee that the figures are accurate but they are my best
} } interpretation of the data given.
} }
} } In the light of experience and Nestor's comments, I would suggest that
} } 2000 dpi is a minimum for TEM negatives. You may be able to get away
} } with less nine times out of ten, but there will be occasions when you
} } need more.
} } I would exclude the Minolta and all the Epsons from consideration
} } (despite the incredibly low prices of some of the Epsons) because of
} the
} } low pixel density.
} }
} } Among the rest the Nikon has the best pixel density and the best
} optical
} } density (another critical parameter for TEM negatives). The price is
} } very competitive too. The Nikon web site does not give a time for
} } scanning a negative. On the face of it the Nikon would be a best buy
} -
} } get a separate, inexpensive flatbed scanner for the other work.
} }
} } These comments are all my own opinions based on manufacturers' data.
} } Since we are considering purchase any comments to the
} contrary would be
} } most welcome.
} }
} }
} }
} } Code Maker Model Type
} }
} }
} }
} } A Agfa DuoScan T2500 Flatbed
} } -Transparency included
} }
} } B Epson 1640 several versions Flatbed
} } -Transparency option
} } 1680 several versions
} }
} } C 1600 several versions Flatbed
} } -Transparency included
} }
} } D Imacon Flextight Precision II Drum -for
} } film and large format
} }
} } E Minolta Dimage ScanMulti II Film
} }
} } F Nikon Super Coolscan 8000ED Film
} }
} } G Polaroid 45 Ultra Film
} }
} } H Umax Powerlook 3000 Flatbed
} } -Transparency included
} }
} }
} }
} }
} }
} } Code dpi OD Time Price
} } Opinion
} } at 6 x 9 cm
} }
} }
} } A 2500 x2500 3.4 3 min
} } $4,500 Fair
} }
} } B 1600 x 3200 3.6
} } $300-$3000 Poor
} }
} } $800-$1400 Poor
} }
} } C 1600 x 3200 3.3
} } $650-$1160 Not suitable
} }
} } D 2240 x2240** 3.9/4.1 N/A above
} } $10k Good: low pixel density
} }
} } E 1128 x 1128 3.6
} } Not suitable
} }
} } F 4000 x 4000 4.2 N/A
} } $2,695 V. Good
} }
} } G 2500 x 2500 3.8 5 min
} } $7,495 Good but pricey
} }
} } H 3048 x 3048 3.6 3 min
} } $6,499 Good
} }
} }
} } --
} } ..........
} } Alwyn Eades
} } Department of Materials Science and Engineering
} } Lehigh University
} } 5 East Packer Avenue
} } Bethlehem
} } Pennsylvania 18015-3195
} } Phone 610 758 4231
} } Fax 610 758 4244
} } jae5-at-lehigh.edu
}
} --
} Thomas E. Phillips, Ph.D.
} Associate Professor of Biological Sciences
} Director, Molecular Cytology Core Facility
}
} 3 Tucker Hall
} Division of Biological Sciences
} University of Missouri
} Columbia, MO 65211-7400
} (573)-882-4712 (voice)
} (573)-882-0123 (fax)

--
Thomas E. Phillips, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Biological Sciences
Director, Molecular Cytology Core Facility

3 Tucker Hall
Division of Biological Sciences
University of Missouri
Columbia, MO 65211-7400
(573)-882-4712 (voice)
(573)-882-0123 (fax)


From daemon Wed Apr 11 10:43:36 2001



From: Connie A Cummings/students/Cvm :      rosscac-at-cvm.okstate.edu
Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2001 10:39:08 -0500
Subject: multiple staining grids

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


Does anyone know where I can find a multiple staining device for TEM grids
using UA and Reynolds lead citrate that will result in CLEAN grids.
Thank you
Connie
rosscac-at-okstate.edu



From daemon Wed Apr 11 11:23:40 2001



From: Caroline Schooley :      schooley-at-mcn.org
Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2001 09:14:27 -0700
Subject: Re: Ask-A-Microscopist: microscope kit

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


} Name: Kade
} Organization: RMIT Melbourne Australia
} Education: Graduate College
} Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
}
} Question: Hi, I have just purchased a microscope, a good biological
} one. I need a microscope kit but nobody sells them around here.
} Anyway already I have glass slides and covers. I have read some on
} microscopy and I need an adhesive, resin I think its called to
} prepare slides? is this true?
} Also some ink to stain specimens. What are the names of all these
} chemicals so I can buy them all seperatly since no one sells them all
} together.

Kade -

You need a book on "microtechnique" plus a general idea of the types of
specimens that you want to look at, BEFORE you start ordering things. Even
tho you've "read some on microscopy " you could start with this book:

Nachtigall, W. 1995 Exploring With the Microscope 160 pp. hardbound.
6.5x9.5". $19.95. ISBN 0-8069-0866-1 Sterling Publishing Co., NY.
Although this book is intended for adult amateur microscopists, it
is well written and will provide teachers and classroom volunteers with
much useful information on "serious" light microscopy. Almost half of the
book is devoted to simple preparation methods for biological specimens and
descriptions (with gool illustrations) of commonly encountered organisms.
Adult. RECOMMENDED

You will find a lot of help on the amateur microscopy website
http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk

Both of these listings are from the Project MICRO bibliography (URL below).


Caroline Schooley
Project MICRO Coordinator
Microscopy Society of America
Box 117, 45301 Caspar Point Road
Caspar, CA 95420
Phone/FAX (707)964-9460
Project MICRO: http://www.msa.microscopy.com/ProjectMicro/PMHomePage.html
Intertidal invertebrates: http://www.fortbragg.k12.ca.us/AG/marinelab.html




From daemon Wed Apr 11 12:04:18 2001



From: Thomas, Larry (PNNL) :      Larry.Thomas-at-pnl.gov
Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2001 09:58:46 -0700
Subject: RE: Scanners

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


Your information is correct and mine is not. The Dmax of the 8700 is 3.4.



Larry

----------
From: Tom Phillips
Sent: Wednesday, April 11, 2001 8:22 AM
To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
Cc: jae5-at-lehigh.edu; Thomas, Larry (PNNL)
Subject: RE: Scanners

I would love to take advantage of the Firewire option but my
information is that the 8700 has a Dmax of 3.4 vs the 3.9 for the
1100. That is a significant difference. Do EM negatives of
biological thin sections reach that? I think so. I do a lot of EM
immunocytochemistry and have to look for gold (intensely black)
against a very dark tissue component so I am hoping the higher Dmax
improves my results. I frequently scan negatives on a Umax 1100
(Dmax 3.4??) and can't differentiate the gold from the background
although by eye I can discriminate them when the negative is placed
on a light box. Changing my exposure would give me an unuseable
image for the rest of the tissue. Maybe this is an extreme case but
I suspect that lots of "dark organelles" (e.g., lysosomes, nuclei)
have fine structure that get lost in the scanning with a low Dmax
scanner. Tom


} A colleague and I each recently bought Microtek scanners to scan TEM
} negatives.
} I have the Artixscan 1100 and he has the Model 8700 which has similar
} characteristics (actually higher resolution -1200dpi), 3.9 dmax at
} 42 bits color
} (14 grayscale), and the glassless film carrier setup. The 8700 has USB
and
} Firewire interfaces and is cheaper ( {$1000), and the 1000 dpi Model
1100 has a
} SCSI interface. You might want to check out the specs of the lower
cost model
} 8700 on the microtekusa website if your computer can handle USB or
Firewire.
} Both scanners have performed up to our expectations, which I would
} characterize
} as modest. Microtek does not supply a 3-1/4 x 4 " negative carrier
} for standard
} size TEM film but you can easily make a serviceable one from stiff
paper or
} light cardboard.
}
} How much scanner resolution should you buy? The answer depends on how
you
} intend to use it. Most applications do not require capturing the full
} resolution of the negative. From a practical viewpoint, the scanner
} resolution
} just determines how many times you can magnify the negative image to
} produce the
} final print size. For example, to get a publication-size print at 300
dpi, an
} image scanned at 1200 dpi scan could be zoomed 4X. A practical
alternative to
} spending more for higher scanning resolution is to take photos at
higher
} magnification. One exception is with lattice images from the TEM,
which
} (depending on the lattice fringe spacing on the negative) might require
higher
} scan resolutions to avoid getting a moire effect. (Of course, not
everyone
} agrees. My colleague prefers to always scan at the maximum resolution).
}
} What does a Dmax of 3.9 mean to you? To me it means a very dark
} negative. D is
} the log of the transmitted to incident intensity ratio. I wonder if
} users ever
} actually verify the manufacturer's specs with a calibrated density
target. A
} Dmax of 3.9 can be useful for scanning TEM diffraction patterns that
} might have
} high contrast, but TEM micrograph negatives of metals and ceramics
generally
} don't have that much contrast and biological thin section photos tend
to have
} rather weak contrast. If your negatives are simply dark, use shorter
photo
} exposure times. Scanning with maximum allowed grayscale resolutions
(e.g., 14
} bits rather than 8) is highly recommended if you intend to enhance or
adjust
} images, but that's another story.
}
}
} Larry Thomas
} Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
} MSIN P8-16
} P.O. Box 999
} Richland, WA 99352
} Phone: (509)372-0793 Fax: (509)376-6308
} Email: mailto:Larry.Thomas-at-pnl.gov
}
}
}
} ----------
} From: Tom Phillips
} Sent: Tuesday, April 10, 2001 11:22 AM
} To: Alwyn Eades
} Cc: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
} Subject: Re: Scanners
}
}
}
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}
}
} I too am about to buy and I would make a couple of comments on
your
} evaluation. First, let me remind everyone that the Dynamic
range is
} a log scale so small numerical differences are significant.
}
} I also think the Nikon Coolscan 8000 looks great but it only
takes a
} 2.5 x 3.5 negative which is smaller than my JEOL and Hitachi EM
} negative sizes (~ 3 1/2 by 4 1/2"). Have these EM manufacturers
gone
} to a smaller film size or is Nikon using a non-Japanese EM as
their
} standard? seems odd but I don't see how the Nikon would be very
} useful. You say a {2000 line scanner would be useful 9 out of
10
} times but want the 2000+ lines for the occasional high res scan.
I
} would argue that the size of the negative was the more important
} variable to be worried about. The Nikon couldn't handle 4x5 LM
} negatives or transparencies from autoradiography of
} Westerns/Northerns, etc.
}
} My leading candidate is the ArtixScan 1100 has a Dmax of 3.9
(about
} $1600 with SCSI card). This was has a 1000 x 2000 dpi
resolution.
} more details at www.microtek.com. This is my leading candidate.
It
} was 4 negative carriers and I await word whether one could be
} modified to carry a 3 1/2 by 4 1/2 negative. At worst, I will
have
} my scientific instrumentation shop guys fabricate a holder. It
comes
} with a glass 8 x 10 glass carrier for odd size negs but I want
to
} avoid Newton rings and want a glassless carrier.
}
} I would appreciate comments on the following argument (I think I
have
} this correctly figured out but am not sure since so many out
there
} seem to want to have a higher resolution scanner). I have a
Fuji
} Pictrography 3000 printer with a 400 dpi output that is as good
as
} any other widely available printer in the academic world. If
you
} figure the maximum published image size is about 8 inches, that
would
} mean the maximum image size be 3200 dpi wide. A 1000 dpi scan
of my
} negative would be 4500 x 3500 dpi. I could crop by about 28% or
10%
} depending on the orientation of the negative and still be taking
full
} advantage of the printer resolution. In reality, most EM
publication
} prints are smaller than 8" wide so one could crop even more and
still
} not need more than 1000 dpi. A resolution } 1000 dpi would be
} useful for subtle morphometric analysis but a 4000 dpi scan of a
3 x
} 4 negative would be 192 MB. That is pretty big for doing
morphometry
} on! A 1000 dpi scan of a 3.5 x 4.5" negative would be about 16
MB
} and that is much more manageable. Perhaps the difference is in
the
} type of EM we are doing. I am working with biological specimens
} doing standard thin section type stuff. are you doing some
Material
} Sci application that demands more?
}
}
} I will be interested in Alwyn (and any others) reply since I
hope to
} buy one soon!
}
}
} } .
} }
} }
} } There was a thread recently on scanners for TEM film. I
} have looked up
} } all the models mentioned, on the web and called agents for
} prices - and
} } produced a comparative table, given below.
} }
} } I do not guarantee that the figures are accurate but they are
my best
} } interpretation of the data given.
} }
} } In the light of experience and Nestor's comments, I would
suggest that
} } 2000 dpi is a minimum for TEM negatives. You may be able to get
away
} } with less nine times out of ten, but there will be occasions
when you
} } need more.
} } I would exclude the Minolta and all the Epsons from
consideration
} } (despite the incredibly low prices of some of the Epsons)
because of
} the
} } low pixel density.
} }
} } Among the rest the Nikon has the best pixel density and the
best
} optical
} } density (another critical parameter for TEM negatives). The
price is
} } very competitive too. The Nikon web site does not give a time
for
} } scanning a negative. On the face of it the Nikon would be a
best buy
} -
} } get a separate, inexpensive flatbed scanner for the other work.
} }
} } These comments are all my own opinions based on manufacturers'
data.
} } Since we are considering purchase any comments to the
} contrary would be
} } most welcome.
} }
} }
} }
} } Code Maker Model Type
} }
} }
} }
} } A Agfa DuoScan T2500 Flatbed
} } -Transparency included
} }
} } B Epson 1640 several versions Flatbed
} } -Transparency option
} } 1680 several versions
} }
} } C 1600 several versions Flatbed
} } -Transparency included
} }
} } D Imacon Flextight Precision II Drum
-for
} } film and large format
} }
} } E Minolta Dimage ScanMulti II Film
} }
} } F Nikon Super Coolscan 8000ED Film
} }
} } G Polaroid 45 Ultra Film
} }
} } H Umax Powerlook 3000 Flatbed
} } -Transparency included
} }
} }
} }
} }
} }
} } Code dpi OD Time
Price
} } Opinion
} } at 6 x 9 cm
} }
} }
} } A 2500 x2500 3.4 3 min
} } $4,500 Fair
} }
} } B 1600 x 3200 3.6
} } $300-$3000 Poor
} }
} } $800-$1400 Poor
} }
} } C 1600 x 3200 3.3
} } $650-$1160 Not suitable
} }
} } D 2240 x2240** 3.9/4.1 N/A
above
} } $10k Good: low pixel density
} }
} } E 1128 x 1128 3.6
} } Not suitable
} }
} } F 4000 x 4000 4.2 N/A
} } $2,695 V. Good
} }
} } G 2500 x 2500 3.8 5 min
} } $7,495 Good but pricey
} }
} } H 3048 x 3048 3.6 3 min
} } $6,499 Good
} }
} }
} } --
} } ..........
} } Alwyn Eades
} } Department of Materials Science and Engineering
} } Lehigh University
} } 5 East Packer Avenue
} } Bethlehem
} } Pennsylvania 18015-3195
} } Phone 610 758 4231
} } Fax 610 758 4244
} } jae5-at-lehigh.edu
}
} --
} Thomas E. Phillips, Ph.D.
} Associate Professor of Biological Sciences
} Director, Molecular Cytology Core Facility
}
} 3 Tucker Hall
} Division of Biological Sciences
} University of Missouri
} Columbia, MO 65211-7400
} (573)-882-4712 (voice)
} (573)-882-0123 (fax)

--
Thomas E. Phillips, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Biological Sciences
Director, Molecular Cytology Core Facility

3 Tucker Hall
Division of Biological Sciences
University of Missouri
Columbia, MO 65211-7400
(573)-882-4712 (voice)
(573)-882-0123 (fax)




From daemon Wed Apr 11 13:05:12 2001



From: christine :      ac.richardson2-at-btinternet.com
Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2001 18:59:24 +0100
Subject: Autoradiograph film

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


Dear all,
We are having a great deal of difficulty getting hold of our normal film
"Tritiated Hyper film" for use with tritiated ligands.
Does any one out there know of a local supplier (U.K.)

Thanks in advance,

P.S Thank you Nestor for all your help.



From daemon Wed Apr 11 16:06:42 2001



From: Dorothy Roak Sorenson :      dsoren-at-umich.edu
Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2001 17:00:20 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Re: Ask-A-Microscopist:Help Cleaning Lenses

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


Robert,

We use 70 % isopropanol to clean emersion oil off of our lenses.

Dotty Sorenson
Microscopy and Image Analysis Laboratory
Department of Cell and Developmental Biology
University of Michigan Medical School
Ann Arbor, Michigan
(734)763-1170
FAX (734)763-1166
dsoren-at-umich.edu

On Wed, 11 Apr 2001 mckaylodge-at-aol.com wrote:

} ------------------------------------------------------------------------
} The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
} To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com
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} -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
}
}
}
} Email: mckaylodge-at-aol.com
} Name: Robert Lodge
}
} Organization: McKay Lodge Home School
}
} Education: 9-12th Grade High School
}
} Location: Oberlin, OH 44074
}
} Question: My student accidently got immersion oil on the 40x Leica
} Plan Acromat. I took a chance and used a fine artist's brush and
} xylene to clean it recalling (I may be wrong) that lens adhesives are
} soluble in alcohols not xylene, toluene and similar. Well, the lens
} didn't fall out. Too bad because I need an excuse to upgrade! If (or
} when) this happens again, what would you recommend for cleaning?
}
} Bob Lodge
}
} ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
}



From daemon Wed Apr 11 17:13:51 2001



From: Richard Gardiner :      rbgardiner-at-home.com
Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2001 18:08:40 -0400
Subject: Re: Particle Concentration Determination

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Has anyone had experience in determining the concentration of particles
in a solution by counting on EM grids in a similar way to using a
haemocytometer? Is it possible to count the particles in a defined
number of grid squares then calculate back to the area of the grid and
the amount of solution which was applied and allowed to dry down?

Richard Gardiner
Department of Plant Sciences
University of Western Ontario



From daemon Wed Apr 11 17:30:56 2001



From: jmkrupp-at-cats.ucsc.edu (Jon Krupp)
Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2001 15:25:01 -0700
Subject: Kodabrome II RC discontinued?

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


Hi:

Just tried to order some Kodabrome II RC paper, grade F5. Vendor says it is
discontinued. Any suggestions for an alternative? We have been using
Kodabrome RC II for a long time with a Mohr processor. How about
Polycontrast RC? Or is this the beginning of the end for old fashioned
darkrooms?

Jonathan Krupp
Microscopy & Imaging Lab
University of California
Santa Cruz, CA 95064
(831) 459-2477
jmkrupp-at-cats.ucsc.edu




From daemon Wed Apr 11 17:45:28 2001



From: Bernard Kestel :      kestel-at-anl.gov
Date: 11 Apr 01 17:41:01 -0600
Subject: Film Processing for Computer Scanners:

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The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America



One of the big advantages of computer printing of TEM images is the
ability to adjust the contrast of the final image. However, to prevent
generating a negative that has completely overexposed areas which are
difficult to salvage by any means-such as one may get with metal or ceramic
specimens-an alternative film developer may help.
There are two bath "split" developers which lower contrast to
manageable levels, in effect chemically "dodging" a developing negative. Fixing is
carried out normally. I'm told biological specimens don't usually need
such treatment.
I have no financial interest in the following company, but I am
pleased with the results obtained with their developer called Diafine. It is
made by Acufine Inc., 5441 North Kedzie Ave. Chicago, Il., 60625.

Bernard Kestel E-mail: {kestel-at-anl.gov}
Materials Science Division
Argonne National Laboratory
Argonne, Il., 60439



From daemon Wed Apr 11 19:15:22 2001



From: jgh7f0-at-mizzou.edu ()
Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2001 19:12:36 -0500
Subject: Ask-A-Microscopist: Looking for image of S. Agalactiae

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Below is the result of your feedback form. It was submitted by
(jgh7f0-at-mizzou.edu) from
http://www.msa.microscopy.com/Ask-A-Microscopist.html on Wednesday,
April 11, 2001 at 14:32:21
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Email: jgh7f0-at-mizzou.edu
Name: john harris

Organization: university of missouri-columbia

Education: Undergraduate College

Location: Columbia, Missouri

Question: Dear Sir or Madam;
i am looking for an image of S. Agalactiae attached to
an epithelial cell or some other gram + cocci.

thank you for your time, enery and efforts.

sincerely,
jgh

---------------------------------------------------------------------------


From daemon Wed Apr 11 20:50:46 2001



From: Gary Gaugler :      gary-at-gaugler.com
Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2001 18:52:05 -0700
Subject: Re: Kodabrome II RC discontinued?

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Kodabrome is for sure an old product. But a good one.
I quit using it long ago in favor of Ilford paper. Ilford
makes RC paper--but my work has only been output to archival
fiber paper. But I suspect that the RC quality is still up to par.

I use plain matte for normal prints--and archival matte fiber
for fine art prints (nudes, etc.). I use a Kreonite processor
for the print papers. All b/w neg media is hand processed
in separate roll holders (Nikor). My normal format is 6x4.5cm
and 6x7cm. The same recipes would apply to other formats.

I did some 4x5" work in prior years and do the same
mechanics today.

Try some Ilford paper.

gary g.

http://photoweb.net



At 03:25 PM 4/11/2001, you wrote:
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From daemon Wed Apr 11 21:20:27 2001



From: Gary Gaugler :      gary-at-gaugler.com
Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2001 19:21:51 -0700
Subject: Re: Film Processing for Computer Scanners:

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Wow...this is really deja vu. I used Diafine and Acufine
way many years ago. At that time, the issue was push
processing. Today, the zone system prevails. Using the
zone system does not require special chemicals. It is a
matter of how the neg is rated and how it is processed.

Look up some of Ansel Adams' works (The Negative).
The main idea is to adjust your neg's EV for total tonal
range such that it can be printed with less than bone
crushing effort.

All of my fine art prints are shot and printed using this
process.

gary g.

http://photoweb.net


At 04:41 PM 4/11/2001, you wrote:
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From daemon Thu Apr 12 00:16:02 2001



From: Gordon Couger :      gcouger-at-couger.com
Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2001 00:10:54 -0500
Subject: Re: Kodabrome II RC discontinued?

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


I used Illiford RC paper for a long time and I liked it better than
anything else I have ever used. It may be just be personal preference but
it seemed to have brighter higlights and blacker blacks than I could get
with other RC papers. Just be sure and get Illford filters to go with it.
One other nice thing is it has a matt finsh as well as glossy if you don't
want glossy prints. The matt will scan great. It doesn't have texture
problems like most pearl or simi-glossy papers have. The matt finish
displays a lot better than glossy finsh IMHO.

Gordon
Gordon Couger gcouger-at-couger.com
Stillwater, OK www.couger.com/gcouger


} From: "Gary Gaugler" {gary-at-gaugler.com}

} Kodabrome is for sure an old product. But a good one.
} I quit using it long ago in favor of Ilford paper. Ilford
} makes RC paper--but my work has only been output to archival
} fiber paper. But I suspect that the RC quality is still up to par.
}
} I use plain matte for normal prints--and archival matte fiber
} for fine art prints (nudes, etc.). I use a Kreonite processor
} for the print papers. All b/w neg media is hand processed
} in separate roll holders (Nikor). My normal format is 6x4.5cm
} and 6x7cm. The same recipes would apply to other formats.
}
} I did some 4x5" work in prior years and do the same
} mechanics today.
}
} Try some Ilford paper.
}
} gary g.
}
} http://photoweb.net
}
}
}
} } Just tried to order some Kodabrome II RC paper, grade F5. Vendor says
it is
} } discontinued. Any suggestions for an alternative? We have been using
} } Kodabrome RC II for a long time with a Mohr processor. How about
} } Polycontrast RC? Or is this the beginning of the end for old fashioned
} } darkrooms?
} }
} } Jonathan Krupp





From daemon Thu Apr 12 00:33:54 2001



From: Sergey Ryazantsev :      sryazant-at-ucla.edu
Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2001 22:34:01 -0700
Subject: Fwd: Re: Kodabrome II RC discontinued?

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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} I am using Polymax II RC. For draft pictures it's good enough in my point
} of view. In compare with Ilford Multigrade III RC, Polymax gives better
} contrast (filter #5 on Ilford is equal to #3 on Polymax in my hands).


Sergey



} At 03:25 PM 4/11/2001, you wrote:
} } ------------------------------------------------------------------------
} } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America

_____________________________________

Sergey Ryazantsev Ph. D.
Electron Microscopy
UCLA School of Medicine
Department of Biological Chemistry
Box 951737
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1737

Phone: (310) 825-1144
Pager: (310) 845-0248
FAX (departmental): (310) 206-5272
mailto:sryazant-at-ucla.edu





From daemon Thu Apr 12 03:55:55 2001



From: Gordon Couger :      gcouger-at-couger.com
Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2001 03:07:33 -0500
Subject: Re: Film Processing for Computer Scanners:

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Usualy to reduce contrast you under expose the film. Then develop it to
the disired density using a developer that generates low contrast. One way
to reduce contrast is to dilute you developer by a factor of 2, 4 or more
with water. It extends the developing time a good deal but it reduces the
contrast. You might also look at low contrast developers that work with
the film you are using.

A few question on rec.photo.darkroom will get you more information than
you can handle and some of it will actually work.

Gordon
Gordon Couger gcouger-at-couger.com
Stillwater, OK www.couger.com/gcouger

} }
} }
} } One of the big advantages of computer printing of TEM images is the
} } ability to adjust the contrast of the final image. However, to prevent
} } generating a negative that has completely overexposed areas which are
} } difficult to salvage by any means-such as one may get with metal or
ceramic
} } specimens-an alternative film developer may help.
} } There are two bath "split" developers which lower contrast to
} } manageable levels, in effect chemically "dodging" a developing
negative.
} } Fixing is
} } carried out normally. I'm told biological specimens don't usually need
} } such treatment.
} } I have no financial interest in the following company, but I am
} } pleased with the results obtained with their developer called Diafine.
It is
} } made by Acufine Inc., 5441 North Kedzie Ave. Chicago, Il., 60625.
} }
} } Bernard Kestel E-mail: {kestel-at-anl.gov}
} } Materials Science Division
} } Argonne National Laboratory
} } Argonne, Il., 60439
}
}




From daemon Thu Apr 12 07:07:31 2001



From: Michelle.Taurino-at-aventis.com
Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2001 06:56:04 -0500
Subject: Autoradiograph film

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Have your tried Amersham} ??

Michelle Taurino
Aventis Pharmaceuticals
Senior Scientist
Bioimaging and Molecular Histology
Tel-908-231-3357
Fax-908-231-3962
e-mail: Michelle.Taurino-at-aventis.com


-----Original Message-----
} From: christine [mailto:ac.richardson2-at-btinternet.com]
Sent: Wednesday, April 11, 2001 1:59 PM
To: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com


Dear all,
We are having a great deal of difficulty getting hold of our normal
film
"Tritiated Hyper film" for use with tritiated ligands.
Does any one out there know of a local supplier (U.K.)

Thanks in advance,

P.S Thank you Nestor for all your help.


From daemon Thu Apr 12 07:58:57 2001



From: Purdy, Sam :      SPurdy-at-nationalsteel.com
Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2001 07:56:48 -0500
Subject: RE: Ask-A-Microscopist:Help Cleaning Lenses

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


Dear Robert:

Back in the pre PC (chemical) days, toluene was a recommended
solvent for cleaning lenses of immersion oil. Now, we at National Steel,
wipe off excess oil with lens tissue and then clean the lens with Kodak lens
cleaner solution.

Best regards,

Sam Purdy
National Steel Tech Center
Trenton MI

} ----------
} From: mckaylodge-at-aol.com
} Sent: Wednesday, April 11, 2001 9:59 AM
} To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
} Subject: Ask-A-Microscopist:Help Cleaning Lenses
}
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------
} The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
} To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com
} On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html
} -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
}
}
}
} Email: mckaylodge-at-aol.com
} Name: Robert Lodge
}
} Organization: McKay Lodge Home School
}
} Education: 9-12th Grade High School
}
} Location: Oberlin, OH 44074
}
} Question: My student accidently got immersion oil on the 40x Leica
} Plan Acromat. I took a chance and used a fine artist's brush and
} xylene to clean it recalling (I may be wrong) that lens adhesives are
} soluble in alcohols not xylene, toluene and similar. Well, the lens
} didn't fall out. Too bad because I need an excuse to upgrade! If (or
} when) this happens again, what would you recommend for cleaning?
}
} Bob Lodge
}
} --------------------------------------------------------------------------
} -
}


From daemon Thu Apr 12 08:30:45 2001



From: christine :      ac.richardson2-at-btinternet.com
Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2001 14:24:57 +0100
Subject: Autoradiograph film

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


We have always used Amersham but they have now discontinued making it.
Does anyone know of a replacement for it.
Christine.


From daemon Thu Apr 12 08:54:31 2001



From: George Laing :      scisales-at-ngscorp.com
Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2001 09:48:41 -0700
Subject: RE: Kodabrome II RC discontinued?

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


Kodabrome has not been discontinued across the board. However, certain
size/surface/grade combinations have been. Kodabrome II RC F5 is available
in 250sheet 8x10 packages only. We stock them but a dealer should be able
to order them.
As far as alternatives....
Agfa offers Brovira Speed RC, a developer incorporated paper in grades 2-5
and available in 100 sheet 8x10 packs. Brovira Speed is a cold tone paper.
Agfa also offers a Multicontrast RC product.
From Kodak, Polycontrast or Polymax are variable contrast papers.
Polycontrast is developer incorporated, as Kodabrome is, so it will process
in developers as well as many activators. Polymax requires the use of a
developer and will not process in activators. Ilford offers Multigrade IV
Deluxe which is not developer incorporated.
All of these papers use filters to control contrast, although a #5 filter
with any of them is not the same as a grade 5 Kodabrome. Both Polymax and
Multigrade IV have a slightly wider contrast range than Polycontrast.
For those who prefer a cooler tone print, Ilford also has a new paper,
Multigrade Cooltone, a non developer incorporated paper with a cooler image
tone and a cool white base tint.

George

George Laing
National Graphic Supply
v:(800) 223-7130 X3109
f:(800) 832-2205
email: scisales-at-ngscorp.com


} Just tried to order some Kodabrome II RC paper, grade F5. Vendor
} says it is discontinued. Any suggestions for an alternative? We have
} been using Kodabrome RC II for a long time with a Mohr processor. How
} about Polycontrast RC? Or is this the beginning of the end for old
} fashioned darkrooms?
}
} Jonathan Krupp



From daemon Thu Apr 12 09:57:55 2001



From: Randall, Kevin J :      Kevin.Randall-at-astrazeneca.com
Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2001 15:47:06 +0100
Subject: Thermanox and HMDS

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


I need to process some thermanox coverslips for SEM. Does anyone know
whether thermanox survives HMDS?

Cheers

Kevin


From daemon Thu Apr 12 10:52:29 2001



From: James Roberts :      James.Roberts-at-mail.co.ventura.ca.us
Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2001 08:47:33 -0700
Subject: Re: Kodabrome II RC discontinued?

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


The paper is still listed on the Kodak Web sight, http://www.kodak.com/cluster/global/en/professional/support/techPubs/f33/old/f33.shtml . The web sight does list Kodabromide paper as discontinued but lists Kodabrome II RC as its replacement and does not list the latter as discontinued. I was curious, so, I called the 800 technical hotline (800) 242-2424 (option 02 gives you an operator) and asked. They said that it is still available but not in as many sizes as it use to be.

I've had venders tell me a product is discontinued when it is only discontinued from their stocking process, not by the manufacture. In this case it may be that only the size you wanted was discontinued. You may want to call the vendor back or check with another vender.

I have no connection with Kodak but wanted to see if the predictions I'd heard about, as you put it, " the beginning of the end for old fashioned
darkrooms," was starting. It would seem not quite yet in this case. Though I'm hearing that in 2 or 3 years it will, somewhat sad I think.

Jim Roberts


James L. Roberts
Firearm and Toolmark Examiner
Ventura Co. Sheriff's Lab
(805) 654-2308
James.Roberts-at-mail.co.ventura.ca.us

} } } {jmkrupp-at-cats.ucsc.edu} 04/11/01 03:25PM } } }
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America


Hi:

Just tried to order some Kodabrome II RC paper, grade F5. Vendor says it is
discontinued. Any suggestions for an alternative? We have been using
Kodabrome RC II for a long time with a Mohr processor. How about
Polycontrast RC? Or is this the beginning of the end for old fashioned
darkrooms?

Jonathan Krupp
Microscopy & Imaging Lab
University of California
Santa Cruz, CA 95064
(831) 459-2477
jmkrupp-at-cats.ucsc.edu








From daemon Thu Apr 12 11:11:12 2001



From: Dorothy Roak Sorenson :      dsoren-at-umich.edu
Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2001 12:05:47 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Re: Thermanox and HMDS

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


Kevin,

Yes, Thermanox cover slips survive treatment with HMDS. We occationally
process cell monlayers grown on them for SEM.

Regards,

Dotty

Dotty Sorenson
Microscopy and Image Analysis Laboratory
Department of Cell and Developmental Biology
University of Michigan Medical School
Ann Arbor, Michigan
(734)763-1170
FAX (734)763-1166
dsoren-at-umich.edu

On Thu, 12 Apr 2001, Randall, Kevin J wrote:

} ------------------------------------------------------------------------
} The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
} To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com
} On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html
} -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
}
}
} I need to process some thermanox coverslips for SEM. Does anyone know
} whether thermanox survives HMDS?
}
} Cheers
}
} Kevin
}



From daemon Thu Apr 12 12:09:32 2001



From: Michael Coviello :      coviello-at-mae.uta.edu
Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2001 12:15:33 -0500
Subject: TEM-SiC wafer-thanks

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


Hi All:
Thank you all for sharing your experiences about working with SiC. Your
suggestions have helped me come up with a plan of attack.
Regards,
Mike Coviello
UT Arlington



From daemon Thu Apr 12 14:44:23 2001



From: Ladd Research :      sales-at-laddresearch.com
Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2001 13:06:26 -0400
Subject: Re: Kodabrome II RC discontinued?

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


Dear Jon Krupp,

We are a Kodak distributor and we checked with Kodak this morning and
Kodabrome II RC paper, grade F5 is still available. If you still
interested you may contact me off-line.

John Arnott

Jon Krupp wrote:
}
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------} The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
} To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com
} On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html
} -----------------------------------------------------------------------.}
} Hi:
}
} Just tried to order some Kodabrome II RC paper, grade F5. Vendor says it is
} discontinued. Any suggestions for an alternative? We have been using
} Kodabrome RC II for a long time with a Mohr processor. How about
} Polycontrast RC? Or is this the beginning of the end for old fashioned
} darkrooms?
}
} Jonathan Krupp
} Microscopy & Imaging Lab
} University of California
} Santa Cruz, CA 95064
} (831) 459-2477
} jmkrupp-at-cats.ucsc.edu



From daemon Thu Apr 12 16:50:03 2001



From: John J. Bozzola :      bozzola-at-siu.edu
Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2001 16:44:37 -0500
Subject: EM: LaB6 filaments in H7100 TEM

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


We are about to install a Kimball ES-423E (extended life) LaB6
cathode in a Hitachi H7100 TEM and were wondering if anyone had some
starting points for the voltage settings for filament heating. This
would save us a lot of time, if so.

Thank you.

John B.

--
##############################################################
John J. Bozzola, Ph.D., Director
I.M.A.G.E. (Integrated Microscopy & Graphics Expertise)
750 Communications Drive - MC 4402
Southern Illinois University
Carbondale, IL 62901 U.S.A.
Phone: 618-453-3730
Fax: 618-453-2665
Email: bozzola-at-siu.edu
Web: http://www.siu.edu/departments/shops/cem.html
##############################################################


From daemon Thu Apr 12 17:18:02 2001



From: Robert Fitton :      fittonro-at-luther.edu
Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2001 16:12:39 -0600
Subject: Ask-A-Microscopist:Help Cleaning Lenses

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


Here is an odd way that I thought up to clean oil from an objective without
using solvents that may attack lens cement.

Remove the lens from the scope. I usually like to view the oil
contamination using a stereoscopic microscope.
Wipe excess oil away - I like using Ross Optical Paper.
Using a cotton applicator wrapped in Ross optical paper, apply a small
amount of Dawn dishwashing detergent. Gently work the surface to emulsify
the oil into the detergent using the optical papered applicator. You may
have to add a small amount of water. Do not allow fluids to go much beyond
the lens area!

At this point, hold the lens vertical with the back focal plane pointing
up. Apply a small amount of deionized water on the final lens element from
the side of the opjective to create a hanging drop. I usually use a wash
bottle or 10cc syringe. The surface tension of water will create a small
drop around the optical surface. Start a stream of DI water flowing
through the small drop to wash away the oil/water suspension. After about
a minute, stop the water flow while allowing a small drop of water to stay
on lens. At this time, blow the water off using C02 or some other clean
compressed gas. This will eliminate streaks. Upon inspection, if you see
contamination, repeat the process and your problem should be solved.

It's weird but it works.

Robert

Robert Fitton
Teaching Associate/Director of Laboratories
Luther College
Department of Biology
700 College Drive
Decorah, IA 52101

Voice 563-387-1559
FAX 563-387-1080

Enjoy a visit to our website: http://www.luther.edu/~biodept/




From daemon Thu Apr 12 22:39:26 2001



From: Mary Mager :      mager-at-interchange.ubc.ca
Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2001 22:36:21 -0500
Subject: Re: Particle Concentration Determination

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


Dear Richard,
The most common use of this is for asbestos fibre load determination. I did
it once. You count the number of fibres in a specified number of grids
openings, then calculate back to the original collected volume or vacuumed
area. It should work similarly for any recognizable particle. I could look
up the method, if you like.
At 06:08 PM 4/11/01 -0400, you wrote:
}
} Has anyone had experience in determining the concentration of particles
} in a solution by counting on EM grids in a similar way to using a
} haemocytometer? Is it possible to count the particles in a defined
} number of grid squares then calculate back to the area of the grid and
} the amount of solution which was applied and allowed to dry down?
}
} Richard Gardiner

Regards,
Mary

Mary Mager
Electron Microscopist
Metals and Materials Engineering
University of British Columbia
6350 Stores Road
Vancouver, B.C. V6T 1Z4
CANADA
tel: 604-822-5648
e-mail: mager-at-interchg.ubc.ca


From daemon Thu Apr 12 22:39:54 2001



From: dngeorge-at-wam.umd.edu
Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2001 22:39:11 -0500
Subject: Ask-A-Microscopist:Question on Staining and wrinkles of sections.

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


Below is the result of your feedback form. It was submitted by
(dngeorge-at-wam.umd.edu) from
http://www.msa.microscopy.com/Ask-A-Microscopist.html on Thursday,
April 12, 2001 at 16:04:35
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Email: dngeorge-at-wam.umd.edu
Name: Damali Martin

Organization: University of Maryland

Education: Graduate College

Location: College Park, MD

Question: I have embedded and sectioned some salivary glands in epon
and have placed the sections on glass slides. However, when I
counterstain, a high percentage of sections float off and are lost.
How can this problem be prevented?

Also, several of my sections have wrinkles in them. Is there any
trick to getting rid of them?

Thank you.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------


From daemon Fri Apr 13 01:11:46 2001



From: Ritchie Sims :      r.sims-at-auckland.ac.nz
Date: Fri, 13 Apr 2001 18:12:04 GMT+1200
Subject: Stigmator image shift

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html




Hi

Anyone got any suggestions as to the cause of (and remedy for) the
pronounced image shift that occurs when I turn the Y stigmator
control on my JEOL 840A?

It also has the usual stigmatic effect.

The X control shifts the image only very little.

The coils seem to check out OK.

There's something quite poetic about working on this particular part
of the instrument today of all days.

thanks

rtch


Ritchie Sims Phone : 64 9 3737599 ext 7713
Department of Geology Fax : 64 9 3737435
The University of Auckland email : r.sims-at-auckland.ac.nz
Private Bag 92019
Auckland
New Zealand


From daemon Fri Apr 13 05:08:22 2001



From: Allen R. Sampson :      ars-at-sem.com
Date: Fri, 13 Apr 2001 05:03:36 -0500
Subject: RE: Stigmator image shift

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


Stigmators operate as two opposing coils. It may be that one of the coils
for the Y stigmator is not active while the opposing Y coil is. Perhaps
one of the coils has shorted? The resistance of these coils is very low,
making a simple check rather difficult, not to mention that they are often
series connected within the column making physical access difficult. But
if you can measure the current drawn by each, you may find a significant
difference if one is shorted.

If so, the only remedy is replacement of the coils.

On Friday, April 13, 2001 1:12 PM, Ritchie Sims
[SMTP:r.sims-at-auckland.ac.nz] wrote:
}
} Hi
}
} Anyone got any suggestions as to the cause of (and remedy for) the
} pronounced image shift that occurs when I turn the Y stigmator
} control on my JEOL 840A?
}
} It also has the usual stigmatic effect.
}
} The X control shifts the image only very little.
}
} The coils seem to check out OK.
}
} There's something quite poetic about working on this particular part
} of the instrument today of all days.
}
} thanks
}
} rtch
}
}
} Ritchie Sims Phone : 64 9 3737599 ext 7713
} Department of Geology Fax : 64 9 3737435
} The University of Auckland email : r.sims-at-auckland.ac.nz
} Private Bag 92019
} Auckland
} New Zealand
}
}


Allen R. Sampson, Owner
Advanced Research Systems
317 North 4th. Street
St. Charles, Illinois 60174
voice 630.513.7093 fax 630.513.7092



From daemon Fri Apr 13 08:08:13 2001



From: Gary Radice :      gradice-at-richmond.edu
Date: Fri, 13 Apr 2001 08:55:14 -0400
Subject: cleaning lenses

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


About 25 years ago, when I was taking the embryology course at the
Marine Biology Laboratory at Woods Hole, we were taught the following
methods for cleaning oil from lenses by Robert Allen, a well known
microscopist:

Remove the lens from the microscope and invert it. Remove most of the
excess oil from the objective with lens paper without touching the
objective surface itself. Gently lay a strip of lens paper over the
objective. Since the lens is recessed the lens paper does not touch
the glass directly. Then place a drop or two of ether on the lens
paper just next to where it contacts the lens, and draw the lens
paper over the objective surface. The ether vapors swirl around under
the lens paper and dissolve the oil while the lens paper absorbs the
mixture and carries it away, without actually touching the glass
surface. You might need to repeat a few times to remove the oil.

It works with all but the most stubborn deposits. The upside is that
it completely avoids touching the glass surface, and the ether fumes
are in contact with the element such a short time that it miakes it
less likely you will dissolve the glues that hold the lens elements
together. The downside is that it requires ether. I haven't tried it
with other solvents.
--
Gary P. Radice gradice-at-richmond.edu
Associate Professor of Biology 804 289 8107 (voice)
University of Richmond 804 289 8233 (FAX)
Richmond VA 23173 http://www.science.richmond.edu/~radice


From daemon Fri Apr 13 08:39:05 2001



From: Yurek, Peter :      Peter_Yurek-at-adc.com
Date: Fri, 13 Apr 2001 08:32:51 -0500
Subject: SEM Tech Position

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html



Please send resume to:

Sara M. Rohe
Technical Recruiter, BCG
ADC - The Broadband Company
Tel: 952.233.6474
Fax: 952.233.6652
sara_rohe-at-adc.com


ADC is a global lead in innovation broadband networks and applications. We redefine the economics, quality and benefits of broadband services that provide unlimited access to information anytime, anywhere.


To build and ensure quality production of Fiber products in line with department objectives. Pursue project objectives as assigned by Engineers. Assist in developing test systems and conduct testing of engineering samples.

Accountabilities % of time

70 Collect data from production activities to track and improve quality. Develop collection systems to optimize this process. We have a new Hitachi S3000N with an Oxford INCA EDS system and an Oxford/Gatan CL system with cryostage. Routine analysis will include EBIC, EDS, and CL.

20 Interface with Manufacturing Engineers, Application engineers, Detail Engineers, Product Managers, Technicians, Maintenance, Tool Room, Field Service, and other stakeholders to achieve assigned project goals. Recommend design changes to improve manufacturability and quality.

10 Coordinate project work activity, including testing, machining, and purchasing, as needed to ensure meeting project schedules. Design and build fixtures, prototypes, and samples. Provide training on equipment and techniques to assemblers.


Requirements:
Communication: Direct and concise. Keeps people informed. Listens effectively to others.
Teamwork: Effective at working in team situations.
Initiative/Results Orientation: Originates action. Finds ways to get things done.
Quality: Promotes continuous improvement. Effectively utilizes data.
Customer Responsiveness: Responds well to internal or external customers needs.
Education: Two-year telecommunications degree or equivalent training preferred.

Experience:
1 year of experience on SEM
Basic optical microscopy experience.
Routine handling of small parts.
Should be familiar with electrical test and basic electronics.
Soldering, ESD experience is a plus.

Please send resume to:

Sara M. Rohe
Technical Recruiter, BCG
ADC - The Broadband Company
Tel: 952.233.6474
Fax: 952.233.6652
sara_rohe-at-adc.com
Peter Yurek
Failure Analysis Engineer
ADC
Phone: 651-494-1441
Fax: 651-494-1470
Peter_Yurek-at-adc.com

Learn about ADC - The Broadband Company at www.adc.com

4459 White Bear Parkway
White Bear Lake, MN 55110




From daemon Fri Apr 13 09:23:11 2001



From: Warren E Straszheim :      wesaia-at-iastate.edu
Date: Fri, 13 Apr 2001 08:49:43 -0500
Subject: Re: Stigmator image shift

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


I usually see image shift as a result of stigmation in both of our scopes
(JEOL 840A and Hitachi 2460N). I rather accepted that it just went with the
territory. If it is a sign of a problem with the scope or its alignment, I
too would be interested in hearing how to eliminate it.

Warren

At 06:12 PM 4/13/2001 +0000, you wrote:

} Hi
}
} Anyone got any suggestions as to the cause of (and remedy for) the
} pronounced image shift that occurs when I turn the Y stigmator
} control on my JEOL 840A?
}
} It also has the usual stigmatic effect.
}
} The X control shifts the image only very little.
}
} The coils seem to check out OK.
}
} There's something quite poetic about working on this particular part
} of the instrument today of all days.
}
} thanks
}
} rtch
}
} Ritchie Sims Phone : 64 9 3737599 ext 7713

----------------------
Warren E. Straszheim
Materials Analysis and Research Lab
Iowa State University
23 Town Engineering
Ames IA, 50011-3232

Ph: 515-294-8187
FAX: 515-294-4563

E-Mail: wesaia-at-iastate.edu
Web: www.marl.iastate.edu

Scanning electron microscopy, x-ray analysis, and image analysis of materials
Computer applications and networking



From daemon Fri Apr 13 09:23:14 2001



From: Darrell Miles :      milesd-at-US.ibm.com
Date: Fri, 13 Apr 2001 10:18:43 -0400
Subject: Re: Stigmator image shift

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html



Hi Ritchie,

The 840 has some pots (potentiometers) on one of the circuit boards that
adjust out
the image shift while adjusting the stigmators. They probably balance a
bias, or an
offset, in the circuit for the stigmation coils. If you have the manual
with the schematics,
they may be identified. I may be able to find it in ours, if you don't
have it.

Darrell Miles



From daemon Fri Apr 13 10:59:26 2001



From: Gary Gaugler :      gary-at-gaugler.com
Date: Fri, 13 Apr 2001 08:57:58 -0700
Subject: Re: Stigmator image shift

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


Normally, X or Y stig adjustment will cause image shifting.
More shifting at higher mag. Since stigmation is done with
coils by the scan coils, changing current in the stig coils
appears to the beam as a change in scan coil current. Hence,
the image shifts. Later day systems account for this by
feeding some of the stig signal to the scan coils as feedback.
It will also accept additional feedback from magnification.
The operation is to adjust scan coil current and condenser
current as stig is adjusted so that the net result is minimal
image shift with varying stig input.

Since one stig channel out of two is not working right, there
are likely one of two or three things which could go wrong.
First, and worst, the stig coil is open or shorted. Somewhat
unlikely I think. Second, one part of the stig coil drive circuit
has failed. Third, some part of the feedback system has
failed. Since you say that it does stig, but causes image
shift, then the stig circuit itself and the coil is OK. You can
verify this.

Since the stig coil drive systems are identical (ususally),
you should be able to trace readings from the good channel
and compare them to the bad channel. This should show
right away where the problem is. The stig, beam alignment
and image shift circuits are usually all the same. If so
in your system, they will give plenty of data points for checking.
The coils (one for X, one for Y) are typically driven by
push-pull power transistors which are high current buffers
on the output of a small op amp. The coils are in the negative feedback
loop of the op amp. One lead of a coil would connect to the
output of the buffer transistors (large ones) while the other end connects to
the inverting input of the op amp and is returned to ground
through a low value resistor. Measuring the voltage across this
resistor will tell how much current is flowing through the coil
(I=E/R).

Stig effect is lower at lower mags. So there would be less
automatic compensation for stig vs. mag. Try a low mag setting
and measure the voltage on each
side of the stig coils (two leads each) and the voltage on the
low value resistors. Have the stig controls at 12 O'clock each.
If these readings match, odds are that the coils are for sure OK. Then
the problem ought to be narrowed to the stig balance circuit. Look for this
circuit and compare the two stig signal feedback loops for
differences. It could be something as simple as a bad op amp
in the path from the stig circuit to the beam alignment coil
drivers. Since stig has little effect at low mag, but huge
effect at high mag, the usual control path for stig
compensaton versus magnification is to
electronically change the beam position by sending a stig
sourced voltage to the scan coil driver circuit.

If you don't have schematics for the system, that is of
course a major problem. In this case, perhaps someone
who has your same model has encountered this problem
before and knows of the failure mechanism and cause.

gary g.


At 11:12 AM 4/13/2001, you wrote:

} Hi
}
} Anyone got any suggestions as to the cause of (and remedy for) the
} pronounced image shift that occurs when I turn the Y stigmator
} control on my JEOL 840A?
}
} It also has the usual stigmatic effect.
}
} The X control shifts the image only very little.
}
} The coils seem to check out OK.
}
} There's something quite poetic about working on this particular part
} of the instrument today of all days.
}
} thanks
}
} rtch
}
}
} Ritchie Sims Phone : 64 9 3737599 ext 7713
} Department of Geology Fax : 64 9 3737435
} The University of Auckland email : r.sims-at-auckland.ac.nz
} Private Bag 92019
} Auckland
} New Zealand



From daemon Fri Apr 13 11:21:36 2001



From: Steve Chapman :      PROTRAIN-at-compuserve.com
Date: Fri, 13 Apr 2001 12:16:12 -0400
Subject: Stigmator image shift

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


Hi Ritchie

Stigmator shift is almost always down to the balance of the stigmator
coils. Stigmators have 8 coils in four sets of two. If an opposing pair
are not correctly balanced the stronger coil will cause the image to move
away from that coil.

Some instruments have the balancing potentiometers easily accessible others
hide them away in the electronics.

The pots will be called Xx, Xy, and Yx, Yy I do not know where they are on
a JEOL 840 but if you look inside you may be lucky?

To adjust -
1. Place an easily recognizable feature in the center of the screen
2. Turn the X stigmator fully in one direction and re center with the
Xx or Xy control whichever fits.
3. Turn in the opposite direction and use the other compensation
control to center
4. Repeat with the Y stigmator and Yx and Yy controls.

I have just completed the promised "Monitoring & Maintaining Electron
Microscope Performance" interactive CD, this area is covered in the
instrument tuning section so its pretty fresh in my mind. Need to see even
more for yourself then we have the course of the same name running in
Sydney early October this year?

Kindest regards and good luck

Steve Chapman
Senior Consultant, Protrain
For professional training in SEM, TEM and EDX world wide
www.emcourses.com



From daemon Fri Apr 13 12:28:42 2001



From: Christian Normand :      tekna-at-tekna.qc.ca
Date: Tue, 2 Feb 1999 13:58:53 -0700
Subject: Xray analyzer for Hitachi S-570 SEM

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


Hello everyone,

I have a Hitachi SEM model S-570 (1985). I am interested of getting a X-ray analyzer for this microscope. My preference would be to buy a used analyzer with an ultrathin window for light elements analysis.

If you know someone who is interested in selling it's analyzer, please let me know...

Thank you

Christian Normand
Tekna Systems Plasma
(819) 820-2204


From daemon Fri Apr 13 13:34:00 2001



From: Gary Gaugler :      gary-at-gaugler.com
Date: Fri, 13 Apr 2001 11:34:40 -0700
Subject: Film Processing & dynamic range & scanners (longish)

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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I hesitated to make any response regarding this subject.
But--here goes anyway. Someone may find it useful.

I think that the issue is not reduction of contrast but rather extension
of tonal range of the negative. That is what the zone system is
all about. I think that it is a fact that if the silver is not exposed,
there is not going to be any information gleaned from that
unexposed or too underexposed area. The approach I use for fine
art images is to overexpose and under-develop. It takes a LOT
of work to develop a complete system of ISO rating, development
and printing to achieve marketable prints. But it certainly can
be done. The goal is to minimize the time spent in the darkroom
doing printing. Ideally, the neg should print without any effort
on grade 3 paper. I only use Ilford archival matte fiber paper, so
extensions to RC papers may or may not directly apply. I also
do not use variable contrast paper. But the principles are extensible
I would think.

Being all-digital with my SEM, I use realtime histogram feedback
to adjust gain and dynamic range. For TEM, I have no direct
experience. But I might suggest that the same photo techniques
for fine art neg work may apply to TEM negs. If you think that this
might be true, read on. Otherwise, nevermind.


A neg with bad dynamic range (huge extremes of EV or low contrast) is not
going to produce a very good scan. This is the realm of drum
scanners with 4.0-6.0D. Pixel resolution is subordinate to
D range in this case. If one is going to print a neg on paper,
that is one aspect of the problem. If the neg is to be output
to a magazine or printed page, that is another aspect. So the
crux of the matter is what the actual intended end use of the
neg is to be? If it is a nice print, OK. If it is a magazine or litho
output, these are 133lpi. Doing scans at 4000dpi only to
print them in a magazine at 133lpi is rather silly. One would
probably be better off just printing the neg and scanning at
300dpi.

But the 300 dpi is the effective dpi for the size of
the final image....not the original neg. So, if the neg is say
3" x 4" and is to be printed at that same size, a 300 dpi scanner
should do the job (ignoring tonal range for the time being).
If the neg is to be printed at twice its physical size, then the
scanner has to have twice the resolution (600 dpi). And it
goes on from there. Thus, for most image output methods
on a printed page, 600-1200 optical dpi should be plenty of
resolution. If you agree with this discussion at this point,
then the resolution factor should no longer be an issue.
What remains is D range.

(Note that commercial images are created at high resolution
to accommodate manipulation and merging with other images.
This way, image quality can gradually be reduced without
affecting the final result.)

But the negative is the key item in all of this discussion. A
bad neg is not likely to do anyone much good. So the challenge
is to get a good neg at the get go. Here we go, back to the
zone system. The idea is to use the neg as a non-linear
image capture media for data which may span a wide
dynamic range. And in so doing, be able to output (print
or scan) this information with fidelity and minimal effort.
This drives D value.

An unexposed, developed neg will have a transmission of 100%.
It is actually slightly lower due to absorption by the medium,
emulsion and residual anti-dispersion coating. But at 100%
transmission, the neg would have an opacity of 100%input/100%output
or 1.0. Since D=log1/T, the D value for the unexposed neg
is log 1/1=0.0. This then is Dmin. The area with the most
exposure (darkest region) will pass the least amount of
transmitted light. If, for example, this region passes 1% of
the transmitted light, this is a Tval=100%/1%=100.
And D=log (1/100)=2.0. This then is Dmax. The D range
of the negative is Dmax-Dmin=2.0-0.0=2.0. So a scanner
with a D value of } 2.0 would capture the tonal range of this
neg. The tonal range of this neg is 100 tonal variations.
Prints generally have D values between 1.7 and 2.0.
So the same scanner would handle the neg and a typical
print.

Let's say that the darkest area of the neg transmits 0.1%
of the transmitted source light. This then yields Tval=100/0.1
=1000. And D=log 1000 = 3.0. Thus, this neg has 1,000
tonal variations in it from clear to black. If the neg has double
the number of tonal variations (2,000) that would mean
that the opacity is 2,000 and D=log 2000 = 3.3. At 4000
tonal range, D=3.6. Thus, each 0.3D equates to doubling
the opacity range or halving or doubling the transmission
value. Thus, if a scanner has a D rating of 3.0 (1000 tonal
ranges) and the neg passes a corresponding 0.1% of the
transmitted light, and another scanner has a D rating
of 3.3 (2000 tonal ranges) and the neg passes 0.05% of
the transmitted light--can you really tell one from the other?

The eye is more responsive to subtle changes in tonal
variations in the white region of an image than in the
dark ones. Thus, it is important to retain as much variability
and rendition in the darkest areas of the negs (the highlights)
but to do so without sacrificing detail in the shadows (clearer
areas of the neg). This is done using the zone system
and expansion and contraction of tonal range.

The response of the neg emulsion's exposure to light is not linear
over the range of clear to full black. Its response curve is somewhat
like a flattened S. The low exposure region is called the toe, which
consists of the film base + fog density (Dmin). Moving up the curve
is the straight line section (not exactly a straight line), and then to
the shoulder. At this point, increasing amounts of light do not
have corresponding quantitative amounts of change in density.
Further exposure reaches saturation, or Dmax. At this point,
no increase in exposure will change the density of the neg.

The ultimate goal is to maximize the straight line section and
move Dmax as high as possible, without detrimentally affecting
Dmin. I use contraction to accomplish this. The approach is
to overexpose and underdevelop. With a neg, the rule of thumb
is to expose for the shadows. If there is insufficient exposure
in the shadow areas, there will not be any detail rendered.

Using Ilford FP4+ film, I rate it at ISO 80 (mfg=125). Development
is done using stock developer diluted 1:1. It is used one time
and discarded. Never replenish or try to refresh the developer.
Development time will vary, depending on the tonal range of the
scene. Here are some extreme examples of how this system works:
(if you are offended by nude images, use the still life links. These
following links are to fine art nudes and still life which were done using the
zone system previously described)

[nudes]
A. This shot illustrates a typical impossible shot. Inside the room,
the exposure was about EV 3, the outside was dense fog with
a starch white picket fence at EV 11. A scene like this with
eight stops of variation would typically be shot to either render
detail in the highlights (fog and fence) or in the inside room's
details (shadows). To render shadow detail and retain highlight
detail, the zone system was used as described. The image
via this link is as-scanned on a UMAX Powerlook III of a
6x6cm negative using the transparency adapter. You can
see the detail in the paint on the wall and can see the fence in
the fog.
http://www.photoweb.net/pw_gal_nude/pw_gal_nude_1/g_2.html

B. This shot shows great shadow detail despite the outside light
creating a hot spot on the model's head. And the window
on the left was rendered, despite the high level of light.
http://www.photoweb.net/pw_gal_nude/pw_gal_nude_1/g_6.html

C. This shot shows a rather low contrast scene. There are no
remarkable highlights. There is much material in shadow.
Overexposure and ensuring at least two zones of exposure
for the shadows and then overdeveloping N+1 achieved
a perfectly printable neg. Again, this neg is shown as-scanned.
http://www.photoweb.net/pw_gal_nude/pw_gal_nude_6/g_3.html



[Still life]
A. high side lighting.
http://www.photoweb.net/pw_gal_still/pw_gal_still_4/g_5.html

B. Low shadow lighting, highlights present.
http://www.photoweb.net/pw_gal_still/pw_gal_still_4/g_6.html

C. Even lighting. There is actually more detail revealed
than is showed in this web pix.
http://www.photoweb.net/pw_gal_still/pw_gal_still_3/g_6.html



Non-web images of these negs are of course much better than
those on-line. But I hope these illustrate the points of the zone
system. I do think it can apply to TEM negs. The other point
is to keep in mind the relationship of D values of scanners to
what you are actually going to be scanning. If a scanner has
sufficient resolution, and say a D rating of 3.2. Are you
really going to be able to tell any difference using a scanner
with a 3.4 or 3.5D at much higher cost? If you have a
densitometer, check the D range of some of your negs. They
are probably all less than 3.0. Maybe I'm wrong in this
respect since I have little experience with TEM media.
But the idea is go get the equipment you need for the job
you need (the output destination and the use of the image)
based on the actual media being scanned. Otherwise, there
is a great opportunity to buy capability which will never be
utilized.

Despite all the discussion of processing negs, as more
digital capture and image processing products come out,
things will change. There are rather simple ways to expand
the contrast of an otherwise low contrast, poor neg. Likewise,
there are ways to extract subtle detail from negs which have
blown out highlights. More about this later.

gary g.


Reference:
Adams, A. (1981). The negative. Boston: Little, Brown and Company.
ISBN 0-8212-1131-5 (twelfth printing, 1992).



At 01:07 AM 4/12/2001, you wrote:

} Usualy to reduce contrast you under expose the film. Then develop it to
} the disired density using a developer that generates low contrast. One way
} to reduce contrast is to dilute you developer by a factor of 2, 4 or more
} with water. It extends the developing time a good deal but it reduces the
} contrast. You might also look at low contrast developers that work with
} the film you are using.
}
} A few question on rec.photo.darkroom will get you more information than
} you can handle and some of it will actually work.
}
} Gordon
} Gordon Couger gcouger-at-couger.com
} Stillwater, OK www.couger.com/gcouger



From daemon Fri Apr 13 14:30:59 2001



From: Tom Phillips :      PhillipsT-at-missouri.edu
Date: Fri, 13 Apr 2001 14:24:36 -0500
Subject: Re: Film Processing & dynamic range & scanners (longish)

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


Good job, Gary! Gary's description of dynamic range is the clearest
and most easily understood I have seen (and I have been looking for a
good one!). I think I already understood most of what he said before
he said it but I was having a devil of a time trying to articulate
the concept to one of my staff. My only followup question is in
regards to his statement near the end where he suggests some test the
density of a TEM negative with a densitometer to see if they really
go much above 3.0. I would like to encourage any one who has or will
be measuring this for a typical and even finicky biological thin
section TEM image to please post the info on the Microscopy
listserver. Thanks.

} ------------------------------------------------------------------------
} The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of
} America To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to
} ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com
} On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html
} -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
}
}
} I hesitated to make any response regarding this subject.
} But--here goes anyway. Someone may find it useful.
}
} I think that the issue is not reduction of contrast but rather extension
} of tonal range of the negative. That is what the zone system is
} all about. I think that it is a fact that if the silver is not exposed,
} there is not going to be any information gleaned from that
} unexposed or too underexposed area. The approach I use for fine
} art images is to overexpose and under-develop. It takes a LOT
} of work to develop a complete system of ISO rating, development
} and printing to achieve marketable prints. But it certainly can
} be done. The goal is to minimize the time spent in the darkroom
} doing printing. Ideally, the neg should print without any effort
} on grade 3 paper. I only use Ilford archival matte fiber paper, so
} extensions to RC papers may or may not directly apply. I also
} do not use variable contrast paper. But the principles are extensible
} I would think.
}
} Being all-digital with my SEM, I use realtime histogram feedback
} to adjust gain and dynamic range. For TEM, I have no direct
} experience. But I might suggest that the same photo techniques
} for fine art neg work may apply to TEM negs. If you think that this
} might be true, read on. Otherwise, nevermind.
}
}
} A neg with bad dynamic range (huge extremes of EV or low contrast) is not
} going to produce a very good scan. This is the realm of drum
} scanners with 4.0-6.0D. Pixel resolution is subordinate to
} D range in this case. If one is going to print a neg on paper,
} that is one aspect of the problem. If the neg is to be output
} to a magazine or printed page, that is another aspect. So the
} crux of the matter is what the actual intended end use of the
} neg is to be? If it is a nice print, OK. If it is a magazine or litho
} output, these are 133lpi. Doing scans at 4000dpi only to
} print them in a magazine at 133lpi is rather silly. One would
} probably be better off just printing the neg and scanning at
} 300dpi.
}
} But the 300 dpi is the effective dpi for the size of
} the final image....not the original neg. So, if the neg is say
} 3" x 4" and is to be printed at that same size, a 300 dpi scanner
} should do the job (ignoring tonal range for the time being).
} If the neg is to be printed at twice its physical size, then the
} scanner has to have twice the resolution (600 dpi). And it
} goes on from there. Thus, for most image output methods
} on a printed page, 600-1200 optical dpi should be plenty of
} resolution. If you agree with this discussion at this point,
} then the resolution factor should no longer be an issue.
} What remains is D range.
}
} (Note that commercial images are created at high resolution
} to accommodate manipulation and merging with other images.
} This way, image quality can gradually be reduced without
} affecting the final result.)
}
} But the negative is the key item in all of this discussion. A
} bad neg is not likely to do anyone much good. So the challenge
} is to get a good neg at the get go. Here we go, back to the
} zone system. The idea is to use the neg as a non-linear
} image capture media for data which may span a wide
} dynamic range. And in so doing, be able to output (print
} or scan) this information with fidelity and minimal effort.
} This drives D value.
}
} An unexposed, developed neg will have a transmission of 100%.
} It is actually slightly lower due to absorption by the medium,
} emulsion and residual anti-dispersion coating. But at 100%
} transmission, the neg would have an opacity of 100%input/100%output
} or 1.0. Since D=log1/T, the D value for the unexposed neg
} is log 1/1=0.0. This then is Dmin. The area with the most
} exposure (darkest region) will pass the least amount of
} transmitted light. If, for example, this region passes 1% of
} the transmitted light, this is a Tval=100%/1%=100.
} And D=log (1/100)=2.0. This then is Dmax. The D range
} of the negative is Dmax-Dmin=2.0-0.0=2.0. So a scanner
} with a D value of } 2.0 would capture the tonal range of this
} neg. The tonal range of this neg is 100 tonal variations.
} Prints generally have D values between 1.7 and 2.0.
} So the same scanner would handle the neg and a typical
} print.
}
} Let's say that the darkest area of the neg transmits 0.1%
} of the transmitted source light. This then yields Tval=100/0.1
} =1000. And D=log 1000 = 3.0. Thus, this neg has 1,000
} tonal variations in it from clear to black. If the neg has double
} the number of tonal variations (2,000) that would mean
} that the opacity is 2,000 and D=log 2000 = 3.3. At 4000
} tonal range, D=3.6. Thus, each 0.3D equates to doubling
} the opacity range or halving or doubling the transmission
} value. Thus, if a scanner has a D rating of 3.0 (1000 tonal
} ranges) and the neg passes a corresponding 0.1% of the
} transmitted light, and another scanner has a D rating
} of 3.3 (2000 tonal ranges) and the neg passes 0.05% of
} the transmitted light--can you really tell one from the other?
}
} The eye is more responsive to subtle changes in tonal
} variations in the white region of an image than in the
} dark ones. Thus, it is important to retain as much variability
} and rendition in the darkest areas of the negs (the highlights)
} but to do so without sacrificing detail in the shadows (clearer
} areas of the neg). This is done using the zone system
} and expansion and contraction of tonal range.
}
} The response of the neg emulsion's exposure to light is not linear
} over the range of clear to full black. Its response curve is somewhat
} like a flattened S. The low exposure region is called the toe, which
} consists of the film base + fog density (Dmin). Moving up the curve
} is the straight line section (not exactly a straight line), and then to
} the shoulder. At this point, increasing amounts of light do not
} have corresponding quantitative amounts of change in density.
} Further exposure reaches saturation, or Dmax. At this point,
} no increase in exposure will change the density of the neg.
}
} The ultimate goal is to maximize the straight line section and
} move Dmax as high as possible, without detrimentally affecting
} Dmin. I use contraction to accomplish this. The approach is
} to overexpose and underdevelop. With a neg, the rule of thumb
} is to expose for the shadows. If there is insufficient exposure
} in the shadow areas, there will not be any detail rendered.
}
} Using Ilford FP4+ film, I rate it at ISO 80 (mfg=125). Development
} is done using stock developer diluted 1:1. It is used one time
} and discarded. Never replenish or try to refresh the developer.
} Development time will vary, depending on the tonal range of the
} scene. Here are some extreme examples of how this system works:
} (if you are offended by nude images, use the still life links. These
} following links are to fine art nudes and still life which were done using the
} zone system previously described)
}
} [nudes]
} A. This shot illustrates a typical impossible shot. Inside the room,
} the exposure was about EV 3, the outside was dense fog with
} a starch white picket fence at EV 11. A scene like this with
} eight stops of variation would typically be shot to either render
} detail in the highlights (fog and fence) or in the inside room's
} details (shadows). To render shadow detail and retain highlight
} detail, the zone system was used as described. The image
} via this link is as-scanned on a UMAX Powerlook III of a
} 6x6cm negative using the transparency adapter. You can
} see the detail in the paint on the wall and can see the fence in
} the fog.
} http://www.photoweb.net/pw_gal_nude/pw_gal_nude_1/g_2.html
}
} B. This shot shows great shadow detail despite the outside light
} creating a hot spot on the model's head. And the window
} on the left was rendered, despite the high level of light.
} http://www.photoweb.net/pw_gal_nude/pw_gal_nude_1/g_6.html
}
} C. This shot shows a rather low contrast scene. There are no
} remarkable highlights. There is much material in shadow.
} Overexposure and ensuring at least two zones of exposure
} for the shadows and then overdeveloping N+1 achieved
} a perfectly printable neg. Again, this neg is shown as-scanned.
} http://www.photoweb.net/pw_gal_nude/pw_gal_nude_6/g_3.html
}
}
}
} [Still life]
} A. high side lighting.
} http://www.photoweb.net/pw_gal_still/pw_gal_still_4/g_5.html
}
} B. Low shadow lighting, highlights present.
} http://www.photoweb.net/pw_gal_still/pw_gal_still_4/g_6.html
}
} C. Even lighting. There is actually more detail revealed
} than is showed in this web pix.
} http://www.photoweb.net/pw_gal_still/pw_gal_still_3/g_6.html
}
}
}
} Non-web images of these negs are of course much better than
} those on-line. But I hope these illustrate the points of the zone
} system. I do think it can apply to TEM negs. The other point
} is to keep in mind the relationship of D values of scanners to
} what you are actually going to be scanning. If a scanner has
} sufficient resolution, and say a D rating of 3.2. Are you
} really going to be able to tell any difference using a scanner
} with a 3.4 or 3.5D at much higher cost? If you have a
} densitometer, check the D range of some of your negs. They
} are probably all less than 3.0. Maybe I'm wrong in this
} respect since I have little experience with TEM media.
} But the idea is go get the equipment you need for the job
} you need (the output destination and the use of the image)
} based on the actual media being scanned. Otherwise, there
} is a great opportunity to buy capability which will never be
} utilized.
}
} Despite all the discussion of processing negs, as more
} digital capture and image processing products come out,
} things will change. There are rather simple ways to expand
} the contrast of an otherwise low contrast, poor neg. Likewise,
} there are ways to extract subtle detail from negs which have
} blown out highlights. More about this later.
}
} gary g.
}
}
} Reference:
} Adams, A. (1981). The negative. Boston: Little, Brown and Company.
} ISBN 0-8212-1131-5 (twelfth printing, 1992).
}
}
}
} At 01:07 AM 4/12/2001, you wrote:
}
} } Usualy to reduce contrast you under expose the film. Then develop it to
} } the disired density using a developer that generates low contrast. One way
} } to reduce contrast is to dilute you developer by a factor of 2, 4 or more
} } with water. It extends the developing time a good deal but it reduces the
} } contrast. You might also look at low contrast developers that work with
} } the film you are using.
} }
} } A few question on rec.photo.darkroom will get you more information than
} } you can handle and some of it will actually work.
} }
} } Gordon
} } Gordon Couger gcouger-at-couger.com
} } Stillwater, OK www.couger.com/gcouger

--
Thomas E. Phillips, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Biological Sciences
Director, Molecular Cytology Core Facility

3 Tucker Hall
Division of Biological Sciences
University of Missouri
Columbia, MO 65211-7400
(573)-882-4712 (voice)
(573)-882-0123 (fax)


From daemon Fri Apr 13 14:33:16 2001



From: Darrell Miles :      milesd-at-US.ibm.com
Date: Fri, 13 Apr 2001 15:29:48 -0400
Subject: Re: Stigmator image shift

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


Hi Ritchie,

I tried sending this earlier, but seems to have not made it.

The 840 has some pots (potentiometers) on one of the circuit boards
that are used to adjust out any image shift during stigmation adjustments.
They probably adjust some bias voltages, or some offsets, in the
stigmator circuits. They can be adjusted so there is no image shift.

If the pots can't eliminate the image shift, then a component has probably
gone bad, rather than just drifted a bit. If you have the manual with the
schematics, they should be identified in there. If you don't have the
manual, I might be able to find them in ours. Let me know.

Darrell Miles



From daemon Fri Apr 13 15:13:25 2001



From: Peggy Sherwood :      sherwood-at-helix.mgh.harvard.edu
Date: Fri, 13 Apr 2001 16:12:26 -0400
Subject: New England Society for Microscopy (NESM) Woods Hole Meeting May

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


The 18th Annual NESM Woods Hole Symposium will be held May 11-12th,
at the Marine Biological Lab at Woods Hole, MA.

This meeting is supported by members of the Connecticut Microscopy
Society (CMS), the Metropolitan Microscopy Society (MMS), and the New
York Society of
Experimental Microscopists (NYSEM).

Pre-registration is encouraged and is a must if you plan to attend
the Friday night dinner. Inquiries re: registration for this
meeting should be directed to Mary McCann (617) 484-7865 or by email:
mccanns-at-tiacc.net. Advance regis- tration including dinner on May
11th is $40.00 for NESM members, and $55.00 for non-members (this
cost includes a one- year membership to NESM).

PLEASE NOTE: ADVANCE REGISTRATION MUST BE RECEIVED no later than MAY 4th!!!
Registrations received after May 4th will NOT include dinner.

Friday, May 11th begins at Noon and consists of 2 sessions with an afternoon
coffee break. Following the presentations, a cocktail hours and
dinner will commence in the Swope Center.

Saturday, May 12th, NESM will present a symposium on Remote Access Microscopy.
Afterwards, there will be commercial exhibits and posters on display in the
Swope Center. Presentation of Poster and Photos-As-Art Awards and
Door Prizes will follow. This year lunch at the Swope Center will be
optional; those interested will pay $16.00. After lunch, two
45-minute tours of the Marine
Resource Center will take place.

NESM welcomes new members to the Society! Please join us for this
most enjoyable meeting.

Peggy Sherwood, Corresponding Secretary
NESM
--
Peggy Sherwood
Lab Associate, Photopathology
Wellman Laboratories of Photomedicine (W224)
Massachusetts General Hospital
50 Blossom Street
Boston, MA 02114
617-724-4839 (voice mail)
617-726-6983 (lab)
617-726-3192 (fax)
sherwood-at-helix.mgh.harvard.edu


From daemon Fri Apr 13 15:57:20 2001



From: Gary Gaugler :      gary-at-gaugler.com
Date: Fri, 13 Apr 2001 13:58:55 -0700
Subject: RE: Film Processing & dynamic range & scanners (shorter)

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html


Bernie:

Thanks for the reply.

You have a really good point for discussion about actual available exposure
time. Real world nudes and still lifes can be for several seconds exposure.
What is it for a typical TEM neg? I don't know. I suspect the same drift
problems occur in TEM as they do in SEM. So I too like to get the shot
as quickly as possible yet with minimum noise. So it is a tradeoff of
pixel density and pixel dwell time. Some original loss can be made up
later using the computer. With a digital active scan and image capture
system synchronized to 60 Hertz, a SEM shot at 3000x3200 pixels
takes 96 seconds at 10uS dwell time. This works fine. But for a TEM
which may not have sync to line frequency, I can see that image
shift is a big problem. Are TEM cameras and scanning routinely
synchronized to line frequency?

I used Diafine and Accufine back in photojournalism days to push
process TriX to ISO1600 or beyond. The job was to shoot basketball and
football
games without strobe. The reason was to gain even lighting and high
contrast shots. Since the pix were physically small, the higher grain
was not a big issue.

Your Diafine approach to TEM negs sounds like a solid method. Indeed,
the key is to get the shot and make a print with minimum amount of
tweaking (burning, dodging, etc.). If one were to only have to make
one print ever from one neg, it would not matter all that much. But
if more than one print is or will be made, reproducibility is a tough
issue with a less than perfect neg.

I see a similarity in your approach and what I was talking about. Your
procedure limits the development time of the neg. But while it limits the
time for dense areas, it limits the time for the whole neg too. The
procedure I described ensures that as much light information is
captured on the film, but extends the tonal range of the film by
reducing the strength of the developer and the development time.

I already have de-rated the speed of the film in this procedure. It may
be that doing this with TEM negs makes the resulting absolute speed
too slow. What is the rated ISO speed of some TEM media in use today?

gary g.



At 01:56 PM 4/13/2001, you wrote:
} Reply to: RE: Film Processing & dynamic range & scanners (longish)
} I saved your extensive info about negs. I would not use Diafine for
} regular scenic photos--too low in contrast. However, the manner in which
} split developers achieve this is to LIMIT the amount of developer
} available to "dense" negative areas. I only use it for contrasty TEM
} negs. that I routinely print on #2 or #3 paper , whichever is more
} pleasing. By having easily retrievable info in all of a negative, less
} time should be needed by any final printing method. The developer has a
} long tank life and works at room temperature. An extreme test of TEM negs
} made at 4 f/stops equivalent underexposure still printed nicely on #3
} grade paper.
} Of course I used a very long 12 mimutes in each half of the split
} developer, but this can allow short exposure on specimens with a
} "drifting" problem and save an expensive experiment.
} As primarily an old "wet" printer, I enjoyed your thorough
} explaination and have heard of the zone system and the great A. Adams. I
} like to get good results with little effort, thats all. If you ever want
} a copy of the Diafine Co.'s explaination of it's product, I can send you
} one. Nearly all of my published photos in Ultramicroscopy were done with
} this stuff, including a "lucky" cover photo on Ultra. 25 (1988) 351-354.
}
} Bernie Kestel E-mail: {kestel-at-anl.gov}
} Materials Science Division
} Argonne National Lab
} 9700 So. Cass Ave.,
} Argonne Il., 60439
} Gary Gaugler wrote:



From daemon Fri Apr 13 16:46:04 2001



From: William F. Tivol :      wft03-at-health.state.ny.us
Date: Fri, 13 Apr 2001 17:41:53 -0400
Subject: Re: Particle Concentration Determination

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Has anyone had experience in determining the concentration of particles
in a solution by counting on EM grids in a similar way to using a
haemocytometer? Is it possible to count the particles in a defined
number of grid squares then calculate back to the area of the grid and
the amount of solution which was applied and allowed to dry down?

Dear Richard,
I can forsee one difficulty. The particles may not be deposited uniformly
due to a number of factors: 1) Evaporation of the applied drop of specimen
will not be uniform, so the particles could be dragged in toward the grid center
as the edges evaporate (or they could be preferrentially deposited toward the
edges if they are hydrophobic). 2) The grid surface may not be flat, causing
particles to deposit preferrentially in the centers of the grid squares--if
these are lower--or near the grid bars. 3) The particles could be
preferrentially deposited either on top of the grid bars or on the open areas,
which could look like uniform deposition, but would give erronious quantitation.
Of course, one could test this by depositing a known amount of suspension of a
known concentration of the kind of particles to be measured, then seeing if the
grid was covered uniformly and if the calculation gave the correct result. Good
luck.
Yours,

Bill Tivol
Wadsworth Center
Albany NY
(518) 473-7399 WFT02-at-health.state.ny.us




From daemon Sat Apr 14 08:46:49 2001



From: McKayLodge-at-aol.com
Date: Sat, 14 Apr 2001 08:38:30 -0500
Subject: Agents for objective lens cleaning: Summary

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Dear ASK-A-MICROSCOPIST participants.

I asked if xylene was the best solvent for cleaning immersion oil off a
non-immersion objective. I recalled in my brief training that xylene was
safe but alcohols dissolve the more common lens adhesives (I could be wrong
and have this reversed). Here is the array of responses I received. The
diversity may interest you. THANKS to all for your advice.

1
We regularly use xylene with a cotton tipped applicator to clean our lenses
and remove immersion oil. This was recommended to us by the supplier of our
lenses and microscopes for a number of reasons. The primary reason is that
xylene effectively 'cuts' the oil, without damaging the lens. Acetone will
affect the lens coating, and Isopropyl alcohol only rinses the oil without
effectively removing it. Hope this helps

2
You are lucky that the lens elements did not dislodge. Use alcohol on lens
paper. Never use xylene or toluene; these solvents can dissolve the cement
used to seat the various lens elements.

3
I would recommend Sparkle Glass Cleaner. I only use solvents as a very
last resort (unless you really, really do want to upgrade) The cements are
soluble in most solvents. With intractable grime, I use a cotton tipped
applicator moistened with either xylenes or toluene and shake all excess
off. The tip must be moist, not wet or dry and make single passes until
the grime come off. Only enough solvent on the applicator to dampen the
surface, not enough to wet.

4
For day to day cleaning of lenses, including oil on the 40X. (I can't
believe this is the first time! The graduate students and Post Doc's drag
the40X through the oil at least twice a week. I have given them repeated
instructions but they seem intractable) Invert an ocular and examine the
surface for cleanliness. If it is clean, don't clean it. Dust off any
loose debris. Check the lens again. Moisten a cotton tipped applicator in
Sparkle and wipe the lens 1 swipe with a rolling action to present a new
surface and lift off any grit. Discard. Take a dry applicator and remove
the film. Check the lens with an inverted ocular to see if it is clean. Do
no more than is necessary. There has been an ongoing rampage on the list
about lens cleaning.... to solvent, not to solvent... lens tissue, not to
lens tissue etc.. I can
append you a couple, and a microscope maintenance handout if you would
like. It will be a bit long about 15 pages (38K).

5
The care instructions for my immersion oil suggest cleaning with a soft cloth
or lens tissue (no Kimwipes) moistened with ether/alcohol (7:3) or xylenes.
My microscope
manuals recommend removing finger prints using alcohol. Sounds like you're
good to go.

6
We use 70 % isopropanol to clean emersion oil off of our lenses.

7
Cleaning with xylene is a little drastic. If the lens eventually gets
xylene in behind the cement it could do some damage and you would have to
send it in to Nikon for repair. I use Kodak lens cleaner and some lens
cleaning tissues (not regular Kim wipes) to get the oil off, constantly
checking them under a dissecting scope to make sure that it is all removed.
It works well on some expensive lens that we have here.

8
We use Green Soap from the pharmacy. It works the best with ultra pure water.

9
Actually, you've got your solvents
reversed; alcohol is usually safer. But safer still is diluted detergent
"Joy" or similar, followed by water. Use alcohol only if that doesn't
work. And fumes from xylene, toluene, etc. are best avoided.

10
Back in the pre PC (chemical) days, toluene was a recommended
} solvent for cleaning lenses of immersion oil. Now, we at National Steel,
} wipe off excess oil with lens tissue and then clean the lens with Kodak lens
} cleaner solution.


From daemon Sat Apr 14 08:49:10 2001



From: Ritchie Sims :      r.sims-at-auckland.ac.nz
Date: Sun, 15 Apr 2001 09:30:04 GMT+1200
Subject: Stig Image Shift thanks

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Ritchie,
What you are describing is a stigmator drive that is out of calibration.
If you look on the schematic for the stigmator drive, you should see the
X(or Y) control that goes to an op-amp that in turn feeds a voltage divider
which in turn controls a different coil in the stigmator coil assembly.
Each part of this voltage divider has its own trim pot for calibration
purposes. Simply rock the X stigmator control back and forth while
adjusting each pot for minimum image shift. Then, increase your mag &
repeat. You should be able to get all of the shift completely out. Good
luck!

Gary M. Easton, Pres.
Scanners Corporation
SEM/EDS/IMAGING Sales & Service

----- Original Message -----
} From: "Ritchie Sims" {r.sims-at-auckland.ac.nz}
To: {microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com}
Sent: Friday, April 13, 2001 2:12 PM



Thanks very much to all those who responded to my post.

My hands didn't bleed at all.

rtch

Ritchie Sims Phone : 64 9 3737599 ext 7713
Department of Geology Fax : 64 9 3737435
The University of Auckland email : r.sims-at-auckland.ac.nz
Private Bag 92019
Auckland
New Zealand


From daemon Sun Apr 15 05:57:40 2001



From: pjpdo-at-kimo.com.tw
Date: Sun, 15 Apr 2001 01:50:17 -0800
Subject: FYI

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{HTML}
{BODY bgColor=3D#C0C0C0}

{FONT face=3D"MS Sans Serif"}
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{FONT color=3D"#0000A0"} {B} Open your mouth {BR}
Hold the 4oz bottle about four inches from your open mouth {BR}
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{FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"} For Shipping OUTSIDE the US please add $11=
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To order by Check, Cash or Money Order merely send $19.49 plus $3.95 for a=
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{FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"} For Shipping OUTSIDE the US please add $11=
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Mail your check, cash or Money Order along with your name address, phone n=
umber and email address filled out on the following form: {BR}
{BR}
Your Name:___________________________________________(please print) {BR}
{BR}
Street: ______________________________________________ {BR}
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City:______________________State/Province:____________________ {BR}
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Zip/Postal Code:_________________Country:_________________________ {BR}
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FaxNumber:_________________________________________________ {BR}
{BR}
Email address:_______________________________________ {BR}
(if there is a problem with your order this is where we will notify you) {B=
R}
{BR}
To: {BR}
{BR}
John Taylor {BR}
CEO {BR}
Internet Information Services, Snore Eliminator Division {BR}
PO Box 21442 {BR}
Billings, MT 59104 {BR}
{BR}
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To Fax us your Order (Fill out and fax us every page which follows): {BR}
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{FONT color=3D"#0000A0"} {B} MAKE YOUR CHECK PAYABLE TO {/B} {/FONT}
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{FONT color=3D"#0000A0"} . If this line is busy, please try faxing to {BR=
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{FONT color=3D"#0000A0"} Faxing your check to us speeds your delivery up =
by 3-5 days. {BR}
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Please ship me 1 bottle of Snore Eliminator for $19.49 plus $3.95 shipping=
and handling for a total of $23.44 per bottle. Order TWO bottles for $19=
.49 and we do not charge you any shipping and handling. This means you wi=
ll receive an 8 to 12 week supply of Snore Eliminator for only $38.98, inc=
luding shipping and handling. This is a 17% savings. {/FONT}
{FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"}
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(if there is a problem with your order this is where we will notify you) {B=
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************************************************************** {BR}
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Internet Information Services Check Authorization and Order Form {BR}
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I wish to authorize the purchase of the Snore Eliminator from Internet Inf=
ormation Services using this order and check authorization form. I hereby=
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n bank draft form for the amount shown on this attached check. I will ret=
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This Authorization is valid for this transaction only. No other bank draf=
ts may be created without my direct written authorization. {BR}
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Dated:_________________________________ {BR}
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Signed:________________________________________ {BR}
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.Tape your check here and Fax it to us... {BR}
{BR}
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Fax this form to: {/FONT}
{FONT color=3D"#0000A0"} {B} 1-775-640-3120 {/B} {/FONT}
{FONT color=3D"#0000A0"} . If this line is busy, please try faxing to {/FO=
NT}
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{BR}
{/B} {/FONT}
{FONT color=3D"#0000A0"} Thank you for your business, {BR}
{BR}
John Taylor {BR}
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Internet Info Service, Snore Eliminator Division {BR}
PO Box 21442 {BR}
Billings, MT 59104 {BR}
{BR}
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From daemon Sun Apr 15 15:12:57 2001



From: Lucille A. Giannuzzi :      lag-at-mail.ucf.edu
Date: Sun, 15 Apr 2001 16:03:56 -0400
Subject: Re: TEM-SiC wafer sample prep?

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The FIB works for SiC!

Regards,
Lucille Giannuzzi

At 12:53 PM -0400 4/10/01, Ronald Anderson wrote:
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------
} The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America





From daemon Mon Apr 16 07:05:17 2001



From: Greg Erdos :      gwe-at-biotech.ufl.edu
Date: Mon, 16 Apr 2001 09:16:38 -0400
Subject: Fwd: TEM

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Richard

I am sending this message again because it was blocked by a list server
filter - presumably because 'home' is part of your e-mail address.

Malcolm

-------- Original Message --------


Please reply directly to:

} From: {hmskaug-at-tartarus.uwa.edu.au}
}
} Subject: TEM
}
}
} Hi,
}
} I am doing some preperation work for an assignment, and have a question.
}
} If a fresh unfixed piece of brain tissue (weighing approx. 1 gram) is
} received in a diagnostic electron microscopy laboratory, how would I
} proceed with the specimen? The brain is taken in surgery within the last 5
} min.
}
} If I was asked to carry out a rapid viral diagnosis on the tissue, what
} precautions should I take, and how would I proceed?
} I read that prions are able to survive fixation. What then?
}
} A respond is very much appreciated.
}
} Thank You !
}
} Sincerely,
}
} Hege Skaug

Greg Erdos
Assistant Director
Biotechnology Program Ph. 352-392-1295
University of Florida Fax 352-846-0251
PO Box 118525
Gainesville, FL 32611 http://www.biotech.ufl.edu/~emcl


From daemon Mon Apr 16 11:55:25 2001



From: Alan Fox :      fox-at-nps.navy.mil
Date: Mon, 16 Apr 2001 09:49:43 -0700
Subject: Standard sample for EDS quant

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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To all colleagues who supply standards for EDS work
I need a standard sample of known thickness to check the
accuracy of my TEM/EDS system during standardless quant. I need to
include light elements (Z {11) as I have a Moxtek SUTW window on my
detector. I guess an amorphous glass sample that contains both nitrogen
and oxygen with with a very thin layer of carbon on it to prevent
charging would do the trick. Can anybody out there supply one? Thanks.

Alan Fox


Professor Alan G. Fox BSc PhD CEng FIM
Director, Center for Materials Science and Engineering
Naval Postgraduate School
Monterey
California 93943
USA

Tel (831) 656 2142 (work)
(831) 657 9239 (home)
Fax (831) 656 2238




From daemon Mon Apr 16 11:55:26 2001



From: Dee Breger :      micro-at-ldeo.columbia.edu
Date: Mon, 16 Apr 2001 12:19:46 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: EDX systems

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Dear listers,

This is an apology written in embarassment for some of my private comments
about EDX systems that recently got broadcast to the list. I had
too-quickly responded offline to a posting and was chagrined to find my
comments passed along without the balanced context I would have put them in
if I'd been more sensitive to the probability of dissemination. It's too
late to rephrase them but I want to emphasize that my recent demos with
Oxford, Noran, PGT and EDAX were all highly positive experiences and I came
away believing that all are solid and supportive companies offering world
class instrumentation. Any system will have many pros and a few cons; our
final choice will rest simply on which has a bigger cluster of the former
than the latter for our particular set of applications. The cons I had
mentioned were subjectively-perceived blips within the significent
strengths that each system offers. While cons can serve to pare down the
choice, once it's made, as I've discovered through discussion with
reference users representing all four companies, users across the board (at
least all those I've spoken to) are happy with whichever system they
purchased.

Dee






***************************************************************
Dee Breger
Mgr. SEM/EDX Facility
Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory
61 Route 9W
Palisades, NY 10964 USA
T: 914/365-8640
F: 914/365-8155

http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/micro
http://www.discovery.com/area/science/micro/micro1.html
http://www.lsc.org/antarctica/front.html
Journeys in Microspace (Columbia University Press, 1995)




From daemon Mon Apr 16 12:29:25 2001



From: Walck, Scott D. :      walck-at-ppg.com
Date: Mon, 16 Apr 2001 13:24:43 -0400
Subject: RE: Standard sample for EDS quant

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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There is a decent test sample out there for checking and monitoring your EDS system called the NiOx sample. One place that you can find it is at Ted Pella. Here is the web site for that product. It has further information on it.
http://www.tedpella.com/calibrat_html/TEM7.htm

I am not sure what you mean by the accuracy of your EDS system. You will need to calibrate it and determine whether you are having problems with icing. You can do that with the NiOx sample. The literature that comes with the sample or that you can get from Ted Pella will tell you how to do this. It is also tells you how to monitor your system's performance over time.

If you want to check for N2, just get some Hexagonal BN, crush it between two glass slides, and collect it on a carbon coated grid. You will easily find thin particles.

You hit on a couple of problems with your request. You will have a difficult time ascertaining the thickness of any sample accurately, but with glass, you will only be limited to doing it with EELS or contamination spots. With glass, the composition can change under the beam as elements particularly alkali elements diffuse out of the irradiated area. The composition of glasses can change depending on the depth from the surface and so where you are can make a big difference. I do not know where you would get a glass with a N2 concentration. You can also cause the glass to soften in the beam in very thin areas if care is not taken. Higher accelerating voltages help here tremendously.

I have found that frequently I do not need to coat my glass samples in a 200 keV TEM. I did have to do it when I used a 100 keV machine. For cross section samples, I started using Si blanks as half of the sample and it seems to have eliminated heating and charging problems.


-Scott

Scott D. Walck, Ph.D.
PPG Industries, Inc.
Glass Technology Center
Guys Run Rd. (packages)
P. O. Box 11472 (letters)
Pittsburgh, PA 15238-0472

Walck-at-PPG.com

(412) 820-8651 (office)
(412) 820-8161 (fax)



} -----Original Message-----
} From: Alan Fox [mailto:fox-at-nps.navy.mil]
} Sent: Monday, April 16, 2001 12:50 PM
} To: MS listserver
} Subject: Standard sample for EDS quant
}
}
} --------------------------------------------------------------
} ----------
} The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society
} of America
} To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to
} ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com
} On-Line Help
} http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html
}
} --------------------------------------------------------------
} ---------.
}
}
} To all colleagues who supply standards for EDS work
} I need a standard sample of known thickness to check the
} accuracy of my TEM/EDS system during standardless quant. I need to
} include light elements (Z {11) as I have a Moxtek SUTW window on my
} detector. I guess an amorphous glass sample that contains
} both nitrogen
} and oxygen with with a very thin layer of carbon on it to prevent
} charging would do the trick. Can anybody out there supply one? Thanks.
}
} Alan Fox
}
}
} Professor Alan G. Fox BSc PhD CEng FIM
} Director, Center for Materials Science and Engineering
} Naval Postgraduate School
} Monterey
} California 93943
} USA
}
} Tel (831) 656 2142 (work)
} (831) 657 9239 (home)
} Fax (831) 656 2238
}
}
}


From daemon Mon Apr 16 12:57:53 2001



From: Tindall, Randy D. :      TindallR-at-missouri.edu
Date: Mon, 16 Apr 2001 12:53:13 -0500
Subject: Posting summaries

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May I suggest that we consider some ground rules regarding postings of
summaries of replies to questions? It happens on occasion that replies
which are assumed to be made in private get posted publicly, sometimes to
the embarrassment of those doing the replying. This is, I'm sure, never
done with any bad intent and is usually harmless , but can nonetheless be a
little disconcerting.

I have posted summaries myself without thinking of the possible
consequences, so I'm not pointing any fingers. It's something that's easy
to forget about until you get caught yourself.

I would suggest as starting points that: 1) questioners always make clear
their intent to post a summary, 2) that the identities of the repliers be
removed from summaries (this is often done anyway), and 3) that all who
reply to a question indicate if they want their replies to be kept private.

Anyone else have any thoughts on this matter?

Randy

Randy Tindall
EM Specialist
Electron Microscopy Core Facility
W122 Veterinary Medicine
University of Missouri
Columbia, MO 65211
Tel: (573) 882-8304
Fax: (573) 884-5414
Email: tindallr-at-missouri.edu
Web: http://www.biotech.missouri.edu/emc/





From daemon Mon Apr 16 13:23:53 2001



From: aram7486-at-qudsmail.com
Date: Sun, 15 Apr 2001 22:33:22 -0600
Subject: Are you looking for the perfect tax write off? 2858

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From daemon Mon Apr 16 15:40:22 2001



From: Michael Jarnik :      M_Jarnik-at-fccc.edu
Date: Mon, 16 Apr 2001 16:28:16 -0400
Subject: DNA in Cytochrome C films

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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I would need to prepare DNA for TEM using spreading/shadowing in
Cytochrome C films. My pilot experiments using just plasmid DNA and the
Lang & Mitani method (Biopolymers, 9, p.373, 1970) worked rather poorly
and I would like to hear from people with some experience in this
method. What are the critical points here? Purity of water/chemicals,
Cyt C concentration, time? Any hints would be appreciated.

Thanks for help,

--
Michael Jarnik




From daemon Mon Apr 16 16:05:01 2001



From: PMarcum :      pmarcum-at-p3.net
Date: Mon, 16 Apr 2001 16:57:21 -0400
Subject: Fwd: TEM

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Do I understand you believe this is CJD or prion infected tissue? If so
several methods of disinfection have been suggested (using the word
disinfect loosely). No one is sure exactly what will inactivate this prion
and the procedure has been disgusted on Histonet for routine pathology
giving the latest suggested methods. I can attempt to forward some of that
information to you along with the website address. Let me know if you would
like the information. Most of us are alittle frightened of this one as it
can take years to manifest.
Pamela A. Marcum
Histology/Microscopy
Product Development Manager
400 Valley Road
Warrington, PA 18976
Phone: 800-523-2575 Ext 167
215-343-6484 Ext 167
Fax: 215-343-0214
E-mail: pmarcum-at-polysciences.com

-----Original Message-----
} From: Greg Erdos [mailto:gwe-at-biotech.ufl.edu]
Sent: Monday, April 16, 2001 9:17 AM
To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com


Please reply directly to:

} From: {hmskaug-at-tartarus.uwa.edu.au}
}
} Subject: TEM
}
}
} Hi,
}
} I am doing some preperation work for an assignment, and have a question.
}
} If a fresh unfixed piece of brain tissue (weighing approx. 1 gram) is
} received in a diagnostic electron microscopy laboratory, how would I
} proceed with the specimen? The brain is taken in surgery within the last 5
} min.
}
} If I was asked to carry out a rapid viral diagnosis on the tissue, what
} precautions should I take, and how would I proceed?
} I read that prions are able to survive fixation. What then?
}
} A respond is very much appreciated.
}
} Thank You !
}
} Sincerely,
}
} Hege Skaug

Greg Erdos
Assistant Director
Biotechnology Program Ph. 352-392-1295
University of Florida Fax 352-846-0251
PO Box 118525
Gainesville, FL 32611 http://www.biotech.ufl.edu/~emcl



From daemon Mon Apr 16 16:41:05 2001



From: William F. Tivol :      wft03-at-health.state.ny.us
Date: Mon, 16 Apr 2001 17:36:45 -0400
Subject: Re: Standard sample for EDS quant

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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To all colleagues who supply standards for EDS work
I need a standard sample of known thickness to check the
accuracy of my TEM/EDS system during standardless quant. I need to
include light elements (Z {11) as I have a Moxtek SUTW window on my
detector. I guess an amorphous glass sample that contains both nitrogen
and oxygen with with a very thin layer of carbon on it to prevent
charging would do the trick. Can anybody out there supply one? Thanks.

Alan Fox

Dear Alan,
I can't get you a standard with all the qualifications you want, but I do
have some standards prepared by Chuck Fiori. The matrix is a lithium borate
glass, and there are several blocks with various elements evenly dispersed in
the matrix. The down side is that you will have to melt the glass, prepare thin
specimens--by blowing with a platinum straw--break off pieces from the bubble,
and put them on (or in) a suitable grid. I have found that folding grids work
well. Of course, you will have to measure the thickness after you prepare the
specimen. Anyway, it is amorphous glass with light elements, including oxygen.
Yours,

Bill Tivol
Wadsworth Center
Albany NY
(518) 473-7399 WFT02-at-health.state.ny.us




From daemon Mon Apr 16 16:41:07 2001



From: wonger-at-allover.com
Date: Mon, 16 Apr 2001 16:38:52 -0500
Subject: Ask-A-Microscopist:Agar

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Email: wonger-at-allover.com
Name: Billone

Organization: Murphy

Education: 6-8th Grade Middle School

Location: San Jose, California

Question: How long should it take for agar to conjeal after I pour it
into a petri dish?

---------------------------------------------------------------------------


From daemon Mon Apr 16 18:23:56 2001



From: IAN HALLETT :      ihallett-at-hortresearch.co.nz
Date: Tue, 17 Apr 2001 11:07:13 +1300
Subject: Visualising mineral oil - Thanks

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Thanks to all who replied.

We are trying out the suggestion of using Nile Red to increase
fluorescence. This seems very promising at this stage.

Ian


Ian Hallett
HortResearch
Mt Albert Research Centre
Private Bag 92 169
Auckland, New Zealand
Fax 64-9-815 4201
Telephone 64-9-815 4200
EMail ihallett-at-hortresearch.co.nz


_________________________________________________________________
The contents of this e-mail are privileged and/or confidential to the named
recipient and are not to be used by any other person and/or organisation.
If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender and delete
all material pertaining to this e-mail.
_________________________________________________________________


From daemon Mon Apr 16 18:23:57 2001



From: IAN HALLETT :      ihallett-at-hortresearch.co.nz
Date: Tue, 17 Apr 2001 11:05:02 +1300
Subject: Fluorescence Stereomicroscopes

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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We are looking at purchasing a stereo microscope with
fluorescence capabilities primarily to look at GFP fluorescence in
plant specimens. Does anyone have any particular comments on
the relative merits of the systems produced by the major
microscope manufactureres (Leica, Nikon, Olympus and Zeiss).
We also have a dichotomy amongst users on whether to provide
film or digital cameras for recording - my own preference is more on
the digital side but again has anyone any comments or
suggestions.

Thanks

Ian


Ian Hallett
HortResearch
Mt Albert Research Centre
Private Bag 92 169
Auckland, New Zealand
Fax 64-9-815 4201
Telephone 64-9-815 4200
EMail ihallett-at-hortresearch.co.nz


_______