We've been doing some hot stage environmental SEM (ESEM) work with aluminium-silicon alloys (up to 650°C), and we get some interesting contrast enhancement features as the temperature is increased. We are trying to discount various parameters and it seems that hot stage high vacuum (conventional) SEM would help determine if the effect has something to do with the gas in the chamber.
Will a conventional Everhart-Thornley (E-T) detector be able to magange this, or will contamination and out-gassing be a problem? Also I'm aware that unlike the gaseous secondary electron detector (GSED) in the ESEM, the E-T detector is sensitive to light, will this be a problem too? If it does not work, will it simply not give a good image, or is it likely to damage the dectector? Finally if anyone has tried this technique and it worked, any tips for good imaging?
Thank-you,
Simon Hogg
--
Dr. Simon Hogg Thixoforming Research Group University of Sheffield Department of Engineering Materials Sir Robert Hadfield Building Mappin Street Sheffield S1 3JD Tel. 0114 222 5934 Fax. 0114 222 5943
Where's the connectioln between this list and golf partner problems. Hard to see for me in Sweden. There should be other channels for personal stuff like this.
Yours sincerely
Per Hörstedt Department of Medical Biosciences Pathology Unit for Electron Microscopy University of Umeå S-90187 Umeå Sweden
Hi Dan, The Imaging Center in the College of Biological Sciences houses a new Hitachi S3500N SEM. The instrument is a variable pressure system equipped as follows:
*** Hitachi S-3500N, variable pressure SEM ***
- Standard stage with motor driven X & Y axes.
- Robinson Backscattered Electron Detector (BSE).
- Hitachi Hi-Mouse software.
- Infrared ChamberScope.
- Photo CRT Unit, recording camera.
- Ethernet interface.
*** EMITECH K-1150 CRYOGENIC SYSTEM *** - http://www.emitech.demon.co.uk/
*** EDAX Phoenix X-Ray Microanalysis System ***
- Windows NT Operating System
- Super Ultra-Thin Window 10mm LN-cooled Detector
- EDX Fast Mapping, EDX Quant Mapping, EDX Line Scan, Spectral Mapping/Data Recovery, SEM Quant Package.
We also house a large assortment of TEM and LM instrumentation and preparation equipment. We can provide service or teach you how to use the instrument. Feel free to check out our web site and contact either Mark Sanders (msanders-at-biosci.umn.edu) or Gib Ahlstrand (giba-at-puccini.crl.umn.edu) with any questions or to arrange a demonstration. Cheers, Mark **************************************************** Mark A. Sanders University of Minnesota Program Director Twin Cities Campus Imaging Center St. Paul, MN 55108 23-35 Snyder Hall ph: 612-624-3454 1475 Gortner Ave. fax: 612-624-1799 http://biosci.umn.edu/imagingcenter
} From: "May, Dan " {DMay-at-iti-med.com} } Date: Tue, 31 Jul 2001 14:04:54 -0500 } To: "'Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.com'" {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} } Subject: SEM Services in Minneapolis/St.Paul Minnesota Area } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 in search of SEM services for small metallic medical products in the } Minneapolis or St. Paul area in Minnesota. If there are any suggestions, I } would appreciate them. } Thank you. } Dan May } IntraTherapeutics } dmay-at-iti-med.com {mailto:dmay-at-iti-med.com} } } }
I am looking for a suitable plastic embedding material which should have the following characteristics:
- applicable for light microscopy - not be autofluorescent - used for immunocytochemistry, i.e. tissue should retain immunogenicity - soft enough to cut 20 micron or thicker sections easily - ability to embed large pieces e.g. entire rat lung - opacity to allow identification of parts of embedded tissue (this excludes paraffin)
I hope I am being realistic and there is a product out there to meet these criteria. This group has never let me down.
Thank you in advance. Judy
Judy Trogadis Bio-Imaging Coordinator St. Michael's Hospital, 8Q 30 Bond St. Toronto, ON M5B 1W8
Relax, There has been a precedent in the past for using this forum for arranging social events at the M&M meeting. There are no other forums for reaching the large number of participants that go to the meeting. It has never gotten out of hand before and someone shouldn't be criticized for doing it. It is at social functions that sometimes the most valuable scientific work at a conference gets done.
If you do attend one of the M&M meetings, look me up; I'll buy you a beer.
-Scott
Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. PPG Industries, Inc. Glass Technology Center P. O. Box 11472 (letters) Guys Run Rd. (packages) Pittsburgh, PA 15238-0472
Walck-at-PPG.com
(412) 820-8651 (office) (412) 820-8515 (fax)
-----Original Message----- } From: Per Hörstedt [mailto:per.horstedt-at-pathol.umu.se] Sent: Wednesday, August 01, 2001 7:05 AM To: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
Where's the connectioln between this list and golf partner problems. Hard to see for me in Sweden. There should be other channels for personal stuff like this.
Yours sincerely
Per Hörstedt Department of Medical Biosciences Pathology Unit for Electron Microscopy University of Umeå S-90187 Umeå Sweden
A quick note about replacing rotary pumps on Hitachi Microscopes. The microscope provides 100 VAC (Japan Voltage) for operation. Hitachi Instruments service uses Edwards pumps as replacements in the USA, and they seem to be OK at this low voltage. Other brands must be checked.
Dunniway Stockroom doesn't like to try to rebuild the Hitachi brand pumps because they find it hard to get parts. So they don't deal with them. Mary must know a secret about parts for rebuilding them.
Direct drive pumps operate at higher RPM and wear out sooner than belt drive pumps.
Ronald Vane XEI Scientific Redwood City, CA
-----Original Message----- } From: Mary Mager {mager-at-interchange.ubc.ca} To: SEM Machine {SEM-at-ACATC.AME.Arizona.edu} Cc: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com}
POSTDOCTORAL POSITION in Quantitative Electron Microscopy
A postdoctoral position is available in the area of quantitative TEM/TED of materials starting September 1, 2001. The research project focuses on developing quantitative methods of solving structures from diffraction patterns and HREM images. A good background in computer programming in fortran or C is required, as well as an understanding of dynamical diffraction theory. Prior experience in HREM or Direct Methods would be an advantage.
For further information or applications email Professor L. D. Marks at ldm3-at-risc4.numis.nwu.edu
------------------------------------------------------- Laurence Marks Department of Materials Science and Engineering & Center for Transportation Nanotechnology Northwestern University Evanston, IL 60201, USA 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
Montana Tech's Dept of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering is in need of replacing its SEM/EDX system and is looking for an economical used system. An SEM w/o EDX can be considered since the EDX on our current system can likely be attached. Parties interested in divesting their SEM/EDX system should contact Dr. Courtney Young by e-mail as soon as possible at cyoung-at-mtech.edu or by phone at 406-496-4158 to let him know what the system is, what its condition is, its age, if there is an EDX attached, and what the cost will be to get it delivered to Montana Tech in Butte MT.
We are long time users of the Metamorph image analysis software package from Universal imaging. Our sales rep had told us they were coming up with a networkable edition so that we could buy a licence for a number of copies that would allow users on our campus to install the software on their own lab computers and it would run as long as the number of copies running at any moment was not more than the number of licences we had. It would check this over the internet backbone. We are now told that they have either abandoned this idea or never considered it depending on who and when we talk to them. It is my understanding that ImagePro does have such a capability and we are considering switching over to it. Is there any one out there with experience with this set up? Does it work? I am particularly interested in a solution in which the software runs on the local computer and not on a server so that we would not have to waste time transferring files, etc. over the net. I assume it would be a lot faster to have the software simply look for the licence over the net. If i am wrong about this, I would be happy to be educated on this matter also.
I would also welcome comments comparing the ease and versatility of ImagePro vs. Metamorph.
Thanks, Tom
-- 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)
Fall 2001 COURSE ANNOUNCEMENT - Transmission Electron Microscopy (BIO. 221-Section E2)
NASSAU COMMUNITY COLLEGE, Garden City, Long Island, New York
A fourteen week, Fall 2001 semester, course in Biological Transmission Electron Microscopy is being offered by the Biology Department of Nassau Community College. This is a 4 credit course offered one evening per week (Thursdays) starting at 5:30 PM. Classes will begin on September 6 and end on December 20, 2001.
This is a "hands-on" course emphasizing biological specimen preparation, ultra-thin sectioning involving block trimming, glass knifemaking and operation of the ultramicrotomes (Sorvall MT-2B and LKB Ultrotome III), thick and ultra-thin section mounting and contrast staining (UA and Pb citrate), grid support films (formvar, carbon), student operation of the TEM (Hitachi HS-8, Philips EM 300) and production of electron micrographs through the process of black & white photography, and electron micrograph analysis. Students will work on a chosen sample(s) with the goal of producing a portfolio of high quality TEM photomicrographs of that sample(s).
The course is widely transferrable and the cost per credit is reasonable at $92 per credit (for Nassau County residents or New York State residents with a certificate of residency).
More information about the Bio-Imaging Center at NCC, course descriptions and syllabi, and the beginnings of a student gallery of EM photomicrographs is available at our web site. The URL is {http://www.sunynassau.edu/webpages/biology/becks.htm} .
Interested individuals should register as soon as possible since the course is limited to a total enrollment of ten (10) students.
If you have further questions, you should e-mail me directly at the address below.
Stephen J. Beck Associate Professor Bio-Imaging Center/Electron Microscopy Department of Biology Nassau Community College Garden City, NY 11530 Voice Mail: (516) 572-7829 Email: {becks-at-sunynassau.edu} URL: {http://www.sunynassau.edu/webpages/biology/becks.htm}
Have you looked at the MSA Surplus Equipment pages
http://www.msa.microscopy.com/SurplusEquipment/
Nestor Your Friendly Neighborhood SysOp
} } } Montana Tech's Dept of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering is in need of } replacing its SEM/EDX system and is looking for an economical used system. } An SEM w/o EDX can be considered since the EDX on our current system can } likely be attached. Parties interested in divesting their SEM/EDX system } should contact Dr. Courtney Young by e-mail as soon as possible at } cyoung-at-mtech.edu or by phone at 406-496-4158 to let him know what the system } is, what its condition is, its age, if there is an EDX attached, and what } the cost will be to get it delivered to Montana Tech in Butte MT.
-- =========================================== Dr. Nestor J. Zaluzec Materials Science Division Building 212 Argonne National Lab 9700 S. Cass Ave Argonne, Illinois 60439 USA Tel: 630-252-7901, Fax: 630-252-4289 Email: Zaluzec-at-aaem.amc.anl.gov =========================================== TPMLab: http://tpm.amc.anl.gov MMSite: http://www.amc.anl.gov ===========================================
The box said ... "This program requires Win 95/98/NT or better..." So I bought a G3 Mac !
Recently, we started experiencing a problem when using PC disks (1.8MB and Zips) in Macs. We are able to access and write to the PC disks but can not eject the disks without rebooting the Mac. We get a message indicating that the file is in use (even though we have quit the program) and a second message indicating that file sharing could not be enabled. I suspect that this may be due to the disks being formatted on the latest PC operating system. Does anyone know of a fix? Thanks.
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 ##############################################################
John, Use Mac formatted disks on the PC and use Conversions Plus from DataViz. I have never had a problem doing anything this way. What works best is to use PC Formatted Zips and then quick format them in the PC to the Mac Format. I have been doing this for about 4 years and it works great. I never lose the long formatted names going to either platform.
The one thing that you do have to take care of is to make sure that you close the directory structure on the Mac before you eject it and carry it to the PC. If you modify it on the PC after you ejected it on the Mac with the directory structure open and then go back to the Mac, your information can get lost. (I think that I got that sequence right --I may have gotten it backwards.) Whatever you do, close the file structure before ejecting the disk from the Mac.
-Scott
Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. PPG Industries, Inc. Glass Technology Center P. O. Box 11472 (letters) Guys Run Rd. (packages) Pittsburgh, PA 15238-0472
Walck-at-PPG.com
(412) 820-8651 (office) (412) 820-8515 (fax)
-----Original Message----- } From: John J. Bozzola [mailto:bozzola-at-siu.edu] Sent: Wednesday, August 01, 2001 2:29 PM To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
Recently, we started experiencing a problem when using PC disks (1.8MB and Zips) in Macs. We are able to access and write to the PC disks but can not eject the disks without rebooting the Mac. We get a message indicating that the file is in use (even though we have quit the program) and a second message indicating that file sharing could not be enabled. I suspect that this may be due to the disks being formatted on the latest PC operating system. Does anyone know of a fix? Thanks.
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 ##############################################################
I am looking for a suitable mounting material to mount small fossil bone samples. The sample extraction method requires the material to be optically clear and will allow some of the mounting to be mixed with the sample. So it would be desirable for the mounting material not to interfere with the elemental isotopic ratio that exists in the sample. Phosphorus compounds are of most concern. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks
Roy Beavers Southern Methodist University Dept. of Geological Sciences Electron Microprobe Lab P.O. Box 750395 Dallas, Tx 75275 voice: 214-768-2756 fax: 214-768-2701 E-mail: rbeavers-at-mail.smu.edu
I am considering the purchase of a used Zeiss Standard 25 over the web. I will not have the opportunity to inspect the scope and can judge it from photographs only. It has 5 plan acro objectives (2.5, 10, 25, 40, and 100 (oil)), but otherwise seems to be the "base" configuration with no optional components.
I have searched the web for information on this scope and have come up empty-handed (empty-screened?) I would like to know when they were produced, where they fell in the Zeiss product line, what the "successor" to the Standard 25 was or is, where I might find an instruction manual or old product catalog that describes optional configurations, and any other information about the scope.
Would anyone venture an opinion on the quality of this scope or its value? The asking price is $1500. It is said to be in good condition.
Thanks very much, Ed Bachmann
Ed Bachmann Odum Institute for Research in Social Science Manning Hall CB 3355 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3355 (919) 962-0512
We have had an identical problem with PC formatted Jaz and Zip disks. It appears, in our case, there is a conflict with Norton Anti-virus, Apple's PC Exchange, and PC-formatted Iomega media. If we disable Norton Anti-virus Auto Protect before inserting the Zip or Jaz disk, the problem goes away. This is obviously not a permanent solution. Let me know if you come up with a better solution.
Rod
At 01:28 PM 8/1/01 -0500, John J. Bozzola wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rodney McCabe MST-8 : Structure Property Relations MS-G755 Los Alamos National Laboratory Los Alamos, NM 87545 Phone: (505) 665-3289 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have read with fascination Debbie¹s description of the MSA Facility Workshop, and it sounds great. However, for those of you involved in disease and pathology microscopy, the session on Emerging Diseases (unfortunately on the same day) will also pique your interest. We have internationally recognized speakers, including one from Australia and two from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Also there are an AIDS and opportunistic pathogen expert from Geo Wash U and an immunopathologist and transplantation expert from Duke. There are talks on Ebola virus, use of EM to detect new viruses, prion diseases, agents of biowarfare, and others. I hope many of you can join us.
Sara
Sara E. Miller, Ph. D. P. O. Box 3712 Duke University Medical Center Durham, NC 27710 Ph: 919 684-3452 FAX: 919 684-3265
I need to order a compound microscope to look at thick sections from plastic embedded plant material before thin sectioning. Could someone suggest one that cost less than $2,500.00?
It seems that you already know the answer: If there is any light emitted, and at 650 C most materials would, then the photomultiplier tube, which is integral to the E-T detector would be overloaded. You can check that by increasing the multiplier tube amplifier from zero up, until it overloads or you reach your usual mid-range setting. Similarly, outgasing at high temperatures is a problem and I would be surprized if you could attain a vacuum sufficient for the ET detector - BS detectors are rather less sensitive to poor vacuum. One obvious way to minimize outgasing would be to have a very small area heated. My question is: How do you avoid heat damage within the chamber, including to the plastic (could be quartz) scintillator and light pipe? 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, August 01, 2001 6:43 PM, S.C.Hogg [SMTP:S.C.Hogg-at-sheffield.ac.uk] 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've been doing some hot stage environmental SEM (ESEM) } work with aluminium-silicon alloys (up to 650?C), and we get some } interesting contrast enhancement features as the temperature is } increased. We are trying to discount various parameters and it } seems that hot stage high vacuum (conventional) SEM would help } determine if the effect has something to do with the gas in the } chamber. } } Will a conventional Everhart-Thornley (E-T) detector be able to } magange this, or will contamination and out-gassing be a problem? } Also I'm aware that unlike the gaseous secondary electron detector } (GSED) in the ESEM, the E-T detector is sensitive to light, will this } be a problem too? If it does not work, will it simply not give a good } image, or is it likely to damage the dectector? } Finally if anyone has tried this technique and it worked, any tips for } good imaging? } } Thank-you, } } Simon Hogg } } } } -- } } Dr. Simon Hogg } Thixoforming Research Group } University of Sheffield } Department of Engineering Materials } Sir Robert Hadfield Building } Mappin Street } Sheffield } S1 3JD } Tel. 0114 222 5934 } Fax. 0114 222 5943
I acquired some EELS spectrum of diamond-like BCN phase and would like to analyze them. Does anyboday know if a standard spectrum of cubic BCN (theoretical or experimental) can be found somewhere?
Thanks in advance for your help!
James
_________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp
Thank you to all who responded to my previous posting. Like most of the respondents, we thought the most likely problems were a faulty thermal switch or a lack of cooling water, so we checked those first (I forgot to include that detail. sorry). We managed to trace the problem down to the thermocouple gauge today. Apparently the optical switch that triggers the 20-amp relay after the preset vacuum is reached is malfunctioning. After discussing the problem with the people at Gatan and discovering the cost of a new gauge (approximately $700-1500, depending on the source), we went the low buck route and bypassed the TC gauge by running a jumper from the green wire on the "B" switch to the red wire on the relay. Now the "B" switch controls the diffusion pump heating element directly and things are working fine. Hopefully this will save some time and frustration for anyone out there who ends up with a similar problem.
Our last problem is finding the best way to thin the quartz samples. The procedure I have followed in the preparation of the grids prior to ion milling appears at the end of this posting.
My question is this: has anyone found a particularly advantageous setup for the Gatan in milling a material such as a quartz arenite? Specifically, what combinations of gun angles and voltages work best?
(For those not familiar with the Gatan 600, there are two guns firing towards the top of the sample. The guns are linked and can be set so both are at 20 degrees, or some combination such that gun A is at 20 degrees - x degrees and gun B is at 20 degrees + x degrees (e.g. 25 & 15 degrees), to a maximum of 40 degrees and a minimum of 0 degrees. The current and amperage on both guns can be independently varied from 0-4 kV (the manual recommends 0.5 mA for most materials).)
Preparation of grids:
- prepared a standard (30 um) thin section using Crystal Bond and a Logitech thinner
- thinned by hand using diamond/resin polishing disks to approximately 20 um
- applied grids to section with epoxy, applied brass support rings to grid with epoxy. It looks like this:
I have a research group interested in looking at cross sections of coal char particles. The particles are quite porous and have been embedded in epoxy and cross sectioned. There is very little contrast in the SEM images as we are looking at carbon in carbon! In order to get a reasonable image I need a fairly large spot size (3nA, 15kV) which damages the resin which can be a large part of the field of view. I've tried C and Au coatings, the Au reduces the damage slightly but it is still very obvious, especially after a slow scan. I'm thinking a better conducting resin might help, or a more beam resistant resin or one that gives a high contrast compared to the char. Do such things exist? The resin cannot have particles in it (Ag, Cu etc) as a smooth background is required for image analysis. Any other suggestions on imaging such samples are welcome!
Thanks
Dave
Dave Phelan EM/X-Ray Unit University of Newcastle NSW 2308 AUSTRALIA Ph 02 4921 5667 Fax 02 4921 7019 emudp-at-mail.newcastle.edu.au
I am Marilena Re of ENEA Brindisi (Italy). I have spoken of this problem with my technicians, because we have two 600ion mill. The cause of the shut off of the diffusion pump should be due to the existence of electronic valve before, which shuts off the diffusion pump for protection when the flow of the water is not enough to cool it. So you should check it and control, for example, if it is dirty or if the flow of the water is enough. For your interest, I believe that you should ask to Gatan in order to have the manual, because it is very useful to solve many problems. Marilena
I am Marilena Re of ENEA Brindisi (Italy). I have spoken of this problem with my technicians, because we have two 600ion mill. The cause of the shut off of the diffusion pump should be due to the existence of electronic valve before, which shuts off the diffusion pump for protection when the flow of the water is not enough to cool it. So you should check it and control, for example, if it is dirty or if the flow of the water is enough. For your interest, I believe that you should ask to Gatan in order to have the manual, because it is very useful to solve many problems. Marilena
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } We have purchased Gatan Model 600 Dual Ion Mill for use in the } preparation of foils of geological material for TEM applications. } Since this unit was purchased used from a government lab it was } delivered without technical support and with incomplete } documentation, leaving many unanswered questions. We are having } problems maintaining high vacuum (the diffusion pump shuts off) and } cannot find the source of the problem. Help from anyone familiar } with this device would be greatly appreciated. } } We are attempting to thin quartz arenites and have spent the majority } of our time (when the unit is operational) in an effort to optimize } the thinning process. Any input in that regard would also be welcome. } } Thanks in advance for any information you can provide. } } Kevin Macke } Bowling Green State University } Department of Geology } Bowling Green, OH } Email: macke-at-bgnet.bgsu.edu } } _________________________________________________________________ } Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp
I am posting an advert for a vacancy we have for a food microscopist. Please forward it to anyone you know might be interested but does not subscribe this list.
Food Microscopist, Reading, UK
We at RSSL are looking for a Food Microscopist to join and add to our vibrant and hard working Microscopy team. Much of the work that fully occupies the current staff of 8½ is accounted for by our successful foreign body analysis service, where we identify foreign materials and particulate contamination, largely for the food and pharmaceutical industries. In addition, we have an established special microscopy business, a large part of which concerns food microstructure and we are looking to develop this business and expand it to move into different food systems.
If you are a self-starter, innovative, looking for an interesting and challenging role and believe you can make a positive contribution to our already successful team, we would very much like to hear from you. Ideally, you will have had a number of years practical experience of the application of various modes of microscopy to the investigation of different food systems and be educated to at least degree level. The Company is situated on the University of Reading campus within pleasant surroundings and can offer a competitive salary and benefits package, including contributory pension, private medical cover and a Company share-save scheme.
Please send your CV with a covering letter including your salary expectations to Jane Cook, Human Resources Officer, Reading Scientific Services Ltd, Lord Zuckerman Research Centre, PO Box 234, Whiteknights, Reading, RG6 6LA, UK or e-mail Jane.cook-at-rssl.com . RSSL is committed to providing equal employment opportunities.
Reading Scientific Services Limited is a leading provider of scientific research, analysis and consultancy to a wide range of clients from within the food, consumer goods, healthcare and chemical industries. As a Company, we are committed to scientific excellence, the provision of first class customer service and working to quality standards
******************************************************************** This e-mail is confidential and may contain privileged information. If you are not the addressee it may be unlawful for you to read, copy, distribute, disclose or otherwise use the information in this e-mail. If you are not the intended recipient please notify us immediately.
Reading Scientific Services Ltd, The Lord Zuckerman Research Centre, Whiteknights, PO Box 234, Reading. RG6 6LA.
i will be starting a new core lab. we will be buying a new microscope. i need input for a high resolution TEM with a film quality digatal camera system. anyone have any input? was thinking either FEI or JEOL. john hoffpauir
We have had a 250 Mark 3 since it was new in 1985.
It has been a rugged old SEM.
In the past few years parts are becoming increasingly difficult for even our LEO service engineers to obtain (thank goodness it's still on service contract).
It is a great SEM if you have large samples, need a lot of beam current and don't do a lot of high mag work.
The 4 quadrant BSE detector is a real gem.
We use ours as a back up to our JEOL 5800.
Sometimes I love to use it, so I can twist all those knobs.!
If you need any assistance that a well used user can supply, give me a call.
William T. Giles Sr. Electron Microscopist Met. Lab. Coordinator Henderson Technical Laboratory TIMET PO Box 2128 Henderson NV 89009 Ph: (702)566-4436 Fax: (702)564-9038 E-mail: Bill.Giles-at-timet.com } -----Original Message----- } From: Bart Cannon [SMTP:cannonmp-at-accessone.com] } Sent: Wednesday, August 01, 2001 3:22 PM } To: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: Cambridge S-250 SEM } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 Everyone, } } A nicely mothballed Cambridge S-250 with many lovely accessories has } fallen into my lap. I am contemplating bringing it back from the dead. } } Is there anyone among you who is still delighted their S-250 who would } encourage me to proceed? } } Bart Cannon } Cannon Microprobe } Seattle }
1) I just talked to a gentleman at Fullam who told me he can longer obtain the Linde type 4A molecular sieves I've always used to keep my 100% ethanol dry. Does anyone out there have a source for these or, perhaps more likely, is there some great substitute for them that I'm not aware of?
2) Another quick query: can someone suggest a source for phosphorus pentoxide in which it arrives as larger crystals (as it seems it used to) instead of powder?
I appreciate the help I've had in the past from the listserver.
Thank you
Scott Robinson
Microscopy Suite, room B650J Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology 405 North Mathews Avenue Urbana IL 61801 217 265-5071 (office); 217 244-6219 (fax) sjrobin-at-uiuc.edu
Dave, you are using large spot size, so, I believe, you do not need high magnifications. I do not know what type of SEM you have, but I would suggest to try different tilt angles (it can increase contrast, so you can use lower current). Then you can try to use as low voltage as possible with your scope. And if your SEM has a possibility of frame averaging/integration, use this feature instead of slow scan.
If nothing works, try polishing your sections with soft clothes, it will create relief (but some distortion will occur, and image analysis could be less precise).
Vladimir
} G'day } } I have a research group interested in looking at cross sections of } coal char particles. The particles are quite porous and have been } embedded in epoxy and cross sectioned. There is very little } contrast in the SEM images as we are looking at carbon in carbon! } In order to get a reasonable image I need a fairly large spot size } (3nA, 15kV) which damages the resin which can be a large part of } the field of view. I've tried C and Au coatings, the Au reduces the } damage slightly but it is still very obvious, especially after a slow } scan. } I'm thinking a better conducting resin might help, or a more beam } resistant resin or one that gives a high contrast compared to the } char. Do such things exist? The resin cannot have particles in it } (Ag, Cu etc) as a smooth background is required for image } analysis. Any other suggestions on imaging such samples are } welcome! } } Thanks } } Dave } } } } } Dave Phelan } EM/X-Ray Unit } University of Newcastle } NSW 2308 } AUSTRALIA } Ph 02 4921 5667 } Fax 02 4921 7019 } emudp-at-mail.newcastle.edu.au } } }
I would like to know more about methods to adhere cell culture cells to both glass and plastic cover slips. Are there any alternatives to polylysine and does it work with plastic coverslips? I currently use a .001% aqueous solution of polylysine, but by the time I take the cells through all of the dehydrations, there are not many cells left. I probably need both more cells and I thought, better adherence thru a "stickier" cover slip. I am using various cells including Hela and several oral cancer cell lines. Any other methods? Your advice is appreciated.
Barbara Plowman Univ. of the Pacific School of Dentistry 2155 Webster St. San Francisco, CA 94115 email: Bplowman-at-sf.uop.edu
We have several options available at Energy Beam Sciences that you may want to consider.
The first is the Technovit 9100, Methyl Methacrylate Kit. This kit is typically used to embed undecalcified bone. However, their is a monomer provided with the kit, which can be mixed with the plasticiser to vary hardness when embedding softer tissue.
Another option is the Technovit 7100, Glycol Methacrylate kit. Samples from lung to undecalcified bone are routinely processed with Glycol Methacrylate, therefore, hardness of the compund does not usually present an issue.
You can find these products on our web site at www.ebsciences.com. From the home page click on General Supplies. Under the heading of Product Information click on Light Microscopy Supplies. This will bring you to the page with the embedding kits listed.
I hope this helps.
Michael R. Nesta General Manager Energy Beam Sciences, Inc. Agawam, MA USA Tel: (413) 786-9322 "Adding Brilliance to Your Vision"
-----Original Message----- } From: Judy Trogadis [mailto:TrogadisJ-at-smh.toronto.on.ca] Sent: Wednesday, August 01, 2001 9:11 AM To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com Cc: Judy Trogadis
Fellow Microscopists:
I am looking for a suitable plastic embedding material which should have the following characteristics:
- applicable for light microscopy - not be autofluorescent - used for immunocytochemistry, i.e. tissue should retain immunogenicity - soft enough to cut 20 micron or thicker sections easily - ability to embed large pieces e.g. entire rat lung - opacity to allow identification of parts of embedded tissue (this excludes paraffin)
I hope I am being realistic and there is a product out there to meet these criteria. This group has never let me down.
Thank you in advance. Judy
Judy Trogadis Bio-Imaging Coordinator St. Michael's Hospital, 8Q 30 Bond St. Toronto, ON M5B 1W8
} I need to order a compound microscope to look at thick sections from } plastic embedded plant material before thin sectioning. Could someone } suggest one that cost less than $2,500.00? } } Thanks, Nancy
You can cut a zero off that price by shopping the Chinese imports intended primarily for the educational market. The quality is remarkably good, considering the prices; quite good enough for your purpose. You'll find a dealer list on the MICRO website (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
Barbara We use polylysine at 0.01% not 0.001%. See if this helps.
-----Original Message----- } From: Barbara Plowman [mailto:Bplowman-at-sfmail.dental.uop.edu] Sent: Friday, 3 August 2001 5:04 AM To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
I would like to know more about methods to adhere cell culture cells to both glass and plastic cover slips. Are there any alternatives to polylysine and does it work with plastic coverslips? I currently use a .001% aqueous solution of polylysine, but by the time I take the cells through all of the dehydrations, there are not many cells left. I probably need both more cells and I thought, better adherence thru a "stickier" cover slip. I am using various cells including Hela and several oral cancer cell lines. Any other methods? Your advice is appreciated.
Barbara Plowman Univ. of the Pacific School of Dentistry 2155 Webster St. San Francisco, CA 94115 email: Bplowman-at-sf.uop.edu
At 10:11 2/08/01 -0500, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Use dehydrated copper sulphate. Bake crystalline copper sulphate over a gas flame until it is a white powder. What we then do is to use dialysis tubing as a container so we have a "sausage" of anhydrous CuSO4 which we put in the 100% alcohol or acetaone bottle. The CuSO4 is insoluble in alcohol and it turns blue when rehydrated - a useful indicator of the presence of water............
} } Dr. Mel Dickson, Deputy Director, The Electron Microscope Unit, Adjunct Associate Professor, School of Microbiology & Immunology The University of New South Wales UNSW SYDNEY 2052 Australia. Phone +612 9385 6383 Fax +612 9385 6400 http://srv.emunit.unsw.edu.au/
Myself and a few other folks are looking for a firm to service PGT systems in the central Massachusetts area, other than PGT. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance
Joseph M. Oparowski Materials Science Research - Consulting and Failure Analysis Bose Corporation Joseph_Oparowski-at-bose.com The Mountain, M/S 415 Phone: (508) 766-1371 Framingham, MA 01701-9168 Fax: (508) 766-1313
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We have used anhydrous sodium sulfate for years to keep ETOH and acetone dry. It works fine. Just add about an inch to the bottom of a pint bottle of ETOH. Discard when you use all of the ETOH.
Debby
Debby Sherman Phone: 765-494-6666 Life Science Microscopy Facility FAX: 765-494-5896 Purdue University E-mail: dsherman-at-purdue.edu S-099e Whistler Building West Lafayette, IN 47907
--------------------------------------
Hi You All--
1) I just talked to a gentleman at Fullam who told me he can longer obtain the Linde type 4A molecular sieves I've always used to keep my 100% ethanol dry. Does anyone out there have a source for these or, perhaps more likely, is there some great substitute for them that I'm not aware of?
2) Another quick query: can someone suggest a source for phosphorus pentoxide in which it arrives as larger crystals (as it seems it used to) instead of powder?
I appreciate the help I've had in the past from the listserver.
Thank you
Scott Robinson
Microscopy Suite, room B650J Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology 405 North Mathews Avenue Urbana IL 61801 217 265-5071 (office); 217 244-6219 (fax) sjrobin-at-uiuc.edu
I have mouse ears that were glutaraldhyde fixed, post-osmicated, ethanol dehydrated, and embedded in Spurr. They were embedded so as to give a cross section through the modiolus. I am trying to get serial sections that are 2 microns thick and collected every 10 microns. The block face is approximately 7x4 mm. There is a lot of empty plastic within the sections that causes bubbles and folds. I have tried flattening the sections by using 0.5% to 1% benzoyl alcohol in water in the boat, or waving a stick dipped in acetone over the sections. I have tried FisherBrand SuperFrost slides and FisherBrand Premium microscope slides. I have very few sections out of hundreds that are relatively flat. I float them on a drop of water or in a puddle of water on the slide. I heat them on a hot plate at about 80-90° C, then transfer them to a slide warmer at 70° C. Any suggestions to improve flattening are desperately needed and all will be tried! Thanks.
Use dehydrated copper sulphate. Bake crystalline copper sulphate over a gas flame until it is a white powder. What we then do is to use dialysis tubing as a container so we have a "sausage" of anhydrous CuSO4 which we put in the 100% alcohol or acetaone bottle. The CuSO4 is insoluble in alcohol and it turns blue when rehydrated - a useful indicator of the presence of water............ Dear List, Does anyone know the free energies and/or partition coefficients for water in EtOH and CuSO4? I.e., if one puts 1 g of CuSO4 in 1 l EtOH what fraction of the residual H2O is extracted from the EtOH? TIA. Yours,
Bill Tivol Wadsworth Center Albany NY (518) 473-7399 WFT02-at-health.state.ny.us
I would like some advice. I am doing FISH (Fluorescent In-Situ Hybridization)and have been unsuccessful in getting any staining. I am using DAPI counterstain, but have no protocol indicating how long to stain. The probe I am using is a dual probe (from Vysis).
If anyone is familiar with doing FISH (and successful!) and could get in touch with me with protocols they have used,including any problem areas, I would appreciate it!
You can contact me off the list server at sherwood-at-helix.mgh.harvard.edu.
Thanks!
Peggy Sherwood -- 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
----- Original Message ----- } From: "Marco Arienti" {marienti-at-tiscalinet.it} To: {"JHoffpa464-at-aol.com"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} Sent: Friday, August 03, 2001 7:23 AM
Below is the result of your feedback form (NJZFM-ultra-55). It was submitted by (hagin-at-iname.com) from http://www.msa.microscopy.com/Ask-A-Microscopist.html on Friday, August 3, 2001 at 11:17:35 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Email: hagin-at-iname.com Name: hagin
Education: Graduate College
Location: City, State, Country
Question: Are there ROUTINE procedures to view dstrand or sstrand DNA in a resolution of 20 nm ? I have seen pictures of such macromolecules in the desired, and even better, resolution. My question intends to find out whether this pictures were obtained by a procedure requiring non-repeatable steps ? selection of one image out of hundreds ? trial and error ? and so on. Or, may be there are now procedures which can be easily taught, and which guarantee , given some miligrams of tissue, thousands of pictures of dna segments of hundreds of base-pairs long? If there are, could you please refer me to the literature which describes these procedures , or to the individuals who have the knowledge ? Sincerely Yona Hagin
the specimen on my desk is a polyurethane foam (about 100 pores/inch) covered with polypyrrole. I would like to get a ultramicrotome cut of it for TEM anlalysis. Can anybody suggest a preparation method? Which resin should I try for embedding and are there any other tips and tricks about this kind of material? I want to look at an unstained specimen and I would like to try a staining which will allow me to distinguish between the PU and Polypyrrol (and the resin, of course). Will RuO4 or OsO4 work with this combination?
Thanks for your input :)
Petra -------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Petra Wahlbring Laboratoire d'Analyse des Materiaux (LAM) Centre de Recherche Public - Gabriel Lippmann 162a, av. de la Faiencerie, L-1511 Luxembourg tel. +352-470261-503 fax +352-470261-549 e-mail: petra.wahlbring-at-crpgl.lu http://www.crpgl.lu/lam
Years ago I did some work on foams by TEM and OM. What you do depends on whether it is a closed cell, open cell foam, how rigid the foam is and the cell size. I had to work with fairly rigid closed cell PU foams. I used an Epon clone resin for embedding with no staining. Since only the broken cells at the edges would infiltrate, I chopped up the foam into small pieces so they could be wet with Epon. Try to concentrate the randomly oriented pieces in a small volume of Epon. In the TEM you have to search the thin sections for the structures you want to see. I was looking for particles in the cell walls and at struts.
It helps a bit to use Weck blades (Wecprep surgical blades) to make thin slices of the foam for a stereo microscopic view and a photograph of the structure you will see in the TEM. These blades are real real sharp razor blades (EM suppliers have them) and you can get some nice thin slices for doing OM using a vice and cutting the foam by hand. I had to do the cell size distributions of different PU foams using image analysis. Obviously the OM 'sections' had to be nearly as thin as the cell sizes.
In the TEM you can document the cell walls and struts if you chose your fields well. You can see the different types of struts junctions.
Hope this helps. My views are mine and not those of PPG Industries.
Paul Beauregard Sr. Research Associate PPG Industries Materials Analysis Lab Monroeville Technical Center Monroeville, PA 15146
-----Original Message----- } From: Petra Wahlbring [mailto:petra.wahlbring-at-crpgl.lu] Sent: Monday, August 06, 2001 7:58 AM To: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
Dear listers,
the specimen on my desk is a polyurethane foam (about 100 pores/inch) covered with polypyrrole. I would like to get a ultramicrotome cut of it for TEM anlalysis. Can anybody suggest a preparation method? Which resin should I try for embedding and are there any other tips and tricks about this kind of material? I want to look at an unstained specimen and I would like to try a staining which will allow me to distinguish between the PU and Polypyrrol (and the resin, of course). Will RuO4 or OsO4 work with this combination?
Thanks for your input :)
Petra -------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Petra Wahlbring Laboratoire d'Analyse des Materiaux (LAM) Centre de Recherche Public - Gabriel Lippmann 162a, av. de la Faiencerie, L-1511 Luxembourg tel. +352-470261-503 fax +352-470261-549 e-mail: petra.wahlbring-at-crpgl.lu http://www.crpgl.lu/lam
We are currently in the process of decommissioning our VG HB501-ME0766 STEM. The instrument is in working order and is currently under service contract. Any interested parties should contact: Larry Murphy, Manager - Cabot Analytical Laboratories. Email: Lawrence_Murphy-at-Cabot-Corp.com. or phone (978) 670-6249.
I used to use Ted Pella's Medcast resin kit for my epoxy 'epon 812' clone material. I was forced to switch to Eponate 12.
Some background and for your information: Years ago, the problem with switching was that some suppliers said Epon 812 clone, identical to Epon 812 by NMR, identical by IR, etc.
A few years ago, I ran NMRs on Eponate 12, Epon 812 (original Shell material), and Medcast. They were identical by NMR. Now I know that NMR is not a quantitative technique for assay but it was a way to screen the different clones. I use Eponate 12 now. I have to use 70 degree for curing with Eponate 12 for some reason.
I ran one other supplier's material and it was totally different--totally different!!!
The original Shell(?) EPON 812 stuff I used as a check or reference material was and is much thicker than the material I buy and had bought recently.
Someday I will get and run other suppliers materials or kits. I may have to switch again! I suspect a lot of this material comes from the same chemical source.
Maybe someone out there has screened other material already and could send A SEPARATE EMAIL THREAD about their analysis of 'epon clones'?
Paul Beauregard Sr. Research Associate PPG Industries 440 College Park Drive Monroeville, PA 15146
-----Original Message----- } From: Petra Wahlbring [mailto:petra.wahlbring-at-crpgl.lu] Sent: Monday, August 06, 2001 10:49 AM To: Beauregard, Paul A.
Petra, we don't do much polymer work at my Lab, but I get a lot of them at materials ultramicrotomy workshops that I do. The key point is whether or not it is open-cell or closed-cell. If the former, it is pretty straightforward - use a low viscosity resin like Spurrs (but some ingredients are carcenogenic) or LR White (bit more viscous than Spurrs). Give it lots of time to infiltrate and, if possible, do so in a low vacuum to help encourage the air to exit the material.
If it is the latter - good luck! In 8 years of doing a hands-on workshop in the U.S. with a crack team of 7 experienced microtomists, we have been challenged with, and overcome, an amazing selection of students' samples for sectioning during the course of the week. We have only failed twice; once with a diamond-like carbon coating, but only because it was too thick (over a micron) and we had no way of reducing the thickness. The other was an innocent-looking, closed-cell polymer foam. Not only could we not embed it (quite understandably), we couldn't even fracture it after immersing in liquid nitrogen. (The outer layer would freeze but the interior remained as 'bouncy' as ever). If this is your case, I would find a FIB system and hope that it doesn't ion damage too much during ion sectioning.
Tom Malis Characterization Group Leader Materials Technology Laboratory Natural Resources Canada Ottawa, Canada
} From: Petra Wahlbring {petra.wahlbring-at-crpgl.lu} } Date: Mon, 06 Aug 2001 13:57:31 +0200 } To: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: TEM: embedding media for PU/Polypyrrole-Foam? } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Dear listers, } } the specimen on my desk is a polyurethane foam (about 100 pores/inch) } covered with polypyrrole. I would like to get a ultramicrotome cut of it } for TEM anlalysis. } Can anybody suggest a preparation method? Which resin should I try for } embedding and are there any other tips and tricks about this kind of } material? I want to look at an unstained specimen and I would like to try a } staining which will allow me to distinguish between the PU and Polypyrrol } (and the resin, of course). Will RuO4 or OsO4 work with this combination? } } Thanks for your input :) } } Petra } -------------------------------------------------------------- } Dr. Petra Wahlbring } Laboratoire d'Analyse des Materiaux (LAM) } Centre de Recherche Public - Gabriel Lippmann } 162a, av. de la Faiencerie, L-1511 Luxembourg } tel. +352-470261-503 } fax +352-470261-549 } e-mail: petra.wahlbring-at-crpgl.lu } http://www.crpgl.lu/lam
Hi All, Now this is something that I was warned out when I first pitched up here, but has only just happened over the past couple of weeks. We're getting random noise spikes turning up in the spectra on a couple of spectrometers. These do not occur at the same time on both spectrometers, nor in the same position if the spectrum is obtained again. Sometimes these don't occur at all. It got so bad that we had to call a halt to operations a few days ago, while we tried to suss out what was going on. The peaks were just a mess. After sorting out a few dodgy looking connections, the problem has all but disappeared. We still get a few intermittant spikes but just about ok enough to get going again. We have JEOL counting electronics JSM-XCU. These are connected in series and we find the problem only on 2 and 4. I wonder whether there is anybody out there who has had similar problems and found out what it was. We've swapped things around and it's not the pre-amps, and doesn't seem to be the modules themselves. Any help gratefully received, Malc.
-- Dr MP Roberts Phone: [+27](0)46 603 8313 Dept of Geology Fax: [+27](0)46 622 9715 Rhodes University Cell: 083 4060 262 (try your luck!) 6140 Grahamstown e-mail: m.roberts-at-ru.ac.za SOUTH AFRICA
We have looked at polypyrrole by itself, so while I can't suggest anything concerning the sectioning of the PU foam, I can think of a possibility regarding the staining. Because both PU and PPy are nitrogenous materials, it is likely that RuO4 and OsO4 would be overkill (though if you are used to handling them, I wouldn't rule out trying). However, polypyrrole is easily doped with various counterions, one of which is iodide, which would be very electron dense, and should give good contrast. There ought to be something in the literature about how to do the doping.
On Mon, 6 Aug 2001, Petra Wahlbring wrote:
} the specimen on my desk is a polyurethane foam (about 100 pores/inch) } covered with polypyrrole ... I would like to try a staining which will } allow me to distinguish between the PU and Polypyrrol (and the resin, of } course). Will RuO4 or OsO4 work with this combination?
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Robert H.Olley Phone: | | J.J.Thomson Physical Laboratory {direct line +44 (0) 118 9318572 | | University of Reading {University internal extension 7867 | | Whiteknights Fax +44 (0) 118 9750203 | | Reading RG6 6AF Email: R.H.Olley-at-reading.ac.uk | | England URL: http://www.reading.ac.uk/~spsolley | +------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Hi, I´m a biologist working with yeasts from natural environments. I would like to know if anyone has or had experience in doing SEM and nuclear staining with yeasts. Or if you know someone who has.
I'm looking for a trimming block for an AO/Reichert Ultracut. The original part description is; catalog number 9-70-17-56 Trimming Block (for serial numbers greater than 365849).
I am interested in using aniline blue to localize callose in botanical material. Does anyone have a reference for the absorption and emission spectra of aniline blue under UV light?
We'll be installing a Tecnai F20 this fall. FEI recommends that the microscope be surrounded by curtains. It is not clear to me whether the curtains should be of a sound-attenuating material. Any advice from those who have already installed a Tecnai 20 (of any variety) would be appreciated.
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Russell E. Cook, Ph.D. Electron Microscopy Center Argonne National Laboratory Materials Science Division, Building 212 9700 South Cass Avenue Argonne, IL 60439-4838 (630)252-7194 FAX: (630)252-4289 recook-at-anl.gov
Russel, We have installed one of the last CM 300's made and we used curtains to create a subroom around the scope for two reasons: 1) to reduce sound reverberations, 2) more importantly, as a focus for the air conditioning. The air coming into the room is outside of the curtains. The cold air falls to the floor and flows through a gap between the floor and curtains. The heat of the scope causes a gentle upward flow in its vicinity and is exhausted out a vent in a "chimney" built into the ceiling. Thus, we have cooling without much wind currents. Ciao for now, Ken
I have a used LKB 2168 TEM grid stainer needing adoption. The unit was in working order as of its last usage (approximately 4 yrs ago). I anticipate the system will only require a thorough cleaning prior to entering service at its new home. Any interested non-commercial parties should contact me off line for details.
Act quickly this is a limited time offer....the junk man cometh .
} John A. Robson } _____________________________________________________ } } Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. } Research and Development } 900 Ridgebury Road / P. O. Box 368 } Ridgefield, CT 06877-0368 } } phone: 203.798.5640 } fax: 203.798.5698 } email: jrobson-at-rdg.boehringer-ingelheim.com } } }
a few snapshots of Rachel & Natasha from last month are at http://drdcox.home.mindspring.com/family/ncc_rcc_july01.jpg
____________________________________________________________________________ Michael Cammer Analytical Imaging Facility Albert Einstein Coll. of Med. Jack & Pearl Resnick Campus 1300 Morris Park Ave. Bronx, NY 10461 (718) 430-2890 Fax: 430-8996 URL: http://www.aecom.yu.edu/aif/
The Life Science Microscopy Facility at Purdue University seeks an electron microscopist for a university-wide, multi-user facility. The successful candidate will supervise the specimen preparation section of the microscopy facility. Duties include (1) prepare and photograph specimens for transmission and scanning electron microscopy, (2) instruct users in the proper use of electron and various light microscopes. (3) Participate in laboratory courses taught by faculty (4) Develop new procedures and techniques and furnish technical knowledge for interpretation of micrographs. (5) Maintain billing records for service activities. The candidate will collaborate with faculty and graduate students on research projects and in some cases will be considered a co-author.
Minimum academic requirements are a B.S. preferably in the life sciences. Salary is commensurate with experience. Purdue offers an outstanding benefit package.
Purdue is an affirmative action / equal opportunity employer. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.
Applicants can send their CV to: (email acceptable) John J. Turek, Ph.D. Professor of Basic Medical Sciences Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine W. Lafayette IN, 47907-1246 Phone: 765-494-5854 Fax: 765-494-0781 email:turekj-at-purdue.edu
I have a small (actually not so small), but interesting problem which I hope people out there in microscopy land may be able to help me with.
We have submitted two separate applications for replacement EM's. One application was for a FEG-SEM with cold stage and the other for a 120kv TEM with cryoholder. Both these configurations had been chosen after much consultation with the researchers who use our Unit. The applications were well supported by these researchers.
The response from our Equipment committee follows;
"Taking both applications into consideration, the committee would like to ask you to examine the feasibility of applying for a scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM), which the committee believe may better facilitate research. Can you please investigate whether the purchase of such an instrument would be a viable option for the University in enhancing its biological science research ?"
We in the Unit believe that only a FESEM and a cryo-TEM will meet all the needs expressed to us by researchers and that the purchase of a STEM will mean spending a significant amount of money for a backward step in 'real need' capability.
However I have to write a report justifying this belief.
Unfortunately I have no experience with STEM nor do I know a great deal about STEM. As I see it a STEM with cryo-capability may well be a possible option for our TEM researchers but my reason for not wishing to pursue the STEM option is simply because the trade off would be that a significant number of researchers at this University who have expressed a need for access to a cryo-capable high resolution SEM to study frozen hydrated 'large' samples will not have their needs meet. The purchase of a cryo-capable STEM will result in other compromises. For example, I understand that to have a cryo-capable STEM means we would have to compromise access to a back scattered electron detector. Due to design considerations a cryo-capable STEM can not have a back scattered electron detector fitted.
Any ideas to help me write my report will be gratefully received. Ideas to the contrary of those expressed above are also very very welcome.
Replies please to Allan Mitchell, allan.mitchell-at-stonebow.otago.ac.nz.
Richard Easingwood South Campus Electron Microscope Unit School of Medical Sciences, University of Otago PO Box 913, Dunedin NEW ZEALAND
I am looking for a used dimpler to prepare TEM samples. Any information about it would be greatly appreciated.
Best regards,
Zhiping LUO Research Scientist Electron Microscopy Center Biological Sciences Building West Texas A&M University College Station, TX 77843-2257 Phone: (979) 845-1129 FAX: (979) 847-8933 E-mail: luo-at-emcnext2.tamu.edu
Check out 'The study of Plant Structure: Principles and Selected Methods' by O'Brien and McCully (1981), the bible of preparing plant tissue for microscopy. On pg 6.98, they give the 'peak absorption maximum for the dye-tissue complex' as ca. 370 nm, and the 'peak fluorescence emission' as 509 nm. I hope this helps.
Dear all, Does anybody have any good ideas about a suitable EDX standard for Y:Si?
I am working on yttrium silicates, and they tend to have fairly variable compositions (despite the fact that they are recorded as line compositions on the phase diagrams). Perhaps a well characterised, homogeneous glass containing Y?
I hope there are some good ideas out there?
Thanks in advance
Ian MacLaren Max Planck Institut für Metallforschung, Seestraße 92, 70174 Stuttgart, Germany Email: ian.maclaren-at-physics.org / maclariz-at-yahoo.co.uk Home page: http://members.tripod.co.uk/IanMacLaren/ MPI-Stuttgart (mostly in German): http://www.mpi-stuttgart.mpg.de/
Our Astimex WDS / EDS standards for Y use Y3Al5O12 which is a synthetic. I suppose this is used because Astimex recognized years ago that this has better homogeneity than the Y in Si. Disclaimer: ProSciTech supplies these standards. 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, August 10, 2001 12:11 AM, Ian MacLaren [SMTP:maclaren-at-hrem.mpi-stuttgart.mpg.de] wrote: } { { File: ATT00008.txt; charset = Windows-1252 } } } } } Dear all, } Does anybody have any good ideas about a suitable EDX standard for Y:Si? } } I am working on yttrium silicates, and they tend to have fairly variable } compositions (despite the fact that they are recorded as line compositions } on the phase diagrams). Perhaps a well characterised, homogeneous glass } containing Y? } } I hope there are some good ideas out there? } } Thanks in advance } } Ian MacLaren } Max Planck Institut fur Metallforschung, Seestra?e 92, } 70174 Stuttgart, Germany } Email: ian.maclaren-at-physics.org / maclariz-at-yahoo.co.uk } Home page: http://members.tripod.co.uk/IanMacLaren/ } MPI-Stuttgart (mostly in German): http://www.mpi-stuttgart.mpg.de/
The Delaware Biotechnology Institute (DBI) at the University of Delaware has an immediate opening for a Research Associate I in its state-of-the-art BioImaging Center. The successful candidate should have a BS/MS in Biology or related field and a strong background (2+ years) in microscopy. The BioImaging Center includes an array of microscopy equipment including conventional fluorescence, confocal, multi-photon, atomic force, transmission and field emission scanning electron microscopes and their ancillary sample preparation equipment.
The primary responsibilities of the position include assisting the director of the BioImaging Center with general day-to-day operation of the multi-user facility as well as user training, equipment scheduling, and report generation. Experience in a multi-user facility and good familiarity with digital image processing and output, confocal microscopy and biological EM sample preparation are desirable. The individual must have strong communication and organizational skills, be motivated to learn new techniques, flexible, and have the ability to interact with a diverse group of research personnel. The highly variable nature of projects and collaborations as well as the excellent facilities, provides tremendous opportunity for professional growth.
The salary for the position will be commensurate with successful candidate qualifications. Applicants should send a cover letter, resume/CV, and list of 3 references to Professor Kirk J. Czymmek, 15 Innovation Way, Delaware Biotechnology Institute, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19711. Email: kirk-at-udel.edu
Applications will be accepted until August 20, 2000 or until the position is filled.
The University of Delaware is an Equal Opportunity Employer, which encourages applications from Minority Group Members and Women.
We do have a used D500 Dimpler that just became available. This is not the same as our newer version D500i, but it is still an excellent product. If you have an interest, please contact me off-line.
Best regards-
David -- David Henriks TEL: +1-949-492-2600 South Bay Technology, Inc. FAX: +1-949-492-1499 1120 Via Callejon San Clemente, CA 92673 USA e-mail: henriks-at-southbaytech.com
*** www.southbaytech.com ***
Zhiping Luo 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Dear All, } } I am looking for a used dimpler to prepare TEM samples. Any information } about it would be greatly appreciated. } } Best regards, } } Zhiping LUO } Research Scientist } Electron Microscopy Center } Biological Sciences Building West } Texas A&M University } College Station, TX 77843-2257 } Phone: (979) 845-1129 } FAX: (979) 847-8933 } E-mail: luo-at-emcnext2.tamu.edu
The problem: to install a Nikon Coolpix 990 on a MEF-3 Reichert-Jung (metallurgical) light microscope.
We bought from Nikon the MCD lens adapter, which fits well the standard port for a CCD camera on the left-hand side of the microscope – actually a “T” connection on the “Rotoscope” screen support tube.
However:
(1) The field-of-view grabbed and displayed by the Coolpix is considerably smaller (just one quarter linear size) than the field-of-view of the Polaroid camera or that seen through the binoculars, for the same specimen and microscope setting. It is noteworthy that the image itself is distortion-free and of high quality.
(2) No in-focus image can be obtained when the microscope is set to magnification of x50 and below.
(3) The same problems appeared also when fitting a CCD camera through the same port.
(4) The problem can be solved by mounting the Coolpix instead of one of the two eyepices (occulars). Obviously, this is a bad solution, as the microscope is left with only one eyepiece.
I have seen an adaptor invented and marketed by Martin Microscope Company designed for the Cool Pix camera. It was quite impressive. I have no financial ties to the company above.
Below is the result of your feedback form (NJZFM-ultra-55). It was submitted by (ARSEG -at-aol.com) from http://www.msa.microscopy.com/Ask-A-Microscopist.html on Friday, August 10, 2001 at 18:21:39 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Email: ARSEG -at-aol.com Name: Rene Griffith
Organization: Union
Education: 9-12th Grade High School
Location: City, State, Country
Question: Hi my name is rene.I am a researcher at union highscool and i will be developing a slide to observe mycorrhizal relationships. So i would like to know what mountant you think i can use?
I'm not sure about your specific microscope model, but I suspect that Optem has an adapter which will fit it.
Optem makes a very nice adapter system for the 990. The top piece is PN 257015 which mates to PN 29-90-56. This then mates to a standard 1X C-mount on the trinoc port of the microscope. The lens inside the adapters provides the correct field of view to match that seen through the oculars.
Optem is in Fairport, NY USA and can be reached at info-at-optemintl.com or URL http://www.optemintl.com
gary g.
At 01:01 AM 8/11/2001, you wrote:
} Hi all, } } Connect Coolpix 990 to a light microscope } } Can anybody help? } } The problem: to install a Nikon Coolpix 990 on } a MEF-3 Reichert-Jung (metallurgical) light } microscope. } } We bought from Nikon the MCD lens adapter, } which fits well the standard port for a CCD } camera on the left-hand side of the microscope } actually a "T" connection on the "Rotoscope" } screen support tube. } } However: } } (1) The field-of-view grabbed and displayed by the } Coolpix is considerably smaller (just one quarter } linear size) than the field-of-view of the Polaroid } camera or that seen through the binoculars, for } the same specimen and microscope setting. It is } noteworthy that the image itself is distortion-free } and of high quality. } } (2) No in-focus image can be obtained when the } microscope is set to magnification of x50 and } below. } } (3) The same problems appeared also when fitting } a CCD camera through the same port. } } (4) The problem can be solved by mounting the } Coolpix instead of one of the two eyepices (occulars). } Obviously, this is a bad solution, as the microscope } is left with only one eyepiece. } } Is there a remedy? } } } Thanx, } } Dr. Uri Admon } } Beer-Sheva, Israel
I am wondering if anyone can help point me in the right direction regarding status of research, or better yet, ready to go software for computing 3D reconstruction of an SEM image.
My particular interest is defects on wafer surfaces. I have seen stereo pairs and some materials on reconstruction from stereo pairs, but not too impressed so far for my needs (not to say I have not seen some dandy stero pair SEM images).
I was thinking one could acquire multiple views (i.e., analogous to top, front, right side, rear, left side ) accomplished by rotation and tilt in the SEM. Then perhaps with a little help from the user to define common points in the various views, one to reconstruct the image. I am oversimplifying and no offense to the image experts, but the rest is math and graphics.
Anyone know of something like this or functionally equivalent ?
Regards, Ed Principe Defect & Thin Film Characterization Laboratory Applied Materials
Ed Principe wrote: ============================================================== I am wondering if anyone can help point me in the right direction regarding status of research, or better yet, ready to go software for computing 3D reconstruction of an SEM image.
My particular interest is defects on wafer surfaces. I have seen stereo pairs and some materials on reconstruction from stereo pairs, but not too impressed so far for my needs (not to say I have not seen some dandy stero pair SEM images).
I was thinking one could acquire multiple views (i.e., analogous to top, front, right side, rear, left side ) accomplished by rotation and tilt in the SEM. Then perhaps with a little help from the user to define common points in the various views, one to reconstruct the image. I am oversimplifying and no offense to the image experts, but the rest is math and graphics.
Anyone know of something like this or functionally equivalent ? =============================================================== Two such firms offering this kind of product are
1] Alicona (Germany) and their MeX 3D Reconstruction Software from SEM images www.alicona.com
and
2] Soft Imaging Systems (also Germany) http://www.soft-imaging.de/
There are some differences between the two products, including price. We have use both in our own laboratory and find them both quite acceptable.
Disclaimer: SPI Supplies will be distributing the Alicona product in the near future.
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 ############################ ==================================================
In a message dated 8/12/01 1:43:03 PM, cgarber-at-2spi.com writes:
} My particular interest is defects on wafer surfaces. I have seen stereo } pairs and some materials on reconstruction from stereo pairs, but not too } impressed so far for my needs (not to say I have not seen some dandy stero } pair SEM images). } } I was thinking one could acquire multiple views (i.e., analogous to top, } front, right side, rear, left side ) accomplished by rotation and tilt } in } the SEM. Then perhaps with a little help from the user to define common } points in the various views, one to reconstruct the image. I am } oversimplifying and no offense to the image experts, but the rest is math } and graphics. } } Anyone know of something like this or functionally equivalent ?
Fovea Pro (http://reindeergraphics.com) includes this capability, as do several more costly packages. The Fovea routine functions as a plug-in within Photoshop. It uses cross-correlation to match points between the images, producing an image in which the horizontal displacement (parallax) is recorded as a grey scale value. This image can be measured (e.g., line profiles, etc.) or used to render perspective-corrected graphic images of the surface.
} Date: Sun, 12 Aug 2001 09:04:08 -0700 } To: Edward_Principe-at-amat.com } From: Gary Gaugler {gary-at-microtechnics.com} } Subject: Re: 3D SEM Reconstruction } } } Take a look at AutoQuant 3D reconstruction software. } I use it an I am an authorized dealer for AQI products. } } You can see more about their Autovisualize 3D at } } http://www.aqi.com } } gary gaugler } 916.791.8191 (Calif.) } } } At 10:21 PM 8/11/2001, you wrote: } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
We have a Reichert MeF-3 microscope and have mounted a Kodak Megaplus 1.4 on the right side, which is a port for ther macro camera. A coupling lens from Diagnostic Instruments was needed to fill the camera detector. We had mounted it on the left side but in re-arranging the room we moved it to the other side without difficulty.
Best Regards
Sam Purdy
Technical Center National Steel Corp. 1745 Fritz Dr. Trenton MI Voice:734-676-2682 FAX: 734-676-2682 spurdy-at-nationalsteel.com
-- Electron Microscopy position available. Multi-user; clinical/research facility. Call Valerie Sinor -at- 210-567-2607 for more information. UTHSCSA, Department of Pathology, San Antonio, Texas EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER
-- Electron Microscopy position available. Multi-user; clinical/research facility. Call Valerie Sinor -at- 210-567-2607 for more information. UTHSCSA, Department of Pathology, San Antonio, Texas EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER
Does anyone out there in cyber space have any experience in dealing with periodic acid methenamine silver staining of renal basement membranes at the ultrastructural level (that is thin sections). Any help would be gratefully appreciated
Many thanks
Terry
Dr Terry Robertson (PhD) Senior Research Fellow Department of Pathology University of Western Australia Nedlands 6009
Dear Richard, While an STEM may be a viable substitute for a TEM for some applications, it cannot do what an SEM can do. 1. STEM runs at 100 to 200 kV accelerating voltage for beam penetration, the opposite of the surface studies you want to do at 1 to 20 kV on a FESEM. 2. Sample size will be restricted to a standard TEM holder: 3 mm in diameter and 0.5 mm thick. Most SEM samples are 10 mm cubed or larger. 3. A modern STEM will cost about twice as much as a FESEM. The only dedicated STEM I saw in the Exhibits of the M&M 2001 last week was aimed at the semi-conductor testing market and there were no biological application mentioned. I have a TEM with scanning option, but the restrictions above also apply to it. The STEM mode is used for EDX testing. Anyone who thinks an STEM can substitute for an SEM has no knowledge of either technology. At 09:18 AM 8/9/01 +1200, you wrote: } } Greetings all. } } I have a small (actually not so small), but interesting problem which I } hope people out there in microscopy land may be able to help me with. } } We have submitted two separate applications for replacement EM's. One } application was for a FEG-SEM with cold stage and the other for a 120kv } TEM with cryoholder. Both these configurations had been chosen after much } consultation with the researchers who use our Unit. The applications were } well supported by these researchers. } } The response from our Equipment committee follows; } } "Taking both applications into consideration, the committee would like to } ask you to examine the feasibility of applying for a scanning transmission } electron microscope (STEM), which the committee believe may better } facilitate research. Can you please investigate whether the purchase of } such an instrument would be a viable option for the University in enhancing } its biological science research ?" } } We in the Unit believe that only a FESEM and a cryo-TEM will meet all the } needs expressed to us by researchers and that the purchase of a STEM will } mean spending a significant amount of money for a backward step in 'real } need' capability. } } However I have to write a report justifying this belief. } } Unfortunately I have no experience with STEM nor do I know a great deal } about STEM. As I see it a STEM with cryo-capability may well be a possible } option for our TEM researchers but my reason for not wishing to pursue the } STEM option is simply because the trade off would be that a significant } number of researchers at this University who have expressed a need for } access to a cryo-capable high resolution SEM to study frozen hydrated } 'large' samples will not have their needs meet. } The purchase of a cryo-capable STEM will result in other compromises. For } example, I understand that to have a cryo-capable STEM means we would have } to compromise access to a back scattered electron detector. Due to design } considerations a cryo-capable STEM can not have a back scattered electron } detector fitted. } } Any ideas to help me write my report will be gratefully received. Ideas } to the contrary of those expressed above are also very very welcome. } } Replies please to Allan Mitchell, allan.mitchell-at-stonebow.otago.ac.nz. } } } Richard Easingwood } South Campus Electron Microscope Unit } School of Medical Sciences, University of Otago } PO Box 913, Dunedin } NEW ZEALAND
Regards and good luck, 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
Our group uses a CAMECA SU 30 SEM Probe.Recently it has developed a problem in CRT.The image starts shaking when it is continued to be on for some time.We thought it may starts heating up when is kept on so we put a cooling fan in it and also replaced the old heat sinks in the circuits with new ones. Still we could not solve the problem although it decreased to a little extent.
I do hope to get suggestions to overcome the problems.
Thanks in advance
Regards
Mr. Pankaj Kumar Patro PhD student IIT-Bombay Mumbai,India
Hello, Anyone know what non and artifactual causes are there for membrane blebbing or sloughing of parasite intected intestinal cells. We know about glut and over microwaving (insufficient lipid fix and overheating) anything else? thanks Mike D
We are going to purchase an electropolisher for our electron microscopy lab. We intend to use the polisher to prepare metallic TEM samples. Right now I have three candidates, Fishione Model 110 Twin-Jet Electropolisher, Struers TenuPol-5, and South Bay Model 550D. Can anyone with experiences using one of the polishers make comments to help us make decision?
Please contact me offline. My meail address: gongw-at-vsl.cua.edu
Dear Listers, I am having some trouble out of my SEM. Problem is in evacuation no led's are lighting up on the sequence panel. I can hear the rotary pump running, but I am not sure if it is actually working. So far I have checked the rotary pump oil level. Disassembled cleaned and reassembled the RP Vent valve. Checked the diffusion pump heater in and out of circuit. And of course the fuses. Working voltage is 100 volt AC and line voltage as checked is running at 108 volts. Switching to VAC on Checker Meter shows zero..........Any help would be appreciated Thank you in advance
p.s. VITALY FEINGOLD are you still out there I have lost your e-mail address
Robert Fowler Quality Assurance Technician TDK Components USA, Inc. 1 TDK Boulevard Peachtree City GA 30269-2051 Telephone: (770) 631-0410 Ext.315 Fax: (770) 487-1460 email: rfowler-at-tdktca.com www.tdk.com
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We are going to purchase an electropolisher for our electron microscopy lab. We intend to use the polisher to prepare metallic TEM samples. Right now I have three candidates, Fishione Model 110 Twin-Jet Electropolisher, Struers TenuPol-5, and South Bay Model 550D. Can anyone with experiences using one of the polishers make comments to help us make decision?
Please contact me offline. My meail address: gongw-at-vsl.cua.edu
I would say the very crudest breakdown of STEM and TEM is: TEM can produce some of the highest signal/noise high resolution phase images (i.e., TEM is good for imaging). The extreme example is 'true' HRTEM. STEM is primarily valued for its spectroscopic analytical capability (not implying at all TEM does not provide analytical capability). The very latest/greatest HRTEM can match STEM image resolution. The STEM's most common imaging mode, high angle dark field, is primarily a Z-contrast image. Today's latest TEM/STEM systems can operate in STEM mode with a ~1.4A (300kV) or ~1.9A (200kV) and spot size with sufficient current to collect (P)EELS and EDS data in 5-20s per point (S/N issue). With a monochromoter, source correction, Cs hardware correction and the latest energy filter/energy loss spectrometer; you can approach meV energy resolution (should be coming "soon"). This is a change from earlier generations of TEM/STEM, where only a dedicated STEM in a research level facility could approach this spot resolution. The jist is; today or soon, you can really get the best of both worlds in a single commercial instrument. Obviously, I am a bit excited about the possibilities.
I think it really comes down to this: Do you need technology at your disposal that will allow you to examine the composition and chemistry of interfaces, cross-sections and surfaces at near atomic resolution by the methods accessible by TEM/STEM.....and you got money (~$2.5M for the hardware)? If yes, you need a STEM. Can you live with pictures and generic elemental EDS/WDS to get the information you want ? If yes, SEM-based information for you. SEM-Based STEM is somewhere in between, but much closer to SEM than STEM. You can approach some of the same image gains provided by STEM and also some of the enhanced spatial resolution EDS benefits by working with a TEM thin ( {2kA) sample on a SEM-based STEM system, but really not the same thing. But, you might have a practical niche.
I omitted a lot of caveats to the above statements, and there are usually multiple ways (analytical approaches) to achieve any given end, but that is the big picture. STEM is up there in terms of near atomic resolution chemical / elemental information.
You mentioned biological research. That niche in particular has a host of "pecadillos" and you might need to track down an expert or five when thinking about STEM. I have zero biological experience, so can offer no bio-specific help. But, you got a lot of current in a small spot. PEELS and especially GIF offer some time/spot advantages that I would find generically appealing if I were in a biological field, but I'm not. I bet there are people who know. How many people are using STEM/cryo in biological research? Why? I also can't comment of geometry and manufacturing limits for cryo STEM verses back-scatter detector.
Regarding SEM in general; well, that is a different type of information access. SEM yields images that when supplemented with various analyzers/detectors can provide topography info (standard detectors, immersion lens, multi-perspective detectors, stereo pair images, etc), "material contrast" info (i.e., BSE detector) and chemical information (primarily EDS and less common WDS/micro-probe), as well as some structural information (including BSED..back scatter electron diffraction). Peolple even stick more exotic and generally less robust analyzers (ie., electron flight tube/AES) on a SEM-based tool. I know I am forgetting a host of other relevant information. There are people who specialize in SEM for a career who know much much better.
SEM sample prep is less demanding, in general, but is also an art form and widely varied (biological could be the tougher). TEM sample prep is demanding, again being very general, and until very recently, was also very dependent on an individual's skill. With the advent of FIB-based "semi-automatic" TEM sample prep, things are getting interesting, if not easier (may not apply to bio applications, ....or could it?). But, there is still no replacement for a skilled operator and a sample prep expert. You can only analyze what you can prepare successfully.
Facilities costs will be considerably higher for a good TEM/STEM operation. The amount of work anticipated is always a factor when justifying capital. Just biological ? Anybody else to support the capital?
Regarding TEM/STEM, there is also a difference in an operator skilled at "imaging" (TEM) and an operator skilled at "analysis" (let's say STEM). The latter is more rare, but there is high value if you find one who fits your bill. I believe TEM/STEM is on the verge of some exciting new growth in terms of applications and general utility.
BIG Disclaimer: I do not represent or work for any SEM, TEM, or STEM manufacturer.
Much more than you likely wanted, but I hope it helps. You may have stumbled into a can of worms. But, I can sympathize with those "beneath" you who count on your educated decision and well-written report. Please appreciate the complexity of the decision matrix laid before you. It may pay significantly if you make the right decision and conversely, costly in terms of either opportunity or actual hardware cost if you make a poor decision.
Good Luck. I'd be intrigued to know the final decision and reasoning. Regards, Ed
Edward L. Principe, Ph.D. Member of Technical Staff Defect & Thin Film Characterization Laboratory Applied Materials
Mary Mager {mager-at-interchange.ubc.ca} on 08/14/2001 09:03:00 AM
To: Richard Easingwood {richard.easingwood-at-stonebow.otago.ac.nz} cc: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
Dear Richard, While an STEM may be a viable substitute for a TEM for some applications, it cannot do what an SEM can do. 1. STEM runs at 100 to 200 kV accelerating voltage for beam penetration, the opposite of the surface studies you want to do at 1 to 20 kV on a FESEM. 2. Sample size will be restricted to a standard TEM holder: 3 mm in diameter and 0.5 mm thick. Most SEM samples are 10 mm cubed or larger. 3. A modern STEM will cost about twice as much as a FESEM. The only dedicated STEM I saw in the Exhibits of the M&M 2001 last week was aimed at the semi-conductor testing market and there were no biological application mentioned. I have a TEM with scanning option, but the restrictions above also apply to it. The STEM mode is used for EDX testing. Anyone who thinks an STEM can substitute for an SEM has no knowledge of either technology. At 09:18 AM 8/9/01 +1200, you wrote: } } Greetings all. } } I have a small (actually not so small), but interesting problem which I } hope people out there in microscopy land may be able to help me with. } } We have submitted two separate applications for replacement EM's. One } application was for a FEG-SEM with cold stage and the other for a 120kv } TEM with cryoholder. Both these configurations had been chosen after much } consultation with the researchers who use our Unit. The applications were } well supported by these researchers. } } The response from our Equipment committee follows; } } "Taking both applications into consideration, the committee would like to } ask you to examine the feasibility of applying for a scanning transmission } electron microscope (STEM), which the committee believe may better } facilitate research. Can you please investigate whether the purchase of } such an instrument would be a viable option for the University in enhancing } its biological science research ?" } } We in the Unit believe that only a FESEM and a cryo-TEM will meet all the } needs expressed to us by researchers and that the purchase of a STEM will } mean spending a significant amount of money for a backward step in 'real } need' capability. } } However I have to write a report justifying this belief. } } Unfortunately I have no experience with STEM nor do I know a great deal } about STEM. As I see it a STEM with cryo-capability may well be a possible } option for our TEM researchers but my reason for not wishing to pursue the } STEM option is simply because the trade off would be that a significant } number of researchers at this University who have expressed a need for } access to a cryo-capable high resolution SEM to study frozen hydrated } 'large' samples will not have their needs meet. } The purchase of a cryo-capable STEM will result in other compromises. For } example, I understand that to have a cryo-capable STEM means we would have } to compromise access to a back scattered electron detector. Due to design } considerations a cryo-capable STEM can not have a back scattered electron } detector fitted. } } Any ideas to help me write my report will be gratefully received. Ideas } to the contrary of those expressed above are also very very welcome. } } Replies please to Allan Mitchell, allan.mitchell-at-stonebow.otago.ac.nz. } } } Richard Easingwood } South Campus Electron Microscope Unit } School of Medical Sciences, University of Otago } PO Box 913, Dunedin } NEW ZEALAND
Regards and good luck, 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
Any experience with plastic coverslipping machines? We are having problems with poor resolution from our two year old system. Looking at a glass cover slipped slide the microscope resolution is great, changing to one of the plastic ones and it's not so good... It could be processing or the plastic, the glass cover slipped slides are done by a different facility.
Does anyone out there know of a good source, text or website, that deals with the issue of contaminants in a semiconductor manufacturing environment? I'm putting together a lecture on the subject but I don't want to generate SEM's, optical images etc. if this is available readily. Principally I'm interested in human spittle, airborne contaminates such as skin, hair, cloth fibers, etc. or anything that may be generated by human interaction with a semiconductor device.
Mike: Back when biological SEM was new, there was a lot of excitement over the use of cell surface blebbing, etc to differentiate between T and B cells. Well, the upshot of things (and I forget the references) was that the heating of the sample during critical point drying was causing the blebbing, ruffles, etc. And this was after both glutaraldehyde and osmium fixation. So, my guess is that that the blebbing is caused by heating. Membranes are still very mobile (the lipid phases, that is) following fixation, and driving the temp up to 50C or higher will probably give you some artifacts. Question is, can you live with those artifacts? I would also recommend that you check the Ted Pella, Inc website (http://www.tedpella.com) for protocols using the microwave at lower temps. There were a number of excellent papers at last week's Microscopy & Microanalysis meeting using these techniques. Steve Slap at Hacker might also be a good resource for you here. Roger On Tue, 14 Aug 2001 13:02:31 -0400, Mike Delannoy 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, | Anyone know what non and artifactual causes are there for membrane | blebbing or sloughing of parasite intected intestinal cells. We know | about glut and over microwaving | (insufficient lipid fix and overheating) anything else? | thanks | Mike D | |
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/
I've received at least a dozen emails sent by this virus over the last few weeks, so watch out for it. I highly recommend viewing messages on the mail server BEFORE downloading your mail (use message dispatcher in The Bat mail client). Then you can delete the message directly from the server.
} You may receive a message sent by SirCam virus. The body of the } message is randomly chosen, although the first and last lines are } always "Hi! How are you?" and "See you later. Thanks" in the English } version of the message and "Hola como estas?" and "Nos vemos pronto, } gracias" in the Spanish version. The message always have a file } attachment with double extension, which is also randomly choosen, } e.g .doc.bat, .doc.lnk, .xls.bat. Altough The Bat! will warn you } before opening such files or blocks them completely, do not try to } open them!
You will not get a copy of the SirCam virus by way of the Microscopy Listserver. My software has been blocking it fine (for now), however, the server is slow now because of the number of attacks I'm getting. Each attempt as Tony points out has an attached file which is starting to cause headaches for me as the server drives are filling and emptying constantly. When the drives fill we hit a bottle neck and the server grinds to a halt until the junk mail and it's attachments are cleared.
Nestor Your Friendly Neighborhood SysOp.
PS, I wish I was getting only a dozen attempt over a few week period. I've been getting over 500/day as of this weekend. Sigh..the joys of being a SysOp...
It sure was nice to see so many of you at M&M 2001 in Long Beach last week!
I generally only look at 0.5 to 2.0 micrometer epoxy or acrylic sections in the light microscope to see where in the block I am before taking ultrathin sections for TEM. I stain the thick sections with toluidine blue, glance at them and then throw them away. However, now I want to keep some of them and get good photomicrographs as well. In the past when I coverslipped them and took (35 mm film) pictures, they looked pretty bad. I've heard of various fixes, such as using thicker coverslips.
Now I'd like to hear from someone doing this routinely, with good results (if possible!). What kind of mounting media? What kind of coverslips? Why? What goes on with the light as it passes through the resin?
What kind of optics? Phase? Hoffman? DIC? Plain vanilla BF?
Any clues will be appreciated!
Aloha, Tina
**************************************************************************** * 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* ****************************************************************************
The problem is I have a surface mount ceramic chip capacitor exhibiting a degradation in internal resistance but not so severe that it is readily visible using light microscope and my SEM is down for repairs. Probable cause is a microcrack and I need a suitable stain or dye penetrant to be able to detect. If necessary I can penetrate using vacuum. I would appreciate your resources and input on this problem. If there is a more suitable forum....I do remember some mention of EDFAS which I plan to join (Don't have time right now) please forward
Thanking you in advance
Robert Fowler Quality Assurance Technician TDK Components USA, Inc. 1 TDK Boulevard Peachtree City GA 30269-2051 Telephone: (770) 631-0410 Ext.315 Fax: (770) 487-1460 email: rfowler-at-tdktca.com www.tdk.com
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I experienced a similar problem a few years back with a JEOL 6300. As ridiculous as it may sound, it turned out to be the nitrogen tank. It simply ran out of gas. So, if you have a N2 tank attached to your scope, check it. You may be in luck and just need to exchange the tank. Good Luck!
Jackie Garfield Electron Microscopist LifeCell Corportation One Millennium Way Branchburg, NJ 08876
We have a Wentworth LCS-2150 prober which is fitted with a Hoya L212-62A laser head and a Hoya L-210-P2 power supply. We do not have the user manuals for this system and cannot make it work. The laser fires but nothing happens to the chips under the Mituyo objectives. Power supply is set at 12KV. Simmer is completed but no pulse at the target.
Does anyone have this Hoya system and associated manuals? I would greatly appreciate a copy of any documentation. Reproduction and shipping costs will be gladly paid.
As far as I understand this instrument is intended to be for bio/medical applications. In my experience, STEM doesn't have any serious advantage over TEM for those applications (I don't have too much experience with bio applications, though).
But by all means, if you have enough money, get TEM/STEM not just TEM. Most of the popular TEM manufacturers give you STEM as an option. I wouldn't go with a dedicated STEM in your case. Here's what STEM migh give you: 1. You might get higher contrast in thicker samples than with TEM. 2. Z-contrast might be very helpful. 3. You can image with low dose and get decent images. 4. Extended analytical capabilities (you can conveniently collect all kinds of signals but you need to have all kinds of detectors for that). Since you are going to get a non FEG (I suppose) your resolution in STEM will probably be not as good as in TEM.
The reason why your committee came up with the STEM suggestion might be because, in fact, you can use a STEM in SEM mode. Just lower the voltage down to 20kV or so and if you have an SE or BSE detector- you have an SEM. So,
5. TEM/STEM can be put in SEM mode.
Hope this helps,
Max __________________________________ Max Sidorov, Ph.D. Advanced Micro Devices Sunnyvale, CA
-----Original Message----- } From: Richard Easingwood [mailto:richard.easingwood-at-stonebow.otago.ac.nz] Sent: Wednesday, August 08, 2001 2:18 PM To: EM Listserver - messages Cc: allan.mitchell-at-galadriel.otago.ac.nz; bronwyn.smaill-at-galadriel.otago.ac.nz
Greetings all.
I have a small (actually not so small), but interesting problem which I hope people out there in microscopy land may be able to help me with.
We have submitted two separate applications for replacement EM's. One application was for a FEG-SEM with cold stage and the other for a 120kv TEM with cryoholder. Both these configurations had been chosen after much consultation with the researchers who use our Unit. The applications were well supported by these researchers.
The response from our Equipment committee follows;
"Taking both applications into consideration, the committee would like to ask you to examine the feasibility of applying for a scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM), which the committee believe may better facilitate research. Can you please investigate whether the purchase of such an instrument would be a viable option for the University in enhancing its biological science research ?"
We in the Unit believe that only a FESEM and a cryo-TEM will meet all the needs expressed to us by researchers and that the purchase of a STEM will mean spending a significant amount of money for a backward step in 'real need' capability.
However I have to write a report justifying this belief.
Unfortunately I have no experience with STEM nor do I know a great deal about STEM. As I see it a STEM with cryo-capability may well be a possible option for our TEM researchers but my reason for not wishing to pursue the STEM option is simply because the trade off would be that a significant number of researchers at this University who have expressed a need for access to a cryo-capable high resolution SEM to study frozen hydrated 'large' samples will not have their needs meet. The purchase of a cryo-capable STEM will result in other compromises. For example, I understand that to have a cryo-capable STEM means we would have to compromise access to a back scattered electron detector. Due to design considerations a cryo-capable STEM can not have a back scattered electron detector fitted.
Any ideas to help me write my report will be gratefully received. Ideas to the contrary of those expressed above are also very very welcome.
Replies please to Allan Mitchell, allan.mitchell-at-stonebow.otago.ac.nz.
Richard Easingwood South Campus Electron Microscope Unit School of Medical Sciences, University of Otago PO Box 913, Dunedin NEW ZEALAND
Recently I've been trying to sputter coat nickel onto biological samples for x-ray microanalysis (EDS) in a SEM but have not been able to get any coating under a variety of conditions onto a filter paper test sample. Gold works fine.
Short digression: I like to use nickel because, compared to evaporated carbon, it prevents charging more effectively, the K & L series nickel peaks are at very low and high energies respectively, so the biological peaks of interest are not overlapped, and you get better pictures of the analyzed area with a metal coat on it. I used to coat from nickel wire in a vacuum evaporator, but now have a sputter coater available on an SEM mounted cryo-prep unit, so also want to coat Ni onto frozen hydrated biological samples for EDS.
My unit is a D.C magnetron type. After reviewing the great discussions of sputter coating that took place in this forum in January, 2001, I have a hunch that i just don't have enough voltage in this unit to blast nickel atoms off the target.
Any suggestions on what to try next?
Also, maybe I should revisit carbon coatings - is it possible to sputter carbon without a special unit?
Thanks for any suggestions you might have,
Gib
-- Gib Ahlstrand Electron Optical Facility, University of Minnesota, CBS Imaging Center, 35 Snyder Hall, St. Paul, MN. USA. 55108 (612)624-3454 (612)625-5754 FAX, giba-at-puccini.cdl.umn.edu http://www.cbs.umn.edu/ic/
} Hi, All- } } It sure was nice to see so many of you at M&M 2001 in Long Beach last } week! } } I generally only look at 0.5 to 2.0 micrometer epoxy or acrylic sections } in the light microscope to see where in the block I am before taking } ultrathin sections for TEM. I stain the thick sections with toluidine } blue, glance at them and then throw them away. However, now I want to keep } some of them and get good photomicrographs as well. In the past when I } coverslipped them and took (35 mm film) pictures, they looked pretty } bad. I've heard of various fixes, such as using thicker coverslips. } } Now I'd like to hear from someone doing this routinely, with good } results (if possible!). What kind of mounting media? What kind of } coverslips? Why? What goes on with the light as it passes through the } resin? } } What kind of optics? Phase? Hoffman? DIC? Plain vanilla BF? } } Any clues will be appreciated! } } Aloha, } Tina
Tina,
I use with full sucess semithin sections (embedded in Spurr resin) mounted in Canada Balsam. However, it is important to remove the resin with a saturated solution of NaOH in ethanol, during 5 minutes (for 0.35 µm) before the staining procedures (Toluidine Blue or another technique). The photomicrographs taked in DIC or BF microscopies are perfect for me. I hope to have help you.
Dr. Rinaldo Pires dos Santos Dept. of Botany - UFRGS Rua Márcio Dias, 25 / apt. 305 Bairro Nonoai 90830-360 - Porto Alegre - RS Brazil E-mail: rinaldop-at-uol.com.br
Hi All: For several years I have struggled with finding the right encapsulant to encapsulate irregular shaped samples, powders, etcetera that will stand up well to heating, mechanical thinning, polishing and ion milling (most bow when heated and have poor adhesion). Does anyone out there(in Listserver Land) have any recommendations of an encapsulant that they use that has these type of characteristics? I would prefer users experiences, rather than sales pitches...
While I am on the subject...does anyone have recommendations of a protocol/procedure to process cross-sectional TEM specimens at room temperature or pretty much near room temperature? eg room temperature curing adhesives (to glue the samples together) and waxes or adhesives to temporarily attach the sample to the polishing puck (I have used Crazy Glue for this purpose, but it is not always reliable) to make cross-sections of let's say a temperature sensitive device? Materials science people will know what I am talking about (I hope). Thanks for your help, Regards, Michael Coviello Lab Manager UT Arlington
P.S. Thanks Nestor for a great job and an extremely valuable resource
We have an "old" Gatan Accuview 789 (based on Kodak Megaplus 1.4 or 1.4i, I'm not sure which) mounted on our TEM side (35mm?) port. We currently use it with a Mac. Sigh. We now want to have the capability to interface it to a PC. We do fairly simple imaging and limited image analysis (basic stuff). Can anyone tell me what we need? Easiest and/or cheapest route preferred. (Private replies to tcgruber1-at-excite.com are also welcome.)
TIA,
Tyler C. Gruber, Physicist III Physics/Microscopy Laboratory Columbian Chemicals Company
From root Fri Aug 17 08:46:04 2001 Return-Path: {Microscopy-request-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} Received: (from daemon-at-localhost) by sparc5.microscopy.com (8.9.3+Sun/8.9.3) id IAA00884 for dist-Microscopy; Fri, 17 Aug 2001 08:15:45 -0500 (CDT) Received: from no_more_spam.com (sparc5 [206.69.208.10]) by sparc5.microscopy.com (8.9.3+Sun/8.9.3) with SMTP id IAA00881 for "MicroscopyFilteredEmail1-at-msa.microscopy.com"; Fri, 17 Aug 2001 08:15:14 -0500 (CDT) Received: from epostoffice.uta.edu (epostoffice.uta.edu [129.107.1.1]) by sparc5.microscopy.com (8.9.3+Sun/8.9.3) with ESMTP id IAA00874 for {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} ; Fri, 17 Aug 2001 08:15:03 -0500 (CDT) Received: from mae.uta.edu (coviello.uta.edu [129.107.2.175]) by epostoffice.uta.edu (8.11.5/8.11.5) with ESMTP id f7HDAJQ24737 for {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} ; Fri, 17 Aug 2001 08:10:19 -0500 (CDT) Message-ID: {3B7C6EF8.E956E91E-at-mae.uta.edu}
Hi All: For several years I have struggled with finding the right encapsulant to encapsulate irregular shaped samples, powders, etcetera that will stand up well to heating, mechanical thinning, polishing and ion milling (most bow when heated and have poor adhesion). Does anyone out there(in Listserver Land) have any recommendations of an encapsulant that they use that has these type of characteristics? I would prefer users experiences, rather than sales pitches...
While I am on the subject...does anyone have recommendations of a protocol/procedure to process cross-sectional TEM specimens at room temperature or pretty much near room temperature? eg room temperature curing adhesives (to glue the samples together) and waxes or adhesives to temporarily attach the sample to the polishing puck (I have used Crazy Glue for this purpose, but it is not always reliable) to make cross-sections of let's say a temperature sensitive device? Materials science people will know what I am talking about (I hope). Thanks for your help, Regards, Michael Coviello Lab Manager UT Arlington
P.S. Thanks Nestor for a great job and an extremely valuable resource
From root Fri Aug 17 08:46:04 2001 Return-Path: {Microscopy-request-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} Received: (from daemon-at-localhost) by sparc5.microscopy.com (8.9.3+Sun/8.9.3) id IAA00995 for dist-Microscopy; Fri, 17 Aug 2001 08:22:16 -0500 (CDT) Received: from no_more_spam.com (sparc5 [206.69.208.10]) by sparc5.microscopy.com (8.9.3+Sun/8.9.3) with SMTP id IAA00987 for "MicroscopyFilteredEmail1-at-msa.microscopy.com"; Fri, 17 Aug 2001 08:21:45 -0500 (CDT) Received: from usatl1005.imagion.com ([216.52.197.250]) by sparc5.microscopy.com (8.9.3+Sun/8.9.3) with ESMTP id IAA00980 for {Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com} ; Fri, 17 Aug 2001 08:21:33 -0500 (CDT) Received: from ccc-sysnt5.ccc.phelpsd.com ([198.176.209.2] unverified) by usatl1005.imagion.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC(5.0.2195.3779); Fri, 17 Aug 2001 08:54:02 -0400 Received: by ccc-sysnt5.ccc.phelpsd.com with Internet Mail Service (5.5.2650.21) id {QQ4CRSGB} ; Fri, 17 Aug 2001 09:18:38 -0400 Message-ID: {7F7A914EF10DD311AB0B00105A26EB7704FE90AD-at-ccc-sysnt5.ccc.phelpsd.com}
Hi Folks,
First-timer here.
We have an "old" Gatan Accuview 789 (based on Kodak Megaplus 1.4 or 1.4i, I'm not sure which) mounted on our TEM side (35mm?) port. We currently use it with a Mac. Sigh. We now want to have the capability to interface it to a PC. We do fairly simple imaging and limited image analysis (basic stuff). Can anyone tell me what we need? Easiest and/or cheapest route preferred. (Private replies to tcgruber1-at-excite.com are also welcome.)
TIA,
Tyler C. Gruber, Physicist III Physics/Microscopy Laboratory Columbian Chemicals Company
An older article by Bob Lowry, et al., at Harris (now Intersil) has images, elemental composition data, and interesting discussion of human contaminants on IC's.
"Analysis of Human Contaminants Pinpoint Sources of IC Defects" Lowry, R.K., Linn, J.H., Grove, G.M., and Vicroy, C.A. Semiconductor International, v 10 n 8 July 1987 p 73-77
Jack D. Henderson Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division
} -----Original Message----- } From: Peter Tomic [mailto:PTomic-at-anadigics.com] } Sent: Wednesday, August 15, 2001 6:56 AM } To: 'Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com' } Subject: Semiconductor Contaminants } } } -------------------------------------------------------------- } ---------- } 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/MicroscopyListser} ver/FAQ.html } } } -------------------------------------------------------------- } ---------. } } } Does anyone out there know of a good source, text or website, } that deals } with the issue of contaminants in a semiconductor } manufacturing environment? } I'm putting together a lecture on the subject but I don't } want to generate } SEM's, optical images etc. if this is available readily. } Principally I'm } interested in human spittle, airborne contaminates such as } skin, hair, cloth } fibers, etc. or anything that may be generated by human } interaction with a } semiconductor device. } } Regards, } Peter Tomic } Anadigics, Inc. }
Many thanks to everyone who visited the RMC-Boeckeler Instruments booth and special thanks to those of you who took the time to fill out our survey and enter the drawing for a digital camera.
I am pleased to announce that the lucky winner is Mr. Jon Charlesworth at Mayo Clinic. Good luck Jon and hope you have lots of fun with your new "toy".
Sorry that you couldn't all be winners but better luck next time. See you in Quebec and be sure to visit our booth to try for next year's drawing.
Dave Roberts Director- RMC EM Products Boeckeler Instruments, Inc. 4650 S. Butterfield Drive Tucson, AZ 85714 Tel: (520) 745-0001 Fax: (520) 745-0004 website: www.rmcproducts.com
{!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"} Many = thanks to=20 everyone who visited the RMC-Boeckeler Instruments booth and special = thanks to=20 those of you who took the time to fill out our survey and enter the = drawing for=20 a digital camera.
I am = pleased to=20 announce that the lucky winner is Mr. Jon Charlesworth at Mayo = Clinic. =20 Good luck Jon and hope you have lots of fun with your new=20 "toy".
Sorry = that you=20 couldn't all be winners but better luck next time. See = you in Quebec=20 and be sure to visit our booth to try for next year's=20 drawing.
Dave=20 Roberts Director- RMC EM=20 Products Boeckeler=20 Instruments, Inc. 4650 = S. Butterfield=20 Drive Tucson, AZ=20 85714 Tel: = (520) 745-0001=20 Fax: (520) 745-0004 website: {http://www.rmcproducts.com"} www.rmcproducts.com=
To all you that asked, no it's not a problem with your Email account or your subscription.
The TelCo ( AT&T ) connnection to my router was down for nearly 24 hours.
The network simply failed. Somewhere between Chicago and here. For the moment all appears to be working but they are still doing testing. Probably some small animal chewing on buried cable or something equally silly, but hard to find.
We have a Wentworth LCS-2150 prober which is fitted with a Hoya L212-62A laser head and a Hoya L-210-P2 power supply. We do not have the user manuals for this system and cannot make it work. The laser fires but nothing happens to the chips under the Mituyo objectives. Power supply is set at 12KV. Simmer is completed but no pulse at the target.
Does anyone have this Hoya system and associated manuals? I would greatly appreciate a copy of any documentation. Reproduction and shipping costs will be gladly paid.
This is a survey that was passed out at the Facility Managers Meeting at this year's M&M meeting. We've only gotten 6 responses so far, and many more are needed for valid results (although obviously only one answer per facility). Please take a couple of minutes to fill this form in, and email back to me. Thank you!
Phil
MICROSCOPY FACILITY SUPPORT
This survey will help compile the nature and amount of support provided to microscopy facilities by universities, colleges, and research institutes. We would like to determine how much facility support is provided by the institution, and how much must be generated by user fees or other sources, on a per cent basis.
If we get enough responses to have valid data, we will post the results on the microscopy listserver and send them to the MSA bulletin. Names of institutions will not be included in the reported results.
Institution: Location: Nature of institution (Academic, Commercial, private research, etc.)
Type of Facility (institution core, satellite, departmental, etc):
(Place an 'X' by the appropriate answer) Predominately: Biological Materials Both
User base: Service Multi-user Both
Type of microscopes: SEM FESEM ESEM or LV TEM FETEM Major optical (Specify) Scanning Probe (specify) Other (specify)
Approximately what *per cent* of the funds for each of the following is provided by A) your institution, B) user fees, or C) grants
Salaries: A) B) C)
Instrument Maintenance (Service contracts, instrument insurance, etc): A) B) C)
Replacement of existing equipment: A) B) C)
Purchase of new equipment (not replacement for but addition to existing equipment): A) B) C)
Supplies: A) B) C)
Other operating expenses: A) B) C)
Are there other microscope facilities at your institution? if so, please indicate approximate number having electron microscopes. Ideally we would like a form filled out for each major facility (multiple instruments) at your institution if there are more than one.
Please include additional information such as novel funding ideas for your facility or for others at your institution.
Please email your responses to Philip Oshel peoshel-at-facstaff.wisc.edu -- }}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{ 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)
In about three weeks time or so, I'll be writing equipment grant appilcations. Our lab needs, as a matter of necessity, an analytical SEM. The one we have now is relatively old (Philips SEM515) and has no EDS facilities. It hinders most of our work since we have to go elsewhere and pay for any work involving EDS. Our attempt last year to get a EDS system grant for it failed. So, we are making a completely new equipment grant this time.
I am wondering if there are metallurgical microscopists in the house to give me some insights on which direction to go. What must we be looking for in a good analytical SEM? Who makes what?
Many thanks in advance.
Ike Oguocha Department of Mechanical Engineering University of Saskatchewan Saskatoon, Canada
____________________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get your free -at-yahoo.co.uk address at http://mail.yahoo.co.uk or your free -at-yahoo.ie address at http://mail.yahoo.ie
Dear Listers, I have a student who's had little success attaching and then retaining neurons and PC12 cells to coverslips (glass, Thermanox and aclar) in an attempt to use a pre-embedd labeling procedure. She has coated glass with collagen for the PC12 culture. Any suggestions will be appreciated. Rosemary -- Rosemary Walsh, Manager The Electron Microscope Facility for the Life Sciences, A Shared Technology Facility, The Life Sciences Consortium 1 South FrearLab Penn State University University Park, PA 16802 (814) 865-0212 rw9-at-psu.edu http://www.lsc.psu.edu/stf/em/home.html
At 3:53 PM -0500 8/8/01, John J. Turek wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
I have a question from a client that is beyond my area of expertise, so I turn to you for help.
He would like to look at the layer of ink deposited on paper by the traditional (Guttenberg type) printing press in order to help him standardize his printing process. I haven't a clue as to how to approach this. His idea was to look in SEM since his understanding is that the ink layer is, on average, 4 micrometers thick , but my feeling is that the ink will have absorbed into the paper and not present any topography.
Any ideas? I have TEM & SEM at my disposal, as well as CLSM and widefield LM.
Thanks in advance, Lee -- Leona Cohen-Gould, M.S. Sr. Staff Associate Director, Electron Microscopy Core Facility Manager, Optical Microscopy Core Facility Joan & Sanford I. Weill Medical College of Cornell University voice (212)746-6146 fax (212)746-8175
Purdue University seeks an Electron Microscope Specialist to provide service and support for the scanning and transmission electron microscopes, and related equipment, managed by the Purdue Electron Microscopy Consortium. Serving as a primary point-of-contact for all electron microscopy related concerns, questions and problems. He/she will manage the day-to-day maintenance of our equipment. He/she will also interface with manufacturers, provide training to users, train and supervise interns, and assist in the evaluation of proposed and existing equipment.
The successful candidate will possess at least an associates degree (or equivalent) in science, engineering or technology, suitable training in electronics and vacuum systems, and significant experience in the maintenance of electron microscopes and associated equipment.
This position will remain open until filled. For full consideration, applications should be received by October 31, 2001.
The Purdue Electron Microscopy Consortium oversees and co-ordinates the operation of nearly 30 electron microscopes (organized in four clusters) that support the educational and research missions of the university.
Purdue offers competitive salaries and an outstanding benefit package. Located in West Lafayette, Indiana, it provides a very attractive environment in which to live and work.
Applicants should send a letter of interest and a detailed CV to:
Prof. Alex King Director, Purdue Electron Microscopy Consortium School of Materials Engineering Purdue University West Lafayette IN 47907-1289
alexking-at-ecn.purdue.edu
Purdue is an affirmative action / equal opportunity employer. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.
I recall a couple postings several months ago pertaining to old CRTs that were in need of repair. There were a couple responses with names of someone who repairs these old CRTs. I swore I printed those off but am unable to find it. If anyone has that info I would appreciate hearing from you. Thanks.
Joel McClintock EM Specialist U of Kentucky 859-257-1242
Dear Listers, } } I'm considering buying a used Sputter Coater originally marketed by Earnest } Fullam (I'm on a real shoestring budget). A web search doesn't turn up any } results for an extant company of that name. } } Anyone know whether the company still exists, and/or whether replacement } parts are available for such a unit? Thanks for any info. } } Cheers, } } Paul Grover :o)
I have a question from a client that is beyond my area of expertise, so I turn to you for help.
He would like to look at the layer of ink deposited on paper by the traditional (Guttenberg type) printing press in order to help him standardize his printing process. I haven't a clue as to how to approach this. His idea was to look in SEM since his understanding is that the ink layer is, on average, 4 micrometers thick , but my feeling is that the ink will have absorbed into the paper and not present any topography.
Any ideas? I have TEM & SEM at my disposal, as well as CLSM and widefield LM.
Dear Lee, What is the composition of the ink? If it has element(s) not present in the paper, perhaps you could use XMA or EELS to define the regions of the paper where the ink is. Cutting cross-sections perpendicular to the plane of the paper may give you enough spatial resolution, or you could try to prepare individual fibers if there is a technique to do this without redistributing the ink. This last method would give info about how far the ink gets into each fiber, but you would then have to find out how the fibers are oriented in the paper to get the ink distribution as a function of distance from the surface. This could be a difficult problem to unravel. Yours,
Bill Tivol Wadsworth Center Albany NY (518) 473-7399 WFT02-at-health.state.ny.us
Thank you for taking the pain to go through my mail. My name is CHIEF MRS. MARYAM ABACHA. I would first like to apologise for this kind of introduction into your mailbox, but the situation I am now did not afford me any better way. It is with a heart full of hope that I write to seek your help in the context below. I am the wife of the former Nigerian Head of State late General Sani Abacha whose sudden death occurred on the 8th of June 1998. Having gotten your contact from the family's Library I have no doubt about your capability and goodwill to assist me in receiving into your custody (for safety). The sum of TWENTY ONE MILLION, SEVEN HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS (US$21.7 MILLION) WILLED and deposited in my favour by my late husband. The money is currently kept in a Trust deposited Account with one of the private Security Companies. As it is legally required, the Administration of my late husband is under the authority of the family's lawyer named (Mark Mercyke). However, the new Democratic Government has an assumption of office set up a panel of inquiry to probe the financial activities of my late husband (Former Head of State) with a decision to freeze all his assets respectively. The investigative team has submitted their report. Presently, some Bank Accounts and valuable assets have been frozen and seized. Fortunately, our family lawyer had secretly advised that the WILLED money be urgently moved into an unknown overseas Bank account of a trusted person or company without delay for security reasons. The Government had earlier placed an embargo on Abacha's family members from traveling outside the Country. My son (Mohammed Abacha) is in prison custody being tried for a crime he is innocent of . The situation has been so terrible that we are virtually. I expect you to be trustworthy and kind enough to respond to this call (S.O.S) to save me and my children from a hopeless future. I hereby agree with the Lawyer to compensate you with 25% of the total sum (US$21.7Million) for your sincere and candid effort when the money is finally received into your Bank Account. We have also set aside 5% of the total sum for settling any expenses you and I might incur during the process of the transfer of this money. That is to say, any amount you spend e.g. Telephone Bills, Security Charges etc. must be refunded to you before the sharing of the money and the same thing to us.The lawyer and the Security Company have already perfected arrangement with the manners to effect complete dislodgement of this money within 7 days of receipt of your response. They have equally guaranteed 100% RISK FREE and smooth transfer. Please, send the following information to the Lawyer immediately. (1) YOUR FULL NAME (2) YOUR ADDRESS (3) YOUR PHONE AND FAX NUMBERS. All CORRESPONDENCE/INQUIRY MUST BE DIRECTED TO THE LAWYER VIA THE E- MAIL ADDRESS:markmercyke-at-lawyer.com, as we count on your trustworthiness and confidentiality. Thanks for your kind attention. I look forward to your quick response. With Best Regards. Chief Mrs Maryam Abacha.
http://www.myplace.com/ - find what you want -at-MyPlace.com!
Thank you to all who have spotted my bad spellling (I plead innocence, as the advertisement had the spelling 'Earnest Fullam'). I'm glad so many are on vacation so that they don't see the egg on my face.
} Hello Netters, } } I have a question from a client that is beyond my area of expertise, } so I turn to you for help. } } He would like to look at the layer of ink deposited on paper by the } traditional (Guttenberg type) printing press in order to help him } standardize his printing process. I haven't a clue as to how to } approach this. His idea was to look in SEM since his understanding } is that the ink layer is, on average, 4 micrometers thick , but my } feeling is that the ink will have absorbed into the paper and not } present any topography. } } Any ideas? I have TEM & SEM at my disposal, as well as CLSM and widefield LM. } } Thanks in advance, } Lee
Depending on the coating on the paper and the composition of the ink the ink will be to a mostly deposited on the surface of the paper. Actually very little will be absorbed into the paper or you would have bleed through like that you see when you use Magic Markers or regular paper. It would also cause the type to bleed and become unsharp like you see when you use the wrong type of paper in an ink jet printer.
Printers ink is a compound of pigments, oils and dryers that that forms a polymer much like oil paint on paper. Very little of the drying it due to evaporation of solvents or the absorption of solvents by the paper. The ink is put in place and left to dry by transfer from the type to paper by very firm pressure.
Printing is just one of many things I learned to do in my life that technology has made obsolete.
Your customer knows what he is talking about.
Gordon
Gordon Couger Stillwater, OK www.couger.com/gcouger
----- Original Message ----- } From: {secretmail-at-myplace.com} To: {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} Sent: Friday, August 17, 2001 6:28 PM
Try this URL for their home page:
http://www.fullam.com/
This one for their sputter coater:
http://www.fullam.com/Effacoat.htm#18930
gary g.
At 03:23 PM 8/17/2001, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
1. Weigh a piece of paper in an analytical balance. 2. Print on it and let it dry. 3. Weigh it again. 4. Use your flatbed scanner to scan the image. 5. Save as a black and white image. 6. Use an image processing program to tell what percent of the surface is black, ie. inked. (Many scanners come with software that allows this type of simple image processing.) 7. Do the math.
If you need to know what your error is do a number of these measurements.
Your error is probably far less than with the TEM.
We use a solution of 5 % gelatin in distilled water to attach cells to glass surface. It has to be diluted at 70 ºC on a magnetic shaker. Then the glasses are dept and dryed. It works.
Albert Cardona University of Barcelona
__________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Make international calls for as low as $.04/minute with Yahoo! Messenger http://phonecard.yahoo.com/
Fixation: paraformaldehid 4% (merck) pepsin (sigma) 0,4 % in HCl 0,1 N pH 5 milk primary antibody biotinilated secondary antibody (sigma) avidin + biotin-peroxidase complex (you can get both apart in Sigma too) DAB revealing solution: DAB 0,3 % in PBS niquel amonium sulfate 0,2 % water peroxide 0,03 % -in PBS.
There can be found recipes on the net. Just write the name of any of the components on google or yahoo.
Albert Cardona University of Barcelona
__________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Make international calls for as low as $.04/minute with Yahoo! Messenger http://phonecard.yahoo.com/
These were from my HP LaserJet 4 (laserpaper) and from page 61 of the Volume 7, Supplement 1 issue of Microscopy and Microanalysis, lower right corner of page 75, grabbing the word "Irvine" (printedpaper).
I did SE and BSE and SE+BSE of these specimens. It is interesting that the laser images turn out quite good. Not so for the offset printing. They are basically non-visible.
However, I did a series of shots using Zeiss DIC LM and can see both imprints very well. In either case, I do not see any absorption of the laser particles or the printing ink.
If anyone is interested, I can put digital images from the LM scope on the site as well. I do seem to conclude that LM observation is more useful than SEM. I would think the same about TEM.
gary g.
At 12:24 PM 8/17/2001, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Below is the result of your feedback form (NJZFM-ultra-55). It was submitted by (Cat-at-neto.com) from http://www.msa.microscopy.com/Ask-A-Microscopist.html on Saturday, August 18, 2001 at 17:24:17 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Email: Cat-at-neto.com Name: Jeni Hall
Organization: Alpha-Omega Home School
Education: 9-12th Grade High School
Location: Paris, Texas America
Question: If a compound microscope has a ten-power eye piece and a ninety-power objective lens, what is its magnification power? Also, what is the limitation of an optical microscope?
} Organization: Alpha-Omega Home School } } Education: 9-12th Grade High School } } Location: Paris, Texas America } } Question: If a compound microscope has a ten-power eye piece and a } ninety-power objective lens, what is its magnification power? Also, } what is the limitation of an optical microscope? } } ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jeni -
10x90=900. And if that is a calculation for your microscope, please be aware that any objctive of that power is going to provide a very poor image unless it is designed for use with immersion oil. You'll find a lot of well- organized,useful background information on microscope optics on the Florida State University's "Molecular Expressions" website, http://microscopy.fsu.edu/optics/index.html
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
Tobias Baskin pointed out the probable difference between Gutenberg printing and modern web printing.
I was wondering about that too. Gutenberg. Heard about it but not certain what it actually is. I suspect the magazine is indeed offset web press. But if the the two processes are different, are they both based on ink of the same type? If so, I can't see it in the SEM either SE or BSE. But sure can under LM.
I suspect that based on the variety of old books I have, there may or may not be a build up of ink on the paper. Some paper is coated stock whereas others are quite porous. As I think about this, I think the reason I cannot "see" the web printing ink is because it is more "pushed" into the paper. It is akin to being absorbed by the paper. The laser toner is distinctly different and is laying on top of the paper. The laser fuser heats up the toner particles (readily visible as such) and melts and sticks the particles to the paper rather than having the paper absorb them. SEM imaging of the web printing reveals nothing but the texture of the paper fibers. The ink is embedded but is difficult to visualize using SE or BSE.
If I knew the age of Gutenberg type of printing, I do have some rather old books around. Some are late 1700's up to early 1900's. A small piece of one could be sacrificed in the name of science!
I'm working on thin layers of Au on organic substrates for doing ultrasonic imaging in catheters. I find some similarities between this and the ink question. Quite interesting and useful.
Regarding the pix at my web site-- JPEGs of same root name are at the site too. These are only about 45KB-80KB each. These may be better to access since some browsers use Quicktime to display TIFF whereas IE for example will directly display JPEG. In this case, just grab them via http://www.gaugler.com/name.jpg
For example, http://www.gaugler.com/laserpaper-2.jpg All image files are sized to be 450pixels wide.
I also added two files: printedpaper6-bsel.tif printedpaper6-bsel.jpg
which are TIFF and JPEG images of printedpaper6-bse after processing with Image Content's Lucis. I'm certainly no paper expert, but it looks like with web printing, the ink is absorbed into the paper's fibers. The lower right appears to be a glob of ink. What is puzzling is that under DIC LM, both laser and web printing have three dimensional aspects. This is not seen in SEM for both types of printing. Perhaps the Gutenberg method will indeed show up.
Moveable type was used routinely for printing from Gutenburg's invention in 1450 or so until after the second war. But even today there are many printers around who use it for small editions and other kinds of "handmade" printing projects (just as there are potters who still throw pots by hand, etc). So if anyone out there in net land is stimulated by this thread to want to image some letter press printing, you can almost certainly find a printer in your area who can give you some scraps to examine. No need whatever to cut up old books. The same action as printing from type, that is where you have metal in a frame that is inked and then a paper is pressed onto it (where the word "press" comes from) is found in other kinds of printing. I think in some methods photography plus some sort of etching is used to make the metal template. This is all contrasted to methods like the "xerox" where charge is used to put the ink to the paper (the paper in a xerox machine never gets pressed to any extent), and to methods like ink- and laser-jets where the ink is sprayed onto the paper. Again, no pressure. It is clear that the kind of ink you need to lay nicely on a raised metal surface and be pressed onto the page is different than the kind of ink you need to go through a nozzle or be transferred by charge. I can remember from hanging around my dad's letterpress office, the ink came in tins and had the consistancy of chocolate frosting. One used a putty knife to spot a glop on a glass surface and then a roller to roll it out smooth and then apply to the type. If you were printing by hand you did this after every impression--an automated press had ususally a few dozen rollers to spread the ink evenly. Anyway, I think some of these "printer's inks" are colloids of metal particles (like good old titanium oxide white house paint), so possibly imageable in the SEM, though I am not arguing against using light. (And for sure, the idea of weighing the printed output seemed excellent from the point of view of standardizing the inking quantity).
I have some students who want to examine cross sections of very porous coal char in the SEM. Trying to get bubble free blocks is proving difficult as the particles tend to float in the resin (so I am told) and it is difficult to get good impregnation. Even recoating the ground surface and repolishing leaves an unacceptable amount of bubbles in the surface and in the hollow particles. Has anyone perfected a technique for similar samples and be willing to share it? We usually have no problems with polished blocks, it is just this material!
Thanks
Dave
Dave Phelan EM/X-Ray Unit University of Newcastle NSW 2308 AUSTRALIA Ph 02 4921 5667 Fax 02 4921 7019 emudp-at-mail.newcastle.edu.au
Tina You could try making semi-permanent mounts (as long as they are stored in horizontal position) by mounting Tol blue-stained semithin sections (0.5 to about 2micrometers thick) in a drop of immersion oil. The refractive index of the oil (1.515 or thereabouts) matches that of the resin quite closely, with the result that knife marks etc disappear.
If the sections are too dry before they are mounted, the metachromicity of the Tol blue disappears, and the sections appear uniformly blue. You could try the old trick of breathing on 50deg C dried sections to slightly hydrate them before mounting in the oil. Residual liquid water in the sections is undesirable and shows up as very visible droplets and unwetted (with oil) areas.
It becomes slightly messy if you need to look at the slides with immersion optics since the coverslip then has oil below and on top. In this case you can easily remove the coverslip without problems (gently slide it off sideways), and look at the sections in oil without the coverslip.
The stain seems to last reasonably well in the oil. I don't have experimental data, but some old (few years at least) mounts still look good. The only problem is that the slides have to be stored flat.
Try it, I think you'll like it.
Regards Jan
Rinaldo Pires dos Santos 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Tina Carvalho wrote: } } } Hi, All- } } } } It sure was nice to see so many of you at M&M 2001 in Long Beach last } } week! } } } } I generally only look at 0.5 to 2.0 micrometer epoxy or acrylic sections } } in the light microscope to see where in the block I am before taking } } ultrathin sections for TEM. I stain the thick sections with toluidine } } blue, glance at them and then throw them away. However, now I want to keep } } some of them and get good photomicrographs as well. In the past when I } } coverslipped them and took (35 mm film) pictures, they looked pretty } } bad. I've heard of various fixes, such as using thicker coverslips. } } } } Now I'd like to hear from someone doing this routinely, with good } } results (if possible!). What kind of mounting media? What kind of } } coverslips? Why? What goes on with the light as it passes through the } } resin? } } } } What kind of optics? Phase? Hoffman? DIC? Plain vanilla BF? } } } } Any clues will be appreciated! } } } } Aloha, } } Tina } } Tina, } } I use with full sucess semithin sections (embedded in Spurr resin) mounted } in Canada Balsam. However, it is important to remove the resin with a } saturated solution of NaOH in ethanol, during 5 minutes (for 0.35 µm) before } the staining procedures (Toluidine Blue or another technique). The } photomicrographs taked in DIC or BF microscopies are perfect for me. } I hope to have help you. } } Dr. Rinaldo Pires dos Santos } Dept. of Botany - UFRGS } Rua Márcio Dias, 25 / apt. 305 } Bairro Nonoai } 90830-360 - Porto Alegre - RS } Brazil } E-mail: rinaldop-at-uol.com.br
-- Prof Jan Coetzee Lab for Microscopy and Microanalysis University of Pretoria, South Africa. Tel: 012-420-2075, Fax 012-362-5150 www.up.ac.za/academic/electron/emunit1.htm
Hi Dave, Do you have access to a centrifuge somewhere on campus? If your samples are indeed porous and have sufficient density you could try to centrifuge the samples in your embedding media, preferably something with low viscosity. While I have never tried this, it may work. G'luk, Russ Gillmeister Microscopy Xerox Corp. RGillmeister-at-crt.xerox.com
G'day
I have some students who want to examine cross sections of very porous coal char in the SEM. Trying to get bubble free blocks is proving difficult as the particles tend to float in the resin (so I am told) and it is difficult to get good impregnation. Even recoating the ground surface and repolishing leaves an unacceptable amount of bubbles in the surface and in the hollow particles. Has anyone perfected a technique for similar samples and be willing to share it? We usually have no problems with polished blocks, it is
just this material!
Thanks
Dave
Dave Phelan EM/X-Ray Unit University of Newcastle NSW 2308 AUSTRALIA Ph 02 4921 5667 Fax 02 4921 7019 emudp-at-mail.newcastle.edu.au
Apparently Gutenberg use a proprietary ink (graphite + linseed oil + cooking? of some sort). Not surprising that it wouldn't do too well in SEM. Too much C! LM sounds good to me too. For analysis, however, it might be useful to 'dope' the ink for the study (scientific?) phase. Little colloidal gold, or silver, or osmi___um. Ought to be a song there somewhere.
Regards and happy to hear you all had such a good time,
Fred Monson
Frederick C. Monson, PhD West Chester University of Pennsylvania Center for Advanced Scientific Imaging (CASI) Schmucker II Science Center (Room: SS024(Basement)) South Church Street West Chester, PA, 19383 MailDrop: Department of Geology/Astronomy Phone: 610-738-0437 Fax: 610-436-3036 CASI Home Page: email: fmonson-at-wcupa.edu CASI Home Page: http://darwin.wcupa.edu/casi/ Schedule: http://darwin.wcupa.edu/cgi-bin/casireserve.cgi Please call before visiting.
} ---------- } From: Leona Cohen-Gould } Sent: Friday, August 17, 2001 3:24 PM } To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: TEM of paper & ink } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } At 3:53 PM -0500 8/8/01, John J. Turek 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 Netters, } } I have a question from a client that is beyond my area of expertise, } so I turn to you for help. } } He would like to look at the layer of ink deposited on paper by the } traditional (Guttenberg type) printing press in order to help him } standardize his printing process. I haven't a clue as to how to } approach this. His idea was to look in SEM since his understanding } is that the ink layer is, on average, 4 micrometers thick , but my } feeling is that the ink will have absorbed into the paper and not } present any topography. } } Any ideas? I have TEM & SEM at my disposal, as well as CLSM and widefield } LM. } } Thanks in advance, } Lee } -- } Leona Cohen-Gould, M.S. } Sr. Staff Associate } Director, Electron Microscopy Core Facility } Manager, Optical Microscopy Core Facility } Joan & Sanford I. Weill Medical College } of Cornell University } voice (212)746-6146 } fax (212)746-8175 } }
Hi All: We are starting to look for an inexpensive, used FIB to use for materials science applications. Are there any recommendations as to where to look? Also looking for an older 200 Kv or higher TEM in good working condition. Any recommendations? Mike UT Arlington
Dear Dave, I have had some success with particles of this type. First, mix a small amount of resin and the powder thoroughly together in a small weigh boat, so that the powder is well wetted. Pour this into the bottom of your (lightly release-sprayed) mold and then carefully trickle clear resin on top of this, so your coal/resin layer stays on the bottom. You might want to try pulling a vacuum on the weigh boat sample before pouring it into the mold, as well as after all the resin is in the mold. At 12:23 PM 8/20/01 +1000, you wrote: } G'day } } I have some students who want to examine cross sections of very porous } coal char in the SEM. Trying to get bubble free blocks is proving difficult } as the particles tend to float in the resin (so I am told) and it is difficult to } get good impregnation. Even recoating the ground surface and repolishing } leaves an unacceptable amount of bubbles in the surface and in the hollow } particles. Has anyone perfected a technique for similar samples and be } willing to share it? We usually have no problems with polished blocks, it is } just this material! } } Thanks } } Dave } Regards and good luck, 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
Why does numerical aperture increase with magnification, rather than decrease? In fact, why is there a relationship between magnification and numerical aperture at all? If increased numerical aperture means better light gathering ability, that implies that higher magnification objectives should produce brighter images.
This, to me, is like saying that going from a 50mm camera lens to a 1000mm lens is going to give me more light. In the photographic world, increased light gathering ability comes only from increased lens diameter and it is completely independent of the "magnification" of the lens.
I visited the Nikon N.A. Java tutorial at http://www.microscopyu.com/tutorials/java/objectives/nuaperture/index.html and this only seemed to reinforce the discrepancy for me.
With an SEM I can imagine a scan over a smaller area (a tighter scan) producing an increase in magnification. In a photographic system I can envision viewing a smaller ray bundle (smaller solid angle) producing a larger magnification. How is it that in light microscopy this is reversed and a high magnification objective takes in a larger angle? What is backward in my thinking?
Bruce Girrell Microline Technology Corp. 2397 Traversefield Dr. Traverse City, MI 49686 http://www.microlinetc.com
thank you for your rapid and varied responses to my question. I think I will try the weighing trick as a quick way to get some sort of answer for this guy. Printing is his hobby, so this is not work-related, and I think he came in only because the traffic flow in the building has been redirected to pass my doors during renovation of the main entrance, and he wanted to see what an EM looks like and get a shot at playing on it. I've had to put new, coded locks on my doors because of all the curious people just wandering in! It seemed to be an interesting problem, but not one I'm willing or able to put much time/energy too. I was hoping for answers that would contain methods I'm not equipped to do (EDS/EELs, etc) and many of you sent such suggestions. Thanks again.
Lee -- Leona Cohen-Gould, M.S. Sr. Staff Associate Director, Electron Microscopy Core Facility Manager, Optical Microscopy Core Facility Joan & Sanford I. Weill Medical College of Cornell University voice (212)746-6146 fax (212)746-8175
Hi, we have this problem with the Jeol 1200. It will not start, the main relay will not hold. If it starts, once in a blue moon, the forepump will or will not run. We replaced already the motion detector on the pump. If it runs, the forepump could stop after a few hours and shut down the instrument. Does anyone have any ideas, water is running well, air is good. Also I need urgently better schematics, the books are not very helpful. We are willing to pay for them. Please give us any ideas. Thank you Peter Stolzenberg, 215-699-6160 Fax 215-699-5275
Bruce, In light microscopy, there is not a quantitative relation between NA and magnification, but as you have observed the numbers are usually correlated. In theory, resolution in light micrscopy depends on the NA, not on the magnficiation. The wider angle light gathered the smaller your diffraction limited spots are comprising the image. So in theory, one could build a 1x lens with a 1.4 NA and then just enlarge the image secondarily as needed. But the trouble is that in practise, I don't believe that optical engineers could make such a lens, or at least not so that anyone could afford to buy it. To function in the low power regime it would need to image a large amount of sample and therefore the front surface of the lens would be immense (maybe as big as a 35 mm camera lens) and I don't think the glass can be manufactured that well. So as the mag goes up, the area sampled on the object goes down and this allows lenses with higher NAs to be built. Depending on the needs and the cleverness of the manufacturers, some rather nice lowish mag high NA lenses can be made. I have a 40x 1.4 NA lens that works delightfully well, and better than the 100x 1.3 NA lens by the same company.
Hope this helps a tad, TB } } } Numerical aperture/magnification/image brightness } } Why does numerical aperture increase with magnification, rather than } decrease? In fact, why is there a relationship between magnification and } numerical aperture at all? If increased numerical aperture means better } light gathering ability, that implies that higher magnification objectives } should produce brighter images. } } This, to me, is like saying that going from a 50mm camera lens to a 1000mm } lens is going to give me more light. In the photographic world, increased } light gathering ability comes only from increased lens diameter and it is } completely independent of the "magnification" of the lens. } } I visited the Nikon N.A. Java tutorial at } http://www.microscopyu.com/tutorials/java/objectives/nuaperture/index.html } and this only seemed to reinforce the discrepancy for me. } } With an SEM I can imagine a scan over a smaller area (a tighter scan) } producing an increase in magnification. In a photographic system I can } envision viewing a smaller ray bundle (smaller solid angle) producing a } larger magnification. How is it that in light microscopy this is reversed } and a high magnification objective takes in a larger angle? What is backward } in my thinking? } } Bruce Girrell } Microline Technology Corp. } 2397 Traversefield Dr. } Traverse City, MI 49686 } http://www.microlinetc.com } } (231) 935-1585 (Voice) } (231) 922-5099 (FAX) } bigirrell-at-microlinetc.com
i am doing renal bx, have been having trouble today with extreamly fine chatter. i am using araldite and an LKB nova. i can't tell if it's the building, or the microtome, or the blocks. the blocks seem the right hardness. john Hoffpauir
This message is for those of you who may not have made it to the M&M 2001 last week or missed the pharmaceutical session where we discussed FDA issues.
Jeff Hanson & Mike Esterman Scientific Imaging Center Eli Lilly and Company
************************************************************************ 21 CFR Part 11 Imaging Workshop A workshop for defining "best practices" for image data management to share with the US FDA September 24-25, 2001 Indianapolis, IN
Do you know if your image is compliant with FDA standards? Do you know the FDA's regulations regarding the appropriate handling and storage of images?
The reality is that these standards are still not defined to any degree of
certainty. That's why Eli Lilly's Scientific Imaging Center is sponsoring
a first-ever Imaging Workshop with companies in a variety of fields. This
2-day workshop will be held on September 24-25, 2001 at the University Conference Center in Indianapolis, IN. If you are involved in generating or storing scientific images that could be included in FDA submissions or in support of a submission, the 21 CFR Part 11 guideline may affect you. This workshop will attempt to document a set of best practices for handling and storage of scientific images and to suggest guidelines to the FDA for applying 21 CFR Part 11 to Scientific
Images.
Scientific Image Center Eli Lilly and Company
WHO SHOULD ATTEND This workshop is intended for scientists, QA professionals, and IT professionals who work with scientific images and imaging within industries regulated by the FDA. Vendors of instruments and software supporting their scientific imaging processes are also welcome to participate.
WORKSHOP OBJECTIVES The primary objective of this workshop will be to define a set of best practices for image data management that can be submitted as a set of recommendations to the FDA. A secondary objective will be to raise awareness of 21 CFR Part 11 and determine how it will impact scientific imaging. Finally, a post-workshop working group will be assembled to follow-up on the conclusions and continue to work through any open issues.
REGISTRATION You may send an email message to the Scientific Imaging Center at Eli Lilly and Company for additional information or to find out more about registration (ImageCtr-at-Lilly.com). Registration needs to be complete by August 31, 2001. Please note that space is limited, so we would prefer to have a single representative from each company. ************************************************************************
} Date: Mon, 20 Aug 2001 08:53:13 -0700 } To: Ike Oguocha {oguocha-at-yahoo.com} } From: Mary Mager {mager-at-interchange.ubc.ca} } Subject: Re: Choosing an Analytical SEM for Metallurgical Research } Cc: Microscopy } Dear Ike, Any of the four main manufacturers of SEMs: Hitachi, JEOL, Philips (FEI) and LEO make SEMs suitable for general metallurgical analysis. Likewise, any of the manufacturers of EDS systems, of which there are too many to name here, make systems that will suit your purposes. Make a wish list of capabilities: sample size, stage movement and automation, variable vacuum (yes or no), kV range, detectors (i.e. BSE type), EDS features and then ask the Canadian representatives of the SEM manufacturers for their information on their microscopes and a list of a few Canadian customers that you can phone or e-mail for information on the durability and service record of each of the SEMs. To write a grant application you just need a quote from each of the four, so you know how much money to ask for. Choosing exactly which SEM and which EDS can come later, after you have the grant. } At 07:03 PM 8/17/01 +0100, you wrote: } } } Hello Netters: } } } } In about three weeks time or so, I'll be writing equipment grant } } appilcations. Our lab needs, as a matter of necessity, an analytical } } SEM. The one we have now is relatively old (Philips SEM515) and } } has no EDS facilities. It hinders most of our work since we have } } to go elsewhere and pay for any work involving EDS. Our attempt } } last year to get a EDS system grant for it failed. So, we are } } making a completely new equipment grant this time. } } } } I am wondering if there are metallurgical microscopists in the } } house to give me some insights on which direction to go. What } } must we be looking for in a good analytical SEM? Who makes what? } } } } Many thanks in advance. } } } } Ike Oguocha } } Department of Mechanical Engineering } } University of Saskatchewan } } Saskatoon, Canada } } } 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
At 09:28 AM 8/20/2001, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
NA does not increase with magnification. Better objectives have higher NA as they increase in magnification. The relationship between NA and magnification revolved around the issue of resolution (resolving power).
The greater the resolving power is, the smaller the distance between objects that can be distinguished. Resolving power is:
RP=Lambda/2NA
where Lambda is the wavelength of light. So, to increase RP, decrease wavelength and/or increase NA. Decreased wavelength is the same as increasing frequency. White light is a combination of all colors (many different wavelengths). Removing most the wavelengths via a filter (IR, for example) will improve RP. The "frequency" of an electron beam is super high and thus, has extraordinary RP.
Brightness is mostly due to the amount of glass in a lens. For high brightness and high NA, use a PlanAPO objective. Bring lots of money.
} This, to me, is like saying that going from a 50mm camera lens to a 1000mm } lens is going to give me more light. In the photographic world, increased } light gathering ability comes only from increased lens diameter and it is } completely independent of the "magnification" of the lens.
A 50mm/f2 lens will have the same brightness as a 1000mm/f2 lens. Unfortunately, f-stop is the ratio of the focal length divided by the diameter of the focusing element. So, a 50mm/f2 lens would have to have a front lens element which is about 25mm in diameter. The 1000mm/f2 lens would have a front element which is 500mm in diameter. This huge piece of glass would weigh about five pounds and the whole lens would cost about $15,000. My Nikkor 600mm/2.8 AI-EDIF weight about thirty pounds and cost $8500. It is definitely not for point and shoot events.
The alternative to refractive lenses are reflective or Catadioptric "lenses." These are mirrors, like large telescopes. They have fixed f-stop figures and are small and light. But the typical f-stop limit is f8.
} I visited the Nikon N.A. Java tutorial at } http://www.microscopyu.com/tutorials/java/objectives/nuaperture/index.html } and this only seemed to reinforce the discrepancy for me. } } With an SEM I can imagine a scan over a smaller area (a tighter scan) } producing an increase in magnification. In a photographic system I can } envision viewing a smaller ray bundle (smaller solid angle) producing a } larger magnification. How is it that in light microscopy this is reversed } and a high magnification objective takes in a larger angle? What is backward } in my thinking?
A SEM offers huge depth of field (high working distance) at low to medium magnification. This is due to many factors. One is the high frequency of the electrons and the extreme collimation of the electron beam (not a lot of extraneous energy hitting the specimen). SEMs still suffer from spherical abberations and astigmatism. This is diminished by stigmator coils. For optical lenses, it is solved pretty much by lots of money at time of purchase.
I agree with Gary Gaugler's description (the entire reply is appended below) but let me add one minor refinement to his comment : " Brightness is mostly due to the amount of glass in a lens. For high brightness and high NA, use a PlanAPO objective. Bring lots of money."
I agree with this for brightfield but for high brightness with UV (e.g., calcium sensitive fluroochromes like Fura or DAPI), the large amount of glass in a highly corrected PlanApo works against brightness. A high NA achromat can sometimes be a better choice if you don't have a big field of view.
} } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Let me try to give it a stab-- } } At 09:28 AM 8/20/2001, you wrote: } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
-- 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)
Try the following trick: turn OFF microscope as usual, wait until all lights is OFF on the panel, than disconnect instrument from main power source (we do have some huge breaker on the wall), turn ON microscope as usual.
Good luck, Sergey
At 02:56 PM 8/20/01 -0400, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
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Sergey Ryazantsev Ph. D. Electron Microscopy UCLA School of Medicine Department of Biological Chemistry Box 951737 Los Angeles, CA 90095-1737
Any short run publication pre 1950 can be assumed to be printed on letter press. Duplicate journals would be a good place to look. Anything printed by the college pre 1950 will fall in that category as well unless it was running a experimental print shop. A stop by the university print shop should get you some modern samples of printing and ink. They still probably do some things that way or know some one that does. It still is hard to beat for short runs on weird shaped stuff.
You can look at some old books under a LM and see what letter press looks like and sort though the modern stuff. Letter press hasn't changed enough in the last 100 years to show up much different under a LM.
To get much of a idea of what the film actually looks like I think you will have to section the page edgeways.
One advantage of using pre 1950 inks is that there will probably be lead in them and that should increase the contrast. I think many of the pigments and dryers are metals so you might get x-rays fluorescing out of them as well at high voltage.
Since 1950 more and more attention has been paid to safety in the printing industry. That translates in to less use of heavy metals in inks. So old inks are likely to image better without enhancement than modern inks. Opaque blue and green inks would probably be good choices. Cobalt was used in blue ink until as late as 1970 and I haven't kept up since then.
If you can't find samples I can find some send them to you.
The inks are not a lot different between the two processes. Letter press ink will work in an offset press and visa versa but they will not work as well as they will in the press they are designed for. Black printing ink can be made by grinding carbon black in boiled linseed oil. Form there the chemistry gets increasingly complicated. Today inks are usualy soy bean oil based due to health concerns.
Coated papers will have more ink build up than uncoated papers. Book papers that don't appear to be coated have considerable sizing to keep the ink from being absorbed in the paper fibers and being seen from the back side. This paper is also loaded with clay to increase it's opacity.
Gordon ----- Original Message ----- } From: "Gary Gaugler" {gary-at-gaugler.com} To: "MSA listserver" {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} Cc: "Tobias Baskin" {BaskinT-at-missouri.edu} Sent: Sunday, August 19, 2001 1:49 PM
OK.....sounds like I am back to cutting up an old book.
I have found some modern samples of letter press from Tobias' references. But as you point out, the modern inks may not be the same as yesteryears'.
I shot a check account number today and was rather under whelmed. It is not on the surface like the laser print. I think that the challenge of measuring ink on paper is not all that easy. Probably not a big surprise to most folks. But the study of thin films is very useful and translatable to many other products.
Interesting and useful topic. Perhaps, not seemingly so.
gary g.
At 07:26 PM 8/20/2001, you wrote:
} Any short run publication pre 1950 can be assumed to be printed on letter } press. Duplicate journals would be a good place to look. Anything } printed by the college pre 1950 will fall in that category as well unless it } was running a experimental print shop. A stop by the university print shop } should get you some modern samples of printing and ink. They still probably } do some things that way or know some one that does. It still is hard to beat } for short runs on weird shaped stuff. } } You can look at some old books under a LM and see what letter press looks } like and sort though the modern stuff. Letter press hasn't changed enough } in the last 100 years to show up much different under a LM. } } To get much of a idea of what the film actually looks like I think you will } have to section the page edgeways. } } One advantage of using pre 1950 inks is that there will probably be lead in } them and that should increase the contrast. I think many of the pigments and } dryers are metals so you might get x-rays fluorescing out of them as well } at high voltage. } } Since 1950 more and more attention has been paid to safety in the printing } industry. That translates in to less use of heavy metals in inks. So old } inks are likely to image better without enhancement than modern inks. Opaque } blue and green inks would probably be good choices. Cobalt was used in blue } ink until as late as 1970 and I haven't kept up since then. } } If you can't find samples I can find some send them to you. } } The inks are not a lot different between the two processes. Letter press ink } will work in an offset press and visa versa but they will not work as well } as they will in the press they are designed for. Black printing ink can be } made by grinding carbon black in boiled linseed oil. Form there the } chemistry gets increasingly complicated. Today inks are usualy soy bean oil } based due to health concerns. } } Coated papers will have more ink build up than uncoated papers. Book papers } that don't appear to be coated have considerable sizing to keep the ink from } being absorbed in the paper fibers and being seen from the back side. This } paper is also loaded with clay to increase it's opacity. } } Gordon } ----- Original Message ----- } From: "Gary Gaugler" {gary-at-gaugler.com} } To: "MSA listserver" {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} } Cc: "Tobias Baskin" {BaskinT-at-missouri.edu} } Sent: Sunday, August 19, 2001 1:49 PM } Subject: Re: TEM of paper & ink } } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } } 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 } } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } } } } Tobias Baskin pointed out the probable difference between } } Gutenberg printing and modern web printing. } } } } I was wondering about that too. Gutenberg. Heard about it } } but not certain what it actually is. I suspect the magazine is } } indeed offset web press. But if the the two processes } } are different, are they both based on ink of the same type? } } If so, I can't see it in the SEM either SE or BSE. But sure } } can under LM. } } } } I suspect that based on the variety of old books I have, } } there may or may not be a build up of ink on the paper. } } Some paper is coated stock whereas others are quite } } porous. As I think about this, I think the reason I cannot } } "see" the web printing ink is because it is more "pushed" } } into the paper. It is akin to being absorbed by the paper. } } The laser toner is distinctly different and is laying on top } } of the paper. The laser fuser heats up the toner particles } } (readily visible as such) and melts and sticks the particles } } to the paper rather than having the paper absorb them. } } SEM imaging of the web printing reveals nothing but the } } texture of the paper fibers. The ink is embedded but } } is difficult to visualize using SE or BSE. } } } } If I knew the age of Gutenberg type of printing, I do have } } some rather old books around. Some are late 1700's up } } to early 1900's. A small piece of one could } } be sacrificed in the name of science! } } } } I'm working on thin layers of Au on organic substrates } } for doing ultrasonic imaging in catheters. I find some } } similarities between this and the ink question. Quite } } interesting and useful. } } } } } } Regarding the pix at my web site-- } } JPEGs of same root name are at the site too. These are } } only about 45KB-80KB each. These may be better to access since } } some browsers use Quicktime to display TIFF whereas } } IE for example will directly display JPEG. In this case, } } just grab them via http://www.gaugler.com/name.jpg } } } } For example, http://www.gaugler.com/laserpaper-2.jpg } } All image files are sized to be 450pixels wide. } } } } I also added two files: } } printedpaper6-bsel.tif } } printedpaper6-bsel.jpg } } } } which are TIFF and JPEG images of printedpaper6-bse } } after processing with Image Content's Lucis. I'm certainly } } no paper expert, but it looks like with web printing, the } } ink is absorbed into the paper's fibers. The lower right } } appears to be a glob of ink. What is puzzling is that } } under DIC LM, both laser and web printing have three } } dimensional aspects. This is not seen in SEM for } } both types of printing. Perhaps the Gutenberg method } } will indeed show up. } } } } gary g. } } } } } }
If you are really interested in comparing methods having a shop print up samples with both presses using the same color that has a metal oxide as a pigment would probably be the best approach. A small shop could do that in 30 minutes time by washing up the two presses and reinking them and then cleaning them up again.
Get some samples of the various colors of ink they have an see how they image first. One or two should have pretty good contrast. If they don't you can make your own ink by mixing what every powder you want with transparent base and ink with no pigment. Metal powders don't work very well. They don't stay dispersed it might be OK for imaging but it sure is hard to get them to look good to the eye.
If you mix in your own pigment make sure they wash the press as soon as they are done. Most inks they use today dry very slowly on the press and some pigments are natural dryers and can cause the ink to dry on the press in an hour or less. Reds are particularly bad actors in this regard.
Gordon
----- Original Message ----- } From: "Monson, Frederick C." {fmonson-at-wcupa.edu} To: "'Microscopy Listserver'" {microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} Cc: "'Leona Cohen-Gould'" {lcgould-at-med.cornell.edu} Sent: Monday, August 20, 2001 9:55 AM
If the particles are "small" then the previous suggestion to centrifuge ought to work well. If the particles, however, have lots of pores, then vacuum infiltration would be my choice.
Nothing works if the pores are truly sealed, as in pumice, but most difficult specimens can be infiltrated with vacuum. There is an easy method and a good method, but easy may be good enough: Easy: 1 Place specimen in suitable container and the container into a larger container to take any "mess". 2 Cover specimen with a low viscosity, undiluted resin; if required weigh down specimen. Place into a vacuum chamber. Evacuate briefly, stop evacuation just before resin's boiling point. Vent chamber and then re-evacuate.
Note boiling creates bubbles. The method pulls air out of the specimen and the resin is forced in when venting.
In the "good" method the specimen is evacuated first and the resin is added while under vacuum. This avoids most bubbles in the resin and takes more air out of the pores. Apparatus for this is available, but for small scale work I used a very simply modified vacuum desiccator.
"Good method": 1 As in one above, weigh specimen down. 2 Find a rubber bung that would seal the top valve hole in a desiccator lid (or cut a suitable hole in a small plastic desiccator lid). Cut a hole into the bung that would take the stem of a plastic Pasteur pipette. 3 Find a very large capacity (bellow type) polyethylene Pasteur pipette. Fill pipette with "sufficient" resin. 4 Insert stem of pipette through the hole in that bung, have only a couple of cm protrude past the smaller end of the bung. Kink and apply a bulldog clip to the pipette stem above the upper end of the bung. 5 Evacuate the specimen using the side port of the desiccator. Close the vacuum valve and remove the bulldog clip. The resin should be pulled into the chamber and run over the specimen. 6 Leave under vacuum for a couple of minutes and then vent.
Hope this helps. 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, August 20, 2001 12:24 PM, Dave Felon [SMTP:emudp-at-mail.newcastle.edu.au] wrote: } } G'day } } I have some students who want to examine cross sections of very porous } coal char in the SEM. Trying to get bubble free blocks is proving difficult } as the particles tend to float in the resin (so I am told) and it is difficult } to } get good impregnation. Even recoating the ground surface and repolishing } leaves an unacceptable amount of bubbles in the surface and in the hollow } particles. Has anyone perfected a technique for similar samples and be } willing to share it? We usually have no problems with polished blocks, it is } just this material! } } Thanks } } Dave } } } } } Dave Felon } EM/X-Ray Unit } University of Newcastle } NSW 2308 } AUSTRALIA } Ph 02 4921 5667 } Fax 02 4921 7019 } emudp-at-mail.newcastle.edu.au
I need some advice on a new vacuum coater for a TEM lab. I presently have a 13 year old Denton 502A system which has performed satisfactorily. Our main use is for thermal evaporation of Au, C and Al. Denton no longer sells this model but has a new system, an "Explorer 14". I have also gotten a quote for an Edwards "Auto 306" which I know little about. Are there other systems I should be considering? I was considering diffusion systems for reliability. Are turbo systems reliable, and agressive enough now? I would appreciate any comments on the performance of these or other systems. Please respond directly. Thanks for your time. Russ Gillmeister Microscopy Xerox Corp. RGillmeister-at-crt.xerox.com
Hi Bruce, I've done what I think is correct below in red - just in case it's wrong.
} ---------- } From: Bruce Girrell } Reply To: bigirrell-at-microlinetc.com } Sent: Monday, August 20, 2001 12:28 PM } To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: LM - Something I just don't get } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Numerical aperture/magnification/image brightness } } Why does numerical aperture increase with magnification, rather than } decrease? In fact, why is there a relationship between magnification and } numerical aperture at all? } } } I don't remember an equation relating N.A. and magnification. The only one I ever knew was Resolution=(0.61*Wavelength)/index of refraction * sine alpha.{Don't you just love text} Numerical aperture=index of refraction * sine alpha! If you consider the meaning of this, you will readily see that N.A. is dependent on the one had on the optical character of a material between object and objective lens and alpha is the half angle of the aperture angle of the objective lens. The latter can be modified by the designing engineer. All of the above derives from a consideration of diffraction by the specimen and capacity of a lens as defined by its geometry.
} If increased numerical aperture means better } light gathering ability, that implies that higher magnification objectives } should produce brighter images. } } } But what is implied if you CAN get a well-illuminated and highly magnified image from a dark object such as a section of plant stem? A bright back light, of course. Everything in the optical axis is designed to take advantage of the design characteristics of the imaging system. The light is not only bright but focused by the condenser. The specimen is transparent. Oil is added to increase the index of refraction between objective and object (then, as a afterthought, between object and condenser).
} This, to me, is like saying that going from a 50mm camera lens to a 1000mm } lens is going to give me more light. In the photographic world, increased } light gathering ability comes only from increased lens diameter } } } What is your purpose when you change photographic lenses, and why does the higher power lens have to be of greater diameter? This is the key, I think. Remember, the first compound microscope? The first guy who bought one put the objective to his eye and cursed. The compound microscope is engineered [and so is the camera lens]. Why? Different purpose! Tube length, lens geometry, working distance, depth of focus, etc. are engineered to perform a task. Further, in the microscope, magnification is related to working distance and lens geometry. Light gathering capacity is then determined by the illuminator and the condenser (i.e., how much of the available light can be focused on the "field of view". The confocal microscope was patented in the '60's. It was a brilliant idea without a proper light source. } and it is } completely independent of the "magnification" of the lens. } } } I think from what I said above, it is clear that N.A. is NOT dependent on mag., but it IS often described as the capacity of a lens to gather light. Alpha, in the equation above is really limited by the geometry of the objective lens, but the intensity of the illumination is dependent on the geometry (and adjustment) of the condenser as well as the power of the "light". All of this is necessary, because the object is NOT a(the) light source [we have to use Kohler logic to fool it], while in the use of the camera, we depend on the back or "ambient" light or an added "reflected light" for illumination.
} I visited the Nikon N.A. Java tutorial at } http://www.microscopyu.com/tutorials/java/objectives/nuaperture/index.html } and this only seemed to reinforce the discrepancy for me. } } With an SEM I can imagine a scan over a smaller area (a tighter scan) } } } Why don't we do it that way then? } producing an increase in magnification. In a photographic system I can } envision viewing a smaller ray bundle (smaller solid angle) producing a } larger magnification. } } } Haven't you just described the function of the front lens without considering the functions of the others behind it? } How is it that in light microscopy this is reversed } and a high magnification objective takes in a larger angle? } } } Again, I think it is all about the geometry of the objective lens and the intent of the optical engineer. } What is backward } in my thinking? } } } Nothing! Did you ever get a question on an exam that had four story lines only one of which is relevant? Here, you are trying to understand a microscope by studying a camera. They are DESIGNED to achieve different outcomes. Practical question. Have you ever heard of anyone using a camera lens to achieve higher magnification with a microscope or a microscope objective to get higher "zoom" with a camera? Neither have I.
} } } [When I was just a freshman in college, I was advised to change my major from Biology to Mathematics. I was a biology major, I explained, because I didn't have sufficient confidence in my mathematical acumen to be a Chemistry major (one "A" in PChem every 4-5 years) which ought to explain why I wouldn't consider switching to Math. Thank God for the Slayter's (see below) of this world who have taken on the task of instructing me in spite of my computational weaknesses.]
There is a GREAT book by one Elizabeth Slayter entitled "Optical Methods in Biology", Wiley-Interscience, NY, 1970. There is a more recent edition. I have used her instruction to provide help on questions whose answers I should remember from physics.
Regards and sorrow for forcing you to suffer through my thinking on the fly,
Fred Monson
} Bruce Girrell } Microline Technology Corp. } 2397 Traversefield Dr. } Traverse City, MI 49686 } http://www.microlinetc.com } } (231) 935-1585 (Voice) } (231) 922-5099 (FAX) } bigirrell-at-microlinetc.com } } }
Just to summarize some of the information regarding NA and Resolution and Magnification: Resolution and numerical aperture are related by resolution = wavelength/N.A. objective + N.A. condenser. Brightness, numerical aperture and magnification are related by brightness= (N.A.)squared /(magnification)squared. As is apparent from these equations, in an idealized situation, a larger numerical aperture at a given magnification will yield better resolution and greater brightness. Things get a little more complicated in real life as has been astutely pointed out, however. Glass has different refractive indexes for different wavelengths of light. White light is composed of red, green and blue wavelengths, and this presents a problem when specimens are illuminated with full spectrum light sources. The red, green and blue components of the image will be refracted by the lens at slightly angles, and so the focal points for the different wavelengths end up being slightly different and the result is that objects appear to be surrounded by a color fringe. This phenomenon, called axial chromatic aberration, is exasperated at greater angles incident to the lens. In other words, at high mag, the higher the numerical aperture the more pronounced the chromatic aberration. It's a concept that is easy to illustrate but hard to explain. The solution, put simply, is to combine different types of glass which have equal but opposite differences in refractive index for light at different wavelengths. This involves more glass, more smart people with handsome salaries to engineer the glass, and results in an expensive plan-apochromatic lens which is corrected for chromatic aberration in the red, green and blue spectra. If the application only requires limited spectra, as in ultraviolet illumination, chromatic aberration isn't such a concern, and one can get by with less expensive lenses of the same numerical aperture, and because of less corrective optics, may indeed be transmit more light to the eye. Spherical aberration is a defect of lenses in which the surface forms part of a sphere. High numerical apertures at high magnification exasperate spherical aberration, so high quality lenses incorporate corrective optics to bring areas on the circumference of the field of view into focal register with the center of the field of view. Again, more glass, more smart people, more money. So the long and the short of it are that high mag lenses don't necessarily have high numerical apertures, however resolving power and brightness will suffer proportionally. High numerical aperture high mag lenses may incorporate artifact into the image unless they are engineered with compensating corrections. Some of these artifacts, which are expensive to correct, may not be an issue under certain circumstances, and may even hinder optical performance, so it is important to understand what corrections one is purchasing, and why.
Karl G.
/**************** Karl Garsha www.uwm.edu/~keg ****************/ ----- Original Message ----- } From: "Bruce Girrell" {bigirrell-at-microlinetc.com} To: {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} Sent: Monday, August 20, 2001 11:28 AM
Hi all
How stable are LRWhite sections? Can I cut slices of LRWhite today and give them to a student lab to do immunogold labelling next week, without the slices losing or altering their antigen-antibody affinity or sensitivity?
I have found epon sections stain better with uranyl acetate immediately after being cut, as compared to uranyl acetate staining several days later (Lead staining doesn't seem to be similarly affected). This suggests there are alterations taking place in the plastic slices between slicing and some time period afterwards. Does anyone have any similar anecdotes for LRWhite, specifically in regard to antibody labels? That is, does labelling efficiency drop off over time in plastic embedded sections?
look forward to hearing from someone in this regard
Steve --
___________________________________________________ Dr. Steven Barlow EM Facility/Biology Dept. San Diego State University 5500 Campanile Drive San Diego CA 92182-4614 phone: (619) 594-4523 fax: (619) 594-5676
Chairman, Educational Outreach subcommittee promoting microscopy instruction and increased access to microscopes Microscopy Society of America http://www.msa.microscopy.com/
Here's one I've never encountered. A colleague just brought me several roundish, dark brown to black particles, about a millimeter in diameter, taken from his car. Although they seem fairly hard, they can be cut with knife, leaving a waxy smear on the microscope slide. Some have flat sides from where they adhered to the car surface. All have a wrinkled, somewhat bubbled looking texture. The exterior appears to be slightly soluble in toluene. When subjected to a hot wire, a brown, oily substance cooks off, leaving a charcoal-like core. The question is, could this be an emission product coming from a large diesel generator that was just put into operation at our site?
The Particle Atlas doesn't depict anything quite this large, so I had some reservations. Much obliged for any thoughts.
In our hands and for our application the Abcam rabbit polyclonal to green fluorescent protein worked pretty good in immuno-em with pFA fixed samples. You will find informations about this antibody at: http://www.abcam.com
°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°° Stefan Geimer MCDB Dept. Yale University P.O. Box 208103 New Haven, CT 06520-8103 U.S.A.
Hi Ike, Mary got the SEM info right on since she mirrored our experience with writing a proposal. With respect to EDS I have only one recommendation. We all depend on the big four: Oxford, EDAX, PGT and Thermo-Noran. We are also considering two or three others: IXRF, 4pi Analysis, Quartz X-Ray, Rontek and Clemex. These run the gamut from PC-based packages to off-the-shelf components. We are looking at these, because they are considerably less expensive than the big four and, because we are trying to understand exactly what it is we want to do with EDS. Also, do we want WDS in addition or instead? There is a plethora of information on the subject of EDS on the net, but there is nothing that will replace a thoughtful consideration of three lists: needs, wants and wishes. At every level of a grant proposal, a clear understanding of how to justify each type of component. Though perhaps not considered a mechanical engineering area, you might do a quick scan of a methodology called EBSD (electron backscatter diffraction).
With respect to the SEM, there is the expensive path and the CAMSCAN (http://www.camscan-usa.com/VEGA%20specification.htm#Title) VEGA Series of variable pressure systems. Include the array of SEM substages available from Fullam (http://www.fullam.com/Sem_subs.htm#18025), and you have almost every piece of info you need. The only extra piece of information you may have to consider is how much variability in pressure you might NEED to accomplish the goals set aside for the new system. Good luck and hope you get it.
Fred Monson
Frederick C. Monson, PhD West Chester University of Pennsylvania Center for Advanced Scientific Imaging (CASI) Schmucker II Science Center (Room: SS024(Basement)) South Church Street West Chester, PA, 19383 MailDrop: Department of Geology/Astronomy Phone: 610-738-0437 Fax: 610-436-3036 CASI Home Page: email: fmonson-at-wcupa.edu CASI Home Page: http://darwin.wcupa.edu/casi/ Schedule: Navigate from CASI Home Page Please call before visiting.
} ---------- } From: Ike Oguocha } Sent: Friday, August 17, 2001 2:03 PM } To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: Choosing an Analytical SEM for Metallurgical Research } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 Netters: } } In about three weeks time or so, I'll be writing equipment grant } appilcations. Our lab needs, as a matter of necessity, an analytical } SEM. The one we have now is relatively old (Philips SEM515) and } has no EDS facilities. It hinders most of our work since we have } to go elsewhere and pay for any work involving EDS. Our attempt } last year to get a EDS system grant for it failed. So, we are } making a completely new equipment grant this time. } } I am wondering if there are metallurgical microscopists in the } house to give me some insights on which direction to go. What } must we be looking for in a good analytical SEM? Who makes what? } } Many thanks in advance. } } Ike Oguocha } Department of Mechanical Engineering } University of Saskatchewan } Saskatoon, Canada } } } ____________________________________________________________ } Do You Yahoo!? } Get your free -at-yahoo.co.uk address at http://mail.yahoo.co.uk } or your free -at-yahoo.ie address at http://mail.yahoo.ie } }
I have a question regarding breaking glass knives with the LKB 7800 knife-breaker. When I was trained on the instrument, my advisor threatened me with instant death if I ever tried to break 8mm thick glass strips rather than the standard 6.4mm we used. Now I have one of my own and I have a faculty member who would like to use the thicker glass. Has anyone used 8mm glass with the 7800 successfully, or was my advisor correct?
Thanks for your help
Todd
-- Dr. Todd A. Kostman Assistant Professor of Biology and Microbiology Director, Electron Microscopy Facility Department of Biology and Microbiology University of Wisconsin Oshkosh 800 Algoma Blvd Oshkosh, Wisconsin 54901 Ph: 920-424-3069 Fax: 920-424-1101 E-mail: kostman-at-uwosh.edu
I'd say it probably depends on the antigen - I've had blocks that "went bad" for a particular antibody within a month or two, but I've also used grids of LRWhite sections that had been cut weeks/1-2 months in advance. (This was for a course, so we were already stacking the deck in our favor by using antibodies that labelled really strongly so the students would see something when they did their labelling - the sections were cut in advance for them). The intensoity was somewhat reduced, but that may have been a function of the course environment...things that normally work well tend to weird out.
Histology people say the same thing; some samples can be cut in advance and the sections stored, others are more susceptible to air exposure. If you can keep the sections cold they may be "happier". Cryosections (for EM) can apparently be stored for months at 4C in methylcellulose and be just fine!
Tamara
On Tue, 21 Aug 2001, Steve Barlow 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 } } How stable are LRWhite sections? Can I cut slices of LRWhite today } and give them to a student lab to do immunogold labelling next week, } without the slices losing or altering their antigen-antibody affinity } or sensitivity? } } I have found epon sections stain better with uranyl acetate } immediately after being cut, as compared to uranyl acetate staining } several days later (Lead staining doesn't seem to be similarly } affected). This suggests there are alterations taking place in the } plastic slices between slicing and some time period afterwards. Does } anyone have any similar anecdotes for LRWhite, specifically in regard } to antibody labels? That is, does labelling efficiency drop off over } time in plastic embedded sections? } } look forward to hearing from someone in this regard } } Steve } -- } } ___________________________________________________ } Dr. Steven Barlow } EM Facility/Biology Dept. } San Diego State University } 5500 Campanile Drive } San Diego CA 92182-4614 } phone: (619) 594-4523 } fax: (619) 594-5676 } } email: sbarlow-at-sunstroke.sdsu.edu } http://www.sci.sdsu.edu/emfacility } } Chairman, Educational Outreach subcommittee } promoting microscopy instruction and increased access to microscopes } Microscopy Society of America } http://www.msa.microscopy.com/ } } }
|--------------------------------------------------| Tamara Howard Department of Cell Biology and Physiology University of New Mexico - Health Sciences Center Albuquerque, NM 87131 thoward-at-unm.edu |--------------------------------------------------|
I'm using the Image Processing Toolkit for Adobe Photoshop to calculate areas and perimeters of SEM images and was wondering if anybody could provide a simplified explaination of convex area and convex perimeter versus just area and perimeter.
Please, respond offline.
Sincerely,
Cavin Mooers, Research Associate Vitreous State Laboratory The Catholic University of America Hannan Hall Washington, DC 20064 (202) 319-5346phone (202) 319-4469fax
The Nuclear Materials Science Group (NMT-16) of the Nuclear Materials Technology (NMT) Division at Los Alamos National Laboratory is seeking an experienced Surface Scientist interested in the complex surface chemistry of plutonium and other actinide metals. The successful candidate will lead the surface science effort in the Microstructure and Microanalysis team. Working independently as the subject matter expert, this individual will plan and execute experiments in support of the Pit Manufacturing, Pit Surveillance and Certification Programs. They will have for their use two newly acquired instruments: a JEOL JAMP-7830 field-emission gun Auger Microprobe (Auger, XPS, cold fracture, heating, orientation imaging microscopy, gas reaction, AFM/STM); and a Kratos Axis-Ultra imaging XPS system (XPS, Auger, heating/cooling, gas reaction). These instruments will be installed in the Plutonium Facility at TA-55 in the summer of 2002, and enhance the experimental capabilities of a well-equipped material science laboratory that includes: variable pressure SEM (EDS, WDS, OIM, CL spectroscopy, hot/cold stage); new 5 spectrometer JEOL 8200 Electron Microprobe; diverse x-ray diffraction capabilities; hardness testers; several modern optical microscopes with digital cameras; and a nicely equipped metallography line.
Required Skills: Prior hands-on experience gathering and interpreting Auger and XPS data. Experience maintaining state-of-the-art UHV materials characterization equipment. Practical and theoretical knowledge of Auger and photoelectron spectroscopy. Recent peer-reviewed publications that include Auger and XPS as characterization tools. Working knowledge of quantification procedures relating to these techniques. Strong organizational skills as evidenced by the flexibility to work on multiple tasks simultaneously. Excellent communication skills. Ability to obtain a Q clearance, which normally requires U.S. citizenship.
Desired Skills: Experience in preparing radioactive materials for analysis. Demonstrated ability to handle and work with hazardous chemicals in a safe manner. Considerable knowledge and experience in any of the following technical areas: handling and conducting experiments with actinide metals, alloys and compounds; working in labs containing radioactive materials; and applying quality assurance requirements to sampling and analysis activities. Experience in gathering and interpreting technical information and reporting technical results both orally and in writing. Active Q clearance and PSAP.
Education Requirement: Ph.D. degree in Materials Science, Physics, Chemistry or equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.
Additional Requirements: This position is subject to the requirements of the Personnel Security Assurance Program (PSAP). Candidates invited to interview for this position will be subject to a pre-employment screening check, medical examination and drug test, and must consent to be in the program at the time of the interview.
The position described above will be posted at the official LANL Human Resources Department's web page for job openings. Any individual interested in this position MUST apply through this web site to be formally recognized as an applicant. The HR web site also has guidelines for TSM salaries. Any questions about this opening can be directed to: Brad Storey (505) 667-0458 storey-at-lanl.gov or Rollin Lakis (505) 665-9814 rlakis-at-lanl.gov
*************************************************** Brad Storey, Ph.D. Team Leader, Microstructure & Microanalysis NMT-16 - Nuclear Materials Science Group Nuclear Materials Technology Division Los Alamos National Lab PO Box 1663, MS E574 Los Alamos, NM 87545
I am at the point of deciding whether to dump my Axioplan system for an Olympus BX-51. I'm not sure that this is a good idea or is a decision in a positive direction. Thus, I seek your input on this issue.
As I mentioned before, my current Zeiss system is not working beyond about 200X. Is there someone in the Sacramento CA region who can work on my system and find out what is wrong with it? If some minor tweak is all that is necessary, I certainly don't need to spend another $40K for a new 'scope. If I can take the system to someone nearby, that would be good too.
I have the basic following items:
Axioplan 1 stand 44 72 15 100W lamphouse 2ea 44 53 65 condenser turrets 44 52 48 Ph/DIC turret condenser w/ 46 52 68 1.4 top lens 44 53 51 auto-swingout lens assembly with 0.9NA top lens 44 53 50 manual swingout lens assembly with 0.9NA & 1.4 top lenses
Plan Neofluar 1.25/0.075 Plan Neofluar 20X/0.5 Ph2 Acrostigmat 100X/1.25 Ph3 Plan Neofluar 40X/0.75 Ph2 Plan Neofluar 63X/1.25 oil Plan Neofluar 20X/0.5 with DIC prism Plan Neofluar 40X/0.75 with DIC prism Plan Neofluar 40X/1.30 oil Plan Neofluar 5X/0.15 Plan Neofluar 10X/0.30 Plan Neofluar 63X/1.25 oil with DIC prism Plan Neofluar 100X/1.30 oil with DIC prism 44 4 80
Is there any chance for support and/or parts for this system? Is it a lost cause? You indicated that these systems were still supported. How can I get such support?
gary gaugler
At 03:58 PM 7/25/2001, you wrote:
} Dear Dr. Gaugler,
} I want to thank you for taking the time to talk to me yesterday. I appreciate } your honesty and frankness. We are always glad to hear from our customers, } especially if the feedback is constructive. Certainly, I was pleased to hear } your praise for the performance our Microscopes deliver. Of course, I was } surprised to hear of your negative experience with our support } team. Therefore, } I would like to answer your email and phone conversation in two parts:
We would like to order some conductive carbon cement (Leit-c), but were told that we have to pay more than $100 for special package over the price of the cement because of the chemical contents in the cement. We wonder who has bought Leit-C recently and through which local dealer in Australia. Thanks for any information. Cheng Huang
----------------------------------------------------- Cheng Huang Australian National University EM Unit, RSBS Box 475, ACT 2601 Canberra, Australia Phone: 61-2- 6125-6553 Fax: 61-2- 6125-3218 http://www.anu.edu.au/EMU/
} From what I have seen coming out of diesel engines it is soot from unburned fuel. This is not a scientific observation but the observation of a farming. It comes from running the fuel too rich and in high load conditions. Taken to extremes I have seen a tractor blowing a plume of black smoke from 12 miles away on a still morning.
Regulations no longer allow setting like this but you can still see engines putting out black smoke when starting up from a stop. It is more pronounced in older trucks. The soot particles can be fairly large.
Gordon
Gordon Couger Stillwater, OK www.couger.com/gcouger ----- Original Message ----- } From: {"David_R_Stadden-at-armstrong.com"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} To: {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} Sent: Tuesday, August 21, 2001 1:43 PM
In a message dated 8/21/01 9:58:12 PM, cavinm-at-vsl.cua.edu-at-sparc5.microscopy.com writes:
} I'm using the Image Processing Toolkit for Adobe Photoshop to } calculate areas and perimeters of SEM images and was wondering } if anybody could provide a simplified explaination of convex area } and convex perimeter versus just area and perimeter.
Thought that was covered in the tutorial on the CD. Anyway, the convex area and perimeter are measured by constructing a bounding polygon (32 sided in the tool kit) around the feature. This is sometimes called a "taut string" or "rubber band" outline since it does not follow any indentations in the periphery of the object. For a convex shape with no internal holes, the values are identical to the "regular" perimeter and area.
I can offer a story I heard at a meeting. This is actually about a factory where cameras were assembled. Contamination on the lenses was subjected to EDX and the elements seen (Na?, K?) were consistent with saliva. Rather than ban talking, the management solved the problem by use of transparent screens above the equipment.
Dave
On Wed, 15 Aug 2001 07:56:07 -0400 Peter Tomic {PTomic-at-anadigics.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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Does anyone out there know of a good source, text or website, that deals } with the issue of contaminants in a semiconductor manufacturing environment? } I'm putting together a lecture on the subject but I don't want to generate } SEM's, optical images etc. if this is available readily. Principally I'm } interested in human spittle, airborne contaminates such as skin, hair, cloth } fibers, etc. or anything that may be generated by human interaction with a } semiconductor device. } } Regards, } Peter Tomic } Anadigics, Inc. }
---------------------------------------- Patton, David Email: David.Patton-at-uwe.ac.uk "University of the West of England"
1) tighten the block in the chuck 2) tighten the knife in its holder 3) check knife angle(I use 4 deg. clearance angle) 4) try at different times of the day- at my old place my lab was next to two large turbines and early in the day I occasionally had problems with chatter
Hi all, Does anyone know the proper bulb for a Durst 138S Laborator enlarger? Is it a giant 110V, 200W opale Atlas bulb? and if so where can I get one? Durst has not been very helpful. thanks for the help, Beth
****************************************************************************** Beth Richardson EM Lab Coordinator Botany Department University of Georgia Athens, GA 30602-7271
Phone - (706) 542-1790 & FAX - (706) 542-1805
"Between the two evils, I always pick the one I never tried before". Mae West (1893-1980) ******************************************************************************
"And it's only the giving that makes you what you are". Wond'ring Aloud, Jethro Tull. Aqualung
Hi Todd, I have a 7800B, and an official "LKB 7800 KnifeMaker Spare Parts Catalog". In all of the spare parts and in all of instructions which we also still have, there is NO mention of glass with thickness other than 6-7mm. I have always taken that to mean, "NO THICKER GLASS ON PENALTY OF DEATH!" Since we kept a 1/2" Dupont knife breaker, there was no need to pester folks about this, I merely kept the 1/2" glass close to the Dupont, the "DEATH" notice over the LKB and depended on human nature for the rest. I was correct, no one was ever seen to carry 1/2" glass the 3 feet from the Dupont to the LKB. I was always easier to reach up and get a strip of the 6mm from the supply. Also, if 1/2" glass gave better knives than 1/4", none of us would have kept the LKB's - I think! I have tried the 1/2" from the Dupont on an ultramicrotome, and the results were spotty. I thought that the Dupont broke better thin-sectioning knives from 1/4"(6mm) glass. Get the man(?) an estimate, and don't use the LKB for something for which it apparently not designed. Watch me get followed by someone who breaks 1/2" glass all the time with no visible harm to the LKB or the 6mm knives. Well, I'm old enough to refuse to change and just be called a "Grumpy Old Man".
Regards,
Fred Monson
Frederick C. Monson, PhD West Chester University of Pennsylvania Center for Advanced Scientific Imaging (CASI) Schmucker II Science Center (Room: SS024(Basement)) South Church Street West Chester, PA, 19383 MailDrop: Department of Geology/Astronomy Phone: 610-738-0437 Fax: 610-436-3036 CASI Home Page: email: fmonson-at-wcupa.edu CASI Home Page: http://darwin.wcupa.edu/casi/ Schedule: Navigate from CASI Home Page Please call before visiting.
} ---------- } From: Todd Kostman } Sent: Tuesday, August 21, 2001 4:37 PM } To: Microscopy Listserver } Subject: Knifebreaking } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 all, } } } I have a question regarding breaking glass knives with the LKB 7800 } knife-breaker. When I was trained on the instrument, my advisor } threatened } me with instant death if I ever tried to break 8mm thick glass strips } rather } than the standard 6.4mm we used. Now I have one of my own and I have a } faculty member who would like to use the thicker glass. Has anyone used } 8mm } glass with the 7800 successfully, or was my advisor correct? } } Thanks for your help } } } Todd } } } -- } Dr. Todd A. Kostman } Assistant Professor of Biology and Microbiology } Director, Electron Microscopy Facility } Department of Biology and Microbiology } University of Wisconsin Oshkosh } 800 Algoma Blvd } Oshkosh, Wisconsin 54901 } Ph: 920-424-3069 } Fax: 920-424-1101 } E-mail: kostman-at-uwosh.edu } } }
To the person wanting to know if you can keep sections on grids for later labeling: I don't know as I have never tried it. However I have some blocks that are up to 7 years old that from time to time I resection and label with the antibody of the day. In the last few months I have been working with an assortment of Aurion ultra small gold antibodies that can be easily visualized in the scope after silver enhancement. I have been using sections from the same blocks with the same antibodies and I can tell you that using the ultra small gold increases the sensitivity at least ten times over Aurion 10 nm gold particles.
Getting back to your original question, my gut reaction is that there will not be any difference between labeling the sections right away or a week later. Best of luck and let us know what happens with your week old sections, Tim
Timothy Schneider Director of Electron Microscopy Department of Pathology Thomas Jefferson University Room 238 JAH 1020 Locust Street Philadelphia, Pa 19107 215-513-4798 Work 610-613-8170 Cell
Wrong, the thickness of the glass does not affect the knife-maker, let alone ruin the knife maker.
Understand the workings of that instrument: The weight of the clamping head determines the pressure which is exerted on the glass by the upper two pressure points. The clamping arm locks the head in position, but moving the arm further down does not increase the clamping pressure at all. Clamping pressure could be increased when breaking thicker glass. This is done by adding a kilo or so by pressing onto the head, while locking the clamping head's arm into position.
After clamping and scoring (which is not affected by the clamping of the head, so long as its down) the lower two pressure points are moved up microscopically when rotating the breaker wheel. If thicker glass does not break at this point, you could exert a kilo or two of additional pressure by pushing on the locked clamping head. Although this is very solid and clamped in position, a little extra pressure can hasten the break.
Those knife makers are so solidly made that the additional one or even two kg force I suggest would make no difference.
I expect that the majority of those LKB knife makers in labs today are over 25 years old and they could last another 25 years. Even when used with 8 or 10mm glass. 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, August 22, 2001 6:37 AM, Todd Kostman [SMTP:kostman-at-vaxa.cis.uwosh.edu] wrote: } } } Hello all, } } } I have a question regarding breaking glass knives with the LKB 7800 } knife-breaker. When I was trained on the instrument, my advisor threatened } me with instant death if I ever tried to break 8mm thick glass strips rather } than the standard 6.4mm we used. Now I have one of my own and I have a } faculty member who would like to use the thicker glass. Has anyone used 8mm } glass with the 7800 successfully, or was my advisor correct? } } Thanks for your help } } } Todd } } } -- } Dr. Todd A. Kostman } Assistant Professor of Biology and Microbiology } Director, Electron Microscopy Facility } Department of Biology and Microbiology } University of Wisconsin Oshkosh } 800 Algoma Blvd } Oshkosh, Wisconsin 54901 } Ph: 920-424-3069 } Fax: 920-424-1101 } E-mail: kostman-at-uwosh.edu
Think of chromatic aberration as different wavelength light rays (i.e., chromatic) passing through the same point in a lens being focused at different points. CA is a function of wavelength and refractive index of the glass.
Think of spherical aberration as same wavelength light rays (i.e., monochromatic) passing through different points in a lens being focused at different points. SA is a function of the spherical surface of lenses.
It is the challenge of lens design to use different curvature lens surfaces, in conjunction with different refractive index glasses, to bring light waves associated with a point in the object to a focus in the image plane. Planapo objectives are used in conjunction with compensating eyepieces to complete the correction.
Gary Gill
-----Original Message----- } From: Karl Garsha [mailto:keg-at-csd.uwm.edu] Sent: Tuesday, August 21, 2001 12:20 PM To: bigirrell-at-microlinetc.com; Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
Just to summarize some of the information regarding NA and Resolution and Magnification: Resolution and numerical aperture are related by resolution = wavelength/N.A. objective + N.A. condenser. Brightness, numerical aperture and magnification are related by brightness= (N.A.)squared /(magnification)squared. As is apparent from these equations, in an idealized situation, a larger numerical aperture at a given magnification will yield better resolution and greater brightness. Things get a little more complicated in real life as has been astutely pointed out, however. Glass has different refractive indexes for different wavelengths of light. White light is composed of red, green and blue wavelengths, and this presents a problem when specimens are illuminated with full spectrum light sources. The red, green and blue components of the image will be refracted by the lens at slightly angles, and so the focal points for the different wavelengths end up being slightly different and the result is that objects appear to be surrounded by a color fringe. This phenomenon, called axial chromatic aberration, is exasperated at greater angles incident to the lens. In other words, at high mag, the higher the numerical aperture the more pronounced the chromatic aberration. It's a concept that is easy to illustrate but hard to explain. The solution, put simply, is to combine different types of glass which have equal but opposite differences in refractive index for light at different wavelengths. This involves more glass, more smart people with handsome salaries to engineer the glass, and results in an expensive plan-apochromatic lens which is corrected for chromatic aberration in the red, green and blue spectra. If the application only requires limited spectra, as in ultraviolet illumination, chromatic aberration isn't such a concern, and one can get by with less expensive lenses of the same numerical aperture, and because of less corrective optics, may indeed be transmit more light to the eye. Spherical aberration is a defect of lenses in which the surface forms part of a sphere. High numerical apertures at high magnification exasperate spherical aberration, so high quality lenses incorporate corrective optics to bring areas on the circumference of the field of view into focal register with the center of the field of view. Again, more glass, more smart people, more money. So the long and the short of it are that high mag lenses don't necessarily have high numerical apertures, however resolving power and brightness will suffer proportionally. High numerical aperture high mag lenses may incorporate artifact into the image unless they are engineered with compensating corrections. Some of these artifacts, which are expensive to correct, may not be an issue under certain circumstances, and may even hinder optical performance, so it is important to understand what corrections one is purchasing, and why.
Karl G.
/**************** Karl Garsha www.uwm.edu/~keg ****************/ ----- Original Message ----- } From: "Bruce Girrell" {bigirrell-at-microlinetc.com} To: {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} Sent: Monday, August 20, 2001 11:28 AM
Listers,
Since our switch last year from OEM service contracts to service managed by insurance companies for our EM's, life has been, to put it mildly, interesting. I will be happy to share the details of our experiences with anyone who is having to make this decision (or is just interested), but I didn't want to put a lengthy post on the list if it's not relevant to a fair number of people. Please let me know if you would like to hear our take on this issue.
Cheers, 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/
You may want to consider a "Polaron" Evaporator, made by Thermo V.G. Scientific in the U.K. They have been manufacturing EM sample prep equipment for many years. Energy Beam Sciences, Inc. is the U.S. agent for Polaron and we would be happy to help you in any way we can.
Best regards,
Michael R. Nesta General Manager Energy Beam Sciences, Inc. Agawam, MA USA Tel: (413) 786-9322 mnesta-at-ebsciences.com "Adding Brilliance to Your Vision"
-----Original Message----- } From: Gillmeister, Russ [mailto:RGillmeister-at-crt.xerox.com] Sent: Tuesday, August 21, 2001 9:37 AM To: 'MSA'
Hi TEM'ers
I need some advice on a new vacuum coater for a TEM lab. I presently have a 13 year old Denton 502A system which has performed satisfactorily. Our main use is for thermal evaporation of Au, C and Al. Denton no longer sells this model but has a new system, an "Explorer 14". I have also gotten a quote for an Edwards "Auto 306" which I know little about. Are there other systems I should be considering? I was considering diffusion systems for reliability. Are turbo systems reliable, and agressive enough now? I would appreciate any comments on the performance of these or other systems. Please respond directly. Thanks for your time. Russ Gillmeister Microscopy Xerox Corp. RGillmeister-at-crt.xerox.com
} I have a question regarding breaking glass knives with the LKB 7800 } knife-breaker. When I was trained on the instrument, my advisor threatened } me with instant death if I ever tried to break 8mm thick glass strips rather } than the standard 6.4mm we used. Now I have one of my own and I have a } faculty member who would like to use the thicker glass. Has anyone used 8mm } glass with the 7800 successfully, or was my advisor correct? } } Todd -
It's possible, but it requires resetting almost everything - which means that it won't break "standard" glass properly at the new settings. This is definitely a "majority rule" situation, unless your faculty member outranks everyone else...
Caroline
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
Dear Gary, We have a Zeiss Axioscope that is setup similar to your axioplan. Over the last five or so years (maybe longer?) it has been well supported by SERCO technical services located in Livermore CA. If you're interested you can contact Emile Meylan or John O'Neill at 1-800-483-0508 they are both very competent. But if you are going to "dump the axioplan" let me know....
Jon Mulholland Botstein Lab, L313 Department of Genetics Stanford University School of Medicine Stanford CA 94305-5210
650-725-1609
On Tue, 21 Aug 2001, Gary Gaugler 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } } Dear Jim: } } I am at the point of deciding whether to dump my } Axioplan system for an Olympus BX-51. I'm not sure } that this is a good idea or is a decision in a positive } direction. Thus, I seek your input on this issue. } } As I mentioned before, my current Zeiss system is not working } beyond about 200X. Is there someone in the Sacramento CA } region who can work on my system and find out what is } wrong with it? If some minor tweak is all that is necessary, } I certainly don't need to spend another $40K for a new 'scope. } If I can take the system to someone nearby, that would be } good too. } } I have the basic following items: } } Axioplan 1 stand } 44 72 15 100W lamphouse } 2ea 44 53 65 condenser turrets } 44 52 48 Ph/DIC turret condenser w/ 46 52 68 1.4 top lens } 44 53 51 auto-swingout lens assembly with 0.9NA top lens } 44 53 50 manual swingout lens assembly with 0.9NA & 1.4 top lenses } } Plan Neofluar 1.25/0.075 } Plan Neofluar 20X/0.5 Ph2 } Acrostigmat 100X/1.25 Ph3 } Plan Neofluar 40X/0.75 Ph2 } Plan Neofluar 63X/1.25 oil } Plan Neofluar 20X/0.5 with DIC prism } Plan Neofluar 40X/0.75 with DIC prism } Plan Neofluar 40X/1.30 oil } Plan Neofluar 5X/0.15 } Plan Neofluar 10X/0.30 } Plan Neofluar 63X/1.25 oil with DIC prism } Plan Neofluar 100X/1.30 oil with DIC prism 44 4 80 } } 44 52 11 swingout low power condenser } 44 53 12 thing-a-ma-bob } } 45 29 21 stress-free trinoc head } 43 36 05 analyzer } Polarizer } Ph 1,2,3 inserts } DIC 1,2,3 inserts } 2ea 45 31 80 DIC nosepieces } } Is there any chance for support and/or parts for this system? } Is it a lost cause? You indicated that these systems were } still supported. How can I get such support? } } gary gaugler } } } } At 03:58 PM 7/25/2001, you wrote: } } } Dear Dr. Gaugler, } } } I want to thank you for taking the time to talk to me yesterday. I appreciate } } your honesty and frankness. We are always glad to hear from our customers, } } especially if the feedback is constructive. Certainly, I was pleased to hear } } your praise for the performance our Microscopes deliver. Of course, I was } } surprised to hear of your negative experience with our support } } team. Therefore, } } I would like to answer your email and phone conversation in two parts: } } [snip] } }
Copies can be made available. Responses/requests OFFLINE only please.
Regards,
Fred Monson
Frederick C. Monson, PhD West Chester University of Pennsylvania Center for Advanced Scientific Imaging (CASI) Schmucker II Science Center (Room: SS024(Basement)) South Church Street West Chester, PA, 19383 MailDrop: Department of Geology/Astronomy Phone: 610-738-0437 Fax: 610-436-3036 CASI Home Page: email: fmonson-at-wcupa.edu CASI Home Page: http://darwin.wcupa.edu/casi/ Schedule: Navigate from CASI Home Page Please call before visiting.
We have an Oxford ISIS EDS system. As it stands it is not set up to acquire spectral images. We would like to be able to do spectral image acquisition on this machine. Is there anyone out there who knows how the system may be modified (macros, interfaces, whatever) to do it? We do have Digital Micrograph (on a Mac whereas ISIS is on a PC), if that helps.
-- .......... 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
If those fail, call me at 916.791.8191 or e-mail and I can probably find one locally.
gary
At 09:56 AM 8/22/2001, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Randy, I, for one, would be most interested in your experiences and possibly comparison with your OEM experiences. As a third party service company I would find the feedback helpful in tweaking my own contracts to better serve the users. All three modes have pluses and minuses for a number of valid reasons. How various customers view those +'s, -'s and reasons for them is helpful to a lot of us on both sides of the fence.
Ken Converse owner Quality Images third party SEM service Delta, PA 17314
Tindall, Randy D. 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Listers, } } Since our switch last year from OEM service contracts to service managed by } insurance companies for our EM's, life has been, to put it mildly, } interesting. I will be happy to share the details of our experiences with } anyone who is having to make this decision (or is just interested), but I } didn't want to put a lengthy post on the list if it's not relevant to a fair } number of people. Please let me know if you would like to hear our take on } this issue. } } Cheers, } 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/ } } } } } }
If you have a vacant position for a Ph.D holder in Materials Science and Engineering (Electron microscopy/Materials characterization) that needs to be filled immediately, please contact me at benedict-at-u.arizona.edu.
We supply Leit-C in Oz, though I have not yet listed the material in our online. I guess its true for many suppliers: however large our online catalogue is we have ready access to two or three times as many items. 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, August 22, 2001 2:51 PM, Cheng Huang [SMTP:HUANG-at-rsbs.anu.edu.au] 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Dear Listers, } } We would like to order some conductive carbon cement (Leit-c), but were told } that we have to pay more than $100 for special package over the price of the } cement because of the chemical contents in the cement. We wonder who has } bought Leit-C recently and through which local dealer in Australia. } Thanks for any information. } Cheng Huang } } ----------------------------------------------------- } Cheng Huang } Australian National University } EM Unit, RSBS } Box 475, ACT 2601 } Canberra, Australia } Phone: 61-2- 6125-6553 } Fax: 61-2- 6125-3218 } http://www.anu.edu.au/EMU/ }
By spectral images, do you mean xray mapping? A "key" disk for the ISIS software program is required to activate the xray mapping facility. Of, course this will cost a bit of money to purchase from Oxford. When the ISIS program is loaded initially, all the software required to use the program is there, but activating the unpaid for parts of the program is the thing.
Fred
On Wed, 22 Aug 2001, Alwyn Eades 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } } We have an Oxford ISIS EDS system. As it stands it is not set up to } acquire spectral images. We would like to be able to do spectral image } acquisition on this machine. Is there anyone out there who knows how } the system may be modified (macros, interfaces, whatever) to do it? We } do have Digital Micrograph (on a Mac whereas ISIS is on a PC), if that } helps. } } -- } .......... } 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 } }
I would be interested. I have never had a "good" experience with any claim from any insurance company.
The money is the only thing that matters with them.
Regards,
Earl Weltmer
Claimer (not DISclaimer) : The above opinion are my own and are necessarily the opinion of my company. They are based upon actual experiences with insurance comapnies over the years from health insurance (Blue Cross), to auto (Farmer's), to moving Companies (United Van lines, FEDEX).
----- Original Message ----- } From: "Tindall, Randy D." {TindallR-at-missouri.edu} To: {microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} Sent: Wednesday, August 22, 2001 8:35 AM
Hi Alwyn,
This is something I thought about a while back. Unfortunately, I didn't come up with any ideal solutions. You can define an 2-D array of points using the AUTO module and an appropriately short value of live time. This will save a full spectrum for each point on disk in separate sequentially numbered files (painfully slow and get a larger disk). I don't remember what the limits on the dimensions of the array are. The big problem is then how to analyze the data. Within the ISIS software the only thing I can think of is to batch process for peak integrals. Ray Twesten has written a short utility which can be used to batch convert the ISIS format spectra to 1-column ASCII format. From here you could write your own processing routines or perhaps use digital micrograph (or a little of both). I'm sure many of us would be intested if you find a workable solution?
P.S. I just remembered Oxford also had a little known programming API product, which could be used to control and read from the ISIS hardware from your own application. I forget what they called it. I suspect this would be a major undertaking to work with.
Jim Mabon
-----Original Message----- } From: Alwyn Eades [mailto:jae5-at-lehigh.edu] Sent: Wednesday, August 22, 2001 1:22 PM To: EMNET
We have an Oxford ISIS EDS system. As it stands it is not set up to acquire spectral images. We would like to be able to do spectral image acquisition on this machine. Is there anyone out there who knows how the system may be modified (macros, interfaces, whatever) to do it? We do have Digital Micrograph (on a Mac whereas ISIS is on a PC), if that helps.
-- ......... 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
I beg to differ and stand by my previous contribution, which is appended last. Caroline talks about changing settings. Well, the settings adjust the lateral position of the score mark and how far forward the score is to extend. These adjustments need to be changed when cutting strips other then squares (25.4mm), or for non 45 degree knives. Drawing a felt tip marker across the correct settings (different colours for different settings) makes it easy to find the correct settings again. Anyway, those settings have nothing to do with the thickness of the glass. Similarly, the clamping pressure is gravity (weight of clamping head) and the head will exert the same pressure regardless of the glass thickness. Dto the score pressure.
Fred is concerned about half inch glass, but the original question concerned 8mm glass. I have no hesitation to use (and have) 8mm glass with the LKB knifemaker. The 1/4 inch (6.4mm) thickness glass has been a convenient standard material for EM, but the design is not specific to that thickness. I expect that 10mm glass would also be no problem with the LKB, half inch (12.6mm) would require still greater pressure, and perhaps there is a limit, but I cannot see that reasonably any harm could be done to those very solidly build part of the knifemaker.
Incidentally, years ago LKB was the sole agent for "LKB" (actually Alkar) glass. That glass is made up to 10mm thick and I cannot imagine that LKB marketed that glass for use with another knifemaker. 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
-----Original Message----- } From: Caroline Schooley [SMTP:schooley-at-mcn.org] Sent: Thursday, August 23, 2001 1:51 AM To: Todd Kostman Cc: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
Dear Earl and all else,
You may think this sounds so extreme that it is beyond belief. Sad to say that not everyone has sound judgement and have fallen for this ruse. At worst, the victims are eventually duped to travel to Nigeria and held for ransom. Some have been killed.
No substitute for earning a living the old fashioned way.
Al Stone
At 07:24 AM 8/18/2001 -0700, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
} } 1) tighten the block in the chuck } 2) tighten the knife in its holder } 3) check knife angle(I use 4 deg. clearance angle) } 4) try at different times of the day- at my old place my lab was next to } two large turbines and early in the day I occasionally had problems with } chatter } }
Here are a few more suggestions:
1) Use distilled water in your boat as opposed to de-ionized. 2) If possible re-trim your block. Even though you think things look good, sometimes just cleaning up the edges with a new razor blade makes things better. 3) As much as you can, keep your block chuck and knife stage centered on zero. It seems for me if I swing the knife to the left or right too far, chatter is a given. 4) Try another knife. I've had diamonds re-sharpened and I swear they came back duller than they started out. Also something could have happened to the mount and the diamond may be loose. 5) Pray to the Microscopy gods. :-)
Hope this helps,
Paula Moore Wake Forest Univ. Medical Center Pathology/EM Lab
Problem solved! thanks to Bill Sharp! As always the Microscopy list is the best! thanks for all the help, Beth
****************************************************************************** Beth Richardson EM Lab Coordinator Botany Department University of Georgia Athens, GA 30602-7271
Phone - (706) 542-1790 & FAX - (706) 542-1805
"Between the two evils, I always pick the one I never tried before". Mae West (1893-1980) ******************************************************************************
"And it's only the giving that makes you what you are". Wond'ring Aloud, Jethro Tull. Aqualung
As promised, here is a rundown on our OEM vs. insurance experiences. I decided to put this on the list based on the very large number of replies I received, some asking specifically that this be posted. As a result, I've removed all names, since I don't have a clue as to legal ramifications of being more specific. Sorry to be so wimpy, but in these cases I believe in CYA.
The following obviously reflects our experiences alone, but based upon what I have heard from a few others, I don't believe that our situation is unique, by any means.
Our lab, like many others, has been under increasing pressure to cut costs for the last two to three years, and since service contracts represent a significant proportion of our budget, they logically became a cost-cutting target immediately. It was beginning to appear that we were going to lose the contract on one of our TEM's to save money, especially since it wasn't heavily used. About this time one insurance company (IC, for short) began a series of high-powered presentations to the University purchasing people and administrators, promising significant cost reduction, with no reduction in services, choice of service providers, elimination of paperwork, etc. Facilities like ours were contacted by University purchasing staff in order to set up individual meetings to assess our needs and get estimates on the IC's costs versus OEM charges.
After attending two open seminars and having two meetings with the insurance people and purchasing staff in our facility, the decision was made, with my agreement, to give the IC a shot at managing our service. The thinking was that we would try it for a year. The IC said we could back out at any time with no penalty, they would pro-rate our contracts to adjust for the differing ending dates for our OEM contracts, and, they said, there should be no "re-certification fee" if we decided to go back to OEM contracts, since we intended to use only the OEMs' engineers anyway. They would take care of the paperwork notifying the OEMs about the new arrangement, and all billing would be handled between the IC and the service providers. They would guarantee no increase in contract costs for, I believe, three years.
The very first service call we made to the manufacturer on one of our TEMs resulted in our being told that they couldn't send an engineer, because we weren't on service contract any longer. When I explained that they were supposed to have been notified that we were with the IC, I was told that we would have to provide a University P.O. before anyone would be sent. Apparently, there was a substantial outstanding bill from this IC for service provided to a university in another state, and until it was paid no service would be provided on our contract. The IC's on-campus rep, our purchasing director, and the director of the university core facilities were notified by me immediately. Apparently some high level phone calling went on, because before the day was out, the service provider had called back saying the outstanding bill would be paid and an engineer was on the way. (Additionally, our purchasing director assured us that we could get a P.O. if necessary. We have terrific support here from purchasing and they have been invaluable on several occasions.)
The engineer was sent out, the scope was back on line. BUT, it turns out that the promised payment was never made and we were back to square one the next time we needed service on that machine. In fact, it was worse, because the OEM was never paid for the service on our scope either.
Our other scopes are from a different manufacturer and initially service was pretty much the same as before (although they made it clear they weren't happy about the switch). Response time was a bit slower, and there was more stinginess with replacement parts, but we had no real complaints.
Then, the IC declared bankruptcy. Their campus reps disappeared, their web site went down, and they effectively vanished. We had already used part of the year's contract, but were only able to recover about $700 on the unused portion. Some labs lost thousands, I've been told. The service provider was never paid, and lost a substantial amount of money. (I'm told that this IC has reorganized under a different name and is soliciting new business, especially from universities. Ask lots of questions if a new company comes around. Be especially careful of large numbers of enthusiastic people in nice suits giving slick multi-media presentations!)
We began discussing returning to our old OEM contracts and I was asked to get prices. The first thing I was told by one service provider was that we would have to have our instrument re-certified, which would cost about $1500, even though nobody had touched that scope but the OEM engineers. Needless to say, that rankled a bit, so we checked into another insurance company that had been recommended by several other labs. We were immediately impressed by the fact that they presented what seemed to be a more realistic picture of what they could do for us. They also offered significant savings (10-15%) over the old contracts, so we once again decided to give it a try.
This time, the first call we made had the same result as before, i.e., the provider wanted a P.O. before an engineer would come out. When I asked why, they said that even though they had no problems with the new IC, they weren't going to take a chance on losing a ton of money again. If the university would sign a waiver accepting responsibility for paying any amounts in default, we could get service again. Fine, I said. Several days later the form was faxed to us and I forwarded it to our purchasing director, who responded that he had passed it along for review to the people who needed to sign off on it. That was last month sometime, and I have heard nothing yet. So far we have been waiting to get a preventive maintenance visit on this scope for about two months and nothing's in sight, yet.
On our other scopes, we have again been able to get service, but now it seems that we are way, way down on the priority list. OEMs will tell you that they are obligated to service their contract customers first, and in our experience they certainly do. The service management (insurance) companies will tell you that this is not the case, that it's first-come, first-served. That has not been our experience. On one TEM we have been waiting weeks for a PM. It was scheduled twice and an engineer was here, but was pulled away on "emergency" calls, which I read as calls from contract holders. The PM has not yet been done. (Just minutes ago we received a call from our service engineer saying he's been pre-empted again and now he has NO idea when he can get here.) Our SEM has been serviced under the new arrangement in a relatively timely manner.
Under the OEM contracts, service was provided "yesterday" and parts were replaced if they were even suspected to be bad. The working relationship was wonderful, and the service was stellar. We were called and reminded of PMs before they were due and we received periodic phone calls just to check on the status of our equipment. Under the new contracts, service is provided (if we can get it) whenever they get around to it, and engineers can be interrupted by calls to respond to contract holders. Parts are changed less frequently and are all billed. We schedule the PMs (no big deal). The relationship is much more tense than it used to be.
We could probably increase the level of service by reminding the service people that when it's time to replace our scopes, service history will have a MAJOR bearing on whose machines we buy. However, I'm extremely reluctant to turn a previously very pleasant relationship into a confrontational, grudging one (although it seems to be headed that way, anyway). In addition, I can understand why some of these things are happening. If I put myself in the shoes of the OEM service managers, I'm not sure what I would do differently. On the other hand, I also have a tiny, nagging feeling that part of these problems are deliberately designed to pressure us back into our old contracts. That possibility (and I don't know it to be true) annoys me intensely, but I still haven't played the sales managers against service managers card. My sense is that OEMs make big bucks on service contracts and they take it VERY personally when we "fire them" as one service manager phrased it.
I would like to emphasize very strongly that when field service engineers come out, they are uniformly excellent. They do everything they are allowed to do to provide top-notch care for the instruments. The problems originate higher up.
In summary, we have found that service management companies do indeed save money on comparable contracts, but we have had a miserable time getting service at all when using them. This may not be typical---I don't know. Our level of service has declined greatly in terms of promptness, attitude, and parts supply. The attitude part was certainly not worth the extra several thousand dollars the OEMs wanted, but the promptness and parts issues probably were. Most disturbing was finding out that we could be denied service because of a problem originating at another university in another state that had absolutely nothing to do with us.
We will continue for now with our new IC's to see if the problems correct themselves, especially since the problems didn't arise with this company. In addition, one of the OEM service managers called and suggested we might try a custom contract in which we could work with them to design our own service schedule. He said we could be informally trained during service visits to perform many of the maintenance chores on the scope and could retain a contract that would basically cover emergencies, at a substantial cost savings. We are looking into this now, because it seems to have lots of nice possibilities. (We already do filament/gun exchanges and cleanings, obviously, but I've never personally done a mechanical column alignment or routine maintenance requiring major disassembly.)
My best advice: if you are currently with an OEM, stay there. If you are losing your local in-house service wizard and need to decide on contracts, go with the OEMs. Fight like hell to resist pressure to switch.
If you are with an insurance company and are happy with them, stay there, and I wish you continued good luck. Please tell me your secret.
My suggestion to OEM service providers: offer some in-house maintenance training courses, better maintenance manuals and schematics, and encourage customers to do more maintenance tasks (with appropriate provisos for covering dumb mistakes). Lower your contract prices so we're not so pressured to drop them. The glory days are over, folks. Time to compete.
As for me, I have no financial interest in any of these folks. I just want our scopes to work. Feel free to contact me with any questions.
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/
This is correct, the keydisk is all that is required for the software to be enabled. However, there may be hardware required, too, at least a cable interface (RS232?) to the microscope. I believe the ISIS Autobeam likes to select its own scan rates. You may need to speak with Oxford re: compatibility with your particular microscope.
Matt
Matthew J. Lynn Center for Advanced Microscopy University of Miami (305)284-4736 mlynn-at-miami.edu
On Wednesday, August 22, 2001 9:23 PM, Fred Pearson [SMTP:eoptics-at-mcmail.cis.mcmaster.ca] 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.ht } ml } ---------------------------------------------------------- } -------------. } } } Alwyn: } } By spectral images, do you mean xray mapping? A "key" disk } for the ISIS } software program is required to activate the xray mapping } facility. Of, } course this will cost a bit of money to purchase from } Oxford. When the } ISIS program is loaded initially, all the software } required to use the } program is there, but activating the unpaid for parts of } the program is } the thing. } } Fred } } } On Wed, 22 Aug 2001, Alwyn Eades 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.ht } } ml } } } } --------------------------------------------------------- } } --------------. } } } } } } } } We have an Oxford ISIS EDS system. As it stands it is } } not set up to } } acquire spectral images. We would like to be able to do } } spectral image } } acquisition on this machine. Is there anyone out there } } who knows how } } the system may be modified (macros, interfaces, } } whatever) to do it? We } } do have Digital Micrograph (on a Mac whereas ISIS is on } } a PC), if that } } helps. } } } } -- } } .......... } } 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 } } } } } }
We are looking to acquire a Link AN10000 EDS system for a Hitachi H-600 TEM. Currently this EDS system is on a H-7000 STEM. My questions is: will an EDS system that fits the H-7000 STEM, also fit the H-600 microscope?
Also, please share your experiences with the Link AN10000 EDS system - its reliability, support, etc.
The three-day intensive hands-on workshop on Image Processing and Measurement presented by John Russ through the North Carolina State University Department of Continuing and Professional Education is now in its 19th year. The course will be presented October 30 - November 1, in Raleigh, NC. This course has generated highly favorable reviews from the thousands of previous students. The primary focus is on images from various types of microscopy, with practical guidance in correcting imaging defects, enhancing the images for presentation and measurement, and performing stereological meaningful measurements on them. Textbooks and computer software are provided to attendees. Lab sessions with an opportunity to bring your own images makes this course immediately useful and highly productive.
For full information on the course, including outlines, faculty information, a downloadable brochure, and on-line registration, go to
I am pretty sure that Alwyn is not talking about x-ray mapping. If that was all he wanted, I suppose the key disk is all that would be needed if he already has the other imaging applications and hardware installed.
Someone suggested using Auto to scan an image for multiple spectra. Indeed, the software and hardware should allow it. The spectra might then be exported and processed by some other package to perform the type of component analysis that has been described at MSA over the last few years. My current ISIS x-ray application (version 3.32) has the option of storing the x-ray data in single column MSA format. Previous versions placed multiple channels on a single line.
One hitch would be the limitation on the number of spectra per job. I think there is a limit of 1000 or so built into the database used for managing the data. I suppose it could be changed to another number, but we bumped into it some time back.
That would mean you could do a 32x32 raster of points saving a spectrum at each. A four second acquisition per point would mean a bit more than an hour for acquisition. That would not be too bad, but the spatial resolution would probably be too low to be very useful. But the data should readily fit onto hard drives with capacities of a few gigabytes.
I would be interested in seeing how the data processing is handled. If someone makes it work, I would be very interested in hearing the details.
Warren
At 10:33 AM 8/23/2001 -0400, you wrote: } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } This is correct, the keydisk is all that is required for } the software to be enabled. However, there may be hardware } required, too, at least a cable interface (RS232?) to the } microscope. I believe the ISIS Autobeam likes to select } its own scan rates. You may need to speak with Oxford re: } compatibility with your particular microscope. } } Matt } } Matthew J. Lynn } Center for Advanced Microscopy } University of Miami } (305)284-4736 } mlynn-at-miami.edu } } } On Wednesday, August 22, 2001 9:23 PM, Fred Pearson } [SMTP:eoptics-at-mcmail.cis.mcmaster.ca] wrote: } } } } Alwyn: } } } } By spectral images, do you mean xray mapping? A "key" disk for the ISIS } } software program is required to activate the xray mapping facility. Of, } } course this will cost a bit of money to purchase from Oxford. When the } } ISIS program is loaded initially, all the software required to use the } } program is there, but activating the unpaid for parts of the program is } } the thing. } } } } Fred } } } } On Wed, 22 Aug 2001, Alwyn Eades wrote: } } } We have an Oxford ISIS EDS system. As it stands it is not set up to } } } acquire spectral images. We would like to be able to do spectral image } } } acquisition on this machine. Is there anyone out there who knows how } } } the system may be modified (macros, interfaces, whatever) to do it? We } } } do have Digital Micrograph (on a Mac whereas ISIS is on a PC), if that } } } helps. } } } .......... } } } 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
I am investigating EDS systems to integrate with a JEOL-6100 SEM. I'm leaning towards PGT's Spirit system. Other considerations are Oxford's INCA and Thermo Noran's Vantage. Does anyone have particularly positive or negative experience with PGT? I don't often hear much about that company. Any comments about the other possibilities would be appreciated, as well.
Thanks!
-Peggy
Peggy McKarns Macatangay, PhD Project Analyst 2 Celanese Corpus Christi Technical Center
Has anyone seen or heard from John Best at the ELMDAS Company? They/He manufacture the "DIGISEM" SEM Digital Imaging System. I along with many other people(customers) have left many messages(voice & email) to no avail. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Please reply directly to me. Thanks in advance.
Gary M. Easton Scanners Corporation {mailto:gary.easton-at-scannerscorp.com} gary.easton-at-scannerscorp.com
Below is the result of your feedback form (NJZFM-ultra-55). It was submitted by (john_bruss-at-bose.com) from http://www.msa.microscopy.com/Ask-A-Microscopist.html on Wednesday, August 22, 2001 at 17:00:52 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Email: john_bruss-at-bose.com Name: John Bruss
Organization: Bose Corp.
Education: Graduate College
Location: San Diego, CA, USA
Question: What materials and process would an amateur use to suspend a spider in a clear cube for unmagnified artistic and historic use? Where are those materials available in small quantities?
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Hi all, This post is directed primarily to those doing biological prep in the midwest. I am sure that a number of you were as impressed with the recent advances in microwave specimen prep presented at M&M2001 as I was. I have threatened in the past to have a workshop at Purdue so we could get up to speed on these new techniques.
Well the time has come.....or at least will come if there is sufficient interest. The proposed hands-on workshop, conducted by Rick Giberson of Ted Pella, Inc., would be 2-2 1/2 days in length. Exact cost would not be known until we have an idea of numbers of participants. The dates for the workshop will be set after determining interest but hopefully will be within the next few month.
Available would be two microwaves, 2 TEM's and 1 SEM to check samples, 5 microtomes, misc. other equipment, etc so that all attending would be able to process and check samples.
Purdue is located in West lafayette, Indiana which is ~ 1hr. north of Indianapolis or 2hr SE of Chicago by car. It is serviced by Northwest airlines via the Lafayette/Purdue airport or via the airport in Indianapolis.
Please respond immediately if you are seriously interested in attending a workshop. I will be in touch with more details to those responding as soon as we determine whether the workshop will be held.
Debby
Debby Sherman Phone: 765-494-6666 Life Science Microscopy Facility FAX: 765-494-5896 Purdue University E-mail: dsherman-at-purdue.edu S-099e Whistler Building West Lafayette, IN 47907
by sparc5.microscopy.com (8.9.3+Sun/8.9.3) id OAA18359 for dist-Microscopy; Thu, 23 Aug 2001 14:17:14 -0500 (CDT) Received: from no_more_spam.com (sparc5 [206.69.208.10]) by sparc5.microscopy.com (8.9.3+Sun/8.9.3) with SMTP id OAA18356 for "MicroscopyFilteredEmail1-at-msa.microscopy.com"; Thu, 23 Aug 2001 14:16:43 -0500 (CDT) Received: from es05.hosts.jhmi.edu (es05.hosts.jhmi.edu [162.129.224.75]) by sparc5.microscopy.com (8.9.3+Sun/8.9.3) with ESMTP id OAA18349 for {microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} ; Thu, 23 Aug 2001 14:16:31 -0500 (CDT) Received: from welchlink (welchlink2 [162.129.224.74]) by es05.hosts.jhmi.edu (8.9.3/8.9.3) with ESMTP id PAA29299 for {microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} ; Thu, 23 Aug 2001 15:10:49 -0400 (EDT)
Hi, everyone, Does anyone have the recipe and protocol on how to make uranyl formate solution for negative staining? And do you have any idea about whhich is better, uranyl aceate or formate? Thanks a lot.
Chen Chen
Dept of Biol. Chem. the Johns Hopkins Univ. School of Medicine
----- Original Message ----- } From: "Tindall, Randy D." {TindallR-at-missouri.edu} To: {microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} Sent: Thursday, August 23, 2001 7:23 AM
A lab I am working in for a while has a new Nikon Eclipse inverted and when I went to use it, I could not get the DIC to work. The rep came by today and fixed it by turning over the slider holding what I believe is the initial polarizer (the one above the body that presumably is the first polarizer in the transmitted light path). I have not seen a real detailed description of the Nikon DIC so I do not understand what each element is and why this should have had so great an effect. I thought the rotatable element below the condenser was a rotatable polarizer, so I thought at some point I would have gotten extinction even if the orientation of the first was changed. Thanks- Dave
Below is the result of your feedback form (NJZFM-ultra-55). It was submitted by (mcs4-at-dana.ucc.nau.edu) from http://www.msa.microscopy.com/Ask-A-Microscopist.html on Thursday, August 23, 2001 at 11:04:58 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Email: mcs4-at-dana.ucc.nau.edu Name: Matthew Salanga
Organization: Northern Arizona University
Education: Graduate College
Location: Flagstaff, Arizona
Question: I have been doing TEM work on plant cells for my thesis. I was wondering if anyone might have a suggestion on a stain which would be specific for beta glucans mainly callose. Literature suggests that normal UA and lead citrate do not stain callose at all, however it appears as though it may according to what I believe is Callose in my micrographs. Anyways if anyone has suggestions or comments please email me.
Sorry to use the list for this, but my email to Tom Gore got bounced. Tom -- your IT department doesn't believe you exist. I got this error message when I emailed you: The original message was received at Thu, 23 Aug 2001 16:49:49 -0500 from [144.92.45.161]
----- The following addresses had permanent fatal errors ----- {togo-at-uvvm.uvic.ca}
----- Transcript of session follows ----- .. while talking to smtp.uvic.ca.: } } } RCPT To: {togo-at-uvvm.uvic.ca} { { { 553 5.3.0 {togo-at-uvvm.uvic.ca} ... Mail from 144.92.9.40 rejected(outputs);see http://orbz.org 550 {togo-at-uvvm.uvic.ca} ... User unknown
Phil -- }}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{ 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)
We've had the same budgetary problems with oem contract maintenance on our Philips CM120. We could only do 3 years of a 5 year contract, renewable every year. At $16,000 to $18,000 for the fourth and fifth years, our Dean bulked at the cost for what is essentially an insurance policy, and so we didn't renew for the last two years. Our choice was to go with an independent contractor, who formerly worked for the OEM, and got good service. We still couldn't do a service contract with him (less than half the OEM) because our funding is very limited. Instead we used an open or blanket $2500 service order. He at times bent over backwards to help us, but without a service contract, he could not be "on-call." Another limitation was a need for proprietary diagnostic software that he no longer had access to. We had to go back to the OEM for a one-time service.
The upshot is that you should try an independent service. Their requirements will differ, but your alternative is to pony up $10-20 grand for "insurance". Maintenance on new microscopes that are computer controlled maybe problematical for in-house training especially when proprietary diagnostic software is needed. If buying a new microscope, get as much funding for 5 years of service as possible. We needed the 2 year warranty plus the 3 year service contract before it performed steadily without problems. We're starting into early middle age on our CM120 and experiencing increasing problems. Our first TEM bought in 1962 lasted 30 years and was used for teaching EM and research. We were able to operate it without a service contract. I think we'll never see that kind of performance again, but then they were much simplier machines.
-- Greg Lum Lab Manager Electron Microscope Facility San Francisco State University College of Science & Engineering Ph: 415/338-1339 Email: glum-at-sfsu.edu
I'd like to respond from the viewpoint of one who worked for an OEM for 4 years and has subsequently had his own third party service company for 20 years.
First, the OEM is obligated to service contract customers first. You have become a "billable" call and DO go to the bottom of the list. That would not be all that different with a third party firm (although they might try a little harder to be timely). The contract people have paid up front (or have at least committed up front to pay) for an entire year. This is guaranteed income and includes a guaranteed liability (for the OEM) "to maintain the instrument/system to its original specifications". Service organizations have to take this seriously. This liability doesn't exist for billable customers. Work will be done to the best of the OEM's ability and not beyond the limit of the purchase order.
Second, the IC has no technical expertise, no intimate connection with its customers and no obligation to use the manufacturer. I have been called by at least one IC several times, but have never done any work for them because they haven't a clue what I'm talking about when I tell them I service SEMs but not TEMs and I like to stay within 500 miles of home. (Their geography hasn't impressed me, either). They are trying to emulate what happens when your car gets in a fender bender. There are lots of people who can fix it, and many of them can do a pretty satisfactory job. But ask yourself, "When my car has a rumble, or the engine misfires and I need expert help or maintenance, who do I call? My insurance company?" Probably not, not only because your insurance doesn't cover that kind of thing, but because they couldn't help you anyways. They know about insurance, not the inner workings of your car.
Third, any outside party that starts making commitments FOR the OEM (you won't have to pay for recertification..............) I would turn away from and run, not walk, run. If they tell you that THEY will pay for recertification if you're unhappy and they will put it in writing, that's another story.
As to the manufacturers making lots of money on their contracts, some may, some may not. A lot depends on how well they are set up and run. It also depends on the instrument density. If one engineer can service 20 or 30 systems within driving distance, the engineer is competent and the service department backs him up well, yes, it can be quite profitable. If you have to fly to every site, you're short on experienced engineers and you don't support them well, you can lose your shirt ( and have a whole lot of PO'd customers to boot).
Every time I've gotten one of those glib calls from an IC in Texas, in the back of my mind a little voice is always saying "And just what makes you think you're going to get paid?" I do thank you for confirming that this concern is warranted.
The question now comes down to "What do you want?". The OEM has reason to feel miffed. You want their expertise, their parts, their top level response, their best guess on advance parts replacement for reliability and you're going to pay someone ELSE the bonus if they do all this. The IC is betting that the instrument will run reliably as it always has, meaning very little cash out. The OEM no longer has the incentive to go out of its way to insure reliability. They'll actually make more if the system breaks more frequently. And as I pointed out, if they do their best work, you pay someone else the bonus while they still have the considerable expense of running a service department. I'm not implying in any way that they will go out of their way to make it fail. One of the advantages of sticking with the organization that actually does the servicing is that you establish a raport with the personnel in the field and in house. I'm only saying that they aren't going to go out of their way to KEEP it from failing, because it's not in their interest to do that. It IS in their interest when they have guaranteed the performance for a full year.
Yes, generally speaking my service contracts are profitable, but there is another major reason that I prefer to have systems on contract. It becomes up to me how much time I spend on an instrument and how fast or slow I work on it. Sometimes I'm very sure what the problem is and fix it immediately, but often there are intermittent problems and I can tell you that a billable customer watches the clock like a hawk when he sees me sitting in front of a running system waiting for an intermittent problem to show up. Sometimes there are subtle problems that the customer isn't even aware of, yet. If the system is on contract I can work without watching the clock and get everything right. In the long run it saves me repeat trips. Also, if I should decide to let something slide due to whatever circumstances, I know that I'm guaranteeing the work and a later failure will be fixed at MY expense, not the customer's.
There was a time when people seemed more likely to reward good service by paying a premium for it and showing a little loyalty to those who provided it. The loyalty seems to be going by the board, and more and more people want more for less, they aren't willing to pay for quality because in their everyday life they buy cheap and when it breaks they throw it out and buy cheap again. I don't believe that the scientific instrument market will get there any time soon. This is specialty equipment, capital investment, there for the long haul.. If it's well taken care of , it will last for decades. That's where you can get the savings.
If you were happy with the quality of the OEM's service and they are willing to work with you, by all means see what you can work out! If you weren't so happy with an OEM, see if there is a third party service company that you can establish a good relationship with. The ICs can't charge less, take out a middleman's cut, and give the organizations who actually do the work and support the equipment, enough money to maintain the quality you demand. If it looks too good to be true...................................................
I sympathize with the cost-cutting that is being forced on you from the bean-counters, but beware of false economies. Maybe one or more instruments could be taken off contract, but what kind of grants are you (the school and faculty) going to lose if it's down too much of the time? What are the priorities of the organization? University service labs are not supposed to be profit centers. They are SERVICE labs and are heavily subsidized because the typical student (grad or undergrad) can't afford to pay commercial rates for instrument time (especially with what they're paying for tuition). If these instruments are important to various departments then the decision is too important to be made by some MBA who doesn't know the difference between hydrogen embrittlement and cilia.
It would be interesting if we could get a response from the insurance industry side of things.
My $.02 worth.
Sincerely,
Ken Converse owner Quality Images third party SEM service Delta, PA
Tindall, Randy D. 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } As promised, here is a rundown on our OEM vs. insurance experiences. I } decided to put this on the list based on the very large number of replies I } received, some asking specifically that this be posted. As a result, I've } removed all names, since I don't have a clue as to legal ramifications of } being more specific. Sorry to be so wimpy, but in these cases I believe in } CYA. } } The following obviously reflects our experiences alone, but based upon what } I have heard from a few others, I don't believe that our situation is } unique, by any means. } } Our lab, like many others, has been under increasing pressure to cut costs } for the last two to three years, and since service contracts represent a } significant proportion of our budget, they logically became a cost-cutting } target immediately. It was beginning to appear that we were going to lose } the contract on one of our TEM's to save money, especially since it wasn't } heavily used. About this time one insurance company (IC, for short) began a } series of high-powered presentations to the University purchasing people and } administrators, promising significant cost reduction, with no reduction in } services, choice of service providers, elimination of paperwork, etc. } Facilities like ours were contacted by University purchasing staff in order } to set up individual meetings to assess our needs and get estimates on the } IC's costs versus OEM charges. } } After attending two open seminars and having two meetings with the insurance } people and purchasing staff in our facility, the decision was made, with my } agreement, to give the IC a shot at managing our service. The thinking was } that we would try it for a year. The IC said we could back out at any time } with no penalty, they would pro-rate our contracts to adjust for the } differing ending dates for our OEM contracts, and, they said, there should } be no "re-certification fee" if we decided to go back to OEM contracts, } since we intended to use only the OEMs' engineers anyway. They would take } care of the paperwork notifying the OEMs about the new arrangement, and all } billing would be handled between the IC and the service providers. They } would guarantee no increase in contract costs for, I believe, three years. } } The very first service call we made to the manufacturer on one of our TEMs } resulted in our being told that they couldn't send an engineer, because we } weren't on service contract any longer. When I explained that they were } supposed to have been notified that we were with the IC, I was told that we } would have to provide a University P.O. before anyone would be sent. } Apparently, there was a substantial outstanding bill from this IC for } service provided to a university in another state, and until it was paid no } service would be provided on our contract. The IC's on-campus rep, our } purchasing director, and the director of the university core facilities were } notified by me immediately. Apparently some high level phone calling went } on, because before the day was out, the service provider had called back } saying the outstanding bill would be paid and an engineer was on the way. } (Additionally, our purchasing director assured us that we could get a P.O. } if necessary. We have terrific support here from purchasing and they have } been invaluable on several occasions.) } } The engineer was sent out, the scope was back on line. BUT, it turns out } that the promised payment was never made and we were back to square one the } next time we needed service on that machine. In fact, it was worse, because } the OEM was never paid for the service on our scope either. } } Our other scopes are from a different manufacturer and initially service was } pretty much the same as before (although they made it clear they weren't } happy about the switch). Response time was a bit slower, and there was more } stinginess with replacement parts, but we had no real complaints. } } Then, the IC declared bankruptcy. Their campus reps disappeared, their web } site went down, and they effectively vanished. We had already used part of } the year's contract, but were only able to recover about $700 on the unused } portion. Some labs lost thousands, I've been told. The service provider } was never paid, and lost a substantial amount of money. (I'm told that this } IC has reorganized under a different name and is soliciting new business, } especially from universities. Ask lots of questions if a new company comes } around. Be especially careful of large numbers of enthusiastic people in } nice suits giving slick multi-media presentations!) } } We began discussing returning to our old OEM contracts and I was asked to } get prices. The first thing I was told by one service provider was that we } would have to have our instrument re-certified, which would cost about } $1500, even though nobody had touched that scope but the OEM engineers. } Needless to say, that rankled a bit, so we checked into another insurance } company that had been recommended by several other labs. We were } immediately impressed by the fact that they presented what seemed to be a } more realistic picture of what they could do for us. They also offered } significant savings (10-15%) over the old contracts, so we once again } decided to give it a try. } } This time, the first call we made had the same result as before, i.e., the } provider wanted a P.O. before an engineer would come out. When I asked why, } they said that even though they had no problems with the new IC, they } weren't going to take a chance on losing a ton of money again. If the } university would sign a waiver accepting responsibility for paying any } amounts in default, we could get service again. Fine, I said. Several } days later the form was faxed to us and I forwarded it to our purchasing } director, who responded that he had passed it along for review to the people } who needed to sign off on it. That was last month sometime, and I have } heard nothing yet. So far we have been waiting to get a preventive } maintenance visit on this scope for about two months and nothing's in sight, } yet. } } On our other scopes, we have again been able to get service, but now it } seems that we are way, way down on the priority list. OEMs will tell you } that they are obligated to service their contract customers first, and in } our experience they certainly do. The service management (insurance) } companies will tell you that this is not the case, that it's first-come, } first-served. That has not been our experience. On one TEM we have been } waiting weeks for a PM. It was scheduled twice and an engineer was here, } but was pulled away on "emergency" calls, which I read as calls from } contract holders. The PM has not yet been done. (Just minutes ago we } received a call from our service engineer saying he's been pre-empted again } and now he has NO idea when he can get here.) Our SEM has been serviced } under the new arrangement in a relatively timely manner. } } Under the OEM contracts, service was provided "yesterday" and parts were } replaced if they were even suspected to be bad. The working relationship } was wonderful, and the service was stellar. We were called and reminded of } PMs before they were due and we received periodic phone calls just to check } on the status of our equipment. Under the new contracts, service is } provided (if we can get it) whenever they get around to it, and engineers } can be interrupted by calls to respond to contract holders. Parts are } changed less frequently and are all billed. We schedule the PMs (no big } deal). The relationship is much more tense than it used to be. } } We could probably increase the level of service by reminding the service } people that when it's time to replace our scopes, service history will have } a MAJOR bearing on whose machines we buy. However, I'm extremely reluctant } to turn a previously very pleasant relationship into a confrontational, } grudging one (although it seems to be headed that way, anyway). In } addition, I can understand why some of these things are happening. If I put } myself in the shoes of the OEM service managers, I'm not sure what I would } do differently. On the other hand, I also have a tiny, nagging feeling that } part of these problems are deliberately designed to pressure us back into } our old contracts. That possibility (and I don't know it to be true) annoys } me intensely, but I still haven't played the sales managers against service } managers card. My sense is that OEMs make big bucks on service contracts } and they take it VERY personally when we "fire them" as one service manager } phrased it. } } I would like to emphasize very strongly that when field service engineers } come out, they are uniformly excellent. They do everything they are allowed } to do to provide top-notch care for the instruments. The problems } originate higher up. } } In summary, we have found that service management companies do indeed save } money on comparable contracts, but we have had a miserable time getting } service at all when using them. This may not be typical---I don't know. } Our level of service has declined greatly in terms of promptness, attitude, } and parts supply. The attitude part was certainly not worth the extra } several thousand dollars the OEMs wanted, but the promptness and parts } issues probably were. Most disturbing was finding out that we could be } denied service because of a problem originating at another university in } another state that had absolutely nothing to do with us. } } We will continue for now with our new IC's to see if the problems correct } themselves, especially since the problems didn't arise with this company. } In addition, one of the OEM service managers called and suggested we might } try a custom contract in which we could work with them to design our own } service schedule. He said we could be informally trained during service } visits to perform many of the maintenance chores on the scope and could } retain a contract that would basically cover emergencies, at a substantial } cost savings. We are looking into this now, because it seems to have lots } of nice possibilities. (We already do filament/gun exchanges and cleanings, } obviously, but I've never personally done a mechanical column alignment or } routine maintenance requiring major disassembly.) } } My best advice: if you are currently with an OEM, stay there. If you are } losing your local in-house service wizard and need to decide on contracts, } go with the OEMs. Fight like hell to resist pressure to switch. } } If you are with an insurance company and are happy with them, stay there, } and I wish you continued good luck. Please tell me your secret. } } My suggestion to OEM service providers: offer some in-house maintenance } training courses, better maintenance manuals and schematics, and encourage } customers to do more maintenance tasks (with appropriate provisos for } covering dumb mistakes). Lower your contract prices so we're not so } pressured to drop them. The glory days are over, folks. Time to compete. } } As for me, I have no financial interest in any of these folks. I just want } our scopes to work. Feel free to contact me with any questions. } } } } 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/ } } } } } }
Hayat cites Brack, C.(1973), Experientia, 29:76 ("Use of uranyl formate [0.5%] staining for the electron microscopic visualization of DNA-protein complexes").
You might also check, Bremer, et al.(1994), J Mol Bio, 742:683-700, and Steinmetz et al., M(1998), JMB,276:1-6.
Hope this helps,
Fred Monson
Frederick C. Monson, PhD Frederick C. Monson, PhD West Chester University of Pennsylvania Center for Advanced Scientific Imaging (CASI) Schmucker II Science Center (Room: SS024(Basement)) South Church Street West Chester, PA, 19383 MailDrop: Department of Geology/Astronomy email: fmonson-at-wcupa.edu Phone: 610-738-0437
} ---------- } From: Chen Chen } Sent: Thursday, August 23, 2001 3:14 PM } To: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: uranyl formate } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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, everyone, } Does anyone have the recipe and protocol on how to make uranyl formate } solution for negative staining? } And do you have any idea about whhich is better, uranyl aceate or formate? } Thanks a lot. } } Chen Chen } } Dept of Biol. Chem. } the Johns Hopkins Univ. } School of Medicine } } }
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At 01:13 PM 8/23/2001 -0500, Macatangay, Peggy J., Celanese/US wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
I have a PGT EDS / imaging system on and ISI DS130. The PGT sales people are very nice, the applications folks helpful, and their service man is highly competent - but I truly regret buying their system. The short version of the story is that this particular system (from 1997) uses a PC front end to run the Sparc board that really runs the EDS and imaging software, and the PC and Sparc *hate* each other. This is a cumbersome, frustrating construct; maybe later versions are less unsatisfactory.
If anyone wants to know more please let me know off-list, as I am uncomfortable being so negative in a public forum. Unless that is bad netiquette - maybe it is unprincipled to take it to private e-mail, and ought to be said in plain view. Whatever...
Disclaimer: These comments are my personal observations and opinions and do not reflect or represent the views (if any) of my employer.
Regards, Andrew T. Werner Shaped Charge Research - Metallurgy Laboratory Schlumberger Reservoir Completions Technology Center 14910 Airline Road, Rosharon, TX 77583-1590 Voice (281) 285-5272 Fax (281) 285-5273
As was pointed out to me by another person, I neglected to discuss third-party service providers. This is mainly because I have no experience with them, but they are increasingly becoming an attractive alternative. The bulk of my posting, I think, argued for retention of OEM contracts whenever possible, for many of the reasons you discussed below. In our experience, the difference in service between insurance and OEMs is incredible.
That said, however, it is still a mystery to me why OEMs seem to consider billable work at $200 or more per hour, including travel time, plus per diem, mileage, hotels, meals, etc. to be some kind of sacrifice that deserves punishment. To me that seems like a pretty good bonus over what they are likely to make under a service contract. One recent visit to service our FESEM resulted in charges of well over $7000, mostly to work with software glitches! Two more visits like that and we will have paid for the OEM contract and the OEM will have increased their income over what a contract would have brought them. Maybe it's simply that money up front is preferable, as you say, since that eliminates the risk of not being paid at all.
If working on a billable basis really is a hardship for OEMs and we're told we can't afford their service contracts, then that's where the free market comes in and third-party engineers have found their niche. People like you fill that gap admirably. I expect life isn't always easy, though, especially when you must rely on OEMs for parts and specialized expertise. One third-party provider told me of losing thousands of dollars when an OEM changed the price of a part upon finding out that it was ordered by an independent service provider. I've also heard that sometimes OEMs try to avoid selling parts to independents. Have you had any experiences along these lines?
It seems that the entire service landscape is changing and everyone is scrambling for alternatives. Makes for interesting discussion.
Randy
-----Original Message----- } From: Ken Converse [mailto:qualityimages-at-netrax.net] Sent: Thursday, August 23, 2001 9:53 PM To: Tindall, Randy D.; MSA, listserver
As much in any area, it is important to just get your hands on a unit and try it out and see if it will do what you want in the way you want. Most systems will have the capabilities you want, but sometimes there are restrictions or encumbrances that can build up frustration over time.
I believe there is also an issue of corporate heritage and influence. As a rule, larger, more established companies _should_ have and devote the resources necessary for new developments. They should have good, polished products which continue to improve. There should also be good support behind those products over many years. Smaller, newer companies are generally innovative and should be expected to come up with new product ideas, but the execution of those ideas might be a little rough. They do not have the resources to polish everything nicely. There might also be issues of support over the long run. There is also a good chance that a smaller company might be swallowed up by a larger one.
This seems to be proving true in the EDS field, but there are exceptions to some of these principles with almost every company. Some you would expect to deliver more but they don't, and vice versa. We currently have an Oxford ISIS and an IXRF EDS system. We also had a Kevex Delta (became part of Noran) and a Tracor TN-2000 (became Noran) systems. We looked at EDAX and PGT and they had good systems, but we made other choices. That has been a few years ago. I would have to investigate the field thoroughly if I were making the decision again.
I don't think that we regret any of the decisions that we made under the circumstances of the time. We have been satisfied with the systems we chose. I suppose you could say that in various ways, the companies did not keep up or made some strategic choices of their own and we opted for different systems when it came time for replacement. (Some of that is now ancient history. For example, Tracor used a proprietary operating environment on its 5000 series of analyzers and that was a major negative for us. They have since gone more standard.) Sometimes it was an issue of price-performance ratio for the features we were getting.
So I come back to my earlier position. -Find out the capabilities of the current systems. (Qual, Quant, Imaging, Mapping, Linescans, etc.) -Determine which of those are really important to you and necessary. -Evaluate your options for those functions for accuracy AND usability and price. Be sure to get your own hands on the units during the demos. It make take a couple looks at the models to give a fair look. -Then make your choice.
Happy hunting. Warren
At 01:13 PM 8/23/2001 -0500, you wrote:
} I am investigating EDS systems to integrate with a JEOL-6100 SEM. I'm } leaning towards PGT's Spirit system. Other considerations are Oxford's INCA } and Thermo Noran's Vantage. Does anyone have particularly positive or } negative experience with PGT? I don't often hear much about that company. } Any comments about the other possibilities would be appreciated, as well. } } Thanks! } } -Peggy } } Peggy McKarns Macatangay, PhD } Project Analyst 2 } Celanese Corpus Christi Technical Center
---------------------- Warren E. Straszheim Materials Analysis and Research Lab Iowa State University 23 Town Engineering Ames IA, 50011-3232
Regarding this subject, the local Zeiss rep gave me a copy of an interesting and valuable article that hits right on the topic. The article is "Choosing Objective Lenses: The importance of numerical aperture and magnification in digital optical microscopy." Piston, D. (August, 1998). The Biological Bulletin, 195/1.
Anyone interested should look this up. It also talks about digital capture and the relationship to laser scanning confocal microscopes.
Sorry I am so long in posting this but a strange and wonderful thing intervened - summer vacation.
Below are three of the responses I received on the question of HMDS. We used the following protocol and the sample seems to show good morphology. The gross morphological features I think are probably affected by mechanical forces when you remove "flimsy" structures from any liquid. The ciliated structures appear well preserved.
Every step of the protocol is done in a fume hood especially for the HMDS, which is a strong irritant.
A. After the fixation (in 1G4F), the dehydration begins with two baths of one hour for each step. 1. PO4 wash 2. 50% ethanol 3. 70% ethanol 4. 80% ethanol 5. 95% ethanol 6. 100% ethanol
C. Pure HMDS 1. HMDS 1 - 1 hour 2. HMDS 2 - 1 hour
D. The samples are placed fresh HMDS in a dessicator with silica gel in the bottom overnight. They are ready to be dissected.
Celine Barre is the researcher looking at the specimens.
"O'Neil, David" wrote: } } We have been critical point drying scallop specimens successfully for SEM to } examine them as they grow. We are now at a point where the specimens no } longer fit in the CPD chamber. With only a couple of specimens to go we } thought to try HMDS. The samples are approximately 30mm in diameter. Does } someone have a protocol they have used for larger specimens that has worked } for them? You can send them directly to me and I can summarize for the } list. Thanks in advance.
Hi David, I have not worked on scallops but I do regularly work on fleshy invertebrates - polychetes, snails, insects etc. My method is to take the specimen through OH dehydration series 50, 70, 80, 90, 100, 100%. At each stage I leave the specimen in for a few hours. Because the specimen is large in diameter and quite thick (5mm). Then 50% HMDS + 50%OH for several hours, I do change the solution 2 to 3 times during this period. Then finally into fresh 100% HMDS for several hours. To dry I remove the specimen from the HMDS and place it in a petri dish that has filter paper on the bottom of it which is lightly soaked with HMDS. The lid sits over the top - this ensures that the drying is slow and controlled. If the drying is too rapid I find that some specimens distort. Oh all of this procedure must be done in a fume hood. Another little bit is that when soaking in 50% and 100% HMDS be careful when removing the lid. There is often a gas buildup in the bottle. I think the gas is NH4???? Not very pleasant. Also, you might find that the scallop is too thick for successful penetration from both HMDS and OH. If this happens then you might have to consider halving the specimen so to reduce the thickness thus allowing better penetration. I hope this helps???
Have fun
Sue
-- Sue Lindsay
SEM Laboratory Manager Scanning Electron Microscope Unit The Australian Museum ph 02 9320 6198 6 College st fax 02 9320 6059 Sydney, NSW, Australia Email suelind-at-austmus.gov.au
Hi David I don't know what CPD you have available, but I've dried crocodile pharyngeal specimens (ca. 5X8X1.5cm) quite successfully in a BioRad CPD Jumbo. I remove the basket holder from the CPD chamber and fill up with Eth-OH while tilting the apparatus, door uppermost and then transfer the specimens into the chamber and seal it. Specimens are "manipulated" onto the floor by tilting the whole bomb back and fore. Drying is done over an extended period of about 3.5 days. Naturally a large volume of CO2 is used flushing every ±2-3h through the day. I have a circulating waterbath and do the run at 10oC.
I'm interested to see how other folk overcome large specimen drying.
Regards John
Mr John F. Putterill Electron Microscopy Unit Tel: (Int) 27-12-529-9175 Pathology Section Fax: (Int) 27-12-529-9165 Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute E-mail: john-at-moon.ovi.ac.za Private Bag X05 http://www.ovi.ac.za Onderstepoort 0110 South Africa
I've been watching the listserver for several days for replies to your inquiry, and haven't seen any. I've been using HMDS since the 1980's, and have found that it works well within certain constraints. It is not something to use if you need to preserve the size of a sample, as it causes shrinkage of tissues, particularly of connective tissues, that is not seen to a great extent with critical point drying. HMDS is caustic, and flammable, and should be used only in a fume hood by someone with gloves on. It produces samples with good surface morphology, similar to CPD. With samples such as you are talking about, you will need extensive time to infiltrate your scallops in order to replace your dehydrating fluid (ethanol) with the HMDS. Otherwise, you will find that the ethanol will still be in the center of your sample and will not give you good drying results. If I were doing your project, I would try to slice the scallops in cross section into several pieces so the fluids you use can get in and out of the tissue more easily, or cut tissue out of the bottom of the scallops (since this side will be mounted on your sample holder and not used for imaging). Make sure to dispose of the waste HMDS in a sealed container so the highly irritating fumes don't get out in your lab.
For tissue like rabbit ovaries, I bisect the ovaries longitudinally after glutaraldehyde fixation. These ovaries are 1.5cm long, but only 0.5cm in diameter. It is not necessary to use osmium tetroxide for HMDS preps. I then rinse my tissue for 15 minutes in buffer, then 15 minutes in 0.9 % salline, the idea here being to slowly change the osmotic pressure seen by the tissue. I use phosphate buffer, and so must then go through 3 10 minute rinses in distilled water to insure complete removal of phosphate salts from the tissue. If this step is skipped , the salts will precipitate on the outside of the tissue when drying in HMDS, a phenomenon I didn't see when doing CPD.
Following the water rinse, I dehydrate the tissue in changes of ethanol, 15-30 minutes per change, in 35%, 70%, 95%, and two half hour changes in 100%. I infiltrate my samples with 100% HMDS, 2 times, for a minimum of 10 minutes each time. Following infiltration, I remove the HMDS from my sample vial and then shake my samples out on a paper towel or filter paper so they will dry, moving them several times so all sides dry quickly. The tissue will turn white colored as it dries, a process that can take up to a minute for larger samples. I work with all of my solutions at room temperature, and do all of my work in the hood. For dense samples such as the ovaries, or your scallops, once the sample appears visibly dry I transfer it to a 60 Degree vacuum oven for several hours or overnight to insure that the sample is completely dry before sputter caoting it for the SEM. If you don't have access to a vacuum oven, a vacuum is still better than letting the sample remain at atmospheric pressure to dry.
HMDS is said to harden the tissue while it is infiltrating it after ethanol dehydration. I don't know if the chemical interaction of HMDS and acetone or methanol will produce the same hardening effect. This is why I only dehydrate with ethanol.
I envy people like you that get to work with edibles. I met some people in Florida that study reproduction in Florida lobsters, and others that study the same thing in grouper. These poor folks have to "discard" the carcasses of their study subjects after removing their gonads. Tough life, but somebody has to do it! I only get to work with human and lab animal tissue. Oh well! Let me know if this helps you. Feel free to write with other questions if you need to.
Edward Haller Lab Manager Diagnostic Electron Microscopy University of South Florida Pathology Department (813)974-9584
hi matthew, There is a monoclonal antibody commercially available that recognizes callose (1-3)-B-glucans), if you want to do immunogold labeling. It's easy to use - it doesn't care if the tissue is embedded in Epon (Embed 812) or if it has been fix with osmium. The company is Biosupplies Australia. Visit their web site for more info www.biosupplies.com.au The product is Cat # 400-2. it's a good one so you should have good luck with your project, Beth
} Subject: Ask-A-Microscopist:stain for b eta glucans mainly callose
} Email: mcs4-at-dana.ucc.nau.edu } Name: Matthew Salanga } } Organization: Northern Arizona University } } Education: Graduate College } } Location: Flagstaff, Arizona } } Question: I have been doing TEM work on plant cells for my thesis. I } was wondering if anyone might have a suggestion on a stain which } would be specific for } beta glucans mainly callose. Literature suggests that normal UA and } lead citrate do not stain callose at all, however it appears as } though it may according to what I believe is Callose in my } micrographs. Anyways if anyone has suggestions or comments please } email me. } } Thanks!
****************************************************************************** Beth Richardson EM Lab Coordinator Botany Department University of Georgia Athens, GA 30602-7271
Phone - (706) 542-1790 & FAX - (706) 542-1805
"Between the two evils, I always pick the one I never tried before". Mae West (1893-1980) ******************************************************************************
"And it's only the giving that makes you what you are". Wond'ring Aloud, Jethro Tull. Aqualung
I think any EDS system search would be somewhat incomplete without taking a look at and evaluating some of the smaller companies that provide PC based systems coupled with new EDS detectors. In the final analysis, it seems to come down to a system that best fits your application and needs, ease of usability and performance. Last but certainly not least is future support.
Some of these companies that come to mind would be WinEDS by TNAS, 4pi Analysis, and Emispec Systems. There are, of course, others that provide these systems. Sometimes dealing with smaller companies can be an advantage.
Good Luck,
Bob Roberts EM Lab Services, Inc. 2409 S. Rural Rd Suite C Tempe, Arizona 85282 480.967.3946
Warren E Straszheim 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } As much in any area, it is important to just get your hands on a unit } and try it out and see if it will do what you want in the way you want. } Most systems will have the capabilities you want, but sometimes there } are restrictions or encumbrances that can build up frustration over time. } } I believe there is also an issue of corporate heritage and influence. As } a rule, larger, more established companies _should_ have and devote the } resources necessary for new developments. They should have good, } polished products which continue to improve. There should also be good } support behind those products over many years. Smaller, newer companies } are generally innovative and should be expected to come up with new } product ideas, but the execution of those ideas might be a little rough. } They do not have the resources to polish everything nicely. There might } also be issues of support over the long run. There is also a good chance } that a smaller company might be swallowed up by a larger one. } } This seems to be proving true in the EDS field, but there are exceptions } to some of these principles with almost every company. Some you would } expect to deliver more but they don't, and vice versa. We currently have } an Oxford ISIS and an IXRF EDS system. We also had a Kevex Delta (became } part of Noran) and a Tracor TN-2000 (became Noran) systems. We looked at } EDAX and PGT and they had good systems, but we made other choices. That } has been a few years ago. I would have to investigate the field } thoroughly if I were making the decision again. } } I don't think that we regret any of the decisions that we made under the } circumstances of the time. We have been satisfied with the systems we } chose. I suppose you could say that in various ways, the companies did } not keep up or made some strategic choices of their own and we opted for } different systems when it came time for replacement. (Some of that is } now ancient history. For example, Tracor used a proprietary operating } environment on its 5000 series of analyzers and that was a major } negative for us. They have since gone more standard.) Sometimes it was } an issue of price-performance ratio for the features we were getting. } } So I come back to my earlier position. } -Find out the capabilities of the current systems. (Qual, Quant, } Imaging, Mapping, Linescans, etc.) } -Determine which of those are really important to you and necessary. } -Evaluate your options for those functions for accuracy AND usability } and price. Be sure to get your own hands on the units during the demos. } It make take a couple looks at the models to give a fair look. } -Then make your choice. } } Happy hunting. } Warren } } At 01:13 PM 8/23/2001 -0500, you wrote: } } } I am investigating EDS systems to integrate with a JEOL-6100 SEM. I'm } } leaning towards PGT's Spirit system. Other considerations are } } Oxford's INCA } } and Thermo Noran's Vantage. Does anyone have particularly positive or } } negative experience with PGT? I don't often hear much about that } } company. } } Any comments about the other possibilities would be appreciated, as well. } } } } Thanks! } } } } -Peggy } } } } Peggy McKarns Macatangay, PhD } } Project Analyst 2 } } Celanese Corpus Christi Technical Center } } } ---------------------- } 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 } } }
Mike, The technique is "energy-dispersive spectroscopy" (in contrast to wavelength-dispersive spectroscopy). In formal writing, there is little reason to abbreviate these terms, but of course folks do. It is possible that EDX describes a proprietry instrument that some OEM named in this way.
Hope this helps, Tobias (no problem is too small to baffle me) Baskin
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Either one is correct. It's a matter of taste. EDXS would be more correct (Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy). Williams&Carter suggest yet another one - XEDS. I use EDX.
Max Sidorov AMD
-----Original Message----- } From: Ingram, Mike [mailto:MIngram-at-rodel.com] Sent: Friday, August 24, 2001 11:58 AM To: 'Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com'
Not a serious question here, more of a curiosity.
I use EDS when talking about x-ray analysis. I see many using EDX. Which is correct?
I have always used EDS because of the counterpoint to WDS. But I always define its first use as Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy. Now, I am going to start using Nestor's convention and start referring to both of them as X-ray Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (XEDS) and X-ray Wavelength Dispersive Spectroscopy (XWDS). Hey I have an idea --let's start a convention!
BTW, it should never be EDAX. That's the same as calling all photocopies, Xeroxes.
-Scott
Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. PPG Industries, Inc. Glass Technology Center P. O. Box 11472 (letters) Guys Run Rd. (packages) Pittsburgh, PA 15238-0472
Walck-at-PPG.com
(412) 820-8651 (office) (412) 820-8515 (fax)
-----Original Message----- } From: Ingram, Mike [mailto:MIngram-at-rodel.com] Sent: Friday, August 24, 2001 2:58 PM To: 'Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com'
Not a serious question here, more of a curiosity.
I use EDS when talking about x-ray analysis. I see many using EDX. Which is correct?
I have used what I believe is the generic version of XEDS, x-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy.
At 2:58 PM -0400 8/24/2001, Ingram, Mike wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
-- David R. Hull NASA Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field Advanced Metallics Branch Mail Stop 49-1 21000 Brookpark Road Cleveland, OH 44135
When I was shopping for one, I was corrected by someone along the way that the "S" in EDS stands for spectrometry, not spectroscopy. Several books here in the lab library also use that term.
Before I confuse part of the next generation of microscopists this upcoming semester, is one term better than the other - or is it a potato, potatoh, tomato, tomahtah (let's call the whole thing off) kind of thing?
Heather Owen
Heather A. Owen, Director Electron Microscope Laboratory Department of Biological Sciences University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee (414)229-6816
The best material we've found to use is a polyester mounting media such as our Polymet material. In fact, I just did exactly that for some office "fun" around here. We found a nice little black widow that ended up making an even nicer paperweight. I will send you information off-line on that product.
Best regards-
David
john_bruss-at-bose.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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Below is the result of your feedback form (NJZFM-ultra-55). It was } submitted by (john_bruss-at-bose.com) from } http://www.msa.microscopy.com/Ask-A-Microscopist.html on Wednesday, } August 22, 2001 at 17:00:52 } --------------------------------------------------------------------------- } } Email: john_bruss-at-bose.com } Name: John Bruss } } Organization: Bose Corp. } } Education: Graduate College } } Location: San Diego, CA, USA } } Question: What materials and process would an amateur use to suspend } a spider in a clear cube for unmagnified artistic and historic use? } Where are those materials available in small quantities? } } ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- David Henriks TEL: +1-949-492-2600 South Bay Technology, Inc. FAX: +1-949-492-1499 1120 Via Callejon San Clemente, CA 92673 USA e-mail: henriks-at-southbaytech.com
This name problem has been around for 30 years! Back in 1971 John Russ edited a little book called Energy Dispersive Analysis of X-rays published by the ASTM. Then Nuclear Diodes, Inc, renamed themselves EDAX and the competition could not use that trademarked name. John worked for EDAX and promoted the technique as "EDAX". Kevex had a book published in 1973 called "Everything you wanted to know about XES (X-Ray Energy Spectrometry)" but that name did not stick. EDS and EDX have stuck and are the most popular. I once wrote a paper on filter use for "EDXRF" (Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence) and it did not get listed in abstract indexes of X-Ray papers because they did not recognize the name! I think EDS is a bad name, but I use it because others understand what I mean.
Mike, My guess is that either will do the trick, but I would take EDX as a shortened version of Energy Dispersive Analysis of X-rays, which, of course, is EDAX. I've also seen EDXA which would keep you out of trouble with EDAX. One really is doing a specific type of analysis, spectroscopy, which would cause me to lean towards Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy.
Ken Converse owner Quality Images third party SEM service Delta, PA
Ingram, Mike wrote:
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While this is off topic I am getting enough email from on the subject I think has enough interest to the group that I should post the particulars on sources for the CD-ROM. My only interest in the project is I suggested the idea to Shawn Carson and I am very glad that they carried it out. It has all the Amateur Scientist articles from the 20's until very recently.
I got mine from CD-ROM http://www.surplusshed.com/ the Surplus shack for $39 dollars. Fry's Electronics is a west coast electronics chain http://www.frys.com/ they don't sell from their web but the Sunny Vale store does sell mail order their phone number is (408) 617-1300. Fry's has them for $25 dollars and I have been told that they have a mail in $25 dollar rebate that comes with it.
There are still a few places left for he New York Microscopical Society Workshop listed below: N.Y.M.S. Bernard Freidman Memorial Workshop Use of the Microscope, September 15,22,29,Oct. 6,2001,10AM to 4PM
A basic course on light microscopy which will cover the following topics: T heory of microscopy, Kohler Illumination, Diffraction Theory, Contrast Methods , Polarized light, Phase Contrast, Interference, Hoffman contrast, Rheinberg, Dark-field & oblique Illumination, etc. The workshop will consist of four consecutive Saturdays of lectures and hands on labs to cover the theoretical and practical aspects of microscopy. The course instructors include Jan Hinsch of Leica, Inc., Dennis O’Leary of Micro-Optical Methods, Mary McCann of McCann Imaging, John Reffner of SensIR Technologies, Inc. and N.Y.M.S. Instructor Don O'Leary.
WHERE: 30 3. Mountain Avenue, Montclair, NJ, Phone (973) 744-0043 ( parking, accessible by public transportation, Information on car pools and transportation will be provided.) COST: $275 for N.Y.M.S. members, $295 for non-members (includes membership) Lunch and course materials are included. Checks made out to N.Y.M.S.HOW: Register using the form below. Limited to the first 12 registrants.Send form to Don O'Leary, 6 Chittenden Road, Fair Lawn, NJ 07410. FURTHER INFORMATION: Call D. O'Leary (201) 797 -8849 E-mail donoleary-at-worldnet.att.net Fax (425) 988-1415
PLEASE POST ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------ Registration Form, Use of the Microscope
When I was shopping for one, I was corrected by someone along the way that the "S" in EDS stands for spectrometry, not spectroscopy. Several books here in the lab library also use that term.
Before I confuse part of the next generation of microscopists this upcoming semester, is one term better than the other - or is it a potato, potatoh, tomato, tomahtah (let's call the whole thing off) kind of thing?
Dear Heather, The "scopy" part has to do with observation, whereas the "metry" part has to do with measurement (i.e., quantitation), so energy-dispersive spectroscopy is separating the photons by energy in order to look at the spectrum, and E-D spectrometry is separating the photons in order to perform measurements. I can understand a vendor insisting that the instrument is capable of quantitation and is, thus, a spectrometer. Yours,
Bill Tivol Wadsworth Center Albany NY (518) 473-7399 WFT02-at-health.state.ny.us
We no longer need our Quantimet 970 Image Analysis System interfaced with an intensified Vidicon – type camera. The camera was bottom-mounted on a TEM. We are the original owners, have kept it well serviced (contract), and have used this system up until the last year. Interested parties please contact tcgruber1-at-excite.com offline.
Regards,
Tyler Gruber
_______________________________________________________ Send a cool gift with your E-Card http://www.bluemountain.com/giftcenter/
Does anyone know if gridded coverslips are available made out of Thermonox?
Thanks,
David Spector -- Dr. David L. Spector Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory One Bungtown Road Cold Spring Harbor, New York 11724 Tel. (516) 367-8456 Fax (516) 367-8876 email: spector-at-cshl.org
A couple of years ago, our company was contacted by lawyers from "Electronic Data Systems" (EDS) who told us that we were violating their trademark by offering a product called "The Personal EDS". I personally thought this was nonsense, but it was going to cost us a lot of money to pursue this, even if we were able to prevail.
So I now use EDX because: (1) it is recognized; and (2) I don't much like talking to lawyers.
If it were up to me, I would much prefer "XES" (which as Ron Vane pointed out, was the name Kevex used to use). "X-ray Energy Spectroscopy" may not be completely self-explanatory, but at least it is not misleading. The use of the word "dispersive" in this context is just plain wrong! (you are not "dispersing" energy) EDS does have a "symmetry" with WDS, but it is an inappropriate one IMHO.
Fred Schamber ASPEX, LLC
"Ingram, Mike" 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Not a serious question here, more of a curiosity. } } I use EDS when talking about x-ray analysis. I see many using EDX. Which } is correct? } } Mike Ingram
An excellent Philips CM-10 transmission electron microscope is being offered for sale by Michigan State University. It is 1987 vintage and has been on service contract since new. Asking price: $10,000. Please contact Dr. Xudong Fan for more detail, fanx-at-msu.edu, 517-353-4525.
Yours Sincerely, Xudong Fan, Ph.D. Center for Advanced Microscopy Michigan State University East Lansing, MI, 48824
Looking for a replacement RGB monitor for my LINK eXL system. Oxford has been contacted and due to the "very high" price to get a replacement "for this rare jewel" I am exploring other options. I know the power supply is damaged because of all the burnt components but am not sure what else may be damaged. Fix may take a while, so I'm hopeful someone may have a retired system with a monitor I could deal for. Interest from third party EDS repair companies who would like to tackle this beast would also be useful.
Thanks
Roy Beavers Southern Methodist University Dept. of Geological Sciences Electron Microprobe Lab P.O. Box 750395 Dallas, Tx 75275 voice: 214-768-2756 fax: 214-768-2701 E-mail: rbeavers-at-mail.smu.edu
Chen Chen: Uranyl formate, in my experience using it as a negative stain to reveal the finest detail of virus structures at very high mags, gave superior results to uranyl acetate. In short, there appeared to be a finer grain detail and a better resolution of the virus's structure. A word of caution: uranyl formate should be used within about 15 minutes after making it as it tends to readily form a precipitate. For general work where I'm not trying to obtain the ultimate detail, I stick to uranyl acetate simply to avoid the precipitate problem. My protocol is to make up a 1% sol. in dd water and immediately give a brief spin in a centrifuge. Some have simply filtered it with a Whatman filter. Draw off just the top portion for staining. I find a final solution of 0.5% works ok. I place a drop of my virus solution on parafilm, and after a few minuets wait, touch my grid to the surface to pick up the phage. I find that the phage tends to collect on the surface of the drop. After removing most of the phage containing drop I apply a drop of stain or, if you wish to "cleanse" your sample prior to staining, you may apply a drop of a 1 mM solution of ammonium acetate in dd water for a very brief period. Depending on the sample, I've sometimes follow up with another brief application of a drop of dd water. The uranyl formate negative stain is applied and all but a trace immediately removed. Keep in mind that beam exposure does effect the stain and delicate virus structure. I try to use low dose exposure. Choose something off to the side of your sample to focus on, and if necessary, do a through-focus series to avoid creating the appearance of a substructure artifact. If your uranyl formate or uranyl acetate is in a bottle that has sat on the self for donkey's years, look to see that it is of uniform color and not peppered by greenish flecks. If it is not of a uniform color, you may find it has difficulty going into solution, indicating it time to order a new bottle. Hope this helps, Henry
Henry Eichelberger, Manager Electron Microscopy Facility Department of Biological Sciences State University of New York at Binghamton Binghamton, NY 13902-6000
A colleague is looking for an electron micrograph (SEM and/or TEM) of a cockroach cercus (or cerci) to show students in our undergraduate physiology laboratory, who are carrying out electrophysiological measurements with this structure. If you have a picture we could use, we would be very grateful, and would, naturally, give you full credit.
Marie
Dr. Marie E. Cantino Dept. of Physiology and Neurobiology, U-2131 University of Connecticut Storrs, CT 06269-2131 Phone: 860-486-3588 Fax: 860-486-6369
I'll add my thanks for your viewpoint. The problem we in Universities are having is this: you wrote } "University service } labs are not supposed to be profit centers. They are } SERVICE labs and } are heavily subsidized...."
Sadly, survey says that very few of us have administrators who share your viewpoint. You make excellent points about all of the options, and we can only hope this entire discussion helps when renewal time comes around. Perhaps the OEM Service departments need to "suit up", bring a fancy presentation, and state their case against the ICs.
Matt
Matthew J. Lynn Center for Advanced Microscopy University of Miami (305)284-4736 mlynn-at-miami.edu
On Thursday, August 23, 2001 10:53 PM, Ken Converse [SMTP:qualityimages-at-netrax.net] 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.ht } ml } ---------------------------------------------------------- } -------------. } } } Randy, } Thank you. This is quite interesting. } } I'd like to respond from the viewpoint of one who worked } for an OEM for } 4 years and has subsequently had his own third party } service company for } 20 years. } } First, the OEM is obligated to service contract customers } first. You } have become a "billable" call and DO go to the bottom of } the list. That } would not be all that different with a third party firm } (although they } might try a little harder to be timely). The contract } people have paid } up front (or have at least committed up front to pay) for } an entire } year. This is guaranteed income and includes a guaranteed } liability } (for the OEM) "to maintain the instrument/system to its } original } specifications". Service organizations have to take this } seriously. } This liability doesn't exist for billable customers. } Work will be done } to the best of the OEM's ability and not beyond the limit } of the } purchase order. } } Second, the IC has no technical expertise, no intimate } connection with } its customers and no obligation to use the manufacturer. } I have been } called by at least one IC several times, but have never } done any work } for them because they haven't a clue what I'm talking } about when I tell } them I service SEMs but not TEMs and I like to stay within } 500 miles of } home. (Their geography hasn't impressed me, either). } They are trying } to emulate what happens when your car gets in a fender } bender. There } are lots of people who can fix it, and many of them can do } a pretty } satisfactory job. But ask yourself, "When my car has a } rumble, or the } engine misfires and I need expert help or maintenance, who } do I call? } My insurance company?" Probably not, not only because } your insurance } doesn't cover that kind of thing, but because they } couldn't help you } anyways. They know about insurance, not the inner } workings of your car. } } Third, any outside party that starts making commitments } FOR the OEM (you } won't have to pay for recertification..............) I } would turn away } from and run, not walk, run. If they tell you that THEY } will pay for } recertification if you're unhappy and they will put it in } writing, } that's another story. } } As to the manufacturers making lots of money on their } contracts, some } may, some may not. A lot depends on how well they are set } up and run. } It also depends on the instrument density. If one } engineer can service } 20 or 30 systems within driving distance, the engineer is } competent and } the service department backs him up well, yes, it can be } quite } profitable. If you have to fly to every site, you're } short on } experienced engineers and you don't support them well, you } can lose your } shirt ( and have a whole lot of PO'd customers to boot). } } Every time I've gotten one of those glib calls from an IC } in Texas, in } the back of my mind a little voice is always saying "And } just what makes } you think you're going to get paid?" I do thank you for } confirming that } this concern is warranted. } } The question now comes down to "What do you want?". The } OEM has reason } to feel miffed. You want their expertise, their parts, } their top level } response, their best guess on advance parts replacement } for reliability } and you're going to pay someone ELSE the bonus if they do } all this. The } IC is betting that the instrument will run reliably as it } always has, } meaning very little cash out. The OEM no longer has the } incentive to go } out of its way to insure reliability. They'll actually } make more if } the system breaks more frequently. And as I pointed out, } if they do } their best work, you pay someone else the bonus while they } still have } the considerable expense of running a service department. } I'm not } implying in any way that they will go out of their way to } make it fail. } One of the advantages of sticking with the organization } that actually } does the servicing is that you establish a raport with the } personnel in } the field and in house. I'm only saying that they aren't } going to go } out of their way to KEEP it from failing, because it's not } in their } interest to do that. It IS in their interest when they } have guaranteed } the performance for a full year. } } Yes, generally speaking my service contracts are } profitable, but there } is another major reason that I prefer to have systems on } contract. It } becomes up to me how much time I spend on an instrument } and how fast or } slow I work on it. Sometimes I'm very sure what the } problem is and fix } it immediately, but often there are intermittent problems } and I can tell } you that a billable customer watches the clock like a hawk } when he sees } me sitting in front of a running system waiting for an } intermittent } problem to show up. Sometimes there are subtle problems } that the } customer isn't even aware of, yet. If the system is on } contract I can } work without watching the clock and get everything right. } In the long } run it saves me repeat trips. Also, if I should decide to } let something } slide due to whatever circumstances, I know that I'm } guaranteeing the } work and a later failure will be fixed at MY expense, not } the customer's. } } There was a time when people seemed more likely to reward } good service } by paying a premium for it and showing a little loyalty to } those who } provided it. The loyalty seems to be going by the board, } and more and } more people want more for less, they aren't willing to pay } for quality } because in their everyday life they buy cheap and when it } breaks they } throw it out and buy cheap again. I don't believe that } the scientific } instrument market will get there any time soon. This is } specialty } equipment, capital investment, there for the long haul.. } If it's well } taken care of , it will last for decades. That's where } you can get the } savings. } } If you were happy with the quality of the OEM's service } and they are } willing to work with you, by all means see what you can } work out! If } you weren't so happy with an OEM, see if there is a third } party service } company that you can establish a good relationship with. } The ICs can't } charge less, take out a middleman's cut, and give the } organizations who } actually do the work and support the equipment, enough } money to maintain } the quality you demand. If it looks too good to be } true................................................... } } I sympathize with the cost-cutting that is being forced on } you from the } bean-counters, but beware of false economies. Maybe one } or more } instruments could be taken off contract, but what kind of } grants are you } (the school and faculty) going to lose if it's down too } much of the } time? What are the priorities of the organization? } University service } labs are not supposed to be profit centers. They are } SERVICE labs and } are heavily subsidized because the typical student (grad } or undergrad) } can't afford to pay commercial rates for instrument time } (especially } with what they're paying for tuition). If these } instruments are } important to various departments then the decision is too } important to } be made by some MBA who doesn't know the difference } between hydrogen } embrittlement and cilia. } } It would be interesting if we could get a response from } the insurance } industry side of things. } } My $.02 worth. } } Sincerely, } } Ken Converse } owner } Quality Images } third party SEM service } Delta, PA } } } } Tindall, Randy D. 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.ht } } ml } } } } --------------------------------------------------------- } } --------------. } } } } } } As promised, here is a rundown on our OEM vs. insurance } } experiences. I } } decided to put this on the list based on the very large } } number of replies I } } received, some asking specifically that this be posted. } } As a result, I've } } removed all names, since I don't have a clue as to legal } } ramifications of } } being more specific. Sorry to be so wimpy, but in these } } cases I believe in } } CYA. } } } } The following obviously reflects our experiences alone, } } but based upon what } } I have heard from a few others, I don't believe that our } } situation is } } unique, by any means. } } } } Our lab, like many others, has been under increasing } } pressure to cut costs } } for the last two to three years, and since service } } contracts represent a } } significant proportion of our budget, they logically } } became a cost-cutting } } target immediately. It was beginning to appear that we } } were going to lose } } the contract on one of our TEM's to save money, } } especially since it wasn't } } heavily used. About this time one insurance company } } (IC, for short) began a } } series of high-powered presentations to the University } } purchasing people and } } administrators, promising significant cost reduction, } } with no reduction in } } services, choice of service providers, elimination of } } paperwork, etc. } } Facilities like ours were contacted by University } } purchasing staff in order } } to set up individual meetings to assess our needs and } } get estimates on the } } IC's costs versus OEM charges. } } } } After attending two open seminars and having two } } meetings with the insurance } } people and purchasing staff in our facility, the } } decision was made, with my } } agreement, to give the IC a shot at managing our } } service. The thinking was } } that we would try it for a year. The IC said we could } } back out at any time } } with no penalty, they would pro-rate our contracts to } } adjust for the } } differing ending dates for our OEM contracts, and, they } } said, there should } } be no "re-certification fee" if we decided to go back to } } OEM contracts, } } since we intended to use only the OEMs' engineers } } anyway. They would take } } care of the paperwork notifying the OEMs about the new } } arrangement, and all } } billing would be handled between the IC and the service } } providers. They } } would guarantee no increase in contract costs for, I } } believe, three years. } } } } The very first service call we made to the manufacturer } } on one of our TEMs } } resulted in our being told that they couldn't send an } } engineer, because we } } weren't on service contract any longer. When I } } explained that they were } } supposed to have been notified that we were with the IC, } } I was told that we } } would have to provide a University P.O. before anyone } } would be sent. } } Apparently, there was a substantial outstanding bill } } from this IC for } } service provided to a university in another state, and } } until it was paid no } } service would be provided on our contract. The IC's on- } } campus rep, our } } purchasing director, and the director of the university } } core facilities were } } notified by me immediately. Apparently some high level } } phone calling went } } on, because before the day was out, the service provider } } had called back } } saying the outstanding bill would be paid and an } } engineer was on the way. } } (Additionally, our purchasing director assured us that } } we could get a P.O. } } if necessary. We have terrific support here from } } purchasing and they have } } been invaluable on several occasions.) } } } } The engineer was sent out, the scope was back on line. } } BUT, it turns out } } that the promised payment was never made and we were } } back to square one the } } next time we needed service on that machine. In fact, } } it was worse, because } } the OEM was never paid for the service on our scope } } either. } } } } Our other scopes are from a different manufacturer and } } initially service was } } pretty much the same as before (although they made it } } clear they weren't } } happy about the switch). Response time was a bit } } slower, and there was more } } stinginess with replacement parts, but we had no real } } complaints. } } } } Then, the IC declared bankruptcy. Their campus reps } } disappeared, their web } } site went down, and they effectively vanished. We had } } already used part of } } the year's contract, but were only able to recover about } } $700 on the unused } } portion. Some labs lost thousands, I've been told. The } } service provider } } was never paid, and lost a substantial amount of money. } } (I'm told that this } } IC has reorganized under a different name and is } } soliciting new business, } } especially from universities. Ask lots of questions if } } a new company comes } } around. Be especially careful of large numbers of } } enthusiastic people in } } nice suits giving slick multi-media presentations!) } } } } We began discussing returning to our old OEM contracts } } and I was asked to } } get prices. The first thing I was told by one service } } provider was that we } } would have to have our instrument re-certified, which } } would cost about } } $1500, even though nobody had touched that scope but the } } OEM engineers. } } Needless to say, that rankled a bit, so we checked into } } another insurance } } company that had been recommended by several other labs. } } We were } } immediately impressed by the fact that they presented } } what seemed to be a } } more realistic picture of what they could do for us. } } They also offered } } significant savings (10-15%) over the old contracts, so } } we once again } } decided to give it a try. } } } } This time, the first call we made had the same result as } } before, i.e., the } } provider wanted a P.O. before an engineer would come } } out. When I asked why, } } they said that even though they had no problems with the } } new IC, they } } weren't going to take a chance on losing a ton of money } } again. If the } } university would sign a waiver accepting responsibility } } for paying any } } amounts in default, we could get service again. Fine, } } I said. Several } } days later the form was faxed to us and I forwarded it } } to our purchasing } } director, who responded that he had passed it along for } } review to the people } } who needed to sign off on it. That was last month } } sometime, and I have } } heard nothing yet. So far we have been waiting to get a } } preventive } } maintenance visit on this scope for about two months and } } nothing's in sight, } } yet. } } } } On our other scopes, we have again been able to get } } service, but now it } } seems that we are way, way down on the priority list. } } OEMs will tell you } } that they are obligated to service their contract } } customers first, and in } } our experience they certainly do. The service } } management (insurance) } } companies will tell you that this is not the case, that } } it's first-come, } } first-served. That has not been our experience. On one } } TEM we have been } } waiting weeks for a PM. It was scheduled twice and an } } engineer was here, } } but was pulled away on "emergency" calls, which I read } } as calls from } } contract holders. The PM has not yet been done. (Just } } minutes ago we } } received a call from our service engineer saying he's } } been pre-empted again } } and now he has NO idea when he can get here.) Our SEM } } has been serviced } } under the new arrangement in a relatively timely manner. } } } } } } Under the OEM contracts, service was provided } } "yesterday" and parts were } } replaced if they were even suspected to be bad. The } } working relationship } } was wonderful, and the service was stellar. We were } } called and reminded of } } PMs before they were due and we received periodic phone } } calls just to check } } on the status of our equipment. Under the new } } contracts, service is } } provided (if we can get it) whenever they get around to } } it, and engineers } } can be interrupted by calls to respond to contract } } holders. Parts are } } changed less frequently and are all billed. We schedule } } the PMs (no big } } deal). The relationship is much more tense than it used } } to be. } } } } We could probably increase the level of service by } } reminding the service } } people that when it's time to replace our scopes, } } service history will have } } a MAJOR bearing on whose machines we buy. However, I'm } } extremely reluctant } } to turn a previously very pleasant relationship into a } } confrontational, } } grudging one (although it seems to be headed that way, } } anyway). In } } addition, I can understand why some of these things are } } happening. If I put } } myself in the shoes of the OEM service managers, I'm not } } sure what I would } } do differently. On the other hand, I also have a tiny, } } nagging feeling that } } part of these problems are deliberately designed to } } pressure us back into } } our old contracts. That possibility (and I don't know } } it to be true) annoys } } me intensely, but I still haven't played the sales } } managers against service } } managers card. My sense is that OEMs make big bucks on } } service contracts } } and they take it VERY personally when we "fire them" as } } one service manager } } phrased it. } } } } I would like to emphasize very strongly that when field } } service engineers } } come out, they are uniformly excellent. They do } } everything they are allowed } } to do to provide top-notch care for the instruments. } } The problems } } originate higher up. } } } } In summary, we have found that service management } } companies do indeed save } } money on comparable contracts, but we have had a } } miserable time getting } } service at all when using them. This may not be } } typical---I don't know. } } Our level of service has declined greatly in terms of } } promptness, attitude, } } and parts supply. The attitude part was certainly not } } worth the extra } } several thousand dollars the OEMs wanted, but the } } promptness and parts } } issues probably were. Most disturbing was finding out } } that we could be } } denied service because of a problem originating at } } another university in } } another state that had absolutely nothing to do with us. } } } } } } We will continue for now with our new IC's to see if the } } problems correct } } themselves, especially since the problems didn't arise } } with this company. } } In addition, one of the OEM service managers called and } } suggested we might } } try a custom contract in which we could work with them } } to design our own } } service schedule. He said we could be informally } } trained during service } } visits to perform many of the maintenance chores on the } } scope and could } } retain a contract that would basically cover } } emergencies, at a substantial } } cost savings. We are looking into this now, because it } } seems to have lots } } of nice possibilities. (We already do filament/gun } } exchanges and cleanings, } } obviously, but I've never personally done a mechanical } } column alignment or } } routine maintenance requiring major disassembly.) } } } } My best advice: if you are currently with an OEM, stay } } there. If you are } } losing your local in-house service wizard and need to } } decide on contracts, } } go with the OEMs. Fight like hell to resist pressure to } } switch. } } } } If you are with an insurance company and are happy with } } them, stay there, } } and I wish you continued good luck. Please tell me your } } secret. } } } } My suggestion to OEM service providers: offer some in- } } house maintenance } } training courses, better maintenance manuals and } } schematics, and encourage } } customers to do more maintenance tasks (with appropriate } } provisos for } } covering dumb mistakes). Lower your contract prices so } } we're not so } } pressured to drop them. The glory days are over, folks. } } Time to compete. } } } } As for me, I have no financial interest in any of these } } folks. I just want } } our scopes to work. Feel free to contact me with any } } questions. } } } } } } } } 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/ } } } } } } } } } } } }
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Dear Listers, I need your suggestions about the possiblity to buy a system based on the inverted microscope, but suitable for deconvolution and time-lapse analysis of fast events in living cells.
We would like to buy such system. Whinch one is the best (I mean quality devided on price)?
Sincerely yours, Alexander Mironov Consorzio Mario Negri Sud, Italy
At 05:26 PM 8/28/01 -0500, 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
We (Nanoprobes) sell methylamine vanadate as a 2 % aqueous solution (suitable for use directly) - the product is called "NanoVan." 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
Sign up for our newsletter: http://www.nanoprobes.com/Newsletter.html *****************************************************************************************
Try: Joseph S. Wall, Ph.D.
516-344-2912; Fax: 516-344-3407
E-mail: wall-at-stem.bio.bnl.gov Fred Monson
Frederick C. Monson, PhD Center for Advanced Scientific Imaging(CASI) West Chester University of Pennsylvania Schmucker Science Center II South Church Street West Chester, PA, 19383 eMail: fmonson-at-wcupa.edu http://darwin.wcupa.edu/casi/
} ---------- } From: Jeannette Taylor } Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2001 6:26 PM } To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: query methyl amine vanadate } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 would appreciate information on methyl amine vanadate and where to buy } it. It is used as a negative stain. } } Thank you, } Jeannette Taylor } }
Frederick C. Monson, PhD Center for Advanced Scientific Imaging(CASI) West Chester University of Pennsylvania Schmucker Science Center II South Church Street West Chester, PA, 19383 eMail: fmonson-at-wcupa.edu http://darwin.wcupa.edu/casi/
} ---------- } From: Jeannette Taylor } Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2001 6:26 PM } To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: query methyl amine vanadate } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 would appreciate information on methyl amine vanadate and where to buy } it. It is used as a negative stain. } } Thank you, } Jeannette Taylor } }
A post-doctoral position is immediately available to work on the development of new computational methods in image processing. The candidate will join a multidisciplinary team working in the field of structural biology. Our goal is to determine the three-dimensional structures of macromolecular complexes using high-resolution electron cryo-microscopy. Electron microscopy is a rapidly developing technique to explore a large number of cellular structures with medical and biological importance. Our laboratory has a well-established electron microscope facility, and equipment for protein purification, sample preparation, and image processing. Image data are currently being generated by several projects in our laboratory. Processing is performed on our UNIX alpha and SGI workstations using software partly developed in our laboratory. The role of the post-doctoral researcher will be to improve existing, and develop new image processing algorithms to push protein structure determination by electron microscopy towards atomic resolution. One important objective will be to develop a detailed understanding of electron scattering from biological samples, and to develop algorithms to extract information from electron scattering patterns and images.
The ideal candidate would have a background in applied physics or material sciences. Candidates from other fields with experience in microscopy, as well as light, electron or X-ray scattering techniques are also encouraged to apply.
Formal applications, which should include a CV, statement of research interests, and the names, addresses and e-mails of 3 references, should be sent to
Dr. Nikolaus Grigorieff Brandeis University - MS029 415 South Street Waltham, MA02454-9110 USA
I hope you will indulge me with a moment of your time.
I'm involved with a group here in Wichita that's working on some water treatment technologies that reduce chemical usage as compared to current
treatment methodologies. We also are working on a system using a version of these same new technologies to reduce algae growth in pond water. I've been conscripted to help them assemble the "water lab" for experimentation and testing and generally manage the development project.
Well, I've done plenty of development projects, but my knowledge of microscopy is pretty much limited to the Skillcraft 'scope I had as a child and the low magnification bench scopes I've set up for microelectronics manufacturing. I am absolutely delighted to have found
your microscopy.com group and have been "cramming" for the past week or so. I think I'm now ready to ask you a couple of questions. (and maybe make sense...)
The two main (and quite different) thrusts of microscopic analysis that we're attacking first are determining the polymorphic state that calcium
carbonate is present in, in potable water (aragonite or calcite) and the
viability of algae that has been exposed to "treated" water in a pond setting. What I'm most curious about is your (expert) opinion as to the best strategies to image these two areas of interest, and to do so out to a high- quality digital imaging system. (Nikon, SPOT RT, etc.)
After nucleation, the calcium carbonate in question will either be in colloidal suspension in liquid water or will be dried onto a slide. I'm betting that a water immersion objective would be your recommendation for the liquid viewing, but I'd rather hear it from you. Sure, if we had an electron microscope, we could image individual seed crystals, BUT a) we don't have that kind of budget and b) we're pretty sure we can induce nucleation and crystal growth on demand, so we'll just grow 'em until we can see 'em. I guess what I'm more curious about is whether you feel that good old fashioned transmissive light microscopy is the right path or whether we'd see significant advantage in exploring polarizing light, phase contrast, DIC
or some other kinky form of imaging to best see the orthorhombic nature of the calcite or the hexagonal prismatic aragonite. For what it's worth, I've read somewhere of using a special setup to actually derive the refractive index of the sample in question. Aragonite does have a different value in this respect than does calcite - in fact aragonite's value is higher than the two values for calcite (birefringent?). Eeek! I now know just enough to hurt myself and not much more...
As for the algae, we're trying to show that we have a process for killing it, so primarily we're looking at ways to image healthy (pre-treatment) specimens and then treat the water and show (over time) that we really do kill the stuff. Again, same question - is there some creative way to do this with good 'ol planapochromatics or do I need a pricey Fluorescence setup to make the chlorophyll twinkle? OR "What exactly does freshly dead or dying algae look like and how do you best look at it?".
We'll be doing some particle sizing and Zeta potential analysis as well,
so we're not trying to be cheap on the microscopy side - BUT, I don't want to buy more or less than we need and the 'scope salesmen all think we need everything they sell...
Any light you have time to shed on these issues will be greatly appreciated - if there's a chance of speaking with you on these issues or on the possibility that either you or someone you respect being available for some consulting work in these areas, please let me know and I'll gladly set up a conference call. Much gratitude for whatever you can do!
Best regards,
Jeff -- Jeff Hedlesky Aladdin Companies Wichita, KS
Hi All, I'm hoping that someone out there thinks that in situ localization using non-radioactive DIG-labelled RNA probes on sections of tissue on glass slides is almost as easy as flipping a light switch. I would greatly appreciate some advice as I've been banging my head against the wall for months trying to get this to work. The background is that I'm doing the in situ work with plant tissue, namely roots that have been lightly fixed in a paraformaldehyde/glut. mixture (as per in situ chapter in Steven Ruzin's bible of plant microtechnique) and embedded in butyl-methyl-methacrylate as per Tobias Baskin's methods (thanks again Tobias). After some struggle with the molecular biology side of the experiment, I found that the gene I was given to work from had been subcloned along with a bit of "junk" DNA from the old plasmid it had been in. I used PCR to amplify ~100 bp pieces of that gene to get around the "junk" and to avoid having to hydrolyse my probes, since I often lose a large amount of probe when I hydrolyse. The questions I have relate more to the detection side of the matter. I've been using about 4ng of RNA probe per slide (as recommended in the Ruzin bible), then using an anti-DIG (Fab fragments) antibody conjugated to alkaline phosphatase supplied by Roche. Then I "develop" the labelling using the standard NBT-BCIP detection used often-times for Western blots. The controls work pretty well at this point. My main question is, has anyone used fluorescently conjugated anti-DIG antibodies for this type of work (or a secondary fluorescent conjugate)? It seems that it would be much more straight-forward than guessing when the NBT-BCIP reaction has reached a good level of staining. Any other insights/advice would be appreciated. Thanks again for your help, Kristen
Kristen A. Lennon, Ph.D. Department of Plant Pathology 351 Bessey Hall Iowa State University Ames, IA 50011
I am trying to section with a cryo diamond knife that has a boat. I am not sure on what solution to use in the boat. So far we have tried a DMSO and ETOH, 50/50 mixture. This slowly froze over. Please help:) Melissa
Below is the result of your feedback form (NJZFM-ultra-55). It was submitted by (kai-at-lehigh.edu) from http://www.msa.microscopy.com/Ask-A-Microscopist.html on Wednesday, August 29, 2001 at 15:34:48 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Email: kai-at-lehigh.edu Name: Kai Lorcharoensery
Organization: Lehigh University
Education: Graduate College
Location: Bethlehem, PA, USA
Question: TEM sample preparation: I would like to see the structure of Fe particle cross-section. These particles are about 40-100 um in size. I tried casting them with epoxy in 3-mm copper tube but either particles fell off or epoxy thin film (100 um) was detached from Cu ring.
The preparation steps are 1. Casting 2. Slicing the Cu tube with high speed diamond saw 3. Grinding with 600 grit- 8 um- 3 um SiC paper 4. Polishing with 1 um Al2O3 on nylon cloth ==} ~ 80-100 um and here is where the epoxy disk was usually detached from the Cu ring.
Position Announcement Chemical and Materials Engineering Dept. Arizona State University
A post-doctoral candidate is sought to work on an interdisciplinary research project to study the interaction of functional molecular monolayers with nanostructured arrays on electronic materials. A new interface force microscope will be constructed and studies conducted on molecular monolayers on quantum dots, wires, etc. Emphasis will be placed on biomimitic molecules containing functional and transductional components with potential for electronic applications. Position available immediately. Please send cover letter and resume including the names, addresses and phone or e-mail of 3 professional references to picraux-at-asu.edu {mailto:picraux-at-asu.edu} . Preference will be given to applications received by September 14, 2001 and will be continued until the position is filled.
Dr. S. Thomas Picraux Arizona State University Dept. of Chemical and Materials Engineering Box 876006 Tempe, AZ 85287-6006
John C. Wheatley Lab Manager Arizona State University Center for Solid State Science PSA-213 BOX 871704 Tempe, AZ 85287-1704
Perhaps with controlled nucleation and experience you could induce recognizable and differentiable calcite and aragonite forms to grow. However, these materials can take on a wide variety of crystal habits depending upon the other ionic species and concentrations present, temperature and organic materials present. Often acicular spherical crystal groups will form and the individual crystals will not be distinguishable with sufficient clarity to determine their optical properties. It is also possible to arrive at situations where mixed phase agglomerates form.
Calcium carbonate is subject to the influence of organic materials which strongly influence crystal morphology by preferentially binding to one or another of the crystal faces. In this way the aspect ratio of the crystals may change dramatically from one batch to another if trace organics vary. Other organics may influence the degree of saturation of the solution with respect to calcium carbonate. For example, most sea water is undersaturated with respect to calcium carbonate even though vast amounts of limestone occur in contact with it. One reason is that a very small amount of free fatty acid is sufficient to complex with the exterior of the carbonate phase, in effect isolating the solid surface and interrupting the solid {==} solution equilibrium.
To get an idea of how varied the crystal habit of this material can be (and to gain an appreciation for living in the age of X-ray diffraction!) you might take a look at the classic work on morphological description by Victor Goldschmidt, "Atlas der Krystallformen". There is an entire volume out of the library-shelf-size "Atlas" on calcite.
Good luck.
John Twilley Conservation Scientist
Jeff Hedlesky 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Dear Microscopy Wisemen (and women!): } } I hope you will indulge me with a moment of your time. } } I'm involved with a group here in Wichita that's working on some water } treatment technologies that reduce chemical usage as compared to current } } treatment methodologies. We also are working on a system using a } version of these same new technologies to reduce algae growth in pond } water. I've been conscripted to help them assemble the "water lab" for } experimentation and testing and generally manage the development } project. } } Well, I've done plenty of development projects, but my knowledge of } microscopy is pretty much limited to the Skillcraft 'scope I had as a } child and the low magnification bench scopes I've set up for } microelectronics manufacturing. I am absolutely delighted to have found } } your microscopy.com group and have been "cramming" for the past } week or so. I think I'm now ready to ask you a couple of questions. } (and maybe make sense...) } } The two main (and quite different) thrusts of microscopic analysis that } we're attacking first are determining the polymorphic state that calcium } } carbonate is present in, in potable water (aragonite or calcite) and the } } viability of algae that has been exposed to "treated" water in a pond } setting. } What I'm most curious about is your (expert) opinion as to the best } strategies to image these two areas of interest, and to do so out to a } high- } quality digital imaging system. (Nikon, SPOT RT, etc.) } } After nucleation, the calcium carbonate in question will either be in } colloidal suspension in liquid water or will be dried onto a slide. I'm } betting } that a water immersion objective would be your recommendation for the } liquid viewing, but I'd rather hear it from you. Sure, if we had an } electron } microscope, we could image individual seed crystals, BUT a) we don't } have } that kind of budget and b) we're pretty sure we can induce nucleation } and } crystal growth on demand, so we'll just grow 'em until we can see 'em. } I } guess what I'm more curious about is whether you feel that good old } fashioned transmissive light microscopy is the right path or whether } we'd see } significant advantage in exploring polarizing light, phase contrast, DIC } } or some other kinky form of imaging to best see the orthorhombic nature } of the calcite or the hexagonal prismatic aragonite. For what it's } worth, I've read somewhere of using a special setup to actually derive } the } refractive index of the sample in question. Aragonite does have a } different } value in this respect than does calcite - in fact aragonite's value is } higher } than the two values for calcite (birefringent?). Eeek! I now know } just enough to hurt myself and not much more... } } As for the algae, we're trying to show that we have a process for } killing it, so primarily we're looking at ways to image healthy } (pre-treatment) specimens and then treat the water and show (over time) } that we really do kill the stuff. Again, same question - is there some } creative way to do this with good 'ol planapochromatics or do I need a } pricey Fluorescence setup to make the chlorophyll twinkle? OR "What } exactly does freshly dead or dying algae look like and how do you best } look at it?". } } We'll be doing some particle sizing and Zeta potential analysis as well, } } so we're not trying to be cheap on the microscopy side - BUT, I don't } want to buy more or less than we need and the 'scope salesmen all think } we need everything they sell... } } Any light you have time to shed on these issues will be greatly } appreciated - if there's a chance of speaking with you on these issues } or on the possibility that either you or someone you respect being } available for some consulting work in these areas, please let me know } and I'll } gladly set up a conference call. Much gratitude for whatever you can } do! } } Best regards, } } Jeff } -- } Jeff Hedlesky } Aladdin Companies } Wichita, KS } } } } }
Let me inform you that my so called "Petr's Microscopy Resources" have been moved to the new address
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The items Societies and Meetings are rebuilt. The other items (Literature, Database, Laboratories, Production & Sales, Courses & Software, Information Resources) have been modified, and will be transferred to the new technology too.
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I don't know anything about algae but there are other ways to solve your CaCO3 question. You are not interested in the shapes or sizes of the particles, right ? So IR or Raman spectroscopy might be the way to go, these are two references on that topic: Calcium carbonate phase analysis using XRD and FT-Raman spectroscopy. Kontoyannis, Christos G.; Vagenas, Nikos V. Inst. Chem. Eng. High Temperature Chem. Processes, Dep. Pharm., FORTH, University of Patras, Patras, Greece. Analyst (Cambridge, U. K.) (2000), 125(2), 251-255. Simpson, L. J. Electrochemically generated CaCO3 deposits on iron studied with FTIR and Raman spectroscopy. Electrochim. Acta (1998), 43(16-17), 2543-2547. There are other references, but that should do for a start. There is also a fancy tool called IR or Raman microscope. This thing combines optical microscopy and optical spectrometer. Therefore you can take Raman or IR spectra from individual particles and see which ones are vaterite or aragonite or whatever phase you are looking for. I've done that with ZnO particles about 500 nm to 1 micron in size, so I actually know it works.
Hope this helps 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 ... *************************************************
----- Original Message ----- } From: Jeff Hedlesky {jhedlesky-at-edgebb.net} To: {microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} Sent: Wednesday, August 29, 2001 1:12 PM
Hi Listers...
Does anyone know when the first cold field emission microscope became commercially available?
Thanks and best,
Angela
Angela V. Klaus
Director, Interdepartmental Laboratories American Museum of Natural History Central Park West at 79th Street New York, NY 10024 USA
1) A "coupling agent" to promote adhesion of the copper to the epoxy. I have used Dow Z-640 (originally meant as a coupling agent for fibers in fiber glass, I believe), to reduce pullout of particulates during microtomy. This was originally suggested by Klinger and Schwab (I can look up the full reference if you are interested).
2) Incorporating the particulate into a metal foil instead of an epoxy. This involves either electroless nickel plating or electroplating of a sufficiently thick film that it can then be handled as a "bulk" sample. Either give good adhesion to the particles (at least in the case of the aluminum powders or ceramic particles with which I am familiar). Electroless plating has the benefit of bonding to non conductive materials. You might look at Morra et al (Materials Sci. and Eng. A124, 1990, "A Technique for prep. of powders...") as a reference.
kai-at-lehigh.ed u () To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com cc: 08/29/01 Subject: Ask-A-Microscopist: TEM sample preparation 06:57 PM
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Below is the result of your feedback form (NJZFM-ultra-55). It was submitted by (kai-at-lehigh.edu) from http://www.msa.microscopy.com/Ask-A-Microscopist.html on Wednesday, August 29, 2001 at 15:34:48 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Email: kai-at-lehigh.edu Name: Kai Lorcharoensery
Organization: Lehigh University
Education: Graduate College
Location: Bethlehem, PA, USA
Question: TEM sample preparation: I would like to see the structure of Fe particle cross-section. These particles are about 40-100 um in size. I tried casting them with epoxy in 3-mm copper tube but either particles fell off or epoxy thin film (100 um) was detached from Cu ring.
The preparation steps are 1. Casting 2. Slicing the Cu tube with high speed diamond saw 3. Grinding with 600 grit- 8 um- 3 um SiC paper 4. Polishing with 1 um Al2O3 on nylon cloth ==} ~ 80-100 um and here is where the epoxy disk was usually detached from the Cu ring.
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} Melissa: It depends on what temperature you are using when } sectioning. When I am sectioning a temperatures that freeze the DMSO mix } I use ethanol. Ethanol will stay a liquid down to about -95C. With our } microtome you can control temp of knife and boat and gas separately so I } can keep the knife temp to about -90C and can still have the sample a } little lower than -120C. This enables me to section siloxanes. If you } need to go colder than this I think you will have to try and section } dry. Hope this helps. Steve } } I am trying to section with a cryo diamond knife that has a boat. I } am not sure on what solution to use in the boat. So far we have tried a } DMSO and ETOH, 50/50 mixture. This slowly froze over. Please help:) } Melissa
Stephen McCartney Research Associate 2108 Hahn Hall Materials Institute Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA 24061-0344 USA
I am looking at an advertisement from Coats and Welter Instruments for "The world's first commercial field emission scanning electron microscope." It is touted as ...operating at room temperature and not being subject to burnout as are the conventional hot filament electron emitters... While the ad is not dated it does reference a paper from 1968 so it was probably produced sometime in the late 60's or very early 70's. Greg
Angela Klaus 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 Listers... } } Does anyone know when the first cold field emission microscope became } commercially available? } } Thanks and best, } } Angela } } Angela V. Klaus } } Director, Interdepartmental Laboratories } American Museum of Natural History } Central Park West at 79th Street } New York, NY 10024 USA } } Email: avklaus-at-amnh.org } Tel: 212-769-5977
-- ================================================================== Greg Strout Electron Microscopist, University of Oklahoma WWW Virtual Library for Microscopy: http://www.ou.edu/research/electron/www-vl/ e-mail: gstrout-at-ou.edu Opinions expressed herein are mine and not necessarily those of the University of Oklahoma ==================================================================
I think we would ALL love to see tuition supporting inter-departmental facilities. Departments are not profit centers per se, but may be expected to be self-sufficient. And from what (little) I'm learning about administrative thought processes...your childrens' tuition is essentially "credited" to the departments (or school) in which they major. Maybe not directly as hard dollars, but in terms of "weight" to be thrown around :) Inter-departmental, multi-user facility, interdisciplinary....great buzzwords but no real money.
My $0.02...based on broad impressions of OTHERS' experiences. (I don't yet know whether I am describing the views of my employer....)
Matt
Matthew J. Lynn Center for Advanced Microscopy University of Miami mlynn-at-miami.edu
On Wednesday, August 29, 2001 9:09 PM, Ken Converse [SMTP:qualityimages-at-netrax.net] wrote: } Matt, } I'll repeat what I said to Phil Oshel: } If I found a school turning any profit on a service lab, } I'd scream } bloody murder as I've got 2 in college and 2 on the way. } I would expect } my tuition bills to go a long way towards general support. } } } My take as a parent. } } Ken Converse } owner (and parent of 4) } Quality Images } third party SEM service } Delta, PA } } } Matthew Lynn 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.ht } } ml } } } } --------------------------------------------------------- } } --------------. } } } } } } Ken, } } } } I'll add my thanks for your viewpoint. The problem we } } in } } Universities are having is this: you wrote } } } } } "University service } } } labs are not supposed to be profit centers. They are } } } SERVICE labs and } } } are heavily subsidized...." } } } } } } Sadly, survey says that very few of us have } } administrators } } who share your viewpoint. You make excellent points } } about } } all of the options, and we can only hope this entire } } discussion helps when renewal time comes around. } } Perhaps } } the OEM Service departments need to "suit up", bring a } } fancy presentation, and state their case against the } } ICs. } } } } Matt } } } } Matthew J. Lynn } } Center for Advanced Microscopy } } University of Miami } } (305)284-4736 } } mlynn-at-miami.edu } } } }
Since our JSM 25 died, we are looking for a good used SEM preferably in the following models:
1. Hitachi S570
2. JOEL no older than 10 years
3. Philips no older than 10 years
Please contact me at: tyoho-at-lhup.edu
--------------------------------------------------------- Tim P. Yoho, Professor Yoho (Joho) Amateur Radio: WA3D Department of Biology First Known Use in 1395 (570) 893-2391 Lock Haven University Origin: Switzerland & Alsace Fax: (570) 893-2047 Lock Haven, PA. 17745 http://www.lhup.edu/~tyoho tyoho-at-lhup.edu ---------------------------------------------------------
Dear Kai, When doing samples like you have described, I usually grind to 100 microns using a Disc Grinder from Gatan, or the same device from other specimen prep companies, on 1200 grit paper stuck on a sheet of glass. If detachment is your problem, then cast your sample/epoxy into a slightly larger copper tube with INSIDE diameter of 3 mm. and glue a large-mesh grid or slot grid onto the exposed end of your sample when it is still fairly thick. Then detachment is desirable and will leave your sample stuck onto a grid for final thinning, dimple polishing, ion thinning or whatever you wish to attain transparency. At 05:57 PM 8/29/01 -0500, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
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
An international conference and exhibition on the science of microscopy and in-situ analysis; a unique opportunity for you to hear about topics at the cutting edge of microscopy and to see for yourself the very latest developments in light, scanning probe and electron microscopes, associated equipment and image analysis systems in both life and physical sciences.
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The conference programme will be a series of Invited Lectures by internationally acclaimed experts, which will be closely linked to Tutorials, Poster Sessions and special "hands-on" Workshops.
Topics include:
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I'm having a problem with my MT-1B Ultra microtome. When cutting ultra thin sections my microtome skips cutting a section completely then cuts a section that's too thick. Any solutions? I can't find a company that services Sorvall MT-1B microtomes. Anyone have a source for service calls. Bill
Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy (a.k.a. infrared microscopy) may prove more useful to your work than polarized light microscopy to differentiate and identify polymorphs of calcium carbonate. The former provides chemical analysis of molecular composition, while the latter provides examination of morphology and measurement of optical properties.
Infrared microscopy couples an optical microscope to an FTIR spectrometer. The optical microscope is used to position small areas of a specimen in a condensed infrared beam for analysis. The FTIR spectrometer gives an infrared spectrum that is used to identify molecular composition and to make qualitative and quantitative analyses of samples. The technique can distinguish between calcium carbonate polymorphs such as calcite and aragonite.
Most infrared microscopes are equipped for brightfield illumination and transmitted visible illumination. Most systems, like mine, also can be fitted for polarized light examination and brightfield fluorescence illumination, which can be useful in differentiating phases in specimens. Analyses can be made in transmission if the specimen is prepared on an infrared-transparent window material such as diamond, KBr, BaF2, etc., or by reflection-absorption if dispersed on a reflective surface such as a gold filter. Other methods are used, but may limit your ability to differentiate particles by morphology before analyses. Preliminary tests will help you develop a methodology.
If your specimen particles are individual and smaller than 5-10 micrometers in diameter, then you might want to investigate Raman microscopy, which complements infrared microscopy, but provides better spatial resolution (about 1 micrometer) and allows one to work through glass, at two or three times the cost ($150K to $250K. For this money, one might also consider an FTIR microscope equipped with a focal plane array detector.
Please feel free to contact me off-line if you have questions.
Jamie
James Martin Orion Analytical, LLC www.orionanalytical.com martin-at-orionanalytical.com 413-458-0233 fax 413-458-5542
----- Original Message ----- } From: "Jeff Hedlesky" {jhedlesky-at-edgebb.net} To: {microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} Sent: Wednesday, August 29, 2001 1:12 PM
Hi, Bill-
} I'm having a problem with my MT-1B Ultra microtome. When cutting ultra thin } sections my microtome skips cutting a section completely then cuts a section } that's too thick. Any solutions? I can't find a company that services } Sorvall MT-1B microtomes. Anyone have a source for service calls.
Where are you located? Nowhere near me, I'll bet, but there are still a few people out there who know their way around an MT-1.
Sometimes skipped sections means you are actually trying to section too thin, so you miss one and then the next one is thicker, then you miss again. Try sectioning thicker until you get every section, and see if they are of a reasonable thickness.
As for the microtome, open it up and take a look inside. It's relavtively simple (as compared to current models) and you may see something obvious. Check belts for wear and cracks, see if moving parts are dirty or chipped, etc. They are mechanical marvels unencumbered by electronics!
Good luck, 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* ****************************************************************************
I agree with Greg--early 1970s. I purchased a Coates and Welter FE SEM in 1973. It was not the first FE model, but was the first scope to come off their line with the gun mounted on a cabinet separate from the controls (at my request). They subsequently went to that style for stability.
It operated "cold," i.e., at room temperature, and the electrons were extracted with the "field" below. If the tip became contaminated, the way to remove crud was to warm it up some (I don't remember the temperature, but it wasn't hot.) to burn away the contaminants.
It worked great from the perspective of length of filament life, no vacuum problems, high resolution, and low voltage capability, but getting service from the other coast when needed took forever. Frequently, I would describe a problem, and the engineer would ship me a board. We kept the SEM for about 10 years and sold it back to the company for parts. But we got some great shots with higher resolution (around 50 Angstroms routinely) than anybody else was getting at that time, and it was guaranteed at 100 Angstroms.
The company exchanged hands several times: first C & W: then Welter bought it out; then Coates bought it back. Then it became Nanometrics, and somebody else (?) bought the SEM technology. Maybe one of the present sales reps can help with the recent history--it might be LEO???
Hope this answers your question.
(I have no commercial interest in any of this.)
Sara
On Thu, 30 Aug 2001, Greg Strout wrote:
} Date: Thu, 30 Aug 2001 09:30:40 -0500 } From: Greg Strout {gstrout-at-ou.edu} } To: Angela Klaus {avklaus-at-amnh.org} } Cc: Microscopy List Server {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} } Subject: Re: FE-SEM: Historical Question } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 looking at an advertisement from Coats and Welter Instruments for "The } world's first commercial field emission scanning electron microscope." It } is touted as ...operating at room temperature and not being subject to } burnout as are the conventional hot filament electron emitters... } While the ad is not dated it does reference a paper from 1968 so it was } probably produced sometime in the late 60's or very early 70's. } Greg } } Angela Klaus 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 Listers... } } } } Does anyone know when the first cold field emission microscope became } } commercially available? } } } } Thanks and best, } } } } Angela } } } } Angela V. Klaus } } } } Director, Interdepartmental Laboratories } } American Museum of Natural History } } Central Park West at 79th Street } } New York, NY 10024 USA } } } } Email: avklaus-at-amnh.org } } Tel: 212-769-5977 } } -- } ================================================================== } Greg Strout } Electron Microscopist, University of Oklahoma } WWW Virtual Library for Microscopy: } http://www.ou.edu/research/electron/www-vl/ } e-mail: gstrout-at-ou.edu } Opinions expressed herein are mine and not necessarily those of } the University of Oklahoma } ================================================================== } } } }
Sara E. Miller, Ph. D. P. O. Box 3712 Duke University Medical Center Durham, NC 27710 Ph: 919 684-3452 FAX: 919 684-3265
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Greetings, I would like to add a few words on the thread about spectroscopy vs spectrometry. Bill Tivol defined (see below) spectroscopy as producing spectra for visual inspection and spectrometry as producing spectra for measurment.
This is perfectly rational, nice and tidy, but like so many other things in language, does not seem consistent with usage. The OED defines spectroscopy as the study of spectra and does not have an entry for spectrometry. My big Websters (II ed, yes thanks) lists both, as does Collins, and both are defined as the science and study of spectra. And I would argue that there are really relatively few instances of a pure spectroscope, where all you do is look at the spectra, and equally few instances of a pure spectrometer (where you never see the spectra--think of all those peaks on the "EDS" computer screen). Basically, as spectroscopists (are there any spectrometrists??) we have the job of producing, interpreting, and measuring spectra, and spectroscopy has been used for years as a word to define that act. The word spectrometry has likewise been used, but I doubt whether the measuring-observing distinction can be reliably applied. If given a choice, I would use spectroscopy for the lot because it is the older word. But I suspect that various sub species have their own convention (thus it is always as far as I know FTIR microspectroscopy; and perhaps always energy dispersive spectrometry) and these fields will keep their conventions.
As ever, Tobias Baskin
} } When I was shopping for one, I was corrected by someone along the way that } the "S" in EDS stands for spectrometry, not spectroscopy. Several books } here in the lab library also use that term. } } Before I confuse part of the next generation of microscopists this } upcoming semester, is one term better than the other - or is it a potato, } potatoh, tomato, tomahtah (let's call the whole thing off) kind of thing? } } Dear Heather, } The "scopy" part has to do with observation, whereas the "metry" part } has to do with measurement (i.e., quantitation), so energy-dispersive } spectroscopy is separating the photons by energy in order to look at the } spectrum, and E-D spectrometry is separating the photons in order to } perform measurements. I can understand a vendor insisting that the } instrument is capable of quantitation and is, thus, a spectrometer. } Yours, } } Bill Tivol } Wadsworth Center } Albany NY } (518) 473-7399 WFT02-at-health.state.ny.us
In 1976 both, Siemens and Vacuum Generator marketed FESEMs. The Vacuum Generator unit was considerably cheaper and possibly better too. Incidentally, the Siemens unit became a fiasco and likely was a major reason for the company's board to abandon the building of electron microscopes a year or two later. Siemens had been the first commercial manufacturer of electron microscopes and built the best instruments in the 50th and early 60th. The Philips EM300 was the first serious challenge to Siemens. Michael Beer of Chicago published a great deal of FESEM developments in the early 70th. 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 Thursday, August 30, 2001 9:43 PM, Angela Klaus [SMTP:avklaus-at-amnh.org] 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 Listers... } } Does anyone know when the first cold field emission microscope became } commercially available? } } Thanks and best, } } Angela } } Angela V. Klaus } } Director, Interdepartmental Laboratories } American Museum of Natural History } Central Park West at 79th Street } New York, NY 10024 USA } } Email: avklaus-at-amnh.org } Tel: 212-769-5977 }
Nestor's little slip and his apology should make us realize how valuable Nestor and his service of the listserver is to us. I just want to say Thank You Nestor for all the hard work you do to keep us on-line and spam free. You help all of us to stay connected in a nice environment where we can ask our questions and communicate our ideas.
Thank You Nestor!
Paula :-)
Paula Sicurello George Washington Univ. Medical Center Dept. of Pathology, Ross Hall rm 505 Electron Microscope Lab 2300 Eye St. Washington, DC 20037 202-994-2930 phone 202-994-2518 fax
We are beginning preparations for the moving of our old Cambridge S200 SEM. Even though the poor gal is only moving about 500 yards, the transfer is to another building requiring removal of walls and the ever so delicate transfer by fork lift into the back of a truck. We need information on what is required and/or helpful in making sure the SEM successfully completes the trip. Thanks in advance.
David W. Troutt Corporate Analytical Services Voridian Company P.O. Box 1972 Kingsport, TN 37662-5150 Phone: 423-229-1993 Fax: 423-229-4558
Contact Microtome Service Company. Although they appear to only service MT2 &2B, they might have info or long lost spare parts for your beast. Good luck! john
MTS 7568 Florian Way Liverpool, New York 13088 315-451-1404
On 30 Aug 2001, at 13:40, Hanika, William 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'm having a problem with my MT-1B Ultra microtome. When cutting } ultra thin sections my microtome skips cutting a section completely } then cuts a section that's too thick. Any solutions? I can't find a } company that services Sorvall MT-1B microtomes. Anyone have a source } for service calls. Bill
Sorry. The I left the subject line blank on the first letter blank. I thought most folks would delete it thinking it was an advertisement for a lifetime supply of Viagra.
We are beginning preparations for the moving of our old Cambridge S200 SEM. Even though the poor gal is only moving about 500 yards, the transfer is to another building requiring removal of walls and the ever so delicate transfer by fork lift into the back of a truck. We need information on what is required and/or helpful in making sure the SEM successfully completes the trip. Thanks in advance.
David W. Troutt Corporate Analytical Services Voridian Company P.O. Box 1972 Kingsport, TN 37662-5150 Phone: 423-229-1993 Fax: 423-229-4558
I would argue that there are really relatively few instances of a pure spectroscope, where all you do is look at the spectra, and equally few instances of a pure spectrometer (where you never see the spectra--think of all those peaks on the "EDS" computer screen). Dear Tobias, Perhaps WDS comes closer to a "pure spectrometer" than EDS, since one measures the counts for a given wavelength, then another, etc., but it is not necessary that an actual instrument be purely one or the other for the vendor or user to distinguish the major function by different words. In the much-much-lower energy region, the instrument mostly used today is a (wavelength-dispersive) spectrophotometer. Newton's original prism instrument was a spectroscope. (I suppose that avalanche photodiodes could be used to make an energy-dispersive spectrophotometer, but I have not heard of such a thing.)
This is perfectly rational, nice and tidy, but like so many other things in language, does not seem consistent with usage.
Of course, practical usage is always messier than language describing an ideal. Yours,
Bill Tivol Wadsworth Center Albany NY (518) 473-7399 WFT02-at-health.state.ny.us
Hi Bill, What routine service have you administered, and how often and when last?
Fred Monson'
Frederick C. Monson, PhD Center for Advanced Scientific Imaging(CASI) West Chester University of Pennsylvania Schmucker Science Center II South Church Street West Chester, PA, 19383 eMail: fmonson-at-wcupa.edu http://darwin.wcupa.edu/casi/
} ---------- } From: Hanika, William } Sent: Thursday, August 30, 2001 2:40 PM } To: 'Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com' } Subject: MT 1B Maintenance } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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'm having a problem with my MT-1B Ultra microtome. When cutting ultra } thin } sections my microtome skips cutting a section completely then cuts a } section } that's too thick. Any solutions? I can't find a company that services } Sorvall MT-1B microtomes. Anyone have a source for service calls. } Bill } }
Bill (AND Tina!) just made me look inside MT-1, and I had a thought (what pain!). Who has one and still uses it?
If you do, just reply to this with the following information tacked on - if you want to. Let me know how you came to possess IT, and what you use it for that it does better than those that are newer (and BETTER?). Mine came from a cart on its way to the dumpster! (Imagine!), and I use it for really difficult stuff, though not that often. Usually it reclines in a display case so that no one else will mess with it.
After a while I'll return with a summary.
By the way, on the same cart was an MT2 with a Christensen Cryo System with 2 controllers. All still work!!! Thank you Kent! Also, they came with the books!
Fred
Frederick C. Monson, PhD Center for Advanced Scientific Imaging(CASI) West Chester University of Pennsylvania Schmucker Science Center II CASI Home Page: http://darwin.wcupa.edu/casi/ South Church Street West Chester, PA, 19383 Office: SS024 Phone: 610-738-0437 FAX: 610-436-3036 eMail: fmonson-at-wcupa.edu Please call before visiting
I have a sample of dried porous silica that I would like to embed and thin section. Could anyone give me any advice on the best resin and protocol to use? The idea of using a methacrylate resin has been thrown about (the idea, not the resin - I can assure you), however I would be very grateful for any advice regarding any of the resins available. If this is a bit specific then reply off-line to the address below.
Thanks Pippa ---------------------- Pippa Hawes, EMU School of Chemistry University of Bristol Cantocks Close Bristol UK BS8 1TS Pippa.Hawes-at-bristol.ac.uk
I have an old bottle of Epoxy Solvent, bought from Polysciences under their catalogue number 0638. Does anyone know what this solvent contains? The company tells me that they cannot find this item in their records and probably have deleted any technical or MSDS information pertaining to it. I'd like to get rid of the approx. 300 ml of solvent left in the bottle but don't what, if any, hazards should be considered.
Thanks for any help you could offer.
Kevin Halcrow
Dr Kevin Halcrow, Telephone (506)-648-5567 Honorary Research Professor, Fax (506)-648-5811 Department of Biology, EMail Halcrow-at-unbsj.ca University of New Brunswick, P.O. Box 5050, Saint John, NB Canada, E2L 4L5
$0.000001 worth! My experience is that once a faculty member ascends to an administrative post his first instruction concerning his previous colleagues is that each is a cost center to be discounted as rapidly as possible to the lowest possible value. There is nothing that remains in the administrative jargon (Bill of Administrative Rights) that is not focused on gibberish and avoidance of responsibility. Since that philosophy reposes at the highest academic levels, it is no wonder what is being found somewhat lower down.
At academic institutions libraries are called resources, but they are treated as cost centers! If core labs have positive bottom lines, they are only ephemeral (with support from self-accounting measures). Such a situation can only occur when there is an influx of direct financial support to individuals linked (100%) to those facilities. If the grant winners are affiliated with departments, the departments split the gravy, and the core remains a cost center. Whatever support the core gets in large institutions is NOT direct. For the most part such support will ultimately derive from indirect monies. In this way the administrator can claim that the institution provides "direct" support ("Most of the institutional support derives from our commitment to excellence for all of our academic and research commitments," she said at the convocation.) leaving the core as a cost center - gaining no "credit" for its part in raising the money on which it lives. At how many places does the investigator pay and then repay for the use of research animal facilities. When indirect monies can be in the 70%'s of direct costs (usually salaries + benefits) on the grant budget, there is BIG money involved. For example, for $50,000 in salary and benefits to the researcher, 70% indirect costs would give $35,000 more to the institution to use almost as it pleases. This matter is purposefully complicated by the fact that each institution must negotiate with the government for its percentage and coverage. No matter what one says, however, personal experience will almost always not be universally applicable.
Indeed, that admission would suggest that there may still exist Deans who believe that their sole purpose is to serve the faculty at the pleasure of the President (and the President is second)! For the most part today, such individuals are not permitted to survive in administrative positions. For example, it was not the student who changed the University/College in the '60's, it was the administrator who saw a dwindling student population as a threat to the institution and translated the threat downward to the faculty member who was causing students to flunk out or keeping them from getting into medical school. Children immediately sensed this trend and happily blamed professors for their academic problems. Administrators began to depend on the course evaluations for evaluating faculty performance. Faculty members adapted, because they had no other recourse. Students sensed the trend and became even more militant. Faculty dropped standards, because they had no other choice. Students became unaware of the diminution of standards, having arrived with expectations and demands. Faculty were already bottomed out, and no one could do anything when teaching ended up "in the basement". If a student couldn't understand a math instructor from Eastern Europe, he/she knew that any complaint would be treated as discriminatory and thus, patiently ignored. If the instructor couldn't teach, students always had the option to take the same course with one of the other faculty in the department. Having two or more classes with 24 students each (the administrative holly grail) taking the same course with the same book never caused competition between instructors for the better course evaluation. (I've seen professors who cry about their love for the student and preen about their great evaluations promoted while their much more erudite colleagues are left behind. Then they become administrators!) Academic administrators. A very interesting group of folks.
The best example of adminstrator malfunction in our business is the "new" building mentality that came out of the new construction boom from the 60's to the '80's. For every new building there is an administrator who will turn off the cooling system in the Fall and the heating system in the Spring, especially when informed that such "air" conditioning systems are designed to have both functioning at once all of the time ("That's why we have sealed windows!"). There are even a few who have turned off the heat during Christmas (does anybody remember that mid-year break?) and let the plumbing freeze.
I once worked in a brand new building whose internal fire doors were tested a few weeks after occupancy. On attempting to re-open them, the new owners found that some of the ADMINISTRATIVE changes to the building design had removed the access doors. About half of the fire doors remain closed for the life of the building.
I worked at a large Eastern Academy for many years. During that time, the greatest pleasure was to be so distanced from academic administrators that I never knew any by face. Of course, one always managed to receive individualized or generic administrative threats but NEVER the administrative accolades (even for BIG grant awards!). Even with a large government grant, one is considered a cost center!
Big or small, the academic administrator will remain one thing for certain. He or she was one of us!
} ---------- } From: Matthew Lynn } Reply To: } Sent: Thursday, August 30, 2001 11:25 AM } To: 'Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.com' } Subject: RE: OEM service vs. Insurance Companies---Long message } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Ken, } } I think we would ALL love to see tuition supporting } inter-departmental facilities. Departments are not profit } centers per se, but may be expected to be self-sufficient. } And from what (little) I'm learning about administrative } thought processes...your childrens' tuition is essentially } "credited" to the departments (or school) in which they } major. Maybe not directly as hard dollars, but in terms of } "weight" to be thrown around :) Inter-departmental, } multi-user facility, interdisciplinary....great buzzwords } but no real money. } } My $0.02...based on broad impressions of OTHERS' } experiences. (I don't yet know whether I am describing the } views of my employer....) } } Matt } } Matthew J. Lynn } Center for Advanced Microscopy } University of Miami } mlynn-at-miami.edu } } } On Wednesday, August 29, 2001 9:09 PM, Ken Converse } [SMTP:qualityimages-at-netrax.net] wrote: } } Matt, } } I'll repeat what I said to Phil Oshel: } } If I found a school turning any profit on a service lab, } } I'd scream } } bloody murder as I've got 2 in college and 2 on the way. } } I would expect } } my tuition bills to go a long way towards general } support. } } } } } } My take as a parent. } } } } Ken Converse } } owner (and parent of 4) } } Quality Images } } third party SEM service } } Delta, PA } } } } } } Matthew Lynn 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.ht } } } ml } } } } } } } --------------------------------------------------------- } } } --------------. } } } } } } } } } Ken, } } } } } } I'll add my thanks for your viewpoint. The problem we } } } in } } } Universities are having is this: you wrote } } } } } } } "University service } } } } labs are not supposed to be profit centers. They are } } } } SERVICE labs and } } } } are heavily subsidized...." } } } } } } } } } Sadly, survey says that very few of us have } } } administrators } } } who share your viewpoint. You make excellent points } } } about } } } all of the options, and we can only hope this entire } } } discussion helps when renewal time comes around. } } } Perhaps } } } the OEM Service departments need to "suit up", bring a } } } fancy presentation, and state their case against the } } } ICs. } } } } } } Matt } } } } } } Matthew J. Lynn } } } Center for Advanced Microscopy } } } University of Miami } } } (305)284-4736 } } } mlynn-at-miami.edu } } } } } } } } }
From root Fri Aug 31 11:12:21 2001 Return-Path: {Microscopy-request-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} Received: (from daemon-at-localhost) by sparc5.microscopy.com (8.9.3+Sun/8.9.3) id KAA19523 for dist-Microscopy; Fri, 31 Aug 2001 10:50:19 -0500 (CDT) Received: from no_more_spam.com (sparc5 [206.69.208.10]) by sparc5.microscopy.com (8.9.3+Sun/8.9.3) with SMTP id KAA19519 for "MicroscopyFilteredEmail1-at-msa.microscopy.com"; Fri, 31 Aug 2001 10:49:46 -0500 (CDT) Received: from bingnet2.cc.binghamton.edu (bingnet2.cc.binghamton.edu [128.226.1.18]) by sparc5.microscopy.com (8.9.3+Sun/8.9.3) with ESMTP id KAA19508 for {Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.com} ; Fri, 31 Aug 2001 10:49:32 -0500 (CDT) Received: from eichelberger ([128.226.188.35]) by bingnet2.cc.binghamton.edu (8.11.4/8.11.4) with SMTP id f7VFkUE07108 for {Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.com} ; Fri, 31 Aug 2001 11:46:30 -0400 (EDT)
Dear Karen: After touching the grid to the drop containing viral particles, I draw off most of the fluid then add a drop of the 1 mM sol of ammonium acetate. If you find that you still end up with remains of dried buffer solution, try an additional change of ammonium acetate rinse. Never let the drop of any solution you add to the grid to dry until you reach the final drop of stain application. If you don't already use self-closing, anticapillary tweezers, I would recommend them for minimizing carry over between solution changes. The advantage of using PTA and ammonium molybdate negative stains is that their pH can be adjusted. PTA is known for giving good contrast. I use a 1 N KOH solution to adjust the pH. I use a final stain concentration of 1% PTA. Ammonium molybdate although it has less contrast, gives a very fine grain appearance which is good for small detail at high magnifications. I use a final concentration of 1% aqueous uranyl acetate negative stain which yields more contrast than ammonium molybdate. It also has the advantage of acting as a positive stain for chromatin material. Be aware that phosphate and cacodylate are precipitated by uranyl salts. So phage containing these buffers should undergo a number of droplet rinse changes to remove any traces of the buffer before staining. Good luck. Henry
Henry Eichelberger, Manager Electron Microscopy Facility Department of Biological Sciences State University of New York-Binghamton Binghamton, NY 13902-6000
Hello, I've been going through setting up an Electroscan ESEM E3 in our laboratory and vacuum problems aside, we now have a stage that doesn't want to move. Anyone ever come across stage problems and have some suggestions that I may try for this instrument?
The stage will actually move if you give it a gentle push along a gear arm, but it often locks up in the Z direction, and sometimes X/Y. Auto calibrate allows the stage to move in X/Y, but it never calibrates the Z direction. Thanks.
\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ 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
I would greatly appreciate if you could share your opinion about performance and reliability of the Bench Top Turbo III vacuum evaporator from Denton Vacuum, also alternative suggestions are more than welcome. We are looking currently to purchase a vacuum evaporator for general EM preparation capable of carbon and metal evaporation, glow discharge and thickness control. Cleanliness of the vacuum is our main concern and especially the fact that the Bench Top model does not have LN trap.
Thank you,
Krassimir N. Bozhilov Central Facility for Advanced Microscopy and Microanalysis University of California Riverside, CA 92521
To all who asked about this article, I have scanned it and saved it as an Adobe PDF file. It can be downloaded from http://gaugler.com/lmarticle_1.pdf using your browser.
If you have any problems, please let me know. In PDF, the whole article is about 1.33MB file size.
gary g.
At 02:21 AM 8/28/2001, you wrote:
} Dear Gary, } I'd be interested in this article, but do not have } access to the Biological Bulletin. } Do you have the articlein electronic form, or is ther } a URL that you can point me to? } } Regards, Jeremy Sanderson } jb_sanderson-at-yahoo.com } } } } Regarding this subject, the local Zeiss rep gave me } } a } } copy of an interesting and valuable article that } } hits } } right on the topic. The article is "Choosing } } Objective } } Lenses: The importance of numerical aperture } } and magnification in digital optical microscopy." } } Piston, D. (August, 1998). The Biological Bulletin, } } 195/1. } } } } Anyone interested should look this up. It also } } talks } } about digital capture and the relationship to laser } } scanning confocal microscopes. } } } gary g. } } } } } } ____________________________________________________________ } Do You Yahoo!? } Get your free -at-yahoo.co.uk address at http://mail.yahoo.co.uk } or your free -at-yahoo.ie address at http://mail.yahoo.ie
Hello, I need to replace the SE scintillator on my SEM (JEOL 5900), and I was considering using a YAP scintillator instead of the typical phosphorous scintillator. Does anyone have any experience or suggestions on this? YAP is supposed to have a better S/N ratio, which is appealing to me. Most of my work is at 10kv on non-conducting oxides and at moderate magnification, however I'd really like improved performance at lower voltages, smaller spot sizes, and higher magnification, where the S/N ratio becomes a problem with my current system. Thank you for any input.
Brad Johnson Pacific Northwest National Lab P.O. Box 99, K6-24 Richland, WA 99352 voice: 509-372-1635 fax: 509-376-3108
Thanks are given to Nestor and many people whom I do know but help me a lot. I have been in this list for several years. There have been many great articles on electron microscoy, sample preparations and knowledges of instruments. I collected some of them, really valuable. I saw there were some summarizing articles on specific questions in the past. Do we have soemone who are classify technical articles and store somewere in an internet server? I saw questions raised on repeated subjects. If we have a server stored old, valuble articles for list members to access, that will be great. Recently, we decided to buy an electropolisher for our lab. We obtained several responses offline and they were really useful and presented clearly the advantages and disadvantages of each brand machine. I will write a summary. We believed that we made the right decision.
Thank you for your attention.
Good weekend,
Weiliang Gong Vitreous State Laboratory Catholic University of America Washington, D.C. 20064
I would be interested in hearing from anyone with experience transferring files from Tracor Northern (Noran) 5400 or 5500 systems. Many years ago I had written a FORTRAN program running on a DEC computer to accept Data (type 4) files sent using the TN XI module. I would like to be able to transfer TN spectral and image files to a Mac or PC but I am not sure of the file formats nor of a good communications program to use. If you have written software that you would be willing to share or purchased software that you no longer use and would like to sell, then please contact me.
Mark Germani, Ph.D. MicroMaterials Research, Inc. 136 Shore Drive, #200 Burr Ridge, IL 60521
Pippa Hawes wrote: ================================================================ I have a sample of dried porous silica that I would like to embed and thin section. Could anyone give me any advice on the best resin and protocol to use? The idea of using a methacrylate resin has been thrown about (the idea, not the resin - I can assure you), however I would be very grateful for any advice regarding any of the resins available. If this is a bit specific then reply off-line to the address below. ================================================================ We have always found that samples of this type (being run in our laboratory analytical services division), section quite nicely in most of the so-called "Epon® substitute" resins such as our own SPI-Pon™ Embedding Kit. We would expect that the "substitutes" offered by our main competitors would probably work just as well.
However, porous silica must be vacuum embedded, otherwise it can't be sectioned very well, if at all. We have never been able to get the section quality and stability with methacrylates or any system other than the "Epon" type kits. If one is working with "wet" silicas, and drying is not an option (as it sometimes is), then we have used our SPI-Chem™ Low Acid GMA as an embedding resin (which requires no dehydration).
The "Epon substitute" kits all come with recommended protocols, and while there is some variation between them, my guess is that any one protocol will work just as well with any of the other "substitutes". One advantage of the "Epon" systems is that the hardness can be varied quite easily, and often times the section quality can be improved by varying the hardness of the cured block.
Another protocol comment is that one can not use glass knives very easily (if at all) on this kind of sample, we use only (materials science) diamond knives.
Disclaimer: SPI Supplies, through our Structure Probe® laboratory services, perform these kinds of sample preps and TEM analysis for clients. We also are major suppliers of epoxy embedding resins and the SPI brand of materials science diamond knives.
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 ############################ ==================================================
} Hello, } I need to replace the SE scintillator on my SEM (JEOL 5900), and I was } considering using a YAP scintillator instead of the typical phosphorous } scintillator. Does anyone have any experience or suggestions on this?
About ten years ago I ran some tests for signal on several scintillator types: YAP, YAG, standard aluminum coated scintillator & "uncoated" scintillator. The result at that time were surprising.
Using a JEOL 35C SEM & running the same specimen current & PMT voltage with each scintillator the best signal was given by the original aluminum coated scintillator.
The second best was the "uncoated" scintillator & it was only 80% of the signal the standard aluminum coated scintillator. The YAP & YAG gave only 60% of the standard aluminum scintillator.
I was very disappointed as the YAP & YAG were significantly more than the standard scintillator. The conclusion that I came to was that the YAP & YAG would probably give more longevity & could justify their extra cost but they were not fit for high resolution. The YAP & YAG would probably be suitable for probe work.
Keep in mind this experiment was done about ten years ago. Perhaps the crystals have improved in recent years & the data may need a re-evaluation. I am sure that there is someone who would be willing to criticize my results (maybe in Northern Calif.?) but this the data that I received at the time.
Regards,
Earl Weltmer
----- Original Message ----- } From: "Johnson, Bradley R" {Bradley.Johnson-at-pnl.gov} To: "'Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.com'" {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} Sent: Friday, August 31, 2001 10:19 AM
I have followed this discussion with some interest. A similar situation exists in the field of mass spectroscopy.
At one time there were many mass spectrographs and mass spectrometers being used. Mass spectrographs were those instruments in which the detected ions were spread out along a focal plane and a significant portion of the mass range was collected simultaneously on a photographic plate. Mass spectrometers were those instruments in which the detected ions were moved across a detector slit (by varying magnetic field or ion accelerating potential) and collected/detected, one m/q at a time, by either a Faraday cup or electron multiplier after the slit, providing a readout on an electronic device (electrometer usually). Mass spectroscope or mass spectroscopy was used as the general term to include either type of instrument.
Mass spectrographs are rarely seen any more and even if they are used, the photographic plate would probably be replaced by some type of CCD detector providing electronic readout so the original clear distinction becomes blurred.
I'm sure that an analogous situation exists in optical spectroscopy.
Don Marshall
Don Marshall RELION Industries PO Box 12 Bedford, MA 01730
I have followed this discussion with some interest. A similar situation exists in the field of mass spectroscopy.
At one time there were many mass spectrographs and mass spectrometers being used. Mass spectrographs were those instruments in which the detected ions were spread out along a focal plane and a significant portion of the mass range was collected simultaneously on a photographic plate. Mass spectrometers were those instruments in which the detected ions were moved across a detector slit (by varying magnetic field or ion accelerating potential) and collected/detected, one m/q at a time, by either a Faraday cup or electron multiplier after the slit, providing a readout on an electronic device (electrometer usually). Mass spectroscope or mass spectroscopy was used as the general term to include either type of instrument.
Mass spectrographs are rarely seen any more and even if they are used, the photographic plate would probably be replaced by some type of CCD detector providing electronic readout so the original clear distinction becomes blurred.
I'm sure that an analogous situation exists in optical spectroscopy.
Don Marshall
Don Marshall RELION Industries PO Box 12 Bedford, MA 01730
You do not state the exact type of silica you are embedding. SO...
In general methacrylates, whether LR White or such, will shrink much more than an epoxy like one of the EPON CLONE formulations. If I recall 20-25% shrinkage is what you get with LR White and a lot of polymers. Epoxy formulas are more like 5%. This lower shrinkage is preferred by me so that I can argue to customers that I have not changed the microstructrure through severe shrinkage during the polymerization. LR White is faster (with an accelerator) curing, if you are in a hurry. The EPON clone stuff takes overnight curing in an oven at 60 to 70 C. It's no big deal because you just prepare the samples at the end of the day and start sectioning in the morning.
I have personnaly done precipitated silicas, arc silicas, and fumed silicas using Epon. Silica fume should be no problem. I do not vacuum embbed these materials. Ppt'd silicas have a surface area of about 154-250 meters squared per gram and the epon will wet almost every pore between the primary or ultimate particles without vacuum. Capillary forces are strong enough on our products and others to wet almost 100% of what is there. One of the components in my EPON kit foams under partial vacuum and that is another reason I don't use vacuum. You might have to use vacuum in your case. However, test each EPON kit component separately to see how much vacuum it can tolerate before foaming.
We have made various sizes of agglomerated spheres of these particles since the mid 70s as I recall. Anyway, they can be fragile but epon does not break up the microstructure. One can section throgh the 'micro-dust' on the surface of these spheres without loss of material.
As you can see, EPON works on a wide range of 'porous silica' samples. There must be a reason why EM people like it? It works on a wide range of materials, wets well, sticks fairly well to them, and sections well.
Eponate 12 releases from polyethelene molds, bottle caps, etc. quite well for 1-4 cycles of mold use with EPON, FYI.
Hope this helps.
Paul Beauregard Senior Research Associate PPG Industries Monroeville Technical Center Monroeville, PA 15146
Opinions given are my own and not those of PPG Industries.
} Dear all } } I have a sample of dried porous silica that I would like to embed and } thin section. Could anyone give me any advice on the best resin and } protocol to use? The idea of using a methacrylate resin has been thrown } about (the idea, not the resin - I can assure you), however I would be } very grateful for any advice regarding any of the resins available. If } this is a bit specific then reply off-line to the address below. } } Thanks } Pippa } ---------------------- } Pippa Hawes, EMU } School of Chemistry } University of Bristol } Cantocks Close } Bristol UK } BS8 1TS } Pippa.Hawes-at-bristol.ac.uk } } } }
Earl Weltmer and Brad Johnson wrote: ============================================================ } Hello, } I need to replace the SE scintillator on my SEM (JEOL 5900), and I was } considering using a YAP scintillator instead of the typical phosphorous } scintillator. Does anyone have any experience or suggestions on this? ++++Brad Johnson
About ten years ago I ran some tests for signal on several scintillator types: YAP, YAG, standard aluminum coated scintillator & "uncoated" scintillator. The result at that time were surprising.
Using a JEOL 35C SEM & running the same specimen current & PMT voltage with each scintillator the best signal was given by the original aluminum coated scintillator.
The second best was the "uncoated" scintillator & it was only 80% of the signal the standard aluminum coated scintillator. The YAP & YAG gave only 60% of the standard aluminum scintillator.
I was very disappointed as the YAP & YAG were significantly more than the standard scintillator. The conclusion that I came to was that the YAP & YAG would probably give more longevity & could justify their extra cost but they were not fit for high resolution. The YAP & YAG would probably be suitable for probe work.
Keep in mind this experiment was done about ten years ago. Perhaps the crystals have improved in recent years & the data may need a re-evaluation. I am sure that there is someone who would be willing to criticize my results (maybe in Northern Calif.?) but this the data that I received at the time. +++++ Earl Weltmer ============================================================ We have offered P-47, YAG and YAP scintillators for SEM applications for more then twenty years. Earl is correct that the P-47 performance, **but when first installed**, does probably give a superior performance. However , not all YAG and YAP crystals come out of the "same cookie cutter." From what we have been able to deduce, a high quality YAG or YAP single crystal scintillator will perform so close to that of the P-47 that one usually has difficulty detecting the difference. However, as everyone knows, the P-47 once installed, in terms of performance, goes only down. The only question is how fast it will go down. And that rate of deterioration of performance depends among other things on the type of work being done. For example, the higher x-ray fluxes associated with EDS (and especially WDS) tend to cause a more rapid deterioration.
Also, if Earl's experiment was done as described, and if a YAG was tested against P-47 but using the same PMT, then one would expect to find an inferior performance, because the PMT that is optimum for P47 is not the same one that would have been optimum for YAG. Now this might be less of a problem today than it would have been ten years ago, but if the PMT was not changed, then the right test (IMHO) was not the one being performed. To make the comparison, one would have had to have taken out the S11 style and replaced it with an S20 PMT. This point is further explained on our website URL http://www.2spi.com/catalog/scintill/spi-yag.html
When a YAG or YAP scintillator is installed, its performance level is constant and does not deteriorate. So while the comparison might suggest some superiority at the very beginning, in most instances that we have seen, or have been led to believe, it is not long that the SEM running on YAG or YAP in general, is operating at a higher level of performance. And the SEM is not subjected to the downtime associated with the need to change a P-47 powder scintillator from time to time.
For those operating at low KV in the BSE mode (and using YAG or YAP), and high magnifications, the image is clearly less noisy. A collection of ten different references from different laboratories around the world, which have been collected on URL http://www.2spi.com/catalog/scintill/sem-tem.html at least to some, pretty much document the superiority of the single crystal scintillators over the powder scintillators. I guess one could always try to do more studies, but anyone that is familiar with these publications finds their conclusions pretty persuasive.
We have generally recommended that the SPI single crystal scintillators offered many advantages over the more traditional P-47 scintillator. We have been under the impression that those who have made the switch have been pretty happy with their results, though we do hear from time to time of someone who would not agree with that statement. Of course, the performance is related to the nature of the doping of the crystal, and as I said, not all these crystals come out of the same cookie cutter. Not all YAG's and YAP's are created equal. So when making comparisons, and statements about their scintillators, it would be helpful for one to state the brand of their scintillator crystal. These crystals are certainly not a generic entity where all are the same irrespective of the source.
Disclaimer: SPI Supplies is a major supplier of scintillators for SEM applications including P-47's, YAGs and YAPs.
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
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} } I have a sample of dried porous silica that I would like to embed and } thin section. Could anyone give me any advice on the best resin and } protocol to use? The idea of using a methacrylate resin has been thrown } about (the idea, not the resin - I can assure you), however I would be } very grateful for any advice regarding any of the resins available. If } this is a bit specific then reply off-line to the address below. } Pippa -
You'll probably do fine with LR White, Hard grade. Its low viscosity is a big help, but if the sample floats anyway you may need vacuum. If you've never used that resin, be cautious when selecting the embedding mold; it will dissolve some plastics & it won't harden in flat molds unless air is excluded. Gelatin capsules work.
Caroline
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
I have followed this discussion with some interest. A similar situation exists in the field of mass spectroscopy.
At one time there were many mass spectrographs and mass spectrometers being used. Mass spectrographs were those instruments in which the detected ions were spread out along a focal plane and a significant portion of the mass range was collected simultaneously on a photographic plate. Mass spectrometers were those instruments in which the detected ions were moved across a detector slit (by varying magnetic field or ion accelerating potential) and collected/detected, one m/q at a time, by either a Faraday cup or electron multiplier after the slit, providing a readout on an electronic device (electrometer usually). Mass spectroscope or mass spectroscopy was used as the general term to include either type of instrument.
Mass spectrographs are rarely seen any more and even if they are used, the photographic plate would probably be replaced by some type of CCD detector providing electronic readout so the original clear distinction becomes blurred.
I'm sure that an analogous situation exists in optical spectroscopy.
Don Marshall
Don Marshall RELION Industries PO Box 12 Bedford, MA 01730
by sparc5.microscopy.com (8.9.3+Sun/8.9.3) id AAA25972 for dist-Microscopy; Sun, 2 Sep 2001 00:06:16 -0500 (CDT) Received: from no_more_spam.com (sparc5 [206.69.208.10]) by sparc5.microscopy.com (8.9.3+Sun/8.9.3) with SMTP id AAA25969 for "MicroscopyFilteredEmail1-at-msa.microscopy.com"; Sun, 2 Sep 2001 00:05:46 -0500 (CDT) Received: from gol-mas2.austar.net.au ([203.22.8.216]) by sparc5.microscopy.com (8.9.3+Sun/8.9.3) with ESMTP id AAA25961 for {microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} ; Sun, 2 Sep 2001 00:05:34 -0500 (CDT) Received: from 150 (bds-228-109.tow.austar.net.au [203.21.228.109]) by gol-mas2.austar.net.au (Mirapoint) with SMTP id ADU82053; Sun, 2 Sep 2001 15:03:17 +1000 (EST) Received: by localhost with Microsoft MAPI; Sun, 2 Sep 2001 15:02:55 +1000 Message-ID: {01C133C0.5859C4A0.jim-at-proscitech.com} "jim-at-proscitech.com" {jim-at-proscitech.com} , "'Angela Klaus'" {avklaus-at-amnh.org} , "microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com" {microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com}
Reinhard Rachel also wrote on this back-channel and so I expect that you are right: I confused the early FE-SEM and FE-TEM. I saw the Siemens instrument in the Karlsruhe application lab in October 76. I was there for two other instruments but the large FE instrument was of course rather eye-catching. 25 years later I recall that it had a short, but large diameter column and so thought of it in the long-term as a FE-SEM. Hope that this was not a complete waste of time as these contributions have placed other FE instruments in a historical context. 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 Saturday, September 01, 2001 6:18 AM, Alan Nicholls [SMTP:nicholls-at-uic.edu] wrote: } Jim } } I think you mean FE-STEMs not FE-SEMs. The first VG HB5 STEM was delivered } in 1973 to University of London. } } Regards } } Alan } } At 09:55 AM 8/31/2001 +1000, Jim at Proscitech 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 } } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } } } } In 1976 both, Siemens and Vacuum Generator marketed FESEMs. The Vacuum } } Generator unit was considerably cheaper and possibly better too. } } Incidentally, the Siemens unit became a fiasco and likely was a major reason } } for the company's board to abandon the building of electron microscopes a } } year } } or two later. Siemens had been the first commercial manufacturer of electron } } microscopes and built the best instruments in the 50th and early 60th. The } } Philips EM300 was the first serious challenge to Siemens. } } Michael Beer of Chicago published a great deal of FESEM developments in the } } early 70th. } } 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 Thursday, August 30, 2001 9:43 PM, Angela Klaus [SMTP:avklaus-at-amnh.org] } } 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 Listers... } } } } } } Does anyone know when the first cold field emission microscope became } } } commercially available? } } } } } } Thanks and best, } } } } } } Angela } } } } } } Angela V. Klaus } } } } } } Director, Interdepartmental Laboratories } } } American Museum of Natural History } } } Central Park West at 79th Street } } } New York, NY 10024 USA } } } } } } Email: avklaus-at-amnh.org } } } Tel: 212-769-5977 } } } } } Alan W Nicholls, PhD } Director of Research Service Facility (Electron Microscopy) } Research Resources Center - East (M/C 337) } Room 100 Science and Engineering South Building } The University of Illinois at Chicago } 845 West Taylor St } Chicago, IL 60607-7058 } } Tel: 312 996 1227 } Fax: 312 996 8091 } Office: Room 110 } } Web site www.rrc.uic.edu
Dear Gary, I will receive my Axiopklan only on next week - so I have still no experience and cannot help. With best wishes Jiri Kalvoda ----- Original Message ----- } From: Gary Gaugler {gary-at-gaugler.com} To: {jsharp-at-zeiss.com} Cc: MSA listserver {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} Sent: Wednesday, August 22, 2001 5:09 AM
Here, here! (or is it hear , hear?) Ken Converse Quality Images
Paula Sicurello 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Listers, } } Nestor's little slip and his apology should make us realize how valuable Nestor and his service of the listserver is to us. I just want to say Thank You Nestor for all the hard work you do to keep us on-line and spam free. You help all of us to stay connected in a nice environment where we can ask our questions and communicate our ideas. } } Thank You Nestor! } } } Paula :-) } } Paula Sicurello } George Washington Univ. Medical Center } Dept. of Pathology, Ross Hall rm 505 } Electron Microscope Lab } 2300 Eye St. } Washington, DC 20037 } 202-994-2930 phone } 202-994-2518 fax } } } }
-----Original Message----- } From: John A. Reffner [mailto:JAReffner-at-compuserve.com]
On Tuesday, October 2, 2001, Dr. Joseph I. Goldstein will receive the New York Microscopical Society's Ernst Abbe Memorial Award at a special symposium in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The Symposium is part of the Eastern Analytical Symposium & Exposition. The session starts at 9:00-am with the presentation of the Abbe Award. The program includes:
Joseph I. Goldstein Advances in Scanning Electron Microscopy and X-Ray Microanalysis
Charles E. Lyman Quantitative X-Ray Microanalysis in the Environmental SEM
David B. Williams Microbeam Analysis of Metallic Meteorites
Eric Lifshin Pushing the Limits of Spatial Resolution in X-Ray Microanalysis
Come and join the celebration Dean Goldstein's contributions to science of microscopy and educating so many microscopists.
The EAS meeting will be held in the Atlantic City Convention Center, October 1-4, 2001. For more information contact the EAS Homepage:( http://www.eas.org).
I have run into a file format problem between Semper for Windows(image processing software from Synoptics, UK running on Microsoft Windows 98) and EMS (image simulation software by Prof Stadelmann running on a Silicon Graphics workstation). The EMS suite of programs for image simulation has a routine se1 that writes the R type images (created by the im1 routine, in the present case) in Semper file format which is essentially a Fortran unformatted output. This file is to be read into Semper using the unformatted option of the read command. However I get a
Message: illegal structure for unformatted file ?129: File I/O error 6419 on unit 1 file 'd:\users\divakar\semper\images\rd1082.unf'
error on Semper for Windows and a similar message on Semper for DOS version 6.4. I would appreciate help / advise from members of this list in this regard. Is this because the binary code on Unix and DOS /Windows is different? Or is this a version problem? Does somebody have software / image file / disc file format details which can be used to inter-convert between these operating systems and / or hardware?
With Best Regards, ---- Divakar R Physical Metallurgy Section, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research Kalpakkam 603102, India ----
We have an Electroscan ESEM E3, on which we have had different problems with the stage. In one case it was necessary to change some cables to fix the problem, but occasionally the stage won't move in the X-Y directions, and the problem is solved simply by changing the magnification on the microscope!! We haven't yet been able to come up with an explanation for this strange behaviour, but I hope for you, that your problems may be solved in this simple way.
Kind regards, Jesper ________________________________ Jesper Vejloe Carstensen Electron Microscopy & Microanalysis Risoe National Laboratory, Materials Research Department P.O. Box 49, DK-4000 Roskilde, DENMARK Phone: 46 77 57 76, Fax: 46 77 57 58 E-mail: jesper.v.carstensen-at-risoe.dk Web: www.risoe.dk/afm
-----Original Message----- } From: Gordon Vrololjak [mailto:gvrdolja-at-nature.Berkeley.EDU] Sent: 31. august 2001 18:24 To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
Hello, I've been going through setting up an Electroscan ESEM E3 in our laboratory and vacuum problems aside, we now have a stage that doesn't want to move. Anyone ever come across stage problems and have some suggestions that I may try for this instrument?
The stage will actually move if you give it a gentle push along a gear arm, but it often locks up in the Z direction, and sometimes X/Y. Auto calibrate allows the stage to move in X/Y, but it never calibrates the Z direction. Thanks.
\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/ \ 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
Dear fellow list server members, We have a Si(Li) detector with Be/UT window attached to a SEM. Some time before I started my job here there was a vacuum fault where pump oil backstreamed into the SEM column -my understanding is that the Be window was in position at the time. We are now seeing low counts for light elements when used in thin window mode and quantitative data reflect this, even though the oil streamed in when the Be window was being used. The manufacturer has suggested the likely source is ice on the crystal (from figures below). This problem I am assured only started after the vacuum/oil problem which indicates oil is the likely problem. I include K/L line data collected from a copper sample at 10, 15, 20 kV with both the Be and UT windows in place. The counts represent the peak windows/ROI of the K and L lines. What do you make of these figures below? As I have no reference data or anything to compare with. I would appreciate any input or suggestions you have.
Beam Window Cu L Cu K K/L ratio 20 Be 47461 156947 3.3 20 utw 84033 110570 1.3 15 Be 18357 24336 1.3 15 utw 34930 18172 0.5 10 Be 15225 1070 0.07 10 utw 28005 880 0.03
Mant thanks.
Martin Roe Electron Microscopist Materials/Engineering Department Wolfson Building Nottingham University University Park Nottingham NG7 2RD tel +44 (0) 115 9513768 tel =44 (0) 115 9513871 fax +44 (0) 115 9513764 email: martin.roe-at-nottingham.ac.uk
Due to you didn't mention anything about live time, beam condition, i.e, beam current, beam alignment, working distance and ect.. so it is quite difficult to suggest anything about your results. However, it seems likely that at 15kv (Be) and 20k(utw) are OK. Normally, at 20kV, K/L ratio is close to 1, it depends on the condition of the detector.
Try Ni K/L to confirm that, K/L ratio would be about 1 at 20 kV.
Regards,
Paiboob Nuannin Dept of Physics Faculty of Science Prince of Songkla University Hatyai 90110 Thailand
On Mon, 3 Sep 2001, Martin Roe 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } } } Dear fellow list server members, } We have a Si(Li) detector with Be/UT window attached to a SEM. Some time before I started my job here there was a vacuum fault where pump oil backstreamed into the SEM column -my understanding is that the Be window was in position at the time. We are now seeing low counts for light elements when used in thin window mode and quantitative data reflect this, even though the oil streamed in when the Be window was being used. The manufacturer has suggested the likely source is ice on the crystal (from figures below). This problem I am assured only started after the vacuum/oil problem which indicates oil is the likely problem. I include K/L line data collected from a copper sample at 10, 15, 20 kV with both the Be and UT windows in place. The counts represent the peak windows/ROI of the K and L lines. } What do you make of these figures below? As I have no reference data or anything to compare with. I would appreciate any input or suggestions you have. } } Beam Window Cu L Cu K K/L ratio } 20 Be 47461 156947 3.3 } 20 utw 84033 110570 1.3 } 15 Be 18357 24336 1.3 } 15 utw 34930 18172 0.5 } 10 Be 15225 1070 0.07 } 10 utw 28005 880 0.03 } } Mant thanks. } } Martin Roe } Electron Microscopist } Materials/Engineering Department } Wolfson Building } Nottingham University } University Park } Nottingham } NG7 2RD } tel +44 (0) 115 9513768 } tel =44 (0) 115 9513871 } fax +44 (0) 115 9513764 } email: martin.roe-at-nottingham.ac.uk } }
We tried a stretch alignment of the column to verify the basic astigmatism.
In low mag, specially in the central and lower magnification range (between 50 and 250) we see a ?blade? cutting the field of view only without any condenser aperture inserted.
This blade is the objective aperture support.
I suppose it is a normal thing, but I like to be sure about it.
Is the same on your machine?
If it is so, please let me know.
Thanks a lot!
P.S. Thanks Nestor!
Marco Arienti
__________________________________________________________________ Abbonati a Tiscali! Con VoceViva puoi anche ascoltare ed inviare email al telefono. Chiama VoceViva all' 892 800 http://voceviva.tiscali.it
We tried a stretch alignment of the column to verify the basic astigmatism.
In low mag, specially in the central and lower magnification range (between 50 and 250) we see a "blade" cutting the field of view only without any condenser aperture inserted.
This blade is the objective aperture support.
I suppose it is a normal thing, but I like to be sure about it.
Regarding my recent experiences with my used Axioplan, I consider the issue to be closed. Zeiss sent a factory technician to my site and corrected the problem at no charge.
I have little experience with SEM and EDX detector performance, however, I have used a range of Be, thin window and windowless detectors on TEMs and there are a couple of comments I would like to make.
If the degradation in performance occurred directly after the oil backstreaming then I agree that oil is quite likely to be the cause but otherwise it is quite possibly ice on the crystal.
Has the detector liquid nitrogen always been kept well filled? If the internal 'cryo pump' starts to warm up then you could get icing on the crystal.
Why not condition the detector anyway? Certainly on my Oxford Instruments (ex Link) detectors it is easy to do and does not seem to degrade the performance at all. I regularly condition the windowless detector on my JEOL2010 TEM (about every 6 months) to get the light element performace back. However, I have not had to condition the SATW detector (on another TEM) in over two years so I guess the water comes from the microscope and not the detector.
Regards, Ron
On Mon, 03 Sep 2001 17:02:31 +0100 Martin Roe {Martin.Roe-at-nottingham.ac.uk} 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } } } Dear fellow list server members, } We have a Si(Li) detector with Be/UT window attached to a SEM. Some time before I started my job here there was a vacuum fault where pump oil backstreamed into the SEM column -my understanding is that the Be window was in position at the time. We are now seeing low counts for light elements when used in thin window mode and quantitative data reflect this, even though the oil streamed in when the Be window was being used. The manufacturer has suggested the likely source is ice on the crystal (from figures below). This problem I am assured only started after the vacuum/oil problem which indicates oil is the likely problem. I include K/L line data collected from a copper sample at 10, 15, 20 kV with both the Be and UT windows in place. The counts represent the peak windows/ROI of the K and L lines. } What do you make of these figures below? As I have no reference data or anything to compare with. I would appreciate any input or suggestions you have. } } Beam Window Cu L Cu K K/L ratio } 20 Be 47461 156947 3.3 } 20 utw 84033 110570 1.3 } 15 Be 18357 24336 1.3 } 15 utw 34930 18172 0.5 } 10 Be 15225 1070 0.07 } 10 utw 28005 880 0.03 } } Mant thanks. } } Martin Roe } Electron Microscopist } Materials/Engineering Department } Wolfson Building } Nottingham University } University Park } Nottingham } NG7 2RD } tel +44 (0) 115 9513768 } tel =44 (0) 115 9513871 } fax +44 (0) 115 9513764 } email: martin.roe-at-nottingham.ac.uk } }
---------------------- 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
I'll second what Jesper says. Our E3 also occasionally does the "lock-up" thing but can always be freed up simply by changing the magnification. Why this should fix it is, I think, one of the great mysteries of the universe. We've also occasionally experienced slow movement of the stage in the XY direction. This can make acquiring a digital image a real problem at times. Usually you can stop this drift by changing the pressure in the chamber.....Great Mystery of the Universe #2.....
Frank Thomas Geological Survey of Canada (Atlantic) Bedford Institute of Oceanography Dartmouth, Nova Scotia ----- Original Message ----- } From: "Gordon Vrololjak" {gvrdolja-at-nature.Berkeley.EDU} To: {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} Sent: Friday, August 31, 2001 1:23 PM
Charles Garber in his recent posting wrote: } Not all YAG's and } YAP's are created equal. So when making comparisons, and statements about } their scintillators, it would be helpful for one to state the brand of their } scintillator crystal. These crystals are certainly not a generic entity } where all are the same irrespective of the source.
I am a bit puzzled by this. I was under the impression that all of the YAG and YAP scintillators offered for sale in this country originate from the same ultimate supplier in Europe. Has this changed? Or perhaps there are different grades of crystal?
Fred Schamber Aspex LLC
"Garber, Charles A." 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } -- [ From: Garber, Charles A. * EMC.Ver #3.1 ] -- } } Earl Weltmer and Brad Johnson wrote: } ============================================================ } } Hello, } } I need to replace the SE scintillator on my SEM (JEOL 5900), and I was } } considering using a YAP scintillator instead of the typical phosphorous } } scintillator. Does anyone have any experience or suggestions on this? } ++++Brad Johnson } } About ten years ago I ran some tests for signal on several scintillator } types: YAP, YAG, standard aluminum coated scintillator & "uncoated" } scintillator. } The result at that time were surprising. } } Using a JEOL 35C SEM & running the same specimen current & PMT voltage with } each scintillator the best signal was given by the original aluminum coated } scintillator. } } The second best was the "uncoated" scintillator & it was only 80% of the } signal the standard aluminum coated scintillator. } The YAP & YAG gave only 60% of the standard aluminum scintillator. } } I was very disappointed as the YAP & YAG were significantly more than the } standard scintillator. } The conclusion that I came to was that the YAP & YAG would probably give } more longevity & could justify their extra cost but they were not fit for } high resolution. The YAP & YAG would probably be suitable for probe work. } } Keep in mind this experiment was done about ten years ago. Perhaps the } crystals have improved in recent years & the data may need a re-evaluation. } I am sure that there is someone who would be willing to criticize my results } (maybe in Northern Calif.?) but this the data that I received at the time. } +++++ Earl Weltmer } ============================================================ } We have offered P-47, YAG and YAP scintillators for SEM applications for } more then twenty years. Earl is correct that the P-47 performance, **but } when first installed**, does probably give a superior performance. However } , not all YAG and YAP crystals come out of the "same cookie cutter." From } what we have been able to deduce, a high quality YAG or YAP single crystal } scintillator will perform so close to that of the P-47 that one usually has } difficulty detecting the difference. However, as everyone knows, the P-47 } once installed, in terms of performance, goes only down. The only question } is how fast it will go down. And that rate of deterioration of performance } depends among other things on the type of work being done. For example, the } higher x-ray fluxes associated with EDS (and especially WDS) tend to cause a } more rapid deterioration. } } Also, if Earl's experiment was done as described, and if a YAG was tested } against P-47 but using the same PMT, then one would expect to find an } inferior performance, because the PMT that is optimum for P47 is not the } same one that would have been optimum for YAG. Now this might be less of a } problem today than it would have been ten years ago, but if the PMT was not } changed, then the right test (IMHO) was not the one being performed. To } make the comparison, one would have had to have taken out the S11 style and } replaced it with an S20 PMT. This point is further explained on our website } URL } http://www.2spi.com/catalog/scintill/spi-yag.html } } When a YAG or YAP scintillator is installed, its performance level is } constant and does not deteriorate. So while the comparison might suggest } some superiority at the very beginning, in most instances that we have seen, } or have been led to believe, it is not long that the SEM running on YAG or } YAP in general, is operating at a higher level of performance. And the SEM } is not subjected to the downtime associated with the need to change a P-47 } powder scintillator from time to time. } } For those operating at low KV in the BSE mode (and using YAG or YAP), and } high magnifications, the image is clearly less noisy. A collection of ten } different references from different laboratories around the world, which } have been collected on URL } http://www.2spi.com/catalog/scintill/sem-tem.html } at least to some, pretty much document the superiority of the single crystal } scintillators over the powder scintillators. I guess one could always try } to do more studies, but anyone that is familiar with these publications } finds their conclusions pretty persuasive. } } We have generally recommended that the SPI single crystal scintillators } offered many advantages over the more traditional P-47 scintillator. We } have been under the impression that those who have made the switch have been } pretty happy with their results, though we do hear from time to time of } someone who would not agree with that statement. Of course, the performance } is related to the nature of the doping of the crystal, and as I said, not } all these crystals come out of the same cookie cutter. Not all YAG's and } YAP's are created equal. So when making comparisons, and statements about } their scintillators, it would be helpful for one to state the brand of their } scintillator crystal. These crystals are certainly not a generic entity } where all are the same irrespective of the source. } } Disclaimer: SPI Supplies is a major supplier of scintillators for SEM } applications including P-47's, YAGs and YAPs. } } 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 } ############################ } ==================================================
The first VG HB5 FE-STEM was delivered in 1973 to University of London.
Both AEI and Seimens got into dedicated STEM shortly before they pulled out of the EM market in the early 70's. VG was able to attract a number of the main characters who had worked at AEI to form the core of the VG Microscopes unit.
The first electron microscope VG produced was a W thermal sourced SEM (Miniscan) for which they were awarded the Queens award for technological innovation in 1970. They then went on to produce the HB5 High Vacuum FE-STEM and HB50 High Vacuum FE-SEM. All of the latter were sold with Auger spectrometers as a Scanning Auger Microprobe.
Regards
Alan
At 09:55 AM 8/31/2001 +1000, Jim at Proscitech wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Alan W Nicholls, PhD Director of Research Service Facility (Electron Microscopy) Research Resources Center - East (M/C 337) Room 100 Science and Engineering South Building The University of Illinois at Chicago 845 West Taylor St Chicago, IL 60607-7058
On both the E3 and 2020 the stage movement with the Joy Stick is linked to magnification. The higher the mag the slower the stage speed. Above about 8000 X the stage motors are disabled and beam shift is active with the Joy Stick.
The apparent movement of the image should remain the same at all mags. If the mag is above about 8KX then the amount of image movement is limited by the beam shift. To continue searching the magnification has to be lowered.
For ElectroScan ESEM questions (E2,E3,Explorer, 2010 or 2020) world wide contact me directly at dsimpson-at-ma.feico.com For XL ESEM (XLFEG ESEM, XLLab6 ESEM or XLTMP ESEM in North America contact me directly at dsimpson-at-ma.feico.com For XL ESEM (XLFEG ESEM, XLLab6 ESEM or XLTMP ESEM for the rest of the world contact their local Service group.
Regards Derek Simpson ESEM Technical Support Manager FEI Company One Corporation Way #2 Peabody, MA 01960 E-mail: dsimpson-at-feico.com Voice: 1.978.538.6700 Fax: 1.978.531.9648
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Dear Gordon,
We have an Electroscan ESEM E3, on which we have had different problems with the stage. In one case it was necessary to change some cables to fix the problem, but occasionally the stage won't move in the X-Y directions, and the problem is solved simply by changing the magnification on the microscope!! We haven't yet been able to come up with an explanation for this strange behaviour, but I hope for you, that your problems may be solved in this simple way.
Kind regards, Jesper ________________________________ Jesper Vejloe Carstensen Electron Microscopy & Microanalysis Risoe National Laboratory, Materials Research Department P.O. Box 49, DK-4000 Roskilde, DENMARK Phone: 46 77 57 76, Fax: 46 77 57 58 E-mail: jesper.v.carstensen-at-risoe.dk Web: www.risoe.dk/afm
-----Original Message----- } From: Gordon Vrololjak [mailto:gvrdolja-at-nature.Berkeley.EDU] Sent: 31. August 2001 18:24 To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
Hello, I've been going through setting up an Electroscan ESEM E3 in our laboratory and vacuum problems aside, we now have a stage that doesn't want to move. Anyone ever come across stage problems and have some suggestions that I may try for this instrument?
The stage will actually move if you give it a gentle push along a gear arm, but it often locks up in the Z direction, and sometimes X/Y. Auto calibrate allows the stage to move in X/Y, but it never calibrates the Z direction. Thanks.
\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/ \ 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
An alternative you may want to consider is the Polaron E6700 Evaporator, manufactured by Thermo VG Scientific. We are their distribution and service agent in the U.S. and would be happy to supply you with more information.
Best regards,
Michael R. Nesta General Manager Energy Beam Sciences, Inc. Agawam, MA USA Tel: (413) 786-9322 mnesta-at-ebsciences.com "Adding Brilliance to Your Vision"
-----Original Message----- } From: K.N. Bozhilov [mailto:bozhilov-at-citrus.ucr.edu] Sent: Friday, August 31, 2001 12:27 PM To: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
Hi All,
I would greatly appreciate if you could share your opinion about performance and reliability of the Bench Top Turbo III vacuum evaporator from Denton Vacuum, also alternative suggestions are more than welcome. We are looking currently to purchase a vacuum evaporator for general EM preparation capable of carbon and metal evaporation, glow discharge and thickness control. Cleanliness of the vacuum is our main concern and especially the fact that the Bench Top model does not have LN trap.
Thank you,
Krassimir N. Bozhilov Central Facility for Advanced Microscopy and Microanalysis University of California Riverside, CA 92521
We are parting with a used oil diffusion pump (w/ LN2 Trap) that has approx. 2 years wear and tear. The pump has been in storage for the last 10 years. The pump was manufactured by DAIA vacuum Engineering corp, model # DPF4Zs. The mounting flange is approx. 7.25 inches with an 8 hole bolt pattern. It was removed from a Hitachi S-4000 FESEM for replacement by a cleaner turbo model. If you are interested please contact me off-line. The pump is free but you must assume all shipping costs. Thanks, jr
I will hazard one guess being unfamiliar with either of the programs or formats that you describe. I suspect that there is a difference in how the two systems format text files. Under DOS and Windows, text lines normally end with a carriage return and line feed characters, ASCII codes 13 and 10. Under UNIX, lines often end with one or the other, but not both; I think carriage return is the norm.
I know that WS-FTP has an option for converting text files to the proper standard when transferring between the two different platforms. It might be able to help, but you will need to tell it that the file are text. It ordinarily runs in auto-detect mode and determines file type based on the extension. Unknown extensions default to binary format. Presuming you have to ship your files anyway, this might eliminate the need for a translator program.
There are also a number of utilities around that could give you a look at the binary codes for your file to see what characters are being used to indicate the end of the line. I have some I could recommend on the PC side if you don't already have one. They are relatively available on the shareware sites and could help verify what I have said. Some even serve as editors so you could make changes to one file manually to see if this is the source of your problem.
Warren
At 04:16 PM 9/3/2001 +0530, you wrote:
} I have run into a file format problem between Semper for Windows(image } processing software from Synoptics, UK running on Microsoft Windows 98) } and EMS (image simulation software by Prof Stadelmann running on a } Silicon Graphics workstation). The EMS suite of programs for image } simulation has a routine se1 that writes the R type images (created by } the im1 routine, in the present case) in Semper file format which is } essentially a Fortran unformatted output. This file is to be read into } Semper using the unformatted option of the read command. However I get } a } } Message: illegal structure for unformatted file } ?129: File I/O error 6419 on unit 1 file } 'd:\users\divakar\semper\images\rd1082.unf' } } error on Semper for Windows and a similar message on Semper for DOS } version 6.4. I would appreciate help / advise from members of this list } in this regard. Is this because the binary code on Unix and DOS } /Windows is different? Or is this a version problem? Does somebody have } software / image file / disc file format details which can be used to } inter-convert between these operating systems and / or hardware? } } With Best Regards, } ---- } Divakar R } Physical Metallurgy Section, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research } Kalpakkam 603102, India } ----
---------------------- Warren E. Straszheim Materials Analysis and Research Lab Iowa State University 23 Town Engineering Ames IA, 50011-3232
It is Ladd's belief that the ideal vacuum evaporator should include a mechanical and a diffusion pump to get you to the 10(-7) range and should have a LN trap. The evaporation system should have a protective shield for cleanliness. If you are doing chromium evaporation then a turbo pump would be required.
John Arnott
Disclaimer: Ladd Research manufactures and sells vacuum evaporation systems. --
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K.N. Bozhilov 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, } } I would greatly appreciate if you could share your opinion about performance } and reliability of the Bench Top Turbo III vacuum evaporator from Denton } Vacuum, also alternative suggestions are more than welcome. We are looking } currently to purchase a vacuum evaporator for general EM preparation capable } of carbon and metal evaporation, glow discharge and thickness control. } Cleanliness of the vacuum is our main concern and especially the fact that } the Bench Top model does not have LN trap. } } Thank you, } } Krassimir N. Bozhilov } Central Facility for Advanced Microscopy and Microanalysis } University of California } Riverside, CA 92521 } } Tel 909 787 2998 } Fax 909 787 4324
It is possible to break the 8mm glass, but it can be very frustrating. If the users want wider knives, try to talk them into purchasing a diamond knife for thick sections. It is less expensive than diamonds for thin sectioning, and I think it is a good buy because of time saved making and changing knives and attaching water catchers. The only downside is that once there is a nick in the edge it is there until resharpening time.
I would like to prepare 0.05 M Cacodylate buffer pH 7.4, but do not have the recipe and protocol necessary for its preparation. Would it be possible to help me out?
Thanks in advance.
Patrícia Reis ____________________________ Escola Superior Biotecnologia Universidade Católica Portuguesa Rua Dr. António Bernardino Almeida 4200-072 Porto PORTUGAL Tel.: 225580044 Fax.: 225090351 e.mail: {mailto:pmreis-at-mail.esb.ucp.pt} pmreis-at-mail.esb.ucp.pt
I would like to attend a course on microscopy and imaging techniques which would include the latest developments in this field. Apart from the ones at MBL, Cold Spring Harbor and Jim Pawley's course in June, does anyone know of others. Being quite keen, I would prefer something this winter but any suggestions would be highly appreciated.
Thank you Judy
Judy Trogadis Bio-Imaging Coordinator St. Michael's Hospital, 8Q 30 Bond St. Toronto, ON M5B 1W8
Dear All, A colleague recently inherited an IEC Minot Rotary Microtome. Does anyone have a manual or parts? It is missing the speciman holder, mounting bar for knife height adjustment and means of measuring knife angle.
Thanks in advance, Glen -- Glen MacDonald Microscopy and Imaging Facility University of Washington Core for Communication Research Virginia Merrill Bloedel Hearing Research Center Box 357923 University of Washington Seattle, WA 98195-7923 glenmac-at-u.washington.edu (206) 616-4156 (206) 616-1828 fax ************************************************************************** C:} The box said "Requires Windows95 or better". So I bought a Macintosh. **************************************************************************
Could also be a processor related problem. There is a difference in the way the Intel and Motorola processors store information. One of the two writes the LSB (least significant byte) first, the other the MSB (most significant byte). The best bet would probably be to use a format that can be read by both. TIF, for example, can be normally read by both as the file itself contains information about the byte order.
Can you transform your images into TIF?
Michael Bode, Ph.D. Soft Imaging System Corp. 1675 Carr St., #105N Lakewood, CO 80215 =================================== phone: (888) FIND SIS (303) 234-9270 fax: (303) 234-9271 email: mailto:info-at-soft-imaging.com web: http://www.soft-imaging.com ===================================
-----Original Message----- } From: Warren E Straszheim [mailto:wesaia-at-iastate.edu] Sent: Tuesday, September 04, 2001 10:31 AM To: divakar-at-igcar.ernet.in Cc: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
I will hazard one guess being unfamiliar with either of the programs or formats that you describe. I suspect that there is a difference in how the two systems format text files. Under DOS and Windows, text lines normally end with a carriage return and line feed characters, ASCII codes 13 and 10. Under UNIX, lines often end with one or the other, but not both; I think carriage return is the norm.
I know that WS-FTP has an option for converting text files to the proper standard when transferring between the two different platforms. It might be able to help, but you will need to tell it that the file are text. It ordinarily runs in auto-detect mode and determines file type based on the extension. Unknown extensions default to binary format. Presuming you have to ship your files anyway, this might eliminate the need for a translator program.
There are also a number of utilities around that could give you a look at the binary codes for your file to see what characters are being used to indicate the end of the line. I have some I could recommend on the PC side if you don't already have one. They are relatively available on the shareware sites and could help verify what I have said. Some even serve as editors so you could make changes to one file manually to see if this is the source of your problem.
Warren
At 04:16 PM 9/3/2001 +0530, you wrote:
} I have run into a file format problem between Semper for Windows(image } processing software from Synoptics, UK running on Microsoft Windows 98) } and EMS (image simulation software by Prof Stadelmann running on a } Silicon Graphics workstation). The EMS suite of programs for image } simulation has a routine se1 that writes the R type images (created by } the im1 routine, in the present case) in Semper file format which is } essentially a Fortran unformatted output. This file is to be read into } Semper using the unformatted option of the read command. However I get } a } } Message: illegal structure for unformatted file } ?129: File I/O error 6419 on unit 1 file } 'd:\users\divakar\semper\images\rd1082.unf' } } error on Semper for Windows and a similar message on Semper for DOS } version 6.4. I would appreciate help / advise from members of this list } in this regard. Is this because the binary code on Unix and DOS } /Windows is different? Or is this a version problem? Does somebody have } software / image file / disc file format details which can be used to } inter-convert between these operating systems and / or hardware? } } With Best Regards, } ---- } Divakar R } Physical Metallurgy Section, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research } Kalpakkam 603102, India } ----
---------------------- Warren E. Straszheim Materials Analysis and Research Lab Iowa State University 23 Town Engineering Ames IA, 50011-3232
Dear lister? Our Narishige WR-90 micromanipulator does not work properly because the the water inside the system has leaked out slowly. Does anyone in the list know how to refill it? Any suggestion is highly appreciated. Thanks, Long ----------------------------------- Miao, Long Dept of Biological Science 334 Bio. Unit1 Florida State University Tallahassee, FL32306-4370 email: lmiao-at-bio.fsu.edu Voice: (850)644-9817 FAX : (850)644-0481
Dear Listers, If any of you have removed a jammed film cassette from a JEOL 1200EXII, I would like to know how you dislodged it. We will eventually have a service technician to help but I cannot figure out how to remove the plate. I did manage to remove the film and yes the plate was inserted right side up. Thanks in advance. Rosemary
A one day short course on "Digital Image Capture and Management in Light Microscopy" by Dr. Mary McCann & Dr. John McCann is being offered on Sunday September 30,2001 at the Eastern Analytical Symposium and Exhbition in Atlantic City, NJ.
Don O'Leary
-----Original Message----- } From: Judy Trogadis [mailto:TrogadisJ-at-smh.toronto.on.ca] Sent: Tuesday, September 04, 2001 9:13 AM To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com Cc: Judy Trogadis
Fellow Microscopists:
I would like to attend a course on microscopy and imaging techniques which would include the latest developments in this field. Apart from the ones at MBL, Cold Spring Harbor and Jim Pawley's course in June, does anyone know of others. Being quite keen, I would prefer something this winter but any suggestions would be highly appreciated.
Thank you Judy
Judy Trogadis Bio-Imaging Coordinator St. Michael's Hospital, 8Q 30 Bond St. Toronto, ON M5B 1W8
I have experience many jams. Generally occurring with old age. Anyway, JEOL camera mechanisms are wonderful mechanical beasts. Two pushing nails in the mechanism catch the plates. If you look at the plates, on one side there are two small rectangles, which are cut out. The nails use these to capture the plates and push them through the mechanism. These nails, together with the plates wear down and eventually sometimes they miss and do not mate. Generally jamming in the open slot where the plates come out of the box.
So, to dislodge a jam there are several solutions:
1) Waggle the mechanisms in the hope it clears - not a good choice. 2) Make a piece of stiff plastic sheet the width of a plate and the length around 15". Try to insert the sheet above the canisters but below the top mechanisms so as to lift the nails free of the canisters. You can see the nails when you look into the camera above the boxes on both sides. They look like small arms with a piece of copper alloy on the end. Pull camera out if nails are free. 3) Remove the whole camera mechanism. Simply remove the bolts from below the camera chamber (6 I think), and then pull the camera mechanism out in one piece. The jam can then be freed by rotating the mechanism a wee bit.
If you have frequent jams, consider replacing the pushing nails (first) then the plates. Also a good idea to replace the Teflon sheet bearings, but get a JEOL engineer to do this otherwise the position of the mechanism could be lost.
Good luck,
Keith. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dr. K. Moulding.
Materials Characterisation and Preparation Facility Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
I have gotten ahold of a Zeiss camera lucida drawing tube. It has a mirror at an angle that allows one to draw underneath the inclined eye tube. Works for a Zeiss Standard 16. I am getting the hang of it a bit. However, I have at least one question:
What is the collar for (referred to as "ring clamp" below)? It is somewhat eccentric, but I cannot imagine any purpose for it. The device doesn't fit over it, but nearly does. It *is* useful for attaching it to a wider eyepiece tube.
This plastic collar fits snugly inside the eyepiece tube of an Olympus SZH; this is good. Also, it fits over the end of the standard 16 eye tube, with a barrier that doesn't allow it to slip down over the tube. i have some documentation for a similar drawing tube, but there is a slight difference in the picture (there is a knurled knob at the point where the mirror/prism fits over the eyepiece. Mine doesn't have that, it fits snug). Here is the relevant section from the documentation for the pictured device:
1. Focus microscope.
2. Remove eyepiece and slip ring clamp on to tube. Replace eyepiece and fix with ring clamp. [I referred to the "ring clamp" as a collar.]
3. Clamp drawing prism on the eyepiece. [I assume this refers to the knurled screw that isn't present on my device---mine doesn't need to be clamped on.]
} From reading the description, though, I don't know what it is for. Is it a spacer to move the eyepiece up higher? Which Zeiss is it really designed for?
Also, I would greatly appreciate any tips. The tips I found in MICSCAPE were helpful. Can I initiate some correspondence with someone who has some experience with one of these fantastic devices?
Alan Davis Marianas High School
-- adavis-at-saipan.com 1-670-235-6580 Alan E. Davis, PMB 30, Box 10006, Saipan, MP 96950-8906, CNMI
I have steadily endeavored to keep my mind free, so as to give up any hypothesis, however much beloved -- and I cannot resist forming one on every subject -- as soon as facts are shown to be opposed to it. -- Charles Darwin (1809-1882)
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