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From: S.C.Hogg :      S.C.Hogg-at-sheffield.ac.uk
Date: Wed, 1 Aug 2001 09:42:34 +0100
Subject: Hot stage Hi-Vac SEM

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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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


From daemon Wed Aug 1 06:12:00 2001



From: Per =?iso-8859-1?Q?H=F6rstedt?= :      per.horstedt-at-pathol.umu.se
Date: Wed, 01 Aug 2001 13:04:52 +0200
Subject: Re - twosome needed for M&M golf tourney

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


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

per.horstedt-at-pathol.umu.se
phone int-46-90-7851541
fax int-46-90-7851215



From daemon Wed Aug 1 06:59:01 2001



From: Mark Sanders :      msanders-at-biosci.cbs.umn.edu
Date: Wed, 01 Aug 2001 06:59:21 -0500
Subject: Re: SEM Services in Minneapolis/St.Paul Minnesota Area

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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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}
}
}
}



From daemon Wed Aug 1 08:25:09 2001



From: Judy Trogadis :      TrogadisJ-at-smh.toronto.on.ca
Date: Wed, 01 Aug 2001 09:11:15 -0400
Subject: plastic embedding

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


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

ph: 416-864-6060 x6337
fax: 416-864-6043
trogadisj-at-smh.toronto.on.ca




From daemon Wed Aug 1 08:44:01 2001



From: Walck, Scott D. :      walck-at-ppg.com
Date: Wed, 1 Aug 2001 09:39:44 -0400
Subject: Re - twosome needed for M&M golf tourney

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


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

per.horstedt-at-pathol.umu.se
phone int-46-90-7851541
fax int-46-90-7851215



From daemon Wed Aug 1 10:02:58 2001



From: Ronald Vane :      RVaneXEI-at-concentric.net
Date: Tuesday, July 31, 2001 2:34 PM
Subject: Re: Replacement Vacuum Pumps - Need Help

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


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}




From daemon Wed Aug 1 10:55:52 2001



From: L. D. Marks :      ldm-at-risc4.numis.nwu.edu
Date: Wed, 1 Aug 2001 10:53:27 -0500 (CDT)
Subject: POSTDOCTORAL POSITION

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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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




From daemon Wed Aug 1 12:13:59 2001



From: Young, Courtney :      CYoung-at-mtech.edu
Date: Wed, 1 Aug 2001 11:06:48 -0600
Subject: Inquiry for used SEM/EDX

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


From daemon Wed Aug 1 12:54:39 2001



From: Tom Phillips :      PhillipsT-at-missouri.edu
Date: Wed, 1 Aug 2001 12:48:10 -0500
Subject: Metamorph vs ImagePro & networks

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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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)


From daemon Wed Aug 1 12:54:41 2001



From: Steve Beck :      becks-at-sunynassau.edu
Date: Wed, 01 Aug 2001 13:52:56 -0400
Subject: Fall 2001 - TEM Course Announcement

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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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}




From daemon Wed Aug 1 13:19:44 2001



From: zaluzec-at-aaem.amc.anl.gov
Date: Wed, 1 Aug 2001 13:14:42 -0500
Subject: Re: MSA Surplus Equipment pages :Inquiry for used SEM/EDX

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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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 !

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


From daemon Wed Aug 1 13:33:16 2001



From: John J. Bozzola :      bozzola-at-siu.edu
Date: Wed, 1 Aug 2001 13:28:47 -0500
Subject: Computers: PC disks in Macs

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


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
##############################################################


From daemon Wed Aug 1 13:52:57 2001



From: Walck, Scott D. :      walck-at-ppg.com
Date: Wed, 1 Aug 2001 14:48:34 -0400
Subject: Computers: PC disks in Macs

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopylistserver.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.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
##############################################################


From daemon Wed Aug 1 14:21:49 2001



From: Beavers, Roy :      rbeavers-at-post.cis.smu.edu
Date: Wed, 1 Aug 2001 14:16:46 -0500
Subject: Mounting/Embedding Epoxy

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Group,

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



From daemon Wed Aug 1 14:40:10 2001



From: ed_bachmann-at-unc.edu (Ed Bachmann)
Date: Wed, 1 Aug 2001 15:33:44 -0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
Subject: Optical - Zeiss Standard 25 - opinions, value?

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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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



From daemon Wed Aug 1 15:26:04 2001



From: Rodney McCabe :      rmccabe-at-lanl.gov
Date: Wed, 01 Aug 2001 14:19:00 -0600
Subject: Re: Computers: PC disks in Macs

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


John

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



From daemon Wed Aug 1 17:26:45 2001



From: Bart Cannon :      cannonmp-at-accessone.com
Date: Wed, 01 Aug 2001 15:21:59 -0700
Subject: Cambridge S-250 SEM

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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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



From daemon Wed Aug 1 17:49:33 2001



From: Sara Miller :      saram-at-duke.edu
Date: Wed, 1 Aug 2001 18:44:46 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: to MSA attendees

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Dear folks,

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



From daemon Wed Aug 1 18:50:12 2001



From: Nancy Robertson :      pfnlr-at-UAA.ALASKA.EDU
Date: Wed, 01 Aug 2001 15:48:20 -0800
Subject: compound microscope for stained thick sections

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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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


From daemon Wed Aug 1 19:32:31 2001



From: Jim at Proscitech :      jim-at-proscitech.com
Date: Thu, 2 Aug 2001 10:29:27 +1000
Subject: RE: Hot stage Hi-Vac SEM

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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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


From daemon Wed Aug 1 20:02:15 2001



From: Boron nitride :      boronnitride-at-hotmail.com
Date: Wed, 01 Aug 2001 18:56:20 -0600
Subject: EELS Spectra of cubic BCN phase

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


Hello. everybody,

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



From daemon Wed Aug 1 21:38:22 2001



From: Kevin Macke :      kevinmacke2-at-hotmail.com
Date: Wed, 1 Aug 2001 21:31:55 -0500
Subject: TEM Gatan Ion Mill update

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


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:

[ ] {-- brass support ring
----------- {-- grid (50 mesh Ni)
----------- {-- quartz arenite (approx. 20 um)
==================================== {-- glass slide

- material surrounding the grid was the removed with a razor blade,
the slide was heated to melt the Crystal Bond, and the
sample/grid/ring removed



Sincerely,

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


From daemon Thu Aug 2 01:37:11 2001



From: Dave Phelan :      emudp-at-mail.newcastle.edu.au
Date: Thu, 02 Aug 2001 16:24:04 +1000
Subject: SEM of coal char

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


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



From daemon Thu Aug 2 01:46:51 2001



From: Marilena Re :      re-at-cnrsm.it
Date: Thu, 02 Aug 2001 08:41:44 +0200
Subject: tem gatan model 600 ion mill

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


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



From daemon Thu Aug 2 05:29:07 2001



From: DANIEL EBERHARD :      daniel.eberhard-at-biologie.uni-bielefeld.de
Date: Thu, 02 Aug 2001 12:21:03 +0200
Subject: Re: Computers: PC disks in Macs

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


Hallo
have a look at the software "TransMac"
at http://www.asy.com/
This might help you.

Daniel

-----------------------------
* *
* Daniel Eberhard *
* Developmental Biology *
* & Molecular Pathology *
* University Bielefeld *
* Universitätsstr. 25 *
* 32615 Bielefeld *
* Germany *



From daemon Thu Aug 2 06:58:17 2001



From: Marilena Re :      re-at-cnrsm.it
Date: Thu, 02 Aug 2001 13:49:31 +0200
Subject: Re: TEM Gatan Model 600 Ion Mill

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


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

"macke-at-bgnet.bgsu.edu"-at-sparc5.microscopy.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
} -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
}
} 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



From daemon Thu Aug 2 07:39:38 2001



From: Jill.Webb-at-rssl.com
Date: Thu, 2 Aug 2001 13:32:32 +0100
Subject: Vacancy for a Food Microscopist

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


Dear All

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




Regards

Jill

Jill Webb
Principal Scientist, Microscopy, RSSL

( Office : +44 (0)118 986 8541 ext 242
( Fax : +44 (0)118 986 8932
* jill.webb-at-rssl.com






********************************************************************
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.

http://www.rssl.com
http://www.rssl-pharma.com
http://www.productcontamination.com
********************************************************************


From daemon Thu Aug 2 08:13:07 2001



From: JHoffpa464-at-aol.com
Date: Thu, 2 Aug 2001 09:03:59 EDT
Subject: new EM microscope purchases

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


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


From daemon Thu Aug 2 09:32:48 2001



From: Giles, Bill :      William.Giles-at-TIMET.com
Date: Thu, 2 Aug 2001 08:21:01 -0600
Subject: RE: Cambridge S-250 SEM

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


Bart,

Go for it!!

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
}


From daemon Thu Aug 2 10:14:01 2001



From: Scott J. Robinson :      sjrobin-at-itg.uiuc.edu
Date: Thu, 02 Aug 2001 10:11:10 -0500
Subject: dehydrants: mol. sieves and P2O5

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


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



From daemon Thu Aug 2 11:18:05 2001



From: Dusevich, Vladimir :      DusevichV-at-umkc.edu
Date: Thu, 2 Aug 2001 11:11:26 -0500
Subject: RE: SEM of coal char

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


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
}
}
}


From daemon Thu Aug 2 14:09:43 2001



From: Barbara Plowman :      Bplowman-at-sfmail.dental.uop.edu
Date: Thu, 02 Aug 2001 12:03:55 -0700
Subject: Adhering cells to cover slips

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


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



From daemon Thu Aug 2 14:09:44 2001



From: Mike Nesta :      MNesta-at-ebsciences.com
Date: Thu, 2 Aug 2001 14:58:42 -0400
Subject: plastic embedding

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


Judy,

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

ph: 416-864-6060 x6337
fax: 416-864-6043
trogadisj-at-smh.toronto.on.ca






From daemon Thu Aug 2 14:09:44 2001



From: Caroline Schooley :      schooley-at-mcn.org
Date: Thu, 2 Aug 2001 12:01:46 -0700
Subject: Re: compound microscope for stained thick sections

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



} 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




From daemon Thu Aug 2 17:56:16 2001



From: Palatsides, Manuela :      m.palatsides-at-pmci.unimelb.edu.au
Date: Fri, 3 Aug 2001 08:48:37 +1000
Subject: Adhering cells to cover slips

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



From daemon Thu Aug 2 18:08:30 2001



From: Mel Dickson :      m.dickson-at-unsw.edu.au
Date: Fri, 03 Aug 2001 09:08:05 +1000
Subject: Re: dehydrants: mol. sieves and P2O5

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


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/


From daemon Fri Aug 3 06:24:40 2001



From: Oparowski, Joseph :      Joseph_Oparowski-at-bose.com
Date: Fri, 3 Aug 2001 07:15:24 -0400
Subject: EDX service

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


Greetings listers,

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



From daemon Fri Aug 3 08:18:57 2001



From: Debby Sherman :      dsherman-at-purdue.edu
Date: Thursday, August 2, 2001 10:11 AM
Subject: Fwd: dehydrants: mol. sieves and P2O5

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

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


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





From daemon Fri Aug 3 08:41:11 2001



From: stacey andringa :      andrina-at-email.uc.edu
Date: Fri, 03 Aug 2001 09:35:50 -0400
Subject: 2 micron thick sections

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


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.

Stacey Andringa
Stacey.Andringa-at-uc.email



From daemon Fri Aug 3 11:52:42 2001



From: William F. Tivol :      wft03-at-health.state.ny.us
Date: Fri, 3 Aug 2001 12:38:59 -0400
Subject: Re: dehydrants: mol. sieves and P2O5

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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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



From daemon Fri Aug 3 13:12:19 2001



From: Peggy Sherwood :      sherwood-at-helix.mgh.harvard.edu
Date: Fri, 3 Aug 2001 14:11:01 -0400
Subject: FISH Protocol

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Hi!

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


From daemon Fri Aug 3 15:34:42 2001



From: hagin-at-iname.com ()
Date: Sat, 4 Aug 2001 06:39:45 -0500
Subject: Ask-A-Microscopist: procedures to view dstrand or sstrand DNA

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



----- 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

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


From daemon Sun Aug 5 17:45:07 2001



From: zaluzec-at-microscopy.com
Date: Sun, 5 Aug 2001 17:25:31 -0500
Subject: Administrivia: It's MM'01 Week...

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


Colleagues

It's M&M' 01 week and that means I'm in Long Beach with
alot of your Colleagues.

Beware that means a few things will be delayed if
you need my attention as I'll be busy.

Once again we will be bringing you live streaming video
and Daily Newsletters direct from the Exhibit Floor.
Just visit the MSA HomePage.

http://www.msa.microscopy.com.


Cheers....

Nestor
Your Friendly Neighborhood SysOp.



From daemon Mon Aug 6 07:06:49 2001



From: Petra Wahlbring :      petra.wahlbring-at-crpgl.lu
Date: Mon, 06 Aug 2001 13:57:31 +0200
Subject: TEM: embedding media for PU/Polypyrrole-Foam?

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


From daemon Mon Aug 6 07:53:39 2001



From: Beauregard, Paul A. :      pabeauregard-at-ppg.com
Date: Mon, 6 Aug 2001 08:48:30 -0400
Subject: TEM: embedding media for PU/Polypyrrole-Foam?

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


Hi,

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


From daemon Mon Aug 6 11:01:31 2001



From: Robert_Hatt-at-cabot-corp.com
Date: Mon, 6 Aug 2001 11:44:55 -0400
Subject: VG STEM HB501 Available

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


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.

Thank you



From daemon Mon Aug 6 11:34:49 2001



From: Beauregard, Paul A. :      pabeauregard-at-ppg.com
Date: Mon, 6 Aug 2001 12:28:52 -0400
Subject: RE: embedding media for PU/Polypyrrole-Foam?

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


Hi Petra,

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.


From daemon Mon Aug 6 13:45:42 2001



From: Tom Malis :      malis-at-nrcan.gc.ca
Date: Mon, 06 Aug 2001 14:38:14 -0400
Subject: Re: TEM: embedding media for PU/Polypyrrole-Foam?

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


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



From daemon Tue Aug 7 02:52:50 2001



From: Dr Malcolm Roberts :      m.roberts-at-ru.ac.za
Date: Tue, 07 Aug 2001 09:34:09 +0200
Subject: JEOL 733 counting electronics - funny spikes

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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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




From daemon Tue Aug 7 08:30:41 2001



From: Robert H. Olley :      r.h.olley-at-reading.ac.uk
Date: Tue, 7 Aug 2001 14:20:13 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Re: TEM: embedding media for PU/Polypyrrole-Foam?

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



Petra,

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 |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+



From daemon Tue Aug 7 08:45:06 2001



From: Diego Libkind Frati :      libkind-at-crub.uncoma.edu.ar
Date: Mon, 06 Aug 2001 22:43:29 -0700
Subject: SEM of yeasts isolated from natural environments

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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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.

thanks

Diego Libkind
Bariloche, Arg.



From daemon Tue Aug 7 15:39:07 2001



From: tbargar-at-unmc.edu
Date: Tue, 7 Aug 2001 15:27:52 -0500
Subject: wanted: Trimming Block for Reichert/AO Ultracut

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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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).

Tom Bargar
tbargar-at-unmc.edu
1-402-559-7347



From daemon Tue Aug 7 18:48:30 2001



From: jim busse :      jsbusse-at-biochem.wisc.edu
Date: Tue, 7 Aug 2001 18:38:56 -0500
Subject: aniline blue

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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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?

Thanks

Jim Busse


From daemon Wed Aug 8 09:14:40 2001



From: Russell E. Cook :      recook-at-anl.gov
Date: Wed, 8 Aug 2001 08:57:51 -0600
Subject: curtains for Tecnai 20?

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


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




From daemon Wed Aug 8 12:02:38 2001



From: Kenneth Livi :      klivi-at-jhu.edu
Date: Wed, 08 Aug 2001 12:57:44 -0400
Subject: Re: curtains for Tecnai 20?

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


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


From daemon Wed Aug 8 12:37:53 2001



From: jrobson-at-rdg.boehringer-ingelheim.com
Date: Wed, 8 Aug 2001 12:13:35 -0500
Subject: LKB 2168 TEM grid stainer

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


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
}
}
}


From daemon Wed Aug 8 12:49:40 2001



From: Michael Cammer :      cammer-at-aecom.yu.edu
Date: Wed, 08 Aug 2001 13:45:29 -0700
Subject: new pictures on-line

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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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/



From daemon Wed Aug 8 16:01:27 2001



From: John J. Turek :      turekj-at-purdue.edu
Date: Wed, 8 Aug 2001 15:53:00 -0500
Subject: Electron Microscopist Position Available

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


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




From daemon Wed Aug 8 16:11:11 2001



From: Richard Easingwood :      richard.easingwood-at-stonebow.otago.ac.nz
Date: Thu, 9 Aug 2001 09:18:00 +1200
Subject: TEM/STEM query

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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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

Telephone: office: 0064 3 479 7301
Mobile GSM: 0064 21 222 4759
Facsimile: 0064 3 479 7254
mailto:richard.easingwood-at-stonebow.otago.ac.nz
Web site: http://www.otago.ac.nz/anatomy/emunit/








From daemon Wed Aug 8 16:26:27 2001



From: Zhiping Luo :      luo-at-emcnext2.tamu.edu
Date: Wed, 08 Aug 2001 16:21:07 -0500
Subject: LOOKING FOR A USED DIMPLER

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



From daemon Wed Aug 8 19:53:47 2001



From: MARK JEFFREY TALBOT :      mark.talbot-at-studentmail.newcastle.edu.au
Date: Thu, 09 Aug 2001 10:44:30 +1000
Subject: Re: aniline blue

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Hi Jim,

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.

Mark Talbot.



From daemon Thu Aug 9 09:31:54 2001



From: Ian MacLaren :      maclaren-at-hrem.mpi-stuttgart.mpg.de
Date: Thu, 9 Aug 2001 16:10:57 +0200
Subject: Y:Si EDX standard

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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/



From daemon Thu Aug 9 23:46:36 2001



From: Jim at Proscitech :      jim-at-proscitech.com
Date: Fri, 10 Aug 2001 14:37:00 +1000
Subject: RE: Si EDX standard

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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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/


From daemon Fri Aug 10 13:11:48 2001



From: Kirk Czymmek :      kirk-at-udel.edu
Date: Fri, 10 Aug 2001 14:11:12 -0400
Subject: Research Associate Position Available

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Research Associate I – Bioimaging/Microscopy

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.



From daemon Fri Aug 10 17:11:37 2001



From: David Henriks :      henriks-at-southbaytech.com
Date: Fri, 10 Aug 2001 15:03:18 -0700
Subject: Re: LOOKING FOR A USED DIMPLER

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Dear Dr. Luo:

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


From daemon Sat Aug 11 03:16:42 2001



From: uadmon-at-netvision.net.il
Date: Sat, 11 Aug 2001 11:01:23 +0300
Subject: connect Coolpix 990 to light microscope

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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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





From daemon Sat Aug 11 09:41:40 2001



From: MICROFAB-at-aol.com
Date: Sat, 11 Aug 2001 09:34:39 -0500
Subject: Re: connect Coolpix 990 to light microscope

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


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.

You can get more info at the following URL:

http://www.martinmicroscope.com/martinmicro001.htm

Jim Harper
microfab-at-aol.com





In a message dated 8/11/2001 7:47:49 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
uadmon-at-netvision.net.il-at-sparc5.microscopy.com writes:

} Hi all,
}
} Connect Coolpix 990 to a light microscope
}
} Can anybody help?
}


From daemon Sat Aug 11 09:55:26 2001



From: ARSEG-at-aol.com ()
Date: Sat, 11 Aug 2001 09:51:30 -0500
Subject: Ask-A-Microscopist: slide to observe mycorrhizal relationships.

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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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?

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


From daemon Sat Aug 11 11:16:17 2001



From: Gary Gaugler :      gary-at-gaugler.com
Date: Sat, 11 Aug 2001 09:10:29 -0700
Subject: Re: connect Coolpix 990 to light microscope

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



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



From daemon Sun Aug 12 00:33:29 2001



From: Edward_Principe-at-amat.com
Date: Sun, 12 Aug 2001 00:21:34 -0500
Subject: 3D SEM Reconstruction

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


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


From daemon Sun Aug 12 12:34:37 2001



From: Garber, Charles A. :      cgarber-at-2spi.com
Date: Sun, 12 Aug 2001 13:25:09 -0500
Subject: 3D reconstruction software

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


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

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
############################
==================================================



From daemon Sun Aug 12 16:05:52 2001



From: DrJohnRuss-at-aol.com
Date: Sun, 12 Aug 2001 16:58:59 EDT
Subject: Re: 3D reconstruction software

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



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.


From daemon Sun Aug 12 20:15:44 2001



From: Gary Gaugler :      gary-at-gaugler.com
Date: Sun, 12 Aug 2001 18:09:21 -0700
Subject: 3D SEM Reconstruction

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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} 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



From daemon Mon Aug 13 08:46:47 2001



From: Purdy, Sam :      SPurdy-at-nationalsteel.com
Date: Mon, 13 Aug 2001 08:41:36 -0500
Subject: coolpix 990

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Greetings:

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


From daemon Mon Aug 13 08:46:52 2001



From: Margaret Miller :      MILLERMM-at-uthscsa.edu
Date: Mon, 13 Aug 2001 08:30:35 -0500
Subject: TEM/SEM Position Available

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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--
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


From daemon Mon Aug 13 15:50:23 2001



From: Margaret Miller :      MILLERMM-at-uthscsa.edu
Date: Mon, 13 Aug 2001 15:37:45 -0500
Subject: TEM/SEM Position Available

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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--
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


From daemon Mon Aug 13 23:06:07 2001



From: Terry Robertson :      terryr-at-cyllene.uwa.edu.au
Date: Tue, 14 Aug 2001 11:57:47 +0800
Subject: Methenamine silver staining of basement membranes

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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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

Phone 618 9346 2935
Fax 618 9346 2891
Mobile phone 040302 5440
email terryr-at-cyllene.uwa.edu.au




From daemon Tue Aug 14 11:20:20 2001



From: Mary Mager :      mager-at-interchange.ubc.ca
Date: Tue, 14 Aug 2001 09:03:00 -0700
Subject: Re: TEM/STEM query

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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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



From daemon Tue Aug 14 11:37:28 2001



From: Pankaj Kumar Patro :      pankaj-at-met.iitb.ac.in
Date: Tue, 14 Aug 2001 22:00:23 +0000 (IST)
Subject: SEM,CAMECA SU-30, CRT

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




Dear listners

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

e-mail-:pankaj-at-met.iitb.ac.in



From daemon Tue Aug 14 12:12:51 2001



From: Mike Delannoy :      delannoy-at-mail.jhmi.edu
Date: Tue, 14 Aug 2001 13:02:31 -0400
Subject: membrane sloughing/blebbing

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



From daemon Tue Aug 14 14:59:15 2001



From: Weiliang Gong :      gongw-at-vsl.cua.edu
Date: Tue, 14 Aug 2001 14:33:40 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Any comments?

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


Hello,

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

Thanks in advance,

Wei Gong



From daemon Tue Aug 14 14:59:16 2001



From: robert.fowler-at-tdktca.com
Date: Tue, 14 Aug 2001 15:54:22 -0400
Subject: PROBLEM WITH JEOL T220A

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



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


THIS TRANSMISSION IS INTENDED FOR THE SOLE USE OF THE INDIVIDUAL AND ENTITY
TO WHOM IT IS ADDRESSED AND MAY CONTAIN PRIVILEGED AND/OR CONFIDENTIAL
INFORMATION.

If you are not the intended recipient, be advised that any use,
dissemination, distribution or duplication of this transmission is strictly
prohibited. If you received this transmission in error, please notify the
sender immediately by electronic reply to this transmission or by phone
(847-803-6100). Thank you.




From daemon Tue Aug 14 14:59:17 2001



From: Weiliang Gong :      gongw-at-vsl.cua.edu
Date: Tue, 14 Aug 2001 14:36:21 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Need your comments?

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


Hello,

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

Thanks in advance,

Wei Gong



From daemon Tue Aug 14 22:28:35 2001



From: Edward_Principe-at-amat.com
Date: Tue, 14 Aug 2001 20:19:47 -0700
Subject: Re: TEM/STEM query

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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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






From daemon Tue Aug 14 22:29:49 2001



From: David Burton :      dburton-at-nwlink.com
Date: Tue, 14 Aug 2001 20:29:41 -0700
Subject: Plastic coverslips

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


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.

Any suggestions appreciated!



From daemon Wed Aug 15 07:09:45 2001



From: Peter Tomic :      PTomic-at-anadigics.com
Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2001 07:56:07 -0400
Subject: Semiconductor Contaminants

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


From daemon Wed Aug 15 07:09:49 2001



From: Roger Moretz :      rcmoretz-at-excite.com
Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2001 04:58:27 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: membrane sloughing/blebbing

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


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/




From daemon Wed Aug 15 09:03:14 2001



From: Tony Owens :      towens-at-camscan-usa.com
Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2001 09:52:58 -0400
Subject: SirCam

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


Hi Everyone,

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!



Tony mailto:towens-at-camscan-usa.com



From daemon Wed Aug 15 09:20:07 2001



From: zaluzec-at-microscopy.com
Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2001 09:15:13 -0500
Subject: Administrivia:SirCam

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


Colleagues....

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...



From daemon Wed Aug 15 10:43:41 2001



From: Angela Klaus :      avklaus-at-amnh.org
Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2001 11:36:44 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Refractometer?

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


Dear Listers...

I am looking for someone in the NYC/NJ area who has a refractometer to do one measurement of the refractive
index of a glycerin/gelatin solution.

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




From daemon Wed Aug 15 21:53:10 2001



From: Tina Carvalho :      tina-at-pbrc.hawaii.edu
Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2001 16:43:10 -1000 (HST)
Subject: LM of resin sections

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


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



From daemon Thu Aug 16 08:01:19 2001



From: robert.fowler-at-tdktca.com
Date: Thu, 16 Aug 2001 08:48:40 -0400
Subject: Need Stain ??

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



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


THIS TRANSMISSION IS INTENDED FOR THE SOLE USE OF THE INDIVIDUAL AND ENTITY
TO WHOM IT IS ADDRESSED AND MAY CONTAIN PRIVILEGED AND/OR CONFIDENTIAL
INFORMATION.

If you are not the intended recipient, be advised that any use,
dissemination, distribution or duplication of this transmission is strictly
prohibited. If you received this transmission in error, please notify the
sender immediately by electronic reply to this transmission or by phone
(847-803-6100). Thank you.




From daemon Thu Aug 16 08:55:53 2001



From: Jacqueline D. Garfield :      JGarfield-at-lifecell.com
Date: Thu, 16 Aug 2001 09:44:07 -0400
Subject: RE: problem with JEOL T220A

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


Dear Robert,

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



From daemon Fri Aug 17 06:06:59 2001



From: Gary Gaugler :      gary-at-gaugler.com
Date: Thu, 16 Aug 2001 17:04:06 -0700
Subject: Hoya laser system help

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


Dear Listers:

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.

Thanks,
gary g.



From daemon Fri Aug 17 06:06:59 2001



From: max.sidorov-at-amd.com
Date: Thu, 16 Aug 2001 11:26:33 -0700
Subject: TEM/STEM query

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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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

Telephone: office: 0064 3 479 7301
Mobile GSM: 0064 21 222 4759
Facsimile: 0064 3 479 7254
mailto:richard.easingwood-at-stonebow.otago.ac.nz
Web site: http://www.otago.ac.nz/anatomy/emunit/










From daemon Fri Aug 17 06:07:00 2001



From: Gib Ahlstrand :      giba-at-puccini.cdl.umn.edu
Date: Thu, 16 Aug 2001 15:26:35 -0500
Subject: Can't sputter nickel

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


Hi Microlisters,

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/




From daemon Fri Aug 17 07:24:35 2001



From: Rinaldo Pires dos Santos :      rinaldop-at-uol.com.br
Date: Thu, 16 Aug 2001 14:34:06 -0300
Subject: RE: LM of resin section

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



From daemon Fri Aug 17 08:19:43 2001



From: coviello :      coviello-at-mae.uta.edu
Date: Thu, 16 Aug 2001 20:10:17 -0500
Subject: TEM: Encapsulating resin/polymer for materials science samples?

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


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 daemon Fri Aug 17 08:24:40 2001



From: Gruber, Tyler :      tgruber-at-phelpsd.com
Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2001 09:18:37 -0400
Subject: Megaplus 1.4i to PC?

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


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



From root Fri Aug 17 08:46:04 2001
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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
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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



From daemon Fri Aug 17 08:52:33 2001



From: Henderson, Jack D :      jhenderson-at-atd.crane.navy.mil
Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2001 08:36:24 -0500
Subject: RE: Semiconductor Contaminants

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


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.
}


From daemon Fri Aug 17 08:59:03 2001



From: Dave Roberts :      dave-at-boeckeler.com
Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2001 08:55:26 -0500
Subject: M&M meeting: Digital Camera winner

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


------=_NextPart_000_0000_01C1266C.2D329E20
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
X-Sun-Content-Length: 675

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


------=_NextPart_000_0000_01C1266C.2D329E20
Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
X-Sun-Content-Length: 2366

{!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=



------=_NextPart_000_0000_01C1266C.2D329E20--


From daemon Fri Aug 17 09:17:38 2001



From: zaluzec-at-microscopy.com
Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2001 09:14:18 -0500
Subject: Administrivia: Network Feed was down

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


Sorry Folks...

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.

Hope you all enjoyed the quiet day.

Nestor
Your Friendly Neighborhood SysOp


From daemon Fri Aug 17 09:44:40 2001



From: Gary Gaugler :      gary-at-gaugler.com
Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2001 07:40:36 -0700
Subject: Hoya laser system help

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


Dear Listers:

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.

Thanks,
gary g.



From daemon Fri Aug 17 10:55:12 2001



From: Caroline Miller :      camiller-at-creighton.edu
Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2001 10:49:32 -0500
Subject: DAB Staining

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


I'm interested in protocols using DAB, what type of fixation, embedding
media, etc. Caroline Miller



From daemon Fri Aug 17 12:33:49 2001



From: Philip Oshel :      peoshel-at-facstaff.wisc.edu
Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2001 12:29:35 -0500
Subject: Facility support survey

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


Micro listers,

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)


From daemon Fri Aug 17 13:09:18 2001



From: =?iso-8859-1?q?Ike=20Oguocha?= :      oguocha-at-yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2001 19:03:48 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Choosing an Analytical SEM for Metallurgical Research

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


From daemon Fri Aug 17 14:12:39 2001



From: Rosemary Walsh :      rw9-at-psu.edu
Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2001 15:49:36 -0400
Subject: cell attachment to coverslips or aclar

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


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


From daemon Fri Aug 17 14:33:54 2001



From: Leona Cohen-Gould :      lcgould-at-med.cornell.edu
Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2001 15:24:32 -0400
Subject: TEM of paper & ink

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


From daemon Fri Aug 17 14:42:28 2001



From: Alexander H. King :      alexking-at-ecn.purdue.edu
Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2001 14:37:44 -0500
Subject: SEM/TEM Technician Position Available - Purdue University

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




POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT

Electron Microscope Specialist

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.




From daemon Fri Aug 17 15:00:25 2001



From: Joel McClintock :      jmcclin-at-pop.uky.edu
Date: Sat, 18 Aug 2001 15:57:25 -0400
Subject: CRT repair

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


Listers,

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



From daemon Fri Aug 17 15:27:28 2001



From: Paul B. Grover :      pbgrover-at-home.com
Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2001 15:23:15 -0700
Subject: Earnest Fullam sputter coater

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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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)



From daemon Fri Aug 17 16:11:43 2001



From: William F. Tivol :      wft03-at-health.state.ny.us
Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2001 17:06:50 -0400
Subject: Re: TEM of paper & ink

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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



From daemon Fri Aug 17 20:34:59 2001



From: :      secretmail-at-myplace.com
Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2001 21:28:04 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: SOLICITING FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE

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FROM: CHIEF MRS. MARYAM ABACHA,
ABACHA VILLA, KANO-NIGERIA.
Dear Sir/Madam

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!


From daemon Fri Aug 17 21:19:16 2001



From: Paul B. Grover :      pbgrover-at-home.com
Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2001 21:15:54 -0700
Subject: The importance of being Ernest*

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(*with apologies to Oscar Wilde)

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.

Paul Grover :o}



From daemon Sat Aug 18 02:07:43 2001



From: Gordon Couger :      gcouger-at-provalue.net
Date: Sat, 18 Aug 2001 02:01:41 -0500
Subject: Re: TEM of paper & ink

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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} From: "Leona Cohen-Gould" {lcgould-at-med.cornell.edu}

} 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






From daemon Sat Aug 18 09:40:36 2001



From: Gary Gaugler :      gary-at-gaugler.com
Date: Sat, 18 Aug 2001 09:11:41 -0700
Subject: Re: Earnest Fullam sputter coater

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Wonderful!

Here is the information of my EX-wife:


Regards,

Earl


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



From daemon Sat Aug 18 11:17:03 2001



From: Edwards Forensic Service :      fedwards-at-mninter.net
Date: Sat, 18 Aug 2001 11:14:28 -0600
Subject: Re: TEM of paper & ink

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Dear Lee:

Try a lower tech approach:

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.

Harold Edwards




From daemon Sat Aug 18 13:37:51 2001



From: Grup Epigenetica :      planaria2000-at-yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 18 Aug 2001 11:30:16 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: cell attachment to coverslips or aclar

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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/


From daemon Sat Aug 18 13:46:32 2001



From: Grup Epigenetica :      planaria2000-at-yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 18 Aug 2001 11:41:16 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: DAB Staining

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Dear Caroline

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/


From daemon Sat Aug 18 18:50:12 2001



From: Gary Gaugler :      gary-at-gaugler.com
Date: Sat, 18 Aug 2001 16:44:04 -0700
Subject: Re: TEM of paper & ink

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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An interesting question and problem. I shot the following
images using SEM:

ftp://www.gaugler.com

laserpaper-2.tif
laserpaper-3.tif

printedpaper-2.tif
printedpaper-4mix.tif
printedpaper-6bse.tif

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:
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From daemon Sat Aug 18 19:27:48 2001



From: Cat-at-neto.com ()
Date: Sat, 18 Aug 2001 19:23:47 -0500
Subject: Ask-A-Microscopist: compound microscope magnification

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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?

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


From daemon Sun Aug 19 11:30:42 2001



From: Caroline Schooley :      schooley-at-mcn.org
Date: Sun, 19 Aug 2001 09:13:24 -0700
Subject: Re: Ask-A-Microscopist: compound microscope magnification

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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} 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




From daemon Sun Aug 19 13:55:21 2001



From: Gary Gaugler :      gary-at-gaugler.com
Date: Sun, 19 Aug 2001 11:49:11 -0700
Subject: Re: TEM of paper & ink

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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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.



From daemon Sun Aug 19 15:53:25 2001



From: Tobias Baskin :      BaskinT-at-missouri.edu
Date: Sun, 19 Aug 2001 15:46:00 -0500
Subject: Re: TEM of paper & ink

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Gary (and any others),

Stop! Pleae don't cut up any of your old books!

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).

Hope this helps,
Tobias Baskin


--
_ ____ __ ____ Tobias I. Baskin
/ \ / / \ / \ \ 109 Tucker Hall
/ / / / \ \ \ Biological Sciences
/_ / __ /__ \ \ \__ University of Missouri
/ / / \ \ \ Columbia, MO USA
/ / / \ \ \ 65211-7400
/ / ___ / \ \__/ \ ____ voice: 573-882-0173
fax: 573-882-0123


From daemon Sun Aug 19 21:34:49 2001



From: Dave Phelan :      emudp-at-mail.newcastle.edu.au
Date: Mon, 20 Aug 2001 12:23:46 +1000
Subject: Resin embedding of porous coal chars for SEM

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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



From daemon Mon Aug 20 01:42:38 2001



From: Jan Coetzee :      janc-at-ccnet.up.ac.za
Date: Mon, 20 Aug 2001 08:31:08 +0200
Subject: Re: LM of resin section

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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:
}
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------
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} 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


From daemon Mon Aug 20 07:57:45 2001



From: Gillmeister, Russ :      RGillmeister-at-crt.xerox.com
Date: Mon, 20 Aug 2001 08:49:30 -0400
Subject: FW: Resin embedding of porous coal chars for SEM

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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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



From daemon Mon Aug 20 09:24:51 2001



From: Lesley S. Bechtold :      lsb-at-jax.org
Date: Mon, 20 Aug 2001 10:17:04 -0400
Subject: Subscribe

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Lesley S. Bechtold
Supervisor, Biological Imaging
The Jackson Laboratory
600 Main St.
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
207-288-6191



From daemon Mon Aug 20 10:01:59 2001



From: Monson, Frederick C. :      fmonson-at-wcupa.edu
Date: Mon, 20 Aug 2001 10:55:28 -0400
Subject: RE: TEM of paper & ink

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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
}
}


From daemon Mon Aug 20 11:08:25 2001



From: coviello :      coviello-at-mae.uta.edu
Date: Sun, 19 Aug 2001 22:59:53 -0500
Subject: TEM-Looking for a used dualbeam FIB and TEM

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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



From daemon Mon Aug 20 11:09:06 2001



From: Mary Mager :      mager-at-interchange.ubc.ca
Date: Mon, 20 Aug 2001 09:02:25 -0700
Subject: Re: Resin embedding of porous coal chars for SEM

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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



From daemon Mon Aug 20 11:33:22 2001



From: Bruce Girrell :      bigirrell-at-microlinetc.com
Date: Mon, 20 Aug 2001 12:28:13 -0400
Subject: LM - Something I just don't get

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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



From daemon Mon Aug 20 13:49:00 2001



From: Leona Cohen-Gould :      lcgould-at-med.cornell.edu
Date: Mon, 20 Aug 2001 14:35:35 -0400
Subject: Re: TEM of paper & ink

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Hi All,

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


From daemon Mon Aug 20 14:02:13 2001



From: Katjaalex-at-aol.com
Date: Mon, 20 Aug 2001 14:56:44 EDT
Subject: Jeol 1200 Problems

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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


From daemon Mon Aug 20 14:07:31 2001



From: Tobias Baskin :      BaskinT-at-missouri.edu
Date: Mon, 20 Aug 2001 14:02:31 -0500
Subject: Re: LM - Something I just don't get

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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

--
_ ____ __ ____ Tobias I. Baskin
/ \ / / \ / \ \ 109 Tucker Hall
/ / / / \ \ \ Biological Sciences
/_ / __ /__ \ \ \__ University of Missouri
/ / / \ \ \ Columbia, MO USA
/ / / \ \ \ 65211-7400
/ / ___ / \ \__/ \ ____ voice: 573-882-0173
fax: 573-882-0123


From daemon Mon Aug 20 14:14:22 2001



From: JHoffpa464-at-aol.com
Date: Mon, 20 Aug 2001 15:09:11 EDT
Subject: chatter

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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


From daemon Mon Aug 20 14:59:04 2001



From: HANSON_JEFFREY_C-at-Lilly.com
Date: Mon, 20 Aug 2001 14:46:51 -0500
Subject: Details for Imaging Workshop on FDA regulation 21 CFR Part 11

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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.
************************************************************************


From daemon Mon Aug 20 15:11:51 2001



From: Mary Mager :      mager-at-interchange.ubc.ca
Date: Mon, 20 Aug 2001 15:07:52 -0500
Subject: Re: Choosing an Analytical SEM for Metallurgical Research

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} 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


From daemon Mon Aug 20 17:35:16 2001



From: Gary Gaugler :      gary-at-gaugler.com
Date: Mon, 20 Aug 2001 15:27:54 -0700
Subject: Re: LM - Something I just don't get

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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

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.

gary g.

http://photoweb.net




From daemon Mon Aug 20 18:08:20 2001



From: Tom Phillips :      PhillipsT-at-missouri.edu
Date: Mon, 20 Aug 2001 18:02:54 -0500
Subject: Re: LM - Something I just don't get

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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)


From daemon Mon Aug 20 21:12:25 2001



From: Sergey Ryazantsev :      sryazant-at-ucla.edu
Date: Mon, 20 Aug 2001 19:05:05 -0700
Subject: Re: Jeol 1200 Problems

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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

_____________________________________

Sergey Ryazantsev Ph. D.
Electron Microscopy
UCLA School of Medicine
Department of Biological Chemistry
Box 951737
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1737

Phone: (310) 825-1144
Pager: (310) 845-0248
FAX (departmental): (310) 206-5272
mailto:sryazant-at-ucla.edu





From daemon Mon Aug 20 21:29:51 2001



From: Gary Gaugler :      gary-at-gaugler.com
Date: Mon, 20 Aug 2001 19:47:16 -0700
Subject: Re: TEM of paper & ink

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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
}
}
} } ------------------------------------------------------------------------
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} } -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
} }
} }
} } 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.
} }
} }
} }



From daemon Mon Aug 20 22:56:20 2001



From: Jim at Proscitech :      jim-at-proscitech.com
Date: Tue, 21 Aug 2001 07:30:20 -0500
Subject: FW: Resin embedding of porous coal chars for SEM

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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


From daemon Tue Aug 21 07:54:51 2001



From: DANIEL EBERHARD :      daniel.eberhard-at-biologie.uni-bielefeld.de
Date: Tue, 21 Aug 2001 14:49:30 +0200
Subject: lacZ and gfp antibodies

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Dear all,
I´m searching for two anti-bodies directed against two reporter
gene products
a) beta-galactosidase
b) green fluorescent protein

which can be used for immunomicroscopy, especially for tissues
which are prefixed
with pFA. Any comments or suggestions?

Thank you
Daniel


-----------------------------
* *
* Daniel Eberhard *
* Developmental Biology *
* & Molecular Pathology *
* University Bielefeld *
* Universitätsstr. 25 *
* 32615 Bielefeld *
* Germany *



From daemon Tue Aug 21 08:43:52 2001



From: Gillmeister, Russ :      RGillmeister-at-crt.xerox.com
Date: Tue, 21 Aug 2001 09:36:38 -0400
Subject: Vacuum coater

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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




From daemon Tue Aug 21 09:36:38 2001



From: Monson, Frederick C. :      fmonson-at-wcupa.edu
Date: Tue, 21 Aug 2001 10:28:34 -0400
Subject: RE: LM - Something I just don't get

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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
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} 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
}
}
}


From daemon Tue Aug 21 12:28:54 2001



From: Steve Barlow :      sbarlow-at-sunstroke.sdsu.edu
Date: Tue, 21 Aug 2001 11:44:22 -0800
Subject: antibodies on LRW

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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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

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/



From daemon Tue Aug 21 13:48:09 2001



From: David_R_Stadden-at-armstrong.com
Date: Tue, 21 Aug 2001 14:43:20 -0400
Subject: Diesel Particles?

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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.




From daemon Tue Aug 21 14:45:25 2001



From: Stefan Geimer :      stefan.geimer-at-yale.edu
Date: Tue, 21 Aug 2001 15:35:44 +0200
Subject: Re: lacZ and gfp antibodies

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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.

Tel.: 203/432-3473
Fax.: 203/432-6161

e-mail: stefan.geimer-at-yale.edu
°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°




From daemon Tue Aug 21 15:22:31 2001



From: Monson, Frederick C. :      fmonson-at-wcupa.edu
Date: Tue, 21 Aug 2001 16:16:18 -0400
Subject: RE: Choosing an Analytical SEM for Metallurgical Research

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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
}
}


From daemon Tue Aug 21 15:40:45 2001



From: Todd Kostman :      kostman-at-vaxa.cis.uwosh.edu
Date: Tue, 21 Aug 2001 15:37:11 -0500
Subject: Knifebreaking

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



From daemon Tue Aug 21 19:07:51 2001



From: Tamara Howard :      thoward-at-UNM.EDU
Date: Tue, 21 Aug 2001 18:00:11 -0600 (MDT)
Subject: Re: antibodies on LRW

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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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
|--------------------------------------------------|



From daemon Tue Aug 21 21:54:36 2001



From: cavinm-at-vsl.cua.edu
Date: Tue, 21 Aug 2001 21:48:10 -0500
Subject: Image Processing Toolkit Question

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


Dear all,

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


From daemon Tue Aug 21 21:58:27 2001



From: Brad Storey :      storey-at-lanl.gov
Date: Tue, 21 Aug 2001 21:55:07 -0500
Subject: Surface Scientist Job Opening

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


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

Tel.: 505-667-0458
FAX: 505-665-7815
pager: 505-996-3129
storey-at-lanl.gov
***************************************************


From daemon Tue Aug 21 22:14:17 2001



From: Gary Gaugler :      gary-at-gaugler.com
Date: Tue, 21 Aug 2001 20:09:28 -0700
Subject: Re: Follow up to our phone conversation

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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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]



From daemon Tue Aug 21 23:57:32 2001



From: Cheng Huang :      HUANG-at-rsbs.anu.edu.au
Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2001 14:50:40 +1000
Subject: Leit-C

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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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/




From daemon Wed Aug 22 01:40:10 2001



From: DrJohnRuss-at-aol.com
Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2001 06:47:20 EDT
Subject: Re: Image Processing Toolkit Question

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


} 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.

John Russ


From daemon Wed Aug 22 08:21:18 2001



From: Patton, David :      David.Patton-at-uwe.ac.uk
Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2001 14:13:10 +0100 (GMT Daylight Time)
Subject: Re: Semiconductor Contaminants

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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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"



From daemon Wed Aug 22 08:58:05 2001



From: William Oxberry :      WOxberry-at-downstate.edu
Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2001 09:51:38 -0400
Subject: Re:chatter

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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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

good luck



From daemon Wed Aug 22 09:02:03 2001



From: Beth Richardson :      beth-at-dogwood.botany.uga.edu
Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2001 09:56:21 -0700
Subject: Durst enlarger bulb

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


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

******************************************************************************Ä




From daemon Wed Aug 22 09:02:58 2001



From: Monson, Frederick C. :      fmonson-at-wcupa.edu
Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2001 09:57:03 -0400
Subject: RE: Knifebreaking

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


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
}
}
}


From daemon Wed Aug 22 09:18:02 2001



From: Thimothy Schneider :      timothy.schneider-at-mail.tju.edu
Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2001 10:14:33 -0400
Subject: L.R. White Sections

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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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



From daemon Wed Aug 22 09:33:10 2001



From: Jim at Proscitech :      jim-at-proscitech.com
Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2001 09:28:08 -0500
Subject: FW: Knifebreaking

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




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


From daemon Wed Aug 22 10:12:10 2001



From: Tindall, Randy D. :      TindallR-at-missouri.edu
Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2001 10:35:11 -0500
Subject: OEM service vs. Insurance Companies

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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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/





From daemon Wed Aug 22 10:49:19 2001



From: Mike Nesta :      MNesta-at-ebsciences.com
Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2001 11:44:21 -0400
Subject: Vacuum coater

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Dear Russ,

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






From daemon Wed Aug 22 11:12:09 2001



From: Caroline Schooley :      schooley-at-mcn.org
Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2001 08:51:10 -0700
Subject: Re: Knifebreaking

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



} 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




From daemon Wed Aug 22 11:34:36 2001



From: Jon Mulholland :      jwm-at-genome.stanford.edu
Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2001 09:28:10 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: Follow up to our phone conversation

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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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]
}
}




From daemon Wed Aug 22 13:00:08 2001



From: Monson, Frederick C. :      fmonson-at-wcupa.edu
Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2001 13:43:02 -0400
Subject: Catalogs and Manuals for LKB 7800 KnifeMaker

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


Hi All,

I have copies of the original documentation for the LKB KnifeMaker

"LKB KnifeMaker Spare Parts Catalog" SPC-7800-E21
"LKB 7800B KnifeMaker Operating Instructions" I-7800B-E05
"KnifeMaker Condensed Instructions" I-7800B-E13

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.


From daemon Wed Aug 22 13:28:26 2001



From: Alwyn Eades :      jae5-at-lehigh.edu
Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2001 14:21:58 -0400
Subject: Spectral Imaging with ISIS

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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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


From daemon Wed Aug 22 14:08:38 2001



From: Gary Gaugler :      gary-at-gaugler.com
Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2001 12:03:16 -0700
Subject: Re: Durst enlarger bulb

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


Try www.bulbman.com or www.calumet.com

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



From daemon Wed Aug 22 17:51:51 2001



From: Ken Converse :      qualityimages-at-netrax.net
Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2001 18:51:52 -0400
Subject: Re: OEM service vs. Insurance Companies

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


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/
}
}
}
}
}
}



From daemon Wed Aug 22 17:59:21 2001



From: benedict-at-email.arizona.edu
Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2001 15:54:30 -0700
Subject: LOOKING FOR A POSTDOC/RESEARCH JOB IN MATERIALS SCI. & ENG.

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


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.

Thanks

Benedict Johnson





From daemon Wed Aug 22 18:01:54 2001



From: Jim at Proscitech :      jim-at-proscitech.com
Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2001 08:59:37 +1000
Subject: RE: Leit-C

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


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/
}



From daemon Wed Aug 22 20:30:37 2001



From: Fred Pearson :      eoptics-at-mcmail.cis.mcmaster.ca
Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2001 21:23:20 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Re: Spectral Imaging with ISIS

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


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.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
}
}





From daemon Wed Aug 22 22:08:08 2001



From: Jim Mabon :      mabon-at-uiuc.edu
Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2001 23:22:27 -0500
Subject: Spectral Imaging with ISIS

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


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



From daemon Thu Aug 23 02:15:41 2001



From: Alan Stone :      as-at-astonmet.com
Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2001 06:27:16 -0500
Subject: Re: SOLICITING FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE

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



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


From daemon Thu Aug 23 07:42:08 2001



From: pmoore-at-wfubmc.edu (Paula Moore)
Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2001 08:31:16 -0400
Subject: Re: chatter

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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}
} 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




From daemon Thu Aug 23 08:25:38 2001



From: Beth Richardson :      beth-at-dogwood.botany.uga.edu
Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2001 09:17:34 -0700
Subject: durst bulb

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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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

******************************************************************************cr




From daemon Thu Aug 23 09:31:07 2001



From: Tindall, Randy D. :      TindallR-at-missouri.edu
Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2001 09:23:15 -0500
Subject: OEM service vs. Insurance Companies---Long message

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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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/





From daemon Thu Aug 23 09:38:26 2001



From: Matthew Lynn :      mlynn-at-miami.edu
Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2001 10:33:21 -0400
Subject: RE: Spectral Imaging with ISIS

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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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
} }
} }
}
}



From daemon Thu Aug 23 11:37:24 2001



From: Mike M. :      mike-at-scopemart.com
Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2001 16:28:24 -0700
Subject: EDS/EDX compatibility question

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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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.

Thank you for your help,


Mike


From daemon Thu Aug 23 11:40:03 2001



From: DrJohnRuss-at-aol.com
Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2001 12:34:37 EDT
Subject: Ann: Image Processing and Measurement Workshop

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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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

http://members.AOL.com/IPCourse/


From daemon Thu Aug 23 12:39:23 2001



From: Warren E Straszheim :      wesaia-at-iastate.edu
Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2001 12:32:20 -0500
Subject: RE: Spectral Imaging with ISIS

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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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



From daemon Thu Aug 23 13:27:13 2001



From: Macatangay, Peggy J., Celanese/US :      PJMckarns-at-Celanese.com
Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2001 13:13:47 -0500
Subject: SEM-EDS: Help with choosing a new system

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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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



From daemon Thu Aug 23 13:49:13 2001



From: Gary M. Easton :      gary.easton-at-scannerscorp.com
Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2001 13:39:52 -0500
Subject: ELMDAS COMPANY

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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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


From daemon Thu Aug 23 13:49:22 2001



From: john_bruss-at-bose.com ()
Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2001 13:45:37 -0500
Subject: Ask-A-Microscopist: how to suspend a spider in a clear cube

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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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?

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


From daemon Thu Aug 23 13:57:14 2001



From: Debby Sherman :      dsherman-at-purdue.edu
Date: 23 Aug 2001 13:52:40 -0500
Subject: Microwave workshop-BIO

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



From daemon Thu Aug 23 14:18:50 2001



From: Chen Chen :      cche1-at-mail.jhmi.edu
Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2001 15:14:32 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: uranyl formate

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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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)
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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



From daemon Thu Aug 23 15:16:31 2001



From: David Knecht :      knecht-at-uconn.edu
Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2001 20:55:19 +0100
Subject: Nikon DIC

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Well said.

Thank You,

Earl

----- 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


From daemon Thu Aug 23 16:43:39 2001



From: mcs4-at-dana.ucc.nau.edu ()
Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2001 16:39:24 -0500
Subject: Ask-A-Microscopist:stain for b eta glucans mainly callose

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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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.

Thanks!

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


From daemon Thu Aug 23 16:57:19 2001



From: Philip Oshel :      peoshel-at-facstaff.wisc.edu
Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2001 16:55:44 -0500
Subject: for Tom Gore, U. Victoria

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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)


From daemon Thu Aug 23 20:37:49 2001



From: Greg Lum :      glum-at-sfsu.edu
Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2001 18:24:52 -0700
Subject: Re:

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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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


From daemon Thu Aug 23 21:52:29 2001



From: Ken Converse :      qualityimages-at-netrax.net
Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2001 22:52:52 -0400
Subject: Re: OEM service vs. Insurance Companies---Long message

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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:

} ------------------------------------------------------------------------
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}
} 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/
}
}
}
}
}
}



From daemon Fri Aug 24 06:12:43 2001



From: Christopher_R._Holp/FirstEnergy-at-firstenergycorp.com
Date: Fri, 24 Aug 2001 07:01:15 -0400
Subject: EDS equipment

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Peggy,

I would be willing to discuss some of my (limited) experiences on EDS
equipment, off list, if you don't mind.

Chris Holp
HolpC-at-firstenergycorp.com




From daemon Fri Aug 24 08:11:04 2001



From: Monson, Frederick C. :      fmonson-at-wcupa.edu
Date: Fri, 24 Aug 2001 09:03:32 -0400
Subject: RE: uranyl formate

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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
}
}
}


From daemon Fri Aug 24 08:32:56 2001



From: Zhu, Yimei :      zhu-at-bnl.gov
Date: Fri, 24 Aug 2001 08:28:45 -0500
Subject: POSITIONS AVAILABLE AT BROOKHAVEN NATIONAL LABORATORY

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POSITIONS AVAILABLE AT BROOKHAVEN NATIONAL LABORATORY


The Electron Microscopy Group at the Materials Science Division,
Brookhaven National Laboratory, is seeking experienced electron
microscopists and staff researchers in the areas of nano-scale electron
beam characterization of advanced materials. The group runs the
Electron Microscope Facility at BNL and has strong interaction with
scientists at BNL’s Physics Department and National Synchrotron Light
Source.

1) One research staff member

The Professional Research Staff will be responsible for the day-to-day
operation of the high-resolution JEOL 3000F (FEG/TEM/STEM) microscope.
The instrument has a wide range of attachments with energy filtering,
EELS, EDS, holography, Z-contrast and in-situ cooling and heating
capabilities. Its data acquisition system includes four CCD cameras and
a Fuji Imaging Plate unit. A degree of M.A. or Ph.D in physics or
materials science with strong background in electron microscopy is
required for the successful candidate. Salary will be commensurate with
education and experience.


2) Three Research Associates / Postdocs in the following areas

* Measurements of charge density distribution and chemical bonds using
quantitative electron diffraction and synchrotron x-ray techniques

* MBE film growth of nanostructured functional materials and near-edge
fine structure of electron energy-loss spectroscopy

* Phase retrieval using various methods including off-axis electron
holography to study local distribution of electrostatic potential and
magnetic induction in crystals and defects

* Study of atomic and electronic structure of interface of functional
materials by comparing experiments with theory

* Electronic structure calculations of crystals and defects using
density functional theory and molecular simulation methods

Successful candidates for the three positions will be Ph.D graduates in
physics or materials science with a sound background in the relevant
areas and associated computer knowledge. Prior experience using
transmission electron microscopy is essential only where explicitly
stated. The positions are for one year initially, normally renewed for
a second year with an excellent chance of conversion to scientific
staff. The above postdoctoral candidates are also eligible to apply
for BNL’s Goldhaber Fellowship (for details, see
http://www.bnl.gov/bnlweb/pubaf/goldhaber.htm).



Positions will remain open until they are filled. Please send your
resume and three references to
Dr. Yimei Zhu, Materials Science Division, Brookhaven National
Laboratory, Upton, Long Island, NY 11973 (e-mail: zhu-at-bnl.gov). BNL is
a multipurpose national laboratory managed by Brookhaven Science
Associates for the U.S. Department of Energy. BNL is an equal
opportunity employer committed to building and maintaining a diverse
work force.



--
==================================
Yimei Zhu
Building 480
Dept. of Applied Science
Brookhaven National Laboratory
Upton, New York 11973
*Tel. (631)344-3057
*Fax. (631)344-4071

*please note the new area code
==================================




From daemon Fri Aug 24 08:52:01 2001



From: werner-at-rosharon.oilfield.slb.com (Andrew Werner)
Date: Fri, 24 Aug 2001 08:46:56 -0500
Subject: Re: SEM-EDS: Help with choosing a new system

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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



From daemon Fri Aug 24 10:16:18 2001



From: Warren E Straszheim :      wesaia-at-iastate.edu
Date: Fri, 24 Aug 2001 09:46:09 -0500
Subject: Re: SEM-EDS: Help with choosing a new system

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Ken,

Great posting. Lots of food for thought.

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

Ph: 515-294-8187
FAX: 515-294-4563

E-Mail: wesaia-at-iastate.edu
Web: www.marl.iastate.edu

Scanning electron microscopy, x-ray analysis, and image analysis of materials
Computer applications and networking



From daemon Fri Aug 24 10:31:23 2001



From: Gary Gaugler :      gary-at-gaugler.com
Date: Fri, 24 Aug 2001 08:28:06 -0700
Subject: Re: LM - Something I just don't get

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


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.



From daemon Fri Aug 24 11:25:51 2001



From: O'Neil, David :      David.O'Neil-at-nrc.ca
Date: Fri, 24 Aug 2001 13:19:02 -0300
Subject: HMDS recipe: summary replies - longish

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


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

B. Transition ethanol-HMDS
1. 100% ethanol: HMDS 1 - 30 minutes
2. 100% ethanol: HMDS 2 - 30 minutes
3. 100% ethanol: HMDS 3 - 1 hour

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

############################################################################
########

David,

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


From daemon Fri Aug 24 13:02:46 2001



From: Beth Richardson :      beth-at-dogwood.botany.uga.edu
Date: Fri, 24 Aug 2001 13:52:24 -0700
Subject: callose labeling

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


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

******************************************************************************~




From daemon Fri Aug 24 14:12:17 2001



From: Ingram, Mike :      MIngram-at-rodel.com
Date: Fri, 24 Aug 2001 14:58:07 -0400
Subject: Which is Correct, EDS or EDX?

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


From daemon Fri Aug 24 14:52:45 2001



From: Bob Roberts :      bobrobs-at-earthlink.net
Date: Fri, 24 Aug 2001 12:51:18 -0700
Subject: Re: SEM-EDS: Help with choosing a new system

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


Peggy,

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
}
}
}




From daemon Fri Aug 24 15:01:23 2001



From: Tobias Baskin :      BaskinT-at-missouri.edu
Date: Fri, 24 Aug 2001 14:56:37 -0500
Subject: Re: Which is Correct, EDS or EDX?

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


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



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

--
_ ____ __ ____ Tobias I. Baskin
/ \ / / \ / \ \ 109 Tucker Hall
/ / / / \ \ \ Biological Sciences
/_ / __ /__ \ \ \__ University of Missouri
/ / / \ \ \ Columbia, MO USA
/ / / \ \ \ 65211-7400
/ / ___ / \ \__/ \ ____ voice: 573-882-0173
fax: 573-882-0123


From daemon Fri Aug 24 15:16:21 2001



From: zaluzec-at-aaem.amc.anl.gov
Date: Fri, 24 Aug 2001 15:10:27 -0500
Subject: Re: XEDS aka EDS or EDX

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


Actually to be consistent I ALWAYS use....


XEDS = X-ray Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy

which is completely analogous to

EELS = Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy

to my mind it is the most logical since EDS does not
say what you are energy dispersing and EDX is not
quite a full descriptor.

However, EDS, EDX, EDXS are used often in
the literature.

Nestor
Your Friendly Neighborhood SysOp
--
===========================================
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 !

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


From daemon Fri Aug 24 15:55:21 2001



From: max.sidorov-at-amd.com
Date: Fri, 24 Aug 2001 13:49:56 -0700
Subject: Which is Correct, EDS or EDX?

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


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?

Mike Ingram




From daemon Fri Aug 24 16:07:46 2001



From: JLaGoy :      JLaGoy-at-bodycote-imt.com
Date: Fri, 24 Aug 2001 17:04:13 -0400
Subject: unsubscribe

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


unsubscribe - My apologies, but I do not have instructions for the proper
way to unsubscribe, just how to post messages.

jlagoy-at-bodycote-imt.com


From daemon Fri Aug 24 16:39:52 2001



From: Walck, Scott D. :      walck-at-ppg.com
Date: Fri, 24 Aug 2001 17:33:13 -0400
Subject: Which is Correct, EDS or EDX?

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


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?

Mike Ingram


From daemon Fri Aug 24 17:56:29 2001



From: David R Hull :      David.R.Hull-at-grc.nasa.gov
Date: Fri, 24 Aug 2001 18:50:33 -0500
Subject: Re: Which is Correct, EDS or EDX?

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


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

(216) 433-3281
fax (216)977- 7132
david.r.hull-at-grc.nasa.gov
http://www.lerc.nasa.gov/WWW/AdvMet/ASGWEB2000/asghome.html


From daemon Fri Aug 24 18:29:48 2001



From: Heather A Owen :      owenha-at-csd.uwm.edu
Date: Fri, 24 Aug 2001 18:23:40 -0500 (CDT)
Subject: Additional confusion Re: EDS or EDX?

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


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




From daemon Fri Aug 24 19:19:46 2001



From: David Henriks :      henriks-at-southbaytech.com
Date: Fri, 24 Aug 2001 17:12:18 -0700
Subject: Re: Ask-A-Microscopist: how to suspend a spider in a clear cube

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


John:

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:

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} 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

*** www.southbaytech.com ***




From daemon Fri Aug 24 21:45:34 2001



From: Ronald Vane :      RVaneXEI-at-concentric.net
Date: Fri, 24 Aug 2001 19:34:31 -0700
Subject: Re: Which is Correct, EDS or EDX?

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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.

Ronald Vane
XEI Scientific.





From daemon Sat Aug 25 15:05:38 2001



From: Ken Converse :      qualityimages-at-netrax.net
Date: Sat, 25 Aug 2001 15:57:15 -0400
Subject: Re: Which is Correct, EDS or EDX?

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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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:

} ------------------------------------------------------------------------
} 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
}
}
}



From daemon Sat Aug 25 21:45:13 2001



From: Gordon Couger :      gordon-at-couger.com
Date: Thu, 12 Jul 2001 14:04:42 -0500
Subject: Amateur Scientist CD-ROM

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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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.

Gordon

Gordon Couger
Stillwater, OK







From daemon Sat Aug 25 23:49:26 2001



From: Donald O'Leary :      donoleary-at-worldnet.att.net
Date: Sun, 26 Aug 2001 00:43:22 -0400
Subject: LM, Workshop on use of the Microscope

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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

N.Y.M.S. Member_________________ ($275) Non-Member__________($295)

Name______________________________________________________________________

Address____________________________________________________________________

Phone
(W)_______________________(H)_________________________E-Mail________________
_________





From daemon Mon Aug 27 09:47:01 2001



From: William F. Tivol :      wft03-at-health.state.ny.us
Date: Mon, 27 Aug 2001 10:26:54 -0400
Subject: Re: Additional confusion Re: EDS or EDX?

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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



From daemon Mon Aug 27 16:33:23 2001



From: Tyler Gruber :      tcgruber1-at-excite.com
Date: Mon, 27 Aug 2001 16:26:03 -0500
Subject: Quantimet 970 and camera

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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/


From daemon Tue Aug 28 07:45:55 2001



From: David Spector at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory :      spector-at-cshl.org
Date: Tue, 28 Aug 2001 08:36:10 -0400
Subject: Gridded Thermonox Coverslips

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Hi,

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


From daemon Tue Aug 28 07:51:14 2001



From: Bart Cannon :      cannonmp-at-accessone.com
Date: Tue, 28 Aug 2001 05:49:41 -0700
Subject: Re:ELMDAS COMPANY

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Dear List,

I was puzzled to hear that a member has had difficulty contacting John
Best at Elmdas. I am a happy customer of John's and have never had any

difficulty contacting him by phone or e-mail. He replied to my e-mail
to him last Friday within hours.

John's correct e-mail address is } jbest-at-elmdas.com {

Bart Cannon
Cannon Microprobe
Seattle



From daemon Tue Aug 28 09:06:51 2001



From: Frederick Schamber :      schamber-at-aspexllc.com
Date: Tue, 28 Aug 2001 09:04:23 -0700
Subject: Re: Which is Correct, EDS or EDX?

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


A post-script on the "EDX" vs. "EDS" discussion.

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


From daemon Tue Aug 28 10:20:44 2001



From: Xudong Fan :      fanx-at-msu.edu
Date: Tue, 28 Aug 2001 11:26:33 -0400
Subject: Philips CM-10 TEM available

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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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


From daemon Tue Aug 28 11:22:46 2001



From: Beavers, Roy :      rbeavers-at-post.cis.smu.edu
Date: Tue, 28 Aug 2001 11:17:39 -0500
Subject: Link eXL EDS system

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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List,

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



From daemon Tue Aug 28 12:57:12 2001



From: Henry Eichelberger :      heichelb-at-binghamton.edu
Date: Tue, 28 Aug 2001 14:08:49 -0400
Subject: RE: uranyl formate vs. uranyl acetate

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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

phone: (607) 777-2682
fax: (607) 777-6521
e-mail: heichelb-at-binghamton.edu



From daemon Tue Aug 28 12:57:12 2001



From: Marie E. Cantino :      cantino-at-uconnvm.uconn.edu
Date: Tue, 28 Aug 2001 13:55:42 -0400
Subject: Request for micrograph: cockroach cercus

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Fellow microscopists:

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




From daemon Tue Aug 28 16:11:15 2001



From: Matthew Lynn :      mlynn-at-miami.edu
Date: Tue, 28 Aug 2001 17:02:46 -0400
Subject: RE: OEM service vs. Insurance Companies---Long message

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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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


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/
} }
} }
} }
} }
} }
} }



From daemon Tue Aug 28 17:32:05 2001



From: Jeannette Taylor :      jvtaylo-at-emory.edu
Date: Tue, 28 Aug 2001 17:26:27 -0500
Subject: query methyl amine vanadate

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


From daemon Tue Aug 28 19:48:57 2001



From: Aurelie Snyder :      snyderau-at-ohsu.edu
Date: Tue, 28 Aug 2001 17:40:51 -0700
Subject: About digitalized video microscope

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


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




From daemon Tue Aug 28 22:54:27 2001



From: Sergey Ryazantsev :      sryazant-at-ucla.edu
Date: Tue, 28 Aug 2001 20:47:11 -0700
Subject: Re: query methyl amine vanadate

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Try NanoProbe Inc
Sergey

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

Phone: (310) 825-1144
Pager: (310) 845-0248
FAX (departmental): (310) 206-5272
mailto:sryazant-at-ucla.edu





From daemon Wed Aug 29 01:29:41 2001



From: Rick Powell at Nanoprobes :      rpowell-at-nanoprobes.com
Date: Wed, 29 Aug 2001 02:20:18 -0400
Subject: Re: query methyl amine vanadate - commercial vendor reply

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Hello Jeannette:

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

US Toll-free: (877) 447-6266 * Tel: (919) 845-6324 * Fax: (631)
980-3608

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



From daemon Wed Aug 29 07:16:54 2001



From: Louise Taylor :      louiset-at-mail.saimr.wits.ac.za
Date: Wed, 29 Aug 2001 14:08:33 +0200
Subject: RE: DNA Extraction

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Hello,

Has anybody out there successfully extracted DNA from Resin embedded EM
tissue. If yes, what are your methods, protocols?

Thanks in advance

Ulrike Allard

Research Laboratory
Department of Anatomical Pathology
South African Institute for Medical Research
Johannesburg
South Africa





From daemon Wed Aug 29 08:15:03 2001



From: Monson, Frederick C. :      fmonson-at-wcupa.edu
Date: Wed, 29 Aug 2001 09:06:16 -0400
Subject: RE: query methyl amine vanadate

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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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
}
}


From daemon Wed Aug 29 08:33:01 2001



From: Monson, Frederick C. :      fmonson-at-wcupa.edu
Date: Wed, 29 Aug 2001 09:26:46 -0400
Subject: RE: query methyl amine vanadate-2

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


Finally got it right.

Nanoprobes, Inc.

http://www.nanoprobes.com/Nstain2.html

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
}
}


From daemon Wed Aug 29 09:56:54 2001



From: Niko Grigorieff :      niko-at-brandeis.edu
Date: Wed, 29 Aug 2001 10:48:35 -0400
Subject: TEM post-doc position available

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Post-doctoral position at Brandeis University

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

Tel: +1-781-736-2444
Fax: +1-781-736-2419
Email: niko-at-brandeis.edu

Brandeis University is an Equal Opportunity Employer.





From daemon Wed Aug 29 12:26:24 2001



From: Jeff Hedlesky :      jhedlesky-at-edgebb.net
Date: Wed, 29 Aug 2001 12:12:12 -0500
Subject: LM nucleated CaCO3 polymorphs and algae eutrophication

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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




From daemon Wed Aug 29 14:37:57 2001



From: Kristen Lennon :      kalen-at-iastate.edu
Date: Wed, 29 Aug 2001 14:30:10 -0500
Subject: in situ hybridization

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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

515-294-8854
kalen-at-iastate.edu
www.baumlab.org



From daemon Wed Aug 29 18:01:01 2001



From: MELISSA ANN LEWIS :      lewisma-at-medicine.ufl.edu
Date: Wed, 29 Aug 2001 17:54:04 -0500
Subject: Cryo sectioning

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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


From daemon Wed Aug 29 18:01:01 2001



From: kai-at-lehigh.edu ()
Date: Wed, 29 Aug 2001 17:57:20 -0500
Subject: Ask-A-Microscopist: TEM sample preparation

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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.

Could you please suggest some tips?

Thank you

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


From daemon Wed Aug 29 18:48:15 2001



From: John C. Wheatley :      John.Wheatley-at-asu.edu
Date: Wed, 29 Aug 2001 16:39:43 -0700
Subject: Post-doctoral Position

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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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


Phone: (480) 965-3831
FAX: (480) 965-9004
John.Wheatley-at-ASU.Edu




From daemon Wed Aug 29 20:39:37 2001



From: John Twilley :      jtwilley-at-sprynet.com
Date: Wed, 29 Aug 2001 21:35:43 -0400
Subject: Re: LM nucleated CaCO3 polymorphs and algae eutrophication

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Jeff,

Re: the carbonate morphologies

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
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} -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
}
}
} 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
}
}
}
}
}



From daemon Thu Aug 30 05:01:52 2001



From: Petr Schauer :      Petr-at-isibrno.cz
Date: Thu, 30 Aug 2001 11:54:52 +0200
Subject: Microscopy resources have moved

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


Dear Microscopists,

Let me inform you that my so called "Petr's Microscopy Resources"
have been moved to the new address

http://www.petr.isibrno.cz/microscopy/

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.

Regards,

Petr Schauer
+---------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Dr. Petr Schauer tel.: (+420 5) 41514313 |
| Head of Electron Microscopy Laboratory fax : (+420 5) 41514404 |
| INSTITUTE OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS (+420 5) 41514402 |
| ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC e-mail: petr-at-isibrno.cz |
| Kralovopolska 147, CZ-612 64 Brno petr-at-dp.fce.vutbr.cz |
| Czech Republic www: http://www.petr.isibrno.cz/ |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------+


From daemon Thu Aug 30 06:31:10 2001



From: Angela Klaus :      avklaus-at-amnh.org
Date: Thu, 30 Aug 2001 07:43:18 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: FE-SEM: Historical Question

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Jeff,

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

Email: avklaus-at-amnh.org
Tel: 212-769-5977




From daemon Thu Aug 30 07:46:41 2001



From: Don.Steele-at-alcan.com
Date: Thu, 30 Aug 2001 08:40:04 -0400
Subject: Re: Ask-A-Microscopist: TEM sample preparation: Particle sectioning

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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You might try either

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






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


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.

Could you please suggest some tips?

Thank you

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






From daemon Thu Aug 30 07:59:29 2001



From: Nestor J. Zaluzec :      zaluzec-at-microscopy.com
Date: Thu, 30 Aug 2001 07:55:45 -0500
Subject: Welcome to the Microscopy Listserver Cc:

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



*********************************************
This Email contains Important Information about
the Microscopy Listserver. Please read it all then
SAVE a copy for future reference. - Nestor
****************************************


From daemon Thu Aug 30 08:09:16 2001



From: zaluzec-at-microscopy.com
Date: Thu, 30 Aug 2001 08:05:20 -0500
Subject: Administrivia: Oops...Nestor slipped

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Sorry Colleagues...

The message you all received was a blunder.. too many hours on-line
and my fingers and mouse start wandering aimlessly missing the correct
keys. It was supposed to go out to today's set of Newsubscribers only, not the
entire list.

Nestor
Your Friendly Neighborhood SysOp


From daemon Thu Aug 30 08:33:32 2001



From: Stephen McCartney :      stmccart-at-vt.edu
Date: Thu, 30 Aug 2001 09:22:03 -0400
Subject: Fwd: Cryo sectioning

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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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

TEL: 540-231-9765
FAX: 540-231-8517



From daemon Thu Aug 30 09:36:18 2001



From: Greg Strout :      gstrout-at-ou.edu
Date: Thu, 30 Aug 2001 09:30:40 -0500
Subject: Re: FE-SEM: Historical Question

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopylistserver.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.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
==================================================================




From daemon Thu Aug 30 10:31:09 2001



From: Matthew Lynn :      mlynn-at-miami.edu
Date: Thu, 30 Aug 2001 11:25:13 -0400
Subject: RE: OEM service vs. Insurance Companies---Long message

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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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 daemon Thu Aug 30 10:58:45 2001



From: Yoho, Tim :      TYoho-at-lhup.edu
Date: Thu, 30 Aug 2001 11:52:13 -0400
Subject: Wanted: Used SEM

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


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


From daemon Thu Aug 30 11:08:57 2001



From: Mary Mager :      mager-at-interchange.ubc.ca
Date: Thu, 30 Aug 2001 09:01:53 -0700
Subject: Re: Ask-A-Microscopist: TEM sample preparation

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


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



From daemon Thu Aug 30 12:43:56 2001



From: Rik Brydson :      mtlrmdb-at-leeds.ac.uk
Date: Thu, 30 Aug 2001 18:22:28 +0100
Subject: FW: MICROSCIENCE 2002

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




MICROSCIENCE 2002 London UK JULY 9-11 2002

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.



The Science...

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:

fluoresence & molecular markers
confocal & multiphoton microscopy
FLIM & FRET
low-temperature microscopy
variable pressure SEM
tomography
digital image acquisition and analysis
scanning probe microscopy
energy filtered imaging
EBSD
FEGTEM
SuperSTEM


The Exhibition.....

MICROSCIENCE 2002
will host the UK¹s premier exhibition
of light, electron and scanning probe microscopes and associated equipment.
See the latest developments in this rapidly developing field.


For more information, contact the RMS by email

Info-at-rms.org.uk

Or visit the website

www.rms.org.uk/microscience2002


--
_____________________________
Dr. Rik Brydson,
Leeds Electron Microscopy and Spectroscopy (LEMAS) Centre
Department of Materials,
School of Process, Environmental and Materials Engineering
University of Leeds,
Leeds LS2 9JT,
U.K.

Tel: 44 + (0)113 233 2369
Fax: 44 + (0)113 242 2531
Web: http://www.materials.leeds.ac.uk
Web: http://www.materials.leeds.ac.uk/lemas

______________________________

**************************
Join email discussion list for all aspects of
Electron Microscopy and Analytical Spectroscopy (LEMAS)

visit website
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/lemas.html
and follow instructions
**************************

=====================================
EELS and X ray database : http://www.cemes.fr/~eelsdb/
=====================================


--


From daemon Thu Aug 30 13:47:53 2001



From: Hanika, William :      haniwc-at-stlo.smhs.com
Date: Thu, 30 Aug 2001 13:40:52 -0500
Subject: MT 1B Maintenance

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


From daemon Thu Aug 30 14:44:38 2001



From: Tina Carvalho :      tina-at-pbrc.hawaii.edu
Date: Thu, 30 Aug 2001 10:04:11 -1000 (HST)
Subject: Re: MT 1B Maintenance

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Jeff -

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



From daemon Thu Aug 30 15:36:49 2001



From: Sara Miller :      saram-at-duke.edu
Date: Thu, 30 Aug 2001 16:24:59 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Re: FE-SEM: Historical Question

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


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



From daemon Thu Aug 30 15:36:54 2001



From: Raymond Bennett :      rbennett-at-hortresearch.co.nz
Date: Fri, 31 Aug 2001 08:31:51 +1200
Subject: Re: FE-SEM: Historical Question

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




{italic} Howdy;


We here at the end of the world had a Coats and Welter Field
Emission SEM which was purchased in 1972.

It produced fantastic results until 1985 when we had to turn it off
due to lack of spare parts including the tips!


In fact; when trying to phone the company in USA that we
purchased the tips from.......it just rung at a dead end!!


Cheers

Raymond Bennett


Keith Williamson EM Unit

HortResearch

Private Bag 11030

Palmerston North

NEW ZEALAND




Date sent: {/italic} {color} {param} 0000,0000,8000 {/param} Thu, 30 Aug 2001 09:30:40 -0500 {italic} {/color}

} From: {/italic} {color} {param} 0000,0000,8000 {/param} Greg Strout { {gstrout-at-ou.edu} {italic} {/color}

{bold} {/italic} Subject: {color} {param} 0000,0000,8000 {/param} Re: FE-SEM: Historical Question {italic} {/bold} {/color}

To: {/italic} {color} {param} 0000,0000,8000 {/param} Angela Klaus { {avklaus-at-amnh.org} {italic} {/color}

Copies to: {/italic} {color} {param} 0000,0000,8000 {/param} Microscopy List Server { {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} {italic} {/color}


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

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


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:


{/italic} {color} {param} 7F00,0000,0000 {/param} } ------------------------------------------------------------------------

} 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


{italic} {/color} --

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

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

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




{nofill}


______________________________________________________
The contents of this e-mail are privileged and/or confidential to the
named recipient and are not to be used by any other person and/or
organisation. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify
the sender and delete all material pertaining to this e-mail.
______________________________________________________


From daemon Thu Aug 30 17:29:30 2001



From: Tobias Baskin :      BaskinT-at-missouri.edu
Date: Thu, 30 Aug 2001 17:21:07 -0500
Subject: spectroscopy and spectrometry, language

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


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

--
_ ____ __ ____ Tobias I. Baskin
/ \ / / \ / \ \ 109 Tucker Hall
/ / / / \ \ \ Biological Sciences
/_ / __ /__ \ \ \__ University of Missouri
/ / / \ \ \ Columbia, MO USA
/ / / \ \ \ 65211-7400
/ / ___ / \ \__/ \ ____ voice: 573-882-0173
fax: 573-882-0123


From daemon Thu Aug 30 19:00:32 2001



From: Jim at Proscitech :      jim-at-proscitech.com
Date: Fri, 31 Aug 2001 09:55:09 +1000
Subject: RE: FE-SEM: Historical Question

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopylistserver.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.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
}



From daemon Fri Aug 31 07:02:29 2001



From: Paula Sicurello :      patpxs-at-gwumc.edu
Date: Fri, 31 Aug 2001 07:52:18 -0400
Subject: Kudo's to Nestor

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



From daemon Fri Aug 31 07:27:23 2001



From: Troutt, David :      dwtroutt-at-eastman.com
Date: Fri, 31 Aug 2001 08:21:35 -0400
Subject: Kudo's to Nestor

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


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


From daemon Fri Aug 31 08:02:22 2001



From: jshields-at-cb.uga.edu
Date: Fri, 31 Aug 2001 08:56:23 -0400
Subject: Re: MT 1B Maintenance

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


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




From daemon Fri Aug 31 08:20:30 2001



From: Troutt, David :      dwtroutt-at-eastman.com
Date: Fri, 31 Aug 2001 09:14:39 -0400
Subject: Moving Old Cambridge SEM 200

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


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


From daemon Fri Aug 31 08:54:03 2001



From: William F. Tivol :      wft03-at-health.state.ny.us
Date: Fri, 31 Aug 2001 09:48:21 -0400
Subject: Re: spectroscopy and spectrometry, language

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






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



From daemon Fri Aug 31 09:07:55 2001



From: Monson, Frederick C. :      fmonson-at-wcupa.edu
Date: Fri, 31 Aug 2001 10:00:51 -0400
Subject: RE: MT 1B Maintenance

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


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
}
}


From daemon Fri Aug 31 09:21:25 2001



From: Monson, Frederick C. :      fmonson-at-wcupa.edu
Date: Fri, 31 Aug 2001 10:15:11 -0400
Subject: MT1 Survey

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


OK, Time for some fun!

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


From daemon Fri Aug 31 10:03:37 2001



From: Pippa Hawes, School Chemistry :      Pippa.Hawes-at-bristol.ac.uk
Date: Fri, 31 Aug 2001 16:05:15 +0100
Subject: TEM - embedding silica

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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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



From daemon Fri Aug 31 10:34:44 2001



From: halcrow-at-unbsj.ca :      halcrow-at-unbsj.ca
Date: Fri, 31 Aug 2001 12:27:34 -0300
Subject: epoxy solvent

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


Dear list members,

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



From daemon Fri Aug 31 10:41:44 2001



From: Henry Eichelberger :      heichelb-at-binghamton.edu
Date: Fri, 31 Aug 2001 12:04:59 -0400
Subject: RE: Ammonium acetate & virus prep.

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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$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
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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

phone: (607) 777-2682
fax: (607) 777-6521
e-mail: heichelb-at-binghamton.edu



From daemon Fri Aug 31 11:28:49 2001



From: Gordon Vrololjak :      gvrdolja-at-nature.Berkeley.EDU
Date: Fri, 31 Aug 2001 09:23:50 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Electroscan E3 SEM question

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


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



From daemon Fri Aug 31 11:32:00 2001



From: K.N. Bozhilov :      bozhilov-at-citrus.ucr.edu
Date: Fri, 31 Aug 2001 09:27:29 -0700
Subject: Bench Top Turbo

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



From daemon Fri Aug 31 11:50:01 2001



From: Gary Gaugler :      gary-at-gaugler.com
Date: Fri, 31 Aug 2001 09:47:06 -0700
Subject: Re: LM - Something I just don't get

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



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



From daemon Fri Aug 31 12:27:43 2001



From: Johnson, Bradley R :      Bradley.Johnson-at-pnl.gov
Date: Fri, 31 Aug 2001 10:19:47 -0700
Subject: SEM: YAP scintillators

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


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

Bradley.Johnson-at-pnl.gov


From daemon Fri Aug 31 15:30:06 2001



From: Weiliang Gong :      gongw-at-vsl.cua.edu
Date: Fri, 31 Aug 2001 15:06:53 -0500 (EST)
Subject: A Suggestion

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


Hi, List members,

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


From daemon Fri Aug 31 16:38:58 2001



From: Mark Germani :      mgermani-at-micromaterialsresearch.com
Date: Fri, 31 Aug 2001 16:36:19 -0500
Subject: Transferring files from Tracor Northern systems

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


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

(630) 325-8170
(630) 325-8178 fax

mgermani-at-micromaterialsresearch.com





From daemon Fri Aug 31 18:02:17 2001



From: Garber, Charles A. :      cgarber-at-2spi.com
Date: Fri, 31 Aug 2001 18:57:25 -0500
Subject: TEM on porous silicas

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


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

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
############################
==================================================



From daemon Fri Aug 31 18:12:16 2001



From: Dmrelion-at-aol.com
Date: Sat, 1 Sep 2001 06:51:29 EDT
Subject: spectroscopy and spectrometry

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


} 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

cathodoluminescence and mass spectroscopy

781-275-4695 (phone)
781-271-0252 (FAX)
dmrelion-at-aol.com

"A weed is a flower out of place."


From daemon Sat Sep 1 07:17:06 2001



From: Dmrelion-at-aol.com
Date: Sat, 1 Sep 2001 08:10:07 EDT
Subject: spectrometers and spectroscopes

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

cathodoluminescence and mass spectroscopy

781-275-4695 (phone)
781-271-0252 (FAX)
dmrelion-at-aol.com

"A weed is a flower out of place."


From daemon Sat Sep 1 10:29:40 2001



From: Beauregard :      beaurega-at-westol.com
Date: Sat, 01 Sep 2001 11:18:30 -0400
Subject: Re: TEM - embedding silica

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


Hi Pippa,

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
}
}
}
}



From daemon Sat Sep 1 10:57:01 2001



From: Garber, Charles A. :      cgarber-at-2spi.com
Date: Sat, 01 Sep 2001 11:53:04 -0500
Subject: YAG and YAP scintillators

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
http://www.microscopylistserver.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.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
############################
==================================================



From daemon Sat Sep 1 10:58:33 2001



From: Caroline Schooley :      schooley-at-mcn.org
Date: Sat, 1 Sep 2001 08:53:38 -0700
Subject: Re: TEM - embedding silica

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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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




From daemon Sat Sep 1 21:00:35 2001



From: Dmrelion-at-aol.com
Date: 09/01/2001
Subject: spectoscopy and spectrometry

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Subj: spectrometers and spectroscopes

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

cathodoluminescence and mass spectroscopy

781-275-4695 (phone)
781-271-0252 (FAX)
dmrelion-at-aol.com

"A weed is a flower out of place."


From daemon Sun Sep 2 00:09:15 2001



From: Jim at Proscitech :      jim-at-proscitech.com
Date: Sun, 2 Sep 2001 15:02:52 +1000
Subject: RE: FE-SEM: Historical Question

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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


From daemon Sun Sep 2 02:00:47 2001



From: Ken Converse :      qualityimages-at-netrax.net
Date: Sun, 02 Sep 2001 10:53:41 -0400
Subject: Re: Kudo's to Nestor

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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
}
}
}
}



From daemon Sun Sep 2 15:28:20 2001



From: Donald O'Leary :      donoleary-at-worldnet.att.net
Date: Sun, 2 Sep 2001 16:19:46 -0400
Subject: NYMS Abbe award to Joseph I. Goldstein

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-----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).

John A. Reffner, President NYMS



From daemon Mon Sep 3 05:59:20 2001



From: Divakar :      divakar-at-igcar.ernet.in
Date: Mon, 3 Sep 2001 16:16:35 +0530
Subject: [MatSci] [HRTEM] Semper image file created by EMS

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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
----






From daemon Mon Sep 3 06:42:45 2001



From: jesper.v.carstensen-at-risoe.dk
Date: Mon, 03 Sep 2001 13:36:55 +0200
Subject: Electroscan E3 SEM question

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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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



From daemon Mon Sep 3 11:11:34 2001



From: Martin Roe :      Martin.Roe-at-nottingham.ac.uk
Date: Mon, 03 Sep 2001 17:02:31 +0100
Subject: Re: EDS Detector sensitivity problem

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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



From daemon Mon Sep 3 21:10:32 2001



From: Paiboon NUANNIN :      npaiboon-at-ratree.psu.ac.th
Date: Tue, 4 Sep 2001 08:59:13 +0700 (ICT)
Subject: Re: EDS Detector sensitivity problem

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Dear Martin

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
}
}



From daemon Tue Sep 4 00:37:36 2001



From: marienti-at-tiscalinet.it
Date: Tue, 4 Sep 2001 07:30:38 +0200
Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?TEM=20CM10=20Help=21?=

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Hi listers!

This is a request of information about a CM10.

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






From daemon Tue Sep 4 00:39:21 2001



From: Marco Arienti :      marienti-at-tiscalinet.it
Date: Tue, 4 Sep 2001 07:32:34 +0200
Subject: TEM CM10 Help

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


Hi listers!

This is a request of information about a CM10.

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







From daemon Tue Sep 4 01:08:19 2001



From: Gary Gaugler :      gary-at-gaugler.com
Date: Mon, 03 Sep 2001 23:05:07 -0700
Subject: Update Zeiss LM Service....

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http://www.microscopylistserver.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html



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.

gary g.



From daemon Tue Sep 4 02:15:28 2001



From: Ron Doole :      ron.doole-at-materials.oxford.ac.uk
Date: Tue, 4 Sep 2001 08:16:15 +0100 (GMT Daylight Time)
Subject: Re: EDS Detector sensitivity problem

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Hi Martin,

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



From daemon Tue Sep 4 06:52:39 2001



From: Frederick Schamber :      schamber-at-aspexllc.com
Date: Tue, 04 Sep 2001 08:25:05 -0700
Subject: Re: YAG and YAP scintillators

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Gordon-

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
} ############################
} ==================================================


From daemon Tue Sep 4 08:45:16 2001



From: Alan Nicholls :      nicholls-at-uic.edu
Date: Tue, 04 Sep 2001 08:45:20 -0700
Subject: RE: FE-SEM: Historical Question

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Jim

I think you mean FE-STEMs not FE-SEMs.

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

Tel: 312 996 1227
Fax: 312 996 8091
Office: Room 110

Web site www.rrc.uic.edu



From daemon Tue Sep 4 09:38:53 2001



From: Bruce Ingber :      bingber-at-srrc.ars.usda.gov
Date: Tue, 04 Sep 2001 09:31:04 -0500
Subject: Electroscan E3 SEM question

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Dear Bruce

This is normal!

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


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


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




From daemon Tue Sep 4 10:36:10 2001



From: Mike Nesta :      MNesta-at-ebsciences.com
Date: Tue, 4 Sep 2001 11:30:30 -0400
Subject: Bench Top Turbo

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


Dear Krassimer,

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

Tel 909 787 2998
Fax 909 787 4324





From daemon Tue Sep 4 11:31:03 2001



From: jrobson-at-rdg.boehringer-ingelheim.com
Date: Tue, 4 Sep 2001 12:24:16 -0400
Subject: Oil diffusion pump

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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List,

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

Particulars: 570 l/sec
100V / 500W
Pressure = 10 -7torr
Oil capacity 150cc


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
}
}
}


From daemon Tue Sep 4 11:36:02 2001



From: Warren E Straszheim :      wesaia-at-iastate.edu
Date: Tue, 04 Sep 2001 11:30:35 -0500
Subject: Re: [MatSci] [HRTEM] Semper image file created by EMS

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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

Ph: 515-294-8187
FAX: 515-294-4563

E-Mail: wesaia-at-iastate.edu
Web: www.marl.iastate.edu

Scanning electron microscopy, x-ray analysis, and image analysis of materials
Computer applications and networking



From daemon Tue Sep 4 12:00:14 2001



From: Ladd Research :      sales-at-laddresearch.com
Date: Tue, 04 Sep 2001 12:54:41 -0400
Subject: Re: Bench Top Turbo

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Dear Krassimir,

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.
--

**** Please Note Our New Address, Fax and Phone Numbers ****

LADD RESEARCH
83 Holly Court
Williston, VT 05495 USA

On-line Catalog: http://www.laddresearch.com

TEL: 1-800-451-3406 (US) or 1-802-658-4961 (anywhere)
FAX: 1-802-660-8859
e-mail: sales-at-laddresearch.com

Quality Since 1955


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


From daemon Tue Sep 4 12:00:18 2001



From: Joyce Craig :      bafpjec-at-csu.edu
Date: Tue, 04 Sep 2001 11:55:20 -0500
Subject: knifebreaker

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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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.



From daemon Tue Sep 4 12:58:01 2001



From: =?iso-8859-1?Q?Patr=EDcia?= Reis :      pmreis-at-morango.esb.ucp.pt
Date: Tue, 4 Sep 2001 12:52:58 -0500
Subject: buffer preparation

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Hi everyone,

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


From daemon Tue Sep 4 13:42:26 2001



From: Judy Trogadis :      TrogadisJ-at-smh.toronto.on.ca
Date: Tue, 04 Sep 2001 09:13:22 -0400
Subject: imaging courses

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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

ph: 416-864-6060 x6337
fax: 416-864-6043
trogadisj-at-smh.toronto.on.ca




From daemon Tue Sep 4 14:49:06 2001



From: Glen MacDonald :      glenmac-at-u.washington.edu
Date: Tue, 04 Sep 2001 12:40:36 -0700
Subject: Minot Microtome

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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.
**************************************************************************




From daemon Tue Sep 4 18:56:38 2001



From: Mike Bode :      mb-at-Soft-Imaging.com
Date: Tue, 4 Sep 2001 17:36:41 -0600
Subject: Re: [MatSci] [HRTEM] Semper image file created by EMS

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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

Ph: 515-294-8187
FAX: 515-294-4563

E-Mail: wesaia-at-iastate.edu
Web: www.marl.iastate.edu

Scanning electron microscopy, x-ray analysis, and image analysis of
materials
Computer applications and networking



From daemon Tue Sep 4 19:46:29 2001



From: Long Miao :      lmiao-at-bio.fsu.edu
Date: Tue, 04 Sep 2001 20:41:52 -0400
Subject: How to refill the micromanipulator system

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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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

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



From daemon Tue Sep 4 20:28:23 2001



From: Rosemary Walsh :      rw9-at-psu.edu
Date: Tue, 4 Sep 2001 20:23:07 -0500
Subject: removing jammed TEM film cassettes

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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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


From daemon Tue Sep 4 22:49:37 2001



From: Donald O'Leary :      donoleary-at-worldnet.att.net
Date: Tue, 4 Sep 2001 23:42:32 -0400
Subject: imaging courses

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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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

ph: 416-864-6060 x6337
fax: 416-864-6043
trogadisj-at-smh.toronto.on.ca






From daemon Wed Sep 5 02:42:47 2001



From: :      mcmouldk-at-203.193.14.120
Date: Wed, 5 Sep 2001 15:33:33 +0800
Subject: JEOL Camera Jams

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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Hi Rosemary,

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.

FAX: (852) 2358 2451
TEL: (852) 2358 8724
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


From daemon Wed Sep 5 06:26:35 2001



From: Alan Davis :      adavis-at-saipan.com
Date: Wed, 5 Sep 2001 21:16:23 +1000
Subject: Camera Lucida drawing tube (Zeiss) questions

Contents Retrieved from Microscopy Listserver Archives
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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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