I was wondering if there is already something going on to set up a sort of "Human Cytome Project" ? In my opinion the hardware and most of the software seems to be avaialable to set up such a project ? For the cellular level, light-microscopy based reader technology would be very interesting to use ?
Studying and mapping the genome, transcriptome and proteome at the organisational level of the cell for various celltypes and organ models could provide us with a lot of information of what actually goes on in organisms in the spatio-spectro-temporal space ?
I have been thinking (working) about a concept which could provide the basic framework for exploring and managing this cellular level of biological organisation research on a large scale, but I would like to know if there is already some thought/work going on in the direction of setting up an initiative such as a "Human Cytome Project" ?
This is just an idea, so I am really interested to hear if there is something in it, or even if it is not worth while whet I just wrote.
Best regards,
Peter Van Osta
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Dec 1 14:47:53 2003
I am having difficulty with immunofluorescence staining of DMSO- differentiated HL-60 cells (a promyelocytic cell line induced to differentiate to a neutrophil-like phenotype). The main problem is nonspecific binding of the secondary reagent--in this case a FITC-labeled donkey F(ab')2 anti-chicken IgY causing very high background. Since anti-chicken reagents are in limited availability, I am going to try to get around using a secondary antibody by biotinylating my primary chicken antibody and then using labeled streptavidin as my secondary reagent. However, I have a mouse antibody that I would like to use as well, and my anti-mouse reagent also gives high background. Does anyone have any helpful pointers on blocking nonspecific binding (or specific, undesirable interactions i.e. with the Fc receptors) on these cells? I am currently blocking and doing my staining in a buffer containing 5% nonfat dry milk and 5% horse serum. I have tried adding in human IgG to block Fc receptors, and the secondary-only controls seem a bit lower, but this background is still unacceptably high.
Any help is greatly appreciated!
Thanks, Amy
Amy Sillman, Ph. D. Visiting Postdoctoral Scholar University of California, San Francisco San Francisco, CA 94143 http://www.ucsf.edu/barber/lab1.html
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Dec 1 15:26:29 2003
Has anyone else been the LUCKY recipient of what seems to me to be one of the worst marketing gimmicks I have seen in a long time? I received a blue plush toy in the mail just before Thanksgiving that looks like some kind of exotic worm, although I think it is supposed to be aquatic, anyone else been sent one?
-- John Mansfield PhD MInstP North Campus Electron Microbeam Analysis Laboratory 417 SRB, University of Michigan 2455 Hayward, Ann Arbor MI 48109-2143 USA Phone: (734) 936-3352 FAX (734) 763-2282 Cell. Phone: (734) 834-3913 (Leaving a phone message at 936-3352 is preferable to 834-3913) Email: jfmjfm-at-engin.umich.edu URL: http://emalwww.engin.umich.edu/people/jfmjfm/jfmjfm.html Location: Lat. 42° 16' 48" Long. 83° 43' 48" AIM: thejfmjfm
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Dec 1 18:55:59 2003
Is it just "materialization" of the virtual worms attacked us every day? If so, you have to present it to Norton Antivirus team for identification and including into their antiviral software. Sergey
At 01:23 PM 12/1/2003, you wrote:
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_____________________________________
Sergey Ryazantsev Ph. D. Electron Microscopy UCLA School of Medicine Department of Biological Chemistry 10833 Le Conte Ave, Room 33-089 Los Angeles, CA 90095
I am looking for a vendor to supply specimen stubs for the upper stage of an ISI DS-130 SEM. They are threaded and about 9 mm in diameter. Does anyone know of a source?
Thanks in advance,
Doug
--------------------- Doug Keene Associate Investigator Imaging Center Shriners Hospital for Children 3101 S.W. Sam Jackson Park Road Portland, Oregon 97239 503-221-3434
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Dec 1 19:06:35 2003
John; I got one too, and I loved it. My 1-1/2 year old daughter didn't quite know what to make of it though, so she still prefers to yank my pager and cell phone out of my briefcase and play with them. Maybe when she gets a bit older and learns about microscopy...............
John Mardinly Intel
-----Original Message----- } From: John Mansfield [mailto:jfmjfm-at-umich.edu] Sent: Monday, December 01, 2003 1:24 PM To: microscopy-at-microscopy.com
Has anyone else been the LUCKY recipient of what seems to me to be one of the worst marketing gimmicks I have seen in a long time? I received a blue plush toy in the mail just before Thanksgiving that looks like some kind of exotic worm, although I think it is supposed to be aquatic, anyone else been sent one?
-- John Mansfield PhD MInstP North Campus Electron Microbeam Analysis Laboratory 417 SRB, University of Michigan 2455 Hayward, Ann Arbor MI 48109-2143 USA Phone: (734) 936-3352 FAX (734) 763-2282 Cell. Phone: (734) 834-3913 (Leaving a phone message at 936-3352 is preferable to 834-3913) Email: jfmjfm-at-engin.umich.edu URL: http://emalwww.engin.umich.edu/people/jfmjfm/jfmjfm.html Location: Lat. 42° 16' 48" Long. 83° 43' 48" AIM: thejfmjfm
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Dec 1 22:52:26 2003
We are searching for a method in vivo labeling or staining of bladder epithelium and/or it can be detectable in tissue samples after bladder resection. I would appreciate any recommendations.
Thanks.
Robert Molchanov M.D.
Dpt.of Urology State Medical Academy Dniepropetrovsk Ukraine Phone/Fax +380 (562) 466563 E-mail: rob_molch-at-yahoo.com
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From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Dec 1 22:54:49 2003
We are searching for a method in vivo labeling or staining of bladder epithelium and/or transitional-cell carcinoma of bladder so that it can be detectable in tissue samples after bladder resection. I would appreciate any recommendations.
Thanks.
Robert Molchanov M.D.
Dpt.of Urology State Medical Academy Dniepropetrovsk Ukraine Phone/Fax +380 (562) 466563 E-mail: rob_molch-at-yahoo.com
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From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Tue Dec 2 06:50:03 2003
I have done negative staining ( 1% PTA) on a budded virus for TEM and some of the virus species appears white while other, on the same gridd, have a darker appearence. Does anyone have any experience of this phenomenon? Is this depending on if the envelope membrane is lost or not?
Below is the result of your feedback form (NJZFM-ultra-55). It was submitted by (crimp-at-egr.msu.edu) from http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MLFormMail.html on Tuesday, December 2, 2003 at 08:08:12 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Email: crimp-at-egr.msu.edu Name: Marty Crimp
Organization: Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science
Question: The Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science at Michigan State University has an immediate opening for a postdoctoral level researcher with experience in both transmission and scanning electron microscopy of materials. This position will involve a combination of lab supervision, training, and research. Applicants should possess both strong communications skills and experience with a broad range of electron microscopy techniques. An earned Ph.D. in materials science or related field is required.
Please send cover letter, resume, and a list of three references to: Prof. Martin A. Crimp, Dept. of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Michigan State University, Lansing, MI 48824-1226. MSU is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Institution. Women and minorities are strongly encouraged to apply. Persons with disabilities have the right to request and receive reasonable accommodation.
Below is the result of your feedback form (NJZFM-ultra-55). It was submitted by (starovoytov-at-biology.rutgers.edu) from http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MLFormMail.html on Monday, December 1, 2003 at 13:39:26 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Question: We have two scopes that we are removing from our facility. Does anyone want a "Hitachi S-450" SEM or "Philips EM-300" TEM? Both scopes are available for the cost to relocate them to your facility. Both are in good, operating condition.
PLease e-mail or call Val Starovoytov at 732-445-5308
That was pretty common in our studies of the Mammary Tumor Virus. Are you seeing osmotic artifacts as well? In our studies of MTV, the virus often appeared as a "head" with a membranous tail. You can check some of the other ways we prepared the virus in: Cancer Research 35:740-749 (1975)
Joel
} } } ---------------------------------------------------------------------- } -------- The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society } of America To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- } http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver On-Line Help } http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } ---------------------------------------------------------------------- } --------- } } Dear Microscopy Listserver members, } } I have done negative staining ( 1% PTA) on a budded virus for TEM and } some of the virus species appears white while other, on the same } gridd, have a darker appearence. Does anyone have any experience of } this phenomenon? Is this depending on if the envelope membrane is } lost or not? } } Sincerely, } Pernilla } } ...................................................................... } ..................................................................... } } Pernilla Nevsten, PhD-student } Materials Chemistry } Lund University, Sweden } } } } } }
Joel B. Sheffield, Ph.D. Biology Department, Temple University 1900 North 12th Street Philadelphia, PA 19122 jbs-at-temple.edu (215) 204 8839, fax (215) 204 0486 http://astro.temple.edu/~jbs
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Tue Dec 2 11:00:49 2003
congratulations, you are about to receive a deluge of comments recommending different stains. the best advice here is to stick with what you are familiar with. unless you wish to make a comparative study of stains. if you wish to do that let me know and i will share my results from previous studies. the bottom line is that most stains are inherently similar in results. some are more grainy, some sublimate, some are reputed to cause damage to the particles. but if you are happy with what you have, stick with it.
the first question is have you stabilized and inactivated the particles in any way. we use a final concentration of 0.1% glutaraldehyde. as we all know, it is a cross-linking fixative, and therefore, may cause clumping of the material. in our case, we find clumping is not really a problem in clinical samples. also, at a concentration of 0.1% the antigenic sites are retained sufficiently to allow immunoEM procedures to work. alternatively, if you are concerned with clumping you may wish to treat the particles with 2% paraformaldehyde.
the second question is did you adjust the pH of the PTA. it is usually used at a pH of 7.0. if the pH is adjusted with KOH the stain is reported to cause disruption of membranes, whereas adjustment with NaOH will not. of course, fixation should protect against this disruption. if the appearance you see is due to disruption of the virion membranes then the disrupted particles should release the nucleocapsid, which should then be recognizable on its own.
a more likely explanation for the appearance you are seeing is the presence and absence of nucleic acid in the particle. as we all remember, negative staining works by embedding the target particle. good stains will penetrate well into the interstices of the particles. cryoEM studies suggest that most of these small spaces are actually channels which may penetrate ccmpletely into the particle. where there is nucleic acid present, it fills the interior of the particle and prevents excess stain from building up. were there is no nucleic acid present, the stain will fill the inside of the particle. the stain will then deflect the beam in the internal areas, providing for a dark appearance. remember, in negative stain, dark=nothing, white=components.
this appearance is observed with many viruses after gradient purification. in the case of cubic viruses purified on CsCl, the genome defective particles band above the genome complete particles, and are frequently refered to as 'top component'.
if this is not a sufficient explanation, i would be willing to look at a few micrograps if you wish to forward digitized images.
hope this helps
Paul R. Hazelton Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases University of Manitoba, Faculty of Medicine 531 Basic Medical Sciences 730 William Avenue Winnipeg, MB Canada, R3E 0W3 phone: Lab: 204-789-3313 Fax: 204-789-3926 Cell: 204-781-1502 Pager: 204-931-9354 e-mail: paul_hazelton-at-umanitoba.ca
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Tue Dec 2 11:54:11 2003
Pernilla, What you are probably seeing is both positive (dark virus) and negative (light virus) staining. True negative staining gives a light particle surrounded by stain which, due to the scattering of electrons, appears darker. You will often also see some darker areas of the particle that have trapped some stain.
Positive staining is when the particle itself has absorbed the stain and appears dark while the background is light. Usually there is very little detail in positively stained particles.
Positive staining often occurs when the amount of sample material is very low. In this case the hydrophobic nature of the film surface results in the stain just rolling off. You can see this happening if you put a droplet of stain on the grid and, when you go to wick it off with filter paper, it all comes off leaving an apparently dry grid behind.
You can reduce this problem by glow discharging the grids in a vacuum evaporator just prior to making your samples. This acts to change the charge on the grid surface and make it hydrophilic. This effect does degrade quickly so grids should be used within a few hours. You can glow discharge grids more than once.
The alternative is to use a sample with sufficient concentration of particles so that there is enough material to hold the stain. It is not unusual to find areas of both positive and negative staining on the same grid based on where the sample has accumulated. The nice thing about negative staining is that you have a fairly homogeneous sample so usually can hunt around for just the right sample and stain distribution.
Debby
Debby Sherman, Manager Phone: 765-494-6666 Life Science Microscopy Facility FAX: 765-494-5896 Purdue University E-mail: dsherman-at-purdue.edu S-052 Whistler Building 170 S. University Street West Lafayette, IN 47907 On 12/2/03 7:52 AM, "Pernilla Nevsten" {pernilla.nevsten-at-materialkemi.lth.se} wrote:
} } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- } http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --} - } } Dear Microscopy Listserver members, } } I have done negative staining ( 1% PTA) on a budded virus for TEM and } some of the virus species appears white while other, on the same gridd, } have a darker appearence. Does anyone have any experience of this } phenomenon? Is this depending on if the envelope membrane is lost or not? } } Sincerely, } Pernilla } } .............................................................................. } ............................................................. } } Pernilla Nevsten, PhD-student } Materials Chemistry } Lund University, Sweden } } } } } } }
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Tue Dec 2 12:05:12 2003
} Virus will appear differently (some darkly stained, some lightly } stained) for various reasons:
1. Stain penetration: sometimes the integrity of the virion is disrupted (mechanically, chemically) so that the negative stain can penetrate the particle and deposit inside the virion giving it a dark appearance.
2. Defective particles: in most replicating virus there will be a certain percentage of defective (empty) particles. These are generally "leaky" and permit stain to penetrate. If the population contains too many defective (non-infectious) particles, this leads to a phenomenon called defective interference and could eventually lead to the loss of viability of the virion (infectious particles).
3. Variability in staining: negative stains are rarely exclusively negative and there will always be some degree of positive staining taking place with the stain. Uranyl acetate, for example, often reacts intensely with DNA if it is accessible and PTA sometimes stains polysaccharides (external components of membranes).
} Dear Microscopy Listserver members, } } I have done negative staining ( 1% PTA) on a budded virus for TEM } and some of the virus species appears white while other, on the same } gridd, have a darker appearence. Does anyone have any experience of } this phenomenon? Is this depending on if the envelope membrane is } lost or not? } } Sincerely, } Pernilla } } ........................................................................................................................................... } Pernilla Nevsten, PhD-student } Materials Chemistry } Lund University, Sweden
-- ############################################################## 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 ##############################################################
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Tue Dec 2 12:30:05 2003
} Has anyone else been the LUCKY recipient of what seems to me to be one } of the worst marketing gimmicks I have seen in a long time? } I received a blue plush toy in the mail just before Thanksgiving that } looks like some kind of exotic worm, although I think it is supposed } to be aquatic, anyone else been sent one? } Dear John, No plush toys, but I seem to have won an unbelievably large number of lotteries. Yours, Bill Tivol EM Scientist and Manager Cryo-Electron Microscopy Facility Broad Center, Mail Code 114-96 California Institute of Technology Pasadena CA 91125 (626) 395-8833 tivol-at-caltech.edu
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Tue Dec 2 14:07:24 2003
In a message dated 12/2/03 2:50:59 PM, tivol-at-caltech.edu writes:
} No plush toys, but I seem to have won an unbelievably large number of } lotteries.
And it has been my incredibly good fortune to be selected as the one honest person to be entrusted with enormous wealth that has found its way by various ill-gotten means into the hands of numerous persons in various third world countries, all of whom apparently wish to transfer it into my personal bank account. Anyone want to share in this windfall?
Of course, I will probably need all that money if I am to take advantage of the great deals on prescription drugs that I can order on-line, or to visit the numerous casinos that want my patronage.
Thank goodness for spam-blockers, which reduce the flood somewhat.
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Tue Dec 2 15:14:41 2003
John as a long standing customer of that company you should be happy to have received their M&M 2003 giveaway ... only 3 months late but then that is pretty good for them! I received one too.
Alan
At 04:23 PM 12/1/2003 -0500, John Mansfield wrote:
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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
Dear Dr. Osta, I remember vaguely reading about cytomics and what I remember is that it related to complete protein profile in relation to functions ( somewhat like functional genomics) also involving microscopy and facs etc but of single cells. Never followed it much. Shashi Singh
--- Peter Van Osta {pvosta-at-unionbio-eu.com} wrote: } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The } Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- } http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver } On-Line Help } http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- } } Hi, } } I was wondering if there is already something going } on to set up a sort } of "Human Cytome Project" ? In my opinion the } hardware and most of the } software seems to be avaialable to set up such a } project ? For the } cellular level, light-microscopy based reader } technology would be very } interesting to use ? } } Studying and mapping the genome, transcriptome and } proteome at the } organisational level of the cell for various } celltypes and organ models } could provide us with a lot of information of what } actually goes on in } organisms in the spatio-spectro-temporal space ? } } I have been thinking (working) about a concept which } could provide the } basic framework for exploring and managing this } cellular level of } biological organisation research on a large scale, } but I would like to } know if there is already some thought/work going on } in the direction of } setting up an initiative such as a "Human Cytome } Project" ? } } This is just an idea, so I am really interested to } hear if there is } something in it, or even if it is not worth while } whet I just wrote. } } Best regards, } } Peter Van Osta } }
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From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Wed Dec 3 07:38:59 2003
We are in a process of purchasing a new Low Vacuum SEM. One of the suppliers offers LV 1-750 Pa, while the other has LV system 1-260 Pa. I have no experience with Low Vacuum (Variable Pressure) systems. We are trying to decide how important would be to have up to 750 Pa vs 260 Pa. We would like to be able to look at wet samples (plant tissue, soils, compost). I would appreciate your comments.
Thank you for your attention. Val Jeliazkov Ph: (902) 893 7859
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Wed Dec 3 12:17:58 2003
I wonder if this plush toy was something I recently saw in the San Francisco Exploratorium's gift shop - it represented the well-publicized SEM image purporting to show extraterrestrial bacteria.
-- *************************************************************** Do not publicly post any of my correspondence without permission
Dee Breger Mgr. SEM/EDX Facility Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory 61 Route 9W Palisades, NY 10964 USA T: 845/365-8640 F: 845/365-8155
http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/micro Journeys in Microspace (Columbia University Press, 1995) http://www.lsc.org/antarctica/front.html
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Wed Dec 3 13:19:46 2003
I would get the higher pressure model. I think, however, you should consider a model which can support 865Pa (6.5 Torr) at 5 degrees C. One could then image water/ fully hydrated specimens over a long period.
Dave
On Wed, 03 Dec 2003 09:37:50 -0400 "Valtcho Jeliazkov (Zheljazkov) Ph.D." {vjeliazkov-at-nsac.ns.ca} wrote:
} } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- } } We are in a process of purchasing a new Low Vacuum } SEM. One of the suppliers offers LV 1-750 Pa, } while the other has LV system 1-260 Pa. } I have no experience with Low Vacuum (Variable } Pressure) systems. We are trying to decide how } important would be to have up to 750 Pa vs 260 } Pa. We would like to be able to look at wet } samples (plant tissue, soils, compost). } I would appreciate your comments. } } Thank you for your attention. } Val Jeliazkov } Ph: (902) 893 7859 } } } } } This incoming email to UWE has been independently scanned for viruses and any virus detected has been removed using McAfee anti-virus software } }
---------------------------------------- Patton, David Email: David.Patton-at-uwe.ac.uk "University of the West of England"
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Wed Dec 3 13:26:26 2003
Not all low vacuum SEMs are suitable for observation of wet specimens. To avoid substantial drying you need a system that can inject water vapor in the specimen chamber at pressures from 650 to 850 Pa. Microscope should have a cooling Peltier stage for bringing specimen temperature close to a dew point (1-5 Celsius).
Pressure 260 Pa is usually adequate for non-conductive specimens observation with BSE detector, but for some specimens charging can occur. The charging can affect EDS analysis, but for qualitative analysis its usually not a problem.
Vladimir M. Dusevich, Ph.D. Electron Microscope Lab Manager 3127 School of Dentistry 650 E. 25th Street Kansas City, MO 64108-2784
} } We are in a process of purchasing a new Low Vacuum } SEM. One of the suppliers offers LV 1-750 Pa, } while the other has LV system 1-260 Pa. } I have no experience with Low Vacuum (Variable } Pressure) systems. We are trying to decide how } important would be to have up to 750 Pa vs 260 } Pa. We would like to be able to look at wet } samples (plant tissue, soils, compost). } I would appreciate your comments. } } Thank you for your attention. } Val Jeliazkov } Ph: (902) 893 7859 } } }
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Wed Dec 3 23:21:54 2003
Below is the result of your feedback form (NJZFM-ultra-55). It was submitted by (jfrosenberg-at-yahoo.com) from http://www.msa.microscopy.org/Ask-A-Microscopist.html on Wednesday, December 3, 2003 at 13:05:48 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Question: I just purchased a used Olympus binocular compound microscope with a 100x objective. Does the Type A Immersion oil need to be stored in any special way such as a light free or amber bottle? What is the shelf life of this oil? Thanks. Ilana & Julie Rosenberg
Here are some links to websites with information about Cytomics, this will provide you with some information and background about what I mean with a "Human Cytome Project" (see below in this email).
I got the idea about using massive parallel "readers" on a "high-throughput" backbone for Cytomics while I visited the Sanger Center a few years ago where I saw a huge room "buzzing" with DNA-sequencing machines.
I wanted to design and develop a cell-screening system, based on a microscopy-based reader which could do for Cytomics what DNA-sequencing machines did for Genomics.
} } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- } } Dear Dr. Osta, } I remember vaguely reading about cytomics and what I } remember is that it related to complete protein } profile in relation to functions ( somewhat like } functional genomics) also involving microscopy and } facs etc but of single cells. Never followed it much. } Shashi Singh } } } } --- Peter Van Osta {pvosta-at-unionbio-eu.com} wrote: } } } } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ } } } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The } } Microscopy Society of America
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Thu Dec 4 05:05:24 2003
We have been given a small room that we would like to convert to a cryo-sectioning room. I am concerned about the air flow in the room. I naturally want enough air movement to make it safe for the operators to cut in the room, but I don't want the air conditioning to be so strong that it makes sectioning impossible. Is there a standard (Europe ) air flow rate needed for working with Liquid nitrogen? Or has anyone set up such a room that might have some hints or tips for me? Ken Blight Senior Scientific Officer Cancer Research UK London
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Thu Dec 4 09:37:20 2003
How big is the room, and how many instruments will you have in there?
Some tips from my own experience:
- Have them install an oxygen sensor. But make sure to have it installed at a reasonable height (level with the operator's head). The people at Yale would not listen to us and installed the sensors at floor level. We had to disconnect them as the alarm rang every time we would just open the lid of a nitrogen tank!
- Install "air socks". This is like a giant sock stretched on the ceiling that distributes the air evenly over the entire length of the room. Thanks to this, we have virtually no interference with sectioning. From my recollection of the time spent at ICRF, this is an important issue because we ended up taping a plastic film over the air vent in our sectioning room as the air current was too strong! I can have some diagrams sent to you if you need more information about these "air socks".
- Final tip: we had a glass sliding door installed at the entrance of our sectioning room. This is the best idea we ever had! No more strong air current anytime somebody walks in, and the added safety that people inside the room are seen from outside in case of emergency.
Hope this helps. Best wishes
Marc
On Thursday, December 4, 2003, at 06:04 AM, Ken Blight wrote:
} } } ----------------------------------------------------------------------- } ------- } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of } America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- } http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver } On-Line Help } http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } ----------------------------------------------------------------------- } -------- } } We have been given a small room that we would like to convert to a } cryo-sectioning room. I am concerned about the air flow in the room. I } naturally want enough air movement to make it safe for the operators } to cut in the room, but I don't want the air conditioning to be so } strong that it makes sectioning impossible. Is there a standard } (Europe ) air flow rate needed for working with Liquid nitrogen? Or } has anyone set up such a room that might have some hints or tips for } me? } Ken Blight } Senior Scientific Officer } Cancer Research UK } London } }
-- Marc Pypaert Department of Cell Biology Center for Cell and Molecular Imaging Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Yale University School of Medicine 333 Cedar Street, PO Box 208002 New Haven, CT 06520-8002 TEL 203-785 3681 FAX 203-785 7446
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Thu Dec 4 09:41:00 2003
Regardless of the flow, one should avoid, for all the obvious reasons, having air venting directly onto a microtome or any other piece of precision equipment. To this end, I recommend a flow diverter be placed in front of the vent. This is achieved by suspending from the ceiling a piece of sheet metal that is slightly larger than the vent. Suspend the sheet about 15-20 cm below the vent and parallel to the ceiling. Lightweight chain makes hanging the sheet straightforward.
We routinely use this arrangement wherever needed in our lab.
Cheers,
Gary M. Brown ExxonMobil Chemical Company Baytown Technology & Engineering - West 5200 Bayway Drive Baytown, Texas 77520-2101 phone: (281) 834-2387 fax: (281) 834-2395 e-mail: Gary.M.Brown-at-ExxonMobil.com
Ken Blight {Ken.Blight-at-cancer.or To: microscopy-at-msa.microscopy.com g.uk} cc: Subject: [Microscopy] Cryo-sectioning Room
The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
We have been given a small room that we would like to convert to a cryo-sectioning room. I am concerned about the air flow in the room. I naturally want enough air movement to make it safe for the operators to cut in the room, but I don't want the air conditioning to be so strong that it makes sectioning impossible. Is there a standard (Europe ) air flow rate needed for working with Liquid nitrogen? Or has anyone set up such a room that might have some hints or tips for me? Ken Blight Senior Scientific Officer Cancer Research UK London
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Fri Dec 5 04:31:38 2003
I have two Ion Tech ion mills, with three chambers, which I wish to dispose of. Liquid nitrogen, iodine, and relatively low angle (down to 7 degrees) ion milling is possible, and one of the systems has beam steering. Also spares, sample holders, shields, etc. I need the space for lab re-organisation, and if no-one is interested in them they will go for scrap. Is there anyone out there in the UK still using these machines? Ah, the happy days (and days) I spent trying to align the guns...
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From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Fri Dec 5 10:23:49 2003
I'm looking for some advice and I hope someone has some experience with the Olympus VAS II photographic system. As I understand the operation, I can capture and store images as a TGA file. These files take up so much room that only two fit on a 1.4MB floppy. The software has a provision to convert the files to other formats but these formats aren't readable by powerpoint or the other viewers I have available. I can't get the VAS II installed on our network and I can't install a zip drive. (At least that's what I have been told.)
Any advice on how I can store more files on a floppy, or a reader which will read the conversion files would be gratefully appreciated.
Thanks for any advice......
Frank Karl Degussa Corporation Akron Technical Center 3500 Embassy Parkway Suite 100 Akron, Ohio 44333
330-668-2235 Ext. 238
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Fri Dec 5 11:45:34 2003
I am posting this for a graduate student here who is hoping someone has a technique that will help him out. Please reply to the list (in which case I will forward) and/or directly to Greg:
"I'm searching for a suitable LM staining protocol for distinguishing structures in the stigmatic region on the diminutive pistils of Lupinus perennis. I want to differentiate between the cell walls of the papillae and their overlying cuticle and, if possible, also the cell contents and a pool of lipid-rich exudate which accummulates between the cell wall and the cuticle. The protocol would involve stains that at a minimum differentiate cell wall (cellulose with some lignin) from cuticle (cutin) and ideally also lipids and nuclei. Thanks, Greg Shenk University of Connecticut shenk-at-darwin.eeb.uconn.edu "
Dr. Marie E. Cantino Director, Electron Microscopy Laboratory Associate Professor of Physiology and Neurobiology University of Connecticut Unit 3242 Storrs, CT 06269-3242 Phone: 860-486-3588 Fax: 860-486-6369
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Fri Dec 5 13:34:12 2003
The Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology and the Neuroscience Research Institute are sponsoring an advance course on light microscopy. This 5-day workshop will be offered from March 22 through March 26, 2004 and will consist of lectures and laboratory exercises that will run from 9 am to approximately 5 pm each day. The seminar/workshop will be intensive enabling participants to develop theoretical and hands-on expertise with light microscopes. Attendees will interact closely with the instructors while using modern research grade microscopes, cameras, and computers. The seminars and laboratories will cover basic optical theory and how it pertains to increasing contrast (signal to noise ratio) in biological samples. Fundamental techniques such as fluorescence, phase contrast, Nomarski differential interference contrast, and darkfield imaging will be taught and attendees will use microscopes equipped with these optical enhancement accessories. In addition, the theory and practice of electronic image acquisition (analog and digital) will be discussed and attendees will work with low-light cameras, digital image processing computers, and morphometric programs. There are five research grade microscopes, five electronic imaging cameras, two computer workstations, and one confocal microscope. With a maximum enrollment of 10 students, there will be ample opportunity to work with all of the microscopes and cameras. For those so interested, intensive hands-on instruction and guidance on the confocal microscope will be provided.
For a fuller description of the workshop, please check the web address below. Enrollment forms can be completed online and this workshop provides an opportunity to have a working-vacation in Santa Barbara, California.
Below is the result of your feedback form (NJZFM-ultra-55). It was submitted by (burtonpierce-at-cox.net) from http://www.msa.microscopy.org/Ask-A-Microscopist.html on Friday, December 5, 2003 at 23:52:48 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Question: My question is regarding ocular micrometer calibration. Are OCULAR DIVISION and OCULAR UNIT synonymus terms? Or is OCULAR UNIT defined as distance/OCULAR DIVISION?
T here was a meeting of facility managers at M&M2003 to discuss the formation of a Focused Interest Group dealing with topics of interest related to operating a core multi-user or service microscopy facility. There was overwhelming support for this and a document will be submitted shortly to the MSA Council requesting authorization for the formation of the FIG on Facility Operations.
The mission statement is: To explore issues regarding management and utilization of microscopy, imaging and microanalytical facilities.
Many of you are already on the E-mail list for information about this topic. Please contact me directly if you are not on the list and want to be included, or want to verify that you are on the list. Future communication about the FIG will be sent through the E-mail list and not via the MSA listserve.
Thanks, Debby
Debby Sherman, Manager Phone: 765-494-6666 Life Science Microscopy Facility FAX: 765-494-5896 Purdue University E-mail: dsherman-at-purdue.edu S-052 Whistler Building 170 S. University Street West Lafayette, IN 47907 http://www3.agriculture.purdue.edu/microscopy
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Dec 8 04:35:07 2003
The European Microbeam Analysis Society and the Department for Nanostructured Materials at the Jozef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia, are pleased to invite you to participate in the 6th EMAS Regional Workshop "Electron Probe Microanalysis Today - Practical Aspects" to be held in Bled, Slovenia, from 8 to 11 May 2004.
Updated information on the workshop and on-line registration can be found at the EMAS 2004 website: http://emas2004.ijs.si
Please download the First Announcement for the Workshop at: http://emas2004.ijs.si/EMAS2004_First_Announcement.pdf
Dr. Goran Drazic (chairman) Jozef Stefan Institute Department for Nanostructured Materials Jamova 39 SI-1000 Ljubljana Slovenia
EMAS 2004 Secretariat Email: sanja.fidler-at-ijs.si Fax: +386 1 4263 126
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Dec 8 08:11:20 2003
Dear Burton, It is unlikely that 'ocular unit' is defined as a calibrated distance. Generally, 'ocular division' would refer to the smallest interval in the ocular scale and the the 'ocular unit' would refer to 10 of those divisions. Nevertheless, the main thing to keep in mind, is that there are no language police who arrest folks for incorrect or even unconventional usage. So someone could have defined 'ocular unit' in a sepcific way. If there is no information to indicate that in what you are reading, then I think you can reasonably safely assume that no calibration has gone on.
Tobias Baskin } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- } } Below is the result of your feedback form (NJZFM-ultra-55). It was } submitted by (burtonpierce-at-cox.net) from } http://www.msa.microscopy.org/Ask-A-Microscopist.html on Friday, } December 5, 2003 at 23:52:48 } --------------------------------------------------------------------------- } } Email: burtonpierce-at-cox.net } Name: Burton Pierce } } Organization: San Diego City College } } Education: Undergraduate College } } Location: City, State, Country } } Question: My question is regarding ocular micrometer calibration. } Are OCULAR DIVISION and OCULAR UNIT synonymus terms? Or is OCULAR } UNIT defined as distance/OCULAR DIVISION? } } ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
in view of the obvious facts that: 1. the DNA-sequence and functional knowledge on all biomolecules will not permit the assembly of living cell from their components 2. the analysis of organ tissue or biopsy specimens by advanced array technologies typically provides averaged result for many cells but does not address the discrete reactivity of specific cell populations being decisevely important for particular organ or organismic functions
it seems important and promising to address molecular principles of cell arrangement and interaction in a human cytome project. Such a project could bundle advanced microscopy, image analysis and other multiparameter cytometric techniques as well as single cell or specific cell group oriented functional genomics arraying and include multidimensional bioinformatics. The goal of the project would be to systematically explore multilevel molecular interrelations within cytomes as they occur in complex diseases like cancers, leukemias, cardiovascular disease, diabetes or in the susceptibility to infection including the detailed search for new pharmacological access points.
At 10:14 04.12.03 +0100, Peter Van Osta wrote: } Hi, } } Here are some links to websites with information about Cytomics, this } will provide you with some information and background about what I mean } with a "Human Cytome Project" (see below in this email). } } I got the idea about using massive parallel "readers" on a } "high-throughput" backbone for Cytomics while I visited the Sanger } Center a few years ago where I saw a huge room "buzzing" with } DNA-sequencing machines. } } I wanted to design and develop a cell-screening system, based on a } microscopy-based reader which could do for Cytomics what DNA-sequencing } machines did for Genomics. } } Websites on Cytomics: } } http://www.cytomics.info/ } http://www.biochem.mpg.de/valet/cytomics.html } http://www.biochem.mpg.de/valet/cellpot.html } http://www.ipd.anl.gov/biotech/programs/func-genomics/ } } Best regards, } } Peter Van Osta } } ( http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pvosta/cvwww.htm ) } }
It is unclear as to whether you are referring to the markings on the binocular body or on the reticle inside the eyepiece.
The markings on the binocular body are the "interpupillary distance": literally, the space from the center of one pupil to the center of the other when you have set the binoculars so that you see one, round field of view. This distance is marked in mm. You can measure anyone's IPD simply by having them look straight ahead and, using a small ruler, measuring the center-to-center distance. If you wear eyeglasses, you have already gone through this exercise with your local optometrist.
The markings on the reticle inserted inside the eyepiece have no units in and of themselves. They must be calibrated against a known (stage micrometer) for each optical set-up you use (primarily, each objective. If you have any intermediate magnifiers, such as the Zeiss Optovar, you also need to calibrate for each objective/intermediate set). This calibration is very easy to do: 1. Using the stage micrometer as a sample, set up Koehler illumination. 2. Choose some arbitrary number of eyepiece units which match markings on the stage micrometer. For example: 25 eyepiece units might match up with 400 microns on the stage micrometer. 3. Construct a conversion factor of microns/eyepiece units: In the example above: 400 microns/25 eyepiece units = 16 microns per eyepiece unit. 4. To measure with a real sample, simply observe how many eyepiece units cover the dimension you wish to measure in the sample, then multiply by your conversions factor.
Do this type of calibration for each objective (or objective/intermediate mag set), write it down, and tape it near the microscope for easy reference. These measurements will not change unless you use something new in the optical path.
You can also take this exercise one step further: To measure objects on your computer monitor, use the stage micrometer as a sample and project the image to the screen. In this case you won't have an eyepiece reticle. To make an equivalent structure for your screen, use an overhead transparency to set up a scale on the screen by marking (magic marker) 10, 50, or 100 microns on your overhead transparency.
Hope this is helpful.
Good hunting! Barbara Foster Microscopy/Microscopy Education, Inc. (MME, Inc.) 125 Paridon Street, Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 PH: 413-746-6931 FX: 413-746-9311 Web: www.MicroscopyEducation.com
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At 05:25 AM 12/6/03 -0600, burtonpierce-at-cox.net wrote:
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From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Dec 8 15:05:40 2003
I'd like to get some feedback frome someone who's using a Leica DMRXA2 automatized microscope, with a Marzhauser or a Prior motorized stage. How would you qualify the quality of optics and motorized pieces?
Thank you!
Marie-Claude Belanger
_________________________________________________________________ MSN Search, le moteur de recherche qui pense comme vous ! http://fr.ca.search.msn.com/
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Dec 8 17:37:07 2003
I would appreciate (off-list of course) any feedback from LEO FESEM users. Under consideration is a LEO Supra 55VP, 20nA gun. Any similar models including 1550 high vacuum or other VP SEMs is very appreciated. The application is semiconductor analysis, with RBSE, EDS and EBSD (EDAX).
thanks, gary g.
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Dec 8 20:02:14 2003
Below is the result of your feedback form (NJZFM-ultra-55). It was submitted by (taylor-at-research.ge.com) from http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MLFormMail.html on Sunday, December 7, 2003 at 20:40:58 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Email: taylor-at-research.ge.com Name: Seth Taylor
Organization: GE Research
Title-Subject: [Microscopy] [Filtered] MListserver: Epoxies for embedding ceramic particles
Question: Hello,
Can anyone out there suggest an epoxy that can be used to embed ceramic particles for TEM analysis? The trick is that I'd like to be able to thin the particle-epoxy sample in an ion-mill, so I'm looking for an epoxy whose hardness (or thinning rate) closely matches that of SiC.
I'd be grateful for any ideas or suggestions you might have.
Question: Hello all - a coworker has brought me something they found in their house that they suspect might be mold. They were wondering if I might be able to let them know what it is (ie is it mold) and then, if possible, figure out what type (genera) the mold is so they can have some idea of what might be involved in cleaning/removing the mold. We don't usually look at mold so any hints/tips of what direction to take would be helpful. The material was collected via tape sampling and that is what I now have. How should I go about looking at it? Is typical SEM imaging an appropriate place to start? Once I have an image is there a good website or book I can use to try and match my sample to the correct genera? Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer.
Question: We are interested in mounting small sections of PVDF protein transfer membrane for light microscopy. Preferably without disruption to any sample resting on the surface of the PVDF. Has anyone done this?
Question: I would like to identify an exogenous protein that contains a his-tag that was added to an in-vitro eye culture system. Is anyone familiar with identifying his-tags in tissue?
You don't need an EM to identify your mold. A brightfield microscope will do. (But if you want to use an EM, you can too.) You can go by morphology to identify it - note the type and shape of spore, arrangement, presence of sac enclosing spores, other structures. If they have a lot of the mold in the house, they can also note cultural characteristics - color, aerial hyphae (hairy, fuzzy, powdery, etc.). If it's difficult to observe them as they're growing in the house, you could take a sample and subculture it on culture media (potato dextrose agar, saboraud dextrose agar, etc.). Usually, you can identify the genus just by cultural and morphological characterization. When it comes to identification down to species level, it varies. With some molds you can get away with just the above tests, with some you'd need to do physiological tests.
University libraries would usually have several guidebooks on ID of filamentous fungi. These books usually provide descriptions and instructions (and lots of pictures) on characterizing spores.
The EPA and CDC webs provide info on dealing with molds in the house/buildings: http://www.epa.gov/iaq/molds/moldresources.html http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/airpollution/mold/moldfacts.htm
Lizette Tuason
anjeanette.ormonde-at-unilever.com (by way of MicroscopyListserver) said: } } Email: anjeanette.ormonde-at-unilever.com } Name: Anjeanette Ormonde } } Title-Subject: [Microscopy] [Filtered] MListserver: Mold Identification } } Question: Hello all - a coworker has brought me something they found in } their house that they suspect might be mold. They were wondering if I } might be able to let them know what it is (ie is it mold) and then, if } possible, figure out what type (genera) the mold is so they can have some } idea of what might be involved in cleaning/removing the mold. We don't } usually look at mold so any hints/tips of what direction to take would be } helpful. The material was collected via tape sampling and that is what I } now have. How should I go about looking at it? Is typical SEM imaging an } appropriate place to start? Once I have an image is there a good website } or book I can use to try and match my sample to the correct genera? } Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer. } } --------------------------------------------------------------------------- }
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Tue Dec 9 00:36:40 2003
Comment 2: You work for Unilever so the Quality Control Lab there should have a microbiology division. Why don't you just ask them to identify the mold genus for you?
Lizette Tuason
anjeanette.ormonde-at-unilever.com (by way of MicroscopyListserver) said: } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- } http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- } } } Email: anjeanette.ormonde-at-unilever.com } Name: Anjeanette Ormonde } } Title-Subject: [Microscopy] [Filtered] MListserver: Mold Identification } } Question: Hello all - a coworker has brought me something they found in } their house that they suspect might be mold. They were wondering if I } might be able to let them know what it is (ie is it mold) and then, if } possible, figure out what type (genera) the mold is so they can have some } idea of what might be involved in cleaning/removing the mold. We don't } usually look at mold so any hints/tips of what direction to take would be } helpful. The material was collected via tape sampling and that is what I } now have. How should I go about looking at it? Is typical SEM imaging an } appropriate place to start? Once I have an image is there a good website } or book I can use to try and match my sample to the correct genera? } Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer. } } --------------------------------------------------------------------------- }
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Tue Dec 9 02:47:28 2003
Speaking as an amateur (as usual).... Whilst it is fun to use the SEM I suspect light microscopy would be more useful eg colour and cell wall appearance. I guess you do not need to know the genera to kill it :)
Dave
On Mon, 8 Dec 2003 20:04:27 -0600 by way of MicroscopyListserver {anjeanette.ormonde-at-unilever.com} wrote:
} } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- } } } Email: anjeanette.ormonde-at-unilever.com } Name: Anjeanette Ormonde } } Title-Subject: [Microscopy] [Filtered] MListserver: Mold Identification } } Question: Hello all - a coworker has brought me something they found in their house that they suspect might be mold. They were wondering if I might be able to let them know what it is (ie is it mold) and then, if possible, figure out what type (genera) the mold is so they can have some idea of what might be involved in cleaning/removing the mold. We don't usually look at mold so any hints/tips of what direction to take would be helpful. The material was collected via tape sampling and that is what I now have. How should I go about looking at it? Is typical SEM imaging an appropriate place to start? Once I have an image is there a good website or book I can use to try and match my sample to the correct genera? Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer. } } --------------------------------------------------------------------------- } } } } This incoming email to UWE has been independently scanned for viruses and any virus detected has been removed using McAfee anti-virus software } }
---------------------------------------- Patton, David Email: David.Patton-at-uwe.ac.uk "University of the West of England"
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Tue Dec 9 07:06:12 2003
we use the Leica DMRXA2 for upgrading it to a confocal microscope without using a laser. We are the dealer for this specially developed up-grade system. We also developed a motorized filter wheel, so that you can capture confocal images at different wavelengths and you can do colocalization with more than 3 wavelengths because you don't need different lasers, instead you use different filters.
We use the Leica DMRXA2 microscope because we think its optical quality is excellent. The motorized parts are also working well.
If you need more information about the Märzhäuser stage please let me know what you want to know exactly.
If you would like to see confocal images which were captured with the Leica DMRXA2 and a digital camera, please let me know.
MCB} ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ MCB} The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America MCB} To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver MCB} On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html MCB} -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MCB} Dear all,
MCB} I'd like to get some feedback frome someone who's using a Leica DMRXA2 MCB} automatized microscope, with a Marzhauser or a Prior motorized stage. How MCB} would you qualify the quality of optics and motorized pieces?
MCB} Thank you!
MCB} Marie-Claude Belanger
MCB} _________________________________________________________________ MCB} MSN Search, le moteur de recherche qui pense comme vous ! MCB} http://fr.ca.search.msn.com/
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Tue Dec 9 09:07:25 2003
I would like to demonstrate crystallization from a melt to my Earth Science class by projecting a crystallizing melt using a projection microscope. I am not really familiar with the technique and wonder if anyone could offer some suggestions. I would like to do a simple crystallization from a melt, as well as crystallization of a multicomponent melt that would simulate what happens in an intrusive igneous rock. Are there known multicomponent mixtures that I can use? Any suggestions for a simple hot (warm?) stage to control the rate of crystallization? Any help at all is welcome. Thanks.
Henry Barwood Associate Professor of Science, Earth Science Department of Math and Physics MSCX 312G Troy State University Troy, Alabama 36082 hbarwood-at-troyst.edu
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Tue Dec 9 09:14:02 2003
We routinely re-mount epoxy and acrylic resin embedded tissues to improve their orientation by using two part epoxy glue to mount the trimmed down blocks to wooden dowels. I was wondering if anyone has tried a hot glue gun with success for this purpose. Recommendations on the appropriate type of glue stick welcome. I am mainly trying to find a more convenient way of doing this occasional chore. Thanks, Tom
Thomas E. Phillips, PhD Professor of Biological Sciences Director, Molecular Cytology Core 3 Tucker Hall University of Missouri Columbia, MO 65211-7400
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Hey Johnny!
Yes. It is Technotrade International, 7 Perimeter Rd Manchester, NH 03103 tel 603 622-5011 Ask for Johnny Hagen. (johnny-at-technotradeinc.com)
Call me if you need any other info.
Happy Hols!
Peter
-- Peter Ingram Sr. Physicist Adj. Professor of Pathology, Duke University Medical Center Box 90319 LaSalle Street Extension DURHAM NC USA 27708-0319
Is anybody aware of any standards of proficiency for EM techs? I'm lookinf for something similar to what CAP has for histotechs. Would anybody be interested in paticipating in a survey to develop them?
Lois Anderson Johns Hopkins University Dept. of Pathology Laboratory Manager Electron Microscopy/Immunofluorescence 600 N. Wolfe Street/Pathology 709 A Baltimore, MD 21287 (410) 955-2861/fax (410) 614-7110 landers-at-jhmi.edu
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Tue Dec 9 12:16:55 2003
Email: vodolan-at-biomed.cas.cz Name: Jana Vodolanova
Organization: Institute of Microbiology
Title-Subject: [Microscopy] [Filtered] protein A-gold detection
Question: Dear all, I have used protein A-gold (5 nm) detection in order to quantitate the antigen on the membrane and detect its distribution.
I have found some useful references concerning protein A-gold detection but not many. I would like to ask you, if you know some good ones, to let me know.
Further, it is believed that protein A-gold binds to primery antibody in a 1:1 ratio under saturation conditions. So, does single protein A-gold particle mean that either one antigen or two antigen at the maximum are detected? Has anyone of you different experience?
Thanks a lot.
Jana
******************** Jana Vodolanova, MSc. Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Bacterial Pathogens Institute of Microbiology Czech Academy of Sciences Videnska 1083 Prague 4, 142 20 Czech Republic
I have some information about a room for cryo-ultramicrotomy from Thomas Keil with the Baumeister Lab in Germany: Total volume is ca. 7.4 cubic meters. Air exchange rate is ca. 60 cubic meters per hour. Temperature around 23 deg C, Air humidity around 33 per cent. Over 40 per cent, ice contamination becomes too high.
This last point about humidity is VERY important if you hope to look at frozen hydrated sections. They also built the air exhaust to take air from near the floor.
Larry Ackerman Advanced Imaging Lab/Dr. John Sedat/Dr. David Agard Dept. of Biochemistry & Biophysics University of California San Francisco 600-16th Street, Box 2140, Room S101 San Francisco, CA 94143
415-476-4441 FAX 415-514-4142
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Tue Dec 9 13:36:42 2003
This is an easy one. Use Super Glue or an equivalent cyanoacrylate product. Application is easy, and if you put the blocks back in the oven after gluing, they are ready to work on within minutes. Just make sure the sides of the block face do not have any adhering glue. Super Glue sections easily, but sections will not lie flat because the glue and the resin have different textures.
Ralph Common Electron Microscopist Michigan State University Division of Human Pathology A608 East Fee Hall East Lansing, MI 48824 517-355-7558; fax 517-432-1053 ralph.common-at-ht.msu.edu
-----Original Message----- } From: Tom Phillips [mailto:phillipst-at-missouri.edu] Sent: Tuesday, December 09, 2003 10:15 AM To: Microscopy-at-msa.microscopy.com
We routinely re-mount epoxy and acrylic resin embedded tissues to improve their orientation by using two part epoxy glue to mount the trimmed down blocks to wooden dowels. I was wondering if anyone has tried a hot glue gun with success for this purpose. Recommendations on the appropriate type of glue stick welcome. I am mainly trying to find a more convenient way of doing this occasional chore. Thanks, Tom
Thomas E. Phillips, PhD Professor of Biological Sciences Director, Molecular Cytology Core 3 Tucker Hall University of Missouri Columbia, MO 65211-7400
} Is anybody aware of any standards of proficiency for EM techs? I'm lookinf for something similar to what CAP has for histotechs. Would anybody be interested in paticipating in a survey to develop them?
The Microscopy Society of America established a certification program in 1978. You can navigate to the information from the MSA web site (http://www.msa.microscopy.com) or jump directly to it at http://www.cvmbs.colostate.edu/emcenter/msa/certboard/
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 MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Tue Dec 9 16:51:47 2003
Dear Jana I don't think you could quantitate with any immunochemistry:
- you don't know how many antigenic determinants are available for primary antibody (AB); - you don't know the efficiency of AB binding. If it's polyclonal - they bind differently (different association constant); - you don't know how many gold particles attached to the protein; - as far as I remember, protein-A molecule has 4 unequal IgG binding sites and IgG molecule has two protein-A binding sites (equal).
Sergey
At 10:18 AM 12/9/2003, you wrote:
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Sergey Ryazantsev Ph. D. Electron Microscopy UCLA School of Medicine Department of Biological Chemistry 10833 Le Conte Ave, Room 33-089 Los Angeles, CA 90095
We find most convenient the use of cyanoacrylic cement (Super Glue) and the stubs of old ultratome blocks, filed flat, for the mounting of reoriented resin-embedded samples. Mike Nesson Electron Mocroscopy Facility Oregon State University Corvallis, OR 97331
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From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Tue Dec 9 17:39:06 2003
I know of a number of one-phase systems, especially things like urea or any of the cholesteric materials, but I can't think of a two phase system off-hand. Would really like to know about that when you find it.
Most importantly: do this under polarized light. It really brings out the crystalline formation. We did this with a group of jr and sr. high teachers at a course about 3 years ago at Miami U (Ohio). We used a very inexpensive S-video camera, fed into a typical video monitor. The teachers went crazy!!!
Hope your demo is equally successful.
Best regards, Barbara Foster Microscopy/Microscopy Education, Inc. (MME, Inc.) 125 Paridon Street, Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 PH: 413-746-6931 FX: 413-746-9311 Web: www.MicroscopyEducation.com
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At 09:07 AM 12/9/03 -0600, Henry Barwood wrote:
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From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Wed Dec 10 04:50:55 2003
Protein A-gold was first introduced by Romano and Romano in 1977 (Immunochemistry 14, 711). Slot and colleagues improved the technology as described a.o. in J. Cell Biol. (1981), 90, 553.
Some useful information on quantification of protein A-gold labeling can be found in: Posthuma et al. (1984) J. of Histochem. and Cytochem. 32, 1028 Posthuma et al. (1986) J. of Histochem. and Cytochem. 34. 203
Hope this is of help. Do not hesitate to contact me when you have additional questions.
Regards, Peter
On Tuesday, December 9, 2003, at 07:18 PM, by way of MicroscopyListserver wrote:
} } } ----------------------------------------------------------------------- } ------- } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of } America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- } http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver } On-Line Help } http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } ----------------------------------------------------------------------- } -------- } } } Email: vodolan-at-biomed.cas.cz } Name: Jana Vodolanova } } Organization: Institute of Microbiology } } Title-Subject: [Microscopy] [Filtered] protein A-gold detection } } Question: Dear all, } I have used protein A-gold (5 nm) detection in order to quantitate the } antigen on the membrane and detect its distribution. } } I have found some useful references concerning protein A-gold } detection but not many. I would like to ask you, if you know some good } ones, to let me know. } } Further, it is believed that protein A-gold binds to primery antibody } in a 1:1 ratio under saturation conditions. So, does single protein } A-gold particle mean that either one antigen or two antigen at the } maximum are detected? Has anyone of you different experience? } } Thanks a lot. } } Jana } } ******************** } Jana Vodolanova, MSc. } Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Bacterial Pathogens } Institute of Microbiology } Czech Academy of Sciences } Videnska 1083 } Prague 4, 142 20 } Czech Republic } } phone: +420 24106 2380,2770 } fax:+420 24106 2152 } e-mail: vodolan-at-biomed.cas.cz } } ----------------------------------------------------------------------- } ---- } } }
----------- Peter van de Plas Aurion ImmunoGold Reagents Costerweg 5 6702 AA Wageningen The Netherlands Phone: +31 317 497676 Fax: +31 317 415955
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Wed Dec 10 07:30:15 2003
Lois, I imagine that you have already had responses to this question but I thought to weigh in anyway. I am not familiar with the exact requirements for the CAP. However are you aware of the certification for biologists through MSA? This certification is only for TEM and involves both a written test on theory and a practical exam. The practical requires the preparation of 3 different tissues with full documentation on procedure, thick and thin sections and final micrographs. Most of the people who go through the certification process do so because they or their employer wants certification as a minimal measure of proficiency. This is, as you no doubt know, looked on very favorably in the medical world.
For more information on the MSA Certification process, check out the MSA web site at: http://www.msa.microscopy.com/
Debby
Debby Sherman, Manager Phone: 765-494-6666 Life Science Microscopy Facility FAX: 765-494-5896 Purdue University E-mail: dsherman-at-purdue.edu S-052 Whistler Building 170 S. University Street West Lafayette, IN 47907 http://www3.agriculture.purdue.edu/microscopy
On 12/9/03 12:18 PM, "Lois Anderson" {landers-at-jhmi.edu} wrote:
} } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- } http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --} - } } Is anybody aware of any standards of proficiency for EM techs? I'm lookinf } for something similar to what CAP has for histotechs. Would anybody be } interested in paticipating in a survey to develop them? } } Lois Anderson } Johns Hopkins University } Dept. of Pathology } Laboratory Manager } Electron Microscopy/Immunofluorescence } 600 N. Wolfe Street/Pathology 709 A } Baltimore, MD 21287 } (410) 955-2861/fax (410) 614-7110 } landers-at-jhmi.edu } } } } } }
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Wed Dec 10 08:32:52 2003
A colleague is looking to buy a light source for a binocular microscope and is especially interested in the fibre optic ones with the long light tubes. With some models, though, these light tubes are "floppy" and need some sort of support. He'd like to find one with the rigid (though flexible) light tubes. I suggested he just apply Viagra to the floppy ones, but, no, he wants a new one. Does anybody have a source or at least a make/model no. for such a unit?
Frank Thomas FThomas-at-NRCan.gc.ca, 902-426-4635, facsimile 902-426-6152 Natural Resources Canada, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, P.O. Box 1006, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia B2Y 4A2 Ressources naturelles Canada, l'Institut Oceanographique du Bedford, B.P. 1006, Dartmouth, (Nouvelle-Ecosse) B2Y 4A2 Government of Canada/Gouvernement du Canada
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Wed Dec 10 08:39:38 2003
For Biological EM techs, MSA offers a certification exam. Please see the link on the MSA website. Lee Cohen-Gould, MSA Certification Board -- 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 MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Wed Dec 10 08:41:01 2003
Dynamic, fast growing Scanning Probe company seeks a strongly motivated individual capable of delivering the high level of technical applications and sales support we require. The successful applicant will have extensive practical SPM experience. Strong people and presentation skills, both verbal and written, are essential. A bachelor’s or graduate degree in materials science and/or physics is required. Business experience is a plus.
Duties will include: · Demonstration support for sales (analyzing samples, and demonstrating instruments to potential customers at an Applications Laboratory or at the customer’s site) · Technical support for our Marketing Department and at tradeshows, and · Installation and customer training.
It is expected that this job may entail approximately 30% travel. Starting date: early 2004.
Geographic Base: Northeastern U.S. to Mid-Atlantic region, or Bay Area.
Compensation will be commensurate with training and experience. Interested individuals should send CV, short sample of writing/training materials, and 3 references to: spm_info-at-earthlink.net
An equal opportunity employer.
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Wed Dec 10 09:23:22 2003
Can anyone advise me about a protocol for combined FISH (for mRNA) and IF (for protein)? Many of the references I have read don't include fluorescence for mRNA detection but I would really like to use our confocal microscope. Besides, a fluorescent signal may be easier to quantify than, say, brightfield alkaline phosphatase product.
As a philosophical issue, apart from amplification of the expression (prehybridization) or of the signal (post hybridization) has in situ hybridization itself changed much in the last few years? In other words, how valid are references to "critical steps" from the early 90's? I wonder because there seem to be more pure methods papers, carefully testing each step, from that time then seen currently.
Thank you for any advice and I look forward to opinions. Judy
Judy Trogadis Bio-Imaging Coordinator St. Michael's Hospital, 7Queen 30 Bond St. Toronto, ON M5B 1W8 Canada ph: 416-864-6060 x6337 pager: 416-685-9219 fax: 416-864-6043 trogadisj-at-smh.toronto.on.ca
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Wed Dec 10 09:27:53 2003
Got this message today. I think the whole list might be interested if such exists } Date: Tue, 09 Dec 2003 08:35:45 -0600 } From: James Jefferson {James.Jefferson-at-hitachi-hhta.com} } Subject: [Microscopy] Ernst Ruska } To: gwe-at-biotech.ufl.edu } Reply-to: James.Jefferson-at-hitachi-hhta.com } X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook CWS, Build 9.0.2416 (9.0.2911.0) } Importance: Normal } } Greetings, } } a colleague of mine is looking for a documentary on Ernst Ruska he thought } he had seen on PBS, but multiple attempts to locate this special have left } me empty handed. The special dealt with Ernst Ruska winning the Nobel prize } in relationship to Electron Microscopy. } } Any help would be appreciated. } } Sincerely Yours, } James Jefferson } Hitachi High Technology America } Staff Engineer
Gregory W. Erdos Ph.D. Assistant Director, Biotechnology Program Scientific Director, Electron Microscopy P.O. Box 118525 217 Carr Hall University of Florida Gainesville, FL 32611 gwe-at-ufl.edu 352-392-1295 fax- 352-846-0251
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Wed Dec 10 14:56:35 2003
Hello all, I have samples of the same material with suspected difference in porosity, size of pores could be from a few nanometers to a few hundred nanometers.
Is it possible to detect porosity with microanalysis (EDS)? How intensity could change because of porosity? Is it possible to calculate the "detection limit" of porosity?
Thank you,
Vladimir
Vladimir M. Dusevich, Ph.D. Electron Microscope Lab Manager 3127 School of Dentistry 650 E. 25th Street Kansas City, MO 64108-2784
Cheers, and this is a real gift for technology history buffs,
Fred Monson
Frederick C. Monson, PhD Center for Advanced Scientific Imaging Mail to Geology West Chester University of Pennsylvania Schmucker II Science Center, Room SS024 South Church Street and Rosedale Avenue West Chester, PA, 19383 Phone/FAX: 610-738-0437 eMail: fmonson-at-wcupa.edu CASI Page and Scheduling http://darwin.wcupa.edu/CASI/
-----Original Message----- } From: Greg Erdos [mailto:gwe-at-biotech.ufl.edu] Sent: Wednesday, December 10, 2003 10:29 AM To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
Got this message today. I think the whole list might be interested if such exists } Date: Tue, 09 Dec 2003 08:35:45 -0600 } From: James Jefferson {James.Jefferson-at-hitachi-hhta.com} } Subject: [Microscopy] Ernst Ruska } To: gwe-at-biotech.ufl.edu } Reply-to: James.Jefferson-at-hitachi-hhta.com } X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook CWS, Build 9.0.2416 (9.0.2911.0) } Importance: Normal } } Greetings, } } a colleague of mine is looking for a documentary on Ernst Ruska he } thought he had seen on PBS, but multiple attempts to locate this } special have left me empty handed. The special dealt with Ernst Ruska } winning the Nobel prize in relationship to Electron Microscopy. } } Any help would be appreciated. } } Sincerely Yours, } James Jefferson } Hitachi High Technology America } Staff Engineer
Gregory W. Erdos Ph.D. Assistant Director, Biotechnology Program Scientific Director, Electron Microscopy P.O. Box 118525 217 Carr Hall University of Florida Gainesville, FL 32611 gwe-at-ufl.edu 352-392-1295 fax- 352-846-0251
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Wed Dec 10 19:50:04 2003
Pay no attention to the less then "corporate" website. They make good products...
----- Original Message ----- } From: "Thomas, Frank" {FThomas-at-nrcan.gc.ca} To: {Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com} Sent: Wednesday, December 10, 2003 6:34 AM
Fostec (now Schott-Fostec) makes a nice line of FO sources and ring lights and bifurcated illuminators. There is also an LBD daylight correction filter available for each bundle.
gary g.
At 06:34 AM 12/10/2003, you wrote:
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From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Thu Dec 11 00:31:22 2003
Gareth Morgan MPhil MSc FIBMS, Department of Laboratory Medicine (Labmed), Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge Universitetssjukhus, F46 SE 141 86 Stockholm Sweden
OBS! Besöksadress: F-Huset, Forskningsgatan 2 F52, Rum 2.10. Laboratoriet för klinisk patologi och cytologi.
NB! Visiting address: Building F, Research Corridor 2 F52, Room 2.10. Clinical Histo- and Cytopathology Laboratory.
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Thu Dec 11 01:52:27 2003
New conference XVII th Physical Metallurgy and Materials Science Conference "ADVANCED MATERIALS & TECHNOLOGIES AMT '2004
} www.AMT-2004.p.lodz.pl, } } or mail to: } Bogdan WENDLER, D. Sc., Ph. D. } Associate Professor } Secreatary AMT-2004 } Head Division Coatings Engineering } Institute of Materials Engineering (IME) } Dept. Mechanical Engineering } Technical University of Lodz } Ul. Stefanowskiego 1 } 90.924 Lodz } POLAND } Tel (+48) 426 312 265 } Mob (+48) 501 292 922 } Fax (+48) 426 366 790 } E-mail: bowe-at-p.lodz.pl } Web site of IME: http://www.p.lodz.pl/IIM (English version
best regards Chris Hübner
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Thu Dec 11 03:31:04 2003
Focus on Microscopy 2004 Philadelphia, USA, April 4 to April 7, 2004
Dear colleagues,
The FOM 2004 website: www.focusonmicroscopy.org is now open for registration, submission of abstracts and accommodation reservation, All further information is available there.
Deadline for the submission of abstracts will be January 30, 2004.
As the next in a series of unique interdisciplinary meetings on advanced multidimensional light microscopy and image processing, the 2004 meeting will pay special attention to the conjunction of multidimensional microscopies with the areas of bioinformatics, bio-nanotechnology and bioengineering.
The 2004 meeting will be hosted by Drexel University, School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems. The conference and exhibition will be located at the Sheraton University City Hotel, central on the Philadelphia campus.
Originally the FocusOnMicroscopy FOM2004 international conference would take place in Singapore but various organizational issues and travel concerns made a move to Philadelphia, PA, USA, April 4 to April 7 necessary. Andres Kriete will be the main local organizer in Philadelphia.
You are cordially invited to participate in this conference on behalf the FOM 2004 organizing committee: A. Kriete, Pittsburgh; F. Brakenhoff, Amsterdam; P.C. Cheng, Buffalo; Banu Onaral, Philadelphia. -- +-----------------------------------------+ Prof. Dr. G.J. Brakenhoff University of Amsterdam Institute for Molecular Cell Biology Section Molecular Cytology Kruislaan 316 1098 SM Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Some years ago we used a lightsource from Illumination Technologies with an optic fiber. It was the CF 1000 model with automated filter wheel and it could be used either manualy or by RS-232 control. We used it for an older type of microscope which did not have an automated filter wheel itself. Illumination Technologies also sells fiber optics for their lightsources
} } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ } } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- } http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- } } } Hi } } Sorry to hear about your floppiness problem - happens to us all from } time to time. } } Try Schott - they used to do 'swan-neck' optical fibre illumination with } one or multiple heads - good for macrophotography and other applications. } } Find them at } http://www.us.schott.com/english/index.html } Med vänliga hälsningar/With best regards } } Gareth } } ***Come to Stockholm in 2004 to the 26th IFBLS congress*** Take a look } at http://www.vardforbundet.se/ifbls2004 } } http://www.ki.se/biomedlab } e-mail Gareth.Morgan-at-labmed.ki.se } } Tel +46 8 5858 1038 } Fax +46 8 5858 7730 } } Gareth Morgan MPhil MSc FIBMS, } Department of Laboratory Medicine (Labmed), } Karolinska Institutet, } Huddinge Universitetssjukhus, F46 } SE 141 86 Stockholm } Sweden } } OBS! Besöksadress: F-Huset, Forskningsgatan 2 F52, Rum 2.10. } Laboratoriet för klinisk patologi och cytologi. } } NB! Visiting address: Building F, Research Corridor 2 F52, Room 2.10. } Clinical Histo- and Cytopathology Laboratory.
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Thu Dec 11 07:46:38 2003
If it is simply pores you are interested in e.g. size, distribution, why not just image your sample in the SEM? Maybe you should elaborate a bit further on your sample and what is of interest about these pores?
Peter Tomic Agere Systems Allentown, PA
-----Original Message----- } From: Dusevich, Vladimir [mailto:DusevichV-at-umkc.edu] Sent: Wednesday, December 10, 2003 3:58 PM To: Microscopy (E-mail)
Hello all, I have samples of the same material with suspected difference in porosity, size of pores could be from a few nanometers to a few hundred nanometers.
Is it possible to detect porosity with microanalysis (EDS)? How intensity could change because of porosity? Is it possible to calculate the "detection limit" of porosity?
Thank you,
Vladimir
Vladimir M. Dusevich, Ph.D. Electron Microscope Lab Manager 3127 School of Dentistry 650 E. 25th Street Kansas City, MO 64108-2784
I'd suggest you also contact the Royal Microscopical Society (Oxford, UK). They have extensive certifications for various types of microscopy.
Best regards, Barbara Foster Microscopy/Microscopy Education 125 Paridon Street, Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 PH: 413-746-6931 FX: 413-746-9311 Web: www.MicroscopyEducation.com
~-at-~-at-~~-at-~-at-~-at-~-at-~-at-~-at-~-at-~-at-~-at-~-at-~-at-~-at-~-at-~-at-~-at-~-at-~-at-~-at-~-at-~-at- Optimizing Light Microscopy for Biological and Clinical Labs is available in individual copies or classroom size orders. Visit www.MicroscopyEducation.com for details. ~-at-~-at-~-at-~-at-~-at-~-at-~-at-~-at-~-at-~-at-~-at-~-at-~-at-~-at-~-at-~-at-~-at-~-at-~-at-~-at-~-at-~-at-~-at-
At 08:30 AM 12/10/03 -0500, Debby Sherman wrote:
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From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Thu Dec 11 11:18:49 2003
I'm presently investigating the variety of modern EDX detectors, and I note (via advertising) the high-throughput Roentec Xflash detectors now approach the energy resolutions available from most other detectors. However, what remains a mystery is the counts into the spectrum as a function of beam current. That is, for a detector with a 5mm window area, Roentec still boasts of throughputs of 1000k cps. What must the beam current be?
I understand these detectors shouldn't be compared to other types because of their small processing times, but it doesn't seem to me the difference between 1-2% DT and 20-30% DT can make up for the number of counts through a "normal" 10mm detector at normal beam currents (e.g., 2-5nA), and what Roentec claims would lead me to believe(?)
These modern Roentecs are rare in North America, but I'd enjoy hearing from someone with practical experience (on or off list)
Fundamentals of Microanalytical Entomology: A Practical Guide to Detecting and Identifying Filth in Foods by Alan R. Olsen, Thomas H. Sidebottom is one of the references used by FDA to identify mold using LM.
David A. Foran, chemist Food and Drug Administration Kansas City Elemental Analysis Lab DFORAN-at-ORA.FDA.GOV 913-752-2170 913-752-2727 (voice mail) 913-752-2151 (fax)
----Original Message----- } From: tuasonm-at-unbc.ca [mailto:tuasonm-at-unbc.ca] Sent: Tuesday, December 09, 2003 12:41 AM To: microscopy-at-ns.microscopy.com
Hi,
We are looking around for a ultramicrotome to slice our samples for TEM. The kind of samples we work are semiconductors substrates (Si, SiC, GaAs...) with some epitaxial semi layer or poly metal thin films. What is your experience preparing this kind of sample? Can we prepare sample with large area view under TEM? And what about dislocation or other defects introduced in the layer? As you can see, we are in dark. We do prepare our samples using tripod polishing. What motivated us into looking in ultramicrotomy is a new set of samples that are polymer (coated and bulk). The sample is affect by the superglue and the acetone we use in the polishing process. And it also has a low Tg. And if we can also use ultramicrotomy to prepare our routine samples it is a plus. Any light will be appreciated. :)
And we also nail down our search for the ultramicrotome in two makers, Leica and RMC. Any other you can suggest? And finally, how useful cryo is for material scientists?
Lots of questions. :) Thanks.
Carlos
o-------------------------------------------------------o | Carlos Kazuo Inoki | | Department of Physics - University at Albany | | 1400 Washington Ave.- Albany - NY - 12222 | o-------------------------------------------------------o
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Thu Dec 11 16:08:22 2003
If you could microtome Si and other semiconductor specimens the microtome manufacturers would all be driving Rolls Royces!
The problem is that Si, and the others, cleave. As soon as the knife touches the Si, the Si cleaves into many small pieces (it doesn't do your knife a lot of good either). The cleavage is all on [111] planes, which is sort of nice, BUT the Si chip surfaces are [001] and the cross sections are [011]. So the shattered bits of Si debris that results will not be oriented to reveal anything about the chip plan-view or its cross sections.
Tripod polishing is good; cleavage, a'la McCafferty in Canada and Scott Walck at PPG is a lot better; and, of course, FIB, with appropriate protection for the polymers is best. If you don't have a FIB, cleave them. Look at the Southbay Tech web site for cleaving kits.
Ron Anderson
-----Original Message----- } From: Carlos Kazuo Inoki [mailto:kazuo-at-csc.albany.edu] Sent: Thursday, December 11, 2003 3:04 PM To: MSA Listserve
Hi,
We are looking around for a ultramicrotome to slice our samples for TEM. The kind of samples we work are semiconductors substrates (Si, SiC, GaAs...) with some epitaxial semi layer or poly metal thin films. What is your experience preparing this kind of sample? Can we prepare sample with large area view under TEM? And what about dislocation or other defects introduced in the layer? As you can see, we are in dark. We do prepare our samples using tripod polishing. What motivated us into looking in ultramicrotomy is a new set of samples that are polymer (coated and bulk). The sample is affect by the superglue and the acetone we use in the polishing process. And it also has a low Tg. And if we can also use ultramicrotomy to prepare our routine samples it is a plus. Any light will be appreciated. :)
And we also nail down our search for the ultramicrotome in two makers, Leica and RMC. Any other you can suggest? And finally, how useful cryo is for material scientists?
Lots of questions. :) Thanks.
Carlos
o-------------------------------------------------------o | Carlos Kazuo Inoki | | Department of Physics - University at Albany | | 1400 Washington Ave.- Albany - NY - 12222 | o-------------------------------------------------------o
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Thu Dec 11 18:06:34 2003
Carlos, you are correct in that Leica and RMC are the two major manufacturers of ultramicrotomes. It is also possible to section coatings on semiconductor substrates, and I have seen many examples done by a colleague, Phil Swab, of Unity Semiconductor in California. He has even sectioned diamond coatings on boron nitride on a Si substrate! However, it is a demanding procedure, plus there is no way you will get large areas for TEM. While I am proponent of materials ultramicrotomy in general, every technique has its limits. Ultramicrotomy works best on samples that are relatively soft, where 'relatively soft' can include many alloys and composites, and is especially applicable for ultrathin (~10nm thick) sections of 'soft' nanomaterials. Hard, brittle samples are a challenge. The fragments produced (think of dropping a sheet of glass on the floor) will be fairly defect-free, however, as the sectioning then becomes more of a crack propogation issue than one of shearing.
Have you considered focused ion beam (FIB) sectioning? It is very good for thin sections of your substrate materials, but it can cause ion damage to polymeric (and biological) materials. You could consider sending one sample to someone with a FIB and see what happens.
Finally, have you thought of corresponding with those experienced in tripod polishing to see if there might be alternatives to your glue/solvent issue? Ron Anderson, editor of Microscopy Today, comes to mind.
Best of luck, Tom
Dr. Tom Malis Scientist Advisor Natural Resources Canada Govt. of Canada Phone: 613-995-7358 cell: 613-371-4577 FAX: 613-947-6606 malis-at-nrcan.gc.ca
PS For those of you who have known me as a 'characterization guy', through and through, over the years, yes, I have succumbed to the lure (read Boss's orders) of moving into upper management. I am having a pretty decent time, however, acting as a 'translator' of science issues for the policy folk in the Canadian government.
-----Original Message----- } From: Carlos Kazuo Inoki To: MSA Listserve Sent: 12/11/2003 3:04 PM
Hi,
We are looking around for a ultramicrotome to slice our samples for TEM. The kind of samples we work are semiconductors substrates (Si, SiC, GaAs...) with some epitaxial semi layer or poly metal thin films. What is your experience preparing this kind of sample? Can we prepare sample with large area view under TEM? And what about dislocation or other defects introduced in the layer? As you can see, we are in dark. We do prepare our samples using tripod polishing. What motivated us into looking in ultramicrotomy is a new set of samples that are polymer (coated and bulk). The sample is affect by the superglue and the acetone we use in the polishing process. And it also has a low Tg. And if we can also use ultramicrotomy to prepare our routine samples it is a plus. Any light will be appreciated. :)
And we also nail down our search for the ultramicrotome in two makers, Leica and RMC. Any other you can suggest? And finally, how useful cryo is for material scientists?
Lots of questions. :) Thanks.
Carlos
o-------------------------------------------------------o | Carlos Kazuo Inoki | | Department of Physics - University at Albany | | 1400 Washington Ave.- Albany - NY - 12222 | o-------------------------------------------------------o
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Thu Dec 11 19:40:23 2003
Title-Subject: [Microscopy] [Filtered] books on electron microscopy
Question: Dear colleagues:
Could you please recommend me some books on electron microscopy which might have an interesting problems regarding to SEM, TEM and EDS, which might be given to students on undergraduate level for their homework and tests?
Carlos, I think it will be very difficult to get a good cleaved sample of a polymer layer on a semiconductor substrate. In my experience of polyimide and polyamide passivation/dielectric layers, the substrate cleaves while the polymer remains intact, and you have to pull the two pieces apart, tearing the polymer (and, as often as not, pulling it off the substrate). There are similar problems with thick ductile metal layers such as gold - although if you have a good process they shouldn't delaminate. The only way to get a good section is to have ion milling as the final step - either in a FIB or a conventional ion mill. If you can cleave the samples without too much tearing of the layers, you might be able to cleave wedges (as Ron Anderson mentioned), and then ion mill them to get back to virgin material. I have made 'cold' samples of Pb-Sn solder bumps on Si by using superglue as the mounting medium and soaking them off, rather than using the glycophthalate wax I usually use. Metal layers are no problem since they are resistant to solvents, but your polymers are very tricky.. The only thing I can think of is that you may be able to deal with these samples using tripod polishing or similar standard preparation techniques by changing the mounting media. I have used double-sided sticky tape to hold a sample for (gentle!) grinding and polishing one side, but I don't know what you could use to support the sample as you thin it down to only a few microns.
Good luck!
Richard _______________________________ Richard Beanland Analytical Services Bookham Technology plc Caswell, Towcester, Northamptonshire NN12 8EQ UK Tel: +44 (0) 1327 356362 Fax: +44 (0) 1327 356775 http://www.bookham.com
-----Original Message----- } From: Carlos Kazuo Inoki [mailto:kazuo-at-csc.albany.edu] Sent: 11 December 2003 20:04 To: MSA Listserve
Hi,
We are looking around for a ultramicrotome to slice our samples for TEM. The kind of samples we work are semiconductors substrates (Si, SiC, GaAs...) with some epitaxial semi layer or poly metal thin films. What is your experience preparing this kind of sample? Can we prepare sample with large area view under TEM? And what about dislocation or other defects introduced in the layer? As you can see, we are in dark. We do prepare our samples using tripod polishing. What motivated us into looking in ultramicrotomy is a new set of samples that are polymer (coated and bulk). The sample is affect by the superglue and the acetone we use in the polishing process. And it also has a low Tg. And if we can also use ultramicrotomy to prepare our routine samples it is a plus. Any light will be appreciated. :)
And we also nail down our search for the ultramicrotome in two makers, Leica and RMC. Any other you can suggest? And finally, how useful cryo is for material scientists?
Lots of questions. :) Thanks.
Carlos
o-------------------------------------------------------o | Carlos Kazuo Inoki | | Department of Physics - University at Albany | | 1400 Washington Ave.- Albany - NY - 12222 | o-------------------------------------------------------o
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From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Fri Dec 12 07:29:41 2003
It seems appropriate that we, RONTEC, manufacturer of the XFlash detector make some brief comments on-line regarding the subject. Some clarification on the technical facts could be of interest to the community.
First of all, we don't claim 1000 kcps "throughput" but this is the "input" count rate, i.e. at a pulse load of 1000 kcps a certain XFlash type (2001) is still capable of producing reasonable spectra provided a pulse processor with extremely short shaping time constants such as those offered by RONTEC is used.
Certainly, it won't be possible with every sample in every SEM to produce 1000 kcps within a solid angle covered by a 5 sqmm detector area.
It depends of course on the beam current the cathode can generate, the nature of the sample and the actual size of the solid angle which is determined not only by the active area but also by the distance between the sample surface and the detector.
Regarding the solid angle it is important to say that in many cases it's not true that the solid angle covered by a 5 sqmm XFlash is only half as big as the one covered by a 10 sqmm Si(Li). Due to the more compact inner design the distance between the tip of the endcap and the crystal surface is smaller for the XFlash. Because of the variety of SEM models and their different detection geometries, it is not possible to specify a fixed ratio between the size of the solid angles for 5 sqmm XFlash and 10 sqmm Si(Li) but it may even be 1:1 in some cases.
As for the question of how to generate 1000 kcps, there are certainly many situations where all conditions together are suitable to produce such high x-ray intensities. As a practical example, we see 1000 kcps input from a metallic sample with beam currents adjusted to 60...80 nA (tungsten cathode).
In such case the dead time and energy resolution of the XFlash are comparable with what good conventional Si(Li) detectors would show at a pulse load of 100 kcps (60% DT, 250 eV FWHM).
With the same XFlash type, at lower count rates, say 1...10 kcps (using longer shaping times), the energy resolution goes up to 133...135 eV and the dead time goes down to a few percent.
Another XFlash type (3001) provides even better FWHM at lower count rates (below 130 eV) but the maximum pulse load is limited to 700 kcps (275 kcps into the spectrum or map).
Hopefully, this reply will clarify some of the questions.
RONTEC Thomas Schuelein
} From: "michael shaffer" {michael-at-shaffer.net} To: "Microscopy list" {Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com}
Email: mauduit-at-cemes.fr Name: bernadette de MAUDUIT
Question: I would know from which society the Desktop Microscopic software and information about it can now be available because the VIRTUAL LABORATORIES seem to no more exist.
Thanks for the feedback regarding ultramicrotomy. It is interesting to know it doesn't work well with semiconductors, specially to produce large area view samples. This is crucial for us, since we do a lot of defect analysis (count dislocations). Someone asked if I was planning to slice SiC with the ultramicrotome (a very hard material). I was just wondering if ultramicrotomy works with the kind of samples we usually work. Buying something just to work with soft material should be a waste of resources for us. Specially because the bulk of our work is done with semicondutors, or using it as substrate for other materials. :)
About using FIB, we did try with our polymer samples (it is an acrylate based material). But it just melts under the beam. Low glass transition temperature (Tg) I imagine. So no heating, at least over 100C. Also dissolved by solvents and superglue. Cleaving may work, except that we really need to image a large area. Like we obtain with tripod polishing. This samples contains some nanoparticles embedded in it, and we want to count the density and also de distribution. So, this is the problem that start us into look in ultramicrotomy. :)
Anyway, it was good to hear some ideas and suggestions from the Wizards of TEM-sample-preparation-archana. :) Thanks again,
Regards,
Carlos
o-------------------------------------------------------o | Carlos Kazuo Inoki | | Department of Physics - University at Albany | | 1400 Washington Ave.- Albany - NY - 12222 | o-------------------------------------------------------o
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Fri Dec 12 19:07:04 2003
SEM--human mucosa Hi, I'm looking for biofilms on human mucosa. Is cryostage SEM superior to standard fixations? would my results be equivalent to using OCT resin? at this point my samples are in formalin. Any suggestions to succesfully finding biofilms? appreciaty any input. Thanks, Jose
__________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Free Pop-Up Blocker - Get it now http://companion.yahoo.com/
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Sat Dec 13 01:59:42 2003
Dear friends, it is a pleasure for me to announce that is available on line the new special issue of Microscopy Research and Technique on TPE. Please, also start accepting my best wishes for Xmas and for a New Year aimed to Peace. All my bets Alby
------- Special issue content -----------
Volume 63, Issue 1 (1 January 2004) Special Issue: Two-Photon Microscopy - Part II .Issue Edited by Alberto Diaspro. Published on line, 10 Dec 2003
Articles in the Current Issue:
Rapid dissemination of two-photon excitation microscopy prompts new applications (p 1-2) Alberto Diaspro
Antecedents of two-photon excitation laser scanning microscopy (p 3-11) Barry R. Masters, Peter T.C. So
Notes on theory and experimental conditions behind two-photon excitation microscopy (p 12-17) Alessandro Esposito, Federico Federici, Cesare Usai, Fabio Cannone, Giuseppe Chirico, Maddalena Collini, Alberto Diaspro
Practical limits of resolution in confocal and non-linear microscopy (p 18-22) Guy Cox, Colin J.R. Sheppard
Novel diode-pumped infrared tunable laser system for multi-photon microscopy (p 23-26) Nelly Deguil, Eric Mottay, Francois Salin, Philippe Legros, Daniel Choquet
Ultracompact autocorrelator for multiphoton microscopy (p 27-33) F. Quercioli, A. Ghirelli, B. Tiribilli, M. Vassalli
Distance measurement by circular scanning of the excitation beam in the two-photon microscope (p 34-49) Katarina Kis-Petikova, Enrico Gratton
Probing microscopic diffusion by 2-photon flash photolysis: Measurement of isotropic and anisotropic diffusion in lens fiber cells (p 50-57) M.B. Cannell, M.D. Jacobs, P.J. Donaldson, C. Soeller
Fluorescence lifetime imaging by time-correlated single-photon counting (p 58-66) W. Becker, A. Bergmann, M.A. Hink, K. König, K. Benndorf, C. Biskup
Live cell ultraviolet microscopy: A comparison between two- and three-photon excitation (p 67-71) J. Balaji, R. Desai, S. Maiti
Characterization of two-photon excitation fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy for protein localization (p 72-80) Ye Chen, Ammasi Periasamy
Performances of high numerical aperture water and oil immersion objective in deep-tissue, multi-photon microscopic imaging of excised human skin (p 81-86) Chen-Yuan Dong, Betty Yu, Peter D. Kaplan, Peter T.C. So
....................................................................... ........................ Alberto Diaspro, Department of Physics, University of Genoa Via Dodecaneso 33, 16146 Genoa, Italy voice: +39-0103536426/480/309 fax 010314218 e-mail: diaspro-at-fisica.unige.it URL: http://www.lambs.it ....................................................................... .....................
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Sat Dec 13 09:04:31 2003
An advanced course on polarized light microscopy which will cover the following topics:
The nature of polarized light
The origin and interpretation of interference colors
Birefringence and crystal orientation, The Indicatrix
Compensation and variable compensators
Interference figures and their interpretation
The workshop will consist of four Consecutive Saturdays of lectures and hands on labs to cover the theoretical and practical aspects of polarized light microscopy. The course instructors include Jan Hinsch of Leica, Inc., Mary McCann of McCann Imaging, John Reffner of SensIR and N.Y.M.S. Instructor Don O'Leary.
WHEN: May 1, 8, 15 & 22, 2004, from 10 A.M. to 4 P.M.
COST: $350 for N.Y.M.S. members, $380 for non-members (includes membership). Lunch and course materials are included. Checks made out to N.Y.M.S.
WHO: advanced course for those who have completed "The Use of the Microscope" or are experienced in microscopy and familiar with the theory of its use.
HOW: Register using the form below. Limited to the first 12 registrants.
Return 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-att.net
Question: Hi- I am trying to get high-quality images from my microscope recorded on film in my 35mm camera. I am working with birefringent crystals at the moment. My 'scope is excellent quality, great optics, images look sharp and clear. THEN, when I put my camera onto my microscope adapter and look thru the camera, the image magnification is greatly increased, focus is nearly impossible, and images are awful. HELP! I also wonder if anything would be different if I was using a trinocular 'scope. Seems I would have the same problem, since the adapter places the camera further away from the object being viewed. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Below is the result of your feedback form (NJZFM-ultra-55). It was submitted by (pwebster-at-hei.org) from http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MLFormMail.html on Friday, December 12, 2003 at 19:46:21 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Good morning, I was asked recently whether I had heard of this manufacturer (Precision World) out of China that is a OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) for Leica, Nikon, Zeiss and sells their product through ebay. Since I hadn't I thought someone out there may have. Has anyone had any experience with this company or their products?
Regards, Paul
Paul J. Gerroir Microscopy Materials Characterization Xerox Research Centre of Canada 2660 Speakman Drive Mississauga, Ontario L5K 2L1
I am basing my comments on work on biofilms on urinary catheters. Bacteria are easier to find after conventional preparation. Processing removes the extracelluar polysaccharides exposing the bacteria. If you want to see their real enviroment then cryoSEM is good. One can sublime off the water and extracellular material (mostly water) eventually. ESEM is good for biofilms but harder, (in my experience; tungsten gun) to get a good image an individual bacterium for various reasons.
Dave
On Fri, 12 Dec 2003 17:08:24 -0800 (PST) JOSE SANCLEMENT {jsanclement-at-yahoo.com} wrote:
} } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- } } SEM--human mucosa } Hi, I'm looking for biofilms on human mucosa. Is } cryostage SEM superior to standard fixations? would my } results be equivalent to using OCT resin? at this } point my samples are in formalin. Any suggestions to } succesfully finding biofilms? appreciaty any input. } Thanks, Jose } } __________________________________ } Do you Yahoo!? } Free Pop-Up Blocker - Get it now } http://companion.yahoo.com/ } } } } This incoming email to UWE has been independently scanned for viruses and any virus detected has been removed using McAfee anti-virus software } }
---------------------------------------- Patton, David Email: David.Patton-at-uwe.ac.uk "University of the West of England"
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Dec 15 14:45:40 2003
Quick survey here for anyone using XE lamps: for how long do you run a lamp/bulb? Osram claims that the 150W XE has an expected lifetime of 3000 hours, which would be nice BUT I don't know that I trust the lamp not to go pop before 3000h. A new lamphouse would be nice, but lab explosions are such a hassle! Could we (fairly) safely run one for 1500-2000 hours?
Our microscope rep is checking into it, but so far has come up with nothing about the 150W XE, so I thought I'd ask the real experts.
Thanks!
Tamara
|--------------------------------------------------| Tamara Howard Department of Cell Biology and Physiology University of New Mexico - Health Sciences Center Albuquerque, NM 87131 thoward-at-unm.edu |--------------------------------------------------|
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Tue Dec 16 05:11:35 2003
I'm not sure, but this question may have been on the List a year or two ago....What is the procedure for changing an HG lamp? I understand there is a right way and a wrong way to do this; unfortunately I know neither one....
Frank
F.C. Thomas FThomas-at-NRCan.gc.ca, 902-426-4635, facsimile 902-426-6152 Natural Resources Canada, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, P.O. Box 1006, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia B2Y 4A2 Ressources naturelles Canada, l'Institut Oceanographique du Bedford, B.P. 1006, Dartmouth, (Nouvelle-Ecosse) B2Y 4A2 Government of Canada/Gouvernement du Canada
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Tue Dec 16 07:37:36 2003
Question: Could you give me a reference, or a rule of thumb, for good laboratory practice regarding microscope slide drying time before presenting the slide to the pathologist?
Question: I was wondering where to get blade holder for holding blades derived from multi-edged razors, as these do very fine thin sections, normal single-edge razors blades are useless. This thing resembles a credit card into which you can insert the razor blade extracted from multi-edge shaving razors. The ends of teh blade are then gripped, similar in fashion to jewellers saw. Do you have any idea where such a blade holder could be found. It is for preparing thin sections of creosotebush(Larrea tridentata)and the twigs are 1mm in diameter, and covered in resin, so normal single-edge razors blades just mash up specimens.
Carolina Biological Supply Thomas Scientific Ward's Scientific Textbooks of botanical microtechnique
Geoff
by way of Ask-A-Microscopist wrote:
} } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ } } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- } http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- } } } } Email: rmark-at-nmsu.edu } Name: Mark Robertson } } Organization: NMSU } } Education: Graduate College } } Location: New Mexico } } Question: I was wondering where to get blade holder for holding blades } derived from multi-edged razors, as these do very fine thin sections, } normal single-edge razors blades are useless. This thing resembles a } credit card into which you can insert the razor blade extracted from } multi-edge shaving razors. The ends of teh blade are then gripped, } similar in fashion to jewellers saw. } Do you have any idea where such a blade holder could be found. It is } for preparing thin sections of creosotebush(Larrea tridentata)and the } twigs are 1mm in diameter, and covered in resin, so normal single-edge } razors blades just mash up specimens. } } --------------------------------------------------------------------------- } }
-- -- ********************************************** Geoff McAuliffe, Ph.D. Neuroscience and Cell Biology Robert Wood Johnson Medical School 675 Hoes Lane, Piscataway, NJ 08854 voice: (732)-235-4583; fax: -4029 mcauliff-at-umdnj.edu **********************************************
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Tue Dec 16 15:06:05 2003
Hi Listers, I'm looking for feedback on different contemporary brands/models for: 1. Vacuum evaporators 2. Sputter coaters 3. Critical point dryers Reliability, serves the needs, bang for the buck, etc.... Thanks for any help! Dee
-- *************************************************************** Do not publicly post any of my correspondence without permission
Dee Breger Mgr. SEM/EDX Facility Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory 61 Route 9W Palisades, NY 10964 USA T: 845/365-8640 F: 845/365-8155
http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/micro Journeys in Microspace (Columbia University Press, 1995) http://www.lsc.org/antarctica/front.html
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Tue Dec 16 17:03:06 2003
Greetings all, } } I have a question regarding the necessary resolution that would be best } for routine operation. Let me state that I work for a renal path } service where most of the images generated are rather low magnifications } (x1000) to upwards of 100K, although the bulk of photography usually } max's out around 30K or so. We are in the market for a new TEM/CCD } system and were looking at the 2K cameras as an option. My question is } the following: } } For a service such as this, is there any advantage between operating a } 2K camera vs one that is higher (3 or 4K)? If there is no real } difference, does anyone see in the future a move towards the higher res } cameras as prices may or may not come down as the technology becomes } more available? We would like to make our purchase based upon not only } our current needs but thinking of what our needs will be 10 yrs down the } road. } } Thanks in advance, } } Mike Ganger } EM Technicial } Dept. of Surgical Pathology } Weill Cornell Medical College } New York, NY 10021 } 212-746-6437
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Tue Dec 16 17:17:17 2003
} I'm looking for feedback on different contemporary brands/models for: } 1. Vacuum evaporators } 2. Sputter coaters } 3. Critical point dryers } Reliability, serves the needs, bang for the buck, etc.... } Thanks for any help! } Dear Dee, We are happy with the Cressington evaporator we got from Pella; you can also get a sputter coater with the same vacuum parts. We had the same criteria as you, but we have not had the unit long enough to say anything about reliability beyond that it has worked very well since we got it. Yours, Bill Tivol EM Scientist and Manager Cryo-Electron Microscopy Facility Broad Center, Mail Code 114-96 California Institute of Technology Pasadena CA 91125 (626) 395-8833 tivol-at-caltech.edu
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Tue Dec 16 19:43:13 2003
Finally I can report we are back in operation! The problem was in the HV tank. The HV cable was not contacting one of the three leaf spring contacts in the cable housing, therefore, there was an open circuit to the filament. By physically adjusting the position of the leaf spring we now have good contact. Unless there is an incredible co-incidence here, I believe we may have created the second problem (ie, open circuit to filament) when we were trying to find the first problem (faulty integrated circuit on the HV Stabilzer board). Before we found the faulty IC we had removed the HV cable twice from the tank. Doing this probably moved the leaf spring contact.
Thankyou to Geoff Douglas (Meeco Holdings) for his expert assistance in isolating our problem. Also, thankyou to Terry Fitton and Tony Morgan here at the IMVS, Kerry Gascoigne
____________________________ John Brealey Medical Scientist Electron Microscopy Unit The Queen Elizabeth Hospital IMVS - TQEH Pathology Woodville, 5011 South Australia (08) 82226612
Earlier correspondence...
Hello again,
Still no electron beam. We believe the HV Stabilzer board (new capacitors) and the cable are OK. Gun vacuum is 10 (-5) Torr. Column and camera are 10 (-2) Torr. Gun and camera green lights are on. Can anyone advise on interlocks within the system? We think there are at least four... the gun valve, specimen airlock, camera shutter and camera valve. Something in the system is preventing the filament from switching on. Is there anything else that will prevent the filament turning on? We have tried several filament setups.
Thanks again,
John Brealey
-----Original Message----- } From: John Brealey [mailto:john.brealey-at-imvs.sa.gov.au] Sent: Tuesday, 11 November 2003 01:15 PM To: John Brealey
Hi all,
Our Hitachi H-600 TEM is failing to provide an HV reading at any kV (ie 25, 50, 75, 100). As the microscope is 20 years old I believe the HT cable is the problem. Do you agree? What's the best plan of attack from here? Apart from the HT cable and a dirty gun chamber, are there any other potential causes of this failure? I have never attempted to isolate the HT cable. The vacuum system is fine. I've turned the microscope completely on and off a few times and have vented all compartments to air and back to high vacuum but this has had no effect.
Two days ago I reassembled the rear cosmetic guard that encases the upper vacuum system and the HT cable. Could a slight knock to the cable be enough to finish it off? The microscope was working yesterday, though. I've tried gently wiggling the cable but that gave no response.
The microscope has not been hissing and the HV has appeared quite stable. The only sign that something was not quite right was that some mornings the HV would fail to read at 25kV (but would always read at 50, 75 and 100kV).
In the light of problems encountered by Sarah Ellis (refer to archives) a few months ago I am tempted to clean the gun chamber first (however I doubt if this will fix anything).
Any advice would be gratefully accepted before I contact our institution's electrical engineers.
John Brealey EM Unit The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Institute of Medical & Veterinary Science Adelaide Australia (08) 8222 6612 john.brealey-at-imvs.sa.gov.au
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Tue Dec 16 19:46:12 2003
Finally I can report we are back in operation! The problem was in the HV tank. The HV cable was not contacting one of the three leaf spring contacts in the cable housing, therefore, there was an open circuit to the filament. By physically adjusting the position of the leaf spring we now have good contact. Unless there is an incredible co-incidence here, I believe we may have created the second problem (ie, open circuit to filament) when we were trying to find the first problem (faulty integrated circuit on the HV Stabilzer board). Before we found the faulty IC we had removed the HV cable twice from the tank. Doing this probably moved the leaf spring contact.
Thankyou to Geoff Douglas (Meeco Holdings) for his expert assistance in isolating our problem. Also, thankyou to Terry Fitton and Tony Morgan here at the IMVS, Kerry Gascoigne at Flinders Medical Centre, and all respondents who provided so much help and advice.
____________________________ John Brealey Medical Scientist Electron Microscopy Unit The Queen Elizabeth Hospital IMVS - TQEH Pathology Woodville, 5011 South Australia (08) 82226612
Earlier correspondence...
Hello again,
Still no electron beam. We believe the HV Stabilzer board (new capacitors) and the cable are OK. Gun vacuum is 10 (-5) Torr. Column and camera are 10 (-2) Torr. Gun and camera green lights are on. Can anyone advise on interlocks within the system? We think there are at least four... the gun valve, specimen airlock, camera shutter and camera valve. Something in the system is preventing the filament from switching on. Is there anything else that will prevent the filament turning on? We have tried several filament setups.
Thanks again,
John Brealey
-----Original Message----- } From: John Brealey [mailto:john.brealey-at-imvs.sa.gov.au] Sent: Tuesday, 11 November 2003 01:15 PM To: John Brealey
Hi all,
Our Hitachi H-600 TEM is failing to provide an HV reading at any kV (ie 25, 50, 75, 100). As the microscope is 20 years old I believe the HT cable is the problem. Do you agree? What's the best plan of attack from here? Apart from the HT cable and a dirty gun chamber, are there any other potential causes of this failure? I have never attempted to isolate the HT cable. The vacuum system is fine. I've turned the microscope completely on and off a few times and have vented all compartments to air and back to high vacuum but this has had no effect.
Two days ago I reassembled the rear cosmetic guard that encases the upper vacuum system and the HT cable. Could a slight knock to the cable be enough to finish it off? The microscope was working yesterday, though. I've tried gently wiggling the cable but that gave no response.
The microscope has not been hissing and the HV has appeared quite stable. The only sign that something was not quite right was that some mornings the HV would fail to read at 25kV (but would always read at 50, 75 and 100kV).
In the light of problems encountered by Sarah Ellis (refer to archives) a few months ago I am tempted to clean the gun chamber first (however I doubt if this will fix anything).
Any advice would be gratefully accepted before I contact our institution's electrical engineers.
John Brealey EM Unit The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Institute of Medical & Veterinary Science Adelaide Australia (08) 8222 6612 john.brealey-at-imvs.sa.gov.au
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Tue Dec 16 20:10:33 2003
We have been quite happy with our Bal-Tec critical point dryer and our Denton sputter coater. Both have been in service for several years now and have survived users of all levels of expertise.
At 06:43 PM 12/16/2003, you wrote:
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Gregory W. Erdos Ph.D. Assistant Director, Biotechnology Program P.O. Box 118525 217 Carr Hall University of Florida Gainesville, FL 32611 gwe-at-ufl.edu 352-392-1295
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Tue Dec 16 21:15:17 2003
Mike Digital cameras is fast growing area, so you could not predict what will happens 10 years later. In my point of view, EM digital camera's technology is still under developing: major manufacturers offered to us new (technologically new, not only next model) models nearly every year and it's not only about amount of pixels in it. It's about new CCDs with bigger/smaller pixels, faster readout systems, better coupling etc. Another thing, which comes to my mind: modern scientific grade CCD's life is about 5 years, so, perhaps, you need a new camera sooner than in 10 years... As for "resolution" - this issue has been discussed in this forum many, many times (you may need to check our archive). Camera itself does not provide "resolution". Resolution comes from the microscope and camera is just instrument to transfer it into some amount of discrete pixels. How many pixels you need? It depends. Standard resolution in the pictures published by Science or Nature is 72 dpi. So, if you need your picture will be published 1:1 in those magazines - you actually don't nee too much. Seriously speaking, editors commonly ask for 300 dpi resolution for submitted pictures (to be able to edit image if necessary). If your image is 5x5", at 300 dpi you will have nearly exact 2 megapixels. So, it means, 2K camera is OK for such type of job. What about 2K vs 4K cameras? If you have modern microscope controlled by computer, most camera's manufacturers offered software for "digital montage". So, your camera automatically took a couple of images, then assembled them into a single large image. You may find that this option may work to you (may not at low magnification or drift etc). Another thing to consider: as more pixels you have, as slower camera. It means, that you probably will not have a good TV mode on 4K cameras. Returning back to the resolution issue: the beauty of the digital camera is that you could took as many pictures as you want. So, I usually took a few pictures with different magnification. If you need good detail's resolution on your digital image - you need to go to the higher mag. In this terms, you may have image with very good resolution of details even on 1K camera - you need to use higher magnification and price would be the size of the field. Another thing, which I always recommend: ask manufacturers for demo, use your own samples and took pictures by yourself, then compare side-by-side. You may be surprised to see how different cameras may be.
I hope, it helps. Sergey
At 03:14 PM 12/16/2003, you wrote:
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_____________________________________
Sergey Ryazantsev Ph. D. Electron Microscopy UCLA School of Medicine Department of Biological Chemistry 10833 Le Conte Ave, Room 33-089 Los Angeles, CA 90095
After some considerable research, I replaced my long standing Anatech Hummer VII sputter coater with a Denton Desk II coater. After about four months of use, I am really happy with it. Very reliable, easy to use. Fast. Compact (Cressington has a large foot print) and easy to use.
I looked at the Cressington 208FE and found the Denton to be preferable. But of course, your criteria may vary. Anyway, I like the Denton.
gary g.
Oh...no financial interest one way or the other.
At 01:17 PM 12/16/2003, you wrote:
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From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Tue Dec 16 22:29:55 2003
Many thanks for a number of replies. Unfortunately I formulated my question too fuzzy. I am not interested in the measurements of porosity utilizing EDS. What I am interested in is the effect of porosity (or nanoporosity) on EDS measurements. It seems that an increase in porosity should lead to a decrease in the intensity of X-rays, and that this dependence should not be linear. It's only my gut feeling, I do not want to carry out calculations. I am sure all these calculations were done a long time ago, and I'll appreciate any lead to a proper publication and/or a short explanation of the problem.
Thanks,
Vladimir
________________________________
} From: Dusevich, Vladimir [mailto:DusevichV-at-umkc.edu] Sent: Wed 12/10/2003 2:57 PM To: Microscopy (E-mail)
Hello all, I have samples of the same material with suspected difference in porosity, size of pores could be from a few nanometers to a few hundred nanometers.
Is it possible to detect porosity with microanalysis (EDS)? How intensity could change because of porosity? Is it possible to calculate the "detection limit" of porosity?
Thank you,
Vladimir
Vladimir M. Dusevich, Ph.D. Electron Microscope Lab Manager 3127 School of Dentistry 650 E. 25th Street Kansas City, MO 64108-2784
} Subject: [Microscopy] IASTED Newsletter on Modelling and Simulation - Dec 2003 } } IASTED International Newsletter on Modelling and Simulation } December 15, 2003 } } UPCOMING MODELLING AND SIMULATION CONFERENCES } 1. The IASTED International Conference on Applied Simulation and Modelling - ASM 2004 } June 28-30, 2004, Rhodes, Greece } } Important Deadlines: } Submissions Due: Feb. 15, 2004 } Notification of Acceptance: Apr. 1, 2004 } Registration Deadline: May 1, 2004 } } To submit a paper, tutorial or special session or for more information visit our website at http://www.iasted.org/conferences/2004/greece/asm.htm } } 2. The 4th IASTED International Conference on Modelling, Simulation, and Optimization - MSO 2004 } August 16-18, 2004, Kauai, Hawaii, USA } } Important Deadlines: } Submissions Due: Mar. 5, 2004 } Notification of Acceptance: Apr. 15, 2004 } Registration Deadline: June 1, 2004 } To submit a paper, tutorial or special session or for more information visit our website at http://www.iasted.org/conferences/2004/hawaii/mso.htm } } UPCOMING DEADLINES } The submission deadline for the 15th IASTED International Conference on Modelling and Simulation - MS 2004 being held March 1-3, 2004 in Marina Del Rey, CA, USA has passed. Delegates without papers (attendees) are welcome to register until Jan. 15, 2004. } } For registration information visit our website at http://www.iasted.org/conferences/2004/marina/ms.htm } } **Tutorial Announcement** } "Simulation-Based Engineering of Complex Systems Using EXTEND+OpEMCSS" } Presented by Dr. John R. Clymer - California State University, Fullerton, USA } For additional information visit http://www.iasted.org/conferences/2004/marina/ms-tutorial1.htm } } **Special Session** } "Intelligent Reconfigurable Simulation" Organized by Dr. Tudor Niculiu -University "Politehnica" of Bucharest, Romania. For additional information visit http://www.iasted.org/conferences/2004/marina/ms-specialsessions.htm } } } FUTURE CONFERENCES } Mark your calendars! The IASTED International Conference on Environmental Modelling and Simulation - EM&S 2004 will be held Nov. 22-24, 2004 in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, USA. } } } MODELLING AND SIMULATION JOURNAL FROM ACTA PRESS } The International Journal of Modelling and Simulation - First published in 1981, this journal covers all aspects of modelling, simulation, languages, software, hardware, methodology, numerical and graphical methods, virtual reality, statistical techniques, tutorials, surveys, and applications. It also includes book reviews, conference notices, call for papers, and new publications. } Editor-in-Chief: Prof. A. Houshyar } Frequency: 4 issues per year } 2003 Rate: US$256.00 } Postage & Handling: US$25.00 } ISSN: 0228-6203 (205) } http://www.actapress.com/journals/journals.htm#Modelling } } It pays to be a member! One of the benefits of your IASTED membership is a complimentary subscription to an ACTA Press journal. Become a member today! http://www.iasted.org/member/OnlineMembershipForm.pdf } } } CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS AVAILABLE } Past conference proceedings in the area of modelling and simulation are available for purchase from ACTA Press - http://www.actapress.com/proceedings/proceedings.htm } } For more information, to be removed from our mailing list, or to join one of the following mail groups: Power, Telecommunication, Bio-Medicine, Signal and Image Processing, Artificial Intelligence, Business, Software Engineering, Education, Databases and Knowledge Engineering, Internet and Applications, Parallel and Distributed Computing, please contact: } IASTED } #80, 4500 - 16th Avenue N.W. } Calgary, Alberta } Canada T3B 0M6 } Tel: 403-288-1195 } Fax: 403-247-6851 } E-mail: calgary-at-iasted.com } Web site: http://www.iasted.org } } ***************************************************** } } }
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Wed Dec 17 04:03:06 2003
I assume you are talking about area analysis which provides a display of average composition of the scanned area. As you know, dark regions in SEM image are where the e-detector sees less SE/BSE due to a) less generation and/or less survival of them. Reasons for above a) and b) include when the primary beam hits a hole or a pore. Likewise, depending on the size and shape of a pore and the nature of the material, X-rays may not be generated or less may be generated when the primary e-beam has difficulty reaching there or may not survive well (absorbed) in the location of the pore. That is precisely the reason why a reliable quantitative analysis should start with a flat sample surface and why the detector has an important parameter, take-off angle, for quan-routine.
X-ray mapping of a homogeneous but uneven sample should provide some insight into this.
**************************************** Chaoying Ni, PhD The W.M. Keck Electron Microscope Facility Facility location: 022 Spencer Laboratory Mailing address: 201 duPont Hall Dept of Matls Sci & Eng University of Delaware Newark, DE 19716 (302) 831-8354 (O); -2318(L); -4545(Fax) http://eml.masc.udel.edu *****************************************
On Tue, 16 Dec 2003, Dusevich, Vladimir wrote:
} } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- } } Many thanks for a number of replies. } Unfortunately I formulated my question too fuzzy. I am not interested in the } measurements of porosity utilizing EDS. What I am interested in is the } effect of porosity (or nanoporosity) on EDS measurements. It seems } that an increase in porosity should lead to a decrease in the intensity of X-rays, } and that this dependence should not be linear. It's only my gut feeling, } I do not want to carry out calculations. I am sure all these calculations were } done a long time ago, and I'll appreciate any lead to a proper publication } and/or a short explanation of the problem. } } Thanks, } } Vladimir } } } ________________________________ } } } From: Dusevich, Vladimir [mailto:DusevichV-at-umkc.edu] } Sent: Wed 12/10/2003 2:57 PM } To: Microscopy (E-mail) } Subject: [Microscopy] Microanalysis of porous material } } } } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- } } Hello all, } I have samples of the same material with suspected } difference in porosity, size of pores could be from } a few nanometers to a few hundred nanometers. } } Is it possible to detect porosity with microanalysis } (EDS)? How intensity could change because of porosity? } Is it possible to calculate the "detection limit" } of porosity? } } Thank you, } } Vladimir } } Vladimir M. Dusevich, Ph.D. } Electron Microscope Lab Manager } 3127 School of Dentistry } 650 E. 25th Street } Kansas City, MO 64108-2784 } } Phone: (816) 235-2072 } Fax: (816) 235-5524 } Web: http://www.umkc.edu/dentistry/microscopy } } } } } } }
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Wed Dec 17 08:00:42 2003
We have a copy of a classic wall poster called 'Murphy's Immutable Laws of Microanalysis' which was published in 1989 by Kevex. Does anyone out there know if these are still available anywhere.
David Vowles Electron Microscope Unit Dept of Materials Science and Metallurgy University of Cambridge Pembroke St Cambridge UK CB2 3QZ Tel: +44 (0)1223 334325 Fax: +44 (0)1223 334567 Email: djv23-at-cam.ac.uk
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Wed Dec 17 08:31:16 2003
A simple way of confirming your proposed relationship of porosity to the EDS values would be to actually measure the porosity of the sample both in terms of total porosity and the size range the porosity occurs in. Nitrogen adsorption is used for porosity less than 30 nm and mercury intrusion for the porosity range of 7 nm to 300 µm. Non-mercury intrusion is used for well characterized materials. Molecular probe techniques are used to characterize size and shape of pores less than 1 nm.
J. Roy Nelson, Ph.D. Material Testing Lab. Pennington, NJ (609) 730-0575
"Dusevich, Vladimir" wrote:
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- } } Many thanks for a number of replies. } Unfortunately I formulated my question too fuzzy. I am not interested in the } measurements of porosity utilizing EDS. What I am interested in is the } effect of porosity (or nanoporosity) on EDS measurements. It seems } that an increase in porosity should lead to a decrease in the intensity of X-rays, } and that this dependence should not be linear. It's only my gut feeling, } I do not want to carry out calculations. I am sure all these calculations were } done a long time ago, and I'll appreciate any lead to a proper publication } and/or a short explanation of the problem. } } Thanks, } } Vladimir } } } ________________________________ } } } From: Dusevich, Vladimir [mailto:DusevichV-at-umkc.edu] } Sent: Wed 12/10/2003 2:57 PM } To: Microscopy (E-mail) } Subject: [Microscopy] Microanalysis of porous material } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- } } Hello all, } I have samples of the same material with suspected } difference in porosity, size of pores could be from } a few nanometers to a few hundred nanometers. } } Is it possible to detect porosity with microanalysis } (EDS)? How intensity could change because of porosity? } Is it possible to calculate the "detection limit" } of porosity? } } Thank you, } } Vladimir } } Vladimir M. Dusevich, Ph.D. } Electron Microscope Lab Manager } 3127 School of Dentistry } 650 E. 25th Street } Kansas City, MO 64108-2784 } } Phone: (816) 235-2072 } Fax: (816) 235-5524 } Web: http://www.umkc.edu/dentistry/microscopy
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Wed Dec 17 10:07:00 2003
Sergey is right, in that the resolution of a TEM CCD camera is not really determined by the number of pixels. Every TEM camera uses a Phosphor or YAG to convert the electrons into light, and this determines the resolution of the camera. This resolution depends on the thickness of the phosphor and the acceleration voltage, but is on the order of a few microns to a few tens of microns. Each camera, regardless of the number of pixels, can be engineered to resolve this, through optical elements or fiber optics. Once you realize this, the advantage of cameras with more pixels becomes clear: field of view. In most cases, field of view can also be enlarged, as Sergey correctly mentions, by acquiring several images and stitch them together. Many software packages allow to do this multiple image alignment procedure automatically (if you have a motor stage), or semi-automatically. And another point, where Sergey is correct is the readout speed. Most "large" CCD chips have a fairly slow readout speed, due to the electric capacity of their pixels. This reduces the readout in many cases to around 1 frame per second or less. These cameras are replacements for film, but you need to work with the binoculars to find an area and focus. Many of these cameras have partial readouts, which help somewhat. Using "smaller" CCDs with smaller pixel sizes allows a much faster read-out. For example, our KeenView, which uses a smaller chip and a tapered fiber-optic to match the phosphor resolution, allows about 12 frames per second in full resolution (1330x1024). This speed is sufficient to also work with the camera for location and focusing. In other words: There is, like anywhere else in live, pros and cons for each camera, and in the end it depends on your application and your budget that determines the best camera for your TEM.
If you want to discuss specifics about your application, please contact me off line.
mike
Michael Bode, Ph.D. Soft Imaging System Corp. 12596 West Bayaud Avenue Suite 300 Lakewood, CO 80228 =================================== 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: Sergey Ryazantsev [mailto:sryazant-at-ucla.edu] Sent: Tuesday, December 16, 2003 20:26 To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
Mike Digital cameras is fast growing area, so you could not predict what will happens 10 years later. In my point of view, EM digital camera's technology is still under developing: major manufacturers offered to us new (technologically new, not only next model) models nearly every year and it's not only about amount of pixels in it. It's about new CCDs with bigger/smaller pixels, faster readout systems, better coupling etc. Another thing, which comes to my mind: modern scientific grade CCD's life is about 5 years, so, perhaps, you need a new camera sooner than in 10 years... As for "resolution" - this issue has been discussed in this forum many, many times (you may need to check our archive). Camera itself does not provide "resolution". Resolution comes from the microscope and camera is just instrument to transfer it into some amount of discrete pixels. How many pixels you need? It depends. Standard resolution in the pictures published by Science or Nature is 72 dpi. So, if you need your picture will be published 1:1 in those magazines - you actually don't nee too much. Seriously speaking, editors commonly ask for 300 dpi resolution for submitted pictures (to be able to edit image if necessary). If your image is 5x5", at 300 dpi you will have nearly exact 2 megapixels. So, it means, 2K camera is OK for such type of job. What about 2K vs 4K cameras? If you have modern microscope controlled by computer, most camera's manufacturers offered software for "digital montage". So, your camera automatically took a couple of images, then assembled them into a single large image. You may find that this option may work to you (may not at low magnification or drift etc). Another thing to consider: as more pixels you have, as slower camera. It means, that you probably will not have a good TV mode on 4K cameras. Returning back to the resolution issue: the beauty of the digital camera is that you could took as many pictures as you want. So, I usually took a few pictures with different magnification. If you need good detail's resolution on your digital image - you need to go to the higher mag. In this terms, you may have image with very good resolution of details even on 1K camera - you need to use higher magnification and price would be the size of the field. Another thing, which I always recommend: ask manufacturers for demo, use your own samples and took pictures by yourself, then compare side-by-side. You may be surprised to see how different cameras may be.
I hope, it helps. Sergey
At 03:14 PM 12/16/2003, you wrote:
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_____________________________________
Sergey Ryazantsev Ph. D. Electron Microscopy UCLA School of Medicine Department of Biological Chemistry 10833 Le Conte Ave, Room 33-089 Los Angeles, CA 90095
I recently got a smaller size version (11 X 17) after alot of pleading, from a Noran serviceman. But I don't know how available they are. Try contacting Noran at www.thermo.com
Ed Komarnicki Sr. Analytical Chemist MacDermid Inc.
David Vowles {djv23-at-msm.cam.ac.uk} 12/17/03 09:11 AM
To microscopy-at-ns.microscopy.com cc
Subject Microanalysis Poster
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Dear All,
We have a copy of a classic wall poster called 'Murphy's Immutable Laws of Microanalysis' which was published in 1989 by Kevex. Does anyone out there know if these are still available anywhere.
David Vowles Electron Microscope Unit Dept of Materials Science and Metallurgy University of Cambridge Pembroke St Cambridge UK CB2 3QZ Tel: +44 (0)1223 334325 Fax: +44 (0)1223 334567 Email: djv23-at-cam.ac.uk
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Wed Dec 17 10:38:33 2003
I shall appreciate advise on how to connect a Nikon Coolpix 995 to a Reichert-Jung MEF3 (inverted) Light Microscope, and yet be able to photograph the whole field of view, or at least close to it, as is viewed and photographed through the Polaroid or 35mm cameras. I tried to replace the original 35mm camera, normally positioned on the down-left-hand side of the MEF3, by a Coolpix 995 equipped with a x0.63 C-mount and a home-made short adapter, the latter used for matching. But with or without the adapter, and regardless of the position of the Coolpix relative to the microscope port, the field of view was much smaller than the one photographed in the 35mm camera (in other words, the aparent magnification was much higher). In order to get a similar field of view I had to use a lower power objective of the MEF3. This limits the minimal attainable magnification. If the optical magnification of the Coolpix is reduced to a minimum, to get a larger field of view, only a partial, circular field is exposed in the center, the rest is blocked out, like looking through a tube.
Has anyone faced the same problem? can a different C-mount and adapter solve it?
Thanx,
Dr. Uri Admon Beer-Sheva Israel
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Wed Dec 17 10:38:41 2003
I would like to know where I can buy microscope slide storage (slide mailer) for petrographic thin sections. I am looking for storage in which I can put a glass slide (1x2 inch).
I can find the provider of slide mailer for biological glass slide (1x 4 inch ?) at: http://www.omni-optical.com/micro/sm320.htm
I need such case for 1x 2 inch thin sections. Please advise.
Thank you, Hiromi Konishi The University of New Mexico
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Wed Dec 17 11:38:40 2003
A few years ago, I was able to obtain a smaller version of the large poster from Noran which purchased Kevex sometime back.
Also, there is a so-so copy on my web site which can be downloaded. It was from multiple flatbed scans (with permission) of the larger poster and the match-up is less than perfect. My web address is below.
Regards, Woody ----------------------------- Woody White BWXT Services: http://www.bwxt.com/bwxt.html My Site: http://woody.white.home.att.net
-----Original Message----- } From: David Vowles [mailto:djv23-at-msm.cam.ac.uk] Sent: Wednesday, December 17, 2003 9:12 AM To: microscopy-at-ns.microscopy.com
Dear All,
We have a copy of a classic wall poster called 'Murphy's Immutable Laws of Microanalysis' which was published in 1989 by Kevex. Does anyone out there know if these are still available anywhere.
David Vowles Electron Microscope Unit Dept of Materials Science and Metallurgy University of Cambridge Pembroke St Cambridge UK CB2 3QZ Tel: +44 (0)1223 334325 Fax: +44 (0)1223 334567 Email: djv23-at-cam.ac.uk
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Wed Dec 17 12:50:52 2003
I've never seen a copy anywhere -- not even at eBay. Mine is actually just a touched-up digital image that someone had scanned and posted on the web.
Ellery
David Vowles wrote: } We have a copy of a classic wall poster called 'Murphy's Immutable } Laws of Microanalysis' which was published in 1989 by Kevex. Does } anyone out there know if these are still available anywhere?
--------------- Ellery E. Frahm Research Scientist/Manager Electron Microprobe Laboratory Department of Geology & Geophysics University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Lab Website: http://probelab.geo.umn.edu
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Wed Dec 17 13:27:42 2003
All: I'm submitting this for Dr. Stan Trauth of Arkansas State University. Please reply to Dr. Trauth off-line: ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Would you mind sending me just a few names of EM techs or labs that might be willing to share information regarding the cost of operating a TEM or an SEM--hourly or otherwise?
I would sincerely appreciate the assistance.
Thanks,
Stan Trauth strauth-at-astate.edu
Dr. Stan Trauth Department of Biological Sciences Arkansas State University P.O. Box 599 State University, AR 72467-0599 Ph. 870.972.3082 FAX 870.972.2638 http://biology.astate.edu/faculty/strauth/Dr_%20Stanley%20Trauth.htm
Wasn't this discussed some years ago? If memory serves me someone found it posted on the internet. If you are that interested a search of the archives is in order.
Robert Fowler Quality Assurance Failure Analysis Technician TDK Components USA, Inc. Multilayer Ceramic Capacitor Division 1 TDK Boulevard Peachtree City GA 30269-2051 Telephone: (770) 631-0410 Ext.249 Fax: (770) 487-1460 email: robert.fowler-at-tdktca.com www.component.tdk.com
ekomarnicki-at-Mac Dermid.com To: David Vowles {djv23-at-msm.cam.ac.uk} cc: microscopy-at-ns.microscopy.com 12/17/2003 Subject: [Microscopy] Re: Microanalysis Poster 11:28 AM
The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
I recently got a smaller size version (11 X 17) after alot of pleading, from a Noran serviceman. But I don't know how available they are. Try contacting Noran at www.thermo.com
Ed Komarnicki Sr. Analytical Chemist MacDermid Inc.
David Vowles {djv23-at-msm.cam.ac.uk} 12/17/03 09:11 AM
The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Dear All,
We have a copy of a classic wall poster called 'Murphy's Immutable Laws of Microanalysis' which was published in 1989 by Kevex. Does anyone out there know if these are still available anywhere.
David Vowles Electron Microscope Unit Dept of Materials Science and Metallurgy University of Cambridge Pembroke St Cambridge UK CB2 3QZ Tel: +44 (0)1223 334325 Fax: +44 (0)1223 334567 Email: djv23-at-cam.ac.uk
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Wed Dec 17 15:34:14 2003
We certainly are not totally impartial but for reliability, ease of use and longevity you should look at the Ladd 30000 Vacuum Evaporator.
John Arnott
Disclaimer: Ladd Research sells a variety of vacuum equipment and other EM supplies
Ladd Research 83 Holly Court Williston, VT 05495
On-line Catalog: http://www.laddresearch.com
tel: 1-802-658-4961(anywhere) or 1-800-451-3406(US) fax: 1-802-660-8859 e-mail: sales-at-laddresearch.com ----- Original Message ----- } From: "Dee Breger" {micro-at-ldeo.columbia.edu} To: {microscopy-at-msa.microscopy.com} Sent: Tuesday, December 16, 2003 4:17 PM
Hiromi,
Try the sample prep companies, especially Buehler. Also, Carolina Biological often carries storage like this. Make sure that they understand that these are petrographic slides, not regular microscope slides.
Good hunting! Barbara Foster Microscopy/Microscopy Education, Inc. (MME, Inc.) 125 Paridon Street, Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 PH: 413-746-6931 FX: 413-746-9311 Web: www.MicroscopyEducation.com
^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^& Optimizing Light Microscopy is still available through MME. For information on ordering single or small quantities, visit our website. For discounts on classroom-sized, call us today. ^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&
At 08:50 AM 12/17/03 -0800, Hiromi Konishi wrote:
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From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Wed Dec 17 17:31:02 2003
I am currently trying to resurrect a 1985 vintage Microspec WDX-2A wavelength spectrometer. The system is mounted on a Philips 535 SEM and seems to be working but I don't have any manuals for it. If anyone has a set a manuals laying around they wouldn't mind parting with or copying they can respond by contacting me directly at wim5-at-lehigh.edu
Thanks, Bill
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Wed Dec 17 22:36:02 2003
The 990 and 995 do a good/decent job of microphoto. However, don't be surprised by many types of aberrations and distortion. Get an Optem coupler and set the camera at infinity...wide open. I think that this is about the best that you will get. It should be very close to 1:1 relative to oculars and digicam. A real digital microscopy camera produces dramatically different results. But the CoolPix price is very attractive. It is a good place to start.
gary g.
At 09:39 AM 12/17/2003, you wrote:
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From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Thu Dec 18 01:56:56 2003
AU} ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ AU} The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America AU} To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver AU} On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html AU} -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AU} Dear All, and best wishes for a happy New Year,
AU} I shall appreciate advise on how to connect a Nikon Coolpix 995 to a AU} Reichert-Jung MEF3 (inverted) Light Microscope, and yet be able to AU} photograph the whole field of view, or at least close to it, as is viewed AU} and photographed through the Polaroid or 35mm cameras. I tried to replace AU} the original 35mm camera, normally positioned on the down-left-hand side of AU} the MEF3, by a Coolpix 995 equipped with a x0.63 C-mount and a home-made AU} short adapter, the latter used for matching. But with or without the AU} adapter, and regardless of the position of the Coolpix relative to the AU} microscope port, the field of view was much smaller than the one AU} photographed in the 35mm camera (in other words, the aparent magnification AU} was much higher). In order to get a similar field of view I had to use a AU} lower power objective of the MEF3. This limits the minimal attainable AU} magnification. If the optical magnification of the Coolpix is reduced to a AU} minimum, to get a larger field of view, only a partial, circular field is AU} exposed in the center, the rest is blocked out, like looking through a tube.
AU} Has anyone faced the same problem? can a different C-mount and adapter solve AU} it?
AU} Thanx,
AU} Dr. Uri Admon AU} Beer-Sheva AU} Israel
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Thu Dec 18 02:46:11 2003
} From: Christian Ronse {cronse-at-dpt-info.u-strasbg.fr} } } INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON MATHEMATICAL MORPHOLOGY: } 40 YEARS ON } } Monday 18th to Wednesday 20th April 2005, Paris, France } } } This symposium is the seventh of a series of conferences devoted to } mathematical morphology and its applications in image processing. It } will be held at 40 years after mathematical morphology was born } through the collaborative work of Jean Serra and the late Georges } Matheron in the summer of 1964. It is thus a great opportunity to } present the most recent developments in this field, and to assess its } relevance in image processing, signal processing and computer science. } } The theme of the conference will be mathematical morphology in the } broad sense, around the notion that pictures represent geometrical } objects with luminance (or colour) profiles, that can be analysed by } their interactions with other geometrical objects. More specifically, } the following topics are eligible for submissions: } } Morphological theory: } - lattice theory and algebraic models of images and operators } - combinatorial topology and discrete geometry in image processing } - metrics and topologies for shapes and pictures } - PDEs, level set methods and geometrical scale space } - discrete and continuous geometrical measures, integral geometry } - random sets and geometrical probability } - image connectivity and connected operators } - relations of morphology with signal processing and computer science } Morphological image processing: } - geometrical image analysis } - order-statistics image filtering } - geometrical and topographical segmentation } - colour and multi-channel morphology } - morphological pattern recognition } - motion analysis } - texture analysis } - shape analysis } - image coding } - algorithms and data structures for morphology } Applications of morphology in: } - geoscience and remote sensing } - bio-medical imaging } - materials science } - quality control } - document processing } - data analysis } } The scientific program will include invited talks and contributed } papers (no posters). They will appear in the proceedings volume. } This volume will be available at the beginning of the conference. } } This ISMM will be held in honour of Jean Serra, on the occasion of his } 65th birthday. Its venue will follow that of DGCI in Poitiers (from } Wednesday the 13th to Friday the 15th April 2005). } } } INFORMATION / CONFERENCE WEB SITE: } --------------------------------- } } A conference web site (hosted by esiee.fr) will be available shortly, } check http://ams.jrc.it/mdigest/calendar.html } } It will contain information about submission, registration, invited } speakers, accommodation, etc. For additional information, you can also } contact the organising committee. } } } SUBMISSION PROCEDURES: } --------------------- } } Prospective authors are invited to submit a full paper using the } electronic procedure described in the conference web site. The } manuscript file should be in the PDF format. } } In case of problems with the electronic procedure, it is possible to } submit a paper by sending 5 printed copies of the manuscript to any } one of the 3 conference chairs. Email submissions should be avoided. } } The manuscript title header should include the names, institutions and } addresses of the authors, an abstract of up to 200 words, and } keywords. The submission procedure requires providing full postal and } e-mail addresses, phone and fax numbers of the contact author. } } Acceptance of papers is based on appropriateness of the topic and on } quality, novelty, and clarity of exposition. Each paper will be } reviewed by at least two members of the Program Committee (or referees } chosen by them), and their reviews will be returned to the author. } } Accepted papers will appear in the proceedings volume. The final paper } has to be prepared in LaTeX according to the style file provided by } the organisers (see conference web site). The size should be limited } to 10 pages including artwork and references. Authors are strongly } advised to adopt that LaTeX style already for the initial submission. } } } IMPORTANT DATES: } --------------- } } 10 September 2004: Submission of full paper } 12 November 2004: Notification of acceptance } 14 January 2005: Camera-ready full paper } } } CONFERENCE CHAIRS: } ----------------- } } Christian Ronse } LSIIT UMR 7005 CNRS-ULP } Parc d'Innovation, Boulevard Sébastien Brant } BP 10413 } 67412 ILLKIRCH CEDEX } FRANCE } Tel: +33 3 90 24 45 00 } Fax: +33 3 90 24 44 55 } Email: cronse at dpt-info.u-strasbg.fr } } Laurent Najman } Laboratoire A2SI } Groupe ESIEE } Cité Descartes - BP 99 - 2, Bd Blaise Pascal } 93162 NOISY LE GRAND CEDEX } FRANCE } Tel: +33 1 45 92 66 72 } Fax: +33 1 45 92 66 99 } Email: l.najman at esiee.fr } } Etienne Decencière Ferrandière } CMM - Ecole des Mines } 35, rue Saint Honoré } 77305 Fontainebleau CEDEX } Tel: +33 1 64 69 48 09 } Fax: +33 1 64 69 47 07 } Email: Etienne.Decenciere at cmm.ensmp.fr } } } } PROGRAM COMMITTEE: } ----------------- } } Christian Ronse (Head), Université Louis Pasteur, Strasbourg, France } } Junior Barrera, Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil } Gilles Bertrand, ESIEE, Noisy-Le-Grand, France } Isabelle Bloch, ENST, Paris, France } Gunilla Borgefors, Uppsala Universitet, Sweden } Jose Crespo, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Spain } Etienne Decencière, Ecole des Mines de Paris, Fontainebleau, France } John Goutsias, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MA, USA. } Frederic Guichard, Vision IQ & DO Labs, Boulogne-Billancourt, France } Henk Heijmans, CWI, Amsterdam, The Netherlands } Dominique Jeulin, Ecole des Mines de Paris, Fontainebleau, France } Renato Keshet, HP Labs, Israel } Ron Kimmel, Technion, Haifa, Israel } Petros Maragos, National Technical University of Athens, Greece } Fernand Meyer, Ecole des Mines de Paris, Fontainebleau, France } Jean-Michel Morel, Ecole Normale Supérieure, Cachan, France } Laurent Najman, ESIEE, Noisy-Le-Grand, France } Ioannis Pitas, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece } Gerhard Ritter, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA } Jos Roerdink, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, The Netherlands } Philipe Salembier, Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya, Barcelona,Spain } Michel Schmitt, Ecole des Mines de Paris, Fontainebleau, France } Pierre Soille, EC Joint Research Centre, Ispra, Italy } Hugues Talbot, CSIRO, Sydney, Australia } Rein van den Boomgaard, Universiteit van Amsterdam, The Netherlands } Marc Van Droogenbroeck, Université de Liège, Belgium } Luc Vincent, Soligence Corporation, Palo Alto, CA, USA } Joachim Weickert, Universität Saarland, Saarbrücken, Germany } } } ORGANISING COMMITTEE: } -------------------- } } Laurent Najman, ESIEE, Noisy-Le-Grand, France } Isabelle Bloch, ENST, Paris, France } Petr Dokladal, Ecole des Mines de Paris, Fontainebleau, France } Christian Ronse, Université Louis Pasteur, Strasbourg, France } } } } ------------------------------ } ======================================================= } 3 ICIAR 2004: ANNOUNCEMENT AND CALL FOR PAPERS } ======================================================= } } From: ICIAR 2004 {iciar04-at-fe.up.pt} } } INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON IMAGE ANALYSIS AND RECOGNITION (ICIAR 2004) } September 29 - October 1, 2004, Porto, Portugal } } General Chair } Aurelio Campilho } campilho-at-fe.up.pt } } General Co-Chair } Mohamed Kamel } mkamel-at-uwaterloo.ca } } Paper submission deadline: April 16, 2004 } } ICIAR - International Conference on Image Analysis and Recognition aims to } bring together researchers in the fields of Image Processing, Analysis and } Recognition. It will be organized annually, alternating between Europe and } North America. In 2004, the conference is held in Porto, Portugal. ICIAR - } 2005 will take place in Toronto, Canada. } The conference is a result of discussion between researchers in Portugal and } Canada to encourage collaboration and exchange between the two Countries } with participation of experts and researchers from other Countries. } The conference will address recent advances in theory, methodologies and } applications. The scientific program will include invited speakers and fully } refereed contributions that will be published in the conference proceedings. } } Please find the call for papers and more information at the webpage } http://www.iciar.uwaterloo.ca } } ------------------------------ } } =======================================================
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Thu Dec 18 08:28:31 2003
Title-Subject: [Microscopy] [Filtered] Nikon Coolpix Digital Camera
Question: I have a couple of general questions for using Nikon Collpix Digital Camera system, since I am very interested in setting up this system for my photographing to both whole mount embryos and immunostained parrafin slides as a replacement of the conventional films The questions are:
1. What is the advantage of using Nikon Coolpix camera but not other possible digital cameras for the microscopes? 2. I was told to choose Coolpix 5000 over 5700, since the 5700 will give rise to blak periphery field due to the naroow field of view. Is this true? How do I find out what size of chip in different Coolpix Cameras?
In the past everyone has been very helpful so once again I am returning to the well of knowledge for advice:
I have a Philips 400 series TEM (used) currently being installed. To my surprise I found out it has a LaB6 filament. It has been suggested that I consider a CeBix filament. In either case it was suggested I use either the Mini Vogel or Denka style.
I'm light / SEM microscopist, TEM is a largely explored country to me. I anticipate using the TEM for particle sizing and polymer phase studies and I don't expect to exceed 100K magnification at 80 to 100 kv. I would like to get the best value in terms of performance, ease of use, working life for the money. Any advise, experience, recommendations on type, filament material, tip configuration, special awareness of problems or advantages would be welcome.
PS: where can I get a passport to TEM land? :-)
Thanks . . . . .
Frank Karl Degussa Corporation Akron Technical Center 3500 Embassy Parkway Suite 100 Akron, Ohio 44333
330-668-2235 Ext. 238
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Thu Dec 18 10:19:55 2003
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Energy Beam Sciences is the US distributor for the Polaron Range of SEM prep equipment.
The E6700 benchtop evaporator is one option that offers ease of use, along with choice of options to fit any of your sample preparation needs.
Your welcome to contact me by email MDufraine-at-ebsciences.com, or Tel. 1-800-992-9037 X340, to learn more about the Polaron line of evaporators, coaters, and CPD equipment we offer.
Mike Dufraine Energy Beam Sciences, Inc.
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Thu Dec 18 10:42:19 2003
This company makes cardboard boxes for petrographic slides The one I have here holds 25 1X2 slides.
Palouse Petro Products 452 Sand Road Pullman, WA 99163-9620 (509) 332-3695 (800) 632-3695 (509) 332-3606 fax
James Talbot
K/T GeoServices, Inc. Bulk and Clay Mineralogy by X-ray Diffraction www.ktgeo.com (940) 597-9076
At 08:50 AM 12/17/03 -0800, you wrote:
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Thu Dec 18 10:47:37 2003
I've had bulbs crack, and I have changed them because they became so discolored that they would light but not 'show up for work'. I have also had them, finally, not start and then crumble when I begin to remove them. Now these are the mercury bulbs. I had one 150 XE that ran for 200 hours over three years and still seemed to be OK, so I left it alone. I did not follow it after I left it behind.
Unless there is a quantitative reason for swapping out bulbs, that is, they lose intensity because of the discoloration of the glass or they lose power because they have a micro-leak (or whatever it might be), my own practice has been to keep the bulb until I don't get sufficient fluorescence. Anyway, most published operational durations are only indications of how long the manufacturer feels the bulb SHOULD operate at specs, but we all know from home that many 2000 hr bulbs don't last that long. I just let my high intensity bulbs go, thus, I have Hg bulbs for my old Leitz in their original boxes that are a decade old, because my use has been down of late.
I have NEVER had a bulb explode, so I don't have any advice about that phenomenon.
Cheers and Merry Christmas,
Fred Monson
Frederick C. Monson, PhD Center for Advanced Scientific Imaging Mail to Geology West Chester University of Pennsylvania Schmucker II Science Center, Room SS024 South Church Street and Rosedale Avenue West Chester, PA, 19383 Phone/FAX: 610-738-0437 eMail: fmonson-at-wcupa.edu CASI Page and Scheduling http://darwin.wcupa.edu/CASI/
-----Original Message----- } From: Tamara Howard [mailto:thoward-at-unm.edu] Sent: Monday, December 15, 2003 3:49 PM To: Confocal Microscopy List; Microscopy Server
Quick survey here for anyone using XE lamps: for how long do you run a lamp/bulb? Osram claims that the 150W XE has an expected lifetime of 3000 hours, which would be nice BUT I don't know that I trust the lamp not to go pop before 3000h. A new lamphouse would be nice, but lab explosions are such a hassle! Could we (fairly) safely run one for 1500-2000 hours?
Our microscope rep is checking into it, but so far has come up with nothing about the 150W XE, so I thought I'd ask the real experts.
Thanks!
Tamara
|--------------------------------------------------| Tamara Howard Department of Cell Biology and Physiology University of New Mexico - Health Sciences Center Albuquerque, NM 87131 thoward-at-unm.edu |--------------------------------------------------|
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Thu Dec 18 11:13:52 2003
Dear Bill, I have manuals for the WDX-3PC, which was the first PC-computer-controlled Microspec. I believe the spectrometers were similar but the controller was very different. Which is it you are having trouble with? I might suggest you contact Joe Carr of Oxford Instruments (e-mail carr-at-oxford.usa.com). He is their Microspec specialist and might know if there are any old manuals available. Good luck, 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-interchange.ubc.ca ----- Original Message ----- } From: "William J Mushock (by way of MicroscopyListserver)" {wim5-at-lehigh.edu} To: {microscopy-at-ns.microscopy.com} Sent: Wednesday, December 17, 2003 3:42 PM
Dr. Uri Admon,
We have an adapter for the Coolpix for your microscope that will correct this and allow you to image the entire field of view.
You can remove your C-mount and mount directly to the microscope port using our optics that are specifically designed for the Coolpix cameras to give you a large portion of the zoom range of the Coolpix cameras.
If you take a look at the following page you can find the details: http://www.mvia.com/Coolpix/clpxadpt.htm
Specifically for mounting to your microscope, this section should help: http://www.mvia.com/Coolpix/clpxadpt.htm#Leica,_Leitz,_Wild
Thanks And Happy Holidays! Jim Haley
****************************** Jim Haley Applications Engineer MVIA, Inc. 125 Sherwood Drive Monaca, PA 15061 voice: (724) 728-7493 fax: (412) 291-1709 e-mail: haley-at-mvia.com webpage: http://www.mvia.com ******************************
Admon Uri wrote: } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- } } Dear All, and best wishes for a happy New Year, } } I shall appreciate advise on how to connect a Nikon Coolpix 995 to a } Reichert-Jung MEF3 (inverted) Light Microscope, and yet be able to } photograph the whole field of view, or at least close to it, as is viewed } and photographed through the Polaroid or 35mm cameras. I tried to replace } the original 35mm camera, normally positioned on the down-left-hand side of } the MEF3, by a Coolpix 995 equipped with a x0.63 C-mount and a home-made } short adapter, the latter used for matching. But with or without the } adapter, and regardless of the position of the Coolpix relative to the } microscope port, the field of view was much smaller than the one } photographed in the 35mm camera (in other words, the aparent magnification } was much higher). In order to get a similar field of view I had to use a } lower power objective of the MEF3. This limits the minimal attainable } magnification. If the optical magnification of the Coolpix is reduced to a } minimum, to get a larger field of view, only a partial, circular field is } exposed in the center, the rest is blocked out, like looking through a tube. } } Has anyone faced the same problem? can a different C-mount and adapter solve } it? } } Thanx, } } Dr. Uri Admon } Beer-Sheva } Israel
--
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Thu Dec 18 12:20:53 2003
} ... } The questions are: } } 1. What is the advantage of using Nikon Coolpix camera but } not other possible digital cameras for the microscopes?
Cost, availability of Coolpix adapters, and number of peers.
} 2. I was told to choose Coolpix 5000 over 5700, since the } 5700 will give rise to blak periphery field due to the } naroow field of view. Is this true? How do I find out what } size of chip in different Coolpix Cameras?
Use the "buying guide" comparison presentation available at http://www.dpreview.com ...
Both Coolpix models use the same size CCD, but there may be other considerations. However, if the 5700 is configured with the correct adapter relative to the same C-mount for the 5000, there should be no vignetting. My experience is with a CP5000, so I stand to be corrected. On the other hand, I see no clear advantage for one over the other, so you may as well same your money regarding the difference in cost.
Thanks for all of your responses regarding EM proficiency. Many of you suggested MSA certification and other similar programs which are excellent resources. More specifically, we are a clinical pathology lab with technicians of varying degrees of skill and experience. As the lab is expanding I need standards that will not only determine competency as a em technician but proficiency with regard to quantity and quality of work. Some of you have expressed and interest in developing the same.
If you have suggestions as to how we can collect and evaluate that data I would certainly be willing to hear them. This is something I am committed to working on in the coming year so I will certainly be in touch with those of you that have expressed the same.
Thanks
Lois Anderson Johns Hopkins University Dept. of Pathology Laboratory Manager Electron Microscopy/Immunofluorescence 600 N. Wolfe Street/Pathology 709 A Baltimore, MD 21287 (410) 955-2861/fax (410) 614-7110 landers-at-jhmi.edu
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Thu Dec 18 12:57:09 2003
Really, any camera will do, even a really cheapie one, if you can tolerate the aberrations & low resolution. See http://www.aecom.yu.edu/aif/gallery/cheapscope/index.htm
At 08:48 PM 12/17/2003 -0800, you wrote:
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
____________________________________________________________________________ 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 MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Thu Dec 18 14:26:53 2003
The Coolpix 990/995/4500 cameras were popular due to the fact that their lens design was easily adaptable to a low cost microscope coupler. This undoubtedly contributes to the popularity of the Coolpix cameras. Couplers are now available to fit a wide assortment of cameras from many manufacturers. Thales Optem http://www.thales-optem.com/DigitalCameraCouplers.html has couplers that will fit many still or video cameras, either directly or via low cost adapters.
Nikon USA lists their digital cameras at http://www.nikonusa.com/template.php?cat=1&grp=2 where you can find various models listed as well as PDF specifications, etc.
Canon USA http://www.powershot.com/powershot2/home.html also has a number of compact digital models. One feature of many Canon cameras is the inclusion of software to operate the camera while tethered to a computer.
Some of the Olympus "C" series cameras can be mounted as well. http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/cpg_digital_cseries.asp
I hope this is helpful.
George
George Laing National Graphic Supply 800.223.7130 x3109 scisales-at-ngscorp.com
1. What is the advantage of using Nikon Coolpix camera but not other possible digital cameras for the microscopes? 2. I was told to choose Coolpix 5000 over 5700, since the 5700 will give rise to blak periphery field due to the naroow field of view. Is this true? How do I find out what size of chip in different Coolpix Cameras?
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Thu Dec 18 14:57:10 2003
} Title-Subject: [Microscopy] [Filtered] Nikon Coolpix Digital Camera } } Question: I have a couple of general questions for using Nikon } Collpix Digital Camera system, since I am very interested in setting } up this system for my photographing to both whole mount embryos and } immunostained parrafin slides as a replacement of the conventional } films } The questions are: } } 1. What is the advantage of using Nikon Coolpix camera but not other } possible digital cameras for the microscopes?
Availability of adapters specifically designed for a particular camera line.
} 2. I was told to choose Coolpix 5000 over 5700, since the 5700 will } give rise to blak periphery field due to the naroow field of view. Is } this true? How do I find out what size of chip in different Coolpix } Cameras?
It is true. Due to the optics used in the 5700, the optics must me mounted further from the lens and this results in SEVERE vigneeting. The only way to correct this is to use the digital zoom mode of the camera at maximum zoom. This severly degrades images quality. With the 5000, you only need to use optical zoom, which does not degrade imaeg quality.
There is a small write up of this in the Frequently Asked Questions section on our Nikon Coolpix to microscope adaper webpage: http://www.mvia.com/Coolpix/clpxadpt.htm#FAQ
Thanks And Happy Holidays! Jim Haley
****************************** Jim Haley Applications Engineer MVIA, Inc. 125 Sherwood Drive Monaca, PA 15061 voice: (724) 728-7493 fax: (412) 291-1709 e-mail: haley-at-mvia.com webpage: http://www.mvia.com ******************************
} Any information is greatly appreciated! } } Yingcui Li, Ph.D } } ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Thu Dec 18 15:15:07 2003
Given that you admit to being new to the TEM biz, I'd suggest you carefully box up and shelve your LaB6 filament for awhile, and buy a box of tungsten fialments from FEI/Philips or an EM vendor who sells same for your 400. I think that operating with tungsten would make your (new) life on a TEM easier while you are getting used to it and learning things such as gun alignments, column alignments, filament saturation, spot size control, vacuum system operation. These things are just a bit more complicated on a TEM than an SEM, I think.
Later, when you have your "sea legs", or you discover that you really need the brighter and more coherent beam that LaB6 gives for your work, put in the LaB6 and build on your experience using that. But make sure you get good operating info on LaB6, how to saturate it, prevent oversaturation, whether to leave it on or slightly desaturated when not in use, etc. It takes a bit more care to operate properly, but you can look into that while you are using the tungsten. Do a search in the Microscopy archive to pull up past discussions on this subject.
I have an FEI/Philips CM-12, so I'm extrapolating back to your machine here, but whichever filament type you use, check your Modes/Configuration menus and select either "tungsten" or "Lab6", as that tells the vacuum system which one you are using, as vacuum requirements are more stringent for LaB6 operation.
Just my 2-pence worth, Good Luck!
Gib -- Gib Ahlstrand, Scientist Electron Optical Facility, University of Minnesota, CBS Imaging Center, 35 Snyder Hall, St. Paul, MN. USA. 55108 (612)624-3454 (612)624-2785 FAX, ahlst007-at-tc.umn.edu http://www.cbs.umn.edu/ic/
"You can learn a lot by observation - just by lookin'!" - Yogi Berra
} I have a Philips 400 series TEM (used) currently being installed. To my } surprise I found out it has a LaB6 filament. It has been suggested that I } consider a CeBix filament. In either case it was suggested I use either } the Mini Vogel or Denka style. } } I'm light / SEM microscopist, TEM is a largely explored country to me. I } anticipate using the TEM for particle sizing and polymer phase studies and } I don't expect to exceed 100K magnification at 80 to 100 kv. I would like } to get the best value in terms of performance, ease of use, working life } for the money. Any advise, experience, recommendations on type, filament } material, tip configuration, special awareness of problems or advantages } would be welcome. } } PS: where can I get a passport to TEM land? :-) } } Thanks . . . . . } } Frank Karl } Degussa Corporation } Akron Technical Center } 3500 Embassy Parkway } Suite 100 } Akron, Ohio 44333 } } } 330-668-2235 Ext. 238
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Thu Dec 18 15:16:32 2003
The problem that you are having is because the detector of a digital camera is much smaller than the size of the 35mm film that was used in the original. As a result, the image that once covered an entire film, is now much too big for the chip on the microscope. I went to my local optometrist and got a set of concave lenses, and inserted them in the light path. After trial and error, we found one that worked for our system. Nikon makes an adapter for its microscopes, but charges about $1000 for it. I don't know if that would work with your Reichert-Jung. }
} AU} } ---------------------------------------------------------------------- } -------- AU} The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy } Society of America AU} To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- } http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver AU} On-Line Help } http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html AU} } ---------------------------------------------------------------------- } --------- } } AU} Dear All, and best wishes for a happy New Year, } } AU} I shall appreciate advise on how to connect a Nikon Coolpix 995 to } a AU} Reichert-Jung MEF3 (inverted) Light Microscope, and yet be able } to AU} photograph the whole field of view, or at least close to it, as } is viewed AU} and photographed through the Polaroid or 35mm cameras. I } tried to replace AU} the original 35mm camera, normally positioned on } the down-left-hand side of AU} the MEF3, by a Coolpix 995 equipped } with a x0.63 C-mount and a home-made AU} short adapter, the latter } used for matching. But with or without the AU} adapter, and regardless } of the position of the Coolpix relative to the AU} microscope port, } the field of view was much smaller than the one AU} photographed in } the 35mm camera (in other words, the aparent magnification AU} was } much higher). In order to get a similar field of view I had to use a } AU} lower power objective of the MEF3. This limits the minimal } attainable AU} magnification. If the optical magnification of the } Coolpix is reduced to a AU} minimum, to get a larger field of view, } only a partial, circular field is AU} exposed in the center, the rest } is blocked out, like looking through a tube. } } AU} Has anyone faced the same problem? can a different C-mount and } adapter solve AU} it? } } AU} Thanx, } } AU} Dr. Uri Admon } AU} Beer-Sheva } AU} Israel } }
Joel B. Sheffield, Ph.D. Biology Department, Temple University 1900 North 12th Street Philadelphia, PA 19122 jbs-at-temple.edu (215) 204 8839, fax (215) 204 0486 http://astro.temple.edu/~jbs
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Thu Dec 18 16:33:11 2003
Dee - I reply privately because I don't want to get involved in vendor promotion issues on the list. But here's my experience. Evaporator - Edwards Auto306 - had it 10 years. Excellent machine. Very clean vacuum, easy operation. Reliable machine. I believe that the cost is higher than their competition - but in my 30 years of EM lab work - this was the only evaporator that wasn't troublesome and didn't contaminate delicate samples, especially good at corona treatment. Sputter coater - Edwards scancoat 6. Good machine, coats well. I bought it because I also needed corona (etch) treatment capability (new lab set up when company split) and it was the cheapest with that capability. Had to do 2 fixes in the 2 years I've had it - but they were not major. If you don't need etching capability, you have a wider set of choices. Don't like the "automatic" coating operation setup - modified the machine adding an additional argon bleed valve to suit my preferred coating method.
Good luck - and happy holidays.
Dave Calvert Voridian Division Eastman Chemical Co. P.O. Box 1972 Kingsport, Tennessee Voice: 423-229-4943 Fax: 423-224-7550
-----Original Message----- } From: Mike Dufraine [mailto:MDufraine-at-ebsciences.com] Sent: Thursday, December 18, 2003 11:30 AM To: Dee Breger Cc: microscopy-at-msa.microscopy.com
Dee Breger wrote:
} ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ------- } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Energy Beam Sciences is the US distributor for the Polaron Range of SEM prep equipment.
The E6700 benchtop evaporator is one option that offers ease of use, along with choice of options to fit any of your sample preparation needs.
Your welcome to contact me by email MDufraine-at-ebsciences.com, or Tel. 1-800-992-9037 X340, to learn more about the Polaron line of evaporators, coaters, and CPD equipment we offer.
Mike Dufraine Energy Beam Sciences, Inc.
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Thu Dec 18 20:37:51 2003
Dear Colleques My congradulations with comig Holidays Season and Happy New Year! Accroding Russian tradition I wish, everyone will be healthy and happy in coming year! I also wish, our microscopes will do well! Have a great Holidays Season! Sergey
_____________________________________
Sergey Ryazantsev Ph. D. Electron Microscopy UCLA School of Medicine Department of Biological Chemistry 10833 Le Conte Ave, Room 33-089 Los Angeles, CA 90095
POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP in ELECTRON DIFFRACTION
Structure Factor Determination using Convergent Beam Electron Diffraction
Applications are invited for a postdoctoral research fellowship of up to 3 years duration in the above area funded by the Australian Research Council.
The post will involve the theoretical and experimental development of a new method for the direct measurement of both the phase and amplitude of crystal structure factors from convergent beam electron diffraction patterns. The position is based at the School of Physics and Materials Engineering, Monash University, in Melbourne, but is likely to involve travel to the University of Cambridge and McMaster University for collaborative work.
Applicants should have, or have nearly completed, a doctorate in physics or a related discipline and have experience in advanced transmission electron microscopy. A background in electron scattering theory and/or convergent beam electron diffraction is highly desirable.
Monash University is a member of Australia's leading "Group of Eight" research-intensive universities and is to be the site of The Australian Synchrotron. The School of Physics and Materials Engineering has an annual research income of ~$4.5million with strong research groups in diffraction physics and its application to materials science. Its electron microscope facilities include 3 TEMs and 2 SEMs, with a UHV LEEM and advanced, energy-filtered FEG-TEM to be acquired in 2004.
The appointment will be made at Academic Level B (AUD $54,864 - $65,152 per annum) or Academic Level A (AUD $48,554 - 52,121), depending on experience.
Enquiries and formal applications, including a full CV with the contact details of at least two referees, should be addressed to Dr. Joanne Etheridge, School of Physics and Materials Engineering, Building 69, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia. Tel: +61 (0)3 9905 1836, Fax: +61 (0)3 9905 4940 or joanne.etheridge-at-spme.monash.edu.au. The closing date for applications
_______________________________________________
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Fri Dec 19 09:45:25 2003
Welcome to TEM land. I don't know if I have a passport for you but I'll try to be some help.
First, I have to second the comment of Gib Ahlstrand. You would probably be best served by starting with tungsten and working your way up to LaB6. I'm not certain that CeBix would offer much in the way of advantages for your application but that would be a topic for the FEI folks to weigh in on. At EBS we can provide 3 levels of tungsten filament as well as Denka LaB6.
In tungsten we offer standard loop, AR loop and pointed filaments. The standard loop is a good choice but the AR loop will provide greater stability, which might be good for you being that you're just starting out. Once you've mastered the AR, you could then move up to our SG (pointed) model. These filaments are much brighter but are also more delicate. The cost for tungsten in all cases is a fraction of the cost for LaB6.
Once you're comfortable with tungsten, you can then go on to LaB6, if you feel you need them. That is a choice you will make based on the requirements of the work you're doing. For TEM applications sharp LaB6 tips are generally recommended. The best choice in a sharp is a 60 degree cone angle, 10 degree tip radius. We also offer 5 degree tip radius for a brighter beam. But again, you might want to start with a standard (round) LaB6 tip that won't be as bright but will be more forgiving. Just remember that in the case of both tungsten and LaB6, the sharper the tip/the brighter the beam/the shorter the lifetime.
I hope this helps.
Michael R. Nesta General Manager Energy Beam Sciences, Inc. Tel: 413 786-9322 Fax: 413 789-2786 {mailto:mnesta-at-ebsciences.com} {http://www.ebsciences.com} "Adding Brilliance to Your Vision"
-----Original Message----- } From: Frank.Karl-at-degussa.com [mailto:Frank.Karl-at-degussa.com] Sent: Thursday, December 18, 2003 10:53 AM To: microscopy-at-msa.microscopy.com
In the past everyone has been very helpful so once again I am returning to the well of knowledge for advice:
I have a Philips 400 series TEM (used) currently being installed. To my surprise I found out it has a LaB6 filament. It has been suggested that I consider a CeBix filament. In either case it was suggested I use either the Mini Vogel or Denka style.
I'm light / SEM microscopist, TEM is a largely explored country to me. I anticipate using the TEM for particle sizing and polymer phase studies and I don't expect to exceed 100K magnification at 80 to 100 kv. I would like to get the best value in terms of performance, ease of use, working life for the money. Any advise, experience, recommendations on type, filament material, tip configuration, special awareness of problems or advantages would be welcome.
PS: where can I get a passport to TEM land? :-)
Thanks . . . . .
Frank Karl Degussa Corporation Akron Technical Center 3500 Embassy Parkway Suite 100 Akron, Ohio 44333
330-668-2235 Ext. 238
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Fri Dec 19 13:34:27 2003
Email: zhaoyu-at-biochem.ualberta.ca Name: Zhaoyu Li
Organization: Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta
Title-Subject: [Microscopy] [Filtered] MListserver: immunogold staining of EM with anti-phospholipids antibody
Question: I am trying to do immunogold staining of EM with anti-phospholipids antibody for liver tissues. But some lipids staining steps(OsO4) and/or ethonal dehydration steps seemed blocked or reduced the binding sites of anti-phospholipids antibody. I cann't get specific binding. For sure, the antibody works well in the fluorescent staining. So, my question is how to skip or replace these steps? or any other methods could be used in this case?
the self absorption of X-rays in the specimen is (in most cases) the main process of all influences to generate the X-rays with electron excitation. If the fine focused electron beam is directed to an unknown surface tilt, the absorption effect will be unknown. Quantitative results vary, if there is no estimation of the changed absorption path in specimen.
Operators are thinking very common, if scanning across a larger area of an irregular surface (rough or porous), all regions with more absorption are going to adjust with these regions, which are characteristic for lower absorption. The result should be an spectrum with same absorption (and same results) like the polished specimen of identical element content.
But this isn't true!!!
Because of the not linear effects of absorption (e-function), these regions, which have higher absorption, influence the final spectrum more than the others. Because of that, higher absorption always occur for rough (and porous) surfaces, compared to a flat specimen with same element concentrations. It's possible to prove this fact with mathematics, but not trivial to understand.
The opposite is with particles on top of a surface. There it is more easy to understand, that excited X-rays have lower absorption effects, in most cases.
"Dusevich, Vladimir" schrieb am 17.12.03 08:54:39: } } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- } } Many thanks for a number of replies. } Unfortunately I formulated my question too fuzzy. I am not interested in the } measurements of porosity utilizing EDS. What I am interested in is the } effect of porosity (or nanoporosity) on EDS measurements. It seems } that an increase in porosity should lead to a decrease in the intensity of X-rays, } and that this dependence should not be linear. It's only my gut feeling, } I do not want to carry out calculations. I am sure all these calculations were } done a long time ago, and I'll appreciate any lead to a proper publication } and/or a short explanation of the problem. } } Thanks, } } Vladimir } } } ________________________________ } } } From: Dusevich, Vladimir [mailto:DusevichV-at-umkc.edu] } Sent: Wed 12/10/2003 2:57 PM } To: Microscopy (E-mail) } Subject: [Microscopy] Microanalysis of porous material } } } } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- } } Hello all, } I have samples of the same material with suspected } difference in porosity, size of pores could be from } a few nanometers to a few hundred nanometers. } } Is it possible to detect porosity with microanalysis } (EDS)? How intensity could change because of porosity? } Is it possible to calculate the "detection limit" } of porosity? } } Thank you, } } Vladimir } } Vladimir M. Dusevich, Ph.D. } Electron Microscope Lab Manager } 3127 School of Dentistry } 650 E. 25th Street } Kansas City, MO 64108-2784 } } Phone: (816) 235-2072 } Fax: (816) 235-5524 } Web: http://www.umkc.edu/dentistry/microscopy } } } } } } }
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Dec 22 08:33:28 2003
The real question is wether the lipids are still there. The dehydration and infiltration steps are well known to result in significant loss of lipids. You may be forced to use cryo-fixation followed by low temperature freeze-substitution and embedding or conventional chemical fixation followed by cryo-sectioning.
At 10:13 AM 12/21/2003 -0600, you wrote:
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Thomas E. Phillips, PhD Professor of Biological Sciences Director, Molecular Cytology Core 3 Tucker Hall University of Missouri Columbia, MO 65211-7400
Title-Subject: [Microscopy] [Filtered] Jeol 5400 SEM Image Quality Questions
Question: Hello, We have recently installed a Jeol 5400 SEM with a Voyager EDS system (have not installed the harware for the EDS yet). The image quality on the SEM begins to degrade significantly above aroun 5000x (unable to focus and the "jaggies" begin to show up significantly). The image quality up to about 2500x is good. These jaggies appear to be at 60 hz. Everything is plugged into a single outlet 215V with a stepdown transformer to 100v.
I would assume that nothing can be done to asess any other imagining issues with the scope until this power/field disturbance is corrected? The circuit for the power source runs a considerable distance (probably 100'+) from the SEM to the breaker box through metal conduit.
Related to the above, does anyone have any "preferred" procedures/sequences for aligning and adjusting this scope, with regard to the selectable apertures and tilt/shift. The manuals methods do not seem to be very effective.
Thanks in advance for your help. Charles Apex Technologies Inc.
Email: michael.didie-at-gmx.de Name: Michael DidiÈ
Organization: Pharmakology/Hamburg
Title-Subject: [Microscopy] [Filtered] Cryotome Cuts Without Foldings?
Question: Hello everyone,
We just got a nice and shiny new Leica Cryotome and i tried to make some cuts. Most of the time i'll cut whole hearts with tissue implants. I usually embed the hearts in Tissue Tec before cutting them. The thickness of the cuts ranges between 5 and 10 µm. Now i had the problem, that the cuts start to fold and neither using a new blade nor changing the angel of the blade produced better results. Has anyone any idea hoe to solve that problem?
Michael, You don't say whether you use an anti-roll plate or if you guide your sections, as they are cut, with brushes. Either method should help. I have switched to freezing my samples in a 1:1 mixture of OCT and 20% sucrose (in PBS) (based on Barthel & Raumond (1990) J Histochem Cytochem 38(9) 1383-1388). It gives wonderful histology and cuts very smoothly. You may need to cut at a slightly colder temp, since the blocks tend to be softer than plain OCT. We usually cut at about -20. 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 MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Tue Dec 23 14:42:09 2003
We have a user doing SEM of nylon, with embedded bits. We'd like to chemically etch the nylon, which is something of an entertaining problem, since nylon is used to mask things against etchants. Does anyone have a recipe for something that will etch nylon and not silica? Thanks.
Phil -- Philip Oshel Supervisor, BBPIC microscopy facility 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 MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Tue Dec 23 15:16:34 2003
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Most probable causes are:
1. Ground loop - you may have more than one line to ground, forming a loop which acts as an aerial to pick up mains frequency. Can be difficult to locate. I would first check the conduit for the power cable for being grounded at both ends. Also check any fluorescent lights in the vicinity - a not infrequent problem is neutral wires, trapped in the fittings and connecting to ground.
2. There might be a field being radiated from something in the area which cannot be fixed. In this case, there are field cancellation systems, which have one or more sensors on the SEM and X/Y/Z field coils on the walls of the SEM room to generate an opposing field.
I would suggest you contact your local JEOL customer support office for advice.
Best regards, -- Larry Stoter JEOL (UK) Ltd NOTE - any message other than plain text will be automatically deleted :-)
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Tue Dec 23 16:22:46 2003
It sounds as if you have a magnetic field problem, but it could be vibration, this you will be able to check this out yourself. In the US 60 cycles main supply means that ALL problems tend to be of 60 cycles.
1. Run the microscope at the highest kV and place the sample 5mm from the final lens (WD 5mm) 2. Observe the image quality a) in TV mode does a wave float up or down the screen (evidence of a field)? b) are you able to see the raged edges in the image at a slow scan(evidence of a field or vibration or an electronics problem)? 3. Move the specimen down to 25mm from the lens (WD 25mm) and repeat a and b above.
Problems at a short working distance, where the specimen is partly protected by the lens field, are to be considered gross. If the problem is vastly reduced at a short working distance then you have a field problem. If the problem is exactly the same at the two levels you have an electronics or vibration problem.
Almost any building which houses large equipment is likely to cause field problems. HOWEVER I have seen this type of problem in a laboratory where, in a newly operational adjoining office building, investigation found most plugs were incorrectly wired causing the main input cable to overheat. This cable ran alongside the input cable to the building housing the EM, we fixed one problem that fixed the other!
If you are lucky the property of a field to fall off by the inverse square law will enable you to find the best position for your new SEM within the desired room. "Simply" moving the column by a few feet may help? Another route is to take your input from a clean supply, that is one where you are the only user. I would also make sure that your earth is not shared by any other equipment.
Hope this helps? Seasons Greetings.
Steve Chapman Senior Consultant Protrain Electron Microscopy Training and Consultancy World Wide Tel +44 (0)1280 816512 Fax +44 (0)1280 814007 Mob 07711 606967 www.emcourses.com
----- Original Message ----- } From: "by way of MicroscopyListserver" {charles-at-3dcircuits.com} To: {microscopy-at-ns.microscopy.com} Sent: Monday, December 22, 2003 10:15 PM
-- [ From: Garber, Charles A. * EMC.Ver #3.1 ] --
Philip Oshel wrote: ========================================================
Materials micromavens,
We have a user doing SEM of nylon, with embedded bits. We'd like to chemically etch the nylon, which is something of an entertaining problem, since nylon is used to mask things against etchants. Does anyone have a recipe for something that will etch nylon and not silica? Thanks. ======================================================= I am assuming this is a nylon that has been filled to some degree with "bits" of silica and your objective is to see the uniformity of dispersion of the silica "bits" as well as any orientation they might be exhibiting.
This is easily done in a plasma etcher such as the SPI Plasma Prep™ II plasma etcher, as shown and described on URL http://www.2spi.com/catalog/instruments/etchers1.shtml [Note: This can not be done with sputter etching.]
Using an oxygen plasma, the nylon will be etched away, leaving the silica "bits" protruding over the surface of the polymer, giving excellent topographical variation for good contrast.
Disclaimer: SPI Supplies is the manufacturer of the Plasma Prep™ II plasma etcher/asher/cleaner.
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 MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Wed Dec 24 11:21:38 2003
Thanks. Samples of the material have been sent to the plasma folks on campus, but they haven't as yet come back. Which is why we're looking for a chemical etchant. Oxygen plasma etching was an early thought -- seems like the best way to go, if ...
Phil
} -- [ From: Garber, Charles A. * EMC.Ver #3.1 ] -- } } Philip Oshel wrote: } ======================================================== } } } Materials micromavens, } } We have a user doing SEM of nylon, with embedded bits. We'd like to } chemically etch the nylon, which is something of an entertaining problem, } since nylon is used to mask things against etchants. Does anyone have a } recipe for something that will etch nylon and not silica? Thanks. } ======================================================= } I am assuming this is a nylon that has been filled to some degree with } "bits" of silica and your objective is to see the uniformity of dispersion } of the silica "bits" as well as any orientation they might be exhibiting. } } This is easily done in a plasma etcher such as the SPI Plasma Prep™ II } plasma etcher, as shown and described on URL } http://www.2spi.com/catalog/instruments/etchers1.shtml [Note: This can } not be done with sputter etching.] } } Using an oxygen plasma, the nylon will be etched away, leaving the silica } "bits" protruding over the surface of the polymer, giving excellent } topographical variation for good contrast. } } Disclaimer: SPI Supplies is the manufacturer of the Plasma Prep™ II plasma } etcher/asher/cleaner. } } 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 } ######################## } ============================================
-- 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 MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Sat Dec 27 18:19:35 2003
Email: Hbrinkies-at-groupwise.swin.edu.au Name: Hans G Brinkies
Organization: Hawthorn (Australia)-Universtity of Technology
Title-Subject: [Microscopy] [Filtered] High Vacuum/Variable Pressure SEM
Question: I am finding myself in a very difficult position to advise important people at the university (who are in charge of giving money to needy electron microscopists) and ask you for some assistance from experienced operators of SEMs, which are being used in a variable pressure mode (not manufacturers or agents please).
We are in the process of purchasing a new SEM. Having been successful to obtain a research grand, other departments interested in microscopy need to 'cough up' additional funds. They are only willing to do so, if they can use the new SEM for their research projects, whenever it is required.
The problem: one group (the majority) wants to use the SEM in the high vacuum, high resolution mode (approximately. 2 to 8 nm), the other group needs variable pressure applications for relatively moist (oil, water, tar containing samples). And the third group wants to carried out micro-lithography in a SEM
With now more than 35 years experience in SEM applications I still believe that one can only make the SEM available on short notice if one has dedicated units for above applications. I am worried that one needs a lot of 'elbow grease' to clean a SEM after having used it for 'dirty' samples (or let's say industrial specimens) before one can use it again for high resolution work.
I know what my decision would be having two operational SEMs in my laboratory, one JSM840 and an old ETEC Autoscan (believe me, it is still working).
X-mas cheers etc.
Hans Brinkies Professional Officer, Electron Microscopy and Metallography Swinburne, University of Technology School of Engineering and Science Industrial Microscopy Laboratory P.O.Box 218 - Hawthorn - Vic -3122 - Australia Phone: +61 3 9214 8657 Fax: +61 3 9214 8264 Email: Hbrinkies-at-swin.edu.au
Jim I don't see any religious content in my message. Is "Holidays Season" and "New Year" has religious content to you? If so, I am apologize and I could take back my good wishes. Have a good what? Holidays are religious, OK, DAY! Sergey.
At 08:59 AM 12/19/2003, you wrote: } Sergey - } } Is the listserv really appropriate for religious messages? } } JQuinn } } } } From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Fri Dec 19 01:28:31 2003 } } X-Authentication-Warning: ns.microscopy.com: mail set sender to } MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com using -f
I would say JQuinn's confusion about a classic American dilemma and the Microscopy ListServer regs have caused his snit.
Microscopists I know revere with pantheistic fervor forces that keep their EM(s) producing heavenly results.
Krepkogo zdorovia, schastia, lubvi.
Vsego Nailuchego,
Vincent & Alla
----- Original Message ----- } From: "Sergey Ryazantsev" {sryazant-at-ucla.edu} To: {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} Sent: Saturday, December 27, 2003 5:39 PM
Hans Of course your ETEC is still working! No reason why it shouldn't be.. They are also very tolerant of dirty samples, but you can't get variable pressure. I'm not terribly familiar with the variable pressure/ESEM in practice, but I think your e-beam lithography folks are not going to want to do a lot of sharing. They may want a cleaner vacuum than the hi res folks. Hopefully others can give you first hand experience on the trade-offs between low vac and clean operation.
Ken Converse owner Quality Images third party SEM service Delta, PA
by way of MicroscopyListserver wrote:
} } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ } } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- } http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------- } } Email: Hbrinkies-at-groupwise.swin.edu.au } Name: Hans G Brinkies } } Organization: Hawthorn (Australia)-Universtity of Technology } } Title-Subject: [Microscopy] [Filtered] High Vacuum/Variable Pressure SEM } } Question: I am finding myself in a very difficult position to advise } important people at the university (who are in charge of } giving money to needy electron microscopists) and ask you for } some assistance from experienced operators of SEMs, } which are being used in a variable pressure mode } (not manufacturers or agents please). } } We are in the process of purchasing a new SEM. } Having been successful to obtain a research grand, } other departments interested in microscopy need to } 'cough up' additional funds. They are only willing to } do so, if they can use the new SEM for their research } projects, whenever it is required. } } The problem: one group (the majority) wants to use the SEM } in the high vacuum, high resolution mode } (approximately. 2 to 8 nm), the other group needs } variable pressure applications for relatively moist } (oil, water, tar containing samples). And the third group } wants to carried out micro-lithography in a SEM } } With now more than 35 years experience in SEM applications } I still believe that one can only make the SEM available } on short notice if one has dedicated units for above } applications. I am worried that one needs a lot of } 'elbow grease' to clean a SEM after having used it for } 'dirty' samples (or let's say industrial specimens) before } one can use it again for high resolution work. } } I know what my decision would be having two operational } SEMs in my laboratory, one JSM840 and an old } ETEC Autoscan (believe me, it is still working). } } X-mas cheers etc. } } Hans Brinkies } Professional Officer, Electron Microscopy and Metallography } Swinburne, University of Technology } School of Engineering and Science } Industrial Microscopy Laboratory } P.O.Box 218 - Hawthorn - Vic -3122 - Australia } Phone: +61 3 9214 8657 } Fax: +61 3 9214 8264 } Email: Hbrinkies-at-swin.edu.au } } } --------------------------------------------------------------------------- } } }
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Wed Dec 29 21:12:47 2004
Question: Hello everyone, We are currently installing a Jeol 5400 with a Noran Voyager running Version 3.7 software. We had to obtain the Sparc Station and install the software from scratch, since the Sparc box had been removed from the system when we purchased it. I cannot say enough GOOD things about the folks at Noran regarding supporting their product and license agreement. Since we had the original documentation, hardware and work orders, they have provided the software (v 3.7), manuals, etc. for minimal cost and answered numerous harware questions on this used instrument. The technical staff also seems to have a lot of knowledge about the hardware and software (thanks Philip, are helpful, prompt and friendly.
We have installed the software on the sparc and checked out the voyager cpu box as much as possible. (we have not yet installed the detector). We intend on getting a field engineer to look at the system but were tryin to debug it as much as possible beforehand.
My question is regarding installation and setup of the Voyager software with regard to the "Image Calibration". It appears that there is NO image calibration file present when the software is installed "from scratch". We assume this prevents any sort of image acquisition at all. I was told by the technical rep that this was best left to the field engineer. However being curious and stubborn, I was wondering if this file is something we can create. We have a printout that lists all the original calibration parameters (a whole list of about 30 items). The calibration file is apparently entitled "wima.column1.cal" in the "usr/voyager/tbles" directory (there is no such file or directory when voyager v3.7 is installed from scratch). Does anyone have a "template" that could be used for this file, or suggestions on creating one.
As a related question, can the voyager software be used to acquire standard SEM images without the EDS detector being installed.
Thanks in advance for any help. Also thanyou to everyone who helped with the Jeol 5400 "jaggies" question. Charles Apex Technologies, Inc. 919-463-7585
Have a good holey day. (for those using holey carbon film)
for continuous carbon film users and other occultists: Have a good unholiday.
In Sweden you hear the mysterious "Good continuation (god fortsaettning)" (of whatever you are doing at the moment, I guess.)
So: God fortsaettning to everybody,
Philip
Philip Koeck Svdertvrns Hvgskola and Karolinska Institutet Dept. of Bioscience at Novum S-14157 Huddinge Sweden phone: +46-8-6089186 fax: +46-8-6089290 http://www.biosci.ki.se/em
'This winter I am giving courses to three students, of whom one is only moderately prepared, the other less than moderately, and the third lacks both preparation and ability. Such are the burdens ...' Carl Friedrich Gauss (1810) ______________________________________________
----- Original Message ----- } From: "Sergey Ryazantsev" {sryazant-at-ucla.edu} To: {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} Sent: Sunday, December 28, 2003 2:39 AM
Two Postdoctoral Fellowships are now available in the Supramolecular Structure and Function Group of the Division of Bioengineering and Physical Science at the National Institutes of Health. This program develops EM methods, including electron tomography, cryo-EM, energy-filtered imaging, STEM and EELS, and applies them to biomedical research in collaboration with NIH scientists.
Currently, our laboratory is focusing on (1) electron tomography to visualize 3-dimensional subcellular structures, and (2) electron spectroscopic imaging of cells and macromolecular assemblies.
The positions provide an excellent opportunity to work with state-of-the-art instrumentation, including a 300 kV field-emission TEM (Tecnai TF30) equipped with an energy-filter.
Applicants should send their curriculum vitae to:
Dr. Richard Leapman Division of Bioengineering & Physical Science Building 13, Room 3N17 National Institutes of Health 9000 Rockville Pike Bethesda, MD 20892 Tel: 301-496-2599 Fax: 301-435-4699 email: leapman-at-helix.nih.gov
http://www.nih.gov/od/ors/dbeps/ssfr/
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Thu Dec 30 12:00:21 2004
Alby On Martedì, dic 30, 2003, at 11:08 Europe/Rome, Philip Koeck wrote:
} } } ----------------------------------------------------------------------- } ------- } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of } America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- } http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver } On-Line Help } http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } ----------------------------------------------------------------------- } -------- } } Have a good holey day. (for those using holey carbon film) } } for continuous carbon film users and other occultists: Have a good } unholiday. } } In Sweden you hear the mysterious "Good continuation (god } fortsaettning)" } (of whatever you are doing at the moment, I guess.) } } So: God fortsaettning to everybody, } } Philip } } Philip Koeck } Svdertvrns Hvgskola and } Karolinska Institutet } Dept. of Bioscience at Novum } S-14157 Huddinge } Sweden } phone: +46-8-6089186 } fax: +46-8-6089290 } http://www.biosci.ki.se/em } } 'This winter I am giving courses to three students, of whom one is only } moderately prepared, } the other less than moderately, and the third lacks both preparation } and } ability. } Such are the burdens ...' Carl Friedrich Gauss (1810) } ______________________________________________ } } } ----- Original Message ----- } } From: "Sergey Ryazantsev" {sryazant-at-ucla.edu} } To: {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} } Sent: Sunday, December 28, 2003 2:39 AM } Subject: [Microscopy] Re: Greetings } } } } } } } } ---------------------------------------------------------------------- } } ---- } ---- } } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of } } America } } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- } http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver } } On-Line Help } } http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } } ---------------------------------------------------------------------- } } ---- } ----- } } } } Jim } } I don't see any religious content in my message. Is "Holidays Season" } } and } } "New Year" has religious content to you? If so, I am apologize and I } } could take back my good wishes. Have a good what? Holidays are } religious, } } OK, DAY! Sergey. } } } } At 08:59 AM 12/19/2003, you wrote: } } } Sergey - } } } } } } Is the listserv really appropriate for religious messages? } } } } } } JQuinn } } } } } } } } } } From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Fri Dec 19 01:28:31 2003 } } } } X-Authentication-Warning: ns.microscopy.com: mail set sender to } } } MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com using -f
Dear Hans, I have been running a Hitachi S-3000N for the last year and I will say that it will do most SEM jobs, both high vacuum and variable pressure, very well with no compromises. We regularly look at wet samples, high-resolution, then high-res, low kV and back to wet in a single day. However, if you want field-emmission-type resolution, you will have to get a field-emmission microscope. Mine resolves 3 nm. The variable-pressure mode converts in two mouse clicks and takes no more time than a sample change. The variable-pressure mode keeps the scope clean and can be used overnight to clean-up after any dirty samples. I would recommend a cold stage for true water-containing samples. We have been using it for every type of sample, hi-res, low kV, x-ray mapping and I couldn't imagine doing without its capabilities now. If I could only have one SEM, this would be it. If I could have two, I would also get a field-emmission for higher resolution. Good luck and congratulations on a new baby. PS I used to run an ETEC, too. MM Mary Mager Electron Microscopist Metals and Materials Eng. University of British Columbia 6350 Stores Road Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4 CANADA Tel: 604-822-5648 Fas: 6004-822-3619 ----- Original Message ----- } From: "by way of MicroscopyListserver" {Hbrinkies-at-groupwise.swin.edu.au} To: {microscopy-at-ns.microscopy.com} Sent: Saturday, December 27, 2003 4:33 PM
While we're at it...: Bonne année 2004 à tous et à toutes!
Marc
On Tuesday, December 30, 2003, at 12:57 PM, diaspro wrote:
} } } ----------------------------------------------------------------------- } ------- } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of } America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- } http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver } On-Line Help } http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } ----------------------------------------------------------------------- } -------- } } In Italy we have } } Auguri di Buone Feste e Felice Anno Nuovo } } Alby } On Martedì, dic 30, 2003, at 11:08 Europe/Rome, Philip Koeck wrote: } } } } } } } ---------------------------------------------------------------------- } } -------- } } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of } } America } } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- } } http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver } } On-Line Help } } http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } } ---------------------------------------------------------------------- } } --------- } } } } Have a good holey day. (for those using holey carbon film) } } } } for continuous carbon film users and other occultists: Have a good } } unholiday. } } } } In Sweden you hear the mysterious "Good continuation (god } } fortsaettning)" } } (of whatever you are doing at the moment, I guess.) } } } } So: God fortsaettning to everybody, } } } } Philip } } } } Philip Koeck } } Svdertvrns Hvgskola and } } Karolinska Institutet } } Dept. of Bioscience at Novum } } S-14157 Huddinge } } Sweden } } phone: +46-8-6089186 } } fax: +46-8-6089290 } } http://www.biosci.ki.se/em } } } } 'This winter I am giving courses to three students, of whom one is } } only } } moderately prepared, } } the other less than moderately, and the third lacks both preparation } } and } } ability. } } Such are the burdens ...' Carl Friedrich Gauss (1810) } } ______________________________________________ } } } } } } ----- Original Message ----- } } } From: "Sergey Ryazantsev" {sryazant-at-ucla.edu} } } To: {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} } } Sent: Sunday, December 28, 2003 2:39 AM } } Subject: [Microscopy] Re: Greetings } } } } } } } } } } } } } --------------------------------------------------------------------- } } } ----- } } ---- } } } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of } } } America } } } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- } } http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver } } } On-Line Help } } } http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } } } --------------------------------------------------------------------- } } } ----- } } ----- } } } } } } Jim } } } I don't see any religious content in my message. Is "Holidays } } } Season" and } } } "New Year" has religious content to you? If so, I am apologize and } } } I } } } could take back my good wishes. Have a good what? Holidays are } } religious, } } } OK, DAY! Sergey. } } } } } } At 08:59 AM 12/19/2003, you wrote: } } } } Sergey - } } } } } } } } Is the listserv really appropriate for religious messages? } } } } } } } } JQuinn } } } } } } } } } } } } } From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Fri Dec 19 01:28:31 } } } } } 2003 } } } } } X-Authentication-Warning: ns.microscopy.com: mail set sender to } } } } MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com using -f
There are lots of ridiculous protests against Christmas celebrations that make that of JQuinn pale:
In Dec, 2001, a group of animal rights protestors in Cambridge announced that they intended to sue "Christianity as a whole" and anyone who celebrates Christmas. The shock announcement comes after years of protesting against Christmas which, they say, causes unnecessary cruelty to turkeys.
In November 2003, the Colorado ACLU threatened to sue to ban Christmas because it claimed it made Jews 'uneasy'.
And best of all:
Cincinnati attorney Richard Ganulin filed a lawsuit on 1998-AUG-4 in U.S. district court, 6 asking that the federal government be required to not declare future DEC-25 holidays. He feels that "Christmas is a religious holiday and the Congress of the United States is not constitutionally permitted to endorse or aid any religion, purposefully or otherwise, or [promote] entanglement between our government and religious beliefs." Judge Susan Dlott dismissed the suit. Judge Dlott decided "that Christmas can be observed as a federal holiday because non-Christians also mark the holiday by celebrating the arrival of Santa Claus. Since nonreligious people also observe the holiday, giving federal workers a day off for Christmas does not elevate one religion over another."
So, it looks like we need to be grateful to a US District Judge for saving Christmas. From a devout Raelian (only kidding) MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR!
John Mardinly Intel
-----Original Message----- } From: vcrvince [mailto:vcrvince-at-sbcglobal.net] Sent: Sunday, December 28, 2003 12:18 AM To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com; Sergey Ryazantsev
Hau'oli Makihiki Hou!
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 MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Fri Dec 31 21:10:43 2004
Has anyone seen a source of micro probes for SEM that allow electrical contact to a SEM chamber specimen? I need very precise positioning--like within 0.15u or better and 0.05u repeatability and stability.
I need two contact probes.
gary g.
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Thu Jan 1 22:02:03 2004
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Gary Gaugler wrote:
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- } } Would someone point me to the listserver } for failure analysis discussion of metallurgical and } integrated circuit devices? } } tnx, } gary g.
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Fri Jan 2 10:09:20 2004
I've seen hot/cold stages from Deben that look like they could hold a standard pin stub specimen. However, they seem to be optimized for low temperature work. Does anyone know of some other supplier that makes SEM specimen holders that will heat up to about 200C and perhaps cool to -25C?
The unit would need to mate to the stage on a LEO Supra 55VP's specimen interchange stage or on a FEI Sirion 400, under similar circumstances.
Gatan makes a series of heated stages but they seem more for stress testing and bulk specimens. I will have an IC chip thermal expoxy'd to a 12mm diameter Al pin stub. I need to be able to heat this specimen in the SEM and at any tilt and WD that the SEM will support. Temperature stability could be as bad as +-5C. That is OK.
Specimen holder and specimen changeout via slide out chamber door is OK. Specimen interchange lock does not have to be used.
thanks for any ideas and leads, gary g.
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Fri Jan 2 11:27:25 2004
In the latest issue of Microscopy Today there is an article on pseudo-coloring of images. Since this is not something that I normally do, I read the article with interest. I was surprised to find that the author says that biologists nearly always use the "spectrum" color table for the pseudo-coloring of grayscale images. I had thought that those who study visual perception had found that among pseudo-color scales the "thermal" scale is much better than all the others at providing a good intuitive reading of the image. This is, I think, the scale that Photoshop calls "Black Body". Can someone please clear up my confusion. -- .......... 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 MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Fri Jan 2 11:58:48 2004
Here is the table of contents for the January/February 2004 issue of Microscopy Today.
New Subscriptions via http://www.microscopy-today.com only, please. New subscriptions will close on Thursday 8 January for this issue.
There has been a major change in subscription policies coming out of the MSA Winter Council meeting.
Briefly: Canadians and Mexicans are now offered free subscriptions along with microscopists in the USA.
MSA members anywhere have free subscriptions.
Non-MSA, non-North American subscriptions have been reduced from $80 or $110US to $35US. Additional details in the magazine or on our web site.
THIS WILL BE THE LAST ISSUE NON-MSA MEMBER, NON-NORTH AMERICAN, UNSUBSCRIBED OR NOT-CURRENTLY-SUBSCRIBED INDIVIDUALS WILL RECEIVE!
Listers,
Here is the table of contents for the November/December 2003 issue of Microscopy Today. This issue is mailed with the Call for Papers for the 2004 Microscopy and Microanalysis meeting
New Subscriptions via http://www.microscopy-today.com only, please New subscriptions will close on Tuesday 11 November for this issue.
There has been a major change in subscription policies coming out of the MSA Winter Council meeting.
Briefly: Canadians and Mexicans are now offered free subscriptions along with microscopists in the USA.
MSA members anywhere have free subscriptions.
Non-MSA, non-North American subscriptions have been reduced from $80 or $110US to $35US. Additional details in the magazine or on our web site.
PURGING OF NON-MSA MEMBER, NON-NORTH AMERICAN, UNSUBSCRIBED OR NOT-CURRENTLY-SUBSCRIBED INDIVIDUALS IS UNDERWAY!
January/February 2004 Carmichael: Correlating Fluorescence Microscopy with Electron Microscopy P.E. Batson: Electron Microscopy Enters a New Era Using Aberration __Correction Paula Allan-Wojtas: Microscopy and Imaging of Foods— The Whys and Hows Jerry Sedgewick: Image Stitching Using Photoshop Michael Bode: A Few Thoughts About Image File Storage Paul Beauregard: Behavior of Particle Size Distributions, Means and BET __Values in Ideal and Non-Ideal Morphology Systems in a TEM Katerina Moloni: The Moving Finger Writes: Carbon Nanotubes as AFM Probe __Tips Robert M. Zucker: Confocal Microscopy System Performance: Axial Resolution Shane Roberts, Daniel Flatoff: Enhanced Sample Preparation of Cu Low-k __Semiconductors via Mechanical Polishing and Ion Beam Etching Luc Harmsen: The Year That Was! Microscopy in Southern Africa Robert P. Apkarian: Comments on Cryo High Resolution Scanning Electron __Microscopy Jose A. Mascorro: Propylene Oxide: To Use or Not to Use in Biological Tissue __Processing M. T. Postek & A. E. Vladár: Is Low Accelerating Voltage Always the Best for __Semiconductor Inspection and Metrology?
Ron Anderson, Editor Microscopy Today
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Fri Jan 2 12:10:04 2004
Yes it is unfortunately true that many (most?) biologists do use the "spectrum" color scale, largely because it makes "prettier-looking" images. It the cases where they are trying to illustrate quantitative contrast this is not only grossly misleading but it is usually plain wrong and can produce horrific artifacts! The worst offenders are chiefly light microscopists who are trying to represent weak flourescence contrast and for some reason think it shows up "better" with a spectrum scale. In the STEM/X-Ray/EELS biological microanalysis field most of us use some variation of the "black Body" scale which of course more closely parallels the greyscale that is intuitively quantitative anyway (black = 0, shades of grey through white represent more positive values). Relative contrast or non-linear scaling can be achieved by manipuating the scale either continuously or by introducing discontinuities to other scales; of course color then becomes essential (a) because the human eye can perceive considerably more colors than levels of grey, and (b) one can extend the scale over a far greater dynamic range(s); most monitors only display 8-bit levels of grey (24-bit color) but data are often 32-bit or more in dynamic range.
The topic of visual perception of data is a fascinating one indeed and has been addressed in several treatises over the years. However in my experience, I have found the most (subjectively) pleasing results to come from visual artists (painters) who seem to have a natural instinct for such representations. A visit to any good art museum should convince most people of this!
Sorry if this is a rather brief and simplistic answer to your question but maybe it helps some!
Peter
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
-- Peter Ingram Sr. Physicist Adj. Professor of Pathology, Duke University Medical Center Box 90319 LaSalle Street Extension DURHAM NC USA 27708-0319
the most common use of Pseudo color is to enhance the contrast of the images and make small details more visible.
A little background:
Computer monitors are normally set to "True Color". On most graphics cards that means 32 bit of information per pixel, or "Millions of colors" as they say. However, each pixel is represented by 3 colors (Red, Green, and Blue), and each of these colors can take on an 8 bit value. 8 bits mean, that there are 256 shades of each color available, which can be combined to give you the "millions of colors" (256 x 256 x 256). What is not so obvious, that for gray levels you need to combine the 3 colors in at the same strength, i.e. black is 0,0,0, medium gray is 128,128,128 and white is 255,255,255. This shows, that even if your monitor can display millions of colors, it can usually only show 256 levels of gray. Take into account, that the human eye can distinguish perhaps 50 or so levels of gray and modern cameras can provide anywhere from 4000 to 64,000 levels of gray, and the need for different color schemes becomes obvious.
Enter the pseudo colors.
There are as many pseudo color schemes as you can think of. Several have become "standards". Among them definitely the "black body" scheme, and the "spectrum" color scheme. The "black body" is perhaps more intuitive, as it basically goes from Red to White. This provides a linear scale, which is easy to understand to anybody who has seen a metal heated (and perhaps burned himself or herself), and it is probably easier to discern small contrasts both in the red and the bright parts of the spectrum than in b/w images. However, it does not make full use of the capabilities of a monitor. The "spectrum" pseudo color, on the other hand, makes full use of the availble color spectrum, perhaps at the price of an intuitive understanding. It may be better suited to images that have "many" gray levels, which all need to be discerned. If used wrongly, however, the spectrum pseudo color can also lead to misleading coloring.
I hope this helps.
mike
Michael Bode, Ph.D. Soft Imaging System Corp. 12596 West Bayaud Avenue Suite 300 Lakewood, CO 80228 =================================== 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: Alwyn Eades [mailto:jae5-at-lehigh.edu] Sent: Friday, January 02, 2004 10:28 To: MSA listserver
In the latest issue of Microscopy Today there is an article on pseudo-coloring of images. Since this is not something that I normally do, I read the article with interest. I was surprised to find that the author says that biologists nearly always use the "spectrum" color table for the pseudo-coloring of grayscale images. I had thought that those who study visual perception had found that among pseudo-color scales the "thermal" scale is much better than all the others at providing a good intuitive reading of the image. This is, I think, the scale that Photoshop calls "Black Body". Can someone please clear up my confusion. -- ......... 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 MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Sat Jan 3 07:27:59 2004
} ... } ... In the STEM/X-Ray/EELS biological microanalysis field } most of us use some variation of the "black Body" scale } which of course more closely parallels the greyscale that } is intuitively quantitative anyway (black = 0, shades of } grey through white represent more positive values).
I remember an M&M '99 session, which introduced a pseudo-color scale for quantitative images (e.g., elemental distributions, maps). That is, ranges of color for representing "orders of magnitude" ... or ranges we might refer to as "major", "minor", "trace", or "undetected". The session was intended to be its introduction, such that its color ranges would become familiar to, and used by all, as so that quantitative images could be actually compared. I thought it was interesting concept at the time, but also felt it needed some refinement. Unfortunately my inadequate notetaking didn't allow for me to ever find the color table and download it.
I have no idea if it was mentioned in the MT article, but the people who had introduced the color scheme were from NIH (or, was it NIST?). I believe it is too bad the color scheme never did rise to common use. That is, even if I did feel it still needed some refinement, it would be a good thing if quantitative images could all be compared.
cheerios ... shAf :o) Avalon Peninsula, Newfoundland www.micro-investigations.com (in progress)
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Sat Jan 3 10:27:30 2004
} In Dec, 2001, a group of animal rights protestors in Cambridge announced that } they intended to sue "Christianity as a whole" and anyone who celebrates } Christmas. The shock announcement comes after years of protesting against } Christmas which, they say, causes unnecessary cruelty to turkeys.
And ignore the use of reindeer as beasts of burden? Or use of swine as ham? Sounds pretty discriminatory to me.
Some people think the New Year is when it is because it was the celebration of Jesus's circumcision. If we think this is bad (e.g. castration ritual), do we refuse to follow the calendar? BTW, the holiday of New Year has become almost global.
This is a time of year when we should take some time off and relax. This message is apropos to this bboard specifically because for a few days I didn't think about microscopy at all. I read novels, slept, ate ham and argued with family over the Iraq war and mostly trivial stuff. This is happy holidays.
Now, can we get back to microscopy and drop the holiday stuff? Even if some of us won't be completing our Christmas celebrations until the 6th?
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Sat Jan 3 11:40:17 2004
Question: Hello there, I am a starter who wishes to get her grandchildren interested in a world beyond TV & computer games. I started using computers when I purchased my first 128K Mac back in 1985 . My present Mac is a G3 192MB ram & 40 GB hard drive.
I recently aquired a second hand "MOTIC Biological Series B1 223A " but I have found that I cannot use my lovely Fuji S602Z digital camera to take photos.
Do you have any ideas which will enable me to combine the use of the hardware that I possess? I feel that the hardest part is getting software that will enable me to join up to the Macintosh even if I purchased a new camera.
I would really like to take the photos digitally but is it impossible with my present configuration? i would appreciate any comments please
} Email: faj-at-highway1.com.au } Name: Faye Taylor } } Organization: Amateur } } Education: Undergraduate College } } Location: Perth, Western Australia } } Question: Hello there, } I am a starter who wishes to get her grandchildren interested in a } world beyond TV & computer games. I started using computers when I } purchased my first 128K Mac back in 1985 . My present Mac is a G3 } 192MB ram & 40 GB hard drive. } } I recently aquired a second hand } "MOTIC Biological Series B1 223A " but I have found that I cannot } use my lovely Fuji S602Z digital camera to take photos. } } Do you have any ideas which will enable me to combine the use of the } hardware that I possess? } I feel that the hardest part is getting software that will enable me } to join up to the Macintosh even if I purchased a new camera. } } I would really like to take the photos digitally but is it } impossible with my present configuration? } i would appreciate any comments please
Faye -
You don't say WHY you can't take photos with your equipment! I suggest that you contact microscopeworld.com. They sell many Motic scopes under the U.S. brand name "National", plus camera connectors, so you should be able to get specific advice on your problem.
You'll find abundant microscopy resources for the grandkids at the MICRO website; URL below.
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/ Intertidal invertebrates: http://www.fortbragg.k12.ca.us/AG/marinelab.html
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Sat Jan 3 15:23:11 2004
Friends, here is the table of content of the last 2003 issue of J.Microscopy (OXF) on Microscopy in the Nanobioscience.
215 Foreword A. Diaspro
217 Polysaccharide properties probed with atomic force microscopy N. I. Abu-Lail, T. A. Camesano
239 Encapsulated yeast cells inside Paramecium primaurelia: a model system for protection capability of polyelectrolyte shells S. Krol, O. Cavalleri, P. Ramoino, A. Gliozzi, A. Diaspro
244 Insights into the regulation of transcription by scanning force microscopy R. T. Dame, C. Wyman, N. Goosen
254 Monitoring enzymatic reactions in nanolitre wells I. T. Young, R. Moerman, L. R. Van Den Doel, V. Iordanov, A. Kroon, H. R. C. Dietrich, G. W. K. Van Dedem, A. Bossche, B. L. Gray, L. Sarro, P. W. Verbeek, L. J. Van Vliet
264 The molecular machines of DNA repair: scanning force microscopy analysis of their architecture A. Janiijevi, D. Ristic, C. Wyman
273 TectoRNA and 'kissing-loop' RNA: atomic force microscopy of self-assembling RNA structures H. G. Hansma, E. Oroudjev, S. Baudrey, L. Jaeger
280 The nacre protein perlucin nucleates growth of calcium carbonate crystals S. Blank, M. Arnoldi, S. Khoshnavaz, L. Treccani, M. Kuntz, K. Mann, G. Grathwohl, M. Fritz
292 Atomic force microscopy study of living diatoms in ambient conditions I. C. Gebeshuber, J. H. Kindt, J. B. Thompson, Y. Del Amo, H. Stachelberger, M. A. Brzezinski, G. D. Stucky, D. E. Morse, P. K. Hansma
300 Self-assembly and recrystallization of bacterial S-layer proteins at silicon supports imaged in real time by atomic force microscopy E. S. Györvary, O. Stein, D. Pum, U. B. Sleytr
307 Fluorescent resolution target for super-resolution microscopy P. R. H. Stark, L. J. Rinko, D. N. Larson
I hope is of interest
All my best ALby
....................................................................... ................................... .. non basta, resistere, resistere...resistere ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Alberto Diaspro Department of Physics, University of Genoa Via Dodecaneso 33, 16146 Genoa, Italy voice: +39-0103536426/480 fax 010314218 diaspro-at-fisica.unige.it, http://www.lambs.it http://wiley.com/cda/product/0,,0471409200,00.html
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Sun Jan 4 17:50:49 2004
I meant the "visual perception" of quantitation which is what Alwyn's initial observation referred to. Of course I agree totally with you that its easer to distinguish different colors from one another than shades of any color or grey. The question is rather "is bright green more or less than yellow?" Any quantitative color scale must also have factored in parameters such as Hue, Saturation abd Brightness; this is one of the main failings of the "spectrum scale" - it doesn't!
Cheers etc
Peter
} Hello Peter, } } in actuality, the situation is a bit more complex than that. I am looking at } the LUT right now that we have in our analySIS software, and you are of } course right that a pixel with no intensity (intensity 0) is displayed as } black (0,0,0). However, the intensity "1" is displayed as (R:41, G:0, B:0). } Technically, it goes from black to white, but realistically, it goes from } "dark red" to white. } } The situation becomes mor complex at the other end. To make yellow, you have } to add in a green component, and to make white you also have to add in blue. } So, it is not straightforward "black to white" or "red to white". Other } colors get mixed in at the higher intensities to make yellow to white. } } As for qantitation: I am not sure, what you are referring to. Quantitaion is } best done on the b/w images with the help of a computer, which has no } problems distinguishing intensity 2976 from 2977. For the display of small } contrasts for the human eye I agree with you, but there an even better } choice is the spectrum LUT. It's easier to distinguish yellow from green } than it is to distinguish "dark orange" from "darker orange". } } mike } } } } -----Original Message----- } From: Peter Ingram [mailto:p.ingram-at-cellbio.duke.edu] } Sent: Friday, January 02, 2004 12:03 } To: Mike Bode } Subject: [Microscopy] RE: Psuedo color } } } } Actually the "black body" scale goes from black to white, albeit } through red, orange and yellow, not simply red to white - a vital } distinction when quantitation is involved! } } Peter } } } } --------------------------------------------------------------------------- } --- } } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
-- Peter Ingram Sr. Physicist Adj. Professor of Pathology Duke University Medical Center Box 90319 DURHAM NC 27708-0319
Gary- I have been using a dual microprobe I purchased from Ernest F. Fullam Inc.:
900 Albany Shaker Rd. Latham NY 12110-1491 800-833-4024, 518-785-5533
Part #15855 dual, o-ring sealed manipulator. They had suggested that I purchase micromanipulators that had metal bellows rather than o-ring seals since I have a FE-SEM, but since all of the other seals on my specimen chamber were o-rings, including detectors that run in and out, I opted for the less expensive o-ring sealed option, and I have had no trouble with them. I cannot say if the microprobes I have will meet your positioning accuracy requirements as I am currently using fairly blunt tips. I also do not have verniers to check reproducibility. I just watch where I am placing them using the SEM. The probes are essentially the same as one might find on an electrical probe station for testing devices. The one problem I do have with them is that since I work with the probe tips near the pole piece, the probes induce a significant aberration. I do not know if the set screws holding the tips in are magnetic, making the problem worse or not. I do know that there are magnetic knurled nuts about 2" up the shaft. You may need to specify the materials you want the probe arms made out of, as well as working at longer WD/higher kV. I haven't bothered to correct this, or to move the probes further from the pole piece, as the resolution is adequate for my experiments. I have found Fullam to be very helpful and open to customizing their products for individual needs. They have a web site at: http://www.fullam.com/. Good luck.
Sincerely, Matthew Ervin, Ph.D. (301)394-0017 phone, (301)394-1559 fax MErvin-at-ARL.Army.mil
M/S: AMSRL-SE-RL US Army Research Laboratory 2800 Powder Mill Road Adelphi, MD 20783-1197
Disclaimer: The opinions and views expressed above are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the U.S. Army Research Laboratory or any other government agency
-----Original Message----- } From: Gary Gaugler [mailto:gary-at-gaugler.com] Sent: Wednesday, December 31, 2003 10:11 PM To: MSA listserver
Hi all:
Has anyone seen a source of micro probes for SEM that allow electrical contact to a SEM chamber specimen? I need very precise positioning--like within 0.15u or better and 0.05u repeatability and stability.
I need two contact probes.
gary g.
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Jan 5 09:42:19 2004
Our lab recently began using the "New Formulation" Kodak Electron Microscope Film 4489 and employed a number of tips for developing this film which we retrieved from the Listserver archive commencing Jan 2003
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Jan 5 10:02:05 2004
I suggest that you check out "Polymer Microscopy", 2nd edition, by Sawyer & Grubb. I believe that they addressed this issue.
Cheers,
"The statements and opinions expressed here by Gary M. Brown represent neither those of ExxonMobil Corporation nor its affiliates."
Gary M. Brown ExxonMobil Chemical Company Baytown Technology & Engineering - West 5200 Bayway Drive Baytown, Texas 77520-2101 phone: (281) 834-2387 fax: (281) 834-2395 e-mail: Gary.M.Brown-at-ExxonMobil.com
Philip Oshel {peoshel-at-wisc.edu} To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com cc: Subject: [Microscopy] nylon SEM 12/23/03 02:55 PM
The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Materials micromavens,
We have a user doing SEM of nylon, with embedded bits. We'd like to chemically etch the nylon, which is something of an entertaining problem, since nylon is used to mask things against etchants. Does anyone have a recipe for something that will etch nylon and not silica? Thanks.
Phil -- Philip Oshel Supervisor, BBPIC microscopy facility 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 MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Jan 5 10:34:32 2004
Our lab recently began using the "New Formulation" Kodak Electron Microscope Film 4489 and employed a number of tips for developing this film which we retrieved from the Listserver archive commencing Jan 2003
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Jan 5 10:44:59 2004
We here at the Neurotoxicology Labs at Rutgers University have an ancient Coolwell chiller for our Zeiss EM 10CA, and it appears to be dying. Coolwell went out of business years ago, and Zeiss pointed me to Lytron, Inc. as the company who bought Coolwell's stuff when it went under. I have tried to contact Lytron online about repairs or a possible replacement for this chiller, but they don't seem to be paying much attention to their email. I am going to call them directly, of course, but what I would like to know is if anyone can recommend another company or particular chiller model that would be appropriate for our EM, so that if Lytron continues to blow me off I will have other sources that I can try.
Hope you all had a happy holiday!
Thanks in advance- Kathleen Roberts Principal Lab Technician Neurotoxcology Labs Dept of Pharmacology & Toxicology Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy Rutgers University 41 B Gordon Rd Piscataway, NJ 08854
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Jan 5 10:52:17 2004
Many thanks to you for all your hard work over the past years. I very much appreciate the service that you provide for the microscopy/microanalysis community.
Cheers,
Gary M. Brown ExxonMobil Chemical Company Baytown Technology & Engineering - West 5200 Bayway Drive Baytown, Texas 77520-2101 phone: (281) 834-2387 fax: (281) 834-2395 e-mail: Gary.M.Brown-at-ExxonMobil.com
"Nestor J. Zaluzec" {zaluzec-at-microscopy.c To: microscopy-at-ns.microscopy.com om} cc: Subject: [Microscopy] Administrivia: Archives for 2003 Now On-Line 01/01/04 10:37 AM
I have a Zeiss EM900 and my Coolwell also just bit the dust about 2months ago. I went with a Haskris Model 075 chiller, which includes Option (K), a 220V interlock as specified by LEO. I have two other Haskris chillers that have been very reliable (on a JEOL SEM and on a Philips TEM).
Here is the contact info:
Doug Wagner Haskris Co. 100 Kelly Street Elk Grove Village, IL 60007 847-956-6420, x243 (tel) 847-956-6595 (fax) doug-at-haskris.com
Good luck! Ann
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Ann Hein Lehman Assistant Director, Electron Microscopy Facility Mailstop: LSC-314 Trinity College 300 Summit Street Hartford, CT 06106 v. 860-297-4289 e. ann.lehman-at-trincoll.edu f. 860-297-2538 www.trincoll.edu/~alehman
-----Original Message----- } From: Kathleen Roberts [mailto:kgrobert-at-rci.rutgers.edu] Sent: Monday, January 05, 2004 11:54 AM To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
Hi, all-
We here at the Neurotoxicology Labs at Rutgers University have an ancient Coolwell chiller for our Zeiss EM 10CA, and it appears to be dying. Coolwell went out of business years ago, and Zeiss pointed me to
Lytron, Inc. as the company who bought Coolwell's stuff when it went under. I have tried to contact Lytron online about repairs or a possible replacement for this chiller, but they don't seem to be paying much attention to their email. I am going to call them directly, of course, but what I would like to know is if anyone can recommend another
company or particular chiller model that would be appropriate for our EM, so that if Lytron continues to blow me off I will have other sources that I can try.
Hope you all had a happy holiday!
Thanks in advance- Kathleen Roberts Principal Lab Technician Neurotoxcology Labs Dept of Pharmacology & Toxicology Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy Rutgers University 41 B Gordon Rd Piscataway, NJ 08854
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Jan 5 11:39:32 2004
Hakris is a reasonably reliable chiller. I've had several on EM diff pumps. They also make a 115V version that I used on a Hitach S4500 FESEM since my lab had no chilled water supply. Unless strapped for cash, junk the old one. If it fails it can make a nasty mess of things. I think I spent 2K$ [American] for the one I bought 6 years ago.
Happy new year. [Can I say that?]
Peter Tomic Agere Systems Allentown, PA
-----Original Message----- } From: Lehman, Ann [mailto:Ann.Lehman-at-trincoll.edu] Sent: Monday, January 05, 2004 12:39 PM To: Kathleen Roberts; Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
Dear Kathleen,
I have a Zeiss EM900 and my Coolwell also just bit the dust about 2months ago. I went with a Haskris Model 075 chiller, which includes Option (K), a 220V interlock as specified by LEO. I have two other Haskris chillers that have been very reliable (on a JEOL SEM and on a Philips TEM).
Here is the contact info:
Doug Wagner Haskris Co. 100 Kelly Street Elk Grove Village, IL 60007 847-956-6420, x243 (tel) 847-956-6595 (fax) doug-at-haskris.com
Good luck! Ann
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Ann Hein Lehman Assistant Director, Electron Microscopy Facility Mailstop: LSC-314 Trinity College 300 Summit Street Hartford, CT 06106 v. 860-297-4289 e. ann.lehman-at-trincoll.edu f. 860-297-2538 www.trincoll.edu/~alehman
-----Original Message----- } From: Kathleen Roberts [mailto:kgrobert-at-rci.rutgers.edu] Sent: Monday, January 05, 2004 11:54 AM To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
Hi, all-
We here at the Neurotoxicology Labs at Rutgers University have an ancient Coolwell chiller for our Zeiss EM 10CA, and it appears to be dying. Coolwell went out of business years ago, and Zeiss pointed me to
Lytron, Inc. as the company who bought Coolwell's stuff when it went under. I have tried to contact Lytron online about repairs or a possible replacement for this chiller, but they don't seem to be paying much attention to their email. I am going to call them directly, of course, but what I would like to know is if anyone can recommend another
company or particular chiller model that would be appropriate for our EM, so that if Lytron continues to blow me off I will have other sources that I can try.
Hope you all had a happy holiday!
Thanks in advance- Kathleen Roberts Principal Lab Technician Neurotoxcology Labs Dept of Pharmacology & Toxicology Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy Rutgers University 41 B Gordon Rd Piscataway, NJ 08854
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Jan 5 13:07:58 2004
Oooh, thank you! You just made things a lot easier for me. :o) I guess I should talk to LEO as well to see what options I need, unless your Zeiss and mine are similar enough?
God, how I love listservs....thank you, Nestor!
Thanks again- Kathleen Neurotoxicology Labs Rutgers University
Lehman, Ann wrote:
} Dear Kathleen, } } I have a Zeiss EM900 and my Coolwell also just bit the dust about } 2months ago. I went with a Haskris Model 075 chiller, which includes } Option (K), a 220V interlock as specified by LEO. I have two other } Haskris chillers that have been very reliable (on a JEOL SEM and on a } Philips TEM). } } Here is the contact info: } } Doug Wagner } Haskris Co. } 100 Kelly Street } Elk Grove Village, IL 60007 } 847-956-6420, x243 (tel) } 847-956-6595 (fax) } doug-at-haskris.com } } Good luck! } Ann } } ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ } Ann Hein Lehman } Assistant Director, Electron Microscopy Facility } Mailstop: LSC-314 } Trinity College } 300 Summit Street } Hartford, CT 06106 } v. 860-297-4289 } e. ann.lehman-at-trincoll.edu } f. 860-297-2538 } www.trincoll.edu/~alehman } } } -----Original Message----- } From: Kathleen Roberts [mailto:kgrobert-at-rci.rutgers.edu] } Sent: Monday, January 05, 2004 11:54 AM } To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: [Microscopy] chiller for Zeiss EM 10CA } } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } ------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Jan 5 13:11:23 2004
Yes, Dr. Bonder is still at Rutgers-I just did a search for him on Rutgers' website. I don't know him personally, though, as he is on the Newark campus, where I have never been, and I am on the New Brunswick campus. Worlds apart... :o)
Kathleen
Pat Connelly wrote:
} Kathleen, } WE have been using a Haskris Co. water chiller (RO 75) since 1996 for } my Phillips 200 TEM. It works very well and the only complaint that I } have had is that we use a timer to shut down our ancient scope at } night and the one on the chiller keeps dying - it just stays on. } } This company was recommended to me when our previous chiller, also a } Haskris,died after 25 years or so, by a refrigeration specialist who } does some contract work here. } } Do you know if Dr. Ed Bonder is still at Rutgers? He was in EM the } last time I had heard from him but I do not know the exact department } - Biology? He was a grad student here at Penn a few decades ago! } } Pat Connelly } Research Specialist
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Jan 5 13:21:08 2004
To all who wrote in reply to my question- } } Thank you for the information, you all have made my life much easier. :o) } } Now I can sit down with my boss and be able to give him some real } information about replacing this poor thing, instead of "I'm still } searching for a source..." } } Thanks again- } Kathleen } Neurotoxicology Labs } Rutgers University
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Jan 5 13:26:57 2004
Ouch! That is an expensive repair...would LEO install a temp. sensor on a 'scope that is so old? My impression was that LEO didn't service Zeiss 'scopes anymore.
Thanks for the information- Kathleen
Ken Tiekotter wrote:
} Dear Kathleen, } } I just had a major life change as my Coolwell went down, was repaired, and } crashed again for the third and final time. The issue was exasperated by a } series of facilities failures. The outcome was about an $18k repair bill to } include a new Haskris chiller (~$5600.00) } } Unfortunately, the Zeiss EM 10CA does not a temperature sensor to determine } glycol temperature, but rather only flow rate. The repair included a } complete overhaul of the column because oil vapors were not condensing in } the diffusion pump and consequently went everywhere in the column. } } After almost 20 years with my beloved EM10, the hospital decided to donated } the scope and close my lab. You may want to check with Zeiss (LEO) about } installing a temperature sensor and automatic relay to shut the HV value if } the circulator temperature gets too high. } } Best wishes to you and your EM10! } Ken } } _______________________________________ } Kenneth L. Tiekotter, Adjunct Professor } The University of Portland } Department of Biology } 5000 N Willamette Blvd. } Portland, OR 97203 USA } } Director, MicroImaging Dx Center } Legacy Portland Hospitals } Legacy Holladay Park Medical Center } 1225 NE 2nd Avenue } Portland, OR 97232 USA } } Tel.: 503.413.5391 } } } } } } On 1/5/04 8:54 AM, "Kathleen Roberts" {kgrobert-at-rci.rutgers.edu} wrote: } } } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ } } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Jan 5 13:40:57 2004
I will admit that I am not entirely sure what is wrong with it. All I know is that when I turn the 'scope on, it's fine for the first half hour or so...then a buzzer goes off-there is no indicator light to say what that buzzer is for on the 'scope, but my boss tells me that it's an overtemp alarm. If you look at the temp gauge on the chiller, it's reading way above the overtemp limit.
There was one occasion when a pump in the house distilled water system was dying, and when it was replaced, the 'scope stopped buzzing. Now, however, the distilled water system appears to be fine, and the 'scope is buzzing again, so I am assuming that it is the chiller.
I did get a local HVAC repair guy in (from the same company that resurrected our old cryostat), but he said that he couldn't do anything without the refrigeration and other specifications for that chiller. I managed to get a couple of diagrams from someone else on this list (his name escapes my memory for the moment, but thanks again anyway!), but the HVAC guy said that it wasn't enough. As Lytron isn't willing to help, I'm going to give up and get a new chiller, as this one is pretty old anyway.
Thanks, Kathleen Neurotoxicology Labs Rutgers University
McClintock, Joel wrote:
} Kathleen, } } I take care of a Zeiss 902 with a coolwell chiller. I have fixed this thing several times. What is the problem with it? Often the temp sensor goes haywire. I have found it is often the switch. I have replaced it for around $7. As others have recommended Haskris is my favorite. If money is tight I may be able to direct you to a used one. } } Joel McClintock } EM Specialist } U of Kentucky } 859-257-1242 } } -----Original Message----- } From: Kathleen Roberts [mailto:kgrobert-at-rci.rutgers.edu] } Sent: Mon 1/5/2004 11:54 AM } To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Cc: } Subject: [Microscopy] chiller for Zeiss EM 10CA } } } } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- } } Hi, all- } } We here at the Neurotoxicology Labs at Rutgers University have an } ancient Coolwell chiller for our Zeiss EM 10CA, and it appears to be } dying. Coolwell went out of business years ago, and Zeiss pointed me to } Lytron, Inc. as the company who bought Coolwell's stuff when it went } under. I have tried to contact Lytron online about repairs or a } possible replacement for this chiller, but they don't seem to be paying } much attention to their email. I am going to call them directly, of } course, but what I would like to know is if anyone can recommend another } company or particular chiller model that would be appropriate for our } EM, so that if Lytron continues to blow me off I will have other } sources that I can try. } } Hope you all had a happy holiday! } } Thanks in advance- } Kathleen Roberts } Principal Lab Technician } Neurotoxcology Labs } Dept of Pharmacology & Toxicology } Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy } Rutgers University } 41 B Gordon Rd } Piscataway, NJ 08854 } } } } } }
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Jan 5 13:47:21 2004
Gary, I have seen presentation on two micro-manipulator type systems: Zyvex - a MEMS based system (www.zyvex.com), and Klendiek (http://kleindiek.com, http://www.ascendinstruments.com/product_nanoprober.asp) a micro-motor based system distributed in USA by Ascend Instruments. They are geared to manipulate specimen inside a FIB or SEM chamber and both can be used for electrical measurements. The problem is that they are expensive (~100K). Since I have not actually used either one of them I cannot recommend them. We are thinking of a versatile solution that would allow TEM sample extraction, transfer, in DB-FIB and also allow us to perform occasional electrical measurements on powered devices.
Regards and Happy New Year to all.
Jerzy
PS: If you get other replies, please post them since I would also be interested in a less expensive system but with less flexibility. I do not have any vested interest in either company, we only had sales presentations from both distributors.
****************************************************** Jerzy Gazda, Ph.D. Advanced Micro Devices Supervising Engineer 5204 E. Ben White Blvd. - MS 512 PCAL - AIM Section Austin, TX 78741 TEL: 1-800-538-8450, Ext. 51453 jerzy.gazda-at-amd.com ******************************************************
-----Original Message----- } From: Gary Gaugler [mailto:gary-at-gaugler.com] Sent: Wednesday, December 31, 2003 9:11 PM To: MSA listserver
Hi all:
Has anyone seen a source of micro probes for SEM that allow electrical contact to a SEM chamber specimen? I need very precise positioning--like within 0.15u or better and 0.05u repeatability and stability.
I need two contact probes.
gary g.
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Jan 5 16:05:53 2004
Another source is Omniprobe, http://www.omniprobe.com/. Click the Products nav button. They can do electrical testing, TEM lift-out, mechanical testing, etc. I have no financial interest in the company.
jerzy.gazda-at-amd.com wrote:
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- } } Gary, } I have seen presentation on two micro-manipulator type systems: Zyvex - a MEMS based system (www.zyvex.com), and Klendiek (http://kleindiek.com, http://www.ascendinstruments.com/product_nanoprober.asp) a micro-motor based system distributed in USA by Ascend Instruments. They are geared to manipulate specimen inside a FIB or SEM chamber and both can be used for electrical measurements. The problem is that they are expensive (~100K). Since I have not actually used either one of them I cannot recommend them. We are thinking of a versatile solution that would allow TEM sample extraction, transfer, in DB-FIB and also allow us to perform occasional electrical measurements on powered devices. } } Regards and Happy New Year to all. } } Jerzy } } PS: If you get other replies, please post them since I would also be interested in a less expensive system but with less flexibility. I do not have any vested interest in either company, we only had sales presentations from both distributors. } } ****************************************************** } Jerzy Gazda, Ph.D. Advanced Micro Devices } Supervising Engineer 5204 E. Ben White Blvd. - MS 512 } PCAL - AIM Section Austin, TX 78741 } TEL: 1-800-538-8450, Ext. 51453 } jerzy.gazda-at-amd.com } ****************************************************** } } } -----Original Message----- } } From: Gary Gaugler [mailto:gary-at-gaugler.com] } Sent: Wednesday, December 31, 2003 9:11 PM } To: MSA listserver } Subject: [Microscopy] micro probes } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- } } Hi all: } } Has anyone seen a source of micro probes for SEM that allow electrical } contact to a SEM chamber specimen? I need very precise } positioning--like within 0.15u or better and 0.05u repeatability and } stability. } } I need two contact probes. } } gary g.
-- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Becky Holdford (r-holdford-at-ti.com) 972-995-2360 972-648-8743 (pager) SC Packaging FA Development Texas Instruments, Inc. Dallas, TX ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Jan 5 16:34:46 2004
Email: letitsnow-at-antelecom.net Name: Elizabeth Colvin
Organization: Homeschool
Education: 9-12th Grade High School
Location: Pearblossom, CA-L.A. county
Question: I have obtained several unstained blood smears. I have Wright's stain and methylene blue available. Can you please tell me how long to leave the stain on the slide before rinsing. And do I rinse with distilled water. Thank you.
Good question from Joel. The alarm (buzzer)you are hearing more than likely is the chiller fluid flow indicator on the EM10. The pressure must be maintained at 1.5 - 2liters per minute. The flow indicator is located on the right-hand side of the column inside the gray hinged 'door'. These is a small glass window to show where the float is in relationship to the flow of fluid: the higher the float, the greater the number of liters/minute.
On the front of the Coolwell chiller is also a flow indicator, which should be adjusted to meet the 1.5 - 2 liter flow on the microscope. Also check to see if the temperature gauge on the Coolwell remains the same or fluctuates. It could be the chiller is fine, but the pump is going out.
Ken
Kathleen Roberts wrote:
} } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
--------------------------------------- Kenneth L, Tiekotter, Adjunct Professor Dept. of Biology The University of Portland 5000 N Willamette Blvd, Portland, OR 97203 USA
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Jan 5 17:16:32 2004
Dear List, I am posting the following for Dr. Jensen, the head of our cryo-EM group:
------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------ I'm looking for an image processing scientist/computer programmer to help with our expanding biological electron tomography projects here at Caltech. We are currently imaging many specimens including cells, viruses, and purified protein complexes with a state-of-the-art 300kV, helium-cooled, energy-filtered, automated, FEG TEM. We are in the process now of purchasing a large new supercomputer for the structural biology groups. Duties would include applying existing programs as well as developing new software for image processing needs, handling large amounts of image data, managing processes on our supercomputer, working with students to help them solve image processing problems, and being a creative member of a growing scientific team. Minimum qualifications are a bachelor’s degree, strong programming skills, mathematical aptitude, an ability to work well with others, and enthusiasm for biology research. Graduate education or extended experience in related fields is preferred. Interested persons seeking either a post-doctoral position or a permanent staff position are encouraged to apply. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications. CalTech is located in Pasadena, California (a suburb of Los Angeles) next to the San Gabriel mountains, and offers an extraordinarily rich intellectual environment for computationally-inclined scientists, all within a sunny, affordable, diverse community that will make you want to stay. Please send CV and three letters of reference to jensen-at-caltech.edu or
Dr. Grant Jensen California Institute of Technology Biology Division, Mailcode 114-96 1200 E. California Blvd. Pasadena, CA 91125 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ --------------------------
Yours, Bill Tivol, PhD EM Scientist and Manager Cryo-Electron Microscopy Facility Broad Center, Mail Code 114-96 California Institute of Technology Pasadena CA 91125 (626) 395-8833 tivol-at-caltech.edu
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Jan 5 17:40:32 2004
Just to add to what Ken said just below, if the flow alarm is in fact what you are hearing, then just check the various filters in the cooling water system, probably one in the chiller tank, probably another one on the input side to the microscope. Or, the lines may be plugged up somewhere with crud such as algae or corrosion products. After checking the filters and cleaning or replacing them, if problem persists may have to have scope and/or delivery lines flushed to clear them. I had to do that once for in an SEM's interior cooling lines.
Hope this helps! -- Gib Ahlstrand, Scientist Electron Optical Facility, University of Minnesota, CBS Imaging Center, 35 Snyder Hall, St. Paul, MN. USA. 55108 (612)624-3454 (612)624-2785 FAX, ahlst007-at-tc.umn.edu http://www.cbs.umn.edu/ic/
"You can learn a lot by observation - just by lookin'!" - Yogi Berra ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- } Kathleen, } } Good question from Joel. The alarm (buzzer)you are hearing more than } likely is the chiller fluid flow indicator on the EM10. The pressure } must be maintained at 1.5 - 2liters per minute. The flow indicator is } located on the right-hand side of the column inside the gray hinged } 'door'. These is a small glass window to show where the float is in } relationship to the flow of fluid: the higher the float, the greater } the number of liters/minute. } } On the front of the Coolwell chiller is also a flow indicator, which } should be adjusted to meet the 1.5 - 2 liter flow on the microscope. } Also check to see if the temperature gauge on the Coolwell remains the } same or fluctuates. It could be the chiller is fine, but the pump is } going out. } } Ken } } Kathleen Roberts wrote: } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- } http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver } } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } } Joel- } } } } I will admit that I am not entirely sure what is wrong with it. All I } } know is that when I turn the 'scope on, it's fine for the first half } } hour or so...then a buzzer goes off-there is no indicator light to say } } what that buzzer is for on the 'scope, but my boss tells me that it's } an } } overtemp alarm. If you look at the temp gauge on the chiller, it's } } reading way above the overtemp limit. } } } } There was one occasion when a pump in the house distilled water system } } was dying, and when it was replaced, the 'scope stopped buzzing. Now, } } however, the distilled water system appears to be fine, and the 'scope } } is buzzing again, so I am assuming that it is the chiller. } } } } I did get a local HVAC repair guy in (from the same company that } } resurrected our old cryostat), but he said that he couldn't do anything } } without the refrigeration and other specifications for that chiller. I } } managed to get a couple of diagrams from someone else on this list (his } } name escapes my memory for the moment, but thanks again anyway!), but } } the HVAC guy said that it wasn't enough. As Lytron isn't willing to } } help, I'm going to give up and get a new chiller, as this one is pretty } } old anyway. } } } } Thanks, } } Kathleen } } Neurotoxicology Labs } } Rutgers University } }
} --------------------------------------- } Kenneth L, Tiekotter, Adjunct Professor } Dept. of Biology } The University of Portland } 5000 N Willamette Blvd, } Portland, OR 97203 USA
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Jan 5 17:41:59 2004
I did not want to imply that the "spectrum" scale is "perfect". There are many color scales and depending on what you want to see or show, one or the other might be better.
You bring up a good point, though: familiarity with the scale. Everybody can interpret a black and white scale, and the thermal scale is also very intuitive. Once we get to more colors, I would say that the spectrum scale is familiar to most people, red on one end, blue on the other. Other scales need more explanation or a color scale bar on the Image.
mike
Michael Bode, Ph.D. Soft Imaging System Corp. 12596 West Bayaud Avenue Suite 300 Lakewood, CO 80228 =================================== 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: Peter Ingram [mailto:p.ingram-at-cellbio.duke.edu] Sent: Sunday, January 04, 2004 16:54 To: Mike Bode Cc: Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com
Steven; I was kidding about being a Raelian. I am agnostic. I celebrate the spirit of Christmas, not the religious part. My wife is Turkish, and is a Moslem. She loves Christmas, as does our daughter. We are presently being visited by my wife's mother and sister. Despite the fact that they are both Moslem, and neither of them speaks English, they loved their first Christmas. When my wife celebrates her holidays, I celebrate with her. My brother's wife is Jewish (another mixed marriage-agnostic and Jewish). Their family celebrates both Hanukah and Christmas. Their two kids love having two holidays to celebrate. As for the spirit of Christmas, I am sorry to hear that it has eluded you. You can give gifts to loved ones any time, not just Christmas. You can try to bring more cheer into peoples lives any time, not just Christmas. You can get together with your family any time, not just Christmas. You can put up special decorations any time, not just Christmas, and you can listen to wonderful music any time, not just Christmas. It's just that human nature is such that we sometimes need a special stimulus to prioritize all this in a hectic world, and Christmas does just that-and more. Finally, if you have ever looked in to the eyes of a young child contemplating Santa Claus' imminent arrival, and shared that wonder, then you would know that this a wonderful thing to have. Steven, you have some homework to do. You need to find out what Christmas Spirit is. If you do it right, you will have a Happy New Year.
John Mardinly 408-765-2346 877-277-1182
-----Original Message----- } From: Steven E. Slap [mailto:siksik03-at-comcast.net] Sent: Monday, January 05, 2004 5:01 AM To: Mardinly, John; Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Tue Jan 6 01:59:15 2004
} You bring up a good point, though: familiarity with the scale.
And one (little) cent more : I had a look a few weeks ago to the biology manual from my daughter (secondary school, french 3°, i. e. 15 years old), an all the EM and SEM pictures were in pseudo color, whith different color rules from one picture to an other and without any mention that it was "false colors" and that the true signal was a monochrome level variation ! I've than understood why a student asked my once, why we dont't have color images on the SEM ... " Not enough monney to pay it ?" asked he ! Familarity with a "false" color scale, can be an obstacle to understand the way the images was obtained (and to understand the image itself, perheps).
So pseudo color, why not of coarse, but with a color scale along a border of the picture, like the micron bar, as is often done on AFM images.
J. Faerber IPCMS Strasbourg France
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Tue Jan 6 03:36:16 2004
John I was thinking, it's only my family is "so creative". When we came to US my kids very quickly figured out what to do: ever since we do celebrate everything. Catholic Christmas, New Year, then Russian Christmas, then Russian "Old" New Year... The whole point there was to have gifts for every holiday... As far as I remember my kids also enjoyed some Jewish holidays when they had school off... I really like you description: "the spirit of Christmas". I think, good spirit should unify us, not separate by religious believe... Sergey.
At 11:48 PM 1/5/2004 -0800, you wrote:
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From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Tue Jan 6 05:30:26 2004
I'll also put in my $.02 worth (Cdn) for Haskris chillers. I've owned both Haskris and Neslab ones over the years, but what I really like about the Haskris models I've used is the fact that the water tank/reservoir has a removable lid, so you can always look inside and visually inspect the condition of the water. The Neslab one we have now, though reasonably reliable and all, has a completely sealed water tank with just a narrow little filler neck, so you can never see what's going on inside. Interestingly, both companies use the same water pumps supplied by a third company somewhere in Indiana, I believe. These pumps are rebuildable and replaceable of course, as are the electric motors that power them, so it's often possible to keep a chiller running for a very long time before it actually has to be replaced. To choose an appropriate model for your particular application you just need to know how much water (usually gallons/minute) and at what temperature your particular instrument needs it, then match that up to the model listing. There's not much point in greatly exceeding the needs of your instrument with a bigger chiller than necessary, since the motor/pump will be running constantly anyway. Some folks will let one big chiller cool several instruments. No doubt this is pretty cost-effective, but the down-side is apparent when the chiller craps out and you now have several instruments down instead of just one.......
Frank
F.C. Thomas FThomas-at-NRCan.gc.ca, 902-426-4635, facsimile 902-426-6152 Natural Resources Canada, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, P.O. Box 1006, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia B2Y 4A2 Ressources naturelles Canada, l'Institut Oceanographique du Bedford, B.P. 1006, Dartmouth, (Nouvelle-Ecosse) B2Y 4A2 Government of Canada/Gouvernement du Canada
-----Original Message----- } From: Kathleen Roberts [mailto:kgrobert-at-rci.rutgers.edu] Sent: Monday, January 05, 2004 12:54 PM To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
Hi, all-
We here at the Neurotoxicology Labs at Rutgers University have an ancient Coolwell chiller for our Zeiss EM 10CA, and it appears to be dying. Coolwell went out of business years ago, and Zeiss pointed me to Lytron, Inc. as the company who bought Coolwell's stuff when it went under. I have tried to contact Lytron online about repairs or a possible replacement for this chiller, but they don't seem to be paying much attention to their email. I am going to call them directly, of course, but what I would like to know is if anyone can recommend another company or particular chiller model that would be appropriate for our EM, so that if Lytron continues to blow me off I will have other sources that I can try.
Hope you all had a happy holiday!
Thanks in advance- Kathleen Roberts Principal Lab Technician Neurotoxcology Labs Dept of Pharmacology & Toxicology Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy Rutgers University 41 B Gordon Rd Piscataway, NJ 08854
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Tue Jan 6 05:50:44 2004
I'm searching for some decent disposable blades for our Leica Microtome to get sections of living hearts. I heard that Feather Blades should do the trick. Has anyone experience with getting sections of living cardiomyoctes and could give me an address of a supplier of blades, preferrably in Germany/Europe ?
Thanks
Michael Didié
-- +++ GMX - die erste Adresse für Mail, Message, More +++ Neu: Preissenkung für MMS und FreeMMS! http://www.gmx.net
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Tue Jan 6 07:29:15 2004
Although these are debates that should take place somewhere, this is not the forum for them. Unless one can tie a microscope to this line of remarks I would rather not see this on this listserver.
Just my opinion.
Peter Tomic Agere Systems
-----Original Message----- } From: Mardinly, John [mailto:john.mardinly-at-intel.com] Sent: Tuesday, January 06, 2004 2:48 AM To: Steven E. Slap; Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com Cc: Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com
Steven; I was kidding about being a Raelian. I am agnostic. I celebrate the spirit of Christmas, not the religious part. My wife is Turkish, and is a Moslem. She loves Christmas, as does our daughter. We are presently being visited by my wife's mother and sister. Despite the fact that they are both Moslem, and neither of them speaks English, they loved their first Christmas. When my wife celebrates her holidays, I celebrate with her. My brother's wife is Jewish (another mixed marriage-agnostic and Jewish). Their family celebrates both Hanukah and Christmas. Their two kids love having two holidays to celebrate. As for the spirit of Christmas, I am sorry to hear that it has eluded you. You can give gifts to loved ones any time, not just Christmas. You can try to bring more cheer into peoples lives any time, not just Christmas. You can get together with your family any time, not just Christmas. You can put up special decorations any time, not just Christmas, and you can listen to wonderful music any time, not just Christmas. It's just that human nature is such that we sometimes need a special stimulus to prioritize all this in a hectic world, and Christmas does just that-and more. Finally, if you have ever looked in to the eyes of a young child contemplating Santa Claus' imminent arrival, and shared that wonder, then you would know that this a wonderful thing to have. Steven, you have some homework to do. You need to find out what Christmas Spirit is. If you do it right, you will have a Happy New Year.
John Mardinly 408-765-2346 877-277-1182
-----Original Message----- } From: Steven E. Slap [mailto:siksik03-at-comcast.net] Sent: Monday, January 05, 2004 5:01 AM To: Mardinly, John; Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Tue Jan 6 08:12:53 2004
Question: I am looking for procedures for various microchemical tests such as protein. Where would be a good resource for finding such procedures? Thanks you for your time,
A number of years ago I took a SEM course and I was told the following:
It seems a number of students comment to their professor that they would like a real time false color display on the SEM. At the time this was not a inexpensive request or total practical. The next day the students found a coffee mug full of Sharpie color markers next to the glass CRT screen and a note welcoming them to "Sharpie Color Technology."
Stay Safe................
Frank Karl Degussa Corporation Akron Technical Center 3500 Embassy Parkway Suite 100 Akron, Ohio 44333
330-668-2235 Ext. 238
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Tue Jan 6 08:36:44 2004
Hi All, I know we are not a theological forum ( and I'm not one, I'm just a SEM tech) I agree with the last mail about unifying us. This is only a way as we can Unify Religion with Science including Microscopy Microscopy and Science has discovered a world full of distinctive marks of intelligent design so we can not deny the chance of the existence of a creator, so if we want to give honor to him we have to make sure that we are worshipping him in a good way.
As much of us are from different cultures, we also have to be united, an example of unity is the language, in this case English. But What about religions, does exist a language in which we agree about belief? Even when some religious people have influenced wars, Yes, does exist : is the True. And I'm not being ambiguous I'm talking about the true about the date of Christ birth ( where Christmas is originated), the true about Mexican traditions, I mean all of them over the world, dates, even about the origin of the live (because religions talk about the creator). Knowing the true about our own traditions and beliefs and talk about them to others will unify us.
I agree about giving gifts, I enjoy accepting them and I deeply appreciate when people give them at any day of the year, without expectation.
Sincerely
Rafael Peña SEM Tech Process Enginering Tel 83297100 Ext 4721 Monterrey Nl Mexico
----- Forwarded by Rafael Pena/MONT3/MFG/KEMET/US on 01/06/04 08:29 AM -----
"Tomic, Peter (Peter)" {ptomic-at-agere.com} 01/06/04 07:32 AM
To: {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} cc: {Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com} , (bcc: Rafael Pena/MONT3/MFG/KEMET/US) bcc: Rafael Pena/MONT3/MFG/KEMET/US Subject: [Microscopy] RE: RE: Dec. 25
------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Although these are debates that should take place somewhere, this is not the forum for them. Unless one can tie a microscope to this line of remarks I would rather not see this on this listserver.
Just my opinion.
Peter Tomic Agere Systems
-----Original Message----- } From: Mardinly, John [mailto:john.mardinly-at-intel.com] Sent: Tuesday, January 06, 2004 2:48 AM To: Steven E. Slap; Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com Cc: Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com
Steven; I was kidding about being a Raelian. I am agnostic. I celebrate the spirit of Christmas, not the religious part. My wife is Turkish, and is a Moslem. She loves Christmas, as does our daughter. We are presently being visited by my wife's mother and sister. Despite the fact that they are both Moslem, and neither of them speaks English, they loved their first Christmas. When my wife celebrates her holidays, I celebrate with her. My brother's wife is Jewish (another mixed marriage-agnostic and Jewish). Their family celebrates both Hanukah and Christmas. Their two kids love having two holidays to celebrate. As for the spirit of Christmas, I am sorry to hear that it has eluded you. You can give gifts to loved ones any time, not just Christmas. You can try to bring more cheer into peoples lives any time, not just Christmas. You can get together with your family any time, not just Christmas. You can put up special decorations any time, not just Christmas, and you can listen to wonderful music any time, not just Christmas. It's just that human nature is such that we sometimes need a special stimulus to prioritize all this in a hectic world, and Christmas does just that-and more. Finally, if you have ever looked in to the eyes of a young child contemplating Santa Claus' imminent arrival, and shared that wonder, then you would know that this a wonderful thing to have. Steven, you have some homework to do. You need to find out what Christmas Spirit is. If you do it right, you will have a Happy New Year.
John Mardinly 408-765-2346 877-277-1182
-----Original Message----- } From: Steven E. Slap [mailto:siksik03-at-comcast.net] Sent: Monday, January 05, 2004 5:01 AM To: Mardinly, John; Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Tue Jan 6 08:36:44 2004
Hi All, I know we are not a theological forum ( and I'm not one, I'm just a SEM tech) I agree with the last mail about unifying us. This is only a way as we can Unify Religion with Science including Microscopy Microscopy and Science has discovered a world full of distinctive marks of intelligent design so we can not deny the chance of the existence of a creator, so if we want to give honor to him we have to make sure that we are worshipping him in a good way.
As much of us are from different cultures, we also have to be united, an example of unity is the language, in this case English. But What about religions, does exist a language in which we agree about belief? Even when some religious people have influenced wars, Yes, does exist : is the True. And I'm not being ambiguous I'm talking about the true about the date of Christ birth ( where Christmas is originated), the true about Mexican traditions, I mean all of them over the world, dates, even about the origin of the live (because religions talk about the creator). Knowing the true about our own traditions and beliefs and talk about them to others will unify us.
I agree about giving gifts, I enjoy accepting them and I deeply appreciate when people give them at any day of the year, without expectation.
Sincerely
Rafael Peña SEM Tech Process Enginering Tel 83297100 Ext 4721 Monterrey Nl Mexico
----- Forwarded by Rafael Pena/MONT3/MFG/KEMET/US on 01/06/04 08:29 AM -----
"Tomic, Peter (Peter)" {ptomic-at-agere.com} 01/06/04 07:32 AM
To: {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} cc: {Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com} , (bcc: Rafael Pena/MONT3/MFG/KEMET/US) bcc: Rafael Pena/MONT3/MFG/KEMET/US Subject: [Microscopy] RE: RE: Dec. 25
------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Although these are debates that should take place somewhere, this is not the forum for them. Unless one can tie a microscope to this line of remarks I would rather not see this on this listserver.
Just my opinion.
Peter Tomic Agere Systems
-----Original Message----- } From: Mardinly, John [mailto:john.mardinly-at-intel.com] Sent: Tuesday, January 06, 2004 2:48 AM To: Steven E. Slap; Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com Cc: Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com
Steven; I was kidding about being a Raelian. I am agnostic. I celebrate the spirit of Christmas, not the religious part. My wife is Turkish, and is a Moslem. She loves Christmas, as does our daughter. We are presently being visited by my wife's mother and sister. Despite the fact that they are both Moslem, and neither of them speaks English, they loved their first Christmas. When my wife celebrates her holidays, I celebrate with her. My brother's wife is Jewish (another mixed marriage-agnostic and Jewish). Their family celebrates both Hanukah and Christmas. Their two kids love having two holidays to celebrate. As for the spirit of Christmas, I am sorry to hear that it has eluded you. You can give gifts to loved ones any time, not just Christmas. You can try to bring more cheer into peoples lives any time, not just Christmas. You can get together with your family any time, not just Christmas. You can put up special decorations any time, not just Christmas, and you can listen to wonderful music any time, not just Christmas. It's just that human nature is such that we sometimes need a special stimulus to prioritize all this in a hectic world, and Christmas does just that-and more. Finally, if you have ever looked in to the eyes of a young child contemplating Santa Claus' imminent arrival, and shared that wonder, then you would know that this a wonderful thing to have. Steven, you have some homework to do. You need to find out what Christmas Spirit is. If you do it right, you will have a Happy New Year.
John Mardinly 408-765-2346 877-277-1182
-----Original Message----- } From: Steven E. Slap [mailto:siksik03-at-comcast.net] Sent: Monday, January 05, 2004 5:01 AM To: Mardinly, John; Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Tue Jan 6 08:49:58 2004
} The next day the students found a coffee mug full of } Sharpie color markers next to the glass CRT screen and } a note welcoming them to "Sharpie Color Technology."
Ah, yes... Interactive computer graphics.
Bruce Girrell
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Tue Jan 6 08:54:27 2004
To the listserver, Is there an easier way to make holey carbon (small 1.5 um) films, other than steaming formvar/evaporating carbon and dissolving formvar with solvents? If not who sells good small holed pure carbon films.
thanks mike d
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Tue Jan 6 08:58:33 2004
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
} I heard that Feather Blades should do the trick. Has anyone experience with } getting sections of living cardiomyoctes and could give me an address of a } supplier of blades, preferrably in Germany/Europe ? } } Thanks } } Michael Didié } } }
-- -- ********************************************** Geoff McAuliffe, Ph.D. Neuroscience and Cell Biology Robert Wood Johnson Medical School 675 Hoes Lane, Piscataway, NJ 08854 voice: (732)-235-4583; fax: -4029 mcauliff-at-umdnj.edu **********************************************
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Tue Jan 6 09:40:53 2004
Handbook of Chemical Microscopy, Vol II. (1940) E. M. Chamot and C. W. Mason
(1989 Reprints available from McCrone Research Institute, Chicago, IL.)
Karl Hagglund (513) 634-0146
} From: lookerr-at-battelle.org (by way of Ask-A-Microscopist) on 01/06/2004 02:15 PM GMT
lookerr-at-battelle.org To: microscopy-at-ns.microscopy.com (by way of Cc: (bcc: Karl Hagglund-KW/PGI) Ask-A-Microscopist) Subject: [Microscopy] AskAMicroscopist: microchemical tests
01/06/2004 09:15 AM
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Email: lookerr-at-battelle.org Name: Ron Looker
Organization: Battelle
Education: Graduate College
Location: Columbus, OH
Question: I am looking for procedures for various microchemical tests such as protein. Where would be a good resource for finding such procedures? Thanks you for your time,
Michael, Assuming your message has lost a little in translation you might like to go to the Leica's own web site www.leica-microsystems.com. They their own (feather) microtome blades but are you actually using a vibratome?
I have just seen an ad in Microscopy and analysis Jan 2004 for a new live cell cutting module for their microdissection kit for live tissue cultures. (I have no commercial interest)
Gill Brown
GlaxoSmithKline Medicines Research Centre, STEVENAGE,
""Michael Didié"" {Michael.Didie-at-gmx.de}
06-Jan-2004 11:53
To: Microscopy
cc: Subject: [Microscopy] Feather Blades
------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Hello everyone,
I'm searching for some decent disposable blades for our Leica Microtome to get sections of living hearts. I heard that Feather Blades should do the trick. Has anyone experience with getting sections of living cardiomyoctes and could give me an address of a supplier of blades, preferrably in Germany/Europe ?
Thanks
Michael Didié
-- +++ GMX - die erste Adresse für Mail, Message, More +++ Neu: Preissenkung für MMS und FreeMMS! http://www.gmx.net
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Tue Jan 6 10:04:41 2004
There is a thoughtful, well-presented magazine called Science & Spirit that addresses the intersection under discussion, which may be an appropriate venue for this dialogue. (It might make a good article for them if anyone wants to pursue it!)
-- *************************************************************** Do not publicly post any of my correspondence without permission
Dee Breger Mgr. SEM/EDX Facility Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory 61 Route 9W Palisades, NY 10964 USA T: 845/365-8640 F: 845/365-8155
http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/micro Journeys in Microspace (Columbia University Press, 1995) http://www.lsc.org/antarctica/front.html
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Tue Jan 6 10:10:32 2004
Well, knowing my boss, he will want to start with the smaller stuff -all the suggestions of what to check on the Coolwell that you and everyone else has been sending me (thank you oh so VERY much, everyone!)-and then when all those have been exhausted, go buy a Haskris. So, if it is not too much trouble, could you please dig up & send me that Grainger part number, just in case?
I will check everyone's suggestions and see if they work. At the very least, it would be nice to be at least somewhat functional until we get the new chiller in, assuming that the Facilities people here can figure the Coolwell out without diagrams. :o)
Muchas gracias, Kathleen Neurotoxicology Labs Rutgers University
McClintock, Joel wrote:
} Kathleen, } } This sounds real familiar. I suspect the switch is your problem with this chiller. No matter what chiller you have the compressor comes on then off, back and forth. On the front of this chiller right in the middle should be a temp adjustment, don't recall exact wording, but if you take a flat blade screw driver and move it around you should hear the cmpressor come on. If you do watch the temperature and see if it goes down. If so the compressor is working. Your problem then is something is not telling it ot come on properly. In my experience it is the switch from the thermocouple. Coolwells are really sensitive and when operating correctly keep the water temp pretty steady. THe compressor comes off and on, on and off quite often. The thermocouple initiates this. The thermocouple is stuck in the water and a copper line with a flat copper plate at it's end. This plate buts up to a switch. The switch has a little button on it and is pretty sensitive. As the water temp changes the copper swells and shrinks turning the switch off and on respectively. If the switch is sticky or fails things don't work. Doesn't take much as you might imagine the copper moves very little. I can dig up the number for this switch if you need it as I got it through a company called Grainger. Sound like you are going with a new one though. Good luck. } } One thing to keep in mind is whether you have a Haskris chiller or coolwell over time maintenance and/or repair will be necessary. Over the years I have called Haskris many times and their phone support is very very good. The only way to get any help on a Coolwell is if you had a time machine and even then I would not be hopeful. The design of Haskris is service friendly. } } Joel } } -----Original Message----- } From: Kathleen Roberts [mailto:kgrobert-at-rci.rutgers.edu] } Sent: Mon 1/5/2004 2:50 PM } To: McClintock, Joel; Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Cc: } Subject: [Microscopy] Re: chiller for Zeiss EM 10CA } } } } Joel- } } I will admit that I am not entirely sure what is wrong with it. All I } know is that when I turn the 'scope on, it's fine for the first half } hour or so...then a buzzer goes off-there is no indicator light to say } what that buzzer is for on the 'scope, but my boss tells me that it's an } overtemp alarm. If you look at the temp gauge on the chiller, it's } reading way above the overtemp limit. } } There was one occasion when a pump in the house distilled water system } was dying, and when it was replaced, the 'scope stopped buzzing. Now, } however, the distilled water system appears to be fine, and the 'scope } is buzzing again, so I am assuming that it is the chiller. } } I did get a local HVAC repair guy in (from the same company that } resurrected our old cryostat), but he said that he couldn't do anything } without the refrigeration and other specifications for that chiller. I } managed to get a couple of diagrams from someone else on this list (his } name escapes my memory for the moment, but thanks again anyway!), but } the HVAC guy said that it wasn't enough. As Lytron isn't willing to } help, I'm going to give up and get a new chiller, as this one is pretty } old anyway. } } Thanks, } Kathleen } Neurotoxicology Labs } Rutgers University
} } McClintock, Joel wrote: } } } Kathleen, } } } } I take care of a Zeiss 902 with a coolwell chiller. I have fixed this thing several times. What is the problem with it? Often the temp sensor goes haywire. I have found it is often the switch. I have replaced it for around $7. As others have recommended Haskris is my favorite. If money is tight I may be able to direct you to a used one. } } } } Joel McClintock } } EM Specialist } } U of Kentucky } } 859-257-1242 } } } } -----Original Message----- } } From: Kathleen Roberts [mailto:kgrobert-at-rci.rutgers.edu] } } Sent: Mon 1/5/2004 11:54 AM } } To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } } Cc: } } Subject: [Microscopy] chiller for Zeiss EM 10CA } } } } } } } } } } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ } } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver } } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- } } } } Hi, all- } } } } We here at the Neurotoxicology Labs at Rutgers University have an } } ancient Coolwell chiller for our Zeiss EM 10CA, and it appears to be } } dying. Coolwell went out of business years ago, and Zeiss pointed me to } } Lytron, Inc. as the company who bought Coolwell's stuff when it went } } under. I have tried to contact Lytron online about repairs or a } } possible replacement for this chiller, but they don't seem to be paying } } much attention to their email. I am going to call them directly, of } } course, but what I would like to know is if anyone can recommend another } } company or particular chiller model that would be appropriate for our } } EM, so that if Lytron continues to blow me off I will have other } } sources that I can try. } } } } Hope you all had a happy holiday! } } } } Thanks in advance- } } Kathleen Roberts } } Principal Lab Technician } } Neurotoxcology Labs } } Dept of Pharmacology & Toxicology } } Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy } } Rutgers University } } 41 B Gordon Rd } } Piscataway, NJ 08854 } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } }
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Tue Jan 6 11:05:49 2004
Group, FYI, I have posted the availability of a Kevex Sigma Gold EDS processor and a Kevex 4855 Digital Beam Control Interface to the surplus equipment list. Cheers, Tom
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Tue Jan 6 11:07:24 2004
Morning Elizabeth, If you have Wright's Stain you should do the following. 1. find two glass rods that will reach across a dish/bowl on which you can support a slide with smear up. 2. Wright's Stain is dissolved in methanol (or should be! - 0.5g Wright's in 100ml (~ { 3oz) - mixed by 'trituration' (grinding with the end of a round-bottom test tube) in small amounts of the alcohol until all is dissolved!). It is delivered on the horizontal dry smear slowly, with a dropper, so that a puddle of stain covers the smear (& perhaps the entire slide). Leave for 2.5 min. 3. Add water dropwise to the surface of the stain until IT forms a puddle that covers about 1/2 of the slide. Then blow gently, back-and-forth, on the surface of the water-stain until the two are mixed well. Total time should be about 4.5 min. 4. Rinse the water-stain off the slide in gently running water and stand the slide against an inverted glass to dry - with smear down. [If at home, DO ALL staining, rinsing and drying on aluminum foil. The dye will stain Formica surfaces. Removal requires another email.] When completely dry, a coverglass can be applied using appropriate care with a permanent mountant. 5. You can also view the smear directly with an oil immersion lens (that's the way it is done in pathology labs). Oil is placed directly on the smear and then differential counting is performed. Count 100 white blood cells, identifying each, and record the distributions. A normal smear will show something like the following: 1 basophil, 2 eosinophils, 38 neutrophils (each of the previous identified by cytoplasmic granules that are dark blue, bright red and the latter pink with a segmented nucleus respectively), and 59 lymphocytes (small cells with a round nucleus and a thin rim of cytoplasm). All red blood cells should be orange and without nuclei.
The theory is this. Methylene blue (base) and eosin (acid) are mixed in water (1:1) and combine to form a precipitate. The precipitate is dried and then dissolved(?) in methanol. After the dye thoroughly penetrates the cells in the smear, the water causes the precipitate to dissociate (based on mass action). The methylene blue and eosin are then simultaneously accessible to cellular constituents and are attracted according to their individual affinities. The rinse in excess water then removes all unbound dye. Applying the dyes separately requires much more work and gives much less satisfactory results. The above dyes belong to a group of blood dyes called "Romanovsky Stains".
Coverslipping. If you do not have an oil immersion lens, you can do the following so that you can view cells with a 40X dry objective. This will work though you will have to remove the coverslip and the oil to store the smear. To keep an oiled smear, absorb the excess oil with the tip of a piece of paper towel.
DO NOT use alcohol (will leach dyes!) to remove the rest. Wrap the slide once with good quality paper and NO Scotch tape!
DO NOT try to look at the cells when dry. The image will be saturated with diffraction rings that arise through the interaction of the microscope light and the curved surfaces of the cells - which are whole in a smear (remember?).
Hope this helps,
Frederick C. Monson, PhD Center for Advanced Scientific Imaging Mail to Geology West Chester University of Pennsylvania Schmucker II Science Center, Room SS024 South Church Street and Rosedale Avenue West Chester, PA, 19383 Phone/FAX: 610-738-0437 eMail: fmonson-at-wcupa.edu CASI Page and Scheduling http://darwin.wcupa.edu/CASI/
-----Original Message----- } From: by way of Ask-A-Microscopist [mailto:letitsnow-at-antelecom.net] Sent: Monday, January 05, 2004 5:38 PM To: microscopy-at-ns.microscopy.com
Email: letitsnow-at-antelecom.net Name: Elizabeth Colvin
Organization: Homeschool
Education: 9-12th Grade High School
Location: Pearblossom, CA-L.A. county
Question: I have obtained several unstained blood smears. I have Wright's stain and methylene blue available. Can you please tell me how long to leave the stain on the slide before rinsing. And do I rinse with distilled water. Thank you.
Please, PLEASE, can the next person to add to this thread spell PSEUDO correctly! ..please... (if it's not too much to ask...) (whimper) :-)
Mike O'Keefe
Bruce Girrell wrote:
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- } } } The next day the students found a coffee mug full of } } Sharpie color markers next to the glass CRT screen and } } a note welcoming them to "Sharpie Color Technology." } } Ah, yes... Interactive computer graphics. } } Bruce Girrell
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Tue Jan 6 12:12:03 2004
Our lab recently began using the "New Formulation" Kodak Electron Microscope Film 4489 and employed a number of tips for developing this film which we retrieved from the Listserver archive commencing Jan 2003 .
We use a manual processing method (no nitrogen-burst agitation). Although we have now managed to essentially eliminate the background fog and "mottled" appearance, the negatives appear darker (denser) than with the previous formulation.
These darker negatives can be printed satisfactorily in the darkroom. However, we digitize our images and archive them on-line. With the "New Formulation" film and denser negative we have noticed scan lines in our
digitized images. The darker the negative, the more apparent the scan lines. We are currently investigating the plate camera emulsion selector positions on our TEM with the hope that concurrent adjustments of exposure time/emulsion setting/darkroom technique will result in a 'less dense' negative.
Has anyone else run in to this problem when digitizing their "denser" negatives? Does anyone have any thoughts beyond what we are trying?
Thank you in advance for your assistance.
Catherine Powell
Catherine Powell, Ph.D. Division of Surgical Pathology Department of Laboratory Medicine, Saint John Regional Hospital P.O. Box 2100, Saint John, NB Canada E2K 4G9 phone (506) 648-7183 FAX (506) 648-6514 email powca-at-reg2.health.nb.ca
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Tue Jan 6 12:55:28 2004
We've been through the ringer with this film and have finally come to terms with it. However, during the last three changes of D-19 developer we have gotten significantly darker negatives (including the data bar, which is added by the scope independently of negative exposure in our JEOL 1200EX), for some reason we don't yet understand. We didn't change anything in the way we mixed our developer or exposed our films, and we have no reason to think the developer has been changed. We solved this in the meantime by diluting the developer, since the first batch of negatives had already been exposed and it's not a good idea to shorten already short developing times---four minutes in our case. We added about 25% more water (i.e., another quart per gallon of developer), ran a couple test negatives, then proceeded normally with regard to time/temperature/agitation. This worked well for us. Of course, changing developer dilutions can affect the tonal response of films, but in this case the results were fine. If you try this, always run your own tests, of course.
We've had no problems with "scan lines". That's puzzling. They must be coming from the scanner, itself, which maybe indicates that some of the scanning elements (sorry, I forget the terminology---are they called pixels?) aren't doing their thing and are causing lines in the digitized image.
Good luck.
Randy
Randy Tindall EM Specialist Electron Microscopy Core Facility---We Do Small Well! 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/
-----Original Message----- } From: Dr. Catherine Powell [mailto:POWCA-at-reg2.health.nb.ca] Sent: Tuesday, January 06, 2004 12:15 PM To: Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com
Our lab recently began using the "New Formulation" Kodak Electron Microscope Film 4489 and employed a number of tips for developing this film which we retrieved from the Listserver archive commencing Jan 2003
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Tue Jan 6 13:19:33 2004
Regarding the denser negs, anytime you change film in any camera system you usually need to re-calibrate camera exposure and film development. Sounds like you have done that and are getting a less dense neg that can be nicely digitized.
Regarding the scan lines flaw, you didn't mention if you are using an actual negative scanner, or a flatbed scanner to digitize the negs. But in either case, you may just need to lubricate the moving parts. In my case, I use a UMAX Vista-S8 and about once a year I need to pull the glass surfaces off to get inside and lubricate the metal bar that the scanner heads move on. They just get dry, so then they don't slide smoothly and "skip" a line here and there. Use a clean lint-free cloth with a dab of a fine oil on it, or 3-in-1 oil is what I use. In fact, I just did this lube job yesterday, and it worked!
Good luck!
Gib -- Gib Ahlstrand, Scientist Electron Optical Facility, University of Minnesota, CBS Imaging Center, 35 Snyder Hall, St. Paul, MN. USA. 55108 (612)624-3454 (612)624-2785 FAX, ahlst007-at-tc.umn.edu http://www.cbs.umn.edu/ic/
"You can learn a lot by observation - just by lookin'!" - Yogi Berra
} Our lab recently began using the "New Formulation" Kodak Electron } Microscope Film 4489 and employed a number of tips for developing this } film which we retrieved from the Listserver archive commencing Jan 2003 . } } We use a manual processing method (no nitrogen-burst agitation). } Although } we have now managed to essentially eliminate the background fog and } "mottled" appearance, the negatives appear darker (denser) than with } the previous formulation. } } These darker negatives can be printed satisfactorily in the darkroom. } However, we digitize our images and archive them on-line. With the } "New Formulation" film and denser negative we have noticed scan lines in our } digitized images. The darker the negative, the more apparent the scan } lines. } We are currently investigating the plate camera emulsion selector } positions on } our TEM with the hope that concurrent adjustments of exposure } time/emulsion setting/darkroom technique will result in a 'less dense' } negative. } } Has anyone else run in to this problem when digitizing their "denser" } negatives? Does anyone have any thoughts beyond what we are trying? } } Thank you in advance for your assistance. } } Catherine Powell } Catherine Powell, Ph.D. } Division of Surgical Pathology } Department of Laboratory Medicine, Saint John Regional Hospital } P.O. Box 2100, Saint John, NB Canada E2K 4G9 } phone (506) 648-7183 FAX (506) 648-6514 } email powca-at-reg2.health.nb.ca
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Tue Jan 6 13:32:52 2004
I haven't had any issues scanning in the darker negatives. We have an Agfa Duoscan T2500 that works well enough with these newer negatives at 1000 and 2500 ppi (the two resolutions I've tried). Before the holiday break I put together a group of images (digitally scanned ones) that had both new and old negatives included with no discernable differences between them. Other than having the scanner support discontinued its been a great and reliable scanner for lecture slides and TEM negatives (if anyone has a driver for it that works with the latest Mac OS 10.3 I would be very interested in hearing about it). As you have mentioned, it would probably be worth trying a emulsion setting series to see if that improves your results. But alas I cannot say that I've tried this yet to attempt to get the old and new density similar on the negatives.
HTH,
Geoff Williams Microscopy Facility Supervisor
Central Michigan University Biology Department Microscopy Facility http://www.cst.cmich.edu/centers/microscopy/
} -----Original Message----- } From: Dr. Catherine Powell [mailto:POWCA-at-reg2.health.nb.ca] } Sent: Tuesday, January 06, 2004 1:15 PM } To: Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } Subject: [Microscopy] TEM -Need help with scanning EM film 4489 } } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- } ---- } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- } http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- } ----- } } Our lab recently began using the "New Formulation" Kodak Electron } Microscope Film 4489 and employed a number of tips for developing this } film } which we retrieved from the Listserver archive commencing Jan 2003 . } } We use a manual processing method (no nitrogen-burst agitation). } Although } we have now managed to essentially eliminate the background fog and } "mottled" appearance, the negatives appear darker (denser) than with } the previous formulation. } } These darker negatives can be printed satisfactorily in the darkroom. } However, we digitize our images and archive them on-line. With the } "New } Formulation" film and denser negative we have noticed scan lines in our } } digitized images. The darker the negative, the more apparent the scan } lines. } We are currently investigating the plate camera emulsion selector } positions on } our TEM with the hope that concurrent adjustments of exposure } time/emulsion setting/darkroom technique will result in a 'less dense' } negative. } } Has anyone else run in to this problem when digitizing their "denser" } negatives? Does anyone have any thoughts beyond what we are trying? } } Thank you in advance for your assistance. } } Catherine Powell } } } } Catherine Powell, Ph.D. } Division of Surgical Pathology } Department of Laboratory Medicine, Saint John Regional Hospital } P.O. Box 2100, Saint John, NB Canada E2K 4G9 } phone (506) 648-7183 FAX (506) 648-6514 } email powca-at-reg2.health.nb.ca
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Tue Jan 6 13:34:03 2004
Thanks, Mike, for pointing out the proper spelling. The correct pronunciation of ‘psuedo’ is as in ‘blue psuedo shoes.’ And there’s nothing all that astonishing about using colored markers on the screen. When we first introduced a computer (one of the original upright Macs) in the department office a couple of decades ago, to a secretary firmly set in the old ways, we had to take turns each night cleaning the whiteout correction fluid off the screen. {;-)
Anyway, to the use and abuse of pseudo color;...
It is certainly true that human vision can only distinguish a few dozen shades of grey brightness on a display screen, as compared to a few hundred colors. Note that both of these values are far less than the 256 shades of brightness or “millions†of colors that the hardware typically controls. It is also true that trying to direct someone’s attention to the “kind of darkish grey spot†is a lot less helpful than “the yellow-orange spot†in an image (but of course, human words for colors aren’t terribly consistent or widely agreed, either - look at any set of paint chips in the turquoise-teal-seagreen-etc. family). Pseudo- or false-color certainly has some valid uses. But it is also easily misunderstood, widely abused, and often hides more in the image than it reveals. And if the viewer is one of the 5-10% of men (or the very tiny percentage of women) who have defective color vision, it is inappropriate in any case.
Firstly, of course, the table must be shown along with a numerical scale that translates it. But even then, simple spectrum lookup table is rarely if ever a good choice. The problem is that the table is typically constructed with uniform steps in hue, going around the color wheel. But human vision is notably insensitive to changes in hue in the green part of the spectrum, and much more so at the red and blue ends and through the red-to-blue purples. A perceptually uniform hue scale (which I have never seen used) would stretch these out and compress the greens and could probably produce more than a hundred discernible colors.
More colors could be seen if they were NOT fully saturated. Changing saturation and hue in a spiral pattern, or also altering brightness along with hue and saturation, can produce color tables that varied in a gradual way and produced greater ability to distinguish changes. The gradual part is important - if the colors jump around too much in discontinuous ways, the image is badly broken up (camouflaged, in effect) and the overall sense of structure, the gestalt of the image, is hidden. To some extent this happens even with a good, gradual table. The use of the “heat†or “thermo†scale is an example of a gradual and visually attractive scale, which does not break up the content of the image. But it does not actually add very much to the ability to visually distinguish small changes - perhaps a 20-40% improvement over straight grey scale (which is why color tints are also used in photographic printing, to gain the same increase). Note that the brightness increases monotonically in this scale, and that it is by contributing more steps at the dark end that the increase is obtained.
For selected purposes, carefully constructed color scales can be useful to help the viewer perceive subtle differences or make comparisons from one part of an image to another. But they need to be documented, and in most cases it is also important to show the original data as well in case the color scale can produce misinterpretation or hide other information.
It has been my experience that people are not generally assisted very much by pseudo color scales, as compared to other ways to reveal subtle detail. One of the best of these is to render the surface with elevation representing the original grey scale value. We have millions of years of evolution in our brain wiring that knows how to interpret surface images, in terms of shape and roughness. Using computer graphics to generate properly rendered images with correct perspective, and adjustable viewpoints, surface characteristics, and illumination is easy with current technology and communicates very effectively. The AFM folks use this trick too, along with color scales, although in most cases in only limited ways.
John Russ (see www.DrJohnRuss.com for a schedule of upcoming workshops on image analysis)
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Tue Jan 6 13:50:49 2004
The recent thread about the use and abuse of pseudo color is only one of many issues that have to do with an important topic that underlies just about everything that we as microscopists do - namely, we LOOK AT images. But while we are typically very concerned with the performance and specifications of our microscopes, we take for granted the performance of our visual systems, to our peril.
Over the past 5 years or so I have been invited several times to give a talk on human vision and how it impacts what microscopists see (and fail to see) in images. At the repeated urging of many people, I’ve prepared the lecture in written form. Anyone who wants to read it can download the "Seeing the Scientific Image" pdf file from my website (www.DrJohnRuss.com). If someone thinks there is a logical place to publish it (too long for Microscopy Today, and not a research paper for Microscopy and Microanalysis) please let me know.
John Russ
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Tue Jan 6 14:12:58 2004
Silly me, in all my crabbing about this chiller, I didn't give the model? The model # is SE-075W CZ. I got some diagrams from Eckhart Dorneich, and a manual is on the way from Joel McClintock (thank you both!), but I'll take yours too, if they match my chiller. I figure you can never have too much information, and it's always good, in this lab, to have extra copies. :o)
Thank you very much- Kathleen Neurotoxicology Labs Rutgers University
Tina Carvalho wrote:
} Hi- } } What model chiller do you have? I might have the wiring and plumbing } diagrams. } } I have a 10/A and have struggled to keep the chiller going. The scope was } down for a couple of years - oil and then water in the column! - while we } used our new LEO 912 EFTEM. The expensive new instrument can be very } frustrating, and was down once for nearly 5 months! So we got the 10/A } going again, including the chiller. We all had forgotten what a gem it is, } and right now I'd sell the new one and keep the old if I had a } choice. } } We have Hakris chillers on our other two instruments, and they are } fine. We got the very first one that Haskris built for Zeiss/LEO, and they } had a fit trying to include both a pressure and flow gauge plus that } interlock that keeps it going to cool down the diff pump after you turn } off the scope, but they are quite used to it, now. They're pretty reliable } and, fortunately, not prone to that temperature sensor screwing up like } the Coolwell. } } Over the years I've found out there are a whole lot of closet Zeiss 10s } out there - the most reliable backup even if you have a fancy new } instrument! Keep it going. My next trick is to outfit it with a digital } camera. } } 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 MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Tue Jan 6 15:03:50 2004
Dear Catherine, I found the new formulation film was more sensitive and adjusted my auto settings in the TEM to compensate. Regards, 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-interchange.ubc.ca
----- Original Message ----- } From: "Dr. Catherine Powell" {POWCA-at-reg2.health.nb.ca} To: {Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com} Sent: Tuesday, January 06, 2004 10:14 AM
Scanning very dense negatives can cause problems related to the scanner if your scanner is using a CCD rather than a PMT. With a CCD you can not crank up the current to boost the signal like you can with a PMT. The result is that there is not enough light i.e. signal getting to the camera array. If that is the case then you must either slow down the scan speed so that the camera can collect enough signal or if this is impossible make your negatives less dense. Our ZI Photoscan 2000 has problems with negatives above an OD of 2.3 or so. Above this lines like what you described appear. I hope this helps. Good luck.
Bob Grassucci
At 02:14 PM 1/6/04 -0400, Dr. Catherine Powell wrote:
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Robert Grassucci Howard Hughes Medical Institute at The Wadsworth Center Empire State Plaza Albany, NY 12201-0509 Phone: (518)474-5821 Fax: (518)486-2191 E-Mail: bobg-at-wadsworth.org
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Tue Jan 6 17:31:44 2004
Below is the result of your feedback form (NJZFM-ultra-55). It was submitted by (alchung-at-ucla.edu) from http://www.msa.microscopy.com/Ask-A-Microscopist.html on Tuesday, January 6, 2004 at 16:51:57 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Email: alchung-at-ucla.edu Name: Albert Chung
Organization: UCLA
Education: Graduate College
Location: Los Angeles, CA USA
Question: I am having issues with the silicon monoxide film tearing in the TEM. I have called Ted Pella about this problem and they are making a new batch as we speak, but I have about 50 silicon monoxide films on copper grids for which I cannot use. Any suggestions on how to approach this problem is greatly appreciated. I am operating the JEOL 100CX and the typical current saturation is about 80 mA.
If you need additional information, please let me know.
There is another one: you may bombard thin nylon film by some heavy ions (argon may be good) in the accelerator. It will produce very uniform holes. The size of holes strictly dependent from the energy and type of particle used. But, still: you need to eveporate carbon over and dissolve nylon (have no idea how to do so). As a matter of fact this technology widely used to produce filters for ultrafiltration.
Sergey
At 07:03 AM 1/6/2004, you wrote:
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_____________________________________
Sergey Ryazantsev Ph. D. Electron Microscopy UCLA School of Medicine Department of Biological Chemistry 10833 Le Conte Ave, Room 33-089 Los Angeles, CA 90095
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-- [ From: Garber, Charles A. * EMC.Ver #3.1a ] --
Albert Chung wrote: ======================================================================== Question: I am having issues with the silicon monoxide film tearing in the TEM. I have called Ted Pella about this problem and they are making a new batch as we speak, but I have about 50 silicon monoxide films on copper grids for which I cannot use. Any suggestions on how to approach this problem is greatly appreciated. I am operating the JEOL 100CX and the typical current saturation is about 80 mA. ======================================================================== Support films of SiOx can be too thick or too thin or could have other features about them that render them unstable in the electron beam. This is of course exactly the same for carbon coated grids. That is why it is imperative to have in-house, as part of the grid coating process, a TEM for batch inspection purposes so that the customer does not end up being responsible for their own QC. And does not end up preparing a large number of grids only to find them unusable.
In the case of carbon replica films that were prepared but which are too thin, we have in the past, been able to resurrect them by applying another coating of carbon to strengthen them and to make grids that were once unstable, now stable. We have never done this with SiOx filmed grids but in theory, it might work the same way.
Disclaimer: SPI Supplies produces SiOx firmed grids as a part of our business and to our knowledge, we have not had any problems with film stability in the electron beam. On occasion, we do make a batch that flunks our own in-house TEM inspection process but those grids never make it into the hands of customers.
Chuck
PS: Remember that we are 100% paperless and the only way we can keep track of this kind of correspondence is if you reply using the reply feature of your e-mail software. That way the entire string of correspondence will be in one place.
============================================ Charles A. Garber, Ph. D. Ph: 1-610-436-5400 President 1-800-2424-SPI SPI SUPPLIES FAX: 1-610-436-5755 PO BOX 656 e-mail:cgarber-at-2spi.com West Chester, PA 19381-0656 USA Cust.Service: spi2spi-at-2spi.com
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From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Wed Jan 7 00:09:32 2004
by ns.microscopy.com (8.12.8/8.12.8) with ESMTP id i0769WI9018789 for {LL1-at-ns.microscopy.com} ; Wed, 7 Jan 2004 00:09:32 -0600 Received: (from mail-at-localhost) by ns.microscopy.com (8.12.8/8.12.8/Submit) id i0769WFG018785 for LL1; Wed, 7 Jan 2004 00:09:32 -0600 X-Authentication-Warning: ns.microscopy.com: mail set sender to MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com using -f Received: from NJZ-MicroscopyListServer_filter (ns.microscopy.com [206.69.208.10]) by ns.microscopy.com (8.12.8/8.12.8) with SMTP id i0768pI9018755 for "MListServerFilteredEmail_6-at-microscopy.com"; Wed, 7 Jan 2004 00:09:11 -0600 Received: from caduceus.jf.intel.com (fmr06.intel.com [134.134.136.7]) by ns.microscopy.com (8.12.8/8.12.8) with ESMTP id i0768oI9018752 for {Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com} ; Wed, 7 Jan 2004 00:08:50 -0600 Received: from talaria.jf.intel.com (talaria.jf.intel.com [10.7.209.7]) by caduceus.jf.intel.com (8.12.9-20030918-01/8.12.9/d: major-outer.mc,v 1.12 2003/12/18 18:58:11 root Exp $) with ESMTP id i076DUa5019496; Wed, 7 Jan 2004 06:13:30 GMT Received: from orsmsxvs040.jf.intel.com (orsmsxvs040.jf.intel.com [192.168.65.206]) by talaria.jf.intel.com (8.12.9-20030918-01/8.12.9/d: major-inner.mc,v 1.7 2003/12/18 18:58:10 root Exp $) with SMTP id i076A5Zv017386; Wed, 7 Jan 2004 06:10:20 GMT Received: from orsmsx332.amr.corp.intel.com ([192.168.65.60]) by orsmsxvs040.jf.intel.com (SAVSMTP 3.1.2.35) with SMTP id M2004010622122332399 ; Tue, 06 Jan 2004 22:12:23 -0800 Received: from orsmsx312.amr.corp.intel.com ([192.168.65.62]) by orsmsx332.amr.corp.intel.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC(5.0.2195.5329); Tue, 6 Jan 2004 22:12:23 -0800 Received: from scsmsx402.amr.corp.intel.com ([10.3.90.16]) by orsmsx312.amr.corp.intel.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC(5.0.2195.5329); Tue, 6 Jan 2004 22:12:23 -0800 Received: from scsmsx403.amr.corp.intel.com ([10.3.90.18]) by scsmsx402.amr.corp.intel.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC(5.0.2195.5329); Tue, 6 Jan 2004 22:12:22 -0800 content-class: urn:content-classes:message MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft Exchange V6.0.6487.1
Catherine; One of my favorite web sites, Imaging Resources http://www.imaging-resource.com has reviewed numerous film scanners. Scanning extremely dense film has always been an acid test for a scanner. The following link is to a negative scanned with a Minolta Dimage Scan Elite II Film & Slide Scanner that failed the acid test in some dark regions, and the effect there seems similar to what you describe. The site tests many other scanners with the same negatives, and many do not exhibit this artifact. http://www.imaging-resource.com/SCAN/DSEII/DSETRAA602PS.HTM
John Mardinly Intel
-----Original Message----- } From: Dr. Catherine Powell [mailto:POWCA-at-reg2.health.nb.ca] Sent: Tuesday, January 06, 2004 10:15 AM To: Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com
Our lab recently began using the "New Formulation" Kodak Electron Microscope Film 4489 and employed a number of tips for developing this film which we retrieved from the Listserver archive commencing Jan 2003 .
We use a manual processing method (no nitrogen-burst agitation). Although we have now managed to essentially eliminate the background fog and "mottled" appearance, the negatives appear darker (denser) than with the previous formulation.
These darker negatives can be printed satisfactorily in the darkroom. However, we digitize our images and archive them on-line. With the "New Formulation" film and denser negative we have noticed scan lines in our
digitized images. The darker the negative, the more apparent the scan lines. We are currently investigating the plate camera emulsion selector positions on our TEM with the hope that concurrent adjustments of exposure time/emulsion setting/darkroom technique will result in a 'less dense' negative.
Has anyone else run in to this problem when digitizing their "denser" negatives? Does anyone have any thoughts beyond what we are trying?
Thank you in advance for your assistance.
Catherine Powell
Catherine Powell, Ph.D. Division of Surgical Pathology Department of Laboratory Medicine, Saint John Regional Hospital P.O. Box 2100, Saint John, NB Canada E2K 4G9 phone (506) 648-7183 FAX (506) 648-6514 email powca-at-reg2.health.nb.ca
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Wed Jan 7 06:34:24 2004
We have too 2 Kevex Delta avavaible, one complete, with detector (10mm2, 138 eV, warm, but was working in July)), the other only the electronic, for spares, with 8" and 5"1/4 Bernouilli.
J. Faerber IPCMS-GSI (Institut de Physique et Chimie des Matériaux de Strasbourg Groupe Surface et Interfaces) 23, rue de Loess ; BP43 67034 Strasbourg CEDEX 2 France
If anyone has a mechanical lab balance they would like to dispose of, I could use one. I collect/repair antique phonographs as a hobby and would like to be able to true up governor weights from time to time. I've looked at E-bay but I am leery since, if a balance moves up and down, the general public thinks it works. Some units offered are missing parts. etc.
Thanks,
Ron
-----Original Message----- } From: qualityimages [mailto:qualityimages-at-netrax.net] Sent: Wednesday, January 07, 2004 7:37 AM To: Microscopy
Posting this for a friend.
Ken Converse owner Quality Images third party SEM service Delta, PA
Hi All,
I am doing some housecleaning & have the following EDS Systems free to anyone:
As many of you may know I run a training organisation that travels world wide spreading the word on SEM, TEM and EDS operation. I also have a deep interest in "Quality in Electron Microscopy"as those who picked up our paper last year would know?
Now to the point. Once again I am picking up respected journals and finding examples of what I would call poor microscopy, but in truth it also demonstrates poor quality control!
To bring one image to mind. The micrograph is of a structure which is described as being an example of a smooth surface on a biological material. But, the micrograph was taken at 20kV, where the vast majority of the information will have come from beneath the surface softening the true surface detail.
First to remove the training aspect . Operators of SEM should be taught that by manipulation of kV and working distance one may subdue or enhance surface features. To use more than 10kV on most biological samples is asking for sub surface detail, ignore this and comments on surface irregularities are null and void in my mind. (I have to say I would probably try to use 2 to 5kV if the microscope used was produced in the last 15 years!)
Now the quality aspect. By the time a paper is published a number of steps should have been taken. Working backwards, the publisher should have the paper vetted by knowledgeable scientists who would be able to pick out the problems that I see and have them corrected prior to going to print. Next back in the chain is the laboratory that was involved with the scientist; did they check the quality of the work leaving their EM unit? Stepping back again did the scientist take the micrographs or did they receive help? Either way the training of staff and operators should overcome this type of problem! But if the results the staff and visiting operators produce are not assessed how do you know that their training is inadequate?
As the pressure to perform increases and funding decreases only the cream of our laboratories will remain. In industry there is no question about following rigid "Quality" procedures and it is not too far off that this will hit the world's EM units too! I know that this is my baby but is it not about time that we woke up to these facts?
There is an area where I believe we have room for discussion; what do you think?
Steve Chapman Senior Consultant Protrain Electron Microscopy Training and Consultancy World Wide Tel +44 (0)1280 816512 Fax +44 (0)1280 814007 Mob +44 (0) 7711 606967 www.emcourses.com
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Wed Jan 7 10:49:04 2004
Steve, Your post (whose spirit I agree with totally) prompted a question. If I have a biological sample sputter coated with metal, isn't all the contrast coming from the metal? Does the underlying carbon based material scatter anything much? If the carbon isn't scattering much then wouldn't the problem you used for illustration matter only at high mags where distances on the order of the coat thickness are being resolved?
As ever, Tobias
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Steve, I agree entirely with you in that training (perhaps educating is a better word) is key to good and reliable results. The example you sited happens constantly. I take great pains to not only lecture about, but prove through lab exercises, the effects that varying microscope parameters have on the final image.
Unfortunately many "trained" people ask to use our facility and are denied because their training was inadequate. They are either retrained so they have the theory to go along with twiddling the knobs or rely on our "service" option (trained staff does the actual imaging). The reputation of our facility is very important.
We cannot guarantee to get perfect results with every research system on the first try but we do our best and learn from our mistakes. At least if we understand our instruments we can concentrate on sample prep to get the best possible final results...not what the investigator thinks is there but what is ACTUALLY there.
Debby
Debby Sherman, Manager Phone: 765-494-6666 Life Science Microscopy Facility FAX: 765-494-5896 Purdue University E-mail: dsherman-at-purdue.edu S-052 Whistler Building 170 S. University Street West Lafayette, IN 47907 http://www3.agriculture.purdue.edu/microscopy
On 1/7/04 9:42 AM, "Steve Chapman" {protrain-at-emcourses.com} wrote:
} } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- } http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --} - } } Hi Listers } } As many of you may know I run a training organisation that travels world } wide spreading the word on SEM, TEM and EDS operation. I also have a deep } interest in "Quality in Electron Microscopy"as those who picked up our paper } last year would know? } } Now to the point. Once again I am picking up respected journals and finding } examples of what I would call poor microscopy, but in truth it also } demonstrates poor quality control! } } To bring one image to mind. The micrograph is of a structure which is } described as being an example of a smooth surface on a biological material. } But, the micrograph was taken at 20kV, where the vast majority of the } information will have come from beneath the surface softening the true } surface detail. } } First to remove the training aspect . Operators of SEM should be taught that } by manipulation of kV and working distance one may subdue or enhance surface } features. To use more than 10kV on most biological samples is asking for } sub surface detail, ignore this and comments on surface irregularities are } null and void in my mind. (I have to say I would probably try to use 2 to } 5kV if the microscope used was produced in the last 15 years!) } } Now the quality aspect. By the time a paper is published a number of steps } should have been taken. Working backwards, the publisher should have the } paper vetted by knowledgeable scientists who would be able to pick out the } problems that I see and have them corrected prior to going to print. Next } back in the chain is the laboratory that was involved with the scientist; } did they check the quality of the work leaving their EM unit? Stepping back } again did the scientist take the micrographs or did they receive help? } Either way the training of staff and operators should overcome this type of } problem! But if the results the staff and visiting operators produce are } not assessed how do you know that their training is inadequate? } } As the pressure to perform increases and funding decreases only the cream of } our laboratories will remain. In industry there is no question about } following rigid "Quality" procedures and it is not too far off that this } will hit the world's EM units too! I know that this is my baby but is it } not about time that we woke up to these facts? } } There is an area where I believe we have room for discussion; what do you } think? } } Steve Chapman } Senior Consultant Protrain } Electron Microscopy Training and Consultancy World Wide } Tel +44 (0)1280 816512 Fax +44 (0)1280 814007 Mob +44 (0) 7711 606967 } www.emcourses.com } } }
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Wed Jan 7 14:28:28 2004
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Put into TEM at low mag but still with an objective aperture in place, and 100 kV. Really spread the beam and turn up slowly. You may find that by gradually increasing the electron dose, you'll "harden" the film. This approach certainly works with formvar films and biological resin sections but I've never tried it with silicon monoxide, so I can't guarantee it'll work. -- Larry Stoter NOTE - any message other than plain text will be automatically deleted :-)
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Wed Jan 7 15:12:05 2004
Does anyone have a circuit diagram for an oldish Leitz microscope lamp power supply Type 301-314.001?
It's a beige box with an analog voltmeter, a mains switch, and a brighness adjust knob on the front panel.
cheers
rtch
-- Ritchie Sims Ph D Phone : 64 9 3737599 ext 87713 Microanalyst Fax : 64 9 3737435 Department of Geology email : r.sims-at-auckland.ac.nz The University of Auckland Private Bag 92019 Auckland New Zealand
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Wed Jan 7 15:24:34 2004
Question: we used a spurr's resin prep on a sample of nematodes, after staining and heat-fixing the sections, we see dark ribbon-like structures on several specimens. Are these artifacts caused by air bubbles and can they be avoided? thank you, jamie
We believe the problem may have been caused by weak film. Silicon monoxide film should be as fresh as possible. Some of our customers have requested thicker coatings but this doesn't help. We make our film up the day it is requested by the customer to insure this problem doesn't occur. We suggest you purchase the minimum amount required at one time because new batches can be made up in a day or so.
John Arnott Disclaimer: Ladd Research produces a wide variety of EM supplies including substrates, such as silicon monoxide.
Ladd Research 83 Holly Court Williston, VT 05495
On-line Catalog: http://www.laddresearch.com
tel: 1-802-658-4961(anywhere) or 1-800-451-3406(US) fax: 1-802-660-8859 e-mail: sales-at-laddresearch.com ----- Original Message ----- } From: "Larry Stoter" {larry-at-cymru.freewire.co.uk} To: "by way of Ask-A-Microscopist" {alchung-at-ucla.edu} ; {Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com} Sent: Wednesday, January 07, 2004 3:27 PM
Steve, et al.:
I agree there is a definte problem in terms of (some of) the microscopy work being used and published. Steve hits a very good case where failure to understand the technique can easy lead to poor data. (by microscopy I mean in the broadest sense: SEM, TEM, LM, SPM, etc. . . Anyone dealing with molecular biolgists labling molecules and wanting to use a confocal microscope already knowing exactly what kind of "picture" they want to get knows what I mean)
One of the really frightening aspects is that very very few people wish to learn microscopy - become microscopists - today. I have been watching this trend for several years now where users (students and faculty in my case) simple want images. They want to push a button out comes an image - that's all. If they could have the microscope automatically load the sample that would be even better. Now granted there are times when a simple click image will sufice - but more and more often researchers are failing to realize how far they are trying to push the capabilities of a microscopy technique. I have been told specifically they do NOT want to learn the microscope they want an image. And then you try and turn around and tell them the data they are collecting is bad science?
} Next back in the chain is the laboratory that was involved with the } scientist; did they check the quality of the work leaving their EM unit? } Stepping back again did the scientist take the micrographs or did they } receive help? Either way the training of staff and operators should overcome } this type of problem! But if the results the staff and visiting operators } produce are not assessed how do you know that their training is inadequate? }
There is a time you can attempt to argue with the "users" over scienfic quality, but running and EM Lab you can not dictate it - certainly not in academia, and not even in industry - yes, you can be asked for an evaluation of the data (and that is what peer review also does) but no one can really control what the data is used for after it leaves the lab.
Richard E. Edelmann, Ph.D. Electron Microscopy Facility Supervisor 350 Pearson Hall Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056 Ph: 513.529.5712 Fax: 513.529.4243 E-mail: edelmare-at-muohio.edu http://www.emf.muohio.edu
"RAM disk is NOT an installation procedure."
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Wed Jan 7 16:48:19 2004
We are having one of those debates that we microscopists seem to obsess about. The question is whether to store our saturated uranyl acetate solution (in dH2O) at room temp or at 4 C. Opinions, especially those backed by data, would be welcome. Happy New Year. Tom
Thomas E. Phillips, PhD Professor of Biological Sciences Director, Molecular Cytology Core 3 Tucker Hall University of Missouri Columbia, MO 65211-7400
With huge headache I've established procedure in my Lab that everyone, who uses equipment in the Lab should go through mandatory training. Without this training, person just could not enter the facility (digital lock). My training course includes intense training on data collection, interpretation and sample preparation. So, it does not insure from the "bad science", but at least I felt people knows what they doing. It means, if they will present "bad data" I know, they did it on purpose... My course is about week long (2h/day) and people's reaction are very different. Nevertheless, I noticed that majority of the users finally enjoyed "good electron microscopy", because it save them time and the quality of their images is good (and confidence is great). In general, I do agree: people becomes more and more "lazy" - they want to have results doing nothing (best scenario - machine will do). It's very pity and made me very skeptical on quality of many data published. Sergey
P.S. Knowledge is power.
At 02:20 PM 1/7/2004, you wrote:
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_____________________________________
Sergey Ryazantsev Ph. D. Electron Microscopy UCLA School of Medicine Department of Biological Chemistry 10833 Le Conte Ave, Room 33-089 Los Angeles, CA 90095
More important - to store in the dark! At +4oC you will have lower concentration because of solubility. I prefer to store most of the chemical solutions at cold temperature. Sergey
At 02:49 PM 1/7/2004, 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 10833 Le Conte Ave, Room 33-089 Los Angeles, CA 90095
If it makes all of you feel any better, the phenomenon of users not wanting to learn how to use something, just wanting the results, is not limited to microscopy, and is a dangerous trend. This trend is ironically aided by the very advancing technologies that make truly understanding the theories and principles of what is happening more important than ever.
Too many devices, instruments and other systems have become "too easy to use". The advances in human interfaces, automation, computer controls, etc. have made it very easy for just about anyone to get results. The danger is that there is no way for someone who doesn't truly understand what's going on to know if the results are meaningful or not. "I got the answer, and it's what I was expecting, so it must be right!"
The problem is also not limited to "sophisticated" technology. We have users who no longer know that there is a darkness adjustment on a copy machine, much less how to use it. Not that long ago, you couldn't get two copies in a row to turn out without tweaking the adjustment. If someone does take the thing off "auto" and sets it dark, everyone else thinks the thing is broken...
If someone finds a "real" cure for this phenomenon, please share it with the world, because the problem is pretty universal.
John W. Raffensperger, Jr. IS Manager Helwig Carbon Products, Inc.
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Thu Jan 8 03:26:44 2004
I fully agree with this fact that the problem is universal, and it is not only limited to microscopy. However, before one finds the "cure for this phenomenon", one should look for the cause of this problem.
If the new generation, i.e. the younger students and others, "are just wanting results", is it not the consequence of the ATTITUDE OF THE LARGE MAJORITY of those who trained them?
Those who trained the last two generations are now collecting the results of what they have done. The biggest reference for this generation is having rapid success, which means gaining large amounts of money and if possible a quick fame.
No university professor considers the students for their interest for science and their will to do something for the sake of humanity. They rank them on their good marks, without worrying about how they obtained it. And even if they do so, it is to REPRIMAND the student and not for TEACHING them the importance of honesty. A large percentage of students learn just to obtain a good mark, without thinking about why's and how's. And those few who do, are not appreciated by the professors, may be since they need more time that is not available.
A professorship is the art of teaching many things including highest human values to the students, I can not name many who have done that, or even have thought to do it. If they do not reflect such thoughts, at least they should avoid to discourage the very few who do have such values (and have truly come to learn something that can be helpful for the society) by treating them as naives and dealing with irony with them.
Some students tell me that the science professors are so arrogant that the students have no more appeal for scientific branches. } From my discussions with some undergraduate science students, their feeling is that if they go for science in their graduate school they could ruin their future and they will loose the chances of success!
I agree that the danger is real and from my understanding the solution to the problem is to reverse the trend from now on by changing the teaching philosophy. However, one should have the certitude of the importance of such a training to be able to have an impact on one's student.
Sousan Abolhassani, Ph.D. Laboratory for Materials Behaviour Paul Scherrer Institut 5232 Villigen PSI Switzerland
"John W. Raffensperger, Jr." wrote: } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- } } If it makes all of you feel any better, the phenomenon of users not } wanting to learn how to use something, just wanting the results, is not } limited to microscopy, and is a dangerous trend. This trend is } ironically aided by the very advancing technologies that make truly } understanding the theories and principles of what is happening more } important than ever. } } Too many devices, instruments and other systems have become "too easy to } use". The advances in human interfaces, automation, computer controls, } etc. have made it very easy for just about anyone to get results. The } danger is that there is no way for someone who doesn't truly understand } what's going on to know if the results are meaningful or not. "I got } the answer, and it's what I was expecting, so it must be right!" } } The problem is also not limited to "sophisticated" technology. We have } users who no longer know that there is a darkness adjustment on a copy } machine, much less how to use it. Not that long ago, you couldn't get } two copies in a row to turn out without tweaking the adjustment. If } someone does take the thing off "auto" and sets it dark, everyone else } thinks the thing is broken... } } If someone finds a "real" cure for this phenomenon, please share it with } the world, because the problem is pretty universal. } } John W. Raffensperger, Jr. } IS Manager } Helwig Carbon Products, Inc.
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Thu Jan 8 04:32:18 2004
Our old camera has to be replaced and I am offered a new one for 1200 euros. This may not be too expensive but I wonder if I can get the same results with a cheaper webcam attached to the microscope. I understand it is just a question of removing the camera objective lense or to make it focus infinity.
My question is: can I expect a really better performance from a more expensive, purpose-built camera? Quite likely the camera will not be the limiting factor in the quality of micrographs, but other factors in the microscope and the preparation...
And, which factors should I cosider in the camera? I am thinking of sensitivity to poor light, gain, and so.
Thanks for all your comments,
Antonio D. Molina-García Inst. del Frio (CSIC) Madrid, Spain
PD. My main purpose for video recording from a microscope is to study ice crystal evolution during growth and recrystallization. Image is so, not too sharp ever, as the contrast between ice crystals is small. Also the sample thickness is larger than when using other sample types and, when the size of crystals is small, it is even difficult to get any light through...
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Thu Jan 8 04:54:16 2004
Second Announcement From Microscopy to Nanoscopy, Genoa, 9-11 February 2004. The 5th Practical and Intensive Workshop on 3D Confocal Microscopy will be held in Genoa, at LAMBS, Department of Physics, Via Dodecaneso 33, 16146 Genoa. The aim of the workshop, as usual, is to introduce researchers to Confocal Microscopy and related methods. This year we would like to show how it is possible to move from Microscopy to Nanoscopy, according to a Stefan Hell’s recent paper (Natur.Biotech., 21 (11), 2003, p.1347). 2004 Program includes: lessons on basic aspects of fluorescence and confocal microscopy (February 9th, 10 a.m.- 1 p.m.), lectures on applications of confocal microscopy and related methods (February 9th, 2 p.m.-7 p.m. with coffe break), experimental sessions on confocal and multiphoton architectures, experimental sessions with image analysis, processing, visualization and deconvolution software, roundtables with speakers (February 10th-11th, 8,30 a.m. - 7 p.m., including lunch break). Lecturers: Tony Wilson, Erik Manders, Alberto Diaspro, Mario Faretta, Cesare Usai. The workshop is limited to 20 students served on first-in-first-out basis. Only Monday afternoon lectures are open. The workshop fee is 250 Euros. Some grants will be available on the basis of real need. Please register or request information sending an e-mail to diaspro-at-fisica.unige.it using "confocal 5 - genoa" as subject. Please, specify if you want to attend the Workshop or only Monday afternoon lectures. Logistic help can be provided upon request. Poster can be sent upon request in pdf format. Main sponsor of the Workshop is Nikon Italia, SpA, Firenze. News on the workshop can be found at www.lambs.it, from January 13th 2004. Further sponsorship can be proposed to diaspro-at-fisica.unige.it using as subject "confocal 5 - sponsor". All my best Alberto Diaspro ....................................................................... ................................... .. non basta, resistere, resistere...resistere ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Alberto Diaspro Department of Physics, University of Genoa Via Dodecaneso 33, 16146 Genoa, Italy voice: +39-0103536426/480 fax 010314218 diaspro-at-fisica.unige.it, http://www.lambs.it http://wiley.com/cda/product/0,,0471409200,00.html
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Thu Jan 8 06:43:27 2004
Electron Microscopist/Laboratory Manager Position Department of Materials Science and Engineering Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19010
We are seeking a candidate to supervise a microscopy laboratory, which includes an FEI/Phillips XL30 field emission environmental scanning electron microscope with an EDAX-EDS and TSL-OIM, an Amray 1830/D4, and a basic TEM (we outsource most TEM work), optical microscopes, sample preparation facilities, two X-ray diffractometers, etc. We are moving towards a centralized facilities model for the entire university and anticipate the move of many of our laboratories to a new research building by 2005. In addition to instrument maintenance, user scheduling, supervising and training users, the person in this position is expected to participate in the planning and execution of tasks related to the centralized materials testing and characterization facilities and the relocation of the labs to the new building. Candidates should have demonstrated experience with electron microscopy and preferably a degree in Materials, Physics or Biology. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.
The successful candidate will join a technical staff of three within the department. Detailed information about the department can be found at http://www.materials.drexel.edu, a copy of our recent newsletter can be found at http://www.materials.drexel.edu/Newsletter/fall_03.pdf and our last annual report at http://www.materials.drexel.edu/annualreports/Annual%20Report%202002.pdf. Candidates interested in this position should please submit a CV and a short career plan to: Microscopy Hiring Committee, Drexel University, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, 3141 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104.
Dr. Richard Knight -- "And the men who hold high places, must be the ones to start..."
Richard Knight, Ph.D., FASM, Auxiliary Professor, Center for the Plasma Processing of Materials [CPPM], Drexel University, Dept. of Materials Science & Engineering, 3141 Chestnut Streets, Philadelphia, PA 19104
A most interesting thread, and one that is near and dear to my heart.......
I frequently get people new to SEMs, either through personnel changes at a customer's site or through someone's acquisition of a "new" (used) SEM. Half of my business is still servicing ETEC Autoscans and as the new systems get more and more automated, I get more and more comments on how user unfriendly the Autoscan is. My standard reply is that it is not at all unfriendly if you understand how an SEM works.
I always start a new user out by building an SEM on paper and guess what? A scanning electron microscope is not a microscope at all! The only image formed in its optics is a DEmagnified image of the tip of the filament! So, what is it? It's a signal generator with one or more signal processors attached. What I really love about SEMs, especially with an EDS attached, is that you can tell me what you want to see and I can probably show it to you. Then we have to sit down and have a long talk about what is real. Don't tell me, "the computer said...". The computer doesn't know squat. And I haven't even gotten to specimen preparation!
The problem goes beyond the need for instant gratification, but may be related to the definition of success. People aren't interested in becoming microscopists because organizations no longer hire microscopists. One must pay too much for the knowledge and experience. Most are looking for "machine operators" that can be transferred between different pieces of equipment at will or they simply equate a microscope with a copier or personal computer. It's merely another tool to be used in getting the job done. We no longer have someone designated as the "copier specialist" in the office and having a degree in computer science is not a prerequisite for operating a computer on your desktop.
In part, there is simply so much more to know about any piece of equipment or area of interest, and the areas of interest and expertise are so intertwined, that one cannot be an expert in all areas, and in part it is the "Walmartization" of the world. The dive to the bottom, the least common denominator, the lowest cost, the lowest price. Of course, if everyone worked for Walmart, no one could afford to do much shopping............
I don't have any answers. I've always liked to understand any equipment that I use, whether it's a microscope or an automobile or a dishwasher, but then, I repair things for a living. I make a living this way because other people have different interests and drives (and that often does NOT include an interest or ability to repair things). A hundred years ago, most people who owned an automobile also had a mechanic in their employ, and the mechanic often traveled with, or even drove, the car.
I believe our problem in science will also get worked out. It's probably going to take some disaster related to bad science to get people's attention, but in the end, some kind of accommodation will be worked out. It will be interesting to watch it unfold.
In the mean time, we can all keep trying to spread our knowledge and our concerns. We subscribe to this listserver because we care. Keep caring!
Ken Converse owner Quality Images third party SEM service Delta, PA
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Thu Jan 8 07:15:40 2004
I would be careful with using a webcam for professional microscopy. Indeed, you can adjust a webcam this way that it can be attached to a microscope (remove the lens and put the ccd in the focuspoint of the lightbeam), but most webcams are very limited. Limited in shutterspeed, colorrange and fo sure in pixelresolution. Webcams are often used for amateur-microscopy and astronomy and give nice results, but if you really want to start analysing the (live) images or use them for publication, I'm afraid you might get dissapointed. Also: more expensive, professional camera's will last longer ,give you nicer resultes and a better support after sale will be offered. Best regards,
Sven Terclavers
On 08-01-2004 23:33, "Antonio Molina" {ifrm111-at-if.csic.es} wrote:
} } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- } http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------} - } } Our old camera has to be replaced and I am offered a new one for 1200 euros. } This may not be too expensive but I wonder if I can get the same results } with a cheaper webcam attached to the microscope. I understand it is just a } question of removing the camera objective lense or to make it focus } infinity. } } My question is: can I expect a really better performance from a more } expensive, purpose-built camera? Quite likely the camera will not be the } limiting factor in the quality of micrographs, but other factors in the } microscope and the preparation... } } And, which factors should I cosider in the camera? I am thinking of } sensitivity to poor light, gain, and so. } } Thanks for all your comments, } } Antonio D. Molina-García } Inst. del Frio (CSIC) Madrid, Spain } } PD. My main purpose for video recording from a microscope is to study ice } crystal evolution during growth and recrystallization. Image is so, not too } sharp ever, as the contrast between ice crystals is small. Also the sample } thickness is larger than when using other sample types and, when the size } of } crystals is small, it is even difficult to get any light through... } } } }
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Thu Jan 8 07:31:01 2004
I very much agree with Sousan about what drives students and their reward systems. However, consider the fact that universities often reflect what is going on in private industry. I would bet that many researchers, scientists and engineers report to people that have scant knowledge of the science they ostensibly oversee. I call this the "MBA Phenomenon." I've observed this trend not only in microscopy. How often must someone in the lab. explain to their "management" exactly what an image is telling them? Quality should start with quality management and that means the management ought to know what they are managing.
Peter Tomic Agere Systems
Disclaimer: I am happy to report that the above conditions do not apply to me at the moment.
-----Original Message----- } From: Sousan Abolhassani [mailto:sousan.abolhassani-at-psi.ch] Sent: Thursday, January 08, 2004 4:29 AM To: John W. Raffensperger, Jr. Cc: microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.com
I fully agree with this fact that the problem is universal, and it is not only limited to microscopy. However, before one finds the "cure for this phenomenon", one should look for the cause of this problem.
If the new generation, i.e. the younger students and others, "are just wanting results", is it not the consequence of the ATTITUDE OF THE LARGE MAJORITY of those who trained them?
Those who trained the last two generations are now collecting the results of what they have done. The biggest reference for this generation is having rapid success, which means gaining large amounts of money and if possible a quick fame.
No university professor considers the students for their interest for science and their will to do something for the sake of humanity. They rank them on their good marks, without worrying about how they obtained it. And even if they do so, it is to REPRIMAND the student and not for TEACHING them the importance of honesty. A large percentage of students learn just to obtain a good mark, without thinking about why's and how's. And those few who do, are not appreciated by the professors, may be since they need more time that is not available.
A professorship is the art of teaching many things including highest human values to the students, I can not name many who have done that, or even have thought to do it. If they do not reflect such thoughts, at least they should avoid to discourage the very few who do have such values (and have truly come to learn something that can be helpful for the society) by treating them as naives and dealing with irony with them.
Some students tell me that the science professors are so arrogant that the students have no more appeal for scientific branches. } From my discussions with some undergraduate science students, their feeling is that if they go for science in their graduate school they could ruin their future and they will loose the chances of success!
I agree that the danger is real and from my understanding the solution to the problem is to reverse the trend from now on by changing the teaching philosophy. However, one should have the certitude of the importance of such a training to be able to have an impact on one's student.
Sousan Abolhassani, Ph.D. Laboratory for Materials Behaviour Paul Scherrer Institut 5232 Villigen PSI Switzerland
"John W. Raffensperger, Jr." wrote: } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- } } If it makes all of you feel any better, the phenomenon of users not } wanting to learn how to use something, just wanting the results, is not } limited to microscopy, and is a dangerous trend. This trend is } ironically aided by the very advancing technologies that make truly } understanding the theories and principles of what is happening more } important than ever. } } Too many devices, instruments and other systems have become "too easy to } use". The advances in human interfaces, automation, computer controls, } etc. have made it very easy for just about anyone to get results. The } danger is that there is no way for someone who doesn't truly understand } what's going on to know if the results are meaningful or not. "I got } the answer, and it's what I was expecting, so it must be right!" } } The problem is also not limited to "sophisticated" technology. We have } users who no longer know that there is a darkness adjustment on a copy } machine, much less how to use it. Not that long ago, you couldn't get } two copies in a row to turn out without tweaking the adjustment. If } someone does take the thing off "auto" and sets it dark, everyone else } thinks the thing is broken... } } If someone finds a "real" cure for this phenomenon, please share it with } the world, because the problem is pretty universal. } } John W. Raffensperger, Jr. } IS Manager } Helwig Carbon Products, Inc.
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Thu Jan 8 08:13:05 2004
----- Original Message ----- } From: jamielange-at-wi.rr.com (by way of MicroscopyListServer)
The power of semantics
I am convinced that one of the reasons for a decline in the quality of microscopy, especially in industry, is semantic. Over the last few years it has become fashionable for managers to refer to instruments as "tools". They no longer distinguish between different kinds of equipment - they are all tools. Tools include: lathes, electron microscopes, fork lift trucks, x-ray diffraction units,.....
When a person using a tool leaves or is promoted, you need another person to operate the tool. So you take a person from this tool and put them on to that tool. Give them a couple of hours to read the manual and away you go.
I can only assume that machinists are complaining about the decline in the quality of work done in machine shops. All the ex-SEM operators must be doing a lousy job of operating the milling machines.
-- .......... 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 MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Thu Jan 8 08:39:34 2004
In a message dated 1/8/04 9:28:40 AM, jae5-at-lehigh.edu writes:
} I can only assume that machinists are complaining about the decline in } } the quality of work done in machine shops. All the ex-SEM operators } must be doing a lousy job of operating the milling machines.
Alwyn, I don't think the analogy holds. Machine tools have gotten "smarter" in recent years. Numerical control and feedback devices have made it possible for information to flow directly from the design computers and CAD programs (which in turn have replaced the traditional draftsman) to control the machining process. In some cases the "operators" aren't even present, or just keep watch over a large array of machines in case of malfunctions or to load raw material. As the microscopes have evolved, they have for the most part not become easier to operate. Oh sure, some "little" things like adjusting astigmatism, saturating filaments, even focusing, have been automated. But not the "big" things like taking a meaningful picture. In fact, it has arguably become more complicated to use the modern microscopes because they offer a much broader range of possibilities than the old ones did. More imaging modes, more types of detectors, etc., create a greater demand for insight and knowledge on the part of the operator.
John Russ (visit www.DrJohnRuss.com for a schedule of upcoming image analysis workshops and other information)
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Thu Jan 8 08:50:32 2004
Mike Delannoy asked whether there is an easier way to make holey carbon films than Formvar, steam, create the holes in the damaged Formvar film, carbon coat the holey Formvar and dissolve the Formvar away to leave the holey carbon film. If there is, we'd like to know about it! This is the easiest method about which we know.
I must stress, however, that making holey and lacey carbon coated grids is pure art. People who have decades of experience making support films still have difficulty at times with the reproducibility of the method, and the details are entirely a matter of getting the "feel" of the method. Details of our methods are described on
http://www.2spi.com/catalog/grids/cusctgrd.html
and the pages linked to it.
An easier way to obtain holey carbon support films with a known and precise distribution of holes is the Quantifoil Micromachined Holey Carbon Grids, described on
Disclaimer: SPI Supplies has a very active business making coated grids for customers throughout the world. We also sell grids and other supplies for customers who prefer to coat their own grids, and we sell the Quantifoil Holey Carbon Grids.
Andy
Andrew W. Blackwood, Ph.D. Vice President, Technical SPI Supplies P.O. Box 656 West Chester, PA 19381-0656 Ph: 1 610 436 5400 X108 FAX: 1 610 436 5755 e-mail: ablackwood-at-2spi.com WWW: http://www.2spi.com
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Thu Jan 8 09:25:16 2004
While I see your point, it is much easier to at produce something with today's "tools", even your "tools". We can now use PhotoShop or some other application, load up some Image Tool filters and away you go with image analysis. My first IA package was very cumbersone and it took some major training just to load the images and navigate through the software. Presumably, you would pick some understanding of the subject matter through osmosis, solid state diffusion or entropy while learning how to operate the software. Now the software is so easy, anyone can sit down and after a few minutes start cranking out numbers.... for as meaningful or meaningless as they may be.
With SEMs, my first one filled a room and producing a photo was a real chore. You had to have an intimate knowledge of the controls and operating conditions to get even a poor quality photo. Now you can train a chipmunk (borrowed from one of my associates) to run an SEM. We have seen PhD's operate the SEM as a machine and have absolutely zero fundamental knowledge of the images or EDS data. I am thankful that I can sit down at my SEM and get a great photo in 5 minutes, but that means anyone else can too.
Al Stone ASTON
ps. no offense to anyone with a PhD, the point is that just because you can drive a car doesn't mean you understand the rules of the road or know how to travel cross country
At 08:42 AM 1/8/2004, you wrote:
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Thu Jan 8 09:25:52 2004
My favorite quote fits well in this discussion: "It is not enough to believe what you see. You must also understand what you see. - Leonardo da Vinci"
I think it has to do a bit with what John just brought up in regards to the evolution of the microscopes. They have become "easier" to operate, and in doing so (computer control, mouse operated saturation...) there is a great disconnect with how the 'system' works. Users learning on an old EM300 for example have more interactions with the parameters on the microscope and thus are in a better position to 'understand' what they are doing in the process of collecting an image.
It is difficult to stress integrity, understanding when teaching. Even harder is the problem educators have in providing evaluation of the process, esp when there is a definitive end product (a lab report with images for example). I would much prefer to be able to grade students on their process than on the end results, and to provide an objective progress evaluation that translates onto a final grade. The biggest problem is that each student is different, has different learning speeds, different ways of coming to the same end point. So many variables to deal with. I find that the most effective and simple question I can present to students and faculty using the facility is "How do you know [ That ] is what you are looking at?" And sometimes it becomes a significant frustration level when the individual cannot convince me. But when they CAN convince me they wind up becoming much more confident and it forces them to find supporting evidence that they were too lazy or busy to look for earlier, and then they (more often than not) are much better at looking (literature sourcing) BEFORE starting their next project.
Well it is a new year and for some of us a new Semester. Time to start doing what ever we can do to reverse the trend!
Geoff Williams Microscopy Facility Supervisor
Central Michigan University Biology Department Microscopy Facility http://www.cst.cmich.edu/centers/microscopy/
} -----Original Message----- } From: DrJohnRuss-at-aol.com [mailto:DrJohnRuss-at-aol.com] } Sent: Thursday, January 08, 2004 9:42 AM } To: jae5-at-lehigh.edu; microscopy-at-msa.microscopy.com } Subject: [Microscopy] Re: Re: Knowledge and Quality } } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- } ---- } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- } http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- } ----- } } } In a message dated 1/8/04 9:28:40 AM, jae5-at-lehigh.edu writes: } } } I can only assume that machinists are complaining about the decline in } } } } the quality of work done in machine shops. All the ex-SEM operators } } must be doing a lousy job of operating the milling machines. } } Alwyn, I don't think the analogy holds. Machine tools have gotten } "smarter" } in recent years. Numerical control and feedback devices have made it } possible } for information to flow directly from the design computers and CAD } programs } (which in turn have replaced the traditional draftsman) to control the } machining } process. In some cases the "operators" aren't even present, or just keep } watch } over a large array of machines in case of malfunctions or to load raw } material. As the microscopes have evolved, they have for the most part not } become } easier to operate. Oh sure, some "little" things like adjusting } astigmatism, } saturating filaments, even focusing, have been automated. But not the } "big" things } like taking a meaningful picture. In fact, it has arguably become more } complicated to use the modern microscopes because they offer a much } broader range of } possibilities than the old ones did. More imaging modes, more types of } detectors, etc., create a greater demand for insight and knowledge on the } part of } the operator. } } John Russ } (visit www.DrJohnRuss.com for a schedule of upcoming image analysis } workshops } and other information)
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Thu Jan 8 09:28:16 2004
-----Original Message----- } From: DrJohnRuss-at-aol.com [mailto:DrJohnRuss-at-aol.com] Sent: Thursday, January 08, 2004 8:42 AM
In a message dated 1/8/04 9:28:40 AM, jae5-at-lehigh.edu writes:
} I can only assume that machinists are complaining about the decline in } } the quality of work done in machine shops. All the ex-SEM operators } must be doing a lousy job of operating the milling machines.
Alwyn, I don't think the analogy holds. Machine tools have gotten "smarter" in recent years.
-Reply:
I agree with Alwyn. This is the exact phenomenon I was referring to, and Machine Tools are one of the specific examples I had in mind with my original comments to this thread.
As you stated, there are shops where those involved truly understand what's going on, and things work very well.
In other shops, while these "tools" have indeed become "smarter", the quality of the output has decreased. This is because, as another post stated, these newer machines are viewed as a "tool", and an "operator" is assigned. Because of the intelligence of the machine, the "operator" who is no longer a "machinist" can get a result. It is often not an optimal result, either in terms of quality, and/or in terms of production rate. But a result was obtained. Compounding this, management has seen this situation "evolve" gradually, so they don't realize how much the "lower priced" help is actually costing them vs. a "real" machinist.
Add CAM instructions coming from an engineer who has never even operated a machine, and things get even more fun. Ask me about the $100,000+ damage one of these "wonder kids" did when they crashed a brand new machining center. The simulation ran perfectly. Too bad the engineer forgot that something had to hold the work piece, and this something was 2" think...
John W. Raffensperger, Jr. IS Manager Helwig Carbon Products, Inc.
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Thu Jan 8 09:36:59 2004
We have a Zeiss 109 TEM available. Scope includes the unique SEM attachment (gives SEM capability with two SEM stages that fit standard Zeiss pin mounts). Turbo pumped; extra gun assembly, filaments, water chiller, manuals, and original orange paint on column included. Has been under full Zeiss/Leo service contract and in use until last month.
Needs to be removed as soon as possible to make room for a new scope.
Preference given to academic institutions. If you want it, you need to make arrangements for shipping, or pick it up in New London, CT. Contact me offline for further information.
Page Owen
************************ T. Page Owen, Jr., Chair Department of Botany Connecticut College New London, CT 06320 860-439-2147 tpowe-at-conncoll.edu ************************
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Thu Jan 8 09:46:30 2004
Without a picture of what you are seeing advice is difficult. My guess is that the section is not flat on the slide and water/stain is getting underneath a wrinkle in the section and the result is the "ribbon" you are seeing. Suggestions to solve the problem:
1. A sharp knife. If you are using glass knives use only knives made "fresh". Glass, being a super-cooled liquid, flows and older knives are less sharp. Try it! 2. De-wrinkle the sections with 1,2 dicholorethane or chloroform. 3. Float the sections on a larger drop of water on a hot plate. The larger drop will take longer to evaporate and give the section more time to be expanded/dewrinkled by heat. 4 Thinner sections? I don't know how thick your sections are but 1-2 microns is the range to shot for.
Geoff
by way of MicroscopyListServer wrote:
} Email: jamielange-at-wi.rr.com } Name: jamie lange } } Organization: university of wisconsin } } Education: Graduate College } } Location: milwaukee, wi. usa } } Question: we used a spurr's resin prep on a sample of nematodes, after } staining and heat-fixing the sections, we see dark ribbon-like } structures on several specimens. Are these artifacts caused by air } bubbles and can they be avoided? thank you, } jamie } } --------------------------------------------------------------------------- } }
-- -- ********************************************** Geoff McAuliffe, Ph.D. Neuroscience and Cell Biology Robert Wood Johnson Medical School 675 Hoes Lane, Piscataway, NJ 08854 voice: (732)-235-4583; fax: -4029 mcauliff-at-umdnj.edu **********************************************
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Thu Jan 8 09:52:27 2004
First of all EVERYONE must realise that the image that they see (even though they pressed the SE or SEI button) is a mixed SE+BSE image. This means surface detail from the SE and sub surface detail from the BSE. As you put the kV up the BSE dominates more and of course as you take the kV down the BSE are reduced allowing the SE to dominate. I should point out that you will often see BSE information even at 2kV or less; this being the result of the SE3 contribution.
Place a thin coating on the surface of a specimen and you increase the coefficient of emission, the metal being the SE emitter rather than the original biological material. You do image the specimen surface as that topography has been followed by the coating procedure. However the BSE come from a far greater depth below the surface and at any kV, under the wrong circumstances of WD and spot size, these electrons will contribute to the image. Should there be structure of differing density, by way of the BSE, this will show as "shadows" in the background or may even dominate the image.
In a field emission instrument, of the type where the above lens detector is available, it is possible to screen out the BSE contribution and display a pretty pure SE image. I have to say in my 40 years in the business we have more often gone for "information" rather than "resolution" therefore I do try to include a degree of BSE to add contrast to the image.
Hope this helps?
Steve Chapman Senior Consultant Protrain Electron Microscopy Training and Consultancy World Wide Tel +44 (0)1280 816512 Fax +44 (0)1280 814007 Mob 07711 606967 www.emcourses.com
----- Original Message ----- } From: "Tobias Baskin" {baskin-at-bio.umass.edu} To: "Steve Chapman" {protrain-at-emcourses.com} ; {microscopy-at-MSA.microscopy.com} Sent: Wednesday, January 07, 2004 4:51 PM
It appears we have a change in how quality is monitored over the years of SEM evolution. As may be the case where older SEMs require understanding of how a SEM works to get an image, to the extent that newer SEMs do not require this, those operating newer SEMs may not require the prior extent of knowledge to produce images. Where once the decision to take images were made by those who knew enough to understand and self monitor quality, that appears not to be the case anymore. Advances in technology have allowed images to be taken by operators who do not understand what they are looking at; one can not expect an unknowing individual to monitor quality.
We can address the quality issue with education or attitude (as proposed by others on this board). This is a head on approach; a less direct method would be to change the decision rights or incentives. For example, operators should not be given the decision right of what to take an image of. For example, operators should not be rewarded simply on the number of images taken.
The point is that monitoring of quality has changed, so we should consider changing decision rights and incentives/rewards. If these three components of organizational architecture are not in balance, results will be unsatisfactory.
Sincerely, John Moore Montara Industries 919-434-8457
Disclaimers: 1) This framework is described in a book titled "Managerial Economics and Organizational Architecture", a text that I studied while obtaining my MBA at the University of Rochester, Class of 2000.
2) In defense of my education and this technique, I cite first that the poster from Agere on this topic reported not suffering certain difficulties, and second that in my recent job search I found Agere to be hiring MBA's (see monster.com directemployers.com, hotjobs.com or flipdog.com).
3) I am not a SEM expert, nor do I have direct experience in this field. I began following this message board in the interest of selling a defect review tool that I made a speculative investment in: a SEMVision by Applied Materials.
----- Original Message ----- } From: "Sousan Abolhassani" {sousan.abolhassani-at-psi.ch} To: "John W. Raffensperger, Jr." {johnr-at-helwigcp.com} Cc: {microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.com} Sent: Thursday, January 08, 2004 4:28 AM
I fully agree with this fact that the problem is universal, and it is not only limited to microscopy. However, before one finds the "cure for this phenomenon", one should look for the cause of this problem.
If the new generation, i.e. the younger students and others, "are just wanting results", is it not the consequence of the ATTITUDE OF THE LARGE MAJORITY of those who trained them?
Those who trained the last two generations are now collecting the results of what they have done. The biggest reference for this generation is having rapid success, which means gaining large amounts of money and if possible a quick fame.
No university professor considers the students for their interest for science and their will to do something for the sake of humanity. They rank them on their good marks, without worrying about how they obtained it. And even if they do so, it is to REPRIMAND the student and not for TEACHING them the importance of honesty. A large percentage of students learn just to obtain a good mark, without thinking about why's and how's. And those few who do, are not appreciated by the professors, may be since they need more time that is not available.
A professorship is the art of teaching many things including highest human values to the students, I can not name many who have done that, or even have thought to do it. If they do not reflect such thoughts, at least they should avoid to discourage the very few who do have such values (and have truly come to learn something that can be helpful for the society) by treating them as naives and dealing with irony with them.
Some students tell me that the science professors are so arrogant that the students have no more appeal for scientific branches. } From my discussions with some undergraduate science students, their feeling is that if they go for science in their graduate school they could ruin their future and they will loose the chances of success!
I agree that the danger is real and from my understanding the solution to the problem is to reverse the trend from now on by changing the teaching philosophy. However, one should have the certitude of the importance of such a training to be able to have an impact on one's student.
Sousan Abolhassani, Ph.D. Laboratory for Materials Behaviour Paul Scherrer Institut 5232 Villigen PSI Switzerland
"John W. Raffensperger, Jr." wrote: } } -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----- } } If it makes all of you feel any better, the phenomenon of users not } wanting to learn how to use something, just wanting the results, is not } limited to microscopy, and is a dangerous trend. This trend is } ironically aided by the very advancing technologies that make truly } understanding the theories and principles of what is happening more } important than ever. } } Too many devices, instruments and other systems have become "too easy to } use". The advances in human interfaces, automation, computer controls, } etc. have made it very easy for just about anyone to get results. The } danger is that there is no way for someone who doesn't truly understand } what's going on to know if the results are meaningful or not. "I got } the answer, and it's what I was expecting, so it must be right!" } } The problem is also not limited to "sophisticated" technology. We have } users who no longer know that there is a darkness adjustment on a copy } machine, much less how to use it. Not that long ago, you couldn't get } two copies in a row to turn out without tweaking the adjustment. If } someone does take the thing off "auto" and sets it dark, everyone else } thinks the thing is broken... } } If someone finds a "real" cure for this phenomenon, please share it with } the world, because the problem is pretty universal. } } John W. Raffensperger, Jr. } IS Manager } Helwig Carbon Products, Inc.
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Thu Jan 8 10:39:09 2004
To Joel, Eckhart, Kenneth, Peter, and anyone else who gave me advice-
OK, I finally had a chance to sit down and fiddle with the chiller, and here is what I have.
I turned on my Zeiss EM 10CA and checked the flowmeter in the column: about 2.2 L/min, if I am reading it right. There was no gauge for the chiller flow rate, but there is a pressure gauge on the front of the chiller, and it read about 39 psi. This reading did not change through the entire test, and neither did the EM flowmeter.
Chiller temperature reading was about 75 degrees F at start. It needs to be 68 degrees F, according to the EM's manual. Only the "Cool" light was on...all others, including the "Compressor" light, were off.
I turned the temperature screw to the left to lower the temp setting. No response from the compressor. Turned it down a second time....still no response. After about 5 minutes the Compressor light turned on, and the temperature started to drop, finally. The temperature went all the way down to 53 degrees F, at which point the "Lo Temp" light went on, the "Compressor" light went off, and the "Heat" light went on. I turned up the temp screw a little bit.
At about 60 degrees F, the "Heat" and "Lo Temp" lights went off and the "Cool" and "Pump" lights are on (actually the "Pump" light never turned off). It rose to 68 degrees F....and continued to rise. I let it get to about 79 degrees F, and the compressor never turned back on. I tried turning the screw back to the left to drop the temp setting...it never went back on.
At this point, I decided to turn the EM 'scope off....though the flow rate never dropped, and the buzzer never went off. The temperature gauge on the chiller continued to rise, even after turning the 'scope off. It was reading about 90 degrees F when I left to come write all of you.
Just now went back in to check the thing...the compressor finally came on...it's reading about 53 degrees F and the "Lo Temp" light is on, and the "Compressor" light is off.
So I think it's the switch....or perhaps the "Hi Temp" sensor? Or both? I have no idea how all the sensors and switches are connected...even with the diagrams and manual that were sent, as I have no idea how to read such things (been eons since I did circuits in Physics class...). What do you all think?
Thank you all so much for your help- Kathleen Neurotoxicology Labs Rutgers University
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Thu Jan 8 12:23:55 2004
I've been reading the iterations on this thread and it seems to me that it would be useful to separate the chiller from the TEM to test the chiller. Kathleen, if you have a carbon evaporator that has a diffusion pump you can cool it with the Coolwell long enough to tell if the Coolwell has a problem. If the Coolwell tests okay on another heat load (the carbon evaporator) then your problem is in the TEM.
Owen
Owen P. Mills Electron Optics Engineer Materials Science & Engineering Michigan Technological University Rm 512 M&M Bldg. Houghton, MI 49931 PH 906-369-1875 FAX 906-487-2934 mailto:opmills-at-mtu.edu http://www.mm.mtu.edu/~opmills
At 11:48 AM 1/8/2004 -0500, Kathleen Roberts wrote:
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Owen P. Mills Electron Optics Engineer Materials Science & Engineering Michigan Technological University Rm 512 M&M Bldg. Houghton, MI 49931 PH 906-369-1875 FAX 906-487-2934 mailto:opmills-at-mtu.edu http://www.mm.mtu.edu/~opmills
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Thu Jan 8 13:00:36 2004
Well some interesting stuff, I was particularly taken by Peter Tomic's comments
"Quality should start with quality management and that means the management ought to know what they are managing."
Via MSA and mostly privately I have had mail from, judging by the mailers enthusiasm, pretty good EM units. However I have probably visited more EM units in the world than most of you and I have to say in very many cases they are just not up to the standards that I would set. Here Peter's comment hits home to me! You see, as an example, in most units people were trained when the SEM, TEM or EDS system first arrived in the lab. Now they have new equipment and I bet they have rarely been trained to operate using the techniques opened up by the new SEM or TEM? Once trained you know how to use them is what I see. Guess what, a customer born on a Cambridge 100 SEM still used their new sexy Field Emission SEM in just the same way. A thick gold coating and 20kV plus was the way to do it, quote "we have always done it this way". We produced amazing results uncoated at 150,000X at 1.5kV! Do I make my point? This was a very highly rated government research laboratory that by perception would be rated as in the top 5 in a country very well respected for its EM work!
We all believe we run a good unit, my point would be "how do you know?" Do you have management procedures that are up to date, do you routinely check the performance of your staff, do you look at the output your users produce, etc etc? Take a look at www.iaaem.com/mppa1 here you will find a quality procedure that has been proposed by a group of scientists and Quality experts from across the world. Answer the questions and total up the points for your laboratory and lets see how far you area away from Total Quality Management. What would you suggest is included and maybe together we will be able to develop procedures that would help sort out what you all, almost, seem to agree is a bit of a mess!
I am working overseas (Egypt) for the next week so have fun on your own for a little while.
Regards
Steve Chapman Senior Consultant Protrain Electron Microscopy Training and Consultancy World Wide Tel +44 (0)1280 816512 Fax +44 (0)1280 814007 Mob 07711 606967 www.emcourses.com
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Thu Jan 8 13:44:05 2004
I want to give away the following to a university or non-profit lab or group:
Plexiglass racks for holding 3.25" x 4" (TEM) and 4" x 5" (Polaroid) negative film; and hard rubber tanks for processing negatives.
Interested parties should contact me off-line. Commercial/industrial users need not respond.
Thanks,
"The statements and opinions expressed here by Gary M. Brown represent neither those of ExxonMobil Corporation nor its affiliates."
Gary M. Brown ExxonMobil Chemical Company Baytown Technology & Engineering - West 5200 Bayway Drive Baytown, Texas 77520-2101 phone: (281) 834-2387 fax: (281) 834-2395 e-mail: Gary.M.Brown-at-ExxonMobil.com
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Thu Jan 8 14:04:04 2004
Good idea, except that I don't have a carbon evaporator. :o)
Thanks anyway, Kathleen Neurotox Labs Rutgers University
Owen P. Mills wrote:
} I've been reading the iterations on this thread and it seems to me } that it would be useful to separate the chiller from the TEM to test } the chiller. Kathleen, if you have a carbon evaporator that has a } diffusion pump you can cool it with the Coolwell long enough to tell } if the Coolwell has a problem. If the Coolwell tests okay on another } heat load (the carbon evaporator) then your problem is in the TEM. } } Owen } } Owen P. Mills } Electron Optics Engineer } Materials Science & Engineering } Michigan Technological University } Rm 512 M&M Bldg. } Houghton, MI 49931 } PH 906-369-1875 } FAX 906-487-2934 } mailto:opmills-at-mtu.edu } http://www.mm.mtu.edu/~opmills } } At 11:48 AM 1/8/2004 -0500, Kathleen Roberts wrote: } } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ } } } } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- } } http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver } } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- } } } } } } To Joel, Eckhart, Kenneth, Peter, and anyone else who gave me advice- } } } } OK, I finally had a chance to sit down and fiddle with the chiller, } } and here is what I have. } } } } I turned on my Zeiss EM 10CA and checked the flowmeter in the column: } } about 2.2 L/min, if I am reading it right. There was no gauge for } } the chiller flow rate, but there is a pressure gauge on the front of } } the chiller, and it read about 39 psi. This reading did not change } } through the entire test, and neither did the EM flowmeter. } } Chiller temperature reading was about 75 degrees F at start. It } } needs to be 68 degrees F, according to the EM's manual. Only the } } "Cool" light was on...all others, including the "Compressor" light, } } were off. } } } } I turned the temperature screw to the left to lower the temp setting. } } No response from the compressor. Turned it down a second } } time....still no response. After about 5 minutes the Compressor } } light turned on, and the temperature started to drop, finally. The } } temperature went all the way down to 53 degrees F, at which point the } } "Lo Temp" light went on, the "Compressor" light went off, and the } } "Heat" light went on. I turned up the temp screw a little bit. } } } } At about 60 degrees F, the "Heat" and "Lo Temp" lights went off and } } the "Cool" and "Pump" lights are on (actually the "Pump" light never } } turned off). It rose to 68 degrees F....and continued to rise. I } } let it get to about 79 degrees F, and the compressor never turned } } back on. I tried turning the screw back to the left to drop the temp } } setting...it never went back on. } } } } At this point, I decided to turn the EM 'scope off....though the flow } } rate never dropped, and the buzzer never went off. The temperature } } gauge on the chiller continued to rise, even after turning the 'scope } } off. It was reading about 90 degrees F when I left to come write all } } of you. } } } } Just now went back in to check the thing...the compressor finally } } came on...it's reading about 53 degrees F and the "Lo Temp" light is } } on, and the "Compressor" light is off. } } So I think it's the switch....or perhaps the "Hi Temp" sensor? Or } } both? I have no idea how all the sensors and switches are } } connected...even with the diagrams and manual that were sent, as I } } have no idea how to read such things (been eons since I did circuits } } in Physics class...). What do you all think? } } } } Thank you all so much for your help- } } Kathleen } } Neurotoxicology Labs } } Rutgers University } } } } } } Owen P. Mills } Electron Optics Engineer } Materials Science & Engineering } Michigan Technological University } Rm 512 M&M Bldg. } Houghton, MI 49931 } PH 906-369-1875 } FAX 906-487-2934 } mailto:opmills-at-mtu.edu } http://www.mm.mtu.edu/~opmills }
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Thu Jan 8 14:12:46 2004
In my experience, CCTV cameras as used in security applications work better than webcams, but the resolution of both is not that great and you may spend considerable time on the mechanical aspects of the interfacing and be disappointed with the result.
1200 euros may be well worth it for something that you can just unpack from the box and be using in a few minutes.
cheers
rtch
Send reply to: "Antonio Molina" {ifrm111-at-if.csic.es} } From: "Antonio Molina" {ifrm111-at-if.csic.es} To: {Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com}
Most people store UA in the refrigerator perhaps without understanding why. UA is photosensitive and degraded by light (especially fluorescent lighting that contains UV). If you store aqueous solutions in the light they will eventually precipitate --first long the sides of the container and then on the bottom. I have no data, just based on observation.
} We are having one of those debates that we microscopists seem to } obsess about. The question is whether to store our saturated uranyl } acetate solution (in dH2O) at room temp or at 4 C. Opinions, } especially those backed by data, would be welcome. Happy New Year. } Tom } } } } Thomas E. Phillips, PhD } Professor of Biological Sciences } Director, Molecular Cytology Core } 3 Tucker Hall } University of Missouri } Columbia, MO 65211-7400 } } 573-882-4712 (office) } 573-882-0123 (fax) } PhillipsT-at-missouri.edu
-- ############################################################## 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 Email: bozzola-at-siu.edu ##############################################################
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Thu Jan 8 14:31:49 2004
Thank you for the honorable mention. If my boss is on this listserver I'll have to polish up the old resume. It's so much fun to be quoted. I feel like Hemingway.
Once again, I don't have ANY of these issues HERE.
I needed a good laugh today.
Peter Tomic Unknown Corporation, Inc. Anytown, USA
-----Original Message----- } From: Steve Chapman [mailto:protrain-at-emcourses.com] Sent: Thursday, January 08, 2004 1:59 PM To: MSA
Hi Listers
Well some interesting stuff, I was particularly taken by Peter Tomic's comments
"Quality should start with quality management and that means the management ought to know what they are managing."
Via MSA and mostly privately I have had mail from, judging by the mailers enthusiasm, pretty good EM units. However I have probably visited more EM units in the world than most of you and I have to say in very many cases they are just not up to the standards that I would set. Here Peter's comment hits home to me! You see, as an example, in most units people were trained when the SEM, TEM or EDS system first arrived in the lab. Now they have new equipment and I bet they have rarely been trained to operate using the techniques opened up by the new SEM or TEM? Once trained you know how to use them is what I see. Guess what, a customer born on a Cambridge 100 SEM still used their new sexy Field Emission SEM in just the same way. A thick gold coating and 20kV plus was the way to do it, quote "we have always done it this way". We produced amazing results uncoated at 150,000X at 1.5kV! Do I make my point? This was a very highly rated government research laboratory that by perception would be rated as in the top 5 in a country very well respected for its EM work!
We all believe we run a good unit, my point would be "how do you know?" Do you have management procedures that are up to date, do you routinely check the performance of your staff, do you look at the output your users produce, etc etc? Take a look at www.iaaem.com/mppa1 here you will find a quality procedure that has been proposed by a group of scientists and Quality experts from across the world. Answer the questions and total up the points for your laboratory and lets see how far you area away from Total Quality Management. What would you suggest is included and maybe together we will be able to develop procedures that would help sort out what you all, almost, seem to agree is a bit of a mess!
I am working overseas (Egypt) for the next week so have fun on your own for a little while.
Regards
Steve Chapman Senior Consultant Protrain Electron Microscopy Training and Consultancy World Wide Tel +44 (0)1280 816512 Fax +44 (0)1280 814007 Mob 07711 606967 www.emcourses.com
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Thu Jan 8 14:48:50 2004
Yes, alas, we have also seen the "take the picture and run" mentality here as well.
Like most microscopists who came up through the system, most of us eagerly learned everything related to microscopy (specimen prep, knife making, ultramicrotomy, alignment, optimization of the scope, darkroom, image interpretation, etc). It was fun and we enjoyed learning and making discoveries. Now, it seems the thrill is gone and the object is to get into the job market and make big bucks....
MONEY is the motivator and it can be used to influence people. For example, I point out that microscopy is a marketable skill and I prove it by giving the names of our former students (in biological and physical sciences) who got jobs in their discipline since they could do microscopy. An employer will generally hire the individual with the better set of skills. Unless they are incredibly naive or just plain stupid (in which case you wouldn't want them using your equipment anyway) they will realize the value in learning the discipline.
More immediately, I point out that it is CHEAPER for them to do their own microscopy than to hire it out.
-- ############################################################## 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 Email: bozzola-at-siu.edu Web: http://www.siu.edu/~image/ ##############################################################
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Thu Jan 8 15:10:24 2004
I was wondering if someone knows where I can find an monochromator for spectral scanning 400-700 nm that can be attached to a Zeiss microscope (Axioskop) for transmitted light imaging ( scanning microphotometry).
On Jan 8, 2004, at 6:42 AM, DrJohnRuss-at-aol.com wrote:
} Alwyn, I don't think the analogy holds. Machine tools have gotten } "smarter" } in recent years. Numerical control and feedback devices have made it } possible } for information to flow directly from the design computers and CAD } programs } (which in turn have replaced the traditional draftsman) to control the } machining } process. In some cases the "operators" aren't even present, or just } keep watch } over a large array of machines in case of malfunctions or to load raw } material. Dear John, So now the machine tools are capable of performing as well as the automated tomography packages we use? In our case, we have to watch the progress of the program carefully to see that the auto-tracking, auto-focussing, etc. is working properly, and lately we have also found that the file made from the tilt series has values that do not match the exposure we set (to the extent that some of the images were blank). The take-home lesson is that there still must be knowledgeable oversight, especially with regard to automated processes, to assure the quality of the results. Yours, Bill Tivol, PhD EM Scientist and Manager Cryo-Electron Microscopy Facility Broad Center, Mail Code 114-96 California Institute of Technology Pasadena CA 91125 (626) 395-8833 tivol-at-caltech.edu
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Thu Jan 8 15:14:33 2004
A lab user has asked me to find some place he can get freeze fracture work done. Close to San Francisco bay area would be best. Reply to me and I will pass on the contact info.
Thanks
Jonathan Krupp Microscopy & Imaging Lab University of California Santa Cruz, CA 95064 (831) 459-2477 jmkrupp-at-cats.ucsc.edu
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Thu Jan 8 15:34:44 2004
Dear Kathleen, I have had good luck getting a local HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air conditioning) or Air Conditioning repair shop to fix my Haskris water chillers. Haskris are good but they do occasionally break down. Sounds like one of your sensors or accuators is stuck. Regards, 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-interchange.ubc.ca ----- Original Message ----- } From: "Kathleen Roberts" {kgrobert-at-rci.rutgers.edu} To: {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} Sent: Thursday, January 08, 2004 8:48 AM
Thank you for the advice...I figure $10 isn't too much to spend to try and fix this thing....if the repair cost starts to escalate, we'll junk it and call Haskris. :o)
Kathleen Neurotoxicology Labs Rutgers University
Webster, Paul wrote:
} Hi Kathleen, } } A word of warning if you plan to try to fix the chiller. We spent nearly $7,000 in a year of repairing our Coolwell chiller before it finally failed for good and we had to buy a new machine. When the second one started giving problems, we used the repair money to buy a new one immediately. } } The first one started by developing a leak in the compressor, then the pump failed and finally the thermostat switch. Getting a similar thermostat switch to the one that failed was impossible. We searched through Grainger, talked with refrigeration engineers and could only come up with a close approximation of what we needed. } } We had to suffer as the less sensitive thermostat switch attempted to hold the water temperature steady but with much less control. In the end it was when some other part of the machine failed that we decided to replace it. Looking back, the time and expense needed to repair the machine was not worth it. } } If you do find your chiller has only a small problem then try fixing it and hope the costs don't escalate. } } Regards, } } Paul Webster. } } } } } Paul Webster, Ph.D. } House Ear Institute } 2100 West Third Street } Los Angeles } CA 90057 } phone (213) 273 8026 } fax (213) 413 6739 } email: pwebster-at-hei.org } } } } } } ---------- } } From: Kathleen Roberts } } Sent: Thursday, January 8, 2004 12:13 PM } } To: Owen P. Mills } } Cc: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } } Subject: [Microscopy] Re: Coolwell chiller testing } } } } } } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ } } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Thu Jan 8 16:00:34 2004
Nope, no SEM and no BIG waterbath. I'm going to call Facilities here at RU-they may be able to devise something to test it.
Thanks- Kathleen Neurotoxicology Labs Rutgers University
Owen P. Mills wrote:
} Kathleen, } } Any heat source that can be water cooled will work, anything with a a } diffusion pump. SEM? Got a BIG hot water bath? Coil copper tubing } in the bath, turn the bath heat way up, connect the chiller lines to } the ends of the coil of copper tubing. Should be a low tech test of } the chiller. } } Owen } } At 03:13 PM 1/8/2004 -0500, you wrote: } } } Owen- } } } } Good idea, except that I don't have a carbon evaporator. :o) } } Thanks anyway, } } Kathleen } } Neurotox Labs } } Rutgers University } } } } Owen P. Mills wrote: } } } } } I've been reading the iterations on this thread and it seems to me } } } that it would be useful to separate the chiller from the TEM to test } } } the chiller. Kathleen, if you have a carbon evaporator that has a } } } diffusion pump you can cool it with the Coolwell long enough to tell } } } if the Coolwell has a problem. If the Coolwell tests okay on } } } another heat load (the carbon evaporator) then your problem is in } } } the TEM. } } } } } } Owen } } } } } } Owen P. Mills } } } Electron Optics Engineer } } } Materials Science & Engineering } } } Michigan Technological University } } } Rm 512 M&M Bldg. } } } Houghton, MI 49931 } } } PH 906-369-1875 } } } FAX 906-487-2934 } } } mailto:opmills-at-mtu.edu } } } http://www.mm.mtu.edu/~opmills } } } } } } At 11:48 AM 1/8/2004 -0500, Kathleen Roberts wrote: } } } } } } } } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ } } } } } } } } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of } } } } America } } } } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- } } } } http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver } } } } On-Line Help } } } } http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- } } } } } } } } } } } } To Joel, Eckhart, Kenneth, Peter, and anyone else who gave me advice- } } } } } } } } OK, I finally had a chance to sit down and fiddle with the chiller, } } } } and here is what I have. } } } } } } } } I turned on my Zeiss EM 10CA and checked the flowmeter in the } } } } column: about 2.2 L/min, if I am reading it right. There was no } } } } gauge for the chiller flow rate, but there is a pressure gauge on } } } } the front of the chiller, and it read about 39 psi. This reading } } } } did not change through the entire test, and neither did the EM } } } } flowmeter. } } } } Chiller temperature reading was about 75 degrees F at start. It } } } } needs to be 68 degrees F, according to the EM's manual. Only the } } } } "Cool" light was on...all others, including the "Compressor" light, } } } } were off. } } } } } } } } I turned the temperature screw to the left to lower the temp setting. } } } } No response from the compressor. Turned it down a second } } } } time....still no response. After about 5 minutes the Compressor } } } } light turned on, and the temperature started to drop, finally. The } } } } temperature went all the way down to 53 degrees F, at which point } } } } the "Lo Temp" light went on, the "Compressor" light went off, and } } } } the "Heat" light went on. I turned up the temp screw a little bit. } } } } } } } } At about 60 degrees F, the "Heat" and "Lo Temp" lights went off and } } } } the "Cool" and "Pump" lights are on (actually the "Pump" light } } } } never turned off). It rose to 68 degrees F....and continued to } } } } rise. I let it get to about 79 degrees F, and the compressor never } } } } turned back on. I tried turning the screw back to the left to drop } } } } the temp setting...it never went back on. } } } } } } } } At this point, I decided to turn the EM 'scope off....though the } } } } flow rate never dropped, and the buzzer never went off. The } } } } temperature gauge on the chiller continued to rise, even after } } } } turning the 'scope off. It was reading about 90 degrees F when I } } } } left to come write all of you. } } } } } } } } Just now went back in to check the thing...the compressor finally } } } } came on...it's reading about 53 degrees F and the "Lo Temp" light } } } } is on, and the "Compressor" light is off. } } } } So I think it's the switch....or perhaps the "Hi Temp" sensor? Or } } } } both? I have no idea how all the sensors and switches are } } } } connected...even with the diagrams and manual that were sent, as I } } } } have no idea how to read such things (been eons since I did } } } } circuits in Physics class...). What do you all think? } } } } } } } } Thank you all so much for your help- } } } } Kathleen } } } } Neurotoxicology Labs } } } } Rutgers University } } } } } } } } } } Owen P. Mills } } } Electron Optics Engineer } } } Materials Science & Engineering } } } Michigan Technological University } } } Rm 512 M&M Bldg. } } } Houghton, MI 49931 } } } PH 906-369-1875 } } } FAX 906-487-2934 } } } mailto:opmills-at-mtu.edu } } } http://www.mm.mtu.edu/~opmills } } } } } } Owen P. Mills } Electron Optics Engineer } Materials Science & Engineering } Michigan Technological University } Rm 512 M&M Bldg. } Houghton, MI 49931 } PH 906-369-1875 } FAX 906-487-2934 } mailto:opmills-at-mtu.edu } http://www.mm.mtu.edu/~opmills }
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Thu Jan 8 16:02:07 2004
In a message dated 1/8/04 4:44:05 PM, tivol-at-caltech.edu writes:
} The take-home lesson is that there still must be knowledgeable } oversight, especially with regard to automated processes, to assure the } quality of the results
You'll get no argument from me about that! The point I was trying to make is that as the tools have become more complex, many of the tasks that we once dealt with manually (I learned electron microscopy on a Siemens 1A, right on the Caltech campus, back in the '50's - and as a result I really know what alignment means, not just how to push a button) are now so automated that they are hard to control. We may (but may not) be able to spot problems, but the casual user (shudder) will not know how to correct them.
I think this thread has been interesting primarily in that everyone who has commented has been in basic agreement that far too many people who use microscopes understand them, or the ancillary techniques of specimen preparation, image analysis, etc., well enough to keep out of trouble or get really optimum results. Clearly they have other priorities than learning all that stuff. I've taught image analysis courses now to something approaching 3500 people. Even assuming they all learned everything I wanted them to, that is a drop in the bucket. And the people who really need it most don't come - at best they send a technician whom they can subsequently tell to do the work. But that's another rant.
John Russ
John Russ
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Thu Jan 8 17:36:30 2004
} A lab user has asked me to find some place he can get freeze fracture } work } done. Close to San Francisco bay area would be best. Reply to me and I } will } pass on the contact info. } Dear Jon, If Kent McDonald does not have freeze-fracture, he probably knows someone in or near Berkeley who does. I don't have his email address immediately at hand. Yours, Bill Tivol, PhD EM Scientist and Manager Cryo-Electron Microscopy Facility Broad Center, Mail Code 114-96 California Institute of Technology Pasadena CA 91125 (626) 395-8833 tivol-at-caltech.edu
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Fri Jan 9 03:06:04 2004
The same is with EPMA (Electron Probe Microanalysis) with EDS. Unfortunately m o s t manufacturers moved their goals and tried to develop calculation machines as 'black box'. Because of the giant improvements in calculation speed of our computers (in last decades), only one button hit is necessary to display the complete analysis result (in most cases computer needs a tiny part of a second). The unskilled or less skilled operators believe in these results, without any concern. Even element concentration result errors of 0.1% and less are taken from the computer display as the truth. But such a very high 'accuracy' must be only the statistical part! The computer speed and modern easy to use software interfaces cover the very complex and not linear relations between measured signal and element concentration in specimen. The iteration process to get result convergence and the systematic and statistic errors with their error propagation during computing process are not visible.
I think for future, a more open software is going to be a trend. There must be a possibility to interact between the knowledge of the microanalyst and the computer program. A visible and easy understandable feedback for all computing steps is necessary. Of course, a higher skilled level of the operator is then necessary. This makes sense only, if the software give the possibility to share the knowledge with the operator, which is then really become a microanalyst.
A couple of years ago, I found in a very old German book of C. Remigius Fresenius "Anleitung zur Qualitativen Chemischen Analyse" ("Guidance to the Qualitative Chemical Analysis") - Braunschweig 1874:
"Es muss daher ein Halbwissen, wie überall so ganz besonders hier, für schlimmer als ein Nichtwissen erachtet und vor oberflächlicher Beschäftigung mit der chemischen Analyse ganz vorzüglich gewarnt werden."
Translation (I hope the feeling is transfered): Therefore a partial knowledge, like everywhere so particularly here, must be worse than even ignorance. It should be warned before superficial concern with the chemical analysis completely and excellently here.
These words are still valid and can be used nowadays for EPMA and Electron Microscopy including image interpretation, as well.
Frank Eggert
Steve Chapman wrote:
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From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Fri Jan 9 05:35:11 2004
My two cents worth on a subject that has quite a few here tossing their own around.
Having spent 25 years in this area, I've had the opportunity to see the initial investigations of this practical application of sub-atomic particle physics in basic research labs as well as its resultant spread to a wide variety of industries. The use of SEM analysis has become a commodity because it is so successful in so many areas. Decades ago, many were researching the potential applications, and in virtually each case, they found the usefulness.
I can't begin to tell you the variety of areas where my customers have found the SEM useful. From missle guidance systems to electron beam lithography. Particulate analysis of howitzer oils to particulate contaminant analysis of sausage casings. The taxonomical classification of emerging bacterial species to process control for the laser produced hologram labels used for software copyright and federal IDs.
The fact is that the SEM has perhaps been too successful. We still hold in reverence the atomic physicists who can design an atomic bomb or understand the results from particle accelerators. But the SEM is a child of these processes that has found wide spread use and the demands for its application greatly exceed the number of those who really understand the underlying processes, much less the proper application of the various subtleties of its application.
I've had to deal with this over the years as the operators I deal with have changed from those individuals who first brought an SEM into a lab to the 'checklist' operators who know nothing about the instruments other than the written sequence of actions to turn it on and get an image. One of the challenges in my work is to try to encourage the SEM operators to learn and think more about the consequences of each turn of a knob or click of a mouse. As a maintenance provider, it certainly helps me if my customers have some understanding of their machines - but more importantly, it helps them do better work. SEMs aren't the only problems here - x-ray spectroscopy in fluorescence or the SEM based microanalysis is another area where operators are often fooled into thinking that results are a simple matter of a set routine.
The computerization of the instruments is furthering the problem. While the manufacturers are seeking only to play to the market, how many operators really understand what's happening when they tell their computer to bring up an FE gun? It really started with simple improvements such as electronic gun adjustments. When an operator had to physically move the gun assembly around, it made some sense that the position of the gun was important to aim the beam down the column. How many really understand the use of magnetic fields in the gun to tilt and shift the beam to alignment? Most that I see at first only know that they have to tweak these knobs and watch for an improvement in the signal.
Like it or not, this trend will continue. But it is not selective to SEMs - I see similar trends in every analytical instrument. As these instruments become more 'user friendly', they are actually lulling users into thinking that all that is needed is a brief glimpse at the user manual, which usually only describes how to push the buttons. IR, GC, LC, MS, ICP and many other techniques that involve complex physics have been reduced to a simplicity that masks their proper use primarily because those using them and buying them want simple answers. A material scientist investigating ceramics doesn't want to have to learn the sub-atomic particle interactions involved, he just wants pretty pictures that explain a manufacturing fault and justify the expense of the SEM, not to mention his job.
'Ease of use' is a marketing tool, and as such, it is a primary goal of manufacturers. I don't mean to focus on them, because it is a vicious circle - the customers are demanding it, the manufacturers simply provide it. In this process, though, what gets lost is that the proper use and interpretation of these instruments requires more than the customers are wanting to afford and more than the manufacturers are wanting to admit to.
Now Steve's attention is a little more esoteric - the quality control of a reviewed paper. But doesn't that just follow from the above? The results, rather than the process, are what matter most now. More and more we see examples in studies that are published, only to be later refuted. NASA's claim a couple of years ago about evidence of ancient bacteria in Mars based rock found in the Antarctic has, last I knew, been lost in dispute. Pons and Fleischman, and Gallo, are of course extremes, but how much of what is accepted as reputable science has later fallen as poor science. A brief look at medical headlines over the past decade or two can give a good glimpse. Science itself is supposed to ensure honest and accurate results, and the assumption of most people, scientists included, is that anything purporting to be science, promoted by supposed scientists, has some truth. Innocent until proven guilty, so to say.
Whether authored by lack of knowledge of instrumental techniques, lack of personal integrity or poor selection of measured variables, many papers get published that should have been caught by reviewers. That's assuming that those reviewers are well versed in all aspects of a particular paper. But given the wide variety of instrumental techniques available today, it can be a daunting task to find a single person expert in all of the instrumental techniques presented in a paper, not to mention the basic field of the paper and mathmatical aspects. If a reviewer isn't well versed in all aspects and techniques of a particular paper, can he be expected to catch the kind of cross-discipline problem in your example? Since much goes unsaid in virtually any paper, should reviewers be required to request all details of sample provenance - the collection, preparation and analysis?
By the way, Steve, was there any mention, in the example you cited, whether the sample was coated or not, or is it an assumption of yours that is wasn't?
Allen R. Sampson Advanced Research Systems 317 North 4th. Street St. Charles, Illinois 60174 ph. (630) 513-7093 fax (630) 513-7092 web http://www.sem.com
-----Original Message----- } From: Steve Chapman [SMTP:protrain-at-emcourses.com] Sent: Wednesday, January 07, 2004 6:42 AM To: MSA
Hi Listers
As many of you may know I run a training organisation that travels world wide spreading the word on SEM, TEM and EDS operation. I also have a deep interest in "Quality in Electron Microscopy"as those who picked up our paper last year would know?
Now to the point. Once again I am picking up respected journals and finding examples of what I would call poor microscopy, but in truth it also demonstrates poor quality control!
To bring one image to mind. The micrograph is of a structure which is described as being an example of a smooth surface on a biological material. But, the micrograph was taken at 20kV, where the vast majority of the information will have come from beneath the surface softening the true surface detail.
First to remove the training aspect . Operators of SEM should be taught that by manipulation of kV and working distance one may subdue or enhance surface features. To use more than 10kV on most biological samples is asking for sub surface detail, ignore this and comments on surface irregularities are null and void in my mind. (I have to say I would probably try to use 2 to 5kV if the microscope used was produced in the last 15 years!)
Now the quality aspect. By the time a paper is published a number of steps should have been taken. Working backwards, the publisher should have the paper vetted by knowledgeable scientists who would be able to pick out the problems that I see and have them corrected prior to going to print. Next back in the chain is the laboratory that was involved with the scientist; did they check the quality of the work leaving their EM unit? Stepping back again did the scientist take the micrographs or did they receive help? Either way the training of staff and operators should overcome this type of problem! But if the results the staff and visiting operators produce are not assessed how do you know that their training is inadequate?
As the pressure to perform increases and funding decreases only the cream of our laboratories will remain. In industry there is no question about following rigid "Quality" procedures and it is not too far off that this will hit the world's EM units too! I know that this is my baby but is it not about time that we woke up to these facts?
There is an area where I believe we have room for discussion; what do you think?
Steve Chapman Senior Consultant Protrain Electron Microscopy Training and Consultancy World Wide Tel +44 (0)1280 816512 Fax +44 (0)1280 814007 Mob +44 (0) 7711 606967 www.emcourses.com
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Fri Jan 9 08:38:55 2004
I cannot help you with your MAC and the software but if you need an adapter for your Fuji S602Z and a microscope I can help you. We have adapters for all kind of digital cameras either for C-Mount or eye-pieces. Let me know if you want to know more about it.
Unfortunately our web site is not in english yet. However you can find the list of digital cameras we support here:
www.klughammer.de - enter the german pages, then open "Kameraadapter" - "für dig. Kameras" - go to the bottom of this page there you find "Kameraübersicht (PDF)", open it and then you get an overview of cameras.
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bwoAAM} I would really like to take the photos digitally but is it impossible bwoAAM} with my present configuration? bwoAAM} i would appreciate any comments please
Dear Jon, Caroline sent this to me; please pass it along to your colleague.
Begin forwarded message:
} Bill - } } Kent gave my old machine to a woman in SF who is running it for hire; } I don't know anything about her or the quality of her work. Look at } www.nanoanalytical.netfirms.com . } } 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/ } Yours, Bill Tivol, PhD EM Scientist and Manager Cryo-Electron Microscopy Facility Broad Center, Mail Code 114-96 California Institute of Technology Pasadena CA 91125 (626) 395-8833 tivol-at-caltech.edu
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Fri Jan 9 14:49:55 2004
Question: The lab where I currently work uses Scion Image, a freeing distributed graphical editing program. I have been having a problem with the "Set Scale" option under the "Analyze" tab. After taking a snapshot of a known scale under the microscope, I set the scale accordingly by typing in the known distance and setting the units to micrometers. When I switch to a different image and wish to use the same scale, the scale I have just calibrated has been reset to the default. Also, I have gone under the "file" tab and clicked on "record preferences," which seems to do nothing. No save box opens, and I am left with my cursor. In addition, the "revert to save option," also under the "file tab" is never illuminated.
How can I set the scale so it will be calibrated for all images open in the editing session?
Thanks and I hope someone out there has some answers.
I am trying to help a plant biology student with some plant histology on mango saplings. She is interested in looking at paraffin sections of the woody stems (LM). Does anyone have suggestions for a processing schedule? I have my processor set up for human tissues but I could easily extend the programmes to accomodate the cellular nature of the material. Having some suggestions would greatly cut down my trial and error!
Many thanks,
Evelyn Kaplan, Dept of Pathology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Oman
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Sat Jan 10 00:57:39 2004
Dear friends, the Italian Master on Microscopy at University I Level is starting on February 2nd, 2004. Only few positions are still available due to a delayed registration on January 19th, 2004. Details can be found at "Master Universitario di I livello in Microscopie ed Analisi Microscopiche in Biologia" http://www.studenti.unige.it/corsi/master.html and at www.lambs.it. All my best Alby
p.s. for further information, please e-mail to diaspro-at-fisica.unige.it using "microscopy master 2004" as subject.
....................................................................... ................................... .. non basta, resistere, resistere...resistere ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Alberto Diaspro Department of Physics, University of Genoa Via Dodecaneso 33, 16146 Genoa, Italy voice: +39-0103536426/480 fax 010314218 diaspro-at-fisica.unige.it, http://www.lambs.it http://wiley.com/cda/product/0,,0471409200,00.html
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Sun Jan 11 10:11:10 2004
} } } } Does anyone have a copy of the book "The Cell", 2nd Edition, by Don } } Wayne Fawcett, MD that they are willing to cell. This is a classic book } } full of electron micrographs. I am a graduate student and I will be } } taking an electron microscopy lab this semester and I am looking for 1 } } or more copies of this book. } } } } Please reply to hiswayt-at-earthlink.net } } } } Thank you.
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Sun Jan 11 10:33:04 2004
We occasionally embed plant samples for LM and make a few changes over what is customary for animal tissue. First of all plant samples do not get as brittle if dehydrated in a TBA (tertiary butyl alcohol)/ETOH series ending with 100% TBA.
Start with 15 min in each of 25 and 50% ETOH. Dehydrate for ~ 2-4hrs in each of the following percents: 90 ETOH - 10 TBA 80 ETOH - 20 TBA 65 ETOH - 35 TBA 45 ETOH - 55 TBA 25 ETOH -75 TBA 100% TBA - 3 changes for at least 4hrs total time
Infiltration is helped along by the following: Put samples into an oven set at a sufficiently high temperature to melt your paraffin. (I put all the cassettes into a beaker large enough to hold them so they are completely covered by TBA and then add room for the paraffin. Add solid paraffin (paraplast) to container and allowing it to gradually melt and mix with TBA. The TBA gradually evaporated. The paraplast is then changed a total of 3x over a period of a couple of days prior to embedding tissue in molds.
It is also advisable to use subbed slides or slides coated with poly L-lysine (100µg/ml in 10mM tris at pH 8.0). Plant cell walls tend to lift from the slide surface during staining.
Debby
Debby Sherman, Manager Phone: 765-494-6666 Life Science Microscopy Facility FAX: 765-494-5896 Purdue University E-mail: dsherman-at-purdue.edu S-052 Whistler Building 170 S. University Street West Lafayette, IN 47907 http://www3.agriculture.purdue.edu/microscopy
On 1/10/04 12:55 AM, "Evelyn Kaplan" {ekaplan-at-squ.edu.om} wrote:
} } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- } http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --} - } } } } Good morning, } } I am trying to help a plant biology student with some plant histology on } mango saplings. She is interested in looking at paraffin sections of the } woody stems (LM). Does anyone have suggestions for a processing schedule? I } have my processor set up for human tissues but I could easily extend the } programmes to accomodate the cellular nature of the material. Having some } suggestions would greatly cut down my trial and error! } } Many thanks, } } Evelyn Kaplan, } Dept of Pathology, } College of Medicine and Health Sciences, } Sultan Qaboos University, } Oman } } }
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Sun Jan 11 12:40:08 2004
} } } } } Does anyone have a copy of the book "The Cell", 2nd Edition, by Don } } } Wayne Fawcett, MD that they are willing to cell. This is a classic book } } } full of electron micrographs. I am a graduate student and I will be } } } taking an electron microscopy lab this semester and I am looking for 1 } } } or more copies of this book. } } } } } } Please reply to hiswayt-at-earthlink.net } } } } } } Thank you.
If you look at the used book search site www.abebooks.com you'll find 10 copies at prices from $9-$75. -- 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/ Intertidal invertebrates: http://www.fortbragg.k12.ca.us/AG/marinelab.html
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Jan 12 09:54:06 2004
I have used these old protocols with success on woody materials. Put plant material always requires greatly extended times compared to animal tissue. Also, if you have problems with tearing of the embedded tissue during sectioning you can soften the embedded material in Gifford's solution (below). The difficulty is trying to get the harder tissue soft enough so it doesn't tear the softer tissue during sectioning.
The details we used are as follows: Fixation for 12 to 48 hours in FAA (you might also try Navashin's fixative which contains chromic acid) Infiltrate through TBA series (Johansen series) for 2 hours each step 3 changes of pure TBA over 24 hours 3 changes of Paraplast over 24 hours Embed
Soften the blocks by soaking overnight to 7 days in water at up to 38°C If this doesn't work try 2 days to 2 weeks in Gifford's (room temp in fume hood): 20 ml glacial acetic acid 80 ml 60% ethanol 5 ml glycerine You will have to try the softening times with your own tissue. If you leave it too long the soft tissue will become macerated. Let me know if you need more detail.
Good luck,
Kim
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Jan 12 10:00:07 2004
We have recently acquired a Pelco Biowave and are in the process of acquainting ourselves with it. Currently, I am trying to fix two species of insects with it for SEM (Colorado potato beetle larvae and Diamond back moth larvae). A literature search has not turned up much information on microwave processing for insects. I have tried adaptations of the standard protocol (2% glut, rinse, 1% osmium, rinse, ethanol dehydration, critical point dry) at various microwave wattages, times, and with vacuum applied. So far, I have not achieved reproducible results for either insect. While I plan on more trial and error, I was wondering if anyone has a microwave protocol for insects or any advice on this.
Shannan Little Research Technician/Technicien de recherche Electron Microscopy and Image Analysis / Microscopie électronique et Analyse d'images Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada/Agriculture et Agroalimentaire Canada Telephone/Téléphone: 403-317-3446 Facsimile/Télécopieur: 403-382-3156 P.O. Box 3000 / CP 3000 Lethbridge, Alberta T1J 4B1 littlesm-at-em.agr.ca http://res2.agr.ca/lethbridge/emia/index_e.htm
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Jan 12 10:00:47 2004
Dear all, We would be interested in users comments about EBSD systems. In particular, we are looking at the systems offered by HKL and by TSL/EDAX. Please comment on some of the following points:
* Ease of use
* Robustness/reliability of indexing when dealing with low symmetry structures
* Calculation of GB misorientations and display of crystallographically equivalent misorientations
* Possibilities for generating different types of map (e.g. orientation, GB misorientation, phase)
* Correlation with EDXS data or maps / generation of combined maps
I look forward to hearing from you. Please copy all responses to myself and to Martin Lee {m.lee-at-earthsci.gla.ac.uk}
Thanks and best wishes
-- Ian MacLaren Technische Universität Darmstadt Material- und Geowissenschaften Petersenstr. 23 64287 Darmstadt Germany http://www.tu-darmstadt.de/fb/ms/fg/sf/projekte/maclaren-Dateien/maclaren.html
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Jan 12 10:32:46 2004
I have been calibrating my recently installed Philips TEM with a grating replica and I need some suggestions. At a print magnification of about 80KX I see about a 1% variation in my calculated magnification depending where I select my stop and start marks.
How much variation should I expect in magnification due to changes in lens voltage and current?
Thanks!!!
Frank Karl Degussa Corporation Akron Technical Center 3500 Embassy Parkway Suite 100 Akron, Ohio 44333
330-668-2235 Ext. 238
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Jan 12 10:46:04 2004
Frank, I suspect that these variations are in the grating itself, not your TEM. They can be a bit variable, depending on stretching and buckling from the preparation process. We have a record of measurements of semiconductor standard samples going back 8 years on our Jeol 120CX TEM, and find a reproducibility better than 1% over this time. There is a change in magnification from the centre to the edge of the micrographs on our machine of about 1%, but our microscope is now pretty ancient and I would hope that newer machines are much better than this. We are about to embark on a full gauge capability test on the machine, which should be interesting. I can let you know the results of the study if you like.
-----Original Message----- } From: Frank.Karl-at-degussa.com [mailto:Frank.Karl-at-degussa.com] Sent: 12 January 2004 16:18 To: microscopy-at-msa.microscopy.com
I have been calibrating my recently installed Philips TEM with a grating replica and I need some suggestions. At a print magnification of about 80KX I see about a 1% variation in my calculated magnification depending where I select my stop and start marks.
How much variation should I expect in magnification due to changes in lens voltage and current?
Thanks!!!
Frank Karl Degussa Corporation Akron Technical Center 3500 Embassy Parkway Suite 100 Akron, Ohio 44333
330-668-2235 Ext. 238
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From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Jan 12 11:13:40 2004
In my experience, successful microwave fixation depends mainly upon the size of the specimen. How big are these insects? Second, if the larvae are difficult to penetrate (I have no idea), longer times may be required. You might also consider Karnofsky's fixative instead of Glutaraldehyde (I found that it improved results in many cases over a wide variety of specimen types, although I didn't try insects). I would try lengthening the primary fixation time before adjusting any of the other processing variables. Fixation temperatures should never exceed 50°C (I don't know what this translates to in watts on your Biowave), or you will get "crispy critters".
best regards, Steven Slap Microwave Consultant
At 11:04 AM -0500 1/12/04, Shannan Little wrote: } We have recently acquired a Pelco Biowave and are in the process of } acquainting ourselves with it. Currently, I am trying to fix two species } of insects with it for SEM (Colorado potato beetle larvae and Diamond } back moth larvae). A literature search has not turned up much } information on microwave processing for insects. I have tried } adaptations of the standard protocol (2% glut, rinse, 1% osmium, rinse, } ethanol dehydration, critical point dry) at various microwave wattages, } times, and with vacuum applied. So far, I have not achieved reproducible } results for either insect. While I plan on more trial and error, I was } wondering if anyone has a microwave protocol for insects or any advice } on this.
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Jan 12 11:46:35 2004
FYI I just opened a new supply of Kodak Professional Rapid Fixer and found larger boxes. After the film switch not so very long ago, I decided to check the ingredients. "Solution A" now has Ammonium Sulfite, Sodium bisulfite and Sodium acetate added to what was printed on the old box. The mixing directions are the same 1999 version. "Solution B" and the CAT # 146 4106 appear to be the same.
Pat Connelly The University of Pennsylvania Department of Biology Philadelphia, PA 19104-6018 215-898-7145 psconnel-at-sas.upenn.edu
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Jan 12 11:53:21 2004
We are trying to install two cameras on a Windows XP computer.
We cannot get XP to recognize both the Sensicam PCI card and the Roper PCI card. It's completely an exclsuive or installation. We've poked around the Device driver menu and downloaded the most recent drivers.
Has anybody figured out how to install both these camera simultaneously?
____________________________________________________________________________ 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 MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Jan 12 12:01:24 2004
I would recommend the Mag-I-Cal sample for calibrating your TEM. You can do a much larger range of Magnification settings than using a replica. I think that the error is 1 to 2%. In addition, you can do rotation and camera constant calibrations with the same sample.
One thing to minimize the variation in the microscope is to always changed the lenses in the same direction to avoid hysterisis and to make sure that you are at the eucentric point so that the obj lens is the same. Again, you should bring the focus from the same direction.
If the goniometer has not bee removed or the column split, the values that you get from time to time should be very close. We had to run calibration twice a year on the TEM. I can't remember the range specifically, but I think that the variation in mag was less than 0.5% and may have been better than 0.1% when the above criteria was met.
-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: Frank.Karl-at-degussa.com [mailto:Frank.Karl-at-degussa.com] Sent: Monday, January 12, 2004 11:18 AM To: microscopy-at-msa.microscopy.com
I have been calibrating my recently installed Philips TEM with a grating replica and I need some suggestions. At a print magnification of about 80KX I see about a 1% variation in my calculated magnification depending where I select my stop and start marks.
How much variation should I expect in magnification due to changes in lens voltage and current?
Thanks!!!
Frank Karl Degussa Corporation Akron Technical Center 3500 Embassy Parkway Suite 100 Akron, Ohio 44333
330-668-2235 Ext. 238
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Jan 12 12:53:50 2004
When we manufacture TEM or SEM gratings we make them from a replica of a master grating. When you dissolve away the replication material there is some shrinkage, but it should be very limited. The shrinkage is inherent in the manufacturing, but we cull any which show problematic shrinkage. It is very similar to our carbon substrate manufacturing.
John Arnott
Disclaimer: Ladd Research manufactures and sells the gratings, replicating materials and substrates mentioned in this email.
Ladd Research 83 Holly Court Williston, VT 05495
On-line Catalog: http://www.laddresearch.com
tel: 1-802-658-4961(anywhere) or 1-800-451-3406(US) fax: 1-802-660-8859 e-mail: sales-at-laddresearch.com
----- Original Message ----- } From: {Frank.Karl-at-degussa.com} To: {microscopy-at-msa.microscopy.com} Sent: Monday, January 12, 2004 11:17 AM
Frank, If you are using film, a second variation in measurement may come from the enlarger when you print the picture. If the negative is not supported on glass, it can bow in the center and distort the measurement a bit.
It was a surprise to me to find that if I had set my "MAG. ZERO" early in the morning and then checked it later in the day, there was frequently a slight change. It was explained to me that in an old building, when there was a greater draw of electricity, a change could be expected and for really important work, I should re-calibrate. Am I just gullable?
My favorite goof has been the result of not adjusting my tilting specimen holder to read 0 degrees!
Pat Connelly The University of Pennsylvania Department of Biology Philadelphia, PA 19104-6018 215-898-7145 psconnel-at-sas.upenn.edu } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } } When we manufacture TEM or SEM gratings we make them from a replica of a } master grating. When you dissolve away the replication material there is } some shrinkage, but it should be very limited. The shrinkage is inherent in } the manufacturing, but we cull any which show problematic shrinkage. } It is very similar to our carbon substrate manufacturing. } } John Arnott } } Disclaimer: Ladd Research manufactures and sells the gratings, replicating } materials and substrates mentioned in this email. } } Ladd Research } 83 Holly Court } Williston, VT 05495 } On-line Catalog: http://www.laddresearch.com } tel: 1-802-658-4961(anywhere) or 1-800-451-3406(US) } fax: 1-802-660-8859 } e-mail: sales-at-laddresearch.com } } ----- Original Message ----- } } From: {Frank.Karl-at-degussa.com} } To: {microscopy-at-msa.microscopy.com} } Sent: Monday, January 12, 2004 11:17 AM } Subject: [Microscopy] TEM mag question } ----------------------------------------------------------------- } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } } } I have been calibrating my recently installed Philips TEM with a grating } } replica and I need some suggestions. At a print magnification of about } } 80KX I see about a 1% variation in my calculated magnification depending } } where I select my stop and start marks. } } } } How much variation should I expect in magnification due to changes in lens } } voltage and current? } } } Frank Karl
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Jan 12 15:39:11 2004
I wanted to know the vapor pressure of alumina (Al2O3) at 1200 C. I know that it will be very low, but an estimate would also be helpful. I looked at various places (such as CRC handbook of Physics and Chemistry, Handbook of thermophysical properties of solid materials, ASM handbook, Vol. 5), but got values above 1950C (e.g. 10^-3 torr at 1950 C).
I want to know the answer to this question since I work at vacuum levels of 10^-6 to 10^-8 torr and at 1200C. I am interested in knowing if the aluminum oxide layer on my samples evaporates under these conditions. One company representative said that it wont, but he did not have vapor pressure values to support the assertion.
thanks in advance
Rahul Panat Univ of Illinois Urbana, IL
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Jan 12 17:23:47 2004
Title-Subject: [Microscopy] [Filtered] Kodak 4489 EM film
Question: Can anyone use some left-over Kodak 4489 electron microscopy film? I was about to throw out 5 boxes [2 x 10 in. 100 strips per box] during "housecleaning" the other day, but thought there might be someone who could use it. It has been refrigerated and unopened for about 12 years. [I used to use it in our old RCA EMU 3G TEM.] If someone wants it send me your mailing address and I'll ship it out to you. Otherwise, it will be recycled or trashed.
Lee Hadden Department of Biology Wingate University Wingate, NC 28174
Question: I am interested in getting quantitative analysis training for analyzing aluminum alloys and oxides. In our lab, we have an Hitachi S-3500N equipped with an Oxford EDS Spectrometer (model# 7021)that has the INCA and ISIS software packages installed on the computer. I would like to visit an independent laboratory or university for a week or two for training. If someone could assist me I would appreciate it.
} } Hello Shannan. } } I have some experience with microwave fixation of Drosophila larval } salivary glands for TEM. First, I run my cold spot -at- 15-18 degrees (this } removes the heating effect) I fix them in Karnovsky's fix power level } 1(100 watts on my MW) for 1 minute on-1minute off-1 minute on). Then I } turn the power up to 450 watts (power level 4 on my machine) and pulse for } 30 seconds on-30 seconds off-30 seconds on 3 times.They should not get } hot! I let sit on the bench in fixative for 5 minutes. I have also tried } this protocol on zebrafish larvae (with vacuum) and they are well fixed. } The insect probably has a cuticle which may hinder the penetration of the } fixative. If you can find a way to partially remove this, or inject the } fix then MW, you might have better results. } For osmium fix, I repeat the above timetable. I dehydrate under vacuum 45 } seconds -at- power level 3(350 watts) 50, 70,95% once each. I do 100% } ethanol 3 times followed by 100% acetone before infiltration in resin. } Hope this helps, JoAnn Buchanan } } } } We have recently acquired a Pelco Biowave and are in the process of } } acquainting ourselves with it. Currently, I am trying to fix two species } } of insects with it for SEM (Colorado potato beetle larvae and Diamond } } back moth larvae). A literature search has not turned up much } } information on microwave processing for insects. I have tried } } adaptations of the standard protocol (2% glut, rinse, 1% osmium, rinse, } } ethanol dehydration, critical point dry) at various microwave wattages, } } times, and with vacuum applied. So far, I have not achieved reproducible } } results for either insect. While I plan on more trial and error, I was } } wondering if anyone has a microwave protocol for insects or any advice } } on this.
Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology Stanford University School of Medicine Stanford, CA 94305 650-723-5856
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Jan 12 19:07:09 2004
Michael, Have you tried rearranging the cards on the Mobo? I had the same adventure when installing a Pixera camera and Scion system on an XP system. I did not get the New Hardware Found announcement for the Pixera card until I did some card swapping.
Let me know how you get on.
Greg
Dr. G. F. Barclay Plant Science Unit, Dept of Life Sciences University of the West Indies St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago West Indies Phone: 868 645 3232 ext 3112/2045 Fax: 868 645 7132
} From: Michael Cammer {cammer-at-aecom.yu.edu} } To: microscopy-at-MSA.microscopy.com } Subject: [Microscopy] Sensicam QE & Roper HQ } Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2004 12:58:55 -0500 } } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
_________________________________________________________________ Help STOP SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Jan 12 20:02:39 2004
Dear Shannan, Below is a method we have used for a few different insect types, for TEM not SEM, but the fixing steps we use might provide a useful comparison at least.
With SEM I assume you won't want to dissect your samples prior to processing (as we did) so penetration of the solutions may be more of a problem, but then the requirements for fixation for SEM are also less stringent. The microwave conditions may be useful guidelines but of course you'll have to determine the conditions for your own microwave and samples. If you haven't already got them, I strongly recommend Gary Login's text (Login, G. R., & Dvorak, A. M. (1994) " The Microwave Toolbook A Practical Guide for Microscopist" Boston: Beth Israel Hospital) and Kok and Boon's book "The Microwave Cookbook for Microscopists", Boon and Kok, Coulomb Press Leiden, 1992.
Method: Primary fix: 3% glutaraldehyde in 0.1M Na cacodylate, pH 7.4. Samples dissected out and placed into the primary fix solution (in a small plastic petri dish).
They were then put into fresh fixative (specimen containers for a Leica AFS were used inside the petri dish) and microwave irradiated as follows:
EMS lab microwave oven setup: -a dummy load of 100ml dw at 20degC in a 250 glass beaker was used (always in the same place - right rear corner for us) -temperature limiting off -100% 'power' (ie magnetron on continuously) -sample volume for all the fixing steps was 4.0ml -magnetron was pre-warmed for 2 minutes with a load of 500-600ml water before each step (unless the oven was used less than 2 minutes earlier).
1) Microwave Primary Fixation:
The sample in 4 ml of primary fix is irradiated for (7s) to give a final temperature of about 50degC - check the temperature after irradiation (and obviously before you use your actual samples if you're doing this for the first time) and alter subsequent run times if necessary. (We use the spot in the oven we deem to be receiving a steady, high level of radiation).
Allow sample to sit in fume cupboard in fix container for 3 minutes to cool it to room temp before removing fix. Replace fix with fresh and repeat the irradiation process twice. A cool dummy load must used with each run.
Leave samples in fume cupboard for 30 minutes at room temperature.
2) Rinse the samples:
Three X 10 minutes in 0.1M cacodylate buffer.
3) Secondary fixation:
Place 2% OsO4 in 0.1M cacodylate buffer into fix dish with specimens. Irradiate for 7s Leave for 40 minutes in the OsO4.
4) Rinse with 0.1M cacodylate buffer
Three X 10 minutes
The remainder of my method is for TEM preparation so you could do your usual pre-drying and drying steps then.
Regards,
Richard
} } We have recently acquired a Pelco Biowave and are in the process of } acquainting ourselves with it. Currently, I am trying to fix two species } of insects with it for SEM (Colorado potato beetle larvae and Diamond } back moth larvae). A literature search has not turned up much } information on microwave processing for insects. I have tried } adaptations of the standard protocol (2% glut, rinse, 1% osmium, rinse, } ethanol dehydration, critical point dry) at various microwave wattages, } times, and with vacuum applied. So far, I have not achieved reproducible } results for either insect. While I plan on more trial and error, I was } wondering if anyone has a microwave protocol for insects or any advice } on this. } } Shannan Little
Richard Easingwood Otago Centre for Electron Microscopy Department of Anatomy and Structural Biology School of Medical Sciences, University of Otago PO Box 913, Dunedin, NEW ZEALAND Telephone: 0064 3 479 7301 Facsimile: 0064 3 479 7254 GSM: 0064 21 222 4759 mailto:richard.easingwood-at-stonebow.otago.ac.nz Web site: http://ocem.otago.ac.nz/
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Jan 12 21:28:45 2004
We swapped cards all over the place. The one in the lowest slot gets recognized, but not the other. Also, the Roper card doesn't seem to work in the highest slot, even alone. We could get either card to work with a firewire camera in another slot, but the Retiga we have isn't low noise enough for this application. I think we'll have to temporarily get a second computer in the room. Thanks.
On Tue, 13 Jan 2004, gregor barclay wrote:
} Michael, } Have you tried rearranging the cards on the Mobo? I had the same adventure } when installing a Pixera camera and Scion system on an XP system. I did not } get the New Hardware Found announcement for the Pixera card until I did some } card swapping. } } Let me know how you get on. } } Greg } } } } Dr. G. F. Barclay } Plant Science Unit, Dept of Life Sciences } University of the West Indies } St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago } West Indies } Phone: 868 645 3232 ext 3112/2045 } Fax: 868 645 7132 } } } } } } } From: Michael Cammer {cammer-at-aecom.yu.edu} } } To: microscopy-at-MSA.microscopy.com } } Subject: [Microscopy] Sensicam QE & Roper HQ } } Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2004 12:58:55 -0500 } } } } } } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ } } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- } } http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver } } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- } } } } We are trying to install two cameras on a Windows XP computer. } } } } We cannot get XP to recognize both the Sensicam PCI card and the Roper PCI } } card. It's completely an exclsuive or installation. We've poked around } } the Device driver menu and downloaded the most recent drivers. } } } } Has anybody figured out how to install both these camera simultaneously? } } } } } } } } } } ____________________________________________________________________________ } } 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/ } } } } } } _________________________________________________________________ } Help STOP SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE* } http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail } }
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Jan 12 22:57:10 2004
We have an old Wild M8 dissecting microscope with a 1.0x objective that can be converted to 0.4x or 1.6x by clipping adapter lenses onto the bottom of the 1.0x objective. We'd like to get a second set for another M8 because they get used so much now that they are sometimes needed by both microscopes. Unfortunately, these are no longer available from Leica, instead you have to get an adapter and rather more expensive 0.4x and 1.6x objectives. These new objectives are better quality than the old adapters, but for our work, the ease of switching with the adapters and low cost outweighs the marginal increase in quality at the magnifications we're using.
Anyone willing to part with their adapters, or know of a source? I've tried ebay and several other used equipment sites with no luck so far.
0.4x adapter lens part no. 367898 1.6x adapter lens part no. 367916
Thanks much, Rosemary White
Dr Rosemary White rosemary.white-at-csiro.au Microscopy Centre fax 61- 2 6246 5000 CSIRO Plant Industry ph. 61- 2 6246 5475 or GPO Box 1600 mob. 61- 0402 835 973 Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Tue Jan 13 07:23:25 2004
Richard makes some good points here. I second his reading recommendations, and want to let everyone know that there is a brand new edition of Kok and Boon, Microwaves for the Art of Microscopy, Coulomb Press, Leiden, 2003, which has some very useful new information.
I believe that the use of a dummy load is not needed in the Biowave, which has a recirculating water cooler. In any event, the end temperature of 50°C is the key, and Richard's 3 x 7 minutes should give Shannon a good starting point for time in the fixative. I would be a little concerned about using such a small volume of fixative as Richard did (4.0 ml), both because of a fear of exceeding the temperature set point and because a greater volume of fixative to specimen ratio seems prudent based upon my experience with light microscopy specimens. I generally work with about 11.0 ml of fixative.
best regards, Steven Slap Microwave Consultant
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From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Tue Jan 13 07:44:35 2004
O.k., folks following the various recommendations from the list for flatbed scanners we got an Microtek AtrixScan 2500f.
So now, anyone out there with a Microtek 2500f what is the part number and where do you get the bulbs from?
Microtek offical position is "There are no user servicable parts. You have to ship it back - at your cost - to Microtek in California for repair". Now, I am not shipping a 100lb scanner back to California for a $20 bulb replacment - let alone doing it every 6-8 months. Surely someone else out there has already come across this (especially since the bulbs never power down).
Thank you in advance for any help.
Richard E. Edelmann, Ph.D. Electron Microscopy Facility Supervisor 350 Pearson Hall Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056 Ph: 513.529.5712 Fax: 513.529.4243 E-mail: edelmare-at-muohio.edu http://www.emf.muohio.edu
"RAM disk is NOT an installation procedure."
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