Below is the result of your feedback form (NJZFM-ultra-55). It was submitted by (Gsalaj7-at-aol.com) from http://www.msa.microscopy.com/Ask-A-Microscopist/Ask-A-Microscopist.html on Sunday, August 1, 2004 at 14:15:07 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Email: Gsalaj7-at-aol.com Name: Sally Thomas Graziano
Organization: Orlando Science Center
Education: Undergraduate College
Location: Orlando Florida
Question: In my work on the SEM here at OSC. Along with our educational programs we have an ongoing research project. In that regard I have a very small eye cyst from a swan which I need to look at. As you can see most of my specimens are larger biological specimens. How should I mount it on the SEM stub. I use carbon tape for most things but am afraid the cyst will get lost in one of the bubbles of the tape.Also how long to coat. Any sugestions would be most helpful. Sally Graziano
} I took some EDX spectrum by using EDAX Phoenix 1998 Revision 3.1, but I } can not export the spectrum into a data file. Does anybody know the method? } Any suggestion would be highly appreciated. } EDAX have a free spectrum viewer that can be downloaded from: http://www.edax.com/support/EDS_Spectrum_Viewer.html
You can cut and paste the channel data from this programmme.
Alternatively, I have written an application which will display EDAX .spc files - as well as Noran, Link/Oxford and EMSA file formats - which allows export of data as well. Let me know if you want a copy.
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
Can someone point me in the direction of online information regarding techniques for the identification of asbestos by SEM and by other techniques?
thanks
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
Let us know if you find something that is suitable and *inexpensive*. Microscopy supply vendors sell plastic boxes, but at the rate I go through samples, I would go broke and run out of storage room as well.
No inexpensive vials, jars, etc. that I have found protect the prepared surface well - no mounting method. The best compromise is to use a snugly fitting "Cap Plug" (poly closure used to close pipe ends, other holes) and partially insert the mount into it.
If nothing else fits, I stuff the large mounts into a locking closure plastic bag. It is likely that if fragile or coated, this will harm the specimen, however.
A great solution (not my idea) for 1/2" (12mm) pin-mounts is an "Opticlear" 25 dram glass vial with a closed bottom poly cap. Punch or cut a snug hole in the bottom (inside) of the cap, shove the stub pin in and place in vial...
Regards, Woody
Woody White BWXT Services: http://www.bwxt.com/bwxt.html My Site: http://woody.white.home.att.net
-----Original Message----- } From: Giles, Bill [mailto:William.Giles-at-TIMET.com] Sent: Monday, August 02, 2004 1:39 PM To: 'Microscopy-at-microscopy.com'
Hey Listers,
We are looking for a source of individual metallographic sample storage containers. Our mounts are typically 1" diameter and 0.5-1" tall.
Anyone have a source for these?
William Giles Senior Electron Microscopist Metallography Lab Coordinator P.O. Box 2128 Henderson, Nevada 89009 (702) 566-4436 (702) 564-9038 (Fax) William.Giles-at-timet.com
We have some containers that are ideal for this application. You can see an image of them on our website at www.southbaytech.com. Do a keyword search for "containers". You will also find them listed with our extensive range of metallographic consumables under the "consumables" button. I will contact you off-line with pricing.
Best regards-
David
Giles, Bill wrote:
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Hello Microscopy folks, I am trying to resurrect an old spectroscopy system that uses a Tracor Northern TN-6500 box for controlling a linear diode readout. Anyone out there with a manual for the TN-6500? I am happy to pay photocopy charges or do anything (reasonable!) to get my hands on one. Thanks again. Greg Mulhollan ----------------------------------- Gregory Mulhollan, Ph.D. Saxet Surface Science 1001 S. Sunset Canyon Drive Dripping Springs, TX 78620 (512)858-2841 office (512)694-4879 cell mulhollan-at-saxetsurfacescience.com www.saxetsurfacescience.com
William Giles wrote: ============================================================================ ============== We are looking for a source of individual metallographic sample storage containers. Our mounts are typically 1" diameter and 0.5-1" tall.
Anyone have a source for these? ============================================================================ ============== SPI Supplies has manufactured for some years our special mount storage box for 1" mounts, see URL http://www.2spi.com/cataelog/boxes/speci_box.shtml
This would be our SPI #02020-AB and each one holds eight mounts. There are inserts for desiccating capsules. And once the samples are loaded into the box, and the lid closed, some ordinary Scotch Tape is put around the lip of the closed box to seal out air or anything else that might seep in and damage samples.
Disclaimer: SPI Supplies is the manufacturer of this special kind of storage box.
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 ############################ ==================================================
We use the "Cap Plugs" Woody has suggested and I find they work well if you're looking for inexpensive (a few cents per piece) individual sample storage.
The caps come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and I'm sure there are many sources for such items. The vendor we ordered from has a good page with drawings and dimensions for each: http://www.niagaracapsandplugs.com/nonthreaded_caps.htm
Regards,
Steven T Szewczyk Materials Science Contractor US Army Research Lab Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD
-----Original Message----- } From: White, Woody N. [mailto:nwwhite-at-bwxt.com] Sent: Monday, August 02, 2004 4:08 PM To: 'Giles, Bill'; 'Microscopy-at-microscopy.com'
Let us know if you find something that is suitable and *inexpensive*. Microscopy supply vendors sell plastic boxes, but at the rate I go through samples, I would go broke and run out of storage room as well.
No inexpensive vials, jars, etc. that I have found protect the prepared surface well - no mounting method. The best compromise is to use a snugly fitting "Cap Plug" (poly closure used to close pipe ends, other holes) and partially insert the mount into it.
If nothing else fits, I stuff the large mounts into a locking closure plastic bag. It is likely that if fragile or coated, this will harm the specimen, however.
A great solution (not my idea) for 1/2" (12mm) pin-mounts is an "Opticlear" 25 dram glass vial with a closed bottom poly cap. Punch or cut a snug hole in the bottom (inside) of the cap, shove the stub pin in and place in vial...
Regards, Woody
Woody White BWXT Services: http://www.bwxt.com/bwxt.html My Site: http://woody.white.home.att.net
-----Original Message----- } From: Giles, Bill [mailto:William.Giles-at-TIMET.com] Sent: Monday, August 02, 2004 1:39 PM To: 'Microscopy-at-microscopy.com'
Hey Listers,
We are looking for a source of individual metallographic sample storage containers. Our mounts are typically 1" diameter and 0.5-1" tall.
Anyone have a source for these?
William Giles Senior Electron Microscopist Metallography Lab Coordinator P.O. Box 2128 Henderson, Nevada 89009 (702) 566-4436 (702) 564-9038 (Fax) William.Giles-at-timet.com
Quite some time ago, in anticipation of a congenial meeting of interested parties at a common-ground investigation of several broken steel bolts in the Cleveland, Ohio, area, I asked about suitable SEM labs in the area. I received an excellent response from The List, which indicates that it is the primary means of rapid and effective communication in the micrsocopy community. Alas, there was a slower response from the above-referenced interested parties, and so no agreement about protocol or venue was reached until we had all retired to our own offices. Later on, we wound up going back to the place selected originally by one of the parties way back at the beginning of the project, where 1000X is about the limit of useful magnification. I am sure any one of you could have done better.
Thanks to all who reponded.
Best regards, George Langford, Sc.D. Principal Consultant Amenex Associates, Inc. amenex-at-amenex.com http://www.amenex.com/
Below is the result of your feedback form (NJZFM-ultra-55). It was submitted by (cnorton-at-wis-inc.net) from http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MLFormMail.html on Tuesday, August 3, 2004 at 15:36:41 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Question: We are searching for service engineers with KLA-Tencor service and applications experience on all models. Prometrix UV1250/1280; RS 75; 6420; AIT; Starlight; 8100 CD SEMS; etc.
Below is the result of your feedback form (NJZFM-ultra-55). It was submitted by (garyeaston-at-scannerscorp.com) from http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MLFormMail.html on Tuesday, August 3, 2004 at 13:34:53 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Email: garyeaston-at-scannerscorp.com Name: Gary M. Easton
Organization: Scanners Corporation
Title-Subject: [Microscopy] [Filtered] Cambridge/Leica/LEO S360 SEM
Question: I just picked up a used Cambridge S360 that gives me an error code 307(defective LAB6 switch). Does anyone out there that has a complete list of the software error codes and their explanation? The operator's manual offers no help. Also, if anyone has the setup software (mag cal, etc) for this series SEM and is willing to part with a copy, it would be greatly appreciated. Please reply offline to garyeaston-at-scannerscorp.com. Thanks in advance.
Hi all I am looking at Leica ultra-microtomes. The new version (the UC6b) has two controllers, the key pad or the touch screen. I would appreciate any input or comments on these. I am especially interested in reasons to get one or the other. Thanx David
_____________________
David Elliott Ph.D. Research Assistant Professor Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy PO Box 245004 Tucson, AZ 85724
Hi all, I am co-chair of a workshop being given on algae identification at the North American Lakes Management Society International Symposium in Victoria Canada. The workshop is being offered November 2, 2004. Normally, its not a problem to get the scopes, but I can't find a source in Canada. I need 10 teaching scopes with Phase and 400 objectives and 1 BX60 with Phase at 200 and 400 with a trinoc head and a digital camera. Can anyone help? I'm located in Michigan, United States. Thanks much, Ann.
Ann St. Amand, Ph.D. President PhycoTech, Inc. 620 Broad St., Suite 100 St. Joseph, Michigan 49085 USA
Hi David Keypad does not have all features, touch screen has. It's quite confusing. For instance if you go with touch pad, you need to buy $5K interface (whichever it called) for their new cryo-attachment and so on. As far as I understand, touch-screen is sort of "standard" and they "invented" key-pad to make cheaper version of the ultratome. You need to check the compatibility issue, because UC6 is not compatible with previous generation stuff, like UCT, FSC etc. Good luck with shopping. Sergey
At 08:09 AM 8/4/2004, 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
Below is the result of your feedback form (NJZFM-ultra-55). It was submitted by (matthew.salanga-at-childrens.harvard.edu) from http://www.msa.microscopy.com/Ask-A-Microscopist/Ask-A-Microscopist.html#form on Wednesday, August 4, 2004 at 15:15:22 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Email: matthew.salanga-at-childrens.harvard.edu Name: Matthew Salanga
Organization: Children's Hospital Boston
Education: Graduate College
Location: Boston, MA
Question: Greetings!
Does anybody know where I can obtain CFP-YFP FRET control slides. Or transfected a stable FRET positive cell line. Ideally I am looking for cells grown on coverslips which have tagged CFP and YFP proteins that are known to elicit a FRET response.
Below is the result of your feedback form (NJZFM-ultra-55). It was submitted by (sspence-at-flemingc.on.ca) from http://www.msa.microscopy.com/Ask-A-Microscopist/Ask-A-Microscopist.html on Wednesday, August 4, 2004 at 19:41:48 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Email: sspence-at-flemingc.on.ca Name: Susan Spence
Organization: Tottenham Public School
Education: 6-8th Grade Middle School
Location: Tottenham, Ontario Canada
Question: I have a very ruly group of grade 8's, very few microscopes, and even fewer quality slides from which to view organelles and unicellular organisms. DO you have any suggestions as to where I may find good images, either from a light microscope or an electron microscope? I want to show them what cells really look like through a microscope without actually having them to touch one. Thanks for your suggestions!
The Leica ultra-microtome ....?! This brings back memories of the original one, based on the design by Humberto Fernandez-Moran about 50 years ago. Anyone still remember it? Its design was absolutely unique in that the specimen chuck was mounted in a motor-driven massive cylinder which performed complete rotations in the horizontal plane over two pairs of huge flat sapphire bearings placed in a "V" orientation. I imagine that it must have been a "cow of a thing" to set up! It was possibly developed to utilize the newly invented diamond knives (also invented by F-M, whose genius contributed so much to new developments in the early days of TEM). I only ever saw advertising brochures of the ultra-microtome, so would be interested to learn of users' experiences from those times and perhaps also something about the fate of these now-historic instruments.
-----Original Message----- } From: David Elliott [mailto:David.Elliott-at-yale.edu] Sent: Wednesday, August 04, 2004 5:09 PM To: Microscopy ListServer
Hi all I am looking at Leica ultra-microtomes. The new version (the UC6b) has two controllers, the key pad or the touch screen. I would appreciate any input or comments on these. I am especially interested in reasons to get one or the other. Thanx David
_____________________
David Elliott Ph.D. Research Assistant Professor Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy PO Box 245004 Tucson, AZ 85724
I do remember setting up something like that. Except my recollection is that it was designed by Sjostrand. The cylindrical chuck unit had a groove around it so that you would mount the motor on the wall, and run a long V-belt from the motor to the microtome. This was to minimize vibration. The other feature that I remember is that the cutting speed was quite fast, not at all like what we use today.
Joel
I am using a Reichart-Jung MT 6000 ultramicrotome for standard EM sectioning. After the specimen goes through the cutting range there is a beep and the microtome electronics will freeze up, I have tried reseting the knife and specimen advancements but the problem still persists, does anyone have a recommendation?
Thanks,
Todd Hamm Research Technician Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation tmhamm09-at-yahoo.com
On my search for the possibility to get high tension and magnification values out of older Philips and Zeiss TEMs I got no answer from the group and finally found after an extensive search of the web the following interface-cards for these TEMs:
For Philips EM 400, 410, 420: http://www.stefan-diller.com/rem_tem3_en.htm For Zeiss TEMs EM 10 A, B and C: http://www.stefan-diller.com/rem_tem4_en.htm
I hope this is useful for somebody having the same problems with wrong mag-values and doing new reference images after changing the HT-value on an old TEM...
Thanks for your comments. The ultra-microtome as such was of course invented by Fritiof Sjostrand and I agree that his first models had a remote motor, just as you describe. I did not realize that his design also originally had 360¡ rotation of the specimen chuck holder. As far as I know his design was developed in conjunction with LKB-Produkter, Bromma Sweden whereas the slightly later Fernandez-Moran instrument was developed with Ernst Leitz, Wetzlar Germany. I seem to recollect that an example of the F-M instrument found its way to Dunedin, New Zealand, but there must have been others too. Perhaps others might be interested in taking the story further from here.... Cheers,
Jim
-----Original Message----- } From: Joel Sheffield [mailto:jbs-at-temple.edu] Sent: Thursday, August 05, 2004 3:05 PM To: James Chalcroft; Microscopy ListServer
Dear Jim,
I saw the Sjostrand microtome when I taught a course at Rutgers, Camden, in the 1970's. We actually got it set up and running. They also had a (barely) working RCA EMU-2 scope. I doubt if they have kept either.
The other thread in this history, of course, was the system developed by Keith Porter. In the original models of what eventually became the Porter-Blum microtome, the block followed the famous parallelogram path, but advance was thermal. We had a goosneck lab light mounted over the rod that held the specimen, and you sat there flashing the light with each pass of the block. If you were good, you could get beautiful ribbons of silver --but woe betide anyone who walked past you while you were sectioning!
Later on, Keith developed the offset gimble mechanical advance that led to the Sorval series of MT microtomes.
The other interesting approach to microtomy was that of Huxley, who used flexible springs for all of the hinge points, to replace bearings and reduce vibration. This machine was originally made by Cambridge, and later distributed by LKB.
} Dear Joel, } } Thanks for your comments. The ultra-microtome as such was of course } invented by Fritiof Sjostrand and I agree that his first models had a } remote motor, just as you describe. I did not realize that his design } also originally had 360¡ rotation of the specimen chuck holder. As far } as I know his design was developed in conjunction with LKB-Produkter, } Bromma Sweden whereas the slightly later Fernandez-Moran instrument } was developed with Ernst Leitz, Wetzlar Germany. I seem to recollect } that an example of the F-M instrument found its way to Dunedin, New } Zealand, but there must have been others too. Perhaps others might be } interested in taking the story further from here.... Cheers, } } Jim } } -----Original Message----- } From: Joel Sheffield [mailto:jbs-at-temple.edu] } Sent: Thursday, August 05, 2004 3:05 PM } To: James Chalcroft; Microscopy ListServer } Subject: [Microscopy] Re: RE: Leica ultra-microtome (History) } } I do remember setting up something like that. Except my recollection } is that it was designed by Sjostrand. The cylindrical chuck unit had } a groove around it so that you would mount the motor on the wall, and } run a long V-belt from the motor to the microtome. This was to } minimize vibration. The other feature that I remember is that the } cutting speed was quite fast, not at all like what we use today. } } Joel } } } Subject: [Microscopy] RE: Leica ultra-microtome (History) } Date sent: Thu, 5 Aug 2004 10:08:02 +0200 From: } "James Chalcroft" {jchalcro-at-neuro.mpg.de} To: "David } Elliott" {David.Elliott-at-yale.edu} Copies to: "Microscopy } ListServer" {Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com} } } } } } } } -------------------------------------------------------------------- } } -- -------- 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 Leica ultra-microtome ....?! } } This brings back memories of the original one, based on the design } } by Humberto Fernandez-Moran about 50 years ago. Anyone still } } remember it? Its design was absolutely unique in that the specimen } } chuck was mounted in a motor-driven massive cylinder which performed } } complete rotations in the horizontal plane over two pairs of huge } } flat sapphire bearings placed in a "V" orientation. I imagine that } } it must have been a "cow of a thing" to set up! It was possibly } } developed to utilize the newly invented diamond knives (also } } invented by F-M, whose genius contributed so much to new } } developments in the early days of TEM). I only ever saw advertising } } brochures of the ultra-microtome, so would be interested to learn of } } users' experiences from those times and perhaps also something about } } the fate of these now-historic instruments. } } } } -----Original Message----- } } } From: David Elliott [mailto:David.Elliott-at-yale.edu] } } Sent: Wednesday, August 04, 2004 5:09 PM } } To: Microscopy ListServer } } Subject: [Microscopy] Leica ultra-microtome } } } } } } } } -------------------------------------------------------------------- } } -- -- ------ 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 } } I am looking at Leica ultra-microtomes. The new version (the UC6b) } } has two controllers, the key pad or the touch screen. I would } } appreciate any input or comments on these. I am especially } } interested in reasons to get one or the other. Thanx David } } } } } } _____________________ } } } } David Elliott Ph.D. } } Research Assistant Professor } } Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy } } PO Box 245004 } } Tucson, AZ 85724 } } } } Voice: 520-626-7870 } } Fax: 520-626-2097 } } } } } } } } } } Joel B. Sheffield, Ph.D } Department of Biology } Temple University } Philadelphia, PA 19122 } Voice: 215 204 8839 } e-mail: jbs-at-temple.edu } }
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
Leica ultratomes originated from Ultracut series by Reichert-Jung. Am I correct? It seems to me, Leica did not have their own ultratome development (would be nice to know details if they did). They just bought Reichert-Jung and LKB both. They killed SuperNova (LKB) and continued Ultracut. Sergey
At 01:08 AM 8/5/2004, 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
Aha! Joel, Sergey and anyone else interested in historical matters,
I got motivated after reading your interesting comments and actually located here an old Leica brochure (53-12b, in German) dated June 1964, which described the original "Leica Ultra-Mikrotom nach Fern‡ndez-Mor‡n". It was equipped with a Rawyler diamond knife "of highest quality" and was apparently designed to cut just about anything. The accompanying TEM images show sectioned cells in Vestopal and Methacrylate also an Al/Ag alloy. The 3 kg steel rotor was belt-driven with 2 motors situated below the desk (one was used for the sectioning phase of rotation and cutting speed could be controlled from 50 down to 3 mm/sec, while the fast second motor took over for the rest of the rotation cycle). The object chuck was at the front of a long diametrically placed cylindrical invar holder (fastened at its back end to the back of the rotor) which had an inbuilt heating element, and the free front end moved by thermal expansion towards the knife for up to 30 mins. After that period the complete holder was removed and allowed to cool down for 15 mins, during which time a second holder could be used for sectioning. Visualization during sectioning was done with a 72x (Leitz Greenough-type?) stereomicroscope and associated fluorescent lamp. A plexiglas hood was supplied to protect the system from air movements and temperature fluctuations during sectioning. Other statistics: Weight (+ table) was 148 kg. Power draw-off was 130 W. The images shown corresponded to typical good quality methacylate sections of the 1950/60s but the instrument never became popular. I imagine that this brochure was one of the last that Leitz issued. It would seem that the main advantage of this instrument design was that complete 360¡ rotation obviated the need for specimen retraction. Retraction during the upwards stroke is absolutely necessary for any reciprocating system in order to prevent wetting of the knife front or even breakage of the delicate cutting edge when the specimen moves upwards after cutting because all thermal expansion systems have great inherent inertia and advance cannot be stopped successfully for such short time periods. One possible disadvantage of the system is the need for rotational bearings. I do remember vaguely another old ultra-microtome brochure from Leica which had a graph showing the excellent reproducibility of specimen position during cutting from one cycle to the next. This may be so (since German precision workmanship in those years was unbeatable) but the inherent fine-scale bearing rumbling, even if reproducible, would result in a slightly corrugated cut as the specimen would oscillate a little forwards and backwards with respect to the knife during cutting. Perhaps it would need only 10 nm lateral movements in a 100 mm thick section to be noticeable when highest quality ultra-thin sections were examined. Perhaps I am talking somewhat off the top of my head in this case but it would now be interesting to hear from others the real reason(s) for the unpopularity of this long-discontinued instrument - the very FIRST Leica Ultra-Microtome. Best regards & good sectioning to you all ...
I have a Gatan mod. 681 Ion Beam Coater and I'm looking for targets for it. I'm on a limited budget so I'd rather not pay Gatan's prices. Anyone have sources or ideas for Au and Ti targets?
Jerry
-- Gerald Bourne Major Analytical Instrumentation Center Department of Materials Science and Engineering University of Florida 100 Rhines Hall P.O. Box 116400 Gainesville, FL 32611 (352) 392-6985 (352) 392-0390 fax
We have a QImaging camera Retiga 1300i 12 bits. The company we deal with for the image acquisition (with a motorized microscope) uses the 16 bit format. So, they transform the 12 bit images to 16 bit images.
We want to use deconvolution on these images. Will the transformation to 16 bits impair image quality?
Thank you, have a good week-end!
Marie-Claude Belanger
_________________________________________________________________ Balayez vos courriels entrants et sortants et les pices jointes et contribuez ˆ Žliminer les virus destructeurs susceptibles dây tre intŽgrŽs. http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=fr-ca&page=features/virus Commencez ds maintenant ˆ profiter de tous les avantages de MSN Premium et obtenez les deux premiers mois GRATUITS*.
While we do make our own Ion Beam Sputter Deposition and Etching System, we can supply targets for the Gatan system as well. You will find our prices to be *very* reasonable. Please contact me off-line about your specific requirements and I will send you a quote.
Best regards-
David
-- David Henriks
South Bay Technology, Inc. 1120 Via Callejon San Clemente, CA 92673 USA
TEL: +1-949-492-2600 Toll-free in the USA: +1-800-728-2233 FAX: +1-949-492-1499
email: henriks-at-southbaytech.com
Celebrating 40 years of providing Materials Processing Solutions for Metallogaphy, Crystallography and Electron Microscopy.
Please visit us online at www.southbaytech.com.
The information contained in this message and any attachments is privileged and confidential. This message is intended for the individual or entity addressed. If you are not the intended recipient, please do not read, copy or disclose this communication. Notify the sender of the mistake by calling +1-949-492-2600 and delete this message from your system.
Gerald Bourne 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 } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- } } } Hello folks, } } I have a Gatan mod. 681 Ion Beam Coater and I'm looking for targets } for it. I'm on a limited budget so I'd rather not pay Gatan's } prices. Anyone have sources or ideas for Au and Ti targets? } Jerry }
Image quality is highest using the 16-bit format. Since the original image is 12-bits, image quality would suffer (mostly due to loss of dynamic range) if converted to 8-bits. The conversion from 12-bits to 16-bits is typically accomplished by zero filling the four high order bits. Consequently, the image data is in all eight bits of the low order byte and in the four low order bits of the high order byte.
If your deconvolution program can handle 16-bit images, there should be no image degradation. Be advised that, depending on the app itself, your memory requirements may be more than you have available. Very often one can get "Out of Memory" error messages. With modest pixel density and 16-bit TIFF files, you should be OK.
gary g.
At 10:04 AM 8/6/2004, you wrote:
} Dear all, } } We have a QImaging camera Retiga 1300i 12 bits. The company we deal with } for the image acquisition (with a motorized microscope) uses the 16 bit } format. So, they transform the 12 bit images to 16 bit images. } } We want to use deconvolution on these images. Will the transformation to } 16 bits impair image quality? } } Thank you, have a good week-end! } } Marie-Claude Belanger
We also have our 2010F running on a UPS system. I have just done some measurements and while, yes, there is a very large field at the unit (} 500mG rms - off scale for my EMF meter) this decays away rapidly and drops below 1mG rms seven feet from the unit. In our case the column is about 15' from the UPS and we see no effect.
We are still using the same batteries as delivered in 1998. The 50% life time in the case of a power failure has diminished but they still provide sufficient protection for the field emission tip. The battery specifications from the manufacturer states 200 complete full load discharges - we were told a typical life was 4-5 years depending on the number of excursions. Through the manufacturer replacement of all the batteries was quoted at $5K.
One thing to beware of, on multi-phase UPS systems if you are prone to one phase ONLY dying you can fry the UPS control board and you will need a voltage regulator before the UPS unit to protect the UPS.
Regards
Alan
At 11:08 AM 7/23/2004 -0700, Mardinly, John 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
We have a ArtixScan 2500. (as well as two Agfa Duoscan's). The software interface was a little cumbersome to use, but the image quality was very good.
However, I strongly recommend against Microtek. On the 2500 the lamp stays on all the time (i.e. no standby) - o.k., not a problem just wear on the lamp. The lamp burned out after 8 months - o.k., no problem we replaced many lamps in previsouly years on several scanners - 5 minutes later lamp in hand. . . Can NOT get a replacment lamp. We've been looking every where. Microtek will NOT sell the lamps, they wanted us to send the scanner (67 lbs) to across country and they would sell us a new shipping box. Fine - but 7 additional months later they can't come up with a shipping box, nor can they come up with a price for the lamp replacment and NOW they are telling us we're out of the 12 month warranty.
So here we sit - $3k scanner useless and for a $30 part.
} } I am looking for comment on overall functionallity of the Microtek } ArtixScan 1800f scanner. Reliability, resoultion, speed. Will use this } to scan EM neg. etc. } } Thanks } } Robert J. Kayton, Ph.D. } C.R.O.E.T. L606 } Oregon Health & Science Univ. } kayton-at-ohsu.edu } 503-494-2504-Lab } 503-703-3938-Cell } www.ohsu.edu/croet/facilities/emicroscopy } }
Richard E. Edelmann, Ph.D. Electron Microscopy Facility Director 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
University of Connecticut Institute of Materials Science
Postdoctoral Position SPM manipulation of carbon nanotubes and biological systems
A post-doctoral position is available immediately within the Institute of Materials Science at UConn to work on SPM imaging, manipulation, and lithography of carbon nanotubes and biological systems. The ideal candidate will have experience with AFM measurements in liquid, SPM lithography, and or SPM technique development. Experiments will be conducted in the newly constructed NanoMeasurement labs, featuring two new AFM systems for in vitro and air measurements with simultaneous confocal microscopy, as well as a UHV AFM/STM.
This position is a one-year appointment, with funding available for further years. To apply, please send a complete resume, together with a list of publications and contact details for 3 references, to Prof. Bryan Huey (bhuey-at-ims.uconn.edu). Screening of applications will begin immediately, and will continue until the position is filled. Applications are encouraged from under-represented groups, including minorities, women, and people with disabilities.
Bryan D. Huey The Institute of Materials Science University of Connecticut 97 N. Eagleville Road, unit 3136 Storrs, CT 06269 USA office: (860) 486 3284 fax: (860) 486 4745 http://www.ims.uconn.edu/ bhuey-at-uconn.edu
Below is the result of your feedback form (NJZFM-ultra-55). It was submitted by (gazzzoman-at-yahoo.com) from http://www.microscopy.org/MicroscopyListserver/MLFormMail.html on Thursday, July 29, 2004 at 09:21:46 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Question: I am trying to set up a hybrid microscope in order to use AFM (atomic force microscope) along with light microscopy(phase) on unstained biological samples.
The AFM that I am using adds two lenses to the optical path just above the sample. Unfortunately I neither know the specifications of those lenses, nor the characteristics of the other optical elements. I know that the plane of the sample is conjugated to a plane 32mm above the top lens. The whole AFM is practically a tube about 10cm long and 1cm of diameter.
I am trying to get informations about the optical elements of a long working distance condenser. Can anyone please send me a diagram?
I think that the AFM will add one conjugate focal plane to the system. Do you think that this will be a problem? What about using reflected light (for brightfield, phase, or DIC)?
I would like any comment or idea about this. thanks a lot, daniele
Below is the result of your feedback form (NJZFM-ultra-55). It was submitted by (Frida.Maiers-at-co.hennepin.mn.us) from http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MLFormMail.html on Friday, July 30, 2004 at 08:32:06 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title-Subject: [Microscopy] [Filtered] MListserver: TEM photographic supplies available
Question: Due to digital camera installation we have the following available for a nominal fee: 1 case of D19 developer, 11 boxes of EM film (Kodak 4489, new formulation), 15 liquid kits of Kodak fixer, and 17 boxes Kodak Polymax II RC photographic paper (100 sheets each). Thank you.
Below is the result of your feedback form (NJZFM-ultra-55). It was submitted by (juan-at-nanostellar.com) from http://microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MLFormMail.html on Friday, July 30, 2004 at 22:47:04 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
I took some EDX spectrum by using EDAX Phoenix 1998 Revision 3.1, but I can not export the spectrum into a data file. Does anybody know the method? Any suggestion would be highly appreciated.
Below is the result of your feedback form (NJZFM-ultra-55). It was submitted by (Gsalaj7-at-aol.com) from http://www.msa.microscopy.com/Ask-A-Microscopist/Ask-A-Microscopist.html on Sunday, August 1, 2004 at 14:15:07 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Email: Gsalaj7-at-aol.com Name: Sally Thomas Graziano
Organization: Orlando Science Center
Education: Undergraduate College
Location: Orlando Florida
Question: In my work on the SEM here at OSC. Along with our educational programs we have an ongoing research project. In that regard I have a very small eye cyst from a swan which I need to look at. As you can see most of my specimens are larger biological specimens. How should I mount it on the SEM stub. I use carbon tape for most things but am afraid the cyst will get lost in one of the bubbles of the tape.Also how long to coat. Any sugestions would be most helpful. Sally Graziano
} I took some EDX spectrum by using EDAX Phoenix 1998 Revision 3.1, but I } can not export the spectrum into a data file. Does anybody know the method? } Any suggestion would be highly appreciated. } EDAX have a free spectrum viewer that can be downloaded from: http://www.edax.com/support/EDS_Spectrum_Viewer.html
You can cut and paste the channel data from this programmme.
Alternatively, I have written an application which will display EDAX .spc files - as well as Noran, Link/Oxford and EMSA file formats - which allows export of data as well. Let me know if you want a copy.
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
Can someone point me in the direction of online information regarding techniques for the identification of asbestos by SEM and by other techniques?
thanks
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
Let us know if you find something that is suitable and *inexpensive*. Microscopy supply vendors sell plastic boxes, but at the rate I go through samples, I would go broke and run out of storage room as well.
No inexpensive vials, jars, etc. that I have found protect the prepared surface well - no mounting method. The best compromise is to use a snugly fitting "Cap Plug" (poly closure used to close pipe ends, other holes) and partially insert the mount into it.
If nothing else fits, I stuff the large mounts into a locking closure plastic bag. It is likely that if fragile or coated, this will harm the specimen, however.
A great solution (not my idea) for 1/2" (12mm) pin-mounts is an "Opticlear" 25 dram glass vial with a closed bottom poly cap. Punch or cut a snug hole in the bottom (inside) of the cap, shove the stub pin in and place in vial...
Regards, Woody
Woody White BWXT Services: http://www.bwxt.com/bwxt.html My Site: http://woody.white.home.att.net
-----Original Message----- } From: Giles, Bill [mailto:William.Giles-at-TIMET.com] Sent: Monday, August 02, 2004 1:39 PM To: 'Microscopy-at-microscopy.com'
Hey Listers,
We are looking for a source of individual metallographic sample storage containers. Our mounts are typically 1" diameter and 0.5-1" tall.
Anyone have a source for these?
William Giles Senior Electron Microscopist Metallography Lab Coordinator P.O. Box 2128 Henderson, Nevada 89009
Below is the result of your feedback form (NJZFM-ultra-55). It was submitted by (castrj01-at-endeavor.med.nyu.edu) from http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MLFormMail.html on Tuesday, August 10, 2004 at 07:38:02 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Email: castrj01-at-endeavor.med.nyu.edu Name: George Castro
Question: } } I am writing in the hope that } you might refer us to someone able to repair and service a Siemens } Elmiskop 1A. I have obtained a limited amount of contacts through the } web, but with no knowledge of this scope because of its age. Perhaps } among your members there is a better chance. } I am very grateful for your time and attention. } George Castro } } George Castro } Dept. of Surgery } New York University Medical Center } 520 First Ave. #421 } New York, NY 10016 } Tel 212 263 6777 } fax 212 263 0227 } castrj01-at-popmail.med.nyu.edu }
Since the end of last year the idea of a Human Cytome Project has been discussed at several meetings. At the F.O.M. meeting (http://www.focusonmicroscopy.org/2004/program.html) this year the idea of a Human cytome Project was discussed in public for the first time.
The next occasion will be the European Microscopy Meeting (http://www.emc2004.be/) in Antwerp at the end of this month (Friday August 27, Session LS 18. Round table: The Human Cytome project).
I hope it will be an interesting discussion and I look forward to meet you at the meeting.
An interesting article on the idea of a Human Cytome Project: Cytomics - New Technologies: Towards a Human Cytome Project Valet G., T‡rnok A. Cytometry 59A:167-171 (2004)
Dear Gerald, I have found that Abe Dayani of Refining Systems Inc. gives good prices and service on sputtering and deposition targets of all types. He specializes in targets. You can contact him at: Refining Systems Inc. PO Box 72466 Las Vegas, NV 89170 phone: 702-368-0579, fax: 702-368-0933 www.refiningsystems.com I am just a satisfied customer. Regards, Mary Mager Electron Microscopist Department of Materials Engineering University of British Columbia 6350 Stores Road Vancouver, B.C. V6T 1Z4 CANADA Tel: 604-822-5648 Fax: 604-822-3619 e-mail: mager-at-interchange.ubc.ca ----- Original Message ----- } From: "Gerald Bourne" {grb-at-ufl.edu} To: "Microscopy ListServer" {Microscopy-at-msa.microscopy.com} Sent: Friday, August 06, 2004 8:05 AM
Article in today's New York Times about joys of microscopy for children etc. If the link is still up: http://nytimes.com/2004/08/10/science/10essa.html?8hpib
____________________________________________________________________________ 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/
Hello Everyone We had a wonderful time in Savannah at the M&M meeting. Many thanks to all the organisers, vendors and particpants who made it so worthwhile for me.
But one piece of news I heard at the meeting was that Spurr resin is supposed to be going off the market next year. As far as I understand it one of the ingredients is being removed. Has anyone got any comments about this or heard of an alternative ingredient? Elaine
-- Dr. Elaine Humphrey Director, BioImaging Facility President, Microscopy Society of Canada University of British Columbia 6270 University Blvd, mail-stop Botany Vancouver, BC CANADA, V6T 1Z4 Phone: 604-822-3354 FAX: 604-822-6089 e-mail: ech-at-interchange.ubc.ca website: www.emlab.ubc.ca
George, Peter Stolzenberg of Pesto Inc. had serviced the Siemens in the past but I received word after I returned from the M&M 2004 meeting that he had recently passed away. He was the serviceman for my Philips 200 and I received the message so quickly because I had requested that he do a routine for me when I returned. Consequently I am also looking for someone who can help me service my TEM if I get stuck.
A few years ago there was a serviceman working for JEOL whom I had first met at Temple University when he was servicing a Siemens Elmiskop there. Unfortunately I can not remember his name.
Pat Connelly Univ. of PA, Biology Philadelphia, PA 19104-6018 psconnel-at-sas.upenn.edu ========================= } Organization: New York University Medical Center } Title-Subject: [Microscopy] siemens elmiskop 1a } } I am writing in the hope that } } you might refer us to someone able to repair and service a Siemens } } Elmiskop 1A. I have obtained a limited amount of contacts through the } } web, but with no knowledge of this scope because of its age. Perhaps } } among your members there is a better chance. } } I am very grateful for your time and attention. } } } } George Castro } } Dept. of Surgery } } New York University Medical Center } } 520 First Ave. #421 } } New York, NY 10016 } } Tel 212 263 6777 } } fax 212 263 0227 } } castrj01-at-popmail.med.nyu.edu
I am just catching up after a holiday so apologies for any delay. There has been a lot of interesting info regarding early Leitz and Reichert ultramicrotomes. I can add a little more to this dialogue.
During my time with Reichert-Jung UK as EM product specialist I was offered several old ultramicrotomes before they were to be thrown into the Skip (Dumpster in the US?). At one time I had around a dozen of these dinosaurs cluttering up my house but most of them are now thankfully residing in the Archive Building of the Science Museum in London.
Some of those I had were as follows:
Sorvall MT1 and MT2 Reichert Om U1 a design by Prof. H Sitte taken up by that company LKB Sjostrand - the original ultramicrotome from LKB on which I learned ultramicrotomy Leitz - after a design by Fernandez-Moran, a massive but beautifully made unit Philips - yes even this company dabbled in ultramicrotomes Cambridge Rocker - a factory modified microtome for ultra thin sectioning Cooke and Perkins - a simple English ultramicrotme from the fifties Cambridge Huxley Si-ro-flex - an excellent microtome with superbly novel and advanced features made by the Fairey Aviation in Australia
For those interested the first attempts to cut "ultrathin" were a bit of a cheat as the idea was to cut cake-type slice from a specimen and try to image cells at the thinnest part of the wedge. Not entirely successful. There was an early diversion with high speed microtomes in the forties particularly in the USA with massive rotational speeds up to 57,000 rpm but cost and probably aerodynamics (or lack of them) led to there demise.
For anyone who might be as 'barmy' as I am with the history of these things I was once talked into writing a short article for "Microscopy and Analysis". The reference is:
The Thin End of The Wedge - A personal View of The Development of The Ultramicrotome by T W Cooper, Microscopy and Analysis, January 1990.
I have no electronic copy of this dry old missive, but for anyone unable to track it down I do still have a few reprints available that I would happily send one to any interested party,
Best regards
Terry Cooper TAAB Laboratories Equipment Ltd 3 Minerva House, Calleva Park Aldermaston, Berks, RG7 8NA, England Tel ++44 (0)118 981 7775 Fax ++44 (0)118 981 7881 e-mail sales-at-taab.co.uk www.taab.co.uk
So sad to hear of Peter Stolzenberg's passing. He lived and had his offices in Cold Spring Harbor, NY (on Long Island) when I was a grad student at the CW Post campus of LIU, and he kept our ancient Hitachi Hu-11A in fine running order. I got to know Peter quite well during the protracted period of time it took to track down one circuit in the HV cabinet that would short out in a very unpredictable fashion. It was always fun to be working at the scope and hear what sounded like a crack of lightening followed by total loss of HV. It was a matter of having Peter there with his meters in the right place at the right moment. Since his home was just a few miles down the road from the campus, he would stop by in the morning on his way out to other calls and then again on his way home at the end of the day. This went on for about 2 weeks or so. We were finally lucky, he found the problem and even had the right tube (yes, it was all vacuum tubes, remember those?) in stock. I learned a lot of what I know about the inner workings of an EM from Peter, and with his coaching and coaxing, got past my uneasiness about tackling mechanically-related problems with that old beast. Skills that I've carried with me. 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
Terry's mention of the high speed microtomes reminded me of a talk by the then semi-retired Keith Porter that I was lucky enough to attend in which he discussed the early years of EM work at the Rockefeller University. One of the things he described was just such a microtome. He said that the cutting speed was very fast, and that the sections flew off the knife ( steel, if I remember correctly) and were caught against a wire screen cage surrounding the microtome. The sections were manually retrieved from the screen. I hope I've remembered this correctly. Dr. Porter's description was so animated, it created a very vivid impression. Talk about doing things the hard way!
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
Good Morning Elaine and all other microscopy listservers whom are interested in the Spurrs resin and its "whereabouts". Although it is true that one of the constituents is being dwindled from the market ERL-4206 (due to safety issues) for the past 2 years all of our Scientific team at Electron Microscopy Sciences has been doing comparitive testing of like and similar resins to find the one that best works as the original. Over the 2 years of testing we have been able to come up with one and modify it to the point where it is basically undistinguishable from the original 4206. We call it the ERL 4221(catalog number EMS 15004). Formulas do not have to change and the 4221 will become an exact replacement fo the 4206 and none of us will ever know the difference. Blocks, sectioning, staining all will remian unchanged. So this is the good news. At this time there is no bad news at all. If you have any questions or I may be of any assistance please do not hesitate to contact us. We look forward to hearing from you
Sincerely
Stacie Kirsch Electron Microscopy Sciences Tel: 215-412-8400 Fax: 215-412-8450 E-mail: sgkcck-at-aol.com Website: www.emsdiasum.com -----Original Message----- } From: Elaine Humphrey [mailto:ech-at-interchange.ubc.ca] Sent: Tuesday, August 10, 2004 3:34 PM To: microscopy-at-msa.microscopy.com
Hello Everyone We had a wonderful time in Savannah at the M&M meeting. Many thanks to all the organisers, vendors and particpants who made it so worthwhile for me.
But one piece of news I heard at the meeting was that Spurr resin is supposed to be going off the market next year. As far as I understand it one of the ingredients is being removed. Has anyone got any comments about this or heard of an alternative ingredient? Elaine
-- Dr. Elaine Humphrey Director, BioImaging Facility President, Microscopy Society of Canada University of British Columbia 6270 University Blvd, mail-stop Botany Vancouver, BC CANADA, V6T 1Z4 Phone: 604-822-3354 FAX: 604-822-6089 e-mail: ech-at-interchange.ubc.ca website: www.emlab.ubc.ca
Oh, I'm sorry to hear that! Mr. Stolzenberg was just here a couple of weeks ago to service our old Zeiss EM 10-he did a great job. Please send my condolences.
Does anyone know of anyone who can service our Zeiss EM 10CA? It's OK now, but we will certainly need someone in the future.
Thanks, Kathleen Roberts Principal Lab Technician Neurotoxicology Labs Dept. of Pharmacology & Toxicology Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy Rutgers University 41 B Gordon Rd Piscataway, NJ 08854
psconnel-at-sas.upenn.edu wrote:
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
I have spoken with Eric Ambrose concerning this message. In my opinion it is not an advertisement and is definitely of interest and importance to the Microscopy Community.
Eric , thank you again for first checking with me on this.
We have some containers that are ideal for this application. You can see an image of them on our website at www.southbaytech.com. Do a keyword search for "containers". You will also find them listed with our extensive range of metallographic consumables under the "consumables" button. I will contact you off-line with pricing.
Best regards-
David
Giles, Bill wrote:
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Hello Microscopy folks, I am trying to resurrect an old spectroscopy system that uses a Tracor Northern TN-6500 box for controlling a linear diode readout. Anyone out there with a manual for the TN-6500? I am happy to pay photocopy charges or do anything (reasonable!) to get my hands on one. Thanks again. Greg Mulhollan ----------------------------------- Gregory Mulhollan, Ph.D. Saxet Surface Science 1001 S. Sunset Canyon Drive Dripping Springs, TX 78620 (512)858-2841 office (512)694-4879 cell mulhollan-at-saxetsurfacescience.com www.saxetsurfacescience.com
William Giles wrote: ============================================================================ ============== We are looking for a source of individual metallographic sample storage containers. Our mounts are typically 1" diameter and 0.5-1" tall.
Anyone have a source for these? ============================================================================ ============== SPI Supplies has manufactured for some years our special mount storage box for 1" mounts, see URL http://www.2spi.com/cataelog/boxes/speci_box.shtml
This would be our SPI #02020-AB and each one holds eight mounts. There are inserts for desiccating capsules. And once the samples are loaded into the box, and the lid closed, some ordinary Scotch Tape is put around the lip of the closed box to seal out air or anything else that might seep in and damage samples.
Disclaimer: SPI Supplies is the manufacturer of this special kind of storage box.
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 ############################ ==================================================
We use the "Cap Plugs" Woody has suggested and I find they work well if you're looking for inexpensive (a few cents per piece) individual sample storage.
The caps come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and I'm sure there are many sources for such items. The vendor we ordered from has a good page with drawings and dimensions for each: http://www.niagaracapsandplugs.com/nonthreaded_caps.htm
Regards,
Steven T Szewczyk Materials Science Contractor US Army Research Lab Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD
-----Original Message----- } From: White, Woody N. [mailto:nwwhite-at-bwxt.com] Sent: Monday, August 02, 2004 4:08 PM To: 'Giles, Bill'; 'Microscopy-at-microscopy.com'
Let us know if you find something that is suitable and *inexpensive*. Microscopy supply vendors sell plastic boxes, but at the rate I go through samples, I would go broke and run out of storage room as well.
No inexpensive vials, jars, etc. that I have found protect the prepared surface well - no mounting method. The best compromise is to use a snugly fitting "Cap Plug" (poly closure used to close pipe ends, other holes) and partially insert the mount into it.
If nothing else fits, I stuff the large mounts into a locking closure plastic bag. It is likely that if fragile or coated, this will harm the specimen, however.
A great solution (not my idea) for 1/2" (12mm) pin-mounts is an "Opticlear" 25 dram glass vial with a closed bottom poly cap. Punch or cut a snug hole in the bottom (inside) of the cap, shove the stub pin in and place in vial...
Regards, Woody
Woody White BWXT Services: http://www.bwxt.com/bwxt.html My Site: http://woody.white.home.att.net
-----Original Message----- } From: Giles, Bill [mailto:William.Giles-at-TIMET.com] Sent: Monday, August 02, 2004 1:39 PM To: 'Microscopy-at-microscopy.com'
Hey Listers,
We are looking for a source of individual metallographic sample storage containers. Our mounts are typically 1" diameter and 0.5-1" tall.
Anyone have a source for these?
William Giles Senior Electron Microscopist Metallography Lab Coordinator P.O. Box 2128 Henderson, Nevada 89009 (702) 566-4436 (702) 564-9038 (Fax) William.Giles-at-timet.com
Quite some time ago, in anticipation of a congenial meeting of interested parties at a common-ground investigation of several broken steel bolts in the Cleveland, Ohio, area, I asked about suitable SEM labs in the area. I received an excellent response from The List, which indicates that it is the primary means of rapid and effective communication in the micrsocopy community. Alas, there was a slower response from the above-referenced interested parties, and so no agreement about protocol or venue was reached until we had all retired to our own offices. Later on, we wound up going back to the place selected originally by one of the parties way back at the beginning of the project, where 1000X is about the limit of useful magnification. I am sure any one of you could have done better.
Thanks to all who reponded.
Best regards, George Langford, Sc.D. Principal Consultant Amenex Associates, Inc. amenex-at-amenex.com http://www.amenex.com/
Below is the result of your feedback form (NJZFM-ultra-55). It was submitted by (garyeaston-at-scannerscorp.com) from http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MLFormMail.html on Tuesday, August 3, 2004 at 13:34:53 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Email: garyeaston-at-scannerscorp.com Name: Gary M. Easton
Organization: Scanners Corporation
Title-Subject: [Microscopy] [Filtered] Cambridge/Leica/LEO S360 SEM
Question: I just picked up a used Cambridge S360 that gives me an error code 307(defective LAB6 switch). Does anyone out there that has a complete list of the software error codes and their explanation? The operator's manual offers no help. Also, if anyone has the setup software (mag cal, etc) for this series SEM and is willing to part with a copy, it would be greatly appreciated. Please reply offline to garyeaston-at-scannerscorp.com. Thanks in advance.
Below is the result of your feedback form (NJZFM-ultra-55). It was submitted by (cnorton-at-wis-inc.net) from http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MLFormMail.html on Tuesday, August 3, 2004 at 15:36:41 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Question: We are searching for service engineers with KLA-Tencor service and applications experience on all models. Prometrix UV1250/1280; RS 75; 6420; AIT; Starlight; 8100 CD SEMS; etc.
Hi all I am looking at Leica ultra-microtomes. The new version (the UC6b) has two controllers, the key pad or the touch screen. I would appreciate any input or comments on these. I am especially interested in reasons to get one or the other. Thanx David
_____________________
David Elliott Ph.D. Research Assistant Professor Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy PO Box 245004 Tucson, AZ 85724
Hi all, I am co-chair of a workshop being given on algae identification at the North American Lakes Management Society International Symposium in Victoria Canada. The workshop is being offered November 2, 2004. Normally, its not a problem to get the scopes, but I can't find a source in Canada. I need 10 teaching scopes with Phase and 400 objectives and 1 BX60 with Phase at 200 and 400 with a trinoc head and a digital camera. Can anyone help? I'm located in Michigan, United States. Thanks much, Ann.
Ann St. Amand, Ph.D. President PhycoTech, Inc. 620 Broad St., Suite 100 St. Joseph, Michigan 49085 USA
Hi David Keypad does not have all features, touch screen has. It's quite confusing. For instance if you go with touch pad, you need to buy $5K interface (whichever it called) for their new cryo-attachment and so on. As far as I understand, touch-screen is sort of "standard" and they "invented" key-pad to make cheaper version of the ultratome. You need to check the compatibility issue, because UC6 is not compatible with previous generation stuff, like UCT, FSC etc. Good luck with shopping. Sergey
At 08:09 AM 8/4/2004, 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
Below is the result of your feedback form (NJZFM-ultra-55). It was submitted by (matthew.salanga-at-childrens.harvard.edu) from http://www.msa.microscopy.com/Ask-A-Microscopist/Ask-A-Microscopist.html#form on Wednesday, August 4, 2004 at 15:15:22 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Email: matthew.salanga-at-childrens.harvard.edu Name: Matthew Salanga
Organization: Children's Hospital Boston
Education: Graduate College
Location: Boston, MA
Question: Greetings!
Does anybody know where I can obtain CFP-YFP FRET control slides. Or transfected a stable FRET positive cell line. Ideally I am looking for cells grown on coverslips which have tagged CFP and YFP proteins that are known to elicit a FRET response.
Below is the result of your feedback form (NJZFM-ultra-55). It was submitted by (sspence-at-flemingc.on.ca) from http://www.msa.microscopy.com/Ask-A-Microscopist/Ask-A-Microscopist.html on Wednesday, August 4, 2004 at 19:41:48 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Email: sspence-at-flemingc.on.ca Name: Susan Spence
Organization: Tottenham Public School
Education: 6-8th Grade Middle School
Location: Tottenham, Ontario Canada
Question: I have a very ruly group of grade 8's, very few microscopes, and even fewer quality slides from which to view organelles and unicellular organisms. DO you have any suggestions as to where I may find good images, either from a light microscope or an electron microscope? I want to show them what cells really look like through a microscope without actually having them to touch one. Thanks for your suggestions!
The Leica ultra-microtome ....?! This brings back memories of the original one, based on the design by Humberto Fernandez-Moran about 50 years ago. Anyone still remember it? Its design was absolutely unique in that the specimen chuck was mounted in a motor-driven massive cylinder which performed complete rotations in the horizontal plane over two pairs of huge flat sapphire bearings placed in a "V" orientation. I imagine that it must have been a "cow of a thing" to set up! It was possibly developed to utilize the newly invented diamond knives (also invented by F-M, whose genius contributed so much to new developments in the early days of TEM). I only ever saw advertising brochures of the ultra-microtome, so would be interested to learn of users' experiences from those times and perhaps also something about the fate of these now-historic instruments.
-----Original Message----- } From: David Elliott [mailto:David.Elliott-at-yale.edu] Sent: Wednesday, August 04, 2004 5:09 PM To: Microscopy ListServer
Hi all I am looking at Leica ultra-microtomes. The new version (the UC6b) has two controllers, the key pad or the touch screen. I would appreciate any input or comments on these. I am especially interested in reasons to get one or the other. Thanx David
_____________________
David Elliott Ph.D. Research Assistant Professor Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy PO Box 245004 Tucson, AZ 85724
I do remember setting up something like that. Except my recollection is that it was designed by Sjostrand. The cylindrical chuck unit had a groove around it so that you would mount the motor on the wall, and run a long V-belt from the motor to the microtome. This was to minimize vibration. The other feature that I remember is that the cutting speed was quite fast, not at all like what we use today.
Joel
I am using a Reichart-Jung MT 6000 ultramicrotome for standard EM sectioning. After the specimen goes through the cutting range there is a beep and the microtome electronics will freeze up, I have tried reseting the knife and specimen advancements but the problem still persists, does anyone have a recommendation?
Thanks,
Todd Hamm Research Technician Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation tmhamm09-at-yahoo.com
On my search for the possibility to get high tension and magnification values out of older Philips and Zeiss TEMs I got no answer from the group and finally found after an extensive search of the web the following interface-cards for these TEMs:
For Philips EM 400, 410, 420: http://www.stefan-diller.com/rem_tem3_en.htm For Zeiss TEMs EM 10 A, B and C: http://www.stefan-diller.com/rem_tem4_en.htm
I hope this is useful for somebody having the same problems with wrong mag-values and doing new reference images after changing the HT-value on an old TEM...
Thanks for your comments. The ultra-microtome as such was of course invented by Fritiof Sjostrand and I agree that his first models had a remote motor, just as you describe. I did not realize that his design also originally had 360¡ rotation of the specimen chuck holder. As far as I know his design was developed in conjunction with LKB-Produkter, Bromma Sweden whereas the slightly later Fernandez-Moran instrument was developed with Ernst Leitz, Wetzlar Germany. I seem to recollect that an example of the F-M instrument found its way to Dunedin, New Zealand, but there must have been others too. Perhaps others might be interested in taking the story further from here.... Cheers,
Jim
-----Original Message----- } From: Joel Sheffield [mailto:jbs-at-temple.edu] Sent: Thursday, August 05, 2004 3:05 PM To: James Chalcroft; Microscopy ListServer
Dear Jim,
I saw the Sjostrand microtome when I taught a course at Rutgers, Camden, in the 1970's. We actually got it set up and running. They also had a (barely) working RCA EMU-2 scope. I doubt if they have kept either.
The other thread in this history, of course, was the system developed by Keith Porter. In the original models of what eventually became the Porter-Blum microtome, the block followed the famous parallelogram path, but advance was thermal. We had a goosneck lab light mounted over the rod that held the specimen, and you sat there flashing the light with each pass of the block. If you were good, you could get beautiful ribbons of silver --but woe betide anyone who walked past you while you were sectioning!
Later on, Keith developed the offset gimble mechanical advance that led to the Sorval series of MT microtomes.
The other interesting approach to microtomy was that of Huxley, who used flexible springs for all of the hinge points, to replace bearings and reduce vibration. This machine was originally made by Cambridge, and later distributed by LKB.
} Dear Joel, } } Thanks for your comments. The ultra-microtome as such was of course } invented by Fritiof Sjostrand and I agree that his first models had a } remote motor, just as you describe. I did not realize that his design } also originally had 360¡ rotation of the specimen chuck holder. As far } as I know his design was developed in conjunction with LKB-Produkter, } Bromma Sweden whereas the slightly later Fernandez-Moran instrument } was developed with Ernst Leitz, Wetzlar Germany. I seem to recollect } that an example of the F-M instrument found its way to Dunedin, New } Zealand, but there must have been others too. Perhaps others might be } interested in taking the story further from here.... Cheers, } } Jim } } -----Original Message----- } From: Joel Sheffield [mailto:jbs-at-temple.edu] } Sent: Thursday, August 05, 2004 3:05 PM } To: James Chalcroft; Microscopy ListServer } Subject: [Microscopy] Re: RE: Leica ultra-microtome (History) } } I do remember setting up something like that. Except my recollection } is that it was designed by Sjostrand. The cylindrical chuck unit had } a groove around it so that you would mount the motor on the wall, and } run a long V-belt from the motor to the microtome. This was to } minimize vibration. The other feature that I remember is that the } cutting speed was quite fast, not at all like what we use today. } } Joel } } } Subject: [Microscopy] RE: Leica ultra-microtome (History) } Date sent: Thu, 5 Aug 2004 10:08:02 +0200 From: } "James Chalcroft" {jchalcro-at-neuro.mpg.de} To: "David } Elliott" {David.Elliott-at-yale.edu} Copies to: "Microscopy } ListServer" {Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com} } } } } } } } -------------------------------------------------------------------- } } -- -------- 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 Leica ultra-microtome ....?! } } This brings back memories of the original one, based on the design } } by Humberto Fernandez-Moran about 50 years ago. Anyone still } } remember it? Its design was absolutely unique in that the specimen } } chuck was mounted in a motor-driven massive cylinder which performed } } complete rotations in the horizontal plane over two pairs of huge } } flat sapphire bearings placed in a "V" orientation. I imagine that } } it must have been a "cow of a thing" to set up! It was possibly } } developed to utilize the newly invented diamond knives (also } } invented by F-M, whose genius contributed so much to new } } developments in the early days of TEM). I only ever saw advertising } } brochures of the ultra-microtome, so would be interested to learn of } } users' experiences from those times and perhaps also something about } } the fate of these now-historic instruments. } } } } -----Original Message----- } } } From: David Elliott [mailto:David.Elliott-at-yale.edu] } } Sent: Wednesday, August 04, 2004 5:09 PM } } To: Microscopy ListServer } } Subject: [Microscopy] Leica ultra-microtome } } } } } } } } -------------------------------------------------------------------- } } -- -- ------ 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 } } I am looking at Leica ultra-microtomes. The new version (the UC6b) } } has two controllers, the key pad or the touch screen. I would } } appreciate any input or comments on these. I am especially } } interested in reasons to get one or the other. Thanx David } } } } } } _____________________ } } } } David Elliott Ph.D. } } Research Assistant Professor } } Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy } } PO Box 245004 } } Tucson, AZ 85724 } } } } Voice: 520-626-7870 } } Fax: 520-626-2097 } } } } } } } } } } Joel B. Sheffield, Ph.D } Department of Biology } Temple University } Philadelphia, PA 19122 } Voice: 215 204 8839 } e-mail: jbs-at-temple.edu } }
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
Leica ultratomes originated from Ultracut series by Reichert-Jung. Am I correct? It seems to me, Leica did not have their own ultratome development (would be nice to know details if they did). They just bought Reichert-Jung and LKB both. They killed SuperNova (LKB) and continued Ultracut. Sergey
At 01:08 AM 8/5/2004, 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
Aha! Joel, Sergey and anyone else interested in historical matters,
I got motivated after reading your interesting comments and actually located here an old Leica brochure (53-12b, in German) dated June 1964, which described the original "Leica Ultra-Mikrotom nach Fern‡ndez-Mor‡n". It was equipped with a Rawyler diamond knife "of highest quality" and was apparently designed to cut just about anything. The accompanying TEM images show sectioned cells in Vestopal and Methacrylate also an Al/Ag alloy. The 3 kg steel rotor was belt-driven with 2 motors situated below the desk (one was used for the sectioning phase of rotation and cutting speed could be controlled from 50 down to 3 mm/sec, while the fast second motor took over for the rest of the rotation cycle). The object chuck was at the front of a long diametrically placed cylindrical invar holder (fastened at its back end to the back of the rotor) which had an inbuilt heating element, and the free front end moved by thermal expansion towards the knife for up to 30 mins. After that period the complete holder was removed and allowed to cool down for 15 mins, during which time a second holder could be used for sectioning. Visualization during sectioning was done with a 72x (Leitz Greenough-type?) stereomicroscope and associated fluorescent lamp. A plexiglas hood was supplied to protect the system from air movements and temperature fluctuations during sectioning. Other statistics: Weight (+ table) was 148 kg. Power draw-off was 130 W. The images shown corresponded to typical good quality methacylate sections of the 1950/60s but the instrument never became popular. I imagine that this brochure was one of the last that Leitz issued. It would seem that the main advantage of this instrument design was that complete 360¡ rotation obviated the need for specimen retraction. Retraction during the upwards stroke is absolutely necessary for any reciprocating system in order to prevent wetting of the knife front or even breakage of the delicate cutting edge when the specimen moves upwards after cutting because all thermal expansion systems have great inherent inertia and advance cannot be stopped successfully for such short time periods. One possible disadvantage of the system is the need for rotational bearings. I do remember vaguely another old ultra-microtome brochure from Leica which had a graph showing the excellent reproducibility of specimen position during cutting from one cycle to the next. This may be so (since German precision workmanship in those years was unbeatable) but the inherent fine-scale bearing rumbling, even if reproducible, would result in a slightly corrugated cut as the specimen would oscillate a little forwards and backwards with respect to the knife during cutting. Perhaps it would need only 10 nm lateral movements in a 100 mm thick section to be noticeable when highest quality ultra-thin sections were examined. Perhaps I am talking somewhat off the top of my head in this case but it would now be interesting to hear from others the real reason(s) for the unpopularity of this long-discontinued instrument - the very FIRST Leica Ultra-Microtome. Best regards & good sectioning to you all ...
I have a Gatan mod. 681 Ion Beam Coater and I'm looking for targets for it. I'm on a limited budget so I'd rather not pay Gatan's prices. Anyone have sources or ideas for Au and Ti targets?
Jerry
-- Gerald Bourne Major Analytical Instrumentation Center Department of Materials Science and Engineering University of Florida 100 Rhines Hall P.O. Box 116400 Gainesville, FL 32611 (352) 392-6985 (352) 392-0390 fax
We have a QImaging camera Retiga 1300i 12 bits. The company we deal with for the image acquisition (with a motorized microscope) uses the 16 bit format. So, they transform the 12 bit images to 16 bit images.
We want to use deconvolution on these images. Will the transformation to 16 bits impair image quality?
Thank you, have a good week-end!
Marie-Claude Belanger
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While we do make our own Ion Beam Sputter Deposition and Etching System, we can supply targets for the Gatan system as well. You will find our prices to be *very* reasonable. Please contact me off-line about your specific requirements and I will send you a quote.
Best regards-
David
-- David Henriks
South Bay Technology, Inc. 1120 Via Callejon San Clemente, CA 92673 USA
TEL: +1-949-492-2600 Toll-free in the USA: +1-800-728-2233 FAX: +1-949-492-1499
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Gerald Bourne 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 } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- } } } Hello folks, } } I have a Gatan mod. 681 Ion Beam Coater and I'm looking for targets } for it. I'm on a limited budget so I'd rather not pay Gatan's } prices. Anyone have sources or ideas for Au and Ti targets? } Jerry }
Image quality is highest using the 16-bit format. Since the original image is 12-bits, image quality would suffer (mostly due to loss of dynamic range) if converted to 8-bits. The conversion from 12-bits to 16-bits is typically accomplished by zero filling the four high order bits. Consequently, the image data is in all eight bits of the low order byte and in the four low order bits of the high order byte.
If your deconvolution program can handle 16-bit images, there should be no image degradation. Be advised that, depending on the app itself, your memory requirements may be more than you have available. Very often one can get "Out of Memory" error messages. With modest pixel density and 16-bit TIFF files, you should be OK.
gary g.
At 10:04 AM 8/6/2004, you wrote:
} Dear all, } } We have a QImaging camera Retiga 1300i 12 bits. The company we deal with } for the image acquisition (with a motorized microscope) uses the 16 bit } format. So, they transform the 12 bit images to 16 bit images. } } We want to use deconvolution on these images. Will the transformation to } 16 bits impair image quality? } } Thank you, have a good week-end! } } Marie-Claude Belanger
We also have our 2010F running on a UPS system. I have just done some measurements and while, yes, there is a very large field at the unit (} 500mG rms - off scale for my EMF meter) this decays away rapidly and drops below 1mG rms seven feet from the unit. In our case the column is about 15' from the UPS and we see no effect.
We are still using the same batteries as delivered in 1998. The 50% life time in the case of a power failure has diminished but they still provide sufficient protection for the field emission tip. The battery specifications from the manufacturer states 200 complete full load discharges - we were told a typical life was 4-5 years depending on the number of excursions. Through the manufacturer replacement of all the batteries was quoted at $5K.
One thing to beware of, on multi-phase UPS systems if you are prone to one phase ONLY dying you can fry the UPS control board and you will need a voltage regulator before the UPS unit to protect the UPS.
Regards
Alan
At 11:08 AM 7/23/2004 -0700, Mardinly, John wrote:
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Alan W Nicholls, PhD Director of Research Service Facility (Electron Microscopy) Research Resources Center - East (M/C 337) Room 100 Science and Engineering South Building The University of Illinois at Chicago 845 West Taylor St Chicago, IL 60607-7058
We have a ArtixScan 2500. (as well as two Agfa Duoscan's). The software interface was a little cumbersome to use, but the image quality was very good.
However, I strongly recommend against Microtek. On the 2500 the lamp stays on all the time (i.e. no standby) - o.k., not a problem just wear on the lamp. The lamp burned out after 8 months - o.k., no problem we replaced many lamps in previsouly years on several scanners - 5 minutes later lamp in hand. . . Can NOT get a replacment lamp. We've been looking every where. Microtek will NOT sell the lamps, they wanted us to send the scanner (67 lbs) to across country and they would sell us a new shipping box. Fine - but 7 additional months later they can't come up with a shipping box, nor can they come up with a price for the lamp replacment and NOW they are telling us we're out of the 12 month warranty.
So here we sit - $3k scanner useless and for a $30 part.
} } I am looking for comment on overall functionallity of the Microtek } ArtixScan 1800f scanner. Reliability, resoultion, speed. Will use this } to scan EM neg. etc. } } Thanks } } Robert J. Kayton, Ph.D. } C.R.O.E.T. L606 } Oregon Health & Science Univ. } kayton-at-ohsu.edu } 503-494-2504-Lab } 503-703-3938-Cell } www.ohsu.edu/croet/facilities/emicroscopy } }
Richard E. Edelmann, Ph.D. Electron Microscopy Facility Director 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
We have a Reichert Jung Ultracut microtome in need of a part, specifically the clutch assembly in the fine advance. If anyone could tell us where we could get such a part it would be greatly appreciated. In Australia would be best but we'll get it from any part of the globe if we have to!
Thank you very much for your help and it's great to be back working in microscopy again after a few years "sabbatical" on other projects!!
The information contained in this e-mail message may be privileged or confidential information. If you are not an intended recipient, you may not copy, distribute or take any action in reliance on it. If you have received this message in error, please telephone CSIRO Textile and Fibre Technology on +61 3 5246 4000.
Below is the result of your feedback form (NJZFM-ultra-55). It was submitted by (castrj01-at-endeavor.med.nyu.edu) from http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MLFormMail.html on Tuesday, August 10, 2004 at 07:38:02 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Email: castrj01-at-endeavor.med.nyu.edu Name: George Castro
Question: } } I am writing in the hope that } you might refer us to someone able to repair and service a Siemens } Elmiskop 1A. I have obtained a limited amount of contacts through the } web, but with no knowledge of this scope because of its age. Perhaps } among your members there is a better chance. } I am very grateful for your time and attention. } George Castro } } George Castro } Dept. of Surgery } New York University Medical Center } 520 First Ave. #421 } New York, NY 10016 } Tel 212 263 6777 } fax 212 263 0227 } castrj01-at-popmail.med.nyu.edu }
Since the end of last year the idea of a Human Cytome Project has been discussed at several meetings. At the F.O.M. meeting (http://www.focusonmicroscopy.org/2004/program.html) this year the idea of a Human cytome Project was discussed in public for the first time.
The next occasion will be the European Microscopy Meeting (http://www.emc2004.be/) in Antwerp at the end of this month (Friday August 27, Session LS 18. Round table: The Human Cytome project).
I hope it will be an interesting discussion and I look forward to meet you at the meeting.
An interesting article on the idea of a Human Cytome Project: Cytomics - New Technologies: Towards a Human Cytome Project Valet G., T‡rnok A. Cytometry 59A:167-171 (2004)
Dear Gerald, I have found that Abe Dayani of Refining Systems Inc. gives good prices and service on sputtering and deposition targets of all types. He specializes in targets. You can contact him at: Refining Systems Inc. PO Box 72466 Las Vegas, NV 89170 phone: 702-368-0579, fax: 702-368-0933 www.refiningsystems.com I am just a satisfied customer. Regards, Mary Mager Electron Microscopist Department of Materials Engineering University of British Columbia 6350 Stores Road Vancouver, B.C. V6T 1Z4 CANADA Tel: 604-822-5648 Fax: 604-822-3619 e-mail: mager-at-interchange.ubc.ca ----- Original Message ----- } From: "Gerald Bourne" {grb-at-ufl.edu} To: "Microscopy ListServer" {Microscopy-at-msa.microscopy.com} Sent: Friday, August 06, 2004 8:05 AM
Article in today's New York Times about joys of microscopy for children etc. If the link is still up: http://nytimes.com/2004/08/10/science/10essa.html?8hpib
____________________________________________________________________________ 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/
Hello Everyone We had a wonderful time in Savannah at the M&M meeting. Many thanks to all the organisers, vendors and particpants who made it so worthwhile for me.
But one piece of news I heard at the meeting was that Spurr resin is supposed to be going off the market next year. As far as I understand it one of the ingredients is being removed. Has anyone got any comments about this or heard of an alternative ingredient? Elaine
-- Dr. Elaine Humphrey Director, BioImaging Facility President, Microscopy Society of Canada University of British Columbia 6270 University Blvd, mail-stop Botany Vancouver, BC CANADA, V6T 1Z4 Phone: 604-822-3354 FAX: 604-822-6089 e-mail: ech-at-interchange.ubc.ca website: www.emlab.ubc.ca
George, Peter Stolzenberg of Pesto Inc. had serviced the Siemens in the past but I received word after I returned from the M&M 2004 meeting that he had recently passed away. He was the serviceman for my Philips 200 and I received the message so quickly because I had requested that he do a routine for me when I returned. Consequently I am also looking for someone who can help me service my TEM if I get stuck.
A few years ago there was a serviceman working for JEOL whom I had first met at Temple University when he was servicing a Siemens Elmiskop there. Unfortunately I can not remember his name.
Pat Connelly Univ. of PA, Biology Philadelphia, PA 19104-6018 psconnel-at-sas.upenn.edu ========================= } Organization: New York University Medical Center } Title-Subject: [Microscopy] siemens elmiskop 1a } } I am writing in the hope that } } you might refer us to someone able to repair and service a Siemens } } Elmiskop 1A. I have obtained a limited amount of contacts through the } } web, but with no knowledge of this scope because of its age. Perhaps } } among your members there is a better chance. } } I am very grateful for your time and attention. } } } } George Castro } } Dept. of Surgery } } New York University Medical Center } } 520 First Ave. #421 } } New York, NY 10016 } } Tel 212 263 6777 } } fax 212 263 0227 } } castrj01-at-popmail.med.nyu.edu
I am just catching up after a holiday so apologies for any delay. There has been a lot of interesting info regarding early Leitz and Reichert ultramicrotomes. I can add a little more to this dialogue.
During my time with Reichert-Jung UK as EM product specialist I was offered several old ultramicrotomes before they were to be thrown into the Skip (Dumpster in the US?). At one time I had around a dozen of these dinosaurs cluttering up my house but most of them are now thankfully residing in the Archive Building of the Science Museum in London.
Some of those I had were as follows:
Sorvall MT1 and MT2 Reichert Om U1 a design by Prof. H Sitte taken up by that company LKB Sjostrand - the original ultramicrotome from LKB on which I learned ultramicrotomy Leitz - after a design by Fernandez-Moran, a massive but beautifully made unit Philips - yes even this company dabbled in ultramicrotomes Cambridge Rocker - a factory modified microtome for ultra thin sectioning Cooke and Perkins - a simple English ultramicrotme from the fifties Cambridge Huxley Si-ro-flex - an excellent microtome with superbly novel and advanced features made by the Fairey Aviation in Australia
For those interested the first attempts to cut "ultrathin" were a bit of a cheat as the idea was to cut cake-type slice from a specimen and try to image cells at the thinnest part of the wedge. Not entirely successful. There was an early diversion with high speed microtomes in the forties particularly in the USA with massive rotational speeds up to 57,000 rpm but cost and probably aerodynamics (or lack of them) led to there demise.
For anyone who might be as 'barmy' as I am with the history of these things I was once talked into writing a short article for "Microscopy and Analysis". The reference is:
The Thin End of The Wedge - A personal View of The Development of The Ultramicrotome by T W Cooper, Microscopy and Analysis, January 1990.
I have no electronic copy of this dry old missive, but for anyone unable to track it down I do still have a few reprints available that I would happily send one to any interested party,
Best regards
Terry Cooper TAAB Laboratories Equipment Ltd 3 Minerva House, Calleva Park Aldermaston, Berks, RG7 8NA, England Tel ++44 (0)118 981 7775 Fax ++44 (0)118 981 7881 e-mail sales-at-taab.co.uk www.taab.co.uk
So sad to hear of Peter Stolzenberg's passing. He lived and had his offices in Cold Spring Harbor, NY (on Long Island) when I was a grad student at the CW Post campus of LIU, and he kept our ancient Hitachi Hu-11A in fine running order. I got to know Peter quite well during the protracted period of time it took to track down one circuit in the HV cabinet that would short out in a very unpredictable fashion. It was always fun to be working at the scope and hear what sounded like a crack of lightening followed by total loss of HV. It was a matter of having Peter there with his meters in the right place at the right moment. Since his home was just a few miles down the road from the campus, he would stop by in the morning on his way out to other calls and then again on his way home at the end of the day. This went on for about 2 weeks or so. We were finally lucky, he found the problem and even had the right tube (yes, it was all vacuum tubes, remember those?) in stock. I learned a lot of what I know about the inner workings of an EM from Peter, and with his coaching and coaxing, got past my uneasiness about tackling mechanically-related problems with that old beast. Skills that I've carried with me. 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
Terry's mention of the high speed microtomes reminded me of a talk by the then semi-retired Keith Porter that I was lucky enough to attend in which he discussed the early years of EM work at the Rockefeller University. One of the things he described was just such a microtome. He said that the cutting speed was very fast, and that the sections flew off the knife ( steel, if I remember correctly) and were caught against a wire screen cage surrounding the microtome. The sections were manually retrieved from the screen. I hope I've remembered this correctly. Dr. Porter's description was so animated, it created a very vivid impression. Talk about doing things the hard way!
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
Good Morning Elaine and all other microscopy listservers whom are interested in the Spurrs resin and its "whereabouts". Although it is true that one of the constituents is being dwindled from the market ERL-4206 (due to safety issues) for the past 2 years all of our Scientific team at Electron Microscopy Sciences has been doing comparitive testing of like and similar resins to find the one that best works as the original. Over the 2 years of testing we have been able to come up with one and modify it to the point where it is basically undistinguishable from the original 4206. We call it the ERL 4221(catalog number EMS 15004). Formulas do not have to change and the 4221 will become an exact replacement fo the 4206 and none of us will ever know the difference. Blocks, sectioning, staining all will remian unchanged. So this is the good news. At this time there is no bad news at all. If you have any questions or I may be of any assistance please do not hesitate to contact us. We look forward to hearing from you
Sincerely
Stacie Kirsch Electron Microscopy Sciences Tel: 215-412-8400 Fax: 215-412-8450 E-mail: sgkcck-at-aol.com Website: www.emsdiasum.com -----Original Message----- } From: Elaine Humphrey [mailto:ech-at-interchange.ubc.ca] Sent: Tuesday, August 10, 2004 3:34 PM To: microscopy-at-msa.microscopy.com
Hello Everyone We had a wonderful time in Savannah at the M&M meeting. Many thanks to all the organisers, vendors and particpants who made it so worthwhile for me.
But one piece of news I heard at the meeting was that Spurr resin is supposed to be going off the market next year. As far as I understand it one of the ingredients is being removed. Has anyone got any comments about this or heard of an alternative ingredient? Elaine
-- Dr. Elaine Humphrey Director, BioImaging Facility President, Microscopy Society of Canada University of British Columbia 6270 University Blvd, mail-stop Botany Vancouver, BC CANADA, V6T 1Z4 Phone: 604-822-3354 FAX: 604-822-6089 e-mail: ech-at-interchange.ubc.ca website: www.emlab.ubc.ca
Oh, I'm sorry to hear that! Mr. Stolzenberg was just here a couple of weeks ago to service our old Zeiss EM 10-he did a great job. Please send my condolences.
Does anyone know of anyone who can service our Zeiss EM 10CA? It's OK now, but we will certainly need someone in the future.
Thanks, Kathleen Roberts Principal Lab Technician Neurotoxicology Labs Dept. of Pharmacology & Toxicology Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy Rutgers University 41 B Gordon Rd Piscataway, NJ 08854
psconnel-at-sas.upenn.edu wrote:
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I have spoken with Eric Ambrose concerning this message. In my opinion it is not an advertisement and is definitely of interest and importance to the Microscopy Community.
Eric , thank you again for first checking with me on this.
For the M & M Education Outreach program next year in Hawaii, we would like to gather information on the various curriculum available for teaching electron microscopy in the high schools. One of the drawbacks of doing this, is that each of us must develop exercises and curriculum to make it available to the high school teacher. This is very time consuming. Rather than re-inventing the wheel, we are trying to find those involved in these types of outreach activities who would be willing to share some of their materials or let us know if it is available for purchase. Even finding out the logistics of how you teach the courses in the high school would be helpful.
This would be really helpful to percolate the excitement about microscopy to high school students.
You can email me off-line.
Thank you so much in advance, for any assistance you can be.
Judy Murphy Stockton, CA
murphyjudy-at-comcast.net
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Fri Aug 13 11:29:01 2004
Below is the result of your feedback form (NJZFM-ultra-55). It was submitted by (morillm-at-mail.rockefeller.edu) from http://microscopy.org/MicroscopyListserver/MLFormMail.html on Friday, August 13, 2004 at 11:26:17 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title-Subject: [Microscopy] [Filtered] full-time electron microscopist position open
Question: Attention all Electron Microscopists!
The Laboratory of Developmental Genetics at The Rockefeller University seeks a full-time electron microscopist to assist in studies of nervous system development and cell death in the nematode C. elegans.
Work will involve preparing specimens for TEM, serial sectioning, and 3-D image reconstructions. The successful candidate will become an integral part of ongoing scientific efforts in the lab, and could also pursue independent research. Previous experience with TEM is required, and experience with serial sectioning experience a plus. Applicants must hold a minimum of a Bachelor's degree.
We offer a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, a gracious working environment, and tuition reimbursement. For immediate consideration, send resume/C.V. to: Ms. Kara R. Marshak, Senior Employment Specialist, The Rockefeller University via fax (212)-327-7079 or email {mailto:marshak-at-rockefeller.edu} marshak-at-rockefeller.edu. For more information about ongoing research in this laboratory, please visit our website located at {http://www.rockefeller.edu/labheads/shaham/shaham-lab.php} http://www.rockefeller.edu/labheads/shaham/shaham-lab.php.
An Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. The Rockefeller University appreciates all responses and will contact candidates selected for further consideration.
I have just received a box full of wax blocks I made about 18 years ago for a study of reproductive biology and zooxanthellae of Millepora platyphylla, fire coral. I don't have a microtome, but thanks to the generosity of a microscopist cleaning out a lab, I have a steel microtome knife. I surely cannot afford a microtome, or especially the shipping, but I remember some plans from some discarded library material some years ago, for microtomes. One used a candle to heat a long metal rod, effectuating a gradual lengthening, for example.
Can anyone suggest whether hand sections are worth while to try of wax blocks. The blocks were made with paraplast. Being several years old, even though I have to assume they are still ok, should I take any special steps with storage or rejuvenation?
I'm afraid to ruin them. The study broke some ground, has not been published, and deserves to be followed through. Even though my notes have been lost through years of sore neglect, typhoons, and ex-spousal neglect, there are some hopeful clues in these specimens that would still be worthwhile, and dates of collection and other information are still recoverable for the most part, through existence of a parallel labelled collection of hard parts, with dates written on them. So... any suggestions on long term care of wax blocks, as well as suggestions for hand-sectioning, would be welcome.
I have a hand microtome, with German inscriptions, that may be useful.
Thank you,
Alan Davis Kagman High School Saipan, N. Mariana Islands aedavis-at-eccomm.com
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Sat Aug 14 15:55:53 2004
Having made more Paraplast embeddings than I care to remember..... The only thing I can think of is to keep them in a cool dry place; otherwise, they should last a very long time. The other question about how to section is an interesting one. You already have a hand microtome and it might be worth a try although I don't know how it is to be set up. You have a microtome blade but do you have a handle for it? If not, it should be a low cost item to acquire and I have the name of a local place that may have some.
I made a hand microtome using a screw type micrometer gauge, cutting off the arch portion and mounting the screw portion to a steel cylinder with a hole in it through which the screw part would push the tissue sample out by a known amount. The top of the cylinder of course was ground to a reasonably fine polish. The exposed sample was then cut using a microtome blade on a handle. I used it primarily for fresh plant samples that I would sandwich between some soft material like balsa, or Sambucus pith, cork, etc before inserting it into the hole.
Damian Neuberger Ph.D.
I have just received a box full of wax blocks I made about 18 years ago for a study of reproductive biology and zooxanthellae of Millepora platyphylla, fire coral. I don't have a microtome, but thanks to the generosity of a microscopist cleaning out a lab, I have a steel microtome knife. I surely cannot afford a microtome, or especially the shipping, but I remember some plans from some discarded library material some years ago, for microtomes. One used a candle to heat a long metal rod, effectuating a gradual lengthening, for example.
Can anyone suggest whether hand sections are worth while to try of wax blocks. The blocks were made with paraplast. Being several years old, even though I have to assume they are still ok, should I take any special steps with storage or rejuvenation?
I'm afraid to ruin them. The study broke some ground, has not been published, and deserves to be followed through. Even though my notes have been lost through years of sore neglect, typhoons, and ex-spousal neglect, there are some hopeful clues in these specimens that would still be worthwhile, and dates of collection and other information are still recoverable for the most part, through existence of a parallel labelled collection of hard parts, with dates written on them. So... any suggestions on long term care of wax blocks, as well as suggestions for hand-sectioning, would be welcome.
I have a hand microtome, with German inscriptions, that may be useful.
Thank you,
Alan Davis Kagman High School Saipan, N. Mariana Islands aedavis-at-eccomm.com
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Sun Aug 15 10:31:27 2004
Hello everybody I am looking for advice on representing 2D and 3D vector data. Namely, the image I collect from the microscope is either two dimensional vector (dx,dy) at each point, or three dimensional vector (dx,dy,dz). For example, it is in-plane polarization (or magnetization) vector or full 3D polarization vector. The data is collected in the form of ASCII files. I have seen numerous examples in which such data is represented as color-coded images (e.g., EBSD) and I will appreciate advice on how it can be done best (e.g., how to relate (dx, dy) and RGB color intensities, etc). I am currently using the straightforward approach of importing data files into Mathematika (they are generated by custom LabView based software) and assigning color values using RGBColor function. Thank you in advance Sergei
-- Sergei V. Kalinin, Wigner Fellow and Research Staff Member Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 1 Bethel Valley Rd, Bldg. 3025, MS6030, Oak Ridge, TN 37831 Phone: (865) 241-0236 FAX: (865) 574-4143 URL: sergei2.kalininweb.com New: http://nanotransport.ornl.gov
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Aug 16 07:17:48 2004
NIST, AVS and MAS will co-sponsor a Workshop on Modeling Electron Transport for Applications in Electron and X-ray Analysis and Metrology at NIST (Gaithersburg, Maryland, November 8-10, 2004) to highlight progress and determine directions for future development of electron-simulation techniques and the needs for electron-interaction data. This Workshop will bring together experts in the physical theory and data that support the simulation techniques as well as scientists and engineers who develop models and obtain results for specific applications. Applications will include x-ray microanalysis of particles, rough and layered surfaces, Auger analysis of near-surface features, testing of matrix-correction procedures for bulk analysis, metrology of sub-micrometer scale features in SEM images, low-voltage and ultra-low-voltage microscopy simulation, radiation physics, etc. A planned poster session will include demonstrations of relevant software and databases.
Further information on the Workshop can be found at http://www.nist.gov/electron. We are now inviting the submission of abstracts for the Workshop, the deadline being October 8. Enquiries should be directed to dale.newbury-at-nist.gov
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Aug 16 09:38:32 2004
Hello, I work for a small research lab, and we plan to do TEM on mouse tissue. We will fix the tissue in Trump's which is 4% formaldehyde + 1% glutaraldehyde in a phosphate buffer. Has anyone use this fixative before? Any pitfalls that we should avoid? Any comments will be very helpful. Thanks alot!
Scott Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Boston, MA
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Aug 16 12:01:15 2004
} Good Morning - } } There is a great job opening in my area. The work is very interesting and } the work environment is casual. } Thousand Oaks (T.O.) is 1 hour NW of LA in beautiful Ventura County. The } hiking trails are everywhere and we are 8 miles north of Malibu Beach. } T.O. was recently rated safest city over 100,000 in the US. If interested } you can email me directly or go thru the Amgen website and click on } careers. regards } Gianni Torraca } 805-447-7445 } gtorraca-at-amgen.com } } Title: Research Scientist/Assoc Scientist } Department: 3760 - Analytical Sciences } Location: Thousand Oaks CA } Job ID: amge-00004427 } HR Recruiter: Ernest Allen } (805) 447-6072 } ernesta-at-amgen.com } } Requirements: } Strong skills in microscopy and micro-particle handling are needed. } Experience in optical microscopy, FT-IR microscopy, and SEM-EDS is } preferred. Experience in micro-particle identification and sizing and } manufacturing incident investigation is desired. Experience in techniques } commonly used for PSDA, such as light-obscuration techniques, as well as } other skills relevant to the structural characterization of } pharmaceuticals or biopharmaceuticals, is a plus. Excellent problem } solving skills and good written and verbal communication skills are } required. } Educational requirements: } M.S. or equivalent with extensive experience in Physical Chemistry, } Analytical Chemistry, Biochemistry or related field. } } Job Summary: } This position is for a scientist in the structural characterization group. } A key responsibility will be analytical support of investigations by } identification of adventitious micro-particles. Support of process } development and support of incident investigations for both clinical and } commercial drug products will be required. This position requires hands on } work in the lab and may require supervision of scientific staff as the } group grows. The position will also involve some particle size } distribution analysis of resins, inclusion bodies, and similar objects. } Experience: } Relevant experience in the pharmaceutical or biopharmaceutical industry is } desirable; other relevant experience may be acceptable. Experience in } development and implementation of emerging technologies is desirable, and } supervision of scientific staff is a plus. } **************************************************************************** **********************
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Aug 16 13:59:47 2004
Phosphate fixes can result in fine calcium precipitates. I prefer HEPES or PIPES.
At 10:59 AM 08/16/04 -0400, you wrote:
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Thomas E. Phillips, PhD Professor of Biological Sciences Director, Molecular Cytology Core 3 Tucker Hall University of Missouri Columbia, MO 65211-7400
I use modified Trump's fixative with 0.1M sodium cacodylate buffer without problems with most kinds of tissue. I also use 0.1M phosphate buffer without artifact problems as long as I wash in buffer 3X after fixation prior to osmification (1% osmium in 0.1M buffer for 60 minutes) followed by 3X rinse in buffer and additional 3X rinse in water prior to dehydration in ethanol series. My problem had been "osmium peppering" -- a fine precipitate contaminating samples run up in phosphate buffer when not thoroughly washed. Na-cacodylate avoids this problem, but I always rinse thoroughly when running up samples for TEM. I run up tissue at room temperature because of a superstition acquired as a graduate student that cold temperature promotes the disassembly of microtubules. Does anyone have thoughts pro or con about running up tissue on ice vs. room temperature?
Dean Abel Biological Sciences 143 BB University of Iowa Iowa City IA 52242-1324
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Aug 16 21:22:24 2004
Below is the result of your feedback form (NJZFM-ultra-55). It was submitted by (frah0010-at-umn.edu) from http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MLFormMail.html on Monday, August 16, 2004 at 19:54:57 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Email: frah0010-at-umn.edu Name: Ellery Frahm
Organization: University of Minnesota Electron Microprobe Lab
Does anyone know approximately when Cameca SU30 SEMprobes were manufactured?
Thanks, Ellery
-------------------- Ellery E. Frahm Research Fellow & Manager Electron Microprobe Laboratory University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Department of Geology & Geophysics Lab Website: http://probelab.geo.umn.edu
I'm looking for a staining method to prepare an ultramicrotomed polyurethane polymer for a TEM investigation. Contrast is needed between the hard and soft segements of the polymer. The functional groups of the soft segments are mainly carbonates, and of the hard segments amides or urea. Both segments also have a different urethane content.
Are there staining methods recommended for polyurethane polymers with such a combination of functional groups (for certain urethanes, OsO4 or RuO4 may be used)? Can such polymers be imaged by coherent phase contrast alone?
Thanks in advance
Thomas Keller
-- --------------------------------------------------- Dr. Thomas Keller Institute of Materials Science and Technology (IMT) Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena Löbdergraben 32 D-07743 Jena Germany Phone: ++ 49 3641 947742 Fax: ++ 49 3641 947732 Mobile: ++ 49 170 1439522 Internet: t.keller-at-uni-jena.de --------------------------------------------------- Visit us under http://www.uni-jena.de/matwi/
"Making Materials Science Work 4 U" ---------------------------------------------------
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Tue Aug 17 09:33:17 2004
Dean, I have used a combination fixative of 1% glutaraldehyde,1% OsO4 in 0.05M Phosphate Buffer -at-6.2pH ON ICE and kept dark for 45min. for many tissues. There are many microtubules present. Perhaps the microtubules were stablized by the osmium before they were able to disassemble in the cold temperature.
The only problem I had with this fixative was with bacteria inside tissue cultured macrophages. It did not wash out as easily/quickly as I expected. As a result I had the "peppering" of the osmium in and around the bacteria itself when the TEM beam hit the bacteria.
Pat Connelly Univ. of PA, Biology Philadelphia, PA psconnel-at-sas.upenn.edu ======================= Quoting Dean Abel {dean-abel-at-uiowa.edu} : } I use modified Trump's fixative with 0.1M sodium cacodylate buffer } without problems with most kinds of tissue. I also use 0.1M phosphate } buffer without artifact problems as long as I wash in buffer 3X after } fixation prior to osmification (1% osmium in 0.1M buffer for 60 minutes) } followed by 3X rinse in buffer and additional 3X rinse in water prior to } dehydration in ethanol series. My problem had been "osmium peppering" -- a } fine precipitate contaminating samples run up in phosphate buffer when not } thoroughly washed. Na-cacodylate avoids this problem, but I always rinse } thoroughly when running up samples for TEM. } I run up tissue at room temperature because of a superstition } acquired as a graduate student that cold temperature promotes the } disassembly of microtubules. Does anyone have thoughts pro or con about } running up tissue on ice vs. room temperature? } } Dean Abel } Biological Sciences 143 BB } University of Iowa } Iowa City IA 52242-1324
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Tue Aug 17 09:57:44 2004
Specifically what information are you trying to obtain? If you are looking for location of specific functional groups, you might try scanning tunneling microscopy instead. I just sat in on a demo where Kim Kangasniemi discussed some work like this, as part of his Master's thesis. He can be reached at Kim-at-nt-america.com.
Hope this is helpful.
Barbara Foster Microscopy/Microscopy Education We've Moved! 313 S Jupiter Road, Suite 100 Allen, TX 75002 PH: 972-954-8011 FX: 972-954-8018 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 12:29 AM 8/17/04, Thomas Keller wrote:
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From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Tue Aug 17 11:14:03 2004
Hi, Thomas Depending on the size of "soft" and "hard" regions, the best way to image them can be variants of phase-sensitive AFM (phase mode), force modulation mode, or acoustic or ultrasonic force microscopy. Basically, all these techniques are sensitive to hardness and losses at the tip-surface junction; the variation is primarily in frequency range and modulation/detection mechanism. Resolution is primarily limited by the tip-surface contact area and can be as small as few nanometers. Please feel free to contact me directly if this sounds useful. Sergei
-- Sergei V. Kalinin, Wigner Fellow and Research Staff Member Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 1 Bethel Valley Rd, Bldg. 3025, MS6030, Oak Ridge, TN 37831 Phone: (865) 241-0236 FAX: (865) 574-4143 URL: sergei2.kalininweb.com
-----Original Message----- } From: Barbara Foster [mailto:bfoster-at-mme1.com] Sent: Tuesday, August 17, 2004 1:16 PM To: Thomas Keller; Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com
Hi, Thomas,
Specifically what information are you trying to obtain? If you are looking for location of specific functional groups, you might try scanning tunneling microscopy instead. I just sat in on a demo where Kim Kangasniemi discussed some work like this, as part of his Master's thesis. He can be reached at Kim-at-nt-america.com.
Hope this is helpful.
Barbara Foster Microscopy/Microscopy Education We've Moved! 313 S Jupiter Road, Suite 100 Allen, TX 75002 PH: 972-954-8011 FX: 972-954-8018 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 12:29 AM 8/17/04, Thomas Keller wrote:
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From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Tue Aug 17 21:27:50 2004
Below is the result of your feedback form (NJZFM-ultra-55). It was submitted by (NairIndira2004-at-yahoo.com) from http://www.msa.microscopy.com/Ask-A-Microscopist/Ask-A-Microscopist.html on Tuesday, August 17, 2004 at 11:07:42 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Question: Dear Gurus, can anybody help me to find any technical information on LEO EVO 50SXVP SEM? I've found description of EVO50XVP at LEO's site but no information on the former model.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Below is the result of your feedback form (NJZFM-ultra-55). It was submitted by (NairIndira2004-at-yahoo.com) from http://www.msa.microscopy.com/Ask-A-Microscopist/Ask-A-Microscopist.html on Tuesday, August 17, 2004 at 11:07:42 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Question: Dear Gurus, can anybody help me to find any technical information on LEO EVO 50SXVP SEM? I've found description of EVO50XVP at LEO's site but no information on the former model.
Trypan quenching of fluroescence has been used for years to decrease fluorescence of particles and dextran. In our case, we are trying to use it to quench the fluorescence of surface labeled particles to distinguish internalized particles (phagocytosis) from external particles. We have not gotten significant quenching, and as I read the literature, I am unclear as to how this is supposed to work. In the original Hed paper that most people reference, they use FITC labeled particles and quench by putting the cells in a trypan solution in a pH 4.5 buffer. They describe this as a FRET type quenching to a non-radiative acceptor. Trypan does emit, but lets leave this aside for now. Their explanation makes little sense to me since with the known pH dependence of FITC, it seems to me they are doing primarily pH based quenching as opposed to FRET based quenching. If so, then are they simply looking at the difference in FITC fluorescence between the phagosomal pH (5.5) and the external pH (4.5)? In other papers, rhodamine labelled particles are used, and trypan quenching is also supposed to work, however in our case, we can only see about 50% quenching. Given how opaque the solution is, I could easily see that being a case of simply decreasing both excitation and emission due to opacity of the solution. In some cases (yeast particles) I have been told that the trypan actually binds to the particles so that you can wash it out and the particles are still blue, and in that case, I would imagine very different quenching properties, since the trypan is no longer freely diffusing in solution. I have yet to find literature that clearly investigates the quenching phenomenon with different fluors under solution vs. bound conditions. Can anyone help? Thanks- Dave --
Dr. David Knecht Department of Molecular and Cell Biology University of Connecticut 91 N. Eagleville Rd. U-3125 Storrs, CT 06269-3125 knecht-at-uconn.edu 860-486-2200 860-486-4331 (fax) home page: http://www.sp.uconn.edu/~mcbstaff/knecht/knecht.html
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Wed Aug 18 11:54:06 2004
Does anyone have an idea where I can find a NIST traceable glass scale that measures in the range of 1 ~ 10 microns possibly with the first micron subdivided into tenths. This will be used on a light microscope for calibration purposes. Thank you
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
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Wed Aug 18 13:24:30 2004
I'm looking at putting a digital camera (Evolution MP, QIMAGING MicroPublisher 5.0 RTV) on my Olympus Stereozoom SZH Microscope (with DF PLAN objectives). In the initial trial, I had some chromatic aberration. I'm not sure where it's coming from. Does anyone have any experience with combining this camera and microscope? Any suggestions to reduce chromatic aberration?
Thanks,
Diane Ciaburri
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Wed Aug 18 15:16:57 2004
Marc Helvey Strategic Accounts Manager VLSI Standards, Inc. 3087 North First Street San Jose, CA 95134-2006 Phone: (408) 428-1800, ext. 108 FAX: (408) 428-9555 E-mail: marc.helvey-at-vlsistd.com Internet: http://www.vlsistandards.com
-----Original Message----- } From: Robert.Fowler-at-tdktca.com [mailto:Robert.Fowler-at-tdktca.com] Sent: Wednesday, August 18, 2004 10:16 AM To: Microscopy-at-MSA.microscopy.com
Post Doctoral Position in the NCSU Analytical Instrumentation Facility SIMS Laboratory
The Analytical Instrumentation Facility (AIF) of the NC State University College of Engineering has an opening for a postdoctoral research associate in its SIMS laboratory. The successful candidate will operate our magnetic sector IMS-6f magnetic sector and our Atomika 4100 quadrupole SIMS instruments. The successful candidate must be interested in learning and participating in the analysis of a wide variety of samples (semiconductors, metals, ceramics, polymers). Work in the laboratory will consist of a combination of SIMS analytical technique research, experimental design, instrument operation and data interpretation for university and industrial researchers. Training in SIMS and other analytical techniques and instrumentation (AFM, FIB, SEM, XPS, optical and stylus profilometry etc.) will be provided as needed for supporting SIMS research and analysis. For information on AIF, see our web site: http://www.ncsu.edu/aif/.
A Ph.D or equivalent in Analytical Chemistry, Applied Physics, Materials Science or a materials related discipline is required. SIMS experience is highly desirable although training will be given to a suitable applicant. Experience in vacuum equipment and/or electronics maintenance; operational and programming experience with Windows and Unix operating systems; and experience with analysis of semiconductor or other non biological materials are desirable.
Please send resume and three letters of reference to: Dr. Dieter Griffis, Associate Director; Analytical Instrumentation Facility; North Carolina State University; Box 7531, Room 118A EGRC; 2410 Main Campus Drive; Raleigh, NC 27695-7531 or email dgriffis-at-ncsu.edu
NC State is an EOE/AA employer. NC State welcomes all persons without regard to sexual orientation. ADA individuals desiring reasonable accommodations contact Dieter Griffis at above address, or dgriffis-at-ncsu.edu, or call 919-515-2128
I was assuming it was not the chip since I have blue fringes toward the outside of the image and red fringes toward the center. If it was the chip, I thought the colored fringes would stay on one side. Does that make sense?
Diane
-----Original Message----- } From: Scott Whittaker [mailto:Whittaker.scott-at-nmnh.si.edu] Sent: Wednesday, August 18, 2004 4:52 PM To: Ciaburri, Diane A
Hello,
I'm looking at putting a digital camera (Evolution MP, QIMAGING MicroPublisher 5.0 RTV) on my Olympus Stereozoom SZH Microscope (with DF PLAN objectives). In the initial trial, I had some chromatic aberration. I'm not sure where it's coming from. Does anyone have any experience with combining this camera and microscope? Any suggestions to reduce chromatic aberration?
Thanks,
Diane Ciaburri
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Thu Aug 19 09:33:11 2004
It sounds interesting. Could you give me a few more details about running a test with a color chart? What kind of color chart, and what would I do with it?
Thanks!
Diane Ciaburri
-----Original Message----- } From: Jim Quinn [mailto:jquinn-at-www.matscieng.sunysb.edu] Sent: Wednesday, August 18, 2004 5:30 PM To: Ciaburri, Diane A
Dear Listees,
Does anyone have a spare Chiller for our Hitachi 7000, TEM? or do you know some one who might?
Flow of 4-5 L/Min. Pressure: 0.5-2 kg/sq. cm Temp: 10-25 degrees Centigrade
Thanks,
Darryl Krueger Research Associate Clemson University
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Thu Aug 19 15:35:04 2004
Below is the result of your feedback form (NJZFM-ultra-55). It was submitted by (rgr-at-georgetown.edu) from http://www.msa.microscopy.org/Ask-A-Microscopist/Ask-A-Microscopist.html on Thursday, August 19, 2004 at 08:41:36 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Email: rgr-at-georgetown.edu Name: Robert Russell
Organization: Georgetown University
Education: Graduate College
Location: Washington,District of Columbia, USA
Question: I am seeking information about suitable resins/plastics in which to embed metal stents and similar devices and then conduct imunohistochemistry staining for biomarkers in the surrounding tissues - i.e. artery and soft tissue. This nquiry is about suitable protocols/experience of plastics or other embedding methods that preserve the antigens during the polymerization process so that IHC or immunofluorescence staining can be conducted for biomarkers. As I understand, it the heat in the polymerization exothermic reaction may destroy destroy the antigens. I assume that the plastic requires pretreatment etching to expose the antigenic epitopes.
What are the makes of ultramicrotomes currently on the market and what is the consensus about them? I'm aware of RMC (Boeckeler) and Leica. I'm helping a colleague equip her new lab and she needs to submit three bids.
Thank you very much,
Jaclynn Lett Senior Research Technician, EM Core Facility Washington University School of Medicine Department of Otolaryngology 660 South Euclid Ave., Box 8115 St. Louis, MO 63110
email: lettj-at-ent.wustl.edu
Note: NEW PHONE NUMBERS voice: 314-747-7257 fax: 314-747-7230
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Fri Aug 20 13:33:59 2004
I would like to hear from anyone who may be able to help me find and install a backscatter detector. Our SEM is a JEOL T-220A (built approx. 1987).
Tom Bargar Core Electron Microscopy Research Facility Univ. of Nebraska Medical Center 986395 Nebraska Medical Center Omaha, NE 68198-6395 phone 402-559-7347 e-mail tbargar-at-unmc.edu
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Fri Aug 20 16:42:45 2004
Robert, In my lab, we have had very good luck using butyl-methyl-methacrylate for immuno work. It is polymerized by UV at 4 C, minimizing the heat problem you mentioned, and after sectioning, the resin can be removed with 10 min in acetone. We also include dithiothreitol (DTT) in the resin which also seems to keep those antigens nice and perky. You can find results and information in 1992 Planta 187: 405 - 413. and in 1997 Plant Physiology 115: 101 - 111. If you are interested, I'll be happy to send you a detailed protocol and discuss technical stuff. Caveat: I work on plants and have no idea about the metal stent issue. My answer speaks only for a generally useful resin for immnocyt.
Hope thise helps, tobias } } Below is the result of your feedback form (NJZFM-ultra-55). It was } submitted by (rgr-at-georgetown.edu) from } http://www.msa.microscopy.org/Ask-A-Microscopist/Ask-A-Microscopist.html } on Thursday, August 19, 2004 at 08:41:36 } --------------------------------------------------------------------------- } } Email: rgr-at-georgetown.edu } Name: Robert Russell } } Organization: Georgetown University } } Education: Graduate College } } Location: Washington,District of Columbia, USA } } Question: I am seeking information about suitable resins/plastics in which to } embed metal stents and similar devices and then } conduct imunohistochemistry staining for biomarkers } in the surrounding tissues - i.e. artery and soft tissue. } This nquiry is about suitable protocols/experience } of plastics or other embedding methods that preserve } the antigens during the polymerization process so } that IHC or immunofluorescence staining can be conducted } for biomarkers. As I understand, it the heat in the } polymerization exothermic reaction may destroy destroy } the antigens. I assume that the plastic requires pretreatment etching to expose the antigenic epitopes
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Sat Aug 21 18:25:21 2004
I need som advice about BEEM capsules for LR White embedding.
I am developing a work where I want to do both LM and TEM studies.
First I will include material about 8mm (or maybe a little more) diameter (or major axis measure) in LR White, then I want to look at H&E sections in order to select an area for appropiate preparation for TEM and Immunocytochemical analysis.
I am not finding an appropiate BEEM capsule (or equivalent) to include material without oxygen penetration. I need a capsule which prevent oxygen penetration and with both flat ends (Top and bottom), not the usual conical or pyramid end shapes we usually see in standard BEEM capsules (excellent when the only concern is TEM).
It doesn´t matter if if square or cylindrical what matters is its flat end for appropiate inclusion of my material.
I´d like to hear suggestion from those of you who might already developed similar studies. Does anyone know a supplier(s) where I can get such capsules?
As for LR White polymerization, I only can use an oven so I pretend to work with 55-60°C. I have no access to ultraviolet.
I'd appreciate both list replies or private ones (silvia_nit200-micro-at-yahoo.com.br)
Thanks, Silvia E. Navas
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From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Sat Aug 21 21:51:20 2004
I suppose you've explored the 3rd-party manufacturers, like Oxford Intruments's Tetra, and GW Electronics.
I don't know your model, but if JEOL ever made one for it, that may be your best bet, at least for the actual detector, because you know that their one will actually fit without compromising anything else. The signal-processing electronics is relatively easy.
I fooled around once with bits of solar cell, but it didn't get anywhere close to as good as the JEOL one for my old JXA-5A.
good luck
rtch
} } } I would like to hear from anyone who may be able to help me find and } install a backscatter detector. Our SEM is a JEOL T-220A (built } approx. 1987). } } Tom Bargar } Core Electron Microscopy Research Facility } Univ. of Nebraska Medical Center } 986395 Nebraska Medical Center } Omaha, NE 68198-6395 } phone 402-559-7347 } e-mail tbargar-at-unmc.edu } }
-- 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 Sat Aug 21 23:54:29 2004
I used to cut the tips off the BEEM capsules and place an extra cap on the cut end. This would give me a cylinder with two end caps. The block would be a little shorter than the standard capsule. Would that work for you?
Joel
Date sent: Sat, 21 Aug 2004 20:47:52 -0300 (ART) } From: {silvia_nit2000-micro-at-yahoo.com.br} Send reply to: silvia_nit2000-micro-at-yahoo.com.br
Below is the result of your feedback form (NJZFM-ultra-55). It was submitted by (popco-at-toast.net) from http://www.msa.microscopy.com/Ask-A-Microscopist/Ask-A-Microscopist.html on Sunday, August 22, 2004 at 23:36:12 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Email: popco-at-toast.net Name: Lloyd McClure
Education: Undergraduate College
Location: White City, OR
Question: Hi, I just picked up a 2X Bausch microscope of unknown age numbered 312684119. I have a set of 10X WF eyepieces and would like to know if higher magnification eyepieces were made for this model and if so, where I might buy them. Thanks, Newbie, Mac McClure
Below is the result of your feedback form (NJZFM-ultra-55). It was submitted by (zerfasp-at-ors.od.nih.gov) from http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MLFormMail.html on Sunday, August 22, 2004 at 14:06:24 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Question: Does anyone know of a source for lactoferrin gold? It was once manufactured by Sigma and was discontinued. I am willing to pay for the lactoferrin gold and shipping.
} Sylvia, } You can try gelatin capsules of the bigger size, of course both the ends are not going to be flat, other option is to try getting plastic stoppers for bottles which come in various sizes and can be used as mould, unless polymerization has to be done in airtight capsules. } regards } shashi } CCMB Hyderabad } INDIA
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From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Aug 23 02:47:53 2004
} Sylvia, } You can try gelatin capsules of the bigger size, of course both the ends are not going to be flat, other option is to try getting plastic stoppers for bottles which come in various sizes and can be used as mould, unless polymerization has to be done in airtight capsules. } regards } shashi } CCMB Hyderabad } INDIA
_______________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Win 1 of 4,000 free domain names from Yahoo! Enter now. http://promotions.yahoo.com/goldrush
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Aug 23 06:07:17 2004
Re LR White embedding temperature. We can polymerise our blocks at a tlower temperature - 50 degrees for 48hrs.
Dave
On Sat, 21 Aug 2004 20:47:52 -0300 (ART) silvia_nit2000-micro-at-yahoo.com.br 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 need som advice about BEEM capsules for LR White embedding. } } I am developing a work where I want to do both LM and TEM studies. } } First I will include material about 8mm (or maybe a little more) diameter } (or major axis measure) in LR White, then I want to look at H&E sections } in order to select an area for appropiate preparation for TEM and } Immunocytochemical analysis. } } I am not finding an appropiate BEEM capsule (or equivalent) to include } material without oxygen penetration. I need a capsule which prevent oxygen } penetration and with both flat ends (Top and bottom), not the usual } conical or pyramid end shapes we usually see in standard BEEM capsules } (excellent when the only concern is TEM). } } It doesn´t matter if if square or cylindrical what matters is its flat end } for appropiate inclusion of my material. } } I´d like to hear suggestion from those of you who might already developed } similar studies. } Does anyone know a supplier(s) where I can get such capsules? } } As for LR White polymerization, I only can use an oven so I pretend to } work with 55-60°C. I have no access to ultraviolet. } } I'd appreciate both list replies or private ones } (silvia_nit200-micro-at-yahoo.com.br) } } Thanks, } Silvia E. Navas } } __________________________________________________ } Do You Yahoo!? } Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around } http://mail.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"
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From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Aug 23 08:30:18 2004
I would appreciate hearing from anyone who has had experience with field emission SEM both cold and thermal in regards to WDS. Also interested in some of the in lens detectors used for imaging. We are in the process of evaluating FESEM's to add to our laboratory. Please reply off line and if there is enough response I will summarize the information.
Thanks very much,
John Humenansky john.humenansky-at-guidant.com {mailto:john.humenansky-at-guidant.com} Guidant Corporate Laboratory 4100 Hamline Ave. No. St. Paul, MN 55117
651-582-6730
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Aug 23 09:23:58 2004
You can buy flat bottom polyethylene of polypropylene capsules through Pelco (number 133 or 133-P) with an outside diameter of 7.9mm. That may be big enough for your purpose. I have successfully used them for LR White.
My boss asked me last week to start researching macrophotography systems; I managed to turn up a few leads via Google, but it wasn't much. For those of you who are using such a system, could you please tell me about it? Which camera, what equipment, software,etc. And, most importantly, what you like and don't like about it?
Thank you in advance for all your help- Kathleen Roberts Principal Lab Technician Neurotoxicology 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 Aug 23 10:19:59 2004
We at TAAB Laboratories supply 8mm diameter polythene or polyethylene capsules with a flat end (instead of the pyramid) and an air tight attached lid as one of our standard products. Please contact us directly if you think this may be of interest,
Best regards
Terry Cooper TAAB Laboratories Equipment Ltd 3 Minerva House, Calleva Park Aldermaston, Berks, RG7 8NA, England Tel ++44 (0)118 981 7775 Fax ++44 (0)118 981 7881 e-mail sales-at-taab.co.uk www.taab.co.uk
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Aug 23 10:49:46 2004
In a message dated 8/23/04 12:03:47 PM, kgrobert-at-rci.rutgers.edu writes:
} My boss asked me last week to start researching macrophotography } systems; I managed to turn up a few leads via Google, but it wasn't } much. For those of you who are using such a system, could you please } tell me about it? Which camera, what equipment, software,etc. And, most } importantly, what you like and don't like about it?
Whoa-- that's way to broad a question for any meaningful answers. What kind of things are you trying to image - what sizes and particularly what heights (relevant to the depth-of-field problem)? Are they colored and does reproducing the color accurately matter? Are they shiny and reflective? Is the purpose to document and build a file of images, or to make measurements, or to produce good prints?
There are a lot of camera/software systems that can be used to do a good job in the hands of someone who has built up some basic photography skills. I happen to like the Nikon D70 myself, but mostly because I've used Nikons for a long time and have a bunch of really good lenses. For someone else it might be a poor choice. Software like Fovea is great for serious processing and measurement but for some purposes just Photoshop is all you would need (probably it will be basic to any digital imaging setup). And then there are printers - that is a field unto itself. A lot of your problems will revolve around proper lighting, rather than the camera/software choices.
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Aug 23 12:55:29 2004
In a message dated 8/23/04 1:44:08 PM, kgrobert-at-rci.rutgers.edu writes:
} Sorry for being so broad-I am a neophyte when it comes to this stuff. } } What we are trying to image: We are a university neurotoxicology lab that } also serves } as a general core facility for pathology, so we provide services in that } area-necropsy, } tissue fixation and processing into paraffin, microtomy, staining (anything } from H&E to } IHC) and likewise for TEM and LM. One of the things we would like to do } is capture } images of tumors or other pathology in mouse, rat, other animal species, } etc. organs in } situ during necropsies as necessary for research purposes. Size, heights } and color } will vary; they might be shiny if we wet them down with enough fixative } to keep them } moist. I assume that accurate reproduction of color would be necessary. } The purpose } here is to document pathology for both research and teaching purposes, } so measurements } and good prints would be necessary, and it would be great if we could build } an archive } of images.
If you have been doing your photography with film and are just trying to switch to digital, there are a few things to consider: 1. depending on the camera body you select, you may be able to use your existing macro lenses, ringlights, and other attachments. That's why I went with the Nikon D70. It's a fine digital camera, but not the only good one. Take a look at {http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs.asp} for good reviews on most of the current models. You will certainly want a camera that accepts interchangeable lenses, not one of the all-in-one models. 2. With that level of camera, you will be able to get the raw output rather than being limited to a lossy-compressed jpeg image (you will NEVER want to use jpeg). Photoshop CS will read the raw files and recover more than 8 bits - sometimes as much as 10 - of data. That is important because with film the dynamic range (brightness range) that can be handled is much greater than any digital camera, and you want to capture as much as possible so that the highlights don't blow out and the shadows plug and hide information (it's worse with shiny specimens) 3. Check out ReindeerGraphics.com for their package deal on Fovea and Optipix. The former is great for serious processing, color correction and measurement. The latter has several tools for macrophotographry and comes with two books - my "Photoshop for Digital Photographers" and George DeWolfe's guide to workflow- that will help you to convert from film to digital. 4. If true color is important, you will almost certainly need to get a color chart (e.g., see gretagmacbeth.com) to include in your scene, if not in every picture then in every sequence under given lighting. Getting color right is almost impossible without such a chart. 5. At some point, you will probably want to attend a workshop to pick up some hands-on training and sharpen your skills. Skip the ones that are Photoshop-centric - most of those folks are doing creative graphics. But there are still lots of good choices (a hint - I teach several myself). 6. Before you start, sit down and think very hard about how you are going to organize the images. There is nothing more frustrating when you have a huge server or several dozen DVDs full of images and you know you've taken one of a particular subject, but can't remember how to find it. Searching through the thumbnails visually is practically worthless. If you use something like the Photoshop catalog system, you will want to set up lists of keywords beforehand that can be applied to images in order to make searching more efficient.
John Russ
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Aug 23 13:02:30 2004
Workshop Announcement University of California at Santa Barbara
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 September 13 through September 17, 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.
I'm not sure what you understand by "macrophotgraphy", particularly what size object do you want to image full frame.
I've recently used a Nikon Coolpix 8700 (8MB chip, with "macro" capability), and am not impressed by its performance in close range (down to approx 2 inches, 5 cm). Depth of field is limited by the max f-stop of f/8, the built in flash produces a shadow against the extended lens (even when using the longest macro-allowable focal length of the zoom), TTL flash exposure compensation does not work at all (continuous light exposure comp works), and yellow color overexposes regardless of exposure compensation settings, autofocus has problems in close range, and there is too little detail on the LCD screen to allow accurate manual focusing. Although the 8700 is good for overall scenes (RAW, TIF files), macro capabilities are disappointing.
I would recommend to use a camera with optical-glass viewfinder (not a LCD screen) for accurate manual focusing, test the TTL-flash exposure compensation regardless of manufacturer's claims. Consider also bellows head lenses; Zeiss Luminars can be obtained on the second hand market, and some manufacturer's still produce new ones (Minolta, Olympus, I think). The smaller diameter thread mount makes them interchangeable between systems, and the narrow diameter of the lens barrel allows for more freedom in lighting. Depending on magnification, get a lens with decent f-stop range. Note, that cranking down the f-stop at higher mag (} 2:1) may cause image degradation due to diffraction. See Sydney Ray's excellent tome "Applied Photographic Optics" now in the 3rd edition for details; all the personal feel, final magnification dependence, aperture blade numbers.
I use a Contax RTS III with Contax bellows, that allow to place the focal plane at an angle to the film plane (shift/tilt or PC bellows) to approx 3.5:1 with a 100 mm Macro (i.e. approx. 8 mm full frame), or the 50/1.4 reversed a bit higher. It is a film camera, but the Carl Zeiss optics are wonderful. Some of the older bellows by Nikon and Minolta also are PC capable, but I am not sure whether they accept any of the new digital bodies.
RAW files are nice as they are 16 bit/channel, but they are agonizingly slow to open. The 12 MB RAW/NEF files from the Nikon 8700 takes about 2 minutes to process on a 1 GHz Mac G4. Writing the RAW files to a 1GB flash card also takes a while, say 20-30 seconds.
Best wishes Daniel
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
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Mailing Address: Molecular Systematics Lab, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County 900 Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90007, USA phone: (213) 763 3431 fax: (213) 748 4432 NEW e-mail geiger-at-vetigastropoda.com NEW www http://www.vetigastropoda.com
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Aug 23 14:09:57 2004
I need a mercury arc source for a Zeiss Axiovert 100. I have an old Olympus power supply for a 100W mercury burner. Does anyone have any idea whether it would be possible to buy a Zeiss 50 or 100W lamp house and wire the Olympus supply to drive it? Thanks- Dave --
Dr. David Knecht Department of Molecular and Cell Biology University of Connecticut 91 N. Eagleville Rd. U-3125 Storrs, CT 06269-3125 knecht-at-uconn.edu 860-486-2200 860-486-4331 (fax) home page: http://www.sp.uconn.edu/~mcbstaff/knecht/knecht.html
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Aug 23 15:54:16 2004
Adapting a good simple lens such a Zeiss Tessar or Kodak Extar with as few surfaces and good color correction to a digital camera will give the best images. Trying to use the photube of stereo microscope is a bit handier but requires a very good stereo microscope to get as sharp and high a contrasts images as a old coated cine lens off ebay. While not as good as the f 6.3 reversed this 45 mm 2.8 Zeiss Tessar http://www.surplusshed.com/detail.cfm?ID=L2158 sould do a pretty good job on a digal back at 1 to 1 work. If it was stopped down to F 8 or f 16. The focal length is a bit long for more magification.
A Nikon CoolPix with Mark Simmons adapter http://www.perspectiveimage.com/ and a reversed cine lens work very well. As does his short tube microscope and good 1x to 4x objective or Micro Tessars with the eyepice to make the work wiht the lens in the coolpix. The quality of the objective really shows here. In http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/indexmag.html?http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/artjan03/gcshorttube.html the 12.5 Leitz Photar and Leitz 1x Plan did much better work than the regualy objectives that I used. The sharpness of the Photar was really noticable.
A better choice would be a camera with a removable lens or a digital back for 4 x5 camera. so you would have full movements of the view camera and a larger chip area.
The lighting is an area that requires a lot of attention as well. I prefer fiber optics and several of them for control in small areas. I also use a good deal of electronic flash slaved to the camera.
Gordon Gordon Couger
I collect links on information related to light microscopes. http://www.couger.com/microscope/links/gclinks.html Please forward any links or information you think might be useful to others. Microscope Manual at www.science-info.org
----- Original Message ----- } From: "Kathleen Roberts" {kgrobert-at-rci.rutgers.edu} To: {Microscopy-at-microscopy.com} Sent: Monday, August 23, 2004 10:13 AM
I've been using a Nikon D1, D100 and D70 and must say that their performances are quite close to eachother, nevertheless the price. Be aware that TTL is not always available, eg. not only when working in manual position you'll have problems, also in the aperture-stand (where you choose the aperture), you might have overexposed images!
Major thing about the D70 is its price, highly competitive concerning price/quality compared to others. Negative points: no TIFF available, only RAW and three JPEG-values (high, medium, low compression) in 3 modes: low, medium and high resolution. When obtaining for the RAW-file (non-compressed JPEG at high resolution is enough for high quality printing in the advertisement-world!), also take in account that the setup of a RAW-file with the D100 is not the same as with the D70 (i.e. a program that can read RAW-files from a D100 therefor is not capable of reading the RAW-file from a D70).
The D1 on the other hand I find outdated, big, heavy, not very user-friendly and still pricy, where a D70 costs about 1000 euro, a D1 still costs something like 3000 euro.
My opinion, take in account the Nikon D100. It's a little heavier and bigger than a D70, allthough not much, offers you the same capabilities, but also the TIFF-format, which you will be using greatfully! JPEG's are very nice for regular photography and morphometry, except if intensity and color-definition is important, here a TIFF will offer you more. RAW is not always better (in most cases, a TIFF-file has more data in it's pixels than a RAW-file, allthough this is generally not known nor accepted, check the digital photography-books and magazines for comprovement!).
A Nikon D100 you'll have for about 1400 euro without objective, a Nikon D70 for 1000 euro (also without objective), but the 400 euro make a difference. When obtaining an objective (macro!), choose also a Nikon! The difference in definition of your images is very big, and you will regret the day you bought an objective from another, cheaper, brand and not one from a known brand! You'll see the difference in definition, especially when zooming in to look at the small details (not even talking about aberations and color-shifts)! I hope I helped you out a little more concerning Nikon, but it does not mean that other brands as Canon cannot give you the same! I do not have anything to do with Nikon, just that I've always been using them in the lab (also in combination with Zeiss stereomicroscopes (great photo's!) and for personal use: vacations, macro-photography of mushrooms etc... Good luck!
Sven Terclavers
-----Original Message----- } From: Daniel Geiger [mailto:geiger-at-vetigastropoda.com] Sent: Monday, August 23, 2004 20:55 To: kgrobert-at-rci.rutgers.edu; Microscopy-at-microscopy.com
I'm not sure what you understand by "macrophotgraphy", particularly what size object do you want to image full frame.
I've recently used a Nikon Coolpix 8700 (8MB chip, with "macro" capability), and am not impressed by its performance in close range (down to approx 2 inches, 5 cm). Depth of field is limited by the max f-stop of f/8, the built in flash produces a shadow against the extended lens (even when using the longest macro-allowable focal length of the zoom), TTL flash exposure compensation does not work at all (continuous light exposure comp works), and yellow color overexposes regardless of exposure compensation settings, autofocus has problems in close range, and there is too little detail on the LCD screen to allow accurate manual focusing. Although the 8700 is good for overall scenes (RAW, TIF files), macro capabilities are disappointing.
I would recommend to use a camera with optical-glass viewfinder (not a LCD screen) for accurate manual focusing, test the TTL-flash exposure compensation regardless of manufacturer's claims. Consider also bellows head lenses; Zeiss Luminars can be obtained on the second hand market, and some manufacturer's still produce new ones (Minolta, Olympus, I think). The smaller diameter thread mount makes them interchangeable between systems, and the narrow diameter of the lens barrel allows for more freedom in lighting. Depending on magnification, get a lens with decent f-stop range. Note, that cranking down the f-stop at higher mag (} 2:1) may cause image degradation due to diffraction. See Sydney Ray's excellent tome "Applied Photographic Optics" now in the 3rd edition for details; all the personal feel, final magnification dependence, aperture blade numbers.
I use a Contax RTS III with Contax bellows, that allow to place the focal plane at an angle to the film plane (shift/tilt or PC bellows) to approx 3.5:1 with a 100 mm Macro (i.e. approx. 8 mm full frame), or the 50/1.4 reversed a bit higher. It is a film camera, but the Carl Zeiss optics are wonderful. Some of the older bellows by Nikon and Minolta also are PC capable, but I am not sure whether they accept any of the new digital bodies.
RAW files are nice as they are 16 bit/channel, but they are agonizingly slow to open. The 12 MB RAW/NEF files from the Nikon 8700 takes about 2 minutes to process on a 1 GHz Mac G4. Writing the RAW files to a 1GB flash card also takes a while, say 20-30 seconds.
Best wishes Daniel
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From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Aug 23 16:06:43 2004
As far as I understand, BEEM capsules (at least original ones) are not good for LR White. Don't ask me why, it's a mystery! 8 mm also looks like too big to fit a standard ultratome holder. I had similar problem previously doing EM on 0.2 mm mouse brain slices. I solved it by flat embedding of the brain slices in LR White (between two sheets of polypropylene) and then gluing the sample to the standard post with epoxy. Gluing appeared to be a problem - it seems to me that LR White at high humidity adsorbs water and do not stick well to the posts... Otherwise, it was working quite well. Additional reason to do flat-embedding is because such large (8 mm) samples tends to be curved, so I actually straighten them between two polypropylene sheets with some force. You need to understand that plastic will not polymerize at the edges, so sheets should be much bigger than your sample. I hope it may help. Sergey
At 08:47 PM 8/21/2004 -0300, you wrote:
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From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Aug 23 16:13:12 2004
I agree with most of what John says in his posting. A couple of things I would like to add:
1) You may want to check out if a "copystand" or some other device that lets you set up more consistent illumination and imaging conditions is the right thing to use. this would also allow you to apply correct calibrations to your images. Call me if you have any questions.
2) I would also consider a microscope camera with live imaging on the computer screen. That way it is a lot easier to adjust lighting or exposure to avoid reflections and/or dark areas.
3) Photoshop is certainly a capable application. However, you may want to investigate other software that is geared more towards microscopy. You may want to use the same software for microscopes as well, and then other software might be better suited. You can start by looking at our website, but there are other vendors as well.
4) I could not agree more with John regarding cataloging the images. Again, I think you can do better than Photoshop, especially when it comes to automatically reading parameters from microscopes, etc.
5) From your address I see that your work is related to Pharma. I don't know if FDA rules apply to your work, but if so, make sure that the software you use is Rule 11 compliant. There is a good chance that you don't need this, but I'd make sure. Again, you can check our web site for more information.
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: DrJohnRuss-at-aol.com [mailto:DrJohnRuss-at-aol.com] Sent: Monday, August 23, 2004 12:17 To: kgrobert-at-rci.rutgers.edu; microscopy-at-microscopy.com
In a message dated 8/23/04 1:44:08 PM, kgrobert-at-rci.rutgers.edu writes:
} Sorry for being so broad-I am a neophyte when it comes to this stuff. } } What we are trying to image: We are a university neurotoxicology lab that } also serves } as a general core facility for pathology, so we provide services in that } area-necropsy, } tissue fixation and processing into paraffin, microtomy, staining (anything } from H&E to } IHC) and likewise for TEM and LM. One of the things we would like to do } is capture } images of tumors or other pathology in mouse, rat, other animal species, } etc. organs in } situ during necropsies as necessary for research purposes. Size, heights } and color } will vary; they might be shiny if we wet them down with enough fixative } to keep them } moist. I assume that accurate reproduction of color would be necessary. } The purpose } here is to document pathology for both research and teaching purposes, } so measurements } and good prints would be necessary, and it would be great if we could build } an archive } of images.
If you have been doing your photography with film and are just trying to switch to digital, there are a few things to consider: 1. depending on the camera body you select, you may be able to use your existing macro lenses, ringlights, and other attachments. That's why I went with the Nikon D70. It's a fine digital camera, but not the only good one. Take a
look at {http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs.asp} for good reviews on most of the current models. You will certainly want a camera that accepts interchangeable lenses, not one of the all-in-one models. 2. With that level of camera, you will be able to get the raw output rather than being limited to a lossy-compressed jpeg image (you will NEVER want to use jpeg). Photoshop CS will read the raw files and recover more than 8 bits - sometimes as much as 10 - of data. That is important because with film the dynamic range (brightness range) that can be handled is much greater than any digital camera, and you want to capture as much as possible so that the highlights don't blow out and the shadows plug and hide information (it's worse with shiny specimens) 3. Check out ReindeerGraphics.com for their package deal on Fovea and Optipix. The former is great for serious processing, color correction and measurement. The latter has several tools for macrophotographry and comes with two books - my "Photoshop for Digital Photographers" and George DeWolfe's guide to workflow- that will help you to convert from film to digital. 4. If true color is important, you will almost certainly need to get a color
chart (e.g., see gretagmacbeth.com) to include in your scene, if not in every picture then in every sequence under given lighting. Getting color right is almost impossible without such a chart. 5. At some point, you will probably want to attend a workshop to pick up some hands-on training and sharpen your skills. Skip the ones that are Photoshop-centric - most of those folks are doing creative graphics. But there are still lots of good choices (a hint - I teach several myself). 6. Before you start, sit down and think very hard about how you are going to
organize the images. There is nothing more frustrating when you have a huge server or several dozen DVDs full of images and you know you've taken one of a particular subject, but can't remember how to find it. Searching through the
thumbnails visually is practically worthless. If you use something like the Photoshop catalog system, you will want to set up lists of keywords beforehand that can be applied to images in order to make searching more efficient.
John Russ
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Aug 23 17:08:49 2004
You can buy flat-bottomed capsules, most microscopy suppliers should have them. For example, EMS (http://www.emsdiasum.com/microscopy/products/catalog.aspx ) has them under Specimen preparation.... Vials and sample storage. I used to use some from TAAB a few years ago. Even if they aren't in the catalogue, many suppliers can find them for you.
good luck, Rosemary
No commercial affiliation, etc, etc
Dr. Rosemary White rosemary.white-at-csiro.au Microscopy Centre ph. 61-2-6246 5475 CSIRO Plant Industry mob. 61-0402 835 973 GPO Box 1600 fax. 61-2-6246 5000 Canberra, ACT 2601 Australia
} From: shashi singh {shashis_99-at-yahoo.com} } Date: Mon, 23 Aug 2004 01:09:51 -0700 (PDT) } To: microscopy-at-msa.microscopy.com } Cc: silvia_nit200-micro-at-yahoo.com.br } } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------} - } } } } Sylvia, } } You can try gelatin capsules of the bigger size, } of course both the } ends are not going to be flat, other option is to try } getting plastic } stoppers for bottles which come in various sizes and } can be used as } mould, unless polymerization has to be done in } airtight capsules. } } regards } } shashi } } CCMB Hyderabad } } INDIA } } } } } _______________________________ } Do you Yahoo!? } Win 1 of 4,000 free domain names from Yahoo! Enter now. } http://promotions.yahoo.com/goldrush } }
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Aug 23 22:35:46 2004
I am looking for comments regarding a general protocol for DAB staining for correlative light and TEM. I found a procedure of Essner (1973) that uses 3% glut fixation, incubation in DAB for 2 hours, followed by 1% hydrogen peroxide, subsequent washing steps, and incubation in buffered KFeCN (3 mM) to eliminate non-specific adsorption of DAB. Samples are further fixed with OsO4, dehydrated and embedded in epoxy resin.
I would like to hear tips from people who have success with this or other DAB protocol for TEM. We are trying to visualize heme-containing cytochromes in bacteria.
Many thanks in advance, Alice.
Alice Dohnalkova Research Scientist Environmental Microbiology Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Richland, WA 99352 (509) 372-0692 office (509) 376-3654 TEM lab
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Aug 23 23:23:17 2004
I'd suggest you take a look at Microptics. They have a great system ... fully integrated and very functional and cost-effective.
You should be able to find them on the web. If you can't, get in touch with me offline and I'll find their info for you.
Caveat: MME has no financial interest in this company.
Good hunting
Barbara Foster Microscopy/Microscopy Education
We've Moved! 313 S Jupiter Rd, Suite 100 Allen, TX 75002 P: 972-954-8011 At 10:13 AM 8/23/2004, Kathleen Roberts wrote:
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From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Tue Aug 24 00:15:18 2004
Below is the result of your feedback form (NJZFM-ultra-55). It was submitted by (wall1-at-llnl.gov) from http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MLFormMail.html on Monday, August 23, 2004 at 11:08:27 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Question: I would like information on software (free or commercial) for the simulation/comparison of HOLZ lines in CBED patterns. For lattice parameter and strain measurements.
: } : } Hello to all on the listserv- : } : } My boss asked me last week to start researching macrophotography systems; : } I managed to turn up a few leads via Google, but it wasn't much. For : } those of you who are using such a system, could you please tell me about : } it? Which camera, what equipment, software,etc. And, most importantly, : } what you like and don't like about it? : } : } Thank you in advance for all your help- : } Kathleen Roberts : } Principal Lab Technician : } Neurotoxicology Labs : } Dept of Pharmacology & Toxicology : } Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy : } Rutgers University : } 41 B Gordon Rd : } Piscataway, NJ 08854 : }
Evaluate what you already have first. Particularly in skills.
If you set up a comprehensive faculty the camera is a small part of the expense. A really good camera to build a versatile systems hasn't really been made yet. The closest are the backs for 4X5 camera to use in existing set ups using lenses and lighting you already have. A better choice would be a system that used a digital camera that could use your existing 35 mm macro equipment. Most reports are not very encouraging.
Jan Hinsch wrote about using a Digital SLR on a microscope for McCrone's www.ModernMicroscopy.com http://www.modernmicroscopy.com/main.asp?article=33 and was satisfied. Ted Clarke discuses some of the issues of resolution of digital image in the same online journal. http://www.modernmicroscopy.com/main.asp?article=31
With a digital SLR the first problem all your lenses are twice the effective size due to the smaller image area of the CCD. Other problems include the inability to take long exposures, many cameras can't lock the mirror up, problems with preview on some cameras and mirror lock up. Mostly the cameras haven't evolved to the point that the features need for macro work are available on enough cameras. The lack of long exposure times is a problem with noise form heat that can be solved by cooling the sensor or with software by adding images.
Before you spend a lot of time on the project find out what they mean by macro photography. If you are replacing a 4X5 with a full set of Zeiss micro Tessars on a Leitz Astrophot stand with all the nice lighting accessories that go with it and an operator that knows how to use them a 4x5 digital insert for the camera will probably be the way to go.
If you are starting from scratch and need to take product shots of pills a good consumer camera may do the job with a careful selection of lighting and backgrounds. I expect you application falls somewhere in between. But getting the answer before you understand the problem will most likely be time wasted.
Good luck Gordon Gordon Couger gcc-at-couger.com
I collect links on information related to light microscopes. http://www.couger.com/microscope/links/gclinks.html Please forward any links or information you think might be useful to others. Microscope Manual at www.science-info.org
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Tue Aug 24 04:39:43 2004
Chair in Materials Science, Institute of Materials Science & Technology (IMT), Friedrich-Schiller University (FSU) Jena, Germany
Postdoctoral research scientist or PhD student position (government pay scale BAT-O IIa for initially 24 months, full time or part time, depending on qualification, subject to approval of funds) to be filled by 1. October 2004 in the research area:
Phase Boundaries of Proteins and Biomaterials
Aim of the project is an enhanced understanding of the interaction of biological molecules or cells and different biomaterials. The interest is in understanding the correlation between materials structure and properties and the process of biological reactions, such as blood coagulation or complement activation. The ideal candidate for this position has sound experience in atomic force microscopy (AFM) and is interested to work with TEM, CLSM, XPS applied to biomaterials. A background in one or more of the following areas is suitable: physics, biophysics biomaterials, materials science, chemistry/polymer chemistry, biology, engineering or related disciplines.
There are opportunities to co-operate with the members of the Start-up Centre for Young Entrepreneurs at the department. The group co-operates closely with other groups at the FSU, nationally and internationally leading universities of the Anglo-American countries as well as industrial partners.
Candidates for postdoctoral positions are requested to submit a one-page research proposal. Submit your full application, quoting ref. 34/04 including CV, photo, research experience and qualifications and have two academic references forwarded to
Prof. Dr. Klaus D. Jandt (k.jandt-at-uni-jena.de) Institute of Materials Science and Technology (IMT) Friedrich-Schiller University Jena Löbdergraben 32, D-07743 Jena Germany.
Closing date is 15. September 2004.
This is an unofficial, shortened translation of the German original advertisement text which can be found at http://www2.uni-jena.de/matwi/. This translation is not legally binding. http://www.uni-jena.de/matwi/
----------------------------------------------------------------- Prof. Dr. Klaus D. Jandt Chair in Materials Science Director of Institute of Materials Science and Technology (IMT) Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena Löbdergraben 32 D-07743 Jena Germany Phone: ++ 49 3641 947730 Fax: ++ 49 3641 947732 Internet: K.Jandt-at-uni-jena.de
Visit us under http://www.uni-jena.de/matwi/
"Making Materials Science Work 4 U"
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Tue Aug 24 08:14:24 2004
check out our ASAC (Automatic Strain Calculation by CBED, http://www.soft-imaging.com/rd/english/410.htm) product on our web site. It is currently implemented for Si at various zone axes.
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: wall1-at-llnl.gov [mailto:wall1-at-llnl.gov] Sent: Monday, August 23, 2004 23:38 To: microscopy-at-ns.microscopy.com
Below is the result of your feedback form (NJZFM-ultra-55). It was submitted by (wall1-at-llnl.gov) from http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MLFormMail.html on Monday, August 23, 2004 at 11:08:27 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Question: I would like information on software (free or commercial) for the simulation/comparison of HOLZ lines in CBED patterns. For lattice parameter and strain measurements.
I have need to automate the Z axis on our JEOL JSM-6400 stage (same as 840). At one time JEOL made an automated Z-axis system that they installed on the JXA-840 systems. Follow this link to see a few images of this assembly.
http://www.mse.mtu.edu/~opmills/zaxis.htm
Do you have this part in a drawer or cabinet somewhere? I am seeking to buy or have this part donated.
Please reply to me if you have this part or know one's whereabouts.
Thanks!
Owen
Owen P. Mills Electron Optics Engineer Applied Chemical & Morphological Analysis Laboratory 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 Tue Aug 24 16:53:13 2004
Does anyone have experience with the EXFO X-cite 120 light source for fluorescence microscopy? THanks-Dave --
Dr. David Knecht Department of Molecular and Cell Biology University of Connecticut 91 N. Eagleville Rd. U-3125 Storrs, CT 06269-3125 knecht-at-uconn.edu 860-486-2200 860-486-4331 (fax) home page: http://www.sp.uconn.edu/~mcbstaff/knecht/knecht.html
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Wed Aug 25 02:13:51 2004
After many years of faithful service an old Sony CCD has passed on. It was used on a Zeiss Stemi SV-11 and images were captured on a MAC G4 running OS 8.6, via Photoshop 5.5 using Import/Export plugins.
Can anyone recommend a camera that would: 1. Fit on a Zeiss Stemi SV-11 2. Interface with a MAC (preferably via Firewire) 3. Interface with Photoshop 4. Include micron markers with the captured image
I realise that I will probably have to upgrade the OS and add some RAM.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Regards George
George Theodossiou Physicist / Electron Microscopist
AMCOR Research and Technology Ph: +61 3 9490 6135 Fax: +61 3 9499 4295 Mobile: 0409 568 840 email: George.Theodossiou-at-amcor.com.au
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From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Wed Aug 25 03:22:59 2004
I'm afraid that the basic Hitachi H7000 doesn't generate a micron mark, although the STEM and SEM system does. I just checked a couple of old brochures and the micron mark capability seems to have come in with the H 7100.
Let me know if you need any help with the manuals or basic schematics for the H7000.
Malcolm
Malcolm Haswell e.m. unit School of Health, Natural and Social Sciences Fleming Building University of Sunderland Tyne & Wear SR1 3SD UK e-mail: malcolm.haswell-at-sunderland.ac.uk
----- Original Message ----- } From: "John J. Bozzola" {bozzola-at-siu.edu}
Our data collection contractor in Virginia has been instructed to close the MT Salary and Equipment Usage Survey on September 1st.
This survey was mailed to nearly 17,000 MT subscribers in June and handed-out in hard copy at the M&M meeting in Savannah.
If you have already sent your completed survey form to Virginia, thank you. If you have been putting it off, please mail it in TODAY!
If you wish to remain anonymous, just fill in your home state so we can report salary vs. state data.
The drawing for the hand-held TV prize will take place in the first week in September. Naturally, we cannot award the prize to anonymous submissions.
If you live in the USA and Canada and want to participate, send me an email and I'll fax you the survey plus the fax number of the data collection contractor.
Ron Anderson, Editor Microscopy Today
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Wed Aug 25 16:20:28 2004
Greetings David, Toludine blue and sodium borohydride are also commonly used quenching agents where broadly emmitting background fluorescence is concerned. Trypan blue is an acid dye and will bind positively charged moeties, and toluidine blue is a basic stain known to bind negatively charged substrates such as chromatin. The quenching idea simply involves getting some chemical moiety to absorb the frequency being emmitted, a solution of green absorbing fluorochrome such as rhodamine may do the same thing without absorbing your illumination source as much (I'm assuming these are adherent cells). I'm not entirely sure what sodium borohydride does, but it is a popular method for quenching autofluorescence in the presence of GFP. One approach which might prove to be a more specific (and expensive) system for quenching would involve the use of anti-FITC antibodies (I believe Sigma carries them), although I'm not positive that the bound anti-body will quench the fluorochome. Anti-fluorochrome antibodies will quench some target fluorochromes. One could also label the FITC targets with a different color fluorochrome through the use of antibodies to FITC. The alternate fluorochrome or a gold conjugate may be in close enough proximity for non-radiative transfer and subsequent quenching to occur. Regards, Karl
David Knecht 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 } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- } } } Trypan quenching of fluroescence has been used for years to decrease } fluorescence of particles and dextran. In our case, we are trying to } use it to quench the fluorescence of surface labeled particles to } distinguish internalized particles (phagocytosis) from external } particles. We have not gotten significant quenching, and as I read } the literature, I am unclear as to how this is supposed to work. In } the original Hed paper that most people reference, they use FITC } labeled particles and quench by putting the cells in a trypan solution } in a pH 4.5 buffer. They describe this as a FRET type quenching to a } non-radiative acceptor. Trypan does emit, but lets leave this aside } for now. Their explanation makes little sense to me since with the } known pH dependence of FITC, it seems to me they are doing primarily } pH based quenching as opposed to FRET based quenching. If so, then } are they simply looking at the difference in FITC fluorescence between } the phagosomal pH (5.5) and the external pH (4.5)? } In other papers, rhodamine labelled particles are used, and trypan } quenching is also supposed to work, however in our case, we can only } see about 50% quenching. Given how opaque the solution is, I could } easily see that being a case of simply decreasing both excitation and } emission due to opacity of the solution. In some cases (yeast } particles) I have been told that the trypan actually binds to the } particles so that you can wash it out and the particles are still } blue, and in that case, I would imagine very different quenching } properties, since the trypan is no longer freely diffusing in } solution. I have yet to find literature that clearly investigates the } quenching phenomenon with different fluors under solution vs. bound } conditions. Can anyone help? Thanks- Dave
-- Karl Garsha Light Microscopy Specialist Imaging Technology Group Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 405 North Mathews Avenue Urbana, IL 61801 Office: B650J Phone: 217.244.6292 Fax: 217.244.6219 Mobile: 217.390.1874 www.itg.uiuc.edu
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Wed Aug 25 17:55:46 2004
Dear colleagues I am looking for simple sign-in calendar software (preferably freeware), so users could sign-in for the instruments on the WEB. I expect this software should work on my server (windows based) and provide easy way to sign-in, sign-out for users for the different instruments. I do remember, this issue was discussed on the server a few years ago but I want to see what people currently used. I was trying Google search and it was not so productive: most links were addressed to the calendars hosted on the Internet (like free E. mail accounts) or calendars for the business (intranet). I would really appreciate your input. Have a great day (night?). Sergey.
_____________________________________
Sergey Ryazantsev Ph. D. Electron Microscopy UCLA School of Medicine Department of Biological Chemistry 10833 Le Conte Ave, Room 33-080 Los Angeles, CA 90095
Dear listers, Does anyone have access to a set of schematics (11" x 17") for the Amray 1000? This is not the 1000B (and 1600 series) with the microprocessor-based mag control, but the original 1000 with analog controls We can copy and return originals or pay copy and shipping costs. Please contact Earl Weltmer at: earlw-at-sbcglobal.net
Or me, below.
Thanks,
Ken Converse
owner QUALITY IMAGES Servicing Scanning Electron Microscopes Since 1981 16 Creek Rd. Delta, PA 17314 717-456-5491 Fax 717-456-7996 kenconverse-at-qualityimages.biz qualityimages.biz
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From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Wed Aug 25 23:08:29 2004
Good to hear someone is still running a 1000, as we have not set ours up yet, it and all the documentation is boxed up. I fear it may be behind a few thousand pounds of boxes in the warehouse, but I can check on it. we ended up with the unit from Honeywell computer plant here in phoenix.
It would be good to know who else out there is running one of these units. I suspect we are a small group. Just have Amray in the title of the message and it will catch my eye.
Thanks Ed Sharpe, Archivist for SMECC - - See the Museum's Web Site at www.smecc.org
Coury House / SMECC 5802 W. Palmaire Ave. Phone 623-435-1522 Glendale Az 85301 USA ----- Original Message ----- } From: "Ken Converse" {kenconverse-at-qualityimages.biz} To: "MSA Listserver" {Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com} Sent: Wednesday, August 25, 2004 6:18 PM
Hi,
I just would like to inform you that if you want to change with Nikon D1, D100 or D70 from macroscopy to microscopy we have camera adapters for SLR cameras and many other cameras which fit for your microscope.
If you are interested let me know, I send you a camera list.
ST} ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ST} The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America ST} To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver ST} On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html ST} -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ST} I've been using a Nikon D1, D100 and D70 and must say that their ST} performances are quite close to eachother, nevertheless the price. Be aware ST} that TTL is not always available, eg. not only when working in manual ST} position you'll have problems, also in the aperture-stand (where you choose ST} the aperture), you might have overexposed images!
ST} Major thing about the D70 is its price, highly competitive concerning ST} price/quality compared to others. Negative points: no TIFF available, only ST} RAW and three JPEG-values (high, medium, low compression) in 3 modes: low, ST} medium and high resolution. When obtaining for the RAW-file (non-compressed ST} JPEG at high resolution is enough for high quality printing in the ST} advertisement-world!), also take in account that the setup of a RAW-file ST} with the D100 is not the same as with the D70 (i.e. a program that can read ST} RAW-files from a D100 therefor is not capable of reading the RAW-file from a ST} D70).
ST} The D1 on the other hand I find outdated, big, heavy, not very user-friendly ST} and still pricy, where a D70 costs about 1000 euro, a D1 still costs ST} something like 3000 euro.
ST} My opinion, take in account the Nikon D100. It's a little heavier and ST} bigger than a D70, allthough not much, offers you the same capabilities, but ST} also the TIFF-format, which you will be using greatfully! JPEG's are very ST} nice for regular photography and morphometry, except if intensity and ST} color-definition is important, here a TIFF will offer you more. RAW is not ST} always better (in most cases, a TIFF-file has more data in it's pixels than ST} a RAW-file, allthough this is generally not known nor accepted, check the ST} digital photography-books and magazines for comprovement!).
ST} A Nikon D100 you'll have for about 1400 euro without objective, a Nikon D70 ST} for 1000 euro (also without objective), but the 400 euro make a difference. ST} When obtaining an objective (macro!), choose also a Nikon! The difference ST} in definition of your images is very big, and you will regret the day you ST} bought an objective from another, cheaper, brand and not one from a known ST} brand! You'll see the difference in definition, especially when zooming in ST} to look at the small details (not even talking about aberations and ST} color-shifts)! ST} I hope I helped you out a little more concerning Nikon, but it does not mean ST} that other brands as Canon cannot give you the same! I do not have anything ST} to do with Nikon, just that I've always been using them in the lab (also in ST} combination with Zeiss stereomicroscopes (great photo's!) and for personal ST} use: vacations, macro-photography of mushrooms etc... Good luck!
ST} Sven Terclavers
ST} -----Original Message----- } } From: Daniel Geiger [mailto:geiger-at-vetigastropoda.com] ST} Sent: Monday, August 23, 2004 20:55 ST} To: kgrobert-at-rci.rutgers.edu; Microscopy-at-microscopy.com ST} Subject: [Microscopy] Re: Digital Macrophotography
ST} ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ST} -- ST} The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America ST} To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- ST} http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver ST} On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html ST} ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ST} ---
ST} I'm not sure what you understand by "macrophotgraphy", particularly ST} what size object do you want to image full frame.
ST} I've recently used a Nikon Coolpix 8700 (8MB chip, with "macro" ST} capability), and am not impressed by its performance in close range ST} (down to approx 2 inches, 5 cm). Depth of field is limited by the max ST} f-stop of f/8, the built in flash produces a shadow against the ST} extended lens (even when using the longest macro-allowable focal ST} length of the zoom), TTL flash exposure compensation does not work at ST} all (continuous light exposure comp works), and yellow color ST} overexposes regardless of exposure compensation settings, autofocus ST} has problems in close range, and there is too little detail on the ST} LCD screen to allow accurate manual focusing. Although the 8700 is ST} good for overall scenes (RAW, TIF files), macro capabilities are ST} disappointing.
ST} I would recommend to use a camera with optical-glass viewfinder (not ST} a LCD screen) for accurate manual focusing, test the TTL-flash ST} exposure compensation regardless of manufacturer's claims. Consider ST} also bellows head lenses; Zeiss Luminars can be obtained on the ST} second hand market, and some manufacturer's still produce new ones ST} (Minolta, Olympus, I think). The smaller diameter thread mount makes ST} them interchangeable between systems, and the narrow diameter of the ST} lens barrel allows for more freedom in lighting. Depending on ST} magnification, get a lens with decent f-stop range. Note, that ST} cranking down the f-stop at higher mag (} 2:1) may cause image ST} degradation due to diffraction. See Sydney Ray's excellent tome ST} "Applied Photographic Optics" now in the 3rd edition for details; all ST} the personal feel, final magnification dependence, aperture blade ST} numbers.
ST} I use a Contax RTS III with Contax bellows, that allow to place the ST} focal plane at an angle to the film plane (shift/tilt or PC bellows) ST} to approx 3.5:1 with a 100 mm Macro (i.e. approx. 8 mm full frame), ST} or the 50/1.4 reversed a bit higher. It is a film camera, but the ST} Carl Zeiss optics are wonderful. Some of the older bellows by Nikon ST} and Minolta also are PC capable, but I am not sure whether they ST} accept any of the new digital bodies.
ST} RAW files are nice as they are 16 bit/channel, but they are ST} agonizingly slow to open. The 12 MB RAW/NEF files from the Nikon 8700 ST} takes about 2 minutes to process on a 1 GHz Mac G4. Writing the RAW ST} files to a 1GB flash card also takes a while, say 20-30 seconds.
ST} Best wishes Daniel
} } --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ST} --- } } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
ST} Daniel L. Geiger, Ph.D. ST} Research Associate Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History ST} Adjunct Assistant Professsor, University of Southern California, Los Angeles
ST} Mailing Address: ST} Molecular Systematics Lab, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County ST} 900 Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90007, USA ST} phone: (213) 763 3431 fax: (213) 748 4432 ST} NEW e-mail geiger-at-vetigastropoda.com ST} NEW www http://www.vetigastropoda.com
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Thu Aug 26 06:55:25 2004
Dear vacationing listers, Last night I posted a message. This morning I received 17 e-mails: 4 were submissions to the list server, 3 were other e-mails and the following 10 were auto replies from the Listserver.
Mei Lie Wong [wong-at-msg.ucsf.edu] moritz-andreas.meyer-at-amd.com Oparowski, Joseph [Joseph_Oparowski-at-bose.com] scosgrove [scosgrove-at-diaginc.com] Rice, Trisha [TRice-at-FEICO.com] Dunlap, Jonathan C. [Jonathan.Dunlap-at-sylvania.com] Stewart Bean [bean-at-smt.zeiss.com] rhumphre-at-ucalgary.ca Postmaster-at-mxg.usuhs.mil Mike Ingram [MIngram-at-rohmhaas.com]
Please read the rules of use. Please review Nestor’s many suggestions in the archives. Please don’t just add to all the spam we all get.
Thank you for your consideration,
Ken Converse
owner QUALITY IMAGES Servicing Scanning Electron Microscopes Since 1981 16 Creek Rd. Delta, PA 17314 717-456-5491 Fax 717-456-7996 kenconverse-at-qualityimages.biz qualityimages.biz
___________________________________________________________ $0 Web Hosting with up to 120MB web space, 1000 MB Transfer 10 Personalized POP and Web E-mail Accounts, and much more. Signup at www.doteasy.com
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Thu Aug 26 08:50:41 2004
I was looking for sign-up calendar software recently myself as we were trying to set up on-line instrument reservation and most of what I found was web calendar hosting service such as http://www.calendars.net/. I know that some laboratories are using it and quite happy.
Our lab is using Calcium software from http://www.brownbearsoftware.com/ that we run from our own server. It is not free unfortunately, but except for a few minor things we are quite happy with it. Contact me if you need more feedback on Calcium.
Evgenia
==================================== Evgenia Pekarskaya Keck Electron Microscopy Laboratory University of Massachusetts, Amherst Tel. 413 545 2261 E-fax 325 202 7338 pekarskaya-at-mail.pse.umass.edu ====================================
-----Original Message----- } From: Sergey Ryazantsev [mailto:sryazant-at-ucla.edu] Sent: Wednesday, August 25, 2004 7:19 PM To: Microscopy-at-microscopy.com
Dear colleagues I am looking for simple sign-in calendar software (preferably freeware), so users could sign-in for the instruments on the WEB. I expect this software should work on my server (windows based) and provide easy way to sign-in, sign-out for users for the different instruments. I do remember, this issue was discussed on the server a few years ago but I want to see what people currently used. I was trying Google search and it was not so productive: most links were addressed to the calendars hosted on the Internet (like free E. mail accounts) or calendars for the business (intranet). I would really appreciate your input. Have a great day (night?). Sergey.
_____________________________________
Sergey Ryazantsev Ph. D. Electron Microscopy UCLA School of Medicine Department of Biological Chemistry 10833 Le Conte Ave, Room 33-080 Los Angeles, CA 90095
As a result of a new instrument purchase, we are going to offer for sell our Scintag PadV X-ray Powder Diffraction System.
The system is configured with a vertical 2-Theta:Theta X-ray goniometer, high intensity Cu X-ray tube (replaced about 3 years ago), and a Kevex psi peltier cooled silicon detector. Automation and data collection is accomplished through a Compaq computer running Windows NT and the latest version of Scintag's DMSNT software including stress analysis.
Some spare parts will also be available with the system.
Contact me directly if you have an interest in this instrument.
Regards
Roy Beavers
Southern Methodist University Department of Geological Sciences P.O. Box 750395 Dallas, TX 75275 Voice: 214-768-2756 Fax: 214-768-2701 Email: rbeavers-at-mail.smu.edu
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Thu Aug 26 11:11:32 2004
Below is the result of your feedback form (NJZFM-ultra-55). It was submitted by (ryan.davis-at-hydro.com) from http://microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MLFormMail.html on Thursday, August 26, 2004 at 09:30:09 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Email: ryan.davis-at-hydro.com Name: Ryan Davis
Title-Subject: [Microscopy] [Filtered] MListserver: Unstable emission current
Question: Over the past couple of weeks I watched the emission current on our Hitachi 3500N jump around like a dancing lady. I have spoken with the service engineer, and he seemingly thinks dust might be in the gun chamber. So, I wiped the gun chamber down using Kimwipes and ethanol, and blew out the gun chamber out to remove any fibers or debris left behind after cleaning. After cleaning I am still having this problem. So, does anyone have any tricks for removing dust?
} A list of things I have checked or replaced:
} Checked for whiskers on the filament. Saw none. } Replaced filament. Emission current still unstable.
Do you know who is going to give up his ESEM E3? Is there an ESEM E3 near Washington Thank you for your help.
Tim } } } } } } } __________________________________ } Do you Yahoo!? } New and Improved Yahoo! Mail - 100MB free storage! } http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail
} ATTACHMENT part 2 message/rfc822 } From: "Ken Converse" {kenconverse-at-qualityimages.biz} } To: "MSA Listserver" {Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com} } Subject: [Microscopy] Amray 1000 schematics } Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2004 21:18:03 -0400 } } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 listers, } Does anyone have access to a set of schematics (11" } x 17") for the Amray } 1000? This is not the 1000B (and 1600 series) with } the microprocessor-based } mag control, but the original 1000 with analog } controls } We can copy and return originals or pay copy and } shipping costs. Please } contact Earl Weltmer at: earlw-at-sbcglobal.net } } Or me, below. } } Thanks, } } Ken Converse } } owner } QUALITY IMAGES } Servicing Scanning Electron Microscopes } Since 1981 } 16 Creek Rd. } Delta, PA 17314 } 717-456-5491 } Fax 717-456-7996 } kenconverse-at-qualityimages.biz } qualityimages.biz } } } } } } ___________________________________________________________ } $0 Web Hosting with up to 120MB web space, 1000 MB } Transfer } 10 Personalized POP and Web E-mail Accounts, and } much more. } Signup at www.doteasy.com } } } }
__________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail - You care about security. So do we. http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Thu Aug 26 15:54:45 2004
For a seminar about "Progress in imaging since Van Leeuwenhoeck", I'm looking for:
Firstly: a photo (and description) of the largest microscope in the world (it's dimensions, therefor not specifically it's magnification), and not the particle accelerator of CERN in Swiss (since this is somehow also 'microscope').
Secondly: Websites with new achievements about imaging, here I mean new technologies like EM, PET-scan, MicroCT, Synchrotron,... compared to normal brightfield microscopy
Ryan, Does the SE image change intensity with the emission current fluctuations? If not, it could simply be a defective metering circuit. Or, check the following: 1. Poor vacuum in the gun chamber - Are the walls of the gun chamber a silver-blue color which wipes off easily with some acetone on a cloth? This indicates a vacuum leak in the gun area, check your "O" rings for dirt, etc. 2. Remover your filament entirely, pump the SEM back down, turn on the HV and run up the filament current knob to where your filament is normally peaked and see if (A) you get an emission current above the normal "dark" current and (B) does it still fluctuate. If the answer is no, I would suspect vacuum. If Yes, then your gun may be contaminated, a bad HV cable, or High Voltage Power Supply, or the emission (BIAS) circuit. If you HVPS is an oil filled tank like the JEOL SEM's, the oil may be old and contaminated and simply may need to be exchanged with fresh. Good luck!
Gary M. Easton Scanners Corporation Independent SEM Service, EDS and SEM Digital Imaging Sales 410-857-7633
----- Original Message ----- } From: "by way of MicroscopyListserver" {ryan.davis-at-hydro.com} To: {microscopy-at-ns.microscopy.com} Sent: Thursday, August 26, 2004 12:33 PM
Dear Ryan, In addition to the suggestions you have already received, a couple of other things you might check: 1. whiskers on the inside of the hole in the Wehnelt cap. It never hurts to clean the Wehnelt, anode plate and check just under the anode plate for contamination. 2. remove the Wehnelt and check the two little copper contacts in the gun that the legs of the filament engage when you put the filament assembly into the gun. Make sure they are firm, not bent or broken. 3. Make sure you are not putting the filament into the Wehnelt at right angles to the proper direction. In my S-3000N, the legs of the filament must line up with the notches in the Wehnelt, but with another, older Hitachi SEM, they must be at right angles to the notches. Check your filament-changing instructions in the manual. I hope this helps. Regards, Mary Mager Electron Microscopist Department of Materials Engineering University of British Columbia 6350 Stores Road Vancouver, B.C. V6T 1Z4 CANADA Tel: 604-822-5648 Fax: 604-822-3619 e-mail: mager-at-interchange.ubc.ca ----- Original Message ----- } From: "by way of MicroscopyListserver" {ryan.davis-at-hydro.com} To: {microscopy-at-ns.microscopy.com} Sent: Thursday, August 26, 2004 9:33 AM
I have received the following responses to my inquirey about care and sectioning of 17 year old paraplast blocks. I cannot begin to repay or even relate the help I have received through the Internet over the past five years or so on microscope issues. These replies are further evidence of the good will of microscopists everywhere. I don't mind expressing my gratitude to a friend, a microscopist who is a wealth of information and advice about every level of microscopy from the most primitive LM to the most advanced electronic varieties, who has offered to provide a microtome which is not being used, for which I will pay shipping. My benefactor, whom I am loathe to identify for fear of embarassing him, has made the use of a lonely phase contrast scope, several remarkable objectives, and other diverse parts available for my teaching and research.
Meanwhile, upon opening the box of wax blocks, I have found a number of slides of previously sectioned material that was not deparaffinized. I don't remember why, in the heat of the moment, when I was packing up to leave the laboratory where I'd been working, I made these particular sections.
Thanks to everyone who has offered advice, as follows:
Damian Neuberger Ph.D.:
Having made more Paraplast embeddings than I care to remember..... The only thing I can think of is to keep them in a cool dry place; otherwise, they should last a very long time. The other question about how to section is an interesting one. You already have a hand microtome and it might be worth a try although I don't know how it is to be set up. You have a microtome blade but do you have a handle for it? If not, it should be a low cost item to acquire and I have the name of a local place that may have some.
I made a hand microtome using a screw type micrometer gauge, cutting off the arch portion and mounting the screw portion to a steel cylinder with a hole in it through which the screw part would push the tissue sample out by a known amount. The top of the cylinder of course was ground to a reasonably fine polish. The exposed sample was then cut using a microtome blade on a handle. I used it primarily for fresh plant samples that I would sandwich between some soft material like balsa, or Sambucus pith, cork, etc before inserting it into the hole.
} From: "Ray Hicks" {rayh-at-fcspress.com}
some plans are given here http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/art97b/microt.html along the lines of damian's suggestion - if you don't want to destroy a micrometer, you can buy the moving part (minus the frame) as a separate component - this gives you a neat cylindrical stub that you can insert into your tube, and hold it with a grub screw. This thing is sold as a "micrometer head", slightly more expensive (£7.95) than a micrometer (£6.95) http://www.proopsbrothers.com/acatalog/ Online_Catalogue_Micrometers_54.html, (this is the cheapest I can find them on the web btw, they range up to 250 pounds) but easier to handle I'm sure, also more reproducible than the heated rod method (these are graduated in 10 micron steps, but you can estimate smaller steps - although I imagine that the effect of cutting will cause wedge-shaped sections unless the core you're cutting is pretty much jammed in the barrel, I made something similar to make plastic discs from teflon rod, and had to fit a friction screw to stop the rod being dragged out of the tube by the force of cutting)
as an alternative, the shop at microscopy org has two microtomes (a hand one -at- 32 pounds, and a rocking one -at- 120 pounds) that might just be worth exploring... http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/full_shop.html
} From: {jb_sanderson-at-yahoo.com}
You are very unlikely to cut good sections on a hand microtome, and the wax blocks will probably need softening and then cutting very cold on a modern microtome with sharp new Feather disposable blades. I suggest that you try to contact your local histopathology department for more help at your hospital.
While I worked at the USDA, I used paraplast blocks for thin sectioning of insects which were about 10 years old and they still had active peptides capable of immunocytochemical labelling. The sections looked very good also. Perhaps it is more important that the fixatives used worked well because it is probably unlikely that the paraplast has deteriorated. My guess is the samples will work well if they were well fixed.
Gordon Couger gcc-at-couger.com:
As a high school teacher in the Pacific you can probably get some one to donate a microtome if you pay the freight. A wanted message in the equipment exchange section of the MSA web page would be one place and wanted messages are free on www.labx.com if you highschool will give a letter to the person donating the micotome a letter for a tax deduction it is probably worth more than a used microtome will sell for.
Of course the freight is going to be a good deal of money on a microtome.
Frederick Monson:
As far as preserving the blocks, there is only one thing that you will have to insure. You must try to keep the blocks from temperatures over 40 degrees C. In a black box, such outside temperatures can become elevated and cause damage. On the other hand, as long as the tissues/specimens remain enveloped in the paraffin, you can always 'trim' them out and re-block them before you are ready to section.
On Sat, 14 Aug 2004 17:35:22 +1000 "Alan E. Davis" {aedavis-at-eccomm.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 } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- } } I have just received a box full of wax blocks I made about 18 years ago for a study of reproductive biology and zooxanthellae of Millepora platyphylla, fire coral. I don't have a microtome, but thanks to the generosity of a microscopist cleaning out a lab, I have a steel microtome knife. I surely cannot afford a microtome, or especially the shipping, but I remember some plans from some discarded library material some years ago, for microtomes. One used a candle to heat a long metal rod, effectuating a gradual lengthening, for example. } } Can anyone suggest whether hand sections are worth while to try of wax blocks. The blocks were made with paraplast. Being several years old, even though I have to assume they are still ok, should I take any special steps with storage or rejuvenation? } } I'm afraid to ruin them. The study broke some ground, has not been published, and deserves to be followed through. Even though my notes have been lost through years of sore neglect, typhoons, and ex-spousal neglect, there are some hopeful clues in these specimens that would still be worthwhile, and dates of collection and other information are still recoverable for the most part, through existence of a parallel labelled collection of hard parts, with dates written on them. So... any suggestions on long term care of wax blocks, as well as suggestions for hand-sectioning, would be welcome. } } I have a hand microtome, with German inscriptions, that may be useful. } } Thank you, } } Alan Davis } Kagman High School } Saipan, N. Mariana Islands } aedavis-at-eccomm.com }
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Fri Aug 27 08:49:06 2004
We have an Amray 1000A currently in use. 1977 or 1978 vintage. I assume that it is the model that you are referring to as the "1000". As far as I know all the manuals, charts, etc. are still in the cabinet but we have not needed to refer to them in some time so I will check for you. If you have already received the schematics please let me know.
Pat Connelly Univ. of Pennsylvania, Dept. of Biology Philadelphia, PA 19104-6018 215-898-7145
} ----- Original Message ----- } } From: "Ken Converse" {kenconverse-at-qualityimages.biz} } To: "MSA Listserver" {Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com} } Sent: Wednesday, August 25, 2004 6:18 PM } Subject: [Microscopy] Amray 1000 schematics } } } Does anyone have access to a set of schematics (11" x 17") for the Amray } } 1000? This is not the 1000B (and 1600 series) with the } } microprocessor-based } } mag control, but the original 1000 with analog controls } } We can copy and return originals or pay copy and shipping costs. Please } } contact Earl Weltmer at: earlw-at-sbcglobal.net } } Or me, below. } } } } Thanks, } } Ken Converse } } } } owner } } QUALITY IMAGES } } Servicing Scanning Electron Microscopes } } Since 1981 } } 16 Creek Rd. } } Delta, PA 17314 } } 717-456-5491 } } Fax 717-456-7996 } } kenconverse-at-qualityimages.biz } } qualityimages.biz } } ___________________________________________________________ } Good to hear someone is still running a 1000, as we have not set ours up } yet, it and all the documentation is boxed up. I fear it may be behind a few } thousand pounds of boxes in the warehouse, but I can check on it. we ended } up with the unit from Honeywell computer plant here in Phoenix. } } It would be good to know who else out there is running one of these units. I } suspect we are a small group. Just have Amray in the title of the message and it will catch my eye.
} Thanks Ed Sharpe, Archivist for SMECC - - See the Museum's Web Site at } www.smecc.org } } Coury House / SMECC } 5802 W. Palmaire Ave. Phone 623-435-1522 Glendale Az 85301 USA
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Fri Aug 27 13:33:34 2004
Below is the result of your feedback form (NJZFM-ultra-55). It was submitted by (watson-at-wi.mit.edu) from http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MLFormMail.html on Friday, August 27, 2004 at 10:20:20 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Email: watson-at-wi.mit.edu Name: Nicki Watson
Organization: Whitehead Institute
Title-Subject: [Microscopy] [Filtered] MEM training schools
Question: Hi all, I am trying to find the name and web site of the two schools that offer an associate degree in electron microscopy. I believe there is one on the west coast, and one in the mid west. I met a few of the students from those schools at the recent meeting in Savannah, and I would like to get some more information about their program, and possibly submit a want ad to their placement department. If anyone knows of these schools please let me know. Thanks Nicki Watson
On Aug 27, 2004, at 11:56 AM, by way of MicroscopyListserver wrote:
} I am trying to find the name and web site of the two schools that } offer an associate degree in electron microscopy. } I believe there is one on the west coast, and one in the mid west. } I met a few of the students from those schools at the recent meeting } in Savannah, and I would like to get some more information about their } program, and possibly submit a want ad to their placement department. } If anyone knows of these schools please let me know. } Dear Nicki, Delta College is probably the West Coast school you have in mind. It was run by Judy Murphy for a long time. I do not know the present situation with that program, since Judy is no longer affiliated with it; however, up until Judy left, it was an excellent program, and I would be certain that any graduate of that program would be exceedingly well trained. 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 Aug 27 16:53:52 2004
Madison Area Technical College http://matcmadison.edu/electronmicros/
San Joaquin Delta College http://www.deltacollege.edu/dept/electmicro/index.html
We have hired people from both places and have been very pleased with the quality of students they turn out.
I hope this helps.
Best regards-
David
-- David Henriks
South Bay Technology, Inc. 1120 Via Callejon San Clemente, CA 92673 USA
TEL: +1-949-492-2600 Toll-free in the USA: +1-800-728-2233 FAX: +1-949-492-1499
email: henriks-at-southbaytech.com
Celebrating 40 years of providing Materials Processing Solutions for Metallogaphy, Crystallography and Electron Microscopy. Please visit us online at www.southbaytech.com.
The information contained in this message and any attachments is privileged and confidential. This message is intended for the individual or entity addressed. If you are not the intended recipient, please do not read, copy or disclose this communication. Notify the sender of the mistake by calling +1-949-492-2600 and delete this message from your system.
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 } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- } } } Below is the result of your feedback form (NJZFM-ultra-55). It was } submitted by (watson-at-wi.mit.edu) from } http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MLFormMail.html on } Friday, August 27, 2004 at 10:20:20 } --------------------------------------------------------------------------- } } } Email: watson-at-wi.mit.edu } Name: Nicki Watson } } Organization: Whitehead Institute } } Title-Subject: [Microscopy] [Filtered] MEM training schools } } Question: Hi all, } I am trying to find the name and web site of the two schools that } offer an associate degree in electron microscopy. } I believe there is one on the west coast, and one in the mid west. } I met a few of the students from those schools at the recent meeting } in Savannah, and I would like to get some more information about their } program, and possibly submit a want ad to their placement department. } If anyone knows of these schools please let me know. } Thanks } Nicki Watson } } } --------------------------------------------------------------------------- } } } }
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Fri Aug 27 17:02:33 2004
} Email: watson-at-wi.mit.edu } Name: Nicki Watson } } Organization: Whitehead Institute } } Title-Subject: [Microscopy] [Filtered] MEM training schools } } Question: Hi all, } I am trying to find the name and web site of the two schools that offer } an associate degree in electron microscopy. } I believe there is one on the west coast, and one in the mid west. } I met a few of the students from those schools at the recent meeting in } Savannah, and I would like to get some more information about their } program, and possibly submit a want ad to their placement department. } If anyone knows of these schools please let me know. } Thanks } Nicki Watson } } } ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Fri Aug 27 17:14:52 2004
Just using Delta will get you to the wrong spot I think its full name is: San Joaquin Delta College http://www.deltacollege.org/dept/electmicro/ it is in Stockton Ca.
Jim
James L. Roberts Firearm & Toolmark Examiner Ventura Co. Sheriff's Lab 800 S. Victoria Ave. Ventura, CA. 93009
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On Aug 27, 2004, at 11:56 AM, by way of MicroscopyListserver wrote:
} I am trying to find the name and web site of the two schools that } offer an associate degree in electron microscopy. } I believe there is one on the west coast, and one in the mid west. } I met a few of the students from those schools at the recent meeting } in Savannah, and I would like to get some more information about their } program, and possibly submit a want ad to their placement department. } If anyone knows of these schools please let me know. } Dear Nicki, Delta College is probably the West Coast school you have in mind. It was run by Judy Murphy for a long time. I do not know the present situation with that program, since Judy is no longer affiliated with it; however, up until Judy left, it was an excellent program, and I would be certain that any graduate of that program would be exceedingly well trained. 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 Aug 27 20:26:42 2004
we also have a strange specimen holder that holds many specimens and you can rotate them in and out of the beam and switch to another one while still maintaining the vacuum on the column!
Thanks Ed Sharpe archivist for SMECC
Please check our web site at http://www.smecc.org to see other engineering fields, communications and computation stuff we buy, and by all means when in Arizona drop in and see us.
address:
coury house / smecc 5802 w palmaire ave glendale az 85301
----- Original Message ----- } From: "Pat Connelly" {psconnel-at-sas.upenn.edu} To: "ed sharpe" {esharpe-at-uswest.net} Cc: "Ken Converse" {kenconverse-at-qualityimages.biz} ; "MSA Listserver" {Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com} Sent: Friday, August 27, 2004 7:09 AM
Below is the result of your feedback form (NJZFM-ultra-55). It was submitted by (patrick.stallings-at-amd.com) from http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MLFormMail.html on Friday, August 27, 2004 at 16:28:15 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Email: patrick.stallings-at-amd.com Name: Patrick Stallings
Organization: AMD
Title-Subject: [Microscopy] [Filtered] TEM junction stain for FIB prepared semiconductor samples
Question: All, I am trying to prepare samples for TEM analysis using focused ion beam and then using a chemical stain to visually enhance the semiconductor junction. Does anyone have a recipe that does this well on FIB samples. I have tried several HNO3:HF solutions with no real luck. Thanks,
Here is the September 2004 Microscopy Today table of contents. I will close the subscription list for this issue on Tuesday 7 September 2004. Microscopists in North America and MSA members anywhere can subscribe for free. Anyone else may subscribe for US$35 per year (to PARTIALLY cover postage). All subscriptions at http://www.microscopy-today.com Thank you.
Carmichael: Cells Connected by Tiny Tunnels
Gillies: Microscopy & Microanalytical Support for NASA's Microgravity Materials Science Programs
Magonov: High-Resolution Imaging with Atomic Force Microscopy
Brown, Nicholls, Royston, & D'Keidek: A Suspended Floor for High-Performance Electron Microscopy and Nanoscience
Favret and Fuentes: RIMAPS and Variogram Analysis of Barley Leaf Surfaces
Hugo and Cady: Preparation of Geological and Biological TEM Specimens by Embedding in Sulfur
Armitage: Artifacts from Rapid Microwave Processing of Trematode Tissues (Ascocotyle pachycystis and leighi)
Neal and Russ: Principal Components Analysis of Multispectral Image Data
Camp, Byun, and Jacob: Electron Microscopy Analysis of Multilamellar Vesicles Prepared from Synthetic Lipids: A Model System for Studying Membrane Structure in the Molecular Cell Biology Classroom and Laboratory
Greenhut and Greenhut: Flicker Stereo: Digital 3D Viewing for PC & Presentation
New and Interesting at Microscopy & Microanalysis 2004 Industry News NetNotes
Ron Anderson, Editor Microscopy Today
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Aug 30 07:11:45 2004
The midwest school offering an Associate Degree in Electron Microscopy is Madison Area Technical College. The students that we have worked with from MATC have been very good. Information is available at:
http://matcmadison.edu/electronmicros/
Joe Neilly, Research Investigator Abbott Laboratories R4R9, AP31 200 Abbott Park Rd. Abbott Park, IL 60064-6202
} Email: watson-at-wi.mit.edu } Name: Nicki Watson } } Organization: Whitehead Institute } } Title-Subject: [Microscopy] [Filtered] MEM training schools } } Question: Hi all, } I am trying to find the name and web site of the two schools that offer } an associate degree in electron microscopy. } I believe there is one on the west coast, and one in the mid west. } I met a few of the students from those schools at the recent meeting in } Savannah, and I would like to get some more information about their } program, and possibly submit a want ad to their placement department. } If anyone knows of these schools please let me know. } Thanks } Nicki Watson }
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Aug 30 07:50:08 2004
I'm posting this on behalf of my McCrone colleague, David Wiley. He's the managing editor of the online journal, ModernMicroscopy.com, and he asked me to provide this update to the listserver.
Regards,
Elaine Schumacher McCrone Associates, Inc. eschumacher-at-mccrone.com
I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who visited or tried to visit our new online journal www.ModernMicroscopy.com. Many of you responded because of difficulties accessing the site, and I appreciate your feedback. I tried to work with our ISP at the time, to fix the problems with the site. In the end, the decision was made to move the site to another ISP.
The move has been completed, and I would like to extend another invitation to everyone. I hope that you will give the site a second chance, if you haven't already. ModernMicroscopy.com is a peer reviewed journal featuring articles, reviews and tutorials about microscopy by some of the most experienced microscopists in the field. We are actively looking for new topics and ideas from the entire microscopy community. Submission information can be found on the site.
Regards,
David Wiley Managing Editor ModernMicroscopy.com editor-at-modernmicroscopy.com
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Aug 30 09:53:15 2004
Does anyone have a cut-away drawing of a scroll pump?
I give a lecture on vacuum including pumping systems in my SEM class and have demo pumps that have been disassembled or cut open. However, I do not have a demo scroll pump, their being relatively new as standard on new instruments. A good drawing or comparison of features and maintenance compared to oil rotary pump would be appreciated.
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 Aug 30 12:30:39 2004
There are diagrams that may be helpful in "High-Vacuum Technology - A Practical Guide", 2E, M. H. Hablanian, 1997, Marcel Dekker, Inc. pp 190-196.
Michael Zemyan Schafer Corporation
-----Original Message----- } From: Debby Sherman [mailto:dsherman-at-purdue.edu] Sent: Monday, August 30, 2004 8:16 AM To: message to: MSA list
Below is the result of your feedback form (NJZFM-ultra-55). It was submitted by (mfein-at-bu.edu) from http://www.msa.microscopy.org/Ask-A-Microscopist/Ask-A-Microscopist.html on Monday, August 30, 2004 at 09:56:16 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Email: mfein-at-bu.edu Name: Marcia D. Feinberg
Organization: Boston University
Education: Graduate College
Location: Boston, MA , U.S.A.
Question: My Pioloform coated slot grids continue to break under the 6okV TEM beam. I cut and look at serial thin sections and we note that the Pioloform usually starts to break between two adjacent sections. We use a lot of liquid Nitrogen in the scope and it helps somewhat, but we still get breakage. I understand at 60kV the electrons are slower and are heating up the grid, compared to working at higher kV's but because of our low contrast brain tissue, we are forced to work at 60kV. I could try re-coating the grids with a thinner layer of Pioloform but that has some risks and lowers resolution somewhat. We also don't have a carbon coater and choose not to carbon coat because of the risks of messing up our series. Knowing all this, could someone suggest another way we can solve our problem? I thank you very much for your consideration. Marcia Feinberg
With a number of on-going building modifications here as well as the potential for relocating my EM Facility. we find ourselves in need of a vibration testing/monitoring system. What I am hoping to find is a simply system to plug into a Laptop. Having had various vibration testing done in the past, and where as I fully acknowledge the quality experience of testing service providers we just can't afford that kind of expense on a continuing basis. We are looking to do this in-house, monitor "baseline" building vibrations every couple of weeks or so.
I have picked up the recommendations for a Wilcoxon 731A/P31 Accelerometer but now I need a compatible PCMCIA spectrum analyzer interface board and software.
Any recommendations? And yes, vendors may respond directly back to me.
Richard E. Edelmann, Ph.D. Electron Microscopy Facility Director 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 Tue Aug 31 10:05:22 2004
We have hired Vibration Engineering Consultants to do site surveys and I believe they also sell survey equipment that runs from a laptop. You can find more inforation at: www.vibeng.com We have been very happy with their work.
Regards, Joe Neilly, Research Investigator Abbott Laboratories R4R9, AP31 200 Abbott Park Rd. Abbott Park, IL 60064-6202
"Richard Edelmann" {edelmare-at-MUOhio.edu} 08/31/2004 07:34 AM Please respond to edelmare
To: microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.com cc: Subject: [Microscopy] Vibration testing system
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With a number of on-going building modifications here as well as the potential for relocating my EM Facility. we find ourselves in need of a vibration testing/monitoring system. What I am hoping to find is a simply system to
plug into a Laptop. Having had various vibration testing done in the past, and where as I fully acknowledge the quality experience of testing service providers we just can't afford that kind of expense on a continuing basis. We are looking to do this in-house, monitor "baseline" building vibrations every couple of weeks or so.
I have picked up the recommendations for a Wilcoxon 731A/P31 Accelerometer but now I need a compatible PCMCIA spectrum analyzer interface board and software.
Any recommendations? And yes, vendors may respond directly back to me.
Richard E. Edelmann, Ph.D. Electron Microscopy Facility Director 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 Tue Aug 31 11:27:16 2004
On Aug 31, 2004, at 5:22 AM, by way of Ask-A-Microscopist wrote:
} Question: My Pioloform coated slot grids continue to break under the } 6okV TEM beam. I cut and look at serial thin sections and we note that } the Pioloform usually starts to break between two adjacent sections. } We use a lot of liquid Nitrogen in the scope and it helps somewhat, } but we still get breakage. I understand at 60kV the electrons are } slower and are heating up the grid, compared to working at higher kV's } but because of our low contrast brain tissue, we are forced to work at } 60kV. I could try re-coating the grids with a thinner layer of } Pioloform but that has some risks and lowers resolution somewhat. We } also don't have a carbon coater and choose not to carbon coat because } of the risks of messing up our series. Knowing all this, could someone } suggest another way we can solve our problem? I thank you very much } for your consideration. Marcia Feinberg } Dear Marcia, You need to conduct heat and charge away from the spot where the electron beam interacts with the specimen, and, since you do not want to coat the specimen and the Pioloform is not a good conductor, a remaining possibility is to lower the dose rate to the point that the heat and charge will dissipate. Possibly, pre-irradiation of the entire slot with a low dose could produce enough conductivity in the Pioloform to overcome the problem. I'd experiment with grids that do not have valuable material on them to determine what pre-irradiation and/or dose rate are optimal. Good luck. 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 Tue Aug 31 13:58:03 2004
Dear Marcia Try Formvar instead Pioloform. Carbon coating of the grids (before attaching sections) also highly recommended (you could bought them from any major EM suppliers) problems with contrast even using Spurr resin (images in Spurr for some reason looks less contrasty than from Epon) at 80 kV. I don't believe lowering accelerating voltage could benefit on very (yes) thick Pioloform film. Pioloform itself will scatter a lot of electrons, so your signal (image) would be very noisy and less informative. You could easily adjust contrast using higher voltage and smaller obj aperture. Low voltage also damaged your sample, so we are not talking here about better "resolution" at lower voltage... Sergey
At 07:22 AM 8/31/2004 -0500, you wrote:
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From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Tue Aug 31 14:09:56 2004
We just bought the Spicer Consulting Analysis System SC11. It is a Laptop based system to measure vibrations using a Wilcoxon 731A Accelerometer, AC/DC-fields and Sounds.
You can find more information at http://www.spicerconsulting.com/
Robert
At 08:34 AM 8/31/2004, you wrote:
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
---------- Robert F. Klie, PhD Goldhaber Distinguished Fellow Center for Functional Nanomaterials (Bldg.480) Brookhaven National Laboratory Upton, NY 11973 Tel. (631) 344-7709 Fax. (631)344-4071
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Tue Aug 31 15:45:06 2004
The accelerometer may need a signal conditioner/buffer/amplifier - I have not checked it's specifications. If a PC sound card meets your frequency range and resolution requirements, the rest is simple and cheap.
A number of free/shareware programs that will turn your PC into an audio range spectrum analyzer are available. Adjust the accelerometer/amplifier output level to be compatible with the sound card "line in" requirement (typically 1 volt peak, max)and you are there...
Regards, Woody
Woody White BWXT Services: http://www.bwxt.com/bwxt.html My Site: http://woody.white.home.att.net
-----Original Message----- } From: Richard Edelmann [mailto:edelmare-at-MUOhio.edu] Sent: Tuesday, August 31, 2004 8:34 AM To: microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.com
With a number of on-going building modifications here as well as the
potential for relocating my EM Facility. we find ourselves in need of a vibration testing/monitoring system. What I am hoping to find is a simply system to plug into a Laptop. Having had various vibration testing done in the past, and where as I fully acknowledge the quality experience of testing service providers we just can't afford that kind of expense on a continuing basis. We are looking to do this in-house, monitor "baseline" building vibrations every couple of weeks or so.
I have picked up the recommendations for a Wilcoxon 731A/P31 Accelerometer but now I need a compatible PCMCIA spectrum analyzer interface board and software.
Any recommendations? And yes, vendors may respond directly back to me.
Richard E. Edelmann, Ph.D. Electron Microscopy Facility Director 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 Tue Aug 31 18:11:33 2004
Below is the result of your feedback form (NJZFM-ultra-55). It was submitted by (kn77-at-uwyo.edu) from http://www.msa.microscopy.com/Ask-A-Microscopist/Ask-A-Microscopist.html on Tuesday, August 31, 2004 at 14:43:11 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Email: kn77-at-uwyo.edu Name: Kusum Naithani
Organization: University of Wyoming
Education: Graduate College
Location: Laramie, Wyoming, USA
Question: Hi! I'm working on plant leaf material (sagebrush). Leaf is covered by minute white hairs and due to this reason I'm not able to find the distribution of stomatal cells. Could you please suggest a way to remove these hairs so that I can see stomatal cells. 2nd question.. I want to measure the size and depth of stomatal cells. Could you please tell me the way to fix leaf in its living conditions. I would greatly appreciate your help. Thanks! Kusum
Below is the result of your feedback form (NJZFM-ultra-55). It was submitted by (donaldawbrey-at-texashealth.org) from http://microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MLFormMail.html on Tuesday, August 31, 2004 at 13:00:40 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Email: donaldawbrey-at-texashealth.org Name: Donald G. Awbrey
What embedding protocol have you used for skin (epidermis and dermis) into Spurr?
Thanks
Bob Becker
Robert Becker, PhD Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology (mc512) Univ IL -at- Chicago Room 578 808 S Wood St Chicago, IL 60612-7308 312 996 7215 ph 312 413 0354 fx
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Wed Sep 1 06:16:27 2004
I'm a student now considering studies in basics of microscopy to consider a possible career change.
I'm seeking information on flourescence microscopy, why would someone use this over other methods, the difference between single photon and two photon fluorescence . Anyone's experience on laser scanning confocal microscopes ( 1photon and 2 photon), is it worth the expense? Although I don't know what they cost, I am told that they are expensive, does anyone know?
Thank You Paul Bitetto
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Wed Sep 1 06:42:33 2004
Silvia, There are indeed flat, enclosable embedding cylindrical molds, standard size #00, with a flat end....on both sides! Just like BEEM capsules. I get ours from Electron Microscopy Sciences (#70021):
LEGAL NOTICE Unless expressly stated otherwise, this message is confidential and may be privileged. It is intended for the addressee(s) only. Access to this E-mail by anyone else is unauthorized. If you are not an addressee, any disclosure or copying of the contents of this E-mail or any action taken (or not taken) in reliance on it is unauthorized and may be unlawful. If you are not an addressee, please inform the sender immediately.
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Wed Sep 1 08:33:47 2004
I don't know a good way to remove the hairs, but for counting and measuring stomata, it would be easier if any waxy cuticle was removed during processing. I have done this by using acetone as a dehydrant, rather than ethanol. In my experience, it cleans up the surface of the leaf quite well and makes the stomata and other surface features stand out nicely.
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.emc.missouri.edu
-----Original Message----- } From: by way of Ask-A-Microscopist [mailto:kn77-at-uwyo.edu] Sent: Tuesday, August 31, 2004 6:34 PM To: microscopy-at-microscopy.com
Below is the result of your feedback form (NJZFM-ultra-55). It was submitted by (kn77-at-uwyo.edu) from http://www.msa.microscopy.com/Ask-A-Microscopist/Ask-A-Microscopist.html on Tuesday, August 31, 2004 at 14:43:11 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ---
Email: kn77-at-uwyo.edu Name: Kusum Naithani
Organization: University of Wyoming
Education: Graduate College
Location: Laramie, Wyoming, USA
Question: Hi! I'm working on plant leaf material (sagebrush). Leaf is covered by minute white hairs and due to this reason I'm not able to find the distribution of stomatal cells. Could you please suggest a way to remove these hairs so that I can see stomatal cells. 2nd question.. I want to measure the size and depth of stomatal cells. Could you please tell me the way to fix leaf in its living conditions. I would greatly appreciate your help. Thanks! Kusum
Below is the result of your feedback form (NJZFM-ultra-55). It was submitted by (mingram-at-rohmhaas.com) from http://microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MLFormMail.html on Wednesday, September 1, 2004 at 05:24:13 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Email: mingram-at-rohmhaas.com Name: Mike Ingram
Organization: Rohm and Haas
Title-Subject: [Microscopy] [Filtered] MListserver: Registration of SEM's due to X-rays
Question: In Delaware it appears we are required to register our SEM as a X-ray source. Does any know this to be true?
You can try removing the trichomes by very gently shaving the leaf. Hold a razor blade almost vertical, just not touching the leaf surface, and pull in the direction of the tilt. This requires a steady hand, and doesn't work on robust trichomes, but might on sagebrush -- I don't know that plant. The other approach would be to go at the leaf with the blade near horizontal and again just not touching the leaf, like shaving your face. But I haven't done that in so long, I've forgotten how. You don't need to remove the entire trichome, just most of it, so the surface is revealed. The best way to measure the size of the stomatal cells would be with a light microscope on freshly picked leafs in a room (or chamber) of the appropriate humidity. Or, same conditions, but make a replica with dental silicone or one of the replica materials the EM companies sell. The replica could then be examined in the SEM, or with a light microscope.
Phil
} Email: kn77-at-uwyo.edu } Name: Kusum Naithani } } Organization: University of Wyoming } } Education: Graduate College } } Location: Laramie, Wyoming, USA } } Question: Hi! } I'm working on plant leaf material (sagebrush). Leaf is covered by } minute white hairs and due to this reason I'm not able to find the } distribution of stomatal cells. Could you please suggest a way to } remove these hairs so that I can see stomatal cells. } 2nd question.. } I want to measure the size and depth of stomatal cells. Could you } please tell me the way to fix leaf in its living conditions. } I would greatly appreciate your help. } Thanks! } Kusum } } ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- 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 Wed Sep 1 11:16:27 2004
Hi Paul, Fluorescence microscopy when you have access to confocal microscope is awesome. For career, every experimentals fields, particulary with bio tag on the name is not an easy career from money perspective, but from scientific point of view it is great.
All the best,
} } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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'm a student now considering studies in basics of microscopy to consider a } possible career change. } } I'm seeking information on flourescence microscopy, why would someone use } this over other methods, the difference between single photon and two photon } fluorescence . Anyone's experience on laser scanning confocal microscopes ( } 1photon and 2 photon), is it worth the expense? Although I don't know what } they cost, I am told that they are expensive, does anyone know? } } Thank You } Paul Bitetto } } } } } } } }
-- Antoine Blanc, Research Associate Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal Chemical Engineering, Mike Buschmann Laboratory CP 6079, succ. Centre-ville Montréal Qc, Canada H3C 3A7 Tel.:514-340-4711 ext.:3212,3336,3337 FAX:514-340-4159 secrétariat: 514-340-4711 ext.:4984
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Wed Sep 1 11:44:29 2004
I'm not sure about Delaware, but this is true for the State of Michigan. You may want to check your State's website in the registration or health section for information.
In the last conversation I had with the state inspector, the State is considering dropping registration for scanning electron microscopes because of the negligible danger from SEMs leaking X-rays. Since the SEM by all practical purposes cannot operate unless everything is buttoned up for the vacuum, the chance for X-ray leakage is just about nil.
Stu Smalinskas, P.E. SKF USA Plymouth, Michigan
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mike wrote:
Question: In Delaware it appears we are required to register our SEM as a X-ray source. Does any know this to be true?
Thanks
Email: mingram-at-rohmhaas.com Name: Mike Ingram Organization: Rohm and Haas
__________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail is new and improved - Check it out! http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Wed Sep 1 12:27:45 2004
O.k., here is my suggestion for removing the root hairs: Follow any standard fixation protocol (I know you asked about them as well) but you'll find that sagebrush does not "wet" very well, so you'll need to add a surfactant like Kodak Photo-flo or Tween (1 drop / 10ml fixative is generally enough) - if you are looking to follow up with light microscopy then FAA might work very nicely for you [FAA = Formalin-Acedic acid-Alcohol Formulation: 50% (or 70%) ethyl alcohol - 90ml, Glacial Acetic Acid - 5ml, Formalin - 5ml]. In which the alcohol works well to "wet" the material.
In any case, dehydrate the samples to 50%-100% solvent (EtOH), plunge freeze in liquid nitrogen, rub the surface of the leaves with a wood stick, pre- cooled razor blade, plastic bar, etc. This should break all the tricomes off the leaf surface revealing the stomata. Transfer samples back from liquid nitrogen and continue with sample prep.
To accurately measure somata depth you will have to section the samples and look at the cells in cross-section.
Standard fixatation
1) Primary Fixation: 1-2% paraformaldehyde, 2-4% glutaraldehyde, in a suitable pH buffer (i.e. 6.8-7.2 pH 0.2 M Sodium Phosphate, 0.05 M Sodium Cacodylate, HEPES, PIPES, etc. ). Fixation for 5-120 min. at room temp. (20- 22 C), normal growth temp (37 C?) or on ice (0-4 C). [50 min. -at- room temp]. Specimens should be cut as small as possible.
2) Rinse: 4 times -at- 10-15 min. each with the above buffer without aldehyde fixatives. (Residual aldehydes will bind with OsO4 in secondary fixation if used.)
*3) Secondary Fixation: 1-2% Osmium tetroxide (OsO4) in full to half strength buffer used above. Fixation for 2-6 hours at room temperature. (OsO4 fixation generally not used if immunological staining procedures will be used.)
*4) Rinse: 4 times -at- 15-20 min. each with distilled water.
5) Dehydration: Generally either absolute ethanol (200 proof) or glass distilled acetone is used.
% Solvent in water Time
25% 20-30 min 50% 20-30 min 75% 20-30 min 95% 30-60 min 100% 60+ min 100% 60+ min
SEM: CPD samples
TEM: resin embbedd samples
} } Email: kn77-at-uwyo.edu } Name: Kusum Naithani } } Organization: University of Wyoming } } Education: Graduate College } } Location: Laramie, Wyoming, USA } } Question: Hi! } I'm working on plant leaf material (sagebrush). Leaf is covered by minute white } hairs and due to this reason I'm not able to find the distribution of stomatal } cells. Could you please suggest a way to remove these hairs so that I can see } stomatal cells. 2nd question.. I want to measure the size and depth of stomatal } cells. Could you please tell me the way to fix leaf in its living conditions. I } would greatly appreciate your help. Thanks! Kusum } } --------------------------------------------------------------------------- }
Richard E. Edelmann, Ph.D. Electron Microscopy Facility Director 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 Sep 1 12:57:24 2004
This is also true for Illinois. We used to have routine inspections by the IL Dept of Nuclear Safety, but they felt it was no longer justified for SEMs.
Alan Stone ASTON
At 12:06 PM 9/1/2004, you wrote:
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Alan Stone ASTON Metallurgical Services Co., Inc. 200 Larkin Drive Ste A Wheeling, IL 60090 847/353-8100 www.astonmet.com
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Wed Sep 1 14:02:18 2004
Mike, As of July 2000 it was still required. Try contacting
Delaware Health and Social Services Division of Public Health Office of Radiation Control P.O. Box 637 Dover, DE 19903 302-739-3787
Perhaps 4 years later you might be able to find a website for them. From Stu's reply it sounds like some sanity might be returning concerning SEMs and x-rays, but I'm not going to go there today.
Good luck, Ken Converse
owner QUALITY IMAGES Servicing Scanning Electron Microscopes Since 1981 16 Creek Rd. Delta, PA 17314 717-456-5491 Fax 717-456-7996 kenconverse-at-qualityimages.biz qualityimages.biz
-----Original Message----- } From: by way of MicroscopyListserver [mailto:mingram-at-rohmhaas.com] Sent: Wednesday, September 01, 2004 10:21 AM To: microscopy-at-microscopy.com
Below is the result of your feedback form (NJZFM-ultra-55). It was submitted by (mingram-at-rohmhaas.com) from http://microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MLFormMail.html on Wednesday, September 1, 2004 at 05:24:13 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Email: mingram-at-rohmhaas.com Name: Mike Ingram
Organization: Rohm and Haas
Title-Subject: [Microscopy] [Filtered] MListserver: Registration of SEM's due to X-rays
Question: In Delaware it appears we are required to register our SEM as a X-ray source. Does any know this to be true?
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From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Wed Sep 1 14:55:47 2004
Just some thoughts on your breaking grids: 1. Make sure the Pioloform is absolutely fresh. 2. Can you use a regular mesh grid for additional support? 3. You could obtain carbon coated slot grids from Ladd or some other EM supplier.
John Arnott
Disclaimer: Ladd Research sells grids, custom coated grids, and the supplies needed to make them yourself.
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: ladres-at-att.net
----- Original Message ----- } From: "Bill Tivol" {tivol-at-caltech.edu} To: {microscopy-at-msa.microscopy.com} Sent: Tuesday, August 31, 2004 12:57 PM
The fall meeting of the Texas Society for Microscopy will be Oct. 21-23 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Allen, TX. We have an exciting schedule planned including the Thursday workshop "EBSD and FESEM - A Formidable Combination for Characterization of Semiconductor Materials" to be presented by Dr. Keith Dicks from Oxford Instruments. The workshop will take place at Microtech Analytical Labs, Inc., 538 Haggard Street, Suite 402 Plano, TX 75074. In addition to the Thursday workshop, Oxford Instruments, JEOL and Microtech Analytical Labs are making the Inca Energy EDX and Inca Crystal EBSD system on a JEOL 6500F available for demo Tues, Wed and Fri (Oct. 19-20, 22). This is an opportunity to bring your own samples and evaluate this technique with one on one contact with the industry experts. To schedule demo time, contact Mike Crowley with Oxford Instruments at 512-246-7551 or by email at crowley-at-ma.oxinst.com. Space is limited so sign up early.
All registration forms and hotel information are available on our web site: http://www.texasmicroscopy.org/. We look forward to seeing you in the fall.
Regards, Jodi Roepsch Program Chair 972-952-3228, j-roepsch1-at-raytheon.com
-- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 Wed Sep 1 17:00:06 2004
Below is the result of your feedback form (NJZFM-ultra-55). It was submitted by (nbauer-at-paulstra.com) from http://www.msa.microscopy.com/Ask-A-Microscopist/Ask-A-Microscopist.html on Wednesday, September 1, 2004 at 10:11:08 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Email: nbauer-at-paulstra.com Name: Nathan Bauer
Organization: Paulstra
Education: Graduate College
Location: Grand Rapids, Mi, USA
Question: Can carbon nano tubes : 1) Carry an electrical current (and if so, how much)?
This is not strictly true, Michigan are thinking of stopping the registration if the instrument is "unmodified" from the manufacturer. If you have added anything that was not supplied by the manufacturer, i.e an XEDS system, CL system, viewport or similar then they still want it registered and tested. We just had our health and safety people check all our stuff because the Michigan inspector came round and checked all of our machines (TEMs, SEMs FIBs and XPS).
-- 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
Home address: 4304 Spring Lake Boulevard Ann Arbor MI 48108-9657 Phone (734) 994-3096
On Sep 1, 2004, at 1:06 PM, Kestutis Smalinskas 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 } ----------------------------------------------------------------------- } -------- } } I'm not sure about Delaware, but this is true for the } State of Michigan. You may want to check your State's } website in the registration or health section for } information. } } In the last conversation I had with the state } inspector, the State is considering dropping } registration for scanning electron microscopes because } of the negligible danger from SEMs leaking X-rays. } Since the SEM by all practical purposes cannot operate } unless everything is buttoned up for the vacuum, the } chance for X-ray leakage is just about nil. } } Stu Smalinskas, P.E. } SKF USA } Plymouth, Michigan } } ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ } } Mike wrote: } } Question: In Delaware it appears we are required to } register our SEM as a X-ray source. Does any know } this to be true? } } Thanks } } Email: mingram-at-rohmhaas.com } Name: Mike Ingram } Organization: Rohm and Haas } } } } } } __________________________________ } Do you Yahoo!? } Yahoo! Mail is new and improved - Check it out! } http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail }
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Wed Sep 1 20:52:22 2004
Below is the result of your feedback form (NJZFM-ultra-55). It was submitted by (lotocka-at-acn.waw.pl) from http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MLFormMail.html on Wednesday, September 1, 2004 at 14:49:49 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Email: lotocka-at-acn.waw.pl Name: Barbara Lotocka
Organization: Department of Botany, Warsaw Agricultural University
Title-Subject: [Microscopy] MListserver: fixative for lichen
Question: Hello Everyone,
I would be most grateful for any suggestions on a fixation protocol (for transmission electron microscope) optimized for lichens.
I fixed some samples of Cladonia in a fixative that is routinely used for plant samples in my department (paraformaldehyde + glutaraldehyde in sodium cacodylate buffer), but after embedding in epoxy resin the thallus looked shrunken and the section were "scratched" as if the thallus was extremely hard. Perhaps the problem was in dehydration? I used the usual graded series of ethanol and acetone.
Below is the result of your feedback form (NJZFM-ultra-55). It was submitted by (pzou-at-feico.com) from http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MLFormMail.html on Wednesday, September 1, 2004 at 20:19:52 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Question: Can anybody comment on the image darkening effect as one progressively scans the surface of a sample with a SEM? What are the possible physical causes, and how to reduce the effect?
Any articles that can provide an overview of this phenomenon?
One possible way to remove hairs that should work is to make a surface replica of the surface using nail varnish or a mounting medium such as Shur Mount and stripping off when dry. On most of the leaf tissues I've worked with it removes hairs, fungi, surface debris but does not damage the surface itself.
Ian
Ian Hallett HortResearch Mt Albert Research Centre, Private Bag 92 169 Auckland, New Zealand Fax +64 9 815 4201 Telephone +64 9 815 4200 EMail ihallett-at-hortresearch.co.nz
} } } by way of Ask-A-Microscopist {kn77-at-uwyo.edu} 1/09/2004 11:34:02 a.m. } } }
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Below is the result of your feedback form (NJZFM-ultra-55). It was submitted by (kn77-at-uwyo.edu) from http://www.msa.microscopy.com/Ask-A-Microscopist/Ask-A-Microscopist.html on Tuesday, August 31, 2004 at 14:43:11 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Email: kn77-at-uwyo.edu Name: Kusum Naithani
Organization: University of Wyoming
Education: Graduate College
Location: Laramie, Wyoming, USA
Question: Hi! I'm working on plant leaf material (sagebrush). Leaf is covered by minute white hairs and due to this reason I'm not able to find the distribution of stomatal cells. Could you please suggest a way to remove these hairs so that I can see stomatal cells. 2nd question.. I want to measure the size and depth of stomatal cells. Could you please tell me the way to fix leaf in its living conditions. I would greatly appreciate your help. Thanks! Kusum
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From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Thu Sep 2 01:26:55 2004
Gareth Morgan MPhil MSc FIBMS, Department of Laboratory Medicine (Labmed), Karolinska Institute, Karolinska University Hospital at Huddinge, 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 Sep 2 01:54:31 2004
See section 9.10.6 in Goldstein et al.: Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray analysis" Plenum Press 1992. It begins: "A sample subjected to electron bombardment in a diffusion-pumped vacuum gradually becomes ccovered with a contamination layer due to polymerization, under the action of the beam, of organic matter adsorbed on the surface".
Ways to reduce the effect are: clean vacuum, clean sample, cold finger.
-----Original Message----- } From: by way of MicroscopyListserver [mailto:pzou-at-feico.com] Sent: 2. september 2004 04:16 To: microscopy-at-microscopy.com
--------------------------- Dr Wally H. Müller Senior University Research University of Utrecht, Faculty of Biology Molecular Cell Biology - Electron Microscopy Kruyt building, Room West 510 Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands Phone +31 30 2533588 Fax +31 30 2513655 E-mail W.H.Muller-at-bio.uu.nl
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Thu Sep 2 05:16:35 2004
In a message dated 9/2/04 3:45:16 AM, Gareth.Morgan-at-labmed.ki.se writes:
} Anyone out there know of any courses in microscopic morphometry/digital } image analysis - preferably in Europe.
Upcoming courses on quantitative image analysis that I will be teaching are:
Sunday October 3 - A one-day tutorial on strategies for quantitative image analysis will be presented as part of the AOCS Conference on Food Structure and Quality in Cork, Ireland. Registration for the workshop is available at {http://www.aocs.org/meetings/fsq/courses.asp}
Tuesday, November 9 - Thursday, November 11 - A three-day hands-on course on Quantitative Image Analysis will be presented at the University of Missouri, Columbia, MO. Contact {rosslm-at-missouri.edu} Dr. Lou Ross, Electron Microscopy Core Facility, W136 Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211-5120, (573) 882-4777, fax 884-5414.
Wednesday, March 16 - Friday, March 18, 2005 - A three-day hands-on course on Photomicrography and Advanced Image Analysis will be presented at the McCrone Institute in Chicago. Contact {rweaver-at-mcri.org} Dr. Rob Weaver at the McCrone Institute, 2820 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago IL 60616, 312-842-7100. A brief description of the course contents is available at {http://www.mcri.org/Course_description.html#advdig} their website
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Thu Sep 2 08:17:25 2004
For a simple and effective method for making plant surface replicas for observation by LM or SEM, see my article in the Nov/Dec 2003 issue of Microscopy Today: Cellulose Acetate Replication of Plant Surfaces for SEM (plug plug!!). You'll see images of stomata there.
http://www.microscopy-today.com
However, if a plant surface is very thickly populated by a tangled mess of hairs, or trichomes, then replication may not be possible, as it will be full of holes left by the trichomes and may tear apart upon attempted removal from the surface. If the hair density is not too high, even though holes from trichomes may be present, you may still be able to see enough surface to get a good sample of the stomata.
-- 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
} Kusum } } One possible way to remove hairs that should work is to make a surface replica } of the surface using nail varnish or a mounting medium such as Shur Mount and } stripping off when dry. On most of the leaf tissues I've worked with it } removes hairs, fungi, surface debris but does not damage the surface itself. } } Ian } } } Ian Hallett } HortResearch } Mt Albert Research Centre, Private Bag 92 169 } Auckland, New Zealand } Fax +64 9 815 4201 } Telephone +64 9 815 4200 } EMail ihallett-at-hortresearch.co.nz } } } Below is the result of your feedback form (NJZFM-ultra-55). It was submitted } by (kn77-at-uwyo.edu) from } http://www.msa.microscopy.com/Ask-A-Microscopist/Ask-A-Microscopist.html on } Tuesday, August 31, 2004 at 14:43:11 } --------------------------------------------------------------------------- } } Email: kn77-at-uwyo.edu } Name: Kusum Naithani } } Organization: University of Wyoming } } Education: Graduate College } } Location: Laramie, Wyoming, USA } } Question: Hi! } I'm working on plant leaf material (sagebrush). Leaf is covered by minute } white hairs and due to this reason I'm not able to find the distribution of } stomatal cells. Could you please suggest a way to remove these hairs so that I } can see stomatal cells. } 2nd question.. } I want to measure the size and depth of stomatal cells. Could you please tell } me the way to fix leaf in its living conditions. } I would greatly appreciate your help. } Thanks! } Kusum }
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Thu Sep 2 12:45:37 2004
Below is the result of your feedback form (NJZFM-ultra-55). It was submitted by (jtd1-at-psu.edu) from http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MLFormMail.html on Thursday, September 2, 2004 at 10:55:11 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Question: Our lab is considering various photo printers (} $1K) for production of electron micrographs. Currently the Epson 2200 is the stromg favorite. Are there any recomendations for other printers which we should consider? What are your reasons for the recomended printer?
Below is the result of your feedback form (NJZFM-ultra-55). It was submitted by (walter.bobrowski-at-pfizer.com) from http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MLFormMail.html on Thursday, September 2, 2004 at 11:12:16 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Email: walter.bobrowski-at-pfizer.com Name: Walt Bobrowski
Organization: Pfizer Global R&D
Title-Subject: [Microscopy] [Filtered] DMP-30 vs. BDMA
Question: Can one substitute BDMA for DMP-30 in a Luft-based epoxy resin? If so, what would the proportion be? Currently, I add 2ml DMP-30 to 100 ml resin (PolyBed 812, NMA, DDSA). I believe I read you can substitute to produce a less viscous mixture, but can't find it. Any references appreciated!
} Email: walter.bobrowski-at-pfizer.com } Name: Walt Bobrowski } } Organization: Pfizer Global R&D } } Title-Subject: [Microscopy] [Filtered] DMP-30 vs. BDMA } } Question: Can one substitute BDMA for DMP-30 in a Luft-based epoxy } resin? If so, what would the proportion be? Currently, I add 2ml } DMP-30 to 100 ml resin (PolyBed 812, NMA, DDSA). I believe I read } you can substitute to produce a less viscous mixture, but can't find } it. Any references appreciated! } } Walt -
The only reason that DMP-30 is still around is tradition; by all means substitute the same amount of BDMA. Viscosities: BDMA, 0.85 cP, DMP-30, 20.5 cP. The quantity that you use is small, so there won't be a big change in the viscosity of the mix, but DMP-30 is so viscous that it can actually partition out of the mix during infiltration! AND DMP-30 is hygroscopic, which leads to more problems. The original reference is A. Glauert, Proc. RMS 22:264 (1987) and you'll find the data in chapter 6 of Glauert & Lewis, Biological Specimen Preparation for Transmission Electron Microscopy, Princeton,1998.
Why not use a less viscous epoxy, such as Spurr (with the new, safer ERL 4221) or Embed-It? They're both 65 cP, mixed.
-- 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 Thu Sep 2 14:50:47 2004
So after years of hearing and reading about why BDMA is better than DMP-30, I switched to BDMA I used it at about 60-80% of the weight of DMP-30 and got equivalent results using freshly made resin mixes. But I routinely store my extra resin at -20 C and saw a difference. The BDMA mixtures got much more viscous (presumably partially polymerized) after 1-2 weeks at -20 compared to the DMP-30 mixtures. So I went back to DMP-30. Whichever one you use, I strongly advised you begin to dispense it and the other components by weight. I have a scale in my fume hood and make 50 ml batches of epoxy resins this way and they are much more consistent and the mess is significantly less. good luck. tom phillips
01:08 PM 09/02/04 -0500, 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
I had a look at the archive and this had been discussed a few times in the last few years. Technology is changing fast especially in the digital world. We two would like to know the best printer (quality) out there if there is no money limitation and the best value for money meaning quality prints all editors of journals will be happy with. We got a comment like "the digital images are brilliant but the prints do not do them justice" from a editor. Please pass all communication to us as well. Thanks for all the help.
-----Original Message----- } From: by way of MicroscopyListserver [mailto:jtd1-at-psu.edu] Sent: Thursday, September 02, 2004 8:08 PM To: microscopy-at-microscopy.com
Below is the result of your feedback form (NJZFM-ultra-55). It was submitted by (jtd1-at-psu.edu) from http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MLFormMail.html on Thursday, September 2, 2004 at 10:55:11 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Question: Our lab is considering various photo printers (} $1K) for production of electron micrographs. Currently the Epson 2200 is the stromg favorite. Are there any recomendations for other printers which we should consider? What are your reasons for the recomended printer?
In the same week there is news of significant change in two of the companies that were major players in silver image photography in the 20th century. Ilford has shed almost half its staff preparative to sale of the traditional photographic business while it is still a going concern, allowing the company to focus on its Swiss digital business. http://www.channel4.com/news/news_story.jsp?storyId=156722 Agfa has shed its traditional photographic film and consumer imaging business in a management buyout so that it can "focus on its core growth markets of Graphic Systems and HealthCare, which are rapidly going digital" http://news.agfa.com/corporate/news.nsf/news/F07C0210ECC86EA9C1256EF3004D27CE?opendocument
Events like these, and Kodak's announcement earlier this year that it would cease the production of its poneering APS cameras (though not of films) underline the fragility of the conventional photographic market in the face of the growth of digital imaging.
Which begs the question "can we rely on the continued availability of EM film", and if not, how long have we got to plan for the conversion to digital?
Dr. Chris Jeffree University of Edinburgh Schoolof Biological Sciences
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Fri Sep 3 05:34:31 2004
These units are designed to print only photo-quality and they do it well. As we have progressed towards keeping documents (including images) electronic and have thrown out the darkroom, and due to cost per print ($4.00/8x10), we only use the Pictrography to print images for manuscripts. If colleagues want review-quality, they either must review on their computer monitor or send image files to a B&W/Color LaserJet (yeah, lousy quality, but it's only for review).
Best regards,
Walter F. Bobrowski Investigative Pathology Safety Sciences Pfizer Global Research & Development Ann Arbor, MI 48105
-----Original Message----- } From: Coetzee, Mr S. H Physics Science [mailto:COETZEES-at-mopipi.ub.bw] Sent: Friday, September 03, 2004 1:51 AM To: by way of MicroscopyListserver Cc: microscopy-at-microscopy.com
Dear Tom
I had a look at the archive and this had been discussed a few times in the last few years. Technology is changing fast especially in the digital world. We two would like to know the best printer (quality) out there if there is no money limitation and the best value for money meaning quality prints all editors of journals will be happy with. We got a comment like "the digital images are brilliant but the prints do not do them justice" from a editor. Please pass all communication to us as well. Thanks for all the help.
-----Original Message----- } From: by way of MicroscopyListserver [mailto:jtd1-at-psu.edu] Sent: Thursday, September 02, 2004 8:08 PM To: microscopy-at-microscopy.com
Below is the result of your feedback form (NJZFM-ultra-55). It was submitted by (jtd1-at-psu.edu) from http://www.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MLFormMail.html on Thursday, September 2, 2004 at 10:55:11 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Question: Our lab is considering various photo printers (} $1K) for production of electron micrographs. Currently the Epson 2200 is the stromg favorite. Are there any recomendations for other printers which we should consider? What are your reasons for the recomended printer?
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From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Fri Sep 3 05:45:11 2004
On the Vibration testing, the kit is available from various companies but is expensive. We bought a complete unit from spicer consulting http://www.spicerconsulting.com/ Their SC11 kit costs around $10,000 but that does everything.
However there are other products available. ( http://www.predictech.com/CM/PT908.htm ) not sure though that they will be sensitive enough.
P.O. Box 2561 Honeydew 2040 Gauteng, South Africa -----Original Message----- } From: White, Woody N. [mailto:nwwhite-at-bwxt.com] Sent: 31 August 2004 11:02 To: 'edelmare-at-MUOhio.edu'; MicroscopyListServer
An inexpensive possibility...
The accelerometer may need a signal conditioner/buffer/amplifier - I have not checked it's specifications. If a PC sound card meets your frequency range and resolution requirements, the rest is simple and cheap.
A number of free/shareware programs that will turn your PC into an audio range spectrum analyzer are available. Adjust the accelerometer/amplifier output level to be compatible with the sound card "line in" requirement (typically 1 volt peak, max)and you are there...
Regards, Woody
Woody White BWXT Services: http://www.bwxt.com/bwxt.html My Site: http://woody.white.home.att.net
-----Original Message----- } From: Richard Edelmann [mailto:edelmare-at-MUOhio.edu] Sent: Tuesday, August 31, 2004 8:34 AM To: microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.com
With a number of on-going building modifications here as well as the
potential for relocating my EM Facility. we find ourselves in need of a vibration testing/monitoring system. What I am hoping to find is a simply system to plug into a Laptop. Having had various vibration testing done in the past, and where as I fully acknowledge the quality experience of testing service providers we just can't afford that kind of expense on a continuing basis. We are looking to do this in-house, monitor "baseline" building vibrations every couple of weeks or so.
I have picked up the recommendations for a Wilcoxon 731A/P31 Accelerometer but now I need a compatible PCMCIA spectrum analyzer interface board and software.
Any recommendations? And yes, vendors may respond directly back to me.
Richard E. Edelmann, Ph.D. Electron Microscopy Facility Director 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 Fri Sep 3 07:36:56 2004
Group, In my view, simple inkjet printers do an extraordinary job. You can get one for 200 us dollars (or more or less depending on features). What is important is that the quality of the output is determined by the paper you put in (and some software toggles in the printer driver). So, there is a range of paper from high quality photo paper to zerox paper, with the cost per print scaling appropriately (and the time per print likewise). This makes it easy to get low, intermediate, high quality output on the same printer, with little fuss. And I have to say that for monochrome prints, the highest quality settings/paper produce prints equal to anything I have seen from the wetlab type of printers mentioned below. And even for color the differences are pretty small. Another issue is networking. The inexpensive inkjet that I have is not network-able (that's an intersting word) and I don't know if the more expensive ones give you that option.
My two pixels, Tobias
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I have already starting campaigning for a digital camera for our TEM!
I saw an advert in Microscopy and Analysis for a company which is (presumably) starting making TEM film as others leave the market.
Kodak did say recently on this listserver that they have no plans to drop EM film.
Dave
On Fri, 03 Sep 2004 09:05:45 +0100 Chris Jeffree {c.jeffree-at-ed.ac.uk} 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 the same week there is news of significant change in two of the } companies that were } major players in silver image photography in the 20th century. } Ilford has shed almost half its staff preparative to sale of the } traditional photographic } business while it is still a going concern, allowing the company to } focus on its Swiss digital business. } http://www.channel4.com/news/news_story.jsp?storyId=156722 } Agfa has shed its traditional photographic film and consumer imaging } business in a management buyout so that it can "focus on its core } growth markets of Graphic Systems and HealthCare, which are rapidly } going digital" } http://news.agfa.com/corporate/news.nsf/news/F07C0210ECC86EA9C1256EF3004D27CE?opendocument } } Events like these, and Kodak's announcement earlier this year that it } would cease the production of its poneering APS cameras (though not of } films) underline the fragility of the conventional photographic } market in the face of the growth of digital imaging. } } Which begs the question "can we rely on the continued availability of } EM film", and if not, how long have we got } to plan for the conversion to digital? } } } Dr. Chris Jeffree } University of Edinburgh } Schoolof Biological Sciences } } } } } 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"
This email has been independently scanned for viruses and any virus detected has been removed using McAfee anti-virus software
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Fri Sep 3 09:21:02 2004
Kodak has included a positive statement on its continued commitment to film products in its contribution to the "New and Interesting at M&M 2004" section of the September issue of Microscopy Today, at the printer now and in your mail boxes starting in a week or so.
Ron Anderson, MT Editor
-----Original Message----- } From: Chris Jeffree [mailto:c.jeffree-at-ed.ac.uk] Sent: Friday, September 03, 2004 4:06 AM To: microscopy-at-msa.microscopy.com
In the same week there is news of significant change in two of the companies that were major players in silver image photography in the 20th century. Ilford has shed almost half its staff preparative to sale of the traditional photographic business while it is still a going concern, allowing the company to focus on its Swiss digital business. http://www.channel4.com/news/news_story.jsp?storyId=156722 Agfa has shed its traditional photographic film and consumer imaging business in a management buyout so that it can "focus on its core growth markets of Graphic Systems and HealthCare, which are rapidly going digital" http://news.agfa.com/corporate/news.nsf/news/F07C0210ECC86EA9C1256EF3004D27C E?opendocument
Events like these, and Kodak's announcement earlier this year that it would cease the production of its poneering APS cameras (though not of films) underline the fragility of the conventional photographic market in the face of the growth of digital imaging.
Which begs the question "can we rely on the continued availability of EM film", and if not, how long have we got to plan for the conversion to digital?
Dr. Chris Jeffree University of Edinburgh Schoolof Biological Sciences
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Fri Sep 3 10:40:02 2004
I recently learned that Serco-Ilford is no more and I need service for my 2150RC. Does anyone know of anyone serving the New England area? Thanks in advance.
Mary
Mary McKee Program in Membrane Biology MGH-Charlestown (617)726-3696 --
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Fri Sep 3 11:18:33 2004
I freeze with DMP-30 in the tube. Generally I aliquot them so they are only thawed once. They are certainly good for a couple of weeks this way and longer in many cases. I make all my resin by weight (typically 20 g Embed 812, 10 g DDSA, 10 g NMA, and 0.6 g DMP-30) in a 50 ml plastic disposable tube and shake vigorously until well mixed. We used 0.8 g BDMA in place of DMP-30 in this formulation and saw no difference in cutting quality but did have the storage problem. The viscosity of the DDSA and NMA and Embed 812 is high and requires vigorous shaking regardless of the catylst so I don't see lower viscosity of BDMA as significant if you are measuring by weight. If you measure by volume, a viscous solution will be tougher to accurately measure and deliver and the percent error will be much higher for the small volume BDMA or DMP-30 component. I have never ever seen the DMP-30 come out of solution such as Caroline Schooley suggests in her e-mail; if this happens I would suspect improper mixing. My use of DMP-30 is based on careful consideration and comparison with BDMA and not on tradition. I used BDMA exclusively for over 1 year and then switched back so I think I gave it a fair shot.
At 10:22 AM 09/03/04 -0600, you wrote: } I have a question about freezing the resin mixtures - you freeze them with } the accelerator already added? How many freeze/thaw cycles can they stand? } Or, do you aliquot them to store and thaw only once?? I was taught to } store mine without DMP-30....if they'll last OK with it in, I'm all for it! } } Thanks, } } Tamara } } On Thu, 2 Sep 2004, Tom Phillips 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
For a less viscous mixture, you could try one percent DMP-30 instead of two percent. The final cure might not be quite so hard, though, so depending on your tissue this may or may not help.
Lesley Weston.
----- Original Message ----- } From: walter.bobrowski-at-pfizer.com (by way of MicroscopyListserver) Sent: 9/2/2004 11:08:46 AM To: microscopy-at-microscopy.com
} - } } I freeze with DMP-30 in the tube. Generally I aliquot them so they } are only thawed once. They are certainly good for a couple of weeks } this way and longer in many cases. I make all my resin by weight } (typically 20 g Embed 812, 10 g DDSA, 10 g NMA, and 0.6 g DMP-30) in } a 50 ml plastic disposable tube and shake vigorously until well } mixed. We used 0.8 g BDMA in place of DMP-30 in this formulation } and saw no difference in cutting quality but did have the storage } problem. The viscosity of the DDSA and NMA and Embed 812 is high } and requires vigorous shaking regardless of the catylst so I don't } see lower viscosity of BDMA as significant if you are measuring by } weight. If you measure by volume, a viscous solution will be tougher } to accurately measure and deliver and the percent error will be much } higher for the small volume BDMA or DMP-30 component. I have never } ever seen the DMP-30 come out of solution such as Caroline Schooley } suggests in her e-mail; if this happens I would suspect improper } mixing. My use of DMP-30 is based on careful consideration and } comparison with BDMA and not on tradition. I used BDMA exclusively } for over 1 year and then switched back so I think I gave it a fair } shot.
You missed my point, Tom; when I said that the DMP-30 can partition during infiltration, I meant that it doesn't enter the tissue as rapidly as the other resin components. The symptom is soft tissue in a normal, hard block. I agree with you that the high DMP-30 viscosity is going to have little effect on the viscosity of the mixed epoxy.
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 Fri Sep 3 15:21:20 2004
Do you have evidence that the DMP-30 doesn't get in or is that your hypothesis to explain the problem? How do you know it is a sign that the DMP-30 didn't get in and not the complete mixture or one of the equally viscous components? I find it hard to believe the DMP-30 differentially inflitrates. In addition, the DMP-30 (and BDMA) has probably already begun to react with the other components and would be "carried" in covalently bound to the one of them. Poor infiltration of the entire mix would (and does) result in the symptom you describe. Take a resin mix made with BDMA and do a short infiltration on a tough to infiltrate tissue like maize endosperm and the center will be softer than the perimeter and free resin regions. BDMA is frequently touted as superior due to its lower viscosity and less hydrophilic. It is lower viscosity but I don't see that as a problem or benefit. I have no data on the relative hydroscopic properties but I have never had a bottle of DMP-30 go bad on me in the 25 years I have been doing TEM. Maybe I use my bottles up before they goes bad. We do close it up promptly after using but I assume most labs do. I have nothing against BDMA if one is making the resin up fresh each time (which is the best practice regardless of whether you use BDMA or DMP-30). But for our routine samples, we commonly make 40-50 gm batches and store the resin at -20 C for 1-3 weeks. This works when we use DMP-30 but not with BDMA. I agree that lots of what microscopists do is because of "tradition" but the selection of DMP-30 can be the result of a careful, reasoned and experimentally tested decision process. Tom Phillips
At 01:21 PM 09/03/04 -0700, you wrote: } } - } } } } I freeze with DMP-30 in the tube. Generally I aliquot them so they are } } only thawed once. They are certainly good for a couple of weeks this way } } and longer in many cases. I make all my resin by weight (typically 20 g } } Embed 812, 10 g DDSA, 10 g NMA, and 0.6 g DMP-30) in a 50 ml plastic } } disposable tube and shake vigorously until well mixed. We used 0.8 g } } BDMA in place of DMP-30 in this formulation and saw no difference in } } cutting quality but did have the storage problem. The viscosity of the } } DDSA and NMA and Embed 812 is high and requires vigorous shaking } } regardless of the catylst so I don't see lower viscosity of BDMA as } } significant if you are measuring by weight. If you measure by volume, a } } viscous solution will be tougher to accurately measure and deliver and } } the percent error will be much higher for the small volume BDMA or DMP-30 } } component. I have never ever seen the DMP-30 come out of solution such } } as Caroline Schooley suggests in her e-mail; if this happens I would } } suspect improper mixing. My use of DMP-30 is based on careful } } consideration and comparison with BDMA and not on tradition. I used BDMA } } exclusively for over 1 year and then switched back so I think I gave it a } } fair shot. } } You missed my point, Tom; when I said that the DMP-30 can partition during } infiltration, I meant that it doesn't enter the tissue as rapidly as the } other resin components. The symptom is soft tissue in a normal, hard } block. I agree with you that the high DMP-30 viscosity is going to have } little effect on the viscosity of the mixed epoxy. } } 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
Thomas E. Phillips, PhD Professor of Biological Sciences Director, Molecular Cytology Core 3 Tucker Hall University of Missouri Columbia, MO 65211-7400
I'm looking for sources of acoustic/anachoic blocks of foam to reduce SEM room interference.
These are like standard anechoic chamber panels. I'm having trouble getting above 400KX without mechanical noise from the scroll pump that is located in a separate room. The acoustical isolation from one room to the other is not all that great, I suppose.
Does anyone have experience with suppliers of these panels? I'd like to glue them to drywall.
Supplier responses are welcomed as off-line messages.
gary g.
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Fri Sep 3 21:05:34 2004
You can try http://www.illbruck-sonex.com/ for what you need. I'm familiar with this product when we used it at the High Voltage EM lab at UW Madison. Worked well.
Damian Neuberger
-----Original Message----- } From: Gary Gaugler [mailto:gary-at-gaugler.com] Sent: Friday, September 03, 2004 8:31 PM To: MSA listserver
I'm looking for sources of acoustic/anachoic blocks of foam to reduce SEM room interference.
These are like standard anechoic chamber panels. I'm having trouble getting above 400KX without mechanical noise from the scroll pump that is located in a separate room. The acoustical isolation from one room to the other is not all that great, I suppose.
Does anyone have experience with suppliers of these panels? I'd like to glue them to drywall.
Supplier responses are welcomed as off-line messages.
gary g.
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Sat Sep 4 07:05:23 2004
We use a Polaroid SprintScan 45 multi-format film scanner to scan our EM negatives. It has been a work horse for us for 7 years, and the hardware is still in a good shape. However, We lost the original disk with driver (for Mac) on it and we could not get support from the company anymore because Polaroid has discontinued scanner business. Does anyone out there have the same scanner and would be willing to lend us the driver software? Our machine is currently down because the computer could not locate it even though the scanner was on and all cables were connected. We need to re-install the driver as the first trouble shooting step.
If we can not find a driver, we might have to purchase a new film scanner. Does anyone has a recommendation on makes and models?
Thank you very much in advance.
Hong Emory EM hyi-at-emory.edu
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Sat Sep 4 11:39:26 2004
Bill Robertson in his reply posting pointed out a very good point about wall mass. My initial thoughts were to put the acoustic tiles in the SEM room. But the noise is more likely coming from the adjacent room where the scroll pump and specimen interchange pump are located. The specimen interchange pump is not at issue. The scroll pump is an Edwards XDS 10. Based on limited experience, it does not sound like it is running as it should. Vacuum is fine but the sound is odd. It makes a mechanical knocking noise. I'm told that either these pumps work almost forever when new or die quickly. Sounds like I have the latter.
In either case, wall mass has a high probability of attention. The intervening wall is standard drywall with 2x4 studs. There is no insulation in the wall. I'm thinking of having liquid foam insulation put in the wall cells and seeing if that helps. In the mean time, the plinth anti-vibration system is not exactly right and will get adjusted shortly. then, based on how that turns out, acoustic tiles in the pump room may be a good solution. If that does not help much, then foam insulation.
The chiller is in the same room as the SEM but turning it off makes no change in image noise. So the noise is external.
Thanks for the replies. Will work on this in the next couple of weeks.
gary g.
At 08:38 AM 9/4/2004, you wrote: } Gary, } } They can be pricey. One reason is that most jurisdictions require that } insulation } applied to an open wall surface be flame proof. Not only that, the } adhesive used } to apply it must also be flame proof, per the fire department and building } codes. } (Recall the disasterous fire in the Rhode Island night club a couple years } back). } Some years ago I found that the material required behind an XRD system in } a small } room ran several hundred dollars for a half dozen panels. However, I } found that I } could get a big improvement by placing a small number of them so as to } block the } noise at the source, rather than covering the more distant wall } surfaces. Buy a } small number to try out, or experiment with packing foam. Have an } assistant hold } them in different locations so as to block acoustic reflections. You may } find that } suspending one from the ceiling in the plane of the instrument helps alot with } noise at the position where the operator sits. } } John Twilley } } 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 } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- } } } } I'm looking for sources of acoustic/anachoic } } blocks of foam to reduce SEM room interference. } } } } These are like standard anechoic chamber panels. } } I'm having trouble getting above 400KX without } } mechanical noise from the scroll pump that is } } located in a separate room. The acoustical } } isolation from one room to the other is not } } all that great, I suppose. } } } } Does anyone have experience with suppliers of } } these panels? I'd like to glue them to drywall. } } } } Supplier responses are welcomed as off-line } } messages. } } } } gary g.
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Sat Sep 4 11:44:55 2004
I was a fan of Epson photo printers for quite some time. Notable was the 890 & 980. It is a small format printer compared to the 2200. I recently (a year or so ago) bought a Epson Stylus Photo 2000. It lasted about six months and then jammed constantly. In-warranty customer service and any idea of repair was on a wish list. It never happened. The printer was scrapped.
The 2200 may have solved teething problems with large format printers. However, the 2000 was VERY slooooow using photo paper. When it worked, the results were stunning. Many times (too many) it would stop printing 1/4 or 1/2 way through the print and just die. The job hung (Win2K Pro) and had to be restarted with a new sheet of paper.
The Epson and Canon small format printers seem to do a better, more reliable job. As a result of being burned by Epson, I now take print jobs to a local service bureau. they do a very nice job for not much cost. These are mostly for 24" x 48" glossy mounted prints. Small ones are done on my HP 4550 color laser printer. If the color gamut is matched well between the monitor and Photoshop, the HP does a nice job for reports. For transparencies (not much used any longer), the Kodak dye sub is excellent.
Let us know what you find. There are a lot of options. Also, check out the Ethernet print servers that will connect a non-network printer to a LAN and allow all to use it. HP and others make these. they usually cost about $100 or so.
gary g.
At 11:08 AM 9/2/2004, you wrote:
} Email: jtd1-at-psu.edu } Name: Tom Doman } } Organization: Penn State University } } Title-Subject: [Microscopy] [Filtered] MListserver: } } Question: Our lab is considering various photo printers (} $1K) for } production of electron micrographs. Currently the Epson 2200 is the stromg } favorite. Are there any recomendations for other printers which we should } consider? What are your reasons for the recomended printer? } } Thanks in advance! } } Tom } } ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Sat Sep 4 13:33:46 2004
From your description of the sound coming from your pump, it sounds like your issue might be low frequency. For low frequencies, acoustic tiles and the like are not very effective. The strategy for reducing high frequencies is to absorb the energy, and usually involves foam or fibruous materials that will vibrate and dissipate the energy. For low frequencies, the strategy is to block/reflect the energy, and this requires rigidity and mass. The best is a very solid wall, but there are also a number of lead-backed sheet materials, either separately or in combination with absorbers. If you have access to a McMaster Carr catalog, I suggest you check out "Sound Absorbers" (or visit their web site at www.mcmaster.com and do a keyboard search for "sound". There is also a helpful summary on page 3266 of their online catalog which explains the various types and ratings systems. (No financial interest in McMaster Carr, but use them all the time.) Fred Schamber ASPEX, LLC
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 } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- } } } } Bill Robertson in his reply posting pointed out } a very good point about wall mass. My initial } thoughts were to put the acoustic tiles in the SEM room. } But the noise is more likely coming from the adjacent } room where the scroll pump and specimen interchange } pump are located. The specimen interchange pump } is not at issue. The scroll pump is an Edwards XDS 10. } Based on limited experience, it does not sound like } it is running as it should. Vacuum is fine but the } sound is odd. It makes a mechanical knocking noise. } I'm told that either these pumps work almost forever } when new or die quickly. Sounds like I have the latter. } } In either case, wall mass has a high probability } of attention. The intervening wall is standard } drywall with 2x4 studs. There is no insulation } in the wall. I'm thinking of having liquid foam } insulation put in the wall cells and seeing if that } helps. In the mean time, the plinth anti-vibration } system is not exactly right and will get adjusted } shortly. then, based on how that turns out, acoustic } tiles in the pump room may be a good solution. If that } does not help much, then foam insulation. } } The chiller is in the same room as the SEM but turning } it off makes no change in image noise. So the noise } is external. } } Thanks for the replies. Will work on this in the } next couple of weeks. } } gary g. } } } At 08:38 AM 9/4/2004, you wrote: } } } Gary, } } } } They can be pricey. One reason is that most jurisdictions require } } that insulation } } applied to an open wall surface be flame proof. Not only that, the } } adhesive used } } to apply it must also be flame proof, per the fire department and } } building codes. } } (Recall the disasterous fire in the Rhode Island night club a couple } } years back). } } Some years ago I found that the material required behind an XRD } } system in a small } } room ran several hundred dollars for a half dozen panels. However, I } } found that I } } could get a big improvement by placing a small number of them so as } } to block the } } noise at the source, rather than covering the more distant wall } } surfaces. Buy a } } small number to try out, or experiment with packing foam. Have an } } assistant hold } } them in different locations so as to block acoustic reflections. You } } may find that } } suspending one from the ceiling in the plane of the instrument helps } } alot with } } noise at the position where the operator sits. } } } } John Twilley } } } } 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 } } } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- } } } } } } } } I'm looking for sources of acoustic/anachoic } } } blocks of foam to reduce SEM room interference. } } } } } } These are like standard anechoic chamber panels. } } } I'm having trouble getting above 400KX without } } } mechanical noise from the scroll pump that is } } } located in a separate room. The acoustical } } } isolation from one room to the other is not } } } all that great, I suppose. } } } } } } Does anyone have experience with suppliers of } } } these panels? I'd like to glue them to drywall. } } } } } } Supplier responses are welcomed as off-line } } } messages. } } } } } } gary g. } } } }
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Sun Sep 5 11:32:17 2004
Below is the result of your feedback form (NJZFM-ultra-55). It was submitted by (jbarclay-at-southpointresources.com) from http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MLFormMail.html on Sunday, September 5, 2004 at 08:40:08 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Email: jbarclay-at-southpointresources.com Name: Jim Barclay
Organization: Calgary, Alberta
Title-Subject: [Microscopy] [Filtered] Wild Heerbrug M5A microscope & camera attachment
Question: I am trying to see if I can find some type of adaptor that will fit my older Wild Heerbrug M5A binocular microscope (15-20 years old?) and allow me to fit a digital camera to the scope. I would need some type of beam splitter that would continue to allow simultaneosu viewing of samples while also allowing occasional photo taking.
I have already contacted and am waiting for reply from a Leica Microsystems representative which owns the Wild Leitz brand.
Thank you for listening to a newbie to this board. Any suggestions welcome.
} I'm looking for sources of acoustic/anachoic } blocks of foam to reduce SEM room interference. } } These are like standard anechoic chamber panels. } I'm having trouble getting above 400KX without } mechanical noise from the scroll pump that is } located in a separate room. The acoustical } isolation from one room to the other is not } all that great, I suppose. } } Does anyone have experience with suppliers of } these panels? I'd like to glue them to drywall. } } Supplier responses are welcomed as off-line } messages. } Dear Gary, Fred has it right about the difference between low and high frequencies. The depth of the invaginations in anechoic panels has to be 1/4 of the wavelength of the sound in order to be effective, so for low frequencies, the panels could take up the entire room, leaving no space for the equipment. 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 Sun Sep 5 18:43:56 2004
I don't have any direct way of knowing whether the noise is high or low frequency. It only shows up above 60KX as sinusoids on the edges of specimen details.
I can probably use FFT to compute the frequency. It is consistent.
gary g.
At 03:34 PM 9/5/2004, you wrote:
} On Sep 3, 2004, at 6:30 PM, Gary Gaugler wrote: } } } I'm looking for sources of acoustic/anachoic } } blocks of foam to reduce SEM room interference. } } } } These are like standard anechoic chamber panels. } } I'm having trouble getting above 400KX without } } mechanical noise from the scroll pump that is } } located in a separate room. The acoustical } } isolation from one room to the other is not } } all that great, I suppose. } } } } Does anyone have experience with suppliers of } } these panels? I'd like to glue them to drywall. } } } } Supplier responses are welcomed as off-line } } messages. } Dear Gary, } Fred has it right about the difference between low and high } frequencies. The depth of the invaginations in anechoic panels has to be } 1/4 of the wavelength of the sound in order to be effective, so for low } frequencies, the panels could take up the entire room, leaving no space } for the equipment. } 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 Sun Sep 5 23:13:35 2004
If you are building a wall that may transmuted vibration making the wall a 6 inch wall with double 4 inch studs that are every 8 inches with every other stud supporting opposite faces of the wall. If you use a sound deadening blanket widen the wall to leave room to weave the padding between the studs with out compressing it.
Two layers of 5/8 inch gypsum wall board are generaly considered fire proof enough for university buildings at Oklahoma State. The last I knew there were no paints that could be used on anything but aluminum to increase their fire rating. But that has been a while. In actual practice there are paints that improve the fire resistance of anything but last I knew it changed so much with age that for anything but metal it was too unpredictable to approve.
Gordon Gordon Couger gcc-at-couger.com
I collect links on information related to light microscopes. http://www.couger.com/microscope/links/gclinks.html Please forward any links or information you think might be useful to others. Microscope Manual at www.science-info.org
} From: "Gary Gaugler" {gary-at-gaugler.com} : : Bill Robertson in his reply posting pointed out : a very good point about wall mass. My initial : thoughts were to put the acoustic tiles in the SEM room. : But the noise is more likely coming from the adjacent : room where the scroll pump and specimen interchange : pump are located. The specimen interchange pump : is not at issue. The scroll pump is an Edwards XDS 10. : Based on limited experience, it does not sound like : it is running as it should. Vacuum is fine but the : sound is odd. It makes a mechanical knocking noise. : I'm told that either these pumps work almost forever : when new or die quickly. Sounds like I have the latter. : : In either case, wall mass has a high probability : of attention. The intervening wall is standard : drywall with 2x4 studs. There is no insulation : in the wall. I'm thinking of having liquid foam : insulation put in the wall cells and seeing if that : helps. In the mean time, the plinth anti-vibration : system is not exactly right and will get adjusted : shortly. then, based on how that turns out, acoustic : tiles in the pump room may be a good solution. If that : does not help much, then foam insulation. : : The chiller is in the same room as the SEM but turning : it off makes no change in image noise. So the noise : is external. : : Thanks for the replies. Will work on this in the : next couple of weeks. : : gary g. : : : At 08:38 AM 9/4/2004, you wrote: : } Gary, : } : } They can be pricey. One reason is that most jurisdictions require that : } insulation : } applied to an open wall surface be flame proof. Not only that, the : } adhesive used : } to apply it must also be flame proof, per the fire department and building : } codes. : } (Recall the disasterous fire in the Rhode Island night club a couple years : } back). : } Some years ago I found that the material required behind an XRD system in : } a small : } room ran several hundred dollars for a half dozen panels. However, I : } found that I : } could get a big improvement by placing a small number of them so as to : } block the : } noise at the source, rather than covering the more distant wall : } surfaces. Buy a : } small number to try out, or experiment with packing foam. Have an : } assistant hold : } them in different locations so as to block acoustic reflections. You may : } find that : } suspending one from the ceiling in the plane of the instrument helps alot with : } noise at the position where the operator sits. : } : } John Twilley : } : } 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 : } } : } ------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------- : } } : } } I'm looking for sources of acoustic/anachoic : } } blocks of foam to reduce SEM room interference. : } } : } } These are like standard anechoic chamber panels. : } } I'm having trouble getting above 400KX without : } } mechanical noise from the scroll pump that is : } } located in a separate room. The acoustical : } } isolation from one room to the other is not : } } all that great, I suppose. : } } : } } Does anyone have experience with suppliers of : } } these panels? I'd like to glue them to drywall. : } } : } } Supplier responses are welcomed as off-line : } } messages. : } } : } } gary g. : : :
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Sep 6 01:14:19 2004
not wanting to sound paranoid, i think we have to consider chris's words carefully.
while digital systems are good, after 35 years i cannot get the same results from a digital image than i can from film, no matter how hard i try. double exposures with polychromatic paper using different filters, dodging, burning, combined, can contribute to excellent prints. perhaps others can get the same results from digitized images, after 5 years, i cannot.
we currently maintain two older Philips 201 and one cm10 microscopes. they have 35mm cameras. Kodak has discontinued manufacture of Direct Positive 5302, which we use for these instruments. the only sources of which i now know for this film is the different suppliers. but how long will their stocks last? what other 35mm format films are there that have the same high resolution that is found with 5302?
all in all, the promise from Kodak is fine and dandy, but will that hold when Kodak decides that the digital market has made it no longer viable to support wet chemistry with specialized, high resolution films such as we require.
of course, as far as i am concerned, i have 25 roles of 5302 in the freezer, so i'm set until our microscopes die. but it is an ongoing concern for the rest of you who were not ordering at the time that Kodak made their decision and were not able to stock up.
paul
Paul R. Hazelton, PhD Electron Microscope Unit University of Manitoba Department of Medical Microbiology 531 Basic Medical Sciences Building 730 William Avenue Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, R3E 0W3 e-mail: paul_hazelton-at-umanitoba.ca Phone:204-789-3313 Pager:204-931-954 Cell:204-781-1502 Fax:204-789-3926
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Sep 6 01:57:23 2004
we produce c-mount adapters which can be connected to the eyepiece of a microscope. The eyepiece remains in place, you put our eyepiece adapter on top of it. Our eyepiece adapter has a lens built-in. This has the advantage of capturing most of what you see through the eyepiece. You can easily remove the adapter and look through the eyepiece again. We offer different sizes of eyepiece adapters. We also manufacture on demand.
If you would like to get more information please contact me.
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bwoM} Below is the result of your feedback form (NJZFM-ultra-55). It was submitted by (jbarclay-at-southpointresources.com) from http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MLFormMail.html on bwoM} Sunday, September 5, 2004 at 08:40:08 bwoM} ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
bwoM} Email: jbarclay-at-southpointresources.com bwoM} Name: Jim Barclay
bwoM} Question: I am trying to see if I can find some type of adaptor that will fit my older Wild Heerbrug M5A binocular microscope (15-20 years old?) and allow me to fit a digital camera to the bwoM} scope. I would need some type of beam splitter that would continue to allow simultaneosu viewing of samples while also allowing occasional photo taking.
bwoM} I have already contacted and am waiting for reply from a Leica Microsystems representative which owns the Wild Leitz brand.
bwoM} Thank you for listening to a newbie to this board. Any suggestions welcome.
Chris Jeffree wrote the following: ====================================================================== In the same week there is news of significant change in two of the companies that were major players in silver image photography in the 20th century. Ilford has shed almost half its staff preparative to sale of the traditional photographic business while it is still a going concern, allowing the company to focus on its Swiss digital business. http://www.channel4.com/news/news_story.jsp?storyId=156722 Agfa has shed its traditional photographic film and consumer imaging business in a management buyout so that it can "focus on its core growth markets of Graphic Systems and HealthCare, which are rapidly going digital" http://news.agfa.com/corporate/news. nsf/news/F07C0210ECC86EA9C1256EF3004D27CE?opendocument
Events like these, and Kodak's announcement earlier this year that it would cease the production of its poneering APS cameras (though not of films) underline the fragility of the conventional photographic market in the face of the growth of digital imaging.
Which begs the question "can we rely on the continued availability of EM film", and if not, how long have we got to plan for the conversion to digital? ============================================================================ Chris is correct in that there has been a real decline worldwide of emulsion based photographic products.
But for the TEM film, the main people who are spreading the "fear" of a "filmless day" soon to arrive are the ones who would benefit the most if one did convert to all digital recording. There could be legitimate reasons to do that, of course, but the inability to purchase high quality TEM film is not going to be one of them at least not in the near and intermediate term future. And besides, someone with a ten or more year old TEM probably is not going to be too keen on making the large capital investment needed to convert to digital anyhow, since the digital add-on would be worth far more than the TEM onto which it is going.
When a large manufacturer decides to get out of a particular business, it is not at all uncommon or unusual for them to find a smaller firm to continue the manufacturing, marketing and distribution of the soon-to-be discontinued product. This makes sense ethically as well since that way they don't leave their existing customers "cut off at their knees". And what would seem like "peanuts" to a large global manufacturer if not also a nuisance could be seen as gigantic volume to a much smaller firm. This kind of licensing of "mature" products being discontinued goes on all the time, including even the marketplace for TEM film. For example, when Agfa " discontinued" the Agfa Scientia brand of TEM film, they licensed a highly reputable German photographic film manufacturing firm, MACO, to continue to manufacturer the TEM films that users around the world had used for their work. And the MACO TEM film is available from PLANO in Germany and from SPI Supplies everywhere else. Everyone can rest well assured that MACO will continue to manufacture TEM film well into the future, farther in fact than most would even want to look.
More information and prices about the MACO film could be found at URL http://www.2spi.com/catalog/photo/maco-TEM-film.html
Disclaimer: SPI Supplies is the worldwide distributor for the MACO TEM film so we have an obviously vested interest in publicizing that fact.
Chuck
=================================================== Charles A. Garber, Ph. D. Ph: 1-(610)-436-5400 President 1-(800)-2424-SPI SPI SUPPLIES FAX: 1-(610)-436-5755 PO BOX 656 e-mail: cgarber-at-2spi.com West Chester, PA 19381-0656 USA Cust. Service: spi2spi-at-2spi.com
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From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Sep 6 05:32:46 2004
Chuck Thanks for this clear statement of the position, which will surely reassure many TEM users like myself with a middle-aged instrument and little prospect of going digital at the moment. I will try to relax, but our audio-visual services have just refreshed my paranoia by announcing that they are no longer able to source 35mm slide projectors and lenses suitable for use in lecture theatres. (Is that really true??) We are therefore being encouraged to reduce our dependence on slides.
Best wishes Chris
Dr. Chris Jeffree
----- Original Message ----- } From: "Garber, Charles A." {cgarber-at-2spi.com} To: "MICROSCOPY BB" {Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.com} Sent: Monday, September 06, 2004 9:45 AM
Below is the result of your feedback form (NJZFM-ultra-55). It was submitted by (stokes-at-saturn.med.nyu.edu) from http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MLFormMail.html on Sunday, September 5, 2004 at 19:04:28 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Email: stokes-at-saturn.med.nyu.edu Name: David Stokes
Organization: NYU Skirball Inst
Title-Subject: [Microscopy] [Filtered] EM Core Director
Question: The Skirball Institute of New York University School of Medicine seeks an individual to set up and direct an imaging core facility with an initial emphasis on electron microscopy. The Skirball Insitute, located in midtown Manhattan, consists of 35 laboratories with a diverse array of biomedical research projects, which are described in detail at http://saturn.med.nyu.edu. Individual laboratories currently operate two electron microscopes and several confocal microscopes together with various ancillary equipment for specimen preparation and image analysis. To organize these into a shared facility, we seek an individual with extensive experience in conventional thin sectioning and immunolabeling of biological organisms. The ideal individual will also have management skills and an ambition to develop a comprehensive facility with additional staff offering a wide range of imaging services. Applicants should send their curriculum vitae along with the names and addresses of three references to: Dr. David Stokes at stokes-at-saturn.med.nyu.edu.
We here at the end of the world have already suffered from this "problem" for the last 4 or 5 years where Kodak could not supply us with "EM" grade film. We still use film for all the reasons already quoted; particularly that it still produces the best results compared to digital.
Four years ago we switched suppliers to Agfa and use a product called Copex Positive Pet 10. Code number 2OYAT CNP3 NP EI This is in the 35mm format
Good Luck Raymond Bennett
Keith Williamson EM Unit HortResearch Private Bag 11030 Palmerston North NEW ZEALAND
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chris, ron, and everyone else...
not wanting to sound paranoid, i think we have to consider chris's words carefully.
while digital systems are good, after 35 years i cannot get the same results from a digital image than i can from film, no matter how hard i try. double exposures with polychromatic paper using different filters, dodging, burning, combined, can contribute to excellent prints. perhaps others can get the same results from digitized images, after 5 years, i cannot.
we currently maintain two older Philips 201 and one cm10 microscopes. they have 35mm cameras. Kodak has discontinued manufacture of Direct Positive 5302, which we use for these instruments. the only sources of which i now know for this film is the different suppliers. but how long will their stocks last? what other 35mm format films are there that have the same high resolution that is found with 5302?
all in all, the promise from Kodak is fine and dandy, but will that hold when Kodak decides that the digital market has made it no longer viable to support wet chemistry with specialized, high resolution films such as we require.
of course, as far as i am concerned, i have 25 roles of 5302 in the freezer, so i'm set until our microscopes die. but it is an ongoing concern for the rest of you who were not ordering at the time that Kodak made their decision and were not able to stock up.
paul
Paul R. Hazelton, PhD Electron Microscope Unit University of Manitoba Department of Medical Microbiology 531 Basic Medical Sciences Building 730 William Avenue Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, R3E 0W3 e-mail: paul_hazelton-at-umanitoba.ca Phone:204-789-3313 Pager:204-931-954 Cell:204-781-1502 Fax:204-789-3926
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From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Sep 6 15:59:54 2004
Industrial Research Limited is New Zealand's leading industrial scientific research organisation. Our role is to develop leading-edge technologies into practical business opportunities (http://www.irl.cri.nz).
IRL is strengthening its research efforts in the area of superconducting materials and is now seeking expressions of interest from suitably qualified scientists for a two year Post-doctoral position, at our Gracefield site (near Lower Hutt, Wellington). This is an opportunity to join an internationally renowned team working on both Government and industry funded projects in the area of superconducting technologies.
Key responsibilities, knowledge and qualifications: * To undertake applied research and development projects in superconducting materials, including the preparation and analysis of samples of so-called "2nd generation" Yttrium Barium Copper OxideYBCO tapes * PhD or equivalent in materials science or a related field with a focus on TEM work. * Experience in preparing TEM samples of composite materials is highly desirable * To develop and contribute to the development of new research areas * To take an active role in the technology transfer process * Experience with superconducting materials is desirable but not essential * * * The successful applicant will possess: * Strong aptitude for experimental research and development * Demonstrated TEM experience * Good planning, organisational and problem solving skills * An ability to work independently and as part of a team * Superior oral and written communication skills
An attractive remuneration package commensurate with qualifications and experience will be offered to the successful candidate as well as a wonderful opportunity to live in a vibrant capital city in a country renowned for its quality of life and outdoor activities.
'Expressions or Interest' are invited and should be forwarded by 17 September 2004 to: Jennie Scott, Industrial Research Limited, P O Box 31-310, Lower Hutt, Wellington, Phone: (04) 931 3094, Fax: (04) 569 0019, E-mail: j.scott-at-irl.cri.nz {mailto:j.scott-at-irl.cri.nz} .
Industrial Research Limited is an Equal Opportunities Employer
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Sep 6 16:26:07 2004
i had been thinking of looking up agfa, then they went out of the field. does MACO produce a 35mm film, and is it of similar grain?
paul
Paul R. Hazelton, PhD Electron Microscope Unit University of Manitoba Department of Medical Microbiology 531 Basic Medical Sciences Building 730 William Avenue Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, R3E 0W3 e-mail: paul_hazelton-at-umanitoba.ca Phone:204-789-3313 Pager:204-931-954 Cell:204-781-1502 Fax:204-789-3926
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Sep 6 20:12:30 2004
-----Original Message----- } From: Paul Hazelton [mailto:paul_hazelton-at-umanitoba.ca] Sent: Sunday, September 05, 2004 11:07 AM
double exposures with polychromatic paper using different filters, dodging, burning, combined, can contribute to excellent prints.
---------------------------------------
I don't mean to sound sarcastic, and I know it's going to, so please understand that's not how I mean it.
How is the above different from manipulating a digital image?
I guess there are two parts to the question. First, is this any less of a manipulation (and hence potential for inaccurate or inappropriate artifacts) than using digital techniques to improve the appearance of an image? I mention this in the context of other discussions on digital image integrity.
Second, is the specific problem you're describing a limit of digital technology, or a limit of the skills and resources available? It is certainly a different set of skills to work in a "wet" darkroom than that used in the "digital" darkroom. (Having worked some in both, I too found the digital harder. None the less, I can see where given the right set of tools and skills, the "useable quality" of digital and film could be equal.)
John R.
From MicroscopyL-request-at-ns.microscopy.com Mon Sep 6 21:41:28 2004
Raymond Bennett wrote: =============================================== We here at the end of the world have already suffered from this "problem" for the last 4 or 5 years where Kodak could not supply us with "EM" grade film. We still use film for all the reasons already quoted; particularly that it still produces the best results compared to digital. =============================================== I am sympathetic to your problem but it is a different kind of problem, not to be confused with the issue already being discussed on the listserver. Your problem is a distribution problem and is the result of the way Kodak (and other manufacturers) distribute(s) their films and other photographic products. Now I am not the last word on this but I am sure someone from Kodak would correct me quite quickly should I be wrong.
My perception is that Kodak establishes an exclusive distributorship, sometimes their own subsidiary, to distribute film in a specific market, such as NZ. But it is up to that particular distributor to decide what they will either a) keep in stock or b) "handle" even on special order. Unfortunately, too many such distributors decide that because the volume is so low, and perhaps they don't want to end up with stale-dated film, they just don't want to be bothered with the handling of such a specialty item like the EM films so they tell their customers it is "not available" but of course, they are really saying it is not available from them, even thought it certainly could be avalable generally, such as in the USA or other countries.
That is why so many end users in New Zealand purchase their Kodak EM film from those firms already providing EM consumables, such as SPI Supplies, Ted Pella, or Ladd (to name a few) in the USA. By ordering this way, you can combine all your other needs for TEM supplies and consumables and the end result is that the incremental shipping costs associated with the film can become almost negligible if not zero. This problem is far from being limited to NZ and in fact gets repeated in many other countries and markets around the world.
With regard to getting superior results with film vs.digital, I hear this all the time, but some would say it would depend on the quality of the digital system you are