To: WALCKSD:ml:wpafb, SCHELTFJ:ml:wpafb Subj: magnetic SEM specimen Orig-Author: {Marcelle A Gillott {magem-at-csd.uwm.edu} }:ddn:wpafb -----------------------------------------------------------
help!
I am a biologist with limited experience with materials specimens....... a student wants to look at a magnetic sample and I would appreciate any suggestions as to the best way to handle this?
Message-Id: {MAILQUEUE-101.941004084856.448-at-bunyip.ph.rmit.edu.au} To: microscopy-at-aaem.amc.anl.gov
on 4 October, Dwight Beebe wrote :
Wtih respect to the "kill the feed" demand, I personally find the discussion of other techniques and aspects of EM/LM to be interesting and often directly useful in my research and teaching. I want to thank Nestor for his continued work and all the others who contribute to the discussions for making this a very productive source of information.
.......I would like to agree that the list serves a very useful function, even though one accumulates a lot of messages during an absence, as I did recently. However, the availability of the wealth of expertise at one's fingertips is invaluable. The unhelpful and silly comments only detract from its value, and if people would take the time to read the information that is available, many of the objections would not be necessary. My thanks also to Nestor and all of the contributors.
The person looking for Super SEM from Griffin and Van Riessen could try Arie at avr-at-uniwa.uwa.edu.au cheers jjm Professor John J. Millar Head, Department of Applied Physics Electron Microscope Unit RMIT, GPO Box 2476V, MELBOURNE AUSTRALIA 3001 +613 660 2602 fax 613 660 3837 email jjmill-at-rmit.edu.au
Help: I'm working with cardiac cell motility in a methyl cellulose matrix. The problem is that methyl cellulose does not lend itself readily to typical specimen protcols for electron microscopy. Does anyone have a fixative or a cross-linking chemical that will stabilize methyl cellulose at room temperatures or cooler?
--
Darryl Krueger Electron Optical Facility University of Minnesota Dept. Plant Pathology 495 Borlaug Hall St. Paul, MN 55108 (612)625-8249 612-625-9728 FAX giba-at-puccini.crl.umn.edu
ANLEMC is dying..... I've managed to get it back up and running, however, expect that sometime in the next few days that this mail server will have a new home.
Please keep an eye on your mail for the announcement of a new host address. I will have to permanently move the microscopy mailing list so that the problems of the last few days do not repeat themselves.
Sorry for the headaches many of you have had in the last week, it wasn't fun for me either.
Nestor -------------
Nestor J. Zaluzec Argonne National Lab. Materials Science Division
With the few brain cells I have left I have a dim memory of an extended article on lab safety that may have appeared in either the EMSA Bulletin or in the SEEMS Newsletter before either changed their names. If anyone can point me in the direction of this article or a similar one, I would be grateful. As a corallary we would like to have some information on the hazards of elemental Osmium as opposed to OsO4 (Safety dept wants to condemn our refrigerator with the blackened interior. They intend to seal it up and have it buried in a hazardous waste dump in Atlanta) ********************************************************** * Greg Erdos ** * * Director, ICBR EMCL ** Phone 904-392-1295 * * 218 Carr Hall ** FAX 904-392-8598 * * University of Florida ** gwerdos-at-gnv.ifas.ufl.edu * * Gainesville, FL 32611 ** * **********************************************************
Dear Greg, The Handbook of Chemistry and Physics says that bulk osmium is unaffec- ted by air and is bluish-white; whereas the powdered metal reacts with air to produce OsO4--the starting material in your case. I think you can argue that the refrigerator is much safer than the contents. Only the oxide is toxic, and it can be recognized by its smell. Good luck. Yours, Bill Tivol
Message-Id: {MAILQUEUE-101.941004141528.416-at-vanlab.paprican.ca} To: Greg Erdos ICBR EM Core Lab Univers {GWERDOS-at-gnv.ifas.ufl.edu}
There is a recent publication which might be of help to you entitled:
"Electron Microscopy Safety Handbook" Vernon Barber and Joseph A. Mascorro, Editors 1994
published by San Franscisco Press Inc. Box 426800, CA. 94142-6800
ISBN 0-911302-72-7
I have just glanced through it but it had sections on Biological and Materials preparation and X-ray safety as well.
Good Luck, Laurie
} Date: Tue, 04 Oct 1994 15:10:56 -0500 (EST) } From: Greg Erdos ICBR EM Core Lab Univers {GWERDOS-at-gnv.ifas.ufl.edu}
} With the few brain cells I have left I have a dim memory of an extended } article on lab safety that may have appeared in either the EMSA Bulletin or in } the SEEMS } Newsletter before either changed their names. If anyone can point me in the } direction of this article or a similar one, I would be grateful. } As a corallary we would like to have some information on the hazards of } elemental Osmium as opposed to OsO4 (Safety dept wants to condemn our } refrigerator with the blackened interior. They intend to seal it up and have } it buried in a hazardous waste dump in Atlanta)
______________________________________________________________________ Laurie Frederick, A.SC.T. PAPRICAN Corrosion Control Group 3800 Wesbrook Mall The Pulp and Paper Research Vancouver, B.C. Institute of Canada Canada V6S 2L9
Greg, Osmium compounds are bad, but osmium is probably the most inert (or maybe ruthenium is more inert) metal there is. The reason that osmium compounds are bad is that they want to dump their osmium somewhere, in exchange for whatever you offer. Don't let your bean counters take your fridge, just because it is coated with precious osmium! And for heaven's sake don't let them know that gold compounds are toxic. They will want to bury your wedding ring with the fridge!
I am late to this string, because I was out of town for some time. I agree that long messages cause problems for all, however, in the interest of widest dissemination of information I would suggest also posting a short message to the server indicating that additional information is available directly. Just my HO.
Best-
Jay Jerome ************************************************************** * aka: W. Gray Jerome * * Pathology * * Bowman Gray School of Medicine of Wake Forest University * * 910-716-4972 * * jjerome-at-isnet.is.wfu.edu * **************************************************************
On Fri, 30 Sep 1994, L. D. Marks wrote:
} I have just removed a message of over 500 lines concerning } Yeast Fixation. Can I make an appeal to people not to send so much } detail straight to the server -- this type of information should } go over more private channels directly between interested parties. } Yeast fixation may be an important topic, but not everyone is } interested is all the details. } } Thanks } }
Could anyone help regarding processing of plant material. We have been prcessing plants for SEM by conventional methods with 2.5% glutaraldehyde in 0.1 M cacodylate buffer, osmication, dehydration and critical point drying. We noticed that the plant material, whether leaf, grass or lichen have a tendancy to explode into fragments during decompression at the end of critical point drying. We thought maybe air was still trapped within the palnt tissues and caused the samples to pop. We fix the tissue under vacuum to remove air but still experiance the same problem.
Mark Gould University of Otago Dunedin New Zealand
Richard Easingwood Department of Anatomy and Structural Biology, P.O. Box 913 University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. Fax:64-3-479 7254 Telephone:64-3-479 7301
G'day Richard, With regard to your 'exploding' plant material, I would suggest that you slow down the venting procedure at the end of the CPD run. Your specimens could be displaying a botanical version of the 'bends'!!?
As a possible alternative, if this is not the case, we've been having great success recently with a 'low-tech' cold stage procedure. Basically it involves sticking (with dag) a piece of fresh plant specimen onto a 2cmx1cm brass block then plunging the whole thing into liquid nitrogen for about 45 - 60 secs ( this time is important - you don't want the specimen to get too cold). The cold specimen is then quickly transferred to the SEM and you've got viewing times of about 45 - 75mins. I've found that the more hydrated a specimen is, the better it seems to work, i.e. the less charging it displays, possibly because the water is acting as a conductor. This technique is ideal if you're looking at external features and we've even managed to remove cold specimens, fracture them, and then return them to the microscope without the need for transfer devices etc. I've been knocked out with the ease and the results of the technique - try it!
Some reading material along these lines can be found in
Microscopy Research and Technique 1994 vol 28 : 67 - 74
Journal of Microscopy 1993 vol. 172 : 63 - 69
Scanning 1993 vol. 15 : 171 - 173
Cheers, Tony Romeo
Tony Romeo Internet: tony-at-emu.su.oz.au Electron Microscope Unit Telephone: 692 2351 Madsen Building F09 The University of Sydney Facsimlie: 552 1967 Sydney, 2006 Australia
I would agree with Tony Romeo that your main problem may be speed of venting. Our CPD system recommends not faster than 1-200psi per minute and we err on the side of caution.
I note you use an osmium post fix. We normally just glutaraldehyde fix before dehydration for plant material that we have to Critical Point Dry although low temperature observation is much the best for much of our work.
Ian Ian Hallett HortResearch Mt Albert Research Centre Private Bag 92 169 Auckland, New Zealand Fax 64-9-815 4201 Telephone 64-9-849 3660
I have some serious problems dealing with immuno-EM and embedding. We would like to embed endothelial cells (cultured) and afterwards do an incubation (immunogold). First, we've tried Unicryl to embed the cells cultured in polystyrene dishes (Falcon). This couses severe problems because Unicryl melts the polystyrene dishes. I think that Lowicryl will raise the same problems. So we have tried to embed the cells in Araldite. The embedding was succesfull, but we didn't succeed in getting a nice immunolabeling.
IS ANYONE EXPERIENCED IN EMBEDDING CULTURED CELLS FOR IMMUNO-EM? We would like to keep the cell layer intact (and not scraping the cells for suspensions).
Thanks.
Luc.
*************************************************************************** * Luc Analbers * Analbers-at-med.ruu.nl * *************************************************************************** * Utrecht University * LLL * * Medical Faculty * LLL * * Dept. Medical Physiology & * LLL A * * Sportsmedicine * LLL AA AA * * PO-box 80043 * LLL AA AA * * Zip: 3508 TA * LLLLLAAALLLAAALLL * * Utrecht * LLLLLAAALLLAAALLLL * * Tel: 030 - 538911 * AAA AAA * * Fax: 030 - 539036 * AAA AAA * ***************************************************************************
We routinely process intact monolayers for IEM. I early abandoned polystyrene dishes for the same reasons you mentioned. I recommend to all our users to culture cells in Leighton tubes...these are flat-bottomed screw-cap tubes that lie horizontal. The cells grow on an easily-detached plastic coverslip that survives any chemical processing, even propylene oxide. Before embedding, the coverslip can be cut up, flat embedded, and sectioned along with the attached monolayer. It actually sections better than the LR White resin that we normally use. Leighton tubes are available from most of the suppliers of plasticware for cell culture. Hope this helps.
-=W.L. Steffens=- College of Veterinary Medicine University of Georgia
We routinely embed monolayers growing on glass coverslips in Falcon or Costar 12 well trays using Epon, LR Gold, and JB-4. In the past, I have used Lowicryl K4M and HM20 but I am unsure what type of trays we were using back then. We never have any problem with the trays dissolving. We use only ethanol for dehydration; no acetone or propylene oxide. We have had some problems with LR White doing weird things which I guess (without a whole lot of confidence) is due to differential contraction of the plastic as it polymerizes. Once polymerized, we cut out the bottom of the well using a Dremel moto-tool, cross-hatch the thin layer of plastic above the glass coverslip and slowly immerse in liquid nitrogen. the plastic contracts at a different rate than the glass coverslip and the cells pop off with the plastic in nice little flat squares. we used to re-embed the squares in standard molds but now simply cut them immediately with virtually no trimming needed. it works great. contact me directly if you have any questions. good luck.
Thomas E. Phillips, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Biological Sciences Director, Molecular Cytology Core Facility 3 Tucker Hall University of Missouri Columbia, MO 65211 (314)-882-4712 (voice) (314)-882-0123 (fax)
Hello microscopists!! I would very much like to order some dyes/stains from Eastman Kodak, but can't seem to find a valid address/phone/fax #. Can anyone out there help me?? Thanks in advance,
Shea Miller Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Ctr. for Food and Animal Research Rm. 2002, K.W. Neatby Bldg. Central Experimental Farm Ottawa, Ontario Canada K1A 0C6 millers-at-ncccot.agr.ca
You might try Narishige - they are one of the finest sources of micromanipulators, at least for electrophysiologic applications. I don't have a number at hand, but they should be easy to track down - they will be listed in the Science Guide to Scientific Products, and also in the vendor directory in the Program of the Society for Neuroscience meeting (also I imagine FASEB, IBRO and many others). Good luck!
David Morilak Dept Pharmacology Univ Texas Health Science Center San Antonio
In message Wed, 5 Oct 1994 12:55:12 -0400, MILLERS-at-NCCCOT.AGR.CA writes:
} Hello microscopists!! } I would very much like to order some dyes/stains from Eastman Kodak, } but can't seem to find a valid address/phone/fax #. Can anyone out there } help me?? } Thanks in advance, } } Shea Miller } Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada } Ctr. for Food and Animal Research } Rm. 2002, K.W. Neatby Bldg. } Central Experimental Farm } Ottawa, Ontario } Canada K1A 0C6 } millers-at-ncccot.agr.ca } =======================
Kodak Laboraory Chemicals suppliers in Ontario, Canada:
Anachemia Science Anachemia Science 2708 Southview Drive Unit A, 3120 Pepper Mill Court Box Site 31, Box 10 Misissauga, Ontario L5L 4X4 Sudbury, Ontario P3E 4M9 Tel: 416-82804409 Tel: 705-522-5501
Have you tried growing your cells on Aclar plastic film instead of polystyrene dishes? Embedding in Lowicryl HM20 works well. Elaine
On Wed, 5 Oct 1994, Luc Analbers wrote:
} } Hi, } } I have some serious problems dealing with immuno-EM and embedding. } We would like to embed endothelial cells (cultured) and afterwards do an } incubation (immunogold). } First, we've tried Unicryl to embed the cells cultured in polystyrene } dishes (Falcon). This couses severe problems because Unicryl melts the } polystyrene dishes. } I think that Lowicryl will raise the same problems. } So we have tried to embed the cells in Araldite. The embedding was succesfull, } but we didn't succeed in getting a nice immunolabeling. } } IS ANYONE EXPERIENCED IN EMBEDDING CULTURED CELLS FOR IMMUNO-EM? } We would like to keep the cell layer intact (and not scraping the cells for } suspensions). } } Thanks. } } } Luc. } } *************************************************************************** } * Luc Analbers * Analbers-at-med.ruu.nl * } *************************************************************************** } * Utrecht University * LLL * } * Medical Faculty * LLL * } * Dept. Medical Physiology & * LLL A * } * Sportsmedicine * LLL AA AA * } * PO-box 80043 * LLL AA AA * } * Zip: 3508 TA * LLLLLAAALLLAAALLL * } * Utrecht * LLLLLAAALLLAAALLLL * } * Tel: 030 - 538911 * AAA AAA * } * Fax: 030 - 539036 * AAA AAA * } *************************************************************************** } } }
I have some serious problems dealing with immuno-EM and embedding. We would like to embed endothelial cells (cultured) and afterwards do an incubation (immunogold). First, we've tried Unicryl to embed the cells cultured in polystyrene dishes (Falcon). This couses severe problems because Unicryl melts the polystyrene dishes. I think that Lowicryl will raise the same problems. So we have tried to embed the cells in Araldite. The embedding was succesfull, but we didn't succeed in getting a nice immunolabeling.
IS ANYONE EXPERIENCED IN EMBEDDING CULTURED CELLS FOR IMMUNO-EM? We would like to keep the cell layer intact (and not scraping the cells for suspensions).
Thanks.
Luc.
*************************************************************************** * Luc Analbers * Analbers-at-med.ruu.nl * *************************************************************************** * Utrecht University * LLL * * Medical Faculty * LLL * * Dept. Medical Physiology & * LLL A * * Sportsmedicine * LLL AA AA * * PO-box 80043 * LLL AA AA * * Zip: 3508 TA * LLLLLAAALLLAAALLL * * Utrecht * LLLLLAAALLLAAALLLL * * Tel: 030 - 538911 * AAA AAA * * Fax: 030 - 539036 * AAA AAA * ***************************************************************************
I have had similar problems in the past with cell cultures brought to me on plastic microwell dishes or cell-culture flasks. Dehydration with ethanol is not a problem but EVERY resin I've tried- Spurrs, Taab, LR White, HM20 - has melted the plastic. I usually advise those growing the cells to use Thermanox coverslips or polycarbonate filters on which to grow the cells as these can be processed and cut with the cells; thus solving many problems. However, some researchers still find it necessary to use platic (or they alrady have the cells grown before I'm consulted). Thus, I have discovered that by exposing the cells and dish to HM20 for 1 hour at room temperature the dish will melt sufficiently to allow the cells to float off into the resin.(You need an intact monalyer though). I then lift out sections of the cell monolayer and put them in fresh HM20 and polymerize at room temperature under UV light. HN20 will give excellent immunolabelling results with immunogold.
Marilyn Henderson Biological Electron Microscopist CEMMSA The University of Adelaide South Australia
} Hello microscopists!! } I would very much like to order some dyes/stains from Eastman Kodak, } but can't seem to find a valid address/phone/fax #. Can anyone out there } help me?? } Thanks in advance, } } Shea Miller } Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada } Ctr. for Food and Animal Research } Rm. 2002, K.W. Neatby Bldg. } Central Experimental Farm } Ottawa, Ontario } Canada K1A 0C6 } millers-at-ncccot.agr.ca }
=============================================================================== Loling Song Office tel: +31+71-276198 Department of Cytochemistry and Cytometry, +31+71-276200 Leiden University, fax: +31+71-276180 Wassenaarseweg 72, 2333 AL Leiden, The Netherlands email: song-at-RULLF2.LeidenUniv.NL ===============================================================================
Can anyone bring me up to date on an address or phone number for BEEM?. I tried an old one (212-597-3670) but it did not work. I want to find out if their developing tank system is still available.
Thanks
Jonathan Krupp Microscopy and Imaging Lab University of California Santa Cruz, CA 95060 emlab-at-ucsco.ucsc.edu (408) 459-2477
Last year I bought a colloidal carbon paint called TV coat from Ted Pella. This year they no longer supply it. I need some, does anyone know where to get it? regards Mark W. Lund MOXTEK, Inc. Orem UT
X-Sender: UNC900-at-ibm.rhrz.uni-bonn.de Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" To: Microscopy-at-aaem.amc.anl.gov
Please help, I need to know how to access "The American Ceramic Society". I applied for membership allready some month ago but the only reaction I got was a booking on my mastercard account. Is there any way to access them by email? Their faxmachine seems to be somewhere in the basement.
We have some chalcopyrite material (CuInSe2) I am looking at here using cross sectional TEM and I would really like to focus on the near surface (several monolayers). I suspect that the top few layers would never survive the cross sectional sample preparation process so I was wondering about the idea of putting an ex-situ cap on it (as immediately after growth as possible) of some non-reactive material (SiN would be one example). I realize this might generate some stress in the material, but it is all I can think of at the moment. We can't put anything on it in situ that won't have the possibility of reaction with it (Se4 doesn't stick significantly at room temperature). Any thoughts on this or suggestions as to what might be a good capping layer.
Mark, TV Tube Koat is generally available from electronics supply houses. It is used to maintain conductivity between vacuum tube plugs and the socket. The manufacturer is:
G.C. Electronics Division of Hydrometals, Inc. Rockford, IL 61101
Let me know if you are successful...I need some too.
-=W.L. Steffens=- College of Veterinary Medicine University of Georgia
Have you tried chemical drying with Pel-Dri or hexamethyldisilizane? After 100% EtOH, go through a 1:2, 1:2, 2:1 series EtOH:chemical then 3 changes in HMDS or P-D then dry: sublimate Pel-Dri in a vacuum dessicator under mild! vacuum (just enough to remove the vapors) below 22 C or dry HMDS in a fume hood overnight or in a fume hood for 2 hr at 60 C neither may be as good as observing frozen-hydrated, but neither do they require a cold-stage. Phil "looking for a job" Oshel poshel-at-luc.edu
Has anyone ever used acrolein? I must use it in a fixative,and I am afraid of it. What special precautions must I take. I am going to use it in a fume hood,and I will wear my standard protective gloves. Will that be good enough or do I need to dress up like an astronaut?
Message-Id: {9410071446.AA09943-at-riker.ml.wpafb.af.mil} To: WALCKSD:ml:wpafb, SCHELTFJ:ml:wpafb Subj: program to calculate grain misorientation Orig-Author: {pinglu-at-alumina.rutgers.edu (Ping Lu)}:ddn:wpafb ----------------------------------------------------------- Dear microscopists:
I am looking for a program to calculate grain orientation and misorientation at grain boundary, based on electron beam kikuchi pattern. This program is probably available there, I just do not know where to get it. Everyone knows, please let me know.
The Midwest Society of Electron Microscopists (MSEM), RMC of Tucson, Arizona, and Integrated Microscytems are sponsoring a workshop "Cryotechniques in Electron Microscopy" Friday, October 21, 1994 at Chicago State University.
Program: 9:30AM Registration 10:00 AM Gregory M. Becker will speak on glass knife making for cryo-ultramicrotomy and room temperature Ultramicrotomy and cryo-Preparation Techniques including Metal-Block Freezing and Propane Jet-Freezing. 11:00 AM Michelle Wilhite will speak on Practical Aspects of Cryomicrotomy and Immunolabeling 12:00 Noon Luncheon ($7.00) 1:00 to 5:00 PM Hands-on Workshop demonstrating cryosectioning of biological materials, harvesting sections, and demonstration of tools Demonstration of tools and techniques of immunolabeling and postembedding Demonstration of metal-block freequing and other techniques Facility Tour
Do you have any problems now? Bring them in for individual help.
The workshop is free to members of MSEM. Ask for an application. Membership is only $10 per year, $5 for students
To reserve your space call now: Steve Miller FAX 708-696-2541 E-Mail 73150.2217-at-compuserve.com Phone 1-800-388-8801
Sally, I have used acrolein for many years. It is an excellent fixative when rapid penetration or stabilization lipids is required. You should be aware of a few things about it. 1. It is flammable...be sure your hood can handle this and there are no flames or sparks about. 2. It is very volatile...thats what makes it useful as a vapor fixative. 3. It is very irritating to mucous membranes...treat it as you would osmium. In the concentrations that you are likely to use it in working solutions, its really no worse than glutaraldehyde. Using good safety procedures, we have never had an problems with it. It has a very distinctive odor (like burning, rancid, fat), so you always know if you're inhaling it.
-=W.L. Steffens=- College of Veterinary Medicine University of Georgia
G'day Gib, Thanks for your comments. I would like to make it clear that the technique I had outlined in my earlier note is not mine - it seems to be a procedure which has been around for a while (in various levels of sophistication) but it's value probably hasn't been appreciated as much as it should be. That's certainly true in my case!
As for the kV's that we use, that's been very much a trial and error procedure. On our JEOL 35C we are basically restricted to 10kv or above. This has been OK for the plant material (15kv) and some of the insect stuff (15 - 20kv). I have had to do some higher resolution work on latex particles and for this we went to 20 - 25kv (for images at 40 - 50k). On our Philips 505 we can obviously work at much lower kv's but it's also in use most of the time so I haven't had much of an opportunity to 'play' on it. For the things that I have done on it (latex particles) I've needed higher resolution and so have been working up around the 20kv range.
Hope all that is of some use!
Cheers, Tony Romeo
Tony Romeo Internet: tony-at-emu.su.oz.au Electron Microscope Unit Telephone: 692 2351 Madsen Building F09 The University of Sydney Facsimlie: 552 1967 Sydney, 2006 Australia
Has anyone ever used acrolein? I must use it in a fixative,and I am afraid of it. What special precautions must I take. I am going to use it in a fume hood,and I will wear my standard protective gloves. Will that be good enough or do I need to dress up like an astronaut?
Greetings, I know of two very nice and very inexpensive pieces of software for doing image analysis on PC. Only trouble is, they each require the purchase of a frame grabber card. The frame grabber card which they need costs about 2,000 US dollars. The frame grabber card is the pcvision plus card, and the software is: Morpho.sys and MTV. The software is in the 300 to 500 dollar range, and does stuff like angles, areas, lengths, contours. ehgo.
} From: forbes-at-cip.org.ec (Greg Forbes) } Date sent: Mon, 10 Oct 94 16:28:20 EST } To: microscopy-at-aaem.amc.anl.gov } Subject: Re: Image Analysis Software for PC
} } } Are there any image analysis software packages available for the PC that are } } worth having? I need to do some fairly basic image analysis (such as area, } } circumference etc.) on a PC system. } } } } Thanks } } } } Joe Michael } } Sandia National Labs } } jrmicha-at-sandia.gov } } Joe, } } I understand that there are two which are quite good and quite } expensive: Optimas and Visilog. If you have a large budget and want } addresses let me know. I would also like to know if there are any equal } to these which are more economical. } } Please let me know if you get any answers which are not posted. } } Good luck, } } Greg } } -- } Greg Forbes Telfs. off: +593-2-690990 } International Potato Center fax: +593-2-562286 } P.O. 17-16-129 CEQ, Quito, Ecuador home: +593-2-330971 } Internet: forbes-at-cip.org.ec; } }
I have used both Optimas and Visilog and at the time I was assessing Optimas was much better at basic measurements whilst Visilog was a much more powerful at image processing. We now use Optimas routinely. In New Zealand it cost around one third the price of Visilog (say $US3000-$US4000). We have had a user working with JAVA from Jandel Scientific who was very happy with it for basic measures, this cost less than either Optimas or Visilog. I understand they also produce a Windows image analysis package.
Unfortunately I have not found a satisfactory public domain imaging package for the PC that was any match for NHI Image for the MAC.
Ian
Ian Hallett HortResearch Mt Albert Research Centre Private Bag 92 169 Auckland, New Zealand Fax 64-9-815 4201 Telephone 64-9-849 3660
} Are there any image analysis software packages available for the PC that are } worth having? I need to do some fairly basic image analysis (such as area, } circumference etc.) on a PC system. } I know this sounds negative, but I wouldn't bother. My recomendation would be to by a Macintosh and download NIH-Image from ZIPPY.NIMH.NIH.GOV as this will cost you roughly the same as a 'cheap' commercial package on a PC and in my (admittedly limited) experience is superior. This software is very flexible and gives you virtually direct e-mail access to the author via a user group if you have any problems. The software is also very fast (for a non-hardware analysis solution). For example I tested Image Pro Plus on a 33Mhz 486 PC doing a 'sharpen' filter and this woked at roughly 40000 pixels per second, whereas NIH Image on a PowerPC 8100 (80Mhz) managed about 710000 pix/sec. Incidentally Image Pro Plus under windows has some bugs that I found within 1 hr of starting to try it out, and I managed to crash my system 3 times in 2 hours so I wouldn't recommend it.
Hope this helps ( :-) )
Doug Arrell
+------------------------------------+ | Dr Douglas Arrell | | Mechanical Performance and Joining | | Institute for Advanced Materials | | 1755 ZG Petten | | Netherlands | | {ARRELL-at-JRC.NL} | | Tel. (+31) 2246 5287 | | Fax (+31) 2246 1917 | +------------------------------------+
} } Are there any image analysis software packages available for the PC that are } } circumference etc.) on a PC system. } } } } Thanks } } Sandia National Labs } Joe, } } I understand that there are two which are quite good and quite } expensive: Optimas and Visilog. If you have a large budget and want } addresses let me know. I would also like to know if there are any equal } to these which are more economical. } } Greg } I don't know how many people this might apply to, but it was only yesterday I found out that our University (bristol, England) had a site licence for Visilog. I had been sort of looking for low cost image analysis software (SigmaScan had been brought to my attention) but nothing comes lower in price than something I could get for free from our Computer Centre (manuals will cost 30pounds). The University had paid, maybe, 2000 pounds for the licence but it can then be installed on any number of systems around the University. The most important thing, though, is that the ownership of this wasn't widely advertised so it *could* be worth spending a few minutes on the 'phone seeing if such arrangements exist in your institution.
Lets distinguish between image processing and image measurement, Optimas is good at changing and manipulating images and pretty good at multiple measuring, but if accurate, controlable measurements of images is what you want, let me suggest you look into Morphosys, sold by Exeter sofware 516 689 7838 for $250.00. They sell it for the U of Calif Berkeley regents, it was written by Chris Meacham of the Herbarium and is a very nice program for measurement. I much prefer its simplicity to Optimas or to older prepc systems I have used. I have no connection other than pleased user. Alan Pooley Rutgers Marine science
PS to my previous meassage, as some one reminded me, It is necessary to have a PCVision Board (Cost $2000? ) and a tv camera to use Morphosys, but you can use the same board for Optimas if you need to "up"grade later and will need some sort of image capture hardware for any system. I have had good luck with the PCVision Board, which comes with diagnostic software (if people have trouble, as I did, I can give them a patch using the ofg that will preset the image board for use with Morphosys Alan Pooley Rutgers Marine sci
Recently, I have had an industrial client ask me about methods for obtaining accurate measurement of oxygen in a cobalt alloy in the 100 to 200 ppm range with some reasonable resolution...say microns. The sample is a cross-section and the interest is in oxygen as a function of distance from the surface. I've talked with some local talent with access to a SEM equipped with WDS capability but it doesn't sound too promising. Any suggestions??
Thanks in advance.
James T. Stanley, II Oregon Graduate Institute Portland, OR jstanly-at-mse.ogi.edu
To those medical archivists among you, can anyone out there confirm this anectodal story? I would particularly enjoy any references from texts or articles.
I heard years ago from John Luft that osmium had been used as a 'treatment' for arthritis. Osmium was injected into the painful joint of arthritis sufferers, whereupon it fixed the nerve cells. thereby treating the symptoms. Becuase of its poor diffusion rate and and rapid reduction, it was immobilized at the site of injection and did not travel elsewhere in the body.
(Thank goodness we now have some better treatments.)
thanks in advance
steve
---------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Steven Barlow EM Facility/Biology Dept. San Diego State University San Diego CA 92182-0057 phone: (619) 594-4523 fax: (619) 594-5676 email to sbarlow-at-sunstroke.sdsu.edu
Reply to question about an image measurement program for the PC
I use Morphosys and like it very much, in preference to Optimas at 10 times the price. However Morphosys does no do image processing, ie filters etc nor does it trace/count/etc multiple image objects without individual mouse clicks to direct it. It does a wide variety of geometric steps as well as tracing well contrasted objects amost instantly. (If people have trouble getting good contrast to trace images ie can't get the 'dark field image to follow the edge of the object, I can give some hints about annual light, apertures to define edges and vanes to control fine lighting details, using cardboard and a cheap circular florescent light) The program Morphosys costs $250.00 from Exeter Software 800 842 5892 It is property of U of Calif and written by Chris Meacham of the Herbarium there. I have no connection other that as very satisfied user. It does require the PCVision frame grabber board, at ??$2000.00 800 532 3500 and a tv camera and stand to hold it and the light etc. All output of Morphosys is text and easily edited, rearranged, portions deleted etc before geometric computations done and output put out. alan pooley rutgers marine science
X-Nupop-Charset: English To: WALCKSD:ml:wpafb, SCHELTFJ:ml:wpafb Subj: Quantitative Oxygen Orig-Author: {Jim Stanley {jstanly-at-mse.ogi.edu} }:ddn:wpafb -----------------------------------------------------------
Recently, I have had an industrial client ask me about methods for obtaining accurate measurement of oxygen in a cobalt alloy in the 100 to 200 ppm range with some reasonable resolution...say microns. The sample is a cross-section and the interest is in oxygen as a function of distance from the surface. I've talked with some local talent with access to a SEM equipped with WDS capability but it doesn't sound too promising. Any suggestions??
Thanks in advance.
James T. Stanley, II Oregon Graduate Institute Portland, OR jstanly-at-mse.ogi.edu
} Are there any image analysis software packages available for the PC that are } worth having? I need to do some fairly basic image analysis (such as area, } circumference etc.) on a PC system. } } Thanks } } Joe Michael } Sandia National Labs } jrmicha-at-sandia.gov
There was some discussion about PC image analysis software a few weeks ago on the NIH-Image mailing list. One of the replies mentioned the existence of a free image analysis program for the PC called UCFIMAGE. The reply stated that it was "developed by Weeks and Mylar at UCF ..... and you can access it via anonymous ftp from IPG.ENGR.UCF.EDU in the /PUB/UCFIMAGE directory".
I have not tried it myself because we use the Mac based NIH-Image program, which serves our needs admirably.
Arthur Day, Electron Microscopy Group Ansto Advanced Materials Program Phone: 61-2-717-3457 PMB 1, Menai (Sydney), NSW, 2234 Fax: 61-2-543-7179 Australia Email: ard-at-atom.ansto.gov.au
In response to the various questions about accessing NIH Image:
The most up to date versions are available on
ZIPPY.NIH.GOV (a shorter name than the one I gave yesterday)
via anonymous FTP.
To find the files look in the PUB/IMAGE directory. In there you will find 4 versions of the software. Version 1.55 is the most stable and is available in floating point or non-floating point version along with the relevant manuals (word 4 mac format) and even the souce code as the compressed files
} There was some discussion about PC image analysis software a few weeks ago } on the NIH-Image mailing list. One of ............... ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Please, what is the listserver address of this NIH-Image list?
Petr +-------------------------------------------+-------------------------+ | Dr. Petr Schauer | tel.: (+42 5) 41321246 | | ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC | fax : (+42 5) 41211168 | | INSTITUTE OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS | E-mail: petr-at-isibrno.cz | | Kralovopolska 147, CZ-612 64 Brno | | | Czech Republic | | +-------------------------------------------+-------------------------+
} To those medical archivists among you, can anyone out there confirm this } anectodal story? I would particularly enjoy any references from texts or } articles. } } I heard years ago from John Luft that osmium had been used as a } 'treatment' for arthritis. Osmium was injected into the painful joint of } arthritis sufferers, whereupon it fixed the nerve cells. thereby treating } the symptoms. Becuase of its poor diffusion rate and and rapid reduction, } it was immobilized at the site of injection and did not travel elsewhere } in the body. } } (Thank goodness we now have some better treatments.) } } thanks in advance } } steve
The reference for this work is Chem. & Eng. News 60:8 (April 5, 1982).
Thomas E. Phillips, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Biological Sciences Director, Molecular Cytology Core Facility 3 Tucker Hall University of Missouri Columbia, MO 65211 (314)-882-4712 (voice) (314)-882-0123 (fax)
} I know this sounds negative, but I wouldn't bother. My recomendation } would be to by a Macintosh and download NIH-Image from } ZIPPY.NIMH.NIH.GOV } as this will cost you roughly the same as a 'cheap' commercial } package on a PC and in my (admittedly limited) experience is } superior. This software is very flexible and gives you virtually } direct e-mail access to the author via a user group if you have any } problems. The software is also very fast (for a non-hardware analysis } solution). For example I tested Image Pro Plus on a 33Mhz 486 PC } doing a 'sharpen' filter and this woked at roughly 40000 pixels per } second, whereas NIH Image on a PowerPC 8100 (80Mhz) managed about } 710000 pix/sec. } Incidentally Image Pro Plus under windows has some bugs that I found } within 1 hr of starting to try it out, and I managed to crash my } system 3 times in 2 hours so I wouldn't recommend it.
I am lucky enough to use both NIH-Image and Image Pro Plus for windows, and both programs work perferct on my hardware. I wonder which version of Image Pro Plus Dough used - the one (ver 1.1) I am using seem to be OK.
I do not think it is fair to compare any program running two machines as different as a high en MAC and mid range PC. I guess the difference in your filtering would have been much smaller if you had run Image Pro Plus on a highspeed Pentium based PC. But who really cares about a few milli-seconds - I run most analysis as unatended macros anyway. What counts for most users is that there image analysis program works like the rest of their programs. So - if your a MAC user download NIH-Image. If your a Windows user buy Image Pro plus (or Mocha or...). I am lucky to use both.
We would be interested to hear from users of the Bioquant package, particularly regarding the OS/2 version, and its suitability for doing image analysis, cell tracing and measurements via camera lucida from a light microscope.
Does the package perform well? Is it especially difficult to operate? etc.
Thanks
Lucy Brown brown-at-aecom.yu.edu Dept Neuroscience Albert Einstein College of Med Bronx, NY 10461
I would appreciate any information sent directly to me at *Fermin-at-TMC.Tulane.edu* on guidelines that anyone may have on the operation of a repository for frozen tissues to be used for research an to serve as an intitutional resource. The information may also be faxed to me at the number below. Thanks in advance for any information that I may use to establish guidelines for this important research resource. Yes, imaging is done in some of the tissues, so I am not stretching it too much by posting it here. Sorry!
************************************************************ *Cesar D. Fermin, Ph.D \|*|/ Fax (504) 587-7389 * *Tulane Medical School /|*|\ Answ. Mach.(504) 584-261 * *Pathology/SL79 \|*|/ Secretary (504) 584-2436 * *New Orleans, La 70 112 /|*|\ Lab (504) 5841 * *Fermin-at-TMC.Tulane.edu -} Director of Morphological Services* ************************************************************
I am having difficulty obtaining some 'coaxicon' miniature coaxial connectors to make up a 'nimbin' extension cable to enable some trouble shooting to occur on our Etec scanning microscope. The Australian AMP agents just don't want to know about them. Can any one recommend an AMP outlet in the USA that might have these items? I need 8off partnumber 201143-1, 8off201144-1 and 16 0ff partnumber 328666-0. Thanks, Kerry Gascoigne Research EM Unit, Flinders University South Australia
} Doug Arrell wrote: } } } I know this sounds negative, but I wouldn't bother. My recomendation } } would be to by a Macintosh and download NIH-Image from } } ZIPPY.NIMH.NIH.GOV } } as this will cost you roughly the same as a 'cheap' commercial } } package on a PC and in my (admittedly limited) experience is } } superior. This software is very flexible and gives you virtually } } direct e-mail access to the author via a user group if you have any } } problems. The software is also very fast (for a non-hardware analysis } } solution). For example I tested Image Pro Plus on a 33Mhz 486 PC } } doing a 'sharpen' filter and this woked at roughly 40000 pixels per } } second, whereas NIH Image on a PowerPC 8100 (80Mhz) managed about } } 710000 pix/sec. } } Incidentally Image Pro Plus under windows has some bugs that I found } } within 1 hr of starting to try it out, and I managed to crash my } } system 3 times in 2 hours so I wouldn't recommend it. } } I am lucky enough to use both NIH-Image and Image Pro Plus for } windows, and both programs work perferct on my hardware. I wonder } which version of Image Pro Plus Dough used - the one (ver 1.1) I am } using seem to be OK. } } I do not think it is fair to compare any program running two machines } as different as a high en MAC and mid range PC. I guess the } difference in your filtering would have been much smaller if you had } run Image Pro Plus on a highspeed Pentium based PC. But who really } cares about a few milli-seconds - I run most analysis as unatended } macros anyway. What counts for most users is that there image } analysis program works like the rest of their programs. So - if your } a MAC user download NIH-Image. If your a Windows user buy Image Pro } plus (or Mocha or...). } I am lucky to use both. } } Bo I used version 1.1 also. To get some strange results try doing some pasteing of seperate images into one larger one. By doing this I managed to put part of the image into the information line at the bottom of the window, though how I did it I have no idea!
Doug Arrell
+------------------------------------+ | Dr Douglas Arrell | | Mechanical Performance and Joining | | Institute for Advanced Materials | | 1755 ZG Petten | | Netherlands | | {ARRELL-at-JRC.NL} | | Tel. (+31) 2246 5287 | | Fax (+31) 2246 1917 | +------------------------------------+
} In reading your note to Joe Micheal about the NIH Image - I noted } you used a PowerPC - is there a working native Power PC version of NIH out } yet and / or do you have any comments about operating on the powerPC vs } plain MAC. I just order a 7100 to run a Gatan camera system and frankly } I'm worried about the PowerPC in non native applications. } This message was sent yesterday by Wayne Rasband (the author of NIH Image).
} } } I have uploaded a new PowerPC beta that supports plug-ins. There is now only one missing feature in the PPC native version: you can't open or print documents from the Finder....
--wayne } } } }
As far as I know, non-native applications work fine, just slower than on a top-spec 'normal' mac, though any screen updating is faster. However, what I am telling you is not from personal experience, I have used NIH Image on various macs, but our new PowerPC has not arrived yet. When it does I will give you some info.
Doug Arrell
+------------------------------------+ | Dr Douglas Arrell | | Mechanical Performance and Joining | | Institute for Advanced Materials | | 1755 ZG Petten | | Netherlands | | {ARRELL-at-JRC.NL} | | Tel. (+31) 2246 5287 | | Fax (+31) 2246 1917 | +------------------------------------+
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Several people are worried about NIH image on a Mac PowerPC. So do we, but we need a version of NIH image with FFT ! We would be interested to know if there is a version of NIH image with FFT that can work on a Mac Intosh Power PC (may be a non-FPU version ?). We tried to run an old version of image FFT on a Power Mac and it refused to work asking for a coprocessor...
PS. By the way, why the FFT menu has not been included in the standard NIH image program ?
} Problems with merging two smaller images into one larger sounds } like a memory problem with the PC system. Just not enough there. } I thought so too, but I was working with two 200k images in 8Mb of RAM + a swap file. My system reported 21Mb of free memory, so I don't think that was the problem!
Doug Arrell
+------------------------------------+ | Dr Douglas Arrell | | Mechanical Performance and Joining | | Institute for Advanced Materials | | 1755 ZG Petten | | Netherlands | | {ARRELL-at-JRC.NL} | | Tel. (+31) 2246 5287 | | Fax (+31) 2246 1917 | +------------------------------------+
I'm running NIH-Image on a PPC 8100. The 680x0 code version runs just fine on the PPC. The question of speed is relative. Compared to the MacIIcx I was using, the PPC is a screamer. If you are comparing to the most recent Quadra and Centris machines, you won't be quite so impressed. I've been testing the beta releases of Image in PPC native code and the capability is absolutely amazing. haven't yet tried the latest beta (.30) yet. Tlhe .28 release had problems so don't try it.
As far as low cost image analysis packages for the pc, doesn't Data Translation offer an inexpensive basic package? I thought you could get a price break if bundled with one of their frame grabber cards.
Regards,
Glen MacDonald Hearing Development Laboratories RL-30 University of Washington Seattle, WA 98195 (206)543-8360 glenmac-at-u.washington.edu
It is refreshing to see someone present an objective viewpoint. With a few exceptions, most software and hardware products have strengths and weaknesses. Performance is determined by clock speeds, CPU type (CICS - RISC), the amount of RAM and CACHE memory, the BUS type, 16 bit / 32 bit operating system, etc... Trying to compare two very different hardware/software configurations is a very painstaking task that computer magazines spend a lot of ressources trying to do with some kind of objectivity.
We all get used to what we have and use every day. Thanks Bo for not making a recomendation based on your personal preferences.
Patrick Guerin Vaytek, Inc. Fairfield IA 52556 515-472-2227
The program Super SEM, a supercard program for teaching principles of SEM is being developed by the Microscopy Group at the University of Western Australia in Perth. You should contact Brendon Griffin at the following address for more details. Use his UWA address (bjg-at-uniwa.uwa.edu.au) as his mail is forwarded and following him around the world, while he is on sabbatical leave..
Brendon J. Griffin Visiting Research Fellow Until 10th Nov., 1994 Crystallography & Mineral Physics Unit NB email address is always Department of Geological Sciences current University College of London Ph: 071-380-7777 Ext 2406 Gower Street Fax.: 071-388-7614 London WC1E 6BT Email: bjg-at-uniwa.uwa.edu.au
In message Fri, 14 Oct 1994 13:00:07 -0400, gnord-at-mactem.er.usgs.gov writes:
} Hello Microscopists, especially the photon variety. } } I am looking for a light microscope for about $150 for a seven year old } girl very interested in science. Zany-Brainy, a children's learning } center store here in Virginia, has a toy for about $70. I think that I } can do better. Any ideas for new or used light microscopes in my price } range? } Gordon L. Nord Jr. } 959 National Center } U. S. Geological Survey } Reston, VA 22092 } } Office: 703-648-6745 } FAX: 703-648-6789 } } gnord-at-mactem.er.usgs.gov } =============================== Edmund Scientific, 101 E. Gloucester Pike, Barrington, NJ 08007-1380, Tel. order 609 573 6250 (Schools & Ed. pricing 609 573 6270) sells "student" microscopes in your price range.
***************************************************** M.V. Parthasarathy Section of Plant Biology, 228 Plant Science Building Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853. USA Tel: 607-255-1734; Fax: 607-255-5407 E-Mail: mvp2-at-cornell.edu ****************************************************** e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e- e- e- e- This message was sent using 100% recycled electrons e- e- e- e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-
We have an old JEOL model JSM-2 SEM with a Nuclear Diodes/ EDAX model 508 EDS system. It was built in 1968. Although in good operating condition, we have no use for it and I have suggested that probably no one would want it. I need to somehow verify that no gov't agency, or University would want to acquire it by coming here, packing it up and shipping it. Further that no citizen would bid on it and also come to Mpls to get it. Is there a market or demand for old SEMs or will we have to pay someone to scrap it for metal? Any comments can be sent to me at the e-mail address below. Thanks for your input. Mike Boucher Boucher-at-tcrca.usbm.gov ***************************************************************** Michael L. Boucher Sr. Boucher-at-TCRCA.USBM.GOV Geology-Mineralogy/Chemistry Labs Ph 612-725-4614 Twin Cities Research Center Fax 612-725-4526 U.S. Bureau of Mines Center 725-4500 Department of Interior 5629 Minnehaha Avenue South Minneapolis, MN 55417-3099 U.S.A. *****************************************************************
} I am looking for a light microscope for about $150 for a seven year old } girl very interested in science. Zany-Brainy, a children's learning } center store here in Virginia, has a toy for about $70. } I think that I can do better.
Hello Gordon -
My company imports all types of microscopes. We have a model for your price range that has 40X - 640X, 3 sets of eyepieces, mirror illuminator with aperture disc, wooden box. It is very heavy, and the optics are excellent. An electric substage illuminator is available for a little extra. We have even used this one with video, and it works very well.
I would be happy to discuss your needs. Send me a note for more info.
John Mansfield North Campus Electron Microbeam Analysis Lab University of Michigan 2455 Hayward Ann Arbor MI 48109-2143 Phone: (313)936-3352 jfmjfm-at-engin.umich.edu or John.F.Mansfield-at-umich.edu Time: 12:07 AM
Date:10/15/94 NC EMAL
FACULTY POSITION
THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
The Department of Materials Science and Engineering at The University of Michigan is continuing to grow and there are openings for tenure track faculty positions at the level of assistant professor. Candidates at the senior level with records of outstanding accomplishment will also be considered. Applicants must have a Ph.D. degree, be qualified to teach undergraduate and graduate courses in materials science and engineering, and should plan to develop independent and cooperative research programs. A demonstrated research record or potential is required. Preferred areas of expertise include: electronic, magnetic and/or photonic materials; physical metallurgy; materials theory and modeling; ceramics. Women and minority candidates are encouraged to apply. Send curriculum vitae and a list of references to:
Chairman, Search Committee Department of Materials Science and Engineering The University of Michigan 2300 Hayward Street Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2136
Message-Id: {MAILQUEUE-99.941017175027.448-at-eo.ine.philips.nl} To: microscopy-at-aaem.amc.anl.gov
PHILIPS WORKSHOP ON CONVERGENT BEAM ELECTRON DIFFRACTION
March 27-31, 1995
PURPOSE
The purpose of this workshop is to instruct microscopists in the potential of CBED and large angle CBED for the analysis of crystal structures, and to provide hands-on training in the practical techniques as well as example classes dealing with various applications. Although some background in diffraction techniques might help, it is not absolutely necessary and a quick refresher course on diffraction theory will start the week.
TOPICS
The following questions will be answered: 1) What information is contained in a CBED pattern? 2) How are crystal symmetries determined? 3) How are CBED and LACBED done in practice? 4) What are the practical and instrumental limitations? 5) How can crystal defects be analysed?
INSTRUCTORS AND EQUIPMENT
The teachers (from renowned convergent beam groups such as Bristol, UK; Lille, France and Perth, Australia) have a wide experience in organising workshops in this field and will be assisted by Philips application specialists. Invited lectures on more or less advanced CBED applications will be presented by specialists such as Prof. J.P. Morniroli, Dr. D. Cherns and Dr. A. Johnson. A wide range of Philips CM transmission electron microscopes (LaB6 & FEG) will be available to perform all types of convergent beam experiments including energy filtering of the diffraction patterns. Simulations and interpretations of the experiment will be done on stand-alone systems.
MORE INFORMATION
The workshop will be held at the Philips Electron Optics Applications Laboratory in Eindhoven, The Netherlands. Persons who wish to register for the workshop or obtain more information should send a reply. Please enclose your complete postal address and indicate if you want to register and/or receive more information.
With Kind Regards
Eric van Cappellen
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Philips Electron Optics Building AAE, P.O. Box 218 5600 MD Eindhoven The Netherlands Tel. +31 40 766234 Fax. +31 40 766102 E-mail: marcom-at-eo.ine.philips.nl
EUCHEM CONFERENCE ON ELECTRON MICROSCOPY IN SOLID STATE SCIENCE MAY 20-24, 1995 in LUND, SWEDEN
A EUCHEM conference on Electron Microscopy in Solid State Science will be held at Jaravallen, at the seaside 20 km northwest of the university town Lund, on May 20-24, 1995. In the spirit of the EUCHEM conferences, which are European equivalents to the Gordon conferences in the US, there will be a limited number of oral presentations, but plenty of time for discussions. No abstracts or proceedings will be published. The number of participants will be limited to 75 and all participants are requested to present a poster.
Among the topics that will be adressed are: Electron microscopy of new materials. Structure and chemistry of aperiodic features in solids. New microscopy techniques and their application.
For further information, please contact: The Swedish National Committee for Chemistry Wallingatan 24, 3 tr S-111 24 Stockholm Sweden Phone: Int +46-(0)8-4115280, Fax: Int +46-(0)8-106678 E-mail: Anna.Carlsson-at-oorg2.lth.se
If you want to do quantitative analysis of N in high Z materials you better get a standard as close as possible to your "unknowns" the matrix and absorption corrections will be significant. Using Si3N4 as your standard would not be a good idea. Sorry but I can't give you any leads as to standards. Your best bet might be to consult a phase diagram and make a standard.
Geller Microanalytical (508 535-5595) has several nitride standards, including a TaN. I don't know whether or not they are good, but I would hope so since they are advertised and sold as standards. Bastin has numerous articles in the MAS literature regarding N analysis (Microbeam Analysis 1988, p290, for example). I am dabbling with N analyses in volcanic tuffs (appears to be in the form of NH4 in feldspars - much lighter stuff than you are studying). Count rates are poor, to say the least. Good luck.
Jim McGee
James J. McGee email: jmcgee-at-lunatic.er.usgs.gov U.S. Geological Survey Phone: (703) 648-6782 959 National Center Fax: (703) 648-6789 Reston, VA 22092
I have a very old (wrought iron) A/O Spencer paraffin microtome Model 820 with a knife holder for large reusable steel blades. Our lab would like to purchase (or trade) a disposable knife holder that would fit our machine.
Suggestions for where to look would also be appriciated!
I wish to subscribe to the microscopy listserver. I am a structural cell biologist with a major interest in cytoskeleton. My main tools are TEM, various freeze-preparation methods and tissue culture. I am very interested in exchanging ideas on the functional ultrastructure of cytoskeleton. For example, can anyone suggest a suitable 3hr practical class execise for third year BSc students based on microtubules including at least some live material. Thanks!
Does anyone out there care to share their sure-fire way to securely mount LR White 1-2 micron sections to glass slides for immunogold labeling? We have variable success with keeping our sections from bubbling, wrinkling and working their way loose during immuno- incubations. Any secrets you would care to post would be much appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Dan Possin Ophthalmology EM Lab, Univ. of Washington, Seattle, USA.
Does anyone out there care to share their sure-fire way to securely mount LR White 1-2 micron sections to glass slides for immunogold labeling? We have variable success with keeping our sections from bubbling, wrinkling and working their way loose during immuno- incubations. Any secrets you would care to post would be much appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Dan Possin Ophthalmology EM Lab, Univ. of Washington, Seattle, USA.
} Hello everyone - } } Does anyone out there care to share their sure-fire way to securely mount } LR White 1-2 micron sections to glass slides for immunogold labeling? We } have variable success with keeping our sections from bubbling, wrinkling } and working their way loose during immuno- incubations. Any secrets you } would care to post would be much appreciated. } } Thanks in advance. } } Dan Possin } Ophthalmology EM Lab, Univ. of Washington, Seattle, USA.
After trying a zillion different coatings (e.g., poly-l-lysine, chrome-gel, albumin), we now use aminopropy-triethoxysilane (Sigma). Dip clean slides in a 2% apts in acetone solution for 30 sec. rinse in acetone, then dH20. dry and store. stable for at least months. this protocol is based on one of Lynne Angerer that she present at a ASCB in situ hybridization workshop. she sites Gottlieb and Glaser (BBRC 63:815-821, 1976) who used apts coated slides treated with glutaraldehyde to adhere single cells. she states that glut post treatment is good for cells but unnecessary for sections. our experience is in agreement with this. Additional advantage: Water beads up on these slides so that when one adds 10-20 ul of antibody, it doesn't spread flat on the slide but stays restricted to a bead.
good luck
Thomas E. Phillips, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Biological Sciences Director, Molecular Cytology Core Facility 3 Tucker Hall University of Missouri Columbia, MO 65211 (314)-882-4712 (voice) (314)-882-0123 (fax)
I've had to resort to slides washed in chromic acid and then subbed with chrome alum-gelatin for some combinations of plastics and mountants. We have a bunch of other slide treatments for specific, and general, purposes. Drop in and try a few. Dale can get some for you if I'n not around.
Glen MacDonald Hearing Development Laboratories RL-30 University of Washington Seattle, WA 98195 (206)543-8360 glenmac-at-u.washington.edu
On Tue, 18 Oct 1994, Daniel Possin wrote:
} Hello everyone - } } Does anyone out there care to share their sure-fire way to securely mount } LR White 1-2 micron sections to glass slides for immunogold labeling? We } have variable success with keeping our sections from bubbling, wrinkling } and working their way loose during immuno- incubations. Any secrets you } would care to post would be much appreciated. } } Thanks in advance. } } Dan Possin } Ophthalmology EM Lab, Univ. of Washington, Seattle, USA. }
The nitrogen-K emission line is at 392eV, there are many M zeta lines for elements in the mid-high atomic number range there. Tin for example is at 397eV. These (Mz) lines are however fairly weak!
By interpolating between elements I would say molybdenum ought to have a M-gamma (strongish line) at around the N-k that could cause a problem. This line is not listed for some reason! All I find for Mo M-series is M3-N1 at 331eV (strength listed as 100).
In the tables I use for X-ray emission line identification with EDX there's no listing for indium M-lines. (Johnson and White, ASTM Data series DS46, 1970). My EDX computer system likewise cannot show the M-lines for indium. Below In is Cd, Ag, Pd down to Nb, all of which have M lines with M-gamma the strongest. With the exception of Mo noted. Indium has auger and XPS peaks for M transitions, there's an EELS edge too.
Is there another (better) reference to use for the M-series?
Contributers to our newsletter "Microscopy Today" please note our new eMail address - MicroToday-at-aol.com. Others, including international, who wish no cost subscriptions, have but to supply their complete mailing addresses by eMail - or by fax (608/836-1969)
Some of the lines you listed I never see. One of the best sources for x-ray lines is the Chemical Rubber Co. (CRC) Handbook of Chemistry and Physics. This contains the famous Bearden tables of x-ray wavelengths and energies. You are right about In M-lines. Even in this table (mine is dated 1967) the low energy indium lines are incomplete; perhaps a more up-to-date version would have them.
Basically there are five M-lines that may be observed in the EDS spectrum. We usually only see the two strongest M-alpha and M-beta (typically unresolved). The other three (zeta, gamma, and M2N4) are only about 5% or less of the M-alpha.
I obtained the latter information from Table 3.11 of Goldstein et al., Scanning Electron Microscopy and X-ray Microanalysis, Plenum Press, New York, 1992, p. 127. Chapter 6 on qualitative analysis shows typical spectra for all types of lines from various elements: for example, M-lines from Bi, Ta, and Dy.
Good luck, Charlie
Prof. Charles E. Lyman Department of Materials Science and Engineering Lehigh University, 5 East Packer Avenue, Bethlehem, PA 18015-3195 E-mail: cel1-at-Lehigh.edu Tel: 610-758-4249 FAX: 610-758-4244
} } To:Robert McDonald {robert-at-geology.gla.ac.uk} } From:richard.easingwood-at-stonebow.otago.ac.nz (Richard Easingwood) } Subject:Re equipment list } } } } On another note - do the other folks reading this group think that } } would be useful to compile a list of what equipment we all have } } so that like users could pool info on specific problems etc? } } } } Just a thought and my opinions only. } } } } Robert McDonald robert-at-starav.geology.gla.ac.uk } } I think Robert's idea re equipment list is a good idea but would take an awful } lot of work, compiling, updating etc as I am sure that a list of just the EMs } used by the people who use this listserver would be frighteningly long. } Perhaps it would be better if those who need help with specific pieces of } equipment post their problems on the listserver and just keep the addresses of } respondants for future reference, provided they are happy to be contacted } again for assistance. } I don't deny it would be interesting to see what's out there though. }
Richard Easingwood Department of Anatomy and Structural Biology, P.O. Box 913 University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. Fax:64-3-479 7254 Telephone:64-3-479 7301
Message-Id: {1994Oct19.164942.1515942618-at-ms.sjdccd.cc.ca.us} To: MICROSCOPY-at-aaem.amc.anl.gov (MSA list)
MSA, Microscopy Soc of Am does have a list of facilities with their equipment collected by the Tech Forum. They have it on disk. contact Sandy Silvers EM Complex USDA,ARS,RRC PO Box 5677 Athens, GA 30613-6199 706/546-3471 No e-mail address listed.
I collected all the training facilities in the country and in several other countries with all equipment listed, but more emphasis on the course info. This however is outdated since I did this crazy thing in 1982. It was a marvelous amount of information but a fantastic amount of work!!!! Good Luck Judy M
Judy Murphy, PhD Dept. of Microscopy San Joaquin Delta College 5151 Pacific Ave Stockton, CA 95207
} } To:Robert McDonald {robert-at-geology.gla.ac.uk} } From:richard.easingwood-at-stonebow.otago.ac.nz (Richard Easingwood) } Subject:Re equipment list } } } } On another note - do the other folks reading this group think that } } would be useful to compile a list of what equipment we all have } } so that like users could pool info on specific problems etc? } } } } Just a thought and my opinions only. } } } } Robert McDonald robert-at-starav.geology.gla.ac.uk } } I think Robert's idea re equipment list is a good idea but would take an awful } lot of work, compiling, updating etc as I am sure that a list of just the EMs } used by the people who use this listserver would be frighteningly long. } Perhaps it would be better if those who need help with specific pieces of } equipment post their problems on the listserver and just keep the addresses of } respondants for future reference, provided they are happy to be contacted } again for assistance. } I don't deny it would be interesting to see what's out there though. }
Richard Easingwood Department of Anatomy and Structural Biology, P.O. Box 913 University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. Fax:64-3-479 7254 Telephone:64-3-479 7301
Brief addition to Charles E. Lyman's suggestion of looking in the rubber book (HB Chem & Physics): I just looked in my 1984-1985 copy and the low energy Indium M lines are not present either.
Richard E. Edelmann Electron Microscopy Facility Supervisor Marshall University - School of Medicine Huntington, West Virginia
Last week, someone asked about LR White sections/semi-thins on slides for= immuno. I have not had this problem with my material, BUT I am meticulous= when I clean my slides before applying any type of slide adhesive. I use= ordinary gelatin/chrome alum subbing solution (0.5% gelatin, ordinary 300= bloom, and 0.05% chromium potassium sulfate). I thoroughly clean the= slides with a good grease-cutting detergent, then rinse with hot tap H2O,= then de-i H20, then dip. I suggest this as a substitute for acid-cleaning,= as it's a little safer. I must caution that the rinsing step is= critical-any soap residue is will render the slides useless (we had a= technician who failed to follow directions and caused a few major= catastrophies...). In closing, I'd like to thank everyone who responded to= my cry for help with LR White thin sections. I think my resin was a little= too elderly. Grace
X400-Received: by mta bottom.ctd.anl.gov in /PRMD=ANL/ADMD= /C=US/; Relayed; Thu, 20 Oct 1994 11:52:58 -0500 X400-Received: by /PRMD=ESnet/ADMD= /C=US/; Relayed; Thu, 20 Oct 1994 11:52:56 -0500 X400-Received: by /PRMD=inria/ADMD=atlas/C=fr/; Relayed; Thu, 20 Oct 1994 11:52:51 -0500 X400-Received: by /PRMD=cea/ADMD=atlas/C=FR/; Relayed; Thu, 20 Oct 1994 11:50:44 -0500
I'm trying to get in toch with Allied Technology but have not yet succeeded in getting their coordinates. If anyone can send their address, telephone and/or fax numbers,e-mail it will be greatly appreciated
Lelia Schmirgeld-Mignot
--------------------------------------------------------------------- SRMP/DECM/DTA Tel : 33-1-69.08.20.68 C.E. Saclay FAX : 33-1-69.08.68.67 91191 GIF sur YVETTE Cedex e-mail : lelia-at-srmp04.saclay.cea.fr FRANCE ---------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi Folks, We have a Nikon Diaphot connected to our Bio-Rad Confocal. The slider on the prism that shunts the laser up or the transmitted light to the oculars is getting very hard to pull. Nikon originally said this is natural and to replace the silicon gel on the prism glides inside the housing, preferably by their own gel. They now say that we should use a high quality oil instead of the gel. Since this is a big deal, hard to do thanks to the confocal assembly, I thought I would ask if anyone else out there has run into this problem. TIA
C. Michael Stanley Molecular Cytology Core Facility Molecular Biology 2 Tucker Hall University of Missouri-Columbia Columbia, MO. 65211 (314) 882-4895 fax= 314-882-0123
Message-Id: {MAILQUEUE-101.941020132043.416-at-vanlab.paprican.ca} To: lelia-at-srmp04.saclay.cea.fr
} I'm trying to get in toch with Allied Technology but have not yet } succeeded in getting their coordinates. } If anyone can send their address, telephone and/or fax numbers,e-mail } it will be greatly appreciated } } Lelia Schmirgeld-Mignot
Hi, I have an address for an E.M. supplier called Allied Hi-Tech Products, 2376 E. Pacifica Place Rancho Dominguez, CA 90220
There numbers are: Phone (800) 950-9347 Fax (310) 762-6808
Hope this helps, Laurie
______________________________________________________________________ Laurie Frederick, A.SC.T. PAPRICAN Corrosion Control Group 3800 Wesbrook Mall The Pulp and Paper Research Vancouver, B.C. Institute of Canada Canada V6S 2L9
Would you please tell me how to subscribe MICROSCOPY?
I subscribed by command "subscribe microscopy ningx-at-mcmail.cis.mcmaster.ca" the MICROSCOPY IN "LISTSERVER-at-ANLEMC.MSD.ANL.GOV" yesterday, but no respond.
} the oculars is getting very hard to pull. Nikon originally said this is } natural and to replace the silicon gel on the prism glides inside the } housing, preferably by their own gel. They now say that we should use a } high quality oil instead of the gel.
We have had the same problem on all our Diaphots. Nikon claims that their new oil is especially heat resistant and far better than past lubricants. They have cleaned and relubricated the Diaphot we are using with the confocal and it is now much easier to use. We plan to have one of the other Diaphots greased the same way. We have an additional problem with the prism which is looseness on its track, but this is probably unrelated to the new lubricant unless the machining got worn over the years, perhaps when it was tighter. -Michael Cammer
Leon Smuts, I've found that silver paints and pastes *seem* to dry quickly, but actually degass for several hours, or a day or two, even using a vacuum dessicator. I've also found some brands of carbon paint that are contaminated with phosphorus. Don't recall which, off the top of my head, and the formulation have been changed, but it's something that should be checked, especially if you're doing EDX or WDX. Phil Oshel poshel-at-luc.edu
} Subject: Etchant for InGaAs. } } G'day ... } } A colleague of mine needs to find a suitable etchant for InGaAs (indium } content x { 0.3), which will reveal decorated defects inside the material } when the etched surface is examined with Nomarski IC microscopy. } } Any comments or references? } } Stephen Anderson. } .............................................................. } : Stephen Anderson : } : Electron Microscope Unit : } : The University of Sydney Email stephen-at-emu.su.oz.au : } : NSW 2006 Telephone (+61)-2-351 2351 : } : Australia Facsimile (+61)-2-552 1967 : } :............................................................: }
A weak solution of Cl2 bubbled through a beaker of methanol will do it- be careful if the solution becomes saturated,ie a green-yellow colour it may ignite-have some extra methanol beside you if you try this. More esoterically a colleague of mine suggested a solution of KOH: K3Fe(CN)6:H2O in the ratio 6g:4g:50ml. He uses it for SEM imaging of epilayers and reckons that the etchant rate is approximately 2 micrometers/minute at room temperature Good luck Ciara
In message Tue, 18 Oct 1994 16:44:04 -0400, david.rayns-at-stonebow.otago.ac.nz (David Rayns) writes:
} I wish to subscribe to the microscopy listserver. } I am a structural cell biologist with a major interest in cytoskeleton. My } main tools are TEM, various freeze-preparation methods and tissue culture. } I am very interested in exchanging ideas on the functional ultrastructure } of cytoskeleton. For example, can anyone suggest a suitable 3hr practical } class execise for third year BSc students based on microtubules including } at least some live material. } Thanks! } ============== David,
I can suggest a few lab excercises but they would require a fluorescence microscope:
1. If you have monolayer cultured cells such as fibroblasts, you can demonstrate the interrelatioship between microtubules (MTs) and ER organization. The live cells can be stained with DioC6 to demonstrate the normal ER organization and treatment of the cells with nocodazole will result in the disorganization of ER (see Terasaki et. al. 1986, J. Cell Bio).
2. If you have dividing cells, the importance of MTs for chromosomal movement can be demonstrated using MT disruptants. You also can include immunolocalization of the MTs and DAPI staining of the chromosomes as part of the lab using fixed cells.
3. You can use onion scale epidermal cells to demonstrate the importance of F-actin for protoplasmic streaming. Treating the cells with cytoclasin D will stop the streaming. The presence or the lack of F-actin can be determined by rhodamine-phalloidin (Rh-Ph) staining. (For details see on Rh-Ph staining see Parthasarathy, 1987, Plant. Mol. Biol Rep.; Sonobe, S. and Shibaoka, H., 1989, Protoplasma).
I believe MSA has a relatively updated list of facilities through one of their divisions.
On Thu, 20 Oct 1994, Richard Easingwood wrote:
} } } } To:Robert McDonald {robert-at-geology.gla.ac.uk} } } From:richard.easingwood-at-stonebow.otago.ac.nz (Richard Easingwood) } } Subject:Re equipment list } } } } } } } On another note - do the other folks reading this group think that } } } would be useful to compile a list of what equipment we all have } } } so that like users could pool info on specific problems etc? } } } } } } Just a thought and my opinions only. } } } } } } Robert McDonald robert-at-starav.geology.gla.ac.uk } } } } I think Robert's idea re equipment list is a good idea but would take an awful } } lot of work, compiling, updating etc as I am sure that a list of just the EMs } } used by the people who use this listserver would be frighteningly long. } } Perhaps it would be better if those who need help with specific pieces of } } equipment post their problems on the listserver and just keep the addresses of } } respondants for future reference, provided they are happy to be contacted } } again for assistance. } } I don't deny it would be interesting to see what's out there though. } } } } Richard Easingwood } Department of Anatomy and Structural Biology, } P.O. Box 913 } University of Otago, } Dunedin, New Zealand. } Fax:64-3-479 7254 } Telephone:64-3-479 7301 } }
Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" To: Microscopy-at-aaem.amc.anl.gov
Microscopy Society of America is accepting applications from undergraduate students interested in conducting a research project involving the use of ANY microscopy technique. Applicants must be sponored by a member of MSA. The maximum award is $2500(US). The application deadline has been extended to December 30, 1994. Applications can be obtained by contacting the MSA Business Office at (800) 538-3672, FAX: (508) 548-9053. For more information contact either: Dr. Ralph Albrecht,rma-at-ahabs,wisc,edu (608) 263-3952/4162, FAX (602) 262-7420 ; or Dr. Richard Ornberg, rlornb-at-ccmail.monsanto.com (314) 694-1184, FAX (314) 694-6727.
Greetings, I'd like to know whether anyone knows where I could purchase a copy of the book by G. Meeks: "Practical Electron Microscopy for Biologists". It is out of print and I'd like to find a copy somewhere. If anyone can help, please reply directly to me, not to the list. Many thanks, Dwight
Dwight Beebe IRBV, Dept. de sciences biologiques beebed-at-ere.umontreal.ca Universite de Montreal Voice:514-872-4563 4101, rue Sherbrooke est FAX:514-872-9406 Montreal, PQ H1X 2B2 Canada
I know that the majority of members of the listserver are in the states and hence most of the communication on this subject has been stateside orientated. However as an overseas 'consumer' of the listserver it might be interesting to know of other lists in other countries.
Certainly their is a list available in South Africa which is run by Dane Gernecke and the UCT EM unit for EMSSA (Electron Microscopy Society of Southern Africa).
Are there any others?
Peter _______________________________________________________________
-at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at- -at- -at- -at- Peter D. G. Richards -at- -at- Dept Anatomy and Cell Biology -at- -at- UCT Medical School -at- -at- Observatory -at- -at- 7925 -at- -at- RSA -at- -at- Tel: 021-406 6285. -at- -at- Internet: retep-at-anat.uct.ac.za -at- -at- -at- -at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at--at-
Message-Id: {MAILQUEUE-101.941024182817.320-at-bunyip.ph.rmit.edu.au} To: microscopy-at-aaem.amc.anl.gov
Re : recent topic
Australia has had for many years a full list of instrumentation and personnel in EM maintained voluntarily by people from the national association (ASEM). Te list is updated every two years by the "owners" of the instrumentation and labs in conjunction with the biennial EM conference. The list is a very valuable reference for advice and all sorts of other things. It would be very useful to have an international list, but would take a while to arrange. Maybe this could be started via this server, for all to list their instruments/people/interests in a tight format ?? jjm
Professor John J. Millar Head, Department of Applied Physics Electron Microscope Unit RMIT, GPO Box 2476V, MELBOURNE AUSTRALIA 3001 +613 660 2602 fax 613 660 3837 email jjmill-at-rmit.edu.au
Sender: cemerson-at-kean.ucs.mun.ca {cemerson-at-kean.ucs.mun.ca} Reply-To: cemerson-at-kean.ucs.mun.ca To: MICROSCOPY-at-AAEM.AMC.ANL.GOV Message-Id: {009866A4.2FE243A2.1441-at-leif.ucs.mun.ca}
The Microscopiccal Society of Canada also has a Directory of Electron Microscopy Facilities in Canada, last printed in 1992. We hope to have an update in 1995 including confocal and scanned probe instruments as well Directories are available from the MSC. Call Marie Colbert at 905-525-9140 ext. 22496 or write Marie Colbert, Dept. of Pathology, McMaster Univ. 1200 Main St., Hamilton, Ont. L8N 3Z5. I believe the Directory may also be available on disc.
Carolyn Emerson, Editor, MSC Bulletin, Dept. of Biology, Memorial Univ. St. John's, Nfld, Canada A1B 3X9.
I have seen this microscope, and occasionally buy equipment from Driftwood Associates. I have no other connection with this transaction. Julian Smith III Biology Winthrop University Rock Hill, SC VOX 803 323-2111
One forum that might be used for Instrument Lists is the "Micrsocopy & Microanalysis" World Wide Web server that I also maintain here at ANL. On it is information about some of the ANL Microscopy projects, but also sections dedicated to some of the microscopy/microanalysis societies (MSA, MAS, RMS, MSC, ASEM) I would consider adding updated lists to this site or to the Anonymous FTP site here which services the Microscopy & Microanalysis Software Libraries.
The important thing to remember is that such a listing would only be a subset of any master lists such as Sandy Silver's database, or comparable ones elsewhere in the world.
Can I suggest that those who maintain regional instrument listings contact me off-line. We can then try to set up a "short-form" which could be uploaded to the WWW site (http:/www.amc.anl.gov) or the FTP site (www.amc.anl.gov) This would be a start, and would complement NOT REPLACE each regional listing which would be more comprehensive. Information on how to obtain the complete local listing would, of course, be provided.
Again if your a organizer of such list, contact me at
Zaluzec-at-AAEM.AMC.ANL.GOV
When we have something that is on-line, I'll post the relevent information to the Microscopy Listserver..
I am presently using a Steinheil Optronic Oscillophot M4, which is "wearing out" after 16 years of use. I am looking for a new or used (in good working condition) Polaroid CU-5 camera to mount on my Philips 500X SEM.
Is the CU-5 a good choice, or what other kinds of cameras are people using to record 4x5 inch pictures? My Steinheil has f/stop, enlargement ratio and focusing controls which I like. However, it does not quite cover my 4x5 inch photomonitor screen so there is some loss of detail right in the corners of the pictures.
Any assistance will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
--
Gib Ahlstrand Electron Optical Facility University of Minnesota Dept. Plant Pathology 495 Borlaug Hall St. Paul, MN 55108 (612)625-8249 612-625-9728 FAX giba-at-puccini.crl.umn.edu
Goodday! In response to my recent invitation for no cost subscriptions to our newsletter, I am overwelmed with questions. With apologies for the "clutter" to others I would like to address all questions: 1) There is no email version. The 10 yearly issues are available only through the mail so I will need full and proper mailing addresses. 2) There is currently no charge for subscriptions. We may have to charge a modest fee in the future for international subscriptions. 3) The objective of the newsletter, perhaps unlike any other, is to publish material and articles of interest to the working microscopist. It is not a peer review journal and, while we need ad income to publish it free, it is not an advertising catelog. 4) A number of members of this listserver do contribute to the effort and their help is much appreciated. We would greatly appreciate material/articles from others on the list. If interested, please contact me direct and I will provide other guidelines. 5) A new feature in the pub is a series of "Tricks of the Trade" notes - on any microscopy technique and of any length. Authors of each accepted "trick" will be entered in a drawing at next years MSA Conference for a 1 oz gold coin. Do two and you should have between a 1 and 25 to 1 and 50 chance of wining the some $500 worth coin. Regards, Don Grimes, Editor - Microscopy Today
I would like to order some accessories for my EMSCOPE SC650 sputter coater. Does anyone know the address and telephone number of their vendors in the USA ? Thanks in advance.
Long Liang Electron Microprobe and SEM Lab ARCO Exploration and Production Technology 2300 West Plano Parkway Plano, TX 75075 E-mail : LLIANG-at-is.Arco.COM
Dear Robin, I have just started to look at clay mineral particles on the HVEM, a TEM rather than an SEM. The colleague investigating clay from the bottom of the Hudson river collects a sample of the sediment, washes it and settles it. During the settling, she collects fractions at various times; these are label- led for their nominal sizes-- } 5mu, 2mu, {2mu and { {2mu. I had difficulties getting good dispersal on a carbon-coated mesh grid at first, but I found that if I put a drop of poly-l-lysine on the grid and let it dry, I could then agi- tate the suspension of clay particles and put a 5 mu-liter drop on the grid. This gave me very good dispersion of both the largest and the smallest parti- cles. I must emphasize that this is my first venture with anything like this, so listen to the real experts if any respond. (I forgot to say that the 5 mu- liter drop I put on the grid was just air dried.) I am aware that clay mine- rals' structures change when they dry, but we wanted to try the simplest thing first. Good luck. Yours, Bill Tivol
I would like to know if anyone from this group has ever used anthrancene as a dye or a triplet energy acceptor. If so, I would appreacite any information on its spectral properties, chemsitry, and literature on its triplet energy.
Thank you in advance!
Loling
=============================================================================== Loling Song Office tel: +31+71-276198 Department of Cytochemistry and Cytometry, +31+71-276200 Leiden University, fax: +31+71-276180 Wassenaarseweg 72, 2333 AL Leiden, The Netherlands email: song-at-RULLF2.LeidenUniv.NL ===============================================================================
I would like to know if anyone from this group has ever used anthrancene as a dye or a triplet energy acceptor. If so, I would appreacite any information on its spectral properties, chemsitry, and literature on its triplet energy.
Thank you in advance!
Loling
=============================================================================== Loling Song Office tel: +31+71-276198 Department of Cytochemistry and Cytometry, +31+71-276200 Leiden University, fax: +31+71-276180 Wassenaarseweg 72, 2333 AL Leiden, The Netherlands email: song-at-RULLF2.LeidenUniv.NL ===============================================================================
I think Nestor's idea has a lot of merit. Like most other countries New Zealand has a local directory organised by the newsletter of the NZ Society for Electron Microscopy which could probably be incorporated in some international list
Access to a wider range of instrument users would be very useful as frequently we find we have no one we can ask locally about new or unusual equipment. Ian Hallett HortResearch Mt Albert Research Centre Private Bag 92 169 Auckland, New Zealand Fax 64-9-815 4201 Telephone 64-9-849 3660
R. Crang; I've lost your email address--apologies to the list. The Neutral Red idea I sent you awhile back for looking at wood cells has been stewing in the back of my mind, and it's lately bubbled up that Vaughn was using not Neutral Red, but Rose Bengal. This should also be in Conn's Biological Stains. Phil Oshel poshel-at-luc.edu
I have been trying to immunogold label some kidney tissue embedded in LR White, but after three trys, (30 grids) I have only had three sections remain on the grids, (one section on three grids). I am using gold hex mesh grids, immersion of grids in 30ul drops of reagents. The grids were precleaned with detergent, rinsed with dH2O, rinsed with ETOH, and finally with acetone. Why are the sections falling off??? Any and all comments and suggestions are welcome.
I have read one paper in certain journal about dislocations in Si3N4, about which I forget the names of the journal and authors. In that paper, the Burges vectors of several kinds of dislocations in Si3N4 were determined by TEM. Could you please tell me related information if you wrote or have read the paper. In the paper, it was also mentioned that the dislocations in si3N4 can move only at very high temperature (1700C?).
} Help, } Why are the sections falling off??? Any and all comments and suggestions are } welcome. } } Thanks } Ed Calomeni } Ed, I am informed by that your grids should be formvar coated (prior to putting the sections on), this should help the sections stick and apparently makes no difference to the labelling efficiency (as you might expect given that only one side of the section is exposed to the reagents).
Richard Easingwood Department of Anatomy and Structural Biology, P.O. Box 913 University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. Fax:64-3-479 7254 Telephone:64-3-479 7301
We quite frequently have to do SEM of many different kinds of powders. The problem with putting a drop of suspended particles on a stub is that surface tension draws the particles into clumps as the liquid dries. This is the technique that I use: 1. Make a very dilute suspension of the particles in methanol. You may have to determine the concentration by trial and error but it is very low. 2. Set up a vacuum filtration system using 10mm dia. Nuclepore filter membranes. I use filters with a pore size of 0.1um. 3. Vacuum filter a few drops of the suspension through the membrane. 4. Mount the filter on a stub and coat.
By vacuum filtering, the liquid leaves the particles almost immediately so that surface tension doesn't have a chance to form clumps. Nuclepore is the best filter to use because it is a sieve with small holes on a flat background which makes it easier to see the particles.
____________________________________________________________________ John Hudak hudakjm-at-mcmaster.ca I.M.R. - Electron Optics McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Message-Id: {9410251526.AA25717-at-riker.ml.wpafb.af.mil} To: WALCKSD:ml:wpafb, SCHELTFJ:ml:wpafb Subj: SEM of powder slurries Orig-Author: {"Griffin, Robin" {rgriffin-at-eng.uab.edu} }:ddn:wpafb -----------------------------------------------------------
Help!
We would like to characterize ceramic powders that are in an aqueous solution. We need to know if the powders are individual powders or agglomerates. Does anyone have any suggestion on SEM sample prep? Is there a drying technique that leaves the particles well dispersed?
Also, what is the typical TEM sample prep techniques used for ceramic powders?
Message-Id: {9410251656.AA26183-at-riker.ml.wpafb.af.mil} To: WALCKSD:ml:wpafb, SCHELTFJ:ml:wpafb Subj: SEM of powder slurries Orig-Author: {"Griffin, Robin" {rgriffin-at-eng.uab.edu} }:ddn:wpafb -----------------------------------------------------------
Help!
We would like to characterize ceramic powders that are in an aqueous solution. We need to know if the powders are individual powders or agglomerates. Does anyone have any suggestion on SEM sample prep? Is there a drying technique that leaves the particles well dispersed?
Also, what is the typical TEM sample prep techniques used for ceramic powders?
Message-Id: {9410251948.AA27076-at-riker.ml.wpafb.af.mil} To: WALCKSD:ml:wpafb, SCHELTFJ:ml:wpafb Subj: SEM of powder slurries Orig-Author: {"Griffin, Robin" {rgriffin-at-eng.uab.edu} }:ddn:wpafb -----------------------------------------------------------
Help!
We would like to characterize ceramic powders that are in an aqueous solution. We need to know if the powders are individual powders or agglomerates. Does anyone have any suggestion on SEM sample prep? Is there a drying technique that leaves the particles well dispersed?
Also, what is the typical TEM sample prep techniques used for ceramic powders?
Dear Microscopists we have a problem with SEM of cyanobacteria filtered onto Nucleopore membrane filter. Perhaps somebody has a good suggestion for gently removing the mucopolysaccharide (?) film around the filamentous cyanobacteria to get good pictures of the cell surfaces. Any suggestions will be very much appreciated!
Guenter Jost Institute for Baltic Sea Research D 18119 Warnemuende Germany e-Mail Jost-at-bio.io-warnemuende.d400.de
The Royal Microscopical Society has set up two new special interest groups in Digital Imaging and Three-Dimensional Microscopy. The purpose of the groups is to organize meetings, workshops, seminars and courses with the support and backup of the RMS. It is anticipated that, unlike the Sections of the RMS, these special interest groups will 'wax and wane', or form new permanent Sections, as the occasion demands.
If you would like to be added to the mailing lists for these groups, please send your name and address (and email address) to the Royal Microscopical Society, 37/38 St Clements, Oxford OX4 1AJ, UK. Email RMS-at-VAX.OX.AC.UK. Please indicate which group you would like to receive information about.
If you have any suggestions/input for these groups, please contact the group convenors.
DIGITAL IMAGING GROUP CONVENOR: Dr Dominique Jeulin, Centre de Geostatistique, ENSMP, 35 rue St Honore, F-77300 Fontainebleau, France. Email: JEULIN-at-CG.ENSMP.FR
3-D MICROSCOPY GROUP CONVENOR: Dr Alan Entwistle, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Courtauld Building, 91 Riding House Street, London W1P 8BT, UK.
We have had several LaB6 cathodes which have not quite stopped emmitting but were close. Check out the mount, these are usually made of tungston or carbon both of which will decay faster than the LaB6 crystal will. We have tried sending them back to the maker for warranty replacement but to no avail. Best Bet--buy a new one or switch back to tungston filaments.
Message-Id: {1994Oct26.090311.1567169635-at-ms.sjdccd.cc.ca.us} To: microscopy-at-aaem.amc.anl.gov (MSA list)
To eliminate the problem of the sections falling off, for years we have used "grid glue". Take a 1 inch piece of double sticky tape and put it in 20 ml. of ethylene dichloride. Wait a few min. until the adhesive comes off and then remove the piece of tape. In a closed bottle this stays good for months. We dip the cleaned grids in the grid glue, let dry and use the grids for picking up sections. We never use formvar coated grids for sections, but always do use grid glue. Prior to use we clean all of our grids in a small amount of acetone in an ultrasonic cleaner for a minute or so. There is some sort of residue on the grids when they are new which is then removed. We have used all EM supply houses, and found cleaning necessary before picking up sections. Actually we clean all of our grids for any use, i.e. whole mounts, or sections. I believe I published this little trick some years ago, 1982 in an SEM paper on Mounting materials where we used the grid glue for a different purpose. Hope it works for you also. I should add that we use a variety of resins, so don't think it is resin dependent necessarily. We have used LR White, Embed, the old Epon, Spurrs, Araldite, etc.
Good Luck Judy M.
Judy Murphy, PhD Dept. of Microscopy San Joaquin Delta College 5151 Pacific Ave Stockton, CA 95207
for sections falling off grids, try dipping your (clean) grids in Butvar a 0.10% solution (in chloroform), then allow to dry on a clean piece of glass or a fiberless/ashless piece of filter paper. store in a clean dry place. both surfaces of the section will be available for immuno reagents, since the butvar is only on the grid bars
Hello, I've worked with LR White and immunogold, and have not often had this problem even with days of incubations.
1. The grids, I use Ni, 200 hex. I use only alcohol to clean them. In fact, I store the grids in 100% EtOH. I suspect that the acetone could be a problem if it is not washed off very very well. We've found that acetone leaves a residue on our grids, that is why we use only ethanol.*** Also be sure , just prior to cutting, that you wash the grids off with about a ml of water, then dry right up to a 75 watt bulb. We do this to be sure the EtOh is gone, but also because of "static" problems we have in the lab.
2. If the antigen site is not too heat sensitive, imediately after wicking the grids to " just damp", I hold the back side of the grid up 2mm away from a bare, 75 watt lamp. This is done only 5 seconds longer than all visable moisture is gone and the grid looks dry. ** This has kept our sections on and flat, even with " jet" washing from a water bottle.
3. How thick are your sections, very thick sections will fall off of the grid more easily. I cut LR White at 65-80nm. If this is hard to cut, go back to the embedding to improve the block. **** when I finish polymerizing the LR White, I put it into a desicater jar, and put it under vacuum for 3-4 days before sectioning. Storage is also under vacuum. For some reason, this seems to help a lot. Good Luck! Lou Ann --------------------- Lou Ann Miller U of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine 217-244-1566 lmiller-at-ux1.cso.uiuc.edu
The Midwest Society of Electron Microscopists (MSEM) presents a Free* workshop: Scanning Probe Microscopy of Materials and Phenomena
Place: Northwestern University, Norris Center Room 2A 8:30 Registration 9:00 - 12:00 Speakers: Dr. Z. Zhang, Universiity of Wisconsin-Madison Mr. Ian Smith, Park Scientific Instruments Dr. Jerry Zajac of Amoco Dr. Carla Alves from Topometrix Dr. John B. Ketterson, Northwestern University 11:45 - 1:00 Lunch (Norris Center Cafeteria) 1:00 - 5:00 Panel Discussion: "Where to from Here" Vendor displays and demonstrations Student Poster Presentations Facility tour
For reservations and further information call: Joyce Craig or Jeffrey Schmelz E-Mail BAFPJEC-at-UXA.ECN.BGU.EDU fAX 312-995-3759 pHONE 312 995-3800 FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE STUDENT PRESNTATIONS CONTACT MEETING ORGANIZER: VINAYAK P. DRAVID e-MAIL VPDRAVID-at-CASBAH.ACNS.NWU.EDU 708 467-1363 708 467 7798 fax 708 491-7820
*The workshop is free to MSEM members. Ask for an application. Membership is only $10 per year, $5 for students.
To keep sections on the grid, I usually clean my grids just before picking up the sections. I use a squirt bottle with 10% acetic acid followed by a distilled water rinse and then an acetone rinse. I do this by gripping the grid in my tweezers and squirting the grid with the different solutions and then putting the grid down on a piece of #50 Whatman filter paper. I never have a problem with the sections falling off. The grids I use mostly are the standard copper grids. I use the same procedure for nickel grids except after the acetone wash I do a second distilled water rinse. Hope this helps. Phil 8-{)
Message-Id: {m0r0GIS-0007KIC-at-stjohns.ohsu.edu} Message-Version: 2 } To: Microscopy-at-AAEM.AMC.ANL.GOV
Mark your Calendars
Portland area's Pacific Northwest Electron Microscopy Societies mini-meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 1, 1994. The meeting agenda includes a buffet at Shang Hai Nobel House restaurant a short PNEMS business meeting and a presentation by OPTIX Inc.. The restaurant is located at John's Landing 5331 S. W. MacAdam Ave, just south of downtown Portland.
The business meetings topics include the spring '95' PNEMS meeting, MSA 1999 national meeting, and miscellaneous items. The presentation will cover imaging topics from archiving large digital files to 3-dimensional reconstruction. Buffet begins at 6:00 PM and the presentation will conclude around 8:00 PM.
Since the Society will be providing the buffet please RSVP to Bob Kayton (503)494-2504 by October 27. Please contact Bob Kayton if you have any questions. Any interested microscopists are encouraged to attend.
Message-Id: {m0r0HMx-0007KEC-at-stjohns.ohsu.edu} Message-Version: 2 } To: microscopy-at-aaem.amc.anl.gov
Mark your Calendars
Portland area's Pacific Northwest Electron Microscopy Societies mini-meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 1, 1994. The meeting agenda includes a buffet at Shang Hai Nobel House restaurant a short PNEMS business meeting and a presentation by OPTIX Inc.. The restaurant is located at John's Landing 5331 S. W. MacAdam Ave, just south of downtown Portland.
The business meetings topics include the spring '95' PNEMS meeting, MSA 1999 national meeting, and miscellaneous items. The presentation will cover imaging topics from archiving large digital files to 3-dimensional reconstruction. Buffet begins at 6:00 PM and the presentation will conclude around 8:00 PM.
Since the Society will be providing the buffet please RSVP to Bob Kayton (503)494-2504 by October 27. Please contact Bob Kayton if you have any questions. Any interested microscopists are encouraged to attend.
Two questions concerning X-ray analysis from a desperate Masters student. 1. Has anybody worked with the ZAF program QUAD2 developed by Farthing et al and presented at the Int. Congr. X-ray Optics and Microanalysis, Manchester, 1992. 2. How and what is an Electron Probe Microanalysis. We have our EDX on an SEM and I understand how that set-up does it's compositional analysis but I don't understand how standards are used. Let me explain that I understand most of the equations in the ZAF analysis and I have read the standard texts but I think I'm missing something on the operations. Replying to me directly can be done at henne-at-sfu.ca Thanks in advance. Cheers. Dan Henne Simon Fraser University Vancouver, Canada
Message-Id: {m0r0HjT-0007KFC-at-stjohns.ohsu.edu} Message-Version: 2 } To: microscopy-at-aaem.amc.anl.gov
MEETING
Hi,
The Portland area's Pacific Northwest Electron Microscopy Society is having its first mini-meeting on Tuesday November1, 1994. The meeting agenda includes a bufet at Shanghai Nobel House restaurant a short PNEMS business meeting and a presentation by OPTIX Inc. The restaurant is located at John's Landing, 5331 S.W. MacAdam Ave., just south of downtown Portland.
The business meetings' topics include the spring '95' PNEMS meeting, MAS 1999 national meeting, and miscellaneous items. The presentation will cover imaging topics from archiving large digital files to 3-dimensional reconstruction. Buffet begins at 6:00 PM and the presentation will conclude around 8:00.
Since the Society will be providing the buffet please RSVP to Bob Kayton (503)494-2504 by Nov. 1. Please contact Bob Kayton if you have any questions.
Just to let you all know I have noticed duplicate and sometimes triplicate messages on the net. Looking at the headers they appear to be coming from the originators, the majority of the time. There are some that are mirrored by the system if the computer crashes during a session, but that has become less frequent with the new system. All I can say is sorry :-( for the traffic. If anyone is not sure about how to send a message touch base with me off-line. Remember the mail queue sometimes gets very long and if you post a message it may not appear on the net for several hours, or sometimes not until the next day. Just be patient, it will get there!
Just for the record the Microscopy Listserver has just passed it's first anniversity/birthday. We started operation on Oct 1, 1993 and the system has long ago passed the point of it's 1,000,000th Email message delivery. To date we've delivered over 2500 postings/messages to over 1500 subscribers (plus an unknown number of readers via the SciTechnqiues Microscopy Newsgroup) 1M is conservative since by simple math 2.5Kx 1.5K = 3.75M, but not every subscriber has seen every message (except, of course, for me). Not bad for our first year of operation. I don't actually know who got the 1Mth and I doubt if I could find out. In any case just bear with the glitches and things will work out in the long run.
Does anyone know if there is an 'off the shelf' fluorescent drug or compound analogous to FITC-phalloidin, but which will react with microtubules? Thanks for your help. David.
Does anybody out there do flat embedding of tissue embedded in LR-White? I know the embedding mold has to be covered during the curing to keep the air out but do they make a special mold for doing this? All I have are the standard embedding molds for flat embedding. Can these be used somehow? Thanks in advance, Phil 8-{)
In message Thu, 27 Oct 1994 09:08:40 -0400, rutledge phil {prutle1-at-gl.umbc.edu} writes:
} Does anybody out there do flat embedding of tissue embedded in LR-White? } I know the embedding mold has to be covered during the curing to keep } the air out but do they make a special mold for doing this? All I have } are the standard embedding molds for flat embedding. Can these be used } somehow? } Thanks in advance, } Phil } 8-{) } *************
Yes, Ted Pella (USA 1-800-637-3526; Canada 1-800-243-7765) supplies teflon molds (cat# 10506) and ACLAR film (cat# 10502) that provide an oxygen-free environment for the polymerixation of LR White & Lowicryls.
***************************************************** M.V. Parthasarathy Professor of Plant Biology; Director, EM Facility Section of Plant Biology, 228 Plant Science Building Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853. USA Tel: 607-255-1734; Fax: 607-255-5407 E-Mail: mvp2-at-cornell.edu ****************************************************** e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e- e- e- e- This message was sent using 100% recycled electrons e- e- e- e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-
Phil, I have been using silicone embedding molds for years for embedding LR White. After filling the molds, I place it into an airtight container which is flushed with an inert gas (dry nitrogen, argon, freon, all work). The cover is installed and the container placed in the embedding oven. I use a 1 pint paint can with a hole in the top for introducing the gas. Once flushed, the hole is covered with a piece of tape. This system works just fine.
-=W.L. Steffens=- College of Veterinary Medicine University of Georgia
=From: TOWER::GWERDOS "Greg Erdos ICBR EM Core Lab Univers" =To: IN%"prutle1-at-gl.umbc.edu" =CC: GWERDOS =Subj: Re: LR-White = =} From: IN%"prutle1-at-gl.umbc.edu" "rutledge phil" =} Subj: LR-White =} =} Return-path: {prutle1-at-gl.umbc.edu} =} Received: from AAEM.AMC.ANL.GOV by gnv.ifas.ufl.edu (PMDF V4.3-10 #3240) =} id {01HIRLP5TFJ48XUR11-at-gnv.ifas.ufl.edu} ; Thu, 27 Oct 1994 09:37:58 -0500 (EST) =} Date: Thu, 27 Oct 1994 09:08:40 -0400 =} From: rutledge phil {prutle1-at-gl.umbc.edu} =} Subject: LR-White =} X-Sender: prutle1-at-umbc8.umbc.edu =} To: microscopy {microscopy-at-aaem.amc.anl.gov} =} Message-id: {Pine.SGI.3.90.941027090342.4522A-100000-at-umbc8.umbc.edu} =} MIME-version: 1.0 =} Content-type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII =} Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT =} =} Does anybody out there do flat embedding of tissue embedded in LR-White? =} I know the embedding mold has to be covered during the curing to keep =} the air out but do they make a special mold for doing this? All I have =} are the standard embedding molds for flat embedding. Can these be used =} somehow? =} Thanks in advance, =} Phil =} 8-{) =####################################################### =Phil, = For LR White etc. where polymerization is oxygen sensitive. I punch out =circles of unexposed but cleared EM film with a paper punch. I put these under =resin in a polypropylene microfuge tube. They settle part way down the taper =and form a flat platform for tissue. The tube can be nealy filled with resin, =closed and successfully polymerized. Then you cut the tube down the side, =remove the solid plastic and break it at the film exposing your tissue at a =flat surface ready for sectioning. = Send an address or a FAX number and I can provide more details and =references. =********************************************************** =* Greg Erdos ** * =* Director, ICBR EMCL ** Phone 904-392-1295 * =* 218 Carr Hall ** FAX 904-846-0251 * =* University of Florida ** gwerdos-at-gnv.ifas.ufl.edu * =* Gainesville, FL 32611 ** * =**************************************************************** ********************************************************** * Greg Erdos ** * * Director, ICBR EMCL ** Phone 904-392-1295 * * 218 Carr Hall ** FAX 904-846-0251 * * University of Florida ** gwerdos-at-gnv.ifas.ufl.edu * * Gainesville, FL 32611 ** * ****************************************************************
I flat-embed regularly in LR White, between 2 sheets of Aklar film from Ted= Pella: I infiltrate my sections (60-80 microns, vibratomed) as usual, them= immerse them in a small puddle of something like araldite or eponate, etc.= on the bottom piece of Aklar, then place a second sheet of Aklar on top. = Bake as usual. Incidentally, this is NOT the material that I had trouble= with in the beam--that stuff was actually a regular tissue block. I= finally decided, thanks to the many kind responses I received, that my LR= White is just too old. Grace
We would like to use recordable CD-ROMs for archiving images from a Gatan system we will be purchasing. I would be interested in hearing from anyone using CD-ROMs for storage.
I just saw an ad for a Ricoh CD-ROM unit for approx.$3000.00. It is both multi-session and multi-platform. Has anyone used this unit?
To whom it may concern: We have an old Coates & Welter Cwikscan FE-SEM. While talking to someone about our instrument it came to light that there was a message on this bulletin board about another Cwikscan which someone was trying to find a user for. I am interested in finding out more information about this SEM. Any help is appreciated. Thanks, Jerry Allsman Rolls-Royce Inc. Atlanta, GA
I've flat embedded items in Historesin using Peel-a-Way paraffin molds and ;bottle caps that are carefully covered ;with a layer of mineral oil or melted paraffin. Also handy is to make some non-stick microscope slides by coating them with silane. Then lay down a 100-300 micron slice of infiltrated tissue and cover ;with methacrylate. lay another coated slide on top, being careful to not entrap air bubbles. Now paint the edges with paraffin and allow to polymerize. Sandwiching between slides is a standard method in our lab for methacrylate embedding of slices.
Glen MacDonald Hearing Development Laboratories RL-30 University of Washington Seattle, WA 98195 (206)543-8360 glenmac-at-u.washington.edu
On Thu, 27 Oct 1994, rutledge phil wrote:
} Does anybody out there do flat embedding of tissue embedded in LR-White? } I know the embedding mold has to be covered during the curing to keep } the air out but do they make a special mold for doing this? All I have } are the standard embedding molds for flat embedding. Can these be used } somehow? } Thanks in advance, } Phil } 8-{) }
We currently have an old KEPCO Model NTC 2000 power supply in need of repair. Attempts to call the company at the number listed on the manual that came with the supply were fruitless.
Does anyone know if this company is still in business and if so, how I may contact them. Alternatively, is there a company that can repair the power supply?
Please direct all responses directly to me at baltrus-at-orion.petc.doe.gov
Thanks for your help!
John Baltrus US Dept of Energy/Pittsburgh Energy Technology Center
Greetings Microscopists, I'm looking for info on magmetic shielding of microscope labs. Specifically, we are building a new materials science building, and would like to make absolutely certain that magnetic fields are minimized. We are mostly interested in keeping fields from outside the labs (from machine shops and the like) from causing problems. Any thoughts or advice on this matter would be appreciated.
Has anyone out there got any experiance/ideas re root nodules for TEM?
We have prepared clover root nodules for TEM and have had problems getting good sections - the problem is that regions in the middle of the sections of the plant cells fall out.. I'm not sure whether the fixation of the centers is poor or whether its a resin problem. I have found that Agar 100 works better (has fewer holes) than Spurrs which I initially used. I fix under a slight vacuum for 2 hours to aid infiltration of the 3% glut 0.2M cacodylate into the 1-2mm diameter nodules, plus slice a portion off the nodules to open them up a little but to no avail.I use 1% Oso4 in same buffer as postfix. The regions which are intact look good however. Any ides?
Richard Easingwood Department of Anatomy and Structural Biology, P.O. Box 913 University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. Fax:64-3-479 7254 Telephone:64-3-479 7301
MMS FALL BUFFET DINNER & IMPORTANT BUSINESS MEETING
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, ST. PAUL CAMPUS STUDENT UNION, CHERRYWOOD ROOM, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1994, 5:00 - 9:00 PM
SPEAKER: JAN HINSCH, LEICA INC.
TOPIC: "BUSMAN'S HOLIDAY"
MMS will hold its sixth annual Fall Buffet Dinner on November 10, 1994, at the University of Minnesota's Cherrywood Room located on the 2nd floor of the St. Paul Campus Student Union, 2011 Buford Avenue, St. Paul Campus( NOTE: This year's Buffet Dinner is NOT at the Campus Club as in previous years). We hope to provide a pleasant evening during which microscopists will be moved to renew or begin their membership in MMS, MSA and MAS. A wine, cider and cheese social from 5:00-6:00 in the Cherrywood Room. will kick off the evening. The buffet dinner follows from 6:00-7:00. The dinner entre will be Halibut Steak with Chicken Strips (Cacciatore Style), Caesar Salad, Rice Pilaf, Fresh Broccoli Spears, desserts and beverages. The total cost is more than the $10.00 fee but MMS is picking up about 40% of the tab as a courtesy to our membership. The dinner affords an excellent opportunity to meet microscopists from many disciplines, talk shop, and to have a pleasant time together. The program is from 7:00-8:00 in the Cherrywood Room. Parking is available behind the Union and at other St. Paul Campus locations.
Our featured speaker, Jan Hinsch, from 1978 - Present, has been Director of LEICA's WILD-LEITZ Laboratory for Applied Microscopy in Rockleigh, New Jersey He is a Fellow, New York Microscopical Society, an Honorary Member and recipient of the Outstanding Microscopists award from the State Microscopical Society of Illinois. Jan has had numerous photomicrographs and articles published in a wide variety of journals - ie. "Industrial Microscopy", 1979 Industrial Research & Development; "Critical Focusing in Low Power Photomicrography", 1979, American Laboratory; "Essentials of Light Microscopy and Photomicrography", 1983, Pathology Annual; "Refined Approaches to Microscopical Light Management", 1988, The Microscope. Here is Jan's description of his talk, "Busman's Holiday": "The vacationing microscopist faces a dilemma. If this is to be a time to conquer the unknown should not one leave the microscope and any thought of it at home? And yet, this is also a time of opportunity to collect samples of many kinds and, inspired by the natural phenomena around, to meditate on the forms and illustrations of the action of light and its significance to us microccopists. This is the account of someone trying to have it both ways." We will hold a short business meeting just before the talk. The Buffet Dinner is $10.00 per person payable at the door. (non-member $20.00, includes new membership), $7.00 for current students(non-member student $12.00, includes new membership). In order for us to provide an accurate head count to the Cherrywood Room, please make a phone reservation by calling Mike or Ev.
Mike Coscio(612-569-1331, E-MAIL: mike.coscio-at-medtronic.com) Ev Osten(612-736-0104, E-MAIL: efosten-at-mmm.com) - Buffet Coordinators
--
Gib Ahlstrand, MMS Newsletter Editor Electron Optical Facility, University of Minnesota, Dept. Plant Pathology 495 Borlaug Hall, St. Paul, MN 55108 (612)625-8249 612-625-9728 FAX, giba-at-puccini.crl.umn.edu
We have a had similar problems. We found that air bubbles in the root nodules, lung, ... prevented the fixation through embedding to work properly. Try pulling a vacuum on the tissue in the fix after cutting a small hole in one end. If the tissue floats, clip a staple or small paper clip to one end to act as a weight. On more difficult samples, we need to repeat the vacuum a second time when in 100% ETOH (because of the surface tension in H2O) to get rid of smaller bubbles. Good luck Mike
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Michael Dunlap | lab (916) 752-0284 | | Facility For Advanced Instrumentation | fax (510) 422-2282 | | University of California | mrdunlap-at-ucdavis.edu | | Davis CA, 95616 | | ===========================================================================
Well I have seen some other solutions to your flat embedding woes and thought I might as well throw in my 2 cents worth too. At the very least its another option to try.
Look up my technical paper Flat Mold Embedding with LR White and Lowicryl K4M. Simpson Gomes,A and Simon G.T. J. of EM Technique 13:266-267 1989.
Note: this journal is now called J. of Microscopy Reseach and Technique.
Have fun, looks like you have several good ideas to work with.
Anne
Anne Simpson Gomes
EM Unit, F09 "How's it going Eh?!!!"....... Univ of Sydney from NSW 2006 Australia The Compact Canuck!! Fax: (612) 552 1967
The following info comes from my boss Dr Maret Vesk. She has done extensive work on clover root nodules.
"Some possible causes: Air in intracellular spaces = no resin infiltration = holes in sections. This is very common in plants and may be helped by evacuating roots in distilled water before fixation. They should sink, not float. 0.2M buffer wiil definitely cause plasmolysis, most workers use 0.025-0.05M buffer with phosphate rather than the toxic cacodylate being the preferred buffer. Use very slow infiltration of resin (Spurr's is perfectly fine), adding drop wise over a matter of days if necessary. Is your dehydration long enough (2 x 30min)? Have had no problems with either clover nodules or wheat paranodules"
Maret (via Anne)
Anne Simpson Gomes
EM Unit, F09 "How's it going Eh?!!!"....... Univ of Sydney from NSW 2006 Australia The Compact Canuck!! Fax: (612) 552 1967
The EM-unit here at Utrecht Univ, Biology Dept is using a CD-ROM system for recording images. They are writing it with a Kodak DCD Writer 200 Plus unit, multisession. I am saving XTEM images with it, which I read here in my lab on a Panasonic CD-Rom driver. I am using a 486, 66MHz PC and either the CorelDraw or PhotoShop packages to analyze the images, primarily for morphological details, and it works fine.
Dirk Knoesen, Debye Institute, Dept Atomic and Interface Physics, Uuniversity Utrecht.
I just wonder if anyone knows about immersion oils that transmit 340 nm light well. Zeiss and Nikon immersion oils attenuates this wavelength heavily, and the attenuation is dependent of the thickness of the oil layer, leading to unstable calibrations from time to time and where the focus is in the sample. I now use glycerol which transmits nice in 340, but this is not optically optimal because of its lower refractive index.
============================================= Mikael Gustafsson MD, PhD Dept Med. Microbiology and Dept Internal Medicine, Cardiology section University of Linkoping SWEDEN
I just wonder if anyone knows about immersion oils that transmit 340 nm light well. Zeiss and Nikon immersion oils attenuates this wavelength heavily, and the attenuation is dependent of the thickness of the oil layer, leading to unstable calibrations from time to time and where the focus is in the sample. I now use glycerol which transmits nice in 340, but this is not optically optimal because of its lower refractive index.
============================================= Mikael Gustafsson MD, PhD Dept Med. Microbiology and Dept Internal Medicine, Cardiology section University of Linkoping SWEDEN
} } To:Bob Keller {keller-at-micros.mrd.bldrdoc.gov} } From:kleifer-at-cimesg1.epfl.ch (Klaus Leifer) } Subject:SAD precision 2 } } Hallo Bob, } thanks for your comment which I received one month ago on the microscopy } server with respect to precision of evaluation of electron diffraction } patterns. The system, I'm working on has the following properties with resp= ect } to diffraction. } - Ni/Ti multilayers on Si substrate } - grain sizes about 3 to 15 nm (in both lateral and orthogonal direction wi= th } respect to the interfaces) } - texture with respect to interfaces (with an angular deviation of +-5=B0) } } I need a better precision of SAD to measure strains, absolute average latti= ce } plane spacings and their variations. } Another reason is that the opinion I get from people with whom I discuss is } that the general limit of SAD is 1%. If I then regard the fact that most of } the people I know (me included) are still evaluating their diff. pattern wi= th } a ruler (perhaps the precision of human eye is not so bad, but numerical fi= ts } of the pattern similar to X-ray patterns are not yet very current) I think } that an enhancement of the 1% precision is still possible. } This was shown i.e. by Y. Le Page (1992, Microscopy Research and Technique, } Vol23,No3) } } SAD presents the advantage, that I do have the calibration of the Si substr= ate } directly on the same diffraction pattern. } CBED on single grains would be possible with respect to evaluation of discr= ete } spots positions(-} I'll try this on a Hitachi HF2000 with 1nm FWHM of the } probe). The difficulty is that I lose Si calibration on the same } pattern.Changing from diff. to image mode and back to diff. again gives me } typical deviations of the position of the Si spots of about 0.5%!! } The HOLZ lines in only 5nm thick cristallites don't have enough intensity. } } I was thinking and calculating to get a possible error for the SAD } measurements. The probable errors, I found are: } - distortions of the pattern due to lens spiral and barrel distortions (I t= ry } to exclude this } taking for calibration the Si spots close to the spot I evaluate) } - precision of the measurement of the peak maximum (well, I'm using a ruler= ) } - form of the grains together with the inclination angle of the grains with } respect to the } beam may change the position of the reflection in between 5e-4 (in = a } calculation I } made taking grains that are only limited in size in beam direction) } and more than 1% } (for grains which are limited in size only in one direction } orthogonal or inclined to } the beam. I don't observe such some grains but cannot exclude the } influence of } stacking faults or twins on the diff. pattern). } - !! one error about which I have no idea is the following: is there a } correlation between } the position of a grain in the SAD aperture and a probable change = of } the position of } its reflections in the diffraction pattern due to higher order } abberations of the } objective lens which depend on the position of the object? Do there } exist } calculations? } What do you think about this? } Best wishes } Klaus } } } } Klaus, } } } } There is some discussion of using SAD for lattice spacing measurements in } } Reimer's TEM book, chapter 9. Generally, that's not a good approach if yo= u } } would like to determine lattice constants with better than a 1 percent err= or } } or } } so. This is a significant error if you are concerned with elastic strain } } measurements or phase identification. In practice, unless you use a } } calibration } } standard, the camera length will not be known accurately and further, ther= e } } is } } also some distortion in the pattern caused by the projector lens. } } } } It is not possible to use SAD to determine lattice constants in the direct= ion } } of } } the incident beam. CBED will give you such info. since HOLZ reflections c= an } } be } } excited. Using a STEM unit, it becomes possible to produce CBED spot size= s } } around 5 nm dia. fairly routinely, which would allow probing of individual } } grains in some multilayer systems, presuming you can get single grains } } through } } the foil thickness. } } } } I recognize from your email address that you are at the same institute as = Dr. } } P. } } Stadelmann. He has written some very nice simulation software that may al= low } } you to experiment with how sensitive spot patterns are compared to CBED HO= LZ } } patterns for lattice constant measurement. } } } } Regards, } } } } Bob Keller } } NIST }
Subject: Time:11:28 PM OFFICE MEMO RE: MagShields for labs Date:10/28/94
It is virtually impossible, and highly impractical, to build an effective magnetic shielding system for an entire laboratory room. About the best that you can do is to locate the room in which the electron microscope will be housed as far as possible from potential sources of large alternating magnetic fields, such as: power lines that carry large currents; transformer substations; building switch boxes and junction boxes; elevator motors; etc. It is also very important to be sure that all metal water and sewer pipes, and metal heating and ventilating ducts in the neighborhood of the instrudment room are individually grounded some distance before they enter the region of the lab, and that the electrical contractors are alerted to the problems that can arise from large 'ground loop' currents flowing through such items. Ground loops through steel structural members of the building itself can also produce large magnetic fields. You need to talk to the university architects and plant design engineers to be sure that every possible precaution is taken to avoid them, too. You will have to be very persistent about these matters, because most of the time construction people are not concerned with them. It is also a very good idea to have a separate ground rod installed in each instrument laboratory, so that each instrument has a good electrical ground that is free from outside effects. Good luck!
The strain of the substrate (we measure macrosopical stresses in the order of 1e9 dynes/cm2), when calibrating the distances on the diffraction pattern with the Si substrate reflections , surely is a problem in the case of my specimen. Do you perhaps have citations concerning the relation between substrate-film strain and corresponding lattice parameter variations of the substrate?
Your idea to measure the distortions from high resolution images can be an interesting alternative to the diffraction analysis.
Concerning the variations of 0.5% of spot positions in the diffraction image: I first acquired a diffraction pattern, then changed to image mode to look at the specimen. Afterwards I changed back to diffraction mode again and made a second photo of a Si diffraction pattern. The evaluation of both patterns showed deviations of the Si reflection positions between both patterns of about 0.5% (comparing of course the same Si reflections, not having touched diffraction focus and having defocussed the beam in both cases the condensor until the end). I measured differences of 0.2-0.6% between the reflection positions of the two negatives. All deviations went in the same direction and the Si spots are sharp.
Concerning the calculation: I wanted to know an order of magnitude of the deviation of the reflection position, when one starts to tilt cristallites. In the the first calculation I made two weeks ago I used the following basic geometry:
I I e-beam directio= n I I
______________________________________ I I I foil thickness d ______________________________________ So the grain here has a thickness d in electron beam direction and is infinitisemally long. I calculated then with the program of Pierre Stadelmann the position of the diffraction spot position with respect to tilt angles of the grain ( you also could calculate this analytically) and the distance between the knot in the reciprocal space and the Ewald sphere. From this distance (supposing a two beam case) I calculate the intensity of the diffraction spot for every tilt angle of the grain. This gives me a curve 'position of reflection/intensity' which is roughly a (sinx)2/x2. So this curves would represent the form of a peak of a Dedye Scherrer diagram with random orientation of grain with the shown geometry. =46rom the width of this peak I can see, at which tilt angle reflections of = a grain are still visible and the corresponding shift of the reflection position. I made this calculation for 1,2,5 and 10 nm thick grains and in this geometry the possible deviation of the reflection positions from the untilted grain was for 1nm thick grains was around than 1.5e-3, for 5nm thick grains about 4e-4. Grains that are tilted by higher angles, this means which show higher deviations in the reflection position are for a factor 100 lower than the reflection at 0=B0tilt. Of course, there would still be missing a treatment of grains with a realistic form! Did somebody calculate this? Best wishes Klaus
I noticed that while discussing SAD accuracy, noone mentioned the fact that dynamical diffraction can change the position of spots: see Hirsrch et al 1965; Hashimoto et al Phil Trans Roy Soc London 253 (1961) 459, or for a very short summary Marks, Ultramicroscopy 12 1984 237.
Scientific sessions start on Tuesday, April 18, 1995. Original contributions will be presented in the following areas:
Confocal microscopy
* theory of confocal imaging * scanning confocal designs: point / slit arrangements, beam scanning, direct field scanning (bilateral, tandem) * high resolution optical 3-D Microscopy * two photon and time resolved fluorescence imaging * transfer functions and deconvolution
Applications
* confocal microscopy in-vivo: approaches, problems and prospects * 3D imaging for agricultural research * fluorescence 3-D imaging in cell biology and neurobiology * fluorescent probes, in-situ hybridization * 3-D cytometry * microstructures of materals, polymers and thin films * application in environmental sciences
Near-field microscopy
* near-field scanning techniques (NSOM, STM, AFM) * high resolution DNA - imaging * spectroscopy and surface modification * combined near-field and confocal designs
Optical tweezers and scalpel
* instrumentation * applications
Electron Microscopy
* cryo-microscopy * low-voltage SEM * electron beam tomography
X-ray microscopy
* theory and instrumentation of x-ray microscopy * x-ray sources
3-D imaging processing
* 3-D reconstruction of histological, optical and tomographical sections * visualization models in 3-D and 4-D microscopy * supercomputing in microscopy * analysis of serial section images, 3-D scene recognition * 3-D image restoration and image quality
CONTRIBUTION AND PUBLICATION OF EXTENDED ABSTRACTS
Papers are invited for oral and poster presentation from the fields indicated by the scientific program and related areas. Deadline for submission of abstracts is December 31, 1994. An extented abstract (minimum 700 words and maximum 1500 words) is required for each presentation, and will be published as a suplement issue of Zoological Studies (ISSN 1021-5506). All text will be typeset by the publisher. Authors are encouraged to submit their manuscript in electronic forms. Files created from the following word processos are acceptable, otherwise, please submit your manuscript in ASCII form (both Mac and IBM-PC format). Manuscript can also be submitted by e-mail to: elepcc-at- ubvms.cc buffalo.edu, however, a hardcopy has to be sent by mail (or faxed) to the address in USA. A hardcopy is required accompany the electronic form.
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ACCOMMODATION
The Howard Plaza Hotel provides subtantially reduced room rates for conference participants of Focus on Microscopy '95. Hotel Accommodation at the Howard Plaza Hotel is offered on a first come, first served basis. Please refer to Focus on Microscopy '95 for qualifying the reduced room rates at booking: (refer to Registration form)
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INFORMATION
Registration, abstract forms and enquires:
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Focus on Microscopy '95 c/o Dr. P. C. Cheng Advanced Micrscopy and Imaging Laboratory Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering State University of New York at Buffalo P.O. Box. 84 Getzville, NY 14068 USA Tel and Fax: 716-645-3868 e-mail: elepcc-at-corn.eng.buffalo.edu
Other nations:
Focus on Microscopy '95 c/o Dr. J. L. Wu Institute of Zoology Academia Sinica Nankang, Taipei, Taiwan 11529 Republic of China Tel: 886-2-789-9500 Fax: 886-2-789-9503/886-2-785-8059 e-mail: zojlwu-at-ccvax.sinica.edu.tw
ORGANIZERS
C.P. Chen (Taipei) G.J. Brakenhoff (Amsterdam) A.Kriete (Giessen) C.H. Chou (Taipei) P. C. Cheng (Buffalo)(Chairman) C.J.R. Sheppard (Sydney)
P.P. Hwang (Taipei) C. Cogswell (Sydney) D.M.Shinozaki (London,Cana da) W.Y. Lee (Taipei) M. Gu (Sydney) E.H.K. Stelzer (Heidelberg ) H.K. Wu (Taipei) V. Howard (Liverpool) T. Wilson (Oxford) J.L. Wu (Taipei) H. Kim (Rochester) W.L. Wu (Taipei)
THE CONFERENCE IS JOINTLY O RGANIZED AND SUPPORTED BY
The Society for 3-D Imaging Sciences in Microscopy, Amsterdam Institute of Zoology, Academia Sinica, Taiwan, R.O.C. Electron Microscopy Society of China, Taipei, R.O.C. Life Science Research Promotion Center, NSC, R.O.C. AMIL, State University of New York at Buffalo, U.S.A.
I completely agree with the message of Wil Bigelow that shielding a whole building is not the right way if it would work at all. If you will shield your measuring and recording equipment you can place them together with the object you measure in a so called cage of Faraday. There should be guidelines on how to build such a cage and of what material, but it might be fairly expensive. In that case you might have a good shielding.
If you want to make precautions during construction time, not only look for good grounding points seperated from the mains but also try to avoid high temporal (far less than a second e.g. starting mercury arc lamps etc.) current 'pulses' enter your room by using a saturated kind of transformer. This kind of transformer (1:1) will block electrical pulses that may disturb your measurements. I hope I made clear what I meant because I don't know the english technical term.
If you use a number of wall plugs take care that this supply points all have the same electrical phase (as you may know 220 volts is one of the 3 phases), because different phase mains plugs can cause unwanted electrical signals if you connect your instuments to them.
Hope you can use this information.
Regards -- Kees van der Wulp TNO - Nutrition & Food Research Institute INTERNET : vanderwulp-at-mbl.tno.nl Division of Toxicology VOICE : +31 15 843101 PO-Box 5815 FAX : +31 15 843989 2280 HV RIJSWIJK (NL) THE NETHERLANDS
A few years ago a company had set up a stand trying to sell magnetic shielding at one of our local microscopy conferences. We were setting up new labs, so I asked them about it. They were selling "boxes" generally used for keeping high intensity fields in, rather than low intensity fields out, for enclosing NMR machines etc. The dimensions in their illustrations were not much larger than the size of an SEM, although I suppose they could build bigger boxes. The walls were pretty thin-looking and when asked they said it was a "special material" :-). Somehow I don't think that putting one of these around a microscope would do much good, since low intensity 50-60 Hz magnetic fields are not really easy things to block.
Their price for a "box"? A mere $45,000 AUD. :-)
Arthur Day, Electron Microscopy Group Ansto Advanced Materials Program Phone: 61-2-717-3457 PMB 1, Menai (Sydney), NSW, 2234 Fax: 61-2-543-7179 Australia Email: ard-at-atom.ansto.gov.au
I can't add any suggestions to what others have said about magnetic shielding for labs. However, the need for shielding reminds me of several years (1971-78) I spent at Temple University School of Medicine, located on Broad Street in north Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. One of the city's main subways went underground up Broad Street. I remember someone's EM facility at ground level in a small building. Every time a subway would come by, the EM beam would undergo rather striking excursions on the screen. They tried various approaches (Faraday cage, Gaussian ring, etc.), but I don't think it was ever fully solved.
Our EM facility on the 6th floor of the medical school building seemed all right. However, an EM newly installed in another department on our floor had terrible intermittent beam shifting problems. It was hard to see how it could be due to the subways, since our EMs seemed OK. After a few bewildering weeks (both for the company and for the investigator) it was discovered that the EM had been installed near an old (but still operational) elevator that had an extremely heavy iron counterweight, that traveled up and down all day long. Whenever the counterweight passed the 6th floor, the EM beam drifted off to the side, then drifted back. Who would have thought of anything like that?
As a small comment, it can be just as effective to shield only critical parts of the column using Nu-metal. Using one graduate student, a pair of metal cutters and a local company for Hydrogen annealing of the pieces you can perform miracles for $200-$300.
It may be of interest to know that at least one company (Link, through Oxford) offers a magnetic shielding system which is an active feedback system to compensate for generated fields in the laboratory. I am not sure whether it is just for 50/60 ac or dc or both, and I have no experience of the system, but would be mildly interested to hear anyone's experience. I agree with the comments regarding prior checks and appropriate location rather than shielding. Cheers jjm Professor John J. Millar Head, Department of Applied Physics Electron Microscope Unit RMIT, GPO Box 2476V, MELBOURNE AUSTRALIA 3001 +613 660 2602 fax 613 660 3837 email jjmill-at-rmit.edu.au
Original-Subject: another Original-Date: 0 Oct 31 10:00 -0600 1994 Confirming-MTS-Message-ID: {internet3041602030} Not-Delivered-To: rratleng!internet!rratleng1!rratlengp0!allsman-at-attmail.com due to 01 Invalid Address Specification
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As part of a surplus purchase of SEM specimen boxes, I have a few dozen used aluminum stubs that appear to go with Coates & Welter. Having an ISI/Topcon 'scope, I have no use for them. If you'd like them mailed to you, please contact me directly. Please *do not* reply to the list. Julian Smith III Dept of Biology Winthrop University Rock Hill, SC 803-323-2111 (vox) 803-323-2246 (fax) smithj-at-winthrop.edu
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From uucp Mon Oct 31 15:59:42 GMT 1994 remote from attmail } From AAEM.AMC.ANL.GOV!MICROARCHIVE Mon Oct 31 15:59:17 +0000 1994 remote from internet Message-Version: 2 } To: rratleng!internet!rratleng1!rratlengp0!allsman by with SMTP ID 0r1z8f.11yLRI; Mon, 31 Oct 1994 15:59:17 +0000 MTS-Message-ID: {internet3041559470} UA-Content-ID: {941031110037.712-at-AAEM.AMC.ANL.GOV} End-of-Header: EMail-Version: 2
Hello everybody, I am a regular reader of all the mails that are in Microscopy. I really admired people willing to help each other. Now I have a problem I need some input from all of you experienced guys out there. I am working on mechanically alloyed materials and it has become really hard to make samples out of it on quick basis It usually takes a long time to embed it in epoxy and mechanically polish and then Ion mill.
Now we have decided to explore a different path and are trying to press the powder in a die till about 30000lbf. We have started to work on Copper so we can optimize the technique and use it for other materials as well. I am experiencing difficulties keeping the samples powder in tact and it keep breaking on me when I try to cut the sample out of pressed material. If somebody has worked on it or has some knowledge about the process I would really appreciate any help.
Since your building plans are not final, now is the time to make the appropriate measurements for magnetic fields. To do this job thoroughly, you should lay out the proposed areas in a grid and then measure the horizontal magnetic fields in 3-dimensions. This procedure will enable you to site your electron columns properly or, if the fields are too large everywhere within the grid, take preventative action before the building plans are approved and the contracts are signed.
Could someone teach me how to convert the unit mV (millivolt) to mG (milligauss)? Recently we asked one service engineer to survey our new EPMA/SEM lab. He wrote down the readings of AC magnetic fields in mV.
Thanks in advance.
Long Liang Electron Microprobe and SEM Lab ARCO Exploration and Production Technology 2300 West Plano Parkway Plano, TX 75075 E-mail : LLIANG-at-is.Arco.COM
} Date sent: Fri, 28 Oct 94 10:05:55 EDT } From: dfalcon-at-VNET.IBM.COM } To: microscopy-at-aaem.amc.anl.gov } Subject: EMSCOPE address
} I have an EMSCOPE model SC650 large sample sputter coater that needs } some repair parts. The phone number for the manufacturer in England that is } on the paperwork that came with the unit is no longer a valid number. Does } anyone know if the company (EMSCOPE LABORATORIES LTD--KENT,ENGLAND) is still } in existence and what their present number is---and/or any North American } representatives?? I suspect they may have been bought by another company } and may have a new name and number now. } Thanks, } Doug
Doug
Your suspicion is correct and EMSCOPE no longer exists, they were bought out some years ago by Biorad (Polaron) who later sold most of their microscopy business in the UK (and elswhere) to VG Technologies and Fisons. They may still suport some of the old EMSCOPE equipment. Another alternative is to contact a firm called EMITECH which was founded by some ex members of the EMSCOPE staff and they may be able to help you with your problems.
US address: EMITECH INC, 3845 FM, 1960-West, Suite 345, Houston, Texas 77068. Fax 713-893-8443. Phone 713-893-2067 or 800-444-3137 toll free for sales and service.
UK address: 11 Enterprise Centre, Newtown Road, Ashford, Kent, TN24 0PD. Fax 0233 640744 Phone 0233 646332
I have no connection to any of the above firms.
Ian
Ian
Ian Hallett HortResearch Mt Albert Research Centre Private Bag 92 169 Auckland, New Zealand Fax 64-9-815 4201 Telephone 64-9-849 3660
I've checked mine with a narrow-range paper--seems to be pretty close, about 11.8 or so. I tried adjusting it, but saw no difference in staining. Grace Kennedy, UCSD
Hello Glenn, We had a fearful problem with 150Hz (3 phase) VLFI in our laboratory. Partly due to the fact that the laboratory was located adjacent to a major power transformer substation for the university. I spent some years working on the problem trying various solutions. First I got a search coil and plotted the fields. There is a commercial one made here called a "Gauss Maus" You can get them cheaply now there is paranoia about health effects of VLFI. A big surprise was that that the radiation was maximal up against the wall of the substation but it did not fall away as the square of the distance inside our buiding. Instead it was high near the walls, vertical columns and cross bearers in our steel framed concrete building. We did an experiment turning power off to all sections of the faculty a bit at a time and found that field was proportional to total power use and not to any one section of the building which would have implicated particular cabling runs. My conclusion was that the field was being induced in the frame of the substation which was welded into the frame of the main building so they were magnetically coupled. Then the frame of the whole building and every bit of reinforcing joined to the frame had the field induced in it. I found almost the same field throughout the building no matter how far from the substation. Of course you can also get local fields generated in heavy cables but A. live and return cables are usually routed side by side and the fields cancel each other B. the field falls off with square of distance so unless the cable goes right over your column the field is negligible. You can also get fields induced in airconditioning ducts water pipes etc. and you might need to insert non metallic sections to isolate sections in the e.m. lab. A local firm RFI Industries 54 Holloway Drive Bayswater Melbourne VIC 3153 Australia built a very effective fully screened room for the E.M. in a nearby hospital. They got good attenuation using quite cheap sheet metal and not the really pricey magnetic shields like hipernoom. By the way many engineers imagine it only takes chicken wire to shield a room. This is OK for radio frequencies but entirely useless for 50/60 Hz. We tried local shielding of the column but it made no difference. All columns have shielding built in already. And unless you make a full metal box which completely surrounds the column you really cant keep VLFI out. It just sneaks in the holes you have to leave to work the controls! We tried using a cancelling field which worked fine in trials but couldn't cope in the microscope itself. AC VLFI fields are complex multi directional 3D interference patterns and to compensate them fully you need compensating fields on 3 axes. Also the sensor detecting the field to generate the reverse phase feedback needs to be as close as possible to the volume you wish to be compensated. Since the microscope itself generates fields you will pick up e.g. the SEM scan signals and fed them back so as to neutralise them. There is a book in the Series " Practical Methods in Electron Microscopy" Ed. Audrey Glauert. Volume 4, "Design of the Electron Microscope Laboratory" by R.H. Alderson. North-Holland Publishing Co., American Elsevier, N.Y. ISBN 0-444-10807 6 PUBLISHED 1975. Which deals with this and other problems in a very practical way. In the end we solved our problem by moving to a low field building. Hope you manage better! Mel Dickson.