Ref. Pound "lb" Incidentally, libra is the Spanish word for pound. Every Spanish speaking country uses it, and there are quite a few out there! This is a good example of how other languages crip into the English language (remember the past controversy about Spanish language messages?) wanted or not. Fortunate for some of us (who knows more than just English, and actually welcome other sounds and symbols) this is a just another "thing" not a problem. ________________________________________________________ To: MICROSCOPYLISTNESTOR-at-AAEM.AMC.ANL.GOV Cc: ZALUZEC-at-AAEM.AMC.ANL.GOV
In your message dated Thursday 27, April 1995 you wrote :
} Can anyone tell me the origin of the term (lbs.) as it relates to the unit of } measure pounds?
This is quite an interesting one, actually.
In Roman times the Latin work for a pair of scales or a balance was 'libra', this word is still used for the astronomical constellation Libra, the scales. Over time the word for scales became associated with a specific mass, what we call a pound today.
The lb stands for 'libra', lbs is really a sort of false plural, adding an Anglo-Saxon ending to a Latin word! 'Libras' is nonsense, it should have been 'librae' I suppose. That explains the lbs, but leaves the new question, 'Why did we start to call the mass a 'pound', and when? Anyone know?
Oh, by the way. The English *monetary* value, the pound, was originally the value of one pound in weight of metallic silver. Inflation has long since made
nonsense of that! But that explains the pound sign, it's an old-fashioned copperplate capital 'L', for 'libra' again.
Kind regards,
Chris --------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Chris Jefferies E-Mail at home - chris-at-stowey.demon.co.uk | | at work - chris.jefferies-at-bbsrc.ac.uk | | Microscopy page {URL: http://metro.turnpike.net/jefferie/index.html} | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lest anyone get confused, the PSF is a function of aberrations in the optical system, NOT a function of CCDs.
} Subject: RE: CCDs, point spread function } } Indeed Mansfields remark is correct. The point spread function is the } definitive description of the performance of any detector. The } psf of CCD cameras is described by Kujawa and Krahl in Ultramicroscopy } 46, 395-403 (1992) and by Daberkow et al Ibid 38 215-223 (1991). } } Both papers are well written and lucid. } } } Robert Josephs } Univ of Chicago } 312 702 -1077
R. Howard Berg, Ph.D. Biology Department University of Memphis Memphis, TN, 38152 E mail: bergrh-at-cc.memphis.edu phone: 901-678-4449 fax: 901-678-4457
A colleague is looking for a used LaB6-compatible SEM for use in constructing a SEMPA system. If anyone has an old instrument they don't want, please drop me a note.
Daniel L. Callahan Department of Mechanical Engg. and Materials Science Rice University dlc-at-owlnet.rice.edu
Subject: Time:10:18 AM OFFICE MEMO D-19 at NCEM Date:4/28/95
Frank Karl wrote --- } Subject: Alternates to D-19
} Hi everyone!
} We are currently using Kodak D-19 developer and Kodak Electron } Microscopy Film 4489. We typically develop 123 pieces of film before } changing developer and due to the relatively large number of potential } users (6 people) we burn through the stock solution of D-19. Mixing D-19 } from powder is time consuming activity, and in this era of doing more } with less I would like to find a developer sold as a liquid concentrate. } This would speed up darkroom maintenance and let us spend more time } developing and less time preparing to develop.
} Can anyone recommend a liquid developer? And while I'm asking, is } there a better or equivalent film than 4489?
-------------------------------------- Frank, At the National Center for Electron Microscopy, in Berkeley, we are using Kodak SO-163 for all of our microscopes. Although this film exhibits a slightly larger grain size, it has the developing behavior of ordinary B+W film. SO-163 can be developed in virtually any common developer on the market (as well as some uncommon ones not on the market!). For those who practice high resolution TEM, SO-163 can be given one third of the indicated exposure (to help reduce drift) and push processed with good results. 4489 has none of these added benefits. Another potential problem is the cadmium present in 4489. Kodak warns the the cadmium leaches out into the developer during processing and could make the disposal of the developer a more complicated matter.
We are developing all of our film in D-19, except convergent beam diffraction patterns and some SAD patterns. For these we use a custom developer to reveal fine detail and maintain a printable nagative. We typically process 800 plates per gallon of D-19 (full strength). We find very little change in film density after 800 plates, this typically takes two weeks for each darkroom. Our limiting factor is the amount of film the fixer can handle before it is exhausted. We do mix our D-19 with de-ionized water. After 800 plates the D-19 looks like dark scum but still works quite well. D-19 has a large sodium sulphite content which acts as a preservative. This is the most industrial strength developer known on the planet. I know of no substitute in a liquid form with the staying power of D-19.
Dear John, Our AEI EM7 hvem came with a couple of simple quad mass specs, and we use them occasionally to see what remains in the accelerator or column. We have found primarily water, N, O, and hydrocarbons (no LN2 cooling) or N and O (with LN2 cooling), so the information is not especially useful to us. However, if we develop a leak in the accelerator, there would be peaks characteristic of SF6. In this case, the RGA would be very useful. Knock wood we hope this never happens. The equipment seems to be very robust and easy to use, but I don't know whether the same kind of thing is available for your machine or whether the intervening 20 years have seen significant improvements. Good luck. Yours, Bill Tivol
In a recent Electron Crystallography Newsletter we announced a new E-mail address. However, this turned out to be rather premature and due to adminstrative problems we are unable to use the address we had been given. So I've had to change E-mail address again, and the new address is
george.farrants-at-calidris-em.se
Please spread this address around.
George Farrants Calidris Manhemsvagen 4 S-191 45 Sollentuna Sweden Tel and fax: +46 8 625 0041
I have had moderate quantities of silver paint dry out on a number of occasions, and have been able to restore them to useful form simply by pouring a mixture (about 50-50) of acetone and amyl acetate (a common constituent of fingernail polish remover) into the container, sealing it up again, setting it to one side on my desk and shaking it whenever I notice it. It takes a few days to redissolve silver paint that has really dried out, but it can be done quite satisfactorily if you give the solvent enough time to act. Neither of the solvents involved should be particularly rare in Hawaii. Based on this performance, I would 'guess' that in addition to the silver powder and the solvent, silver paint also contains a bit of a binder material that is probably akin to ordinary household cement. Good luck!
I am seeking the address and telephone # of 4pi Analysis, Inc. I see that they are sustaining members of MSA, but have yet to see a ad featuring their address or number. If anyone can help me, I would be grateful. Sincerely, Randy Nessler rnessler-at-emiris.iaf.uiowa.edu
I routinely cut 0.9 um semi-thin sections on my Reichert UltraCutE but now I have a user who wants to use the Core Facility Reichert to cut 5 um thick JB-4 sections. I am a little nervous about this damaging the ultramicrotome. Does anybody out there have any experience along these lines? Thanks.
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 cannot remember if the original message was requesting information about an EDS detector on an SEM or TEM, but we have been testing our new detector (attached to our TEM) with a NiO test specimen. We obtained a "kit" comprising a NiO test sample and instructions to determine parameters such as energy resolution, peak to background ratios, effect of electron optics, etc,etc. The reference for this system is Egerton and Cheng, Ultramicroscopy 55(1994), 43-54. It is simple to use and costs about 120-130$ (I am quoting Canadian dollars) from a subsiduary of JEOL whose name has temporarily escaped me. If you wish to know more you could contact me here Hope this is of some help Ciara
I make and use my paraformaldehyde/glutaraldehyde fixes in the fume hood but always take it out of the hood to pH with the meter on the other side of my lab. I have always assumed this brief exposure was unavoidable. Recently a colleague said he put his pH meter in the hood to avoid this. Is this standard practice or is he simply being exceedingly careful? In the old days, I remember everybody perfusing animals on the lab bench with 100's mls of fix. I would appreciate hearing how cautious you all are with these fixes nowadays.
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)
"Cell and Tissue Ultrastructure" by Patricia Cross and K. Lynne Mercer (Dept. of Cell Biology, Stanford Univ. School of Medicine) describes the ultrastructure of most cells of the body and how each structure relates to function. Some 180 cells are covered in an atlas format, with full page electron micrographs on right-hand pages and corresponding text on facing pages. The book was designed to combine the clarity of an atlas with the perspective of an up-to-date cell biology text. Available from Microscopy Today at $42.00 plus S&H: $7 for U.S., $9 for Canada, $10 for Mexico and $20 for other overseas. Don Grimes, Microscopy Today
Wow, It seems that I was the only person to not know their address. Thanks to everyone who responded to my original post. The comments in regards to customer satisfaction were also appreciated. I can now send my letter requesting information. Thanks again, Randy Nessler rnessler-at-emiris.iaf.uiowa.edu
Dear Marcelle, I passed yr msg on to John Turner (our photographer) , and he said --
We develop most of our conventional (non-HREM) negatives for four minutes at 20 deg. C. We agitate the negs once a minute by lifting the rack of film up and down. It seems that this type of agitation gives more uniform results than nitrogen burst. With nitrogen burst we found streaks along the film in areas located close to a bubble opening in the tank.
Mike O'Keefe --------------------------------------
Dear Michael
At full strength D-19, how long do you develop your negs?
In my lab we use a saturated solution of uranyl acetate (aq) pH 3.3 for 15 min. followed by Renyolds lead citrate for 3 min. We always embed in Spurr's. What type of samples? Cell culture monolayers stain less intense than solid tissue. What is the molarity of your fixing buffer? Is the molarity to low so that you are leaching out cytoplasmic material? What KV, what size objective aperature are you using? The lower the KV, the smaller the aperature the greater the contrast.
Hope these suggestions help,
Ed Calomeni Medical College of Ohio Toledo, OH emlab-at-opus.mco.edu
This message below was posted to sci.res. I have sent him JEOL and Links addresses. If anyone has info on Bence Albee or other information handy could you please send it directly to him.
Also, I am collecting infomation on microscopy and image analysis resources on the Internet. The information will be available at a web site for everyone and on disk and hard copy at EMSA (for a small fee that will cover costs and FREE to those that contribute).
Thanks
Susanne Pignolet-Brandom, Ph.D. MicroWorld Resources and News 708-548-6522
} } I am trying to get information about the equipment listed below. The } address/phone number of the manufacturer would be appreciated. I am also interested in any literature references regarding its use for the analysis of minerals. } } Quantitave Electron Probe Micro-Analysis (QEPMA) consisting of: } JEOL JXA 8600 Superprobe } Link Analytical AN 10/85S X-ray analysis system } } --- Via Silver Xpress V4.02B03 PFI-12521 } } ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ------ } Email: sysop-at-pfzrfsg.com (Michael Wallach) } Pfizer Food Science Group, New York } -----------------------------------------------------------------------
} I am having problems with certain specimens and their staining with uranyl aceta } te and lead citrate. The specimens } do not take up much of the stain. They do not have alot of contrast. I have cha } nged the length of staining time , the } [ ] of the stains, used ETOH with UA. The samples are well fixed in 2.5% glut. } with ruthenium red, post fixed in } OsO4, and embedded in spurrs. } } } Thanks for any advice you may offer, } Charlie Murphy
Good Morning Charlie, It's not too unusual to have problems when staining specimens embedded in Spurrs. I use 8% aqueous UrAc for an hour followed by Reynold's lead citrate for 20 min. If you mix the UrAc with a stir bar for several hours you can get it all to go into solution. You will, however, find that some will settle out. Just take care not to stir it up before you use it. I also filter both stains before use through a Swinnex filter unit fitted with a Millipore 0.22uM filter. I hope this is helpful. Sandra Zane Sandra F. Zane, EM Tech. Biol. Dept. UNCC Charlotte, NC 28223 sfzane-at-unccvm.uncc.edu Fax (704) 547-3128
Dear Mr. Murphy, Regarding your posting about the above mentioned subject of problems with contrast while using u.a. and l.c. on certain tissue only please note the following: When using ruthenium red and osmium maximum contrast is obtained when a chloride free cacodylate buffer is employed(4% glut, 0.2M cacodylaye pH 7.3). Keep in mind poor results may occur if the tissue is exposed to ruthenium after primary fixation. It should further be noted that when using ruthenium and osmium on certain tissues only you can get a decrease in contrast especially if embedding in the epon family. To overcome these problems on certain samples you can try vascular perfusion and as well you may want to consider changing your embedding media to a water miscible one for these specific tissues only. For more info on this subject as well as suggested protocols see M.A. Hayat(1993) Stains and Cytochemical methods Pg. 315-318. For further infor please do not hesitate to contact me. Good luck Stacie Kirsch Electron Microscopy Sciences P.O. Box 251 Fort Washington, Pa. 19034 Tel: 215-646-1566
In message Tue, 2 May 95 09:42:55 -0400, "Charlie Murphy, EML, B-177b" {cmurphy-at-ggpl.arsusda.gov} writes:
} I am having problems with certain specimens and their staining with } uranyl acetate and lead citrate. The specimens do not take up much of *************
Some of the plant material embedded in Spurr (especially the hard formulation) can yield low contrast sections even after staining. Have you tried staining in 5% ethanolic (50-70%) uranyl acetate for 30 mins or more?
************************************************************************* M.V. Parthasarathy Professor of Plant Biology & Director, EM Facility Section of Plant Biology 228 Plant Science Building Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850 Telephone: (607) 255-1734 Fax: (607) 255-5407 E-mail: mvp2-at-cornell.edu ***********************************************************************
I just found notes from the ASCB meeting in December in which I noted that EMPIX filter wheels and shutter looked good and cheap. I judged the software as weak, but liked that the hardware appeared to be NIH-Image compatible-- the people demoing it claimed that simple commands via serial port could be used-- and the price. Email address on literature: empix-at-accesspt.north.net or traditional voice contact via (905) 542-8900.
At the end of March we posted a query regarding a purchase of software, video & computer equipment, etc. Thank you for your responses; they were helpful. We are now evaluating systems.
Regarding the above mentioned posting please noe that one can never be to cautios but with all of this said at percentages of probably 2 or 3% of the glut and form. I do not really see too much of a risk if you take its pH outside of the fumehood. If you desire and you do want to be extremely careful there are pentype portable pH meters that you can use in the fumehood therefore never having to remove the chemical from the hood. The choice is yours. Good luck Stacie Kirsch
MR-Received: by mta MENDEL; Relayed; Tue, 02 May 1995 00:37:33 -0800 Alternate-recipient: prohibited Disclose-recipients: prohibited
How should I get started in a new,exciting career in photography of the microbial world?
My interest is in LM/TEM/SEM micrograhy and computer imaging. Would it be best if I seek an advance degree in cell and molecular biology or microbiology? Or should I go to art school and study photography? what are going to be some of the prospective routes for me to take? Are there any current training programs specific to this area of work? I'd like to know.
I currently hold a B.A. in Biological Sciences, and have spent one year in research doing in vivo pharmacology/toxicolgy since finishing my undergraduate studies.
If you have any adivce I could use to start off my search i'd greatly appreciate it. i'd love to receive any brochures or literature on academic programs globally.
} I am having problems with certain specimens and their staining with uranyl acetate and lead citrate. The specimens } do not take up much of the stain. They do not have alot of contrast. I have changed the length of staining time , the } [ ] of the stains, used ETOH with UA. The samples are well fixed in 2.5% glut. with ruthenium red, post fixed in } OsO4, and embedded in spurrs. } } } Thanks for any advice you may offer, } Charlie Murphy } -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--at--at- We find that we get much better contrast using Epon (or its equivalent) or a 50:50 mix of Epon and Spurrs ( see Bozzola & Russell, p. 26). LR White is another alternative, which accepts staining quite well. Pre-embedding staining with Ur is also helpful either in water after Os or in 75% EtOH.. Just be sure you are phosphate free before using the Ur. -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- Greg Erdos Phone: 904-392-1295 Scientific Director, ICBR EMCL 218 Carr Hall Fax 904-846-0251 University of Florida E-mail: gwerdos-at-gnv.ifas.ufl.edu Gainesville, FL 32611
. Zaluzec-Argonne Nat. Lab." {ZALUZEC-at-AAEM.AMC.ANL.GOV} Poor staining can be helped in various ways:
1. You need good fixation with osmium first BUT with very long osmium treatment too much material gets leached out. I reckon osmium needs to be in contact with the tissue for around 2 hours, not including time for diffusion through thick tissue or impermeable barriers
2. You can warm up the staining process. Do it in a 60 deg oven or under a tungsten desk lamp. Put a petri dish cover over everything and put a water soaked filterpaper under the cover to keep things from drying out.
3. You can stain overnight.
4. You can try a microwave burst
5. If you are mostly interested in membranes, fix with potassium permanganate only (it dissolves everything else, but gives great contrast)
6. Lead stain in particular is unpredicatable. A bottle that works well can stop working for no reason. A fresh solution may never work although the recipe was followed exactly. Its like witchcraft.
7. Different buffers used with fixation have different effects on staining. Phosphate is said to give best results (needs thorough washing before changing to uranyl acetate) Cacodylate gives the next best.
8. I assume you are post fixing in uranyl acetate. You can extend a post fix for several days if you are desperate.
Read Terzakis 1968 "Uranyl acetate a stain and a fixative" J Ultrastructure Res vol 22 p 168.
For our intermediate voltage electron microscope we routinely cut 1-3 um thick sections and have even gone as high as 5 um on some material. This has not harmed our Ultracut E. However, we cut on diamond or glass knives with specimen faces about 0.25-1 mm along the bottom edge. This is not exactly a JB-4 type section, which tends to be bigger. If that is what they want, a used JB-4 is not terribly expensive. Without evidence that it will work (which you obviously are trying to obtain) I wouldn't risk my microtome.
Jay Jerome ************************************************************** * aka: W. Gray Jerome * * Dept. of Pathology * * Bowman Gray School of Medicine of Wake Forest University * * Medical Center Blvd * * Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1092 * * 910-716-4972 * * jjerome-at-isnet.is.wfu.edu * **************************************************************
On Tue, 2 May 1995, Tom Phillips wrote:
} I routinely cut 0.9 um semi-thin sections on my Reichert UltraCutE } but now I have a user who wants to use the Core Facility Reichert to cut 5 } um thick JB-4 sections. I am a little nervous about this damaging the } ultramicrotome. Does anybody out there have any experience along these } lines? Thanks. } } } } 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 need to contact Cargille about purchasing a quantity of an index matching fluid and I cannot find my catalog. Could someone please send me Cargille's phone number.
Thanks,
Tom Ostertag ostertag_tom-at-mn15-gw.mavd.honeywell.com Tom.Ostertag-at-mavdmh.honeywell.com tostertag-at-tcm.mn.org Minneapolis, MN
I just found notes from the ASCB meeting in December in which I noted that EMPIX filter wheels and shutter looked good and cheap. I judged the software as weak, but liked that the hardware appeared to be NIH-Image compatible-- the people demoing it claimed that simple commands via serial port could be used-- and the price. Email address on literature: empix-at-accesspt.north.net or traditional voice contact via (905) 542-8900.
At the end of March we posted a query regarding a purchase of software, video & computer equipment, etc. Thank you for your responses; they were helpful. We are now evaluating systems.
I need to contact Cargille about purchasing a quantity of an index matching fluid and I cannot find my catalog. Could someone please send me Cargille's phone number.
Thanks,
Tom Ostertag ostertag_tom-at-mn15-gw.mavd.honeywell.com Tom.Ostertag-at-mavdmh.honeywell.com tostertag-at-tcm.mn.org Minneapolis, MN
Dear Tom, I saw your message regarding the phone number of Cargille labs. There number is 201-239-6633 in New Jersey. If I can be of any further assistance please do not hesitate to call me. Stacie Kirsch P.O.Box 251 Fort Washington, Pa. 19034 Electron Microscopy Sciences 215-646-1566
--------------------- Forwarded message: Subj: ALDEHYDE FIXES AND FUME HOODS
Dear Dr. Phillips,
Regarding the above mentioned posting please noe that one can never be to cautios but with all of this said at percentages of probably 2 or 3% of the glut and form. I do not really see too much of a risk if you take its pH outside of the fumehood. If you desire and you do want to be extremely careful there are pentype portable pH meters that you can use in the fumehood therefore never having to remove the chemical from the hood. The choice is yours. Good luck Stacie Kirsch
Pen-type, i.e. handheld, pH meters conviently allow for checking of the pH of nasties within the confines of a fume hood with out cluttering up the limited space and air flow of a fume hood with an expensive tabletop pH meter. Alternately, long lead wires on a table to pH meter probe could also be used. Or working with the fix in a flask does reduce the exit area for vapors from the fixitive solution for quick pH measure measurment outside of the hood, but even this allows some fixitive to escape as we can always still smell the fix even with such a brief exposure.
The question still comes down to how much exposure is too much exposure? Med school students still spend many hours hunched over formaldehyde 'fixed' (yeah right) cadavers, and high school / undergraduate students still spend hours chopping up formaldehyde pickled worms, frogs, pigs, etc.. All without apropriate filtration masks. So where does the answer lie?
Richard E. Edelmann Electron Microscopy Facility Supervisor 352 Biological Science Building Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056 Ph: 513-529-5712 E-mail: edelmare-at-muohio.edu
We have recently embarked on an extensive program network linking electron microscopes and light microscopes with a print & view workstation running comprehensive image processing, archiving and analysis facilities. From our experience setting this up I have absolutely no doubt that your best career direction today would be in the direction of computer-assisted imaging, etc. Your B qualification in biological sciences will be enough in that direction for the time- being (you will pick up new knowledge along the way in any case). What you will need, however, is knowledge of image processing and analysis.
Best of luck - it's a fascinating field and I wish I was young enough to be in your position today.
Robin Cross Director, Electron Microscopy Unit, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa.
June 19-23 Technical Education Center, Osceola, FL
Micro Vision One is an intensive week-long course on light microscopy, designed to meet the requirements of both the new comer to microscopy and the current practitioner who needs to become more versed in specific areas. Built around a wide array of imaging and sample preparation techniques, it will broaden microscopy skills for anyone involved in the chemical, geological, or biological lab and well as those in materials science, environmental or medical facilities.
Integrated lectures and laboratory assignments emphasize both the microscopy techniques and the development of strategies for solving every day problems. The course notebook includes key solutions which illustrate those solutions and serves as a permanent reference manual
The course is taught by Barbara Foster of Microscopy, Marketing and Education and Barry Gordon Fookes of Gordon Grau Scientific.
For further information please contact Barry Gordon Fookes at 407-931-1975.
EM folk: We are looking to replace the enlarger in our EM facility (currently, an Omega B66 for 35mm and a nearly-worn-out D2 for plate film). Through past experience, I like the Durst Laborator (glass carrier, so plate film stays flat, solidly built, 3-lens turret allows easy switching among film sizes). The downside to the Durst seems to be the need to switch those very expensive Latico condensors, which are easily dropped and banged around by students. I have also been considering a used LogEtronics automatic, as that would seem to shorten the student learning curve in the darkroom considerably. So, my questions: --What are you folks using, and what do you like (and not like) about it (them) --Where does one buy used, large-format enlargers? TIA Julian Smith III Winthrop University Rock Hill, SC 29733 803-323-2111 803-323-2246 (fax) smithj-at-winthrop.edu
Greetings, Can formaldehyde be used as a fixative during freeze substitution? Is powder pfa soluble in acetone? ethanol? methanol? Would formaldehyde in acetone actually act as a fixative? My (shaky) understanding of formaldehyde fixation in aqueous solution is that water chemistry is crucial. I would appreciate comments or experiences about the use of formaldehyde in freeze fix protocols.
In my system I can't use glut for reasons that I think are peculiar to my system. In most papers I have read about freeze sub, paraformaldehyde is not mentioned, or sometimes is just said to be inferior to glut. My application is actually at the light level, not em, so I am willing to accept less than the best ultrastructure, for the sake of several other advantages that rapid freeze, freeze substitution provides. Hence my questions about formaldehyde.
COMPUTERS AND MICROSCOPY: A free* workshop to be presented by THE MIDWEST SOCIETY OF ELECTRON MICROSCOPISTS (MSEM) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Friday and Saturday, June 2 and 3, 1995.
SCHEDULE:
June 2
1:00 Introduction: Computers in Microscopy and Microanalysis. What Can They Do for You!!!!!! Nestor Zaluzec. 2:00 Telepresence Microscopy. Life in the Fast Lane!!!!!!! Nestor. 3:00 Break 3:30 How to Connect to the Internet. Nestor 5:00 Business Meeting 6:00 Picnic- Beer Tasting, Brats, Hamburgers and the Relishes. Cash 8:00 Informal on-line sessions: Exploring the Internet, cruising the Internet, downloading FTP, etc.
June 3
9:00 Digitizing Negatives, Positives, Grabbing Images with Scope Cameras. Grayson Scott 10:00 Image Processing, Adobe Photoshop, IPLab, Optimas and NIH Image. Adobe Artist. Charles Thomas 11:00 Archiving images, Printing options. Scott Taylor, Vital Image Technology 12:00 Tour of IMR (Integrated Microscope Resource) See two photon and latest confocal microscopes in operation. Colleen Lavin
*Free to members. Membership is only $10 per year, $5 for students.
For reservations and further information, respond to: Grayson Scott, University of Wisconsin (608)262-2993, FAX 608 -262-7306, E Mail: glscott-at-facstaff.wisc.edu
See you there! Joyce Craig, Program Coordinator, MSEM (Soon to be M cubed).
Regarding the message about silver paint from Wil Bigelow:
1] Silver paints are not all created equal.
2] "Quality" in a silver paint is more complicated than is generally recognized, but quick drying, without the formation of a surface barrier "skin" leaving a wet interior (which would result in excessive out gassing in the vacuum) is one of the more important quality considerations.
3] A fast evaporating solvent is desirable as well, but once the volatility of the carrier exceeds a certain point the shipping charges, especially internationally, become far greater. Also, the higher volatility solvents are generally recognized as being more of an inhalation hazard as well.
4] At least for the SPI #5001 (1/2 oz) and SPI #5002 (1 oz) silver paint products, the products are formulated with a small amount of a "special" polymer, which serves two purposes: a) it makes the paint somewhat more "adhesive" in nature, and b) it also facilitates the resuspension and recovery of the silver metal colloid in the event the cap is left off the bottle and it dried out into a "brick". This does require the use of our SPI #5004 silver paint thinner, and once some has been added, after a few minutes in an ultrasonic, the "brick" will completely resuspend, and the silver paint will be completely rejuvenated. One can use other "solvents", as you have suggested, but the degree of dispersion will not be as fine as with the #5004 thinner. For example, there will be greater tendency to form a "skin" when the paint dries.
We offer a free replacement bottle of SPI Silver Paint for anyone who finds that they can not resuspend the SPI Silver Paint with #5004 thinner as indicated above. Just return the bottle that won't resuspend so that we can find out what went wrong. PS: No one has ever taken us up yet on this offer!
Charles A. Garber PRESIDENT SPI SUPPLIES PO BOX 656 WEST CHESTER, PA 19380 USA
Ph: 1-(800)-2424-SPI [Toll free from USA] 1-(800)-668-2028 [In Canada]
Formaldehyde, even that made fresh from paraformaldehyde, exists mainly as methylene glycol in equilibrium. Consequently, it is not an effective fixative in fixations shorter than about 16 hours (see Fox et al. J Histochem. Cytochem. 33:845-853 [1985]).
R. Howard Berg, Ph.D. Biology Department University of Memphis Memphis, TN, 38152 E mail: bergrh-at-cc.memphis.edu phone: 901-678-4449 fax: 901-678-4457
Greetings, We have a user that is interested in cutting plastic sections on a paraffin microtome. I have found that an old Porter-Blum glass knife holder will fit perfectly into the paraffin holder. Anyone have, or know of anyone else, with a holder? Or a whole Porter-Blum microtome, with a knife-holder, that they would like to get rid of? TIA,
C. Michael Stanley, Ph.D. Coordinator, Associate Director Molecular Cytology Core Facility Molecular Biology Program 2 Tucker Hall University of Missouri-Columbia Columbia, MO. 65211 (314) 882-4895 fax= 314-882-0123
Huang, The jump ratio is the ratio of counts in the spectrum just above the absorption egde to that just below the edge. In my case the absorption edge is that of the detector (silicon, or one of the mercuric iodide edges) and a broad band x-ray source. It is used to estimate the thickness of the dead layer at the front of the detector. regards mark
I have been asked to conduct a *very brief* survey of scientists who are interested in, or users of, confocal microscopy...but who are NOT the principal owners or operators of this type of instrument. The results of this survey will be utilized by a large instrument manufacturer and your participation will therefore have a significant impact on what type of instruments may be available in the future.
If you would like to participate, and meet the profile mentioned above, please respond DIRECTLY TO ME. Do not simply hit the reply button. Send your message to: maximsci-at-aol.com
Hello, I am trying to do background subtractions using Photoshop. I called Adobe, but they keep referring me to the Magic Wand Tool. I try to explain that I do not want to erase a red balloon from a bunch against a blue sky or something like that. I am working with micrographs and want eliminate the out of focus junk like dust in the optics etc. This leaves them puzzled because they have no idea about scientific applications.
I have been trying to use the Subraction function on the Source, but the result leaves me a grey scale image and deletes the color information. This is a simple procedure for Hamamatsu's Argus prossessor boxes or even NIH Image in B/W (Does Image work with color images?). In any event, could someone lend some advice and tell me what we are doing wrong? or can Adobe Photoshop even accomplish this? or what stand alone Image Analysis software can do this, any platform, but preferably Macintosh. Thank you!
A message from Steve Miller, an authorized Durst dealer.
There really are several issues here: 1. The best enlarger for negatives with very large contrast range. 2. The highest definition enlarger. 3. The enlarger easiest to use. 4. The enlarger that survives somewhat casual users.
Without question the Durst Femopoint (point source) enlarger has the highest definition of any enlarger I have seen. If taken to the limits you will clearly resolve every grain of silver in the negative, as well as every scratch and sometimes defects in the emulsion.
The Log-E (now Egoltronics) enlarger will not match this definition but is outstanding for negatives with large contrast ranges. There are some cautions in using a scanning spot, be careful with the illumination when the objects of interest approach the size of your scanned spot.
The Durst Point source requires knowledge of alignment of the filament and the rest of the optics to get the high performance. If you are not doing a critical alignment you are not getting point source performance.
The second issue with the Durst is that the coated condenser lenses that prevent any internal reflections can be easily abused. The coatings can be ruined by one careless user who puts his fingers on the coating or attempts to clean it. I recommend that student labs use a second set of condensers without the coating (much less expensive also).
For easiest to use, just replace the point source lamp with a diffuse bulb and all the critical aspects of alignment disappear.
I don;t wish to waste a lot of space on the net with more detail. If it is desired please contact me off-line. We have detailed instructions on how to align a point source enlarger.
We have represented LogE in the past, and are Durst and Omega dealers now.
Steven W. Miller Integrated Microsystems, Inc. Phone 800-388-8801 Fax 708-696-2541 email 73150.2217-at-compuserve.com
Message-Id: {199505082154.OAA13468-at-darkwing.uoregon.edu} Comments: Authenticated sender is {mshaf-at-darkwing.uoregon.edu}
We are considering upgrading our 1.5 year old Oxford Link eXL to Oxford's ISIS system. I want to be brief here, 'cept to mention the system is "loaded" and that it will be sold without the detector and the stage motors. If any SEM/EMPA facility is interested in knowing more about the eXL please reply to me directly (email or phone).
Michael Shaffer, R.A. mshaf-at-oregon.uoregon.edu (days) Electron Probe Facility mshaf-at-darkwing.uoregon.edu (any time) Geological Sciences 1272 University of Oregon (503)346-4632 Eugene, OR 97403-1272 (503)346-4692 (FAX)
Hi, I understand that there is a group similar to this one for questions, etc. regarding Image. Would someone be kind enough to point me in the right direction? We're starting to use Image to work with scanned autoradiographs of C14-labelled leaf material and need some hints. Many thanks and please respond to me directly to skip sending tangential info like this to all subscribers.
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
MR-Received: by mta MAILV2; Relayed; Mon, 08 May 1995 16:17:41 -0500 (CDT) MR-Received: by mta GATEV1; Relayed; Mon, 08 May 1995 16:17:47 -0500 (CDT) Alternate-recipient: prohibited Disclose-recipients: prohibited ZALUZEC {ZALUZEC-at-AAEM.AMC.ANL.GOV} Message-id: {01HQ9LWW1AFA9KM0QN-at-MR.SEMATECH.Org} MIME-version: 1.0 Content-type: TEXT/PLAIN; CHARSET=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT Posting-date: Mon, 08 May 1995 16:14:00 -0500 (CDT) Importance: normal Priority: normal X400-MTS-identifier: [;14716180505991/1448420-at-VAXEN] A1-type: MAIL Hop-count: 2
Julian: We are currently using an enlarger manufactured by Charles Bessler. It is Bessler Model#45MXT. which uses 150w bulb for its condenser light source and so far in the past two years I have worked for Sematech, I have barely changed it once.There are different sizes available for negative film holders.In our lab we mostly use SO163 and the holder is model#8390.Although the exposure is not automatic, and we always have to use a test strip for exposure for every negative,I think it is very friendly and will be ideal for student use.We doquite a lot of high resolution TEM photography and get good quality enlargements. It is a table top mounted and we use the standard photographic easel designed to hold 5x7, 8x10 and 10x13 papers. If you want I can find more information about it and the price range,since this was here before my arrival here at Sematech. Good luck with your search, Lata
Message-Id: {m0s8YGk-0007BzC-at-stjohns.ohsu.edu} Message-Version: 2 } To: Microscopy-at-aaem.amc.anl.gov
PACIFIC NORTHWEST ELECTRON MICROSCOPY SOCIETY 1994 SPRING MEETING "ELECTRON MICROSCOPY PREPARATION" Veterans Administration Medical Center 3710 SW Veterans Hospital Road Portland OR 97201 AND Oregon Health Sciences University 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road Portland OR 97201
Friday, May 12- Veterans Administration Medical Center Auditorium
9:30 a.m. "Cytoskeleton of the Wistar-Furth rat's Megakaryocytes and Platelets" Paula Steinberg Pathology, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, OR. 10:00 a.m. "Ultrastructure of Connective tissue using Cryotechnical Processing." Doug Keene, Shriners Hospital, Portland, OR. 10:30 a.m. "Advantages of using FIB Techniques to Prepare Samples" Dave Laken, FEI Company, Beaverton, OR. 11:00 a.m. Break Coffee 11:15 a.m. "Low Vacuum SEM" John Grimes, JEOL USA, Inc., Palo Alto, CA. 12:00 p.m. PNEMS Business Meeting 3:00 p.m. "Special Immunogold Techniques" Charlie Meshul, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Portland,OR. 3:30 p.m. "X-Ray Microscopy: Seeing Things in a New Light" Chris Jacobsen, SUNY Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY. 4:30 p.m. Adjourn 4:45 p.m. Social Atrium of the Center for Research on Occupational and Environmental Toxicology. 3rd floor. Oregon Health Sciences University. Saturday, May 13th-Center for Research on Occupational and Environmental Toxicology. Room 2564. 10:00 a.m. "Cryosectioning Materials: A Workshop" Greg Becker, Research and Manufacturing Company, Tucson AZ 12:00 p.m. Lunch 1:30 p.m. "Practical application of Cryosectioning Materials" Greg Becker, Research and Manufacturing Company, Tucson AZ 4:00 p.m. Adjourn
Bob Kayton, PNEMS Oregon Health Sciences University C.R.O.E.T., L606 Portland, OR 97201 (503)494-2504 (503)494-6831 Fax e-mail kayton-at-ohsu.edu
X-Mailer: WinNET Mail, v2.30 Message-ID: {629-at-oimag.win-uk.net} Reply-To: Software department {software-at-oimag.win-uk.net} To: microscopy-at-aaem.amc.anl.gov
Sorry to be picky....
I think Mark is talking about a symptom of the absorption jump ratio - I always thought the absorption jump ratio was simply the ratio of mass absorption coefficients on either side of the absorption edge - since the absorption coefficient goes through a discontinuity and "jumps" at the point of the edge - the absorption jump ratio is simply what it says.
The step in the continuum at the absorption edge is caused by differential absorption - for a thickness x, the transmitted beam intensity is exp(- mu.ro.x). mu is the mass absorption coefficient, ro is the density. If you look at absorption pre and post edge, the ratio of absorptions will be exp(- dmu. ro. x) where dmu is the change in mu across the edge. The size of the step clearly depends on the absorbing path.
Peter Statham
} Huang, } The jump ratio is the ratio of counts in the spectrum just above the } absorption egde to that just below the edge. In my case the } absorption edge is that of the detector (silicon, or one of the } mercuric iodide edges) and a broad band x-ray source. It is used } to estimate the thickness of the dead layer at the front of the } detector. } regards } mark } } Mark W. Lund, PhD } Director } MOXTEK, Inc. } Orem UT }
----------------------------------------------------------------- Please reply to this e-mail with the name of the person you wish to receive it on the subject line (e.g. "FAO Jane Smith/..subject.."), as this is a shared e-mail address.
Hello everyone! Two studenst asked me to pass this message on to you:
We (Ann Kristin Lorentzen and Kathleen Jacobs) are two last year bioengeneer students at Tromsoe College in Norway, who are working on a project in transmission electron microscopy. We would appreciate any information about the epoxy resins Epon/Araldite, Spurr and Taab 18's infiltration ability into muscle tissue, and eventual differences of quality. (The Department of Pathology are not quite satisfied with muscle biopsies embedded in Epon/Araldit, and the problems are probably related to poor infiltration)
Thank you for your help.
Sincerely, Ann Kristin Lorentzen and Kathleen Jacobs
Hello everyone! Two students asked me to pass this message on to you:
We (ann Kristin Lorentzen and Kathleen Jacobs) are two last year bioengeneer students at Tromsoe College in Norway, who are working on a project in transmission electron mictoscopy. We would appreciate any information about the epoxy resins Epon/Araldite, Spurr and Taab 18's infiltration ability into muscle tissue, and eventual differences of quality. (The Department of Pathology are not quite satisfied with their muscle biopsies embedded in Epon/Araldit, and the problems are prabably related to poor infiltration).
Thank you for your help.
Sincerely, Ann Kristin Lorentsen and Kathleen Jacobs
----------------------------------------------------------------y Randi Olsen University of Tromsoe Department of Electron Microscopy Institut of Medical Biology N9037 Tromsoe
I am not sure if you mean located on the internet or willing to be listed there but physically located at some lab, I am assuming the latter: I have 2 sem's and 2 image analysis systems, one is pc based, indepdant from the sem's, the second image system is RT11 (DEC) based EDAX system attached to the amray 1830I sem. The ETEC sem currently has no system but we hope to put a 4pi analysis system on it. I could go on but perhaps you could send me a form or indicate how you want and if you want more info. All equipement here is available to users, for a fee, with or without expert assistance. I have handled all kinds of sem & eds and would be wulling to consult or work with any form of sample (well also any).
Alan S. Pooley ,PhD Bivalve shell SEM & shape analysis SEM/Morphometrics lab Marine & Coastal Sciences Rutgers University 908 932 8959 ext 225 Pooley-at-ahab.rutgers.edu
On Thu, 4 May 1995 MICROSCOPY-at-AAEM.AMC.ANL.GOV wrote:
} From: SMTP%"Spignolet-at-aol.com" 3-MAY-1995 23:32:02.24 } To: MICROSCOPY } CC: } Subj: Help with EMPA of Minerals } } Date: Mon, 1 May 1995 22:44:28 -0400 } From: Spignolet-at-aol.com } Message-Id: {950501215443_103354647-at-aol.com} } To: Microscopy-at-aaem.amc.anl.gov } Subject: Help with EMPA of Minerals } } This message below was posted to sci.res. I have sent him JEOL and Links } addresses. If anyone has info on Bence Albee or other information handy } could you please send it directly to him. } } Also, I am collecting infomation on microscopy and image analysis resources } on the Internet. The information will be available at a web site for } everyone and on disk and hard copy at EMSA (for a small fee that will cover } costs and FREE to those that contribute). } } Thanks } } Susanne Pignolet-Brandom, Ph.D. } MicroWorld Resources and News } 708-548-6522 } } } From: sysop-at-pfzrfsg.com (Michael Wallach) } } } } } I am trying to get information about the equipment listed below. The } } address/phone number of the manufacturer would be appreciated. I am also } interested in any literature references regarding its use for the analysis of } minerals. } } } } Quantitave Electron Probe Micro-Analysis (QEPMA) consisting of: } } JEOL JXA 8600 Superprobe } } Link Analytical AN 10/85S X-ray analysis system } } } } --- Via Silver Xpress V4.02B03 PFI-12521 } } } } ----------------------------------------------------------------------- } ------ } } Email: sysop-at-pfzrfsg.com (Michael Wallach) } } Pfizer Food Science Group, New York } } ----------------------------------------------------------------------- }
} Hello everyone! } Two students asked me to pass this message on to you: } } We (ann Kristin Lorentzen and Kathleen Jacobs) are two last year bioengeneer } students at Tromsoe College in Norway, who are working on a project in } transmission electron mictoscopy. } We would appreciate any information about the epoxy resins Epon/Araldite, } Spurr and Taab 18's infiltration ability into muscle tissue, and eventual } differences of quality. } (The Department of Pathology are not quite satisfied with their muscle } biopsies embedded in Epon/Araldit, and the problems are prabably related to } poor infiltration). } } Thank you for your help. } } Sincerely, } Ann Kristin Lorentsen and Kathleen Jacobs } } ----------------------------------------------------------------y } Randi Olsen } University of Tromsoe } Department of Electron Microscopy } Institut of Medical Biology } N9037 Tromsoe } } e-mail {randio-at-fagmed.uit.no} } of course the department of pathology is dissatisfied - Let me guess - They are giving you huge pieces of muscle, right? I had the same problem many years ago and asked for help as you are. I have found that overnight in 1:2 propylene oxide:epoxy helps, if you must infiltrate pieces of muscle thicker than 1mm. Extend all times on all steps, which will help. Use freshly mixed resin for the all resin infiltration. Where is TROMSOE?}
} Hello everyone! } Two studenst asked me to pass this message on to you: } } We (Ann Kristin Lorentzen and Kathleen Jacobs) are two last year bioengeneer } students at Tromsoe College in Norway, who are working on a project in } transmission electron microscopy. } We would appreciate any information about the epoxy resins Epon/Araldite, } Spurr and Taab 18's infiltration ability into muscle tissue, and eventual } differences of quality. } (The Department of Pathology are not quite satisfied with muscle biopsies } embedded in Epon/Araldit, and the problems are probably related to poor } infiltration) } } Thank you for your help. } } Sincerely, } Ann Kristin Lorentzen and Kathleen Jacobs } }
Spurr's and Spurtol are great for muscle tissue. I have used both of these to embed my rat muscle tissue for TEM and never been dissatisfied with the results. By the way Spurtol and Spurr's (firm) embeded muscle tissue slice very nicely.
Any recipe info you might like I would be happy to send you.
Dirk W. Domaschko Electron Microscopy Facility Marshall University School of Medicine Huntington, WV 25755-9350 Ph: 304-696-7393 E-Mail: Domaschk-at-musom01.mu.wvnet.edu
We've been using Omega enlargers for a number of years with complete satisfaction. Four years ago we purchased a used D2V from a firm in New Jersey specializing in used equipment. At that time, they were offering TEM's, SEM's, and a host of preparative equipment and accessories. Don't know if firm still exists but here is info: Microscopy Laboratories P.O. Box 338 61 West Street Red Bank, N.J. 07701 908-747-6228 Good Luck, Don
This is a two part question about preparing samples from diamond pressure cells. The first part is a question about measuring the thickness of the sample, the second question is about preparing the sample for TEM.
Several mineral physics types on my campus use diamond cells to investigate the changes in rocks that take place at high temperatures and pressures. I am not a mineral physics type, or even a geologist, but I am the campus EM person and I need to try to help them. A diamond cell is a device, 30 mm square and about as thick, that holds small samples, less than 1 mm, between two diamond faces. The sides of the holder can be compressed to apply pressure and a laser can be sent through the diamonds to heat the sample. The sample resides in the center of the holder and can be seen through the diamonds, but to see it with a compound microscope requires long working distance objectives because of the configuration of the metal holder around the sample.
We can measure the area of the sample fairly easily, it transmits light and we have a 20x objective that works for this. The problem is measuring the thickness to get an idea of the volume of the sample. The sample must stay in the diamond cell and be measured at different stages of the experiment. I thought of trying to focus through the sample and noting the z-distance but our objective has too great a depth of field and the sample is too thin, 25 - 30 mu, to let this work well. I have tried using other objectives that have less depth of field, but they have too short a working distance and are too big to get into the space available in the diamond cell.
Does anyone have an idea about how to measure the thickness of the sample while it is in the cell? We are also looking for good ideas about how to measure the thickness of the sample after it is removed from the cell. We have tried mounting small pieces for SEM and tipping them up for a cross section view, but we are ready to try something better.
Now for the second question, how to prepare these samples for TEM. I have thought about microtoming and tripod polishers but don't know which one might be the best to try first. For some reason I lean toward tripod polishing but I don't have much to base that on. Could anyone offer suggestions on this technique, including the equipment and approximate costs involved in getting set up?
Thanks for your help.
Jonathan Krupp Microscopy and Imaging Lab University of California Santa Cruz, CA 95064 (408) 459-2477 emlab-at-ucsco.ucsc.edu
The original message was received at Thu, 4 May 1995 11:29:47 -0500 from aaem.amc.anl.gov [146.139.72.3]
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This message below was posted to sci.res. I have sent him JEOL and Links addresses. If anyone has info on Bence Albee or other information handy could you please send it directly to him.
Also, I am collecting infomation on microscopy and image analysis resources on the Internet. The information will be available at a web site for everyone and on disk and hard copy at EMSA (for a small fee that will cover costs and FREE to those that contribute).
Thanks
Susanne Pignolet-Brandom, Ph.D. MicroWorld Resources and News 708-548-6522
} } I am trying to get information about the equipment listed below. The } address/phone number of the manufacturer would be appreciated. I am also interested in any literature references regarding its use for the analysis of minerals. } } Quantitave Electron Probe Micro-Analysis (QEPMA) consisting of: } JEOL JXA 8600 Superprobe } Link Analytical AN 10/85S X-ray analysis system } } --- Via Silver Xpress V4.02B03 PFI-12521 } } ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ------ } Email: sysop-at-pfzrfsg.com (Michael Wallach) } Pfizer Food Science Group, New York } -----------------------------------------------------------------------
POST-DOCTORAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATE Department of Materials Science and Engineering Lehigh University
Lehigh University Department of Materials Science and Engineering is seeking a post-doctoral research associate to work on extended electron-energy-loss fine structure studies of glasses using VG HB 603 & 501 instruments, both equipped with Gatan PEELS. The successful candidate must have a doctorate with a strong background in electron spectroscopy in the TEM/AEM. Experience with Gatan PEELS and Vacuum Generators microscopes and fine structure analysis (EXELFS or ELNES) is highly desirable. The position is open from August 1995. Initial appointment for one year, with extension to three years depending on performance. Lehigh University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action employer.
Please send resume to:
Dr. David Williams Department of Materials Science & Engineering Lehigh University 5 East Packer Avenue Bethlehem, PA 18015
I can't really help too much on the first question of measuring your samples while in the diamond cell, but I can answer part of your question about Tripod Polishing.
We have been manufacturing the Tripod Polisher for over 6 years and I must say that I am constantly amazed at the variety of samples that people have been able to prepare. I can probably give you some direction on the technique, but I'd like to learn a bit more about your specific sample. For example:
1) Actual Size of samples 2) Material 3) Is there a specific area you need to cross-section or will anywhere on the sample suffice? 4) Is the sample sensitive to water or other materials? 5) Can the sample be heated?
Basically, anyhting you can tell me about the sample would be helpful.. I'll send you a copy of a paper on Tripod Polishing that should help a bit - although it obviously won't deal with your particular sample.
Regarding cost, that can vary a bit depending on your answers to the above questions. In general I would recommend our Model 590W Tripod Polisher for TEM Wedge Polishing. This system will give you everything you will need as far as the fixturing goes and it sells for $875. Yo willalso need to invest in some diamond lapping films, colloidal silica, some polsihing cloths, a glass plate and a few other items. If you don't already have these items, it'll proabbly cost you a few hundred bucks to get an initial supply. If you'd like, I'll be glad to send you a complete price list that will tell you exactly how much it will cost.
The other thing you'll need is a high quality polishing wheel. While variable speed metallurgical wheels are adequate, it is best to have a polisher that is capable of running at very constant low rpm and with a fair amount of torque. Of course, anything will do in a pinch, but if you have the money and the desire, we have a machine which is designed for Tripod Polishing that runs $3475.00. It is also helpful to have an inverted stage metallograph, but you can also make the system work with a decent stereo microscope.
I hope this information helps! Please feel free to contact me if you have any other questions.
Best regards-
David Henriks TEL: 800-728-2233 (toll-free in USA) South Bay Technology, Inc. 714-492-2600 1120 Via Callejon FAX: 714-492-1499 San Clemente, CA 92673 USA e-mail: 73531.1344-at-compuserve.com
Hi, A few months (years?) ago I remember seeing a reference to a company that dealt in second hand optical microscopes. Now that I am looking for a second hand scope I can't seem to find the message. Could anyone help me with this?
Thanks
Glenn ********************************************************************** * Glenn Poirier glenn_p-at-geosci.lan.mcgill.ca * * Electron Microprobe Lab Phone: (514) 398 6774 * * Earth and Planetary Sciences Fax: (514) 398 4680 * * McGill University THERE ARE THREE SIDES TO EVERY STORY; * * Montreal, Quebec YOUR SIDE MY SIDE AND THE TRUTH * **********************************************************************
Hello I'm in a bit of a bind. None of the libraries I have access to (Simon Fraser University and Univ. of British Columbia) are carrying Scanning. The article is: G.Love and V.D.Scott, Scanning, 1981, 4, 111. I believe that is vol. 4 page 111. If anyone would be willing to Fax this to me I would greatly appreciate it. Please email me so I can give you my fax number.
Thank you in advance Dan Henne Simon Fraser University Vancouver, Canada email:henne-at-sfu.ca
We have a Noran Voyager III and are looking for some user-generated sets of directions, tips, shortcuts, schedules, etc. Anyone have any good sets they would be willing to share with us? By the way, we have many directions for various lab instrumentation that we routinely share as well - if you are interested. Thanks.
John J. Bozzola Center for Electron Microscopy Southern Illinois University Carbondale, IL 62901-4402 Phone: 618-453-3730 Fax: -2665 Email: bozzola-at-siu.edu OR bozzola-at-qm.c-cem.siu.edu
We are going to start a project which involve immumolabelling of osteoclasts. These are cells we are not familiar working with, and we would appreciate any ideas how to "find" them (bone-marrow aspirate, "whole" bone-marrow or isolation). I would also like your opinion about sectioning techniqe, cryo-sectioning or embedding in Lowicryl or other suitable resins of these cells/tissue.
Thanks! -------------------------------------------------------------------- Randi Olsen University of Tromsoe Department of Electron microscopy MH-Breivika N-9037 Tromoe Norway --------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hello, Thanks for the response on the question about miscle tissue. Joyse Craig added another: Where is Tromsoe? which give me an oportunity to tell you that Tromsoe is situated in the north of Norway (some say 'next to the North Pole'), 400-500 km north of the Polar Circle. The only reason it's possible to live here and grow stawberries in the summer (apples don't go) are warm water from the Mexican gulf, the Gulf Stream. That give us temperatures never below -20 C in the winter. Beside very nice nature around the town, we also have midnight sun 2 months in the summer (and two dark months without any sun in the winter, but then we often have a very nice Aurora Borealis 'Nothern light').There are now 2 weeks until we have sun during the night too, and it's only 15 cm of snow where I live.
Tromsoe is a small town with apr. 50 000 inhabitants, mostly norwegians of cause, but we have the nothermost univeristy of the world, (6 600 students) and that has brought students and scientists from all over the world to the University. The EM facility here belongs to the university and are used by scientists from all over the campus (geology, biology, medicin etc) and the hospital has 2 bioengeneers working here. The department are very well equiped and we have nice facilities in a 3 years old building.
Like to visit us?
Best wishes Randi
-------------------------------------------------------------------- Randi Olsen Univeristy of Tromsoe Department of Electron Microscopy N-9037 Tromsoe Norway
} } } } Hello, } } I am trying to do background subtractions using Photoshop. I called } } Adobe, but they keep referring me to the Magic Wand Tool. I try to explain } } that I do not want to erase a red balloon from a bunch against a blue sky or } } something like that. I am working with micrographs and want eliminate the out } } of focus junk like dust in the optics etc. This leaves them puzzled because } } they have no idea about scientific applications. } } } Sorry, this is not exactly on point, but as scientist and a Forensic Scientist } I find that this elimination of the "out of focus junk" bothers me. It may not } look nice, but it was in the field of view. Besides accuracy, there have been } cases where I thought that something was "junk" and it was not. }
Really? Do you mean that your optical microscopy lab doesn't do background subtraction or light/darkfield correction? This doesn't constitute decreasing accuracy; it has been a standard part of correcting for nonstationary illumination and dust in the optics for years in clinical quantitative microscopy. In classical background subtraction, you use an image taken using either nothing or a blank slide. That way you *know* that the objects present in the image are artifacts. The danger of *not* performing these kinds of corrections is that folk will, in fact, perceive these artifacts as features present in the specimen. They *are* junk, and correcting for them is as much a part of adequate quantitative microscopy as is using correct focus(1).
I also missed the first post, but I will add that Photoshop is probably not a good way to do background subtraction. Background subtraction is, by definition, an image algebra routine, and one should either implement it directly or use a package that does image algebra or background subtraction directly. Also, be careful about using any of the "artistic" packages, since they are more concerned with aesthetic and ergonomic questions than accuracy. For instance, Photostyler will do some image algebra, but handles overflows very badly (for instance, if you can represent a pixel as an integer between 0 and 255, what happens when you add two pixels of value 200 together?).
There are a number of public domain packages which will do these sorts of things, including Khoros, DIAL, NIH Image, and others for all sorts of platforms. Check out the comp.sys.graphics FAQ. There are also a bunch of commercial packages, such as Optimas, ImagePro, and Visilog, which provide better handling than the artistic packages.
billo
1) Ken Castleman, "Digital Image Processing," 1979, p 105.
I need a tripod polisher and would appreciate receiving names addresses, etc. of suppliers; I believe that there are at least three companies that make them. Also any comments about advantages/disadvantages of specific ones would be most welcome, as would advice from the sages of the field. The intended application is brittle intermetallic overlayers on a ductile substrate. With thanks
Rick Hall Materials Science University of Delaware hall-at-me.udel.edu
I Have a Question regarding... Cryosectioning WAT 5/10/95 9:32 AM Does anyone have any suggestions/experience in ultracryosectioning white adipose tissue? I have tried different temperatures, and still my tissue shatters. I am not sure what else I can vary. They are nakane fixed, and cryoprotected with PVP. Thanks, Jeanne
I am only aware of 2 suppliers of the Tripod Polisher:
1) South Bay Technology, Inc. (800) 728-2233 (that's us!) 2) Allied High Tech (310) 635-2466
Obviously, I can't give you an unbiased opinion. I would suggest that you talk to both of us and decide for yourself who is offering the better system. The technology of building the tool itself is not exactly rocket science, but there are a number of nuances that are only picked up through experience.
I would be curious to hear if you do come up with a 3rd company making the Tripod Polisher. I do try to keep up on the competition, but I don't, unfortunately, know everything! Pleae let me know if you'd like me to send any additional information on our Tripod Polishing Systems.
Best regards-
David Henriks TEL: 800-728-2233 (toll-free in USA) South Bay Technology, Inc. 714-492-2600 1120 Via Callejon FAX: 714-492-1499 San Clemente, CA 92673 USA e-mail: 73531.1344-at-compuserve.com
Subject: Time:9:43 AM OFFICE MEMO NCEM Summer School Date:5/9/95
There are still a few places left for the National Center for Electron Microscopy Summer School on Computer Simulation and Processing of HRTEM Images. The school is held every year at the end of June -- this year's is June 26 - 30. For further information see --
http://ncem.lbl.gov/NCEM/workshops.html
or contact --
Gretchen Hermes Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory MailStop 72 1 Cyclotron Road Berkeley, CA 94720 Phone: +1-510-486-5006 Fax: +1-510-486-5888 e-mail: GHermes-at-lbl.gov
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
My company developed a scientific imaging software called DigitalMicrographT. It is capable of backround subtraction and can handle color images. It is also made for Macintosh so you can just plug it in and go. The person you would want to talk to about the software's precise capabilities is Chris Meyer[cmeyer-at-gatan.com] or you can ask for him at the below numbers. Just to share.
Sincerly,
Michael Odum Spec. Prep. Tech. Gatan, Inc. 6678 Owens Dr. Pleasanton, CA 94588 Tel: 510-463-0200 Fax: 510-463-0204 E-Mail: modum-at-gatan.com
I would appreciate advice concerning sectioning glass fibers (average diameter of 1 micron). The purpose of the project is to localize cells that are filtering through the glass. I am considering using an old diamond knife, presuming the damage may be great. I do not anticipate sectioning this material again after the completion of this project; I would prefer not to purchase a material science diamond knife unless it is the only tool that would section the glass fibers.
My second concern is whether or not to embed in plastic. I have been told embedding would require a primer (Dow Chemical product..) to help embed the glass and then I would have to get a very hard plastic to closely approximate the fibers themselves.Would quick freezing followed by cryosectioning be a more logical approach? Can I use a std biological diamond knife for cryosectioning? The resin used to glue the knife may be weakened, but I am already considering the knife would be useless after the project anyway.
An alternate approach would be to see if the fibers can be simply fractured and then viewed in the SEM. Would fracturing the frozen fibers just result in shattered glass?
Thank you very much.
Colleen Lavin
--------------------------------------} }
Colleen A. Lavin Integrated Microscopy Resource High Pressure Freezer Coordinator Madison, WI 53706 608-263-8481 lavinca-at-macc.wisc.edu
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We are planning to convert the tungsten filament in our Philips CM-12 STEM to a LaB6 source. I am aware of the general precautions one must take with regards to vacuum and saturation to preserve the LaB6 crystal but not the details. I would like to know what specific precautions CM- 12 users take when using their instruments with a LaB6 filament. Is the built in saturation delay of the instrument slow enough? What vacuum is low enough to begin saturation? How do you do sample changes? And are there any recommended vendors? Any other tips or suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Joe Neilly Abbott Laboratories Cellular and Microscpic Research Abbott Park, IL 60064 Phone: 708-938-5024 E-mail: neilly.joseph-at-igate.abbott.com
You will definitely get best results with a diamond knife. I found that a 35 degree knife gave the best results while sectioning 35 um dia. silica beads. There was mininimal degradation of the knife when sections up to 0.5 um thick were cut. Sections thicker than this tended to hurt the knife edge much more quickly. We also found that the "hard" formulation of Spurr's resin was quite adequate as an embedding medium for these beads.
Hope this helps; good luck.
John
___________________________________________________ | | | John G. Aghajanian, Ph.D. | | Worcester Foundation for Experimental Biology | | 222 Maple Avenue | | Shrewsbury, MA 01545-2737 | | | | Tel: 508 842-8921 ext. 147, 161 | | Fax: 598 842-9632 | | JOHNA-at-sci.wfeb.edu | | | |_________________________________________________|
I have not attempted sectioning WAT, but we were having similar problems when sectioning sciatic nerve. The individual nerve fibres would pull apart. This happened when using the standard pickup procedure of a sucrose droplet. However we have found that using the electrostatic transfer method as described by Tsuji et al., 1992 Arch. Hist. Cytol. 55:423-428, works very well. It may be similar for you with WAT. Hope this helps? Regards, Gerald.
Dr Gerald J. Little | Ph (61 49) 215618 The Neuroscience Group | Discipline of Anatomy | Fax (61 49) 216903 Faculty of Medicine and | Health Sciences | The University of Newcastle | Email ANGJL-at-medicine.newcastle.edu.au Australia, 2308 |
} I much prefer to keep the microscope clean, and not try to work around } those "dust particles". I don't by any means work in a sterile environment, } and there always are a very few in the field of view, but I opt for leaving } them instead of going to heroic methods to clean them out. Also there is } the stuff on the slide you are working on. Even though I prewash slides, } a starch grain pops up from time to time. I would rather explain my } opinion of what something in the field of view is, than take it out and } have been wrong. } } I guess my view is clean is better than correction for dirt. } } So you know how crazy I really am, yes I also readjust the illumination } when I swing the objective turret. } } Shalom from Jerusalem, } Azriel
I may be wrong, but it seems that some are talking about image subtraction in the context of video-enhanced contrast imaging. In this technique, small features are made visible because even though at least one of their dimensions is below the resolution limit of the LM, they still produce a small amount of contrast (say 1%) in a DIC image. With suitable image processing, (where suitable is defined as that which allows you to see something useful about the specimen that you could not otherwise have discerned.) this contrast can be made visible as long as the image contains only a few such features and they do not overlap.
In this procedure Bob Allen and others showed that it wasn't just "dirty optics" that produced background features in the enhanced-contrast image that were unrelated to the specimen but but there were also more complex sources such as inhomogeneities in the vidicon target and imperfections in the optical surfaces and gluing that are not usually troublesome as they cannot be seen without video-enhanced contrast. Subtracting such low contrast features seems relatively innocuous (a 1% change at worst), especially when they can be clearly shown NOT to be related to the specimen. Subtracting a bare field image is a simple way to approximate the removal of such features from the final data so that one can see the specimen. (We should note also that though such a subtractive correction is simple, it is not ideal. A better correction would involve both a multiplicative and an additive/subtractive correction.)
This situation is very different to that of "subtracting" a high-contrast feature such as a starch grain from an image. I hope that this helps.
Jim Pawley
***************NEW ADDRESS************** Prof. James B Pawley, Ph. 608-263-3147 Room 1235, Engineering Research Building, FAX 608-265-5315 1500 Johnson Dr. Madison, Wisconsin, 53706. JPAWLEY-at-MACC.WISC.EDU
-- [ From: Charles A. Garber, Ph. D. * EMC.Ver #2.10P ] --
On May 10, Colleen Ann Lavin asked about the sectioning of glass fibers:
1] You will definitely need a diamond knife and you will not be able to do this with a glass knife,
2] If your "old" diamond knife is too chewed up, you won't be able to use it either, and
3] A "materials science" diamond knife, such as one of the SPI Materials Science diamond knives, is just like (e.g. same angles, etc) a "regular" life science knife but you are not paying for an edge that is 100% completely free of fine striations. The SPI "Materials Science" diamond knives are about 1/3 less in price than a "life science" knife of comparable edge length, yet the few fine striations still left will not cause you any problem whatsoever. For the cutting of glass fibers, you will be putting striations into the knife edge that are more profound than the fine ones we are talking about taking out, therefore why pay a premium price for something that will give you no benefit?
4] We have made excellent blocks in our own laboratory of glass fibers using our SPI #2660 SPI-Pon 812 resin kit which can be cured quite hard. You might want to vacuum embed. I guess you would have to either dehydrate the sample but another alternative might be to CPD the sample and then embed. The advantage of CPD is that you could flash on some gold, some of which might penetrate deep enough into theglass filter to provide some kind of decoration between the cells and embedding medium.
5] I would guess that a fracture face and SEM examination would give you something very hard to interpret.
Hope this is helpful in some small way!
Charles A. Garber PRESIDENT SPI SUPPLIES PO BOX 656 WEST CHESTER, PA 19380 USA
Dear Colleen, Regarding the cutting of glass fibers at 1micron average thickness please note the following: Do not go out and buy a new knife for this application especially if this is a one time project that will not haunt you for the years to come. I regularly(daily) cut glass beads for many customers and have been doing so on my low angle (35 degree) which offers less compression, diamond knife. I also noticed that John responded confirming what I am saying. If you do not have a low angle I would simply use your standard 45 degree or even better yet if you had a histo knife in the lab it would be perfect for 1 micron thick sections and they are so cheap that if over time damage was caused it is nominal to have the knife resharpened. The material science knife you speak of is an absolute waste of money. You do not have to buy a special knife for different types of materials. If you are unsure, you can always send me your sample and as a free service I will cut it for you like I do for all of my customers, give you a full report including micrographs and samples on grids so you can see for yourself. I do this for many customers on a regular basis and it really helps them to eliminate all of the guess work. Regarding embedding I would not worry about adherance problems(z-6040 by dow) for these particles do not seem to be large where seperation of embeddment and sample would occur. Just use plain old spurrs and you will be fine. No need for any of the special prep work. Glass fiber is actually very easy to work with and I truly do not see any difficulties ahead of you. Do not even consider cryo for it is just going to complicate you and cause you more problems than it is worth. I remain at your disposal if you have any questions or you would like for me to cut these samples for you without any charge. Stacie Kirsch Diatome U.S. P.O. box 125 Fort Washington, Pa. 19034 Tel: 215-646-1478 Fax:215-646-8931
We have used both FEI and Barry Scientific LaB6 cathodes in our Philips 410LS operating at 80KV. Have had no major trouble with either brand. Our scope did have a timer added to the saturation control but other than that no modifications were done. We do not change specimens any different than with a tungston filament. We do try and leave the HT on but in a low emmision mode, when we are not actually using the scope. We have had up to 3000 hrs (according to hour meter connected to scope) on a single LaB6 cathode. The main advantages of a LaB6 are its increased brightness and much longer life, therefore fewer column vacuum breaks. The main disadvantages is the fragility of the crystal carbon mounts. When installing the cathode in the wehnalt, extreme care must be taken so you do not snap the mount. One day I broke Two mounts, $1000.00 shot to hell in a matter of ten minutes. In conclusion I would recommend purschasing a LaB6.
Best of Luck,
Ed Calomeni Medical College of Ohio Toledo, OH emlab-at-opus.mco.edu
Greetings, THough I have never tried any of these myself, there are examples and recipees and suggestions for double and triple labelings in the recent book: Immunohistochemistry II. ed A.C. Cuello. Wiley 1993 (also known as IBRO Handbook series: Methods in Neurosciences, Vol 14.
I believe that all of the examples in the book deal with neural tissue.
Hope this helps. (BTW, I have no commercial link/tie/gain from the book
Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" To: MICROSCOPY-at-AAEM.AMC.ANL.GOV
Greetings, One of the real pleasures of the Microscopy List is the free exchange of opinions with other microscopists. The combined wisdom is a valuable tool. However, the replies of some vendors to the List cause me concern, especially when brand names and catalog numbers specific to that vendor are used. While a vendor's experience may be pertinent to a given query, I wonder if this List is an appropriate venue to sell their products.
Charles J. Butterick (Chuck) Electron Microscopy Center Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center 3601 4th Street Lubbock, Texas 79430
vox (806) 743-1633 fax (806) 743-1219 email emccjb-at-lubb.ttuhsc.edu or chuck-at-micron1.lubb.ttuhsc.edu
We routinely process muscle biopsies in Embed 812 (EMS) overnight and have them on the scope by noon the next day. I am in agreement that the major problem for Departments starting muscle pathology is that the pathologists often submit huge pieces. Ensure that your specimens have at least one measurement that does not exceed 1 mm (e.g., cross-section are no deeper than 1 mm, longitudinal sections are no wider then 1mm) and most of your problems will resolve. If you require methodology email me directly (not the listserver) and I will be happy to fax you recipes and times.
We've been having some problems with our Tektronix Phaser IIsdx dye sub. printer. Using four color transfer rolls, we're getting streaks in the prints. The streaks run along the long axis of the page and are denser at the top of the page than the bottom. One of the transfer rolls showed this streaking and a misalignment of the colors on the print. Both of these problems go away when we change transfer rolls. We've gone through 6 rolls and 2 of them have displayed this streaking. Another roll was not even recognized by the printer as a Tektronix transfer roll. So, we're batting .500 with transfer rolls. Tektronix claims that their quality control is much better than this and that the problem must be somewhere else in our system. Has anyone seen this type of behavior with a dye sub printer? Do you have any clues as to what may be causing it?
Some information about MSA Programs/Officers etc.. can be found on the Microscopy&Microanalysis WWW site, (URL=http://www.amc.anl.gov)
Look at the section called On-Line Information about National/International Societies...
MSA has a home page listed there.
From that source, here is the current contact person.
¥ Certification Board ------------------------- Karen Klomparens (1995-97) Center for Electron Optics B5 Pesticide Research Michigan State University East Lansing, MI 48824-1311
} Greetings, } One of the real pleasures of the Microscopy List is the } free exchange of opinions with other microscopists. The combined } wisdom is a valuable tool. However, the replies of some vendors to } the List cause me concern, especially when brand names and catalog } numbers specific to that vendor are used. While a vendor's experience } may be pertinent to a given query, I wonder if this List is an } appropriate venue to sell their products. } }
I would agree. Responding directly to an inquiry is fine, but cc'ing to the list is over the top.
Our current darkroom facility is under review by our safety inspection team. The question is during the final rinsing procedures for negative and prints, how much silver goes down the drain? We develop approximately 10 to 50 3.25" x 4" kodak SO163 negatives a month, and process maybe 10 prints from these negatives per month. Does anyone have a feel for the silver that might be in the effluents? Does anyone know the typical weight of silver per square cm used on SO163 and printing papers?
I am working on a project requiring fixing and embedding wheat seeds. My preliminary trial by embedding them in Epon, Spurr's and Lowicryl K4M failed to infiltrate the tissues properly especially endosperm. Soaking the seeds for one day improved somewhat but was unsatisfactory. Can anyone help? TIA.
I've been using a Phaser IISDX for several years. Never had that problem. It may sound silly, but there is a cleaning procedure which Tek. recommends. Have you done that to all appropriate surfaces??? It should be documented in one of the manuals. I've only ever done it once, when the colors were coming out inconsistent (i.e. fading after successive prints). Once cleaned I never had the problem again.
I was incorrect in my statement about LaB6 vesus CeB6 in our JEM-4000EXII. Sorry about that: I am not responsible for that microscope. In fact, we use an FEI CeB6 in a compression mount. That explains why carbon contamination is not a problem.
Russell E. Cook Electron Microscopy Center for Materials Research Argonne National Laboratory 9700 South Cass Avenue MSD-212 Argonne, IL 60439 (708)252-7194 FAX: (708)252-4798
I also have felt uncomfortable recently with vendors "hawking their wares" over the general listserver, although, I have benefitted in the past when vendors reached me directly with product information including price and availability. I would like them to continue to monitor the Microscopy Listserver for such inquiries and answer them directly as I may need such information in the future.
Dear Joe N., We converted our CM-12 to LAB6 about a year ago and so far over 1000 hours of saturated time. Purchased Kimball Physics, Inc. cathode through Barry Scientific-both companies very helpful. We've learned a lot about care and Generally, unsat. HT should be on at all times except changing plates to prevent oxide formation. Don't saturate until IGP reading below 25. Willing to discuss details if you give me a call. Donald Gantz Boston Univ School of Medicine 617-638-4017 E-Mail: gantz-at-med-biophd.bu.edu
Nestor: Now that the listserver appears to be functioning normally after the recent problems, I just wanted to express thanks for your efforts in getting everything back in operation. I speak for others at my lab, and I am sure for others elsewhere, who realize what a job it must be tending this server that we find so valuable. Now, I hope this does not generate a lot of "ditto for me" messages, as they will just add to the message load (hint to other subscribers) and may cause you additional headaches. Just Thanks again for the good job.
In my opinion I feel no reason to get upset with a supplier telling about their products. If we (the consumers) can tell good/bad stories about certain products when asked by someone on this newsgroup, why should a vendor not be able to do the same thing???? Of course this does not mean open warfare between various suppliers about products. At first I was a little concerned about the suppliers "hawking" their wares but after some consideration I felt it was ok. The vendors in question did not try to sell anything to anybody, but replied to a specific question, granted, with their products. Is this any different than a person trying to sell a used microscope, which has happened many times????
My 2cents worth
Ed Calomeni Medical College of Ohio Toledo, OH emlab-at-opus.mco.edu
I am in charge of maintenance of an EM facility which includes two ultramicrotomes (an RMC MT7 and an older Sorvall MT2-B). I would be interested to know how other labs maintain instruments like these? Service contracts? Demand service? Which companies have been reliable? Is it possible for a reasonably careful person to do their own maintenance?
As you may have guessed, I am having troubles obtaining service from my present provider, but I don't want to go into my own problems on the net. Suffice it to say that anything is better than the service I am getting now (and paying good money for). Any suggestions would be welcome, either on this forum or via email.
Thank you in advance
Vern Winston Department of Biological Sciences Idaho State University Pocatello, Idaho 83209-8007 winsvern-at-isu.edu
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Greetings, I think that is is worth making a distinction between vendors who reply to a question posed on the net and vendors who spontaneously announce products for sale. The latter is simply advertising and I feel has no place here. But, I have no problem with a vendor replying to a query about something with product info, provided that the vendor clearly identifies themselves as such. Several folks have said they think the vendors should correspond directly with the original questioner but many of us often have the same question and are interested in the replys. We use the subject line as a filter. Just my two cents.
Message-Id: {abd7f8b600021004600f-at-[128.178.98.24]} Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" To: Microscopy Mailing List {microscopy-at-aaem.amc.anl.gov}
As in lots of EM laboratories we prepare TEM specimens from GaAs and InP bulk material and thin films .
From our lab and other labs we know that the precautions for the people preparing the specimen and the treatment of the water used during the different steps of the preparation are very different.
Which precautions do you take? What do you consider as necessary?
A little Netiquette (mailing lists or newsgroups):
If someone asks a question that may or may not be of general interest to a wide audience, the standard way of replying to that question is to send email to originator. If you are interested in the replys that that person gets you send a request to them asking for copies of the replies. If the originaor receives several requests for copies of the replies (s)he may decide that a summary of the replies should be posted to the list/newsgroup.
OK?
John Mansfield North Campus Electron Microbeam Analysis Laboratory 413 SRB, University of Michigan 2455 Hayward, Ann Arbor MI 48109-2143 Phone: (313)936-3352 FAX (313)936-3352 jfmjfm-at-engin.umich.edu, John.F.Mansfield-at-umich.edu or jfmjfm-at-umich.edu they all reach me! URL: http://www.engin.umich.edu/~jfmjfm/jfmjfm.html
During the initial fix we use a drop or two of photo-flo as a wetting agent - plant material tends to be hydrophobic. We also cut the tissue into small pieces - this may not be ok for what you want to do. We use Spurrs and do 3 changes in 100% for at least 8 hrs/change. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. As you already know seeds are tough to work with - use very young, fresh material if possible.
Good luck!
Beth Richardson EM Lab Coordinator Botany Dept. University of Georgia Athens, GA 30602-7271 (706) 542-1790
On Thu, 11 May 1995, Ann-Fook Yang wrote:
} I am working on a project requiring fixing and embedding wheat } seeds. My preliminary trial by embedding them in Epon, Spurr's and } Lowicryl K4M failed to infiltrate the tissues properly especially } endosperm. Soaking the seeds for one day improved somewhat but was } unsatisfactory. Can anyone help? TIA. } } Ann Fook Yang } }
another two cents worth - I agree with Tobias Baskin - a vendor replying to a query often provides useful information. Apart from that, vendors are microscopists too, often pretty good ones, probably even bleed if they are cut etc...... cheers, Sally Stowe
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Sally Stowe Australian National Univ. Facility Coordinator Canberra, AUSTRALIA ANU Electron Microscopy Unit Ph 61 6 249 2743 RSBS, Box 475 Email stowe-at-rsbs-central.anu.edu.au FAX 61 6 249 4891 ------------------------------------- -------------------------------- -
I find some of the commercial information useful and would hate to see it cc'd only to the inquirer rather than to the list. I guess there is a fine line between information specific to a product and blatant advertising. I would hate to see the list become commercialized, but I do think vendors have information to impart that is both useful to their desire to sell product and is useful to end users need for info. I don't have an answer, just a hope we won't inhibit info exchange because it is somewhat commercial.
Jay Jerome ************************************************************** * aka: W. Gray Jerome * * Dept. of Pathology * * Bowman Gray School of Medicine of Wake Forest University * * Medical Center Blvd * * Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1092 * * 910-716-4972 * * jjerome-at-isnet.is.wfu.edu * **************************************************************
On Thu, 11 May 1995, Tim Foecke wrote:
} } Greetings, } } One of the real pleasures of the Microscopy List is the } } free exchange of opinions with other microscopists. The combined } } wisdom is a valuable tool. However, the replies of some vendors to } } the List cause me concern, especially when brand names and catalog } } numbers specific to that vendor are used. While a vendor's experience } } may be pertinent to a given query, I wonder if this List is an } } appropriate venue to sell their products. } } } } } } I would agree. Responding directly to an inquiry is fine, but } cc'ing to the list is over the top. } }
Everyone is invited to attend the Central States Microscopy Society Spring Meeting.
Friday, May 19th at the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois.
Times: 8:20-5pm
Registration: Free, 7:45-8:20am, can come later. Lunch is $5
Includes: 2 simultaneously running sessions, one mostly material sci, other biology Student Presentation Competition, 2 Demo's, Venders, and Tours of the U of I facilities for microscopy
Session 1: Microscopes of the Future Dr. Alwyn Eades
Characterization of Corrosion Scales in Water Pipes Using Electron Microscopy Jim Shull*
Constrained Melt Polymerized Crystals of a Family of Random Ter-Polyesters. Clara Gonzalez*
Hydrogen effects on Dislocation Motion Paulo Ferreira*
Ion Implantation Damage in the AlGaAs/GaAs System Britt A Turkot*
Effect of Hydrogen on the Deformation and Fracture Behavior of a Beta-Titanium Alloy David F Teter*
Study of Copper-Polyimide interfaces Marlon E Menezes*
Dynamical Calculation of RHEED Patterns From Rough Silicon 001 Surfaces Scott Lordi*
Monitoring Air Pollutants in Lichens by Means of Microscopy and X-Ray Microanalysis Dr. Richard Crang
Localization of the Dioxin Receptor: Human Health Implications Dr. Paul Cooke
Cellular Localization of a Major Acid Phosphotase in Francisella tularensis Dr. Mark Kuhlenschmidt
An In Vivo Model of Podocyte Charge Alteration and Early Glomerular Injury Dr. Howard Gelberg
Session 2:
Immunogold Localization of Cytochrome-C Isoforms in Testicular Germcell Mitochondria--Dr Rex Hess
What's on the Information Superhighway for Microscopists? Dr. Ron Smith
SEM and TEM Characterization of Protein Microspheres. Mike Wong*
Biodistribution of I.V. Injected Protein Microspheres Ken Kolbeck*
Identification of Specific Relaxin-Binding Cells in the Cervix of the Pregnant Pig utilizing a Biotinylated Porcine Relaxin Probe Min Gyesik*
Cytoskeletal Organization of Factors Involved in their Function Dr. Heidi Schatten
Use of Methylmethacrylate For Plastic Casting of Kidney and Liver Vasculature Dr. Kenneth Holmes
Digital Imaging Dr. Bridget Carragher
Demo's:
Microwave Demo Lou Ann Miller
Demo's in MW oven calibration, tissue fixation and thin section grid staining in Uranyl Acetate This is an informal group demo/ discussion, participants are welcome to bring their own photo's and Procedures.
Ted Pella Rep. Lee Dickey will have some MW procedure information and a Demo of their latest Microwave model. .............................................
Computer Software Usage for 2D & 3D Image Manipulation Janet Hanlon
Histology Images are used with software Programs like Photoshop, and more. This is an informal demo/ discussion group. Participants are encouraged to bring Questions or even a DOS formatted disk with an image.
Tours: Bevier Center for Electron Microscopy MRL--Material Research Lab Beckman Vis Lab--EM and Digital Imaging
For more information or to be sent a schedule/ maps etc,
Contact:
Lou Ann Miller lmiller-at-ux1.cso.uiuc.edu 217-244-1566 (7am-4pm CST) Fax: 217-333-4628
*********************** Lou Ann Miller Microscopic Imaging Laboratory College of Veterinary Medicine University of Illinois 2001 S Lincoln Ave Urbana, Illinois 61801 217-244-1566 lmiller-at-ux1.cso.uiuc.edu ***********************
Joe Neilly of Abbott Laboratories asked: } We are planning to convert the tungsten filament in our Philips CM-12 } STEM to a LaB6 source. I am aware of the general precautions one must } take with regards to vacuum and saturation to preserve the LaB6 crystal } but not the details. I would like to know what specific precautions CM- } 12 users take when using their instruments with a LaB6 filament. Is the } built in saturation delay of the instrument slow enough? What vacuum is } low enough to begin saturation? How do you do sample changes? And are } there any recommended vendors?
I compared the operating characteristics of 3 thermionic emitters (W, LaB6, and CeB6) in Philips TEMs and reported the results at last year's MSA/MAS meeting in New Orleans (abstract in the MAS proceedings). Here are some of my conclusions:
I. LaB6 or CeB6 crystals with 90 degree cone angles will be 3X brighter than standard W loops when the hexaboride emitters are heated to the point at which the beam current and the source image are no longer change significantly (the source images have a slight bit of detail in it at that point). All of the emitters were mounted identically in the Wehnelt cylinder, i.e. 0.2 mm back from the Wehnelt's outer surface which had a 0.5 mm aperture, and were biased identically (maximum bias, minimum "emission number").
II. Hexaboride emitters with 60 degree cone angles will be 12X brighter than standard W loops when the above conditions are satisfied.
III. Not all emitter/gun combinations are satisfactory:
A. For instance, CeB6 crystals in compression mounts had typical lifetimes of 720 hours in our Philips TEMs before cracks developed in the crystal volume between the compression mount structures. The crystals then became tilted in or fell out of the mounts. The cracks may form because of frequent thermal cycling: our standard operating procedure is to cool a LaB6/CeB6 cathode before inserting or removing samples to reduce the risk of degrading the emission properties by contamination (Philips TEMs have no gun isolation valves which the user can operate). That is, inherent flaws in the crystals, whether LaB6 or CeB6, are caused to grow under compressive, cyclic stresses. However, LaB6 crystals in a wire-supported, brazed mount do very well in our Philips guns: typical useful lifetimes are over a year.
B. On the other hand, LaB6 crystals in compression mounts work quite well in our JEOL JEM-4000EXII. The voltage is always on although the cathode is heated and cooled each day. The gun can be isolated from the column. However, LaB6 crystals in a wire-supported, brazed mount do very poorly in this gun: their brightness decreases rapidly in the first week. We think that these crystals may become contaminated with carbon or something else (LaB6 cannot recover its original emission properties after carbon contamination, but CeB6 does recover). We don't understand why carbon from the graphite in the compression mounts does not contaminate the LaB6.
IV. As for the specific operating procedures in our Philips TEMs (EM420T and CM30T), we insert the sample with the HT off, wait until the vacuum is 3E-7 torr or 4E-5 Pa, turn on the HT, and heat the cathode to "saturation" in three minutes (a modification of an old DENKA recommendation). We instruct users to "saturate" the cathode while observing the source image rather than simply increasing the filament control to some predetermined number to prevent over-saturating the cathode and to maintain better control over the gun tilt (tilt changes for different voltages and cathode temperatures). The filament control must be decreased over the first 30 - 60 minutes because the cathode continues to heat slowly beyond the "saturation" point during that time. Before changing samples, the cathode is cooled over 3 minutes, the HT is shut off, and the user waits 5 minutes before removing the sample holder. We are very cautious in this procedure because of the lack of the ability to isolate the gun.
V. The filament and emission (bias) controls can be varied to achieve maximum brightness, etc. Contact me for details.
VI. We have been using DENKA 90 degree LaB6 crystals in a wire-supported, brazed mount in the Philips TEMs. Recently, we have been using FEI 90 degree LaB6 crystals in compression mounts in the JEOL JEM-4000EXII.
Russell E. Cook Electron Microscopy Center for Materials Research Argonne National Laboratory 9700 South Cass Avenue MSD-212 Argonne, IL 60439 (708)252-7194 FAX: (708)252-4798
Yes, I've noticed a few (not all) users are starting to stretch the limits... for the most part things have been on the up and up. So, let me just repost a portion of the ground rules that everyone first received when you subscribed...
General Ground Rules on using the ANL AMC Microscopy Listserver/Mailreflector
Before continuing you should understand your responsibilities as a Microscopy Listserver/Mailreflector System user.
Specifically they are:
1.) Actively encourage and promote the free exchange and discussion of information, ideas and opinions, except when the content would compromise the national security of the United States (or any other country for that matter) ; violate proprietary rights, personal privacy, or applicable state/federal/local laws and regulations affecting telecommunications; or constitute a crime or libel.
2.) Use your REAL NAME and fully disclose any personal, financial, or commercial interest when evaluating any specific product or service, or contribution.
3.) Do not use this system for delivery of personal mail, messages or items of a similiar nature (i.e no posting of resume's , or overt commericalism i.e. selling products.. etc....) If you are not sure then it probably does not belong here! If you would like an opinion then Email the message to me and I will review and comment as appropriate. (Zaluzec-at-aaem.amc.anl.gov).
4.) Adhere to these rules and notify the Listserver-at-aaem.amc.anl.gov immediately when you discover any violations.
Basically any question/comment/observation or general information/announcement which involves microscopy and/or microanalysis. This list is not moderated, so it is up to the users to self-police themselves. I generally take an openminded attitude toward questions. If in my opinion, it appears that a discussion is straying far off the limits of the intent of this forum I will post a note to the group. But I prefer to err on the safe side with most messages and allow at least a modicum of generally. Clearly, generic questions about Word Processing do not belong in this discussion forum, so just use common sense.
If there is any question in your mind about something you wish to post, send it to me first at Zaluzec-at-aaem.amc.anl.gov and I will give you my opinion/comments.
Can I post an Announcement of a Job Opening or a Meeting? ---------------------------------------------------------
Yes that falls within the bounds of the subject of this list as long as it is related to Microscopy/Microanalysis.
Can I post my Resume'? ---------------------
No. This forum was not created for that purpose. For the time being, you may post your resume on the MSA BBS system.
Can I post an Advertisement? ----------------------------
No, that does not fit within the bounds of this forum.
This listserver is not intended to be a Sales mechanism for commerical organizations. If you are an organization and have equipment you wish to donate, or sell, for nominal cost (i.e. no profit) then this is generally an acceptable posting. If you are not sure then send a copy of the announcement in question to Zaluzec-at-aaem.amc.anl.gov and I will give you my opinion. An example of this type would be an old decommissioned instrument which someone is trying to give away for removal/shipping costs, that would fit within the bounds of the purposes of this list.
If you are a manufacturer, you are welcome to observe/join in any discussion at any time. But, please refrain from overt sales pitches and/or commericalism. If a product which you produce can solve a problem or answer aquestion raised by anyone, then by all means feel free to say so briefly and then offer to continue the discussion with any interested parties off-line. Just add your phone number or Email address to the end of your message, any you'll be contacted. Please keep your comments about any product you "sell" to a minimum.
When commenting about any product/question it is always appropriate to state your organization and affliation.
********************************* Nestor J. Zaluzec Your Friendly Neighborhood SysOp.
********************************* End of File *********************************
As a subscriber to the listserver from one of the more remote parts of the world where we do not have frequent opportunities to see and discuss vendors' products, I find the information supplied by vendors in answer to subscribers' enquiries to be very useful. It would be a pity, therefore, if they were not permitted to use this means of communicating with their customers or were restricted to replying only to the originators of the enquiries.
They do not appear to be abusing the listserver at present but if they should begin to do so I am sure that adequate means are available to suppress their enthusiasm!
Robin Cross Director : EM Unit, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa.
} From: "MR RHM CROSS" {EURC-at-giraffe.ru.ac.za} } Organization: Rhodes University } To: microscopy-at-aaem.amc.anl.gov } Date: Fri, 12 May 1995 08:28:40 GMT+0200 } Subject: commercial use of listserver } Priority: normal
} As a subscriber to the listserver from one of the more remote parts of } the world where we do not have frequent opportunities to see and } discuss vendors' products, I find the information supplied by vendors } in answer to subscribers' enquiries to be very useful. It would be a } pity, therefore, if they were not permitted to use this means of } communicating with their customers or were restricted to replying } only to the originators of the enquiries. } } They do not appear to be abusing the listserver at present but if } they should begin to do so I am sure that adequate means are } available to suppress their enthusiasm! } } Robin Cross } Director : EM Unit, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa. } 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
} It strikes me as odd that scientists expect vendors to spend incredible } resources in developing products and services to meet their needs, but when it } comes to free exchange of information on a listserver like this we become =========== } persona non grata. Vendors offer a very valuable service to the scientific } community. Vendors and scientists should work together for their mutual } benefit. People seem to think we're dirty because we are a "for profit" } organization. Well, I'm here to say that VENDOR is not a dirty word and that } vendors who contribute to this listserver should be commended for their } interest } rather than castigated for their responses.
I very much agree with David Henriks in that commerical vendors do contribute to the academic community in a lively way. *List-restrictive* people might be afraid from being OVERFLOODED with unselective, unprecise, and otherwise plain advertisement material (as we are all used to be from other media), which does not answer questions or contributes in a specific way to a certain thread. As this phenomenon is not the major part of communication on this and other lists, I appreciate a concise form of product information that of course comes with scientific research.
:-)
+++ Dietmar Reiter, Dept. of Zoology and Limnology +++ University of Innsbruck +++ Technikerstrasse 25, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria +++ phone: (43)-512-507 ext. -6170, fax ext. -2930
I am assuming that your SiO2 is carbon coated. The lower counts observed while moving the beam may simply be the effect of the carbon coating. The MAC for O by C is significant, around 12,000. If you continuously monitor your O counts you will probably find that the count rate is a little low until the electron beam literally 'burns' a hole in the carbon coat (30-60 sec) then reaches a maximum which is stable until the carbon contamination starts to influence the measurement.
Charlie Wood Dow Chemical Co. Midland, MI cjwood-at-dow.com
Okay folks, I think by now we have seen most variation on opinions. Rest assured if I feel things are getting out of hand I will send a note to the appropriate individual(s).
I'm happy that everyone feels that the VENDORS belong here because I also believe this, and that short descriptive info on their product which answers a question IS appropriate.
I wish to apologise for the posting I made on May 9: } "All equipment here is available to users, for a fee, with or without } expert assistance. I have handled all kinds of SEM & EDS and would be } willing to consult or work with any form of sample."
I had intended the posting to go ONLY!!! to one individual who had requested contributions to an academic resources list. I did not intend it to go to the microscopy group as a whole nor did I intend any suggestion of commercial availability. I was trying to gain access to listings of other academic microscopy resources by offering to contribute my own listing. I did not intend to indicate availability of my equpment or services except to academic users. I apologise for my mistake in making the posting general and for any unintended implication of commercial availability.
Alan S. Pooley, PhD Marine and Coastal Sciences SEM Lab Rutgers University, New Brunswick NJ 09803-0231
I'm not sure you need another diamond knife vendor's opinion here, but I can address the issues quickly.
A) By all means, use your old knife. This is always the way to begin with samples you've never cut before. If you have some question about its condition, we can inspect it for you at 800X at no charge. This will tell you where you have the best chance for success.
B) Cryo probably won't help you here. Speaking for DDK and old DuPont knives, cryo work and/or solvents will not degrade the epoxy.
We also offer free sectioning evaluations using your samples with grids, micrographs, reports, etc. To arrange for this or discuss your project further, give me a buzz.
Joe Tabeling Delaware Diamond Knives 3825 Lancaster Pike Wilmington, DE 19805 800-222-5143
Message-Id: {9505121505.AA22010-at-unlinfo.unl.edu} X-Sender: gkrichau-at-unlinfo.unl.edu X-Mailer: Windows Eudora Version 1.4.4 Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Does anyone have a board that they would be willing to loan for four weeks? Wehave one on order but it won't arrive for another four week and we have a little bit of a time problem with some research deadlines. We have an image only board that we could trade for the duration.
Thanks in advance, Gary Krichau
Central Facility for Electron Microscopy University of Nebraska-Lincoln ___________________________________________
Dear Ann-Fook We have often encountered difficulties whenever seeds at low moisture contents are embedded. However, I don't think this is necessarily related to the resin infiltration, but one of fixation in the first place. It is quite likely that membrane conformation in the 'dry' state may be retained as the fixative comes into contact with it. Consequently, chemical penetration (including that of the fixative(s) will not be as good as that of seeds which have been hydrated for anything in excess of 4 hrs. So, if hydration is not a problem this is the way to go. (Certainly making an incision along one side of the area to be embedded and/or reducing the size of the specimen helps the whole process.) However, if you need to look at the dehydrated state I suggest you try freeze substitution although you will be restricted in the size of the samples processed.
I hope this helps you.
James Wesley-Smith EM Unit. Univ of Natal Durban South Africa
I have been considering switching to LaB6 too. What is the experience of Hitachi H-7000 users out there in this regard. -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- Greg Erdos Phone: 904-392-1295 Scientific Director, ICBR EMCL 218 Carr Hall Fax 904-846-0251 University of Florida E-mail: gwerdos-at-gnv.ifas.ufl.edu Gainesville, FL 32611
So far we have not been inundated with advertisements that have nothing to do our fields of interest. We would find interesting and useful posts whereby one vendor says, "Our product is better than the competition's AND THIS IS WHY." Or, "This is how and why our product can help resolve the issues you queried on the net." I would say, let's err in favor of not segregating based on commercial or academic affiliation. When a sales rep posts, "Buy our instrument and we will throw in a trip to the Bahamas," then we can tighten the rules. Michael Cammer
} can forever erase any message that offends your style. I find the } inclusion of commercial vendors a great asset for us "users". With } their input maybe I can find out about a product or service, maybe I can } get a new approach to a problem, and maybe I can even learn about their } personal knowledge and interest in our endeavors. } I say let them continue.
We have a Matrix Multicolor Image Recorder (Color Image Recorder, CIR-340, Nipon Avionics Ltd. Made in Japan). The address of Matrix Instruments Inc. in the manual was Orangeburg, NY. The unit is about 6 years old and in need of repairs. The supplier in Canada cannot provide the service. We are told that the company went under. We have dedided to do our own repairs. I would appreciate any leads towards obtaining a copy of the schematics. TIA.
I am cutting a very small human diabetic epirentinal membrane (1.5 X 2.0mm) embedded in Immuno Bed resin (size 00 beem capsules) with a block face of 1.0 X 1.5mm. Customer wants 20 slides, unstained, each with several sections, located centrally on the slide (single drop), at 3 micron thickness. Customer wants to label FGF with an antibody at the light level. Immuno Bed is a very soft resin for light microscopy only.
I am cutting the sections without any problems on a dry glass knife. I can also pick up the sections without any problems with a fine forcep. The problem occurs in transferring the section to the glass slide. Is there any way to increase the surface tension of the water droplet on the glass slide causing it to bead? This will aid in the transfer and flattening of the section. I could use a coated slide, but I'm wondering if this could adversly affect the immuno results. (ie; increase in background noise, affinity for dirt and other contamination, skewed results, false positives, etc.)
Fred A. Hayes 916-752-7712 work University of California,Davis 916-752-4701 work School of Medicine Department ofMedical Pathology; EM Lab MSIA E-mail: Davis, CA 95616 fahayes-at-ucdavis.edu
1320 Dogwood Court 916-678-6280 home Dixon, CA 95620-3227
} I am working on a project requiring fixing and embedding wheat } seeds. My preliminary trial by embedding them in Epon, Spurr's and } Lowicryl K4M failed to infiltrate the tissues properly especially } endosperm. Soaking the seeds for one day improved somewhat but was } unsatisfactory. Can anyone help? TIA. } } Ann Fook Yang } } Dear Ann,
Have you done a literature search? Try infiltrating in 1:1 Spurr's/200 proof ethanol overnight under a light vacumm (15-20psi). Next day, switch to 100% Spurr's, and infiltrate under vacumm for two or three days using a resin change each morning. The pot life of this resin can be varied for up to 5 days or greater. Thats the great advantage of it, besides it's low viscosity. You could also leave it in LR White at 4 degrees centrigrade for weeks or even months. Good luck.
Fred A. Hayes 916-752-7712 work University of California,Davis 916-752-4701 work School of Medicine Department ofMedical Pathology; EM Lab MSIA E-mail: Davis, CA 95616 fahayes-at-ucdavis.edu
1320 Dogwood Court 916-678-6280 home Dixon, CA 95620-3227
} I have been considering switching to LaB6 too. What is the experience of } Hitachi H-7000 users out there in this regard. } -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- } Greg Erdos Phone: 904-392-1295
We tried a Kimball Physics in our H-7000 and found it very troublesome, though similar Kimball Lab6 emitters work well in our S-360 SEM. There was a lot of trouble re-educating our users in using Lab6 and worst, the emission image always had some sort of crazy-paving pattern of dark lines over it. We gave up. We have the emitter for anyone who wants it! Hitachi claim their own Lab6 emitters are the best (of course!) but if you deal with them at least you could hassle your local serviceman to make it work well.
In my experience cleaning the microscope slide thoroughly with lens cleaning tissue removes any residues of the detergent used when slides are washed prior to shipping. After cleaning water beads form quite satisfactorily.
Yours sincerely
Dr Stephan Helfer, SSO Mycologist
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Inverleith Row, EDINBURGH EH3 5LR, Scotland UK
send again --------------------- Forwarded message: Subj: Fixatives Shelf life
Regarding your message on your inheritance of glut and sodium cac. please note the following: Glut as long as it was stored away from direct sunlight and high heat can go for years. The easiest way to test its potency is to crack open 1 ampoule and first examine it. If it is not cloudy and does not have a percipitate you should be in luck. To assure this take distillled water in an equal amoun of the glut in a beaker and shake it up. It will go cloudy at first but once it settles it should go back to being clear. If it does and there is still no precipitate you have no problem at all. Regarding the S.C. if it is in powder form we have found that this to lasts for years. Make sure it has not crystallized. If it is in solution check for preciptitate. If it has precipitated dispose of it for it is no longer good. I hope this helps. Stacie Kirsch Electron Microscopy Sciences Fax: 215-646-8931
Regarding your message on your inheritance of glut and sod. cac. please note the following: Glut as long as it was stored away from direct sunlight and high heat suprisingly can go for years and be very stable. The easiest way to test its potency is to take 10mls of the glut and firstly examine it. If there is no precipitate and it is not cloudy the liklihood that it is good is strong. To assure this take an equal amount of distilled water to the glut and add it together shaking for a few seconds. The solution will go cloudy on you but once it settles if the glut is good it will go clear again and there will be no precipitate. This is a 100% indication that the glut is good. Regarding sod. cac. if it is in the powder form we have found it lasts for years. Make sure it has not crystallized. If it is in solution check visually for precipitate. If it has precipitated which after 2 years in solution if should have just dispose of it for it has lost its stability. I hope this helps. Sincerely, Stacie Kirsch Electron Microscopy Sciences Fax: 215-646-8931
" We would like to have a reply on 2 questions. Maybe you can help us.
1. Does anyone have measured, or knows a reference of intracellular [Ca2+] in quiesent heart cells, preferably from neonatal rats?
2. Does anyone know software to calculate free [Ca2+] in solutions."
Dr. Kevin Pedly from London answered me. He did mention the program MAXC (by Chris Patten) en he also mentioned the commercial software BioSoft. I would like to know if someone is using this BioSoft program to calculate intracellular [Ca2+]. Or maybe you know someone who is using it. Please let me know. I do have some important questions for those persons.
A new Postdoctoral Position will be available in the Department of Science at the University of Pennsylvania to examine the structures, crystal chemistry and properties of ceramic microwave dielectric oxides.
The candidate must have experience in High Resolution TEM and a strong backgound in Oxide Crystal Chemistry. The project will involve structure imaging of a variety of titanate, niobate and tantalate oxide dielectrics which are utilized as resonators in wireless communication devices. Most of the microscopy will be conducted on the JEOL 4000EX available in the electron microscopy facility of the Materials Research program at Penn. The goals of the project are to correlate the dielectric properties of these materials to changes in the cation ordering mechansims and to utilize this information in the design and synthesis of new oxide dielectrics.
Applicants should send their resume together with the names and telephone numbers of three references to:
Professor Peter K. Davies; Department of Material Science & Engineering; University of Pennsylvania; 3231 Walnut street; Philadelphia; PA19104-6272. e-mail: DAVIES-at-SOL1.LRSM.UPENN.EDU FAX: 215-573-2128
Does anyone out there have experience processing silicon intraocular lenses after explant for SEM? Tommorrow (Tuesday 3/16), I am transporting a silicon IOL from the hospital after removal from the patient. The lens will be put into cold 2.5% Glutaraldehyde buffered in 0.1M Sodium Cacodylate at pH 7.4. The Ophthalmologist doing the explant would like to know if there are any inflammatory cells on the surface and what type.
Any suggestions on processing, do's and/or dont's?
Normally, I would process as follows: 1) Glut fixation for 2-3 hours 2) wash in 0.1M Sod. Caco. 3) 1% OsO4 for 30 min 4) wash in 0.1M Sod. Caco. 5) dehydrate in graded ETOH 6) 200 proof ETOH, 3 changes 7) CPD with CO2 8) mount on stub with silver paste 9) Gold coat
flat mount on the stub with either anterior or posterior surface up depending on which surface has the most cells at the gross level.
Are there any anticipated problems with the silicon lens? ie; fracturing from the CO2.
Thank you.
Fred A. Hayes 916-752-7712 work University of California,Davis 916-752-4701 work School of Medicine Department ofMedical Pathology; EM Lab MSIA E-mail: Davis, CA 95616 fahayes-at-ucdavis.edu
1320 Dogwood Court 916-678-6280 home Dixon, CA 95620-3227
} Does anyone out there have experience processing silicon intraocular lenses } after explant for SEM? Tommorrow (Tuesday 3/16), I am transporting a } silicon IOL from the hospital after removal from the patient. The lens } will be put into cold 2.5% Glutaraldehyde buffered in 0.1M Sodium Cacodylate } at pH 7.4. The Ophthalmologist doing the explant would like to know if } there are any inflammatory cells on the surface and what type.
Fred,
Most of the IOL's I have processed were polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). When we tried to do silicon lenses, I remember them being grossly distorted following critical point drying. It's been several years since I have done any of these, and I don't remember what our solution to the problem was. I'd suggest doing some control lenses to check the effect of processing, if that's possible. Slight distortion of the lens does not really interfere with seeing whether there are cells on the surface. I can direct you to a lab that has done a lot of these, if that would help. Let me know privately. Good luck.
John chandler-at-lamar.ColoState.EDU http://www.vetmed.colostate.edu/anatomy/faculty/chandler.html
Alternate-Recipient: allowed Auto-Forwarded: prohibited Content-Return: allowed Disclose-Recipients: prohibited Conversion: allowed Importance: normal Priority: normal Sensitivity: Company-Confidential
I would be interested to hear from anyone who has used an imidazole buffered osmium tetroxide fixing/staining method, particularly for alveoli. I tried this technique with some lung tissue and found very dense, round precipitate (or droplets), about 2um particle diameter, around the surface of the alveoli. The surfactant within the cells was well preserved but I would like to avoid the formation of the dense particles if possible.
Has anyone experianced this dark precipitate when using imidazole and OsO4?
Richard Lander
Richard Easingwood South Campus Electron Microscope Unit Otago Medical School PO Box 913 Dunedin NEW ZEALAND
Fred- we used to process intracorneal lenses, they are quite a bit different than the silicon lens you described, but we found it important to stay away from critical point drying. our protocol was similar to yours upto dehydration. after going through the ethanol series we immersed the lens in a mix 50:50 absolute ethanol & trichlorofluoroethane then a graded series 30:70,10:90 and finally 100% trichlorofluoroethane (2x) 10 min/ solution, after the final step remove the sample and air dry (use light flow of air, or gently shake the sample to expidite drying). mount sample, apply conductive coating, and examine. -Mike
On Mon, 15 May 1995, Fred Hayes wrote:
} Does anyone out there have experience processing silicon intraocular lenses } after explant for SEM? Tommorrow (Tuesday 3/16), I am transporting a } silicon IOL from the hospital after removal from the patient. The lens } will be put into cold 2.5% Glutaraldehyde buffered in 0.1M Sodium Cacodylate } at pH 7.4. The Ophthalmologist doing the explant would like to know if } there are any inflammatory cells on the surface and what type. } } Any suggestions on processing, do's and/or dont's? } } Normally, I would process as follows: } 1) Glut fixation for 2-3 hours } 2) wash in 0.1M Sod. Caco. } 3) 1% OsO4 for 30 min } 4) wash in 0.1M Sod. Caco. } 5) dehydrate in graded ETOH } 6) 200 proof ETOH, 3 changes } 7) CPD with CO2 } 8) mount on stub with silver paste } 9) Gold coat } } flat mount on the stub with either anterior or posterior surface up } depending on which surface has the most cells at the gross level. } } Are there any anticipated problems with the silicon lens? ie; fracturing } from the CO2. } } Thank you. } } Fred A. Hayes 916-752-7712 work } University of California,Davis 916-752-4701 work } School of Medicine } Department ofMedical Pathology; EM Lab } MSIA E-mail: } Davis, CA 95616 fahayes-at-ucdavis.edu } } 1320 Dogwood Court 916-678-6280 home } Dixon, CA 95620-3227 } } } }
I'm curious, Mike, what was the problem with critical point drying?
} we used to process intracorneal lenses, they are quite a bit different than the silicon lens you described, but we found it important to stay away from critical point drying. our protocol was similar to yours upto dehydration. after going through the ethanol series we immersed the lens in a mix 50:50 absolute ethanol & trichlorofluoroethane then a graded series 30:70,10:90 and finally 100% trichlorofluoroethane (2x) 10 min/ solution, after the final step remove the sample and air dry (use light flow of air, or gently shake the sample to expidite drying).
} I'm curious, Mike, what was the problem with critical point drying? } } } we used to process intracorneal lenses, they are quite a bit different } than the silicon lens you described, but we found it important to stay } away from critical point drying. our protocol was similar to yours upto } dehydration. after going through the ethanol series we immersed the lens } in a mix 50:50 absolute ethanol & trichlorofluoroethane then a graded } series 30:70,10:90 and finally 100% trichlorofluoroethane (2x) 10 min/ } solution, after the final step remove the sample and air dry (use light } flow of air, or gently shake the sample to expidite drying).
The problem that I remember with the silicon IOL's, from several years ago, was that they would deform and melt at the temperatures we had in the CPD, like 40+ deg C. Solvents seemed to be more of a problem with some of the other lenses.
John chandler-at-lamar.ColoState.EDU http://www.vetmed.colostate.edu/anatomy/faculty/chandler.html
I am having a problem with the Jaffee wick washer method. After placing the grids and filter upon the filter paper (saturated with acetone) and letting them set for 4 to 6 hrs., the grids have fused themselves to the underlying filter paper. Second, after examination under a dissecting microscope, the carbon film has disintegrated. And finally, an intact carbon film grid under the beam is unstable. Any help with these problems will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks Matt Kleabonas EM Student Stratton VAMC, Albany NY
Hi Microscopists I am trying to etch the surface of a Spurr resin block that has been thick sectioned with a view to examining the exposed tissue in an SEM. I am trynig sodium methoxide but am just getting a "gooey" surface which obscures the tissue. The resin from the rest of the block is dissappearing rapidly. Does anyone know of a better etchant for Spurr?
Many thanks
Chris Chris Gilpin Biological Sciences E.M. Unit G452 Stopford Building Manchester University Oxford Road Manchester M13 9PT U.K. phone 061-275-5170 fax 061-275-5171
If you can't critical point dry the object and you are imaging at 2000x or below, have you considered makink a replica? Use polyvynil siloxane to take an impression of the surface. It will pick up liquid droplets so yuo should try to gently air dry the surface. Let the impression sit overnight to out gas and then pour Spurr resin into the impression. Let it cure, separate and mount it. Sputter coat it before viewing.
I am planning to analyse, in the near future, Na-germanate glasses with the electron probe microanalyzer. I am expecting that this will be somewhat challenging and that Na will diffuse away from the beam very significantly. I was just wondering if someone has some experience in analyzing such glasses, and what are the best conditions and standards to get decent results.
Thanks ,
Yves.
Yves Thibault Dept. of Earth Sciences University of Western Ontario London, Ontario, CANADA N6A 5B7
Sodium methoxide is a very efficient SOLVENT for just about any polymerized epoxy resin and does not damage the tissue significantly if osmium fixation has been carried out. The reaction must be carried out to completion though, as any remaining partially depolymerized resin will form the gooey residue that you see. Rather than expose the entire block to the solvent, why not cut out the area of interest including the sectioned face, and completely remove all remaining resin? I do this occasionally by cutting a 3-5 micrometer section, drying it down on a coverslip, etching away the resin, then coating and viewing it. An alternative method might be to etch the block face in an oxygen plasma. This of course requires a plasma asher and is more destructive to the sample.
-=W.L. Steffens=- College of Veterinary Medicine University of Georgia
I am planning to analyse, in the near future, Na-germanate glasses with the electron probe microanalyzer. I am expecting that this will be somewhat challenging and that Na will diffuse away from the beam very significantly. I was just wondering if someone has some experience in analyzing such glasses, and what are the best conditions and standards to get decent results.
Thanks ,
Yves.
Yves Thibault Dept. of Earth Sciences University of Western Ontario London, Ontario, CANADA N6A 5B7
One suggestion in regards to the beam induced sodium migration is to monitor the variation of Na signal with time in order to compensate for the loss. Such approaches for dealing with the loss of one or more species during microanalysis have been tried with varying degrees of success by a number of groups.
A couple references:
Neilson and Sigurdsson, Am. Mineral. 66 (1981) Craven, Cluckie, Duckworth and Baker, Ultramicroscopy 28 (1989) 330 Medlin and Howitt, Ultramicroscopy 48 (1993)
A couple papers specific to the sodium problem in glasses:
Miotello and Mazzoldi (1982) "Numerical analysis of field assisted sodium migration in electron irradiated glasses," J. Phys.. C: Solid State Physics 15, 5615-5621.
Walker and Howitt (1989) "Field induced migration of sodium in soda-silicate glasses during scanning electron microscopy" Scanning 11, 5-11.
I am doing negative stain on virus particles. RThe purpose is to calculate the connoe conc. of virus particles in a given concentration. What is the best way to approach this?
ssorry ofor the last posting which went blank.
Raj-at-bioimg.umdnj.edu Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Dept. of Pathology EM LAB (()*)908)235-4648
We are having difficulty appropriately contrasting our conventionally prepared (aldehyde fixation in cacodylate buffer, osmication, en bloc with uranyl acetate, epoxy embedding) brain tissue that has traditionally been post-stained sequentially with uranyl acetate and then lead citrate. It appears that the culprit is the uranyl acetate. I've been told that the uranyl is now manufactured in the former Soviet Union using a different (i.e. safer) process. This different uranyl acetate gives considerably less contrast in post-staining. Does anyone have any suggestions as to other methods we might use to post-stain formvar-coated grids? TIA,
-- Nancy L Desmond, Ph.D. nld-at-virginia.edu Department of Neurosurgery 804.924.5607 (voice) 804.982.3829 (fax) University of Virginia Health Sciences Center, Box 420 Charlottesville, VA 22908
Dear Nancy, I too have been fighting with EMS about the quality of their uranyl, as it is not soluble in water at a 5% concentration level. In the past I had no trouble with this concentration. I have ordered new batch from Ted Pella and have had the same trouble with insoluble precipitate in my 5% uranyl even after hours of mixing. Have others had this problem, and what can we do about it?
Marge Hukee EM Core Facility hukee.margaret-at-mayo.edu Mayo Foundation (507) 284-3148 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --
Message-Id: {1995May16.143205.1954139085-at-ms.sjdccd.cc.ca.us} To: Microscopy-at-aaem.amc.anl.gov (microscopy listserver)
Instead of filter paper, try using lens paper. Lay the lens paper over a stainless steel bridge and be sure the edges dip into the acetone. Sometimes the replicas get torn part because the filter paper wicks too quickly. Of course there are lots of other things you might try, but perhaps that will help to start with.
Judy Murphy, PhD Dept. of Microscopy San Joaquin Delta College 5151 Pacific Ave Stockton, CA 95207
______________________________________________________________________ Gary Borisy Tel: (608) 262-1365 Laboratory of Molecular Biology Fax: (608) 262-4570 University of Wisconsin-Madison Email: ggborisy-at-facstaff.wisc.edu
Fred, There is a product available to keep water droplets confined on a slide. It is called a PAP Pen, and is available from Electron Microscopy Sciences in two sizes: #71312 mini size, about $33 #71310 normal size, about $40 Their phone no. is 800-523-5874. If you need any more info, please Email me directly. I have no connection with EMS, other than as an occasional customer.
Martin B. Garment mgarment-at-facstaff.wisc.edu Dept. of Ophthalmology (608) 262-9596 Voice 1300 University Ave. Rm 6687 (608) 262-0479 Fax Madison, WI 53706-1532
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Has anyone ever used Mocha or any other similar image analysis software for measuring the surface tension and contact angle of liquids from sessile drop profiles. If so, I would like to hear from you.
In response to Chris Gilpin's posting "etching Spurr resin":
One technique that has been very effective is to plasma etch the cut section using an oxygen plasma (for example, SPI Plasma Prep II, Bio- Rad Plasma Etcher, etc). The oxygen will etch the non-osmicated portions of the section leaving behind, in fantastic relief, the osmicated portions. I am talking about thick sections. You can see a micrograph demonstrating this on page 68 of the 1991 SPI Supplies Sourcebook (e.g. catalog) of EM items. The finest details are better preserved this way than any other way because the sample is not being subjected to surface tension forces as the last remains of a liquid etch (e.g. sodium methoxide) are removed.
Kris
} Hi Microscopists } I am trying to etch the surface of a Spurr resin block that has been } thick sectioned with a view to examining the exposed tissue in an SEM. } I am trynig sodium methoxide but am just getting a "gooey" surface which } obscures the tissue. The resin from the rest of the block is } dissappearing rapidly. Does anyone know of a better etchant for Spurr? } } Many thanks } } } Chris } Chris Gilpin } Biological Sciences E.M. Unit } G452 Stopford Building } Manchester University } Oxford Road } Manchester M13 9PT } U.K. } phone 061-275-5170 } fax 061-275-5171
Several years ago I had information concerning the Southeastern Electron Microscopy Society and the (?) Florida Electron Microscopy Society. Does anyone have current addresses or contact points for joining these organizations?
Thanks,
John Giles Senior Materials Engineer Honeywell Space Systems M/S 225-1 13350 US Hwy 19N, Clearwater, FL 34624 (813) 539-2270 jegiles-at-space.honeywell.com
Dear Marge, I have seen your response to Dr. Desmond regarding your difficulties with all of the uranyl acetate on the market currently. Please read the response that I gave her and I would be more than happy to also give you a fresh lot for your trial. Please let me know if this is of interest to you. I look forward to hearing from you. Stacie Kirsch EMS 215-646-1566
Dear Dr. Desmond, I have read your problem regarding the uranyl acetate and being able to get acceptable contrast. Please note the following: Back in 1993(early) the only manufacturer of depleted u.a. in Germany discontinued the manufacture due to heavy restictions and regulations. There was a terrible scurry to find someone else who was capable of not only depleting the U.A. but still having the superior quality as all of us microscopists were use to. The first few lots in the summer of 1993 that were produced domestically down south were hideous and were over laphalized to such an extreme that dissolving and working with a solution was nearly impossible. This was brought to our attention late in 1993 and again the search was on. In short since November of 1994 all of the U.A. that has been produced is totally problem free, dissolves readily in water, and the contrast matches any of the past good batches. We do have many microscopists that can now attest to this. In short to rectify your problem I would recommend highly you get a new lot which is dated either Nov 94 and on and your problems should disappear. If by chance the U.A. you are using happens to be ours please let us know and I will arrange for a free replacement to be dispatched immediately. I hope this helps and I look forward to hearing from you. Just for your info I am not aware of U.A. being manufactured in the EX-S.U. I look forward to hearing from you. Stacie Kirsch Electron Microscopy Sciences P.O.Box 251 Fort Washington, Pa. 19034 Tel: 215-646-1566 Fax:215-646-8931
I read in an old text (1958) that there exist micro- hardness testers that are incorporated into the objective lens of an optical microscope. Has anyone used one of these lenses? Would you recommend them as a good tool for making micro- hardness measurements? If so, what company manufactures the lens.
South Bay Technology will be sponsoring a Tripod Polisher User's Group Meeting at the MSA Conference in Kansas City.
If you have an interest in attending, please contact me off-line for complete details.
David Henriks TEL: 800-728-2233 (toll-free in USA) South Bay Technology, Inc. 714-492-2600 1120 Via Callejon FAX: 714-492-1499 San Clemente, CA 92673 USA e-mail: 73531.1344-at-compuserve.com
since many years we have been using Ilford Technical Film EM (6.5 x 9 cm / 2 5/8 x 3 1/2 inches, 0.18 mm (7/1000 inch) polyester base) for our TEM work. Unfortunately Ilford is no longer providing this kind of film, so we have to choose another type.
Is there a hidden reservoir of some more of this type of Ilford film anywhere? (quantity, price)
Is there an EM film with similar characteristics (sensitivity, contrast, resolution, ease of development, ...)
If you have any comments or suggestions please mail directly to
Dr Werner Grogger, FELMI, Steyrergasse 17, A-8010 Graz, Austria, Europe e-mail: f705grog-at-mbox.tu-graz.ac.at
Info on the 3rd Interamerican Congress on Electron Microscopy and the XV Meeting of the Brazilian Society of EM is available at http://www.engin.umich.edu/~jfmjfm/mas_folder/meetings.html
The 1995 MAS meeting schedule and list of abstracts is available at: http://www.engin.umich.edu/~jfmjfm/mas_folder/breck.html
Remember that there is a MAS home page and also a Michigan ELectron Microscopy Society Home Page. These can be found by checking out: http://www.engin.umich.edu/~jfmjfm/mseandemalmain.html
Let me know if there are problems.
John Mansfield.
John Mansfield North Campus Electron Microbeam Analysis Laboratory 413 SRB, University of Michigan 2455 Hayward, Ann Arbor MI 48109-2143 Phone: (313)936-3352 FAX (313)936-3352 jfmjfm-at-engin.umich.edu, John.F.Mansfield-at-umich.edu or jfmjfm-at-umich.edu they all reach me! URL: http://www.engin.umich.edu/~jfmjfm/jfmjfm.html
Bob, This is very hard to do with most systems as the yag is already attached to a normal TV directly making changing the camera itself problematic. The HVEM uses a lens coupled system and therefore could be converted given a suitable camera. This however brings up some new problems. Most image intensifiers, as well as the yag itself have persistance that would cause you problems. This is compounded by the lower light levels caused by the higher frame speeds. Doug Owen, NCEM --------------------------------------
EM centers have such systems that guests could use. What would be a practical limit on frames/sec? I presume it's not limited by the electron flux. The interest centers on dislocation velocities in several metals.
Please post responses to the listserver.
Thank you.
Bob Keller NIST Materials Reliability Division Boulder, CO
} As part of some in-situ straining experiments, we would like to obtain } results from a high speed video system (MUCH greater than 30 frames/ } sec is desired). } I'd like to ask what capabilities exist, and whether any of the national } (U.S.) EM centers have such systems that guests could use. What would } be a practical limit on frames/sec? I presume it's not limited by the } electron flux. The interest centers on dislocation velocities in several } metals.
} Please post responses to the listserver.
------------------------------------------------- Bob, at the NCEM we are set up to run in-situ straining (with or w/o heating) at energies up to 1.5MeV in our Kratos EM-1500. We use an intensified TV camera at 30fps. We looked at hi-speed systems and concluded that the 128x128 Kodak CCD that runs at up to 40,000fps using 64 output channels would be suitable. However we were not sure that we would have sufficient intensity in our YAG scintillator. Mike O'Keefe, NCEM
Several years ago I had information concerning the Southeastern Electron Microscopy Society and the (?) Florida Electron Microscopy Society. Does anyone have current addresses or contact points for joining these organizations?
Thanks,
John Giles
This prompted me to ask for information on regional Microscopical Societies and their activities. I suggest that there should be a 'register' of such groups to enable users to get intouch when they need a local forum. If people could send me their information I would be willing to keep this list for anyone to see. I would like the following format: 'Name of group'; 'scope'; 'geographical cover' (local, national, international); 'principal events'; 'contact person'. I suppose I may as well start the ball rolling: There are five Microscopy groups active in Scotland (Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow and St. Andrews) Edinburgh Microscopical Society; all microscopic disciplines; local South East Scotland; members' meetings (ca 4 per year), annual Scottish Microscopy Symposium (together with other Scottish groups); Stephan Helfer membership secretary s.helfer-at-rbge.org.uk.
Yours sincerely
Dr Stephan Helfer, SSO Mycologist
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Inverleith Row, EDINBURGH EH3 5LR, Scotland UK
WORKSHOP OBJECTIVE This course will cover all aspects of TEM pre-thinning and focus on final thinning via Tripod Polishing and ion milling. Due to the limited class size and the extensive hands-on opportunities, this course is well suited to novices as well as advanced Tripodders. The course will include sections on:
How to do it and why should I? What's really going on and what am I really seeing? How to prepare small, specifc area cross-sections. The problem of wildy differing materials (eg tungsten). Rapid preparation of TEM cross-sections. Preparation of a wide range of amterials: semiconductors, ceramics, metals,....
HANDS-ON OPPORTUNITY This course will be unique in that it will provide a hands-on opportunity for every participant. Tripod Polishers, Polishing Wheels, and pre-thinning equipment will be made available to participants and actual samples will be prepared - by the students - as part of the course. This is a great opportunity to get your hands dirty and learn by doing. The instructors will walk you through each step of the process and then let you loose on the equipment.
WORKSHOP LOCATION AND DATES South Bay Technology, Inc. - San Clemente, CA Dates: July 21-22, 1995
INSTRUCTOR Ron Anderson IBM East Fishkill Facility Hopewell Junction, NY
CLASS SIZE Due to the intensive hands-on aspects of this course, class sisze will be strictly limited to 10 participants.
REGISTRATION FEE: $495 (Includes lunches and Friday night dinner) REGISTRATION DEADLINE: June 15, 1995
For additional information or to register for the workshop, please contact:
David Henriks TEL: 800-728-2233 (toll-free in USA) South Bay Technology, Inc. 714-492-2600 1120 Via Callejon FAX: 714-492-1499 San Clemente, CA 92673 USA e-mail: 73531.1344-at-compuserve.com
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Folks,
We are currently in the process of writing a standard operating procedure (SOP) for measuring the actual magnification of our 2 TEMs (Philips CM12 and Philips EM201). Our approach is a fairly standard one. We plan to take pictures of a replica grating or catalase crystals (depending on the mag) measuring the spacings on the standards from the negatives and calculating the actual magnification. We have a question about the procedure we thought we would ask the group.
How many measurements do people take per magnification? Is one enough or should we take several measurements from a single negative or several measurements from several negatives at the same magnification. Part of our group feels multiple measurements should average out any errors in the standard or the measuring process. Others feel (and have some data to suggest) the multiple measurements does not increase the accuracy significantly and would be wasted time and effort. What is the consensus of people who have done this procedure?
Thanks in advance for any replies.
Joe Neilly Department of Cellular and Microscopic Research Abbott Laboratories Abbott Park, IL 60064 Phone: 708-398-5024 Email: Neilly.joseph-at-igate.abbott.com
Can we start a discussion on BEST GRADUATE LEVEL TEXTBOOKS FOR PHYSICAL AND BIOLOGICAL MICROSCOPY?
I am establishing a new HREM laboratory at the Physics Dept. at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. In the Fall 1995 semester I will teach a new graduate course in TEM (* see course description). Selecting a required textbook is my present problem. Please share your textbook choices with me.
Sincerely, Marija Gajdardziska-Josifovska Assistant Professor, Department of Physics, UWM P.O. Box 413 Milwaukee, WI 53201 Tel. (414) 229 4965
******************************************************************************** *PHY 904 Electron Microscopy, 3 Credits, Graduate
Interactions of high energy electrons with solids will be described, as encountered in transmission electron microscopes. Scattering by ordered periodic objects (crystals) and disordered structures (defects, amorphous materials) will be covered, along with the imaging, diffraction and spectroscopy methods of microscopy. Emphasis will be given to microscopy of solid surfaces,interfaces and small particles, which are at the crux of research in the Laboratory for Surface Studies. The course will include:
¥ *kinematical and dynamical theory of diffraction (scattering factors, multislice formulation of Schroedinger's equation); ¥ *experimental diffraction modes (selected area diffraction, convergent beam diffraction, nanodiffraction, reflection high energy electron diffraction); ¥ *transfer function imaging theory (weak phase object approximation, linear and nonlinear imaging, wavefront reconstruction); *transmission and reflection imaging modes (bright field, dark field, high resolution electron microscopy, reflection electron microscopy, electron holography); ¥ *basic spectroscopy modes (energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, electron energy loss spectroscopy).
The course will be required from students who plan to incorporate electron microscopy in their Ph.D. projects. It is designed for graduate students in physics, chemistry and materials science. Advanced students in biology may also take the course as a sequence to 542. Prerequisite is an undergraduate solid state course (i.e. level of Kittel).
X-Sender: vei011-at-geel.dwt.csiro.au X-Mailer: Windows Eudora Version 2.0.3 Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" To: microscopy-at-aaem.amc.anl.gov
Hi all,
We wish to install micromanipulators on an Hitachi S4100 FESEM. Does anyone know of a company which manufactures/sells them and if they have an agent in the Antipodes? (or at least in Australia!!)
Thanks in advance.
Colin Veitch ############################################################################### # # # Colin J. Veitch C.Veitch-at-geel.dwt.csiro.au # # CSIRO Division of Wool Technology Tel. +61 (0) 52 275611 # # P.O. Box 21 Fax. +61 (0) 52 275657 # # BELMONT Vic 3216 # # Australia # # # # "We see the Universe the way it is because if it were different, we would # # not be here to observe it." # # # ###############################################################################
Steven Eppell wrote: } I read in an old text (1958) that there exist micro- } hardness testers that are incorporated into the } objective lens of an optical microscope. Has } anyone used one of these lenses? Would you } recommend them as a good tool for making micro- } hardness measurements? If so, what company } manufactures the lens.
This method is still used, although there are a lot of variants. In one, a diamond indenter is used to put a diamond shaped indentation in the sample. The size is then measured by a microscope and video setup, and related to hardness. My company used to make a video measurement system that not only read the size of the indentation, but also read out the hardness in appropriate units. The device was marketed by Olympus, but not too many were sold. We may still have one.
We still make video measurement systems, but not the hardness tester. There are a number of people making hardness testers which work on the same principle. I don't know if the combination indenter/objectives are still being used. I think Wilson and others had systems like that.
Third Interamerican Congress on Electron Microscopy
and
XV Meeting of the Brazilian Society for Electron Microscopy
2-6 September, 1995 HOTEL GLORIA Caxambu, Minas Gerais, Brazil
The 3rd Interamerican Congress on Electron Microscopy (IACEM) will be held jointly with the XV Meeting of the Brazilian Society of Electron Microscopy (BSEM), at the Hotel Gloria in Caxambu, Brazil, September 2nd to September 6th, 1995. The program will cover fundamentals and applications of electron microscopical techniques in the fields of Biological and Materials Science. Invited talks and workshops will highlight current topics in both fields. Contributed papers on current and unpublished results will be selected for poster and oral presentations. Accepted abstracts will be published as a supplement of Acta Microscopica.
Official languages are Portuguese, English and Spanish.
Caxambu is a pleasant town known for its mineral spring water. It is located at 900 m above sea level, where local temperatures in September range from 12 deg. C at night to 28 deg. C during the day. Caxambu can be easily reached from Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, or Belo Horizonte by commercial bus service.
INVITED SPEAKERS
R. Albrecht (USA) Correlative HRM M. Burgos (Argentina) EM History in Latin America M.G. Burke (USA) Defect Analysis in Super Alloys R. Dallai (Italy) Insect Sperm Ultrastructure M. Ellisman (USA) 3-D Reconstruction M.A. Goldstein (USA) 3-D Reconstruction of Proteins N. Hirokawa (Japan) Cytochemistry G. L'Esperance (Canada) Quantitaive AEM Y. Ishida (Japan) HREM Interfaces B. Jouffrey (France) EELS Spectroscopy W. Massover (USA) Protein Molecules A. Maunsbach (Denmark) EM of Kidney Epithelium M. McCartney (USA) Electron Holography B.F. McEwen (USA) Mitosis Mechanisms M. Muller (Switzerland) Cryo Techniques S. Miyazawa (Japan) Japan's Biomedical State of the Art A.B. Noguera (Venezuela) Immunolabeling A. Ourmazd (USA) STM, HREM, Semi-conductors R. Padron (Venezuela) Thick Filaments Structure F. Ponce (USA) Atomic Arrangements, GaN Epitaxy R. Sinclair (USA) Magnetic Materials, "In situ" HREM R. Singer (USA) "In situ" hybridization J. Slot (Netherlands) Cryomethods D. Williams (USA) Analytical Electron Microscopy K. Zierold (Germany) Cryo-Ultramicotomy
The registration fee includes a copy of the book of abstracts and participation in a Welcome Reception.
CALL FOR ABSTRACTS: JUNE 20th DEADLINE
Please submit abstracts as follows: 1. The title is centered and in upper case letters. 2. The names of the authors and their affiliations are centered and typed in upper and lower case letters. Include the full adress of the authors to be contacted. 3. Abstracts must be submitted in camera-ready form within a single 17 x 23 cm page. Text: 17 cm wide x 12 cm long, single column. Illustrations: 17 cm wide x 10 cm long.
IMPORTANT: A person may figure as the senior author in only one abstract. Senior authors or one of the co-authors must register.
4. Use a laser or laser quality printer. 5. Abstracts may be submitted in Portuguese, English or Spanish. 6. Send the original with one copy and the completed registration form to the Organizing Committee. 7. Please do not send abstracts by fax or E-mail. 8. Abstracts will be selected by an editorial committee and a notification of acceptance will be mailed to the authors. 9. DEADLINE FOR RECEIPT OF ABSTRACTS IS JUNE 20, 1995 (mailing date).
For a model abstract form, contact Elliot Kitajima or Barbara Reine (addresses, etc. listed at the end of this announcement).
POSTERS
The space reserved for each poster is 1.0 m wide x 1.2 m long. Posters may be attached to the formica surface with scotch tape.
MEETING SCHEDULE
September 2, 1995 9am-3pm Registration 5pm Opening Ceremony 7:30pm Reception and Diner
September 3-6
9am-12pm Symposia 2pm-6pm Invited lectures and instrument development presentations. 8pm-11pm Poster sessions
September 6
12pm Closing ceremony
TRANSPORTATION
The official airline for the Congress is VARIG - Brazilian Airlines. It is advised to book your flight in advance.
Caxambu can be easily reached from Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo or Belo Horizonte by commercial bus service, leaving from bus stations. The trip takes 5-7 hours and is priced around US$10.00. The bus companies operating these lines are:
From Rio de Janeiro: Cidade do Aco - buses leave daily at 7am and 8pm.
From Belo Horizonte: Expresso Gardenia - buses leave daily at 7:30am & 11pm.
From Sao Paulo: Rezendense - buses leave daily at 8am and 10:15pm.
Efforts will be made to provide special buses departing from Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo for Congress participants.
ACCOMMODATIONS
The Hotel Gloria has special rates for Congress participants. Rates* per person are listed below.
New section Old section single US$ 75.00 US$ 45.00 double US$ 42.00 US$ 29.00
*Meals included in all rates.
The rooms in the hotel's older section are not equipped with TV, refrigerator or telephone. Rooms shared by more than 2 persons (limit of 6) have lower rates. For reservations contact the Hotel Gloria by phone/fax: (55-35)3415001/(55-35)3411552.
Other hotels within walking distance:
Palace (55-35) 3411040 single or double room US$ 50.00 room for 4 US$ 90.00*
Lopez (55-35) 3411120 single or double room US$ 56.00 room for 3 US$ 81.00 room for 4 US$ 106.00 room for 5 US$ 131.00*
Brazil (55-35) 3411203 per person US$ 20.00 (breakfast only)
*Meals included.
COMMERCIAL EXHIBITS
The Congress offers excellent opportunities for commercial companies to exhibit their products in a very convenient area adjoining the major meeting rooms and poster sessions.
Commercial exhibitors should contact the Organizing Committee before June 20th for stand reservation and advertisement in the proceedings book.
We acknowledge the receipt of US$ (registration fee)
check # bank #
In case of abstract submission: Title:
Authors:
Abstract: __ Accepted __ Not Accepted
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
For additional information please contact:
3rd IACEM and XV MBSEM E.W. Kitajima Dept. Biologia Celular - IB Universidade de Bras70919-970 BrasTel: (55-61)3482424 Fax: (55-61)3499094 or 2741065 E-mail: kitajima-at-guarany.cpd.unb.br
or
Barbara Reine University of Washington Botany Dept. Box 351330 Seattle, WA 98195-1330 Tel:(206)543-1955 Fax:(206)543-4413 E-mail: reine-at-u.washington.edu
I suggest that we have Web Pages describing the various local societies and thir charters and officers. These could be linked to from a central web page on the MSA and MAS web sites. If people want to send me the relevant informtion. I will set this up.
To do this properly I would want a uniform set of information from each society. 1. Society name and area. 2. Affiliation (MAS, MSA, MSC, etc) i.e. this should be world wide. 2. Current Officers names. 3. Society Charter 4. Meetings, when, where, how frequent, etc. 5. Publications.
This is a FREE offer folks, take advantage of it!
} Earlier today John Giles wrote: } } Hello, } } Several years ago I had information concerning the Southeastern } Electron } Microscopy Society and the (?) Florida Electron Microscopy Society. } Does } anyone have current addresses or contact points for joining these } organizations? } } Thanks, } } John Giles } } This prompted me to ask for information on regional Microscopical } Societies and their activities. } I suggest that there should be a 'register' of such groups to enable } users to get intouch when they need a local forum. If people could } send me their information I would be willing to keep this list for } anyone to see. I would like the following format: 'Name of group'; } 'scope'; 'geographical cover' (local, national, international); 'principal } events'; 'contact person'. } I suppose I may as well start the ball rolling: } There are five Microscopy groups active in Scotland (Aberdeen, } Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow and St. Andrews) } Edinburgh Microscopical Society; all microscopic disciplines; local } South East Scotland; members' meetings (ca 4 per year), annual } Scottish Microscopy Symposium (together with other Scottish groups); } Stephan Helfer membership secretary s.helfer-at-rbge.org.uk. } } Yours sincerely } } } Dr Stephan Helfer, SSO } Mycologist } } Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Inverleith Row, EDINBURGH EH3 5LR, } Scotland UK } } email s.helfer-at-rbge.org.uk } phone: +44 (0)131 552 7171 ext 280 } or +44 (0)131 459 0446-280 (direct digital VoiceMail line) } fax: +44 (0)131 552 0382
John Mansfield North Campus Electron Microbeam Analysis Laboratory 413 SRB, University of Michigan 2455 Hayward, Ann Arbor MI 48109-2143 Phone: (313)936-3352 FAX (313)936-3352 jfmjfm-at-engin.umich.edu, John.F.Mansfield-at-umich.edu or jfmjfm-at-umich.edu they all reach me! URL: http://www.engin.umich.edu/~jfmjfm/jfmjfm.html
For those attending the Central States Microscopy Meeting, there are some direction changes on how to get there.
The map sent out indicates a road called "St Mary's Road". Usually this is the prime choice road to get to our facility.
However, the University has dug a deep tunnel across it to put a steam tunnel in. The rains have flooded the road as well. (} 3.5 inches in 2 hours, more rain on the way. Another building close by had its auditorium under water and mud for up to the 1st 2 rows of seats above stage level!)
So: Take Kirby Avenue or Windsor Road to reach Lincoln Ave where we are.
Thanks!!!
Lou Ann
*********************** Lou Ann Miller Microscopic Imaging Laboratory College of Veterinary Medicine University of Illinois 2001 S Lincoln Ave Urbana, Illinois 61801 217-244-1566 lmiller-at-ux1.cso.uiuc.edu ***********************
Would those associated with facilities please send me (personally at cammer-at-aecom.yu.edu) the name of your facility. We are considering renaming our EM and other microscopy facilities and would like an idea of what names other groups/schools are using. We also do image analysis. Thanks- Michael Cammer
I am currently doing TEM on the retinas of cuttle fish and was wondering if anyone would know of a good fix for this type of specimen. I tried 2.5% glut in filtered sea water but the fixation doesn't look so good. If anyone has a decent protocol for the fixation and processing of theses type of retinas, I would appreciate your faxing or e-mailing a copy to me.
I believe the usual defininton of the "absorption edge jump ratio" is that used by Heinrich in his classical article "X-Ray Absorption Uncertainty" that was published (p. 296 - 377) in THE ELECTRON MICROPROBE, John Wiley & Sons, 1966 (ISBN No. 65-26849); that is, it is the value of the mass absorption coefficient on the 'high' side of an absorption edge divided by the value of the MAC on the low side of the edge. This matter is discussed beginning on p. 330 of this reference. Figures 18 and 21, and Table X give values for jump ratios for selected K, L, and M edges. If you can't find this reference, I could FAX a copy of the few pages relating to this topic to you if you send me your FAX number.
Reimer's book, "Transmission Electron Microscopy--Physics of Image Formation and Microanalysis" Springer Series in Optical Sciences, Volume 36 (Springer- Verlag, 1989), is a nice comprehensive overview with a large number of re references.
+---------------------------------------------+ ! Douglas L. Medlin ! ! Physical Properties of Materials Department ! ! Mail Stop 9402 ! ! Sandia National Laboratories ! ! Livermore, California 94551 ! ! ! ! (510) 294-2825 ! ! dlmedli-at-california.sandia.gov ! +---------------------------------------------+
I am with a problem when I cut historesin sections Sometimes the sections are "vibrated", the plastic is ondulated and if the section is stained, its aspect is "striated". Why this occurs?
Thanks for any help. ============================================================================= Francisco Javier Hernandez Blazquez | Universidade de Sao Paulo - Faculdade de | e-mail fjhblazq-at-usp.br Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos | Voice: 55 195 616122 r. 265 Departamento de Ciencias Basicas/Histologia| r. 278 Av. Duque de Caxias Norte, 225 CP 23 | Fax: 55 195 611689 CEP 13630-000 Pirassununga (Sao Paulo) | 55 11 8694831 BRAZIL | ==============================================================================
Message-Id: {9505200023.AA0379-at-pho018.sb.com} To: microscopy {microscopy-at-aaem.amc.anl.gov}
Would those associated with facilities please send me (personally at cammer-at-aecom.yu.edu) the name of your facility. We are considering renaming our EM and other microscopy facilities and would like an idea of what names other groups/schools are using. We also do image analysis. Thanks- Michael Cammer
The MSA Technologists' Forum, and specifically Sandy Silvers, has compiled an EM Facilities Directory. You may be able to get the information you're looking for from that publication. Sandy's phone number is 706/546-3471.
Bev Maleeff SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals Toxicology-US, UE0462 709 Swedeland Road King of Prussia, PA 19406 610/270-7987 610/270-7202 fax maleeffbe-at-sb.com
Hi, As promised some time ago, I have compiled a "brief" list of EDX information and equipment sources intended to assist someone starting out in the field. It is six pages long, available in Wordperfect 6.0 format and includes the following headings: 1) Organizations 2) Books and Periodicals 3) Conferances 4) Courses 5) Internet Resources 6) EDX systems - Sun Sparcstation Based systems - PC, Mac or Power Mac Based systems - "Up-grade" systems (economy approach) 7) X-ray standard manufacturers (and their Canadian rep.'s) 8) Carbon Evaporator Manufacturers 9) Worthwhile Accessories 10) Digital Imaging References
This is not a complete list, I will continue to add to it over time for my own benefit and it undoubtly has a Canadian bias but I will be happy to send an e-mail copy (as an attached file) to anyone who requests it. Have a good day. 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
Dear colleagues I have been following the comments/ suggestions regarding Uac staining. I would like to refer anyone interested to an excellent article by Peter R. Lewis, The Mechanisms of Positive Staining, published in the Proceeding of the Royal Microscopical Society (Vol. 22/6, Nov 1987). He deals with the fundamentals of staining, and suggests the most likely reactions taking place during staining with heavy metal stains. Insofar as U ac is concerned he describes uranyl acetate as an ionic stain which is bound by phosphate groups of DNA and RNA. He suggestes the solutions of U ac contain a "bewildering variety of molecules, each with differing reactivity". He describes these solutions as unstable, leading to varying staining results with time (perhaps addressing the FAQs "does U ac go off in storage?"). In this respect pH plays a central role, which should be kept below pH5. Hayat (1970) suggests that lower pH (3.5) and increasing dilution results in an increase in staining intensity and specificity of nucleic acids.
I can fax this article to anyone interested. Please contact me directly. As a closing comment, shouldn't we go back to basics before blaming the russians?
James Wesley-Smith EM Unit Unibversity of Natal Durban, South Africa
Hi, I don't know what the particles consist of but I examined inclusions from a Nickel alloy once by disolving the metal with 35% Bromine in methanol under a Nitrogen atmosphere. The liquids were transfered and filtered thru micron filters with the aid of vacuum. The inclusions such as TiN and NbC etc. were examined in an SEM on the filter paper but it would have been simple enough to transfer them to a TEM grid. Just a thought, it might be a different approach. Laurie } } Dear friends &colleagues, } } } Jordi and I are working on a project that requires us to examine by TEM } micron size particles in a metal matrix. We would like to remove these } individual particles and place them on a grid. We have heard about a tool } called a micromanipulator yet no one we work with has ever used one before. } If any one has used one before for any purpose, or could give us some } information about them just for our general knowledge, it would be greatly } appreciated. } } } Thank you, } Andrea Monisera 1-201-455-4922 } } } } }
______________________________________________________________________ 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
RFI: Does anyone out there know anything about the commercial availability of an instrument known as a laser feedback microscope? My source is Science, Sept 3 1993, p 1275. It reports that the instrument was "introduced" at the MSA meeting in Cincinnati by Berkeley biophysicist Alan Bearden. It is supposed to be great at measuring precise heights along the surface of a sample. The dept of prosthodontics at our dental school is looking for such capability & has $ to spend. Thanks, nkrs
==============================================================================| | | | | Nancy K.R. Smith, Ph.D. | Work phone: 210-567-3861 | | Associate Professor | Work fax: 210-567-3803 | | Dept. of Cellular & Structural Biology| Home phone: 210-690-0687 | | University of Texas Health Science | Home fax: 210-690-0687 | | Center at San Antonio | (Call & tell us to turn on the | | 7703 Floyd Curl Drive | fax machine) | | San Antonio TX 78284-7762 | | | | | ===============================================================================
I am setting up a new facility at NC State University. we named it CMIC or Cellular and Molecular Imaging Center. Nina S. Allen.
On Thu, 18 May 1995, Michael Cammer wrote:
} Would those associated with facilities please send me (personally at } cammer-at-aecom.yu.edu) the name of your facility. } We are considering renaming our EM and other microscopy facilities and } would like an idea of what names other groups/schools are using. We also } do image analysis. } Thanks- } Michael Cammer } }
If you have access to the WWW the Microscopy and Microanalysis WWW Site which I also maintain has a listing of all meetings I hear about. Currently the list has 19 Microscopy/Microanalysis meetings listed for the rest of 1995 and about 6 for 1996.
Use any WWW browsing program and supply the URL (address) of
http://www.amc.anl.gov
If you wish to submit information for inclusion the instructions are posted at the end of the meetings list.
Oops... It occurs to me that some of you may not have access to the WWW yet. So I've done a simple cut and paste of the WWW site meeting list. Please note that some special characters will have become garbled slightly and the formatting is not as nice as it is on the WWW site. In addition, hypertext links to further information will not show up on this posting. This list covers meeting that I know about from May of 1995 - 1996.
Cheers... Nestor
================
¥ 30th annual meeting of the SouthEastern Microscopy Society (SEMS)
May 17-19, 1995
Omni Hotel in Atlanta, Ga, USA
Contact:Janet H. Woodward, SEMS '95 Program Chair
Tel: +1 912-945-3152
Fax: +1 912-945-3155
¥ Central States Microscopy Meeting
May 19,1995
University of Illinois , College of Veterinary Medicine in Champaign-Urbana
Contact:Lou Ann Miller, Microscopic Imaging Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Rm 1215 Basic Science Bld, 2001 S Lincoln Ave, Urbana, Illinois 61801
Tel:+1 217-244-1566 (7am-4pm CST)
Fax:+1 217-333-4628
E-mail: lmiller-at-ux1.cso.uiuc.edu
¥ Midwest Society of Electron Microscopy Workshop
June 2-3, 1995
Topic:Computers and Microscopy
Fredrick Center, Madison, Wisconsin USA
Contact: Grayson Scott, Univ. of Wisconsin,Electron Microscope Facility,Madison, Wisconsin 53706
Tel: +1 608-262-2993
Fax: +1 608-262-7306
Email:glscott-at-facstaff.wisc.edu
¥ 22nd Annual Meeting of the Microscopical Society of Canada
June, 4-7, 1995
University of Ottawa, Canada
Contact: Jim Corbett, Department of Physics, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, N2L 3G1
Contact: Samuel H Cohen, Science and Technology Directorate, US Army Natick RD&E Center, Natick, MA 01760-5020, USA
Tel. +1 508 651-4478
Fax +1 508 651-5104
E-mail dcobban-at-natick-emhl.army.mil
¥ Protocols in: Image Analysis and Confocal and Electron Microscopy
June, 7-9, 1995
Washington D.C.
Contact:F.G. Lightfoot, The George Washington University Center for Microscopy and Image Analysis, Suite 406, 2300 I St. NW. Washington D.C. 20037
Tel: +1 202 994-2881
Fax: +1 202 994 8885
Email:FredL-at-INDY.CMIA.GWUMC.EDU
¥ American Association of Feed Microscopists
June 19-23, 1995
San Antonio, Texas
Topic: Annual Meeting 19-20, Short Course 21-23
Sponsor: American Association of Feed Microscopists
Contact: Marjorie McCutcheon, P. O. Box 5246, Charleston, West Virginia 25361
Tel: 304-558-2208
Fax: 304-558-3594
¥ Trinocular Joint Meeting on Electron Microscopies
June 26-30, 1995
Lausanne, Switzerland
Sponsors: Socit Franaise de Microscopie Electronique, Socit Belge de Microscopie/Belgische Vereniging Voor Microscopie Socit Suisse d'Optique et de Microscopie Electronique/Schweizerische Gesellschft f¥r Optik und Electronenmikroskopie
Contact:CongrÏs Trinoculaire
Centre Interdpartemental de Microscopie Electronique
EPFL, CH - 1015 Lausanne, Suisse
¥ MicroBeam Analysis Society Annual Meeting
Aug. 6-11, 1995
BreckenRidge, Colorado, USA
Contact: Edgar S. Etz, Bldg. 222/A113,National Institute of Standards and Technology,Gaithersburg, MD 20899
Tel: +1 301 975-3909
Fax: +1 301 216-1134
E-Mail: etz-at-gapnet.nist.gov
¥ Microscopy Society of America/HistoChemical Society(Joint Annual Meeting)
Aug 14-18, 1995
Kansas City,Mo
Contact: MSA Business Office
Tel:+1 508-540-5594 / 800-538-3672
Fax:+1 508-548-9053
Email: mmaser-at-mbl.edu
¥ 3rd Inter-American Congress on Electron Microscopy
Sept. 2-6, 1995
Caxambu,MG, Brazil
Contact: Elliot Watanabe Kitajima, Departamento de Biologia Celular, Universidade de Brasilia, 70919-970 Brasilia, DF, Brazil
Tel. +55-61-348-2424/+55-61-340-9094
Fax +55-61-274-1065
E-mail kitajima-at-guarany.cpd.unb.br
¥ New Zealand Microscopy (EM and LM) Conference
September 4th-8th 1995
Dunedin, New Zealand
Contact: Allan Mitchell, C/-Department of Anatomy and Structure, Otago Medical School, PO Box 913, Dunedin, New Zealand
Tel: (+64) 3 479 7301
Fax: (+64) 3 479 7254
email: allan.mitchell-at-stonebow.otago.ac.nz
¥ EMAG 95
Sept. 12-15, 1995
University of Birmingham, UK
Contact: Institute of Physics, EMAG 95, 47 Belgrave Square, London SW1X 8QX, UK
Tel. +44 171 235 6111
Fax +44 171 823 1051
E-mail iopconf-at-ulcc.ac.uk
¥ 14th. Annual Advances in Microscopy Symposium
Sept. 29 - Oct. 1, 1995
Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina
Topic:Microscopy Outreach-Conveying its Science, Art and Technology
Sponsor: North Carolina Society for Microscopy and Microbeam Analysis
Contact: Peter Ingram, Ann LeFurgey, Box 3709, Duke University, Medical Center, DURHAM NC 27710
Tel: (919) 684-3534
Fax: (919) 681-8419
E-mail: ingram-at-rti.org
¥ First Annual Symposium on Integrated Microscopy
Sept. 29 - Oct. 1, 1995
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Topic: Combined Microscopies in Biological Problems
Sponsor: Integrated Microscopy Resource, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Contact: IMR, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1675 Observatory Drive, Madison, WI 53706
Email: imradmin-at-calshp.cals.wisc.edu
¥ 23rd Scottish Microscopy Symposium
November 15, 1995
Sponsor:Edinburgh Microscopical Society
MacRobert Pavilion, Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, Edinburgh EH28 8NF, Scotland
Chairperson: Dr Martin Maxwell
Secretary: Dr Ciara Clarke
Membership: Dr Stephan Helfer
Telephone: 0131 552-7171
Voice Mail: 0131 459 0446-280
FAX: 0131 552-0382
email: stephan-at-rbge.org.uk
¥ International Seminar on Quantitative Microscopy
Oct. 4-5, 1995
Braunschweig, Germany
Contact: Physikalische- Technische Bundesanstalt, Seminar on Quantitative Microscopy, H. Geuther, Lab. 4.22, Postfach 3345, D-38023 Braunschweig, Germany
Fax: +49 531 592 4015
E-mail: heinrich.geuther-at-ptb.de
Meetings in 1996 ¥ 14th Australian Conference on Electron Microscopy
Feb 5-9, 1996
University of Sydney, Australia
Contact: ACEM14 - microCOSMOPOLITAN, E.M.Unit, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
Tel: 61 2 351 2351
Fax: 61 2 552 1967
¥ Micro 96
2-4 July, 1996
London, UK
Contact: The Royal Microscopical Society, 37/38 St. Clements, Oxford OX4 1AJ, UK
Tel: +44 1865 248768
Fax: +44 1865 791237
¥ 6th Asia-Pacific Conference on Electron Microscopy, APEM 6
August 1996
Hong Kong
Contact: Dr. EC Chew, Department of Anatomy, University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 609 6845
Fax: +852 603 5031
¥ 17th Congress and General Assembly of the International Union for Crystallography
8-17 August,1996
Seattle, USA
Contact: Prof. RF Bryan, Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville VA 22903, USA
¥ Microscopy Society of America/MicroBeam Analysis Society/Microscopial Society of Canada(Joint Annual Meeting)
Aug 11-15, 1996
Minneapolis, MN, USA
Contact: MSA Business Office
Tel:+1 508-540-5594 / 800-538-3672
Fax:+1 508-548-9053
Email: mmaser-at-mbl.edu
¥ EUREM 96
26-30 August,1996
University College Dublin, Ireland
Contact: Prof. Martin Steer, EUREM 96 Office, Botany Department, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
Tel: +353 1 7062254
Fax: +353 1 7061153
Know of a meeting that should be added to this page?
Contact Nestor J. Zaluzec (EMail: Zaluzec-at-aaem.amc.anl.gov)
I will gladly add the hypertext link.
Please provide the following information. ¥ Meeting Name ¥ Meeting Dates ¥ Meeting Topic or Short Description ¥ Meeting Sponsor (Society/Organization/University) ¥ Contact Person ¥ Full Postal Address ¥ Telephone Number ¥ Fax Number ¥ Email Address ¥ URL to a WWW information page if available
In his message dated Thursday 18, May 1995, John McCaffrey wrote :
} Hello! } I'm not sure how everyone's budget planning goes, but for ours we need } to put in our budgets in March for the entire fiscal year (Mar. 31, 19xy to } Mar. 31, 19(xy+1). If we don't know about an interesting upcoming meeting, } we can't budget for it and hence cannot attend. I'd like to request that } conference planners let us all know as soon as possible of upcoming meetings, } so we don't miss out because we hadn't planned for it.
Good point I think. I know that budgeting in the UK is along very similar annual lines. Anyone with access to the World Wide Web should keep an eye on my meetings page at {URL:http://metro.turnpike.net/jefferie/meetings.html} .
I add every meeting I hear about, it currently runs right through to 1997! If it's announced on this list it'll almost certainly make it to my page.
Hope this helps,
Chris -- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Chris Jefferies E-Mail at home - chris-at-stowey.demon.co.uk | | at work - chris.jefferies-at-bbsrc.ac.uk | | Microscopy page {URL: http://metro.turnpike.net/jefferie/index.html} | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The opportunity to prepare space from the ground up for high resolution electron (and scanned probe) microscopy is relatively rare. This note is just to ask for ideas and contacts, as well as more success & horror stories, on this subject.
Specifically, architects have designed several rooms in the bottom floor of a new 3-story building to be sound and vibrationally isolated from the rest of the building by: (i) placing the floor of those rooms on a separate more massive foundation resting on 30-foot columns, and (ii) routing building services (e.g. air handling, plumbing, electricity) away from those areas. This is in an environment which tests low for vibration already. They are now beginning the construction phase, and I would feel better if I can propose some intermediate phase tests to ensure that indeed something has not been overlooked. I am, of course, also interested in the experience of others in this regard, and in suggestions as to who might have relevant experiences to relate.
Building construction is not quite like buying a microscope: If it doesn't work, you probably will still have to live with it. As success is likely to involve some serendipity as well as diligence, I thought this server might be one place to look.
Cheers. /philf :)
//\/\/\/\--} // P.Fraundorf c4647-at-slvaxa.umsl.edu http://newton.umsl.edu/pfhomepg \\ Physics & Astronomy, U. Missouri-St.Louis MO 63121 USA 314-516-5044 \\/\/\/\/\/\/\/--}
I have been doing immunocytochemistry for the last 5 years and have never had problems with epon infiltration or polymerization. ( we stain with DAB) Now 2 times in a row I have bad tissue. I can't pinpoint the problem. The tissue (cat retina) looks muddy and shrunken. The epon itself doesn't even section as well as it should- it looks rippled and compressed. I am doing everything the same here except I opened new bottles of resins. Is it possible to get a bad batch of resins from a reputable company? If you can help, please respond to my E-mail address: sally-at-retina.anatomy.upenn.edu
Additional comment on the message from Ed Monberg. I think that the name of this list conference, "Microscopy", is well chosen, embracing both EM and LM. I would hate to see them separated, since most of us (at least in biological microscopy) deal with both. Anyone witnessing the current "California gold rush" in confocal microscopy is well aware that LM still has great vigor and inovation. I tend to speak of "light microscopy" (LM) rather than "optical microscopy" (OM), since one can buy books on electron optics, suggesting that EM is also optical.
There is a company that we have used that specializes in measuring mechanical vibrations and magnetic fields in instrumentaion laboratories. I can't find their name and address right now, but our EM Lab Manager, George Brooks will be able to give it to you: gbrooks-at-umich.edu.
Try Galileo in western Massachusetts( are codes 413 or 508). You can probably contact them through JEOL, which sells their SEM product or call me by phone for their number. I don't have it right at hand.
Hope this helps.
Ellie Solit The Microscope Book 617-742-0311
On Mon, 22 May 1995, Lucille A. Giannuzzi wrote:
} Does anyone know where I can get some Phospher powder for coating screens? } } Thanks, } } Lucille Giannuzzi } } } ************************************************************************* } Lucille A. Giannuzzi, Ph.D. } } Dept. of Mechanical and Aerospace Eng. phone (407) 823-5770 } University of Central Florida fax (407) 823-0208 } 4000 Central Florida Blvd. email lag-at-pegasus.cc.ucf.edu } Orlando, FL 32816-2450 USA } ************************************************************************* } } }
I disagree. I began many years ago as a photon microscopist then began using EM more as it suited my needs. Lately, however, with many new optical techniques Photon Microscopy is having a resurgence. Correlative microscopy (OM and EM together) is particularly useful. I predict much more of us will be using OM in the near future. Thats my HO.
best-
Jay Jerome ************************************************************** * aka: W. Gray Jerome * * Dept. of Pathology * * Bowman Gray School of Medicine of Wake Forest University * * Medical Center Blvd * * Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1092 * * 910-716-4972 * * jjerome-at-isnet.is.wfu.edu * **************************************************************
On Mon, 22 May 1995, Azriel Gorski wrote:
} } } } Dear Nestor's list and Nestor, } } } } Since 99% of your posts relate to EM, } } } } how about a separate group for Optical } } } } Microscopy - } } I too would like to see this, but I am afraid that in the chase after "new } technology", we who use classical microscopy to chase the humble photon are } becoming a distinct majority. } } } I know, the last advances } } } } came in 1898 - but a few vendors are coming } } } } Sorry, but the above stuck in my craw. The list of advances is long since that } date. Thanks (am I saying this?) to computers we now have much better objectives } and what about infinite image distance objectives? } } } along with nice "data flow segregated mode" } } } } tricks like confocals AND I'd like to buy } } } } a used instrument from time to time. } } } } (psst. - if any list menmbers are selling, } } } } please let me know) } } } } } } Thanks, } } } } Ed Monberg } } LMDC } } } } Shalom from Jerusalem, } Azriel Gorski } +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ } Azriel Gorski, Head gorski-at-vms.huji.ac.il } Optical Microscopy Laboratory } Israel National Police, Jerusalem } TEL: 972-2-309437 } FAX: 972-2-309360 (Attn: A. Gorski) } } Opinions expressed here are the author's alone. They in no way represent the } opinions, positions or policies of the Israel National Police. } }
A company called Vibration Engineering Consultants, inc., (VEC) Oakland, CA specializes in conducting vibration and EMI surveys. Contact Wayne Vogen at Tel: 510 339-8719; FAX: 510 339-2352.
************************************************************************* M.V. Parthasarathy Professor of Plant Biology & Director, EM Facility Section of Plant Biology 228 Plant Science Building Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850 Telephone: (607) 255-1734 Fax: (607) 255-5407 E-mail: mvp2-at-cornell.edu ***********************************************************************
Jay Jerome ************************************************************** * aka: W. Gray Jerome * * Dept. of Pathology * * Bowman Gray School of Medicine of Wake Forest University * * Medical Center Blvd * * Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1092 * * 910-716-4972 * * jjerome-at-isnet.is.wfu.edu * **************************************************************
On 17 May 1995, Giles John E Jr wrote:
} Hello, } } Several years ago I had information concerning the Southeastern Electron } Microscopy Society and the (?) Florida Electron Microscopy Society. Does } anyone have current addresses or contact points for joining these } organizations? } } Thanks, } } John Giles } Senior Materials Engineer } Honeywell Space Systems M/S 225-1 } 13350 US Hwy 19N, } Clearwater, FL 34624 } (813) 539-2270 } jegiles-at-space.honeywell.com } }
} I have been doing immunocytochemistry for the last 5 years and have never } had problems with epon infiltration or polymerization. ( we stain with } DAB) Now 2 times in a row I have bad tissue. I can't pinpoint the } problem. The tissue (cat retina) looks muddy and shrunken. The epon } itself doesn't even section as well as it should- it looks rippled and } compressed. I am doing everything the same here except I opened new } bottles of resins. Is it possible to get a bad batch of resins from a } reputable company? If you can help, please respond to my E-mail address: } sally-at-retina.anatomy.upenn.edu } Sally,
1) yes it's possible to get a bad batch of resins, but unlikely. Polymerize some blank blocks as a control.
2) having sections which are compressed and are rippling is a sure sign of incomplete infiltration and/or uneven or incomplete polymerization. Try putting your blocks back into the oven.
3) how much experience do you have embedding cat retina? Does the retina have attached choroid/sclera/muscle? I embedded cat retinas for four years exclusively with Spurr's and recommend it highly. Epon will work, just make sure it's infiltrated very well. Did you use an intermediate solvent between dehydration and embedding? You could have residual solvent left in the tissue. Is the block soft? Thats usually the cause of compression. Perhaps the formula of the resin was incorrect. The muddy appearance may be the Tapetum which underlies the retina. Is this an observation at the gross, LM or EM level?
Fred A. Hayes 916-752-7712 work University of California,Davis 916-752-4701 work School of Medicine Department ofMedical Pathology; EM Lab MSIA E-mail: Davis, CA 95616 fahayes-at-ucdavis.edu
1320 Dogwood Court 916-678-6280 home Dixon, CA 95620-3227
Jose Roberto Machado Cunha da Silva {jrmscdsil-at-spider.usp.br} , bioforum-at-net.bio.net
On Fri, 19 May 1995, FRANCISCO J HERNANDEZ BLAZQUEZ fzea - zab 0195 616122 - 283 wrote:
} I am with a problem when I cut historesin sections } Sometimes the sections are "vibrated", the plastic } is ondulated and if the section is stained, its } aspect is "striated". } Why this occurs? } } Thanks for any help. } ============================================================================= } Francisco Javier Hernandez Blazquez | } Universidade de Sao Paulo - Faculdade de | e-mail fjhblazq-at-usp.br } Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos | Voice: 55 195 616122 r. 265 } Departamento de Ciencias Basicas/Histologia| r. 278 } Av. Duque de Caxias Norte, 225 CP 23 | Fax: 55 195 611689 } CEP 13630-000 Pirassununga (Sao Paulo) | 55 11 8694831 } BRAZIL | } ============================================================================== } }
Francisco,
the undulations or vibrations is compression produced by all or some of:
a) dull glass knife and/or a bad angle (less than 4 degrees or greater than 6)
b) bad left right alignment of knife edge to block face
c) wrong cutting speed
d) too thick or too thin of a section (3-5 microns is normal)
e) bad block face orientation to the knife edge
f) block face may be too big with bad dimensions (depends on your choice of microtome [ histo vs ultra ] and size of glass knife. Long axis of the block face should be verticle to the knife edge.
g) manual cut is always better than auto. You have better control
h) polymerization may be either incomplete or too soft of a formula or both
i) tissue may be incorrectly orientated on the long axis to the knife edge
j) tissue may not be completely infiltrated or polymerized
***histo resins are soft in nature, and are less complicated in formula than epoxies. If you follow the manufacturers recipe, you should have no problem. 9 out of 10 times it's a sectioning parameter. Good luck
Fred A. Hayes 916-752-7712 work University of California,Davis 916-752-4701 work School of Medicine Department ofMedical Pathology; EM Lab MSIA E-mail: Davis, CA 95616 fahayes-at-ucdavis.edu
1320 Dogwood Court 916-678-6280 home Dixon, CA 95620-3227
} Does anyone know a simple method for checking vibration?
A quick and cheap way is to put a petri dish of water (or mercury if youre courageous) on the floor, bench, whatever you need to test. Look at the reflection of a ceiling light on the surface. If there are ripples, you have too much vibration.
Jose Roberto Machado Cunha da Silva {jrmscdsil-at-spider.usp.br} , bioforum-at-net.bio.net
Dr. Hayes
I'M very grateful for your help. The problem was loose blocks and the "chatter" disappeared.
Thank you
============================================================================= Francisco Javier Hernandez Blazquez | Universidade de Sao Paulo - Faculdade de | e-mail fjhblazq-at-usp.br Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos | Voice: 55 195 616122 r. 265 Departamento de Ciencias Basicas/Histologia| r. 278 Av. Duque de Caxias Norte, 225 CP 23 | Fax: 55 195 611689 CEP 13630-000 Pirassununga (Sao Paulo) | 55 11 8694831 BRAZIL | ==============================================================================
Message-ID: {MAILQUEUE-101.950523094944.320-at-physics.uwc.ac.za} To: microscopy-at-aaem.amc.anl.gov
Dear Phil Fraundorff We have been in the process of designing and building a new EM facility for our faculty during the last few years, and can give the following info that we have checked for and design in to the EM rooms. The EM rooms are a separate building with its own main power and ground, not connected to the main building. Each room has a reinforced concrete slab about 1 m thick (3 ft) for the floor, isolated from the walls, resting on a sand bottom. The power supply to all light fittings and power points is wired NOT in serial but from the main power (to prevent possible ground loops or even worse, when the power is supplied from a loop around the room). The rooms are run on slight over pressure from the air conditioning (to reduce dust, etc). The following checks were done on the site before and after the completion of the building: 1. Vibration checks: use a small mirror on the floor, reflect a laser beam off it on the ceiling. It is sensitive enough to pick up the vibrations of footsteps on the floor. 2. Magnetic, electrical: Initially we used a coil from an old demonstration transformer with 10000 turns, and connect it to a oscilloscope. Our main problem was the main power cable to the whole building that ran about 50 yrs away next to a univ road, but its influence was small enough to be within the limits given by the TEM manufacturer. Maybe I should mention that the main EM we uses is a 200 kV Hitachi H800 TEM, although we do not use it for high-resolution work.
Success with the building Dirk Knoesen
Prof Dirk Knoesen U U W W CCCCCC Department of Physics U U W W C University of the Western Cape U U W W W C Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535 U U W W W W C South Africa UUUUUU W W CCCCCC Tel:+21 959 2266. Fax:+21 959 3474. Internet: dirk-at-physics.uwc.ac.za
Why not separate the microscopy list into one LM list and one list containing "the rest" (EM,AFM et.c.)?
People interested in both could of cource subscribe both lists!!
This would solve my, and probably others, problem of too many mails that has to be sorted out.
/ Martin
Ed wrote: } Dear Nestor's list and Nestor, } Since 99% of your posts relate to EM, } how about a separate group for Optical } Microscopy - I know, the last advances } came in 1898 - but a few vendors are coming } along with nice "data flow segregated mode" } tricks like confocals AND I'd like to buy } a used instrument from time to time. } (psst. - if any list menmbers are selling, } please let me know) } } Thanks, } } Ed Monberg } LMDC
Dear Net's; Can someone help me? I'm working with cellulose acetate porous membranes coated with a thin film of zirconium dioxide. I was studying this membranes with SEM X-ray microanalysis system to study the distribution of the oxide on the membrane surfaces. This task was succesfull, but when we try see the grain boundary we can't. Then we solve use the TEM for this pourpose. We embebed the membrane in a epoxi resin to cut in a ultramicrotome, but the membrane structure is collapsed and we lost the porous structure. Thank you in advance,
Ubirajara Pereira Rodrigues Filho Instituto de Quimica- UNICAMP Campinas, SP, Brazil, 13083-970, CP 6154 e-mail: ubira-at-iqm.unicamp.br
In every list I have ever become a member of there comes a point when postings become large and a group then wants to split off. The offshoot, except for a few, is that everyone else joins all of the subbranches. Informattion is cross posted to all branches and your mail goes sky high. I am also on the confocal microscopy list and much of the information there is cross posted here. Is there really a serious need to initiate an optical microscopy list? I for one would rather see this list evolve into one which can encompass the needs of the Photon Microscopist. A too full mail box will always be a problem. If a light microscope list is set up it will become popular. Do you then subdivide it into fluorescence, video, Nomarski, etc?????? In my humble opinion good subject lines and a quick delete finger are the only real solutions to the "too much e-mail" problem.
Jay Jerome ************************************************************** * aka: W. Gray Jerome * * Dept. of Pathology * * Bowman Gray School of Medicine of Wake Forest University * * Medical Center Blvd * * Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1092 * * 910-716-4972 * * jjerome-at-isnet.is.wfu.edu * **************************************************************
On Tue, 23 May 1995, Martin K|hler wrote:
} } I AGREE with Ed! } } Why not separate the microscopy list into one LM list and } one list containing "the rest" (EM,AFM et.c.)? } } People interested in both could of cource subscribe both lists!! } } This would solve my, and probably others, problem of too } many mails that has to be sorted out. } } / Martin } } } Ed wrote: } } Dear Nestor's list and Nestor, } } Since 99% of your posts relate to EM, } } how about a separate group for Optical } } Microscopy - I know, the last advances } } came in 1898 - but a few vendors are coming } } along with nice "data flow segregated mode" } } tricks like confocals AND I'd like to buy } } a used instrument from time to time. } } (psst. - if any list menmbers are selling, } } please let me know) } } } } Thanks, } } } } Ed Monberg } } LMDC } } } } }
My comment to Martin's and Ed's reflections is definitely NO. And again NO. I completely disagree with them.
The international trend is to reunite again the people. The Committee of European Societies for Electron Microscopy (CESEM) has changed it's name to Committee of European Societies for Microscopy (CESM). The Hungarian Society for Electron Microscopy changed it's name to Hungarian Society for Microscopy. Although this is a small society of slightly more than two hundred members the same happens to other societies, not to mention the USA. We (I mean electron microscopists) routinely use light microscopes. And although the same is not necessarily valid to all light microscopist I am convinced the flow of ideas might be beneficial to all other people. For example I used to read almost all messages, even the Life Science related ones, although I'm a materials scientist. As for me it is always easier to select messages of real interest out of one single list than to check one more list. I don't want to provoke a lengthy discussion on this subject but shall we really move against international trends?
Hope some of you will agree with me.
One more point: in our society we don't even separate Life Science and Materials Science people. On our yearly general assembly we used to have scientific sessions for two days, and all lectures are presented to everybody. These cover topics of general interest, and believe me: the discussion between people working on quite different fields is really fertilizing.
Kris (President of the Hungarian Society for Microscopy)
Dr. Kristof Kovacs Central Laboratory University of Veszprem H-8201 Veszprem, P.O.Box 158, HUNGARY Phone: +36-(88)-421-684 Fax: +36-(88)-426-01 Dr. Kristof KOVACS University of Veszprem, Central Laboratory P.O.Box 158, Veszprem, HUNGARY H-8201 Phone: +36-(88)-421-684 Fax: +36-(88)-426-016
Hey, great idea! Then we can separate out EM and AFM, the biologists and the materials scientists, then the transmission and scanning people, then the drivers of Japanese microscopes from those who prefer European microscopes, then the Republicans and the Democrats, then we can all have our own private lists! Hmm, maybe it's not such a great idea . . . .
Mike O'Keefe -------------------------------------- } Date: 5/23/95 6:39 AM } To: Michael OKeefe } From: hler Martin K } } I AGREE with Ed! } } Why not separate the microscopy list into one LM list and } one list containing "the rest" (EM,AFM et.c.)? } } People interested in both could of cource subscribe both lists!! } } This would solve my, and probably others, problem of too } many mails that has to be sorted out. } } / Martin
} Ed wrote: } } Dear Nestor's list and Nestor, } } Since 99% of your posts relate to EM, } } how about a separate group for Optical } } Microscopy - I know, the last advances } } came in 1898 - but a few vendors are coming } } along with nice "data flow segregated mode" } } tricks like confocals AND I'd like to buy } } a used instrument from time to time. } } (psst. - if any list menmbers are selling, } } please let me know) } } } } Thanks, } } } } Ed Monberg } } LMDC
I hate to fill up your mailboxes if not necessary, but I need to defend my standpoint further.
The fact is that most of the conversation in this list is concerning specific technical EM-questions. Then it is natural to use a common list for material and life sciences, since the techniques are common.
Of cource lots of you use several techniques besides EM, but then you may be interested in more than LM. Probably you are interested in computers (in general), software (several kinds), image analysis (in general), laboratory equipment (in general), statistics (in general), histology (in general), chemistry (in general), biology (in general), biochemistry, medicine, physics... Do you believe that we should unite all kinds of lists that the subscribers to this list could possibly be interested in? I guess the answer is NO.
I also believe that one always has to use the "quick delete finger", but I don't believe that you necessarily need to unite all different part of microscopy for all discussions. Even if "the international trend is to reunite again the people", I don't believe that all people will or want to participate in all kinds of discussions.
Jay Jerome talked about the confocal microscopy list and that "much of the information there is cross posted here". Maybe some of it is cross posted, but definetly not that much. Actually a lot on that list concerns quite general imaging and light microscopy questions that will not be posted to the microscopy list.
I don't have a good suggestion at this point, but I have something:
1. Maybe there could be one list dealing with questions that may be of interest to ALL kinds of microscopy. This could be the fertilizing forum between different kinds of users. Topics like image analysis, immunostaining and other techniques USED IN SEVERAL TYPES of microscopy can reside here.
2. One other list already exist, namely the confocal microscopy list. I believe that a part of the discussions on that list could be held on the suggested list above. Maybe this could be changed into a general LM list (including confocal microscopy and specific questions for LM).
3. A list for EM-techniques could be used for SPECICIC EM-QUESTIONS (like tripod polishing and epoxy resins).
This of cource requires one additional list, and I cannot say who should administer it, I just want to see what you believe. Apparently you are negative to this now, but is it really so?
Agree 100%. When a subject heading is part of the message unwanted messages are deleted up front. In fact, many users of the server probably do not realize that only a few out there have the time to open messages without a heater reference. If users want full attention, stick to the subject heater or message may go directly into the "curved" receptacle, at least that is what I do. ________________________________________________________
As much as I hate to jump in on these arguments, this one is too close to my own interests to avoid. Dr. Gorski has just reminded us of the system Nestor came up with ages ago - specific subject lines. They seem to work for a while, then fade away again. Why not just start using them again and STICK WITH IT, this time? Yes, the volume of mail gets to be a pain, but I've picked up a LOT of valuable information from this group - I'm sure I'm not the only one who has a handly little file of tips and techniques, saved from various discussions. The volume on this list isn't really that heavy, compared to most of the other groups I've been in. Why not let Nestor decide what he feels to be appropriate? He is the one who has to babysit this thing, after all! (And the effort is MUCH appeciated). Sorry - long day and I had to shoot my ...um...fingers off, I guess. Tamara Howard U. of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Pgh, PA
I have heart that there is a Tripod Polisher user=B4s group meeting at the MSA Conference in Kansas City. Unfortunately it is not possible for me to go there, but if anyone could give me some literature information on this topic, I would be more than happy. Thanks in advance.
DI Gerald Kothleitner, FELMI, Steyrergasse 17, A-8010 Graz, Austria, Europe
} In my humble opinion good subject lines and a quick delete finger are the } only real solutions to the "too much e-mail" problem. } } Jay Jerome
I agree. I thought all this came up soon after the group got started and we were supposed to preface the subject lines with suitable acronyms - EM, TEM, SEM, STM, OM, AFM, ........ Then you can quickly delete anything you think will be of no relevance to you.
And if you think there is a lot of post here that's hard to wade through, you should try joining feline-l
-- Keith R. Hallam Research Associate
University of Bristol, | Interface Analysis Centre, | Telephone: National (0117) 925 5666 Oldbury House, | International + 44 117 925 5666 121, St. Michael's Hill, | Facsimile: National (0117) 925 5646 Bristol, | International + 44 117 925 5646 BS2 8BS, | E-mail: k.r.hallam-at-bristol.ac.uk England | URL: http://zeus.bris.ac.uk/~phkrh/
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Chris Gilpin, I tried etching Spurr a long time ago for rust infected plants (J.Micros. 103,289, 1975. I attached the block to an SEM stub with araldite(fiirst score the stub deeply for good adhesion) and dripped 2.5% Na ethoxide onto the surface from a syringe. I made up, the etoxide by dissolving metallic sodium in dry etoh, about 10 ml was all that was needed to make up. This has the advantage that the stub can be held in an ultratome chuck and faced off with a glass knife, and semi thins can be cut for LM or u.thins for TEM until an area of interest is found, and then the surface can be etched. After SEM examination, the block can be further sectioned. After etching it is importanr to wash the surface with a jet of ETOH from a wash bottle and dry with a flow of air. Etcing took about 3 - 5 mins with a drip on the surface every 10s with the progress being checked with a stereo microscope. A quicker and much more exciting alternative is to hold the surface to be etched in 5ml of just boiling etcing solution for about 5s ! This has worked well with various fungal infected leaves and stems. Good Luck.
Richard Pring IACR Long Ashton Research Station Long Ashton Bristol BS18 9AF UK
I would highly appreciate if anybody could help me to find a commercial source that provides antibodies against renin. I am particularly interested in using EM immunoshistochemistry but LM applications are also important. Please help if you can! Thanks Peter xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Peter Molnar, M.D., Ph. D. Hungarian-Japanese EM Ctr. Dept. Pathology, Univ. Med. Sch. Debrecen Nagyerdei krt. 98., P.O.Box 24. Fax: 36-52-417-063 e-mail:molnarp-at-lib.dote.hu xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hi all, anyone out there to know the correct SERVER ADDRESS of the CONFOCAL mailing list (and the server address)? The address {listserv-at-ubvm} seems to be incorrect. Thanks for help, sincerely,
:-)
+++ Dietmar Reiter, Dept. of Zoology and Limnology +++ University of Innsbruck +++ Technikerstrasse 25, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria +++ phone: (43)-512-507 ext. -6170, fax ext. -2930
TEM folk. I have inherited a Balzers CryoJet freezer in an attempt to get well-fixed material of some freshwater flatworms. Would somone who has used one of these (Balzers QFD 020, or similar propane-jet freezer) e-mail me personally with some hints? Julian Smith III Biology Winthrop University Rock Hill, SC smithj-at-winthrop.edu 803-323-2111 vox 803-323-2246 fax
Last week or so, I suggested replication of a sample that proved difficult to CPD. My belief that you could image details at 2000x was met with some skepticism so I prepared a test sample of Knoop indentations on an aluminum stub. I will gladly send copies of the SEM showing original and replica at 2000x for evaluation of the technique.
Suggest you talk to George Lane at Bal-Tec. 800-875-3713.
Hope this helps.
Ellie Solit The Microscope Book
On Wed, 24 May 1995 smithj-at-acad.winthrop.edu wrote:
} TEM folk. I have inherited a Balzers CryoJet freezer in an attempt } to get well-fixed material of some freshwater flatworms. Would somone } who has used one of these (Balzers QFD 020, or similar propane-jet } freezer) e-mail me personally with some hints? } Julian Smith III } Biology } Winthrop University } Rock Hill, SC } smithj-at-winthrop.edu } 803-323-2111 vox } 803-323-2246 fax }
As the opinions on a light microscopy segment fly back and forth, I have a request.
Our technology newsletter, Microscope Technology & News/Analytical Consumer is about to undertake a survey on light microscopes. It will be similar to the ones we have done on SEM and TEM. If any of you would like to be included in the survey which is by telephone, and not unduly long, please send your name and phone number. Additionally, if there are topics that you would like to see included, tell us that too.
All participants will receive a complimentary copy of the Survey and a free cup of coffee at MSA in Kansas City. Please let us hear from you soon; no later than June 7th.
Many thanks.
Ellie Solit The Cambrex Group 33 Broad St. Boston, MA 02109 Phone: 617-742-0311 Fax: 617-742-4942 email: cambrex-at-world.std.com
I am looking for good software for the TEM diffraction pattern interpretation, providing unknown phase identification on the base of interplanar angle and spacing measurements, drawing and indexing the reciprocal lattice, and stereographic projection, and facilitating to define the crystals orientation. Does anyone know where I can get such a software. I would greatly appreciate any advice or recommendation.
Zofia Niemczura 3001 East Columbus Dr Inland Steel Research Laboratories East Chicago, IN 46312 zeniem-at-inland.com
Hi, I'd like to know whether any of you have taken the perhaps overly-AR approach of measuring the OD of your negs with a densitometer? We've been getting used to the simultaneous installation of a "new" H600 and darkroom equipped with an enlarger (Omega D6) and chemicals that we've not used before. In trying to get the exposure adjusted for the scope to give us, on average, a contrast level that will be right for a Polycontrast 2 filter and reasonable f-stop and exposure times, we've discovered that negatives with a contrast range of around 0.9 OD, and a maximum of around 1.9 or 2.0 will yield sufficiently contrasty prints with a PC2.5 filter. In reading both Agar et al and Meek, we found that negs of this range should require either Hard paper or probably the PC4.5 filter. Obviously, in practice, it just ain't so. BTW, the exposures are around 7.5 x 10E-11 A/cm2 -at- 4 seconds, 50 kV. The enlarger has a 150W bulb and we're using the 150mm lens, typically at f16 and about 6 seconds. These conditions are not a rule, just what seemed appropriate for this particular batch of negatives. A final bit of information: our material is plant tissue, fixed in GA and OsO4, some en bloc stained followed by lead citrate staining of the section, other sections are stained with 3% UA in 30% EtOH or MetOH and lead citrate (Reynold's) at room temp. Resins are Spurr's formulation or Epon-Araldite according to Mollenhauer. After that lead-up, I'd like to hear opinions on what others consider to be the qualitative and quantitative description of the "ideal" negative. Many thanks!
PS: I vote for the unsplitting. I've learned a tremendous amount about _microscopy_ here and would hate to diminish the diversity of contributors.
Dwight Beebe Institut de recherche en biologie vegetale beebed-at-ere.umontreal.ca Dept. de sciences biologiques Voice:514-872-4563 Universite de Montreal FAX:514-872-8496 4101, rue Sherbrooke est Montreal, PQ H1X 2B2 Canada
One solution to those who want to remain, but not get a lot of e-mail they have no interest in would be to offer a digest form with one large post a day as many other listservers offer. With proper subjects headers, mail can be quickly skipped over to posts of interest. That way for those who pay by the message, it would be less expensivel. Another alternative is the microscopy news list which a lot of these posts also go to. For those that have no easy news access, the digest would perhaps be an alternative to losing their expertise by unsubscribing due to the larger number of posts. ***************************************************************** Michael L. Boucher Sr. Boucher-at-TCRCA.USBM.GOV Geology-Mineralogy/Chemistry Labs Ph 612-725-4614 Twin Cities Research Center Fax 612-725-4527 U.S. Bureau of Mines Center 725-4500 Department of Interior 5629 Minnehaha Avenue South Minneapolis, MN 55417-3099 U.S.A. *****************************************************************
} Dwight Beebe {beebed-at-ERE.UMontreal.CA} wrote: } Subject: TEM: contrast in negs } } Hi, } I'd like to know whether any of you have taken the perhaps } overly-AR approach of measuring the OD of your negs with a densitometer?
Since we do a lot of tomography, a lot of negs get quantitated-- I guess that might be AR, but not overly so. I, myself, do quantitative electron diffraction, so not only do I quantitate the negs with a PE 1010A microdensitometer, I have taken a series of exposures to relate the OD to the number of electrons per pixel. Furthermore, our shop is constructing a device to calibrate the developing process by exposing one edge of the film to a set of LED's--John Turner at the NCEM at Berkeley showed me his device and sent me pictures and schematics, and our device will be a decendant of his.
} In trying to get the exposure adjusted for the } scope to give us, on average, a contrast level that will be right
An advantage of densitometry is that the contrast-adjusted files can be written on film or printed.
} After that lead-up, I'd like to hear opinions on what others } consider to be the qualitative and quantitative description of the } "ideal" negative. } The "ideal" negative is one which will have the information *you* need (and the prints, if any, should easily display this in- formation). This can vary all over the lot. An example is an image taken in a glass micropipette. We have observed specimens from patch- clamping--which are across the opening of the pipette--and specimens contained within the pipette. In order to have proper visualization of the specimen in the pipette, the area outside of the pipette has to be at OD ~ 6. Trying to get the tomography programs to deal with this can be tricky. ED patterns also have a large contrast range-- from } 4 to {0.01 OD, which have to be digitized accurately. Most "ordinary" images seem to range between ~0.1 and 2 OD, but as EM becomes more quantitative, such details as matching the OD's for various tilt angles, etc., will possibly necessitate different limits. Yours, Bill Tivol
Zofia Niemczura asked about software for the interpretation of ED patterns.
Dear Zofia, It sounds like you want something like CRISP. I use a module in the SPIDER image processing program, but it only gives the information from the pattern, not the ability to match that info to a short list of possible unit cells. I can put you in touch with Joachim Frank if you want info about SPIDER--it was written here and is available for $$$. Good luck. Yours, Bill Tivol
Digest mode is NOT available in the current listserver. I plan to add it in a new incarnation of the listserver (someday).
Also the Microscopy NEWSGROUP does not echo this mailing list that feature disappeared several months ago when our gateway to the newsgroups was taken off line.
In the mean time, let me remind everyone to Use SUBJECT LINES on your EMail. That is the best short term solution.
I have had an enquiry about performing TEM immunocytochemistry on the fat in whole milk concentrate which is approximately 15% fat. The problem is that unless osmium fixation occurs first the fat droplets collapse. I have suggested to the interested person that cryofixation / cryosubstitution may be the answer but I really have no experiance with this type of sample.
Any suggestions or protocols would be greatly appreciated.
Greatly appreciated,
Allan Mitchell
Richard Easingwood South Campus Electron Microscope Unit Otago Medical School PO Box 913 Dunedin NEW ZEALAND
I subscribe to the Double Reed Society (oboe and bassoon) out of ? Colorado .
This group offers the digest,and it is a real nice feature. I can just zap one or 2 files off to a disc and take it home to read at my leasure. Only takes up 1-2 slots in my mail box each day.
In the Double Reed, changing back and forth to and from digest is (as I understand it) an automated function, not the listsever system op's hands on work.----but I could very well be wrong.
Active microscopy listservers could choose this option for just when they leave for meetings and vactaions instead of unsubscribing and missing back issues and causing (?) the systems operator more work.
If the info's any help: X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0a -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas X-Comment: Message From: listserv-at-acc.wuacc.edu
Lou Ann
=================================
"Michael Boucher"wrote: One solution to those who want to remain, but not get a lot of e-mail they have no interest in would be to offer a digest form with one large post a day as many other listservers offer. With proper subjects headers, mail can be quickly skipped over to posts of interest. That way for those who pay by the message, it would be less expensivel. Another alternative is the microscopy news list which a lot of these posts also go to. For those that have no easy news access, the digest would perhaps be an alternative to losing their expertise by unsubscribing due to the larger number of posts. ==========================================================
*************************** Lou Ann Miller MT(ASCP) CT(MSA) Microscopic Imaging Lab College of Vet. Medicine University of Illinois 2001 S Lincoln Ave Urbana,Illinois 61801 217-244-1566 lmiller-at-ux1.cso.uiuc.edu
I am looking for good software for the TEM diffraction pattern interpretation, providing unknown phase identification on the base of interplanar angle and spacing measurements, drawing and indexing the reciprocal lattice, and stereographic projection, and facilitating to define
the crystals orientation. Does anyone know where I can get such a software.
I would greatly appreciate any advice or recommendation.
Zofia Niemczura 3001 East Columbus Dr Inland Steel Research Laboratories East Chicago, IN 46312 zeniem-at-inland.com
Jay Jerome wrote : } A too full mail box will always be a problem....... } In my humble opinion good subject lines and a quick delete finger are the } only real solutions to the "too much e-mail" problem. ..........
I agree The list does provide a good cross-section of information and delete works well. The previous suggestion of coding for content could work but if authors are intelligent about the subject indicated it should not be necesssary and one can delete messages of lower relevance without losing important information. 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
Anyone have experience using a PC to control the Hitachi H7100 TEM? I know that a program is available to control most of the TEM functions using an IBM-type computer. What are your impressions? Also, I am interested in using a PowerMac 8100 in this capacity and was wondering if anyone has used one here.
Thank you kindly -
John J. Bozzola Center for Electron Microscopy Southern Illinois University Carbondale, IL 62901-4402 Phone: 618-453-3730 Fax: -2665 Email: bozzola-at-siu.edu OR bozzola-at-qm.c-cem.siu.edu
My experience is that the cathodoluminesence technique will produce the best result for imaging ZrO2 grain boundaries that are "invisible" to secondary electrons.
} the following is the original message } From: PO2::"ubira-at-iqm.unicamp.br" "Ubirajara Pereira Rodrigues Filho" } 23-MAY-1995 08:35:46.24 } To: microscopy-at-aaem.amc.anl.gov } CC: } Subj: TEM-cellulose acetate porous membranes preparations } } Dear Net's; } Can someone help me? I'm working with cellulose acetate porous } membranes coated with a thin film of zirconium dioxide. I was studying } this membranes with SEM X-ray microanalysis system to study the } distribution of the oxide on the membrane surfaces. This task was } succesfull, but when we try see the grain boundary we can't. Then we } solve use the TEM for this pourpose. We embebed the membrane in a epoxi } resin to cut in a ultramicrotome, but the membrane structure is collapsed } and we lost the porous structure. } Thank you in advance, } } Ubirajara Pereira Rodrigues Filho } Instituto de Quimica- UNICAMP } Campinas, SP, Brazil, 13083-970, CP 6154 } e-mail: ubira-at-iqm.unicamp.br
Ed Vicenzi tel (609) 258-1464 office Princeton University tel (609) 258-1406 lab Princeton Materials Inst. fax (609) 258-6878 70 Prospect Ave. Princeton, N.J. 08540-5211 vicenzi-at-princeton.edu
Dear Net's: We would like to start doing some quantitative fluorescent microscopy, but have limited funds for establishing an appropriate system. Nikon representatives have informed us that they might be able to help us create an analogue system using our current Nikon microscope if we could locate enough discontinued equipment. They suggested that we try to contact scientists who might for a variety of reasons be no longer in need of these parts: #96969: Dual photometer attachment #86950: P1 Photometer w/FASTINCA INDO-1 Calcium Software #86953: FX Photometer control unit Thanks, in advance, for your help
Robert Cohen: Tel.: 301-402-4925 Fax: 301-480-1668 e-mail Bob-at-shiloh.nimh.nih.gov
Apologies for sending this to the list, but I accidently deleted the message I was going to reply directly to. Someone asked what feline-l was. Its an e-mail discussion group about cats.
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-- Keith R. Hallam Research Associate
University of Bristol, | Interface Analysis Centre, | Telephone: National (0117) 925 5666 Oldbury House, | International + 44 117 925 5666 121, St. Michael's Hill, | Facsimile: National (0117) 925 5646 Bristol, | International + 44 117 925 5646 BS2 8BS, | E-mail: k.r.hallam-at-bristol.ac.uk England | URL: http://zeus.bris.ac.uk/~phkrh/
I have embedded DAB-reacted material in EPON, ARALDITE, QUETOL 651, and LR WHITE with no resin problems associated with the DAB. G.Kennedy, TLHe Neurosciences Institute, La Jolla, CA
Analytical Consumer is doing a survey of users of optical microscopes and solicit contributions from this mail list. It will appear in our July issue, and all participants will receive a copy of the survey results.
Analytical Consumer, which merged in February with the newsletter, Microscope Technology & News (MT&N), surveys users of a different laboratory technology each month. We report on customer satisfaction with the equipment, keeping the names of our sources confidential. You will not be asked to buy anything; our surveys are for the use of our subscribers, and you will receive the July issue. Our subscribers are large laboratories in industry, government, and environmental testing worldwide.
We published surveys of SEM and TEM in the past, in cooperation with MT&N. Several members of this mail list participated in the TEM survey.
I hope that many of you will be interested in participating. Send me e-mail and let me know if you are. I'll send you the short list of questions for the survey.
Thanks,
Jo Rita Jordan, PhD Editor and Publisher Analytical Consumer
Subject: Time: 9:03 AM OFFICE MEMO RE: LM vs. EM whatever Date: 5/25/95
Tamara et al- Hear hear. Exactly right. I follow the same MO and tire of all the discussion.
On 5/23, Tamara Howard wrote:
} As much as I hate to jump in on these arguments, this one is too close to } my own interests to avoid. Dr. Gorski has just reminded us of the system } Nestor came up with ages ago - specific subject lines. They seem to } work for a while, then fade away again. Why not just start using them } again and STICK WITH IT, this time? Yes, the volume of mail gets to be a } pain, but I've picked up a LOT of valuable information from this group - } I'm sure I'm not the only one who has a handly little file of tips and } techniques, saved from various discussions. The volume on this list isn't } really that heavy, compared to most of the other groups I've been in. } Why not let Nestor decide what he feels to be appropriate? He is the one } who has to babysit this thing, after all! (And the effort is MUCH } appeciated). Sorry - long day and I had to shoot my ...um...fingers off, I } guess. } Tamara Howard } U. of Pittsburgh School of Medicine } Pgh, PA
Dear Microscopists, For making prints of micrographs I have always used glossy paper. A few weeks ago, we got a box of "pearl" (ie, matt) paper by accident. I made a bunch of prints with this pearl paper, and they appeared "different" from prints on glossy paper, besides the lack of shine.
Is there some conventional wisdom about when to use glossy and when to use matt? How about when preparing plates for publication: is there a difference between paper finishes in the way plates get reproduced by journals?
I would really appreciate comments here, having never had any formal training in photography, and not being able to find any comments in the book on photomicrography in my possesion.
Hi Everybody: I have a diamond knife that is a few months old and has been used with TLC. There is no damage visible on it even under the highest magnification that is possible to use on the microtome. I have tried to clean it with soft wood, balsa (dry and soaked in acetone and 100 % ethanol) and it still gives me headaches. It has been possible to cut beautiful sections with it, nothing hard has been cut. The only thing that was a bit unusual for our lab was a series of blocks of fungi (thick-walled, polysaccharides are abundant in the "hard" wall) that we cut lately. Now nothing works. We have played with the angle to no avail. The whole length (2.4 mm) behaves the same way. It is a Nisshin EM Co., Ltd., Tokyo made knife, we use a Reichert ultrotome. Has anybody any suggestions? I hate to think about sending it for resharpening! Any other way to clean a possible submicroscopic sticky polysaccharide contamination? Please give me a hint! The problem with the sections is that they come off in pieces as if there was something along the cutting edge. Thanks Peter molnarp-at-lib.dote.hu
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Group - In regard to this subject, whether there is a preference for glossy or matte paper for prints, to be used in publications, there would be a very, very slight preference for glossy. The reason is that with matte, there is a chance that the color separation process might pick up a bit of the fiberous surface of matte. As far as color, or resolution, there is no real difference between the two. However, and whether the paper print results from laser printing or photographic reproduction, they are the worse possible option for publication. The best option is 4 x 5 inch transparencies - followed closely by 35 mm slides (particularly when the final image tends to be small - like in normal journals, etc.). The reason is that these are "first generation" images. The next option would be the image on disk - not too bad, but they are "second generation" images - 1: the photography and 2: the scanning. I hope that some may find the above of interest. Don Grimes Microscopy Today
I use glossy for just about everything, ie., routines, for publication, etc . BUT I use a matt finish for posters. The non-glossy surface greatly reduces glare from hideous, exhibit hall lighting and saves the necks of those trying to read your poster who would otherwise be engaging in all sorts of contortions to look a micrographs through the glare. Matt finish prints do tend to have a softer, warmer presence about them as well which may sometimes be unsettling.
Have fun
John
___________________________________________________ | | | John G. Aghajanian, Ph.D. | | Worcester Foundation for Experimental Biology | | 222 Maple Avenue | | Shrewsbury, MA 01545-2737 | | | | Tel: 508 842-8921 ext. 147, 161 | | Fax: 598 842-9632 | | JOHNA-at-sci.wfeb.edu | | | |_________________________________________________|
Most journals require glossy prints, since they provide the maximum "brilliance" or dynamic range of the image. Glossy paper maximizes reflection of light back off the paper base, giving better contrast.
} Dear Microscopists, } For making prints of micrographs I have always used } glossy paper. A few weeks ago, we got a box of "pearl" (ie, matt) paper by } accident. I made a bunch of prints with this pearl paper, and they appeared } "different" from prints on glossy paper, besides the lack of shine. } } Is there some conventional wisdom about when to use glossy and when } to use matt? } How about when preparing plates for publication: is there a } difference between paper finishes in the way plates get reproduced by } journals? } } I would really appreciate comments here, having never had any } formal training in photography, and not being able to find any comments in } the book on photomicrography in my possesion. } } Thanks in advance, } } Tobias Baskin } } - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - } ___ ____ ^ ____ _____ Tobias I. Baskin } / \ / / \ / \ / University of Missouri } / | / / \ / / Biological Sciences } /___ / /__ /_____\ / /__ 109 Tucker Hall } / / / \ ( / Columbia, MO 65211 USA } / / / \ \ / voice: 314-882-0173 } / /____ / \ \____/ /_____ fax: 314-882-0123
R. Howard Berg, Ph.D. Biology Department University of Memphis Memphis, TN, 38152 E mail: bergrh-at-cc.memphis.edu phone: 901-678-4449 fax: 901-678-4457
Poster presentation prints on matte paper: less reflected glare.
This comes from my experience in a previous life as photographers assistant.
Jay Jerome ************************************************************** * aka: W. Gray Jerome * * Dept. of Pathology * * Bowman Gray School of Medicine of Wake Forest University * * Medical Center Blvd * * Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1092 * * 910-716-4972 * * jjerome-at-isnet.is.wfu.edu * **************************************************************
On Thu, 25 May 1995, Tobias Baskin wrote:
} Dear Microscopists, } For making prints of micrographs I have always used } glossy paper. A few weeks ago, we got a box of "pearl" (ie, matt) paper by } accident. I made a bunch of prints with this pearl paper, and they appeared } "different" from prints on glossy paper, besides the lack of shine. } } Is there some conventional wisdom about when to use glossy and when } to use matt? } How about when preparing plates for publication: is there a } difference between paper finishes in the way plates get reproduced by } journals? } } I would really appreciate comments here, having never had any } formal training in photography, and not being able to find any comments in } the book on photomicrography in my possesion. } } Thanks in advance, } } Tobias Baskin } } - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - } ___ ____ ^ ____ _____ Tobias I. Baskin } / \ / / \ / \ / University of Missouri } / | / / \ / / Biological Sciences } /___ / /__ /_____\ / /__ 109 Tucker Hall } / / / \ ( / Columbia, MO 65211 USA } / / / \ \ / voice: 314-882-0173 } / /____ / \ \____/ /_____ fax: 314-882-0123 } } }
This is going to sound a lot like a commercial, so I apologize now if I offend anybody. My only intention is to inform you of new developments you may not be aware of and of my experiences with the Gatan's ion mills.
To answer Mr. Peiro's questions about the PIPS the main advantage it has over the DuoMill is focused ion gun milling at low angles. It is not to be confused with a Focused Ion Beam (FIB) system. The PIPS can not do that kind of precission milling as it is designed for a wider range of materials and functions. It is fitted with new variable angle guns which means you can mill a specimen from the top and/or bottom at +10o to a theoretical 0o. New specimen mounting posts called the DuoPost have just been released to take full advantage of these guns.The posts are fully compatible with the DuoMill.
The DuoMill is capable of milling at 0o (with the DuoPost) but it is what we call a broad-beam system. This means the ions are spread out over a larger area reducing effectivness. The DuoMill is a very good instrument for situations where there are a lot of users at the same time who have different needs. A classroom of future materials engineers is a good example. The biggest disadvantage is time, because in comparison to the PIPS, the PIPS is almost twice as fast. Also the ion beam will erode the apperatures where the PIPS guns do not have that problem.
As to maintenance on the PIPS there are only a few simple things that will be required on a regular basis. The guns will need to be checked for alignment daily, especially if there will be multiple users, but I find that if you check in the morning you can forget about it for the rest of the day. The O-ring in the airlock assembly should be cleaned and regreased about once a week to provide smooth operation of the airlock piston. I recommend cleaning off the sputtered material on the viewing window at the same time, and you can do this with flux remover or, I use, a small amount of medium grade diamond paste and rub the sputter off. About once a month you will want to clean the window in the specimen mount assembly in the airlock which is done th same as for the viewing window.
The uncommon things that you will do eventually will be to clean the gun/s when it/they short out. You would simply vent the unit, remove the gun/s, take the magnets apart, and use a little compressed air to blow any loose material out. Do not use any sort of solvent for this, especially acetone. It will take three times as long to bring the unit back to an aceptable vacuum and acetone will dissolve the plastic components of the guns. The other thing is the built-in diaphram-pump requires a small oil cartridge for the bearing material and that has to be replaced every 5000 hours. (The oil never enters the vacuum system.) All these things are described in detail in the operating manual.
May I make a suggestion as to dealing with InP? If you do decide on a PIPS then it would be a good idea to get a CAIBE (Chemically Assisted Ion Beam Etching) accessory. When I work with InP I find the ion beam produces In rich "islands" artifacts which is a pain, but a CAIBE loaded with iodine crystals will sublime enough gas to dissolve these "islands" as they form under ther ion beam. The iodine also tends to increase the milling rate for InP at an average of 1um per minute.
Sorry about the length. If you have any questions please contact me. Thanx.
Michael Odum Spec. Prep. Tech.
Gatan, Inc. 6678 Owens Dr. Pleasanton, CA 94588 Tel: 510-463-0200 Fax: 510-463-0204 E-Mail: modum-at-gatan.com
} Hi,people. } We are interested in buying a new equipment for sample preparation (InP } is our great "nightmare"). It seems that the ion bombardment system PIPS } (from GATAN) works well and fast. However, before taking a decision, we } would like to know the opinion of the users. We would be very grateful if } anybody could inform us about the following points: how well does it work?, } which are the main advantages with respect to the GATAN DUO MILL system? } and, what about the maintenance requirements of the equipment?. } } Thank you. } } Francesca Peiro } _________________________________________________________________ } } Unitat ESCA-TEM } Serveis Cientifico-Tecnics Carrer Sole i Sabaris, s/n } Universitat de Barcelona 08028 Barcelona, Espana } } Tel +34 3 402 16 95 } Fax +34 3 402 13 98 } _________________________________________________________________
I am a fishery biologist and will be going to Russia in {1 month to work with a microscopist. I have just been asked to bring parts for their ultratome and electron microscope and haven't a clue where to start looking. If you can direct me to sources for the following I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you in advance. Reply to Diana_Papoulias-at-nbs.gov or FAX: 314-876-1896 or PHONE: 314-875-5399.
She has asked me for:
Luminescent lamp for Ultratome III, LKB, Sweden, type TL 4W/33 Phillips 6
Thin foil apperture for C.L. JEM - 100 c (JEOL, Japan) Thin foil apperture for O.L. JEM - 100 c
A friend is trying to study the primary auditory neurons using SEM, the neurons are grown in fetal calf serum with BDNF on thermonox cover slips. These are then fixed in 2% glut 0.5M phosphate buffer pH 7.0 for upto 1.5 hours and post-fixed in 2% OsO4 same buffer, dehydrated in EtOH followed by CPD and sputter coating. The problem is that according to them what they see under the SEM does not look like what they see in the LM before fixation. The Neurons are apparently gone and only swann cells and fibroblast are left. Does anyone have a fixation protocol that will preserve the neurons?
Any and all help appreciated.
TIA
____________________________________________________________________________ Eric Linton Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey Cell and Developmental Biology e-mail: linton-at-pisces.rutgers.edu snail mail: Rutgers/Nelson Labs C-109 P O Box 1059 Piscataway, NJ 08855-1059
I have had problems examining samples consisting small particles using the AFM. It seems like the particles are pushed around by the tip. Does anyone have any good ideas to solve this problem i.e. to hold the particles fixed - my small ceramic particles are usually 5 - 250 nm in diameter. Any comment is appreciated.
Kind Regards Henrik Guldberg Pedersen Institute of Mineral Industry Technical University of Denmark, bld. 204 DK-2800 Lyngby Phone: + 45 45 25 22 47 Fax: + 45 45 93 48 86 E-Mail: imihgp-at-unidhp.uni-c.dk
As a brandnew subscriber who received 30 emails within the first 24 hours, I wish to endorse Eugene Smelik's suggestion to include a three-letter code, in fact my first posting was going to be to ask all if they knew of any group specialising in my primary interest, which is electron microprobe for geological materials. I manage and maintain a 25-year old JEOL JXA-5A probe, with Oxford Instruments (LINK SYSTEMS as was) EDS system in a geology department in New Zealand, would love to hear from others in similar endeavours, view swapping views, tips, problems, STANDARD MATERIALS, etc. So maybe add EMP to the acronym list?
-- [ From: Charles A. Garber, Ph. D. * EMC.Ver #2.10P ] --
On May 25, Diana Papoulias asked about the following:
1] LKB MICROTOME PARTS: LKB was purchased by Leica, Inc. some years ago and you can reach them at (800) 248-0123 in Deerfield, IL. If they don't handle what used to be LKB products out of that location, then they can tell you where to call.
2] THIN FOIL APERTURES FOR JEOL 100CX: You can call JEOL (USA) on (508) 535-5900 and ask for their parts department. As of about a year ago, however, JEOL did not offer these kinds of apertures (to my knowledge). You should find out from your contact in Russia a) whether it is gold foil thin film apertures they are seeking (that is probably what they want), and if yes, then what hole sizes do they want. We at SPI can supply just about any hole size in a gold foil thin film aperture down to a hole size of only 1 um [no, that is not a typo!]. But you will have to find out what kind of work they are doing and what kind of hole sizes they are seeking. One more thing: Some of the 100C TEMs in Russia were made on an assembly line purchased from JEOL but were actually made in Russia. We have found that the OD's of the apertures used in some of these instruments might be different than the ODs used for the microscopes made in Japan. Therefore it would be good to confirm the OD's of the apertures that will fit into their aperture holders, just in case the dimensions are different.
Hope this helps.
PS: Simple items like tweezers and grids are often times hard to find in Russian EM labs. You might want to take along a few such items just in case! But don't try to take any chemicals on the plane with you, it is illegal and also dangerous. Contact me directly if you want special information on some of the options for getting hazardous goods to Russia for the lowest possible shipping charges.
Charles A. Garber PRESIDENT SPI SUPPLIES PO BOX 656 WEST CHESTER, PA 19380 USA
Hi to you all, In the recent discussion on a separate list for OM I'd like to remind us that there's currently a trend to expand the national and international societies for EM towards other techniques. In many cases the "E" of electron in the acronyms has been dropped. In this view I don't think one should plan separate groups for separate microscopy techniques. The idea of three letters in front of the heading would indeed be more helpful. Nick Schryvers
I'm interseted in doing IHC on virus infected tissue sample.
What would be the optimal fixation procedure in terms of inactivating the pathogen and still preserve the morphology and antigenicity of proteins as well as possible.
Suggestions?
Lars Bjork Dept. Immunology Stockholm University SWEDEN
Mr-Received: by mta RANDB; Relayed; Fri, 26 May 1995 10:37:27 -0600 Mr-Received: by mta MCM$RAND; Relayed; Fri, 26 May 1995 10:37:28 -0600 Mr-Received: by mta RANDD; Relayed; Fri, 26 May 1995 10:37:42 -0600 Alternate-Recipient: prohibited Disclose-Recipients: prohibited Content-Return: prohibited
Folks,
A possible idea that might reduce the number of people who improperly try to subscribe or unsubscribe. Maybe our Friendly Neighborhood Sysop could automatically send a brief message containing the rules for subscribing and unsubscribing to the list on a regular basis say, once a week. It should reduce the number of messages improperly sent to Microscopy requesting to join or quit. What do you think Nestor? Is this doable without much hassle? Just my two cents worth.
Joe Neilly Abbott Laboratories Cellular and Microscopic Research Abbott Park, IL E-Mail: Neilly.joseph-at-igate.abbott.com
Message-Id: {199505262047.QAA24511-at-service1.uky.edu} X-Sender: naresh-at-pop.uky.edu X-Mailer: Windows Eudora Version 2.0.3 Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
I believe Nestor is doing excellent job as a SYSOP and we need to appreciate his dedication. Recently, there has been lot of discussion about management issues of the listserv viz., propoer codes in the subject lines, subscribing/unsubscribing, commercial advertisements etc. (and I am sure that I shall receive some flame for this message too!). I am proposing to set up a message which would be posted at regular intervals (about once a month) summarizing these issues. Nestor used to send a message like that when people subscribe asking them to keep it handy. It is obvious that a lot of people are ignoring it and discarding it. I hope a regular monthly reminder would encourage people to follow it. On the same line of thought, may be we can set up a few FAQs. As a new member on several groups, I have learnt a lot from those FAQs. For a diverse group like microscopy, may be several FAQs will be appropriate: (1) EM, (2) OM, (3) Bio sample prep, (4) Material Sc. problems and even (5) a directory of commercial suppliers of services and products. This could be lot of work and would also require regular maintenance. Nestor is too busy and he should not be imposed upon. I am hoping that a few volunteers can do the preliminary work and I would volunteer my services for maintaining the FAQs. I can also try to post the FAQs as well as a file concerning listserv issues on a monthly basis. What does the community think of this idea? I do not intend to increase non technical discussion on the issue. My motive in positng this message is to reduce such discussion in future so that I do not have to waste my time going through similar messages.
Naresh Shah CFFLS, 341 Bowman Hall University of Kentucky Lexington, KY 40506-0059 (606)257-5119 (606)257-7215 FAX Alternate e-mail: naresh-at-funky.cffls.uky.edu
As part of this UNSUBSCRIBE message, I would like to get in a parting comment per the discussion of "OM vs. EM" splitting. As a cell biologist, I use all forms of microscopy, and increasingly LM, as confocal becomes an ever more central, almost essential technology. (I still teach a 'Biological Electron Microscopy' course, however.) It's been noted how even the local affiliate societies of MSA have also dropped the "Electron" out of their names; it's basically a non-issue. What remains, however, is a big split between the physical/materials microscopists and the biologists. I don't have any idea about what a "tripod" is, or why one would want to polish one; perhaps if I were a little less AR I could bleep out suspect titles w/o reading. However (my problem) I even open up "unsubscribe" messages, just in order to see if someone (like me) is qualifying their departure with some sort of rationale. When people vote with their feet, it's nice to get a view into their minds, not just their backsides! Basically the volume of mail has become so much that if a skip a day or two, I feel buried, and am losing key missives from departmental colleagues about meetings, etc, that get lost in the shuffle. Perhaps if there were a *biological microscopy* listserv, the volume might be more managable? Anyway, hats off to the manager of this list; I can't imagine the time it must take! Not being in general a 'splitter', but a generalist, I can't pretend to foist my splitting instinct on this particular issue onto others. You can't please everyone, nor suit everyone, no matter what you do, or how well. I'll have to find another (Internet?) way to keep up on tech chatter, on my own schedule -- or drop into this list occasionally, intermittently, to browse. Problem with unsubscribing is I won't see whether I have other like-minded users out there. (I do accept private e-mail, however.) Sayonara -- it's been an education.
** JAK **
**************************************************************************** John A. Kloetzel, Ph.D. {kloetzel-at-umbc.edu} Department of Biological Sciences University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) Catonsville, MD 21228-5329 USA Phone: (410) 455-2247 or -3913 (Lab) FAX: (410) 455-3875 ****************************************************************************
} Date sent: Fri, 26 May 1995 09:17:53 -0500 (CDT) } From: Alfred Kracher {S1.AXK-at-ISUMVS.IASTATE.EDU} } Subject: acronym: EPMA } To: microscopy-at-aaem.amc.anl.gov
} I agree with Ritchie Sims about needing a separate acronym for electron } microprobes, but suggest the (more or less) "official" EPMA, even if it } is 4 rather than 3 letters. I suggest confining this to contributions } regarding equipment, analysis, chemistry, etc. related to *wavelength- } dispersive* techniques, to distinguish it from EDS, energy-dispersive } analysis, which may have a different circle of readers. } Alfred Kracher } akracher-at-iastate.edu }
Thanks for the agreement, but can I make a plea for EDS-equipped instruments also to qualify as EPMA? The original WDS system on our JXA-5A were removed and dumped by a rather cavalier predecessor some years ago, we have only an (excellent) EDS from Oxford Instruments (aka LINK SYSTEMS). Goes real good, though, and apart from a sesitivity disadvantage cf. WDS gives pretty good results for geological specimens. I run at about 300pA absorbed current, which is great for volcanic glasses, lose v little Na.
Does anyone have a good standard for potassium (preferably a silicate) of which they could spare me a grain or two? I have only a slightly dubious adularia. And what do other and wiser people use for Si std for silicate analysis? I feel a bit iffy about quartz.
Ritchie Sims Geology Department University of Auckland Auckland, New Zealand
There will be an open house at Northwestern University on June 2nd from 1-4 for the new SPEAR facility. This instrument combines conventional surface science instrumentation such as XPS, Auger, SEM, thin film growth with a UHV-HREM and is open for outside users. For more information please contact either: ldm-at-apollo.numis.nwu.edu eric-at-apollo.numis.nwu.edu
We are starting up on the World Wide Web as from May 24th using this medium to get ever closer to our electron microscope customers. For that purpose we have designed a number of web pages giving information on our company, our products and how to contact us in the various parts of the world. We surely welcome your reactions and suggestions.
To check out the Philips Electron Optics home page open URL:
http://www.wise.nl/peo
Thanks Paul Keltjens
FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THIS MESSAGE CONTACT:
Paul A.V. Keltjens Philips Electron Optics Marketing Communications Department Building AAE, P.O. Box 218 5600 MD Eindhoven The Netherlands
I appreciate the offers for help. If anyone wants to prepare additional FAQ files that's great. Just go ahead and have fun, however, I have one request/comment. Remember the old expression: "Too Many Cooks Spoil the Broth", so just prepare them (FAQ's) and then Email them to me. I'll put them together in the general information file(s) which are sent out whenever anyone asks for HELP.
The major reason for my concern here is when problems occur, users need one address to send all problems to. If FAQ files are stored or used as "reply" address then when problems occur an inappropriate individual may get the messages and will likely not be able to take corrective actions. This may sound trival, but remember the most frequent problems occur with novices to the system. Those of you who are veterans know where to go and/or who to contact. My basic principle has always been "Keep It Simple" so one central site for things is best.
To get a copy of the current FAQ file, you need only send a message to "LISTSERVER-at-AAEM.AMC.ANL.GOV" with the line SEND HELP or SEND FAQ. As for weekly postings that's probably a bit much. Once a month might be more reasonable. The main FAQ file is a bit too long to send out monthly, I'll edit it down and use a shorter version as a monthly reminder. That much I can easily automate.
Cheers....Nestor
Your Friendly Neighborhood SysOp.
P.S. And yes, please try to use appropriate subject lines. Everyone will benefit. Any variation on 3, 4 or even 5 letter abbreviations which is obvious will be fine. It will also help in the archiving. Remember everything that has been sent to this list is archived. It is still not searchable as I need to develop a system for that, but Subject Titles will help enormously.
You should get good results with the larger particles in your range of interest (100 nm and up) with Tempfix, per Don Chernoff's reply. You may have some trouble with particles at the low end however - especially down at 5 nm. Tempfix does have some topography of its own, and you will have trouble distinguishing 5 nm particles from general topography of the Tempfix. If the smallest particles "sink" at all into the Tempfix, you'll also get an erroneous height measurement (if that's what you're trying to get).
For the smallest particles, you'll probably need to use mica or something else that can be made to be close to atomically flat. At that scale, if you minimize the force enough (especially with tapping or non-contact mode AFM) you should be ok w/r/to the particles being stable to imaging.
Good luck!
Andy
Dr. Andrew Gilicinski "opinions expressed are my own" Analytical Technology Center Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (610) 481-5958 voice Allentown, PA 18195 USA (610) 481-4600 fax
On Fri, 26 May 1995, Henrik Guldberg Pedersen wrote:
} To all AFM microscopists! } } I have had problems examining samples consisting small particles } using the AFM. It seems like the particles are pushed around by the } tip. } Does anyone have any good ideas to solve this problem i.e. to hold } the particles fixed - my small ceramic particles are usually 5 - 250 } nm in diameter. } Any comment is appreciated. } } Kind Regards } Henrik Guldberg Pedersen } Institute of Mineral Industry } Technical University of Denmark, bld. 204 } DK-2800 Lyngby } Phone: + 45 45 25 22 47 } Fax: + 45 45 93 48 86 } E-Mail: imihgp-at-unidhp.uni-c.dk }
Peter Were your fungi collected in the wild? I never section wild collected material with the diamond unless it is absolutely required. I found too many specimens had small sand particles attached to them and would ruin the diamond. I use freshly broken glass knives (at 2 pence apiece) for these specimens.
Yours sincerely
Dr Stephan Helfer, SSO Mycologist
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Inverleith Row, EDINBURGH EH3 5LR, Scotland UK
I was just wondering if someone would know somewhere where i could find a high quality (meaning very homogeneous) standard of arsenopyrite (FeAsS) to use in a electron microprobe (EPMA)
Thanks,
Yves.
Yves Thibault Dept. of Earth Sciences University of Western Ontario London, Ontario, CANADA N6A 5B7
I always recommend that cell cultures be grown in Leighton tubes manufactured by Costar Plastics and distributed by Fisher. These tubes have a detachable plastic coverslip that can be carried through processing and embedment, then removed prior to sectioning, or sectioned along with the embedment resin. This is by far the best method I have used for sectioning monolayers.
-=W.L. Steffens=- College of Veterinary Medicine University of Georgia
} I was just wondering if someone would know somewhere where i could find a } high quality (meaning very homogeneous) standard of arsenopyrite (FeAsS) } to use in a electron microprobe (EPMA) } } Thanks, } } Yves. } } Yves Thibault } Dept. of Earth Sciences } University of Western Ontario } London, Ontario, } CANADA N6A 5B7 } } Have you tried Ward's? (800)962-2660 They have three grades available on pages 148,185 and 214 of their 1994-95 Earth Science catalog.
Naresh Shah CFFLS, 341 Bowman Hall University of Kentucky Lexington, KY 40506-0059 (606)257-5119 (606)257-7215 FAX Alternate e-mail: naresh-at-funky.cffls.uky.edu
--------------------- Forwarded message: Subj: Fwd: Chain letter
--------------------- Forwarded message: Subj: Fwd: Chain letter
--------------------- Forwarded message: Subj: Fwd: Chain letter
--------------------- Forwarded message: Subj: Fwd: Chain letter
--------------------- Forwarded message: Subj: Fwd: Chain letter
--------------------- Forwarded message: Subj: Fwd: Chain letter
--------------------- Forwarded message: Subj: Fwd: Chain letter
--------------------- Forwarded message: Subj: Chain letter
This message has been sent to you for good luck. The original is in New England. It has been sent around the world nine times. The luck has now been sent to you. You will receive good luck within four days of receiving this message - Provided you, in turn send it on. This is no joke. You will receive good luck in your mailbox. Send copies to people you think need good luck. Do not keep this message. This message must leave your hands in 96 hours.
A United States Air Force Officer received 470,000 Dollars. Another Man received 40,000 Dollars and lost it because he broke the chain. Whereas in the Philippines, Gene Welch lost his wife 51 days after receiving the message. He failed to circulate the message. However, before his death, he received 7,555,000 dollars.
Please send twenty copies and see what happen in four days. The chain comes from Venezuela and has written by Saul De Groda, A Missionary from South America. Since the copy must tour the world, you must make twenty copies and send them to friends and associates - After a few days you will get a surprise. This is true, even if you are not superstitious.
Do note the following: Constantine Dias received this chain in 1958. He asked his secretary to make twenty copies and send them out. A few days later he won a lottery of two million dollars. Carlos Daditt, an office employee, received the message and forgot that it had to leave his hands in 96 hours.He lost his job. Later, after finding that message again, He mailed twenty copies. A few days later he got a better job.
Dalan Fairchild received the message and, not believing - Threw the message away. Nine days later he died. In 1987, The message received by a young woman in California was very faded and barely readable. She promised herself that she would retype the message and send it on, But she set it aside to do it later. She was plagued with various problems, including expensive car repairs. The letter did not leave her hands within 96 hours. She finally typed the letter as promised and got a new car.
Good Luck but please remember: 20 copies of this message must leave your hands in 96 hours... You must not sign on this message...
-------------- Forwarded Message:
To: ASCOT LOCK, Josh Smith, JAnn Smith, Dev Smith, Josh487, Al Smith, Smith Bear, IowaSis, SamRy, SMITH AMY, Mott Smith, HannaSmith, JASSMITH, Rudley, Smith WA, Xcgirl, Lis Smith, Cap Scott, Scottkins, ScottT NYC
-------------- Forwarded Message:
To: Chris cc: LiNdA, Larry, Laura, Michael, SHousley, LLCogdell, JLEnterpr, Laura KAO, Laura N134, Deb 1063, Laura C F, Laura A H, GMINSD, Laura 512, LAURA HU, Laura Bloo, CHEF LAURA, John, EFX Master, LisaYOG
To: Ander2099, Sky Ryder3, Delphynus, Miss Imina, Tatiyanna, JT Lion, L0rd Knot, Prince Rum, Cyric321, Timon 9, Simba Wi, Bilbo Adin, VenomChaos, Yeyinde, ChewbaccAS, Aquilla, DrgnQueen7, Drythyn, LBite, Tig Irb
-------------- Forwarded Message:
To: Kefka100
-------------- Forwarded Message:
To: Librogue, Jon1Carlo, Smutsuqi, MizBird, Pinky1000, NLubin, SonorL, idweinberg-at-ucdavis.edu
-------------- Forwarded Message:
To: Jon1Carlo, Smutsuqi, NLubin, DBERLAN, BERLAN, K co Cool, SonorL, DanielBarc, Ackbar94, RSQUADRA, KBrewer-at-teetot.acusd.edu, EBrewer-at-chaph.usc.edu, VDMF56A-at-prodigy.com, Moten, EL GUIDO, ABJZ, Happyfoot, DrewBald, SNKay, GymShoes
-------------- Forwarded Message:
To: STUSSY, K co Cool, RSQUADRA, Rebecca674, Tennis121, EBecker789, Pinky1000, PUGGY1000, Tails1235, WEETZIE11, LivWorden, FOOTICKLR1, DA Tickler, Jymbe, Kimmiebaby, Guide MST, Guide QST, KO Sara, KO Solar
-------------- Forwarded Message:
To: LilMac6887, Peterfin, B Berreth, RS Judy XC, Ranma11
This message has been sent to you for good luck. The original is in New England. It has been sent around the world nine times. The luck has now been sent to you. You will receive good luck within four days of receiving this message - Provided you, in turn send it on. This is no joke. You will receive good luck in your mailbox. Send copies to people you think need good luck. Do not keep this message. This message must leave your hands in 96 hours.
A United States Air Force Officer received 470,000 Dollars. Another Man received 40,000 Dollars and lost it because he broke the chain. Whereas in the Philippines, Gene Welch lost his wife 51 days after receiving the message. He failed to circulate the message. However, before his death, he received 7,555,000 dollars.
Please send twenty copies and see what happen in four days. The chain comes from Venezuela and has written by Saul De Groda, A Missionary from South America. Since the copy must tour the world, you must make twenty copies and send them to friends and associates - After a few days you will get a surprise. This is true, even if you are not superstitious.
Do note the following: Constantine Dias received this chain in 1958. He asked his secretary to make twenty copies and send them out. A few days later he won a lottery of two million dollars. Carlos Daditt, an office employee, received the message and forgot that it had to leave his hands in 96 hours.He lost his job. Later, after finding that message again, He mailed twenty copies. A few days later he got a better job.
Dalan Fairchild received the message and, not believing - Threw the message away. Nine days later he died. In 1987, The message received by a young woman in California was very faded and barely readable. She promised herself that she would retype the message and send it on, But she set it aside to do it later. She was plagued with various problems, including expensive car repairs. The letter did not leave her hands within 96 hours. She finally typed the letter as promised and got a new car.
Good Luck but please remember: 20 copies of this message
} } Who know email adres Journal of Microscopy } } (edited in London) } } There is no one right now - as far as I know. But you might try the } anonymous ftp server of the ROYAL MICROSCOPY SOCIETY at: } } +++ Dietmar Reiter, Dept. of Zoology and Limnology } The Royal Microscopical Society (publishers of the Journal of Microscopy) has an e-mail address, for its home in Oxford:
rms-at-vax.ox.ac.uk
-- Keith R. Hallam Research Associate
University of Bristol, | Interface Analysis Centre, | Telephone: National (0117) 925 5666 Oldbury House, | International + 44 117 925 5666 121, St. Michael's Hill, | Facsimile: National (0117) 925 5646 Bristol, | International + 44 117 925 5646 BS2 8BS, | E-mail: k.r.hallam-at-bristol.ac.uk England | URL: http://zeus.bris.ac.uk/~phkrh/
Applications are invited for a full-time position as a Research Associate in the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. We are seeking an individual with interest and experience in microscopy and computer imaging. The ideal candidate will have a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering, Cell Biology or related discipline; although applicants with an M.S. degree and equivalent experience will also be considered. The proposed work will focus on the quantitation of 3- and 4-dimensional morphologic data obtained from patients and experimental tissue, using confocal microscopy. Responsibilities will include digitizing, processing, interpreting and analyzing images, in order to generate reliable quantitative data. Applicants should send a curriculum vitae with statement of interest to:
Dr. W. Matthew Petroll Department of Ophthalmology University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas 5323 Harry Hines Blvd. Dallas, TX 75235-9057
Yes I saw the chain letter. I have contacted AOL to complain about the user. Please donot post any comments about it on the List. If you want just send back an angry letter to the TWIT that did it. The address is:
R100186-at-aol.com
However, I have no way of finding out who this was a the moment. I' will be waiting for a reply from AOL.
Also this person is NOT a subscriber to the Listserver,
Hi all, Does anyone know of a supplier where we can purchase partially graphitized carbon in suspension. Please no messages regarding the pre-mounted variety of grids available as we would prefer to make our own test grids. Paul Chipman Purdue University Lilly Hall of Life Sciences West Lafayette, In, 47907 PRC-at-bragg.bio.purdue.edu
Systems for Research is offering two services for MSC attendees. If interested, you may attend either our: { A) AFM workshop (June 7th) { B) And/or have your samples run on Digital Instrument's Nanoscope IIIa Atomic Force Microscope (June5,6,7th) Both of these services will be offered at the MSC Meeting held in Ottawa, June 5-7th.
AFM Workshop Details: Time: 8:30-10:30 am, June7th Cost: No charge Enrollment: Limited to 20 individuals Having Your Samples Run- Details: Time:-June 5,6,7th Cost: No charge Enrollment: Please contact us before June 2nd. Others may sign up at MSC - space permitting
--------------------------
Art Priebe- Systems For Research Corp { sy4rsrch-at-dragon.achilles.net Phone (613)832-0094 fAx (613)832-4102
Is anyone on the listserver actively involved in infrared microscopy? I am looking for someone who has practical experience with the technique as well as some recent review articles. Stan Flegler, Center for Electron Optics, Michigan State University, flegler-at-pulot.msu.edu
I've been trying to find a fixative procedure to use on powdery mildew of poinsettias, and my recipe-searching has led me to glutaraldehyde solutions. I want to try out some protcols I've found in other papers, but the glut. we have in our lab is Grade II, 25% aq. soln. (Sigma) and is labeled as "not recommended for use as an Electron microscopy fixative", citing the presence of an interfering impurity, possibly a polymer, that can be detected at 235 nm. My question is, does this concern only apply to TEM, and the glut. can be used for SEM work, or should I purchase new glut. with Grade I quality? Also, if you have any favorite powdery mildew fixing procedures for the SEM, I'd be open to suggestions.
I saw your question regarding the glut. It is important the purity of the glutaraldehyde that you use as a fixative not only in TEM but in SEM as well. When there are peaks at 235 your glut is "dirty" and may cause you difficulty in your work. I would highly reccommend for a simple !0.00 you but EM grade glut where you will be assured the highest purity and obtain the best results from your fixative. If you have any questions or I can be of any assistance to you please do not hesitate to contact me at Electron Microscopy Sciences. I look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, Stacie Kirsch Electron Microscopy Sciences P.o.Box 251 Fort Washington, Pa 19034 Tel: 215-646-1566 Fax: 215-646-8931
-- [ From: Charles A. Garber, Ph. D. * EMC.Ver #2.10P ] --
On May 31, Gail Celio asked about glutaraldehyde purity.
Glutaraldehyde tends to be sold as two different "qualities", one being in the "jugs" or "bottles" which is given various descriptions, such as "technical" grade or "biological" grade and the other, in the sealed glass ampoules described generally as "EM grade". Only one or maybe two firms really do "manufacture" glutaraldehyde one being Union Carbide and (I think also) Rohm & Haas. The "value added" by firms like SPI Supplies (and of course others) is to "purify" the as received material that comes out of the plants, which is "technical grade", and which contains dimers and trimers, etc. of the monomer, into a form that has sufficient purity for use in EM applications. To maintain the purity and to give the product long shelf life, the EM grade product is packaged in sealed glass ampoules under a dry nitrogen atmosphere.
The higher the starting purity, the longer the shelf life. SPI Supplies guarantees its EM grade glut for one year unrefrigerated to be free of the impurity peak.
So just what does constitute "EM quality" from the other (e.g. lesser) quality? It relates to a purification process by which the glut is refined and the dimers and trimers are removed (e.g. the source of the impurity peak seen with UV/VIS spectrometry). You should be using for your kind of work the "EM grade" glut that comes in the sealed glass ampoules.
So although (I think) most firms offering the glut in jugs or bottles do purify it down to that point before bottling, the shelf life stability is so uncertain and uncontrollable, exacting researchers tend to shy away from that particular form of packaging. Now this uncertainty is not something unique to the brand you have on hand, it would be just as true with our own SPI-Chem "Biological" grade glut, for example.
So you very definitely should be using the EM grade glut. A number of firms, including SPI produce excellent EM grade glut in sealed glass ampules. So long as the product has been refined down to the point that the impurity peak is not present, I don't believe one can say that one glut is "better" than some other, given the same UV/VIS spectrum. But there can (apparently) be differences in the shelf life.
So we are talking about a product that is so inexpensive, there should not be any question about discarding the material you have on hand and procuring some ampoules of EM grade glut, which is available in concentrations of 8,25,50 and 70% choices, 10 ml per ampoule.
Hope this helps out in some small way.
Charles A. Garber, Ph. D. President SPI Supplies PO Box 656 West Chester, PA 19381-0656 USA
Ph: (800) 2424-SPI [Toll free from USA] (800) 526-6562 [Toll free from Canada]
FAX:(610) 436-5755
e-mail: GVKM07A-at-prodigy.com
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