The following info relates to cryo ultramicrotomy of polymers, which may, or may not help you with your current application. =20
After sectioning the sample, the sections are fished off the edge of = the diamond/glass knife by means of a thin wire loop about 2 mm. in = diameter which holds a drop of concentrated sucrose solution. The drop is touched to the sections before the solution freezes, and then touched = to a TEM grid. The sections and some of the solution are thus transferred to the grid which is then floated on distilled water to leach away the sucrose. Don=92t worry - the sections remain on the grid. You can = then pick up the grids with tweezers and lay them on filter paper to soak up the water.
I suggest that you get in touch with Prof. Karen Winey who is also at UPenn. and she can tell you more about the technique. Her phone number is 898-0593. Tell her I said Hi!
Ramon J. Albalak, D.Sc. Research and Development Directorate Carmel Olefins Ltd. POB 1468 Haifa 31014 Israel
---------- From: Sally Shrom[SMTP:sally-at-retina.anatomy.upenn.edu] Sent: Friday, February 27, 1998 16:33 To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com Subject: cryo-thins TEM
The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America=20 To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com =09 -----------------------------------------------------------------------.=
PLease help me. I am trying to learn how to use a cryo-ultra microtome. How in the world do you get the ultra-thin sections on the grids? Also, how do you store them? How long can you keep them? ETC.(I am sure I don't even know what else to ask) Thank you, Sally Shrom =09
Our company can provide you with YAG:Ce screens in various thicknesses if you will please contact us directly.
For general information we offer the following : For thin screens obtain= ed from a thicker disc it is best to adhere the crystal to your window or fi= ber optic plate; after pre thinning to ~0.25 to 0.4mm thick. This gives a better chance of surviving without cracking. We have had windows polished= to 0.25mm in the past with a survival rate (i.e. no cracks) of 45%. I presu= me you must be backing the window up anyway if there is a vacuum differentia= l . The largest diameter single crystal readily available is about 35mm. Although 50mm is not out of ones growing capability, it would be rather expensive to process. Another problem notorious with single crystal YAG:C= e is the distribution of the Cerium dopant (undoped YAG will not work). As = one gets thinner this problem could be even more noticeable if areas were voi= d of the dopant due to decreased volume. One might argue it's only the top = few microns that really matter so if you had a 0.5mm thick crystal that gave = a good signal try polishing from the back side; thereby leaving the known = good surface unchanged. Of course that leaves you with the problem of how to adhere the "good" surface to a back up plate for grinding and polishing t= he back, and then removing it to remount the back against the window!! Your optical technician is sure to have some tricks.
We are currently in the process of prototyping ultra thin crystals grown = on quartz or sapphire substrates. In this case neither thickness or size/diameter would be very limited. These would not necessarily be singl= e crystal, but some trials in a TEM will verify image quality. If you have = an interest in this alternative approach please contact us. There are sever= al researchers going in that direction and I wouldn't be at all surprised if they may be already on the market, although not necessarily the EM market. The EM market is relatively small for this material currently compared to other markets (lasers for example) where other materials are = more lucrative for crystal growers. YAG:Ce is not something other markets have required to satisfy their need; therefore, it is rather expensive compar= ed to crystals of other types.
Finally old screens can be rejuvenated in some cases by cleaning and recoating; assuming they are not defective for a variety of other reasons= . Contamination on the surface will give the appearance of an otherwise perfectly good screen. This is particularly true if your system has any o= il pumps (roughing, backing, or diffusion ) or rubber o-rings to produce contamination. A replaceable element foreline trap will help to trap oil vapors and prolong the screen lifetime.
Hope this helps.
M.E. Taylor Engineering Inc. 21604 Gentry Lane Brookeville, MD 20833 Phone: 301-774-6246 =95 FAX: 301-774-6711 =95 e-mail: Metengr-at-aol.com
DTSA version 2.0.1 for the Macintosh (available from NIST) can open these files directly by using the menu item "Read sundry file formats" and choosing "TN 'XI' files." However, this menu item was removed from version 2.5 for the PowerPC. I don't know if the newer versions perform this function in a new way....but for now, we're keeping the old version of DTSA in the lab.
Jeffrey A. Fortner Nuclear Waste Management Section Chemical Technology Division Argonne National Laboratory Argonne, IL 60439-4837
} ---------- } From: gllovel-at-ppco.com } Sent: Friday, February 20, 1998 11:05 AM } To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: Spectra Xfer#2 } } ---------------------------------------------------------------------- } -- } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of } America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to } ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } ---------------------------------------------------------------------- } -. } } Since my last posting about transfering TN-5500 spectra to a PC I have } managed to send spectra information( headers and each channels } intensity) as } ASCI data to the PC. I have not however found a means to convert the } data } into a graphics file. Kermit was used to capture the xfered data. } The PC } is connected to a Novel network but the only means of TN-5500 data or } spectra to be xfered is by means of a serial port connection beween } the two } systems. Any information concerning software that can be located on } the PC } for converting the data to a graphics file and then converting the } graphics } file to a TIF file would be greatly appreciated. If anyone is } interested, } the spectra data was xfered by using Noran's XI module(file type 5, } number } 442), which requires two other type 6 files( 4000 and 4065 ) be } present on } the operating system. }
You may try CUFOUR for a two-beam calculation. There is an on-line limited version running on http://cimewww.epfl.ch/CIOL/html/ems.html If you are interested in acquiring CUFOUR or need more information let me know!
Yours,
Robin Schaublin
arbiol-at-iris1.fae.ub.es wrote: } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Precise information about any computer program that allow me to } simulate the TWO -BEAM CONDITION. } Any help will be greatly apreciated. } } Thank you very much for your time. } } Yours respectfully, } } Jordi Arbiol i Cobos } Departament d'Electronica } Universitat de Barcelona } Avgda. Diagonal 645-647 } 08028 Barcelona } Spain } Tel: 34 3 4021139 } 34 3 6683373 } Fax: 34 3 4021148 } E-mail: arbiol-at-iris1.fae.ub.es
-- Robin E. Schaeublin Fusion Technology - Materials Group CRPP - EPFL, 5232 Villigen - PSI, SWITZERLAND Tel : + 41 56 310 40 82 Fax : + 41 56 310 45 29
Devitrification can be identified using SEM (with appropriate precautions to eliminate charging). Sometimes, the devitrified areas grow radially from a point of nucleation. In any case, there is crystallization of the glass that will appear different from organic growth. Devitrification is a very slow process at room temperature which would be a reason to expect to find it only on very old optics.
One of our users here at UC Berkeley is looking for a cryo-TEM that would be available for her to use. There don't seem to be any that we know of here on campus. I think she'd be willing to travel to use it. Please let me know if there are any kind hearted souls out there with one that she could use. She's a graduate student in Chemistry studying surfactants and needs to study the surfactant & it's relation to its' solvent.
Thanks!
Sad because we don't have cryo,
Paula = )
Paula Sicurello UC Berkeley Electron Microscope Lab psic-at-uclink4.berkeley.edu
Please read the excellent references suggested. The Tokayasu method is wh= at we recommend to our students. Please be aware that there are so many smal= l but deadly details that will kill you. Here are : 1. If you try to rush your sucrose prep by heating you will probably not end up with good sucrose.
2. If you take more than 30 seconds to mount the tissue on the cryopin before plunging in LN2 you will probably not have good sectioning characteristics also due to molarity change.
You can get very frustrated very quickly with wrong conditions. With correct conditions even novices get beautiful 70nm sections.
A last hint, if you mince your tissue in buffer and make them a pyramidal=
shape this eliminates the need for trimming in the cryoultramicrotome. Ev= en though we have two sets of trimming tools it is usually not necessary to use them.
Good luck, contact our applications staff off-line for detailed help.
some undergrads and i are trying to prep some rabbit leg bone and growth plate for sem observation. any suggestions on how we can fix, dry, and otherwise prep the pieces?
thx! brian
**************************************************************** Brian McIntyre Electron Microscopy Lab Institute of Optics University of Rochester Rochester, NY 14627
I thought the idea was to have some fun. Come on ladies and lighten up!! No offense was meant and none should be taken. I hate it when everyone starts bickering about some trivial point which has really nothing to do with the original subject. I subscribe to this list serve in order to hear the usual intelligent exchange of advice and ideas on topics related to microscopy. The gentleman has proposed an entertaining contest for our entertainment and amusement. He playfully described an image which he thought would be an illustrative example of the type of imaging he was refering to. Nothing lewd or offensive was implied in so far as I can tell. The image of a woman in a bathing suit (with or without larvae) has never been offensive to me. Come on sisters, lighten up and have some fun already!
Now, can we get back to microscopy topics and not take off on another tangent!
Anne Marie Cooper
On Fri, 27 Feb 1998, Elinor Solit wrote:
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Did I miss something? What is fun about an image of a partially nude } woman swimming in a sea of larvae? } } There is much that could be said about this, but suffice my own comments } to be: rethink your offer, Mr. Editor, and try rephrasing in a more } respectful manner. } } Elinor Solit } The Microscope Book } }
Most TEMs these days use a side-entry goniometer sample holder. For a simple reality check on the (sample rod) tilt axis, gently press on the end of the sample holder in the microscope and observe the image deflection on the viewing screen. By the way, the common standard sample for measuring image/diffraction pattern rotations is MoO3 (available from most microscopy supply mail-order outfits).
Larry Thomas Washington State University thomas-at-mme.wsu.edu _______________________________________________________________________________
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Precise information about the goniometer tilt direction is important for many TEM applications. Historically alpha-MnO2 crystals have been used to measure the rotation angle between images and diffraction patterns in TEMs. However, for stereo analysis one needs to know the absolute tilt axis direction relative to the micrographs. I have used Kikuchi line motion to get this information. I am wondering what methods are used by others.
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I am a molecular biologist and a novice microscope user. We have an inverted phase contrast visible and fluorescence microscope used for tissue culture work. My co-workers have taught me how to focus and see cells but I don't have an understanding of what I am doing. What beginner books are available that teach basic microscope techniques for both visible and fluorescence microscopy? Are there video tapes that teach these microscopic techniques? I am starting to do tissue culture research and will be using fluorescence to study transfections and cell membrane labeling. Any advice an learning microscope use and techniques will be appreciated. Thanks Dennis P. Smith smith_dennis_p-at-lilly.com
We talked in the listserver about the way to get ultra-thin cryosections onto a grid with the method of Tokuyasu by use of a highly concentrated sucrose. We want to use cryosections of plant material for the elemental analysis, and can not use an osmoticum such as sucrose or another liquid. Is there anybody with a tricky way to get these sections?
Heike Dr. Heike Buecking University of Bremen, UFT Plant Physiology and Plant Anatomy Leobener Str. D 28359 Bremen Germany TEL: +49-421-218-2954 or TEL: +49-421-218-7283 FAX: +49-421-218-3737 e-mail: heibueck-at-uft.uni-bremen.de
} } I am a molecular biologist and a novice microscope user. We have an inverted } phase contrast visible and fluorescence microscope used for tissue culture } work. My co-workers have taught me how to focus and see cells but I don't have } an understanding of what I am doing. What beginner books are available that } teach basic microscope techniques for both visible and fluorescence } microscopy? Are there video tapes that teach these microscopic techniques? } I am starting to do tissue culture research and will be using fluorescence to } study transfections and cell membrane labeling. Any advice an learning } microscope use and techniques will be appreciated. } Thanks Dennis P. Smith smith_dennis_p-at-lilly.com
Two books that I like and use to teach undergraduates are:
A.J. Lacey (ed) (1989). Light Microscopy in Biology: a Practical Approach. IRL Press, Oxford ISBN 0-19- 963037-2
Bradbury, S. (1989) An Introduction to the Optical Microscope. Oxford U Press/Royal Microscopy Society. ISBN 0- 19- 856419- 8.
The Royal Microscopy Society has a number of other books in the series on specific topics such as fluorescence, immunocytochemistry, TEM, and others. While there may be more current or specific instructions for your particular application, these books provide excellent background material for the principles involved, and are oriented toward biologists.
Gary Radice Department of Biology University of Richmond
I have an EDS spectrometer and analyzer for anyone who is willing to pay for shipping costs. The EDS is an EDAX with a BE window that was fitted to a Philips 420. The analyzer is a PGT System IV complete with manuals and high end Canbera amplifier. Everything still works fine--a real work-horse. The detector efficiency has been well calibrated, so it's ready to do full quantitative analysis for some elements.
I am willing to let go of them separately, but they are best as a matched set. E-mail if you are interested.
Ciao for now, Ken
Kenneth JT Livi Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences 34th and Charles Streets Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, Maryland 21218 USA Phone: (410) 516-8342 Fax: (410) 516-7933 e-mail: klivi-at-jhu.edu
Did you miss part of the workshop? Up the mountain maybe?!
When we were doing this in our lab, we made a simple support for the grids. It consisted of small brass plates (50 x 20 mm). They were originally a door hinge, sawn apart along the joint. The bottom part had three brass strips epoxy-glued underneath to locate it on the knife holder. On top of the plate was a rectangular wire frame, made from a paper clip, epxied down, this was to prevent grids from moving too far from the central area.
Sections were manouvered onto carbon/formvar coated grids with an mounted eyelash (that is the fun bit!). Then pressed down with the Teflon(?) part of the Reichert cryo-tools kit.
Then a lid was applied. This is the other brass plate, with a wire frame that fits around that on the base plate, for location purposes. The top plate has a simple wire handle, attached to two screws which come up through the original screw holes in the hinge. Each projecting screw has two nuts. The wire of the handle is wrapped around the screw and clamped between the nuts. This lid was screwed down with two further screws for transport, in order to keep the grids and the assembly together.
The device was then moved into a metal container with a lid in the cryobox of the microtome, then into a styrofoam box with LN2. The screws attaching the lid were then removed. The whole assembly was then transferred to an elderly vacuum station (a modified Polaron freeze fracture unit, where the knife handle was adapted to lift the cover off the box when a good vacuum was attained. Freeze drying was by simple sublimation with P2O5 powder in the chamber and a LN2 trap above the diff. pump.
Maybe this will give you some ideas. Expensive accessories!
Best wishes - and fond memories of a good workshop !!
We have a 160 liter Dewar that has not been used in years (at least 8). Our plan is to put 30 or 40 liters in it and then weigh it every day to quantify boil off rate. Can anyone tell me the density of LN? Is there a better way to determine the efficacy of a LN storage device? What are acceptable boil off rates for large Dewars (0.1-0.5 liter/day)? Can Dewars with a soft vacuum be refurbished? Additionally, compressed gas cylinders have to be tested for safety every 5 (?) years. Do LN Dewars?
TIA
Bob
Dr. Robert R. Wise, Director UW-Oshkosh EM Facility Department of Biology and Microbiology University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Oshkosh, WI 54901
(920) 424-3404 tel (920) 424-1101 fax wise-at-uwosh.edu www.uwosh.edu/departments/biology/wise/wise.html
Have you contacted your local compressed gas distributors? The local suppliers we use (Airco, Matheson, Middlesex Welders Supply, et al) are very knowledgeable.
Harold J. Crossman OSRAM SYLVANIA INC. Lighting Research Center 71 Cherry Hill Dr. Beverly, MA 01915 (978) 750-1717 crossman-at-osi.sylvania.com
Thank you to all those who have replied and will reply to my request for a cryo-TEM.
Yes, we've checked with the folks at Donner & that TEM is booked most of the time plus I think there's a lengthy training period. But we will check again just in case there's an opening. Thanks for the reminder on that scope.
Now for the grammar police, sheesh, gimme a break! Can't a person make a mistake once in a while? Try writing a note with a lot of people coming up to you at once & see what happens.
Anyway that's my rant. But I do feel that this is not the forum for correcting grammatical errors. If you have something to contribute, please do, but lay off the nit-picky little things. It seems like this group is getting too serious. It must be grant writing time or something, or is it El Nino.....
Crabby this morning,
Paula
Paula Sicurello UC Berkeley Electron Microscope Lab psic-at-uclink4.berkeley.edu
I have an EDS spectrometer, but no electronics, a PGT device with thin window that was mounted on our Philips 410, for sale.
If interested, contact me.
steve
--------------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Steven Barlow, Associate Director EM Facility/Biology Department 5500 Campanile Drive San Diego CA 92182-4614 phone: (619)594-4523 fax: (619) 594-5676 email: sbarlow-at-sunstroke.sdsu.edu website: http://www.sci.sdsu.edu/emfacility/
We have one Philips 300 TEM in working order available for anyone who will pay for its removal from the premises. Anyone who is interested please call Dr. W.E. Mushynski at McGill University - phone 514-398-7286, e-mail address mushynski-at-medcor.mcgill.ca. Please do no reply to the listserver.
Thanks,
Pat Hales McGill University Dept. of Anatomy & Cell Biology hales-at-hippo.medcor.mcgill.ca Pat Hales McGill University Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology hales-at-hippo.medcor.mcgill.ca
Does anyone know of a plugin available for AdobeShop that will allow you to perform line profiles and print them out?
We are interested in studying cross-section samples of epitaxial grown InGaAsP layers using a line profile routine.
thanks in advance
Fred email:eoptics-at-mcmaster.ca
******************************************************** Fred Pearson Brockhouse Institute for Materials Research McMaster University 1280 Main St. West Hamilton, Ontario Canada L8S 4M1
Back in mid-January there was a discussion about raster versus defocussed beam analysis. The question was raised whether the beam current was uniform across a defocussed beam, or more like a normal distribution.
The object of either method is to get a true average composition of the area illuminated by the beam. I have tested this by dragging a very small inclusion across the area of a defocussed beam. If the current density is the same everywhere, one would assume a flat-topped curve of counts versus distance, with the steepness of flanks depending only on the size of the "probe," which in this case is the size of the inclusion. I used a small gold inclusion in pyrite as test sample.
I didn't have ideal conditions for this, but within the limitations of what I could do I have verified that the current density across a defocussed beam is indeed approximately constant, although it remains to be seen whether this depends on particular conditions (diameter, current, etc.). Anyone who would like to know the details is welcome to e-mail me directly.
Alfred Kracher ----------------------------------------- Geological Sciences 253 Science I Iowa State University Ames, IA 50011-3212 mailto://akracher-at-iastate.edu http://www.public.iastate.edu/~akracher vox:515 294 5439 fax:515 294 6049 -----------------------------------------
I am having a recurring problem with charging during SEM imaging of coal ash. The ash specimens (chunks of porous, sintered material from boiler walls) are embedded in epoxy and then sectioned and polished for examination. The epoxy used is a lower-viscosity, two-component resin sold by a major metalography supply company for impregnation of porous materials. A gold coating has been routinely used.
I would appreciate any help and suggestions with this problem.
Everett Ramer Federal Energy Technology Center U.S. Department of Energy Pittsburgh, PA ramer-at-fetc.doe.gov
Embedded specimens may well have a gold coat across the surface but is th= e complete mount earthed?
Run a silver Dag earth from the top surface down to the base, or stub, as= a gold coat is usually not enough to conduct down to the base of the stub; the plasma does not usually run too far down the side in my experience..
Lower the kV down to about 5 to be sure of not running at too high a voltage.
Why do you mount and section, as I would handle this specimen my, casting= a very small amount onto a double sided carbon tape and running at 5kV?
If we can help further please do not hesitate to ask.
Steve Chapman
Senior Consultant E.M. Protrain., Oxford, UK Tel & Fax 44 (0)1844 353161 web site at http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/protrain
I am trying to determine or calibrate magnification on my scope using a grating replica which has the following formula:
mag = distance in cm between limiting lines (X) 21,600 lines/cm number of spaces between limiting lines
If you have experience with such, what is meant by the denominator "number of spaces between limiting lines"? As I view the replica I only see parallel lines. I have a call in to the manufacture but am getting impatient. Thanks.
Bill Meek Meekwd-at-osucom-fs02.ocom.okstate.edu Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology OSU-College of Osteopathic Medicine 1111 W. 17th St. Tulsa, OK 74107 918-561-8258 918-561-8414 Fax
} I am having a recurring problem with charging during SEM imaging of coal } ash. The ash specimens (chunks of porous, sintered material from boiler } walls) are embedded in epoxy and then sectioned and polished for } examination. The epoxy used is a lower-viscosity, two-component resin } sold by a major metalography supply company for impregnation of } porous materials. A gold coating has been routinely used.
This should not happen if coated with gold.
Check that the coating completely covers the specimen and is in contact with the stub which is then in contact with the stage. Also check that the stage is properly grounded. We often paint a line of conductive paint from the stub onto the polished face of the specimen to ensure continuity to ground.
#################################################################### John J. Bozzola, Ph.D., Director Center for Electron Microscopy Neckers Building, Room 146 - B Wing Southern Illinois University Carbondale, IL 62901 U.S.A. Phone: 618-453-3730 Fax: 618-453-2665 Email: bozzola-at-siu.edu Web: http://www.siu.edu/departments/shops/cem.html ####################################################################
Your accuracy is improved by taking multiple lines, i.e. a longer distance on the micrograph. For example, if eleven lines are present in your micrograph, then there are ten spaces. Just make sure that you start and end on the same relative side of the width of the lines. What you are really counting is the number of repeat distances in the grating that you are using. -Scott Walck
I am trying to determine or calibrate magnification on my scope using a grating replica which has the following formula:
mag = distance in cm between limiting lines (X) 21,600 lines/cm number of spaces between limiting lines
If you have experience with such, what is meant by the denominator "number of spaces between limiting lines"? As I view the replica I only see parallel lines. I have a call in to the manufacture but am getting impatient. Thanks.
Bill Meek Meekwd-at-osucom-fs02.ocom.okstate.edu Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology OSU-College of Osteopathic Medicine 1111 W. 17th St. Tulsa, OK 74107 918-561-8258 918-561-8414 Fax
Liquid nitrogen density at -195.8C is 0.808. Its worth noting that a litre of liquid turns into 800 litres of gas. The fairly robust smaller (25 or 30 l) dewars use about a litre per day. Similar size storage flasks as used in the semen industry would last about six months - full to empty. Those flasks have fewer (weaker) contact points at the neck and the low parts of the flask and should not be used for pouring LN2.
I guesstimate that a 160 l dewar would use at least 3 litres per day. Good vacuum is essential to minimise LN2 losses. All dewars I have seen can be repumped. I had an adaptor made up that sealed against the chamber intake of an evaporator (used without bell jar) a vacuum hose led to the adaptor valve which fitted over the vacuum "bung" of the dewar. With different end adaptors that device was also used for pumping EDS dewars.
Final vacuum attained is improved if some boiling water is poured into the dewar a few hours before terminating pumping. The next paragraph describes the pumping device. If you want to proceed with this exercise I would be happy to email a crude drawing to explain the function of the adaptor, sorry no engineering drawings; its too long ago.
You will find that there is a screw plug somewhere on your dewar which can be removed; its function is to protect the vacuum plug below. The vacuum plug has a threaded centre hole and the "adaptor valve" was designed to include a shaft which had a matching thread on the end and protruded through the end of the valve ("O" ring sealed). A short crossbar permitted engaging the thread and pulling the bung out by about 25mm. Tape was used to prevent the shaft from being sucked back in. The front of the valve (with the threaded shaft) had a sealing nut which would mount over the top of dewars vacuum connection.
Quite a useful device for a big lab with a number of dewars. Cheers Jim Darley
ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Phone +61 7 4774 0370 Fax: +61 7 4789 2313 Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes **************************** www.proscitech.com.au *****
} We have a 160 liter Dewar that has not been used in years (at least } 8). Our plan is to put 30 or 40 liters in it and then weigh it every day } to quantify boil off rate. Can anyone tell me the density of LN? Is there } a better way to determine the efficacy of a LN storage device? What are } acceptable boil off rates for large Dewars (0.1-0.5 liter/day)? Can Dewars } with a soft vacuum be refurbished? Additionally, compressed gas cylinders } have to be tested for safety every 5 (?) years. Do LN Dewars? } } TIA } } Bob } } } Dr. Robert R. Wise, Director } UW-Oshkosh EM Facility } Department of Biology and Microbiology } University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh } Oshkosh, WI 54901 } } (920) 424-3404 tel } (920) 424-1101 fax } wise-at-uwosh.edu } www.uwosh.edu/departments/biology/wise/wise.html } } }
} I am trying to determine or calibrate magnification on my scope using a } grating replica which has the following formula: } } mag = distance in cm between limiting lines (X) 21,600 lines/cm } number of spaces between limiting lines } } If you have experience with such, what is meant by the denominator } "number of spaces between limiting lines"? As I view the replica I only } see parallel lines.
You literally count the spaces between the lines. For example,
| | | | | shows 4 spaces
| | | | | | | | shows 7 spaces
I suppose you could count the lines and subtract one but it is presumably easier to count (and possibly tick off or mark) the spaces rather than the lines.
#################################################################### John J. Bozzola, Ph.D., Director Center for Electron Microscopy Neckers Building, Room 146 - B Wing Southern Illinois University Carbondale, IL 62901 U.S.A. Phone: 618-453-3730 Fax: 618-453-2665 Email: bozzola-at-siu.edu Web: http://www.siu.edu/departments/shops/cem.html ####################################################################
in the past there have been several threads dealing with charging problem= s in SEM and their remedies.
I was wondering if it were possible to take a "common" embedding resin an= d mix in a certain amount of graphite powder, thereby generating a pseudo-conductivity in the resin itself. =
"Pseudo-conductivity" because there will probably be microscopic, resin filled spaces between the graphite particles that would act as an isolato= r to lower voltages (e.g. Ohmmeter), but when exposed to a high voltage potential, the situation may change...
Has anyone experimented with such a home-brew "conductive- resin"? If so,=
what were your experiences? How does, for example, the graphite powder affect the curing of the resin? How much powder is needed to make a commo= n two-component resin conductive (relation of volume)? Is precipitation a problem?
If, by chance, this is something of common knowledge, then please forgive=
At 04:14 PM 3/3/98 -0500, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Several manufacturers make conductive resins to help with this problem, as I found out from this list when I had a related problem last year. I will try to locate my saved files and forward them to you, but querying the various EM suppliers may give you some good leads. A couple users suggested mixing fine carbon powder with the resin.
I have no direct experience with the effectiveness of these resins, yet, since I was primarily gathering information for a third party.
The other things you might try are SEM operations things that you probably already know about. I'll throw some in anyway, since I don't know what your experience level is. Please forgive me if I'm being obvious. Charging can be minimized by using lower accelerating voltages and smaller condenser spot sizes. Some instruments are designed to operate effectively at 1 kV or lower, especially if they can integrate several scans to form the final image.
That's another way, incidentally. If you have a scope that can digitally integrate consecutive scans to make a clean image of many noisy ones, this can drastically reduce charging effects, by reducing the amount of time the beam remains on a particular part of the sample during each scan.
If you have a "plug" of ash surrounded by resin, using conductive paint "bridges" from the plug to the mounting stub can help. Might help anyway, even if the ash is dispersed throughout the resin. Make sure that the specimen is mounted to the stub with enough conductive adhesive to form a good path.
And then, use the "environmental" or "variable pressure" capabilities of the scope, if it has them. I usually start at the lowest pressure available, then rack it up one notch at a time until charging is manageable. Usually 1-7 Pa of pressure will do it.
Hope something here helps.
Randy Randy Tindall 2017 Princess Jeanne Las Cruces, New Mexico 88001-4157
A colleague needs to know the mean free path of 100keV electrons in ZrO2. He is trying to determine the absolute thickness of samples examined by PEELS. The EL/P program calculated a relative thickness in terms of the number of mean free paths but we want to convert this to thickness in nanometres. Any help would be appreciated. cheers,
Mark Blackford TEM Group Materials Division, ANSTO PMB 1, Menai, N.S.W. Australia 2234 Phone 61 2 9717 3027 Fax 61 2 9543 7179
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this E-mail message do not necessarily represent the official views of ANSTO from which this message was conveyed.
I would suspect that in the case of a bulk insulator with a thin conducti= ve coating, that some charge would be injected into the bulk material (a few=
microns deep, depending on atomic number and beam energy.) Even though surface charges may drain away, the bulk charge would remain.
Dear list I have just carried out some EDX analysis of some old (?18th Century) ceramic? floor tiles. Does anyone know how I might use the compositional analysis to perform some form of dating? The tiles come from the cellars of a mansion in Cheshire UK. As a biologist I know nothing about these things! Many thanks
Chris Gilpin Biological Sciences EM Unit G452 Stopford Building Manchester University Oxford Road Manchester M13 9PT phone +44 161 275 5170 Fax +44 161 275 5171
Have you tried using a conductive epoxy, you can make your own by mixing some carbon powder in to your normal resin. This, together with gold coating should reduce the charging.
Another idea could be to ensure that contact between the resin and sample holder is maintained. The carbon in the epoxy should help this too.
Jo Hunt Kodak Ltd Harrow Middlesex HA1 4TY ENGLAND (jshunt-at-kodak.com)
Hi all I am a novice of this list, so please write me is there is some FAQ to avoid starting again old threads. By the way, is there a consolidated way of protecting a SEM chamber from boost pressure coming from N2 bottle during venting? (this may occur if someone accidentally moves the low pressure stage on the bottle)
Thank you in advance Dr. Eng. Edoardo Bemporad, Ph. D. Assistant Professor of Materials Science University of Rome "Roma Tre" (Italy) Dipartimento di Ingegneria Meccanica e Industriale (Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering) Via della Vasca Navale 79 - 00146 Rome, Italy Tel: +39 6 5517.3293 Fax: +39 6 5517.3256 LIME Lab (InterDipartimental Laboratory of Electron Microscopy) Tel: +39 6 5517.3200 E-Mail:bemporad-at-uniroma3.it
} I am trying to determine or calibrate magnification on my scope using a } grating replica which has the following formula: } } mag = distance in cm between limiting lines (X) 21,600 lines/cm } number of spaces between limiting lines } } If you have experience with such, what is meant by the denominator } "number of spaces between limiting lines"? As I view the replica I only } see parallel lines.
It seems to me that here we have here a rather pedantic way of expressing the fact that, if one is going to measure say 10 spaces, one has to count the lines from #1 at one end to #11 (i.e. n+1) at the other.
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Robert H.Olley Phone: | | J.J.Thomson Physical Laboratory {direct line +44 (0) 118 9318572 | | University of Reading {University internal extension 7867 | | Whiteknights Fax +44 (0) 118 9750203 | | Reading RG6 6AF Email: R.H.Olley-at-reading.ac.uk | | England URL: http://www.reading.ac.uk/~spsolley | +------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Within the frame of a European research project on coatings for Ultra violet applications, several post-doc positions are available, two of them related to TEM techniques. The host center for this two ones is University of Barcelona and the main objectives of the work is the structural and compositional characterization of UV-coatings.
Is someone is interested, please contact Dr. F. Peir=F3 at
paqui-at-iris1.fae.ub.es
Please find more information visiting the web site:
www.lzh.de/tmr/default.htm
*******************************+ Francesca Peiro
EME, Enginyeria i Materials Electronics Dpt. Fisica Aplicada i Electronica Universitat de Barcelona Avda. Diagonal 645-647 08028 Barcelona, Spain
Whilst we are on the subject of conductive resins, I am looking at embedding some ceramic powder particles in resin prior to ion beam thinning (since they are far too large to be electron transparent without thinning). I was thinking that embedding in a conductive resin may be a good idea. Some have suggested mixing carbon (carbon black I assume) with the resin. I have heard in the past about use of a silver loaded resin. Is this readily available? Is it horribly expensive? Does anyone know of a vendor who sells this in the UK?
Also, some epoxy resins have been optimised for materials work so that they can be cured to a high hardness value. How do silver or carbon loaded epoxies compare with this?
Thanks for any help you can give.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Ian MacLaren, Tel: (44) (0) 121 414 3447 IRC in Materials for FAX: (44) (0) 121 414 3441 High Performance Applications, email: I.MacLaren-at-bham.ac.uk The University of Birmingham, http://web.bham.ac.uk/I.MacLaren/ Birmingham B15 2TT, England. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I am not sure what sort of 160l dewar system you have but the two that we use have a pressurised delivery system using a cluster of valves at the top. The important thing to bear in mind is that it is pressurized and so care should be taken. Our system has a spring loaded pressure relief valve and a burst disk relief valve. If your system is like this then I would STRONGLY RECOMMEND that you have the valves checked before putting liquid nitrogen in, especially as it hasn't been used for eight years.
You may also need to consider how much other liquid nitrogen is lost than by evaporation in the 160l dewar. You will lose some in pumping it out and probably lose a small amount when it no longer pumps out (ie level is too low). The best we have ever had is just under 5 x 25l dewars filled from a fresh 160l dewar.
Good luck
Malcolm Haswell Electron Microscope Unit University of Sunderland UK ----------
Dear Chris,
If your interest in these tiles is to record their origin and history, you may get better results from macrostructural evidence. Details such as size, color, glaze, inclusions, etc. can tell a very rich story to someone who can read those clues. You may have an expert on campus right now. I'd take a few of the tiles to the art or history department. I wouldn't be surprised if they could pin-point the origin to a specific kiln!
Harold J. Crossman Senior Scientist OSRAM SYLVANIA INC. Lighting Research Center 71 Cherry Hill Dr. Beverly, MA 01915 (978) 750-1717 crossman-at-osi.sylvania.com
Chris Gilpin wrote: } I have just carried out some EDX analysis of some old (?18th Century) } ceramic? floor tiles. Does anyone know how I might use the compositional } analysis to perform some form of dating? } The tiles come from the cellars of a mansion in Cheshire UK. } As a biologist I know nothing about these things! } Many thanks
Dear Chris, The best way to date ceramic materials is probably to use thermoluminescence dating. For further information you may contact the Nordic Laboratory for Thermoluminescence Dating which is situated here at Risoe. The phone no. is +45 46 77 59 75.
Best wishes, Joergen
J. B. Bilde-Soerensen Senior Research Scientist, Ph. D. Materials Research Department Risoe National Laboratory DK-4000 Roskilde Denmark
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Thompson-Coffe, C., Coffe, G., Schatten, H., Mazia, D., and Schatten, G. Cold-Treated Centrosome: Isolation of Centrosomes from Mitotic Sea Urchin Eggs, Production of Anticentrosomal Antibody, and Novel Ultrastructural Imaging. Cell Motil. Cytoskel. 33, 197-207, 1996.
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************* Heide Schatten, Ph.D. Associate Professor Department of Veterinary Pathobiology Veterinary Medicine Building University of Missouri-Columbia 1600 E. Rollins Street Columbia, MO 65211 TEL: (573) 882-2396 FAX: (573) 884-5414 alternative e-mail: hschatte-at-facstaff.wisc.edu
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Dewars can be recharged with insulation gas and minor leaks fixed in many cases. It really pays to have the dewar checked out IF it does not hold nitrogen. When we had an insulating gas leak in the walls of ours, the dewar frosted up noticably and there was no doubt we had a problem. We took it to an appropriate regional vendor and had it repaired for a fraction of the cost of replacing.
Debby Sherman, manager Microscopy Center in Agriculture Purdue University West Lafayette, IN 47907
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I used to have a similar problem with 1 inch diameter, polished epoxy mounts of printed circuit boards. I solved the problem by sputtering with Au-Pd and grounding the mount by painting a line from the polished surface of the mount to the specimen holder using carbon paint ("aquadag" sticks in my memory). Alternatively, gold sputtering with a silver paint ground might work. I really think the key was painting a good connection to the specimen holder.
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At 04:14 PM 3/3/98 -0500, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Several manufacturers make conductive resins to help with this problem, as I found out from this list when I had a related problem last year. I will try to locate my saved files and forward them to you, but querying the various EM suppliers may give you some good leads. A couple users suggested mixing fine carbon powder with the resin.
I have no direct experience with the effectiveness of these resins, yet, since I was primarily gathering information for a third party.
The other things you might try are SEM operations things that you probably already know about. I'll throw some in anyway, since I don't know what your experience level is. Please forgive me if I'm being obvious. Charging can be minimized by using lower accelerating voltages and smaller condenser spot sizes. Some instruments are designed to operate effectively at 1 kV or lower, especially if they can integrate several scans to form the final image.
That's another way, incidentally. If you have a scope that can digitally integrate consecutive scans to make a clean image of many noisy ones, this can drastically reduce charging effects, by reducing the amount of time the beam remains on a particular part of the sample during each scan.
If you have a "plug" of ash surrounded by resin, using conductive paint "bridges" from the plug to the mounting stub can help. Might help anyway, even if the ash is dispersed throughout the resin. Make sure that the specimen is mounted to the stub with enough conductive adhesive to form a good path.
And then, use the "environmental" or "variable pressure" capabilities of the scope, if it has them. I usually start at the lowest pressure available, then rack it up one notch at a time until charging is manageable. Usually 1-7 Pa of pressure will do it.
Hope something here helps.
Randy Randy Tindall 2017 Princess Jeanne Las Cruces, New Mexico 88001-4157
Fred-- I don't know of a plug-in, but I solved the problem another way. If you export the image (256 grey levels) as encapsulated post script (*.eps), the raster data are hexadecimal pairs. You can read this, with formatted input, in Fortran with a Z mask converting the data to integers. You can then do line length calculations, perform any sort of spatial averaging you want, calculate fractal dimensions, etc. If you are keen to analyze the 2-D image, you can use this as grid data input for a Geographic Information System (GIS) program. I use ArcView with the Spatial Analyst extension for contouring, custom color coding...If you use these data as feature input to ArcView, you can do trend surface analysis, and on and on. Contact me if you want to know more about the Fortran Routines... jptmvl-at-mailbox.syr.edu (Dave Johnson, Dept. Chem, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry).
With regard to thermoluminescence (TL) dating of fired ceramics, here are links to a number of pages on the topic recently provided me by Daniel Richter of McMaster University in Ontario.
The method is used commonly to date fired ceramics and hollowcast metal sculpture containing remains of ceramic vestment. A sample is heated to release (luminesce) free electrons trapped in lattice defects in clay and other minerals since the object was last fired or heated to high temperature. Luminescence is measured to determine an approximate age.
http://www.aber.ac.uk/~ggd/ Luminescence Dating Laboratory Aberystwyth
http://users.ox.ac.uk/~uzdh0045/ Luminescence Dating at the Research Laboratory for Archaeology and the History of Art, Oxford University
http://weber.u.washington.edu/~anthro/departmentinfo/TLLabInfo.html The University of Washington Luminescence Dating
http://is.dal.ca/~digs/t-intro.htm Dalhousie TOSL Laboratory: TL, OSL, ESR dosimetry & dating
http://geosun.geog.susx.ac.uk/Luminescence/ldqg.html Luminescence Dating and Quaternary Geomorphology
Good luck with the project.
James Martin Analytical Services and Research Williamstown Art Conservation Center 225 South Street Williamstown, MA 01267 tel: 413.458.5741 fax: 413.458.2314
Don't know the answers to most of your questions, but the back of a business card from a gas supplier rep says that 1 gal = 93.11 SCF (standard cubic feet) = 6.745 lbs
Perhaps your LN2 supplier can be of assistance?
Jim Passmore Analytical Chemist Cryovac North America james.passmore-at-grace.com
---------- } From: wise } To: Microscopy } Subject: LN2 questions } Date: Tuesday, March 03, 1998 6:59AM } } { {File Attachment: LN2QUEST.TXT} } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Chris, I suggest you contact the Research Lab for Archaeology at Oxford - someone there should know. Don Marshall
} Dear list } I have just carried out some EDX analysis of some old (?18th Century) } ceramic? floor tiles. Does anyone know how I might use the compositional } analysis to perform some form of dating? } The tiles come from the cellars of a mansion in Cheshire UK. } As a biologist I know nothing about these things! } Many thanks } } } Chris Gilpin } Biological Sciences EM Unit } G452 Stopford Building } Manchester University } Oxford Road } Manchester } M13 9PT } phone +44 161 275 5170 } Fax +44 161 275 5171
Donald J. Marshall Relion Industries P.O. Box 12 Bedford, MA 01730 Ph: 781-275-4695 FAX: 781-271-0252 email dmrelion-at-world.std.com
I used a diver's demand valve to stop the N2 flow. The demand valve closes when the instrument stops sucking - just like a diver only gets air while sucking. As for removing the pressure regulator. I would expect that taping the control and a sign "do not touch" would suffice. Lesser offenders have suffered capital punishment. Cheers Jim Darley
ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Phone +61 7 4774 0370 Fax: +61 7 4789 2313 Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes **************************** www.proscitech.com.au *****
} Hi all I am a novice of this list, so please write me is there is some FAQ to avoid starting again old threads. } By the way, is there a consolidated way of protecting a SEM chamber from boost pressure coming from N2 bottle during venting? } (this may occur if someone accidentally moves the low pressure stage on the bottle) } } Thank you in advance } Dr. Eng. Edoardo Bemporad, Ph. D. } Assistant Professor of Materials Science } University of Rome "Roma Tre" (Italy) } Dipartimento di Ingegneria Meccanica e Industriale } (Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering) } Via della Vasca Navale 79 - 00146 Rome, Italy } Tel: +39 6 5517.3293 } Fax: +39 6 5517.3256 } LIME Lab (InterDipartimental Laboratory of Electron Microscopy) Tel: +39 6 5517.3200 } E-Mail:bemporad-at-uniroma3.it } } } } }
EDX (EDA, EDS and WDS) analysis gives elemental composition only. The only way you could conclude anything about age, would be based on specific knowledge about glazes which become available only after a certain date. In paintings the now very common TiO2 white pigment only arrived this century. If you find Ti in a Ruben's its a fake. Jim Darley
ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Phone +61 7 4774 0370 Fax: +61 7 4789 2313 Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes **************************** www.proscitech.com.au *****
} Dear list } I have just carried out some EDX analysis of some old (?18th Century) } ceramic? floor tiles. Does anyone know how I might use the compositional } analysis to perform some form of dating? } The tiles come from the cellars of a mansion in Cheshire UK. } As a biologist I know nothing about these things! } Many thanks } } } Chris Gilpin } Biological Sciences EM Unit } G452 Stopford Building } Manchester University } Oxford Road } Manchester } M13 9PT } phone +44 161 275 5170 } Fax +44 161 275 5171 } } }
} A colleague needs to know the mean free path of 100keV electrons in ZrO2. } He is trying to determine the absolute thickness of samples examined by } PEELS. The EL/P program calculated a relative thickness in terms of the } number of mean free paths but we want to convert this to thickness in } nanometres. Any help would be appreciated. cheers,
For a handy rule of thumb, consider assuming that the inelastic mfp in most things is about 25 ug/cm^2 for 100kV electrons (that's in "micrograms per square centimeter"), and about 50 ug/cm^2 for 300kV electrons. Dividing by the density of your ZrO2 would then give you a 1st-order estimate of its thickness. The EELS experts in this forum can probably provide a more precise value for this in your case, as well as information on its (I think relatively weak) dependence on atomic number.
This strategy also provides a rule of thumb for experimentally determining the mass of material in your field of view, since no assumptions about density are needed to multiply by the projected area (in cm^2) of your specimen!
I aggree with all the other contributions, but "chunks of porous, sintered material . . . " makes me think that the major problem is the highly perforated nature of the specimen. Sputter coaters scatter the gold much more than evaporators, but most of the material is applied to the top face and does not enter from the near horizontal the inside of those numerous, on the polished surface opened holes. I expect that if Everett was to inspect the specimen on a steep angle under a high power disecting scope, he would find the Au film rather discontinious. A partial remedy, which combined with other methods proffered might give success would be to coat these samples two or three times. Angle the specimens at about 60 degees from the horizontal and apply that tilt for each coating from an opposing direction.
Another point: If you have a good (I liked the Robinson best) backscattered e detector, it may give sufficient resolution and is much less prone to charging effects. Cheers Jim Darley
ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Phone +61 7 4774 0370 Fax: +61 7 4789 2313 Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes **************************** www.proscitech.com.au *****
} I am having a recurring problem with charging during SEM imaging of coal } ash. The ash specimens (chunks of porous, sintered material from boiler } walls) are embedded in epoxy and then sectioned and polished for } examination. The epoxy used is a lower-viscosity, two-component resin } sold by a major metalography supply company for impregnation of } porous materials. A gold coating has been routinely used. } } I would appreciate any help and suggestions with this problem. } } Everett Ramer } Federal Energy Technology Center } U.S. Department of Energy } Pittsburgh, PA } ramer-at-fetc.doe.gov }
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Position Summary: Person hired will engage in service work and other support activities in the Biotechnology Imaging Facility. Position requires manual labor including lifting 50 lbs to 4 feet high, carrying 50 lbs 100 feet, moving compressed gas tanks weighing 200 lbs, lifting 20 lbs to 6 feet, and opening liquid nitrogen tank valves (20 ft lbs of torque).
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=B7 Perform transmission electron microscope service work of moderate difficulty for facility clients under general supervision. =B7 Perform scanning electron microscope service work for clients. =B7 Assist with laboratory maintenance. =B7 Teach users in proper operation of Facility equipment. As required, assist users with operation of the equipment during learning phase. Assist with other designated instructional tasks. =B7 Acquire, manipulate, measure, label and print computer images. Maintain imaging computer and ancillary equipment. Back up data files, install and update programs. Instruct users on proper operation of computer and of image analysis programs. =B7 Assist users with operation of the Facility equipment, or direct questions to another staff member, as appropriate. Troubleshoot problems. Assist in maintenance and repair of Facility equipment. =B7 Supervise lower level staff as necessary. =B7 Perform administrative duties such as data entry, billing, preparation o= f letters and handouts, sorting, collating, photocopying, phone answering, ordering, etc.=20
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These big dewars are not usually made with a vacuum but are insulated with a powder. In this case there should be no problem after sitting around for 8 years.
best regards mark
Mark W. Lund, PhD Director } } Soft X-ray Web page http://www.moxtek.com { { MOXTEK, Inc. 452 West 1260 North Orem UT 84057 801-225-0930 FAX 801-221-1121 lundm-at-xray.byu.edu
"The state is good at simple tasks, like killing people and seizing their wealth. It has far more trouble reaching inside individuals and making them good." Doug Bandow
At 11:17 PM 3/3/98 -0000, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
I'm not aware of any direct method of using compositional analysis for dating, but having done graduate work in archaeology I can tell you that archaeologists are the folks you need to consult. Historical archaeologists usually have access to data bases of artifact types that can be used to trace date of manufacture, etc. It's possible that some people have compiled data concerning compositional analysis of various types of items, but I don't know. My guess is that identification and dating will end up being done by other characteristics of the tiles, i.e., appearance, makers marks, color, and so on.
Best wishes, Randy Randy Tindall 2017 Princess Jeanne Las Cruces, New Mexico 88001-4157
I would also be interested in any thecnique that people have that incorporates carbon or graphite or any conductive substance into Spurr's or any of the other epoxy resins. We have plant biologists who are making replicas of their plants using dental impression molds & then making a replica of their plant using Spurr's, I thought this might be interesting to try.
Paula :-)
Paula Sicurello UC Berkeley Electron Microscope Lab psic-at-uclink4.berkeley.edu
As noted, some (bulk) conductive resins are commercially available. Most seem to be thermal set (hot press). Conductive cold set resins sem to be more rare. I have experimented with adding conductive material to multi-part cold setting resins. Suggest lampblack as posibility if you use carbon - fine particles. I did not like some of the characteristics of carbon and have used zinc dust (very fine). A very "rich" loading is required. DO BEWARE of any potential reactions between the resin and whatever metal dust used.
None are satisfactory if you must examine an edge (mount specimen interface).
In all cases charging resin islands abound.
Sometimes I carefully (carbon) paint around the specimen using a low mag stereo scope & 0000 sable brush. Best done before too much coffee {g} .
Have also used low melt point metal (ie Wood's metal, Cereloy) in a hot press mount system. Down - side is soft mount.
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Dear All,
in the past there have been several threads dealing with charging problems in SEM and their remedies.
I was wondering if it were possible to take a "common" embedding resin and mix in a certain amount of graphite powder, thereby generating a pseudo-conductivity in the resin itself. "Pseudo-conductivity" because there will probably be microscopic, resin filled spaces between the graphite particles that would act as an isolator to lower voltages (e.g. Ohmmeter), but when exposed to a high voltage potential, the situation may change...
Has anyone experimented with such a home-brew "conductive- resin"? If so, what were your experiences? How does, for example, the graphite powder affect the curing of the resin? How much powder is needed to make a common two-component resin conductive (relation of volume)? Is precipitation a problem?
If, by chance, this is something of common knowledge, then please forgive my ignorance regarding the subject.
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Hey All,
Is there anyone who will be attending the ICEM in Mexico that SCUBA dives? Are you planning on taking a day or so to dive? If so, could you please email me off line? Perhaps we could get together and go diving. I would much rather dive with someone from the group, who I can talk to ahead of time, than be thrown together with a total stranger on a dive boat.
Thanks,
David Bell Millipore Corporation 80 Ashby Road Bedford, MA 01730 1 800 221-1975x2108 David_Bell-at-Millipore.com
The Ag material is available from a number of microscopy suppliers in the US. All I have seen, however, has rather large Ag flakes...
Along this thread... I am still waiting for the chemists to develop a thermoplastic version of intrinsically conductive plastic. Intrinsically conductive polymer is around, but all I have seen is milled thermoset - May as well use carbon or metal powders....
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Whilst we are on the subject of conductive resins, I am looking at embedding some ceramic powder particles in resin prior to ion beam thinning (since they are far too large to be electron transparent without thinning). I was thinking that embedding in a conductive resin may be a good idea. Some have suggested mixing carbon (carbon black I assume) with the resin. I have heard in the past about use of a silver loaded resin. Is this readily available? Is it horribly expensive? Does anyone know of a vendor who sells this in the UK?
Also, some epoxy resins have been optimised for materials work so that they can be cured to a high hardness value. How do silver or carbon loaded epoxies compare with this?
Thanks for any help you can give.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Ian MacLaren, Tel: (44) (0) 121 414 3447 IRC in Materials for FAX: (44) (0) 121 414 3441 High Performance Applications, email: I.MacLaren-at-bham.ac.uk The University of Birmingham, http://web.bham.ac.uk/I.MacLaren/ Birmingham B15 2TT, England. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
4 Mar 98 13:41:05 -0600 Received: from SpoolDir by OBSNSRV1 (Mercury 1.21); 4 Mar 98 13:40:59 -0600 Received: from botstrou.bio.ou.edu by obsnsrv1.bio.ou.edu (Mercury 1.21); 4 Mar 98 13:40:59 -0600 Message-ID: {34FDAE2C.11AC-at-ou.edu}
We have a demand valve on our TEM so that venting does not over-pressure the column. Basically the valve allows N2 gas to enter the column as long as it "sees" a negative pressure. As the pressure in the column rises to atmosphere, the flow of N2 slows until it is at equilibrium with the room. The same valve is used for venting the camera and the column as the demand valve is part of the regulator on the N2 bottle.
Edoardo Bemporad wrote: } } Hi all I am a novice of this list, so please write me is there is some FAQ to avoid starting again old threads. } By the way, is there a consolidated way of protecting a SEM chamber from boost pressure coming from N2 bottle during venting? } (this may occur if someone accidentally moves the low pressure stage on the bottle)
-- ======================================================== Greg Strout Electron Microscopist, University of Oklahoma e-mail: gstrout-at-ou.edu Opinions expressed herein are mine and not necessarily those of the University of Oklahoma ========================================================
Magnification =3D total measured distance/number of squares or parallel l= ine units X ( 1/2160)0.4629um. Round the figures to the nearest 500X.
With a TEM expect an accuracy of about plus/minus 5%. With a SEM expect plus/minus 10% with a difference on a cross grating in each direction of less than 5%.
Be aware that with a TEM you must have the stage at the eucentric point and give the high voltage at least 120 minutes running before you start work, 45 minutes in a SEM; this gives the high voltage chance to settle (= HT tank heat gained =3D heat lost).
In the SEM the spot size will also have an effect upon magnification. Ha= ve you noticed how with a manual instrument you need to re focus when you change the spot size: the result a magnification change!
Need any more help please ask.
Steve Chapman
Senior Consultant E.M. Protrain., Oxford, UK Tel & Fax 44 (0)1844 353161 web site at http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/protrain
} Hi all I am a novice of this list, so please write me is there is some FAQ } to avoid starting again old threads. } By the way, is there a consolidated way of protecting a SEM chamber from } boost pressure coming from N2 bottle during venting? } (this may occur if someone accidentally moves the low pressure stage on } the bottle) } } Thank you in advance } Dr. Eng. Edoardo Bemporad, Ph. D. } Assistant Professor of Materials Science } University of Rome "Roma Tre" (Italy) } Dipartimento di Ingegneria Meccanica e Industriale } (Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering) } Via della Vasca Navale 79 - 00146 Rome, Italy } Tel: +39 6 5517.3293 } Fax: +39 6 5517.3256 } LIME Lab (InterDipartimental Laboratory of Electron Microscopy) Tel: +39 6 } 5517.3200 } E-Mail:bemporad-at-uniroma3.it
The easiest solution is to have a 'T' piece in the line connecting the N2 cylinder to the SEM, with the leg of the 'T' open to the atmosphere. Adjust the N2 pressure so that there is a reasonable flow of N2 to atmosphere when not venting. It's not precisely controlable but it stops over pressure problems.
-- Larry Stoter 17, Rocks Park Road, Uckfield, E. Sussex, TN22 2AT, UK email: LPS-at-teknesis.demon.co.uk Phone/Fax: +44 (0)1825 767967
It seems that discussion of partial nudity of either sex on a bulletin would be so obviously inappropriate, maybe that is why it hasn't occurred before, except in reference to Bayard-Alpert gauges, in which case it is OK. John Mardinly Intel
The Application Deadline for the UBC 3D Microscopy of Living Cells Course has had to be delayed until March 15, 1998. (There have been some problems with my fax machine. If you received an email confirmation, everything is fine, if not please fax your application again.)
No space here to give you the whole story about this unusual international course but I can give some "coded" hints that 3D microscopists will understand:
Zeiss 560, Ted Inou=E9, Abb=E9 diffraction kits, Infinity-Optical, Bill Maso= n, Scanalytics, Paul Negulescu, Bio-Rad Micro-Radiance, SGIs, Eppendorf microinjection, Larry Keenan, Optical tweezers Cameleon, Applied Precision, Yokogawa, Jon Art, 1024/multi-photon, Sigrid Myrdal, PSI-CCD, Fluoview, Tim Murphy, GFP-transfection, Huygens, Video-rate, Time-bandwidth laser, Warren Zipfel, brain-slice, spherical aberration corrector, digital time-lapse, Ernst Stelzer, Noran-OZ, P.C. Cheng, Cell-Robotics, 3D image processing, Yu-Li Wang, ALAScience chamber, Paul Millard, Zeiss 510, Jay Margolis, Nikon PCM-2000, Clarke laser, Dan Focht, Nikon PCM-2000 (again), Intracell chamber, Astromed, Universal Imaging, Hans vanderVoort, Driftwood Confocal Contest, backscattered light, water-immersion.
They will all be in Vancouver, not just to look at, but to talk to, to work with and to use during over 40 hours of hands-on, structured labs (and an additional 20 hours for "personal" live-cell projects.)
Hope that you can join us in Vancouver this June 17-28.
Jim Pawley
**************************************** Prof. James B. Pawley, Ph. 608-263-3147 Room 1235, Engineering Research Building, FAX 608-265-5315 1500 Engineering Dr., Madison, WI, 53706 JBPAWLEY-at-FACSTAFF.WISC.EDU "A scientist is not one who can answer questions but one who can question answers." Theodore Schick Jr.,
You might contact John Watt at Middlesex Poly--he is interested in such analytical challanges and he has some museum conservator contacts at the V and A
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Just a remark on conductive resins: they are good to embed conductive samples for surface SEM observation for example. But don't forget, they are composite materials, i.e. non-conductive resin loaded with enough conducting material (Cu, Ag whatever) to make them MACROSCOPICALLY conductive.
In microscopy application, their composite structure quickly appears and limit their usage. For example, their are useless to look at edges of conductive material because the non-conductive resin portion in-between the conductive particles will charge up exactly as pure polymer and blur out the picture.
For your ion-milling application I suspect the same holds true but I haven't try myself. So just be aware of this problem if doesn't work.
BTW they are available from any electron microscopy accessories vendor.
Jean-Marc Boichat email: jean-marc.boechat-at-chma.mhs.ciba.com EM LABS FO 5.1 phone:+4126 435 6979 fax: +4126 435 6907 Ciba research Center P.O. Box 64 CH- 1723 Marly 1 When things go wrong, don't go with them! Switzerland
Disclaimer: "nobody in this company ever cared for what I said, why would they start now".
This message echoes a previous message by PA Buffat. Indeed we have two Philips EM300 TEMs to give. One is in perfect state, and the other had a HV tank problem but works at 80 kV.
There is a possibility to get funding for the transport from the Development and Cooperation Directory of the Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs. If you are interested please contact me directly.
Yours,
Robin Schaublin
-- Robin E. Schaeublin Fusion Technology - Materials Group CRPP - EPFL, 5232 Villigen - PSI, SWITZERLAND Tel : + 41 56 310 40 82 Fax : + 41 56 310 45 29
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you said...
In the SEM the spot size will also have an effect upon magnification. Have you noticed how with a manual instrument you need to re focus when you change the spot size: the result a magnification change! ...................
I believe this statement is inaccurate. When spot size is changed in an SEM, you are changing the strength of the condenser lenses. This in turn effects the position of the beam cross-over and thus the portion of the beam that passes through the objective aperture and into the final (objective) lens). The final lens then must be adjusted to focus the beam crossover onto the surface of the specimen. The final lens is not an enlarging lens, like the objective lens in a TEM or light microscope. It does not have a role in magnification in an SEM. It does have a role in specimen image position, since when you change the strength of the lens, you effect the length of the spiral path of the electrons in the beam and thus can cause image rotation. Magnification in an SEM is determined by the scan coils. The scan path across the specimen is reflected on the monitor. As the monitor size is fixed, a longer scan path results in a smaller magnification, and conversely, a shorter scan path results in a higher magnification. I believe, therefore, that since no lenses are involved, magnification should be independent of focus and focus, as determined by strength of the final lens required to adjust cross-over, is effected by the change in the condenser lens strength when beam diameter (probe current) is adjusted.
Debby Sherman, manager Microscopy Center in Agriculture Purdue University West lafayette, IN 47907 sherman-at-aux.btny.purdue.edu
I agree with Jean Marc. All this excitement about conducting resins is not likely to achieve the aim, which was the elimination of charging in the SEM of DIFFICULT non-conductors embedded in resins. Consider that most elemental standards for EDS are mounted in resin blocks. Furthermore, in WDS especially much higher specimen currents are used than in normal SEM. Those standards have a 20nm, heavy carbon coating, but this is not as conductive as is the Au coating employed in SEM. Normally in analysis BS detection is used but charging in secondary mode is uncommon. If the argument was right that resin embedded non-conductors charge because of the resin, EDS and WDS would have a few additional problems. WHY THEN SHOULD CONDUCTING RESINS SOLVE CHARGING PROBLEMS IN SEM?
The difference is the type of embedded material. All standard materials used must permit a fine polish and cannot be porous or highly fractured. Such materials will have a continues conducting layer accross the surface and not charge. The original correspondent has charging problems because of the highly porous nature of his specimens. Better (angled) coatings and optimising the instrument's parameters to minimize charging will hopefully solve his problem. Jim Darley
ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Phone +61 7 4774 0370 Fax: +61 7 4789 2313 Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes **************************** www.proscitech.com.au ***** -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
Just a remark on conductive resins: they are good to embed conductive samples for surface SEM observation for example. But don't forget, they are composite materials, i.e. non-conductive resin loaded with enough conducting material (Cu, Ag whatever) to make them MACROSCOPICALLY conductive.
In microscopy application, their composite structure quickly appears and limit their usage. For example, their are useless to look at edges of conductive material because the non-conductive resin portion in-between the conductive particles will charge up exactly as pure polymer and blur out the picture.
For your ion-milling application I suspect the same holds true but I haven't try myself. So just be aware of this problem if doesn't work.
BTW they are available from any electron microscopy accessories vendor.
Jean-Marc Boichat email: jean-marc.boechat-at-chma.mhs.ciba.com EM LABS FO 5.1 phone:+4126 435 6979 fax: +4126 435 6907 Ciba research Center P.O. Box 64 CH- 1723 Marly 1 When things go wrong, don't go with them! Switzerland
Disclaimer: "nobody in this company ever cared for what I said, why would they start now".
does anybody have some comments on or practical experience with the new Alexa fluorescent dyes from Molecular Probes?
Particularly, I would be interested in compatibility of Alexa488 and Alexa594 with normal Fitc or Texas Red filter sets, respectively. Do these dyes work in double labelings or is there a lot of bleed-through because they are so bright?
Thanks for your answers!
Peter Lorenz
Dr. Peter Lorenz University of Rostock Institute of Immunology Schillingallee 70 D-18055 Rostock Germany fax: +49 381 494 5882
Previous posts are true for larger particles which are good insulators. On the other hand, I often need to examine mounted and polished finely divided conductive and semi-conductive material. Quite often I am looking for hi-Z metal carbides. Carbon coating really hurts the desired to undesired/signal/noise ratio.
It is also true that conductor loaded insulating resins (bulk conducting) do not help much in this area. The islands of charging resin will "eat you alive" {g} .
To clarify my earlier post:
What I would like to see developed is intrinsically conductive polymer (sometimes know as unobtianium) that can be used to mount and polish specimen material (fines). This sort of polymer is currently available in thermoset (already) powder and, as another poster mentioned, solid forms (block, sheet, etc.). This polymer itself is conductive. Several different schemes may be used. One method, for example, adds an iodine atom in the polymer chain to free some conductance electrons.
Woody White McDermott Technology, Inc.
I agree with Jean Marc. All this excitement about conducting resins is not likely to achieve the aim, which was the elimination of charging in the SEM of DIFFICULT non-conductors embedded in resins. {snip}
Jim Darley
ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Phone +61 7 4774 0370 Fax: +61 7 4789 2313 Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes **************************** www.proscitech.com.au ***** -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
Just a remark on conductive resins: they are good to embed conductive samples for surface SEM observation for example. But don't forget, they are composite materials, i.e. non-conductive resin loaded with enough conducting material (Cu, Ag whatever) to make them MACROSCOPICALLY conductive.
In microscopy application, their composite structure quickly appears and limit their usage. For example, their are useless to look at edges of conductive material because the non-conductive resin portion in-between the conductive particles will charge up exactly as pure polymer and blur out the picture.
For your ion-milling application I suspect the same holds true but I haven't
try myself. So just be aware of this problem if doesn't work.
BTW they are available from any electron microscopy accessories vendor.
Jean-Marc Boichat email: jean-marc.boechat-at-chma.mhs.ciba.com EM LABS FO 5.1 phone:+4126 435 6979 fax: +4126 435 6907 Ciba research Center P.O. Box 64 CH- 1723 Marly 1 When things go wrong, don't go with them! Switzerland
Disclaimer: "nobody in this company ever cared for what I said, why would they start now".
Could anyone tell me if there is a stain (or stains; vital or non-vital) that could help me differentiate between single-celled eucaryotes and procaryotes under the light microscope? Perhaps something that stains peptidoglycan, which most if not all bacteria have, but no eucaryotes have. Gram stain won't work since euks come up gram-negative. I'm trying to distinguish between nanoplankton and cyanobacteria growing on an inorganic media, without resorting to using a TEM (which we don't have!)
I work for an enginnering firm in New York City. My firm needs to obtain fracture surface images using a SEM. The pieces are made of rubber. The first piece is 1 3/4" in diameter and 1/4 inch thick. The second piece is 1 inche thick with a outside diameter of 1 3/4 inches and an inside diamter of 1 1/8 inches. We need to contract the use of an ESEM that is locate near NYC as we only have one day to scan the pieces. Please contact Carl Mallery (212) 972-7027 if you can help.
Interesting? What changes magnification in a SEM? Change the kV, workin= g distance, lens focal length and of course the angle of sweep of the scan coils, all change the magnification provide the instrument does not compensate the magnification for these changes.
Lets take a look at the optics. Increase the strength of C1 and this plac= es the first crossover higher in the column, which in turn places the second=
crossover higher in the column and similarly lifting the third crossover,=
the point where the final condenser places the probe on the surface of t= he specimen; the image goes "out of focus". Thus we have to decrease the strength of the final lens to bring the specimen back into focus =
Decreasing the final lens strength increases its focal length effectively=
increasing the distance between the pivot point of the scan and the specimen surface. Change the position of the pivot point of the scan without changing the scan angle and you change the length of the scan lin= e on the specimen, the magnification changes as magnification is the relationship between the length of the scan line on the specimen and the length of that same scan line on the CRT.
Try this test if you have a SEM that does not automatically compensate fo= r the focal length change in the software. Focus at one spot size, dramatically reduce the spot size (probe current) by increasing the strength of C1, the image will dim and go out of focus! Increase the gain/contrast and turn the third condenser anticlockwise (increasing the focal length), the image will come back into focus. I do not know the ra= te of change on every SEM but as an example the old Hitachi S520, S650 range=
with a ten turn spot size control changed the magnification by ~5% for every full turn of the potentiometer in the range 5 to 7 turns! =
Do this and you like I will have pictures to prove that a change in spot size in an uncompensated instrument does change the magnification!
Interesting?
Steve Chapman Senior Consultant E.M. Protrain, Oxford, England. Tel & Fax 44 (0)1844 353161 Web Site - http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/protrain For Consulatncy and Courses in Electron Microscopy World Wide
We have a JEOL 840 SEM and are looking to fit it with a reasonably-priced EDS system. This is a workhorse instrument and the really detailed things like mapping or light element analysis would be done on another SEM (with a FEG) that has all the bells and whistles. Therefore we are just looking for something basic, user friendly and not too expensive. We have a Gatan DigiScan already in place.
Any comments from vendors would be welcome, as well as individuals who currently utilize a system that matches this general need, either on or off line. Thanks in advance.
Cheers,
JSV *************************** John S. Vetrano Sr. Research Scientist Pacific Northwest National Laboratory MSIN P8-16 P.O. Box 999 Richland, WA 99352 Phone: (509)372-0724 Fax: (509)376-6308 Email: mailto:john.vetrano-at-pnl.gov
---------------------- Forwarded by Rick Felten/MACDERMID/MACDERMID/US on 03/05/98 11:13 AM ---------------------------
Rick Felten 03/03/98 12:10 PM
To: Microscopy -at- Sparc5.Microscopy.Com cc:
Dear Friends:
I am thinking about converting my Cameca CAMEBAX microprobe from a turbo to a diff pump. Some people tell me that the diffusion pumped version is alot less troublesome than the turbo pumped version. Does anyone have any experience/recommendations/opinions about this conversion? Would anyone have a diffusion pump/vacuum controller (or an entire microprobe) they might be willing to part with?
Your assistance would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
Michael Coviello EM Lab Manager Materials Science The University of Texas -at- Arlington Arlington, TX E-mail coviello-at-mae.uta.edu 817-272-5496
In reply to Trump's fixative: Solution of 4% formalin and 1% glutaraldehyde in 0.1M phosphate buffer, the original reference can be found:Arch Path Lab Med 100:405-414, 1973 They discuss the advantages of using Trump's for surgical pathology specimens for transmission electron microscopy. As far as immuno staining, a balance between preservation and antigenicity is difficult, the antigenicity is sometimes lost with glutaraldehyde, but this loss is antigen-dependent and some antigens will label even after fixation with glutaraldehyde. If I can be of further help, feel free to contact me Marge
Margaret Springett e-mail hukee.margaret-at-mayo.edu IEM Specialist at Mayo Foundation 1426 Guggenheim Rochester, Mn. 55905
Dear List, The last time this thread was on the List, I asked for a supplier of the German-made Technovit 5000, which is a copper-filled, cold-curing resin I have used in the past. The Canadian supplier was no longer carrying it. Energy Beam Sciences (www.ebsciences.com/) replied that they could get it on 5 to 7 weeks delivery. It is about $200US for 500 ml. liquid and 1000 g. copper powder, but this lasts a long time. The quality is O.K., with some resin areas that charge, but it is essential for looking at edges of material you don't want to carbon coat or heat up. Most metallurgical companies carry a conductive hot-press material.
Regards, Mary Mary Mager Electron Microscopist Metals and Materials Engineering University of British Columbia 6350 Stores Road Vancouver, B.C. V6T 1Z4 CANADA tel: 604-822-5648 fax: 604-822-3619 e-mail: mager-at-interchange.ubc.ca
I am thinking about converting my Cameca CAMEBAX microprobe from a turbo to a diff pump. Some people tell me that the diffusion pumped version is alot less troublesome than the turbo pumped version. Does anyone have any experience/recommendations/opinions about this conversion? Would anyone have a diffusion pump/vacuum controller (or an entire microprobe) they might be willing to part with?
Your assistance would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
Michael Coviello EM Lab Manager Materials Science The University of Texas -at- Arlington Arlington, TX E-mail coviello-at-mae.uta.edu 817-272-5496
We have two disks in our standards collection which are marked as "C.M. Taylor" standards. One of these comprises mainly oxides, sulfides, etc.; for these we have analyses. The other - the map for which indicates that they are metals - we have no analyses for. Although this may, on the face of it, seem a silly question, what I need to know is if these are truly single metal standards - i.e., is the Pt really just Pt, the Co really just Co, etc.? For the lone analysis we have - that for the Hf metal - we see that it is actually a Hf-Zr alloy. Do any of you use these standards? Also, can any of you point me to a means of contact with C.M. Taylor Co., should they still exist that is.
Thanks, in advance, for time spent answering this.
Winton Cotnell
Dr. Winton Cornell Senior Research Associate Department of Geosciences 600 South College University of Tulsa Tulsa, OK 74104
The following is the text of a notice which will appear in next week's issue of New Scientist. I would be grateful if you could draw it to the attention of anyone who is job hunting and has suitable experience.
Many thanks, Mark Aindow, School of Metallurgy and Materials, University of Birmingham
**********************************************
THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM School of Metallurgy and Materials
Research Fellow
Microstructural Studies of High Tc Superconductors
Applications are invited for the above EPSRC-funded post which is available from April 1st for 3 years. The work will involve the use of transmission electron microscopy and other advanced characterisation techniques to obtain detailed measurements of the crystal structure, chemistry, morphology and defect content of high Tc superconducting oxides. This research will be part of the interdisciplinary activity in Birmingham which includes studies of bulk, thick film and epitaxial thin film materials. Applicants should have a PhD in a relevant subject area, a thorough understanding of crystallography and extensive experience of transmission electron microscopy.
The starting salary will be in the range...GBP15,159 - 21,894.
Preliminary enquiries should be directed to: Dr. M. Aindow Telephone: +44 121 414 5188, Email: M.Aindow-at-bham.ac.uk. or Dr. J.S. Abell Telephone: +44 121 414 5168, Email: J.S.Abell-at-bham.ac.uk.
Application forms (returnable by April 2nd) and further particulars are available from the Director of Staffing Services, The University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, Telephone +44 121 414 6483 (24 hours), (Email: Staffing-at-bham.ac.uk).
Please quote reference G9550/98.
Working towards equal opportunities.
************************************************
Mark Aindow, School of Metallurgy and Materials, Telephone; (0121) 414 5188 The University of Birmingham, FAX; (0121) 414 5232 Elms Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, Email; M.AINDOW-at-BHAM.AC.UK GB B15 2TT, United Kingdom.
I have inherited an EDAX 9800 which is attached to an Amray 1830i. I was wondering if I could replace the 5.25 inch drive with a 5.25/3.5 inch drive? It makes sense to me, and would be practical, but the tech support at EDAX said that it would be impossible and crash the system; which does not make sense to me.....yet. Are they right at EDAX? Or, are they trying to get me to upgrade my system? Please enlighten me for I am an X-Ray novice.
John Grazul Rutgers University Electron Imaging Facility
C.M. Taylor Corporation still exists, their information is as follows:
Dr. Charles M. Taylor 289 Leota Avenue Sunnyvale, CA 94086 Phone: 408-245-4229 FAX: 408-526-9021
I hope this helps.
Laura L. Estok Asst. to the President M.E. Taylor Engineering, Inc. 21604 Gentry Lane Brookeville, MD 20833 Phone: 301-774-6246 =95 FAX: 301-774-6711 =95 e-mail: Metengr-at-aol.com
----There is no connection between M.E. Taylor Engr. and C.M. Taylor Corp= -----
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Steve,
I'll try your tests with our SEM as soon as time allows. I do always recommend internal standards with specimens whenever possible. One of the classics in biological work is catalase with a very well defined crystalline spacing combined with preps of virus and small protein molecules. Accurate measurements of particles adjacent to or resting over these lattices eliminate problems with hysterisis and all other potential situations which may effect magnification. I have rare need for such accuracy in SEM of biological material since most is done at fairly low magnifications. However, I would like to have a good internal standard for magnifications in the 1000-20,000 range. Others probably would benefit from standards for higher magnifications. Do you or anyone else have suggestions as to readily available material that could be used for this purpose? Something that is of very accurate size, conductive, in a dry or non-aqueous form, and easily added on to the surface of the specimen would be desirable. Debby Sherman
--------------------------------------
I use many different instruments each month and during courses this type of "problem" has to be discussed with the clients. Set out below are the tests we do to ensure we fully understand the magnification/focus system of the instrument we are using.
The first instrument that I used that compensated for a condenser lens change was the Cambridge 360, other models in the Cambridge/Leo range also do so. Most instruments have an error when changing kV. The best check is to set a particular WD if this reads out? Having done this change the kV and see if the WD readout changes. As you did not move the specimen any change in WD indicates an error in the system as it compensates for the kV change. Of course a different WD readout will almost certainly mean a magnification "difference" between the two kV being investigated.
Test 1
Change the spot size/ probe current and if the instrument compensates the image will stay approximately in focus. If you are not sure, then the best check is to judge the correction in focus. If the system does not compensate, the focus correction for smaller and smaller spots will always be in the same direction, and the converse for bigger spots. If the system tries to compensate it often fails to get it absolutely correct so the new focus will be erratic rather than in a constant direction. This is a curse at high magnification as the extra time required to try and find focus results in higher levels of contamination; a constant error means a constant correction!
Test 2
Change the third condenser/focus control and watch the magnification display, it too should change in a "magnification compensation" system. There are systems that compensate the third lens/magnification readout but do not automatically compensate the image focus.
Test 3
Take magnification calibration pictures using a wide range of spot sizes/probe currents and measure the results.
I worry very much about people placing too much credibility on SEM magnification. There are so many things that may go wrong when judging a magnification that I like to think of it being ABSOLUTELY ACCURATE plus minus A FOOT! Flat specimens fine, but how many people with vastly undulating specimens use the Z or WD to compensate for a focus change? Changing the final lens, due to magnetic history, will change the focal length with a degree of inconsistency and therefore change the magnification. Have you tried doing stereo pairs and have you experienced the grief that the magnification changes can bring?
Best wishes and happy scanning.
Steve Chapman
Senior Consultant E.M. Protrain, Oxford, England. Tel & Fax 44 (0)1844 353161 Web Site - http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/protrain For Consulatncy and Courses in Electron Microscopy World Wide
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Peter,
I have tried, and now use routinely, Molecular Probes Alexa 488 secondary antibodies as well as Alexa 568 Phalloidin. Both label brightly with no bleed through using standard Nikon filter cubes. I use the phalloidin at a 1:200 dilution of the methanolic stock directly into my working stock.
Steve Samuelsson ______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
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Hi,
does anybody have some comments on or practical experience with the new Alexa fluorescent dyes from Molecular Probes?
Particularly, I would be interested in compatibility of Alexa488 and Alexa594 with normal Fitc or Texas Red filter sets, respectively. Do these dyes work in double labelings or is there a lot of bleed-through because they are so bright?
Thanks for your answers!
Peter Lorenz
Dr. Peter Lorenz University of Rostock Institute of Immunology Schillingallee 70 D-18055 Rostock Germany fax: +49 381 494 5882
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If it is a standard Windows, PC-based system, I see no reason why you could not do that. If your floppy is currently A:, your hard drive is C:, and you have nothing defined as B:, you should be able to do it straightaway. That is the reason for going with standard hardware platforms and operating systems.
There is a possibility that the operating environment might be a bit unusual if it is an old PC. It would be more likely that EDAX had somehow customized it or used a non-standard system. It might also be a little tough to get to the CMOS setup program to inform the system what the new hardware configuration is, but you should be able to do it. EDAX may simply be trying to protect itself.
Things are much better now than in the old days when expansion was just about impossible. The EDS manufacturers did well with what they had. They sometimes made their own controller cards or wrote their own operating system (I think of my old TN-2000) because standardized, cheap components were not available or because they needed more performance than the standard parts could provide. Matters got better as the PDPs matured and RT-11 and TSX developed as the operating systems - then you could add your own components. But now it is just about a no-brainer. Indeed, I would rather avoid the proprietary systems. They might have a bit of technological edge today, but what will I do tomorrow when I want to slip in a faster processor or a 10 GB disk drive and tape backup?
At 08:24 AM 3/6/98 EDT, you wrote: } X-Rayers, } } I have inherited an EDAX 9800 which is attached to an Amray 1830i. I } was wondering if I could replace the 5.25 inch drive with a 5.25/3.5 } inch drive? It makes sense to me, and would be practical, but the } tech support at EDAX said that it would be impossible and crash the } system; which does not make sense to me.....yet. Are they right at } EDAX? Or, are they trying to get me to upgrade my system? Please } enlighten me for I am an X-Ray novice. } } } John Grazul } Rutgers University } Electron Imaging Facility
Since upgrading from the original Snappy to the Snappy 3, we have problems with acquiring. I wonder if others are using Snappy and if they are experiencing similar problems.
We upgraded to Snappy 3 for the enhanced resolution. When it works, it works very well. Our problem appears on frame averaging. Instead of taking the multiple images and averaging or interpolating them, we see two separate smaller images in the upper right and left corners above one large image which extends from the left and right edges. This appears to be the same picture shown on the screen in three separate frames.
I placed a call into Snappy when this first happened and they claimed they never heard of this and asked us to do a fair amount of programming and photographic documentation at various stages. While I would like to assist them (and myself), we just don't have time to troubleshoot their product to the extent they asked. If necessary, I will simply return the product to computer store where we bought it and go back to the old Snappy unit.
Has anyone out there had this problem? If so, how was it resolved?
Dear Phil & Mark, } } } A colleague needs to know the mean free path of 100keV electrons in ZrO2. } } He is trying to determine the absolute thickness of samples examined by } } PEELS. The EL/P program calculated a relative thickness in terms of the } } number of mean free paths but we want to convert this to thickness in } } nanometres. Any help would be appreciated. cheers, } } For a handy rule of thumb, consider assuming that } the inelastic mfp in most things is about 25 ug/cm^2 } for 100kV electrons (that's in "micrograms per square } centimeter"), and about 50 ug/cm^2 for 300kV electrons. } Dividing by the density of your ZrO2 would then give } you a 1st-order estimate of its thickness. The } EELS experts in this forum can probably provide a } more precise value for this in your case, as well } as information on its (I think relatively weak) } dependence on atomic number. } The mean-free-path is inversely proportional to the stopping power of the material, and the stopping power is proportional to the number of atomic (as opposed to beam) electrons per unit volume. The stopping power is -dE/dx, where E is the energy of the incident particle and x is thickness. There are small corrections for the chemical form of the material, but the stopping power for a compound or homogeneous mixture is essentially the sum of the stopping powers of each of the constituent elements. Since low-Z atoms have the same number of neutrons as protons, i.e. A = 2Z, and since the mass is essentially A, light elements have more electrons per unit mass, so their stopping powers are greater and the mean-free-path shorter than for higher-Z materials, where 1 { A { ~1.5--this is the relatively weak Z-dependence referred to. Expressing stopping power in units of cm^2/gm removes the factor of the density and leads to the near uniformity of the stopping power and near equality of mean-free-path. Yours, Bill Tivol
You did not mention computer type or OpSys... Cannot speak directly to problem, but here is possibility.
If the system uses non-PC/DOS/Win like many older x-ray systems, what ever is serving as a disk drive controller/BIOS may not "know" about the formatting requirements for a 3.5" drive.
Woody White McDermott Technology, Inc.
X-Rayers,
I have inherited an EDAX 9800 which is attached to an Amray 1830i. I was wondering if I could replace the 5.25 inch drive with a 5.25/3.5 inch drive? It makes sense to me, and would be practical, but the tech support at EDAX said that it would be impossible and crash the system; which does not make sense to me.....yet. Are they right at EDAX? Or, are they trying to get me to upgrade my system? Please enlighten me for I am an X-Ray novice.
John Grazul Rutgers University Electron Imaging Facility
At 09:13 PM 3/2/98 -0500, Dennis P Smith wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
The new book, "Optmizing Light Microscopy for Biological and Clinical Laboratories" is a great reference. It begins with alignment, reviews not only the basic techniques and some of the advanced ones but a bit of the optical principles behind them so that you can use them to best advantage, and has lots of quick and easy experiments which you can do at your own microscope to get started. It is available directly from MME or from the American Society of Clinical Laboratory Sciences or from Kendall Hunt.
If you would like an order form from us, please email me privately.
Good hunting!
Barbara Foster Consortium President Microscopy/Microscopy Education 125 Paridon Street Springfield, MA 01118 (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com -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--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- Microscopy/Microscopy Education: America's first national consortium of microscopy experts offering customized on-site training in all areas of microscopy, sample prep, and image analysis. Our goal is to help you optimize your microscopy. -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--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-
I would appreciate an answer to the following query from anyone attending/organizing ICEM-14 at Cancun.
The hotel reservation form asks us to write down the $ amount to be charged to guarantee the room reservation. Does this mean that we have to prepay the entire cost while making the hotel reservation?
Sarath K Menon Department of Mechanical Engineering Naval Postgraduate School Monterey, CA 93943
POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP OR GRADUATE STUDENT INTERNSHIP IN ANALYTICAL ELECTRON MICROSCOPY at the Federal Energy Technology Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
One postdoctoral fellowship or graduate student internship is available immediately for the development and application of SEM/EDS in the microstructural characterization of ash deposits generated from the firing of pulverized coal, biomass, and mixtures of these fuels.
Duties and Responsibilities include development of sample preparation techniques, SEM/EDS operation, implementation of SEM/EDS automation, and image analysis. The successful candidate should be prepared to play a central role in the interpretation and application of results in the context of a multi-disciplinary, multi-laboratory effort to develop new ash management tools.
Qualifications require experience in SEM/EDS operation, SEM/EDS automation, image analysis, and sample preparation---with ash, or similar materials.
The fellowship/internship appointment is for one year, with possible renewal. The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) will administer the position, and the salary is very attractive. U.S. citizenship or permanent resident alien status is required.
For further information contact:
Dr. Everett Ramer Combustion and Cleanup Division Federal Energy Technology Center P.O. Box 10940 Pittsburgh, PA 15236-0940 Phone: (412)892-4920 FAX: (412)892-4152 E-mail: ramer-at-fetc.doe.gov
Related presentations and reports are available via FTP at Titan.petc.doe.gov/pub/ramer/docs
Hi, This is a "case of emergency". I would like to do Quick freeze-deep etch technique in our lab to study the shape of a protein we purified. We have everything to start except the copper block that would allow me to freeze my samples. We have a slammer designed by Tom Heavy.I am looking for a copper block. I am planning to use nitrogen to do so. So, if you have an extra copper block to lend or to give or sell. Please, tell me.
In response to some comments that I have received about changing from a turbo to a diff pump. I would like to explain that some people believe that on the Cameca CAMEBAX microprobe, the turbo and the related controllers are troublesome and one would have less problems if one "retrogrades" to the simpler (and less troublesome) diff pump.
Thank you for all of your comments so far--please keep them coming.
Regards,
Michael Coviello EM Lab Manager Materials Science Dept. The University of Texas -at- Arlington Arlington, TX E-mail coviello-at-mae.uta.edu 817-272-5496
My daughter prepares a thesis on artistic paintings and would like to know if there are recent publications on the use of the SEM and EDX on restoration of painting, expertise or research in history of art.
To test if you can connect to SATNET, put in the subject your "ECUSA subscription number", or put "DELETE" ( to delete your name from SATNET files ), then click REPLY.
I am faced with the problem of counting viral particles of human parainfluenza virus type 3 with the negative staining technique of 50ul sample. Personaly I do not know how to do it and I am not sure if it is possible to do? I need some advise from a person who is more familiar in this field. Any advice will be appreciated. TIA John Gabrovsek CCF Cleveland, Ohio
I would like to identify anyone in the Houston, Texas, USA area with Hi-Res TEM capability, willing to image for fee or sell beam time. This request is for both immediate service & to identify local EM resources. Please contact me directly.
} Date: Fri, 06 Mar 1998 17:02:43 -0500 } From: John Gabrovsek {GABROVJ-at-cesmtp.ccf.org} } To: MICROSCOPY-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: TEM virus count } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } I am faced with the problem of counting viral particles of human } parainfluenza virus type 3 with the negative staining technique of } 50ul sample. Personaly I do not know how to do it and I am not sure if it is } possible to do? I need some advise from a person who is more familiar in } this field. Any advice will be appreciated. } TIA } John Gabrovsek } CCF } Cleveland, Ohio
You will have a very difficult time enumerating these viruses because they are enveloped, come in different sizes, may stick to cells and pellet out with cell debris, some may not take the stain in such a way as to show the spikes clearly so that they can be differentiated from cell debris, and some may stick together in a pile so that you can't tell how many are there. Counting viruses is easier with icosahedral viruses.
Nonetheless, if you can live with a rough estimate, you can use a Beckman Airfuge and pellet the virions onto a Formvar and carbon-coated grid. You will have to work out a dilution so that you have a countable number (hundreds, not thousands). You should do several grids and count several areas on the grid square. We count 3 different areas in a triangle on the grid and 3 grid holes in each area. If the numbers are similar (same log), we accept it; if numbers vary widely, we repeat.
We sonicate our preps in a water bath sonicator before pelleting. What will this do to your enveloped virus??? Also use glow discharged grids. Make sure you've recentlly calibrated the mag on your microscope, and calculate the area in a grid square. Count the viruses at a high enough mag so that you can see that they are really viruses (not just cell debris)--something like 60-80 KX, and go back and forth up the corn rows, trying not to recount the same area. If you take pictures at a low mag and then project them onto a wall to count, make sure the resolution is such that you can tell that the blobs are really viruses, and take lots of pix.
Good luck!!!
Sara E. Miller, Ph. D. P. O. Box 3020 Duke University Medical Center Durham, NC 27710 Ph: 919 684-3452 FAX: 919 684-8735
What dilution of the Alexa 488 secondary antibody concentration do you use? I plan on trying it next week and Molecular Probes suggested that I start at a dilution of 1:2000. Thanks.
Patty Jansma Tel:520-621-6671 plj-at-manduca.neurobio.arizona.edu Arizona Research Labs Division of Neurobiology University of Arizona
On Fri, 6 Mar 1998 samuelsson.sj-at-pg.com wrote:
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Peter, } } I have tried, and now use routinely, Molecular Probes Alexa 488 secondary } antibodies as well as Alexa 568 Phalloidin. Both label brightly with no bleed } through using standard Nikon filter cubes. I use the phalloidin at a 1:200 } dilution of the methanolic stock directly into my working stock. } } Steve Samuelsson } ______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________ } Subject: LM- Alexa dyes } Author: (INTERNET)peter.lorenz-at-med.uni-rostock.de at external } Date: 3/5/98 2:45 PM } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Hi, } } does anybody have some comments on or practical experience with } the new Alexa fluorescent dyes from Molecular Probes? } } Particularly, I would be interested in compatibility of } Alexa488 and Alexa594 with normal Fitc or Texas Red filter sets, } respectively. Do these dyes work in double labelings or is there } a lot of bleed-through because they are so bright? } } Thanks for your answers! } } } Peter Lorenz } } } Dr. Peter Lorenz } University of Rostock } Institute of Immunology } Schillingallee 70 } D-18055 Rostock } Germany } fax: +49 381 494 5882 }
Spi TEM Crossed Carbon Grating Replicas are the magnification standards that we use on courses. Although this is a TEM specimen it makes a very interesting general SEM standard as it may be used for magification calibrations and if mounted carbon side up as a kV guide. In the latter case the carbon film at low magnification is only visible below 5kV depending upon the microscope geometry. You may have seen these results,=
often credited to David Joy, although we published in 1986!
These specimens are only 3mm across and if tacked to a small thin alumini= um disk they will last a long time being stuck and unstuck to a conventional=
specimen stub. We use 2160 lines per mm or 0.4629 micron grating space.
The only problem with the specimen is that you do need a good degree of S= EM operating skill to visualise the very thin carbon film. The magnificatio= n range covered is easily 5,000X to 40,000X.
Regards
Steve Chapman
Senior Consultant E.M. Protrain, Oxford, England. Tel & Fax 44 (0)1844 353161 Web Site - http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/protrain For Consultancy and Courses in Electron Microscopy World Wide
Regarding the recent discussion on conducting a new salary survey: Great idea!
The USA 1996 wage tables are now available at http://stats.bls.gov/oeshome.htm which provides listings of average and median wages at the national and state level. Microscopists don't rate a category. Find yourself under one of the scientist or technologist categories.
I've also recently seen a well-done salary survey in an electrical eng publication... could have been ieee (?) ... ideas worth copying.
Thank you to my fellow microscopist who suggested painting the inside of the video camera adapter with graphite. I tried this and it cut down the glare substantially. I still have a little when the illumination is set high, but this is a great improvement.
Alan Stone Alan Stone ASTON Metallurgical Services Chicago
However it does have a focal length that may be varied and it is the change of focal length varying the "effective" working distance that ultimately changes the magnification.
Try the tests I mentioned in an earlier submission and you will see for yourself.
I was originally a TEM engineer, with all the tests in mind that we did 30 odd years ago to prove our TEM, I have over the past 20 years applied the TEM monitoring techniques to the SEM. Such data as reasons for magnification changes, contamination rate tests and resolution tests with different standards are gathered on almost a monthly basis through certain of the courses that we run.
If these tests were carried out in all SEM laboratories the truth about magnification and the features that cause it to change would be readily available. Do we train correctly if we produce operators ignorant about magnification errors, or do we not care about such detail; its probably a bit of both!
Steve Chapman
Senior Consultant E.M. Protrain, Oxford, England. Tel & Fax 44 (0)1844 353161 Web Site - http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/protrain For Consultancy and Courses in Electron Microscopy World Wide
Group, Thanks to the help from a number of you, I am about ready to launch the microscopist salary survey. If done properly, I expect that the results may be of real value to some of you, and as my approach is a bit different than many other surveys I have considered, I would like to offer this (last) preview as to format and invite any comment. You will be invited to provide your information via this listserver. If so, after recording your data I will dump your message. I have NO interest in your individual information. However, if you wish you can provide your data on a completely "blind" reader response card in our next (April) issue of Microscopy Today. The survey will be initially open only to microscopists in the U.S. and manufacturers and suppliers will be excluded. First, we will plot salary level against years of microscopy experience (in 3 year increments) for educational levels (no degree, AA, BS, MS, PhD and MD/DVm) Then, there will be only four criteria as follows: 1) Gender - Male/Female 2) Geographical Location - Midwest, West, South, Southeast, Northeast. If in question, one should pick the area which he/she feels most accurately reflects their salary level. For example, one from Tucson may feel their salary level to be closer to L.A./San Francisco than Houston/Dallas - so would pick West. 3) Primary area of interest: Biological, Physical/Material or Earth Science. 4) Working in: Industry, Education, Government, or Medical
Then for each criteria entry we will compute a "factor" based upon the average salary for all microscopists. For example, say that the average salary for all microscopists was $30,000 - and the average for all females was 2.3 % lower. The the female salary factor would be minus .023. Or say that the average salary for microscopists working in biology was 2.8 % higher than the total salary average - then the factor would be plus .028
Then, one could determine their base salary level from the educational/time curve and apply the four appropriate factors to come up with their own approximate salary level.
I have, of course, considered other criteria, like working with electron, optical, etc. microscopes, but do not see any real differences that would effect salary (?)
Sure, this is not absolute, but is (I submit) more accurate than anything else that I have been able to come up with.
I would appreciate any comment any of you might have as to how to improve on the system. I would like to get the survey started in a weeks time. Regards, Don Grimes P.S. If you "like" this and have no constructive comments, kindly reply direct to me as to not clutter up the system. Thanks
San Francisco Microscopical Society 12 March 1998 6:30 PM
Technical Instrument Company 348 Sixth Street San Francisco, CA 94103
Topics: The Antique Microscope Collection of Technical Instrument Co. Sale of Used Microscopy Equipment
You will not want to miss this unique opportunity to inspect the extensive antique microscope collection of Technical Instrument Company. In addition, Technical Instruments will have used equipment for sale and there will be a silent auction with proceeds to benefit the Society. This is your opportunity to find that microscope, accessory, or gizmo that is just what you need to do what you've always wanted to do. This should make for a wonderful evening in The City. Please join us!
Further Information: Contact Peter Barnett, Forensic Science Associates, 510-222-8883 or see the *relocated* SFMS Home Page at:
http://www.microdataware.com/sfms/index.htm
-- ********************************************************** Stephen A. Shaffer sshaffer-at-microdataware.com MicroDataware http:www.microdataware.com (Under reconstruction and in limited service) Personal stuff: steve_shaffer-at-compuserve.com http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/steve_shaffer/ **********************************************************
} I am trying to gain some understanding of the workings of TEM. Does anyone } know of any URL's that contains some good introductory material for TEM. } Kelvin,
try
http://biosci.cbs.umn.edu/biophys/OLTB/diffract.html It is part of the "Online Biophysics Textbook" and there's a pdf file by Wah Chiu et. al on EM
There's a lecture on EM by Aebi et al. in http://www.mih.unibas.ch/Booklet/Overview.html
You could search through "Frank Potters's Science Gems": http://www-sci.lib.uci.edu/SEP/SEP.html
Hope that helps a bit,
Philip -- Philip Koeck Karolinska Institutet Dept. of Bioscience Novum S-14157 Huddinge Sweden Tel.: +46-8-608 91 86 Fax.: +46-8-608 92 90 Email: Philip.Koeck-at-csb.ki.se http://www_scem.csb.ki.se/pages/philip.html
Within the frame of a European research project on coatings for Ultra violet applications, several post-doc positions are available, two of them related to TEM techniques. The applicants should be members of the EU. The host center for this two ones is University of Barcelona and the main objectives of the work is the structural and compositional characterization of UV-coatings.
Is someone is interested, please contact Dr. F. Peir=F3 at
paqui-at-iris1.fae.ub.es
Please find more information visiting the web site: www.lzh.de/tmr/default.htm
*******************************+ Francesca Peiro
EME, Enginyeria i Materials Electronics Dpt. Electronica Universitat de Barcelona Avda. Diagonal 645-647 08028 Barcelona, Spain
Greetings All ... I was wondering where everyone keeps their stock of copper grids. My predecessor always kept them in the film desiccator in the JEOL , JEM-100CX II. This was to keep the copper from excess moisture and prevent premature corrosion. I still do that, but what is everyone else doing?
Sharron G. Chism HT (ASCP) Electron Microscopy Department Harris Methodist Fort Worth Fort Worth, Texas
} Hi all I am a novice of this list, so please write me is there is some FAQ to avoid starting again old threads. } By the way, is there a consolidated way of protecting a SEM chamber from boost pressure coming from N2 bottle during venting? } (this may occur if someone accidentally moves the low pressure stage on the bottle) } } Thank you in advance } Dr. Eng. Edoardo Bemporad, Ph. D. } Assistant Professor of Materials Science } University of Rome "Roma Tre" (Italy) } Dipartimento di Ingegneria Meccanica e Industriale } (Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering) } Via della Vasca Navale 79 - 00146 Rome, Italy } Tel: +39 6 5517.3293 } Fax: +39 6 5517.3256 } LIME Lab (InterDipartimental Laboratory of Electron Microscopy) Tel: +39 6 5517.3200 } E-Mail:bemporad-at-uniroma3.it
Overpressure in SEM chambers is only a problem on some SEMs with airlocks for sample loading. For direct loading SEMs, the stage door opens when the chamber is above atomospheric if you don't fasten the door down. On JEOL SEMs there is an overpressure relief valve on the N2 Backfill line and some other SEMs also have an overpressure valve.
If you often vent the specimen chamber, just make sure the stage door opens freely or that a port flange can pop open. Just loosen the port flange screws. Atmospheric pressure holds these tight against the vacuum so there is no need need for tightness except at the beginning of pump down.
At 10:28 PM 2/25/98, Gabriel Adriano Rosa wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
I just saw their representatives last week at PittCon. Please specify needed information.
Barbara Foster Consortium President Microscopy/Microscopy Education 125 Paridon Street - Suite B Springfield, MA 01118 USA PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com **************************************************** Microscopy/Microscopy Education America's first consortium of microscopy experts offering customized on-site training & applications solutions in all areas of microscopy, sample preparation, and image analysis. Our goal is to help you optimize your microscopy.
I have to examine some gunk from an industrial fermentation + processing reaction. I'd appreciate any suggestions for an accessible reference on reagents for microchemical tests to distinguish protein, carbohydrate, cell wall materials, or other broad classes of chemical materials, mostly organic or bioorganic, though there may also be inorganic components.
Leonard Corwin Fort Dodge Animal Health (Analytical Research) Princeton, NJ 08543-0400 corwinl-at-pt.cyanamid.com
The 9800 has an RT-11 based DEC computer and it was a momentous occasion just going from 8" to 5.25" drives! As far as we know, DEC never developed the driver needed to control a 3.5" floppy on this system. (If one does exist, the next issue would be compatibility with the high density drives you get off the shelf these days.)
As you inherited the system and are new to EDS, you might be interested in knowing the "i" in 1830i stands for "integrated". Amray purchased 9800 analyzers from EDAX and used them for microscope control, too. These integrated systems were sold and serviced by Amray, so we might not even know where your system was prior to reaching your lab. This also means our tech support people have to exercise some extra caution.
Just so you know, you can get our latest and greatest PC software to process your data without upgrading your hardware. Files can be captured with Kermit over a serial connection, but most people opt for the sneaker net route. If you have a PC with a 5.25" drive, our utilities transfer and convert the data from RT-11 floppies to the DOS/Windows world. As 5.25" drives aren't as common as they used to be, I'd love to be able to retrofit 9800's with 3.5" drives. Of course, if we make it too easy for these 10-15 year old machines to keep going, I won't sell any upgrades ;-)
Hope this helped and welcome to EDAX. Be sure to let us know if there is anything we can do to help.
Jeff Gschwend Midwest Sales EDAX Inc.
Once upon a time, John Grazul shaped the electrons to say:
} X-Rayers, } } I have inherited an EDAX 9800 which is attached to an Amray 1830i. I } was wondering if I could replace the 5.25 inch drive with a 5.25/3.5 } inch drive? It makes sense to me, and would be practical, but the } tech support at EDAX said that it would be impossible and crash the } system; which does not make sense to me.....yet. Are they right at } EDAX? Or, are they trying to get me to upgrade my system? Please } enlighten me for I am an X-Ray novice. } } } John Grazul } Rutgers University } Electron Imaging Facility
At 04:44 PM 3/9/98 -0400, corwinl-at-pt.cyanamid.com wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Re: a good resource on microchemical tests The best one which I have seen is Chamot & Mason, Vols I & II. They were out of print for some time, but I saw them offered through McCrone Associates not too long ago.
Re: the organic goop The best solution, here, is an FT-IR microscope. There are a number of companies offering them, ranging from Perkin-Elmer to Nicolet/Spectra-Tech. I'd suggest referring to the American Lab Buyers' Guide for a listing.
For tips on the difference between sample prep for conventional vs. FT-IR microscopy, try the article I co-authored with John Reffner: Foster, B. and Reffner, J. "Focus on Microscopy: Conventional Optical Microscopy vs. FTIR Microscopy: Sample Preparation for Both Sides of the Coin". Part I: Sept. 1995, 16c-16J Part II: Nov. 1995, 20i-20M (We have reprints here, if you need one).
Good hunting! Barbara Foster Consortium President Microscopy/Microscopy Education 125 Paridon Street - Suite B Springfield, MA 01118 USA PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com **************************************************** Microscopy/Microscopy Education America's first consortium of microscopy experts offering customized on-site training & applications solutions in all areas of microscopy, sample preparation, and image analysis. Our goal is to help you optimize your microscopy.
In regard to Steve Chapman's comments about SEM magnification changing with condenser setting: I am not in a position to disagree with his statement regarding what he observes happening to the magnification when the condenser lens strength is altered. However, I disagree with the argument advanced to support why this happens. Quoting from his earlier posting:
} Lets take a look at the optics. Increase the strength of C1 and this places } the first crossover higher in the column, which in turn places the second } crossover higher in the column and similarly lifting the third crossover, } the point where the final condenser places the probe on the surface of the } specimen; the image goes "out of focus". Thus we have to decrease the } strength of the final lens to bring the specimen back into focus } Decreasing the final lens strength increases its focal length effectively } increasing the distance between the pivot point of the scan and the } specimen surface. Change the position of the pivot point of the scan } without changing the scan angle and you change the length of the scan line } on the specimen, the magnification changes as magnification is the } relationship between the length of the scan line on the specimen and the } length of that same scan line on the CRT. } I agree with all of this statement until we get to the part about the pivot point of the scan being affected by the strength of the final lens. The scan coil system should be designed such that the pivot point of the scan is located at the principal plane of the final lens where it will be unaffected by the strength of the final lens. This is simply an application of basic geometric optics: any ray which passes through the "center" of a thin lens (ie. the point where the axis intersects the principal plane) is undeflected. (That's why this undeflected ray is universally used as one of the "cardinal rays" in a lens diagram.) Now if the scan system pivot point is located substantially above or below this "center" position, then the final lens strength will indeed affect it and there will be an observable magnification effect. I would personally consider this to be a malfunction of the scan coil system. Though the location of the pivot point is unlikely to be exactly centered in the principal plane of the final lens, a small error introduces only a small effect and (assuming a properly functioning unit) I doubt whether this could explain the effect that Steve is discussing. A large error would also manifest itself in a change in apparent size of objects as the final lens strength is adjusted. In a properly operating SEM optical system, one should be able to change the strength of the final lens and although the image of a specimen feature will go out of focus and rotate, it should not change noticeably in size. This is, in fact, a simple way to check whether the scan pivot point is located where it is supposed to be. (For example, if the x and y scan coil sets pivot at substantially different points, this exercise will result in an apparent elongation of the image as one goes far out of focus.)
One possible point of contention is whether the principal plane of the final lens is indeed fixed. The answer is that for a highly assymetric lens (such as is typical of the SEM final lens) the principal plane does move slightly with differing excitation. However, it is my experience that this shift is relatively small (something that the lens designer should be concerned about) and is in fact too small to effect a noticeable (ie. first order) change in magnification.
As I stated above, I am not in a position to argue that the apparent magnification of some microscopes does not depend on the condenser setting. I would argue, however, that this is an artifact of the implementation, since I do not believe it is intrinsic to the SEM optical system One question to ask is whether, when it is stated that the "magnfication" changes, are we actually refering to the size of objects on the viewing screen, or to the numeric "magnfication" readout of the scope? My contention is that the former should NOT change in any substantial way. But it is easy to see how the latter might change in the way described. As Steve has pointed out, magnification depends upon both the rocking angle of the scan and the distance to the specimen surface. The latter distance, however, must be inferred somehow and typically this is accomplished in the microscope's readout circuitry via a calibration of working distance versus final lens excitation. Thus, a large change in condenser strength will (at least in some optical systems) require a substantial compensation in final lens strength which will throw off the working distance calibration and thus introduce an error into the magnification readout. This mechanism, however, results in a change only in the magnification READOUT of the microscope and the apparent size of objects on the viewing screen should not be affected. Could this be the nature of the "magnification" change being described? -- Fred Schamber RJ Lee Instruments Limited
INTERNATIONAL COURSES OF LIGHT MICROSCOPY, PHOTOMICROGRAPHY AND LASER SCANNING CONFOCAL MICROSCOPY GARGNANO (Lake of Garda) October 1998
The Course is a post-graduated theoretical/practical course, with propedeutical lectures and practical stages on microscopy, photomicrography and confocal microscopy. The course will take place in Gargnano (Lake of Garda) in October 1998.
All information and registration details (participation fee, date, special accomodation) at at the following Web address.
http://imiucca.csi.unimi.it/endomi/micro.html
Thank you Paolo Castano
_____________________________________________________ Prof. Paolo Castano UNIVERSITY OF MILAN INSTITUTE OF HUMAN ANATOMY - CHAIR OF HUMAN ANATOMY FOR PHARMACY Via Mangiagalli, 31 - 20133 Milan (Italy)
Hi Sharron, I keep my grids in the orginal vials, separated in a plastic divided storage box in a drawer of my microtome. Nothing special. When I go to use them, I do dip them in a 0.25% solution of formvar before picking up grids.
Best of luck, Ed Calomeni Medical College of Ohio Dept. Pathology Toledo, OH 43614 ecalomeni-at-mco.edu
All: I'm looking for labs to do material science (semiconductor) SEM/EDX/TEM/FIB work. I would prefer to hear about labs in the Dallas/Fort Worth or Texas state area but will take anyone in the US.
Does anyone know a site to downlad a free software for 3D reconstruction easy to manage? I need to reconstruct an anatomy sample by means of serial sections.=20 I=B4l intend to take microphotographs (LM level) of these sections, scan= them and finallly digitalize these images in tiff format. Is this procedure= correct? Thanks, in advances. Biol. Luis Ernesto Dettin dettin-at-cmefcm.uncor.edu Centro de Microscopia Electronica Facultad de Ciencias Medicas Universidad Nacional de Cordoba Te/Fax: 01-051-333021 E-mail: dettin-at-cmefcm.uncor.edu CC 362 5000 Cordoba Argentina
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RE} LM: microchemical class reagents 3/10/98 9:12 AM Dear Leonard,
You can, of course, try the Chamot and Mason books. However, the better r= eferences are by Feigel, "Spot tests for Organic and Inorganic Analysis".= These are spot test methods for small abounts of chemicals/materials. Th= e Feigel books are unsurpassed as references for microchemical tests.
Give us a call if you need further information or if we can help. We also= teach classes in microchemical testing. See our website.
John Shane Director of Research McCrone Research Insitute 2820 South Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60616
I have to examine some gunk from an industrial fermentation +=20 processing reaction. I'd appreciate any suggestions for an accessibl= e=20 reference on reagents for microchemical tests to distinguish protein= ,=20 carbohydrate, cell wall materials, or other broad classes of chemica= l=20 materials, mostly organic or bioorganic, though there may also be=20=
inorganic components. =20 =20 =20 Leonard Corwin Fort Dodge Animal Health (Analytical Research) Princeton, NJ 08543-0400 corwinl-at-pt.cyanamid.com
via sendmail with P:smtp/R:bind_hosts/T:inet_zone_bind_smtp (sender: {yoyodine-at-unm.edu} ) id {m0yCT0q-0001BRC-at-lyra.unm.edu} for {Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com} ; Tue, 10 Mar 1998 10:40:24 -0700 (MST) (Smail-3.2.0.101 1997-Dec-17 #6 built 1998-Jan-5)
Hello,
I am looking for John Armstrongs CITZAF program. We have down loaded one from Argon NL's ftp site but the Self Extracting file CITPTC.exe won't self extract. Does anyone know a different source for the programm?? It is for a PC.
Mi chiamo Corneliu Mateescu PhD, con una esperienza di quasi 30 ani in ricerche sulla biologia di cellula cancerogena. Io sono capo di Dipartimento di Citometria e Microanalisi d'imagini microscopiche. Da 15 ani ho iniziato e svilupato un "soft" di analissi d'imagini per anatomia patologica e citopatologia neoplastica. Adesso il mio "soft" non corisponde alle esigenze di INTERNET, ma ci sono qualche elementi pregiatti. Il mio Consilio Scientifico e io personalmente sono molto interesato in una colaborazione di duratura con un partner straniero per iniziare una base datti per imagini microscopici. Abbiamo un "tezoro" di decine di milliai di lastrine chi aspettano solo una metodologia su la surveglianza internazionale d'iniziare questo base datti. Quale e la vostra oppinione ? Certo d'una Vostra solecita risposta vi porgo i miei mugliori saluti,
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Im sorry if this is a REALLLLL Dumn question.......... But just what is the } size of some of these TEM,SEM ect } Ron Mayer } thetruth-at-southwind.net } } Point your browser to eps.unm.edu/probelab . There are some good digital images of some typical machines there. SEM's TEM's etc....do vary in size though.
Greetings, I would like to ask for suggestions on fixation of cultured, embryonic frog muscle cells and the retention of good exterior membrane morphology. We grow Xenopus muscle somites (frog stage 20-23) in culture for 24-48hrs for study of membrane acetylcholine receptor aggregation with FESEM. The mucsle cells are undifferentiated at 24 hrs and retain a round shape rathar than the bipolar flat muscle cell morphology. The cells are not well developed at 24hrs and have a central cytoplasm filled with yolk granules and a clear non-structured peripheral cyotplasmic region. After aldehyde and osmium fixation the membrane (viewed in FESEM at 50 to 100K) has tiny holes and a shredded-torn appearance. We have developed a fixation regime that seems to produce very little cell shrinkage (less than 10%) and cell distortion (membrane ruffling) as viewed in the light microscope. However with the FESEM our membrane surface has the problems described. I have listed below our complete fixation protocol and would appreciate any suggestions.
Thanks in advance, Dennis Kunkel
Protocol:
1. Muscle somites are grown on glass coverslips for 24 hrs in culture medium.
2. Aldehyde fixation - 4 step After removing most of the medium the first fixative is added:
A. 1% paraformaldehyde in dH20 containing 0.15M sucrose and 10mM Ca and Mg - 30 minutes. *Note the dH20 is used - testing of many buffers in combination with sucrose to protect the cells osmotically did not work; the cells responded best with dH20.
B. 2% paraformaldehyde in dH20 containing 0.15M sucrose and 10mM Ca and Mg - 30 minutes.
C. 2% paraformaldehyde and 1% glutaraldehyde in dH20 containing 0.15M sucrose and 10mM Ca and Mg - 30 minutes.
D. 1% paraformaldehyde and 2.5 % glutaraldehyde in dH20 containing 0.15M sucrose and 10mM Ca and Mg - 30 minutes.
3. Rinse in 0.1M sodium cacodylate.
4. Fix in 1% osmium in 0.1M sodium cacodylate - 30 mins
5. Rinse in 0.1M sodium cacodylate
6. Dehydrate in 10% graded ethanol series to 100%
7. CPD using CO2 critical point dryer.
8. Cells are coated with gold/palladium to check membrane surface morphology. For other high resolution observations, using antibody and secondary gold labeling, cells are coated with carbon.
*********************************************** * Dennis Kunkel Ph.D. * * Pacific Biomedical Research Center * * University of Hawaii * * * * email - kunkel-at-pbrc.hawaii.edu * ***********************************************
We have a Leica-Wild M650 micro-surgical stereomicroscope (purchased originally in 1992) that we would like to trade/exchange for a Wild M420 with macro ApoZoom. Please contact me directly if you are interested.
#################################################################### John J. Bozzola, Ph.D., Director Center for Electron Microscopy Neckers Building, Room 146 - B Wing Southern Illinois University Carbondale, IL 62901 U.S.A. Phone: 618-453-3730 Fax: 618-453-2665 Email: bozzola-at-siu.edu Web: http://www.siu.edu/departments/shops/cem.html ####################################################################
Reference our discussions in this area, as we would say "you hit the nail=
on the head". =
A change in final lens strength confuses the calculation of magnification=
(angle verses WD) and thus the magnification calibration in relation to t= he readout is at error.
Steve Chapman
Senior Consultant E.M. Protrain, Oxford, England. Tel & Fax 44 (0)1844 353161 Web Site - http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/protrain For Consultancy and Courses in Electron Microscopy World Wide
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I have noticed that the tops of my hands are loosing feeling. I was told by another microscopist that it is a common problem with people who run this type of equipment to have symptoms that are not quite, but similar to carpal tunnel symptoms. He said that a few years ago one of the microscopy publications had an article about the problem. Do any of you have any info on this subjesct or are having the same problem? Do you know where I might locate the article. He said that the problem in his case came from ergonomics and was an inflammation of the muscles surrounding the neck. Thanks, Larry Davidson larry.davidson-at-weirton.com
Does anyone have a method to transfer image files between EMS (on a Vax) and Digital Micrograph (on a Mac)? I would be happy to get C code, fortran code, or just inofrmation on the file format of the EMS output files so I can write the code myself (in C). Any code which converts EMS files into raw data would work also. Many thanks Murray Gibson
J. Murray Gibson Professor of Physics and Materials Science Associate Director, Frederick Seitz Materials Research Laboratory **************************************************** *on sabbatical leave until 7/1/98 at * *CNRS-CECM * *15, Rue Georges Urbain * *F94407 Vitry/Seine CEDEX * *FRANCE * *Tel - (0)1.46.87.35.93 (country code 33) * *Fax - (0)1.46.75.04.33 * *Home: telephone Paris - (0)1.40.02.03.51 * *address: 26 Rue Mousset Robert,75012 Paris, FRANCE* **************************************************** e-mail: j-gibson-at-uiuc.edu (unchanged) Permament address: Frederick Seitz Materials Research Laboratory University of Illinois, 104 S. Goodwin Ave (Room 258) Urbana, IL 61801 Tel: (217)-333-2997; Fax: (217)-244-2278; j-gibson-at-uiuc.edu
} ---------- } From: GoYakKlah[SMTP:thetruth-at-southwind.net] } Sent: Tuesday, March 10, 1998 10:02 AM } To: paqui-at-iris1.fae.ub.es; Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com; } Microscopy.com-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } Subject: size of Electron Microscope } } Im sorry if this is a REALLLLL Dumn question.......... But just what } is the } size of some of these TEM,SEM ect } Ron Mayer } thetruth-at-southwind.net } Simply, they are all "bigger than a breadbox".
} Bruce F. Ingber } Biologist- Electron Microscopy } USDA-ARS, SRRC } 1100 Robert E. Lee Blvd. } New Orleans, LA 70124 } } (504) 286-4270; fax (504) 286-4419 } bingber-at-nola.srrc.usda.gov } } } } }
Try the MAS server at: ftp://www.microanalysis.org/Pub/MMSLib/EMPA/CITZAF3/ Scott
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------------------------------------------------------------------ Scott Wight e-mail: SCOTT.WIGHT-at-NIST.GOV NIST - Microanalysis Group W voice: 301-975-3949 Bld 222, Rm A113 | fax:301-216-1134/301-417-1321 Gaithersburg, MD 20899 \|/ disclaimer: Any opinion expressed is my own and does not represent those of my employer.
According to my doctor, when I experienced this to include "tingleing" in my right arm, this was a posture induced problem of a nerve being slightly pinced in the neck from being hunched over the microscope. I was concious of my posture, scope and chair placement, and perforned some simple (tuck chin in hard) neck exercises and the problem went away. And the problem went away went away.
Good luck and shalom from Jerusalem. Azriel
On 11 Mar 1998 Larry.Davidson-at-weirton.com wrote:
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } I have noticed that the tops of my hands are loosing feeling. I was } told by another microscopist that it is a common problem with } people who run this type of equipment to have symptoms that are not } quite, but similar to carpal tunnel symptoms. He said that a few } years ago one of the microscopy publications had an article about } the problem. Do any of you have any info on this subjesct or are } having the same problem? Do you know where I might locate the } article. He said that the problem in his case came from ergonomics } and was an inflammation of the muscles surrounding the neck. } Thanks, } Larry Davidson } larry.davidson-at-weirton.com }
Yes, I have had pain in the upper arms and numbness in my thumbs due to the C-5 nerve branch getting pinched from the poor ergonomic neck position from years of microscopy. I wear it like a badge of honor. March on! fellow microscopist! I want a microscope that conforms to a person sitting in an old barbers chair.
Bob Underwood Derm Imaging Center U of Wash.
On 11 Mar 1998 Larry.Davidson-at-weirton.com wrote:
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } I have noticed that the tops of my hands are loosing feeling. I was } told by another microscopist that it is a common problem with } people who run this type of equipment to have symptoms that are not } quite, but similar to carpal tunnel symptoms. He said that a few } years ago one of the microscopy publications had an article about } the problem. Do any of you have any info on this subjesct or are } having the same problem? Do you know where I might locate the } article. He said that the problem in his case came from ergonomics } and was an inflammation of the muscles surrounding the neck. } Thanks, } Larry Davidson } larry.davidson-at-weirton.com }
A colleague of mine is looking for a used microtome to section materials (especially paper) for light microscopy for a QC operation. Anybody with such equipment can contact me directly. Thanks in advance, Lynne Garone Polaroid Corp. 781-386-1446 GaroneL-at-Polaroid.com
-----summary------ Does anyone have ideas on VERY low contrast matrix materials in which I could embed particulate materials for such an analysis? In other words, I do not want to see the matrix at all. But it needs to be present to hold the particles in their orientation. (Sometimes you want to see the matrix but in my current case I do not.)
Thanks in advance -
Tyler C. Gruber, Physicist
-----details------- I analyze the structure of nanoscale particles by themselves and also mixed and embedded in polymers and other "matrices". Naturally, the particles are often difficult to measure accurately via any means due to the presence of the matrix. It is the matrix materials, not the subsequent analysis techniques, that I need help with.
I have what I think is a somewhat unusual problem.
Ideally, I would like to image some nanoscale particles in a matrix that is as close as possible to completely transparent to the electron beam. This would enable me to view the particles with nearly the clarity I get when I simply disperse them on a carbon-coated grid.
I want to do this because I am interested in experimenting with changes in the way I process compounds to see if this has influence on the compound isotropy in terms of the orientation of the nanoscale particles (they are non- spherical). It would be proof of concept for other matrices - that anisometry in particle orientation can be detected.
Once embedded I envision microtoming or thinning the compound to achieve a thickness that would render the contribution of the matrix to the image insignificant compared to that of my particles. Therefore, it would be very desirable for the material I am pursuing to be processible in some such manner.
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Ice machines 3/11/98 11:34 = AM
Dear Microscopists: Does anyone know the telephone number for RossTemp in Mason City, Iowa, = USA? Or maybe someone has information as to where I could purchase an = industrial ice machine/maker. Any help would be appreciated greatly. = Thank you. Linda Chicoine Center for Cell Imaging Dept. of Cell Biology Yale University New Haven, CT USA 203-785-3646
with ESMTP id {01IUJB66T6MY95MPWC-at-asu.edu} for microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com; Wed, 11 Mar 1998 09:58:49 MST Received: from csss.la.asu.edu (csss2.la.asu.edu [129.219.54.220]) by smtp1.asu.edu (8.8.7/8.8.7) with ESMTP id JAA21509 for {microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com} ; Wed, 11 Mar 1998 09:59:05 -0700 (MST) Received: from default (129.219.100.199) by csss.la.asu.edu with SMTP (Apple Internet Mail Server 1.1); Wed, 11 Mar 1998 09:54:49 -0700
Dear All: I need to prepare a cross-section specimen out of a structure formed on a bulk single-crystalline diamond substrate (approx 300um thick). Does anyone has a relevant experience? Any advice will be appreciated. I tried to cut it with a slow-speed diamond disk-saw without much success... TIA,
Max Sidorov
------------------------------- Maxim V. Sidorov, Ph.D. Center for Solid State Science Arizona State University Tempe, AZ 85287-1704 USA Phone: (602)727-6260 Fax: (602)965-9004
I'm the electron microscopist at Eastern Connecticut State University. A new science building is going to be built here and I've been given the task of making recommendations for the new electron microscope laboratory. I would be interested in communicating (and perhaps visiting) with anyone who has recently been involved in designing a microscopy lab from the ground up. I was told to design for the future; to build a lab that will be functional 20 years from now. I want to get information not only on the best design for the physical structure, but also advice on equipment.
Also, if there are any vendors out there who might be interested in having a room, hallway, wing, or even the entire building named in their honor (these are our president's words), we would love to discuss with you how your gifts to the university could make that happen.
Marty Levin
Martin A. Levin Department of Biology Eastern Connecticut State University Willimantic, CT 06226 Phone: (860)465-4324 Fax: (860)465-5213
Dear Daniel, } } My daughter prepares a thesis on artistic paintings and would like to know } if there are recent publications on the use of the SEM and EDX on } restoration of painting, expertise or research in history of art. } Mc Crone has done this sort of work (and there may be many others). In a closely related field, Tom Cahill has used the proton beam from the cyclotron to do EDX on many specimens including a Gutenberg Bible. This technique is almost the same as EDX on a scope or probe, but the atoms are excited or ionized by protons, so the brehmsstrahlung background is much lower. Proton optics are not as highly developed as electron optics, so the spatial resolution of PIXE (particle-induced x-ray emission) with protons is not as good as that with electrons. Yours, Bill Tivol
We have recently been faced with an issue of analyzing cross-sections of 1mm thick polycrystalline diamond disks for ASEM and electron microprobe analyses. The initial sectioning was done with EDM. The cross-sections were then mounted in bakelite and metallographically polished.
For ATEM, you might be able to use the EDM technology to section a piece sufficiently small for an ion dimpler to take down to the desired thickness. We are currently addressing potential preps for a possible ATEM analysis of this material.............I'll let you know what shakes out of our discussions........
Cheers and Good Luck
Cary Black Dow Chemical phone: (517) 636-5760 e-mail: ckblack-at-dow.com
Dear Tyler, } } Does anyone have ideas on VERY low contrast matrix materials in which } I could embed particulate materials for such an analysis? In other words, I } do not want to see the matrix at all. But it needs to be present to hold the } particles in their orientation. (Sometimes you want to see the matrix but in } my current case I do not.) } The contrast in EM comes from the elastically scattered electrons, so the lower the scattering cross-section, the greater the transparency, and the more uniform the matrix, the lower the contrast. You should have the best results with a matrix having the fewest electrons per unit volume.
} I analyze the structure of nanoscale particles by themselves and also } mixed and embedded in polymers and other "matrices".
These polymers would seem to be ideal. If the particles are of nearly the same composition, however, you will have to stain them with a heavy metal which does not also stain the matrix polymer. If the par- ticles are themselves heavy metals or other higher-Z-than-carbon materials they should be visible without additional processing. Good luck. Yours, Bill Tivol
We are still consolidating and would like to see this good, but old equipment put to use somewhere. You may have all this equipment for free if you are a DOD agency, Federal Government, a State Government agency, or a State Educational Institute. Contact me, Thomas A Baginski via Email or phone 301 295 5691 or our logistics officer Mr Jerry Sherman -at- 301 295 3435. We have plans to clear out everythihng by March 20th, 1998. JEOL Scanning 35U with BEI, TOPOG, ETC, service reports, much more Hummer Carbon Evaporator unit, and Sputter Coater Haskris Chiller, for above Balzer's Spray Freezing Unit, 15 years old, never used Ultrastable Microtomy table TOUSIMIS Critical Point Dryer MANY, other assorted peripheral equipment that can be used with al the above. Our GSA department is ready to do the paperwork, NOW.... Good luck. Tom Baginski
Greetings to All ... I am currently using a Kodak Ektamatic Photo Processor that is no longer manufactured (as far as I know). It's sort of on its last leg and I HATE to see it go. I would love to find another one just like it (you know, so I won't have to change the status quo!). Is there anyone out there that might have one in storage that you might be willing to part with? If not, how about pointing me in the right direction to one that uses the same S-II Activator and S-30 Stabilizer chemicals. I get such nice crisp glossy photos now and don't want that to change.
Thanks in advance for any information ...
Sharron G. Chism HT (ASCP) Electron Microscopy Lab Harris Methodist Fort Worth Fort Worth, Texas
SPIRATONE makes a considerably cheaper yet comparable stabilization processor along with chemicals and paper. I believe you might be able to use the Ektamatic chemicals in it - but not completely sure about this. Do a WWW search for Spiratone Stabilization Processor. I used one for many years and was well pleased with it.
} I am currently using a Kodak Ektamatic Photo Processor that is } no longer manufactured (as far as I know). It's sort of on its last leg } and I HATE to see it go. I would love to find another one just like it } (you know, so I won't have to change the status quo!). Is there anyone } out there that might have one in storage that you might be willing to } part with? If not, how about pointing me in the right direction to one } that uses the same S-II Activator and S-30 Stabilizer chemicals. I get } such nice crisp glossy photos now and don't want that to change.
#################################################################### John J. Bozzola, Ph.D., Director Center for Electron Microscopy Neckers Building, Room 146 - B Wing Southern Illinois University Carbondale, IL 62901 U.S.A. Phone: 618-453-3730 Fax: 618-453-2665 Email: bozzola-at-siu.edu Web: http://www.siu.edu/departments/shops/cem.html ####################################################################
I think that you have two immediate options and perhaps a far out option.
1. FIB comes to mind right away, but I don't know how well the diamond will mill. Argon does not do well with carbon, so I don't expect Ga to do any better. You could do it right from your thick sample.
2. 300 um is a little thick, but you might try cleaving the sample. Look at our paper on the small angle cleavage technique in Vol 480 of the MRS Symposium Proceedings (1997) to get an idea on how it is done for semiconductors and see if it might be modified for your thicker and harder samples. I think that you would have to know the crystallographic directions pretty well before you start. You might consider contacting a jeweler to find a diamond cutter to help you cleave it and/or polish it down thinner. If you get the sample down to 80-90 um, I think you have a chance with SACT because it works for SiC single crystals.
Far out option: Peter Humble once told me that they drilled holes in diamond foils in an old TEM because the vacuum conditions were poor. I think that the reason was that it was due to water vapor, carbon, and the electron beam reacting at the diamond surface. Well, how about if you find an environmental SEM, backfill with H20 vapor, crank up the voltage and current density to the highest value and see if you can mill the sample out in the same way as the FIB does. Contact Philips. They have the FEG ESEM and see if they are game to try it. Let me know if it works.
-Scott Walck
Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. PPG Industries, Inc. Guys Run Rd. (packages) P.O. Box 11472 (letters) Pittsburgh, PA 15238-0472
(412) 820-8651 (office) (412) 820-8161 (fax)
"The opinions expressed are those of Scott D. Walck and not of PPG Industries, Inc. nor of any PPG-associated companies."
Dear All: I need to prepare a cross-section specimen out of a structure formed on a bulk single-crystalline diamond substrate (approx 300um thick). Does anyone has a relevant experience? Any advice will be appreciated. I tried to cut it with a slow-speed diamond disk-saw without much success... TIA,
Max Sidorov
------------------------------- Maxim V. Sidorov, Ph.D. Center for Solid State Science Arizona State University Tempe, AZ 85287-1704 USA Phone: (602)727-6260 Fax: (602)965-9004
I inherited a Joel 733 that we need to clear out for new equipment. The microscope portion of the instrument including the automated stage was working but the data system was not. Because of the data system not working, the condition of the 4 WDS detectors and one Germanium EDS detector is unknown. According to the documentation the Noran system software is "Series II Software Release 1H" the disks are labeled TN-550-220 Volume #20, #21, #22, And #26.
No reasonable offer will be refused. If you are interested please e-mail me privately.
Mike
=========================================================== Michael Dunlap lab (530) 752-0284 Facility For Advanced Instrumentation fax (530) 752-4412 University of California mrdunlap-at-ucdavis.edu Davis CA, 95616 http://carbon.ucdavis.edu ============================================================
We prepared some small (around 1 mm) diamond samples a few years ago and examined in the TEM. We mounted them in Buehler's Epomet mounting compound, and were then able to cut them successfully on a low-speed diamond saw. Once cut, they were dimpled. We have a South Bay dimpler, and they sold us a special diamond-impregnated dimple-grinding wheel for hard materials that we just had to lubricate. This method worked fine for our material. [No financial interest etc.]
Gill Bond Dept Materials & Met. Eng. New Mexico Tech
On Wed, 11 Mar 1998, Max Sidorov wrote:
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Dear All: } I need to prepare a cross-section specimen out of a structure formed on a } bulk single-crystalline diamond substrate (approx 300um thick). Does anyone } has a relevant experience? Any advice will be appreciated. } I tried to cut it with a slow-speed diamond disk-saw without much success... } TIA, } } Max Sidorov } } ------------------------------- } Maxim V. Sidorov, Ph.D. } Center for Solid State Science } Arizona State University } Tempe, AZ 85287-1704 USA } Phone: (602)727-6260 } Fax: (602)965-9004 }
We use 1% agar to hold tissue culture cells together. In thin sections, it's barely visible. Would this work for you?
On Wed, 11 Mar 1998, TylrGruber wrote:
} Date: Wed, 11 Mar 1998 11:19:41 EST } From: TylrGruber {TylrGruber-at-aol.com} } To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: No Subject } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } -----summary------ } Does anyone have ideas on VERY low contrast matrix materials in which } I could embed particulate materials for such an analysis? In other words, I } do not want to see the matrix at all. But it needs to be present to hold the } particles in their orientation. (Sometimes you want to see the matrix but in } my current case I do not.) } } Thanks in advance - } } Tyler C. Gruber, Physicist } } -----details------- } I analyze the structure of nanoscale particles by themselves and also } mixed and embedded in polymers and other "matrices". Naturally, the } particles are often difficult to measure accurately via any means due to the } presence of the matrix. It is the matrix materials, not the subsequent } analysis techniques, that I need help with. } } I have what I think is a somewhat unusual problem. } } Ideally, I would like to image some nanoscale particles in a matrix that is as } close as possible to completely transparent to the electron beam. This would } enable me to view the particles with nearly the clarity I get when I simply } disperse them on a carbon-coated grid. } } I want to do this because I am interested in experimenting with changes in the } way I process compounds to see if this has influence on the compound isotropy } in terms of the orientation of the nanoscale particles (they are non- } spherical). It would be proof of concept for other matrices - that anisometry } in particle orientation can be detected. } } Once embedded I envision microtoming or thinning the compound to achieve a } thickness that would render the contribution of the matrix to the image } insignificant compared to that of my particles. Therefore, it would be very } desirable for the material I am pursuing to be processible in some such } manner. } } Thanks in advance - } } Tyler C. Gruber, Physicist } }
Sara E. Miller, Ph. D. P. O. Box 3020 Duke University Medical Center Durham, NC 27710 Ph: 919 684-3452 FAX: 919 684-8735
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Dear Tyler, } } Does anyone have ideas on VERY low contrast matrix materials in which } I could embed particulate materials for such an analysis? In other words, I } do not want to see the matrix at all. But it needs to be present to hold the } particles in their orientation. (Sometimes you want to see the matrix but in } my current case I do not.) } The contrast in EM comes from the elastically scattered electrons, so the lower the scattering cross-section, the greater the transparency, and the more uniform the matrix, the lower the contrast. You should have the best results with a matrix having the fewest electrons per unit volume.
} I analyze the structure of nanoscale particles by themselves and also } mixed and embedded in polymers and other "matrices".
These polymers would seem to be ideal. If the particles are of nearly the same composition, however, you will have to stain them with a heavy metal which does not also stain the matrix polymer. If the par- ticles are themselves heavy metals or other higher-Z-than-carbon materials they should be visible without additional processing. Good luck. Yours, Bill Tivol
................................................................................ Dr. Hayrettin Yuzer Visiting Researcher Research Center for Interface Quantum Electronics Hokkaido University Nort 13 West 8, Sapporo 060, JAPAN Tel: +81-11-706-7176 (w) +81-11-707-3715 (h) Fax: +81-11-716-6004 E-mail: yuzerh-at-ryouko.rciqe.hokudai.ac.jp
I came across this great application and thought you might be interested... it allows you to easily record virtually anything on your PC screen: applications, browsers, desktop activities, etc. and turn it into a self-running digital movie! It's great for web or CD tutorials, demos, engineering communications, customer service and a lot more. It definitely gets the point across quickly! You can see examples and more at www.infosynth.com
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_________________________________________________ Information Synthesis, Inc. 8105 S.W. Boeckman Road Wilsonville, Oregon 97070 503/685-0302 800/547-3016
OK , I know everyone doesn't have one but just in case you do & nothing else works...... I recall a few years ago at Rice University that Bob Houge had students ablating holes in diamond chips with a KrF excimer laser (248nm). They were monitoring progress with a interferometer so I'd say the level of control was pretty good (although it was not real quick). No idea what their objective was but Bob is friendly. I don't have an e-mail address but link into www.rice.edu } Chem. dept.} Prof. John Margrave & see if you can zero in on Bob. If that doesn't work , drop me a line & I'll look him up while I am on campus.
Your best bet may be to either reduce your accelerating voltage or look into a good backscatter detector. If you have the money, you also might want to look into an ESEM, the partial gas atmospheres may be enough to drain off the charging you experience.
} Previous posts are true for larger particles which are good } insulators. On the other hand, I often need to examine mounted } and polished finely divided conductive and semi-conductive } material. Quite often I am looking for hi-Z metal carbides. } Carbon coating really hurts the desired to } undesired/signal/noise ratio. } } It is also true that conductor loaded insulating resins (bulk } conducting) do not help much in this area. The islands of } charging resin will "eat you alive" {g} . } } To clarify my earlier post: } } What I would like to see developed is intrinsically conductive } polymer (sometimes know as unobtianium) that can be used to } mount and polish specimen material (fines). This sort of } polymer is currently available in thermoset (already) powder } and, as another poster mentioned, solid forms (block, sheet, } etc.). This polymer itself is conductive. Several different } schemes may be used. One method, for example, adds an iodine } atom in the polymer chain to free some conductance electrons. } } Woody White } McDermott Technology, Inc. } } } I agree with Jean Marc. All this excitement about conducting resins } is not likely to achieve the aim, which was the elimination of } charging in the SEM of DIFFICULT non-conductors embedded in resins. } {snip} } } Jim Darley } } ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO } Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Phone +61 7 4774 0370 } Fax: +61 7 4789 2313 Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, } MSDS, User Notes **************************** } www.proscitech.com.au ***** } -------------------------------------------------------------------- } ---. } } } Just a remark on conductive resins: they are good to embed } conductive samples for surface SEM observation for example. But } don't forget, they are composite materials, i.e. non-conductive } resin loaded with enough conducting material (Cu, Ag whatever) to } make them MACROSCOPICALLY conductive. } } } In microscopy application, their composite structure quickly appears } and limit their usage. For example, their are useless to look at } edges of conductive material because the non-conductive resin } portion in-between the conductive particles will charge up exactly } as pure polymer and blur out the picture. } } For your ion-milling application I suspect the same holds true but I } haven't } } try myself. So just be aware of this } problem if doesn't work. } } BTW they are available from any electron microscopy accessories } vendor. } } } Jean-Marc Boichat email: jean-marc.boechat-at-chma.mhs.ciba.com } EM LABS FO 5.1 phone:+4126 435 6979 fax: +4126 435 6907 } Ciba research Center } P.O. Box 64 } CH- 1723 Marly 1 When things go wrong, don't go with them! } Switzerland } } Disclaimer: "nobody in this company ever cared for what I said, why } would they start now". } } Allen R. Sampson Advanced Research Systems 317 North 4th. Street St. Charles, IL 60174 PH 630.513.7093 FAX 630.513.7092 Email: ars-at-mcs.net WWW: http://www.mcs.net/~ars Analytical instrument maintenance services
Maintening the microscope itself I have problem with vacuum tightness of the (for me - so called ,,third party'' option) Oxfords-LINK Pentafet MK6b type detector unit. Thats the one attached to TEM and is retractable with UTW which can not outstand the vented column so has the pneumatic shut-of valve and motorised retraction mechanism. Like LINK has in tradition there is 3-section steel bellow. The problem is that after opening the valve the vacuum goes wrong - somwhere leak in the detector. As there is limited space around, and service flange to connect quadrupol is quite far - I don't see real possibility to trace such leak precisly with helium leak detector. The leak is on the IGP vacuum level - so very small - but enough to shut down the microscope.
1) Does anybody know f.e. procedure how to admit air to the detector to equalize pressure on the both sides of the window and dismantle and change the Oring in the shut-off valve ? that one is most suspected. 2) How long can this type of detector be not cooled waiting for solution ? 3) is it better to keep it not-cooled when there is a leak waiting for service, or to keep it cooled - what in my opinion can cause intensive cryo-pumping effect and contaminate parts inside, and after warming up condensate vapours etc. ? 4) Are there any firms who would take such detector for repair/recheck/retight servicing ??? I am asking above question knowing the manufacturers price for such repair (generally leading to the ,,better buy new one" conclusion) and expecting better conditions.
kind regards
Krzysztof Herman FEI/PHILIPS Service Labsoft, Domaniewska 9/11/45, 02-663 Warszawa tel: (48 601) 307456, fx:(48 22) 483787 E-mail: kherman-at-labsoft.com.pl http://www.labsoft.com.pl/
Email: knechtew-at-tcd.ie Name: Walter Knechtel School: Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
We are using formvar as a substrate for TEM investigations. We are studying charging effects on it. Is there any possibility to estimate quantitativly how much the substrate charges up when exposed to the electron beam? The current density of the beam is known.
} ---------------------------------------------------------------------- } -- } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of } America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to } ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } ---------------------------------------------------------------------- } -. } } Max: As difficult as it may seem, diamond can be microtomed with a diamond knife to prepare cross-sections for TEM analysis (as long as you don't require a cross-section of the full 300 um). I've had a great deal of experience and luck cross-sectioning hard materials using the technique. You can review an ultramicrotomy procedure for cross-sectioning diamond and cubic boron nitride in "Ultramicrotomy of Diamond Films for TEM Cross-section Analysis," P. Swab, Microscopy Research and Technique, Wiley-Liss Inc., vol. 31, pp. 308-310 (1995). The paper describes the formation of "micro chips" that are preferentially oriented, embedded in epoxy, and then cross-sectioned with a diamond knife. These cross-sections may show mechanical artifacts, but are uniformly thick and free of beam damage and chemical artifacts.
} Regards, } } Phil Swab } Advanced Coatings Division } Advanced Refractory Technologies } Buffalo, NY, USA } Phone: 716-875-4091 } } } On Wed, 11 Mar 1998, Max Sidorov wrote: } } } } ---------------------------------------------------------------------- } -- } } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of } America } } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to } ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } } } ---------------------------------------------------------------------- } -. } } } } Dear All: } } I need to prepare a cross-section specimen out of a structure formed } on a } } bulk single-crystalline diamond substrate (approx 300um thick). Does } anyone } } has a relevant experience? Any advice will be appreciated. } } I tried to cut it with a slow-speed diamond disk-saw without much } success... } } TIA, } } } } Max Sidorov } } } } ------------------------------- } } Maxim V. Sidorov, Ph.D. } } Center for Solid State Science } } Arizona State University } } Tempe, AZ 85287-1704 USA } } Phone: (602)727-6260 } } Fax: (602)965-9004 } } }
I notice that Olympus are advertising 'Pain-free microscopy' on their BX40 microscope. It is supposed to incorporate new ergonomic features such as an improved shape, focussing controls near to bench height and adjustable position of eyepieces. I have had no experience of this machine and have no connection with the company, other than as a satisfied user of some of their teaching and research microscopes. It is to be hoped that most of the leading manufacturers are doing something like this.
Malcolm Haswell Electron Microscope Unit University of Sunderland UK ----------
hello all-
i've got a problem with the vacuum system on a JEOL35. the problem seems to manifest itself by disabling the automatic valve sequencing function. i can operate all the valves in manual mode but in auto mode it never seems to reach vacuum ready. in manual mode it pumps OK, but manually operating the airlock valves is a pain.
any ideas why manual sequencing the valves works and automatic doesn't??
thx brian
**************************************************************** Brian McIntyre Electron Microscopy Lab Institute of Optics University of Rochester Rochester, NY 14627
We have a researcher who needs a silicon oil which turns to a jelly in UV light - for sticking down crystals with good thermal contact at cryogenic temperatures. Ordinary silicon oil, as for diffusion pumps, won't work because it cracks at low temperatures and isn't strong enough. Any ideas? Thanks Elaine
Dr. Elaine Humphrey Biosciences Electron Microscopy Facility University of British Columbia 6270 University Blvd Vancouver, BC CANADA, V6T 1Z4 Phone: 604-822-3354 FAX: 604-822-6089 e-mail: ech-at-unixg.ubc.ca
Greetings to all. To help get the word out, I've been asked by our Institute for Agriculture and Natural Resources to post the following announcement of a new position in a new biomicroscopy facility at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Best wishes, Brian
------------------------------ MICROSCOPY FACILITY MANAGER: RESEARCH ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
Immediate opening for non-tenure track Research Assistant Professor with experience in Fluorescence, Scanning Confocal and Light Microscopy. Individual will co-manage new Center for Biotechnology Microscopy Core Research Facility serving research, teaching and industrial clients located in the new George W. Beadle Center for Genetics and Biomaterials Research. Technical support provided. Doctorate required. Knowledge of computer-based image analysis, data storage, transmittal and networking essential. Extremely important that successful candidate is able to work effectively with people with diverse research interests and provide expertise and service. Individual will be expected to develop strong research collaborations with UNL scientists. Research professorial position will be administered through a specific academic unit. Screening of applications will begin May 1, 1998, and continue until suitable candidate is identified. Apply to: Dr. James Kinder, Center for Biotechnology, University of Nebraska, N300 Beadle Center, Lincoln, NE 68588-0665. Phone: 402/472-6438. E-Mail: ansc502-at-unlvm.unl.edu. Web: http://www.biotech.unl.edu. UNL is committed to a pluralistic campus community through Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity; is responsive to the needs of dual career couples; and assures reasonable accommodation under the Americans With Disabilities Act. Contact Dr. Kinder for additional information.
-------------------------------------
*********************************************************** Brian W. Robertson *Office 402 472 8308 Assoc. Prof. *FAX 402 472 1465 Department of Mechanical Engineering *Lab 402 472 8762 and Center for Materials Research and Analysis University of Nebraska-Lincoln N124 WSEC, Lincoln, NE 68588-0656, USA ***********************************************************
JXA50A from JEOL has variable resistors on its vacuum board for setting thresholds for automatic mode. I am sure, the JSM35 has the same (they share many boards); see manuals for vacuum board. Good luck!
Vladimir Dusevich NCSU
On Thu, 12 Mar 1998, Brian McIntyre wrote:
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } hello all- } } i've got a problem with the vacuum system on a JEOL35. the problem seems } to manifest itself by disabling the automatic valve sequencing function. i } can operate all the valves in manual mode but in auto mode it never seems } to reach vacuum ready. in manual mode it pumps OK, but manually operating } the airlock valves is a pain. } } any ideas why manual sequencing the valves works and automatic doesn't?? } } thx } brian } } **************************************************************** } Brian McIntyre } Electron Microscopy Lab } Institute of Optics } University of Rochester } Rochester, NY 14627 } } 716-275-3058 } 716-244-4936(fax) } } }
Hello all I need some advice on replication. We want to determine the depth of a conductor a few um below the surface. Interferometry has give me the depth relative to the immediate edge but we need to know the distance from the highest point on the surface. The surface is nominally 1cm Sq. with a slit .6mm X ~3um across it. I was thinking of something that once formed could be cut, polished & measured. Ideas?
I am looking for the best way to upgrade the old Kevex uX 7000 EDS system on my Amray 1000A SEM. (Unfortunately a big part of "best" is a low price.) I've been looking at the 4pi Spectral Engine II package for EDS, digital image acquisition, and x-ray mapping. The users I have talked to have all sounded quite happy with their systems and the price is good. I know there are an awful lot of other companies out there offering EDS upgrade packages though and we need to be satisfied that we're making the right choice.
Please let me know what your experiences are with EDS upgrades. I'd be happy to hear from vendors as well. If you will respond directly to me, rather than to the list, I'll post a summary of the responses I get.
I mostly analyze small particles (0.1 to 1 micron) in tissue sections or on filters so we don't need extravagant quantitative capabilities. I plan to use my existing detector, preamp, pulse processor, and bias supply. I have no strong preference between Mac and PC.
Thanks in advance for your help, Tori Hatch
thatch-at-hsph.harvard.edu 665 Huntington Avenue, II-227 Boston, MA 02115 (617) 432-4429
Does anyone have first-hand experience in working with Nanoplast (Melamine resin) in conjuntion with immuno-gold staining? What, if any, are the unseen pitfalls in its use?
Thanks, Steve Schmitt
#################################################################### John J. Bozzola, Ph.D., Director Center for Electron Microscopy Neckers Building, Room 146 - B Wing Southern Illinois University Carbondale, IL 62901 U.S.A. Phone: 618-453-3730 Fax: 618-453-2665 Email: bozzola-at-siu.edu Web: http://www.siu.edu/departments/shops/cem.html ####################################################################
This is a general reply to the bunch of you who provided me with info on how to contact CM Taylor.
Basically, it goes like this:
1. the address is:
C.M. Taylor Company 71 Bonaventura Drive San Jose, CA 95134 U.S.A. ph: 408-526-9020 fx: 408-526-9021
2. the best contact is the General Manager, Jerry V. Weatherford, who is more than willing to answer questions!
3. the company has a brochure describing the compounds and metals available through them, as well as mounting formats they can provide.....their prepared standard mounts are called Taylor Mutli-Element Standards (TM-ES), and range in price from $500 to $4200, depending on content and format
4. in regard to the metals: most metals are 99.99% pure, or greater (99.999%) - the only exception is the Hf metal which contains 1.65% Zr (noted as 3.32% in older literature; could be, however, a different standard, now replaced).
Hope this helps.
Winton
Dr. Winton Cornell Senior Research Associate & Supervisor, Microanalysis Laboratory Department of Geosciences The University of Tulsa 600 South College Tulsa, OK 74104-3189
I had saved an e-mail from about 2 years ago, in which is given a number for a company in CA (MicroDataWare) that one could contact to get the McCrone Particle Atlas on CD-ROM. Today - yep, two years later! - I called the number, and, no surprise - no longer at that number!
My question toall of you has two parts:
1. does anyone out there know where I can get a copy of the Atlas on CD-ROM? (I have heard the paper copy is long out of print), and
2. have any of you used the Atlas?....if so, how about comments on its practical use (as opposed to the "it's nice to look at" side of it).
Thanks, in advance, for any feedback.
Winton Cornell
Dr. Winton Cornell Senior Research Associate & Supervisor, Microanalysis Laboratory Department of Geosciences The University of Tulsa 600 South College Tulsa, OK 74104-3189
} Folks: } } I had saved an e-mail from about 2 years ago, in which is given a number } for a company in CA (MicroDataWare) that one could contact to get the } McCrone Particle Atlas on CD-ROM. Today - yep, two years later! - I called } the number, and, no surprise - no longer at that number! } } My question toall of you has two parts: } } 1. does anyone out there know where I can get a copy of the Atlas on } CD-ROM? (I have heard the paper copy is long out of print), and } } 2. have any of you used the Atlas?....if so, how about comments on its } practical use (as opposed to the "it's nice to look at" side of it).
Winton, I can answer the first question. I'll leave it to others to answer the second. MicroDataware has beeen in limited operation over the past two years as I've recovered from some serious health issues. (Better now!) The Particle Atlas Electronic Edition (PAEE) is available from two sources in the USA:
McCrone Research Institute, Chicago, IL 1-312-842-7100 attention: Nancy Daerr
McCrone Accessories and Components, Westmont, IL 1-630-887-7100 attention: (anyone at MAC)
The print Atlas has been out of print for many years now. Thanks for your interest in the Atlas and I hope you find it useful. If you need any further information please let me know off list.
Steve Shaffer MicroDataware sshaffer-at-microdataware.com
-- ********************************************************** Stephen A. Shaffer sshaffer-at-microdataware.com MicroDataware http:www.microdataware.com (Under reconstruction in limited service) Personal stuff: steve_shaffer-at-compuserve.com http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/steve_shaffer/ **********************************************************
Regarding the use of Nanoplast in conjunction with immuno-gold, I have some experience with this. The resin is very interesting from an ultrastructural perspective. Given its solubility in water, we found the presence of many connective tissue components after embedding in Nanoplast which otherwise would have been lost after dehydration (proteoglycans in particular). We were very excited to use it for section-surface immunocytochemistry. Our first attempts were very promising. However, we occasionally got a very specific labeling pattern to structures which we were absolutely sure did not contain the antigen! Puzzled, bothered, and frightened, we put it aside for a while.
Best of luck,
Doug
---------------------- Douglas R. Keene Associate Investigator Shriners Hospital Microscopy Unit Portland, Oregon 97201 DRK-at-shcc.org
On Wed, 11 Mar 1998 16:53:03 -0600 "John J. Bozzola" {bozzola-at-siu.edu} wrote:
} } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy } Society of America To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email } to } ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Does anyone have first-hand experience in working with } Nanoplast (Melamine resin) in conjuntion with immuno-gold } staining? What, if any, are the unseen pitfalls in its use? } } Thanks, } Steve Schmitt } } #################################################################### } John J. Bozzola, Ph.D., Director } Center for Electron Microscopy } Neckers Building, Room 146 - B Wing } Southern Illinois University } Carbondale, IL 62901 } U.S.A. } Phone: 618-453-3730 } Fax: 618-453-2665 } Email: bozzola-at-siu.edu } Web: http://www.siu.edu/departments/shops/cem.html } #################################################################### } }
JXA50A from JEOL has variable resistors on its vacuum board for setting thresholds for automatic mode. I am sure, the JSM35 has the same (they share many boards); see manuals for vacuum board. Good luck!
Vladimir Dusevich NCSU
} On Thu, 12 Mar 1998, Brian McIntyre wrote: } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } } hello all- } } } } i've got a problem with the vacuum system on a JEOL35. the problem seems } } to manifest itself by disabling the automatic valve sequencing function. i } } can operate all the valves in manual mode but in auto mode it never seems } } to reach vacuum ready. in manual mode it pumps OK, but manually operating } } the airlock valves is a pain. } } } } any ideas why manual sequencing the valves works and automatic doesn't?? } } } } thx } } brian } } } } **************************************************************** } } Brian McIntyre } } Electron Microscopy Lab } } Institute of Optics } } University of Rochester } } Rochester, NY 14627 } } } } 716-275-3058 } } 716-244-4936(fax) } } } } } } } }
Position available, applications invited from US and overseas applicants.= =0APlease send resume as an attachment to be considered or e-mail for fur= ther=0Ainformation to Mark1306-at-aol.com
Position: Reliability Test Manager (Southern California)
Description:: This individual will be responsible for: =95Managing the Reliability Assurance Testing and Failure Analysis Labs.= =A0 =95Provide electrical, physical and environmental performance data on IC semiconductor devices. =95Performing failure analysis and evals on performance failures from newly designed products, on-going reliability assessment programs and customer field failure returns. =95Determining failure modes root causes and issuing formal technical reports to inside support staff. =95Provide sales, marketing and customer support for qualification, reliability, failure analysis and failure rate data as needed.=A0
Min 5 yrs. hands-on experience with: =95Failure analysis and evaluation techniques of IC devices including the=
use of optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive x-ray analysis (EDX), radiographic inspection, decapsulation, sectioning and polishing.=A0 =95Reliability/qualification testing of IC=92s include operational knowle= dge of various manual & auto-programmable electrical, physical and environmental test equipment IAW Military and Industry Test Standards, i.e. MIL-STD-750, 883 EIA, JEDEC & ASTM publications. =0A
I think in your case may be caused by the offset voltage of vacuum control circuit is shifted. You need to re-adjust a high vacuum control signal (ready lamp light on). Check at vacuum volage measuring terminal by multimeter after main valve open it should decreasing from about 160uA to 0 uA within few minutes and then the ready lamp will come if not adjust vacuum comparator circiut in vaccum control.
Regards,
Paiboon Nuannin
Prince of Songkla University Hatyai, Thailand
On Thu, 12 Mar 1998, Brian McIntyre wrote:
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } hello all- } } i've got a problem with the vacuum system on a JEOL35. the problem seems } to manifest itself by disabling the automatic valve sequencing function. i } can operate all the valves in manual mode but in auto mode it never seems } to reach vacuum ready. in manual mode it pumps OK, but manually operating } the airlock valves is a pain. } } any ideas why manual sequencing the valves works and automatic doesn't?? } } thx } brian } } **************************************************************** } Brian McIntyre } Electron Microscopy Lab } Institute of Optics } University of Rochester } Rochester, NY 14627 } } 716-275-3058 } 716-244-4936(fax) } } }
I think in your case may be caused by the offset voltage of vacuum control circuit is shifted. You need to re-adjust a high vacuum control signal (ready lamp light on). Check at vacuum volage measuring terminal by multimeter after main valve open it should decreasing from about 160uA to 0 uA within few minutes and then the ready lamp will come if not adjust vacuum comparator circuitt in vaccum control.
Regards,
Paiboon Nuannin
Prince of Songkla University Hatyai, Thailand
On Thu, 12 Mar 1998, Brian McIntyre wrote:
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } hello all- } } i've got a problem with the vacuum system on a JEOL35. the problem seems } to manifest itself by disabling the automatic valve sequencing function. i } can operate all the valves in manual mode but in auto mode it never seems } to reach vacuum ready. in manual mode it pumps OK, but manually operating } the airlock valves is a pain. } } any ideas why manual sequencing the valves works and automatic doesn't?? } } thx } brian } } **************************************************************** } Brian McIntyre } Electron Microscopy Lab } Institute of Optics } University of Rochester } Rochester, NY 14627 } } 716-275-3058 } 716-244-4936(fax) } } }
I tried to handle with Nanoplast (including immunolocalization with colloidal gold) some years ago. I recognized that resin as very interesting having some diferrent characteristics in comparison with other "classical" resins. Please, look into publication:
Weyda F., 1990: Notes on the use of Nanoplast FB 101 for transmission electron microscopy. J.Electron Microsc.Tech., 16: 356-357
Good luck!
Sincerely, Frantisek Weyda
------------------------------------------------------------------------ RNDr.Frantisek Weyda,CSc. | Frantisek Weyda, PhD. Entomologicky ustav AV CR | Institute of Entomology Branisovska 31 370 05 Ceske Budejovice Ceska republika | Czech Republic --------------------------------------------------------------------- tel.: (38) 777 linka 5257 | phone: +420 38 777 ext.5257 fax.: (38) 43625 | Fax.: +420 38 43625
Internet e-mail: weyda-at-entu.cas.cz www sites: www.entu.cas.cz ural.bf.jcu.cz/tix/dost/bfju/WEYDA.HTM -------------------------------------------------------------------------
Good points. I have the BSE and use as low kV as is practical. Helps sometimes, but not always useful depending on requirements like higher mag/resolution imaging and some x-ray analysis. Woody White
Your best bet may be to either reduce your accelerating voltage or look into a good backscatter detector. If you have the money, you also might want to look into an ESEM, the partial gas atmospheres may be enough to drain off the charging you experience.
} Previous posts are true for larger particles which are good } insulators. On the other hand, I often need to examine mounted } and polished finely divided conductive and semi-conductive
} {snip}
} } Just a remark on conductive resins: they are good to embed } conductive samples for surface SEM observation for example. But } don't forget, they are composite materials, i.e. non-conductive } resin loaded with enough conducting material (Cu, Ag whatever) to } make them MACROSCOPICALLY conductive. } } } In microscopy application, their composite structure quickly appears } and limit their usage. For example, their are useless to look at } edges of conductive material because the non-conductive resin } portion in-between the conductive particles will charge up exactly } as pure polymer and blur out the picture. } } For your ion-milling application I suspect the same holds true but I } haven't } } try myself. So just be aware of this } problem if doesn't work. } } BTW they are available from any electron microscopy accessories } vendor. } } } Jean-Marc Boichat email: jean-marc.boechat-at-chma.mhs.ciba.com } EM LABS FO 5.1 phone:+4126 435 6979 fax: +4126 435 6907 } Ciba research Center } P.O. Box 64 } CH- 1723 Marly 1 When things go wrong, don't go with them! } Switzerland } } Disclaimer: "nobody in this company ever cared for what I said, why } would they start now". } } Allen R. Sampson Advanced Research Systems 317 North 4th. Street St. Charles, IL 60174 PH 630.513.7093 FAX 630.513.7092 Email: ars-at-mcs.net WWW: http://www.mcs.net/~ars Analytical instrument maintenance services
Position available, applications invited from US and overseas applicants.Please send resume as an attachment to be considered or e-mail for furtherinformation to Mark1306-at-aol.com
Position: Reliability Test Manager (Southern California)
Description:: This individual will be responsible for: =95Managing the Reliability Assurance Testing and Failure Analysis Labs.=20 =95Provide electrical, physical and environmental performance data on IC semiconductor devices. =95Performing failure analysis and evals on performance failures from newly designed products, on-going reliability assessment programs and customer field failure returns. =95Determining failure modes root causes and issuing formal technical reports to inside support staff. =95Provide sales, marketing and customer support for qualification, reliability, failure analysis and failure rate data as needed.=20
Min 5 yrs. hands-on experience with: =95Failure analysis and evaluation techniques of IC devices including the use of optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive x-ray analysis (EDX), radiographic inspection, decapsulation, sectioning and polishing.=20 =95Reliability/qualification testing of IC=92s include operational knowledge of various manual & auto-programmable electrical, physical and environmental test equipment IAW Military and Industry Test Standards, i.e. MIL-STD-750, 883 EIA, JEDEC & ASTM publications.
I do not understand if silicone oil and UV light are a requirement. There is an Apiezon grease which has good thermal conductivity and is in fact used for sticking down sensors etc at cryo temperatures:
CRYO-APPLICATION/VACUUM GREASE Apiezon N is a speciality grease for various cryogenic uses, including for vacuum sealing at very low to warm temperatures were its vapour pressure is very low, making it suitable for high vacuum applications. Type N does not craze or crack at low temperatures, has good thermal conductivity at low temperatures and is ideal for mounting sensors and other devices. It has very low levels of magnetic susceptibility which makes it suitable for some superconductor applications. Cycling between absolute zero and +40C is well tolerated by Apiezon N. It is frequently used as a jointing medium on cryostat flanges where its larger contact area, compared with that of indium wire, provides much better thermal transfer. Applications include cryo-systems on electron microscopes, cryostats, magnetic image resonance systems, sealing of vacuum parts including of glass joints and as a heat sink.
Hope this helps. I am sorry that the disclaimer would sound more like an ad, but this is a very minor item to us. Yes we do stock this grease, I expect that at least a couple of other EM suppliers also do. Jim Darley
ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Phone +61 7 4774 0370 Fax: +61 7 4789 2313 Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes **************************** www.proscitech.com.au *****
-----Original Message----- } We have a researcher who needs a silicon oil which turns to a jelly in UV } light - for sticking down crystals with good thermal contact at cryogenic } temperatures. Ordinary silicon oil, as for diffusion pumps, won't work } because it cracks at low temperatures and isn't strong enough. } Any ideas? Thanks } Elaine } } } } Dr. Elaine Humphrey } Biosciences Electron Microscopy Facility } University of British Columbia } 6270 University Blvd } Vancouver, BC } CANADA, V6T 1Z4 } Phone: 604-822-3354 } FAX: 604-822-6089 } e-mail: ech-at-unixg.ubc.ca } } }
We have a copy of the CD version of the Particle Atlas and use it regularly when identifying contaminants. The search engine in it is reliable and the image quality is pretty good too.
Joe Neilly Microscopy and Microanalysis Abbott Laboratories Abbott Park, IL 60064
Dear Colleagues: I was asked to make a positive print from a slide ( for presentation )with color histology image ( positive image). I have a ScanMaker III from the Microtek with transparency adapter. I will appreciate it very much if anyone of you could tell me whether this could be done or, if yes, how? Thanks in advance. Regards, Yuhui Xu EM Core, DFCI
At 05:39 PM 3/12/98 -0600, Winton Cornell wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
We have been demonstrating the CD-Rom version of the Particle Atlas extremely successfully for about the last 4-5 months. You can get a copy through McCrone Accessories 850 Pasquinelli Drive Westmont, IL 60559 (800)622-8122 All of our clients (from IBM to Niagara Mohawk) plus students in our recent ACS Course on Applied Optical Microscopy for Chemists have found this a very valuable resource. I think the current price is about $1000 for what is equivalent to an 8 volume, bound set.
Hope this is helpful.
Barbara Foster Consortium President Microscopy/Microscopy Education 125 Paridon Street - Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 USA PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com **************************************************** Microscopy/Microscopy Education America's first consortium of microscopy experts offering customized on-site training & applications solutions in all areas of microscopy, sample preparation, and image analysis. Our goal is to help you optimize your microscopy.
Dear Colleagues: I just realized that I can use the positive transparency selection to scan the color slides into the computer. Please disregard my previous posting if this is correct. Thanks. Yuhui Xu EM Core,DFCI
Does anyone know a source for purchasing the simple metal slide type of fiber microtomes? They use a slider to pack the fibers, and then you simply use a razor blade to make a quick and dirty cross-section of the fibers of interest.
I used one over 15 years ago at another company, but no name was on the device.
I appreciate any leads anyone may offer.
THANKS - B.J. CRAVEN E-MAIL to arcraven-at-interpath.com
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Hi, I'm a Gastroenterology fellow involved in research of bile duct epithelial cells in rats. I would like to stain the intrahepatic bile duct cells in small and larger ducts { 15 u and {15 {300 u in vivo and then obtain a 3D image from a thin slice. Is there a method to apply an antigen to cellular epitopes and subsequently an antibody to the antigen that would have staining properties and would retain some cellular delineation after preparing the histologic slides?. My e-mail address ztretjak-at-usa.net
Hello Everyone, I am attempting to survey how most people identify carbon black. Do you determine N number? Or do you just determine type like ISAF or FEF? Anybody who would like to share their methodology will find an interested party on this end of the wire.
You can reach me at : fskarl-at-goodyear.com or you can send it to the server for everyone. If there is sufficient interest, I will publish a summary of the results.
Hve you tried the folks at Cabot Corp.? I understand that they know a thing or two about carbon black.
I don't know anyone in particular there but there web site is:
http://www.cabot-corp.com
Harold J. Crossman Senior Scientist OSRAM SYLVANIA INC. Lighting Research Center 71 Cherry Hill Dr. Beverly, MA 01915 (978) 750-1717 crossman-at-osi.sylvania.com
I am working on the cotton surface free energy analysis. Now I need to apply extreme small liquid droplets to sigle cotton fiber. Anyone has any idea on this? What tool can I use so I can apply the droplet to the fiber automatically?
Since the cotton fiber is extremely fine whose diameter is around 10-15 micron, what kind of syringe will produce small droplet which can stay on the fiber?
This droplet-fiber will be viewd under video microscope and image will be captured using CCD camera for later use.
B. J. Craven wrote: =========================================== Does anyone know a source for purchasing the simple metal slide type of fiber microtomes? They use a slider to pack the fibers, and then you simply use a razor blade to make a quick and dirty cross-section of the fibers of interest.
I used one over 15 years ago at another company, but no name was on the device. ============================================= I think that the microtome you are thinking about if the one featured on our website, specifically URL http://www.2spi.com/spi/catalog/knives/microtome.html
This is called the "Micro Fiber" line of sliding microtomes.
Chuck
=================================================== Charles A. Garber, Ph. D. Ph: 1-(610)-436-5400 President 1-(800)-2424-SPI SPI SUPPLIES FAX: 1-(610)-436-5755 PO BOX 656 e-mail: cgarber-at-2spi.com West Chester, PA 19381-0656 USA Cust. Service: spi2spi-at-2spi.com
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At 01:14 PM 3/13/98 -0500, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Myles L. Mace, Ph.D. was head of Cabot Corp.'s carbon black laboratory for a number of years. He has done a lot of work with carbon black and would be the best man to help you.
Myles L. Mace, Ph.D. Genetic Microsyatems mmace-at-geneticmicro.com 8 Henshaw Rd. (781) 932-9333 Woburn, MA 01801
Joiner Cartwright, Jr., Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Pathology and Director, Electron Microscopy Laboratory Department of Pathology, Rm.286-A Baylor College of Medicine One Baylor Plaza Houston, Texas 77030 U.S.A. tel.: (713) 798-4658 FAX: (713) 798-3945 joiner-at-bcm.tmc.edu
I think in your case may be caused by the offset voltage of vacuum control circuit is shifted. You need to re-adjust a high vacuum control signal (ready lamp light on). Check at vacuum volage measuring terminal by multimeter after main valve open it should decreasing from about 160uA to 0 uA within few minutes and then the ready lamp will come if not adjust vacuum comparator circuit in vacuum control.
Regards,
Paiboon Nuannin Department of physics, Faculty of Science Prince of Songkla University Hatyai, Thailand
On Thu, 12 Mar 1998, Brian McIntyre wrote:
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } hello all- } } i've got a problem with the vacuum system on a JEOL35. the problem seems } to manifest itself by disabling the automatic valve sequencing function. i } can operate all the valves in manual mode but in auto mode it never seems } to reach vacuum ready. in manual mode it pumps OK, but manually operating } the airlock valves is a pain. } } any ideas why manual sequencing the valves works and automatic doesn't?? } } thx } brian } } **************************************************************** } Brian McIntyre } Electron Microscopy Lab } Institute of Optics } University of Rochester } Rochester, NY 14627 } } 716-275-3058 } 716-244-4936(fax) } } }
The below posting is three days old and has attracted no reply. I cannot = see any purpose why charging would need to be quantified, or how this could b= e properly done. Perhaps the message was misunderstood but as it stands the question is just an interesting exercise to explore. I am not a physicist but happy to give my understanding of the matter. If its wrong, somebody = is sure to respond; I am happy to learn.
In TEM the e beam (probe or beam current) passes through the specimen. Electrons interacting with the specimen have various fates: backscattered and secondary e (as used in SEM or STEM), those flowing through the speci= men to ground (specimen current as measured in analysis), those passing throu= gh the specimen, albeit with diminished energy to form the image.
In SEM, if all emitted e could be trapped and measured in a Faraday cage, that current plus specimen current would equate beam current - except tha= t we have not accounted for any charging. Charging occurs when low energy electrons accumulate on the specimen=92s surface faster than they are conducted to ground. But how could one measure the accumulated electrons = and related that to the other measures. In TEM the situation is further complicated by transmitted electrons. However, charging is not a problem in TEM because the powerful transmitte= d electrons are not affect by the specimen=92s surface charge. The only way= one could notice that a formvar film is charging would be through a secondary detector. If one could technically obtain good measures of all the curren= ts and compare under near identical conditions a number of coated and uncoat= ed films, then one could obtain some measure of electrons trapped on the surface. However, that measure would vary with minor changes, often dramatically. I would like to know what the exercise might achieve. I suspect a set of fairly meaningless numbers. Cheers Jim Darley
ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Phone +61 7 4774 0370 Fax: +61 7 4789 2313 Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes **************************** www.proscitech.com.au *****
} Email: knechtew-at-tcd.ie } Name: Walter Knechtel } School: Trinity College Dublin, Ireland } } We are using formvar as a substrate for TEM investigations. } We are studying charging effects on it. Is there any possibility to } estimate quantitativly how much the substrate } charges up when exposed to the electron beam? } The current density of the beam is known. } } Thank you for your help } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------= --- } } }
The PDP11 has been around for a very long time, and is in many respects the model of 'open architecture'. Many third party manufacturers have been producing plug-in boards for it from the beginning. It is quite likely that the TN-2000 controller board was actually OEM'd to Tracor, and not their own design. Frequently the 'sinister' situations I refer to are actually poor communications between the various manufacturer departments - i.e., engineering specs a part to procurement that has only one source, procurement purchases that single part, without paying attention to the package that is actually offered. The incoming parts department is only looking for the specific part and trashes any accessories or software that comes with it. Etc., etc., etc.
Since the controller carries a Tracor part number and might not have any easily identifiable manufacturer ID, the field engineering department assumes that it is a Tracor designed and manufactured part. You are left with that impression and feel that you have no recourse.
The recent migration to PC compatible components has improved the situation somewhat. However, the interface boards required for an EDS system are very esoteric and not generally available. They may well be designed and manufactured by the EDS manufacturer. In certifying a single manufacturer for the computer system however, a manufacturer is once again certifying that it is seeking to lock its customers into an arrangement that is advantageous to the manufacturer. Consider that Link is probably getting substantial consideration from HP for their endorsement.
Frankly, the experience you claim of going ahead and finding solutions that are outside of the manufacturers claims simply endorses my position. If you are willing, there are alternative routes. I'll bet that you were also able to accomplish these changes at a cost substantially less than the manufacturers were offering.
BTW, 3-1/2" drive controllers should be fairly common, look around.
} This came to me directly, and not to the list. You might want to } change the address and post again. } } Personally, I have not run into any "sinister" situations where a } manufacturer deliberately "queered up" just for the sake of } propriety. Our TN-2000 was ostensibly built around a PDP-11 } computer. Yet the state-of-the-art was pretty poor when we bought } it. Tracor had made their own disk controller which didn't use the } full capacity of the disk drives. I think the memory and/or serial } connections may also have been pre-standard. They weren't exactly } non-standard because it was so early in the maturation process. } } We now have a Link ISIS system which is supposedly only checked out } on Hewlett Packard PCs. They supposedly won't guarantee much if we } were to switch to a different brand. That to me is a crock. They may } not certify other platforms, but that doesn't mean they won't work. } If I were more pressed for power, I would upgrade anyway and fully } expect another system to work as well. } } Mostly my experience has been to plug in whatever (on both PDP-11 } and PC platforms) and to make it work. Never mind what the company } says can or can't work. I just need to know what I am doing because } the company may not be any help. Lately, most of the systems have } followed the rules. } } FYI, the outcome of the EDAX 9800 issue was that the system was } built around a PDP-11 and I don't know that the PDP was ever offered } the option of plugging in a 3-1/2" disk. There would definitely be a } few issues to contend with. } } At 04:55 AM 3/11/98 -0600, you wrote: } } The problem actually becomes one of the manufacturers intentionally } } making an open system proprietary. I have no direct experience } } with this particular system, however from my experience, there are } } two possiblities - the manufacturer reps are merely presenting a } } company line and the conversion can actually be made rather easily } } by ignoring their advice, or they are correct and the manufacturer } } has taken steps to ensure that you are locked in to their formats. } } } } Whether it is a windows system or not, manufacturers often make } } hardware and software changes that make it difficult to make your } } own changes. With windows hardware/software you have a cheap and } } easy path to test which way a manufacturer is going. Simply make } } the appropriate changes to the PC hardware and software and see if } } it works. If they are truely programming to windows standards, you } } should be able to change to any hardware you want. However, if } } they are still attempting to maintain proprietary control, your } } changes won't work. In that case, you can always regress to the } } manufacturers setup - and please bitch to them if it doesn't work. } } It may not seem to accomplish much, but if enough people bitch it } } may accomplish something. } } } } } If it is a standard Windows, PC-based system, I see no reason why } } } you could not do that. If your floppy is currently A:, your hard } } } drive is C:, and you have nothing defined as B:, you should be } } } able to do it straightaway. That is the reason for going with } } } standard hardware platforms and operating systems. } } } } } } There is a possibility that the operating environment might be a } } } bit unusual if it is an old PC. It would be more likely that EDAX } } } had somehow customized it or used a non-standard system. It might } } } also be a little tough to get to the CMOS setup program to inform } } } the system what the new hardware configuration is, but you should } } } be able to do it. EDAX may simply be trying to protect itself. } } } } } } Things are much better now than in the old days when expansion } } } was just about impossible. The EDS manufacturers did well with } } } what they had. They sometimes made their own controller cards or } } } wrote their own operating system (I think of my old TN-2000) } } } because standardized, cheap components were not available or } } } because they needed more performance than the standard parts } } } could provide. Matters got better as the PDPs matured and RT-11 } } } and TSX developed as the operating systems - then you could add } } } your own components. But now it is just about a no-brainer. } } } Indeed, I would rather avoid the proprietary systems. They might } } } have a bit of technological edge today, but what will I do } } } tomorrow when I want to slip in a faster processor or a 10 GB } } } disk drive and tape backup? } } } } } } At 08:24 AM 3/6/98 EDT, you wrote: } } } } X-Rayers, } } } } } } } } I have inherited an EDAX 9800 which is attached to an Amray } } } } 1830i. I was wondering if I could replace the 5.25 inch drive } } } } with a 5.25/3.5 inch drive? It makes sense to me, and would be } } } } practical, but the tech support at EDAX said that it would be } } } } impossible and crash the system; which does not make sense to } } } } me.....yet. Are they right at EDAX? Or, are they trying to } } } } get me to upgrade my system? Please enlighten me for I am an } } } } X-Ray novice. } } } } } } } } } } } } John Grazul } } } } Rutgers University } } } } Electron Imaging Facility } } } } } } } } } } } Allen R. Sampson } } Advanced Research Systems } } 317 North 4th. Street } } St. Charles, IL 60174 } } PH 630.513.7093 FAX 630.513.7092 Email: ars-at-mcs.net } } WWW: http://www.mcs.net/~ars } } Analytical instrument maintenance services } } } } } Allen R. Sampson Advanced Research Systems 317 North 4th. Street St. Charles, IL 60174 PH 630.513.7093 FAX 630.513.7092 Email: ars-at-mcs.net WWW: http://www.mcs.net/~ars Analytical instrument maintenance services
You are invited to provide information for the microscopist salary survey by return email. After recording your data, your message will be erased. We have NO interest in any individual data. However, a completely "blind" reader respnse card will be included in the April issue of Microscopy Today. This initial survey will relate only to the U.S. and will exclude manufacturers and suppliers. Your data should be include 8 fields, with one entry in each field: Example: PhD-15-M-32,400-N-MW-B-H
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Thank you for your input and help! Don Grimes, Microscopy Today
Does anyone know of any seminars or classes for the instruction of kidney processing for TEM? I am an MT in a hospital lab who would like to learn from an experienced person the proper technique for processing kidney biopsies for diagnostic viewing in a TEM.
I have been asked for cork for microtomy (not ultra microtomy). I have used pith, polysterene, cryo and paraffin wax, but never cork. Does anyone know of protocols for 'cork microtomy' and suppliers of this substance?
Stephan Helfer Royal Botanic Garden Inverleith Row Edinburgh EH3 5LR Scotland UK
} ---------- } Von: Deutschlaender, Norbert, HMR/DE } Gesendet: Montag, 16. M=E4rz 1998 10:57 } An:=20 } From my own experience I fully agree with the statement, that at } present the Olympus BX 40 light microscope seems to meet ergonomic } requirements. Since I have this microscope in use for several years } (many hours per day), I recovered from many shoulder-,neck- and arm } problems - which I did not bear as a "badge of honour" at all -. } Additional to the ergonomic items already mentioned by Malcolm, it } owns the great advantage of indefinitive optics, so that you can } insert as many intermediate rings as necessary to individually adapt } the distance between bench height and position of eyepiece according } to your body size, to maintain an upright position . I have no } commercial interest in any microscope manufacturer. } =20 } Norbert Deutschlaender, Germany (country of Leitz and Zeiss).=20 } ---------- } Von: } = malcolm.haswell-at-sunderland.ac.uk[SMTP:malcolm.haswell-at-sunderland.ac.uk } ] } Gesendet: Donnerstag, 12. M=E4rz 1998 16:45 } An: microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } Betreff: Re: Hand numbing problems from micro } =20 } = ---------------------------------------------------------------------- } -- } =20 } =20
Years ago I was able to buy a spray-on Teflon coating that when baked would produce a film on glass slides and coverslips. This allowed us to polymerize epoxy embedded cells in an extremely thin film, pick out individual cells for sectioning and pop the coverslip off and remove the epon layer from the slide. In this way we avoided other glass removal steps such as disolving with HF.
This Teflon repair spray does not seem to be available anymore and I have used the last of my coated slides and coverslips. Does anyone know of a comparable "slippery" coating that will allow one to do flat embeddments and then remove the epon layer from the slide?
Mark A. Farmer Director, Ctr. Ultrastructural Research University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602 (706)542-4080 Voice (706)542-4271 FAX farmer-at-cb.uga.edu http://www.uga.edu/caur
May I suggest a nebulizer, there are many types and they make very small droplets. I dont know the company but I have seen a small glass nebulizer that is operated by a squeeze bulb and works very well. Maybe one of the suppliers on this list even carries this little gem. Alternatively there are home nebulizer kits for drug delivery that should be easy to get your hands on. Good luck, Scott
} } Hi, } } I am working on the cotton surface free energy analysis. Now I need to } apply extreme small liquid droplets to sigle cotton fiber. Anyone has any } idea on this? What tool can I use so I can apply the droplet to the fiber } automatically? } } Since the cotton fiber is extremely fine whose diameter is around 10-15 } micron, what kind of syringe will produce small droplet which can stay on } the fiber? } } This droplet-fiber will be viewd under video microscope and image will be } captured using CCD camera for later use. } } Any suggestions are highly appreciated! } } } Jing Lu }
------------------------------------------------------------------ Scott Wight e-mail: SCOTT.WIGHT-at-NIST.GOV NIST - Microanalysis Group W voice: 301-975-3949 Bld 222, Rm A113 | fax:301-216-1134/301-417-1321 Gaithersburg, MD 20899 \|/ disclaimer: Any opinion expressed is my own and does not represent those of my employer.
At 10:03 AM 3/16/98 GMT, Stephan Helfer wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
We have routinely used cork as a substrate to support a bundle of fibers for fiber microtomy, but have simply used a routine laboratory cork. We've cut about a 1/2 (100 micron) cross section, used a large eyed sewing needle to pull a collection of fibers through the cork, then used a new, single-edged razor blade to microtome cross sections of the fibers. This approach works especially well since the cork is opaque, making the fiber bundle easy to find.
Along similar lines, I a rather unusual situation when no cork was present, I once cut about an inch off the top of a good sized carrot, cut the carrot in half longitudinally, then mounted a piece of fabric in the cut and bound the carrot/fabric sandwich back together with sewing thread (this was really a case of Necessity being the Mother of Invention!), then microtoming cross-sections of the fabric, again, with a single-edged razor. This procedure took a little practice, but within a few cuts, we were getting sections credible enough to be used in a court case. A cork would have worked just as well.
Since you are working for a botanical garden, perhaps you can comment on different type of corks. What, for example, is typically used for the standard laboratory corks? Is there a difference in cork density determined by which plant it comes from? It would seem a though there needs to be a good balance between enough density to hold a sample in place versus being too dense to cut easily with whatever type of blade is used for microtoming.
Hope this is helpful.
Best regards, Barbara Foster Consortium President Microscopy/Microscopy Education 125 Paridon Street - Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 USA PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com **************************************************** Microscopy/Microscopy Education America's first consortium of microscopy experts offering customized on-site training & applications solutions in all areas of microscopy, sample preparation, and image analysis. Our goal is to help you optimize your microscopy.
Dear Microscopists, I would be very glad if anyone could point me to papers with good description of yeast ultrastructure (strains S.cerevisiae and S.pombe). Thank you in advance.
To Microscopy, Is it possible to do the silver-enhanced (1nm gold) technique on parlodion or pure carbon grids to small particles and then negative stain. The real question is are any of the silver-enhancement chemicals detrimental to a grid destined for negative staining? Thanks
I recently read about a compact field microscope with simple 35mm attachment, called the Lensman. I am looking for all info that I can get about it, since the article, which I have seen in one of Hedgecoe's general photography manuals, did not tell anything about when or where it was manufactured or by whom. Or I would be interested in being pointed toward information on similar microscopes which allow photomicrography to be performed in the field.
Thanks, Doug Darnowski
****************************************************************************** Douglas Darnowski Department of Crop Sciences 384 ERML 1201 West Gregory Drive University of Illinois Urbana IL 61801 work ph: (217) 244-6150 fx: (217) 333-4777 home ph: (217) 356-6606 fx: (217) 356-4454 email: darnowsk-at-staff.uiuc.edu
} Years ago I was able to buy a spray-on Teflon coating that when baked } would produce a film on glass slides and coverslips. This allowed } us to polymerize epoxy embedded cells in an extremely thin film, pick } out individual cells for sectioning and pop the coverslip off and } remove the epon layer from the slide. In this way we avoided other } glass removal steps such as disolving with HF. } } This Teflon repair spray does not seem to be available anymore and I } have used the last of my coated slides and coverslips. Does anyone } know of a comparable "slippery" coating that will allow one to do } flat embeddments and then remove the epon layer from the slide?
When we flat embed, we use Aclar plastic sheets cut to whatever size we want with a pair of scissors. Cells can be grown on the Aclar. Some types of cells have no trouble sticking but some need the aclar to be coated with poly-l-lysine or glow discharging to help them attach. After polymerisation, the Aclar peels away leaving the cells in the block or if the plastic is left on, it can be cut with a glass or diamond knife. If it is straight flat embedding, two pieces of Aclar are used with the specimen sandwiched between. After polymerisation, one piece of aclar is peeled away, the specimen is glued to a form block and the other piece is peeled away. Elaine
Dr. Elaine Humphrey Biosciences Electron Microscopy Facility University of British Columbia 6270 University Blvd Vancouver, BC CANADA, V6T 1Z4 Phone: 604-822-3354 FAX: 604-822-6089 e-mail: ech-at-unixg.ubc.ca
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We have an older Kevex X-ray analysis system which would be available to anyone willing to pay shipping charges. This Kevex model 8002 microanalyzer system was designed for a JEOL JSM-840 scanning electron microscope. It has a light element x-ray detector and was used primarily on biological samples. The entire system including detector, 2 ion pumps, motorized system for moving the detector into the column, and computer console, boards, etc. is available. The detector was just removed from the microscope a few months ago and is presumed to be in good condition although we suspect that the preamplifier is defective. This could make a good unit to have for parts if someone has a similar unit they are still using. If you are interested in this equipment, please contact:
Debby Sherman, Manager Phone: 765-494-6666 Microscopy Center in Agriculture FAX: 765-494-5896 Purdue University E-mail: sherman-at-aux.btny.purdue.edu W. Lafayette, IN or: emcenter-at-btny.purdue.edu
(InterLock SMTP Gateway 3.0 for microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com); Mon, 16 Mar 1998 14:15:11 -0500 Received: by na3.dow.com (Internal Mail Agent-1); Mon, 16 Mar 1998 14:15:11 -0500 Message-Id: {c=WW%a=ATTMAIL%p=DOW%l=MANTE09-980316191502Z-96227-at-mante02.nam.dow.com}
Greetings:
We have been experiencing what could be an anomalous B peak detected by our PC3 (MoB4C) WDS crystal, particularly when analyzing C based samples. Has anyone had problems with secondary fluorescence of B in the crystal generated by C K-alpha emissions. Could such an event yield a small B peak, or would the effect be apparent as a higher than usual background signal?
We are very interested in resolving this issue. If secondary fluorescence of B would not generate a small peak, we may have contamination of our standard block from previous B analyses.
Any suggestions or experience regarding this phenomena would be highly appreciated.
Regards
Cary Black Dow Chemical phone: (517) 636-5760 e-mail: ckblack-at-dow.com
Mark, I use Permanox slides from EMS (I bet other vendors carry them as well) for flat embedding. I have some if you'd like to try them. No spray is needed and the slides separate easily.
your neighbor, beth
************************************** Beth Richardson EM Lab Coordinator Botany Department University of Georgia Athens, GA 30602
One the of fluorescence filter cubes on my Zeiss Axiophot just fell apart! Apparently the repeated heating cooling cycles caused the thin threaded ring that held the excitation filter in place to loosen. The ring and the actual glass excitation filter fell out. Fortunately nothing broke and it was easy to re-assemble. Can anyone confirm that there is no "sideness" to the excitation filter (i.e., that it doesn't matter which direction I re-inserted it)? Thanks in advance - Tom
Thomas E. Phillips, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Biological Sciences Director, Molecular Cytology Core Facility
3 Tucker Hall Division of Biological Sciences University of Missouri Columbia, MO 65211 (573)-882-4712 (voice) (573)-882-0123 (fax)
Mark Farmer wrote: } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------} The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } -----------------------------------------------------------------------.} } Years ago I was able to buy a spray-on Teflon coating that when baked } would produce a film on glass slides and coverslips. This allowed } us to polymerize epoxy embedded cells in an extremely thin film, pick } out individual cells for sectioning and pop the coverslip off and } remove the epon layer from the slide. In this way we avoided other } glass removal steps such as disolving with HF. } } This Teflon repair spray does not seem to be available anymore and I } have used the last of my coated slides and coverslips. Does anyone } know of a comparable "slippery" coating that will allow one to do } flat embeddments and then remove the epon layer from the slide? } } Mark A. Farmer } Director, Ctr. Ultrastructural Research } University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602 } (706)542-4080 Voice (706)542-4271 FAX } farmer-at-cb.uga.edu } http://www.uga.edu/caur
Dear Mark,
We at Ladd Research sell a teflon spray you may be interested in. Our catalog number 21845. If you are interested I can send you pricing and technical data.
by srvr20.engin.umich.edu (8.8.8/8.8.8) with ESMTP id QAA25428; Mon, 16 Mar 1998 16:44:00 -0500 (EST) X-Sender: jfmjfm-at-srvr5.engin.umich.edu Message-Id: {v04003a05b1334dab835e-at-[141.213.21.13]} Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Check out the MAS Homepage for the latest information on the Microscopy and Microanalysis Meeting in Atlanta this year. http://www.micoranalysis.org I have just added the Schedule of Scientific Presentations. Complaints on errors and omission to the chair please! :-) (Kathi Alexander alexanderkb-at-ornl.gov)
Jfm. Actual full path to the schedule is: http://www.microanalysis.org/mas/masmti/m&m98/schedule.html
________________________ Note new Area Code (734) ________________________ John Mansfield North Campus Electron Microbeam Analysis Laboratory 417 SRB, University of Michigan 2455 Hayward, Ann Arbor MI 48109-2143 Phone: (734) 936-3352 FAX (734) 936-3352 Cellular Phone: (734) 715-2510 (Leaving a phone message at 936-3352 is preferable to 715-2510) Email: jfmjfm-at-engin.umich.edu URL: http://emalwww.engin.umich.edu/people/jfmjfm/jfmjfm.html
Last month I asked for current opinions on high-quality printers for {$10,000. Our choices included getting an Epson Sylus Color 800 ( {$400) and a Fargo dye-sub printer (~$2,000), or just a more expensive dye-sub printer (e.g., Tek 450 for $8,000).
Pretty much everyone said find a couple of thousand dollars more and get the Codonics NP-1600 dye-sub printer.
We performed a casual test of several printers and came to the folowing conclusions:
Ink jet technology will satisfy more than 80% of the color printing needs that our group (mostly neurobiologists with some behavioral psychologists and morphologists thrown in) will have. Our LANlord has ordered the network versions of the Epson Stylus 800 and the Epson Stylus Photo. These printers do a very good job of mixing text and photos (which the dye-subs do not), and their costs of operation are very reasonable.
Of the dye-sub printers, the Kodak and Codonics produce the best color and b&w images (although Fargo has not yet sent printouts of the file we sent them). The Codonics has the Kodak print engine, but has nicer software and networks much more readily than the Kodak. It also produces good color transparencies.
When faced with the question of why get such an expensive "digital darkroom" when a combination of ink jet and laser jet printers might take care of most of our needs for far less money, we were reminded of this: Most labs or individuals can afford something like the Epson 800, but no one lab can afford the Codonics. It makes sense to put the money towards that for our multi-user environment, and let individuals buy their own ink jets or laser jets.
Thanks for all your opinions and experiences!
Aloha, Tina
80F, sunny, dry, surf's up. Can't afford the housing, but who cares?
http://www.pbrc.hawaii.edu/bemf/microangela **************************************************************************** * Tina (Weatherby) Carvalho * tina-at-pbrc.hawaii.edu * * Biological Electron Microscope Facility * (808) 956-6251 * * University of Hawaii at Manoa * http://www.pbrc.hawaii.edu/bemf* ****************************************************************************
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Doug -
What kind of magnification do you need? I use a nice screwon front-of-the-lens auxiliary from Edmund that gives a reasonably well-corrected 8x, unlike simple diopter lenses.
Caroline
Caroline Schooley Educational Outreach Coordinator Microscopy Society of America Box 117, 45301 Caspar Point Road Caspar, CA 95420 Phone/FAX (707)964-9460 Project MICRO: http://www.MSA.microscopy.com/ProjectMICRO/Books.html Intertidal invertebrates: http://www.fortbragg.k12.ca.us/AG/PCI/
I have always use Teflon Spray made by Miller-Stephenson. # MS122-22, TFE Release Agent, Dry Lubricant. It cost $10.50 per can of 455gm the last time I purchased it. The company has offices in Ontario, Conneticut, Illinois & Los Angeles. The LA # is 203-743-4447. Another number is 818-896-4714.
Dear All, I need some antibodies against matrix metalloproteinases that, according to literature, should be available from a company called Oncologix, Gaithersburg and/or Molecular Oncology, Gaithersburg. I was not able to find these companies in Linscott's Directory of antibodies nor on the Net. Could somebody give me their addresses, phones or faxes, please? Thanks for your help,
Sarka Lhotak
Hamilton Regional Cancer Centre McMaster University Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Tom, With Omega optical filters the light must pass through the filter in a particular direction, and it is likely that this is the case with your filter as well. Usually, there are arrows on the filter ring indicating which direction the light must travel through the filter.
Miss Peta Clode Zoology Department LaTrobe University Bundoora, Victoria Australia. 3083. Ph (03) 9479 2177 / 2279 Fax (03) 9479 1551
On Mon, 16 Mar 1998, Tom Phillips wrote:
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } One the of fluorescence filter cubes on my Zeiss Axiophot just fell apart! } Apparently the repeated heating cooling cycles caused the thin threaded } ring that held the excitation filter in place to loosen. The ring and the } actual glass excitation filter fell out. Fortunately nothing broke and it } was easy to re-assemble. Can anyone confirm that there is no "sideness" to } the excitation filter (i.e., that it doesn't matter which direction I } re-inserted it)? Thanks in advance - Tom } } } Thomas E. Phillips, Ph.D. } Associate Professor of Biological Sciences } Director, Molecular Cytology Core Facility } } 3 Tucker Hall } Division of Biological Sciences } University of Missouri } Columbia, MO 65211 } (573)-882-4712 (voice) } (573)-882-0123 (fax) } } }
If I understand correctly you actually have two questions: 1. What does a (filmed) grid do with silver enhancement? 2. Does silver enhancement give problems with negative staining of for instance immunolabeled silver enhanced (virus) particles?
Ad 1. We always recommend to use nickel grids with parlodion or formvar for enhancement. I am sure carbon grids will be fine. Copper can give a lot of dirt, since this element gets involved in the chemistry that will be going on. Don't use gold grids, unless you want silver grids afterwards.
Ad 2. This is a more difficult question to answer and I am afraid my answer will be lengthy. First of all, since you are using ultra small particles, you will get the best results with the silver enhancement procedure according to Danscher or a method that is derived from this one. You will find a description in: Histochemistry 71, 1981, pp 81-88. Many commercially available (more or less neutral pH) silver enhancement reagents (such as ours) have been developed for general applications for instance in light microscopy. In order to obtain a homogeneous, time controlable and efficient enhancement of ultra small gold particles you have to add Gum Arabic to the mix of components. However, comparison of the performance of many enhancement reagents shows that Gorm Danscher's method is still the method of choice. Secondly, fragile and unfixed specimens may suffer from the action of chemicals in the reagents, after all there are redox reactions involved. The pH may play a role and you may have osmotic effects, although if you're planning an acidic negative stain afterwards I would not worry too much about that. Neither about osmotic problems since while the negative staining solution dries on your grid its osmolarity will rise to extreme levels. To prevent ultrastructural changes at least to some degree I suggest to use a fixation after the immunoincubation steps, but before silver enhancement. Third, substances like Gum Arabic or high molecular weight additives, present in some reagents, are very viscous and sticky and thus difficult to completely remove from your grid and particles. I suspect that this might prove to be the biggest problem as residues of these substances will reduce resolution. Therefore you will need prolonged and extensive washing after the enhancement step and before negative staining.
And finally, if you have the possibility to use High-Angle Annular Dark-Field STEM Imaging you don't need the silver enhancement. This visualization technique allows you to observe unenhanced ultra small particles in unstained very thin specimens. Reference: Otten et al. SCANNING Vol. 14, 1992, pp 282-289.
I hope this answers your questions to a certain extent. Feel free to contact our HELPDESK via our web site at http://www.aurion.nl if you need more detailed information.
============================= Jan Leunissen, Ph.D. AURION ImmunoGold Reagents & Accessories Managing Director Costerweg 5, 6702 AA Wageningen The Netherlands
phone (31)-317-497676 fax (31)-317-415955
please visit us at the AURION Website: http://www.aurion.nl/
I embed vibratome sections as slides and then remove areas of interest for re-embedding. I use a Teflon Release Spray for coating the slides. It is available from RS Components in the UK. It works very well. There may be an equivalent available in the USA. You just spray it on the slides, polish gently with a cloth and that is all. No baking needed.
You could also try using Silicon coating using Sigmacoat. The solvent is not nice but used with care it works very well for releasing coverslips from "embedded" sections on slides. I just dip the coverslips in the liquid allow to air dry and use them straight away.
The coverslips usually lift off the section very easily and the section or any part of it is very easily released from the slide.
---------- } From: Mark Farmer {farmer-at-emlab.cb.uga.edu} } To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } Subject: Flat Embedding } Date: 16 March 1998 10:24 } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Years ago I was able to buy a spray-on Teflon coating that when baked } would produce a film on glass slides and coverslips. This allowed } us to polymerize epoxy embedded cells in an extremely thin film, pick } out individual cells for sectioning and pop the coverslip off and } remove the epon layer from the slide. In this way we avoided other } glass removal steps such as disolving with HF. } } This Teflon repair spray does not seem to be available anymore and I } have used the last of my coated slides and coverslips. Does anyone } know of a comparable "slippery" coating that will allow one to do } flat embeddments and then remove the epon layer from the slide? } } Mark A. Farmer } Director, Ctr. Ultrastructural Research } University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602 } (706)542-4080 Voice (706)542-4271 FAX } farmer-at-cb.uga.edu } http://www.uga.edu/caur
Does anybody have access to an SEM with a stage capable of greater than 1800C? If not, then how about a system that can handle 1400C? We might need to run a few high temperature experiments, but not enough to purchase a system.
Please contact me off-line if you have such a tool.
Thanks in advance.
Harold J. Crossman Senior Scientist OSRAM SYLVANIA INC. Lighting Research Center 71 Cherry Hill Dr. Beverly, MA 01915 (978) 750-1717 crossman-at-osi.sylvania.com
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RE} fiber microtome 3/17/98 8:50 AM Dear all,
The SPI slide microtomes are very good, yet expensive. You may also be in= terested in doing the sectioning by hand using Jollif Plates. These may m= ake too thick of sections for you, but they may work for what you want.
The Jollif Plates can be had from McCrone Associates (with the technique)= for pennies a piece.
McCrone Associates can be contacted at 800-622-8122.
John Shane McCrone Research Institute (not affiliated with McCrone Associates)
--------------------------------------
-- [ From: Garber, Charles A. * EMC.Ver #3.1 ] --
B. J. Craven wrote: =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D Does anyone know a source for purchasing the simple metal slide type of fiber microtomes? They use a slider to pack the fibers, and then you sim= ply use a razor blade to make a quick and dirty cross-section of the fibers o= f interest.
I used one over 15 years ago at another company, but no name was on the device. =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D I think that the microtome you are thinking about if the one featured on = our website, specifically URL http://www.2spi.com/spi/catalog/knives/microtome.html
This is called the "Micro Fiber" line of sliding microtomes.
Chuck
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D Charles A. Garber, Ph. D. Ph: 1-(610)-436-5400 President 1-(800)-2424-SPI SPI SUPPLIES FAX: 1-(610)-436-5755 PO BOX 656 e-mail: cgarber-at-2spi.com West Chester, PA 19381-0656 USA Cust. Service: spi2spi-at-2spi.com
for Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com id AA08073; Tue, 17 Mar 98 16:46:00 +0100 Message-Id: {9803171546.AA08073-at-iris1.fae.ub.es} To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com, Microscopy.com
Dear All
To members of EU: Two post-doc positions are offered for graduate students or PhD. The objectives are the structural and compositional characterization of UV-coatings. Is someone is interested, please contact Dr. F. Peir=F3 at
paqui-at-iris1.fae.ub.es
Please find more information visiting the web site: www.lzh.de/tmr (Please remark the change of the web site address with respect to a previous message).
by UTSW.SWMED.EDU (PMDF V5.0-7 #18231) id {01IURS56UAXY8Y4X4A-at-UTSW.SWMED.EDU} for Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com; Tue, 17 Mar 1998 11:30:44 -0500 (CDT)
Hi, This is a "case of emergency". I would like to do Quick freeze-deep etch technique in our lab to study the shape of a protein we purified. We have everything to start except the copper block that would allow me to freeze my samples. We have a slammer designed by Tom Heavy.I am looking for a copper block. I am planning to use nitrogen to do so. So, if you have an extra copper block to lend or to give or sell. Please, tell me.
Thanks.
Val=E9rie Nicolas The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. 5323 Harry Hines Blvd. Dallas,Tx 75235-9039 Phone # (214) 648-3657 Fax # (214) 648-9160
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The State Microscopical Society of IL (SMSI) is having a meeting this Friday evening in Chicago with the speaker Ankur Purohit of Argonne, speaking about "Diamonds: Man's Best Friend". The meeting starts at 6 p.m. with pizza( $6 ) and the talk is at 7 p.m. it is held at McCrone Research Institute, 2820 S. Michigan Ave. and you need to call if you want pizza (312-842-7100). There will be some new information on doped diamonds and commercial opportunities.
I have a JEOL T300 scanning microscope. Last year i had arching problem in the HT cable at the gun end. I was able to cut the portion where the arching was and rerouted the cable to have enough length. Things worked fine since then. However, I had a similar problem last week in almost the same place. Unfortunately this time I have no extra length to shorten the cable which left me with one solution. To replace the cable. I contacted JEOL and i was informed that they don't sell the cable separately but a cable and a gun together. The cost around $3000. I am not in a position to spend that much money anf the gun works fine. I would like to know if any body has any idea on a supplier where I could buy a HT cable or if you know someone having an old T300 or any other ideas.
Thank you
said
== Said A. Mansour == Purdue University == School of Materials Engineering == 1289 MSEE Bldg. == W. Lafayette, IN 47907-1289 == # (765) 494-6405 Fax (765) 494-1204
Does anyone recall the procedure for making molybdenum trioxide crystals on a TEM grid. They will be used for calibrating the rotation between the image and diffraction pattern. Tia-Mike
The easiest way to do it is to use carbon coated grids and an evaporator with a Mo boat. (you can also use Mo wire if you like) With the evaporator bell jar off and the system up to air, heat the filament until you get white smoke rising. Then simply wave the carbon coated grid in the smoke a few times and you have your sample.
If you are doing this for a rotation calibration sample, you might consider using John McCaffrey's Mag-I-Cal sample available from South Bay Technology instead. It can be used to for mag calibration from about 1000X up to your machine's highest mag, rotation calibration, and camera constant all-in-one little sample. I've used it and it works very well.
-Scott Walck
Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. PPG Industries, Inc. Guys Run Rd. (packages) P.O. Box 11472 (letters) Pittsburgh, PA 15238-0472
(412) 820-8651 (office) (412) 820-8161 (fax)
"The opinions expressed are those of Scott D. Walck and not of PPG Industries, Inc. nor of any PPG-associated companies."
Does anyone recall the procedure for making molybdenum trioxide crystals on a TEM grid. They will be used for calibrating the rotation between the image and diffraction pattern. Tia-Mike
My friend has a question for you. If we have a ball consisting of spherical shells sharing the same spherical center. If we have enough number of shells and the distances between shells are the same, e.g., 30A. What does its electron diffraction look like? Is that true that the "lattice" fringes look like circles with the same center?
I know this is an optimistic request but ! If anyone has a Kevex 4505P pulse processor module , [ originally part of a Kevex 7000 E.D.S. system ] , they no longer use or need , could you please contact me directly to negotiate a sale price . Thanks Michael Griffiths griffiths.michael.mj-at-bhp.com.au
B.H.P. Steel , Newcastle , New South Wales , Australia
I am embedding cellulose fibers in an Epoxy resin mixture. The mixture is cured for 48 hours at 60C. It appears to shrink and put the sample under compressive forces because after cutting, the slices contains waves and want to expand. The problem I am having is that the cellulose will not allow the resin to relax after cutting, thus the resin tears the cellulose fibers apart.
Does anyone have any suggestions for other low viscosity resins that will not shrink upon curing or general ideas for what I working with?
} } Does anyone recall the procedure for making molybdenum trioxide crystals on } a TEM grid. They will be used for calibrating the rotation between the } image and diffraction pattern. } Tia-Mike } }
you just need a voltage variator to which you connect a piece of molybdenum wire. heat the wire slowly until it fumes. Have a grid with carbon film ready to pass through the smoke, and small MoO3 crystals will deposit on it. Actually I am planning to make a few of them this afternoon...
Yves MANIETTE Universitat de Barcelona Serveis Cientifico tecnics Carrer Lluis Sole i Sabaris, s/n E-08028 BARCELONA Tel +34 3 402 1695 Fax +34 3 402 1398 http://www2.gol.com/users/scscope/maniette/ENTREE.HTM
We have a low tech approach to making moly trioxide crystals that is similar to Scott Walck's. Heat ammonium molybdate in a beaker on a hotplate until white smoke appears, then wave a carbon filmed grid in the smoke. Be sure to do this in a chemical fume hood.
Joe Neilly Microscopy and Microanalysis Abbott Laboratories D-45M, AP31 200 Abbott Park Rd. Abbott Park, IL 60064-3537 Voice: 847-938-5024
You can use ammonium molybdate and heat this in a crucible (using a burner) until it becomes red hot. At this point it will sublime. The crystals which will collect near the top of the crucible can then be washed with water (or methanol) to form a dispersion. A drop of the dispersion can then be deposited onto a carbon coated grid. The whole process takes only a few minutes. Make sure you work under a hood. (Ref. Hirsch et.al.)
Jordi Marti.
Does anyone recall the procedure for making molybdenum trioxide crystals on a TEM grid. They will be used for calibrating the rotation between the image and diffraction pattern. Tia-Mike
Greetings, Robert Dickson asked: } } Does anyone have any suggestions for other low viscosity resins that } will not shrink upon curing or general ideas for what I working with?
We work with a mixture of 4:1 butyl:methyl methacrylate, polymerized at 4C with UV light (365nm). We have measured the sizes of plant roots before and after embedding and found no change (to within about 1-2%). With really large block faces (i.e., 6mm x 1mm), we have measured some compression on sectioning, but not with smaller ones. In the development of "lowicryl" resins for low temperature embedding, Carlemalm et al. 1982 J. Microsc. 126:123-143 also found that a very similar type of methacrylate mixture did not shrink with polymerization.
If this sounds as though it might be useful, and you have further questions, please let me know. Tobias Baskin
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Position Summary:
Unilever Research, based in Northern New Jersey, is seeking highly motivated candidates for a position in Electron Microscopy.
Job Description:
1. Assist and if needed perform tissue specimen preparation, prepare cryo samples for freeze fracture and for transmission electron microscopy of frozen-hydrated samples. 2. Prepare freeze-fracture replicas from frozen samples. 3. Conduct transmission electron microscope work of prepared specimens under general supervision. 4. Assist in maintenance and repair of equipment and laboratory 5. Assist and perform image handling functions (digitize, process, measure, label and print images). Maintain imaging equipment (digitizer, computer, printer and other ancillary equipment). 6. If needed, teach and assist users in proper operation of equipments. 7. Perform administrative duties such as data entry, billing, ordering, record maintenance etc. 8. Conduct critical literature evaluations of science and technologies related to research projects. 9. Contribute to data documentation and publication of articles. 10. Train junior staff in proper and safe lab skills and instrument use.
Qualifications:
1. Masters degree in a field appropriate to the area of assignment AND three years relevant research experience in microscopy and cryo techniques; OR,
2. Bachelors degree and six years relevant research experience in microscopy and cryo techniques.
As an international leader, Unilever offers a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, unique challenges and the opportunity to share your ideas with some of the industry's brightest professionals. Please forward your resume to Dr. M. Misra, Unilever Research, 45 River Road, Edgewater, NJ 07020. Unilever is an Equal Opportunity Employer m/f/d/v.
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Hi all, Dito on the message below, plus is there a Microcroscopy Society group that meets in Dallas?
Karen Pawlowski Dept. of Otolaryngology UT Southwestern Medical Ctr. Dallas, TX
On Tue, 17 Mar 1998, George Lawton wrote:
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } I would appreciate getting any information on the next Texas Electron } Microscopy meeting. } } thanks, } } George W. Lawton } Cell Biology and Neuroscience } U.T. Southwestern Medical School at Dallas } Phone: (214)- 648-7291 } Fax: (214)- 648-8694 }
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
hi, there,
My friend has a question for you. If we have a ball consisting of spherical shells sharing the same spherical center. If we have enough number of shells and the distances between shells are the same, e.g., 30A. What does its electron diffraction look like? Is that true that the "lattice" fringes look like circles with the same center?
(InterLock SMTP Gateway 3.0 for microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com); Wed, 18 Mar 1998 11:08:37 -0600 Message-Id: {199803181708.AA19753-at-relay.ppco.com} Received: by relay.ppco.com (Internal Mail Agent-1); Wed, 18 Mar 1998 11:08:37 -0600 X-Sender: mdphill-at-pop3-host.ppco.com X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Light Version 3.0.5 (32)
The Oklahoma Microscopy Society & The Texas Society for Electron Microscopy Will present: April 2-4, 1998
"Back to the Future: Improving Your Image"
at:
Lake Texoma Resort (on the Texas-Oklahoma border)
STYLE:Invited MSA, MAS and Outside Guest Speakers, Workshops, Platform & Poster Presentations, Exhibits, and Microscope Demonstrations
LOCATION:Lake Texoma Resort: "A Scenic Water Playground" Phone: (405) 564-2311 or (800) 654-8240 and (select 2) Activities: Excellent fishing, Boat Rental through Catfish Bay Marina, Challenging Golf, Recreation and Aquatics Nature Centers Mailing address: Box 248, Kingston, OK 73439
AGENDA
Thursday April 2, 1998
12 noon - 7pm Registration 12 noon - 7pm Exhibitor setup & Poster setup 5 - 7pm Executive Council Meetings: Officers for Oklahoma Microscopy Society and Texas Society for Electron Microscopy 7 - 9pm **EVENING SOCIAL**: Snacks and Beverages
Friday April 3, 1998
7:30 - 8:30am Continental Breakfast 7:30 - 5pm Commercial Exhibits 7:30 - 5pm Poster Presentations 8am - 5pm Registration MORNING PLATFORM SESSION 8:30 - 9:30am Keynote Speaker: Dr. Jack Kinnamon, Preliminary Title: Digital Manipulation of Acquired Images: What is Possible vs. What is Ethical? 9:30 - 10am Platform Presentations 10am - 10:30am Break 10:30am - 11am Platform Presentations 11 - 12 noon Keynote Speaker: Dr. Greg Meeker, Preliminary title: Standards for X-ray Microanalysis: How We Get Them,How We Use Them and Why We Will Always Need Them. AFTERNOON/EVENING SESSION 12:30 - 5:pm Workshops (preregistration/fee required), Posters and Exhibits, Question and Answer Session 6 - 8pm Dinner 8 - 10pm After Dinner Presentations, Dr. Ben Powell and Dr. Charlotte Ownby
Saturday April 4, 1998
7:30 - 8:30am Continental Breakfast 7:30 - 12 noon Commercial Exhibits 7:30 - 12 noon Poster Presentations 8am - 10pm Registration MORNING PLATFORM SESSION 8:30 - 9:30am Keynote Speaker: Dr. Ken Moore, University of Iowa, Title: Correlative Microscopy (LM, Confocal, SEM, and TEM) of Ocular Melanoma, Pathogenic Bacteria, Cystic Fibrosis, and Other Human Diseases. 9:30 - 10am Platform Presentations 10am - 10:30am Break 10:30am - 11:15am Platform Presentations 11:15 - 12 noon Keynote Speaker: Paige Johnson, Conoco, Ponca City, OK, Title: Educational Outreach: How-tos for Classroom Presentations and Lab Tours.
FEES:
Room Reservations: Call the Lake Texoma Resort DIRECTLY Specify you are attending the joint meeting to receive discounted rates! Phone: (405) 564-2311 or (800) 654-8240 and (select 2) When: Make your room reservation early! At least 6 weeks in advance if possible. Room availability: Reserved Rooms: Double-sized bed and 1 twin bed or 1 Queen only (*Other rooms and rates available upon request: cabins and suites) $50 on Thursday April 2, $53 on Friday April 3 (& Saturday night April 4)
Meeting Registration: Deadline March 13, 1998 (Friday the 13th!) (Includes all meals and materials EXCEPT the Friday, April 3 Chuck Wagon Dinner.) Member: $35.00 Non-Member: $45.00 Student: $10.00 Exhibitor: $65.00 Onsite: Add an additional $10.00
Workshop(s): $10.00 per workshop Will be posted on the OMS web site as soon as topics are finalized. http://www.ou.edu/research/electron/oms/
Optional Friday Night Dinner: Chuck Wagon Style: $15.00 Meal Includes: ribeye steaks, baked potato, tossed salad, watermelon boats, marshmallow roast, apple cobbler and your choice of coffee or tea (If inclement weather, an inside banquet will be held instead.) After Dinner: Tentative: Return to lodge to hear from an Invited Speaker For more information, contact: Secretary/Treasurer: Ginger Baker, Em Lab, Research Department, OCOM, 1111 W. 17th Street, Tulsa, OK, 74107 (918)561-8232 e-mail: lizard-at-ok way.ok state.edu
http://www.ou.edu/research/electron/oms/wkshp98.html Updated: 04-Feb-98 Dean Phillips Phillips Petroleum Company Phillips Research Center, Room 360 PL Bartlesville, OK 74004
I would like to know this myself. Regards, ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Becky Holdford (r-holdford-at-ti.com) 972-480-6925 MSP Failure Analyst, DDAO Texas Instruments, Inc. Dallas, TX ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am trying to locate a supplier for cedarwood oil. We use it as a clearing agent for peripheral nerve fiber teasing. We have been using a bottle of "Oil of Cedar" (which is probably a 100 years old!) which contains the label "Turtox" and "General Biological Supply House, Inc., Chicago, Ill.". Since that supply ran out 6 months ago, I have purchased cedarwood oil from two popular chemical suppliers. Cedarwood oil from one vendor was actually cedarwood immersion oil and turned out to be too thick to perform the fiber teasing procedure. The other bottle we purchased (we actually purchased 3 different bottles over the 4 month period) crystallizes at room temperature, once it is poured into the vials containing tissue. In fact, that cedarwood oil also crystallizes in the bottom of the primary container once it has been opened. I performed an internet search for General Biological Supply House, but no luck.
Can anyone help me?? Thank you.
Sandy Perkins
Laboratory for Neurotoxicity Studies VMRCVM Virginia Tech
I'm passing along a request for information from a colleague concerning microscopy of afferent and efferent fibers of peripheral neurons. She's looking for the most appropriate microscopy method and possible specimen preparation protocols. Any takers?
Thanks.
Randy Tindall Electron Microscope Laboratory Box 3EML New Mexico State University Las Cruces, NM 88003
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
} } I would appreciate getting any information on the next Texas Electron } } Microscopy meeting.
} } George W. Lawton
I would like to know this myself. Regards, ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Becky Holdford
Don't you Texans talk to each other? There's an up-to-date list of all local societies on the MSA web page; you can contact the officers of ANY local society without using the listserver.
Caroline Schooley Educational Outreach Coordinator Microscopy Society of America Box 117, 45301 Caspar Point Road Caspar, CA 95420 Phone/FAX (707)964-9460 Project MICRO: http://www.MSA.microscopy.com/ProjectMICRO/Books.html Intertidal invertebrates: http://www.fortbragg.k12.ca.us/AG/PCI/
} I'm passing along a request for information from a colleague concerning } microscopy of afferent and efferent fibers of peripheral neurons. She's } looking for the most appropriate microscopy method and possible specimen } preparation protocols. Any takers?
Sure but you (or your colleague) needs to be more specific about what you want to see. There's a myriad of procedures.
Electron Microscopy Sciences (1-800-523-5874) offers two different Cedar Wood Oils, one for 'cleaning microscope sections', the other 'used as an immersion oil'. Carolina Biological Supply (1-800-227-1150) has one type for both 'clearing and immersion'.
I used the following method quite often: - connect a Mo wire about 5 cm in length and 0,2 mm diameter to a few amps power supply through a cable and clips. - hold some EM grids carbon or formvar coated about 5 to 10 cm above the wire - heat the wire by slowly increasing the current in the Mo wire until it burns and breakes. You will find the characteristic MoO3 crystals, sometimes with a second oxyde forming round particles.
You can also burn a thin Mo basket in your favourite coating unit without closing it (i.e. under room atmosphere) if the power supply is not protected by a vacuum lock.
Easy isn't it? Philippe Buffat
} From: mcalabrese-at-rsc.rockwell.com } X-Lotus-Fromdomain: ROCKWELL } To: microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } Date: Tue, 17 Mar 1998 14:52:24 -0800 } Subject: Diffraction pattern rotation } Mime-Version: 1.0 } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
__________________________________________________________________ Philippe Buffat Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL) Centre Interdepartemental de Microscopie Electronique Address: EPFL-CIME, Batiment MX-C, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland Phone: +41(21)693 29 83 Fax: +41(21)693 44 01 (Central European Time) E-mail: philippe.buffat-at-epfl.ch, WWW URL http://cimewww.epfl.ch/ ______________________________ Eudora F2.1 ___________________________
For fiber teasing in neurotoxicology we use glycerol, followed by glycerol-gelatine (KAISER's) for enclosing. Some people use a low viscosity epon mixture, but this seems heroic, since you have your nose directly over the slide for a long time.=20 Norbert Deutschl=E4nder, Hoechst Germany=20
As we are entering the realm of image analysis and quantification, we are dealing more frequently with our statistician in sampling designs and data handling related to our microscopy. We have him keenly interested in image analysis and the statistics associated with it.
At the same time, we are also looking for the "perfect" image analysis software. Our statistician has done his own searching. From his vantage point, he is very supportive of the Iris Explorer software. We have had access to a demo to try out, which can do image analysis and apparently has strong data handling capabilities.
I sat down with it and went throught the tutorials and other demos, and tried to imagine how I would use it. From the time I spent with it, it seemed to me that it could make images from data (number) files, but I couldn't see how it worked the other way around (images in a graphics file quantified). How would images be imported into the software?
Could anyone explain a little more about how a microscopist could use this software? As I said, the statistician is keen to get it and has asked for my opinion and support.
Thanks in advance. Please contact me offline - if a sufficient number of people are interested I will post a summary here.
Paula.
Paula Allan-Wojtas Food Microstructure Specialist Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Atlantic Food and Horticulture Research Centre Kentville, Nova Scotia B4N 1J5
If you can use essential oils ( as in aromatherapy or perfume making) a good source is Janca's Jojoba Oil Co. in Mesa, Arizona. The email address is: JANCAS3-at-aol.com I have the phone and address at home and can bring tomorrow.
Julie Gross UCONN Health Center Farmington,CT 06029 860-679-2463 jgross-at-neuron.uchc.edu
For preparation of single fibers in neurotox we use glycerol on glass-slides, followed by glycerol-gelatine (KAISER's) for enclosing. Some people dissect the fibers in low viscosity EPON, but this seems heroic, since you hardly can avoid exposing your nose for a longer time to the vapor of monomers. Norbert Deutschl=E4nder, Hoechst Germany=20
The issue of ethical digital image manipulation was discussed at previous MSA-MAS meetings but I still have questions.
What is appropriate manipulation of microscopy images (particularly grey-scale TEM and SEM) for scientific and public relations purposes? How acceptable is pseudo-colorization even for public relations? Are painting programs as appropriate for this purpose as the scientific packages that use grey-scale to color manipulation for the whole image? Is discretionary painting of parts of the image as acceptable as the placement of an arrow to highlight specific parts of an image? For public relations purposes with non-microscopist scientists and others, how much information is needed to explain the digital manipulations used?
There are other questions that may be asked but this is a start for discussion.
On Thu, 19 Mar 1998, michael shaffer wrote: } } What is appropriate is relative to (... in my mind ...) appropriately } presenting the image's history of manipulation. I believe any researcher } should be able to manipulate for "clear" presentation of the point he/she is } making ... AS LONG AS, how the image was manipulated is also evident. } He/she should be able to convey the confidence in the presentation and that } it is not presenting misinformation. } For example, before modifying brightness, contrast, gamma, or } superimposing false color, I generally paste a strip which represents the } original "rainbow" of grays or color along with the image. Any manipulation } after that will be presented in this strip and should be redily evident. } This is a good representation of modifying the histogram, but I have yet to } come up with something which would represent manipulations like noise } removal ... e.g., the size of a median kernal or whether it was a gaussian } averaging filter ... etc ... Ideas?? } } cheerios, shAf }
But that really begs the question, or rather, ignores the question. *Any* image that is digitally acquired or printed is "manipulated." That's what color management *is,* for instance.
Consider the following: Let's say that I acquire an image using a digital camera attached to a microscope. It turns out that the colors the camera can aquire (the gamut) is likely *different* than the colors the monitor I look at can display. What I can display varies with the contrast, gamma, etc. of both devices. Now I want to print it. Guess what -- the gamut of the printer is likely different than the gamut of either the monitor or the camera. You want to know all the changes that are made at each stage? Does that mean that you want me to publish all the color management tables, all the calibration maps, all the impulse reponse curves?
Of course not. Nobody wants that data. So, if contrast is manipulated "behind the scenes" as part of the basic data aquisition and color management, we don't need to describe it. If we do it manually we do? That doesn't make sense -- if I assume that some table written in the software is optimized for my particular monitor or printer, that's OK, but if I modify that table so that it actually *is* optimized I have somehow "manipulated" the image?B
Of course, we are mostly completely unaware of all the manipulation and mapping that goes on to get from one place to another, but the fact is that manipulation for "clear" presentation is an inherent part of the data aquisition and printing process. We are simply mostly ignorant of what is happening.
For instance, on a PC, if I bring up the *same* image in Micrografx Picture Publisher, Adobe Photoshop, or Microsoft PowerPoint it can appear *different* on the monitor. Why? Because Picture Publisher incorporates gamma correction for a monitor while PowerPoint may not. Thus, if I print the image using PowerPoint, I explicitly have to manipulate the gamma when I set up the printer. If I print the same image from Picture Publisher, I don't, because calibration is something you can do as part of a default setup. Now, does that mean that I have "modified" the image if I print from PowerPoint, but did not "modify" the image if I print from Picture Publisher? If I calibrate my printer before I print an image, does that count as "manipulation?" If I calibrate my printer using a different calibration sheet does *that* count as manipulation? If I use a display that automatically does a histogram stretch to fit the display device does that not count as "manipulation" since it's written into the software or firmware, but if I use another display setup and have to hit an "optimize display" button it suddenly becomes manipulation?
Personally, I don't think that any of these sorts of basic optimization exercises should be "counted" as "manipulation," any more than the calibaration and optimization of any device is considered "manipulation" of the data. Indeed, it's just the opposite -- one should be criticized for not doing appropriate calibration and optimization. If one includes all such "manipulation" one might as well publish the technical manuals of all the devices used in the image pipeline. If one defines anything done by hand as manipulation and anything done in ignorance as not manipulation, the idea of manipulation has no meaning.
Thanks to everyone who has replied about my query. I'm passing these answers on to the researcher involved and will let her pursue it further. Obviously, the question needs to be narrowed down considerably, so I'll let her take it from here. Many thanks again.
Randy Tindall Electron Microscope Laboratory Box 3EML New Mexico State University Las Cruces, NM 88003
We have an ITI MFG board with the AM-DIG input module (and Xillix camera) and we are looking for software that will, at the very least, permit us to control and grab frames with the camera. We own IPProWin(v1), Snapshot Plus and Mocha but these lack the appropriate drivers and the manufacturers consider both the hw and sw obsolete and unsupported.
Is there anyone who can supply those drivers and/or other sw?
Most of my work is for use within the company so the objectives for presenting images lie not so much in how the image has changed from the original, but rather, does the image clearly describe the issue under scrutiny. For most of my customers, altering an image is acceptable if doing so enhances the story that picture tells. However, most of my image adjustment is restricted to changing the image for printing or presentation purposes, i.e. brightness, contrast, etc.
There are cases where I perform no manipulation at all: patent support and legal support. I believe it is my ethical responsibility to retain the integrity of the data. Taking this attitude ensures that my integrity is retained. So far it has worked.
By the way, take a look at the cover of the most recent issue (Mar. 12, I believe) of the well-respected, peer-reviewed scientific journal, Nature. It contains a colorized electron micrograph of a microcircuit. I think it is ethical, descriptive and attractive.
Harold J. Crossman Senior Scientist OSRAM SYLVANIA INC. Lighting Research Center 71 Cherry Hill Dr. Beverly, MA 01915 (978) 750-1717 crossman-at-osi.sylvania.com
} } ...... Like you, I don't think we ought to be } including standard color charts with our presentations, but in many cases we } should be prepared to. At the risk of being defensive, my suggestion of } putting some type of unabtrusive "histogram manipulation strip" with a } processed image was along the lines of putting a micron bar with a SEM } micrograph ... sometimes there is no need, sometimes there is a ^very^ real } need. } } cheerios, shAf }
No reason to be defensive. I guess I came off a little strong. I suppose that's because a good part of what I do is in forensics. In that community, there seems to be this grasping at straws for a "real" image that, simply, doesn't exist. All images are simply collections of artifacts, and different methods of acquiring and manipulating images (digitally or chemically) simply provide different relationships between those artifacts.
The *real* question is whether or not the image accurately shows the information and/or relationship you want to show.
Thus, for your example, a "histogram manipulation bar" would be perfectly appropriate for an image comparison in which how the manipulations were done would strongly affect the results being reported -- say, comparing the grey level in picture A with the grey level in picture B. Such a bar, however, would not be needed in a more general illustration, such as one that shows simply the presence or absence of a feature.
As an example, in traditional microscopy, a person doing densitometry does need to show that there has been correction for nonisotropic illumination, black level noise, etc. However, a person who is putting a picture of a viral inclusion in an article simply to show that he or she saw a viral inclusion need not obsess about whether or not the color balance is *exactly* like that he or she saw through the scope -- and moving from color to black and white is an unavoidable "manipulation" which involves a bizillion potiential decisions. It simply isn't important. Even more, if the author does a histogram stretch to make the illustration more informative, more power to him or her. In that case such a bar is a distraction.
To all manufacturers of microscopes and related imaging equipment/software:
"What's new at M&M '98?"
If your company will be exhibiting at Microscopy & Microanalysis '98 *and* has new technology to present, please send us the information! American Lab has given us space for a special "Focus on Microscopy" article in their July issue (circulation: 150,000).
We need:
1. Company name, contact, phone, address
2. a 25-50 word description + picture (optional)
3. M&M Booth number
Deadline for receipt of materials: April 3
Space is limited and will be filled first-come/first served
Copies of last year's are available on request from our office. This year's article will focus just on new technologies.
Disclaimer: This is not a commercial message ... MME receives no compensation for this article.
I plan on purchasing a video printer to be used on a JEOL 1200EX TEM and a Topcon DS130 SEM. I would very much appreciate any advice on which model to buy or not to buy. If anyone has any recommendations, please e-mail me at acarol1-at-uic.edu .
I'm one of thoughs people who grew up with silver based photography, then in the career of scientific imaging has had to switch to digital photography. I think it is interesting that the digital revolution has brought out the question of ethical manipulation, since traditional photography has a long tradition of manipulation and has dealt with this problem for nearly 160 years. The issue is the same for both imaging systems: Enhancement vs. Falsification.
Enhancement is for the sake of clarity. Falsification is selectively changing the information.
It has been acceptable to increase contrast for the sake of clarity, however it is unethical to selectively inrease the contrast in just one region of the image.
The digital image just makes it easier to selectively manipulate the image, but it has all been done before in the traditional photography it was just more difficult and still as unethical as it is now for digital images.
The film response to light was grossly manipulative yet people accepted it as a real representation. A person may have photographed a control slide for comparison to the experimental fluorescent slide by just exposing them for the same time on the film. However, due to reciprocity failure of the film this may be a gross falsefication of the data.
So the bottom line is still the same: We still need to be held to a standard of ethics, and that standard is getting stronger not weaker. The results of our labors still need to be repeatable by another person and held to a critique.
For me just the fact that response to light can be linear is fantastic!!
Bob Derm Imaging Center
On Thu, 19 Mar 1998, Humphrey, Charles wrote:
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Other Microscopists, } } The issue of ethical digital image manipulation was discussed at } previous MSA-MAS meetings but I still have questions. } } What is appropriate manipulation of microscopy images (particularly } grey-scale TEM and SEM) for scientific and public relations purposes? } How acceptable is pseudo-colorization even for public relations? Are } painting programs as appropriate for this purpose as the scientific } packages that use grey-scale to color manipulation for the whole image? } Is discretionary painting of parts of the image as acceptable as the } placement of an arrow to highlight specific parts of an image? For } public relations purposes with non-microscopist scientists and others, } how much information is needed to explain the digital manipulations } used? } } There are other questions that may be asked but this is a start for } discussion. } } Curious and concerned about ethical limits, } } Charles Humphrey } CDC } cdh1-at-cdc.gov }
I cuncur with the previous posts... That manipulation to enhance appearance without changing meaning is a moot problem. If the meaning of the image changes, then disclose the manipulations.
This is not really new. Digital imaging makes changes easier, but who has never used a filter on a film camera. Was that manipulating the image? Are tungsten light filters unethical :)
Woody White McDermott Technology, Inc woody.n.white-at-mcdermott.com http://www.mtiresearch.com
Home woody.white-at-worldnet.att.net http://www/geocities.com/capecanaveral/3722
} By the way, take a look at the cover of the most recent issue (Mar. 12, } I believe) of the well-respected, peer-reviewed scientific journal, } Nature. It contains a colorized electron micrograph of a microcircuit. } I think it is ethical, descriptive and attractive.
I have published several biology/morphology papers in which the images were derived from digital cameras and, of necessity, heavily processed. In some cases, the images were derived/sythesized from digitizer tablet input. In all cases, they were completely documented as to the underlying procedures.
After all, I used to do my manipulations in the darkroom......
} } On Thu, 19 Mar 1998, michael shaffer wrote: } } } } } } What is appropriate is relative to (... in my mind ...) appropriately } } } presenting the image's history of manipulation. ... } } } } } } } } } But that really begs the question, or rather, ignores the question. *Any* } } image that is digitally acquired or printed is "manipulated." That's what } } color management *is,* for instance. } } } } [skip] } } } } Your points should be well taken ... 'cept issues like "color } management" and "calibration" should also acknowledge what we've learned to } accept and trust, as long as we have some faith in the imaging researcher.
If one trusts that the same final image can always be obtained from a raw image file (which should still be accessable somewhere--just like original notebook data), that is equivalent to trusting the resear- cher. That is, if I were able to see the raw image and the researcher told me the steps to follow, I could obtain the final image myself. I might never want to do it, but as an editor or reviewer, I'd like the option of reproducing the final image for myself to see what each mani- pulation did to the clarity, etc.--especially if the image purported to prove a controversial point.
} Such manipulations have long been a part of the image presentation process } ... "which film developer did you use?" ... "what contrast paper did you } use" ... "How accurate did your publisher reproduce your plates?".
A photography magazine covered this topic and pointed out all the ways that darkroom images can be manipulated without the use of a computer. Again, it's a matter of trust or having the ability do reproduce the mani- pulations oneself. Of course, the unscrupulous could use altered images to produce fraudulent data, but the usual safeguards of science should (eventually) weed this out.
} The } original question I believe begged the question "How do we learn to trust } digital image manipulation?". Like you, I don't think we ought to be } including standard color charts with our presentations, but in many cases we } should be prepared to.
In any event, every image from initial to final should be archived.
} At the risk of being defensive, my suggestion of } putting some type of unabtrusive "histogram manipulation strip" with a } processed image was along the lines of putting a micron bar with a SEM } micrograph ... sometimes there is no need, sometimes there is a ^very^ real } need. } Perhaps the histogram can also serve as a micron bar :-). Yours, Bill Tivol
A few days ago someone posted about a KEVEX EDS system from a JOEL840 SEM they were looking to get rid of. Unfortunately I forwarded the email message onto someone who is interested but his harddrive crashed and he lost the message. If the system is still available will you let me know?
Thanks
Tom
Thomas Mullarkey Murray email:tm8a-at-virginia.edu Thornton Hall - MSE phone:(804)982-5659 University of Virginia Fax: (804)982-5660 Charlottesville, VA 22903
I am a fringe browser of Microscopy, using basic light microscopy in an applied (and basic) manner - and have a general inquiry about Image Analysis Systems (microscopes, CCD cameras, and software).
I am deciding on purchasing a system to be based here in Auckland. While checking out local systems, I am also interested in hearing anyone's views or preferences as to the components/manufacturers. I have lists of microscope and camera manufacturers, but would appreciate comments from your experience with the use, servicing, etc, of such equipment (and recommended software).
The system is to be used primarily for (semi-) quantitative analysis of tissue sections stained in a variety of ways. Current labels are not fluorescent, but I can see this being useful in the future. The size of things we will actually be measuring ranges from a few microns (about 10) in length, and up to linear distances of a few hundred microns, or a few thousand square microns. Final magnification ranges from about 150X to not more than about 2000x. We will need digital images of adequate resolution for electronic transfer for publication, and can find a suitable printing device when hardcopies are necessary.
If you can be of any help, please send your reply directly to me. I can post a summary to the list if anyone expresses interest in the responses.
Thanks in advance for your time.
Heather
Heather K. Smith, Ph. D. Dept. of Sport and Exercise Science University of Auckland Private Bag 92019 Auckland, New Zealand
I would like to improve my double-labelling techniques for vesicles and cytoskeletal elements in cultured PC-12 cells for fluorescence microscopy. For vesicles I have been using monoclonal anti-synaptophysin conjugated with FITC, and for microfilaments, I have been using rhodamine-phalloidin.
I have been having some difficulty with the "fixation followed by permeabilization schedule"-vesicles and the CSK both stain, however...vesicles appear to clump as if they are leaving the cytoskeletal mesh as found in the cortical peripheries. We believe that the irregularly shaped tubulovesicular structures are Golgi or ER, so that part seems OK. The situation at the cells' cortices make it appear as if there is apocrine secretion, but my cells are indeed merocrine. We want to see where the vesicles are localized with respect to their exocytosis at different time frames with agonist stimulation.
Does anyone out there have a good protocol for this? I have been using a schedule of a modified Karnovsky's fix in sodium cacodylate (worked for LM well before for CSK labelling exclusively) for an hour followed by a PEG 8000 wash and a 1.25%/0.2% Triton-X 100 detergent (in PHEM buffer) permeabilization for 10 minutes. Shall we try a phosphate- buffered saline instead of the cacodylate, which is routinely used for EM? Osmolarity problems? Too long of permeabilization time?
Any suggestions are helpful-thanks in advance for your help.
Cheers, Vickie
-- Vickie A. Kimler, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Biology and Allied Health Director, Cancer Research Facility Mercyhurst College 501 East 38th St. Erie, PA 16546 Voice: 814-824-2169 FAX: 814-824-2188 e-mail: {vkimler-at-mercyhurst.edu}
I have had many conversations regarding digital imaging with a wide variety of end users. The points made here have been validated in those conversations. I thought that the point of view from law enforcement might be of interest.
When a photographer or law enforcement agent testifies as to what is seen in a given image, they are attesting to the fact that the image is an accurate _representation_ of what they saw and photographed at a given point in time at a given location. Based on the perceived reliability of the witness, a judge or jury determines whether that testimony is accurate.
There has been much discussion in Law Enforcement circles about digital watermarks and the like that would 'disappear' if an image were manipulated. One well known digital camera manufacturer who indicated that they had a proprietary file format that could not be manipulated was corrected by a hacker. Given the right equipment and talent, an analog film image could be scanned in, manipulated and output back to film and the best experts in imaging could not be able to tell and they will admit that. Someday, it may be possible, but not today. So, my point is that any image, digital or analog, is only as factual or accurate as the integrity of the person representing it as such.
John D. Warren Area Sales Manager Digital Products Polaroid Corporation "See What Develops" 4525 Leonard Parkway Richmond, Virginia 23221-1809 804 254 1011 804 254 1013 Fax warrenj1-at-polaroid.com
In response to Robert Underwood's posting, I can only agree wholeheartedly. As a silver-based photographer over the past 30 years, I have seen these debates repeated many times. As a former journalistic photographer, I can say that image manipulation in terms of contrast, brightness, color, exposure, point of view, timing, etc., etc., etc. is accepted as long as it does not alter the meaning of the reported event. More than this enters into the realm of "art", and I wouldn't touch that question with the proverbial ten foot pole. Even this is an almost impossible ideal, since the very act of pointing a camera in one direction and not another, at one angle instead of another, using one lens instead of another, taking a picture at one instant instead of another, can significantly alter the viewer's perception of the photograph. There is a large literature on this subject, dating back to the origins of the technology.
The problem in terms of scientific "objectivity" (if such a thing exists---I have my strong doubts) is similar, but perhaps even more important.
A rule among journalist photographers is to clearly state any manipulation of the image that would affect the viewer's interpretation of it. Generally, this is confined to such things as directing the action in a photograph (as opposed to simply recording events without interfering in them), or such obvious things as combining separate photographs into one image, and so on.
I would suggest reviewing the literature on ethics in photojournalism and documentary photography, as a starting point.
Relating all of this to microscopy, it is just as clear here as it is in other types of photography that "objective images" are unattainable goals. Specimen selection, fixation protocols, choice of image fields, and so on, are all subjective decisions, varying from researcher to researcher, and this is before we even get into the photographic or digital imaging process. The variables are myriad, much as we would wish otherwise. The responsible researcher tries to control them as much as possible, but we are all cursed with our individualism. We are dealing with a question which is as much in the realm of philosophy as science, and that makes many scientists extremely uncomfortable.
My suggestion: we should continue to record our research as faithfully as we know how. If we are trying not to deceive, we probably won't. Don't use Photoshop to delete unwanted blots on gels, don't try to eliminate uncomfortable peaks on EDS spectra, don't add information that was not there in the actual results, just because we "knew" it should be there, and we should be okay. Those who do try to deceive should hopefully be caught by the tried and true process of replicating their results by more ethical people. I don't see any other way.
Randy Tindall
In responsible photojournalism Randy Tindall 2017 Princess Jeanne Las Cruces, New Mexico 88001-4157
We have a JEOL JXA8600 microprobe with four WD and one ED X-ray detectors. The 'scope is controlled by an old Tracor computer system and we are concerned that it may die. Presently we've only found Noran (who could supply a Sun-based replacement datasystem) but we'd like to make a choice over the possible replacement, preferably including a PC-based alternative.
If anyone out there is aware of any systems able to support this type of kit, please contact me!
Simon
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Dr Simon Dumbill, AEA Technology plc, 220, Harwell Didcot Oxfordshire OX11 0AB tel +44 (0) 1235 434245 UK fax +44 (0) 1235 435941
} I am sure that the cellulose is a lot softer than the resin. From TEM } or SEM the resin has penetrated through the sample, where it could } penetrate. I am using a diamond knife cutting from 0.05 to 3 microns. } The same problem seems to exist at all thicknesses. The real problem } that I think I am having is that after I float the sample - as the } sample dries it shrinks or expands then ripping the sample apart. } } I have heard of the LR white before. Do you know its components and } properties (e.g. what resins is it made from, shrinkage factor during } curing and the hardness...) } } Thanks for your help and the help to come. } } Sincerely, } Robert Dickson
Robert -
LR White is a proprietary resin, so all that I know is that it's an acrylic. Shrinkage? Low, but a bit more than epoxies. Acrylics are mostly linear polymers without the crosslinking of epoxies, so they tend to section better in your "thick" range. If you do EM, a support film is essential, since acrylics have less beam resistance. LR White is as liquid as water, and is very water-tolerant, so it will infiltrate the hygroscopic cellulose fibers (give it some time and a couple of changes, tho). The "hard" grade is similar to a "medium" epoxy; the basic rule is still to try to match the resin hardness to the sample. My experience at U.C.Berkeley & with the RMC Materials Microtomy course is that it solves lots of comparable embedding problems.
I asked about the knife that you use because you may have another problem. If you've used that diamond for several attempts at sectioning the poorly epoxy-embedded fibers, that means that you've probably smeared an invisible film of uncured epoxy on the knife edge, since unreplaced water in the fibers will interfere with epoxy polymerization. That sticky film must be removed or you will continue to get excessive wrinkling and compression of ALL sections, even from good blocks.
Caroline Schooley Educational Outreach Coordinator Microscopy Society of America Box 117, 45301 Caspar Point Road Caspar, CA 95420 Phone/FAX (707)964-9460 Project MICRO: http://www.MSA.microscopy.com/ProjectMICRO/Books.html Intertidal invertebrates: http://www.fortbragg.k12.ca.us/AG/PCI/
To the List: clink, clink... my two cents worth....
One should start at the beginning concerning image manipulation.
The histological image as seen in the microscope bears little resemblance to life. It is dead, fixed, chemically altered, dehydrated, stained, sectioned, etc. Why concern yourself with darkroom filters? How long was the tissue in the stain, at what concentration, how often had the stain been used, what temperature was the stain used; how thick were the sections, (gee, what one can do with resolution here), and then of course, what filter sets were being used in the microscope, what kind of coatings were on the optics, what kind of optics in the microscope; what was the age and lot of the film used. The tissue has been manipulated a considerable amount before it ever gets to the darkroom or to the computer.
What really counts is the ethical nature of the investigator to report the results honestly and accurately. And for reviewers to do their job earnestly and honestly.
Blystone in Texas
Robert V. Blystone, Ph.D. {RBLYSTON-at-Trinity.edu} Professor of Biology Trinity University San Antonio, Texas 78212 210.736-7243 210.736-7229 FAX
My boss returned from a conference raving about a display he had seen of ESEM images of pharmaceutical solids. The question naturally arose as to why my puny efforts seemed to fall far so short. I spent a day or two considering alternative ways of supporting my family before we learned that the images were heavy on the digital cosmetics. I assured the boss that henceforth all is well! Photoshop to the rescue!
I think any image is manipulative to some degree. But then so is microscopy. Why did we chose that particular field of view over the hundreds or thousands we may have seen on the scope? Evidently, because it illustrated some point we wished to make. All this is in the nature of microscopy. What is important, in my mind, is that the methods of making the image are documented appropriately and available to others. I do not object at all to the other companies display - it was informative and instructive as well as aesthetically pleasing. I was, however, glad that they were willing to share some of the methods that went into making the images.
Thanks Robert A. Carlton Robert.Carlton-at-RP-Rorer.com Tel. 610-454-3949 Fax 610-454-5990
I have an immediate need for a plot of instrumental resolution/capability for e.m./etc(SPM) instruments as a function of the analytical needs in the semiconductor processing world--past, present and future projection.
It's a case of where I can swear I've seen such plots in a thousand places but now that I need one I can't find one.
If you can help, please send it to me in any digital format as an attachement to my Lotus Notes address anderron-at-us.ibm.com Please grant permission for me to use it and I will give full credit, etc. It is heading to my invited talk in the "Microscopy of Semiconducting Materials" session in the M&M98 meeting.
As promised, here is a summary of replies to date to my queries about the Iris Explorer.
I asked these questions because, like many of you who responded, I was interested in finding out whether the Iris Explorer would be suitable for our work. I had never heard of it before, and we have been looking at image analysis systems for a long time. In previous extensive discussions on this Bulletin Board, no one had mentioned it.
A couple of very helpful colleagues have pointed out that, just as we suspected, the Iris Explorer is actually used to display computed data. Although it has image analysis capabilities, it is not meant to be image analysis software. It can be useful though, if you want to turn numerical data into images, as some of the people who responded did.
If you are interested in getting more information, here is the website you should visit - it also has tutorials to try:
http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/iecoe
Thanks to everyone who replied about this. Thanks too, for all those who gave their comments on different image analysis software - we are still looking...
Paula.
Paula Allan-Wojtas Food Microstructure Specialist Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Atlantic Food and Horticulture Research Centre Kentville, Nova Scotia Canada B4N 1J5
} } The } } original question I believe begged the question "How do we learn to trust } } digital image manipulation?". Like you, I don't think we ought to be } } including standard color charts with our presentations, but in many cases we } } should be prepared to. } } In any event, every image from initial to final should be archived. }
I'll even take issue with this claim. Consider the following two scenarios:
First scenario:
I have an interactive image-processing tool with a nice GUI which allows me to see the effects of various algorithms quickly. Let's say I am doing an adaptive histogram equalization and I have control over the size of the adaptive regions in each dimension (e.g. the regions need not be square but could be rectangles), the shape of the adaptive regions (they could be rectangles or circles), and the degree of contrast clamping (a limitation on the contrast enhancement based on the statistics of adjoining regions). So, I have four parameters, each of which has a large number of possible values.
So, I sit there and twiddle with the parameters until I get what I consider an visually optimal image. Let's say that I do a hundred twiddles. Does this mean that I should save every one of those rejected manipulations since they were in the event line between the original and the final? Of course not.
Now, let's say that I *don't* have a nice GUI, but have to run it from the command line. So, instead of twiddling dials a hundred times, I run the program a hundred different times, generate a hundred images, and choose the one that looks best. Should I archive all hundred of these images? Well, if it is silly to generate an archival image for every twiddle of a GUI widget, it is equally silly to save all the results of all the runs of all the manipulations one does.
Second scenario:
Let's say that I have a nice GUI that incorporates all three major variants of adaptive histogram equalization. One of these variants is called "sharpened histogram equalization" by some, in which an unsharp mask is performed either just before or as part of the equalization. Much like adaptive histogram equalization (AHE), unsharp masking is highly parameterized.
Even more, however, unsharp masking is a rather separate kind of process, even though it can be combined with equalization. My tool, however, puts them in the same pipeline. So, now I am twiddling unsharp masking and AHE parameters in my little GUI. Once again, am I obligated to save an image for archive every time I turn a dial? Once again, of course not.
Now, let's say, again that I don't have a fancy GUI, but run both from the command line. I first run an unsharp masking program, and then take the result of the unsharp masking program and run it through an AHE program. Let's say I run the unsharp masking 20 times and the AHE 20 times and generate 400 images, of which I choose one. Am I obligated to save the unsharp masking runs as separate archived images because it is a "different" process?
I don't think so. Surely, the presence or absence of a fancy GUI should not be the determinant of what constitutes an intermediate image and what should be archived.
Even worse, consider what happens when you use development environments which use large intermediate data structures. Is one obligated to archive all those intermediate data dumps? For instance, I recently processed a 2Kx2K 3-color image in which I had the following pipeline in AVS (Advanced Visual Sytstems -- a development environment):
read_in_image (a module or small program) | | (these little bars denote taking the data from one | program and taking it to another) | | change from byte to float data (1 more module) | | | V transform image from (1 more module) rgb to Lab color spaces | | | V separate color channels (1 more module) | | | | | | | | | V V V make wavelet stack (three instantiations -- one for each channel) | | | (approximately 20 more modules) | | | | | | | | | V V V separate portions of each wavelet stack (say three parts) | | | | | | | | (nine instantiations -- three for each | | | | | | | | channels) (approximately 12 more modules) | | | | | | | | V V V V V V V V process each portion with a separate image processing algorithm -- with twiddling of parameters (approximately 30 more modules) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | V V V V V V V V construct wavelet packets (approximately 30 more modules) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | V V V V V V V V do inverse wavelet transform (three modules) | | | | | | | | | V V V combine color channels (1 module) | | V transform from Lab to rgb (1 module) | | V transform from float to byte data | V write image (1 module)
Now, because of the development environment I used, I didn't have to write any intermediate images. However, I write my software so I don't have to rely on the development environment, and I could have *also* written this pipeline as a UNIX script and written and read intermediate images to and from disk.
Even though I have *no* intermediate images that are written to disk, I have little image viewers and a GUI that allows me to control the data flow, see intermediate results, and twiddle parameters all along the way. All the intermediate data is held in RAM and virtual memory. So, in this pipeline, what constitutes an intermediate image that "must" be archived? Would it be different if I ran it using the command line pipeline which explicitly writes out the intermediate images?
Personally, I think the idea of having to save every intermediate image is not merely a bad idea, it is unworkable. It means, in large tools, arbitrarily writing out "intermediate" images which have no use. Even worse, writing out such intermedate results may make it impossible to do the work. Were I to write out an intermediate image after each one of these steps, even using the UNIX command line method, I would use up over 7 Gigs of disk space per run per image per "twiddle". When I run this as a UNIX pipeline, I delete each intermediate image as soon as it is read by the next program in line.
Certainly, one should describe what one has done, but to me, the above diagram fleshed out to include the actual processing algorithms and the *final* parameterization is enough.
I don't archive all these "intermediate" images. I archive an adequate ascii description of the pipeline and the final results.
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
URGENT: Application Deadline April 22, 1998 ADJUNCT FACULTY NEEDED FALL Semester 1998 (Aug. 12 - Dec 18, 1998)
A San Joaquin Delta College Faculty member of the Microscopy Technology = Center is planning a Sabbatical Leave for the Fall '98 semester. The coll= ege seeks an instructor(s) to cover her courses. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor's Degree plus two years of directly related experience OR an = Associate Degree plus six years of directly related experience OR a valid = credential. DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS: Master's or PhD Degree in a Biological = Science; Experience in teaching Electron Microscopy COURSES TO BE TAUGHT: Introductory Techniques for Transmission Electron Microscopy (EM21) This is a lecture/lab course which includes beginning Transmission Electro= n Microscopy dealing with the alignment and operation of the TEM, vacuum = techniques, photographic techniques, as well as the preparation of = particles and replicas for viewing in the TEM. Includes individual = training in the use of the TEM, preparation techniques, and written and = oral reports. (Lec - 2 hrs; Lab - 3 hrs/wk) Biological Ultrastructure (EM28) Course contents include specific information about the fine structure and = function of cells and tissue at the ultrastructure level. Videos, slides = and micrograph examination will be correlated with the lectures so that = students will learn to recognize the fine structure of cells and tissues = in relationship to their function. (Lec-2 hrs/wk) Current Microscopies: Optics, Theory and Application (EM30) Course contents include information related to the physical laws and = applications of the various types of current microscopies e.g. = TEM,SEM,FIB, AFM, and confocal microscopy, as well as other current = topics e.g. asbestos analysis, lab design, etc. (Lec - 2 hrs; Lab - 3 = hrs/wk) Advanced Techniques in Biological Electron Microscopy (EM37) Course contents include lecture and laboratory which covers advanced = techniques for biological specimen preparation in TEM including an = advanced research project.( Lec - 1 hr; Lab - 6 hr/wks) TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT: Adjunct / Non-tenured track position. APPLICATION: Contact Human Resources at 209/954-5056. DEADLINE: The Screening Committee will begin to review applications on = April 22, 1998
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A friend asked to post a question concerning picric acid disposal. Is it possible to easily convert it to a non-explosive form by reacting it with something in the lab. I suggested mixing it with protein. The problem is that it is radioactive as well as explosive so th safety people don't know how to handle it. ******************************************************* G.W. Erdos, Ph.D. Phone: 352-392-1295 Scientific Director, ICBR Electron Microscopy Core Lab PO Box 118525 Fax: 352-846-0251 University of Florida E-mail: gwe-at-biotech.ufl.edu Gainesville, FL 32611 http://www.biotech.ufl.edu/~emcl/
***** "Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased" Daniel 12:4
After I posted the summary, our Statistician posed the same question to the distributors of the Iris Explorer.
Patrick Craig, from the Visualization group of NAG, Ltd. replied and said that it is possible for the Iris Explorer to handle images in several formats including TIFF and GIF.
I guess the bottom line is that there are alot of easy to use IA software packages out there which would be able to do what is required. The Iris Explorer is a very sophisticated tool which is also very powerful in a number of different applications.
Patrick Craig can be reached at : infodesk-at-nag.com
Paula.
Paula Allan-Wojtas Food Microstructure Specialist Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Atlantic Food and Horticulture Research Centre Kentville, Nova Scotia Canada B4N 1J5
Argonne National Laboratory currently has an opening for a materials scientist at its site in Idaho Falls, Idaho. The main responsibility of the position is characterization of ceramic and metallic waste forms produced in an electrometallurgical spent nuclear fuel treatment process using transmission electron microscopy. An additional responsibility is maintenance (to the extent not covered by a service contract) and upkeep of a JEOL 2010 transmission electron microscope and associated sample preparation equipment. This position will involve work with radiological materials. A Ph.D. degree in materials science, materials engineering, or ceramic engineering with extensive experience in transmission electron microscopy of ceramic materials is essential. The successful candidate will posses strong written and oral communications skills and a proven ability to collaborate with others. U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain a U.S. Department of Energy security clearance strongly preferred. Argonne National Laboratory is an equal opportunity employer.
Interested applicants please send cover letter and resume to:
Dr. Terry Totemeier Argonne National Laboratory P.O. Box 2528 Idaho Falls, ID 83403-2528 terry.totemeier-at-anl.gov
Hello microscopists, Does anyone know where I can purchase a cheap, used microtome (not an ultra microtome) for cutting 100 micron sections of rubber, or plastic material? I was hoping for something in the 200 dollar range.
I would like to improve my double-labelling techniques for vesicles and cytoskeletal elements in cultured PC-12 cells for fluorescence microscopy. For vesicles I have been using monoclonal anti-synaptophysin conjugated with FITC, and for microfilaments, I have been using rhodamine-phalloidin.
I have been having some difficulty with the "fixation followed by permeabilization schedule"-vesicles and the CSK both stain, however...vesicles appear to clump as if they are leaving the cytoskeletal mesh as found in the cortical peripheries. We believe that the irregularly shaped tubulovesicular structures are Golgi or ER, so that part seems OK. The situation at the cells' cortices make it appear as if there is apocrine secretion, but my cells are indeed merocrine. We want to see where the vesicles are localized with respect to their exocytosis at different time frames with agonist stimulation.
Does anyone out there have a good protocol for this? I have been using a schedule of a modified Karnovsky's fix in sodium cacodylate (worked for LM well before for CSK labelling exclusively) for an hour followed by a PEG 8000 wash and a 1.25%/0.2% Triton-X 100 detergent (in PHEM buffer) permeabilization for 10 minutes. Shall we try a phosphate- buffered saline instead of the cacodylate, which is routinely used for EM? Osmolarity problems? Too long of permeabilization time?
Any suggestions are helpful-thanks in advance for your help.
Cheers, Vickie
-- Vickie A. Kimler, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Biology and Allied Health Director, Cancer Research Facility Mercyhurst College 501 East 38th St. Erie, PA 16546 Voice: 814-824-2169 FAX: 814-824-2188 e-mail: {vkimler-at-mercyhurst.edu}
If you are interested in immunocytochemistry, immunohistochemistry or other affinity labelling, then check out sci.bio.immunocytochem
sci.bio.immunocytochem is a "Usenet newsgroup" and therefore you need to have access to Usenet in the first place! Check with your academic computer department, or your commercial service provider if you have access to Usenet. Most good Internet accounts include Usenet access.
You can then set up your Internet browser to read and post messages to any newsgroup, including sci.bio.immunocytochem; or you can get some freebie newsreading software.
"Subscribing" to a newsgroup merely changes its status in your newsreader, and makes it easier to find your favourite groups amongst the thousands of newsgroups available. You dont have to subscribe to sci.bio.immunocytochem in order to read or post messages.
You just get your newsreading software to "get new messages" in your chosen newsgroups whenever you want to read the latest messages; there is no e-mail involved, unlike mailing lists!
You can post a new message, or a "follow-up" message to sci.bio.immunocytochem
E-mail me if you have any hassles with Usenet access etc!
We are trying to locate, for purchase, a used epi-fluorescence attachment, with HMX lamphouse,lampsocket, for mercury HBO 100 watt bulb, also B-G filter. This is to fit onto a Nikon Diaphot microscope, 1985 vintage.
If anyone has one that they are willing to part with please contact me offline.
Thank-you for your help.
Pat Glazebrook MetroHealth Medical Center Rammelkamp Center for Research and Education email: pglazebr-at-research.mhmc.org phone216-778-8958
FEI Company has the following position open to be based in Austin, Texas:
Job Title: Field Service Applications Engineer Geographic Location: Austin,TX
1) Job Summary: Conduct on-site and in-house operational training for new and existing users on the full range of FEI's systems. 2) Essential Responsibilities: A) Conduct on-site operations training for new users of FEI's systems for new installations and for existing installed base as required. B) Give technical assistance to worldwide customers, engineers, and/or representative for the full range of products. C) Conduct fundamental training courses in focused ion beam and scanning electron microscope applications for filed service engineers and technical support specialists. D) Define on-site customer training programs for the full range of FEI systems going into the IC market. E) Submit paperwork accurately and in a timely manner. 3) Secondary Responsibilities: F) Advise and recommend actions to the Quality Improvement team and/or development team on any operational issues seen in the field. G) Assist with customer site acceptance. H) Other duties as temporarily assigned by department manager. 4) Specific Job Skills: I) Strong customer service focus. J) Self-starter with exceptional attention to detail and follow-up. K) Superior written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills. Able to converse readily in English. Other languages a plus. L) Solid organizational abilities. M) Desired scientific or engineering background, including familiarity with ISO900 standards. N) Training background preferred. O) Eligible for passport. P) Must have a valid driver's license. Q) Able and willing to travel up to 75% of the time. 5) Minimum Qualifications: R) BS or equivalent in Physical Science; MS preferred. Physics a plus. S) 3-5 years experience in focused ion beam or scanning electron microscope operation. T) Proven ability to work cooperatively in an interdisciplinary team environment. U) Understanding of DOS and Windows operating systems as well as functional knowledge of SW programs such as Excel, Access and MS Word. V) IC industry background strongly preferred.
Join FEI Company and benefit from out compensation and benefits packages which include fully paid medical, dental, vision, and life for employees and their families, profit sharing, tuition assistance, employee stock purchase plan, wellness program and 401(k) with match. Please submit resume to Lisa Olivia either by FAX: 503.640.7509 or email: lolivia-at-feico.com.
Lisa Olivia Recruiter FEI Company PH) 503.844.2601 FAX) 503.640.7509 email: lolivia-at-feico.com
I hope I am not breaking any rules about sending a JPG image to the list server, and further hope that only one of you will let me know if I am. I have attached an image of a rotary shadowed molecule present in large quantity in a collagenase digest of mouse skin. It seems to me that I have seen a similar image some time ago in the literature, but I can not place it. Does anyone know what molecule I have imaged?
Thank you in advance!
Doug ---------------------- Douglas R. Keene Associate Investigator Shriners Hospital Microscopy Unit Portland, Oregon 97201 DRK-at-shcc.org
Patricia A. Glazebrook wrote: } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Hi- } } We are trying to locate, for purchase, a used epi-fluorescence attachment, } with HMX lamphouse,lampsocket, for mercury HBO 100 watt bulb, also B-G } filter. This is to fit onto a Nikon Diaphot microscope, 1985 vintage. } } If anyone has one that they are willing to part with please contact me } offline. }
Pat,
I am curious... "used" for price reasons or because of availability? While the original #78947 is long gone; several third party manufacturers have machined a replacement and the rest of the parts (cubes, lamps, power supplies, etc.) are all still current. If you have not done so, please contact your local Nikon Representative/Dealer in Ohio (I think area code 216 is Ohio) and that would be the Fryer Company (513)851-2992. They should be able to help you find this part.
I find the discussion about scientific image manipulation rather interesting, but, here's a thaught:
Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I seem to remember that, at least som= e time ago, all scientific findings and research results, in order to be considered as valid, should be reproducible by another researcher. If that's not the case (and just think of all those who claimed to have achieved cold fusion, but other people, or even themselves, were unable t= o repeat the experiments), the findings or results would just not be taken = as valid. Doesn't the same scheme apply to whatever results that are based on or supported by image contents?
Microscopists, I was wondering if anyone could tell me either the best way to prepare and mount bacterial for use in an SEM or a location where I could look to find such a prep.
SALZBURG, 22nd of March, 1998, local time 01.20 p.m.
Sir, dear Greg, may I cite from an MSDS (MERCK DARMSTADT, FRG):
PICRIC ACID: 2,4,6-Trinitrophenol, C(6)H(3)N(3)O(7), M=3D 229.11 g/mol; melting point: 122 degr. C; solubility in water limited; ignition point: = 300 degr.C;=20 thermic decomposition(and therefore } } explosive { {): 300 degr.C and up = (especially if you heat the compound very rapidly); } } toxic { {; BUT: I am not aware about any } } radioactivity { { of the substance (why picric = acid should be radioactive?? unless you use isotopic forms of C??).
hazardous decomposition products: CO (carbon monoxide), = nitrose(o)-gasses; hazardous reactions: with alkali-hydroxides, alkali-metals, metals, = salts of metals, fluor.sensitive to shock; inappropriate materials to = use: metals.
Dry picric acid crystals are more dangerous (with respect to be an = explosive hazard) than wet crystals: therefore:=20 Original packing: picric acid crystals come with 0.5 ml H(2)O/g solid=20
Safety instructions and safety tips (excerpt): =20 KEEP CONTAINER SCREWED TIGHTLY; AVOID CRUSHING/BLOWING and FRICTION (rubbing). AVOID skin contact: = danger in case of resorption through skin; storage: tightly closed, at = room temperature (+15 to +25 degr.C); Keep the compound wet.
Keep in mind: you normally don't store (should not be storing) big = amounts of picric acid in your Lab. For histological applications (like = BOUIN's fluid) or for TEM-fixatives like FA-GA-PA-mixtures I would = suggest 50 g would be sufficient. In my opinion and experience of over 15 years EM-Lab there would be no = obvious or extreme hazardous situation, if the compound is stored = appropriate as indicated above and the container is/has been tightened = closely every time you used it. And: the amount and how it is stored = (and one works with it) makes a difference in the way of acting as a = dangerous chemical (with respect to explosions or ignition) =20 Disposal: Dilute with water (this would normally be the case, if used = for histology purposes), don't dispose of into the/a water drain system = (picric acid is a water hazard class 2[european classification]); = collect separately and dispose of according to national/local = legislation (authorized waste collectors).
I collect hydrous solutions of the stuff in a separate glass flask (or = plastic bottle) tightly closed with screw cap; if a litre or so has = accumulated, it will be disposed of through a certified waste collector. As I said: I have stored an original amount of 100 g Picric acid = crystals ( to which originally are added !! 50 ml of H2O !! ) from 1984 = on in my Lab; now there are left about 40 g: the substance is wet; = stored under ambient room temperature conditions and I don't look = forward to have any problems in the future with its safe storage and = use. The point you are considering for a "safe deactivation" of the substance = by mixing it with proteins IMO seems to be tricky, unless one knows = about the amount of protein you have to add to bind the compound totally = to the protein(s) available.
Best wishes for "your solution" of the problem, Wolfgang
Dr. Wolfgang MUSS Salzburg General Hospital (LKA) Department of Anatomical Pathology,=20 EM-Laboratory Muellner Hauptstrasse 48 A-5020 SALZBURG AUSTRIA/Europe
phone: ++43++ 662 + 4482 + 4720 Ext fax: ++43++ 662 + 4482 + 882 Ext. e-mail: W.Muss-at-lkasbg.gv.at (note: "l" right to "-at-" is a small "L")
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A friend asked to post a question concerning picric acid disposal. Is = it possible to easily convert it to a non-explosive form by reacting it = with something in the lab. I suggested mixing it with protein. The problem = is that it is radioactive as well as explosive so the safety people don't = know how to handle it. ******************************************************* G.W. Erdos, Ph.D. Phone: 352-392-1295 =20 Scientific Director, = =20 ICBR Electron Microscopy Core Lab = =20 PO Box 118525 Fax: 352-846-0251 =20 University of Florida E-mail: gwe-at-biotech.ufl.edu Gainesville, FL 32611 http://www.biotech.ufl.edu/~emcl/ =20 ***** "Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased" Daniel 12:4
Mastering Office 97 $11.00 804090 Mastering Excel 97 $11.00 000241 The American Civil War $14.00 3002 2,000 Sound Effects $4.50 117077 Morphing Screen Saver $4.50 117091 Animated E-Mail Magic $11.00 3000 Everyday Spanish $8.45 7021 Ham Radio 2000 Vol 2 $11.85 2222.5 Hardware Technicn 2000 $11.85 2226 PC Electronics Plus 3.0 $9.85 293.6 PC Musician 2000 $11.85 2225 PC Troubleshooter 2000 $11.85 2227 HTML Clipart $7.85 670703 Mahjong Gold $6.85 670718 Tetris Gold Professional $6.85 670712 Web Page Constructn Kit $6.85 670710 Family Tree $6.85 000130 Games 3 -500 Games $6.85 000147 IQ Tester $6.85 002462 Screen Saver $6.85 000154 6 CD Web Collection Kit $19.85 000178 Dragons & Dino Clipart $4.25 102.8 Gardening Handbook $4.25 107.5 ABC's & 123's $7.45 315 Adding & Subtracting $7.45 316 Reading & Phonics $7.45 317 Add-Ons (Quake) $5.25 003096 Color Clipart Gallery $5.25 00227 50,000 Graphics pack $14.00 8888 Ancient Wisdom $12.00 8889 Clipart Heaven 2/Lg Book $9.00 299 Family Dr.4.0/A.D.A.M. $16.00 1957 Multimedia MBA $15.00 989 Photo Editor $13.00 115004 5 CD Set Action Games $16.00 920631 5 CD Set Air Attack $16.00 915231 Assassin 2015 $12.00 70027 Bad Day on the Midway $9.00 70015 5 CD Set Golf Games $16.00 915132
ORDERS MAY BE PLACED BY PHONE, FAX OR E-MAIL Fax: 978-774-5811; E-mail: anthony-at-romman.tiac.net Mastercard, Visa & Discover Card Accepted Shipping & Handling Charges $4.00 in USA Intl. Shipped will be calculated & transmitted by E-mail SEE OUR INTERNET SITE: www.romman.com
Brief informational Web focused on Microscopy 10 bit digital / analog CCD cameras http://members.aol.com/dvcco DVC-1300 1300 x 1030 progressive scan pixel array, 12 FPS rate, 8-9 bits out of a 10 bit A/D, RS422 digital out and analog video non-standard for any RS-170 input framegrabber List Price $4995. !!! Other 10 bit 30FPS models available at $2995. Complete frame grabber / software systems available from a one stop US camera manufacturer and systems house. We are an alternative to the other over priced cameras 1K cameras, if the applications fit. This posting is for the benefit of your members.
We find the best way is to use small 0.2um millipore filters. Whatman International do them tel +44 (0)1622 676670 (I have no commercial stake here!)
You can get little ones (13mm) that fit in a special holder that will go on the end of a syringe.
Just squirt your solution of bacteria (probably best washed first in PBS buffer) through the millipore filter (shiny side up) then quickly remove the filter and fix in 3% gluteraldehyde in PBS for an hour or so. wash-pBS osmicate-1% osmium in PBS for 1 hour wash-PBS dehydrate-30%, 70%, 90%, 100%, 100% 20 mins each Then critical point dry your millipore filter (with bugs hopefully still attached) Mount on SEM stub with double sided sticky tape Use conductive paint to make line from surface with bacteria to metal on stub Coat with gold in sputter coater And voila!
Amanda Wilson wrote: ================================================== We find the best way is to use small 0.2um millipore filters. Whatman International do them tel +44 (0)1622 676670 (I have no commercial stake here!)
You can get little ones (13mm) that fit in a special holder that will go on the end of a syringe.
Just squirt your solution of bacteria (probably best washed first in PBS buffer) through the millipore filter (shiny side up) then quickly remove the filter and fix in 3% gluteraldehyde in PBS for an hour or so. wash-pBS osmicate-1% osmium in PBS for 1 hour wash-PBS dehydrate-30%, 70%, 90%, 100%, 100% 20 mins each Then critical point dry your millipore filter (with bugs hopefully still attached) Mount on SEM stub with double sided sticky tape Use conductive paint to make line from surface with bacteria to metal on stub Coat with gold in sputter coater And voila! ================================================== There is a variation on this theme: Use 13 mm membrane filters made out of pure silver instead of the polymer type. The "sticking" ability to the silver is more or less comparable to that on a polymer membrane filter and it can be critical point dried just like a polymer membrane. The advantage is that the substrate is already conductive hence one can always reduce the amount of gold needed in the sputter coater, and in some instances, it can reduced down to zero, with obvious advantages.
If adhesion is in fact a problem, it can usually be enhanced by a short term exposure to oxygen plasma etching (e.g. one or two minutes) to remove adsorbed organics.
Disclaimer: SPI offers the SPI-Pore line of silver membrane filtration prodcuts and and also plasma etchers and they are all described on our website given below.
Chuck
=================================================== Charles A. Garber, Ph. D. Ph: 1-(610)-436-5400 President 1-(800)-2424-SPI SPI SUPPLIES FAX: 1-(610)-436-5755 PO BOX 656 e-mail: cgarber-at-2spi.com West Chester, PA 19381-0656 USA Cust. Service: spi2spi-at-2spi.com
Look for us! ############################ WWW: http://www.2spi.com ############################ ==================================================
thanks to all who sent info on about testing the vacuum system.
seems i may have more problems:
1) the leak rate from HVac is {3uA/min atm=250uA Hvac=25uA on vacuum meter test points (OK)
2) V1 doesn't work in auto mode, and many times won't work in manual
3) DP heater warms up (light on) in about 20minutes
4) R4 vacuum control pot will not make V1 open when vacuum meter {190uA while in auto mode
5) solenoid valve for the closing side of V1 will not release pressure so that the opening side of the valve (when pressurized) will force the valve to open.... most of the time (related to #2 above)
6) some of the valves (like v4) will actuate manually when the controls are in the auto mode (is this normal...or an indication that the logic is all messed up?)
7) V5 (airlock) will not open in auto mode, but does in manual (as does the associated leak valve)
i'm really confused about this since it seems to be a moving target with many appearent "failures". is there one circumstance or condition that would explain these observations????
thx in advance! brian
**************************************************************** Brian McIntyre Electron Microscopy Lab Institute of Optics University of Rochester Rochester, NY 14627
I am trying to reply to Yvan Lindekens, who had replied to a query about the Lensman. His email address "yvan.lindekens-at-skynet.be" is not accepted by our computers--does anyone have more information?
Thanks, Doug Darnowski
****************************************************************************** Douglas Darnowski Department of Crop Sciences 384 ERML 1201 West Gregory Drive University of Illinois Urbana IL 61801 work ph: (217) 244-6150 fx: (217) 333-4777 home ph: (217) 356-6606 fx: (217) 356-4454 email: darnowsk-at-staff.uiuc.edu
Eric, Here are two ways to prep bacteria for SEM that have worked well for me: 1) Let living sample attach to poly-L-lysine coated slides before fixation. Make sure you spread suspension over the c/s then apply fix directly to it. Check concentration under a phase microscope. Then prep slide as usual for SEM (mark the sample side with diamond scribe!). Usually a Para/Glut combo followed by osmium but check your reference first (I've seen other secondary fix choices, depending on what you are looking for)-remember gentle rinsing. 2) Use a 0.22 or 0.45 um filter (the kind you can separate) Draw live sample through (usually opposite direction of normal filter flow) and then draw fix through and saturate). This is a little more difficult because you can't tell concentration until your on the scope and the filter may fold during CPD. I prefer the first technique.
Good Luck, Michael Delannoy JHMI Microscopy Faclity
Dear all, There has been much debate about how to apply ethics to the particular issue of image processing. I am interested in a slightly more general question, however.
What basis do we use as scientists for deciding what is and is not ethical? It seems to me that this is not a trivial question, especially when we live in pluralistic societies and there are a wide range of different approaches to morality and ethics put forward by different individuals or groups in society.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Ian MacLaren, Tel: (44) (0) 121 414 3447 IRC in Materials for FAX: (44) (0) 121 414 3441 High Performance Applications, email: I.MacLaren-at-bham.ac.uk The University of Birmingham, http://web.bham.ac.uk/I.MacLaren/ Birmingham B15 2TT, England. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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I apologize that the incorrect phone number was listed for Steve D'Angelo = who is selling his MT2. If you are interested, His correct phone number is 650/738-2699 Steve D'Angelo 1107 Galvez Dr Pacifica, CA 94044
MT2 in excellent condition Factory serviced.
He does not have an e mail address.
Please do NOT reply to this e mail address. I am sending this message = for a friend. Thanks.
======================================== Charles W. Allen Electron Microscopy Center-HVEM-Tandem Facility MSD 212/E211 9700 South Cass Avenue Argonne National Laboratory Argonne. IL 60439 USA
Salzburg, 23rd of March 1998, local time: 5.50 p.m.
Dear friends and HistoNetters, is there anyone out there who knows an old ZETOPAN LM (mfctd by = REICHERT, Vienna) equipped with a "double aperture condensor for = bright-field, condensor front lens with an NA 0.95 or NA=3D1.3" , not in = use, stored in a dark cabinet or in the loft ???? (If this question = is/seems silly, please flame privately to my e-mail address) The problem: I use (oh: I "used") a vintage 1964 REICHERT ZETOPAN bright = field LM (YES: unrivalled performance until now) for my routine = semithin section examinations as well as for documenting some of them = since 1981.=20
Last week I (yes, I !) damaged the condensor "deadly" by incident after = having dismounted it for a demonstration of that part in a lecture for = MTA's.=20 LEICA Vienna (formerly REICHERT) told me that (unfortunately) neither a = "new" or a "used" condensor will be available. As I am aware of the = irreparability of that part due to the damaged condensor front lens and = its bent support I only can look forward to the help of the listmembers.
If there is any person knowing of a "hidden", "wrapped and unused" = double aperture condensor for the REICHERT ZETOPAN I should be glad = hearing about "offers" (e.g. to change parts for historical reasons = (e.g. Fluorescence parts), or costs).
Thank you for your help
Wolfgang
Dr. Wolfgang MUSS Salzburg General Hospital (LKA) Department of Anatomical Pathology,=20 EM-Laboratory Muellner Hauptstrasse 48 A-5020 SALZBURG AUSTRIA/Europe
phone: ++43++ 662 + 4482 + 4720 Ext fax: ++43++ 662 + 4482 + 882 Ext. e-mail: W.Muss-at-lkasbg.gv.at (note: "l" right to "-at-" is a small "L")
Dear Hermann, } } Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I seem to remember that, at least some } time ago, all scientific findings and research results, in order to be } considered as valid, should be reproducible by another researcher.
I agree completely. One should be able to reproduce one's own results in any event. That's why it's important to have available the info necessary to go from an initial image to the final one. Another researcher should then be able to replicate the experiment, obtain a similar raw image, process it similarly--not necessarily identically, since the image belonging to the 2nd researcher is not necessarily identical to that of the 1st--and achieve a processed image which demonstrates the 1st researcher's claim. Probably no one will have the time or energy to spend doing this (unless one is studying the same system and wishes to use the 1st researcher's technique), but the scientific community should be convinced that such replication is pos- sible.
} Doesn't the same scheme apply to whatever results that are based on or } supported by image contents? } Yes. I don't see where the fact that the data is in the form of an image invalidates (or changes) the requirement of reproducibility. Yours, Bill Tivol
} ... } } What basis do we use as scientists for deciding what is and is not ethical? } It seems to me that this is not a trivial question, especially when we live } in pluralistic societies and there are a wide range of different approaches } to morality and ethics put forward by different individuals or groups in } society. } ...
I don't think the answer you're looking for can be clearly defined. What might be applied to an image, digital or chemical, runs gamuts between subtle and gross, between merely aethetic to "presentation of an agenda", ... I believe the problem for defining arises out of an infinite number of tools available (especially with regards to digital), most of which allow a significant number of degrees of freedom (especially with regards to chemical).
Whether "we" are laymen or experts, we either have to be aware of the possibilities and ask questions ... as well as not be defensive if questions are asked. Someone else commented on any "manipulation" being repeatable ... I believe this is especially applicable ... it implies the "manipulator" should be able to convey, and that the "questioner" have the tools and knowledge to duplicate and understand. This would also underline how intimate we are with our software ... how many of us really know the algorthym used when their image editting software resamples the image when simply re-sizing for proper presenation?? (... not to imply it is unethical ... but you get the idea ...)
... $0.02 :o)
cheerios, shAf
{\/} /\ {\/} /\ {\/} /\ {\/} /\ cogito, ergo zZOooOM /\ {\/} /\ {\/} /\ {\/} /\ {\/} Michael Shaffer, R.A. - http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~mshaf/ Geological Science's Electron Probe Facility at the University of Oregon mshaf-at-darkwing.uoregon.edu or mshaf-at-oregon.uoregon.edu
Dear Wolfgang, } } [skip], if the compound is stored appropriate as indicated above and the container is/has been tightened closely every time you used it. And: the amount and how it is stored (and one works with it) makes a difference in the way of acting as a dangerous chemical (with respect to explosions or ignition) } Be careful about the accumulation of dry xtals on the outside of the container. Unscrewing the lid abruptly could cause a big surprise. Yours, Bill Tivol
I like to add the following: One can obtain bacteria by floating a millipore filter on glutaraldehyde solution overnight. Glutaraldehyde sipping through the pores will fix bacteria onto the filter otherwise they may swim/float away.
Ann Fook Yang EM Unit, Eastern Cereal and Oilseed Research Centre, Agriculture Agri-Food Canada, Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0C6
We find the best way is to use small 0.2um millipore filters. Whatman International do them tel +44 (0)1622 676670 (I have no commercial stake here!)
You can get little ones (13mm) that fit in a special holder that will go on the end of a syringe.
Just squirt your solution of bacteria (probably best washed first in PBS buffer) through the millipore filter (shiny side up) then quickly remove the filter and fix in 3% gluteraldehyde in PBS for an hour or so. wash-pBS osmicate-1% osmium in PBS for 1 hour wash-PBS dehydrate-30%, 70%, 90%, 100%, 100% 20 mins each Then critical point dry your millipore filter (with bugs hopefully still attached) Mount on SEM stub with double sided sticky tape Use conductive paint to make line from surface with bacteria to metal on stub Coat with gold in sputter coater And voila!
Does anyone have any suggestions how to prepare grasshopper antenna and cockroach cerci for fixation, dehyration and embedding. I would like to attempt to thin-section these critters.
Thanks for your suggestions.
Margaret E. Bisher
NEC Research Institute 4 Independence Way Princeton, NJ 08540. Tel.: (609) 951-2629 Fax: (609) 951-2496 e-mail: peggy-at-research.nj.nec.com
Regarding: } Dear all, } There has been much debate about how to apply ethics to the particular } issue of image processing. I am interested in a slightly more general } question, however. } } What basis do we use as scientists for deciding what is and is not ethical? } It seems to me that this is not a trivial question, especially when we live } in pluralistic societies and there are a wide range of different approaches } to morality and ethics put forward by different individuals or groups in } society. } } } ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ } Ian MacLaren, Tel: (44) (0) 121 414 3447 } IRC in Materials for FAX: (44) (0) 121 414 3441 } High Performance Applications, email: I.MacLaren-at-bham.ac.uk } The University of Birmingham, http://web.bham.ac.uk/I.MacLaren/ } Birmingham B15 2TT, } England. } ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
There must be some moral and ethical systems which are superior to others, as can be seen from several related lines of evidence: e.g. the existence of the idea of such a superiority of one system over others, practical modern experience that even systems which are supposed to be accepting of all systems of morals and ethics end up being intolerant of some views, etc.
By this line of reasoning, systems which do not accept the possibility of superior systems are self-inconsistent and cannot be such a superior system. We should discard these systems.
A superior system will naturally require that it be imposed on those who do not agree, at least as it relates to their behavior though not necessarily to their belief in the system to which they are subject. This is because of the requirement for self-consistency of such a superior system. Thus, systems which allow a pluralism which accepts "a wide range of different approaches to morality and ethics put forward by different individuals or groups in society" (MacLauren above) cannot be superior systems because they are transparently self-inconsistent. This statement applies very well to the thinking so common in universities today, where many people are terrified of offending anyone by saying that to do some particular thing is immoral or unethical.
What is needed today is a return to Scholasticism, for the kind of foundation for reasoning for which the originator of this question (MacLauren) is looking. Scholastic thinking which has already been set down goes far beyond the kind of argument which I have tried to set up here, and is self-consistent.
And, to provide a concrete link to microscopy, what good is the search for material, scientific truth if we tolerate moral or ethical systems which allow deliberate deception or which see all truth as relative. Scientists just become a group of posturing fools, in search of someting in which they say they don't believe.
} Dear all, } There has been much debate about how to apply ethics to the particular } issue of image processing. I am interested in a slightly more general } question, however. } } What basis do we use as scientists for deciding what is and is not ethical? } It seems to me that this is not a trivial question, especially when we live } in pluralistic societies and there are a wide range of different approaches } to morality and ethics put forward by different individuals or groups in } society. } } } ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ } Ian MacLaren, Tel: (44) (0) 121 414 3447 } IRC in Materials for FAX: (44) (0) 121 414 3441 } High Performance Applications, email: I.MacLaren-at-bham.ac.uk } The University of Birmingham, http://web.bham.ac.uk/I.MacLaren/ } Birmingham B15 2TT, } England. } ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
****************************************************************************** Douglas Darnowski Department of Crop Sciences 384 ERML 1201 West Gregory Drive University of Illinois Urbana IL 61801 work ph: (217) 244-6150 fx: (217) 333-4777 home ph: (217) 356-6606 fx: (217) 356-4454 email: darnowsk-at-staff.uiuc.edu
We are updating our webpages, including links to Public Domain Software relevant to microscopy, also on FFT's and Image Processing. I would appreciate any suggestions/contributions as to appropriate ones to include. PLEASE respond directly to me, not to the listserver.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Laurence Marks Department of Materials Science and Engineering Northwestern University Evanston, IL 60208-3108 tel: (847) 491-3996 fax: (847) 491-7820 email: l-marks-at-nwu.edu http: //www.numis.nwu.edu ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Dear all, Not a direct Microscopy question - but it is related in a way. Can anyone help direct me to where I can find the author guidelines for the Journal of Heart Valve Disease? I can't even find out who publishes it - and we do not have it in out Univ. library. I guess you should direct any answers to me at: alexander.black-at-ucg.ie
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Ernest Orlando Berkeley National Laboratory One Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, Calfornia 94720
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Summer School on Computing in Electron Microscopy slotted for August 17-21, 1998 in Berkeley, California
(Berkeley, CA) The fifth annual Summer School on Computer-Interactive HRTEM Image Acquisition, Processing and Simulation will be held at the National Center for Electron Microscopy (NCEM), Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley from August 17 through August 21, 1998.
The curriculum will focus on training participants in techniques of computer-assisted acquisition and interpretation of high-resolution electron microscope images, including remote-control microscopy. Participants will learn general principles and apply them to specific cases. Instruction on use of computer assistance to obtain images on NCEM microscopes will be followed by training in the use of specific application programs for image interpretation by image processing and simulation.
Participants who wish to apply newly acquired techniques to their own projects will be encouraged to extend their visit at NCEM into the next week. Please note: this type of arrangement requires advance submission of a proposal. Projects may involve prepared specimens for microscopy, images and diffraction patterns for processing, or crystal and defect data for simulations. For more information and application materials, contact:
I have a 11 year old Philips CM12. Recently movement of the Objective aperture mechanism either with the apertures in/out or lever right/left causes a pressure rise (to 34) in the column as read by the IGP display. I suspect that movement of the inner most bellows, embedded in the objective lens has developed a micro-leak.
Has anyone else experienced this with their CM12?
Did you try to repair the bellows assembly yourself?
Is their a possibility that the sealing Viton o'ring has gone dry?
What problems can occur with the final alignment of the objective mechanism for the height adjustment?
Did you give up and let the Philips service handle the problem?
**Comments**
If you wish contact can be made privately.
eoptics-at-mcmaster.ca
Thanks in advance
Fred Pearson Electron Optics Coordinator
******************************************************** Fred Pearson Brockhouse Institute for Materials Research McMaster University 1280 Main St. West Hamilton, Ontario Canada L8S 4M1
I have a student who is looking for a summer internship in biological TEM and/or SEM in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area. Does anyone know of any opportunities?
TIA
Bob
Dr. Robert R. Wise Department of Biology and Microbiology University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Oshkosh, WI 54901
(920) 424-3404 tel (920) 424-1101 fax wise-at-uwosh.edu www.uwosh.edu/departments/biology/wise/wise.html
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Brief informational Web focused on Microscopy 10 bit digital / analog CCD cameras http://members.aol.com/dvcco DVC-1300 1300 x 1030 progressive scan pixel array, 12 FPS rate, 8-9 bits out of a 10 bit A/D, RS422 digital out and analog video non-standard for any RS-170 input framegrabber List Price $4995. !!! Other 10 bit 30FPS models available at $2995. Complete frame grabber / software systems available from a one stop US camera manufacturer and systems house. We are an alternative to the other over priced cameras 1K cameras, if the applications fit. This posting is for the benefit of your members.
On Mon, 23 Mar 1998, Fred Pearson wrote: } I have a 11 year old Philips CM12. Recently movement of the Objective } aperture mechanism either with the apertures in/out or lever right/left } causes a pressure rise (to 34) in the column as read by the IGP display. } I suspect that movement of the inner most bellows, embedded in the } objective lens has developed a micro-leak. } } Hi Fred, The commonest cause is the screw at the end of the aperture mechanism being loose. It's worth checking. Ron =========================================================================== Mr. Ron Doole e-mail ron.doole-at-materials.ox.ac.uk Department of Materials, phone +44 (0) 1865 273701 University of Oxford, fax +44 (0) 1865 283333 Parks Road. Oxford. OX1 3PH. UK. ============================================================================
I will explian you in more detials for your questions in next week when I return home. Due to I have no any document i.e., service manual and circuit diagram in my hand at a moment.
Regards,
Paiboon Nuannin Prince of Songkla University Hatyai 90112 Thailand
On Mon, 23 Mar 1998, Brian McIntyre wrote:
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } hi- } } thanks to all who sent info on about testing the vacuum system. } } seems i may have more problems: } } 1) the leak rate from HVac is {3uA/min } atm=250uA } Hvac=25uA on vacuum meter test points (OK) } } 2) V1 doesn't work in auto mode, and many times won't work in manual } } 3) DP heater warms up (light on) in about 20minutes } } 4) R4 vacuum control pot will not make V1 open when vacuum meter {190uA } while in auto mode } } 5) solenoid valve for the closing side of V1 will not release pressure } so that the opening side of the valve (when pressurized) will force the } valve to open.... most of the time (related to #2 above) } } 6) some of the valves (like v4) will actuate manually when the } controls are } in the auto mode (is this normal...or an indication that the logic is } all messed up?) } } 7) V5 (airlock) will not open in auto mode, but does in manual (as } does the } associated leak valve) } } i'm really confused about this since it seems to be a moving target with } many appearent "failures". is there one circumstance or condition that } would explain these observations???? } } thx in advance! } brian } } **************************************************************** } Brian McIntyre } Electron Microscopy Lab } Institute of Optics } University of Rochester } Rochester, NY 14627 } } 716-275-3058 } 716-244-4936(fax) } } }
====================================================== SECOND INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL AND CONFERENCE ON IMAGE AND FLOW CYTOMETRY =======================================================
Krakow, 07 - 12 June 1998
Jagiellonian University Krakow, Poland
------------------------------------------------------------ Please be so kind as to forward this announcement to your colleagues who might be interested in attending the School
Detailed information: http://helios.mol.uj.edu.pl/ or dobrucki-at-mol.uj.edu.pl USA mirror: http://www.cyto.purdue.edu/mirrors/dobrucki ------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL INFORMATION ------------------- PLACE: Laboratory of Confocal Microscopy and Image Analysis Department of Biophysics, Institute of Molecular Biology, Jagiellonian University Al. Mickiewicza 3, 31-120 Krakow, Poland
LANGUAGE: English
PARTICIPANTS: The Course is aimed at graduate students, young researchers and clinicians from areas of medicine, biology, biotechnology, chemistry, physics, etc.
LECTURES AND LAB SESSIONS: Participants may attend the lectures only (free of charge) or register for laboratory sessions and tutorials (tuition fee).
GENERAL OUTLINE --------------- The Course will embrace basic and some selected specialized techniques in:
* lectures - open to all students and researchers free of charge, however advance registration required * lababoratory sessions - students will select introductory or advanced level groups. Live cells and fixed specimen will be available for lab sessions; the students are welcome to bring their own samples to be used during lab sessions
INVITED LECTURERS AND TUTORS ---------------------------- E.Bedner, New York Medical College, N.York, USA F.Brakenhoff, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Holland A.Cossarizza, University of Modena, Modena, Italy Z.Darzynkiewicz, New York Medical College, N.York, USA G.Durack, University of Illinois, USA D.P.Evenson, South Dakota State University, USA D.W.Galbraith, University of Arizona, USA W.Goehde, Westfalishe Wilhelms-Universitat, Munster, Germany J.Kawiak, Medical Center for Postgraduate Training, Warsaw N.Opitz, Max-Planck-Institut, Dortmund, Germany A.H.Radbruch, Deutsches Rheuma-Forschungszentrum, Germany J.P.Robinson, Purdue University, Purdue, USA G.Rothe, Klinikum der Universitat Regensburg, Germany F.Sansonetty, IPATIMUP, Porto, Portugal G.Schmitz, Klinikum der Universitat Regensburg, Germany T.V.Shankey, Loyola University Medical Center, Chicago L.Staiano-Coico, Cornell Univ. Medical College, N.York, USA J.Szollosi, Univ. Medical School, Debrecen, Hungary G.Valet, Max-Planck-Inst. fur Biochemie, Martinsried, Germany J.V.Watson, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK N.White, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
PRELIMINARY PROGRAMME --------------------- (Lectures, Laboratory Sessions and Tutorials)
* Confocal microscopy - principles and instrumentation * Optimizing data collection in image cytometry * Multiphoton confocal imaging * Principles of image processing and deconvolution of 3D data stacks * Ratio imaging * New fluorescent probes for flow and image cytometry * Green fluorescent protein * Transgene expression * DNA arrays * Accumulation and distribution of antitumor drugs * Chromatin structure in interphase and mitosis * Cytoskeleton and post-translational modifications of tubulin * Plant ploidy and DNA content analysis * Advantages and applications of laser scanning cytometry * Detection of apoptosis and measurement of enzyme kinetic reactions in individual live cells, by laser scanning cytometry
* Flow cytometry - principles and instrumentation * Multidimensional immunophenotyping including analysis of intracellular antigens * Functional T-cell cytometry * Flow Cytometric Analysis of Platelet Activation and Function * Cytokine cytometry * Functional cell studies using fluorogenic probes, fluorescent ligands and FRET * Analysis of activation, proliferation and cell cycle progression * Characterization of apoptosis and necrosis * Apoptosis. Methods of detection and relevance in oncology. * Cytometry detection of cell cycle regulatory proteins * Analysis of rare events including pre-enrichment * Fertility potential of sperm by flow cytometry * Large particle sorting * Magnetic bead cell separation technology
* New frontiers in flow and image cytometry
INSTRUMENTATION --------------- Participants will conduct their experiments using a broad range of instruments used in modern cytometry:
* two confocal microscopes (Bio-Rad MRC1024 and MicroRadiance) * a laser scanning cytometer (CompuCyte) * three Silicon Graphics workstations * three FLOW cytometers, one cell sorter (Becton-Dickinson, Bio-Rad, Partec, Cytomation)
SUGGEST YOUR OWN SUBJECT... --------------------------- The prospective participants are encouraged to suggest subjects of lab sessions that they will find most useful (please contact dr J.Dobrucki).
BRING YOUR OWN SAMPLES... ------------------------- The students will study specimens - live and fixed animal and plant cells prepared especially for the course. All students are also welcome to bring their own samples to be studied. Please contact dr Dobrucki for details.
PRELIMINARY SCHEDULE -------------------- 07 June 19:00 Welcome Reception, registration
08 - 11 June 8:30 - 11:30 Lectures 13:00 - 15:00 Lab sessions and tutorials 16:00 - 18:00 Lab sessions and tutorials
12 June 8:30 - 11:30 Lectures 13:00 - 15:00 Tutorials 16:00 - 17:00 Closing Lecture 19:00 Farewell Party
TUITION FEE ----------- The tuition fee, payable to the Jagiellonian University, is:
* $150,- for graduate students * $200, - for faculty members * $300, - for company representatives
Registration deadline is April 15. After the deadline payment will be $200, $250, $350 respectively.
HOW TO APPLY ------------ Application form is attached at the bottom of this document
STIPENDS -------- A limited number of stipends will be available to participants of the School. Only the students who registered, provided their full cv and a letter of recommendation from their supervisor may apply for financial support or the waver. Please contact dr Dobrucki for details.
COURSE CERTIFICATES -------------------- Those who attended all Course lectures and successfully completed selected lab sessions\tutorials will be entitled to receive a Course Certificate.
SIGHTSEEING AND SOCIAL PROGRAMME -------------------------------- The following trips are planned:
* Museum of the Jagiellonian University (Collegium Maius) featuring a unique collection of scientific equipment * The medieval Salt Mine at Wieliczka. The tourist will visit 30 of 2148 underground chambers * The Tatra Mountains * Krakow Old Town and the Royal Castle of Wawel
We will also organize a trip to Museum of Auschwitz-Birkenau (Oswiecim-Brzezinka) Concentration Camp.
FURTHER INFORMATION ------------------- dr Jerzy Dobrucki dobrucki-at-mol.uj.edu.pl fax. +48 (012) 633 69 07 tel. +48 (012) 634-14-42, ex. 268 tel. +48 (012) 634-16-80, ex. 268
address: Jagiellonian University Institute of Molecular Biology Department of Biophysics Laboratory of Confocal Microscopy and Image Analysis Al. Mickiewicza 3 31-120 Krakow, Poland ============================================================ APPLICATION FORM Second International School of Flow and Image Cytometry Krakow, 07-12 June 1998 -------------------------------------------------------------- Send to: DR J.DOBRUCKI JAGIELLONIAN UNIVERSITY, INSTITUTE OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AL. MICKIEWICZA 3, 31-120 KRAKOW, POLAND fax: +48 (012) 633 69 07 e-mail: dobrucki-at-mol.uj.edu.pl -------------------------------------------------------------- Please type in using CAPITAL LETTERS
First Name:................................. Family Name:................................. Occupation (undergraduate, graduate, post-doc, faculty, other):.................................. Institution: full name............................ postal address:........................ telephone............................... fax..................................... electronic mail......................... Name and address of your supervisor, group leader or laboratory director:..................................... ........................................... ........................................... I want to attend laboratory sessions on (please mark with X): flow cytometry - introductory...... flow cytometry - advanced...... image cytometry - introductory...... image cytometry - advanced...... laser scanning cytometry - ........
I suggest the following additional topics for tutorials/practicals: 1............................................... 2............................................... 3............................................... 4............................................... ...............
Please enclose your curriculum vitae, including a list of publications. The tuition payment should be sent by bank transfer, and a copy of the bank document must be sent by fax to Dr. J.Dobrucki, fax +48 (012) 633 69 07.7.
I have been asked by Dr. John E. Johnson, Jr., Editor-in-Chief of Microscopy Research and Technique (MRT), to solicit selected articles addressing recent advances in our understanding of DIGITAL IMAGING. The invited articles would be the basis for a topical issue of MRT entitled DIGITAL IMAGING IN MICROSCOPY, on which I would serve as Guest Editor. Possible topics could be: Theory of digitization of micrographs and digital imaging. Evaluation and comparison of scanners, CCD array detectors, imaging plates etc. Sampling and undersampling phenomena (and their avoidance or application). Application of CCD arrays in imaging, diffraction, automated microscopy etc. Measurement and correction of transfer functions. Digital image processing of micrographs. Data bases and image retrieval. etc. In this regard, I am writing to invite you, either alone or in conjunction with a collaborator(s) of your choice, to submit a suitable article. A manuscript length limitation is set at about 30 double-spaced typewritten pages, plus micrographs. An Abstract should be included. Each manuscript will be refereed, and therefore will be suitable for inclusion in Grant Proposals or Renewals. The MRT Instructions to Contributors at http://www.interscience.wiley.com/jpages/1059-910X/authors.html should be used as a guide when preparing the manuscript. Note that the journal has a format of 8 1/4" by 11", and the figure size is 6 3/4" wide by a maximum of 9" high for a full page width figure, or 3 5/16" wide by a maximum of 9" high for a single column width figure. Therefore, your figures should be trimmed to these dimensions if you wish them to be reproduced at the same size as the originals. There is a charge to authors for color figures, but no charge for black and white figures, regardless of the number. You would need to include copyright release forms signed by the publisher for any previously published figures. Please examine MRT for examples of what we are looking for in topical papers. If you would be willing to participate in this venture, I would appreciate knowing your intentions by 30.4.1998. I would need your Article Outline (with approximate number of pages and figures) by 30.6.1998, and I would, at that time, make available to you a list of other contributors and article titles. The completed manuscript would be due in my office by 30.8.1998. All manuscripts are peer reviewed and may require revision. The topical issue will be published within 4 - 6 months (this is part of our agreement) after the manuscripts are received at the publisher's office in New York (John Wiley). I hope you will agree to contribute to what we believe will be a fascinating and beneficial update of current knowledge in DIGITAL MICROSCOPY.
Sincerely,
Philip Koeck
-- Philip Koeck Karolinska Institutet Dept. of Bioscience Novum S-14157 Huddinge Sweden Tel.: +46-8-608 91 86 Fax.: +46-8-608 92 90 Email: Philip.Koeck-at-csb.ki.se http://www_scem.csb.ki.se/pages/philip.html
One of my big concerns about digitally enhancing images is the tendency for enhancing an image so much to support one's point, that the image is no longer photo-quality, but merely a cartoon. I am aware that when people selectively crop their photos, and zoom in on only areas of interest, a lot of information is slanted to support a point, but I don't want these things taken to extreme. If one starts cloning away background label that they don't think belongs, or adding color to images to highlight the cells or structures of interest, then I seriously begin to question the objective value of this information. (Reproducible or not!)
I guess this is my attempt to 'get on my soapbox' and implore you all to use digital enhancement with temperance!
Thanks for listening.
Gregg Sobocinski Parke-Davis Pharmaceuticals Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
---------- } Van: yvan lindekens {yvan.lindekens-at-skynet.be} } Aan: darnowsk-at-staff.uiuc.edu } Onderwerp: Information about Lensman } Datum: dinsdag 17 maart 1998 18:27 } Mr. Darnowski,
The Lensman Microscope is made by Science of Cambridge ltd. (U.K.).
* Lensman1,2,3.jpg: article about the Lensman microscope in the German magazine "Mikrokosmos", mai 1992.
You can also find some articles about the Lensman and other portable microscopes, including the "McArthur microscope" in:
http://www.microscopy-uk/mag/libindex.html
I have used the Lensman for a few days, and I find the results rather dissapointing: image quality is poor, only slightly better than the quality of the image produced by a toy microscope!
I have had better results with a MBU-4S microscope (ZENIT/LOMO, Russia) (see Spiro.jpg).
This microscope costs in my country about 8 000 Belgian Francs (that's about 213 US$).
Zenit/LOMO is availlable in the USA, but don't ask me who the dealer is: I don't know...
Of course, this is a "real microscope": it's not intended to be a "portable", but in my experience it can very well be used as such. It's weight is about 3 kg. It's equipped with a good abb=E9 condenser, and objectives 8x, N.A. 0,20 and 20x, N.A. 0,40; Oculars 7x H, 10x K and 15xK. When I use it, I put it, in a large towel, in my bag...
* spiro.jpg: conjugation of Spirogyra sp. photographed "in the field'" with natural light; obj. 20x, oc.: 7xH. With camera Olympus OM1 and film Ilford Pan F.
Photographic print Scanned with 200x200dpi.
I have had also good results with a portable microscope "AZ 2". This is also a Eastern-European microscope, made by MEOPTA. It was, a few years ago, availlable trough "KOSMOS SERVICE", Pfizerstrasse 5-7, 7000 Stuttgart1, Germany. Perhaps it is still availlable...
I have not forwarded the attachments. Anyone wanting them should email me personally--Doug Darnowski
****************************************************************************= ** Douglas Darnowski Department of Crop Sciences 384 ERML 1201 West Gregory Drive University of Illinois Urbana IL 61801 work ph: (217) 244-6150 fx: (217) 333-4777 home ph: (217) 356-6606 fx: (217) 356-4454 email: darnowsk-at-staff.uiuc.edu
First, thank you to everyone who sent EDS upgrade suggestions, it has been enormously helpful.
Please remember that the following is only a summary of the responses that I received to my inquiry about an inexpensive upgrade for my old Kevex 7000, it is not a comprehensive survey.
In my original message I mentioned that I was considering the 4pi Spectral Engine II package. Of the 8 users who responded, 5 wrote to say they liked the 4pi system a lot. They said that they thought it represented the best value for the money, the tech support was good and they liked the DTSA and Flame software. Other users recommended the IXRF, Rontec, and EMispec systems. The IXRF is a more comprehensive and expensive system than I'm looking for as is the Rontec system that is available in the US. I was unable to find additional information about the EMispec.
I also heard from a number of vendors. For the most part the upgrade packages they offer include electronics such as the pulse processor (which for reasons of cost I prefer not to replace) and proprietary software. In general the prices were in the neighborhood of $30K. The exceptions are Scanners Corp., Mektech Inc., E.Fjeld Co., and American Nuclear Systems Inc. which all offer relatively inexpensive keep-your-own-electronics upgrades. I have an assortment of addresses and quotes I'd be happy to share with other interested users.
Our materials science lab has recently inherited a Nikon Fluophot transmitted fluorescence microscope. HELP!! Having no experience with fluorescence, we would appreciate any hints specific to this "dinosaur". Thank you. Tina McNickle University of Connecticut IMS Microscopy Laboratory 97 North Eagleville Road Storrs, CT 06269-3136 Phone (860)486-5453
The Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology at the University of Michigan has a Meridian Ultima 312 Premium Laser Confocal Microscope System for sale. This instrument was purchased with private funds in 1996 by a faculty member and was used for six months to meet the requirements of the research contract. After that, it was placed in a multi-user facility where it saw very little use. It is in perfect condition and was recently inspected by the parent service company. A field service report of this inspection is available. Space is ultimately the issue since the multi-user facility (CBL) is slated to be renovated and ultimately downsized. The original price of this instrument was $382,110.
This system has a host of desirable features including an Innova Enterprise UV-Visible laser (351-364 nm, 488nm, & 514 nm) and a Krypton laser (568nm & 647nm) with filters for Indo, FITC, Rhodamine, PI, BCECF, etc. The microscope body is an Olympus IMT-2 with 4X, 10X, 20X, 40X, 60X, and 100X objectives. It features mirror and stage scanning operations, nine different aperture/pinhole sizes, motorized stage, 3 PMT's, and "Z" drive. An optional software package is included which contains functions such as: Image Analysis, Cell-Cell Communications, FRAP, List, Sort, Auto Image, Ratio Analysis (calcium & pH), and Kinetics Analysis. The computer configuration is a 90 MHz EISA/PCI Pentium with 80 MB RAM, VGA Graphics, 2.1 GB SCSI hard drive, two monitors, and 1.2 GB rewritable optical drive.
Interested investigators are invited to contact us directly at 734-763-1170 during normal business hours or through a personal e-mail response. Thank you.
} Our materials science lab has recently inherited a Nikon Fluophot } transmitted fluorescence microscope. HELP!! Having no experience } with fluorescence, we would appreciate any hints specific to this } "dinosaur". Thank you.
It dates from the late '70s and is adaptable to reflected as well as transmission fluorescence. Uses standard Nikon optics.
Who out there are the people in the know regarding remote imaging. Can I send live / semi live images to a person while we are both on the phone and discuss what I am doing on the TEM? We are currently using a Kodak Megaplus, into a computer with a VGA video feed out to the monitor. I have already played with converting that feed to TV video, and recording a session on a VCR (with surprisingly good image quality). I would like to know how to make the next jump.
I am planning on viewing some thin sections of cattle grub spermathecae and cattle grub testis and I am unable to find previous research done on these specimens with regards to fixation, dehydration, and embedding. Does anyone out there know of any method which might work best? Suggestions would be very appreciated.
Thanks very much for the suggestions.
Paolo Santangelo University of Lethbridge Lerthbridge, Alberta Canada E-mail - santpe-at-uleth.ca
} } Who out there are the people in the know regarding remote imaging. ------cut------ } I } would like to know how to make the next jump. } } Rick Vaughn
There is a major state-of-the-art program in TelePresence Microscopy which is funded under the DoE 2000 Program, called the Materials MicroCharacterization Collaboratory. That project connects 5 national electron-optical beam characterization centers (ANL, LBNL, NIST, ORNL, and Univ. of Illinois) into an on-line virtual electronic collaboratory.
The MMC deals with far more than just simple imaging over the Net, it's objective is to integrate (ultimately) all the methodologiew which defines scientific collaboration (remote control, data sharing, electronic notebooks, video conferencing, etc....). You can find out more about this project at the URL
http://tpm.amc.anl.gov/mmc
You can also login to the "live" multi-site collaboratory (using NetScape not MS I.E.) at the following:
http://tpm.amc.anl.gov/mmc/TPMLVideoCollab.html
} From this site you can connect also directly to individual facilities within the Collaboratory.
There is also a Major Symposium on the same topic at the upcoming Microscopy & Microanalysis '98 Meeting in Atlanta this July
the Symposium is entitled: Advances in Remote Microscopy, Instrument Automation and Data Storage and is Organized by: Edgar Voelkl, Mike O'Keefe and Nestor Zaluzec . At MM'98 you will have the opportunity to hear the latest advances in TelePresence Microscopy & Microanalysis from a wide range of perspectives covering both the Physical and Life Science arena's. There is a full day of platform presentations as well as an extensive poster session, if all goes well there should also be the opportunity for on-line demostrations at the annual computer workshop.
Cheers...
Nestor Your Friendly Neighborhood SysOp
************************************************************** Disclaimer: I have an modicum of vested interest in both the MMC and the MM'98 Program **************************************************************
Molecular Imaging Spring Workshop on Biological High Resolution In Vitro Atomic Force Microscopy (nanometer resolution of soft samples in biological buffers at 37C) Hands on training. Bring your own samples (NO BIO HAZARD MATERIALS)
I am the senior anatomopathologist of thePaediatric Institute of Research of the University of Trieste(Italy).Due to two international collaborative research projects we ought to send to UK and USA our frozen section of intestinal biopsies. These sections will be analyzed for EmA(antibodies anti-endomisium) in Celiac Disease with immunofluorescenze indirect (USA - Baltimora) and for cytokines TNF-alfa in IBD with ibridation in situ (UK). I fix the frozen sections with acetone-clhorophormio and store them at -20=B0C (they last 2-3 months). I would like to know if ther is any other tecnique to fix sections in way I could store at 2-4=B0C and preserve them before searching for antigen for a longer period (such as 5-6 months).Thank you Dr. Angelo Citt=E0 e-mail: acitt-at-tin.it
I mistiped a number and now I am lucky owner of 8000 Gilder GS2x1 slot grids, made of Cu. Are there out some other TEM users haveing interest in purchasing such things?
(I have strong commercial interest in getting away these grids!)
Best regards Peter
dr Peter Nagy MTA MFA 1525 Budapest POBox 49 T: ++36-1-3959220/1968 e-mail: p.nagy-at-r1.atki.kfki.hu
} I am planning on viewing some thin sections of cattle grub spermathecae } and cattle grub testis and I am unable to find previous research done on } these specimens with regards to fixation, dehydration, and embedding. } Does anyone out there know of any method which might work best? } Suggestions would be very appreciated.
This tissue is not difficult to prepare, particularly if there is no chitin around. I suggest that you use any reliable protocol for preparation of animal tissues for TEM. If you like you can refer to a protocol that I published a few years ago. I know that it works very well for insect material. The reference is:
Cross, R.H.M. (1989) A reliable epoxy resin mixture and its application in routine biological transmission electron microscopy. Micron & Microscopica Acta, 20(1), 1.
If you do not have this journal available I could mail or fax the reprint to you.
Good luck!
Robin H Cross Director : EM Unit, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa eurc-at-giraffe.ru.ac.za - tel: +27 46 603 8168 - fax: +27 46 622 4377
To: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com -at- Internet-Mail cc:
I would like to remind anyone who may be interested in the following= position that the application deadline is April 10, 1998. If there= are any questions, please contact me at laura.rhoads-at-wku.edu. Thank= you.
EM TECHNICIAN- The Department of Biology at Western Kentucky University= is accepting applications for a full-time, permanent Electron Microscopy= Technician position available July 1, 1998. The major responsibility= of this position is to oversee activities associated with the= multi-disciplinary user EM Facility. The Facility houses two JEOL= 100B TEMs, one JEOL 5400LV SEM with EDS, a darkroom, and biological= sample preparation equipment. The technician will be responsible= for the day-to-day operations of the Facility including maintenance= of the instruments and trouble-shooting, sample preparations, inventory= of equipment and supplies, training of users, and providing research= support for faculty, students, and outside users of the Facility.= The person hired will be encouraged to assist in obtaining outside= support for the Facility through contracts. The technician will= report directly to the Facility Director. The qualified candidate= will have a B.S. degree (M. S. preferred) and at least two years= experience in aspects of electron microscopy. Additional duties= will be assigned and may include supervising laboratory preparations= for cell and molecular biology courses and full support for the= darkroom. Send letter of application, curriculum vitae and three= letters of reference to: Dr. Laura S. Rhoads, Department of Biology,= Western Kentucky University, 1 Big Red Way, Bowling Green, KY 42101-3576.= Screening of applications will begin April 10, 1998. Questions may= be addressed to laura.rhoads-at-wku.edu. Women and minorities are especially= encouraged to apply. WKU is an affirmative action/equal opportunity= employer.
************************************************************ It's true- the inmates ARE running the asylum... ************************************************************ Laura Rhoads Electron Microscopy Facility Director Department of Biology Western Kentucky University 1 Big Red Way Bowling Green, KY 42101-3576
My name is Andrew Aurbach. I am currently developing a video project with National Geographic Television. I am seeking moving microscopy images at the cellular and atomic levels. I am curiuous at to some of the materials which may be available at the Association level. I checked some of the videotape resources, and some may be appropriate. Who can I contact on this front?
When your message arrived, I was reading and article titled "Desktop Microscopy Apps Get Their Video-Rate Imaging" in the March 1998 issue of Advanced Imaging magazine (p. 18). The article/advertisement highlighted particle tracking systems for biological applications.
The author can be reached at: Dr. Douglas M. Benson Inovision Corp. Durham, NC (919) 361-4609 http://www.inovis.com
The usual disclaimers apply. I have no financial interest in products or companies mentioned in this message.
Harold J. Crossman OSRAM SYLVANIA INC. Lighting Research Center 71 Cherry Hill Dr. Beverly, MA 01915 (978) 750-1717 crossman-at-osi.sylvania.com
I am looking for advice on doing TEM on a 20 micron thick sheet of polypropylene film. There is a small dark threadlike inclusion that is buried in the matrix that I would like to identify using EDS. Does anyone have experience with this type of analysis? Thank you in advance.
Regards,
Michael Coviello EM Lab Manager Materials Science Dept. The University of Texas -at- Arlington Arlington, TX E-mail coviello-at-mae.uta.edu 817-272-5496
One of my colleagues asked me to do some TEM on a "nuclear pellet", cells from adult rat cerebral cortex that had been fractionated and the nulcei seperated out. The material looks relatively 'clean' but it would be nice if I had a reference to cite. Can anyone help me out? Thanks in advance.
Geoff -- *************************************************************** Geoff McAuliffe, Ph.D. Neuroscience and Cell Biology Robert Wood Johnson Medical School 675 Hoes Lane Piscataway, NJ 08854 voice: (732)-235-4583; fax -4029 e-mail: mcauliff-at-umdnj.edu ***************************************************************
Meeting of the Metropolitan Microscopy Society ==================================================
Date: Wed., April 1, 1998 Time: 10:00 AM Place: Raddison Inn, 601 From Road, Paramus, NJ Directions: Garden State Parkway to Exit 165 (E. Ridgewood Ave./Oradell Ave.) From Road is on the west side of the Garden State Parkway, and adjacent to it.
10:00-10:30 am Registration: ($5.00) Coffee and Danish sponsored by: IBM Analytical Services Hopewell Junction, NY 12533.
10:30-10:50 am Introductory remarks and society business -- Phil Flaitz.
10:50-11:40 am PRINCIPLE AND APPLICATIONS OF ELECTRON BACKSCATTER DIFFRACTION (EBSD) IN THE SEM, Prof. Frederic Cosandey, Department of Ceramic and Materials Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NY
The diffraction phenomena known as Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD) is known since the 1930's but is only recently that EBSD has become a practical technique for materials characterization in a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). These recent developments of EBSD have been made possible by the availability of fast PC computers for automated diffraction pattern recognition as well as for automated beam control and automated analysis of over thousand of patterns in a reasonable amount of time. There are now numerous application of EBSD ranging from phase identification to texture analysis, orientation imaging microscopy and strain analysis in metal, oxides, semiconductor and composite materials. In this talk, the history and basic principle of EBSD will be reviewed with a discussion on spatial resolution limit and range of applications. Specific examples will be presented which include epitaxial orientation determination of Au particles on TiO2, orientation and perfection determination of oxide crystals and texture analysis in Al2O3 polycrystal.
11:45-12:45 pm STANDARDS FOR X-RAY MICROANALYSIS: HOW WE GET THEM, HOW WE USE THEM AND WHY WE WILL ALWAYS NEED THEM, Greg Meeker, United States Geological Society, Denver, CO.
X-ray microanalysis, whether by energy or wavelangth dispersive meth- ods, must rely on standards for accuracy and precision. Standards provide the means of calibrating our instruments and verifing that our results are acceptable. Even standardless methods require the use of well characterized calibration materials.
With the large number of EDS and WDS systems in use today it is surprising that very few certified microanalytical reference materials are available. This is particularly true of non-metallic standards such as oxides, sulfides and semi-conductors. There are many natural and synthetic materials that are used as standards throughout the world for x-ray microanalysis, but it is not always clear how to obtain or prepare these materials. In acquiring or preparing standards several factors must be considered including homogeneity at the micrometer scale, stability of the material under analytical conditions, accuracy of reported compositions, and uniformity of x-ray emission with respect to orientation of the material. It is also not always clear how to choose the appropriate standard for a particular element since the matrices of both the standard and the unknown can significantly effect the measured intensities. This is particularly true with the ultra-light elements where variation of peak shape due to chemical bonding, and the uncertainty of published mass absorption coefficients become critical.
Another factor effecting how we use and prepare standards is the recent move toward stricter quality assurance practices and requirements, such as ISO 9000, and the actions of international standards committee. These changes present new and consequential challenges and concerns for the analyst.
These subjects will be addressed, and suggestions will be presented for obtaining and using reference materials that are presently available. In addition, a brief summary of recent efforts at the U.S. Geological Survey to produce a relatively large quantity of a basalt glass standard suitable for microanalysis will be presented. Finally, the present situation with respect to ISO and the International Standards Committee, and the effect these groups could have on our procedures and practices as analysts will be discussed.
12:45 pm Lunch. (Available at Max's Cafe in the Radisson Inn)
For additional information, please contact: Phil Flaitz ..... 914-892-3094, flaitz-at-us.ibm.com Jeff Hurd ....... 914-894-4250, HURDJ-at-US.IBM.COM
Philip L. Flaitz IBM Analytical Services Ph.......(914) 892-3094, FAX -2003 flaitz-at-us.ibm.com
As someone said, it was serendipitous. I was processing a bunch of images through Visilog 4.x running on a Windows box as I read your letter.
There is a SAVE option which allows several different formats. I see TIFF and TGA (Targa?) as options in addition to a couple of proprietary Visilog formats. I don't know if they do 16-bit TIFF, but they certainly should do 8-bit unless you have a really old version. I know Visilog is now out in version 5.x. But we are sonstrained to version 4 for a while longer as it is bundled into our EDS package.
At 09:29 AM 3/25/98 -0500, you wrote: } Hello All, } We are running Cameca's Visiwiew (Noesis' Visilog) to display and process } images and x-ray maps acquired on a Cameca SX-50. The program is running on } a Sun Unix platform under Sunview v3.0 environment. Up to now, we } converted images to other formats by using a unix screendump utility to } convert the screen displayed images to sun rasterfile images which are } readable by many second party image processors. The conversions, however, } were limited to display resolutions only. I would like to convert 1024 X } 1024(16 bit deep) visiview images to other formats(TIFF, PICT, etc.) and } preserve the original resolution. Any advice will be greatly appreciated. } } Regards, } Mark S. Angelone
To keep millipore filters flat during tissue processing and CPD, I have sandwiched the filters between doughnut-shaped magnets, which are approximately the same size as the filters. It works great. Good luck.
Dear Mike, I've done something similar with a polymer. I spoke nicely to a zoologist who cut thin sections with a diamond knife and picked them up on copper grids. Then I coated the sections with carbon - if you don't do this the charging will tear the polymer apart. The rest is easy; just spend hours looking for the inclusion and try not to search in the resin the zoologist used to make the block for sectioning.
Regards, Eric On Wed, 25 Mar 1998 09:20:06 -0600 Mike Coviello {Coviello-at-mae.uta.edu} wrote:
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Dear Microscopists: } } I am looking for advice on doing TEM on a 20 micron thick sheet of } polypropylene film. There is a small dark threadlike inclusion that is buried } in the matrix that I would like to identify using EDS. Does anyone have } experience with this type of analysis? Thank you in advance. } } Regards, } } } Michael Coviello } EM Lab Manager } Materials Science Dept. } The University of Texas -at- Arlington } Arlington, TX } E-mail coviello-at-mae.uta.edu } 817-272-5496 } }
---------------------- Dr Eric E. Lachowski University of Aberdeen Department of Chemistry Meston Walk Old Aberdeen AB24 3UE Scotland +44 1224 272934 e.lachowski-at-abdn.ac.uk
The Mountain States Society of Electron Microscopists and the Colorado Microbeam Analysis Society, a local affiliate society of the Microscopy Society of America and the Microbeam Analysis Society, will hold it's annual Spring Symposium in Boulder, CO, on Friday, April 17. Details about the program and location are available at their new website:
Michael Coviello wrote: =================================================== I am looking for advice on doing TEM on a 20 micron thick sheet of polypropylene film. There is a small dark threadlike inclusion that is buried in the matrix that I would like to identify using EDS. Does anyone have experience with this type of analysis? Thank you in advance. =================================================== This is a fairly common kind of industrial problem of the type that arises in a polypropylene film extrusion line and the analysis if pretty much routine. At 20 um film thickness, this is really very thin, so it clearly has to be embedded. The sectioning must be done cryo, and we would also recommend gold sputter coating one side and aluminun evaporation on the other, if the film is assymetric so that you can always readily keep track of the two surfaces. Knowing which side is which is very often an important bit of information to have. We have had excellent results using our own SPI -Pon(TM) 812 embedding resin kit but some of the other "Epon(R) replacements" would (probably) work just as well. Diamond knife sectioning is preferred over glass knife sectioning. If the "thread" is a "line up" of catalyst reside particles (quite possible in the case of polypropylene if the screen pack filters in the extrusion lines are failing), then you might just as well use a materials science diamond knife and not risk the destruction of a perfectly fine (and extraordinarily expensive in comparision) life science diamond knife. Sometimes it is difficult to get SAED from the catalyst reside particles but getting EDS data is no problem, so long as you have made stable enough sections(e.g. they are thin enough).
Note: There is another approach that in some instances is easier and faster for this kind of very thin sample: Use a plasma etcher to etch away the polypropylene down to the point you hit something that won't etch. Or else, etch to completion, until there is just a residue that is left on the substrate, say a beryllium planchett. That could be your "thread" of interest. Now this is the ideal kind of SEM/EDS sample and you can spare yourself the grief and aggrivation of trying to thinsection this kind of sample altogether. Of course if the "thread" itself etches away, that tells you something as well, namely it is carbonaceous, maybe a carbon black contamination problem but certainly not a catalyst residue kind of problem. Otherwise something would be left after the etching. Using a Be planchett really is the ideal kind fo substrate because of its very low Bremmstrahlung background radiation levels.
Hope this helps.
Disclaimer: Our firm performs these kinds of analyses for clients as an independent laboratory service. We are also suppliers of diamond knives and embedding resins for this kind of work. And if the SEM approach is used, we also manufacture the plasma etcher and supply the Be planchetts.
Chuck
=================================================== Charles A. Garber, Ph. D. Ph: 1-(610)-436-5400 President 1-(800)-2424-SPI SPI SUPPLIES FAX: 1-(610)-436-5755 PO BOX 656 e-mail: cgarber-at-2spi.com West Chester, PA 19381-0656 USA Cust. Service: spi2spi-at-2spi.com
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I'm looking for a copy of the February 23, 1998 TIME magazine (vol.151, no.7). It's the one with the cover of a negative stain of the Hong Kong chicken/human flu virus & a scientist in a "bunny suit". We're going to have our lab available during campus open house & thought that the article, picture, etc. was a good way to show the general population how TEM's help us in the real world. If anyone knows of a source or has one hanging around that they no longer want, please let me know. Also, if there is a location where we can find pictures of Ebola or any other viruses please let me know. We think that most people know what viruses are so we'd show them instead of trying to explain what the inside parts of a cell are.
We've never had open house before, so if y'all have any cool suggestions for displays send 'em my way.
Thanks Kiddos!
Paula :-)
Paula Sicurello UC Berkeley Electron Microscope Lab psic-at-uclink4.berkeley.edu
A postdoctoral position is open at Northwestern University to work using Ultra-High Vacuum Electron Microscopy of Surfaces, and Direct Methods for surface structure determination using electron and x-ray diffraction data. Some details about the available hardware can be found in http://www.numis.nwu.edu, and see also Collazo et al, Phys Rev Letts 80, 1678 (1998). A strong background in electron microscopy is required, and additional background in UHV will be highly relevant. Interested applicants should send a short CV via email to ldm3-at-apollo.numis.nwu.edu including email addresses for references.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Prof. Laurence Marks Department of Materials Science and Engineering Northwestern University fax: (847) 491-7820 email:ldm3-at-apollo.numis.nwu.edu http://www.numis.nwu.edu ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Hi Todd: I worked on PLANT sperm cells using SEM and immunogold labeling of myosin on sperm surface . I used formvar coated nickel grid (pre-coated with carbon) to attach the sperm cells (need to centrifuge for a while). The sample was fixed with 1% glutaraldehye and then dehydrated with ethanol, CPD and coated with carbon. It turned out pretty good. Hope it'll help.
Zhaojie Zhang Department of Botany and Microbiology University of Oklahoma Norman, OK 73019 405-325-6234
Todd Rippy wrote:
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } I am looking for a Fixation protocol for a mouse fertilization study. } Any leads on similar work would be appreciated. } } There is an SEM of rat fertilization in a text credited to D. M. } Phillips of Visuals Unlimited. I have searched with no success for } this company. } } Thanks, } Todd Rippy
Geoff, be happy and congratulate your collegue for the purity of his fraction. Many a sample of organelles biochemists deliver for TEM-screening are highly contaminated with other particles (if they contain the desired fraction at all!). Thus, I am afraid there is hardly any "standard" published which you could cite as reference. It depends on the biochemists skill.
Greetings, Norbert; Frankfurt, Germany
} ---------- } Von: Geoff McAuliffe[SMTP:mcauliff-at-UMDNJ.EDU] } Antwort an: mcauliff-at-UMDNJ.EDU } Gesendet: Mittwoch, 25. M=E4rz 1998 20:13 } An: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } Betreff: nuclear pellet } =20 } = ---------------------------------------------------------------------- } -- } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of } America=20 } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to } ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help } http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } = ---------------------------------------------------------------------- } -. } =20 } Dear List: } =20 } One of my colleagues asked me to do some TEM on a "nuclear } pellet", } cells from adult rat cerebral cortex that had been fractionated and } the } nulcei seperated out. The material looks relatively 'clean' but it } would } be nice if I had a reference to cite. Can anyone help me out? Thanks } in } advance.=20 } =20 } Geoff } --=20 } *************************************************************** } Geoff McAuliffe, Ph.D. } Neuroscience and Cell Biology } Robert Wood Johnson Medical School } 675 Hoes Lane Piscataway, NJ 08854 } voice: (732)-235-4583; fax -4029 e-mail: mcauliff-at-umdnj.edu } *************************************************************** } =20
THE GOLGI COMPLEX. State of the art 100 years after Camillo Golgi's discovery
Pavia, Italy . September 19-23, 1998
Organized by
San Matteo Hospital, University of Pavia, National Research Council, Mario Negri Sud Institute
Organizing Committee: De Matteis (Italy); K.E. Howell (USA); A. Luini (Italy) and A.A. Mironov (Italy)
Scientific Adversary Committee: F. Clementi (Italy); M.G. Farquhar (USA); G.E. Palade (USA), K. Simons (Germany) and G. Warren (UK).
Local Committee E. Solcia (San Matteo H., Pavia), A. Calligaro (Univ. Pavia), S. Riva (CNR, Pavia)
Topics - Architecture of the Golgi complex and composition of the Golgi compartments. - Transport from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi; - Intra-Golgi transport; - Transport from the Golgi to the plasma membrane. - Plasticity and inheritance of the Golgi complex. - The cytoskeleton and the Golgi complex. - Classical and alternative intracellular traffic models. - The role of signaling in Golgi dynamics. - Primary events in Golgi dynamics: vesicle budding and fission, membrane fusion, membrane tubulation.
Speakers include: W. E. Balch, USA; V. A. Bankaitis , USA; J. J. M. Bergeron, Canada; J. S. Bonifacino, USA; N. Borghese, Italy; P. De Camilli, USA; S. Emr, USA; M.G. Farquhar, USA; B. Goud, France; H.-P. Hauri, Switzerland; J. Heuser, USA; W. Hong, Singapore; K. E. Howell, USA; T. E. Kreis, Switzerland; J. Lippincott-Schwartz, USA; V. Malhotra, USA; P. Melancon, USA; J. Meldolesi, Italy; D. J. Morre, USA; J. Morrow, USA; S. Munro, UK; P. J. Novick, USA; G. E. Palade, USA; H. Pelham, UK; A. Rambourg, France; J. Rothman, USA; R. Schekman, USA; K. Simons, Germany; L. A. Staehelin, USA; G. van Meer, The Netherlands; M. Vaughan, USA; G. Warren, UK; M. G. Waters, USA; F. Wieland, Germany; P. Weidman, USA; M. Zerial, Germany
Registration Deadline: May, 15th, 1998
The total ,umber of participants will be limited to 200. There will be poster session. The Conference fee of 600 dollars covers accomodation in student colleges (Residenza Golgi and Collegio Castiglioni) in single rooms (with bathroom) lunch, registration fee and group transportation.
Application and abstract forms from Anna Cavallo: e-mail: cavallo-at-cmns.mnegri.it
For further information contact:
Dr. A. Mironov, Consorzio Mario Negri Sud, Via Nazionale, S. Maria Imbaro (Chieti), 66030, Italy, Tel. +39 872 570 323, Fax. +39 578 240, E-mail: mironov-at-cmns.mnegri.it Internet: www.cmns.mnegri.it/golgi/
} I am looking for advice on doing TEM on a 20 micron thick sheet of } polypropylene film. There is a small dark threadlike inclusion that is buried } in the matrix that I would like to identify using EDS. Does anyone have } experience with this type of analysis? Thank you in advance.
Most of the ideas already received are very good. But you may not have certain bits of apparatus available, so here is our history of a similar problem:
We have also looked at "things" inside polypropylene films. The first thing is, do you have any idea whether this object is organic or inorganic?
If you don't know which, then it would seem that methods based on cutting, which will not chemically attack the "inclusion", are best.
If it's inorganic, then things are very much easier. Charles Garber's plasma etching idea sounds just the ticket, but where you don't have such apparatus available, you could try dissolving away the PP. We have done something like this:
Stacked inside a covered dish in an oven at 120^C:
- Specimen film - Regenerated Cellulose membrane filter - Glass fibre pad (Whatman GF series)
standing in a layer of decalin, which will slowly dissolve away the polypropylene, leaving the inclusions on the membrane filter.
We have also used permanganic etching to remove so many microns of the film. The film could be stuck down to a polystyrene or similar sheet, to keep it flat. After etching you can look under a reflection optical microscope to see if the inclusions have come to the surface. You can find our publications by going to my home page (URL below) and clicking on "Publications" in the menu bar at the top - the ones relevant to etching are in the first section of that page.
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Robert H.Olley Phone: | | J.J.Thomson Physical Laboratory {direct line +44 (0) 118 9318572 | | University of Reading {University internal extension 7867 | | Whiteknights Fax +44 (0) 118 9750203 | | Reading RG6 6AF Email: R.H.Olley-at-reading.ac.uk | | England URL: http://www.reading.ac.uk/~spsolley | +------------------------------------------------------------------------+
you asked for suggestions for displays. A lot depends on the age group that you expect to get but I have found that from ages of 11 upwards it is nice to show something on a light microscope and also on the electron microscope (you haven't said whether your visitors will get to drive anything). A nice motile bug such as Rhodospirillum works well because your visitors can see it small and moving on the light microscope (we displayed it on a TV monitor) and big with flagella on the TEM.
We also gave out little stickers (badges would have been better) saying "I drove the ****** electron microscope at ******* and the kids loved it - they were nearly as popular as balloons. The most popular pictures that we gave away were of disease causing organisms such as influenza. I suspect that a couple of short videos/slides/multimedia displays running on monitors would grab attention more than just static photos.
The last time we did this we were busy all day so make sure you have enough people to help out and take breaks and good luck.
Malcolm Haswell Electron Microscope Unit University of Sunderland UK ----------
Websters,
I'm looking for a copy of the February 23, 1998 TIME magazine (vol.151, no.7). It's the one with the cover of a negative stain of the Hong Kong chicken/human flu virus & a scientist in a "bunny suit". We're going to have our lab available during campus open house & thought that the article, picture, etc. was a good way to show the general population how TEM's help us in the real world. If anyone knows of a source or has one hanging around that they no longer want, please let me know. Also, if there is a location where we can find pictures of Ebola or any other viruses please let me know. We think that most people know what viruses are so we'd show them instead of trying to explain what the inside parts of a cell are.
We've never had open house before, so if y'all have any cool suggestions for displays send 'em my way.
Thanks Kiddos!
Paula :-) Paula Sicurello UC Berkeley Electron Microscope Lab psic-at-uclink4.berkeley.edu
Help! I'll be receiving some resin beads with cell organelles (presumably) attached soon and I've never dealt with this sort of prep before. I would appreciate hearing from anyone out there with helpful information about the processing, handling etc. of these things. I've been off the listserver for a while so if it's already been discussed, please just answer privately. Many thanks. Grace
Thank you for quick responses (MFM and Z.Z). The question that I posted was rather vague, but your response has been helpful. We are working on the
Do you know of a published version of this protocol?
I am concerned with issues of the isotonicity of the buffer/glutaraldehyde; timing of fixation after the fertilization; effects/artifacts of removing the zona pellucida.
I am trying to find information on the number of optical microscopes currently in use, preferably by category such as hospital, research, university, U.S., world, perhaps binocular/monocular, etc.
Anybody have a suggestion where I might go search?
People always like insects, spiders, etc. in the SEM. Especially when they're put in live, imaged, then release live.
If you really want to have fun, put in house dust mites, or eyebrow mites (Demodex folliculorum, if I remember right). The latter are soft-bodied beasties and require carefull drying so the opisthosoma doesn't flatten and wrinkle to oblivion, but the reactions are worth the trouble. 8-)
Phil
} We've never had open house before, so if y'all have any cool } suggestions for displays send 'em my way. } } Thanks Kiddos! } } } } Paula :-) } } Paula Sicurello } UC Berkeley } Electron Microscope Lab } psic-at-uclink4.berkeley.edu
}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{ Philip Oshel PO Box 5037 Station A Champaign, IL 61825-5037 (217) 355-1143 oshel-at-shout.net or poshel-at-hotmail.com ***** looking for a job *****
For anyone doing negative stains....where do you get viruses to use for size standards? There is a protocol in one of the Hayat books for getting TMV from cigarette tobacco - has anyone tried it? Do you think all cigs are contaminated with TMV, or just the cheap-o brands?
Sorry if this question seems frivolous, but I DO need a size standard, and I'd prefer a "biological" one to beads or crystals. Virus seemed most logical :)
Is anyone aware of a preferential stain for Methyl Violet or for oleic acid residues that would work on paper (cellulose and CaCO3 with traces of NaCl).
A colleague of mine is trying to decipher text printed with Methyl Violet pigment in an oleic acid carrier. In attempts to wash off obscuring blood stains, the paper was soaked in saline and then in petroleum ether. Needless to say, the ether took off most of the ink, too. It would be useful to amplify any residues with a preferential stain, but that is out of my area of expertise. Any suggestions on this would be appreciated.
I have a Polaron E5400 sputter coater that just sputtered out. It was coating very slowly so I put in a new gold/paladium target (the old one had burned through). When I went to sputter the thing glowed briefly & then just quit. The mAmp scale pegged on the upper end. I did the obvious things like check the fuses and they are fine, though I still might put in new ones just in case. Any thoughts as to what happened? Does anyone know who works on these things now? Or maybe some company that sells them could help. I will gratefully accept any help or information that y'all might send my way to help me repair my fizzled sputterer.
Model: Polaron E5400 Sputter Coater with a Polaron E5500 Film Thickness Monitor.
Crying & sighing but not sputtering,
Paula :-(
Paula Sicurello UC Berkeley Electron Microscope Lab psic-at-uclink4.berkeley.edu
I would like to obtain an adapter that fits onto a 4x5 camera (much like the Polaroid film packs do) AND that has a T-mount on the center that would allow me to attach a 35 mm SLR camera onto the adapter. Anyone know where to find such a device? Thanks.
#################################################################### John J. Bozzola, Ph.D., Director Center for Electron Microscopy Neckers Building, Room 146 - B Wing Southern Illinois University Carbondale, IL 62901 U.S.A. Phone: 618-453-3730 Fax: 618-453-2665 Email: bozzola-at-siu.edu Web: http://www.siu.edu/departments/shops/cem.html ####################################################################
Paula, If the circuitry inside the box is at all like that of the E5200 then there is a large, high value resistor on the output side of the HT transformer. This resistor in our E5200 has overheated and failed a few times until we replaced it a few years ago with a higher wattage resistor. This now works without trouble. The original problem is that the HT circuit is protected by a fuse, but the rating of the fuse is such that the resistor becomes the weakest link in the chain, with the resistor protecting the fuse.
} } My Fellow Board (bored?) Members, } } I have a Polaron E5400 sputter coater that just sputtered out. It } was coating very slowly so I put in a new gold/paladium target (the old one } had burned through). When I went to sputter the thing glowed briefly & } then just quit. The mAmp scale pegged on the upper end. I did the obvious } things like check the fuses and they are fine, though I still might put in } new ones just in case. } Any thoughts as to what happened? Does anyone know who works on } these things now? Or maybe some company that sells them could help. } I will gratefully accept any help or information that y'all might } send my way to help me repair my fizzled sputterer. } } } Model: Polaron E5400 Sputter Coater with a } Polaron E5500 Film Thickness Monitor. }
Prof Jan Coetzee Head: Unit for Electron Microscopy Tel:+27-12-420-2075 University of Pretoria Fax:+27-12-362-5150 Pretoria 0002 Internet:janc-at-ccnet.up.ac.za South Africa http://www.up.ac.za/science/electron/emunit1.htm
I would guess that you have lost your transformer. It is not an uncommon problem and it is a reasonably easy job to replace it. Some transformers last for ever and some fail after a couple of years - it may just be luck.
Ron
=========================================================================== Mr. Ron Doole e-mail ron.doole-at-materials.ox.ac.uk Department of Materials, phone +44 (0) 1865 273701 University of Oxford, fax +44 (0) 1865 283333 Parks Road. Oxford. OX1 3PH. UK. ============================================================================
My experience of the Polarons (we have two) is that they are not very complex instruments that may be quite easily repaired by a competent electronics repairperson. The specialist skills (?) of an agent are not likely to be necessary. Jan Coetzee's experience is one example, we had a transformer fail, also not difficult to diagnose
Tony
Tony Bruton Head, Centre for Electron Microscopy University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg KwaZulu Natal, South Africa
id AA01376; Fri, 27 Mar 98 07:33:39 CST Received: (from x400-at-localhost) by mta.mcdermott.com (8.7.1/8.7.1) id HAA28593; Fri, 27 Mar 1998 07:14:37 -0600 (CST) X-Authentication-Warning: mta.mcdermott.com: x400 set sender to Woody.N.White%650-at-wtgw.mcdermott.com using -f Received: by MCI; Fri, 27 Mar 1998 8:03:00 -0600
First, be careful! Sputter coaters use 1000 to 2000 volts at lethal currents.
A key bit of information is pegging of the current meter. I would need circuit schematics to be absolutely certain, but if conventional circuitry is employed.... This would not indicate a failed current limit resistor resistor unless shorted to case ground. Also, if the fuses were open or the transformer had failed NO current would result, not over current. The current meter should be in series between the high voltage source and the "load" (target). Over-current would typically result from a short / low resistance path between the meter and the target / bell jar.
With the power removed and the H.V. supply shorted with a jumper (for safety - also BEWARE of any capacitors which may hold a charge), disconnect the H.V. line (where exactly depends on circuit details) and measure the resistance. The value should be infinity between the line to the target and ground return. Find and remove the short circuit.
BTW, you might want to verify the over-current did not hurt the diodes also. The old cliche is that since semiconductors are so fast, they will usually blow to protect the fuse.
-------------------------
Woody White McDermott Technology, Inc woody.n.white-at-mcdermott.com http://www.mtiresearch.com
Home woody.white-at-worldnet.att.net http://www/geocities.com/capecanaveral/3722
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My Fellow Board (bored?) Members,
I have a Polaron E5400 sputter coater that just sputtered out. It was coating very slowly so I put in a new gold/paladium target (the old one had burned through). When I went to sputter the thing glowed briefly & then just quit. The mAmp scale pegged on the upper end. I did the obvious things like check the fuses and they are fine, though I still might put in new ones just in case. Any thoughts as to what happened? Does anyone know who works on these things now? Or maybe some company that sells them could help. I will gratefully accept any help or information that y'all might send my way to help me repair my fizzled sputterer.
Model: Polaron E5400 Sputter Coater with a Polaron E5500 Film Thickness Monitor.
Crying & sighing but not sputtering,
Paula :-(
Paula Sicurello UC Berkeley Electron Microscope Lab psic-at-uclink4.berkeley.edu
Over the year since I joined the list server there is an area of our "sport" that constantly hits me in the eye.
People keep talking about OPTICAL microscopes, what does this mean?
We do have light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and the modern light scanning systems, are they not ALL optical microscopes some of which use ELECTRON OPTICS. Without optics in electron microscopes how would they work?
How did we get into this mess and do we let it continue?
That should stir a few minds!
Steve Chapman
Senior Consultant E.M. Protrain, 16 Hedgerley, Chinnor, Oxford OX9 4TN, England. Tel & Fax 44 (0)1844 353161 Web Site - http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/protrain For Consultancy and Courses in Electron Microscopy World Wide
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Grace, Just handle routinely like any oather biological sample. Incubating cell with resin beads has been done for many years. The resulting preps can be used for regular TEM or for ICC. Embed in either epoxy or in Spurr resin. Both should work. I believe LRW would also work although I haven't tried it. I did some years ago where we incubated the cell/bead prep with antibody and ferritin prior to fixation and embedding and got great immuno labeling....this was before colloidal gold was readily available.
Debby Sherman, Manager Microscopy Center in Agriculture Purdue University 765-494-6666
--------------------------------------
Help! I'll be receiving some resin beads with cell organelles (presumably) attached soon and I've never dealt with this sort of prep before. I would appreciate hearing from anyone out there with helpful information about the processing, handling etc. of these things. I've been off the listserver for a while so if it's already been discussed, please just answer privately. Many thanks. Grace
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I cannot take credit for this handy technique. This method was worked out and published by Dr. Ron Luftig in 1967 as part of his thesis work. The reference is as follows: Luftig, R. and R. Haselkorn. (1967) Morphology of a Virus of Blue-green Algae and Properties of Its Deoxyribonucleic Acid. J. of Virology Vol. 1, p. 344-361. Dr. Luftig calibrated beef liver catalase crystals (available from Sigma and other sources) using copper phthalocyanin crystals and Fullam replica gratings. He determined that the line spacing of the catalase crystals was 91 +/- 3 angstroms by UA and PTA staining. The exact technique was to place a droplet of virus suspension on a formvar coated grid. Then invert the grid onto a droplet of 2% UA for 90 sec. Next float the grid on a solution of 0.08ml catalase crystal suspension in 5ml of 2% UA for 2 min. Draw off excess stain, etc. with filter paper and dry. He prefered this method to mixing the virus and catalase together prior to staining. This method yields virus sitting on and adjacent to the catalase crystals and gives a very easy method of determining virus size. One suggestion is to check the catalase suspension when it is received. We have gotten preps where the crystals have broken down. Catalase also is wonderful for more accurate calibration of TEM's at higher magnifications than can be done with replica gratings.
Debby Sherman, Manager Microscopy Center in Agriculture Phone: 765-494-6666 Purdue University FAX: 765-494-5896 W. Lafayette, IN 47907
--------------------------------------
Would you be interested in writing a short article or technical tip on using catalyse crystals as a standard for EM? And in making the standard, if that is part of your procedure. Our readers would find this information useful.
If you don't get Microscopy Today, it is a trade journal sent free to microscopists in universities, industry, hospitals and government labs. If you would like a subcription, please send me your preferred mailing address.
Thank you for your attention.
Phil
} I do always recommend internal standards with specimens whenever possible. } One of } the classics in biological work is catalase with a very well } defined crystalline } spacing combined with preps of virus and small protein molecules. Accurate } measurements of particles adjacent to or resting over these lattices eliminate } problems with hysterisis and all other potential situations which may effect } magnification. } Debby Sherman
****be famous! send in a tech tip or question*** Philip Oshel Technical Editor, Microscopy Today PO Box 5037 Station A Champaign, IL 61825-5037 oshel-at-shout.net or poshel-at-hotmail.com
Hello everybody, I would appreciate to hear from anybody who has an experience (positive or negative)labelling paraffin sections with antibodies to matrix metallproteinases (MMP's) and their inhibitors (TIMP's). I have tried some antibodies but they seem to expire very quickly. Thanks for any info.
Sarka Lhotak
Hamilton Regional Cancer Centre McMaster University Hamilton, Ontario, Canada lhotaks-at-mcmaster.ca
"Microscopy and Imaging Resources on the WWW" http://www.pharmacy.arizona.edu/exp_path.html
Microscopy and Imaging has recently been updated (3/15/98) and is sporting a new interface. To find this site please go to the URL above and look for the link to "Microscopy and Imaging" in the middle of the page. I would offer a more direct link to the page, but in the past the URLs have been so long that many email programs cause them to wrap to the next line and my webmaster hates it when visitors get "404 page not found" messages.
The following pages are included in the "Microscopy and Imaging Resources on the WWW" site; Histology, Confocal Microscopy, Electron Microscopy, Digital Imaging, Specialty Microscopic Techniques and a list of Free Publications of Interest to Microscopists.
Microscopy and Imaging was initially my way of keeping track of the various sites on the web that feature materials that would help local grad students, staff and faculty who were unfamiliar with microscopy & imaging to learn about the different techniques. I also wanted them to have access to some of the terrific technical reference materials out there. The WWW site has grown (25,000 visits in the last year) to become as much a resource to the scientific community (consistent with our NIH funding) as it is a point of reference for local users.
Because Microscopy and Imaging is primarily a meta-list of links to other places, I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge (in a far too general way) that there are many terrific individuals, labs, universities and companies out there who provide accessable and well written educational or reference material related to microscopy and imaging.
Submissions and suggestions are encouraged (see comment below):
It is not consistent with the purpose of this site to list every microscopy and imaging related company, lab or society on these pages. There are MANY excellent sites that do this and I have tried to provide links to several of those sites. I am, however, always looking for new sites that do provide well done educational or reference materials related to microscopy and imaging. (A note to commercial vendors: it is always tricky to evaluate commercial sites, I tend to link to sites that have strong content and are low-key in making reference to particular products.)
Yours, Doug Cromey ..................................................................... : Douglas W. Cromey, M.S. Dept. of Cell Biology & Anatomy : : Sr. Research Specialist University of Arizona : : (office: AHSC 4212A) P.O. Box 245044 : : (voice: 520-626-2824) Tucson, AZ 85724-5044 USA : : (FAX: 520-626-2097) (email: doug-cromey-at-ns.arizona.edu) : :...................................................................: http://www.pharmacy.arizona.edu/exp_path.html Home of: "Microscopy and Imaging Resources on the WWW"
Dear Paula, We have had open houses at our university several times in the past, and we find the EM lab to be a very popular exhibit. Just keep the instruments running and allow people to see samples live in them. An insect in the SEM is very popular, also flower pollen and cross-sectioned wood. The TEM is impressive by itself, but if they can see a sample live or on a TV monitor it is even better. You wrote: } Websters, } } I'm looking for a copy of the February 23, 1998 TIME magazine } (vol.151, no.7). It's the one with the cover of a negative stain of the } Hong Kong chicken/human flu virus & a scientist in a "bunny suit". We're } going to have our lab available during campus open house & thought that the } article, picture, etc. was a good way to show the general population how } TEM's help us in the real world. } If anyone knows of a source or has one hanging around that they no } longer want, please let me know. } Also, if there is a location where we can find pictures of Ebola or } any other viruses please let me know. We think that most people know what } viruses are so we'd show them instead of trying to explain what the inside } parts of a cell are. } } We've never had open house before, so if y'all have any cool } suggestions for displays send 'em my way. } } Thanks Kiddos! } } } } Paula :-) } } Paula Sicurello Regards, Mary Mary Mager Electron Microscopist Metals and Materials Engineering University of British Columbia 6350 Stores Road Vancouver, B.C. V6T 1Z4 CANADA tel: 604-822-5648 fax: 604-822-3619 e-mail: mager-at-interchange.ubc.ca
I am forwarding the following inquiry for a colleague here. If anyone has any suggestions, would they please send them to Jerry at his e-mail address. TIA.
Gill Bond Dept Materials & Met. Eng. New Mexico Tech
I am trying to detect a protein between inorganic lamellae (CaCO3) using SEM. I am unsure if I can get enough metal with a standard dye to show up using EDS, and it was brought to my attnetion that I could use dot mapping as a superior tool. What I am asking, is if anyone knows if a TEM organic dye would have enough metal to be detected. Any suggestions??
Captain Semantics, here, on the subject of 'optical' microscopy.
} From Websters 7th new collegiate dictionary, optics is "...a science that deals with light, its genesis and propagation,...and other phenomena closely associated with it." The two definitions of 'optic' refer to the eye, lens, etc. and eventually refer back to the science, 'optics'. The word 'optical' similarly traces back to the science of 'optics', so I think optical microscopy properly refers to the use of visible light to image structure. It seems to me that we have chosen to view our speeding electrons as very high energy waves (which I think is legitimate), hence the use of photon terms, even though the lenses work on a particle-moving-in-a-field basis instead of the propagation rate (RI) basis usually used to understand optical lenses. At least there is some physical basis for this term usage since both of the 'optics' systems work to focus the probing particle/wave. (I suspect a good theoretician could prove the equivalence, but that is beyond me today!) By counter example, consider the NMR community which refers to the signal generated by the precessing nuclear moments as a 'free induction decay' or FID. This term is (at least in my opinion) a hold-over from the early definitive NMR experiments where the actual magnetization DECAY was of interest. In fact the FID is the envelope that grossly defines the overall drop in transverse magnetization. What we actually use, but casually call the FID, is really the beat frequency pattern due to nuclei precessing with varying frequencies. The pattern decays in time due to relaxation and other phenomena such as magnetic field inhomogeneity, but the decay is usually not appreciated by those attempting high-resolution NMR for compound identification! I tried to convince my thesis adviser that we should call it the free induction signal since it is the signal induced in the detection coil from freely-precessing nuclei, but he just raised his eyebrows. It's tough to change 50 years of literature...
Bill Heeschen Optical AND Electron Microscopist ;-) The Dow Chemical Company
MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA MAY 27th-29th 1998, MONTREAL, QUEBEC
INVITED SPEAKERS
Dr. David Joy, University of Tennessee, Knoxville =22Scanning electron microscopy=22
Dr. Eric Lifshin, GE Corporate R&D, Schenectady, NY =22X-Ray microanalysis=22
Dr. Pierre Hovington, IREQ, Qu=E9bec, Canada =22Scanning electron microscopy=22
Dr. Gianluigi Botton, CANMET, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada =22Electron energy loss spectrometry (EELS) =22
Dr. Sophie Boisvert, Noranda, Montr=E9al, Qu=E9bec =22Material sciences=22=20
Dr. Wah Chiu, Baylor College of Medecine, Houston Texas=20 =22Electron Cryomicroscopy for Macromolecular Assemblies below 10 A.=22
Dr. George Harauz, Guelph University, Ontario Canada =22Structure-function relationships of myelinic proteins: basic protein, = lipophilin, and surfactant protein A=22.
Dr. Dale Laird, University of Western Ontario , Ontario, Canada =22Imaging of connexin 43-GFP chimeras in living cells in real time.=22
Dr. Louise Brisson, Universit=E9 Laval, Qu=E9bec, Canada =22Plant Apoptosis, a distinct case of programmed cell death.=22
Dr. E. Sanders, University of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada =22Apoptosis During Early Embryonic Development=22
SPONSORING COMPAGNIES
CLEMEX TECHNOLOGIES INC. CEDARLANE LABORATORIES LTD CANBERRA-PACKARD CANADA LTD GATAN INC. HITACHI NISSEI SANGYO CANADA INC JEOL USA=20 KURT J. LESKER CANADA INC MARIVAC LTD MERIDIAN SCIENTIFIC SERVICES INC. NORTEL NORTHERN TELECOM OPTIKON CORP. PHILIPS ELECTRONICS LTD SOQUELEC LTD SPI INC. SYSTEMS FOR RESEARCH CORP.
According to definitions in my dictionary, "optic," "optics," and "optical" refer to the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum--i.e. that part that can be detected with the eye. Therefore, "optical microscope" is probably a better term than "light microscope," after all our lab has an infrared microscope which utilized infrared light. "Light" sometimes refers only to the visible part of the spectrum, but also can refer to infrared, ultraviolet, and even x-rays!
I think "electron optics" is simply a term coined for the parts of an electron microscope that mimic the corresponding items on an optical microscope that perform functions like focusing, etc. It is a borrowed term and therefore may not be entirely accurate in the purest sense of the words.
In short, it may come down to semantics. I prefer the use of the term "optical microscope" because I think it more precisely defines the item in question. If I refer to the IR microscope, I call it the "IR microscope" (even though it also uses visible light for alignment of the sample!). I also may use the term "electron optics" from time to time without feeling guilty.
Jim Passmore Cryovac North America james.passmore-at-grace.com (for a few more days until Cryovac becomes part of Sealed Air Corp.)
---------- } From: PROTRAIN } To: Microscopy } Subject: Optical Microscopes } Date: Friday, March 27, 1998 5:22AM }
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Hi- I'm almost embarassed to ask this question, but perhaps someone has the simple solution that has eluded me. I cut a lot of thick sections of large block faces (epoxy resin, 5mm X 5 mm), which are counterstained with toluidine blue/safranin. Off and on, I have a problem with stain drying lines running through the section. I can usually get rid of this by putting a drop of water on the section and placing the slide back on the hotplate for a minute or two. For the number of samples that I cut, this is time consuming. Does anyone have a solution for this problem? I use pre-cleaned slides straight from the box and rinse them with di water or 95% EtOH before I collect the sections. The slides are left on the hotplate from 4-24 hours (to ensure that the entire section has adhered to the slide) and then stained. I would appreciate any suggestions.
Thank you and have a sunny weekend,
Sandy Perkins
Laboratory for Neurotoxicity Studies VMRCVM VA Tech
{ {People keep talking about OPTICAL microscopes, what does this mean?} }
I wonder if the useage varies in the USA from Europe. I live here in the USA but am British and have always used the term Light Microscope (rather than Optical).
"Optical" suggests "visual" and originally was connected with the eyes and therefore with light (I assume?). Since the concept of creating images using energy other than light is recent, I would suggest that the use of the word "optics" in "electron optics" is probably inaccurate but should now be acceptable by virtue of its widespread use. Does anyone agree?
The term "optical microscope" is confusing though by any standards since, as you point out, an electron microscope uses a system known as "electron optics". So I would like to start an association known as "The Association for the Preservation of Pure Queen's English as Applied to Modern Science" :-) A required qualification for membership would be willingness to use the term "light microscope" when referring to those good old instruments with glass lenses :-}
I hope we can quickly resolve this matter and that it is not magnified out of proportion. Let's be clear on our objective.
Most reasonable people understand the following terms:
light microscope electron microscope (SEM or TEM) confocal microscope scanned probe microscope (more specific as needed) IR microscope x-ray microscope
"Optical microscopes", while technically correct, is confusing to a number of people.
#################################################################### John J. Bozzola, Ph.D., Director Center for Electron Microscopy Neckers Building, Room 146 - B Wing Southern Illinois University Carbondale, IL 62901 U.S.A. Phone: 618-453-3730 Fax: 618-453-2665 Email: bozzola-at-siu.edu Web: http://www.siu.edu/departments/shops/cem.html ####################################################################
I would certainly agree with John, and with the previous message by Ted Dunn. I have always preferred the term "light microscopy," and have considered "optical microscopy" to be equivocal and undesirable in our modern world, where electron optics is firmly established (and not a particularly new term -- solid work on the subject was being done in the 1920s). One certainly would not consider the magnificent three-volume work of Hawkes and Kasper, "Principles of Electron Optics," to be a misnomer. A dictionary is only worth buying if it reflects modern usage.
A. Kent Christensen Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology Medical Sciences II Building University of Michigan Medical School Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0616 akc-at-umich.edu Tel (734) 763-1287, Fax (734) 763-1166 http://www-personal.umich.edu/~akc/
----------------------------------
On Fri, 27 Mar 1998, John J. Bozzola wrote:
} Most reasonable people understand the following terms: } } light microscope } electron microscope (SEM or TEM) } confocal microscope } scanned probe microscope (more specific as needed) } IR microscope } x-ray microscope } } "Optical microscopes", while technically correct, is confusing to a number } of people. } } #################################################################### } John J. Bozzola, Ph.D., Director } Center for Electron Microscopy } Neckers Building, Room 146 - B Wing } Southern Illinois University } Carbondale, IL 62901 } U.S.A. } Phone: 618-453-3730 } Fax: 618-453-2665 } Email: bozzola-at-siu.edu } Web: http://www.siu.edu/departments/shops/cem.html } ####################################################################
Hoping once again to tap into the collective wisdom of the listserver members. What would account for the following symptoms in an environmental SEM (Hitachi S3200N, to be precise):
---Inability to get rid of lateral motion during objective aperture centering (i.e., when the current is being pulsed to the objective lens, the image continues to rock back and forth despite use of the centering controls on the aperture). Normally the brightest screen image also closely corresponds with aperture center, but not even close in this case.
---Extreme difficulty in stigmating. Also at very low magnification there is a central brigher area on the screen with darker "shadows" at the sides. These shadows move and rotate when the stigmator adjustments are used.
---Extremely poor resolution, even at mags as low as 1000x.
The filament was changed recently by a Hitachi technician. Filament centering has been checked and rechecked. The gun is clean. The objective aperture strip was just cleaned by baking in a vacuum evaporator. Complete column alignment has been done: the filament image is centered, gun tilt and horizontal have been repeatedly checked, both manually and using automatic gun alignment. Coarse and fine stigmation has been repeatedly performed.
Except for a dirty aperture strip, focus and aperture centering was fine before the filament change, with high quality images past 20,000x. The problem appears to be related to the filament change, although it has also occured in the past, when it seemed not to be related.
I am guessing that there may be debris on a fixed aperture or a dislodged or uncentered fixed aperture, but I am looking for any suggestions. Thanks in advance for help with this puzzler.
Randy
Randy Tindall Electron Microscope Laboratory Box 3EML New Mexico State University Las Cruces, NM 88003
I have been staining some LRWhite(medium) sections and I am getting very low contrast with 30min. 3%UA and 10 min. Lead Citrate. I have tried reducing the wash times and the KV to 60KV without any luck. Any ideas and/or advice?
Barbara Plowman University of the Pacific School of Dentistry 2155 Webster San Francisco, CA 94598 email:Bplowman-at-uop.edu
Gillian Bond wrote: } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } I am forwarding the following inquiry for a colleague here. If anyone has } any suggestions, would they please send them to Jerry at his e-mail } address. TIA. } } Gill Bond } Dept Materials & Met. Eng. } New Mexico Tech } } I am trying to detect a protein between inorganic lamellae (CaCO3) } using SEM. I am unsure if I can get enough metal with a standard dye to } show up using EDS, and it was brought to my attnetion that I could use dot } mapping as a superior tool. What I am asking, is if anyone knows if a TEM } organic dye would have enough metal to be detected. Any suggestions?? } } Jerry Egeland } eggman-at-nmt.edu
Jerry
If you have line profile capabilities, your sensitivity will be much greater. Following a line that goes up and down is much easier for the mind to work with than dot densities. Even gray levels are easier for the mind to discern than dot densities so if you have to stick with dot mapping due to lack of a rate-meter, take your dot map and then defocus the image if your concentrations don't appear to be high enough to discriminate.
Ken Converse owner Quality Images third party SEM service
1998 Spring Joint Meeting The Texas Society for Electron Microscopy and The Oklahoma Microscopy Society April 2,3, and 4, 1998 Lake Texoma Resort
"Back to the Future: Improving Your Image".
As of Friday March 27, 1998, the most up-to-date program schedule (including definitive times, room numbers, etc.) will be listed on the Oklahoma Microscopy Website. General info is listed there now. I do have the program on file if any one would like it ahead of time. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
website: http://www.ou.edu/research/electron/oms/
Sincerely,
Ginger
Ginger Baker EM Lab Manager OMS Secretary/Treasurer Research Dept., OCOM 1111 W. 17th St. Tulsa, OK 74107 Phone: (918) 561-8232 FAX: (918) 699-8629 http://osu.com.okstate.edu/dept/research/content/gbaker.htm lizard-at-osucom-fs02.ocom.okstate.edu
I'm wondering that whether there is any microscopic research concerning diffusion rate of any dyes in starch. Also, I'd like to know how I can search for these kinds of materials and the images obtained from this method. Could you please give me some information? Thank you very much.
We are looking for a donation of a Balzers freeze fracture machine, preferably 300 series, that we could use for double-layer coating (platinum/carbon) for low-temperature SEM. A conventional machine would do. This would be for the University of California, Berkeley. Please reply if you know of anyone with one of these machines; any leads would help.
Thanks, Jacob Bastacky
Jacob Bastacky, MD Room 116 Donner Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory EMail: sjbastacky-at-lbl.gov University of California Telephone: 510.486.4606 Berkeley, California 94720 FAX: 510.845.8031
Wei Chen wrote: ================================================= Regularly TEM grids are 3.05 mm in dia. and about 6 um in thickness. Does anyone have the info on who is making larger and thicker grids? Thanks a lot in advance. =================================================
I will assume that you are talking about the "typical" grids made by electrodeposition techniques (as opposed to grids made by the etching of a foil which are also a lot more expensive but they do tend to be thicker).
For the "normal" 3.05 mm grids, there are no manufacturing or technical reasons why a grid can not be made thicker. But the reasons why they are not routinely made thicker is that when doing tilting experiments, the thicker the grid, then the smaller the percent open area. Generally speaking, the grids are made to a thickness that they are "self supporting" but not beyond that point for the reason just given.
We can provide grids of just about any thickness one might want. However, the "catch" is that there is some minimum number that one would have to make (for decent economics) and usually when that number is heard, some of the original enthusiasm for that thicker grid gets lost.
If you want grids larger than 3.05 mm, the best (e.g. most economical) approach is to work with grid mesh (see our website at address given below), cutting out the diameter that you do want. The grid mesh comes in pieces as large as 6" square. This is the same mesh used for making distortion adjustments in an SEM. You can select from Cu, Ni, or Au. Special art work could always be made to produce a specifically larger diameter and thicker grid from scratch but you are starting to talk about big bucks.
Contact me off line for any further discussion about how we could help you find what you need.
Chuck
=================================================== Charles A. Garber, Ph. D. Ph: 1-(610)-436-5400 President 1-(800)-2424-SPI SPI SUPPLIES FAX: 1-(610)-436-5755 PO BOX 656 e-mail: cgarber-at-2spi.com West Chester, PA 19381-0656 USA Cust. Service: spi2spi-at-2spi.com
Look for us! ############################ WWW: http://www.2spi.com ############################ ==================================================
I am a microprobe analyst at RJ Lee Group In Pennsylvania. I am in desperate need for low voltage DC 1670:1 crystal flipping motors. I am currently engaged in obtaining line profiles through a metal reaction zone. The analysis calls for 60 points. The problem is, however, that one of our detectors is not working correctly (Causes Sandia Task8 to crash when it trys to change the angle theta of the detector (any ideas on this one? Seems like it thinks the detector has reached a limit, but it hasn't). Therefore, we are limited to obtaining five elements on the same spectrometer using three of the four crystals on that spectrometer. We have ruined two motors so far (they make a horrible squealing noise and don't seem to seat properly). Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
I have been contacted by someone who is working on an MA in Design and Media Arts who has been using an old SEM in a hospital for some of their work. They would like access to a newer SEM with better resolution, if possible. London area is preferred, but anywhere in the UK would be OK. Is anyone out there willing to help out? If so, please e-mail me, and I will forward the messages.
Mahalo to you all, Tina
http://www.pbrc.hawaii.edu/bemf/microangela **************************************************************************** * Tina (Weatherby) Carvalho * tina-at-pbrc.hawaii.edu * * Biological Electron Microscope Facility * (808) 956-6251 * * University of Hawaii at Manoa * http://www.pbrc.hawaii.edu/bemf* ****************************************************************************
You have no doubt already been innudated with suggestions for insects, mites and microbes, but the greatest hurdle to overcome in explaining EM is the range of magnifications available. I would suggest that you start out with a macro view of something like a running mechanical watch movement. In fast scan or TV rate mode, it can provide a good starting point along with an interesting perspective. Follow it up with increased magnifications on the metallic surfaces of the gears or frame and you can provide the magnification steps that are usually missing.
After that you can change samples to an insect and pick-up the magnification relationship by zooming in on the multiple eye lenses or body hair. If possible, use light microscopy images to explain the capabilities of light vs. electron microscopy.
We often take for granted the dimensions of the work we do. To the layman, however, these dimensions mean nothing. Whatever you can do to accentuate the relationship between everyday dimensions and the esoteric realm of EM will result in greater understanding.
} Dear Paula, } We have had open houses at our university several times in the past, } and we find the EM lab to be a very popular exhibit. Just keep the } instruments running and allow people to see samples live in them. An } insect in the SEM is very popular, also flower pollen and } cross-sectioned wood. The TEM is impressive by itself, but if they } can see a sample live or on a TV monitor it is even better. You } wrote: } Websters, } } I'm looking for a copy of the February } 23, 1998 TIME magazine } (vol.151, no.7). It's the one with the } cover of a negative stain of the } Hong Kong chicken/human flu virus } & a scientist in a "bunny suit". We're } going to have our lab } available during campus open house & thought that the } article, } picture, etc. was a good way to show the general population how } } TEM's help us in the real world. } If anyone knows of a } source or has one hanging around that they no } longer want, please } let me know. } Also, if there is a location where we can find } pictures of Ebola or } any other viruses please let me know. We } think that most people know what } viruses are so we'd show them } instead of trying to explain what the inside } parts of a cell are. } } } We've never had open house before, so if y'all have any } cool } suggestions for displays send 'em my way. } } Thanks Kiddos! } } } } } Paula :-) } } Paula Sicurello Regards, Mary Mary Mager Electron } Microscopist Metals and Materials Engineering University of British } Columbia 6350 Stores Road Vancouver, B.C. V6T 1Z4 CANADA tel: } 604-822-5648 fax: 604-822-3619 e-mail: mager-at-interchange.ubc.ca } } } Allen R. Sampson Advanced Research Systems 317 North 4th. Street St. Charles, IL 60174 PH 630.513.7093 FAX 630.513.7092 Email: ars-at-mcs.net WWW: http://www.mcs.net/~ars Analytical instrument maintenance services
Dear all We wish to use our PC running Windows 3.1x to print out a list of all the file directories and image files that we keep on MO disk and CD. We can do this on a Macintosh platform, and to a limited extent with DOS, but want to use Windows to order and sort our data.
Please reply to me, and I'll summarise any sucessful method on the listserver in due course. Thank for your help & interest.
I am an undergraduate at the University of Rochester and I am trying to look at neurons under the SEM. I already have the brain sample but I have no idea how to separate the neurons from the gray matter and fix them for SEM viewing. Please help. Thank you in advance.
At 11:30 AM 3/30/98, you wrote: } } Dear all } We wish to use our PC running Windows 3.1x to print out a list of all } the file directories and image files that we keep on MO disk and CD. } We can do this on a Macintosh platform, and to a limited extent } with DOS, but want to use Windows to order and sort our data. } } Please reply to me, and I'll summarise any sucessful method on the } listserver in due course. Thank for your help & interest. } } Jeremy.Sanderson-at-path.ox.ac.uk
To produce a file listing all the image files in a directory and all subdirectories in Windows 3.1 you can use something like the following command at the DOS prompt to create a text file containing the file names, dreation dates, and sizes.
dir *.gif /s } images.txt
dir is the directory command
*.gif specifies all files with a gif extention
/s specifies that the dir command is to include all subdirectories
} images.txt redirects the output of the dir command to the file images.txt.
The output of this command looks like:
********************************************************** Volume in drive C is MS-DOS_622 Volume Serial Number is 1234-1234
You can then import the text file into a spreadsheet program, cleanup any extraneous information and sort the file list anyway you want. You can also add data fields.
Steve Chapman is right: there is a small lack of precision regarding the terms LIGHT microscope and OPTICAL microscope. I used the term LIGHT-OPTICAL microscope for some time before Barry Carter suggested VISIBLE LIGHT microscope. Barry's suggestion removes all uncertainty and we can all now get some sleep nights. :-)
To all who very kindly replied to my SEM question, thanks!!! The trouble turned out to be in the final polepiece aperture, which came out in three pieces when I checked it. Luckily, it fell into my hand, rather than disappearing forever under the baseplate of the chamber. After cleaning it, reassembling it, and reinserting it, we had a scope again.
The responses I received were very interesting and helpful. Some were quite extensive and must have taken some real time to put together. I'm making a file of them for future reference in troubleshooting, and I would be happy to forward a summary to the list, if desired. Thanks again to everyone who helped.
Randy
Randy Tindall Electron Microscope Laboratory Box 3EML New Mexico State University Las Cruces, NM 88003
To the Light Microscopists, Is it possible for one week old paraformaldehyde (originally in argon sealed ampules)-EM grade- to actually permeabilize membranes? (by some glycol formation). All comments are welcome.
Does anyone have experience growing tissue culture cells on gold grids with support films? We want to do IEM of filaments after digestion of the cytoplasmic membrane,
Articles describing this technique mention specific kinds of reagents, grids, etc. Are there better brands, methods? We'd appreciate any tips to avoid a lot of trial and error.
Source of gold grids? (supplier) Type of support film? Formvar/collodion) Carbon coat? (heavy/light) Method of sterilization? (UV/gas) Type of cell membrane solvent? (detergent/organic) Other hints?
Thanks, Sara
Sara E. Miller, Ph. D. P. O. Box 3020 Duke University Medical Center Durham, NC 27710 Ph: 919 684-3452 FAX: 919 684-8735
Dear Steve, } } Over the year since I joined the list server there is an area of our } "sport" that constantly hits me in the eye. } } People keep talking about OPTICAL microscopes, what does this mean? } } We do have light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, scanning } electron microscopy and the modern light scanning systems, are they not ALL } optical microscopes some of which use ELECTRON OPTICS. Without optics in } electron microscopes how would they work? } Remember, there are also scanned probe microscopes. Some of these (SEM is arguable) do not need optics. Also, IMHO, calling the beam focus- sing system of an electron microscope "electron optics" is an analogy with light optics, not an identical process, so retaining the nomenclature "op- tical microscope" to mean one with light-optic lenses is not a "mess".
} How did we get into this mess and do we let it continue? } } That should stir a few minds! } I prefer mine shaken. Yours, Bill Tivol
Sir, dear Brett, If you don't get a commercial mold for this purpose I eventually can = send you a self made silicone rubber embedding mold which perhaps fits = your needs (please specify diameter or special shape of the mold needed; = I assume you want to embed into resin?, paraffin??, cow's (bull's) = eye(s) or fish's eye(s)?? or.... If your needs is a metal embedding mold, sorry, I don't have.
Best regards Wolfgang
Dr. Wolfgang MUSS Salzburg General Hospital (LKA) Department of Anatomical Pathology,=20 EM-Laboratory Muellner Hauptstrasse 48 A-5020 SALZBURG AUSTRIA/Europe
phone: ++43++ 662 + 4482 + 4720 Ext fax: ++43++ 662 + 4482 + 882 Ext. e-mail: W.Muss-at-lkasbg.gv.at (note: "l" right to "-at-" is a small "L")
I'm looking for metal embedding molds that are deep enough (15-20mm) to embed whole eyes. Can someone please post the name(s) of the = supplier(s). Thanks.
Dear Randy, My guess is you are right, there is some small bit of something in the column. You should get the column cleaned, as there are four or five fixed apertures down the column and at least one below the final aperture. The other thing to check is the alignment of the first and second condensor lenses. Also make sure you are not one aperture hole out, the controls have enough adjustment to get you to the next hole in the strip. Start with no aperture and count them in, adjusting brightness and centering each as you reach it. The stigmation cannot be corrected until the aperture is straight (doesn't move when you wobble the lens current). Centre as many controls: stigmators, etc. as possible before aligning. I don't have a low-vac SEM, just an old S-570, but that is what I've found. Getting the aperture straight may solve all your problems at once. You wrote: } Hi, } } Hoping once again to tap into the collective wisdom of the listserver } members. What would account for the following symptoms in an environmental } SEM (Hitachi S3200N, to be precise): } } ---Inability to get rid of lateral motion during objective aperture } centering (i.e., when the current is being pulsed to the objective lens, } the image continues to rock back and forth despite use of the centering } controls on the aperture). Normally the brightest screen image also } closely corresponds with aperture center, but not even close in this case. } } ---Extreme difficulty in stigmating. Also at very low magnification there } is a central brigher area on the screen with darker "shadows" at the sides. } These shadows move and rotate when the stigmator adjustments are used. } } ---Extremely poor resolution, even at mags as low as 1000x. } } The filament was changed recently by a Hitachi technician. Filament } centering has been checked and rechecked. The gun is clean. The objective } aperture strip was just cleaned by baking in a vacuum evaporator. Complete } column alignment has been done: the filament image is centered, gun tilt } and horizontal have been repeatedly checked, both manually and using } automatic gun alignment. Coarse and fine stigmation has been repeatedly } performed. } } Except for a dirty aperture strip, focus and aperture centering was fine } before the filament change, with high quality images past 20,000x. The } problem appears to be related to the filament change, although it has also } occured in the past, when it seemed not to be related. } } I am guessing that there may be debris on a fixed aperture or a dislodged } or uncentered fixed aperture, but I am looking for any suggestions. Thanks } in advance for help with this puzzler. } } Randy } } } Randy Tindall } Electron Microscope Laboratory } Box 3EML } New Mexico State University } Las Cruces, NM 88003 } } rtindell-at-nmsu (work) } nrtindall-at-zianet.com (home) } Mary Mager Electron Microscopist Metals and Materials Engineering University of British Columbia 6350 Stores Road Vancouver, B.C. V6T 1Z4 CANADA tel: 604-822-5648 fax: 604-822-3619 e-mail: mager-at-interchg.ubc.ca
Thanks for your message the other day. I am now trying to work out some of the specifics of the buffer. What osmolarity did you use? In a paper on IVF they suggest 285-295 Osm, yet I can't use this buffer because it has albumin (bad for glutaraldehyde).
Is there a reference that may have this information? I have exhausted several search pathways with no progress.
Thanks, Todd Rippy University of Oklahoma, Department of Zoology
} } We do have light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, scanning } } electron microscopy and the modern light scanning systems, are they not ALL } } optical microscopes some of which use ELECTRON OPTICS. Without optics in } } electron microscopes how would they work? } } } Remember, there are also scanned probe microscopes. Some of these } (SEM is arguable) do not need optics. Also, IMHO, calling the beam focus- } sing system of an electron microscope "electron optics" is an analogy with } light optics, not an identical process, so retaining the nomenclature "op- } tical microscope" to mean one with light-optic lenses is not a "mess". } } } How did we get into this mess and do we let it continue? } } } } That should stir a few minds! } } } I prefer mine shaken. } Yours, } Bill Tivol
Gee Bill,
I am not alone. It grates on me seeing that analogy turn into a definition. While I see the point of using the term LIGHT MICROSCOPE, for me electron optics are not optics. But then I am an old sh.t and one in the definite minority who still likes to play with light, and could give a whoop agout an electron. So I guess I wil just have to mumble in my single malt and let majority rule.
Shalom from Jerusalem, Azriel +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Major Azriel Gorski, Head Fibers and Polymers Laboratory Division of Identification and Forensic Science Israel National Police Jerusalem, ISRAEL
azrielg-at-cc.huji.ac.il ICQ User ID No. - 1750739
What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us. Ralph Waldo Emerson ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I am sorry to hear you have had a problem with an E5400 sputter coater. Although the E5400 has not been manufactured for nearly 10 years we do still carry the spare parts to support this instrument. Our local agent, Energy Beam Sciences Inc. (ebs-at-ebscience.com telephone: 413 786 9322)) have been our US agent since 1991 and would be pleased to offer spare parts and support for Polaron instruments.
Since the first Polaron coaters were introduced into the market back in the early 1970s several thousand sputter coaters (and a similar number of critical point dryers) have been sold into EM laboratories around the world. We pride ourselves in efforts to support instruments currently in the field - many now well over twenty years old.
Some customers do have difficulties locating us due to changes in company name and local agents during the middle part of our history. For the record the original company; Polaron Equipment Ltd, became part of Bio-Rad Microscience (UK) in the mid-1980s. At that time the Polaron name was dropped from the instruments. In 1987 Bio-Rad Microscience purchased another UK manufacture of EM preparation equipment; Emscope Laboratories Ltd. Finally in 1991 the Polaron range was acquired by VG Microtech (then owned by Fisons, now by Thermo Instruments) and relocated to our present factory in Sussex. At that time the Polaron name was brought back is now proudly displayed on all of our products.
To illustrate the fact that the Polaron brand is very much alive, we have recently launched a new Cryo-SEM system and will shortly be introducing a new sputter coater to the Polaron range.
Best regards M.J.Wombwell Polaron range Business Manager http://www.vgmicrotech.com/polaron-range
Dear listees, I want to do some 3 dimensional reconstruction of a particular type of fibroblast in normal and pathological states, but I really am at a loss as to the methodology. I do not have access to a program to do this, so I need some sort of 'old-fashioned' but reliable method. Any help will be gratefully receieved (as will any cheques, real-estate, cars, post-doc offers etc. etc.). Thanks in advance, Yours 2 dimensionally, Alex
...................................................................... ....................................... Alex Black Department of Anatomy National University of Ireland Galway
Dear Robert, as I informed you in a previously sent information
(your Q sent off the MSAListserver dated 18th of March, 1998 :=20 } Since you are familiar with embedding samples, do you know of an embedding resin that will not shrink upon curing but still has a low viscosity?
Dr. Robert Dickson Finnish Pulp and Paper Research Institute {
My reply then was: } 18th of March, 1998: 11.05 a.m.
Dear Robert, thank you for your confidence in my knowledge. } From my experience I know to some extent my embeddings with the = Epon-recipe (now Glycidether 100/SERVA as EPON 812-substitute) used in = my Lab since 1982/83 would have about 3-5 % at the maximum. = Unfortunately I haven't done any calibration and/or measuring methods on = that. It's really estimated....(based on correct LM-measurements of = leading structures from tissue samples (like diameters of bacteria in = LM-semithin sections, compared to the diameters measured on correlative = TEM-ultrathin sections, compared to references from literature, or like = diameters of erythrocytes etc...). I assume you would like to embed paper or paper-like stuff and need a = low viscous embedding medium in order to measure by TEM, e.g., = length/diameters of cellulose/paper fibers. I regret: I don't have any = experience on such matter but I would be interested in hearing about = "how to do processing of paper samples".
!!!!!----- In my experience, shrinkage of embeddings by polymerization is not THE = point: I would guess specimen processing steps before infiltration of = the paper stuff would be. So I would need some informations more on = "what purpose, what was used/done until now, problems", etc. to be of = any help with respect to your question. Generally I think the = epoxy-resin class does have the lowest shrinkage factor as compared to = methacrylates.... but I would have to go into special literature for = that. If there is anything you think I could be of help, please let me = know and don't hesitate to contact me by e-mail..... !!!!!---------
For the moment, best regards
Wolfgang End of my response 18th March 1998 ------------------------------------------------------------------
So, also taking into former considerations of other list members on that = subject (confer: Tobias Baskin, 18th March; Caroline Schooley, 20th of March),=20 I really think your problem is *not shrinkage* of a particular resin but = instead -having chosen a particular resin type (I/we don't know at all) = establishing right standard procedures for dehydration, infiltrating = embedding as well as appropriate polymerization steps for *your = material* as well as that *particular chosen resin type*. I remember those days when being educated and learning during my = universitarian EM-studies about embedding that the outcome of "simply do = embedding" (in terms of sectioning quality, reliable results, etc.) = would depend on the steps DEHYDRATION (or any other pretreatment of = specimens), correct and appropriate infiltration steps (including the = right "intermedium", its evaporation), correct and appropriate = polymerization steps (delicate specimens need other polymerization = schedules than less delicate ones).=20
I think, your specimens (cellulose fibres) are more delicate than = optimally fixed, dehydrated and embedded/polymerized -say-normal animal = or human liver specimens, . Insofar I think that without exactly knowing your recent specimen = preparation schedule/steps one could not follow the empirical route of = trouble shooting. The only suggestion I could make according to the informations you told = us would be: if you polymerize only 48 h at 60 degr. C (what kind of Epoxy resin??, = which mixture??) I think this would be the worst you can do with such a = delicate specimen like cellulose fibres:=20 I read the comments of the original LUFT-articles on epoxy resin = embedding and the proposal(s) for slow, elongated epoxy resin = polymerization for delicate specimens carefully (37, 45, 60 degr. C = about 24 hrs each for better [section] quality of polymerized epox resin = blocks), did you??
An example?: I have tested now the LADD LX 112 Resin (an EPON 812 = subsitute) I got several weeks before. As usual, first of all one tests = a new resin under the conditions you had routinely had/done before = (despite affirmations "this or that particular resin/its properties = is/are like the ORIGINAL".....).=20 Then if you want, you can see the differences:=20
a "Rapid POLYMERIZATION of LX 112"=20 (i.e. without prepolymerization steps at lower temperatures but 1 h at = 90 degr. C)
yields other polymerization properties of resin blocks compared to a=20
"Rapid POLYMERIZATION of EPON 812, or another subsitute, GLYCIDETHER = 100"( also 1 h at 90 degr. C),=20
and, additionally, as this was my personal experience yesterday evening: = the properties of LX 112 *during* polymerization (i.e. viscosity changes = before polymerizing) are quite different than EPON 812 or the substitute = Glycidether 100 (given all other components of the resin mixture were = added as usual). The trimming/section quality has to be assessed then, you have to check = and -if needed- to adjust section speed, cutting angles, etc.
The problems of wrinkling sections, or -maybe as in your case- partially = loosing specimen material on sectioning (either semithin or ultrathin) = is widespread and sometimes are hardly to overcome.=20 BUT: trouble-shooting for this would be easier knowing what was done = before with the specimen. Maybe there would be a chance to overcome your = still existing problem.
best wishes regards,
Wolfgang
Dr. Wolfgang MUSS Salzburg General Hospital (LKA) Department of Anatomical Pathology,=20 EM-Laboratory Muellner Hauptstrasse 48 A-5020 SALZBURG AUSTRIA/Europe
phone: ++43++ 662 + 4482 + 4720 Ext fax: ++43++ 662 + 4482 + 882 Ext. e-mail: W.Muss-at-lkasbg.gv.at (note: "l" right to "-at-" is a small "L")
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I am embedding cellulose fibers in an Epoxy resin mixture. The mixture is cured for 48 hours at 60C. It appears to shrink and put the sample under compressive forces because after cutting, the slices contains waves and want to expand. The problem I am having is that the cellulose will not allow the resin to relax after cutting, thus the resin tears the cellulose fibers apart. =20
Does anyone have any suggestions for other low viscosity resins that will not shrink upon curing or general ideas for what I working with?
We're trying to make a deposition of 2 micron gold particles on a silica substrate. We cannot use an evaporator because we don't want a thin film: we want to deposit the particles directly on the substrate, keeping them isolated and without forming aggregates. At first we dispersed the powder directly on the silica, but SEM analysis showed they formed aggregates. Then we've tried making a suspension on etanol and then putting a droplet of the solution directly on the substrate. But still it formed aggregates.
Does anyone know of a simple method to make such a deposit (without forming aggregates) ?
Thanks in advance.
Isabel Nogueira Instituto Superior T=E9cnico Departamento de Engenharia de Materiais Av. Rovisco Pais 1096 Codex Tel.: 351 - 1 - 8418124/0 =46ax.: 351 - 1 - 8418120 E-mail: isabeln-at-alfa.ist.utl.pt
Every other person on the planet knows what a "light microscope" is so I will go my merry way and be ignorantly blissful ... and solving real industrial problems with whatever this thing is on my bench.
On to real issues!!!
Jim Harper Amoco
P.S. Prefer to call it a Polarized Light Microscope! How about Super Electric Microscope (SEM) for that big hunk of steel taking up the rest of my lab space?
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See very end for my addition...
(Much snipped for sake of bandwidth)
} } We do have light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, scanning } } electron microscopy and the modern light scanning systems, are they not ALL } } optical microscopes some of which use ELECTRON OPTICS. Without optics in } } electron microscopes how would they work? } } } Remember, there are also scanned probe microscopes. Some of these } (SEM is arguable) do not need optics. Also, IMHO, calling the beam focus- } sing system of an electron microscope "electron optics" is an analogy with } light optics, not an identical process, so retaining the nomenclature "op- } tical microscope" to mean one with light-optic lenses is not a "mess". } } } How did we get into this mess and do we let it continue? } } } } That should stir a few minds! } } } I prefer mine shaken. } Yours, } Bill Tivol
Gee Bill,
I am not alone. It grates on me seeing that analogy turn into a definition. While I see the point of using the term LIGHT MICROSCOPE, for me electron optics are not optics. But then I am an old sh.t and one in the definite minority who still likes to play with light, and could give a whoop agout an electron. So I guess I wil just have to mumble in my single malt and let majority rule.
Shalom from Jerusalem, Azriel +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Major Azriel Gorski, Head Fibers and Polymers Laboratory Division of Identification and Forensic Science Israel National Police Jerusalem, ISRAEL
azrielg-at-cc.huji.ac.il ICQ User ID No. - 1750739
What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us. Ralph Waldo Emerson ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
with Novell_GroupWise; Tue, 31 Mar 1998 08:00:29 -0600 Message-Id: {s520a29d.009-at-wpo.it.luc.edu} X-Mailer: Novell GroupWise 4.1
Hello Friends, Need your advice again! Can Spurr resin be etched like some of the Epon-type resins can for Immuno work? If so does anyone have a recipe? I have a difficult specimen, candida, that is great in Spurr, so-so in Epoxy, horrible in Lowicryl and this is getting frustrating. I don't know if Unicryl or LRwhite would work. The problem with the hydrophilic resins seems to be that the resin swells slightly as the sections are cut and the sharp distinction between the resin and the wall of the candida causes a split from the resin. The candida either fold over or fall out, leaving so few good ones that I can't proceed to immuno work and hope for any results. Thanks, Linda M. Fox lfox1-at-wpo.it.luc.edu
some of the old fashioned methods (graphical reconstruction, stereoscopy etc.) are well described in:
Gaunt, W.A. and Gaunt, P.N. (1978): Three dimensional Reconstruction in Biology. Pitman Medical Publishing Co Ltd, London (ISBN 0-272-79394-9)
Software (incl. freeware), references, links and many more you will find at:
http://biocomp.arc.nasa.gov/3dreconstruction/
Good luck
Jens
--------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Jens Buecking Tel. +49-(0)421-218 3745 University of Bremen Fax. +49-(0)421-218 4620 Dep. of Biology Email jbueck-at-biologie.uni-bremen.de Leobener Str. - NW2 28359 Bremen ---------------------------------------------------------------
Isabel, Some years ago we needed a high surface area Al target for laser indu= ced X-ray generation. The approach we used was to evaporate aluminum through= a few Torr of N2. This produced a very granular surface. The particles were ve= ry well defined. Their nominal dimension was 100mn. It was a film but then = that is what we wanted. I suspect that grain size is a function of distance & pressure while density is a function of time. Perhaps you can tweak this approach to you need. Fair warning, this hi pressure deposition made ou= r evaporator very dirty.
Bruce Brinson Rice U.
Isabel Nogueira wrote:
} -----------------------------------------------------------------------= - } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Co= m } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.htm= l } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Fellow microscopists: } } We're trying to make a deposition of 2 micron gold particles on a sili= ca } substrate. } We cannot use an evaporator because we don't want a thin film: we want = to } deposit the particles directly on the substrate, keeping them isolated = and } without forming aggregates. } At first we dispersed the powder directly on the silica, but SEM analys= is } showed they formed aggregates. } Then we've tried making a suspension on etanol and then putting a dropl= et } of the solution directly on the substrate. But still it formed aggregat= es. } } Does anyone know of a simple method to make such a deposit (without for= ming } aggregates) ? } } Thanks in advance. } } Isabel Nogueira } Instituto Superior T=E9cnico } Departamento de Engenharia de Materiais } Av. Rovisco Pais } 1096 Codex } Tel.: 351 - 1 - 8418124/0 } Fax.: 351 - 1 - 8418120 } E-mail: isabeln-at-alfa.ist.utl.pt
This may sound like a no brainer, but I am unable to find an free, PC accessible powder diffraction database (for indexing electron diffraction patterns) on the internet? So far I have found one link to SPDP-B, but I can't connect to it. Would anyone know of an alternative database?
Thanks again for your assistance.
Regards,
Michael Coviello EM Lab Manager Materials Science Dept. The University of Texas -at- Arlington Arlington, TX E-mail coviello-at-mae.uta.edu 817-272-5496
} -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Does anyone have experience growing tissue culture cells on gold grids } with support films? We want to do IEM of filaments after digestion of } the cytoplasmic membrane, } Sara,
I've never been able to do this very sucessfully. We've developed an approach that may do the same thing more reliably: Grow the cells on round glass coverslips, localize cytoskeletal antigens by immunogold with or without silver enhancement, mount on aluminum stubs, freeze dry, coat with aluminum, and examine with a backscatter detector in a scanning scope. Refs: Goode, D & Maugel. J.E.M. Tech. 5: 263- and Goode, D. Chap 15 In: Hayat, M.A. Immunogold-Silver Staining, CRC Press, 1995
-Dennis Dr. M. Dennis Goode Phone (301) 405-6917 Department of Zoology Fax (301) 314-9358 University of Maryland e-mail goode-at-zool.umd.edu College Park MD 20742 ************************************************************* "If the Lord Almighty had consulted me before embarking upon the creation, I should have recommended something simpler." -Alphonso X of Castile, 15th Century
} Does anyone have experience growing tissue culture cells on gold grids } with support films? } Sara Miller
Dr. Miller, You may want to consider using polystyrene (PS) films supported by gold grids to ensure attachment and growth conditions identical to those in PS flasks. You can easily dissolve a part of the PS flask in amyl acetate at ~.5%. You can float these films off from glass slides the same way as classical formavar films. I can send you our publications dealing with this and other issues of cell culture for TEM (e.g. Scan. Microscopy 1991 Sup.5: pp. S53-73 and 1996 Sup.10: pp 1-16). Marek.
Marek Malecki, M.D., Ph.D. Address: IMR, 1675 Observatory Drive, Madison, WI 53706. Phone: 6082638481 or 6084441680. Fax: 6082654076. Email: malecki-at-macc.wisc.edu http://www.wisc.edu/cesip/ http://www.bocklabs.wisc.edu/imr/integrat/transg.htm
If your antigen is not in the wall, you can digest off the cell wall and embed yeasts in anything you want. I don't know the exact recipe, but check out Laura I. Davis in Medline lit search. We did the EM for her on cells from which she had removed the CW, and the sections were beautiful. It's the thick wall that causes penetration problems.
Good luck, Sara
On Tue, 31 Mar 1998, Linda Fox wrote:
} Date: Tue, 31 Mar 1998 08:00:21 -0600 } From: Linda Fox {lfox1-at-wpo.it.luc.edu} } To: Microscopy-at-aaem.amc.anl.gov } Subject: resin etching,immuno } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Hello Friends, } Need your advice again! Can Spurr resin be etched like some of } the Epon-type resins can for Immuno work? If so does anyone have a } recipe? I have a difficult specimen, candida, that is great in } Spurr, so-so in Epoxy, horrible in Lowicryl and this is getting } frustrating. I don't know if Unicryl or LRwhite would work. } The problem with the hydrophilic resins seems to be that the } resin swells slightly as the sections are cut and the sharp } distinction between the resin and the wall of the candida causes a } split from the resin. The candida either fold over or fall out, } leaving so few good ones that I can't proceed to immuno work and hope } for any results. } Thanks, } Linda M. Fox } lfox1-at-wpo.it.luc.edu } }
Sara E. Miller, Ph. D. P. O. Box 3020 Duke University Medical Center Durham, NC 27710 Ph: 919 684-3452 FAX: 919 684-8735
Could somebody point me to the supplier/source of the ,,ready to install" attachment to the SEM stage which allows motorized moving in Z direction. This is intended to be attached to the old type of Philips XL-30 motorized stage which has manual Z movement made in the way that the stage moves NOT straight but along the circle with quite large radius - so for many applications is not critical. There is however by one of my customers the application (EBSD) where this IS very critical. I was thinking about f.e. a pallet made of piezo-crystal or smthg. The movement of 3-5 mm is enough. Not for big samples. Should have a feedtrough to outside for controlling. Appreciate any suggestions - also if somebody can make one on order in form of ,,experimental" design.
kind regards
Krzysztof Herman Labsoft, Domaniewska 9/11/45, 02-663 Warszawa tel: (48 601) 307456, tel/fx:(48 22) 483787 E-mail: kherman-at-labsoft.com.pl http://www.labsoft.com.pl/
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I tried Unicryl resin when it first came out a few years ago and did not think it had significant advantages for TEM immunocytochemistry over HM20 or LRWhite. I understand that it has been a resin "in progress" and is much improved over the original formulation.
Has anyone had recent experience with Unicryl? I am most interested in comparison with the other resins for TEM Ultrastructure (osmicated tissue) and/or immunocytochemical localization. I want to use it primarily for plant tissue and cyanobacteria so do need a resin with low viscosity for adequate infiltration of tough cell walls. I will want to be able to polymerize with either UV light or heat depending on whether I am using freeze-substituted material or chemical fixed material.
Thanks in advance, Debby Sherman, manager Microscopy Center in Agriculture Purdue University
id sma010745; Tue Mar 31 23:29:31 1998 Received: from c1pa008.lkasbg.gv.at (c1pa008.lkasbg.gv.at [10.1.42.8]) by hermes.lkasbg.gv.at (8.8.5/8.8.5) with SMTP id AAA14191; Wed, 1 Apr 1998 00:31:57 +0200 Received: by c1pa008.lkasbg.gv.at with Microsoft Mail id {01BD5CFD.4920A780-at-c1pa008.lkasbg.gv.at} ; Tue, 31 Mar 1998 23:32:35 +-200 Message-ID: {01BD5CFD.4920A780-at-c1pa008.lkasbg.gv.at}
Hi Linda,
Most recipes for deplastification of resin sections have been published = for EPON, but (thanks God for my being busy in former times in reading = original articles and listing keywords for the contents) maybe some = keywords would work for you and your request:
MOTHES-WAGNER U, WAGNER G, REITZE HK, SEITZ KA: A Standardized Technique for the *in toto* epoxy resin embedding and = precipitate-free Staining of Small Specimens covered by Strong = Protective outer Surfaces. J. Microscopy 134, 307-313, 1984: =20 Embedding: Modified Spurr's for cuticularized specimens (small), i.e. = 26g NSA, 10g ERL 4206, 8g DER 736, 0.2g S-I) Removal: by Sodium-methylate solution (sodium-methoxide)
PEDRAZA MA, MASON D, DOSLU FA, MARSH RA, BOBLETT JP: Immunoperoxidase Methods with Plastic Embedded Materials Laboratory Medicine 15, 113-115, 1984 Embedding: Araldite, Spurr's, (M-)methacrylate Removal: Sodium-ethoxide (sodium-ethylate) according to=20 MAYOR HD, HAMPTON JC, ROSARIO B: A simple Method for Removing the Resin from Epoxy-Embedded Tissue J. biophys. & biochem. Cytology(Baltimore) 9, 909-910, 1961 (Cave: uses Toluol/benzole/benzene/metallic Na- mixtures)
RUSSELL SD, DAGHLIAN ChP: Scanning Electron Microscopic Observations on Deembedded Biological = Tissue Sections: Comparison of Different Fixatives and Embedding = Materials. J. Electron Microscopy Technique 2, 489-495, 1985 (great micrographs!)
Embedding: Paraffin, SPURR's resin; Removal: Using the Method described by=20 HOGAN DC and SMITH GH: Unconventional Application of Standard Light and = Electron Immunocytochemical Analysis to Aldehyde-fixed, = araldite-embedded Tissues: J. Histochem Cytochem 30: 1301-1305, 1982 means ("alla breve"): } } dry specimen: placed in freshly mixed 0.5% KOH = in (absolute? yes! I would take this one!) methanol mixed in a 1:2 = ratio with a solution of 1:1 benzene and acetone for 5-10 min ( back to = stone age!). KOH was neutralized by a 1-min immersion in 1% acetic acid in = *absolute*(here it is!) methanol, and rinsed in absolute methanol. This = formulation is also available (TEXT 1985!!) in a premixed Kit from = POLYSCIENCES, Warrington PA at approx. US$ 35.-. Although Hogan and = Smith(1982) recommend longer times than those employed in the present = study, the SEM results suggest that extraction was completed within the = time periods listed above. Hydrogen peroxide oxidation is used in the = HOGAN and SMITH(1982) technique to remove Osmium salts (personal note = added: this oxidation erroneously mostly referred today as "etching" = sections for use in ICC/IHC(IMM-EM)), but was omitted in the present = (1985) procedure. { {
} From a Poster Text at the Histochemical Society's Symposium at = GARGELLEN/AUSTRIA 1986 (unfortunately no exact citations present) TAATJES....., ROTH J. (Basel), from a poster in workshop: LECTINS: = Methods and Applications, Silver amplification, etc:=20 my own notices: Embedding: EPON, Removal: for LM-Incubation for LECTIN-Gold-Complex: MAXWELL's Fluid: i.e. 2 g KOH, 5 ml Propylene-oxide, 10 ml Methanol abs = mixture: 2-3 min (on semithin sections, 1-2 ?m), followed by MetOH/PBS = 5 min, then PBS 2x5 min. (maybe this variant would work on Spurr's = too??)
IWADARE T, HARADA E, YOSHINO S, ARAI T.: A solution for removal of Resin from Epoxy Sections Stain Technology (now: BIOTECHNIC and HISTOCHEMISTRY) 65/#4, 205-209, = 1990 Embedding: EPON Removal by A MIXTURE of CROWN-ETHER (18-CROWN-6 (SIGMA No C 5515) DMSO, = K-methoxid in MetOH using LOW ALCALI CONCENTRATIONS.....Incubation for = approx. 5 min up to 30 min (depending on section thickness): would = perhaps work also on SPURR's
Van PELT-VERKUIL E: Detection of Labile and Low Concentrations of Antigens in Semithin = Resin-Sections (Technovit 8100). UK-NEQUAS-ICC(Official Newsletter of the UK National External Quality = Assessment Scheme for Immunocytochemistry), #5, Summer 1995, p. 10-16: my own notice(s): stated in the text there: } } LR WHITE & LOWICRYL PLASTIC in Semithin = Sections CANNOT be removed.
Dear Linda: unfortunately I did such experiments a long while ago. I had = some success then but would have to establish the whole on a proper, = "today's" science. Hope my info's could be of help to you and your "nasty Job on resin = removal" (especially concerning Spurr's). I think you would have to test = a lot of sections before, if those with incorporated "candida" would be = very precious and "solitaires".
Note added "in proof": be sure, if working with the highly alkaline = solutions (KOH, Methylates, Ethylates) you rinse the sections after = Resin-removal carefully and extensively first in the solvent "sister" = (i.e. MetOH abs, EtOH abs, then A. bidest, then buffer) to get rid of = the long sticking alkaline solution as well as the depolymerization = product remnants: those would interfere, at least in certain areas of = the sections, with successful IHC-staining with your antibodies. Best wishes
Wolfgang
Dr. Wolfgang MUSS Salzburg General Hospital (LKA) Department of Anatomical Pathology,=20 EM-Laboratory Muellner Hauptstrasse 48 A-5020 SALZBURG AUSTRIA/Europe
phone: ++43++ 662 + 4482 + 4720 Ext fax: ++43++ 662 + 4482 + 882 Ext. e-mail: W.Muss-at-lkasbg.gv.at (note: "l" right to "-at-" is a small "L")
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Hello Friends, Need your advice again! Can Spurr resin be etched like some of the Epon-type resins can for Immuno work? If so does anyone have a recipe? I have a difficult specimen, candida, that is great in Spurr, so-so in Epoxy, horrible in Lowicryl and this is getting frustrating. I don't know if Unicryl or LRwhite would work. The problem with the hydrophilic resins seems to be that the resin swells slightly as the sections are cut and the sharp distinction between the resin and the wall of the candida causes a split from the resin. The candida either fold over or fall out, leaving so few good ones that I can't proceed to immuno work and hope for any results. =20 Thanks, =20 Linda M. Fox=20 lfox1-at-wpo.it.luc.edu
--- Received from HQ02MEMO.TC6NBLD DAVIS, BONNIE 03-31-98 16:55
I am currently evaluating image capture and analysis systems for metallography at production locations. I have information regarding the PAX-IT System sold by Midwest Information Systems. It is a hardware and software solution, and I am hesitant about purchasing what I consider to be somewhat of a 'black box'. Midwest Information Systems appears reluctant to specify what hardware they use, other than to say that the hardware I currently use (Matrox Meteor frame grabbers) is not supported. However, a single package system may have benefits for multiple users at geographically distant sites. Does anyone have any opinions or experience with the PAX-IT system from Midwest Information Systems?
Thanks Bonnie Davis Staff Engineer Materials Analysis Kennametal, Inc. Route 981S Latrobe, PA 15601
---- 03-31-98 16:55 ---- Sent to --------------------------- -} IBMMAIL.INTERNET Advantis IBM Mail Exchange
} Folks: } We are trying to automatically measure slopes on the sides of features protruding an otherwise smooth surface imaged by 3-D profilometry. The data set is comprised of x,y position vs. z height. The x and y data } are evenly spaced but not necessarily by the same amount. If anyone has or } knows of a canned routine/plug-in etc. that would help us out, please send me } a note. We can handle software for almost any platform } (Mac/Windows/Unix/VAX/etc.) } } Bill Heeschen } The Dow Chemical Company } 517-636-4005 } waheeschen-at-dow.com
I am in need of a type 545 Polaroid camera back that has a frosted glass where the film holder usually is. My SEM pix look OK on the screen but if I make a print from the neg. it looks slightly out of focus. I've been told that I need to focus the camera to match the screen & this fancy camera back with the glass helps you do that. I know they exist because I saw one on an ESEM. Does anyone know where I can buy one? I called Polaroid and they were confused. Can anyone help me with this problem?
My future looks fuzzy & so do my prints,
Paula :-)
Paula Sicurello UC Berkeley Electron Microscope Lab psic-at-uclink4.berkeley.edu
Alex- we are becoming fairly proficient in 3-d recon here in the Kinnamon lab. what types of computers do you have access to? and what type of TEM data? tomographic or serial sections? the rest is ....easy (after a lot of practice). there are many pieces of software avail at low cost. -Mike
On Tue, 31 Mar 1998, Alex Black wrote:
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Dear listees, } I want to do some 3 dimensional reconstruction of a particular } type of fibroblast in normal and pathological states, but I really am } at a loss as to the methodology. I do not have access to a program to } do this, so I need some sort of 'old-fashioned' but reliable method. } Any help will be gratefully receieved (as will any cheques, } real-estate, cars, post-doc offers etc. etc.). } Thanks in advance, } Yours 2 dimensionally, } Alex } } } } ...................................................................... } ....................................... } Alex Black } Department of Anatomy } National University of Ireland } Galway } } alexander.black-at-ucg.ie }
Can someone tell me a bit more about Unicryl? I'm not a biologist, I work in a Geology department, would love a non- viscous resin which would soak well into crumbly, porous rocks and wouldn't polymerise until told to. Who makes/supplies it?
Is it an acrylate resin? How runny is it? How does one initiate the polymerisation? How long is the pot life at room temperature? etc etc
thanks
Ritchie
Ritchie Sims phone: 64 9 3737599 ext 7713 Department of Geology fax: 64 9 3737435 University of Auckland Private Bag 92019 Auckland New Zealand
Micro Analytical Laboratories, Inc. is a commercial laboratory, specializing in environmental analyses of air, water, soil, and building materials. One position is open for full-time employment.
The applicant should possess strong communication and analytical skills. Optical mineralogy or electron microscopy coursework is preferred.
Please FAX or mail a resume to:
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At 02:45 PM 3/31/98 -0800, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Paula,
When I had to do this with a Hitachi S570 camera, I took the ground-glass from a Polaroid MP-3 copy camera. You know the kind that takes 4x5 film and has a copystand with lights? If you can find an on-campus facility that does document copying, photographic copying, etc., such an instructional learning resources center, they may have one. They may also have something else that might work. Look for facilities like "research photography", "scientific photography", "photographic services", "photo production technology", and other such names. Even if they're not using such technology anymore, in these days of digital imaging, you can bet that somebody has a 4x5 ground glass attachment in a drawer or cupboard somewhere. If there is a photography department there, they will certainly have one around.
Failing everything else, there is an old trick using frosted adhesive tape. Stretch it across the camera opening for the film and it will serve as a ground glass substitute. You MUST, however, make sure that the tape is in the exact same plane as the film in your holder would be, and that part will rely on you and a good ruler and imagination. The other thing, of course, is to position the tape so that the photo CRT projects onto it during the photo capture time. Probably it will require a few strips of tape to give you enough time to adjust the camera during the exposure time. Use a loupe to focus the projected beam onto the tape, being careful not to bend the tape in the process. An acrobatic feat, to say the least.
Good luck.
Randy
Randy Tindall 2017 Princess Jeanne Las Cruces, New Mexico 88001-4157
Have you ever seen the paper studying about the diffusion rate of dyes in food systems(microscopically observed)? How can I search for those kinds of materials? Thanks in advance Masubon Thongngam
Maybe you are referring to the Mamiya focussing screen holder (# Y5.500?) which is used to set up the Mamiya Press 6 x 7 120 roll film camera?
Our JEOL 35C SEM and JEOL 200CX TEMSCAN were set up with this for the roll film cameras which are supposed to be interchangeable with the Polaroid 545 film holder. I think they worked out ok, but we could never afford to run too much Polaroid!
Keith Ryan Plymouth Marine Lab., UK
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