Hi there, In our lab we are trying to accumulate all the MSDS's for the chemicals we use and put them into a 'condensed' form where if there was an emergency, the appropriate information could be easily found. The main point of this was for the clean up of spillages.
We have been looking at our MSDS for Agar 100, an epoxy resin, and it mentions in its MSDS (from the Manufacturer) that if there is a major spillage of the first 3 components (Agar, DDSA, MNA), to treat with an emulsifier then flush with water. Then if there is a major spillage of the accelerator (BDMA), totreat with a dilute mineral acid then flush with water.
We contacted the supplier to find out exactly what emulsifier to use and exactly what mineral acid to use. Even their own representative in our area didnt get a reply to his faxes (depsite replies to others!) so we figure that they arent too sure.
Does anyone know what 'emulsifier' we should have in the lab? What mineral acid should we have? How dilute? How would we clean a major spill of the resin when mixed up?! (epoxies and acclerator)
I would imagine there are other people out there in microscopy labs who try to decifer the sometimes 'vague' nature of MSDS's.
HELP!
Rich.
----------------------------------------------------------------------- Richard Lander Electron Microscope Technician South Campus Electron Microscope Unit Otago School of Medical Sciences P.O. Box 913 Dunedin New Zealand. Tel. National 03 479 7301 Fax. National 03 479 7254
"Southernmost EM Unit in the World!" ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Our medical photography department is going to purchase a high end color printer- for use by the entire hospital and research facilities.
The choice seems to be between the Codonics and the Fujix Pictrography 3000. I have been hearing alot about the Codonics, but I would like to hear from some users of the Pictrography- ease, speed, resolution for EM, cost, ect.
Responding to the message of {862565F6.005E21D8.00-at-mta1.imation.com} from "Terry D. Krueger" {tdkrueger-at-imation.com} : } } Thanks for clearing up the confusion about CD-Roms. As an engineer working } in CD ROM production, I was alarmed that people might be led into thinking } that CD-ROM's were short lived media. Our guarantee is for 30 years, and } we haven't had any complaints yet. 3M doesn't make CD-Roms anymore-that } was handed off to Imation. Now Imation is handing it off to another } company (one of four prospective buyers). Some people make crappy discs } that only last 5 years, but we don't. The main problem with longevity is } the relaxing of electrical test parameters, especially bler. People should } know what the specification for Bler is before they make a decision on who } to use as their CD-ROM supplier. I am not on the Microscopy List so, could } you post this for me?
Please reply directly to the above engineer.
--
Darryl Krueger Electron Optical Facility, University of Minnesota, Dept. Plant Pathology 495 Borlaug Hall, St. Paul, MN 55108 (612)625-8249 612-625-9728 FAX.
For information on CD-R, I recommend the Adaptec site. They run a CD-R list, and maintain searchable archives, with a home page at:
http://www.adaptec.com/support/cdrlist/index.html
There has been a lot of discussion about which drives are good, and how to solve problems with some drives.
There is a new standard for CD-ROM drives, called MultiRead, which CAN read CD-RW. Older CD-ROM drives cannot. For more information, see the Adaptec site. They have an excellent glossary and other reference information.
Karen Wetmore
At 02:42 PM 29-04-98 -0400, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Dear Bruce, I would reinstall your Cas 3.10 program. The problem is occurring on your PC and has nothing to do with the Mac's, or B.) blame the zip drive, where you a getting write errors. This can be caused by a bad scsi cable, the zip scsi card, or a bad mother board. Also, you could test this with Cas 2.5 instead of 3.10. If the problem continues it is the zip and computer mother board. You could also test this by ftping files from the PC hard drive to a central server then download. If these open without any problems, it points to the zip as the problem. I personally hate zips. They tend to be very problematic, so I have banned them from my facility. We use a large central file server, that serves as a temporary holding site for all images. Users download these over the network via ftp. Works great and serves all platforms. Our archival is done on 4.6 Gig optical disks, 600 opticals, or 640 MOs. These are far more reliable, and I have not lost any data from these in over 5 years.
Joe Goodhouse Confocal / EM Core Facility Molecular Biology Princeton University
} } Most SEMs don't have anything but steel around the chamber. Some have } } glass ports for specimen airlocks, but the HV is generally } } interlocked. I had a customer in Canada who made a Plexiglass port and } } often ran 12-18 hour EDS scans. He put a film badge inside the metal } } cover for this port and left it there for a month. He got no report of } } dosage back after turning in the badge. } } Which I for one find very worryinging. } }
It seems to me that I remember that for some reason or other, the film badges run from clear to black with increasing exposure BUT then back to clear upon extrememly high exposure - which isn't usually a problem since by the time the badges hit the re-clearing range radiation burns are clear evident and death of the wearer is soon to follow; thus, the need of the film badge (low level detection) has become moot.
Richard E. Edelmann, Ph.D. Electron Microscopy Facility Supervisor 352 Pearson Hall Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056 Ph: 513.529.5712 Fax: 513.529.4243 E-mail: edelmare-at-muohio.edu
A friend (who has been asked to set this system up) asked me to post the following question:
"For under $10K, which is the best B&W Cooled, Integrating CCD Camera for the money? The camera will be attached to an Olympus BH 200. Unfortunately, I can't specify what fluorescent staining will be used but my guess is that the specimen will be neurons with GABA receptors. Thanks, Ed."
If you reply to the listserver or directly to me, I will gladly pass on the information. However, you can also respond directly to Ed at: bsgphy4-at-uconnvm.uconn.edu
Thanks in advance.
Marie
Dr. Marie E. Cantino Dept. of Physiology and Neurobiology, U-131 University of Connecticut Storrs, CT 06269 Ph: 860-486-3588 Fax: 860-486-1936
If you are going out for a new SEM, do look into cryo stages. We don't use it often because of the time commitment but sometimes it is the only way to go. Cryo is especially useful for embyonic tissue which is so very delicate and often critical point dries poorly. Fungi also does quite well with cryo-SEM. Food scientists, Bio-medical engineers, and pharmacists have used it for such samples as starch gels and other types of gels which cannot be dehydrated without loosing integrity of the material.
Debby Sherman, Manager Microscopy Center in Agriculture Purdue University West Lafayette, IN 47907
--------------------------------------
We are currently investigating the possibility of replacing our Cambridge S-250 SEM with a new instrument. All of my experience the past 22 years as a hands-on user has been with conventional SEM's equipped with tungsten filaments but not having cryo-stages. EDS has been an extensively used option. I welcome any comments from users or vendors comparing tungsten, LaB 6, and field emission electron beam sources. Our samples are 60-70% textiles, the remainder biologicals (fungi, botanical, etc.).
Thank you in advance.
Bruce F. Ingber Biologist- Electron Microscopy USDA-ARS, SRRC 1100 Robert E. Lee Blvd. New Orleans, LA 70124
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It seems to me to be important to comment that there are two ways to look at radiation issues in an electron beam instrument; i.e., 1) from an intellectual viewpoint, understanding what is taking place in the microscope, and 2) from the point of view of abiding by the various rules and regulations regarding radiation safety in force in the region/country/administration in which you are working. This thread, I'm sure, is more an intellectual discussion, but perhaps we should emphasize that: ***UNLESS YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING, DO NOT MAKE PHYSICAL ALTERATIONS OF ANY SORT TO YOUR ELECTRON BEAM INSTRUMENT***. The ways that x-rays can escape from a column can be quite subtle. It is very important to check, both when an instrument is new and when any alterations are made or accessories added, that it is within regulatory limits for x-ray emission. Even highly reputable manufacturers have been known to make design errors - this is especially an issue for a prototype accessory. The checks should be made in the worst-case conditions as well as normal operating conditions, and with the column deliberately misaligned (for example, x-rays may be generated by the mis-aligned beam hitting a column liner tube; poor shielding may allow them to escape, but this would not be detected if the instrument is only checked with an aligned beam).
This said, I will now continue with my main comments, which are more intellectual (at least, I hope they are!) I'm not taking issue with what has gone before - just adding my own thoughts, in no particular order.
At least half of the x-rays generated by electron interactions are Bremmstrahlung. The energy of the Bremmstrahlung x-rays extends up to the beam voltage, roughly according to the equation: I= Io.(Eo-E)/E, where I is the intensity at energy E, Eo is the incident electron energy and Io is a "constant" (which depends upon the beam energy itself, the material and thickness of the target, the beam current, etc.) In a TEM, the measured background (from a thin sample) does approximate this equation quite well, but in the SEM you also have to account for the loss of energy of the electrons as they propagate through the bulk sample, as well as the absorption of the x-rays as they leave the sample.
Characteristic x-rays, of course, have an energy threshold - that is, a minimum electron energy capable of generating them at all. Take the example of iron K x-rays. The threshold energy is a little over 7 KeV. Electrons below this energy cannot excite iron x-rays. As the electron energy is increased, the probability of exciting the x-ray increases, quite rapidly at first, eventually reaching a broad peak at something like three times the threshold energy. As the electron energy increases more, the probability of generating the x-ray falls slowly. Not shown in the way I have discussed the Bremmstrahlung above (where I only indicate the dependence of the emission on the emitted x-ray energy) is the fact that the Bremmstrahlung probability (at a given x-ray energy) also falls with increasing electron energy, rather faster than the probability of producing a characteristic x-ray. This is one of the main reasons for using high electron energies in analytical TEMs - the peak-to-background ratio for most characteristic lines improves with increasing electron energy.
Absorption of x-rays by materials is highly energy-dependent. It gets quite difficult to prevent high-energy x-rays from escaping from a microscope. By the same token, fewer of them are stopped by any biological material (for example, someone's body) they may encounter. However, those that are absorbed deposit more energy per event, and I imagine (though this is not in my field) that the energy of a particular x-ray is a rather crucial determinant in the amount of harm it can do to tissue. Also, there is more chance for the x-ray to be absorbed in some crititcal internal organ (at lower energies, they would be absorbed in tissue near the skin, presumably).
Almost any reasonable thickness of steel, brass, copper, etc. will provide shielding for 30KeV x-rays generated in an SEM. However, aluminum should not be used. A substantial fraction (I did the calculation once, and forget the exact answer) of 30Kev x-rays penetrate 3mm of Al. Even more penetrate a 3mm. quartz viewport. Similarly, a component like, for example, a thin-walled bellows is quite unsuitable as an x-ray shield for an SEM.
Interestingly, a FEG microscope generates fewer x-rays than a thermionic scope. This is because in a thermionic scaope, all of the emitted electrons are accelerated to the high voltage. A large fraction are intercepted by the first anode, where, of course, they generate x-rays. In contrast, in the FEG, the majority of the emitted electrons hit the extractor electrode with an energy of a few KeV, leaving only a small fraction to reach the full beam energy. This comment is only of minor interest, because the gun area is invariably well-shielded by the manufacturer, and tends not to be a part of the microscope that is modified later.
Sorry about the length, but hope my comments are interesting!
ZEISS EM-10A TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPE A 100 kV instrument with magnification of 200,000 X. Having the = following capabilities: Electron Diffraction=20 Goniometer stage and controls Television camera and monitor Both 3 1/4 X 4 1/4 sheet film and 70 mm roll film cameras Anti-contamination cold finger Nestlab water chiller Complete set of manuals including service manual and schematics
The EM-10A is located in Moscow Idaho. Contact Randal Ownbey at 208-885-2091=20 or Russ Foster at 208-885-6255=20
{!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD W3 HTML//EN"} {HTML} {HEAD}
{META content=3Dtext/html;charset=3Diso-8859-1 = http-equiv=3DContent-Type} {META content=3D'"MSHTML 4.72.2106.6"' name=3DGENERATOR} {/HEAD} {BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff} {DIV} ZEISS EM-10A TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPE {/DIV} {DIV} A 100 kV instrument with magnification of 200,000 X. Having = the=20 following capabilities: {BR} Electron Diffraction {BR} Goniometer stage and =
controls {BR} Television camera and monitor {BR} Both 3 1/4 X 4 1/4 sheet = film and=20 70 mm roll film cameras {BR} Anti-contamination cold finger {BR} Nestlab = water=20 chiller {BR} Complete set of manuals including service manual and=20 schematics {BR} {BR} The EM-10A is located in Moscow Idaho. {BR} {FONT = size=3D+1} {A=20 href=3D"mailto:surplus-at-uidaho.edu"} Contact Randal Ownbey {/A} {/FONT} at=20 208-885-2091 {BR} {FONT size=3D+1} {A = href=3D"mailto:surplus-at-uidaho.edu"} or Russ=20 Foster {/A} {/FONT} at 208-885-6255 {/DIV} {DIV} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT size=3D+1} {A = href=3D"http://www.dfm.uidaho.edu/surplus/Bidlist.htm"} UI=20 Surplus Bid List {/A} {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT size=3D+1} {DIV} {FONT size=3D+1} {A=20 href=3D"http://www.dfm.uidaho.edu/surplus/images/5044.jpg"} View Image of =
We have an Emscope SC500 coater if anyone wants it. It hasn't been used for several years, so I can't personally vouch for its integrity. Rumour has it that the only problem with it is vacuum-related....but it would at least be useful for someone as a source of spare parts, if there are any still in use.
All we ask is that you pay to ship the beast, and it is yours! If you are the least bit interested, please let me know - the boss really wants to toss this. So the offer only stands for 2 weeks, then the coater becomes scrap metal.
Luc Harmsen 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Hi all } } I wonder if somebody out there can help. } We are looking for a power regulator board for a Cambridge S200 SEM, part number 852594. } Leo can make one up for us, but it will take up to six months to deliver as it is an old model. } Please contact us if you can supply. } } Luc Harmsen } Anaspec, South Africa } International technical support on microscopy. } Tel: +27 (0) 11 476 3455 } Fax:+27 (0) 11 476 7290 } anaspec-at-icon.co.za
Hello,
What is the condition of your regulator board? You are rather far from me but I could probably rebuild your board, if you wish to send it to my company. I would guess about a two week turnaround and I coulld send you a quotation after evaluating the board.
Alex Greene SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTATION SERVICES, INC. Number 499, Post Office Box 19400 Austin, Texas 78760
We are a start-up laboratory consisting of one science dropout (after 4 postdocs) who got tired of the politics and is now doing carpentry for a living, and one frustrated-by-circumstance physicist who is now a millwright. We bought an SEM in an online auction and are attempting a return to science, or at least a way to combat our midlife crises.
We want your sputter coater, and will gladly pay shipping and handling. Thank you, kind people. May the wind be always at your back, and may you find a critical point dryer to give away also.
Dear all, Does anyone know how to do purify chitinases from Pseudonocardia spp. properly? I tried to use ammonium sulfate to precipitate protein firstly,then dissolve in distilled water and dialysis against Tris -HCl . After detection chitinase by p-DAB method, we found negative result even this culture showed clear zone on chitin agar medium widely after 4 days of incubation time. Any suggestions please don't hesitate to reply me :busaya-at-kanate.su.ac.th
Free web-based email, Forever, From anywhere! http://www.mailexcite.com
Dear all, Does anyone know how to do purify chitinases from Pseudonocardia spp. properly? I tried to use ammonium sulfate to precipitate protein firstly,then dissolve in distilled water and dialysis against Tris -HCl . After detection chitinase by p-DAB method, we found negative result even this culture showed clear zone on chitin agar medium widely after 4 days of incubation time. Any suggestions please don't hesitate to reply me :busaya-at-kanate.su.ac.th
Free web-based email, Forever, From anywhere! http://www.mailexcite.com
Dear all, Does anyone know how to do purify chitinases from Pseudonocardia spp. properly? I tried to use ammonium sulfate to precipitate protein firstly,then dissolve in distilled water and dialysis against Tris -HCl . After detection chitinase by p-DAB method, we found negative result even this culture showed clear zone on chitin agar medium widely after 4 days of incubation time. Any suggestions please don't hesitate to reply me :busaya-at-kanate.su.ac.th
Free web-based email, Forever, From anywhere! http://www.mailexcite.com
Dear all, Does anyone know how to do purify chitinases from Pseudonocardia spp. properly? I tried to use ammonium sulfate to precipitate protein firstly,then dissolve in distilled water and dialysis against Tris -HCl . After detection chitinase by p-DAB method, we found negative result even this culture showed clear zone on chitin agar medium widely after 4 days of incubation time. Any suggestions please don't hesitate to reply me :busaya-at-kanate.su.ac.th
Free web-based email, Forever, From anywhere! http://www.mailexcite.com
Dear all, Does anyone know how to do purify chitinases from Pseudonocardia spp. properly? I tried to use ammonium sulfate to precipitate protein firstly,then dissolve in distilled water and dialysis against Tris -HCl . After detection chitinase by p-DAB method, we found negative result even this culture showed clear zone on chitin agar medium widely after 4 days of incubation time. Any suggestions please don't hesitate to reply me :busaya-at-kanate.su.ac.th
Free web-based email, Forever, From anywhere! http://www.mailexcite.com
The Chesapeake Society for Microscopy, a local affiliate society of the Microscopy Society of America, will hold it's annual Poster Meeting at the Uniformed Services Univ for the Health Sciences (USUHS) in Bethesda, MD, on Tuesday, May 19, from 6-9 PM. Program info is available at the website:
http://162.129.38.210:8001/csm_home.html
For poster entry registration and details contact: Brian Andrews sba-at-helix.nih.gov
This is a list of some of the responses I received to my query regarding opinions on components of image analysis systems. Thanks to all who responded, you have been helpful.
MY REQUEST: Re: Image Analysis Systems (microscopes, CCD cameras, and software). I am 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).
RESPONSES: These are summaries of the responses that I still have.
1) I would like to point your interest to our website:
http://www.soft-imaging.de
where you may find some useful nformation on our products. If you are interested, I would be pleased to send some more printed information to you. If you would like to receive it, please fill out the form on our website.
Best regards, Christian Mellen Soft Imaging System GmbH
2)
Working out what the best image analysis system is is quite a can of worms. From my experience the best thing to do is to fit the system to the type of images you need to look at. The mistake many people make when approaching image analysis is to think the computer will solve all their problems. If you cannot easily distinguish objects the computer probably will not either, if you can distingush them then the computer may still have problems. Often the hard work in any image analysis problem is getting the image into a state so that measurments can be easily carried out. The choise of a system often depends on how much effort you want to put into developing automatic routines vs semi-automatic/interactive operation - the latter would generally be cheaper both in cost and development time.
I would hesitate to recommend any single system. I have been reletively happy with our set up (now 6 years old) of monochrome and 3 chip colour video cameras, Matrox imaging card and Optimas software. One suggestion in making a purchase is to have a clear set of parameters the system must be able to meet and a return clause if it fails. Our original (very expensive) software purchase failed in a number of aspects and was replaced by the cheaper Optimas alternative.
Ian Hallett HortResearch Mt Albert Research Centre Private Bag 92 169 Auckland, New Zealand Fax 64-9-815 4201 Telephone 64-9-849 3660 EMail ihallett-at-hort.cri.nz
3)
Greetings from DVC Company... Yes we are a monochrome CCD digital and analog camera manufacturer and supply the framegrabbers and boards......... See all info below and on our web http://members.aol.com/dvcco Let us work with you and with Acrobat reader you can download our files off the web for review and printout...manual.pdf and datasht.pdf alternate site for DVC10 series cameras only www.optics.org/dvc For reference you can chat with : David Beaglehole Beaglehole's Ellipsometry Site Physics Department http://www.vuw.ac.nz/~db/bes/bes.html Laby Building, Victoria University of Wellington, POBox 600, Wellington, New Zealand Tel 64 4 471 5347, Fax 64 4 495 5237
DVC Company is a US Camera Manufacturer and systems house for frame grabbers and software, that offers: All units are monochrome outputs. Color can be had with our Tuneable RGB sequencial filter / non real time, if needed.
DVC does the custom digital RS-422 cables for various frame grabber boards.
The DVC-10 is a monochrome 10 bit real time analog and digital CCD Area array cameras that are very sensitive with signal to noise rating of } 62dB with capability of 30dB of gain if needed and simultaneous digital RS-422 and RS-170 outputs. We specialize in microscopy and will work with your people. DVC is also a complete systems house suppling 15 lines of frame grabber boards including Matrox !!! boards, and software. We cover PCI bus for PC and MAC, SUN and also SGI Web sites have downloadable files via Acrobat 3.0 reader / 3 files.. and complete camera manual. We are on any web browser via the sites listed below.
http://members.aol.com/dvcco This web site has been updated with new DVC-1300 info and pricing...Check this one first.
Feel free to call us with any questions Please pass our web site on......your e-mail system if you choose.
Regards,
Richard Klotsche DVC Company / San Diego, CA 619-444-8300 619-444-8321-fax
4)
Dear Listservers,
I am going to use UMAX Powerlook III scanner with transparency attachment to digitise 3 1/4 x 4" (8.3 x 10.2 m) TEM negatives. Does anyone know of a supplier of a film holder that can be used with the scanner? I contacted UMAX 10 days ago, but they have not responded so far, perhaps they do not have one to accommodate this size. Would the scanner recognise a home made film holder?
Thanks, Alex ______________________________ Alexander Titkov Millennium Inorganic Chemicals PO Box 245 Bunbury WA 6231 Australia Ph: (08) 97 808 505 FAX: (08) 97 808 500 E-mail: atitkov-at-micl.com.au
We are often used by clients, either in the run up to a purchase, or for the total task in an advisory capacity. Having worked for several microscope marketing organisations as demonstrators and sales specialist much of the "sales and demonstration hype" we see and overcome. In this way the purchase procedure is not muddied through the tricks we all know the clients fall for and the sales team thrive, often rely, upon.
Important points are set out below and expanded in the attached.
It is all to easy to follow the "we know how brand X work lets buy their new one" syndrome when considering a new electron microscope, unfortunate= ly you may not always best serve your unit's clients with this approach! =
Remember the SEM chamber geometry sets the information that you see, different shaped chambers will image the same specimens in a different wa= y. There will be one instrument that will handle your specimens better than=
any other, the clever trick is to find it!
Bring together all the people who are likely to use the instrument and dr= aw up a list of your requirements. Grade them in a 1 to 10 "priority list".= =
Obtain ALL the brochures and sift through the ones that are nowhere near your requirements. Do not stick to the ones you know that you can afford= , look at those you feel may be a little out of reach too.
Select a maximum of four specimens from the users, specimens with a wide range of different requirements. Go and see all of the manufacturers on your short list. the demo is the most important day remember:- 1. You are buying the microscope, not the demonstrator (?) help them= =2E 2. Stick rigidly to looking at your specimens 3. Follow a precise procedure that you will use for each demonstrati= on 4. Time the production of your results from start to finish of each specimen 5. If you have done all your work let the demonstrator show you some=
of the other areas of the instruments that may be of interest.
After the demo collect all the results and have the group of users look a= t all of them and grade the results. If you do not have an almost identica= l range of results in truth the demonstration was a waste of time! Remembe= r, if you buy an instrument that fails to perform as good as the demonstration, a purchase set against a good comparative series of photographs is easier to use as a standard than gut feelings? Use the photographs, and if the installed instrument is poor get it fixed or changed, use just gut feelings to select and you are dead! EM Quality starts by getting the best instrument for the task and by making sure tha= t it performs to specification; insist you have 100% satisfaction.
Select the instruments that come out on top with relation to the results,=
from now on only consider the first two instruments. Talk to the manufacturers and see if you can bargain with them to obtain more for you= r money. The best bargain you can obtain, balanced against the results it achieved, should be your purchase. Sounds simple but we will expand on t= he important areas often missed by prospective buyers.
Remember more information is attached.
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
Buying A New Instrument? =0D How do you start?=0D =96 Collect ALL the brochures AND Prices=0D =96 Form a view of the new facilities available=0D =96 If you do not understand them ASK the salesman=0D Check ALL possible users desired facilities?=0D =96 Those who use the instruments now?=0D =96 Those who may use them in the future if you buy certain accessories?=0D=
Formulate a purchase specification=0D =96 Price Range - Also look at one level HIGH=0D =96 Set essential Instrument specifications=0D =96 Set desired instrument specifications=0D Remember a consultant may be able to help-there approach covers=0D =96 Interdepartmental feuds that could spoil the case=0D =96 Asking the appropriate questions in a different, less pointed way, ma= y bring different conclusions=0D =96 Their far greater knowledge of the subject over a wider base than mos= t scientists will bring out points which others may miss=0D =96 After talking to all interested parties features will be given a desi= rability factor=0D =96 "Irrelevant" features will be excluded and punch features highly rate= d =0D =96 Aim at one instrument higher than the budget - he will know "the E.M.= business"=0D How Do YOU Handle a Demonstration?=0D How NOT to do it!=0D =96 Do NOT -Select YOUR favourite specimens=0D =96 Do NOT - Take enough specimens to keep you going for 6 hours or more=0D=
=96 DO NOT -Try out some totally new techniques=0D =96 Particularly those you have NOT ever looked at before=0D =96 DO NOT FALL INTO THE TRAP - Of not telling the demonstrator in advanc= e what you intend to do, if you do then do not change your mind on the da= y=0D =96 DO NOT FALL ONTO THE TRAP - You act as if the demonstrator is the ene= my=0D =96 DO NOT FALL INTO THE TRAP - He has to find out so do not help him at = all=0D =96 DO NOT FALL INTO THE TRAP - See if he is clever enough to find soluti= ons in one day to the problems that took you 5 years to overcome=0D =96 DO NOT -Try to develop a new research project during the day, use the= ir film its cheaper=0D =96 DO NOT FALL INTO THE TRAP - Do write notes, you will not remember the= detail of the demonstration.=0D How Will the Demonstrator Handle YOU?=0D Do NOT let him!=0D =96 Talk all day about the wonderful instrument features - you came for a= demonstration!=0D =96 Dominate the demonstration - it is YOUR demo=0D =96 Demonstrate how wonderful the alignment system is=0D =96 Show you the fantastic number of stage memory points you can remembe= r=0D =96 Show you HIS favourite specimen=0D =96 Play with his favourite gimmick on the instrument=0D =96 Take you out of the demonstration room when you have just given him a= new specimen=0D =96 Fill you with food and drink during a 2 hour lunch break=0D Before the Demo=0D =96 Select three or four specimens that are important to your laboratory=0D=
=96 Specimens that will test an instrument be it low or high magnificatio= n, no matter=0D =96 Develop a demonstration criteria - a specification for each specimen=0D=
=96 Provide each company with an exact demonstration programme=0D During the demo=0D =96 Time the demonstrator from start to finish with each specimen e.g. t= ake pictures at 2,000X, 4,000X, 16000X, and 32,000X=0D =96 Encourage the demonstrator not only to use your operating specificati= on for a task but also to try those he feels are best for this instrument= in these circumstances=0D =96 Prevent the demonstrator doing what he wants if this has no bearing u= pon your applications=0D After the Demo=0D =96 Layout the results=0D =96 Compare instrument with instrument on each specimen relating image qu= ality to time taken to produce the results.=0D You have to assumer that ALL the demonstrators were of equal caliber, do = not use gut feeling!=0D =96 Produce a short list =0D =96 Compare the short list against the "desirability" assessment=0D Research=0D =96 Look at the organisations who would provide the instruments=0D =96 Their service record in a number of laboratories nation wide=0D =96 Their service record in a number of laboratories in your area=0D =96 The reputation of the production company=0D The Purchase=0D =96 Decide upon the instrument you need and its reserve.=0D =96 Decide upon the specifications required.=0D =96 Approach the appropriate manufacturers, get the deals in writing incl= uding ALL the odds and ends mentioned.=0D =96 Haggle, get THE FINAL deal in writing including ALL the odds and ends= mentioned.=0D =0D Published by Protrain, Chinnor, Oxford, England=0D Tel & Fax 44 (0)1844 353161=0D E-Mail protrain-at-compuserve.com=0D Web http:/ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/protrain=0D
} I am going to use UMAX Powerlook III scanner with transparency attachment } to digitise 3 1/4 x 4" (8.3 x 10.2 m) TEM negatives. Does anyone know of a } supplier of a film holder that can be used with the scanner? I contacted } UMAX 10 days ago, but they have not responded so far, perhaps they do not } have one to accommodate this size. Would the scanner recognise a home made } film holder?
Does the holder have any effect on resolution? I doubt that it does more than just hold the transparency in place. In which case, just cut one out of a sheet of plastic. I don't usually bother with a holder at all.
MAMAS (Mid-Atlantic Microbeam Analysis Society) and the Surface and Microanalysis Science Division,NIST Meeting at the National Institute of Standards and Technology Gaithersburg, MD on Thursday, May 14, 1997 10:30 am- 3:00 PM Lecture Room C, Administration Bldg.
10:30am Coffee and Doughnuts
10:45am S. Brian Andrews, National Institutes of Health "Recent Advances in Biological Electron Probe Microanalysis"
12 noon Lunch
1:15pm Joe Michael, Sandia National Laboratory "Phase Identification using Electron Backscatter Diffraction in the SEM: an Alternative to Electron Diffration in the TEM"
The Minnesota Microscopy Society's annual Spring Symposium is tommorrow, Tuesday May 5th, at the Sheraton Midway hotel St. Paul (I94 and Hamline)
The topic is "Microscopy of Biomaterials"
Agenda
8:30 Registration
9:00 Microscopy of BioMaterials: An Overview Patrick Parks, 3M BioMaterials Technology Center
9:45 Aligned Artificial Collagen Systems Ted Tower, Dept. Chemical Engineering & Materials Science, University of Minnesota
10:30 Break / Vendor Displays
11:15 The Application of Correlative Microscopy to the Study of Biological - Biomaterial Interactions Ralph Albrecht University of Wisconsin, Madison
12:00 Lunch
1:15 Structure of Teeth Professor W. Douglas Center for Biomaterials and Biomechanics, University of Minnesota
2:00 Break / Vendor Displays
2:45 Cellular Performance of Biomaterials: A Macroscopic and Microscopic Assessment Maura Donovan, Medtronic, Inc.
3:00 Vendor Displays
Symposium Fee: $25.00 current regular MMS members 97/98 (dues paid since 9/1/97), $35 non-member (includes regular membership), $10.00 student members 97/98 (dues paid since 9/1/97) $15.00 non-member students (includes student membership). Fees payable at the door, but registration preferred to Mike Coscio at (612) 569-1331, E-mail: mike.coscio-at-medtronic.com
__________________ Stuart McKernan stuartm-at-tc.umn.edu Microscopy Specialist CIE Characterization Facility, University of Minnesota Phone: (612) 626-7594 100 Union Street S. E., Minneapolis, MN 55455 Lab: (612) 624-6590
I need to add a digital camera to our light microscope: either a Polaroid PDC 2000 (1600 x 1200) or a Kodak DC120 (1280 x 960) are being considered. Cost: $1,500 - 700, respectively. Anyone have any experience with these attached to LM's? Suggestions? Budget restriction: $2,000. 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 ####################################################################
Hello, We are running out of lab (and storage) space, and thus must let the following items go.
Durst Laborator S-45 EM enlarger for 4X5 or smaller negatives and plates. It has: Durst Laborator 138 condenser lens: 1 Latico 85 1 Latico 110 2 Latico 130 1 Latico 160 1 Latico 200 3 Latico 240
Final lens of 80, 105, 135 mm Negative holders- 2 Nega 138 (5X7), 1- 35mm assembly This is a point source set-up, it used to be our main system until we bought a new one. It is in working condition.
Next A Kevex Unispec system 7000 (EDS). It has a 77 main frame, 4800 ratemeter, 5130 EDC, and 4505P pulse processor. I had hoped to use the electronics in conjuction with some 4pi products to support a detector, but demand doesn't justify the budgetary outlay. The electronics were functional when it was placed in storage, but the display was having difficulties (bad yoke?).
Interested parties should contact myself or Kenneth Moore (kenneth-moore-at-uiowa.edu). -- Randy Nessler rnessler-at-emiris.iaf.uiowa.edu Views expressed are my own.
Kovex Corporation, a rapidly growing high-tech manufacturer of surface inspection equipment specializing in the development of state of the art microscopy techniques is looking for an Optical Systems Scientist. If you would like to know more about this position please check out our web page at www.kovexcorp.com
Winnie Westbrook wrote: } } Hi There, } Looking for a good technique for making a pellet of buffy coat from } normal blood. Would appreciate any help. Thanks. } } Winnie To Everyone Who Replied, Thanks for the info concerning the buffy coat collection technique. My difficulty had to do with the amount of sample I was given. It sure makes it easier with more blood sample.
As previously announced, MMMS will hold a Materials Science meeting on = May 22, 1998, at the University of Illinois at Chicago. The speakers and t= heir titles are:
8:45 Dr. Nigel Browning UIC Dept. Physics Introduction 9:00 Prof. Manfred Ruehle MPI-Stuttgart "Interface Science - More Information about Less" 9:30 Dr. Stephen Pennycook Oak Ridge Nat. Lab. "A Combined Experimental=
and Theoretical Approach to Atomic Scale Characterization of Interfa= ces"
10:00 - 10-30 COFFEE BREAK
10:30 Prof. Laurie Marks Northwestern Univ. "Who Needs Images? Solving Structures to 1 Angstrom Resolution Using Electron Diffraction" 11:00 Prof. Vinayak Dravid Northwestern Univ. "Dynamics of Electrostati= c Potential Barriers at Interfaces" 11:30 Prof. Ian Robertson UI-Champaign/Urbana "Design and Application o= f a Controlled Environment Transmission Electron Microscope"
12:00 - 1:30 LUNCH/POSTERS
1:30 Prof. John Silcox Cornell Univ. "Electron Spectrosocpy at the Atom= ic Scale" 2:00 Prof. Chas. Lyman Lehigh Univ. "Microanalysis of TEM Specimens: I= s 300kV Necessary?" 2:30 Prof. Ondrej Krivanek U. Washington "Aberration Correction in the = STEM"
3:00 COFFEE
3:30 Prof. Pedro Montano UIC/Argonne "X-Ray Resonant Reflectivity: A To= ol to Characterize Interfaces" 4:00 Prof. Tom Kelly U W Madison "3D Atomic Scale Analysis with a Loca= l Electron Atom Probe"
4:30 TOUR OF MICROSCOPE FACILITIES
For further information and travel instructions, contact jane.a.fagerland-at-abbott.com =
A little off topic, but I would like to know if any of you out there have experience doing 3-D reconstruction from cryosectioned tissue. In the literature, I've read articles on tissue distortion from cutting paraffin embedded tissue and mention of potential problems using internal fiducials.
However, my preliminary results using cryosectioned tissue seem pretty good (goal: to quantify optical density sections in relation to 3-D reconstructed anatomical structures).
Details: 20 micron thick rat brain tissue sections with embedded fiducial points, that is, I use small needles to penetrate the whole tissue using a stereotactic grid prior to embedding into OCT and sectioning, then use the holes as reference to register the digitized sections without warping the digital image.
Just wondering what others might have found. Thanks,
Brian Tryon MD/PhD Student Dept. Neurobiology & Anatomy Allegheny University of the Health Sciences 3200 Henry Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19129 USA
Currently, there are three systems utilizing or adapting midrange digital camera technologies to the microscope. If anyone wishes to add to this list, please do so. Kodak uses a stock version of the DC120 camera($700) for their MDS120 system ($2100) Polaroid adapted their PDC2000 ($1500) camera to create the DMC2000 ($5995). While you are hunting in this range of price and capability you should also consider the Pixera Professional ($1200). A standard c-mount lens turns this unit into a digital camera that must remain tethered to a computer. Last November in a similar thread, I gave a side by side comparison of these systems. Search the archives under "digital camera" or send me an email and I will send a summary.
I think you'd get a lot of argument against using any of these systems for critical imaging applications. See the current thread on the confocal listserv for the next step up in digital imaging from these systems. However, if any of these satisfy your needs they are certainly much more affordable.
I have been using the Kodak MDS120 system for a few months. I chose it for two reasons. First, they used the stock camera which can be easily unmounted and used for other tasks around the lab. It is a great digital camera. The second reason is that I needed the microscopy imaging system for fluorescence work. It is the only system which doesn't immediately warn against using the system for low light applications. In fact, I was delighted with the sensitivity of the camera for this application. General microbiological techniques such as AO or Dapi direct counts are well within its capabilities. I have also used for much lower intensity techniques such as DFA and even rRNA targeted oligo probes.
I remain interested in the Pixera system. For the price, it is certainly worth checking out. As far as the DMC2000 goes, I'll say the same thing I did last time. If I had that much to spend, I could probably rationalize and afford to leap to that next level of digital imaging capability.
Usual Disclaimer: I have a financial interest in getting out of Grad school but not in any of the aforesaid vendors.
Kevin Brent Smith University of Louisville Biology Dept. Louisville, KY 40292 Phone: (502) 852-6773 Fax: (502) 852-0725
I am looking for information on triple-labelling techniques for fluorescent secondary antibodies (including nuclear, cellular and extracellular matrix). In particular, procedures which use AMCA, CY2, CY3 and CY5 and what conditions favours the use of combinations of these markers.
I am looking for information on triple-labelling techniques for fluorescent secondary antibodies (including nuclear, cellular and extracellular matrix). In particular, procedures which use AMCA, CY2, CY3 and CY5 and what conditions favours the use of combinations of these markers.
Dear all, =20 I have used tilt correction in the past but am stuck on one specific=20 application. I have a tilted sample (70 degrees) and want to image the equiaxed=20 grains clearly visible at 0 degree tilt.... At 70 degrees, these appear elongated and checking the box "tilt=20 correction" on the Leo 435 (also specifying the tilt angle) does not=20 make a difference... Isn't it working because the image i want consists of equiaxed grains=20 and haven't a square shape? =20 Thanks =20 F.
Are you looking at (etched) topography (SE) or using "channeling contrast" (BSE)? If the latter, the actual contrast for each grain will change (with the incident beam angle). Should this be the case, no amount of correction can help...
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Dear all,
I have used tilt correction in the past but am stuck on one specific application. I have a tilted sample (70 degrees) and want to image the equiaxed grains clearly visible at 0 degree tilt.... At 70 degrees, these appear elongated and checking the box "tilt correction" on the Leo 435 (also specifying the tilt angle) does not make a difference... Isn't it working because the image i want consists of equiaxed grains and haven't a square shape?
I have just finished up with a group of freshman undergraduates with an introductory SEM course. We are trying a new idea by posting their projects on the web. If any of you are interested in reviewing these projects please go to:
There is a form block for submission of your comments at the end of each project.
Thanks!
Brian
**************************************************************** Brian McIntyre Electron Microscopy Lab Institute of Optics University of Rochester Rochester, NY 14627
716-275-3058 716-244-4936(fax) "Be well, do good work, and keep in touch"
Someone here wants to pick up plant root cryosections onto Gallium coated silicon windows. He chose Gallium to hold the sections down and for its conductivity for SIMS and SEM. The sections will be Au/Pd coated. Not being familiar myself with Gallium metal, does anyone know if the low melting point (29 degrees C) will cause a contamination problem under the SEM beam? Thanks Wallace Ambrose Dental Research Center University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, NC
A.O. 100x/1.25 oil Plan Acro cat # 1024, Needed. Any sources out there? Please email price and availability or repair costs to tosborn-at-csubak.edu. Thanks Tom
My apologies to the list, I just forgot to put in my department (molbio)
The Correction is below.
To all interested microscopists in Confocal and Biological EM, I am pleased to announce our new site on the web. Point your browser at http://www.molbio.princeton.edu/confocal/CF-EM-HOME.html to see what we do, and what we do it with. Much more to come in the near future.
Regards,
Joe Goodhouse Confocal / EM Core Facility Department of Molecular Biology Princeton University
What matters is not the melting point, but the vapor pressure. Surprisingly, the vapor pressure of most materials does not change discontinuously upon melting. The vapor pressure of gallium is reasonably low at near room temperature (the CRC, 60th ed., lists it as 1 mm Hg at 1350 degrees C). A more precise value for the vapor pressure at room temperature can be obtained from the text "A User's Guide to Vacuum Technology" by John O'Hanlon (Wiley, 1980). A good text on vacuum practices, like O'Hanlon's, may have more to say about gallium. Frankly, I don't see a problem for a short term experiment with a coated sample. I suppose it depends on your tolerance for contamination with a hazardous heavy metal.
********************************************************* Jeffrey A. Fortner, Ph.D. Chemical Technology Division Argonne National Laboratory 9700 S. Cass Avenue Argonne, IL 60439-4837
} ---------- } From: Ambrose, Wallace } Sent: Tuesday, May 5, 1998 1:17 PM } To: 'microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com' } Subject: Gallium in the SEM } } ---------------------------------------------------------------------- } -- } 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 } ---------------------------------------------------------------------- } -. } } Someone here wants to pick up plant root } cryosections onto Gallium coated silicon windows. He chose Gallium to } hold the sections down and for its conductivity for SIMS and SEM. The } sections will be Au/Pd coated. Not being familiar myself with Gallium } metal, does anyone know if the low melting point (29 degrees C) will } cause a contamination problem under the SEM beam? } Thanks } Wallace Ambrose } Dental Research Center } University of North Carolina } Chapel Hill, NC }
Gallium is one of those wonderful materials that breaks with intuition. Although the material has low melting point, the vapor pressure is extremely low. The vapor pressure versus temperature curve is between manganese and beryllium,
We have developed an honesty problem with the users of our Kodak 8650 Dye sub printer. The media is costly, we need to know who is using the printer and how much media they have consumed. The computer is already on NT and everyone has a password, but the 8650 is not networked {it takes around 5 minutes to print a 20meg image besides clogging up the server} and we use Photoshop 4.01 for all of our imaging.
What I need to know is if there is a mechanism in photoshop that can monitor the export usage, we have not found it if it is there; is there a device that we can install on or in the printer that can number the images used per person...or be creative like the venerated Dr. Mark Farmer from the University of Georgia who suggested the "Jersey Method" which he claims to have developed in the mid 1980s.
Any help would be appreciated.
Funny colors at sunset, strange smells, dreary, damp, dank
John Grazul Rutgers University Electron Imaging Facility
Regarding tilt correction, here is something general which applies whenever it is used.
In SEM, tilt correction is applied to the 2-dimensional picture of a 3-dimensional object. If, for example, you are imaging small spheres sitting on a plane surface, then however the specimen is tilted, without correction these would give circular outlines. With tilt correction these will be drawn out into ellipses, and the spheres will appear as if they ellipsoids (Rugby or American football).
Cubical grains will also suffer in a similar way.
Mathematically, this is quite similar to what happens in pictures taken with an ordinary wide-angle lens. If you took a group of people each holding a spherical football, the effect would show up at the edges of the picture. In this respect a fish-eye lens introduces less distortion.
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | 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 | +------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Some years ago, some standard asbestos samples were developed that became known as the UICC "standards". It is a long story, but at some point in time, we ended up with either some or all of the remaining material from this well characterized set of samples.
The problem is this: We have run out of the crocidolite standard and people keep asking us for it. Does anyone out there have any of the UICC crocidolite material sitting around that they would be willing to part with, sell, trade, or whatever?
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'm just curious as to the policies followed by multi-user imaging and microscopy facilities regarding establishment of protocols for specimen preparation and analysis. Specifically, do people follow the idea that the researcher/client should establish protocols by literature searches and experimentation and then present these protocols to the lab to be executed? Or is it expected that EM facility personnel, being the microscopy experts, will establish protocols, follow them and present the results and written protocols to the researcher/client on an independent basis? Or something in between?
We sometimes see situations where specimens are brought in for processing, and when the client is questioned as to how they want them processed, we're told "I don't know. Do it like you did it before.", even though different lab personnel were involved, records are mislaid or nonexistent (I know, I know...) etc. In other words, it appears that work is being done and results published when the primary researchers aren't aware of the materials and methods used in the process, or whether the techniques are optimal for their particular needs. These things are sometimes left to the complete discretion of lab technicians, with all the varied backgrounds lab technicians have.
Now remember, I'm discussing multi-user service facilities, not specialized labs dedicated to a single area of research. We're doing a rather radical reorganization of our facility at the time, and I'm very interested in other's thoughts on this. It will aid in setting some policy guidelines.
Thanks. If anyone wishes, I'll be happy to post a summary of the replies.
Randy
Randy Tindall Electron Microscope Laboratory Box 3EML New Mexico State University Las Cruces, NM 88003
I have a major Problem with our new HPD-CPx software controlling the Hamamatsu C4742-95 camera. When storing aquired single images using the SAVE AS... command the program crashes. This problem occurs unregularly but relatively often. Unfortunately I cant reproduce the conditions under which the failure occurs. HPD-CPx is running under Win NT 4.0 here.
Has someone made the same experience and can perhaps give me some advice how to fix this problem? Hamamatsu says it occurs only on my computer, so they assume a hardware problem (but which one???).
It is tough to have A policy. In general most samples that come in can be processed by one of a few routine techniques. From experience we already know how to adapt SOPs to a different situation, i.e., plants may need to be handled slightly differently from animals etc. In most cases our users do not have enough background to make decisions about protocols and rely on us to make the best choice. When we get a project that we know from experience, or just intuitively feel, might need special processing we will ask the investigator to provide us with a successful protocol from the literature on that sample or one related to it. We always at least get a lead to the literature if not a specific procedure. This is especially important if they want immunolabelling.
If it takes several trials to get a successful outcome, the users are billed accordingly and are warned in advance that this might occur. If we screw up, we don't charge them for repeats.
No matter what the sample, we encourage the user to talk to us before bringing the sample so that we can head off problems in advance. We may even be able to help them with their experimental design in order to optimize the results. People who show up unannounced on on short notice are warned that they are putting us at a disadvantage and that may be reflected in the outcome. We also politely give them hell for being so presumptuous to think that we operate like McDonalds drive up window.
When technical staff needs help in making this decision, that will consult with the Scientific Director of the lab. I would hope that such a person exists for your facility if it isn't you. We have also been know to get on the phone and consult with whomever we think might be helpful on a sticky project.
Hope this has been informative.
I should that we do about 500 samples a year for about 100 different investigators, almost all bringing biological samples.
Greg Erdos
} } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } .
} Hi, } } I'm just curious as to the policies followed by multi-user imaging and } microscopy facilities regarding establishment of protocols for specimen } { { {snip} } } } } ******************************************************* G.W. Erdos, Ph.D. Phone: 352-392-1295 Assistant Director, The Biotechnology Program 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
Dear Randy, } } I'm just curious as to the policies followed by multi-user imaging and } microscopy facilities regarding establishment of protocols for specimen } preparation and analysis. Specifically, do people follow the idea that the } researcher/client should establish protocols by literature searches and } experimentation and then present these protocols to the lab to be executed? } Or is it expected that EM facility personnel, being the microscopy } experts, will establish protocols, follow them and present the results and } written protocols to the researcher/client on an independent basis? Or } something in between? } We consult with prospective users and suggest protocols. The users can then send us grids which we examine and evaluate, and we send represen- tative pictures back. When the user is satisfied that the features of in- terest are clear, that is the protocol used. We want everyone who comes to our facility--a NIH-funded biotechnological resource--to have productive visits, so we take pains that their specimens be properly prepared for the HVEM, IVEM or other instruments at our site. Yours, Bill Tivol
} Imageers, } } We have developed an honesty problem with the users of our Kodak 8650 } Dye sub printer. The media is costly, we need to know who is using } the printer and how much media they have consumed. The computer is } already on NT and everyone has a password, but the 8650 is not } networked {it takes around 5 minutes to print a 20meg image besides } clogging up the server} and we use Photoshop 4.01 for all of our } imaging. } } What I need to know is if there is a mechanism in photoshop that can } monitor the export usage, we have not found it if it is there; is } there a device that we can install on or in the printer that can } number the images used per person...or be creative like the } venerated Dr. Mark Farmer from the University of Georgia who } suggested the "Jersey Method" which he claims to have developed in } the mid 1980s.
We have a similar setup but ours is networked to and from one NT Workstation. That is, the workstation owns the printer. We do not have a problem with the server because TCP/IP routes it directly back to the workstation; it never passes thru a server and with the network card you can use PS or raster mode. No print takes more than 70 seconds once it is sent to the printer. I have never seen anything in PhotoShop to track prints. When you say everyone has a password, do you mean they each have a password or do you mean they all use the same password? If you aren't using user profiles you can't do much. If you are using profiles you will need audit software like W3 (http://www.winwhatwhere.com).
NT can track printing by individual users if you are using user profiles. But that is for printing, not exporting. It is done like this: In User Manager/Policies/Audit select "File and Object Access". In your Printer control panel select the printer, then right click and select Properties/Security/Auditing. Then you must add your users (or their group) into the "Name:" window. Next, select the events to audit. That would be Print, Success and Fail. Save all this and then when the Print command is used it will be recorded in your System Log which you view with your Event Viewer.
Good luck.
Rick A. Harris, Director Microscopy and Image Analysis Facility Section of Molecular and Cellular Biology 1241 Life Sciences Addition University of California Davis, CA 530 752 2914 530 754 7536 fax raharris-at-ucdavis.edu
I run a multi-user facility at Emory University. Our policy is to follow the protocols for all general samples which we have written into a lab manual . Special protocols are developed and used only when the routine is not adequate for the researcher's sample. No lab personnel are permitted to modify protocols without direct supervision by the researcher requiring changes ( and only then by my permission).
Your observation that the materials and methods are seldom known by the remote user is quite true. To eliminate this problem, all our outside users are provided with a written copy of the protocol used to prepare their samples. Any specific unusual observations noted or steps taken during the preparation are written on the forms as the procedures are completed. This may sound like additional paperwork, and it is, but we have eliminated many arguments when samples do not turnout the way a researcher had envisioned.
I hold to the premise that lab protocols are static for the majority of sample preparation needs, therefore, follow a fixed-written routine everytime. Our consistancy of results is a testament to the truth of this premise.
We usually take the middle road: if it is a sample we have prepared before we try to follow previous procedures. However, if it is something new, I often ask the investigator (faculty or student) to do the legwork in finding previous papers with EM protocols, especially those showing the type of information they are after. This is important because it may not be clear to me whether the project is feasible at all (as you know, non-EM people sometimes are wildly optimistic about what we can detect and what we can't). I have had varying success with this approach, but it usually separates the customers who are serious about getting good results, and are willing to put in some time, from those who are just "fishing".
As for record keeping, we do keep records, but inevitably some details end up stored in the head of the person who does the work. I am sometimes horrified to find out months later that the study has been reviewed and published with a Materials and Methods section that bears only passing resemblance to what was actually done. A surprising number of people never bother to ask us to review what they have written even though they have little understanding of the techniques. The same people (fortunately!?) usually don't bother to put us in the acknowledgements, either.
Marie
} Hi, } } I'm just curious as to the policies followed by multi-user imaging and } microscopy facilities regarding establishment of protocols for specimen } preparation and analysis. . .
Dr. Marie E. Cantino Dept. of Physiology and Neurobiology, U-131 University of Connecticut Storrs, CT 06269 Ph: 860-486-3588 Fax: 860-486-1936
A TN 5500 EDS system is available for sale as replacement for existing system parts. The system was operable before it was dismantled last week. The system does not include the detector. Also, the printer gives some trouble if it is not frequently serviced and cleaned. The system is supposed to be complete with imaging, and analysis options. If you have interest please contact me or send me email. will sell for best offer.
thank you
== Said A. Mansour == Purdue University == School of Materials Engineering == 1289 MSEE Bldg. == W. Lafayette, IN 47907-1289 == # (765) 494-6405 Fax (765) 494-1204
I concur with Greg Erdos that we try to get the investigator to talk to us before the experiment then determine if an SOP will fit. If not then I ask the investigator if they have done a literature search. If there is a technique for their project I determine if we have the capabilities to perform it or if it realy is just a "conveniance" modification that the paper used and one of ours will indeed work. Ihave on Computer the different techniques we perform so when it comes to manuscript time I just print out a copy and any modifications for the investigater. Like Greg we get the occasional person who thinks EM is a few hour job and says here"s the tissue. Something else that I'd like to add or know is how many labs break up their services and subsequent charges into say proceesing, thicks, thins, scope time (by EM staff or investigator), and photography, or do they charge as a lump project? We break it all down and even alow the investigater to perform what ever steps they think they can. I'd like to see a survey of prices for these things too.
Rick Vaughn
PS Thanks to all the advice on stereo pairs. Hopefully you'll see them at the 99 Portland meeting.
I can't help you with your honesty problem and I can't help you with your network problem, but I can suggest a method that worked for me at Wright Patterson. We had a Kodak 8650 at Wright Patterson and there were both Mac and PC users. I collected and processed images on both platforms. It was not on the network, but was dedicated to one computer that was on the network. Other dye sub printers that were on the network had problems with usage/misusage and a lot of Mac users not knowing what printer they were printing to.
I would suggest that you take the printer off-net and put it on one computer and then have users come to the machine. That solves the network clogging problem and the waste due to accidental print jobs. Users could also buy and use their own paper. That solves the honesty problem. The computer that you use would have to have the software that you use to print. Incidentally, I typically process my images in Photoshop and save them in TIF mode and print them in Powerpoint. Regardless, Powerpoint and Photoshop are both programs that are very similar and compatible across platforms. With Powerpoint, you can easily arrange different prints and print multiple copies. I could see no difference in quality of the prints when Powerpoint and Photoshop were used. I would suggest that you use a PC running Windows and use Conversions Plus so that it can recognize and use both Mac and PC formatted disks. (It is best to use PC formatted disks and then quick format them to Mac. This method preserves the long format names on both platforms.)
Just my two cents.
-Scott Walck
Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. PPG Industries, Inc. Guys Run Rd. (packages) P.O. Box 11472 (letters) Pittsburgh, PA 15238-0472
Walck-at-PPG.com
(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."
We have developed an honesty problem with the users of our Kodak 8650 Dye sub printer. The media is costly, we need to know who is using the printer and how much media they have consumed. The computer is already on NT and everyone has a password, but the 8650 is not networked {it takes around 5 minutes to print a 20meg image besides clogging up the server} and we use Photoshop 4.01 for all of our imaging.
What I need to know is if there is a mechanism in photoshop that can monitor the export usage, we have not found it if it is there; is there a device that we can install on or in the printer that can number the images used per person...or be creative like the venerated Dr. Mark Farmer from the University of Georgia who suggested the "Jersey Method" which he claims to have developed in the mid 1980s.
Any help would be appreciated.
Funny colors at sunset, strange smells, dreary, damp, dank
John Grazul Rutgers University Electron Imaging Facility
The schedule of charges for the EM Unit must be documented and reviewed in accordance with the requirement of the (insert name eg EM Unit) Laboratory Manual.
The schedule of charges must be review by Management at {insert times}
Secondly, the path is to full cost recovery going hand in hand with ISO 9002 + GLP (in Aust AS Stnd) + (in Aust, NATA requirements).
My view again is of a Laboratory Manual + Laboratory Procedures + Operating Instructions (three levels).
Whenever a potential user contacts me, I ask if they have a reference with a method. We then try to follow that method if it is feasible and safe, simply so that our users can produce similar to the literature because this can save a lot of time in interpretation. If they only have old references then I may suggest that we prepare the sample with an up to date protocol and the original method. I keep a reasonable selection of specimen preparation texts/manuals and have the usual basic standard protocols.
All samples are then logged into our specimen book when they arrive in the lab with a unique specimen number which incorporates the year (eg 123/98), with the person's name, date of arrival in the lab, basic method (eg 2.5%G; 1%OsO4; in 0.1M cacod pH 7.2; ethanol; Spurr's) with details of the specimen including the outside lab's specimen numbers. If the details are brief you can also fit in a word or two of comment about the sample. This all fits on one line of two facing pages of an A4 book. If there is any substantial modification to a method this goes into the back of the same book with method and reference then the page of the method is written on the same line as the specimen details. It's compact, low tech, simple and cheap and the only flaw is that we must NEVER LOSE THE SPECIMEN BOOK (ie it doesn't leave the lab and we try to photocopy it from time to time.
This works well for the 300 or so samples that may come to us a year and is particularly useful for negative stains which we often need to adjust or modify slightly. The only samples that do not fit well into this system are those that have been prepared outside of the lab but I simply ask if the user has the details so that we can record them if they want and I make a note - processed elsewhere.
I still haven't decided what to do about the handwritten Millenium Bug ( ie300/99 -} 1/00 and beyond) but as electron microscopes, the lab and I may not be around when we come full circle, I don't think it's a problem. I may just get a smaller pencil to label my specimens.
Malcolm Haswell Electron Microscope Unit University of Suderland UK ----------
-- [ From: Garber, Charles A. * EMC.Ver #3.1 ] --
Barry Searle wrote: =============================================== In search of........
Would someone have a copy of the SPI SIRA documentation that comes with the standard that I could have? ================================================ Sorry, we did not know you needed a set. We will FAX it to you immediately. Tell us what FAX number to FAX it to. We anticipate this information will also be up on our website shortly.
Chuck
=================================================== Charles A. Garber, Ph. D. Ph: 1-(610)-436-5400 President 1-(800)-2424-SPI SPI SUPPLIES FAX: 1-(610)-436-5755 PO BOX 656 e-mail: cgarber-at-2spi.com West Chester, PA 19381-0656 USA Cust. Service: spi2spi-at-2spi.com
Look for us! ############################ WWW: http://www.2spi.com ############################ ==================================================
We have a fee schedule for package deals as well as individual parts of the project. We too allow user participation where tehy are competent and adjust prices accordingly.
I am attaching our fee schedule for "in-house" users. We recover only about 20-25% of the true costs. We are required to charge our rare external users for the full cost.
If you cannot read the attachment, let me know and I can fax to you
******************************************************* G.W. Erdos, Ph.D. Phone: 352-392-1295 Assistant Director, The Biotechnology Program 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
I would suggest that you contact Tom Kubic at TAKA. I don't have a phone no. handy but know that they are on Long Island, in the Nassau County area (516 area code).
Best regards,
Barbara Foster
At 09:23 AM 5/6/98 -0500, Garber, Charles A. wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
We are studying the origin of the two-length-scale diffraction phenomena in SrTiO3 single crystal (Phys.Rev.Lett.80,2370(1998)), and would like to chemical-polish or electro-polish the samples.
Does anyone have a recipe ? Any suggestion and comment are appreciated.
Thanks.
******************************** Dr. Yimei Zhu Materials Science Division Brookhaven National Laboratory Upton, Long Island, NY 11973 USA Tel. (516)344-3057 Fax. (516)344-4071 ********************************
for reference purpose I am searching for near-edge spectra (ELNES or XANES) of the K-edges of beta-Si3N4 (P6 3/m). If anybody know any publications concerning this structure, please email me directly.
Here is some information I have on the VCR Group. They also have an 800 number that I can't find right now.
Dale
VCRVINCE-at-aol.com
Vince Carlino VCR GROUP Incorporated 250 East Grand Avenue Ste. 70 South San Francisco, CA 94080
On Thu, 7 May 1998, Susanne Pignolet Brandom 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } If anyone has information on how to contact the VCR Inc in the USA, please } forward it directly to: } } Kai Tang } kaitang-at-us.imb.com } } Thank you } } Susanne } Susanne Pignolet Brandom Ph.D. } 239 Old Littleton Road } Harvard, MA 01451 } 978-456-3100 } email: spb-at-mwrn.com } } MicroWorld Resources and News http://www.mwrn.com/ } } }
Dale Shumaker G9 WBSB 725 N Wolfe Street Baltimore, MD 21205
Wilson Lab; Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Cell Biology and Anatomy 410-614-2654 410-955-4129 (fax)
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I'm working with material samples and I'm looking for a good TEM sample prep. class. I've been to the great class at GATAN and found it very helpful. Lehigh University is not offering a sample prep class this year. I would appreciate any other suggestions.. Thanks. D.McLean
My school has been offered a JEOL JEM 100U TEM. We may look for a non- profit buyer for this instrument. We would be grateful for information regarding its approximate value.
Hi, I wish to do some TEM on the embryo's of c.elegans, particularly at the 4 cell stage. I understand the shell is quite resilient and it has been suggested it would need to be cracked by a laser in glutaraldehyde. Does any one know of a protocol??
a copy of the Manual for the Concept EDM Model 111;
or
direct me to the current company (details of) handling this type of equipment - it was originally called Concept EDM Ltd, in England. I have no further details. This equipment is of the 1970's vintage.
We routinely do EM of c. elegans in our laboratory.
We mainly look at x-section. So what we do is cut both ends of the worm with razor blade, whick helps in infiltration. With embreyo's this is tough to do given its relative size. However, if enlongate all your normal processing protocol, and I have done that, you can get a with some good result.
Now, if you have laser, yes that's the way to go.
If you're interested in a processing protocol, I can supply you with the one I use.
On Tue, 5 May 1998, Patrick Merritt 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Hi, } I wish to do some TEM on the embryo's of c.elegans, particularly at } the 4 cell stage. I understand the shell is quite resilient and it has } been suggested it would need to be cracked by a laser in } glutaraldehyde. Does any one know of a protocol?? } } Thank You } } Patrick } } }
******************************************************** * Raj Patel * * Dept. of Pathology * * Robert Wood Johnson Medical School * * 675 Hoes Lane, Piscataway, NJ 08854 * * * * voice (732) 235-4648; Fax -4825 * * E-Mail rpatel-at-umdnj.edu * ********************************************************
Researcher in the area of "Electron microscopy in plant research". Reference number 1716/98-4599.
At the Electron Microscopy Unit, Department of Plant Breeding Research, The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sval=F6v/Alnarp, Sweden. The EM Unit will be a common resource for the university's departments in Southern Sweden.
The candidate must have a doctor's degree, primarily not earlier than five years ago. Experience of work with plant material is a merit. Of importance are the scientific, pedagogic, adminstrative and other capacities of relevance for this occupation. Of importance also is the capacity to inform about scientific research in a popular way.=20
The appointment is first for two years, followed by another period of two years and the possibility for a further prolongation. The salary is individually determined (at least 20 000 Swedish crowns a month, before taxes). Women are engouraged to apply.
Together with the application, a short account on the applicant's scientific and pedagogic activities should be given. The application marked with the above-mentioned reference number, together with a certified C.V., merit and publication lists, and other documents (including scientific and pedagogic works) should be sent in two copies so that they reach the "Registrator, SLU, Box 7070, S-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden" at the latest on June 5, 1998.
For further information contact professor Waheeb Heneen, tel +46 418 667064 or fax +46 418 667081.
Patrick Merritt wrote: } } Hi, } I wish to do some TEM on the embryo's of c.elegans, particularly at } the 4 cell stage. I understand the shell is quite resilient and it has } been suggested it would need to be cracked by a laser in } glutaraldehyde. Does any one know of a protocol?? } } Thank You } } Patrick
Patrick:
You might want to try "phase partition fixation" which has been successful on things like Drosophila eggs with a hydrophobic barrier. See Stain Technol. 52:89, 1977 or J. Histochem. Cytochem. 34:795-800; 1986.
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 ***************************************************************
MME offers customized, on-site training in all areas of microscopy, including sample preparation. If you are interested in this alternative, please contact me directly.
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.
At 02:42 PM 5/7/98 -0600, Dorrance McLean wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Contact Don Riddle in the Dept of Biological Sciences at U. of Missouri-Columbia. His lab has been doing TEM of C. elegans for many years including serial sectioning. Phone # are 573-882-6363 or 882-2816.
Debby Sherman, manager Microscopy Center in Agriculture Purdue University W. Lafayette, IN 47907
--------------------------------------
Hi, I wish to do some TEM on the embryo's of c.elegans, particularly at the 4 cell stage. I understand the shell is quite resilient and it has been suggested it would need to be cracked by a laser in glutaraldehyde. Does any one know of a protocol??
Thank You
Patrick
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The phone # of VCR Group, Inc. is: 1-800-536-1827
Ya Chen
IMR U-Wisconsin
Ya Chen
======================================================================== \ / Integrated Microscopy Resource (IMR)-- \ / __ an NIH Biomedical Research Resource TEL: 608-263-8481 \/ / / University of Wisconsin-Madison FAX: 608-265-4076 / / / 1675 Observatory Drive #159 / /__/_ Madison, WI 53706 Email: ychen14-at-facstaff.wisc.edu ======================================================================== IMR WWW Home Page: http://www.bocklabs.wisc.edu/imr.html
A user in our lab has started a project that requires the staining of many TEM grids, dozens, or more, at a time. She is really in mass production mode and is frustrated by keeping track of drops in dishes.
She saw a commercial automatic grid stainer ($10K, choke) and thought we should get it. That's kind of pricey for me to consider without some other feedback.
I would like to help her out. I am not sure most users in our lab (a fairly low volume central campus, general EM lab) would ever need an automatic stainer. Maybe you could give me some ideas about how useful and practical they are for routine use.
If they are not what we need, is there anything I could get to help her with this project? How useful are the little gizmos in some of the catalogs? What is your favorite? Have you tried any of them and been happy, or not?
Thanks
Jonathan Krupp Microscopy and Imaging Lab University of California Santa Cruz, CA 95064 (408) 459-2477 FAX (408) 429-0146 jmkrupp-at-cats.ucsc.edu
Maybe one of you can save me turning my office upside down looking for info. on embedding and sectioning rocks for TEM. I know I have all this stuff somewhere but its location is somewhere deep in my memory banks.
I have a user who wishes to look at pieces of rock from a diamond anvil cell experiment.
The piece is very small, but not thin enough to go directly into the TEM. We are trying lots of things to prepare the sample, sectioning is next. I know how to section and the small size of the sample is no problem. I just can't remember if there are any tricks or recommended procedures for getting a little piece of rock to infiltrate and stick in the plastic. While I'm asking, any plastic or a special one?
Any other ideas on how to help on this project would be wonderful. As always your kindness and sage advice are much appreciated
Jonathan Krupp Microscopy and Imaging Lab University of California Santa Cruz, CA 95064 (408) 459-2477 FAX (408) 429-0146 jmkrupp-at-cats.ucsc.edu
I am a new SEM user and I would be very grateful for any suggestions to the following problem. I have microbeads that cells have been cultured on, they adhere tightly to the outer surface of the bead. I examine them at lower powers (X1,000 or less) with the SEM, all is well until I dry them down (I use coverslips) the beads/cells are so light and fragile that after gold coating they just do not 'stick' to the coverslip and the slightest movement sends them all over the coverslip. I would like to find a way to make them adhere to the slide but still look 'clean'. Thank you for any help, Gill
Gillian Rittman Research Associate, University of Texas - Houston Research Office 4.109 DBB 6516, John Freeman Ave, Houston, TX 77030. Phone (713)500-4359 FAX (713)500-4372
Hi everyone, I am looking for any information on chemically etching nylon. I have a nylon barrier which has low adhesion on one side, and really good adhesion on the other. The manufacturer swears that the two side of the barrier are the same and the adhesion systems are the same. I would prefer not to microtome the sample so I was wondering about etching followed by examination by SEM.
{fontfamily} {param} Geneva {/param} {bigger} {bigger} I am in the process of updating the MSA SEM Outreach list for the Education Committee. This particular list will include anyone who has some kind of education outreach program which involves electron microscopes, especially scanning electron microscopes.
The information I need is: Name, address, phone number, fax number, e mail address, what kind of program do you have (lab tours, hands on microscope operation, in school seminars and lab work, etc.), and what age students are involved (high school, jr. High school, elementary students, etc.)
Please send your response to my e-mail address: gardnerj-at-acs2.byu.edu
I look forward to hearing from you. Thanks for your assistance.
} I have a user who wishes to look at pieces of rock from a diamond anvil } cell experiment. We are trying lots of things to prepare the sample, } sectioning } is next. I just can't remember if there are any tricks or } recommended } procedures for getting a little piece of rock to infiltrate } and stick in the } plastic. While I'm asking, any plastic or a special one?
} Jonathan Krupp } Microscopy and Imaging Lab } University of California } Santa Cruz, CA Hi, Jon -
"Rock" isn't very helpful. Porosity makes a big difference. So does mineral content & Moh hardness. If it's a bit porous, try LR White, hard grade. I once gave that advice to a postdoc with a copper-containing mineral, and the stuff dissolved in the LR White overnite, making it a beautiful blue. Araldite worked well enough for her that she got the Diatome award from MSA (and her mom was living in Switzerland!). Look at these refs:
Csencsits, R., Schooley, C., and Gronsky, R. (1985) An improved method for thin sectioning of particulate catalysts. J.E.M. Technique 2:643-644. Ulan, J.G., Schooley, C., & Gronsky, R. (1990) Microtomy of large particle zeolites for TEM. Mat. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. 199:153-156 Ulan, J.G., Schooley, C., & Gronsky, R. (1990) Modified embedment procedure for microtomy of large particle zeolites. J.E.M. Technique 16:254-255
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/
Frank Karl wrote: ======================================================= I am looking for any information on chemically etching nylon. I have a nylon barrier which has low adhesion on one side, and really good adhesion on the other. The manufacturer swears that the two side of the barrier are the same and the adhesion systems are the same. I would prefer not to microtome the sample so I was wondering about etching followed by examination by SEM. ======================================================== You did not mention which nylon specifically you are working with, but we have found one "quick and dirty" way to look at the question of asymmetries of films is to look at the two surfaces by Pt/C surface replication and TEM, and then see to what degree the two sides really are different. Indeed very rarely have we found the two different surfaces to be the same. So your thought that the two sides might in fact not be the same could very well be quite correct.
But if you want to etch one surface in a controlled way, why not try plasma etching? I am talking about isotropic etching (as opposed to anisotropic etching) using oxygen in a small barrel table top unit, like our own SPI Plasma Prep II unit or ones made by several other firms such as Denton Vacuum. A polycarbonate membrane filter, with oxygen, is etched completely away in about 30 minutes and I would expect any of the nylons to etch at approximately the same rate. It sounds to me you are talking about a one or two minute etch to remove that surface barrier layer you think is present.
More information about plasma etching can be found 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 ############################ ==================================================
RMC, Tucson, AZ, USA will hold it's 5th Materials Science Ultramicrotomy Course on September 29-October 2, 1998 in Tucson.
This course covers all aspects of microtomy of materials for TEM, SEM, SP= M, and LM including: types of resins, how to choose; all types of knives and their selection; etching, staining, sectioning of polymers of all Tg's; sectioning or preparing polished SPM/SEM faces on hard materials such as semiconductors= , metals, ceramics.
The emphasis of the course is morning lectures followed by afternoon lab sessions where students actually DO the work, not just watch it demonstrated. You will return to your lab and be able to do the work you= r organization needs to attack difficult geometry samples like particulates=
and fibers. You will know how to select from all the different resins and=
knives. You will see how to use microwave processing for 2 hour turnarou= nd on sample embedding when speed is important.
The course price includes manual, lab supplies, tuition, hotel, meals and=
banquet night for $1950 USD.
Please see our web page at WWW.RMC-Scientific.com/microtomes/
For a course announcement please email to: RMC-at-RMC-Scientific.com attn: A= nn Nadeau or call 520-903-9366, Fax 520-903-0132
Responding to the message of {199805081759.KAA29444-at-cats.ucsc.edu} from jmkrupp-at-cats.ucsc.edu (Jon Krupp): } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } A user in our lab has started a project that requires the staining of many } TEM grids, dozens, or more, at a time. She is really in mass production } mode and is frustrated by keeping track of drops in dishes. } } She saw a commercial automatic grid stainer ($10K, choke) and thought we } should get it. That's kind of pricey for me to consider without some other } feedback.
SNIP
SNIP
} How useful are the little gizmos in some of the } catalogs? What is your favorite? Have you tried any of them and been happy, } or not?
Some of the gizmos are very useful and inwexpensive. The one I like to use is the Synap Tek GridStick kit, available from Ted Pella, for around $25. Kit includes 5 gridstick bars which hold 11 grids each in a simple pipet. Only small volumes of stains are required, almost no contact with air during staining, can do rinses with them, easy to use and they don't make a mess. I don't use the flow-limiting plugs that come with them, tho. Just be careful to not intake or expell liquids too fast, to avoid turbulent flow. These work great for staining ultra-thin epoxy or acrylic sections, not sure sure about thick sections.
Another kit that allows you to process even more grids simultaneously, is the Hiraoka Grid Staining Kit, available from Polysciences. Its does up to 40 grids at once, and uses a trough for stains over which you invert a plastic square with slots in that hold the edge of the grids by pressure. I've not used it as I never have to do that many grids at a time, care is required to avoid a mess, but any careful, patient, motivated person who needs to stain lots of grids would be able to use it successfully.
I have no financial interest in Pella or Polysciences, just a satisfied user of these two products.
I'd like to hear about what others use as alternatives to the ol' classical method of drops on Parafilm surrounded by a ring of sodium hydroxide pellets, inside of a covered Petri dish.
Gib Ahlstrand, Minnesota Micoscopy Society Newsletter Editor Electron Optical Facility, University of Minnesota, Dept. Plant Pathology 495 Borlaug Hall, St. Paul, MN. USA. 55108 (612)625-8249 612-625-9728 FAX, giba-at-puccini.crl.umn.edu
"Theory and practice are the same in theory, but different in practice."
Jonathan Krupp wrote, with regard to grid stainers: =============================================== ..............How useful are the little gizmos in some of the catalogs? What is your favorite? Have you tried any of them and been happy, or not? =============================================== An often overlooked publication, Microscopy Research and Technique 26:177- 179 (1993), by Ming H. Chen, Medicine/Dentistry Electron Microscopy Unit, Surgical-Medical Research Institute, 1074 Dentistry Pharmacy Bldg., U. of Alberta, at least from my perspective, describes the ultimate "gizmo". It holds up to 100 grids and was designed specifically to reduce the amount of expensive immuno reagents needed to "prime" it and get it working. It can be operated with a volume as small as 2 ml in fact.
We were so impressed with this little "gizmo" that we have been offering it as our "SPI Stain 'n Wash™ Grid Staining System" for some several years. It is in use in a number of laboratories worldwide. It is fully described with a number of photos and other graphics on our website below. And it is very low cost.
Hope this is not too commercial sounding. But if one is working especially with expensive reagents, this is a really useful (and money saving) item.
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 ############################ ==================================================
Jon, We have an LKB ultrostainer in our lab, I think now supplied by Leica. We cannot recommend it enough!, especially in a multiuser facility like ours, (and yours). Can stain 38-40 grids at a time, low contamination of sections, no exposure to nasty chemicals and very easy to use. The small plates which come with the stainers only hold about 20 grids, we actually buy one from another supplier which holds 40, which is better for us (Hiraoka staining plate). The only problem sometimes, especially with our end of the world is supply of the stain bags. But over i your neck of the woods, it probably isnt too bad. We calcualted I think, that in the first 2 years of use, it had saved about 6months worth of staining time!
Hope this is of some help, as I mentioned, if you can get one, and you have lots of grids, go for it! OUrs is about 10-12 years old now, and have had minimal troubles with it. Not like some of the newer equipment we have recently purchased in our lab!
All the best,
Rich.
----------------------------------------------------------------------- Richard Lander Electron Microscope Technician South Campus Electron Microscope Unit Otago School of Medical Sciences P.O. Box 913 Dunedin New Zealand. Tel. National 03 479 7301 Fax. National 03 479 7254
"Southernmost EM Unit in the World!" ------------------------------------------------------------------------
We use the flexible plastic piece from the Hiraoka kit, but put a large puddle of stain over the sections rather than inverting the holder over the square dish of stain. For washing we support the plastic by a wire frame over a large beaker, and dribble water over it through a Pasteur pipette connected through a hose to a water container.
Sally Stowe
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Dr Sally Stowe |Email: stowe-at-rsbs.anu.edu.au Facility Coordinator |Post: Box 475 ANU Electron Microscopy Unit |ANUEMU (RSBS) Ph 61 (0)2 6249 2743 |Australian National Univ. FAX 61 6 249 4891 |Canberra, Australia 2601 http://online.anu.edu.au/EMU/home.htm |AUSTRALIA 0200
We have been given the go ahead to upgrade our electron microscope preparation laboratory area including the choice of installing new fumehoods and/or biohazard cabinets.
At present we have two fume hoods and no biohazard cabinets. We are thinking of asking for four fume hoods or, alternatively, three fume hoods and one biohazard cabinet. Our feelings were that the biohazard cabinet might be safer considering the human biopsy material we deal with, but maybe it would be no safer than a good fume hood.
My question is: should we consider a biohazard cabinet in place of a fumehood given that many of the biohazards dealt with in tha lab are also in toxic fixatives or solvents? Do other EM labs use biohazard cabinets in preference to fume hoods?
(By fume hoods I mean that the fumes are extracted from the room and released outside whereas a biohazard cabinet filters the air and returns it to the room).
Many thanks for any thoughts you might have on this matter.
Richard
Richard Easingwood South Campus Electron Microscope Unit School of Medical Sciences University of Otago PO Box 913, Dunedin NEW ZEALAND
With reference to the problem of etching nylon. Get hold of thr book "Polymer Microscopy" by Linda Sawywe and David Grubb Chapman and Hall 1987 ISBN 0-412-25710-6. It's got everything you would ever want to know about polymers microscopy.
Patrick Echlin Multi-Imaging Centre School of Biological Sciences University of Cambridge
On Fri, 8 May 1998 fskarl-at-goodyear.com 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Hi everyone, } I am looking for any information on chemically etching nylon. I have a nylon } barrier which has low adhesion on one side, } and really good adhesion on the other. The manufacturer swears that the two } side of the barrier are the same and the adhesion systems are the same. I } would prefer not to microtome the sample so I was wondering about etching } followed by examination by SEM. } } Thanks } } Frank Karl }
Dear Colleagues, will you please let me know if you happen to have a chemical formula for Vestopal-W?
I would like to calculate the average value of Z^2/A needed in quantitative electron microprobe analysis (Z=atomic number, A=relative atomic weight). I have embedded some organic compounds in Vestopal-W (to be used as concentration standards).
I am doing ultrastructural localisation of a mitochondrial membrane protein using ultramicrotomy and immunogold labelling with human liver biopsy specimens;fixed with formaldehyde(4%) and glutaraldehyde(0.1%) in phosphate buffer pH7,4.My basic problem is that I do not get good preservation of the mitochondria and the tissue appears to be scattered; though the labelling seems to be working.Please help me if you have done some work with liver tissue. Kwanele B. Siziba Email:kwanele-at-uctgsh1.uct.ac.za
Dear colleagues, will you please tell me what is the chemical formula of Vestopal-W? I would like to calculate Z^2/A factor needed for electron microprobe X-ray analysis of Vestopal-embedded material. Thanks very much, Sincerely, Radek Pelc (Mr.) (Prague)
P.S. I use my lab colleague's account to reach Microscopy discussion. +---------------------------------------------------------------+ Oldrich Benada Acad. Sci. CR Phone: +420-2-4752399 Institute of Microbiology Fax: +420-2-4715743 Electron Microscopy Group E-mail: benada-at-biomed.cas.cz Videnska 1083 CZ - 142 20 Prague 4 - Krc Czech Republic +---------------------------------------------------------------+
I would go with one biocabinet and rest fume hoods. You mention the tissue you deal with: once they are fixed in glutaraldehyde (formalin) they no longer need to be handled as biohazardous ( in the real world). But they do need to be handled in a fume hood after fixation. The only time I can think when a sample needs to be completely handled in a biohood, is with unfixed viral or bacterial negative stain procedures. In a past job, our lab was remodeled which included a biohood, I only used it to store things in, never as a biohood.
Best of Luck, Ed Calomeni Dept. Pathology Medical College of Ohio 3000 Arlington Ave. Toledo, OH 43614
419-383-3484 ecalomeni-at-mco.edu
} } } Richard Easingwood {richard.easingwood-at-stonebow.otago.ac.nz} 05/10 10:41 pm } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Hello microscopists,
We have been given the go ahead to upgrade our electron microscope preparation laboratory area including the choice of installing new fumehoods and/or biohazard cabinets.
At present we have two fume hoods and no biohazard cabinets. We are thinking of asking for four fume hoods or, alternatively, three fume hoods and one biohazard cabinet. Our feelings were that the biohazard cabinet might be safer considering the human biopsy material we deal with, but maybe it would be no safer than a good fume hood.
My question is: should we consider a biohazard cabinet in place of a fumehood given that many of the biohazards dealt with in tha lab are also in toxic fixatives or solvents? Do other EM labs use biohazard cabinets in preference to fume hoods?
(By fume hoods I mean that the fumes are extracted from the room and released outside whereas a biohazard cabinet filters the air and returns it to the room).
Many thanks for any thoughts you might have on this matter.
Richard
Richard Easingwood South Campus Electron Microscope Unit School of Medical Sciences University of Otago PO Box 913, Dunedin NEW ZEALAND
I take rings-shaped slices of BEEM capsules(slices are about 4-5 mm high); cut perpendicular slits, evenly spaced, along one side of the ring, leaving room on the other side for pinching the ring ,which opens the slits. Then you place grids into the slits, grabbing just the rim of the grid. When you let go of the pinching fingers, the grids are held in place. It takes a bit of practice to get the slits spaced right and to learn how to get several grids into the slits without losing the first ones you put in. Then I stain using 10ml beakers, submersing the grid rings in the stain, and rinsing by bobbing the rings up and down in water, holding the rings with tweezers. You can blot excess water between the wet grids with points of filter paper.It takes more stain but I think the results are cleaner. Sometimes I produce a "lucky" ring that will hold 6 grids for me!
Julie Gross Dept. of Anatomy UCONN Health Center Farmington, CT 06029
I would appreciate hearing from anyone who has experience using=20 Tetrahydrofuran (THF) for dissolution of PVC filter membranes and=20 redeposition of particules remaining in the THF solution onto silver=20 membrane filters=2E This is done by vacuum filtration=2E =20 =20 What types of vacuum pumps can safely be used for this purpose and can= =20 THF be sonicated=2E =20 =20 Need to know safety issues such as handling, processing issues as=20 above, storeage and disposal of waste=2E We are assuming that all wor= k=20 will be done in a fume hood=2E =20 Thanks for any assistance =20 John Humenansky Braun Instertec 6875 Washington Ave=2E So=2E Minneapolis, MN 55439 612-942-4822
The number you have for Concept EDM is correct, it is also their fax number +44 (0) 1628 639854. I don't use them but a quick call was answered this afternoon (UK time).
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. ============================================================================
Gill, I have processed cells on beads a while ago. I used to not attached them to coverslip until I dried them ( I would process them in folded , stapled filter paper). After drying I would pick them up on stubs with sticky tape on it and then metal coat them. Hope this helps, Lilith
I am a new SEM user and I would be very grateful for any suggestions to the following problem. I have microbeads that cells have been cultured on, they adhere tightly to the outer surface of the bead. I examine them at lower powers (X1,000 or less) with the SEM, all is well until I dry them down (I use coverslips) the beads/cells are so light and fragile that after gold coating they just do not 'stick' to the coverslip and the slightest movement sends them all over the coverslip. I would like to find a way to make them adhere to the slide but still look 'clean'. Thank you for any help, Gill
Gillian Rittman Research Associate, University of Texas - Houston Research Office 4.109 DBB 6516, John Freeman Ave, Houston, TX 77030. Phone (713)500-4359 FAX (713)500-4372
A while ago I posted a question as to which is the best program for doing morphometry on bone sections. There were few programs suggested (Bioquant being the most popular one). After studying the programs we found out that neither of them count trabeculae. We are doing it by hand and it is a lot of work. We haven't purchased a system yet and are still hoping to find a program that will cover all our needs (which are the most common ones) including the trabecular count. Thanking you in advance, Lilith
Responding to the question of Richard Easingwood {richard.easingwood-at-stonebow.otago.ac.nz}
{My question is: should we consider a biohazard cabinet in place of a {fumehood given that many of the biohazards dealt with in tha lab are {also {in toxic fixatives or solvents? Do other EM labs use biohazard cabinets {in {preference to fume hoods?
{(By fume hoods I mean that the fumes are extracted from the room and {released outside whereas a biohazard cabinet filters the air and returns {it {to the room).
There are several types of biosafety cabinet you should consider for use with toxic vapours. The basic Class I (negative pressure) pulls air in and upwards inside the hood and works in the same way as a chemical fume hood. The exhaust goes through a hepa filter and is exhausted outside the building. This has the same problems as conventional fume hoods, when using heavy vapours that are denser than air, you need enough draught to keep them in and flowing upwards. The disadvantage of this is that the inside is not a sterile environment for tissue culture etc.
The class II biosafety hoods have a vertical laminar flow. Thus contaminated air is drawn downwards, through a mesh at the front, under the worksurface and upwardsthrough ducting at the back of the hood. Some of these type IIs vent hepa filtered air back into the lab, others vent to the outside and are therefore suitable for use with toxics and volatiles. The other main difference is whether you want to keep the inside sterile for cell culture or if you just want to keep biohazards and solvents away from the operator. Because of the downward draft in front of the worker, a type II B2 biosafety cabinet was chosen for our new EM lab. Heavy vaour will tend to go straight down into the duct. This is also suitable for tissue culture since the air inside remains sterile. If you are just going to fix things in the hood, then you only need a class I hood or a class II B1 hood neither of which filter the air entering the workspace, and are therefore less expensive, and might also give higher air flow rates. However, if you want to take samples from a tissue culture at various time intervals, you want to keep the inside strerile as well.
As with all hoods, the actions of operator can interfere with the air flow causing the protection to be less than 100 per cent. If you need to use large amounts of solvents, obviously a dedicated fume hood tends to have better air flow rates as there is no requirement for a laminar flow and also the airflow is not slowed down by passing through a HEPA filter. For this reason we also got two conventional chemical fume hoods as well.
Dr Timothy F. Booth Canadian Food Inspection Agency National Centre For Foreign Animal Disease Suite T2300 1015 Arlington St. Winnipeg Manitoba R3E 3M4 CANADA http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/main/lcdc/web/bmb/fedlab_e.html#toc email tbooth-at-em.agr.ca Tel 204 789 2022 Fax 204 789 2038
We also use the UltroStainer and are very happy with it. It is now about = 5 years old and receives daily use. Although we did have a problem with = it while it was relatively new, it has not given us any problems since. = It is reliable, clean, and almost maintenance free. Several years ago = there was problems with the stain bags, but the company seems to have = fixed that now. One caution about autostainers, they do stain both sides = of the grid. And I am not convinced that this is the cheapest way to = proceed.
Normal disclaimers apply: no financial interest, and the opinions = expressed are my own.
} } } Jon Krupp {jmkrupp-at-cats.ucsc.edu} 2:05:01 PM 5/8/98 } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America=20
On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html=20=
A user in our lab has started a project that requires the staining of many TEM grids, dozens, or more, at a time. She is really in mass production mode and is frustrated by keeping track of drops in dishes.
She saw a commercial automatic grid stainer ($10K, choke) and thought we should get it. That's kind of pricey for me to consider without some other feedback.
I would like to help her out. I am not sure most users in our lab (a = fairly low volume central campus, general EM lab) would ever need an automatic stainer. Maybe you could give me some ideas about how useful and practical they are for routine use.
If they are not what we need, is there anything I could get to help her with this project? How useful are the little gizmos in some of the catalogs? What is your favorite? Have you tried any of them and been = happy, or not?
Thanks
Jonathan Krupp Microscopy and Imaging Lab University of California Santa Cruz, CA 95064 (408) 459-2477 FAX (408) 429-0146 jmkrupp-at-cats.ucsc.edu=20
******************************************************* I am looking for any information on chemically etching nylon. I have a nylon barrier which has low adhesion on one side, and really good adhesion on the other. The manufacturer swears that the two side of the barrier are the same and the adhesion systems are the same. I would prefer not to microtome the sample so I was wondering about etching followed by examination by SEM. ********************************************************
Nylon is a "swine" as regards liquid chemical etching of any kind. The problem is that nylons are soluble in acid. Some people claimed to have "etched" nylon with formic acid, but what they have in fact done is to swell the surface layer into jelly, which has recrystallized once the formic acid is removed.
There are gentle solvent treatments which do not actually dissolve the polymer, but differentially swell the crystalline and amorphous layers. See, for example,
Bartosiewicz,I & Mencik,Z. J.Polym.Sci. Polym.Phys.Edn. 1974, v 12. pp 1163-75
But more severe solvent treatments can produce recrystallized layers with spurious morphology.
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | 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 | +------------------------------------------------------------------------+
I also concur with Sally's Hiraoka kit, which we also use in the same manner. Except that to wash the grids, we first dump the stain, and then grab the plastic with locking hemostats and then vigorously shake it up and down in water through 3 beakers of water, 60 times per beaker. In order to ensure that the sections don't float off, we first dry the sections on the grids for 5 minutes in a drying oven. Then there is no force in the universe which can remove the sections.
For the Lead Citrate stain, we use a glass petri dish with 4 KOH pellets to remove the CO2. We hold the Hiraoka a bit higher by supporting it on a plastic frame used for paraffin embedding.
The method works well.
Garry
} We use the flexible plastic piece from the Hiraoka kit, but put a } large puddle of stain over the sections rather than inverting the } holder over the square dish of stain. } For washing we support the plastic by a wire frame over a } large beaker, and dribble water over it through a Pasteur pipette } connected through a hose to a water container. } } } Sally Stowe } } } ---------------------------------------------------------------------- } Dr Sally Stowe |Email: stowe-at-rsbs.anu.edu.au } Facility Coordinator |Post: Box 475 } ANU Electron Microscopy Unit |ANUEMU (RSBS) } Ph 61 (0)2 6249 2743 |Australian National Univ. } FAX 61 6 249 4891 |Canberra, Australia 2601 } http://online.anu.edu.au/EMU/home.htm } |AUSTRALIA 0200 } } }
Polysciences used to make a device called the "Multiple Grid Staining Unit" it would stain 24 grids at a time it took about 8 mls of stain and was very handy. They quit production but keep promising to make it again. It's on page 85 of their 95-96 catalog. I figure if enough people call them & ask them about it they'll realize there is a demand and make them again. It's a very neat device and makes life easy for the lab that stains a lot of grids at one time. So give 'em a call & let's get this thing made again!
Paula :-)
p.s. I have no other interest in this than wanting to buy new ones to replace the ones we have that are wearing out.
Paula Sicurello UC Berkeley Electron Microscope Lab psic-at-uclink4.berkeley.edu
Does anyone out there have a glass knifemaker that they no longer use and are willing to part with for a modest cost...or for free if I pay shipping? I am looking for either an LKB model 7801A or 7801B, or other manufacture that will take the standard 6.4x25x400 millimeter dimensions glass bar stock.
This knifemaker, along with one of our ultra-microtomes, will be donated to a project in Morocco that works on plant virus diseases using TEM as a tool.
Thanks for any assistance you can give,
Gib Ahlstrand, Minnesota Micoscopy Society Newsletter Editor Electron Optical Facility, University of Minnesota, Dept. Plant Pathology 495 Borlaug Hall, St. Paul, MN. USA. 55108 (612)625-8249 612-625-9728 FAX, giba-at-puccini.crl.umn.edu
"Theory and practice are the same in theory, but different in practice."
I use the SynapTek grid staining system, also, to stain dozens of grids. To overcome the problem of turbulence created in the staining pipettes, a clever person who preceeded me melted down the pipette tip, presumably with a Bunsen burner, to create a larger opening at the tip's end.
Missy Josephson Eleanor Josephson Department of Anatomy MC-3405 263 Farmington Ave. Farmington, CT 06030-3405
What are the imaging issues in your trabeculae application? Is it the three-dimensionality, their size, the ability to segment just the spaces? There are several very good programs on the market. If you can email me a file or two, maybe I can make a suggestion.
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.
At 09:36 AM 5/11/98 -0400, Barry, Lilith wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Looking for standards for TEM image and diffraction calibration that are tracable to NIST for certification purposes. We would prefer to just purchase ready made specimens.
Thanks,
Mark A. Wall L-350 Lawrence Livermore National Lab C&MS dept. 7000 East ave Livermore,CA USA 94550
The standard you need is the MAG*I*CAL TEM Calibration Standard.
The MAG*I*CAL is a TEM calibration standard that performs all of the thr= ee major instrument calibrations for a TEM: image magnification; camera constant for indexing diffraction patterns; and image/diffraction patter= n rotation for relating crystal directions to features in the image. =
MAG*I*CAL consists of an electron transparent cross-sectional TEM sample made from a MBE grown, single-crystal semiconductor wafer. When the calibration structure is viewed in a TEM, it appears as a series of light=
and dark layers where the layer thicknesses are accurately known. The calibrated thickness measurements of these light (silicon) and dark (SiGe=
alloy) layers are based on careful TEM measurements of the {111} lattice=
spacing of silicon which is visible on the calibration sample itself, and=
are supported by x-ray diffraction measurements. The layer spacings are designed so that the sample can be used to calibrate the entire magnification range in a TEM - from 1,000X to 1,000,000X. As the sample = is also a single crystal of silicon, the calibrations requiring electron diffraction information such as the camera constant and image/diffraction=
pattern rotation can also be performed easily and unambiguously. One single calibration sample can therefore be used to provide all three of t= he major TEM instrument calibrations at all magnifications and all camera lengths.
With regard to the traceability and certification of the MAG*I*CAL(TM) calibration sample, each sample is grown on {001} oriented single crystal=
silicon, and all spacings on the sample are directly referenced to the =
cross-sectional (111) lattice spacing of silicon. This spacing is visibl= e by lattice imaging on the sample itself, giving each sample the capabilit= y of being self-calibrating. Each unit comes with a numbered certificate,=
the =
text of which is included below. This certificate has been used for ISO 9000 certification, with the argument that to our knowledge, this is the highest quality TEM sample available anywhere in the world at this time. = =
The MAG*I*CAL (TM) calibration sample consists of sets of thin, nominally=
10 nm alloy layers of Si0.81Ge0.19 alternating with 10 nm pure silicon layers, on a single crystal silicon {001} substrate. These electronic device quality layers were grown by Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE) as strained layers, i.e., the alloy layers have a slightly different crystal=
lattice constant, but are strained to conform to the lattice spacing of pure silicon, so that the material remains single crystal. Lattice image= s should therefore be taken in the region of the sample containing no Ge, b= ut other measurements are unaffected. The layer thickness variation across t= he wafer was measured by double crystal x-ray diffraction (DCXRD) mapping as= { 1.0%. =
All four sets of the five thin Si0.81Ge0.19 alloy layers and alternating pure silicon layers (superlattices) were directly calibrated by high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HREM) with the cross-section= al (111) =
lattice spacing of the single crystal silicon substrate, equal to 0.31354= 3 nm [1]. These measurements are also supported by (DCXRD). =
The error in all spacings in the superlattices is one atomic layer:
=A6t =3D +0.3 nm or approximately +3% The larger, nominally 1.0 micron silicon spacings were calibrated against=
these superlattices. The total error across the entire calibration sampl= e is given as:
=A6t =3D + 3%
[1] CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, CRC Press, Inc., Boca Raton,=
Florida 33431
South Bay Technology, Inc. supplies the MAG*I*CAL and so I have a defini= te financial interest in promoting its use. I also have copies of other research papers that have been written by the developer, John Mccaffrey, which will provide you with much greater detail. If you have an interest= , please let me know and I'll forward the information to you.
As a matter of additional interest, we can provide batches of the MAG*I*C= AL which are all made from the same wafer which provides the ultimate in calibration uniformity. This has proven to be an ideal solution to large=
organizations who are looking for a "company standard" calibration technique. Please inquire for more information on this service.
I think this should suit your requirements. If you require any additiona= l information, please feel free to contact me.
} } } } } Please visit us at http://www.southbaytech.com { { { { {
Manufacturers of precision sample preparation equipment and supplies for metallography, crystallography and electron microscopy.
Message text written by Mark Wall } ------------------------------------------------------------------------=
The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America =
Looking for standards for TEM image and diffraction calibration that are tracable to NIST for certification purposes. We would prefer to just purchase ready made specimens.
Thanks,
Mark A. Wall L-350 Lawrence Livermore National Lab C&MS dept. 7000 East ave Livermore,CA USA 94550
Hi, I am looking for an inexpensive used SEM. Must have EDX or WDX capabilities. If anyone know of one for sale please e-mail me. Thanks Sincerely, Ijaz Rauf
*******************DO NOT REPLY DIRECTLY TO THIS E-MAIL******************** ****************USE THE ADDRESS LISTED AT THE END OF THE AD****************
UES, Inc. Air Force Research Laboratory Materials & Manufacturing Directorate Microstructural Characterization Facility WPAFB Dayton, Ohio
POSITIONS AVAILABLE
Microprobe/OIM Scientist Application of analytical scanning electron probe techniques to microstructural problems in materials science. Experience with electron microprobe analysis and scanning electron microscopy in conjunction with wavelength dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, and orientation imaging microscopy. Minimum of a M.S. in Materials Science and 5 years of professional experience
TEM Scientist Application of basic analytical electron microscopy and conventional TEM techniques to microstructural problems in materials science. Experience with parallel electron energy loss spectroscopy, energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy and convergent beam electron diffraction analysis as well as selected area diffraction analysis, bright-field, dark- field, weak-beam microscopy. Minimum of a B.S. in Materials Science and 2 years of professional experience.
Metallography/OM Scientist Application of metallographic and optical microscopy techniques to microstructural problems in materials science. Experience with metallographic preparation and subsequent microstructural analysis, via optical microscopy, of high temperature ceramic, intermetallic and metallic materials. Minimum of a B.S. in Materials Science and 2 years of professional experience.
To meet requirements for the Joint Comission, I have been asked by the laboratory manager to come up with Age Specific Competencies as part of our Position Description Format for each employee. To my knowledge, there are no age specifiic competencies for histotechs as they have no patient contact.
Can anyone help me with this? Thanks!!
Kathy Pelton -Henrion Supervisor of Histology SUNY HSC at Syracuse
} } I would appreciate hearing from anyone who has experience using } Tetrahydrofuran (THF) for dissolution of PVC filter membranes and } redeposition of particules remaining in the THF solution onto silver } membrane filters. This is done by vacuum filtration. } } What types of vacuum pumps can safely be used for this purpose and can } THF be sonicated. } } Need to know safety issues such as handling, processing issues as } above, storeage and disposal of waste. We are assuming that all work } will be done in a fume hood. } John -
There are a few OSHA procedures for preparing air samples collected on PVC filters for analysis by x-ray diffraction. If I recall correctly, both the crystalline free silica and the vanadium pentoxide methods suggest using THF as a solvent for dissolving the filter. My understanding is that not all of the PVC filters available on the market can be prepared using this method.
Mike Rose at OSHA's Salt Lake City Technical Center has done a great deal of work in this area. You may want to consider contacting him to discuss this in greater detail. I think he can be reached at 801-487-0267 or you may be able to place an inquiry at their web site {http://www.osha-slc.gov} .
Keith Rickabaugh Manager, Materials and Particle Characterization {krickabaugh-at-rjlg.com}
RJ Lee Group, Inc. 350 Hochberg Road Pittsburgh, PA 15146 ph: 724-325-1776 {www.rjlg.com}
Does anyone out there have, or know of, a used cryostat microtome for sale?
It does not have to be a late model; an old mechanical one in good working order (including the refrigeration unit) is all that is needed. IEC, TissueTek, Jung, etc., ok., need to use at minus 20 C.
Prefer someone in the southern hemisphere - anyone in New Zealand or Australia, but might consider shipping further.
Please respond to me directly.
Thanks in advance,
Heather Heather K. Smith, Ph. D. Dept. of Sport and Exercise Science University of Auckland Private Bag 92019 Auckland, New Zealand
Jon- there used to be two type of multi stainers on the market, I've used:
1) Hiroka stainer- basicly it is a soft piece of plastic with small slits cut in it, when you bend the plastic the holes open and release grids, when flat holes close and hold grids. flip it upside down in staining solution ... and usually all grids stay in and get stained. 2) Polysciences (I think) multi grid stainer, basicly a grid box with holes in the back side of the holder (inner part) and holes on the front side of the cover (outer part) these work very well, and can probably be made quite easily with the appropriate drill bits and some grid boxes...
good luck -Mike
On Fri, 8 May 1998, Jon Krupp 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } A user in our lab has started a project that requires the staining of many } TEM grids, dozens, or more, at a time. She is really in mass production } mode and is frustrated by keeping track of drops in dishes. } } She saw a commercial automatic grid stainer ($10K, choke) and thought we } should get it. That's kind of pricey for me to consider without some other } feedback. } } I would like to help her out. I am not sure most users in our lab (a fairly } low volume central campus, general EM lab) would ever need an automatic } stainer. Maybe you could give me some ideas about how useful and practical } they are for routine use. } } If they are not what we need, is there anything I could get to help her } with this project? How useful are the little gizmos in some of the } catalogs? What is your favorite? Have you tried any of them and been happy, } or not? } } Thanks } } Jonathan Krupp } Microscopy and Imaging Lab } University of California } Santa Cruz, CA 95064 } (408) 459-2477 } FAX (408) 429-0146 } jmkrupp-at-cats.ucsc.edu } } }
We have gradually aquired a cloud around the outer edge of our negatives processed in an Arkay developer. The problem does not occur in trays or when processing a single hanger. When you process three hangers all nine negatives are cloudy.
We cleaned the developer tank with old fixer and ferricyanide, the hangers and fixer tank with 5% nitric acid and scrubbing. We made up new solution. And the problem continues.
We cannot seem to locate Omega-Arkay. Any advice or location of Arkay is appreciated.
The only calibration standard which I know of that does both image and calibration is the MAG*I*CAL from South Bay Technology. Try David Henriks: PH: 714-492-2600 Website: www.southbaytech.com e-mail: henriks-at-southbaytech.com They will be covered in the upcoming July article in Am. Lab: "Focus on Microscopy: What's New at Microscopy & Microanalysis '98".
Moxtek also makes electron microscopy standards. Try Doug Hansen at (801)220-0930 (Orem, UT).
I think both offer NIST calibration services.
Disclaimer: MME is not commercially involved with either of these companies.
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.
At 11:26 AM 5/11/98 -0700, Mark Wall wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
I also use the Hiraoka Grid stainer (use caution when removing it from the plate holder or grids can pop out). Instead of the staining container that comes with the kit I use disposable plastic weigh boats for holding both the stains and water rinses. You can put the entire unit inside of a glass petri dish with NaOH pellets to remove CO2 during lead staining. The weigh boats measure 4 cm on each side and hold about 8 mls. I often use a small weight to hold the flexible plastic grid holder down so that no air gets in. JoAnn Buchanan Molecular and Cellular Physiology Stanford University School of Medicine Stanford, CA 94022
The bone morphometry research in the fluorosis on the x ray radiograms was made at the Foundry Reseach Institute in Krakow Poland by me and dr Edward Czerwinski from Collegium Medicum - Ortopedic Departmenet Jagiellonian University - Krakow. I used for the x-ray bone analysis special program made by me on the Quantimet 570 with macroviver or microscopy.
The more medical data from this research was publish at the medical report.
About this problem write to;
Dr Edward Czerwinski Collegium Medicum - Head Ortopedic Department Jagiellonian University ul. Kopernika 19a, 31-501 Krakow Poland fax +48 12 4214046
best regards for all
Krzysztof Jan Huebner
{hubner-at-IOd.krakow.pl} :-)
FOUNDRY RESEARCH INSTITUTE Research Materials Department Manager Structural and Physical Research Laboratory str. Zakopianska 73 Call (*48 12) 2665022 ext.356 30-418 KRAKOW - POLAND Fax (+48 12) 2660870
On Mon, 11 May 1998, Barry, Lilith 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } A while ago I posted a question as to which is the best program for doing } morphometry on bone sections. There were few programs suggested (Bioquant } being the most popular one). After studying the programs we found out that } neither of them count trabeculae. We are doing it by hand and it is a lot of } work. We haven't purchased a system yet and are still hoping to find a } program that will cover all our needs (which are the most common ones) } including the trabecular count. } Thanking you in advance, } Lilith } } Lilith Ohannessian-Barry } NRC, IBS, } Ottawa, Ont. K1A 0R6 } Tel;613-993-6460 } Fax;613-941-4475 } e-mail; lilith.barry-at-nrc.ca }
On Mon, 11 May 1998 jhumenansky-at-brauncorp.com wrote:
} I would appreciate hearing from anyone who has experience using } Tetrahydrofuran (THF) for dissolution of PVC filter membranes and } redeposition of particules remaining in the THF solution onto silver } membrane filters. This is done by vacuum filtration. } } What types of vacuum pumps can safely be used for this purpose and can } THF be sonicated.
We have often filtered suspensions in organic solvents onto membrane filters in order to observe the particulates. We find a simple Buchner type water pump sufficient. The vacuum may not look good compared to a mechanical pump, but in terms of simple pulling power it is about 90% as strong.
We have used a Millipore or Sartorious demountable 25 mm membrane filter apparatus - the Neoprene bung at the bottom simply corks into the mouth of the Buchner flask. When filtration is done, pull it straight out before turning off the water tap, to avoid suck-back.
} Need to know safety issues such as handling, processing issues as } above, storeage and disposal of waste. We are assuming that all work } will be done in a fume hood.
As regards general handling, THF is a moderately toxic, highly flammable, clean burning organic solvent. No dreadful horrors associated with it in that respect. The ONE THING you must beware of is (1) distilling it or (2) letting quantities of it evaporate dry. If allowed to stand around (especially if it is not stabilized with hydroquinone or similar antioxidant) it undergoes AUTOXIDATION, which gives rise to organic peroxides. These concentrate in the residue, and are liable to detonate.
It can be distilled, but certain precautions have to be taken. If wanted pure and particle free, purification in a column of something like activated alumina, followed by filtration through a fine membrane filter, could be appropriate. But for your application this may be using a sledgehammer to crack a nut - a good quality reagent straight out of the bottle could well be good enough. But store the bottle in the dark, and don't use the very last dregs.
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | 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 | +------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Researcher in the area of "Electron microscopy in plant research". Reference number 1716/98-4599.
At the Electron Microscopy Unit, Department of Plant Breeding Research, The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sval=F6v/Alnarp, Sweden. The EM Unit will be a common resource for the university's departments in Southern Sweden.
The candidate must have a doctor's degree, primarily not earlier than five years ago. Experience of work with plant material is a merit. Of importance are the scientific, pedagogic, adminstrative and other capacities of relevance for this occupation. Of importance also is the capacity to inform about scientific research in a popular way.=20
The appointment is first for two years, followed by another period of two years and the possibility for a further prolongation. The salary is individually determined (at least 20 000 Swedish crowns a month, before taxes). Women are engouraged to apply.
Together with the application, a short account on the applicant's scientific and pedagogic activities should be given. The application marked with the above-mentioned reference number, together with a certified C.V., merit and publication lists, and other documents (including scientific and pedagogic works) should be sent in two copies so that they reach the "Registrator, SLU, Box 7070, S-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden" at the latest on June 5, 1998.
For further information contact professor Waheeb Heneen, tel +46 418 667064 or fax +46 418 667081.
} } To meet requirements for the Joint Comission, I have been asked by the } laboratory manager to come up with Age Specific Competencies as part of our } Position Description Format for each employee. To my knowledge, there are } no age specifiic competencies for histotechs as they have no patient } contact. } } Can anyone help me with this? } Thanks!! } } Kathy Pelton -Henrion } Supervisor of Histology } SUNY HSC at Syracuse
Well, knowing college students, you might not want to let anyone under the age of 21 near the absolute ethanol.
Charlie Ginsburg NCC
_________________________________________________________ DO YOU YAHOO!? Get your free -at-yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com
One minor error in the previous discussion: The Mag-i-cal standard is produced by John McCaffrey and not South Bay Technology; the latter, like at least half a dozen other vendors (includ. ProSciTech) are suppliers.
The other consideration when choosing a standard is its efficacy. Some standards are suitable for several calibrations, but most users are mostly, or only concerned with magnification calibration. Probably all "standards" sold for TEM or SEM calibration are sufficiently accurate when properly used.
It is difficult to calibrate a TEM with a greater accuracy than 5% +/- and an SEM is a little worse. If you really "go to town", one could calibrate a TEM possibly with some certainty to 3% accuracy. To use this accuracy, all relevant conditions, especially objective lens current, Z and hysteresis would have to be very accurately reproduced. In SEM especially, specimen tilt and topography undermine highest accuracy.
The Point: A simple grating replica I expect is accurate to better than 1% over a few spaces, the best standards may be, say 4x more accurate. With the instruments almost impossible to usefully calibrate to 3%, the additional accuracy of the standard is likely to only give a false sense of accomplishment. The limitations are reading where the standard's lines start and finish and to reproduce instrument conditions when making measurements. 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 *****
At 06:57 PM 5/11/98 EDT, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Very often when hangars are used, the problem turns out to be too much agitation of the negatives during processing. I don't know what your "cloudiness" looks like, but agitation problems often show up as darker edges on negatives, leaving lighter edges on prints. This is caused by increased turbulence of the developer as it flows around the hangers, causing in turn greater development of the film areas near the points of contact.
Quite often, this problem shows up differently depending on who does the processing, because people usually develop their own agitation patterns (a lot like life?). Some folks really like to swish the negatives around, while others move them just enough to ensure that fresh chemicals contact the film on a once-a-minute or so basis.
It's hard to say if this is your problem, but you might try varying your agitation routine to see if it helps. Kodak used to recommend lifting the hangars and tipping first to one side and then another for a few seconds, once per minute, then letting the hangar remain still until the next cycle comes around.
Hope this helps.
Randy
Randy Tindall Electron Microscope Laboratory Box 3EML New Mexico State University Las Cruces, NM 88003
Thanks to everyone who responded to my question about lab policies regarding protocol development. The many replies were extremely informative and I will make a summary available to those who requested it as soon as I can get to it. Replies ranged from "The investigator should do as much as possible." to "We know the EM stuff, so we should develop the protocols." Most of the responses, as I suspected, ranged along the middle ground.
Randy
Randy Tindall Electron Microscope Laboratory Box 3EML New Mexico State University Las Cruces, NM 88003
I quite agree with Randy Tindall's assessment of the problem, see my additional comments below:
} } Don Gantz wrote:
} } We have gradually aquired a cloud around the outer edge of our negatives } } processed in an Arkay developer. The problem does not occur in trays or } when } } processing a single hanger. When you process three hangers all nine } negatives } } are cloudy. } } } } We cleaned the developer tank with old fixer and ferricyanide, the hangers } and } } fixer tank with 5% nitric acid and scrubbing. We made up new solution. And } } the problem continues. } } } } We cannot seem to locate Omega-Arkay. Any advice or location of Arkay is } } appreciated.
} Randy Tindall wrote:
} Very often when hangars are used, the problem turns out to be too much } agitation of the negatives during processing. I don't know what your } "cloudiness" looks like, but agitation problems often show up as darker } edges on negatives, leaving lighter edges on prints. This is caused by } increased turbulence of the developer as it flows around the hangers, } causing in turn greater development of the film areas near the points of } contact.
Exactly. I went through this some years ago. Too much agitation creates uneven turbulent flo near the edges of the hangers, resulting in overdevelopment there. (Gib)
} Quite often, this problem shows up differently depending on who does the } processing, because people usually develop their own agitation patterns (a } lot like life?). Some folks really like to swish the negatives around, } while others move them just enough to ensure that fresh chemicals contact } the film on a once-a-minute or so basis.
I develop Kodak TEM negs (*emulsion #4489) in full strength D-19 for 3.0 minutes. I agitate up and down,lifting the rack completely out of developer on the upstroke, twice when I first insert film into developer, then JUST ONCE every 45 seconds thereafter until time is up. I get even development doing this. (Gib)
SNIP!
} Randy Tindall } Electron Microscope Laboratory } Box 3EML } New Mexico State University } Las Cruces, NM 88003 } } rtindell-at-nmsu (work) } nrtindall-at-zianet.com (home) }
Gib Ahlstrand, Minnesota Micoscopy Society Newsletter Editor Electron Optical Facility, University of Minnesota, Dept. Plant Pathology 495 Borlaug Hall, St. Paul, MN. USA. 55108 (612)625-8249 612-625-9728 FAX, giba-at-puccini.crl.umn.edu
"Theory and practice are the same in theory, but different in practice."
Thanks to everyone who volunteered ideas about how to help a user in my lab stain many grids. I received nearly 30 replies and each one added greatly to my ability to help my user. I now feel like the world's expert on multiple grid staining.
Isn't this list idea wonderful? Three cheers to all of you and a special thanks to Nestor for his efforts to keep it working.
Thanks again.
Jonathan Krupp Microscopy and Imaging Lab University of California Santa Cruz, CA 95064 (408) 459-2477 FAX (408) 429-0146 jmkrupp-at-cats.ucsc.edu
can I get some sources for a cathodeluminescence detector for a Hitachi s2700 SEM?
thanks
steve
--------------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Steven Barlow, Associate Director EM Facility/Biology Department San Diego State University 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/
} } Hello, } } We are trying to get a 3-dimensional picture of a plant meristem using our Confocal Microscope. The plant that we are studying is very hairy and seems to be very resinous or waxy. We are having trouble getting fixatives into the tissue and also clearing the tissue. The stains we have tried are Saffranin and Fast green. These both fluoresce but neither is getting into the tissue very well. I have read that Coryphosphine O is a good plant cell wall stain that fluoresces, but I have not had any success in tracking down a supplier. If anyone can help me with a supplier for this or has done confocal work on this sought of sample I would very much appreciate some advice. I have done work on maize meristems that work quite well with propidium iodide. This only stains DNA/RNA etc so is not suitable for our purpose with the other tissue as we need to see cell walls. } Please, can anyone Help? } } Thankyou } } Liz }
We use a Nitrogen Burst system and this ensures an even agitation of the developer. The Nitrogen flow rate can be set to a level where the right amount of turbulence occurs around the negative. This is an operator independent solution.
We did have a problem with patchy negatives a number of years ago. This was identified as an Ilford negative problem. We changed to Agfa and have had no problems since.
Colin
Colin Reid, Electron Microscope Unit, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Rep. of Ireland.
Tel: 353-1-6081820 Fax: 353-1-6770438
----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } I quite agree with Randy Tindall's assessment of the problem, see my additional } comments below: } } } } Don Gantz wrote: } } } } We have gradually aquired a cloud around the outer edge of our negatives } } } processed in an Arkay developer. The problem does not occur in trays or } } when } } } processing a single hanger. When you process three hangers all nine } } negatives } } } are cloudy. } } } } } } We cleaned the developer tank with old fixer and ferricyanide, the hangers } } and } } } fixer tank with 5% nitric acid and scrubbing. We made up new solution. And } } } the problem continues. } } } } } } We cannot seem to locate Omega-Arkay. Any advice or location of Arkay is } } } appreciated. } } } } Randy Tindall wrote: } } } Very often when hangars are used, the problem turns out to be too much } } agitation of the negatives during processing. I don't know what your } } "cloudiness" looks like, but agitation problems often show up as darker } } edges on negatives, leaving lighter edges on prints. This is caused by } } increased turbulence of the developer as it flows around the hangers, } } causing in turn greater development of the film areas near the points of } } contact. } } Exactly. I went through this some years ago. Too much agitation creates uneven } turbulent flo near the edges of the hangers, resulting in overdevelopment there. } (Gib) } } } } Quite often, this problem shows up differently depending on who does the } } processing, because people usually develop their own agitation patterns (a } } lot like life?). Some folks really like to swish the negatives around, } } while others move them just enough to ensure that fresh chemicals contact } } the film on a once-a-minute or so basis. } } I develop Kodak TEM negs (*emulsion #4489) in full strength D-19 for 3.0 } minutes. I agitate up and down,lifting the rack completely out of developer on } the upstroke, twice when I first insert film into developer, then JUST ONCE } every 45 seconds thereafter until time is up. I get even development doing this. } (Gib) } } SNIP! } } } Randy Tindall } } Electron Microscope Laboratory } } Box 3EML } } New Mexico State University } } Las Cruces, NM 88003 } } } } rtindell-at-nmsu (work) } } nrtindall-at-zianet.com (home) } } } } } } Gib Ahlstrand, Minnesota Micoscopy Society Newsletter Editor } Electron Optical Facility, University of Minnesota, Dept. Plant Pathology } 495 Borlaug Hall, St. Paul, MN. USA. 55108 (612)625-8249 } 612-625-9728 FAX, giba-at-puccini.crl.umn.edu } } "Theory and practice are the same in theory, but different in practice." } }
Does anyone still use this technique or seen this discussed elsewhere? I'm also interested in finding any non-biological applications. Jeff Day,( "JD") Mesquite, Texas WA5EKH-at-JUNO.COM
_____________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com Or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]
Researcher in the area of "Electron microscopy in plant research". Reference number 1716/98-4599.
At the Electron Microscopy Unit, Department of Plant Breeding Research, The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sval=F6v/Alnarp, Sweden. The EM Unit will be a common resource for the university's departments in Southern Sweden.
The candidate must have a doctor's degree, primarily not earlier than five years ago. Experience of work with plant material is a merit. Of importance are the scientific, pedagogic, adminstrative and other capacities of relevance for this occupation. Of importance also is the capacity to inform about scientific research in a popular way.=20
The appointment is first for two years, followed by another period of two years and the possibility for a further prolongation. The salary is individually determined (at least 20 000 Swedish crowns a month, before taxes). Women are encouraged to apply.
Together with the application, a short account on the applicant's scientific and pedagogic activities should be given. The application marked with the above-mentioned reference number, together with a certified C.V., merit and publication lists, and other documents (including scientific and pedagogic works) should be sent in two copies so that they reach the "Registrator, SLU, Box 7070, S-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden" at the latest on June 5, 1998.
For further information contact professor Waheeb Heneen, tel +46 418 667064 or fax +46 418 667081.
Hello All, I must disagree with Jim Darley on the calibration accuracy you can get from a TEM. We routinely get about 1% or better accuracy in magnification of our JEOL 120CX, and use it several times a week to measure III-V layer thicknesses for laser structures. All you need to do is: 1) make sure the sample is at eucentric height (although mag is very slow changing with this, you can be quite a way off and there's no difference in the image); 2) take all lenses in the imaging system to their maximum setting and back just before taking the picture (all the knobs end up in the about same place each time - we quickly noticed the reference batteries dying this way, since the standard position began to move); 3) only use the central part (~3cm diameter) of the image (distortions of up to 5% can occur close to the edges). When the calibration errors are combined with measurement errors (typically 0.05 mm with a 10x lupe and 'ruler' with 0.1mm lines - if the interfaces are sharp!) our measurements usually have errors of 1-2%. This has been checked with 'blind' tests of standard samples over several years. We have found diffraction grating replica standards to be of little use since a) it is hard to make sure the grating is not tilted in the microscope, and b) there are variations in the spacings of up to 5%.
Richard Beanland
GMMT Ltd., Caswell, Towcester, Northants NN12 8EQ UK
_____________________________________________________________________________ } One minor error in the previous discussion: The Mag-i-cal standard is } produced by John McCaffrey and not South Bay Technology; the latter, like at } least half a dozen other vendors (includ. ProSciTech) are suppliers. } } The other consideration when choosing a standard is its efficacy. Some } standards are suitable for several calibrations, but most users are mostly, } or only concerned with magnification calibration. Probably all "standards" } sold for TEM or SEM calibration are sufficiently accurate when properly } used. } } It is difficult to calibrate a TEM with a greater accuracy than 5% +/- and } an SEM is a little worse. If you really "go to town", one could calibrate a } TEM possibly with some certainty to 3% accuracy. To use this accuracy, all } relevant conditions, especially objective lens current, Z and hysteresis } would have to be very accurately reproduced. In SEM especially, specimen } tilt and topography undermine highest accuracy. } } The Point: A simple grating replica I expect is accurate to better than 1% } over a few spaces, the best standards may be, say 4x more accurate. With the } instruments almost impossible to usefully calibrate to 3%, the additional } accuracy of the standard is likely to only give a false sense of } accomplishment. The limitations are reading where the standard's lines start } and finish and to reproduce instrument conditions when making measurements. } 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 *****
If you are planning to attend the MMMS Materials meeting to be held at the University of Illinois-Chicago on May 22, please RSVP the organizer, Dr. Nigel Browning at: BROWNING-at-UIC.EDU
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Please reply directly to the above addresses, not to the listserver.
Regards, Chris Wadelton Corporate Laison KLA-Tencor/Amray division
Greetings, Liz Nickless wrote: } I have read that Coryphosphine O is a good plant cell } wall stain that fluoresces, but I have not had any success in tracking down } a supplier. Coriphosphine O is (or at least used to be) sold by Polysciences. (If you don't have a contact number for them I can probably find their fax for you.) Yes, it stains plant cell walls nicely, and is excitation and emission characteristics are close enough to rhodamine for all practical purposes. I have no idea about its "penetrability", etc. Good luck, Tobias Baskin
I would be interested in some thoughts on digital cameras and digital systems in general. We are trying to upgrade our metallurgical failure analysis lab to incorporate digital imaging and hopefully eliminate the need for Polaroid and 35mm film. We haven't purchased anything yet.
We have three input devices to connect to the computer workstation: 1) Polaroid MP4 macro stand, 2) Leica stereo microscope and 3) Leco metallograph. I was hoping use the Kodak DCS 410 w/ Nikon N90 camera body on the macro stand and interchange the DMC2000 on the two microscopes. I am not set on these choices and I'd appreciate any comments you have on these cameras or comparable ones.
The other problem I have is which printer to use. The reports we generate are typically 10-15 pp of B&W text followed by 50-75 pp of B&W and color images. We distribute 12-15 copies of each report. I've seen some encouraging results from the Epson Stylus 800, but I'm concerned about its speed and ability to handle the volume. What about color laser printers? Are they worth the 5-6K? I have some demos printed on the Tektronics Phaser 560 - the color prints looked decent, but the B&W prints were not as good as the HP LaserJet 5 at 600 dpi. I looked at dye subs also, but the cost/page seemed high. Thermal wax and solid ink didn't have the image quality we were looking for.
You might look into the Pixera for a lower cost camers ($1200) We have recently installed one on our optical microscope and find it very good for most applications. It is not adequate for low light applications.
We have also just purchased an Espon Stylus Photo printer. It was under $300. I think and produces outstanding, near photo quality prints. Much better than a 1200 DPI laser printer. It is slow but it is cheap. We are ordering several more for our EM work. When it comes time for publications quality prints we use our dye-sub printer
Greg Erdos ******************************************************* G.W. Erdos, Ph.D. Phone: 352-392-1295 Assistant Director, The Biotechnology Program 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
I have been asked by a colleague to look into performing SEM on a hair sample from a patient with a rare disease called pili bifurcati. The problem is that the sample with the pathology of interest has been mounted on a glass slide and coverslipped with the non-aqueous mounting media, permount.
There are some free hairs for analysis, however none of them show the pathology of interest. Can the sample on the slide be placed in alcohol to remove the permount, rinsed and dried for SEM prep? Or does anyone have any suggestions on how to salvage this mounted hair for analysis, if possible? Any suggestions would be appreciated (I am a TEM person by trade, sorry if Ive left out any SEM info needed for this question)
Thanks much,
Susan Danielson, MS Neuromuscular Laboratory Coordinator Medical College of Wisconsin / Froedtert Hospital
I wonder does anyone has an experience in operating with both BioFilter and Leo912 microscopes especially in spectroscopic modes. These microscopes have appeared few years ago on the market, however there is still very few publications indicating the using one of them. I would like to know the difference in microscopes’ performance when operated in a spectroscopic mode and coupled with a dark-field mode, in particular. Is there any significant difference in image quality depending on GIF or Omega filters especially for phosphorus elemental analysis. Or does the quality and resolution of the acquired images strongly depend on slow-scan CCD cameras used either by built-in GIF100 or bottom-attached Leo 912 from various manufactures.. I would be deeply appreciated for any information related to the posted questions.
The only age-specific competency standard that comes to mind for our = Histology is that we paraffin block only tonsils of children under 12 = unless otherwise indicated (clinical, or at time of gross). Full work-up = for tonsils of children 12 y and up.
You may want to post on the Histonet to see what response you get there.
Regards,
Peter O. Steele, Ph.D., All Children's Hospital St. Petersburg, Fl.
Normal Disclaimer Applies: Views expressed are my own and not necessarily = that of All Children's Hospital etc., etc.
} } } "Kathleen Pelton-Henrion (Kathleen Pelton-Henrion)" {PELTONK-at-mailbox.hs= csyr.edu} 6:17:08 PM 5/11/98 } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America=20
On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html=20=
To meet requirements for the Joint Comission, I have been asked by the laboratory manager to come up with Age Specific Competencies as part of = our Position Description Format for each employee. To my knowledge, there are no age specifiic competencies for histotechs as they have no patient contact.
Can anyone help me with this? Thanks!!
Kathy Pelton -Henrion Supervisor of Histology SUNY HSC at Syracuse
Depending on the nature of the pathology, about which I know nothing, the answer is "yes". You'll have to remove the Permount by soaking in xylene, not alcohol (leastways I could never soak off Permount with alcohol, only xylene), but after the hairs have been removed from the slide, and given a gentle swirl in a change or three of xylene to remove any residual Permount, take them down to EtOH through a 1:2 1:1 2:1 EtOH:xylene series (1:1 only might work, but I'm paranoid), give them a change or three in 100% EtOH, then dry for SEM.
I assume any damage that xylene would do to the hairs was already done before mounting them in the Permount. Or were they just stuck in Permount and coverslipped? If this is the case, because of possible damage by xylene, I would pop off the coverslip and Permount with hairs with dry ice or liquid nitrogen (as for freeing resin sections that have been re-embedded). Then try carefully chipping away the Permount from the hairs while submerged in liquid nitrogen.
Phil } } I have been asked by a colleague to look into performing SEM on a hair } sample from a patient with a rare disease called pili bifurcati. The } problem is that the sample with the pathology of interest has been } mounted on a glass slide and coverslipped with the non-aqueous mounting } media, permount. } } There are some free hairs for analysis, however none of them show the } pathology of interest. Can the sample on the slide be placed in alcohol } to remove the permount, rinsed and dried for SEM prep? Or does anyone } have any suggestions on how to salvage this mounted hair for analysis, } if possible? Any suggestions would be appreciated (I am a TEM person by } trade, sorry if Ive left out any SEM info needed for this question) } } Thanks much, } } Susan Danielson, MS } Neuromuscular Laboratory Coordinator } Medical College of Wisconsin / Froedtert Hospital }
}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{ 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 *****
Very nicely stated. The most important thing with respect to setting up the microscope and this includes SEM's as well is to set the microscope up the same every time. I've been surprised at the number of experienced SEM uses that don't know what Eucentric is.
I've used a calibration sample in the past that was a calibrated square grating replica with calibrated polystyrene balls. The grids weren't exactly square, but the balls did have a very consistent size to them. However, when I used both sizes in the mag range that both were usable, there was a significant difference in the mag found between them. When I got to PPG, I had to use the Mag standards that were here because of our QS9000 certification. I bought the Mag-i-cal sample and redid the mags. The agreed fairly well, but the Mag-i-cal sample is much easier to use and seems to be very consistent. Plus, it gives me all the calibrations that I need in one sample.
But again, the most important thing is to set up the microscope the same way each time. For imaging, make the sample eucentric and focus. For critical cases, all the lenses should be brought to the same setting from the same way to avoid hysteresis as Richard says. For diffraction, there are two ways to set up the Intermediate 1 lens (i.e. diffraction focus knob): 1) after the image is eucentric and focus and then switched over to diffraction mode, fully spread the condenser lens to make the incident beam parallel and focus the transmitted spot to the smallest spot with the diffraction focus. This method does not take the Back focal plane image of the lens for the image plane of the first intermediate lens. or 2) after the image is eucentric and focus and then switched over to diffraction mode, condense the beam so that it is at crossover for convergent beam mode and then either focus HOLZ lines if they are visible or focus on the shadow image of the condenser aperture. This method does grab the back focal plane for the image plane of the first Intermediate lens.
I've measured layer thicknesses in III-V systems and have gotten similar accuracies as Richard. In addition, the values that I get are consistent with other measurements on the same samples using XRD, ellipsometry, and growth rates.
-Scott
Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. PPG Industries, Inc. Guys Run Rd. (packages) P.O. Box 11472 (letters) Pittsburgh, PA 15238-0472
Walck-at-PPG.com
(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."
Hello All, I must disagree with Jim Darley on the calibration accuracy you can get from a TEM. We routinely get about 1% or better accuracy in magnification of our JEOL 120CX, and use it several times a week to measure III-V layer thicknesses for laser structures. All you need to do is: 1) make sure the sample is at eucentric height (although mag is very slow changing with this, you can be quite a way off and there's no difference in the image); 2) take all lenses in the imaging system to their maximum setting and back just before taking the picture (all the knobs end up in the about same place each time - we quickly noticed the reference batteries dying this way, since the standard position began to move); 3) only use the central part (~3cm diameter) of the image (distortions of up to 5% can occur close to the edges). When the calibration errors are combined with measurement errors (typically 0.05 mm with a 10x lupe and 'ruler' with 0.1mm lines - if the interfaces are sharp!) our measurements usually have errors of 1-2%. This has been checked with 'blind' tests of standard samples over several years. We have found diffraction grating replica standards to be of little use since a) it is hard to make sure the grating is not tilted in the microscope, and b) there are variations in the spacings of up to 5%.
Richard Beanland
GMMT Ltd., Caswell, Towcester, Northants NN12 8EQ UK
________________________________________________________________________ _____ } One minor error in the previous discussion: The Mag-i-cal standard is } produced by John McCaffrey and not South Bay Technology; the latter, like at } least half a dozen other vendors (includ. ProSciTech) are suppliers. } } The other consideration when choosing a standard is its efficacy. Some } standards are suitable for several calibrations, but most users are mostly, } or only concerned with magnification calibration. Probably all "standards" } sold for TEM or SEM calibration are sufficiently accurate when properly } used. } } It is difficult to calibrate a TEM with a greater accuracy than 5% +/- and } an SEM is a little worse. If you really "go to town", one could calibrate a } TEM possibly with some certainty to 3% accuracy. To use this accuracy, all } relevant conditions, especially objective lens current, Z and hysteresis } would have to be very accurately reproduced. In SEM especially, specimen } tilt and topography undermine highest accuracy. } } The Point: A simple grating replica I expect is accurate to better than 1% } over a few spaces, the best standards may be, say 4x more accurate. With the } instruments almost impossible to usefully calibrate to 3%, the additional } accuracy of the standard is likely to only give a false sense of } accomplishment. The limitations are reading where the standard's lines start } and finish and to reproduce instrument conditions when making measurements. } 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 have four associates looking for a JEOL preferably an 840 series. I also have three associates looking for an "in lens" field emission SEM such as the Hitachi S-5000.
I wonder does anyone has an experience in operating with both BioFilter and Leo912 microscopes especially in spectroscopic modes. These microscopes have appeared few years ago on the market, however there is still very few publications indicating the using one of them. I would like to know the difference in microscopes=ED performance when operated in a spectroscopic mode and coupled with a dark-field mode, in particular. Is there any significant difference in image quality depending on GIF or Omega filters especially for phosphorus elemental analysis. Or does the quality and resolution of the acquired images strongly depend on slow-scan CCD cameras used either by built-in GIF100 or bottom-attached Leo 912 from various manufactures.. I would be deeply appreciated for any information related to the posted questions.
I'm interested in comments from users of the Pixera Professional camera such as Greg ). We are considering purchasing one because of the low cost/high resolution. I am a little worried about the small chip size, lack of interpolation, and X4 resolution enhancement. They don't really explain how this works, except to say that they are real pixels. Does it work ? I would be very interested if any users would mail a sample image materials preferably ) so that I could look at the image quality and try print-outs here.
Thanks Kirk for relaying my request for a local supplier of the Pixera. I have been in touch with Grant johnson ( ISS ) in the UK.
On the subject of printing we have had a Xerox4900 colour laser for about four years and do not find it good enough for producing images. It is great for solid blocks of colour but does not reproduce the colours very well and colour images proved very difficult to output correctly. I am sure that things have improved in today's colour lasers but at a price. We recently bought a couple of Epson Stylus 800's and now use them for all colour work and high quality B&W prints. Using their photo paper it produces near photo quality prints which are accepted by our customers in place of conventional photos. The speed ( & media costs ) is a major problem though and we only use it for high quality prints, with most of our throughput on a HP Laserjet 600 dpi. We recently found a low cost supplier of photo quality paper, but the Epson paper feed can leave puncture tracks which shows up on some printouts.
Colin
Colin Reid, Electron Microcope Unit, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Rep. of Ireland. -----Original Message-----
Colin: Our online has quite a lot of info on digital photography in general and Pixera's triple pass advantage in particular. A number of images are also at that site; they are not bad but note the internet is limited to 72 ppi and its useless to reproduce images larger than common screen sizes. Also tiff files suffer a bit when reduced into JPEG's. ProSciTech markets Pixera and I am happy to declare that interest. 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, } } I'm interested in comments from users of the Pixera Professional camera } such as Greg ). We are considering purchasing one because of the low } cost/high resolution. I am a little worried about the small chip size, } lack of interpolation, and X4 resolution enhancement. They don't really } explain how this works, except to say that they are real pixels. Does it } work cut ....
} Colin Reid, } Electron Microcope Unit, } Trinity College Dublin, } Dublin 2, } Rep. of Ireland.
Hello- We are trying to examine cracks in etched nylon by SEM. We wish to look at them on edge to see the depth and morphology. We are concerned with embedding them in epoxy, as there may be insufficient contrast between the nylon and the filler. Does anyone have any experience or ideas that they might share on this subject? Thank You.
I'm sure many noted Scott Walck's comment on how "surprised" he was that so many users (TEM and SEM) - when asked, I guess, - did not not know what eucentric means. I am one of those users who doesn't know, but after Scott's message I took a little time to "TRY" and educate myself about this "topic". To that end, I turned to Goldstein et. al (1992), but to no avail. (eucentric is not in the index). Next I tried "SEM: A User's Manual for Materials Science" by Gabriel - again to no avail. (not in the index). Next "Electron Optical Systems for Microscopy, Microanalysis and Microlithography" edited by Hren et. al - you got it, to no avail! Finally, as a last resort I turned to my Webster's Collegiate Dictionary for at least a general definition (figuring it was an old term from light-optical miroscopy)....nothing!!
} From this, I can only assume it is either a very new issue, perhaps unique to TEMs and some modern SEMs, or, that it is a very obscure issue, but one that needs attention because of its emergence as a topic on this list. SO, can soemone out there shed some light on this subject or direct me to a reference on it?
Thanks, in advance, for those of you who take the time to respond. Also, yes, I will attempt a synopsis of the answers which will be circulated at a later date.
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
A eucentric stage on either an SEM or a TEM is one in which there is an adjustment to change the height of the sample relative to the pivot point of the tilt axis. If a sample is at the eucentric height, then it is at the same height physically with respect to the objective lens and hence the focal plane of the lens when the sample is focussed will be at exactly the same place. You can tell when the sample is not eucentric when you tilt the sample and it sweeps across the screen. When you go through the eucentric point, the sample will sweep the other way. At the eucentric point, it will not move, but just change the apparent width of features in a direction perpendicular to the tilt axis.
Once a sample is eucentric and then focused, subsequent areas of that sample or new samples can be made eucentric by not touching the focus knob and focussing with the eucentric height adjustment.
I think that most of the newer SEMs have eucentric stages. Some older ones do not. some have you adjust the height of the sample in the sample holder prior to inserting them into the microscope. All TEMs have eucentric stages.
Your manual for the microscope should have the eucentric adjustment described in it.
I'm sure many noted Scott Walck's comment on how "surprised" he was that so many users (TEM and SEM) - when asked, I guess, - did not not know what eucentric means. I am one of those users who doesn't know, but after Scott's message I took a little time to "TRY" and educate myself about this "topic". To that end, I turned to Goldstein et. al (1992), but to no avail. (eucentric is not in the index). Next I tried "SEM: A User's Manual for Materials Science" by Gabriel - again to no avail. (not in the index). Next "Electron Optical Systems for Microscopy, Microanalysis and Microlithography" edited by Hren et. al - you got it, to no avail! Finally, as a last resort I turned to my Webster's Collegiate Dictionary for at least a general definition (figuring it was an old term from light-optical miroscopy)....nothing!!
} From this, I can only assume it is either a very new issue, perhaps unique to TEMs and some modern SEMs, or, that it is a very obscure issue, but one that needs attention because of its emergence as a topic on this list. SO, can soemone out there shed some light on this subject or direct me to a reference on it?
Thanks, in advance, for those of you who take the time to respond. Also, yes, I will attempt a synopsis of the answers which will be circulated at a later date.
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
In our free publication "Invitation to the SEM World" we devote a half page to this subject wherein it is defined as "A specimen stage designed so that the specimen tilt axis agrees with the observation point, is called the eucentric stage. Its' feature is that the field of view is not shifted and the focus is not largely changed by specimen tilting." There are also diagrams and sample micrographs showing both eucentric and non-eucentric stages.
This is a non-commercial, educational booklet. If anyone would like a copy (or copies) please email me your address and I would be happy to provide it.
We also have quicktime or avi movies showing this function which are part of our multimedia CD. The CD is commercial of course but if there were a lot of interest we could cut that part out and include it in the download section of our web site as a strictly educational offering. Again let me know.
Stephen Hamilton Tel: 978-536-2270 JEOL USA, Inc. Fax: 978-536-2205 11 Dearborn Road Email: hamilton-at-jeol.com Peabody, MA 01960 WWW: http://www.jeol.com
} -----Original Message----- } From: Winton Cornell [mailto:wcornell-at-centum.utulsa.edu] } Sent: Thursday, May 14, 1998 10:32 AM } To: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: Eucentric - is there a good overview out there? } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Listers: } } I'm sure many noted Scott Walck's comment on how "surprised" he } was that so } many users (TEM and SEM) - when asked, I guess, - did not not know what } eucentric means. I am one of those users who doesn't know, but after } Scott's message I took a little time to "TRY" and educate myself } about this } "topic". To that end, I turned to Goldstein et. al (1992), but to } no avail. } (eucentric is not in the index). Next I tried "SEM: A User's Manual for } Materials Science" by Gabriel - again to no avail. (not in the } index). Next } "Electron Optical Systems for Microscopy, Microanalysis and } Microlithography" edited by Hren et. al - you got it, to no } avail! Finally, } as a last resort I turned to my Webster's Collegiate Dictionary for at } least a general definition (figuring it was an old term from light-optical } miroscopy)....nothing!! } } } From this, I can only assume it is either a very new issue, } perhaps unique } to TEMs and some modern SEMs, or, that it is a very obscure issue, but one } that needs attention because of its emergence as a topic on this list. SO, } can soemone out there shed some light on this subject or direct me to a } reference on it? } } Thanks, in advance, for those of you who take the time to respond. Also, } yes, I will attempt a synopsis of the answers which will be } circulated at a } later date. } } 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 } } phone: 918-631-3248 } fax: 918-631-2091 } e-mail: wcornell-at-centum.utulsa.edu } }
Winton asks: } } I'm sure many noted Scott Walck's comment on how "surprised" } he was that so } many users (TEM and SEM) - when asked, I guess, - did not } not know what eucentric means. ... }
I am aware of it being an expensive option for an SEM, but probably is very useful for a TEM. It isn't new, and I believe it allows for tilting and rotation without the object "swinging" out of the field of view.
cheerios, shAf
{} /\ {\/} /\ {\/} /\ {\/} /\ cogito, ergo zZOooOM /\ {\/} /\ {\/} /\ {\/} /\ {} Michael Shaffer, R.A. - http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~mshaf/ Geological Science's Electron Probe Facility - University of Oregon mshaf-at-darkwing.uoregon.edu or mshaf-at-oregon.uoregon.edu
Eucentric is a purely geometric term and thus can apply to any situation which involves geometry (not just TEMs!). Specifically, "eu-" means "good" or "true": the word means a system which has multiple axis of rotation, which intersect at a point (i.e. a true centre of rotation). Consider a matched set of goniometers (such as described in any optics catalog): these are said to be designed to "ensure that they rotate about a common point". That is "eucentric". In microscopy applications it ensures that you stay focussed at the same point as you tilt, twist and rotate the sample (always a useful feature).
does anyone know what an appropriate oil alternative is for a JEOL35C DP (DP4E) that has a tag that says "use LION-S" or is this type pretty common?
thx brian
**************************************************************** Brian McIntyre Electron Microscopy Lab Institute of Optics University of Rochester Rochester, NY 14627
716-275-3058 716-244-4936(fax) "Be well, do good work, and keep in touch"
We prepared some iodine-doped epoxy for mounting coal. The iodine raised the atomic number enough that we got plenty of BSE contrast, but it would also give SE contrast.
The process involves dissolving iodoform in the epoxy resin above room temperature and then treating the doped resin much the same as regular epoxy resin except for a little more care in handling. Iodoform is not good for you.
I forget who first describe this procedure back in the early to mid 80s, but could dig up a reference in needed.
At 07:04 AM 5/14/98 -0700, you wrote: } } Hello- } We are trying to examine cracks in etched nylon by SEM. } We wish to look at them on edge to see the depth and morphology. We are } concerned with embedding } them in epoxy, as there may be insufficient contrast between the nylon } and the filler. } Does anyone have any experience or ideas that they might share on this } subject? } Thank You. } } } Charles Hubka } AlliedSignal Inc.
We routinely mount powders(metal or ceramic) in 1.25 inch diameter mounts of Bakelite or epoxy, then examine the polished surface in the light microscope and then the SEM. Sometimes we will even send the mounts to another facility for microprobe analysis. I would like to know if anyone has a good method for locating specific areas of the mount, similar to the finder grids for TEM, so that we could easily locate multiple areas as we switch between instruments.
F. Scott Miller Electron Microscopy Lab smiller-at-umr.edu University of Missouri-Rolla 223 McNutt Hall voice: 573 341 4727 Rolla, MO 65409 USA fax: 573 341 6934
There will be an opening for an SEM operator in Tucson Arizona sometime in the coming months. This position is to replace me. Interested parties should contact me directly via e-mail or phone. A background in electrochemistry is preferred. Thank you.
Stephanie Wind McCray Process Chemist & SEM Lab Mngr. Moltech Corp. 9000 S Rita Rd, Bldg 61 Tucson, AZ 85747 520-799-7631 (office/lab) wind-at-moltech.com
To assist those with the meaning of the term Eucentric here follows the = answers.
A eucentric stage allows the operator of am EM to tilt the sample = without loosing the area of interest . In most stages, as you tilt the = stage the area of interest will move out of site. This means that as you = tilt the sample, you need to correct the X and Y stage drives, to keep = the same area of interest in view. The eucentric stage allows you to tilt and still see the same area at = the new angle without adjusting the X or Y drives. However most Eucentric stages are only Eucentric at a certain working = distance. As you move away from this point the stage acts more like a = normal stage.
ISI / Topcon SEM's have offered this as standard for about15 years. Most = other manufacturers can also offer this type of stage as an option.=20 We have a LEO S440 user with a eucentric stage. However they never need = to tilt their samples, so I can't say how well it works.
I hope this helps.
Cheers. Luc Harmsen=09 Anaspec, South Africa International technical support on microscopy. Tel: +27 (0) 11 476 3455 Fax:+27 (0) 11 476 7290 anaspec-at-icon.co.za
-----Original Message-----
Listers:
I'm sure many noted Scott Walck's comment on how "surprised" he was that = so many users (TEM and SEM) - when asked, I guess, - did not not know what eucentric means. I am one of those users who doesn't know, but after Scott's message I took a little time to "TRY" and educate myself about = this "topic". To that end, I turned to Goldstein et. al (1992), but to no = avail. (eucentric is not in the index). Next I tried "SEM: A User's Manual for Materials Science" by Gabriel - again to no avail. (not in the index). = Next "Electron Optical Systems for Microscopy, Microanalysis and Microlithography" edited by Hren et. al - you got it, to no avail! = Finally, as a last resort I turned to my Webster's Collegiate Dictionary for at least a general definition (figuring it was an old term from = light-optical miroscopy)....nothing!!
} From this, I can only assume it is either a very new issue, perhaps = unique to TEMs and some modern SEMs, or, that it is a very obscure issue, but = one that needs attention because of its emergence as a topic on this list. = SO, can soemone out there shed some light on this subject or direct me to a reference on it?
Thanks, in advance, for those of you who take the time to respond. Also, yes, I will attempt a synopsis of the answers which will be circulated = at a later date.
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
Actually, it's not new or obscure, even if it has apparently been omitted by some book authors! You will find it in D.B. Williams & C.B. Carter, Transmission Electron Microscopy, Plenum Press, 1996. Hope this helps.
Gill Bond Dept Materials & Met. Eng. New Mexico Tech
On Thu, 14 May 1998, Winton Cornell 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Listers: } } I'm sure many noted Scott Walck's comment on how "surprised" he was that so } many users (TEM and SEM) - when asked, I guess, - did not not know what } eucentric means. I am one of those users who doesn't know, but after } Scott's message I took a little time to "TRY" and educate myself about this } "topic". To that end, I turned to Goldstein et. al (1992), but to no avail. } (eucentric is not in the index). Next I tried "SEM: A User's Manual for } Materials Science" by Gabriel - again to no avail. (not in the index). Next } "Electron Optical Systems for Microscopy, Microanalysis and } Microlithography" edited by Hren et. al - you got it, to no avail! Finally, } as a last resort I turned to my Webster's Collegiate Dictionary for at } least a general definition (figuring it was an old term from light-optical } miroscopy)....nothing!! } } } From this, I can only assume it is either a very new issue, perhaps unique } to TEMs and some modern SEMs, or, that it is a very obscure issue, but one } that needs attention because of its emergence as a topic on this list. SO, } can soemone out there shed some light on this subject or direct me to a } reference on it? } } Thanks, in advance, for those of you who take the time to respond. Also, } yes, I will attempt a synopsis of the answers which will be circulated at a } later date. } } 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 } } phone: 918-631-3248 } fax: 918-631-2091 } e-mail: wcornell-at-centum.utulsa.edu } }
} } does anyone know what an appropriate oil alternative is for a JEOL35C DP } (DP4E) that has a tag that says "use LION-S" or is this type pretty common? } thx } brian
Brian
A few years ago I went thru the same exercise, then discovered that Lion S is available from JEOL, for about half the price of Santovac. I don't know what it is, though, does anyone else out there? I replaced the Fomblin oil (which I had inherited in my old JEOL probe) with Lion S and was immediately rewarded with a better vacuum (mind you, the Fomblin was pretty old) and faster pumping. I think this says something about pumps being optimised for particular oils.
On this subject, though, is anyone out there successfully using Santovac in an Edwards 306 coater? Did you have to change the heater?
Ritchie
} Brian McIntyre } Electron Microscopy Lab } Institute of Optics } University of Rochester } Rochester, NY 14627
Ritchie Sims Phone : 64 9 3737599 ext 7713 Department of Geology Fax : 64 9 3737435 The University of Auckland email : r.sims-at-auckland.ac.nz Private Bag 92019 Auckland New Zealand
Brian McIntyre 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } hi all- } } does anyone know what an appropriate oil alternative is for a JEOL35C DP } (DP4E) that has a tag that says "use LION-S" or is this type pretty common? } } thx } brian } } **************************************************************** } Brian McIntyre } Electron Microscopy Lab } Institute of Optics } University of Rochester } Rochester, NY 14627 } } 716-275-3058 } 716-244-4936(fax) } "Be well, do good work, and keep in touch"
Lion-S is pretty common. I purchase mine from Topcon 800.538-6850. Their part number is 210 136.
Brian McIntyre 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } hi all- } } does anyone know what an appropriate oil alternative is for a JEOL35C DP } (DP4E) that has a tag that says "use LION-S" or is this type pretty common? } } thx } brian } } **************************************************************** } Brian McIntyre } Electron Microscopy Lab } Institute of Optics } University of Rochester } Rochester, NY 14627 } } 716-275-3058 } 716-244-4936(fax) } "Be well, do good work, and keep in touch" Hello Brian, I would recommend Kurt J. Leskers "Diffoil 20" or Inland 20. I believe these oils to be actually superior to the origional in that they will provide you with less backstreaming and at the same time work well for your purpose. Inland Vacuum is Churchville, N.Y. Phone 800/962-8099 & Kurt Lesker Co. is in Pennsylvania Phone 800/245-1656.
Other companies make similar products and my company is in no way affiliated with the makers of these products. Either of these companies offer nice catalogs and excellent service.
Alexander Greene SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTATION SERVICES, INC. Number 499, Post Office Box 19400 Austin, Texas
Electron Microscope Repair Phone: 512/282-5507 FAX 512/280-0702
We have learned more about the Jeol Jem100U unit (40 years old, w/ goniometer stage, good condition, w/ vacuum evaporator, no longer serviced by Jeol) since I first inquired about the value of this scope that was offered as a donation to our high school.
It's likely that this scope may not be worth much. If any potential user of this instrument feels otherwise, please contact me with your expression of interest in its acquisition.
Thanks.
Tom DeVries tomdevrie-at-aol.com 206-463-9171 x314
Philips produced a side-entry eucentric stage for their EM 200 TEM in the late 1960s. The point being that you could vary the position of the rod holding the specimen so the major tilt axis could be positioned to lie in the front focal plane of the objective and also intersect the axis of the lens. Or be centred on the axis. Then any tilting of the specimen around the major tilt axis did not result in disappearance of the field of view. But it was only "eucentric" for the major axis and tilting on the secondary axis in a double tilt holder could not be so compensated. Siemens built a completely eucentric stage in the 70s but the price was more than the market could take.
Most side entry tilt stages are direct derivatives of the original Philips design and are only partly eucentric. Philips now produce a computer controlled fully eucentric stage in which both axes of tilt can be brought to intersect the principal lens axis in the focal plane.
SEM eucentric stages also aim to be able to locate the specimen on the major tilt axis so tilting does not result in loss of the field of view.
***************************************************** Mel Dickson, Director. Electron Microscope Unit, University of New South Wales. Sydney NSW 2052 Australia
I know of a used Hitachi S-7080 for sale. This is a fully automated semiconductor wafer analyzing tool. Vacc=0.1-3.0kv handles 6-8 inch wafers more info available on request
Allen Johnson donjuan-at-juno.com
_____________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com Or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]
Brian McIntyre wrote: =============================================== does anyone know what an appropriate oil alternative is for a JEOL35C DP (DP4E) that has a tag that says "use LION-S" or is this type pretty common? =============================================== The firm CVC Products, Inc. tradenamed their dioctylsebacate Octoil®-S some years ago, it was around as early as about 1970, perhaps even earlier. When we took delivery of our JSM-U3 SEM in early 1970, the recommended diffusion pump fluid by JEOL USA, Inc. was Octoil-S. We don't know if this was the very first dioctylsebacate D. P. fluid, but it was the first that came to my attention.
Over the years, others have offered their own brand of dioctylsebacate XXXXX -S, Lion™ -S being one of them. Another one that was visible was Invoil™ - S (Inland Oil Company). I do not know the owner of the trade name Lyon-S, however since JEOL has been the source of the Lyon-S fluid it might very well be their trade name. Bottles labelled Invoil-S started appearing on the scene in the mid-1970's, and the JEOL service engineers started using those bottles instead of bottles marked Octoil-S. The same engineers at a later date started using bottles labelled Lyon-S. Without proof, of course, it was always our belief that generically at least all three brands of pump fluids were equivalent. At least we never saw any change in performance of our SEM with the conversion of one brand to another brand.
Over the years, our own SPI packaged bottles of Octoil-S have been used without incident in all SEMs that had been previously using any of of the other XXXX-S dioctylsebacate diffusion pump fluids. The use of dioctylsebacate in this application has been on the decline since Santovac® 5 came onto the scene. Although it is more expensive, it has far greater resistance to decomposition when someone does something not quite so smart, or there is a failure of the vacuum system somewhere, and air gets into the hot diffusion pump fluid.
=================================================== 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 have just learned that NIST has released the entire source code for Desktop Spectrum Analyzer (DTSA) which was Developed by Chuck Fiori, Carol Swyt-Thomas, and Bob Myklebust as FREEWARE. I realize that many of you may not be interested in the code itself, but I thought you might like to know it is available at:
http://micro.nist.gov/dtsa/dtsa.html
Here is a brief synopsis taken from the NIST Site
Desktop Spectrum Analyzer (DTSA)
Developed by Chuck Fiori, Carol Swyt-Thomas, and Bob Myklebust
A MACINTOSH ONLY! based x-ray spectral analysis and manipulation software package.
The NIST/NIH Desktop Spectrum Analyzer generates, interprets and analyzes x-ray spectra from specimens under electron bombardment. This remarkable software/database package simulates the experimental environment and emulates specimen properties to generate spectra reflecting the relevant physics, chemistry and statistics of a real world application. DTSA incorporates many widely accepted x-ray data analysis procedures including those developed over many years at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Gaithersburg, MD and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, MD.
Hi all, On the subject of DP oils, may I just warn users to just check with the = manufacturer of the DP pump as to what oil is recommended. In the past a local technician decided to use the Dow Corning 702 , 705 = and 704 oils, which according to the supplier would work much better. After a six month period on each system where he had changed the DP oil, = we found Si peaks in all the spectra they collected on their ED systems. Dow corning oils are Si based and this oil impregnates the Be window and = then gives the Si peaks. Lion S seems to be a Japanese DP oil as we find that most Topcon Jeol = and Hitachi systems use this. Santovac is only used by the Topcon DS 130 Sem and most Edwards system. It is very expensive but also very resilient.
Cheers Luc Harmsen=09 Anaspec, South Africa International technical support on microscopy. Tel: +27 (0) 11 476 3455 Fax:+27 (0) 11 476 7290 anaspec-at-icon.co.za
I am pleased to announce the website of the EUREM 12
12th EUROPEAN CONGRESS ON ELECTRON MICROSCOPY to be held in Brno, Czech Republic July 9 - 14, 2000
at http://www.eurem2000.isibrno.cz/
Best regards,
Petr Schauer +---------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Dr. Petr Schauer, Secretary of the tel.: (+420 5) 41514313 | | Czechoslovak Soc. for Electron Microscopy fax : (+420 5) 41514404 | | ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC (+420 5) 41514402 | | INSTITUTE OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS e-mail: petr-at-isibrno.cz | | Kralovopolska 147, CZ-612 64 Brno csem-at-isibrno.cz | | Czech Republic www: http://www.isibrno.cz/csem/ | +---------------------------------------------------------------------+
To all who like to observe stereo images: a TEM answer and a SEM question:
The basic principle of eucentricity is the same for SEM and TEM, but in practice there are some very strong differences:
On our TEM (Philips 301) it is easy to adjust a grid carrying a heavy metal shadowed carbon replica to the eucentric height: then one can tilt a few degrees either side about the main axis of the goniometer stage to get images viewable under an appropriate binocular viewer. However, if the angle of application of the heavy metal shadow (the azimuth, not the altitude) differs significantly from the tilt axis, then the contrast will increase when rocked one way, and decrease on the other.
The SEM (Philips 515) is different. If one has the stage in normal (not dropped) position and adjusts Z so that the Filament Working Distance to sample is 12 mm, then one is at the eucentric. But tilting is about the other axis, and gives the impression of an aircraft looking diagonally down at the surface. So one will not get proper stereo pairs simply by tilting. One could apply rotation and tilting, but that requires some clever spherical trigonometry - does anybody know the answer? Or is there a mechanical solution?
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | 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 | +------------------------------------------------------------------------+
} } I would appreciate hearing from anyone who has experience using } Tetrahydrofuran (THF) for dissolution of PVC filter membranes and } redeposition of particules remaining in the THF solution onto silver } membrane filters. This is done by vacuum filtration. } } What types of vacuum pumps can safely be used for this purpose and can } THF be sonicated. } } Need to know safety issues such as handling, processing issues as } above, storeage and disposal of waste. We are assuming that all work } will be done in a fume hood. } John -
There are a few OSHA procedures for preparing air samples collected on PVC filters for analysis by x-ray diffraction. If I recall correctly, both the crystalline free silica and the vanadium pentoxide methods suggest using THF as a solvent for dissolving the filter. My understanding is that not all of the PVC filters available on the market can be prepared using this method.
Mike Rose at OSHA's Salt Lake City Technical Center has done a great deal of work in this area. You may want to consider contacting him to discuss this in greater detail. I think he can be reached at 801-487-0267 or you may be able to place an inquiry at their web site {http://www.osha-slc.gov} .
Keith Rickabaugh Manager, Materials and Particle Characterization {krickabaugh-at-rjlg.com}
RJ Lee Group, Inc. 350 Hochberg Road Pittsburgh, PA 15146 ph: 724-325-1776 {www.rjlg.com}
The choice of DP oils depends on numerous tradeoffs. Price, chemical stability, resistance to oxidation or cracking, vacuum performance, and how it behaves in an electron beam can be relevant for SEM/TEM/Microprobe usage. LION-S is one of many brands of dioctylsebacate oil, a low cost and readily available diffusion pump oil. Santovac-5 is one of several brands of polyphenyl ether DP oils. Fomblin is one of several brands of perfluorinated DP oils. Numerous silicone based DP oils are common. Silicone oils are very rugged and very forgiving of air exposure/ oxidation/cracking and are very chemically stable. Unfortunately, silicone oils form insulating silicon-based deposits when exposed to an electron beam and contaminates the column, apertures, and system and is rarely recommended for use in SEM/TEM/Microprobes for this reason. Dioctylsebacate pumps well and is very reasonably priced but is not very forgiving of air leaks or vacuum accidents. It also readily forms organic "carbon deposits" or polymers when exposed to electron beams and is often replaced by other pump fluids to minimize this. Polyphenyl ethers and perfluorinated oils are considerably higher priced but offer significantly higher resistance to oxidation/air leaks/ cracking/vacuum accidents. Electron beam interactions don't deposit as much organics with polyphenyl ethers as they do with dioctylsebacate. Perfluorinated DP fluids deposit even less when exposed to electron beams, and offer the advantage of the deposits being relatively conducting and don't affect column performance as much as they build up. Also perfluorinated fluids are even more resistant to degradation or air exposure. However, the heater power requirements in a DP pump with perfluorinated fluids is about 50% power (70% voltage) compared to most other oils, and usually requires the use of an adjustable autotransformer to get proper pumping. Not reducing the power will increase backstreaming and degrade ultimate vacuum. I have been using perfluorinated DP fluids for many years on a number of systems successfully.
These comments are my own opinions and do not reflect the endorsement of my employer or of any of the products mentioned.
Garber, Charles A. wrote: } =20 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------= - } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } =20 } -- [ From: Garber, Charles A. * EMC.Ver #3.1 ] -- } =20 } Brian McIntyre 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=3D=3D=3D=3D } does anyone know what an appropriate oil alternative is for a JEOL35C D= P } (DP4E) that has a tag that says "use LION-S" or is this type pretty com= mon? } =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 } The firm CVC Products, Inc. tradenamed their dioctylsebacate Octoil=AE-= S some } years ago, it was around as early as about 1970, perhaps even earlier. = When } we took delivery of our JSM-U3 SEM in early 1970, the recommended diffu= sion } pump fluid by JEOL USA, Inc. was Octoil-S. We don't know if this was = the } very first dioctylsebacate D. P. fluid, but it was the first that came = to my } attention. } =20 } Over the years, others have offered their own brand of dioctylsebacate = XXXXX } -S, Lion=99 -S being one of them. Another one that was visible was In= voil=99 - } S (Inland Oil Company). I do not know the owner of the trade name Lyon= -S, } however since JEOL has been the source of the Lyon-S fluid it might ver= y } well be their trade name. Bottles labelled Invoil-S started appearing = on } the scene in the mid-1970's, and the JEOL service engineers started usi= ng } those bottles instead of bottles marked Octoil-S. The same engineers = at a } later date started using bottles labelled Lyon-S. Without proof, of co= urse, } it was always our belief that generically at least all three brands of = pump } fluids were equivalent. At least we never saw any change in performan= ce of } our SEM with the conversion of one brand to another brand. } =20 } Over the years, our own SPI packaged bottles of Octoil-S have been used } without incident in all SEMs that had been previously using any of of t= he } other XXXX-S dioctylsebacate diffusion pump fluids. The use of } dioctylsebacate in this application has been on the decline since Santo= vac=AE } 5 came onto the scene. Although it is more expensive, it has far great= er } resistance to decomposition when someone does something not quite so sm= art, } or there is a failure of the vacuum system somewhere, and air gets into= the } hot diffusion pump fluid. } =20 } Disclaimer: SPI offers Octoil-S dioctylsebacate and Santovac 5 polyph= enyhl } ether diffusion pump fluids. } =20 } Chuck } =20 } =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 } =20 } Look for us! } ############################ } WWW: http://www.2spi.com } ############################ } =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 Santovac 5 uses a higher DP temperature than the Octoil S and, therefore, is not a direct repalcement for Octoil S or Invoil. I have interchanged the invoil with the lion S and have consistently achieved better pressure with the lion s. I am told that both are similar in chemistry but are not similar in results.
I purchase lion s from topcon although JEOL I am sure has stock. Topcon's direct number is 201. 261-9450.
Dear Robert, You wrote: (snip) } then one is at the eucentric. But tilting is about the } other axis, and gives the impression of an aircraft looking diagonally } down at the surface. So one will not get proper stereo pairs simply by } tilting. One could apply rotation and tilting, but that requires some } clever spherical trigonometry - does anybody know the answer? Or is there } a mechanical solution?
Yes, when you do a stereo pair, the scan must be rotated 90 degrees to put the tilt axis in line with the horizonal, since horizontal is how you will view the stereo. I always think of a line, representing the direction of tilt, being drawn straight through both images as they are viewed. In fact, it is easier to correct this if the stage is not eucentric, as you use the sweep of one part of the image to get your raster rotation right on the horizontal. Hope this helps.
Regards, Mary Mager
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
Dear Brian, The LION-S" is a Japanese DP oil and I have successfully used Santovac-5 as a replacement in all my Hitachi microscopes. I believe most other quality DP oils will also work. You wrote: } hi all- } } does anyone know what an appropriate oil alternative is for a JEOL35C DP } (DP4E) that has a tag that says "use LION-S" or is this type pretty common? } } thx } brian } } **************************************************************** } Brian McIntyre } Electron Microscopy Lab } Institute of Optics } University of Rochester 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
If you have one or know of a Philips-made single tilt heating holder which fits a Philips 430, I would be interested in finding out details for purchase or trade. Please contact me directly.
John C. Wheatley Lab Manager Arizona State University Center for Solid State Science PSA-213 BOX 871704 Tempe, AZ 85287-1704
Is everyone REALLY SURE that Lion-S oil is similar in composition and properties to Octoil-S, and the other "-S" oils??
The question of the nature of Lion-S DP oil came up on this circuit almost exactly a year ago. Like most others, I had always assumed that it was similar to the other "-S" oils on the market such as Octoil-S, Invoil-S, Diffoil-S, etc, in being the synthetic compound di-(2-ethyl-hexyl)-'S'ebacate. HOWEVER, there remained a bit of uncertainty in my mind, and so I pestered Mike Kersker of JEOL long enough and hard enough to finally get him to check with sources within his company, and he came back with the information that Lion-S oil is an alkylnaphthylene compound. He also supplied the address of the Lion Oil Company (1-22-2 Yokoami, Suymida, Tokyo, Japan; Tel: 03-3621-6684) - but the company did not respond when I wrote a letter asking for specs on their oil.
The only other diffusion pump oil I could find that might be similar to Lion-S, if indeed it is an alkylnaphthalene compound, is Alcatel-200 fluid (obviously marketed by Alcatel). This fluid is reported to be eicosyl naphthalene, which is indeed an alkynaphthalene compound. The properties of this fluid are summarized on pp. 182-3 of my book 'Vacuum Methods in Electron Microscopy' (see: http://www.cccbi.chester.pa.us/spi/catalog/books/book48.html or http://www.bookshop.co.uk/portland/). As shown there, the Alcatel-200 fluid has a substantially lower vapour pressure (below 10-7 Pa at 20=B0C) than Octoil-S (about 3x10-6 Pa at 20=B0C). That is, the vapour pressure characteristics of Alcatel-200 resemble those of Santovac-5 and DC-705 much more closely than those of Octoil-S. Thus, IF(!!) Lion-S resembles Alcatel-200 more closely than di-(2-ethyl-hexyl)-Sebacate, then replacing it with one of the di-(2-ethyl-hexyl)-Sebacate fluids could lead to a degradation in the performance of your pump. Instead, Santovac-5 or the Alcatel-200 fluid would be a better replacement.
Since this matter of replacing Lion-S oil in diffusion pumps seems to keep coming up fairly frequently, I will write to the Lion Oil Co. again, and try to get reliable information from them. In the meantime, if any of you have such info, I would appreciate knowing about it.
Wilbur C. Bigelow, Prof. Emeritus Materials Sci. & Engr., University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2136 e-mail: bigelow-at-umich.edu; Fx:734-763-4788; Ph:734-764-3321
I have completed the design and construction of my latest attachemnt for the HRTEM at Oak Ridge Nat'l Lab, and will be going down there to check it out over the week of May 17th, and then going on to South Carolina to visit friends there. I expect to be back in the office on Monday, June 1st.
Wilbur C. Bigelow, Prof. Emeritus Materials Sci. & Engr., University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2136 e-mail: bigelow-at-umich.edu; Fx:734-763-4788; Ph:734-764-3321
Dear Listers, A client has asked me to size graphite particles treated with approx. 0.2% picric acid using the SEM. The material has been handled quite a bit but the MSDS fire and explosion hazard and reactivity make me wary of proceeding. The samples (in dried powder form) were deposited onto double sticky C tape in a fume hood. I would appreciate advice from chemists, previous experience, precautions and suggestions re: accv. Rosemary
#################################################### Rosemary Walsh Electron Microscope Facility for the Life Sciences The Biotechnology Institute for Research and Education 1 South Frear Lab University Park, PA 16802 814-865-0212 email:rw9-at-psu.edu ####################################################
Now that 111-Trichloroethane (Inhibisol, Genklene etc.), and Trichlorotrifluoroethane (Arklone) are no longer being manufactured, does anyone know of any other solvents available which are suitable for cleaning EM vacuum systems and internal column parts?
Over the years I have used Acetone, Diethyl Ether and 40/60 Petroleum Ether, but all these carry a fire risk, and Acetone softens paintwork.
Any information on available alternatives would be appreciated.
Bob Phillips microservis-at-dial.pipex.com http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/microservis/
} Now that 111-Trichloroethane (Inhibisol, Genklene etc.), and } Trichlorotrifluoroethane (Arklone) are no longer being manufactured, } does anyone know of any other solvents available which are suitable } for cleaning EM vacuum systems and internal column parts? } } Over the years I have used Acetone, Diethyl Ether and 40/60 Petroleum } Ether, but all these carry a fire risk, and Acetone softens paintwork. } } Any information on available alternatives would be appreciated. } We have just completed our annual dis-assembly & cleaning of the HVEM lens column, and we use a detergent (Alconox) solution, several rinses with distilled water and ethanol. For the more recalcitrant gunk we have used acetone, a freon, Inhibisol, or chloroform. We have a very good air-circulating system--the whole Wadsworth Center is at negative pressure with respect to the outside--and the air is completely changed in about 20 minutes. We have not, therefore, had any fire problems. Ethanol is very clean, and it is our solvent of choice (assuming it dis- solves whatever is on the scope parts); and it makes a good finishing wash even when another solvent must be used first. Yours, Bill Tivol
Can anyone supply me with reference(s) to consult when planning an EM laboratory? I am particularly concerned about isolation from vibration and climate control. Thank you.
Does anyone have any experience with the newest Olympus inverted scope? For brightfield or fluorescence...pro, anti, indifferent, whatever? I was asked and haven't a clue - haven't even seen one - but I said I'd ask around.
Yes, I obviously know about the Email Spam's from the Mass Market Emailer.. They are relayed from different computers over different network connections every time.
Just so you know the Email address of the Listerserver is posted on a number WWW sites around the world and shall we call them "creative individuals" have written Internet search robots to cruise the WWW and look specifically for Email addresses. These addresses are then added to mailing lists. Which are sold or used. That is likely the method that these spammers have found us.
I am looking at different ways to get rid of this junk mail, all of which involve either alot of work, or compromises in the way this system runs.
For now, it is certainly true that the mail frequently does not contain text in the subject line, and it's orginator is usually an alphanumeric string which is not a "name" and has not yet been a subscriber. The hosts unfortunately are not always the same site so I cannot block the mail by simply putting a denial of service block on a particuliar DNS.
One of the options I am considering is writing an Email filter that will automatic trash any Email message that has a blank subject line. So please, make sure you use a subject line at all times.
Also as long as I have your attention, we are still getting the occassional posting of messages for Microscopy at the administrative address. I manually forward all of these to the correct address but as a reminder they are:
Messages to the Group: Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com Administrative Messages: Listserver-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com
Subscribe/Unsubscribe/Help should go to Listserver-at-... Posting of Questions to the Group should go to Microscopy-at-...
You can also use the WWW Site address documented at the top of this message to Subscribe/Unsubscribe.
I have a question for those of you with JEOL 2010F microscopes (or anyone else with a view on the matter). We want to know if an uninteruptable power supply (UPS) is necessary to maintain the gun operation in the event of a power failure.
We know of at least one lab who have installed a UPS on their new 2010F, but we have received advice from a colleague that it shouldn't be necessary. What is the general concensus?
If a UPS was to be employed, what components of the microscope operation should it maintain and how should it be configured to operate?
Any feedback would be greatly 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.
At 18:43 15/05/98 EDT, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
The reference to use is "Design of the Electron Microscope Laboratory" 1975
Ronald H Alderson
Vol 4 in "Practical Methods in Electron Microscopy" Audrey M. Glauert, Editor,
Library of Congress # 73-94298
North-Holland ISBN 0 7204 4259 1
/Elsevier ISBN 0 444 10807 6
I have used it in designing 3 laboratories. If the architects / engineers had only read the copies I gave them, all would have gone much better!
***************************************************** Mel Dickson, Director. Electron Microscope Unit, University of New South Wales. Sydney NSW 2052 Australia
Dear All I am trying to find a supplier of uranyl formate to use as a negative stain. I would prefer a UK supplier for convenience but would like to hear from anyone who could supply.
Many thanks
Chris
Chris Gilpin Biological Sciences Electron Microscope Unit G452 Stopford Building Oxford Road Manchester M13 9PT phone +44 161 275 5170 fax +44 161 275 5171 http://www.biomed.man.ac.uk/biology/emunit/emhome.html
I'm not sure if it would help in this particular situation, but some of you may be interested in a web site that provides translations. The address is http://babelfish.altavista.digital.com/cgi-bin/translate? You type in the text, or the URL of a web page that needs to be translated, and it will provide translations from French, German, Italian, Portugese or Spanish into English, and vice versa. I don't know how good it is at handling technical material.
Leslie Eibest Zoology Dept., Box 90325 Duke University Durham, NC 27708 USA (919) 684-2547 leibest-at-duke.edu
In many countries the solvents you mention are either banned or simply no= t available. As a result the service engineer has to improvise. A very go= od "solvent" for the less waxy cleaning agents is good old hot soapy water! = I clean with Silvo or the wadding metal polish Duraglit which wash away nicely, using cotton buds when an internal wipe is required..
I have used this technique around the world there seems to be only one problem. When you take the parts to the sink to clean them make sure you=
return with the same number of parts. I guess I am the world's expert on=
taking apart sink systems that have not been apart since they were installed a million years ago. Not a nice job but often the only way to find that missing fixed aperture. =
Provided you use a suitable cleaning media (like those mentioned above) I=
find dilute ammonia (5 to 10% solution in water) a solvent absolutely ide= al for stainless steel parts. It is very good for a second reason, it is al= so a solvent for tungsten.
Steve Chapman
Senior Consultant Ed.MA. 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
George, You might want to try Alta Vista's translation service at: http://babelfish.altavista.digital.com/cgi-bin/translate? As far as I know it is a free service and the few times that I have tried it I have gotten credible results, although it probably won't handle the scientific terms well. Greg
George Theodossiou 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Hi all, } } I've got a paper but its in French and I need the english translation } if it exists. CAN ANYONE HELP ME!! } } The paper is: } } Title: Cerium Pretreatments To Prevent Filiform Corrosion Of Painted } Aluminium Alloys } } Author: V.Poulain J.-P Petitjean } } Source: Mater. Sci. Forum (Switzerland), Materials Science Forum, } vol. 217-222, pt.3, p. 1641-8 } } ISSN: 0255-5476 } G. Theodossiou } Dept Applied Physics } RMIT } Email: George-at-bunyip.ph.rmit.edu.au } ph:+61 3 9925 3394 } fax:+61 3 9925 5290
-- ================================================================== Greg Strout Electron Microscopist, University of Oklahoma WWW Virtual Library for Microscopy: http://www.ou.edu/research/electron/www-vl/ e-mail: gstrout-at-ou.edu Opinions expressed herein are mine and not necessarily those of the University of Oklahoma ==================================================================
Hi there, I dont know if this is the right place to look for responses, but; Does anyone have a good reference that should be looked at to learn how to pull your own micropipettes/needles and cell holders that you would use for micromanipulation work. Specifically the removal of single cell contents from plants? although I'm sure those used for mammalian cells would work. Or is the experience that it's just better to buy them (Im in Australia)?
Any hints would be greatly appreciated.
(im doing this for a colleague, so I dont know the specs of the equipment, but I could find out. Yes we do have a microforge and other pieces of equipment, we just haven't the experience to use them properly.)
Hi there, I dont know if this is the right place to look for responses, but; Does anyone have a good reference that should be looked at to learn how o pull your own micropipettes/needles and cell holders that you would use for micromanipulation work. Specifically the removal of single cell contents from plants? although I'm sure those used for mammalian cells would work. Or is the experience that it's just better to buy them (Im in Australia)?
Any hints would be greatly appreciated.
(im doing this for a colleague, so I dont know the specs of the equipment, but I could find out. Yes we do have a microforge and other pieces of equipment, we just haven't the experience to use them properly.)
I am posting this question for a student. Please reply directly to her if you can help with her problem.
Her name is Nazima Shahnoor and her e-mail address is:
naz-at-csd.uwm.edu
I have muscle tissue fixed in formaldehyde that was washed with ethyl alcohol then stored in 70% EtOH at room temperature for about 1 year. I have successfully used Phosphotungstic acid/hemotoxalin (PTAH) for staining A bands in formaldehyde-fixed tissue (not stored in EtOH), however for this tissue the PTAH protocol is giving poor results. Is there an alternative protocol for observing A bands in this tissue, or is there any way to "rescue" this tissue so that PTAH will work?
Thank you for any help.
Heather Owen
Heather A. Owen, Director Electron Microscope Laboratory Department of Biological Sciences University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee (414)229-6816
Dear all, =20 =20 I'm after a list of atomic positions for the unit cell of an=20 intermetallic phase called CHI (x) often encountered in stainless=20 steels. I am not sure about the space group (I-43m?) and would be=20 grateful if someone could help me on this. =20 F.
One thing that has been missed from the discussion is the effect of sample height on X-ray counts if you are doing EDX. At least for TEMs, the EDX quantification assumes that one is at the eucentric height, errors can be introduced if one is not at the eucentric height.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 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. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Does anyone know of a source for 12mm diameter and 11mm X22mm (approximately) glass #1.5 coverslips? TIA Hank Adams Cell Biology Integrated Microscopy Core Baylor College of Medicine Houston, TX
Responding to the message of {v03102802b185fa6074a3-at-[147.188.152.52]} from Ian MacLaren {I.MacLaren-at-BHAM.AC.UK} : } } One thing that has been missed from the discussion is the effect of sample } height on X-ray counts if you are doing EDX. At least for TEMs, the EDX } quantification assumes that one is at the eucentric height, errors can be } introduced if one is not at the eucentric height. } I am not sure that this is strictly true. The position of the sample for EDX analysis should be the intersection of the electron beam with the axis of the spectrometer. Only in this case is the X-ray take-off angle (and therefore all the quantitative calculations) correct. Deviations from this height obviously matter more with low take-off angle detectors.
Whilst it is convenient to have this height coincident with the eucentric height it is not essential.
__________________ Stuart McKernan stuartm-at-tc.umn.edu Microscopy Specialist CIE Characterization Facility, University of Minnesota Phone: (612) 626-7594 100 Union Street S. E., Minneapolis, MN 55455 Lab: (612) 624-6590
Hi Liz, sorry I didn't reply earlier to this, I was out of town. Did anyone suggest that you try calcofluor white to stain cell walls? It fluoresces pale blue upon excitation below 400 nm. I can provide you with staining protocol if you desire. Cheers, John
} } We are trying to get a 3-dimensional picture of a plant meristem using our } Confocal Microscope. The plant that we are studying is very hairy and seems } to be very resinous or waxy. We are having trouble getting fixatives into } the tissue and also clearing the tissue. The stains we have tried are } Saffranin and Fast green. These both fluoresce but neither is getting into } the tissue very well. I have read that Coryphosphine O is a good plant cell } wall stain that fluoresces, but I have not had any success in tracking down } a supplier. If anyone can help me with a supplier for this or has done } confocal work on this sought of sample I would very much appreciate some } advice. I have done work on maize meristems that work quite well with } propidium iodide. This only stains DNA/RNA etc so is not suitable for our } purpose with the other tissue as we need to see cell walls. } } Please, can anyone Help? } } } } Thankyou } } } } Liz } }
================= C. John Runions, Ph.D Section of Ecology and Systematics Corson Hall Cornell University Ithaca, New York USA 14853
I would like to know how medical EM labs handle specimens that potentially harbor Creutzfeldt-Jakob or other prion mediated diseases. We get very few calls to work up such specimens, but when we do, there is an awkward time deciding how to handle it, or whether to handle it at all. There is enough material in the literature on their resistance to fixatives and other agents that render bacterial and viral specimens safe to handle that people are quite reluctant to work with such specimens. I would like to hear from medical EM labs telling me whether or not you accept such specimens; and if you do, what special procedures do you use?
I understand that this might be a subject that has already been exhausted on the list server. However I have been off-line a while. If anyone remembers the consensus, I would appreciate a review. .........There HAS been a consensus on this server, hasn't there?
Joiner Cartwright, Jr., Ph.D. Director, Electron Microscopy Lab Department of Pathology
The Chi phase is also known as the A15 phase or alpha-Mn phase. This is according to a monograph by A. Sinha (Prog. Mater. Sci vol 15, p. 79 (1972)). The atom positions are given there.
Incidentally the work cited is a fine reference on the group of compounds known as topologically close-packed compounds.
Wharton
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Wharton Sinkler PhD Department of Materials Science and Engineering Northwestern University 2225 North Campus Drive Evanston, IL 60208-3108 tel: (847) 491-7809 fax: (847) 491-7820 email: sinkler-at-apollo.numis.nwu.edu http://www.numis.nwu.edu/internet/Staff/wharton/wharton.html
On Mon, 18 May 1998 frank.sarrazit-at-avestasheffield.com 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 all, } } } I'm after a list of atomic positions for the unit cell of an } intermetallic phase called CHI (x) often encountered in stainless } steels. I am not sure about the space group (I-43m?) and would be } grateful if someone could help me on this. } } F. }
any other additions to this discussion are welcome
At 12:52 PM 5/18/98 -0500, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} { GO GATORS Scott D. Whittaker 218 Carr Hall EM Technician Gainesville, FL 32610 University Of Florida ph 352-392-1295 ICBR EM Core Lab fax 352-846-0251 sdw-at-biotech.ufl.edu http://www.biotech.ufl.edu/~emcl/ The home of " Tips & Tricks "
Hi, I only speak English, so I don't know how accurate Babelfish is, however I= have spent some time amusing myself translating quotes to other languages and back to English. For example:
"There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what= the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be rep= laced by something even more bizarrely inexplicable. There is another theory which states that this has already happened."
Translated to Portugese becomes: "H=E1 uma teoria que indique que se sempre qualquer um descobrirem exatamente o que o universo =E9 para e porque ele est=E1 aqui, ele desaparecer=E3o e ser=E3o substitu=EDdos imediatamente por algo mesmo mai= s bizarrely inexplicable. H=E1 uma outra teoria que indique que esta tem acontecido j=E1 "
Translated back to English is: "He has a theory that he indicates that if always any one to discover accu= rately what the universe is for and because it is here, it will disappear and wil= l be substituted by something exactly more bizarrely immediately inexplicable. He has one another theory that he indicates that this has happened already= . "
Pearson: Handbook of Lattice Spacings and Structures of Metals, also gives atom positions for alpha-Mn (and many other) phases.
Larry Thomas Washington State University email: thomas-at-mme.wsu.edu or Larry.Thomas-at-pnl.gov
---------- From: Wharton Sinkler Sent: Monday, May 18, 1998 6:01 PM To: frank.sarrazit-at-avestasheffield.com Cc: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com Subject: Re: CHI-Phase
------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
Frank,
The Chi phase is also known as the A15 phase or alpha-Mn phase. This is
according to a monograph by A. Sinha (Prog. Mater. Sci vol 15, p. 79 (1972)). The atom positions are given there.
Incidentally the work cited is a fine reference on the group of compounds known as topologically close-packed compounds.
Wharton
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Wharton Sinkler PhD Department of Materials Science and Engineering Northwestern University 2225 North Campus Drive Evanston, IL 60208-3108 tel: (847) 491-7809 fax: (847) 491-7820 email: sinkler-at-apollo.numis.nwu.edu http://www.numis.nwu.edu/internet/Staff/wharton/wharton.html
On Mon, 18 May 1998 frank.sarrazit-at-avestasheffield.com 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 all, } } } I'm after a list of atomic positions for the unit cell of an } intermetallic phase called CHI (x) often encountered in stainless
} steels. I am not sure about the space group (I-43m?) and would be
} grateful if someone could help me on this. } } F. }
Thankyou to everyone that responded to my query on confocal microscopy of plant meristems. With our Confocal microscope we are restricted to excitation ranges of 488nm, 568nm and 620 so the low range stains will not work on our system. Thanks to the person that gave us the contact for Coryphosphine O ie. Polysciences. I have looked this company up on the internet and now have a contact number. We are also looking at some of the references we were given for other stains. Thanks again.
} } Post-Doctoral Research Associate } } } } } } } } A post-doctoral research associate position is available with the } } Industrial Associates Program in Transmission Electron Microscopy at the } } Center for High Resolution Electron Microscopy at Arizona State University. } } The Industrial Associates Program consists of member companies with an } } interest in advanced transmission electron microscopy. The successful } } candidate will gain experience working on real industrial materials } } problems in an academic setting. This unique perspective provides } } excellent training for individuals interested in expanding and broadening } } their skills. } } } } This position is sponsored by major chemical company and offers } } opportunities to work on a wide range of commercial and model heterogeneous } } and homogeneous catalyst system using the most advanced state-of-the-art } } transmission electron microscopy techniques. The primary focus of this } } research will be the development and application of environmental electron } } microscopy to industrially relevant catalyst systems. Areas of particular } } interest include the study of phase transformations under reaction } } environments, in situ polymerization, mobility and sintering of small metal } } particles and dynamic microstructural changes. } } } } The ideal candidate will have a Ph.D. in material science, material } } physics, solid state chemistry or chemical engineering, with extensive } } experience in catalyst characterization by transmission electron } } microscopy. Experience in the areas of catalyst synthesis, testing and } } characterization is preferred. An ability to interact well with others and } } assist industrial scientists in materials problem solving is essential. } } } } Applicants should submit their resume together and the names of 3 } } referees to: } } } } Dr. Peter A. Crozier } } Industrial Associates Program } } Center for Solid State Science } } Arizona State University } } Tempe, AZ 85287-1704 } } } } Peter A. Crozier } } Industrial Associates Program } Center for Solid State Science } Arizona State University } Tel: 602 965 2934 } Fax: 602 965 9004 } } Website: http://www.asu.edu/clas/csss/IAP/
John C. Wheatley Lab Manager Arizona State University Center for Solid State Science PSA-213 BOX 871704 Tempe, AZ 85287-1704
************************************************* * Bill Hardy, President * * American Nuclear Systems, Inc. * * 1010 Commerce Park Dr., Suite G * * Oak Ridge, TN 37830-8026 * * (800) 980-9284 FAX: (423) 482-6253 * * www.qtmsys.com Email: bhardy-at-qtmsys.com * *************************************************
Patricia Glazebrook wrote that the choice between high-end color printers seemed to be between Codonics and the Fujix Pictrography 3000. A good alternative that not many microscopists know about is the Sienna FotoPrint.
The FotoPrint produces true digital photographs for about 25 cents per 8.5 x 11 inch print. This includes all chemicals and media. Printing a 5 x 7 inch print can further reduce costs.
The FotoPrint uses any conventional photographic paper to produce photographic quality 360dpi color prints. Because of this, not only is the cost per print very low, but the print will have the same durability, archivability, and feel of a real photograph, because it is a real photo. Aside from the quality and price advantages, the Sienna FotoPrint is also fast, with the ability to output up to 100 prints per hour.
At facilities that require true photographic quality, extremely low cost, and do the volume to justify the purchase or lease price, the FotoPrint is a very viable alternative. Matt Irwin ElectroImage, Inc. 277 Nothern Blvd. Suite 101 Great Neck, NY 11021 Phone: 516-773-4305 Fax: 516-773-2955 E-mail: sales-at-electroimage.com
I would agree with Melvyn on both points. We have just moved in to our new laboratory and used Audrey's book as the starting basis for our design. The layout has worked perfectly but the execution of the building plan left something to be desired.
We provided the architects with a comprehensive list of the requirements and they ignored every point. In a large building they managed to surround us with the air-conditioning for the building, an IT switch-room, a lift, and to finish off they ran the mains electricity cable along our outside wall we are in the basement ). We have just discovered that the mains water pipe ( metal & under high pressure ) comes in directly over our Leo S440. We have no windows, the air-conditioning doesn't work, the sump provides sewer smells regularly, and we are below sea-level. Apart from that everything is fine !
The point is that the plan is important but getting the architects & builders to complete the construction successfully is another thing altogether especially when you are just a minor part of the floor space in a new building.
Colin
Colin Reid, Electron Microcope Unit, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Rep. of Ireland. Tel: 353-1-6081820 Fax: 353-1-6770438 email: creid-at-tcd.ie -----Original Message-----
Melvyn we were lucky. We found out about 50% of the problems and nipped some of them in the bud prior to completion. We managed to get anti-vibration platforms fitted for the microscopes & moved the power cable back from the wall. It must have cost the builders a packet ? I still look up in amazement at the water pipe though. The sucker's above my head, as I type, and he's big !
Our tactic was to send a letter early on describing the planning of the construction as a disaster, and stating quite clearly that we felt we would not be in a position to move in since it was unlikely to pass a site survey. It had an immediate effect and they even employed a consultant to measure the fields during construction. The microscopes are happy, but their needs are different to the operators who need air & light.
Regards,
Colin
Colin Reid, Electron Microcope Unit, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Rep. of Ireland. Tel: 353-1-6081820 Fax: 353-1-6770438 email: creid-at-tcd.ie -----Original Message-----
} Can anyone supply me with reference(s) to consult when planning an EM } laboratory? I am particularly concerned about isolation from vibration } and climate control. Thank you. } Paul Grover
Our laboratory used to be in the cellar and once we got the possibility to participate in the planning of the reconstruction of our faculty-building I started very early to draw the floor-plans for our premises. I did not want to go back to the cellar and reserved space for us on the fourth and fifth floors (the supporting structure of the building is cast on-site and very steady).=20 I had many fights with the architects etc. but got most of my wishes done. I have to admit that there were real fights - I had to threat them with= court. After all that fight and almost living in the construction site we got a laboratory which we have been fairly satisfied. Naturally there have been changes afterwards but is there any laboratory without changes during 15 years? If anyone is interested you are wellcome to pay a visit to our laboratory.
Regards, Jouko
Jouko K. M=E4ki, Ph.D., Laboratory Manager University of Turku, Laboratory of Electron Microscopy Kiinamyllynkatu 10 FIN-20520 TURKU FINLAND Tel: +358 (0)2 333 7318 GSM: +358 (0)40 505 2521 FAX: +358 (0)2 333 7380 http://www.utu.fi/med/em/index.html
We're analysing mineral fibres using SEM and would like to know what type of filter or substrate people would recommend. The type we presently use have far too much structure in them - they're not easy on the eye or on the image analysis system! Any recommendations would be most welcome.
In Europe I would recommend Glaswarenfabrik Carl Hecht Gmbh &Co. KG which is located in Rhon (o is umlauted), Germany.
email: hecht-at-swin.baynet.de.
Be careful that is an N at the end of the word swin in the email address.
I won't send telephone numbers as email normally gets a very quick reply and is a LOT cheaper.
Good luck, Azriel Gorski
On Mon, 18 May 1998, Hank Adams 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Does anyone know of a source for 12mm diameter and 11mm X22mm } (approximately) glass #1.5 coverslips? } TIA } Hank Adams } Cell Biology Integrated Microscopy Core } Baylor College of Medicine } Houston, TX }
Simon - I have enjoyed success on a couple fiber analysis projects using membrane filters. The easiest one to use in my experience is the "mixed cellulose ester" Gelman product - trade named Metricel. Available pore sizes are 0.45 and 0.8 microns. This filter has the additional nice feature of being "black" - actually gray, but fairly dark especially when water wet. This can help with any ancillary light microscopy you might do along with your SEM analysis. The filters are quite stable under the e-beam. The other filter I've used when the acetone solubility of the cellulosics ruled them out is Whatman's nylon membrane filter (cat #7402-004 at 0.2 micron pore size). This filter is thicker and drains more slowly than the cellulosic but it also behaves reasonably (with light Au sputter coating) in the SEM.
Dave Calvert Eastman Chemical Co. P.O. box 1972 Lincoln Street Kingsport, TN 37664 voice: (423) 229-4943 fax: (423) 229-4558 calvert-at-eastman.com
} -----Original Message----- } From: Simon.Dumbill-at-aeat.co.uk [SMTP:Simon.Dumbill-at-aeat.co.uk] } Sent: Tuesday, May 19, 1998 6:44 AM } To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } Subject: SEM - filters for fibre analysis } } ---------------------------------------------------------------------- } -- } 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 All, } } We're analysing mineral fibres using SEM and would like to know } what } type of filter or substrate people would recommend. The type we } presently use have far too much structure in them - they're not } easy } on the eye or on the image analysis system! Any recommendations } would } be most welcome. } } Thanks in advance } } Simon } } } ###################################################################### } } Dr Simon Dumbill } AEA Technology Tel: +44 1235 434245 } 220, Harwell Fax: +44 1235 435941 } Didcot Email: } Simon.Dumbill-at-aeat.co.uk } Oxfordshire OX11 0RA } UK } }
A brief question: Has anyone out there used hexadecene as a cryoprotectant? Could you advise me on optimal times, and whether it is a permeating or non-permeating agent?
Cryogenically yours
James Wesley-Smith Electron Microscope Unit University of Natal Durban, South Africa
I am interested in hearing comments from owners/users of Philips CM200's on their instrument's reliability.
Our situation is that we received our CM200 (twin lens, new Philips designed HT tank, EDAX XEDS, Gatan GIF) in Oct'96 and resolution was demonstrated using a tungsten filament in Dec'96. We then had the LaB6 filament installed and have had problems ever since.
Problems started with a misadjusted high tension cable at the tank causing arcing and carbon tracking on the insulator, then a SF6 leak from the bottom of the HT tank. After adjusting the cable and replacing the HT tank the HT began arcing in the emmision chamber between the Wehnelt aperture and first anode every 2 minutes to hours. This would leave craters in the Wehnelt aperture. Since March'97 we have had the accelerator replaced three times, the HT cable replaced twice, the HT tank once(sent with HT board set for factory test condition), the emmision chamber replaced once(had cross threaded anode from factory and an aperture left out, after six week wait), and the entire HT chain (HT tank, cable, emmision chamber) replaced as a tested unit from Einhoven, still not fixing the arcing problem.
After moving the instrument to our renovated lab(Jan'98) and we were still having the arcing problem. Then, all of the power supplies feeding the HT circuitry were replaced, version 12 software installed and the arcing problem seems to be fixed.
After reinstalling the XEDS and GIF we have had problems with image cropping due to problems in the lens program requiring replacement of PROM's and digital to analog converters.
We have also had other annoying problems such as; four camera jams(in the dozen times we have been able to use the instrument), numerous critical backing pump(CBP) errors, and a failed 25V lens power supply(twice).
I met with Philips national sales and service managers in Aug'97 and was told that these problems were not typical and that they would be resolved.
Again I would appreciate any comments and experiences you have had with you CM200's.
David R. Hull NASA Lewis Research Center Advanced Metallics Branch Mail Stop 49-1 21000 Brookpark Road Cleveland, OH 44135
Dear Fellow Subscribers: I am new to the listserver, but I know that this subject has been addressed at considerable length in the past. However, I would be very grateful if someone could point me towards a compilation of the previous discussions concerning the pros and cons of the various TEM negative scanners currently available on the market. Thank you for your kind indulgence. Maureen Barcza EM Supervisor Dept. Pathology SUNY HSC at Syracuse
i was looking for a listserve with discussions on spray/atomization/droplet evaluation of different materials....by any chance, has anyone come across this yet??? any assistance would be appreciated.
Michael Mandanas Particulate Materials Center Penn State University email: mxm67-at-email.psu.edu
Dear Rosemary, You didn't mention if the graphite has been washed after picric acid treatment. Picric acid is very water soluble and may have already been removed. You could try washing some in distilled water. The picric acid is a strong yellow, so if you don't see any colour you should be alright. If you do, maybe you can wash the samples in distilled water before you test them. Picric is no danger if it is wet and its reactivity is generally low if it has not been reacted with metals. You wrote: } } Dear Listers, } A client has asked me to size graphite } particles treated with approx. 0.2% picric acid } using the SEM. The material has been handled } quite a bit but the MSDS fire and explosion hazard } and reactivity make me wary of proceeding. } The samples (in dried powder form) were deposited } onto double sticky C tape in a fume hood. } I would appreciate advice from chemists, previous } experience, precautions and suggestions re: accv. } Rosemary } } #################################################### } Rosemary Walsh } Electron Microscope Facility for the Life Sciences } The Biotechnology Institute for Research and Education } 1 South Frear Lab } University Park, PA 16802 } 814-865-0212 email:rw9-at-psu.edu } #################################################### } Regards and good luck, 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
We are a university materials science department looking for ways to make the EM training of our students (both graduate and undergraduate) more efficient. We have a TEM and a couple of SEM's, all from Philips (software controlled), and an old JEOL SEM with EPMA (mostly manually controlled). Currently the training of new users is handled by the chief technician and is based on one-to-one 'hands-on' instruction. However, with the number of users increasing rapidly, this is becoming more and more of a burden on the chief technician. Therefore, we are looking for ways to give the training to more people at the same time and/or to give training without occupying the instrument. Our first idea was to look for instructional software packages, preferably of the multimedia type (CD ROM based). If you have experience with such software or know of information sources about such software, your comments will be greatly appreciated. Other solutions to our training problem may of course also be suggested. Offers from commercial parties (software vendors/EM vendors) are welcome. We are also interested in instructional software on other microscopic techniques (LM, AFM, AEM) and EDS and WDS, but this interest is of a somewhat less urgent nature.
Thank you,
------------------------------------------------------------ dr. ir. Siegfried V.N. Jaecques K.U. Leuven Dept. Metallurgy and Materials Engineering (MTM) de Croylaan 2 B-3001 Leuven BELGIUM phone +32 16 32 1278 (direct) or +32 16 32 1260 (secretary) fax +32 16 32 1991 ------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Bob, Some other cleaners you might consider are: a strong (10 to 20 %) solution of oxalic acid, hot or boiling, will loosen the hard, baked-on brown residue of the beam path on stainless steel parts. I use Wenol paste to polish parts, acetone to remove the Wenol, then clean, not denatured, ethanol for a final rinse, then blow-dry. Another good abrasive cleaner is Zud, which contains oxalic acid and seems to rinse away quite cleanly. You wrote: } Now that 111-Trichloroethane (Inhibisol, Genklene etc.), and } Trichlorotrifluoroethane (Arklone) are no longer being manufactured, } does anyone know of any other solvents available which are suitable } for cleaning EM vacuum systems and internal column parts? } } Over the years I have used Acetone, Diethyl Ether and 40/60 Petroleum } Ether, but all these carry a fire risk, and Acetone softens paintwork. } } Any information on available alternatives would be appreciated. } } Bob Phillips } microservis-at-dial.pipex.com } http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/microservis/
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
An investigator is having a problem with his procedure on corrosive casting of rat kidney. After flushing the kidney, it is infiltrated with methyl methacrylate. After it is harden, the tissue is dissolved with conc. KOH. He is getting crystals after dissolving. Has not had this problem before. Does anyone have an idea what the crystals are and how to prevent them from forming. Thanks in advance for any help.
George Lawton Microscopy and Imaging Service Center UT Southwestern Medical School at Dallas
} Over the years, others have offered their own brand of dioctylsebacate XXXXX } -S, LionOE -S being one of them.
Are you sure of this, or is it an educated guess?
} Another one that was visible was InvoilOE - } S (Inland Oil Company). I do not know the owner of the trade name Lyon-S, } however since JEOL has been the source of the Lyon-S fluid it might very } well be their trade name.
I have a 1-litre can of "Lion-A Diffusion Pump Oil", with "Lion Fat and Oil Co" and some Japanese characters on it, this is probably the source (ignoring the presumed typo "Lyon").
} Bottles labelled Invoil-S started appearing on } the scene in the mid-1970's, and the JEOL service engineers started using } those bottles instead of bottles marked Octoil-S. The same engineers at a } later date started using bottles labelled Lyon-S. Without proof, of course, } it was always our belief that generically at least all three brands of pump } fluids were equivalent. At least we never saw any change in performance of } our SEM with the conversion of one brand to another brand.
Surely someone over the years must have done an analysis on these? If someone would care to mail me a few drops of Octoil-S I'll run an IR on it and on Lion-S (which I have). Or maybe someone from JEOL could enlighten us?
} Over the years, our own SPI packaged bottles of Octoil-S have been used } without incident in all SEMs that had been previously using any of of the } other XXXX-S dioctylsebacate diffusion pump fluids. The use of } dioctylsebacate in this application has been on the decline since Santovac { { } 5 came onto the scene. Although it is more expensive, it has far greater } resistance to decomposition when someone does something not quite so smart, } or there is a failure of the vacuum system somewhere, and air gets into the } hot diffusion pump fluid.
But can you just substitute directly for Lion-S, or do you need to change the heater element?
Ritchie
Ritchie Sims Phone : 64 9 3737599 ext 7713 Department of Geology Fax : 64 9 3737435 The University of Auckland email : r.sims-at-auckland.ac.nz Private Bag 92019 Auckland New Zealand
So, I would like to know if anyone has successfully (and without changing heater elements), made the following substitutions:
1 Octoil-S or Santovac instead of the recommended Lion-S in an old (how old?) JEOL diff pump on a SEM, TEM, or EPMA?
2 Octoil-S or Santovac instead of the recommended Dow Corning 704 in an Edwards 306 coater?
thanks
Ritchie
Ritchie Sims Phone : 64 9 3737599 ext 7713 Department of Geology Fax : 64 9 3737435 The University of Auckland email : r.sims-at-auckland.ac.nz Private Bag 92019 Auckland New Zealand
Ritchie Sims asks ... } } So, I would like to know if anyone has successfully (and without } changing heater elements), made the following substitutions: } } 1 Octoil-S or Santovac instead of the recommended Lion-S in an old } (how old?) JEOL diff pump on a SEM, TEM, or EPMA? } } 2 Octoil-S or Santovac instead of the recommended Dow Corning 704 } in an Edwards 306 coater? } } ...
I've successfully replaced an existing DP oil (... not knowing what it was ...) with Santovac 5 ... but with considerable cleaning and rinsing with hexanes. Regarding the heater elements, I think you can still use the same heater elements unless they can't achieve the boiling point for S5, ... but I had one bad experience with Santovac 5's apparently higher boiling point ... that being the higher temperature destroyed a heater support with was made out of a relatively low melting point alloy. Replacing the support with a better metal solved the problem.
... hope this helps :o)
cheerios, shAf
{} /\ {\/} /\ {\/} /\ {\/} /\ cogito, ergo zZOooOM /\ {\/} /\ {\/} /\ {\/} /\ {} Michael Shaffer, R.A. - http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~mshaf/ Geological Science's Electron Probe Facility - University of Oregon mshaf-at-darkwing.uoregon.edu or mshaf-at-oregon.uoregon.edu
We are interested in whether anyone has done any histology (LM and/or TEM) on the nerve cells types of the lepodoptera (butterfly) brain. If so, what stains did you use (LM) or procedures for TEM? Also, if you have done any SEM, we would be interested in any information you have on preparations or references you may have.Thank you! Sincerely, Barbara Plowman and Maria Mejia
University of the Pacific School of Dentistry Smith and Kettlewell Institute of Visual Research San Francisco 415-929-6692 email: Bplowman-at-uop.edu
} Our first idea was to look for instructional software packages, } preferably of the multimedia type (CD ROM based). } If you have experience with such software or know of information } sources about such software, your comments will be greatly } appreciated.
There are two basic instructional packages out of the University of Western Australia in Perth you should look at:
Virtual SEM and Virtual EDS the person to contact is
Brendan J. Griffin Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis The University of Western Australia Nedlands, WA, AUSTRALIA 6907 ph 61-8-9380-2739 fax 61-8-9380-1087 Email: bjg-at-cyllene.uwa.edu.au
I believe that a paper is being presented on Virtual EDS at this years Microscopy & Microanalysis '98 Meeting in Atlanta. (http://www.microscopy.com/MSAMeetings/MMMeeting.html) . Virtual EDS was if my memory serves me correctly is a joint project between U. of Sydney and UWA, Perth.
Virtual SEM was presented at the Microscopy & Microanalysis 96 meeting in Minneapolis. You can go to those proceedings to look up details.
There is also a set of EDS CD's by one of the major EDS manufacturers. I believe it is Oxford/Link but am not 100% positive. You should call your local sales rep and find out from them.
Nestor Your Friendly Neighborhood SysOp.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- I have no financial interest in any of these products, however, it is true that both Brendan and the Oxford people have bought me an occasional pint from time to time. Hmmm... come to think of it I've probably bought them a few too! Oh well so much for disclaimers.....
At 18:23 19/05/98 +0200, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Dear Siegfried, I appreciate your problems. I am unsure of the benfits of software packages for instruction in how to use an EM. But there are enthusiasts who have made such programs (e.g. Brendon Griffin, University of West Australia). Would you use a software package to learn how to ride a bicycle? My solution to the time demands for one-on-one instruction at the actual microscope is to use tape cassette (CD?) instruction. Just like the audio guides you get in good museums to the collection of pictures.
You give each student a player and sit them at the microscope and leave them alone with it. Tell them to do everything the tapes say but nothing else; if they have problems, to call you.
The audio cassettes have the benefits of:
They apply to the real machine and the student is sitting in front of it
Both hands and eyes are free to touch and look - no need to refer to notes
No frowning supervisor is there to intimidate the student
The student can rewind the instructions where they rarely care to admit failure to understand to a supervisor
They can borrow the same tape until they really understand
As well as pointing out the location of the controls, directions can be given to do simple actions. Turn on the high tension: observe the deflection of the beam current meter: turn up the filament heat: what do you see on the screen?: and this can be programmed to build confidence rapidly because the student is doing these things on their own.
It takes a really experienced user to make the master tape, but once made, they are good for years.
***************************************************** Mel Dickson, Director. Electron Microscope Unit, University of New South Wales. Sydney NSW 2052 Australia
One of the electrolytic polishing solutions used in the Tenupol Apparatus is a mixture of 30% conc. nitric acid and 70% methanol.
Excluding MSDS on each component - which contain some useful info see Methanol "Safe Handling Procedures", what I am searching for is some current practices for the proper storage of this mixture.
Volume = 1000-1500 mL in a winchester
and properly labelled .(*********************)
How are other Users storing this chemical in the Laboratory?
I am trying to obtain an MSDS of this mixture from Sturers - maybe it will take a few days, if available at all.
Dear Friends, Singapore will be the host for the 7th APEM, 26 to 30 June 2000. We have created a website and it will be regularly updated with information. You can register on-line too. The address is: http://www.med.nus.edu.sg/micsoc/7apem {http://www.med.nus.edu.sg/micsoc/7apem}
If you need more details, feel free to e-mail to me or the web editor. Thank you.
There are actually three CD's from Oxford, two on EDS & one on operation of the Isis system. I have seen the CD's in action and they are reasonably good with very good graphics helping to explain the actions of the various parts of the SEM. The second CD is a bit corny however with a "private eye" directing the investigation of an unknown sample. They will probably appeal to students. Oxford had an advert for the CD's in the latest issue of Microscopy & Analysis magazine (UK).
Best wishes,
Colin
Colin Reid, Electron Microcope Unit, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Rep. of Ireland. Tel: 353-1-6081820 Fax: 353-1-6770438 email: creid-at-tcd.ie -----Original Message-----
We have a range of training courses available on floppy disk (we often se= ll into areas that do not have CD ROMs), our Portfolio, a kind of correspondence course, as well as our well known "in house " training courses. In the latter we visit your laboratory and train students in groups of up to 4 covering SEM, TEM and EDX in different courses. We cov= er training on any make of instrument.
If you are carrying out your own training the "disk"courses combined with=
our "Protrain Portfolio" will offer not only instruction but a structured=
practical procedure to bring the student through to a good level of competence.
"Portfolio" is available for TEM and SEM with a range of experiments and test specimens through which the student is taken with guide line texts a= nd practical advice. One "Portfolio" may be used over and over again to ensure all students reach the same standard.
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
MULTIMEDIA from Protrain=0D =0D We are now, after considerable demand from our clients, making freely ava= ilable the well =0D known Protrain electron microscopy course "slide shows", demonstrations t= hat we have used in =0D our courses for the last eight years.=0D =0D The slide shows, which in the past were pictures only, now include sound = which makes them a =0D complete lecture course that you may run for yourself over and over again= =2E Because we use =0D these courses ourselves we occasionally see a need for better explanation= s and make changes to =0D try to improve the way we pass on information, these updates will also be= made available to =0D users of the M series of Protrain Courses.=0D =0D NOW READY for Windows 95 on 3.5" disks=0D at =A349.50 each including post and packing and free updates for the firs= t two years =0D (=A358.16 inc VAT)=0D =0D M1 An Introduction to Scanning Electron Microscopy=0D This course covers - the CRT, magnification, image formation, spot size l= imitation, the electron gun, =0D lenses, deflection coils, the condenser system, focus & astigmatism, aber= rations, saturation methods, =0D spot size control, working distance, aperture alignment, image recording,= operating procedures, guide =0D lines to operation covering kV-spot size-magnification-working distance.=0D=
=0D M2 The SEM Specimen Preparation and Imaging=0D This course covers - the object of specimen supports, specimen mounts, fi= xing specimens in place, high =0D angle mounts, cross sections, reasons and materials for coating, sputter = coating, carbon coating, beam-=0D specimen reactions, reaction paths, reaction volumes, Monte Carlo simulat= ions, Everhart Thornley =0D detector, BSE detectors, image contrasts, image formation, specimen charg= e, =0D =0D M5 An Introduction to Transmission Electron Microscopy=0D This course covers - transmitted images, lens problems and resolution, el= ectron-specimen reactions, the =0D electron gun, the electron column, magnification and demagnification, def= lection coils, the condenser =0D system, beam coherence, condenser focus, astigmatism, image formation, fo= cus; diffraction, aberrations, =0D vacuum system, saturation, instrument alignment, eucentricity, photograph= ic calibration, the =0D photographic procedure, developing technique, an operating procedure.=0D =0D Available soon:-=0D M3 Operating Variables on the Scanning Electron Microscopy=0D M4 Advanced Scanning Electron Microscopy=0D M6 An Introduction to X-Ray Energy Analysis=0D M7 Intermediate Transmission Electron Microscopy=0D =0D These courses when combined with our popular "Protrain Portfolio" practic= al courses now make =0D it possible to "teach yourself" electron microscopy. TEM or SEM Portfoli= o contain all you need =0D (text book-instructions-specimens) to run a series of practical experimen= ts that will take the =0D student through intermediate and advanced instrument operating procedures= =2E =A3150 plus VAT =0D (=A3176.25 inc VAT)=0D =0D Check out our latest course and Multimedia offerings on the Web -=0D http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/protrain=0D or e-mail us on protrain-at-compuserve.com=0D
With reference to EM training packages on CD.Contact Peter Goodhew. Mat Sci and Engineering at Liverpool Unin UK e-mail {goodhew-at-liv.ac.uk} who has some good stuff.
Patrick Echlin Multi-Imaging Centre University of Cambridge
On Tue, 19 Ma y 1998, Siegfried Jaecques 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 all, } } We are a university materials science department looking for } ways to make the EM training of our students (both graduate and } undergraduate) more efficient. We have a TEM and a couple of } SEM's, all from Philips (software controlled), and an old JEOL } SEM with EPMA (mostly manually controlled). } Currently the training of new users is handled by the chief } technician and is based on one-to-one 'hands-on' instruction. } However, with the number of users increasing rapidly, this is } becoming more and more of a burden on the chief technician. } Therefore, we are looking for ways to give the training to more } people at the same time and/or to give training without } occupying the instrument. } Our first idea was to look for instructional software packages, } preferably of the multimedia type (CD ROM based). } If you have experience with such software or know of information } sources about such software, your comments will be greatly } appreciated. Other solutions to our training problem may of } course also be suggested. Offers from commercial parties } (software vendors/EM vendors) are welcome. } We are also interested in instructional software on other } microscopic techniques (LM, AFM, AEM) and EDS and WDS, but this } interest is of a somewhat less urgent nature. } } Thank you, } } ------------------------------------------------------------ } dr. ir. Siegfried V.N. Jaecques } K.U. Leuven } Dept. Metallurgy and Materials Engineering (MTM) } de Croylaan 2 } B-3001 Leuven } BELGIUM } phone +32 16 32 1278 (direct) or +32 16 32 1260 (secretary) } fax +32 16 32 1991 } ------------------------------------------------------------ }
} One of the electrolytic polishing solutions used in the Tenupol Apparatus is } a mixture of 30% conc. nitric acid and 70% methanol.
Should such a mixture be stored, rather than made fresh each time? I do know that certain mixtures of ETHANOL and conc. nitric acid are rather unstable, decomposing after some minutes to give nitrogen dioxide among other things.
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | 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 | +------------------------------------------------------------------------+
John et al I made those pippettes for single cell injection as a junior tech well over 30 years ago. I guess they still use glass and that has not changed - much. Pull two Pasteur pipettes using about 120mm of capillary tubing. Hole may be 1-2mm diameter and wall thickness at least 2mm. Heat the tubing accross the narrow side of a fishtail burner as this will result in less heated area and a shorter tapered area. When sufficiently hot, hold the rod vertical and quickly pull to produce two pipettes. Heat the tip of the pipettes in a small flame to produce a small hook. To produce the final micro-pipette from these capillary pipette a simple commercial apparatus was used. A pipette was mounted vertically in a holder, a small weight was afixed to the hooked end. An exposed filament was moved very close to the the glass fibre capillary. The small weight could only drop by about 20 or so mm. The exposed filament would be brought to a certain heat setting and the weight would drop as the glass softened. I cannot remember how the end of the micro-pipette was finished off to produce a smooth tip. Maybe its just left rough but I suspect it is heated near that filament, while viewed under a low power scope. Hope that is some help. Its easy to make micro-pipettes, but to make them excellent is an artform. True of so much. Oh, since the question come from Australia, note we mounted the hook and weight down, because gravity sucks in the southern hemnisphere. Cheers Jim Darley
ProSciTech microscopy supplies and instruments email: service-at-proscitech.com.au fax: 61 7 47892313 online catalogue and information site: over 500 links www.proscitech.com.au catalogue, user notes, MSDS
} I dont know if this is the right place to look for responses, but; } Does anyone have a good reference that should be looked at to learn how o } pull your own micropipettes/needles and cell holders that you would use for } micromanipulation work. Specifically the removal of single cell contents } from plants? although I'm sure those used for mammalian cells would work. } Or is the experience that it's just better to buy them (Im in } Australia)? } } Any hints would be greatly appreciated. } } (im doing this for a colleague, so I dont know the specs of the equipment, } but I could find out. Yes we do have a microforge and other pieces of } equipment, we just haven't the experience to use them properly.) } } } }
Further to the point by Robert Olley, the ethanol/ nitric acid is unstable! It reacts after a short time rather explosivly. I used to employ this to clean coverslips for tissue culture; but times have changed. If you must use this method, place a 100ml beaker with about 5ml of nitric in a fumehood. Slowly add ethanol in 5ml glugs, pause when the beaker contains about 20ml total. When it turns yellow, draw the fumehood down. You can vary the type of alcohol used some more but the likely outcome is a quick trip to the hereafter. Stick with methanol/nitric for the original application please. Jim Darley
ProSciTech microscopy supplies and instruments email: service-at-proscitech.com.au fax: 61 7 47892313 online catalogue and information site: over 500 links www.proscitech.com.au catalogue, user notes, MSDS
} On Wed, 20 May 1998, Barry Searle wrote: } } } One of the electrolytic polishing solutions used in the Tenupol Apparatus is } } a mixture of 30% conc. nitric acid and 70% methanol. } } Should such a mixture be stored, rather than made fresh each time? I do } know that certain mixtures of ETHANOL and conc. nitric acid are rather } unstable, decomposing after some minutes to give nitrogen dioxide among } other things. } } +------------------------------------------------------------------------+ } | 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 | } +------------------------------------------------------------------------+ } }
I am pleased to announce the website of the EUREM 12
12th EUROPEAN CONGRESS ON ELECTRON MICROSCOPY to be held in Brno, Czech Republic July 9 - 14, 2000
at http://www.eurem2000.isibrno.cz/
Please, forward this message to microscopists all over the world.
Best regards,
Petr Schauer +---------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Dr. Petr Schauer, Secretary of the tel.: (+420 5) 41514313 | | Czechoslovak Soc. for Electron Microscopy fax : (+420 5) 41514404 | | ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC (+420 5) 41514402 | | INSTITUTE OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS e-mail: petr-at-isibrno.cz | | Kralovopolska 147, CZ-612 64 Brno csem-at-isibrno.cz | | Czech Republic www: http://www.isibrno.cz/csem/ | +---------------------------------------------------------------------+
just got around to fixing the vacuum situation on the 35. seems the problems were related to :
bad temperture sensor on DP badly broken down DP oil miscalibrated vacuum logic blackened and "plugged" DP stack
after some messy work (and an hour trying to figure out the jeol flange bolt puzzle!) it works well again.
Thanks to all who helped! This has been a good example (for me) of how we can collectively benefit using the net.
brian
btw: i just had a problem fixed on my cambridge S200 that has driven me crazy for awhile. seems the head amplifier on the 2-collector would breakdown after some period of usage....the image would deteriorate and become unusable. but as soon as you turned the scope off it dropped the supply to the amp and it would reset and be OK for some time again. thought it was the scintillator, lightpipe, apertures, sample, faraday cage bias, power supply, etc, etc, before stumbling onto the head amp...works wonderfully again!
**************************************************************** Brian McIntyre Electron Microscopy Lab Institute of Optics University of Rochester Rochester, NY 14627
716-275-3058 716-244-4936(fax) "Be well, do good work, and keep in touch"
Dear James, According to Szczesny, Walther and Mueller's paper in Current Eye Research (1996) the hexadecene is used to exclude gas bubbles (during High Pressure Freezing) and not as a cryoprotectant. They explain that hexadecene does not mix with water and therefore does not act as a cryoprotectant. It is suppose to be non-permeating or penetrating. In the literature, others do refer to it as a cryoprotectant (one example: Meindl et al, Protoplasma (1992) 170: 104-114). I have more references if you need them. beth
} A brief question: } Has anyone out there used hexadecene as a cryoprotectant? Could you advise } me on optimal times, and whether it is a permeating or non-permeating } agent? } } Cryogenically yours } } } James Wesley-Smith } Electron Microscope Unit } University of Natal } Durban, South Africa
************************************** Beth Richardson EM Lab Coordinator Botany Department University of Georgia Athens, GA 30602
Dear Ritchie, I have made the Lion-S to Santovac-5 substitution on my Hitachi TEM (1982) and SEM (1986) successfully. It was recommended by the Hitachi Serviceman. I would watch the the 704 substitution, however, as 704 has a lower boiling point. I had problems trying to substitute 705 for 704 because the oil wouldn't boil. Check the poiling points in a vacuum catalogue such as Edwards or Precision. You wrote: } } So, I would like to know if anyone has successfully (and without } changing heater elements), made the following substitutions: } } 1 Octoil-S or Santovac instead of the recommended Lion-S in an old } (how old?) JEOL diff pump on a SEM, TEM, or EPMA? } } 2 Octoil-S or Santovac instead of the recommended Dow Corning 704 } in an Edwards 306 coater? } } thanks } } Ritchie } } Ritchie Sims Phone : 64 9 3737599 ext 7713 } Department of Geology Fax : 64 9 3737435 } The University of Auckland email : r.sims-at-auckland.ac.nz } Private Bag 92019 } Auckland } New Zealand } 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
Dear Barry, This mixture of high concentration nitric acid in methanol is also used as liquid rocket fuel, so it is very flammable and dangerous. It can cause a runaway exothermic reaction, otherwise known as an explosion, as you mix it, so make it by slowly adding acid to methanol in a cooled bath and monitor the temperature to keep it cool ( {25 deg. C). I would personally never make such a large volume, if I could possibly help it. Store in a stoppered plastic bottle (not too tight) in a cool place and beware that these mixtures are prone to "let go" i.e. explode, for no reason at the back of the cupboard, so don't keep it too long ( {six months). When polishing, make sure you turn off the potential before removing the sample, to prevent any sparks between the sample and the bath. Does a lovely, fast job of polishing copper, though. You wrote: } } Fellow microscopists: } } In search of.................... } } One of the electrolytic polishing solutions used in the Tenupol Apparatus is } a mixture of 30% conc. nitric acid and 70% methanol. } } Excluding MSDS on each component - which contain some useful info see } Methanol "Safe Handling Procedures", what I am searching for is some current } practices for the proper storage of this mixture. } } Volume = 1000-1500 mL in a winchester } } and properly labelled .(*********************) } } How are other Users storing this chemical in the Laboratory? } } I am trying to obtain an MSDS of this mixture from Sturers - maybe it will } take a few days, if available at all. } } Does anyone have an MSDS on this mixture? } } } Thankyou for your help. } } } Barry } EM UNIT } UNSW Regards and good luck, 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
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I am not aware of a MSDS on nitric/methanol solutions.
This mixture is known to be unstable in some concentrations. If I remember correctly, the higher the nitric acid per cent the more unstable it becomes. It can be explosive.
We frequently use a mixture of 75% Methanol, 25% Nitric acid for chemical thinning. We do not store this reagent for more than one week. It is kept in a hood at all times, and never mixed with other chemicals.
Before disposing of the solution I would suggest you consult with your safety department regarding the best method of disposal.
If I can be of any further assistance, please feel free to contact me.
Carol
} } Fellow microscopists: } } In search of.................... } } One of the electrolytic polishing solutions used in the Tenupol Apparatus is } a mixture of 30% conc. nitric acid and 70% methanol. } } Excluding MSDS on each component - which contain some useful info see } Methanol "Safe Handling Procedures", what I am searching for is some current } practices for the proper storage of this mixture. } } Volume = 1000-1500 mL in a winchester } } and properly labelled .(*********************) } } How are other Users storing this chemical in the Laboratory? } } I am trying to obtain an MSDS of this mixture from Sturers - maybe it will } take a few days, if available at all. } } Does anyone have an MSDS on this mixture? } } } Thankyou for your help. } } } Barry } EM UNIT } UNSW
_______________________ Carol M. Garland, Member of the Professional Staff MC138-78 California Institute of Technology Pasadena, CA 91125
Could somebody help me resolve an issue that has developed in our lab recently? I realize this topic has been covered, but I can't seem to find a reference that addresses my specific question. It has been suggested that for purposes of ease that we store our EM samples in our glutaraldehyde fixative until we can process them. This suggestion truly unnerved me, because I have always been told that you should NEVER do such a thing for fear of 'over fixation'. Unfortunately when pressed, I could not provide an example of what overfixation means. All I have to go on is my gut feeling, the gut feelings of several of my colleagues, and conflicting information in a number of textbooks. Can anybody point me to a source that will definitively address this issue of overfixation in glutaraldehyde? Does overfixation really occur? If so, what are the specific artifacts caused by it? Or, is this all a myth? Your help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Laura
Laura M. Patrone, Ph.D. Wyeth-Ayerst Research Biomedical Imaging 641 Ridge Road Chazy, NY 12921 (518) 846-6318 e-mail: patronl-at-war.wyeth.com
George Lawton wrote: } } An investigator is having a problem with his procedure } on corrosive casting of rat kidney. After flushing the } kidney, it is infiltrated with methyl methacrylate. After } it is harden, the tissue is dissolved with conc. KOH. } He is getting crystals after dissolving. Has not had } this problem before. } Does anyone have an idea what the crystals are and } how to prevent them from forming. } Thanks in advance for any help. } } George Lawton
Dear George,
I bounced your question off Dr Fred Hossler, who is doing a corrosion casting session in Atlanta, and he offers the following:
I can only guess at the casting problem you passed on, but it sounds like a problem with salt precipitation either from the KOH or from his water source. Most casters now use 5% KOH (not concentrated KOH) to macerate tisseu becauseit was shown in a recent publication that (maybe Sims and Albrecht, but I forget the authors) this concentration actually macerates jsut as fast ashigher concentrations. I would also check if there are some mineral salts in the water that might be precipitatiing. In other words use distilled water for the maceration fluids. Let me know what happens. I am always interested in problems and solutions regarding casting.
I hope this helps. I can get you Dr. Hossler's e-mail address if you have any further questions.
JD Arnott Ladd Research
DISCLAIMER: Ladd Research sells corrosion casting materials
I recently read about a paper that was published concerning the determination of carbon coating thicknesses on EM samples without a thickness monitor. The paper stated that when utilizing a gold or polished brass sample, and certain parameters, the color change on the sample was indicative of a specific thickness in Angstroms. I was interested in finding this paper or any information related to this topic and would appreciate it if anyone who has knowledge of this topic would pass it on to me. Thanks.
Hi, Our laboratory is just starting to use Lowicryl for immunostudies. We need to buy a cryochamber. Question: How important is it to have a chamber with temperature control? Could we make do with a simple, less expensive chamber which uses dry ice without electronic temperature controls? What could we not do without accurate temp controls? Thanks, Hildy Crowley University of Denver
} Recently it came to my attention that he had processed a brain biopsy from } a suspected Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease patient. What really concerned me was } that : } 1) We had not been informed that the sample was in the lab } 2) The hospital technician did not appear to be aware of the high-risk } nature of the disease. } } My questions are: } } How do other labs that are have high risk samples going through them } monitor the risk of the samples coming into the lab? } } How do other labs handle and dispose of high risk biohazards? } Dear Allan & Richard, Working at a state health department gives us a leg up on such things. There are procedures in place for proper notification, handling & disposal. We know what samples are being brought in for examination, and since it is usually a physician who brings in any potentially danger- ous specimens, we are made aware of any potential hazards. Usually, the specimen has already been fixed, stained and embedded, which eliminates the hazard. There are containers all around our lab for the disposal of biohazards, and the safety office is responsible for their proper dispo- sal. Having the hospital technician give you a list of specimens and their condition (tissue, blocks, sections, etc.) before bringing them in would be an obvious step. I can think of rationalizations for not doing this, but maybe you can insist. If you have a safety office, by all means get them involved. Good luck. Yours, Bill Tivol
Richard Easingwood South Campus Electron Microscope Unit School of Medical Sciences University of Otago PO Box 913, Dunedin NEW ZEALAND
In a message dated 98-05-20 19:05:33 EDT, you write:
{ { Question: How important is it to have a chamber with temperature control? Could we make do with a simple, less expensive chamber which uses dry ice without electronic temperature controls? What could we not do without accurate temp controls? } }
Hildy,
Sure, you can use any kind of contraption as long as it will hold the desired temperature. We even used a styrofoam ice chest with dry ice in it. Get a large metal block that will fit in the ice chest, and drill holes in the metal that are big enough to hold small vials which would contain the specimens, alcohols, resin, etc. When the large metal block is pre-cooled it will help stabilize the temperature of the vials. You will have to do a little trial- and-error to find out how much dry ice to use and where to put it to hold the desired temperature.
If you have an old refrigerator the freezer compartment should be adjustable in the general range of temperatures for Lowicryl. Chest freezers also work well for this. Whatever you use, just make sure it's used exclusively for low-temp work with Lowicryl. The resin will permeate *everything*!
Agitation during dehydration and infiltration is fairly important. If you are working with an ice chest and metal block, just reach in and give a few manual "swirls" to each vial (or stir with a toothpick) about once every hour.
If you are working in a chest freezer, you can leave the door open and cut a sheet of building insulation the same size as the door. Presto, an instantly removable door. Then you can run a long axle at an angle from a slow-speed stirring motor through a hole in the insulation. On the end of the axle inside the chamber you can place a circular disk with clips on it for the specimen vials. In this way the stirring motor will stay outside the freezer at room temperature. It's probably not a good idea to put an entire specimen agitator in the freezer because water will condense and ice will form inside the agitator (electrical hazard!).
Consistent, stable low temperature and agitation are the keys. I've used all of the above and a few other configurations with good success.
Best wishes,
Bob ********************************* Robert (Bob) Chiovetti E. Licht Company / 1-800-865-4248 rchiovetti-at-aol.com
********************************* Leica (Wild, Leitz, Bausch&Lomb, Cambridge, AO, Reichert-Jung) / Technical Instrument Company / American Volpi / Fostek / Stocker and Yale / AEI North America / OptiQuip / Dolan-Jenner / Osram / G.E. / Philips / Ushio / Boeckler Instruments / Heidenhain / Narishige / Colorado Video / Visual Environments of California, Inc. / Kinetic Systems / Pacific Precision Laboratories, Inc. / Pryor Scientific / Compumotor / Sutter Instrument Co. / Advanced Database Systems / Cohu / Javeline Electronics / Optronics / Diagnostic Instruments, Inc. / Dage MTI / Hitachi / Panasonic / Polaroid / Kodak / Mitsubishi / Sony
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Att. Sales / Export Department Re: Request for FIXATIVES
A "Request for supply" for FIXATIVES which, to the best of our knowledge are being offered by you, was placed with us by one of our clients.
We are a world wide sourcing firm and we are paid by our clients to find them suitable suppliers.
To you, our service is totally FREE OF CHARGE !!! The information we will get from you will not only be immediately sent to this particular client but also to other clients looking for same or similar items.
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Att. Sales / Export Department Re: Request for FIXATIVES
A "Request for supply" for FIXATIVES which, to the best of our knowledge are being offered by you, was placed with us by one of our clients.
We are a world wide sourcing firm and we are paid by our clients to find them suitable suppliers.
To you, our service is totally FREE OF CHARGE !!! The information we will get from you will not only be immediately sent to this particular client but also to other clients looking for same or similar items.
Since the whole operation is activated by our computers and unique software YOU HAVE TO REGISTER THE PRODUCTS ,MATERIALS, EQUIPMENT OR SERVICES you offer. Please REGISTER using our Internet interface at: http://www.thebol.com
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We are looking forward to serve you to the best of our ability.
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Att. Sales / Export Department Re: Request for FIXATIVES
A "Request for supply" for FIXATIVES which, to the best of our knowledge are being offered by you, was placed with us by one of our clients.
We are a world wide sourcing firm and we are paid by our clients to find them suitable suppliers.
To you, our service is totally FREE OF CHARGE !!! The information we will get from you will not only be immediately sent to this particular client but also to other clients looking for same or similar items.
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Dear Microscopists, My apologies for the the message which just appeared on this list re CJD. This was an old message from Bill Tivol in response to my question about CJD risks for microscopists which I sent to this listserver about two years ago. I was sending my archived CJD messages to Joiner Cartwright (in response to his similar question here a couple of days ago) and didn't notice one of the messages had a 'Cc: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com' (copy to be sent to listserver). Oops.
Sorry also to Bill Tivol for broadcasting his old mail - but it his was a helpful message!
Incidentially, I haven't seen any responses to Joiner's message re CJD risks in microscopy labs this time around. His question was whether a consensus was reached in past listserver discussions on how to handle suspected CJD specimens - I don't think there was one. Our lab simply refuses to handle suspected cases but there must be labs out there that do do EM of CJD-infected tissue. It would be interesting to know what safety protocols they follow (for instance, do they do their ultramicrotomy in a fume hood?).
Best regards to all.
Richard
Richard Easingwood South Campus Electron Microscope Unit School of Medical Sciences University of Otago PO Box 913, Dunedin NEW ZEALAND
I don't know about the original paper, but Stephen Reed's book "Electron Microprobe Analysis" of 1975 has the following table for polished brass, quoting Kerrick, Eminhizer and Nakamura 1973: Amer. Mineral. 58 920
Thickness Colour (nm)
15 Orange 20 Indigo red 25 Blue 30 Bluish Green 35 Greenish Blue 40 Pale green 45 Silver gold
On Wed, 20 May 1998 16:23:28 -0400 "Wintonick, Steven" {WintonickS.bpd-at-ci.boston.ma.us} 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 recently read about a paper that was published concerning the } determination of carbon coating thicknesses on EM samples without a } thickness monitor. The paper stated that when utilizing a gold or polished } brass sample, and certain parameters, the color change on the sample was } indicative of a specific thickness in Angstroms. I was interested in } finding this paper or any information related to this topic and would } appreciate it if anyone who has knowledge of this topic would pass it on to } me. Thanks. } } Steve
Institute of Physics 76 Portland Place, London W1N 4AA, UK. Tuesday 22 September 1998 IoP headquarters
Organizer: Dr U Bangert, Department of Physics, UMIST, Manchester M60 1QD, UK.
EMAG committee of the Institute of Physics
Abstract: Most technologically important materials are internally inhomogeneous, beit due to their 'natural' microcrystallinity (e.g. metal-alloys, complex oxides) or due to deliberate structuring (semiconductor nano-structures, nano-clustered materials). In fact, increasing complexity has been the key trend underpinning the development of electronic materials and devices for the past several decades. Hence there is an urgent requirement for the development of localized spectroscopies to work alongside localized structural determination. Depending on the scale of the material substructure spectroscopies down to the nm scale are desirable. Techniques based on modern scanning electron microscopes and scanning tunnelling microscopes are approaching this resolution, and it is hoped that this will contribute, for example ,towards an understanding of the electronic structure of grain boundaries, defects and nanostructures. At this meeting, experts in the field of spectroscopy based on the scanning (transmission) electron microscope and scanning tunneling microscope will report on new advances, with emphasis on the spatially resolved aspects.
Invited Speakers:
o R Brydson (Leeds) ' Chemistry on the nanoscale in the STEM'
o G Amaratunga (Liverpool) ' Electronic band-gap structure of amorphous diamond like and nano-structured carbon nanotubes determined by EELS in a STEM'
o C Norman (Toshiba, Cambridge), 'Cathodoluminescence of semiconductor films and device structures',
o B Hamilton (UMIST) 'Dopant and band gap imaging of semiconductors using STM'
o Struan Gray (Lund, Sweden) 'STM based photo-excitation microscopy'
o P Moriarty (Nottingham) 'Tunneling into single quantum dots'
o P Laitenberger (Oxford instruments) 'Low temperature scanning tunneling spectroscopy - probing solid state properties on the atomic scale'
Poster contributions are extremely welcome.
For further details please contact: Rebecca Chapple, IoP conference office (fax: 0171 470 4848, e-mail: rebecca.chapple-at-iop.org or Uschi Bangert, tel: 0161 200 3185, fax: 0161 200 3941, e-mail: uschi-at-fs2.phy.umist.ac.uk
_____________________________ Dr. Rik Brydson, University Research Fellow, Electron Optical Unit, Department of Materials, School of Process, Environmental and Materials Engineering University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, U.K.
} I recently read about a paper that was published concerning the } determination of carbon coating thicknesses on EM samples without a } thickness monitor. The paper stated that when utilizing a gold or polished } brass sample, and certain parameters, the color change on the sample was } indicative of a specific thickness in Angstroms.
This sounds like D.M.Kerrick, L.B.Eminhizer & J.F.Villaume, "The role of carbon film thickness in electron microprobe analysis", American Mineralogist (1973), 58, 920-925
Using a piece of polished brass, they give a table of carbon coating thickness (in Angstroms) against interference colour:
150 - Orange 200 - Indigo red 250 - Blue 300 - Bluish green 350 - Greenish blue 400 - Pale Green 450 - Silver Gold
We have successfully used this technique in our laboratory for the last 20 years or so, and it's quite easy to judge the thickness to within about 25 Angstroms.
Norman
================================================= Dr. Norman Charnley Department of Earth Sciences University of Oxford Oxford OX1 3PR, UK.
Dear Sir: I am now doing some strain analysis in the herostructure ( one called LOCOS). At the moment, I only have result based on bulk materials. Do you know some good way to take into account the relaxation in this kind of semiconductor?
Hi, I'm just starting to use Quetol 561. I don't have any experience with this resin. I will be very appreciated with any imput that you can give me. Thanks, in advance.
FJ Iborra Sir William Dunn School of Pathology Oxford University Dr. FJ Iborra Sir William Dunn School of Pathology Oxford University South Parks Rd. Oxford OX1 3RE Tel. (+44/0) 1865 275527 Fax (+44/0) 1865 275501
We don't handle tissue of this type but I am surprised that glutaraldehyde does not sufficiently denature prions. Can anyone give me a key reference.
I had always assumed that normal tissue fixative (2.5-4% glutaraldehyde for 1+ hours) would render safe everything small and biological apart from some with impervious coatings (eg bacterial endospores, nematode eggs, some insects - tstse flies can swim in it for more than a day). Has anyone got a list of potential risks/awkward samples or a good source of information?
thanks
Malcolm Haswell Electron Microscopy School of Health Sciences Fleming Building University of Sunderland SUNDERLAND SR1 3SD
Tel (0191) 515 2872 e-mail: malcolm.haswell-at-sunderland.ac.uk ----------
I would like to know how medical EM labs handle specimens that potentially harbor Creutzfeldt-Jakob or other prion mediated diseases. We get very few calls to work up such specimens, but when we do, there is an awkward time deciding how to handle it, or whether to handle it at all. There is enough material in the literature on their resistance to fixatives and other agents that render bacterial and viral specimens safe to handle that people are quite reluctant to work with such specimens. I would like to hear from medical EM labs telling me whether or not you accept such specimens; and if you do, what special procedures do you use?
I understand that this might be a subject that has already been exhausted on the list server. However I have been off-line a while. If anyone remembers the consensus, I would appreciate a review. .........There HAS been a consensus on this server, hasn't there?
Joiner Cartwright, Jr., Ph.D. Director, Electron Microscopy Lab Department of Pathology
by piva.ucs.mun.ca (8.8.8/8.8.7) with ESMTP id JAA21053; Thu, 21 May 1998 09:57:50 -0230 (NDT) Received: from minnie.esd.mun.ca (minnie.esd.mun.ca [134.153.118.19]) by sparky2.esd.mun.ca (8.8.6/8.8.6) with SMTP id JAA17374; Thu, 21 May 1998 09:53:22 -0230 (NDT) Message-Id: {199805211223.JAA17374-at-sparky2.esd.mun.ca} X-Sender: rmason-at-sparky2.esd.mun.ca X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Pro Version 4.0
Ritchie,
I substituted Santovac for the previous oil in a JEOL JXA 50A microprobe about 3 years ago. I did not change the heater element. The earlier oil (can't recall its name) tended to cause clogging of the diff. pump guts and to oxidise over a period of time: Santovac seems not to suffer from these deficiencies and I obtain a good vacuum.
Roger Mason
At 09:52 AM 20/05/98 +0000, Ritchie Sims wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
1630 - 1645 D.A. Jans Quantification of subcellular transport in single living cells using confocal microscopy: perforin-dependent nuclear entry of granzyme B in CTL targets precedes apoptosis
1645 - 1700 Y.E. Korchev Spontaneous and induced membrane dynamics: imaging with a scanning ion conducted microscope
1700 Finish
* Invited speaker
Registration Please contact the Royal Micorscopical Society for details of registration . Tel. 01865 248 768 Fax 01865 791 237, e-mail info-at-rms.org.uk or check our web-site at http://www.rms.org.uk
My full address is currently:
Dr. G. R. Coulton Molecular pathology Division of Biomedical Sciences Imperial College School of Medicine 8th Floor Lab Block Charing Cross Campus St. Dunstan's Road London W6 8RF
tel. 0181 846 7043 fax 0181 846 7099
e-mail g.coulton-at-cxwms.ac.uk
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g.coulton-at-ic.ac.uk
HOWEVER, I WILL STILL RECEIVE MAIL TO THE CXWMS ADDRESS FOR A LIMITED PERIOD UP TO AUGUST 1998.
I am looking for a high magnification finite focus high NA water immersion objective preferably a Nikon PlanApo 40X to 63X. (Not a dipping lens) If anyone out there has converted to infinity optics. I will consider other manufacturers but would want to check it out first to make sure it will work.
Please contact me directly
Mike Esterman mikee-at-lilly.com 317-276-4247 7:30am - 4pm CDT
No viable information is in print about overfixation that specifically addresses the conditions of the tissue with glutaraldehyde. Several references allude to the problems, but fail to explain them. Articles in Ultrastructural Pathology and atlases of Pathology for Diagnostics have pointed out suspected artifacts.
For the record, based soley on my 30 years of working experience, when tissue is left in glutaraldehyde for extended periods, it becomes more difficult to section. The problem is identical to the difficulty with sectioning harder materials, i.e. skin, leading one to assume that 'overfixation' has created a hardened tissue condition. The presumed modification of artifactual appearance of the tissue in the microscope, when compared to tissue fixed for two hours or less, varies from none to moderate leaching of detail. Staining is less intense when compared to the routine times.
Our routine protocol calls for one hour fixation in 1% in PBS (350mOs, pH 7.2) then storage until processed in PBS (350mOs, pH 7.2). 90% of our samples are tissue culture. I would recommend 2% glut for minced animal or human tissue.
I need adress for manufactures for 120/220 roll film holder for optical microscopy - not polaroid !
best regards for all
Krzysztof Jan Huebner
{hubner-at-IOd.krakow.pl} :-)
FOUNDRY RESEARCH INSTITUTE Research Materials Department Manager Structural and Physical Research Laboratory str. Zakopianska 73 Call (*48 12) 2665022 ext.356 30-418 KRAKOW - POLAND Fax (+48 12) 2660870
Recently, I came across an article that discussed the handling of suspected Creutzfeldt-Jakob (sp?) disease specimens in a histology laboratory. It was an eye-opening article and mentioned a number of references that dealt with infectivity after fixation in formalin and paraffin embedding. Unfortunately, I have misplaced the article, but I do remember that it was printed in the newsletter edited by Don Grimes, called Microscopy Today, possibly from February or March 98. The web address for the newsletter is: www.microscopy-today.com.
Regards, Vicky Madden
Victoria J. Madden Dept. of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill vmadden-at-med.unc.edu
With reference to cheap, easy to build cryochambers for Lowicryl, see pages 251-256 of my book "Low Temperature Microscopy and Analysis" Plenum Press New York 1992
Patrick Echlin
On Wed, 20 May 1998, HILDEGARD CROWLEY 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Hi, } Our laboratory is just starting to use Lowicryl for immunostudies. We } need to buy a cryochamber. Question: How important is it to have a } chamber with temperature control? Could we make do with a simple, less } expensive chamber which uses dry ice without electronic temperature } controls? } What could we not do without accurate temp controls? } Thanks, } Hildy Crowley } University of Denver } }
} I am looking for a high magnification finite focus high NA } water immersion objective preferably a Nikon PlanApo 40X } to 63X. (Not a dipping lens) If anyone out there has } converted to infinity optics. I will consider other } manufacturers but would want to check it out first to make } sure it will work.
I have a Zeiss Plan-Neofluar 63x/1.2 W in excellent condition.
You do not mention which Lowicryl you are planning to use, or during which stage (polymerization, infiltration, dehydration) you wish to control temperature.
We currently use a Reichert AFS freeze substitution device for controlling temperture for all these steps, but for Lowicryl K4M I think it is probably overkill. Dehydration and infiltration on ice (or in a -20C freezer after 50% EtOH) will probably work fine. For polymerization, we prefer to embed samples in flat molds for purposes of orientation. It is imperative not to expose the media to atmosphere, so we took an idea from Kent McDonald (Berkeley) and use a plastic pipette tip holder (it has a chamber on the bottom for holding dry ice, a perforated platform on which a beem flat embedding mold is placed, and a cover to keep the CO2 in and atmosphere out). This whole thing goes into a freezer and is exposed to UV for 24 hours. The dry ice sublimes over a 14 hour period or so, plenty of time for the media to polymerize enough so that oxygen is no longer inhibitory.
Good luck!
Doug
On Wed, 20 May 1998 13:43:55 -0600 (MDT) HILDEGARD CROWLEY {hcrowley-at-du.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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Hi, } Our laboratory is just starting to use Lowicryl for } immunostudies. We need to buy a cryochamber. Question: } How important is it to have a chamber with temperature } control? Could we make do with a simple, less expensive } chamber which uses dry ice without electronic } temperature controls? } What could we not do without accurate temp controls? Thanks, } Hildy Crowley University of Denver }
---------------------- Douglas R. Keene Associate Investigator Shriners Hospital Microscopy Unit Portland, Oregon 97201 DRK-at-shcc.org
HELP! Does anyone have a technique for polychrome staining of TAAB embedded tissues? I am trying to find a connective tissue polychrome stain which I can use to stain semi-thins of cardiac valve before I do the good old TEM thing on the ultras. Any help will get a really nice mention in my thesis!
Hildy et al: In my opinion one should surely be able to scrounge up a cryochamber without spending money unless you simply want to do huge amounts ar have extra money. For example you could scrounge an old cryostat which is not in use and adapt it for lowicryl use. Or it may be possible to use a cold room depending on which formula of lowicryl you are using. It IS IMPORTANT to have some heat sink in your arrangment and this is where having a drilled aluminum block for your curing capsules can be very useful. We have in fact seen some incredibly high temperatures generated in the curing process when done with specific formulae and UV light distances with suspended block curing. Once you find a system that works well for you stick with it. Lowicryl is very noxious and toxic so bear that in mind when you construct your own set-up. Good luck in your construction. RM
A colleague would like to know if there is a way to convert his MRI files ( .FID ) that are in binary format to raw numbers for input into a spreadsheet. I don't know if this is the proper listserver to address MRI issues, but if it is not, maybe somebody could direct him to any known MRI listservers. He is using a Varian MRI with a SUN Solaris Sparc 20 workstation that is using Solaris 2.5.1 software. Please direct any respones to the Email address below:
jcsteve-at-ppco.com
Any information will of course be greatly appreciated.
Has anyone come across a methodology for determination of distribution of wax in particleboard, or know where I could search for such information? Apparently this can be done by using a wax soluble tracer and then using fluorescent microscopy, but I was wondering if there is any other method. Thanks for the help.
Jackie Terry ORTECH Corporation "Anything is possible when knowledge is shared."
"Handling Creutzfeld-Jakob Disease Tissues in the Histology Laboratory." by Michael Titford and Frank O. Bastian. MT, Feb/March '98 (#98-2), reprinted from the Journal of Histotechnology, Sept. 1983, vol. 12 #3.
Phil } } Recently, I came across an article that discussed the handling of suspected } Creutzfeldt-Jakob (sp?) disease specimens in a histology laboratory. It } was an eye-opening article and mentioned a number of references that dealt } with infectivity after fixation in formalin and paraffin embedding. } Unfortunately, I have misplaced the article, but I do remember that it was } printed in the newsletter edited by Don Grimes, called Microscopy Today, } possibly from February or March 98. The web address for the newsletter is: } www.microscopy-today.com. } } Regards, } Vicky Madden } } } } Victoria J. Madden } Dept. of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine } University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill } vmadden-at-med.unc.edu
****be famous! send in a tech tip or question*** Philip Oshel Technical Editor, Microscopy Today PO Box 5037 Station A Champaign, IL 61825-5037 USA oshel-at-shout.net or poshel-at-hotmail.com
The seriousness in the handling of CJ diseased tissues (survival of the agent after aldehyde treatment) is certainly evident after reading the following references. Anyone doubting the survival of such agents would do well to discuss this with Nobel Laureat, Prusiner, who discovered prions in the first place.
Take care with these tissues. One mistake could be fatal!!!
Prusiner, S.B.: The prion diseases. Sci Am 272:70-77, 1995
Telling, G.C., Scott, M., Hsiao, K.K., Foster, D., Yang, S.-L.l, Torchia, M., Sidle, K.C.L., Collinge, J., DeArmond, S.J., Prusiner, S.B.: Transmission of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease from humans to transgenic mice expressing chimeric human-mouse prion protein. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 91:9936-9940, 1994.
Cohen, F.E., Pan, K.-M., Huang, Z., Baldwin, M., Fletterick, R.J., Prusiner, S.B.: Structural clues to prion replication. Science 264:530-531, 1994.
Westaway, D., DeArmond, S.J., Cayetano-Canlas, J., Groth, D., Foster, D., Yang, S.-L., Torchia, M., Carlson, G.A., Prusiner, S.B.: Degeneration of skeletal muscle, peripheral nerves, and the central nervous system in transgenic mice overexpressing wild-type prion proteins. Cell 76:117-129, 1994.
Carlson, G.A., Ebeling, C., Yang, S.-L., Telling, G., Torchia, M., Groth, D., Westaway, D., DeArmond, S.J., Prusiner, S.B.: Eveidence for isolate specified allotypic interactions between the cellular and scrapie prion proteins in congenic and transgenic mice. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 91:5690-5694, 1994.
#################################################################### 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 hate to admit that I forgot to add the catalyst to Spurr's epoxy prior to an attempted polymerization at 70C for 17 hours. The blocks have the consistancy of gumdrops now. If you have also done such a thing and salvaged your samples, would you please share with me what you did to make it right? I expect that several days at 80C should do the trick, but I have no experience.
Thank you,
Doug ---------------------- Douglas R. Keene Associate Investigator Shriners Hospital Microscopy Unit Portland, Oregon 97201 DRK-at-shcc.org
Jackie Terry wrote: ============================================= Has anyone come across a methodology for determination of distribution of wax in particleboard, or know where I could search for such information? Apparently this can be done by using a wax soluble tracer and then using fluorescent microscopy, but I was wondering if there is any other method. Thanks for the help. ================================================ We had to face this particular problem some number of years ago.
Actually we came up with a fairly simple kind of solution: We had our client make up two special waxes, one with dispersed carbon black particles and the other with a colloidal alumina (I think it was Ludox ® from DuPont). The particle board was then formulated with these two "special" waxes (which in those days were called low MW PE). By thin section TEM, the carbon black showed up better but it did not disperse as well. The Ludox dispersed better but it was not as easy to see (by TEM). But between the two approaches, it was possible to get some good insight as to where the low MW phase was going and to what degree the cross-section of the particle board was or was not asymetric.
I guess there was some argument as to what degree the carbon black or alumina added would have changed the rheology and therefore the viscosity of the wax. Valid arguments of course but we could not come up with any other bright ideas beyond these. The results for both methods seemed to be consistent and since there was an order of magnitude difference in size of the carbon black vs. Ludox, then what ever rheological change did occur must not have impacted on the final results.
There were some other issues such as the way the sample was embedded, etc., I would be happy to fill in some of the other details if you were interested .
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 ############################ ==================================================
Regarding CJD and prion diseases, the handling of these tissues in the laboratory (and the mortuary!!) has excercised the minds of neuropathologists in Britain and Europe for some time. There is a "Consensus Report" from European neuropathologists regarding this subject (1), and the UK Advisory Committee for Dangerous Pathogens has also produced several reports (2). The Creutzfeld-Jakob Disease Surveillance Unit, in Edinburgh, also have protocols for handling these materials, including transportation and emergency response protocols.
(1) H Budka et al. Tissue handling in suspected Creutzeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) and other spongiform encephalopathies (prion diseases). Brain Pathology 5: 319-22 (1995).
(2) Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens. Precautions for work with human and animal transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. HMSO, London (1994).
Richard Bonshek Dept of Pathological Sciences University of Manchester
I'm investigating microtwins in HgCdTe and CdTe as part of my M.Sc. project, but I'm having a little trouble indexing the twin spots in the diffraction patterns. I've used the method as shown in Hirsch, Howie and Whelan (1967), but I can't seem to get the method to work for some of the beam directions of the DP's. I was wondering whether anybody has an alternative approach or any suggestions to help me, since I am getting close to my wit's end with these things. The problem is that these materials are fcc and therefore twins should form on the {111} planes; analysis of these is supposed to be simple. Not so!
Any help/suggestions/accusations of stupidity etc will be appreciated. Thanks!
Doug, One of our techs did the very same thing. No amount of time in the heat will make it work. Our tech had to remove the specimen from the gummy Spurr's, make up fresh Spurr's and re-embed. Good luck!
Sharron G. Chism HT (ASCP) Electron Microscopy Lab Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth, Texas ----------
I hate to admit that I forgot to add the catalyst to Spurr's epoxy prior to an attempted polymerization at 70C for 17 hours. The blocks have the consistancy of gumdrops now. If you have also done such a thing and salvaged your samples, would you please share with me what you did to make it right? I expect that several days at 80C should do the trick, but I have no experience.
Thank you,
Doug ---------------------- Douglas R. Keene Associate Investigator Shriners Hospital Microscopy Unit Portland, Oregon 97201 DRK-at-shcc.org
Any suggestions for maximizing the shelf-life of lithium-drifted silicon EDS-detectors during periods of time when keeping them filled with liquid nitrogen is not an option? For example, would keeping them cooler than room temperature help, and are there electronic ways to cool them at temperatures near LN2 (albeit still too warm to operate)?
Responding to the message of {B0000946530-at-gwarlmime.hmhs.com} from "Chism, Sharron" {SharronChism-at-hmhs.com} : } } Doug, } One of our techs did the very same thing. No amount of time in } the heat will make it work. Our tech had to remove the specimen from } the gummy Spurr's, make up fresh Spurr's and re-embed. Good luck! } } Sharron G. Chism HT (ASCP) } Electron Microscopy Lab } Harris Methodist Hospital } Fort Worth, Texas } ---------- } From: Doug Keene } To: Microscopy } Subject: Spurrs w/no catalyst } Date: Thursday, May 21, 1998 7:11PM
Sharon, Just what did your tech do ro remove the Spurr's resin, use a solvent, acetone? If you can't cure the resin without catalyst that resides in the sample, then must remove it somehow, then reinfiltrate with resin & catalyst. Any details you can give would be appreciated,
Thanks,
Gib Ahlstrand, Minnesota Micoscopy Society Newsletter Editor Electron Optical Facility, University of Minnesota, Dept. Plant Pathology 495 Borlaug Hall, St. Paul, MN. USA. 55108 (612)625-8249 612-625-9728 FAX, giba-at-puccini.crl.umn.edu
"Theory and practice are the same in theory, but different in practice."
=========================================================== Jiri Spinka Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department of Electrotechnology Technical University of Brno EEEEEE TTTTTT Antoninska 1, B R N O EE TT Czech Republic EEEE TT Tel. 42-5-753741, Fax. 42-5-41211135 EE TT e-mail: spinka-at-uete.fee.vutbr.cz (Internet) EEEEEE(hi) TT ===========================================================
I've encountered a small 3-4 micron particle contaminate of metallic titanium in one of our processes. The source is unknown. TEM/EDX analysis of a cross section of this particle reveals a significant level of argon associated with the titanium and no oxygen. No, it's not a Ti escape peak, it's real. Can titanium contain sufficient dissolved Ar to register a significant peak? If this is true does it say anything about the source of this titanium or it's history? Thanks, Russ Russ_Gillmeister-at-wb.xerox.com
=========================================================== Jiri Spinka Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department of Electrotechnology Technical University of Brno EEEEEE TTTTTT Antoninska 1, B R N O EE TT Czech Republic EEEE TT Tel. 42-5-753741, Fax. 42-5-41211135 EE TT e-mail: spinka-at-uete.fee.vutbr.cz (Internet) EEEEEE(hi) TT ===========================================================
Modern Si(Li)s can be warmed without damage as long as they are not under bias. Should last for years at room temperature. The biggest concern is the cold finger may have condensed gasses on it. When the gasses evaporate upon warming the pressure may rise in the vacuum enough to blow the window. This would only happen if there has been a lot of gas, since the pressure would have to rise above atmospheric pressure to blow the window.
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
Russ, Do you have a Ti sublimation pump or ion pump in the process? If so, the particle could have contained both elements as debris from the pump. However, I would have expected to detect oxygen, nitrogen and other gases as well.
Harold J. Crossman OSRAM SYLVANIA INC. Lighting Research Center 71 Cherry Hill Dr. Beverly, MA 01915 (978) 750-1717 crossman-at-osi.sylvania.com
Russ writes ... } } I've encountered a small 3-4 micron particle contaminate of metallic } titanium in one of our processes. The source is unknown. TEM/EDX } analysis of a cross section of this particle reveals a significant } level of argon associated with the titanium and no oxygen. No, it's } not a Ti escape peak, it's real. Can titanium contain sufficient } dissolved Ar to register a significant peak? ...
I identified a similar particle in my microprobe. As it turned out the Ar was due to a leak in my flow detector and the ionization vacuum guage was gettering the argon inside its sensor ... creating metallic flakes with imbedded Ar.
... hope this helps :o)
cheerios, shAf
{} /\ {\/} /\ {\/} /\ {\/} /\ cogito, ergo zZOooOM /\ {\/} /\ {\/} /\ {\/} /\ {} Michael Shaffer, R.A. - http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~mshaf/ Geological Science's Electron Probe Facility - University of Oregon mshaf-at-darkwing.uoregon.edu or mshaf-at-oregon.uoregon.edu
I know there have been MANY threads lately on digital cameras, which have been very informative. But there is such a boom going on out there! Does anyone have a good handle on the differences between the "megapixel" models which are marketed for consumer/professional photography markets vs. the scientific models discussed on this list??
Specifically, a colleague recently challenged me as to why I would want to "waste" $6000 on a Minolta RD-175 when I could get even better resolution from some of the Olympus, Kodak, Konica, Canon, etc etc. products out there for $1000 or less. After some web site searching, it seems like there might be an issue of true color representation (1CCD vs. 3CCD's) and perhaps lens mounts, auto-white balance w/o manual override, compression, or other things. But I'm not sure per particular model. Anyone want to get into some of these details??
NOTE: my needs are for Both hand-held close up work and possibly microscope-mount, to be used in subsequent image analysis of colors & densities as well as morphology. Low-light sensitivity not essential.
Some of the suggested models were:
High End: Minolta RD-175 Kodak DCS 420, 410, and 460 [anyone know a good vendor in Minnesota?] Polaroid DMC2000
Lower End or Unknown: Sony DKCST5 [again, any vendors in Twin Cities area?] Kodak DC120 or MDS120 Konica Q-M100 Olympus D-600L Canon EOS DCS 1 Pixera Professional [I have this] many others I haven't looked up yet
I hate to beat a dead horse, but this is more like cutting up a starfish. The issues just seem to multiply! Any input appreciated, Karen
-- Karen Zaruba, kszaruba-at-mmm.com BioMaterials Technology Center 3M Center Bldg. 270-1S-01 St. Paul, MN 55144
*The opinions above are my own, not necessarily my employer's*
Braun wrote: Dear colleagues , I am interested in some advices to prepare tungsten tips suitable for micromanipulation techniques. Who can help ?
Braun, a description to produce tungsten tips for micromanipulation tools can be found on pages 226 and 227 in volume I of the Particle Atlas (authors McCrone and Delly). If you do not have this book, send me your FAX number and I can send you a copy of the procedure.
Jackie Terry, ORTECH Corporation "Anything is possible when know-how is shared."
I am trying to make the stage of my Nicolet FTIR microscope positionable to within 10=B5m, and reproducible at this scale. The IR microscope is essentially built around an Olymbpus BH optical microscope platform, and uses Olympus' mechanical X-Y stage and slide holder ((U-SVRD) which has 1mm (0.1 mm) vernier calipers on X and Y axes that are locatable to only 100 =B5m. I would like to improve on this to 10=B5m or better. I do not really need (and cannot afford) an expensive stage with stepper motors and controllers, that typically give 1 =B5m accuracy. Does anyone have an idea on how to obtain a mechanical stage that is movable in 10=B5m or better increments? It can be manual or motorized, commercial or homemade, so long as it can be repositioned without actually having that location in view. I need only 20 mm of movement in either direction. Under $2,000 for purchase or modification would be preferable.
Thanks. Peter Michael
Please address any comments to me at pjm-at-utulsa.edu
Peter J. Michael Dept. of Geosciences 600 S. College Ave. Tulsa, OK 74104
Sorry, I left out the particulars! What she DID was to just re-embed in fresh Spurr's. There was SOME infiltration of the new Spurr's into the specimen, but not as good as it should have been. What SHOULD have happened (in my mind, at least) was to take the specimen out of the gummy Spurr's and back-track through a couple of changes of 100% ETOH, then a 1:1 Spurr's/100% ETOH step and then into a couple of changes of the new Spurr's before the final embedding step. I was on vacation at the time, so I have no way of knowing if that would have worked for sure ... but it sounds like it should.
Sharron G. Chism HT (ASCP) Electron Microscopy Lab Harris Hospital Fort Worth, Texas
Responding to the message of {B0000946530-at-gwarlmime.hmhs.com} from "Chism, Sharron" {SharronChism-at-hmhs.com} : } } Doug, } One of our techs did the very same thing. No amount of time in } the heat will make it work. Our tech had to remove the specimen from } the gummy Spurr's, make up fresh Spurr's and re-embed. Good luck! } } Sharron G. Chism HT (ASCP) } Electron Microscopy Lab } Harris Methodist Hospital } Fort Worth, Texas } ---------- } From: Doug Keene } To: Microscopy } Subject: Spurrs w/no catalyst } Date: Thursday, May 21, 1998 7:11PM
Sharon, Just what did your tech do ro remove the Spurr's resin, use a solvent, acetone? If you can't cure the resin without catalyst that resides in the sample, then must remove it somehow, then reinfiltrate with resin & catalyst. Any details you can give would be appreciated,
Thanks,
Gib Ahlstrand, Minnesota Micoscopy Society Newsletter Editor Electron Optical Facility, University of Minnesota, Dept. Plant Pathology 495 Borlaug Hall, St. Paul, MN. USA. 55108 (612)625-8249 612-625-9728 FAX, giba-at-puccini.crl.umn.edu
"Theory and practice are the same in theory, but different in practice."
You might try the Desktop Microscopist program for the Macintosh. Among other things, it calculates single-crystal electron diffraction spot patterns for any crystal, and can use explicitly entered orientation relationships to calculate patterns from oriented crystallites.
You can check it out at http://www.easystreet.com/~lacuna/
I have no commercial interest in this program, but am a long-time user and sometime beta tester.
Larry Thomas Mechanical and Materials Engineering Washington State University Pullman, WA USA tel: 509 335-4860 email: thomas-at-mme.wsu.edu or (currently) Larry.Thomas-at-pnl.gov
---------- From: Alistair Douglas Reply To: phbaad-at-upe.ac.za Sent: Friday, May 22, 1998 9:16 AM To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com Subject: Twin spots in TEM DP's
------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 all
I'm investigating microtwins in HgCdTe and CdTe as part of my M.Sc. project, but I'm having a little trouble indexing the twin spots in the diffraction patterns. I've used the method as shown in Hirsch, Howie and Whelan (1967), but I can't seem to get the method to work for some of the beam directions of the DP's. I was wondering whether anybody has an alternative approach or any suggestions to help me, since I am getting close to my wit's end with these things. The problem is that these materials are fcc and therefore twins should form on the {111} planes; analysis of these is supposed to be simple. Not so!
Any help/suggestions/accusations of stupidity etc will be appreciated. Thanks!
You didn't mention what your process was, but it's not uncommon to find a significant quantity of included process gas in thin film depositions. I first observed this in my graduate work with rf sputtered depositions of Germanium. Sputtering Germanium with Argon, under certain conditions, can result in films with greater than 5% argon (at %). Any similar process including plasma processes, sputter depositions, ion bombardment, anomalous arcing, etc. may result in coatings or particulates with included process gas.
Phil Swab Advanced Coatings Division/ART Buffalo, NY
} ---------- } From: Gillmeister,Russ[SMTP:Russ_Gillmeister-at-wb.xerox.com] } Sent: Friday, May 22, 1998 10:27 AM } To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } Subject: Titanium } } ---------------------------------------------------------------------- } -- } 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've encountered a small 3-4 micron particle contaminate of metallic } titanium in one of our processes. The source is unknown. TEM/EDX } analysis of a cross section of this particle reveals a significant } level of argon associated with the titanium and no oxygen. No, it's } not a Ti escape peak, it's real. Can titanium contain sufficient } dissolved Ar to register a significant peak? If this is true does it } } say anything about the source of this titanium or it's history? } Thanks, Russ Russ_Gillmeister-at-wb.xerox.com }
I once found argon in a metal substrate which had been subjected to some sort of vacuum depostion process. I don't remember any of the details (age or feeble mindedness?) except that I tested a lot of samples and did a lot of soul-searching before I let anyone know that's what I found. As it turns out, argon was used in the process and I assume that some argon was trapped in the surface layer.
Your particle may be due to some such deposition process.
Thanks Robert A. Carlton Robert.Carlton-at-RP-Rorer.com Tel. 610-454-3949 Fax 610-454-5990
As sometimes happens, some people can't get money to attend courses at the last minute while others don't hear about them until it is too late to apply.
Now may be your chance!
Three late cancellations at the UBC Live-Cell course mean three opportunities for those of you who have ten days free this June.
We expect to have an international faculty of 15, and on-site equipment that includes 2-photon systems from BioRad, Zeiss, and Olympus (and maybe Nikon and Leica). There will also be single-photon confocals from Bio-Rad (2), Olympus, Noran, Nikon (2), deconvolution set-ups from API, AutoQuant and Vaytek as well as laser tweezers, micromanipulation and sundry other delights.
These systems are not just to look at but to use for over 45 hours or organized 2D and 3D live-cell laboratory sessions, and 20 hours of evening sessions for group live-cell projects.
Although the eight "groups-of-3" have already been set up and have chosen their "individual projects," we are willing to accept 3-2 more students as long as their backgrounds will fit into any of these groups.
which has the rest of the story, including the program.
Then fill out the Registration Form from the site to tell us about you, Fax it to me and we will see if we can fit you in.
Hope that you can join us in Vancouver this June 17-28.
Jim Pawley
**************************************** Prof. James B. Pawley, Ph. 608-263-3147 Room 223, Zoology Research Building, FAX 608-265-5315 1117 Johnson Ave., 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., Skeptical Enquirer, 21-2:39
I wrote: I'm going to stick my neck out here, but I was able to produce this in a sputtering system. Surprisingly, burning a hole(melting) in the top of blisters caused the argon signal to appear and disappear. I believe we were playing with an experimental RIE(Reactive Ion Etching) system. I know what some of you are thinking(me too),even though I observed this and repeated this several different ways I somehow still have trouble believing there wasn't another explanation. -Anyone else? Jeff Day -"JD" Mesquite, Texas
note: Well, it seems I must explain how deposition occurred in RIE, before someone(else) thinks that I might not know what I'm talking about. Our experiments appeared to suggest that under certain circumstances(targets of multiple elemental components and some poorly chosen vacuum components) both etching and re-deposition were taking place in RIE especially in an argon environment and generally at higher powers. I don't think this is really new information to anyone with RIE experience.
_____________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com Or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]
I have attempted and failed twice to store these detectors at room temperature. Additional to the problem indicated by Mark Lund, the contaminants collected by the absorbing material is released at room temperature and this contaminates the Si(Li) wafer, making it later unusable. I had been successful re-pumping, including giving the heat treatment (which should remove contaminants) a "soft detector", but storage for some months proved unsuccessful. This was with detectors produced over 15 years ago. Has there been a change in detector technology that would affect storage? 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 ***** - } Modern Si(Li)s can be warmed without damage as long } as they are not under bias. Should last for years } at room temperature. The biggest concern is the } cold finger may have condensed gasses on it. When } the gasses evaporate upon warming the pressure } may rise in the vacuum enough to blow the window. } This would only happen if there has been a lot } of gas, since the pressure would have to rise } above atmospheric pressure to blow the window. } } 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 } }
I was looking for a listserve with discussions on condensed matter. Do not respond to the listserver, respond to the mail cited below. Thank you in advance.
Gabriel A. Rosa e-mail : micros-at-biolo.bg.fcen.uba.ar FAX : (0054-1) 788-6770
Dear Karen, There are good reviews of digital cameras in several magazines: Try Popular Photography (Dec. 1997), PEI - Photo Electronic Imaging (May 1998) www.peimag.com, and PC Magazine (February 1998).
We are thinking of getting the Olympus D-600L. Please note that PC Mag reviews the D-500L not the 600.
Once we narrowed it down to the D-600L I got price quotes from National Graphics Supply 800-223-7130, B&H 800-947-5516, and Wolf Camera (the local Wolf Camera would only quote me list price- so poop on them).
Hope this helps, beth
} To the digital die-hards out there: } } I know there have been MANY threads lately on digital cameras, which } have been very informative. But there is such a boom going on out } there! Does anyone have a good handle on the differences between the } "megapixel" models which are marketed for consumer/professional } photography markets vs. the scientific models discussed on this list?? } } Specifically, a colleague recently challenged me as to why I would want } to "waste" $6000 on a Minolta RD-175 when I could get even better } resolution from some of the Olympus, Kodak, Konica, Canon, etc etc. } products out there for $1000 or less. After some web site searching, it } seems like there might be an issue of true color representation (1CCD } vs. 3CCD's) and perhaps lens mounts, auto-white balance w/o manual } override, compression, or other things. But I'm not sure per particular } model. Anyone want to get into some of these details?? } } NOTE: my needs are for Both hand-held close up work and possibly } microscope-mount, to be used in subsequent image analysis of colors & } densities as well as morphology. Low-light sensitivity not essential. } } Some of the suggested models were: } } High End: } Minolta RD-175 } Kodak DCS 420, 410, and 460 [anyone know a good vendor in Minnesota?] } Polaroid DMC2000 } } Lower End or Unknown: } Sony DKCST5 [again, any vendors in Twin Cities area?] } Kodak DC120 or MDS120 } Konica Q-M100 } Olympus D-600L } Canon EOS DCS 1 } Pixera Professional [I have this] } many others I haven't looked up yet } } I hate to beat a dead horse, but this is more like cutting up a } starfish. The issues just seem to multiply! } Any input appreciated, } Karen } } -- } Karen Zaruba, kszaruba-at-mmm.com } BioMaterials Technology Center } 3M Center Bldg. 270-1S-01 } St. Paul, MN 55144 } } *The opinions above are my own, not necessarily my employer's*
************************************** Beth Richardson EM Lab Coordinator Botany Department University of Georgia Athens, GA 30602
I am interested in obtaining floorplans and/or suggestions for an efficient, functional forensic microanalysis/trace evidence unit. I've gotten the EM lab design info that was mailed lately amongst the group. Thankyou.
Alice Ammen Montana Forensic Science Division 554 West Broadway, 6th floor Missoula, MT 59802
Does anyone know of and have any positive experience with any good sources of 3-D reconstructive software for serial section data? Shareware or Commercial? If you are a vendor I suppose this list server would prefer that you respond to my Email directly. I'm also interested in some secondary manipulative software that can rotate and change(distort-attenuate or amplify) axis in three(3) or five(5), ie. two( 2) or more rotational axis. Any other suggestions? Jeff Day/ "JD" Mesquite, Texas Email: wa5ekh-at-juno.com
_____________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com Or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]
Hi all, We have looked at this problem of mothballing detectors for clients = going on long leave or over the Christmas period, and in some cases for = indefinite periods. Realising that you get this outgassing of the molecular sieve as the = detector warms up, we made up a T piece pumping port adapter for the = detectors.
The secret to storing the detectors is the pumping of the detector when = you allow it to cool down. This results in you pumping off all the = contaminants in the dewar before it can settle on the crystal and FET. If you look on the side of the detector, you will see a red or blue = cap. Open that and you will see the plug that needs to be removed to = pump down the detector. The pumping port adapter can be made up by your local engineering = workshop.=20 One warning, we suggest you start the pumping down the minute you throw = off the LN2. On two occasions we have had the vacuum plug blow out about = 30 minutes after pouring off the LN2 . So in some detectors it seems = that as they warm up, they build up a positive pressure. You would = expect the Be window to blow first, but not so. Exactly why we are not = sure.
The pumping system must be able to attain at least 10-5 torr so either = diff or turbo systems will do. If there is a LN2 trap in the system, = that must be used and is ideal. If the SEM is also not going to be used for a week or two, you could = make a blanking port with a vacuum port for the SEM chamber and this = would allow you to use the SEM as the pumping system. Not ideal but it = is a way round it. Connect the vacuum system to the detector and once the system has = reached 10-1 torr, remove the vacuum plug on the detector. We generally = open the plug with only the rotary pump and not under diff pump = pressures. This is because some detectors have a really poor vacuum and = you could damage the diff pump if you opened the detector on to it. = Leave it to pump for a minimum of 24 hours. Once the detector is up to room temperature, you can fill the dewar with = boiling water. Watch the vacuum gauges at this point. In cases where the = dewar is really contaminated you will see a drop off in vacuum as soon = as the warm water is poured into the dewar. You can repeat this process = until the vacuum does not change when you add hot water. Once the water in the dewar has returned to room temperature, you can = now carefully close the pumping port to the detector and store the = detector. This is a quick description of what is involved in the process of = storing detectors. I hope it make sense. Failing this you can simply ask your supplier to do this for you and PAY = THEM FOR IT. Good luck
Luc Harmsen=09 Anaspec, South Africa International technical support on microscopy. Tel: +27 (0) 11 476 3455 Fax:+27 (0) 11 476 7290 anaspec-at-icon.co.za
-----Original Message-----
I have attempted and failed twice to store these detectors at room temperature. Additional to the problem indicated by Mark Lund, the contaminants collected by the absorbing material is released at room temperature and this contaminates the Si(Li) wafer, making it later unusable. I had been successful re-pumping, including giving the heat treatment = (which should remove contaminants) a "soft detector", but storage for some = months proved unsuccessful. This was with detectors produced over 15 years ago. Has there been a change in detector technology that would affect = storage? 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 ***** - } Modern Si(Li)s can be warmed without damage as long } as they are not under bias. Should last for years } at room temperature. The biggest concern is the } cold finger may have condensed gasses on it. When } the gasses evaporate upon warming the pressure } may rise in the vacuum enough to blow the window. } This would only happen if there has been a lot } of gas, since the pressure would have to rise } above atmospheric pressure to blow the window. } } 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 } }
Question: Looking for a quick, proven recipe for fixation (for TEM) of cells in a suspension culture. They're a line of chronic myelogenous leukemia in IMDM media w/ 10% FBS. Problem is, I'd like to avoid any spinning down/resuspension techniques as I am attempted to capture the cells after they have been induced into apoptosis. There's a lot of interesting morph. changes in the cell membrane (blebbing of apoptotic bodies) that are very fragile and I'd like to preserve them if possible. Right now, I've been embedding the suspension in agar and processing the agar blocks. I just haven't had any decent results yet. Any experts out there?
charles j day wrote: } } Does anyone know of and have any positive experience with any } good sources of 3-D reconstructive software for serial section data? } Shareware or Commercial? If you are a vendor I suppose this list server } would prefer that you respond to my Email directly. I'm also interested } in some secondary manipulative software that can rotate and } change(distort-attenuate or amplify) axis in three(3) or five(5), ie. } two( 2) or more rotational axis. Any other suggestions? } Jeff Day/ "JD" } Mesquite, Texas } Email: wa5ekh-at-juno.com
Hi Jeff,
I don't know of any specific software for serial section reconstruction, but You could certainly do it with a powerful image processing package. AVS is a commercial one and Khoros is probably the most powerful free one (at least the current version 2.2 is still free). You can stack sections, align them, distort them, change scale and rotate them, but You have to make your own algorithms by piecing together processing tools in a workspace. (This is similar to AVS) Khoros handles up to 5-dimensional data so you can make colour-movies of 3D-models if you need to. Look at: www.khoral.com for more information. There's also a very active mailing list and news group to help you. -- 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
---------- From: Alistair Douglas Reply To: phbaad-at-upe.ac.za Sent: Friday, May 22, 1998 9:16 AM To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com Subject: Twin spots in TEM DP's
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Hello all
I'm investigating microtwins in HgCdTe and CdTe as part of my M.Sc. project, but I'm having a little trouble indexing the twin spots in the diffraction patterns. I've used the method as shown in Hirsch, Howie and Whelan (1967), but I can't seem to get the method to work for some of the beam directions of the DP's. I was wondering whether anybody has an alternative approach or any suggestions to help me, since I am getting close to my wit's end with these things. The problem is that these materials are fcc and therefore twins should form on the {111} planes; analysis of these is supposed to be simple. Not so!
Any help/suggestions/accusations of stupidity etc will be appreciated. Thanks!
Kind regards Alistair Douglas
I'd like to make the following suggestions that might help:
Besides the book of Hirsch et al. published in 1967, please have a look at the followings: - the same book, but in its new version published in 1977 at Robert E.Krieger Publ.Co., pp.143-148 & 532-534 & 545-546; - the book of Gareth Thomas and Michael J.Goringe "TEM of Materials", published at Wiley Interscience (I don't know the year of issue), pp.94-100; - C.Boulesteix, J.van Landuyt and S.Amelinckx, "Identification of Rotation and Reflection Twin by Diffraction and Contrast Experiments in the Electron Microscope", published in Physica Status Solidi, A33, 595 (1976);
and I can give you a much longer bibliographical list on twinning if you are interested in.
As concerns the software mentioned by Larry Thomas in his public message, I have no doubt it is useful, but you have to buy it !
I put before you a proposition: I have recently developed a computer code for simulation of the ED patterns of any complexity (including the effect of rod-spiking - described by Hirsch et al., in their book above mentioned by yourself) and in case you agree to send me all the geometrical data concerning the spots distribution in your ED pattern and the crystallographic data of your crystalline compounds HgCdTe and CdTe I can try to give a solution to your problem. Of course, I might send you my soft - in the executable form (it runs on IBM-PC under MS-DOS), but it is a little too much complicated to explain you how to use it. My computer program can simulate by calculation and display graphically a complex ED pattern which can include also twinning effects, these complex patterns being generated by superposition of simpler ones, according to any twinning model you can imagine (for any arbitrary crystal orientation, beam direction etc.). I am quite sure that the software recommended by Larry Thomas works in the same way as mine.
Corneliu Sarbu National Institute for Materials Physics POBox MG-7 R-76900 Bucharest-Magurele Romania Fax: +40-1-423.1700
A couple of months back a message you posted to the listserver said that you had an assortment of addresses and quotes pertaining to EDS upgrades. I would appreciate it very much if you could send that information to me.
We are looking for an unused quantity of a Chemicon antibody (anti-Tenascin (Hu - polyclonal) Cat. No. AB1906) which has been discontinued. We have been getting good localisations with it in IHC experiments using rat tissues. Chemicon have informed us they do not have a substitute for it, so we are basically back to square one. If anyone has some left in a fridge somewhere we would be happy to pay for it plus express freight costs. Also if anyone has experience with this antibody and have since found a replacement or any other information, please let us know.
Also does anyone have any experience with SPARC (osteonectin)?
This is a question for the microscopists who deal with paper samples:
Does someone have experience of using Monte Carlo simulations for determining the penetration depth of the beam into such a complex system like paper is? Do you see any advantage in using it? I'm interested in backscatter imaging of coated paper surface and I'd like to know what depth I'm actually looking at.
Thanks a lot.
Tiina Hallamaa, M.Sc (Eng) The Finnish Pulp and Paper Research Institute Paper Science Center email: Tiina.Hallamaa-at-kcl.fi
I have had good results using T3D (formerly called Slicer) from Fortner Research, LLC. (100 Carpenter Drive, Sterling, VA 20164, (703)478-0181, www.fortner.com) to visualize serial sections.
What I like about T3D is that it will automatically read in a sequentially numbered set of TIFF files (you open the first one and T3D will find the rest). You can independently adjust the scale on the three axes to adjust for aspect ratios and slice thicknesses. T3D can also create AVI animations of the visualization.
Everett Ramer U.S. Department of Energy P.O. Box 10940 Pittsburgh, PA 16236-0940
A summary of 3-D imageing and reconstruction programs was posted on the list about a year ago. Here it is again. I hope the original author of this doesn't mind but I have found this to be very useful information
First I want to thank everybody who responded to my question on suitable software to reconstruct the 3D-structure of organs (based on serial sections). I think it's a good idea to summarize all the tips I have got the last week. The list below is far from beeing complete (sorry to everybody who thinks that I have forgot something important).
NIH-IMAGE This popular freeware programme for image analyses is originally written for the Mac, but now is also available as Win95 program. Download: http://www.zippy.nimh.nih.gov/ (Mac)or http://www.scioncorp.com/ (Win95) Many informations e.g. online manual, macros, example-files and additional download possibilities can be found at: http://rsb.info.nih.gov/nih-image/ As an example animated reconstructions of plant cells (based on semithin sections) can be found on the homepage of Gary Chinga: http://www.nvg.unit.no/~gary Informations about the NIH-Image mailing list can be found at http://www.soils.agri.umn.edu/infoserv/lists/nih-image/
NEUROLUCIDA Informations about Neurolucida are available at http://www.microbrightfield.com/microb Although Neurolucida is primarily designed for the needs of neurobiologists, it has all the facilities which I need for the planed reconstruction based on serial tissue sections (Data entry by camera or digitizing tablet, alignment, tracing of areas of interest, 3D-modelling and volume measuring).
VOXBLAST Voxblast is available for Unix, Mac and Windows-Sytems. Informations about this software, e.g. instructive demo-versions and a quick-reference-quide can be found at http:/www.vaytek.com/ In order to transfer and prepare (enhancement and alignment of the slices) the images for the use with Voxblast, suitable image analyses software, e.g. NIH-image or ImageProPlus from Mediacybernetics (http://www.mediacy.com/) is needed.
T3D (formerly SLICER) Included in the data-management-package NOESYS of Fortner research. Product informations can be found at http://www.fortner.com/
SLICER DICER Informations about this volumetric data visualization software of Visalogic (available for MAC, Win95 and WinNT) could be found at http://www.visualogic.com/
MONTAGE This 3D reconstruction package is a UNIX-programm, but works also on a PC using the free Unix-system LINUX. It's available by anonymous FTP at ftp://retina.anatomy.upenn.edu:/pub/mont.linux.tgz Data entry is simply by a Summagraphics Digitizing Tablet.
A list of links to the distributors of the above mentioned software and many other programs for image analyses can be found at: http://ddsdx.uthscsa.edu/dig/sites.html
This is all I get up to now from the internet and of course I haven't tested all the programs listed above for their suitability.
Sincerely,
Jens Buecking
--------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Jens Buecking Tel.: +49-(0)421-218 3745 University of Bremen Fax.: +49-(0)421-218 4042 Department of Biology email: jbueck-at-biologie.uni-bremen.de Leobener Str. - NW2 D- 28359 Bremen Germany ---------------------------------------------------------------
Dr. Heike Buecking University of Bremen UFT Physiological 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
Sorry, don't have the ab, but have you checked Linscott's Directory of Immunbological and Biological Reagents ISBN: 0-9604920-4-6, 4877 Grange Rd., Santa Rosa, CA 95404, 707 544-9555.
I highly recommend purchasing a copy of this book. It lists scads of antibodies and the companies that produce them.
I have no commercial interest in marketing this reference.
Sara E. Miller, Ph. D. P. O. Box 3020 Duke University Medical Center Durham, NC 27710 Ph: 919 684-3452 FAX: 919 684-8735
Greetings All! Does anyone have a procedure for the Von Kossa Stain that will work on Spurr's embedded tissue? We have a bone specimen that has not been put into decal solution, but has been processed and embedded in Spurr's. I have cut a "thick" section and have a slide ready to stain, but need a procedure for plastic embedded tissue.
Thanks in advance,
Sharron G. Chism HT (ASCP) Electron Microscopy Lab Harris Hospital Fort Worth, Texas
} Does anyone know of and have any positive experience with any } good sources of 3-D reconstructive software for serial section data? } Shareware or Commercial? If you are a vendor I suppose this list server } would prefer that you respond to my Email directly. I'm also interested } in some secondary manipulative software that can rotate and } change(distort-attenuate or amplify) axis in three(3) or five(5), ie. } two( 2) or more rotational axis. Any other suggestions? } Jeff Day/ "JD" } Mesquite, Texas } Email: wa5ekh-at-juno.com }
My name is Patrick Guerin. I work for VayTek where we produce and sell imaging software.
I'm responding to a question from Jeff Day posted on the list. I'm responding on the list because this question comes up from time to time, as membership to the list is dynamic, there are always new members joining. This informationmay be usefull for others.
} Does anyone know of and have any positive experience with any } good sources of 3-D reconstructive software for serial section data? } Shareware or Commercial? If you are a vendor I suppose this list server } would prefer that you respond to my Email directly. I'm also interested } in some secondary manipulative software that can rotate and } change(distort-attenuate or amplify) axis in three(3) or five(5), ie. } two( 2) or more rotational axis. Any other suggestions? } Jeff Day/ "JD" } Mesquite, Texas } Email: wa5ekh-at-juno.com
We have a 3D Volume Visualization and Measurement software that performs what you asked and more. There are several products that can take a stack of 2D images and create a volume that can be rotated.
Our product called VoxBlast has many unique features and functions that allow you to cut, fade, hide, rotate, translate, shade, extract, measure 2D and 3D, animate, and much more. We also have a module that can take the images from a scanner and automatically normalize the brightness, cute out the slides, center them and generate the appropriate volume file for VoxBlast. I would love to explain all these in detail, but fear that I would tax the patience of many members.
If you have an interest in such software, please contact us directly or visit our web site: WWW.VAYTEK.COM
Best regards
Patrick Guerin Customer Technical Support Engineer VayTek, Inc. 305 West Lowe Avenue, Suite 109 PO Box 732 Fairfield Iowa 52556-0732 Tel : 1-515-472-2227 ext. 103 Fax : 1-515-472-8131 WWW.VAYTEK.COM E-mail : pguerin-at-vaytek.com
Chris MacLean, Ph.D. VayTek, Inc. 305 West. Lowe, Suite 109 P.O. Box 732 Fairfield, Iowa, 52556-0732 Tel: 515-472-2227 ext.105 Fax: 515-472-8131 E-Mail: cmaclean-at-vaytek.com Web: www.vaytek.com -----Original Message-----
CENSUSCD+MAPS REVOLUTIONIZES DEMOGRAPHIC MAPPING
GeoLytics compresses 75 CD-ROMs of demographic data and boundaries onto ONE easy-to-use Windows disc with complete mapping software.
East Brunswick, NJ, March 31, 1998 - GeoLytics announces the release of CensusCD+Maps--a demographics and mapping software product combining 50 gigabytes of data with advanced thematic mapping capability.
CensusCD+Maps lets anyone create colorful thematic data maps, down to the neighborhood level of census block groups, with no mapping or GIS experience required. All of the data, boundaries, and software to create results are on the one disc. CensusCD+Maps eliminates the hassles of importing data and boundaries required by most mapping software.
The one Windows (95, NT, or 3.1x) CD-ROM of CensusCD+Maps provides:
- Estimates (1997) & Projections (2002) of Demographics (65 variables for each year) and Consumer Spending (32 product categories for each year) for 5 geographic levels (block group, tract, zip, county & state)
- 1990 Census (STF-3) demographics, over 3,400, for each of 375,000+ geographic units including block groups, tracts, and zip codes
- Integrated Thematic Mapping with complete boundaries (from Tiger 95) down to block group geographic level. A built-in map viewer creates and displays thematic maps of .DBF files generated by the program. The process is seamless for the end user. Maps are easily customized (themes, colors, ranges, scales, etc.) on the fly. A virtual variable calculator lets user perform mathematical functions (incl. Boolean) then automatically maps results. Viewer exports boundaries in ArcView & MapInfo, and maps as BMP. It thematically maps any imported .DBF file with an appropriate area key.
- County Time Series Statistics - 3,000+ variables in 26 categories for all 3,141 US Counties. Data is from US Govt. Agencies on topics such as Federal Spending (AFDC, SSI, Grants, Contracts, Payroll, etc..), Crime (FBI stats), Agriculture, Business (types, earnings, employment, payroll), Banking, Building Permits, Vital Statistics (births, deaths, etc.) and much more.
- Historical Census Counts (Total Population 1790 - 1990) by US County
- Geocoding of an address to its corresponding census block group to extract neighborhood information. Also allows for radius reporting around a specific address for any number of miles
GeoLytics first product, CensusCD 1.1, holds the complete results of the 1990 US Census long form (STF-3), originally issued on 67 CDs. GIS World noted in a March, 1997, review of CensusCD 1.1, "Performance of the demographic queries is outstanding. If all databases of this size running on CD-ROM performed this well, the information systems world would be a much better place." GeoLytics improved its compression technology to guarantee CensusCD+Maps lives up to the same performance standards.
GeoLytics sells CensusCD+Maps directly for $249.95 for a single user license; $750 for LAN/CD-Tower license. Please visit the web site at http://www.censuscd.com/cdmaps/censuscd_maps.htm for more detailed information.
GeoLytics can be reached at 800-577-6717 or by e-mail at info-at-censuscd.com.
Is there a fluorescent marker that will stain the cell membranes ( rater than the nuclei) ? Thank you, Lilith -------------------------------------------- Lilith Ohannessian-Barry NRC, IBS, Ottawa, Ont. K1A 0R6 Tel;613-993-6460 Fax;613-941-4475 e-mail; lilith.barry-at-nrc.ca
Hi, Is anyone using an air purifying system in their lab or darkroom? A local business gave me a Bora Air Purifier unit called Living Air (it makes ozone) to try in the darkroom. I have become somewhat sensitive to Fixer. What about HEPA filter systems? Your opinion or advice on this subject is greatly appreciated. best regards, beth
************************************** Beth Richardson EM Lab Coordinator Botany Department University of Georgia Athens, GA 30602
I know that Zeiss is sponsoring a "wet" workshop on June 20th during the New Mexico state histology meeting. You can contact Pat Barnes, (505) 262-7000 #7131 for more information. Denise Hardy ARUP
---------- From: Barry, Lilith[SMTP:Lilith.Barry-at-nrc.ca] Sent: Tuesday, May 26, 1998 1:12 PM To: Histonet; microscopy Subject: Microwave techniques course
Is there a hands-on course offered somewhere on microwave techniques (preferably research oriented )? Thank you, Lilith ------------------------------------------- Lilith Ohannessian-Barry NRC, IBS, Ottawa, Ont. K1A 0R6 Tel;613-993-6460 Fax;613-941-4475 e-mail; lilith.barry-at-nrc.ca
Hi, We have been using Voxblast by Vaytek Inc. to reconstruct LM deconvolved images and confocal images. I haven't used other programs but we have been very pleased with the intuitive user friendly operation. The movies and animations are fantastic. I'm a user not a vendor.
Bob Underwood Derm Imaging Center Univ. of Wash.
On Sun, 24 May 1998, charles j day 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Does anyone know of and have any positive experience with any } good sources of 3-D reconstructive software for serial section data? } Shareware or Commercial? If you are a vendor I suppose this list server } would prefer that you respond to my Email directly. I'm also interested } in some secondary manipulative software that can rotate and } change(distort-attenuate or amplify) axis in three(3) or five(5), ie. } two( 2) or more rotational axis. Any other suggestions? } Jeff Day/ "JD" } Mesquite, Texas } Email: wa5ekh-at-juno.com } } _____________________________________________________________________ } You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. } Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com } Or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866] }
Thank you to all who responded with ideas for saving partially-polymerized blocks of Spurrs resulting from leaving the out the catalyst.
I am happy to know that there really are others who share my experience, though most volunteered that it was someone else in the lab who made the mistake! The vast majority mentioned A) the blocks would not polymerize by the application of additional heat and B) they could be saved by solubilizing the non-polymerized Spurrs in propylene oxide or acetone, then re-infiltrating.
My story has a conclusion. The batch of Spurrs, to which I neglected the addition of catalyst, was made in the same vessel which contained a few mills of Spurrs from a mixture made earlier in the day, which did have catalyst (someone else in the lab made that batch!). Additional heat (75C) over the long weekend fully polymerized the blocks.
Thank you for your help!
Doug
---------------------- Douglas R. Keene Associate Investigator Shriners Hospital Microscopy Unit Portland, Oregon 97201 DRK-at-shcc.org
I have noted an increasing use of the Listserver to voice complaints against specific vendors, with a thinly veiled attempt at soliciting replies to justify the posting. This year alone both Oxford and more recently Philips have become the brunt of negative postings. In the recent past other manufacturers (JEOL, EDAX and others) have been similiarly "bashed" by disgruntled users.
I will remind all of you that this forum is for a discussion of microscopy and microanalysis not a venue to list grievances to any particuliar vendor or company. If a specific problem does exist then certainly use this forum to ask a question and , solicit suggestions for its solution. However listing a series of problems which may or may not have been fixed is not only unprofessional it is counter-productive and, I might add, potentially libel especially if the problem was solved by the manufacturer.
Just as we ask vendors not to post advertisements, it is equally improper to use the listserver to impugn a commerical organization regardless of the perceived effect on any individual. The correct procedure would be to contact the National Sales and Service Managers and should that fail the Company CEO together with your Site Procurement Officer. Similiarly it would also be completely improper for a competitor to use any negative complaints posted herein in it's dealings with customers over a product without a complete disclosure of all the details of the problem and solutions which were applied.
We can all document service problems, I for one have had vexing problems with literally every microscope and accessory I use in the lab (and I have instruments from all the major manufacturers' including: Edax, Gatan, JEOL, Hitachi, IonTech, Ortec, Oxford, Philips, SBT, SPI, VG, as well as a number of other companies). In all cases, I have received timely and courteous treatment (including the service organizations of Philips, Oxford, JEOL and Edax). Yes, it is also true that some problems took longer than others to solve but they were all addressed by the respective service organizations.
Realistically, given the volume of Email which I receive daily I do not read every posting to the Listserver and should anyone find a posting which violates the intent of the Listserver I, as SysOp, would appreciate your bringing it to my attention.
As always, should you have a question as to the appropriateness of a posting I will be glad to review it and reply/comment privately on it's suitability before you send it out to the Listserver.
We embedded marsupial testicular and epididymal tissues into LR white resin (made by London Resin Company Limited) for immunogold labelling. The ultra-thin sections have numerous holes which are mainly located on areas without tissues. We though the holes were caused by water moisture, and dehydrated samples with 100% AR Grade ethanol before the embedding. However, holes are still appeared. Could anyone kindly give us some ideas to overcome this problem? Many thanks.
************************************************************************** |Dr Minjie Lin | _-- |\ | Dept of Biological | |biml-at-cc.newcastle.edu.au | / |_\ | Sciences | |Phone:(02)49215707 | \_.--. / | University of Newcastle | |FAX: (02)49216899 | v | Callaghan NSW 2308 | | AUSTRALIA | | | | The CRC for Conservation and Management of Marsupials | | -http://www.newcastle.edu.au/department/bi/birjt/jrcrc/ | **************************************************************************
I've been recommended to use a product called Vertrel XS to clean my detector. I believe it's made by Du Pont. I'm told that it can be used without warming the detector up. Methanol had been previously recommended on a warm detector.
Has anyone used this ? How do you clean yours ? Does anyone know of a source for this product ( preferably UK ) ?
Thanks,
Colin
Colin Reid, Electron Microscope Unit, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland. Tel: 353-1-6081820 Fax: 353-1-6770438 email: creid-at-tcd.ie -----Original Message-----
} membership to the list is dynamic, there are always new members joining. } This informationmay be usefull for others. } } } } Does anyone know of and have any positive experience with any } } good sources of 3-D reconstructive software for serial section data? } } Shareware or Commercial? If you are a vendor I suppose this list server } } would prefer that you respond to my Email directly. I'm also interested } } in some secondary manipulative software that can rotate and } } change(distort-attenuate or amplify) axis in three(3) or five(5), ie. } } two( 2) or more rotational axis. Any other suggestions? } } Jeff Day/ "JD" } } Mesquite, Texas } } Email: wa5ekh-at-juno.com } } } We have a 3D Volume Visualization and Measurement software that performs } what you asked and more. There are several products that can take a stack } of 2D images and create a volume that can be rotated. } } Our product called VoxBlast has many unique features and functions that } allow you to cut, fade, hide, rotate, translate, shade, extract, measure 2D } and 3D, animate, and much more. We also have a module that can take the } images from a scanner and automatically normalize the brightness, cute out } the slides, center them and generate the appropriate volume file for } VoxBlast. I would love to explain all these in detail, but fear that I } would tax the patience of many members. } } If you have an interest in such software, please contact us directly or } visit our web site: WWW.VAYTEK.COM } } Best regards } } Patrick Guerin } Customer Technical Support Engineer } VayTek, Inc. } 305 West Lowe Avenue, Suite 109 } PO Box 732 } Fairfield Iowa 52556-0732 } Tel : 1-515-472-2227 ext. 103 } Fax : 1-515-472-8131 } WWW.VAYTEK.COM } E-mail : pguerin-at-vaytek.com } } Chris MacLean, Ph.D. } VayTek, Inc. } 305 West. Lowe, Suite 109 } P.O. Box 732 } Fairfield, Iowa, 52556-0732 } Tel: 515-472-2227 ext.105 } Fax: 515-472-8131 } E-Mail: cmaclean-at-vaytek.com } Web: www.vaytek.com } -----Original Message----- } From: charles j day {wa5ekh-at-juno.com} } To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com {Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com} } Date: Monday, May 25, 1998 2:56 AM } Subject: Sources of Software for Reconstruction of Serial Section } Information } } } }
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Hi,
I've been recommended to use a product called Vertrel XS to clean my detector. I believe it's made by Du Pont. I'm told that it can be used without warming the detector up. Methanol had been previously recommended on a warm detector.
Has anyone used this ? How do you clean yours ? Does anyone know of a source for this product ( preferably UK ) ?
Thanks,
Colin
Colin Reid, Electron Microscope Unit, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland. Tel: 353-1-6081820 Fax: 353-1-6770438 email: creid-at-tcd.ie -----Original Message-----
} membership to the list is dynamic, there are always new members joining. } This informationmay be usefull for others. } } } } Does anyone know of and have any positive experience with any } } good sources of 3-D reconstructive software for serial section data? } } Shareware or Commercial? If you are a vendor I suppose this list server } } would prefer that you respond to my Email directly. I'm also interested } } in some secondary manipulative software that can rotate and } } change(distort-attenuate or amplify) axis in three(3) or five(5), ie. } } two( 2) or more rotational axis. Any other suggestions? } } Jeff Day/ "JD" } } Mesquite, Texas } } Email: wa5ekh-at-juno.com } } } We have a 3D Volume Visualization and Measurement software that performs } what you asked and more. There are several products that can take a stack } of 2D images and create a volume that can be rotated. } } Our product called VoxBlast has many unique features and functions that } allow you to cut, fade, hide, rotate, translate, shade, extract, measure 2D
} and 3D, animate, and much more. We also have a module that can take the } images from a scanner and automatically normalize the brightness, cute out } the slides, center them and generate the appropriate volume file for } VoxBlast. I would love to explain all these in detail, but fear that I } would tax the patience of many members. } } If you have an interest in such software, please contact us directly or } visit our web site: WWW.VAYTEK.COM } } Best regards } } Patrick Guerin } Customer Technical Support Engineer } VayTek, Inc. } 305 West Lowe Avenue, Suite 109 } PO Box 732 } Fairfield Iowa 52556-0732 } Tel : 1-515-472-2227 ext. 103 } Fax : 1-515-472-8131 } WWW.VAYTEK.COM } E-mail : pguerin-at-vaytek.com } } Chris MacLean, Ph.D. } VayTek, Inc. } 305 West. Lowe, Suite 109 } P.O. Box 732 } Fairfield, Iowa, 52556-0732 } Tel: 515-472-2227 ext.105 } Fax: 515-472-8131 } E-Mail: cmaclean-at-vaytek.com } Web: www.vaytek.com } -----Original Message----- } From: charles j day {wa5ekh-at-juno.com} } To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com {Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com} } Date: Monday, May 25, 1998 2:56 AM } Subject: Sources of Software for Reconstruction of Serial Section } Information } } } }
I am interested in knowing if there is any "public domain" macros that will do image analysis of the following using the KS400 software from Zeiss:
1) Particle size (clustered particles of powders) 2) Filter fibers 3) Grain boundaries 4) Fiber cross-sectional area 5) High aspect ratio glass fibers (length) 6) Area fraction
Also, if anyone is fluent in the KS400 language, I would like to chat with you. I have a little programing experience and would like help on how to use the system more.
The detector is a UTW type ( Ultra Thin Window ). I think it is a thin polymer material & definitely not as tough as Be.
Colin Reid, Electron Microscope Unit, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland. Tel: 353-1-6081820 Fax: 353-1-6770438 email: creid-at-tcd.ie -----Original Message-----
Dear friends. I have a Microzoom II optical Microscope. This is a very old design, originally by Cambridge Instruments, and until last year, was still being manufactered by Leica. It has the very useful feature of allowing a Very Long Working distance, more than 11 mm with a 50 X objective ( resulting in 1000 X optical magnification with standard 10X eyepiece and 2X Zoom ). I have noticed a problem with the image, which I have also seen in other ( completely different ) microscopes: For samples with large contrast ( for instance a black aborptive spot on an otherewise mirror-like Aluminum coating ), or when looking at a patterened lithography mask ( That's essentially a glass plate with alternate regions transparent or coated with a black emulsion), we see a "ghost" of the image, shifted slightly from it.
This happens Both with transmitted and incident illumination. Of course in the case of transmitted illumination, it can only be seen in those "black-on-glass" samples.
I have tried all sorts of adjustments , and cannot get rid of it ? Is anyone out there familiar with this sort of problem ?
By the way, this is not INTRINSIC to this model of microscope: I have put the same samples under other microscopes of the same model , and have not seen the "ghost". It coould be inherent to the particular series ( the other ones I tested were older ), but that I have no way of knowing.
I will be extremely thankful for help in fixing this. If possible, please respond straight to me:
jrsenna-at-las.inpe.br
Thanks Jose Roberto Senna LAS-INPE CP 515 12201-970 Sao Jose dos Campos SP BRAZIL
Since we make most of these windows I guess I should put my oar in here. We haven't played around with many solvents but have developed a process using methanol. Let the methonal run across the surface of the window, but don't squirt it directly, just the mount. As for other solvents I'll have to take a conservative stance here. The biggest concern is mechanical damage to the window. The slightest brush with a cotton swab tends to puncture it.
The next concern is the aluminum film that seals the polymer from gas and water vapor permeation. Anything that attacks the aluminum should be avoided, since it is only a few hundred atoms thick.
We could do some experiments here if other solvents are deemed necessary.
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
I have recently begun embedding tissues in Unicryl for immunostaining for TEM and I have found that while the results are good the ease of sectioning the same block varies greatly from one day to another. I assume this variability is due to changes in temperature and humidity in the lab and was wondering if anyone else had encountered this problem and found a solution.
Thanks in advance,
Pat Hales McGill University Dept. of Anatomy & Cell Biology hales-at-medcor.mcgill.ca
} I will remind all of you that this forum is for a discussion of } microscopy and microanalysis not a venue to list grievances to } any particuliar vendor or company. If a specific problem does } exist then certainly use this forum to ask a question and , } solicit suggestions for its solution. However listing a series of } problems which may or may not have been fixed is not only unprofessional } it is counter-productive and, I might add, potentially libel especially } if the problem was solved by the manufacturer.
I respectfully disagree with this position. Of course, this is your list, so you can do what you want with it. However, a journeyman and even a *master* is affected by the quality of his or her tools. It is not inappropriate or "unprofessional," I think, to discuss those tools and those who vend and service them.
Quite the opposite. I think that if a company has a consistent problem, then it would be an important *service* of this group to provide consumer information. It would be a service not only to the consumers, but also to the companies involved. I know from experience with other companies that they encourage discussion on related newsgroups as one particular method of quality control and monitoring.
I personally don't think that a company has much to fear from a single disgruntled customer. If a company provides good products and excellent service, then those customers who benefit from it will respond to those who trash the company. If a company does *not* provide good products and excellent service, then I don't think that this list should serve the purpose of protecting them from criticism for that lack.
Finally, the threat of libel is, I think, empty. The truth is, as always, an absolute defense against libel. Certainly, folk should not lie about companies they interact with. They should, however, be free to provide information about the quality of those interactions.
If you are going to outlaw criticism of companies, then you must also outlaw praise, and you must outlaw requests for recommendations and responsese to those requests. After all, if only *good* news and positive statementous about a company or product are allowed, then recommendations and reviews in this group are essentially worthless.
I am looking in to Freeze Substitution and embedding in Lowicryl devices and can't find Reichert on the net. Does anyone know where or who they are now?
Also, does anyone have any comments from experience with these devices.
If you want to remove condensed oil from the detector's window, then =
Petroleum Ether or Hexane could be a viable option. I have cleaned two SUTW's with these solvents (one with Petroleum =
Ether and one with Hexane) and the detectors performed very well afterwards.
I do not know if this method is equally effective if the condensate is fr= om Santovac.
The cleaning, as Mark Lund pointed out, has to be done very carefully, without ever exercising any mechanical force on the window itself, e.g. =
do NOT squirt the solvent against the window and do NEVER blow air agains= t it !! The best way (IMHO) is to fill a pipette (10 to 25 ml) with the Petroleum=
Ether, =
hold the pipette close to the upper rim of the window (not touching it !!= !) and let the solvent run down the window by gravity alone (taking the finger off =
the upper opening of the pipette, thereby releasing the liquid to flow). =
This can be done two to three times, and your window should be reasonably= =
clean. The pipette tip should be fairly fine in order to avoid too much pressure =
generated by the flow. You may want to collect the solvent in a petri dish, as it drops off the detector.
Warning: I've done this with the detector at room temeperature! I don't know if =
it works with a cooled detector! =
Also, both Petroleum Ether and Hexane are very volatile and flammable, so= =
take care not to have any open flames, sparks or cigarettes nearby.
Dear Colin, I presume you mean to clean the window of the detector. The Kevex instructions I have for my detector specify clean iso-propanol, trickled very gently down the window, to remove any oil. The detector does not need to be warmed. I have used this several times on both a Be window and thin-window detector. You wrote: } Hi, } } I've been recommended to use a product called Vertrel XS to clean my } detector. I believe it's made by Du Pont. I'm told that it can be used } without warming the detector up. Methanol had been previously recommended } on a warm detector. } } Has anyone used this ? } How do you clean yours ? } Does anyone know of a source for this product ( preferably UK ) ? } } Thanks, } } Colin } } } Colin Reid, } Electron Microscope Unit, } Trinity College Dublin, } Dublin 2, } Ireland.
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
The Reichert ultramicrotome line (and I believe all the other Reichert products as well) now belongs to Leica, and are marketed under the Leica brandname.
We are trying to look at a distribution of fine particles in a polymer using TEM. Grids are coated with the polymer and allowed to dry to a thin film. This works in some cases and is inadequate in others. Does anyone know of a procedure to produce consistent thin films? We do not have access to a microtome. TIA- Mike
Thomas Moninger moninger-at-emiris.iaf.uiowa.edu University of Iowa Central Microscopy Research Facility http://www.uiowa.edu/~cemrf Views expressed are mine.
On Wed, 27 May 1998, Robert Underwood wrote: } } Hello Microscopists, } } I am looking in to Freeze Substitution and embedding in Lowicryl devices } and can't find Reichert on } the net. Does anyone know where or who they are now? } } Also, does anyone have any comments from experience with these devices. } } Bob } Derm Imaging Center } U of Wash. }
Robert Underwood 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Hello Microscopists, } } I am looking in to Freeze Substitution and embedding in Lowicryl devices } and can't find Reichert on } the net. Does anyone know where or who they are now? } } Also, does anyone have any comments from experience with these devices. } } Bob } Derm Imaging Center } U of Wash.
Reichert is now part of Leica. Company address is:
Leica Reichert Division der Aktiengesellschaft Hauptstrasse 219 A-1171 Wien AUSTRIA Tel: (0222) 46 16 41 0 Fax: 46 03 26 Reichert-Jung optical metallographic microscopes.
Henrik -- Henrik Kaker SEM-EDS Laboratory Metal Ravne d.o.o. Koroska c. 14 2390 Ravne Slovenia Tel: +386 602 21 131 Fax: +386 602 20 436 SEM-EDS Lab http://www2.arnes.si/guest/sgszmera1/index.html MVD Database http://www.kaker.com/mvd/vendors.html Kaker.Com http://www.kaker.com
Hermann Reese wrote ... } } If you want to remove condensed oil from the detector's window, then } Petroleum Ether or Hexane could be a viable option. } ...
I don't know that I'd use these solvents ... like acetone they are stronger than needed and they also have a very large affect of cooling when evaporating ... i.e, thermal contraction may disrupt the window seal. The only reccommended solvent I've seen is etOH while avoiding physical contact with the window ... i.e., rinse without pressure.
... hope this helps :o)
cheerios, shAf
{} /\ {\/} /\ {\/} /\ {\/} /\ cogito, ergo zZOooOM /\ {\/} /\ {\/} /\ {\/} /\ {} Michael Shaffer, R.A. - http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~mshaf/ Geological Science's Electron Probe Facility - University of Oregon mshaf-at-darkwing.uoregon.edu or mshaf-at-oregon.uoregon.edu
William R. Oliver wrote: } } On Tue, 26 May 1998, Nestor J. Zaluzec wrote: } } } I will remind all of you that this forum is for a discussion of } } microscopy and microanalysis not a venue to list grievances to } } any particuliar vendor or company. If a specific problem does } } exist then certainly use this forum to ask a question and , } } solicit suggestions for its solution. However listing a series of } } problems which may or may not have been fixed is not only unprofessional } } it is counter-productive and, I might add, potentially libel especially } } if the problem was solved by the manufacturer. } } I respectfully disagree with this position. Of course, this is your } list, so you can do what you want with it. However, a journeyman } and even a *master* is affected by the quality of his or her tools. } It is not inappropriate or "unprofessional," I think, to discuss those } tools and those who vend and service them. } } Quite the opposite. I think that if a company has a consistent } problem, then it would be an important *service* of this group } to provide consumer information. It would be a service not only } to the consumers, but also to the companies involved. I know from } experience with other companies that they encourage discussion } on related newsgroups as one particular method of quality control } and monitoring. } } I personally don't think that a company has much to fear from a } single disgruntled customer. If a company provides good products } and excellent service, then those customers who benefit from it } will respond to those who trash the company. If a company does *not* } provide good products and excellent service, then I don't think } that this list should serve the purpose of protecting them } from criticism for that lack. } } Finally, the threat of libel is, I think, empty. The truth is, } as always, an absolute defense against libel. Certainly, folk } should not lie about companies they interact with. They should, } however, be free to provide information about the quality of } those interactions. } } If you are going to outlaw criticism of companies, then you must } also outlaw praise, and you must outlaw requests for recommendations } and responsese to those requests. After all, if only *good* news } and positive statementous about a company or product are allowed, } then recommendations and reviews in this group are essentially } worthless. } } billo
Bravo!
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 ***************************************************************
Hello Hildegard. Go to the homepage for the Center of Cell Imaging at Yale University,
http://info.med.yale.edu/cellimg
This page is made by PhD Paul Webster, and among lots of techniques etc. you'll also find 'Freeze substitution for the poor scientist' Might be worth looking into.
Good luck.
Randi
Randi Olsen Department of Electron Microscopy Faculty of Medicine University of Tromso MH-Breivika N-9037 TROMSO NORWAY
"We are trying to look at a distribution of fine particles in a polymer using TEM. Grids are coated with the polymer and allowed to dry to a thin film. This works in some cases and is inadequate in others. Does anyone know of a procedure to produce consistent thin films? We do not have access to a microtome".
------- Have you tried casting the film in a liquid (e.g. water ?) just as it is done for collodion ?.
you might also try casting on a carbon coated grid or on a glass slide coated with formvar and then floating this in water.
The plastic probably didn't infiltrate into undecalcified bone, so the routine von Kossa should work on sections. Lesley Weston.
On Tue, 26 May 1998, Chism, Sharron wrote:
} Greetings All! } Does anyone have a procedure for the Von Kossa Stain that will } work on Spurr's embedded tissue? We have a bone specimen that has not } been put into decal solution, but has been processed and embedded in } Spurr's. I have cut a "thick" section and have a slide ready to stain, } but need a procedure for plastic embedded tissue. } } Thanks in advance, } } Sharron G. Chism HT (ASCP) } Electron Microscopy Lab } Harris Hospital } Fort Worth, Texas } }
Dear Lilith and all Histonetters- the September 1998 meeting of the National Society of Histotechnology in Salt Lake City Utah will be hosting several microwave workshops including but not limited to-
Saturday Sept 12, Microwave Staining by Chuck Churukian
Sunday Sept 13, Quality Assurance in Microwave-accelerated Procedures by Gary Login
Sunday Sept 13, Antigen Retrieval by Shanrong Shi
Sunday Sept 13, Microwave Processing by Cheryl Crowder and Rick Giberson
Wednesday Sept 16, Antigen Retrieval by K. Wheeler ---------------------------------------------------------------- } Is there a hands-on course offered somewhere on microwave techniques } (preferably research oriented )? } Thank you, } Lilith } -------------------------------------------
Questions in advance regarding the Quality Assurance Workshop can be directed to me at:
Gary R. Login, D.M.D., D.M.Sc. Dept. Pathology Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center 330 Brookline Avenue Boston, MA 02215
I have experienced holes in sections embedded in LR White and I was told that A. The resin was too old ( It had been around for awhile) and/or 2. I had put the tops on the capsules too soon and the air bubbles had not all risen to the top before I put the capsules into the embedding oven.
} Is there a hands-on course offered somewhere on microwave techniques (preferably research oriented)?
The only such course of which I am aware is a microwave staining class given by Skip Brown. I'm away from my office, but, if anyone is interested, Sonja White at EBS (800-992-9037) can refer you to Skip.
Best regards, Steven E. Slap, Vice-President
******************************** Energy Beam Sciences, Inc. The Laboratory Microwave Company http://www.ebsciences.com ********************************
Listserver as well as many others places on the Internet is a public place. The owner of the "physical part" of Listserver (like hardware, software) may apply some restrictions on the content of this media (as it happens when we signed for Microscopy Listserver). But I think it is not a good idea to teach everybody what he/she may writes and what may not. The price of "purity of content" on Listserver is too high. Receiving "directives" punishes everybody. For instance, I never posted anything on this Listserver. Why I should hold on my PC a bunch of instructional letters and moreover read those?
I think, everybody who for some reason posted information on this Listserver is responsible for content. If the content is contradicted to agreement, this person should be notifying (personally) about violation of Listserver's rules. Sanctions against violators should be included in the agreement and executed without wild discussion on the Listserver. If we will put such recommendation in practice we will have an well-ordered military-type very plain server without violators and, probably, without subscribers. Is such "order" is Listserver's administration target? If so, I will unsubscribe first.
William R. Oliver wrote: } } On Tue, 26 May 1998, Nestor J. Zaluzec wrote: } } } I will remind all of you that this forum is for a discussion of } } microscopy and microanalysis not a venue to list grievances to } } any particuliar vendor or company. If a specific problem does } } exist then certainly use this forum to ask a question and , } } solicit suggestions for its solution. However listing a series of } } problems which may or may not have been fixed is not only unprofessional } } it is counter-productive and, I might add, potentially libel especially } } if the problem was solved by the manufacturer. } } I respectfully disagree with this position. Of course, this is your } list, so you can do what you want with it. However, a journeyman } and even a *master* is affected by the quality of his or her tools. } It is not inappropriate or "unprofessional," I think, to discuss those } tools and those who vend and service them. } } Quite the opposite. I think that if a company has a consistent } problem, then it would be an important *service* of this group } to provide consumer information. It would be a service not only } to the consumers, but also to the companies involved. I know from } experience with other companies that they encourage discussion } on related newsgroups as one particular method of quality control } and monitoring. } } I personally don't think that a company has much to fear from a } single disgruntled customer. If a company provides good products } and excellent service, then those customers who benefit from it } will respond to those who trash the company. If a company does *not* } provide good products and excellent service, then I don't think } that this list should serve the purpose of protecting them } from criticism for that lack. } } Finally, the threat of libel is, I think, empty. The truth is, } as always, an absolute defense against libel. Certainly, folk } should not lie about companies they interact with. They should, } however, be free to provide information about the quality of } those interactions. } } If you are going to outlaw criticism of companies, then you must } also outlaw praise, and you must outlaw requests for recommendations } and responsese to those requests. After all, if only *good* news } and positive statementous about a company or product are allowed, } then recommendations and reviews in this group are essentially } worthless. } } billo
Dr. Sergey Ryazantsev Department of Biological Chemistry UCLA School of Medicine 10833 Le Conte Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90024-1737 E. mail: sryazant-at-ucla.edu http://www.ben2.ucla.edu/~sryazant
Zeiss/Kontron has a CD called KS Expert with a large number of macros for almost any project. I think there are macros for all of the applications you mentioned.
Thanks Robert A. Carlton Robert.Carlton-at-RP-Rorer.com Tel. 610-454-3949 Fax 610-454-5990
Hermann Reese wrote: ..... : I do not know if this method is equally effective if the condensate is from : Santovac. ..... I have cleaned Be window from Santovac-5 by toluol with good results.
Victor Sidorenko, ANTRON Co. Ltd, scientific service, Moscow, Russia antron-at-space.ru
Hi Jordi Contact your local agent and ask for the KS Expert CD. It has examples of macros for a large number of applications. It is either free of charge, or I got lucky!!
James Wesley-Smith EM Unit University of Natal Durban, South Africa
----------
Dear Fellow Image Analysists:
I am interested in knowing if there is any "public domain" macros that will do image analysis of the following using the KS400 software from Zeiss:
1) Particle size (clustered particles of powders) 2) Filter fibers 3) Grain boundaries 4) Fiber cross-sectional area 5) High aspect ratio glass fibers (length) 6) Area fraction
Also, if anyone is fluent in the KS400 language, I would like to chat with you. I have a little programing experience and would like help on how to use the system more.
Seeing the reference to Reichert and Mager Scientific on the List today prompts me to ask if anyone knows the whereabouts of Jo Ellen. We met in 1986 in Seefeld, Tirol and there's still some pictures on my office wall of us in Innsbruck! Memories of good cryo-courses!
} } I agree with William R. Oliver. } } Listserver as well as many others places on the Internet is a public place. } The owner of the "physical part" of Listserver (like hardware, software) } may apply some restrictions on the content of this media (as it happens } when we signed for Microscopy Listserver). But I think it is not a good } idea to teach everybody what he/she may writes and what may not. The price } of "purity of content" on Listserver is too high. Receiving "directives" } punishes everybody. For instance, I never posted anything on this } Listserver. Why I should hold on my PC a bunch of instructional letters and } moreover read those? } } I think, everybody who for some reason posted information on this } Listserver is responsible for content. If the content is contradicted to } agreement, this person should be notifying (personally) about violation of } Listserver's rules. Sanctions against violators should be included in the } agreement and executed without wild discussion on the Listserver. If we } will put such recommendation in practice we will have an well-ordered } military-type very plain server without violators and, probably, without } subscribers. Is such "order" is Listserver's administration target? If so, } I will unsubscribe first. }
Um, while I thank you for your support, please note that my posting was in disagreement with my perception of Dr. Zaluzec's decision on one point, and *not* a claim that a) the list should not be moderated, or b) that he was doing a bad job.
In fact, I do *not* support this list as a venue for free speech. I *do* support the imposition of controls. I think that Dr. Zaluzec is doing work above and beyond the call of duty in doing this what is, frankly, dirty and boring work for our benefit.
Before I start off a lot of Libertarian flagwaving around here (and, by the way, my bona fides in that area are well established) I think that folk should remember that this is *not* a public forum. Nobody, by limiting speech here, is imposing any governmental restrictions on our inalienable rights of expression and thought. Different venue, different rules. This list is more like a professional panel discussion or other organized meeting -- a church service, committee meeting, whatever.
Accordingly, rules of decorum and subject matter *are* very appropriate. I *don't* want to see a lot of MAKE MONEY FAST posts here. I *don't* want to see advertisements for "hot young nude teens just waiting for my call." Those who really *do* want an unmoderated list are quite within their rights to set one up in competition with this one. Folk will vote with their feet.
I don't want to sound like I'm criticizing you too much, here. I think we are probably very close in our general respect for freedom of expression. However, not *every* venue is a soapbox for random rantings, nor should it be.
Dr. Zaluzek is *right* in saying that folk should not use this list as a place for posts like:
"Hey, Acme Microscope Fumigators were a day late in getting a job done. They are scum-sucking pigs. Their mothers are whores. If you have an Acme store in your town, blow it up!!"
I just don't want to throw the baby out with the bath water here. There should be a place for things like:
"Hey, I'm thinking about having my microscopes de-loused. Any recommendations?"
"Yeah, Beta Bug-B-Gone has always done a good job for me, but Acme has had a habit of being a little slow and expensive, in my experience. I have been de-lousing the microscopes in my lab about twice a year, and over the past 10 years, out price-benefit analysis has favored Beta. Of course, neither company can deal with the ringworm problem that keeps popping up on my objectives"
Lilith, We will have 2 Microwave workshops at the NSH Region I meeting next week in Albany, NY. Skip Brown is presenting Standardization of Histochemical Procedures Through Microwave Technology and Steve Slap is presenting Microwave Applications. Registration is still open, feel free to contact me if you need more information. Mary Georger Astra Arcus USA---------- } From: Hardy, Denise[SMTP:HARDYDD-at-arup-lab.com] } Sent: Tuesday, May 26, 1998 3:54 PM } To: Histonet; microscopy; 'Barry, Lilith' } Subject: RE: Microwave techniques course } } I know that Zeiss is sponsoring a "wet" workshop on June 20th during } the New } Mexico state histology meeting. You can contact Pat Barnes, (505) } 262-7000 } #7131 for more information. } Denise Hardy } ARUP } } } ---------- } From: Barry, Lilith[SMTP:Lilith.Barry-at-nrc.ca] } Sent: Tuesday, May 26, 1998 1:12 PM } To: Histonet; microscopy } Subject: Microwave techniques course } } Is there a hands-on course offered somewhere on microwave } techniques } (preferably research oriented )? } Thank you, } Lilith } ------------------------------------------- } Lilith Ohannessian-Barry } NRC, IBS, } Ottawa, Ont. K1A 0R6 } Tel;613-993-6460 } Fax;613-941-4475 } e-mail; lilith.barry-at-nrc.ca } }
Dear Colleagues I am in the market for an electropolishing unit for TEM specimen preparation. I would appreciate receiving comments/experiences on different units that are out there. Thanks, AG
The Midwest Microscopy and Microanalysis Society will hold its Biologic= al Science meeting on Wednesday, July 1, 1998 at the Blood Center of Wisco= nsin in Milwaukee. The first session will begin at 10:30 am, so start your holiday weekend early by joining us in Milwaukee!
The meeting will focus on the application of various microscopy technol= ogies used to solve biological questions, and here's the slate of speakers an= d their general topics:
R. Albrecht Correlative Microscopy M. Mosesson STEM and Gold-labeling of Fibrinogen J. Harb Transmission Electron Microscopy in Diagnostic Pathology H. Owen Characterization of Pollen Development (molecular biology, EM,=
fluorescence) J. Kinnamon Electronic Image Handling (including ethical aspects of im= age processing) J. Kinnamon Imaging Workshop
Limited space will be available for posters, so here's a great incentiv= e to finish your MSA posters early! Please let me know if you'd like to pre= sent a poster, so we can plan for space needs.
A mailing with further program details and travel information will be s= ent to MMMS members in the next few weeks. If you're not a member and wish to=
attend the meeting, please send me an E-mail message that includes your= name and a mailing or fax address. More detailed information will be sent t= o you towards the end of June.
Hope to see you all in July!
Jane A. Fagerland, Ph.D. President, MMMS jane.a.fagerland-at-abbott.com =
} Hello Hildegard. } Go to the homepage for the Center of Cell Imaging at Yale University, } } http://info.med.yale.edu/cellimg } } This page is made by PhD Paul Webster, and among lots of techniques etc. } you'll also find 'Freeze substitution for the poor scientist' Might be } worth looking into. } } Randi Olsen
You'll also find suggestions in:
Schooley, C. (1986) A poor persons' guide to cryotechnique. Part I EMSA Bulletin 15:98-100; Part II ibid, 16:111-117.
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/
Has anyone out there ever used or purchased a Columbia Instruments optical (aka light) microscope? If so can you contact me directly at rgriffin-at-eng.uab.edu?
I sent this message out to the listserver sometime ago. Here it is again. I hope that it helps.
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I am continuing on the subject below in seeking someones opinion on the difference betweeen the ordinary Struers Tenupol3 and a less known equipment called 550D from South Bay Technology. Are those two comparable and can 550D be used for routine work.....
Old message I am interested in your opinion about electrolyhtic thinning apparatues and their performance. I am planning to buy a jet polishing machine to be used for making thin foils from 3mm disks. The material I am interested in = is High strength Aluminium alloys, steels, stainless steels.
Best wishes Sten Johansson
Link=F6ping University Department of Mechanical Engineering
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Dear Colleagues I am in the market for an electropolishing unit for TEM specimen preparation. I would appreciate receiving comments/experiences on different units that are out there. Thanks, AG
Seeing the reference to Reichert and Mager Scientific on the List today prompts me to ask if anyone knows the whereabouts of Jo Ellen. We met in 1986 in Seefeld, Tirol and there's still some pictures on my office wall of us in Innsbruck! Memories of good cryo-courses!
Keith Ryan Plymouth Marine Lab., UK
We as a purchaser of a Reichert ultramicrotome through Mager Scientific a number of years ago received a courtesy letter from Jo Ellen more than a year ago indicating that she was leaving Mager and moving to Washington State. She did not indicate what she would be doing other than that her husband took a new job out there.
} ..................................................... I think } that Dr. Zaluzec is doing } work above and beyond the call of duty in doing this what is, frankly, } dirty and boring work for our benefit.
} Dr. Zaluzek is *right* in saying that folk should not use this } list as a place for posts like: } } "Hey, Acme Microscope Fumigators were a day late in getting a } job done. They are scum-sucking pigs. Their mothers are whores. If } you have an Acme store in your town, blow it up!!" } } I just don't want to throw the baby out with the bath water } here. There should be a place for things like: } } "Hey, I'm thinking about having my microscopes de-loused. Any recommendations?" } } "Yeah, Beta Bug-B-Gone has always done a good job for me, but Acme } has had a habit of being a little slow and expensive, in my experience. } I have been de-lousing the microscopes in my lab about twice a year, } and over the past 10 years, out price-benefit analysis has favored Beta. } Of course, neither company can deal with the ringworm problem that keeps } popping up on my objectives" }
I agree
Ritchie
Ritchie Sims Phone : 64 9 3737599 ext 7713 Department of Geology Fax : 64 9 3737435 The University of Auckland email : r.sims-at-auckland.ac.nz Private Bag 92019 Auckland New Zealand
This generator was mistakenly bought by our lab, so we desperately need to unload it. It is brand new and has never been used and was purchased for $6100.00. Any reasonable offer will not be refused.
Operating Characteristics: Rated Output: 1.0 lbs/ day on air 2.5 lbs/day on oxygen
Rated Concentration: 2.0% by weight on air 3.0% by weight on oxygen
Air Flow: 20 SCFH for air feed 32 SCFH for oxygen feed
Air Pressure: 15 PSIG Dew Point: -60 degree F or lower
If interested email me at this address or call.
Kevin MacKinnon Micro Analytical Laboratories, Inc. 5900 Hollis St., Suite M Emeryville, CA 94608 (510) 653-0824
_____________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com Or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]
Try contacting Rick Gibberson at Ted Pella 916-243-2200 there is also an 800 number. Rick has given or been part of many Microwave Workshops and has great handouts!
Dear All, I need some input on choosing the right image analysis system for my application. I am doing non-fluorescent, Streptavidin-Biotin-AlkalinePhosphatase-New Fuchsin labeling of cell surface molecules of inflammatory cells in paraffin embedded tissue (Zinc-Tris fixed, Haematoxylin counterstained). I have treated and control inflamed tissue sections and need to compare these for staining intensity, to see if the treatment decreased the number of cell surface markers. I have an image analysis system on trial with a Sony CDX950 3 chip color camera and Northern Eclipse software. I could exchange this camera for a SPOT 12bit CCD, which is much slower, but have higher resolution and possibly truer colors than the Sony analogue camera. Question #1: Is there anybody doing intensity measurements on immunohisto applications I could talk to? #2. Which camera is better for this application? With the Sony camera I am unable to achieve images similar to what I see through the microscope: red and blue becomes less distinguishable, everything turns a bit orange in colour (I have blue and/or heat filters in, but without them it is even worse). Would the SPOT camera be better? #3 How valid is an intensity measurement with New Fuchsin (or DAB)? There are only a few publications out there.... What controls do I need? What colors are better for counterstain - stain (blue-red or blue-green)? #4 What do you measure for intensity: hue, saturation, or value of the pixel?
Any quick help is appreciated, I have left time only until next Tuesday to evaluate the System. Thank you: Leslie
We try to prepare x-sections of cobalt on diamond interfaces=8A not an easy = work!
Besides breaking or crushing the sample, do anybody know a good way to, or reference where to learn how to i) cleave thin chips or tiny pieces of diamond ii) prepare thin slices for ion milling iii) prepare a thin edge or slice (=89 50 - 100 micrometer in thickness) suitable for further FIB thinning? Best regards
Philippe Buffat
__________________________________________________________________ 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 ___________________________
Steve Wintonick asked on the way to measure carbon film thickness without thickness monitor by interference colors on gold or polished brass substrate.
I have a copy of a Balzers report that was given to the TEM users in the mid 1960s: Electron Microscopical Specimen Preparation Techniques from S. Bohler. There are two tables for thickness estimation during coating with carbon and SiO2:
Carbon on an evaporated gold film/test glass (thick enough to behave the "gold color"): approx 150=C5 is orange approx 200=C5 is indigo-red approx 240=C5 is blue approx 350=C5 is blue-green approx 430=C5 is green-silver
SiO2 on an evaporated chromium film/test glass gives a sharp color change: approx 1000=C5 purple approx 1250=C5 blue
Of course, if you place your sample and the test glass at different distances d and D from the source (of small diameter with respect to d and D). the thicknesses will be in the ratio D^2/d^2.
Best regards
Philippe Buffat
__________________________________________________________________ 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 ___________________________
I am posting this message for a colleague who is not a member of the list. Is there anyone on this list who has had experience with staining Bacterial cells with cationized ferritin?
If so, does the stain react with Osmium Tetroxide and to what extent?
In addition does the stain (cationized ferritin) react with Teichoic acid or Teichuronic acid on the bacterial cell surface?
With Best Wishes,
Bill Monroe EM Center Mississippi State University
Liz - This from F.W.D. Rost's "Fluorescence Microscopy Vol 2."
Sulforhodamine G - Excitation=529- Emission=555nm - he also notes a blue (450-490nm) excitation Phloxine B - "Green excitation....absorption max. 546-548nm, shoulder at 510nm" Rose Bengal - "presumably green (546) or UV excitation".
Dave Calvert Eastman Chemical Co. P.O. box 1972 Lincoln Street Kingsport, TN 37664 voice: (423) 229-4943 fax: (423) 229-4558 calvert-at-eastman.com
} -----Original Message----- } From: Liz Nickless [SMTP:E.M.Nickless-at-massey.ac.nz] } Sent: Thursday, May 28, 1998 7:38 PM } To: microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } Subject: confocal stains } } ---------------------------------------------------------------------- } -- } 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 } ---------------------------------------------------------------------- } -. } } Does anyone know the excitation and emmision peaks for the following } dyes: } } Sulforhodamine G } Phloxine B } Rose Bengal } } I have a student wanting to try these out on our confocal microscope } for } staining fungal groeth in plants. We have an argon/krypton laser. } } Appreciate any advice. } } Thanks } } Liz
Hi Liz {underline} , {/underline} when I need to know stuff like this I find it helpful to consult the database at http://www.probes.com/probes Other fluorochrome manufacturers surely have the same types of online databases by now? I found the following info. when I searched the names of the three stains you asked about: {underline}
Stain Excitation Emission {/underline}
Sulforhodamine G 529 548
Rose bengal diacetate 313 none?
No luck on Ploxine B though. Per usual, I have no financial interest in the company listed above (I'd have to have some finances first wouldn't I?).
A post-doctoral position will soon available in the Air Pollution laboratory (INRA) in Nancy, France, for a molecular-microscopist biologist. The candidate will study the localization of antioxidant (SOD, GR, and other enzymes) by immunocytochemistry on leaves of different species of trees after fumigation by ozone. Experience in immunolocalization, protein purification and antibodies production is required. The candidate must be highly motivated to succeed Send curriculum vitae, letter of interest, list of articles and references by e-mail before 8 June. Salary will be about 8000FF.
-------------------------------------------- Didier Le Thiec I.N.R.A. Centre de Recherches Forestieres Unite d'Ecophysiologie Forestiere Laboratoire de Pollution Atmospherique 54280 Champenoux - France
CD burners regularly require whole disk images to be present for burning.
It might be of interest to you, that Retrospect Version 4.0 implements packet writing (specified in the Orange Book , according to the Retrospect manual). Practically, this means that anyone with an Apple Macintosh with an asynchronous SCSI port (PowerPC, Quadra 840AV, and perhaps some more machines) can have their CD burners (supported devices: see http://www.dantz.com) toast away unattended, using all of the Retrospect inclusion/exclusion/compression features.
My setup includes a Powermac 8600, and a Panasonic 7502 CD writer. Running Retrospect is pure bliss for someone relying on backup of large data. A thorough backup strategy has helped me running the machine (and have it up and running 15 minutes after a harddisk crash again) many times more than any other security strategy I tried. Since I started processing larger image data on my machine (scanned macro images, micro images, MR images), this has become a considerably large problem.
Just in case someone wanted to know. Wolf
------------ } In surveys with a total of 24,874 respondents (desktop publishing, web } authors, digital video, animation, etc.), spanning five years of } research, creative professionals reported their actual net profits from } authoring activities by platform. The Macintosh returned the highest } profitability of any platform, over UNIX, Windows, OS2, Sun, and SGI. } Why? Mac-based creative professionals spent more time in creative } activities and less time futzing with "digital administrivia." } } - February 1997, Methodology GISTICS Incorporated, Larkspur, } California
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wolf Schweitzer MD, Research Fellow/ Registrar, Melbourne, Australia mailto:wschweitzer-at-access.ch?subject=clicked_on_mail http://www.acess.ch/private-users/wschweitzer/cyberpage.html
As many of you know, I write aggressively about our technologies in a number of trade journals. We have received a number of requests for images which can be used on covers, postcards, etc. Some of these come with "goodies", some just with the opportunity to have one of your images in a prominent location. At the moment, we have a critical need for fluorescence images. If you have something really eye-catching and are willing to share it with the world, please send via 35mm slide or email, with the following information:
Specimen, magnification, dye/probe, filter set specifications and manufacturer
Not microscopy fixation, but there are so many clever people who know about fixing cells on the list, so I thought I would ask.
I often encounter older books with a moldy odor, and these books can prove a severe allergic reaction in me and others. I don't know the toxic material, whether metabolites or spores or something else. Does anyone know a treatment that can remove the odor and kill the fungal cells? A friend has had particl success with charcoal to reduce the odor, but I doubt this would kill remaining cells, which could make more toxins when the weather gets moist in the summer. Thanks for any suggestions.
Leonard R. Corwin Fort Dodge Animal Health Princeton, NJ 08543-0400
A while back someone posted a note saying there was an EM facility in Turkey. Would that person please e-mail me? I have a student who needs to know what type of equipment you have and if she would be able to use it while she was doing research in Turkey. She needs an ESEM because she is working on archealogical samples that can not leave the country and can't be sputter coated.
So PLEASE contact me as soon as you can so we can see if you can help her. Thank you!
Paula :-)
Paula Sicurello UC Berkeley Electron Microscope Lab psic-at-uclink4.berkeley.edu
I consulted our Station Mycologist, Nancy Nickerson, and this is what she said:
"His best bet would be to keep the books as dry as possible, because the molds won't grow without moisture, and they aren't likely to produce toxins unless they're actively growing. Certainly he should be working with the books in a well-ventilated area if he has allergy problems. "
Hope this helps.
Paula.
Paula Allan-Wojtas Food Microstructure Specialist Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Atlantic Food and Horticulture Research Centre Kentville, Nova Scotia Canada B4N 1J5
I would have sent this info to the original poster directly, but I ran across it after I cleaned out my mailbox. Go to: http://aleph.lib.ohio-state.edu/www/hasafran/hasafran480.html to read about several methods of dealing with mold in books. If you don't have web access I'll e-mail it upon request.
I am interested in your comment that "you need an ESEM because you can no= t coat the specimen". True in many cases specimens will charge at "normal"=
operating kilovoltages and beam currents. Have you tried the gentle approach, "low charge techniques", with the type of specimen in question= =2E
1. Lower kV, try 2 to 5kV for example on an instrument up to 10 year= s old, on a newer instrument you could probably get down to 0.5 kV, it all depends on the resolution that you require. 2. Lower the probe size, hence beam current, less electrons means a greater possibility of those you are using getting away to earth. 3. Change the WD (and tilt), in different instruments different WD (and tilt) give different signals to the ET detector there will always be= a position of minimum charge effect.
We are often in the situation that you describe and as ESEM are few and f= ar between we use low charge techniques on whatever instrument we happen to have. All this is even better with LaB6 or a FEG system.
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
This was discussed in the Safety newsgroup quite some time ago - perhaps early last year. There were a lot of ideas put forward from professionals in the book business. Their archives are at
http://siri.org/mail and at http://list.uvm.edu/archives/safety.html
If you can't find the discussion and would like info on subscribing, let me know. Diana.
Diana van Driel Department of Clinical Ophthalmology Sydney University GPO Box 4337 Sydney NSW AUSTRALIA 2001