I need a TEM specimen consisting of gold monocrystalline islands on a thin, amorphous and preferably low atomic number supporting film for a study. I believe that a sample such as this is available commercially but am having difficulty locating a supplier. Many suppliers have standard specimens with polycrystalline gold islands evaporated onto a holey carbon film. However, I have examined this type of specimen and determined that it will not work for my study. Does anyone have any suggestions where I might find a supplier for a TEM specimen having monocrystalline gold islands with diameters of a few nanometers.
Thanks in advance.
_____________________________________________________ Michael Brickey (brickey-at-ecn.purdue.edu) Graduate Research Assistant School of Materials Science & Engineering Purdue University Office: MSEE S039 Phone: (765) 494-8751 _____________________________________________________
This won't be of much help for Mr. Boyde, but these are some of my guidelines when buying second-hand equipment... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Second-hand buyers should be very carefull in buying: as the prevention of theft is allmost impossible, the only other solution is to spoil the thieves' market...
It's good practice to check serial numbers with the manufacturer and/or agent when buying second-hand equipment, especialy when it comes very cheap...
When the seller don't allow you to take a note of the number(s): don't buy!
When an item doesn't carry a serial number or the manufacturer doesn't exist anymore: check the source! When the seller don't want to reveal his source: don't buy!
These investigations are perhaps time consuming, but for amateurs (I believe that most of the second-hand buyers are amateurs as I am) it's part of the fun!
Never buy "on the spot"! I always take a buyers option for a week. Sure, I know that the view of a beautiful instrument you've always wanted can be very tempting... But waiting a while and do some investigations can be rewarding: about 4 years ago, on a "flea-market", I took an option on a very cheap second-hand Zetopan microscope (15 000 Belgian francs, about US$ 430). The seller wouldn't reveal his source, but he said "it's from a deceased GP in..."a small village nearby. Some investigations in old and more recent telephone books learned me, that there were only 4 GP's in that village, so I took the telephone... It took me about 5 minutes to find the widow of the man... She said:" Sure, we have sold his equipment to that man, but there are still a few boxes of junk left. If you want them, you can have them, we want to sell the house, it has to be emptied...". The "few boxes of junk" contained amongst other things a full set of PL APO objectives for the Reichert microscope, and... a second microscope...: a very decent binocular Will-Wetzlar BX200 lab microscope... Waiting can be very rewarding indeed...
The manufacturer/agent can give very usefull information based on the serial number: precise model, year of production, availlability of spare parts, manuals etc... Somethimes he can even tell if the instrument was stolen...
Manufacturers should have a database with a list of all sold equipment, containing information on the whole life cycle of the item... Perhaps this is common practise, I don't know, but it should! I do know that this is the case for some other items (f.e.: Volvo has a central computer in Germany, with continuously updated information on all Volvos sold in Europe). A database of that kind could be linked on other information and become a very powerful instrument for internal QC, client relations etc... This can't be much of a problem in the age of computers...
Michael Brickey wrote: ================================================== I need a TEM specimen consisting of gold monocrystalline islands on a thin, amorphous and preferably low atomic number supporting film for a study. I believe that a sample such as this is available commercially but am having difficulty locating a supplier. Many suppliers have standard specimens with polycrystalline gold islands evaporated onto a holey carbon film. However, I have examined this type of specimen and determined that it will not work for my study. Does anyone have any suggestions where I might find a supplier for a TEM specimen having monocrystalline gold islands with diameters of a few nanometers. ==================================================== So far as I know, our product shown on URL http://www.2spi.com/catalog/standards/othertem17.html would meet the above description in your posting.
I don't believe we are your only source for this kind of product, some of the other major EM product suppliers have a similar (or maybe identical) kind of sample, or at least they have in the past.
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 ############################ ==================================================
Has anyone besides myself sputtered breakfast bars? No, I'm not starting a secret society, but, I have noticed a profound difference in the deposition of AuPd from the jellied center of the bar through to the delicious crunchy outer coating. We have no problem viewing the ultrastructure of the jelly center, that coats very well; as does the immediate interface with the cereal. When we go to analyze the cereal it is extremely unstable {charging}. Most likely this is due to the great difference in porosity between the tasty center and the delectable cereal, but if anyone has any other idea please get back to me before the samples are eaten. Yes an ESEM would do well, I guess, but we do not have one; and the field emitter is not used for "dirty" materials. I need some good basic suggestions that I may not have thought of .
Thanks,
John Grazul Rutgers University Electron Imaging Facility
This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --------------7A1DE8B357E8F2A69AF59121 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Earl Weltmer wrote:
} Hi All, } } Would any interested Third Party Maintenance organizations drop me an } e-mail including their location, area of expertise, main contact, etc. I } wish to form a clearinghouse for all TPMs to share technical } information, customer referral, etc. } } I have been in business as an SEM third party maintenance organization } in Southern California for over 15 years. Quite often I am asked to } recommend someone or repair equipment outside our geographical area. } } We have everything to gain. The ultimate winner is the customer. } } Earl Weltmer } } Scanservice Corporation } Tustin, CA
Hi,
For all interested parties, attached is a list of the Third Party Maintenance Organizations that have responded. I make no guarantees of their reputation but I am a believer in the free enterprise system. The stronger and more competent will remain in business especially in this limited field.
Evex Analytical, manufacture of x-ray microanalysis systems and digital = imaging systems also services and upgrades x-ray analyzers and detectors = manufactured by Edax, Kevex, Noran, and PGT.
Evex Aanalytical 857 State Road Princeton, NJ 08540 609-252-9192 service-at-evex.com
John, I think that the best approach for this is to calculate the extinction distances for a few reflections at the different accelerating voltages. The equation for extinction distance (see chapter 13 of Williams' and Carter's book or for the complete description, go to the Purple Peril - Chapter 4.6 of Electron Microscopy of Thin Crystals, Hirsch, Howie, Nicolson, Pashley, Whelan -Plenum) is
Eg = Pi * Vc cos(thetaB) / (Lambda * Fg)
where Vc is the volume of the unit cell, thetaB is the Bragg angle for the reflection, lambda is the electron wavelength, and Fg is the structure factor calcuated for the particular reflection, g responsible for the Bragg reflection.
You could put it in a spreadsheet for several voltages, reflections and compare for some common materials that you have a feeling for such as aluminum or silicon. The rule of thumb for usable diffraction contrast imaging is that the specimen should be less than 5*Eg in thickness.
Acc. voltage Lambda
---------- } From: John Phelps To: Microscopy ListServer
We would like to look at some heavier elements using the TEM, specifically alloys with Pt and Rh. Does anyone know the equation for calculating the thickness (thinness) requirements for samples to be electron transparent for different accelerating voltages?
TIA, John -- John Phelps NIST / DIV 853 Boulder, CO 80303
John, I think that the best approach for this is to calculate the extinction distances for a few reflections at the different accelerating voltages. The equation for extinction distance (see chapter 13 of Williams' and Carter's book or for the complete description, go to the Purple Peril - Chapter 4.6 of Electron Microscopy of Thin Crystals, Hirsch, Howie, Nicholson, Pashley, Whelan -Plenum) is
Eg = Pi * Vc cos(thetaB) / (Lambda * Fg)
where Vc is the volume of the unit cell, thetaB is the Bragg angle for the reflection, lambda is the electron wavelength, and Fg is the structure factor calculated for the particular reflection, g responsible for the Bragg reflection.
You could put it in a spreadsheet for several voltages, reflections and compare for some common materials that you have a feeling for such as aluminum or silicon. The rule of thumb for usable diffraction contrast imaging is that the specimen should be less than 5*Eg in thickness.
We would like to look at some heavier elements using the TEM, specifically alloys with Pt and Rh. Does anyone know the equation for calculating the thickness (thinness) requirements for samples to be electron transparent for different accelerating voltages?
TIA, John -- John Phelps NIST / DIV 853 Boulder, CO 80303
You might use one of the Monte Carlo programs. Although I have not tried it, from what I have read "Electron Flight Simulator" would model your analysis. Try: http://www.small-world.net
We would like to look at some heavier elements using the TEM, specifically alloys with Pt and Rh. Does anyone know the equation for calculating the thickness (thinness) requirements for samples to be electron transparent for different accelerating voltages?
TIA, John -- John Phelps NIST / DIV 853 Boulder, CO 80303
I will soon be submitting a paper to a yet to be determined materials science journal (Acta Met., Phil. Mag. or Materials Science and Engineering A) and I need to prepare some SEM and TEM images. The methods that we have been used to produce these are quite tedious, and I am seeking simpler methods. For TEM images, we normally produce a print of the negative, mark it up with the suitable labels, take another photograph of it, and then have this printed in the correct proportions to fit into the paper. We also have in our lab a light table and MTI 70 series digital cameras, which can directly capture images to a Macintosh (using NIH Image). Is it acceptible to submit such digitized images to microscopy journals? Also, what sort of resolution is required? Also this is the first time that we will publish the SEM micrographs, taken on 4X5 Polaroid films. What methods are needed to insert these into papers? As far as formatting text with the images, I usually use MS Word, but I have access to other Linux and Unix packages as well. If anyone has experience with such issues, I would greatly appreciate any feedback, either on the list or by e-mail.
Thank you,
Kevin Croat Physics Dept. Washington University in St. Louis tkc-at-howdy.wustl.edu
For immediate distribution: ELECTRON MICROSCOPIST POSITION Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine
RESEARCH ELECTRON MICROSCOPIST, to begin immediately. Full-time Research Associate, for NIH-funded investigation of the mechanisms of bile formation by the liver. Ultrastructural studies focus on mechanisms for hepatic secretion of phospholipids and cholesterol into bile, and how these mechanisms go awry in liver disease. Studies in progress have the potential to provide major insights into cholesterol homeostasis, since bile is the only effective route for elimination of excess cholesterol from the body. These studies are thus relevant to the human conditions of atherosclerosis, cholesterol gallstone disease, and jaundice. The research associate will play a major role in all aspects of the project as skills permit, including but not limited to: ultrarapid in situ cryofixation, tissue processing for TEM, transmission electron microscopy, digital imaging morphometry, small animal surgery, photography and computer skills, literature search skills, and administration of the laboratory effort. Additional optional skills include reports and presentations, tissue culture experimentation, and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) with electron spectroscopic imaging (ESI). Education/work experience requirements: B.S. or B.A. degree with extensive electron microscopy experience preferred, or M.S. degree with training in electron microscopy. Yale University is an equal opportunity employer. Contact: James M. Crawford, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, 310 Cedar Street, P.O. Box 208023, New Haven, CT 06520-8023. Fax 203-737-1064. E-mail {jamesmac.crawford-at-yale.edu} .
Thank you.
James M. Crawford, M.D., Ph.D. Department of Pathology Yale University School of Medicine P.O. Box 208023, 310 Cedar Street New Haven, CT 06520-8023 Tel 203-785-2784 Fax 203-737-1064 jamesmac.crawford-at-yale.edu
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These darn food scientist types are always throwing a cereal or two in our direction. The flaky outer coating is great for crunch but lousy for conductivity. About the only thing you can do is coat in presence of Argon to get the best coat possible and then use very low KV to reduce charging. A sample such as this is very low density and will not withstand high magnification (empty magnification is usually only a few thousand times in this kind of sample). Since you can only gather useful information at fairly low mags, you should have plenty of signal at 4-5KV even with conventional tungsten hairpin filament and standard gun configuration. We do this routinely with our JEOL JSM-840.....in fact we rarely do secondary electron imaging above 5-6kv on low density samples typical of life science material.
Debby Sherman, Manager Phone: 765-494-6666 Microscopy Center in Agriculture FAX: 765-494-5896 Dept. of Botany & Plant Pathology E-mail: sherman-at-btny.purdue.edu Purdue University 1057 Whistler Building West Lafayette, IN 47907-1057 --------------------------------------
Fellow Sputterers,
Has anyone besides myself sputtered breakfast bars? No, I'm not starting a secret society, but, I have noticed a profound difference in the deposition of AuPd from the jellied center of the bar through to the delicious crunchy outer coating. We have no problem viewing the ultrastructure of the jelly center, that coats very well; as does the immediate interface with the cereal. When we go to analyze the cereal it is extremely unstable {charging}. Most likely this is due to the great difference in porosity between the tasty center and the delectable cereal, but if anyone has any other idea please get back to me before the samples are eaten. Yes an ESEM would do well, I guess, but we do not have one; and the field emitter is not used for "dirty" materials. I need some good basic suggestions that I may not have thought of .
Thanks,
John Grazul Rutgers University Electron Imaging Facility
RFC822 header -----------------------------------
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Kevin,
Being an old-fashioned guy with a limited budget, I have gravitated to a part low-tech, part high-tech approach that offers the path of least resistance (and expense) for me to get from microscope to manuscript. Using the darkroom, I print individual photos from negative to the size I want for the journal (usually 2" or 3" by 3" or 4"). Then I trim and miter multiple photos, mount them on heavy card stock (heat press or spray adhesive will do), and annotate with press-on letters. Those plates become the master, "engraver's" copy. I next have color photocopies made of the masters. Photocopying technology is pretty amazing these days--copies made on a color photocopier are at least as good as your photos are likely to look when they eventually appear in the journal. The photocopies are used for reviewing purposes. They cost about $1.50 each but are worth all of the darkroom time saved in making second generation prints (plus they reduce mailing costs and ship better). This way, I invest in the low-tech hardware (a darkroom and a pair of scissors) and pay somebody else ~$30/pub to stay current with the high tech photocopying hardware. Another possibility would be to scan photo or negative into computer, make up plates and annotate (using Photoshop or others), transfer to disc, and take disc to an outlet (Kinko's?) that has a photo-quality printer. This route would probably take as much time and cost as much as option #1, above. Also, image resolution could suffer greatly depending on your computer. The techno-jocks and computer sales people will recommend digital image acquisition, then cut, paste and annotate on computer, then output to a photo-quality printer. All that is wonderful, but I don't have the 10^nth dollars to invest in hardware and software--especially since that hard/software is obsolete within years, or months, of purchase.
Bob
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Dr. Robert R. Wise Department of Biology and Microbiology University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Oshkosh, WI 54901
(920) 424-3404 tel (920) 424-1101 fax wise-at-uwosh.edu www.uwosh.edu/departments/biology/wise/wise.html
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Have you considered making a replica? You will lose the ability to do elemental analysis and it won,t be as tasty, but they work well for this type of sample. Ref: Sheffield E. etal. American Fren Journal 81 (4): 128-133 (1991) } } Fellow Sputterers, } } Has anyone besides myself sputtered breakfast bars? No, I'm not } starting a secret society, but, I have noticed a profound } difference in the deposition of AuPd from the jellied center of the } bar through to the delicious crunchy outer coating. We have } no problem viewing the ultrastructure of the jelly center, that } coats very well; as does the immediate interface with the } cereal. When we go to analyze the cereal it is extremely } unstable {charging}. Most likely this is due to the great difference } in porosity between the tasty center and the delectable cereal, but } if anyone has any other idea please get back to me before the samples } are eaten. Yes an ESEM would do well, I guess, but we do not have } one; and the field emitter is not used for "dirty" materials. I } need some good basic suggestions that I may not have thought of . } } Thanks, } } } John Grazul } Rutgers University } Electron Imaging Facility
William R.McManus Supervisor Electron Microscope Facility Department of Biology Utah State University Logan UT 84322-5305
Michael; This is not too silly a question, because many people apparently get so caught up in worrying about resolution that they miss the difference between
resolution and visibility. You may be able to detect a particle much less than the resolution limit, but you just won't be able to tell anything about it. One example: the human eye can resolve about 100 microns-that means two particles less than 100 microns apart will appear as one! You can easily see a 20 micron hole in an aperture strip if you shine a light behind the aperture strip, but if there happen to be two 20 micron holes 25 microns apart (center to center) it will look about the same. Astronomers know this well. Most "stars" you see with the naked eye are really clusters of stars. You can see the single point of light (on a clear night) but you cannot tell how many stars are in the cluster without better optics that can resolve them. In general, features much smaller than your resolution limit CAN be detected, but only if the contrast is strong, and remember that detection and resolution are not the same.
John Mardinly Intel Subj: LM --- Ultimate Resolution Question
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This may be a silly question. What is the smallest object ( using brightfield illumination) that can be observed. For example, I calculated resolution of .4 micron for a 100x, .90 NA objective and wavelengh value of 540. This is the smallest separation between features that can be resolved. Is this also the smallest feature that can be observed given a single feature on a smooth background?
Michael Ingram Rodel, Inc Polishing Lab 451 Bellevue Rd Newark, DE 19713 (302) 366-0500, ext.: 2545
Hi Kevin, Should you wish your image reproduced at the hightest possible quality, I have several thoughts to present. While not to be too basic, we all know that with offset printing, the ink is carried to the paper with a metal plate - and the image is burned into the plate through a negative. And that this negative is produced completely by the publisher/printer. You should provide your source image (more follows) in its first and purest form - you should not size it, and you should certainly not run it through a computer for page placement, etc. The reason being that each of these steps will reduce final resoultion. Then, your publisher, printer or film separator will take your image, and with one pass put in on the film which will finally produce the metal plate - with very high quality photographic equipment. Sure, with this process in page make-up, you will have to leave space with the correct width-height ratio for your image. Others might prefer using a software system such as Pagemaker or Quark Xpress and make up the full page - including the image - to produice this final film.. OK - but the image will be somewhat degraded. As to source image, many have different opinions. Mine first would be 4 x 5 film, followed by 35 mm slides. Next, and close, would be digital. It is factual that with discs, occasionally bits are "dropped" and errors made - and without other advantage, I question its real value. And - disc processing tends to be a bit more expensive over all others. Last would be photos. I hope that your find these opinions of interest. Don Grimes, Microscopy Today
On Thu, 1 Oct 1998 wise-at-vaxa.cis.uwosh.edu-at-sparc5.microscopy.com wrote:
} Using the darkroom, I print individual photos from negative to the } size I want for the journal (usually 2" or 3" by 3" or 4"). Then I trim } and miter multiple photos, mount them on heavy card stock (heat press or } spray adhesive will do), and annotate with press-on letters. Those plates } become the master, "engraver's" copy. I next have color photocopies made } of the masters.
This is pretty much what we do as well most of the time.
snip
} Another possibility would be to scan photo or negative into } computer, make up plates and annotate (using Photoshop or others), transfer } to disc, and take disc to an outlet (Kinko's?) that has a photo-quality } printer. This route would probably take as much time and cost as much as } option #1, above. Also, image resolution could suffer greatly depending on } your computer. snip } All that is wonderful, but I don't have the } 10^nth dollars to invest in hardware and software--especially since that } hard/software is obsolete within years, or months, of purchase.
More and more, especially with color, we go this way. Also, many of our illustrations (not the micrographs) are computer generated anyway. The investment is not terrible, resolution is quite adequate and obsolesence is not a problem; just keep using it if it works and ignore the newer stuff.
I am a retired mechanical engineer with an interest in astronomy and = optics. I have recently acquired two old microscopes: 1. A B&L Metallographic microscope 2. A Richert inverted polarizing microscope I am primarily interested in studying meteorites (as a hobby) so the = metallographic scope can be used for iron meteorites and the polarizing = scope for thin sections of stones. The problem is that neither = instrument is complete and I have no documentation on either. Can someone give me a source of=20 documents (instructions, servicing details, or drawings) on these = scopes? Thanks. John R. Chappell 6111 E. Sunnyside Rd. Idaho Falls, ID 83406 hbjrc-at-srv.net
{!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 4.71.1712.3"' name=3DGENERATOR} {/HEAD} {BODY bgColor=3D#fff8e0} {DIV} {FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2} I am a retired mechanical engineer = with an=20 interest in astronomy and optics. {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2} I have recently acquired two old=20 microscopes: {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2} 1. A B&L Metallographic=20 microscope {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2} 2. A Richert inverted = polarizing=20 microscope {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2} I am primarily interested in = studying meteorites=20 (as a hobby) so the metallographic scope can be used for iron meteorites = and the=20 polarizing scope for thin sections of stones. The problem is that = neither=20 instrument is complete {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2} and I have no documentation on = either. Can=20 someone give me a source of {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2} documents (instructions, servicing = details, or=20 drawings) on these scopes? {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2} Thanks. {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2} John R. Chappell {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2} 6111 E. Sunnyside Rd. {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2} Idaho Falls, ID 83406 {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT size=3D2} {A = href=3D"mailto:hbjrc-at-srv.net"} hbjrc-at-srv.net {/A} {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT size=3D2} {/FONT} {/DIV} {/BODY} {/HTML}
Hi All, I enclose details of a vacancy in our department. Any one interested please reply directly to Amanda or our administrator.
Ron
**************************************************************************** Department of Materials, University of Oxford
Postdoctoral Research Position, 3 Years from October 1998
Advanced Information Storage films with magnetoresistive properties
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A three-year post-doctoral research assistantship funded by the Advanced Magnetics Programme of the EPSRC is available in the Department of Materials at Oxford from October 1998 (or as soon as possible thereafter). The aim of the project is to assess the effects of microstructure on magnetic and transport properties in magnetoresistive spin-valve and spin tunnel-junction materials. The project is a collaboration involving Oxford, Cambridge and Plymouth Universities.
The project will primarily involve the characterisation of both tunnel-junction and spin-valve material using electron microscopy (EM) techniques. Films will be grown, their magnetisation reversal mechanisms will be studied using Lorentz EM and the microstructure and chemical composition using HREM and microanalysis. Lithographic patterning of the material will also be carried out.
EM experience is essential, preferably at an advanced level, and a knowledge of thin layered films or magnetic materials would be helpful, as would experience in lithographic processing.
Applications including a cv, list of publications, and the names and addresses of three referees should be sent to: The Administrator, Department of Materials, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PH, UK, from whom further particulars are available. Please quote ref: AKPL. Further particulars are also available by e-mail: amanda.petford-long-at-materials.ox.ac.uk
12th International Conference on 3D Image Processing in Microscopy 11th International Conference on Confocal Microscopy April 11th-15th, 1999 European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Heidelberg, Germany
Confocal microscopy, multiphoton excitation and deconvolution techniques are increasingly applied in the study of three-dimensional structures such as are encountered in biology, medicine and material sciences. Three-dimensional analysis and representation are crucial tasks in subsequent data assessment. These conferences offer a most efficient meeting point for developers and users working in these rapidly evolving fields and play an important role in the dissemination of information about new developments. Special attention will be given to the dramatic developments in live cell imaging and manipulation, such as the role of the green fluorescent protein. Further information:
Local Organizing Committee: Dr. Ernst H.K. Stelzer, EMBL, Heidelberg Prof. G.J. Brakenhoff, University of Amsterdam Dr. Andres Kriete, University of Giessen
Under the auspices of The International 3D Microscopy Society: Prof. Colin Sheppard, University of Sydney Dr. Andres Kriete, University of Giessen Prof. G.J. Brakenhoff, University of Amsterdam Prof. P-C. Cheng, SUNY at Buffalo Prof. Tony Wilson, University of Oxford Dr. Carol Cogswell, University of Sydney Dr. Vyvyan Howard, University of Liverpool Dr. Guy Cox, University of Sydney Dr. Ernst H.K. Stelzer, EMBL Prof. S. Kawata, Osaka University
I recently attached a list of the Third Party Maintenance Organizations (IBM PC,EXCEL format). Many of you e-mailed me and asked that I re-submit the list via regular e-mail.
Below is that list:
Company Contact Type Specialty Location Telephone e-mail Equipment Advanced Allen Research SystemsSampson Any Any Chicago 630.513-7093 ars-at-mcs.net
AMTEC Sam TEM Phillips New amtec-at-neca.com Amtower England
E-MAC Walter Probe Cameca Texas 281.879-7211 Corvos-at-aol.com Protheroe
ELECTROVAC TECH.Peter SEM ISI/Topcon Canada 905.294-9259 petere-at-pathcom.com Earl Focused Larry Resolutions Barry SEM ISI/Topcon Mass 978.689-3977 Focres-at-aol.com Micro-AnalyticalJoe Service Barney Probe Cameca Penn 717.299-0599 jbarney_microanalytical-at-email.msn.com
Quality Images Ken SEM ETEC Penn 717.456-5491 qualityimages-at-netrax.net Converse
Scanners Corp. Gary SEM Any Maryland 410.456-5491 qeaston-at-ibm.net Easton Scanservice Earl Corp. Weltmer SEM Any California714.573-9158 earlw-at-pacbell.net Scientific Inst.Alex Services Greene TEM Any Texas 512.282-5507 ablue-at-io.com
VEC Craig SEM Hitachi Colorado 303.689-2224 Franklin-at-idcomm.com Franklin Vitaly Feingold Any Any Georgia 770.232-1791 vitalylazar-at-worldnet.att.net Chuck Humphrey SEM ISI/Topcon 888.793-8103 cchumph-at-ibm.net
{P} I recently attached a list of the Third Party Maintenance Organizations (IBM PC,EXCEL format). Many of you e-mailed me and asked that I re-submit the list via regular e-mail.
{P} Below is that list: {TABLE BORDER COLS=7 WIDTH="100%" } {TR} {TD} Company {/TD}
I would like to get some information/references about 'Etching LR White for immunogold labeling'. I am recently working on labeling a cytoplasmic protein in the plant of Brassica anther/pollen. Few labels occur when I use the "regular" concentration of antibody. As I increase the antibody concentration, the background is getting higher and higher but still, not too much labels inside the cytoplasm. I wonder whether it is the problem of resin (LR White). Many thanks in advance.
Zhaojie Zhang Dept. of Botany and Microbiology University of Oklahoma Norman, OK 73019
A RESEARCH TECHNICIAN position is available in the laboratory of Tom Misteli at the National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD. The laboratory uses molecular biology tools in conjunction with microscopy techniques (confocal, live cell, deconvolution) to study the architecture of the mammalian cell nucleus and the interphase organization of chromosomes.
Candidates must have experience in fluorescence microscopy and in molecular biology techniques. Knowledge of cytogenetic techniques (FISH, chromosome painting, CGH) is an advantage. The position involves experimental work on ongoing projects, microscope maintenance and laboratory management. Development of independent projects will be encouraged.
This permanent position is funded by the NIH and includes NIH benefits. Salary is commensurate with experience. Starting date is early 1999. Send CV including a list of skills and names of three references to Tom Misteli, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, 1 Bungtown Road, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724 USA, email: misteli-at-cshl.org.
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724 T: 516 367-8478 F: 516 367-8876 misteli-at-cshl.org
Applications are invited for a POST-DOCTORAL POSITION in the group of Tom Misteli at the National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD. The laboratory studies the molecular mechanisms which control nuclear architecture and function in-vivo, particularly the coordination of transcription and pre-mRNA splicing (see Nature, 1997, 387, p.523, Science, 1997, 276, p.1495, Curr. Opi. Cell Biology, 1998, 10, p. 323). In addition, we are analyzing the spatial organization of genes and chromosomes within the interphase cell nucleus. We use conventional and time-lapse fluorescence microscopy of living cells in conjunction with molecular methods to address these cell biological aspects of gene expression. The laboratory is closely associated with a new NCI imaging facility equipped for laser scanning confocal microscopy, deconvolution methods, in-vivo microscopy, 4D-image analysis and multi-color cytogenetics.
Candidates must have experience in fluorescence microscopy and molecular biology techniques. Knowledge of cytogenetic techniques (FISH, chromosome painting etc.) is an advantage.
The NCI provides outstanding resources and a large, interactive environment to perform high level innovative research. The successful applicant will have the opportunity to develop his/her own projects within a highly interactive team.
This NIH funded position is available from January 1999. Please send CV including a list of publications and names of three referees to Tom Misteli, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724 USA, email: misteli-at-cshl.org
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724 T: 516 367-8478 F: 516 367-8876 misteli-at-cshl.org
FOUNDRY RESEARCH INSTITUTE Research Materials Department Manager of Structural and Physical Research Laboratory str. Zakopianska 73 Call (*48 12) 2665022 ext.356 30-418 KRAKOW - POLAND Fax (+48 12) 2660870
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Kevin, It appears that all your images are originally produced on film. This is great because a good negative taken to the darkroom and printed appropriately will normally result in the sharpest final image. Drawbacks are that digital images can be processed using a program like Adobe PhotoShop in ways that are difficult to do in the darkroom.
I don't want to get into the ethics of image processing but removing dust specks and adjusting contrast and brightness are probably OK with most people. It is a lot easier to "dodge" and "burn" on a computer than in the darkroom once you get the hang of doing it. However, final digital images, even those printed out on a top-of-the-line dye sublimation printer have a softness to them that darkroom prints won't have. You can run a sharpening filter on the images prior to printing but....that's where there will be disagreements as to how much and what type of filtering is ethically OK. Although we do digitally acquire SEM images in our lab, numerous tests have shown that normally the best images for future publication are obtained using film. I just did a test series while making demo slides for my SEM class, using a piece of fabric with fibers going in different directions. The digitization was very apparent in some fibers where you could actually see stepwise edges along fibers angled in certain directions to the scan ( digitized at 1280x960). The polaroid negative gave clean edges. It was even preferable when the negative was later scanned into the computer at 300dpi ...although I normally scan negatives in at at least 600dpi to pick up maximum detail.
I personally do a combination of things to get final pictures. If the plate is complicated, with many different images, I will often scan the negatives and then assemble the plate on the computer. I can resize and crop images at will so can easily play with the layout to get exactly what I want for publication. If a very good printer is available, you can label these "mock-ups" and use the result often as reviewer's copies or internal prints for co-authors.
Once I have my layout, I can go to the darkroom and in one printing, print the images to the sizes needed, matching contrast with adjacent images as I go. Mounting and labeling will then result in a top quality final plate. This plate is the one that goes to the journal for reproduction. We have 4x5 negatives made of each final plate. Excellent reviewer's copies can then be made from these negatives.
With an easy layout, I may not need the computer step and can do final images the first trip into the darkroom or can make some quick working prints, crop, etc. and then go back into the darkroom for final printing.
I have published digitally generated images when I had to do processing that could not easily be done in the darkroom. This is OK as long as you describe in detail what was done in the material and methods section of the paper. However, in my opinion, the bottom line is that regardless of what goes into the computer, if you cannot generate top quality output, this is not the method of choice for publication images. And reviewers must see good images in order to adequately evaluate a manuscript. Digitized images, although getting better all the time, are still not the same quality of good darkroom prints from good negatives.
Okey, off the soapbox and back to work..
Debby ------------------------------------------------- Debby Sherman, Manager Phone: 765-494-6666 Microscopy Center in Agriculture FAX: 765-494-5896 Dept. of Botany & Plant Pathology E-mail: sherman-at-btny.purdue.edu Purdue University 1057 Whistler Building West Lafayette, IN 47907-1057
--------------------------------------
Greetings,
I will soon be submitting a paper to a yet to be determined materials science journal (Acta Met., Phil. Mag. or Materials Science and Engineering A) and I need to prepare some SEM and TEM images. The methods that we have been used to produce these are quite tedious, and I am seeking simpler methods. For TEM images, we normally produce a print of the negative, mark it up with the suitable labels, take another photograph of it, and then have this printed in the correct proportions to fit into the paper. We also have in our lab a light table and MTI 70 series digital cameras, which can directly capture images to a Macintosh (using NIH Image). Is it acceptible to submit such digitized images to microscopy journals? Also, what sort of resolution is required? Also this is the first time that we will publish the SEM micrographs, taken on 4X5 Polaroid films. What methods are needed to insert these into papers? As far as formatting text with the images, I usually use MS Word, but I have access to other Linux and Unix packages as well. If anyone has experience with such issues, I would greatly appreciate any feedback, either on the list or by e-mail.
Thank you,
Kevin Croat Physics Dept. Washington University in St. Louis tkc-at-howdy.wustl.edu
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by relay2.smtp.psi.net with smtp (Exim 1.90 #1) for Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com id 0zP9Dl-0001Jf-00; Fri, 2 Oct 1998 13:42:25 -0400 Received: from [206.6.156.3] ([206.6.156.3] verified) by 4pi.com (Stalker SMTP Server 1.7b3) with ESMTP id S.0000221092 for {Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com} ; Fri, 02 Oct 1998 13:42:24 -0400 Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" X-Sender: davilla-at-206.6.156.11 Message-Id: {v04011700b23ac01f7575-at-[206.6.156.3]}
When we export an image using TIFF format on our XL30/TMP, the image is compressed in the y-axis (or expanded in the x-axis). Screen and video prints are fine. This is under Windows 3.11 and version 5.39 of the XL30 software. Has any else see this problem or is it particular to our SEM? FEI/Philips has yet to respond to this problem.
Scott ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Scott D. Davilla Phone: 919 489-1757 (tel) 4pi Analysis, Inc. Fax: 919 489-1487 (fax) 3500 Westgate Drive, Suite 403 email: davilla-at-4pi.com Durham, North Carolina 27707-2534 web: http://www.4pi.com
When we are using external scan, we eventually blow the filiment because the XL30's software increases the filament bias to max (6). Has anyone else seen this problem or is it particular to our scope? This is under Windows 3.11 and version 5.39 of the XL30 software. FEI/Philips has yet to respond to this problem.
Scott ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Scott D. Davilla Phone: 919 489-1757 (tel) 4pi Analysis, Inc. Fax: 919 489-1487 (fax) 3500 Westgate Drive, Suite 403 email: davilla-at-4pi.com Durham, North Carolina 27707-2534 web: http://www.4pi.com
I recently started an SEM/TEM independent study of C. ellegans. I am runn= ing into some problems with the fixation methods and protocols for manipulating the worms. I could use any help that is out there! We started with glutaraldeyde and osmium solutions, but I=B9m using very old protocols and = I think they might need to be refreshed. =20
Thanks, Rob Reff
Research Student Under the Direction of:=20 Professor William J. Perreault Lawrence University Appleton WI 54915 (920) 730-8236
I believe we had the same issue with our Zeiss/Leo. The Tiff specification allows for non-square pixels, however most external image processing programs assume the pixels are square. I believe the SEM is outputing a file with rectangular pixels but other programs are ignoring it.
Lynn Rathbun
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Dr. Lynn Rathbun,Cornell Nanofabrication Facilty, Ithaca, New York Rathbun-at-cnf.cornell.edu Webmaster -at- Christian World Adoption www.cwa.org Webmaster -at- Joint Council on International Children's Services www.jcics.org (All opinions or representations of fact re: adoption are my own however)
I do not have the manual but have the catalog writeup in the van waters and rogers scientific catalog, it is brief but would that help any at all? thanks ed sharpe, archivist smecc
Dear Sirs, I am Nelson Fava and I work with a CAMEBAX SX50 at the U. de Brasília, Brazil (SX#359). HOw are you? I am looking for a used camebax or a used JEOL microprobe to buy. Please contact me if you have any news
MME offers customized on-site courses in all areas of microscopy which incorporate both information about the technology as well as the basic principles. If we can be of service, please contact me privately.
Thank you for accepting my question. I'm seeking information on past and current ways digital images are gained on transmission electron microscope (TEM) e.g. digitizers, image plates, slow scan ccd It would be especially helpful to find or be directed to this information that would include logistics of image collecting, hardware, and advantages/disadvantages of each method. One recommendation as a resource was to search in the MSA proceedings journal starting around 1990. I would greatly appreciate any direct information or suggested resources. Thank you.
We have no problems with our LEO S440 software v3.04L on exporting TIF Files. I would suggest that a close look at the export setup parameters to see if something should be turned off such as compression. Our TIFs are stored as gray level no compression overlay on (for micron markers and labeling)
No one has reported any problems with image analysis software to included using extrenal scan control with our Oxford EDX system. No problems importing TIF files into CorelDraw 7, Corel Photo-Paint7 or various version of WordPerfect.
Good Luck Keith Collins
DOE Albany Research Center 1450 Queen Ave SW Albany, Oregon 97321
Dear Friends I am Young Gyu Rho who work at Chemolee Lab, a small cosmetic company, in Irving TX. I am looking for a used SEM with EDS system. If anyone has one for sale or know someone who want to sale, please let me know. Thank you.
--------------------------------------------------- Get free personalized email at http://www.iname.com
That is correct. Many, especially older microscopes use non-square pixels that correspond to the aspect ratio of the viewing screen. To read these images, the software needs to know about the pixel aspect ratio. If this aspect ratio is not stored in a tag of the tif file, or perhaps stored in a private tag that is not publicly known, the software cannot correctly read the image.
You may be able to adjust the pixel aspect ration in your software. Another possibility is to resample the data file with a higher frequency in one direction (use a B-spline for interpolation).
Our software, analySIS, and I am sure many of the competing products also, comes with import filters for a number of microscopes, among them Philips and LEO. This provides a transparent method for opening the files.
In some cases the manufacturers not only have non-square pixels, they store the image in several resolutions in the same tif file, and they have their own private tags for SEM or image parameters. In these cases you definitely need a dedicated import filter.
Michael Bode
Michael Bode, Ph.D. Soft Imaging System Corp. 1675 Carr St., #105N Lakewood, CO 80215 phone: (888) FIND SIS fax: (303) 234-9271 email: info-at-soft-imaging.com
} } } ---------- } From: Lynn Rathbun[SMTP:Rathbun-at-cnf.cornell.edu] } Sent: Friday, October 2, 1998 7:48 PM } To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: Re: Questions about TIFF export under Philips XL30/TMP } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
The answer to this is that the pixels in the XL30 images are not square.=20 Philips tell you that the pixels are square to within 10% (not very square= =20 in MY opinion, on our XL the images look 13% out of square if viewed in=20 Photoshop!). The upshot of this is that the TIFF images are saved at two=20 different resolutions in the x and y directions. The result is that=20 programs like NIH-Image, and Adobe Photoshop and many other Mac and PC=20 image viewing and maipulation programs cannot display the images correctly.= =20 I have found a very nice image format converter program for the Mac by a=20 programmer in Germany called Thorsten Lemke. This program is called=20 Graphic Converter and it recognizes the TIFF tags that specify the=20 different resolutions in the two directions. x=3D75dpi and 7=3D68dpi. Graph= ic=20 Converter lets you change the resolutions to match and save the file in a=20 format that NIH-Image and Photoshop etc. will understand. In fact, if you=20 pay Thorsten his shareware fee, the program will do batch conversions of=20 whole directories. Well worth the $35 shareware fee in my opinion. His=20 program can be downloaded from a variety of sites, his home site is=20 http://www.lemkesoft.de.
Of course, why an upscale program like Photoshop and a well written program= =20 like NIH-Image will not recognize these formatting tags is up for=20 discussion. Is it because Philips are using the tags the wrong way or is=20 it because the programmers of the other programs didnt ever believe that=20 someone would have non square pixels these days? I leave that for=20 discussion.
At 1:44 PM -0400 10/2/98, Scott D. Davilla wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
John Mansfield PhD CPhys MInstP North Campus Electron Microbeam Analysis Laboratory 417 SRB, University of Michigan 2455 Hayward, Ann Arbor MI 48109-2143 Phone: (734) 936-3352 FAX (734) 936-3352 Cellular Phone: (734) 358-7555 (Leaving a phone message at 936-3352 is preferable to 358-7555) Email: jfmjfm-at-engin.umich.edu URL: http://emalwww.engin.umich.edu/people/jfmjfm/jfmjfm.html Location: Lat. 42=B0 16' 48" Long. 83=B0 43' 48"
Eventhough I tried most of your great suggestions, each and everyone of you guys are so special for helping me out; give yourselves a big hand out there in microscope cyber-space...I mean that! I will thin the sample up and stick the sample in a pool of carbon {this may affect the taste though} . Replication and vacuum perfusion will be my last resort, I'm not an expert at perfusion and I want to cheap-out on chemicals until I exhaust the other techniques.
Thanks again,
John Grazul Rutgers University Electron Imaging Facility
Referring to John Mansfield's posting on this subject: If the XL30 produces non-square pixels simply because of calibration errors (+/- 10% seems huge for a calibration error!) then perhaps the software is in fact setting the TIFF tags for x- and y-pixels per inch to be the same. (Are there such tags?). If you know the calibration error, then it is in fact possible to use Photoshop to re-sample the image to make the pixels square. Under the "Image" menu, go to "Image Size", then make sure the "Constrain Proportions" checkbox is cleared and the "Resample" box checked. Change the horizontal (or vertical - your choice) size (it doesn';t matter whether you are measuring in inches, centimeters or pixels) to make the aspect ratio correct, then click "OK". It is crude, and obviously open to introduction of artifacts during the resampling, but does give you a correctly proportioned image.
THE COURSE YOU WANT IS THE ONE RUN AT LEHIGH UNIVERSITY IN JUNE NEXT YEAR. SUGGEST YOU CONTACT MS SHARON COE AT E-MAIL ADDRESS slc6-at-lehigh.edu for details.
} From one of the course teachers
Patrick EchlinOn Fri, 2 Oct 1998, Mary Priestley wrote: Multi-Imaging Centre School of Biological Sciences University of Cambridge UK
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } I am in search of an introductory short course in SEM. Do you know of any } that are being offered? } } Thank you, } } Mary Priestley } Dept. of Biology } The Univ. of the South } 735 University Avenue } Sewanee, TN 37383 } } } }
A postdoctoral research position is available to study the chemistry of reactions occurring at the interface of synthetic materials with biological substrates, e.g. enamel, dentin, and bone. Applicants must be experienced in IR and/or Raman spectroscopic characterization of polymeric materials. Ph.D. in chemistry or materials science required. Please send curriculum vitae, description of research experience and three letters of reference to: Paulette Spencer DDS, PhD, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry, 650 E. 25th St., Kansas City, MO 64108. E-mail: spencerp-at-umkc.edu.
I would be interested checking some TIFF image exports from other users. You can e-mail the TIFF images as attachments to me (not the listserver please). Please indicate some details about the image (microscope, etc.) in the e-mail. If you cannot handle the e-mail attachment on your end. I can provide a link to our ftp site where you can transfer the images. I will post a summary of results after I have a chance to check them out.
Scott ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Scott D. Davilla Phone: 919 489-1757 (tel) 4pi Analysis, Inc. Fax: 919 489-1487 (fax) 3500 Westgate Drive, Suite 403 email: davilla-at-4pi.com Durham, North Carolina 27707-2534 web: http://www.4pi.com
We have here on our JEOL 8600 electron probe a NORAN EDS detector (Si(Li)) which is about 10 years of age. This spectrometer has been quite reliable, but since about a week now, I have noticed major shifts in peak energy which for a specific characteristic x-ray can be in the order of up 1 keV. The shift seem to be intermittent, and for example, after one hour, the system could come back to normal for an hour or so, and so on.
We are trying to troubleshoot this problem, and I was wondering if some would have any suggestions of where the problem may likely lie (detector, PHA, etc...??).
Thank you
Yves Thibault Research Scientist Dept. of Earth Sciences University of Western Ontario London, Ontario CANADA e-mail : ythibaul-at-julian.uwo.ca
We have been dealing with the nonsquare pixels from our XL30 for a coup= le of years now. We use Photoshop Actions to resample by using the Image Siz= e command and the following settings.
Photoshop can be set to for individual or batch modes reducing the whol= e process one single mouse click. At one time Philips had an import comm= and for MS Word that imported images and corrected the aspect ratio. Bob Anderhalt (now with Edax) may have the instructions to make this work.
Joe Neilly Abbott Laboratories D-45M, AP31 200 Abbott Park Rd. Abbott Park, IL 60064-3537 USA phone: 847-938-5024 email: joe.neilly-at-abbott.com =
We have a Link eXL spectrometer and have experienced the same problem you are describing. We are still not sure what the source of the problem is, but these are some options to try for correcting the problem: 1. Frequently run a gain calibration. We use copper. 2. Condition the spectrometer to clear away contaminants. 3. Re-load the software. Good luck! ---------- } From: Yves Thibault To: Microscopy; Jackie Terry; Wayne England -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
Hi to all
We have here on our JEOL 8600 electron probe a NORAN EDS detector (Si(Li)) which is about 10 years of age. This spectrometer has been quite reliable, but since about a week now, I have noticed major shifts in peak energy which for a specific characteristic x-ray can be in the order of up 1 keV. The shift seem to be intermittent, and for example, after one hour, the system could come back to normal for an hour or so, and so on.
We are trying to troubleshoot this problem, and I was wondering if some would have any suggestions of where the problem may likely lie (detector, PHA, etc...??).
Thank you
Yves Thibault Research Scientist Dept. of Earth Sciences University of Western Ontario London, Ontario CANADA e-mail : ythibaul-at-julian.uwo.ca
We are having difficulty fixing schistomatium parasites for TEM. Standard glut/Os protocols results in shrinkage and curling of the adult worms. Does anyone have a better approach?
TIA
Bob
Dr. Robert R. Wise Department of Biology and Microbiology University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Oshkosh, WI 54901
(920) 424-3404 tel (920) 424-1101 fax wise-at-uwosh.edu www.uwosh.edu/departments/biology/wise/wise.html
This is interesting and I didn't know about this problem. Now that I am in the market for a new SEM, I have a question to pose, Why are we as microscopists and consumers putting up with this type of crap? Is it time to press the microscope manufacturers to have a digital image format for interchange as was done for the X-ray spectra, i.e. MSA/MAS format, a number of years ago? I agree with John Mansfield, it is a no-brainer that they should be giving us square pixels and outputs with correct aspect ratios.
This question may not be appropriate for this site, but I thought it would be the quickest we to reach a large number of people. We are trying to locate a lab in the Chicago area (around the airport) with an SEM or EMP. What we hope is to have the instrument available for same day analysis of normal-to-surface samples(EDS). We are working with Alliance Steel and hoped to find a lab fairly close. If anyone can help with this matter, we'd greatly appreciate it. The dates we are looking at would be Oct 13-15th. Please respond via e-mail or call me at 513-727-5850 Armco, Inc. Thanks!!
Thanks to those that helped me with the silicon spicules in the sponge sample. Just using a diamond knife (an old one) made good sections, but soaking the block in dilute formic acid made the sections cut with less damage and I saw no change in the tissue. THANKS
I know from experience that there is no absolutes with immunolabeling with EM but my questions are "in general" 1. Has anyone tried doing immunogold labeling (post embedding) after doing DAB and peroxidase staining (before or after processing) What effect would hydrogen peroxide have on antigenic sites? We will be using UNICRYL as the embedding media polymerised by UV at 4 C. I don't have additinal tissue to experiment with. 2. When doing Double immunogold what pit fallls have people found? There are some old references (70s - 80s) that seem to be referenced with no new adaptations, Bendayan, Roth etc. I have read about using two sided and one sided. Pros & cons? Thanks for any help!
B&L do not seem to make long working distance objectives anymore. But they may be on the used market. I have been unable to locate any.
The semiconductor company that I work for, is looking for some of these for our B&L Micro Zoom scope. One lead that was a dead end at least gave me some possible catalog numbers.
B&L # 311384 25X 311385 50X 311386 50X High Res 311390 50X Ultra LWD
Any leads would be great! TIA
Phil
FYI The use for these LWD is for looking at the die inside a package while probing various signal lines. -- ********************************************************************** Philip Datner datner-at-netcom.com San Jose, CA datner-at-engmail.ulinear.com **********************************************************************
I would like to thank all responded to my call, especially Mr. ZHANG Tiejun who was very kind and helpfull, and people from JEOL US. Thank you very much! Andrew
One possible area to look at is a flucuating power supply. Does the peak always shift in the same direction, or does it flucuate around the correct eV. If it shifts in one direction then it points to a different problem.
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----- } From: Jackie Terry {jterry-at-ortech.on.ca} To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com}
University of Oxford on 22-25 March, 1999 Abstract deadline: 4 December 1998
Organized on behalf of EMAG, Institute of Physics by: Prof Tony Cullis (a.g.cullis-at-sheffield.ac.uk) Dr Richard Beanland (richard.beanland-at-gecm.com =20 Co-sponsored by the Royal Microscopical Society and Endorsed by the M= aterials Research Society
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CONFERENCE SCIENTIFIC SESSIONS These will focus on the most recent advances in the application of tr= ansmission and scanning electron microscopy, SPM and X-ray diffraction to the st= udy of the structural and electronic properties of semiconducting materials.
Main topic areas: - Characterisation of as-grown semiconductors. - Investigation of lattice defect and impurity behaviour. - Study of the effects of semiconductor processing treatments. - Assessment of finished electronic devices.
Special conference sessions: - Developments in high resolution imaging and analytical transmissi= on electron microscopy. - Local area thin specimen preparation by FIB and related methods. - The nature of epitaxial layers, including quantum well, wire and = dot structures - strain relaxation, defect introduction, morphological distort= ion, self-organization, luminescence. - Wide bandgap semiconductors, especially III-V nitrides. - The structure and properties of dislocations and defect boundarie= s. - Metal-semiconductor contacts and silicides. - The effects of processing treatments. - The exploitation of advanced scanning techniques - SEM-EBIC, SEM-CL, etc - STM, AFM, SCM, BEEM, etc.
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INVITED SPEAKERS H. Bender (IMEC) "Focused Ion Beam Sample Preparation" J.C. Bravman (Stanford University) "In situ Electromigration Studies" H. Cerva (Siemens) "TEM for Device Process Development" R.F. Davis (NCSU) "Growth of GaN Films" P.F. Fewster (Philips) "X-ray Diffraction Methods" E.A. Fitzgerald (MIT) "Dislocations in Graded Layers" Y Homma (NTT) "In situ SEM of Epitaxy" C J Humphreys (Cambridge University) "Advances in HREM" R. Kleiman (Lucent Technologies) "SCM of MOSFETs" J.A. Mardinly (Intel) "TEM of Devices" P. Ruternan (ISMRA, Caen) "Atomic Structure of Defects in GaN" B. Sieber (Lille University) "CL and EBIC of Heterostructures" P. Werner (MPI) "Quantum Dot Growth Phenomena"
********************************
CONFERENCE PAPERS Contributed papers are requested in all areas indicated above. Submi= tted papers will be scheduled for either oral or poster presentation. Oral= papers will be given in a single sequence of sessions: there will be no para= llel presentations. Poster papers will be available for viewing near to t= he conference lecture theatre, with assigned times for defence by author= s.
ABSTRACT SUBMISSION The abstract deadline is 4 December 1998 and online abstract submissi= on is now available (see below).=20
CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS The Proceedings of the conference will be published in the Institute = of Physics Conference Series, as for previous meetings. Final paper manuscripts= will be scheduled for delivery at the conference.
TRADE EXHIBITION A trade exhibition covering all semiconductor microscopy technologies= will be held on 23-24 March in areas adjacent to the conference lecture theat= re.=20 Commercial enquiries should be directed to Jacqui Watts (see below).
ADDITIONAL CONFERENCE ACTIVITIES These include: - the Annual Materials Lecture of the Royal Microscopical Society (= topic to be confirmed) - special symposium on =91Thin Sample Preparation=92 covering topic= s such as focussed ion beam methods, tripod polishing and direct cleavage techn= iques.
CONFERENCE INFORMATION Further details, including abstract submission information, can be ob= tained =66rom the conference Website http://www.iop.org/Confs. Alternatively, please contact Ms Jacquie Watts, Conferences Departmen= t, The Institute of Physics, 76-78 Portland Place, London W1N 3DH, UK. Tel: +44-(0)1865-248768; Fax: +44-(0)1865-791237; E-mail: conferences-at-io= p.org =20
This problem sounds similar to a problem I had with an old car. The engine ran well until it warmed up. It would then cough and stall. It would start again after the engine had cooled. Once the engine was hot, the car would stall again. The root cause was a loose connection in an oxygen sensor. When the engine was cold, there was sufficient contact between the wires. When hot, the contact was intermittent due to expansion and separation of the metals in the sensor connector.
Since your data acquisition hardware is ten years old, some of the components may have degraded slightly. First, take a look at the boards and look for obvious signs of damage such as fried resistors, blackened/bubbled plastic, and similar features. If possible, see if you can locate a hot spot when this problem occurs. You might be able to smell something unusual as well. If you have an infrared camera, use it. Then, I'd call Noran for help. The service engineer in my area excels at hardware diagnostics and she says the rest of the service group is better than she is.
Harold J. Crossman OSRAM SYLVANIA INC. Lighting Research Center 71 Cherry Hill Dr. Beverly, MA 01915 (978) 750-1717 crossman-at-osi.sylvania.com http:///www.sylvania.com
} Hi to all } } We have here on our JEOL 8600 electron probe a NORAN EDS detector } (Si(Li)) which is about 10 years of age. This spectrometer has been } quite reliable, but since about a week now, I have noticed major shifts } in peak energy which for a specific characteristic x-ray can be in the } order of up 1 keV. The shift seem to be intermittent, and for example, } after one hour, the system could come back to normal for an hour or so, } and so on. } } We are trying to troubleshoot this problem, and I was wondering if some } would have any suggestions of where the problem may likely lie } (detector, PHA, etc...??). } } Thank you } } Yves Thibault } Research Scientist } Dept. of Earth Sciences } University of Western Ontario } London, Ontario } CANADA } e-mail : ythibaul-at-julian.uwo.ca } }
I am a grad student at WPI. I am currently attempting to write a paper = on the above subject. Do you have any resources or leads on microbial = induced corrosion. Thanks for your assistance.
{!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} {FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2} I am a grad student at WPI. I = am currently=20 attempting to write a paper on the above subject. Do you have any=20 resources or leads on microbial induced corrosion. Thanks for your =
If the shift is linear across the collected spectrum (same offset at high energy as low) I would suspect the Analog to Digital Converter reference voltage to be unstable.
If the shift is non linear, the ADC gain stability would be suspect.
I would think such a change could also result from gain changes in the detector FET/preamp.
Trouble shooting details would require a rather lengthly reply.
Good luck!
Woody White McDermott Technology, Inc. mtiresearch.com
Me: http://www.geocities.com/capecanaveral/3722
he Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Hi to all
We have here on our JEOL 8600 electron probe a NORAN EDS detector (Si(Li)) which is about 10 years of age. This spectrometer has been quite reliable, but since about a week now, I have noticed major shifts in peak energy which for a specific characteristic x-ray can be in the order of up 1 keV. The shift seem to be intermittent, and for example, after one hour, the system could come back to normal for an hour or so, and so on.
We are trying to troubleshoot this problem, and I was wondering if some would have any suggestions of where the problem may likely lie (detector, PHA, etc...??).
Thank you
Yves Thibault Research Scientist Dept. of Earth Sciences University of Western Ontario London, Ontario CANADA e-mail : ythibaul-at-julian.uwo.ca
Bob: I worked with those critters some years ago. They are challenging and I do not believe that you would find any "beautiful" pictures of schistomatium in the literature. I concluded that the glutaraldehyde, which is the larger molecule, does not enter through the cuticle. GA penetrates other specimens for a greater distance then does Os, but very dense cuticles may not be penetrated by GA at all. I would fix this schistosomes using Os at perhaps 30 degrees C, for half an hour, in the hope to achieve any fixation at all. The alternate approach and I never had opportunity to pursue this, would be freeze substitution or a freeze-vitrification method. I think the latter would be the most promising means to achieve better preservation. Cheers Jim Darley ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Phone +61 7 4774 0370 Fax: +61 7 4789 2313 Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes **************************** www.proscitech.com.au *****
On Wednesday, 7 October 1998 1:54, "wise-at-vaxa.cis.uwosh.edu"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com [SMTP:"wise-at-vaxa.cis.uwosh.edu"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com] wrote: } } } We are having difficulty fixing schistomatium parasites } for TEM. Standard } glut/Os protocols results in shrinkage and curling of the } adult worms. } Does anyone have a better approach? } } TIA } } Bob } } } Dr. Robert R. Wise } Department of Biology and Microbiology } University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh } Oshkosh, WI 54901 } } (920) 424-3404 tel } (920) 424-1101 fax } wise-at-uwosh.edu } www.uwosh.edu/departments/biology/wise/wise.html } }
Ricky, Yes, it is possible to combine histochemical and immunocytochemical procedures successfully on the same specimen. I first stained PMN's (leucocytes) for myeloperoxidase and osmicated (preembedding) as per published protocols. The fixation was specific for immunolabelling . The cells were then embedding in LR White and sections were immunostained routinely.
Wallace Ambrose Electron Microscopy Center Dental Research Center University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, NC
I am interested in any information or experience that you might have or had with the printers above for reproduction of photo quality prints. Cost per page (for B&W), print integrity, etc. I am looking to purchase a printer to defray the cost of film for more routine analysis.
Any information is appreciated.
David Rose
======================== David BG Rose W.L. Gore and Associates Elkton, MD
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This posting is a response to a communication between Hildy Crowley and me concerning which is preferable for dehydration...acetone or ethyl alcohol. It originated as a question I had regarding her procedure for membrane fixation which was a response to a thread asking about use of maleate buffers. Other comments/opinions would be welcomed. ==========
In response to whether to use acetone or alcohol as preferred dehydrant, there does not seem to be a definitive answer. Some of the older texts seem to lean on the side of acetone because it appears to extract less phospholipid. However, depending on the type of tissue you are fixing, that may not be the only, or even the most important type of intracellular lipid. Ethanol appears to extract less hydrophobic lipids than acetone. The type of fixation is critical for preservation of lipids (as well as proteins and other cell components) for each specific tissue. Time of dehydration also appears to be important to extraction rates.
For those that want to review the literature, a good place to start is some of the general reference books (Bozzola & Russell-Electron Microscopy(1992); Dykstra-Biological Electron Microscopy(1992); Hayat-Fixation for Electron Microscopy(1981); Hayat-Principles and Techniques of EM(1981); etc.).
I have always tried different fixative-buffer combinations with new tissues before deciding on a specific protocol since what works for one sample is not always optimum for another. Perhaps we should take the little extra time to check dehydration agents as well. I prefer using ethanol since it is less volatile, less toxic and does not take up water quite as quickly as acetone....however, I also am open to using whatever will give superior final results.
Debby ===================== Debby Sherman, Manager Phone: 765-494-6666 Microscopy Center in Agriculture FAX: 765-494-5896 Dept. of Botany & Plant Pathology E-mail: sherman-at-btny.purdue.edu Purdue University 1057 Whistler Building West Lafayette, IN 47907-1057
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FALL MEETING OF THE METROPOLITAN MICROSCOPY SOCIETY
Time: 9:30 am (registration begins)
Place: Radisson Inn, 601 From Rd., Paramus, NJ, (201) 262-6900
Directions: Garden State Parkway to Exit 165 (E. Ridgewood Ave./Oradell Ave.) From Road is on the west side of the Garden State Parkway, and adjacent to it.
AGENDA =======================
* 9:30 - 10:30 Registration -- $20 (includes buffet lunch). PLEASE PRE-REGISTER SO WE CAN GET A PROPER ESTIMATE FOR THE BUFFET LUNCH! (See contacts at bottom of notice)
*************************************** * Coffee and Danish sponsored by JEOL * ***************************************
* 10:30 - 10:45 Introductory Remarks and society business (Phil Flaitz).
* 10:45 - 11:30 GOING NONDISPERSIVE, Kurt Heinrich, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD.
* 11:30 - 12:15 THE APPROACHING REVOLUTION IN X-RAY MICROANALYSIS: ENERGY DISPERSIVE SPECTROMETRY WITH SILICON DRIFT DETECTORS AND MICROCALORIMETERS, Dale E. Newbury, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD
* 1:00 - 1:45 EDS FROM THEN TILL NOW---A CHRONOLOGY OF INNOVATION, John Friel, Princeton Gamma-Tech, Princeton, NJ.
* 1:45 - 2:30 SOME PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS IN THE ANALYSIS OF EDS SPECTRA AT LOW ENERGIES AND LOW VACUUM, Bob Anderhalt, EDAX Inc., Mahwah, NJ.
* 2:30 - 3:15 PROGRESS TOWARDS ATOMIC-RESOLUTION X-RAY MICROANALYSIS, David Williams, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA.
For more information OR TO PRE-REGISTER please contact either:
Phil Flaitz or Evan Slow (914) 892-3094 (201) 760-2524 flaitz-at-us.ibm.com ess-at-feico.com
Philip L. Flaitz IBM Analytical Services Ph.......(914) 892-3094, FAX -2003 flaitz-at-us.ibm.com
by mail.unixg.ubc.ca with smtp (Exim 1.92 #1) id 0zQw6a-0000I3-00; Wed, 7 Oct 1998 09:06:24 -0700 Message-Id: {2.2.32.19981007160636.008e9f60-at-pop.interchange.ubc.ca} X-Sender: mager-at-pop.interchange.ubc.ca X-Mailer: Windows Eudora Pro Version 2.2 (32) Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Dear Yves, I had a similar problem with a Kevex that turned out to be a broken wire inside the high-voltage bias supply. The wire to the connector was broken but hidden under the shrink-wrap insulation. If it touches momentarily you will get good calibration, but after a while with no bias your peaks will droop. Hope this helps. You wrote: } Hi to all } } We have here on our JEOL 8600 electron probe a NORAN EDS detector } (Si(Li)) which is about 10 years of age. This spectrometer has been } quite reliable, but since about a week now, I have noticed major shifts } in peak energy which for a specific characteristic x-ray can be in the } order of up 1 keV. The shift seem to be intermittent, and for example, } after one hour, the system could come back to normal for an hour or so, } and so on. } } We are trying to troubleshoot this problem, and I was wondering if some } would have any suggestions of where the problem may likely lie } (detector, PHA, etc...??). } } Thank you } } Yves Thibault
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-interchg.ubc.ca
It was asked whether etching LR White would help solve high background problems. LR White is an acrylic. Acrylics are far less crosslinked and far more hydrophilic than epoxies. Moreover, osmium is generally not used with this system. Etching LR White could be done, but it almost never is. It probably would not withstand the process very well - even epoxies develop holes and thin out. Your first goal in immunoAu is to get signal. Got signal? Great! Increasing the concentration of antibody is likely to cause more background than wanted. Need to lower background? Dilute the antibody stepwise for starters. Get any good immuno text and follow the suggestions for lowering background one by one. Not enough signal then? Try increasing signal stepwise as instructed in immuno texts. Etching the LR will not solve your background problems. It is likely to be a big mess. Bye, Hildy
I am looking for a motorized drawer (like a CD rom Drawer) that is used for microscope slides. Does anyone know of such a unit or where I might be able to look. Any help or info would be greatly appreciated.
A good start: ASM Metals Handbook Volume 13: Corrosion. The whole ASM Metals Handbook series is probably in the WPI library.
Harold J. Crossman OSRAM SYLVANIA INC. Lighting Research Center 71 Cherry Hill Dr. Beverly, MA 01915 (978) 750-1717 crossman-at-osi.sylvania.com http:///www.sylvania.com
} -----Original Message----- } From: John Rhatigan [SMTP:jrhatigan-at-entwistleco.com] } Sent: Wednesday, October 07, 1998 7:37 AM } To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } Subject: Microbial Induced Corrosion } =20 } I am a grad student at WPI.=A0 I am currently attempting to write a = paper on } the above subject.=A0 Do you have any resources or leads on microbial } induced corrosion.=A0 Thanks for your assistance.
The references I sent out for the maleate buffer systems required acetone for dehydration. I have used the system for llamelar bodies in lung tissue. These structures have a high phospholipid component. We tried the acetone, we tried the alcohol. Acetone was slightly better than alcohol for this purpose. But the most astonishing and unexpected preservation improvement appeared when the tissue was fixed overnight in the refrigerator in a fresh quantity of osmium. That effect was truly startling. Bye, Hildy
John, One area that comes to mind involves the biofilm corrosion of ocean = going boats' copper paint bottoms. I have seen some posters on biofilms = attacking copper at a MSA meeting a few years ago and it also involves work the = marine paint industry is interested in as well. Good luck, Dave Audette audette-at-osi.sylvania.com
} -----Original Message----- } From: John Rhatigan [SMTP:jrhatigan-at-entwistleco.com] } Sent: Wednesday, October 07, 1998 7:37 AM } To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } Subject: Microbial Induced Corrosion } =20 } I am a grad student at WPI.=A0 I am currently attempting to write a = paper on } the above subject.=A0 Do you have any resources or leads on microbial } induced corrosion.=A0 Thanks for your assistance.
Sounds like a problem for Click and Clack ---------- } From: Crossman, Harold To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com -----------------------------------------------------------------------
We have both. HP LaserJet's which we use for viewing B&W images. The 600 dpi output is more than good enough for most work and we seldom go to film anymore. You won't have any trouble getting someone who has one to print a BMP or other photo out to show you how good they look. I also have an Epson 1440x720 dpi color printer for near photo quality in color, and I seldom use it for that, although I just bought a digital camera. I also have a 300 dpi HP 1600color inkjet which I use the heck out of because its fast and good enough for initial work like cropping and framing and positioning. Film is fast becoming sidelined in all the branches of our company, and I see the same thing wherever I go. I am getting a 1200 dpi LaserJet with my next machine so my B&Ws will look even better. The metallurgists are jealous because they are stuck with an expensive, slow photo printing system which uses proprietary file formats. They will be upgraded someday.
I don't know anything about Alps. HP is so easy to set up (network too) and has the fastest drivers, Epson had to outdo them big in dpi to get my attention.
Tim Chavez Boeing Chem Characterization Lab
____________________________________________________ It is those people who have been good to you that you should try to get even with.
} ---------- } From: } "drose-at-wlgore.com"-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com[SMTP:"drose-at-wlgore.com"-at-Sparc } 5.Microscopy.Com] } Sent: Wednesday, October 07, 1998 8:27 AM } To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } Subject: Printers - Epson vs HP vs Alps? } } } I am interested in any information or experience that you might have } or had } with the printers above for reproduction of photo quality prints. } Cost per } page (for B&W), print integrity, etc. I am looking to purchase a } printer } to defray the cost of film for more routine analysis. } } Any information is appreciated. } } David Rose } } } ======================== } David BG Rose } W.L. Gore and Associates } Elkton, MD } } } } } }
I wish to find out when to use digital deconvulation software vs confocal real time vs confocal scanning microscopy. The application is to visualize the intracellualr location of FITC tagged oligonuceotides obtained from animals treated with it in vivo. The second application is to characetrize the movement of cells in response to chemotactic agents. These are very slow movements, but the cells have to be live.
What is a good general criterion for evaluation of a core microscopy facility in an academic situation? What kind of ranking priority may be assigned to different operations, such as research and service, management of the core facility, cost recovery (user fee), teaching commitment (regular and short courses), publications, etc.
A user fee is levied in most labs for use of major instruments. The sample preparation methods may influence the amount of time a particular instrument is in use, specially a TEM. What would be an average estimate, in terms of percent time spent per year on TEMs, SEMs and Confocals in a core facility?
Randy Mandryk Microtechnique Lab, Room CW 225T EXT 3473, Biological Sciences University of Alberta
} In response to whether to use acetone or alcohol as preferred } dehydrant, there does not seem to be a definitive answer ..........
Quite right, there does not seem to be a simple or definitive answer to this. Years ago we did some work on the extraction of C14 labelled components from cells fixed and dehydrated with different protocols. The final conclusion was that there is not much difference in general extractive power of acetone versus ethanol, but what came out clearly was that the 70% step (acetone or ethanol) is the great extractor. This step extracts 10x as much as the anhydrous step. Leaving the material in 70% ethanol or acetone does serious damage to its structure and composition. The ref is: Coetzee & van der Merwe, 1989: Extraction of Carbon 14-labeled compounds from plant tissue during processing for electron microscopy. J Electron Microsc. Technique, 11:155-160.
Jan C
Prof Jan Coetzee Head: Lab for Microscopy and Microanalysis Tel:+27-12-420-2075 University of Pretoria Fax:+27-12-362-5150 Pretoria 0002, South Africa http://www.up.ac.za/science/electron/emunit1.htm
As a SEM user and responsible for lab equipment, I'm looking for = scientific and technical informations about what's new and which are the = last subjects discussed all around our world. I'm only registered to one = journal "microscopy and analysis" (because it is free of charges, of = course...) I would like to know which are the most common journals you read to get = knowledge in new SEM techniques, applications (I'm especially interested = in VPSEM) and also in X-ray analysis.What are the interest/concern of = each journal, publication delay for papers after being submitted and so = on...
As I don't need to receive each whole journal (and I can't afford the = whole fees neither) and that University is for me too costly in time, my = question is : Is there any way to get the abstracts from any web site? or at least the = current contains? May I register somewhere to receive last submitted = papers abstracts or at least titles with the e-mail?
Thank you for answers. Jean-Francois COULON,=20 Materials Department, ecole d'ingenieurs Louis de Broglie Campus de Ker Lann 35170 Bruz, France. direct e-mail : materiaux-at-ecole-debroglie.fr
Another paper which contains valuable information on the extraction of various radiolabeled components (from bacteria) during substitution is: L.L.Graham, T.J.Beveridge (1990) J.Bacteriol. 172, 2141-2149 Evaluation of freeze-substitution and conventional embedding protocols for routine electron microscopic processing of eubacteria.
regards, Reinhard Rachel
Dr. Reinhard Rachel Universitaet Regensburg Lehrstuhl fuer Mikrobiologie (Prof. Dr. K.O. Stetter) D - 93040 Regensburg Tel.: xx49-941-943-4534 Fax.: xx49-941-943-1824 http://www.biologie.uni-regensburg.de/Mikrobio/Stetter/Gruppen/rachel.html e-mail: Reinhard.Rachel-at-biologie.uni-regensburg.de
Crowley's statement about the importance of fixation, in my experience, is correct. Previous work (20 years ago) on multilamellar bodies in lung indicated a slight difference in choice of dehydrants. Ethanol and acetone alone seemed to extract lipids similarly. However, a mixture of ethanol and acetone (70:30) worked better. Further, dehydration was done at 4 degrees C with tissue cut to {1mm cubes, 2 minutes per step and put into 100% Spurr before warming to room temperature. Beware of condensation ruining the Spurr. I might choose LR White or Gold now.
Hello ,microscopists does anybody know e-mail and the name of the chairman of "Uni-Export Instruments Ltd" (UK)? Please, mail to gusev-at-ipm.sci-nnov.ru
Best regards, Sergey mailto:gusev-at-ipm.sci-nnov.ru
First I want to thank all that sent TIFF images exported from their microscopes. I also want to thank Dirk van der Wal of Philips in Eindhoven for a very quick reply to my specific questions about the XL30 and TIFF export.
Now the results. Yes, on some microscopes, the TIFF exports are images with non-square pixels. However, all the images that have non-square pixels also have x and y resolution tags that if used will present the image in the correct aspect ratio. For example, our XL30 (in standard definition mode) exports a 712 x 484 pixels image that is really 4:3 in visual aspect ratio. The x-resolution tag is 89/3 or 29.667 pixels/cm and the y-resolution tag is 26.889 pixels/cm. If the image processing program applies this scaling, then the image will now look correctly. If it does not (and many do not), then the image looks distorted. Why is this done. Well it has to do with how (and when) the framestore in the microscope was designed. Back in the non-digital days, square pixels on the viewing crt and photo crt was the important issue. Even though the actual scan might not be with square pixels, it could be corrected later in analog display. Surprisingly this also tends to be true with the newer digital microscopes. Back to the one I really know, the XL30, why 712 x 484. Why not a true 4:3 for the framestore. I suspect that the reason has to do with NTSC/PAL video output. The XL has a natural NTSC (for N.America) video output. Rather than scan convert the framestore to NTSC/PAL, the framestore uses clever tricks to output either NTSC or PAL video. The side effect is that if you save the digital contents of the framestore and display it assuming square pixels, the image looks distorted.
Is this a misuse of the TIFF tags. Well not really. According to TIFF 6.0 spec, the use of these tags is optional and can be applied to display, printing or both. Since there is both an x and y tag, this implies that the values can be different. Unfortunatly, about 99% of the image processing programs (both Mac and Win) either ignore the tags or assume that their values are the same (square pixels). It's kind of like pixels can have TIFF legal floating point values but how many image processing programs know what to do with a floating point pixel? Not very many. Are non-square pixels bad? Yes and no. If you do not know that they are non-square, that is very bad. If you know and can tolerated rescaling, then they are not a problem. Just rescale and go. The real problem is the 1) not many imaging programs understand non-square pixels and 2) sometimes this issue is presented as a calibration problem.
So far, only Graphic Converter (thanks John) at http://www.lemkesoft.de. is the only program that I have found that correctly understands and uses these tags. It can also be used to rescale to square pixels. You can also rescale manually in other image processing programs. Philips supplies (thanks Dirk) a Win program called XLstretch that will also correct the TIFF image to square pixels. I know the next time I write a TIFF reader, I too will understand and apply these tags.
Now with the mechanics behind, what of the other issues. Philips exports the raw contents of the framestore without correcting the aspect ratio. This allows reloading into the framestore without rescaling. Well I have to agree with them on this point. Images are data to me and I don't like rescaling very much. Other microscope makers export rescaled images and don't let you know that it was rescaled. In some applications, this whole issue is not important as long as there is some way to rescale the image for display/printing. In others (like mine), the data is the most important part. I cannot rescale or I will contaminate the measurements I'm trying to make. What I will do now is adjust my other equipment to match the pixel aspect ratio. That way I can do data to data comparisions.
So the real result is if TIFF export is important for your use and you require original data then you must ask these two questions; 1) Are the contents of the TIFF file rescaled in anyway? 2) Does the TIFF image have non-square pixels.
If the answer is yes, then the TIFF export is not going to help you and you really need some type of external active scan device that will acquire the type of images you need.
Scott
----------------------------------------------------------------------- Scott D. Davilla Phone: 919 489-1757 (tel) 4pi Analysis, Inc. Fax: 919 489-1487 (fax) 3500 Westgate Drive, Suite 403 email: davilla-at-4pi.com Durham, North Carolina 27707-2534 web: http://www.4pi.com
Madelaine Rodriguez wrote: ================================================== Can anyone direct to a source for Feon FT. I need it to clean an ultrathin window on my EDS system. =================================================== This product was deemed to be a big time ozone eater! That is why you can't find it anywhere, it is illegal to sell it, at least in most countries.
The "replacement" (so far as I know the only one) is called Asahiklin AK 225 . It is a product of Asahi Chemical in Japan. The price however will be a shock to you. But you can purchase it from a firm called Tech Spray, Inc., PO Box 949, Amarillo, TX 79105 Ph: (806) 372-8523. Just make sure you are sitting down when you hear the price. You will wish for the days (and the pricing) of TF!
With regard to its safety in terms of cleaning the window of your EDS system, that I can give no guarantees.
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 ############################ ==================================================
The references I sent out for the maleate buffer systems required acetone for dehydration. I have used the system for llamelar bodies in lung tissue. These structures have a high phospholipid component. We tried the acetone, we tried the alcohol. Acetone was slightly better than alcohol for this purpose. But the most astonishing and unexpected preservation improvement appeared when the tissue was fixed overnight in the refrigerator in a fresh quantity of osmium. That effect was truly startling. Bye, Hildy
Only real photo quality is dye sublimation (kodak, codonics, tektronics, etc) which are expensive (maybe $5K and up). Inkjets like you name, with special, expensive glossy paper and 1200 dpi are almost as good for a few hundred $. I like the Epson Stylus Photo (EX) myself. All will be color (but make good B&W) unless you get a laser printer. Dave Pevear, Houston
} } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } I am interested in any information or experience that you might have or had } with the printers above for reproduction of photo quality prints. Cost per } page (for B&W), print integrity, etc. I am looking to purchase a printer } to defray the cost of film for more routine analysis. } } Any information is appreciated. } } David Rose } } ======================== } David BG Rose } W.L. Gore and Associates } Elkton, MD
Does anyone have current info on what are the requirements for publishing digital micrographs? Has ther ben developed an industrial standard or does each journal have it's own requirements. Are the standards different for TEM vs. SEM? We are looking into digitlzing our microscopes and it is important that this modification is done appropriately so that we obtain a system that does more than produce images for the internet.
Bill
William R.McManus Supervisor Electron Microscope Facility Department of Biology Utah State University Logan UT 84322-5305
My latest opinion- We went 'round and 'round and evaluated all kinds of printers for not just the EM Facility, but our entire research group. We were not deliriously happy with any of them, and finally selected an Epson Stylus Photo (ca. $300) and a Tektronix something dye-sub for ca. $7,000. The Epson is slightly better (!), but the prints are not waterproof.
Here's the punchline: right after finally committing our monies, I found printers that I *far* prefer above all the rest - the Fujix Pictrography 3000 and 4000. They are not dye-sublimation, but use a silver halide technology, making them more like actual photographs than the others. They should be archivable, and the only chemical they require is distilled water. They are cost competitive, and the output is totally awesome! These printers are the best I've seen. The 3000 has come down in price to {$10K. I'd buy one in a heartbeat if I had the money.
Aloha, Tina
http://www.pbrc.hawaii.edu/bemf/microangela **************************************************************************** * Tina (Weatherby) Carvalho * tina-at-pbrc.hawaii.edu * * Biological Electron Microscope Facility * (808) 956-6251 * * University of Hawaii at Manoa * http://www.pbrc.hawaii.edu/bemf* ****************************************************************************
Be very careful using AK-225 for cleaning windows. It is a stronger solvent than Freon, especially for polymers. I'm not sure what polymer the windows are made with, but AK-225 has some definite incompatibilities. AK-225 also has a relatively low exposure limit of 50 ppm.
There are several "Freon" or CFC-113 replacements on the market. None are exactly like CFC-113, but the ones closest to it are AK-225 (hydrochlorofluorocarbon), 3M's HFE 7100 (hydrofluoroether) and DuPont's Vertrel XF (hydrofluorocarbon). Another replacement are the perfluorocarbons from 3M (like PF5052), but I don't believe the general public can get these any more. As Chuck indicated, all are expensive. In drum quantities they are $175-250/gallon. They are also all available as various mixtures and azeotropes to increase their solvency power, since most are not very strong solvents.
I've spent the last 8 years (and a LOT of $) working with replacements for CFC-113 for precision cleaning, so I'm pretty familiar with what's available.
I would not use AK-225 without compatibility studies or the manufacturer's okay. I'd also be hesitant to recommend anything without compatibility testing.
You may want to check some chemical supply houses as you may be able to still get small quantities of CFC-113 for laboratory use.
John Giles Principal Materials Engineer Honeywell Space Systems
This product was deemed to be a big time ozone eater! That is why you can't find it anywhere, it is illegal to sell it, at least in most countries. The "replacement" (so far as I know the only one) is called Asahiklin AK 225 . It is a product of Asahi Chemical in Japan. The price however will be a shock to you. But you can purchase it from a firm called Tech Spray, Inc., PO Box 949, Amarillo, TX 79105 Ph: (806) 372-8523. Just make sure you are sitting down when you hear the price. You will wish for the days (and the pricing) of TF! With regard to its safety in terms of cleaning the window of your EDS system, that I can give no guarantees. Chuck
} Can anyone direct to a source for Feon FT. I need it to clean an } ultrathin window on my EDS system. } Madelaine Rodriguez } AlliedSignal
I will soon use up the last of the Freon which I use for this purpose, and I intend to try a hydrocarbon, perhaps hexane. Recent correspondance on this list does indicate that the oil buildup is predominantly rotary pump oil, so a hydrocarbon solvent should work pretty well without, I hope, being too aggressive to the window-mounting cement. Any detector manufacturers got anything to add on this?
cheers
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
I've seen posts which responded to the original "HP vs Epson vs Alps" which imply Alps is an ink jet. The original poster may have been referring to the Alps 1300 which is a dual mode 600dpi ink jet and dye-sub printer for ~$500. I was personally impressed with the example Alps sent me, but I also hear it may be the slowest dye-sub on the market ... and we all know printer performance has more to do with how well the printer interfaces with the OS. I know nothing beyond this ... but certainly am curious if someone has practical experience.
cheerios, shAf
{} /\ {\/} /\ {\/} /\ {\/} /\ cogito, ergo zZOooOM /\ {\/} /\ {\/} /\ {\/} /\ {} Michael Shaffer, R.A. - ICQ 210524 Geological Science's Electron Probe Facility - University of Oregon mshaf-at-darkwing.uoregon.edu - http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~mshaf/
Since MOXTEK makes most of the thin windows used I should step forward here and say what I know, but I defer to the x-ray detector manufacturers, since only they know which windows were put into which detectors.
We have done some cleaning experiments here, which is appropriate since only we can afford to clean a window till it breaks. We have not tried every solvent, however, but if it is important to you let us knowknow and we will try it.
We like freon too. The only alternate solvents that we have tested are methanol and acetone. These don't damage the window as long as the following rules are met:
1. Use pure solvents so you don't leave a residue 2. Don't let the solvent sit or puddle on the window 3. Don't squirt the window directly
Our method is to point the "snout" of the detector down, at an angle of about 30 degrees. Then we squirt the solvent at the mount (not the window), letting it run across the window by gravity. If you don't let the acetone sit on the epoxy for very long it does not hurt it.
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 two customers that are looking for older equipment. Specifically a Cambridge S-150 SEM and a Philips 300 TEM or equivalent. Please e-mail me if you have any leads. The SEM does not need to be in working order. The customer wants a "parts" machine for his existing S-150.
Dear Madelaine, If you are referring to Freon FT, this is difficult to obtain, since it is now banned from use by all signers of the Montreal Accord to reduce the use of ozone-destroying materials. The USA and Canada are both signers. You should ask your EDX manufacturer, but my thin-window snout can be cleaned with iso-propyl alcohol, then carefully air-dried.
You wrote: } Can anyone direct to a source for Feon FT. I need it to clean an } ultrathin window on my EDS system. } Madelaine Rodriguez } AlliedSignal } } 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-interchg.ubc.ca
I have followed the discussion about the best printer. I have a slightly different take. I have three color ink jets of different makes available to me. My question is what is the best "photographic paper" to use in an ink jet. I have tried Polaroid, Kodak, and HP. I have opinions but only qualitative. Has someone done a comprehensive study about photographic inkjet papers?
Thanks for considering this request.
Blystone in Texas
-------------------------------- Robert V. Blystone, Ph.D. rblyston-at-trinity.edu
Department of Biology Trinity University 715 Stadium Drive San Antonio, Texas 78212 210.736-7243 FAX 210/736-7229
Unfortunately competing publishers are not likely to agree=20 to join forces and publish, even journal contents by=20 subject on the internet. There are, however, abstracts or=20 contents listings available for various journals by=20 particular publishers. If you go to the links in our online=20 (append /links to our address) and use find for=20 "journal" you will get three URLs, including Elsevier's=20 content listing for hundreds of journals. I suppose if you=20 find Springer's equivalent the majority of EM journals=20 would be covered. Cheers Jim Darley ProSciTech Microscopy=20 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=20 *****
On Thursday, 8 October 1998 20:04, Jean-Fran=E7ois COULON=20 [SMTP:materiaux-at-ecole-debroglie.fr] wrote: } } Hi to all } } As a SEM user and responsible for lab equipment, I'm } looking for scientific and technical informations about } what's new and which are the last subjects discussed all } around our world. I'm only registered to one journal } "microscopy and analysis" (because it is free of charges, } of course...) } I would like to know which are the most common journals } you read to get knowledge in new SEM techniques, } applications (I'm especially interested in VPSEM) and } also in X-ray analysis.What are the interest/concern of } each journal, publication delay for papers after being } submitted and so on... } } } As I don't need to receive each whole journal (and I=20 can't } afford the whole fees neither) and that University is for } me too costly in time, my question is : } Is there any way to get the abstracts from any web site? } or at least the current contains? May I register } somewhere to receive last submitted papers abstracts or } at least titles with the e-mail? } } Thank you for answers. } Jean-Francois COULON, } Materials Department, } ecole d'ingenieurs Louis de Broglie } Campus de Ker Lann } 35170 Bruz, France. } direct e-mail : materiaux-at-ecole-debroglie.fr }
The references I sent out for the maleate buffer systems required acetone for dehydration. I have used the system for llamelar bodies in lung tissue. These structures have a high phospholipid component. We tried the acetone, we tried the alcohol. Acetone was slightly better than alcohol for this purpose. But the most astonishing and unexpected preservation improvement appeared when the tissue was fixed overnight in the refrigerator in a fresh quantity of osmium. That effect was truly startling. Bye, Hildy
I find that many operators and field service engineers use IPA (isopropyl alcohol) for EDS window cleaning. Some clean as often as every two weeks! It doesn't attack window glues like acetone might. They use the flow down and over technique. If they are careful it works. If they are too nervous about the process or break too many windows then they call me or check out our web site for a product that cleans differently.
More information: http://www.msa.microscopy.com/SM/XEI/XEIHomePage.html
Ronald Vane XEI Scientific 3124 Wessex Way Redwood City, CA 94061 650-369-0133
Robert, Your different take is valid. I have tried a dozen kinds, HP, Epson, Canon, Different Mill specialties. I have two answers for you. 1. 90 % of what I print on goes onto the plain old office stock because I am just evaluating the report for fit, crop, etc, the details that print preview always fails to clue me in on. Or else the image is instructive enough in the lower resolution mode that I can print on that paper mostly. 2. When I need to approach photo quality, I find I need to match the manufacturer's recommendation, even though the paper for higher than 720 dpi is $0.50 per sheet. This is pretty glossy paper, but the 720 paper doesn't really show the printer weaknesses in 1440 mode since the ink runs into the paper's imperfections which are similar in size to the small dots. I can get some practice scraps from our in house photo-xerox lab, which help me to demonstrate the benefits so my boss will let me order it. Still I seldom use it since our photo's need to be of instructive quality to start with. I do run into problems of properly printing images of slightly mottled panels, but I find that I am just as limited by my source file as I am by my printer's talents. And I have to relate this to you. The clearest smoothest image I ever printed, was on some free labels that came with my Korpak bottles. 12 labels to a sheet, I still have that beautiful image today. But here's something else you have to consider. I used to have a Canon 360 dpi printer and didn't think much of it. Just before I got rid of it, a friend emailed me a large photo. Because the source had so many bits in it, the canon stunned us as it had never had so much detail in the file to turn into an image before. I think it was a 10,000 by 10,000 pixel image from a fancy scanner [exageration]. We stared at the printed photo in disbelief for weeks wondering how we had misjudged the printer so badly, or how to duplicate such photo quality when we wanted it. I believe _____ Microscopy files are seldom even as big as 640x480. That's our challenge, make a good printable picture from that, just don't blow it up too big. Papers seldom limit us, and most customers are satified with low res paper unless you are doing dollar bill intaglio. [ididntsaythat]
I am continually trying new stock and have had GREAT luck with the shiny squares of white cardboard that I take out of my tshirt and underwear packages. Please send me yours (the cardboard not your underwear). These papers have the serious advantage of being very absorbent so the images dry quickly. When I tried printing on a cello window of an envelope, my Epson ink wouldn't dry for hours. So the dots puddled and gave me an artsy useless image that smeared too easily. Be careful, your printer needs a thick paper setting to handle card stock or it may be expensively damaged. I tore some shiny blank pages out of some books tossed by the local library [software engineering texts, 2 years old and uselessly outdated] and got great images on them. The yellow edges made a great image for my family photos. Many ads in the mail are glossy white and have a blank side and I seem to have a graffiti artist's disdain for empty spaces. So I feed it to my printer and finally commit that ______ photo to paper. I know there are other's out there who live by the goof rules and are always stretching these boundaries. Lets here from you guys. I'll bet there are some ladies who have tried printing on vacuum cleaner bags and cereal boxes. Where are you guys who have printed on their six pack cardboard and oil filter packages?
I am thinking about peroxide etching some trash bags and trying them ;-)
Tim Chavez His goofship tonight. (up too late, ... but you asked !!!)
[most of this reply is serious Bob]
} ---------- } From: Robert Blystone[SMTP:rblyston-at-trinity.edu] } Sent: Thursday, October 08, 1998 5:53 PM } To: Microscopy Listserver } Subject: Best printers, best paper } } ---------------------------------------------------------------------- } -- } To the List: } } I have followed the discussion about the best printer. I have a } slightly } different take. I have three color ink jets of different makes } available } to me. My question is what is the best "photographic paper" to use in } an } ink jet. I have tried Polaroid, Kodak, and HP. I have opinions but } only } qualitative. Has someone done a comprehensive study about } photographic } inkjet papers? } } Thanks for considering this request. } } Blystone in Texas } } -------------------------------- } Robert V. Blystone, Ph.D. } rblyston-at-trinity.edu } } Department of Biology } Trinity University } 715 Stadium Drive } San Antonio, Texas 78212 } 210.736-7243 FAX 210/736-7229 } }
Hi all Can people tell me their favourite method for adjusting thickness of formvar films. I'm trying concentration variation but without much success. If concentration variation is the method of choice what are suitable % ranges to try. Many thanks
Chris
Chris Gilpin Experimental Officer Biological Sciences EM Unit G452 Stopford Building Oxford Road Manchester M13 9PT phone +44 0161 275 5170 Fax +44 0161 275 5171 Chris Gilpin http://130.88.91.187/emunit
Michael referred to an Alps 1300, with which we have no experience, however the Alps MD2300 is both a dye-sub and dry transfer heat printer with a 600 dpi resolution (not an inkjet). They refer to the latter process as microdry. It sold for about $700, but may not be their current model.
The dye-sub is quite good, requiring their special paper and cartridges, but extremely slow, a full page photograph taking about 3/4 hour at this resolution. Lower resolution is faster, as is the microdry process which can be used on papers of differing quality. We have had trouble in feeding extremely rough paper through the machine. At 600 dpi resolution, the four color microdry prints take about 5 min.
I don't sell these machines! Len
} I've seen posts which responded to the original "HP vs Epson vs Alps" } which imply Alps is an ink jet. The original poster may have been } referring to the Alps 1300 which is a dual mode 600dpi ink jet and } dye-sub printer for ~$500. I was personally impressed with the example } Alps sent me, but I also hear it may be the slowest dye-sub on the } market ... and we all know printer performance has more to do with how } well the printer interfaces with the OS. I know nothing beyond this ... } but certainly am curious if someone has practical experience. } } cheerios, shAf } } {} /\ {\/} /\ {\/} /\ {\/} /\ cogito, ergo zZOooOM /\ {\/} /\ {\/} /\ {\/} /\ {} } Michael Shaffer, R.A. - ICQ 210524 } Geological Science's Electron Probe Facility - University of Oregon } mshaf-at-darkwing.uoregon.edu - http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~mshaf/ } } } } } Leonard Zablow Howard Hughes Medical Institute 722 West 168 St. New York, N.Y. 10032
I have a ceramic sample that I want to do some carbon EDX analysis on. I have always used methanol or ethanol to clean my samples. My question is will my carbon EDX analysis be affected by the use of any of these organic solvents as a cleaning agent; if so, how much. Is there a better cleaning agent I should use to give me a more accurate result for carbon analysis.
The Windows 95 accessory program 'Imaging For Windows by WANG' can correctly read the x and y resolution tags in TIFF files. I use it to quickly view image files from our rectangular pixel Zeiss DSM982 FESEM.
James S. Romanow The University of Connecticut Physiology and Neurobiology Department Electron Microscopy Facility U-131 Storrs, CT 06269 bsgphy3-at-uconnvm.uconn.edu 860 486-2914 voice 860 486-1936 fax
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RE} publication of digital images 10/9/98 8:56 AM Bill,
You pose a very good question. We have been going through a number of tri= als with our publisher on this very topic. We also have been scanning 35= mm slides into digital format for journal publication.
After a number of iterations we have solved at least some of the problem.= Our publisher needs 300 dpi files so the final published picture(s) don'= t look pixelated.=20
I am sure that someone out there has had some experience with this whole = question, especially John Russ. His Image Processing book was done comple= tely digitally.
The resolution and depth of the files that are captured digitally are muc= h higher than our publisher needs them. The trick is to give the publishe= r just enough data so that their printers can print a good image. It does= n't make any sense to give them an extremely high resolution image if the= y only need 300 dpi/lpi.
I am very interested in hearing from others.
John Shane
--------------------------------------
Dear List;
Does anyone have current info on what are the requirements for publishing=
digital micrographs? Has ther ben developed an industrial standard or do= es each journal have it's own requirements. Are the standards different fo= r TEM vs. SEM? We are looking into digitlzing our microscopes and it is important that this modification is done appropriately so that we obtain = a system that does more than produce images for the internet.
Bill
William R.McManus Supervisor Electron Microscope Facility Department of Biology Utah State University Logan UT 84322-5305
I have a ceramic sample that I want to do some carbon EDX analysis on. I have always used methanol or ethanol to clean my samples. My question is will my carbon EDX analysis be affected by the use of any of these organic solvents as a cleaning agent; if so, how much. Is there a better cleaning agent I should use to give me a more accurate result for carbon analysis.
Hi microsopists, I am having a problem with Spurr resin. The blocks are coming out very brittle. I am careful when I weigh out the components and polymerize at 65C. What else would cause brittle blocks? Another problem is that staining with 1% T blue with 1% borax is very poor. Any suggestions would be of help. Thanks. -- Regards, Gregory Rudomen Technical Specialist University Microscopy Imaging Center State University of New York at Stony Brook 516-444-3126 Greg-at-umic.sunysb.edu ********************************************************** Standard disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this communication are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of the University Microscopy Imaging Center. **********************************************************
I would like to hear more about permanence of images made by different technologies. I am using a wax transfer printer (Sony Mavigraph), which produces fairly attractive glossy pictures on proprietary paper. Paper + "ribbon" cost is, I believe } $1 per print. The material smells unpleasant, but more important, it transfers to adjacent surfaces. Although the original images that have transferred don't seem to lose much in quality, I am concerned about permanence and am interleaving glassine (not easily found in the right size, half of a Euro letter size) to reduce this.
FWIW, I recently saw a demo of a small, relatively cheap dye sub printer, bundled with a camera, that supposedly has better permanence. The picture quality appeared acceptable for record rather than presentation purposes.
Leonard Corwin Research Chemist Fort Dodge Animal Health Princeton, NJ 08543-0400
Try Microtome Service Co 7568 Florian Way Liverpool, NY 13088 (315) 451-1404
-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."
---------- } From: Matthew thomas cimino To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
I am trying to locate a source for Sorvall MT-1 Microtome parts. Please let me know if any are available.
Hi to all, I have just changed the solutions in our developer and fixer baths that serve our two TEMs. Unfortunately, the first couple of users have informed me that their negatives are next to useless and that the negatives are pink around the edges! I'm pretty confident that the developer is ok but the fixer put at my disposal (Agfa Structurfix) was not what I used last time (Ilford Hypam). Any ideas? Many thanks, Andy
__________________________________ Dr Andy Burrows Materials Science and Engineering Department of Engineering The University of Liverpool Liverpool England L69 3BX
Instead of a Freon, you might consider using a low-boiling grade of petroleum ether, or a pure hydrocarbon such as heptane, for cleaning detector windows. It appears from all I have been able to determine that the oil contaminant on EDS detectors is usually hydrocarbon fragments from the oil-sealed rotary mechanical backing pump, and as such would be readily soluble in a hydrocarbon solvent, while the epoxy cements should be very little affected by it. Acetone and the various alcohols, on the other hand, will attack epoxies to some extent, although probably not significantly in the short time they would be exposed in the cleaning process usually used. On the other hand, acetone and the alcohols are not particularly good solvents for hydrocarbons. The old rule form chem lab is, "Like dissolves like".
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
Usually brittleness in Spurr's is caused by moisture in the resin. For example, I once allowed some specimen vials to remain open overnight in a rotator - to enhance penetration. Bad idea. Result: brittle blocks that shattered during trimming. Even traces of moisture in Spurr's will cause this. In ordinary epoxies, this is not a problem (Epon for example could be left open overnight or several days without this problem developing).
} I am having a problem with Spurr resin. The } blocks are coming out very brittle. I am careful } when I weigh out the components and polymerize at } 65C. What else would cause brittle blocks? } Another problem is that staining with 1% T blue } with 1% borax is very poor. Any suggestions would } be of help. 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 ####################################################################
At 02:13 PM 10/9/98 +0100, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Chris,
The way we do this is by taking a graduated cylinder with a constricted end that fits a glass slide (to conserve solution), filling it to the proper depth with the formvar solution, and then capping the cylinder to let the atmosphere inside become saturated with the evaporating solvent. The slide is dipped into the formvar, then lifted out and left dangling in the saturated atmosphere for varying amounts of time. This allows the formvar to drain off the glass surface without drying out. The longer the drain time, the thinner the film.
A paper clamp on a piece of wire is all you need to hold the slide, and the wire allows the tube to remain mostly capped as you pull the slide up out of the solution. Crude, but it works.
Let me know if you have any questions. Hope it helps.
Randy
Randy Tindall Electron Microscope Laboratory Box 3EML New Mexico State University Las Cruces, NM 88003
Chris Gilpin asked the following: ==================================================== Can people tell me their favourite method for adjusting thickness of formvar films. I'm trying concentration variation but without much success. If concentration variation is the method of choice what are suitable % ranges to try. ==================================================== I consulted with the chief of our quality assurance in our filmed grid production area. There was some disagreement between telling all our "secrets" vs. not telling all our secrets. But here are the "secrets" which perhaps others might find of value. But keep in mind that specific technique probably has a lot to do with it as well and then there is that intangible called "art". So I can recite the "recipe" but not the "art" that has to be learned from practice:
For most filmed grid production, we use 0.25 to 0.3 % Formvar(TM) in ethylene dichloride. What is not generally appreciated is that there are a number of different grades of the resin called Formvar, but so far as we know, only one of them is optimum for the filmed grid application. If one was using other grades, they might require different concentrations for the best results. The grade that we use is the grade that we sell for this purpose. And no, we won't tell that little secret.
For thicker films, we would increase that concentration to the range 0.4 to 0.5%. Thicker films are usually made when one wants us to make a holely film with bigger holes. We find that a concentration above about 0.7% results in a film that is literally too thick for any EM application.
If we want thinner films, then one reduces the concentration. But we are already making the films at the borderline in minimum thickness anyhow (because that is what our customers demand) but the concentration could be reduced a bit more to about 0.2%. However, below 0.2%, the film becomes just too succeptible to cracking, so that becomes the lower limit for reducing the thickness.
But anyone who has made filmed grids will attest, the real test, e.g. where the tire hits the pavement, so to speak, is how the Formvar film behaves in the vacuum of the TEM and under exposure to the electron beam. These percentages and other aspects of the technique are all optimized in order to produce optimum performance, e.g. long lasting and virtually no drift. But one really does need a TEM right there, next to where the films are being made, so that they can be instantly inspected and corrective action taken, right there on the spot, e.g. by way of a concentration change. If this is not done, the the QC step end up being when you gear up to do your experiment and then you find out the grids are not stable. Variables such as temperature, humidity and perhaps other factors seem to come into play, so that the optimum concentration one day might not quite be the optimum concentration on some other day. There is even one school of thought that believes that light slowly degrades the solid Formvar which typically might be quite old, since it is used so sparingly.
Disclaimer: SPI Supplies has produced custom coated filmed grids for TEM for customers worldwide for some number of years. More information about the coating of TEM grids 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 ############################ ==================================================
Extend the fixative time. You could try to refix the pink-edged negatives. They may clear but not if it has been too long in the light. Best of luck,
Chuck --- On Fri, 9 Oct 1998 17:32:32 +0100 Andy Burrows {ab0895-at-LIVERPOOL.AC.UK} wrote: -------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Hi to all, I have just changed the solutions in our developer and fixer baths that serve our two TEMs. Unfortunately, the first couple of users have informed me that their negatives are next to useless and that the negatives are pink around the edges! I'm pretty confident that the developer is ok but the fixer put at my disposal (Agfa Structurfix) was not what I used last time (Ilford Hypam). Any ideas? Many thanks, Andy
__________________________________ Dr Andy Burrows Materials Science and Engineering Department of Engineering The University of Liverpool Liverpool England L69 3BX
-----------------End of Original Message-----------------
------------------------------------- Name: Charles Gilbert VOC:(704)355-5261 Carolinas Medical Center FAX:(704)355-8424 Dept of Pediatric Research PO Box 32861 Charlotte, NC 28232-2861
Hi Chris,
I just copy the method from the lab manual which I wrote for my TEM course as follows:
-clean the slide with clean lens paper. -dip slide into formvar (0.3 % w/v solution in chloroform). -draw back the slide slowly (the faster the motion, the thicker the film) and dry the slide vertically (about 1 min). -cut the membrane parallel to the edge of the slide with a razor blade. -dip the slide ( with scored side up ) into water slowly at a 30 degrees angle and let the slide sink down to the bottom of the deep dish. The film should float off onto the water. -place grids (polished side up) on the floating film. -a piece of paper or parafillm is dropped onto the film. -pick up the paper and leave it in a dust-free Petri dish.
The thickness of film can be judged by the light reflection as the method for thin sections. Grey or silver-greay film are good for coating.
Good luck,
Ming
On Fri, 9 Oct 1998, Chris Gilpin 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 } Can people tell me their favourite method for adjusting thickness of formvar } films. I'm trying concentration variation but without much success. If } concentration variation is the method of choice what are suitable % ranges } to try. } Many thanks } } Chris } } } } Chris Gilpin } Experimental Officer } Biological Sciences EM Unit } G452 Stopford Building } Oxford Road } Manchester } M13 9PT } phone +44 0161 275 5170 } Fax +44 0161 275 5171 Chris Gilpin } http://130.88.91.187/emunit } } }
*********************************************** * Ming H. Chen, PhD * * Medicine/Dentistry Electron Microscopy Unit * * #1074B Dentistry Pharmacy Building * * University Of Alberta. * * Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2N8 * * * * Visit My Page At: * * http://www.ualberta.ca/~mingchen * ***********************************************
Here's a summary of the responses I received from my TEM inquiry. THANKS TO ALL OF YOU WHO HELPED ME!!
There were few responses, and it appears to me the data are mainly anectotal. I think the two people who may have authoritative data (or best available) are Barbara Foster and Elinor Solit. Both earn their livings as consultants, and since my interest isn't critical enough to fund a "real" study, I didn't feel justified in asking them for further efforts at this time. I think most of us know them already, but for the record: Elinor Solit: {cambrex%world.std.COM} Barbara Foster: {mme%map.COM} I have no stake in either's services.
The responses: NIH -at- Bethesda, MD ~300 (in 1987) UC Berkeley 10 TEM's active Hawaii 5 Canada ~200 China ~1000 United States ~1000 JEOL units World ~4000 to 5000, 1/3 USA, 1/3 Europe, 1/3 Asia
Chris Gilpin 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 } Can people tell me their favourite method for adjusting thickness of formvar } films. I'm trying concentration variation but without much success. If } concentration variation is the method of choice what are suitable % ranges } to try. } Many thanks } } Chris } } Chris Gilpin } Experimental Officer } Biological Sciences EM Unit } G452 Stopford Building } Oxford Road } Manchester } M13 9PT } phone +44 0161 275 5170 } Fax +44 0161 275 5171 Chris Gilpin } http://130.88.91.187/emunit
-- For Ladd substrates we do the following:
1. Dipping method: 0.25 - 1%
2. Drop on water method: 1 - 2.5%
3. Increase thickness in method 1 by a multiple dipping process.
Charles Duvic, Chemist LADD RESEARCH 13 Dorset Lane Williston, VT 05495
TEL 1-800-451-3406 (US) or 1-802-878-6711 (FROM ANYWHERE) fAX 1-802-878-8074 e-mail ladres-at-worldnet.att.net web site http://www.msa.microscopy.com/SM/LADD
Seneca College is now accepting bids for used EM related equipment from the Bio. Chem department. Please click on the URL provided to view the items available. Thank you.
{http://www/biochemsale/jeol.html} {http://www/biochemsale/jeol.html} Clickto view larger image Seneca College of Applied Arts & Technology has a number of used pieces of electron microscopy laboratory equipment for sale. The most notable of which is a {http://www/biochemsale/jeol.html} JEOL100CX Transmission Electron Microscope. (Click photo to view larger image) Bids for this equipment are being solicited under the following Terms and Conditions. Seneca College's Asset Disposal Policy is in effect throughout the bidding process. All sales are final. All items sold "As-Is, Where-Is" with no warranty given or implied. All offers are subject to sales taxes, where applicable. Payment to Seneca College, and removal of goods from premises within three (3) working days of acceptance of offer. The successful bidder must remove goods from existing positions using a properly insured heavy-equipment mover, if necessary. Seneca College does not assume any responsibility for damage or injury resulting from the use of items purchased. Seneca College reserves the right to accept or reject any, or all bids.
Inspection Date: Monday, October 19, 1998, beginning 11:00am On site contact: Laurel Schollen 416-491-5050 ext 2390 (e-mail; Laurel.Schollen-at-senecac.on.ca) Bids must be received prior to 3:00pm (local time) October 30, 1998 If you require additional information about this Equipment Sale, please contact: Chris Legros, Buyer Seneca College, 416-491-5050 ext 7141 (e-mail; {mailto:Chris.Legros-at-senecac.on.ca} Chris.Legros-at-senecac.on.ca), or John Shannon, Senior Buyer, Seneca College, 416-491-5050 ext 7144 (e-mail; {mailto:John.Shannon-at-senecac.on.ca} John.Shannon-at-senecac.on.ca)
Bids for the BioChem Equipment Sale can be submitted one of two ways:1) Print out and complete the form below, send by facsimile: 905-479-1281, Attention: Chris Legros 2) Fill out the electronic form below and submit via e-mail by selecting the "Submit" button at the end of the form. Within the form below, complete the "Bid Price" for as many items as required. Please complete the contact information at the end of this form. Electron MicroscopesItem #Bid Price Transmission Electron Microscope JEOL #100CX, Serial #Em156134-05 ( {http://www/biochemsale/jeol.html} seephoto)1A Scanning Electron Microscope JEOL #35C SEM, Serial #Em150017-78FK (for parts only)1B Transmission Electron Microscopy Ancillary EquipmentItem #Bid Price LKB knife breakers 1, Serial #7801B2A LKB knife breakers 2, Serial #7801B2B LKB knife breakers 3, Serial #7801B2C Riechert OMU3 microtome2D Riechert OMU3 cryo-cut unit, Serial #151-FC22E Microtome LKB Productor 12F Microtome LKB Productor 22G Microtome 2, Sorval MT-1(1)2H Microtome 3, Sorval MT-1(1)2I Microtome 4, Sorval MT-1(1)2J Microtome 5, Sorval MT-1(1)2K Fresh Tissue Cutter, Serial #V9108902L Vacuum Embedding Oven 1 (rotary vacuum pumps attached), Serial # Thelco 20-Z-72M Vacuum Embedding Oven 2 (rotary vacuum pumps attached), Serial # Thelco model 192N Riechert Embedding System 1, Serial # KT-1002O Riechert Embedding System 2, Serial # KT-1002P Evaporator 1, Baltzers BA32Q Evaporator 2, Baltzers BA3 Serial #14812R Automatic slide dipper (for EM)2S LKB pyramatome2T Sorval JB-4 2U Film Dessicator (rotary vacuum pumps attached)2V LKB Huxley ultramicrotome2W Photographic Darkroom SuppliesItem #Bid Price Durst Point light source enlarger, Serial #138-S3A Photographic Enlarger (Omega)3B Photo Mounting Press, Serial #J175863C Print drier for resin coated paper, Iford, Serial #1050-RC3D (4x) grain focusing aids3E Scanning Electron MicroscopyItem #Bid Price TriVac Rotary Vacuum Pump, D&A, Serial #12913086824A Critical Point Drying apparatus4B Sputter Coater-Hummer V4C Name: Title: Address: City: Prov/State: Telephone:Area codeTelephone:Extension: After completing the above, click "Submit" to send your bid, or "Reset" to clear all fields in the form.
There seems to be all kinds of problems with digital deconvulation software, most notably the time needed to obtain good images. I was interested in finding out if anyone had experience with a digital deconvulation software that was rapid. I have heard that the one from Improvision is rapid, but has someone used it and found it to be good?
I would not change Formvar concentration outside the range of 0.2-0.3% (w/w). (I use only ethylene dichloride; it seems to give better separation of film from the slide). The thickness of film depends on the speed of withdrawal of the slide from the solution; the faster, the thicker film. To make thin film, withdraw the slide from the solution by SLOW and STEADY motion; but NOT out of the jar yet. Drain excess Formvar solution by holding the slide in the vapor above the solution for 15 seconds. This will help you getting more uniform thickness of the film.
Good Luck!
Seung-Geuk Shin SUNY-ESF at Syracuse sgshin-at-syr.edu
============================== } -----Original Message----- } From: Chris Gilpin [mailto:cgilpin-at-fs1.sem.man.ac.uk] } Sent: Friday, October 09, 1998 9:14 AM } To: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: formvar film thickness } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } Can people tell me their favourite method for adjusting thickness } of formvar } films. I'm trying concentration variation but without much success. If } concentration variation is the method of choice what are suitable % ranges } to try. } Many thanks } } Chris } } } } Chris Gilpin } Experimental Officer } Biological Sciences EM Unit } G452 Stopford Building } Oxford Road } Manchester } M13 9PT } phone +44 0161 275 5170 } Fax +44 0161 275 5171 Chris Gilpin } http://130.88.91.187/emunit } } }
I had the same problem, when I used an old batch (3-5 years with occasional uses), or one exposed to moisture (If you keep the bottles in a low temperature for extended shelf life, let it warm before opening the bottle). With bottles out of the box, I had no problem. In my opinion, Spurr's has relatively poor cutting properties, even when the block itself is not brittle. I usually successfully mix Spurr's (complete homogeneous mixture including DMAE) with Epox 812 (complete homogeneous mixture including DMP-30) to improve cutting properties, with minimal sacrifice in Spurr's excellent viscosity. It's been very cooperative for plant tissues.
Seung-Geuk Shin SUNY-ESF at Syracuse sgshin-at-syr.edu
============================================ Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this communication are solely my own. ============================================
} -----Original Message----- } From: Greg R [mailto:greg-at-umic.sunysb.edu] } Sent: Friday, October 09, 1998 11:11 AM } To: microscopy } Subject: Spurr resin } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 microsopists, } I am having a problem with Spurr resin. The } blocks are coming out very brittle. I am careful } when I weigh out the components and polymerize at } 65C. What else would cause brittle blocks? } Another problem is that staining with 1% T blue } with 1% borax is very poor. Any suggestions would } be of help. Thanks. } -- } Regards, } Gregory Rudomen } Technical Specialist } University Microscopy Imaging Center } State University of New York at Stony Brook } 516-444-3126 } Greg-at-umic.sunysb.edu } ********************************************************** } Standard disclaimer: The opinions expressed in } this } communication are my own and do not necessarily } reflect those of the University Microscopy Imaging } Center. } ********************************************************** } }
I would not change Formvar concentration outside the range of 0.2-0.3% (w/w). (I use only ethylene dichloride; it seems to give better separation of film from the slide). The thickness of film depends on the speed of withdrawal of the slide from the solution; the faster, the thicker film. To make thin film, withdraw the slide from the solution by SLOW and STEADY motion; but NOT out of the jar yet. Drain excess Formvar solution by holding the slide in the vapor above the solution for 15 seconds. This will help you getting more uniform thickness of the film.
Good Luck!
Seung-Geuk Shin SUNY-ESF at Syracuse sgshin-at-syr.edu
} -----Original Message----- } From: Chris Gilpin [mailto:cgilpin-at-fs1.sem.man.ac.uk] } Sent: Friday, October 09, 1998 9:14 AM } To: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: formvar film thickness } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } Can people tell me their favourite method for adjusting thickness } of formvar } films. I'm trying concentration variation but without much success. If } concentration variation is the method of choice what are suitable % ranges } to try. } Many thanks } } Chris } } } } Chris Gilpin } Experimental Officer } Biological Sciences EM Unit } G452 Stopford Building } Oxford Road } Manchester } M13 9PT } phone +44 0161 275 5170 } Fax +44 0161 275 5171 Chris Gilpin } http://130.88.91.187/emunit } } }
Randy I hope you get some good responses. I am interested in some of the same questions. Talking to two labs in the USA I seem to be giving away my services, but I need examples of cost recovery, number of personnel, samples per year, costs for current services to compare and substantiate any cuts in services or increases in costs. Another issue is, our chairman now wants lists of publications that (only) include EM micrographs (this is to indicate the value of the core labs). How many labs have to keep that information? I don't believe a core facility should be expected to see that an experiment gets published. I feel lucky if they remember to acknowledge the lab. Plus, work done as abstracts, thesis, presentations, and posters are also important. Am I alone here?
My faculty lab director and I are looking for labs around the US, especially the mid west that would be willing to discuss this type of data and send info through the mail for security if need be. We need to do this fairly soon to get cost increases in place for upcoming grant deadlines. Thanks
Rick Vaughn M.S.
Electronmicroscopy Research Facility Dept. Cell Biology & Anatomy Univ Neb Med Ctr (402) 559-7347 RLVAUGHN-at-MAIL.UNMC.EDU
I have the same problem with JB-4 Plus resin blocks. They are very brittle and tend to shatter during trimming which is very irritating. They have been left in a vaccum dessicator in vials without lids on. The blocks have set with small bubbles on the underside, a problem I haven't previously had using JB-4, not sure why?
On Saturday, 10 October 1998 6:28, Garber, Charles A. [SMTP:cgarber-at-priam.chesco.net] wrote: . . . .There was some disagreement between telling all our "secrets" vs. not telling all our secrets. But here are the "secrets" which perhaps others might find of value. . . . The message is clear: Chuck & Co know how to make filmed grids better than anybody else. Sadly, I learned nothing from the "secrets", I wonder in fact: what were the secrets?
. . . . What is not generally appreciated is that there are a number of different grades of the resin called Formvar, but so far as we know, only one of them is optimum for the filmed grid application. If one was using other grades, they might require different concentrations for the best results. The grade that we use is the grade that we sell for this purpose. And no, we won't tell that little secret. . . . . Oh, now I learn that I was just lucky that all of the films that I had made over about 30 years worked well, yet none of the formvar came from Chuck. But why his reply? The questioner had no problems with formvar but was interested in technique to control thickness.
. . . . .But one really does need a TEM right there, next to where the films are being made, so that they can be instantly inspected and corrective action taken, right there on the spot, e.g. by way of a concentration change. If this is not done, the the QC step end up being when you gear up to do your experiment and then you find out the grids are not stable. .. . . . Other suppliers know nothing and get their films probably made at the back of a soup kitchen. You take a grave risk if you buy your films anywhere else. But why? The question had been on how to control film thickness and not were to buy filmed grids.
. . . .Disclaimer: SPI Supplies has produced custom coated filmed grids for TEM for customers worldwide for some number of years. More information about the coating of TEM grids can be found on our website given below. . . . . This is not a disclaimer, but another vintage, bold-faced advertisement by Chuck. Nobody had asked about his filmed grids and he gave no useful information on how to control film thickness well. Two other writers provided methods ("double dipping" and "lengths of time after dipping in solvent saturated atmosphere") that he may find useful to apply to his assembly line. He is too cheap to pay for advertising his filmed grids and has again used the microscopy server instead.
Non italics by 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 *****
Andy: The fixer was too weak (or exhausted). It is a good idea to periodically check fixer. Place a small piece of undeveloped film in the fixer, full light does not matter. The film will become quite clear in under 30 seconds if its really good. If it takes a minute it's exhausted or made-up too weak. Exhausted fixer could be used to prefix film for a couple of minutes before using good fixer. This will prolong the good fixer's life. A brief water rinse after developing and before fixing is a good idea. I don not like acetic acid because with some materials it can cause mottling. Minimum fixation time is three times the time film takes to clear, but I suggest to not fix for less than three minutes. The colouration of under fixed materials only sometimes disappears when refixing. Certainly, underfixed images should be refixed if useful parts of the neg were unaffected and they too would change if not refixed promptly. Cheers Jim Darley ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Phone +61 7 4774 0370 Fax: +61 7 4789 2313 Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes **************************** www.proscitech.com.au *****
On Saturday, 10 October 1998 2:33, Andy Burrows [SMTP:ab0895-at-LIVERPOOL.AC.UK] wrote: } Hi to all, } I have just changed the solutions in our developer and } fixer baths } that serve our two TEMs. Unfortunately, the first couple } of users } have informed me that their negatives are next to useless } and that } the negatives are pink around the edges! I'm pretty } confident that } the developer is ok but the fixer put at my disposal (Agfa } Structurfix) } was not what I used last time (Ilford Hypam). Any ideas? } Many thanks, } Andy } } __________________________________ } Dr Andy Burrows } Materials Science and Engineering } Department of Engineering } The University of Liverpool } Liverpool } England } L69 3BX } } Tel: +(44) (0)151 794 5372 } Fax: +(44) (0)151 794 4675 } email: ab0895-at-liv.ac.uk
Elisabeth, Some years ago I saw a note in a journal saying: that blocks soften (for a while) and that trimming of brittle blocks is improved, if the blocks are soaked for 24 hours in abs. ethanol. I think that note referred to Spurr's but guess it would work for others. 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 *****
On Saturday, 10 October 1998 12:07, Cox, Elizabeth [SMTP:CoxE-at-prose.dpi.qld.gov.au] wrote: } I have the same problem with JB-4 Plus resin blocks. They } are very brittle } and tend to shatter during trimming which is very } irritating. They have } been left in a vaccum dessicator in vials without lids on. } The blocks have } set with small bubbles on the underside, a problem I } haven't previously had } using JB-4, not sure why? } } Liz } } }
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Jim., I feel your response to Charles Garber's posting was out of line.
You have compounded what may/may not have been a legitimate attempt to help with a totally useless response. You only served to emphasize your demonstrated lack of tolerance. I, for one, would appreciate you're keeping your personal opinions about other list serve members (which came through loud and clear from your sarcastic phrasing) to yourself. Sometimes silence is golden!! Nestor polices this listserve and I am sure will notify offenders of the rules of the listserve if he deems them out of line.
Chuck was right-on about checking films in a TEM. This is especially important when trying to vary thickness as either too thick or too thin can be problematic. The original question may have come from an inexperienced user who, in his/her desire to make thin/thick films, could end up with something quite useless....reminder to check results as you go is not irrelevant information.
Neither is a warning that there are different grades of formvar and what works for one may not work for others. Success in regulating thickness definitely starts with the formvar used, humidity, solvent, "art" of the user, etc....I have often seen where two people working side-by-side will use identical solutions and method yet produce very different results.
Disclaimer: I do not have any relationship with anyone at SPI and only occasionally purchase from that company.
Debby Sherman, Manager Phone: 765-494-6666 Microscopy Center in Agriculture FAX: 765-494-5896 Dept. of Botany & Plant Pathology E-mail: sherman-at-btny.purdue.edu Purdue University 1057 Whistler Building West Lafayette, IN 47907-1057
--------------------------------------
On Saturday, 10 October 1998 6:28, Garber, Charles A. [SMTP:cgarber-at-priam.chesco.net] wrote: . . . .There was some disagreement between telling all our "secrets" vs. not telling all our secrets. But here are the "secrets" which perhaps others might find of value. . . . The message is clear: Chuck & Co know how to make filmed grids better than anybody else. Sadly, I learned nothing from the "secrets", I wonder in fact: what were the secrets?
. . . . What is not generally appreciated is that there are a number of different grades of the resin called Formvar, but so far as we know, only one of them is optimum for the filmed grid application. If one was using other grades, they might require different concentrations for the best results. The grade that we use is the grade that we sell for this purpose. And no, we won't tell that little secret. . . . . Oh, now I learn that I was just lucky that all of the films that I had made over about 30 years worked well, yet none of the formvar came from Chuck. But why his reply? The questioner had no problems with formvar but was interested in technique to control thickness.
. . . . .But one really does need a TEM right there, next to where the films are being made, so that they can be instantly inspected and corrective action taken, right there on the spot, e.g. by way of a concentration change. If this is not done, the the QC step end up being when you gear up to do your experiment and then you find out the grids are not stable. .. . . . Other suppliers know nothing and get their films probably made at the back of a soup kitchen. You take a grave risk if you buy your films anywhere else. But why? The question had been on how to control film thickness and not were to buy filmed grids.
. . . .Disclaimer: SPI Supplies has produced custom coated filmed grids for TEM for customers worldwide for some number of years. More information about the coating of TEM grids can be found on our website given below. . . . . This is not a disclaimer, but another vintage, bold-faced advertisement by Chuck. Nobody had asked about his filmed grids and he gave no useful information on how to control film thickness well. Two other writers provided methods ("double dipping" and "lengths of time after dipping in solvent saturated atmosphere") that he may find useful to apply to his assembly line. He is too cheap to pay for advertising his filmed grids and has again used the microscopy server instead.
Non italics by 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 *****
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-----Original Message----- } From: Chris Gilpin [mailto:cgilpin-at-fs1.sem.man.ac.uk] Sent: 10 October 1998 13:14 To: Me at home
On Saturday, 10 October 1998 6:28, Garber, Charles A. [SMTP:cgarber-at-priam.chesco.net] wrote: . . . .There was some disagreement between telling all our "secrets" vs. not telling all our secrets. But here are the "secrets" which perhaps others might find of value. . . . The message is clear: Chuck & Co know how to make filmed grids better than anybody else. Sadly, I learned nothing from the "secrets", I wonder in fact: what were the secrets?
. . . . What is not generally appreciated is that there are a number of different grades of the resin called Formvar, but so far as we know, only one of them is optimum for the filmed grid application. If one was using other grades, they might require different concentrations for the best results. The grade that we use is the grade that we sell for this purpose. And no, we won't tell that little secret. . . . . Oh, now I learn that I was just lucky that all of the films that I had made over about 30 years worked well, yet none of the formvar came from Chuck. But why his reply? The questioner had no problems with formvar but was interested in technique to control thickness.
. . . . .But one really does need a TEM right there, next to where the films are being made, so that they can be instantly inspected and corrective action taken, right there on the spot, e.g. by way of a concentration change. If this is not done, the the QC step end up being when you gear up to do your experiment and then you find out the grids are not stable. .. . . . Other suppliers know nothing and get their films probably made at the back of a soup kitchen. You take a grave risk if you buy your films anywhere else. But why? The question had been on how to control film thickness and not were to buy filmed grids.
. . . .Disclaimer: SPI Supplies has produced custom coated filmed grids for TEM for customers worldwide for some number of years. More information about the coating of TEM grids can be found on our website given below. . . . . This is not a disclaimer, but another vintage, bold-faced advertisement by Chuck. Nobody had asked about his filmed grids and he gave no useful information on how to control film thickness well. Two other writers provided methods ("double dipping" and "lengths of time after dipping in solvent saturated atmosphere") that he may find useful to apply to his assembly line. He is too cheap to pay for advertising his filmed grids and has again used the microscopy server instead.
Non italics by Jim Darley ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Phone +61 7 4774 0370 Fax: +61 7 4789 2313 Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes **************************** www.proscitech.com.au *****
Dear list Jim Darley has a point. I was asking about ways of controlling film thickness. Here follows the background to my request which will clarify further...
I have a "customer" in my core facility embarking on a serial sectioning project. She needs to use slot grids and has chosen the .75 variety. For whatever reason the films are not lasting as far a prolonged viewing in the microscope. Yes we are carbon coating. Yes we have tried carbon coating before and after section collection. Yes we have tried glow discharging with and without carbon. If anything our films are a bit on the thin side (great for some applications but not this one!) We have produced some thick films but they are very prone to wrinkling. Now you will see the reason for the question. I would like to make thicker films than silver/gold but without wrinkling. Perhaps I am guilty of asking the bare question without detailing why. I would add however that all replies are greatly received. Members of the list never cease to surprise me with their willingness to help. Other posts to the list show that most of us are fighting for our lives to stay in "business". As a community we stand a better chance of survival if we are all successful. Sharing knowledge is part of making our labs a success. I appreciate that commercial companies have a living to make and can be forgiven for keeping trade secrets. As long as the rest of us don't fall into that trap.
Again many thanks to ALL who replied. Long live EM
Chris
Experimental Officer Biological Sciences EM Unit University of Manchester Oxford Road Manchester M13 9PT Phone +44 (0)161 275 5170 Fax +44 (0)161 275 5171
What is available on video that contains footage of membracid sized organisms filmed in motion through an electron microscope? Is there anything available you would suggest from the MSA Video Library? Your help would be greatly appreciated! Thank you, Mark Diegel
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School: Providence College Question: I've had so many questions answered through this service over the last 2 years - It's wonderful.
I'm a senior biology undergrad looking forward to continuing my education in grad school - hopefully a Ph.D program in cell biology. Who out there has opinions on institutions with exceptional microscopy facilities? I'm really into TEM/SEM but would love to experience some more advanced techniques and equipment. I really want a program that's interested in answerering questions of cell biology by pushing the limits of microscopy and related tools. Where should I look?
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Mark -
The radiation used for imaging in an electron microscope is lethal. There's a lot of good light microscopy available on the WWW. Look at the website list in the MICRO bibliography (URL below); start with the list at "K-12 microscopy resources". "Cells Alive" might be a good place to begin.
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/pci.html
Dear fellow microscopists: Could anyone direct me to a reliable antibody making facility here in the US? Thank you. Linda Chicoine Viatech Imaging Ivoryton, CT lchicoine-at-snet.net
Yes, and before the radition destroyed the advancing horde of the attacking nanocreatures the vacuum pump of the electron microscope rendered them lifeless - Ed Sharpe in the temple of doom
Doug - } } I'm a senior biology undergrad looking forward to } continuing my education in grad school - hopefully } a Ph.D program in cell biology. Who out there has } opinions on institutions with exceptional microscopy } facilities? I'm really into TEM/SEM but would love } to experience some more advanced techniques and } equipment. I really want a program that's interested } in answerering questions of cell biology by pushing } the limits of microscopy and related tools. } Where should I look?
I just visited the Keck Imaging Lab at Arizona State; very impressive & worth looking into (pardon the pun!).
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/pci.html
I apologize for providing incomplete information. I usually mix them 1 to 1 by weight. But you can reduce the amount of Epox 812 mixture, if low viscosity is important, as in freeze-dried tissues. It's been tested primarily on plant tissues, fixed chemically or lipophillized, and worked well for both. It worked on some chemically fixed animal tissues (small intestine & liver from a frog). I don't have much experience with animal tissues and I am not sure about lipophillized animal tissues. But, I can say generally Spurr's provides better infiltration, while Epox 812 offers better cutting properties (via better adherence to the tissue). There has been no negative effect of mixing two, as far as I know. Thus, I guess any tissue, which are not incompatible with Epox or Spurr's, can be safely embedded in the mixture of the two. ----------------------------------------------- I also forgot including the staining method with toluidine blue in the previous message. If it is to stain 'thick section' for preliminary observation, place a drop of your 1% toluidine onto the section, heat it on a 70 C-hot plate until you see thin dry edge around the stain, wash the stain gently with squirts of water.
For microautoradiographic purpose, I use following method. This applies to 1 um-sections affixed on a gelatin-coated slide. 1) Dip the slides in 10% paraformaldehyde for 1-2 min. 2) Rinse the slides in distilled water for 1 min (or rinse twice for 30 sec. each). 3) Stain sections by dipping the slide for 1/2 to 1 min in 0.05%-0.1% toluidine blue prepared in 0.2M Na-phosphate buffer (pH 7.0). (Stain may precipitate over the time; shake and refilter it.) 4) Wash the slide in running water quietly for about 2 min or shorter period (prolonged washing will result very faint staining). 5) Air-dry the slide in vertical position.
I hope this helps.
Regards,
Seung-Geuk Shin
} -----Original Message----- } From: Tamara Howard [mailto:howard-at-cshl.org] } Sent: Saturday, October 10, 1998 3:07 PM } To: Seung-Geuk Shin } Subject: RE: Spurr resin } } } Do you mix the two at a ratio of 1:1? Aso, do you use the mixture for } tissues from } animals, plants, or both? } } Thanks! } } Tamara Howard } CSHL } } } On Fri, 9 Oct 1998, Seung-Geuk Shin 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 had the same problem, when I used an old batch (3-5 years } with occasional } } uses), or one exposed to moisture (If you keep the bottles in a low } } temperature for extended shelf life, let it warm before opening } the bottle). } } With bottles out of the box, I had no problem. } } In my opinion, Spurr's has relatively poor cutting properties, } even when the } } block itself is not brittle. I usually successfully mix Spurr's } (complete } } homogeneous mixture including DMAE) with Epox 812 (complete homogeneous } } mixture including DMP-30) to improve cutting properties, with minimal } } sacrifice in Spurr's excellent viscosity. It's been very cooperative for } } plant tissues. } } } } Seung-Geuk Shin } } SUNY-ESF at Syracuse } } sgshin-at-syr.edu } } } } ============================================ } } Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this } } communication are solely my own. } } ============================================ } } } } } -----Original Message----- } } } From: Greg R [mailto:greg-at-umic.sunysb.edu] } } } Sent: Friday, October 09, 1998 11:11 AM } } } To: microscopy } } } Subject: Spurr resin } } } } } } } } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } } } 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 microsopists, } } } I am having a problem with Spurr resin. The } } } blocks are coming out very brittle. I am careful } } } when I weigh out the components and polymerize at } } } 65C. What else would cause brittle blocks? } } } Another problem is that staining with 1% T blue } } } with 1% borax is very poor. Any suggestions would } } } be of help. Thanks. } } } -- } } } Regards, } } } Gregory Rudomen } } } Technical Specialist } } } University Microscopy Imaging Center } } } State University of New York at Stony Brook } } } 516-444-3126 } } } Greg-at-umic.sunysb.edu } } } ********************************************************** } } } Standard disclaimer: The opinions expressed in } } } this } } } communication are my own and do not necessarily } } } reflect those of the University Microscopy Imaging } } } Center. } } } ********************************************************** } } } } } } } } } } } } } }
To all, does anyone out there have the lens current values for the old Philips EM 200 EM. The Mag. is off in several steps and we nedd the currents of the IL, DIFF. & PROJ. Lenses for each step. Any help is greatly appreciated. Peter Stolzenberg, Pesto Inc. 215-699-6160, FAX 215-699-5275 pesto-at-erols.com
I apologize for providing incomplete information. I usually mix them 1 to 1 by weight. But you can reduce the amount of Epox 812 mixture, if low viscosity is important, as in freeze-dried tissues. It's been tested primarily on plant tissues, fixed chemically or lipophillized, and worked well for both. It worked on some chemically fixed animal tissues (small intestine & liver from a frog). I don't have much experience with animal tissues and I am not sure about lipophillized animal tissues. But, I can say generally Spurr's provides better infiltration, while Epox 812 offers better cutting properties (via better adherence to the tissue). There has been no negative effect of mixing two, as far as I know. Thus, I guess any tissue, which are not incompatible with Epox or Spurr's, can be safely embedded in the mixture of the two.
-----------------------------------------------
I also forgot including the staining method with Toluidine Blue in the previous message. If it is to stain 'thick section' for preliminary observation, place a drop of your 1% Toluidine Blue onto the section, heat it on a 70 C-hot plate until you see thin dry edge around the stain, wash the stain gently with squirts of water.
For microautoradiographic purpose, I use following method. This applies to 1 um-sections affixed on a gelatin-coated slide. 1) Dip the slides in 10% paraformaldehyde for 1-2 min. 2) Rinse the slides in distilled water for 1 min (or rinse twice for 30 sec. each). 3) Stain sections by dipping the slide for 1/2 to 1 min in 0.05%-0.1% Toluidine Blue prepared in 0.2M Na-phosphate buffer (pH 7.0). (Stain may precipitate over the time; shake and refilter it.) 4) Wash the slide in running water quietly for about 2 min or shorter period (prolonged washing will result very faint staining). 5) Air-dry the slide in vertical position.
I hope this helps.
Regards,
Seung-Geuk Shin
} -----Original Message----- } From: Tamara Howard [mailto:howard-at-cshl.org] } Sent: Saturday, October 10, 1998 3:07 PM } To: Seung-Geuk Shin } Subject: RE: Spurr resin } } } Do you mix the two at a ratio of 1:1? Aso, do you use the mixture for } tissues from } animals, plants, or both? } } Thanks! } } Tamara Howard } CSHL
Maybe I missed the posting, but when developing and printing one of the most important points that has not been raised is that of agitation!
Many years ago when I ran the Hitachi demo labs in the UK, I took advice = on our photography from Kodak and Ilford. It was to lift the film out of th= e developer/fixer after 15 seconds and then to tilt it to the left (15 seconds later to the right) for 2 seconds. This was done throughout developing, but a surprise to me, for the first minute and a half of fixing. They did not want a stop bath to be used but water at the same temperature as the other chemicals. We called this the dunk and tilt method.
My problem was patchy negatives though poor technique!
One other point was that when using this technique, as I pestered all our=
clients to follow, the next problem was fogged films. Why, because no o= ne ever changes their safe lights! However on the packet it always says tha= t they are only safe for a fixed period of time due to fading (~ 5 years). =
My clients all complained that they had never had this problem before usi= ng the dunk and tilt method and when questioned they almost all had 10 years=
old plus safe lights!
I hope that this is a tale worth telling?
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
I'm looking for a book(s) that describes the theoretical and practical aspects of EDX for our Unit library. The books should contain information on the use of EDX for biological applications (botanical - eg. sea grass secretions; & zoological - eg mussel tissues in pollution studies) and for the analysis of marine/lake/riverine silts/sediments. I'm sure there are numerous books on these subjects - which ones would you guys like to see on your shelves?
Thanks in advance
Mike Gregory Professor Mike Gregory Electron Microscope Unit, University of Durban-Westville Private Bag X54001 Durban, Natal, South Africa 4000
} } Hi all: } } I'm looking for a book(s) that describes the theoretical and practical aspects of EDX for our Unit library. The books should contain information on the use of EDX for biological applications (botanical - eg. sea grass secretions; & zoological - eg mussel tissues in pollution studies) and for the analysis of marine/lake/riverine silts/sediments. I'm sure there are numerous books on these subjects - which ones would you guys like to see on your shelves? } } Thanks in advance } } Mike Gregory Professor Mike Gregory Electron Microscope Unit, University of Durban-Westville Private Bag X54001 Durban, Natal, South Africa 4000
(1) Jim Darley's method of two fix stages is one we regularly use with prints also. A small dish of "first fix" then ends up in the bottle for whoever collects it to recycle the silver, while the second larger one completes the job. The extra agitation involved also helps to eliminate "dead spots" where one print has lain over another.
(2) HOWEVER, there is a problem which also occurs, in that sometimes we get areas on prints that slowly turn yellow, or in extreme cases pinky-brown, on subsequent exposure to light. This seems to happens especially to bits that have buckled out of the developer, so that they were exposed to air for a longer time while still wet with developer. No amount of fixing will cure this. Can anyine tell me what (chemically) is going on?
(3) Kodak TMAX 100 film likes extra long fixing. I do like this film , but one does need to give it twice as long in the fix.
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | 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 | +------------------------------------------------------------------------+
This is beginning to look like a chain letter but I thought I should add my two (UK) pence worth.
I have worked in a lab where we used a modified separating funnel to control the thickness of plastic coatings. This is the sort of gadget that you would use to separate organic solvent layers by draining them through a glass tap at the bottom. There is a type which has a cylindrical chamber which is just the right height and diameter to adequately cover a standard 76mm x 26mm glass slide. The modification was to take off the narrow neck (apparently a fairly straight-forward glass cutting exercise) so that slides could easily be placed in the chamber of the funnel.
The technique was to put the slide in the funnel and cover with the plastic solution. Let it settle to avoid any lumps or bubbles and then turn the glass valve at the bottom and drain the plastic into its stock bottle or a beaker. The beauty of this is that you can vary the flow rate of the plastic off the slide (fast for thick and slow for thin) which is much easier than controlling the rate of removal of a slide from the plastic. This often means that you could get much thinner and more even layers with careful selection of plastic, solvent and concentration (yes you do need to experiment). You can even get thicker layers by pulling the tap out to rapidly drain off the plastic.
Of course, do this in a fume hood.
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
Disclaimer - it's not my invention and you pays your money and takes your chance. ----------
} From: Chris Gilpin To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5. Microscopy.
-----Original Message----- } From: Chris Gilpin [mailto:cgilpin-at-fs1.sem.man.ac.uk] Sent: 10 October 1998 13:14 To: Me at home
-----Original Message----- } From: Jim J Darley Sent: 10 October 1998 13:43 To: 'Garber, Charles A.'; MICROSCOPY BB Cc:
On Saturday, 10 October 1998 6:28, Garber, Charles A. [SMTP:cgarber-at-priam.chesco.net] wrote: . . . .There was some disagreement between telling all our "secrets" vs. not telling all our secrets. But here are the "secrets" which perhaps others might find of value. . . . The message is clear: Chuck & Co know how to make filmed grids better than anybody else. Sadly, I learned nothing from the "secrets", I wonder in fact: what were the secrets?
. . . . What is not generally appreciated is that there are a number of different grades of the resin called Formvar, but so far as we know, only one of them is optimum for the filmed grid application. If one was using other grades, they might require different concentrations for the best results. The grade that we use is the grade that we sell for this purpose. And no, we won't tell that little secret. . . . . Oh, now I learn that I was just lucky that all of the films that I had made over about 30 years worked well, yet none of the formvar came from Chuck. But why his reply? The questioner had no problems with formvar but was interested in technique to control thickness.
. . . . .But one really does need a TEM right there, next to where the films are being made, so that they can be instantly inspected and corrective action taken, right there on the spot, e.g. by way of a concentration change. If this is not done, the the QC step end up being when you gear up to do your experiment and then you find out the grids are not stable. .. . . . Other suppliers know nothing and get their films probably made at the back of a soup kitchen. You take a grave risk if you buy your films anywhere else. But why? The question had been on how to control film thickness and not were to buy filmed grids.
. . . .Disclaimer: SPI Supplies has produced custom coated filmed grids for TEM for customers worldwide for some number of years. More information about the coating of TEM grids can be found on our website given below. . . . . This is not a disclaimer, but another vintage, bold-faced advertisement by Chuck. Nobody had asked about his filmed grids and he gave no useful information on how to control film thickness well. Two other writers provided methods ("double dipping" and "lengths of time after dipping in solvent saturated atmosphere") that he may find useful to apply to his assembly line. He is too cheap to pay for advertising his filmed grids and has again used the microscopy server instead.
Non italics by Jim Darley ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Phone +61 7 4774 0370 Fax: +61 7 4789 2313 Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes **************************** www.proscitech.com.au *****
Dear list Jim Darley has a point. I was asking about ways of controlling film thickness. Here follows the background to my request which will clarify further...
I have a "customer" in my core facility embarking on a serial sectioning project. She needs to use slot grids and has chosen the .75 variety. For whatever reason the films are not lasting as far a prolonged viewing in the microscope. Yes we are carbon coating. Yes we have tried carbon coating before and after section collection. Yes we have tried glow discharging with and without carbon. If anything our films are a bit on the thin side (great for some applications but not this one!) We have produced some thick films but they are very prone to wrinkling. Now you will see the reason for the question. I would like to make thicker films than silver/gold but without wrinkling. Perhaps I am guilty of asking the bare question without detailing why. I would add however that all replies are greatly received. Members of the list never cease to surprise me with their willingness to help. Other posts to the list show that most of us are fighting for our lives to stay in "business". As a community we stand a better chance of survival if we are all successful. Sharing knowledge is part of making our labs a success. I appreciate that commercial companies have a living to make and can be forgiven for keeping trade secrets. As long as the rest of us don't fall into that trap.
Again many thanks to ALL who replied. Long live EM
Chris
Experimental Officer Biological Sciences EM Unit University of Manchester Oxford Road Manchester M13 9PT Phone +44 (0)161 275 5170 Fax +44 (0)161 275 5171
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I understand that the S1 accelerator used for curing Spurr's has a relatively short shelf life (I usually replace mine after about 6 months or a year). Also the anhydride hardener - NSA - is particularly prone to absorbing moisture so if a stock bottle has been opened for a long period and I have a problem I try an unopened one. In any event I always label bottles with the date of arrival in the lab and the date of opening.
Some moisture may be driven out of the resin during polymerisation but not if you seal the lids on polythene BEEM capsules.
How good is your temperature measurement? We have an old oven with a dial setting that needs to be checked if anyone else has used it and often the only way is to start polymerisation a couple of hours before I leave the lab on a night, so that I can confirm the polymerisation temperature.
I hope this helps.
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
The usual disclaimer - these are my opinions and may have little basis in science or even fact. ---------- } From: Seung-Geuk Shin To: Microscopy ListServer
I had the same problem, when I used an old batch (3-5 years with occasional uses), or one exposed to moisture (If you keep the bottles in a low temperature for extended shelf life, let it warm before opening the bottle). With bottles out of the box, I had no problem. In my opinion, Spurr's has relatively poor cutting properties, even when the block itself is not brittle. I usually successfully mix Spurr's (complete homogeneous mixture including DMAE) with Epox 812 (complete homogeneous mixture including DMP-30) to improve cutting properties, with minimal sacrifice in Spurr's excellent viscosity. It's been very cooperative for plant tissues.
Seung-Geuk Shin SUNY-ESF at Syracuse sgshin-at-syr.edu
============================================ Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this communication are solely my own. ============================================
} -----Original Message----- } From: Greg R [mailto:greg-at-umic.sunysb.edu] } Sent: Friday, October 09, 1998 11:11 AM } To: microscopy } Subject: Spurr resin } } Hi microsopists, } I am having a problem with Spurr resin. The } blocks are coming out very brittle. I am careful } when I weigh out the components and polymerize at } 65C. What else would cause brittle blocks? } Another problem is that staining with 1% T blue } with 1% borax is very poor. Any suggestions would } be of help. Thanks. } -- } Regards, } Gregory Rudomen } Technical Specialist } University Microscopy Imaging Center } State University of New York at Stony Brook } 516-444-3126 } Greg-at-umic.sunysb.edu } ********************************************************** } Standard disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this } communication are my own and do not necessarily } reflect those of the University Microscopy Imaging Center. } **********************************************************
by mailhub.abdn.ac.uk (8.8.7/8.8.5) with SMTP id OAA06211 for {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} ; Mon, 12 Oct 1998 14:26:49 +0100 (BST)
Hello all, Every message from Barbara Foster arrives with the heading but no text. Am I the only one this happens to?
Regards Eric ---------------------- Dr Eric E. Lachowski University of Aberdeen Department of Chemistry Meston Walk Old Aberdeen AB24 3UE Scotland +44 1224 272934 e.lachowski-at-abdn.ac.uk
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Doug,
Run, don't walk, to your nearest scientific library and go through the literature. Articles in current journals should give you a very good idea of the type of work being done by specific investigators at different Universities. Remember that microscopy is a technique that, unless you are in to instrument development, can be used to help solve many different questions. The area of cell biology is very broad. Try to find a copy fo the proceedings from the MSA meetings for the last year or two. Going through the abstracts may help you identify an area of particular interest.
My advise would be to find problems of interest to you which are being investigated with a broad range of techniques and can, or are presently, using microscopy as one of those techniques. It is very important for you as a graduate student to be exposed to many different techniques in this important phase of your training...although you may want to look for a laboratory with an emphasis in microscopy. There is plenty of time to narrow those techniques more in future post-doctoral positions.
When you identify a problem in cell biology that seems particularily interesting, you will be able to narrow your search for the right graduate program and primary investigator. Good luck with the search.
Debby Sherman, Manager Phone: 765-494-6666 Microscopy Center in Agriculture FAX: 765-494-5896 Dept. of Botany & Plant Pathology E-mail: sherman-at-btny.purdue.edu Purdue University 1057 Whistler Building West Lafayette, IN 47907-1057
School: Providence College Question: I've had so many questions answered through this service over the last 2 years - It's wonderful.
I'm a senior biology undergrad looking forward to continuing my education in grad school - hopefully a Ph.D program in cell biology. Who out there has opinions on institutions with exceptional microscopy facilities? I'm really into TEM/SEM but would love to experience some more advanced techniques and equipment. I really want a program that's interested in answerering questions of cell biology by pushing the limits of microscopy and related tools. Where should I look?
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Dear collegues,
We=B4re actually trying to establish an embedding method for = immunoelectronmicroscopy to detect epitopes by preserving fine = ultrastructure. In our first trial we had good results with LR-White resin and would = like to improve our protocol. To harden the blocks we add about 40 microlitres of accelerator to 10 ml = of the resin and then polymerize them at -35=B0C in UV-Light. But = although we do all the steps on ice it occurs that our new accelerator = works a bit to fast and the resin seems to polymerize superfast in a few = minutes developing quite good heat. Cutting the blocks we note = depremised that the specimen obviously did not catch any plastic. What can be done to avoid this? The accelerator is new and the resin is = about one year old. Anyone knows more about LR-White embedding? I would be thankful for any kind of reply. Bye, Michael
Michael Reiner Department of Anatomy University of Cologne (Germany) Joseph-Stelzmann-Str.9 50931 Cologne (K=F6ln)
Michael I have found that the recommended amount of accelerator (1drp/10ml) is way too hot for practical use. I experimented with 10 ml, 20,30 ml aliquots and 1 drp of accelerator, then polymerizing with temperature at -20C. I like 30 ml/drp of accelerator. If you need more cold try packing a little dry ice in the freezer to lower the temperature just a bit. (~5C). If you want to discuss further feel free to contact me. Marge
Margaret Springett e-mail hukee.margaret-at-mayo.edu IEM Specialist at Mayo Foundation 1426 Guggenheim Rochester, Mn. 55905
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Chris,
More details certainly permit more helpful responses. I did serial sectioning for years on large single hole grids using a very simple technique which made the problem of film thickness and wrinkles a very minor one. Even though this method does not deal directly with ways of determining film thickness, it may help you out with the specific problem at hand. I do not remember who originally gave me the idea for this method but I was not the developer. It goes as follows:
1) Have your machine shop cut some thin pieces of plexiglass into the size of glass slides. At one end, drill about a dozen holes, roughly 5mm in diameter in an area about the size of a formvar film cast on glass slides. These slides will serve as your template for holding your films.
2) Cast the formvar films on glass slides just like you normally do. Usually a good silver film, not grey, will work fine. I routinely used 0.2% in ethylene dichloride when casting by immersing the slide into the solution in a small jar, etc. We now use a film caster which lets us hold the slide in the dichlorothane vapors after lowering the formvar solution level. I would have to redetermine correct percentage and timing since this method tends to give you thinner films consistantly.
3) Float the film off the glass slide and pick it up with the plexiglass slide so the film covers the holes. Then draw the water out of the holes by pressing the plastic slide down onto filter paper, or using small pieces of filter paper and capillary action to draw the water out of individual holes. Even thin films will hold nicely over the holes in the slide. Store slides until needed.
4) Next, cut your sections using a block diameter that is fairly similar to the size of the slit in the grid. Pick up the sections on UNCOATED grids by gently lowering the grid to the surface of the knife boat. I put the dull side down on the premise that the rough surface would grab the film better during step 6. The surface tension of the water will hold the sections in the grid opening. Transfer the grid to a droplet of water until you are finished sectioning.
5) Now transfer the grid + sections + water droplet to a drop of stain. Allow the section to stain, then wash by transferring through a series of droplets of clean water. Continue to post-stain if desired and wash the same way. Never let the grid dry.
6) Final step is to transfer the grid to a film suspended over the hole in a plexiglass slide and let it dry down. The sections will now be stuck to the film with NO wrinkles and minimum breakage. Also there was minimum problem with stain percipitation, but you must use very clean water. When ready to view, just punch out around the grid with the tip of your forceps, grab the grid and insert into the mciroscope.
Believe me....the sections will still be there at the end!!!
I found that as long as the sections cover a substantial portion of the open area of the grid, carbon coating was not essential. I used to do 50-100 grids worth of serial sections without loosing any. The films on the plastic slides would hold for months so I could make a lot and store until needed. The method really works...do give it a try.
Debby Sherman, Manager Phone: 765-494-6666 Microscopy Center in Agriculture FAX: 765-494-5896 Dept. of Botany & Plant Pathology E-mail: sherman-at-btny.purdue.edu Purdue University 1057 Whistler Building West Lafayette, IN 47907-1057
P.S. Taking the time to write this stuff down has turned out to be very helpful.....it goes into a technique notebook for future users!! --------------------------------------
Dear list Jim Darley has a point. I was asking about ways of controlling film thickness. Here follows the background to my request which will clarify further...
I have a "customer" in my core facility embarking on a serial sectioning project. She needs to use slot grids and has chosen the .75 variety. For whatever reason the films are not lasting as far a prolonged viewing in the microscope. Yes we are carbon coating. Yes we have tried carbon coating before and after section collection. Yes we have tried glow discharging with and without carbon. If anything our films are a bit on the thin side (great for some applications but not this one!) We have produced some thick films but they are very prone to wrinkling. Now you will see the reason for the question. I would like to make thicker films than silver/gold but without wrinkling. Perhaps I am guilty of asking the bare question without detailing why. I would add however that all replies are greatly received. Members of the list never cease to surprise me with their willingness to help. Other posts to the list show that most of us are fighting for our lives to stay in "business". As a community we stand a better chance of survival if we are all successful. Sharing knowledge is part of making our labs a success. I appreciate that commercial companies have a living to make and can be forgiven for keeping trade secrets. As long as the rest of us don't fall into that trap.
Again many thanks to ALL who replied. Long live EM
Chris
Experimental Officer Biological Sciences EM Unit University of Manchester Oxford Road Manchester M13 9PT Phone +44 (0)161 275 5170 Fax +44 (0)161 275 5171
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We have used Animal Pharm for years with good results.
Animal Pharm Services 7711 West Dry Creek Road Healdsburg, CA 95448 USA
(707) 431-0171, (800) 808-0550, FAX (800) 808-0551 Larry D. Ackerman Lily & Yuh Nung Jan Laboratories Howard Hughes Medical Institute UCSF, Box 0725, Rm U226 533 Parnassus Ave. San Francisco, CA 94143
Dr Eric E. Lachowski 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 all, } Every message from Barbara Foster arrives with the heading } but no text. Am I the only one this happens to? } } Regards } Eric } ---------------------- } Dr Eric E. Lachowski } University of Aberdeen } Department of Chemistry } Meston Walk } Old Aberdeen AB24 3UE } Scotland } +44 1224 272934 } e.lachowski-at-abdn.ac.uk
I sent out some messages last week and they arrived with a heading but no content.
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY TECHNICIAN The Integrated Microscopy Core, Department of Cell Biology, Baylor = College of Medicine has an immediate full-time opening for an electron = microscopy technician. The Integrated Microscopy Core is a busy, = state-of-the-art facility with 2 TEMs, deconvolution, laser scanning = confocal and 2 CCD-based fluorescent microscopes. The applicant should = have at least 1-2 years experience in all aspects of sample preparation = for biological TEM including fixation, embedding, ultrathin sectioning = and staining of tissue samples and cell monolayers. The applicant = should have darkroom experience and some experience in the operation of = TEMs. Immunolabelling experience is desirable but not essential. Other = duties include preparation of solutions, embedding media and the = maintaining of records. The position offers opportunities for training = in advanced light microscopy techniques, including fluorescence, laser = scanning confocal and deconvolution microscopy. The position requires a = minimum of a Bachelors degree and will start as a Lab Technician II; = salary range is low 20's, commensurate with experience, and includes the = standard Baylor benefits package.
Send CV and letter of research/technical interests to:
Hank Adams Laboratory Manager Integrated Microscopy Core Department of Cell Biology Baylor College of Medicine One Baylor Plaza Houston, TX 77030 Email submissions to: hpadams-at-bcm.tmc.edu Fax submissions to: 713 790 0545
Baylor College of Medicine is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action = and Equal Access Employer.
Hank Adams Cell Biology Integrated Microscopy Core Baylor College of Medicine One Baylor Plaza Houston, Tx 77030
Here is the recipe for Spurr's + Epox 812, I use. Basically, it is 1:1 mixture (by weight) of Spurr's and Epox 812. Each resin mixture must be completely homogenized, including accelerator, before combining the two.
1. Prepare Spurr's in a 100 ml disposable beaker. (Based on Spurr's original formula)
VCD -------- 10 g DER 736 ---- 6 g NSA -------- 26 g DMAE ------- 0.4 g ------------------- Total ------ 42.4 g
2. Prepare Epox 812 in a 50 ml disposable beaker. (Based on Luft's original formular, except for reduced DMP-30)
Epox 812 (WPE = 155*) --------- 25 g DDSA (MW = 266) -------------- 14 g NMA (MW = 178) -------------- 11 g DMP-30 ----------------------- 0.5 g
*If WPE is different, proportions of each component should be recalculated. Calculations can be found at http://www.emsdiasum.com/ems/techdata/68.html).
3. To make 1:1 mixture, add 42.4 g of Epox 812 mixture into the 100 ml beaker containing Spurr's and mix throughly. Amount of Epox mixture can be reduced for hard-to-infiltrate tissues.)
4. Infiltration for plant tissues.
Transitional solvent Resin Mixture Infiltration (propylene oxide or Time (with diethyl ehter) rotation or occasional swirring) -------------------- -------------- ------------ 3 part 1 part 2 hrs. 2 2 2 hrs. 1 3 4 hrs. 0 4 4 hrs. 0 4 6 hrs. -----------------------------------------------------------------
5. Cure blocks at 60 C for 48 hrs.
Regards,
Seung-Geuk Shin
} -----Original Message----- } From: Michelle L. Peiffer [mailto:mlk101-at-psu.edu] } Sent: Monday, October 12, 1998 12:31 PM } To: Seung-Geuk Shin } Subject: RE: Spurr resin } } } I was quite interested to see this reply, we routinely use Spurr's with no } trouble in insect tissues and cell cultures. However recently we have a } number of students without access to diamond knives who are having trouble } getting quality thin sections of plant tissue embedded in Spurr's. Would } you mind sharing your recipe for this spurr's epox mixture? Thanks . } } } #################################################### } Michelle Peiffer } 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:mlk101-at-psu.edu } #################################################### } } }
The Australian Museum has purchased a Wentzscope for our new Biodiversity Gallery and we ordered a slide carrier from Henry Frickel, 124 N Janney St Baltimore MD 21224. We would be most interested to find out more about him, especially since he has our money and we have nothing! Has anyone had dealings with this person?
Hi Eric, it doesn't occurs with the Barbara Foster's messages that I receive. I don't know what happen but try open the message and click the "return to the author"option; it shows to you the text of the message. I don't know what's the mistery. Rejane Galindo Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco Plant Morphology and Anatomy Recife. Pernambuco, Brazil
Rejane Pimentel Galindo Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco Av. Boa Viagem, 6592/602 51130-000, Recife, Pernambuco, Brasil ggalindo-at-elogica.com.br Fax (081) 441 4697
there was a test strip that you could get for checking the fixing capacity of fixer by its pH and silver content.. It was called Fixing Bath Test and was manufactured by E. Merck. The pack of 100, I am using now, was purchased in 1991 so with frugal use it can last for years.
A pack of 100 strips costs about 16 UK pounds from Agar Scientific (it may be available from other e.m. or photographic suppliers) but I think that 0.16 of a UK pound is a reasonable price to test the quality of fixer. I wouldn't use it on fresh fixer unless we had problems and would normally only use it on heavily used film fixer so the cost compared with losing a valuable film or replacing fixer too quickly is justified. Before this I used lightly fogged photographic film or paper to test my fixer but this only gives a basic idea.
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
Disclaimer - I have no connection with any of the companies mentioned other than as a satisfied customer. ---------- } From: jim-at-proscitech.com.au To: 'Andy Burrows'; Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.co
Andy: The fixer was too weak (or exhausted). It is a good idea to periodically check fixer. Place a small piece of undeveloped film in the fixer, full light does not matter. The film will become quite clear in under 30 seconds if its really good. If it takes a minute it's exhausted or made-up too weak. Exhausted fixer could be used to prefix film for a couple of minutes before using good fixer. This will prolong the good fixer's life. A brief water rinse after developing and before fixing is a good idea. I don not like acetic acid because with some materials it can cause mottling. Minimum fixation time is three times the time film takes to clear, but I suggest to not fix for less than three minutes. The colouration of under fixed materials only sometimes disappears when refixing. Certainly, underfixed images should be refixed if useful parts of the neg were unaffected and they too would change if not refixed promptly. Cheers Jim Darley ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Phone +61 7 4774 0370 Fax: +61 7 4789 2313 Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes **************************** www.proscitech.com.au
On Saturday, 10 October 1998 2:33, Andy Burrows [SMTP:ab0895-at-LIVERPOOL.AC.UK] wrote: } Hi to all, } I have just changed the solutions in our developer and fixer baths that serve our two TEMs. Unfortunately, the first couple of users } have informed me that their negatives are next to useless and that the negatives are pink around the edges! I'm pretty confident } that the developer is ok but the fixer put at my disposal (Agfa } Structurfix) was not what I used last time (Ilford Hypam). Any ideas? } Many thanks, } Andy } __________________________________ } Dr Andy Burrows } Materials Science and Engineering } Department of Engineering } The University of Liverpool } Liverpool } England } L69 3BX } } Tel: +(44) (0)151 794 5372 } Fax: +(44) (0)151 794 4675 } email: ab0895-at-liv.ac.uk
id xma029043; Tue, 13 Oct 98 08:56:44 -0400 Received: by eastman.com id AA78347 (5.67b/IDA-1.5 for Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com); Tue, 13 Oct 1998 08:19:08 -0400 Received: from ntmcon02.emn.com by eastman.com with SMTP id AA39942 (5.67b/SMI-4.1 for {Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com} ); Tue, 13 Oct 1998 08:19:06 -0400 Received: by ntmcon02.emn.com with Internet Mail Service (5.5.1960.3) id {4VN3HXB5} ; Tue, 13 Oct 1998 08:19:16 -0400 Message-Id: {E788D998AAC8D1119EC10000F8CD1E8A5B4189-at-ntmail23.emn.com}
I have no problem getting the text from Barbara's messages, although they are in a larger font (Arial 12pt) than most other messages (Arial 10pt).
Dennis B. Barr (dennbarr-at-eastman.com) Physical Chemistry Research Laboratory Physical & Analytical Chemistry Research Division Eastman Chemical Company Kingsport, TN 37662-5150
B-150B, R-132E, (423) 229-2188
} -----Original Message----- } From: Dr Eric E. Lachowski [SMTP:che136-at-abdn.ac.uk] } Sent: Monday, October 12, 1998 9:27 AM } To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } Subject: blank messages } } ---------------------------------------------------------------------- } -- } 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, } Every message from Barbara Foster arrives with the heading } but no text. Am I the only one this happens to? } } Regards } Eric } ---------------------- } Dr Eric E. Lachowski } University of Aberdeen } Department of Chemistry } Meston Walk } Old Aberdeen AB24 3UE } Scotland } +44 1224 272934 } e.lachowski-at-abdn.ac.uk } } }
OK - now I have a question about this...the fonts on the messages I get from Foster are always different and in bold, and MY terminal resets to that font about 90% of the time after a Foster message! Anyone know why that happens? It is very weird. If I then disconnect from the network, my terminal resets to "normal"..but I've never understood how she does this! (Not that it is intentional, but kind of a neat party trick)
Tamara "definitely not a network guru" Howard CSHL
On Tue, 13 Oct 1998, Barr, Dennis B 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 have no problem getting the text from Barbara's messages, although } they are in a larger font (Arial 12pt) than most other messages (Arial } 10pt). } } Dennis B. Barr (dennbarr-at-eastman.com) } Physical Chemistry Research Laboratory } Physical & Analytical Chemistry Research Division } Eastman Chemical Company } Kingsport, TN 37662-5150 } } B-150B, R-132E, (423) 229-2188 } } } } -----Original Message----- } } From: Dr Eric E. Lachowski [SMTP:che136-at-abdn.ac.uk] } } Sent: Monday, October 12, 1998 9:27 AM } } To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } } Subject: blank messages } } } } ---------------------------------------------------------------------- } } -- } } 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, } } Every message from Barbara Foster arrives with the heading } } but no text. Am I the only one this happens to? } } } } Regards } } Eric } } ---------------------- } } Dr Eric E. Lachowski } } University of Aberdeen } } Department of Chemistry } } Meston Walk } } Old Aberdeen AB24 3UE } } Scotland } } +44 1224 272934 } } e.lachowski-at-abdn.ac.uk } } } } } } } }
Dear all, has anybody an idea about solving the following problem with ou= r Hummer VII sputter coater: we're using routinely N2 for the gold -sputtering process. When = we start the program, the vacuum pump works well and reached the needed millitorr for further pr= ocessing, e. g. for the ignition point of the N- plasma. This becomes visible as a bluish light. = After that, normally, the digital display counts the coated thickness, but since a few weeks ago ,= it needed much more time (1 or 2 hours instead of 10 min.!) until the desired (20-30nm) thi= ckness was reached. But additionally, when we checked the probes, there isn't any gold layer = visible. At first, we bought a new target, but until today the problem is still unresolved... Bernward Laube Bernward Laube University of Bielefeld Faculty of Biology Department Plant Morphology and Cell Ultrastructure Universit=E4tsstrasse 25 Germany 33615 Bielefeld phone: 0521 1065592 fax: 0521 1066039 e-mail: b.laube-at-biologie.uni-bielefeld.de http://www.uni-bielefeld.de/biologie/Pflanzenmorphologie/abt.1htm#ws
I have had this happen with JB-4-- a long time ago. The problem turned out to be excess heating during polymerization. I use a heat sink of ice water arround the blocks, but I don't use a vacuum. Instead, I seal the tops of the molds (peel away) and place the blocks, ice water and all, into the refrigerator overnite.
Karen Pawlowski
On Sat, 10 Oct 1998, Cox, Elizabeth 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 have the same problem with JB-4 Plus resin blocks. They are very brittle } and tend to shatter during trimming which is very irritating. They have } been left in a vaccum dessicator in vials without lids on. The blocks have } set with small bubbles on the underside, a problem I haven't previously had } using JB-4, not sure why? } } Liz } } } } }
Dear all, Several people have written about blank messages or weird effects with fonts on messages from certain subscribers. Maybe the main problem is that some people are sending email with styled text from one of a number of modern email systems but older emailers are somewhat limited in their ability to understand this formatting information (generally text size, font and colour). If you use Eudora Pro or Light 3.x or later, Microsoft Outlook Express or Netscape mail you should have no problems reading such mail but other older email packages may well have difficulties.
The question we should maybe be asking is "How acceptable is it to send email with text formattings on this listserver?" Modern email systems that send more than just plain text can produce nice looking messages, IF YOU CAN READ THEM. Using such features widely may discriminate against those who don't have the latest computer software, however, thus reducing the usefulness of this forum as a worldwide discussion medium. As for me, I sometimes use styled text if I know that the recipient will be able to read it, but for postings to general forums such as this one, I always just use plain text.
What do others think?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 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, or: ianmaclaren-at-hotmail.com Birmingham B15 2TT, http://web.bham.ac.uk/I.MacLaren England. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Can anyone help me find a short course in electron diffraction and similar techniques or suggest an alternate strategy?
A student here would like to learn more than I can teach her about analyzing her materials and interpreting her data. She is open to any possibility for now, though her options might be narrowed depending on the choices.
Thanks
Jonathan Krupp Microscopy and Imaging Lab University of California Santa Cruz, CA 95064 (831) 459-2477 FAX (831) 429-0146 jmkrupp-at-cats.ucsc.edu
Mike, I did a search on Frickel but could only find his address, 124 N. Janney Street, Baltimore, MD, 21224-1705 and his phone number, 410-342-5772. As a native of Baltimore, I'd hate for him to give it a bad name (or make it worse than it already is!), so here're a few url's that may help:
http://www.bbb.org (the Better Business Bureau) http://epfl2.epflbalto.org/citygov/police/police1.htm (five l's and one 1) (Baltimore City Police ).
Next time try what we used to do in Saudi Arabia. Find an acceptable disinterested intermediary(bank,lawyer,accountant,export firm) that will hold and release the payment once all is done and everyone is satisfied, especially with international transactions. It will save you alot of headache. Good luck. Winston. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Winston W Wiggins, Supr. 10/13/98 12:15:54 PM CRC-Electron Microscopy Lab. Ofc:704/355-1267 Carolinas Medical Center Fax:704/355-7648 P.O. Box 32861 Lab:704/355-7220 Charlotte,NC 28232-2861 USA Eml:wwiggins-at-carolinas.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I agree that all messages should be in plain text.
I especially do not like messages sent as attachments that have to be opened. This seems to be happening more frequently of late. I automatically delete all such msgs, unopened.
Ron
Ron Anderson, IBM, Hopewell Jct., New York, USA. anderron-at-us.ibm.com IBM Analytical Services; http://www.chips.ibm.com/services/asg
Are you interested in Digital Imaging for Microscopy? If so, exciting thi= ngs are happening at Sound Vision Inc. The founders of the acclaimed Leaf Systems, the MicroLumina and other digital products have developed the SVMicro, a new high-resolution digital camera for the microscope for abou= t $2000.
? The camera mounts directly to the microscope via a c-mount and is tethe= red to your computer. ? The software allows instant archiving of images in a simple click and s= ave fashion. ? The SVMicro utilizes three shot RGB technology that gives you selectabl= e resolutions for various output file sizes up to 9MB. ? It is perfect for sending images across the Internet, documentation, archiving or high-resolution publication. ? The camera is available with ECP parallel port PC or a SCSI connection for MAC users. ? The same camera also takes great black and white pictures in a one shot mode. ? Able to do long exposures for most types of fluorescence without any hi= gh cost cooling system ? Able to rotate the green filter in front of the sensor to take one shot images ? Can save sequential shots to your hard drive without leaving the plugin.
To find out more about the SVMicro Digital Camera for the microscope, ple= ase visit our web site at www.soundvisioninc.com. You can also call Sound Vis= ion =92s sales department at 508-270-0044. Or send me an email at gwray-at-soundvisioninc.com.
Its because Barbara's messages are always HTML formatted, and too many people's mail reader software will only read plain text. On some Win95 systems running Internet Explorer 4.0 (and probably Win98 as well), this font could be carried over to other MS products.
------------------------------- Scott D. Ireland North American Sales Manager Media Cybernetics, LP "The Imaging Experts" Tel: 716.473.0222 Fax: 716.473.8048 Pager: 888.691.2492 scott-at-mediacy.com http://www.mediacy.com http://www.optimas.com -------------------------------
-----Original Message----- } From: Tamara Howard [mailto:howard-at-cshl.org] Sent: Tuesday, October 13, 1998 9:05 AM To: Barr, Dennis B Cc: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
OK - now I have a question about this...the fonts on the messages I get from Foster are always different and in bold, and MY terminal resets to that font about 90% of the time after a Foster message! Anyone know why that happens? It is very weird. If I then disconnect from the network, my terminal resets to "normal"..but I've never understood how she does this! (Not that it is intentional, but kind of a neat party trick)
Tamara "definitely not a network guru" Howard CSHL
On Tue, 13 Oct 1998, Barr, Dennis B 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 have no problem getting the text from Barbara's messages, although } they are in a larger font (Arial 12pt) than most other messages (Arial } 10pt). } } Dennis B. Barr (dennbarr-at-eastman.com) } Physical Chemistry Research Laboratory } Physical & Analytical Chemistry Research Division } Eastman Chemical Company } Kingsport, TN 37662-5150 } } B-150B, R-(423) 229-2188 } } } } -----Original Message----- } } From: Dr Eric E. Lachowski [SMTP:che136-at-abdn.ac.uk] } } Sent: Monday, October 12, 1998 9:27 AM } } To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } } Subject: blank messages } } } } ---------------------------------------------------------------------- } } -- } } 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, } } Every message from Barbara Foster arrives with the heading } } but no text. Am I the only one this happens to? } } } } Regards } } Eric } } ---------------------- } } Dr Eric E. Lachowski } } University of Aberdeen } } Department of Chemistry } } Meston Walk } } Old Aberdeen AB24 3UE } } Scotland } } +44 1224 272934 } } e.lachowski-at-abdn.ac.uk } } } } } } } }
Ihave always used Zero Grade Argon for sputtering, so cannot directly address your problem - but...
Several things can cause lack of deposition (I may forget some)
Vacuum chamber leak, even if chamber vacuum looks ok. Sample outgassing, even if chamber vacuum looks ok. Contaminated sputtering gas Contaminated/dirty target (unlikely since you changed) Inappropriate vacuum level (unlikely unless your gauge is broken) Inappropriate voltage/current - Not mentioned in your message.
Woody White McDermott Technology, Inc.
------------------------
Dear all, has anybody an idea about solving the following problem with our Hummer VII sputter coater: we're using routinely N2 for the gold -sputtering process. When we
start the program, the vacuum pump works well and reached the needed millitorr for further processing, e. g. for the ignition point of the N- plasma. This becomes visible as a bluish light. After that, normally, the digital display counts the coated thickness, but since a few weeks ago , it needed much more time (1 or 2 hours instead of 10 min.!) until the desired (20-30nm) thickness was reached. But additionally, when we checked the probes, there isn't any gold layer visible. At first, we bought a new target, but until today the problem is still unresolved... Bernward Laube Bernward Laube University of Bielefeld Faculty of Biology Department Plant Morphology and Cell Ultrastructure Universitaetsstrasse 25 Germany 33615 Bielefeld phone: 0521 1065592 fax: 0521 1066039 e-mail: b.laube-at-biologie.uni-bielefeld.de http://www.uni-bielefeld.de/biologie/Pflanzenmorphologie/abt.1htm#ws
_She is sending embeded html code, not plain vanilla ascii text.
Woody
OK - now I have a question about this...the fonts on the messages I get from Foster are always different and in bold, and MY terminal resets to that font about 90% of the time after a Foster message! Anyone know why that happens? It is very weird. If I then disconnect from the network, my terminal resets to "normal"..but I've never understood how she does this! (Not that it is intentional, but kind of a neat party trick)
Tamara "definitely not a network guru" Howard CSHL
On Tue, 13 Oct 1998, Barr, Dennis B 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 have no problem getting the text from Barbara's messages, although } they are in a larger font (Arial 12pt) than most other messages (Arial } 10pt). } } Dennis B. Barr (dennbarr-at-eastman.com) } Physical Chemistry Research Laboratory } Physical & Analytical Chemistry Research Division } Eastman Chemical Company } Kingsport, TN 37662-5150 } } B-150B, R-132E, (423) 229-2188 } } } } -----Original Message----- } } From: Dr Eric E. Lachowski [SMTP:che136-at-abdn.ac.uk] } } Sent: Monday, October 12, 1998 9:27 AM } } To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } } Subject: blank messages } } } } ---------------------------------------------------------------------- } } -- } } 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, } } Every message from Barbara Foster arrives with the heading } } but no text. Am I the only one this happens to? } } } } Regards } } Eric } } ---------------------- } } Dr Eric E. Lachowski } } University of Aberdeen } } Department of Chemistry } } Meston Walk } } Old Aberdeen AB24 3UE } } Scotland } } +44 1224 272934 } } e.lachowski-at-abdn.ac.uk } } } } } } } }
I have been asked about the possibility of examining a small electronic part using SEM. The first possible problem, which occurred to me, was the charging of any non-conductive surfaces. It now seems that this may be a small problem compared to what else was pointed out. The assembly also has a magnetic source of ~1000 gauss. My first guess is that examination of such a sample with SEM is not possible. Being optimistic, I did place a small wall magnet in the chamber just to observe the effect. The resulting image resembled a work by Dali. Just to make sure I was not wrong, I thought that this might be a good question to pose to the list to find if anyone else has experience with similar samples. Any replies, pro or con, of examination of such samples would be welcome.
Thanks *********************************************** Dave Strecker mailto:djstrecker-at-ra.rockwell.com Rockwell Automation/Allen-Bradley Phone: (440)646-3250 Component Engineering ND246 Fax: (440)646-3416 1 Allen-Bradley Dr. Mayfield Hts., Ohio 44124 USA ***********************************************
There were four rather good treatments of electron diffraction published a number of years ago. Since the phenomenon involved should not have changed much, these should still be useful, IF you can still find the books:
The first is: An Introduction to Electron Diffraction, by B. E. P. Beeston, Part II of Practical Methods in Electron Microscopy, Vol. 1. A. Glauert, Ed. North-Holland, American Elsevier,1972, ISBN 0-444-10404-6
The second is: 'Intrepretation of Electron Diffraction Patterns', by Andrews, Dyson &Keowon, Plenum Press, 1967 (Library of Congress Card No. 68-19540)
The third is: Ch. 15 by Alderson & Halliday "Electron Diffraction" in the book 'Techniques for Electron Microscopy' D. H. Kay, Ed., 2nd. Ed., F. A. Davis Publishers
The fourth: Chapts. 4 & 5 in 'Electron Microscopy of Thin Crystals' by Hirsch, et. al, Butterworths, 1967
The first is a thorough and detailed treatment covering several hundred pages and starting from very first principles. The third and fourth are descriptive and much shorter. The second contains a detailed instructions, tables of data, etc. for interpreting ED patterns.
While we're on the subject, here are a few other references that might be of some historical interest:
Structure Analysis by Electron Diffraction, by B. K. Vainshtein, MacMillan, 1964
Electron Diffraction, by Z. G. Pinsker, Butterworths, 1953
Theory & Practice of Electron Diffraction, by Thomson & Cochrane, 1939, MacMillan
Electron Microdiffraction, by Spence & Zuo. Plenum Press, 1992
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
Your comments are very reasonable. However, I use an old text-only newsreader because it is the only on that permits me to maintain all my saved messages and pointers on the host machine while I access it from 3 or 4 other sites. All the newer readers download the messages and require me to carry around a news.src floppy to keep track.
I vote for plain text: it's always clear and readable.
Although I routinely take 0.5-1.5 um sections before ultrathin sections, I rarely keep and photograph these semithin sections. (Photons - who needs 'em?) However, right now I need to coverslip some Spurr's semithins, and I remember that one gets better results with a different thickness coverslip than the usual No. 1. Can anyone enlighten me, or offer suggestions for the best way to photograph Spurr's sections?
As always, I sincerely appreciate any responses!
Aloha, Tina
**************************************************************************** * Tina (Weatherby) Carvalho * tina-at-pbrc.hawaii.edu * * Biological Electron Microscope Facility * (808) 956-6251 * * University of Hawaii at Manoa * http://www.pbrc.hawaii.edu/bemf* ****************************************************************************
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We are looking for a special person interested in biomedical imaging. The = ideal person would be someone with previous experience in hearing research = with training in histology, protein purification, cell or molecular = biology, aseptic techniques, electron microscopy (including SEM and = immunocytochemistry), data collection or data management. A bachelors or = masters degree, or equivalent laboratory experience is required. =
Candidates with a strong laboratory background not related to microscopy = but with an interest in learning imaging techniques are encouraged to = apply.
Please mail or fax resume with a letter of application to:
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I tried to sign up for the SIMS listserver at LISTSERV-at-FTMON.ARL.MIL = but recieved an error message in return. I think they changed it = sometime back but I cannot find the new address. Does anybody else = subscribe to this listserver, and if so have the new address? Thank you = very much in advance.
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Tina: The thickness of the coverslip is so important, most microscope manufacturers engrave the correct thickness on each objective! Some refer to the coverslip as the first lens in the path after leaving the specimen. Generally the correct thickness is 0.17. A 1 1/2 thickness coverslip has a thickness of between 0.16and 0.19 so it is usually the best choice. (A # 1 was a thickness of 0.13 to 0.17 so can be suitable if it is at the thick end of the range). With that wide of a variation, obviously not all manufacturers of # 1 1/2 coverslips are equal. The true anal compulsive can check this with a micrometer. The thickness assumes that there is an infinitely thin layer of mounting medium between the 0.17 glass and the coverslip. To achieve this, one needs to mount the section on the coverslip and not the slide. Doing this is truely the sign of the obsessed (I haven't done it in many months, honest). In the real world, one can just use a sparing amount of mounting medium and press firmly down (down allow any lateral motion or you will get funky waves in the medium). It is usually hard to appreciate the difference (by eye) the mistake of using a # 1 instead of a #1 1/2 but it is very obvious when a student uses too much mounting media. it is impossible to focus at high mags. If you are using an oil immersion objective, the optics are much more forgiving on coverslip thickness. Good luck, Tom
-------------------------------------. } } } Hi, all- } } Although I routinely take 0.5-1.5 um sections before ultrathin sections, I } rarely keep and photograph these semithin sections. (Photons - who needs } 'em?) However, right now I need to coverslip some Spurr's semithins, and } I remember that one gets better results with a different thickness } coverslip than the usual No. 1. Can anyone enlighten me, or offer } suggestions for the best way to photograph Spurr's sections? } } As always, I sincerely appreciate any responses! } } Aloha, } Tina } } **************************************************************************** } * Tina (Weatherby) Carvalho * tina-at-pbrc.hawaii.edu * } * Biological Electron Microscope Facility * (808) 956-6251 * } * University of Hawaii at Manoa * http://www.pbrc.hawaii.edu/bemf* } **************************************************************************** Thomas E. Phillips, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Biological Sciences Director, Molecular Cytology Core Facility
3 Tucker Hall Division of Biological Sciences University of Missouri Columbia, MO 65211 (573)-882-4712 (voice) (573)-882-0123 (fax)
I have a possible cause for all the confusion. Perhaps our friendly neighborhood sysop can offer his opinions. I have looked at some archived messages from Barbara and discovered that older messages came through fine, but lately messages arrive as an attached file which I must save to my hard drive and open with a word processor. I get the text below, which includes HTML tags for document formatting. I also noticed that the header info (not pasted in this message) indicated older messages were written with Netscape mail client ("Mozilla") with MIME content type set to "text/plain". New messages were sent using Eudora Pro and content type "text/enriched" which could explain the HTML tags and the fact that someone wrote they received Barbara's email with a larger font size.
Barbara, perhaps if you try setting content type to "text/plain" everyone could read the messages. Then again, I may be off in the weeds!
Jim Passmore Analytical Chemist Cryovac Division, Sealed Air Corp.
The Listserver rules specifically state not to send attachments and to send all messages in plain text. That judgement was made at the start of the listserver many, many moons ago and far in advance of the recent discussion.
Fonts/Colors etc are fine but they do not sure a sufficiently useful purpose in Email. They just cause headaches for some subscribers. These items belong on a WWW page and NOT imbedded in an Email message.
Please show courtesy to your colleagues and remove all such settings from any Listserver Email posting.
Dear All, The method I use to test my TEM film developer (Kodak Rapidfix) is to put two drops of saturated KI (potassium iodide) into a small beaker of the fixer dipped out of the fixing tank. If spent, the fixer will turn milky from the Ag I. If the beaker stays clear the fixer is still fixing silver. I've had a small bottle of KI on my shelf for many years and it is easy to make up.
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-interchg.ubc.ca
I recently read the postings relating to a vendor using this List in a somewhat roundabout way to advertise!
I have a proposal to make which I believe would put an end to this.
Vendors should all use the same simple disclaimer in their posts. This would read simply: "We are a vendor of electron microscope supplies" or words to that effect.
In addition, the body of the posting should address itself only to the specific questions being answered and not slip in statements like "...which this company sells....etc" unless someone is asking directly for a source.
We have the subject 3-chip, cooled CCD camera on a Nikon microscope with a Diagnostic Inst. adapter. When imaging a white field or any field with limited range in the histogram we like to expand the limited histogram to fill all 256 bins. When we do that we get a color distortion that, in a white screen gives pink on the top and green at bottom; middle is white. This does not happen with any of our single chip cameras.
We suspect that the color distortion is due to slight misalignment of the chips or prisms so that the R,G & B do not quite combine to give pure white. We have contacted the manufacturer, but they seem clueless, or suggest it is a microscope optics problem (of course!). We, would like to get this $25K camera working properly, or at least isolate the problem. Possibly 3-chip cameras cannot be "perfectly" aligned....we'd like to know.
Anyone out there have any experience with this kind of problem?
Dave Pevear, Exxon Production Research Co, Box 2189, Houston, TX 77252-2189
} From my point of view (as an EM service engineer), introducing a magnet into any area in an SEM can cause trouble. Even brief contact between a magnetic sample and EM stages and sample exchangers can cause them to become slightly magnetic themselves. Even if your stage is made of brass or aluminum, there are still setscrews and other mechanisms which might need degaussing if the imaging of the scope is affected.
Can you please explain why at least one of my messages was also received with no content? I don't use the same format as Barbara and, in this case sent the message privately.
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Barbara, Eric, and others . . . } } I have a possible cause for all the confusion. Perhaps our friendly } neighborhood sysop can offer his opinions. I have looked at some } archived messages from Barbara and discovered that older } messages came through fine, but lately messages arrive as an } attached file which I must save to my hard drive and open with } a word processor. I get the text below, which includes HTML tags } for document formatting. I also noticed that the header info } (not pasted in this message) indicated older messages were } written with Netscape mail client ("Mozilla") with MIME content } type set to "text/plain". New messages were sent using } Eudora Pro and content type "text/enriched" which could explain } the HTML tags and the fact that someone wrote they received } Barbara's email with a larger font size. } } Barbara, perhaps if you try setting content type to "text/plain" } everyone could read the messages. Then again, I may be } off in the weeds! } } Jim Passmore } Analytical Chemist } Cryovac Division, Sealed Air Corp.
I would be interested in hearing from anyone who is working on remote = control of EM's across the Internet. We have people who are interested = in this and it would help greatly if we could get some pointers.
TIA
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
{!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 4.71.1712.3"' name=3DGENERATOR} {/HEAD} {BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff} {DIV} {FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2} Hi, {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2} {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT size=3D2} I would be interested in hearing from anyone who is = working on=20 remote control of EM's across the Internet. We have people = who are=20 interested in this and it would help greatly if we could get some=20 pointers. {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT size=3D2} {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT size=3D2} TIA {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT size=3D2} {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT size=3D2} Colin {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT size=3D2} {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2} Colin Reid, {BR} Electron Microscope=20 Unit, {BR} Trinity College Dublin, {BR} Dublin = 2, {BR} Ireland. {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2} Tel: 353-1-6081820 {BR} Fax:=20 353-1-6770438 {BR} email: {A=20 href=3D"mailto:creid-at-tcd.ie"} creid-at-tcd.ie {/A} {/FONT} {/DIV} {/BODY} {/HTML}
Your comments on using a middle man/woman in commercial transactions are interesting. I for one would like to find out how the system works and also if people are using a similar system. I don't know if it is prevelant nowadays, but we personally have had two = bad deals in the last 24 months. We have always dealt on trust in the past = but this seems to have died out. First we placed orders for a TEM CCD camera and an LM CCD Camera with a Surrey based company ( Digital Pixel ). We were asked for and paid 30% = of the cost. 6-8 months later Dr Leslie Vanderpant attempted to install th= e TEM camera. He failed to get it to work and took it away. We never sa= w him, or the camera, again. We also did not receive the LM camera. Despite asking for a refund we have got nothing back and have lost approx. =A310K. Then I sourced a second-hand Microlumina in Carolina. We were asked for= a percentage before the camera would be shipped. Everything seemed fine until the individual absconded with the camera & the contents of the comp= any bank account. Thankfully his partner was an honest individual and he returned our money from his own bank account. These were two of our personal experiences recently, but it does raise th= e question of how safe your money is when you have to hand over large percentages to equipment companies. How do most people deal with this problem ( or have we just been unlucky = ? ) ?
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----- } From: Winston Wiggins {wwiggins-at-carolinas.org} To: Michael Dingley {michaeld-at-amsg.austmus.gov.au}
Thanks to all who replied to my posting. Barbara has changed her settings and is coming through loud and clear.
Regards, Eric
---------------------- Dr Eric E. Lachowski University of Aberdeen Department of Chemistry Meston Walk Old Aberdeen AB24 3UE Scotland +44 1224 272934 e.lachowski-at-abdn.ac.uk
---------- } De: Ian MacLaren {I.MacLaren-at-BHAM.AC.UK} } Para: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Assunto: Fonts in messages etc. } Data: Ter=E7a-feira, 13 de Outubro de 1998 12:30 } =20 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------= - } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America= =20 } 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 } =20 } Dear all, } Several people have written about blank messages or weird effects with } fonts on messages from certain subscribers. Maybe the main problem is that } some people are sending email with styled text from one of a number of } modern email systems but older emailers are somewhat limited in their } ability to understand this formatting information (generally text size, } font and colour). If you use Eudora Pro or Light 3.x or later, Microso= ft } Outlook Express or Netscape mail you should have no problems reading su= ch } mail but other older email packages may well have difficulties. } =20 } The question we should maybe be asking is "How acceptable is it to send } email with text formattings on this listserver?" Modern email systems that } send more than just plain text can produce nice looking messages, IF YO= U } CAN READ THEM. Using such features widely may discriminate against tho= se } who don't have the latest computer software, however, thus reducing the } usefulness of this forum as a worldwide discussion medium. As for me, = I } sometimes use styled text if I know that the recipient will be able to read } it, but for postings to general forums such as this one, I always just use } plain text. } =20 } What do others think? } =20 } ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ } 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, or: ianmaclaren-at-hotmail.com } Birmingham B15 2TT, http://web.bham.ac.uk/I.MacLaren } England. } ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ } =20 } =20 } =20
Check out http://tpm.amc.anl.gov/mmc/ and links therein to the laboratories involved in the DOE2000 project on TelePresence Microscopy. Ours is http://www.ornl.gov/doe2k/, for example. Feel free to call for more information.
Larry
} Hi, I would be interested in hearing from anyone who is working on } remote control of EM's across the Internet. We have people who are } interested in this and it would help greatly if we could get some } pointers. TIA 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
Dr. Lawrence F. Allard Senior Research Staff Member High Temperature Materials Laboratory Oak Ridge National Laboratory 1 Bethel Valley Road Bldg. 4515, MS 6064 PO Box 2008 Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6064
The correct coverslip thickness for a given objective is engraved on its mount. Keep in mind, that this "coverslip thickness" is the sum of:
thickness of adhesive+thickness of the section/specimen+thickness of the mounting medium+thickness of the coverslip...
In that respect, "preparation thickness" is more correct!
To thick a preparation results in undercorrection of spherical abberation. This is usually not a big problem with objectifs NA 0.40 or less and visual observation. It is a problem with dry objectives of higher NA and in photomicrography: the image looks very "blured", details are missing...
This can be easily demonstrated: take a slide and put a second coverslip on it with a small drop of paraffin- or immersion oil and examine, you'll notice the effect...
Immersion objectives are much more forgiving on coverslip thickness, due to the fact that there are little or no deviations in refracting index between specimen and front lens of the objective ("homogenious immersion").
Keep in mind however, that the working distance of a 100x immersion lens is only about 0.1mm...
As some kind of rule of thumb:
* with an NA 0.90 (dry), deviations in "coverslip thickness" of 1 - 2=B5m ar= e noticeable... * with an NA 0.50, deviations in "coverslip thickness" of 50=B5m are not noticeable... (James, J.J.:"Microscopische waarnemingsmethoden", Oosthoek, Utrecht, The Netherlands, 1969).
This may be too simple, but what room lighting are you using while grabbing images? I get the same kind of thing with an ordinary single chip camera with fluorescent room lights on. It's especially strong at low magnifications when more stray light enters the objective. Hope this helps.... -- James M. Ehrman Digital Microscopy Facility Mount Allison University Sackville, NB E4L 1G7 CANADA
We have four Hitachi 3-chip color cameras (HV-C20) with couplers from both Diagnostic Instruments and Optem International. These cameras have a shading correction function which attempts to even out the red to green color shading (this appears to be a universal problem with 3-chip cameras). I have not noticed the problem as much when the cameras are used with conventional video camera lenses.
On the other hand, I have a problem with color fringing in certain parts of the images. It is most noticeable with high contrast images, such as black lines on a white background. We have four of these cameras and they all have this problem to one degree or another. This particular problem also exists when using video camera lenses. It could be chromatic aberration, but I think it is a phenomenon of 3-chip cameras.
Any other ideas out there?
Dennis B. Barr (dennbarr-at-eastman.com) Physical Chemistry Research Laboratory Physical & Analytical Chemistry Research Division Eastman Chemical Company Kingsport, TN 37662-5150
B-150B, R-132E, (423) 229-2188
} -----Original Message----- } From: P00bare [SMTP:p00bare-at-pdq.net] } Sent: Tuesday, October 13, 1998 11:44 PM } To: Microscopy Listserver } Subject: Hamamatsu C5810 Camera } } ---------------------------------------------------------------------- } -- } 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 } ---------------------------------------------------------------------- } -. } } } We have the subject 3-chip, cooled CCD camera on a Nikon microscope } with a } Diagnostic Inst. adapter. When imaging a white field or any field } with } limited range in the histogram we like to expand the limited histogram } to fill } all 256 bins. When we do that we get a color distortion that, in a } white } screen gives pink on the top and green at bottom; middle is white. } This does } not happen with any of our single chip cameras. } } We suspect that the color distortion is due to slight misalignment of } the } chips or prisms so that the R,G & B do not quite combine to give pure } white. } We have contacted the manufacturer, but they seem clueless, or suggest } it is a } microscope optics problem (of course!). We, would like to get this } $25K } camera working properly, or at least isolate the problem. Possibly } 3-chip } cameras cannot be "perfectly" aligned....we'd like to know. } } Anyone out there have any experience with this kind of problem? } } Dave Pevear, Exxon Production Research Co, Box 2189, Houston, TX } 77252-2189
I am looking for a software (database) where input would be (elemental) chemical composition of an unknown phase (from quantitative EDS and/or WDS analysis) and the output: possible minerals that match (inside some error boundaries)that chemical composition.
Very best regards,
Goran Drazic J. Stefan Institute Ljubljana Slovenia
I once saw a wonderful teaching tool for EM which consisted of a column which had been bisected longitudinally to show the windings in the lenses, etc. I have an old column, access to a good metal cutting bandsaw, and would like to do the same, but wonder if it's really feasible.
Does anyone know if there are any special tricks to doing this?
I'm pretty sure Barbara did not do anything intentionally. I know here at Cal the computer people change things all the time without telling anybody, and us computer "illiterates" keep doing what we've always done not knowing we're doing something wrong. I never had a problem with her messages, but at least she got us all to pay attention to how our e-mail systems are configured so we can make sure stuff is sent out correctly. Thanks Barbara for bringing this to all of our attentions! I'm checking all my settings right now.
Still trying to figure out what HTML stands for (looks like hatemail to me),
Paula :-)
Paula Sicurello UC Berkeley Electron Microscope Lab psic-at-uclink4.berkeley.edu phone: 510-642-2085 fax: 510-643-6207 http://biology.berkeley.edu/EML
I apologize for the tone but I feel that this was a terrible answer to send out. I assume that the person who asked the question is either young or not too familiar with the ideas of science. Therefore to imply that the magnification requested can be known so accurately (more accurately than we know any of the fundamental constants, for example) is leading the reader astray, to put it mildly. If the diameter of a quarter varies by, say, a part in a thousand from one to another, the answer would be 574 times ten to the power six i. e. 574 million. All the other figures are wrong.
Alwyn Eades
At 09:04 AM 10/14/98 -0400, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America Phone 610 758 4231 Fax 610 758 4244 jae5-at-lehigh.edu
Dear Dave, I have examined a cobalt-based super-magnet in the SEM, but strictly for EDX analysis. The image is grossly distorted. The only suggestion would be to use as long a working distance as possible and as high an accelerating voltage. Near the magnet will still be distorted. You wrote: } } I have been asked about the possibility of examining a small electronic } part using SEM. The first possible problem, which occurred to me, was } the charging of any non-conductive surfaces. It now seems that this may } be a small problem compared to what else was pointed out. The assembly } also has a magnetic source of ~1000 gauss. My first guess is that } examination of such a sample with SEM is not possible. Being } optimistic, I did place a small wall magnet in the chamber just to } observe the effect. The resulting image resembled a work by Dali. } Just to make sure I was not wrong, I thought that this might be a good } question to pose to the list to find if anyone else has experience with } similar samples. Any replies, pro or con, of examination of such } samples would be welcome. } } Thanks } *********************************************** } Dave Strecker mailto:djstrecker-at-ra.rockwell.com } Rockwell Automation/Allen-Bradley Phone: (440)646-3250 } Component Engineering ND246 Fax: (440)646-3416 } 1 Allen-Bradley Dr. } Mayfield Hts., Ohio 44124 USA } *********************************************** 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-interchg.ubc.ca
Dear Madam or Sir, My name is Hong Feng Zhang. I am a new member of the Microscopy Society of America. I saw the other member got the email message from Listserver of MSA, such as EM job opening. I would be very appreciated if you could tell me some information about how to get on to the list. I am interested in looking for an EM technician position in NY. Is there any way I could post this message to the other member of our Society?
Thank you very much for your consideration. I am looking forward to hearing from you soon.
Cordially, Hong Feng Zhang Phone: (718) 319-8240 Email: hfzhang-at-aecom.yu.edu
And seconds to the empathy expressed to Barbara. (After my own experience with "Gold" mishap a few weeks ago, I know what she must be going through.)
Fortunately, the majority of subscribers on this list are quite understanding professionals who've got better things to do than keep up with the idiosyncrasies of computer networks. And we want to continue to hear from them. We would do ourselves a great disservice in discouraging their input by forcing our own standards of computerese upon them. In that case, we would lower ourselves to the level and thinking of those rednecks who stand up against U.S. immigrants on the basis of their not having a mastery of the English language. There are plenty of places for computer professionals (newsgroups on the USENET, for example), and those intent on debating these kinds of issues should exit to those; on the other hand, there are not enough forums for people like Barbara and Paula, and we should be working to make the few such as this that are available as friendly as possible.
Paula Sicurello wrote: } } Listers, } } I'm pretty sure Barbara did not do anything intentionally. } I know here at Cal the computer people change things all the time } without telling anybody, and us computer "illiterates" keep doing } what we've always done not knowing we're doing something wrong. } I never had a problem with her messages, but at least she got us } all to pay attention to how our e-mail systems are configured so } we can make sure stuff is sent out correctly. } Thanks Barbara for bringing this to all of our attentions! } I'm checking all my settings right now. } } Still trying to figure out what HTML stands for (looks like hatemail } to me), } } Paula :-) } } Paula Sicurello } UC Berkeley } Electron Microscope Lab } psic-at-uclink4.berkeley.edu } phone: 510-642-2085 } fax: 510-643-6207 } http://biology.berkeley.edu/EML
-- ..we now return control of your computer screen to you... ---------------------------------------------------------- Timothy G. Moeller | Microanalysis Products Senior Software Engineer | NORAN Instruments Inc., {tmoeller-at-noran.com} | a ThermoSpectra company ----------------------------------------------------------
Colin, Try contacting an import/export company first. Make sure they're experienced in the country in which you're making your purchase. Give them the details and ask if they will negotiate or if they have a standard procedure to act as intermediary. Make them aware of your previous experiences. This is a technique we commonly used in the Middle East to make sure that products were delivered or money was returned, no slander intended. If the selling party refuses to agree to the intermediary, that should raise a red flag for you. Good luck. Winston.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Winston W Wiggins, Supr. 10/14/98 12:56:23 PM CRC-Electron Microscopy Lab. Ofc:704/355-1267 Carolinas Medical Center Fax:704/355-7648 P.O. Box 32861 Lab:704/355-7220 Charlotte,NC 28232-2861 USA Eml:wwiggins-at-carolinas.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 need to know the diameter of a quarter and the diameter of the world. } How many times a quarter would have to be magnified to cover the world?
At 08:24 AM 10/14/98 -0700, Paula Sicurello wrote: } Still trying to figure out what HTML stands for (looks like hatemail to me),
HTML=HyperText Markup Language. It is what web pages are written in. There are tags that identify what fonts, effects, or other special things to use. Similar codes are embedded in word processor documents. However, they are usually not readable if you were to look at your document with a text editor, whereas HTML tags are readable albeit a foreign language.
HTML allows for the fancy effects in a web brower or enhanced e-mail program, but sure looks ugly in a text editor or regular mail program.
What happens when you take the camera off the microscope and image a white sheet of paper? You may not even need a focused image or even the adapter. I suspect that you will get the same effect and go back to the camera maker and remake your case.
Of course, it may be that they come back and say that the colors were balanced within their specifications until you drastically rescaled the brightness.
Warren
At 09:43 PM 10/13/98 -0600, you wrote: } } We have the subject 3-chip, cooled CCD camera on a Nikon microscope with a } Diagnostic Inst. adapter. When imaging a white field or any field with } limited range in the histogram we like to expand the limited histogram to fill } all 256 bins. When we do that we get a color distortion that, in a white } screen gives pink on the top and green at bottom; middle is white. This does } not happen with any of our single chip cameras. } } We suspect that the color distortion is due to slight misalignment of the } chips or prisms so that the R,G & B do not quite combine to give pure white. } We have contacted the manufacturer, but they seem clueless, or suggest it is a } microscope optics problem (of course!). We, would like to get this $25K } camera working properly, or at least isolate the problem. Possibly 3-chip } cameras cannot be "perfectly" aligned....we'd like to know. } } Anyone out there have any experience with this kind of problem? } } Dave Pevear, Exxon Production Research Co, Box 2189, Houston, TX 77252-2189 } }
Did I get the attention of all you filmmakers with the title? Use butvar (EMS) either from powder or from liquid. It is MUCH stronger per thickness than formvar, and it has a lot less inherent "texture". You use it just like formvar. It is dissolved in chloroform. If anyone wants more information, let me know.
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i did this with an old philips column. to get a good clean segment i had to rough cut it (with a bandsaw) and then used a surface mill to "polish" it. some of the loose parts needed to be potted to hold them still during the milling. i kept the O-rings intact to show vacuum sealing, too.
it makes a wonderful "prop" for lectures on electron optics...good luck!
b-
**************************************************************** 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"
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Don't forget that the sample is also part of the optical system. Best = results are obtained if the section is as close to the cover glass as = possible. We mount our sections directly onto the cover glass, not on the = slide.
Paul Webster, Ph.D House Ear Institute 2100 West Third Street Los Angeles, CA 90057 phone:213 273 8026 fax: 213 413 6739 e-mail: pwebster-at-hei.org
with ESMTP id {01J2YR6PYPKM8Y7133-at-denver.du.edu} for Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com; Wed, 14 Oct 1998 15:07:23 MDT Received: from localhost by du.edu (PMDF V5.1-10 #28062) with SMTP id {0F0U00H015CB6J-at-du.edu} for Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com; Wed, 14 Oct 1998 15:07:23 -0600 (MDT)
Hi,
Spurr's is the most highly crosslinked of all embedding media used for LM-TEM. The higher the crosslinkage, the less likely any stain, whether for LM or heavy metal for TEM, is to penetrate well enough to be called successfull. First: Get rid of Spurr's. It contains a potent carcinogen, VCD. Do you need this? Second: If you cannot get rid of Spurr's (try real hard), then use the softest mixture you can tolerate for cutting. Polymerize at 60deg C overnight, and see if this is adequate. This will reduce the final crosslinkage. Third: Blocks in existence already! Don't stain well? Try soaking the sections prior to staining for extended periods of time in water, then 5 min in alcohol, in increasing concentrations until you reach 95%. Then go back down to water stepwise. Try staining. Fourth: Use as alkaline as possible a vehicle for your stain. pH 12 is about right. Fifth: Combine all of the above. Does not work? Soak the sections in water and gradually bring to 95% alcohol.. Expose to stain dissolved in alcohol. Does not work? Forget it. Start over.
If you have very valuable sections and you must stain them for TEM, use alcoholic UA for 10min at 60deg C. Use Reynolds lead citrate at a pH of about 9 or 10. This last trick is truly a last resort, since the lead may dump erratically (or stain easily) at this low pH.
If you polymerize a block at a low power for 45 minutes in a microwave, you crosslink the resin to such an extent that nothing, nothing, nothing you do will stain it. (Lost my best meat loaf dish this way). For TEM we do not polymerize resins totally, about 10% of the monomers are left unreacted with one another. If you "drive" the crosslinkage, the block will be harder, less elastic, and impenetrable for liquids (except if you boil it for a year or so in water). I am not exaggerating. I got this info out of one my very favorite materials science books.
Hi All: I'm looking for a independent service person who is experienced in repairing Cambridge SEM's. Preferably the Cambridge 120. Is there anyone like this in the Dallas-Fort Worth or Texas Area?
Regards,
Michael Coviello Materials Science UT Arlington
UT Arlington Attn: Michael Coviello Box 19031, 500 W. 1st Street Arlington, TX 76019
I have recently been involved with installing SEMs for equipment reseller= s. The industry policy is to have the equipment 100% paid before shipment. This presents some problems for both the buyer and seller as some buyers have = a company policy of paying for equipment "Net 30 days" after delivery. The = sellers have also had equipment stolen from them after the buyers made a partial payment.
Recently, I have attempted to resolve this problem by purchasing the equi= pment from the reseller AFTER I have received a purchase order from the Buyer. = After installation, the buyer (a large Company) informed me that they were not = paying for the remaining balance as the dollar amount that they had written on t= he purchase order "was an arbitrary amount to be changed as they saw fit". T= hey further informed me that they had attorneys that could drag this out for = as long as possible. I lost about $5,000.00 USD on the arrangement.
I now only deal with Sellers and Buyers I personally know and have done a reasonable amount of business. I now have a Buyer for an SEM that is givi= ng $80,000.00 USD to an equipment reseller. As the Buyer put it "this goes a= gainst every grain in my body; I DO NOT pay in full for equipment I have not ev= en seen but I trust you and you trust the Seller so we sent the check".
You are right, trust has everything to do with the transaction. I now onl= y do business with people I trust. The Asians have long chided the American wa= y of doing business as Americans do not want to establish a personal relations= hip with their clients. Perhaps they had it right all along.
Regards,
Earl Weltmer
Colin Reid wrote:
} -----------------------------------------------------------------------= - } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Co= m } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.htm= l } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Winston, } } Your comments on using a middle man/woman in commercial transactions ar= e } interesting. I for one would like to find out how the system works an= d } also if people are using a similar system. } I don't know if it is prevelant nowadays, but we personally have had tw= o bad } deals in the last 24 months. We have always dealt on trust in the pas= t but } this seems to have died out. } First we placed orders for a TEM CCD camera and an LM CCD Camera with a } Surrey based company ( Digital Pixel ). We were asked for and paid 30= % of } the cost. 6-8 months later Dr Leslie Vanderpant attempted to install = the } TEM camera. He failed to get it to work and took it away. We never = saw } him, or the camera, again. We also did not receive the LM camera. } Despite asking for a refund we have got nothing back and have lost appr= ox. } =A310K. } Then I sourced a second-hand Microlumina in Carolina. We were asked f= or a } percentage before the camera would be shipped. Everything seemed fine } until the individual absconded with the camera & the contents of the co= mpany } bank account. Thankfully his partner was an honest individual and he } returned our money from his own bank account. } These were two of our personal experiences recently, but it does raise = the } question of how safe your money is when you have to hand over large } percentages to equipment companies. } How do most people deal with this problem ( or have we just been unluck= y ? ) } ? } } 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----- } } From: Winston Wiggins {wwiggins-at-carolinas.org} } To: Michael Dingley {michaeld-at-amsg.austmus.gov.au} } Date: Tuesday, October 13, 1998 11:14 PM } Subject: RE: Help with slide carrier } } } ----------------------------------------------------------------------= -- } } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of Americ= a } } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.C= om } } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.ht= ml } } ----------------------------------------------------------------------= -. } } } } } } } } Mike, } } I did a search on Frickel but could only find his address, } } 124 N. Janney Street, Baltimore, MD, 21224-1705 and his phone } } number, 410-342-5772. As a native of Baltimore, I'd hate for him } } to give it a bad name (or make it worse than it already is!), so } } here're a few url's that may help: } } } } http://www.bbb.org (the Better Business Bureau) } } http://epfl2.epflbalto.org/citygov/police/police1.htm (five l's and on= e 1) } } (Baltimore City Police ). } } } } Next time try what we used to do in Saudi Arabia. Find an } } acceptable disinterested intermediary(bank,lawyer,accountant,export fi= rm) } } that will hold and release the payment once all is done and everyone i= s } satisfied, } } especially with international transactions. It will save you alot of } headache. } } Good luck. } } Winston. } } ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ } } Winston W Wiggins, Supr. 10/13/98 12:15:54 PM } } CRC-Electron Microscopy Lab. Ofc:704/355-1267 } } Carolinas Medical Center Fax:704/355-7648 } } P.O. Box 32861 Lab:704/355-7220 } } Charlotte,NC 28232-2861 USA Eml:wwiggins-at-carolinas.org } } ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ } } } } } }
There are a number of articlea on magnetic domain imaging. The idea is to keep the magnetic material away from the polepiece. As far as charging of the package goes one could go to a low KV or paint the non-conductive package surface with conductive paint.
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Dave, } } } From my point of view (as an EM service engineer), introducing a magnet into } any area in an SEM can cause trouble. Even brief contact between a magnetic } sample and EM stages and sample exchangers can cause them to become slightly } magnetic themselves. Even if your stage is made of brass or aluminum, there } are still setscrews and other mechanisms which might need degaussing if the } imaging of the scope is affected. } } Sincerely, } } Bill Carmichael } } Allequash Engineering
RESEARCH RESOURCES CENTER, UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO
Position Title: HEAD, ELECTRON MICROSCOPY FACILITY
The Research Resources Center (RRC), University of Illinois at Chicago, is seeking a microscopist to manage its Electron Microscope Facility, a UIC core instrumentation facility located in the UIC Health Sciences Center and serving primarily the biological and health-related sciences. The position carries the academic professional title Research Electron Microscopist. This individual will manage and participate in all EMF functions including: providing users with access to instruments, training, services and technical advice, and maintaining instruments. Other duties are supervising the EMF staff, recommending equipment acquisitions and upgrades; developing an annual budget; administrative tasks; methods development; and reporting to and advising the RRC Director. Professional development is encouraged.
The Health Sciences Center EMF contains five JEOL electron microscopes including a new 1220 TEM, and a new high resolution, Field Emission-6320F SEM; Topometrix STM/AFMs; and a Zeiss 510 LSCM with 3 lasers. Support features include off-line analysis and processing of data from any of the computerized microscopes, specimen preparation lab; ultramicrotomes, and darkroom. Personnel include two experienced EM technologists and a confocal microscopist.
Candidates must have: a doctorate and considerable postdoctoral, independent research experience utilizing electron microscopy; significant theoretical understanding of and skills in utilizing modern, computerized TEM and SEM instruments and related analytical techniques; application skills for imaging and analyzing a variety of specimens, and digital image processing of microscopy data. They should also have the necessary administrative, communication, and social skills for managing a centralized instrument service facility and working effectively with faculty, staff and students. In order to develop the facility's capabilities in high resolution, FE-SEM and in ultrastructural immunocytochemistry, significant expertise in these areas is desirable.
Further information may be obtained by consulting the following website: http://www.rrc.uic.edu/jobs.html
For fullest consideration, interested parties should send an application letter, complete curriculum vitae, and the names and addresses of three references within three weeks after appearance of this notice to:
EMF Head Search Research Resources Center, m/c 937 University of Illinois at Chicago 835 S. Wolcott Ave. Chicago, Illinois 60612-7341
Mailing address: Robert F. Loizzi, Ph.D. Director, RRC-West Research Resources Center (m/c 937) University of Illinois at Chicago 835 S. Wolcott Avenue Chicago, Illinois 60612-7341
TEL: (312) 996-7600, or -8748 FAX: (312) 996-0539
Campus address: Rm. E102, Medical Sciences Bldg, m/c 937
Once upon a time in a past life I had to have EDX done on a rare-earth cobalt magnet. After the SEM operator tossed me out of his lab, I used a hysteresisgraph to demagnetize my sample. Then I was allowed back in the lab and we were able to do the analysis.
Janet Rice MCC Senior Member Technical Staff rice-at-mcc.com 512-338-3266
There are three tricks I know of (from the old RCAs that we had at the now-defunct Center for EM at U. Illinois): 1) Cut in a vertical plane slightly off-center, at a right-angle to the line of sight when standing directly in front of the 'scope. The off-center help with saving the positions for grid-holders and other such pieces. Although grid-holders, apertures strips, etc. should be out of the column when sawn. 2) Drill entry & exit holes in the metal to be removed just below and above the lenses. Inject any good, transparent resin into the lenses. This will hold them in place when the column is sawn. Inject *carefully* to avoid air-bubbles. 3) Have 2 or 3 (or 4 or ...) extra EMs to practice on.
Caveat: I worked at the Center. This work was done *long* before I got there by a highly skilled machinist. What I related above is what I was told by others who had been around when the guy did the work.
Phil
} I once saw a wonderful teaching tool for EM which consisted of a column which } had been bisected longitudinally to show the windings in the lenses, etc. I } have an old column, access to a good metal cutting bandsaw, and would like to } do the same, but wonder if it's really feasible. } } Does anyone know if there are any special tricks to doing this? } } Paul Grover
}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{ Philip Oshel PO Box 620068 Middleton, WI 53562 oshel-at-terracom.net or poshel-at-hotmail.com
Dear Wil, } } There were four rather good treatments of electron diffraction published a } number of years ago. Since the phenomenon involved should not have changed } much, these should still be useful, IF you can still find the books: } [skip] I would add Cowley's Diffraction Physics to this list. Yours, Bill Tivol
Randy- This is a very complex question... The necessity to accommodate the students, research projects, outside users, industrial users, etc. becomes difficult when all groups often seem to share deadlines. Second is the complexity of cost recovery... According to Federal and State regulations, in this country, core facilities funded with tax revenues are not intended to compete with private commercial industrial labs. Determining various rate for each sector is also difficult. I have done this at two different labs in the past, and recommend to KEEP IT SIMPLE. Try to get a co-op type system, if possible, pre-pay to cover all the maintenance contracts paid, and then an additional sum for the basic supplies. Also make sure you have money budgeted for salary for personnel, you will find it essential to have competent staff. Try a salary survey of other labs which have a recharge system, it is a great starting place to establish your rates. -Mike
On Wed, 7 Oct 1998, Randy Mandryk 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } } What is a good general criterion for evaluation of a core microscopy } facility in an academic situation? What kind of ranking priority may be } assigned to different operations, such as research and service, management } of the core facility, cost recovery (user fee), teaching commitment } (regular and short courses), publications, etc. } } A user fee is levied in most labs for use of major instruments. The sample } preparation methods may influence the amount of time a particular } instrument is in use, specially a TEM. What would be an average estimate, } in terms of percent time spent per year on TEMs, SEMs and Confocals in a } core facility? } } } } Randy Mandryk } Microtechnique Lab, Room CW 225T } EXT 3473, Biological Sciences } University of Alberta } } }
I am in search of breaking pads for an LKB 2078 Histo Knifemaker. Any suggestions?
David O'Neil tel: (902) 426-8258 National Research Council of Canada fax: (902) 426-9413 Institute for Marine Biosciences 1411 Oxford St. Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 3Z1 Canada email: david.o'neil-at-nrc.ca
You could try Alex Greene (ablue-at-io.com) 512.282-5507 or Walter Protheroe (Corvos-at-aol.com) 281.879-7211.
I would be glad to repair the Cambridge but I'm afraid the airfare and travel time would be excessive.
Earl Weltmer
Mike Coviello 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'm looking for a independent service person who is experienced in } repairing Cambridge SEM's. Preferably the Cambridge 120. Is there anyone } like this in the Dallas-Fort Worth or Texas Area? } } Regards, } } Michael Coviello } Materials Science } UT Arlington } } UT Arlington } Attn: Michael Coviello } Box 19031, 500 W. 1st Street } Arlington, TX 76019
Dear collegues, thank you for all the interesting and diversificated hints for my = LR-White embedding procedure. Yesterday I started embedding samples in = LR-White without the accelerator/catalyst, both in the oven at 60=B0C as = well as at -20=B0C in the UV-fridge in order to compare the grade of = ultrastructural resolution. I=B4ll tell you about my findings anyhow ...
Finally I=B4d like to ask about the possibly risks of Lowicryl because = Debby Sherman proposed to try out Lowicryl HM20. A few months ago we = ordered this stuff but up until now nobody agreed in working with this = substance fearing possible risks on health and life so that the delivery = box remains not opened somewhere in our Lab ... :-( Anyone, especially Debby, could tell me about experiences in working = with Lowicryl (HM20/K4) and the REAL risk of allergies? Are there secure = working conditions to avoid hazard? I=B4d like to know whether it=B4s = worth trying out this or if it=B4s better to keep hands off.
With best regards, Michael
Michael Reiner Department of Anatomy University of Cologne (Germany) Joseph-Stelzmann-Str.9 50931 Cologne (K=F6ln)
I am looking for information for acquiring images from a Philips 501 SEM and a Philips 300 TEM. I have done some research, but what I have come across so far is very expensive (for our budget). Does anyone have any ideas or experience with this situation?
Dear colleagues, I am going to prepare sections of polmer materials with a ultramicrotome for the TEM observation. Any suggestions for the sectioning conditions and sample preparation procedues, such as staining...? The materials will be ABS, PET, Nylon, and polypropylene. I appreciate any kinds of help.
Yes but, Spurr's has very low viscosity and does not require propylene oxide as an intermediate solvent. PO is a very powerful carcinogen. Most people seem to regard PO as essential with other epoxy resins. 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 *****
On Thursday, 15 October 1998 7:07, HILDEGARD CROWLEY [SMTP: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.ht } ml } ---------------------------------------------------------- } -------------. } } } Hi, } } Spurr's is the most highly crosslinked of all embedding } media used for } LM-TEM. The higher the crosslinkage, the less likely any } stain, whether } for LM or heavy metal for TEM, is to penetrate well enough } to be called } successfull. } First: Get rid of Spurr's. It contains a potent } carcinogen, VCD. Do you } need this? } Second: If you cannot get rid of Spurr's (try real hard), } then use the } softest mixture you can tolerate for cutting. Polymerize } at 60deg C } overnight, and see if this is adequate. This will reduce } the final } crosslinkage. } Third: Blocks in existence already! Don't stain well? } Try soaking the } sections prior to staining for extended periods of time in } water, then 5 } min in alcohol, in increasing concentrations until you } reach 95%. Then go } back down to water stepwise. Try staining. } Fourth: Use as alkaline as possible a vehicle for your } stain. pH 12 is } about right. } Fifth: Combine all of the above. Does not work? Soak } the sections in } water and gradually bring to 95% alcohol.. Expose to } stain dissolved in } alcohol. Does not work? Forget it. Start over. } } If you have very valuable sections and you must stain them } for TEM, use } alcoholic UA for 10min at 60deg C. Use Reynolds lead } citrate at a pH of } about 9 or 10. This last trick is truly a last resort, } since the lead may } dump erratically (or stain easily) at this low pH. } } If you polymerize a block at a low power for 45 minutes in } a microwave, } you crosslink the resin to such an extent that nothing, } nothing, nothing } you do will stain it. (Lost my best meat loaf dish this } way). For TEM we } do not polymerize resins totally, about 10% of the } monomers are left } unreacted with one another. If you "drive" the } crosslinkage, the block } will be harder, less elastic, and impenetrable for liquids } (except if you } boil it for a year or so in water). I am not } exaggerating. I got this } info out of one my very favorite materials science books. } } Don't use Spurr's! } } } Bye, } hildy }
I would appreciate tips on preparing marine bacteriophages for TEM - a totally new departure for us. At present, they will have to be examined at ambient temperature.
Ted Dunn's suggestion would not put an end to commercial misuse on this listserver. It is NOW a requirement that vendors must write a disclaimer when mentioning products where a potential conflict of interest exists. Most of my contributions do not require a disclaimer. His suggestion was prompted by repeated misuse of the listserver by one person. 1 The offender has repeatedly used the disclaimer as an advertisement itself. 2 Similarly, it is against the rules for a vendor to proffer product information unless it's a direct reply to a question. The offender has made a habit of changing topics and uses other posting as a springboard for his own agenda. It's advertising on the cheap and rarely informative. 3 It is in poor taste and in deed offensive for a vendor to make general statements that "his" products are somehow superior to those from other vendors (nothing wrong in saying "our apertures have two holes", if a specific reason is given why that may be advantageous). The offender's postings alludes that his products are somehow, in a general way superior. 4 It is not furthering the aims of this listserver for a vendor to pretend to reply to a question, but then gives a misleading answer designed to steer towards the vendors products, rather then provide simple technical help. Trouble is that some readers look for information and do not have the experience to separate chaff and wheat; they stand to lose much time and some money.
Sure, occasionally we have a vendor run amok, making a single posting which is quite contrary to the rules with only a risk of ostracism. But why is this one offender allowed to persist after dozens of offending postings? I once asked him why he persists with these postings and the reply was: "It works, you should see the counter on my webside move after I've made a posting."
Dozens of suppliers read the listserver, almost all play by the rules most of the time. Precedents can cause problems: What if another and then many vendors decided to also abuse the listserver? Cutting them off could generate an interesting court case. The evidence is easy to find: It's all in the archives and the last major offence occurred in the recent "formvar" thread. My slightly acid reply to that posting was the first that has not resulted in some form of bullying, including threads to a common suppliers.
A bit of social science: Clever people are adept at finding reasons, right or wrong. Good judgement is a separate trait. Many of us also avoid confrontation or prefer to shoot the messenger. Surely the issue here is: What kind of listserver do we want? Should a person be allowed to make postings which with monotonous regularity offend as outlined in the above four points? Cheers? Jim Darley ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Phone +61 7 4774 0370 Fax: +61 7 4789 2313 Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes **************************** www.proscitech.com.au *****
On Wednesday, 14 October 1998 10:15, "DUNNTEM-at-aol.com"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com [SMTP:"DUNNTEM-at-aol.com"-at-sparc5.microscopy.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.ht } ml } ---------------------------------------------------------- } -------------. } } } I recently read the postings relating to a vendor using } this List in a } somewhat roundabout way to advertise! } } I have a proposal to make which I believe would put an end } to this. } } Vendors should all use the same simple disclaimer in their } posts. This would } read simply: "We are a vendor of electron microscope } supplies" or words to } that effect. } } In addition, the body of the posting should address itself } only to the } specific questions being answered and not slip in } statements like "...which } this company sells....etc" unless someone is asking } directly for a source. } } Any comments? } } } Ted Dunn } Maui, Hawaii }
Energy Beam Sciences has a position available for a Sales Executive/Product Specialist at our facility in Agawam, Massachusetts. Anyone interested in more details should contact me back-channel.
We have used KM4 and HM20 on at least a hundred occassions. We work in a standard fume hood and wear gloves. No allergic reactions have ever occured. Do you have some reason to think this is more toxic than the other resins?
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Thomas E. Phillips, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Biological Sciences Director, Molecular Cytology Core Facility
3 Tucker Hall Division of Biological Sciences University of Missouri Columbia, MO 65211 (573)-882-4712 (voice) (573)-882-0123 (fax)
This discussion is very interesting to me. I have been thinking about taking an old hard drive apart and trying to image [a piece of = the platter] the magnetic domains, particularly the format and data dots. = This sounds pretty ridiculous since the domains have no visual or elemental variations, but it was my intention to use something like iron powder = as a disclosing agent, Since static cling dominates (over gravity and = magnetic forces) in that particle size range, I was only going to expose the = piece to the airborne dust of iron powder [how"?]. This shouldn't be the size of magnetic forces that interfere with beam dynamics, so I think its = do-able. Anybody else tried something like this or thought about it?
Most of my work involves finding silicone or other organic contaminants on the surface of airplane parts. I use AUGER and ESCA, = but just wanted to get an SEM view of the platter.=20
} =20 } =20 } There are a number of articlea on magnetic domain imaging. The idea = is to } keep } the magnetic material away from the polepiece. As far as charging of = the } package } goes one could go to a low KV or paint the non-conductive package = surface } with } conductive paint. } =20 } Good Luck, } =20 } Earl Weltmer } =20 } P.S. Can we pick on Barbara some more? } =20 } BCarmic424-at-aol.com-at-sparc5.microscopy.com wrote: } =20 } } = ------------------------------------------------------------------------=
} } 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 } } = -----------------------------------------------------------------------.=
} } } } Dave, } } } } } From my point of view (as an EM service engineer), introducing a = magnet } into } } any area in an SEM can cause trouble. Even brief contact between a } magnetic } } sample and EM stages and sample exchangers can cause them to = become } slightly } } magnetic themselves. Even if your stage is made of brass or = aluminum, } there } } are still setscrews and other mechanisms which might need = degaussing if } the } } imaging of the scope is affected. } } } } Sincerely, } } } } Bill Carmichael } } } } Allequash Engineering } =20 } =20 } =20 } =20
{bigger} {bigger} MME {/bigger} {/bigger} is America's first national consortium dedicated to
customized on-site training in all areas of
microscopy, sample preparation, and image analysis.
At 08:29 AM 10/14/98 +0100, Colin Reid wrote:
} } } }
{excerpt} {smaller} Hi,
{/smaller}
{smaller} I would be interested in hearing from anyone who is working on remote control of EM's across the Internet. We have people who are interested in this and it would help greatly if we could get some pointers.
Your material will have to be cryo sectioned otherwise you will find too much smearing and deformation . We tend to section such materials at about -120 C. Diamond knives work better, but glass knives should do OK. You can stain the nylon with phosphotungstic acid and the B in ABS with osmium tetroxide. The PP will stain somewhat with ruthenium tetroxide.
I hope this helps.
Jordi. ---------- } From: "740206-at-ucl.itri.org.tw"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com -----------------------------------------------------------------------
It is not necessary to use propylene oxide as an intermediate agent, even if the embedding media is viscous (contains Araldite 502). One can use acetone with great success. It is important, however, to really "rinse out" all the acetone with resin. Remnants of acetone or alcohol, unlike propylene oxide, do not become part of the polymerized system, and will interfere with polymerization. We have not used propylene oxide in 7 years. There was one exception: Someone brought me very valuable blocks which had been badly embedded. I managed to pull out the bad embedment with PO over a three day period and reembed, section, treat it with radioactive label, etc. The micrographs were recently published. Otherwise we have not used PO. If you decide your epoxide embedding medium is too viscous, take advantage of the mechanical property of epoxides to become fluid between 37degC and 45deg. Put the vials on a rotator, and add a 60Watt light bulb to the setup. Position the lamp so that the mixture does not exceed 45 degrees. Wonderfully successfull for difficult or large specimen. Protect yourself! Get rid of Spurr's! Carcinogens are cumulative. Hildy
-----Original Message----- } From: HILDEGARD CROWLEY [mailto:hcrowley-at-du.edu] Sent: Wednesday, October 14, 1998 10:05 AM To: postmessage
Hi, Would somebody on this listserver be able to explain to me the "Balch procedure"? Suposedly this procedure permeabilize cells, and was introduced by William Balch. All correct answers will be appreciated. J. Gabrovsek CCF Cleveland, Ohio
There are three ways to image the magnetic domains directly in the SEM. = Two are readily available in any SEM. One uses the backscattered signal = and the other uses the secondary signal. Which one depends whether the domains = are oriented in the plane of the sample (BSE-I think) or perpendicular(SE - = I think). Take a look in the SEM book by Goldstein et al. and I think = that the type I and type II imaging modes are described there.
-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."
---------- } From: Chavez, Tim A To: 'MSA Miscroscopy Listserver' = -----------------------------------------------------------------------.=
This discussion is very interesting to me. I have been thinking about taking an old hard drive apart and trying to image [a piece of = the platter] the magnetic domains, particularly the format and data dots. = This sounds pretty ridiculous since the domains have no visual or elemental variations, but it was my intention to use something like iron powder = as a disclosing agent, Since static cling dominates (over gravity and = magnetic forces) in that particle size range, I was only going to expose the = piece to the airborne dust of iron powder [how"?]. This shouldn't be the size of magnetic forces that interfere with beam dynamics, so I think its = do-able. Anybody else tried something like this or thought about it?
Most of my work involves finding silicone or other organic contaminants on the surface of airplane parts. I use AUGER and ESCA, = but just wanted to get an SEM view of the platter.
} } } There are a number of articlea on magnetic domain imaging. The idea = is to } keep } the magnetic material away from the polepiece. As far as charging of = the } package } goes one could go to a low KV or paint the non-conductive package = surface } with } conductive paint. } } Good Luck, } } Earl Weltmer } } P.S. Can we pick on Barbara some more? } } BCarmic424-at-aol.com-at-sparc5.microscopy.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 } } = -----------------------------------------------------------------------.=
} } } } Dave, } } } } } From my point of view (as an EM service engineer), introducing a = magnet } into } } any area in an SEM can cause trouble. Even brief contact between a } magnetic } } sample and EM stages and sample exchangers can cause them to = become } slightly } } magnetic themselves. Even if your stage is made of brass or = aluminum, } there } } are still setscrews and other mechanisms which might need = degaussing if } the } } imaging of the scope is affected. } } } } Sincerely, } } } } Bill Carmichael } } } } Allequash Engineering } } } }
Many years ago I abondoned formvar films for butvar films on grids. Butvar is "stickier", it is incredibly stable so that very thin films can be used. Butvar withstands repeated entry into the microscope. The films seem to last for years in storage dishes. Butvar B-98 (available from Electron Microscopy Sciences both in powder and liquid form)(I, unlike other microscopists have not amassed great wealth, and therefore own no stocks in EMS), also at high magnification displays a lot less "texture". I check every new film batch the following way: All butvar films (this is in published reports) display at very high magnifications very small isolated pinholes. I try to find one of these and turn the beam at crossover on the hole. Nothing happens - no stretching, no tearing, no movement. Butvar is used like formvar, except that it is dissolved in chloroform. It is floated off slides, etc, picked up on clean grids, etc. It requires clean glassware and a quiet casting environment. The 0.25% solution from EMS is useful for 25-50 mesh grids. Perfectly stable under most conditions. For large slot grids, it is best to use the powder at a concentration of about 0.75%. The film is so electron lucent that one can easily increase the concentration without excessive loss in contrast. Dissolving the powder can be done with heat, or by standing the bottle in the hood for about 3 days with occasional swirling. For use of the powder, please look up the reference below. Handley, D., Ultramicrotomy, 4 (1979) 479-480. Another useful feature of the butvar is that it is very sticky. If one dilutes it to 0.15% and places a drop on each clean grid lying on 2 layers of filter paper, the grids hang on tenaciously to epoxy sections. No loss during staining, etc. The "vest" of butvar is not detectable in the scope. For 10 years I have avoided the certain insanity caused by section loss during poststaining of grids by simply "vesting" all grids in butvar. I have not tried to do this with formvar.. It probably works well also. If there is section loss during protracted manipulation of grids, then the grids are warmed overnight in a 50 deg oven on the filmed grids. Presto. Glued together. (Do not flood grids while vesting. You will not be able to get them off the filter paper). I have not tried other films. There may be something even better out there. Have fun! Hildy
A back of an envelope calculation with my after dinner coffee comes up with the following numbers Radius of the Earth 6379 km Radius of a US quarter 12.25mm
Magnification comes out 520.73469 x 10 to the power 6
If Alvin Eades is worrying about wear along the milled edge of the quarter; where do we measure the earth's radius ? From the top of Everest +8848m or the bottom of the Dead Sea -394m ?
I'll settle for 520 million.
Patrick Echlin Cambridge
On Wed, 14 Oct 1998, Mark Darus 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Earth Diameter = 12,756.28 KM -at- Equater } Quarter Diameter (US) = 7/8 inch } } The Earth is 573,960,854.9 times larger, so that's your mag. } }
Fryer Co. (Huntley,IL) has openings for a Marketing Manager and Sales Personnel for our family of specialized biomedical research microscopy products.Specifically the product line consists of modules for light microscopes (any brand) which can perform the following biological investigations: Nearfield microsocpy (NeD); UV photolysis through a fiber optic probe; quantitative fluorescence; emission ratioing using dual cameras or high speed photomultipliers; detection of selected regions of fluorescence emission integrated with electrophysiology recordings. Mktg Mgr is based in Huntley, IL (near Chicago) while sales positions are located in key geographic locations in the U.S. Fryer Co. has been a NIKON microscope dealer for over 30 years and additional product lines include: Universal Imaging Corp, Media Cybernetics, Sony, Roper Scientific, etc. Positions report to VP-Mktg. Send resume to Roger Main via e-mail at roger-at-fryerco.com, fax to 847-669-2056, or mail to 11177 Dundee Rd, Hunt ley, IL 60142. EOE
} } Fonts/Colors etc are fine but they do not sure a sufficiently useful purpose } in Email. They just cause headaches for some subscribers. These items } belong on a WWW page and NOT imbedded in an Email message..... } }
The bottom line is that lots of folk simply will not read email that necessitates separate downloading and viewing. If folk want their email to get read, they need to send it in a format that folk will read. If folk don't want their email read, then why send it?
I have been doing negative staining on bacteriaphage from Lactobacillus. As milk is a highly osmotic meduim and my technique works well on this phage, it may work well with marine-based phage.
Negative stain with 200mM Uranyl oxalate, pH 6.8 Make stain immediately prior to use by adding equal amounts of 200mM uranyl acetate and 200mM oxalic acid. Adjust pH with 200mM ammonium hydroxide. Adsorb virus to carbon coated grid for 2 to 4 minutes. Do not rinse. Put grid on drop of UO stain for 2 min., wick off excess stain and let dry (~1hour). With this technique I am able to resolve the the individual proteins in the phage tail.
Bill
} Dear List } } I would appreciate tips on preparing marine bacteriophages for TEM - a } totally new departure for us. At present, they will have to be examined } at ambient temperature. } } Keith Ryan } Plymouth Marine Lab., UK } } PS - Hello, Danielle! } }
William R.McManus Supervisor Electron Microscope Facility Department of Biology Utah State University Logan UT 84322-5305
I agree with Alwyn Eades completely. This individual would not have posted the request if they had the means to perform the calculation themselves. BTW, my US quarter measured 0.952 inch (with calipers), so the mag is really 528 million.
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Although I prefer using Epon generic resins for many tissues, we use Spurr's regularily for plant tissue which requires a very low viscosity resin and careful, very slow infiltration to penetrate the heavy cell walls and give the best results. We get excellent staining for both LM and TEM.
We polymerize at 60oC for 48hrs. and use the standard Spurr's formulation. We also use gloves and work in fume hoods to minimize health hazards. The oven used for polymerization also sits in a fume hood.
Staining for TEM usually consists of 2% UA for about 5 min (this can be eliminated if you do en block staining prior to dehydration), followed by Reynold's lead citrate (original formulation) for 3 min in an NaOH atmosphere.
We usually use 1% aqueous toluidine blue for staining thick sections. We put our slides on a hot plate set at a very low temperature to stretch our sections in small droplets of water and then adhere them to the slide. Staining is then also carried out on the hot plate. Staining is much faster and more effective if you cover your sections with the Tol. blue and then add a drop or two of 1% aqueous Na Borate to raise the pH. You can mix the toluidine blue and Na borate together but it is not a very stable solution. Both will keep for months with no problems if kept separate.
I have stained larger numbers of slides by putting them in a coplin jar filled with the toluidine blue-Na borate solution (~1:1) diluted down to about 1/10 the original concentration. The coplin jar is then put into an oven (~60oC) for a prolonged period of time. The timing depends on the tissue and may be for 15 min or even 1 or more hours. Once you have it figured out for your material, you can efficiently batch stain.
There are some other low viscosity resins on the market but I have not had experience working with them. Perhaps there is one that is safer to use than Spurr's and will give equal or better results. Let's hear from other list members about alternatives.
Debby Sherman, Manager Phone: 765-494-6666 Microscopy Center in Agriculture FAX: 765-494-5896 Dept. of Botany & Plant Pathology E-mail: sherman-at-btny.purdue.edu Purdue University 1057 Whistler Building West Lafayette, IN 47907-1057
--------------------------------------
Hi,
Spurr's is the most highly crosslinked of all embedding media used for LM-TEM. The higher the crosslinkage, the less likely any stain, whether for LM or heavy metal for TEM, is to penetrate well enough to be called successfull. First: Get rid of Spurr's. It contains a potent carcinogen, VCD. Do you need this? Second: If you cannot get rid of Spurr's (try real hard), then use the softest mixture you can tolerate for cutting. Polymerize at 60deg C overnight, and see if this is adequate. This will reduce the final crosslinkage. Third: Blocks in existence already! Don't stain well? Try soaking the sections prior to staining for extended periods of time in water, then 5 min in alcohol, in increasing concentrations until you reach 95%. Then go back down to water stepwise. Try staining. Fourth: Use as alkaline as possible a vehicle for your stain. pH 12 is about right. Fifth: Combine all of the above. Does not work? Soak the sections in water and gradually bring to 95% alcohol.. Expose to stain dissolved in alcohol. Does not work? Forget it. Start over.
If you have very valuable sections and you must stain them for TEM, use alcoholic UA for 10min at 60deg C. Use Reynolds lead citrate at a pH of about 9 or 10. This last trick is truly a last resort, since the lead may dump erratically (or stain easily) at this low pH.
If you polymerize a block at a low power for 45 minutes in a microwave, you crosslink the resin to such an extent that nothing, nothing, nothing you do will stain it. (Lost my best meat loaf dish this way). For TEM we do not polymerize resins totally, about 10% of the monomers are left unreacted with one another. If you "drive" the crosslinkage, the block will be harder, less elastic, and impenetrable for liquids (except if you boil it for a year or so in water). I am not exaggerating. I got this info out of one my very favorite materials science books.
Don't use Spurr's!
Bye, hildy
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Michael, If you intend to use your tissue for immunocytochemistry, keep the polymerization temperature below 60o to protect the antigenic sites from being denatured. We usually keep the temperature around 55o and polymerize= in a nitrogen atmosphere. Alternative is the cap your capsules in such a way to exclude as much air as possible.
You do have to use precautions with the lowicryls. It is a good idea to double glove when handling them and work in a fume hood. If LRWhite works Ok then stick with it as it is about the safest resin you can use....however, if you do not get sufficient antigenicity, then lowicryls m= ay be worth using and just take the necessary precautions to not get it on your skin.
Debby Sherman, Manager Phone: 765-494-6666 Microscopy Center in Agriculture FAX: 765-494-5896 Dept. of Botany & Plant Pathology E-mail: sherman-at-btny.purdue.edu Purdue University =20 1057 Whistler Building West Lafayette, IN 47907-1057
--------------------------------------
Dear collegues, =09=09thank you for all the interesting and diversificated hints for my LR-White embedding procedure. Yesterday I started embedding samples in LR-W= hite without the accelerator/catalyst, both in the oven at 60=B0C as well as at -20=B0C in the UV-fridge in order to compare the grade of ultrastructural resolution. I=B4ll tell you about my findings anyhow ...
Finally I=B4d like to ask about the possibly risks of Lowicryl because Debby Sherman proposed to try out Lowicryl HM20. A few months ago we ordere= d this stuff but up until now nobody agreed in working with this substance fearing possible risks on health and life so that the delivery box remains not opened somewhere in our Lab ... :-( Anyone, especially Debby, could tell me about experiences in working with Lowicryl (HM20/K4) and the REAL risk of allergies? Are there secure working conditions to avoid hazard? I=B4d like to know whether it=B4s worth= trying out this or if it=B4s better to keep hands off.
With best regards, Michael
Michael Reiner Department of Anatomy University of Cologne (Germany) Joseph-Stelzmann-Str.9 50931 Cologne (K=F6ln)
RECEIVED: from SF_Database by POP_Mailbox_-1303676799 ; 15 OCT 98 10:01:37 UT Received: from SPARC5.MICROSCOPY.COM by mailcenter.btny.purdue.edu with SMTP (QuickMail Pro Server for MacOS 1.0.3); 15 OCT 98 10:01:31 UT Received: (from daemon-at-localhost) by Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.11) id DAA13477 for dist-Microscopy; Thu, 15 Oct 1998 03:33:40 = -0500 Received: from no_more_spam.com (Sparc5 [206.69.208.10]) by Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.11) with SMTP id DAA13474 for "MicroscopyFilteredEmail-at-msa.microscopy.com"; Thu, 15 Oct 1998 03:33:09 -05= 00 Received: from smail3.rrz.Uni-Koeln.DE (smail3.rrz.Uni-Koeln.DE [134.95.19.11]) by Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.11) with ESMTP id DAA1= 3467 for {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} ; Thu, 15 Oct 1998 03:32:55 -0500 Received: from Docs ([134.95.62.18] (may be forged)) by smail3.rrz.Uni-Koeln.DE (8.8.6/8.8.6/RRZK-CL-8.8.6-1) with SMTP =09 id KAA14675 for {Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com} ; Thu, 15 Oct 1998 10:42:50 +0200 (MET DST) Received: by Docs addicks.pah.medizin.uni-koeln.de with Microsoft Mail =09id {01BDF820.1928FB40-at-Docs addicks.pah.medizin.uni-koeln.de} ; Thu, 15 Oct 1998 09:42:18 +-100 Message-ID: {01BDF820.1928FB40-at-Docs addicks.pah.medizin.uni-koeln.de} From: Michael Reiner {a2811111-at-smail1.rrz.uni-koeln.de} To: "'MSA Listserver'" {Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com} Subject: IEM: LR-White / Lowicryl Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1998 09:42:10 +-100 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=3D"iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Errors-to: Microscopy-request-at-sparc5.microscopy.com =20
by is2.nyu.edu (8.8.8/8.8.7) with SMTP id SAA09462; Thu, 15 Oct 1998 18:34:37 -0400 (EDT)
On Thu, 15 Oct 1998, William R. Oliver wrote: } The bottom line is that lots of folk simply will not read } email that necessitates separate downloading and viewing. } If folk want their email to get read, they need to send } it in a format that folk will read. If folk don't want their } email read, then why send it?
Regarding recent posts by J. Darley and T. Dunn: I use several kinds of listservers and newsgroups, and I'm not a vendor. Vendors' comments are very often quite helpful to me. I don't think I've ever had a problem with a vendor trying to "foist off" his product line on me. Almost always they are proud of their business and clearly identify themselves and their business address.
It seems to me vendors citing their products are little different than scientists trying to get you to use their method or read their publications. Let's encourage vendors to contribute technically, as long as they don't post their entire product line, or automatically link you to their Home page. After all, if vendors are not part of our conversation, how will we get them to make the products we need?
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I have used Lowicryl resins for many years with excellent results. = However, the Lowicryl resins are (meth-)acrylic acid ester preparations = and the toxicological properties of these products is not fully known. It = is clear that (meth-)acrylic acids can cause allergies. This is important = to bear in mind when handling these resins.
Here are some tips to safe handling: *Work with them in a well ventilated area. *Use protective clothing and eye protectors. *Use protective skin creams and appropriate gloves. Latex gloves are not = fully protective (the resins, once on the gloves, can penetrate in a few = minutes!). 4H gloves are recommended. *Avoid direct skin contact from liquid or vapour (remember the vapours = also cause allergic reactions).
I have met researchers who develop no reaction to the resin (myself = included) while others develop serious skin reactions, instant headache or = sudden nausea when in contact with the vapour. Once sensitized, there is = no protection. Gloves and respirators offer no relief.
Having said all that, I use Lowicryls in a chemical hood, but without = gloves! Having seen the way gloves are misused in the laboratory, I feel = that for some special instances, no gloves and lots of care is best. I = say this because gloved workers tend to feel a false sense of total = protection. Gloves stay on when moving around the laboratory and large = areas of bench become contaminated with whatever was spilled onto the = glove. =
Without gloves, that rare spill is immediately detected and washed off = instantly. With gloves, the spill can often work through and remain in = contact with the skin for some time before being washed off.
I am sure there will be lots of negative comments about this, but bear in = mind I did say " for some special instances". I certainly wouldn't teach = this method to students or new arrivals into the lab. It is an educated = risk I take.
Did anyone try out the MonoStep resins, which were introduced to replace = the Lowicryls?
Paul Webster, Ph.D House Ear Institute 2100 West Third Street Los Angeles, CA 90057 phone:213 273 8026 fax: 213 413 6739 e-mail: pwebster-at-hei.org
I have problem trying to follow up on DiI labeled cells engrafted in mouse heart. When trying to stain them with whatever ab, the DiI diffuses/dissapears. Any suggestions on how to make it stay, so I can see where my cells are? The sections are 10 microm thick, frozen.
Thanks, Catalin Toma Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Division of Cardiology Ross 812 Baltimore, MD 21205
I have been notified that after much delay the following conference proceedings are now available. Although they are obviously for sale, I believe that a short, one time, announcement is a reasonable courtesy.
Nestor Your Friendly Neighborhood SysOp...
------------------------------------------------------- Appended Text Edited by NJZ -------------------------------------------------------
Proceedings of the 14th Pfefferkorn Conference The Science of Biological Specimen Preparation for Microscopy Scanning Microscopy Supplement 10, 1996 ISSN: 0892-953X / ISBN: 0-931288-49-5 Edited by Marek Malecki and Godfried M. Roomans
Proceedings of the Thirteenth Pfefferkorn Conference Scanning Microscopy Supplement 9, 1995: Luminescence ISSN: 0892-953X / ISBN: 0-931288-48-7 Edited By: G. R=E9mond, L. Balk, and D.J. Marshall
Additional Details can be obtained directly from the publisher.
Scanning Microscopy Intl., Box 66507, AMF O'Hare (Chicago), IL 60666-0507, USA =46AX: (847) 985-6698 / E.mail: 73211.647-at-compuserve.com
I am in urgent need to get as cheap as possible (generally counting for one of the "FOC or ..take away for transport costs" solutions) the HT units form Philips EM301 TEM microscope. Preferably from Europe. We try to help one of our customers by equipment officially ,,out of service". We need specially A-units, X-unit, Z-units, eventually the whole HT-TANK. We have strange problem with some interferences in HT circuit so that when the modules are removed out from microscope on extension cables work sometimes O.K. but when installed back or relocated on desk do not regulate HT and it's going to maximum or even higher - this is known from the image - maximally overfocused intensity covers only half of the screen by highest lens settings.
appreciate any help
Krzysztof Herman FEI/Philips EO Service - Poland Labsoft, ul.Bazancia 45 A 02-892 Warszawa tel/fax:(+48 22)6446233 E-mail: kherman-at-labsoft.com.pl http://www.labsoft.com.pl
You'll find that the magnetic domains are quite visible directly on SEM examination. 16 years ago, I helped design an SEM for IBM that would image any portion of a 14" hard drive disk (very large sample chamber). Their primary concern was to image the magnetic material grain size and distribution, but it also enabled them to read the data and measure the magnetic domain distribution.
The magnetic fields show up as brightness variations that are the result of the different magnetic polarities having a differing effect on the production of detectable secondary and backscatter electrons. Depending on the fields present, the effect can be subtle. Two methods have been recognized - the first and simplest, is detection by secondary electrons. The secondary electrons emitted have their trajectories affected by the magnetic fields. Resolution of individual domains is not as good as the second method but imaging is easier.
The second method uses the detection of backscatter electrons. When the magnetic domains have their field axis parallel to the sample surface and perpendicular to the beam, a large beam to sample angle will produce a differential production of backscatter electrons because of the cyclotron effect, where the electrons will tend to move one way or another around the field, depending on the polarity. Those electrons moving closer to the surface will produce more backscatter electrons.
This method, while producing greater domain resolution, also produces a very low contrast (i.e. - crank up the gain).
Larger magnetic fields will affect the beam position also, giving very strange images, although you won't see this affect from magnetic recording media.
} This discussion is very interesting to me. I have been thinking } about taking an old hard drive apart and trying to image [a piece of } the platter] the magnetic domains, particularly the format and data } dots. This sounds pretty ridiculous since the domains have no visual } or elemental variations, but it was my intention to use something } like iron powder as a disclosing agent, Since static cling dominates } (over gravity and magnetic forces) in that particle size range, I } was only going to expose the piece to the airborne dust of iron } powder [how"?]. This shouldn't be the size of magnetic forces that } interfere with beam dynamics, so I think its do-able. Anybody else } tried something like this or thought about it? } } Most of my work involves finding silicone or other organic } contaminants on the surface of airplane parts. I use AUGER and ESCA, } but just wanted to get an SEM view of the platter. } } } Tim Chavez } 316-526-5394 desk } 316-526-1851 fax } } tim.chavez-at-wichita.boeing.com } } } __|__ } _______O_______ } =B0 =B0 } } ________________________ } Dyslexics of the world untie! } } } } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------ } } -----. } } } } } } There are a number of articlea on magnetic domain imaging. The } } idea is to keep the magnetic material away from the polepiece. As } } far as charging of the package goes one could go to a low KV or } } paint the non-conductive package surface with conductive paint. } } } } Good Luck, } } } } Earl Weltmer } } } } P.S. Can we pick on Barbara some more? } } } } BCarmic424-at-aol.com-at-sparc5.microscopy.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 } } } ---------------------------------------------------------------- } } } -------. } } } } } } Dave, } } } } } } } From my point of view (as an EM service engineer), introducing } } } } a magnet } } into } } } any area in an SEM can cause trouble. Even brief contact } } } between a } } magnetic } } } sample and EM stages and sample exchangers can cause them to } } } become } } slightly } } } magnetic themselves. Even if your stage is made of brass or } } } aluminum, } } there } } } are still setscrews and other mechanisms which might need } } } degaussing if } } the } } } imaging of the scope is affected. } } } } } } Sincerely, } } } } } } Bill Carmichael } } } } } } Allequash Engineering } } } } } } } } } } } Allen R. Sampson Advanced Research Systems 317 North 4th. Street St. Charles, IL 60174 PH 630.513.7093 FAX 630.513.7092 Email: ars-at-mcs.net WWW: http://www.mcs.net/~ars Analytical instrument maintenance services
Let me inform you that the 'Exhibition' link (http://www.eurem2000.isibrno.cz/exhib.html) was added to the website of the '12th EUROPEAN CONGRESS ON ELECTRON MICROSCOPY'.
Producers of microscopes and related instrumentation, of laboratory equipment, materials and tools for microscopy, and publishers of scientific literature are asked to fill in the Questionnaire for Exhibitors .
Best regards,
Petr Schauer
+---------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Dr. Petr Schauer, Vicechairman of the Or- | tel.: (+420 5) 41514313 | | ganization Committee of the 12th EUROPEAN | fax : (+420 5) 41514404 | | CONGRESS ON ELECTRON MICROSCOPY | (+420 5) 41514337 | | (Brno, Czech Republic, July 9 - 14, 2000) | e-mail: petr-at-isibrno.cz | | Kralovopolska 147, CZ-612 64 Brno | eurem2000-at-isibrno.cz | | Czech Republic |www.eurem2000.isibrno.cz | +---------------------------------------------------------------------+
Some references for the "Balch procedure" are listed below. See 1989 for early description, and 1996-97 papers for references to numerous 1994 and other citations.
Kent
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A. Kent Christensen Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical Sciences II Building University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0616 akc-at-umich.edu, Tel (734) 763-1287, Fax (734) 763-1166 http://www-personal.umich.edu/~akc/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Balch WE, Mccaffery JM, Plutner H, Farquhar MG. 1994. Vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein is sorted and concentrated during export from the endoplasmic reticulum. Cell 76(5 11C):841-852.
Bannykh SI, Rowe T, Balch WE. 1996. The organization of endoplasmic reticulum export complexes. J Cell Biol 135(1):19-35.
Beckers CJM, Keller DS, Balch WE. 1989. Preparation of semiintact Chinese hamster ovary cells for reconstitution of endoplasmic reticulum-to-Golgi transport in a cell-free system. Meth Cell Biol 31:91-102.
Nishimura N, Balch WE. 1997. A di-acidic signal required for selective export from the endoplasmic reticulum. Science 277(5325):556-558.
Rowe T, Aridor M, McCaffery JM, Plutner H, Nuoffer C, Balch WE. 1996. COPII vesicles derived from mammalian endoplasmic reticulum microsomes recruit COPI. J Cell Biol 135(4):895-911.
Tisdale EJ, Balch WE. 1996. Rab2 is essential for the maturation of pre-Golgi intermediates. J Biol Chem 271(46):29372-29379.
} Hi, } Would somebody on this listserver be able to explain to me } the "Balch procedure"? } Suposedly this procedure permeabilize cells, and was introduced by } William Balch. } All correct answers will be appreciated. } J. Gabrovsek } CCF Cleveland, Ohio }
Email: reznor-at-holly.colostate.edu Name: Glen El-Hayek School: Colorado State University
I was wondering if there was anywhere I could find info on what exactly freeze fracture electron microscopy is and how it works. I am working on a web site for a cell bio class and that is the topic we have to research.
Thank you very much, Glen El-Hayek Colorado State University
A co-worker said he could not stain his sections on Butvar coated grids with alcoholic UA. The film broke everytime. But if he used aqueous UA he had no problem. Have you experienced any problems staining Butvar with alcoholic UA?
George Lawton Microscopy and Imaging Service Center UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas
I also have a Sony printer (UP-D8800, 8.5"x11" dye sublimation) and experience problems with permanence. Initial output looks good, but after only a couple of weeks on the desk (no sunlight, just standard fluorescent lighting) prints are noticably faded. A simple sheet protector seems to keep that from happening, but it is annoying to have to put everything in one. Print cost for the UP-D8800 is about $2 per color print. I mentioned this to Sony at the MSA meeting in Atlanta. Their only suggestion was to use a different print paper, that accepts a laminated cover film. The cost and description of the paper made me decide to stay with sheet protectors, at least for now.
Interestingly, we have a smaller format Sony (UP-1800MD, as I recall; prints on paper ~4"x5.5") that does not have this problem. I guess they are using different print systems (Sony--hint?)
I haven't noticed any transfer of "ink" for either of these printers.
Jim Passmore Analytical Chemist Cryovac Division, Sealed Air Corporation P.O. Box 464 Duncan, SC 29334
---------- } From: corwinl } To: Microscopy } Subject: Prints: permanence } Date: Friday, October 09, 1998 12:04PM } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
I agree with you about not using propylene oxide but my concern about acetone is that it has a habit of getting through gloves quickly or rendering them more fragile or porous so that you are more likely to be exposed to a less carcinogenic resin. I still feel safer about using Spurr's as a universal resin and LR White as a safe alternative, when possible. It means that we hold less types of epoxide resins and everyone is taught to treat Spurr's with great respect. We always wear gloves and try never to bring the gloves outside of the fume hood unless polymerized. All non-polymerized resin operations are ALWAYS carried out inside our fume hood including polymerization and I have tried to eradicate any sources of resin dust such as sawing of blocks, unless again done in the fume hood. I do, however, take your point about Spurr's and will continue to ponder it.
It would be great if we could completely remove the need to use cacodylate, osmium, propylene oxide, Spurr's. lead and uranium (not to mention glutaraldehyde, formaldehyde, lowicryl, ruthenium, tungsten and molybdenum) but the alternatives don't always seem to work or are just more difficult to manage in other ways. Perhaps we should all get robots or tissue processors.
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
Disclaimer - My opinions again etc
---------- } From: HILDEGARD CROWLEY To: postmessage
Hi,
It is not necessary to use propylene oxide as an intermediate agent, even if the embedding media is viscous (contains Araldite 502). One can use acetone with great success. It is important, however, to really "rinse out" all the acetone with resin. Remnants of acetone or alcohol, unlike propylene oxide, do not become part of the polymerized system, and will interfere with polymerization. We have not used propylene oxide in 7 years. There was one exception: Someone brought me very valuable blocks which had been badly embedded. I managed to pull out the bad embedment with PO over a three day period and reembed, section, treat it with radioactive label, etc. The micrographs were recently published. Otherwise we have not used PO. If you decide your epoxide embedding medium is too viscous, take advantage of the mechanical property of epoxides to become fluid between 37degC and 45deg. Put the vials on a rotator, and add a 60Watt light bulb to the setup. Position the lamp so that the mixture does not exceed 45 degrees. Wonderfully successfull for difficult or large specimen. Protect yourself! Get rid of Spurr's! Carcinogens are cumulative. Hildy
by srvr22.engin.umich.edu (8.8.8/8.8.8) with ESMTP id LAA27914 for {microscopy-at-msa.microscopy.com} ; Fri, 16 Oct 1998 11:15:26 -0400 (EDT) X-Sender: bigelow-at-srvr5.engin.umich.edu Message-Id: {v03007800b24d128022df-at-[141.212.131.74]} Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
I must say that I don't see what all the fuss is about. Most vendor's comments that I have seen on this listserver have been in response to a question raised by someone else, and have, in my opinion, been technically oriented and highly helpful. Several of the vendors who participate in this listserver also operate consulting laboratories, and thus have lots of experience in methods and techniques. Also, one of the big problems in our line of work often involves finding a material or a piece of apparatus to meet some particular need. If a vendor has such an item readily available, I think it is very helpful to know about it.
I say, unless things really get much worse, let's just relax and delete any messages we don't want to read.
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 think you will find the Freeze-Fracture method discussed in some detail in the book 'Low Temperature Methods in Biological Electron Microscopy', by Robards & Sleytr, Elsevier, 1985 (ISBN 0-444-80684-9 or -7) which is Vol 10 in the series 'Practical Methods in Electron Microscopy' that is edited by Audrey M. Glauert
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
As far as I can see, those vendors who contribute regularly to the list offer helpful hints from their perspective, state their commercial interest, and usually state if they are not the sole supplier of product XXX. The only occassional problems I have noticed have been with vendors who are not regular contributors coming out of the blue with blatant advertising (usually follwed by several flames from annoyed subscribers).
Why don't we leave the vendors alone for now and leave this discussion behind. They have something useful to contribute to this discussion group (and most of the rest of us couldn't work without them anyway). Also, Nestor is the person to contact if you have problems with a specific mail.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 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, or: ianmaclaren-at-hotmail.com Birmingham B15 2TT, http://web.bham.ac.uk/I.MacLaren England. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
There have been several reports of butvar being dissolved in alcohols. I have no recollection of using alcohol on butvar films, but I believe that those who have volunteered th information are correct. Caution. Try it first. Also, butvar is a lot more hydrophilic than formvar. I used to love it for negative staining. Further (I cannot explain this) I had wrinkles in LR White while using someone's formvar coated grids. When using my butvar grids the wrinkles did not occur. The butvar polymer is known for its flexibility. Perhaps it is able to "adjust" better to section size. I don't know. I have several messages regarding butvar from people when they used the "Reply and include original message in the reply" function. I did not get the messages. There must have been at least 5 of these. If you need more information, ask me again, but do not send back my original message. I have been having all sorts of strange troubles with the University System. Bye, Hildy
Ken Converse said: } Chuck Garber and others identify themselves quite clearly and I have no } problem whatsoever with his, or others' postings. What really grates on } my nerves is people who think there is something wrong with being a } business person. Not everyone can run away and hide in an ivory tower } and not everyone is suited to being someone else's employee. Give us } business owners a little slack. Chuck offers a lot of good information } and sources besides SPI. I think that some subscribers could even offer } him an apology for their rude postings. } } Ken Converse } owner } Quality Images } Delta, PA } third party SEM service } } Opinions expressed are mine. Yes, I sell SEM services for money. No, I } do not apologize for having opinions or charging for my SEM services so } that I can earn a living and my customers' SEMs will run well.
As a manager of a University EM facility, I can use all the help I can get in regards to new products and methods availble. I have felt that vendors are a resource not an anoyance. Now, the people that call my home six times a night selling refinancing and long distance services, now they are annoying.
Bill
William R.McManus Supervisor Electron Microscope Facility Department of Biology Utah State University Logan UT 84322-5305
I have been using epon (and very successfully, I might add) for over 15 years without benefit of PO as an intermediate. My original procedure used graded acetone (100% was stored at -20C over molecular sieve) but I switched to EtOH without any negative impact. Despite the older references which state that EtOH is not miscible with epon, I find that miscibility with the replacements for Epon 812 is very good. The procedure requires that good mixing of the epon and EtOH is thorough!! After 3 changes of 100% EtOH, the tissue is processed through graded EtOH/epon (2:1, 1:1, 1:2), into pure epon (the mixture, of course) for three changes, the last two being 4 to 8 hours each (of course, it also helps to have an EM tissue processor to permit overnight processing!).
I abandoned Spurr's because of the staining problems, the toxicity, an acquired dermal allergy and the hardness of the plastic. Following that acquired sensitivity, I then developed a similar contact response to PO. Even now, I double glove for epon, since there seems to be a cascade of allergic sensitivities that can develop over a lifetime of "familiarity breeding carelessness".
Hope this is of some help.
-----Original Message----- From: Jim J Darley [SMTP:jim-at-proscitech.com.au] Sent: Thursday, October 15, 1998 2:02 AM To: 'HILDEGARD CROWLEY' Cc: MSA.Microscopy.Com Subject: RE: Staining Spurr's???
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Yes but, Spurr's has very low viscosity and does not require propylene oxide as an intermediate solvent. PO is a very powerful carcinogen. Most people seem to regard PO as essential with other epoxy resins. 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 *****
On Thursday, 15 October 1998 7:07, HILDEGARD CROWLEY [SMTP: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.ht } ml } ---------------------------------------------------------- } -------------. } } } Hi, } } Spurr's is the most highly crosslinked of all embedding } media used for } LM-TEM. The higher the crosslinkage, the less likely any } stain, whether } for LM or heavy metal for TEM, is to penetrate well enough } to be called } successfull. } First: Get rid of Spurr's. It contains a potent } carcinogen, VCD. Do you } need this? } Second: If you cannot get rid of Spurr's (try real hard), } then use the } softest mixture you can tolerate for cutting. Polymerize } at 60deg C } overnight, and see if this is adequate. This will reduce } the final } crosslinkage. } Third: Blocks in existence already! Don't stain well? } Try soaking the } sections prior to staining for extended periods of time in } water, then 5 } min in alcohol, in increasing concentrations until you } reach 95%. Then go } back down to water stepwise. Try staining. } Fourth: Use as alkaline as possible a vehicle for your } stain. pH 12 is } about right. } Fifth: Combine all of the above. Does not work? Soak } the sections in } water and gradually bring to 95% alcohol.. Expose to } stain dissolved in } alcohol. Does not work? Forget it. Start over. } } If you have very valuable sections and you must stain them } for TEM, use } alcoholic UA for 10min at 60deg C. Use Reynolds lead } citrate at a pH of } about 9 or 10. This last trick is truly a last resort, } since the lead may } dump erratically (or stain easily) at this low pH. } } If you polymerize a block at a low power for 45 minutes in } a microwave, } you crosslink the resin to such an extent that nothing, } nothing, nothing } you do will stain it. (Lost my best meat loaf dish this } way). For TEM we } do not polymerize resins totally, about 10% of the } monomers are left } unreacted with one another. If you "drive" the } crosslinkage, the block } will be harder, less elastic, and impenetrable for liquids } (except if you } boil it for a year or so in water). I am not } exaggerating. I got this } info out of one my very favorite materials science books. } } Don't use Spurr's! } } } Bye, } hildy }
In a message dated 98-10-16 14:13:25 EDT, Professor Bigelow wrote:
{ { .....must say that I don't see what all the fuss is about. Most vendor's comments that I have seen on this listserver have been in response to a question raised by someone else, and have, in my opinion, been technically oriented and highly helpful. Several of the vendors who participate in this listserver also operate consulting laboratories, and thus have lots of experience in methods and techniques............. } }
As someone who is involved in the manufacture of electron microscopy supplies I agree very much with this sentiment. It is very valuable to have free exchange of information between scientists and those who produce the equipment and materials they require.
The point is though that there are inherent agreements on using this list. These agreements include low commercial profile by vendors. If one vendor frequently ignores that agreement and is allowed to do so then there is no question about it, he has a distinct commercial advantage. That is indisputable.
So the bottom line is, can we relax this rule and just leave everyone to post as they see fit or do we (vendors) all abide by the agreement.
Personally I would prefer the former since, as Professor Bigelow points out, one can always hit the delete button if not interested in a lengthy posting.
One great advantage of relaxing the rule would be that we didn't have to talk about it any more :-)
I have posted to this listserve before about the Sony printers. I have a UP-D7000 and it is basically a doorstop at this point. Both color and B&W prints fade within two weeks, or turn shockingly pink. This has been a problem for over three years now and I doubt that Sony has addressed the point. Their sales people tried to get us to buy one of their "latest and greatest" printers. Needless to say, their "L&G" fades just the same. Interestingly, I could substitute Phaser paper for the B&W and had no problems with output, even 3 years afterwards. Sadly, color prints didn't work with the Phaser paper.
If you want high quality dye-sub prints, my suggestion is to try the Kodak line, or the Codonics (using the same print engine). The prints cost more ($2.50/sh), but then you get what you pay for...
Cheers
-------------------------- John Bonevich NIST, Metallurgy Div. B164 Gaithersburg, MD 20899 USA TEL: (301) 975-5428 FAX: (301) 975-4553
} } I also have a Sony printer (UP-D8800, 8.5"x11" dye sublimation) and } experience problems with permanence. Initial output looks good, } but after only a couple of weeks on the desk (no sunlight, just } standard fluorescent lighting) prints are noticably faded. A simple } sheet protector seems to keep that from happening, but it is } annoying to have to put everything in one. Print cost for the } UP-D8800 is about $2 per color print. I mentioned this to Sony at } the MSA meeting in Atlanta. Their only suggestion was to use a } different print paper, that accepts a laminated cover film. The cost } and description of the paper made me decide to stay with sheet } protectors, at least for now. } } Interestingly, we have a smaller format Sony (UP-1800MD, as I } recall; prints on paper ~4"x5.5") that does not have this problem. } I guess they are using different print systems (Sony--hint?) } } I haven't noticed any transfer of "ink" for either of these printers. } } Jim Passmore } Analytical Chemist } Cryovac Division, Sealed Air Corporation } P.O. Box 464 } Duncan, SC 29334 } } ---------- } } From: corwinl } } To: Microscopy } } Subject: Prints: permanence } } Date: Friday, October 09, 1998 12:04PM } } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
I am looking for a supplier of Aquembed. Aparently it is some kind of resin that displaces water before cells are embedded in a material like Epon 812. I can't find Aquembed in the catalogs I have.
Does anybody know of a source (probably a private research lab working with primates) where I can find an anti-human IgG1 antibody that does not cross-react with monkey? (if I REALLY wanted to push my luck, I'd also stipulate that it is tagged with either rhodamine or fluorescein) I realize this is probably an impossible endeavor, but I have to exhaust all of my sources (Linscott's directory is not useful in this case). I would appreciate any help in this matter, Thank you, Laura
Laura M. Patrone, Ph.D. Wyeth-Ayerst Research BioMedical Imaging 641 Ridge Road Chazy, NY 12921 (518) 846-6318 patronL-at-war.wyeth.com
We have a Sony UP-D8800A (L&G) in one of my colleague's lab. There are several types of papers for this printer. The normal color paper does fade somewhat so we purchased the laminating type of paper and color rolls. I've printed some files for a poster on this and they came out very nice and they are still lasting and this has been at least 7 months. However, recently, I used it again and any areas of black and white on color prints are turning pink in about a week. I printed some other images on the B&W paper, and they still look good after several weeks. I can't say if it is because the paper and color rolls had been opened for some time or whether it was just a bad box. We have a new box and I will probably give it a try.
I have some prints that were done on a Kodak sub-dye about two years ago and they still look good. However, they haven't been exposed to a lot of light.
My HP 890C inkjet printer using the HP/Kodak Photo Deluxe paper is becoming my printer of choice for good quality B&W and color prints. It just about matches the Sony sub-dye (when the prints don't fade) and beats our old Seiko sub-dye every time.
-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."
---------- } From: John Bonevich To: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
I have posted to this listserve before about the Sony printers. I have a UP-D7000 and it is basically a doorstop at this point. Both color and B&W prints fade within two weeks, or turn shockingly pink. This has been a problem for over three years now and I doubt that Sony has addressed the point. Their sales people tried to get us to buy one of their "latest and greatest" printers. Needless to say, their "L&G" fades just the same. Interestingly, I could substitute Phaser paper for the B&W and had no problems with output, even 3 years afterwards. Sadly, color prints didn't work with the Phaser paper.
If you want high quality dye-sub prints, my suggestion is to try the Kodak line, or the Codonics (using the same print engine). The prints cost more ($2.50/sh), but then you get what you pay for...
Cheers
-------------------------- John Bonevich NIST, Metallurgy Div. B164 Gaithersburg, MD 20899 USA TEL: (301) 975-5428 FAX: (301) 975-4553
} } I also have a Sony printer (UP-D8800, 8.5"x11" dye sublimation) and } experience problems with permanence. Initial output looks good, } but after only a couple of weeks on the desk (no sunlight, just } standard fluorescent lighting) prints are noticably faded. A simple } sheet protector seems to keep that from happening, but it is } annoying to have to put everything in one. Print cost for the } UP-D8800 is about $2 per color print. I mentioned this to Sony at } the MSA meeting in Atlanta. Their only suggestion was to use a } different print paper, that accepts a laminated cover film. The cost } and description of the paper made me decide to stay with sheet } protectors, at least for now. } } Interestingly, we have a smaller format Sony (UP-1800MD, as I } recall; prints on paper ~4"x5.5") that does not have this problem. } I guess they are using different print systems (Sony--hint?) } } I haven't noticed any transfer of "ink" for either of these printers. } } Jim Passmore } Analytical Chemist } Cryovac Division, Sealed Air Corporation } P.O. Box 464 } Duncan, SC 29334 } } ---------- } } From: corwinl } } To: Microscopy } } Subject: Prints: permanence } } Date: Friday, October 09, 1998 12:04PM } } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Hi Everyone: If anyone out there in the continental US is selling a Philips CM-12 in good working order please contact: dclilly-at-LIPO.COM or gantz-at-med-biophd.bu.edu Thanks, Donald Gantz Boston Univ School of Medicine
I do not make my primary money from using microscopes, but I feel compelled to enter my 2cents worth....
If there were no vendors we would have no toys........
Being that I wish to learn as much as I can about the use of microscopes I have found many vendors extremely helpful even when we did not even have the funds to purchase something new but they were willing to take a little time to provide us with an education so we would not start off in the wrong direction.
We have been using a Phaser 450 dye-sub for about a year and haven't noticed any very obvious problems(yet) with print longevity. I encountered a Codonics for the first time earlier this week and was impressed by its paper quality, though I have yet to do a close comparison between its output and our Phaser's. Digital Imaging magazine has an article this month about the products for the fine-art digital printing market and they mention reports published by Wilhelm Imaging Research which tests the color longevity of the commonly used media. Apparently Henry Wilhelm is the expert in the science of studying the permanence of color photographs and digital media. Has anyone seen his reports and does he test dye-sub media?
I am seeking a very inexpensive but functional microtome to use in teaching histology to high school students. The school cannot afford it, so I am paying for it myself. Can anyone direct me to the source for such a device? Thanks,
I've been trying to section very small, very resistant crustacean cysts. They've been fixed in gluteraldehyde, dehydrated to 100% EtOH, infiltrated and embedded in LR White. I use a glass knife.
Semi-thin sections for LM turn out well enough, but I do need to shift the knife edge frequently. Ultra-thin sections are the problem. For a while I gave up on TEM, and thought I would make to with just LM for my study, but I really would like to get a look at the ultrastucture.
Even the first sections have rents in them where the tissue is; the sections tend to split in two when they hit the water. I had tried osmicating the tissue before I switched to room temp. polymerization with LR White. The sections would look like swiss-cheese as the tissue would drop out of the sections and sink to the bottom of the boat.
I looked at the Microscopy Tips & Tricks page re: sectioning insect eggs; I don't seem to have the same infiltration problems (thank goodness!). Much of the advice concerns softening up the eggs before embedding. I can't really try this since I'm running out of specimens and time.
I don't think I can get my hands on a diamond knife. I can't afford one and I don't know anyone willing to lend one (not surprising; I clean up my cysts really well, but there are still a few sediment grains in the mix when I embed. I've gotten good at trimming them out, though).
I think this is a hopeless case, but if there is something I can do, please please tell me!
Thanks for reading this,
Sonia McGowan Univ. of San Diego http://www.acusd.edu/~scawsey
In a recent conversation, Kodak claims that color dye sub prints made with the clear laminate coating are 30 year "permanence". Their B&W does not have the clear laminate. Ink jets are supposedly about 2 years.
My 2 cents worth.
Damian Neuberger Baxter International
At 03:05 PM 10/16/98 -0400, John Bonevich wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
I've used both LR-white and lowicryl on the same samples (chick and rat aorta), and found I got better preservation with the LR-white. I went on to do IEM w/ the LR-White and got it to work. I polymerized some in a heating block in an eppendorff buried in sand, and got that to work. A friend used a PCR machine, but I don't know that you want to risk mucking up a thermal cycler for this. I'm in a different lab now with limited equipment, and was considering polymerizing it in a eppendorf in a floater in a beaker of water in an 60 deg. oven. I take it into 100% EtOH before going into LR-white, so I should have some breathing room as to having too much water in my sample to polymerize. Has anyone else done this? I know, I know, it's bad to get water into an oven used on organic resins or paraffins. This oven would be mostly devoted to this application, and I'm hoping the water would buffer temperature fluctuations. Does this make sense to anyone else? Charlie Ginsburg NCC Research Dept. Lombard IL _________________________________________________________ DO YOU YAHOO!? Get your free -at-yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com
There was a question about suppliers of second-hand microscopes on the list (march and april '98).=20
This is a summary of the answers, kindly provided by Mr. Thomas C. Isabel= l, { {tc_isabell-at-fischione.com} } .
I have visited the given websites several times: every once in a while, there is some histological equipment for sale at decent prices...
In my country (Belgium) second-hand equipment is very hard to get. At flea-markets here you can find once in a while some equipment, but it takes time: it took me some years to have decent basic equipment for my amateur-lab (microscope, microtomes, incubators etc.).
If you think that US$ 3 000 isn't to much: try to find out if there's an agent of the Dutch brand "EUROMEX" in your country. US$ 3 000 is nowadays here about the price for a manualy operated EUROMEX rotary microtome acc. to Minot (model "MIC 505"). It works well for not to large specimens (sections 10 mm * 10 mm, 4 =B5m - 25 =B5m thick; for larger sections I us= e an old "Stiassnie - Paris" vintage about 1930.). The MIC 505 is in its basic version equiped with a "real" microtome knive ("B" or "C", 17 cm). A razorblade holder or an adapter for disposable blades are optional.=20
Their sliding microtomes are in the same price range (If time is not of t= he utmost importance and one wants to cut all sorts of specimens one should consider a sliding microtome instead of a rotary...).
No financial intrest: just a statisfied user!
Some second-hand dealers in the USA: http://www.labx.com http://www.labequip.com http://www.montanamicroscope.com http://www.wwweb-pro.com/cls http://www.execpc.com/ume http://www.lehmanscientific.com http://www.capovani.com http://www.sci-equip-ex.com http://www.bid-service.com
Phone Contacts:
Martin Microscope Co (864) 242-3424 or (864) 859-2688 Bob Martin Mel Sobel 1-888-ALL-SCOPES or (516) 935-7794 Technical Instruments (415) 431-8231 Rick Staples=20 Bay Optical (415) 431-8711 Tom Henry ARC Instruments (606) 498-1345 Phil Hutcheson
A corespondent from the USA also told me "...Another place I've found tha= t is quite interesting is the auction : www.ebay.com Sometimes, they have quite reasonable microscopes and accessories listed. You are dealing with individual sellers directly ( which may have problem= s ) but there are many good 2nd hand deals.".
Applications are sought for a technician/professional level position in the x-ray scattering and microscopy facilities of the School of Materials Engineering at Purdue University. Responsibilities include operation, technical support, users training and maintenance of the x-ray powder, texture, and singlre crystal facilitiesas well as assisting in the EM and EDS components of the microstructural facility. The position requires a technician program, B.S. or M.S. degree in technology, engineering or science of x-ray and/or EM analysis. Prference will be given to applicants having experience in electrical and vacuum systems maintenance. Interested applicants should send a letter of interest and a resume along with names, addresses and telephone numbers of three references to : Said Mansour. School of Materials Engineering, 1289 Materials and Electrical Engineering Building, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907-1289 or by Fax to 765-494-1204 or by email to: said-at-ecn.purude.edu.
A colleage at our university is in need of high voltage transmission electron microscopy. Probably 300 kV would work, although 1 mV may be needed. Does anyone have info on the availability and use of such instrumentation?
Thanks, John B.
#################################################################### 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 ####################################################################
If you use the color rolls to print b&w, then you will have the laminate. The prints cost $0.05 more, but it's worth it. It is not recommended to switch the rolls in the Kodak printer (an advantage of the Sony), so I just use color. You may have to adjust the tone curves to get the "best" b&w output.
My 5 cents worth ;-)
-------------------------- John Bonevich NIST, Metallurgy Div. B164 Gaithersburg, MD 20899 USA TEL: (301)975-5428 FAX: (301)975-5443
} Regarding print permanence: } } In a recent conversation, Kodak claims that color dye sub prints made with } the clear laminate coating are 30 year "permanence". Their B&W does not } have the clear laminate. Ink jets are supposedly about 2 years. } } My 2 cents worth. } } Damian Neuberger } Baxter International } }
Dear .edu listers, I received a back channel message from: Dr. Robert R. Wise Department of Biology and Microbiology University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Oshkosh, WI 54901 pointing out that my "ivory tower" remark was rather inflammatory. I was replying to Ted Dunn's comments and did not realize that he was a vendor as he made no mention of the fact anywhere in his message. In his follow-up he does mention the fact. I was under the mistaken impression that he was not commercial. Bob, you're right, and I apologize for my remarks. I very much enjoy and respect my academic customers. In fact I very much enjoy and respect virtually all of my customers, most of whom I have known for about 20 years and consider to be friends perhaps more than customers. Others have more eloquently stated that there is a good deal of helpful information being presented and those who are offended by mention of commercial availability of various items and supplies should merely delete the messages without reading them and getting upset. Again, my apologies to the academic community for my hasty remarks.
Sincerely, Ken Converse owner Quality Images third party SEM service
Our lab has an ancient, but functioning International Equipment Co. Model CTD cryostat/rotary microtome. Is there anybody out there in microscopy land that might have a manual, schematic, parts list, etc. for this old unit? The cooling system works fine, but the microtome needs a couple parts. In particular, the crank seems to have a worn-out sleeve or bushing that makes turning it difficult and has generated a little pile of metal shavings over the years.
Maybe even someone has an old surplus unit that could be scavenged for parts?
And, yes, ahem, vendor replies are most welcome.
Thanks!
Randy
Randy Tindall Electron Microscope Laboratory Box 3EML New Mexico State University Las Cruces, NM 88003
Ronald LHerault wrote: } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------} The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } -----------------------------------------------------------------------.} } I am looking for a supplier of Aquembed. Aparently it is some kind of } resin that displaces water before cells are embedded in a material like } Epon 812. I can't find Aquembed in the catalogs I have. } } Thanks } } Ron } lherault-at-bu.edu
-- Dear Ron:
Ladd Research sells:
#21325 - Aquembed resin - 100 ml
#21225 - Aquembed Embedding Kit - 100 ml Aquembed resin 250 ml DDSA 30 ml DMP-30 60 ml DBP
Before anyone gets mad at us, my husband and I own Ladd Research which has been a commercial vendor of a wide variety of microscope supplies for over 40 years
Aquembed is in stock and is shipped the day it's ordered. Please contact us by e-mail or call 800-451-3406 for prices. Thanks, Rita Arnott
LADD RESEARCH 13 Dorset Lane Williston, VT 05495
TEL 1-800-451-3406 (US) or 1-802-878-6711 (FROM ANYWHERE) fAX 1-802-878-8074 e-mail ladres-at-worldnet.att.net web site http://www.msa.microscopy.com/SM/LADD
I will probably be only one of many pointing out the minor error in the posting by Damian (below), but Kodak B&W prints not only HAVE the clear laminate coating ("ExtraLife"), but it is the only way you can order those ribbons. For color prints you can either get the laminate or not (the latter recommended for making overheads). I do not in any way work for Kodak or sell their products, but am a very satisfied customer with their 8650 printers.
By the way, the color on overheads (without the extralife coating) will bleed into certain types of clear plastic sheet protectors. I believe I read one time which type of plastic reduces this problem, but no longer remember where or the details (typical!). I have been using vinyl and that is a problem after about three years of storage. Anyone have better ideas?
Cheers, John Vetrano john.vetrano-at-pnl.gov
---------- } From: "dneuberger-at-mindspring.com"-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com Sent: Friday, October 16, 1998 7:22 PM To: John Bonevich; microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com
Regarding print permanence:
In a recent conversation, Kodak claims that color dye sub prints made with the clear laminate coating are 30 year "permanence". Their B&W does not have the clear laminate. Ink jets are supposedly about 2 years.
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 .edu listers, } I received a back channel message from: } Dr. Robert R. Wise } Department of Biology and Microbiology } University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh } Oshkosh, WI 54901 } pointing out that my "ivory tower" remark was rather inflammatory. I } was replying to Ted Dunn's comments and did not realize that he was a } vendor as he made no mention of the fact anywhere in his message. In } his follow-up he does mention the fact. I was under the mistaken } impression that he was not commercial. } Bob, you're right, and I apologize for my remarks. I very much enjoy } and respect my academic customers. In fact I very much enjoy and } respect virtually all of my customers, most of whom I have known for } about 20 years and consider to be friends perhaps more than customers. } Others have more eloquently stated that there is a good deal of helpful } information being presented and those who are offended by mention of } commercial availability of various items and supplies should merely } delete the messages without reading them and getting upset. } Again, my apologies to the academic community for my hasty remarks. } } Sincerely, } Ken Converse } owner } Quality Images } third party SEM service
We have a Codonics and have not problem switching back and forth between B&W and color rolls. Yes, we print B&W with the color roll if we want perm. but I thought I had figured it to be more expensive than 5 cents from our supplier. I'll have to check on that. The biggest reason for using the B&W rolls is speed of output.
Damian Neuberger Baxter International.
At 08:45 AM 10/17/98 -0400, John Bonevich wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
I guess you missed my reply posted on Tue. 10/13/98 (around 2 am.). It's here again.
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Hello,
Here is the recipe for Spurr's + Epox 812, I use. Basically, it is 1:1 mixture (by weight) of Spurr's and Epox 812. Each resin mixture must be completely homogenized, including accelerator, before combining the two.
1. Prepare Spurr's in a 100 ml disposable beaker. (Based on Spurr's original formula)
VCD -------- 10 g DER 736 ---- 6 g NSA -------- 26 g DMAE ------- 0.4 g ------------------- Total ------ 42.4 g
2. Prepare Epox 812 in a 50 ml disposable beaker. (Based on Luft's original formular, except for reduced DMP-30)
Epox 812 (WPE = 155*) --------- 25 g DDSA (MW = 266) -------------- 14 g NMA (MW = 178) -------------- 11 g DMP-30 ----------------------- 0.5 g
*If WPE is different, proportions of each component should be recalculated. Calculations can be found at http://www.emsdiasum.com/ems/techdata/68.html).
3. To make 1:1 mixture, add 42.4 g of Epox 812 mixture into the 100 ml beaker containing Spurr's and mix throughly. (Amount of Epox mixture can be reduced for hard-to-infiltrate tissues.)
4. Infiltration for plant tissues.
Transitional solvent Resin Mixture Infiltration (propylene oxide or (Spurr + 812) Time (with diethyl ehter) rotation or occasional swirring) -------------------- -------------- ------------ 3 part 1 part 2 hrs. 2 2 2 hrs. 1 3 4 hrs. 0 4 4 hrs. 0 4 6 hrs. -----------------------------------------------------------------
5. Cure blocks at 60 C for 48 hrs.
Regards,
Seung-Geuk Shin
} -----Original Message----- } From: Michelle L. Peiffer [mailto:mlk101-at-psu.edu] } Sent: Monday, October 12, 1998 12:31 PM } To: Seung-Geuk Shin } Subject: RE: Spurr resin } } } I was quite interested to see this reply, we routinely use Spurr's with no } trouble in insect tissues and cell cultures. However recently we have a } number of students without access to diamond knives who are having trouble } getting quality thin sections of plant tissue embedded in Spurr's. Would } you mind sharing your recipe for this spurr's epox mixture? Thanks . } } } #################################################### } Michelle Peiffer } 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:mlk101-at-psu.edu } #################################################### } } }
Does anyone have experiences on the better procedure of staining of ABS(Poly acrylonitril-butadiene-styrene) for TEM? I appreciate any kind of help. Ren-Jye
One of the several types of resin we use in our laboratory is Spurrs resin. ( I know it is highly toxic and we use extreme care when handling it). However, my question has to do with the oven we polymerise the resin in. In other laboratories I have worked in we always used a small copper oven with no special whiz bang characteristics, just a knob for setting the required temperature. These copper ovens had an outlet hose which extracted the fumes into a fume hood preventing the subsequent polymerisation of these fumes on the inside of the oven. I have been unable to find the supplier of these ovens as the ovens are all extremely old. Our current oven is useless as the resin has successfully gummed up the interior. We have never spilt resin in the oven but do polymerise all waste containers including gloves and anything else the resin has been in contact with. What sort of ovens are everyone else using and has anyone got a suggestion on where we may find a simple polymerising oven. We do not want to spend large amounts of money on an oven with 'reinforced triple glass windows', or 'Microcomputer PID control', or with any other totally irrelevant feature not necessary for the polymerisation of Spurrs. We have a sensitive oven for use with LR White resin which we will not put Spurrs in. Our LR White resin specimens are sealed from air and sit in an aluminium block which is wrapped in foil. These specimens are therefore very clean and do not contaminate our 'good' oven. Waste LR White is polymerised in the 'Spurr' oven.
thanks in advance,
Sarah Ellis
Trescowthick Research Centre Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute Locked Bag #1 A'Beckett Street Melbourne 8006 Victoria Australia
I got a copy of Image Tool by internet and there I saw a message to subscribe in IT-list. Now I received a message saying that it do not exist. Someone knows how can I discuss with users of ImageTool? Thanks, Rejane Galindo
Rejane Pimentel Galindo Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco Av. Boa Viagem, 6592/602 51130-000, Recife, Pernambuco, Brasil ggalindo-at-elogica.com.br =46ax (081) 441 4697
You asked for it. The following news story I received last week is too funny not to post to the list, despite its lack of microscopy content (for which I apologize in advance).
According to the Knight-Ridder News Service, the inscription on the metal bands used by the U.S. Department of the Interior to tag migratory birds has been changed. The bands used to bear the address of the Washington Biological Survey, abbreviated "Wash. Biol. Surv.", until the agency received the following letter from an Arkansas camper:
"Dear Sirs: While camping last week I shot one of your birds. I think it was a crow. I followed the cooking instructions on the leg tag and I want to tell you, it was horrible."
The bands are now marked Fish and Wildlife Service.
I am searching for any recent (within 5 - 10 years) advances in the use of Scanning Electron Microscopy in the field of Fractography. This information is for a term paper for an SEM graduate school course. Any useful information or suggestions for additional locations for information would be appreciated. Thanks, Frank Watson eCarolina Products Plant email: frank.watson-at-lighting.ge.com voice: 8*565-5177 (outside GE (919) 731-5177) Fax: 8*565-5114 (outside GE (919) 731-5114)
May I suggest you either read or, better still, purchase my book "Low Temperature Microscopy and Analysis" published by Plenum Press New York in 1992
Patrick Echlin Cambridge University
On Fri, 16 Oct 1998 reznor-at-holly.colostate.edu-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Email: reznor-at-holly.colostate.edu } Name: Glen El-Hayek } School: Colorado State University } } I was wondering if there was anywhere I could find info on what exactly } freeze fracture electron microscopy is and how it works. I am working on a } web site for a cell bio class and that is the topic we have to research. } } Thank you very much, } Glen El-Hayek } Colorado State University } } } }
} Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1998 13:25:24 -0400 } From: Ronald Anderson {anderron-at-us.ibm.com} } To: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: Fonts in Messages, etc. } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 agree that all messages should be in plain text. } } I especially do not like messages sent as attachments that have to be opened. } This seems to be happening more frequently of late. } I automatically delete all such msgs, unopened. } } Ron } } Ron Anderson, IBM, Hopewell Jct., New York, USA. anderron-at-us.ibm.com } IBM Analytical Services; http://www.chips.ibm.com/services/asg } }
Sara E. Miller, Ph. D. P. O. Box 3020 Duke University Medical Center Durham, NC 27710 Ph: 919 684-3452 FAX: 919 684-8735
John, We have both a 1.2 mev HVEM and a 400kv IVEM at our Biological Microscopy and Image Reconstruction Resource (BMIRR) in Alnany NY. They are both available for use as a NIH resource. The HVEM is an AEI EM7 and is routinely used for thick section (0.5 to 2 micron or more depending on the mass thickness) microscopy including tomography and stereo reconstruction techniques. The IVEM is a JEOL JEM4000FX is routinely used for automated tomography and automated low dose microscopy. Both have televiewing capability using a web browser.
Contact: Dr. Conly L. Rieder (Phone: (518) 474-6774, Email:rieder-at-wadsworth.org ) to apply to use our resource or connect to our web site at:
www.wadsworth.org/spider_doc/bmirr/index.html
Dave
******************************************* David Barnard HVEM operator Wadsworth Center New York State Dept. Health Albany, NY 12201-0509 barnard-at-wadsworth.org (518) 473-5299 *******************************************
In previous email correspondence it was suggested by few people to use Evans Blue stain as a counterstain on FITC labelled sections. Is there a special protocol for it. Also, will it work with CY2 labelled sections? And would it fluoresce with CY3 filter? Thank you for your help, Lilith
------------------------- Lilith Ohannessian-Barry National Research Council Institute of Biological Sciences CANADA Tel;613-993-6460 Fax;613-941-4475 e-mail; lilith.barry-at-nrc.ca
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We also have a Codonics printer and it is my understanding that the B & W has a transparent laminate added on. This is done when it pulls the paper back into the printer after the initial print is produced and before releasing it into the pick up tray. You can actually see the positioning of the laminate on the paper. You have a choice of using color ribbons with or without the laminate sheet which does affect the cost of the color print. I believe the sheet is the same chemistry for both B&W and color and protects against UV color change as well as effects of air components. Can anyone confirm this.
Debby Sherman, Manager Phone: 765-494-6666 Microscopy Center in Agriculture FAX: 765-494-5896 Dept. of Botany & Plant Pathology E-mail: sherman-at-btny.purdue.edu Purdue University 1057 Whistler Building West Lafayette, IN 47907-1057 --------------------------------------
John,
We have a Codonics and have not problem switching back and forth between B&W and color rolls. Yes, we print B&W with the color roll if we want perm. but I thought I had figured it to be more expensive than 5 cents from our supplier. I'll have to check on that. The biggest reason for using the B&W rolls is speed of output.
Damian Neuberger Baxter International.
At 08:45 AM 10/17/98 -0400, John Bonevich wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
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I would like to find out what type of mag. calibration schedule you might be using, if at all. Is it every 3mnths, 6mnths, or every month? Dictated by ISO? I do not wish to start another thread about parameters effecting mag. calibration but more on how often this calibration is performed.
TIA
David Rose W.L. Gore and Associates Elkton, MD 21921 410-506-2958
Hi everyone. I'm fixing cell suspension cultures for TEM for an undergraduate research project. I've tried embedding the cells in agar and using agar chunks to process for EM... didn't like that too much. Now I'm just fixing cell pellets of the appropriate size. With enough g's the cells will stick to form a nice, detachable pellet (especially after fixing w/ glut.)
Here's my question: Is it the more common practice to form a nice, tight pellet of cells right away and fix that, OR is it best to resuspend the cells into a suspension after EVERY step (glut, rinsing, OsO4, dehydration, etc...) and only forming a compact pellet in the very final infiltration stages?
In my experience so far, pellets formed at the end stages (rather than during primary fixation) don't tend to stay together... and centrifuging through resin has it's difficulties.
Most of the papers I'm looking at are VERY lax in their description of EM prep methods. So, to the experts out there, what is generally assumed when a paper says something like, "Cell suspensions were fixed as usual in 2% glut. and 1% OsO4 and embedded in resin."
This was an interesting topic for us as we are A2LA accredited. We initially wrote into our quality program that we verify the magnification of our optical microscopes annually. Our SEM is calibrated each session requiring critical measurements.
A2LA's position was that the magnification of the optical microscopes does not change from the factory settings, hence they never need calibration. We continued to have our optical service man calibrate and clean the microscope on an annual basis until last year. A2LA now requires all outside calibration organizations to be A2LA accredited themselves. This eliminated our regular service engineer. Our new A2LA accredited calibration organization is not accredited to verify magnification, hence our annual magnification has to be deleted from our quality program.
Alan Stone ASTON Metallurgical Services
At 01:47 PM 10/19/98 -0400, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Laszlo Komuves wrote: } } In your response to a question about Aquembed resin, you mentioned that } you carriy this resin. } However, I am not familiar with this resin. Could you send me some } information/references why would anyone use this resin, wat are the } advantages, etc.
Aquembed is very low vescosity and water soluble so you can dehydrate and embed in the same material. It is highly purified.
} Is this a repackaged version of Spurr's?
No, Aquemebed is not a repackaged version of Spurr, it is completely differnt.
I recall a paper publisehed few } years ago in Microscopy Research and Technique suggesting not to complete } dehydration and polymerize at 40oC to preserve antigenicity in Spurr's } resin.
This would also be problem with Aquembed since it is meant to be polymerized at a higher temperture.
} Sincerely, } Laszlo G. Komuves, Ph.D.
If you have further questions you can contact me or call our chemist, Dr. Charles Duvic, directly at 1-800-451-3406.
Thank you for your interest,
Rita Arnott
Disclaimer: As stated previously, Ladd Research sells Aquembed. --
LADD RESEARCH 13 Dorset Lane Williston, VT 05495
TEL 1-800-451-3406 (US) or 1-802-878-6711 (FROM ANYWHERE) fAX 1-802-878-8074 e-mail ladres-at-worldnet.att.net web site http://www.msa.microscopy.com/SM/LADD
In case this discussion has not come up yet on the server, here it goes. We are running a Jeol JSM 6400 with Link eXL spectrometer and have no info from supplier or manufacturer about year 2000 compliance. Any ideas/input out there. I'm sure many of us are in the same boat (maybe without a paddle).
We go through a major calibration every 6 months although I am not sure where that timeframe came from. I believe it is up to the operator to decide when the instrument requires calibration and that mey be deduced by monitoring results.
I would also be interested in hearing what everyone considers as passing the calibration. Is it +- 5%, 10% and what is it based on?
} Now I received a message saying that it do not exist. Someone knows how can } I discuss with users of ImageTool?
Sorry, but I can't resist...I will write in Portuguese (It's the first time I find a msg from someone who, probably, speak Portuguese)
Finalmente alguem que fala (penso eu!) Portuges!!!
Tambem gostaria de saber se ha alguem a trabalhar com o Image Tool!!
Parece ser um programa ao nivel de alguns comerciais no entanto nunca vi nenhuma discucao acerca disso. Tambem ja enviei algumas mensagens mas nunca tive FeedBack!!
Se receber alguma resposta diga-me alguma coisa (se for possivel)
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Dear all,
As a total amateur at SEM (almost) I was wondering if there was someone = out there who could give me a private run through of what is now available.= The last time I looked at SEM's was over 10 years ago and things seem to = have moved along almost as fast as in the computer industry (although I = haven't seen laptop SEM's yet).
This subject is probably not appropriate for the list, so it would be good = if volunteers contacted me and didn't post for general consumption.
My field is biological research so I would be particularly interested in = what imaging possiblities there are for cells, tissues and isolated = fractions (or even proteins).
Many thanks in advance,
Paul Webster, Ph.D House Ear Institute 2100 West Third Street Los Angeles, CA 90057 phone:213 273 8026 fax: 213 413 6739 e-mail: pwebster-at-hei.org
(InterLock SMTP Gateway 3.0); Mon, 19 Oct 1998 15:44:00 -0700 Received: by tmpil001.tmp.allied.com (Internal Mail Agent-1); Mon, 19 Oct 1998 15:44:00 -0700 Message-Id: {c=US%a=_%p=ALLIED%l=ALLIED/NAAERO1/0097A961-at-tmpcn541.wins.allied.com} "Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com" {Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com}
David,
We verify the mag calibration on our SEM's once a year. That is unless the high voltage supply or condenser lenses, etc. were malfunctioning and had to be repaired or replaced. ASTM E766 recommends the frequency of the mag calibration to be determined by the user.
Harry Ekstrom
---------- } From: "drose-at-wlgore.com"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Rejane, Unfortunately, the IT-list seems to have died and the Image Tool software site has not been updated for over a year, now. I think maybe the wonderful fellows who wrote it were laid off. Good luck. You wrote: } } I got a copy of Image Tool by internet and there I saw a message to } subscribe in IT-list. } Now I received a message saying that it do not exist. Someone knows how can } I discuss with users of ImageTool? } Thanks, } Rejane Galindo } } Rejane Pimentel Galindo } Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco } Av. Boa Viagem, 6592/602 } 51130-000, Recife, Pernambuco, Brasil } ggalindo-at-elogica.com.br } Fax (081) 441 4697 } 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-interchg.ubc.ca
Many thanks to several people who helped me with my search for Long Working Distance Ojectives. I have found a source for them. -- ********************************************************************** Philip Datner datner-at-netcom.com San Jose, CA datner-at-engmail.ulinear.com **********************************************************************
We have exactly the same setup, JSM6400 + Link eXL. I have contacted both JEOL and OXFORD about Y2000 bug.
SEM has no date support, so it fully Y2000 compliant.
OXFORD distributes the Year 2000 Statement describing in details what is going to happen to the system in the Y2000. I believe they'll send you one if you request it. In brief, the overall system will be "fit for purpose" after the rollover.
Alexander Titkov
Millennium Inorganic Chemicals PO Box 245 Bunbury WA 6231 Australia Ph: (08) 9780 8505 FAX: (08) 9780 8500 E-mail: atitkov-at-micl.com.au
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In case this discussion has not come up yet on the server, here it goes. We are running a Jeol JSM 6400 with Link eXL spectrometer and have no info from supplier or manufacturer about year 2000 compliance. Any ideas/input out there. I'm sure many of us are in the same boat (maybe without a paddle).
id AA10188; Tue, 20 Oct 1998 10:02:26 +0800 Received: by ucl.itri.org.tw(Lotus SMTP MTA v4.6.1 (569.2 2-6-1998)) id 482566A3.000BEBC9 ; Tue, 20 Oct 1998 10:10:12 +0800 X-Lotus-Fromdomain: UCL To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com Message-Id: {482566A3.000AD2E7.00-at-ucl.itri.org.tw}
I am looking for the TEM sample preparation of collagen, including staining...... Can anyone share experiences or provide references on this subject? Thanks in advance. Ren-Jye
In the past I have more or less let the cells tell me how they like to be treated. Some cell types will form a nice, tight pellet after a single spin in the primary fixative. If this is the case, I usually leave them alone from this point on if possible, and treat the pellet like a small piece of tissue. I only spin the cells if it is absolutely necessary.
There are other cell types which, no matter what you do to them, refuse to stay in a pellet. These are the ones which I usually embed in either agar or low-melt agarose.
You can pellet your cells at very high speed using an airfuge centrifuge in proper fixative and continue post fix and rest of the dehydration and embedding with the pellet. The pellet should not fall apart. This works quite well. You can embed the pellet by breaking it into small pieces after the final stage of infiltration.
Good luck
Soumitra Ghoshroy Ph.D. Department of Plant Sciences University of Arizona 303 Forbes Building Tucson, AZ 85721 Tel: 520-621-1230 Fax: 520-621-7186 e-mail: ghoshroy-at-ag.arizona.edu
On Mon, 19 Oct 1998, Douglas Matthews 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'm fixing cell suspension cultures for TEM for an } undergraduate research project. I've tried embedding the cells in agar and } using agar chunks to process for EM... didn't like that too much. Now I'm } just fixing cell pellets of the appropriate size. With enough g's the cells } will stick to form a nice, detachable pellet (especially after fixing w/ glut.) } } Here's my question: Is it the more common practice to form a nice, tight } pellet of cells right away and fix that, OR is it best to resuspend the } cells into a suspension after EVERY step (glut, rinsing, OsO4, dehydration, } etc...) and only forming a compact pellet in the very final infiltration stages? } } In my experience so far, pellets formed at the end stages (rather than } during primary fixation) don't tend to stay together... and centrifuging } through resin has it's difficulties. } } Most of the papers I'm looking at are VERY lax in their description of EM } prep methods. So, to the experts out there, what is generally assumed when } a paper says something like, "Cell suspensions were fixed as usual in 2% } glut. and 1% OsO4 and embedded in resin." } }
Quite a lot depends on the user environment, paper etc... I did quite a exstensive test. When we were shopping for printers I contacted all the suppliers. It took quite a lot of convincing for to get themto bring their demo models over for a test drive. We tested for print permanence as well. The prints were left in direct sunlight with half of the print shaded off. This was done over a period of four weeks. All inkjet prints faded irrespective of printing media. All dyesublimation prints survived without any noticeable fading. (We only had excess to Kodak and the Spectra starr duyesublimation printers) A Africa logistic problem at the time and continuing!
} experience problems with permanence. Initial output looks good, } but after only a couple of weeks on the desk (no sunlight, just } standard fluorescent lighting) prints are noticably faded. A simple } sheet protector seems to keep that from happening, but it is } annoying to have to put everything in one. Print cost for the } UP-D8800 is about $2 per color print. I mentioned this to Sony at } the MSA meeting in Atlanta. Their only suggestion was to use a } different print paper, that accepts a laminated cover film. The cost } and description of the paper made me decide to stay with sheet } protectors, at least for now. } } Interestingly, we have a smaller format Sony (UP-1800MD, as I } recall; prints on paper ~4"x5.5") that does not have this problem. } I guess they are using different print systems (Sony--hint?) } } I haven't noticed any transfer of "ink" for either of these printers. } Mr. S H Coetzee Tell: (011) 716 2419 Electron Microscope Unit Fax: (011) 339 3407 Private bag X3 E-mail: Stephan-at-gecko.biol.wits.ac.za Wits Johannesburg 2050
It depends entirely on how anal you want to get (no offense intended). Yearly calibration checks, properly documented, will satisfy any certification demands that I am aware of. If a certifying body is concerned, i.e. ISO 9000, I usually suggest that a customer own and document the storage and use of their own standard - current best in US is NIST SRM-484. I carry one, but due to the environmental changes and mechanical abuse it goes through, I prefer not to rely on it where questions may arise, although NIST certifies the calibration unless it requires excessive polishing.
When any repairs or alterations are made to any portion that may affect the calibration, a new certification should be performed. This would include any changes to the accelerating voltage, condensor lens, objective lens, record CRT, scan generator and mag readout sections, as well as any reference supply or power supplies that feed those areas. Digital image capture devices usually include a simple means of adjusting their calibration should any changes be made to them.
Owning your own standard also allows you to establish your own SPC controls on the instrument by tracking the shorter term flunctuations in calibration. Just be sure that you follow the same procedures used in the yearly calibrations, i.e. degaussing the column and using the same calibration point.
In most cases, manufacturers will specify calibration within 5 - 10%. This is because that calibration must track over the entire operating range of the instrument - primarily working distance, condensor and accelerating voltage ranges.
I advise that a single point be chosen, close to the normal operating range of the instrument. For example, a particular instrument may normally be operated at 12mm working distance, 20KV and 2A condensor current for concurrent EDS analysis. We will choose that point as the calibration point and always make calibration at that point. While the instrument will be maintained to be be within manufacturer's specs throughout its operating range, at that single point we can keep it within 1 or 2%.
The customer will be aware that the calibration certainty will decrease as they move away from that point. However, the use of a single, high certainty point, allows them to easily track instrument performance with some accuracy. Obviously, using only manufacturer's specifications, it would be hard to perform checks over hours or days that would have any real meaning. Using a single point calibration of high certainty allows one to accurately measure the variation over hours or days and thus determine with good statistical accuracy the performance of the instrument. The variation you measure can give you some idea of the accuracy and repeatability of your instrument. A large or changing variation likely points to repairs that need to be made.
} Hello List, } } I would like to find out what type of mag. calibration schedule you } might be using, if at all. Is it every 3mnths, 6mnths, or every } month? Dictated by ISO? I do not wish to start another thread } about parameters effecting mag. calibration but more on how often } this calibration is performed. } } TIA } } David Rose } W.L. Gore and Associates } Elkton, MD 21921 } 410-506-2958 } } } } } Allen R. Sampson Advanced Research Systems 317 North 4th. Street St. Charles, IL 60174 PH 630.513.7093 FAX 630.513.7092 Email: ars-at-mcs.net WWW: http://www.mcs.net/~ars Analytical instrument maintenance services
Despite manufacturer's claims, there is little that is new in SEMs. After nearly 20 years in development, the environmental SEM is practical, and probably has much to offer in your discipline. Basic resolution has generally been cut in half over that time period (ETEC spec'd their SEMs at 75A 20 years ago, and did so with a measure that seems more conservative than today's specs) but FE instruments have gone farther, although I don't know of any real use for FE in biological applications (y'all let me know if I'm wrong).
Your question is very germain to this group, I would think. I would love to hear if anyone has any additional improvements they have noticed that I haven't mentioned. Of course I will conceed to improvements in vacuum system components, reduced electronic part counts and, of course, the introduction of digital image capture and processing. All important, however, not producing any real improvement on the basic imaging capabilities.
} Dear all, } } As a total amateur at SEM (almost) I was wondering if there was } someone out there who could give me a private run through of what is } now available. The last time I looked at SEM's was over 10 years } ago and things seem to have moved along almost as fast as in the } computer industry (although I haven't seen laptop SEM's yet). } } This subject is probably not appropriate for the list, so it would } be good if volunteers contacted me and didn't post for general } consumption. } } My field is biological research so I would be particularly } interested in what imaging possiblities there are for cells, tissues } and isolated fractions (or even proteins). } } Many thanks in advance, } } Paul Webster, Ph.D } House Ear Institute } 2100 West Third Street } Los Angeles, CA 90057 } phone:213 273 8026 } fax: 213 413 6739 } e-mail: pwebster-at-hei.org } } } } Allen R. Sampson Advanced Research Systems 317 North 4th. Street St. Charles, IL 60174 PH 630.513.7093 FAX 630.513.7092 Email: ars-at-mcs.net WWW: http://www.mcs.net/~ars Analytical instrument maintenance services
The Lehigh Short Course to be run in early June 1999 will teach you everything you ever wanted to know about SEM and XRMA.
Contact Sharon Coe at e-mail address {slc6-at-lehigh.edu} for more information.
Patrick Echlin Cambridge University (Teacher on the Lehigh Course)
On 20 Oct 1998, Paul Webster 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, } } As a total amateur at SEM (almost) I was wondering if there was someone out there who could give me a private run through of what is now available. The last time I looked at SEM's was over 10 years ago and things seem to have moved along almost as fast as in the computer industry (although I haven't seen laptop SEM's yet). } } This subject is probably not appropriate for the list, so it would be good if volunteers contacted me and didn't post for general consumption. } } My field is biological research so I would be particularly interested in what imaging possiblities there are for cells, tissues and isolated fractions (or even proteins). } } Many thanks in advance, } } Paul Webster, Ph.D } House Ear Institute } 2100 West Third Street } Los Angeles, CA 90057 } phone:213 273 8026 } fax: 213 413 6739 } e-mail: pwebster-at-hei.org } } }
I have a problem in resolution of Scanning Electron Microscope S120, Cambridge Instrument. I have tried cleaning the SEM column, as I do everytime when there is a astigmatic image. But, recently I am unable to get good image at even as low as 1000X. What might but the problem?
Thanking you all in advance.
Yours faithfully,
Rajdeep Dongre Electron Microscopy Laboratory Agharkar Research Institute G.G. Agarkar Road, Pune - 411004, India
this is very urgent!!! I need information/prices/quotation for gold sputter/carbon coater device for SEM samples preparation.
I would like to hear suggestions or experience of users about what to buy, suppliers, models, etc.
I appreciate very much your help and assistance.
Many thanks in advance.
Silvia Montoro Centro Regional de Investigacion y Desarrollo Guemes 3450 3000 Santa Fe Argentina e-mail: csedax-at-arcride.edu.ar fax: +54 - 42 - 550944
Our lab is ISO certified. ISO does not set predetermined cal schedules, but monitors your records and procedures to confirm that you are doing what you committed to do and are keeping the appropriate records.
The number of variables affecting SEM mag calibration are infinite. Since I need to do more than constantly check mag, my procedures commit to a single (most typical settings) mag check on a monthly basis. Complete records are maintained. This ensures that (it is unlikely) large changes in mag have not occured. Also in my procedure is the option that for any job that requires tight control of magnification, a mag check is made at the time of the job. This mag check must be made using set-up parameters similar to those which will be used for the job (W.D, kV., etc).
The introduction of low voltage SEM operation in in our lab has greatly increased our ability to image radiation-sensitive low-Z biological material, due to the reduction in penetration and radiation damage by the beam. Under these conditions FE instruments offer real benefits in resolution, even for biologists. In our facility we have only a LEO 982 FESEM, so I can't directly compare our recent results with what we would see using a thermionic emitter (W or LaB6), but I know that at low voltage in this FESEM we are able to cell structures (e.g., microvilli, microtriches, cytoskeletal and contractile filaments) with almost no coating, and far less charging than we used to see in our old FESEM, which only operated well at higher voltages.
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
We jet spray volcanic ash particles (~10 microns or less) onto carbon double stick tabs for SEM/EDS study. It is easy to produce a nice distribution of particles with few that overlay one another. Problem is that later, during EDS and backscatter imaging, when the beam current is higher, the carbon tape is often damaged. It curls and bubbles thereby distorting the images.
We tried to use carbon paint but it is tricky to get the right amount spread onto the mount or it dries too quickly. Results were unfavorable.
I'd really like to have a durable, very smooth, low Z surface, that is insensitive to beam current and is easy to apply and work with in the SEM. Oh, it should also be economical too.
Any ideas? TIA
Owen
============================= Owen P. Mills Michigan Technological University Metallurgical & Materials Engineering Rm 512 MME Building Houghton, MI 49931 906-487-2002 906-487-2934 FAX opmills-at-mtu.edu
The Athena mineral database allows searching by chem elements, but not by actual analysis. It may be of some use.
the URL is:
http://un2sg4.unige.ch/athena/mineral/search.html
Good luck Mike
================================================ Michael L. Boucher Sr. mboucher-at-isd.net WEBPAGE http://www.isd.net/mboucher ================================================
I have contracted with XK, Inc, http://www.xk.com/company.html, to develop an application similar to what you describe. Associations between an "unknown" and members of the database will be made via text based relational searches, "best fitting" of spectra, or quantitative results depending on the materials category. Regarding your particular needs, you should contact them directly. Dennis.
________________________________________________________ Dennis C. Ward voice: 202-324-2982 FBI fax: 202-324-4018 Microanalysis Laboratory e-mail: DCWard-at-concentric.net
Hi. I know of a superb project that has developed what you seek. I doubt they will be willing to hand out the database as it is an integral part of a system they have taken many years to develop, the QemScan. Perhaps you should consider gaining access to a QemScan. Here is their contact info; paul.gottlieb-at-minerals.csiro.au or nobody-at-cat.csiro.au
Craig Harris 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
Manuel: en nuestro laboratorio utilizamos image tool frecuentemente, si tu quieres, podemos comenzar a analizar sus pro y sus contras en conjunto.. espero tu respuesta...
On 19 Oct 98 at 22:36, Manuel Norberto Valente de So 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 } -------------------------------------------------------------------- } ---. } } } } } } Now I received a message saying that it do not exist. Someone knows ho= w can } } I discuss with users of ImageTool? } } Sorry, but I can't resist...I will write in Portuguese (It's } the first time I find a msg from someone who, probably, speak } Portuguese) } } } Finalmente alguem que fala (penso eu!) Portuges!!! } } Tambem gostaria de saber se ha alguem a trabalhar com o Image Tool!! } } Parece ser um programa ao nivel de alguns comerciais no entanto } nunca vi nenhuma discucao acerca disso. Tambem ja enviei algumas } mensagens mas nunca tive FeedBack!! } } } Se receber alguma resposta diga-me alguma coisa (se for possivel) } } } Norberto } } (mnvs-at-ciaac.aac.uc.pt) } } } =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 Fernando D. Balducci Laboratorio de Microscopia Electr=F3nica Facultad de Ingenier=EDa - Bioingenieria Universidad Nacional de Entre Rios Argentina e-mail: microsc-at-fi.uner.edu.ar tel: 54 43 975100 fax: 54 43 975077
Owen asks .... } } } Good morning: } } We jet spray volcanic ash particles (~10 microns or less) onto carbon } double stick tabs for SEM/EDS study. It is easy to produce a nice } distribution of particles with few that overlay one another. } Problem is that later, during EDS and backscatter imaging, } when the beam current is higher, the carbon tape is often damaged.
The carbon tape is successful with distributing the effects of charging but not heat. I, at least, can only suggest you sputter with a heat conducting metal ... e.g., Al, Au, Cu ... most any metal would help, but I realize it would superimpose spectra and degrade your BSE contrast. Short of that, you'd need to lower the energy in your beam with either lower beam currents or accel voltage. I'll also be looking for other ideas ... hope this helps :o)
cheerios, shAf
{} /\ {\/} /\ {\/} /\ {\/} /\ cogito, ergo zZOooOM /\ {\/} /\ {\/} /\ {\/} /\ {} Michael Shaffer, R.A. - ICQ 210524 Geological Science's Electron Probe Facility - University of Oregon mshaf-at-darkwing.uoregon.edu - http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~mshaf/
Please note that JEOL does have a Y2K statement on our Homepage at http://www.jeol.com along with two contacts for more information, one of whom is a Director and the other who is devoting full time to this problem. This person (corey-at-jeol.com) can give you the current status of any JEOL instrument.
Regards Steve Hamilton Marketing Manager JEOL USA, Inc. hamilton-at-jeol.com
} -----Original Message----- } From: Wayne England [mailto:wengland-at-ortech.on.ca] } Sent: Monday, October 19, 1998 4:44 PM } To: micro. listserver } Subject: year 2000 and SEMs } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } In case this discussion has not come up yet on the server, here it goes. } We are running a Jeol JSM 6400 with Link eXL spectrometer and have no info } from supplier or manufacturer about year 2000 compliance. Any ideas/input } out there. I'm sure many of us are in the same boat (maybe without a } paddle). } } Wayne England } wengland-at-ortech.on.ca } }
If you want 1.) to have a resource for researchers to look at past projects in your lab to help them form experimental ideas and know who to ask for help and 2.) to and have a clear record of importance of your facility to the institution and your essential role in it to assure future support, you really need this bibliography. Also, we attempted to keep track of successfully funded grant applications that proposed projects with our facility, but we gave up because this was too difficult.
-------------------------------------------- Michael Cammer email sent from an account of the Analytical Imaging Facility The Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University 1300 Morris Park Ave. Bronx, NY 10461 (718) 430-2890 FAX: (718) 430-8996 http://www.ca.aecom.yu.edu/aif/ --------------------------------------------
On Fri, 9 Oct 1998, Rick L Vaughn wrote: } labs). How many labs have to keep that information? I don't believe a } core facility should be expected to see that an experiment gets } published. I feel lucky if they remember to acknowledge the lab. Plus, } work done as abstracts, thesis, presentations, and posters are also } important. Am I alone here?
The earth is a sphere. A quarter is a disk. If you're going to lay the quarters on the surface of the sphere, the answer is very different. ANyhow, do you think this merritted a serious answer or do you think somebody is trolling with nasty bait?
-------------------------------------------- Michael Cammer email sent from an account of the Analytical Imaging Facility The Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University 1300 Morris Park Ave. Bronx, NY 10461 (718) 430-2890 FAX: (718) 430-8996 http://www.ca.aecom.yu.edu/aif/ --------------------------------------------
On Wed, 14 Oct 1998, Alwyn Eades 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 apologize for the tone but I feel that this was a terrible answer to send } out. I assume that the person who asked the question is either young or } not too familiar with the ideas of science. Therefore to imply that the } magnification requested can be known so accurately (more accurately than we } know any of the fundamental constants, for example) is leading the reader } astray, to put it mildly. If the diameter of a quarter varies by, say, a } part in a thousand from one to another, the answer would be 574 times ten } to the power six i. e. 574 million. All the other figures are wrong. } } Alwyn Eades } } At 09:04 AM 10/14/98 -0400, you 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 } } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } } } } Earth Diameter = 12,756.28 KM -at- Equater } } Quarter Diameter (US) = 7/8 inch } } } } The Earth is 573,960,854.9 times larger, so that's your mag. } } } Alwyn Eades } Department of Materials Science and Engineering } Lehigh University } 5 East Packer Avenue } Bethlehem } Pennsylvannia 18015-3195 } Phone 610 758 4231 } Fax 610 758 4244 } jae5-at-lehigh.edu } }
Thanks to all who responded to my query on Spurr's resin. -- Regards, Gregory Rudomen Technical Specialist University Microscopy Imaging Center State University of New York at Stony Brook 516-444-3126 Greg-at-umic.sunysb.edu ********************************************************** Standard disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this communication are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of the University Microscopy Imaging Center. **********************************************************
Dear Owen, } } We jet spray volcanic ash particles (~10 microns or less) onto carbon } double stick tabs for SEM/EDS study. It is easy to produce a nice } distribution of particles with few that overlay one another. Problem is } that later, during EDS and backscatter imaging, when the beam current is } higher, the carbon tape is often damaged. It curls and bubbles thereby } distorting the images. } } We tried to use carbon paint but it is tricky to get the right amount } spread onto the mount or it dries too quickly. Results were unfavorable. } } I'd really like to have a durable, very smooth, low Z surface, that is } insensitive to beam current and is easy to apply and work with in the SEM. } Oh, it should also be economical too. } I would like to suggest Berylium as a possible solution for a smooth, low-Z surface. It can be evaporated onto the specimen and it satisfies all the given criteria. HOWEVER, there are very serious safety issues involved. If you have access to the appropriate equipment--a dedicated vacuum evapora- tor with exhaust vented appropriately, the equipment to produce small Be pellets or wire for evaporation, a safe place to clean out the bell jar, etc.--you might want to consider using Be. I think that solid Be metal is not too dangerous, and that finely-divided metal or compounds are the most hazardous. I have handled BeO powder (using a hood, of course) and had no trouble, and I heard a presentation at MSA some years ago by Dr. Hall (whose first name escapes me) where Be coating was used instead of C for low temper- ature work (where Be's conductivity is much greater than C's). With the stated safety reservations, perhaps you could produce a Be equivalent of double-stick tabs. Good luck. Yours, Bill Tivol
Ihave quite often used conductive carbon tape for such exams with no problem.
..Wonder what beam current and voltage you are running? I presume you are carbon coating the ash/tape to aviod charging and that is not the distortion
problem.
Woody White McDermott Technology, Inc. ______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
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Good morning:
We jet spray volcanic ash particles (~10 microns or less) onto carbon double stick tabs for SEM/EDS study. It is easy to produce a nice distribution of particles with few that overlay one another. Problem is that later, during EDS and backscatter imaging, when the beam current is higher, the carbon tape is often damaged. It curls and bubbles thereby distorting the images.
We tried to use carbon paint but it is tricky to get the right amount spread onto the mount or it dries too quickly. Results were unfavorable.
I'd really like to have a durable, very smooth, low Z surface, that is insensitive to beam current and is easy to apply and work with in the SEM. Oh, it should also be economical too.
Any ideas? TIA
Owen
============================= Owen P. Mills Michigan Technological University Metallurgical & Materials Engineering Rm 512 MME Building Houghton, MI 49931 906-487-2002 906-487-2934 FAX opmills-at-mtu.edu
by pop.tamu.edu (8.9.1a/8.9.1) with ESMTP id QAA08127 for {Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com} ; Tue, 20 Oct 1998 16:37:48 -0500 (CDT) Received: from BIO/SpoolDir by bio.tamu.edu (Mercury 1.31); 20 Oct 98 16:32:14 -0500 Received: from SpoolDir by BIO (Mercury 1.31); 20 Oct 98 16:32:01 -0500
POSITION AVAILABLE: Director, Microscopy and Imaging Center Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is seeking applications and nominations for Director of the Microscopy and Imaging Center (MIC). The MIC is a faculty-driven facility supporting diverse interdisciplinary teaching and research. It has a sizeable annual budget for technical and service support for multiple electron microscopes and advanced light microscopy instrumentation. Applicants must be nationally and internationally recognized scholars with strong leadership and interpersonal skills and a vision for the future of microscopy and imaging technologies. An understanding of the multi-faceted approaches to contemporary and emerging imaging technologies as well as an active research program engaged in the development and/or novel application of imaging technology will be necessary. Additionally, evidence for an appreciation of the opportunities to further enhance an interdisciplinary research environment that encourages scientific exchange between materials scientists, engineers, and life scientists related to these technologies is required. The Director will have an earned Ph.D. with expertise in the life sciences area and will have a faculty appointment at the tenured Professor rank in one or more life science departments and credentials commensurate with an Endowed Chair position.
Applicants should send a complete C.V., statement of research interests and names of five references no later than January 1, 1999. All correspondence should be addressed to:
Microscopy and Imaging Center Director Search Attn: Terry Thomas, Search Committee Chair Department of Biology, Texas A&M University College Station, Texas 77843-3258
Texas A&M University is an equal opportunity employer.
POSITION AVAILABLE: Director, Microscopy and Imaging Center Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is seeking applications and nominations for Director of the Microscopy and Imaging Center (MIC). The MIC is a faculty-driven facility supporting diverse interdisciplinary teaching and research. It has a sizeable annual budget for technical and service support for multiple electron microscopes and advanced light microscopy instrumentation. Applicants must be nationally and internationally recognized scholars with strong leadership and interpersonal skills and a vision for the future of microscopy and imaging technologies. An understanding of the multi-faceted approaches to contemporary and emerging imaging technologies as well as an active research program engaged in the development and/or novel application of imaging technology will be necessary. Additionally, evidence for an appreciation of the opportunities to further enhance an interdisciplinary research environment that encourages scientific exchange between materials scientists, engineers, and life scientists related to these technologies is required. The Director will have an earned Ph.D. with expertise in the life sciences area and will have a faculty appointment at the tenured Professor rank in one or more life science departments and credentials commensurate with an Endowed Chair position.
Applicants should send a complete C.V., statement of research interests and names of five references no later than January 1, 1999. All correspondence should be addressed to:
Microscopy and Imaging Center Director Search Attn: Terry Thomas, Search Committee Chair Department of Biology, Texas A&M University College Station, Texas 77843-3258
Texas A&M University is an equal opportunity employer.
To all that has interest, To respond to all of our customers demands for a new catalog we are pleased to announce the release of catalog XIII. Catalog XIII promises to meet the demands of all of the microscopy market as well as histology and general biological research. We have expanded the catalog to include a unique arrangement with Diatome, the Premium Diamond Knife manufacturers as well as a complete new chapter on Digital Imaging. For a copy of this resource guide please call, write, or E-Mail us direct at Electron Microscopy Sciences, 321 Morris Road P.O Box 251 Fort Washington Pa 19034. Tel:215-646-1566 E-Mail: SGKCCK-at-aol.com. We look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, ELectron Microscoph Sciences
I'm having a strange problem in saving high definition images onto the hard disk. This has only recently occurred. Yesterday, the first high definition image that I attempted to save took around 8 minutes, after which the system froze on me preventing me to save any further high definition images. The situation now is that I am only able to save standard definition images, but not high definition images. When the system freezes there is a warning sign that says,
"Server Cause a General Protection Fault in Module SERVER.EXE at 0001:OD89"
Rebooting the computer does not solve anything. Defragmenting the hard drive did not help.
I use SEM Philips XL20 and software V 5.21. The computer is using Windows 3.1 operating system and has an abundance of hard disk space.
The Santa Clara Valley Chapters of ASM and IEEE Reliability Society, with generous support from FEI Company, Micrion Corp, Schlumberger, and Nissei Sangyo America present:
NANOSCALE CHARACTERIZATION WITH THE FOCUSED ION BEAM Speaker: Prof. Robert Hull Department of Materials science and Engineering University of Virginia
ABSTRACT: Nanoscale characterization techniques using the focused ion beam (FIB) instrument will be reviewed. Dr. Hull will describe FIB-based techniques (either stand-alone, or in conjunction with transmission electron microscope imaging) for stress mapping in crystalline structures, dopant mapping in semiconductors, three dimensional image reconstruction, and ultra-high resolution secondary ion mass spectroscopy maps and volume reconstructions. He will also summarize additional techniques described in the literature, including FIB-induced optical emission spectroscopy and voltage contrast imaging. Finally specimen modification and damage artifacts created by the FIB beam will be discussed.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH Robert Hull is an Associate Professor, and Doris and Heinz Wilsdorf Distinguished Research Chair, in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Virginia. Prior to joining UVA he was a member of Technical Staff in the Physics Research Division of Bell Laboratories for seven years. He has authored and co-authored over one hundred and fifty papers in the fields of electronic materials, epitaxial growth, and applications of focused ion and electron beams. He has also given over fifty invited presentations at national and international conferences in these fields. He is on the editorial board of several major journals, and has edited several proceedings and reference volumes. In 1997 he was the President of the Materials Research Society, the leading international society in the field of materials science and engineering.
TIME AND LOCATION: November 11 at David's Restaurant at the Santa Clara Tennis and Golf Club, at 5151 Stars & Stripes Drive in Santa Clara, CA (95054). This is just east of the Santa Clara Convention Center. Dinner choice of: London Broil or Seafood Brochette served with lemon butter sauce or a Vegetarian (Pasta Primavera) plate. Social at 6:00 p.m., 6:45 Dinner and 8:00 p.m. Talk
Cost: ASM/IEEE Members $16, Students $8 and Guests $18 (with an additional two dollars if no RSVP the Monday before the event (ie, Nov 9th ) Reservations: Brock Hinzmann 650-859-4350 or email IEEE Santa Clara Valley Chapter Reliability Society contact David Su (davidsu-at-aol.com). Please include choice of meal !
} The carbon tape is successful with distributing the effects of } charging but not heat. I, at least, can only suggest you sputter } with a heat conducting metal ... e.g., Al, Au, Cu ... most any metal } would help, but I realize it would superimpose spectra and degrade } your BSE contrast. Short of that, you'd need to lower the energy in } your beam with either lower beam currents or accel voltage. } I'll also be looking for other ideas ... hope this helps :o) } } cheerios, shAf } If heat is the problem, how about using a metal adhesive tape - you should be able to find adhesive-backed copper and aluminium tapes in the microscopy consumables catalogues. Turn into a loop, so it will stick to your stub. Ideally (?), bend over one corner, so you have metal to metal contact at some point between the tape and the stub to conduct heat and electricity. However, if the carbon tape is being damaged, where is the adhesive migrating too?
Keith
-- Dr. Keith R. Hallam University of Bristol, Interface Analysis Centre, Oldbury House, 121, St. Michael's Hill, Bristol, BS2 8BS, England Telephone: + 44 (0)117 925 5666 | E-mail: k.r.hallam-at-bristol.ac.uk Facsimile: + 44 (0)117 925 5646 | URL: http://zeus.bris.ac.uk/~phkrh/
We are looking to purchase a heating stage for our Philips FEG ESEM. We have information about the Philips stage which can reach 1000C but some workers will require still higher temperatures, and their 1500C stage is not on the market yet. Does anyone have experience of using heating stages and at what temperatures? How do different manufacturers compare and how easy are other stages to adapt to the ESEM. In particular will we still be able to use the Gaseous SE detector or are they designed for use with cooled conventional SE detectors? Any info will be much appreciated.
Cheers Nikki
Nikki Bock EM Technician Dept. Materials Engineering University of Nottingham Nottingham NG7 2RD (0115) 9513759/9513871 Email: emznjb-at-hermes.nottingham.ac.uk
Owen, Since you don't need much adhesive to tack down 10 micron particles, you may try applying a very thin layer of a fluid adhesive (such as Microstick) to a pyrolytic carbon planchet. This form of carbon has a flat, hard, glass-like surface. A drop of adhesive applied to the carbon may be spread very thin by drawing out with a cover slip. Since the organic adhesive layer is thin, you will probably get your required conductivity. There is no observable background structure. Planchets are about $35 each.
Dennis.
________________________________________________________ Dennis C. Ward voice: 202-324-2982 FBI fax: 202-324-4018 Microanalysis Laboratory e-mail: DCWard-at-concentric.net
It reads like a young someone looking for an easy way to get homework done.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Winston W Wiggins, Supr. 10/21/98 8:22:11 AM CRC-Electron Microscopy Lab. Ofc:704/355-1267 Carolinas Medical Center Fax:704/355-7648 P.O. Box 32861 Lab:704/355-7220 Charlotte,NC 28232-2861 USA Eml:wwiggins-at-carolinas.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I just got a used Plasma Machine (International Plasma corporation). I do not know the age of it, but I have all the information.
Model: Reactor Center
S/N 11862-1
Number PM-1613
I would like to know if someone can help me to get the address of the manufacture or get the manual with the wiring diagram. Any help would be appreciated
} In previous email correspondence it was suggested by few people to use Evans } Blue stain as a counterstain on FITC labelled sections. Is there a special } protocol for it.
The advice to use Evans blue probably came from a research worker who had experimented intelligently and come up with something useful for his/her purposes. If you want to use this or any other dye as a counterstain for immunofluorescence, you will have to try and err. There is no such thing as a "protocol" for this sort of thing.
Evans blue and similar dyes (notably trypan blue) are not fluorescent but they become fluorescent when they bind to some (but not all) proteins. If you stain a section with 1% Evans or trypan blue at any reasonable pH (meaning 3 to 7), you get everything in a weary blue colour, with some feeble fluorescence here & there. The fluorescence can be seen (weakly) with rhodamine-type setups (green excitation; orange emission) or with broad-band UV and a colourless barrier filter (looks yellow). If there's too much blue dye that's not protein-bound, it quenches all the fluorescence, as do most blue dyes.
If you need a counterstain to show you where you are in an immunostained section, I'd recommend a weakly fluorescent basic dye, which will show nuclei, cytoplasm of RNA-rich cells, and acidic carbohydrates (cartilage matrix, some mucus, etc). Neutral red does this pretty well: 0.001 to 0.01%, at or near pH 4. By changing the filter block you can vary the relative prominences of this dye and various other fluorochromes. Try various concentrations of neutral red on any old sections to decide on an ideal time and concentration for this fluorochrome.
It is not possible for anyone to provide a "protocol" for fluorescent counterstaining. The technique varies with the requirements of the investigation.
John A. Kiernan, Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, The University of Western Ontario, LONDON, Canada N6A 5C1
I am working with glass samples in both the SEM and TEM. We have access to FEG instruments and are contemplating a new FEG-SEM. Our current carbon coaters are dirty diffusion pumped systems. I know from experience that this equipment will cause contamination when a FEG instrument is used even when I use the LN2 trap for several hours before I open the system to put my sample in. I am currently using my BalTec RES 100 ion mill to sputter coat carbon on both sides of my TEM samples. (Yes, I know that I need only coat one side, but I have a specific reason for coating both sides.) However, this process is relatively slow and ties up my ion mill.
I know the arguments for having a sputter system for high resolution SEM imaging, but my interests are concerning carbon coating.
Here are my questions: What carbon coating systems are currently compatible with FEG microscopes? Is an turbo pumped evaporation system good enough or is a turbo pumped sputter deposition system required?
I would be interested in hearing from both users about their experiences and from vendors about what instruments they have and pricing information.
Thanks in advance.
-Scott
Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. PPG Industries, Inc. Guys Run Rd. (packages) P.O. Box 11472 (letters) Pittsburgh, PA 15238-0472
Well, it's an interesting question, even if someone's just having a little fun with us. Another factor here is that the Earth is not a perfect sphere, it has a larger diameter if measured around its equator than North Pole to South Pole. So around the world, but using what as the path of travel?
} } The earth is a sphere. A quarter is a disk. If you're going to lay the } quarters on the surface of the sphere, the answer is very different. } ANyhow, do you think this merritted a serious answer or do you think } somebody is trolling with nasty bait? } } -------------------------------------------- } Michael Cammer } email sent from an account of the Analytical Imaging Facility } The Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University } 1300 Morris Park Ave. Bronx, NY 10461 } (718) 430-2890 FAX: (718) 430-8996 } http://www.ca.aecom.yu.edu/aif/ } -------------------------------------------- } } On Wed, 14 Oct 1998, Alwyn Eades 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 apologize for the tone but I feel that this was a terrible answer to send } } out. I assume that the person who asked the question is either young or } } not too familiar with the ideas of science. Therefore to imply that the } } magnification requested can be known so accurately (more accurately than we } } know any of the fundamental constants, for example) is leading the reader } } astray, to put it mildly. If the diameter of a quarter varies by, say, a } } part in a thousand from one to another, the answer would be 574 times ten } } to the power six i. e. 574 million. All the other figures are wrong. } } } } Alwyn Eades } } } } At 09:04 AM 10/14/98 -0400, you 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 } } } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } } } } } } } Earth Diameter = 12,756.28 KM -at- Equater } } } Quarter Diameter (US) = 7/8 inch } } } } } } The Earth is 573,960,854.9 times larger, so that's your mag. } } } } } Alwyn Eades } } Department of Materials Science and Engineering } } Lehigh University } } 5 East Packer Avenue } } Bethlehem } } Pennsylvannia 18015-3195 } } Phone 610 758 4231 } } Fax 610 758 4244 } } jae5-at-lehigh.edu } } } }
-- ****************************** Jim Haley Applications Engineer I-CUBE 2411 Crofton Lane, Suite 14A Crofton, MD 21114 voice: (301) 858-0505 fax: (301) 858-0615 web site: http://www.i-cubeinc.com e-mail: haley-at-i-cubeinc.com ******************************
I've used heating stages from Oxford instruments in the past up to 500C, and I believe they make other models for much higher temperatures (at least 1000C+ from memory). I'm sure that their apps people would be able to advise on the suitability in the ESEM.
Hope that helps,
Jeremy
} ---------- } From: NICOLA BOCK[SMTP:Nicola.Bock-at-nottingham.ac.uk] } Sent: 21 October 1998 10:23 } To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: SEM Heating stages } } ---------------------------------------------------------------------- } -- } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of } America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to } ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help } http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } ---------------------------------------------------------------------- } -. } } } Dear Microscopists } } We are looking to purchase a heating stage for our Philips FEG ESEM. } We have information about the Philips stage which can reach 1000C but } some workers will require still higher temperatures, and their 1500C } stage is not on the market yet. Does anyone have experience of using } heating stages and at what temperatures? How do different } manufacturers compare and how easy are other stages to adapt to the } ESEM. In particular will we still be able to use the Gaseous SE } detector or are they designed for use with cooled conventional SE } detectors? } Any info will be much appreciated. } } Cheers } Nikki } } } Nikki Bock } EM Technician } Dept. Materials Engineering } University of Nottingham } Nottingham NG7 2RD } (0115) 9513759/9513871 } Email: emznjb-at-hermes.nottingham.ac.uk }
One of my first encounters with this message many years ago had nothing to do with a program error. One of the six 1 MB SIMMs in my 386 (I told you it was a long time ago) started failing. Whenever I accessed that flaky memory location, the error would pop up. I tested it by opening multiple copies of a program (Word 2.0) and the failure would always come at the same place. I moved the SIMMs around in the slots and the problem moved around to. I isolated the flaky SIMM, replaced it, and the problem went away. BTW, the memory all passed the several memory test programs I ran it through.
I have also seen the problem develop when a cooling fan fails. The computer runs okay for a while, but when it starts getting taxed, it fails. Both problems lead to a corruption of the instructions in memory, so the program on disk may be fine, but it gets screwed up once it is loaded into memory.
These may not be the source of your problem, but it is probably worth a check.
Warren Straszheim
At 03:15 PM 10/21/98 +1000, you wrote: } } Hello everyone, } } I'm having a strange problem in saving high definition images onto the hard } disk. This has only recently occurred. Yesterday, the first high definition } image that I attempted to save took around 8 minutes, after which the system } froze on me preventing me to save any further high definition images. The } situation now is that I am only able to save standard definition images, but } not high definition images. When the system freezes there is a warning sign } that says, } } "Server Cause a General Protection Fault in Module SERVER.EXE at 0001:OD89" } } Rebooting the computer does not solve anything. Defragmenting the hard drive } did not help. } I use SEM Philips XL20 and software V 5.21. The computer is using Windows } 3.1 operating system and has an abundance of hard disk space. } } Any suggestions greatly appreciated. } } Khanh Tran } Deakin University } 662 Blackburn Road } CLAYTON, VIC. 3168 } AUSTRALIA
Hello Friends, Does anyone have a wiring diagram for the stage control (right side) for = the Hitachi H-600 TEM? One of our users unspooled and kinked the wire = that is attached to a push-pull, two spool, multi-pathway arrangement that = moves the grid. ( Looks like an old dental drill in minature! ) We do not = have a service contract and Hitachi is not sure that any of their = engineers in the Midwest has been trained to restring it. They may have = to dismantle the scope and send the arm out for re$tringing. I do a lot = of fishing...how hard could it be if a diagram is available. I am willing = to give it a try to get the scope operational in the least expensive = manner possible. Thanks. FAX 1-708-216-3913 Linda Fox Loyola University Medical School
Dear Nicola, I would suggest you try a company, such as Deben UK Ltd. (http://www.deben.co.uk), that make special stages for any microscope. They should be able to answer your questions. You wrote: } Dear Microscopists } } We are looking to purchase a heating stage for our Philips FEG ESEM. } We have information about the Philips stage which can reach 1000C but } some workers will require still higher temperatures, and their 1500C } stage is not on the market yet. Does anyone have experience of using } heating stages and at what temperatures? How do different } manufacturers compare and how easy are other stages to adapt to the } ESEM. In particular will we still be able to use the Gaseous SE } detector or are they designed for use with cooled conventional SE } detectors? } Any info will be much appreciated. } } Cheers } Nikki } 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-interchg.ubc.ca
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Dear Microscopists } } We are looking to purchase a heating stage for our Philips FEG ESEM. } We have information about the Philips stage which can reach 1000C but } some workers will require still higher temperatures, and their 1500C } stage is not on the market yet. Does anyone have experience of using } heating stages and at what temperatures? How do different } manufacturers compare and how easy are other stages to adapt to the } ESEM. In particular will we still be able to use the Gaseous SE } detector or are they designed for use with cooled conventional SE } detectors? } Any info will be much appreciated
Hi Nikky,
I cannot answer your question directly as I have not used SEM hot stages but I do use TEM hot stages in a variety of different gasses and pressures. My hot stage uses a W heating element and will get to 1000C in vacuum. However, it will only get to 700C in 20mbar H or He before it burns out as it needs so much more power to overcome the heat loss in the gas. It will only hold 350(ish)C in oxygen before the W oxides finally burn the wire out, 300C is OK, for hours 400C for tens of minutes. Other gasses have similar problems. These problems could be improved or eliminated with better stage design or alternative materials. Check specification of the hot stages under the gas type and pressures that you are interested in working at.
Good luck, Ron. =========================================================================== Mr. Ron Doole e-mail ron.doole-at-materials.ox.ac.uk Department of Materials, phone +44 (0) 1865 273701 University of Oxford, fax +44 (0) 1865 283333 Parks Road. Oxford. OX1 3PH. UK. ============================================================================
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Owen, Since you don't need much adhesive to tack down 10 micron particles, you may try applying a very thin layer of a fluid adhesive (such as Microstick) to a pyrolytic carbon planchet. This form of carbon has a flat, hard, glass-like surface. A drop of adhesive applied to the carbon may be spread very thin by drawing out with a cover slip. Since the organic adhesive layer is thin, you will probably get your required conductivity. There is no observable background structure. Planchets are about $35 each.
Dennis.
________________________________________________________ Dennis C. Ward voice: 202-324-2982 FBI fax: 202-324-4018 Microanalysis Laboratory e-mail: DCWard-at-concentric.net
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Hallow, Thanks for the information about your new catalog. I shall very much appreciate a copy of the catalog XIII. Thanking you.
Your truly, C.L.Singla EM Lab, Department of Biology University of Victoria P.O.BOX 3020 Victoria, BC. Canada V8W 3N5
As it turns out, the individual looking into the problem here has had some contact with our suppliers re: the Y2K problem. They have all been extremely helpful and there are many resources available. I hope that I did not infer otherwise with my original post.
I have attached some of the information as submitted from our equipment suppliers and manufacturers including Joel USA, Soquelec Ltd., Oxford Instruments America Inc. and Nissei Sangyo Canada Inc..
I hope it is helpful to others in the group as well.
Thanks for all the input.
Wayne England
_______________________________________________
I saw your message about Year 2000 compliance on the Listserver this morning. If you would send me your address, I will be glad to mail you the statement covering all the Oxford microanalysis systems (including the eXL).
Thanks,
Graham Bird Business Manager Oxford Instruments America Inc. Microanalysis Group 130A Baker Ave Extension Concord MA 01742 USA
Please note that JEOL does have a Y2K statement on our Homepage at http://www.jeol.com along with two contacts for more information, one of whom is a Director and the other who is devoting full time to this problem. This person (corey-at-jeol.com) can give you the current status of any JEOL instrument.
Regards Steve Hamilton Marketing Manager JEOL USA, Inc. hamilton-at-jeol.com
Analytical Imaging Facility wrote: } } The earth is a sphere. A quarter is a disk. If you're going to lay the quarters on the surface of the sphere, the answer is very different. } ANyhow, do you think this merritted a serious answer or do you think } somebody is trolling with nasty bait?
} -------------------------------------------- } Michael Cammer } email sent from an account of the Analytical Imaging Facility } The Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University } 1300 Morris Park Ave. Bronx, NY 10461 } (718) 430-2890 FAX: (718) 430-8996 } http://www.ca.aecom.yu.edu/aif/ } --------------------------------------------
Michael:
Are you serious? What kind of "nasty bait' could this be? Let's drop this thread.
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 ***************************************************************
I'm working with a student who is trying to determine the degree of homogeneity in tool steel using microprobe. She is short of good references for the fundamental statistical equations involving x-ray measurements in electron beam instruments. Can anyone provide a few relevant references? Thanks in advance.
Owen
============================= Owen P. Mills Michigan Technological University Metallurgical & Materials Engineering Rm 512 MME Building Houghton, MI 49931 906-487-2002 906-487-2934 FAX opmills-at-mtu.edu
Would anyone out there have a contact number for Linkam Company which makes heating/cooling stages for light microscopes or a contact number for a distributorship of Linkam products in the New England area? Thanks for any help. Don Gantz Boston Univ School of Medicine gantz-at-med-biophd.bu.edu
We have a few items that we'd like to sell. One is a Balzers Freeze Etch Apparatus. The specimen chamber on this system is glass (model # anyone?), and has a Freeze Etching Device Control unit GA-1, with a Power Control Unit BSV 202, and a Cold Cathode Gauge PKG 010 Pirani. This system has sat idle for a number of years now. Also, we have a few MT-2 mictomes for sale. Interested parties can email me or reach me by phone at 319-335-8142, fax 319-335-6710. Thanks, Randy -- Randy Nessler rnessler-at-emiris.iaf.uiowa.edu Views expressed are my own.
} -----Original Message----- } From: Owen P. Mills [mailto:opmills-at-mtu.edu] } Sent: Wednesday, October 21, 1998 10:36 AM } To: MICROPROBE-at-ftp.microanalysis.org; Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } Subject: materials - homogeneity statistics } } } Hello: } } I'm working with a student who is trying to determine the degree of } homogeneity in tool steel using microprobe. She is short of good } references for the fundamental statistical equations involving x-ray } measurements in electron beam instruments. Can anyone provide a few } relevant references? Thanks in advance. } } ...
I have a student's thesis ... somewhat dated ... she synthesized reference standard glasses for empirically determining EPMA alpha factors. Anyway, there are several pages dedicated to her quantification of the glasses' homogeneity, calculated with respect to counting statistics and what would be expected from the Chi-square distribution. Of anyone is interested, contact me directly ... subject: "chi-square homogeneiety" ... I'll try to put it thru OCR and clean it up ...
cheerios, shAf
{} /\ {\/} /\ {\/} /\ {\/} /\ cogito, ergo zZOooOM /\ {\/} /\ {\/} /\ {\/} /\ {} Michael Shaffer, R.A. - ICQ 210524 Geological Science's Electron Probe Facility - University of Oregon mshaf-at-darkwing.uoregon.edu - http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~mshaf/
We have proposed to label a a molecule that is usually sequestered to the inner leaflet of the cytoplasmic membrane using a protein specific for that molecule. We proposed to use colloidal gold with TEM to determine which side of the membrane the molecule is located. We have been told that we will not be able to do this study because the gold-protein complex is so large compared to the width of the bilayer membrane that we could not possibly determine which side of the bilayer the label is on.
Can anyone supply me with a reference to any study that shows that TEM can be used to determine which side of a membrane bilayer a specific marker is located? It does not have to be specifically colloidal gold labeling any method would be fine.
Thank you
Please reply by personal e-mail wiessner-at-mcw.edu
Dear Chuck, } } Dennis has a good idea. I would substitute freshly-cleaved mica for } the carbon planchet...its a lot cheaper. } Since the idea is to do microanalysis, having a substrate of sim- ilar composition to the specimen would not be advisable. Yours, Bill Tivol
The estimation of whether or not a specimen has a uniform composition, or is 'homogeneous', usually requires the application of some statistical method. This is a subject which received a lot of attention in the days when microprobe methods were being developed, but which seems to be little mentioned these days.
There is a discussion of the basic concepts involved and the methods commonly used in describing the level of specimen homogeniety in Sect. 8.6 of the book 'Scanning Electron Microscopy & X-ray Microanalysis' by Goldstein, et. al. Plenum Press, that will probably meet your student's needs
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
It was announced Oct 1 that manufacturing of the Kevex Sigma EDS line will be transfered to Noran. The XRF line is going to Spectrace Instruments. The fate of the Kevex service group is uncertain.
A long competive battle ends and a proud flag falls.
I have experienced difficulty in finding a supplier for the large light bulb, Thorn 110-120 V, 200W, Opale E27, P3/15 which is used in my Durst Laborator 138S condenser enlarger. If anyone has information regarding this, I would appreciate hearing from you.
Mary North Electron Microscopy Lab Loma Linda University Medical Center Loma Linda, CA northstar44-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]
Hard to know where to begin with such poor resolution. I assume that the operating setup hasn't changed, i.e. you are using the same accelerating voltage, condensor settings, working distance, etc., as before and the resolution has changed. Of the above, the condensor will have the most marked effect on resolution - the higher the current the better the resolution and the smaller the beam current. As I recall, the S120 doesn't have a condensor current readout, so it's conceivable the condensor circuit is malfunctioning. It should deliver 2 - 3 amps or so for much better resolution than you are getting.
Proper filament alignment within the cathode, properly cleaned and well aligned optical parts would be my next check. The closer to the beam something is contaminated, the greater the effect. It takes very slight, invisible to the eye, contamination on the hole in an apeture to have disastrous effects. How are you cleaning the apetures? Heating to dark cherry red in a vacuum evaporator is the best for any apeture. Open air flaming is good for platinum apetures. If you are cleaning them by hand with metal polish, make sure that you use an ultrasonic cleaner after first cleaning off the polish by hand.
BTW, many people use acetone to clean such parts in an ultrasonic cleaner. I quit doing that years ago after a customer, an ex-NASA engineer, informed me that acetone doesn't cavitate the way most fluids do. He had to research it for them, so I've trusted his opinion and use ethyl alchohol. While acetone does leave a residue, it doesn't present a problem and I often use it as a final rinse or at least to manually clean the parts before ultrasonicing.
If the change in resolution was sudden, the condensor works properly, and the column appears to be clean, I'd take a real close look for a fiber caught somewhere in the column. Take everything apart and blow everything off well with filtered air, dry nitrogen or canned air while carefully re-assembling to prevent contamination of assembled parts.
Finally, can you give any more clues? Any change in manufacturers for filaments or apetures? Is the limitation a huge astigmatism? Any problem getting a filament image that is well centered? Are there any indications of large electromagnetic or vibration problems (saw-toothed edges at fast scan rates)?
} Dear Friends, } } I have a problem in resolution of Scanning Electron Microscope S120, } Cambridge Instrument. I have tried cleaning the SEM column, as I do } everytime when there is a astigmatic image. But, recently I am } unable to get good image at even as low as 1000X. What might but } the problem? } } Thanking you all in advance. } } Yours faithfully, } } Rajdeep Dongre } Electron Microscopy Laboratory } Agharkar Research Institute } G.G. Agarkar Road, Pune - 411004, } India } } E-mail : rajdeep-at-aripune.ernet.in } } } Allen R. Sampson Advanced Research Systems 317 North 4th. Street St. Charles, IL 60174 PH 630.513.7093 FAX 630.513.7092 Email: ars-at-mcs.net WWW: http://www.mcs.net/~ars Analytical instrument maintenance services
I recently bought a Kodak's 120 MDS system for taking digital photographs, but I'm having some problems to which I have not found a solution yet: a bright, red, somewhat diffuse, spot appears on center of every picture. The MDS software has a specific function to solve this problem, but this doesn't helps too much. Kodak manual also recommends to reduce as much as possible the light intensity, but the spot even appears. Now, I process the pictures using the photopaint's artifacts, but it takes too much time and the product is not as good as one would expect.
We just published the following paper in which you can find references concerning zircon dating (suzuki et al).
Cocherie, A., Legendre, O., Peucat, J.J., and Kouamelan, A. Geochronology of polygenic monazites constrained by in situ electron microprobe Th-U-Total Pb determination: implication for Pb behaviour in monazite. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 62:2475-2497, 1998.=20
} ---------- } De : Joil Jose Celino[SMTP:jjc0704-at-mailexcite.com] } Date=A0: jeudi 22 octobre 1998 14:34 } A : MICROPROBE-at-ftp.microanalysis.org; } Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com; Owen P. Mills } Objet : Isochron ages of monazites and zircons } =20 } Hello all, } =20 } I'm working with some granites in mobile belt of Brazil with ~ 800 = Ga. } Does anybody know about dating zircon with electron microprobe?? } =20 } Thanks } --- } Joil Jos=E9 Celino } University of Brasilia - UNB } Institute of Geoscience } Brasilia - BRAZIL } Fone (061) 321-0410 C=F3digo: 6181948 } =20 } =20 } =20 } Free web-based email, Forever, From anywhere! } http://www.mailexcite.com } =20
Try a company in California at 1-800-8Lights, they can get hard to get bulbs.
Regards,
Michael Coviello Materials Science UT Arlington
UT Arlington Attn: Michael Coviello Box 19031, 500 W. 1st Street Arlington, TX 76019
dAt 10:19 PM 10/21/98 -0700, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Try calling Bulb Direct, Pittsford, NY, (800) 772-5267, www.bulbdirect.com ======================= } I have experienced difficulty in finding a supplier for the large } light bulb, Thorn 110-120 V, 200W, Opale E27, P3/15 } which is used in my Durst Laborator 138S condenser enlarger. } If anyone has information regarding this, I would appreciate } hearing from you. } } Mary North } Electron Microscopy Lab } Loma Linda University Medical Center } Loma Linda, CA } northstar44-at-juno.com
Russell E. Cook Electron Microscopy Center for Materials Research Argonne National Laboratory Building 212 9700 South Cass Avenue Argonne, IL 60439 (630)252-7194 FAX: (630)252-4798
Regarding text recommendations, Scanning Electron Microscopy--A Students Handbook by Postek, Howard, Johnson, and McMichael (Ladd Research Industries) is an excellent text book for college level students. Regarding materials/subject matter, you might want to consider including specific application lectures such as SEM in the microchip industry, SEM in medicine, SEM in forensics, etc. If you want to contact me directly, I can give you some forensic pointers. Also, Dr. Darlene Southworth of the science department of Southern Oregon University in Ashland Oregon has taught a very popular one semester undergrad course on SEM for years. She could be a good source of information/guidance for you.
(Netscape Messaging Server 3.5) with ESMTP id AAA379C for {Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.com} ; Thu, 22 Oct 1998 09:03:33 -0700 Message-ID: {36300010.F1CC2BF8-at-nctimes.net}
What centrifuge do you recommend for concentrating virus specimens, like intestional for parvo? We only have $15,000 to spend. Does anyone use a Beckman Allegro 64R? It reaches 64g and I'm told it can bring down bacteriophages in 4 hours. We would really like to have a Beckman 55.2 Ti rotor, but we can't afford the centrifuge. Thank you! Cindy Shannon
I've got someone looking into the possibility of preparing samples of tool material that consists of diamond particles embedded in a cobalt matrix. Any ideas? How will I cut, grind and polish it?
Thanks,
Robin Griffin UAB Materials and Mechanical Engineering
My question: What metallographic mounting materials are safe for an SEM? Some of our users would like us to forbid usage of any mounting compound other than those that require both pressure and heat such as bakelite and its near relatives. They feel that the resolution of the machine will gradually degrade if we allow the usage of cold mounting materials. We have currently allowing the usage of some of the more stable (epoxy from leco and buehler for example) cold mounts. We don't see any change in vacuum when the beam strikes the sample mount but are we slowly degrading the image resolution by gunking up the column? To date the resolution still is fine but what about the future?!
Ronald Vane wrote: } } It was announced Oct 1 that manufacturing of the Kevex Sigma EDS line } will be transfered to Noran. The XRF line is going to Spectrace } Instruments. The fate of the Kevex service group is uncertain. } } A long competive battle ends and a proud flag falls. } } See www.kevex.com for more details. } } Ronald Vane } XEI Scientific --
Actually, the service is being transferred here (to Middleton, WI) as well. All the California service number(s) and 800 number(s) should remain the same, so that for all practical purposes "Kevex" (at least the customer service/support) will continue to exist, and both of our product lines may in fact be strengthened by the experience. Please let me add that not a few here at NORAN share your regret; we take no delight in cannibalizing our long-time soul mate, and mourn the loss of our sister. (Many perhaps didn't realize that Kevex was also a ThermoSpectra company for the last few years, so we haven't really even been competing for some time.)
-- Tim
--------------------------------------------------- Timothy G. Moeller | NORAN Instruments Inc., Sr. Software Engineer | a ThermoSpectra company {tmoeller-at-noran.com} | {www.noran.com} ---------------------------------------------------
} -----Original Message----- } From: "grial-at-fibertel.com.ar"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } [mailto:"grial-at-fibertel.com.ar"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com] } Sent: Sunday, May 24, 1998 8:19 PM } To: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: LM-problems taking digital photography } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 bought a Kodak's 120 MDS system for taking digital } photographs, but I'm having some problems to which I have not found a } solution yet: a bright, red, somewhat diffuse, spot appears on center } of every picture........ } } I would really appreciate any suggestion! } } Thany you in advance! } } Carlos E. Barbosa } } At the MM98 meeting in Atlanta there was a short course on Practical Digital Imaging where the instructor, John Mackenzie jr., in his praise for this camera also pointed out that in some microscopes this red spot will occur and can not be removed. He did not mention the names of these microscopes but did know of brands that did experience this phenomenon.
Sam. O. Mancuso Group Leader, Physical-Mechanical Metallurgy Special Metals Corporation 4317 Middle Settlement Road New Hartford, New York 13413 U.S.A. {} {} {} Phone: (315) 798-2920 Fax: (315) 798-2001 email: mancuso4-at-ix.netcom.com}
In years past we had ugly problems when cold mounting materials were used to mount specimens for examination in our SEMs (as discussed in some detail in Sect. 2.10.4d. p. 74, of my book on 'Vacuum Methods in Electron Microscopy'; see:sales-at-portlandpress.co.uk, or http://www.cccbi.chester.pa.us/spi/catalog/books/book48.html). Eventually, we found that we could reduce the problem to an acceptable level by requiring that the mounting materials be measured with great care to ensure the proper proportions of resin and hardener, and that the mounted specimens be allowed allowed to stand for at least 24 hours to ensure complete curing, and then be prepumped for 24 hours in a chamber such as we used to use for prepumping film. It would also be valuable to heat the chamber (wrap a heating tape around it) to as high a temperature as the specimens would stand during pumpout.
We never experienced as much trouble with thermosetting materials such as the Bakelite, diallyl phthalate and epoxy resins which are cured under heat and pressure, but still required a 24-hour pumpout for them too.
As also discussed in VM in EM, similar problems can arise from suspensions of polishing abrasives, etchants, and conductive paints which are also commonly used in preparing and mounting specimens.
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
} My question: } What metallographic mounting materials are safe for an } SEM? Some of our users would like us to forbid usage of any } mounting compound other than those that require both } pressure and heat such as bakelite and its near relatives. . . . . . . . } Robin Griffin }
We have been using Struer's EPOFIX epoxy mounts for years in our SEM with no noticeable degradation in either vacuum or image and x-ray resolution when prepared in proper porportions. In fact because the margin around the specimen is tighter with the epoxy than the bakelite, there is less out-gas due to entrapped water and solvents from cleaning procedures.
Sam. O. Mancuso Group Leader, Physical-Mechanical Metallurgy Special Metals Corporation 4317 Middle Settlement Road New Hartford, New York 13413 U.S.A. {} {} {} Phone: (315) 798-2920 Fax: (315) 798-2001 email: mancuso4-at-ix.netcom.com
In our research we study growing polymer particles under an ordinary optical
microscope at 4-20 times magnification. The polymer particles lie on a black
surface to assure a good contrast between the particles and the background. Good contrast is important because the size of the particles is determined with software, based on differences in light intensity. Of course, a digital camera (pieper FK7512-IQ) is connected to the microscope.
Our problem is that at the beginning of the experiment the background has some noise; after some time (when the particles are much larger, so more white light is on the picture) this noise decreases and almost disappears. This noise in the beginning of the experiment isn't very severe and the software can still determine the size of the particles. However, the fading away of the background noise has some influence on the determination of the size of the particles: during the fading the measured growth decreases (owing to the fading).
Does somebody experienced such a problem before, knows what causes it, knows
a solution or knows how to control the fading. We think it might be some hardware problem or an automatic adjustment of some kind of diaphragma (the camera sees more light, possible it automatically adjusts for that).
We hope someone can help us with this problem!
Thanks in advance for any help or suggestions you may have.
Ronald Capel
University of Twente Faculty of Chemical Technology PO-Box 217, 7500 AE, Enschede, Netherlands r.capel-at-student.utwente.nl
} } On Thursday, October 22, 1998 8:34 AM, Joil Jose Celino } [SMTP:jjc0704-at-mailexcite.com] wrote: } } Hello all, } } } } I'm working with some granites in mobile belt of Brazil with ~ 800 Ga. } } Does anybody know about dating zircon with electron microprobe?? } } } } Thanks } } --- } } Joil Jose Celino } } University of Brasilia - UNB } } Institute of Geoscience } } Brasilia - BRAZIL } } Fone (061) 321-0410 Codigo: 6181948 } } } } } } } Check out the paper by Cocherie et al that just came out in Geochimica et } Cosmochimica Acta (v. 62, p.2475, 1998), "Geochronology of polygenetic } monazites constrained by in situ electron microprobe TH-U-total lead } determination: Implication sfor lead behaviour in monazite". An interesting } application. } } Jim McGee } } {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} } James J. McGee (jmcgee-at-sc.edu) } Department of Geological Sciences } University of South Carolina } Columbia, SC 29208 } } TEL: (803) 777-6300 FAX: (803) 777-6610 } } }
Dear friends, This may be a very basic question. We use formvar film strengthened with a thin layer of carbon as the literature did. My question is if a thin vaporated gold layer can replace the carbon layer to strengthen the formvar film? Is it better to use gold than carbon? Any advantages/disadvantages for them? Thanks in advance for your assistance.
BTW, is there a FAQ file of this mailing list? I am afraid to repeat the issue discussing before.
I have a series of tiff secondary electron images of serial sections through a polished mineral grain. Could someone please advise me as to the best software available for doing 3-D reconstructions from these tiff files on my MAC (266mHz G3). Each is around 1 meg and they are about 60 sequential images.
Thank you
Brendan
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
Our TEM, a JEOL 2010 is up for a service contract. In the opinion of the list, how often should such an instrument be serviced (assuming regular use)? For example, one small visit for a general check and another for a full service, pole pieces cleaned, emission chamber etc.
What are the general terms for service contracts around the world.
Many thanks
Keith.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dr. K. Moulding.
Materials Characterisation and Preparation Facility Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
Your enquiry interested me. Sorry for my late reply, but have not been in the office for a while. Freeze-fracturing worked very well for a study I conducted on cement paste using a SEM with a cryogenic stage. This work was done with Dane Gerneke at the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Essentially, one freezes the cement paste specimen (which of course contains water bonded and non- bonded) in liquid nitrogen and then in an evacuated sample preparation chamber the specimen is fractured. The specimen was then transferred in vacuo to the SEM stage. The beauty of this was that the fracture surface that we studied is a different type of surface than when it is done dry. The freeze-fracturing actually broke through the cement grains as opposed to round them, the latter which occured under normal room temperature conditions.
Sincerely, Quirina
\|||/ (o o) *-----------------oOO--(_)--OOo
Quirina I. Roode-Gutzmer PhD student: Cement Chemistry *-----------------------------* Department of Civil Engineering University of the Witwatersrand P O Wits, 2050, Johannesburg SOUTH AFRICA *-------------------------------Oooo. ROODE-at-civen.civil.wits.ac.za ( ) Tel: +27-(0)11-716-2478 (w) ) / Fax: +27-(0)11-339-1762 (w) (_/ .oooO-------------------------* ( ) \ ( \_)
THE 1500 degree heating stage is in productionn. Jo Long and TRisha RICE of Philips indicated that there are 4 or 5 in use already. FURTHer, another 1500 degree stage was being installed today in their demo lab in Mass. Give your Philips rep another call.
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Dear Nicola, I would suggest you try a company, such as Deben UK Ltd. (http://www.deben.co.uk), that make special stages for any microscope. They should be able to answer your questions. You wrote: } Dear Microscopists } } We are looking to purchase a heating stage for our Philips FEG ESEM. } We have information about the Philips stage which can reach 1000C but } some workers will require still higher temperatures, and their 1500C } stage is not on the market yet. Does anyone have experience of using } heating stages and at what temperatures? How do different } manufacturers compare and how easy are other stages to adapt to the } ESEM. In particular will we still be able to use the Gaseous SE } detector or are they designed for use with cooled conventional SE } detectors? } Any info will be much appreciated. } } Cheers } Nikki } 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-interchg.ubc.ca
(Netscape Mail Server v2.02) with SMTP id AAA149 for {Microscopy-at-msa.microscopy.com} ; Fri, 23 Oct 1998 09:22:25 -0300 X-Sender: esrossetto-at-lexxa.com.br X-Mailer: Windows Eudora Version 1.4.3 Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com
Hello all, I would thank you for sending me suggestions/references about anhydrous fixation methods for light microscopy, for plant material= (leaves). This method should permit further histochemical staining (like Feulgen reaction, P.A.S. reaction, use of Sudan Black, and others). The need for an anhydrous fixation method cames because I study desiccated material very reactive to water, so that any drop of water (in a common buffer, for example) could potentially change the results. I tought to use a modification of Hallan's (1976) anhydrous fixation for TEM (with DMSO instead of water) but I do not know if this method permits the further use of histochemical stainings. It would also be very usefull if someone could indicate me a list for cytoquemistry/histochemistry and/or for light microscopy discussion. As this may be not a subject of general interest to this list, I would suggest the people who could help me to send the messages direct to= me. Thank you in advance, Estela ************************************ Dr Estela S. Rossetto Universidade S=E3o Francisco F.F.C.L. Av. S=E3o Francisco de Assis, 218 12900-000 Bragan=E7a Paulista - S.P. Brasil e-mail: esrossetto-at-lexxa.com.br ************************************ =20 =20
Why not grab an image with no specimen, and use that image in a background subtract? I rountinely do this to get rid of uneven illumination and small imperfections (dirt) in the light path. The only real difficulty is that you need to collect a background image for each session, objective, illumination regime, etc., because the nature of the defect changes with any adjustment. But it works for me.... --
James M. Ehrman Digital Microscopy Facility Mount Allison University Sackville, NB E4L 1G7 CANADA
Dear all, does anybody have experience with immunocytochemistry on Ni-, Au= - grids with a temperature probe controlled laboratory microwave oven? Is it also time co= nsuming and one could achieve better or comparable staining results protocols? I think, on= e problem could be the irradiation of the metallic grids, leading to overheating spots on the gri= d bars and this may precipitate the antibodies which would cause useless results. Is this neg= ligible? Many thanks for any suggestions Bernward Laube University of Bielefeld Faculty of Biology Department Plant Morphology and Cell Ultrastructure Universit=E4tsstrasse 25 Germany 33615 Bielefeld phone: 0521 1065592 fax: 0521 1066039 e-mail: b.laube-at-biologie.uni-bielefeld.de http://www.uni-bielefeld.de/biologie/Pflanzenmorphologie/abt.1htm#ws
We have two PMs a year for our 2010 (they are both part of the service contract). In general ,the pole pieces should not be touched, but the condenser and objective apertures might need to be cleaned/replaced depending on how bad they are. Also, the OBJ. aperture mechanism in our scope needs an occasional lubrication. This is done during the PM. During the PMs the rotary pump oil is replaced , they do a leak test for the gun and they check some of the electronics. They also fine tune some of the alignment ( in DADJ ^1).
I hope this helps
Jordi Marti ---------- } From: Keith Moulding To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com -----------------------------------------------------------------------
I have also had good luck with epofix as well as hot pressed (thermoset) resins. As stated by Bigelow, it is very important to mix and cure properly to avoid outgasing.
Certainly not all resins are created equal. I forget the name (mental block?), but a few years ago we experimented with a bubble gum pink mount. It took a month at 120F in a vacuum oven before I could reach 1x10-3 torr! Heard it was discontinued - Thank goodness. Could smell the mount... If you can smell it, forget it:)
Woody White McDermott Technology, Inc -----------------------------------------------------------------
My question: What metallographic mounting materials are safe for an SEM? Some of our users would like us to forbid usage of any mounting compound other than those that require both pressure and heat such as bakelite and its near relatives.
They feel that the resolution of the machine will gradually degrade if we allow the usage of cold mounting materials. We have currently allowing the usage of some of the more stable (epoxy from leco and buehler for example) cold mounts. We don't see any change in vacuum when the beam strikes the sample mount but are we slowly degrading the image resolution by gunking up the column? To date the resolution still is fine but what about the future?!
Is anyone here using EDX to measure the amount and depth of decarburization of steel? I'd like to analyze the depth of the decarburization of steel that has been through a furnace. I'd like to take a cross section of the slug and beginning at the outer edge, perform a semiquant analysis with my EDX at succeeding depths from the outer edge into the core, measuring for carbon content. Is anyone here using an SEM for this type of work? I'd like to know how you go about it and what the success and confidence level is.
Please note that as of September 1998 MAS, Inc. of Suwanee GA, USA will be providing service and parts for the Topcon 002B TEM. Please call 800-421-8451 for service or parts. The service contact is Art McCanna at the Suwanne, GA office. The address is listed below.
my collegue and I thank all vendors and friends from this listservers for all the comments, quotations, etc. related to my question about sputter/coater devices.
We are processing the information received which is of very much help for taking a final decision.
Silvia Montoro Centro Regional de Investigacion y Desarrollo Santa Fe Argentina
I have an ISI DS-130, about 15 years old, that lately has been getting streaks of normal scan and darker scan at 100X. I thought it might have been due to the filament getting old (230 hours) so I changed it. I guess it wasn't that because the streaks are back. They only appear at 100X and then tend to be across the upper portion of the picture, image file or screen. I don't think it's charging because that shows up as white lines. Does anybody out there have an idea as to what might be causing these lines? Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. My fly guys are ready to fly off the handle, and my plant people are getting ready to leaf me.
Paula :-)
Paula Sicurello UC Berkeley Electron Microscope Lab psic-at-uclink4.berkeley.edu phone: 510-642-2085 fax: 510-643-6207 http://biology.berkeley.edu/EML
We don't like formvar for our purposes here, preferring either continuous or holey carbon films. I think that evaporated gold would be disadvatageous for two reasons: additional diffraction contrast and mass. If you need a support film that avoids carbon, you might be better served by SiO films. } } } Dear friends, } This may be a very basic question. We use formvar film strengthened with a } thin layer of carbon as the literature did. My question is if a thin } vaporated gold layer can replace the carbon layer to strengthen the } formvar film? Is it better to use gold than carbon? Any } advantages/disadvantages for them? } Thanks in advance for your assistance. } } BTW, is there a FAQ file of this mailing list? I am afraid to repeat the } issue discussing before.
Russell E. Cook Electron Microscopy Center for Materials Research Argonne National Laboratory Building 212 9700 South Cass Avenue Argonne, IL 60439 (630)252-7194 FAX: (630)252-4798
My I first state that I'm an employee of VayTek, Inc.
We sell VoxBlast; a 3D Volume Visualisation & Measurement software.
VoxBlast reads serial TIFF images and creates a volume. You can then apply a wide range of parameters and functions to diplay the image on screen. VoxBlast is available for the PowerMac, Windows, and UNIX platforms.
If you have any additional questions please feel free to contact us directly or for more immediate information then please visit our web page at www.vaytek.com where you can download a free demo version of VoxBlast.
Regards,
Chris MacLean, Ph.D. VayTek, Inc. 305 West. Lowe, Suite 109 P.O. Box 732 Fairfield, Iowa, 52556-0732
Dear Robin, I have successfully prepared this material by mounting as usual in cold-cure epoxy, grinding on coarse diamond, about 40 micron, then on 15 micron diamond, then finish the polish on 5 micron diamond. The polish isn't perfect, but it doesn't need to be for microanalysis. The sample was cut for me. You wrote: } } I've got someone looking into the possibility of preparing samples of tool } material that consists of diamond particles embedded in a cobalt matrix. } Any ideas? How will I cut, grind and polish it? } } Thanks, } } Robin Griffin } UAB Materials and Mechanical Engineering } } Mary Mager Electron Microscopist Metals and Materials Engineering University of British Columbia 6350 Stores Road Vancouver, B.C. V6T 1Z4 CANADA tel: 604-822-5648 fax: 604-822-3619 e-mail: mager-at-interchg.ubc.ca
We have full service contracts on all 5 of the TEMs here. The service contracts include a visit every 6 months during which the engineers check the operating parameters, change the pump oils, examine the apertures,etc: mostly routine stuff. The contracts also cover almost all parts, labor, and travel expenses.
The expense of the contracts is questioned on occasion by the administration. I have been able to show that the expense of the contracts have not been more than we would have paid for repairs without the contracts over the course of several years. } } Hi, } } Our TEM, a JEOL 2010 is up for a service contract. In the opinion of the } list, how often should such an instrument be serviced (assuming regular } use)? For example, one small visit for a general check and another for a } full service, pole pieces cleaned, emission chamber etc. } } What are the general terms for service contracts around the world. } } } Many thanks } } Keith. } } } ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ } Dr. K. Moulding. } } Materials Characterisation and Preparation Facility } Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, } Clear Water Bay, } Kowloon, } Hong Kong. } } FAX: (852) 2358 2451 } TEL: (852) 2358 8724 } ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Russell E. Cook Electron Microscopy Center for Materials Research Argonne National Laboratory Building 212 9700 South Cass Avenue Argonne, IL 60439 (630)252-7194 FAX: (630)252-4798
Dear List members the following is presented in response to a recent question:
--------------------------------------
} Dear all, does anybody have experience with immunocytochemistry on Ni-, Au- grids with a
} temperature probe controlled laboratory microwave oven? I think, one problem could be the
} irradiation of the metallic grids, leading to overheating spots on the grid bars and this may
} precipitate the antibodies which would cause useless results. Is this negligible?
} Bernward Laube
----------------------------------------
NOTE: There is no localized heating within metallic specimen grids by microwave irradiation. The grids are much smaller than the quarter wavelength of a microwave (quarter wavelength in air is ~3 cm for a standard microwave oven frequency of 2.45 GHz). {fontfamily} {param} Geneva {/param} (Kok LP, Boon ME: Physics of microwave technology in histochemistry. Histochem J 1990, 22:381-388)
{/fontfamily} R {fontfamily} {param} Geneva {/param} eferences on microwave -accelerated immunocytochemistry techniques
1. Login GR, Dvorak AM: Microwave fixation provides excellent preservation of tissue, cells and antigens for light and electron microscopy. Histochem J 1988, 20:373-387
2. McQuaid S, Isserte S, Allan GM, Taylor MJ, Allen IV, Cosby SL: Use of immunocytochemistry and biotinylated in situ hybridisation for detecting measles virus in the central nervous system. J Clin Pathol 1990, 43:324-333
3. Ohtani H, Maruyama I, Yonezawa S: Ultrastructural immunolocalization of thrombomodulin in human placenta with microwave fixation. Acta Histochem Cytochem 1989, 22:393-395
4. Wouterlood FG, Boon ME, Kok LP: Immunocytochemistry on free-floating sections of rat brain using microwave irradiation during the incubation in the primary antiserum: light and electron microscopy. J Neurosci Methods 1990, 35:133-145
5. Haruna N, Monden T, Morimoto H, Murotani M, Yagyu T, Nagaoka H, Shimano T, Mori T: Use of a rapid microwave fixation technique for immunocytochemical demonstration of tumor necrosis factor, interleuken-1 a, and interleuken-1b in activated human peripheral mononuclear cells. Acta Histochem Cytochem 1990, 23:563-572
6. Login GR, Galli SJ, Dvorak AM: Immunocytochemical localization of histamine in secretory granules of rat peritoneal mast cells with conventional or rapid microwave fixation and an ultrastructural post-embedding immunogold technique. J Histochem Cytochem 1992, 40:1247-1256
8. Cuevas EC, Bateman AC, Wilkins BS, Johnson PA, Williams JH, Lee AH, Jones DB, Wright DH: Microwave antigen retrieval in immunocytochemistry: a study of 80 antibodies. J Clin Pathol 1994, 47:448-452
9. Gu J, Forte M, Hance H, Carson N, Xenachis C, Rufner R: Microwave fixation, antigen retrieval and accelerated immunocytochemistry. Cell Vision 1994, 1:76-77
11. Johnston PW, King G, Herriot R: Increased range of immunocytochemical markers in a case of acute lymphoblastic leukemia by microwave pretreatment of paraffin sections (Meeting Abstract). J Pathol 1994, 173:200A 1994
TWIMC, The thin layer of carbon on a carbon-formvar film is there to provide conductivity, not strength. A thin carbon film is not self-supporting, and the formvar is used to strengthen the carbon, not the other way around. Heat- ing and/or charging effects will break formvar films which have not been C- coated, so in that sense, C-coating will strengthen formvar, but it is not a mechanical strengthening. Au is, indeed, a good conductor, so it would provide the same charge and heat dissipating properties as C, but, since it scatters electrons very strongly, it would interfere with imaging--especially as evaporated Au forms islands giving a mottled appearance. Yours, Bill Tivol
740206-at-ucl.itri.org.tw-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.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 friends, } This may be a very basic question. We use formvar film strengthened with a } thin layer of carbon as the literature did. My question is if a thin } vaporated gold layer can replace the carbon layer to strengthen the } formvar film? Is it better to use gold than carbon? Any } advantages/disadvantages for them? } Thanks in advance for your assistance. } } BTW, is there a FAQ file of this mailing list? I am afraid to repeat the } issue discussing before.
We have in the past produced formvar substrates for customers who requested a gold coating. Gold, like carbon, will strengthen formvar. We do not know which is better.
I assume it depends on your application. Gold coating is more expensive. In a sitation where you can not use a carbon coating, gold or some other material could be substituted.
Disclaimer: Ladd Research is a commercial vendor of microscopy supplies and accessories.
John Arnott --
LADD RESEARCH 13 Dorset Lane Williston, VT 05495
TEL 1-800-451-3406 (US) or 1-802-878-6711 (FROM ANYWHERE) fAX 1-802-878-8074 e-mail ladres-at-worldnet.att.net web site http://www.msa.microscopy.com/SM/LADD
If anyone out there has done work with Malaria, and knows of the best TEM fixative for this little RBC parasite, please contact me at: lamiller-at-uiuc.edu
Carbon is favored over gold because it is less dense and is actually stronger. Gold (or platinum or palladium, etc) form a dense, obtrusive background and are much less supportive than carbon. That is the reason that carbon is being used in high tech carbon composites rather than other metals (strength and lightness). In addition, if one does x-ray analysis, the heavier metals generate too many spectral lines that may interfere with your analysis.
} This may be a very basic question. We use formvar film strengthened with a } thin layer of carbon as the literature did. My question is if a thin } vaporated gold layer can replace the carbon layer to strengthen the } formvar film? Is it better to use gold than carbon? Any } advantages/disadvantages for them? } Thanks in advance for your assistance.
#################################################################### 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 recommend to start working slowly. Why don't you get yourself the FREE software NIH IMAGE. It is not only free, but it is the standard.
http://rsb.info.nih.gov
Look out, also, for the also free modification called OBJECT IMAGE, which is even better. Also on one of those servers. Just don't forget to ASSIGN ENOUGH MEMORY to those programs before you start digging around in your huge files.
They can be both used to reslice the 3D block (then called stack). Object Image also can interactively BROWSE through your block in three planes at once in real time. This gives you a pretty cool idea of what things there might be to visualize.
Don't spend too much money before you know what you need, get organized with the 3D possibilites, and more important, the diagnostic relevance or irrelevance of some features, and look out for the capabilities of IDL, the BEST interactive graphics tool around (Interactive Data Language, Research Systems, www.rsinc.com).
This is independent advice. - Cheers Wolf
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:::::::: wolf schweitzer, md bern, switzerland :::::::: www.access.ch/private-users/wschweitzer/cyberpage.html
Thanks to all who responded to my posting. All the information has been helpful. Responses are summarized below.
David Rose W.L. Gore and Associates
===========================================
I've seen posts which responded to the original "HP vs Epson vs Alps" which imply Alps is an ink jet. The original poster may have been referring to the Alps 1300 which is a dual mode 600dpi ink jet and dye-sub printer for ~$500. I was personally impressed with the example Alps sent me, but I also hear it may be the slowest dye-sub on the market ... and we all know printer performance has more to do with how well the printer interfaces with the OS. I know nothing beyond this ... but certainly am curious if someone has practical experience.
cheerios, shAf
{} /\ {\/} /\ {\/} /\ {\/} /\ cogito, ergo zZOooOM /\ {\/} /\ {\/} /\ {\/} /\ {} Michael Shaffer, R.A. - ICQ 210524 Geological Science's Electron Probe Facility - University of Oregon mshaf-at-darkwing.uoregon.edu - http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~mshaf/
___________________________________________
Only real photo quality is dye sublimation (kodak, codonics, tektronics, etc) which are expensive (maybe $5K and up). Inkjets like you name, with special, expensive glossy paper and 1200 dpi are almost as good for a few hundred $. I like the Epson Stylus Photo (EX) myself. All will be color (but make good B&W) unless you get a laser printer. Dave Pevear, Houston
I can't tell you anything about Alps, but I do use HP inkjets and laserjets and an Epson 600.
The HP inkjets to a fair to middling job of either color or black and white (true for all the Deskjet 6XX models I've used - 600, 660). Their fast and cheap and not bad if you're not at all picky. The pictures are grainy.
I have an HP Laserjet 5P I use for black and white. At the present time we usually give a polaroid print to the person requesting work and laserjet copies (four to a page which makes the laserjet "prints" just about the same size as the polaroids). The laserjet pictures are not by any stretch of the imagination "photoquality" but they are very good and give more than enough detail for most purposes.
The Epson 600 is used the same way as the laserjet for color photos. Again, these are not "photoquality", but they are amazingly good even at 720X720 dpi. However, even at 720 dpi, it is excruciatingly slow. I think Epson got it's fraction turned around when they figured out the page rate. I think they quote something like 2 pages a minute. 2 minutes per page would be far closer to the truth.
All of this is on the laserjet paper they use around here for normal office work for the laserjet or good (not the really good shiny stuff) inkjet paper for the Epson. If I started using the really good stuff I suspect the results would be noticably better but so would the cost per page which was the point in going to these printers in the first place.
Ive never figured out the actual cost per page for any of these. I'm pretty sure it's far below the $2/print I pay for B&W polaroid or $.75/print for video printers.
============================================================ Bede Willenbring Phone: (651)236-5470 H.B. Fuller Company FAX: (651)236-5430 Research Chemist E-mail: Bede.Willenbring-at-HBFuller.com P.O. Box 64683 St. Paul, MN 55164-0683 ___________________________________________
B&W printer are actually harder to find than good color ones - the Lexmark 5700, Epson Photo ot Cannon 7004 all are great color printers - (6 or 7 colors and } 1000 dpi).
Bill Miller ___________________________________________
We have both. HP LaserJet's which we use for viewing B&W images. The 600 dpi output is more than good enough for most work and we seldom go to film anymore. You won't have any trouble getting someone who has one to print a BMP or other photo out to show you how good they look. I also have an Epson 1440x720 dpi color printer for near photo quality in color, and I seldom use it for that, although I just bought a digital camera. I also have a 300 dpi HP 1600color inkjet which I use the heck out of because its fast and good enough for initial work like cropping and framing and positioning. Film is fast becoming sidelined in all the branches of our company, and I see the same thing wherever I go. I am getting a 1200 dpi LaserJet with my next machine so my B&Ws will look even better. The metallurgists are jealous because they are stuck with an expensive, slow photo printing system which uses proprietary file formats. They will be upgraded someday.
I don't know anything about Alps. HP is so easy to set up (network too) and has the fastest drivers, Epson had to outdo them big in dpi to get my attention.
Tim Chavez Boeing Chem Characterization Lab ___________________________________________
We have a HP 890C Inkjet and you can't beat it. It is has the Kodak PhotoRes processing and really does wonderful output. It is as good as a sublimation dye printer (we have two) when the special Kodak Photo Deluxe paper is used. It is very good on regular paper, better still on the HP premium paper. The printer is about $360. You can get a 722C for about $260 which uses the same cartridges and is a little slower. There are web sites that you can find the cost of the media and ink cartridges. Several people here who have Epson inkjet have been using ours to print critical stuff and slides because the quality is so much better. Don't have experience on the Alps.
-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)
___________________________________________
We recently purchased a Kodak SP700 dye sub printer. The thing takes a couple minutes per print, and prints only on their specialized paper, but the cost is low per print ( {70 cents) and does a very good gray scale rendition.
We use an Epson 600, a Lexmark Optra Rt+ and a HP Laserjet 4M for general purpose printing. it is enough for most people. If they want a real good print we will print on the Kodak or send the image back to our SEM photo CRT (special hardware required).
Warren E. Straszheim 23 Town Engineering Iowa State University Ames IA, 50011-3232
We are using the Epson Photo and are very pleased with the results. Cost per print is dependent on the type of paper you use. We do proofs on laser paper and use injet matte or glossy for better quality prints. Publication prints are usually done on a dye sub printer, although the glossy inkjet prints look awfully good. I could send samples if you like.
Greg
Gregory W. Erdos, Ph.D. Ph. 352-392-1295 Assistant Director, Biotechnology Program PO Box 110580 Fax:352-846-0251 University of Florida Gainesville, FL 32611
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 have a series of tiff secondary electron images of serial sections } through a polished mineral grain. Could someone please advise me as to the } best software available for doing 3-D reconstructions from these tiff files } on my MAC (266mHz G3). Each is around 1 meg and they are about 60 } sequential images. } } Thank you } } Brendan } } 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 } } bjg-at-cyllene.uwa.edu.au } } }
I used a freeware available on the net, nIH Image. The results??, well you can see them for your selv...
Gary...
On Fri, 23 Oct 1998, Brendan Griffin 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 have a series of tiff secondary electron images of serial sections } through a polished mineral grain. Could someone please advise me as to the } best software available for doing 3-D reconstructions from these tiff files } on my MAC (266mHz G3). Each is around 1 meg and they are about 60 } sequential images. } } Thank you } } Brendan } } 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 } } bjg-at-cyllene.uwa.edu.au } } }
I agree Woody. I think Leco makes a cold mounting material (LecoSet) that outgases till the cows come home. And you can smell it from the next room as well. Hysol makes an epoxy resin that doesn't seem to outgas at all. Other than the continuity problems encountered...it does work well. How about these carbon or copper filled thermosetting Bakelite materials? We use them...however they do create problems when we electrolytically polish/etch metallic samples in those mounts. Our voltage settings for the electropolisher sense the continuity of the mounting material so that caused us to change our parameters.... .....an environmental SEM is in our future here.
Harry A. Ekstrom AlliedSignal Inc.
---------- } From: "Woody.N.White-at-mcdermott.com"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com -----------------------------------------------------------------------
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Reply to: RE: TEM:microwave immunocytochemistry B. Laube wrote: } } Dear all, does anybody have experience with immunocytochemistry on Ni-, = Au- grids with a = } temperature probe controlled laboratory microwave oven? Is it also time = consuming and one = } could achieve better or comparable staining results protocols? I think, = one problem could be the = } irradiation of the metallic grids, leading to overheating spots on the = grid bars and this may = } precipitate the antibodies which would cause useless results. Is this = negligible? =
Reply: It is tempting to think that the improved penetration of fixatives caused = by microwave irradiation could help with antibody penetration into = sections. Indeed there are many published reports of "antigen retrieval" = using microwaves for light microscopy.
We just completed a study of the effects of microwaves on antibody = labeling for EM (1998 Microscopy Research and Technique 42:24-32) and = concluded that although there is sometimes an increase in labeling density,= there are so many variables (antibody, antigen, tissue, fixative etc) = that the method cannot yet be applied routinely. We were able to = irradiate Ni or Cu grids in the microwave oven without problem, so go = ahead and try it. We did find that if protein A-gold is irradiated, the = signal is reduced considerably. Similarly with some blocking agents.
When comparing labeling times, to determine if they can be reduced in = microwave ovens, make sure you perform the most obvious control of taking = away the microwaves. In our study, we did find that the total labeling = time could be cut to 30 min or less for some antibodies. However, when = the microwave oven was taken away, we obtained almost identical results!
For some systems, we did get enhanced labeling which could easily be = explained as improved penetration of antibodies. However, as it is almost = universally accepted that there is almost no penetration of antibodies = into intact sections, a manuscript describing improved labeling over = Lowicryl sections did bother us (I can find the reference if anyone is = interested). One possible explanation for this observation may come from = one of our preliminary experiments. For one of our antibodies we found = that labeling efficiency improved dramatically after it had been exposed = to microwaves. Neither the sections or other reagents had been exposed.
In conclusion, microwaves do offer advantages to biological microscopists (= especially for fixation and embedding, as well as for more specialized = extraction methods) and may yet offer substantial benefits in reducing = antibody labeling times or by increasing labeling efficiency. However, = more experimentation is required with extremely rigorous and critical = evaluation. Putting an experiment into the microwave oven and then = claiming improved results is not enough any more. =
I wait for someone to tell me that Cu grids cannot be used for = immunocytochemistry! =
Regards,
Paul Webster, Ph.D House Ear Institute 2100 West Third Street Los Angeles, CA 90057 phone:213 273 8026 fax: 213 413 6739 e-mail: pwebster-at-hei.org
by gate.mcdermott.com (8.8.7/8.8.7) with ESMTP id SAA04067 for {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} ; Fri, 23 Oct 1998 18:02:36 -0500 (CDT) Received: (from x400-at-localhost) by mta.mcdermott.com (8.7.1/8.7.1) id SAA00805 for Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com; Fri, 23 Oct 1998 18:04:14 -0500 (CDT) X-Authentication-Warning: mta.mcdermott.com: x400 set sender to Woody.N.White%650-at-wtgw.mcdermott.com using -f Received: by MCI; Fri, 23 Oct 1998 15:10:00 -0500
I feel that accurate quant of carbon occuring in less than 1 percent concentrations (most steels) will be nearly impossible, even with the latest and greatest equipment. For example, if the steel is in a mount and you don't have a dry pumped vacuum system, the carbon deposits on the surface are likely yield a larger carbon peak after a few minutes than would the carbon from the alloy.
Anyone out there more optimistic??
Woody White McDermott Technology, Inc.
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Is anyone here using EDX to measure the amount and depth of decarburization of steel? I'd like to analyze the depth of the decarburization of steel that has been through a furnace. I'd like to take a cross section of the slug and beginning at the outer edge, perform a semiquant analysis with my EDX at succeeding depths from the outer edge into the core, measuring for carbon content. Is anyone here using an SEM for this type of work? I'd like to know how you go about it and what the success and confidence level is.
Dear Mark, If you look at the levels of carbon in these steel samples, they are too low for meaningful analysis. I have tried many times and never been able to determine the difference in carbon content over the entire range possible in steel. I can just detect the carbon in coarse pearlite (Fe3C) on my WDX, with difficulty. You are welcome to try, good luck. The sample cannot be mounted or the carbon in the mounting material will swamp the signal. You wrote: } } Is anyone here using EDX to measure the amount and depth of } decarburization of steel? I'd like to analyze the depth of the } decarburization of steel that has been through a furnace. } I'd like to take a cross section of the slug and beginning at the outer } edge, perform a semiquant analysis with my EDX at succeeding depths } from the outer edge into the core, measuring for carbon content. } Is anyone here using an SEM for this type of work? I'd like to know } how you go about it and what the success and confidence level is. } } Thanks } } Mark Darus } BFGoodrich, Landing Gear Division } 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-interchg.ubc.ca
I have had some success analyzing carbon by using WDS on an electron microprobe.
However, this required: a) LN2 trap above the diffusion pump b) Air jet on sample to burn off contamination as beam sits on a location c) LN2 cold trap above the sample d) Calibration curve made from measurements of count rates from a set of four steel samples with C wt.% ranging between 0 and 1.29% e) Careful cleaning of samples f) Beam current regulation g) Careful selection of background locations h) Would work with either a lead stearate pseudocrystal or multilayer synthetic reflector, though the latter will give better count rates. i) High beam current (100nA), low accelerating voltage (10kV), long counting times (at least 60 seconds) and usually a rastered beam (at least 6 x 6 um, but no bigger than about 30 x 30 um) to integrate microinclusions.
I would not be optimistic about trying this with EDS or on a standard SEM.
On Fri, 23 Oct 1998 Woody.N.White-at-mcdermott.com-at-sparc5.microscopy.com wrote: : : I feel that accurate quant of carbon occuring in less than 1 percent : concentrations (most steels) will be nearly impossible, even with the latest : and : greatest equipment. For example, if the steel is in a mount and you don't : have a : dry pumped vacuum system, the carbon deposits on the surface are likely : yield a : larger carbon peak after a few minutes than would the carbon from the alloy. : : : Anyone out there more optimistic?? : : Woody White : McDermott Technology, Inc. : : : Is anyone here using EDX to measure the amount and depth of : decarburization of steel? I'd like to analyze the depth of the : decarburization of steel that has been through a furnace. : I'd like to take a cross section of the slug and beginning at the outer : edge, perform a semiquant analysis with my EDX at succeeding depths : from the outer edge into the core, measuring for carbon content. : Is anyone here using an SEM for this type of work? I'd like to know : how you go about it and what the success and confidence level is. : : Thanks : : Mark Darus : BFGoodrich, Landing Gear Division :
Carl Henderson Electron Microbeam Analysis Laboratory University of Michigan 2501 C.C. Little Bldg. Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1063 USA -------------------------------- Voice: (734) 936-1550 FAX: (734) 763-4690 E-mail: chender-at-umich.edu --------------------------------
This procedure is very difficult to accomplish accurately even with an Electron Microprobe. Getting a carbon standard with certified, small amounts of carbon is necessary. Maybe with these new EDX detectors today and the latest software, digital pulse processors, etc....it can be done with an SEM. How accurate are they tho? I won't venture to say. Any other opinions out there?
Harry Ekstrom
---------- } From: Mark Darus To: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com -----------------------------------------------------------------------
On Fri, 23 Oct 1998, Carl Henderson wrote: : I have had some success analyzing carbon by using WDS on an electron : microprobe. : : However, this required:
: g) Careful selection of background locations
Right after I sent this message, I remembered that I did take background counts. Since I used a calibration curve, this was not necessary (one of the points on the curve is from a 0.0 wt% C standard).
Carl
Carl Henderson Electron Microbeam Analysis Laboratory University of Michigan 2501 C.C. Little Bldg. Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1063 USA -------------------------------- Voice: (734) 936-1550 FAX: (734) 763-4690 E-mail: chender-at-umich.edu --------------------------------
This might be irrelevent for this listserver. But this fruad seems a nationwide phenomenon and very close to everybody.
} -----Original Message----- } From: Cindy Euton } Sent: Tuesday, October 20, 1998 10:05 AM } To: EVERYONE } Subject: FW: Phone Fraud } [Cindy Euton] This was forwarded to me by a friend, so watch out for } these kinds of scams } Hi, All, } I received a telephone call today from an individual identifying himself } as an AT&T Service Technician who was conducting a test on our telephone } lines. He stated that to complete the test I should touch nine (9), zero } (0), the pound sign (#) and then hang up. Luckily, I was suspicious and } refused. Upon contacting the telephone company, I was informed that by } pushing 90#, you give the requesting individual full access to your } telephone line, which allows them to place long distance telephone calls } billed to your phone number. I was further informed that this scam has } been originating from many of the local jails/prisons. I have also } verified this information with UCB Telecomm, Pacific Bell, MCI, Bell } Atlantic, GTE and NYNEX. Please beware. DO NOT press 90# for ANYONE. } The GTE Security Department requested that I share this information with } EVERYONE I KNOW. PLEASE pass this on to everyone YOU know. If you have } mailing lists and/or newsletters from organizations you are connected } with, I encourage you to pass on this information to them, too. Thought } you might like to know.... } Also, I called Southwestern Bell (713) 638-7200 and they verified that } this is true. } } } } } }
Dear Microscopists: Gary Login has cited some very good papers on using the microwave. The microwave does provide faster fixation, staining of tissues, and also allows antigen retrieval in parafin embedded sections. Many of the techniques he refers to put sections in the microwave which are labeled conventionally after irradiation. It seems that microwaving the samples allows access in parafin embedded sections. It is also accepted that the fixation from microwaves is as good as conventional fixation methods which can save time. However, in the same respect, Paul Webster's response refers to labeling of antibodies inside the microwave which does not provide reproducible results from one system to another. Because the antibodies are microwave irradiated, they could be affected by the irradiation and may not provide accurate labeling densities. Linda Chicoine Cognetix/Viatech, Inc. Ivoryton, CT
A major research center has inquired about us participating in a project requiring a SEM with a computer-driven stage. Our SEMs have only the standard manual stages. If your SEM has a computer-driven stage and you accept outside work, please contact me and I will put you in direct contact with the researcher.
J. Roy Nelson Material Testing Laboratory Pennington, NJ (609) 730-0575 jrnelson-at-nj1.aae.com
As a newcomer to this listserver, I appreciate the quick responses to my dilemma in locating light bulbs for my Durst enlarger. I have not yet made all the contacts recommended but am impressed with your cooperation. Thank you!
Mary North Loma Linda UMC Loma Linda, CA northstar44-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/getjuno.html or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]
My pathologist seems to remember an acid maltase stain performed on a frozen muscle section (instead of biochemical analysis on a larger portion). If this technic is available, please forward the information to me at this listserver or my e-mail address.
Mary North Loma Linda University Medical Center Loma Linda, CA northstar44-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/getjuno.html or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]
I'd like to ditto Wolf's comments, unless you have some 3D background, start out with something free (NIH-Image), then look at what is commercially available. I really recommend checking out ObjectImage too. Importantly, and often overlooked, check out the NIH-Image discussion group and archive, your questions have probably been previously addressed there but do subscribe to the discussion. I've found the imaging tips and techniques priceless.
I purchased VoxBlast and IDL and really like both, but your success with them will depend on what your goals are, both have demos available. But remember, IDL has a steeper learning curve than the other programs so it helps if you've programmed before, though there are very good resources for learning (classes, discussion newsgroup, David Fanning's book at http://www.dfanning.com/). IDL can give you more options, but you will probably have to program to make it happen, and like VoxBlast, it runs on many platforms. I think many would agree there is no one 3-D program which does it all, therefore familiarity with several will benefit you most. Also, be sure to check out John Russ's book (CRC Press) and Image Processing Toolkit software. John has been around imaging a long time and knows it well (unpaid endorsement).
I've also found organizations like SPIE (http://www.spie.org/) useful resources concerning applications to medical/biomedical imaging (annual meeting of medical imaging is neat-o), including volume visualization and spatial analysis - beyond 3D reconstruction but it seems to me much more informative for the work of reconstructing large datasets. I've found many connections between the techniques of volume visualization in radiological applications can be applied to microscopically generated 3-D volumes.
good luck,
} } Hi Chris, } } I recommend to start working slowly. Why don't you get yourself the FREE } software NIH IMAGE. It is not only free, but it is the standard. } } http://rsb.info.nih.gov } } Look out, also, for the also free modification called OBJECT IMAGE, } which is even better. Also on one of those servers. Just don't forget to } ASSIGN ENOUGH MEMORY to those programs before you start digging around in } your huge files. } } They can be both used to reslice the 3D block (then called stack). Object } Image also can interactively BROWSE through your block in three planes at } once } in real time. This gives you a pretty cool idea of what things there might } be to visualize. } } Don't spend too much money before you know what you need, get organized } with the 3D possibilites, and more important, the diagnostic relevance or } irrelevance of some features, and look out for the capabilities of IDL, the } BEST interactive graphics tool around (Interactive Data Language, } Research Systems, www.rsinc.com). } } This is independent advice. - Cheers Wolf } }
Brian C. Tryon Medical Student Allegheny University of the Health Sciences School of Medicine, Ann Preston Hall, Box 551 3300 Henry Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19129 USA
----------------------------------------- "Quantifying is a committing task." - Cruz-Orive, 1994.
"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman --------------------------------------------------------------
Dear all I have been testing quite a few resins for mounting and polishing metallurgical based samples for lightmicroscopy as well as SEM observation and EDS analysis. Important criteria is edge rotention and beamstability. The best two resins I found was Bakelite (black powder hot press resin) and Araldite for cold mounting. Araldite (the cheap version) can be bought from moust shops selling fiberglass kits. Some of the other resins I hate for either being smelly, beam instable, or bad edge rotention or just to costly for student use. } } I have also had good luck with epofix as well as hot pressed } (thermoset) resins. As stated by Bigelow, it is very important to } mix and cure properly to avoid outgasing. } } Certainly not all resins are created equal. I forget the name } (mental block?), but a few years ago we experimented with a bubble } gum pink mount. It took a month at 120F in a vacuum oven before I } could reach 1x10-3 torr! Heard it was discontinued - Thank } goodness. Could smell the mount... If you can smell it, forget } it:) } } Woody White } McDermott Technology, Inc } ----------------------------------------------------------------- } } My question: } What metallographic mounting materials are safe for an SEM? Some of our } users would like us to forbid usage of any mounting compound other than } those } that require both pressure and heat such as bakelite and its near relatives. } } They feel that the resolution of the machine will gradually degrade if we } allow the usage of cold mounting materials. We have currently allowing the } usage of some of the more stable (epoxy from leco and buehler for example) } cold mounts. We don't see any change in vacuum when the beam strikes the } sample mount but are we slowly degrading the image resolution by gunking up } the column? To date the resolution still is fine but what about the future?! } } } Thanks, } } Robin Griffin } } Mr. S H Coetzee Tell: (011) 716 2419 Electron Microscope Unit Fax: (011) 339 3407 Private bag X3 E-mail: Stephan-at-gecko.biol.wits.ac.za Wits Johannesburg 2050
Dear all I have been testing quite a few resins for mounting and polishing metallurgical based samples for lightmicroscopy as well as SEM observation and EDS analysis. Important criteria is edge rotention and beamstability. The best two resins I found was Bakelite (black powder hot press resin) and Araldite for cold mounting. Araldite (the cheap version) can be bought from moust shops selling fiberglass kits. Some of the other resins I hate for either being smelly, beam instable, or bad edge rotention or just to costly for student use. } } I have also had good luck with epofix as well as hot pressed } (thermoset) resins. As stated by Bigelow, it is very important to } mix and cure properly to avoid outgasing. } } Certainly not all resins are created equal. I forget the name } (mental block?), but a few years ago we experimented with a bubble } gum pink mount. It took a month at 120F in a vacuum oven before I } could reach 1x10-3 torr! Heard it was discontinued - Thank } goodness. Could smell the mount... If you can smell it, forget } it:) } } Woody White } McDermott Technology, Inc } ----------------------------------------------------------------- } } My question: } What metallographic mounting materials are safe for an SEM? Some of our } users would like us to forbid usage of any mounting compound other than } those } that require both pressure and heat such as bakelite and its near relatives. } } They feel that the resolution of the machine will gradually degrade if we } allow the usage of cold mounting materials. We have currently allowing the } usage of some of the more stable (epoxy from leco and buehler for example) } cold mounts. We don't see any change in vacuum when the beam strikes the } sample mount but are we slowly degrading the image resolution by gunking up } the column? To date the resolution still is fine but what about the future?! } } } Thanks, } } Robin Griffin } } Mr. S H Coetzee Tell: (011) 716 2419 Electron Microscope Unit Fax: (011) 339 3407 Private bag X3 E-mail: Stephan-at-gecko.biol.wits.ac.za Wits Johannesburg 2050
Try something pretty standard before going to the exotics like a slow fix with gradually increasing concentrations of Glut. A possibility: try 2% Glutaraldehyde in 0.05M Phosphate with 4% Sucrose for 2 h Postfix in 1% OsO4 for 1h. Embed as usual. A reference is: Kaidoh et al - 1993, J. Euk. Microbiol. 40(3) 269-271.
Jan C
} } } If anyone out there has done work with Malaria, and knows of the best } TEM fixative for this little RBC parasite, please contact me at: } lamiller-at-uiuc.edu } } } Thanks! } } Lou Ann } }
Prof Jan Coetzee Head: Lab for Microscopy and Microanalysis Tel:+27-12-420-2075 University of Pretoria Fax:+27-12-362-5150 Pretoria 0002, South Africa http://www.up.ac.za/science/electron/emunit1.htm
Yep, I can see where the increased area, even if at lower average conductivity would present problems in achieving the proper current density.
For (bulk) conductive mounting material, Struers copper loaded was my favorite. Obviously, edges presented problems due to the "islands" of polymer between the Cu. I was able clean the mounts with both water/detergent and alcohol with little problem. The carbon loaded mount material we had was not so "nice" about that. The met lab would prep a sample for me, look at it optically, and think it was clean. Never made a study of it, but apparently something would slightly dissolve in alcohol, leaving an optically transparent film that was almost impossible to remove. Samples looked "cloudy" in the sem. I specify that carbon material not be used now.
I am told that Struers discontinued the Cu material. Do you know a source?
I have, with limited success, made conductive cold-set, by adding a heavy concentration of zinc dust to the polymer mix. Beware! Metal dusts can be reactive/explosive. Be sure, if this is attempted, to predetermine any hazard.
What I wish for is a thermosetting intrinsically conductive polymer. All I have found so far is ground/powdered/cured material which cannot be hot pressed. I believe an Allied Signal division made some of this....
Regards,
Woody White McDermott technology, Inc.
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I agree Woody. I think Leco makes a cold mounting material (LecoSet) that outgases till the cows come home. And you can smell it from the next room as well. Hysol makes an epoxy resin that doesn't seem to outgas at all. Other than the continuity problems encountered...it does work well. How about these carbon or copper filled thermosetting Bakelite materials? We use them...however they do create problems when we electrolytically polish/etch metallic samples in those mounts. Our voltage settings for the electropolisher sense the continuity of the mounting material so that caused us to change our parameters.... ....an environmental SEM is in our future here.
Harry A. Ekstrom AlliedSignal Inc.
---------- } From: "Woody.N.White-at-mcdermott.com"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com -----------------------------------------------------------------------
I don't know if you answer stuff like this but I'm kind of stuck at the moment. I'm looking for information on the investigators involved in the development of the TEM but am unable to find any information anywhere on the web. If you know of anywhere this information may be found I would appreciate it a lot.
If you need only surface renderings and not internal volume or reslicing ability, I can recommend SURFdriver. This was developed by two anatomists specifically to do 3D tissue reconstructions from histological serial sections, but also works with other 3D data. Easy to use and does quick renderings. A free demo version is available at http://surfdriver.ml.org.
I have no connection with SURFdriver other than as a satisfied user.
Gary Radice 804-289-8107 Department of Biology 804-289-8233 (FAX) University of Richmond gradice-at-richmond.edu Richmond VA 23173
There IS an adhesive that is: smooth-surfaced, high tack, low Z, durable, easy to use, dependable, nontoxic and inexpensive. It is also pretty stable under the beam and thin layers do not outgas noticeably in the vacuum. It is, however, not conductive (after all - is there such a thing as a perfect whatever?). We use this stuff regularly to stick down pollen, fly-ash, small insects, blood cells, ceramic powders, pigment particles etc. for imaging and for EDS analysis.
it is called 'Artists Gold Size' and is a thick tacky syrup of partially polymerised liseed oil. On exposure to air it polymerizes and forms an insoluble polymer (this was used in the manufacture of old-style floor linoleum, hence the name linoleum - from 'linseed oleum').
Buy this at any art supply shop, spread a very small drop of the syrup over the surface of a stub, wait until it is just tacky enough not to wick up the sample, drop your volcanic ash particles onto the surface and leave for 30 min. at room temp (or a few min at 50C) to polymerize, coat with carbon and analyse.
I've never been able to find out who used this first, but have been using it for many years after coming across a casual reference to its use as a SEM mountant.
A $5 bottle should last you years.
Pity it isn't conductive though.
Jan C
} } I'd really like to have a durable, very smooth, low Z surface, that is } insensitive to beam current and is easy to apply and work with in the SEM. } Oh, it should also be economical too. } } Any ideas? TIA } } Owen
Prof Jan Coetzee Head: Lab for Microscopy and Microanalysis Tel:+27-12-420-2075 University of Pretoria Fax:+27-12-362-5150 Pretoria 0002, South Africa http://www.up.ac.za/science/electron/emunit1.htm
WARNING! WARNING! DANGER! In case you can not tell from the line below which states that "...we have available...", I have a vested interest in this. I am trying to offer you something for sale (GASP!) which you may be interested in. If you are horrified by advertising, please read no further! (unless you are trying to get a good scare in time for Halloween).
I didn't see the originial inquiry, but let me state that we have available a dye sublimation printer for $2300. Print quality is on par with the $5-9K units, and far better than you will ever see from an inkjet printer. You will get photograph quality prints from the printer. If you are interested in futher details, plese email me or call me using the information below.
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****************************** Jim Haley Applications Engineer I-CUBE 2411 Crofton Lane, Suite 14A Crofton, MD 21114 voice: (301) 858-0505 fax: (301) 858-0615 web site: http://www.i-cubeinc.com e-mail: haley-at-i-cubeinc.com ******************************
drose-at-wlgore.com-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Hello List, } } Thanks to all who responded to my posting. All the information has been } helpful. Responses are summarized below. } } David Rose } W.L. Gore and Associates } } =========================================== } } I've seen posts which responded to the original "HP vs Epson vs Alps" } which imply Alps is an ink jet. The original poster may have been } referring to the Alps 1300 which is a dual mode 600dpi ink jet and } dye-sub printer for ~$500. I was personally impressed with the example } Alps sent me, but I also hear it may be the slowest dye-sub on the } market ... and we all know printer performance has more to do with how } well the printer interfaces with the OS. I know nothing beyond this ... } but certainly am curious if someone has practical experience. } } cheerios, shAf } } {} /\ {\/} /\ {\/} /\ {\/} /\ cogito, ergo zZOooOM /\ {\/} /\ {\/} /\ {\/} /\ {} } Michael Shaffer, R.A. - ICQ 210524 } Geological Science's Electron Probe Facility - University of Oregon } mshaf-at-darkwing.uoregon.edu - http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~mshaf/ } } ___________________________________________ } } Only real photo quality is dye sublimation (kodak, codonics, tektronics, } etc) } which are expensive (maybe $5K and up). Inkjets like you name, with } special, } expensive glossy paper and 1200 dpi are almost as good for a few hundred $. } I } like the Epson Stylus Photo (EX) myself. All will be color (but make good } B&W) } unless you get a laser printer. Dave Pevear, Houston } } ___________________________________________________ } } I can't tell you anything about Alps, but I do use HP inkjets and laserjets } and an Epson 600. } } The HP inkjets to a fair to middling job of either color or black and white } (true for all the Deskjet 6XX models I've used - 600, 660). Their fast and } cheap and not bad if you're not at all picky. The pictures are grainy. } } I have an HP Laserjet 5P I use for black and white. At the present time } we usually give a polaroid print to the person requesting work and laserjet } copies (four to a page which makes the laserjet "prints" just about the } same size as the polaroids). The laserjet pictures are not by any stretch } of the imagination "photoquality" but they are very good and give more than } enough detail for most purposes. } } The Epson 600 is used the same way as the laserjet for color photos. } Again, these are not "photoquality", but they are amazingly good even at } 720X720 dpi. However, even at 720 dpi, it is excruciatingly slow. I think } Epson got it's fraction turned around when they figured out the page rate. } I think they quote something like 2 pages a minute. 2 minutes per page } would be far closer to the truth. } } All of this is on the laserjet paper they use around here for normal office } work for the laserjet or good (not the really good shiny stuff) inkjet } paper for the Epson. If I started using the really good stuff I suspect } the results would be noticably better but so would the cost per page which } was the point in going to these printers in the first place. } } Ive never figured out the actual cost per page for any of these. I'm } pretty sure it's far below the $2/print I pay for B&W polaroid or } $.75/print for video printers. } } ============================================================ } Bede Willenbring Phone: (651)236-5470 } H.B. Fuller Company FAX: (651)236-5430 } Research Chemist E-mail: Bede.Willenbring-at-HBFuller.com } P.O. Box 64683 } St. Paul, MN 55164-0683 } ___________________________________________ } } B&W printer are actually harder to find than good color ones - the Lexmark } 5700, Epson Photo ot Cannon 7004 all are great color printers - (6 or 7 } colors and } 1000 dpi). } } Bill Miller } ___________________________________________ } } We have both. } HP LaserJet's which we use for viewing B&W images. The 600 dpi output is } more than good enough for most work and we seldom go to film anymore. } You won't have any trouble getting someone who has one to print a BMP or } other photo out to show you how good they look. } I also have an Epson 1440x720 dpi color printer for near photo quality } in color, and I seldom use it for that, although I just bought a digital } camera. I also have a 300 dpi HP 1600color inkjet which I use the heck } out of because its fast and good enough for initial work like cropping } and framing and positioning. Film is fast becoming sidelined in all the } branches of our company, and I see the same thing wherever I go. I am } getting a 1200 dpi LaserJet with my next machine so my B&Ws will look } even better. The metallurgists are jealous because they are stuck with } an expensive, slow photo printing system which uses proprietary file } formats. They will be upgraded someday. } } I don't know anything about Alps. HP is so easy to set up (network too) } and has the fastest drivers, Epson had to outdo them big in dpi to get } my attention. } } Tim Chavez } Boeing Chem Characterization Lab } ___________________________________________ } } We have a HP 890C Inkjet and you can't beat it. It is has the Kodak } PhotoRes processing and really does wonderful output. It is as good as a } sublimation dye printer (we have two) when the special Kodak Photo Deluxe } paper is used. It is very good on regular paper, better still on the HP } premium paper. The printer is about $360. You can get a 722C for about } $260 which uses the same cartridges and is a little slower. There are web } sites that you can find the cost of the media and ink cartridges. Several } people here who have Epson inkjet have been using ours to print critical } stuff and slides because the quality is so much better. Don't have } experience on the Alps. } } -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) } } ___________________________________________ } } We recently purchased a Kodak SP700 dye sub printer. The thing takes a } couple minutes per print, and prints only on their specialized paper, but } the cost is low per print ( {70 cents) and does a very good gray scale } rendition. } } We use an Epson 600, a Lexmark Optra Rt+ and a HP Laserjet 4M for general } purpose printing. it is enough for most people. If they want a real good } print we will print on the Kodak or send the image back to our SEM photo } CRT (special hardware required). } } Warren E. Straszheim } 23 Town Engineering } Iowa State University } Ames IA, 50011-3232 } } Ph: 515-294-8187 } FAX: 515-294-4563 } } E-Mail: wesaia-at-iastate.edu } http://www.marl.iastate.edu } } ___________________________________________ } } We are using the Epson Photo and are very pleased with the results. Cost } per print is dependent on the type of paper you use. We do proofs on laser } paper and use injet matte or glossy for better quality prints. Publication } prints are usually done on a dye sub printer, although the glossy inkjet } prints look awfully good. I could send samples if you like. } } Greg } } Gregory W. Erdos, Ph.D. Ph. 352-392-1295 } Assistant Director, Biotechnology Program } PO Box 110580 Fax:352-846-0251 } University of Florida } Gainesville, FL 32611
WARNING! WARNING! DANGER! In case you can not tell from the line below which states that "...we have available...", I have a vested interest in this. I am trying to offer you something for sale (GASP!) which you may be interested in. If you are horrified by advertising, please read no further! (unless you are trying to get a good scare in time for Halloween).
I didn't see the originial inquiry, but let me state that we have available a dye sublimation printer for $2300. Print quality is on par with the $5-9K units, and far better than you will ever see from an inkjet printer. You will get photograph quality prints from the printer. If you are interested in futher details, plese email me or call me using the information below.
Sincerely, J. Haley
****************************** Jim Haley Applications Engineer I-CUBE 2411 Crofton Lane, Suite 14A Crofton, MD 21114 voice: (301) 858-0505 fax: (301) 858-0615 web site: http://www.i-cubeinc.com e-mail: haley-at-i-cubeinc.com ******************************
} drose-at-wlgore.com-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.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 } } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } } Hello List, } } } } Thanks to all who responded to my posting. All the information has been } } helpful. Responses are summarized below. } } } } David Rose } } W.L. Gore and Associates } } } } =========================================== } } } } I've seen posts which responded to the original "HP vs Epson vs Alps" } } which imply Alps is an ink jet. The original poster may have been } } referring to the Alps 1300 which is a dual mode 600dpi ink jet and } } dye-sub printer for ~$500. I was personally impressed with the example } } Alps sent me, but I also hear it may be the slowest dye-sub on the } } market ... and we all know printer performance has more to do with how } } well the printer interfaces with the OS. I know nothing beyond this ... } } but certainly am curious if someone has practical experience. } } } } cheerios, shAf } } } } {} /\ {\/} /\ {\/} /\ {\/} /\ cogito, ergo zZOooOM /\ {\/} /\ {\/} /\ {\/} /\ {} } } Michael Shaffer, R.A. - ICQ 210524 } } Geological Science's Electron Probe Facility - University of Oregon } } mshaf-at-darkwing.uoregon.edu - http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~mshaf/ } } } } ___________________________________________ } } } } Only real photo quality is dye sublimation (kodak, codonics, tektronics, } } etc) } } which are expensive (maybe $5K and up). Inkjets like you name, with } } special, } } expensive glossy paper and 1200 dpi are almost as good for a few hundred $. } } I } } like the Epson Stylus Photo (EX) myself. All will be color (but make good } } B&W) } } unless you get a laser printer. Dave Pevear, Houston } } } } ___________________________________________________ } } } } I can't tell you anything about Alps, but I do use HP inkjets and laserjets } } and an Epson 600. } } } } The HP inkjets to a fair to middling job of either color or black and white } } (true for all the Deskjet 6XX models I've used - 600, 660). Their fast and } } cheap and not bad if you're not at all picky. The pictures are grainy. } } } } I have an HP Laserjet 5P I use for black and white. At the present time } } we usually give a polaroid print to the person requesting work and laserjet } } copies (four to a page which makes the laserjet "prints" just about the } } same size as the polaroids). The laserjet pictures are not by any stretch } } of the imagination "photoquality" but they are very good and give more than } } enough detail for most purposes. } } } } The Epson 600 is used the same way as the laserjet for color photos. } } Again, these are not "photoquality", but they are amazingly good even at } } 720X720 dpi. However, even at 720 dpi, it is excruciatingly slow. I think } } Epson got it's fraction turned around when they figured out the page rate. } } I think they quote something like 2 pages a minute. 2 minutes per page } } would be far closer to the truth. } } } } All of this is on the laserjet paper they use around here for normal office } } work for the laserjet or good (not the really good shiny stuff) inkjet } } paper for the Epson. If I started using the really good stuff I suspect } } the results would be noticably better but so would the cost per page which } } was the point in going to these printers in the first place. } } } } Ive never figured out the actual cost per page for any of these. I'm } } pretty sure it's far below the $2/print I pay for B&W polaroid or } } $.75/print for video printers. } } } } ============================================================ } } Bede Willenbring Phone: (651)236-5470 } } H.B. Fuller Company FAX: (651)236-5430 } } Research Chemist E-mail: Bede.Willenbring-at-HBFuller.com } } P.O. Box 64683 } } St. Paul, MN 55164-0683 } } ___________________________________________ } } } } B&W printer are actually harder to find than good color ones - the Lexmark } } 5700, Epson Photo ot Cannon 7004 all are great color printers - (6 or 7 } } colors and } 1000 dpi). } } } } Bill Miller } } ___________________________________________ } } } } We have both. } } HP LaserJet's which we use for viewing B&W images. The 600 dpi output is } } more than good enough for most work and we seldom go to film anymore. } } You won't have any trouble getting someone who has one to print a BMP or } } other photo out to show you how good they look. } } I also have an Epson 1440x720 dpi color printer for near photo quality } } in color, and I seldom use it for that, although I just bought a digital } } camera. I also have a 300 dpi HP 1600color inkjet which I use the heck } } out of because its fast and good enough for initial work like cropping } } and framing and positioning. Film is fast becoming sidelined in all the } } branches of our company, and I see the same thing wherever I go. I am } } getting a 1200 dpi LaserJet with my next machine so my B&Ws will look } } even better. The metallurgists are jealous because they are stuck with } } an expensive, slow photo printing system which uses proprietary file } } formats. They will be upgraded someday. } } } } I don't know anything about Alps. HP is so easy to set up (network too) } } and has the fastest drivers, Epson had to outdo them big in dpi to get } } my attention. } } } } Tim Chavez } } Boeing Chem Characterization Lab } } ___________________________________________ } } } } We have a HP 890C Inkjet and you can't beat it. It is has the Kodak } } PhotoRes processing and really does wonderful output. It is as good as a } } sublimation dye printer (we have two) when the special Kodak Photo Deluxe } } paper is used. It is very good on regular paper, better still on the HP } } premium paper. The printer is about $360. You can get a 722C for about } } $260 which uses the same cartridges and is a little slower. There are web } } sites that you can find the cost of the media and ink cartridges. Several } } people here who have Epson inkjet have been using ours to print critical } } stuff and slides because the quality is so much better. Don't have } } experience on the Alps. } } } } -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) } } } } ___________________________________________ } } } } We recently purchased a Kodak SP700 dye sub printer. The thing takes a } } couple minutes per print, and prints only on their specialized paper, but } } the cost is low per print ( {70 cents) and does a very good gray scale } } rendition. } } } } We use an Epson 600, a Lexmark Optra Rt+ and a HP Laserjet 4M for general } } purpose printing. it is enough for most people. If they want a real good } } print we will print on the Kodak or send the image back to our SEM photo } } CRT (special hardware required). } } } } Warren E. Straszheim } } 23 Town Engineering } } Iowa State University } } Ames IA, 50011-3232 } } } } Ph: 515-294-8187 } } FAX: 515-294-4563 } } } } E-Mail: wesaia-at-iastate.edu } } http://www.marl.iastate.edu } } } } ___________________________________________ } } } } We are using the Epson Photo and are very pleased with the results. Cost } } per print is dependent on the type of paper you use. We do proofs on laser } } paper and use injet matte or glossy for better quality prints. Publication } } prints are usually done on a dye sub printer, although the glossy inkjet } } prints look awfully good. I could send samples if you like. } } } } Greg } } } } Gregory W. Erdos, Ph.D. Ph. 352-392-1295 } } Assistant Director, Biotechnology Program } } PO Box 110580 Fax:352-846-0251 } } University of Florida } } Gainesville, FL 32611 } } --
Linkam is based in Surrey, England and their telephone number is +44 (0= )1737 363476
Our local Linkam distributor is Fryer Co. and they can be reached (847)-669-2000 or by email at fryerco-at-ix.netcom.com.
I have also received technical support from a company called Microdevic= es. I don't know their location or if they sell the products but their toll f= ree number is 1-800-331-6786.
Good luck. Our Linkam stage has performed well.
Joe Neilly Abbott Laboratories D-45M, AP31 200 Abbott Park Rd. Abbott Park, IL 60064 847-938-5024 joe.neilly-at-abbott.com =
WARNING! WARNING! DANGER! In case you can not tell from the line below which states that "...we have available...", I have a vested interest in this. I am trying to offer you something for sale (GASP!) which you may be interested in. If you are horrified by advertising, please read no further! (unless you are trying to get a good scare in time for Halloween).
I didn't see the originial inquiry, but let me state that we have available a dye sublimation printer for $2300. Print quality is on par with the $5-9K units, and far better than you will ever see from an inkjet printer. You will get photograph quality prints from the printer. If you are interested in futher details, plese email me or call me using the information below.
Sincerely, J. Haley
****************************** Jim Haley Applications Engineer I-CUBE 2411 Crofton Lane, Suite 14A Crofton, MD 21114 voice: (301) 858-0505 fax: (301) 858-0615 web site: http://www.i-cubeinc.com e-mail: haley-at-i-cubeinc.com ******************************
} } drose-at-wlgore.com-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.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 } } } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } } } } Hello List, } } } } } } Thanks to all who responded to my posting. All the information has been } } } helpful. Responses are summarized below. } } } } } } David Rose } } } W.L. Gore and Associates } } } } } } =========================================== } } } } } } I've seen posts which responded to the original "HP vs Epson vs Alps" } } } which imply Alps is an ink jet. The original poster may have been } } } referring to the Alps 1300 which is a dual mode 600dpi ink jet and } } } dye-sub printer for ~$500. I was personally impressed with the example } } } Alps sent me, but I also hear it may be the slowest dye-sub on the } } } market ... and we all know printer performance has more to do with how } } } well the printer interfaces with the OS. I know nothing beyond this ... } } } but certainly am curious if someone has practical experience. } } } } } } cheerios, shAf } } } } } } {} /\ {\/} /\ {\/} /\ {\/} /\ cogito, ergo zZOooOM /\ {\/} /\ {\/} /\ {\/} /\ {} } } } Michael Shaffer, R.A. - ICQ 210524 } } } Geological Science's Electron Probe Facility - University of Oregon } } } mshaf-at-darkwing.uoregon.edu - http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~mshaf/ } } } } } } ___________________________________________ } } } } } } Only real photo quality is dye sublimation (kodak, codonics, tektronics, } } } etc) } } } which are expensive (maybe $5K and up). Inkjets like you name, with } } } special, } } } expensive glossy paper and 1200 dpi are almost as good for a few hundred $. } } } I } } } like the Epson Stylus Photo (EX) myself. All will be color (but make good } } } B&W) } } } unless you get a laser printer. Dave Pevear, Houston } } } } } } ___________________________________________________ } } } } } } I can't tell you anything about Alps, but I do use HP inkjets and laserjets } } } and an Epson 600. } } } } } } The HP inkjets to a fair to middling job of either color or black and white } } } (true for all the Deskjet 6XX models I've used - 600, 660). Their fast and } } } cheap and not bad if you're not at all picky. The pictures are grainy. } } } } } } I have an HP Laserjet 5P I use for black and white. At the present time } } } we usually give a polaroid print to the person requesting work and laserjet } } } copies (four to a page which makes the laserjet "prints" just about the } } } same size as the polaroids). The laserjet pictures are not by any stretch } } } of the imagination "photoquality" but they are very good and give more than } } } enough detail for most purposes. } } } } } } The Epson 600 is used the same way as the laserjet for color photos. } } } Again, these are not "photoquality", but they are amazingly good even at } } } 720X720 dpi. However, even at 720 dpi, it is excruciatingly slow. I think } } } Epson got it's fraction turned around when they figured out the page rate. } } } I think they quote something like 2 pages a minute. 2 minutes per page } } } would be far closer to the truth. } } } } } } All of this is on the laserjet paper they use around here for normal office } } } work for the laserjet or good (not the really good shiny stuff) inkjet } } } paper for the Epson. If I started using the really good stuff I suspect } } } the results would be noticably better but so would the cost per page which } } } was the point in going to these printers in the first place. } } } } } } Ive never figured out the actual cost per page for any of these. I'm } } } pretty sure it's far below the $2/print I pay for B&W polaroid or } } } $.75/print for video printers. } } } } } } ============================================================ } } } Bede Willenbring Phone: (651)236-5470 } } } H.B. Fuller Company FAX: (651)236-5430 } } } Research Chemist E-mail: Bede.Willenbring-at-HBFuller.com } } } P.O. Box 64683 } } } St. Paul, MN 55164-0683 } } } ___________________________________________ } } } } } } B&W printer are actually harder to find than good color ones - the Lexmark } } } 5700, Epson Photo ot Cannon 7004 all are great color printers - (6 or 7 } } } colors and } 1000 dpi). } } } } } } Bill Miller } } } ___________________________________________ } } } } } } We have both. } } } HP LaserJet's which we use for viewing B&W images. The 600 dpi output is } } } more than good enough for most work and we seldom go to film anymore. } } } You won't have any trouble getting someone who has one to print a BMP or } } } other photo out to show you how good they look. } } } I also have an Epson 1440x720 dpi color printer for near photo quality } } } in color, and I seldom use it for that, although I just bought a digital } } } camera. I also have a 300 dpi HP 1600color inkjet which I use the heck } } } out of because its fast and good enough for initial work like cropping } } } and framing and positioning. Film is fast becoming sidelined in all the } } } branches of our company, and I see the same thing wherever I go. I am } } } getting a 1200 dpi LaserJet with my next machine so my B&Ws will look } } } even better. The metallurgists are jealous because they are stuck with } } } an expensive, slow photo printing system which uses proprietary file } } } formats. They will be upgraded someday. } } } } } } I don't know anything about Alps. HP is so easy to set up (network too) } } } and has the fastest drivers, Epson had to outdo them big in dpi to get } } } my attention. } } } } } } Tim Chavez } } } Boeing Chem Characterization Lab } } } ___________________________________________ } } } } } } We have a HP 890C Inkjet and you can't beat it. It is has the Kodak } } } PhotoRes processing and really does wonderful output. It is as good as a } } } sublimation dye printer (we have two) when the special Kodak Photo Deluxe } } } paper is used. It is very good on regular paper, better still on the HP } } } premium paper. The printer is about $360. You can get a 722C for about } } } $260 which uses the same cartridges and is a little slower. There are web } } } sites that you can find the cost of the media and ink cartridges. Several } } } people here who have Epson inkjet have been using ours to print critical } } } stuff and slides because the quality is so much better. Don't have } } } experience on the Alps. } } } } } } -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) } } } } } } ___________________________________________ } } } } } } We recently purchased a Kodak SP700 dye sub printer. The thing takes a } } } couple minutes per print, and prints only on their specialized paper, but } } } the cost is low per print ( {70 cents) and does a very good gray scale } } } rendition. } } } } } } We use an Epson 600, a Lexmark Optra Rt+ and a HP Laserjet 4M for general } } } purpose printing. it is enough for most people. If they want a real good } } } print we will print on the Kodak or send the image back to our SEM photo } } } CRT (special hardware required). } } } } } } Warren E. Straszheim } } } 23 Town Engineering } } } Iowa State University } } } Ames IA, 50011-3232 } } } } } } Ph: 515-294-8187 } } } FAX: 515-294-4563 } } } } } } E-Mail: wesaia-at-iastate.edu } } } http://www.marl.iastate.edu } } } } } } ___________________________________________ } } } } } } We are using the Epson Photo and are very pleased with the results. Cost } } } per print is dependent on the type of paper you use. We do proofs on laser } } } paper and use injet matte or glossy for better quality prints. Publication } } } prints are usually done on a dye sub printer, although the glossy inkjet } } } prints look awfully good. I could send samples if you like. } } } } } } Greg } } } } } } Gregory W. Erdos, Ph.D. Ph. 352-392-1295 } } } Assistant Director, Biotechnology Program } } } PO Box 110580 Fax:352-846-0251 } } } University of Florida } } } Gainesville, FL 32611 } } } } --
If someone's got the telephone number handy for RMC, Inc., I would greatly appreciate it! None of my current (outdated?) numbers work. Also, if there is a website and/or e-mail information would be appreciated. Attempting to obtain certification of Y2K compliance (mandatory for all of our equipment). Thanks!
Walt Bobrowski Subcellular Pathology Parke-Davis Research Ann Arbor, MI 48105
3450 South Broadmont, Suite 100 Tucson, AZ 85713 Tel. (520) 903-9366 Fax (520) 903-0132
RMC was recently purchased in its entirety by Ventana Medical Systems. I do not know how far along they are in transferring manufacturing and product support, so if the above information doesn't work you should try Ventana at:
3865 North Business Center Drive Tucson, AZ 85705 Tel. (520) 887-2155
RMC used to have a web page at: {A HREF="http://www.rmc- scientific.com/microtomes/"} RMC Home Page {/A} (http://www.rmc-scientific.com/microtomes/) but I haven't tried it in some time.
Good luck, hope this helps.
Cheers,
Bob Chiovetti Microimaging Technologies, Inc. (520) 546-4986 rchiovetti-at-aol.com
I wish to thank all who responded to my question on Spurr's resin. My problem with brittle blocks has been solved. Thanks to all again. -- Best Regards, Gregory Rudomen Technical Specialist University Microscopy Imaging Center State University of New York at Stony Brook 516-444-3126 Greg-at-umic.sunysb.edu ********************************************************** Standard disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this communication are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of the University Microscopy Imaging Center. **********************************************************
I wish to thank all who responded to my question on Spurr's resin. My problem with brittle blocks has been solved. Thanks to all again. -- Regards, Gregory Rudomen Technical Specialist University Microscopy Imaging Center State University of New York at Stony Brook 516-444-3126 Greg-at-umic.sunysb.edu ********************************************************** Standard disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this communication are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of the University Microscopy Imaging Center. **********************************************************
The 1996 Nobel Prize in Physics was shared by Gerd Binning, Heinrich Rohrer, and Ernst Ruska. "Reviews of Modern Physics," Volume 59 (3), July 1987 p. 627 (Part 1) contains the complete text of their addresses on the occasion of the award ( both STM and TEM are covered). There are lots of nice figures, pictures and diagrams of old TEMs and many references to the early literature.
} ---------- } From: Chris McDermott } Sent: Monday, October 26, 1998 7:55 AM } To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } Subject: TEM development } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 don't know if you answer stuff like this but I'm kind of stuck } at the moment. I'm looking for information on the investigators involved } in the development of the TEM but am unable to find any information } anywhere on the web. If you know of anywhere this information may be } found I would appreciate it a lot. } } Yours, } } Chris McDermott } }
I have relayed all the replies to the Research Center that requested the SEM w/ computerized stage. The researcher has told me that at this time he has enough "resources" for this project to present to his management. He thanks everyone for their quick response.
J. Roy Nelson Material Testing Laboratory Pennington NJ (609) 730-0575 jrnelson-at-nj1.aae.com
We are evaluating 35 mm slide scanners (digitizers) and are considering the Nikon Coolscan III ($900) and Coolscan 2000 ($1,800). The major difference between the two is optical density max of 3.0 and 3.6, respectively. Otherwise resolution is the same.
Anyone familiar with the NIkon line of scanners? Is the price difference worth it for ODmax of 3.0 to 3.6? Dealers are invited to respond to me directly.
#################################################################### 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 ####################################################################
Jane et al: The best fixation of lens( dystrophic deer mouse) I have seen was performed at about 40 degrees C using an EM fixative containing the addition of acrolein (about 1%) and DMSO to the glutaraldehyde buffer mixture. Infiltration and embedding in Spurr's would enhance infiltration and embedding. I hope this helps with some experimentation as the exact procedure would vary somewhat with the species. CAUTION Acrolein is very noxious so must be performed in a hood!! bob m
Electron Microscope Facility Manager/ Research Assistant, non-tenure track faculty appointment
Professional electron microscopist with a minimum of 5 years experience to manage the daily activities of the EM Facility at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry. Duties would include active participation in ongoing research, troubleshooting, scheduling, and teaching on facility instruments: Philips CM12 STEM with new Princeton Gamma Tech EDS system; Philips 515 SEM with new Princeton Gamma Tech EDS system and Robinson backscatter electron detector; and recently-installed Philips Environmental SEM equipped with Schottky field emission source, gaseous electron detector and new Princeton Gamma Tech EDS system. Applicant should have operational and maintenance experience with transmission and scanning electron microscopes. Additionally knowledge of energy dispersive spectroscopy and specimen preparatory techniques is required. The position is affiliated with the Department of Oral Biology at UMKC School of Dentistry. Salary is commensurate with level of education and experience. Please respond by E mail to the Chairman, Dr. David Eick "eickd-at-umkc.edu {mailto:eickd-at-umkc.edu} " with resume/CV.
John asks ... } } } We are evaluating 35 mm slide scanners (digitizers) and are } considering the } Nikon Coolscan III ($900) and Coolscan 2000 ($1,800). The } major difference } between the two is optical density max of 3.0 and 3.6, respectively. } Otherwise resolution is the same. } } Anyone familiar with the NIkon line of scanners? } Is the price difference worth it for ODmax of 3.0 to 3.6? }
Being able to handle the extra dynamic range would depend on your applications ... but I'll let you know a typical 35mm slide of, say, an outside scene in sunlight would exceed 3.6, but I'd guess at an indoor natural light slide being less than 3. The other issue is the color depth during the scan process. I'm unfamiliar with these new Coolscans, but do NOT settle for 8bit depth per RGB channel ... you want at least 10bits per channel, and preferably 12bits. ... hope this helps :o)
cheerios, shAf
{} /\ {\/} /\ {\/} /\ {\/} /\ cogito, ergo zZOooOM /\ {\/} /\ {\/} /\ {\/} /\ {} Michael Shaffer, R.A. - ICQ 210524 Geological Science's Electron Probe Facility - University of Oregon mshaf-at-darkwing.uoregon.edu - http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~mshaf/
I imagine that this was covered in the past, but here is the question = once again. What PC (Intel) based image analysis software is out there? =
My colleague needs to threshold and differentiate a second phase in SEM = acquired TIFF images and to determine its volume fractions. An = "illumination normalization function" (for a lack of a better term) = would be a nice feature to remove, prior to thresholding, the effect of = the drop off in SEM image intensity with distance from the image center.
We do have an old-ish PC based system hooked up to a CCD cameras and = optical microscopes that can read TIFF, but it is limited to working = with images no greater than 640x480 pixels; whereas the SEM ones are = 1x1k or 2x2k. We would like to do this on the cheap (public domain or = shareware), if possible. A demo version of the commercial software = might also be of interest to show the management its utility.
Thanks in advance for any leads,
Valdemar Furdanowicz valdemar-at-fast.net HRL G-165 Bethlehem Steel Co, Bethlehem PA 18016
{!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 4.72.3110.7"' name=3DGENERATOR} {/HEAD} {BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff} {DIV} {FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2} Hello, {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2} {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2} I imagine that this was covered in = the past, but=20 here is the question once again. What PC (Intel) based image = analysis=20 software is out there? {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2} {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2} My colleague needs to threshold and=20 differentiate a second phase in SEM acquired TIFF images and to = determine its=20 volume fractions. An "illumination normalization function" = (for a lack=20 of a better term) would be a nice feature to remove, prior to = thresholding, the=20 effect of the drop off in SEM image intensity with distance from the = image=20 center. {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2} {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2} We do have an old-ish PC based = system hooked up=20 to a CCD cameras and optical microscopes that can read TIFF, but it is = limited=20 to working with images no greater than 640x480 pixels; whereas the SEM = ones are=20 1x1k or 2x2k. We would like to do this on the cheap (public domain or=20 shareware), if possible. A demo version of the commercial software = might=20 also be of interest to show the management its utility. {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2} {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2} Thanks in advance for any = leads, {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2} {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2} Valdemar Furdanowicz {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2} {A=20 href=3D"mailto:valdemar-at-fast.net"} valdemar-at-fast.net {/A} {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2} {/FONT} {FONT size=3D2} HRL = G-165 {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT size=3D2} Bethlehem Steel Co, {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT size=3D2} Bethlehem PA 18016 {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT size=3D2} {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2} {/FONT} {/DIV} {/BODY} {/HTML}
Hi fellow electron microscopists, =20 I've followed with interest the recent discussion on cleaning the window = of an EDS detector, but mine is a 13 y.o. windowless Link (now Oxford) = on a clean vacuum STEM (VG-HB501). (It goes behind a high vacuum valve = when not in use.) I have periodically de-iced it by warming up to room = temperature under high vacuum (mine was built before the era of detector = conditioners), but now my low end is not quite what it used to be and I = think that I've finally built up a noticeable hydrocarbon layer on its = surface. Any ideas on how to clean mine? =20 Valdemar Furdanowicz valdemar-at-fast.net HRL G-165 Bethlehem Steel Co. Bethlehem, PA 18016 =20
{!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD W3 HTML//EN"} {HTML} {HEAD}
{META content=3Dtext/html;charset=3Diso-8859-1 = http-equiv=3DContent-Type} {!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD W3 = HTML//EN"} {META content=3D'"MSHTML 4.72.3110.7"' name=3DGENERATOR} {/HEAD} {BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff} {DIV} {FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2} Hi fellow electron = microscopists, {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2} {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2} I've followed with interest the = recent=20 discussion on cleaning the window of an EDS detector, but mine is a 13 = y.o.=20 windowless Link (now Oxford) on a clean vacuum STEM (VG-HB501). = (It goes=20 behind a high vacuum valve when not in use.) I have periodically = de-iced=20 it by warming up to room temperature under high vacuum (mine was built = before=20 the era of detector conditioners), but now my low end is not quite what = it used=20 to be and I think that I've finally built up a noticeable hydrocarbon = layer on=20 its surface. Any ideas on how to clean mine? {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2} {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2} Valdemar Furdanowicz {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2} {A=20 href=3D"mailto:valdemar-at-fast.net"} valdemar-at-fast.net {/A} {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT size=3D2} HRL G-165 {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT size=3D2} Bethlehem Steel Co. {BR} Bethlehem, PA = 18016 {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT size=3D2} {/FONT} {/DIV} {/BODY} {/HTML}
Jane et al: The best fixation of lens( dystrophic deer mouse) I have seen was performed at about 40 degrees C using an EM fixative containing the addition of acrolein (about 1%) and DMSO to the glutaraldehyde buffer mixture. Infiltration and embedding in Spurr's would enhance infiltration and embedding. I hope this helps with some experimentation as the exact procedure would vary somewhat with the species. CAUTION Acrolein is very noxious so must be performed in a hood!! bob m
To: Chris McDermott For historical info try "Early History of the Electron Microscope" by L. Marton, San Francisco Press, Inc., CA, 1968, Lib. Con. Cat. # 68-19314 and "Electron Microscopy 1978, Vol. III: State of the Art Symposia", Papers presented in Symposia at the Ninth International Congress on Electron Microscopy held in Toronto, Canada 1978, edited by J.M Sturgess. It was published by the Microscopical Society of Canada, ISBN 0 920622 08 9. Bob Santoianni Emory University Hospital robert_santoianni-at-emory.org
Yes, I do have a suggestion--talk to the manufacturer. Si(Li)s are very troublesome creatures, you don't want to damage it!
And I am very impressed that it took 13 years to gum it up. When you say you have a clean system you mean it :)
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
We use a Polaroid 35mm slide scanner, I forget the model, but we got it with a special device that permits scanning of entire MICROSCOPE SLIDES at 27000 dpi! You can also do 35mm slides. It gives a great low-power image that can be magnified digitally without loss. The product, Pathscan, is made by Meyer Instruments {http://www.meyerinst.com/html/eureka/default.html} . No, I am not a vendor of anything other than the good news of this product! Dave Pevear, Houston.
John J. Bozzola 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } We are evaluating 35 mm slide scanners (digitizers) and are considering the } Nikon Coolscan III ($900) and Coolscan 2000 ($1,800). The major difference } between the two is optical density max of 3.0 and 3.6, respectively. } Otherwise resolution is the same. } } Anyone familiar with the NIkon line of scanners? } Is the price difference worth it for ODmax of 3.0 to 3.6? } Dealers are invited to respond to me directly. } } #################################################################### } 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 } ####################################################################
Dr. Dinesh Srivastava Research Fellow IRC for Materials of High Performance University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK Phone (O) 0121-414-3447 Fax (O) 0121-414-3441 (Res.) 0121-472-3298 Email:D.SRIVASTAVA-at-bham.ac.uk
I have some very important blocks of human duodenum which have been processed through to Araldite CY212. Unfortunately the embedding is very poor. The resin making up the bulk of the block is fine but in and around the tissue the resin is 'gooey' and sections float apart on flattening. Does anyone have a tried and trusted method for removing the existing resin and re-embedding with fresh? If so I would be eternally grateful if you could pass it on to me as quickly as possible.
Yours hopefully
Barry Shaw (Snr. EM Technician, Univ. Hospital Medical School Anatomy Dept., Nottingham, UK)
In a message dated 98-10-26 16:50:23 EST, valdemar-at-fast.net writes:
{ { We do have an old-ish PC based system hooked up to a CCD cameras and optical microscopes that can read TIFF, but it is limited to working with images no greater than 640x480 pixels; whereas the SEM ones are 1x1k or 2x2k. We would like to do this on the cheap (public domain or shareware), if possible. A demo version of the commercial software might also be of interest to show the management its utility. } }
Hi Valdemar,
There are certainly some high-powered (translation: pricey) image analysis software packages out there. Feel free to contact me off-list if you need additional information.
You might first want to try a PC-based variation of the great public domain software, NIH Image. NIH Image is of course for Macs, but there is now a Windows version. The name is Scion Image, and it comes in a Windows 95 and a Windows NT version. The download page does not mention Windows 98.
I haven't heard from anyone who has tried it, but it apparently has full NIH Image functionality, only it runs on PC platforms. From what you say about your computer, you may be short some horsepower for the analysis routines, but it would certainly be worth a try. One thing is certain, you can't beat the price...it's free. Plus, you also get free technical support when you register to download.
Scion Image is ported to the Scion Corporation's website. You can read about Scion Image here: {A HREF="http://www.pathsoc.org.uk/wwwboard/messages/20.html"} NIH Image analysis software now out for Windows {/A} (http://www.pathsoc.org.uk/wwwboard/messages/20.html)
And you can download it from: {A HREF="http://www.scioncorp.com/pages/menu.htm"} Scion Corporation {/A} (http://www.scioncorp.com/pages/menu.htm)
**Disclaimer:** I have no financial interest or business relationships with Scion Corporation. This information is just offered as a possible solution to your problem.
Let us know how things turn out if you decide to try the software.
Cheers, Bob
Robert (Bob) Chiovetti Microimaging Technologies, Inc. Tucson, AZ Tel / Fax (520) 546-4986 rchiovetti-at-aol.com
thee is also a good book by zworkin(spelling?) on electron mic. and electron optics that will give a picture of some of the early work.... I belive this is from the late 40's
Edward Sharpe ( I am not in front of my stash so the title and spelling is the best I can remember....)
BARRY SHAW wrote: } } HELP !!! } } I have some very important blocks of human duodenum which have been } processed through to Araldite CY212. Unfortunately the embedding is } very poor. The resin making up the bulk of the block is fine but in } and around the tissue the resin is 'gooey' and sections float apart } on flattening. Does anyone have a tried and trusted method for } removing the existing resin and re-embedding with fresh? } If so I would be eternally grateful if you could pass it on to me } as quickly as possible. }
Barry,
Long ago, I had a problem with human kidney embedded in Epon-Araldite that was similar to what you describe. I cooked the blocks overnight at 100 C and that "cured" the problem. I don't know of a way to remove gooey resin without compromising the tissue.
I've had this problem before, but with Spurrs rather than Araldite. I had limited success by using propylene oxide to remove the gooey stuff.
First of all, have you tried cranking up the heat in your polymerizing oven? Sometimes you can rescue the blocks by really "cooking" them at about 70-75 degrees C for 24 hours. If this doesn't work, proceed to plan B...
Try using a dissecting scope and the trimming block on your microtome to remove as much of the polymerized resin as possible with razor blades, then cut under the specimen to remove it from the block. Careful here, if you use too much force the valued specimen will go flying across the room never to be seen again.
It depends on how much crosslinking has taken place in the soft parts, but you should be able to remove most of it with propylene oxide. Place the unblocked specimens in small vials with a large excess of propylene oxide, and place the vials on a rotator or agitator. Make lots of changes of propylene oxide over a period of 24-48 hours. From that point you should be able to infiltrate as usual. Try an ascending series of resin concentrations that are cut with propylene oxide, then pure resin overnight. During the infiltration use a bell jar or a vacuum chamber if you have access to one, and a vacuum oven for polymerization is also a good idea.
My experience has been that unblocked and reinfiltrated specimens are never as good as they should be, but reprocessing usually makes the specimens better than what came out of the oven the first time around!
Good luck, hope this helps!
Cheers,
Bob
Bob Chiovetti Microimaging Technologies, Inc. Tucson, Arizona USA Tel. / Fax 520-546-4986 rchiovetti-at-aol.com
Our group currently has a JEOL FX 2000 TEM available for sale to anyone interested. The system includes a cold and hot stage, PC driven X-ray system, and STEM attachment. Please respond if interested.
M.W. Rigler, Ph.D. MAS, Inc. Suwanee GA 770-866-3218
I have purchased two SEMs, transported them across country, and am preparing to set up a lab. Aside from the insurance on the building, I will need to insure the equipment inside, hence the question: What is the value of the microscopes? There is of course the purchase price (in my case, $ 3,800 and $ 2,500, respectively, for a JEOL 35 and Philips 500). Once in place and running, they are obviously going to be worth a whole lot more, but how much more???? I'm sure my insurance agent will be of no help, as there is no 'blue book' values for used SEMs. Any suggestions are most welcome! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
A collegegue of mine has tungsten carbide particles and was wondering if they can be microtomed....i suppose it's possible but i'm not familiar enough with the conditions to use, i.e. resin, cutting speed, etc...i have a 45 deg diamond knife and i've been using spurrs for my other samples
if anyone has any suggestions or has some experience in cutting metal/caramic particles...i'd appreciate any information
thanks in advance
Michael Mandanas Particulate Materials Center Penn State University University Park, PA 16802 email: mxm67-at-email.psu.edu
Valdemar, I would agree with Bob Chiovetti's comments about Scion image - it is very good value for (no) money. However, it has suffered rather in the translation from Mac to PC. NIH-Image on a Mac is a perfectly robust, bug-free program with lots of useful features. Scion image on a PC works, but it is fairly easy to crash (e.g. if you ask it to outline any particles it's counting) and the 0 and 255 levels are reversed in comparison with other PC TIFF images. Also the TIFF file format it uses can't be read by other PC programs. I use it in conjunction with Adobe Photoshop and can do everything I need to (apart from do decent 3D plots of AFM images - the Mac spinoffs such as Image SXM have no counterpart on the PC). Nevertheless, I think all credit is due to Scion for making the product available on a PC, for nothing. The price of most image analysis software is frightening! I have no idea whether new versions are planned or whether the bugs will be fixed - I'm just an almost satisfied customer.
Richard Beanland GMMT Ltd., Caswell, Towcester, Northants NN12 8EQ UK
e-mail richard.beanland-at-gecm.com
} ---------------------------------------------------------------------- } 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 } ---------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } In a message dated 98-10-26 16:50:23 EST, valdemar-at-fast.net writes: } } { { We do have an old-ish PC based system hooked up to a CCD cameras and } optical microscopes that can read TIFF, but it is limited to working with } images no greater than 640x480 pixels; whereas the SEM ones are 1x1k or 2x2k. } We would like to do this on the cheap (public domain or shareware), if } possible. A demo version of the commercial software might also be of interest } to show the management its utility. } } } } } Hi Valdemar, } } There are certainly some high-powered (translation: pricey) image analysis } software packages out there. Feel free to contact me off-list if you need } additional information. } } You might first want to try a PC-based variation of the great public domain } software, NIH Image. NIH Image is of course for Macs, but there is now a } Windows version. The name is Scion Image, and it comes in a Windows 95 and a } Windows NT version. The download page does not mention Windows 98. } } I haven't heard from anyone who has tried it, but it apparently has full NIH } Image functionality, only it runs on PC platforms. From what you say about } your computer, you may be short some horsepower for the analysis routines, but } it would certainly be worth a try. One thing is certain, you can't beat the } price...it's free. Plus, you also get free technical support when you } register to download. } } Scion Image is ported to the Scion Corporation's website. You can read about } Scion Image here: } {A HREF="http://www.pathsoc.org.uk/wwwboard/messages/20.html"} NIH Image } analysis software now out for Windows {/A} } (http://www.pathsoc.org.uk/wwwboard/messages/20.html) } } And you can download it from: } {A HREF="http://www.scioncorp.com/pages/menu.htm"} Scion Corporation {/A} } (http://www.scioncorp.com/pages/menu.htm) } } **Disclaimer:** I have no financial interest or business relationships with } Scion Corporation. This information is just offered as a possible solution to } your problem. } } Let us know how things turn out if you decide to try the software. } } Cheers, } Bob } } Robert (Bob) Chiovetti } Microimaging Technologies, Inc. } Tucson, AZ } Tel / Fax (520) 546-4986 } rchiovetti-at-aol.com
You would need first to check the relative hardness of diamond and tungsten carbide; I think diamond will win by a short straw. You may have a problem with the very hard tungsten carbide embedded in softer resin and the passing knife edge may just rip the W-carbide out of the resin matrix. Maybe a better approach would be to embedd the material in resin and then etch a small portion of the resin away using say sodium methoxide, wash well with EtOH and look (and analyse ?) in a high resolutio FEG-SEM.
Patrick Echlin Multi-Imaging Centre Cambridge UK
On Tue, 27 Oct 1998, Michael P. Mandanas 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 } } A collegegue of mine has tungsten carbide particles and was wondering if } they can be microtomed....i suppose it's possible but i'm not familiar } enough with the conditions to use, i.e. resin, cutting speed, etc...i have } a 45 deg diamond knife and i've been using spurrs for my other samples } } if anyone has any suggestions or has some experience in cutting } metal/caramic particles...i'd appreciate any information } } thanks in advance } } Michael Mandanas } Particulate Materials Center } Penn State University } University Park, PA 16802 } email: mxm67-at-email.psu.edu } } } }
} Valdemar, } I would agree with Bob Chiovetti's comments about Scion image - it is } very good value for (no) money. However, it has suffered rather in the } translation from Mac to PC. NIH-Image on a Mac is a perfectly robust, bug-free } program with lots of useful features. Scion image on a PC works, but it is } fairly easy to crash (e.g. if you ask it to outline any particles it's } counting) and the 0 and 255 levels are reversed in comparison with other PC } TIFF images. Also the TIFF file format it uses can't be read by other PC } programs. I use it in conjunction with Adobe Photoshop and can do everything I } need to (apart from do decent 3D plots of AFM images - the Mac spinoffs such as } Image SXM have no counterpart on the PC).
And then their is Imagetool (Win95). I haven't used it enough to comment on any peculiarities with TIFF files in particular, but it is also free, via:
http://ddsdx.uthscsa.edu/dig/itdesc.html
Usual disclaimers apply,
Keith -- Dr. Keith R. Hallam University of Bristol, Interface Analysis Centre, Oldbury House, 121, St. Michael's Hill, Bristol, BS2 8BS, England Telephone: + 44 (0)117 925 5666 | E-mail: k.r.hallam-at-bristol.ac.uk Facsimile: + 44 (0)117 925 5646 | URL: http://zeus.bris.ac.uk/~phkrh/
I guess I would ask myself how much I could afford if there were to be major damage to the instruments ( fire, etc) . If replacing the instruments with my own money represented an "affordable" impact, then I would not consider putting much money into the insurance. I would rather spend that money in supplies and or service contracts.
BTW, I 'm not sure I agree with your assessment that the instruments will be worth a lot more once they are operating. Of course this will depend somewhat on the present condition and how much you had to invest to get them back into operation.
My thoughts. I am curious to see what others think.
Jordi Marti
I have purchased two SEMs, transported them across country, and am preparing to set up a lab. Aside from the insurance on the building, I will need to insure the equipment inside, hence the question: What is the value of the microscopes? There is of course the purchase price (in my case, $ 3,800 and $ 2,500, respectively, for a JEOL 35 and Philips 500). Once in place and running, they are obviously going to be worth a whole lot more, but how much more???? I'm sure my insurance agent will be of no help, as there is no 'blue book' values for used SEMs. Any suggestions are most welcome! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
I have been working with a number of equipment brokers in the resale of SEMs for about five years. To give you an idea of the value, a JEOL 840 installed and warranteed for one year goes for about 40K. The same SEM is "wholesaled" (trade in value) by JEOL for 20K.
There is a lot of "added value" to any SEM as labor costs are fixed. It costs about 4K to dis-assemble and re-assemble most SEMs. Moving adds about 3K. Warranty adds about 2k per quarter. This all adds to the SEM value even though the initial cost is low. In my opinion, the replacement value for a JEOL 35C is anywhere from 10K to 15K. For insurance purposes it doesn't matter what you paid for the equipment, it is the cost to replace it.
For higher end equipment (CD measurements systems), the market is somewhat "skewed" at this time as there is a glut of equipment especially from Korea and Japan. The Asia flu is causing them to shut many semi-conductor facilities down. Supply and demand still dictate the market. A CD measurement systems that sold for average 1 million new generally resale for about 200k after five years (Hitachi S-6000). the same equipment is selling for about 50K, a seventy five percent reduction.
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Greetings esteemed microscopy mentors, } } I have purchased two SEMs, transported them across country, and am preparing } to set up a lab. Aside from the insurance on the building, I will need to } insure the equipment inside, hence the question: What is the value of the } microscopes? } There is of course the purchase price (in my case, $ 3,800 and $ 2,500, } respectively, for a JEOL 35 and Philips 500). Once in place and running, they } are obviously going to be worth a whole lot more, but how much more???? I'm } sure my insurance agent will be of no help, as there is no 'blue book' values } for used SEMs. Any suggestions are most welcome! Thank you. Thank you. Thank } you. } } Paul Grover } pbgrover-at-aol.com
} Dear Paul, } } I have been working with a number of equipment brokers in the resale of SEMs for } about five years. To give you an idea of the value, a JEOL 840 installed and } warranteed for one year goes for about 40K. The same SEM is "wholesaled" (trade in } value) by JEOL for 20K. } } There is a lot of "added value" to any SEM as labor costs are fixed. It costs } about 4K to dis-assemble and re-assemble most SEMs. Moving adds about 3K. Warranty } adds about 2k per quarter. This all adds to the SEM value even though the initial } cost is low. In my opinion, the replacement value for a JEOL 35C is anywhere from } 10K to 15K. For insurance purposes it doesn't matter what you paid for the } equipment, it is the cost to replace it. } } For higher end equipment (CD measurements systems), the market is somewhat } "skewed" at this time as there is a glut of equipment especially from Korea and } Japan. The Asia flu is causing them to shut many semi-conductor facilities down. } Supply and demand still dictate the market. A CD measurement systems that sold for } average 1 million new generally resale for about 200k after five years (Hitachi } S-6000). the same equipment is selling for about 50K, a seventy five percent } reduction. } } Hope this helps. } } Earl Weltmer
} } } Pbgrover-at-aol.com-at-sparc5.microscopy.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 } } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } } Greetings esteemed microscopy mentors, } } } } I have purchased two SEMs, transported them across country, and am preparing } } to set up a lab. Aside from the insurance on the building, I will need to } } insure the equipment inside, hence the question: What is the value of the } } microscopes? } } There is of course the purchase price (in my case, $ 3,800 and $ 2,500, } } respectively, for a JEOL 35 and Philips 500). Once in place and running, they } } are obviously going to be worth a whole lot more, but how much more???? I'm } } sure my insurance agent will be of no help, as there is no 'blue book' values } } for used SEMs. Any suggestions are most welcome! Thank you. Thank you. Thank } } you. } } } } Paul Grover } } pbgrover-at-aol.com
Leica manufactures a microtome that can accommodate a micromilling tool bit. This machine is a combination of a microtome and a macro-milling machine that you might use in the machine shop. It enables production of mirror-like metallic surfaces and is likely appropriate for your application. An example of its use to reconstruct 3-D images of Pb-Sn alloys can be found in Acta Mater. 45 2279 (1997).
I am in no way affiliated with Leica.
Hope this helps.
Regards, Tracey Wolfsdorf Brenner
Disclaimer: The comments above do not represent those of Intel Corporation.
} -----Original Message----- } From: Michael P. Mandanas [SMTP:mxm67-at-email.psu.edu] } Sent: Tuesday, October 27, 1998 10:00 PM } To: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: sectioning metals? } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } } A collegegue of mine has tungsten carbide particles and was wondering if } they can be microtomed....i suppose it's possible but i'm not familiar } enough with the conditions to use, i.e. resin, cutting speed, etc...i have } a 45 deg diamond knife and i've been using spurrs for my other samples } } if anyone has any suggestions or has some experience in cutting } metal/caramic particles...i'd appreciate any information } } thanks in advance } } Michael Mandanas } Particulate Materials Center } Penn State University } University Park, PA 16802 } email: mxm67-at-email.psu.edu } }
Hi everyone, My dissecting scope and computer are in different rooms so I would like to buy a digital camera that allows image preview and image storage on removable media for transfer to the computer. Olympus manufacture a digital camera system (DP10) which fits the bill. Resolution is listed as 1280x1024. If I recall the thread on resolution correctly, this should be sufficient for output similar to that that I would achieve via film, am I right? Any users out there with thoughts on this system? Cheerio, John.
________________________ C. John Runions, Ph.D. Section of Ecology and Systematics Corson Hall Cornell University Ithaca, New York USA 14853
Dear All: We have a JEOL 100CX-II transmission microscope, which we would like to get rid off. Could any of you give me some idea as to the value of this scope? It is in excellent working condition. Thanks in advance for your opinion. Yuhui Xu, MD EM Core,DFCI
WASTE FAQ 08/11: Nature Science Lists2 (p22 of 25)
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I am looking for the email addresses for Hans Cerva and Oliver Eibl at Siemens. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks. Roseann -- Dr. Roseann Csencsits Electron Microscopy Center Building 212/C217 Argonne National Laboratory 9700 South Cass Avenue Argonne, IL 60439-4838 Phone: (630) 252-4977 Fax: (630) 252-4798
You actually got some very good prices on your equipment. There is a growing secondary market in used SEMs that provides a reasonable replacement value. There are a number of used equipment brokers out there that would charge 15K and 10K, respectively, for your instruments. If you were able to bypass them, you could probably get those instruments for 2/3 their asking price.
For insurance values, you should really use those broker figures, since you have no assurance that you would be able to replace them at anything near the prices you paid. The broker purchase prices can be verified by calling the manufacturer's sales reps and asking them what would be a reasonable asking price and then adding 50%. The brokers generally get their instruments through trade-ins arranged through the manufacturers. In the chain of things, the manufacturer will get a mark-up on the instrument, as will the broker. You obviously managed to bypass both of them in your purchases.
Also add at least a couple of thousand for the inspection and installation of a used SEM. You definitely want to ensure that it works before you buy and will want to have it installed by someone who can give you some assurance that it will operate to your needs. If you feel that you have that capability, then you can save that much more.
} Greetings esteemed microscopy mentors, } } I have purchased two SEMs, transported them across country, and am } preparing to set up a lab. Aside from the insurance on the } building, I will need to insure the equipment inside, hence the } question: What is the value of the microscopes? There is of course } the purchase price (in my case, $ 3,800 and $ 2,500, respectively, } for a JEOL 35 and Philips 500). Once in place and running, they are } obviously going to be worth a whole lot more, but how much more???? } I'm sure my insurance agent will be of no help, as there is no 'blue } book' values for used SEMs. Any suggestions are most welcome! } Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. } } Paul Grover } pbgrover-at-aol.com } } } Allen R. Sampson Advanced Research Systems 317 North 4th. Street St. Charles, IL 60174 PH 630.513.7093 FAX 630.513.7092 Email: ars-at-mcs.net WWW: http://www.mcs.net/~ars Analytical instrument maintenance services
I agree with Patrick - another approach might be your best bet. A few years back, Helmut Gnaegi of Diatome (a diamond knife producer) succeeded in sectioning monolithic tungsten carbide for our laboratory, but the sectioning was a) challenging, and b) the TEM images weren't pretty. Experienced materials science ultramicrotomists like Helmut can and have sectioned everything from silicon wafers to diamond films. (See Microscopy Research and Techniques, vol. 31, p. 308, 1995, for Phil Swab's excellent work on the latter).
The point is, one should push a technique to the extreme only if that technique's attributes best match the experimental needs. Your friend should clearly state his microanalytical expectations, then you and he should work out the appropriate technique. FEG-SEM is a powerful tool that can substitute for many (but certainly not all) TEM materials studies. If TEM is needed, I would first check out the more traditional options of low angle ion thinning or tripod polishing. Failing that, track down the nearest FIB system, swallow hard, and pay what seems like a large amount for a high-end specimen that works first time. IBM Analytical (a frequent contributor to this Listserver and originators of the tripod technique) and Fibics (a Canadian company located in this laboratory) are two providers of FIB service for general materials science.
Use ultramicrotomy only as a last resort. With care, you won't ruin the knife (Helmut and Phil get their best 'hard' materials sections with a 35 degree knife!), but it will require an ultrafine block face of only a few microns, very low cutting speed (like 0.1mm/sec) and, yes, a strong likelihood that the particles will pull out of the resin. Particle size will play a key role in the latter. Micronish will likely be hopeless, but at tens or hundreds of microns, you may 'microfracture' your way through. Finding something that enhances resin cohesion doesn't hurt, like Phil does with a silane from Dow for his work on glasses and semiconductors. Cheers,
Tom Malis Group Leader - Characterization Materials Technology Laboratory Natural Resources Canada (Govt. of Canada) 568 Booth St., Ottawa, Canada ph. 613-992-2310 FAX 623-992-8735 email: malis-at-nrcan.gc.ca
} ---------- } From: Dr P. Echlin[SMTP:pe13-at-cus.cam.ac.uk] } Sent: October 28, 1998 4:10 AM } To: Michael P. Mandanas } Cc: microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } Subject: Re: sectioning metals? } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Michael: } } You would need first to check the relative hardness of diamond and } tungsten carbide; I think diamond will win by a short straw. You may } have a problem with the very hard tungsten carbide embedded in softer } resin and the passing knife edge may just rip the W-carbide out of the } resin matrix. Maybe a better approach would be to embedd the material in } resin and then etch a small portion of the resin away using say sodium } methoxide, wash well with EtOH and look (and analyse ?) in a high } resolutio FEG-SEM. } } Patrick Echlin } Multi-Imaging Centre } Cambridge UK } } On Tue, 27 Oct 1998, Michael P. Mandanas 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 } } } } A collegegue of mine has tungsten carbide particles and was wondering if } } they can be microtomed....i suppose it's possible but i'm not familiar } } enough with the conditions to use, i.e. resin, cutting speed, etc...i } have } } a 45 deg diamond knife and i've been using spurrs for my other samples } } } } if anyone has any suggestions or has some experience in cutting } } metal/caramic particles...i'd appreciate any information } } } } thanks in advance } } } } Michael Mandanas } } Particulate Materials Center } } Penn State University } } University Park, PA 16802 } } email: mxm67-at-email.psu.edu } } } } } } } } } }
I am working with the ultrastruture of anthers of Ilex paraguariensis. However, during the dehydration of the samples, fixed in a mixture of glutaraldehyde 2,5% and formaldehyde 2%, the anthers shrink, mainly after the secondary fixation with osmium tetroxide. I used acetone or ethanol , in steps of 30, 50, 70, 90, 90, 100, 100, with 15 minutes in each step, at room temperature. The anthers has a very reduced dimension (about 1 mm length) and shrink in the step 100. What to do? Should I to use a low temperature (4oC)? Thanks in advance.
How big are the particles? I worked with WC sub-micron particles and found that the best way was to disperse them on a grid and image them. I assume your particles are bigger.
1. If they are bound with a metal such as Co, you can electron discharge machine a 3 mm disk, then mount and polish it using diamond wheels, and then dimple and ion mill the samples to make electron transparent material.
2. You could mount the particles (if they are powders of WC) in a hard epoxy (Gatan G1?) and try the above steps.
3. Another way to make the samples would be to bind them with a low melting eutectic mixture (netters- any suggestions?), then section them and proceed as above.
Microtoming will probably damage the knife since these particles are extremely hard.
Good luck,
Mohan Kalyanaraman Sr. Staff Material Scientist Mobil Technology Company Paulsboro, NJ 08066
"Michael P. Mandanas" {mxm67-at-email.psu.edu} on 10/27/98 10:00:14 PM
To: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com cc: (bcc: Mohan Kalyanaraman/EastCoast/Mobil-Notes)
Hi all
A collegegue of mine has tungsten carbide particles and was wondering if they can be microtomed....i suppose it's possible but i'm not familiar enough with the conditions to use, i.e. resin, cutting speed, etc...i have a 45 deg diamond knife and i've been using spurrs for my other samples
if anyone has any suggestions or has some experience in cutting metal/caramic particles...i'd appreciate any information
thanks in advance
Michael Mandanas Particulate Materials Center Penn State University University Park, PA 16802 email: mxm67-at-email.psu.edu
I think you need to check the strength of the fixative buffer. In any event, it is much better to cut the anthers in half across their long axis immediately after they are immersed in the primary fixative to allow the fixative into the anther locule. ASlso, fix for a long time in thye primary fixative
Patrick Echlin Cambridge UK
On Wed, 28 Oct 1998, Rinaldo Pires dos Santos 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 colleagues } } I am working with the ultrastruture of anthers of Ilex paraguariensis. } However, during the dehydration of the samples, fixed in a mixture of glutaraldehyde 2,5% } and formaldehyde 2%, the anthers shrink, mainly after the secondary fixation with osmium } tetroxide. I used acetone or ethanol , in steps of 30, 50, 70, 90, 90, 100, 100, } with 15 minutes in each step, at room temperature. The anthers has a very reduced } dimension (about 1 mm length) and shrink in the step 100. } What to do? Should I to use a low temperature (4oC)? } Thanks in advance. } }
Our group currently has a JEOL FX 2000 TEM available for sale to anyone interested. The system includes a cold and hot stage, PC driven X-ray system, and STEM attachment. Please respond if interested.
M.W. Rigler, Ph.D. MAS, Inc. Suwanee GA 770-866-3218
Return-Path: {Microscopy-request-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} Received: from rly-za05.mx.aol.com (rly-za05.mail.aol.com [172.31.36.101]) by air-za02.mail.aol.com (v51.9) with SMTP; Tue, 27 Oct 1998 17:13:27 -0500 Received: from Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (sparc5.microscopy.com [206.69.208.10]) by rly-za05.mx.aol.com (8.8.8/8.8.5/AOL-4.0.0) with SMTP id RAA01671; Tue, 27 Oct 1998 17:12:14 -0500 (EST) Received: (from daemon-at-localhost) by Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.11) id PAA12370 for dist-Microscopy; Tue, 27 Oct 1998 15:40:58 -0600 Received: from no_more_spam.com (Sparc5 [206.69.208.10]) by Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.11) with SMTP id PAA12353 for "MicroscopyFilteredEmail-at-msa.microscopy.com"; Tue, 27 Oct 1998 15:40:27 -0600 } From: "Mriglermas-at-aol.com"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com Received: from imo20.mx.aol.com (imo20.mx.aol.com [198.81.17.10]) by Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.11) with ESMTP id PAA12346 for {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} ; Tue, 27 Oct 1998 15:40:14 -0600 Received: from Mriglermas-at-aol.com by imo20.mx.aol.com (IMOv16.10) id NZKYa03785 for {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} ; Tue, 27 Oct 1998 16:50:09 -0500 (EST) Message-ID: {538306e.36364011-at-aol.com}
Our group currently has a JEOL FX 2000 TEM available for sale to anyone interested. The system includes a cold and hot stage, PC driven X-ray system, and STEM attachment. Please respond if interested.
M.W. Rigler, Ph.D. MAS, Inc. Suwanee GA 770-866-3218
Dear Rinaldo, my experience with fixation of flowers has been that anthers are relatively difficult to fix and embed (especially when they are approching maturity) even when other organs and tissues are well preserved. If adjusting buffer strength and cutting them transversely as Dr. Echlin suggests doesn't do the trick, my suggestion would be that you try much longer dehydration times. I suggest at least an hour at each dehydration step and perhaps leave them overnight at the 70% ethanol stage. Of course the trade-off might be that you extract some of the stuff you wish to preserve. You will have to adjust your protocol on a species to species basis. John
________________________ C. John Runions, Ph.D. Section of Ecology and Systematics Corson Hall Cornell University Ithaca, New York USA 14853
} From: Mriglermas-at-aol.com Return-path: {Mriglermas-at-aol.com} To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
Dear Rinaldo, my experience with fixation of flowers has been that anthers are relatively difficult to fix and embed (especially when they are approching maturity) even when other organs and tissues are well preserved. If adjusting buffer strength and cutting them transversely as Dr. Echlin suggests doesn't do the trick, my suggestion would be that you try much longer dehydration times. I suggest at least an hour at each dehydration step and perhaps leave them overnight at the 70% ethanol stage. Of course the trade-off might be that you extract some of the stuff you wish to preserve. You will have to adjust your protocol on a species to species basis. John
________________________ C. John Runions, Ph.D. Section of Ecology and Systematics Corson Hall Cornell University Ithaca, New York USA 14853
Dear Colleagues Being aware of your interest in 3-D reconstruction and visualization of biological object structures, I wonder if you deal with the problem of 3-D epithelial sheets topology reconstruction? If it is so can you send me your papers on this subject? And do you know anybody who work in this field? My own interest is the 3-D histoarchitecture of epithelial sheets in normal development and pathology. In this connect I am addressing you with the following message. As you know, all current attempts to reconstruct a 3-D structure of biological tissues using a serial sections encounter with a typical difficulty. It is that tissue deformation and cell proliferation make a cells shape variable, diverse their adjacency and give a strongly "noised" pictures. So the results obtained give no way to understanding tissue topology and do not permit to deduce the law of 3-D tissue organization.
To overcome the difficulties we have developed the new approach to 3-D reconstruction of cell sheet structures. It is based on the pioneering concept of tissues modular structure and consists of derivation of topological and geometrical models of epithelial spatial organization and their experimental verification. Contrary to the usual tissue reconstruction on a set of serial sections this approach allows to use their minimum and to carry out a more exact restoration of 3-D epithelial structure with less money and time. The approach has enabled us to get the data priority on the laws of spatial organization of simple, pseudostratified and stratified epithelia, as well as to predict and find several earlier unknown topological variants of their histoarchitectonics. The approach has also allowed to describe such new properties of epithelial layers as translation symmetry and stoichiometry.
The results makes a basis for structural histology as a addition to modern structural biology. The approach allow to investigate the more complex topology variants of pseudostratified and stratified epithelia, to find a set of new informative tissue characteristics suitable for diagnostic and also to give the opportunity to predict the changes of tissues in normal development and their transformation in pathology, particularly in malignant growth.
If it is interesting for you, I am ready to consider the possibility of our cooperation.
Yours sincerely, Dr. G.A. Savostyanov. -- | E-mail: savost-at-ief.spb.su | Gennady A. Savostyanov | | Fax +7 (812) 5523012 |Sechenov Inst. of Evolutionary Physiology and | | office +7 (812) 5523090 | Biochemictry Russian Academy of Science, | | | home +7 (812) 5100052 |44 Thores av., 194223, St.Petersburg, Russia |
Can anyone suggest how to cut into a glass pharmaceutical vial with minimal damage and contamination in order to examine an organic film inside it? Presumably some sort of diamond saw. I need a commercial lab who can provide the service, ASAP of course. Hatchet is last resort. Thanks for your help.
Leonard Corwin Research Chemist Fort Dodge Animal Health Princeton, NJ 08543-0400
A colleague wants to anesthesize and immobilize whole Drosophila larva on a microscope slide for confocal observation. Any suggestions or references?
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 ***************************************************************
We used a ion-etching machine without a nitrogen-cooled stage as the last step to prepare thin-foil specimens for a long time. Now we want to have ion mill that have a cooled stage in order to reduce the formation of large amount of amorphous. Could anybody give us some suggestion on where we can find the ion mill and how much it is? Any information and suggestion about it are greatly appreciated.
Jinsong wu LSG2M, Ecole des Mines de Nancy Parc de Saurupt F-54042, Nancy Cedex France
People in our lab have tried a variety of techniques but find that simply putting the larvae in a drop of glycerol and squashing them with the coverslip works best. This does not work if you are interested in the gut because the gut is forced out of the body. The remaining body is like a flat tire. If you want the larvae to survive the problem is more complicated. Try cold temperature (12 C) or mix an anesthetic or muscle relaxant with the food. If you have success with the later post the details. Larry D. Ackerman Lily & Yuh Nung Jan Laboratories Howard Hughes Medical Institute UCSF, Box 0725, Rm U226 533 Parnassus Ave. San Francisco, CA 94143
We are interested in using the SEM to measure the concentration of flyash in the atmosphere that has come from coal-fired power plants. One of the issues involved is being able to distinguish particles from power plants from particles originating at other sources. We would appreciate any information people might have on the identification of flyash and determination of its origin. Everett Ramer Federal Energy Technology Center
I am attempting to help a colleague who is in a bind. She needs to get QUICKLY - which is to say - borrow, loan, rent, or buy - a computer controlled stage for an Olympus BH-2 optical microscope.
We're talking to Olympus of course but still ...
Anyone have ideas or a stage available???
Richard Shalvoy rbshalvoy-at-corp.olin.com 203-271-4272
In a message dated 98-10-29 16:55:21 EST, rbshalvoy-at-corp.olin.com writes:
{ { I am attempting to help a colleague who is in a bind. She needs to get QUICKLY - which is to say - borrow, loan, rent, or buy - a computer controlled stage for an Olympus BH-2 optical microscope.
We're talking to Olympus of course but still ...
Anyone have ideas or a stage available???
Richard Shalvoy rbshalvoy-at-corp.olin.com 203-271-4272 } }
Hi Richard,
I recommend that you call Semprex Corporation. They make a complete line of microscope stages to fit just about every microscope: Manual stages, micrometer and leadscrew measuring stages, motorized stages (programmable and non-programmable), hard disk stages, digital readout devices and software, motor controllers and software, etc. They have a dealer network, so there should be someone near you who can respond quickly.
You can reach them at: Semprex Corp. 782 Camden Avenue Campbell, CA 95008 USA Tel. (408) 379-3230 Fax (408) 374-1843
***Disclaimer*** I have no financial interest or business relationships with Semprex, but I have several customers who are pleased with their products.
Hope this helps!
Cheers, Bob *************************** Bob Chiovetti Microimaging Technologies, Inc. Tucson, Arizona USA Tel. / Fax (520) 546-4986 rchiovetti-at-aol.com ****************************
This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --------------87761FD3C5399E2310A98724 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Dear Mr. Corwin,
1) Encapsulate the sample fully in Epoxy 2) Using a high speed diamond saw, cut the sample with a RESIN Bonded diamond blade to minimize chipping of the edge. 3) If the cut surface is not good enough, a quick polish maybe necessary.
Try HiRel Laboratory in Spokane, Washington, or Metals Technology in Northridge, Ca. Either of them can be found in directory assistance.
Good Luck,
Gary Liechty Allied High Tech Products, Inc. Products for Metallographic, SEM and TEM Sample Preparation 800-675-1118
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Can anyone suggest how to cut into a glass pharmaceutical vial with } minimal damage and contamination in order to examine an organic film } inside it? Presumably some sort of diamond saw. I need a commercial } lab who can provide the service, ASAP of course. Hatchet is last } resort. Thanks for your help. } } } Leonard Corwin } Research Chemist } Fort Dodge Animal Health } Princeton, NJ 08543-0400
--------------87761FD3C5399E2310A98724 Content-Type: text/x-vcard; charset=us-ascii; name="vcard.vcf" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Description: Card for Gary Liechty Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="vcard.vcf"
We offer an ion mill that may be of interest to you. The IV3 has a liqui= d nitrogen cold stage as you requested, but it also offers some very new technology in the form of a low energy ion gun. This ion gun operates in=
the range of 100V to 2 kV while still maintaining a relatively high milli= ng rate. It is typically used as a final thinning step after primary thinni= ng with the standard teletwin high energy gun. As you mentioned reducing amorphous damage, the low energy gun may be of particular interest as it has been shown to minimize if not eliminate amorphous damage in GaAs and other materials.
We have several dozen technical papers on ion milling with the IV3 and several papers on the new low energy technology. If you can tell me a little more about your application, I can put together a set of papers th= at would be of interest. Please feel free to contact me off-line if you require any additional information.
NOTE: We do offer an ion mill as described above and therefore do have a vested interest in promoting its use.
} } } } } 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 wu jin song } ------------------------------------------------------------------------=
The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America =
Hello, everyone,
We used a ion-etching machine without a nitrogen-cooled stage as =
the last step to prepare thin-foil specimens for a long time. =
Now we want to have ion mill that have a cooled stage in order to reduce the formation of large amount of amorphous. Could anybody give us some suggestion on where we can find the ion mill and how much it is? Any information and suggestion about =
it are greatly appreciated.
Jinsong wu LSG2M, Ecole des Mines de Nancy Parc de Saurupt F-54042, Nancy Cedex France
I would suggest using a wire saw with diamond impregnated wire. A diamon= d wheel saw or diamond band saw will also be able to cut it, but will not produce as nice of a surface as the diamond wire saw will. Another optio= n is a high speed diamond saw, but that would typically require embedding t= he sample in a resin of some sort and still will not give you the smooth, polished edge that you will get with a wire saw. The wire saw should giv= e you a cross section suitable for observation without additional polishing= =2E
If you have an interest, please contact me off-line and I will try to put=
you in touch with one of our customers who may be able to do the cutting for you as a service. We may also be able to help you out in our applications lab.
NOTE: We do produce a wire saw, diamond wheel saw and diamond band saw as=
described above and certainly have a vested interest in promoting its use= =2E
} } } } } 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 INTERNET:"corwinl-at-pt.cyanamid.com"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } ------------------------------------------------------------------------=
The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America =
Can anyone suggest how to cut into a glass pharmaceutical vial with =
minimal damage and contamination in order to examine an organic film= =
inside it? Presumably some sort of diamond saw. I need a commercial =
lab who can provide the service, ASAP of course. Hatchet is last =
resort. Thanks for your help. =
=
Leonard Corwin Research Chemist Fort Dodge Animal Health Princeton, NJ 08543-0400 =
I was wondering as to whether to respond to this question or not. Given the propensity of some to "beat" an issue to death but here goes:
The question as to what to insure an electron microscope (or any piece of equipment) should be replacement value. One can insure anyhting for over or under it's value but the insurance company will only reimburse the insured for the insured value or replacement of the equipment, whichever is less. Believe me, I know this first hand.
In this case one could insure the JEOL JSM-35C for 200K but in case of a total loss the insurace company would not pay the 200K but the replacement value. Next question is what is replacement value and what is the insurance company liable? Are they liable for the $3,800.00 paid for the SEM; the $3,800.00 plus expenses involved in transporting and installing the SEM or another permutation? In my experience, the insurance company would be responsible for the SEM (in a similar condition), installed in the same location. Of course, the insurance company could pay for insured value if it is less.
The bottom line is that in this case (potential insurance claim), labor does add value to equipment. The price paid is not relevant for insurance purposes. I do agree that the resale value does not increase if we take into account transportation and installation costs Supply and demand still prevail. By the way, the prices I quoted for a JEOL 840 includes installation but not transportation. Al Sampson is correct, prices for resale equipment varies as much as 100%, depending upon wholesale or retail values.
Of course someone will continue argue that labor does or does not add value to equipment. To this I say that before an SEM was an SEM it was a "bunch of metal and electronic parts". Labor was needed to make it an SEM and thereby increasing its' value.
As always, I am sure others have a differing opinion. Perhaps we could discuss something relevant like DP oil differences or cleaning RP oil on EDS detectors.
Regards to all,
Earl Weltmer
Marti, Jordi 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Paul: } } I guess I would ask myself how much I could afford if there were to } be major damage to the instruments ( fire, etc) . If replacing the } instruments with my own money represented an "affordable" impact, then } I would not consider putting much money into the insurance. I would } rather spend that money in supplies and or service contracts. } } BTW, I 'm not sure I agree with your assessment that the instruments } will be worth a lot more once they are operating. Of course this will } depend somewhat on the present condition and how much you had to invest } to get them back into operation. } } My thoughts. I am curious to see what others think. } } Jordi Marti } } I have purchased two SEMs, transported them across country, and am } preparing } to set up a lab. Aside from the insurance on the building, I will need } to } insure the equipment inside, hence the question: What is the value of } the } microscopes? } There is of course the purchase price (in my case, $ 3,800 and $ 2,500, } respectively, for a JEOL 35 and Philips 500). Once in place and } running, they } are obviously going to be worth a whole lot more, but how much more???? } I'm } sure my insurance agent will be of no help, as there is no 'blue book' } values } for used SEMs. Any suggestions are most welcome! Thank you. Thank you. } Thank } you. } } Paul Grover } pbgrover-at-aol.com
{HTML} I was wondering as to whether to respond to this question or not. Given the propensity of some to "beat" an issue to death but here goes:
{P} The question as to what to {I} insure {/I} an electron microscope (or any piece of equipment) should be {I} replacement {/I} value. One can insure anyhting for over or under it's value but the insurance company will only reimburse the insured for the insured value or replacement of the equipment, whichever is less. Believe me, I know this first hand.
{P} In this case one could insure the JEOL JSM-35C for 200K but in case of a total loss the insurace company would not pay the 200K but the replacement value. Next question is what is replacement value and what is the insurance company liable? Are they liable for the $3,800.00 paid for the SEM; the $3,800.00 plus expenses involved in transporting and installing the SEM or another permutation? In my experience, the insurance company would be responsible for the SEM (in a similar condition), installed in the same location. Of course, the insurance company could pay for insured value if it is less.
{P} The bottom line is that in this case (potential insurance claim), labor does add value to equipment. The price paid is not relevant for insurance purposes. I do agree that the {I} resale {/I} value does not increase if we take into account transportation and installation costs Supply and demand still prevail. By the way, the prices I quoted for a JEOL 840 includes installation but not transportation. Al Sampson is correct, prices for resale equipment varies as much as 100%, depending upon wholesale or retail values.
{P} Of course someone will continue argue that labor does or does not add value to equipment. To this I say that before an SEM was an SEM it was a "bunch of metal and electronic parts". Labor was needed to make it an SEM and thereby increasing its' value.
{P} As always, I am sure others have a differing opinion. Perhaps we could discuss something relevant like DP oil differences or cleaning RP oil on EDS detectors. {BR}
{P} Regards to all, {BR}
{P} Earl Weltmer {BR} {BR}
{P} Marti, Jordi wrote: {BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ {BR} The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
{P} Paul:
{P} I guess I would ask myself how much I could afford if there were to {BR} be major damage to the instruments ( fire, etc) . If replacing the {BR} instruments with my own money represented an "affordable" impact, then {BR} I would not consider putting much money into the insurance. I would {BR} rather spend that money in supplies and or service contracts.
{P} BTW, I 'm not sure I agree with your assessment that the instruments {BR} will be worth a lot more once they are operating. Of course this will {BR} depend somewhat on the present condition and how much you had to invest {BR} to get them back into operation.
{P} My thoughts. I am curious to see what others think.
{P} Jordi Marti
{P} I have purchased two SEMs, transported them across country, and am {BR} preparing {BR} to set up a lab. Aside from the insurance on the building, I will need {BR} to {BR} insure the equipment inside, hence the question: What is the value of {BR} the {BR} microscopes? {BR} There is of course the purchase price (in my case, $ 3,800 and $ 2,500, {BR} respectively, for a JEOL 35 and Philips 500). Once in place and {BR} running, they {BR} are obviously going to be worth a whole lot more, but how much more???? {BR} I'm {BR} sure my insurance agent will be of no help, as there is no 'blue book' {BR} values {BR} for used SEMs. Any suggestions are most welcome! Thank you. Thank you. {BR} Thank {BR} you.
{P} Paul Grover {BR} pbgrover-at-aol.com {/BLOCKQUOTE} {/HTML}
Prolonged dehydration and embedding will probably do the trick for you. However, I found that the loss of lipid material during a long dehydration protocol is unsatisfactory. Instead I use acidified DMP (Di-methoxy-propane) for chemical dehydration. For small objects, like anthers, complete dehydration can occur in 15 min or less, but I would use one hour at room temp. for a start. DMP can be mixed with all hydrofobic embedding media I know. However DMP dehydration can sometimes reslut in shrinked material as well, but I would give it a try.
Bo
} Dear Rinaldo, my experience with fixation of flowers has been that anthers } are relatively difficult to fix and embed (especially when they are } approching maturity) even when other organs and tissues are well preserved. } If adjusting buffer strength and cutting them transversely as Dr. Echlin } suggests doesn't do the trick, my suggestion would be that you try much } longer dehydration times. I suggest at least an hour at each dehydration } step and perhaps leave them overnight at the 70% ethanol stage. Of course } the trade-off might be that you extract some of the stuff you wish to } preserve. You will have to adjust your protocol on a species to species } basis. John
Dear microscopists, We are planning to buy some diamond knives and I would like to know your impressions of knife performance (what is the difference between Diatome, Drukker, Pelco, DDK etc.). We need standard ultramicrotomy knives for cutting epon embedded biological material and cryo dry ultramicrotomy knives. Personally, I like Diatome and dislike DDK. Did anybody see the difference in cutting and durability between 45=B0 an= d 35=B0 knives?=20 Which boat for standard knife is preferable? What is the purpose of boats with inclined cavity? Any experience is wellcome.
___________________________ Dr. Alexander A. Mironov Jr. Unit of Morphology Dept. of Cell Biology and Oncology Consorzio Mario Negri Sud Via Nazionale, S.Maria Imbaro (Ch) 66030 Italy
Contact Tom Hayes via The Donner Lab, University of California, Berkeley. He has done a lot of work on the SEM of fly ash.
Patrick Echlion Cambridge University
On Thu, 29 Oct 1998, EVERETT RAMER 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } We are interested in using the SEM to measure the concentration of } flyash in the atmosphere that has come from coal-fired power plants. } One of the issues involved is being able to distinguish particles from } power plants from particles originating at other sources. We would } appreciate any information people might have on the identification of } flyash and determination of its origin. } Everett Ramer } Federal Energy Technology Center } }
Gatan make ion mills with liquid nitrogen cooled stages. We have two Gatan DuoMills here at Birmingham. I don't know how much they cost but they certainly aren't cheap.
Gatan can be reached at http://www.gatan.com/
Another manufacturer of ion mills is Technoorg-Linda. I know less about them.
Hope this helps
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 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, or: ianmaclaren-at-hotmail.com Birmingham B15 2TT, http://web.bham.ac.uk/I.MacLaren England. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Another option would be LUDL Electronics Products. You can contact them at sales-at-ludl.com I have used them frequently in the past with good success. They will be able to help with staging for most any microscope as you will find out. I believe they have a lower end inexpensive stage called the BIO=POINT that is about 5k with additional video auto focus for an additional $500 or so. Contact them and I am sure they can help you out. Take Care and Good Luck!
C.Passione -----Original Message----- } From: Shalvoy, Richard {rbshalvoy-at-corp.olin.com} To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com}
I'm studying microbiology at Laval University in Quebec city, Canada. I would like to know where I can find informations about Normanski interference contrast microscopy.
12th International Conference on 3D Image Processing in Microscopy 11th International Conference on Confocal Microscopy April 11th-15th, 1999 European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Heidelberg, Germany
Confocal microscopy, multiphoton excitation and deconvolution techniques are increasingly applied in the study of three-dimensional structures such as are encountered in biology, medicine and material sciences. Three-dimensional analysis and representation are crucial tasks in subsequent data assessment. These conferences offer a most efficient meeting point for developers and users working in these rapidly evolving fields and play an important role in the dissemination of information about new developments. Special attention will be given to the dramatic developments in live cell imaging and manipulation, such as the role of the green fluorescent protein. Further information:
Local Organizing Committee: Dr. Ernst H.K. Stelzer, EMBL, Heidelberg Prof. G.J. Brakenhoff, University of Amsterdam Dr. Andres Kriete, University of Giessen
Under the auspices of The International 3D Microscopy Society: Prof. Colin Sheppard, University of Sydney Dr. Andres Kriete, University of Giessen Prof. G.J. Brakenhoff, University of Amsterdam Prof. P-C. Cheng, SUNY at Buffalo Prof. Tony Wilson, University of Oxford Dr. Carol Cogswell, University of Sydney Dr. Vyvyan Howard, University of Liverpool Dr. Guy Cox, University of Sydney Dr. Ernst H.K. Stelzer, EMBL Prof. S. Kawata, Osaka University
This e-mail was produced by Ernst H.K. Stelzer EMBL, Heidelberg, Germany =========================================== Dr. Frank-Martin Haar European Molecular Biology Laboratory Cell Biology and Biophysics Programme Light Microscopy Group
The 37th Annual Conference of the Microscopy Society of Southern Africa takes place from Tuesday December 1st to Friday December 4th, 1998.
Titles and authors of the extended abstracts of the conference presentations which will be published in Vol 28 of the Proceedings of the Microscopy Society of Southern Africa are available at the following site:
http://www.ru.ac.za/affiliates/emu/mssa.htm
More information on the conference and the Microscopy Society of Southern Africa is available at the following site:
http://www.uct.ac.za/depts/emu/mssa/index.htm
Robin H Cross Director : EM Unit, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa eurc-at-giraffe.ru.ac.za - tel: +27 46 603 8168 - fax: +27 46 622 4377 http://www.ru.ac.za/affiliates/emu/em.htm
It's big, It's beautiful and it could be yours!! Zeiss Ultraphot For Sale w. 4 sources, Hg, Xe, CsI, and W. Objectives negotiable, Auto. camera system not working. Pls. contact Lynne Garone at Polaroid Corp. 781 -386 1446.
There is a post-doctoral opportunity within the Department of Chemical, Biochemical, and Materials Engineering at the Stevens Institute of Technology to develop and apply techniques associated with spatially-resolved electron energy-loss spectroscopy. Application will be made to study the morphology in biological tissue, in synthetic polymers, and in mixtures of these two. Much of this work will be done in collaboration with Unilever Research.
The ideal candidate will have experience in electron optics and electron energy-loss spectroscopy as well as in techniques of ultramicrotomy and cryo-ultramicrotomy. Most critical, however, is a familiarity with eels, digital processing of spectra, and a willingness to work hard and effectively.
The position will open in November, 1998. The appointment will be for one year with a renewal dependent upon performance and availability of funds.
The Stevens Institute of Technology is a small private university concentrating in disciplines of engineering, science, and technology. It is located on the western bank of the Hudson River immediately across from New York City. The Stevens electron-optics laboratory contains a Philips CM20 FEG TEM/STEM, a Philips CM30 SuperTwin TEM, and a Leo 982 FEG SEM, among other instrumentation.
For further information please contact:
Professor Matthew R. Libera Dept. Chemical, Biochemical, and Materials Engineering Stevens Institute of Technology Hoboken, New Jersey 07030 ph: 201-216-5259 fax: 201-216-8306 mlibera-at-attila.stevens-tech.edu
------------------------------------------ Matthew R. Libera Professor Materials Science and Engineering Stevens Institute of Technology Hoboken, New Jersey 07030 ph: 201-216-5259 fax: 201-216-8306 mlibera-at-attila.stevens-tech.edu -------------------------------------------
I am using Image Tool software. When I do measurements by drawing the marker and double clicking to end the measurements the program sometimes crashes. Has this happened to anyone else? Is so how do you correct the problem?
Michael Ingram Rodel, Inc Polishing Lab 451 Bellevue Rd Newark, DE 19713 (302) 366-0500, ext.: 2545
A colleague of mine needs to publish a micrograph taken in 1971 on a Philips 200 TEM; that fine old antique workhorse that listed magnifications in terms of taps. All we know is that this image was photographed at tap 16. Needless to say we no longer have our manual or calibration records from so long ago.
If we could even get a ball park figure for this magnification, it would help; I realize we're talking large ball park here but we can give estimates!
It seems to me that all sawing methods will create lots of debris, something I thought the request wanted to avoid.
Some time ago, I used to make drinking glasses out of bottles. I would cut off the tops with two methods. The first entailed using a piece of nichrome wire wrapped around the bottle. An electrical current was passed through the wire, heating it to red hot, for just a moment. Sometimes, that would nicely cut the top off of the bottle by itself. Some- times, the application of an ice cube around the heated circle was needed to get the crack to form. The second method used a device that I bought, but could be easily built. It used a glass cutter mounted on a rod, and a cone mounted on an arm that could be adjusted up and down the rod. The cone is placed in the mouth of the bottle, the arm is adjusted so the glass cutter is at the level where the cut is desired, and perpen- dicular to the surface of the bottle at that point. Now a line can be scribed around the bottle with the glass cutter. The second part of the kit was a heavier rod with an angle on one end, and an adjustable cone on the straight part. This rod was passed through the mouth of the bottle with the cone adjusted to set the angled end in the bottle even with the scribe line on the outside. By rocking the rod, and tapping the end inside the scribe line, the crack would form along the scribe line and separate the top from the bottom. Some tricks for clean cuts of glass are clean the surface well before doing the scribe, and do not press too hard while making the scribe. Too much pressure causes the scribed line to be chipped up, and a clean break less likely.
There will still be some debris, but it should be minimal amounts of glass chips.
Hope my description is understandable, and it just might help!
I would appreciate any references people might know of containing descriptions of preparation of metallic uranium alloys (approx.90% uranium) for TEM observation.
Does anyone have experience with this? If so, what methods did you use, and what was the outcome?
Has anyone obtained good samples with ion milling (one of our problems involves U-alloy particles in an aluminium matrix)?
Thanks, Wharton ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Wharton Sinkler Argonne National Laboratory West P. O. Box 2528 Idaho Falls, ID 83403 Tel: (208) 533-7724 FAX: (208) 533-7863
Hi everyone, I have encountered considerable difficulty, i.e., zero success, in repeating an immunolabelling experiment. I'm working with LR White embedded cotyledon tissue, fixed 12/95, probing with a polyclonal Ab (rabbit), also made in '95. My secondary is commercial protein A gold. I had very specific labelling when the initial experiment was conducted in '95, but now have no specific label. I have repeated the previous successful protocol, but with no luck. My antibodies have been at -20C, having only been thawed once to aliquot them into smaller volumes. Is it possible that there have been changes in the fixed tissue that cause loss of epitopes? I find this hard to believe, but I'd like to hear from others. Could the antibodies have lost their specificity? I have repeated dilution series experiments, but again, all labellings were no more specific than buffer controls. I should say that the antibodies work fine in Westerns, giving us the same banding pattern we've always seen with these Ab, so I suspect the tissue, not the Ab. Any and all comments, criticisms, speculative remarks, SWAGs, etc. would be most welcome. Much hinges on the success of the labelling. Many thanks, Dwight
************************************************************************* Dwight Beebe Prof. Agrege (Associate Prof.) Institut de recherche en biologie vegetale Universite de Montreal 4101 est, rue Sherbrooke Montreal, (Quebec) H1X 2B2 Canada Tel: 514/872-4563 or -4746 (lab) FAX: 514/872-9406
I have a user who wants to embed rubber extracted from plants. The last time she did it she used glut & OsO4 (concentrations I do not know). The insides of the what she thought were solid rubber particles were extracted or at least they looked extracted (so the samples kinda looked like an inner tube). Do any of you bouncing baby scientists have any suggestions for her? She says this stuff is lipid-like and is a short-chain rubber compound, so she figures its pretty liquid.
Send me your suggestions & I'll bounce them off her & see if any stick.
Paula :-)
Paula Sicurello UC Berkeley Electron Microscope Lab psic-at-uclink4.berkeley.edu phone: 510-642-2085 fax: 510-643-6207 http://biology.berkeley.edu/EML
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } =20 } =20 } Dear microscopists, } We are planning to buy some diamond knives and I would like to know your } impressions of knife performance (what is the difference between Diatome, } Drukker, Pelco, DDK etc.). We need standard ultramicrotomy knives for } cutting epon embedded biological material and cryo dry ultramicrotomy } knives. Personally, I like Diatome and dislike DDK. } Did anybody see the difference in cutting and durability between 45=B0 an= d } 35=B0 knives?=20 } Which boat for standard knife is preferable? What is the purpose of boats } with inclined cavity? } Any experience is wellcome. } =20 } ___________________________ } Dr. Alexander A. Mironov Jr. } Unit of Morphology } Dept. of Cell Biology and Oncology } Consorzio Mario Negri Sud } Via Nazionale, S.Maria Imbaro (Ch) } 66030 Italy } =20 } Tel. 0872-570-332 } Fax 0872-578-240 } E-mail: amironov-at-cmns.mnegri.it } =20 } =20 } =20 } =20 I have used DDK, Dupont, Diatome, others. For the last ten years we have invested only in Diatome. For the last seven years we have about 22 thousand dollars worth of assorted Diatome knives. We have Never had a bad one, never had one poorly resharpened (I long ago quit testing them when they came back to us), never had one that wore out quickly. Furthermore, Diatome USA has a laboratory set up. In case you have trouble with your embedding or materials, you can send them some of your tissues with your knife, and they will probe the situation for you and give you advice. I have not used this service, but I know from others that this service is fine. We have gotten excellent advice also on solving problems with our microtomes which was affecting the knives. I don't own stock in Diatome. Wish I did.
I have had a request to examine an interface structure which, while nominally planar, has roughness associated with it. In addition to imaging the structure, the person making the request would like to have a measurement of the roughness associated with the interface. The interface of interest is etched within Si and thus inaccessible to AFM.
Is anybody aware of techniques for measuring interface roughness from a TEM image? Are there any software packages which have such function built-in?
Phil
Philip L. Flaitz IBM Analytical Services Ph.......(914) 892-3094, FAX -2003 flaitz-at-us.ibm.com
In considering your labeling problem, you didn't mention the specifics of the failure. Is your background to high (a potential problem with blocking agents), or do you see no gold at all (a potential problem with the primary and/or secondary or with access of primary to antigen)? How old is your secondary? Our experience suggests that the larger gold conjugates seem to loose their reactivity relatively soon after purchase (even if the packaging suggests that the expiration date is far in the future, they might be optimistic). I have never run across a problem with antibody stored frozen, and routinely use ABs that are at least 10 years old. Is there a particular reason you are using PA/gold? You will get more gold particulates per AB (ie, higher signal) using a GAR conjugated particulates. Your signal will also substantially increase using small (5 nm) particles vs. larger particulates. What is the gold size you are using now? You should consider using the smallest particles you can image at the desired magnification. It might also be that the characteristics of the LR White resin has changed. Do you notice any difference in the cutting properties as compared to earlier use? You might want to try etching the surface of the LR white ever so briefly (though I usually consider this a desperate act). How is the condition of your blocking agents? Serum stored for considerable duration may have failed.
You might have forgotten to utter the magic words.
Good luck,
Doug
---------------------- Douglas R. Keene Associate Investigator Shriners Hospital Microscopy Unit 3101 S.W. Sam Jackson Park Road Portland, Oregon 97201 503-221-3434 DRK-at-shcc.org
Lucky for you that I still have my EM records from years ago handy. I got some of my nicest images on that old workhorse. I have the mag table posted to the inside of the frontcover for our old Philips EM200.
Tap 16 was 23,758X for the calibration done when I was using it, and the calibration was done with the projector control set at zero and the voltage at 60kV. An earlier calibration gaqve a mag of 22,400X.
This Philips EM200 used to be at the University of Colorado, Boulder in the Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology. It was sold to Colorado State University in 1980, probably to the Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology. It may still be there.
Hope this helps.
Matthew J. Schibler Ph.D. UCLA Brain Research Institute 73-384 CHS 951761 Los Angeles, CA 90095-1761
-----Original Message----- } From: Peggy Brannigan [mailto:brannign-at-asrr.arsusda.gov] Sent: Friday, October 30, 1998 2:23 AM To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com
Hello Listers and history buffs,
A colleague of mine needs to publish a micrograph taken in 1971 on a Philips 200 TEM; that fine old antique workhorse that listed magnifications in terms of taps. All we know is that this image was photographed at tap 16. Needless to say we no longer have our manual or calibration records from so long ago.
If we could even get a ball park figure for this magnification, it would help; I realize we're talking large ball park here but we can give estimates!
I have one reference that I was able to fins quickly for TEM preparation = of Uranium Silicide. The reference is as follows:
"Technique for Preparation of TEM Foils from Two Phase Uranium Silicide",=
B.J. Kestel, Ultramicroscopy 25 (1988) 91-92.
Bernie Kestel is at Argonne National Lab in Illinois and is a great reference for many difficult to thin materials. Almost all of his work i= s done using our Model 550 Single Vertical Jet ElectroPolisher as is the wo= rk done in the referenced paper. We have an extensive bibliography on sampl= e preparation techniques and hope to have that indexed and searchable on ou= r web site by January 1.
I hope this helps!
NOTE: We produce the equipment referenced in this message and have a vest= ed interest in promoting its use.
} } } } } 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 "Wharton Sinkler" } ------------------------------------------------------------------------=
The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America =
Dear List,
I would appreciate any references people might know of containing descriptions of preparation of metallic uranium alloys (approx.90% uraniu= m) for TEM observation. =
Does anyone have experience with this? If so, what methods did you use, and what was the outcome? =
Has anyone obtained good samples with ion milling (one of our problems involves U-alloy particles in an aluminium matrix)? =
Back when God was a boy, Ted Nolan and I did some TEM work on a U-Nb-Zr alloy (Mulberry). I may be able to locate a report on the specimen prep techniques we developed. I recall it was primarily electropolishing, as the work pre-dated the development of ion mills.
Larry
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Dr. Lawrence F. Allard Senior Research Staff Member High Temperature Materials Laboratory Oak Ridge National Laboratory 1 Bethel Valley Road Bldg. 4515, MS 6064 PO Box 2008 Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6064
I am using Image Tool software. When I do measurements by drawing the marker and double clicking to end the measurement the program sometimes crashes. Has this happened to anyone else? Is so how do you correct the problem? Michael Ingram Rodel, Inc Polishing Lab 451 Bellevue Rd Newark, DE 19713 (302) 366-0500, ext.: 2545
Has anyone ever used tannic acid in their gluteraldehyde? I've heard it's suppose to help preserve cilia and fibers. Any receipes, methods, or concentrations would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
In a message dated 98-10-30 14:43:30 EST, psic-at-uclink4.berkeley.edu writes:
{ { I have a user who wants to embed rubber extracted from plants. } }
Hi Paula,
Hmm... how novel, bouncing ideas about rubber off of us! I have done some work with thin sectioning of rubber-related products (although synthetic, not natural compounds). I found that cryoultramicrotomy was the best approach.
Is it absolutely necessary for your friend to embed the compounds in plastic? If not, try embedding in sucrose on the head of a cryopin and plunge-freezing in liquid nitrogen, just like you would do for biological material, which is what this stuff is anyway.
I imagine it will take some playing around to find a suitable sectioning temperature, but you should probably start around -60 to -80. Do you have a cryoultramicrotomy setup at Berkeley? If not, try UCSF.
Good luck, hope this helps.
Bob Chiovetti Microimaging Technoogies, Inc. Tucson, Arizona USA Tel./Fax (520) 546-4986 rchiovetti-at-aol.com
We just acquired a new SEM in our diagnostic pathology lab, located in New York. It is a partial pressure scope, from Philips. Has anyone here done any work with SEM and diagnostic pathology? Have any ideas you would like to discuss, or projects?
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
later -gere
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